The Philadelphia Parking Authority board has postponed its regularly scheduled meeting amid a sexual harassment scandal involving the agency's executive director.

The board - or a slimmed-down version - will still hear public comments at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on the fifth floor of 701 Market St. but won't assemble to vote on its agenda until Thursday. There will be public comments taken Thursday as well, according to a Parking Authority spokesman.

The meeting change, due to lack of a quorum, comes amid pressure on the agency following revelations that Executive Director Vincent J. Fenerty Jr. had sexually harassed a coworker.

Fenerty, who was required to pay for the $30,000 internal investigation, kept his $230,000-a-year job but was stripped of certain managerial authority and forbidden from going on overnight trips with coworkers without permission from the board.

On Thursday, City Councilman Al Taubenberger, who is also a member of the Parking Authority board, defended the decision to keep Fenerty on the job. He said Fenerty would have been fired if the board was aware of any other similar allegations against him.

Taubenberger described the case as an isolated incident. He said that on a work trip Fenerty kissed the woman good night, then later asked if she would attend the next trip out of town.

In recent days, Mayor Kenney, Gov. Wolf, the local chapter of the National Organization for Women and the city's commission on women have sharply criticized the board's handling of the situation.

Republican leaders have been huddling over the last several days to discuss whether Fenerty can keep his job and, if not, who will replace him, according to sources familiar with the discussions. One such meeting took place Friday in Harrisburg. Fenerty, the sources said, is intent on staying in his post. The authority is controlled by Republicans.

Four members of the six-member board must be present for a quorum. Taubenberger is on a trade mission to Germany. Commissioner Al Schmidt said Monday he has to miss the meeting for voter registration responsibilities. Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. A third board member is out of town on business, said Martin O'Rourke, a spokesman for the authority.

O'Rourke said the authority's chairman, Joe Ashdale, will be present to hear public comments but it was unclear if any other board members would attend.

jterruso@phillynews.com

215-854-5506 @juliaterruso

Staff writers Tricia L. Nadolny and Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this article.










From the Top:







Dale McMullen





&





Ali Beckett



Of Vitus and Nukeproof Bikes





Words and photography: Matt Wragg

Dale McMullen Ali Beckett

Nukeproof is the starting point for CRC's in-house brands. What was kind of the original idea behind Nukeproof? Nukeproof is the starting point for CRC's in-house brands. What was kind of the original idea behind Nukeproof?

The Mega really stands out as one of the first mid-travel bikes that was really meant to have the shit beaten out of it. The Mega really stands out as one of the first mid-travel bikes that was really meant to have the shit beaten out of it.

Vitus kind of sneaked up on a lot of people. Theyve been around doing low-end bikes for a while, but the high-end are a more recent development? Vitus kind of sneaked up on a lot of people. Theyve been around doing low-end bikes for a while, but the high-end are a more recent development?

You have got the Nukeproff Mega and the Vitus Sommet that are both 160-ish travel. You have got the Nukeproff Mega and the Vitus Sommet that are both 160-ish travel.

From a consumer point of view then whats the difference between the two, or is there a difference in philosophy? From a consumer point of view then whats the difference between the two, or is there a difference in philosophy?

With the geometry how far do you buy into longer top tubes and reach, the more recent trends in geometry? Do you think you are at the limit now or do you think that and it needs to be pushed a bit further? With the geometry how far do you buy into longer top tubes and reach, the more recent trends in geometry? Do you think you are at the limit now or do you think that and it needs to be pushed a bit further?

So its interesting because you dont see any Boost  youve not jumped on the Boost bandwagon at the first possible opportunity for instance? So its interesting because you dont see any Boost  youve not jumped on the Boost bandwagon at the first possible opportunity for instance?

Because it is interesting, with the Mega 29, thats not sold at super high-prices, and its not full carbon. In theory, Boost should have been tailor made for that bike? Because it is interesting, with the Mega 29, thats not sold at super high-prices, and its not full carbon. In theory, Boost should have been tailor made for that bike?

Some brands say they feel theres a real pressure to try and keep up, because a lot of the marketing for some brands is based around these marginal gains, do you feel because of the way you positioned yourselves that maybe you dont have to worry about that quite as much? Maybe you are more of a niche brand? Some brands say they feel theres a real pressure to try and keep up, because a lot of the marketing for some brands is based around these marginal gains, do you feel because of the way you positioned yourselves that maybe you dont have to worry about that quite as much? Maybe you are more of a niche brand?

Nukeproof Mega 29 Vitus Sommet

Although a lot of brands jumped into 27.5" wheels before you guys, maybe your 27.5 Mega was one of the earlier bikes that came out with like the adjusted BB height, etc. Although a lot of brands jumped into 27.5" wheels before you guys, maybe your 27.5 Mega was one of the earlier bikes that came out with like the adjusted BB height, etc.

There seems to be a lot of people who said, when they looked about at the bikes, they didnt actually understand, there didnt seem to be any understanding of what the application was even. There seems to be a lot of people who said, when they looked about at the bikes, they didnt actually understand, there didnt seem to be any understanding of what the application was even.

One of the things we get from the comments is that people feel the change of pace at the moment is too much. It was 2014 when they were told they had the wrong wheel size, in 2016, well actually youve got the wrong axle size, all these new wheels and frames and forks you have bought actually need to be replaced Maybe, not that there aren't the individual gains in each one, but the pacing of it is disillusioning customers? One of the things we get from the comments is that people feel the change of pace at the moment is too much. It was 2014 when they were told they had the wrong wheel size, in 2016, well actually youve got the wrong axle size, all these new wheels and frames and forks you have bought actually need to be replaced Maybe, not that there aren't the individual gains in each one, but the pacing of it is disillusioning customers?

What would you like to see as the next evolution for mountain bikes? What would you like to see as the next evolution for mountain bikes?

Have you guys been playing with a lot of electronics specs and so forth... Have you guys been playing with a lot of electronics specs and so forth...

Carbon is obviously a big question for you guys because Nukeproofs been quite noticeable in that you havent delivered a carbon bike. Whereas, with Vitus you jumped in a lot sooner. Carbon is obviously a big question for you guys because Nukeproofs been quite noticeable in that you havent delivered a carbon bike. Whereas, with Vitus you jumped in a lot sooner.

With the handlebar have you gone for 35mm then? With the handlebar have you gone for 35mm then?

In your head, what do you think a bike in 10 years time might look like? What would you like it to look like? What kind of things would you like to see fall by the wayside, and what areas would you like to see pushed on? In your head, what do you think a bike in 10 years time might look like? What would you like it to look like? What kind of things would you like to see fall by the wayside, and what areas would you like to see pushed on?
With the gorgeous vistas of Reschenpass, South Tyrol in Italy as its stage, the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB 2016 captured the worlds best freeride mountain bikers throwing down on the versatile course. The Documentary brings you closer to the action with extended footage, behind the scenes moments and one-on-one interviews with the athletes.Reilly Horan going huge.With 7 film makers shooting the 19 athletes over 6 days; with nearly 250 hours of editing and mastering over 5 terabytes of footage the event team is proud to introduce the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB 2016  The Documentary.Anton Thelander has got the "Best Whip".Narrated by the athletes, the film gives new in-depth insight into the stunning action like the Best Trick of the Week, a smooth cork 720 no-hander from Szymon Godziek (POL); Clemens Kaudelas (AUT) huge quarterpipe air now etched into mountain bike history; and Adolf Silvas (ESP) double back flip on the intimidating Big Bertha which according to Sam Pilgrim (GBR) is the biggest one ever done.Sam Reynolds boosting off of Big Bertha.Ruler of the Week Sam Reynolds (GBR) describes the events importance to the sport, while Anton Thelanders (SWE) transfer attempt shows the price of progression and highlights the incredible camaraderie between the athletes.Max Fredriksson going in the Reschenpass backcountry.Olly Wilkins getting crazy on the Continental wallride.Sam Reynolds, Sam Pilgrim, and Max Fredriksson making full use of the course together.Diego Caverzasi getting inverted off the trick booter.For more information head to www.nineknightsmtb.com : @nineknights
September 29: Science Highlights Livestream (3 hours)

05:30 PDT / 08:30 EDT / 12:30 UTC / 14:30 CEST

A program featuring members of many of the Rosetta science teams discussing the scientific accomplishments of the mission so far. I look forward to hearing both about what Rosetta has accomplished and what work there is yet to do on the mountains of data returned by the spacecraft.

To watch: Tune in to the livestream viewer at rosetta.esa.int or via https://livestream.com/ESA/rosettagrandfinale or ESA's Facebook page. I'll be Tweeting.

September 29: Rosetta's final maneuver

13:50 PDT / 16:50 EDT / 20:50 UTC / 22:50 CEST

From an orbital altitude of 19 kilometers, Rosetta will fire its engines to cancel out its motion and begin a slow free-fall toward the comet's surface.

To watch: Check for updates at the Rosetta blog and via Twitter through the spacecrafts account @ESA_Rosetta and @esaoperations. (I'll be doing the same, as there will not be an event at ESOC for this moment.)

September 30: Rosetta's descent images
A man who allegedly shot and killed a police dog during a pursuit Sunday morning was wounded when an Alaska state trooper and Palmer police officer returned fire, according to troopers.

The incident started at 5:20 a.m. Sunday when a Palmer police officer pulled over a Geo sedan with four occupants in a traffic stop within Palmer city limits, according to an online dispatch from troopers. It wasn't clear what spurred the traffic stop.

The vehicle pulled away and "began traveling southbound on the Glenn Highway," troopers said. The Palmer police officer called for help from Alaska State Troopers.

"The suspect vehicle eluded police for several miles until it pulled into a driveway near the Glenn Highway/Parks Highway interchange," according to the dispatch.

The vehicle pulled "a couple hundred" yards down the driveway before the driver exited and ran into the woods, with a Palmer police officer, a trooper and a trooper K-9 pursuing the suspect into the woods, ADN.com reports.

The driver, who troopers identified as 25-year-old Almando Abarca, fired "multiple rounds," mortally wounding the police dog, troopers wrote.

Both officers then returned fire, striking Abarca once in the shoulder, troopers said.
Non-profit groups in North Texas say they have raised almost $10 million dollars for the families of five police officers who were killed in Downtown Dallas July 7.

The Assist the Officer Foundation has raised more than $5 million. The foundation has chapters across the country to help officers and families who are injured or killed in the line of duty.

Billy Bobs Texas held a concert to raise money for families a few weeks after the shooting. The concert raised $250,000, WBAP reports.

It was just the least we could do, says Billy Bobs Chris Spinks. We also have a lot of employees here who donated their time and effort and were reaching out to collect items for a silent auction. It just seems like everybody pulled together.

Spinks says an agent in Nashville contacted Billy Bobs after

The Dallas Morning News reports a fundraiser set up by the Dallas Mavericks to let two people watch a game with Mark Cuban raised $50,000. The Dallas Cowboys raised $17,000 by offering dinner with Tony Romo and Jason Garrett.
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In what is no doubt a big seller to Trumps alt-right crowd as well as the die-hard Hillary haters who went along with Bernie Sanders for the ride, Alex Jones wants Donald Trump to accuse Hillary Clinton of treason at tonights debate. And yes, Alex Jones, like Trump, dared to abuse the word truth  something neither man knows anything about.

Jones accused Clinton of being on the payroll of the communist Chinese, even though it is Trump who has his clothing line manufactured in China, and the Chinese today are less communist than capitalists. He accused her of being a criminal (no surprise given Trumps Crooked Hillary moniker) and compared her to the Rosenbergs. Yes, if the tinfoil hats fit, wear them.

Watch courtesy of Media Matters for America:

ALEX JONES: I think Trump should point out: Hey normally Im very very nice to ladies. But quite frankly I dont consider you to be one because of your record. And she cant stop him for fifteen minutes and Id just run through Libya, and Syria and the cattle futures and the corruption and the Benghazi stand down and just crime and lying about the servers and everything else. So Id say stop hiding behind the fact that youre a woman. Stop using that  just like these women that are con artists and then use that to basically carry out their crimes. He needs to go ahead and take her quote strength and make it her weakness.



[]



Youre on the payroll of the communist Chinese. You admittedly  its come out in the Wikileaks documents  get millions of dollars, basically, from the Chinese government. You should be indicted. Youre a criminal. Youre a spy. And you know what? The Rosenbergs, one of them was a woman and they still went to the electric chair. See, thats how you lay it out. You say, listen, I dont like seeing women get thrown in prison, but quite frankly it doesnt matter, a lot of women end up getting the death penalty, Hillary.



For the crimes youve committed, and the treason youve been involved in, you need to be indicted for treason. Thats what Id tell her. It will destroy her and the mainstream media on the spot. I would quadruple and then quadruple and then quadruple and then quadruple down again with just absolute devastation on her.



Because its the truth. I would let her have it with everything.

Donald Trump is the candidate with all the legal problems. He is the candidate whose business ties conflict with our nations national security interests. He is the guy with ties to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarchs, the guy who depends on foreign banks because no American bank will ever trust him again. The guy who wont release his tax returns or his medical records.

Because Trump is completely untrustworthy, so dishonest that even Americas newspapers have called him out for lying all the time, Jones thinks Trump needs to accuse Hillary Clinton of pretty much everything he himself is guilty of, plus a little extra. No doubt, Trump will do just that. Hes been doing it already, after all.

Sadly, this is todays Republican Party. The party of conspiracy theories and outlandish claims and blame-shifted scandals, like Roger Stones claim yesterday that globalists killed JFK and brought down Nixon.

One need only look from Trump to the crazies in his cheering section to realize that tonight, the death bells toll for the once Grand Old Party.
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Donald Trump didnt like Hillary Clintons criticism. He interrupted her repeatedly  51 times  while she interrupted him only 17. Wrong, wrong, wrong, no, youre wrong, I did not, I do not, we heard, again and again.

According to Voxs calculations, he interrupted Clinton 25 times in the first 26 minutes of the debate.

Yes, Donald Trump interrupts as often than he lies. No small feat.

Watch Trump at work:

Vox provides the telling graphic:

Debating while female, in one graphic. pic.twitter.com/lAhA5adcUe  Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) September 27, 2016

Clinton said When they go low, we go high, and that is exactly what she did, artfully ignoring Trumps attempt to bully her into silence. It is possible that it is the sheer number of interruptions that lead some Trump fanboys and fangirls to say Trump won the debate. He was being strong, you see.

However, as Voxs Ezra Klein tweeted,

So now we're going to see whether a man repeatedly shouting over a woman on national television is good politics  Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) September 27, 2016

You can be Trump did not earn too many votes from women last night, women who are used to being talked down to like this by men. He made men look bad; he made himself look worse.

Donald Trump ranted, he was incoherent; Clinton was cool and collected, and had complete mastery of the facts. Lacking those facts, Trump was reduced to repeatedly interrupting his better-prepared opponents in an effort to retain control of the debate, an effort which failed abysmally.

Because, in the end, simply contradicting your opponent is not an argument, and last night, more than ever, Trump needed an argument. Instead, he was the bully he has always been, and this morning, rather than looking presidential, he just looks foolish.
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Health care providers and insurers agree that it's in everyone's best interest to refer women for genetic testing if their family history of breast or ovarian cancer puts them at higher risk. What they don't agree on is what should happen before testing, specifically whether women need to be advised by a certified genetic counselor or someone with similar training before the test is ordered.

On the one hand, obstetrician-gynecologists say that counseling patients about hereditary cancers of the breast, ovaries, uterus and other reproductive organs is part of their normal routine, as is counseling pregnant patients about prenatal genetic testing. As licensed physicians, they are considered competent to provide this type of care.

"This is what we do," said Dr. Mark DeFrancesco, the immediate past president of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, noting that most physicians have been taking family histories since medical school. "There are simple-to-understand criteria for who should be considered for genetic testing, and it usually has to do with whether you or someone in your family has had cancer."

DeFrancesco recalled a patient whose mother, grandmother and maternal aunt all had breast cancer, but the insurer required she see a genetic counselor before testing would be approved. In such cases, "it will take a few extra weeks to get tested, and she might decide not to bother," he said.

DeFrancesco said genetic counselors have an important role to play after testing has been done to help patients who test positive for a genetic mutation understand the results.

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In a statement released last December, the physicians group said it opposed such a restriction and warned that it limits patients' access to care.

Counseling requirement

Insurers sometimes take a different view, although their rules vary. Two national insurers, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, require women to receive counseling by a certified genetic counselor or other professional trained in cancer genetics before they will approve coverage for tests that look for mutations in two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that increase the risk for breast, ovarian and other cancers.

UnitedHealthcare began requiring genetic counseling for BRCA tests in January. The insurer allows physicians to do the counseling themselves if they attest they're qualified to do so, said Dr. Lee Newcomer, senior vice president for oncology and genetics.

Cigna made counseling a requirement in 2013 for BRCA and colorectal hereditary cancers and a heart condition called Long-QT. In July, the company expanded the list to include all hereditary cancers. Cigna generally requires physicians to get additional training in cancer genetics in order to meet its counseling requirement, said Dr. Jeffrey Hankoff, Cigna's medical officer for clinical performance and quality.

BRCA mutations increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by age 70 by between 45 and 65 percent. They account for 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers. BRCA mutations raise women's risk of ovarian and other cancers as well. There are other known genetic mutations that also increase a woman's risk for breast and ovarian cancers, but they are less commonly tested for.

Health law impact

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of medical experts, recommends that women with a family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancer be screened to determine if they're at increased risk for BRCA mutations and referred for genetic counseling and testing, if indicated.

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Under the health law, women with insurance aren't responsible for paying anything out of pocket for the testing and counseling recommended by the task force if it's performed by in-network providers.

The health law coverage requirement didn't drive Cigna's BRCA genetic counseling decision, said Hankoff.

"We had concerns that people were having testing ordered that didn't appear to need it and probably didn't understand it," Hankoff said. In addition, "Too often the wrong tests were being ordered."

For example, a woman whose sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for a specific mutation doesn't need a genetic test that looks for all hereditary breast cancer mutations, Hankoff said. She only needs to be tested for the specific mutation that her sister has.

'A lot of complexities'

Genetic counselors, meanwhile, try to walk a middle line in the debate. To become certified, people complete a master's degree program that encompasses both classroom study and clinical training in genetics, ethics and the psychosocial aspects of helping families through diagnosis and the decision-making process, among other things. Certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling is typically required in order to practice.

"There are a lot of complexities with genetic testing," said Mary Freivogel, president-elect of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, who practices in the Denver area. "A lot of [OB-GYNs] don't have the time or interest to do this well."

With the number of genetic tests growing by leaps and bounds, meeting the demand for counseling can be a challenge, experts agree.

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Physicians don't necessarily get it right. For one thing, they often aren't great at taking family histories, neglecting to gather information about the men in a family, for example, or factoring in close relatives who died at a young age, said Robert Smith, a cancer epidemiologist who is vice president for cancer screening at the American Cancer Society.

"Not everybody has a set of family members that allow for the elevated risk to be obvious," Smith said. "There's a lot to be said for having a specialist do it."
It's been four years since Deej Logan drove away from Byron High School on the first day of her senior year, composing a text as she left. Before she could send the message, though, she drove into the back of a school bus that had stopped to drop off children on Olmsted County Road 5 near Oxbow Park.

Deej, 17, died later that day at a Rochester hospital.

Since that September day in 2012, her father, Matt Logan, has made it his mission to let others know the dangers of distracted driving.

The latest is a public service announcement produced by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in which Logan tells the story of Deej's last text.

"What I try to do is get to a lot of high schools and speak" to the students, Logan said, but the DPS videos offer a broader base for the message.

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He spoke at more than 30 schools during the 2015-16 school year because "when it has to do with your kids, and when you're hoping to impact the world in a positive way, you take the time for it."

It's a calling, he agreed, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

"If it gets easier, I'll probably stop doing it," Logan said, "because then you've removed how emotional it is. I guess it's a double-edged sword for me: One edge is ripping the scar open every time, and you're reliving those moments. ... Then I get emails and social media messages and notes in the mail from teachers and students, and the impact it's had on them, so the other edge is the reward that it helps."

His daughter was "a very positive person," Logan said. "She gave the best advice at such a young age. She made such a positive impact at her high school, so I guess that's the side of it that gives me the ability to go through it."

He's learned the most powerful part of her story seems to be "just being honest with them about what it means to use your phone while you drive. I'm just honest with them about it, and how hard it is to talk about it.

"We have the ability to make the choice whether we drive distracted or not," Logan said. "We choose distractions. I tell them, 'she chose it,' and that's hard for me to say."

Making the connection between Deej and the students he talks to now is important, he said.

"She was an average teenager: She was a good kid, a good student, had good friends," Logan said. "But when you attach that to the story ... I drove up to the scene (of the crash), not knowing that there was a scene to drive up to. When I got there, they were still trying to get her out of the vehicle, so that brings a very different dynamic to the reality of the situation."

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Though he couldn't see the vehicle that had struck the bus, "I knew she was driving that road," Logan said. "I'd talked to her on the phone 30 minutes before." A deputy who was directing traffic at the scene confirmed it was Deej.

"We're grateful to Matt for his willingness to share his very painful story in hopes that others will pay attention behind the wheel," said Bruce Gordon, director of communication for the DPS. "Twenty percent of fatalities involving teen drivers in Minnesota are distraction-related, and we wanted to draw attention to this issue as another school year gets underway," though it isn't just a teen problem.

"What happened to Matt's daughter is a tragedy that's being repeated far too often across Minnesota," Gordon said.

Distracted driving crosses age groups; fatalities related to distractions jumped 21 percent last year in Minnesota, according to the DPS.

Logan's PSA has had more than 4,500 views, but "in order for me to get to the place to continue to do this, I had to realize that first, I know I'm not going to reach every student or every person who hears her story. That's impossible."

Now the director of children's ministry at Community Celebration Church in Kasson, Logan said he doesn't have a specific goal for his work with the DPS.

"If it does reach one person, then ... it's a ripple effect. If one person takes something from it  done. The job is complete."

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Every time Mary Bell takes a drink of water, showers, washes her hair or has anything to do with water, she says a mantra, a sort of prayer: "Water is Life."

She is calling on people throughout the nation to do the same in solidarity with the hundreds of Native American nations gathered at Standing Rock in North Dakota to protest the proposed Dakota Access pipeline that would transport about 470,000 barrels of crude oil from North Dakota into Illinois.

The rural Lanesboro woman and her friend, Mary Graf of Rochester, drove to the protest area last week to deliver a load of squash and firewood to the camp where thousands, mostly Native Americans, have taken a stand to protect water of the Missouri River, and ancestral burial grounds, and also to protest the fossil fuel industry.

Bell said the trip was inspirational, "we were overwhelmed with the power of the place." She went about a month ago and went again "because I wanted to experience it again  I knew I couldn't go empty-handed."

She wrote after the first trip that she had to speak out, say "No more can we sit back and watch the lives and ways of Native American people being disrespected and threatened."

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Before they arrived at the camps (there are three) at the end of a 10-hour drive, she came to a North Dakota National Guard checkpoint where they were warned about the the protest. It was supposed to be an act of kindness, but she felt "it's an act of intimidation."

Still, the two went on.

"The camp is extremely well organized  and the attitude throughout the camp is one of gentility," Bell said.

There is a huge supply tent with clothes, diapers, food. They serve three meals a day at no cost.

Bell and Graf brought squash because it's a native food. Bell, an expert in drying food, also showed children at a school how to dry squash the traditional way.

The two women spent one night in a tent. "It was just extraordinary, the sky is so big and the camp was incredibly quiet," she said. "Everything is about prayer and everything is about holding on to the unity of all these people, saying, you cannot do this."

While most in the camp are from the many Native American nations (they don't call themselves tribes), they are fighting for everyone "We are all downstream from something," Bell said. They are protesting how much we depend on fossil fuels and what damage the fuel can do. "It could be fossil fuels; last stand."

Graf said she went along "because this is a cause I believe deeply in. We have to keep the fossil fuels in the ground. I feel especially tender toward native people. It really spoke to me."

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It was her first trip there. "It was an amazing coming together of native peoples," she said. "The predominant feeling of the camp was people coming together peacefully, prayerfully, protesting this pipeline with prayer, music and dance."

"The people there so warm, open-hearted," Graf said. "It was like heart-to-heart conversations not head-to-head conversations."

While many say they shouldn't be stopping the pipeline, Graf said they have to be there. "Yes, unqualified yes from me  this was their land a long time ago, they were free to roam."

While they were there for only a short time, "it made quite an impression on both of us," she said.
"I feel Hillary won hands down because she definitely was prepared and she stuck to the topics and she answered the questions."

 Patty Collins, of Phoenix, Ariz. She is undecided as to how to vote, but said debate has pushed her toward Clinton.

"Trump is trying to lie through his teeth just to get voters. He'll say things and then forget. And that's the problem with Trump  he doesn't realize that he said all those things."

 Kim Sin, of Rochester. Said he supports Clinton and debate reaffirmed that.

"I don't know what to do. I won't vote for Trump. I won't vote for Hillary. I've looked at the Green Party and Independence Party and in the party platform for those two, there are scary things for those. So I don't know. Nixon?"

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 Terry Campbell, of Rochester. He is an undecided voter.

"I have some reservations about Hillary, too, but she certainly looked more presidential and has a grasp of the issues."

 Gail Kinsey, of Rochester. She said she plans to write-in a candidate for president.

"I didn't watch (the debate) on purpose. I felt I didn't need to. Here's what I know I want. I want one thing. I want immigration policy."

 Joe Priebe, of Rochester. He is undecided and wants a candidate who will stop all immigration to the U.S. for awhile.
Heavy rains slow harvest across Minnesota

ST. PAUL  Recent heavy rains have slowed the harvest for farmers in many parts of Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota crop report released Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 3.1 days were suitable for fieldwork during the week that ended Sunday.

Central and southern Minnesota saw thunderstorms last week, leading to wet fields and flooding in some areas. Farmers are concerned about mold in corn and soybeans, stalk problems in corn and rot caused by wet soil.

Minnesota's corn crop is maturing ahead of average. Seventy percent of corn acreage was mature, six days ahead of the five-year average and three days ahead of last year.

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Eighty-three percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, three days ahead of average. But the soybean harvest was behind average, at 13 percent complete.

Man charged in fatal apartment stabbing in St. Paul

ST. PAUL  A 25-year-old man is charged with fatally stabbing a man outside of an apartment in St. Paul's Ramsey Hill neighborhood last week.

Maxim Rhone was charged Monday in Ramsey County court with two counts of second-degree murder.

Rhone is accused of stabbing 28-year-old Gerald Montantes, of St. Paul, on Friday.

According to the complaint, Montantes was at the apartment to collect property belonging to his girlfriend, who had been staying at the apartment with Rhone.

The complaint says Montantes went back to the apartment to get his phone when he was stabbed. When police arrived, the complaint says, Rhone said, "I stabbed him."

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Rhone is jailed with bail set at $1 million. The public defender's office, which is representing him, declined comment.

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Bemidji man who tried to pin fatal crash on victim sentenced

GRAND RAPIDS  A Bemidji man will serve a year in jail for a fatal St. Patrick's Day crash that he tried to pin on his friend who died in the rollover.

Thirty-year-old Christopher Smith was sentenced Monday in Itasca County court for felony criminal vehicular homicide.

As part of his 10 years probation, Smith will have to pay a fine of $1,085, provide a DNA sample, undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and not use alcohol or nonprescription drugs.

Authorities say Smith was driving when the vehicle drifted off Highway 65 near Goodland on March 17. A trooper asked who was driving, and Smith allegedly pointed to the body of 56-year-old Mark Wirtjes.

Wirtjes was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the pickup. Another passenger said Smith was driving.

Morrison County rollover kills driver

ROYALTON  The Minnesota State Patrol has identified an 18-year-old driver who was killed early Saturday in a one-vehicle rollover in Morrison County.

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Cloe Crabtree, of Prior Lake, suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle she was driving south on U.S. Highway 10 entered the median and rolled over onto the northbound lane, according to the State Patrol.

Her passenger, Alexander Myhre, 21, of Mankato, was not injured.

The crash occurred shortly before 1 a.m. Alcohol was not detected in Crabtree's system.
Prosecutor in police shooting to enter alcohol program

MINNEAPOLIS  The prosecutor whose office won a recent conviction in the high-profile case of a Minneapolis police officer who killed an unarmed woman says he will be entering a treatment program for alcohol issues.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued a statement Friday saying he was evaluated for alcohol issues and agrees he needs treatment. Hell be entering a program Monday.

Freeman announced last week that he was taking a medical leave, but didnt say why.

His Friday statement says he has also worked to stabilize his "unacceptably high blood pressure." He says hes determined to reclaim his health and hopes to be back to work in mid-June.

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Last month, a jury convicted Mohamed Noor of murder in the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who called 911 to report a possible crime.

Minnesota seeks to add Purdue Pharma owners to opioid suit

ST. PAUL  Minnesotas attorney general is asking a state court for permission to add the owners of drugmaker Purdue Pharma to a lawsuit that seeks to hold the company responsible for the opioid addiction crisis.

Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin and has been the subject of legal action in nearly every state.

Attorney General Keith Ellison wants to add eight members of the Sackler family to Minnesotas lawsuit. He says the Sacklers, who own and operate Purdue, were involved in deceptive marketing tactics and strategies to sell more opioids, despite knowing the risks.

If a judge approves, Minnesota would become at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more members of the Sackler family.

A family spokeswoman issued a statement denying the allegations, calling the lawsuit a misguided attempt to place blame where it doesnt belong.

Man holed up in hotel surrenders to police

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BROOKLYN PARK  Authorities say a standoff at a Brooklyn Park hotel ended after more than six hours when a man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend surrendered to police.

SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called to the La Quinta Inn early Friday after a woman reported she was being assaulted by her boyfriend and threatened with a gun. Police say the standoff began at 3:30 a.m. and ended when the man was arrested at about 9:50 a.m.

Authorities say the woman was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police say the 31-year-old suspect was not carry9ing a gun but it was unclear if there were any weapons in the room.

The suspect, who has not been formally charged, has previous convictions for drug possession, motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, making terroristic threats, drunken driving and burglary.

Jail inmate accused of running prostitution ring

MORA  An inmate at the Kanabec County Jail is charged with running a prostitution ring from his cell.

Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Ellington is charged in Washington County District Court with two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of promotion of prostitution.

Prosecutors say Ellington communicated with a prostitute by text and "promoted and profited" from her activities in Woodbury last month.

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East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force director Imran Ali says Ellington was 100 miles away and incarcerated, yet was promoting prostitution and profiting from it. The task force began investigating after a Woodbury detective found an online ad entitled "Blonde Bombshell."

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Kanabec County Sheriff Brian Smith says Ellington used a jail-issued iPod to text and paid a certain price for each message.

 Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS  A German scholar testified Tuesday that it's possible to de-radicalize violent Muslim extremists using the same techniques developed in Europe to help neo-Nazis break with their pasts.

Daniel Koehler appeared before U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, who in November will sentence nine Minnesota men who were convicted of plotting to join the Islamic State group. Davis asked Koehler to individually evaluate the six defendants who pleaded guilty and face maximum potential sentences of 15 years. Three other defendants, who went to trial and face potential life sentences, were not evaluated.

Koehler, who directs the German Institute on Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies in Stuttgart, said the United States doesn't currently have any de-radicalization programs like those in Europe and Canada. He said the only people in the U.S. who are trained for that role are 20 to 25 federal parole officers in Minnesota whom he trained himself in preparation for starting a program here.

Prosecutors say the nine young men were friends in Minnesota's sizeable Somali community who recruited or inspired each other to travel to Syria. None of them succeeded in leaving the U.S., though some of their other friends did. The six pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The other three were each convicted of that plus a more serious count of conspiracy to commit murder overseas.

Koehler said there are strong similarities between how neo-Nazis and white supremacists get radicalized and how some Muslims are drawn to extremist groups such as the Islamic State, though their ideologies are different. He said people drawn to these movements come to see them as the solution to their own personal problems as well as the problems of their society as a whole, and they come to view violence as a necessary way to achieve change.

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Similarly, he said, there are parallels in the things that make people want to leave these groups, and well-designed programs can take advantage of them. Those programs use a combination of the person's self-motivation to change, counseling, and support systems such as families.

"You can work with part of these individuals, not all of them but some of them," he said.

To assess the six men, Koehler interviewed them, their parents and siblings. When possible, he also interviewed imams, probation officers and others. He said he had access to all of the men's court files and other records, and he examined statements they made while plotting to join the Islamic State. Among the things he tried to determine were whether they credibly rejected violence and took responsibility for their actions. He assigned risk levels to each defendant and also developed counseling plans for them.

Koehler rated at least one of the six as high risk, Abdirizak Warsame. While Warsame testified in the trial of the other three defendants, prosecutors say he was also a leader of the group.

Koehler rated Zacharia Abdurahman and Hamza Ahmed as medium-to-high risk, and Abdullahi Yusuf as low-to-medium risk. His reports on the two others will be discussed when the hearing resumes Tuesday.

The risk levels are based on their level of radicalization and their potential for rehabilitation, he said. People at the low end have already disengaged from their groups and their ideologies but those rated high show little remorse or guilt, nor any visible signs of turning away from radicalism, he said.

Davis made it clear that he's thinking carefully about the most appropriate sentences for the six, who were all present in his courtroom Tuesday. He said his primary job is to make sure the community is safe, and he knows all six will be released eventually.

The judge also noted that he earlier handled 12 cases of Minnesotans convicted for their roles in supporting the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab, and that some of those defendants will go free soon.

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The federal sentencing guidelines recommend the 15-year maximum for these six defendants, Davis said. He's free to hand down shorter sentences, and to consider whether they helped the government prosecute the other defendants and additional factors. But he said deviating too far from accepted norms could result in sentences getting overturned on appeal.
Negotiators for Allina Health and the nurses union resume contract talks today  three weeks after more than 4,000 hospital nurses went on strike over health benefits.

A federal mediator called negotiators back to the bargaining table last week, but that doesn't mean the two sides are ready to cut a deal.

Both Allina and the Minnesota Nurses Association have been loathe to make the first move in resuming contract negotiations after a 22-hour bargaining session in early September.

Instead, a federal mediator now has taken that first step for them. The invitation came as the number of nurses willing to cross the picket line has grown steadily to 567, according to Allina.

However, that's not a factor in the union's calculations, nurse negotiator Angela Becchetti said, and nurses have not softened their contract demands.

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"They're hoping that Allina will actually sit and negotiate with them," Becchetti said. "But I think they're resolved to sit there and continue to walk that picket line until their concerns are met."

The two parties are at loggerheads over Allina's demand that nurses give up their expensive and generous union-only health plans for less expensive, less generous corporate coverage.

If a deal isn't reached soon, striking nurses will lose the employer-paid portion of their health insurance on Saturday. Nurses could retain their insurance by paying the full premium, but that could be up to $2,500 for a month of family coverage.

Even so, Becchetti said that looming deadline won't affect the union's strategy in negotiations: "Oct. 1 I don't think is going to be that big of an issue because these nurses have found other ways to get through it during this time."

Some nurses have found replacement coverage, Becchetti said, and others plan to go without because they can get it back if they need it  at least through November. Federal law allows someone to restore their insurance retroactively if they pay the full premium within 60 days of coverage ending.

The union has said for weeks that it's Allina's turn to counter the nurses latest proposal.

Allina spokesman David Kanihan declined to say what the company's next move would be.

"I would just say we're going in prepared to work hard to reach a deal, and we hope the union feels likewise," Kanihan said.

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From Allina's perspective, Kanihan said, the two sides are not that far apart. They've already reached agreement in principle on adding 24/7 security to hospital emergency departments and a 2 percent annual wage increase for nurses, in addition to pay bumps based on seniority.

He says the main sticking point now is how  not whether  to shift nurses to corporate coverage.

Nurses want to be compensated for losing benefits, and they want a say on any future changes to coverage.

Allina rejected those demands. Still, Kanihan thinks a compromise is possible.

"I think if we find a willing partner on Tuesday we'll be able to wrap this up and get our nurses back to the bedside," he said.

Right now, the signals coming from the union and Allina make it hard to gauge the likelihood of that occurring.

Monday night, in what could be seen as a provocative move, the union announced a rally for this morning outside the annual meeting of General Mills, where Allina's board chair is an executive.

University of Minnesota labor expert John Budd said the indicator to watch for progress at the table is the duration of talks.

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Fruitful negotiations usually take time, he said.

"We could watch and see how long they stay behind closed doors. Longer would be better because presumably that means they're talking and trying to make progress," Budd said. "If they both show up expecting the other side to make a big change and neither of them does, and they leave after an hour or something, then that's a bad sign."

At the very least, Budd said, it's a good sign that both parties are willing to go back to the bargaining table because it's the only way to reach a settlement.
While renewable energy producers supported the intent of Bill 363-33, the Guam Power Authority and regulatory agencies expressed concerns over certain provisions included in the measure, which seeks to require the utility agency to develop and file a proposed community-based renewable energy tariff for virtual net metering subject to public utilities commission approval.

Also known as the Community Equal Access to Affordable Renewable Energy Act of 2016, the measure introduced by Sen. Dennis Rodriguez seeks to implement a community-based program which it calls a virtual net metering by dramatically expanding the market for eligible renewable energy resources to include residential and business renters, occupants of residential and commercial buildings with shaded or improperly oriented roofs, and other groups who are unable to access the benefits of onsite renewable energy generation.

According to the measure, broader participation in self-generation by Guam residents and businesses will be done through the development of community-based renewable energy facilities by which participants are entitled to generate electricity and receive credit for the electricity on their utility bills.

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The bill also requires GPA to update the islands current Renewable Portfolio Standards, or RPS  upping the original goal of 5 percent of net electricity sales by Dec. 31, 2017, to 10 percent; 15 percent by the end of 2022; 20 percent by the end of 2027; 25 percent by the end of 2032; and 30 percent by the end of 2037.

Testimony

Several renewable energy providers submitted positive testimony on the bill. Joe Rosario, marketing director of Micronesia Renewable Energy, said how virtual net metering is implemented can be discussed once the bill is passed.

"Focus on the intent, whether or not you are going to support this measure," Rosario said. "I strongly believe that your decision on whether to vote for or against this bill should be decided based on the number of island residents that will benefit. If we are going to talk about renters of homes, apartments, condominiums, those with tin-roof structures, then we are looking at thousands when we include their family. Do the math."

Meanwhile, Karl R. Rabago, principal at Rabago Energy LLC and executive director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center at the Pace Law School in White Plains, New York, said in written testimony that the draft legislation marks a significant step forward in clean energy policy for Guam. He added the legislation will provide a foundation for accelerated growth and reliance on clean energy for the island, and will establish Guam as a leader in showing the way for responsible management of its energy future and its climate footprint.

For the power authority and regulatory agencies, there are several provisions in the bill the should be addressed or clarified.

Frederick Horecky, PUC legal counsel and administrative law judge, read testimony from Jeffrey Johnson, commission chairman.

The PUC has been a supporter of incorporating solar power with fossil fuel generation on Guam. It has been proactive in that regard, and it has worked to establish the net metering program. In no manner is the PUC opposed to any type of power, including solar power. Its main goal is to ensure that whatever power is produced, is efficient, reliable and at the cheapest rate possible for rate payers, Horecky said.

Concerns

However, he expressed concerns over its provisions that would impose new duties and responsibilities on the commission, noting that the body operates on a minimal budget and has limited staffing resources.

He said while the PUC is in full agreement that the legislature has the power to change the RPS  and it has no objection to the increase  they have concerns over the requirement that the commission conduct expensive studies on the standards.

It should not require the PUC to conduct expensive, five-year studies on whether the renewable standards are good or not or need to be revised," he said. "We would have difficulty doing this because we would have to go out and hire consultants. Each time you do something like that, there is going to be a high price tag.

John Benavente, GPA general manager, said the power authority is also concerned with several provisions in the bill. He said the bill "attempts to tell these entities (GPA, CCU and PUC) what to do and also how to do things, prescribing responsibilities that limit the three entities, noting the measure does not reflect the longstanding processes the three entities have.
Every observation, thought or prediction I have had on the course of political events this year may have proved wrong. My observations here can therefore probably serve most usefully as a contrary indicator, but I had a few watching last nights incredibly painful debate and at this point I can only say I hope Im wrong.

If you either support the defeat of Hillary Clinton or the election of Donald Trump as president, or both, I dont know how it would be possible not to be disgusted by Trumps performance last night. Disappointment doesnt capture it.

Trump turned in the worst debate performance by a presidential candidate since the modern era of these televised events in 1960, and Trumps was the worst by a long shot. What to compare it to? In my mind it harked back to President Fords liberation of Poland in his 1976 debate against Jimmy Carter, but Trumps disaster was far worse. Ford was an incumbent president and a transparently decent man. He had nothing to prove in that regard or in his ability to discharge the duties of the office.

Not so the case with Trump. He had something to prove and he botched it. Repeatedly.

On the defensive, Trump responded at length with monologues that confirmed and amplified the charges against him. He hasnt released his tax returns? He doesnt pay taxes because hes smart.

His properties have discriminated in renting to blacks? The company was just one defendant in a multiparty suit that was settled without an admission of guilt.

His advocacy of the birther cause demeaned our first black president? He did Obama a favor by compelling him to release his birth certificate.

He didnt oppose the Iraq war at the time? Here he did not confirm or amplify the charge but rather chose to defend himself at bizarre length, citing Howard Stern and Sean Hannity along the way. Is anyone beyond the circle of a few former Bush administration officials going to vote for or against Trump because of his alleged position on this point? Get a grip, man.

As the wreck continued at what felt to me like excruciating length, I reflected that, in Trumps case, character is destiny. His vanity drew him into misjudgments and missed opportunities at virtually every turn. He could not let it (any of it go). He had to vindicate himself, even if he lacked the perspective to see that his attempts at self-vindication worked out more like self-incrimination.

Secretary Clinton seemed to me poised, self-disciplined and prepared. While she couldnt entirely control her smirking, and while some of her canned lines flopped, she excelled by contrast with Trump. She largely suppressed her inner Nurse Ratched. She demonstrated the uses of suppression and discipline in the service of a bad cause. She didnt let it all hang out. She kept most of it in.

Edmund Burkes famous defense of party came to mind last night: No man, who is not inflamed by vain-glory into enthusiasm, can flatter himself that his single, unsupported, desultory, unsystematic endeavours, are of power to defeat the subtle designs and united cabals of ambitious citizens. When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. Trump seems to flatter himself that his desultory, unsystematic endeavors can defeat the subtle designs and united cabals of his ambitious opponents.

Through the primary season I worried that Trump would prove a disgrace and embarrassment to the issues he purports to care about (the issues I care about, the issues articulated by Steves friend Decius). I thought we saw something of that last night more or less minus the issues.
PR-Inside.com: 2016-09-27 15:06:01

Mexico remains Dubais second-largest trade partner in Latin America, with re-exports surging 246% between 2010 and 2015

Dubai-Mexico Trade Shows Double-Digit Growth Ahead of Global Business Forum on Latin America

Dubai Chamber

Ruba Abdel Halim, +971-4-202-8450

Manager-PR & Corporate Communications

ruba.halim@dubaichamber.com

Mexico maintained its position as Dubais second-largest trade partner in Latin America during 2015, accounting for 30% of the emirates imports from the region, and 13% of its exports over the year.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201609270057

The volume of non-oil trade between Dubai and Mexico grew at an average annual growth rate of 17.6% between 2010 and 2015, reaching $1.33 billion last year.

Re-exports soared 246% to $37.5 million over the same period. Imports and exports, meanwhile, grew by 18.3% and 21.2%, respectively, to reach $1.25 billion and $30 million.

These trade figures have been released by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry as it prepares to host the Global Business Forum on Latin [..] on November 9-10, at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai, under the theme of Shifting Synergies.

Last year, Dubai imported $353 million worth of telephone sets and $105 million worth of motor vehicles from Mexico. Major exports include unwrought aluminum and polymers of ethylene, while gold also constituted a major import.

As our second-largest trade partner in Latin America, we know we can count on Mexico to play a key role in our efforts to expand our operations in the region, said His Excellency Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber.

We look forward to welcoming our Mexican partners at the Global Business Forum on Latin America in Dubai this November.

Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Forum seeks to explore new investment and business opportunities between Latin America and the Middle East.

More than 500 prominent stakeholders are expected to take part in the event, including heads of state, policymakers, CEOs, business leaders, investors, industry professionals, in addition to heads of private banks, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms.

As Mexico looks to boost economic cooperation under the Pacific Alliance with Chile, Colombia, and Peru, this development will no doubt create new investment and trade opportunities between the continent and businesses in the GCC region.

Website for Global Business Forum on Latin America: http://www.gbflatinamerica.com

*Source: ME NewsWire

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201609270057
PR-Inside.com: 2016-09-27 16:41:01

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Press release from Elanders AB (publ) 2016-09-27

The prospectus relating to Elanders' rights issue has now been published and is held available on the company's website, www.elanders.com , as well as on SEB's website, www.sebgroup.com/prospectuses . The prospectus can also be ordered from Elanders by telephone +46 31 750 07 21.

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In the United Kingdom, this communication is only being distributed to, and is only directed at "qualified investors" (as defined in section 86(7) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) who are (i) investment professionals falling within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not take any action on the basis of this communication and should not act or rely on it or any of its contents.

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

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The president of African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, says the bank has a portfolio of $4.1 billion dollars to support Nigerias new lending operations from 2016 to 2017.

Mr. Adesina said this while addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja.

He said the bank had a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the economic management team as well as other cabinet members to discuss the challenges facing Nigeria.

All in all we have a portfolio of $4.1 billion dollars from 2016 to 2017 but we intend to raise it to a portfolio of $10 billion dollars in 2019 for Nigeria to work with government to deepen investment.

Times are hard in Nigeria but I want to assure you that Nigeria does not have debt crisis but revenue challenge.

The problem that Nigeria faces is the low productivity and low revenue earning profile.

It will take more than government to come out of recession and we believe strongly that the private sector has an important role to play.

So what is needed for Nigeria is not only to spend its way out of recession but to incentivise its way out of the recession, Mr. Adesina said.

He commended President Muhammdu Buhari for the measures already taken to ensure economic growth, especially the devaluation of Naira and the removal of subsidy.

According to him, the bank is going to give a general budget support facility for Nigeria for $1 billion dollars to help the government deal with the current revenue situation.

We are going to be supporting agricultural sector; we plan to invest 300 million dollars in agriculture through the ENABLE youth which is to develop the new generation commercial farmers.

Our goal is to create 1000 youth entrepreneurs in agribusiness per state of the federation, making a total of 37,000.

Mr. Adesina said the bank would provide $250 million for the Northeast integrated infrastructure development programme to support the rehabillation of the Northeast.

He added that the focus would be on water, health, sanitation, artisanal skills, entrepreneurship and social amenities for the IDPs.

Mr. Adesina said the bank would also provide 200 million dollars to support agriculture through the agricultural transformation agenda support programme.

He said that the bank would provide 300 million dollars for Abuja infrastructure project to provide water, sanitation, roads and electricity for four satellite towns of Abuja.

Nigeria is facing headwinds but with the right incentives the country can get out of the recession with a more balanced economy.

Nigeria must reap the dividends of Naria devaluation, for the country needs to incentivise its way out of recession, he added.

(NAN)
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has rejected the suggestion for the sale of Nigerias asset as a way of reviving the economy.

The ACF said in a separate statement that Nigeria was not for sale.

The group said that selling national asset, such as airports, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and refineries was like selling Nigeria.

The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, said the previous sale of national asset had not helped the country economically.

Mr. Ibrahim said that selling NLNG and four refineries would only strip the country of vital asset without requisite funds going into the public treasury.

The growing calls by some prominent politicians and business tycoons on the Federal Government to consider the sale of strategic viable national assets  at this material time is inappropriate, he said.

Mr. Ibrahim said past privatisation of national enterprises did not yield the desired result in terms of judicious use of proceeds by the government or management practices of the asset by the new owners.

He listed some public enterprises sold in the past, including Nigeria Airways, Nigerian National Shipping Line, Ajaokuta Steel Company, NITEL, and Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

He said the sale of the enterprises to selected Nigerians and their foreign collaborators in the spirit of privatisation, only succeeded in converting public enterprises to private ones and some later became comatose.

The ones that survived, their service delivery cannot be said to be better.

ACF, therefore, considers it unwise for the Federal Government to contemplate the selling of our major national assets like the oil refineries, federal airports and NLNG, Mr. Ibrahim said.

The Federal Governments diversification policy in agriculture and solid mineral resources is aimed at boosting the economy to arrest the recession.

ACF wishes to suggest that unnecessary allowances of public officers and overhead cost that form over 40 per cent of our annual budget should be converted to capital allocation to boost the economy, Mr. Ibrahim said.

He called for sacrifice in order to bequeath an enduring legacy to the next generation and stressed that positive change usually comes with painful necessary sacrifice.

He said ACF supported some of the measures proposed by the National Economic Council.

He called on prominent businessmen and women to invest in the oil and gas industry and other businesses that would compete with public enterprises to boost the economy.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it will soon convene a meeting with foreign airline operators over their alleged rejection of naira payment for flight tickets.

Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, said this in Lagos on Tuesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr. Adurogboye confirmed that the NCAA had received complaints from some passengers, adding that they had the right to make payments in naira.

He, however, noted that the industry was facing some challenges, particularly the scarcity of foreign exchange and inability of foreign airlines to repatriate their funds.

The truth is that the airlines are beginning to reject the naira because of the special circumstances that they have found themselves.

In the BASA agreement, when you sell your tickets, you should be able to repatriate your money; but presently, the airlines are finding it hard to take their money home.

So this problem has arisen now and we are looking at how to find a workable solution to it.

We will be meeting with the airlines soon because this situation is exceptional and we cannot just wield the big stick against them, Mr. Adurogboye said.

He said the Federal Government was also taking measures to ameliorate the subsisting foreign exchange issues, adding that the inability of the airlines to repatriate their money was not deliberate.

Some airlines are allegedly accepting payments made only with credit cards or dollars.

The practice however, contravenes the Central Bank of Nigerias (CBN) prerequisite guiding cost of products or services in Nigeria which directs that pricing of any product shall continue to be in Naira only.

It is also contrary to the provisions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and other countries as contained in Article 8 (4). (NAN)
The National Tax Policy Review Committee has advised the federal government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to improve revenue generation and accountability.

The recommendation was contained in the draft tax policy presented at the committees second stakeholders engagement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Review Committee, Abiola Sanni, said the committees decision was informed by the need to improve revenue generation in the economy.

The National Tax Policy was first published in 2012 by the federal government to entrench a robust and efficient tax system in Nigeria.

It is not clear whether the government will accept the recommendations.

Taiwo Oyedele, who is a member of the committee, and the West Africa Tax Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taiwo Oyedele, said his committee reached a consensus for the current system to develop capacity to check multi-taxation, tax evasion and wastage.

Part of our recommendations was for FIRS and Customs to be merged, Mr. Oyedele said. But, not just the two agencies. All revenue generating agencies at the federal level should be merged into one.

Mr. Oyedele said what is currently obtained in the system was grossly ineffective, considering the duplicity of the tax collection mechanism.

All the structures in the FIRS were replicated in Customs, resulting in cost of collection going up. It also makes it easier for tax evaders to manipulate the system and get away with it. No one can provide information for Customs and FIRS.

He said having only one revenue agency would ensure all information about a taxpayer were known when he or she has paid their tax, while ensuring leakages in the system were reduced.

Details of the committee report also included recommendation for the introduction of tax amnesty programme where some companies or individuals, who may have bene afraid to join the tax net in the past, would be asked to pay past tax liabilities.

However, a tax amnesty, he explained would reassure the public past offences would be forgiven, to help government expand its tax net.

Other key recommendations of the draft policy included establishment of taxation committee at national, and state assemblies, administrative framework for amnesty and whistle blowing.

The committee said these were necessary to move Nigeria from its current 181 position out of 189 countries, to top 50 on the Ease of Paying Taxes World Report.
The conviction and sentencing of Ahmad Al Faqi Al-Mahdi, a senior member of the Ansar Eddine armed group, by the International Criminal Court, must be the first step towards broader accountability for all crimes committed during Malis 2012 conflict, Amnesty International said.

The ICC sentenced Al-Mahdi to nine years imprisonment for intentionally directing attacks against religious buildings and historical monuments in the northern town of Timbuktu between June and July 2012. Al-Mahdi admitted his guilt to the court.

This verdict is a clear recognition that attacks on religious and historical monuments can destroy the culture and identity of a population and constitute crimes under international law, said Erica Bussey, Amnesty Internationals Senior Legal Advisor.

This positive development should not let us lose sight of the fact that hundreds of civilians were murdered, tortured and raped during the 2012 conflict in Mali. The ICC should therefore continue to investigate crimes committed by all sides to the conflict.

Although the ICCs preliminary investigation found that there was a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes including murder, rape and torture had been committed in Mali since 2012, it has not issued any further arrest warrants. Domestic attempts to ensure accountability have also been limited.

The situation in Mali was referred to the ICC by the government in July 2012. The ICC commenced its investigations in January 2013, with a focus on war crimes committed in Mali since 2012.

An arrest warrant for Al-Mahdi was issued on September 18, 2015, and he was arrested in Niger and transferred to The Hague on 26 September 2015.

The charges against him were confirmed by a Pre-Trial Chamber on March 24, 2016. The trial opened on August 22 and eight victims participated in the proceedings.

This is the first guilty plea at the ICC. In the plea agreement, Al-Mahdi agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentence if it was within the range of nine to 11 years.

The Malian authorities have only made very limited attempts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for serious crimes since the 2012 conflict.

Moreover, in 2015, the authorities freed at least 200 detainees, including several allegedly implicated in crimes under international law during the 2012-2013 armed conflict.
Todays International Criminal Court (ICC) conviction of Ahmad Al Faqi Al-Mahdi, a senior member of the Ansar Eddine armed group, must be the first step towards broader accountability for all crimes committed during Malis 2012 conflict, Amnesty International said.

The ICC sentenced Mr. Al-Mahdi to 9 years imprisonment for intentionally directing attacks against religious buildings and historical monuments in the northern town of Timbuktu between June and July 2012. Mr. Al-Mahdi admitted his guilt to the court.

This verdict is a clear recognition that attacks on religious and historical monuments can destroy the culture and identity of a population and constitute crimes under international law, said Erica Bussey, Amnesty Internationals Senior Legal Advisor.

This positive development should not let us lose sight of the fact that hundreds of civilians were murdered, tortured and raped during the 2012 conflict in Mali. The ICC should therefore continue to investigate crimes committed by all sides to the conflict.

Although the ICCs preliminary investigation found that there was a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes including murder, rape and torture had been committed in Mali since 2012, it has not issued any further arrest warrants. Domestic attempts to ensure accountability have also been limited.

Amnesty International considers that it is crucial that the ICCs Office of the Prosecutor, domestic judicial authorities in Mali and the international community as a whole ensure accountability for all crimes under international law, including murder, enforced disappearances, rape and other sexual violence, and torture that have been committed in the country since 2012, including by government forces.

Background

The situation in Mali was referred to the ICC by the government in July 2012. The ICC commenced its investigations in January 2013, with a focus on war crimes committed in Mali since 2012.

An arrest warrant for Mr. Al-Mahdi was issued on September 18, 2015, and he was arrested in Niger and transferred to The Hague on September 26, 2015. The charges against him were confirmed by a Pre-Trial Chamber on March 24, 2016. The trial opened on August 22 and eight victims participated in the proceedings.

This is the first guilty plea at the ICC. In the plea agreement, Mr. Al-Mahdi agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentence if it was within the range of 9 to 11 years.

The Malian authorities have only made very limited attempts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for serious crimes since the 2012 conflict. Moreover, in 2015, the authorities freed at least 200 detainees, including several allegedly implicated in crimes under international law during the 2012-2013 armed conflict.

The peace agreement provides for an international Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of sexual violence; but it has not yet been set up.
Hillary Clinton, the United States Democratic Party presidential candidate, prepared for Mondays first presidential debate like a champion pugilist. There was no room for slacking. She was going toe to toe with an opponent known for lashing and steep in unconventional debating tactics.

Days before Mondays night debate, words filtered in that she had decided to prepare for the debate by choosing to spar with someone who was going to mirror the brash and antagonistic approach of her opponent. There could not have been a better strategy. It worked and she scored a technical knockout.

Mrs. Clinton walked onto the stage with a smile that exuded more confidence than that of her opponent, Donald Trump, the Republican Party candidate, who appeared too self-aware of the enormity of the task at hand.

NBCs Lester Holt, the moderator, began the debate by asking the candidates to talk about their plans of creating jobs. Mrs. Clinton, who spoke first, humanised her plans by making reference to her granddaughters birthday. She followed it up by explaining how she intended to raise minimum wage, and improve the working conditions of American families.

It was immediately easy to see the influence of the programme of her contender during the long-drawn Democratic Party primary election, Bernie Sanders, on her plans. She said her opponents plan of creating jobs will only benefit rich people and leave members of the middle class in the lurch. With reference to Mr Trumps privileged background, she denounced his plans of cutting taxes for the rich so that they can create jobs. She described the plans as Trumped Up, Trickle Down.

She explained that she would build on the recent economic success of the Obama administration by making the rich pay more taxes.

Just like he had done throughout his campaign, Mr Trump, kicked off by talking about how Americans are losing jobs to Mexicans and Chinese. He repeated the word Mexicans at least five times within the two minutes window he had to answer the question. Without stating how, he promised to stop China and Mexico from taking American jobs if elected president.

He said he was going to renegotiate the US trade deal with China and Mexico. Mr. Trump blamed politicians like Hillary Clinton for causing the job losses in Michigan. With the aim of pushing Mrs Clinton to the corner, he asked her achievement in job creation in the last 30 years she has been a politician.

She expertly avoided the curveball, saying during the tenure of her husband as president, lots of jobs were created and the economy did well.

At this stage, she appeared to be on the defensive, but managed to dodge jabs and hooks thrown at her. She looked too cool for comfort. But it was a ploy. It worked, Mr. Trump was caught napping several times. And she punished him with excellent one-liners.

Donald I know you are living up your own reality, she said, countering the points made by her opponent as inaccurate.

That statement clearly angered Mr Trump, who before now has managed to keep his outbursts on a leash. He became visibly angry and went on a wild attack, his voice now several decibels higher. But Mrs. Clintons smile remained unshaken.

On why he hasnt released his tax details, Mr Trump said his tax returns were under audit and he would release them after the audit, against the wishes of his lawyers.

In order to rattle his opponent, he promised to release his tax returns if she agreed to release several volumes of emails found in her private server.

This definitely wasnt going to look good for Mrs Clinton. Her use of a private email server, while she was Secretary of State, had prompted a Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, investigation that barely exonerated her. The private email trailed her throughout the campaign like flies buzzing around the bleeding ears of an errant dog. She has been unable to shake the matter off.

But she managed to shake off the punch. She said she made a mistake of setting up a private server for her official email and that she would do things differently if given the chance again.

While pointing out Mr. Trumps admiration of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, she blamed the recent hacking of emails on Russia. Mr. Trump replied by saying there was nothing that suggested that Russia was responsible for the hacking adding that it could have been done by the Chinese, or somebody sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pound. His comment on the body weight drew sighs of condemnation from the audience at the debate.

On race, Mr. Trump tried to pin Mrs. Clinton to the corner for reffering to blacks as super-predators during her original presidential bid in 2008.

He argued that in order to stamp out crime in black communities he would push for law and order. He then suggested that he would re-introduce the controversial stop-frisk, in crime-ridden cities like Chicago; in order to cut down the number of deaths and protect police officers. Mr. Holt reminded the Republican candidate that a court had ruled stop-and-frisk unconstitutional.

Conversely, Mrs. Clinton projected a reconciliatory approach. She talked about her plans to improve police-community relationship. She said she would increase background check instead of adopting the stop-and-frisk proposed by her rival. She advocated increased background checks and said she would make sure that those on terror watch lists are unable to buy guns.

If you are unsafe to fly you should not be able to buy guns, she said.

During an exchange between both candidates, Mrs. Clinton rebuked her opponent saying: I think Donald just criticised me for preparing for this debate, you know what else I am prepared for? I prepare to be president.

On the rise of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, Mr. Trump blamed Mrs. Clinton and President Barack Obama for withdrawing U.S. soldiers from the region and creating a vacuum that allowed the group to flourish. He also added that had the U.S. government taken the oil from the region, ISIS wouldnt have got the incentive to capture large swaths of land in the region.

In conclusion Mr. Trump aid Mrs. Clinton was unfit to be president because she lacked the stamina required for the job, perhaps a reference to questions about her health.

Mrs. Clinton countered the comment, saying she had the stamina to negotiate several deals as Secretary of State, plus she withstood 11 hours of congressional question on her use of private server for official emails. But Mr. Trump retorted by saying the experience she had were negative ones.

In all, Mr. Trumps showing during the debate was true to form and predictable. He lashed out, he attacked and tried to throw his opponent off-balance but Mrs. Clinton came prepared.

With a smiling face, she delivered well-timed one-liners that visibly rattled her rival and at times she, the respected school teacher, seemed to be scolding her rival, the class bully.
Thirteen Afghan army soldiers were killed in their sleep after two fellow soldiers poisoned them and later opened fire on them in Afghanistans embattled northern Kunduz province, officials said on Tuesday.

Gen. Dawlat Wazir, the spokesman for the ministry of defence, said the ministry has launched an investigation into the incident.

The two soldiers deserted the small base after killing their fellow troops in Zakhil area on the outskirts of Kunduz city, the capital of the province.

We have sent a team to the area to investigate the matter, Wazir said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, but said the base was attacked by its troops and all weapons were seized.

A provincial council member from the province, Amruddin Wali, said the two soldiers were affiliated with the Taliban.

Wali noted that the defense ministry however has not clarified the soldiers affiliation with the insurgent group yet. (dpa/NAN)
The Nigerian Senate has rejected the proposed sale of national asset by the federal government.

The Senate took the decision on Tuesday at the resumed plenary after extensive deliberation.

The Buhari administration has proposed the sell some asset to revive the economy. But many Nigerians are opposed to the plan, arguing that previous sales barely helped the nations economy.

The government has suggested that if it eventually adopts the policy, it would insist on a re-purchase clause.

More details later.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, has said he would not immediately react to a scathing allegation leveled against him by a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

Mr. Oyegun said he would perhaps make his position clear after the Edo State election on Wednesday.

Mr. Tinubu came down hard on Mr. Oyegun in a lengthy statement Sunday evening, accusing the party chairman of betrayal and fraud. He also rejected the unofficial national leader title conferred on him by the party members.

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, Mr. Tinubu said. 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.

Mr. Oyegun played down Mr. Tinubus statement in a brief exchange with reporters in Benin, the Edo State capital, saying he would rather focus on the gubernatorial election that is underway across the state.

We dont want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all have worked hard for this, Mr. Oyegun said. But may be after Edo elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised.

Mr. Oyegun, nonetheless, denied the allegations as raised by Mr. Tinubu.

All I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primaries must be taken seriously, he said.

Mr. Oyegun said considering the position of Mr. Tinubu in the APC, he would have to make wider consultation before issuing a response even after the election in Edo.

Asiwaju is a well-respected leader of our party so, I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I have to consult properly with other leaders of the party before we make any definite statement, Mr. Oyegun said.

Supporters Mr. Oyegun and Mr. Tinubu have queued behind the two politicians in the standoff.

On Monday evening, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Timi Frank, joined Mr. Tinubu and openly called for Mr. Oyeguns resignation, accusing him lacking leadership qualities.

As far as I am aware, APC under Oyegun has not been able to resolve one crisis in this party, Mr. Frank said.

APC United Front, a pressure group of politicians from the Northeast Zone of the party, on Tuesday warned Mr. Tinubu not to allow his selfish interest to destroy the party.

The group described Mr. Oyegun as honest, dedicated, committed, and God fearing.

The crisis has generated conversations about the future of the ruling party, and the likelihood of it imploding barely three years after it was established, and over a year after winning the presidential election.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned a former Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jibrin, before a court in Abuja on corruption charges.

Mr. Jibrin, a retired vice admiral, was arraigned alongside two others: Bala Mshelia and Shehu Ahmadu, both retired rear admirals.

They were arraigned before Justice A. Umar of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja on a 4-count charge of criminal conspiracy.

They were docked alongside Habour Bay International Limited.

The former senior naval officers are accused of buying a house worth N600 million from the account of Naval Engineering Services. The purchase was not captured in the budget.

Instead, the documentation of transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by Mr. Jibrins family became the buyer.

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Abdullah Faruk, asked the court for a date for commencement of trial.

However, Y. C. Maikyau, representing the first and fourth accused, through an oral application made pursuant to Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, sought for the bail of his clients.

Mr. Maikyau told the court that the defendants had been enjoying administrative bail granted them by the EFCC and had never breached any of its terms.

The counsel said that though he had earlier filed and served the prosecution with a formal bail application, he felt the need to move an oral application subject to the discretion of the court.

Counsel representing second and third accused relied on the same arguments in seeking bail for their clients.

In response, Mr. Faruk told the court that, he was served the notice Tuesday morning and asked for time to enable him respond appropriately.

After listening to the submissions of counsel on both sides, the judge adjourned to Wednesday for bail application hearing.
The Nigeria Army has confirmed an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Kuburvwa village of Chibok local government areas of Borno on Monday.

It said the attack was carried out by a group of hungry Boko Haram gunmen that were out to scavenge for food.

The spokesperson for the army, Sani Usman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the attacks did not lead to any loss of life, and that it was repelled.

PREMIUM TIMES had Monday night reported an ongoing attack on the community.

The insurgents, according to local vigilante operatives, set houses ablaze after villagers fled their homes.

Mr. Usman said in a statement Tuesday that more villages were also attacked by the gunmen. He however said the attackers were repelled by the troops deployed in the area.

BBC Hausa reported that the insurgents had hoisted their flags in the attacked communities.

But an official of the local vigilante, Abbas Gava, who informed PREMIUM TIMES about the attack on Monday, at claim.

Mr. Usman said suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists attacked Kwang village and vigilantes from Dagu (which is about 4 kilometres from Kwang), responded and repelled the terrorists attack.

During the fire fight that ensued, one of the vigilantes sustained gunshot wound on his hand and was evacuated to General Hospital Uba while the terrorists fled with gunshot wounds.

Troops were eventually dispatched to the area with clear orders to pursue and deal with the terrorists. They are still exploiting, he said.

Similarly, same day, at about 4.35pm some suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists attacked Boftari which is about 15 kilometres from Chibok town.

On receipt of the information, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE stationed in Forward Operation Base Chibok, mobilized to the area.

The troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists ambush site shortly before Kuburmbula village. They quickly cleared the ambush and proceeded to Boftari.

Unfortunately, the terrorists had set some houses on fire and fled. The troops put out the fire and are currently on the hunt for the terrorists.

It is imperative to state that contrary to rumours flying around some media reports, no life was lost.

Additionally, there is no presence of the terrorists in any of the villages talk less of hoisting flags as alleged. The troops have continued to maintain high level of vigilance.
A biography of President Muhammadu Buhari, written by an American author, will be presented to the public on October 3 in Abuja.

The book, titled, Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenge of Leadership in Nigeria, is written by John Paden, a Professor of International Studies who has deep knowledge of Nigeria and its leaders.

Mr. Paden is also the author of a book: Ahmadu Bello: Sardauna of Sokoto, a biography of the late Premier of the North with emphasis on Values and Leadership in Nigeria which he wrote in 1986.

Mr. Buharis biography is expected to be presented at the International Conference Centre Abuja, with the president himself expected to be in attendance.

Sources at the Presidential Villa told PREMIUM TIMES that although Mr. Buhari has signified his intention to attend the Book launch, he has however, given directive that the event should not be an official event.

The President has personally written to all the governors intimating them about the launch and asking them to kindly attend if they have the time, a source said.

We also gathered that Mr. Paden is well known to the president for over thirty years which made it easy for him to have access to the president to gather inputs for the book.

The president gave him unfettered access and has had long interviews. He really encouraged him by giving him audience, our source said.

Details or summary of the book has not been made available yet. The author also told PREMIUM TIMES that he would not grant interviews until after the launch.

Some of the Books written by Mr. Paden include: Postelection Conflict Management in Nigeria: The Challenge of National Unity, Faith and Politics; Nigeria as a Pivotal State in the Muslim World and Muslim Civic Cultures; and Conflict Resolution: The Challenges of Democratic Federalism in Nigeria.

The Professor is also currently carrying out a research on relations between Muslim sub-cultures in Nigeria. He has also developed a Mason partnership with Usman Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, focusing on conflict resolution, with a focus on inter-faith dialogue.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reassured Nigerians that in spite of the difficulties posed by the current recession, the future of the countrys economy is bright.

The minister gave the reassurance at the celebration of the World Tourism Day 2016 on Tuesday at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister, the Lagos State Deputy Governor,Idiat Adebule, and other dignitaries toured the Eko Atlantic city, a tourism site under construction to mark the day.

Mr. Mohammed noted that the multi-million dollar city, being built wholly by private investors on sand-filled land recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, is a better testimony to his assertion of better days ahead.

It takes an investor to have a great confidence in any economy before putting hundreds of millions of dollars into a city like this.

Those who can see the bright stars in our horizon beyond this temporary cloud of difficulties are investing in the country even as we speak, he said.

Mr. Mohammed appealed to investors to help turn the nations numerous tourist sites to tourist attractions, adding Nigeria is rich in natural and man-made tourist destinations.

He said government would continue to invest massively in infrastructural development for more tourist sites to become accessible to all.

Mr. Mohammed said that World Tourism day, held annually on September 27 for the last quarter of a century, was meant to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic impact.

He reiterated that tourism and the creative industry represented the new oil for the Nigerian economy diversification programme.

Agriculture and mining are viable options, but tourism is the low hanging fruit in this regard, and we must not hesitate to pluck it, he said.

In his remarks, the tour guide, Ronald Chargoury, said that the Eko Atlantic city located adjacent Victoria Island and Lekki covered 10 million square metres.

He said the city would boast of 450,000 residents and 300,000 commuters, and register free economic zone to encourage economic activities.

Mr. Chargoury said the city being developed by the South Energy Nigeria Ltd was 100 per cent privately funded with 8.5 kilometre sea wall tested to withstand the fiercest Atlantic storms.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday said Nigeria will continue to expand its relationship with India in the areas of health, education, agriculture, technology and trade.

Receiving the Indian Vice President, Mohammad Ansari, at the State House, President Buhari said Nigeria had over the years benefited from the cooperation of the Asian country in trade and investment, agriculture, technology and the fight against terrorism.

The President welcomed the proposed investment of $5 billion in the Nigerian economy by the business delegation that accompanied the Vice President, while noting that India had already invested $10 billion in the Nigerian economy.

President Buhari said Nigeria would emulate the Asian countrys agricultural model and capacity to feed its 1 billion population, and also export to other countries, describing the country as sustainable and prosperous.

The President noted that Nigeria would continue to support the reform of the United Nations Security Council, pointing out that it was unfair on the rest of the world for five countries to exercise the power of yes or no in the UN.

In his remarks, the Indian Vice President said his country, which is the leading buyer of Nigerias crude oil, will increase its purchase of the commodity in addition to natural gas.

According to him, the relationship between Nigeria and India is near perfect as both countries have nothing to quarrel about.
The treason trial of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, will still go on despite the withdrawal of another judge from the case, lawyers have said.

Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had on Monday stepped down from the case following a petition by Mr. Kanu to the National Judicial Council, demanding the probe of the judge.

In the petition through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader said the judge gave parallel judgements on the same request, describing it as judicial rascality.

Upon resumption of the matter on Monday, Mr. Ejiofor said after Mr. Tsoho decided in favour of the defence in an application for the protection of witnesses by the prosecution, and later ruled in favour of the prosecution, without seeking the permission of a higher court.

The judge, after stepping aside, vowed not to preside over the case even if it was returned to him.

Even if I am cleared of any bias by the NJC, I will not continue with this case, he said.

Mr. Tsoho was the second judge to hands off the case. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, also of the Federal High Court, withdrew in December 2015, after Mr. Kanu said he had no confidence in him.

The IPOB leader, who has been in detention since October, is facing treason charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government.

Although Mr. Kanu, brought to court when Mr. Tsoho was giving his ruling, was calm, members of his family as well as his supporters were excited over the withdrawal of the judge from the case.

His mother, two sisters and a brother, alongside the supporters were heard hailing the withdrawal of the judge.

Lawyers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, said the withdrawal of the judges would not lead to the termination of the case.

It doesnt end there, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ahamba, said. The chief judge knows what to do. There are many judges in the court. The chief judge will reassign the case to another judge.

Another lawyer, Yusuf Ali, said in such situations, the case file would be sent back to the chief judge to act on.

He said: The case is not terminated. The case file will be sent to the chief judge to reassign.

Mr. Ali however said the case would have to start afresh if the judge that stepped down was already hearing it.

Tunji Abayomi told this newspaper that the case will go back to the judge to be re-assigned.

Another lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said the case would continue until the last judge in the judiciary stepped down from it.

Technically, the case will continue until the last judge in the judiciary withdraws from the case. There are many judges to try the case. The case will continue, Mr. Ogunye said.

In reality however, when judges withdraw from a case it makes it more difficult for other judges to take it because it would appear as if judges are passing buck.

The lawyer explained that judges withdraw from cases upon discovery there was conflict of interest.
Supporting an earlier statement by a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has issued a 14-day notice to John Oyegun, the chairman of the party, to resign.

Mr. Frank said Mr. Tinubus explosive statement Sunday night corroborated earlier grievances he had raised against Mr. Oyegun.

He said Mr. Tinubus statement also gave him another launch pad to demand the chairmans ouster.

The founding father of our party, the national leader of our party has concurred to my earlier call that Oyegun should resign as the national chairman. That should let you know that I foresaw what they didnt see, Mr. Frank said. I am giving Oyegun 14 days from today to convene a NEC meeting to do so.

I have started mobilising NEC members to ensure that the APC leadership is made to do the right thing and summon a NEC meeting.

Mr. Frank said Mr. Oyegun had allegedly failed to show leadership in every crisis the party has faced since its formation three years ago.

As far as I am aware, APC under Oyegun has not been able to resolve one crisis in this party.

Today now it is Tinubu that is shouting, I can bet you, more leaders will still speak out but if we dont do anything to for this man to go.

So, I want to throw my weight behind the call by Tinubu for the national chairman to resign because it has been my earlier position and I still stand by it, Mr. Frank said.

Mr. Tinubu had cited alleged betrayal of trust and manipulation of Ondo State APC primary results as grounds for demanding Mr. Oyeguns resignation.

Mr. Oyegun did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES calls for comment Monday night.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Messrs. Dogara and Tambuwal, who came into the presidential villa together in the Speakers car, refused to comment on the outcome of their meeting with the president.

Mr. Tambuwal, who avoided questions from journalists, however, dismissed the assertion that the meeting discussed the political misunderstanding between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

He said no, I dont know about that.

The meeting, which took place in the presidents office, lasted for about 43 minutes.

There are speculation the meeting was about the wrangling between Mr. Dogara and the houses former appropriation committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Mr. Jibrin has accused the house speaker of budget fraud, an allegation Mr. Dogara denies.

(NAN)
A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday granted a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Ogbonna, a bail of N550,000, for allegedly defrauding a woman of N500,000 after impersonating a Senegalese businessman.

The judge, Umar Kagarko, also ordered the defendant to produce one surety that must reside within the courts jurisdiction.

Mr. Ogbonna of Angwan Cement, Life Camp, Abuja was arraigned on a 10-count charge of joint act, cheating, assembling for purpose of committing brigandage and abetting commission of offence.

Other charges are abduction, wrongful confinement to extort property, wrongful restraint, impersonation and giving false information.

The prosecutor, Umoh Inah, told the court that the complainant, Mary Edet of Katampe, Abuja, reported the case at Wuye Police Station on September 23.

He said the complainant boarded the defendants taxi from Jabi Garage, Abuja, with other syndicate members (Emeka, Nnadi and Matthias) now at large posing as passengers sometime in June 2014.

According to him, the defendant and others fraudulently collected N200,000 from Ms. Edet and subsequently collected another N300, 000 from her, totalling N500,000.

The defendant claimed to be a Senegalese tailor and told the woman that he would supply laptops and Blackberry phones to her but failed to do so.

The woman boarded the defendants taxi again on September 23 from Berger to Life Camp, Abuja, and recognised the defendant.

The defendant and his members noticed this and diverted to Wuye District with the intent to abduct her.

The woman raised an alarm; the defendant was arrested while other members fled, the prosecutor said.

The offences contravened Sections 79, 322, 307, 93, 272, 260, 256, 179, 178 and 80 of the Penal Code.

The defendant pleaded not guilty while the case was adjourned to November 17 for hearing.

(NAN)
The Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rufina Gurumyen, on Monday said that the ministry received reports of over 50 rape cases in the last one year.

Mrs. Gurumyen spoke in Jos while briefing journalists on the states preparation for the launch of its Priority Action Plans on Ending Violence Against Children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the action plan on violence against children follows a survey conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC) in 2014.

The survey revealed that children in Nigeria suffer from different forms of violence; ranging from sexual to physical, emotional and several other types.

She said the ministry, at the inception of her tenure, inherited 63 reported rape cases, bringing the number to 103.

When I assumed office last year, I met 63 rape cases on ground that the ministry was handling.

In the last one year or thereabout that I became the Commissioner in charge of the ministry, 50 cases have been reported to us, she said.

Mrs. Gurumyen said some of the cases reported were treated completely, while others had yet to be completed.

She noted that rape cases were under-reported in the state, as most parents preferred to shield their children for fear of stigmatisation.

The commissioner urged the people to always report any case of rape or other incidence of violence against children to the appropriate authorities. (NAN)
There has been renewed call for oil giant, Mobil Producing Nigeria, to relocate its headquarters from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State where the company has its main operational base.

A group in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Peoples Alliance, NDPA, described it as unfair that Akwa Ibom communities continue to suffer environmental degradation because of Mobils exploration of crude oil, while Lagos was getting most of the financial benefits.

The campaign for the relocation was initiated about 15 years ago by the Akwa Ibom government, under the then governor, Victor Attah, known for his passionate advocacy for resource control. Since then, several groups have lent their voices over the years to the campaign.

But there is nothing to indicate that the company may likely heed such call.

NDPA claimed that in 2016 alone, there were five cases of oil spillage, involving more than 30,000 barrels of crude oil, within the local communities in the state.

The group, which met in Uyo on Wednesday, said in its communique that the oil-rich state wouldnt have been weighed down by dwindling revenue, when it could generate up to N5 billion monthly, if Mobils headquarters were to be in the state.

The communique, signed by the groups Publicity Director, Unyime Isemin, also assessed some moribund companies in the state, and called on President Muhammadu Buharis administration to specifically revoke the privatization of the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi and the Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC) in Oku Iboku.

The group said the government should bring in new companies with capacities to manage them.

These companies were said to have been privatized for about 10 years now, yet none of them has started production, depriving our teeming youth the needed employment opportunity, (and) also depriving the state of the payee and withholding taxes, the group said.

It called on the federal government to extend the clean-up of the Niger Delta to the state, as well as upgrade the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, to a maritime university.

It advised the government not to take the people of the state for granted because of their peaceful disposition.

It is our position that there will be no meaningful and sustainable resolution of (the) Niger Delta struggle without the resolution of items, the group said.
The police on Tuesday embarked on a show of force around Benin City, the Edo State capital, as a way of deterring trouble makers.

But the activity resulted in the delay in the distribution of electoral materials, following the late arrival of some of the personnel who were supposed to be involved in monitoring the distribution of materials.

The process demanded that all stakeholders, particularly the police, be fully represented before its commencement.

PREMIUM TIMES correspondent observed the distribution of materials was still ongoing at about 8.30 p.m. and the exercise would likely span into the midnight.

Speaking on the delay, the Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Oshiobugie Bonvist, told PREMIUM TIMES that the process of distribution of electoral materials still went on smoothly.

According to him, all the political parties were represented at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and described the process as transparent.

But he blamed the delay on the arrival of police personnel who arrived late after their road show.

The process is transparent as you can see, every person is here at INEC and the materials are being distributed, Mr. Bonvist said.

On allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party that the materials were being manipulated to rig the election, Mr. Bonvist said he was yet to notice any move to tamper with the materials.

He said all the political parties participating in the election were monitoring the process which was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
The Supreme Court in Abuja on Tuesday commenced hearing of motions brought before it regarding the Abia State governorship tussle.

Businessman, Samson Ogah, had approached the court after the appeal court nullified the June 27 judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared him governor of the state.

Justice Okon Abang had on June 27 found incumbent governor of the State, Okezie Ikpeazu, guilty of tax ofences and nullified his election as governor of the state.

Mr. Abang also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue certificate of return to Mr. Ogah who was runner-up to Mr. Ikpeazu in the Peoples Democratic Party primary.

But a five-man panel of justices, led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, on August 18, nullified the decision of the lower court; declaring Mr. Abangs decision as a rape of democracy.

Subsequently, Mr. Ogah approached the apex court, demanding that it set aside the decision of the appeal court.

At the Supreme Court on Tuesday, three motions from Mr. Ogah and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Alex Oti, seeking the leave of the court to join in the matter, were heard.

Counsel to Mr. Ikpeazu and Mr. Ogah, Wale Olanikpekun and Alex Iziyon, respectively, objected to Mr. Otis motion.

They argued that Mr. Otis application to join in the matter was not granted at the lower court; which went ahead to give a judgement on the substantive application, without any appeal from Mr. Oti or his counsel.

According to Mr. Olanikpekun, Mr. Oti did not appeal the decision of the lower court when he had the time to do so.

He said his application amounted to a mere academic exercise.

The seven-member-panel of Justices led by Mahmud Tanko noted the points made by the counsel, but decided to allow Mr. Otis counsel, Patrick Ekueto, submit his application.

The court said it would decide afterwards on Mr. Otis request.

After adopting the motions, the court adjourned to allow parties file their brief of arguments.

Mr. Tanko said a date would be communicated to the parties for hearing on the subtstantive applications.
Youth in Amorie village in Ozizza community of Afikpo North local government area of the state attacked and killed a middle-aged man, Monday, Ali Agha, police said.

The man was attacked as he tried to help his brother who had been cornered by the rampaging locals.

He was killed when he went to rescue his brother, Agha Pius Okpara, from the youth who wanted to collect a fine of N2,000 from him for not participating in communal labour, a witness said.

Witnesses said the victim was contacted on phone by his brother, Okpara, to come to his rescue. But on his arrival, an argument ensued which later degenerated into a squabble.

The victim was alleged to have slapped one of the youth with the side of his cutlass and in reaction, the angry youth overpowered him; took the cutlass and butchered him with the machete, the witness said.

As a result of the incident, the youth and elders of the affected village were said to have deserted the area for fear of arrest, as some fled to neighbouring communities in Cross River state.

Reacting to the incident, police spokesman, George Okafor, a deputy superintendent of police who confirmed the incident, noted that some police officers were dispatched immediately to the area to maintain law and order.

According to him, the body of the deceased had been recovered and deposited in a morgue for autopsy.

Arrest have been made and those arrested so far have started giving the police useful information that will lead to the apprehension of all the suspects. Peace has been restored to the village and we are monitoring the situation.

Those presently on the run wont run for long, I can assure you that we are going to get them, he said.

Meanwhile, the elders and leaders of Ozizza community in an emergency meeting described the killing of the victim as barbaric.

Also, the member representing Afikpo North West constituency at Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Kingsley Ikoro, appealed for calm in the area. He said that stakeholders of Ozizza and the police had already waded into the incident to ensure the restoration of peace in Amorie community.
Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday sentenced a couple to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine, for human trafficking.

Abdulmaleek convicted Idowu Folorunso, 37, and his wife, Titilayo, and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment each.

She said the prosecution provided overwhelming oral, documentary and other substantial evidence against the couple.

Therefore, Idowu and Titilayo are sentenced to seven years imprisonment each for count one, and seven years imprisonment for count two, without any option of fine and with hard labour.

The sentences are, however, to run concurrently, the judge said.

The judge held that Idowu and Titilayo lied to Bidemi Adeshina that there were teaching opportunities for girls in Libya and that she should utilise them since she had National Certificate of Education.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the couple wept as they prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

NAN reports that Idowu and Titilayo were arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful procurement of person and organising foreign trip for the purpose of prostitution.

The Folorunsos committed the crime on May 20, 2014, at Odo-Oba Elere, Ibadan, according to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP).

In her evidence earlier, Adeshina said that Idowu and Titilayo lured her into prostitution in Libya where she became infected with HIV/AIDS.

Adeshina testified that the couple told her that three other girls would be joining her for the teaching job in Libya.

She said that she travelled from Ibadan through Kano, to Niger to Libya and found herself in a prostitution joint.

The witness said within eight months, the Folorunsos made her to abort four pregnancies.

She added that she contracted HIV/AIDS.

She also said that the couple did not give her anything from the proceeds of her prostitution.

(NAN)
ATLANTIC CITY  Redenia Gilliam-Mosee, the former president of the citys Boys and Girls Club and the first black woman vice president in the resorts casino industry, will be given one of the highest honors in the gaming industry.

Gilliam-Mosee will be posthumously inducted into the American Gaming Associations Gaming Hall of Fame during an event Wednesday at The Venetian Las Vegas. Gilliam-Mosee died on New Years Day 2010 at age 60.

She was the face, the voice and the conscience of the gaming industry in its earliest days in Atlantic City, said Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group.

The Gaming Hall of Fame, since its inception in 1989, recognizes leaders with gamings highest honor who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the industry. This year, a five-member selection committee of industry stakeholders reviewed several nominations.

Born in Newark, Gilliam-Mosee and her family moved to Atlantic City when she was 10.

Gilliam-Mosee  who worked as a chambermaid in high school  later left the resort to earn her bachelors degree in economics and political science from Wilberforce University in Ohio, and a masters degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers University. She taught as an assistant professor in the Planning and Community Development Department of Livingston College, on Rutgers Piscataway campus from 1971 to 1979.

Gilliam-Mosee took great pride in her spirituality, her family and her community, said Lorenzo Gilliam, a nephew.

She believed in representing her community, said Gilliam, 48, of Atlantic City. She was a giver and took care of her community.

Gilliam-Mosee got her hard work and dedication from her mother, state Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson said.

Her mother expected excellence from her children, said Johnson. She was smart, tough and at the same time classy. She was special.

Gilliam-Mosee returned in 1979 to work as a consultant for Ballys Atlantic City, where she was an executive for more than 20 years.

Its an overdue honor, state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, a former Atlantic City mayor, said of her induction. Icon is the right word to describe her. She was proud of growing up here and being an Atlantic City High School graduate. She acted as a bridge between the city and casino industry  something that is lacking right now.

Despite her success, Gilliam-Mosee always worked to make the city a better place, Pollock said. During her tenure, she helped leverage millions of dollars from the casino industry on behalf of community initiatives.

Her commitment to the city was unquestioned, and as a result, her company, Ballys, was seen as sharing that commitment, Pollock said. She was seemingly everywhere in those early days, and it is no exaggeration to say that she showed other gaming executives in other markets how to connect to their communities. In other words, her legacy still exists.

She spearheaded: a $3 million upgrade for the Boys & Girls Club, which doubled its capacity when the new facility opened more than 15 years ago; a project called Jacobs Family Terrace, the citys first casino-sponsored housing project; and HOPE: Homeownership Opportunities for Performing Employees, a program dedicated to helping Ballys Atlantic City workers buy their own homes.

Her nature was to give back and make sure that young people coming up had opportunities, Whelan said. She cared about the future.

Contact: 609-272-7046

Twitter @ACPressHuba
Reflections are seen in the windows of a Bank of America branch in New York, U.S. on October 8, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo (Reuters)

By Saeed Azhar, Anshuman Daga and Sumeet Chatterjee

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Bank of America <BAC.N> is set to cut about two dozen investment banking jobs in Asia, including some top dealmakers, sources told Reuters, as a slowdown forces western banks to cut costs.

The job cut plan comes after Reuters reported on Friday that Goldman Sachs <GS.N> is planning to cut almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan, in response to a fall in activity in the region.

Some bankers handling client coverage and deals will be made redundant, starting this week, with cuts expected in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, BofA's big centers in Asia, the sources said, adding that the total number has not been finalised.

Bank of America's cuts will account for a small portion of its total Asia corporate and investment banking staff, and are part of an annual cost trimming, one of the sources said.

A Hong Kong-based spokesman for Bank of America, which last year posted a roughly 3 percent drop in its Asia net income, declined to comment. The sources declined to be identified as the information is not public.

The latest cuts in Asia come against the backdrop of a tough dealmaking environment as well as a slowdown in major economies including in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors.

Bank of America is on track to post higher third quarter revenues in its investment banking business compared to the second quarter, its investment banking head Christian Meissner said at an industry event earlier this month.

However, the bank was gaining market share in most regions except for Asia Pacific, he said.

In July, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan announced a new expense target of $53 billion for 2018, $3.3 billion less than its total expenses over the past four quarters.

The new target came after years of working through a sweeping cost-cutting project dubbed "New BAC" and an ongoing efficiency initiative called "Simplify and Improve."

Story continues

Besides Bank of America and Goldman, many western banks have announced plans to scale down their operations in Asia in the past year, as they grapple with slowing revenue growth and higher operating costs in the region.

Barclays <BARC.L> said in January that it would cut about 1,000 staff in its investment bank operations worldwide, with the bulk in Asia, while Societe Generale <SOGN.PA> decided to close its equities research desk in India.

Other European banks including BNP Paribas <BNPP.PA> and Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE> are expected to scale back operations in non-core Asian markets while last year Asia-focused Standard Chartered <STAN.L> shut down its equities franchise.

The value of announced M&A deals for Asia-Pacific companies, excluding Japanese firms, fell 17.7 percent to $553 billion in the first half, while share offerings in the region sank nearly 60 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

(Editing by Louise Heavens and Alexander Smith)
A Cumberland County grand jury has indicted a Millville man accused of killing his former girlfriend and her baby.

Ricardo Carrillo-Santiago, 34, of Millville, was indicted Sept. 21 on three counts related to the two homicides Nov. 27, according to court documents.

He is charged with killing Neidy Ramirez, a 34-year-old Vineland woman, along with her 3-month-old daughter, Genesis Ramirez.

Carillo-Santiagos charges include two counts of murder and a third count of disturbing, moving and concealing human remains, the indictment document states.

Carrillo-Santiago was arrested in December 2015 after Ramirezs 2005 Chevy Trailblazer was found abandoned on northbound Route 55 near milepost 45.3 in November. The two bodies were found days later in a western Cumberland County rural area, police said.

Ramirez and Genesis were both killed in the 600 block of East Quince Street in Vineland, and the bodies were later deposited miles away in Fairfield Township, according to Cumberland County Prosecutors Office documents.

Officials previously said the 3-month-old died from injuries suffered from Carrillo-Santiago violently kneeing and crushing her chest. Officials said Ramirez was strangled.

Police previously said Ramirez also had two sons, ages 5 and 8, and Santiago is the father of the 5-year-old.
If history is any indication, the defeat of a November ballot question on North Jersey casinos would not end the fight to expand gaming beyond Atlantic City.

Low poll numbers and a pro-North Jersey casino group dropping its marketing campaign last week suggest Atlantic City will retain its state monopoly on gambling for at least two years, the next time a referendum could resurface.

Thats what happened more than 40 years ago, when a 1974 referendum, which lacked specifics about where New Jersey casinos would be located, failed. That paved the way for the approved 1976 public vote, which designated Atlantic City as the lone spot for gaming halls.

This time, however, a vote to allow casinos in North Jersey would simply continue the proliferation of legalized gambling on the East Coast, where casinos have popped up in surrounding states, siphoning business from Atlantic Citys market  and each other.

So a vote for even more casinos is a harder sell, said Robert Ambrose, an instructor at the Center for Hospitality and Sport Management at Drexel University.

With the proliferation of so many regional gaming houses within a two-hour ride from A.C., this competitive market is not the same as it was in 76. Ambrose said. The casino sell in New Jersey is harder this time, as the market dynamics have changed and not everyone wants one in their town. A lot of promises were made during the campaign in 1976 to legalize casino gambling. Some were delivered and some were lost, like playing cards in a dealers shuffle.

Opponents and even some supporters of the current referendum said there arent enough details, such as exact locations for the new casinos and the tax rates they would pay.

If you look at it, its very similar, said state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, who was Atlantic Citys mayor from 1990 to 2001. The 1974 referendum lacked details, while the 1976 plan had all of the details. I hope its dead for, not just this year, but the near future. But you never know.

Voters will decide whether to approve as many as two casinos in North Jersey during the Nov. 8 election. The ballot question states the new casinos must be in separate counties and at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, where four casinos closed in 2014 and another, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, is set to close Oct. 10.

Jeff Gural, operator of the Meadowlands Racetrack, has said he is still committed to building a casino at the site and hopes that measure could come back in 2018, if its defeated this year. Gural looked to partner with Hard Rock International to build a 650,000-square-foot property that featured 200 gambling tables and 5,000 slot machines at the site.

Deutsche Bank said last year North Jersey casinos could generate $500 million in gambling revenue.

The public question on the 1976 ballot, unlike its predecessor, limited casinos to Atlantic City, said Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group. It also specified that the tax revenue raised through casino gambling would be used to finance new programs for senior citizens.

Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, expects the issue to come up again in two years. With the fight against expanding gambling, weve proven North Jersey casinos are not inevitable, he said.

A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll found only 40 percent of voters supported expanding casino gaming in the state.

Ambrose said there is irony in that number, too.

Ironically, the latest polls are showing similar numbers to the defeated 1974 first referendum to establish casinos statewide. That vote failed 60 percent to 40 percent, he said.

Contact: 609-272-7046

Twitter @ACPressHuba
A 32-year-old Ventnor woman is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of her 7-month-old daughter, acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said Tuesday.

Lisa Scalia, 32, allegedly administered methadone to her daughter, Olaia Marie Mejia, which caused her death, according to a news release from the Prosecutors Office.

On Jan. 3, police and emergency personnel responded to a home on the 5700 block of Monmouth Avenue in Ventnor. When they arrived they found Olaia unresponsive and administered CPR. Olaia was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus in Atlantic City, then transferred to St. Christophers Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.

The next day, the Prosecutors Office charged Scalia with endangering the welfare of a child, alleging Scalia rolled over on Olaia, and four counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances, Suboxone, oxycodone, heroin and Lyrica. Olaia died four days later.

Scalia was served the complaint Tuesday in the Atlantic County jail, where she has been held since her arrest. The bail on the new charge was set at $100,000. If convicted, Scalia faces 10 to 20 years in state prison.
MAYS LANDING  The two Cumberland County men charged with the attempted murder of Atlantic City police Officer Joshlee Vadell failed to have their bail reduced Tuesday in Superior Court.

Attorneys for Martel D. Chisolm, 29, of Millville, and Demetris Cross, 28, of Bridgeton, said their clients did not have guns and didnt know anyone else had them either, arguing they should not be charged with attempted murder.

But prosecutors said they have forensic and video evidence and eyewitnesses linking them to the scene.

Chisolm and Cross bail remains $750,000 each.

The men, who also face robbery and weapons charges, appeared separately in the courtroom, where a handful of Atlantic City Police Department representatives watched. When the defendants made their first court appearance Sept. 6, the courtroom was packed with dozens of people representing nearly every police department in the county.

Vadell, 29, was shot in the head Sept. 3 and was released from AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City on Sept. 15 amid a crowd of well-wishers. Several fundraisers organized for him and his family have netted more than $100,000.

CrossFit event to benefit wounded officer Joshlee Vadell A community CrossFit fundraiser for the family of wounded Atlantic City police Officer Joshl

Chisolm and Cross were brought in one at a time in front of Judge Donna M. Taylor, their hands cuffed in front of them in Atlantic County jail orange jumpsuits.

Chisolm was represented by Robin Kay Lord of Trenton, and Cross was represented by Holly Bitters of Mays Landing.

Lord said Chisolm has two children and significant ties to the Cumberland County community. Lord also said this is the first time Chisolm was being represented by counsel.

As far as the allegations are concerned, he maintains he is innocent of these charges, Lord said. Im not sure legally or factually how you get there (the attempted murder charge).

The events that led to Vadells injury and the death of a third suspect had nothing to do with Chisolm, Lord said. She said Chisolm had no idea a weapon was involved and saw no weapon. She argued the bail amount for the first-degree robbery charge is only between $100,000 and $200,000.

Lord said her client is very sorry an officer was shot, but he had nothing to do with it, adding he is an innocent bystander.

Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy told the judge a number of witnesses put Chisolm at the scene and said he was involved in the robbery. Evidence includes video footage, multiple witnesses, forensic information, Levy said.

A judge decided there was probable cause for first-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, which he is also charged with, as well as the conspiracies, Levy said. As far as likelihood of conviction, I dont believe its weak at all.

Levy added Chisolms criminal history includes three executed bench warrants, five prior arrests, four prior convictions and two violations of probation.

Bitters said Cross has family ties to Cumberland County and was employed by a Vineland company before his arrest. She said he was not a flight risk.

Mr. Cross did not shoot Officer Vadell. He never had a gun. He never even knew anyone else had a gun, Bitters said.

Levy countered by saying Cross has had one bench warrant against him and one violation of probation, but he also has 10 arrests with 10 convictions. Levy also said that what he said about Chisolm earlier in the case applied to Cross.

I request respectfully that the court not lower his bail, Levy said.

Taylor sided with the prosecutors arguments. The entire court proceeding lasted about 15 minutes.

Vadell was shot near the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 3 when he and his partner, who has not been identified, were investigating a robbery. Vadells partner shot and killed one of the suspects, Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden.

The two suspects were arrested by State Police on Sept. 3. Both Chisolm and Cross are facing the same charges.

In addition to attempted murder, they are each charged with three counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon (firearm) for an unlawful purpose and two counts of conspiracy to commit possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

A GoFundMe account called This Blue Life Matters has been set up for Vadell and his family. The goal is currently $200,000. More than 1,204 people have donated $115,246 as of Tuesday.
A southern Ocean County man charged in the death of his dog Rolo entered a guilty plea to animal cruelty Monday, county officials said.

Andrew L. Mayer, 29, of Toms River, who was indicted June 30, 2015, entered the plea before Judge James M. Blaney, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Tuesday.

As a condition of probation, Assistant Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman seeks 364 days in Ocean County jail, restitution for first responders and a waiver of owning companion animals.

The tentative sentencing date is set for Dec. 9.

On March 1, 2015, Mayer allegedly purposely, knowingly or recklessly did not provide care for his pet when the dog died after he drove his pickup truck onto the frozen Toms River and cracked through the ice, according to Ocean County officials.

Mayer allegedly did not notify authorities of the incident when he got out safely, which resulted in an hours-long rescue operation.

The rescue involved the U.S. Coast Guards Aviation Unit, The State Police Aviation Unit, State Police and local marine units, multiple local police departments, fire companies and first-aid squads from Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Island Heights.
Two Cumberland County men accused of shooting and wounding Atlantic City police Officer Joshlee Vadell will appear in Atlantic County Superior Court for a bail hearing Tuesday afternoon.

This is the second court appearance for Martel D. Chisolm, 29, of Millville, and Demetris Cross, 28, of Bridgeton. They made their first court appearance Sept. 6, when they were read their charges, asked if they understood them and asked if they needed the public defender or would hire their own attorneys.

Vadell was shot about 2:40 a.m. Sept. 3 near the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage. Vadells partner, who has not been identified, shot and killed one of the suspects, Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden. State Police arrested Chisolm and Cross on Sept. 3.

Chisolm and Cross are each charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery.

They also were charged with two counts of possession of a weapon (firearm) for an unlawful purpose, and two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm for an lawful purpose.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP)  With millions watching and the American presidency on the line, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are poised for a must-see showdown Monday night, pitting the Democrat's call for steady, experienced leadership against the Republican's pugnacious promises to upend Washington.

The 90-minute televised debate comes six weeks before Election Day and with early voting already getting underway in some states. Despite Clinton's advantages, including a sophisticated get-out-the-vote operation and a favorable electoral map, the race is exceedingly close.

For Clinton and Trump, the first of three debates is a crucial moment to boost their standing with voters who view both candidates negatively. Clinton struggles with questions about her trustworthiness, while Trump has yet to prove to some voters that he has the basic qualifications to serve as commander in chief.

National interest in the race has been intense, and the campaigns are expecting a record-breaking audience to watch Monday's event at suburban New York's Hofstra University. Both candidates were continuing intensive debate prep nearly until air time.

Clinton aides spent the days leading up to the debate appealing for the media and voters to hold Trump to a higher standard than they believe he has faced for much of the campaign. Their concern is that if the sometimes-bombastic Trump manages to keep his cool onstage, he'll be rewarded  even if he fails to flesh out policy specifics or doesn't tell the truth about his record and past statements.

Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said Monday that he was "concerned that Trump is going to continue to lie."

On the other side, Kellyanne Conway, who took over as Trump's campaign manager last month, accused Clinton's team of engaging in "very public and very coordinated attempts to game the refs." She said the effort reflected worries among Clinton supporters about the Democrat's debating skills.

Trump and Clinton have spent months tangling from afar and are divided on virtually every major issue facing the country. They're sure to face questions about domestic terrorism and police shootings given recent incidents in New York, North Carolina and elsewhere.

The centerpiece of Trump's campaign has been a push for restrictive immigration measures, including a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and an early proposal to temporarily bar foreign Muslims from coming to the U.S. But he's been less detailed about other ideas, including his plan for stamping out the Islamic State group in the Middle East, and Conway suggested he'd be similarly reticent in the debate.

"You will get his view of how best to defeat the enemy  without telling ISIS specifically what it's going to be," Conway said.

Clinton, a former senator and secretary of state, is banking on voters seeing her as a steady hand who can build on the record of President Barack Obama, whose popularity is rising as he winds down his second term in office. She's called for expanding Obama's executive orders if Congress won't pass legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration system and for broader gun control measures. Overseas, she's called for a no-fly zone in Syria but has vowed to keep the military out of a large-scale ground war to defeat the Islamic State group.

For Clinton, victory in November largely hinges on rallying the same young and diverse coalition that elected Obama but has yet to fully embrace her. Mook told "CBS This Morning" that she understands she still needs to earn voters' trust.

"When she's had the opportunity to talk about not just what her plans are to make a difference in people's lives, but how this campaign is really part of a lifelong mission to fight for kids and families, she's done really well," Mook said.

Former President Bill Clinton planned to travel to the debate with his wife, but it was unclear whether he planned to watch the event from inside the debate hall.

Trump has tapped into deep anxieties among some Americans, particularly white, working-class voters who feel left behind in a changing economy and diversifying nation. While the real estate mogul lacks the experience Americans have traditionally sought in a commander in chief, he's banking on frustration with career politicians and disdain for Clinton to push him over the top on Election Day.

Trump was often a commanding presence in the Republican primary debates, launching biting personal attacks on his rivals. But at other times, he appeared to fade into the background, especially during more technical policy discussions  something he'll be unable to do with just two candidates on stage.

Clinton has debated more than 30 times at the presidential level, including several one-on-one contests against Obama in 2008 and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016. But Monday's contest will be her first presidential debate against a candidate from the opposing party.

___

Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Jill Colvin at http://twitter.com/colvinj
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.




FRANKFURT, Germany, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

pentahotels sets stage for the brand's expansion in Asian markets

Mr. Andre Guettouche, previously held the positions of Director and Vice President, has been promoted to Senior Vice-President Operations of pentahotels in the middle of the year. Started his career at pentahotels in 2006 as Conversion Manager, Mr. Guettouche has been with the brand since the beginning. For a decade, Mr. Guettouche has established himself as the accountable partner of Managing Director Mr. Alastair Thomann, as well as a leading figure within the company. Mr. Thomann confirms: "Andre has a deep understanding of the brand and has always been strongly committed to the ongoing developments of pentahotels' concept. His promotion to the role of Senior Vice-President Operations is a reward to the high level of dedication he has shown. With the upcoming major expansions in the pipeline, I look forward to taking our business to the next level with a strong and trustworthy player like Andre in the team."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412304 )



Together with Managing Director Mr. Alastair Thomann, Mr. Guettouche is in a key position to drive the hotel chain's expansion plans forward and is particularly responsible for the its growth in Asia. To this end, development departments have already been set up in Asia to add direct impetus in the target markets. Mr. Guettouche outlines the company's strategy: "Alongside the purchase of our own properties, we will also rely on management/lease agreements and franchising as our growth models. We have shifted our focus on the Asia-Pacific region for a speedy expansion and diverse portfolio."

pentahotels represents a new and innovative generation of hotels. The lifestyle brand in the 4-star segment is known for its unique interior design and "neighbourhood" concept. A relaxed atmosphere in comfortable and stylish surroundings awaits individual and business travellers in each of our 27 hotels. The hallmark of the hotel chain is the pentalounge - a combination of lounge, bar, reception and cafe - with a relaxed "living room" atmosphere throughout. For further information and to make a reservation, go to http://www.pentahotels.com. Follow us on http://www.facebook.de/pentahotels for the latest news.

Media contact:

media consulta International Holding AG

On behalf of pentahotels

Aleksandar Musikic

Phone: +49(0)30-65-000-388

Fax: +49(0)30-65-000-171

E-mail: press.pentahotels@mcgroup.com



Global Marketing & Communications Department

pentahotels

Max Siegers

Penta Hotels Germany GmbH

Westhafen Tower, Westhafenplatz 1

60327 Frankfurt a.M., Germany

Phone: +49(0)69-256699-750

Fax: +49(0)69-256699-766

E-mail: communications@pentahotels.com

https://mobile.twitter.com/pentahotels

https://www.instagram.com/pentahotels/

https://www.facebook.com/pentahotels

https://www.linkedin.com/uas/login?trk=sentinel_org_block&session_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fpenta-hotels

https://pentahotels.live/





Note to Editors:

A picture/s accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.



SOURCE Pentahotels
LORTON, Virginia, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Five Guys today announced that it is accelerating international franchise expansion with plans to nearly quadruple its global footprint from eight countries to 28 over the next five years. The company's immediate focus is on continued expansion throughout Europe and the Middle East and entering the markets of Australia, Japan and South Korea.

This announcement follows Five Guys' incredibly successful Paris opening on August 1 and arrives not long after the company was named the United Kingdom's most popular fast-food chain just two years after establishing itself in Britain.

While Five Guys continues healthy domestic growth with close to 100 units opening annually, Five Guys' success and demand in international markets to-date has provided the confidence to fast-track international expansion.

"We always knew international was going to be a strong opportunity," Five Guys Chief Operating Officer Sam Chamberlain said, "but the results have outpaced even our most optimistic projections."

Five Guys opened its first restaurant outside of North America in 2013 in London. In three years, Five Guys has grown to more than 50 locations in the UK, and in the past year has successfully entered five new markets  Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and France. Average unit volumes in international markets are running as much as 5-7 times that of domestic locations.

"The demand from international consumers has been overwhelming and we are applying resources to meet this demand," Chamberlain said.

Senior executives from Five Guys are traveling to Asia in October to meet with prospective partners. Those interested in international franchising opportunities should visit www.fiveguys.com/franchising.

Five Guys is a family owned and operated franchise restaurant group that focuses on serving high quality burgers and fries in a clean, no frills atmosphere. Five Guys was established in 1986 in Arlington, VA. In 2003, Five Guys opened its first franchised location and with the help of loyal franchisees, Five Guys has expanded from five to 1,400 locations worldwide. Five Guys continues to be awarded "best" burger across various markets and ZAGAT Survey said "there are no better burgers." For more information, visit www.fiveguys.com.

Five Guys logo: goo.gl/8Asqua

Related Links

http://www.fiveguys.com



SOURCE Five Guys
NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to market research "Global Centrifugal Water Pump Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022 - by End-User (Municipal Water and Wastewater, Chemical, Oil and Gas, Energy, Others)" by P&S Market Research, the global centrifugal water pump market was valued at $26,649.2 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2016 - 2022. The factors driving the growth of the global market include increasing level of urbanization, rapid industrialization in developing economies, growing water scarcity, and growing construction industry and increasing disposable income.

Explore Full Report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/centrifugal-water-pump-market

In 2015, Asia-Pacific dominated the global centrifugal water pump market, accounting for approximately 43.3% share, which is expected to become 44.8% by 2022. The increasing level of urbanization, rapid industrialization and increasing disposable income are some of the major growth driving factors in the Asia-Pacific centrifugal water pump market, particularly in countries, such as India and China. China was the largest market for centrifugal water pumps in the region in 2015; however, India is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Moreover, economic growth along with industrialization has increased the demand for centrifugal water pumps. The major companies operating in the Asia-Pacific centrifugal water pump market include Torishima Pump Mfg. Co. Ltd., Kirloskar Brothers Limited, and Ebara Corporation.

Explore Research Report on Global Water Pump Market at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/water-pump-market

Some of the major players operating in the global centrifugal water pump market include Flowserve Corporation, Ebara Corporation, Sulzer Ltd., Grundfos Holding A/S, Kirloskar Brothers Limited, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Gardner Denver Inc., ITT Corporation, Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., and The Weir Group PLC.

GLOBAL CENTRIFUGAL WATER PUMP MARKET SEGMENTATION

By End-User

Municipal Water and Wastewater

Chemical

Oil and Gas

Energy

Others

GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTATION

By Region

North America

U.S.

Canada

Rest of North America

Europe

Western Europe

Eastern and Central Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Rest of the World (RoW)

Brazil

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

Browse Ongoing Research

Construction Equipment Market

Farm Equipment Market

Organic Personal Care Products Market

About P&S Market Research

P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.

As one of the top growing market research agency, we're keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.

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SOURCE P&S Market Research
GENEVA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For thousands of years, agarwood, and the Oud oil derived from it, have been revered by a plethora of cultures and religions. Having become an essential aspect of the cultural and religious life for billions of people, scientific research is now beginning to reveal the extraordinary medicinal qualities of a substance cited in the world's oldest written texts.

At the end of the 20th Century, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) designated the Aquilaria tree from which agarwood is produced as an 'endangered species' -- such has been the extent of the illegal logging that has attended the valuable heartwood of the tree.

The tree itself is only of value for the resin contained within -- produced naturally, in response to 'injury' - but its presence is not perceptible from mere observation. This has led to indiscriminate logging, and the previously parlous state of the species prior to the intervention of sustainable plantation companies such as Asia Plantation Capital.

By using patented technologies and proven husbandry programmes, species of Aquilaria tree are flourishing once again, and with sustainability in mind and environmental awareness acting as key precepts, many different parts of the Aquilaria plant (resin, stem wood, even the leaves) are now being used in a range of value added products.

Asia Plantation Capital has established a Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of leading academics, researchers and practitioners in the field of agarwood and its associated products, of which Professor Dr Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim, from the Department of Biotechnology Engineering at Malaysia's International Islamic University, is among the most notable.

Dr Yumi's area of specialisation is in the 'provision of healthy lifestyle and prevention of diseases through the development, use and or consumption of natural products', and she has brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board that complements the plantation giant's vertically integrated business model.

With Oud oil now in increasingly high demand in the fragrance industry, scientists are also assessing its medicinal efficacy, and early results have proven to be very encouraging.

Throughout history, apart from being feted for its rich, almost elemental aroma, agarwood has been used for the treatment of joint pain, inflammatory-related ailments and stomach disorders. It can act as a sedative, and even a mild stimulant, and evidence suggests that even its crude extracts and some of its isolated compounds demonstrate significant anti-allergic, anti-ischemic (cardioprotective), anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial qualities.(1) Agarwood also contains certain flavonoids that can contribute to the anti-ageing process, while agarwood tea is known to improve the digestive system and increase the stability of blood pressure.

Shown to have excellent pharmacological properties, and containing several bioactive compounds, extensive research is now underway to examine its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of cancer.(2)

Agarwood has been used in traditional medicines throughout history, despite little previous scientific research or rigorous examination. Significantly however, its apparent treatment in the microbial infections that lead to diseases such as diarrhoea, cough, leprosy and dysentery has led scientists and researchers to look at ways in which the anti-oxidant qualities of agarwood can counteract the 'oxidative stress' that can lead to diabetes and cancer.

It is no coincidence that a substance older than recorded history has been lauded and treasured through generations for its health-giving attributes and the sense of wellbeing that it produces. With the help of modern science and the enquiring minds of researchers, agarwood could prove to be a significant 'discovery' in the treatment of cancer, along with a wide variety of ailments.

It also means that the need for sustainability in the cultivation and production of agarwood and its associated products has never been more important. Only through responsible and ethically sound practices will the precious substance be available to future generations, in the continuous quest to find viable treatments for life-threatening diseases.

Notes for Editors:

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte Medigue

Marketing & Administrative Officer

Email: charlotte.medigue@apcgroup.ch

Mobile: +41-227-077-330

About the APC Group

Although operating privately since 2002, Plantation Capital was officially established in 2008 in the UK, before incorporation in Sri Lanka in 2009 as Asia Plantation Capital, followed by Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. The group expanded in 2015 to include Africa Plantation Capital in Kenya, and America Plantation Capital in Florida, US.

The Asia Plantation Capital Group now has a corporate presence, plantations and agricultural projects on four continents, with operations at various stages across the globe, making it one of the largest vertically integrated growers, manufacturers, and distributors of many end products such as Oud oil, agarwood, and bamboo.

Sources:

1) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 189, 2 August 2016, pages 331-360.

'Aquilaria (agarwood) as source of health beneficial compounds: A review of traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacology.'

Authors: Dr Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim, Phirdaous Abbas, Hamzah Mohd Salleh - Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Phillip G Kerr School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874116304159

2) Alexandria Journal of Medicine, Volume 52, Issue 2, June 2016, pages 141-150.

'In vitro antimestatic activity of Agarwood (Aquilaria crassna) essential oils against pancreatic cancer cells.'

Authors: Saad Sabbar Dahham, Yasser M Tabana, Loiy E Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed B Khadeer Ahamed, Amin Malik Shah Abdul Hamid - EMAN Research and Testing Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, and Aman Shah Abdul Majid - Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506815000500

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160927/8521606131-a

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160927/8521606131-b

SOURCE APC Group SA
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Balloon catheter is a billion dollars market accounting for a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditure worldwide. The global balloon catheter market is expected to reach US$ 2,887.4 Mn in 2016 and is projected to register a CAGR of 3.8% during the period 2016-2026. The market is anticipated to reach 16,587 thousand units in terms of volume by the end of 2026. In a new report titled "Balloon Catheter Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026", Future Market Insights provides in-depth analysis and insights into the global balloon catheter market and studies the factors and restraints impacting the market during the forecast period.

According to Future Market Insights, a rising prevalence of cardiac diseases leading to interventional cardiology procedures and an increasing geriatric population prone to cardiac arrest is expected to fuel the growth of the global balloon catheter market over the forecast period. "Economic factors such as growing healthcare expenditure, increasing disposable income per capita, rising government support in developed economies, and favourable reimbursement policies are expected to boost the growth of the global balloon catheter market over the forecast period." Analyst, Future Market Insights.

Request a Free Sample Report: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1916

However, a high cost of coronary angioplasty and stenting treatment and risk of infection and artery collapse associated with balloon catheterisation is likely to hinder market growth over the forecast period.

The global balloon catheter market is segmented on the basis of product type (Normal Balloon Catheter, Cutting Balloon Catheter, Scoring Balloon Catheter, Drug Eluting Balloon Catheter, Stent Graft Balloon Catheter); disease indication (Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Vascular Disease); raw material (Polyurethane, Nylon, Others); and end user (Public Hospitals & Private Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories).

Preview Analysis on Global Balloon Catheter Market by Revenue: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/balloon-catheter-market

Segmentation highlights

The Drug eluting product type balloon catheter segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20.0% in terms of value over the forecast period while the Stent graft balloon catheter segment is estimated to account for 33.9% revenue share by 2016 end

The Polyurethane raw material segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6% while the Nylon segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% in terms of value over the forecast period

The Coronary artery disease indication segment is projected to dominate the global balloon catheter market in terms of value; the Peripheral vascular disease indication segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.1% in terms of value over the forecast period

Among end users, the Ambulatory surgical centres segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2.7% in terms of value over the forecast period while the Cardiac catheterisation laboratories segment is estimated to account for 19.8% revenue share by 2016 end

Regional forecast

The global balloon catheter market is segmented into seven key regions - North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and MEA. Sales of balloon catheters have remained quite healthy in the U.S. market in recent years, making North America the most lucrative market globally. Revenue from the North America market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2016 to 2026 to reach US$ 1,312.2 Mn by 2026. In addition to North America, balloon catheters sales are also growing steadily in Japan, MEA, and APEJ. Revenues in APEJ are anticipated to grow by 4.2% whereas MEA is expected to increase at 3.4% over the forecast period.

Request for Table of Content with Figures: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1916

Vendor insights

Boston Scientific Inc., Medtronic, Terumo Corporation, MicroPort Scientific Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Jotech GmbH, QX Medical LLC, Meril Life Pvt. Ltd., Hexacath, Abbott Laboratories, Tokai Medical Products Inc., Biosensors International Ltd., Cook Medical Inc., Cardionovum GmbH, Cordis Corporation, and Biotronik Inc. are the leading companies operating in the global balloon catheter market. Major market players are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to maintain their market share.

More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence:

Veterinary Vaccines Market Segmentation By Product - Attenuated Live Vaccines, Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Subunit Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, DNA Vaccines and Recombinant Vaccines; By Disease Application Type - Anaplasmosis, Canine Parvovirus, Foot and Mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease, Distemper Disease, Influenza, PRRS and Others; By Animal Type - Companion Animals, Livestock Animals and Equine; By Distribution Channel - Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Research Institute: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/veterinary-vaccines-market



Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Market Segmentation By Product - Prescription Products and Over-The-Counter (OTC) Products; By Disease - Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, Cancer, Obesity, Infectious Diseases and Other Diseases; By Distribution Channel - Hospital Pharmacies and Retail Pharmacies: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceutical-market



Teleradiology Market Segmentation By Product Type - X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Nuclear Imaging; By Geography - North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Africa , Middle East : http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/teleradiology-market

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
Among these three models, the target markets for the Foton super truck Auman EST are chiefly global logistics clients engaged in long distance and high value-added freight businesses that require punctuality and efficiency, while the two Aumark S models are directed towards logistics markets in urban environments worldwide.

According to the presentation given by Foton Motors acting deputy general manager Gong Yueqiong, the common characteristic shared by these three models is that they are the result of the collaboration that brought together Foton Motor Group, Daimler AG and Cummins who, in turn, leveraged the global pool of knowledge represented by the Foton Super Truck Global Innovation Alliance, an organization that takes pride in its green, environment-friendly, efficient, energy saving, safe and intelligent approach to all things automotive.

The goals call for a 30% reduction in vehicle fuel consumption (or, going all the way by adopting a fully electric model), a 30% reduction in carbon emissions (or, if the electric model is chosen, elimination), while seeking to increase freight efficiency by 70%.

The global launch of Foton super trucks is not only a critically strategic move for Foton Motors to take more of a leadership role in the domestic market, but also to develop the international market for high-end trucks and to take the high ground when it comes to competition. The launch is also an important milestone for Foton Motor Super Truck Global Innovation Alliance.

SOURCE Foton Motor Co., Ltd.
The first commercial HeartLight procedure was successfully performed on September 26. The procedure was led by Srinivas R. Dukkipati, MD, Director of the Electrophysiology Lab and Co-director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital, a clinical investigator in the HeartLight pivotal trial, and lead author of the pivotal study results article published in the Journal of The American College of Cardiology (JACC), with support from Vivek Y. Reddy, MD, Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services for The Mount Sinai Hospital, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust Professor of Medicine in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and co-principal investigator of the HeartLight trial.

Dr. Dukkipati commented, "More than 2.7 million people in the United States alone suffer from AF, and despite treatment advancements, the numbers are growing, mostly due to an aging population. Treating paroxysmal AF before it advances to a persistent or permanent state will drastically improve patient long-term outcomes. The HeartLight System offers a new approach to effective patient treatment through direct visualization, titratable energy and a compliant balloon design, all of which lead to durable pulmonary vein isolation with unprecedented access and control."

Paul LaViolette, CardioFocus Executive Chairman, added, "Following approval from the U.S. FDA, we are pleased to now commercially offer HeartLight for paroxysmal AF patients in the U.S. market. HeartLight has already been used to treat more than 3,700 patients worldwide, and building on the first commercial U.S. procedure at Mount Sinai, we will continue to scale up installations at electrophysiology labs across the country to treat patients in need. Our focused and selective launch, which enables us to move forward strategically and work closely with hand-picked physicians and sites, is proceeding as planned. We continue to receive excellent feedback from interested physicians."

Burke Barrett, CardioFocus Chief Operations Officer, said, "HeartLight differs from other AF ablation solutions by allowing electrophysiologists to see within the heart and for the first time, visually direct the application of therapeutic laser energy. The system also allows for procedural flexibility through a highly compliant balloon that easily accommodates diverse anatomies. We are excited to offer the technology, following PMA approval based on our pivotal U.S. study that showed the majority of patients experienced freedom from paroxysmal AF at 12 months following a single ablation procedure. Both Dr. Dukkipati and Dr. Reddy have been instrumental in evaluating the HeartLight system so it is fitting that Mount Sinai is the first U.S. commercial HeartLight center. We are also pleased to see that many of the other pivotal study sites are interested in transitioning from clinical to commercial use of the system."

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation.

The System includes approximately 6,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked as one of the nation's top 10 hospitals in Geriatrics, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and Gastroenterology, and is in the top 25 in five other specialties in the 2015-2016 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel is ranked regionally.

About the HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System

The HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System is a unique catheter ablation technology designed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart arrhythmia. The HeartLight System's direct visualization, titratable laser energy, and compliant balloon design make durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) control more accessible than ever. In the United States, the HeartLight System was approved for use in April 2016 by the FDA and is indicated for the treatment of drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The HeartLight System consists of the HeartLight Catheter, Endoscope, Balloon Fill Media and HeartLight Console.

The approved PMA submission for the HeartLight System contained comprehensive safety and effectiveness data from the Company's multi-center HeartLight U.S. Pivotal Clinical Study, a randomized, controlled trial in which a total of 353 participants were randomized at 19 leading arrhythmia centers across the United States.1

HeartLight has been in use in Europe since receiving CE Mark in 2009.

About CardioFocus, Inc.

CardioFocus, Inc. is a medical device manufacturer dedicated to advancing ablation treatment for cardiac disorders such as atrial fibrillation (AF). The HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System is commercially available at leading institutions throughout Europe and now in the United States. CardioFocus is headquartered in Marlborough, MA, USA. For more information on the company and its technology, please visit www.CardioFocus.com.

1 Dukkipati, S.R., et. al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2015;66:135060

Company Contact: Media Contact: Renny Clark Kirsten Thomas Chief Financial Officer (508) 280-6592 (508) 658-7281 kthomas@theruthgroup.com wrclark@cardiofocus.com



Related Links

http://www.cardiofocus.com



SOURCE CardioFocus, Inc.
FAIRFAX, Vancouver, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

CGI and Ripple partnership helps banks put blockchain technology into production

CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) today announced it is the first commercial enterprise to implement the Ripple Validator Node. Ripple validators are servers that confirm Ripple's distributed financial technology transactions on the network. The CGI-hosted Ripple Validator Node provides banking clients with a trusted network partner for Ripple's distributed financial technology that settles international and domestic transactions in real-time.

CGI is taking public ledger technology out of the innovation lab and bringing its practical benefits to clients. This announcement follows the recent release of CGI's Ripple-enabled Intelligent Gateway. The Intelligent Gateway is one of the first payments solutions in the industry to integrate Ripple's distributed financial technology and provides a solution-agnostic, transformational wrapper around a client's payment processing systems.

"Given our ongoing efforts to further decentralize the Ripple network, we couldn't be more excited for CGI to implement a validator," said Asheesh Birla, VP of Product at Ripple, "Having a major enterprise player contribute to the consensus process on Ripple fortifies the resiliency of the network, and it plays a key role in our work with CGI to make it even easier to put blockchain technology into commercial production."

"CGI is at the forefront of payments modernization, and our partnership with Ripple provides added value to our clients," said Pamela Smith, Vice-President of CGI's Financial Solutions Group. "We are excited to continue to expand our use of distributed financial technology to help banks reduce implementation risks and shorten time to value."

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is the fifth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world. Approximately 65,000 professionals serve thousands of global clients from offices and delivery centers across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, leveraging a comprehensive portfolio of services including high-end business and IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure management as well as 150 IP-based services and solutions. With annual revenue in excess of C$10 billion and an order backlog exceeding C$20 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Website: http://www.cgi.com.

Investors, Lorne Gorber, Executive Vice-President, Global Communications and Investor Relations, lorne.gorber@cgi.com, +1-514-841-3355; Media, Linda Odorisio, Vice-President, US Communications, CGI, linda.odorisio@cgi.com , +1-703-267-8118

SOURCE CGI Group Inc.
SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - OpenDaylight Summit --The OpenDaylight Project, the leading open source platform for programmable, software-defined networks, today announced that China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC), a leading mobile communications service provider, has joined the project at the Silver level.

China Mobile joins Tencent and Alibaba, also members of OpenDaylight, as part of a growing number of Chinese internet and communications companies that actively participate in open networking projects and leverage open source SDN to support their extreme scalability demands. As Jinzhu Wang, project manager of China Mobile Research Institute explained, the company wants to standardize and also customize their environments to improve automation. OpenDaylight provides a means for them to build on well-tested, foundational capabilities, which would otherwise take far too long for them to develop entirely in-house.

Recently, China Mobile released its commercial OpenDaylight-based datacenter SDN controller named "AERO," currently in trial. China Mobile believes it to be the first datacenter SDN controller developed by a telecom operator based in China. Additionally, CMCC initiated the "SPTN" project within OpenDaylight, which evolves the packet transport network (PTN) toward SDN.

As early adopters of OpenDaylight, China Mobile is leveraging the platform with OpenStack to deploy enterprise service offerings under its NovoDC program, which offers both a telecom infrastructure as well as virtual public or private cloud services. NovoDC has helped China Mobile to gain significant datacenter OPEX savings and can now deliver new services in minutes rather than weeks. Alex Zhang, principal architect at China Mobile Technology US, continues to be an active member of the OpenDaylight Advisory Group.

"I am pleased to see the OpenDaylight community growing so rapidly and on such a global scale," said Neela Jacques, executive director of the OpenDaylight project. "China Mobile's expanding contributions are beneficial to the OpenDaylight community, and their involvement is yet another example of the innovation happening in the Chinese market today. As Chinese telcos, enterprises and equipment manufacturers embrace open source, they're enabling new solutions at a breathtaking pace."

Story continues

China Mobile joins hundreds of users, developers and SDN community leaders at the annual OpenDaylight Summit and Developer Design Forum, Sept. 27-29 at the Meydenbauer Center in Seattle. To view the full Summit schedule, visit this page.

More about China Mobile Communications Corporation

China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC) is one of the world's largest telecommunications service providers in terms of network scale, customer base and market value. At the end of 2014 CMCC had over 800 million subscribers, operated in over 2.2 million base stations and covered 99 percent of the population in the People's Republic of China. Their primary business is mobile services and the company has been exploring SDN and NFV as a means of managing rapid traffic growth, new service deployment and improving network utilization - especially as they look to expand their global footprint in APAC, Europe and the US.

"We are fully committed to open networking and have already experienced benefits of working collaboratively with the OpenDaylight community," said Xiaodong Duan, director of Network Department of China Mobile Research Institute. "As members, we look forward to deeper collaboration and knowledge-sharing as we leverage OpenDaylight in our networks. We're highly supportive of open source and believe community-driven projects provide an ideal environment to innovate and get things done quickly."

About the OpenDaylight Project

The OpenDaylight Project is a collaborative open source project that aims to accelerate the adoption of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). Founded by industry leaders and open to all, the OpenDaylight community is developing a common, open SDN platform that fosters new innovation and reduces risk. Get involved: www.opendaylight.org.

OpenDaylight is a project at The Linux Foundation. Linux Foundation projects harness the power of collaborative development to fuel innovation across industries and ecosystems. www.linuxfoundation.org

Additional Resources
New Offices in London and Amsterdam Will Support Expanding Operations Across EMEA

BOSTON and LONDON and AMSTERDAM, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Technology Partners (CTP), the premier cloud services and software company for enterprises moving to cloud, today announced that it has formally opened operations in EMEA.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110131/NE38950LOGO

"Our key partners including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Google and Rackspace are rapidly expanding their reach across EMEA," said Bruce Coughlin, Executive Vice President, Cloud Technology Partners. "This expansion illustrates the demand for cloud services that exists in enterprise and global accounts. We are thrilled to begin leveraging our enterprise cloud adoption, digital innovation and managed services to help accelerate our collective customers into successful cloud deployments."

CTP's expansion abroad is in line with the rapid increase in cloud adoption across the region. To support this growth, AWS is opening a new region in the UK to complement its other European regions in Frankfurt, Germany and Dublin, Ireland. Microsoft currently operates six Azure European regions and Google is expanding its cloud services from four European data centers in Ireland, Finland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

"This commitment is encouraging to many companies looking to migrate their applications to the cloud," said Bernard Drost, Vice President and Managing Director of EMEA, Cloud Technology Partners. "We partner with the world's leading cloud platform providers and now have the dedicated resources abroad to help accelerate cloud adoption for our global clients."

The Cloud Technology Partners European offices are located at New Broad Street House, 35 New Broad Street, London, EC2M 1NH in the UK and in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

About Cloud Technology Partners

Cloud Technology Partners (CTP) is the premier cloud services and software company for enterprises moving to AWS, Google, Microsoft and other leading cloud providers. From strategy to operations, CTP accelerates end-to-end cloud adoption with the best implementation services, software and intellectual property available on the market. CTP's comprehensive framework for cloud adoption and dedicated software development capabilities help clients achieve business results faster, no matter where they are in their cloud transformation. For more information, please visit: www.cloudtp.com.

Cloud Technology Partners, cloudTP and CTP are registered trademarks of Cloud Technology Partners. All other company, brand and product names contained in this announcement may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

PR Contact:

Nicole Gorman

Cloud Technology Partners

M: 508-397-0131

nicole.gorman@cloudtp.com

Related Links

http://www.cloudtp.com



SOURCE Cloud Technology Partners
- Light, flexible foam dressing developed for low to non-exuding chronic and acute wounds

- Complements ConvaTec's AQUACEL Foam dressings, providing customers with range of advanced foam dressings to suit everyday needs and help patients resume their daily lives

FLORENCE, Italy, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvaTec, a leading global medical technology company, today announced the launch of Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing, expanding the company's portfolio of silicone foam dressings and providing customers with a broad range of advanced dressings for the management of a wide variety of chronic and acute wounds.

ConvaTec is showcasing the new foam dressing, alongside its advanced wound care products including the new Avelle disposable negative pressure wound therapy system, to wound specialists attending the 5th Conference of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) from 25-29 September in Florence, Italy.

Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing is a thin, flexible foam dressing developed specifically for managing low to non-exuding wounds, such as skin abrasions, skin tears and partial thickness burns, which do not require the absorbency of regular foam dressings. The new dressing complements ConvaTec's range of AQUACEL Foam dressings for moderately exuding wounds.

"Wound specialists today rely on advanced foam dressings for managing a wide variety of patients' wounds  from low to non-exuding superficial wounds to those that are moderately exuding and thus require more absorption," said Fiona Adam, Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Wound Care.

"Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing was developed, alongside our successful line of AQUACEL Foam dressings, to help our customers address the challenges of wound care that they see every day -- protecting fragile skin, defending against infection and nurturing with a moist wound healing environment  and to help their patients resume their daily lives."

"In my practice, as a Plastic Surgeon, my experience is that the new Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing is easy to apply, especially in the areas of skin folds," said Dr Joseph Chateau, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Lyon Hospital University Center (HCL), in Lyon, France. "Patients' tolerance is excellent when removing the dressing, and the adhesive is gentle to the skin."

Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing is a thin foam dressing with a breathable film and perforated, gentle silicone adhesive.* The new dressing is flexible and conforms* to the body even in awkward positions or places such as elbows, wrists, knees and ankles.

The skin-friendly silicone adhesive is easy to apply, re-position and remove; it will not stick to gloves or to itself, and is designed to be non-damaging (atraumatic) to the wound and periwound skin upon dressing removal.* The soft foam layer is designed to absorb low levels of exudate and help maintain a moist wound healing environment.* The soft-to-touch outer film provides a protective barrier against water, bacteria and viruses.*

Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing received CE mark approval and is available in France, Germany, the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and will soon be available in additional European markets. The new dressing is available in a number of sizes, which can also be cut to shape, and has a maximum recommended wear time of 7 days.

For more information about Foam Lite ConvaTec dressing and the company's full range of advanced wound dressings, visit www.convatec.co.uk or call ConvaTec customer service.

About ConvaTec

ConvaTec is a global medical products and technologies company focused on therapies for the management of chronic conditions, with leading market positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence and critical care, and infusion devices. ConvaTec's products provide a range of clinical and economic benefits including infection prevention, protection of at-risk skin, improved patient outcomes and reduced total cost of care. The company is owned by Nordic Capital and Avista Capital Partners.

*As demonstrated in vitro

Foam Lite and AQUACEL are trademarks of ConvaTec Inc.

 2016 ConvaTec Inc.

AP-016924-MM

References available on request

Contact:

Punnie Donohue

ConvaTec

punnie.donohue@convatec.com

Related Links

http://www.convatec.com



SOURCE ConvaTec
NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

DH Corporation (TSX: DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced that Gene Neyer, Group Leader, Payments, Industry & Regulatory Product Management, D+H, will discuss the potential for blockchain technology to transform the payments industry during a Sibos Open Theatre Session, scheduled on September 27 at 3:30 p.m. local Geneva time at Open Theatre One.

The session, titled "Blockchain: The Way Forward in Payments?", will focus on blockchain's transformative potential to modernize payments infrastructure and processes. Neyer will provide insights on how this technology stands to disrupt the industry, providing use cases for banks and corporations, and will address key considerations for adoption.

D+H is a market leader in payments, providing financial technology solutions to banks and corporations of all sizes around the world. Please visit D+H at Stand F70 during Sibos 2016 to meet with our experts and learn more about our solutions.

About D+H

D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com.

please contact: Patrick Kilhaney, Public Relations & Analyst Relations Manager, D+H, +1 917 286 1053, patrick.kilhaney@dh.com; Cognito, +1 646 395 6304, dh@cognitomedia.com

SOURCE DH Corporation
PORTLAND, Oregon, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Embedded Multimedia Card (eMMC) Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014 - 2022", projects that the world eMMC market is expected reach $32,321.9 million by 2022. eMMCs with a density range of 128GB - 256GB are expected to dominate throughout 2014 - 2022. Asia-Pacific is estimated to continue to lead throughout the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 )



Summary of the Construction Chemicals Market Report can be accessed on the website at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/embedded-multimedia-card-eMMC-market

The rising sale of smartphones and need for integrated memory in mobile computing devices drives the growth of eMMC market. eMMCs can easily be used in small devices such as smartphones, tablets, and others, due to its compact size, enhanced processing power, and high data storage capability. The need for digital storage devices and increased consumer expenditure on electronics are expected to supplement the market growth. However, frequent changes in technology leading to the development of more advanced products such as Universal Flash Storage (UFS) restrict the market growth. Moreover, technological advancement and demand for memory solutions for various electronic devices, including digital cameras, digital set-up boxes, digital book readers, portable terminals, camcorders, and others, are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the future.

eMMCs with a density range of 128GB - 256GB accounted for the highest revenue in 2015 owing to the increase in demand for high-capacity memory devices among the urban population and higher prices as compared to other eMMCs available in the market. This range of eMMCs is utilized among mid-range tablets, digital cameras, and phones.

There has been an increase in the use of advanced electronic devices in North America owing to continuous technological advancements and increased need of LTE and cloud technologies. This has further increased the application of embedded multimedia card in this region among various end users including automotive, medical, and aerospace & defense.

The smartphones application accounted for the highest share of the overall revenue generated by eMMC market in 2014, owing to its high-storage capacity and HD video screening. However, the GPS application is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 20.5% during the period 2016 - 2022. Increase in the number of smartphone users, rise in use of location-based services & mobile applications, and growth in demand for automobile GPS software and other wearable electronic products boost the demand for eMMC cards in GPS-supporting devices.

In 2014, the automotive industry accounted for the highest revenue, owing to the use of eMMCs in ADAS, vehicle infotainment system, GPS system, voice recognition system, and others. It accounted for around 26% share of the global eMMC market revenue in 2014, followed by aerospace & defense sector. Other end users utilizing eMMCs include industrial, healthcare, public, IT & telecom, and others. The industrial sector is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific dominated in 2014, in terms of revenue, and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing use of mobile phones and consumer electronic products. eMMCs have increasingly been adopted as a memory product for cellular devices in India, China, and South Korea owing to the continuous development of the cellular market, including 3G and 4G technologies.

There has been an increase in the use of advanced electronic devices in North America owing to continuous technological advancements and increased need of LTE and cloud technologies. This has further increased the application of embedded multimedia card in this region among various end users including automotive, medical, and aerospace & defense. states lead analyst Gunjan Malani, ICT & Media Research at AMR. In addition, there has been a significant growth in the eMMC market in China and Japan over the past few years. The ever-increasing market of personal computers and smartphones in China in the recent years has largely contributed to the growth of memory market including eMMC products.

However, LAMEA is projected to grow at the highest CAGR throughout the analysis period. Increasing demand for smartphones and rising number of other electronic devices such as, laptops, digital cameras, and tablets, have increased the adoption of eMMCs in this region.

Key findings of Embedded Multimedia Card (eMMC) Market:

In 2014, eMMCs with a density range of 128GB - 256GB led the overall eMMC market.

Smartphones segment generated maximum revenue among all segments in 2014, owing to the large storage capabilities and fast processing speed in mobile applications and Internet platform.

The industrial segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 19.9% during 2016 - 2022.

The automotive sector is estimated to generate the highest revenue.

Asia-Pacific was the major revenue-generating region in the global eMMC market in 2014.

Key market players focus on expanding their business operations in the emerging countries with new product launches as a preferred strategy. The major players profiled in this report include Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SanDisk Corporation, SK Hynix Inc., Phison Electronics Corporation, Greenliant Systems Inc., Kingston Technology Company Inc., Micron Technology, Inc., Silicon Motion Technology Corporation, Transcend Information, Inc., and Toshiba Corporation.

Summary of Similar Reports can be viewed at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/semiconductor-and-electronics-market-report

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

Contact:

Arun Narayan

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United States

Direct: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1 (800) 792-5285 (U.S. & Canada)

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Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com

SOURCE Allied Market Research
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

European officials observing the referendum on constitutional reforms in Azerbaijan have called the vote "free, open and sound," stressing that it has been conducted "in accordance with the best international standards, and that it will definitely express the will of the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan."

Over five million Azerbaijanis were asked to approve 29 constitutional amendments, with a separate vote on each one. The overwhelming majority of the 69.7 per cent turnout supported the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, as well as plans to create the new position of a First Vice President, who would become the country's number two. Nearly 90 per cent supported either all or the majority of the amendments.

The leader of the European People's Party observation delegation, Portuguese MEP Mario David noted that over four million packages were sent out weeks ago to all postal addresses in Azerbaijan, informing citizens about the referendum and the 29 proposed changes.

"As an experienced election observer, I can testify that our meeting with the Central Election Committee and our observations of the opening of the ballots and procedures were according to international standards," he said.

His EPP colleague, Greek MEP Emmanouil Kefalogiannis noted: "Twenty-nine different votes on constitutional amendments give more room for manoeuvre. Azerbaijanis are changing their system to adjust it to Western standards and I find the referendum democratic."

Meanwhile, observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Europe's body of democracy and human rights, called the voting process "transparent, well organised, efficient and peaceful" and that they would "respect the will of the Azerbaijani people."

At a press conference, the head of the delegation, PACE Vice President Aleksandar Nikoloski said the result expresses the willingness of the people of Azerbaijan as "a step forward towards safe, stable and sustainable development of their country and target establishing a more efficient governance system and implementing more meaningful reforms."

Prior to the referendum, the European Parliament's (EP) Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki had already stated that the EP "will respect the result of this referendum, because for us the will of your nation is the most important."

The results are consistent with an exit poll Monday conducted by leading American polling firm Arthur J. Finkelstein & Associates, which found that 89 per cent of voters supported the constitutional reforms.

"Our pre-referendum survey showed that a staggering 96.7 per cent of Azerbaijanis perceive Nagorno-Karabakh as the most important issue facing the country today," said George Birnbaum, Executive Director of Arthur J. Finkelstein, referring to the Azerbaijani region that has been occupied by Armenia for over two decades. "It remains a hot-button issue for voters and this reflects on the strong support for the government."

In total, 117 observers from 18 international organisations - including PACE - were accredited for the referendum.





SOURCE Azerbaijan Monitor
Three Powerful Options to Boost Your Cloud Applications

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Infortrend Technology, Inc. (TWSE: 2495) is offering free cloud licenses with every purchase of EonStor GS systems. To capture the rising trend of cloud storage, Infortrend provides an opportunity for users to experience three powerful Cloud Gateway applications that give price-conscious SMBs flexible cloud choices to best suit their storage needs.

The Cloud Gateway applications include Cloud Cache, Cloud Backup and Cloud Tiering. With Cloud Cache, all data is stored on cloud and users can choose to store all data or just the most accessed data on local storage. With Cloud Backup, snapshots are taken periodically according to schedule and uploaded to cloud so users can select specific images from different time points for data recovery. With Cloud Tiering, inactive data is moved to cloud for long term archive while the most accessed data will remain on local storage.

Thomas Kao, Senior Director of Product Planning at Infortrend, commented: "With cloud storage gaining popularity, we are pleased to announce our free promotion with purchase of EonStor GS. By packing complete cloud features in one system, we hope to provide our customers the best experience of cloud usage."

The EonStor GS family is a cloud unified storage integrating file, block and object level into one comprehensive package to meet all storage needs. With a compact design, it requires less effort to configure and maintain and needs less space and power as there are fewer systems to run and cool off. For more Information about EonStor GS, please click here.

This cloud service promotion is a limited time offer good until 12/31/2016. For more information, please click here. The Infortrend GSe Family is also included in this promotion.

About Infortrend

Infortrend (TWSE: 2495) has been developing and manufacturing storage solutions since 1993. With a strong emphasis on in-house design, testing, and manufacturing, Infortrend storage delivers performance and scalability with the latest standards, user friendly data services, personal after-sales support, and unrivaled value. For more Information, please visit www.infortrend.com

Infortrend and EonStor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Infortrend Technology, Inc., other trademarks property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Infortrend Europe Ltd.

Agnieszka Wesolowska

Tel:+44-1256-305-220

E-mail: marketing.eu@infortrend.com

Related Links

http://www.infortrend.com



SOURCE Infortrend Technology, Inc.
DUBLIN, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Feta 2016" report to their offering.

This is a report on the Feta and White Cheese markets in the West and East Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Asia, Central Asia and Caucasus, Latin and North American regions.

Feta - This term is to refer to the fresh white crumbly cheese often in brine that is covered by the EU PDO designation to be produced by at least 70% of sheep milk; no more than 30% goat milk in a sheep/goat milk mixture and made in Greece. Production in other markets do not fit into the definition of the EU ruling either by using a different ratio of sheep and cow's milk or being produced in an EU market outside Greece (e.g. Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark and France where the cheese is often marketed as salad cheese).

The term also covers fresh white crumbly cheese often in brine produced in markets outside the EU, e.g. Israel, Iran, Turkey, Canada, South Africa, USA, Australia, where the cheese type is not affected by EU regulation and is marketed and/or described as feta whether or not made from sheep's milk. A good example is Turkey, where it is called Beyaz Paneer and is made from cow's milk but is also widely acknowledged as a feta style cheese within the market.

White Cheese - This term is to refer to the combined white cheese types and include regional variations based on a fresh, white, crumbly cheese type including Telemea (Romania), Jibn Abyad (Arab Countries), Bryndza (East Europe).

Artisanal/Farmhouse - Describes the small-scale manufacturer producing the cheese type and selling it on a commercial basis, as opposed to larger and more organised formal dairy-processing sector. It does not include homemade' cheese types that are produced and consumed at home.

The report includes:

- Information on supply and usage in 129 markets across the regions.

- The report provides information on:

- Consumption volume (tonnes) and total market value, 2010-2015

- Manufacturer supply (2015 only),

- Volume Channel distribution split into retail, food service and industrial applications 2015 only

- Local production versus imports at country and regional level for 2015 only

- Product sectors include Feta Cheese segmented into Artisanal, Aseptic Carton, Can/tins, Glass Jar, Plastic Tub and Vacuum Packed.

- The year series is 2010-2015 with forecasts to 2021.

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Global Feta Style White Cheese Market Size And Forecast

2.0 West Europe

3.0 East Europe

4.0 Middle East And North Africa

5.0 Africa

6.0 Asia

7.0 Caucausus And Central Asia

8.0 Latin America

9.0 North America

10.0 Oceania

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b3bwkm/global_feta_2016

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com



SOURCE Research and Markets
STERLING, Virginia, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The partnership enables IGA to offer Digital Foodie's digital grocery commerce and fulfillment platform to its licensed retailers.

Digital Foodie, the creator of the award-winning on-demand grocery platform, and Chicago-based Independent Grocers Alliance, IGA, have established a partnership where Digital Foodie will be a preferred IGA partner for enabling on-demand grocery to IGA's licensed retailers. The partner program includes retailer branded web service, linked to IGA branded native mobile applications for placing orders and shopping planning, as well as state-of-the-art in-store picking and fulfillment tools for optimized store pick-up and home delivery.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813820 )



IGA and Digital Foodie also established a marketing partnership for digital experiences that draws upon Digital Foodie's marketing and consumer adoption best practices, leveraging its successes in more advanced, European grocery markets. Digital Foodie will work closely with IGA and its retailers to develop marketing offers and training programs for converged groceries proven to achieve a high level of consumer adoption with profitable results for grocers.

"The retail grocery industry is undergoing a digital transformation that requires grocers to provide converged services including on-demand and in-store solutions to extend and enhance their current bricks and mortar business and to fend off digital inroads by competitors such as Walmart, Amazon and other large grocery chains," said Kalle Koutajoki, CEO of Digital Foodie. "We have nearly a decade of experience in deploying online grocery in the most competitive on-demand grocery markets in the world, while simultaneously 'cracking the code' to achieving retailer profitability. I am very excited about this partnership, and with our platform and secret sauce to profitability, IGA retailers can jumpstart their on-demand business instantly while keeping the control of the store brand."

For most retailers, the Digital Foodie cloud platform can be set up within weeks. The most proven platform in the industry coupled with marketing and fulfillment operations enables retailers to be competitive in any environment. The platform helps the grocer maintain its customer relationships across channels, unlike other competing point solutions that may even sever their relationships with their own customers in favor of the program provider.

The IGA branded mobile application seamlessly links the grocer's branded website to Digital Foodie's converged cloud platform for on-demand ordering, online circulars, personalized shopping planning, digital commerce, order management and efficient fulfillment. The Digital Foodie platform is the only grocery-focused cloud platform that comes with full end-to-end capabilities including a robust Product Information Management (PIM) solution that also serves food wholesalers and CPG brands.

"We are extremely impressed with Digital Foodie's on-demand technology and their achievements in the more competitive European market, as well as their combination of technology and ability to drive a grocer's on-demand business. Their proven software platform will come bundled with a supporting marketing rollout that we are certain will be tremendously effective in bringing shopper attention to this new service offering," says Mark Batenic, CEO of IGA. "We look forward to this new partnership, and the immediate benefit our retailers will see from the expansion of their business model."

The program is available for all IGA member retailers and for sign ups during 2016 the program will also include a premium onboarding program to help drive the success of the on-demand ordering. For more information about the program please contact Kevin Reese, SVP Sales and Marketing, Digital Foodie North America at kevin@digitalfoodie.com or IGA VP of Brand Development Jim Walz at jwalz@igainc.com.

About IGA (http://www.iga.com)

IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $36 billion per year. The Alliance includes nearly 5,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 29 distribution centers and more than 30 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has stores in 45 of the United States and more than 30 countries, commonwealths and territories. For more information about IGA, visit the IGA consumer website at http://www.iga.com, or the business site at http://www.becomeiga.com.

About Digital Foodie (http://www.digitalfoodie.com)

Digital Foodie is a customizable and scalable cloud platform that transitions grocery stores' businesses instantly into the on-demand commerce space. For consumers it enables a fully personalized grocery shopping service used by major retailers and brands. The core of the service is formed by highly personalized food and product recommendations that make everyday shopping easy and fun. For retailers, the on-demand platform provides all the tools needed to run modern online operations, click and collect and home deliveries including efficient fulfilment of orders. Digital Foodie operates currently in USA, Finland, Baltics, Russia and UK. http://www.digitalfoodie.com

Digital Foodie is part of EnterWorks Holding Company, a product content and master data management (MDM) platform that serves the entire value chain in the consumer products industry, from brands to consumers, including customers such as Abbott Nutrition, US Foods, Mary Kay, and Fender Musical Instruments. http://www.enterworks.com

Media contacts:

Kevin Reese - SVP Sales and Marketing North America

kevin@digitalfoodie.com

+1-626-840-8073

Ashley Page - IGA Communications

apage@igainc.com

+1-773-742-7417



SOURCE Digital Foodie
The need to deliver critical data to multiple security agents is driving expenditure on command and control systems, finds Frost & Sullivan's Security Team

LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolving security and communication technologies are transforming security control rooms. From being areas to monitor video feeds, modern control rooms are now tasked with gathering information from various sources before analysing the data to deliver meaningful, operational insights to security operatives in real time. The continuing integration of traditionally disparate systems will be accelerated by the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile and wireless security technologies. The challenge for end users and the opportunity for the industry lie in the creation of control rooms that not only meet current operational demands but are also capable of providing greater efficiency while protecting against future threats.

Global Security Control Rooms Market Assessment (http://frost.ly/sx) is the new analysis from Frost & Sullivan's Aerospace, Defence and Security Growth Partnership Service programme, which includes subjects such as critical national infrastructure, cyber security, Internet of Things in public safety. This study focuses on evolving market needs across the first responder, mass transport, airports, oil & gas and utilities segments and covers hardware, software, managed services and integration trends.

For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://frost.ly/th

"The transfer of data into both control room settings and the field will create opportunities for a range of technology suppliers," confirmed Aerospace, Defence and Security Research Analyst Robert Haddon. "Greater levels of data and the use of contextualizing data sources, such as social media, will put a premium on analytics technology in order to draw meaningful conclusions and linkages from disparate sources of information."

However, pressure on budgets across the industry compels greater efficiency at lower costs. At the same time, high security must be maintained at critical locations regardless of service funding restrictions. To balance these operational considerations, users will seek more intelligent and scalable systems, which in turn create opportunities for security hardware, software and service providers.

"Today, security operations need to work faster, smarter and be increasingly connected, making technology crucial to both organisations and end users that are trying to protect increasingly complex and distributed infrastructure networks from a range of threats," said Haddon. "Using more automated control room solutions and analytic technology enables organizations to maximize insights from both new and existing security architecture. Savings on hardware and personnel costs mean that organizations can create efficiencies without sacrificing security performance."

There are number of companies positioned in the market to provide solutions that will enhance the operations of security end users. Egidium Technologies provides supervision software that puts a 3D map at the core of the security control room to enhance security situation awareness and support the end user throughout incident handling. Their track record already includes major events such as the UN's COP21 and several sensitive sites across utilities, sporting arenas and airports.

"We believe security control rooms will evolve towards a better user experience, driven by software that merges information from various sources in a meaningful fashion. What the control room operator fundamentally needs is to correctly assess a situation and deal with it without delay. Control room solutions and equipment must support this critical objective," commented Laurent Denizot, CEO at Egidium Technologies.

Region-wise, the extensive installed base and technology renewal within the North American and European market will continue to boost spending. New infrastructure in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East will also create project opportunities. Further, the implementation of new command and control (C2) and smart city infrastructure in city development projects will remain a key driver for enhanced spending on a range of technology.

"Organisations will seek security control room systems that offer speed of delivery and clear return on investments," summarised Haddon. "Software solutions, and in particular analytic systems, enable both new and existing systems to enhance their security preparedness while limiting larger costs associated with hardware investment."

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.

provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Global Security Control Rooms Market Assessment

MC2C-23

Contact:

Evgenia Oleynikova

Corporate Communications  Europe

P: +48 224816210

E: Evgenia.Oleynikova@frost.com

http://ww2.frost.com

Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
ISTANBUL and BAD SALZUFLEN, Germany, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Organized by TUYAP fairs with the cooperation of the Association of Turkish Furniture Manufacturers (MOSDER) to better promote Turkish furniture industry, international promotional activities of Istanbul Furniture Fair (ISMOB) continue in full swing.

ISMOB; having reached a record breaking participation with the number of 132 thousand industry professionals from 107 countries in 2016 in Istanbul, came this time together with international industry representatives and fair participants in MOW Fair, held in Bad Salzuflen, Germany.

"25% OF THE EXPORT TARGET IS MET THROUGH ISMOB"

In regard to promotional activities carried out in Milan, fashion city of Italy, Moscow and Dubai respectively, TUYAP General Manager Ilhan Ersozlu stated as follows: "We have commenced a promotional activity to break our previous record and to cover 1.5 billion consumers across the globe. With ISMOB being the world's third most important furniture fair and the largest in Eurasia region, we would like to make ISMOB the second biggest fair which can challenge with Chinese and Italian dominance in the sector. During the first eight months of the year, production achieved 6.25 billion USD. Thanks to promotional activities of ISMOB 2017, we aim to increase its current share of 25% within the export figure. The number of foreign participants of 10% during previous years has now risen to 30%."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412194 )



"WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR 2023 GOALS WITH ISMOB"

MOSDER Chairman, Ismail Dogan, said that the fair provides 25% of 3 billion USD export target of the Turkish furniture industry. Underlining ISMOB's great contribution to the industry, Dogan continued: "As furniture manufacturers, we have an export target of 10 billion USD in 2023. This figure, however, can only be achieved by reaching new markets."

120 THOUSAND SQUARE METER TO HOST MORE THAN 1000 BRANDS

I SMOB will take place for the 13 th time in TUYAP Fair and Convention Center from January 10 th to 15 th , 2017.

will take place for the 13 time in TUYAP Fair and Convention Center from to 15 , 2017. The fair will present products of more than 1000 brands to customers in 14 halls, covering an area of 120 thousand square meters.

At the 'Trend Field' activities will be carried out to emphasize the importance of handicrafts, such as marbling, gilding and wood arts.

For more information:

Communication Partner

Aysenur Bozal Ozcan | aysenurozcan@cpartner.com.tr | Tel: +90-0-850-333-65-10

Adem Tokdemir | ademtokdemir@cpartner.com.tr | Tel: +90-0-850-333-65-10

SOURCE TUYAP
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the debate at Hofstra University. (Photos: Patrick Semansky/AP, Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took the stage at Hofstra University during the first of the three presidential debates on Monday. While they disagreed on a broad range of topics, the presidential candidates at least agreed on one thing: The nation needs to be more forceful in terms of cyber warfare.

The discussion focused primarily on the hacks of the Democratic National Committee, with Clinton laying the blame for the attack squarely on Russian President Vladimir Putin and state actors working under his direction.

A long game

Putin is playing a very tough, long game here. And one of the things hes done is to let loose cyber attackers to hack into government files, hack personal files, Clinton said.

Trump, meanwhile, said the Russian government wasnt proven to be the perpetrator of the hack, before falling back on an insulting stereotype about computer hackers.

I dont think anyone knows it was Russia, Trump said. It could be Russia, it could be China and it could also be someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.

While we have yet to receive any definitive answer as to exactly what group hacked the DNC, the vast majority of experts believe that the attacks came from Russia or Russian-backed actors.

In addition to the DNC hack, Clinton said the US needs to flex its cyber warfare muscles.

We need to make it clear that the United States has much greater capacity and we are not going to sit idly by and let state actors go after private or public sector information, Clinton said.

We are going to make it clear that we dont want to use the kinds of tools we have, we dont want to use a different type of warfare, but we want to defend the citizens of this country, Clinton said.

Before responding to Clinton, Trump claimed he has the support of a number of generals and admirals, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. (The Los Angeles Times then noted that he most likely meant he had the support of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, the union representing immigration officers, as an official government agency like ICE would not endorse a presidential candidate.)

Story continues

Trump then stated that the US should be better than anybody else.

As far as the cyber, I agree to parts of what Secretary Clinton said. So we have to get very, very tough on the cyber and cyber warfare,  Trump said. We are not doing the job we should be doing.

Heres the thing, though. The US government already has the worlds most powerful cyber army, so its unclear how the US could do its job any better. Its also important to note that the DNC is not a government entity.

Fighting terror on social media

Trump said the government should work more closely with tech companies to prevent ISIS from recruiting and directing operatives, something many politicians have brought up in the last few years.

Twitter and Facebook, however, have been making some effort to stop terrorists from using their networks. In fact, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been threatened by ISIS supporters for taking steps to fight the groups attempts to use the social networks as a means of spreading their agenda.

Unfortunately, neither Clinton nor Trump dug deeply enough into cyber security or other technology issues to provide any meaningful insights into how they would handle tech if they take up permanent residence in the White House.

There are still two more presidential debates and a vice presidential debate before Election Day. So hopefully the candidates will give us more of their thoughts on one of the most important industries in the world by then.

More from Dan:

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
KYIV, Ukraine, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

http://mriya.ua/en/news/detail/mriya-agro-holding-publishes-key-debt-restructuring-heads-of-terms/

The National Bank of Ukraine has expressed support for the restructuring of Mriya Agro Holding's debt before international creditors in the amount of $1.1 billion. National Bank representatives welcomed Mriya's recent efforts to agree debt restructuring Heads of Terms with the Coordinating Committees of Banks and Bonds and said that it was in the best interest of Ukraine as a whole.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411303LOGO )



According to the agreed restructuring terms, all unsecured debt of Mriya Agro Holding will be treated equally and fairly in accordance with the pari passu principle in terms both of proposed recovery as well as of post-restructuring instruments. In order to accommodate the constraints of all unsecured creditors, as part of the restructuring, all existing unsecured claims (both of banks and bonds) will be considered according to Loan A/Loan B structure. Once implemented, the restructuring will reduce Mriya's operating group debt to a total sustainable debt level up to US$ 330 m.

According to the National Bank press service, restructuring of MRIYA's debt will become a successful precedent for investor and creditor rights protection in Ukraine, and will clearly demonstrate that comprehensive debt restructuring involving all creditors is possible under Ukrainian law.

Such a consensual and transparent approach to restructuring will not only ensure equal treatment for all creditors, but also become a positive example for other companies operating in Ukraine.

SOURCE Mriya Agro Holding
BOLOGNA, Italy, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Leading ceramics company unveils new global brand identity at Cersaie

RAK Ceramics, one of the largest ceramics' brands in the world, today announced the launch of its new corporate brand identity which is designed to unify all of its global subsidiaries. The official roll out will start effective immediately in the UAE, with subsidiaries expected to adopt the new brand identity throughout 2017. The repositioning exercise is one of many initiatives which are helping to drive RAK Ceramics forward to achieving its vision, to become the leading ceramics lifestyle solutions provider in the world.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411027LOGO )



The announcement was made at Cersaie, the largest and most important international ceramics exhibitions which takes place annually in Bologna, Italy. The new corporate brand identity was revealed at the RAK Ceramics stand which clearly articulates the company's proposition, 'Room for Imagination', and featured the company's latest products and designs.

Abdallah Massaad, RAK Ceramics' Group Chief Executive Officer said: "Today we celebrate a new milestone as we launch our new corporate brand identity and we are delighted to be unveiling it at Cersaie. The unveiling of our new brand identity is part of our Value Creation plan which was launched in 2014 and designed to improve integration across the business; streamline our distribution networks and unify our brand globally."

He added: "RAK Ceramics has 25 years of ceramics' expertise. It is this experience, our wide product range, strong focus on innovation and continued commitment to delivering high quality products which are the four main pillars upon which our new proposition is based. Our products are already featured in some of the most iconic buildings around the globe and the launch of our new brand identity reflects our aspirations to become the leading ceramics lifestyle solutions provider in the world."

RAK Ceramics was established in Ras Al Khaimah in 1989 by H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Today RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics manufacturers in the world and has sold over 1 billion square metres of tiles, serving clients in more than 150 countries through its network of operational hubs in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia, America and Australia.

Contact Details:

RAK Ceramics

Steven Allen

Tel: +971(0)7246-7400

steven.allen@rakceramics.com



FTI Consulting

Racha Mhanna

Tel: +971(0)4437-2100

Email: racha.mhanna@fticonsulting.com



SOURCE RAK Ceramics
DUBLIN, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Consumer Book Publishing Market 2016-2020" report to their offering.

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global consumer book publishing market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the circulation and advertising of digital consumer magazine and digital trade magazine. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

According to the report, high adoption of ebooks is a primary growth driver of this market. The publishing landscape has experienced an immense change in the reading behavior of population, owing to the change in technology. EBooks, electronic editing, and emergence of online subscription business model have transformed the publisher's outlook toward content. The advances in technology have helped the publishers save a lot of time and money, along with the flexibility to publish any type of information at the earliest with lower turnaround time and minimal costs.



Digital content as future of book publishing is an important trend gaining traction in the market. The future of book publishing lies in digital content and print on demand (POD). As a result of growing online population, publishers will be forced to print fewer copies of new titles just from the point of view of their business model. The majority of traditional publishers do not encourage POD because of the higher cost per book and quality issues. However, the reverse is being experienced now, with the cost per book going down and the quality going up.



In 2015, the consumer print book segment experienced a revenue decline of 2.28%, from $49.95 billion in 2014 to $48.81 billion in 2015. Also, as consumer digital book segment was at its very early stage, it could not make up for the losses in the printed books segment. Handheld and lightweight electronic devices, such as Kindle and Reader, are capable of storing large number of books and displaying legible text even in low-light situations and pose threat to the traditional print publications.

Key vendors



Amazon.com

China South Publishing & Media Group

Hachette Book Group

Holtzbrinck Publishing Group

Penguin Random House

Phoenix Publishing & Media

Other prominent vendors



Bonnier

Bungeishunju

China Publishing Group

De Agostini Editore

Grupo Planeta

HarperCollins Publishers

Informa

Kadokawa Publishing

Kodansha

Sanoma Media

Shogakukan

Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive summary



Part 02: Scope of the report



Part 03: Market research methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Market description



Part 06: Market overview



Part 07: Market landscape



Part 08: Market segmentation by type



Part 09: Buying criteria



Part 10: Geographical segmentation



Part 11: Market attractiveness



Part 12: Key leading countries



Part 13: Market drivers



Part 14: Impact of drivers



Part 15: Market challenges



Part 16: Impact of drivers and challenges



Part 17: Market trends



Part 18: Vendor landscape



Part 19: Appendix



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8jmg43/global_consumer

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
LIMA, Peru, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A Nigerian cleric was bestowed with the 'key to the city' of Lima, Peru, on Saturday 24th September 2016.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411845 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411846 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411847 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411848 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411849 )

The recipient of the honour, T.B. Joshua, had just concluded a Christian Crusade in South America's largest stadium, 'Estadio Monumental', which was filled to capacity. An estimated 100,000 people came to the two-day event, which attracted both locals and international visitors.

Prominent Peruvian dignitaries attended the occasion, one of whom included Elias Cuba Bautista, the Mayor of La Victoria, Lima's most populous district, who presented Joshua with the symbolic key. "I give you the key to our city in acknowledgement of your outstanding work," Bautista stated.

Upon receiving the honour, Joshua redirected people's attention to the thousands who attended the free event and said: "I am receiving this on behalf of the people God has delivered today and healed" .

On the same night, the faith leader received an additional honour from General Juan Gonzales Sandoval, the President of the Generals, Admirals and Officers of Peru's Armed Forces. Presenting Joshua with a 'Medal of Honour', Peru's highest military distinction, the General said, "This is a very special decoration to the most highly distinguished people which our national police and nation bestows," he stated.

He lauded Joshua's unassuming personality stating that he was an example to other religious leaders."Your humility is an earmark that makes you great" he said

The event was broadcast live on Joshua's religious television station, Emmanuel TV. Joshua has previously held similar foreign crusades including the Latin American nations of Mexico and Colombia.

ABOUT TB JOSHUA

T.B. Joshua is the founder of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), an international Christian ministry headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

He is also the Executive Producer of Emmanuel TV, Africa's largest Christian television network and the most subscribed Christian Ministry YouTube channel.

He is known as 'YouTube's most popular pastor' due to the fame of his videos on the video-sharing site, which have been viewed more than 300,000,000 times.

The SCOAN is West Africa's foremost religious tourist destination, with six out of every ten visitors to Nigeria headed there.

He has been recognised as one of Africa's 50 most influential people and received several international accolades, including acknowledgement from the United Nations, for his extensive philanthropic endeavours.

Please click here to find out more.

Watch the video clip here.

SOURCE Emmanuel TV
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Six member companies of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) have been named to Inc. magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest growing business in 2016. The companies are professional employer organizations (PEOs) who provide outsourced HR services to small and mid-sized businesses. Inc. magazine's September issue, in addition to announcing this year's list, features a special section on PEOs which can be found here.

Engage PEO (Hollywood, FL), Optimum Employer Solutions (Santa Ana, CA), Prestige Employee Administrators (Melville, NY), Staff One HR (Dallas, TX), SourcePointe (Birmingham, AL), and Tandem HR (Westchester, IL) all appeared on the list.

As PEOs, these companies provide comprehensive HR solutions for small and mid-size businesses. Payroll, benefits, HR, tax administration, and regulatory compliance assistance are some of the many services PEOs provide to growing businesses across the country. Studies indicate that businesses who partner with a PEO grow 7% to 9% faster, experience up to 14% lower employee turnover, and are 50% less likely to go out of business.

Further, a new study released earlier this month shows that 14% to 16% of businesses (with 10-99 employees) partner with a PEO for their HR needs and services. The study also shows that such companies are able to offer a wider array of HR services and benefits at lower administrative costs than business who do not partner with a PEO.

"The PEO business model allows employers to focus on what's most important: growing their businesses," said Pat Cleary, NAPEO's president and CEO. "By partnering with a PEO, executives hand off all the headaches related to HR administration, compliance and paperwork."

"The PEO presence on this year's list shows just how rapidly businesses are turning to PEOs for all their HR needs. A PEO is the perfect solution to the growth and complexity of regulations," said Cleary.



About NAPEO

The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) is The Voice of the PEO IndustryTM and represents about 85 percent of the industry's estimated $136-$156 billion in gross revenues. NAPEO has 300 PEO members, ranging from start-ups to large publicly held companies with years of success in the industry, as well as some 200 service provider members. PEOs provide payroll, benefits, and other HR services to small and mid-sized businesses. For more information about NAPEO, please visit www.napeo.org.

SOURCE National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)

Related Links

http://www.napeo.org


AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texans remain deeply concerned about student loan debt and college costs according to a new statewide survey released today. The WGU Texas Higher Education Poll, sponsored by the nonprofit, accredited online university, found 78 percent of Texans characterizing student loan debt as a "major problem."

Several findings in the poll illustrated Texans' views that earning a higher education yields economic and social returns.





Among the majority of Texans who say student loan debt is a major problem, 94 percent said that having a degree or certificate beyond high school is either very or somewhat important.

The value of higher education extends further. Eighty-one percent of Texans view a post-secondary degree as essential for getting a good job, for improving one's quality of life (86 percent) and for gaining a higher income (89 percent).

Cost is also a significant concern for Texans who don't have a college degree, with 72 percent identifying the price of college as an impediment to earning one.

"From the U.S. presidential campaign trail, to the Texas Legislature to everyday Texans' kitchen tables, student debt and the cost of higher education is driving conversations and raising serious concerns," said Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Chancellor of WGU Texas. "As voters and state leaders discuss these important policy issues, the WGU Texas Higher Education Poll offers some relevant and timely insight."

While the higher education poll found overwhelming concern about the costs and debt associated with college, Texans clearly make a connection between the importance of higher education, its impact on the state economy and their own future earning power. "In short, Texans know college matters," Stidvent added.

Dr. James Henson, noted for his statewide polling for the Texas Politics Project at The University of Texas at Austin, said Texans' concerns about student debt didn't taint their view of higher education. "Texans strongly hold positive and aspirational views about the importance of higher education," Henson said. "Concerns about issues like debt and cost are likely rooted in Texans' views that a college degree has such positive impacts on people's lives. Obstacles to these benefits get their attention."

For the second year in a row, the survey also shows Texans understand that an educated workforce is important, as 96 percent of Texans who hold a college degree (and 91 percent of those without a degree) believe an educated workforce is essential for the state's economic competitiveness.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, has set a goal to see 60 percent of young adults, ages 25-34 obtain a certificate or college degree by 2030 in order to meet a highly-skilled workforce. However, this survey shows that at a time when the state needs more Texans with college and post-secondary degrees, obstacles lay in their path. In addition to seeing cost as a roadblock, 69 percent of Texans without degrees cited family responsibilities and 64 percent, job or work responsibilities, as obstacles to completing a degree.

"The new face of higher education is the nontraditional student, who juggles family responsibilities, full-time work, financial concerns and time constraints," said Stidvent. "How we as universities and the state choose to support policies to make college more affordable and accessible will no doubt define Texas' long-term prosperity."

The WGU Texas Higher Education Poll, developed and performed by Strategic Research Associates, comprised of independent researchers James Henson, Ph.D. and Joshua Blank, Ph.D., known for their statewide polling for the Texas Politics Project at The University of Texas at Austin. The statewide poll was fielded between Sept. 6  16, 2016 and surveyed 800 adult Texans with an overall margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent. It is the second-straight year that SRATEX, LLC conducted the WGU Texas Higher Education Poll on behalf of non-profit WGU Texas.

Follow news and join the conversation online with #WGUTexasPoll and on Twitter at @WGUTexas. Or, visit http://texas.wgu.edu/poll, for more information.

Follow WGU Texas:

http://www.facebook.com/WGUTexas

https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-governors-university

http://twitter.com/wgutexas

Contact for media inquiries:

Margaret Justus

281-250-8253

[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:

877.214.7011

texas.wgu.edu

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SOURCE WGU Texas

Related Links

http://texas.wgu.edu/


DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 14, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued an Audit Techniques Guide (ATG) regarding the capitalization of tangible property, specifically Treasury Regulation  1.263(a) and related regulations. This ATG relates to the final tangible property regulations under  162(a) and 263(a), regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures. These regulations were issued by the IRS on September 19, 2013, and since then, thousands of accounting method changes have been filed by taxpayers.

To the extent that a taxpayer has subsequently filed an accounting method change pursuant to the issuance of the final tangible property regulations, there is a potential that the IRS will review the positions that have been taken by the taxpayer. Consequently, taxpayers must have detailed, documented records to support their positions since the ATG is quite clear that the burden of proof rests with the taxpayer.

The objective of any ATG is to provide IRS agents with a good understanding of the relevant subject matter while providing direction to its IRS agents in the examination of taxpayers in identifying any potential tax issues. Additionally, ATGs generally serve as a safe harbor for taxpayers if they don't deviate from the IRS's assertions.

With the issuance of the final tangible property regulations, taxpayers have a clearer understanding of how to define the unit of properties associated with their assets and ultimately better guidance with more clarity to determine whether expenditures are deductible or capital improvements. However, these regulations are vast and complex, and there are two opposing driving forces when determining an expense versus a capital improvement, and they are either 1) increasing tax revenue from an IRS perspective or 2) providing a significant tax benefit from a taxpayer perspective. Thus, the IRS is gearing up by providing its agents with this ATG to verify whether or not taxpayers have fairly interpreted these regulations for the tax positions that they have taken on their tax returns.

In addition to the ATG, on September 19, 2016, the IRS published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) as they relate to Revenue Procedure 2015-56. Please refer to the Ryan Tax Development released on November 24, 2015 for more insight on Rev. Proc. 2015-56. The FAQ addresses the following areas:

Changing a method of accounting to use the remodel-refresh safe harbor;

Qualifying for the remodel-refresh safe harbor;

Using the remodel-refresh safe harbor method; and

Coordination with other provisions of the code and regulations.

Accordingly, the ATG and FAQ are intended to provide assistance to taxpayers on the implementation of the tangible property regulations and the remodel-refresh safe harbor accounting method, respectively, while also providing direction to the IRS service teams in the examination of the positions that the taxpayers have taken on their tax returns.

Ryan's Fixed Asset practice has worked with various IRS service teams on these issues.

About Ryan

Ryan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a five-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multi-disciplinary team of more than 2,100 professionals and associates serves over 12,000 clients in more than 40 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com.

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TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Allea Newbold

Principal

Ryan

813.228.7100

[email protected]

John Belpedio

Director

Ryan

212.871.3901

[email protected]

SOURCE Ryan

Related Links

http://www.ryan.com


WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For much of the past two decades, Warren Beatty has kept himself out of the public eye. In an exclusive interview with AARP The Magazine (ATM), Beatty gives us a peek into what he's been doing these past years, and opens up about nearly every aspect of his lifefrom his humble beginnings to his reputation as a sex symbol on and off screen to his enduring marriage to Annette Bening.

AARP The Magazine October/November 2016 Cover Issue

The stories Beatty tells reveal the man he is today: a Hollywood playboy transformed into a dedicated family man...who's now re-entering the limelight as co-star, director, producer, and writer of the new romantic comedy-drama Rules Don't Apply, in which he plays Howard Hughes. Though Beatty and Hughes never met, some similarities are striking. Like Hughes, Beatty has charm, curiosity, and a self-confessed control-freak nature. And, like Hughes, Beatty met with success at a young age.

Beatty's success began with his first film role in 1961 when he co-starred with Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass. He's been a movie star ever since. Forty years in the movie industry have granted him the status of legend, with lead roles in such classics as Bonnie and Clyde, Shampoo, Dick Tracy, and Bugsy, and writer-actor-director credits for Reds, Heaven Can Wait, and Bulworth. Beatty may have left the limelight for a time, but as this interview shows, his star power hasn't dimmed.

The following are excerpts from the October/November issue of the AARP The Magazine cover story featuring Warren Beatty, available in homes starting October 1st and available online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.

On his dating history in Hollywood

He insists there is wild hyperbole in his reputation as a man-slut and disputes the mathematics of the 12,775 women one of his biographers, Peter Biskind, has claimed for him. "Think about it, sleeping with 12,775 people," he says, not without a certain amount of glee. "That would mean not just that there were multiple people a day, but that there was no repetition."

So let's say for the sake of argument it wasn't 12,775. Let's say it was a few hundredand why is it nobody seems mad at himeveryone wants to know the secret of bedding half of Hollywood and not having them want you dead.

Beatty just blinks at me innocently, with a kind of guileless sincerity. "Look, I never misled anyone," he says. "Andand I'm a nice guy."

On maintaining an illusion of beauty and success in Hollywood

"You're participating in a profession that, for obvious reasons, needs to heighten elements of sexuality," especially "if you delay marriage for a long time."

He had often been involved with his leading ladies, but this was not the case when he worked with Bening in Bugsy. "During the making of the movie, there was no suggestion as to a future relationship," Beatty says. "I mean, there was in my head, but otherwise, no." When filming started, he told her, "You don't have to worry about me." And she said, "Well, I didn't ask."

On his marriage of 24 years to Annette Bening

He sees a clear demarcation in his life  BA and AA, Before Annette and After Annette... "I waited a long time to be married," he continues. "When you don't get married until you're 54well, as Arthur Miller said, 'it comes with the territory.' He refers to a line in the playwright's Death of a Salesman. "A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."

Annette Bening on her husband, Warren Beatty

"There's always a part of what he's doing that's private," Bening says, "but we talk a lot about everything. Some people pay lip service to listening to others and they're really not listening. He does. He loves actors, and while he's shooting he's always interested in what people are saying. He's a terrific audience."

Annette Bening on having Beatty around the house

After having him at home for almost two decades, it must have been difficult to have him focused on something other than their family. "Are you kidding?" she says, laughing. "I was like, 'I am ready to kill you. Just make the movie, please, please, please.' But like other people at his level of talent, he does it when he's ready. And no one's saying anything made a difference, including me."

His thoughts on becoming an actor

Beatty insists that for a long time, "I resisted knowing I was interested in acting. I guess the word you'd use would be 'shy.' I preferred sports."

On his filmmaking process

"I have often compared making a movie to vomiting," Beatty says. "I don't like to vomit. But there are times I think, Maybe I'll just feel better if I go ahead and throw up. So then I make the movie."

On a Dick Tracy sequel

"I liked the original very much, and it was very profitable," he says. "Jeffrey Katzenberg once asked me to do a sequel. At the time, I thought sequels were beneath me. Now I realize how far below sequels I am."

On being a famous father

"Being an older father doesn't seem to be an issue for him. Being a famous father does: "It's a burden to be the child of not only one famous parent, but two."

Beatty on the idea of living on through his children

"DNA becomes more relevant as we get older," he says. His four children  Stephen, 24 (who has cofounded Vetch, a poetry journal for transgender writers); Benjamin 22, an actor; Isabel, 19; and Ella, 16  are "by far the best thing that happened to me."

"I always knew I wanted to have children," Beatty says. "I wanted to do it well, and I wanted to do it with someone who felt the same way."

Beatty on hobbies

"You know you're old when you're asked, 'do you have hobbies?'" he says, smiling. "No. It's a luxury to spend time with your family. And I was always mulling projects."

About AARP The Magazine

With nearly 36 million readers, AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through health and fitness features, financial guidance, consumer interest information and tips, celebrity interviews, and book and movie reviews. AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is published bimonthly in print and continually online. Learn more at www.aarp.org/magazine/. Twitter: twitter.com/AARP

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412283

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO

SOURCE AARP

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alon USA Partners, LP (NYSE: ALDW) ("Alon Partners") today announced that it will release its third quarter 2016 financial results on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, Alon Partners has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Central Time).

What: Alon USA Partners, LP Third Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call When: Friday, October 28, 2016 - 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time Where: Live via phone by dialing 877-404-9648, or 412-902-0030 for international callers, and asking for the Alon Partners call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Investors may also listen to the conference live by logging on to the Alon Partners website at www.alonpartners.com .

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through November 4, 2016 and may be accessed by calling 877-660-6853, or 201-612-7415 for international callers, and using the passcode 13646174#. A webcast archive will also be available at www.alonpartners.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days. For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at Dennard  Lascar Associates at 713-529-6600 or email [email protected] .

Alon USA Partners, LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in August 2012 by Alon USA Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ALJ) ("Alon Energy"). Alon Partners owns and operates a crude oil refinery in Big Spring, Texas, with a crude oil throughput capacity of 73,000 barrels per day. Alon Partners refines crude oil into finished products, which are marketed primarily in Central and West Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona through its integrated wholesale distribution network to both Alon Energy's retail convenience stores and other third-party distributors.

Contacts: Stacey Morris

Investor Relations Manager

Alon USA Partners GP, LLC

972-367-3808





Investors: Jack Lascar

Dennard  Lascar Associates, LLC

713-529-6600





Media: Blake Lewis

Lewis Public Relations

214-635-3020

SOURCE Alon USA Partners, LP

Related Links

http://www.alonpartners.com


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sep. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovate Arkansas, an initiative that helps scale promising Arkansas technology ventures, today officially launched the Arkansas Goes Boom Podcast, a series of personal interviews with the CEOs, tech leaders, marketers and founders who are fueling Arkansas's thriving technology and startup culture.

Arkansas has a rich history of entrepreneurs whose businesses have shaped not only the state, but the nation and the world. A new generation of entrepreneurs is emerging from the shadows of Walmart, Tyson Foods, JB Hunt and other legendary brands famous to Arkansas. The Arkansas Goes Boom podcast is inspired by this generation of dreamers and risk takers and offers a resource for anyone in Arkansas that aspires to own their own business, currently does own their own business, or just loves a good story.

Produced by Metova for Innovate Arkansas, interview highlights include Gov. Asa Hutchinson on technology in the state; Mary Dunlap, Director of the Arkansas Coding Academy; Mike Rasmussen, CEO and founder at Eyenalyze, as well as interviews with the marketers and developers working in Arkansas' tech sector.

To listen to Arkansas Goes Boom segments, please visit the iTunes store at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arkansas-goes-boom/id1092875570

"Our team is working with Arkansas startup businesses everyday to grow and create well-paying Arkansas jobs. This podcast series is a great way to get to know some of the businesses we help accelerate, to learn more about what Innovate Arkansas does and to understand how we might be able to help your business scale," says Tom Dalton, Director of Innovate Arkansas.

Arkansas Goes Boom episodes include:

Episode 13: Governor shares some insight regarding not only the Arkansas economy, but also the successes Arkansas is having in technology and entrepreneurship.

Episode 12: Mary Dunlap, Program Director of The Arkansas Coding Academy  a partnership between UCA and tech firm Metova. The program aims to produce more computer programmers and tech support for private business.

Episode 10: Andreas Can, iOS developer at Metova. Andreas has worked with leading companies creating world class mobile apps.

Episode 2: Bogdan Constantin and Justin Delaney of Menguin  a new company that eliminates the hassles of renting a tuxedo or a suit.

SOURCE Innovate Arkansas
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aqua Security, the platform provider for securing virtual container applications, today announced it has secured US$9 million in Series A funding, led by Microsoft Ventures. Cybersecurity luminary and investor Shlomo Kramer will be joining Aqua's Board of Directors. Aqua's seed investors TLV Partners and Mr. Kramer also participated in this round of funding, bringing Aqua's total investment to date to US$13.5 million.

"We are thrilled to receive such strong endorsement of our technology and customer success," said Dror Davidoff, CEO and co-founder of Aqua. "Security has become a key enabler in container adoption, and I look forward to working with Microsoft as we expand our footprint, helping our customers to unlock the benefits of this new technology."

"Containers are revolutionizing application development and delivery, driving new levels of innovation and developer agility," said Mony Hassid, General Manager and Managing Director, Microsoft Ventures. "Aqua's comprehensive security platform for containers enables enterprises to accelerate adoption on both private and public clouds. We are delighted to support Aqua's journey to success in this fast growing market."

Aqua was founded in late 2015, and launched its platform for general availability in May 2016. In a short period, the company achieved significant growth and customer adoption. Fortune 500 customers in the financial services, technology, retail and online services sectors are already using the Aqua platform to secure production environments and embed security into their container development and delivery cycle. The company plans to double its staff by mid-2017.

Aqua also announced today that Shlomo Kramer, who invested in Aqua's seed round, will join the company's board of directors. Mr. Kramer is a prolific cybersecurity entrepreneur and investor, who co-founded Check Point Software (CHKP), Imperva (IMPV), and Cato Networks, and invested in Trusteer (acquired by IBM), and Palo Alto Networks (PANW), among others. "Aqua's amazing progress in bringing its platform to market and growing its customer base are indicative of how rapidly containers are being adopted by enterprises, and of the need for a new security approach for this new stack," said Mr. Kramer.

The Aqua Container Security Platform delivers an advanced security solution for containerized environments, supporting Docker on both Windows and Linux, and available for on-premises deployment or on Azure, AWS and Google clouds. It provides development-to-production container lifecycle protection by combining smart default security profiles, behavioral analytics, and in-house cybersecurity research to create a comprehensive security and compliance envelope.

About Aqua Security

Aqua Security enables enterprises to secure their virtual container environments from development to production, accelerating container adoption and bridging the gap between DevOps and IT security. Aqua's Container Security Platform provides full visibility into container activity, allowing organizations to detect and prevent suspicious activity and attacks in real time. Integrated with container lifecycle and orchestration tools, the Aqua platform provides transparent, automated security while helping to enforce policy and simplify regulatory compliance. Aqua was founded and backed by TLV Partners, Microsoft Ventures, and IT security leaders, and is based in Israel and San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit www.aquasec.com or follow us on twitter.com/AquaSecTeam.

SOURCE Aqua Security

Related Links

https://www.aquasec.com


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Arcturus Growthstar Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Arcturus") (CSE: AGS) (OTC Pink: AGSTF) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire a large portfolio of revenue generating App's and source code. This acquisition brings on a seasoned team of app developers, which instantly expands the Company's tech portfolio and positions Arcturus for rapid rollout of a suite of 420 centric apps. With this all-stock deal, said stock being subject to escrow, Arcturus gains a foothold in the extremely valuable and fast growing mobile application market and obtains access to a seasoned team of experienced developers having published over 500 apps.

"Agriculture and technology are two powerful trends, which are merging at a rapid pace, and mobile technology, specifically apps that are efficiency based, will be in the center of it all," says Mr. William Gildea, Arcturus Growthstar Technologies Inc.'s CEO and Chairman. "This acquisition positions Arcturus to take full advantage of this trend now and in the future by leveraging the experience of this seasoned mobile app team, which just in the past three years has released over 500 iOS/Android apps, including Farming All In One and a soon to be released 420 All In One Application with many more 420 apps in the pipeline."

Mobile apps will continue to be at the heart of the data transformation in agriculture.

"Having published over 500 apps on both iOS and Android platforms we also integrated the Facebook, Chartboost, Applovin and Google's AdMob mobile advertising networks which serve up over 10 million ad impressions per year across our portfolio," comments Mikael Hovhannisyan, the app portfolio manager. "We are excited to be a part of the growing Arcturus team and look forward to leveraging our mobile development and monetization experience into the rapidly expanding 420 Ag app space.

According to CropLife, "The agricultural industry is being transformed by the use of data. It is everywhere, and over the next several years, innovative new uses of information across agriculture - from yield optimization and fertilizer management, to food safety and connected vehicles - will be adopted." See full article at: http://www.croplife.com/editorial/matt-hopkins/6-mobile-app-trends-worth-watching-in-agriculture/

"Cloud technology, Big Data, and the Internet of Things all support the day-to-day operations on the farm," says John Sweeny, the farm manager. "We are on the verge of some very significant changes in the merging of mobile app technology and the farm."

For further information, contact William Gildea, Director, at +1-617-834-9467.

On behalf of the Board,

Arcturus Growthstar Technologies Inc.

William Gildea, CEO & Chairman

About Arcturus

The Company's business model includes developing and acquiring technologies that will position it as a leader in the evolution of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for the global production of various types of plants. Arcturus provides scalable, indoor CEA systems that utilize minimal land, water and energy regardless of climate, location or time of year and are customized to grow an abundance of crops close to consumers, therefore minimizing food miles and its impact to the environment. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generate yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. The contained system provides many other benefits including seed to sale security, scalability, consistency due to year-round production, cost control, product safety and purity by eliminating environmental variability.

The Company is also in the business of designing and distributing LED lighting solutions utilizing the COB and MCOB technology. The Company is focused on delivering cost efficient lighting to North America via advanced e-commerce sites the Company owns and operates. LEDCanada.com which caters to B2B customers is a supplier of the newest and highest demand LED solutions. The Company also owns and operates COBGrowlights.com which caters to both large and small agriculture green houses and controlled cultivation centers.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts

responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

Contact:

William Gildea,

+1-617-834-9467.

ARCTURUS GROWTHSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Suite 1518, 1030 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6E 2Y3



SOURCE Arcturus Growthstar Technologies Inc.
BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2006, recent graduates Pere Codina and Albert Colmenero started their first company, a software development firm. In what would become a life-altering event, Pere and Albert watched as one of their top clients lost 30 percent of their sales revenue in just one week, all because a competitor had updated an updated Google advertisement to announce free shipping.

The client was completely caught off-guard, and the seeds were planted for the first competitive intelligence platform, Kompyte.

Kompyte provides a complete, 360-degree view of the competition, monitoring their websites, blogs, social media, search results and keyword campaigns providing immediate insights into competitors' strategy.

With Kompyte, product and marketing teams get real-time alerts when competitors change pricing, launch a new feature or integration, start targeting a new niche, or when their search rankings change.

It even detects new competitors the same day they launch.

Kompyte automatically collects relevant data that would normally take weeks or months to collect manually, turning it into actionable insights for marketing or product teams looking to gain an advantage.

Using Kompyte is as simple as entering a list of competitors. Once a competitor is entered, Kompyte starts monitoring immediately, providing insights into what's working for the competition so companies can adjust their roadmap accordingly and optimize their value proposition.

An easy reporting feature is built into the Kompyte platform, generating a vast set of marketing KPIs that can be exported to PDF in a single click.

Marketing teams all over the world are using the platform to gain insights not just into what the competition is doing, but what's working for them.

Kompyte customers are never caught off-guard. With a competitor and keyword detector, the user can act faster and respond accordingly without scrambling to find out what happened.

Codina, Colmenero and IT genius Sergio Ramirez launched Kompyte in May 2015, and already count more than 70 companies among their paying customers. Recently, they demonstrated Kompyte at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco.

Interested users can sign up now at kompyte.com, Subscription plans start at $125 per month, and enterprise plans are available for larger firms.

For more information about this story, contact:

Pere Codina

Kompyte

[email protected]

+34 671039212

SOURCE Kompyte

Related Links

http://kompyte.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Baruch College announced today a $30 million gift from Austin W. Marxe (Class of '65, BBA in Accountancy) to its School of Public and International Affairs. The donation is the largest single gift in the history of Baruch College and ties for the second largest single gift in the history of the City University of New York (CUNY).

The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York approved the renaming of the School, which henceforth will be known as the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

The $30 million gift will enable the School to increase scholarships and study abroad programs for students to advance their education and careers; to establish faculty chairs and provide support for additional faculty; to forge new partnerships with public policy leaders, organizations and institutions, both domestically and abroad; and to develop and expand programming that will include convening thought leaders for critical discussions around the vital questions of the day. The gift will also establish a permanent endowment for the School.

Situated less than 20 city blocks from the United Nations, in one of the world's most multicultural and global cities, Baruch College has a diverse student body that is a true reflection of today's global society. The School is the only free-standing public institution in New York City devoted exclusively to teaching public and international affairs.

The gift to the Schoolwhich can trace its beginnings to 1910 and has for decades trained students for careers in government and the nonprofit sectors on the local, state, national and international levelswill elevate its status to compete with the most prestigious programs in the world.

"The College is extremely grateful to receive such a generous gift from one of its most distinguished and successful alumni," said Dr. Mitchel B. Wallerstein, President of Baruch College. "Austin Marxe's philanthropy will be transformational for Baruch, which is already one of the leading public colleges in the nation. It will enable the College to move into the front rank of academic institutions in the U.S. training students for careers in public and international affairs."

CUNY Chancellor James Milliken said: "We are deeply appreciative of the far-sighted and extraordinary gift of Austin Marxe, a distinguished alumnus of CUNY's Baruch College. His generous commitment to his alma mater will position the new Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, located in the heart of the nation's global center, to become one of the leading schools in the country, significantly increasing student scholarships, attracting world-class faculty and establishing relationships with public policy leaders and organizations. The new school will provide outstanding opportunities for the talented, ambitious and diverse CUNY students who will benefit from this gift for generations to come."

"This gift will allow us to compete for the best and brightest students and faculty from around the country and the world," said David Birdsell, PhD, Dean of the Baruch College School of Public and International Affairs. "Just as important, they will represent the kind of diversity we need in leadership to shepherd the fortunes of a country undergoing tremendous demographic change and a world in which nations are ever more closely interconnected."

"Now more than ever we need excellent schools to train leaders who can grapple with the serious challenges we face as a country and as a neighbor throughout the world. My hope is that this gift will allow the school to produce the next generation of policy leaders who are committed to improving the world," said Austin W. Marxe. "I'm trying to give back to a school that has given me so much."

Marxe himself embodies the "Baruch story." A native New Yorker, born in the Bronx and raised in Queens, Marxe came from a family of modest means that struggled financially during the Depression years. He chose Baruch College for his degree since it was the only affordable option for his family. Attending classes mostly in the evening, Marxe took on various jobs during the day, including traveling to local bars, restaurants and hotels around the city to audit their bookkeeping records. After graduating in 1965, he began working at a small accounting company and was later hired by a larger more prestigious firm in the city.

"Clearly without my education and credentials from Baruch College, no one would have hired me," said Marxe. In 1988, Marxe left Prudential Bache to found his own company, and today is President and Managing Director of AWM Investment Company, Inc., an employee-owned investment firm. A world traveler and avid fisherman, Marxe and his wife Dianne, a sculptor, live on the east end of Long Island. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Marxe's generous gift will enable other students to achieve similar successes.

Baruch's current student body is 18,400 and extremely diverse, both ethnically and economically, with students tracing their heritage to 168 countries and speaking 130 languages. Sixty percent of the school's students come from households with incomes of less than $40,000, and more than one-third are the first in their family ever to attend college. Baruch College has been repeatedly recognized as having one of the most ethnically diverse student bodies in the United States.

The College dates back more than 160 years, to the founding of the Free Academy in 1847, the first free public college in the nation. Baruch has carried on a tradition of accessibility and opportunity for students from New York City's five boroughs, the metropolitan region, and around the world. Baruch College continues its commitment to providing an affordable, quality education. Today, more than 80 percent of the student body graduate with no federal student loans, and Baruch is nationally recognized for providing a high-quality education while enabling its students to graduate with little or no debt.

For media inquiries contact:

Suzanne Bronski, (646) 660-6093, [email protected]

About Baruch College:

Baruch College is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) with a total enrollment of more than 18,000 students, who represent 168 countries and speak more than 130 languages. Ranked among the top 15% of U.S. colleges and the No. 5 public regional university, Baruch College is regularly recognized as among the most ethnically diverse colleges in the country. As a public institution with a tradition of academic excellence, Baruch College offers accessibility and opportunity for students from every corner of New York City and from around the world. For more about Baruch College, go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411885LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411886LOGO

SOURCE Baruch College
PHOENIX, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is calling on the young, inspiring chefs to join the All About Healthy Living recipe contest, hosted in collaboration with Girl ScoutsArizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC). The organizations are looking for Girl Scouts of any age within the Cactus-Pine Council to submit their favorite healthy, original recipe for a cold side dish as part of the BCBSAZ All About Healthy Living patch program.

For a recipe to be considered, it must be submitted between Sept. 24  Oct. 8, 2016 and follow these guidelines:

Must be submitted by an active Girl Scout with GSACPC

Is an original recipe for a cold side dish

Includes at least one fruit and/or vegetable

Can be cooked within 20 minutes (including prep time)

The winner will be selected based on:

Nutritional value

Potential taste

Average cost per person for ingredients

Originality

All Girl Scouts who enter a recipe will earn the All About Healthy Living patch and Health rocker. The Girl Scout with the winning entry will receive $150 gift card to the Cactus-Pine Council Shop. In addition, the winning recipe and tastings of the dish will be distributed at community events. To enter your recipe, visit Nourishingarizona.com/recipe and complete the online entry form by Oct. 8, 2016.

The All About Healthy Living patch was launched earlier this year to help Girl Scouts discover, connect and take action around the issue of healthy living. It's an engaging model designed to inspire a culture of health and wellness for Arizona's youth.

This patch program is the most comprehensive of its kind, providing progressive, age-appropriate, hands-on learning opportunities for girls from K to 12. It also incorporates a spectrum of activities focusing on key aspects of wellness with more than 70 local community organizations around the state.

This Girl Scout initiative is one of many community efforts that BCBSAZ supports under its Nourishing Arizona program. Through the Nourishing Arizona program, BCBSAZ educates communities across the state about making better food choices and preventing chronic health conditions. Helping Arizona families build active lifestyles and form lifelong healthy habits remains a significant focus for the not-for-profit company.

About Girl ScoutsArizona Cactus-Pine Council

Girl Scouts is the largest organization for girls in the world, with the best leadership experiences and programs available. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low, who believed in the power of every girl. Today, we continue her vision of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place by helping them discover their inner strength, passions and talents. In Arizona, Girl ScoutsArizona Cactus-Pine Council serves more than 23,000 girls in grades K-12 with the help of more than 10,000 adult volunteers. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), an independent licensee of the, is an Arizona-based health insurance company. The not-for-profit company was founded in 1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to 1.4 million individuals. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and the East Valley, the company employs more than 1,400 Arizonans. Follow BCBSAZ at www.facebook.com/bcbsaz or on Twitter at @bcbsaz.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Perimeter Surveillance & Detection Systems, Biometrics & ICT Systems, Manned Platforms, Unmanned Systems, Physical Infrastructure, Support & Other Service



Report Details



The latest report from business intelligence provider visiongain offers comprehensive analysis of the global Border Security market. Visiongain assesses that this market will generate revenues of $17.98 billion in 2016.



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About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco today announced that Chairman and CEO, Jim Myers, a 26-year company veteran and CEO since 2004, will be retiring. As part of Petco's long-term succession plan, company President and Chief Merchant, Brad Weston, who joined Petco in 2011, will succeed Myers as CEO as of February 1, 2017.

Myers joined Petco in 1990 and has been a key leader in building and growing the company from a regional player into a leading national pet specialty retail chain with more than 1,470 Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico. Petco also boasts a rapidly growing online business through Petco.com and Drs. Foster & Smith, the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier of prescription services and pet supplies.

"I am tremendously proud of the entire Petco team and all we've accomplished during the last 26 years," said Myers. "We've assembled one of the strongest leadership teams in the industry and together we've built a great brand and a very clear strategy that informs our long-term objectives and priorities."

Myers continued, "There is no one better than Brad to lead Petco as we continue to be pet parents' trusted partner of choice, and continue to evolve and grow as a leader in the pet specialty business. I look forward to serving the company in an advisory capacity and as a board member going forward."

As President and Chief Merchant, Weston has been responsible for driving the company's overall business strategy, operations and merchandising activities, as well as marketing and e-commerce. Prior to joining Petco, he held senior leadership roles at Dick's Sporting Goods, May Merchandising Company and Robinsons-May.

Christopher Stadler, Managing Partner of CVC Capital Partners (CVC), commented, "Petco's bright future is due in large part to Jim Myers' vision, dedication and hard work. Under his leadership, the company has experienced significant growth, and as the retail landscape has evolved, Jim has created a great foundation from which Petco will continue to grow. All stakeholders of Petco owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jim for all he's done to make Petco the pet parents' trusted partner of choice."

Cameron Breitner, Partner of CVC, added, "A key factor in the decision that we and CPPIB made to invest in Petco last year was its strong bench of leadership talent to drive future growth. In his five years with Petco, Brad Weston has clearly proven his ability to lead Petco forward in its ongoing commitment to meet the needs of pet parents across all demographics and expand in new and innovative ways. We are very glad that Jim Myers will remain an important part of Petco's future and are excited for Brad as he takes this step forward."

"I couldn't be more excited about the incredible opportunities that lie ahead for Petco and our more than 25,000 Petco Partners across the company," said Weston. "We've come a long way over the past 50 years and I look forward to working closely with our partners, vendors and other stakeholders to continue supporting pet parents with the very best in products, services and solutions for better lives together."

For more information about Petco or to find a location near you, visit petco.com.

About Petco and the Petco Foundation

With more than 50 years of service to pet parents, Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,470 Petco and Unleashed by Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico; prescription services and pet supplies from the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier, Drs. Foster & Smith; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has invested more than $167 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.

About CVC Capital Partners

CVC Capital Partners is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm. Founded in 1981, CVC today has a network of 24 offices and approximately 340 employees throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. To date, CVC has secured commitments of more than US$65 billion from some of the world's leading institutional investors across its European and Asian private equity, strategic opportunities and growth funds. In total, CVC currently manages over US$33 billion of assets. Today, funds managed or advised by CVC are invested in 51 companies worldwide, employing c.330,000 people in numerous countries. Together, these companies have combined annual sales of over US$90 billion.

For further information about CVC please visit: www.cvc.com

About CPPIB

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 19 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City and Sao Paulo, CPPIB is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At June 30, 2016, the CPP Fund totalled C$287.3 billion.

For more information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com.

Contact: Lisa Stark, [email protected], 858-453-7845 x222558

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SOURCE Petco

Related Links

http://www.petco.com


"These aerostats provide crucial information and protection for our men and women in uniform who serve in remote and dangerous locations," said Bravura CEO Claudine Adams. "We are thrilled that our dedicated team will support these key programs and continue the important legacy of aerostat innovation."

To help protect troops in the field, the U.S. Army has placed an increased emphasis on providing more and better intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Persistent surveillance and threat detection systems have proven especially effective in identifying improvised explosive devices, tracking insurgent movements and monitoring other suspicious activity.

PSS-T provides warfighters with an effective ISR capability, support to force protection and platforms to extend communications networks beyond line of sight. Filled with helium and attached to mobile mooring systems by high-strength tethers, PSS-T large and medium aerostats have scalable capabilities providing around the clock surveillance of broad areas for weeks.

Bravura is partnering with Lockheed Martin and TCOM to help meet its efforts to support combatant commanders and joint agency requirements. Each company's innovative capabilities will be instrumental in technical consolidation and operational streamlining for the new program.

Lockheed Martin, the PSS-T Large developer, delivered its first lighter-than-air (LTA)-based persistent ISR systems to the U.S. Navy more than 75 years ago and has produced more than 300 airships and thousands of aerostats in support of military operations world-wide.

"We are pleased to partner with Bravura to extend our legacy of lighter-than-air innovation, engineering and production," said Paula Hartley, vice president, Advanced Product Solutions, Lockheed Martin. "PTDS has performed exceptionally in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004 and we are looking forward to many more years of supporting our customers' needs for affordable, reliable aerostat systems."

TCOM, with operations in over 12 countries, is the PSS-T Medium developer and a global authority in airborne persistent surveillance solutions. For over 40 years, TCOM innovations have defined the LTA industry, and its pioneering achievements continue to revolutionize the design, manufacture and deployment of LTA systems.

"We are proud to join Bravura as they continue providing the combat proven PGSS platforms for soldiers abroad," said Ron Bendlin, president, TCOM. "PSS-T, as a program of record, represents an enduring aerostat capability for the U.S. Army, and TCOM looks forward to supporting Bravura with cost effective and innovative solutions in the years ahead."

Other PSS-T team members include: Tobyhanna Army Depot, which provides logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems; Dragoon Technologies, Inc., a service-based engineering company providing advanced systems integration and installation for airborne ISR platforms; Priority Worldwide Services, which provides supply chain solutions globally; Accent Controls, Inc., an entrepreneurial systems integration engineering firm; Cape Fox Professional Services, which provide advanced technology and safety training solutions to federal clients; Digital Results Group, which provides web-enabled software and technology solutions that fuse, in real-time, sensor and intelligence data to support operations; and STS International, which protects U.S. infrastructure and forces both at home and abroad.

Work on the PSS-T program will be performed in Aberdeen and Columbia, Maryland, Melbourne, Florida and Akron, Ohio.

For additional information, visit www.bravurainc.com.

About Bravura

Headquartered in Aberdeen, Maryland, Bravura is a woman-owned, minority owned, small disadvantaged business with a wealth of Department of Defense, Army, and intelligence community experience. With over 30 years of experience, Bravura employs a highly skilled leadership team of proven and experienced personnel. Our professionals are ready to provide quality driven, customer focused, schedule-determined, risk mitigated and cost restrained solutions to help our clients gain maximum value for mission success.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About TCOM

TCOM's headquarters is in Columbia, Maryland, and the Manufacturing & Flight Test Facility is located near Elizabeth City, North Carolina. TCOM is the world's leading company specializing in cost-effective LTA surveillance solutions with in-house aerostat and airship manufacture, assembly, flight test and training capabilities.

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SOURCE Bravura; Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


THE HAGUE, the Netherlands, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A royal visit from Great Britain: from 29 September 2016 to 8 January 2017 the Mauritshuis in The Hague will exhibit a selection of the most important Dutch genre paintings from the British Royal Collection. The renowned Royal Collection, held in trust by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, includes highlights by famous painters such as Gerard ter Borch, Gerrit Dou, Pieter de Hooch, Gabriel Metsu and Jan Steen. The highlight of the exhibition is 'The Music Lesson' by Johannes Vermeer.

Johannes Vermeer, 'The Music Lesson', ca 1660-1662, Royal Collection Trust / (C) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016. (PRNewsFoto/Mauritshuis)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412241 )

The Royal Collection has some of the most important holdings in the world. It owns many paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, and gives pride of place to its genre paintings, scenes that appear to be taken from everyday life. The exhibition At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his Contemporaries from the British Royal Collection introduces the public to the 'genre painting', its many forms and the provocative symbolism it often conceals. These works are stunning in their variety, from simple farmhands gathered in an inn to elegant figures in rich interiors. Some of the everyday scenes carry a deeper, often moralistic meaning, which may be explicit or at times concealed. But in all of them, the artists portrayed the characters and their environments as skilfully as possible, which makes them even more attractive.

About the exhibition

The exhibition covers a broad selection of the best Dutch genre paintings from the Royal Collection. It includes 22 paintings from the British Royal Collection and one from the collection of the Mauritshuis, The Young Mother by Gerrit Dou. This painting was part of the British Royal Collection until about 1700, and came into Dutch ownership through King and Stadholder William III. The highlights of the exhibition are Johannes Vermeer's 'The Music Lesson' and Jan Steen's A Woman at her Toilet . Also featured are significant works by other grand masters of Dutch genre painting, such as Gerard ter Borch, Gerrit Dou, Pieter de Hooch, Willem van Mieris and Gabriel Metsu.

The Royal Collection and the Mauritshuis

The British Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important collections in the world and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. The Royal Collection and the Mauritshuis have much in common: both are royal collections and both contain a magnificent collection of Dutch masters of the Golden Age. King George IV of England was a key figure in the history of the Royal Collection. In the early decades of the nineteenth century he acquired many of the paintings which are now seen as jewels in the crown of the English royal collection. The foundations for the Mauritshuis collection were laid by the stadholders William IV and William V. Their descendant, King William I, bequeathed the collection to the Dutch state in 1816 and the museum still bears the name Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery.

The exhibition At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his Contemporaries from the British Royal Collection is a collaboration between Royal Collection Trust and the Mauritshuis. The exhibition was held at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, under the title Masters of the Everyday: Dutch Artists in the Age of Vermeer from 13 November 2015 to 14 February 2016. It has been on display at The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh until 17 July 2016. From Thursday 29 September 2016, the paintings will be on view in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

Notes to editors:

Images can be downloaded through this link, please mention the attached credit line:

https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/press/

EN: Royal Collection Trust /  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016

Follow the Mauritshuis on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr

SOURCE Mauritshuis
Bonar has extensive experience in leading design, construction and planning for a wide range of mission-critical facilities. He has worked with many of the largest mission-critical clients in the market and brings that experience to Burns & McDonnell, where the mission-critical team already has grown by 25 percent during the past 12 months.

"From medical systems to online banking, this industry touches each of our lives every day with no room for error," says Mike Fenske, senior vice president for the Global Facilities Group at Burns & McDonnell. "Robert has earned the trust and respect of some of the most innovative tech companies in the world. His extensive knowledge of the mission-critical market, paired with his passion for progressive projects, makes him a driven leader for Burns & McDonnell and our clients."

Bonar looks forward to building upon the firm's leadership in design-build project delivery, providing a single point of contact for clients looking for innovative approaches, accelerated schedules and a focus on client needs. And with data centers demanding vast amounts of reliable energy, he will be drawing on the strengths, skills and experience of professionals in a firm ranked No. 1 in Power and No. 14 overall by Engineering News-Record.

"We plan to leverage our mission-critical design and construction expertise, as well as our industry-leading capabilities in energy, to provide unmatched value for our clients," Bonar says. "They want new ideas. They want innovation. They don't want to conform. We're going to give them what they need, and more."

Bonar will lead a group of designers, engineers, builders and others in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, as well as other hot spots in what has become a $17 billion industry each year for new construction as tech companies work to run enough servers to meet their multiplying needs for data storage and management. He knows industry professionals will be drawn to the employee-ownership culture at Burns & McDonnell, which ranks No. 16 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For.

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a company made up of more than 5,300 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners. Burns & McDonnell is 100 percent employee-owned and is proud to be No. 16 on Fortune's 2016 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit burnsmcd.com.

For photos and support materials, CLICK HERE.

Contact: Kristi Widmar, Burns & McDonnell

816-448-7379

[email protected]

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SOURCE Burns & McDonnell

Related Links

http://www.burnsmcd.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Energy Storage Alliance applauds the California State Legislature and Governor for signing into law four important new bills that directly impact energy storage. Collectively, these bills will grow the behind-the-meter and utility-scale energy storage markets, create new clean energy jobs, reduce distributed energy resource interconnection challenges, and ensure that bulk energy storage is part of California's renewable energy future. Governor Jerry Brown signed the following bills into law on September 26, 2016:

AB 1637 (Low)  Increases the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) funding by $249 million , sending a clear market signal to industry stakeholders that behind-the-meter energy storage will play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the next-generation electric grid. Thanks to the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) recent SGIP reforms, 75% of the program budget going forward is now reserved for energy storage.





 Increases the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) funding by , sending a clear market signal to industry stakeholders that behind-the-meter energy storage will play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the next-generation electric grid. Thanks to the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) recent SGIP reforms, 75% of the program budget going forward is now reserved for energy storage. AB 2868 (Gatto) - Requires the CPUC to direct California's three investor owned utilities (IOUs) to accelerate the deployment of distributed energy storage by filing applications for new programs and investments of up to 500 megawatts. This bill directly increases the market for energy storage in California , as the 500 MW is in addition to the 1.325 gigawatt procurement goal that California established in 2013.





Requires the CPUC to direct three investor owned utilities (IOUs) to accelerate the deployment of distributed energy storage by filing applications for new programs and investments of up to 500 megawatts. This bill directly increases the market for energy storage in , as the 500 MW is in addition to the 1.325 gigawatt procurement goal that established in 2013. AB 2861 (Ting) - Authorizes the CPUC to create an objective, expedited dispute-resolution process for distributed, behind-the-meter energy resources attempting to establish an interconnection to an IOU's electricity distribution network. This bill and resulting dispute resolution process will accelerate and reduce Rule 21 interconnection costs.





- Authorizes the CPUC to create an objective, expedited dispute-resolution process for distributed, behind-the-meter energy resources attempting to establish an interconnection to an IOU's electricity distribution network. This bill and resulting dispute resolution process will accelerate and reduce Rule 21 interconnection costs. AB 33 (Quirk) - Directs the CPUC and California Energy Commission to evaluate and analyze the potential for all types of long duration bulk energy storage, such as pumped hydro, to help integrate renewable generation into the grid. This bill ensures broader consideration of bulk energy storage's unique capabilities and market roles.

"The leadership demonstrated by Assemblymembers Evan Low, Phil Ting, Bill Quirk, and Mike Gatto was instrumental in the development and eventual passage of these groundbreaking bills," said Janice Lin, Executive Director of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) and Chair of Energy Storage North America. "CESA is proud to have played a key role in these bills, which further enable energy storage to become a valued piece of the mainstream energy toolkit, mitigate unwarranted market or interconnection barriers, and allow bulk storage technologies to be appreciated as a solution to renewables integration."

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY STORAGE ALLIANCE

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a membership-based advocacy group committed to advancing the role of energy storage in the electric power sector through policy, education, outreach, and research. CESA's mission is to make energy storage a mainstream energy resource that enables a more efficient, reliable, affordable, and secure electric power system. For more information, please visit our website: www.storagealliance.org

Follow us on Twitter: @StorageAlliance

Join us on LinkedIn

SOURCE CESA (California Energy Storage Alliance)

Related Links

www.storagealliance.org


HYDERABAD, India, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Mordor Intelligence announces the publication of their research report on the prebiotic ingredients market. The report titled "Global Prebiotic Ingredients Market- Growth, Trends and Forecast," discusses the current landscape and outlook of the market.

The prebiotic ingredients market, is projected to reach USD 7.05 billion by 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% during the forecast period 2016-2021. Europe is the largest market for prebiotics. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region; it is expected to project a CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period.

Factors affecting the market:

Market Drivers: Increased use of prebiotic in functional food Numerous health benefits of prebiotics Increased health awareness among consumers

Market Restraints: Regulatory constraints High cost involved in research and development

Market Opportunities: Growth opportunities in developing regions Technological advancements



Our report on prebiotic ingredients is segmented as follows:

By Type Inulin Fructo- Oligosaccharide (FOS) Galacto- Oligosaccharide (GOS) Mannan- Oilgosaccharide (MOS) Others (Disaccharides, Resistant Starch, Polydextrose)

By Application Food & Beverage Dietary Supplements Specialty Nutrients Animal Feed Prebiotics Others

By Health Benefits Gut health Bone health Immunity Heart health Weight Management

By Geography Africa Asia-Pacific Europe North America South America



Some of the key players profiled in our report include:

Yakult Pharmaceutical Industry Co Ltd.

Cargill Inc.

Beneo-Orafti SA

Beghin Meiji

Royal Cosun

Fiesland Campina Domo

Cosucra Groupe Warcoing SA

About Mordor Intelligence:

Mordor Intelligence is a global market research and consulting firm. Our focus is to provide research insights to facilitate business success. Our research expertise covers niche segments under Agriculture, Healthcare, ICT, Chemicals, Manufacturing, Logistics, Electronics and Automotive, among others. We believe in data, and we provide solutions through it. Optimum solutions and goal-oriented strategies define our endeavors and make us the preferred choice for clients.

For information regarding permissions and sales, please contact: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Madan Gopal

AVP - Marketing & Strategy

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line: +1 617-765-2493



SOURCE Mordor Intelligence
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow marks the opening of the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, the largest cruise conference and trade show in the Caribbean and one of the best ways to target the cruise industry and maximize its benefits. The four-day event will gather 1,000 cruise tourism stakeholders and 100 senior cruise executives for a series of meetings, workshops and networking functions aimed at developing understanding, relationships and business.

"The FCCA Conference & Trade Show puts cruise tourism stakeholders in the middle of the action," said Micky Arison, chairman of Carnival Corporation & plc and the FCCA. "From tour operators launching their first tour to destinations building a new port, this is the place where decisions and developments are reached and relationships are made to pave the way for future business."

Taking place until September 30, the event launches tomorrow with the official Trade Show opening at 11 AM, inaugurating the largest trade show in the event's history with innovations like the first-ever Purchasing Initiative to coincide with the announcement of a new FCCA sourcing program. The Conference opening ceremony will follow at 5:30 PM, featuring a keynote address by Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, along with remarks by high-ranking government officials from Puerto Rico and the unveiling of a new strategic partnership between the FCCA and Aquila's Center for Cruise Excellence.

These events will commence the opportunities to learn from and develop business and relationships with successful stakeholders and cruise executives who decide where ships call, what sells onboard and how to invest in destination products and infrastructure. Opportunities include one-on-one meetings between Conference delegates and pre-selected cruise executives of their choice, along with workshops focusing on shore excursions, supplying products to the cruise industry, best practices for safety and security measures in destinations and ports, and insight into how the industry's latest and upcoming trends applies to the audience through input by Micky Arison, Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line, and Adam Goldstein, President and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited.

Plus, the event features networking functions to foster relationship building between attendees and executives, while displaying some of the preparations by Puerto Rico, which partnered with the government and local businesses to coordinate the logistics and display their rich culture, diverse destination products and improved infrastructure.

"The FCCA appreciates San Juan's and the entire country's efforts and commitment to making the 23rd annual FCCA Conference & Trade Shows one of the best events yet," said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. "It has pulled out all the stops to woo the cruise executives and attendees, allowing all to see the offerings of and improvements that have led it to impressive recent growth that we look forward to continuing."

Puerto Rico knows the significance of hosting the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show. After last hosting it in 2011, it experienced a 10-percent increase of FCCA Member Line passenger arrivals between 2010 and 2013 and continued this growth, last year welcoming nearly 20 percent more than 2010.

These numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire destination's economy, with $198.2 million in passenger, crew and cruise line spending, in addition to $75 million in wages generated through cruise tourism during the 2014-15 season, per the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2015 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies.

San Juan's growth in 2013 generated approximately $13.7 million in passenger spending, $3.1 million in crew spending, $3.4 million in cruise line expenditures and $7.2 million in employment wagesan additional $27.4 million, not including indirect contributions like supplies purchased by tour operators and restaurants, as well as spending from cruise passengers who return as stay-over guests.

If FCCA Member Line passenger arrivals increase the same 10 percent in 2018, it would lead to estimated increases of $16.1 million in passenger spending, $3.7 million in crew spending, $3.9 million in cruise line spending and $8.4 million in employment wagesa total of $32.1 million more than 2015.

To learn more about the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, please visit www.regonline.com/fccapuertorico.

About the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues and builds bilateral relationships with destinations' private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com, the FCCA on Facebook, and @FCCAupdates on Twitter.

CONTACT: Arden Hare, (843) 628-3426, [email protected]

SOURCE Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
BOSTON and RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cengage, an education and technology company, today announced the acquisition of WebAssign, a leading provider of digital learning solutions for higher education. The acquisition strengthens Cengage's position as a market leader in science, technology and math offering three unique platforms for faculty and institutions.

WebAssign's flagship product (also called WebAssign) is a highly regarded assessment and homework solution for the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math). More than 30 publishers, academic institutions and OER providers use WebAssign to deliver content to over 1.5 million students each year. Cengage currently uses Enhanced WebAssign as the core platform for its digital offerings in math, statistics and physics. With 360 titles, including the world-renowned Stewart Calculus franchise, Cengage and WebAssign serve more than 1 million students annually.

"Cengage continues to evolve as an education and technology company offering superior digital course solutions," said Michael Hansen, CEO, Cengage. "The acquisition of WebAssign is a logical next step as we aggressively invest in student-focused digital products and platforms. Adding WebAssign to our offerings will give our customers more choices of platforms, including our own MindTap and Learning Objects.

"Cengage and WebAssign share complementary values and place a strong focus on the student experience. And WebAssign's experienced workforce brings expertise to Cengage's growing product technology team," Hansen continued.

"WebAssign is a trusted provider of high-quality content, robust tools and superior personalized services to instructors and students," said Alex Bloom, President and CEO, WebAssign. "We are proud to offer a wide selection of content from many academic publishers and OER sources, a commitment that will continue. Cengage has been a valued partner and the acquisition enables us to strengthen our service to the academic community."

In addition to WebAssign for digital homework and assessment, Cengage offers the recently-launched MindTap for Math and Statistics, a complete course solution, and Learning Objects, a comprehensive program solution. Cengage acquired Learning Objects in September 2015.

Terms of the WebAssign acquisition were not disclosed. Tyton Partners, a leading M&A advisory firm within the global knowledge sector, served as the advisor to WebAssign's majority shareholder. For media questions, contact Susan Aspey at [email protected] or Nancy Enloe at [email protected].

About Cengage

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Cengage creates learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with an office hub in San Francisco. Employees reside in nearly 40 countries with sales in more than 125 countries around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

About WebAssign

WebAssign is a flexible and fully customizable online instructional system that puts powerful tools in the hands of teachers, enabling them to deploy assignments, instantly assess individual student performance and realize their teaching goals. More than nine million students have used WebAssign to submit over 1.7 billion answers to homework assignments, tests and assessments.

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, WebAssign has a deep commitment to education technology solutions that support student learning. For more information, visit www.webassign.com.

Media Contact:

Susan Aspey, Cengage Learning

202-695-6012, [email protected]

Nancy Enloe, WebAssign

919-582-5759, [email protected]

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SOURCE Cengage

Related Links

http://www.cengage.com


ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) (http://chacompanies.com/) is proud to announce that Rich Rappa, Senior Vice President and Market Leader of Manufacturing & Energy, has received the Energy Engineer of the Year award for the Northeast region by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) (http://www.aeecenter.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1). The award recognizes outstanding accomplishment in promoting the practices, principles and procedures of energy engineering.

Rich Rappa, Senior Vice President and Market Leader for CHA's Manufacturing & Energy Division, was named Energy Engineer of the Year for the Northeast Region by the Association of Energy Engineers.

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AEE awarded Mr. Rappa in recognition of his work as an innovator, mentor, speaker and industry leader in energy efficiency. His professional pursuits distinguished him as a leader in the field early in his career. When the impact of energy efficiency measures were not yet fully appreciated, Mr. Rappa was at the forefront in applying the concepts of energy efficiency to manufacturing processes. His views reoriented and reshaped organizational thinking about energy efficiency and later led to his career in engineering consulting and public policy involving energy assistance programs for industry.

"It is an honor to be recognized as the engineer of the year," said Mr. Rappa. "It is the team that I work with on a day-to-day basis that makes this possible. It is a pleasure to work with professionals who share the same passion of helping companies become more operationally efficient, competitive and long-term viable."

Learn more about what Rich and CHA's team of energy engineers are doing to responsibly improve the world we live in: http://chacompanies.com/news/rich-rappa-2016-energy-engineer-of-the-year/

For over 18 years, Mr. Rappa has led CHA as a prominent technical service provider to utility- and state-based energy efficiency programs. In his drive to serve industrial clients, he was instrumental in securing the outreach contract for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Industrial Process Efficiency Program, acting as program director and advisor to NYSERDA, a nationally recognized energy agency that has become a model for energy program development and execution. His recommendations have led hundreds of companies to implement effective energy projects and increase their competitiveness.

Mr. Rappa received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a licensed professional engineer in New York and Certified Energy Manager. He is often requested to speak on the benefits of energy efficiency in an industrial setting at national seminars and conferences.

The Energy Engineer of the Year award was presented to Mr. Rappa at the World Energy Engineering Congress held September 2123 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.

About CHA Consulting, Inc.

CHA Consulting, Inc. is a highly diversified, full-service engineering and construction management firm providing a wide range of planning and design services to public, private and institutional clients. With technical personnel and offices throughout the United States and Canada, CHA offers engineering, architectural, survey, construction, and other services necessary to complete projects on time and within budget. For more information, please visit www.chacompanies.com.

Media Contact: Liz Johnston, 616-304-3995, Email

SOURCE CHA Consulting, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.chacompanies.com


OKLAHOMA CITY, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) announced today the expiration and final results of its offers to purchase for cash (the "Tender Offers") up to $800,000,000 aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) (the "Aggregate Maximum Purchase Amount") of the outstanding notes of Chesapeake set forth in the table below (collectively, the "Notes"). As of 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on September 26, 2016 (such date and time, the "Expiration Date"), Chesapeake received valid tenders totaling approximately $933.3 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

The following table sets forth the approximate aggregate principal amounts of each series of Notes that were tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration Date:

Series of Notes

CUSIP Number/ ISIN

Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding Prior to Tender Offers

Approximate Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes Tendered

Aggregate Principal Amount Accepted on Early Settlement Date

Tender Caps(1)

Acceptance Priority Level

Total Consideration(2) (3)





























6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017

XS0273933902

302,108,000

36,208,000

35,958,000

$400,000,000

1

1,000.00 6.5% Senior Notes due 2017

165167BS5

$315,126,000

$82,725,000

$82,374,000



1

$1,000.00 7.25% Senior Notes due 2018

165167CC9

$531,138,000

$71,267,000

$70,968,000



1

$995.00 Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2019

165167CM7

$948,501,000

$444,467,000

$444,322,000

$610,000,000

2

$915.00 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020

165167CF2

$822,087,000

$17,530,000

$15,205,000



3

$845.00 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020

165167BU0 165167BT3 USU16450AQ87

$302,163,000

$12,824,000

$11,116,000



3

$845.00 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021

165167CG0

$584,346,000

$34,305,000

$29,998,000



3

$812.50 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021

165167CK1

$276,171,000

$4,571,000

$3,907,000



3

$767.50 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022

165167CN5

$607,188,000

$173,845,000

$154,133,000



3

$752.50 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023

165167CL9

$384,390,000

$51,360,000

$45,538,000



3

$762.50































(1) The Short-Dated Tender Cap applies to the aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) of the 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017, the 6.5% Senior Notes due 2017 and the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2018, collectively, and the New Long-Dated Tender Cap applies to the aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) of the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2019, the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020, the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, the 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021, the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021, the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023, collectively. In addition, the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020, the 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020, the 6.125% Senior Notes due 2021, the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021, the 4.875% Senior Notes due 2022 and the 5.75% Senior Notes due 2023, collectively, are subject to the Priority 3 Tender Cap (as defined in the Offer to Purchase). For purposes of determining the application of the Short-Dated Tender Cap, the aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) to be paid in Euros for the 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017 will be converted into U.S. dollars at an exchange ratio of $1.1162 to 1.00 as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 12, 2016, as set forth by the Bloomberg EURUSD Spot Exchange Rate.

(2) Per 1,000 principal amount of 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017 and $1,000 principal amount of Notes (other than the 6.25% Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2017) validly tendered and accepted for purchase in the applicable Tender Offer (exclusive of any accrued interest, which will be paid in addition to the Tender Offer Consideration or the Total Consideration, as applicable, to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date (each as defined in the Offer to Purchase)). Subject to the $800,000,000 aggregate maximum purchase amount, the Current Tender Caps and proration described in the Offer to Purchase, notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date will be accepted for purchase before any notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date.

(3) Includes the applicable Early Tender Premium (as defined in the Offer to Purchase).

Chesapeake accepted for purchase approximately $897.7 million aggregate principal amount of Notes that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 25, 2016 (the "Early Tender Date") for an aggregate consideration of approximately $800.0 million, excluding accrued and unpaid interest. Because the aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date exceeded the Aggregate Maximum Purchase Amount, no Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date were accepted.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as the dealer manager in the Tender Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation served as both the depositary and the information agent for the Tender Offers. Persons with questions regarding the Tender Offers should contact Goldman, Sachs & Co. at (toll-free) (800) 828-3182 or (collect) (212) 902-6941.

From time to time after completion of the Tender Offers, Chesapeake and its affiliates may purchase additional Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, through additional tender offers, exchange offers or otherwise, or Chesapeake may redeem Notes that are able to be redeemed, pursuant to their terms. Any future purchases, exchanges or redemptions may be on the same terms or on terms that are more or less favorable to holders of Notes than the terms of the Tender Offers. Any future purchases, exchanges or redemptions by Chesapeake and its affiliates will depend on various factors existing at that time. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these alternatives (or combinations thereof) Chesapeake and its affiliates may choose to pursue in the future.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Chesapeake Energy Corporation's (NYSE: CHK) operations are focused on discovering and developing its large and geographically diverse resource base of unconventional oil and natural gas assets onshore in the United States. The company also owns oil and natural gas marketing and natural gas gathering and compression businesses.

SOURCE Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Related Links

http://www.chk.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to the rapid growth in e-commerce industry, the online shopping habits of the Chinese consumers have been gradually developed and deepened. In 2015, the online shopping market sales reached RMB3.8 trillion in 2015, with a CAGR of 50% over the past five years, thus driving a surge in express delivery industry.



In 2015, China's express delivery business volume totaled 20.67 billion pieces, up 48% from a year earlier, with a CAGR of 54.6% over the past five years; express delivery revenue came to RMB276.96 billion, up 35.4% from a year earlier, registering a CAGR of 37.0% over the past five years. In H1 2016, the business volume of Chinese express delivery firms reached 13.25 billion pieces, up 56.7% from the same period of last year; the business revenue totaled RMB171.46 billion, a year-on-year growth rate of 43.4%. In the first half of 2016, express delivery revenue saw a rising proportion of up to 69.3% in the postal service industry revenue.



Regionally, eastern China constitutes the mainstay of the express delivery industry, with the business volume accounting for as high as 82%, and central and western China 11.2% and 6.8%, respectively. By provinces/municipalities, the top 5 ones in terms of express delivery business are respectively Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing, all of which hold a combined share of 69% in the total business volume. The top 5 provinces/municipalities by express delivery revenue are Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Beijing, sweeping an aggregate of 69.6% of the express delivery revenue.



In terms of competitive landscape, competition between major players pricks up, including EMS, SF Express, STO, YTO, ZTO, and Yunda. In 2015, China's express delivery market concentration continued to fall, with the top 8 companies by revenue accounting for a combined 77.3% of the total nationwide, and the top four 50.4%. The two rates slid 0.6 percentage point, respectively, compared with a year ago. The decline in industry concentration reflects fiercer competition in China's express delivery market.



With the intensifying competition in express delivery industry, major companies are beginning to increase capital to cope with challenges. In 2016, the major four private express delivery firms (SF Express, STO Express, YTO Express, and Yunda Express) happened to venture into capital market through back-door listing. Moreover, it is rumored from time to time that ZTO might go public in the United States. In 2015, after completing the fourth round of financing, Quanfeng Express seeks to be listed in the main board and National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ). Additionally, some enterprises jumpstarted financing process, with TTK Express completing the first two rounds of financing of footing up to over RMB1.5 billion in February and August 2016. Fast Express obtained the first round of financing of RMB250 million in May 2016.



The report highlights the followings:



Overview of the Chinese express delivery industry, including definition and classification, industry chain, as well as industrial policy and development trends;

Overall market size of the Chinese express delivery industry, involving business volume, revenue, business structure, service capability, and future trends, etc.

Competitive landscape of the Chinese express delivery industry, including market concentration, business model contrast, and financing and M&A;

Regional analysis of the Chinese express delivery industry, including regional competition, and analysis of 12 markets including Guangdong, Shanghai, and Zhejiang;

Profile, financial situation, service facilities, service network, and financing of 19 domestic and foreign enterprises including FedEx, DHL, UPS, EMS, China Railway Express, China Air Express, SF Express, STO, YTO, and Yunda.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04170499-summary/view-report.html



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



http://www.reportlinker.com



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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Wuhan, known as "the River City", boasts a population of 10.6 million and clusters of over 80 colleges, more than 700 research institutions, 26 state key laboratories, and hosts up to 1.3 million undergraduates each year. Why did Wuhan hold this forum? This inland city is a central city in the Changjiang River basin and one of the cradles of Changjiang Civilization. During the early 17th century, a ten thousand-mile tea road was formed, starting from the Eastern Tea Port at Hankou, crossing the Eurasian continent, and connecting the Changjiang River with the Volga River. Thanks to its convenient transportation, booming business, the national positioning of a shipping center in the middle reaches of the Changjiang River, and the abundant strength of its Hi-Tech Industrial Cluster, Wuhan is expected to further embrace the Changjiang River and inherit its civilization.

Michael Turner, Charge de Mission to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, spoke highly of the forum, commenting that the forum generated "an outcome that will revitalize the human settlements and their cultural heritage in the urban challenges of the next decade."

Wan Yong, Mayor of Wuhan City, addressed the forum saying, "Under the theme of Evolution and Sustainable Development of Great River Civilizations, guests and delegates from different counties will share knowledge and discuss the evolution and sustainable development of the economy, culture, and the ecology of river basins, so as to facilitate the common development and prosperity of cities in these areas."

In the Keynote Session on September 20th, many talks were given, including:

"River Civilizations" delivered by Michael Turner; "The New Challenges of Museums in a Globalised World" by Alberto Garlandini, Vice President of the International Council of Museums ;

"The New Challenges of Museums in a Globalised World" by Alberto Garlandini, Vice President of the International Council of Museums "Influence the World or Be Influenced by the World -- The Power of Museum" by Kenneth E. Behring , President of the Global Health and Education Foundation ;

"Influence the World or Be Influenced by the World -- The Power of Museum" by , President of the Global Health and Education Foundation "Inherit Wisdom on Water Conservation and Development, Recreate Glory of the Changjiang River Civilization" by Niu Xinqiang, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering ; and

and "Changjiang Calls for Dialogue" by Yin Hongfu, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences .

These speeches elaborated on river civilizations' history, form, influence on society, and their future prospects from different points of view. Experts from different countries conducted in-depth discussions on the evolution and sustainable development of the economy, culture and ecology in great river basins.

Alberto Garlandini noted a challenge that every big city faces, "In 2016, around 237 million people have had to move to other countries or cities due to economic, political or other reasons. People of different descents, cultures, races, languages or religions come to one place, and bring challenges to its local civilizations, including museums. Wuhan is on the way to being an international city; more foreigners or people from other cities may move in. Therefore, how to handle these changes in an open and inclusive manner is an issue that must be considered by every big city in the world."

Attendees in the forum also approved the 2016 Great Rivers Forum (Wuhan) Declaration and agreed to hold a Great River Forum every two years. Through mutual dialogues, representatives of museums from river basins signed the Memorandum of Cooperation among Museums in Great River Basins. In addition, Wuhan successfully established friendly relationships with Pucallpa in Peru and Jinja in Uganda, and the Global Health and Education Foundation and the Changjiang Civilization Museum signed an agreement of specimen donation.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411603

SOURCE 2016 Great Rivers Forum organization committee
At Pierre Hotel, among all the fashion mavens, influencers and diplomats from around the world gathered, Hua appeared in an immaculate pearl white dress, showcasing the charm of Chinese women while participating the discussion and devotion to the global development and philanthropy.

During the interview with the Emmy award-winner after the luncheon, Hua's discussion with Yue-Sai Kan ranged from beauty, Chinese fashion, to global fashion trend, women empowerment, and philanthropy. As both insiders from beauty pageants, the two fashion mavens had a cordial and deep conversation over their interpretation on beauty, which comes from the bottom of one's heart and characteristics.

First Ladies Luncheon has a tradition of celebrating dignitaries and fashion figures for their efforts on global change. This year, a slew of first ladies and other important women from various nations, including Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, spouse of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, South African First Lady Mme.Tobeka Madiba Zuma, Nigeria First Lady Mme. Aisha Buhari and the spouse of South Africa Ambassador to the United Nations.

During this year's global event, women from all over the world, representing their nations, organizations, or industries, all shine and show their true beauty. Mrs. Globe Hua, as one of the few Chinese women invited to the first ladies luncheon, presented an unforgettable beautiful figure to the world. Her appearance is not only a surprise beauty gift to the New York fashion circle, but more importantly, part of her journey to showcase the beauty of Chinese women, spread Chinese culture and push the global sustainable development moving forward.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412380

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412381

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412382



SOURCE Hua Gong

Related Links

http://www.fashion4development.com/first-ladies-luncheon/


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloudnine Realtime is proud to receive recognition from CIO Review as a Top-20 Most Promising Cloud Solutions Provider. This is an annual ranking of 20 companies that are at the forefront of providing cloud solutions and impacting the marketplace.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412004

Cloudnine was recognized based on its ability to provide diverse, custom cloud hosting services for business software and applications. With over 1000+ applications hosted on shared and private servers, Cloudnine continues to find innovative ways of packaging the hosted environment as a container for both SaaS and on-premise  allowing employees and businesses to collaborate seamlessly.

Not only is Cloudnine transforming how existing businesses operate, they are providing a platform for brand new businesses to enter the market and scale at will. The CIO Review cited a recent example of how Cloudnine's technology provides an environment for unique business models in Solve Services  a 100% digital CPA firm servicing wineries in California. Through Cloudnine's solutions, Solve Services transformed their idea into an actual business by hosting their suite of applications in the cloud.

About Cloudnine Realtime

Cloudnine Realtime, headquartered in San Diego, CA, is an accredited, managed service provider delivering custom cloud solutions for anytime, anywhere access. An Inc. 5000 company for three years running, Cloudnine is honored to have been voted "Best Hosting Company" by the CPA Practice Advisor Readers' Choice Award 5 years in a row. Cloudnine is recognized as an industry leader because it builds its services and processes around the customer experience, always seeking top satisfaction.

Read the whole article: http://cloud.cioreview.com/vendor/2016/cloudnine_realtime

Related Links

Cloudnine Realtime Website

Cloudnine Case Studies

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Cloudnine Realtime
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Columbus Preparatory Academy (CPA), a K-10 Charter School located in Columbus, OH, ranked No. 1 in the state for academic performance in the recently released state report cards. Its score of 116.34 is close to double the state average. On the K-3 literacy assessment, 100% of CPA's students scored proficient, with most students earning an accelerated or advanced score. CPA's third-grade math and reading scores were exceptionally high, with students scoring a perfect 120 in math and a 115.3 in reading.

This stellar academic performance continues CPA's record of bringing a world-class education to a diverse student body located in an economically disadvantaged Columbus neighborhood. CPA's Performance Index score has now led the state for five straight years, and CPA is now the only school in Ohio to score an "A" in performance during this stretch. CPA's academic excellence has earned it more than 20 state and national awards, including National Title I School of the Year, National Blue Ribbon School, and the Ohio Department of Education's School of Honor distinction.

"We expect excellence from our students, our teachers and our staff. Every year, our goal is to lead the state in academic achievement," says CPA's Principal and ACCEL Senior Vice-President Chad Carr. "Of course, setting high expectations is not enough. At CPA, we have developed a proven educational approach that incorporates individualized learning to ensure every single one of our students is learning," Carr continued, "our secret is that we support teachers and value the job that they do. We allow them the ability to do what they do best -- teach. The teachers' hard work and determination along with great students has allowed CPA to accomplish its goals."

CPA is managed by ACCEL Schools, which operates more than 25 charter schools in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado. ACCEL specializes in bringing better educational options to neighborhoods around the country by turning around low-performing schools and continuously improving the academic performance of high-performing ones.

"CPA is the gold standard for academic performance in the state of Ohio. It shows that great teachers, along with a supportive leader, a culture of high expectations and the support of a committed charter school management organization, can deliver an extraordinary education to economically diverse neighborhoods that not only matches that of more affluent areas, but exceeds it," says ACCEL CEO Ron Packard. "By being part of the ACCEL network, we are taking the proven approaches from CPA and our other high-performing schools such as the Cleveland Academy for Social Sciences and the Arts (CASSA) to schools across the country."

Given the CPA'S remarkable track record, there is currently a waitlist for enrollment. CPA now draws students from not just Columbus, but from the neighboring suburbs as well.

Columbus Preparatory Academy @columbusprepratory on Facebook.

About ACCEL Schools

ACCEL Schools operates 24 charter schools in Ohio, as well as schools in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado. ACCEL transforms education and brings new opportunities to students and families of all backgrounds. We partner with communities across the country to create safe and supportive learning environments where all students can grow socially and academically. At ACCEL Schools, students benefit from a comprehensive set of proven educational practices personalized to their unique needs.

Related VIDEO with Ron Packard: https://youtu.be/bv40jhl-dbM

SOURCE ACCEL Schools
DUBAI, UAE, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Comae Technologies is bringing its cyber-incident response software to the Dubai Future Accelerators program where it will collaborate with the Dubai Police on cyber security. Started on the 18th of September and lasting 12 weeks, each of the 30 world-class companies accepted into the program has been assigned to different Dubai government authorities with whom they will collaborate on technological challenges facing the city. Comae Technologies will work directly with the Dubai Police to develop and test forensic memory solutions.

Learn more about Comae Technologies' memory forensic technology for Law Enforcement and Enterprises: http://www.comae.io/products

Among driverless cars, 3D printing and other buzzworthy ideas, Comae Technologies and its CEO Matt Suiche will demonstrate pioneering incident response technology in the ultra-modern city of Dubai. Working with the local law enforcement, Comae Technologies will work to transform the way criminals are identified and tracked in the city of over 2 million people.

The Dubai Future Accelerators is the world's largest government-supported accelerator launched by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Future Foundation, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Dubai Future Accelerators program identifies ground breaking companies from around the world and gives them the opportunity to find and test new solutions to real-life challenges.

H.E. Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, added, "As we commence our inaugural program, we are excited to see how the world's most innovative companies and entrepreneurs collaborate with our government to create solutions that will transform the future of Dubai, and possibly the world."

Comae Technologies is a UAE-based cyber-security start-up created by Matt Suiche, a French hacker, entrepreneur and thought leader in the high tech security industry. With his expertise as an independent security researcher, Suiche founded Comae Technologies to fill a noticeable gap in memory forensic solutions. Comae Technologies creates solutions transform the way crime prevention and cyber-incident detection are handled worldwide.

To learn more about the Dubai Future Accelerators program, visit: https://dubaifutureaccelerators.com/en

To learn more about Comae Technologies and their enterprise and law enforcement security solutions, visit: http://www.comae.io/services

SOURCE Comae Technologies
SMITHTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Communication Strategy Group (communicationstrategygroup.com), a brand storytelling agency, was named to the exclusive 2017 Innovation & Excellence Awards by Corporate LiveWire, a web and event provider of business information on the latest news and developments from around the globe. According to its editors, "The Innovation & Excellence Awards give recognition to businesses that are transforming their respective industries and the standard-bearers of excellence by continually setting industry trends as well as showing significant advances in terms of innovation and improvement."

"Communication Strategy Group strives to provide our clients with industry-leading thinking in the area of brand storytelling that promotes business growth," says Arthur Germain, Principal and Chief Brandteller for Communication Strategy Group. "We are proud to be named among the many innovative companies that are making a difference in their respective industries."

Communication Strategy Group was also recognized earlier this month as Best Corporate Storytelling Firm (USA) and Most Innovative in Content Marketing (New York) by Corporate Vision (CV) magazine. The agency provides brand storytelling through four core service areas: Brandtelling & Visuals, Public Relations, Content Marketing, and Media and Presentations. A number of complimentary brand storytelling resources available from its website at https://communicationstrategygroup.com/resources

About Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards

From the development and incorporation of cutting edge technology to the creation of forward thinking strategies, the Innovation & Excellence Awards honor and celebrate those businesses and firms who are creating a brighter tomorrow. The Innovation & Excellence Awards give recognition to businesses that are transforming their respective industries and the standard-bearers of excellence by continually setting industry trends as well as showing significant advances in terms of innovation and improvement.

About Communication Strategy Group

Communication Strategy Group, an award-winning brand storytelling agency, helps clients develop brand stories that are remembered, repeated and rewarded through a strategic Brandtelling approach. We focus on building and supporting a strategic plan for client communications in order to create strong, consistent messages and presentations that have the greatest impact. The Communication Strategy Group team is comprised of senior-level communications professionals who work directly on client accounts to achieve results. Our clients include both Fortune 1000 and growing companies in technology, manufacturing, media and professional services industries. For more information, please call 1-866-997-2424 or visit us at www.communicationstrategygroup.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160913/407043LOGO

Media Contact

Lisa Hazen

Communication Strategy Group

[email protected]

631-239-6335 x103

SOURCE Communication Strategy Group

Related Links

http://www.communicationstrategygroup.com


DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Judge Staci Williams, Presiding Judge of the 101st District Court, announces the Fall 2016 dates for her free and non-partisan judicial outreach program, the Citizens' Civil Academy. The purpose of the Citizens' Civil Academy is to teach citizens about the civil court process and the inner workings of the George Allen, Sr., Courts Building.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411744LOGO

The Citizens' Civil Academy will be held on three consecutive Saturday mornings, October 8th, October 15th and October 22nd from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Highland Hills Library, 6200 Bonnie View Road, Dallas, TX 75241. Register to attend the Citizens' Civil Academy online at www.ccadallas.com or by calling 214.509.6229.

Judge Williams notes, "[P]eople know about the criminal courts. The news seems to emphasize on a daily basis criminal cases involving murder, assault, drugs, or drunk driving. There are fewer stories about the civil court process or civil cases."

In Dallas County, a civil district court may hear cases involving contracts, business disputes, motor vehicle accidents, personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, and workers' compensation appeals. There are separate civil district courts that handle exclusively family or juvenile issues. And there are other state courts that handle civil issues such as probate, guardianship, mental health warrants, evictions, and foreclosure.

Experienced trial attorneys William M. Toles, a partner at Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo and Spencer Browne, a partner at Reyes, Browne, Reilly, will conduct a mock "voir dire" (jury selection) so that participants will understand what happens when a citizen is called for jury duty and how individuals are selected to sit as a juror on a particular case.

The following civil judges will participate in a panel discussion:

Judge Dale Tillery , 134th District Court;

, 134th District Court; Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon , 305 th Juvenile District Court;

, 305 Juvenile District Court; Judge Margaret Jones-Johnson , Dallas County Probate Court #3; and,

, Dallas County Probate Court #3; and, Judge Sarah Martinez , Justice of the Peace, Court 5-1.

Judge Tammy Kemp, who is a criminal judge and presides over the 204th District Court, has agreed to participate in the discussion.

Judge Staci Williams is the creator of the Citizens' Civil Academy. Judge Williams is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC and Smith College in Northampton, MA.

FB: Citizens' Civil Academy

Contact: Judge Staci Williams

T: 214.509.6229

Email

www.ccadallas.com

SOURCE Judge Staci Williams
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

DeLaval is proud to drive sustainable growth further by embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and continue to grow its assortment of solutions that support dairy farmers in improving profitability and reducing environmental impacts.

DeLaval Steps up its Commitment to Support Dairy Farmers' Drive for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the Dairy Industry (PRNewsFoto/DeLaval)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411704 )



More than ever dairy farmers need to make the most of the resources they have. Farmers look to the latest technologies to ensure they can produce high quality milk at a lower cost. They work to increase the welfare and productivity of their animals in doing so are using feed, water, energy, as well as time spent on managing the farm and milking efficiently. This way they keep the cost per kg of milk sold as low as possible and reduce the related environmental impact.

"In these economically challenging times we continue to team up with our customers for lasting results. From our leading position in dairy farming, we keep innovating and providing integrated solutions. As a global leader we also have a role to play in making the world more sustainable and secure"says Joakim Rosengren, President and CEO DeLaval. He adds, "The vision of DeLaval is to make sustainable food production possible by supporting dairy globally. What we do is clearly in line with three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely: Zero hunger, Climate action, and Responsible consumption and production."

DeLaval has a string of solutions, in the field of farm management and milking systems, including consumables and services. Products which improve working conditions are: the milking robot DeLaval VMS, the monitoring solution DeLaval InService Remote, DeLaval Teat Spray Robot (TSR). Products which improve animal welfare in particular are: the DeLaval Swinging Cow Brush, ventilation and illumination solutions , the teat dip Ocean Blu, the Clover liner, DeLaval Body Condition Scoring BCS, the milk analysis system Herd Navigator, the Easy Stride hoofbath solution, the feed Feedtech range and Calf-care solutions. Several products aimed at improving animal welfare also have an indirect benefit on the environment. By increasing the productive lifetime of the cow farmers can increase the output from the farm while reducing the need for feed, land and water per kg of milk produced.

The demand for dairy products is expected to grow globally by 177 mega tonnes (23%) by 2025 compared to 2013-15*. This additional milk will have to be produced within the environmental limits of the natural ecosystems of the planet, as reflected by the UN Sustainable Development Goals relating to the use of water, oceans, land, energy, and climate impact. Shorter term the biggest challenge for most dairy farmers is to be profitable as the milk price remains low while the cost of feed continues to be high in relation to the milk price.

DeLaval supports the UN goal of Zero hunger by developing and providing products that can help dairy farmers increase their productivity and the production of their animals. By using the milking robot DeLaval VMS, high yielding cows can be milked 3 times per day instead of 2 and give more milk.

The goal of Climate action is supported by products that save energy on farm such as the DeLaval heat recovery system that can recover up to 60 percent of the heat extracted from cooling milk and convert it to hot water for use in pipeline and parlour cleaning. Methane emissions from dairy cattle are mainly related to rumination and can best be mitigated by improving the productivity of the cows over their lifetime. The DeLaval body condition scoring helps securing that the cows have healthy body fat reserves thus promoting milk production, reproductive efficiency and cow longevity.

The UN goal of Responsible consumption and production is supported by DeLaval products and services that help farmers reduce food losses along the milk production chain, including post-harvest losses of feed. Many farmers accept that 10% of all feed will be left over - however with DeLaval Optimat that can be reduced to just 2%. This means a farmer can reduce feed waste by up to 80%.

The company also supports this target as it integrates sustainability information into its reporting cycle distributed via www.delavalcorporate.com. The reporting is made in line with the GRI G4 and corporate governance is designed in line with the UN Global Compact.

For more information on our take on sustainability see http://www.delavalcorporate.com/sustainability/

*Source: OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2016-2025

About DeLaval

DeLaval is a worldwide leader in milking equipment and solutions for dairy farmers, which make sustainable food production possible, warranting milk quality and animal health. Our solutions are used by millions of dairy farmers around the globe every day.



DeLaval was founded more than 130 years ago in Sweden, when the visionary Gustaf de Laval patented the cream separator. Today, DeLaval has 4,500 employees and operates in more than 100 markets. DeLaval, alongside Tetra Pak and Sidel, is part of the Tetra Laval Group. See more at www.delavalcorporate.com

SOURCE DeLaval
NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - DH Corporation (TSX: DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced that Gene Neyer, Group Leader, Payments, Industry & Regulatory Product Management, D+H, will discuss the potential for blockchain technology to transform the payments industry during a Sibos Open Theatre Session, scheduled on September 27 at 3:30 p.m. local Geneva time at Open Theatre One.

The session, titled "Blockchain: The Way Forward in Payments?", will focus on blockchain's transformative potential to modernize payments infrastructure and processes. Neyer will provide insights on how this technology stands to disrupt the industry, providing use cases for banks and corporations, and will address key considerations for adoption.

D+H is a market leader in payments, providing financial technology solutions to banks and corporations of all sizes around the world. Please visit D+H at Stand F70 during Sibos 2016 to meet with our experts and learn more about our solutions.

About D+H

D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com.

SOURCE DH Corporation

Related Links

www.dh.com


The property will be held by an existing consolidated joint venture with institutional investors including Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). That joint venture, which also acquired 12100 Wilshire Boulevard in July, borrowed $56 million for the purchase under a secured, non-recourse interest only loan that matures in July 2019 and bears interest at Libor plus 1.55%.

Concurrent with the purchase of the property, Douglas Emmett reduced its capital interest in the consolidated joint venture to 20% through the planned sale of a portion of its interest to another sovereign wealth fund investor.

These transactions did not affect the separate consolidated joint venture that acquired four buildings in Westwood in February 2016 and in which Douglas Emmett currently holds a 30% capital interest.

Douglas Emmett's total office portfolio now consists of 67 office properties totaling approximately 17.6 million square feet. Douglas Emmett also owns ten premier apartment communities in Los Angeles and Honolulu comprising 3,336 units.

For QIA, this acquisition represents another step in its plans to significantly expand its US investment portfolio, and follows other large investments in real estate, such as the Manhattan west project in New York City last year, the acquisition of the Westwood Office portfolio with Douglas Emmett earlier this year, and the recent acquisition of a 9.9% interest in Empire State Realty Trust. In 2015, QIA announced plans to invest $35 billion in North America over five years.

About Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Douglas Emmett, Inc. (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities. For more information about Douglas Emmett, please visit our website at www.douglasemmett.com.

A bout Qatar Investment Authority (QIA)

Qatar Investment Authority was founded by the State of Qatar in 2005 following the vision of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to strengthen the country's economy by diversifying into new asset classes. Building on the heritage of Qatar investments dating back more than three decades, its growing portfolio of long-term investments help complement the state's huge wealth in natural resources.

Headquartered in Doha, and now with a subsidiary in New York called QIA Advisory, QIA is structured to operate at the very highest levels of global investing. As a world class investor, QIA adheres to the strictest financial and commercial disciplines. It has a strong track record of investing in different asset classes, including listed securities, property, alternative assets and private equity in all the major capital markets as well as the newer emerging markets.

For more information, please visit our website at www.qia.qa or contact:

Media:

David Henderson, Finsbury UK:

+44 20 7251 3801

Mallory Weinberg, Finsbury

US: +1 646 805 2043

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the historical facts, the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to us about known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements to anticipate future results or trends. For a discussion of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Stuart McElhinney, Vice President  Investor Relations

310.255.7751 [email protected]

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SOURCE Douglas Emmett, Inc.

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today announced that the Agency will again partner with the National Minority Supplier Development Council to host the 2016 NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange in conjunction with the annual Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week), October 23-26, in Chicago. This year's conference theme is "Investing in the Future."

The conference and business exchange are designed to provide a venue for attendees to dialogue and exchange information, tools and resources to grow and scale their businesses locally and globally with a specific focus on minority supplier development.

MED Week is an annual week-long observance led by MBDA that honors the achievements and leadership of minority-owned firms, organizations and individuals from across the nation. This year's MED Week award winners will be recognized at a special ceremony held during the conference.

"This partnership allows us to innovate our efforts to support minority entrepreneurs and firms and provide them with an even greater number of resources and opportunities," said MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo. "Minority-owned firms are excelling in their respective industries and we want to ensure that growth remains strong in the future."

The annual NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange attracts more than 6,000 corporate CEOs, procurement executives, business leaders, and supplier diversity professionals from the top multinational companies, international organizations and minority firms.

"The 2016 Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange will give forward-thinking corporate executives and minority business owners the tools to cope with shifting economic winds, and to take advantage of as-yet unimagined opportunities for commerce presented in the near  and more distant  future. As the U.S. nears the point where minorities comprise greater than 50 percent of the population, the need for strong minority-owned businesses in national and global supply chains will be vital to the health of our economy," said Joset Wright-Lacy, president of NMSDC.

The conference will feature workshops, exhibits, and panel discussions on issues such as federal contracting growth strategies; gaining competitive advantage in global markets; innovation and more.

For additional details on the 2016 NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange and a full list of the 2016 MED Week winners, visit www.nmsdc.org and MBDA.gov

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. After 47 years of service, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that build size, scale and capacity through access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.

About the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

NMSDC advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. One of the country's leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. The NMSDC Network includes a National Office in New York and 23 affiliate regional councils across the country. The network also includes five international partner organizations located in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China and South Africa. To meet the growing need for supplier diversity, NMSDC matches its more than 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to our network of more than 1,750 corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. NMSDC, a unique and specialized player in the field of minority business enterprise, is proud of its unwavering commitment to advance Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American suppliers in a globalized corporate supply chain. For more information, visit www.NMSDC.org.

Website: www.mbda.gov

Fax: (202) 482-5117



Contact: Dijon Rolle

Phone: (202) 482-1375

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Related Links

http://www.mbda.gov


Population health management, as defined by IDC Health Insights, includes functionality to identify populations at risk or predicted to be at future risk as well as provider performance measurement, the ability to create and monitor care plans and, finally, the ability to communicate with communities of patients as well as with individual patients.

Enli, formerly Kyrptiq, was also named a Leader in the previous PHM IDC MarketScape (doc #HI247880), published in 2014. In the two years since its last assessment, the IDC MarketScape notes the number of competitors has grown dramatically, yet Enli has increased its technical and service advantages over the competition.

"From its beginnings 15 years ago at Providence Health & Services, Enli CareManager was designed to utilize clinical data and stratify patient populations based on gaps in care, and give providers the tools they need to close those gaps in the workflow," said Cynthia Burghard Value-based Healthcare IT Transformation Research Director, and author of the report. "Now that healthcare reform is aligning provider reimbursement with patient health and outcomes, Enli is positioned to capitalize on that legacy, and support providers as they make the transition to value-based care delivery."

According to the report, the company has continued its approach of co-developing solutions with provider organizations, which has led to it being among the first to market with cloud-based solutions for CMS payment innovation programs including Chronic Care Management (CCM), Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+), and Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP).

The IDC MarketScape also noted Enli's recent announcement of a strategic alliance with Dell Services, characterizing it as a positive move for the industry. According to Burghard, Dell Services will integrate the Enli platform into its cloud and utilize it as the centerpiece of its clinical analytics, care coordination, and care delivery solution. "The partnership provides the resources to scale CareManager and offers Enli access to Dell Services' significant client base. While Dell Services will have the ability to work closely with the Enli team and the potential to drive the CareManager roadmap," Burghard said.

Enli Health Intelligence works collaboratively with healthcare delivery systems, allowing them to pursue population health-based initiatives and close priority gaps in care. The Enli platform curates and codifies the latest evidence-based guidelines and programs, supports the creation of a unified care plan, and facilitates care team collaboration at the point of care, wherever that may be.

For more information about Enli Health Intelligence and its population health management solutions, please visit Enli.net.

To obtain a copy of the report, IDC MarketScape: U.S. Population Health Management 2016 Vendor Assessment, please visit idc.com.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About Enli

Enli Health Intelligence is the market leader in population health management technology. Enli enables care teams to perform to their full potential by integrating healthcare data with evidence-based guidelines embedded in provider workflows across the population and at the point of care.1

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SOURCE Enli Health Intelligence

Related Links

http://www.enli.net


FRANKLIN, Tenn., and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian Health and NCPDP today announced their strategic alliance to provide a vendor neutral solution to address the complexities of managing patient identification. With a shared vision to create solutions and leverage data for the common good, this alliance brings an innovative matching solution that provides the framework for establishing a unique patient identifier to address patient safety, financial and operational challenges across the U.S. healthcare ecosystem.

"There is a well-documented industry need for a single, unified and accurate view of the patient," explained Lee Ann Stember, president of NCPDP. "We have monitored the issue for several years, evaluated potential strategies and offerings, and are compelled to take action. Our alliance with Experian Health brings the industry a solution that can address the patient safety and business issues that plague our healthcare system. The solution leverages Experian's success in identity management in the financial services industry and its expansive data assets and innovative technology. It is a sustainable and scalable solution that can also support other patient safety initiatives such as Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs."

The solution for a national patient identifier is powered by Experian Health's Universal Identity Manager.

"Establishing a universal patient identifier provides the healthcare industry a powerful solution to transform the quality and accuracy of patient data exchange, as well as improve care coordination and patient safety," stated Jennifer Schulz, Experian Health's group president. "Together, Experian Health and NCPDP will help advance the interoperability goals of the U.S. healthcare system by continuing to invest in and promote the use of Universal Identity Manager to facilitate the exchange of information across the broader healthcare ecosystem."

Experian Health and NCPDP each bring more than 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Experian's expertise in matching, managing and protecting identities coupled with NCPDP's healthcare standardization expertise establish a synergistic collaboration focused on channeling data for the common good of the healthcare industry.

"Universal Identity Manager will help establish the foundation for exchanging information across the healthcare ecosystem to improve the quality of care and ultimately reduce patient errors and improve patient safety," stated Karly Rowe, Experian Health senior director of product innovation, Identity Management. "Experian Health's strength in provider and ancillary medical environments and NCPDP's presence in pharmacy and mutually served markets, including payers, make this alliance a strong strategic fit focused on breaking down the silos in healthcare."

About Experian Health

Experian Health's revenue cycle management, identity management, patient engagement and population wellness solutions help more than 3,060 hospitals and 10,000 other healthcare organizations representing more than 350,000 providers better understand their financial performance, make informed business decisions, enhance their bottom line, protect patient identities, and strengthen the patient payment and care experience. Leveraging a powerful revenue cycle and patient access heritage, advanced data insights and a patented Passport eCare NEXT Touchless Processing system, Experian Health enables healthcare providers, labs, pharmacies and other risk-bearing entities to automate, integrate and innovate the patient payment and care experience. For more information about Experian Health, visit www.experianhealth.com.

About Experian

We are the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to our clients around the world. We help businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision-making. We also help people to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft. In 2016, for the third year running, we were named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Forbes magazine.

We employ approximately 17,000 people in 37 countries and our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2016, was US$4.6 billion.

To find out more about our company, please visit http://www.experianplc.com or watch our documentary, "Inside Experian."

About NCPDP

Founded in 1977, NCPDP is a not-for-profit, ANSI-accredited, Standards Development Organization with approximately 1,500 members representing virtually every sector of the pharmacy services industry. Our diverse membership provides leadership and healthcare business solutions through education and standards, created using the consensus building process. NCPDP has been named in federal legislation, including HIPAA, MMA, and HITECH. NCPDP members have created standards such as the Telecommunication Standard and Batch Standard, the SCRIPT Standard for ePrescribing, the Manufacturers Rebate Standard and more to improve communication within the pharmacy industry. Our data products include dataQ, a robust database of information on more than 76,000 pharmacies, and HCIdea, an innovative prescriber database that provides continually updated information on more than two million prescribers. NCPDP's RxReconn is a legislative tracking product for real-time monitoring of pharmacy-related state and national legislative and regulatory activity. For more information about NCPDP Standards, Data Services, Products, Educational Programs and Work Group meetings, go online at www.ncpdp.org or call 480.477.1000.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:





Kristine Snyder Janet Cabibbo Experian Public Relations NCPDP 1 714 830 5192 1 480 477 1000 ext. 104 [email protected] [email protected]



Cheryl Monahan Maggie Bruce Experian Health Communications NCPDP 1 703 507 1104 1 480 477 1000 ext. 144 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Experian Health

Related Links

http://www.experianplc.com


TROY, Mich., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- solidThinking is pleased to announce the latest release of Click2Cast, a powerful casting simulation technology. Click2Cast is designed for beginners and experts alike to predict the manufacturing feasibility of a product's early design process  minimizing downstream design change orders and retooling costs.

"The beauty of this release is that it includes the addition of advanced simulation capabilities without introducing complexity to the carefully designed user experience," says Ravi Kunju, Vice President of Manufacturing Solutions for solidThinking. "As manufacturers strive for higher-performing, light-weight casted products, Click2Cast is an ideal solution to rapidly explore the manufacturability of these aggressive designs and make changes early in the design stage to mitigate production risks."

Juan VILAR, Managing Director of Sandhar Technologies Barcelona states, "Quality of our castings is paramount at Sandhar, due to the nature of safety products we make for our customers. Click2Cast helps us during the entire process, from early quotation all the way to the virtual tryout of the product and tool development. Click2Cast is very easy to use and is the tool we need to support making our decisions quickly while keeping our operational cost in view."

Key updates in the Click2Cast 4.0 release include:

Simple process template for investment casting (also called lost-wax or precision casting)

Easy modeling for inserts, chillers, sleeves and multiple-mold-materials

Improved visualization of porosity including section cuts

Newly integrated FEA meshing for improved geometry capture

"Click2Cast 4.0 has everything required to make high quality products, with just five steps," says Martin Solina, Product Manager of Click2Cast. "Our focus is to delight the customers with fast, easy and accurate answers while keeping the solution affordable. We have been working very hard to give access to casting feasibility simulation to product designers, and manufacturing engineers, so they can have a common purpose and framework to produce great and defect-free products for their customers."

Click2Cast is part of solidThinking's manufacturing solutions suite that also includes Click2Extrude, for metal and polymer extrusion, and Click2Form for sheet metal forming. "We feel that having the right tools for concept and detailed process simulation is essential in a world wherein quality and profitability are as important as meeting the challenging demands of the customers," says Kunju.

For more information about the Click2Cast 4.0 release and to sign up for the latest Click2Cast webinar scheduled for October 6, 2016, please visit: www.solidthinking.com/click2cast.

About solidThinking

solidThinking creates, develops, and markets technology that helps organizations make informed decisions and bring the most desirable products to market faster. solidThinking software is sold and supported by a global network of distribution partners and is also available as part of the Altair HyperWorks suite. solidThinking is a wholly owned subsidiary of Troy, Mich., (USA)-based Altair. To learn more, please visit solidThinking.com.

About Altair

Founded in 1985, Altair is focused on the development and application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA with more than 45 offices throughout 20 countries, and serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

Media contacts:

Altair Corporate/ Americas

Biba A. Bedi

+1-757-224-0548 x 406

[email protected]

Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Evelyn Gebhardt

+ 49 6421 9684351

[email protected]

SOURCE solidThinking, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.solidthinking.com


CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To thank its' Kickstarter and Indiegogo supporters, The Edge Desk is the first project to live stream, as it ramps up pre-production of the first desks and share with the company's backers. Streaming will begin at 8 p.m. CDT on September 27.

As The Edge Desk begins production from its partner factory in Ben Cat, Vietnam, the company wants to give an inside look of getting the product shipped. More than 1,500 backers took to the breakthrough product and generated more than $460K, pushing The Edge Desk into the top one percent of all Kickstarter campaigns launched to date. Desks were ordered in 27 countries, showing the support for a product that helps people work focused and comfortably wherever they choose.

"We want to give our backers a look at the project as it comes to life with their support," says Marc Rosenberg, inventor. "By airing a live Facebook stream, our fans will be in the know when their very own The Edge Desk will be on its way."

Recognizing the need for changes in how we live and work, The Edge Desk System, is a must-have for anyone working in a tight space, or on-the-go. It's a folding desk/kneeling chair/easel that offers a way to be productive and have good posture. It's great for young professionals, millennials, dorm rooms, studio apartments and more. Artists also like the Edge Desk as it easily transforms into a portable easel and chair all-in-one.

After visiting his daughter in college, who was cramped for space, Rosenberg, had this fabulous idea for a portable, ergonomic desk - The Edge Desk that is designed for today's mobile lifestyle. The design is sleek, under 30 lbs, sets up in 30 seconds, adjusts to fit anyone and comes fully assembled. It folds flat and can be stored under a bed.

Desks were ordered in 27 countries, showing the support for a product that helps people work comfortably wherever they choose.

The name "The Edge" stems from the unique channel that surrounds the desktop allowing you to customize your experience by snapping in one or more of the specially designed accessories, giving you a clean and clutter free work experience without compromising desk space. The first accessories being made include: Phone Station, Tablet Station, and Drink Holder.

Unlike many crowd funding campaigns, The Edge has a unique advantage as it prepares to come to market. The team behind the idea is comprised of a group of consumer product experts with a combination of manufacturing, engineering, design, and marketing expertise including more than 100 patents and ties to more than $4B in retail sales across toys, health and beauty aids, electronics and more.

The Edge Desk is the first of a line of productivity centric products the company plans to create.

The Edge products are available through www.theedgedesk.com . Distributors are welcome to sign up through the site. The suggested retail for the desk is $350 and is shipping later this fall.

CONTACT:

Lana Simon

847-727-8177

[email protected]

SOURCE The Edge Desk System

Related Links

https://www.theedgedesk.com


TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) offers a free, statewide assistance program designed to help homeowners facing foreclosure in the state. The Foreclosure Counseling Program (FCP) provides one-on-one, face-to-face counseling and financial education services to Florida families at risk of losing their homes in Florida. Free services are provided in all 67 Florida counties by approved local housing counseling agencies and to participating homeowners.

Florida Housing Offers Free Statewide Assistance Program for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

Florida had the highest number of completed foreclosures nationally over the last year, according to a September report released by CoreLogic, a leading provider of consumer, financial and analytics to business and government. In the last 12 months, Florida had the most completed foreclosures in the nation with 57,000 in total.

In 2013, the Florida Legislature allocated $10 million from the state's National Mortgage Settlement funds to implement the program. More than 40 agencies statewide are available to assist interested homeowners. For more information about the program, including a list of participating agencies, homeowners can visit www.FloridaHousing.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cecka Rose Green or Taylore Maxey

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

850-488-4197

[email protected]

[email protected]

Related Links

Florida Housing Finance Corporation Website

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

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SOURCE Florida Housing Finance Corporation
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortis Therapeutics, Inc., a new immuno-oncology biotech, today announced the close of an $18 million Series A financing. The investment was led by Avalon Ventures and was joined by Bregua Corporation, Lilly Asia Ventures, Osage University Partners, and Vivo Capital. The company was founded on technology from Bin Liu, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Anesthesia at UC San Francisco, and is focused on developing new antibody drug conjugate therapies for late-stage metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

"Dr. Liu has identified a novel and unique target for an antibody drug conjugate therapy that could help patients with prostate cancer or multiple myeloma where other treatments have failed," said Jay Lichter, Ph.D., president and CEO of Fortis Therapeutics and COI Pharmaceuticals, managing director of Avalon Ventures. "We are pleased to be working with an enterprising and diverse syndicate of investors, who have shown a dedication to investing in innovative ideas for important unmet medical needs."

Fortis Therapeutics is developing new antibody drug conjugate (ADC) therapies that target a receptor that is over-expressed in late-stage prostate cancer including both the adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine types. Furthermore, the genes encoding the target receptor are part of the chromosome amplification seen in a large number of multiple myeloma patients with poor prognosis. Different from the majority of other ADC targets, which are predominately lineage markers, the target Fortis is pursuing is part of the tumor immune defense shield and is highly expressed throughout tumor development. The target is further up-regulated following standard of care treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide, which is used in combination with prednisone to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

"We have found a target that is not only over-expressed in late-stage prostate cancer but is further up-regulated under selective pressures of androgen deprivation therapy," said Marc Nasoff, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Fortis Therapeutics and COI Pharmaceuticals. "This target could provide a way to attack the ubiquitous problem of androgen therapy resistance in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer."

In addition, Eric J. Small, M.D., was appointed to head Fortis' scientific advisory board. Dr. Small is a UCSF clinical professor of medicine and urology, and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Medicine at UCSF. He is also deputy director of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"While therapies, like abiraterone and enzalutamide, which target the amplified androgen receptor have significantly improved the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, the vast majority of patients will develop resistance to these therapies, leading to disease progression and eventually death," said Dr. Small. "We need therapeutic options after androgen receptor directed therapy that could substantially improve survival."

Dr. Small has contributed significant research to understanding advanced prostate cancer, including identifying the transitions from hormone-sensitive to treatment-resistant prostate cancer. He has been integral in the development of androgen receptor-directed therapies, risk assessment tools for patients with advanced prostate cancer, and immunotherapies for prostate cancer. Dr. Small has been directly involved in the development of two FDA-approved therapies for prostate cancer: sipuleucel-T and abiraterone.

The licensing deal between UCSF and Fortis Therapeutics was negotiated by UCSF's Office of Innovation, Technology & Alliances (ITA). The ITA coordinates UCSF's efforts in forging collaborations and licensing technologies that translate cutting-edge science on campus into therapies and products that directly benefit patients worldwide.

About Fortis Therapeutics

Fortis Therapeutics is an immuno-oncology biotech focused on developing new antibody drug conjugate therapies for late-stage multiple myeloma and late-stage prostate cancer. Fortis was founded based on technology exclusively licensed from UCSF and developed in the laboratory of Bin Liu, Ph.D. The company's investors are Avalon Ventures, Bregua Corporation, Lilly Asia Ventures, Osage University Partners, and Vivo Capital. Fortis Therapeutics is located in COI Pharmaceuticals, Avalon's Community of Innovation, in San Diego. For more information, please visit http://www.coipharma.com/portfolio/.

UC Disclaimer

The information stated above was prepared by Fortis Therapeutics and reflects solely the opinion of the corporation. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Fortis, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.

SOURCE Fortis
EVERETT, Wash., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortive Corporation ("Fortive") (NYSE: FTV) announced today that it will webcast its earnings conference call for the third quarter 2016 on Thursday, October 27, 2016 beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET and lasting approximately 1 hour.

The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the "Investors" section of Fortive's website, www.fortive.com, under "Events & Presentations." A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location shortly after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain available until the next quarterly earnings call.

You can access the conference call by dialing 800-533-7619 within the U.S. or 785-830-1923 outside the U.S. a few minutes before 5:30 p.m. ET and notifying the operator that you are dialing in for Fortive's earnings conference call (access code 3303693). A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call until Thursday, November 3, 2016. Once available, click here to access the conference call replay or visit the "Investors" section of Fortive's website under "Events & Presentations."

Fortive's earnings press release, the webcast slides and other related presentation materials will be posted to the "Investors" section of Fortive's website under "Quarterly Results."

ABOUT FORTIVE

Fortive is a diversified industrial growth company comprised of Professional Instrumentation and Industrial Technologies businesses that are recognized leaders in attractive markets. With 2015 revenues of $6.2 billion, Fortive's well-known brands hold leading positions in field instrumentation, transportation, sensing, product realization, automation and specialty, and franchise distribution. Fortive is headquartered in Everett, Washington and employs a team of more than 24,000 research and development, manufacturing, sales, distribution, service and administrative employees in more than 40 countries around the world. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement, the core of our company's operating model is the Fortive Business System. For more information, please visit: www.fortive.com .

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SOURCE Fortive Corporation

Related Links

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The Attention Homes project was developed through the Pathways Home Colorado Supportive Housing Toolkit, a capacity building program created by the State of Colorado and CHFA in partnership with LeBeau Development in 2014 to increase development of high-quality supportive housing projects.

"By providing young adults experiencing homelessness with affordable housing and access to wrap-around services, Attention Homes is reducing the use of costly emergency interventions, meeting a critical need, and helping to make homelessness history," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "This project represents the best of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to implement a thoughtful, outcome-driven solution to one of our most arduous social issues."

The project, which will be located at 1440 Pine Street in downtown Boulder, is aligned with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness' goal to end youth homelessness by 2020, and the Boulder County 10-Year Plan To End Homelessness. For homeless young people with complex challenges and needs, non-time-limited supportive housing has been identified as a critical component of a community's ability to serve their most vulnerable. In addition to rental apartments, residents will receive trauma-informed, client-centered supportive services, job and life-skills training, as well as employment and educational opportunities on-site.

For the past 50 years, Attention Homes has consistently met the needs of youth in crisis in Boulder.

"Having served over nine thousand youth between the ages of 12-24, we know that community-based interventions, stable housing, and age appropriate supports help youth transition to self-sufficiency," says Claire Clurman, Attention Homes' Executive Director. "This project will provide residents with the time, flexibility, and client-centered case management they need in order to heal, reach their full potential, and move on towards independence."

Currently a surface parking lot, the site is owned by the First United Methodist Church of Boulder, a longstanding partner and original founder of Attention Homes. The church is donating the land for the development. The site is ideally located near multiple transportation options, employment and educational opportunities, and the numerous cultural and recreational resources and amenities of downtown Boulder.

"The Attention Homes project represents our commitment to create transformational outcomes through housing," said Michael Gardner, principal and CEO, Gardner Capital Development. "This development not only helps provide critical housing needs to Boulder's most vulnerable citizens, but will also provide long-term support and services to break the cycle of chronic adult homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency in their lives."

Construction will begin in the winter of 2017-18, with completion and occupancy set for 2019. All eligible residents must income-qualify at 60 percent or below the area median income for Boulder County (approximately $39,840 for a one-person household).

To learn more about the project, visit: www.boulderhomelessyouth.com.

About Attention Homes

Now in its 50th year, Attention Homes has provided shelter, structure, and access to crucial services to over 9,000 young adults in crisis, 750 of them in 2015. While the organization's programming has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the community, Attention Homes' mission has been steadfast: to assist homeless and displaced youth and young adults on their journey to becoming stable, independent members of the community and, ultimately, to achieve their fullest potential. According to Attention Homes, approximately 168 youth ages 12-24 are homeless in Boulder County on any given night; 35 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ; 50 percent of chronically homeless adults were homeless as transition age youth; 100 percent of homeless youth have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect; and many suffer from mental health/stress related disorders or substance abuse issues, and live in poverty.

About Gardner Capital

Gardner Capital is an affordable housing and renewable energy tax credit development, syndication, and investment company with primary regional offices located in St. Louis, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Springfield, Missouri. Since 1992, Gardner Capital has invested more than two billion dollars of equity in affordable housing alone. Renewable energy development and investment has been the more recent addition to the Gardner Capital operating portfolio, bringing hundreds of megawatts of solar projects online across the United States. The principals, Mark Gardner and Michael Gardner, continue to expand the company's national footprint in affordable housing and renewable energy with multiple offices across the United States. Visit www.gardnercapital.com for more information.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411763

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151019/278129LOGO

SOURCE Gardner Capital

Related Links

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DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Generational Capital Markets, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, an advisor to privately held businesses for mergers & acquisitions, is pleased to announce the partnership of its client, Dock Edge + Inc., headquartered in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, with Canada Metal (Pacific), headquartered in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The partnership was announced on September 12, 2016.

"This announcement is good news for both Dock Edge and for Canada Metal (CMP)," says CMP President John Mitchell. "It allows both companies to leverage significant synergies and efficiencies in order to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead."

The merging will provide CMP an equity interest in dock equipment and marine accessory manufacturer Dock Edge. As such, Dock Edge CEO Walter Szwez along with vice president David Szwez, and directors Michael and Christopher Szwez have become shareholders of CMP.

IBI News Plus also noted that "the alliance will provide CMP with access to Dock Edge's 80,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant in Woodbridge, Ontario. Opened in 2014, the state-of-the-art facility will provide CMP with a corporate presence in eastern Canada, along with an ideal site for a new foundry operation. The facility has the capability to be further developed for die cast operations and additional manufacturing in the future."

Further, Dock Edge gains access to CMP's worldwide distribution network along with all of CMP's facilities located in British Columbia, Virginia, China, Italy and Australia.

"There is a natural fit between the Dock Edge and CMP operations," says Dock Edge + CEO Walter Szwez. "This alliance will add to Dock Edge's product range, and will give the company access to new global markets. Our customers will benefit with more efficiencies and new, innovative products."

Managing Director Chris Heckert led the Generational Capital Markets deal team that advised Dock Edge on the partnership.

"This partnership represents a true synergistic opportunity for both sides and I am excited to see what the future holds for both Canada Metal and Dock Edge," says Heckert.

About Generational Capital, LLC

Generational Capital, LLC, is a Dallas, Texas-based merger & acquisition advisory firm. Generational Capital wholly owns Generational Capital Markets, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Generational Capital and Generational Capital Markets are part of the Generational Group and affiliated with Generational Equity, LLC. Learn more at the online newsroom at GECPress.com.

For more information:

Carl Doerksen

972-232-1125

[email protected]

SOURCE Generational Capital, LLC

Related Links

http://www.gencm.com


Prior to WeWork, Michelle acquired and developed lifestyle hotel properties for New York-based Chelsea Hotels and was a member of the Lodging Investment Banking Group at Cantor Fitzgerald. Michelle is a graduate of Brown University, where she studied architecture and sustainable design, and is a regular guest speaker at real estate events for current students and alumni.

Fredrik Korallus, CEO of Generator said:

"Michelle's appointment is a strong signal of our commitment to accelerate growth in North America. There is a clear gap for a brand such as Generator, which meets the needs of the Millennial and Gen Z consumer with its strong emphasis on design, high energy events and exciting bars and restaurant concepts. Michelle is ideally suited to lead the charge to expand our exciting concept in the North American market.

"Our first opening in the US next year follows on from the recent growth and fantastic success of the brand in Europe. We have delivered strong growth over the past few years with four new assets opening in the last 18 months alone and are excited by the next phase of growth. There is significant opportunity for innovative companies with a strong brand, which appeal to the new generation of travellers and we are confident that Generator is ideally placed to capitalise on this trend as we continue to expand internationally."

Michelle Flagg, Vice President of Development for North America said:

"This is an exciting time in the hospitality industry, with a tremendous amount of evolution occurring to meet the changing needs of global travellers. I am thrilled to join Generator, who has been a leader in reimagining the modern, social hospitality experience, and I look forward to growing the brand in new markets across North America."

Generator will open its first property in the United States in 2017, with a 102-room, 406 bed Art Deco structure located in Miami's hottest location, Collins Avenue: the heart of South Beach's bars, restaurants, shops and other attractions.

About Generator:

Generator offers affordable, stylish, design and experience-led spaces to today's stylesavvy and progressive travellers who want to truly get under the skin of the cities they visit. A lifestyle brand providing customers with affordable luxury and masters of the social experience, properties include a range of room types from shared to private bedrooms, chill-out areas, roof top bars, restaurants, a programme of carefully curated events and a variety of spaces available for private hire.

Europe's fastest growing hostel brand, Generator currently has over 7,700 beds located in the hippest areas of Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Rome with further openings in Miami and Madrid scheduled for 2017.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412213

SOURCE Generator Hostels
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- About the Fruit Juice Packaging Market



Fruit juice packaging provides product support, protection from external environmental factors, and tampering resistance. Fruit juice packaging aids in the reliable distribution of the product among the value chain and reduces post-production damage. Glass, plastic, and carton are commonly used packaging formats for fruit juices.



Technavio's analysts forecast the global fruit juice packaging marketto grow at a CAGR of 3.21% during the period 2016-2020.



Covered in this report

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global fruit juice packaging market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report takes into account the total revenue generated from different regions.



The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:

-Americas

-APAC

-EMEA



Technavio's report, Global Fruit Juice Packaging Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.



Key vendors

-Amcor

-Ball

-Bemis

-Crown Holdings

-Smurfit Kappa

-Tetra Laval



Other prominent vendors :

-Ardagh Group

-Can-Pack

-CCL Industries

-CKS Packaging

-DS Smith

-Evergreen Packaging

-Genpak

-International Paper

-MeadWestvaco

-Mondi Group

-Owens-Illinois

-Plastipak Packaging

-Printpack

-Silgan Holdings

-Sonoco Products

-Stora Enso



Market driver

-Growing demand in developing countries

-For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market challenge

-Variation in costs of raw materials

-For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market trend

-Increased use of sustainable packaging

-For a full, detailed list, view our report



Key questions answered in this report

-What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?

-What are the key market trends?

-What is driving this market?

-What are the challenges to market growth?

-Who are the key vendors in this market space?

-What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?

-What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



You can request one free hour of our analyst's time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.



Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03938200-summary/view-report.html



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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SOURCE Reportlinker

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NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, national and global leaders in the worlds of art, culture, business, education and government will converge on China Institute to recognize its outstanding contribution and leadership in educating Americans about China, on the 90th anniversary of its establishment. The Institute will host a series of commemorative events with distinguished guests and friends of the Institute, including:

Chinese Consulate General in New York , Qiyue Zhang

, New York State Senator, Daniel Squadron

Senator, Daniel Squadron Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Bob Chapek

and Resorts Chairman, IMAX Corporation CEO, Richard L. Gelfond

Chinese haute fashion couturiere, Guo Pei

Metropolitan Museum of Art  Department of Asian Art Chairman, Mike Hearn

Bank of China USA President, CEO and Chairman, CGCC, Xu Chen

President, CEO and Chairman, CGCC, Citigroup Vice Chairman, Jay Collins

Pacific American Corp. Vice Chairman and CEO, Guoqing Chen

China Construction America President, Ning Yuan

The Institute has long played a key role in fostering appreciation and exchange between the US and China for 90 yearsincluding receiving Chinese President Xi Jinping on his first official US visit in Fall 2015.

"The support of high-profile leaders from around the globe reinforces China Institute's mission to connect members of the New York community, and beyond, to China in a meaningful way," said James Heimowitz, president of China Institute. "It also signifies a growing recognition of the Institute's impact and key role as a convener of influential individuals and organizations on China. Now established in our new downtown home, we hope the community will continue to engage with us and explore all we have to offer for everyone interested in China."

This week, China Institute will host distinguished guests for a series of celebratory events, including:

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony  Dignitaries, executives, artists and other leaders from around the globe will join China Institute in commemorating the public opening of its downtown headquarters.

 Dignitaries, executives, artists and other leaders from around the globe will join China Institute in commemorating the public opening of its downtown headquarters. Gallery Grand Opening  The world-renowned China Institute Gallery will re-open its doors with an exhibition featuring work from Six Dynasties China, coinciding with the Gallery's 50-year anniversary.

 The world-renowned China Institute Gallery will re-open its doors with an exhibition featuring work from Six Dynasties China, coinciding with the Gallery's 50-year anniversary. Exclusive Breakfast with Guo Pei  Top Chinese couturiere Guo Pei, designer of the iconic golden gown Rihanna wore to the 2015 Annual Met Gala, will discuss her personal journey to becoming China's premiere haute couturiere, with some of her iconic designs on view.

 Top Chinese couturiere Guo Pei, designer of the iconic golden gown Rihanna wore to the 2015 Annual Met Gala, will discuss her personal journey to becoming premiere haute couturiere, with some of her iconic designs on view. 90th Anniversary Gala  The Institute's annual benefit gala will honor Bob Chapek , Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Richard L. Gelfond , CEO of the IMAX Corporation, and Guo Pei, the Chinese couturiere whose designs were prominently featured in China : Through the Looking Glass: the best-attended exhibition in the history of The Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute. The gala will also feature a musical and dance performance by Peking Opera and hip hop group Luxe Shine, and their first performance in the US.

About China Institute

China Institute advances a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business and art with the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens our global community.

Founded in 1926 by a group of American and Chinese educators, China Institute in America is the oldest bicultural, non-profit organization in America to focus exclusively on China. The organization promotes the appreciation of Chinese heritage, and provides the historical context for understanding contemporary China. Programs, activities, courses and seminars are offered on the visual and performing arts, culture, history, music, philosophy, language and literature for the general public, children and teachers, as well as for business.

With new program offerings across each of its key pillars  Arts and Culture, Education and Business  the Institute is an ever-more dynamic gateway to China.

For more information, visit: www.chinainstitute.org

Press Contacts:

Elizabeth Ingrassia

[email protected]

Connie Wang

[email protected]

212-715-1657

SOURCE China Institute

Related Links

http://www.chinainstitute.org


The Department's analysis focused on the contract between the taxpayer and the car dealership. The contract between the taxpayer and the car dealership included language that stated the devices could not be resold without the prior written authorization of the taxpayer. The taxpayer argued that although it had not provided written authorization, it had never limited the reselling of the devices and further maintained that its acceptance of the resale certificate should be viewed as approval of any subsequent resale. The Department concluded that the taxpayer's lack of contract enforcement did not change the nature of the agreement. Therefore, the taxpayer could not accept a resale exemption in good faith, when the taxpayer had not provided authorization in writing, prior to the resale, as required by the contract. As such, the sale of the devices to the car dealership was found to be taxable.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffin Capital Corporation ("Griffin Capital") today congratulated Lakeside Wealth Management for being named a finalist for the Corporate Philanthropy Award to be bestowed by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation at its Community Leadership Awards Gala in New York City on September 29, 2016.

The event will take place at Cipriani 42nd Street and is expected to attract 500 financial advisors and financial services industry executives.

Invest in Others is a charitable foundation supported by the financial services industry to amplify the charitable work of financial advisors, employees, and their firms. Its Community Leadership Awards program recognizes the philanthropic achievements of financial advisors and financial services firms in communities across the United States and around the world.

David C. Rupert, President of Griffin Capital, said, "We are thrilled that Lakeside Wealth Management has been nominated for Invest in Others' prestigious Corporate Philanthropy Award, which reflects the highest virtues both of Lakeside and of our industry. We have worked with Lakeside for many years and know how well they deserve recognition for their commitment to community service and for promoting philanthropic values among their employees.

"We are also honored to participate in the sponsorship of this terrific event and to host Lakeside at our table," he concluded.

As an organization, Lakeside Wealth Management has established a remarkable record for sharing its time, talents and resources for charitable purposes. Over the years it has contributed over $300,000 to local area non-profits, as well as nearly 14,300 volunteer hours. Lakeside gives each employee eight hours of paid time off every year to volunteer at a non-profit of their choice, and matches employee donations up to $250.00. Additionally, as a team, each year the firm participates in the United Way Day of Caring and in Rebuilding Together Duneland, an annual event that is part of National Rebuilding Day, in which volunteers help rebuild homes and revitalize the community of Duneland, Indiana. Most of Lakeside's team members are also involved in local non-profits as board members and committee members.

Mark W. Chamberlain, Chief Executive Officer of Lakeside Wealth Management, said, "Lakeside is honored to have been named a finalist for the Corporate Philanthropy Award through Invest in Others. Giving back to our community is a strong part of our culture and ethos, and we act together as individuals and as an organization to live up to these beliefs on a daily basis.

"Lakeside is proud to be a business partner of Griffin Capital and to share their values about the importance of doing good in the world," he added.

This year marks the 10th annual Invest in Others Community Leadership Awards event honoring individual financial advisors for their philanthropic activities. The Corporate Philanthropy Award, added in 2015 to recognize the importance of encouraging philanthropy at the corporate level, is presented to one financial advisory firm and to one financial institution that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to encouraging philanthropic activities among its employees, financial advisors and senior leaders.

Based in Chesterton, Indiana, Lakeside Wealth Management is an independent financial advisory firm serving a wide range of financial, investment and risk management needs for individuals and families, businesses, and institutions. Founded by Mark Chamberlain in 2003, today Lakeside has a total of 34 team members. For more information, visit www.lakesidewealth.com.

About the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation

The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded by the financial services industry to make a difference in communities across the country and around the world by amplifying the charitable work of financial advisors and financial services firms. To realize its goals, the Foundation recognizes and rewards philanthropy, inspires volunteerism, and informs the investing public about the positive impact made by advisors and their firms in their communities. Today, Invest in Others is the premier, industry-wide non-profit dedicated to recognizing, encouraging, and supporting the charitable work of financial advisors and the advisory industry. For more information, visit www.investinothers.org.

About Griffin Capital Corporation

Griffin Capital Corporation ("Griffin Capital"), is a privately held, Los Angeles headquartered investment and asset management company with a 21-year track record sponsoring real estate investment vehicles and managing institutional capital. Led by senior executives with more than two decades of real estate experience who have collectively closed transactions representing over $22.0 billion in value, Griffin Capital and its affiliates have acquired or constructed approximately 56 million square feet of space since 1995. Griffin Capital and its affiliates own, manage, sponsor and/or co-sponsor a portfolio consisting of approximately 38* million square feet of space, located in 30 states and the United Kingdom, representing approximately $6.8* billion in asset value, based on purchase price, as of August 2, 2016. Additional information about Griffin Capital is available at www.griffincapital.com.

*Includes the property information related to interests held in certain joint ventures.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Nahas

Vice President, Marketing

Griffin Capital Corporation

949-270-9332

[email protected]

Matthew Griffes / Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 652 6520, ext. 103 / 424 652 6520, ext 101

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Griffin Capital Corporation

Related Links

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NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Increasing penetration in healthcare, semi-conductors and optic fibres to drive global demand for helium

New Age TechSci Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/New Age TechSci Research)

According to a recently published TechSci Research report "Global Helium Market By Type, By Application, By Distribution, By Region Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2021", global helium market is forecast to exhibit a CAGR of 6.44% during 2016 - 2021, owing to rising demand for helium from sectors such as electronics, semiconductors & healthcare. Global helium production was dominated by the US, and the country accounted for a production share of 62.41% in 2015. Discoveries of new sources of helium has further fuelled production of helium, which is further anticipated to drive global helium market during the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Browse 9 market data Tables and 88 Figures spread through 228 Pages and an in-depth TOC on

"Global Helium Market"

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-helium-market-by-type-liquid-gaseous-by-application-mri-nmr-semi-conductors-optic-fibres-pressurizing-purging-welding-etc-by-distribution-onsite-packaged-merchant-by-region-competition-forecast-opportunities-2021/791.html

North America and Asia-Pacific dominated the global helium market in 2015, which is further anticipated to rise in the coming years, owing to growing demand for helium from semiconductors sector, MRI & NMR sector and science & research sector. Standing at an estimated USD4.1 trillion in 2015, semiconductors based electrical and electronic products and systems market is the world's largest commodities market as well as one of the major end-users of helium. In 2015, Air Products & Chemicals Inc. was the largest player in the global helium market. However, Air Liquide completed the acquisition of Airgas in May 2016, which augmented its market share, and in the coming years the company's market dominance is expected to further increase.

Download Sample Report

@ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=791

Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.

Gaseous helium dominated global helium market in 2015, and the segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period, owing to growing use of gaseous helium in semiconductors, leak detection and welding applications. "Global helium market is expected to grow during the forecast period, owing to stable price and rising availability across the world. Growing electronics sector in China, Japan and South Korea is further anticipated to propel demand for gaseous helium. Moreover, increasing use of helium in MRI and NMR scans, is further expected to drive global helium market through 2021." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"Global Helium Market By Type, By Application, By Distribution, By Region Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" has evaluated the future growth potential of gaseous and liquid helium globally and provided statistics and information on market structure, industry behavior and trends. The report includes market projections and demand forecasting. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers to take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities available in global helium market.

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India Industrial Gases Market By Type (Oxygen, Argon, Nitrogen), By End User (Metallurgy, Medical, Petrochemicals, Welding, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021

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Saudi Arabia Industrial Gases Market By Type (Oxygen, Argon, Nitrogen), By End User (Petrochemicals, Refinery, Metallurgy, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021

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About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hufft Projects, the Design Collective known for its passion of quality craftsmanship and interest in the collaborative roles of the designer, fabricator and builder, is excited to announce the opening of a location in Bentonville, AR.

The studio is located at 403 SE 5th Street, Bentonville Arkansas 72712, minutes from the Historic downtown square and in the Market District. The new office in Bentonville is the second location for Hufft Projects, and signifies an expansion of the firm's commitment to quality and innovative design.

Hufft Projects is currently working on a number of cultural and hospitality projects in the Northwest Arkansas Region, including the renovation to the former Tyson Food Processing plant, which is nearing completion. The building and site are part of the 8th Street Market District and home to the Brightwater Center for the Study of Food, an extension of Northwest Arkansas Community College, among other tenants.

Jesse Hufft, co-founder and CEO of Hufft Projects stated, "After spending significant time in Northwest Arkansas, we were completely taken by the people, culture and incredible landscape. We want to contribute to the built environment in this amazing area of the country, honoring its roots and phenomenal local culture."

The Bentonville studio stays true to the brand's dedication to collaboration and emphasis on client interaction. The space is adaptive reuse of a previous signage shop and features all custom furnishings made in the shop of the Kansas City facility.

To learn more about Hufft Projects, please visit www.hufft.com, or follow us on social media.

Media Contact:

Jesse Hufft

[email protected]

Hufft Projects

About Hufft Projects

Hufft Projects is a diverse design collective with a passion for quality craftsmanship and a keen interest in the developing role of the designer, fabricator and builder in the modern world. With studios located in Kansas City, MO and Bentonville AR, Hufft Projects is comprised of architects, artists, designers and craftsmen, whose varied mix of experience, backgrounds and areas of expertise help to define Hufft Projects' uniquely holistic approach to design. Our formula is simple- we listen to the needs of our clients and then apply extraordinary amounts of experience, craft and technical innovation to create beautiful and thought-provoking design. We view every project and program as a new opportunity, so while our basic formula stays the same, our design process is fluid and ever-changing.

The goal of our interdisciplinary approach is to bridge the gap between trades and technology to create beautiful and enduring designs.

SOURCE Hufft Projects

Related Links

http://www.hufft.com


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HYPERLOOP ONE today was announced as a leading participant of The Dubai Future Accelerators, an intensive 12-week program that pairs top companies and cutting-edge entrepreneurs with government and corporate partners in Dubai to create breakthrough solutions on a city-wide, regional and global scale. With a fully-functioning team on the ground in Dubai, Hyperloop One and its government entity partner, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will work together to develop a potential Hyperloop network for Dubai.

"This narrative of an extremely progressive idea is perfectly aligned with the vision of the United Arab Emirates," said His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, and Vice-chairman of the Dubai Future Foundation. "We are looking to drive discussions about the challenges that we and the world face, and come up with solutions for the future of transportation."

"The Dubai Future Accelerators and Hyperloop One share a common goal: to change the world by connecting people and making their lives easier," said Shervin Pishevar, chairman, Hyperloop One. "We are excited to work with them to help lead innovation for the region."

The Dubai Future Accelerators is being run by the Dubai Future Foundation as part of the Dubai Future Agenda. Hyperloop One will be part of the Dubai Autonomous Transport Strategy agenda with the RTA, which is focused on building the world's most advanced transportation infrastructure for the city and region.

"We are pleased to have Hyperloop One as a featured participant of our Dubai Future Accelerators program," said His Excellency Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation. "It is a great combination of innovative thinking and engineering skill which will drive our 21st century solutions that will connect the people of Dubai and the rest of the world."

"We believe that the Dubai Future Accelerators is the venue that will put into motion the creation and implementation of a Hyperloop for Dubai to connect the entire region," said Rob Lloyd, CEO, Hyperloop One. "We see Hyperloop as an incredible asset for the region, not only as a new mode of transportation for moving passengers and cargo, but as a key driver for the economy."

The Future Accelerators will focus on seven "21st century challenges" that represent significant opportunities for economic growth, job creation and social development for the city of Dubai. The challenges involve the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, genomics, 3D printing, distributed ledgers, biomimicry and biotechnology, as well as new business models and ways of working. The challenges highlight important areas of Dubai government innovation, including healthcare, education, transportation, infrastructure, renewable energy and digital transformation.

"The Dubai Future Accelerators Program is the perfect environment to help push Hyperloop creation and development to the next level," said Josh Giegel, President of Engineering, Hyperloop One. "I am looking forward to bringing the best minds in the world together with our team in Dubai to generate concepts, plans and solutions to make Hyperloop a reality."

About Hyperloop One

Hyperloop One is reinventing transportation by developing the world's first Hyperloop, an integrated structure to move passengers and cargo between two points immediately, safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Our team has the world's leading experts in engineering, technology and transport project delivery, working in tandem with global partners and investors to make Hyperloop a reality, now. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company is led by CEO Rob Lloyd and was co-founded by Executive Chairman Shervin Pishevar and President of Engineering Josh Giegel. For more information, please visit www.hyperloop-one.com.

About Dubai Future Accelerators

The Dubai Future Accelerators, the largest government-supported accelerator globally, launched by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Future Accelerators will develop and support innovative solutions for seven key government entities: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Holding, and Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority. If you would like to find out more about the Dubai Future Accelerators and the Dubai Future Foundation please visit, https://dubaifutureaccelerators.com/en.

Contact:

Rick Jennings

Step 3 PR for Hyperloop One

[email protected]

310.428.8575

Vera Futorjanski

Dubai Future Accelerators

[email protected]

+971 52 932 7868

SOURCE Hyperloop One

Related Links

http://www.hyperloop-one.com/


HOUSTON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Houston-area Hyundai dealers will present MD Anderson Cancer Center with a $250,000 Scholar Grant to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. MD Anderson Cancer Center was one of 24 recipients across the country selected by a rigorous scientific review panel to receive this highly competitive Hyundai Scholar Grant.





The $250,000 Scholar Grant will be presented at MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27 at 2:00pm at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local Houston-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson  the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle  to commemorate their fight against the disease.

The ceremony will also feature*:

Dr. Ethan Dmitrovsky , Provost and Executive Vice President, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Nancy Gordon , Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Pediatric cancer survivor and 2016 HHOW National Youth Ambassador, Hannah Adams (age 13)

Zafar Brooks , Executive Director, Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Falon Wiesner-Jones , Director, Public Relations, Wiesner Auto Group

*ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES*

"Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "These individual awards to hospitals and organizations across the country are pivotal to ending childhood cancer. Although there remains a lot more work to be done, the innovation that comes from this research will ultimately help us find a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease  you are not alone and we remain committed to this important cause."

About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grants and Handprint Ceremonies

The Scholar Senior Research Grants will fund childhood research projects designed to improve the treatment and quality of life for children with cancer. The ultimate goal of the Scholar Senior Research Grant program is to find cures for childhood cancers once and for all. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source).

Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah, now 13 years old, was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Thirteen-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org

2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand

In addition to funding a multitude of research projects this September, HHOW is encouraging the public to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer in a personal way. The journey begins with one simple request: Give Hope A Hand. We invite visitors to the newly refreshed website at hyundaihopeonwheels.org, to tell how they will use their hands in the fight against pediatric cancer. Once there visitors can Learn + Care + Do + Give = Hope. There are a number of additional engaging, interactive ways the public can get involved and use their hands for good.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide.

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/LA86658LOGO

SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Related Links

http://www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Philadelphia-area Hyundai dealers will present Michael D. Hogarty, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), with a $250,000 Scholar Grant to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was one of 24 recipients across the country selected by a rigorous scientific review panel to receive this highly competitive Hyundai Scholar Grant.

The $250,000 Scholar Grant will be presented at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104) tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28, at 10:00 am at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local Philadelphia-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson  the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle  to commemorate their fight against the disease.

The ceremony will also feature*:

Michael D. Hogarty , MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology; Grant Recipient

MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology; Grant Recipient Stephen P. Hunger , MD, Chief of the Division of Oncology, Director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research

MD, Chief of the Division of Oncology, Director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research A CHOP Patient Family

John Hyland , General Manager, Eastern Region, Hyundai Motor America

General Manager, Eastern Region, Hyundai Motor America John Ashdale , Owner, Colonial Hyundai of Downingtown

Owner, Colonial Hyundai of Handprint Ceremony: Philadelphia -area children affected by cancer will capture their handprints on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson

*ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES*

"Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "These individual awards to hospitals and organizations across the country are pivotal to ending childhood cancer. Although there remains a lot more work to be done, the innovation that comes from this research will ultimately help us find a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease  you are not alone and we remain committed to this important cause."

About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grants and Handprint Ceremonies

The Scholar Senior Research Grants will fund childhood research projects designed to improve the treatment and quality of life for children with cancer. The ultimate goal of the Scholar Senior Research Grant program is to find cures for childhood cancers once and for all. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source).

Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah, now 13 years old, was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Thirteen-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org

2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand

In addition to funding a multitude of research projects this September, HHOW is encouraging the public to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer in a personal way. The journey begins with one simple request: Give Hope A Hand. We invite visitors to the newly refreshed website at hyundaihopeonwheels.org, to tell how they will use their hands in the fight against pediatric cancer. Once there visitors can Learn + Care + Do + Give = Hope. There are a number of additional engaging, interactive ways the public can get involved and use their hands for good.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide.

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/LA86658LOGO

SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Related Links

http://www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org


HOUSTON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Houston-area Hyundai dealers will present Texas Children's Hospital with a $250,000 Scholar Grant and $150,000 Young Investigator Grant to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. Texas Children's Hospital was one of 34 recipients across the country selected by a rigorous scientific review panel to receive this highly competitive Hyundai Scholar Grant and Young Investigator Grant.

The $250,000 Scholar Grant and $150,000 Young Investigator Grant will be presented at Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27 at 10:00am at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local Houston-area brave young cancer patients will be captured on a white 2016 Hyundai Tucson  the Hyundai Hope On Wheels hero vehicle  to commemorate their fight against the disease.

The ceremony will also feature*:

Dr. David Poplack , Director, Cancer and Hematology Centers, Texas Children's Hospital

Dr. Joanna Yi , Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Robin Parihar , Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine

Pediatric cancer survivor and 2016 HHOW National Youth Ambassador, Hannah Adams (age 13)

Zafar Brooks , Executive Director, Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Falon Wiesner-Jones , Director, Public Relations, Wiesner Auto Group

*ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES*

"Our mission at Hyundai Hope On Wheels is clear: End Childhood Cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "These individual awards to hospitals and organizations across the country are pivotal to ending childhood cancer. Although there remains a lot more work to be done, the innovation that comes from this research will ultimately help us find a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease  you are not alone and we remain committed to this important cause."

About the Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grants and Handprint Ceremonies

The Scholar Senior Research Grants will fund childhood research projects designed to improve the treatment and quality of life for children with cancer. The ultimate goal of the Scholar Senior Research Grant program is to find cures for childhood cancers once and for all. This year alone, HHOW will award more than $13 million in new pediatric cancer grants. Since 1998, the program has funded $115 million in research to Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions nationwide. The program also creates awareness about the importance of the disease, which is the leading cause of death by disease in children in the United States (source).

Attendees at the various ceremonies will include HHOW's two national youth ambassadors and pediatric cancer survivors, Hannah Adams and Ryan Darby, who will deliver a message of hope to children's cancer hospitals. Hannah, now 13 years old, was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Wilms tumor that enveloped her kidney. Since her recovery, she has pursued her love of dancing and singing to help uplift and encourage other children and families through their fight. Thirteen-year-old Ryan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia six years ago, and since his recovery, he has shared his story and words of encouragement with children and families across the country. Watch Hannah and Ryan's story at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.

2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand

In addition to funding a multitude of research projects this September, HHOW is encouraging the public to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer in a personal way. The journey begins with one simple request: Give Hope A Hand. We invite visitors to the newly refreshed website at hyundaihopeonwheels.org, to tell how they will use their hands in the fight against pediatric cancer. Once there visitors can Learn + Care + Do + Give = Hope. There are a number of additional engaging, interactive ways the public can get involved and use their hands for good.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 830 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $115 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels, please visit www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org or follow us on social media at www.facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, www.twitter.com/hopeonwheels, and www.youtube.com/hopeonwheels.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide.

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/LA86658LOGO

SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Related Links

http://www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org


MIAMI, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Jamaica's largest motor vehicle distributors has sued Hyundai Motor Company in Florida for deliberately interfering with its long-standing exclusive distributor agreement and improperly steering business to a competing company.

The six-count lawsuit filed by Key Motors Limited accuses Hyundai of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, among other charges. Key Motors is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and enforcement of the existing exclusive distributor agreement.

"Over the course of this long standing and successful relationship, Key Motors promoted Hyundai in Jamaica from relative obscurity to being one of the most successful commercial truck and consumer automobile brands across the island," said Key Motors' attorney, Robert Zarco, a partner with the law firm of Zarco, Einhorn, Salkowski & Brito, P.A. "Then Hyundai executives, with no justification whatsoever, began putting up roadblocks in Key Motors' path. This is not what trusted partners do to one another."

Key Motors was founded in Jamaica by Desmond Panton, a 60-year veteran of the automobile industry. In 1999, Key Motors was appointed the exclusive Jamaican distributor for light- and medium-weight commercial vehicles by Hyundai, which today is the world's fourth largest automobile manufacturer by annual vehicles sold in 193 countries through some 5,000 dealerships. Key Motors was also separately appointed the exclusive Jamaican distributor for passenger vehicles.

At the time, Hyundai had little or no brand recognition in Jamaica. Over the next several years until 2015, Key Motors developed, grew, and enhanced Hyundai's brand through its existing distribution, a fact acknowledged by Hyundai and its executives. In time, Key Motors became the largest seller of commercial vehicles on the island.

According to the lawsuit, Hyundai has intentionally and maliciously sought to negatively impact and conspired to destroy Key Motors' business and reputation and to squeeze it out of business, for its own pecuniary gain. The automaker delayed shipments to Key Motors of commercial vehicles; refused or delayed the issuance of letters of authorization necessary for Key Motors to secure contracts with the Jamaican government; failed to respond to requests for updated prices and specifications; and failed to make available medium- and heavy-duty trucks with right-handed steering.

According to Desmond Panton, CEO of Key Motors, "We did everything we could to try and amicably resolve the matter without going to Court but Hyundai's actions were so underhanded, we felt we were left with no other alternative. What this auto giant is doing to its older dealers is just despicable."

This is not the first time that Hyundai has taken such egregious actions in the region. Indeed, Hyundai has terminated or failed to renew several other senior dealers in such countries as Antigua, Barbados and Colombia. It is the opinion of Key Motors that Hyundai's conduct in the region, which apparently has focused on older dealers and distributors, is indicative of Hyundai's desire and intent to rid its system of long-standing and senior distributors and dealers that were instrumental in growing the brand in its early years, a fact that Key Motors is aggressively investigating.

"Unequivocally, Hyundai was intentionally and maliciously interfering with, and undermining the business and reputation of, Key Motors, in contravention of the 16-year relationship and agreements between the parties, and for the ultimate benefit of itself [and its new distribution partner]," the complaint states.

ABOUT ZARCO EINHORN SALKOWSKI & BRITO, P.A.

Zarco Einhorn Salkowski & Brito, P.A. is an internationally recognized law firm providing high-end legal services in complex commercial legal matters in the areas of franchise, automotive and truck dealership, hospitality and licensing and distributorship law with an emphasis on litigation in the federal and state trial and appellate courts, as well as arbitration and mediation throughout the United States and internationally. For more information, visit www.zarcolaw.com.

Contact: Jennifer Clarin of Boardroom Communications, 954-370-8999 or [email protected].

SOURCE Zarco Einhorn Salkowski & Brito, P.A.

Related Links

http://www.zarcolaw.com


STERLING, Virginia, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The partnership enables IGA to offer Digital Foodie's digital grocery commerce and fulfillment platform to its licensed retailers.

Digital Foodie, the creator of the award-winning on-demand grocery platform, and Chicago-based Independent Grocers Alliance, IGA, have established a partnership where Digital Foodie will be a preferred IGA partner for enabling on-demand grocery to IGA's licensed retailers. The partner program includes retailer branded web service, linked to IGA branded native mobile applications for placing orders and shopping planning, as well as state-of-the-art in-store picking and fulfillment tools for optimized store pick-up and home delivery.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160713/813820 )



IGA and Digital Foodie also established a marketing partnership for digital experiences that draws upon Digital Foodie's marketing and consumer adoption best practices, leveraging its successes in more advanced, European grocery markets. Digital Foodie will work closely with IGA and its retailers to develop marketing offers and training programs for converged groceries proven to achieve a high level of consumer adoption with profitable results for grocers.

"The retail grocery industry is undergoing a digital transformation that requires grocers to provide converged services including on-demand and in-store solutions to extend and enhance their current bricks and mortar business and to fend off digital inroads by competitors such as Walmart, Amazon and other large grocery chains," said Kalle Koutajoki, CEO of Digital Foodie. "We have nearly a decade of experience in deploying online grocery in the most competitive on-demand grocery markets in the world, while simultaneously 'cracking the code' to achieving retailer profitability. I am very excited about this partnership, and with our platform and secret sauce to profitability, IGA retailers can jumpstart their on-demand business instantly while keeping the control of the store brand."

For most retailers, the Digital Foodie cloud platform can be set up within weeks. The most proven platform in the industry coupled with marketing and fulfillment operations enables retailers to be competitive in any environment. The platform helps the grocer maintain its customer relationships across channels, unlike other competing point solutions that may even sever their relationships with their own customers in favor of the program provider.

The IGA branded mobile application seamlessly links the grocer's branded website to Digital Foodie's converged cloud platform for on-demand ordering, online circulars, personalized shopping planning, digital commerce, order management and efficient fulfillment. The Digital Foodie platform is the only grocery-focused cloud platform that comes with full end-to-end capabilities including a robust Product Information Management (PIM) solution that also serves food wholesalers and CPG brands.

"We are extremely impressed with Digital Foodie's on-demand technology and their achievements in the more competitive European market, as well as their combination of technology and ability to drive a grocer's on-demand business. Their proven software platform will come bundled with a supporting marketing rollout that we are certain will be tremendously effective in bringing shopper attention to this new service offering," says Mark Batenic, CEO of IGA. "We look forward to this new partnership, and the immediate benefit our retailers will see from the expansion of their business model."

The program is available for all IGA member retailers and for sign ups during 2016 the program will also include a premium onboarding program to help drive the success of the on-demand ordering. For more information about the program please contact Kevin Reese, SVP Sales and Marketing, Digital Foodie North America at [email protected] or IGA VP of Brand Development Jim Walz at [email protected].

About IGA (http://www.iga.com)

IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $36 billion per year. The Alliance includes nearly 5,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 29 distribution centers and more than 30 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has stores in 45 of the United States and more than 30 countries, commonwealths and territories. For more information about IGA, visit the IGA consumer website at http://www.iga.com, or the business site at http://www.becomeiga.com.

About Digital Foodie (http://www.digitalfoodie.com)

Digital Foodie is a customizable and scalable cloud platform that transitions grocery stores' businesses instantly into the on-demand commerce space. For consumers it enables a fully personalized grocery shopping service used by major retailers and brands. The core of the service is formed by highly personalized food and product recommendations that make everyday shopping easy and fun. For retailers, the on-demand platform provides all the tools needed to run modern online operations, click and collect and home deliveries including efficient fulfilment of orders. Digital Foodie operates currently in USA, Finland, Baltics, Russia and UK. http://www.digitalfoodie.com

Digital Foodie is part of EnterWorks Holding Company, a product content and master data management (MDM) platform that serves the entire value chain in the consumer products industry, from brands to consumers, including customers such as Abbott Nutrition, US Foods, Mary Kay, and Fender Musical Instruments. http://www.enterworks.com

Media contacts:

Kevin Reese - SVP Sales and Marketing North America

kevi[email protected]

+1-626-840-8073

Ashley Page - IGA Communications

[email protected]

+1-773-742-7417



SOURCE Digital Foodie
LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE: IGT) today announced its agreement with Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino to provide comprehensive casino management systems for the new Las Vegas property, which is slated to open in December 3, 2016.

Billed as Las Vegas' first casino resort to deliver an authentic Asian lifestyle experience, Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino will feature IGT's latest Advantage system, offering advanced marketing, player communication and floor optimization capabilities through Floor Manager, Media Manager with Service Window and Table Manager. The property will utilize six different IGT bonusing applications, including Lucky Chip, which brings a progressive bonus to table games for the first time on the Las Vegas Strip. Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino will also be the first property in North America to offer IGT Rebates & Commissions to VIP table game players, based on a concept that is extremely popular in the Asian gaming market. The systems installation is enhanced by IGT SystemWatch, which provides remote, around-the-clock system monitoring for performance optimization and reduced down time.

In addition to providing the casino management systems, IGT will have the leading floor share at the Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino. Included in the IGT game selection is 12 IGT Dynasty electronic table games, offering players the excitement of baccarat and roulette.

"IGT casino management systems offer us the innovation that we need to bring a carefully curated, authentic Asian experience to the Las Vegas Strip," said Dave Jacoby, Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino Chief Operating Officer. "With features such as the Lucky Chip bonus and the only Rebates & Commissions offering in North America, IGT has helped us differentiate the Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino as Las Vegas' premier Asian gaming provider."

"By securing this agreement with Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino, we're building on IGT's leadership in casino management systems innovation," said Nick Khin, IGT Senior Vice President of Sales, North America Gaming & Interactive. "Whenever there is a new casino opening on the Las Vegas Strip, competition is fierce for games and systems placement. By providing unique systems capabilities and best-in-class game content, we can help Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino differentiate itself among players as the authentic Asian gaming experience provider."

As a leading innovator in casino management systems, IGT offers a wide range of systems solutions to meet the needs of any-sized operation. IGT Advantage, Casinolink, GALAXIS and SYSTEM2go empower server-based solutions such as Floor Manager and Media Manager to engage players and enable more efficient casino operations. Bonusing and applications, progressive jackpot solutions, ticketing products and the dynamic Tournament Manager application drive game play by enhancing player experiences and incentives.

For more information, visit IGT or go to Facebook at facebook.com/IGT, follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/IGTnews or watch IGT videos on youtube.com/igt. Play IGT's DoubleDown Casino on Facebook or at doubledowncasino.com.

About IGT

IGT (NYSE:IGT) is the global leader in gaming. We enable players to experience their favorite games across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Interactive and Social Gaming. Leveraging a wealth of premium content, substantial investment in innovation, in-depth customer intelligence, operational expertise and leading-edge technology, our gaming solutions anticipate the demands of consumers wherever they decide to play. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has over 12,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.IGT.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning International Game Technology PLC and other matters. These statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, dividends, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of International Game Technology PLC as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management. Forward-looking statements may be accompanied by words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "could," "would," "should," "shall," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "guidance," "intend," "may," "will," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project" or the negative or other variations of them. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside International Game Technology PLC's control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those predicted in the forward-looking statements and from past results, performance or achievements. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) the possibility that the businesses of International Game Technology (Nevada) and GTECH S.p.A. will not be integrated successfully, or that the combined companies will not realize estimated cost savings, synergies, growth or other anticipated benefits or that such benefits may take longer to realize than expected; unanticipated costs of integration of International Game Technology (Nevada) and GTECH S.p.A.; the possibility that International Game Technology PLC will be unable to pay future dividends to shareholders or that the amount of such dividends may be less than anticipated; the possibility that International Game Technology PLC may not obtain its anticipated financial results in one or more future periods; reductions in customer spending; a slowdown in customer payments and changes in customer demand for products and services as a result of changing economic conditions or otherwise; unanticipated changes relating to competitive factors in the industries in which International Game Technology PLC operates; International Game Technology PLC's ability to hire and retain key personnel; the impact of the consummation of the business combination on relationships with third parties, including customers, employees and competitors; International Game Technology PLC's ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers in the manner anticipated; reliance on and integration of information technology systems; changes in legislation or governmental regulations affecting International Game Technology PLC, including as a consequence of the announced withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU; international, national or local economic, social or political conditions that could adversely affect International Game Technology PLC or its customers; conditions in the credit markets; changes in the top management team; risks associated with assumptions International Game Technology PLC makes in connection with its critical accounting estimates; the resolution of pending and potential future legal, regulatory or tax proceedings and investigations; and International Game Technology PLC's international operations, which are subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and foreign exchange controls. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect International Game Technology PLC's business, including those described in International Game Technology PLC's annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of International Game Technology PLC's website at www.IGT.com. Except as required under applicable law, International Game Technology PLC does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this presentation is intended, or is to be construed, as a profit forecast or to be interpreted to mean that earnings per International Game Technology PLC share for the current or any future financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per International Game Technology PLC share, as applicable. All forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to International Game Technology PLC, or persons acting on its behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Media Contact:

Phil O'Shaughnessy, IGT (702) 669-2975

 2016 IGT. All other trademarks used herein are owned by IGT or its affiliates, may not be used without permission, and where indicated with a , are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150406/196736LOGO

SOURCE IGT

Related Links

http://www.IGT.com


ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspur Group Co. Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Inspur") announced plans to deliver enterprise-class software-defined datacenter offerings based on Windows Server 2016 as part of the Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) Program.

WSSD is a Microsoft program that enables solution vendors to design and validate hardware, and deploy Windows Server 2016 Software-Defined infrastructure in a way that follows Microsoft requirements and best practices.

Microsoft Ignite is being held this week, Sept. 26-30, Atlanta, GA.

The two Inspur offerings that are going to leverage Storage Spaces Direct technology are the model NF5280M4 (2U Form Factor) and the model NF5166M4 (1U Form Factor).

Inspur 1U model offering:

The Inspur NF5166M4 is a rackmount server specifically designed with an optimized hybrid storage hardware architecture enabling balanced performance. NF5166M4 adopts industry-leading digital power management technology to optimize power efficiency, closely monitoring the temperature of server's different components and adjusting the fans' speed in real-time based on actual energy consumption, etc. The 1U solution offers twice the density that is currently available in the market today.

Inspur 2U model offering:

The Inspur NF5280M4 high-performance enterprise server is ideal for use as a Storage Server, GPU Server, Big Data, Virtualization or Enterprise Cloud Applications. With the latest hard disk interface technology, it eliminates the storage bottlenecks and largely improves storage performance. It provides flexible I/O functions, utilizing integrated expansion slot supporting PCI-E 3.0, and 2 MIC or GPU co-processors. The 2U solution provides high efficiency, intelligent design, flexible expansion and optimization for enterprise needs.

Inspur's offerings are undergoing certification and validation as required by Windows Server 2016 WSSD program, which delivers a more flexible and cost-efficient operating system for your datacenter, leveraging software-defined compute, storage and network virtualization features inspired by Microsoft Azure.

In addition, Inspur has received Windows Server 2016 logo certification for the model NF5280M4 (2U Form Factor) and the model NF5180M4 (1U Form Factor). Both are published on the Microsoft Server Catalog, which can be found here. As of this press release, Inspur is expanding server certification across all product families.

"The increased collaboration between Inspur and Microsoft addresses the continuing needs of our mutual customers by delivering affordable, cloud-ready solutions geared towards Enterprise IT, business and service providers. We are thrilled to share these solutions with IT Professionals, IT Decision-Makers and Enterprise Developers in the US, Europe and China, and help them enhance storage flexibility, infrastructure scalability and business agility," said Wenhui Zhao, General Manager for Cloud and Security Products, Inspur. "With Inspur's Windows 2016 certified servers and cloud solutions, we are proud to be the front line in driving innovation together with Microsoft to meet ever-evolving customers' demands, protect their resources, secure their environment and optimize their ROI."

Erin Chapple, Partner Director, Program Management for Windows Server, Microsoft, said, "Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 offer our most cloud-ready server operating system and management solution ever, with exciting new innovations to help customers transform applications for the cloud, build a software-defined datacenter with cloud efficiencies, and keep IT safer than ever. The complementary solutions and services from our partners are what truly bring the innovations to life for our customers as they transform their IT solutions for a cloud-first world."

About Inspur

As a leading service provider of cloud computing and big data, Inspur is capable of providing total solutions at IaaS, PaaS and SaaS levels. Inspur owns three listed companies, including Inspur Information, Inspur Software and Inspur International. Inspur's four business groups -- Cloud Data Center, Cloud Services and Big Data, Software and Integration and Enterprise Software -- provide IT products and services for over 100 countries and regions. For more information, visit http://www.inspur.com.

SOURCE Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co., Ltd

Related Links

http://www.inspur.com


LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolving security and communication technologies are transforming security control rooms. From being areas to monitor video feeds, modern control rooms are now tasked with gathering information from various sources before analysing the data to deliver meaningful, operational insights to security operatives in real time. The continuing integration of traditionally disparate systems will be accelerated by the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile and wireless security technologies. The challenge for end users and the opportunity for the industry lie in the creation of control rooms that not only meet current operational demands but are also capable of providing greater efficiency while protecting against future threats.

Global Security Control Rooms Market Assessment (http://frost.ly/sx) is the new analysis from Frost & Sullivan's Aerospace, Defence and Security Growth Partnership Service programme, which includes subjects such as critical national infrastructure, cyber security, Internet of Things in public safety. This study focuses on evolving market needs across the first responder, mass transport, airports, oil & gas and utilities segments and covers hardware, software, managed services and integration trends.

For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://frost.ly/th

"The transfer of data into both control room settings and the field will create opportunities for a range of technology suppliers," confirmed Aerospace, Defence and Security Research Analyst Robert Haddon. "Greater levels of data and the use of contextualizing data sources, such as social media, will put a premium on analytics technology in order to draw meaningful conclusions and linkages from disparate sources of information."

However, pressure on budgets across the industry compels greater efficiency at lower costs. At the same time, high security must be maintained at critical locations regardless of service funding restrictions. To balance these operational considerations, users will seek more intelligent and scalable systems, which in turn create opportunities for security hardware, software and service providers.

"Today, security operations need to work faster, smarter and be increasingly connected, making technology crucial to both organisations and end users that are trying to protect increasingly complex and distributed infrastructure networks from a range of threats," said Haddon. "Using more automated control room solutions and analytic technology enables organizations to maximize insights from both new and existing security architecture. Savings on hardware and personnel costs mean that organizations can create efficiencies without sacrificing security performance."

There are number of companies positioned in the market to provide solutions that will enhance the operations of security end users. Egidium Technologies provides supervision software that puts a 3D map at the core of the security control room to enhance security situation awareness and support the end user throughout incident handling. Their track record already includes major events such as the UN's COP21 and several sensitive sites across utilities, sporting arenas and airports.

"We believe security control rooms will evolve towards a better user experience, driven by software that merges information from various sources in a meaningful fashion. What the control room operator fundamentally needs is to correctly assess a situation and deal with it without delay. Control room solutions and equipment must support this critical objective," commented Laurent Denizot, CEO at Egidium Technologies.

Region-wise, the extensive installed base and technology renewal within the North American and European market will continue to boost spending. New infrastructure in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East will also create project opportunities. Further, the implementation of new command and control (C2) and smart city infrastructure in city development projects will remain a key driver for enhanced spending on a range of technology.

"Organisations will seek security control room systems that offer speed of delivery and clear return on investments," summarised Haddon. "Software solutions, and in particular analytic systems, enable both new and existing systems to enhance their security preparedness while limiting larger costs associated with hardware investment."

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.

provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Global Security Control Rooms Market Assessment

MC2C-23

Contact:

Evgenia Oleynikova

Corporate Communications  Europe

P: +48 224816210

E: [email protected]

http://ww2.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

http://www.frost.com


RICHLAND, Wash., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IsoRay, Inc. ("IsoRay") (NYSE MKT: ISR), a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications for the treatment of prostate, brain, lung, head and neck, and gynecological cancers, today announced that on September 23, 2016, it entered into a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Settlement"), pursuant to which IsoRay and IsoRay's former CEO (together, the "Defendants") have, subject to certain conditions and approvals, agreed to settle the previously-disclosed consolidated securities class action litigation, In re IsoRay, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 4:15-cv-05046-LRS (the "Litigation"), pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

If the Settlement becomes final, among other things, (i) the claims against the Defendants will be dismissed with prejudice and released, such that every member of the settlement class will be barred from asserting against the Defendants any claims alleged in the complaint or arising from the complaint, and (ii) a payment of $3,537,500 will be made for the benefit of the settlement class, which IsoRay expects to be funded entirely by its insurance carriers. The Defendants have denied and continue to deny each and all of the claims alleged by the plaintiffs in the Litigation. Nevertheless, the Defendants have agreed to the Settlement to eliminate the uncertainty, distraction, burden, and expense of further litigation.

The proposed Settlement is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other items, preliminary and final court approval. Details regarding any proposed Settlement will be communicated to potential class members prior to the final court approval. At this time, there can be no assurance that the conditions to effect the Settlement will be met or that the settlement of the Litigation will receive the required court approvals.

About IsoRay

IsoRay, Inc., through its subsidiary, IsoRay Medical, Inc., is the sole producer of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds, which are expanding brachytherapy options throughout the body. Learn more about this innovative Richland, Washington company and explore the many benefits and uses of Cesium-131 by visiting www.isoray.com. Join us on Facebook/Isoray. Follow us on Twitter @Isoray.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the prospective resolution of the Litigation. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, are predictive in nature, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause IsoRay's actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Litigation Settlement will not be finalized or approved by the court or that other conditions may not be met for approval. If the Settlement is not finalized, the ultimate resolution and the impact on IsoRay cannot be assessed. Whether or not the Settlement is approved depends on various factors, including, but not limited to, the number of and reasons for any potential objections to the Settlement or the number of class members excluding themselves from the Litigation Settlement. IsoRay can give no assurances that any results or events projected or contemplated by its forward-looking statements will in fact occur and IsoRay cautions you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Unless required to do so by law, IsoRay undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments or otherwise.

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SOURCE IsoRay, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.isoray.com


BALTIMORE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jai Medical Systems Managed Care Organization Inc. (Jai Medical Systems) is the Highest Rated Medicaid MCO in Maryland and one of the Top-Rated Medicaid Health Plans in the United States, having earned a rating of 5 out of 5 in the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA) Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2016-2017. For a complete listing of Medicaid Health Plan Ratings, please visit http://healthinsuranceratings.ncqa.org/2016/search/Medicaid.

In addition, for the second year in a row, Jai Medical Systems has also earned NCQA's highest Accreditation status of Excellent. Jai Medical Systems is currently the only MCO in Maryland with an Accreditation status of Excellent. NCQA's Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation. It is only awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care.

"We are very proud to have earned this distinction. Ensuring our members receive high quality health care is our primary focus. While we are pleased with our rating, taking care of people is what matters most to our company. We are continually evaluating and evolving our systems and population management strategies to ensure they are efficient, effective, and scalable. By working closely with our business partners, vendors, and especially providers, we are able to collectively focus and achieve clinical objectives, while ultimately improving clinical outcomes and long-term health status. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve in the Medicaid program for the past 19 years, and we greatly appreciate the support and guidance that we have received from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene," said Jai Seunarine, Chief Executive Officer of Jai Medical Systems, of his company's achievement.

"The NCQA's recognition of Jai Medical Systems' service to Maryland Medicaid recipients is heartening and is central to our mission of providing medically necessary services to eligible residents," said Shannon McMahon, Deputy Secretary of Health Care Financing at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which oversees the state Medicaid program.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas. NCQA's HEDIS is the most widely used performance tool in health care. NCQA's website (www.ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices.

Jai Medical Systems is a Baltimore based company founded in 1997 by Hollis Seunarine, M.D., FAAFP and Jai Seunarine. Jai Medical Systems serves a diverse population of approximately 24,000 members throughout Maryland. Its mission is to provide access to high quality health care benefits and services to the people of Maryland. Jai Medical Systems continues this tradition of quality and excellence by working with their members to help identify their healthcare needs, while remaining an active and positive presence within the communities they serve.

CONTACT: Jai Seunarine, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), 410-433-2200

SOURCE Jai Medical Systems Managed Care Organization Inc.
Kahlua Chili Chocolate fuses the bold, fierce and unexpected, for a surprising and delightful flavor combination of hot chili and silky, smooth chocolate. The rich chocolate contrasts perfectly with the zest of chili pepper, allowing for an intense, exciting flavor. Kahlua Chili Chocolate hits the high notes with consumers as coffee, chocolate and spice blends are in the top 15 flavors for new product innovation and development[i].

"Kahlua consumers are continually in search of the next exciting adventure and uniquely distinct experience," said Troy Gorczyca, Brand Director, Kahlua, Pernod Ricard USA. "Kahlua is acknowledging that fiery spirit by offering an antidote to the everyday and kicking classic cocktail favorites up a notch. Kahlua Chili Chocolate embodies the original Kahlua taste consumer's love, while turning up the heat."

Available at retail locations, Kahlua Chili Chocolate is 20% Alc./Vol. (40 proof) and retails for a suggested price of $18.99 per 750 ml bottle.

For additional information please visit http://www.kahlua.com/ and connect with Kahlua socially by visiting the brand's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest pages.

To best enjoy Kahlua Chili Chocolate, try our signature recipes:

IN A COCKTAIL: KAHLUA CHILI CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO MARTINI

1 part Kahlua Chili Chocolate

1 part Olmeca Altos Plata

1 part Espresso

Build in a shaker over ice, strain into a coup glass. Garnish with espresso beans, taste and enjoy!

IN A SHOT: CAFE VOLCANO

1.5 parts Kahlua Chili Chocolate

1 part Malibu black

Shake with a mint leaf over ice and strain into a chilled in a shot glass

A SIMPLE PAIRING: KAHLUA CHILI HOT CHOCOLATE

1 part Kahlua Chili Chocolate

2 parts hot chocolate

Pour hot chocolate over 1 part Kahlua Chili Chocolate, top with powdered chili, taste and enjoy!

Stick to the Script. Drink Responsibly.

KAHLUA  Chili Chocolate Rum and Coffee Liqueur. 20% Alc./Vol. (40 Proof). Product of Mexico. 2016 Imported by The Kahlua Company, Purchase, NY.

About Pernod Ricard USA

About Pernod Ricard USA

Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, which employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI).

The company's leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Tequila Avion, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Malibu, Kahlua, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch, Olmeca Altos, Beefeater Gin, Lot No. 40 and Pike Creek, Midleton, Paddy, Powers, Redbreast, Plymouth, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Martell Cognac, Lillet, Hiram Walker, Pernod, Ricard; and such superior wines as Kenwood Vineyards, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Jacob's Creek; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines.

Pernod Ricard USA is based in Purchase, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and in moderation. For more information, please visit: www.responsibility.org.

[i] Mintel Firmenich Flavor Trends for Alcohol, USA, April 2015 Report

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SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA

Related Links

http://www.kahlua.com


LA PLUME, Pa., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone College has announced a new program that will enable students to pursue the careers of their choice without the constant worry of long-term debt.

The Keystone Commitment Loan Repayment Assistance Program is a pledge to all first-time, full-time freshmen students pursuing baccalaureate degrees beginning in the fall of 2017. The program will be provided free of charge to all incoming students and include all majors.

Under the program, Keystone graduates working at least 30 hours per week and earning less than $40,000 per year will receive loan repayment assistance based on their annual income. The loan assistance will be determined proportionately by the income of the individual graduate up to a maximum threshold of $40,000.

For example, students with an annual income of $20,000 or less will receive 100 percent reimbursement on their quarterly loan payments. Students earning $30,000, which is half-way between the $20,000 and $40,000 thresholds, will receive 50 percent reimbursement on their quarterly loan payments. The program covers federal, private, and Parent Plus loans. Repayment assistance continues until the graduate's income rises above the $40,000 threshold or until the loans are completely paid off.

The goal of the Keystone Commitment is to relieve the pressure of potential loan debt students often feel when selecting a college and a major. The Keystone Commitment helps ease that burden so students can choose the career which is best for them. The Keystone program is offered in conjunction with the Loan Repayment Assistance Program Association, based in Bloomington, Ind. (www.lrap.org).

"Students will now have more incentive to pursue the career they love without having to worry about paying the full amount of their loans within months of graduation," said Keystone Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Janine Becker, Ph.D.

While the concept of a guaranteed loan repayment program is innovative among undergraduate schools, the concept began more than 25 years ago at Ivy League law schools.

The Keystone Commitment Loan Repayment Assistance Program complements the college's Keystone Promise, which pledges that graduates will be accepted into a graduate program or receive at least one job offer within six months of graduation.

For information on the Keystone Commitment, visit www.keystone.edu/lrap. Located 15 minutes from Scranton, Pa. and two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Keystone is known for small class sizes and individual attention.

Contact: Fran Calpin (570) 945-8170; (570) 690-1875 (cell); [email protected]

SOURCE Keystone College

Related Links

http://www.keystone.edu


DETROIT, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marla Drutz, vice-president and general manager of WDIV-Local 4, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, announced that Kimberly Gill will be named the anchor of Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11p.m. She will join Devin Scillian, who has been anchoring WDIV evening newscasts for nearly 20 years. This follows the recent announcement that Detroit broadcasting legend Carmen Harlan will be retiring from delivering the news. Her last newscast is November 11.

"Since joining the Local 4 news team, Kimberly has done outstanding work out in the field covering stories like the shooting in Charleston, the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the nightclub shooting in Orlando and reporting nightly on Local 4 News at 11 p.m.," says Kim Voet, WDIV's news director.

Since December 2015, Gill has been anchoring Local 4 News at 5:30 p.m. and has been the regular fill-in on all of the evening newscasts.

"Hiring Kimberly has been one of the best decisions that the station has ever made. She is a true journalist, a compassionate storyteller and embodies the heart, work ethic and intelligence needed to tell the stories of Detroit," said Drutz. "We knew that whoever was going to sit next to Devin Scillian and be a leader in our newsroom, was going to have to be the real deal. Kimberly is the real deal. She is going to be a big part of this TV station for many years to come."

Before joining WDIV, Gill worked as an anchor in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. She started her career at WBTW, the CBS affiliate in Florence/Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Prior to working in television, Gill drove 18-wheelers for FedEx and fueled commercial and private airplanes for Eagle Aviation. She worked both jobs to pay her way through college at the University of South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism. Gill also has an MBA from Ashland University.

"I admire the fact that Detroiters are genuine, hard-working people. I'm originally from a small city in South Carolina but I feel right at home here. Detroit is a big city that's made up of a lot of small neighborhoods. Detroiters love sports, cars and good music  those are all things that I love too. I feel as if this city has adopted me as one of its own and I'm so grateful for that," said Gill.

Throughout her career, Gill has been recognized for her work in broadcasting. She was named Personality of the Year in 2009 by the Ohio Broadcaster's Hall of Fame. She's also a two-time Emmy winner.

Karen Drew named anchor of Local 4 News at 5:30 p.m.

Local 4 Defender and First at 4:00 anchor Karen Drew will soon join Scillian on the anchor desk for Local 4 News at 5:30 p.m. Since January 2016, Drew has anchored the ratings leading 4 p.m. newscast with Chief Meteorologist Ben Bailey. As one of Detroit's most versatile journalists, Drew steps into the early evening anchor job with 18 years at WDIV-Local 4. She currently is a member of the Local 4 Defenders, the station's award-winning investigative unit.

Before landing at Local 4 in March of 1998, Drew started her broadcast career in Dickinson, North Dakota where she shot, wrote and edited all of her own pieces. She moved onto WHOA in Montgomery, Alabama; WTVC in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida.

"Kimberly and Karen have both done outstanding work in the field and on the anchor desk. They are exceptional anchors and people with the personalities and work ethic that we need to continue to tell the stories and connect with the people of this great city and region," said Voet.

Gill and Drew assume their new positions on November 14.

About Local 4

WDIV-TV Local 4 is honored to be recognized as Station of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Local 4 News is currently the #1 newscast at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. in Nielsen ratings for the Detroit television market. WDIV is the #1 NBC affiliate in the top 13 LPM markets. In addition, Local 4's ClickOnDetroit.com is a leading breaking news and weather website in Michigan and metro Detroit's #1 TV media website.

About Graham Media Group

Graham Media Group (www.GrahamMedia.com), a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC), owns five local TV stationseach in a top-50 market and all recognized as news leadersreaching 6.3% of U.S. television households: KPRCHouston and WDIVDetroit (NBC); KSATSan Antonio (ABC); WKMGOrlando (CBS); and WJXTJacksonville (independent). The stations also broadcast digital channels focused on classic television and operate market-leading websites, mobile sites and mobile apps that deliver breaking news, weather and community news, reaching millions of users across each platform. Graham Media Group owns SocialNewsDesk, a leading provider of social media software solutions used in more than 600 newsrooms worldwide.

SOURCE WDIV-TV Local 4

Related Links

http://www.clickondetroit.com


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kitu Systems, a leader in IoT solutions for Electric Vehicle Charge and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Management, announces the availability of a comprehensive suite of solutions for Utilities, DER Aggregators, Solar Providers and Inverter Manufacturers. This supports the roll out of California Rule 21, set for September 2017 now that UL 1741 SA has been published.

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California, along with many other states, has made great strides in recent years to define a solution that mitigates the problems associated with increased penetration of rooftop solar. This has culminated in the Rule 21 decision by the California Public Utility Commission requiring smart inverters to be managed by Utilities or DER Operator/Aggregator to maintain grid reliability.

"The Kitu Energy Platform is immediately available for both Utilities and Aggregators," says Mike Bourton Vice President of Business Development, "and provides the necessary tools to implement the required IEEE 2030.5 Common California Investor Owned Utility (IOU) Rule 21 Implementation Guide for Smart Inverters that is being released by the CA utilities."

Kitu also provides the software building blocks for the most complete end to end solution for Gateways and Smart Inverter vendors, which can dramatically reduce the time of development with proven Interoperability and conformance.

Kitu will be showing its complete range of DER products for Rule 21 at Distributed Energy Resources Management with IEEE 2030.5 Symposium & Exhibition on November 1st 2016 in Irwindale California.

About Kitu IEEE2030.5 Software

The Kitu IEEE2030.5 Software suite provides a complete end-to-end Interoperable communications capability for Utility back office, Cloud, Gateway, and Embedded devices. Kitu's IEEE2030.5 product suite is the most deployed, feature complete and tested IEEE2030.5 products available. Kitu products have passed Underwriter Laboratories (UL) IEEE2030.5 conformance testing allowing for quick time to market with mature and secure products.

About Kitu Systems

Kitu Systems provides robust and scalable software for the Internet of Things. Kitu's software enables secure and reliable communications from the Thing to the Cloud over a variety of wired and wireless networks. Kitu's use-case specific solutions serve markets such as home energy management, photovoltaic solar systems, smart appliances, electric vehicle charge management and specific industrial applications. Kitu's complete applications and software subsystems offer ease of integration, hardware architecture flexibility, and interoperability across multiple physical layers. Our customers include enterprises, smart device manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, and automotive companies. For more information see Kitu Systems.

Contact: Mike Bourton

Email

Tel: +1 619 569 2190

SOURCE Kitu Systems
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- La Salle University today announced it will reset its tuition from $40,400 to $28,800a 29% reductionin a major step to improve the affordability of an undergraduate college education. Tuition for the 2017-18 academic year will return to what students paid in 2008, and the University will continue to offer generous scholarships and financial assistance to its students.

The initiative, known as An Affordable Path For All, builds on La Salle's long-standing commitment to affordability. In addition to providing scholarships and financial assistance to 97 percent of students in 2015-16, the university was the only institution in the Philadelphia area to freeze tuition for the 2016-17 academic year.

"The cost of higher education continues to spiral year after year, with no end in sight," said La Salle President Colleen Hanycz. "We cannot continue to assume that this issue will fix itself someday, somehowthe tuition model for higher education is broken. La Salle is working to reshape that model so college becomes an affordable reality for students and their families."

Hanycz continued, "We are taking decisive steps to respond to what we hear from students and parents: They want a La Salle education but are concerned about how to pay for it. By reducing our tuition by 29 percent, we are providing real savings to students, and also ensuring that a transformational La Salle education will be accessible by students from more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, supporting our Lasallian values of inclusion."

Returning students will also see significant savings over what they expected to pay for future years since any subsequent tuition increases will be made from a lower tuition base. Reduced tuition should also increase retention rates, keeping capable students in school so they can complete their degrees and move on to successful careers.

"Many students and families see a 'sticker price' of $40,400 and assume they cannot afford to attend La Salle University," said Tom Delahunt, Vice President for Enrollment Services. "The reality, however, is that few students pay the listed price. The overwhelming majority of our students receive state, federal and La Salle-sponsored grants and scholarships. An Affordable Path For All will help place La Salle University in the consideration set of more students who can benefit from the exceptional education that La Salle University delivers."

La Salle University has consistently been recognized for providing a great value to its students, most recently by Money magazine ("5th on the 2016 list of 50 Colleges That Add the Most Value"), Forbes ("America's Best Value College" list), and The Economist ("Top 100 Schools in the U.S. for Value"). The University has received additional value citations from the Brookings Institute and U.S. News & World Report.

An Affordable Path for All is the most recent initiative announced by La Salle to proactively position the university for strength and growth. In early September, the University adopted a series of strategic initiatives, including moving to a platform of institutional learning outcomes, the creation of five interdisciplinary centers of excellence, and the development of a program of endowed chairs and professorships intended to highlight and advance La Salle's distinctive spires of academic excellence. On September 20, the university launched a new brand campaign, "Explorers Are Never Lost." The campaign targets talented students seeking an education devoted to the formation of the whole person, one that encourages and supports students to blaze their own path as they prepare for successful careers and purposeful lives. Further, the university has invested considerably in campus infrastructure, completing a new school of business, constructing a highly interactive and student-centered quad and planning the development of a cutting edge Learning Commons.

"The entire La Salle community is coming together to rethink and reimagine how we do things in order to build on our strong foundation," said Hanycz. "This includes assessing what we do well and what we can do better, and building a framework to highlight our points of distinction and spires of excellence. La Salle's renaissance is well underway, and we will continue to boldly meet the calling of our mission."

Additional information on An Affordable Path for All can be found at lasalle.edu/tuitionreset.

About La Salle University La Salle University was established in 1863 through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which St. La Salle founded in 1680. La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values, and has consistently been recognized for providing exceptional value to students, most recently by Money magazine ("5th on the 2016 list of 50 Colleges That Add the Most Value"), Forbes ("America's Best Value College" list), and The Economist ("Top 100 Schools in the U.S. for Value"). Globally, the Lasallian educational network includes 1,000 schools (60 of which are institutions of higher education) serving 940,000 students in 80 countries.

SOURCE La Salle University

Related Links

http://www.lasalle.edu


DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lanyon, a global leader in meetings, events and travel software, has announced the speaker lineup for Lanyon Live, the company's annual customer conference. Phil Keoghan, host of the Emmy Award-winning show The Amazing Race, will be the keynote of the conference this year. Brian King of Marriott will be the Industry Keynote.

Keoghan, host of the Emmy Award-winning series The Amazing Race, has worked in over 100 countries around the world. At Lanyon Live, he will talk about his experiences both on The Amazing Race and in life. He will also discuss his views on how world travel brings people together.

The industry keynote address this year will be Brian King, Global Officer of Digital, Distribution, Revenue Management and Sales for Marriott International, Inc. As the hotel industry continues to transform, King will share his thoughts and vision on the future in a conversation with Lanyon Chief Marketing Officer Anthony Miller.

"Lanyon is leading the innovation and transformation cycle for the industry," said David Bonnette, CEO of Lanyon. "Lanyon Live is our opportunity to show how we are pushing the envelope, as we bring together the leaders in meetings, events, and travel for three days of discussion, learning, networking and fun."

Other general session speakers at Lanyon Live include:

Noelle LeVeaux , Chief Marketing Officer of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau

, Chief Marketing Officer of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau Michael Dominguez , Co-Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition

, Co-Chair of the Meetings Mean Business Coalition Paul Van Deventer , President and CEO of Meeting Professionals International

, President and CEO of Meeting Professionals International Michael McCormick , Executive Director and COO of the Global Business Travel Association

, Executive Director and COO of the Global Business Travel Association Sherrif Karamat, COO of the Professional Convention Management Association

Lanyon Live will be held October 25 - 27, 2016 at the Renaissance Hotel in Dallas, Texas. In addition to the keynote speakers and the industry panel featuring the heads of the major trade associations, Lanyon Live will feature education and breakout sessions tailored towards all aspects of the industry. The conference will also feature a state of the company address by Lanyon CEO David Bonnette and a product roadmap preview by Chief Technology Officer John Pulling. Registration for the event can be made by visiting www.LanyonLive.com and information can be found by following #LanyonLive on Twitter.

About Lanyon

Lanyon believes that when people get together amazing things can happen, relationships are built and business gets done. That's why we've created the industry's leading cloud-based software for managing corporate meetings, events and travel programs. From a one-to-one sales meeting, employee training or a flagship customer conference, Lanyon's unmatched software  and the data it provides  helps thousands of organizations and hotels around the world better engage their customers, reduce costs and grow revenues. For more information, visit www.lanyon.com and connect with us on Twitter @Lanyon.

SOURCE Lanyon

Related Links

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LONDON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This research study analyzes the market for large-scale LNG terminals in terms of throughput (MMTPA). The large-scale LNG terminals market has been segmented on the basis of technology and geography. The regional segment has been further divided into 12 sub-segments that comprise seven countries which are major players in the global large-scale LNG terminals market. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year while all forecasts have been given for the 20152023 period. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level for the 20142023 period. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the large-scale LNG terminals business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global large-scale LNG terminals market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive industry analysis of the global large-scale LNG terminals market with the help of Porter's Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the structure and profitability of the global large-scale LNG terminals market. The forces analyzed are the bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.



The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the large-scale LNG terminals business globally. There are currently numerous drivers for the large-scale LNG terminals market. One of the most prominent drivers is preference of LNG as an alternative fuel source by large long haul vehicle fleet owners. Apart from this, increasing consumption of LNG due to environmental benefits over other fuels is expected to increase the demand for large-scale LNG terminals in the near future. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the large-scale LNG terminals market on the basis of geography. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market in different regions.



The large-scale LNG terminals market was further segmented on the basis of technology into liquefaction and regasification. Both the technology segments were further sub-divided on the basis of site into onshore and offshore. The large-scale LNG terminals market was analyzed across five geographies: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa. Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the large-scale LNG terminals market. Key market participants in the large-scale LNG terminals market include Linde AG, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Santos Limited, Chevron Corporation, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), Statoil ASA, ConocoPhillips Company, Gasum Oy, Rosneft, and Nippon Gas Co. Ltd. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments.



Large-scale LNG Terminals Market: By Technology



Liquefaction

Onshore

Offshore

Regasification

Onshore

Offshore

Large-scale LNG Terminals Market: By Region



North America

U.S.

Rest of North America

Asia Pacific

Indonesia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Europe

Russia

Spain

Rest of Europe

South America

Peru

Rest of South America

Middle East & Africa

Qatar

Nigeria

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

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Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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BALLERUP, Denmark, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LiqTech International, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LIQT) ("LiqTech") is pleased to announce that the Company has received an order for silicon carbide diesel particulate filters from Kailong High Technology ("Kailong") for $2,360,000 as part of the framework agreement made between the parties earlier this year.

The order is the second order from Kailong and the first order after LiqTech and Kailong have signed a Letter of Intent to establish a Joint Venture for production of silicon carbide filters in China. We expect to commence initial deliveries in late 2016.

Zang Zhicheng, Chairman of Kailong stated: "Kailong is very excited of the potential of the Joint Venture in China and we believe that there is a significant potential for the new Kailong SCR Systems and LiqTech Silicon Carbide Diesel Particulate Filters. We have presented the new systems to some of our customers and they are now starting to place the first orders for these products.

We believe that in starting to fulfill orders, Kailong will have the benefit of being one of the first companies to deliver After Treatment Systems that comply with the new Chinese emission standards."

Aldo Petersen, Chairman of LiqTech stated: "We are very pleased to receive the second order from Kailong. We are impressed on how fast Kailong is ready to serve the Chinese market."

ABOUT LIQTECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.

LiqTech International, Inc., a Nevada corporation, is a clean technology company that for more than a decade has developed and provided state-of-the-art technologies for gas and liquid purification using ceramic silicon carbide filters, particularly highly specialized filters for the control of soot exhaust particles from diesel engines and for liquid filtration. Using nanotechnology, LiqTech develops products using proprietary silicon carbide technology. LiqTech's products are based on unique silicon carbide membranes, which facilitate new applications and improve existing technologies. In particular, LiqTech Systems A/S (www.provital.dk), the Company's subsidiary, has developed a new standard of water filtration technology to meet the ever increasing demand for higher water quality. By incorporating LiqTech's SiC liquid membrane technology with its longstanding systems design experience and capabilities it offers solutions to the most difficult water pollution problem.

For more information, please visit www.liqtech.com

Follow LiqTech on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/liqtech-international

Follow LiqTech on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiqTech

Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in the our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligation to update any forward- looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.



CONTACT:



Aldo Petersen, Chairman,

+45 2390 0000, [email protected]

Sune Mathiesen, CEO

+45 5197 0908, [email protected]



SOURCE LiqTech International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.liqtech.com


SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Victoria Martin filed a claim for damages against the University of Washington Medical Center (UW Medicine), after she contracted Legionnaires' disease following a heart transplant and hospitalization at the medical center last month.

Martin, 32, underwent a successful heart transplant at UW Medicine on Aug. 8, 2016. She was then diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease, a serious form of pneumonia, which required her to remain in the intensive care unit for several weeks to treat serious complications from the disease.

Martin is one of five cases in a recent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease among patients treated at UW Medicine. Her case was reported on Aug. 26; another woman who died on Aug. 27 was found to have a Legionella infection during an autopsy; reports of a 50-year-old man with the disease surfaced on Sept. 6 and he died on Sept. 8; the case of a man in his 40s was reported on Sept. 16; and the latest case of a woman in her 50s was reported on Sept. 25.

"The past decade of my life has been consumed by heart failure, which I've fought hard to overcome," Martin said. "Now, just when I've been blessed to receive the gift of life through a transplant, it's unimaginable to run head-on into something preventable like Legionnaires' disease."

Media reports suggest that Martin's Legionella infection could have been caused by any number of known transmission points. Experts have found Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, in an ice machine and sinks in the medical center's Cascade Tower, where Martin stayed as an inpatient.

In addition, three CardioQuip machines used to heat and cool patients during heart surgery also tested positive for Legionella. Physicians used a heating-cooling machine during Martin's heart transplant, but it is not yet clear whether it was one of those infected with the bacteria.

By filing a claim form, Martin is launching a mandatory 60-day waiting period before she can file a lawsuit against UW Medicine, a public institution. The notice will allow UW Medicine to further investigate what happened.

"We are working to uncover the truth  whether a medical device was involved, whether UW Medicine followed protocol for sterilization and cleaning, and whether the device manufacturer was aware of the issue," said Ralph Brindley of Luvera Law Firm, the attorney representing Martin. "We don't know why care providers and manufacturers can't keep these infection breweries out of the operating room, but we're going to find out."

A resident of Vancouver, Wash., Martin experienced total heart failure when she was 21, and began using an artificial heart pump two years prior to her heart transplant. After she became eligible for a transplant, her care team found a match relatively quickly  but the results of that transplant have unfortunately been mixed, at best. In addition to her infection, Martin became blind in one eye as a result of the transplant, unrelated to the Legionnaires' disease. She continues to receive care at UW Medicine.

"Victoria is an exceptionally strong person, and the fight of her life will continue," Brindley said. "Sadly, she's not alone  her experience serves as a warning to patients and providers that hospital-acquired infections are an ongoing threat, and the industry needs to dramatically increase its safety measures."

About Luvera Law Firm:

Luvera Law Firm is a nationally recognized firm, with high standards of ethical conduct. The firm specializes in medical malpractice, brain injury, death and other major damage cases, and seeks justice for clients as well as positive changes in corporate and governmental behavior. Find more at: www.luveralawfirm.com

Media Contact:

Brendan Hughes

206.466.2707

[email protected]

SOURCE Luvera Law Firm

Related Links

http://www.luveralawfirm.com


PUNE, India, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Managed Services Market by Managed Data Center (Hosting, Colocation), Managed Infrastructure (Print Services, Desktop), Managed Networking (Remote Monitoring, MPLS, & VPN), Managed Information, Mobility, Communications, & Security - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to grow from USD 145.33 Billion in 2016 to USD 242.45 Billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.8% during the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 97 market data Tables and 62 Figures spread through 196 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Managed Services Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/managed-services-market-1141.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The major forces driving the Managed Services Market include flexibility to match custom requirements, continuous upsurge in dependency over heterogeneous networks, and persistent rise in the complexity of technological solutions.

Managed data center is the largest segment in the Managed Services Market

Every company essentially requires data centres for their business operations. Managed data center is the backbone for enterprises to develop their businesses and remain competitive. In the phase of increasing start-ups, there is upsurge in the use of data, owing to which data centres are increasing. To manage this huge amount of data and its complexity, managed data centres have become an essential requirement.

Managed mobility is expected to be the most promising segment during the forecast period

The growth of managed mobility is driven by the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend, which refers to permitting employees to bring personally owned devices. This segment is expected to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. Various factors such as growing consumption in productivity applications, workforce decentralization, globalization of business, prominence of cloud-based enterprise mobility management and robust environment for smartphones is promoting the adoption of managed mobility.

Ask for Sample Pages @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=1141

North America is expected to be the biggest contributor to the Managed Services Market

North America provides suitable environment for start-ups and Small and Medium businesses (SMBs) in terms of government regulations and compliance. Owing to this, enterprises are growing rapidly and have heavy demand for managed services in the region. Macroeconomic uncertainty in Europe is forcing companies to invest more in North America which is also a driver for this market.

In addition, the Managed Services Market remains competitive with the presence of a large number of vendors such as IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, Ericsson Corporation, and Accenture Plc. The report also encompasses different strategies, such as merger & acquisition, partnership & collaboration, and product development, adopted by major players to increase their market share.

Browse Related Reports

Managed Mobility Services Market by Function (Device Management, Application Management, Security Management, and Maintenance & Support), by Organization Size (SME and Enterprise), Industry Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2021

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/managed-mobility-service-market-176912020.html

Managed Security Services Market by Service Type, Organization Size (Small and Medium Enterprises, Large Enterprises), Deployment (Cloud Deployment and in-Premises Deployment), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/managed-security-services-market-5918403.html

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M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.

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Markets and Markets

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
SAN MATEO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketo, Inc., is pleased to announce that registration for the Marketing Nation Summit, the premier industry event for anyone involved in digital marketing and customer engagement, is now open. Registrants are urged to take advantage of super early bird pricing, as well as the call for Revvie Award submissions, speaking applications, sponsorship packages, VIP trip giveaway, and more. Hosted by Marketo, the Marketing Nation Summit will take place at Moscone West in San Francisco from April 23-26, 2017.

Each year, the Marketing Nation Summit brings together the best and brightest minds in the digital transformation of marketing, advertising, IT, services, and beyond. Cutting-edge thought leadership, industry best-practices, and unparalleled networking opportunities inspire attendees to rethink the way their businesses interact with customers to drive results that matter. Last year's event, hosted in Las Vegas, had more than 6,000 attendees, 100 educational sessions, and 115 sponsors.

Exciting news and updates for this year include:

Super Early Bird Registration: Now through October 31 , attendees can lock in the best prices for full conference passes, which include the Marketing Nation Summit keynotes, 100+ educational sessions, access to the expo hall and lounges, daily networking happy hours, meals, and the Marketing Nation Gala. Rates increase by $200 on November 1 . To register, click here.

Now through , attendees can lock in the best prices for full conference passes, which include the Marketing Nation Summit keynotes, 100+ educational sessions, access to the expo hall and lounges, daily networking happy hours, meals, and the Marketing Nation Gala. Rates increase by on . To register, click here. Call for Revvies: Each year, the Revvie Awards highlight the Marketo customers, partners, and individual marketers who have dramatically impacted revenue and driven stronger customer relationships through the Marketo platform. In honor of the Marketing Nation's legacy of innovation, this year's competition will include a "Nation's Choice" category for the most out-of-the-box entries. The deadline to submit for one of the 14 categories is January 27, 2017 . Click here to learn more and enter.

Each year, the Revvie Awards highlight the Marketo customers, partners, and individual marketers who have dramatically impacted revenue and driven stronger customer relationships through the Marketo platform. In honor of the Marketing Nation's legacy of innovation, this year's competition will include a "Nation's Choice" category for the most out-of-the-box entries. The deadline to submit for one of the 14 categories is . Click here to learn more and enter. Call for Sponsors: Marketo partners and agencies are invited to sponsor the Marketing Nation Summit 2017, an unparalleled way to build brand awareness among Marketo customers, prospects, and key industry thought leaders. There are a limited number of sponsorships spots available at seven different levels. Click here for additional details.

Marketo partners and agencies are invited to sponsor the Marketing Nation Summit 2017, an unparalleled way to build brand awareness among Marketo customers, prospects, and key industry thought leaders. There are a limited number of sponsorships spots available at seven different levels. Click here for additional details. Call for Speakers: All innovators, visionaries, and leaders are welcome to submit to speak at the Marketing Nation Summit. Attendees are looking for actionable expertise that they can bring back to their own organizations on topics such as account-based marketing, women in technology, the marketing technology of the future, and more. The deadline for submissions is October 21, 2016 . Click here to get started.

All innovators, visionaries, and leaders are welcome to submit to speak at the Marketing Nation Summit. Attendees are looking for actionable expertise that they can bring back to their own organizations on topics such as account-based marketing, women in technology, the marketing technology of the future, and more. The deadline for submissions is . Click here to get started. Win a Trip: Two lucky winners will receive a fully loaded VIP trip to Summit 2017 (worth $3,500!). The experience will include full VIP access to the event, optional Marketo certification, roundtrip flights to San Francisco , a $100 Visa gift card, and an upgraded hotel room. Register to enter here.

To learn more about the Marketing Nation Summit, click here.

About Marketo

Marketo provides the leading engagement marketing software and solutions designed to help marketers develop long-term relationships with their customers - from acquisition to advocacy. Marketo is built for marketers, by marketers and is setting the innovation agenda for marketing technology. Marketo puts Marketing First. Headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with offices around the world, Marketo serves as a strategic partner to large enterprise and fast-growing small companies across a wide variety of industries. To learn more about Marketo's Engagement Marketing Platform, LaunchPoint partner ecosystem, and the vast community that is the Marketo Marketing Nation, visit www.marketo.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070917/AQM011LOGO

SOURCE Marketo, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Inkling today announced that McDonald's has deployed its mobile platform to standardize and streamline restaurant operations across the US and Canada. By eliminating printed paper, PDF and Word files, Inkling enables the real-time delivery of standard operating procedures to over 14,500 locations. Inkling today also announced major platform enhancements to support the use of mobile devices in retail and restaurant environments. The new release includes a dynamic Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) app for store managers that digitizes paper-based processes and procedures. Additional capabilities released today include support for multilingual work environments and richer analytics around store performance.

Today, over 82% of employees still use some paper-based job aids to do their work. The remainder relies on static, often out-of-date policy and procedure documents posted on outdated enterprise portals in the cloud. Owners of these mission-critical documents lack data about their use in the workplace, while out-of-date versions continue to circulate, creating operational inconsistency.

Enterprises use Inkling to deliver policies and procedures as continuously updated dynamic documents. These living documents behave more like consumer apps and engage the user with videos, interactive simulations, dynamic forms and checklists. In contrast, Word and PDF files deliver static and passive experiences. Inkling's authoring platform allows business users to create dynamic documents with no technical know-how.

Today's release includes the first in a series of apps reflecting common restaurant and retail procedures, including store walks, employee onboarding, health and safety checks, and general store operations. By delivering operational consistency, Inkling's customers drive exceptional customer experiences. Today's release also includes additional platform enhancements to better support complex operations across thousands of stores and millions of employees.

Today's release includes the following new capabilities:

Dynamic Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) App: This all-new app lets retail operations teams create and deploy mission-critical policies and procedures for store managers, like store walks, temperature checks, and other common tasks. The app includes drag-and-drop assembly of elements like store maps, process checklists, and quizzes. [See Included Media]

This all-new app lets retail operations teams create and deploy mission-critical policies and procedures for store managers, like store walks, temperature checks, and other common tasks. The app includes drag-and-drop assembly of elements like store maps, process checklists, and quizzes. [See Included Media] Support for multilingual work environments: Inkling now seamlessly manages multiple languages within the app, allowing end users to access policies, procedures, and training materials in the language of their choice without extra logins, settings changes or downloads. [See Included Media]

Inkling now seamlessly manages multiple languages within the app, allowing end users to access policies, procedures, and training materials in the language of their choice without extra logins, settings changes or downloads. [See Included Media] User- and store-level analytics: Inkling now integrates with off-the-shelf business intelligence (BI) tools like Google Data Studio and Tableau to provide user-by-user and, in the case of retail and restaurants, store-by-store data to drive business performance insights. [See Included Media]

Inkling now integrates with off-the-shelf business intelligence (BI) tools like Google Data Studio and Tableau to provide user-by-user and, in the case of retail and restaurants, store-by-store data to drive business performance insights. [See Included Media] Advanced Document Collaboration: Inkling's built-in document editing environment now supports integrated commenting, editing, and task assignment, including an infinite document revision history stored in the cloud. [See Included Media]

Inkling's built-in document editing environment now supports integrated commenting, editing, and task assignment, including an infinite document revision history stored in the cloud. [See Included Media] Predictive search: Inkling now provides user-level search indexes that give individual users as-you-type suggestions based on your personal document library.

"Inkling is changing the way we enable learning for our restaurant operators and crew members," said Rob Lauber, Chief Learning Officer at McDonald's. "By moving our operating content to this platform, we're eliminating costs, improving the employee experience, and getting valuable data about how we're helping our operators learn and succeed."

McDonald's is now deploying Inkling to its store operators and their over 750,000 restaurant workers across the US and Canada.

Although the Inkling platform is used by an array of industries, today's release targets the vast untapped potential of mobile devices in retail and restaurant environments. For the first time, retail operators can centrally develop and deploy operating materials to mobile devices in the field with one-click global updates. Store activity data translates into unique and novel business insights that drive store performance.

About Inkling Systems, Inc.

Inkling is on a mission to transform the way people work. Founded in 2009 and backed by Sequoia Capital, Inkling's operations platform brings policies and procedures to life for the deskless worker. Employees today expect to go online to find accurate and compelling information on how to do their job, yet employers still ship paper binders or static PDF and Word files. Enterprises use Inkling to deliver policies and procedures in the form of dynamic documents. These documents behave more like consumer apps and engage the user with videos, interactive simulations, dynamic forms and checklists. Employees rely on Inkling to deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151021/279103LOGO

SOURCE Inkling
UNION CITY, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- mOasis (www.mOasisGel.com), announced that lab testing results have validated grower feedback that using its BountiGel soil amendment preserves nitrate levels around a plant's root systems.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412226LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412227LOGO

Nitrate moving off site, either through run-off or leaching, is one of the major issues affecting production agriculture. From the Great Lakes, to the Chesapeake Bay, to the Gulf of Mexico, and to municipal and private wells in the Midwest, off site movement of nitrogen and other fertilizers is threatening water supplies globally.

Growers throughout California, Arizona and Mexico are incorporating BountiGel into their operations, where the product has enabled irrigation reductions of up to 20% and yield increases of 10% or more. Additionally, many growers have reported that in addition to their water savings, they are applying less nitrogen at the same time, something mOasis validated in the recent lab testing.

Dr. Nai-Hong Li, Chief Science Officer of mOasis, stated, "We're very pleased to confirm in lab tests what our customers have been telling us in the field; BountiGel helps retain nitrates around the plant's root system." Dr. Li's lab findings demonstrated that in commercial production simulated soil column tests, soil treated with BountiGel had average root zone nitrate levels 268% higher than in untreated soil.

About mOasis

Based in Union City, CA, mOasis specializes in the application of science to create innovative products which address current challenges in agriculture. Through advanced, proprietary chemistry incorporated into the Company's Aquamer technology, the Company manufactures BountiGel, a nontoxic soil additive that allows growers to optimize water resources for maximized crop yields and water conservation. BountiGel holds excess water near the seeds or roots and releases it as soil dries resulting in less plant stress and significantly higher crop yields while reducing water needs. The company is also exploring broader applications of the technology into seed treatments, as well as nutrient and pesticide retention applications. The company's vision is to promote economic and environmental sustainability anywhere water is used globally. For more information, please visit http://www.mOasisGel.com

Contact:

Steven R Hartmeier

mOasis Inc.

Email

855-698-9616

SOURCE mOasis

Related Links

http://moasisgel.com


"We couldn't be more proud to be associated with the National Museum of African American History and Culture," said Jim Clerkin, President and CEO of Moet Hennessy North America. "For over 200 years, Moet Hennessy and its global brands have been connecting with a dynamic cross-section of consumers, not just through our events, but with our partnerships and programs. As part of our heritage, we continuously aim to create a unifying message of inclusion and provide progressive leadership in the American marketplace."

During the celebrations, Hennessy, Belvedere and Moet & Chandon along with a selection of other Moet Hennessy USA products, were featured and served at all of the museum's grand opening festivities including the Donor's Gala, The Smithsonian National Board Gala, and The Official After Party. Additionally, Moet Hennessy will be permanently recognized as a Major Contributor of the NMAAHC with an etching of the company's name that will appear on the building in perpetuity.

Moet Hennessy USA's Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Brands, Rodney Williams, stated, "Our brands have always aligned with like-minded partners, and the highly anticipated opening of the NMAAHC is an example of visionary efforts that illuminate and inform audiences about key elements in our American history. Since 1765, Hennessy Cognac has been connecting with cultures from around the world and represents a symbol of the dreams and ideas that people from all walks of life share together."

Williams continued, "Belvedere Vodka's recent partnership with South African artist Esther Mahlangu illustrates our commitment to creating alliances that build and promote shared values among communities and cultures from around the world. Our new partnership with the NMAAHC reflects that commitment."

About Moet Hennessy USA

MOET HENNESSY USA is the leading importer and marketer of luxury wines, spirits and champagnes in the U.S. The Moet Hennessy portfolio includes renowned brands such as: Hennessy Cognac; Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Ruinart and Krug champagnes; Belvedere vodka; Glenmorangie and Ardbeg single malt Scotch whiskies; and fine wines, including Cheval des Andes, Terrazas de Los Andes, Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay, Newton Vineyard, Smoke Tree and Domaine Chandon California sparkling, among others. Moet Hennessy has a strong consumer focus with an uncompromising commitment to building luxury brands.

About National Museum of African American History and Culture

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts. Nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members of the museum. When the NMAAHC opened on September 24, 2016, it will be the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. www.nmaahc.si.edu

For Moet Hennessy USA:

Irina Manoliu / [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412035

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412043

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412044



SOURCE Moet Hennessy USA

Related Links

http://www.nmaahc.si.edu


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- History was made Friday, September 23, when Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj visited Philadelphia and was hosted by The Philadelphia Orchestra, the first visit by a foreign elected leader to a U.S. city at the exclusive invitation of an arts organization.

Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin (left) greets Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj prior to the Orchestra's matinee concert while Orchestra President & CEO Allison Vulgamore looks on. Yannick Nezet-Seguin and the Orchestra surprised the president by opening the concert with the Mongolian National Anthem. (Photo: Jessica Griffin/Philadelphia Orchestra)

The Mongolian delegation was welcomed at City Hall by elected officials including Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who declared September 23 Mongolia-Philadelphia Friendship Day. "We are proud to have The Philadelphia Orchestra serve as ambassadors of our city during their annual international tours and are honored to welcome President Elbegdorj and the Mongolian delegation to Philadelphia," Mayor Kenney said.

The visit was a rare instance of a visit by a democratically elected leader of a crucial U.S. ally to the City of Philadelphia. This elicited tremendous interest in Washington, with a description of the visit read into the Congressional Record (the first such recognition for an orchestra on the floor of the Senate) and a letter to the Orchestra from Secretary of State John Kerry, his first letter of praise to an arts organization as secretary.

This day-long visit marked a significant step forward in U.S.-Mongolia bilateral relations and celebrated The Philadelphia Orchestra's June trip to Mongolia for concerts, residency activities, and special events in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, when it will become the first Western orchestra ever to perform in Mongolia.

The Orchestra delegation will constitute the largest non-military/non-government American group to visit Mongolia in over 30 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Prior to the Orchestra's matinee performance, attended by President Elbegdorj, Philadelphia Orchestra musiciansConcertmaster David Kim, Principal Second Violin Kimberly Fisher, Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang, and Principal Cello Hai-Ye Niperformed in the president's honor.

The visit also illustrated the influence of music as a powerful instrument of cultural diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding, and the broadening recognition of The Philadelphia Orchestra's world-leading and sustained commitment to people-to-people diplomacy, globally representing the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S.

"All of us with The Philadelphia Orchestra believe deeply and whole-heartedly in the power of people-to-people diplomacy, and we are excited about the new artistic and cultural adventure that awaits us in Mongolia," Allison Vulgamore, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra said.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412558

SOURCE Philadelphia Orchestra Association

Related Links

http://www.philorch.org


FREEHOLD, N.J., Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation (NYSE: MNR) announced that it will present to the Philadelphia Securities Association on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. The Forum will be held at the Union League of Philadelphia located in Philadelphia, PA.

Michael P. Landy, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present an overview of the Company followed by a question and answer session. It is a luncheon meeting that will start at 11:30am ET. The presentation will be available at the Company's website www.mreic.reit on the homepage.

Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation, founded in 1968 is one of the oldest public equity REITs in the U.S. The Company specializes in single-tenant, net-leased industrial properties, subject to long-term leases, primarily to investment grade tenants. Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation is a fully integrated and self-managed real estate company, whose portfolio consists of ninety-nine properties located in thirty states, containing approximately 16.0 million rentable square feet. In addition, the Company owns a portfolio of REIT securities.

SOURCE Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation

Related Links

http://mreic.com/


HOUSTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A leading member of the Scottish Parliament has called for an investigation of Boston Scientific Corp.'s surgical mesh devices after reviewing what he called "deeply disturbing" evidence collected by Houston-based Mostyn Law.

Steve and Amber Mostyn, the firm's founders, presented their findings to Member of Parliament Neil Findlay during a meeting last week in Scotland. Mostyn Law has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit in the U.S., accusing Boston Scientific of using counterfeit plastic resin from China in vaginal mesh implants used to treat incontinence and pelvic organ problems in women.

Findlay, who chairs the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee, joined Steve Mostyn at a news conference in Edinburgh with a group of women who have suffered complications from the implants. The lawmaker called the allegations against Boston Scientific "deeply, deeply disturbing" and urged Scottish authorities to launch a criminal investigation.

"Our trip to Scotland provided more evidence that Boston Scientific's reckless behavior has harmed women around the world. Justice in the U.S. legal system has the potential to help women everywhere," Steve Mostyn said. "The company's counterfeit mesh should be taken off the market immediately  in every country where women are exposed to its health risks."

Mostyn Law sued Boston Scientific in January in U.S. District Court in West Virginia under the Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) on behalf of women who have suffered severe discomfort, bleeding, infections, painful intercourse, urinary problems and other complications from the plastic mesh implants.

The class-action lawsuit cites internal emails detailing the company's efforts to find a Chinese supplier of plastic resin for its surgical mesh after the U.S. manufacturer declared that the material should be not used in the human body and stopped selling it for that purpose.

The emails and others information uncovered by the law firm alleged that Boston Scientific smuggled from China more than 37,000 pounds of unverified synthetic resin in 2011 and 2012 to make the mesh and failed to get FDA approval of the material.

The Food and Drug Administration announced in April that it is looking into the matter, after Mostyn Law petitioned the agency to recall Boston Scientific's surgical mesh products.

The Scottish government earlier suspended use of mesh implants pending an independent safety review. Procedures can take place for women who want to go ahead with surgery. More than 400 legal cases concerning the implants have been filed in Scottish courts.

For more information and copies of the federal RICO suit and related filings, see:

https://vaginalmeshclassaction.com/

The case is styled Stevens v. Boston Scientific Corp., EMAIL Plastic Raw Material Co., Proxy Biomedical Limited and Luxilon Industries NV, 2:16-0265, U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia (Charleston).

About Mostyn Law

The Houston-based firm is one of the country's leading civil litigation firms, headed by Steve Mostyn and Amber Anderson Mostyn. Their work has focused on representing clients who have been victims of negligence, bad faith or other wrongdoing by medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and others.

Steve, a graduate of the South Texas College of Law, is a founding member of the Texas Association of Consumer Lawyers and former president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Amber, a graduate of the University of Texas Law School in Austin, has been an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan Law School and at South Texas College of Law.

SOURCE Mostyn Law
MT PLEASANT, S.C., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of a record breaking summer in Real Estate sales, in which the company sold 281 homes and over 500 year to date, Jeff Cook Real Estate continues to grow with the opening of its Mt Pleasant location. It has also recently launched an Operations Center and expanded its West Ashley and Summerville offices.

The Mt Pleasant office, located at 311 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, serves as the firm's fourth sales office. Currently, the office houses a team of sixteen agents dedicated to servicing the Mt Pleasant area with their real estate needs.

"We are excited our Mt Pleasant team has a space that allows us to serve the Mt Pleasant community while continuing to grow," stated Owner, Jeff Cook. "From the inception of this company, our mission has been to empower the people around us and the entire community. We focus on how we can serve those looking to conduct real estate transactions and make that experience hassle free and pleasurable along the way," said Cook.

Cook, a Charleston native, has been the area's No. 1 selling residential real estate professional since 2011. He specializes in residential real estate in the Charleston, Summerville, West Ashley, Goose Creek and Mount Pleasant areas. Jeff also gives back 1% of the company's total revenue to the area yearly by donating to schools, community outreach programs and non-profits.

Jeff Cook is the only Charleston Realtor to be personally endorsed by Barbara Corcoran, the real estate mogul on ABC's Shark Tank and recently gained national notoriety on FOX News and CNN for his "Moving to Canada, We Can Sell Your Home" billboard that pictured both presidential candidates.

To learn more about Jeff Cook Real Estate or the Mt Pleasant real estate market, call 843-225-2002 or visit www.JeffCookRealEstate.com, which includes timely real estate area news as well as a home value feature that instantly provides your home's worth.

Jeff Cook Real Estate has been No. 1 in sales in Charleston since 2011. The team has been growing since 2015 and now includes over 100 members. The independent Charleston real estate company helped 555 families buy or sell a home last year and will help over 700 families in 2016.

SOURCE Jeff Cook Real Estate

Related Links

http://www.jeffcookrealestate.com


DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) congratulates Snead Discount Pharmacy in Snead, Ala. for being the longest running member in the state of Alabama. Snead Discount Pharmacy first became a member in 1985, and since then, has continued to be an active and engaged member, staying informed of the issues and communicating with their representatives in government.

"I believe it is our responsibility to be involved or live under the tyranny of others with no recourse," says John Gentry, owner of Snead Discount Pharmacy.

NWYC is an organization dedicated to giving small business owners a voice in our government, and giving them the unbiased, nonpartisan information they need to stay on top of the issues facing Americans today. NWYC informs and connects more than 20 million members to their representatives in Washington and gives them the tools to let their opinions be heard.

"Our duty to stay connected to our government is never more important than it is today," says Chris Adamson, CEO of National Write Your Congressman, "and it's people and businesses like John and Snead Discount Pharmacy that are ensuring our freedoms and prosperity through their engagement with their congress people and representatives."

About National Write Your Congressman

National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to unleashing the power and influence of small business of the U.S. economy and government. Since 1958, NWYC has provided business owners with unbiased information on pending legislation, from a team of researchers, who present both sides of issues so that voters can form an educated opinion. For more information, visit: https://www.nwyc.com/

SOURCE National Write Your Congressman

Related Links

http://www.nwyc.com


AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DisclosureSave, California's premier NHD provider, announced today the launch of their new mobile app, available for free from the App Store and on Google Play TM. A trusted NHD provider since 1999, the app is DisclosureSave's next step in offering customers a unique tool to better understand the natural hazard risk of properties across California.

Recognized as the NHD industry's innovation leader, DisclosureSave is excited to introduce its latest feature within the app. ListingCheck, a preview of all seven, state-level natural hazard disclosures, allows real estate professionals to run a preliminary check of a property's hazard risk. Agents can utilize the app's real-time geolocation function to obtain necessary information to properly list a home, right at the doorstep of the listing! Buyer's agents can better serve customers by instantly accessing a home's key natural hazard information while on property.

Users can also upgrade a ListingCheck to a fully compliant Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) report for complete disclosure of all hazards, including state, local and supplemental.

"We are all about innovation! The mobile app and ListingCheck provides groundbreaking efficiencies to listing and buyer agents. We are always looking to add more value to better meet the end need of our customers." said Emiley Parker, Marketing Manager of DisclosureSave.

DisclosureSave's mobile app combines the technology and risk mitigation experience of parent company Myriad Development, Inc. with industry knowledge to help customers enhance and better execute their own real estate business.

For more information on the DisclosureSave NHD Mobile application, visit https://www.disclosuresave.com/mobile/.

ABOUT DISCLOSURESAVE

DisclosureSave is a wholly owned subsidiary of Myriad Development, Inc. Myriad is a leading provider of underwriting decision support technology and information to the Property & Casualty, Government Agency and Real Estate Services markets for more than a decade. The company's core products focus on risk mitigation through the use of complex data and technical solutions. The company has been recognized by both Inc. Magazine and Deloitte as one of the Fastest 500 growing privately held companies in the nation.

Visit -- www.myriad-development.com and www.disclosuresave.com

Media Contact:

Emiley Parker

Marketing Manager

Myriad Development, Inc.

866-302-3262 ext. 4318

SOURCE DisclosureSave

Related Links

http://www.disclosuresave.com


By: Sara Bowman, Staff Writer, FinancialPress.com

BATON ROUGE, LA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Treatment for newly diagnosed prostate cancer remains controversial, largely due to the fact that the disease typically progresses very slowly, so selecting which therapy and when is a topic of debate. Today, early-stage prostate cancer patients have minimal options, mainly comprised to choosing between radiation, a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) or "active surveillance." Surgery and radiation are known to have side effects that can include incontinence and impotence, sometimes for prolonged periods of time. Designed to monitor for disease progression, active surveillance involves routine doctor visits for physical prostate exams, periodic biopsies, and blood tests to measure the level of prostate specific antigens (PSA).

A new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week, followed 1,643 localized-prostate cancer (meaning the cancer was confined to the prostate) patients in Britain (median age of 62) for a decade to evaluate outcomes of the different treatment regimens to provide some clarity on benefits. Patients in the study were randomized equally into groups for radiation, surgery or active surveillance. If disease progression was observed in patients in the active surveillance group, those patients had the option of surgery or radiation treatment.

In line with survival data from the American Cancer Society, study results showed that the 10-year survival rate was almost 99 percent, regardless of treatment plan. The patients are still being followed to analyze mortality rates beyond 10 years. 204 men experienced disease progression, with 112 of those patients in the monitoring group, versus 46 in each of the surgery and radiotherapy groups. 54 percent (291 out of 545) of the patients in surveillance group ended up having radical treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, brachytherapy or high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy), including 56 patients within nine months of starting the trial.

"This first-of-its-kind study is particularly important to our efforts, as it provided comparable information on outcomes and the value of the different treatment options," commented Dr. Jonathan Head, CEO at Baton Rouge-based OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB: OBMP), who was not involved with the study, in a phone conversation. OncBioMune is developing an immunotherapy cancer vaccine called ProscaVax that combines PSA with adjuvants interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to treat prostate cancer at various stages.

"Our goal is to provide a safe, effective therapeutic option for prostate cancer patients at any stage of disease, whether as a first-line therapy or in advanced disease," said Dr. Head. "In addition to over half of the active surveillance patients requiring radical treatment, the U.K. study data showed that about 6 percent of patients in the surgery and radiotherapy groups still required additional therapies and 14 percent of radiotherapy patients had rising PSA levels following therapy. Start extrapolating that data into the 1.1 million prostate cancer cases recorded globally in 2012 and you begin to realize the necessity and potential for new therapies to help these patients."

ProscaVax is designed to keep PSA levels in check. As noted in a recent patient testimonial video by Steve Karalekas, the vaccine did just that for him. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, Karalekas, a former White House staffer of President Richard Nixon, underwent a radical prostatectomy. Despite the surgery, his PSA levels continued to rise steadily and, on consult of a friend, turned to OncBioMune and ProscaVax. In the video, Karalekas explains the surprise of doctors at the National Cancer Institute that his PSA levels returned to normal following ProscaVax treatments.

"I am happy to say that 11 years later, I'm sitting before you in excellent health, no side effects, no issues, no problems and I'm in perfect health," said Karalekas in the video.

According to Dr. Head, about 40 prostate cancer patients have been treated with ProscaVax in clinical studies to date without any serious adverse events being reported as attributed to the vaccine.

Looking to the market opportunity in early-stage prostate cancer goes without mentioning patients with advanced, relapsed or refractory disease for which ProscaVax could be utilized as well. Like other cancers, as the disease progresses, chemotherapy often is the recommended course of treatment. Johnson & Johnson's oral drug Zytiga, which is approved for treating metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer in combination with prednisone for pancreatic cancer patients that have failed chemotherapy using docetaxel, was the seventh best selling cancer drug in the world in 2015, with sales of $2.23 billion.

Funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, ProscaVax is currently being evaluated in hormone-independent and hormone-naive prostate cancer patients with rising PSA levels in a Phase 1 clinical trial at the University of California-San Diego's Moores Cancer Center and Veterans Hospital in La Jolla, California. A Phase 2 trial for prostate cancer patients in the active surveillance category is being prepared for commencement in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center network of hospitals. South of the U.S. border, OncBioMune has partnered with Vitel Laboratorios, S.A. de C.V. for a Phase 2/3 study in Mexico in the same patient population as the UCSD study.

With the potential for the Mexican trial to serve as a registration study, OncBioMune is considering a merger with Vitel, disclosing this month that it is in discussions to acquire Vitel and its portfolio of drugs, some of which are approved or near commercialization in the Mexican market.

Financial Press Media Group, Inc. is a leading publisher of market news, commentary, proprietary research and videos from seasoned journalists, analysts and contributors covering the financial markets, specific industries and global economies. Leveraging our extensive distribution network and social media presence, we have cultivated a valuable audience of engaged market enthusiasts interested in all segments, which in turn delivers a variety of unique opportunities for industry partnerships, corporate communications and market exposure.

Legal Disclaimer: Financial Press Media Group, Inc. is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide, nor claims to provide, investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release to buy, sell or hold any securities. Investing intrinsically involves substantial risk and readers are reminded to consult an investment professional and complete their own due diligence, including SEC filings, when researching any companies mentioned in this release. This release is based upon publicly available information and, while vetted, is not considered to be all-inclusive or guaranteed to be free from errors. With respect to Section 17(B) of the Securities Act of 1933 and in the interest of full disclosure, we call the reader's attention to the fact that Financial Press Media Group, Inc. has received compensation from the companies mentioned in this release.

SOURCE OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfield Exploration Company (NYSE: NFX) today announced the closing on its previously-disclosed transactions to sell its producing oil and gas properties and undeveloped acreage in Texas. Combined proceeds from the sales were approximately $380 million.

The transactions included Newfield's unconventional assets in the Eagle Ford Shale and its conventional natural gas assets in south and west Texas. Current net daily production from the combined assets was approximately 12,700 BOEPD, of which approximately 35% was oil. The Eagle Ford package was sold to Protege Energy III LLC. The Company's conventional natural gas assets in South Texas were sold to an undisclosed party.

Newfield today reiterated its previous third quarter 2016 production guidance as the sales are expected to have an immaterial impact on its third quarter production. The Company plans to revise its full-year 2016 production expectations to reflect the sale of these assets along with the release of its third quarter financial and operating results on November 1, 2016.

Newfield Exploration Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Company is focused on U.S. resource plays and its principal areas of operation include the Mid-Continent and the Rocky Mountains. Newfield also has offshore oil developments in China.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project," "target," "goal," "plan," "should," "will," "predict," "guidance," "potential" or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Other than historical facts included in this news release, all information and statements, including but not limited to information regarding planned capital expenditures, estimated reserves, estimated production targets, drilling and development plans, the timing of production, planned capital expenditures, and other plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although, as of the date of this news release, Newfield believes that these expectations are reasonable, this information is based upon assumptions and anticipated results that are subject to numerous uncertainties and risks. Actual results may vary significantly from those anticipated due to many factors, including but not limited to commodity prices, drilling results, our liquidity and the availability of capital resources, operating risks, industry conditions, China and U.S. governmental regulations, financial counterparty risks, the prices of goods and services, the availability of drilling rigs and other support services, our ability to monetize assets and repay or refinance our existing indebtedness, our ability to successfully close asset transactions, labor conditions, severe weather conditions, and other operating risks. Please see Newfield's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for a discussion of other factors that may cause actual results to vary. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed herein or in Newfield's SEC filings could also have material adverse effects on actual results. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Unless legally required, Newfield undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For additional information, please contact Newfield's Investor Relations department.

Phone: 281-210-5321

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Newfield Exploration Company

Related Links

http://www.newfield.com


DUBLIN, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "North American Portable Humidifiers Market 2016" report to their offering.

The North American Portable Humidifier Market report includes market size, growth rates, market share information and revenue forecasts to 2022.

The study is a comprehensive analysis also including pricing trends, growth drivers, restraints, challenges, distribution channel trends, latest developments and company profiles. The scope covers Canada and the United States.

Portable Humidifier - Equipment that increases the humidity (moisture) level in a room or designated area. Humidification is necessary in colder climate to add moisture to the air in dry weather. For the purposes of this study, portable humidifiers refer to units that are often categorized for seasonal, pharmacy and baby purchases.

The distribution channels for portable humidifiers include pharmacies, drug stores, mass retailers, online, television direct, specialty stores, and co-op.

The product categories included are ultrasonic / cool mist, evaporative, warm mist portable humidifiers, as well as vaporizers and steam inhalers.

Companies featured include

Air-O-Swiss

Crane USA

Essick Air

Helen of Troy

Jarden

MyPurMist

Newell Brands

Plaston

Pure Guardian, Inc

Stadler Form

Vapore, LLC.

Key Topics Covered:

I. Scope of Research/Definitions

II. North American Portable Humidifier Market Data

a. Market Drivers

b. Market Restraints

c. Market Trends

- Licensed Product Sales Targeting Children

- Personal Humidifiers for with Water Bottle Attachment - Sonic Breathe

- Humidifier Accessories encourage Retail Customers

- Steam Inhalers Continue to Gain Prominence

- Advancement in Product Design & Technology

d. Pricing Trends

e. Market Share by Product Type

f. North American Portable Humidifier Market: Revenue Forecasts, 2015-2022

g. Canadian Portable Humidifier Market: Revenue Forecasts, 2015-2022

h. United States Portable Humidifier Market: Revenue Forecasts, 2015-2022

i. Market Share by Geography: Canada & United States

j. Retail Market Share Analysis: United States

k. Market Share Analysis by Distribution Channel

II. North American Portable Humidifier Market Data

l. Distribution Channel Trends:

m. Market Share Analysis by Manufacturer Revenue

n. Market Trends Summary

o. SWOT Analysis

III. Product & Supplier Details: North America

a. Supplier Landscape

1. Helen of Troy

2. Newell Brands / Jarden

3. Essick Air

4. Plaston / Air-O-Swiss

5. Crane USA

6. Stadler Form

7. Pure Guardian, Inc

8. Vapore, LLC. / MyPurMist

b. Latest Market Developments

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ss7vvm/north_american

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union (North Island) recently held the official opening of its 10th full-service San Diego branch in the newly renovated historic Mister A's building at 5th & Laurel.

North Island President and CEO Steve O'Connell was joined by Chris Ward, chief of staff to Senator Marty Block, representing the communities of San Diego's Third City Council District, and Jerry Sanders, president/CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event kicked off a week-long grand opening celebration with daily member raffles, prizes and giveaways, a Grand Prize drawing, free refreshments, and other community events.

"We're excited to respond to member requests to open our newest branch in one of San Diego's most dynamic areas," said O'Connell. "Our contemporary branch design reflects the local energy and style of this historic building and thriving area, with an open environment, teller pods instead of lines, a member lounge, and the latest self-service digital technology options. We invite members to visit our newest San Diego location as we continue to work to provide an extraordinary banking experience."

North Island's new branch provides a contemporary member experience that complements the mid-century modern style of one of San Diego's most recognizable landmarks. Its open floor plan features the latest interactive tablet services for members who prefer self-service technology, along with a full-service staff, member hospitality lounge, free WiFi, and easy parking and walking access in San Diego's most exciting revitalized urban area.

The North Island branch is located in the historic Mister A's building located at 2550 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Suite 100, in San Diego. Branch hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm; Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm; and Saturday, 9:00am-2:00pm.

Event Photo: https://www.northislandcu.com/sites/default/files/images/dsc_1319_5nl_ribbon_cutting_ceremony.jpg

Ribbon-cutting ceremony with (left to right) Jerry Sanders, president/CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; Chris Apostol, vice president and 5th & Laurel branch manager; North Island Credit Union President/CEO Steve O'Connell; Chris Ward, chief of staff to Senator Marty Block representing San Diego's Third City Council District; and Sherman Stocker, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce corporate relations manager.

About North Island Credit Union

North Island Credit Union is a member-focused financial services provider celebrating 75 years in San Diego. Originally founded as the Naval Air Station San Diego Federal Credit Union in 1940, North Island now operates under a community charter and offers services to all San Diegans, including military members and their families, as well as all civil service employees and their families, and businesses headquartered in San Diego County. North Island offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. North Island Credit Union has $1.1 billion in assets, 10 branches and 80,000 members countywide. More information is available at northislandcu.com.

SOURCE North Island Credit Union

Related Links

https://www.northislandcu.com


NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- NS1, the leading intelligent DNS and traffic management provider, announced today that it has raised more than $20 million in a Series B round led by Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners, with participation from Two Sigma Ventures and existing investors including Flybridge Capital Partners and Sigma Prime Ventures. As part of the funding, Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners' Jack Young will join NS1's board.

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Today's applications are increasingly dynamic and are deployed on distributed, automated infrastructure that shifts constantly to meet new workloads. These trends are driven by the demands of a global audience of users who have come to expect lightning-fast performance and rock-solid reliability in every interaction. NS1's technology empowers developers and enterprises to take advantage of these tectonic shifts in modern application architectures.

The NS1 platform dramatically improves application performance, operational efficiency and customer experience by intelligently and automatically routing traffic .

. Driven in real time by user, network, infrastructure and application telemetry, NS1 allows application developers to flexibly tune traffic according to specific business objectives.

by user, network, infrastructure and application telemetry, NS1 allows application developers to according to specific business objectives. With its API-first architecture and dozens of integrations, NS1 is a key enabling component for DevOps initiatives, including digital transformation, continuous delivery and automation across highly elastic architectures.

Since closing Series A financing, NS1 has hit several key milestones:

Achieved triple-digit year-over-year growth and added established market players like Yelp, LinkedIn and many more to its growing list of customers.

Launched two new products: Dedicated DNS - The first SaaS-based technology for delivering DNS and intelligent traffic management in private and hybrid networks, both on premises and in cloud environments. Pulsar - An advanced traffic management solution that leverages hyper-granular network performance data from across the Internet to make real-time traffic routing decisions.

The NS1 platform now handles hundreds of billions of queries per month, making it one of the largest providers of mission-critical DNS services in the world.

Increased headcount significantly and opened new headquarters in New York City's Silicon Alley, as well as offices in San Francisco and Singapore .

Jim Davis, senior analyst, service providers, 451 Research, said: "Every business is becoming a digital business, and those that do not successfully transform their business will likely face extinction. Application delivery is a key component of customer experience and digital engagement that, when done properly, will enable organizations to not just survive, but thrive."

Kris Beevers, co-founder and CEO, NS1, said: "Application architectures have changed dramatically in the last decade, with an increasingly significant focus on the delivery of dynamic, distributed and heavily automated applications. As a result, there is a massive opportunity to provide application developers with tools to manage performance and reliability, improve operational efficiency and more effectively direct traffic in real time as conditions change in the application infrastructure and on the internet."

Jack Young, partner, Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners, said: "The NS1 platform is a mission-critical component of some of the most visited websites and applications in the world. In a short time, they have achieved market acceptance by the leading players in the industry. The company has a vision to truly transform how modern applications are delivered, and we believe they are poised to successfully execute on that vision. DTCP looks forward to NS1's continued fast growth and we are excited to include them in our portfolio."

About NS1

NS1's intelligent DNS and traffic management platform, with its data-driven architecture and unique Filter Chain routing engine, is purpose-built for the most demanding, mission-critical applications on the Internet. NS1's comprehensive platform technology leverages infrastructure, application and network data to make intelligent routing decisions in real time, ensuring optimal application performance and reliability. NS1's customers include Yelp, LinkedIn, Imgur, MaxCDN, Collective Media and others. Visit ns1.com to learn more.

About Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners (DTCP)

Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners (DTCP) is Deutsche Telekom's investment management group. With approximately $2 billion under management and advisory, and a portfolio of over 70 companies, DTCP provides venture capital, private equity, and strategic advisory services to the technology, media and telecommunication sectors. Operating as a bridge between Europe, Silicon Valley and Israel, the Company connects people, capital, and ideas to accelerate innovation and provide value to its portfolio companies, its limited partners, and the connected world. @TelekomCapital

Editorial Contact:

Kim Dearborn

Nadel Phelan, Inc.

(831) 440-2407

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151215/296362LOGO

SOURCE NS1

Related Links

http://www.ns1.com


SAN FRANCISCO, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global optical coherence tomography (OCT) market is expected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing incidences of ocular diseases coupled with rising technological advancement in diagnostics is expected to boost the market for OCT based imaging devices. Furthermore, rising applications in cardiology, dermatology, oncology and other diseases is anticipated to support market growth over the forecast period.

Grand View Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/Grand View Research_ Inc_)

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Improvement in the design of the devices along with utility of advanced software is expected to enhance the healthcare provider's ability to accurately diagnose and manage chronic conditions. For instance, Optovue launched AngioVue Retina in June 2016, which is expected to provide ophthalmologist with a smooth integration of the optical coherence tomography angiography technology into the workflow.

Government support towards increased diagnostic rate is another vital impact rendering driver. For instance, the U.S. FDA have launched multiple programs to facilitate routine screening of geriatric patients, which forms a large portion of the target group. Availability of favorable reimbursement, is further expected to increase the diagnostic rate for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy, vitreomacular traction along with various other conditions.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Market Analysis By Technology (Time Domain Based, Frequency Domain Based, Spatially Encoded Frequency Domain Based), By Type (Catheter, Doppler OCT, Handheld, Tabletop), By Application (Ophthalmology, Cardiovascular, Oncology, Dermatology) And Segment Forecasts to 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/optical-coherence-tomography-oct-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

The time domain segment spearheaded the optical coherence tomography market in 2015, whereas, spatially encoded domain OCT is expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. This is the most advanced technology and finds application across various domains, thereby actively contributing to the market growth over the forecast period.

Ophthalmology forms the largest application segment and is expected to lose market share over the forecast period owing to the introduction of other application and their lucrative growth trend. For instance, application of these devices for dermatology imaging is predicted to be on rise over the next few years. The ability of OCT imaging devices to non-invasively provide 3D images up to 2-3 mm depth with higher resolution than ultrasound is expected to be the driver of this growth.

Asia Pacific region is predicted to witness the fastest growth by 2024 and hold over 25.0% of the market share. Presence of growth opportunities in regions such as Korea, China , India , Malaysia and others countries of South Asia are anticipated to be the vital impact rendering drivers. Furthermore, expansion of competitors and establishment of manufacturing units in the region are also anticipated to support growth.

region is predicted to witness the fastest growth by 2024 and hold over 25.0% of the market share. Presence of growth opportunities in regions such as Korea, , , and others countries of are anticipated to be the vital impact rendering drivers. Furthermore, expansion of competitors and establishment of manufacturing units in the region are also anticipated to support growth. Few of the key players include, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Topcon Medical Systems Inc., Optovue, Michelson Diagnostics Ltd., Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Novacam Technologies Inc., Agfa Healthcare and Thorlabs Inc.

Carl Zeiss is a prominent participant of the OCT industry with product portfolio varying for time domain to spatially encoded frequency domain based devices. Their product Cirrus HD- OCT 5000 launched in 2013, is highly popular among ophthalmic practice.

is a prominent participant of the OCT industry with product portfolio varying for time domain to spatially encoded frequency domain based devices. Their product Cirrus HD- launched in 2013, is highly popular among ophthalmic practice. Furthermore, the players are also developing modified components for these devices in order to meet the specific needs of clients. For instance, Thorlabs in August 2016 released, a polarization-dependent isolator and super luminescent diode which can be further customized.

Grand View Research has segmented the global OCT market on the basis of technology, type, application and region.

Global OCT Market by Technology, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million) Time Domain OCT (TDOCT) Frequency Domain OCT (FD-OCT) Spatial Encoded Frequency Domain OCT Fourier Domain OCT (FDOCT) Others

Global OCT Market by Type, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million) Catheter based OCT devices Doppler OCT devices Handheld OCT devices Tabletop OCT devices

Global OCT Market by Application, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million) Ophthalmology Cardiovascular Oncology Dermatology Others

OCT Market by Region, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million) North America U.S. Canada Europe UK Germany Asia Pacific Japan China Latin America Brazil Mexico MEA South Africa



Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Medical Imaging Systems Market- http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-imaging-systems-market

Autoimmune Disease Diagnostics Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/autoimmune-disease-diagnostics-industry

Asia Pacific PoC Diagnostics Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/asia-pacific-poc-diagnostics-market

Cell Line Development Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cell-line-development-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Read Our Blogs - legalworkshop.org, grandviewresearch.com/blogs/healthcare

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) today announced that it has received the final antitrust clearance approval necessary for the acquisition of NetSuite, Inc. (NYSE: N) from the U.S. Department of Justice. The all-cash tender offer for NetSuite at $109.00 per share, set to expire on October 6, 2016, will proceed as planned assuming the minimum required number of shares are tendered.

About Oracle

Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Additional Information

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. This communication is for informational purposes only. The tender offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from, or on behalf of, holders of shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the tender offer or the acceptance thereof would not comply with the laws of that jurisdiction. The tender offer is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and other offer materials) filed by Napa Acquisition Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on August 18, 2016, as amended from time to time. In addition, on August 18, 2016, NetSuite Inc. filed a Solicitation/Recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC related to the tender offer. Stockholders of NetSuite Inc. are urged to read these documents, all amendments thereto and other documents filed with the SEC carefully in their entirety because they contain important information about the tender offer. The tender offer statement and certain other offer documents, along with the Solicitation/Recommendation statement, will be made available to all stockholders of NetSuite Inc. at no expense to them. These documents are available at no charge through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The Offer to Purchase, related Letter of Transmittal, the Solicitation/Recommendation statement and other offering documents may also be obtained for free by contacting the Information Agent for the tender offer, Innisfree, M&A Incorporated, toll-free at 888-750-5834.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements about Oracle and NetSuite Inc., including statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Oracle's proposed acquisition of NetSuite Inc., anticipated customer benefits and general business outlook. When used in this document, the words "anticipates," "can," "will," "look forward to," "expected" and similar expressions and any other statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements. Any such statement may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Oracle or NetSuite Inc., that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, described, expressed or implied in this document due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that the transaction will not close or that the closing may be delayed, the anticipated synergies of the combined companies may not be achieved after closing, the combined operations may not be successfully integrated in a timely manner, if at all, general economic conditions in regions in which either company does business, and the possibility that Oracle or NetSuite Inc. may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of Oracle or NetSuite Inc. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Neither Oracle nor NetSuite Inc. is under any duty to update any of the information in this document.

In addition, please refer to the documents that Oracle and NetSuite Inc., respectively, file with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. These filings identify and address other important factors that could cause Oracle's and NetSuite Inc.'s respective operational and other results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements set forth in this document. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Neither Oracle nor NetSuite Inc. is under any duty to update any of the information in this document.

Safe Harbor

The following is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation.

SOURCE Oracle

Related Links

http://www.oracle.com


IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study conducted by the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) found that Allergan's California operations generated a combined annual economic activity in the state of approximately $6.35 billion and net economic impact of $3.45 billion. The economic impact is a direct result of the Company's strong influence on employment in the state, generating more than 16,600 direct, indirect and induced jobs, with annual total statewide labor income of ~$1.55 billion.

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The economic impact study, titled "The Economic Impact of Allergan on the California Economy," was conducted and developed by Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Adviser, at the Orange County Business Council.

"The findings of this study clearly showcase the value and leadership of Allergan within our local and state economies, adding significant economic impact and contribution to California's highly skilled labor force. Allergan's success is a testament to the importance of attracting and retaining strong, growing companies to Orange County, and Californiaensuring we have a growing, vibrant economy for years to come," Dr. Walrod said.

"Since our founding in Los Angeles in 1948, and throughout our history in Southern California, Allergan has been very proud of the significant impact we've had on this region and the State of California for nearly 70 years. Our more than 2,000 employees in California today, and the many that came before them, have discovered and developed some of the most innovative medicines and products in our industry. These medicines have had a profound impact on the care of patients in more than 100 countries around the world," said Brent Saunders, President and CEO of Allergan. "Allergan's rich history and impact for patients has not been achieved alone. Our success has been made possible by being in a supportive business environment  access to a highly skilled workforce, collaboration with leading medical professionals and institutions like the University of California at Irvine, and the unwavering support of local, state and federal elected officials and trade associations make Orange County and California a great business partner for companies like Allergan."

Additional findings from the OCBC study include:

Allergan's California operations generated annual total statewide labor income of approximately $1.55 billion , providing value added benefits of $3.45 billion to the state.

operations generated annual total statewide labor income of approximately , providing value added benefits of to the state. Allergan is a significant contributor to California state and local tax revenue. In 2016, combined taxes paid directly by Allergan in the state are expected to exceed $108 million .

state and local tax revenue. In 2016, combined taxes paid directly by Allergan in the state are expected to exceed . Allergan's California workforce earns annual compensation, including benefits, of more than $438 million in total compensation, with average annual compensation for Allergan employees of more than $200,000 , far exceeding the state's average annual wage of $55,260 .[1]

workforce earns annual compensation, including benefits, of more than in total compensation, with average annual compensation for Allergan employees of more than , far exceeding the state's average annual wage of .[1] The Allergan Foundation, a U.S.-based, private charitable foundation committed to providing a lasting and positive impact in the communities in which Allergan plc employees live and work, has a long history of providing charitable grants and philanthropy in the state. Between 2011 and 2016, the Foundation provided grants to more than 450 California organizations totaling more than $11 million .

"Allergan has been an integral part of the Orange County business and innovation ecosystem that has helped advance our economy," said Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe. "We have enjoyed a special relationship that has helped cultivate new companies and drive innovation utilizing our LaunchPad accelerator and deep expertise from the Allergan community. Together we will continue to build a robust ecosystem that will advance our business community and fuel this ecosystem that has made Orange County one of the best hubs for innovation in the U.S."

"California is one of the most vibrant biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystems in our nation. We are home to more than 145,000 people who work for biopharmaceutical companies responsible for delivering medical innovation that can improve lives for people around the world," said Diane Harkey, Vice-Chair, California State Board of Equalization. "It is important that we support the continued growth and success of this industry, with leading companies like Allergan, by ensuring a positive business landscape that allows them to thrive in discovering, developing and providing valuable, life-enhancing medicines and treatments for millions of Americans."

The full study is available via the following link: http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/allergan_california_the_economic_impact_report-sep_2016

About Allergan's California Operations

Allergan employs more than 2,000 highly skilled workers in the state of California. The Company's Irvine campus, which is its largest location globally, is home to employees supporting Allergan's commercial, research & development and administrative functions. Allergan opened its Irvine campus in 1971, and in 2010, the Company completed a substantial expansion of the campus to add a new research and development center to enhance its capabilities in bringing innovative treatments to patients around the world. Allergan also has employees based in additional location throughout the state, including Westlake Village, CA and South San Francisco, CA.

About Allergan plc

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model  Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices and biologic products for patients around the world.

Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.

Our Company's success is powered by our more than 15,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what it is right.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live healthier lives everyday.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

About Orange County Business Council (OCBC)

Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County's economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC serves member and investor businesses with nearly 250,000 employees and 2,000,000 worldwide. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America's sixth largest county. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org.

Allergan plc Forward-Looking Statement

Statements contained in this communication that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.



[1] California annual average compensation based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

CONTACT:

Media:

Mark Marmur

(862) 261-7558



SOURCE Allergan plc

Related Links

http://www.allergan.com


CHANUTE, Kan., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly formed Orizon Aerostructures has signed an agreement to purchase Spirit AeroSystems' Chanute operations, expanding on its June announcement to establish an aerospace manufacturing facility in Chanute, Kan. As part of the agreement, Spirit's Chanute statement of work will transition under the new company name Orizon Aerostructures  Chanute, Inc. Current Spirit employees in Chanute will transfer to Orizon as part of the divestiture. The transaction will take effect Sept. 30, 2016.

"On behalf of all of the associates of Orizon, we are grateful for the opportunity to purchase Spirit's Chanute facility and expand our investment in this region," said Charlie Newell, CEO for Orizon. "Making this transaction a 'win' for the City of Chanute was a priority for both Spirit and Orizon, and we are confident this transaction will create many new jobs. Further, that all of our customers will benefit from the work ethic and mechanical aptitude of the people of Southeastern Kansas."

"This agreement aligns with our fabrication strategy and will allow Spirit to better serve its customers through improved efficiencies while ensuring Spirit employees in Chanute transition to Orizon Aerostructures," said Ron Rabe, Spirit's senior vice president for operations. "The Spirit Chanute divestiture presents an opportunity for Orizon to grow its aerospace operations as part of Spirit's supply chain. We wish Orizon success in this venture and look forward to working with them along with the City of Chanute and the Kansas Department of Commerce to make this a smooth and successful transition."

About 35 Spirit employees are currently working at the Spirit Chanute site.

About Orizon Aerostructures

Orizon manufactures and supplies complex structural components and major sub-assemblies for leading airframe manufacturers in the commercial aerospace, military and defense, and general aviation industries. Orizon is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., with facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. More information can be found at the company's website: www.orizonaero.com

Media Contact:

Deb Poe

816-788-7803

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Orizon Aerostructures

Related Links

http://www.orizonaero.com


CAIRO, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - The first presidential debate wrapped up last night with no love loss between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and super business mogul Donald Trump. However, political activists have followed up with comments to escalate the argument, as the prolific PAC Man Cary Lee Peterson, an American lobbyist who weighed in for law enforcement and public safety issues back in 2014 after various urban community issues regarding the African and Hispanic American community, as discussed with reporters at New World Order Politics podcast this morning.

Cary Peterson comments, "Trump stated, Law and Order. I went to an inner-city junior high and senior high school in the 90's when crack and gang violence was on a high. Our local police are peace officers working for peace and prosperity in the community against the civil society; they should be protected and respected. I started writing a book in '14 based around the Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner issues, which provoked me to started a federal PAC for awareness on law enforcement and public safety in February 2015, and was sidetracked by the pro-Sanders committee liabilities."

Peterson continues to mention, "The fact is that the urban community issues are much like the inner-city high school I attended as a teenager. Who does a high school have to mitigate social issues among students (besides the principal) - counselors; social workers! What type of experience, degree, and training do these types of people possess? They're trained in courses and have college degrees that qualify them to deal with various types of characters, personalities, lifestyles, and demeanors; social services. Why don't our local law enforcement officers get this sort of training, and why is this not a requirement to become an authorized badge on the streets dealing with the general public? The issues in the community are Mickey Mouse. Get the funding availed from Fed to train the men and women risking their lives in the community, because its social services meets protect and serve 2.0. I'm lobbying for such a thing right now on The Hill. I'm not sure how this simple element or fact was overlooked from Jump Street. The military trains for global defense issues. Other departments train for relevant issues. Why are our peace officers on the street not trained sufficiently to deal with various mental and social issues that plague our society? Am I the other one smelling the latte? I doubt it. But I will be the first one to say it outright: fund and train our law enforcement property - we need social services training. It will cure the majority of our issues in the community. Men and women who are familiar with cultural trends and ways in Flathbush or South Chicago yet grew up in Utica, New York or Janesville, Wisconsin need to know the norm in these communities before hitting the street and doing confrontations with civilians possessing characters and personalities that they're not familiar with - case and point. Would the military drop a reserve off into the Gulf with no training on their culture or social element? Of course not!"

New World Order Politics recently interviewed Peterson about his past with Wall Street, diplomacy, and an infamous Bernie Sanders supporting PAC, which gained over 50,000 viewers in the past week. His recent interview this morning about his feelings about the first 2016 U.S. Presidential Debate show that there are still western patriotic figures alive in America that believe in more than war and greed, while interacting with the Gulf States and Asia. Peterson closes with comments saying "The debate was great and I am impressed by the feedback from both candidates. One is an expert in overall business affairs, domestic and international. The other is a veteran in foreign affairs and as a person who serves for diplomatic relations I can very much respect the feedback from Clinton in that topic."



There is definitely more to come with upcoming podcasts for New World Order Politics and the general public will be informed.

New World Order Politics is a webcast that focuses on global political issues that raise the unquestionable and ignored topics that many believe to be conspiracies or cover-ups generated by the evolution for new world order and those trying to stop it.

SOURCE New World Order Politics
DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leadership Network, in conjunction with Vanderbloemen Search Group, has just released the 2016 edition of its widely popular large-church salary report. Titled "12 Salary Trends Every Church Leader Should Know: 2016 Large Church Salary Study" authored by Warren Bird, Ph.D., the report offers the most comprehensive, cross-denominational financial perspective ever amassed about large churches in North America. Available at www.leadnet.org/salary.

The goal of the report is to help church leaders, especially those of innovative larger churches, who want to know "how do we compare against other churches similar to us?" This report focuses on the salaries of top-tier leadership of large churches, and includes information on budget, attendance, employee benefits, and other financial trends, including an international section on large churches in Canada.

How was the report compiled?

Responses came from 1,251 churches with weekly worship attendances ranging from over 30,000 down to 500 people.

"No one else has access to this many large churches, nor do they offer such in-depth insight on the overall findings and trends," says Dave Travis, CEO of Leadership Network.

What are the headlines?

Church size is the strongest predictor of pastor salaries, far more than geography, ethnicity, or other variables.

3.1% was the most recent pay raise given to executive staff.

49% of total church budget goes to staffing costs.

52% of churches spend 10% or more of their current church budget on ministry beyond their own congregation.

The report also contains an insightful Q&A section with Vanderbloemen Search Group, a premier executive search firm that conducts customized compensation analyses for churches and ministries around the world. "We partnered with Leadership Network because of their reputation as the leading organization to work cross-denominationally with North America's largest and fastest growing churches," says William Vanderbloemen, Founder and CEO, Vanderbloemen Search Group.

ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Leadership Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering innovation movements that activate the whole church to greater impact. Leadership Network serves over 200,000 leaders annually and has a track record of more than 30 years. www.leadnet.org.

ABOUT VANDERBLOEMEN SEARCH GROUP

Vanderbloemen is an executive search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries find their key staff. The firm provides church staffing, succession planning, and compensation analysis consulting services customized for each client's unique needs. www.vanderbloemen.com

Contact:

Warren Bird

[email protected]

SOURCE Leadership Network

Related Links

http://www.leadnet.org


HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) celebrated the winners of a statewide art contest, "Art: The Universal Language," during a ceremony and exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda.

"These artists are living the everyday lives that we want for our friends, neighbors, family members and ourselves," said DHS Secretary Ted Dallas. "They inspire us to pursue our dreams and continue to improve our skills."

The statewide contest was open to artists of all ages and disabilities. Artists submitted more than 440 drawings, paintings, photos, 3-D works, and mixed media pieces.

The art contest is a collaboration between DHS, The Arc of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association, Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

"Creating art takes talent, dedication, and commitment. One thing I appreciate about this contest is that it brings this talent to the forefront without consideration of disability," said Maureen Cronin, executive director of The Arc of Pennsylvania. "The Arc of PA is thrilled to keep supporting this exciting contest. It's been a privilege to see the caliber of work sent in by incredibly talented artists from across the state this year."

A photograph by teenager Helen Franz of Pittsburgh entitled Dying Flower was named the Best in Show.

Winning entries will be displayed in the rotunda during the ceremony and online here.

Media contact: Kait Gillis, 717-425-7606.

The winners in each category are:

Painting

12 and Under: Andrew LoChiatto of Allentown

13 to 17: Chris Carter-Flores of Langhorne

18 and Older: Gloria Domina of Allentown

Drawing

12 and Under: Savana McKnight of Mohnton

13 to 17: Amanda Aquilone of Langhorne

18 and Older: David Vasquez Jr. of Meadville

Photography

Age 12 and Under: Corey Smith of Erie

13 to 17: Helen Franz of Pittsburgh

18 and Older: Joseph Smith of Pittsburgh

3-D

Age 12 and Under: Ellie DeCoursey of Camp Hill

Age 13 to 17: Michael Campbell of Murrysville

Age 18 and Older: April Cross of Edwardsville

Mixed Media/Other

Age 12 and Under: Arron Rai of Pittsburgh

Age 13 to 17: Samantha McDowell of Washington

Age 18 and Older: Bonnie MacAllister of Philadelphia

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - When Palestinian fisherman Abu Mohammed came under pressure to become an informer for Israeli intelligence, the 45-year-old father of five took a radical decision - he quit fishing and became a builder. Working off the coast of Gaza, where Israel imposes restrictions preventing fishing boats going out more than six nautical miles, was already hard enough without Israel's security services trying to co-opt him, he said. According to the Al-Mezan Association, a Palestinian human rights group, 113 Gaza fishermen have been detained by Israel this year, compared with 41 in the same period of 2015. Those detained say there is also increased pressure - including the threat of losing their boats - to divulge information that might help Israel's security services. Gaza is run by Hamas, an Islamist group whose founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel, which it sees as occupying Palestinian land. The Israeli naval commander overseeing Gaza's coast confirmed around 70 fishermen have been detained this year. They were handed over to other bodies, including the Shin Bet intelligence agency, for questioning before being returned to Gaza, he said. "Our job is to look out for the enemy, having to deal with fishermen is a distraction for the forces," said the commander, who gave his name simply as Captain Guy. "We want them to make a living and we want to protect our vital interests." Shin Bet did not respond to a request for comment. For Abu Mohammed and others, the experience has left a lasting scar. "I was on the boat with relatives and friends when an Israeli naval vessel came close," he said, describing events earlier this year and declining to give his full name for fear of reprisals. "They fired at the boat and hit it, we stopped and they arrested us. They blindfolded us on the boat, tied our hands and took us for interrogation at a base in Ashkelon," he said, referring to a nearby Israeli city. There an Israeli security officer asked him for information about militants in his neighbourhood and said he would give him a chance to think. "In three days I will call you and I hope you cooperate," he says the officer told him. Scared and confused, Abu Mohammed says that when he was returned to Gaza he broke his phone's SIM card, handed himself over to a local security service and was unemployed for several months before joining friends in construction. "I preferred to starve rather than become a spy," he said. OVER-FISHED While there are around 4,000 fishermen in Gaza, making it one of the largest employers in the strip of 1.9 million people, only 500-700 fish regularly, either because business is too tough or they fear being detained. Under an interim peace deal, Gaza's fishermen were supposed to be allowed to trawl 20 nautical miles off the coast. But after Hamas seized control in 2007 following a brief civil war with rival Palestinian group Fatah, a range of three and sometimes six nautical miles was enforced. There have been periods of relaxation since, but for most of the past decade, the limit has remained the same, meaning the waters have become over-fished and depleted. Gaza now imports spawn from Israel and farms fish. "The past year is the worst, maybe not only in the past 10 years but in a 100 years," said Majed Abu Reyala, 41, who became a fisherman at the age of seven. "I have been in debt for the past four months, there is no work," he said. "It is not safe, someone who goes into the sea does not know whether he will make it out safely." Hisham Baker, chairman of Gaza's fishermen, said Israel's restrictions and what he called its blackmail had reached an unprecedented scale, putting the profession in danger. "Many fishermen have quit," he said. "And we are afraid many others may follow." (Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi in Gaza and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
ESPOO, Finland, September 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Picosun Oy, the leading provider of high quality industrial ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) technology, has patented a novel ALD nanolaminate to protect electronics such as smartphones, tablets, computers, and lighting devices from overheating.

Picosun Oy Logo (PRNewsFoto/Picosun Oy)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140528/689557 )



As both consumer and industrial electronics become faster, smaller, and more efficient day by day, overheating of the components such as batteries, microprocessors, and LEDs has become one of the key problems in the industry. Overheating leads to performance losses, failures in operation, and shortening of the device lifespan - and even to direct dangers, as heated batteries pose a risk of explosion.

Picosun's patented(*) 'phonon superhighway' nanolaminate coating conducts heat efficiently away from the device interior, decreasing its temperature even 20 degrees. The heat is distributed through the casing of the device, along its surface. The coating can be applied at low temperatures on large batches of items with fast and cost-efficient processing in Picosun's fully automated production ALD reactors.

"Our aim at Picosun is to utilize the ALD method not only to advance technological development, but also to improve the usability, safety, and lifetime of technical devices. Our new, patented nanolaminate coating addresses directly these challenges by solving one of the key problems in today's electronics - overheating of the components. Many world-leading electronics manufacturers have already expressed interest towards our invention. We are excited to present this novel ALD solution to our customers to help them improve the performance, reliability, and safety of their products," states Juhana Kostamo, Managing Director of Picosun.

(*)Application no. WO2016146881; "Heat-conductive ALD Coating in an Electrical Device"

Picosun provides the most advanced ALD thin film coating technology to enable the industrial leap into the future, with turn-key production solutions and unmatched expertise in the field. Today, PICOSUN ALD equipment are in daily manufacturing use in numerous major industries around the world. Picosun is based in Finland, with subsidiaries in North America, Singapore, Taiwan, China, and Japan, and a world-wide sales and support network. For more information visit http://www.picosun.com.

SOURCE Picosun Oy
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the rapid growth of Insurtech, Plug and Play Insurance has selected the top 23 startups to join their Innovation Platform. According to PwC, 74% of insurance companies believe some part of their business is at risk of being disrupted.

The 12-week program connects startups to some of world's largest insurance corporations. The official partners include Admiral Group, Aviva, Compare.com, Farmers Insurance, HDI, Maiden Re, Markel, Munich Re, Nationwide, Pronto Insurance, SOMPO Digital Lab, Talanx, The Hartford, Travelers, and USAA.

Plug and Play's venture arm initially looked at over 800 startups and narrowed that list down in collaboration with participating corporate partners. The remaining 33 startups attended Selection Day where they pitched their ideas in-person. Out of those finalists, 23 have been hand-picked to join the program for business development and the possibility of pilots, POCs, or strategic funding.

"Munich Re is proud to be the founding partner that helped create the first, highly successful insurance innovation platform in Silicon Valley. We are extremely pleased with the caliber of insurtech startups Plug and Play has sourced and signed up, and look forward to working with them as part of this prestigious program," says Robert Mozeika, Executive Innovation Strategy at Munich Re in Silicon Valley.

"Starting a program with 23 of the best Insurtech startups changing the industry is a great step forward for our innovation strategy," says Ali Safavi, Director of Plug and Play Insurance. "Having many major insurance partners and experts involved in the program distinguishes our selection process and leads to a comprehensive investment method for us."

Batch One includes the following startups:

Amodo connects insurers with the new generation of customers.

BetterView provides insurance companies with robust building and property data, powered by drones.

ClientDesk is a white-labelled consumer facing platform that helps agencies, agency-based insurers, and direct writers digitize their client experience and internal operations using web and mobile technologies.

Cover is a mobile insurance application that takes in a verified ID and a picture of property to bind insurance. They receive requests for car, home, jewelry, electronics, and pet coverage from throughout the US and Canada.

Cytora generates loss data from unstructured web text to help companies identify, quantify and price risk. Their data enables insurers to improve risk selection and pricing at the point of underwriting across perils such as supply chain disruption, fire and data breach.

DigitalGenius Human+AI Customer Service Platform brings practical applications of deep learning and artificial intelligence into customer service operations of leading companies.

Driveway smartphone telematics helps ordinary drivers become safer drivers and helps insurers find and reward them.

Dropin is On-Demand Live Video Platform for Policy Underwriting, Claims, and Retention.

Enigma lets you process and draw insights from encrypted data without decrypting it, by leveraging blockchain technology and other cryptographic techniques.

Inbenta is an AI-powered intelligent search and chat for omnichannel support and eCommerce.

Isaac Re is a marketplace for for insurance risks. These risks are uncorrelated with other financial markets, and offer superior risk-adjusted returns.

Livegenic is a real-time video platform for insurance that connects every part of the claims ecosystem to streamline loss documentation from the field.

NAUTO is an autonomous vehicle system -- uses hardware, a smart cloud and network to give insurers a true view of every driver: saving time and money while empowering insurers to develop enhanced services for long-lasting customer relationships.

Omniscience provides underwriting automation and risk intelligence via distribution of complex machine learning algorithms and alternate data sources.

Rainvow builds and maintains a contract on the Ethereum blockchain to power parametric insurance for underwriters.

RiskGenius helps insurance professionals review policies faster with machine learning.

Safesite platform generates a real time risk profile for customers in high risk environments. Granular field, IoT and Wearable data is aggregated to facilitate compliance, reduce injury rates and provide the workers compensation industry with deep customer insight.

Slice Labs is an insurtech startup launching the world's first on-demand insurance platform for the on-demand economy.

splitsecnd is a simple vehicle plug-in that combines two-way emergency communication, crash response and GPS capabilities into one compact device, designed to work in any vehicle no matter the make, model or year.

Sureify's Lifetime Platform gives insurance companies powerful digital engagement tools needed to transform the insurer-policyholder relationship and usher in insurance 2.0.

Vivametrica's predictive wearable data analytics provides personalized health risk assessments for insurance underwriting, organizational wellness and precision health management.

Get tickets to see these startups at Plug and Play's first Insurance EXPO on December 14th, 2016: http://bit.ly/pnpinsurtech. To stay updated on Plug and Play Insurance, follow Ali Safavi: @Salisafa.

About Plug and Play Tech Center

Plug and Play Tech Center is one of leading innovation platforms in the world. Since inception in 2006, our programs has expanded worldwide to include entrepreneurs from 24 countries, providing necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley. With over 6000 startups, and 126 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Plug and Play provides active investments with 180 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and more than 365 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $3.5 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visit: http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

Media Contact

Allison Romero

Phone: 408-524-1457

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Plug and Play Tech Center

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A majority of Americans would redirect $38 billion the Obama Administration recently pledged to Israel toward other priorities. A federal lawsuit aims to help them.

On September 14 the Obama administration signed an executive agreement pledging $3.8 billion in annual foreign aid to Israel for fiscal years 2019-2028. The funds are earmarked for jet fighters, other U.S. weapons and developing Israel's missile defense systems.

An IRmep poll fielded by Google Consumer Surveys reveals 80.8 percent of the U.S. adult Internet user population would redirect the proposed spending to other priorities. Caring for veterans (20.7 percent) was their top priority, followed by education spending (20.1 percent) and paying down the national debt (19.3 percent). Rebuilding U.S. infrastructure was favored by 14.9 percent, while funding a Middle East peace plan received 5.8 percent of support.

Only 16.8 percent of Americans said the $38 billion should be spent on Israel.

The statistically significant survey of 1,005 adults was fielded September 14-16 and had an RMSE score of 1.4 percent. The findings reflect other IRmep survey findings revealing overall low U.S. public support for Israel aid and May, 2016 polling by Shibley Telhami released by Newsweek on September 16.

Survey responses, including by age, wealth and respondent geographic categories may be viewed online.

In August, IRmep's research director filed a federal lawsuit to block Israel aid on the grounds that it violates longstanding laws banning transmission of taxpayer funds to countries outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty with nuclear weapons programs. Since the lawsuit was filed, news reports reveal former Secretary of State Colin Powell's privately claimed that Israel has at least 200 nuclear weapons while former NRC commissioner Victor Gilinsky writes that Israel conducted nuclear tests.

Among other claims, the lawsuit alleges the Obama administration issued a 2012 gag order on the release of government information about Israel's nuclear weapons program in order to protect aid. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against an expected October financial disbursement and claw back of funds unlawfully disbursed in the past. These would be redistributed toward uses overwhelming numbers of Americans prioritize.

Information including an online briefing about the lawsuit to block aid, how to sign up for information bulletins and support the lawsuit is available at: http://irmep.org/israellawsuit/

IRmep Washington, DC-based nonprofit researching U.S. Middle East policy formulation.

SOURCE Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy

Related Links

http://www.irmep.org/


EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney subsidiary United Technologies International Corporation-Asia Private Limited, and Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement for Hanwha to acquire a 30 percent equity interest in P&W NGPF Manufacturing Company Singapore Pte. Ltd. (PWMS). Under this joint venture arrangement, Pratt & Whitney retains control of the sourcing of critical parts while sharing capital investment requirements with Hanwha. Hanwha also acquired a call option from Pratt & Whitney to purchase additional equity as early as 2023. The Singapore facility specializes in the manufacture of hybrid metallic fan blade parts and high-pressure turbine disks for the PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine family. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

In conjunction with this agreement, Pratt & Whitney and Hanwha are expanding their risk and revenue sharing collaboration, increasing Hanwha's program share on both Pratt & Whitney's 24,000- (24K) and 30,000 (30K) pound thrust GTF programs by one percent each. This brings Hanwha's program share to three and two percent respectively, to complement a one percent program share on the 17,000 pound thrust GTF engine program.

Hanwha has worked with Pratt & Whitney on the GTF program since the first development engine, and they have performed very well in their execution of highly sophisticated parts assembly. Building upon that achievement, Hanwha converted from supplier to risk revenue sharing partner in June 2015. In December 2015, Hanwha joined the 30K program as a risk revenue sharing partner and today's arrangement not only increases Hanwha's program shares but also creates a manufacturing collaboration between the parties.

Through Hanwha and Pratt & Whitney's expertise, the PWMS facility will enhance delivery of GTF fan blades and high-pressure turbine disks more efficiently at a faster ramp to Pratt & Whitney's sites across its global network so as to meet Pratt & Whitney's increased orders demand.

"The acquisition of Samsung Techwin by Hanwha in June 2015 created what we believe is a generational opportunity for both companies," said Dave Emmerling, vice president, Strategy and Business Development, Pratt & Whitney. "Hanwha's capabilities and performance, combined with their willingness to invest, positions them well to maintain a strong relationship with Pratt & Whitney both today and into the future."

"Having recently expanded our Changwon #2 factory with a new building, the time was right for us to acquire an interest in an overseas engine parts manufacturing facility. We really like the state of the art Singapore facility and intend to be there for the long haul," said Hyun Woo Shin, chief executive officer, Hanwha Techwin, Co., Ltd.

The parties intend for the transaction to close by Sept. 30. In addition to the parts to be made in the Singapore facility, Hanwha produces mid turbine frames, diffuser cases, high pressure split cases and nickel integrally bladed rotors for Pratt & Whitney's family of Geared Turbofan Engines.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the scope, nature, impact or timing of the transaction, changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corps.' Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Shawn Watson Audrey Tan Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney +860-371-5236 +65 9675 9395 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney

Related Links

http://www.pratt-whitney.com


BANGKOK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the fastest growing shopping search engines in Southeast Asia, Priceza enters a long-term partnership with media company from Germany, Hubert Burda Media (HBM).

Priceza operates in 6 countries with a rapidly growing presence in Indonesia. The company recently lands a series B funding, for Burda Principal Investments (BPI) in SE Asia; whereby HBM holds a 24.9% share in the company. The partnership focuses on accelerating Priceza's growth to becoming the number one shopping search engine in Southeast Asia.

Priceza Group, established a few years back in 2010 by three computer engineers, has grown to become a team of over 60 tech and digital professionals, and today serves over 14 million shoppers every month. Thanawat Malabuppha, Priceza's Co-founder and CEO, shares, "E-commerce shopping accounts for a mere 1-2% of total retail sales in SEA, while we see 16% in Korea, 9% in U.S. and 8% global average. With the growing ecosystem, and global player HBM backing us, Priceza is set for rapid growth." (Src: BofaMerill Lynch's eCommerce Report May 2015)

Hubert Burda Media, headquartered in Munich, is an international technology and media company with over 540 brands and products that are oriented to the needs of consumers. Burda has 175 million users and approximately 60 million paying consumers. Its commercial success is driven by over 10,000 employees around the world: Burda is active in 19 markets.

Fredrich von Scanzoni, CEO at Burda Asia, explains, "We have been investing in e-commerce companies for the past 20 years and understand the price comparison space very well. With Priceza joining our portfolio, they will bring deep insights into the region."

Peter Kennedy, Executive Chairman of Burda Asia, echoes this support, "We have been impressed by the growth of Priceza within and beyond Thailand. The strategy behind the Series B investment is to enable Priceza to expand and develop even further and solidify their market dominance."

Priceza and HBM shares a vision to make retail ecosystem in SEA as transparent as possible and realize a market of perfect competition, benefiting both buyers and sellers.

Media contact:

Muanfun Thongmee

Priceza

+662 860 6125

http://www.pricezagroup.com

SOURCE Priceza

Related Links

http://www.pricezagroup.com


LONDON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The global process spectroscopy market is expected to reach USD 1.27 billion by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The technological advancements and prices are anticipated to be the critical parameter saffecting the industry. The popularity of portable or handheld spectroscopy instruments is anticipated to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

The process spectroscopy market is anticipated to exhibit a positive traction withthe rising awareness for the quality throughput among end-use industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and food and agriculture. These instruments are used to analyze, monitor, and control processes, along with identifying defect at an early stage in order to avoid production delays. The focus on reducing operational expenditure is further anticipated to drive the adoption of process spectroscopy globally.



The industry participants are increasingly adopting spectroscopic instruments in order to enhance the quality of their product and adhere tothe international quality standards such as ISO and Six Sigma. Companies,such as Boeing, 3M, Hewlett-Packard (HP), General Electric (GE), and Lockheed Martin, have implemented Six Sigma to minimize error in the manufacturing process and gain operational effectiveness.

Further key findings from the study suggest:



Near Infrared(NIR) accounted for over 60% of the revenue in 2015and is expected to remain the key technology segment over the forecast period.The Ramanspectroscopy marketis anticipated to show a high potential. The products that offer combined functionality of the available technologies, such as the FT-NIR spectrometer, are expected to gain popularity withthe rising demand of rapid raw material identification in the food and agriculture end-use industries.



The pharmaceutical industry is anticipated to be the key end-use segment for the market growth over the forecast period, with an estimated CAGR of 8.5% from 2016 to 2022. The polymer end-use segment is projected to witnessa substantial growth, owing to the high demand, stringent quality parameters and availability of customized products.



The pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. is predicted to express an increase in the demand for process spectroscopy as a result ofthe process analysis technology initiative by the Food and Drug Administration. The Asia Pacific process spectroscopy market is anticipated to show a high growth potential, owing to the presence of numerous manufacturing industries of leading brands in emerging nations such as China, India, and South East Asia. The "Make in India" initiative of the Indian government is anticipated to bring new avenues for the industry players.



The key industry players include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Bruker Corporation, ABB Ltd., Danaher Corporation, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Foss A/S, and Horiba Industries. Companies such as Bruker Corporation, ABB Ltd., Thermos Fisher Scientific, Inc., and Agilent Technologies, Inc. are the key players in the chemical end-usesegment.Thermo Fisher Scientific has bought disruption in the industry by introducing Nicolet iS50in May 2012, which can initiate novel Raman, ATR, and NIR modules, without manually changing system components.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4144380/

About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OriginClear Inc. (OTC/QB: OCLN), a leading provider of water treatment solutions, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dallas-based Progressive Water Treatment Inc. (PWT), recently modernized and expanded a large Northeast Ohio power plant's boiler feedwater treatment system, improving economy, and doubling capacity to 800 gallons per minute (GPM).

This is the third large power plant project that PWT has designed and built in 2016, bringing the total of such orders this year to approximately $3.5 million. As before, PWT has upgraded the power plant to a modern ultrafiltration system, which saves money and improves the quality of the feed stream.

"The aging systems in these power plants just have to be replaced," stated Marc Stevens, PWT's President. "The benefit is that new technology brings significant improvements in water quality and reduction in operational costs."

"The key is ultrafiltration," added Stevens. "The latest technology costs less to install and run, and because it can also remove particles as small as a virus, it provides a superior, pretreated feed stream to final stage processes such as reverse osmosis and deionization."

"Fresh water is no longer cheap, and increasingly we're seeing users reusing their process-water," said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginClear's Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud to be helping users save on water costs and lower the costs of treating it."

"PWT is gaining a reputation for complete, outstanding solutions for the end user," stated Bill Charneski, President of the OriginClear Group. "By adding more companies like PWT to the Group, we can achieve a reputation for rapid, excellent water projects through North America and eventually the world."

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About Progressive Water Treatment, Inc.

Progressive Water Inc., of the OriginClear Group, designs and manufactures a complete line of water treatment systems for municipal, industrial and pure water applications. The company utilizes a wide range of technologies, including chemical injection, media filters, membrane, ion exchange and SCADA technology, in turnkey systems. The company also offers a broad range of services including maintenance contracts, retrofits and replacement assistance. In addition, PWT rents equipment in contracts of varying duration. Customers are primarily served in the United States and Canada, with the company's reach extending worldwide from Japan to Argentina to the Middle East.

About OriginClear, Inc.

OriginClear (OTC/QB: OCLN) is a leading provider of water treatment solutions and the developer of a breakthrough water cleanup technology serving the rapidly growing $500 billion world market. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, OriginClear provides systems and services to treat water in a wide range of industries, such as municipal, pharmaceutical, semiconductors, industrial, and oil & gas. To rapidly grow this segment of the business, we strategically acquire profitable and well-managed water treatment companies, which allow us to expand our global market presence and technical expertise. To enable a new era of clean and socially responsible water treatment solutions, we invented Electro Water Separation, a breakthrough high-speed water cleanup technology using multi-stage electrolysis, that we license worldwide to water treatment equipment manufacturers. Water is our most valuable resource, and the mission of the "Family of OriginClear Companies" is to improve the quality of water and help return it to its original and clear condition. To learn more about OriginClear, please visit our website at www.originclear.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:

Matters discussed in this release contain statements that look forward within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such statements that look forward. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the statements that look forward contained herein, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. These statements that look forward are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.

Press Contact:

Kaitlyn Finegan

Antenna Group

415-977-1914

[email protected]

Investor Relations OriginClear:

Tom Becker

Toll-free: 877-999-OOIL (6645) Ext. 3

International: +1-323-939-6645 Ext. 3

Fax: 323-315-2301

[email protected]

www.OriginClear.com

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SOURCE OriginClear, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.originclear.com


"People and businesses want to effectively disinfect and clean their work environments, but with products that are good for them and the planet," said Steve Ashkin, a leader in the Green Cleaning Movement. "With its science-based approach, GOJO changed the way we think about cleaning our hands, and now is revolutionizing the surface spray category with products that offer powerful germ kill for MRSA, the cold and flu virus and norovirus within 30 seconds, a no rinse food contact surface formula in addition to its Design for the Environment Certification."

Out of the 3,000 EPA registered surface disinfectants and sanitizers, less than 100 have the EPA's Category IV lowest toxicity rating, and of those, less than 10 have the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Certification. PURELL Surface Disinfecting and Sanitizing products have the fastest overall disinfection times for bacteria and viruses than any other DfE product.

Before launching the PURELL Surface Products into the market, the privately held, family-owned company worked closely with scientific and sustainability thought leaders, like Ashkin, as well as customers and key decision makers in the food, healthcare and professional markets to understand the market needs and gain feedback to deliver the right solutions.

"The GOJO Purpose of Saving Lives and Making Life Better Through Well-Being Solutions drives our commitment to offering our customers the best hygiene solutions on the market today," said Jessica McCoy, GOJO vice president and general manager of business development. "Our customers want peace of mind that the hygiene products they use on their hands and surfaces are worry free for them, the environment and do what they are intended to do  kill germs that can make us sick. Our new surface disinfecting and sanitizing sprays work with other PURELL products, and using these products throughout the day helps reduce the spread of germs that can cause illness. Our high standards for performance, people and planet are unmatched."

The PURELL Foodservice Surface Sanitizer

Formulated for Food Contact Surfaces: No rinse required on food contact surfaces; NSF certified D2 classification

Rapid Germ Kill Time: Eliminates Norovirus, Salmonella and E. coli in 30 seconds

and E. coli in 30 seconds Powerful Peace of Mind: No precautionary statements; no handwashing, gloves or safety glasses required.

Multi-Surface Performance: Proven across most hard and soft surfaces

Fragrance Free  Gives peace of mind for use around patrons with no harsh fumes

The PURELL Healthcare Surface Disinfectant

Rapid Germ Kill Time: 30-second disinfection for MRSA, VRE and Norovirus

Powerful Peace of Mind: No precautionary statements; no handwashing required

Easy-To-Use: Patented 1-step disinfectant and cleaner

Multi-Surface Performance: Proven performance across most hard and soft surfaces

Fragrance -Free  Gives peace of mind for use around patients with no harsh fumes

PURELL Professional Surface Disinfectant for Offices and Schools

Powerful Peace of Mind: Tough enough to kill 99.99% of germs on surfaces, including the cold and flu virus, yet gentle enough for children's toys

PURELL TOUCHABLE Technology: No rinse required following use on food contact surfaces; no handwashing, gloves or safety glasses required

Easy-To-Use: Patented 1-step disinfectant and cleaner

EPA Design for Environment Certified: Fastest overall disinfection times for bacteria and viruses than any other DfE product.

Fragranced  Light, refreshing citrus fragrance with no harsh fumes

The new PURELL Surface Spray products are available through GOJO distribution and online retailers. For where to buy information, go to www.purellsurface.com.

About GOJO

GOJO, the inventors of PURELL instant hand sanitizer is the leading global producer and marketer of skin health and hygiene solutions for away-from-home settings. The broad GOJO product portfolio includes hand cleaning, handwashing, hand sanitizing, skin care formulas and surface sprays under the GOJO, PURELL and PROVON brand names. GOJO formulations use the latest advances in the science of skin care and sustainability. GOJO is known for state-of-the-art dispensing technology, engineered with attention to design, sustainability and functionality. GOJO programs promote healthy behaviors for hygiene, skin care and compliance in critical environments. GOJO is a privately held, family-owned corporation headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with operations in the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Canada and Brazil.

www.gojo.com

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SOURCE GOJO

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BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Q Drinks, maker of spectacular carbonated mixers, today announced a national partnership with Breakthru Beverage Group, one of the nation's premier beverage distributors. The partnership gives Q Drinks the same powerful level of distribution and promotion channels in liquor stores, bars, restaurants, and hotels as those enjoyed by top spirits brands. The agreement also reflects the premiumization of cocktail culture nationwide where top accounts and their customers are demanding superior carbonated mixers crafted for the premium spirits that currently dominate industry growth.

"A typical mixed drink is two-thirds mixer. And only carefully crafted carbonated mixers can showcase the quality of the premium spirits more and more people are drinking," says Jordan Silbert, Founder and CEO of Q Drinks. "As premium spirits continue to lead industry growth, Q Drinks and Breakthru Beverage Group will provide the highest quality products to enable bars, restaurants, and liquor stores to better serve their customers."

The national partnership gives accounts an ideal opportunity to cross promote popular premium spirits with Q Drinks' spectacular carbonated mixers, increasing customer satisfaction and profits through all spirit industry distribution channels. Q Drinks begins its launch next month in Breakthru Beverage Group markets, which include 13 states and Washington DC.

"We are thrilled to partner with Q Drinks. Their super premium portfolio brings new opportunities for us in the growing carbonated mixers category and in our efforts to innovate and provide value for our customers," says Greg Baird, President and CEO of Breakthru Beverage Group.

This innovative partnership is part of a new go-to-market strategy spearheaded by Ted Roman, who recently joined Q Drinks as Executive Vice President. Prior to Q Drinks, Roman led U.S. commercial success for William Grant & Sons and Pernod Ricard.

"Industry trends show premiumization is here to stay," says Roman. "And Q Drinks is the super premium mixer line to perfect the carbonated cocktail experience. I am truly excited about building our brand and our business with the Breakthru Beverage Group team."

About Q Drinks

Q Drinks makes the world's best carbonated mixers  spectacular beverages crafted in Brooklyn with authentic ingredients, more carbonation, and much less sugar in order to perfectly complement the world's finest spirits. Our tonic water, ginger beer, and other flavors are proudly carried by many of America's best restaurants, bars, and retailers. For more information, please visit www.QDrinks.com or call 718.398.6642.

About Breakthru Beverage Group

Breakthru Beverage was formed by joining substantial holdings of The Charmer Sunbelt Group and Wirtz Beverage Group. The company employs more than 7,000 associates and with its affiliates has operations across the US and Canada. For more information, visit www.breakthrubev.com.

For more information, contact [email protected]

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SOURCE Q Drinks

Related Links

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MADISON, N.J., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, will host an Investor Day for institutional investors and financial analysts in New York City on Friday, November 11, 2016 at The Intercontinental New York Barclay Hotel, 111 East 48th St, New York, NY.

During the event, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Rusckowski, Chief Financial Officer Mark Guinan, and other senior executives will share progress made on implementing the company's strategy, including key growth initiatives and opportunities to drive operational excellence, as well as provide updated views of the market.

Advance registration is required for those planning to attend in person. To register for the event, please go to the following website: register.questdiagnostics.com.

A live webcast of the event will be broadcast on the Investor Relations page of the Quest Diagnostics website. Additional information on accessing the webcast will be provided at a future date.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 44,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

Quest, Quest Diagnostics, and all associated Quest Diagnostics registered or unregistered trademarks are the property of Quest Diagnostics. All third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Shawn Bevec (Investors): 973-520-2900

Dennis Moynihan (Media): 973-520-2800

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

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TBILISI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Georgia's central bank said it had sold $40 million at a currency auction on Tuesday to support the national currency.

The bank has bought $278.35 million on the foreign exchange market since March. It sold $60 million in January, $20 million in August and another $20 million last week.

(Reporting by Margarita Antidze; editing by Jack Stubbs)
ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RAID Inc., a high performance computing solutions company, ClearPointe, a Gold level Microsoft datacenter partner, and Chelsio Communications, a leading provider of high performance Ethernet adapters for storage networking, virtualized enterprise datacenters, cloud service installations, and cluster computing environments, today announced that they will demonstrate a hyper-converged infrastructure Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct architecture based on Windows Server 2016, at Microsoft Booth #MS34 and Lenovo Booth #1010 at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Atlanta, Georgia from September 26 to September 30, 2016.

The new 4-node cluster solution will be presented and managed by RAID Inc. and ClearPointe with the directive to validate the high performance computing capabilities achieved by partnering with storage at scale and Windows Server design experts. It integrates best-of-breed Chelsio 40GbE iWARP RDMA-enabled networking adapters that offload network stack processing from the CPU, to provide a proof point that higher performance networking enables faster data communication.

RAID Inc. Ability HCI Series Overview

To take advantage of the rapidly growing demand for hyper-converged platforms and software-defined storage, RAID Inc. is making sizeable investments in architecting and the fine-tuning of Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) hyper-converged solutions with the Ability HCI Series. By integrating best-of-breed Chelsio 40GbE iWARP RDMA adapters and NVMe technologies from HGST, RAID Inc. leverages its HPC pedigree to supercharge Lenovo-based S2D deployments, built upon in-house validating and real-world testing.

The Ability HCI Series powered by Lenovo on display at Ignite this year demonstrates the S2D200 model with the latest NVMe flash storage technologies and is tuned to excel in running nearly all workload types, including Hyper-V virtualized and enterprise applications, SQL databases, Remote Desktop Services for virtualized desktops, Azure-ready hybrid clouds, and big data analytics, with improved efficiency and scalability. Additionally, Lenovo and RAID Inc. are planning significant actions in solution development as well as aggressive go-to-market initiatives.

RAID Inc. Ability HCI Series S2D200 Ignite Demo Highlights:

Lenovo System x3650 M5

2TB Memory

224 Cores

S2D-tuned NVMe Flash Cache Tier

20TB Usable Storage Capacity

Chelsio T5 40GbE iWARP RDMA Networking

Performance Results:

1.4 Million IOPS at 70/30 4K Random Read/Write

Up to 17-22 GBps throughput Random Read/Write

Up to 80 Power User Compute VMs (4C + 16GB)

Under $500 per VM (300 VMs at 1C + 2GB)

"As a founding Microsoft partner for Storage Spaces, RAID Inc. brings its cloud architecture and high performance computing prowess to the software defined data center (SDDC)," comments Trenton R. Baker, VP marketing, RAID Inc. "With the RAID Inc. Ability HCI Series powered by Lenovo for Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server 2016, this hyper-converged appliance leverages the Chelsio 40GbE iWARP RDMA adapters to greatly improve S2D networking and dramatically reduce the IT infrastructure total cost of ownership."

ClearPointe Management and Remediation for Storage Spaces Direct

ClearPointe provides a single source of management and remediation to ensure optimal performance for the life cycle of the Ability HCI Series powered by Lenovo. With technologies changing at exponential rates, decision makers often have to consider timing when deploying technology - deciding on when to implement and when to wait for the next generation of something to arrive. By leveraging these cutting edge technologies, you receive the most value for your investment today and position your organization to transition to Azure Stack as it becomes available. The management and monitoring tools translate directly into a model that scales into Azure Stack, and therefore Azure, to create a harmonious hybrid ecosystem that can scale and work together across on premise and cloud environments, all while being monitored by ClearPointe.

"ClearPointe's life cycle management gives us the ability to deliver a holistic approach from design through installation and as you scale to match your demand," adds Daniel Weissenborn, Solution Architect at ClearPointe. "Complex systems will eventually exceed skill even for a company with infinite resources. The simplicity of this solution combined with the performance is what makes it ideal."

Chelsio T5 iWARP RDMA for Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct

Chelsio's Terminator 5 ASIC offers a high performance, robust third generation implementation of RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) over 40Gb Ethernet - iWARP. T5 delivers end-to-end RDMA latency that is comparable to InfiniBand, using standard Ethernet infrastructure. Chelsio's iWARP is in production today in GPU applications, in storage applications as a fabric for clustered storage, for Lustre and other storage applications, for HPC applications, and for remote replication and disaster recovery.

Chelsio's line of Terminator 5 (T5) 10 and 40 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) iWARP (RDMA/TCP) enabled Unified Wire adapters have achieved "Certified for Windows Server 2016" hardware certification. The iWARP standard enables building very efficient, high performance, Microsoft Cloud deployments very quickly. iWARP works with any legacy Ethernet switch, thereby enabling incremental Windows Server 2016 installations without requiring a concurrent forklift upgrade of the switch infrastructure or the entire datacenter. This ability to work with any DCBX or non-DCBX switch, allows use of the most cost effective new or existing switch infrastructure with the least amount of support, while enabling an immediate plug-and-play deployment. In addition, Microsoft's support of iWARP protocol since Windows Server 2012-R2 release, has allowed for years of testing for a very robust, tested, deployment with iWARP.

"The iWARP standard enables building very efficient, high performance, Microsoft Cloud deployments very quickly," said Kianoosh Naghshineh, CEO at Chelsio Communications. "This new offering validates how Storage Spaces Direct, combined with advanced flash-based storage connected by Chelsio's 40GbE iWARP networking solution, helps build faster, easy-to-scale and reliable storage for their private cloud deployments".

Additional information regarding the demonstration is available in a Chelsio/ClearPointe Technical Brief.

About RAID Inc.

RAID Inc. was founded in 1994 to deliver end-to-end performance-driven technical computing and storage solutions. The company has earned industry praise for providing platform agnostic technical guidance in high performance computing (HPC), big data, cloud and software-defined datacenters in the most efficient, reliable and cost effective manner. The world's leading research facilities, government, life science, financial, healthcare, energy, and cloud service providers can leverage the RAID Inc. team of engineers' extensive academic, research lab and commercial expertise that make RAID Inc. a trusted industry leader. For more information, visit www.RAIDinc.com, call +1 (800)330-7335 or comment via @RAIDinc.

About ClearPointe

ClearPointe deploys the power of advanced technology to unleash and support human and organizational potential. Our promise to lead the industry in developing technologies that create clarity and are true assets for our clients is evident by our remarkable advancements in cloud based technologies. ClearPointe serves clients in every time zone around the world by delivering a comprehensive suite of solutions all with complete lifecycle management. Today, ClearPointe is a single point for digital transformations and an authority on private, hybrid and hyper-converged datacenters.

About Chelsio Communications

Chelsio is a recognized leader in high performance (10Gb/25Gb/40Gb/50Gb/100Gb) Ethernet adapters for networking and storage within virtualized enterprise datacenters, public and private hyperscale clouds, and cluster computing environments. With a clear emphasis on performance and delivering the only robust offload solution, as opposed to simple speeds and feeds, Chelsio has set itself apart from the competition. The Chelsio Unified Wire fully offloads all protocol traffic, providing no-compromise performance with high packet processing capacity, sub-microsecond hardware latency and high bandwidth. Visit the company at www.chelsio.com, and follow the company on Twitter and Facebook.

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LONDON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global remote patient monitoring devices market is expected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Remote patient monitoring devices, due to their capability to monitor various chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer are expected to witness substantial growth over the forecast period.



Increasing incidences of cardiovascular diseases, rising geriatric population base and the growing demand for independent and healthy living by them are high impact rendering drivers for remote patient monitoring devices market. Moreover, improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing post-acute care management and growing focus of key market players on emerging economies is also expected to fuel the growth of this market.



Rapid technological advancement occurring in remote patient monitoring devices market is expected to lead towards availability of better option for healthcare practitioners and the patients, thereby promoting the growth of remote patient monitoring devices market. Remote patient monitoring devices encompass a wide array of technologies designed to manage, evaluate, notify, intervene, and modify the treatment plan as required.



The remote patient monitoring devices are most commonly used to slow the progression of chronic disorders and enhance recovery after getting discharged from an acute care unit. Remote patient monitoring technologies also alerts caregivers for prompt intervention through any vulnerable condition.



Further key findings from the study suggest:



Heart rate monitors are identified as the most lucrative sub-segment with a significant growth rate of over the forecast period owing to increasing incidences of cardiac related conditions globally.



Heart rate monitor segment accounted for a significant market share in 2014. The rise in demand for home healthcare and independent living by geriatric population are high impact rendering drivers for remote patient monitoring devices market segment.



North America accounted for more than 40% of the remote patient monitoring devices market in 2014 on account of the high demand for technologically advanced products. Presence of sophisticated healthcare infrastructure along with high awareness level of the patients regarding their health has led to the growth of overall remote patient monitoring devices market.



Asia Pacific market is expected to have high growth potential for remote patient monitoring devices due to the presence of large unmet needs in the emerging economies such as China and India. Presence of suitable government initiatives to curb the deteriorating environmental conditions and enhancing healthcare infrastructure in Japan and Australia are also expected to attribute to the remote patient monitoring devices market's attractiveness.



Key players of the remote patient monitoring devices market include Philips, Honeywell, American Telecare, Roche, Philips Healthcare, Bosch, Biotronik, Intel, Welch Allyn, Health anywhere Inc, Johnson & Johnson and Covidien Plc.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing concerns about spread of infectious diseases through donated blood has surged the demand for blood and blood products. Blood collection tube is a disinfected glass or plastic tube with a closure that is evacuated to create a vacuum inside the tube enabling the draw of a predetermined volume of liquid. The tubes are most commonly used to collect blood samples, but can also be used as urine collection tubes and as serum separator tubes. The research report on the blood collection tubes market provides detailed analysis of the North American market and helps in understanding the driving forces responsible for the growth of these tubes. With the increase in aging population and prevalence of diseases, there is an increase in the blood testing in the developed regions such as North America. Moreover, increasing government initiatives and rise in the number of surgical procedures in North America are the factors driving the demand for blood collection tubes. Demand for blood is continuously rising with patients undergoing advanced surgeries that require blood transfusions. In order to support patients, countries are expanding their healthcare coverage so that maximum number of people can avail of required treatment. While there are opportunities in the market for developing cell therapies, the cost of blood handling equipment is a major disadvantage.



The North America blood collection tubes market is segmented by tube type and by geography. The market by tube type includes serum separating tubes, plasma separating tubes, EDTA tubes, heparin tubes, rapid serum tubes and other tubes. The serum separating tubes account for considerable share of the market followed by EDTA tubes and others. Geographically, the market has been studied and estimated for North America region including the U.S. and Canada. The serum separating tubes segment dominated the market due to higher number of serum samples collected and used for various diagnostic applications. However, the rapid serum tubes market is expected to grow at a higher rate due to advanced technology and increase in work efficiency offered by the product.



The market overview section of the report demonstrates major market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that influence the current and future status of the industry. The market overview section includes market attractiveness analysis, by geography, to provide a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in North America blood collection tubes market. This section of the report also includes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the competitive landscape. The market has a bright outlook for implementing new blood collection techniques, screening tests and implementation of automation in the process of collection of blood. These factors are expected to create a significant demand for blood collection tubes across the globe. However, stringent regulatory guidelines and healthcare policies also influence the growth of the market. Manufacturers are coming up with new, improved and safe technologies for blood collection. Moreover, developed markets such as North America are expected to grow due to increased level of awareness, government support and advancements in blood collection technologies.



Market share analysis is also provided in the market overview section of the report for 2014 in terms of value (%). The report also provides important recommendations for market players and new entrants. These recommendations would enable existing market players to expand their market shares and help new companies to establish their presence in the blood collection tubes market across North America. The report concludes with the company profiles section, which includes key information about major players in the market such as financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.



Major players in this market are Becton, Dickinson & Company (U.S.), Greiner Group AG (Austria), Sarstedt AG & Co. (Germany), QIAGEN N.V. (Germany), Terumo Corporation (Japan) and FL Medical srl (Italy).



The North America Blood Collection Tubes market has been segmented as follows:



North America Blood Collection Tubes Market, by Tube Type

Plasma Separation Tube

Heparin Tubes

Serum Separating Tubes

EDTA Tubes

Rapid Serum Tubes

Others

North America Blood Collection Tubes Market, by Geography

U.S.

Canada

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SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Growing up in a family where education was not a top priority, Robert Luft had a firsthand account of the lack of career opportunities that can accompany the lack of a college education. Therefore, he made the decision to place obtaining a college education as a top priority to better position himself for success.

Luft grew up in the impoverished Over-the-Rhine and Price Hill neighborhoods of Cincinnati. He was raised by a single mother who did not finish high school. The family got by thanks to help from a foodbank, local churches, and public assistance programs. It was a difficult upbringing, during which Luft attended four different high schoolsbut in the end, he was able to graduate.

Luft quickly realized the limitations of a high school diploma. In his first job, he worked as a janitor for the Citizen's Committee on Youth, a program that served underprivileged children and provided summer jobs to teens. That job taught Luft the value of hard work, and it imbued him with a desire to overcome the circumstances into which he was born.

Looking for a path to success, Luft turned to the military. He enlisted as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army, an experience that helped him to grow into a leader. While in the Army, Luft decided to further his education. Being an active-duty soldier, he needed to find a school that would accommodate his unique needs. "As a member of the U.S. Army, I had the honor to serve on multiple deployments that placed me in a position where conventional college courses were not an option," said Luft.

Ashford was the ideal choice for Luft. "The faculty and staff were nothing short of spectacular. Their willingness to provide academic accommodation during my deployments while ensuring that I maintained the academic standards set by Ashford University had a profound impact on me," said Luft.

Luft earned his bachelor of arts in Public Relations and Marketing from Ashford in 2012. "Ashford University allowed me to pursue my dream of completing my college education and continue to serve at the same time. I can proudly say that I completed my bachelor's while serving in Saudi Arabia," Luft said.

It is a degree that has served Luft well in his career path since leaving the military. "After returning home from active duty, I was able to obtain a position with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in their Leaders in Motion (LIM) program. LIM is a highly selective management development program that requires a bachelor's degree to be considered for entry. My selection into this program can be considered a direct result of Ashford's commitment to the education of military personnel," explained Luft

The future looks bright for Luft. He has started his own business called Surefire Innovations and is applying the knowledge he gained at Ashford.

"Ashford University provided a platform that allowed me to serve my country, enhance my professional skill sets, and complete my degree requirements."

About Ashford University

Where heritage meets innovation  that's Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associates, bachelor's, and master's degree programs online, allowing students to balance life by providing the flexibility to do school work anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, www.twitter.com/AshfordU, or call Marianne Perez, Media Relations Manager, at 858.513.9240 x11636.

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SOURCE Ashford University

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MOSCOW, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- S7 Group today announced that it has signed an agreement with Sea Launch Group to acquire the assets of the Sea Launch complex. The contract was signed today on the sidelines of the IAC 2016, the International Astronautical Congress taking place now in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The acquisition by S7 Group will include the Sea Launch Commander vessel, the Odyssey Launch Platform, with the launch support equipment; ground support equipment at the home port facility in Long Beach, California, and the Sea Launch trademark.

"We plan to de-mothball the complex and restart space launches 18 months after the deal approvals are obtained, which is anticipated to be late 2018. We expect to be able to perform up to 70 launches within 15 years without making any major investments in upgrades to the Sea Launch complex. Our business approach is radically different from what you see at many companies: we will not sell promises, we will sell launches only when our launch vehicles are ready to take to the atmosphere," said Vladislav Filev, CEO of S7 Group.

The deal is to be closed within six months, the timeline needed to obtain the necessary approvals of the relevant US authorities and sign a number of agreements that are part of the deal. The transaction is subject to approvals from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Today S7 Group also signed a cooperation agreement with RSC Energia to continue joint efforts to resume the operation of the Sea Launch complex. RSC Energia will provide S7 Group with all required engineering support and assistance in preparing launches and in system integration.

Vladimir Solntsev, President of RSC Energia added: "We are very pleased to have signed this contract. The deal structuring and execution was a lengthy process which required a lot of effort. This is a fairly complex project, but S7 Group has a different operating model with a new business approach, and I am confident that with our support they will make the project a success."

Cooperation between S7 Group and RSC Energia will not be limited to launch services and the Sea Launch project; the cooperation agreement also provides for partnering in developing space-based transportation infrastructure.

"The acquisition of the Sea Launch is a 'ticket' for us to enter the space industry. Space infrastructure is developing rapidly. In our view, it is a very exciting area of business, with good long-term prospects," noted Vladislav Filv, CEO of S7 Group.

ABOUT S7 GROUP

S7 Group is the largest private aviation holding company in Russia comprising air transportation and maintenance companies, specifically, S7 Airlines, with a fleet of 66 modern aircraft (21 Boeing and 45 Airbus), one of the newest and most modern aircraft fleets on the Russian air transportation market. S7 Airlines has the wide route network based on air transport hubs in Moscow (Domodedovo) and Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo). It serves 145 routes in 27 countries across CIS, Europe, Middle East, South-East Asia and Asia-Pacific region. In 2010 S7 Airlines joined oneworld global airline alliance, lining up 14 world's leading airlines from every continent of the world. In cooperation oneworld airlines serve more than 1000 destinations in 150 countries. In 2015, the airline carried over 10.6 million passengers. The holding company's revenue for 2015 exceeded USD 1.3 billion.S7 Group's shareholders also own Engineering aviation maintenance holding, the largest in Russia and the CIS.

ABOUT RSC ENERGIA

RSC Energia is the leader in the rocket and space industry, and the prime contractor for manned space systems. The Corporation conducts work on the development of unmanned space and rocket systems (launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles), and high-technology systems for various non-space applications. Since August 2014, the Corporation is headed by Vladimir Solntsev.

ABOUT SEA LAUNCH

Sea Launch is a floating facility to launch rockets into outer space, and the international consortium of the same name operating this space launch center. The complex was established to provide launch services to deliver various spacecraft to near-earth orbit using a mobile ocean-based launch platform. The launch site is in the equatorial Pacific, which provides the best possible launch conditions due to the effective harnessing of the Earth's rotation. The first launch from the platform was made in 1999.

SOURCE S7 Group
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM company, today delivered Salesforce Commerce Cloud, the fastest path to unified commerce. Commerce Cloud, based on Salesforce's acquisition of Demandware, enables brands to provide personalized experiences for shoppers that span web, mobile, social and in-store. And now, as part of the world's #1 CRM platform, brands can deliver completely unified experiences for customers that extend beyond commerce to include marketing, customer service and more.

"The connected customer is transforming commerce, creating new opportunities for brands to transform the buying experience," said Jeff Barnett, CEO, Salesforce Commerce Cloud. "By bringing together the leader in enterprise cloud commerce with the world's #1 CRM, we're empowering brands to deliver personalized and unified customer experiences."

The Connected Customer Is Transforming Retail

While consumers will place more orders on phones than on any other device by the end of 20171, 90% of purchases are still made in stores.2 Today, the costly legacy systems that many brands and retailers use to power their commerce do not support the entire customer journey and lack the flexibility required to connect the variety of channels consumers use for shopping. To stay competitive in this quickly changing landscape, brands need a platform that allows them to engage directly with shoppers on any channel and deliver a personalized experience throughout the customer lifecycle.

Introducing Salesforce Commerce CloudDelivering a Unified Shopping Experience

Salesforce Commerce Cloud powers commerce operations across all points of sale, including web, social, mobile, in-store and more. The leading enterprise cloud commerce solution, it allows the world's top retail brands to continuously innovate in the complex, consumer-driven world.

And now, as part of the world's #1 CRM platform, Commerce Cloud is uniquely positioned to empower companies to deliver a consistent brand experience throughout the customer lifecycle. By leveraging Salesforce's leading sales, service, marketing, communities, analytics, IoT and platform solutions, brands and retailers can ensure every engagement, no matter the channel or device, is completely unified.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud continues to deliver new innovations today, including:

Frictionless, One-Touch Checkout with Apple Pay: Salesforce Commerce Cloud is among the first commerce solutions to support Apple Pay for mobile web, allowing Commerce Cloud customers to offer shoppers the ability to easily make secure and private payments in Safari on iPhone, iPad and on the Mac. Merchants can quickly take advantage of Apple Pay's benefits with the option of enabling the feature through a quick and simple configuration. The seamless integration eliminates the extra steps in the checkout process, particularly in mobile, that has kept mobile conversion lower than conversion rates seen on desktop and laptop devices.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is among the first commerce solutions to support Apple Pay for mobile web, allowing Commerce Cloud customers to offer shoppers the ability to easily make secure and private payments in Safari on iPhone, iPad and on the Mac. Merchants can quickly take advantage of Apple Pay's benefits with the option of enabling the feature through a quick and simple configuration. The seamless integration eliminates the extra steps in the checkout process, particularly in mobile, that has kept mobile conversion lower than conversion rates seen on desktop and laptop devices. Commerce Cloud Einstein: With Salesforce Einstein, artificial intelligence is now embedded in the Salesforce Platform, making Salesforce the world's smartest CRM. Commerce Cloud Einstein puts intelligence into every commerce journey. It includes Product Recommendations to personalize product recommendations to shoppers; Predictive Sort, which will infuse personalized sort and search results based on likelihood to engage; and Commerce Insights, which will help retailers understand product purchase correlations to power smarter merchandising and store planning.

Comments on the News

"Commerce Cloud expands the natural definition of CRM and expands the relevance of Salesforce to its customers," said Ray Wang , Principal Analyst, Founder and Chairman, Constellation Research. "Commerce Cloud customers gain an end-to-end commerce play with Salesforce. Conversely, Commerce Cloud provides Salesforce customers with a rich and compelling story to deliver on campaign to commerce."

, Principal Analyst, Founder and Chairman, Constellation Research. "Commerce Cloud customers gain an end-to-end commerce play with Salesforce. Conversely, Commerce Cloud provides Salesforce customers with a rich and compelling story to deliver on campaign to commerce." "NYX has reimagined the way consumers shop for cosmetics, both online and in store," said Bernice Merlini , ecommerce marketing manager, NYX Cosmetics. "Commerce Cloud enables us to let our brand shine through, providing innovative and fun customer experiences whenever and wherever our loyal customers shop with us. The Commerce Cloud has provided NYX a scalable way to produce high-quality, authentic visual content and feature it across our site to inform a shopper's buying decision and enhance the eCommerce experience."

, ecommerce marketing manager, NYX Cosmetics. "Commerce Cloud enables us to let our brand shine through, providing innovative and fun customer experiences whenever and wherever our loyal customers shop with us. The Commerce Cloud has provided NYX a scalable way to produce high-quality, authentic visual content and feature it across our site to inform a shopper's buying decision and enhance the eCommerce experience." "Shopper expectations are constantly evolving," said Martijn van der Zee , marketing director, Suitsupply. "By leveraging the Salesforce Commerce Cloud along with the rest of the Customer Success Platform, we can create seamless shopping experiences for our customers across all stages of their journeys, regardless of if they are shopping online, in-store or beyond."

Leading Brands Trust Commerce Cloud to Connect with Customers in Entirely New Ways

Leading global brands, including Design Within Reach, L'Oreal USA and Suitsupply, rely on Commerce Cloud to power digital commerce and deliver personalized shopping experiences. Forrester Consulting found that Salesforce Commerce Cloud clients launch 3.5 months faster on average than clients of other commerce platforms.3 From 2009 to 2014, retailers on cloud commerce platforms outperformed those on other platforms in sales, operating margins and earnings.4 Commerce Cloud powers more than 1,800 commerce sites in 53 countries, with more than $16 billion in merchandise sold in 2016.

Pricing & Availability

Commerce Cloud is generally available today.

Apple Pay is generally available to all Commerce Cloud customers at no additional cost.

Commerce Cloud Einstein's Product Recommendations are generally available and included as part of a Commerce Cloud license.

Additional Information

Read a blog post from Commerce Cloud CEO Jeff Barnett : http://blog.demandware.com/unified-commerce/demandware-is-now-the-salesforce-commerce-cloud

: http://blog.demandware.com/unified-commerce/demandware-is-now-the-salesforce-commerce-cloud Learn more about the Commerce Cloud: https://www.salesforce.com/products/commerce-cloud/overview/

Learn more about Commerce Cloud at Dreamforce: https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2016/09/salesforce-commerce-cloud-at-dreamforce.html.

Learn more about Salesforce Einstein: http://www.salesforce.com/company/news-press/press-releases/2016/09/160919.jsp.

Come see the Commerce Cloud in action and visit us at Shop.org, Booth 8000.

Connect with Salesforce

Like Salesforce and Commerce Cloud on Facebook: http://facebook.com/salesforce and http://www.facebook.com/commercecloud.

Follow @salesforce and @commerce cloud on Twitter: http://twitter.com/salesforce and http://www.twitter.com/commercecloud.

About Salesforce

Salesforce, the Customer Success Platform and world's #1 CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit http://www.salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

 2016 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved. Salesforce, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, AppExchange, Salesforce Platform, and others are trademarks of salesforce.com, inc. Other brands featured herein may be trademarks of their respective owners

1 Demandware Shopping Index, Q1 2016

2 The Wall Street Journal, "One Useful Feature For Online Retailers: Lots of Physical Stores," June, 2014

3 The Total Economic Impact of the Demandware Commerce Platform, Forrester Consulting

4 L2 Think Tank, Value of Agility, 2014

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) is proud to announce the latest group of leading global organizations to select its human capital management (HCM) solutions to run human resources (HR) in the cloud. As more companies look to simplify processes and improve efficiency across all HR functions, they are adopting innovative and intelligent solutions and data-driven strategies to drive digital transformation.

"These clients choosing SAP SuccessFactors solutions demonstrates that companies across the globe, in a variety of industries and of various sizes, are looking at how technology can support their HR transformation," said Mike Ettling, president of SAP SuccessFactors.* "People are at the center of business strategy, now more than ever, and their expectations around technology in the workplace have changed. They expect a consumer-grade experience when recruited, across their learning and development, and with the ability to collaborate across the globe. Businesses are embracing this change, adopting intelligent HCM solutions to drive digital transformation as well as ignite a culture of 'all-in' people."

Leading global companies across geographies and industries are turning to SAP SuccessFactors solutions for more effective talent management and employee engagement, and to access powerful workforce analytics. The following organizations chose SAP SuccessFactors cloud-based solutions during the second quarter of 2016:

Bilfinger SE , a leading international engineering and services group based in Germany , selected the SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite, including the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central solution, to standardize HR processes and help increase workforce transparency. A further aim is to establish a global talent management model and increase workforce performance. The SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite will help Bilfinger drive its strategic objectives for productivity, consolidation and compliance.

, a leading international engineering and services group based in , selected the SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite, including the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central solution, to standardize HR processes and help increase workforce transparency. A further aim is to establish a global talent management model and increase workforce performance. The SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite will help Bilfinger drive its strategic objectives for productivity, consolidation and compliance. Cielo S.A. is the leading company in the merchant acquiring and payment processing industry in Brazil in terms of credit and debit card transaction volume, with approximately 1.8 million active merchants in its client base. Cielo chose SAP SuccessFactors solutions to help improve visibility into performance, career planning and career development. With SAP SuccessFactors solutions, Cielo aims to be goal-oriented and more focused on customers, and the company expects to streamline HR processes to increase effectiveness and efficiency, reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and standardize talent management processes.

is the leading company in the merchant acquiring and payment processing industry in in terms of credit and debit card transaction volume, with approximately 1.8 million active merchants in its client base. Cielo chose SAP SuccessFactors solutions to help improve visibility into performance, career planning and career development. With SAP SuccessFactors solutions, Cielo aims to be goal-oriented and more focused on customers, and the company expects to streamline HR processes to increase effectiveness and efficiency, reduce time spent on administrative tasks, and standardize talent management processes. Guangzhou Uniasia Cosmetics Technology Co. Ltd. (Uniasia) is a comprehensive cosmetic enterprise based in China that integrates research, development, production, sales, training and service. Uniasia chose SAP SuccessFactors solutions  as well as additional solutions for loyalty management, trade promotion management, product lifecycle management and extended warehouse management from SAP  to support global business expansion and help develop brand awareness locally and globally.

(Uniasia) is a comprehensive cosmetic enterprise based in that integrates research, development, production, sales, training and service. Uniasia chose SAP SuccessFactors solutions  as well as additional solutions for loyalty management, trade promotion management, product lifecycle management and extended warehouse management from SAP  to support global business expansion and help develop brand awareness locally and globally. NTUC Fairprice Co-Operative Limited , one of Singapore's largest retailers, chose the SAP HANA platform, the SAP Payroll Processing application, and the SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite, including the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting Posting solutions, to help improve employee productivity and drive employee engagement. As a customer-oriented retailer with an unwavering social mission to make lives better, Fairprice aims to simplify processes, get detailed insights from integrated analytics and automate manual processes, thereby boosting productivity and raising overall customer satisfaction levels.

, one of largest retailers, chose the SAP HANA platform, the SAP Payroll Processing application, and the SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite, including the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting Posting solutions, to help improve employee productivity and drive employee engagement. As a customer-oriented retailer with an unwavering social mission to make lives better, Fairprice aims to simplify processes, get detailed insights from integrated analytics and automate manual processes, thereby boosting productivity and raising overall customer satisfaction levels. UCAR Inc. is China's leading rental car provider. UCAR will implement the SAP ERP HCM solution on the SAP HANA platform, the SAP SuccessFactors Learning solution and the SAP Jam social software platform. These solutions will help enable UCAR to set up a talent management system, run HR and e-learning systems on one integrated information platform, implement flexible training for more than 50,000 staff members, and inspire employees to improve service levels through independent study and career path gamification.

HR Professionals to Gather at Global SuccessConnect Events

HR professionals from around the world will join SAP customers, partners and executives to share best practices, thought leadership and effective HR strategies at SuccessConnect in Las Vegas (August 2931), SuccessConnect in Sydney (October 2425), SuccessConnect in Tokyo (November 10), SuccessConnect in Singapore (November 15) and SuccessConnect in Vienna (November 2829). Hot topics at this year's SuccessConnect events include digitalizing processes and strategies so HR can be more effective, employing the right people in the right roles to meet the demands of a rapidly changing digital word, and fostering an all-in work environment to move your company forward. Don't miss your chance to experience how SAP and representatives of our customers from around the world demonstrate that success is simply human.

For more information, visit the SAP SuccessFactors website. Follow SAP SuccessFactors solutions on Twitter at @SuccessFactors and SAP at @sapnews.

*SAP SuccessFactors is a new brand name launched in January 2016 and is used here to mean the offerings, employees and business of acquired company SuccessFactors, which continues to be our legal entity until integration with SAP is complete.

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device  SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable approximately 320,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

 2016 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx#trademark for additional trademark information and notices.

For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24

United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

For more information, press only:

Geraldine Lim, SAP, +1 (415) 418-0945, [email protected], PDT

SAP News Center press room; [email protected]

Adam Novak, PAN Communications, +1 (617) 502-4300, [email protected], EDT

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SOURCE SAP SE

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LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Saudi Arabia education sector is expected to grow exponentially on the back of a rising population, increasing private sector participation and growing demand for skilled workforce. Over 50 public and private universities are providing academic and vocational training across the Kingdom. The country is also making concrete efforts towards developing its education sector at the primary, secondary, and higher education levels in order to satiate future knowledge demand.



Our recent market research report, "Saudi Arabia Education Forecast to 2020" provides in-depth study of Saudi Arabian education sector in terms of Kindergarten, General Education, etc. Our research is an outcome of extensive primary & secondary research, where industry trends are being identified. Additionally, we have identified some of the potential courses, which are not the preferred courses, but are anticipated to become popular mainly due to increasing demand of skilled labor and various other initiatives.



To provide the clear picture of the Saudi Arabian education, the report covers exhaustive analysis on the potential requirement of kindergarten, primary, intermediate, secondary, technical & vocational, and higher education segments. Thus, growth of number of school and student enrolled, number of academic and administrative staff, in each education format is forecasted till 2019-2020 in the report. The forecast is conducted on the basis of co-relation and judgmental analysis, which is carried out after carefully studying key factors including population growth, industrial growth, government initiatives, drivers and challenges.



Moreover, our study also finds that there has been a significant increase of private participation in education sector and the E-learning industry, with many government and private universities opting for E-learning solutions. For complete understanding of the Saudi education industry, we have identified major e-learning service providers. Besides, the report also provides E-learning industry recent developments along with the market forecast till 2020.



Thus, our report provides an in-depth research and rational analysis of the current and expected status of the education system in Saudi Arabia. It provides a complete understanding of the Saudi Arabia's education model. It also discusses the regulations and major drivers of the industry. Overall, the report presents optimum information and balanced research outlook on the potentials of the Saudi Arabian education sector.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3921308/



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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MONTREAL, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sharegate, the Office 365 & SharePoint management tool, known in information technology circles for its simplicity and user-friendliness, has added on to their already extensive Inventory tool, now allowing for custom features detection. They've also come up with two new much-anticipated scripts for the PowerShell component of their Migration tool.

Because it can be difficult for SharePoint admins to have full visibility on every custom feature created within their sites, this month's release brings a solution to that problem. The Inventory tool has been improved, and now offers clear details on whether custom features within sites are activated, hidden, deployed, and if they will be supported for migration.

Furthermore, in the Sharegate Migration tool, users can now find two new pre-built scripts for the PowerShell component that will allow them to access their SharePoint environment, in order to export sites and lists to various destinations. So, rather than performing manual exports, users can now schedule them and even run them in bulk.

Simon De Baene, Sharegate CEO, has this to say about the newest release: "Last month's update, which allows users to send us feedback directly within Sharegate, triggered a ton of useful comments from users. So this time around, we decided to focus on releasing updates that directly responded to those requests. In other words, we have our users to thank for this month's release!"

Learn more about the Sharegate 5.14 release by clicking here.

About Sharegate

Sharegate simplifies management tasks for SharePoint, Office 365, and OneDrive for Business for thousands of administrators and IT professionals around the world. A privately-held company based in Montreal, Sharegate is trusted by more than 10,000 organizations. As a leader in its industry, Sharegate lives by the motto: "innovate and keep things simple & fun." For more information, visit http://www.share-gate.com.

Gabrielle Lafontaine

Marketing Specialist

Sharegate

(514) 303-8203

[email protected]

This release was issued through WebWire(R). For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.

SOURCE Sharegate

Related Links

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ALTOONA, Pa., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheetz, one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience retailers, is proud to announce the launch of its Cold Brew coffee offerings, available in all stores on National Coffee Day, September 29, 2016. The launch marks a major advancement in the convenience store industry's coffee portfolio, allowing Sheetz Freakz to enjoy the elevated quality of Cold Brew at any Sheetz store.

"Cold Brew is, without a doubt, the best way to make cold coffee, because the flavors have a chance to infuse rather than burn," says Matt Gray, Coffee Concepts Manager for Sheetz. "Sheetz's method takes no shortcuts, nor attempts to cheapen the product in any way, and the result is a delicious flavor profile accessible to all coffee drinkers and rivaling any Cold Brew experience out there."

Sheetz's Cold Brew starts with fresh coffee ground in-house and later infused in cold water for 10 hours to ensure the balanced blend of sweet and bitter. The patient process results in a naturally smooth and sweet flavor with less acidity.

"This product is the real deal and sure to disrupt the convenience category's coffee offerings as we know it, just like Sheetz," says Ryan Sheetz, Director of Brand Strategy for Sheetz. "With millennials drinking more specialty coffee than any other generation out there, we hope to fill more of their cups and also introduce other coffee drinkers to Cold Brew."

In true Sheetz fashion, the culinary team's made-to-order approach (MTO) is extended to Cold Brew, with every cup tailored and hand-poured directly for the customer. Cold Brew pairs perfectly with Sheetz's hot breakfast items, offering a refreshing temperature balance and eliminating the need to wait for coffee to cool before indulging.

In celebration of National Coffee Day on September 29, 2016, Sheetz will offer one free small Cold Brew while supplies last to all customers who show their My Sheetz Card, a loyalty card that offers in-store specials, exclusive perks and 3 off every gallon of gasoline.

To learn more about Sheetz's new Cold Brew offerings, please visit www.sheetz.com.

About Sheetz, Inc.

Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sheetz, Inc. is one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains, with more than $6.9 billion in revenue and more than 16,000 employees. The company operates over 500 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz provides an award-winning menu of MTO sandwiches and salads, which are ordered through unique touch-screen order point terminals. All Sheetz convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, 20 Best Workplaces in Retail and 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials, Sheetz is committed to offering employees sustainable careers built on an inspiring culture and community engagement. For more information, visit www.sheetz.com or follow us on Twitter (@sheetz), Facebook (www.facebook.com/sheetz) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/sheetz).

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SOURCE Sheetz

Related Links

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BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Goldman Small Cap Research, a stock market research firm specializing in the small cap and microcap sectors, announced today that it has released a new research report on Bullfrog Gold Corp. (OTC  BFGC), an innovative a junior company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of gold and silver properties in the United States.

Tracing its roots to 2007, Bullfrog Gold Corp. boasts an accomplished and experienced management and technical team that have engaged in a clever low-risk, high upside strategy whereby Bullfrog has acquired rights to key properties in Nevada that have a history of significant gold and silver productionto the tune of millions of ounces.

In the Opportunity Research report, analyst Rob Goldman discusses the Company's future milestones and the current low valuation relative to its peers.

Goldman noted, "The Company's flagship Bullfrog Project's properties are in the Bullfrog Mining District, which hosts an enormous epithermal gold system from which Barrick Bullfrog Inc. produced 2.3 million ounces of relatively high grade gold from open pit and underground mines."

Goldman also cited Bullfrog's keys to success. "Remaining mineralization in and around Barrick's mines was estimated by the Company to contain 470,000 ounces of gold averaging 0.89 gram per tonne. Importantly, it would not require much more drilling or expense to upgrade these inventories to much higher classifications. Therefore, substantial value could be added during the completion of milestone events, including drilling and programs designed to advance and/or de-risk the Project."

"Bullfrog's shares are just plain cheap. At present, the stock reflects only a $41 value per gold ounce despite industry averages for heap leaching projects over $100 per ounce in some cases," concluded Goldman.

About Goldman Small Cap Research: Founded in 2009 by former Piper Jaffray analyst and mutual fund manager Rob Goldman, Goldman Small Cap Research produces sponsored and non-sponsored small cap and microcap stock research reports, articles, daily stock market blogs, and popular investment newsletters. Goldman Small Cap Research is not in any way affiliated with Goldman Sachs & Co.

Story continues

This press release contains excerpts of our most recently published sponsored company research report alert on Bullfrog Gold Corp. which carries a rating and a price target. The information used and statements of fact made have been obtained from sources considered reliable but we neither guarantee nor represent the completeness or accuracy. Goldman Small Cap Research relied solely upon information derived from Iconic Minerals Ltd. ("the Company") authorized press releases or legal disclosures made in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission http://www.sec.gov.

Separate from the factual content of our report about the Company, we may from time to time include our own opinions about the Company, its business, markets and opportunities. Any opinions we may offer about the Company are solely our own, and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice. Statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties affecting results.

A Goldman Small Cap Research report, update, newsletter, article, trading alert, or press release is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned or discussed is to be used for informational purposes only. Please read all associated full disclosures, disclaimers, and analyst background on our website before investing. Neither Goldman Small Cap Research nor its parent is a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer with FINRA or any other agency. To download this sponsored research report or any of our research, view our disclosures and disclaimers, or for more information, visit www.goldmanresearch.com. Goldman Small Cap Research has been compensated by a third party in the amount of $4000 for research services.

About Bullfrog Gold Corp.: Bullfrog Gold Corp. (OTC  BFGC) is a junior company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of gold and silver properties in the United States. The Company controls or has acquired 2,200 acres of mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada and is focused on the exploration and development of its flagship Bullfrog Gold Project. The Company also seeks to acquire additional precious and base metal properties having current or historic mineralization with meaningful exploration potential.

Learn more about BFGC at www.BullfrogGoldCorp.com.

Goldman Small Cap Research

Rob Goldman, Analyst

410-609-7100

rob@goldmanresearch.com

SOURCE: Goldman Small Cap Research
LAS VEGAS, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

South American Gold Corp (OTCBB: SAGD) signed an agreement, valued at $500,000 of revenue per month, to become the exclusive fuel distributor for several farming operations in both Central and South America with delivery points stretching from Mexico down to Peru. This distribution agreement signed with Global Petro, Ltd., a fuel marketing company based in South America, comes on the back of the company announcing it was also the exclusive distributor of Microbial Mojo GoGo, an agreement that the company estimates could easily lead to over one million dollars in new revenue to the company.

Global Petro, Ltd. is a private company with operations in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica, and specializes in providing fuel solution services to companies in a variety of consumer sectors including freight companies, mining companies as well as having a large clientele of agricultural clients. Specifically in the agriculture space, Global Petro provides dyed diesel as well as kerosene to farmers, producers and trucking companies that transport produce for export or direct to consumers.

"This newest distribution agreement is the product of the hard work of several key sales personnel that have begun marketing the Mojo GoGo product along with other products, including fuel, into the farming industry in both Central and South American," stated Brian Vasquez a consultant handling outside sales for the company.

"The largest non-labor expense for any agricultural enterprise is energy, and this reality continued to be discussed as our sales force was speaking with the farmers and business owners in the agriculture space. Once we identified this need and demand, securing the product and starting distribution was an easy next step," continued Mr. Vasquez.

The company stated that they will be delivery both dyed diesel and kerosene to several buying groups in the area. The company stated that it intends to deliver approximately one hundred fifty thousand gallons of kerosene per month along with another two hundred thousand gallons of dyed diesel product. This will generate roughly half a million dollars per month of revenues.

The company is also very optimistic on the impact this will have on the sales of other products. "When you solve the most critical needs of a farming operation, the customer will naturally begin looking to you for other products and solutions that can help advance the business. We think that this niche allows us to develop a very loyal customer and use that to earn the business with some of our other products," explained Mr. Vasquez.

About SAGD: South American Gold Corp is focused on becoming the premiere provider of value added products and services for the cultivation and processing of legal cannabis for the South American medical and recreational markets with an initial focus on the Uruguayan market.

Disclaimer

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs of South American Gold Corp. management and reflect South American Gold Corp.'s current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When we use in this release the words "estimate," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "plan," "predict," "may," "should," "will," "can," the negative of these words, or such other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, are all intended to identify forward looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of South America Gold Corp. with respect to future events based on currently available information and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties pertaining to development of mining properties, changes in economic conditions and other risks, uncertainties and factors, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievement expressed or implied by such forward looking statements to differ materially from the forward looking statements. The information contained in this press release is historical in nature, has not been updated, and is current only to the date shown in this press release. This information may no longer be accurate and therefore you should not rely on the information contained in this press release. To the extent permitted by law, South American Gold Corp. and its employees, agents and consultants exclude all liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance on, any such information, whether or not caused by any negligent act or omission. This press release incorporates by reference the Company's filings with the SEC including 10K, 10Q, 8K reports and other filings. Investors are encouraged to review all filings. There is no assurance South American Gold Corp. will identify projects of merit or if it will have sufficient financing to implement its business plan. There is no assurance that the Company's due diligence on the potential acquisition of oil and gas assets will be favorable nor that definitive terms can be negotiated. Information in this release includes representations from the private companies referred to which has not been independently verified by the company. A downturn in oil prices would affect the potential profitability of the proposed acquisition negatively.

Contact Information:

Address:

8275 S. Eastern Ave.

Suite 200

Las Vegas, NV 89123

Phone: +1-(702)-487-9003

Website: http://www.SAGDcorp.com



SOURCE South American Gold Corp.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Americans who are working hard and paying into Social Security were the real losers at tonight's debate," AARP Senior Vice President, Campaigns, John Hishta said.

"In this issueless campaign, the debate was the best chance for voters to get real answers on how the presidential candidates would keep Social Security strong for future generations. If our leaders don't commit to act, future retirees could lose up to $10,000 per year.

Zero Questions on Social Security: Take A Stand

"The failure of Mr. Holt to ask them about it, or for the candidates to address the issue proactively, is deeply troubling. Especially for the 170 million Americans who are paying into Social Security and deserve to know whether the candidates stand before Election Day. We will now turn our attention to the upcoming debates and urge the moderators to commit to ask and the candidates to commit to act."

Social Security faces a significant revenue shortfall that, while still a number of years away, would result in a nearly 25 percent, across-the-board benefits cut for all Social Security recipients, if left unaddressed. Despite recent polling in support or more focus on the issue, it has been largely ignored in this election. A battleground AARP survey of Boomer women found: 71 percent want the next president and congress to address Social Security immediately and more than two-thirds have heard nothing about the candidates' plans, AARP said.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

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SOURCE AARP

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC, an employee-owned, full service independent partnership associated with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC), announced today that financial advisors Larry Natale, Mark Johnson and Dino Johnson, have joined Steward Partners as Founding Partners in a new Albany, NY, location. The team has a combined 55 years of experience serving clients as wealth managers and joins Steward from Wells Fargo where they collectively managed $160 million in client assets and had $1.6 million in revenue.

With the newest location in Albany, Steward Partners now has seven offices in four states and the District of Columbia. The firm, which utilizes Raymond James' platform and support services, also has plans to open several more locations over the next twelve months. Steward's rapid expansion establishes itself as one of the fastest growing full service independent partnerships in the country.

"We're excited to welcome Larry, Mark and Dino to Steward Partners and Raymond James in Steward's new Albany location," said Scott Curtis, president of Raymond James Financial Services. "This team is another high quality, client-first focused group of experienced financial advisors to affiliate under Steward Partners' unique business model. We're proud of our relationship.

A RETURN HOME FOR STEWARD'S SENIOR MANAGEMENT

"Steward's Executive Chairman Michael Maurer and I spent the early part of our careers right here in Albany, NY," says Steward's Divisional President, Jeff Gonyo. "And Larry Natale and I began in the business together here in Albany some 20 years ago, so it's nice to come full circle and expand our partnership with people with whom we have such great history. Today feels rather like a homecoming for Michael and me  to have our colleagues establish the Steward flag in Albany. We are excited about the opportunity this market represents."

"Michael and Jeff have deep advisor relationships in Albany, NY," adds Steward's CEO, Jim Gold. "It's fun to see how well they are received in the upstate New York market. In addition, their outstanding reputations reach even beyond Albany so we look forward to further expansion in and around the area over the next several months."

"The market here is very close and personal," said Natale. "Many advisors in and around town remember the impact Michael and Jeff had early on in their careers. If anyone is fortunate enough to hear the Steward story as we have, they will take advantage sooner rather than later."

"We spent the last few years carefully analyzing the wealth management landscape," adds Mark Johnson. "We wanted to find a place that satisfies our clients' wants and needs today, but also well into the future. The combined Steward Partners and Raymond James offering was the best opportunity for us."

Steward Partners has added 30 advisors with nearly $32 million in trailing 12 month production and who previously managed over $4 billion in assets, since November 2013. The firm anticipates another $10 million in revenue and $1 billion in assets by year end 2016.

"This milestone is personal for me, as I remember my days in Albany like it was yesterday," stated Maurer. "Larry, Mark and Dino are quality people as well as an impressive team. Our measured growth strategy and successful relationship with Raymond James is allowing us to expand into new markets like Albany. You can expect more growth in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast well into 2017."

About Steward Partners Global Advisory

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Albany, NY, Andover, MA, Portsmouth, NH, Manchester, NH, Bethesda, MD and New York City, Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC is an employee owned, full service independent partnership catering to family, institutional and multi-generational wealth.

For more information, visit us at www.stewardpartners.com. About Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.

Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm supporting more than 3,700 independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRNSIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF) a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 6,900 financial advisors serving in excess of 2.8 million client accounts in more than 2,800 locations throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $556 billion.

Steward Partners Holdings and Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC maintains a separate professional business relationship with, and our professionals offer securities through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FJNRA/SIPC. 1776 I Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington D.C. 20006 - Toll Free: (844) 801-8268.

Press Contact:

Gregory Banasz

202-930-6008

[email protected]

SOURCE Steward Partners Global Advisory LLC
SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Changemakers around the globe are discovering data is a powerful ally in their effort to create a better world. Tableau Software, working through the Tableau Foundation, is helping to accelerate change by making free licenses of its powerful visual analytics software to small non-profits, NGOs, and charitable community-based organizations in 192 countries. The company has also created the Tableau Service Corps, a volunteer network of Tableau employees who are eager to help non-profits see and understand their data.

"We started the Tableau Foundation with a mission to encourage the use of facts and analytical reasoning to solve the world's problems," said Neal Myrick, Director, Social Impact at Tableau. "By removing the barriers to entry, small non-profits can better manage programs, tell impactful stories, or increase the effectiveness of fundraising efforts through data."

Data can have enormous value to these organizations, enabling them to increase transparency and accountability, expand their relationships with funders, discover new trends in their programs, and tell more powerful stories about their communities.

Tableau Desktop is drag-and-drop software that helps people to analyze and answer questions with data in real-time. Results can be shared with other Tableau Desktop users through the free Tableau Reader, or posted online with Tableau Public.

The Tableau Service Corps is a volunteer network of Tableau employees who are eager to help non-profits see and understand their data. Regardless of organization size, a non-profit can request help on a data-focused project from one of the many volunteers listed on the Tableau Service Corps website. While separate initiatives, the two programs are launched simultaneously so that any non-profit can use Tableau software and have access to experts who can help make the most of it.

The Global Journal estimates that there are approximately 10 million non-profits and NGOs globally, and a 2013 Johns Hopkins University study projects that 7.4 percent of the global workforce is involved in non-profit work. However, few organizations are harnessing the vast volumes of data that exist in and around their work.

This announcement also fulfills the commitment that Tableau made to the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data in October 2015. At the launch event, Tableau pledged to make its business intelligence software available to small organizations in all non-embargoed countries to promote inclusiveness and data driven development in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To qualify for the software donation, organizations must be recognized as a charitable institution in their home country and have an annual operating budget under USD $5 million. Organizations of any size can request volunteers through the Tableau Service Corps.

To learn more about the Tableau for Non-profits program and to obtain free Tableau software, please visit http://www.tableaufoundation.org/free. To book a Tableau Service Corps volunteer visit, https://servicecorps.tableaufoundation.org/browse.

The program is administered through TechSoup, a non-profit that offers free resources to non-profits and libraries and charges an administration fee to facilitate the product donation.

About Tableau Foundation

The Tableau Foundation is an initiative led by the employees of Tableau Software (NYSE: DATA) that encourages the use of facts and analytical reasoning to solve the world's problems. Tableau Foundation grants combine Tableau's two most valuable resources  its people and its products  with financial support to non-profits that are using data to reshape communities around the globe. Since 2014, the Tableau Foundation and Tableau employees have contributed more than 2,000 volunteer hours and $10 million in cash software and services to 460 non-profits worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.tableaufoundation.org.

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PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Law Journal television program was honored with two Emmy awards for episodes on equal protection under the law and workplace rights. The gala awards event was September 24, 2016 in Philadelphia.

The American Law Journal recognized with two Emmy awards from the NATAS Mid-Atlantic Chapter September 24, 2016. L to R: Schaeffer, Jones, Naughton, Passarella, Keeler

This is the second consecutive year The American Law Journal was selected from a highly competitive field of nominees from network affiliates and public television stations. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter is comprised of 45 stations with 17 network affiliates and five PBS stations including the nation's fourth largest television market.

The award-winning programs are "Wage, Hour and Overtime, What's Fair Pay Today?" and "Transgender at Work: LBGT Rights on the Job" in the Interview/Discussion Series and Program Special categories. View both programs and two others nominated: http://bit.ly/ALJemmys.

Receiving Emmy statuettes were Executive Producer and Host Christopher Naughton, Producer Valerie Jones, Director of Production Andrew Schaeffer, Director Joel Keeler and Feature Reporter and Senior Editor/Business of Law for American Lawyer Media's Global Newsroom Gina Passarella.

"We're honored to be recognized by our broadcast peers," says Naughton. "For more than two decades our mission has been to empower 'We the People' to better understand our constitutional rights and responsibilities. If we are doing that well, then we're doing our jobs."

The program's 27th season begins October 24, examining key cases in the new U.S. Supreme Court term and the likely impact this year's presidential election will have on the direction of the nation's highest court.

View all the awards at http://natasmid-atlantic.org/awards/2016-emmy-recipients/.

About The American Law Journal

The American Law Journal is the legal talk/feature program discussing consumer, business and Constitutional issues. The program is produced live or taped and in-studio or on-location including the National Constitution Center, the Union League, law schools and other historically significant venues. Guests include attorneys, elected officials, judges, law school professors, business leaders and American Lawyer Media reporters from across the country.

Originating from the birthplace of the nation's legal system, the program broadcasts from the studios of the Philadelphia CNN affiliate WFMZ-TV Monday nights with an online national 24/7 reach. View the program's Emmy award-winning episodes and more than 100 archived programs at www.lawjournaltv.com.

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.

Christopher Naughton

http://www.profnetconnect.com/christopher_naughton

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SOURCE The American Law Journal

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"This book captures the spirit and essence of my dad in every sense," says Fred Noe, Seventh Generation Beam Master Distiller. "It's honest and forthright, just like his whiskey. If you're a bourbon fan, or just a fan of bold characters and trailblazers, then this is the book for you."

Written by award-winning author Jim Kokoris, a close friend of Booker Noe and the Beam family, the book chronicles Booker's life from his boyhood in small town Kentucky through to his rise to bourbon prominence. An illustrative account of his 40-year reign as master distiller of the world's number one bourbon Jim Beam Bourbon, "The Big Man of Jim Beam" carefully reconstructs Booker's groundbreaking creation of The Small Batch Bourbon Collection, including Booker's Bourbon, Knob Creek Bourbon, Basil Hayden's Bourbon and Baker's Bourbon, which changed the bourbon industry. In addition, the history of his family's seven generations of distilling is also recounted.

Offering never-before told stories, historical footnotes, and cocktail and cooking recipes, this book is an entertaining  yet accurate  account of Noe's colorful life.

"Noe's uninhibited character is revealed with poise, honesty and precision throughout the book. Noe would expect his biography to be as uncut and unfiltered as his favorite whiskey, Booker's Bourbon. Kokoris delivers," said F. Paul Pacult, author of American Still Life: The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World's #1 Bourbon and editor of F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal.

To purchase a copy of "The Big Man of Jim Beam," visit the Jim Beam online store at store.jimbeam.com.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world's third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker's Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher's, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

 2016 Beam Suntory Deerfield, IL

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence featured 350 events across the country with more than 5,200 artists performing for a day of music on Sunday to honor victims of gun violence and to make gun violence prevention a voting issue in the November elections. Hawaii, the state with the lowest gun death rate in the country, initiated the concert series with a special sunrise Hawaiian Aloha chant performed by the Prince Dance Theatre at the Kahilu Theatre at 12:01AM HST/6:01AM EST. Moby made a surprise appearance at the Los Angeles concert while Joan Osborne joined the New York City performance.

Jackson Browne and Rosanne Cash joined Marc Cohn on stage for a special performance of "The Only Living Boy in New York," a song written by Paul Simon. Marc Cohn, a victim of gun violence himself, said of the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence musicians including Cash and Browne, "They stand tall and they stand up for what they believe in."

Following Hawaii, musical events took place over the course of the day at places of faith, historical theaters and other venues across the country.

"Together we have power. If we rise to the challenge to unite and support sensible gun violence prevention measures in our cities and our towns, then we have the power to save lives. Let's use our power for good," said Eddie Vedder during his performance.

The call to action on Sunday was to make gun violence prevention a voting issue in November, and to educate voters on the issue starting with Monday's first presidential debate. Leading up to and on the day of the Concert Across America, organizers called for answers from the candidates on their solutions to curbing gun violence. Even though the question was not formally asked, the candidates still provided starkly different attitudes about gun violence in America.

"We were thrilled that Hillary Clinton took the opportunity during the debate to reiterate her position on the gun violence epidemic in America. Specifically on the need to strengthen the background check system to keep guns out of the hands of violent felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill," said John Rosenthal, founder Stop Handgun Violence and national co-chair of the Concert Across America.

The founder of the Million Mom March and concert co-chair Donna Dees said "It is remarkable how so many organizations were represented at events across the country. In the Beacon Theatre alone, there were representatives from Moms Demand Action, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, the Brady Campaign, Stop Handgun Violence and Gays Against Guns, all in agreement that we must make gun violence prevention a voting issue in November."

The audience at the Beacon Theater was filled with activists who cheered at each reference to ending gun violence and people who have had loved ones ripped from their lives including Trennelle Gabay, the widow of Governor Cuomo's lawyer who was gunned down in 2015. The parents of Allison Parker, who was murdered on-air during a news report for CBS in Roanoke along with Adam Ward, were in the audience. Andy and Barbara Parker held a backstage meeting with Marc Cohn and shared with him how much his song "Walking in Memphis" helped them.

Jackson Browne invited John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence and National Concert Chair, Dees and concert coalition chair, Zoe Grover on stage during the Beacon performance to get a standing ovation for bringing so many diverse groups across America together. On stage, John Rosenthal reminded the audience of the power of music to mobilize movements and encouraged audience members to hold Congress accountable. Rosenthal also announced that the original estimate of 1000 participating artists was grossly underestimated as the 350 events nationwide reported over 5,200 performers.

The artists and communities that participated in the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence reflect the diversity of the movement.

"More than 300 enthusiastic people filled our audience" said Boca Raton organizer Elin Schusterman. "More than double the response of any previous event we have held since our committee against gun violence was formed over three years ago. We had everyone take out their phones and save congresses number in their phone before putting them away for the concert. Our audience left fired up and ready for action."

"We had 40 musicians including Jeffrey Gaines, plus 25 visual artists and dozens of advocates, vendors, speakers and so much more" Said Eric Miller organizer of the Ewing NJ event. "We had diversity, we had community and we had solidarity, it was incredible."

Elsewhere, middle schoolers in Gloucester, MA played to a packed venue at a teens only open mic and at San Quinton State Prison an inmate choir was led by a member of Rabbis Against Gun Violence to sing of choosing hope over hate.

"This weekend, places of worship across the country raised their voices in song to raise awareness about America's gun violence epidemic and to promote love, kindness and peace." Said Brian Birch, Deputy National Coordinator of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.

"We're in awe of what these congregations accomplished. There was a performance from the University of Kentucky Black Voices choir at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Lexington, a multicultural choir performance by the World House Choir at First Presbyterian in Yellow Springs (Ohio), an interfaith event with 17 congregations gathering for an event they are calling 'Standing on the Side of Love' on the Capitol steps in Denver, and so many more. September 25th really was a day for standing on the side of love. Love can heal fear and policy change can save lives. We need both."

Others showed support with social media shout-outs. Bette Midler, Snoop Dog, Chelsea Handler, Sarah McLachlan, Valerie Jarrett, Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor are among those who expressed support using the hashtags #ConcertAcrossAmerica (to) #EndGunViolence.

For more information or to watch the live-stream from the Santa Barbara, CA concert, see the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBohOV4qP24.

Visit www.ConcertAcrossAmerica.org for more information. #ConcertAcrossAmerica to #EndGunViolence.

For more information, visit www.ConcertAcrossAmerica.org.

About the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence: This nationwide event will bring together a network of organizations, activists, and artists with the dual goals of keeping guns out of dangerous hands and making the issue of gun violence prevention top of mind for members of Congress, the presidential candidates, and the American people as they go to the polls in November 2016. Spearheaded by Stop Handgun Violence in Boston, more than 100 organizations have since signed on to support the effort including: Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Texas Musicians Against Gun Violence and volunteers from Moms Demand Action and volunteers from the Brady Campaign's Million Mom March chapters. For more information, visit www.concertacrossamerica.org.

Stop Handgun Violence (SHV) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization committed to the prevention of gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement, and common sense gun laws. SHV was founded by John Rosenthal, a gun owner and activist businessperson. SHV has been the lead advocate in urban industrial Massachusetts for enactment of some of the most effective gun violence prevention laws and of first-in-the-nation consumer protection regulations. Since 1994, gun deaths in the Commonwealth have been dramatically reduced without banning guns except military style assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines, the common weapons used in most mass shootings. The organization does not seek to restrict Constitutional rights but advocates only for common sense legislation that will help save lives without infringing on the Second Amendment. For more information, go to www.stophandgunviolence.org.

Concertacrossamerica.org | facebook.com/RememberSept25/ | #concertacrossamerica to #endgunviolence

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NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Prix Galien Foundation announced today the Nominees for its "Discovery of the Decade" awards covering distinguished industry achievement in medical innovation. This once-in-10-years special recognition is being held under the sponsorship of the Foundation's Awards Committee, comprising of nine renowned leaders from academia and industry, including four Nobel Laureates.

After 10 years of annual awards, the Prix Galien Awards Committee invited the awards winners to compete for the "Discovery of the Decade" awards which will honor their extraordinary human health impact for the three categories considered annually  Best Pharmaceutical Product, Best Biotech Product, and Best Medical Technology. The Discovery of the Decade awards winners will be announced at the 10th Annual Prix Galien USA Gala on Thursday, October 27, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

"The wonderful quality and broad diversity of medical innovations the Award Committee reviewed are the basis for the better outcomes of patients, illustrating that innovation is more exciting than ever," said P. Roy Vagelos, MD, chairman, Prix Galien USA Awards Committee and first recipient of the Foundation's Pro Bono Humanum Award for service in improving the human condition. "These extraordinary nominees demonstrate that great innovation translates into a brighter future for patients," he added.

Prix Galien USA is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Since the first Prix Galien USA awards in 2007, more than 250 new molecular entities [NMEs] have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]. This year may surpass the record number of 45 novel drugs brought forward by the biopharmaceutical industry to patients in 2015. Additionally, the FDA has reviewed and approved for use scores of medical devices and technologies in cardiovascular disease, surgical care and diagnostics.

To acknowledge participating companies' quality submissions, the Awards Committee is considering 33 products honored previously since 2007, plus the 2016 Prix Galien USA laureates in each of its three selection categories.

The Nominees are:

Best Pharmaceutical Product Category

2015  IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) Janssen and Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company 2014  SOVALDI (sofosbuvir) Gilead Sciences 2013  ZELBORAF (vemurafenib) Genentech 2011  PREVNAR 13 Pneumococcal Vaccine Pfizer Inc. 2012  INCIVEK (Telaprevir) Vertex Pharmaceuticals 2010  COARTEM (artemether/lumefantrine) Novartis 2009  GLEEVEC (imatinib mesylate) Novartis 2008  ISENTRESS (raltegravir) Merck & Co., Inc. SELZENTRY (maraviroc) Pfizer Inc. 2007  CHANTIX (varenicline) Pfizer Inc. JANUVIA (sitagliptin) Merck & Co., Inc.

Best Biotechnology Product Category

2015  KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Merck & Co., Inc. OPDIVO (nivolumab) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 2014  HEMACORD (HPC, Cord Blood) NY Blood Center's Howard P. Milstein Cord Blood Center 2013  ZOSTAVAX (Zoster Vaccine Live) Merck & Co., Inc. 2012  YERVOY (ipilimumab) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 2011  PROLIA and XGEVA (denosumab) Amgen Inc. STELARA (ustekinumab) Janssen 2010  ROTATEQ (Rotavirus Vaccine) Merck & Co., Inc. 2009  Nplate (romiplostim) Amgen Inc. PROMACTA (eltrombopag) Novartis (originally GSK) 2008  INFUSE Pfizer Inc. REVLIMID (lenalidomide) Celgene Corporation SOLIRIS (eculizumab) Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2007  GARDASIL Merck & Co., Inc. HUMIRA (adalimumab) AbbVie [Abbott]

Best Medical Technology Category

2015  T2Candida Panel T2 Biosystems 2014  TREVO XP ProVue Retriever Stryker 2013  S-ICD System  Boston Scientific Corporation 2012  MELODY  Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Medtronic SAPIEN  Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 2010  xTAG Luminex  2009  CELLSEARCH Janssen Diagnostics, LLC

Bruno Cohen, Chairman of the Galien Foundation, points out to the inclusion of medical devices and related technologies in the Discovery of the Decade Awards beginning in 2009. "The Foundation recognizes that innovation that impacts human life takes varied forms. Whether tablet, biologic or technology, improving patient quality of life is a shared priority. Our objective is to demonstrate the positive health impact over time of many forms of innovation."

The three recipients of the Discovery of the Decade awards are determined independently by the Prix Galien USA Committee based on a single criterion  their record and potential for impacting human health. Product sales data are not considered by the Committee in its decisions, nor are there any financial or promotional inducements permitted from candidates and their representatives.

Registration to attend the 2016 Ceremony can be accessed here .

Galien Awards Committee 2016

Pr Richard Axel, M.D., Nobel Laureate, Co-director, the Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University Medical Center, New York

Pr Michael S. Brown, M.D., Nobel Laureate, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Pr Laurie Glimcher, M.D., CEO and President, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Pr Joseph Goldstein, M.D., Nobel Laureate, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Internal Medicine, UT, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Pr Robert S. Langer, M.D., David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT

Pr Paul A. Marks, M.D., Laboratory Head of Cell Biology Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York , President, Emeritus, MSKCC

Pr Bengt Samuelsson, M.D., Ph.D., Nobel Laureate, Former President of Karolinska Institute and Former Chairman of the Nobel Foundation

Pr Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Ph.D., President, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Pr Roy Vagelos, M.D., Chairman, Prix Galien Committee, Chairman of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, inc. and Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc.

About the Galien Foundation

The Galien Foundation fosters, recognizes and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve the state of human health. Our vision is to be the catalyst for the development of the next generation of innovative treatment and technologies that will impact human health and save lives.

The Foundation oversees and directs activities in the USA for the Prix Galien, an international award that recognizes outstanding achievements in improving the human condition through the development of innovative therapies. The Prix Galien was created in France in 1970 in honor of Galen, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. Worldwide, the Prix Galien is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical and medical technology research.

The Galien Foundation and the Awards Committee mourns the loss of its Honorary Member, Pr. Elie Wiesel, Peace Nobel Laureate, Boston University Professor Emeritus, who passed away on July 2, 2016.

For more information, visit www.galienfoundation.org

Galien Foundation Media Contacts

Mr. Lee Davies/Biopharmaceutical categories

Makovsky

[email protected]

212-508-9651

Ms. Kristen Berry/Medical Technologies category

Finn Partners

[email protected]

774-573-0455

SOURCE The Galien Foundation

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BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WealthEngine (WE), the leading provider of predictive marketing, analytics and audience development services, is pleased to announce its collaboration with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to fighting blood cancer. WealthEngine aims to help further LLS's goal of creating a world without blood cancer by improving their overall donor development strategy through valuable solutions, data, and analytics.

WealthEngine will bring its powerful wealth intelligence to LLS through a complete solution that includes FindWealth 8, WE Prospect, and WE Analyze  the world's first automated modeling and analytics tool for fundraising. Coupled with screening services, professional services, and training, LLS is enabled to achieve their fundraising and donor development strategies and targets.

WealthEngine will provide comprehensive wealth insight to LLS through the WE Salesforce Connector, a powerful integration with the Salesforce platform. Through this solution, LLS will benefit from greatly enriched profiles of both current and prospective donors right directly within their own Salesforce instance.

By working with WealthEngine, LLS will be able to:

Realize an uplift in fundraising

Analyze current donors to target more like their best

Identify and segment potential donors

Prioritize and inform donor engagement with ratings and scores

Infuse Salesforce in real time with actionable donor data

"We are very excited to join with WealthEngine; they have a passion and dedication for helping nonprofits reach their fundraising goals to further their missions," said Claude Edkins, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at LLS. "Using WealthEngine along with Salesforce will help us become much more data-driven and drive fundraising results. As a result, we have already increased our major gift thresholds."

"We are extremely proud to work with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and welcome them to the WealthEngine family," said Mark Logan, President and CEO at WealthEngine. "At WealthEngine we look to empower nonprofits and provide them with solutions to fulfill their missions, and that's what we're doing with LLS. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with them."

About WealthEngine

WealthEngine, Inc. is the leading provider of predictive marketing analytics, audience development and wealth intelligence services to nonprofit organizations, financial services, and luxury brands. Named a Cool Vendor in Data-Driven Marketing by Gartner, marketers and fundraisers use WealthEngine's comprehensive insights to understand what drives consumer decisions and when best to engage them. Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, WealthEngine serves both the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit wealthengine.com.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.

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FREEHOLD, N.J., Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- UMH Properties, Inc. (NYSE:UMH) announced that it will present to the Philadelphia Securities Association on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. The Forum will be held at the Union League of Philadelphia located in Philadelphia, PA.

Samuel A. Landy, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present an overview of the Company followed by a question and answer session. It is a luncheon meeting that will start at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The presentation will be available on the homepage of the Company's website at www.umh.reit .

UMH Properties, Inc., which was organized in 1968, is a public equity REIT that owns and operates one hundred manufactured home communities containing approximately 18,000 developed homesites. These communities are located in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana and Michigan. In addition, the Company owns a portfolio of REIT securities.

SOURCE UMH Properties, Inc.

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MUNICH and BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unify, the Atos brand for communications software and services, today announced OpenScape Enterprise Express v9 for midsize companies looking for the productivity and competitive edge of a large enterprise solution at the cost and ease of integration that is right for their business. OpenScape Enterprise Express v9 delivers an all-in-one solution for connecting, communicating and collaborating with simplified installation, advances that reduce communications costs by 50% and innovative application packaging for increased productivity.

This latest version of OpenScape Enterprise Express is a complete solution that brings midsize companies scale and flexibility while reducing the overall cost of ownership of their communications and collaboration solutions. Midsize business leaders are looking for solutions that meet security standards to keep their business safe, web based applications for fast deployment to new users and easy installation that takes days, not weeks to be up and running.

"This latest version of OpenScape Enterprise Express offers us a powerful yet simple solution which we have easily integrated into our technology infrastructure," said Rob Rouse, Engineer Manager at Datasharp UK. "With the applications being web based we can roll it out with ease to anyone in the business to begin using almost immediately."

"Our roadmap is aggressive in delivering solutions for companies of all sizes who are managing their communications and collaborations solutions in an increasingly complex business environment," said Luiz Domingos, head of product house for Unify. "We spend a lot of time understanding the unique needs of midsize companies and OpenScape Enterprise Express v9 delivers the all-in-one solution that fast growing, innovative companies require to be competitive."

OpenScape Enterprise Express v9 Details

For a complete list of OpenScape Enterprise Express v9 features and functionality visit Unify's website.

Digital transformation

- Ideal migration path for companies moving towards all IP-solutions.

- Integration into Microsoft Office 365 including Skype for Business on premise and in the cloud.

- Support for VMware hypervisor.

- Operates on Windows Server 2012.

Simplifies and expands opportunities

- Increased scaling up to 5,000 users as well as up to 250 contact center agents and 25 managers expands the range of opportunities and provides higher flexibility and reduced total cost of ownership.

- Includes an optional centralized SBC which integrates support for SIP trunking and remote worker access.

- Introduces additional applications which provides higher value and cost reduction.

Increased productivity and survivability

- Easy and flexible deployment on dedicated hardware or in a virtual environment for as few as 200 users or as many as 5,000. OpenScape Enterprise Express can also be integrated with Unify contact center.

- Auto installation shortens configuration time and reduces data errors.

- Maximizes business continuity by providing a second voice node.

OpenScape Enterprise Express also integrates the following OpenScape software applications into a single ready-to-deploy solution appliance:

OpenScape Voice, a SIP-based full-feature central communication server.

OpenScape UC Application, Unify's Unified Communications platform.

OpenScape Xpressions for Unified Messaging.

OpenScape Contact Center Enterprise, best in class contact center solution.

OpenScape Common Management Platform, Unify's common management interface for core applications and select network elements.

OpenScape Deployment Service, used for IP endpoint management including plug and play, quality of service (QoS) parameters and security certificate distribution.

OpenScape User Management, a user centric administration tool that is template driven and reduces the overall administrative efforts required.

OpenScape Concierge, Unify's Attendant Console solution

OpenScape Enterprise Express includes support for German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and English and is available immediately from authorized partners.

About Unify

Unify is one of the world's leading communications software and services brands, providing integrated communications and collaboration solutions worldwide. Our customers range in size from 5 employees to 500,000+ employees. Our solutions unify multiple voice, video and data networks, connected devices and applications into one easy-to-use platform that allows teams to collaborate effectively and efficiently  anytime, anywhere. The result is a transformation of how the enterprise communicates and collaborates that amplifies collective effort, energizes the business, improves employee satisfaction and enhances business performance. Unify has a strong heritage of product reliability, innovation, open standards and security. Our OpenScape and Circuit communications solutions provide a seamless and efficient collaboration experience  on any device. Together, the group's global team of UCC experts and service professionals set the standard for a rich communications and collaboration experience that empowers teams to deliver better results. Unify is an Atos company.

About Atos

Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is a leader in digital services with pro forma annual revenue of circa  12 billion and circa 100,000 employees in 72 countries. Serving a global client base, the Group provides Consulting & Systems Integration services, Managed Services & BPO, Cloud operations, Big Data & Cyber-security solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry. With its deep technology expertise and industry knowledge, the Group works with clients across different business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications, and Transportation.

Atos is focused on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm of the future. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and is listed on the Euronext Paris market. Atos operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline.

SOURCE Unify

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MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. (Upsher-Smith) today announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Pharmathen S.A. to develop and distribute a generic product in a market category with U.S. sales of more than $500 million (IMS Health, 12 months ending in July 2016). This new collaboration illustrates Upsher-Smith's ongoing interest in building strategic relationships to grow its generic product pipeline.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pharmathen will develop, manufacture and supply the product. Upsher-Smith will submit the ANDA, market and distribute the product exclusively in the United States as a generic under the Upsher-Smith label. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

"Upsher-Smith is pleased to collaborate with Pharmathen, one of the fastest growing generic companies in Europe," said Rusty Field, President, Upsher-Smith. "Our commitment to quality and cost-effective products, coupled with the highest level of customer support, has helped make Upsher-Smith a trusted partner in the U.S. generics marketplace."

About Upsher-Smith

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., founded in 1919, is a growing, fully integrated pharmaceutical company dedicated to its mission of delivering high-value, high-quality therapies and solutions which measurably improve individuals' lives. As a family-owned pharmaceutical company, we are able to adapt and thrive in a dynamic healthcare environment. Our world is constantly evolving, and we are continually adapting to the ever-changing needs of patients, physicians, pharmacists, and healthcare organizations. Where there is a need, we will work to deliver solutions that simplify access to treatment, deliver better health outcomes, and enhance life. For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

About Pharmathen

Pharmathen is a leading European pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and out-licensing of complex drug delivery platforms, such as Long Acting Injectable technologies, Sustained Release formulations and Preservative Free Ophthalmics. It is one of the very few independent, vertically integrated specialty drug developers in Europe and has a long and successful development and commercialisation track record. Pharmathen has developed more than 110 dossiers to date and has filed more than 90 patents successfully, leading to over 6,500 market authorisations. Its own developed products are out-licensed to 200 global blue-chip customers and sold in over 80 countries by the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Pharmathen's business is entirely vertically integrated, with 1,000 employees working across three state of the art research laboratories and two manufacturing units.

111867.01

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SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A Kansas federal judge has ruled that hundreds of thousands of corn farmers' claims against Syngenta may proceed as a class action. Plaintiffs allege that Syngenta prematurely and irresponsibly sold Agrisure Viptera and Duracade, causing significant losses to corn farmers across the country. It is estimated by the plaintiffs that U.S. corn producers lost between $5-7 billion in current and future revenue because China stopped importing U.S. corn when Syngenta's new genetically modified trait contaminated export shipments from the United States. China had not yet approved that corn for import when Syngenta started selling its seed on a wide-spread basis across the U.S. Those losses were suffered by all corn producers (including crop-share landlords) who marketed corn in the fall of 2013 or later, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs.

"The Court's ruling will make it easier and less expensive for farmers to pursue their claims against Syngenta," said Scott Powell who, along with Don Downing, William Chaney and Patrick Stueve, was appointed by the Court as attorneys to represent the class. "Instead of having to retain and pay individual counsel, file their own lawsuit, produce voluminous farm records, sit for a deposition and appear at trial, the Court found that all class members may attempt to prove their claims through a limited number of class representatives. If those class representatives win, all class members win. No individual farmer has to file a lawsuit to seek a recovery." In his ruling certifying the class, the Honorable John W. Lungstrum, a United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, found that a class action was superior to hundreds of thousands of individual lawsuits: "Tens of thousands of putative class members have not brought individual actions, and the great efficiencies that may be achieved make class actions superior to individual actions, despite the fact that so many individuals actions have been filed."

Downing, who was appointed co-lead counsel in the Bayer genetically modified rice litigation and led the negotiations that resulted in a $750 million global cash settlement for farmers, said that class certification is a significant win for the farmers. "Syngenta vigorously opposed our motion. The Court considered thousands of pages of argument and evidence, heard live testimony from our damages experts, and oral argument from counsel. Although not a decision on the merits, it is a significant win for the farmers." In assessing the strength of the plaintiffs' evidence that all corn producers were injured, the Court found that "it would defy logic if the overall demand for corn, as reflected in the centralized exchange price for the commodity, did not bear on local prices."

In response to the Court's order, William Chaney addressed the thousands of solicitations that lawyers have been sending to farmers about the litigation. "Lots of lawyers are out there soliciting clients. Now that a class is certified, the Court will authorize mailing of a notice to corn producers within the class describing the benefits and consequences of remaining in the class. I urge any farmer considering whether to retain an individual lawyer to wait for the Court's notice before making a decision." The Court has not yet set a deadline for farmers to decide whether they want to be excluded from the class.

Downing, Stueve, Powell and Chaney have been working virtually full time on the case since they were appointed as co-lead counsel for the federal multi-district litigation (MDL) by Judge Lungstrum in January 2015. There are lawsuits pending in Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois. As Patrick Stueve explained, "Our group has taken the lead in getting discovery from Syngenta and in developing the expert witnesses that will be needed to prove both liability and damages. Our law firms have taken hundreds of hours of depositions all across the globe  in the United States, Hong Kong, London, and Australia. Our team has reviewed millions of pages of responsive documents." In appointing them to represent the class, the Court found that that the "history of this litigation has demonstrated that [these lawyers] will diligently and ably prosecute the class claims." It is anticipated that Judge Lungstrum will try the first MDL case against Syngenta in June 2017. "We are very excited about the strength of the case and look forward to presenting our evidence to a jury," said Stueve.

The class certified by Judge Lungstrum covers farmers in every state. A copy of the order is available at www.syngentacornlitigation.com and provides specific information about the corn farmers covered by the certified classes. Agrisure Viptera and Duracade purchasers are excluded. The attorneys appointed to represent the class are with the law firms of: Gray Reed & McGraw, P.C.; Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C.; Hare Wynn Newell & Newton; and Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP.

To interview an attorney about the judge's ruling to certify the case, contact:

For more information and background on the case, go to www.syngentacornlitigation.com

About the Firms

Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C. is a St. Louis, Missouri based firm representing individuals and companies since the firm's founding in 1946. They represent farmers and consumers who have been harmed by the actions of others. www.grgpc.com

Gray Reed & McGraw, P.C. is a full-service Texas based law firm founded in 1985 with more than 120 lawyers practicing in Dallas and Houston. www.grayreed.com

Hare Wynn Newell & Newton is in its second century representing plaintiffs and offers a broad range of legal services from offices in Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky. www.hwnn.com

Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP is a Kansas City, Missouri based law firm representing businesses and individuals in high stakes litigation on a contingency fee model. The firm includes over 30 lawyers in Kansas City, New York and San Diego and represents plaintiffs and defendants nationwide in complex business, class action, wage and hour, environmental, and product liability litigation and trials. www.stuevesiegel.com

SOURCE Stueve Siegel Hanson

Related Links

http://www.stuevesiegel.com


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IAP Worldwide Services, Inc., managing member of IAP-ECC, LLC, is joined by only four companies awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, the Global Contingency Support Multiple Award Contract II (GCSMAC II), for up to $900 million by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"IAP is proud to continue to serve our customers around the world who rely on us to deliver ingenious solutions to their most demanding challenges," said Doug Kitani, IAP Worldwide Services CEO and Director. "Our selection to support the U.S. Navy's Global Contingency Services is in keeping with the high standard and expertise to make our customers' mission our mission."

IAP has gained a reputation of excellence supporting these contingency-based contracts with DoD entities. Under the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program (AFCAP), IAP is the only government services provider selected for all four Air Force programs since 1996. "As a current incumbent for the Navy under the predecessor GCSMAC I, we are currently executing Task Orders globally in support of NAVFAC. The IAP-ECC Team, a joint venture, is pleased to continue providing critical infrastructure support operations and maintenance, and contingency services for the Navy," added Rick Nohmer, Vice President for Global Support Services charged with operating the program.

The services provided to the Navy will include facility support services with incidental construction in support of natural disasters, humanitarian efforts, the full range of military actions, and incumbent breaks in service at locations around the world supporting our Nation's efforts.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, is the contracting authority expecting the completion by September 2024.

About IAP

A leading international services company for more than 60 years, IAP provides a broad spectrum of services and solutions to U.S. and international government agencies, and organizations. A world-class leader in providing seasoned program management, IAP leverages and integrates its capabilities to provide safe, innovative, and reliable solutions to meet customers' diverse and complex challenges. IAP's maintains offices in the Washington, D.C. area, Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma, the United Kingdom and the Middle East, and operates in more than 110 locations in 27 countries. Visit www.iapws.com for more information.

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SOURCE IAP Worldwide Services, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.iapws.com


New York, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Viamedia, the largest independent cable TV ad management company, announced the fourth annual Viamedia & Hardee's $10,000 College Fund Contest. The contest offers Kentucky students who've demonstrated their dedication to academic achievement and community leadership the chance to win a $10,000 scholarship prize to help alleviate the rising costs of college tuition.

"We are thrilled to help foster the next generation and provide such a life-changing opportunity to Kentucky students," said Becky Jones, Viamedia Chief Marketing & People Officer. "Both Viamedia and Hardee's believe that a combination of hard work, ambition and community involvement is the recipe for success, and wish to give one lucky student the confidence to turn their dreams into reality."

"No student should be denied a college education because of the steep cost of tuition," said Mindi McGinnis, a representative from Hardee's franchise group, Heritage Assets & the Lexington Coop. "This scholarship provides more than just financial support -- it is an incredible feeling to know that people want to see you succeed, and this is exactly what Hardee's and Viamedia want to express to Kentucky students."

The Viamedia & Hardee's $10,000 College Fund Contest has had tremendous success and a significant impact on past winners. Dustin Stamper, winner of the 2015 scholarship, has since graduated with a degree in nursing from Morehead State University and now works as a registered nurse at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex.

"Winning this scholarship was an unbelievable experience for me," said Stamper. "Nursing school is very stressful, and this scholarship gave me not only financial stability, but a major confidence boost to know somebody believed in me."

Emily Neff, winner of the 2014 scholarship, is equally as grateful for the opportunity. After winning the scholarship, she married her high school best friend and is now expecting her first child. She continues to go to school, and maintains that the scholarship made this possible.

"I have friends that are going to be $30,000-$40,000 in debt when they graduate, and it's such a relief to know that I won't be in that situation," said Neff. "This scholarship allowed me to continue my education in spite of some tough times, and I really can't even begin to express my gratitude."

The Viamedia & Hardee's $10,000 College Fund Contest is open to Central Kentucky students enrolled in a Kentucky college or university by December 31, 2016, who have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and are at least 17 years old. Eligible entrants will compete for the scholarship by writing short essays related to their educational goals and contributions to the community. The scholarship contest ends on November 15, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Potential entrants can go to http://www.hardeessupportsstudents.com for complete details, official rules and to enter for the opportunity to win the grand prize.

About Viamedia

Headquartered in New York City, Viamedia is the largest independent cable TV ad management company for local, regional and national advertising, programmatic and ad tech solutions, responsible for nearly one million spots per day on behalf to over 12,000 advertisers. The company specializes in selling advertising on behalf of 60 U.S. cable and telecommunications service providers, utility companies and municipalities, and employs approximately 380 people across the country. The company also operates placemedia, a programmatic data-driven TV ad platform, which aggregates ad inventory from Viamedia, major MVPDs and more than 40 national cable networks across 210 DMAs. For more information, please visit www.viamediatv.com and www.placemedia.com.

About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ("CKE") is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. Through its subsidiaries, CKE owns and licenses Carl's Jr. and Hardee's quick-service restaurants. CKE operates Carl's Jr. and Hardee's as one brand under two names acknowledging the regional heritage of both banners. After opening its first restaurants in New York and New Jersey this spring and recent international openings in Canada, Colombia and Guatemala, CKE now has a total of 3,626 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 36 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Known for its one-of-a-kind premium menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers, Made from Scratch Biscuits, and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, as well as an award-winning marketing approach, the Carl's Jr./Hardee's brand continues to deliver substantial and consistent growth in the U.S. and overseas. The Carl's Jr./Hardee's system is now 91 percent franchised, with international restaurants representing 18 percent of the system. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.

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SOURCE Viamedia

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http://www.viamediatv.com


MIAMI, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has announced plans to open and operate a new hotel in Milpitas, California, within a new neighborhood development of top tier residential and retail stores called "The Fields." The mixed used development broke ground in November 2015 and the hotel is expected to break ground in Fall 2017. The Silicon Valley hotel will be managed by Virgin Hotels and developed by Lyon Living.

"As we grow the Virgin Hotels brand, the way we continue to expand our footprint in key destinations that align with our brand values is incredibly exciting. Our move into Silicon Valley is the perfect example of this, given our dedication to thoughtful technology within our guest experience," says Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. "The city of Milpitas is also experiencing a revitalization driven by the tech industry and developments like The Fields, so we're thrilled to be a significant part of that growth and look forward to welcoming those travelers visiting Silicon Valley for both business and pleasure."

Virgin Hotels Silicon Valley will complement The Fields, a development community comprising more than 1,100 residential units and 150,000 square feet of retail space. Named after the "fields of science" that are deeply engrained within the local tech community, this development is a large factor in the city of Milpitas' transformation into a major tech-hub and residential area. The city is in good company given its close proximity to San Jose's "Golden Triangle," and this new development will be just steps from the BART system's new gateway that will directly link the city to northwestern areas of Santa Clara County.

"Perfectly positioned in the tech capital of the world, we're pushing the boundaries of style and convenience in modern living, creating an environment uniquely suited to today's residents and tomorrow's entrepreneurs," says Lyon Living CEO, Frank T. Suryan, Jr. "From the Virgin hotel, to the world-class training facility, art installations, pop-up shops, upscale retail & restaurants, and sustainability-driven grocery store, we're redefining Silicon Valley living."

Virgin Hotels Silicon Valley, anticipated to open Fall 2019, will feature 200 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites; multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand's flagship space, The Commons Club; a coffee shop; numerous meeting spaces; and a rooftop bar and live music venue. Strategically located between the I-680 and I-880 freeways, the development is also adjacent to Milpitas' Great Mall, which is currently undergoing a $20 million renovation.

The brand's first hotel, Virgin Hotels Chicago, is now open and accepting reservations at www.virginhotels.com, with Nashville, Dallas, Palm Springs and New York slated to open next. Virgin Hotels continues to explore properties in cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, and London; locations where it is pursuing hotel and office conversions and ground-up development.

For more information about Virgin Hotels, please contact Amanda Caskey at [email protected] or 646-340-1723.

About Virgin Hotels:

Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service, straightforward value and a seamless, personalized hotel experience with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for over 40 years. Each property will intermix a passion for food and beverage with music and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. Virgin Hotels Chicago is now open, with Nashville, Dallas, Palm Springs, New York and others to follow. For more information, please visit www.virginhotels.com.

About Lyon Living:

Lyon Living is a leading real estate development and investment company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Established in 1988 by General William Lyon and Frank T. Suryan Jr., it is recognized as one of the largest and most respected privately held multi-family real estate companies in Southern California. The company has a market capitalization of more than $2.0 billion and has acquired over 21,000 units and managed the development and renovation of over 30,000 units in California, Colorado, Florida and Georgia. Lyon Living takes pride in its ability to provide long-term, income-producing investments for their investors, while offering residents a variety of housing and amenity choices in some of the finest and most innovative rental living communities in the country. For more information: http://www.lyonliving.com/

SOURCE Virgin Hotels

Related Links

http://www.virginhotels.com


BALTIMORE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, today hosts its 10th annual Employee Giving Program. At the event, 25 employees will each present a check for $20,000 to a Maryland nonprofit consistent with the Foundation's mission and grant guidelines. A total of $500,000 will be awarded this year. More than $2.5 million has been distributed since the inception of this professional development and mission-focused effort.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 11:45 a.m.  2:00 p.m.

 Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park at Living Classrooms

1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21231

"This event is particularly meaningful to all of us at the Foundation," said Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and CEO. "We are thrilled to be able to provide the entire staff with the opportunity to personally engage in the grantmaking process for the 10th consecutive year. The fact that this year's event will represent our largest distribution in the history of this program makes this day even more special."

Here are this year's grantees:

1. Access Carroll Megan Franey, Marketing Associate

Carroll County

To support the general operations of this organization that provides reduced-cost medical, dental, behavioral health, and recovery support services for more than 6,000 residents

2. Art with a Heart Leisel Harry, Program Associate, Library and Special Projects

Baltimore City

To support a program that provides job-skills training for homeless, abused, and vulnerable youth

3. Arundel Lodge Brian Clark, Investment Analyst

Anne Arundel County

To support the general operations of this organization that works to improve the lives of children, adults, and families impacted by mental health and substance use disorders

4. Assistance Center of Towson Churches David Gilmore, Managing Director of Investments

Baltimore County

To support the general operations of this organization that provides emergency assistance and basic services for residents

5. Baltimore Corps Jennifer Jordan, Executive Assistant

Baltimore City

To support four fellowships that will connect professionals to high-impact roles in nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies

6. Baltimore Crisis Response Christina Laumann, Program Assistant Manager

Baltimore City

To support the purchase of a client transportation vehicle for this organization that provides psychiatric crisis intervention and addictions treatment services in the least restrictive environment possible

7. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake Shakera Tuggle, Receptionist

Baltimore City

To support the Mentoring Young Boys of Color program that provides youth with mentors who encourage them to be confident, resilient, and empathetic and connects families to resources with the goal of promoting family stability

8. B'More Fit for Healthy Babies Amy Kleine, Program Director, Basic Human Needs & Health

Baltimore City

To support a program that helps women learn healthy eating and living practices after the birth of a child

9. Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County Jack Meeker, Network Administrator/Real Estate Associate

Harford County

To support the i3 Stem program that helps youth develop their interest and skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

10. Fisher House Foundation Jonathan Hook, Chief Investment Officer

Silver Spring

To support the general operations of this organization that provides a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment

11. Generations United Aaron Merki, Program Officer, Older Adults (US)

Baltimore City (Sandtown-Winchester)

To support the Grandfamilies initiative that assists older adults serving as primary caregivers to their grandchildren

12. Helping Up Mission Kyle McNair, Controller

Baltimore City

To support the Spiritual Recovery program that provides hope to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction by meeting their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs

13. Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition Zack Dixon, Executive Assistant

Baltimore City

To support the Youth Opportunities program that provides GED classes, counseling, career training, life-skills workshops, and social activities for youth ages 16 to 21

14. Let's Go Boys & Girls Rachel Duden, Program Associate, US Education and MSGP

Baltimore City

To support the general operations of this organization that provides in-school and out-of-school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programming for students, kindergarten through grade eight

15. Light Health and Wellness Comprehensive Services Kallie Wasserman, Executive Assistant, Investments

Baltimore City

To support the general operations of this organization that provides early childhood education and family support for individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and other long-term health challenges

16. Lighthouse Yvonne Sporrer, Special Projects Coordinator/Assistant to Director of Marketing & Communications

Baltimore County

To support the general operations of this organization that works to promote a positive, healthy community that enhances the growth and development of children, youth, and families

17. Loving Arms Frank Jarrell, Accounting Manager

Baltimore City

To support an emergency shelter for homeless youth and young adults

18. Main Street Housing Stan Goldman, Program Director, Disabilities/Education (Israel)

Baltimore City

To support the purchase and renovation of a permanent, affordable home for two individuals with psychiatric disabilities

19. My Sister's Circle Sheryl Goldstein, Managing Director, Programs & Grants/Program Director, Education (US)

Baltimore City

To support the general operations of this organization that provides a mentoring program for girls as they transition from middle school through college

20. NAMI Maryland Jen Banks, Graphic/Web Design Coordinator

Throughout Maryland

To support the general operations of this organization that assists individuals living with mental illness and their families

21. Sixth Branch Kate Sorestad, Program Officer, Libraries, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Veterans Grants

Baltimore City (Oliver, Johnston Square, and Darley Park)

To support the general operations of this organization that brings together military veterans and community volunteers to execute neighborhood revitalization projects

22. South Baltimore Learning Center Marci Hunn, Program Director, Workforce Development

Baltimore City

To support the general operations of this organization that provides functional literacy and life-skills training as well as career preparation services for residents

23. Wide Angle Youth Media Craig Demchak, Director of Marketing & Communications

Baltimore City

To support the general operations of this organization that provides youth with media arts education to tell their own stories and become engaged with their communities

24. Women's Law Center of Maryland Nakia Horton, GIFTS Administrator

Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Carroll County

To support the Protective Order Advocacy and Representation Project (POARP) that provides representation for victims of domestic violence in protective order hearings

25. Young Audiences of Maryland Arlene Hayden, Chief of Staff

Baltimore City

To support initiatives that allow Baltimore City Public Schools to receive arts programs at a reduced cost and to support The Wolf Trap Early Learning program that allows teachers to receive arts programs in their classrooms at a reduced cost

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the US and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and our priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Chicago, and Hawaii. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Alvin Awaya, Donn Weinberg, Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Fay Hartog-Levin, and Chair Barry I. Schloss. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159

[email protected]

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Related Links

www.hjweinbergfoundation.org


WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WiserTogether, Inc., the treatment decision support pioneer, announced a new partnership with Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI) and Peers Health that includes rights to use WLDI's Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) data to power its consumer-facing treatment guidance solutions.

The first of its kind solution, Return to Health, offers health care consumers the ability to see which treatments helped patients recover most quickly from a wide variety of conditions, including cardiac and musculoskeletal diagnoses. The addition of the ODG data is a game-changing enhancement to its tools that currently incorporate curated clinical evidence and proprietary patient satisfaction ratings data.

"Our research showed duration is a common primary concern to consumers as they consider treatment choices," said WiserTogether founder, Shub Debgupta. "Let's face it, no one wants to be sicker, longer. By incorporating the ODG guidelines into our proprietary systems, we can help consumers understand how to minimize the time they lose from their productive, daily lives when they are sick or injured."

Jon Seymour, CEO of Peers Health, added, "When we partnered with WLDI over a year ago, our goal was to expand the use of ODG into mainstream health care. When patients return to work, they have demonstrably returned to health. Empowering patients with real-world data to make good treatment choices is fundamental to improving every physician-patient encounter. Payers, plan sponsors, and providers all stand to benefit from patient exposure to this new, revolutionary treatment guidance."

Payers, plan sponsors, and providers all stand to benefit from patient exposure to this new, revolutionary treatment guidance. A recent study found compliance with ODG guidelines resulted in over 37% savings on incurred medical costs and a 13% reduction in disability duration. Matt Halle, WiserTogether Chief Commercial Officer said, "The health care industry has known for 30 years that Shared Decision Making drives higher satisfaction and lower costs. Return to Health elevates that process by making all the critical elements necessary for true patient engagement accessible at the critical moment of decision."

The company will begin offering its Return to Health solution to plan sponsors, employers, payers and health care providers in late 2016/early 2017.

About WiserTogether, Inc.

WiserTogether's personalized healthcare treatment comparison software enables consumers to choose the right treatmentthe most effective in outcome, most personally suitable, and most cost-effective and affordable. The result is improved health and improved costs for consumers, their employers, payers and providers. The company serves over three million people through their employers and health plans. For more information about WiserTogether, please visit www.wisertogether.com or follow the company at twitter.com/wisertogether.

About Work Loss Data Institute

WLDI is the organization behind the ODG product line. ODG is the most comprehensive and up-to-date suite of medical treatment, return-to-work (RTW) and claims analytics guidelines, providing evidence-based decision support to improve as well as benchmark health and RTW outcomes.

About Peers Health

Peers Health, based in Chicago and Denver, is an experienced participant in the return to work and medical publishing industries. It provides consulting, distribution, and product development services aimed at improving patient outcomes through integrated decision support and data-driven medicine.

WiserTogether Press Contact:

Victor Johanson

480-382-6170

[email protected]

SOURCE WiserTogether, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.wisertogether.com


SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), today announced the US Department of Labor has awarded its registered tech apprenticeship program, Apprenti, a $7.5 million ApprenticeshipUSA contract to expand nationwide. Apprenti was the only program selected to address the growing talent needs of the tech industry as a part of the federal government's historic $20.4 million investment in apprenticeship. This contract makes Washington State a national model for registered tech apprenticeship as Apprenti scales its best practices to recruit, train, and place new tech workers across the US. The program focuses on bridging the skills and diversity gap within the nation's tech sector by giving underrepresented groups including women, minorities, and veterans a path and a plan for a successful career in this high wage, rapid growth industry.

"Washington state's diverse economy is built on innovation and continues to be a hub for the rapidly growing national and global technology ecosystem. We're proud to be leading the charge to ensure that Americans will have the skills and access that they need to succeed in a 21st century economy, while delivering our companies the talent they need to grow and thrive," said Gov. Jay Inslee.

Nearly every modern business across all sectors needs people with technology skills. Recruitment of tech talent across the country is booming with demand growing at a rate twice as fast as other industries. For example, experts from The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast a surge of over 1.3 million new computer programming and computer support specialist jobs by 2022. As their need grows, companies are also struggling to increase diversity among its workforce. Less than twenty percent of the tech workforce is female, less than three percent is Hispanic or African American, and there are an even smaller number of veterans. Apprenti taps into this overlooked talent pool by assisting those under represented in the tech sector. Once accepted, the program provides them with two to four months of certified technical training followed by one year of full-time, paid, on-the-job training with one of Apprenti's many hiring partners like Microsoft, F5 Networks and Accenture.

To facilitate its nationwide expansion, Apprenti will form a National Registered Tech Apprenticeship Committee with representatives from top companies across the primary sectors within the industry including TeleCom, SaaS, cloud, hardware, and more. This committee of influential corporate tech leaders will be tasked with informing Apprenti in the creation of job taxonomy for apprenticeable jobs in-demand across the country. These companies will be committed to hiring apprentices through the program, which will lay the foundation of an employer driven model. Apprenti will engage directly with the committee and a broad network of large national tech employers to expand into states based upon where they express their greatest need for apprentices. Microsoft and Accenture have already signed on to participate nationally in these hiring and outreach efforts. These activities will provide a much-needed national structure for employers to identify critical tech workforce needs and challenges that can be addressed through industry-driven apprenticeships.

"Millions of dollars being invested at the federal level in the Apprenti program validates the effectiveness of the registered apprenticeship model we have created for the tech industry. We will work tirelessly to expand this model on a national scale to bring new job opportunities to the underrepresented while delivering the tech skills our country needs," said Jennifer Carlson, Executive Director, Apprenti.

Propelling Apprenti onto the national stage signifies progress towards Congress' goal of doubling and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship nationwide made possible due to bipartisan support for ApprenticeshipUSA. This year, Congress set aside $90 million to support this comprehensive set of strategies designed to expand job opportunities by collaborating with industry partners, like the WTIA, to streamline paths for standing up Registered Apprenticeship programs in key industries and occupations.

"I am so glad to see Washington Technology Industry Association building on the successful launch of their innovative apprenticeship program in Washington state, and this contract will help it fill jobs that are in demand in every sector of the economy," Senator Murray said. "These models show the way forward for apprenticeship programs in today's economy, and I applaud WTIA for their leadership."

"Our tech economy in Washington state is growing, but we still need more skilled workers to compete in the global economy and ship products," Senator Cantwell said. "Winning this contract will help us train hundreds of new tech workers in Washington state and across the country."

Our country has vast untapped, locally based human resources, and Apprenti is designed to help employers tap them more effectively. Employers are strongly encouraged to get involved in Apprenti, reach out to inform them of hiring needs, and disclose where the program can best deliver talent to meet demand. If your company would like to join in the groundbreaking work of building a nationwide registered tech apprenticeship model or if you're interested in becoming a founding member of US tech apprenticeship committee, please contact Jennifer Carlson at https://apprenticareers.org/staff-member/jennifer-carlson/.

To learn more about current Apprenti apprenticeship opportunities, please visit www.ApprentiCareers.org.

About Apprenti

Apprenti is a registered apprenticeship program powered by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and run by the WTIA Workforce Institute. Apprenti trains future tech workers with an emphasis on underrepresented groups including women, minorities, and veterans. Apprenti is an industry recognized, state accredited program. Apprentices will receive two to four months of full-time, industry recognized training then begin one-year of paid on-the-job training with one of the program's hiring partners. The program is partially funded through both a ApprenticeshipUSA contract and grant from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), with support from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and JP Morgan Chase. For more information on how to apply, donate or become a hiring partner, please visit www.ApprentiCareers.org.

About the WTIA

The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is a non-profit trade group. The primary mission of the WTIA is helping Washington residents gain access to high-wage tech-industry jobs. The WTIA acts as an independent, unifying voice to motivate industry, education and government peers to collaborate effectively and also uses group buying power to help tech companies grow profitably. The WTIA group includes the 501c6 WTIA Member Trade Association, the 501c3 WTIA Workforce Institute, and the 501c9 WTIA Voluntary Employees' Beneficiaries Association. Apprenti is a program operated by the WTIA Workforce Institute.

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"Bryan brings with him a strong creative pedigree, but even more importantly, he brings big ambition, big innovation and an unrestrained passion for innovating across multiple platforms, something so critical to keep up with the dynamic retail marketplace our clients must thrive in," says Michael Goldberg, CEO of Zimmerman Advertising. Bryan's remit will be to leverage his experience creating a connective production tissue between video, audio, UX, social and digital content, along with the alignment of the agency's state-of-the-art production studio.

"He fits in the organization today, but will also be a driving force to getting to tomorrow quickly. He is a rare breed that understands that it is a collision of analytics and creation that must drive results. He is the kind of person that makes all the ideas and people around him better and we are so glad he is joining our team," added Founder and Chairman of Zimmerman Advertising, Jordan Zimmerman.

About Zimmerman Advertising

Zimmerman Advertising, an Omnicom Group company, is the leading integrated, retail agency in the country. Zimmerman's clients represent some of the most prominent retail brands in the country, including hhgregg, Nissan, Party City, Dunkin' Donuts, Tire Kingdom, AutoNation, Advance America, Five Below, Smokey Bones, Modell's and Michaels. Headquartered in South Florida, the agency has retail service offices throughout the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Nashville. For information on the agency, visit http://www.zadv.com.

About Omnicom Group

Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

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Europe has woken up to headlines dominated by the first televised debate between U.S. presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

The European press largely applauded the Democratic nominee for being "poised" and "prepared" during the debate - whose subject matters ranged from the economy to foreign policy - and her ability to "unhinge" Republican Trump, who appeared rattled by Clinton's comments early on in the debate.

Germany's Der Spiegel noted that billionaire businessman-turned-politician Trump was "erratic and uncertain" during what it called the "spectacular duel" that was watched by an estimated 100 million people and hosted by NBC News' Lester Holt.

Meanwhile, France's Le Monde newspaper noted that Clinton trumped Trump by attacking his record on women, his role in the "birther" campaign against President Barack Obama, leading Trump, the paper said, to "drown in his own speeches."

Read More Here are the best moments of the Clinton-Trump debate



However, many commentators warned that despite Clinton's apparent victory on the night, it might not have been enough to sway disaffected voters and that Trump was still a force to be reckoned with.







In London, political commentators in the left-leaning Guardian newspaper said that Trump became "unhinged" mid-way through the debate. One writer, Jill Abramson, said Trump "could not help but show himself to be unfit for office."



"Driven, as usual, by ego, he unwisely made the debate about himself," she noted, although she also criticized Clinton for appearing "too pleased with herself" as she smiled while listening to Trump get tangled up at times in his responses.

There is a general concern among both Europe's left-leaning and center-right media  as well as the business world  that, if he got to the White House, Trump could be a loose cannon judging from past controversial comments he has made on women, migrants, Muslims and foreign countries.

Story continues

Read More 'Apocalypse now?' What Europe's media thought of the Trump speech

In light of by-now-notorious comments, Europe's media largely mocked Trump's assertion that he had a temperament better-suited for the presidency than Clinton.

"Trump was on the defensive throughout, shouting and interrupting his rival - all of which made his claim that his temperament was his strongest asset even more laughable," Chris Graham wrote in the right-leaning Telegraph newspaper.

Recent polls show that the two candidates are neck and neck in the polls ahead of the November election, making the televised debates a key opportunity for the candidates to persuade undecided voters .

Another writer in the Telegraph noted that Trump might still be able to win over undecided voters, despite his under-performance last night.

"Clinton showed her class on foreign policy and did very well to rebuff Mr Trump's repeated attacks. Her meticulous preparation showed.

Objectively she won the debate by a mile," Barney Henderson wrote. However, he added that "having watched Mr Trump win debate after

debate for more than a year when his performance simply seemed waffling and offensive, I think once again what he said tonight could resonate with some of the wavering, disaffected voters."

Italy's press, including La Repubblica and the Corriere della Sera newspaper led their coverage of the debate on issues which caused sparks to fly between Clinton and Trump: "Employment, the economy, racial tensions and terrorism."

As La Repubblica noted, however, while the debate was "harsh" and "characterized by low blows from both sides," neither candidate had landed "the knockout blow."

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Brasilia, Sep 23 : Brazil's former Finance Minister Guido Mantega is under probe in connection with an ongoing investigation into a large corruption scam at state oil giant Petrobras, the media reported.

Mantega was arrested on Thursday but was released hours later due to his wife's illness.

Federal Judge Sergio Moro revoked the temporary arrest order, saying he was unaware that Mantega's wife was scheduled for surgery "due to a serious illness", Xinhua news agency reported.

All pertinent documents in his possession were seized by police during a search and seizure operation at his residence so he could not tamper with evidence, said Moro.

Prosecutors said Mantega asked for 5 million reais (about $1 million) to pay off the campaign debts of the Workers' Party, which was in power till May.

Mantega served as Finance Minister from March 2006 to December 2014, during ousted President Dilma Rousseff's second term.
Washinton, Sep 24 : US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that will allow family members of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, pitting him against Congress and both presidential candidates on an emotionally charged matter.

The White House claimed the legislation could expose US diplomats and servicemen to litigation in other countries. Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress say they'll override Obama's veto next week, CNN reported on Friday.

Obama has now issued 12 vetoes. If successful, Congress' override would be the first of Obama's presidency.

Support for the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act" ran high among lawmakers, who overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier this year after pressure from victims' groups.

The bill would end foreign countries' immunity in the US from lawsuits, allowing federal civil suits to go forward if the country is determined to have had a hand in a US terror attack.

In his veto message, Obama wrote he had "deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, who have suffered grievously."

But he maintained the legislation would seriously hurt US national security interests and cause harm to important alliances, saying it "would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks."

He warned that the law would hurt the effectiveness of the administration's action against terrorism by taking questions of foreign states' involvement in terrorism "out of the hands of national security and foreign policy professionals and placing them in the hands of private litigants and courts."

Obama also said the move would open Americans abroad, especially those serving in the military, to prosecutions by foreign countries, since this would remove the reciprocal agreements that now protect both sides from such lawsuits.

He also pointed to complaints that allied nations have made about the measure. This legislation, he said, "threatens to limit their cooperation on key national security issues, including counterterrorism initiatives, at a crucial time when we are trying to build coalitions, not create divisions."

Demonstrating the difficult political position the White House is in, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state, expressed her support for the legislation Friday.

"Clinton continues to support the efforts by Sen. (Chuck) Schumer and his colleagues in Congress to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible," said Jesse Lehrich, a Clinton spokesman. "She would sign this legislation if it came to her desk."

Following the veto, Republican presidential contender Donald Trump said in a statement the move "is shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency." Trump, too, said he would sign the legislation as president.

Schumer, a New York Democrat who was a lead supporter of the bill, called the veto "a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress."
Beijing, Sep 26 : China on Monday distanced itself from the reported remarks of its consul general in Lahore that Beijing will support Islamabad in case of foreign aggression and hoped that India and Pakistan will engage in dialogue to address their differences.

Beijing also hoped the two sides will manage and control the situation and the Kashmir issue will be resolved peacefully through dialogue between relevant parties.

Responding to reported remarks of Chinese Consul General in Lahore Yu Boren about Beijing's support in case of "any foreign aggression", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said he "was not aware of the situation you mentioned."

"China's position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear. As neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation and jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region," Shuang said.

"With regard to Kashmir issue, we believe it is an issue left over from history. We hope the relevant parties will peacefully and properly resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation," the spokesperson added.

A statement issued by the Pakistani Punjab Chief Minister's Office last week had said that China has assured Pakistan in unequivocal terms of its support in case of "any foreign aggression" and also supported Islamabad's stance on the Kashmir dispute.

The statement was issued after meeting of Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren with Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan after the September 18 terror attack in Uri close to the Line of Control that killed 18 Indian soldiers earlier this month. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan.
New Delhi, Sep 26 : After the incident of a shoe being thrown at him in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP and the RSS, saying that "such acts will neither scare him away nor weaken his resolve to fight for the farmers".

"The BJP and RSS people think if they hurl shoes, Rahul Gandhi will stop fighting for the farmers. I am not going to step back. I am not scared of your shoes and anger," Rahul Gandhi wrote in his Twitter account in Hindi.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, briefing the media persons on Monday, said, "Rahul Gandhi will not get intimidated by such attempts. This reflects how much the RSS and the BJP are scared. They are worried and that's why they are resorting to such attempts. These attempts will only strengthen our party and weaken the BJP."

"We condemn such dastardly acts by them," he added.

A shoe was thrown at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday during his ongoing 'Kisan Yatra' in Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, police said. The shoe missed the Gandhi scion by a whisker and he looked at the shoe as it zipped past him.

A youth has been arrested in this connection and taken to the Kotwali police station for interrogation.

He has been identified as Hari Om Mishra, resident of Hargaon, a police official told IANS.

Gandhi resumed his "Kisan Yatra" on Monday after a two-day break.
New York, Sep 27 : Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's advisor on Hispanic issues, Jose Fuentes, hopes that Monday night's debate helps get across the mogul's image of "change" compared to his "stiff" Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who - he says - speaks more to people's heads than to their hearts.

In an interview with EFE news at the debate site, Fuentes, the former attorney general of Puerto Rico and a member of Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council, said he hopes to see the Trump that "we've gotten to know in person," whom he calls an easy person to talk to and very well prepared.

Fuentes emphasised that Clinton is a "very stiff" candidate, whereas Trump represents an alternative.

He said that Clinton speaks to people's heads not to their hearts and the public is tired of a Washington politician who says the same thing "year after year", adding that "the people want change" and saying they will get that if they elect Trump.

Fuentes spoke at the David S. Mack auditorium at Hofstra University on Long Island, where the first presidential debate of the 2016 campaign is under way.

The Latino advisor said that voter surveys show that garnering the support of "the large number of undecideds is key" in the November election.

He said that it is a "big problem" for Clinton if the people who have known her for 30 years are not convinced that this is a big opportunity for them, adding that Trump has the chance to pull those votes onto his side of the ledger.

Nevertheless, Fuentes acknowledged the Republican's unpopularity among the Latino community, a result of his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants, whom he called "rapists". and his proposal to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to halt illegal migration.

Fuentes said the campaign is well aware that Trump is behind Clinton in the polls among Hispanics, but he went on to say that the polls also show much indecision among Latinos. Therefore, he said, Trump intends to speak directly to Hispanics, although he did not offer any details about what the mogul might say in the speech he will deliver on Tuesday in Miami.

Monday night's debate, which will last 90 minutes, is the first opportunity for Americans to see how the candidates measure up going head to head on the issues.

An average of the main voter surveys calculated by the specialized RealClearPolitics Web site shows Clinton has lost the comfortable 8-or-so-point advantage she had enjoyed after the party conventions and now is in a technical tie with Trump with 46 percent to his 44 per cent.

Expectations are for more than 100 million people to watch this first of three televised debates, setting a record for this type of TV event.
New York, Sep 27 : US presidential contenders, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, sparred for 90 minutes at the Hofstra University auditorium in New York state in the first of their three presidential debates with pollsters giving an edge to the former first lady.

The debate covered American prosperity and security, and in each of these issues Trump tried to give the impression that everything had gone wrong with America and he was coming as a whiff of fresh air to fix thing.

Clinton, a former Secretary of State in President Barack Obama's first administration, and a long-time senator and Washington insider, was initially defensive, but then she came out strong and forceful to score some telling hits on "facts" against Trump who often tried to change the subject when he had no specific answers.

Clinton and Trump wasted little time going for each other's jugulars, each stampeding over the other's talking points as their intensely anticipated first debate began, Politico, that monitors American politics, said in its initial comments.

Lester Holt of NBC, who moderated the debate on behalf of the Commission on Presidential Debates, said the first debate would centre around three broadly defined topics - "America's Direction," "Achieving Prosperity," and "Securing America". The debate was broken into six, 15-minute time segments.

Two minutes was allotted to answer a question asked by Holt, two minutes to reply and the remaining time for the nominees to debate.

Things got pretty personal between the candidates with Trump charging Clinton with lacking the stamina to be president.

But Clinton, who recently figured in some questioning media discussion over her health brought about by a bout of pneumonia that made her stumble somewhat at the ceremony in New York commemorating the victims of the September 9, 2001, terror attacks, fought back to say: "I think Donald just criticised me for preparing for this debate."

"And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be President. And I think that's a good thing."

She said, as secretary of state, she has travelled non-stop to 112 countries, indulged in negotiations with heads of government, her counterparts and others and, above all, figured in a non-stop 11 hours of questioning by a congressional panel over her e-mail controversy, and if she could do all, it should settle any questions about her stamina, she said to applause from an audience which was told not to clap or boo as per rules.

The debate saw former president Bill Clinton, and their daughter Chelsea and her husband Marc in the audience as was Trump's entire extended family.

If Trump were to be believed, nothing had gone right with America all these years and it had been sold off by its politicians, across the political spectrum, on its "bad" trade deals and shortchanged on the security front. Trump said he is going to change things, once he became president, without getting specific on any.

He even said he had a plan to "eliminate ISIS", which he blamed the previous Obama administration for helping to create by pulling out US troops from Iraq hurriedly and creating a vacuum, but said he would not reveal his plan as it needed to be a "secret" as otherwise it would lose its surprise effect on the intended enemy.

He was evasive about why he had not made public his finances -- the first presidential candidate not to do so -- saying it was still under audit, a point that was pounced upon by Clinton to say that he did not do it so far because it would come out in public that Trump didn't always pay his taxes.

Trump repeated his old contentions that allies Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia needed to pay for their own security as US security umbrella to all these countries was costing America "billions of dollars" that could be used much better in rebuilding the country.

He also threatened to scrap or renegotiate some of the "bad" trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that came into force in 1994, or re-define the terms of military agreements like NATO, leading Clinton to say that she, from this podium, wanted to assure allies, who were worried about the direction that America under Trump might take, that America stood by them and could be counted on.
New Delhi : Title: Secrets of State; Author: Matthew Palmer; Publisher: G.P. Putnams Sons/Penguin Random House; Pages: 448; Price: Rs 399 India, losing its patience over continuing acts of hostility emanating from its neighbour, and Pakistan, where jihadi elements are gaining primacy, seem to be drifting towards war and an audacious terror operation seems to make it a certainty. But is it just the inimical forces responsible for what is happening or is someone else manipulating them? And can anyone stop the looming catastrophe?

In a story that seemed ripped from today's headlines, American diplomat-cum-thriller writer Mathew Palmer, in his second book, presents a taut, pulsating account of how wars can start -- or be primed to start by vested interests far away. Then in South Asia, there are always many kinds of non-state actors who get involved too.

But, on the other hand, there are also those who try their hardest to prevent lies from winning and leading to widespread bloodshed.

In this case, it is Sam Trainor, an outspoken and sidelined State Department employee, who is now working for a strategic consulting firm, and suddenly finds there is something untoward going on as far as the tense South Asian situation is concerned.

In a surreptitious affair with a beautiful Indian diplomat posed in Washington, Trainor's suspicions are raised when her name figures in an intelligence report -- of a time when she was keeping a tryst with him.

Some further investigations leads him to discover attempts to further instigate the tensions in South Asia, with cooked-up intelligence having an incendiary effect as parts relating to the other country are shared with the Indians and Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, a new Pakistan-based terror group called "Hath-e-Mohammad" is planning an unprecedented and massive attack in India, with a new US-returned, and highly-trained, recruit its most enthusiastic.

But as Trainor seeks to dig further, taking severe risks, his efforts attract notice of a shadowy, but ruthless, cabal in the US. His State Department protege is murdered, and so is a CIA employee, and an attempt made on Trainor's own life.

Then his half-Indian daughter who lives and works in Mumbai is kidnapped and he is warned to desist if he wants her to stay alive.

And as the clock ticks toward the unforgiving deadline, will Trainor, who finally discerns the contours of the immoral, unconscionable plan in the works, but without many friends or much funds and powerful adversaries ranged against him, be able to reach Mumbai -- to save his daughter, let alone foil the terror outrage intended to take place during the Prime Minister's visit?

But even if he gets to the crisis spot, is everyone with him or against him?

Right from a powerful beginning, which sets the scene, Palmer, in the US Foreign Service for 25 years now and is currently Director for multilateral affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Asian and Pacific Affairs, uses his experience to good result in depicting the US diplomatic and strategic affairs community, as well as unsentimental and cold considerations that drive international relations and tradecraft diplomats can resort to.

His account of India, especially the subplot of Trainor's daughter seeking to prevent a part of Dharavi being demolished by rapacious builders; her encounters with an obdurate bureaucracy, were well done. So are the sights and sounds of India, though the emphasis on caste seems a little jarring after some time.

Also presented as plausibly is the terrorist gang, with its different types and the cold, calculating and number-crunching chief.

But where Palmer -- who seems to have a penchant for maverick diplomats as heroes and his own experiences of Asia, Africa and the Balkans in his novels -- strikes a weak note is in the use of a secretive, old cabal as hidden villains, though conspiracy theorists will love it (their involvement in matters such as the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations, the Pearl Harbor attack and so on, are relayed through infrequent digressions throughout the narrative).

And it emerges there is another clique too.

It is this plot device, usually seen in Sidney Sheldon thrillers, that weakens a bit this otherwise relentless thriller, with a resonance to today's world and a chilling end.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in )
Rio De Janeiro, Sep 27 : Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said the is facing a severe crisis and is heading towards a state of emergency due to the ongoing abuse of authority.

Rousseff posted on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter, reacting to the recent arrests of her former Finance Minister Guido Mantega and former Chief of Staff Antonio Palocci, Xinhua news agency reported.

She said: "The country is experiencing a severe situation. The announcement of the new phase of Operation Car Wash (the Petrobras investigation) by the Minister of Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an electoral campaign ... raises suspicions of abuse of authority and political usage of the federal police."

The arrests were within the ongoing investigation into a corruption case involving state oil major Petrobras.

Rousseff referred to declarations made on Sunday by Moraes, who promised "more actions" concerning the investigation.

On September 14, Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was accused of money laundering and corruption in connection with the Petrobras investigation.

On September 22, Mantega was arrested and interrogated by police.

On Monday, Palocci, Lula's former finance minister and Rousseff's former chief of staff, was arrested for allegedly receiving bribes from Odebrecht, a big construction firm closely involved with the Petrobras corruption ring.

Rousseff said were the arrests made during her presidency, "we would have been severely criticized by the press and the opposition. We are approaching a state of emergency," she said.

Rousseff was removed from the presidency by the Senate on August 31. She was impeached for breaking fiscal responsibility laws in her management of the federal budget, which was not related to the Petrobras scandal.
Ranchi, Sep 27 : Maoist rebels killed three villagers and injured four others in Jharkhand's Khuti district, police said on Tuesday.

According to the police, the militants belonging to banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) fired indiscriminately on villagers, who had gathered for a Gram Sabha meeting on Monday night.

The larger part of the crowd gathered at the meeting had left and only around 15 villagers were still in discussion, when PLFI ultras appeared and started firing on them.

Three people died on the spot while four were injured. The injured were rushed to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Ranchi.

The incident took place at Raytodang village situated under Arki police station of Khuti district which is around 65 km from here. Khuti is a stronghold of PLFI ultras.

Police sources say that the PLFI militants are frustrated with the villagers for regularly holding meetings against them. The killing was executed to create panic.

The Maoists are active in 18 of the 24 districts in Jharkhand.
Mumbai, Sep 27 : Film industry veteran Srinivasan Narayanan announced on Tuesday the re-launch of his international distribution company In2Infotainment India.

The company has acquired the distribution rights of the British drama "I, Daniel Blake" by Ken Loach. It tells the story of a 59-year-old carpenter befriending a single mother and her two children as they navigate their way through the impersonal and Kafkaesque benefits system.

With this, In2Infotainment India has made a comeback to the distribution business following earlier titles such as "L'Enfant", and "The Barbarian Invasions".

"When I prepared a business plan in 2001 for distribution of art-house movies in India, I was a pioneer and had to go through the learning experience. When I took over as the Director of the Mumbai Film Festival, I strengthened my association with award-winning and critically-acclaimed films.

"With that commitment having concluded, I took some time off to revive my company and create a sustainable model for the distribution of international films in India," Narayanan, Chief Executive, In2Infotainment India, said in a statement.

While In2infotainment's forte remains acquiring award-winning films for distribution in India, it is also set to forge new partnerships with investors across the world to market Indian films, documentaries and TV content. In the past, the company has also exported Indian films to Iran, Singapore, Australia and Canada.
The first ground-dwelling lizard to have been discovered in 130 years that has been named after Bengaluru-based scientist Varad Giri. Image Source: IANS News

The first ground-dwelling lizard to have been discovered in 130 years that has been named after Bengaluru-based scientist Varad Giri. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Sep 27 : A new species of a ground-dwelling lizard has been discovered in Goregaon's Aarey Colony and Thane's Badlapur forested belts, 130 years after the last such gecko was discovered, and has been named after a Bengaluru-based scientist Varad Giri.

The species, of the genus Cyrtodactylus known in Southeast Asia, India and Sri Lanka, is a member of the subgenus Geckoella, which are small ground-dwelling geckos largely found in leaf litter in forests.

"This is the result of meticulous efforts of several years by lead author Ishan Agarwal and Aaron Bauer of Villanova University, USA along with Zeeshan Mirza and Anurag Mishra of National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, and Saunak Pal of Bombay Natural History Society," Giri said here on Tuesday.

Earlier, this new species, Cyrtodactylus Varadgirii, or "Giri's Geckoella" was considered as Geckoella Collegalensis, but based on morphological characters and DNA data, Agarwal and his colleagues have described it as a new species.

Their findings on the new species, which is distinct from other species in many characters, were published in the international scientific journal Zootaxa last week.

"This uncommon species is mostly seen moving among the leaf litter on the forest floor. They are active during night and take refuge under rocks and logs during the day. It grows the length of around 6 centimeters," Giri told IANS.

He said this species is found in localities like Sanjay Gandhi National Park in north Mumbai, the Aarey Colony which houses the Film City in Goregaon, a few localities in Nanded, Chandrapur and Amaravati districts and few localities in Gujarat.

Most of the known species in this group are forest specialists but this new species is also known to live around human-dominated landscapes and is a widely distributed species in this genus in India, according to Giri.

In a rare international honour, this is the third time after a new snake species and a lizard species - both endemic and discovered from the biodiversity rich Western Ghats of Maharashtra-Karnataka region - that a species has been named after Giri in the past five years.

"This is virtually like a stamp of immortality for the person/s after whom a new species is named, otherwise there are no other accompanying honours or rewards. It draws attention to the fact that besides tigers, there are many other things that need protection from the humans," Giri added.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : France has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that India will ratify the Paris Agreement on October 2, Mahatma Gandhis birthday.

In a statement, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development spokesperson said: "India's commitment to the fight against climate change is decisive to the implementation of the Paris Agreement."

Prime Minister Modi, in a speech in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Saturday announced that India would ratify the 2015 Paris agreement on October 2.

India had submitted its 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UN body on October 1 last year.

The Climate Agreement was adopted by 195 countries in Paris last year.
Geneva, Sep 27 : India has termed Pakistan "a terrorist state", and urged the UN Human Rights Council to Islamabad to do an honest introspection and to focus its energies on acting against perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours from its territory.

"In Pakistan, our region is dealing with a terrorist state, which has for years with complete impunity channelized billions of dollars from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours," India's Permanent Mission in Geneva said on Monday while exercising its right to reply to a statement by Pakistan at the 33rd Session of of the UNHRC.

"Internationally proscribed terrorist entities and their leaders continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with state support; even raising funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," the Indian mission said in a statement.

"We call upon the Council to urge Pakistan to engage in honest introspection and focus its energies on acting against perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours from its own territory."

The statement comes in the wake of the September 18 cross-border terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 18 soldiers lost their lives.

The attack came amidst large-scale violence in Jammu and Kashmir that has claimed 90 lives in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in July.

Regretting Pakistan's continued misuse of the UNHRC to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian statement said: "Their misinformation campaign, backed by fabricated facts and figures on this issue, only reflects the desperation that has seeped into their narrative."

It said Pakistan's continued support for terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir was the main challenge to protecting the human rights of Indian citizens in the state.

"Pakistan's selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made underscores the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth," it stated.

"We remind the government of Pakistan that it had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India. The persistent and growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern."

India also sought credible action on the part of Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and the attack on the Pathankot air base in January this year to justice.

"The latest terrorist attack in Uri, where 18 Indian soldiers lost their life and over 20 injured, only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active," the statement said.

"The recovery of GPS, grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets and equipment and other stores made in Pakistan, and patterns of infiltration and attacks, is clear evidence of involvement of terror organisations based in Pakistan or territory under its control."

Demanding that Pakistan should live up to its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism, India reiterated that it was not the only victim of Pakistan's preaching, practicing, encouraging and nurturing terrorism. "The deleterious impact of Pakistan's irresponsible and short-sighted approach of terrorism as state policy has started showing in other countries of South Asia and beyond."

"It is unfortunate that Pakistan's trust in the methods of terror is so deep that it does not hesitate from using them on its own people in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the tribal areas in its northwest," the statement said.

"This coupled with the utter disregard for the human rights of religious and sectarian minorities has turned Pakistan into the true epicenter of global terror."

The Indian mission said that countering terrorism emanating from Pakistan, "that has turned out to be the most acute violator of human rights", was the only way to address the risk to peace and stability of the region.
The Hague (AFP) - War crimes judges jailed a Malian jihadist Tuesday for nine years for demolishing Timbuktu's fabled shrines, a landmark ruling seen as a warning that destroying mankind's heritage will not go unpunished.

In the first such case to focus on cultural destruction as a war crime, the International Criminal Court found Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi guilty of directing attacks on the UNESCO world heritage site during the jihadist takeover of northern Mali in 2012.

Mahdi "supervised the destruction and gave instructions to the attackers" who took pickaxes and bulldozers to the centuries-old shrines, presiding judge Raul Pangalangan told the tribunal.

"The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," he added, during an hour-long hearing at the tribunal based in The Hague.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, whose office had asked for a 9-11 year sentence, said it will signal to perpetrators that destroying cultural heritage is "a serious crime".

"It is a war crime and they will be held accountable for destroying these important sites," she told AFP.

Some 55 places around the world are on UNESCO's list of endangered cultural heritage sites.

Handed over to the ICC in late 2015, Mahdi, dressed in a sober grey suit and blue-striped tie, listened intently, but made no comment as sentence was passed.

The landmark verdict by the ICC is also the first arising out of the conflict in Mali, and the first time a jihadist has sat in the dock.

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, aged between 30 and 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of "intentionally directing" attacks on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque.

The judges recognised the severity of the crimes targeting sites which "were dedicated to religion and historic monuments and were not military objectives".

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But they also gave Mahdi credit for his guilty plea, his remorse and for his "substantial cooperation" with the prosecution.

- Evil spirits -

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair had previously asked for the forgiveness of his people when videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down the earthen shrines.

Founded between the fifth and 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" for the number of Muslim sages buried there.

Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was however considered idolatrous by the jihadists who swept across Mali's remote north in early 2012.

As the head of the so-called Hisbah or "Manners Brigade," it was Mahdi, a former teacher and Islamic scholar, who gave the orders to ransack the sites.

Apologising last month at a court hearing, he said he had been overtaken by "evil spirits", urging Muslims not to follow his example.

The court found that Mahdi was a member of Ansar Dine, one of the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups which seized northern territory before being mostly chased out by a French-led military intervention in January 2013.

Back in Timbuktu residents cheered the ICC's decision.

"I saw this guy at the time of the attacks. He acted like God on earth," said Mohamed Issa Toure, a young tour guide reached by AFP in Timbuktu

"Justice has been served to our ancestors, and that's important to us," Toure added.

- 'Strong message' -

UNESCO chief Irina Bokova called the ruling "a landmark in gaining recognition for the importance of heritage for humanity as a whole, and for the communities that have preserved it over the centuries".

The UN cultural body also called it a "major step towards peace and reconciliation in Mali".

The United States welcomed the ruling saying "the destruction of cultural artefacts and monuments has been used as a tool to seek to terrorise, to erase history, and to eradicate the identities of communities."

"These are assaults not just on a country and its people, but on the common cultural heritage of all humankind, and those responsible for these acts should face justice," US Department of State deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

But there was concern that other crimes committed during the conflict have not yet been prosecuted with rights groups saying they would have liked to see broader charges including for gender and sexual based crimes.

Bensouda vowed her office was still investigating, saying "We are also looking into these crimes such as sexual and gender-based crimes and killings."
Beijing, Sep 27 : India and China on Tuesday held discussions on enhancing cooperation on counter-terrorism as officials from both countries met in their first high-level dialogue here.

"The two sides had in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard," said an Indian government official.

The meeting comes 10 days after a terror attack at an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed.

The meeting was co-chaired by R.N. Ravi, Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.

The official said the two sides exchanged views on the international and regional security situation.

They exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and further enhanced their understanding on issues of major concerns to both sides.

India has repeatedly raised the issue of terrorism with China.

In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him about terrorists crossing over from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

(Gaurav Sharma is the Beijing-based IANS correspondent. He can be contacted at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com and gauravians@yahoo.com)
Thane (Maharashtra), Sep 27 : Unknown persons pelted the Saamana printing press in Navi Mumbai with stones and threw ink at its offices in Thane on Tuesday, an official said here.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said some culprits stoned the publication's offices in Saanpada suburb, shattering two or three glass windows on the outer wall.

"Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action taken against the accused," Nagrale told media persons.

In adjoining Thane town, some persons threw ink outside the office of Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally in both the central and Maharashtra governments.

Though officials declined comment, the provocation for the attacks stems from a cartoon published in the Saamana on Sunday, poking fun at the ongoing statewide stir by Marathas seeking reservation and other issues.

The Maratha community has taken strong objection to what it alleged were snide suggestions made in the Saamana cartoon.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : A minor fire broke out on Tuesday in the blood bank of Safdarjung Hospital here but it was quickly put out, hospital authorities said.

"It was a minor fire at the blood bank of the hospital and there is nothing to worry about. Things are under control," Safdarjung Hospital Medical Superintendent A.K. Rai told IANS.

He said the fire started from a switchboard of the hospital's blood bank. The incident was reported around 3 p.m.

Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, Delhi Fire Service officials said.
Vijayawada, Sep 27 : Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and promised all help from the Centre.

A central team will visit the state after receiving a report from the state government about the losses. Naidu said all necessary assistance will be provided by the Centre.

Accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamenani Srinivas, Naidu took off in a helicopter from here and flew over parts of Guntur district affected by heavy rains and floods last week.

The rains have caused severe damage to the standing crops in Guntur district, including paddy fields that have been submerged.

Other standing crops, mostly chillies, turmeric and cotton, grown on over 41,000 hectares suffered extensive damage.

Naidu flew over Peddanandipadu Gurazala, Macherla and other villages to inspect the damaged crops and also the overflowing rivulets and streams. He also made an aerial survey of the railway tracks damaged due to floods.

The central minister spoke to the Guntur Collector to ensure that all necessary relief like food and drinking water are provided to the people in the rain-hit areas.

Meanwhile, heavy rains continued to lash north coastal Andhra.

Normal life in Srikakulam district has come to a standstill because of rains since Monday. The tribal areas of the district were worst hit with several villages cut off due to flooded roads.

Almost all water reservoirs in the state were receiving huge inflows. The authorities are releasing surplus water from the Prakasam barrage, which is receiving massive inflows from upstream projects across the Krishna river.

The Met office has forecast heavy rains at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godvari and West Godavari districts over the next 24 hours, ending at 0830 hrs on Wednesday.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that India will ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change shows New Delhi is supplicant to "US global strategic interests", the CPI-M said on Tuesday.

The decision "is both surprising and violative of the assurance that this BJP government had given to Parliament", the Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement.

"Soon after the Paris Summit, the Parliament was assured that India would not ratify the Paris Agreement until the national laws relating to environment, forests and energy are examined in the light of their capacity to implement the various provisions of the Paris Agreement," the CPI-M pointed out.

"Parliament was assured that this BJP central government will not violate the 'red lines' drawn up by Parliament during the detailed discussion following the Copenhagen Summit."

The statement said that the the European Union and many other developed nations, which are much bigger source of carbon emissions than India, had not yet ratified this Paris Agreement.

In June, the Indian Foreign Secretary said the process of examining India's national laws was underway and until that was completed, there was no question of ratifying this agreement.

Likewise, the Niti Ayog head had said that India was not yet ready in terms of domestic actions and hence could not ratify the agreement now.

Modi's announcement "is a clear indication that India is becoming a supplicant of US global strategic interests and has committed this volte face surrendering to US pressure, bartering away India's much needed energy requirements", the CPI-M said.

It said the decision was not in India's interests and its commitment to eradicate poverty and provide the required energy for improving the livelihood of the vast majority of Indians.

"Having given earlier assurances to Parliament, the Modi government must subject this decision of ratification of the Paris Agreement to a parliamentary discussion and approval," it added.
Bratislava, Sep 27 : The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Tuesday asserted that the alliance would not be weakened if defence coordination among European Union (EU) member states was strengthened.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's comment came in the context of an informal meeting among EU Defence Ministers in Bratislava on military cooperation among the bloc, EFE news reported.

"There is no contradiction between strong European defence and strong Nato," Stoltenberg said.

He added that each would reinforce the other and had to be complementary, rather than be a duplication of structures.

During Tuesday's meeting, defence representatives of EU states were to discuss a Franco-German proposal on reinforced EU defence and security, though without the creation of an EU army.

Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen highlighted that Franco-German proposals on security and defence would not go against Nato and that it was important to have a strong Europe with a strong defence, which would strengthen Nato too.

Britain's Defence Minister Michael Fallon made it clear that Britain would not accept an EU army, saying that it would undermine Nato and threaten the sovereignty of member states.
Chennai, Sep 27 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa discussed the issues related to the Supreme Court directions on Tuesday on the Cauvery water sharing row at the Apollo Hospital.

Jayalalithaa also dictated her speech to be read out by Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao at the meeting of the Executive Heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnatka to be convened on Thursday, an official statement said.

The apex court directed the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting with the Executive Heads of the two states with the Union Ministry of Water Resources to recommend ways to break the impasse in the Cauvery row.

Chairing a meeting of government officials at Apollo Hospital where she is recuperating, Jayalalithaa told Edapaddi K. Palaniswamy, the Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports, and officials to attend the Thursday meeting.

The meeting was called at the hospital on Tuesday evening.

The Chief Minister was apprised of the directions of the Supreme Court on the applications filed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with reference to the apex court's earlier orders on the Cauvery row.

She was informed that Tamil Nadu had filed its application in the apex court that Karnataka shall not be heard on any matter on Cauvery until it complied with and made good the shortfall in releases as directed by the Supreme Court.
Mumbai, Sep 27 : Signalling a major boost to Mumbai infrastructure facilities, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday cleared two metro rail projects costing around Rs 25,000 crore.

The two approved projects are Metro 2B corridor running from DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd costing around Rs 10,986 crore and Metro 4 connecting Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli, estimated at around Rs 14,549 crore.

This was announced after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

This will be the first time that a metro project will link Mumbai with Thane and Navi Mumbai, according to Nitin Karir, Principal Secretary, Urban Development.

The Metro 2B will be 23.5 km long with 22 stations and Metro 4 around 32 km long with 32 stations en route.

Both of the projects under Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, are likely to be completed by 2021.

Both metro corridors shall have convenient stations and interchanges at key locations for the benefit of the commuters and entail huge savings in time and energy.

The other upcoming Metro Rail projects include Metro 2A Dahisar-DN Nagar (18.5 km), Metro-3 Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ (33.5 km) and Metro-7 Dahisar East to Andheri East (16.5 km).
New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the central government to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to find a solution to the impasse over Cauvery river water.

Asking the Centre to facilitate such a meeting, the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit also directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day for the next three days.

The apex court's instruction to the central government came after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi suggested that the Centre could sit with the two Chief Ministers -- K. Siddaramaiah and J. Jayalalithaa.

September 30 has been fixed as the next date for hearing in the matter.

The bench told the two states fighting over the river water to respect the principle of "federal co-operation", and advised Tamil Nadu to exercise "patience" and shun being "emotional" over the issue.

"We direct the State of Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water. We are sure that Karnataka would not create any impediment or obstruction in the release of water," the apex court said.

The bench also clarified in the order that the water to be given to Tamil Nadu (6,000 cusecs per day for next three days) would be adjusted against the total release of water to the state.

Attacking Karnataka for not complying with the court's September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day for next seven days, Tamil Nadu said Karnataka's plea seeking modification of order should not be heard.

"They (Karnataka) should not be heard till they obey the orders of the court. This is a gross defiance of the court's order ... end of the rule of law," senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the court.

He further said: "Tamil Nadu is tired of this litigation. Two-thirds of Bangalore is outside the Cauvery basin, yet (Cauvery) water flows to it."

Naphade described the stand of Karnataka as "obstructionist" and "obstinate", Naphade told the bench that "Tamil Nadu has come to conclusion that, come what may, Karnataka will not give it (Tamil Nadu) its legitimate share (of Cauvery water)."

Over-ruling Naphade's assertion that Karnataka should not be heard, the bench said: "Attempt should be made by the executive of both States to manage and resolve the issue."

At one stage in the course of the hearing, the bench asked senior counsel Fali S Nariman as to under what provision of the Constitution the Karnataka assembly had passed the resolution denying release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The Karnataka government, in an application on September 26, told the Supreme Court that it can release additional water to Tamil Nadu only by December, and that "Karnataka's all major cities, including Bengaluru, are falling short of drinking water".
New Delhi, Sep 27 : It was during the tenure of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao that the "seeds of Congress party's decline were sown", former Union Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram said here on Tuesday.

Chidambaram, who served as a minister in Rao's cabinet, said the former Prime Minister "committed several mistakes but seldom admitted to them".

"Every time I went and told him that you have committed a mistake, his pet reply would be 'I'll tell you one day why I did what I did' ... But that day never came," Chidambaram said at the launch of a book on Narasimha Rao here.

The former Finance Minister said Rao indeed provided the political will and leadership needed to usher in the famous economic reforms of 1991, but it was Manmohan Singh who, as Rao's Finance Minister, brought the "intellectual heft" to the reform process.

The book "1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao made History" by veteran journalist Sanjaya Baru, gives a detailed account of the political and economic churning of 1991 when India reached the brink of defaulting on foreign debts, and praises Rao for deftly steering the country away from that unprecedented crisis.

However, Chidambaram took exception to certain observations in the book.

He said that even Rajiv Gandhi, had he been alive and at the helm, would have pursued the same economic policy.

"I have no doubt in my mind if Rajiv Gandhi would have become the Prime Minister -- which he would have in all probability -- he would have done what P.V. (Narasimha Rao) did.

"I am convinced Rajiv Gandhi would have done more or less the same things with more or less the same team," Chidambaram said.
Thiruvananthapuram, September 27 : For the second consecutive day, the full budget session of the assembly adjourned amidst noisy scenes with the opposition UDF and the ruling LDF once again sparring over the medical college fee issue.

The trigger for the opposition protest on Tuesday, the second day of the present session, was chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans pejorative remarks on the protests carried out by youth congress activists on Monday.

Congress legislator Shafi Parambil sought leave for an adjournment motion to discuss the police lathi charge on youth congress activists in front of the secretariat on Monday.

In response, Pinarayi poured scorn on the protests that took place the other day, pointing out that the youth congress activists carried red inks with them to create the impression that the police unleashed violence on them.

Justifying the police action against youth congress activists, Pinarayi said that the police was provoked to resort to lathi charge by the youth congress workers, who disrupted vehicular traffic.

Protesting against Pinarayis remarks, the opposition members trooped to the well of the house, chanting slogans against the government.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala then hit out at Pinarayi saying that the latter should remember that he was speaking on the floor of the house.

Pinarayi retaliated by asking the opposition members to show the tolerance to listen to replies from the treasure benches.

The chief minister then justified the government response to demands made by the opposition on Monday.

The government handled the issue in a democratic manner, Pinarayi said, adding that minister for health K K Shylaja held talks with the protestors to allay their apprehensions over the issue but todays events showed that the opposition was not interested in talks.

Meanwhile, youth congress activists clashed with the police in front of the secretariat, where youth congress president Dean Kuriakose and vice president C R Mahesh are sitting on a hunger strike for over a week now.

The police responded by resorting to lathi charge and hurling tear gas shells.

Both Dean and Mahesh were hospitalised after they developed uneasiness following a tear gas shell going off near the shanty they were sitting in.

The UDF has called for a strike in Thiruvananthapuram district for Wednesday in protest against the police action on youth congress activists.
New Delhi, Sep 27 : India on Tuesday announced it will not attend the Saarc Summit in Islamabad in November, saying that regional cooperation and terror don't go together.

Pakistan has termed the boycott decision as "unfortunate".

India, the largest member of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), announced its decision to pull out hours after Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to South Block and handed over Pakistan's "proof of cross-border origin" of the September 18 Uri terror attack.

In a statement, India said increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Saarc member-states "by one country" have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc summit.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal its decision not to attend the summit, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was slated to go.

"India remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," he said in the statement.

Swarup said that some other Saarc member-states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016.

The other countries unwilling to attend are said to be Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan, according to sources.

The decision to pull out, marking a sharp escalation in India's attack on Pakistan for sponsoring terror, also comes a day after New Delhi decided to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, and apportion more water to itself from river waters that have been used by Pakistan for decades.

Prime Minister Modi, chairing the meeting on the river waters treaty, is quoted as having said that "blood and water can't flow together".

India is also planning to revoke the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan in trade, in another punishing measure.

India has been hyping its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan over the past few days, over the latter's open backing of the Kashmir unrest and specially after the terror attack on an army camp in Uri on September 18 that left 18 soldiers dead.

Prime Minister Modi had announced last week during the BJP conclave in Kerala that the sacrifices of the Indian soldiers killed in Uri would not go waste and India will diplomatically isolate Pakistan.

Tuesday's move comes as in the United Nations General Assembly India has been unsparing in its attack on Pakistan for sponsoring terror. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the floor of the UNGA announced that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so.

The chances of Prime Minister Modi attending the Saarc summit had dimmed ever since Pakistan was seen to be openly backing the Kashmir unrest and had termed Hizbul Mujahedin terrorist Burhan Wani a martyr and observed a Black Day in his honour.

In August, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Islamabad to attend a Saarc ministerial was clouded over by bad diplomatic vibes between the two nations over the Kashmir issue.

Afghan envoy to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali told NDTV last week that his country was willing to consider a joint boycott of the Saarc summit along with India and other members.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner Basit for the second time since the Uri attack and handed over the evidence to him on the two arrested guides. Basit dismissed the proof as an attempt by India to divert world attention from alleged violation of rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaishankar gave Basit a diplomatic note, stating that three days after the killing of 18 soldiers, villagers in Uri caught two residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir who had acted as guides for the four attackers who sneaked into the army camp near the Line of Control (LoC).

The two -- Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, and Yasin Khursheed, 19, both residents of Muzaffarabad -- were handed over to Indian security forces and are now in Indian custody. India has also offered consular access to the two arrested Muzaffarabad guides.

Reacting to India's decision to pull out, the Pakistan Foreign Office, termed the decision as "unfortunate". It also hit out at the "excuse used by India" and said the world knows that "it is India that is perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan", and cited the "public confession" by alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as "living proof".
Colombo, Sep 28 : India will invest up to $2 billion in Sri Lanka over the next four years in a variety of sectors including real estate, energy and infrastructure, visiting Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

"In the next two to four years, the total investment interests will rise to $2 billion," Sitharaman told reporters here at the end of her three-day visit to the island nation.

India is Sri Lanka's largest trading partner and both countries are considering a broader bilateral trade agreement.

After meeting here with Sri Lankan Minister of international Trade Malik Samarawickrema and other officials, Sitharaman said that Sri Lanka's decision to scrap a joint venture coal power plant project will not deter India's future investment plans in the country.

"India understands Sri Lanka's need to move from coal power to more renewable power generation sources," she told reporters.

The proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and issues concerning the existing free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Sri Lanka were discussed in these talks.

"We have been meeting the business chambers to assess their concerns," she said referring to her discussions.

Samarawickrema said the ETCA is expected to open up a market of 1.25 billion people in India.

Both ministers said the negotiations on ETCA were reaching the final stage and both sides want to see it happening "as soon as possible".

"It was noted that the second round of negotiations for the ETCA is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 29-30, 2016," the Indian finance ministry said in a release from New Delhi.
Jammu, Sep 28 : A guerrilla hideout was busted by security personnel on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district and some arms and ammunition recovered, a defence statement said.

"Based on specific intelligence, an army unit launched a swift and surgical search operation around 1 p.m. today in Manjmi Forest near Gai village in in Doda district and busted a terror hideout.

"A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered jointly with J&K Police," said the statement, adding the recoveries included an AK-47 rifle with magazine, two 9mm pistols, one under barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) with one round, eight 12-bore Rifles and 2,263 rounds of ammunition.

"The recovery of war like stores was possible only due to the accurate intelligence and launching of well-synchronized joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police in the dense forest," it added.
New York, Sep 28 : US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton expressed her satisfaction on Tuesday with the results of the debate the night before, while rejecting the complaints of her Republican rival, Donald Trump, about alleged problems with his microphone.

"Anyone who complains about the microphone is not having a good night," EFE news quoted Clinton as saying in response to the protests voiced by Trump, who after the debate said he had problems with his mic.

In a statement to reporters on her campaign aircraft, the former Secretary of State said that the debate served to demonstrate "some very clear differences between us", for example in everything to do with "temperament and fitness and qualification to hold the most important, the hardest job in the world".

Clinton said the debate gave viewers the chance to compare their policies as she laid out her "plan for strong growth and fair growth and dealing with family economic issues like affordable childcare and paid family leave and debt-free college -- with no real response, no real offer coming from my opponent".

As for Trump, she said that "on several occasions he was making charges and claims that were demonstrably untrue" and was "offering opinions that I think a lot of people would find offensive and off-putting".

Among other things, Clinton criticised on Tuesday the tax cuts promised by her adversary that she said would "explode" the national deficit and debt and would be a giant gift for the richest Americans, including his own family.

She also slammed Trump for having said in the past that "climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese".

Asked if she was afraid that Trump would come on with a more aggressive tone in the next debate, something the Republican threatened on Tuesday, she indicated that he can run whatever kind of campaign he wants, but said that she would continue to outline her plans for the nation.
A conscience-stricken surgeon in South Dakota has publicly confirmed one of the great frustrations for patients pursuing medical malpractice claims after they have been harmed: He says doctors are too willing to lie in court to protect themselves and colleagues, as he did two decades ago in a case involving a partner in his practice.

Dr. Lars Aanning says he no longer could live with his lie. Because he is 77, retired, and cannot be subject to colleagues retribution, he decided to fess up, and to help attorneys who represent injured patients. Aanning says he does not know whether his false testimony was decisive in his partners lawsuit. But he confesses that he knew his colleagues patient had suffered because of the treatment this stroke victim received. He also had had doubts before about his partners work.

He tells a reporter for Pro Publica, the Pulitzer Prize-winning online investigative site, that he knew at the moment he uttered his untruths that his lying flew in the face of everything he thought he stood for. But he says, I did it as a matter of course. And I did it because there was a cultural attitude I was immersed in: You viewed all attorneys as a threat and anything that you did was OK to thwart their efforts to sue your colleagues. I just accepted that as normal. It wasnt like, Im going to lie. It was, Im going to support my colleague. 

Aanning came clean in a column for his small town newspaper, and in a post on the Pro Publica Facebook page, where he said that he had no problem with joining in, and accepting the defense mantra that no negligence or breach of standard of care had occurred and that the surgeon had done everything right. I wasnt going to be a squealerfat chance!

He said peers and professional organizations subject doctors to relentless pressure to to stay in line, and never to criticize colleagues or their profession: The professional societies like the AMA [American Medical Association] and the American College of Surgeons say you should be a patient advocate at all times. But that goes out the window because here you are, banding together with your peers. Because if you dont, youll be like a man without a country.

How powerful is this pressure to keep silent, and to support professional colleagues at all cost? Aanning notes that he cannot go to his onetime place of employment for care and all my doctors are out of town.

ProPublica offers distressing context for Aannings confession:

Theres no way to tell how often doctors to lie to protect their colleagues, but ProPublica has found that patients are frequently not told the truth when they are harmed. Studies also show that many physicians do not have a favorable view of informing patients about mistakes and that health care workers are afraid to speak up if things dont seem right.

Ive certainly encountered not only doctors with dubious testimony but also their collective, protective silenceand it ought to be infuriating to patient-consumers because it victimizes them, again. Its important for patients who have been harmed, if they must sue doctors, to have seasoned counseltheir attorneys must, for example, be able within the rules to cut through supsect expert witnesses testimony with vigorous cross-examination. Ive written a book for fellow attorneys on cross-examination  its called, naturally, The Fearless Cross-Examiner  and I have some resources for more effective cross-examination on my website here.

Ive also written before about the importance of having expert legal help when dealing with the hired gun medical experts, including so-called independent medical examiners. These alleged experts repeatedly show up in lawsuits, especially as witnesses for insurers; these doctors give cursory scrutiny to patients but then heap on negative views about whether they have suffered harm and insinuate that patients are lying or exaggerating when thats not so.

Although television medical dramas may portray doctors and hospitals as willing to concede and remedy medical errorfor example through dramatic mortality and morbidity conferencesreality and the truth is different; the profession is all too reluctant and resistant.

Doctors, though research says they could benefit from doing so, dont apologize; medicine doesnt advance, including by getting safer, as it needs to, because its practitioners cant own up to errors and fix them. Malpractice suits are one vital way to change this, and to help wronged patient-consumers.
New Charlotte Douglas International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower & Tracon Gate Precast has the following air traffic control tower experience: HartsfieldJackson Atlanta Intl. (the tallest in the U.S.), Orlando Intl. (third tallest in the U.S). Memphis International, Duke Field Eglin AFB, and the Miami-Opa Locka Airport.

Gate Precasts Oxford, NC, plant is casting structural and architectural precast for a new 370-foot-tall air traffic control tower at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte. The tower, which represents the second tallest control tower in the U.S., will provide controllers with better views of air traffic once complete.

Ultimately, the Gate plant will produce 457 (70,000 square feet) of load-bearing precast pieces for the tower base and 162 (23,000 square feet) of lightweight architectural precast pieces for the controllers cab and the TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) support building. Archer-Western Contractors of Charlotte is the general contractor and AECOM, of Atlanta, is the engineer/architect.

Air traffic control tower construction is a highly specialized market, primarily due to its stringent tolerances, says Chris Galde, Gates director of sales and marketing in Oxford. There are very detailed connections from panel to panel, and the tolerances for the connections are very tight. The towers structural components will be made of heavily-reinforced 6,000 psi concrete within three sets of custom steel forms. The architectural precast will be made of lightweight concrete at 118 pounds per cubic foot.

Casting the pieces is a time-consuming process due to the nature of the panels, their size and weight, Galde says. The heaviest panel is about 67,000 pounds. Gate expects to begin shipping the structural precast to the site January 2017.

The tower base will be erected in a series of rings, he adds. Each ring will be comprised of eight pieces and will reach about 10 feet tall. The rings will also be tied together with a splice sleeve. During erection, a subcontractor will grout mechanical connectors into the joints at each level. The TRACON building will be constructed simultaneously with the tower.

Gate Precast has air traffic control tower experience at the following airports: HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International (the tallest in the U.S.), Orlando International (third tallest in the U.S). Memphis International, Duke Field Eglin AFB, and the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

More About Gate:

Gate Precast Company is a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum Company, a privately-held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. Gate Precast has become one of the largest and most diversified precast concrete producers in the United States, with eight manufacturing facilities, and is known for its design-assist collaboration with design teams. Annually, the company is recognized as a top subcontractor by Engineering News-Record Magazine and wins Best-in-Class PCI Design Awards for a wide range of projects. For more information, please visit http://www.gateprecast.com.
Alan W. Krapf, CPCU, received The Griffith Insurance Education Foundations 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) Annual Convention, held September 26 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Candidates for the 2016 Griffith Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award were selected by The Griffith Foundation Leadership Council, which includes insurance leaders, executives and academics. This years winner was recognized for exemplary commitments to education and for his support of the missions of The Griffith Foundation and NAMIC.

With more than 37 years of experience in the property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry, Krapf serves as the president of the USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group. Notable career accomplishments during his 27 years at USAA include implementing an automated underwriting strategy, leading USAAs efforts to expand membership eligibility and leading the P&C Groups transformation from a traditional, functional business model to an integrated, process-driven model focused on building new capabilities that benefit USAA members. Prior to USAA, Krapf led underwriting areas for MetLife Auto & Home in several regions of the United States.

Krapf has focused on educating and improving the P&C industry throughout his career, and he serves on the Board of Directors for The Institutes. He earned his CPCU designation in 1997 and has encouraged other USAA employees to pursue their insurance education. Since becoming president in 2014, 100 additional USAA employees have earned their CPCU designation.

For more information about the 2016 Griffith Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award winners, visit http://www.GriffithFoundation.org/LAA/.
Yury Magalif, end-user computing practice lead and Peter Alberto, technical consultant, CDI LLC CDI LLC is an integral partner for VMware and we are proud to play such an important role in the development of VMware certifications.

Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) today announced that VMware has chosen Yury Magalif, end-user computing (EUC) practice lead, CDI LLC, and Peter Alberto, technical consultant, CDI LLC, to join a team of elite IT professionals to write the new VMware Certified Professional 7  Desktop and Mobility (VCP7-DTM). Only select top experts from the VMware partner community were invited to participate in the certification development process.

VMware certification sets the standard for IT professionals and validates the critical skills organizations need to adopt and manage technology that drives desired business outcomes. Holders of VMwares latest certification have proven skills in delivering virtual or hosted desktops and applications through a single platform with VMware Horizon 7. Magalif and Alberto applied their depth of knowledge in the creation of 40 questions that now appear on the certification exam. The exam is to be administered to VMware specialists worldwide.

CDI LLC is an integral partner for VMware and we are proud to play such an important role in the development of VMware certifications, said Magalif.

Upon completion, VMware has asked the pair to be involved in future tests for other certifications. We feel honored that VMware wants us to continue in assisting them with the development of additional technical certifications, added Alberto.

About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC)

CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in Teterboro, NJ, as well as office locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Atlanta. As one of the nations top 500 business IT solution providers, the firm architects, deploys and manages multiplatform hybrid IT solutions, including traditional IT, public, private and hybrid clouds, to a wide variety of industries. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business automation and workflow processes.

For more information, visit cdillc.com or call 1-800-234-5531. Follow us for continual coverage on Twitter @cdillc or YouTube.
BlackArch Partners, a prominent mergers and acquisitions-focused investment bank offering a full spectrum of advisory services, is pleased to announce that Tom Krasnewich has joined the firm as Managing Director and Head of the firms Diversified Industrials practice. Mr. Krasnewich has more than two decades of experience in the broad industrials sector as an investment banker focused on middle-market M&A advisory and capital markets financings for corporate and financial sponsor clients.

We are excited to have Tom join our team at BlackArch, said Drew Quartapella, Managing Director and co-founder of BlackArch. We believe our clients will benefit significantly from Toms extensive industry knowledge and transaction experience across the diversified industrials space. Over the course of his career, Tom has built many longstanding relationships with corporate and private equity clients alike, added Mr. Quartapella. As a firm, we remain committed to investing in our capabilities on behalf of our clients.

Before joining BlackArch, Mr. Krasnewich was a Managing Director in the Industrials group at BMO Capital Markets. Prior to BMO, Mr. Krasnewich was a banker in the Industrials group at Deutsche Bank where he was responsible for client relationship development and day-to-day execution of M&A, strategic advisory and capital markets transactions.

Mr. Krasnewich earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from Northwestern University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicagos Booth Graduate School of Business.

For Diversified Industrials related inquiries please contact Tom Krasnewich at the following:

Tom Krasnewich

Managing Director, BlackArch

(312) 219-6574

krasnewich(at)blackarchpartners(dot)com

About BlackArch Partners

BlackArch Partners is a leading middle-market investment bank offering a full spectrum of advisory services to financial sponsors, private companies and diversified corporations. BlackArch addresses the needs of entrepreneurs, founders and shareholders of private companies with specialized services that include M&A advisory, strategic advisory and private capital solutions. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., with offices in Houston, T.X., BlackArch features a total of 12 industry-focused practices that cover all sectors of interest to middle-market investors; BlackArch professionals have closed over 350 transactions in 16 countries on four continents. Please visit our website, http://www.blackarchpartners.com, for more details.

Securities offered through BlackArch Securities LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.
Point of Reference, a leading provider of customer advocate program solutions, today announced it has been recognized as one of CIO Reviews 20 Most Promising Salesforce Solutions Providers of 2016 in the magazines September 2016 issue.

Our goal is to provide insightful information to assist CIOs is making smart purchase decisions that will drive innovation, efficiency and productivity for their organizations, says Jeevan George, Managing Editor of CIO Review. ReferenceEdge was identified by CIO Reviews editors and a select panel of CIOs and CEOs as a company delivering valuable services and applications that leverage the Salesforce.com platform to improve productivity.

We are pleased to be selected by CIOReview, says David Sroka, President of Point of Reference. This third-party validation is additional evidence that building our solution on the Salesforce platform has created unparalleled synergy with related functions. By automating key workflows, including the customer reference search-to-fulfillment process involving sales, marketing and customer success users, teams can maximize the use of customer advocates, do more with less and focus on higher value activities.

Today, B2B purchases rank peer references as the number one influence on decisions. Point of References product automates the most time-consuming, mundane elements of the customer reference process: reference requests, identifying new reference customers, updating reference information and quantifying/visualizing program value.

About CIOReview

Published from Fremont, California, CIOReview is a print magazine that explores and understands the plethora of ways adopted by firms to execute the smooth functioning of their business. A distinguished panel comprising CEOs, CIOs, IT VPs, and including CIO Review editorial board finalized the 20 Most Promising Salesforce Solutions Providers 2016. In the U.S., and shortlisted the best vendors and consultants. For more information: http://www.cioreview.com/

About Point of Reference

Since 2003, Point of Reference has been helping companies leverage customer advocates to fuel business growth and fortify brands. With complete perspective and proven execution, we integrate scalable technology, content and supplemental staffing solutions that organize and optimize authentic customer voices. By combining decades of industry expertise along with business-to-business customer reference management solutions, Point of Reference helps its clients orchestrate coordinated reference activities, inject relevant customer references and related content at the critical time in a sales cycle. For more information, visit http://www.point-of-reference.com/
Were offering the best of both worlds in jobsite visibility  crystal clear images and live video on demand. Chandler McCormack, OxBlue CEO

OxBlue Corporation, a leading construction camera service provider, is rolling out new camera system technology that delivers real-time monitoring and documenting of jobsites.

Live video on demand (VOD) is OxBlues latest in a series of construction camera enhancements, offering users instant, in-the-moment visual access to activity at the jobsite.

At the touch of a button, our clients can tune in and follow events as they happen, in streaming high-definition video on demand, said OxBlue CEO Chandler McCormack. VOD technology delivers our clients images of jobsite work-in-progress, showing the movement of people, equipment and supplies and offering new insights into the real-time status of their projects.

Best of both worlds.

Live VOD is available as an optional add-on to most OxBlue construction webcams, which also take photos at regular intervals and produce striking, high-resolution 6 to 24-megapixel images as well as professional-quality time-lapse movies. Live VOD adds a third, equally stunning capability.

"Were offering the best of both worlds in jobsite visibility  crystal clear images and live video on demand."

Chandler McCormack, OxBlue CEO

Adding live VOD requires physically updating camera hardware. The technology is available on most new and previously purchased OxBlue construction cameras. Pricing for the live VOD add-on is based on the camera system in which VOD hardware is installed. OxBlues live VOD service also provides for multicast communication, whereby multiple users on different devices can watch live video simultaneously.

OxBlues introduction of live VOD reflects the companys culture of innovation and constant improvement, McCormack said. It also reflects OxBlues commitment to offering our clients the best-in-class products they have come to expect from our company. We are constantly responding to client feedback and improving the user experience.

In 2015, OxBlue construction webcams earned Constructech magazines inaugural Connected Hardware Award, which recognizes hardware that facilitates and enhances connectivity on the jobsite. For two years running, 2015 and 2016, Constructech magazine has named OxBlue to its Constructech 50 listing of most influential companies whose technologies serve the construction industry.

About OxBlue: OxBlue is a leading construction camera service provider, serving clients globally. Our high-resolution images, highdefinition time-lapse movies and intuitive technologies connect everyone on the jobsite and make it easy to monitor, document and market projects using computers and mobile devices. OxBlue emphasizes client services and continuous improvement. We hold multiple awards for technology innovation and workplace culture. Founded in 2001 and privately held, OxBlue is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information visit OxBlue.com.
"Our primary objective is to ensure continuity of service  delivering an innovative, like-for-like service that can be implemented quickly, cost effectively and without any disruption." - Boris Lipiainen, Global Head of Product Management

Today at Sibos 2016, Misys is urging banks to think now about transitioning their confirmation matching processing ahead of the retirement of SWIFT Accord. With the service due to cease in October 2017, making provision to transition as early and as painlessly and as cost effectively as possible is absolutely vital for business continuity.

Misys is already seeing encouraging take-up of its FusionCorporate Confirmation Matching Service (Misys CMS), with Bankinter having just made a seamless transition to the solution in only eight days. The Spanish bank was able to continue processing its post-trade confirmations for FX and money market transactions with no interruption as a result of the ease of integration with existing processes and proven Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model delivered by Misys CMS.

During the phase-out of SWIFT Accord, Misys is working closely with SWIFT. Misys CMS utilises SWIFTs message copying service that allows for copies of confirmation messages exchanged between companies to be delivered in real-time to Misys CMS service for automated matching. This ensures no changes are required to message formats or internal processes, removing the risk of disruption in service during the transition phase.

Keith Tippell, Managing Director, Head of Securities and FX Markets, SWIFT, said: Were committed to assisting our Accord customers and are keen to partner with forward thinking vendors like Misys to facilitate the migration process. Customers can be confident that the migration can be completed painlessly by utilising the existing SWIFT messaging network, with no change in message formats or processes.

Misys CMS provides a cost effective replacement for SWIFT Accord in all sizes of organisation. The SaaS delivery model lends itself to a speedy and pain free transition, saving time and avoiding other costly replacements on the market which demand licenced provision.

There are significant numbers of banks, investment managers and corporates using SWIFTs Accord service. These will need to find an alternative solution before the end of October 2017.

Boris Lipiainen, Global Head of Product Management at Misys, said: With little over a year until SWIFT Accord is decommissioned, it is imperative organisations make the move in good time. We are in active discussions with a number of Accord users and with SWIFT, our primary objective is to ensure continuity of service  delivering an innovative, like-for-like service that can be implemented quickly, cost effectively and without any disruption.

Over nine million trade confirmation matches are made on Misys CMS each year.



Ends -

For further information please contact

Caroline Duff

Senior PR Manager

T: +44 (0)20 3320 5892

E: caroline.duff(at)misys(dot)com

http://www.misys.com

About Misys

Misys is at the forefront of the financial software industry, providing the broadest portfolio of banking, capital markets, investment management and risk management solutions available on the market. With 2,000 customers in 125 countries our team of domain experts, combined with our partner eco-system, have an unparalleled ability to address industry requirements at both a global and local level. We connect systems, collect data and create intelligent information to drive smarter business decisions. To learn more about how our Fusion software portfolio can deliver a holistic view of your operations, and help you to solve your most complex challenges, please visit http://www.misys.com and follow @MisysFS on Twitter.
The team at BSI brings additional resources to our growing employee benefits practice and we welcome the team and clients from BSI to AssuredPartners." said President and COO Tom Riley.

AssuredPartners, Inc. is proud to announce the acquisition of Benefit Specialists Inc. (BSI) of Lake Oswego, OR. BSI focuses solely on providing the best employee benefits solutions for clients with a specialty in self-funded cases. The team of 4 will continue operations under the leadership of CEO Cynthia Cameron. Benefit Specialists Inc. reports approximately $1.1 million in revenues.

BSI was founded by my father Blaine who instilled in me the passion for making sure every client feels like they are our only and best by providing the highest level of service possible. My philosophy is to do it right the first time through a thoughtful, proactive and consultative approach said BSI CEO Cynthia Cameron. The decision to join AssuredPartners meant that we truly found a team to partner with that will enable us to grow and continue fulfilling our passion for client service.

We are excited about the continued growth in the Oregon region. said Tom Riley, President and COO of AssuredPartners. The team at BSI brings additional resources to our growing employee benefits practice and we welcome the team and clients from BSI to AssuredPartners."

For more information about Benefit Specialists Inc., please visit: http://www.bsi-ins.com.

ABOUT ASSUREDPARTNERS, INC

Headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida and led by Jim Henderson and Tom Riley, AssuredPartners, Inc. acquires and invests in insurance brokerage businesses (property and casualty, employee benefits, surety and MGUs) across the United States and in London. From its founding in March of 2011, AssuredPartners has grown to over $640 million in annualized revenue and continues to be one of the fastest growing insurance brokerage firms in the United States* with over 180 offices in 30 states, Canada and London. Since 2011, AssuredPartners has acquired more than 150 insurance agencies. For more information, please contact Dean Curtis, CFO, at 407.708.0031 or dcurtis@assuredptr.com, or visit http://www.assuredptr.com.

*As ranked by Business Insurance in the July 18, 2016 edition, featuring the 100 largest brokers of U.S. business.
Community Solar The one day summit will gather key solar industry players to examine the current state of the community solar market.

Infocast, the leading events producer in the solar industry, is pleased to announce the first ever Community Solar Event, taking place on October 18, 2016 in San Diego, CA. The one day event will be a timely gathering of solar industry players who will come together to discuss the industrys unique market segment.

In less than one month, Infocasts First Ever Community Solar kicks off. The one day summit will gather key solar industry players to examine the current state of the community solar market, the existing and proposed community solar policies, community solar programs in operation or under development, the current players in the market, what it takes to be a player in the community solar market, and more!

Attendees will hear from and get to the network with the following organizations:

3Degrees Group, Inc., Acadia Micro, Atlus Power America, Ballard Spahr LLP, Bluewave Capital, Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., Clean Energy Collective, Coalition for Community Solar Access, Community Energy, Community Energy Solar, Cypress Creek Renewables, Ethical Electric, First Solar, NRG Energy, Project Economics Inc., Rec Solar, SolarCity, Stoel Rives LLP, SunPower, Sunshare, U.S. Bank, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Zions Energy Link, and even more!

For a full list of participating companies, detailed agendas, and more information, please contact Infocast at 818-888-4444 or visit our website: http://www.infocastinc.com/event/community-solar/

The event will be directly followed by the 9th annual Utility Scale Solar Summit on October 19-20, 2016.

About Infocast

For over 25 years, Infocast has produced the highest quality events, tailored to the needs of the industries we serve. We intensively research the marketplace, pulling from an extensive network of experts to give you the information and connections to succeed.
Beautifully designed accommodations and stunning scenery go hand in hand at Belize's The Lodge at Chaa Creek November is a great time to be in Belize

With summer ending and the holiday season approaching, The Lodge at Chaa Creek is suggesting that travellers take advantage of a vacation that offers significant savings, outdoor activities and healthy dining to help prepare for the winter months and holiday indulgences, according to the Belizean eco-resorts marketing administrator.

Roberto Harrison said that Chaa Creeks More Stay, Less Pay three day all-inclusive Belize vacation package is also a perfect way to enjoy Thanksgiving, experience the colourful Garifuna Settlement Day, celebrate life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, first or second honeymoons, or just do something special before settling into the those long winter months.

November is a perfect time to take off and do something special; either as personal adventure or with people who are important to you, and our More Stay Less Pay makes a holiday in Belize a realistic, affordable option. With expanded air service and competitive rates, getting to Belize has become as easy and inexpensive as a lot of domestic travel, and an all-inclusive vacation means visitors can enjoy three days of rainforest luxury for less than many holidays at home, Mr Harrison said.

Add in the discounts that come with our November monthly special, and surprising someone with a Belizean getaway becomes particularly enticing, he added.

Mr Harrison said that Chaa Creeks More Stay Less Pay is a three-day all-inclusive Belize vacation package that includes everything needed for a complete Belizean holiday, including Chaa Creeks signature eco-luxe accommodation, all meals at the Lodges Mariposa restaurant including a special Thanksgiving dinner and bottle of wine, enjoyment of amenities including infinity pool, and a wealth of activities.

Weve become known as a foodies paradise with genuine farm-to-table dining sourced from the onsite traditional Maya organic farm and fresh seafood from Belizes Caribbean seacoast, and with Thanksgiving dinner offered throughout November, the bar is raised even higher. With daily swimming and so many healthy outdoor activities, the indulgence is delightfully guilt-free, he said.

Horseback, mountain bike riding, guided birding and nature walks along the well maintained trail system within Chaa Creeks 400 acre private nature reserve are all included in the package, as are canoe and tubing trips down the Macal River, a unique Creatures of the Night nocturnal guided nature hike, daytime Maya Medicinal Plant Trail tour, visits to the Natural History Museum and Butterfly Farm and other activities, including a childrens rainforest treasure hunt (for four or more) are all included for one discounted price, Mr Harrison explained.

Another November attraction in Belize is Garifuna Settlement Day, a national holiday that celebrates the landing of the Garifuna on Belizes shores in the 1830s. In 2001 UNESCO proclaimed Garifuna language, music and dance as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and for people lucky enough to be in Belize on November 19, its easy to see why. The exuberant drumming, dancing, feasting and enactment of the first landing make for an unforgettable cultural experience, he said.

With so much going on, and Thanksgiving dinner offered throughout the month, lovely weather with daytime highs of 82F (28C), pleasantly cooler evenings and a more tranquil, pre-high season atmosphere, November is a great time to be in Belize.

Add in the savings of our discounted November all-inclusive Belize vacation package, and it becomes more attractive than ever, Mr Harrison said.

Further information and bookings can be organised through travel agents of by contacting Chaa Creek directly, he added.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize.

ENDS
Being able to conduct multivariate testing on VAST ad creative will help marketers achieve very strong ROI.

Aarki announces the expansion of the multivariate technology within its proprietary mobile programmatic advertising platform to VAST video creative. This expansion enables the company to conduct multivariate testing for VAST ad creatives in addition to already doing so for a wide variety of ad formats.

VAST provides a reliable standard for video delivery across variants of platforms, making it the most popular way to serve video. To take performance of VAST ad to the next level, app marketers can now leverage Aarkis multivariate technology to optimize their ad creative.

The companys multivariate capabilities expansion allows creative designers to develop and test several video variants of various sizes in the same creative tag. In addition, the designers are able to add several companion banners to a single VAST tag and run multivariate testing. The multivariate technology enables the company to identify the best performing video, companion banner and media placement for the clients campaign objective. This enables Aarki to provide better user experience to target audiences and deliver consistently strong campaign performance.

Aarki is seeing strong lift in performance across the board from multivariate creative optimization, said Sid Bhatt, ceo of Aarki. Being able to conduct multivariate testing on VAST ad creative will help marketers achieve very strong ROI.

About Aarki

Aarki is transforming mobile app marketing through unified optimization of creative and media. It delivers superior results using proprietary machine learning technology for performance optimization. The company's customer base includes leading brands, agencies, and app developers. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Aarki is a global company with offices in Beijing, London, Manila, Tokyo, and Yerevan. For more information, please visit http://www.aarki.com or follow us on Twitter: @aarkimobile.
With the help of WonderWe, the Benedictines have been able to take on the massive project and goal of building a new church without taking on any debt....

WonderWe, an online platform for fundraising, focuses its campaigns on efforts revolving around faith, family and friends. Unlike other crowdfunding sites, the organization doesnt shy away from issues like pro-life efforts, or from churches or conservative organizations. In fact, WonderWe can be an effective tool in Catholic initiatives, for example, the fundraising campaign of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, who recently began raising funds to build a new church in their small town of Gower, Missouri.

Mother Cecilia, the churchs Prioress, said they are receiving a high number of vocations, as well as many more guests coming for prayer. She expressed the need for a new building to replace the smaller, temporary one theyve been in for about five years.

The Benedictines have an ultimate goal of raising $5 million for their new building and have several different routes theyve taken to raise funds, like selling music CDs theyve created. Utilizing WonderWe, theyve focused efforts on raising money, specifically, for an altar and choir stall. The goal for this is $100,000.

WonderWe encourages other Catholic organizations, churches and missions to look into crowdfunding when the need for financial assistance arises. They suggest starting fundraising campaigns that promote the Corporal Works of Mercy which can help feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty; shelter the homeless and clothe the naked; visit the sick and prisoners, give alms to the poor; and provide for family and friends in need. Catholic charities could raise funds for relief services like support for refugees and immigrants. Catholic schools could raise money for scholarships for underprivileged students and classroom projects. Parishes could receive donations for general operating costs, catechesis and retreats for parishioners. These are just a few of the many areas that WonderWe can help fund.

Starting an online WonderWe campaign is easy and free of charge, and can be launched in as little as 10 minutes. WonderWes advanced technology features include peer-to-peer crowdfunding, a function that allows individuals to launch mini campaigns through the larger fundraiser. For example, on the Benedictines WonderWe page, one supporter has started an individual fundraiser to help with a percentage of the larger financial goal. WonderWes other unique features include the ability to enlist the help of several administrators to run the campaign, an organization portal and much more.

With the help of WonderWe, the Benedictines have been able to take on the massive project and goal of building a new church without taking on any debt, Mother Cecilia said. I encourage other individuals and organizations to follow the Benedictines lead and help their cause by raising money in a smart, innovative and fresh way with the resources found on WonderWe.
MyPreferences was designed for the permission-based, personalized future of marketing. That future has arrived.

PossibleNOW, the leading provider of customer engagement and enterprise preference management solutions, today announced the release of MyPreferences 2.0 with new control and customization features designed to help marketers improve customer engagement.

MyPreferences 2.0 offers marketers unprecedented control over the data that defines how their companies communicate with customers and prospects, said Scott Frey, President and CEO of PossibleNOW. MyPreferences was designed for the permission-based, personalized future of marketing. That future has arrived. Today, the newest release continues a tradition of product innovation with new administration, analysis and international utilization capabilities.

Introduced in 2011, MyPreferences was designed to consolidate the collection, management and reporting of consumer preferences from the entire enterprise into a centralized system that seamlessly integrates with CRM and marketing automation systems.

Key enhancements in MyPreferences 2.0 include:



Preference Manager - the next-generation application for preference management administration. Supports all your preference and consent management configuration needs. Built with an intuitive interface and responsive design that supports multiple device types.

Customizable/Extendable Data Model - leverage newly deployed custom property capabilities for driving customized user experiences across Lines of Business, Product Lines, Customer Types, or any other preference segments. User Interface driven setup and management, and API driven access.

Business Rules Repository - leverage preference manager User Interface expressing business rules capable of driving jurisdictional specific implementations, and designing multi-channel preference capture strategies that support compliance globally.

Advanced Data Segmentation & Data Export - leverages a powerful and flexible query builder with an easy-to-use user interface for constructing preference data segments, applying custom filters, and defining relationships between segment groups to feed into data export schedules for deep or wide data export.

Internationalization - an enhancement to existing capacities that enables organizations to personalize preference collection user interfaces by driving the user interface language associated with the use of custom or industry standard locales.

MyPreferences 2.0 is now available to existing PossibleNOW clients and will be the version implemented for all new clients. To learn more about the latest version, schedule an upgrade or participate in a demo, call (800) 585-4888 or email info(at)possiblenow(dot)com.

About PossibleNOW

PossibleNOW, headquartered near Atlanta, Georgia, enables businesses to build lasting, profitable relationships with customers, partners and employees through preference management technology. MyPreferences, our enterprise preference management platform, empowers companies to listen to and learn from their customers through the active collection and management of preferences such as product interest, channel preference and frequency of communication. MyPreferences easily integrates into existing applications such as CRMs and marketing databases. The MyPreferences platform's flexibility, security and compliance protections make it ideal for serving as the central repository for customer data inside the enterprise and for minimizing regulatory compliance risk. For more information, call (800) 585-4888 or (770) 255-1020, e-mail info(at)possiblenow(dot)com or visit http://www.possiblenow.com.

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Alliance Homecare Particularly as we mark our tenth year of providing exceptional service to our clients, we are thrilled about this new affiliation and the additional knowledge, skills and resources to which we have access.

Alliance Homecare  a concierge home health care provider serving individuals and families in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley, recently announced the acquisition of Elder Care Alternatives (ECA). In light of this partnership, Elder Care Alternatives will now be known as AllianceECA. Services will continue to be provided by its present team of expert Care Managers.

The announcement was made as Alliance Homecare celebrates its tenth anniversary in September. The recent demand for comprehensive services to maintain older adults in their homes with both quality of care and quality of life was the driving force behind the new venture. ECA and Alliance Homecare have a shared philosophy and commitment to a multi-disciplinary team approach to positive aging. The companies believe that physical and psychological wellness can only result from high quality professional support. Helene Bergman, a 20+ year veteran in the aging care arena and former president and founding board member of ALCA (Aging Life Care Association, formerly National Association of Professional Geriatric Managers NAPGCM), started ECA and will remain in an advisory capacity.

Particularly as we mark our tenth year of providing exceptional service to our clients, we are thrilled about this new affiliation and the additional knowledge, skills and resources to which we have access, said Greg Solometo, co-founder and CEO of Alliance Homecare. We have always had tremendous respect for Helene Bergman, who created ECA. This new venture deepens and expands our Care Manager capabilities with a proven structured methodology, making our practice area even more robust. Together, we will continue to service the ever-changing care needs of clients and their families  who are as important to us as our own.

Helene Bergman created ECA in 1994 to assist older adults and their families attain a high quality of life in the face of acute or chronic challenges associated with aging. Our philosophy from the onset has been that given consistent and superior care and support, older adults can age in place wherever they reside, said Bergman. Our relationship with Alliance Homecare is a testament to the outstanding service they have been providing for the past ten years. The caliber of their staff and care management team is head and shoulders above any other aging care company.

AllianceECA will now be located at the Alliance Homecare headquarters at 252 West 37th Street, Suite 600W in New York. Alliance Homecare can be reached at 1.877.NURSE80 or http://www.alliancehomecare.com. For the latest news and updates, follow Alliance Homecare on Facebook (@AllianceHomecareNY), Twitter (@alliancehcny), LinkedIn and Google+.

About Alliance Homecare

Alliance Homecare is a concierge home health care company which offers an extensive range of high-quality private home care services to an elite client base in lower New York State which includes: the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties. Co-founded in 2006, Alliance has a uniquely selective hiring process, known as The Grandma Rule(SM). This process ensures Alliance only hires the highest caliber of registered nurses, home health aides and health care professionals, resources the company would be comfortable caring for their own families. These specialized professionals provide best-in-class care for Alliances clients and their loved ones while honoring a strict code of confidentiality. A Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA), Alliances services include private duty nursing, home health aides, companions, professional care management, physical therapy, and nutritional counseling. To learn more, visit http://www.alliancehomecare.com.
Our mission is to provide our partners with the most effective digital tools possible as soon as they are available. We value the close relationships we have with industry leaders like Google to support our mission.

Vendasta, the #1 platform for selling digital solutions to local businesses, announced that it has deployed the latest Google My Business instant review feature, which Google released today, into its platform for general availability to its partners.

The review capabilities from Google enable a local business to get alerted about a new customer review as soon it is left on Google. These alerts empower a business to manage reviews in real-time, which gives them greater control over their reputation management. The introduction of Vendastas feature, in-sync with Googles release, is part of the companys commitment to building software based on the newest tools and technologies available, and ensuring their partners have access to them immediately.

Vendastas collaborative relationship with Google has allowed the company to launch the feature from the first moment it became available to the public, a commitment that Chief Technology Officer, Dale Hopkins, says is critical to their product strategy, adding Were proud that by consistently leveraging Google's innovative infrastructure, Vendasta continues to be on the forefront of the latest technologies involving listings and reviews. Our mission is to provide our partners with the most effective digital tools possible as soon as they are available. We value the close relationships we have with industry leaders like Google to support our mission.

Vendasta is continuously optimizing its platform and expansion of the solution is expected to continue in a number of key areas across digital advertising and lifecycle management over the next few months.

About Vendasta

Vendastas platform helps digital agencies and media companies sell digital marketing solutions to local businesses. Through this platform, Vendasta provides white label reputation management, social media marketing and local listings management while integrating with third party applications to offer a complete solution for any local business. Vendasta offers online presence management that helps agencies scale their clients from DIY to Do It For Me to Do It With Me services. For more information, visit http://www.vendasta.com.

Vendastas system supports both multi-location brands and local businesses.

Media Contact:

Bonnie Clark

Director of Brand & Buzz

306.955.5512

bclark(at)vendasta(dot)com
"Almost two dozen provocative museums across the country can immerse visitors in African American history and culture," said SoulOfAmerica.com CEO Thomas Dorsey, who has visited all but a few.

As the nation celebrates the National Museum of African American History and Culture, award-winning SoulOfAmerica.com has announced a list of other outstanding museums that document the black experience in America.

"The National Museum of African American History and Culture is magnificent, but many don't have the money or the vacation time to visit Washington, D.C.," said Thomas Dorsey, Founder and CEO of SoulOfAmerica.com. "Luckily, almost two dozen provocative museums across the country can immerse visitors in African American history and culture." Dorsey's has been to all but a few. Two examples from the list are:

The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tenn.

http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/

The museum complex includes the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. As part of the moving "Culture of Resistance" exhibit, the museum displays the undisturbed rooms of 306 and 307, which were occupied by Dr. King and his colleagues in his final hours. Also feature is the original Walgreen's lunch counter from the first national sit-in on February 1, 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

"Purchased Lives: The American Slave Trade from 1808 to 1865" illustrates the cruel and complex institution of slavery. Through images, ship manifests, oral history recordings and interactive displays, the exhibit depicts the travesty of an economic system that ravaged more than two million lives.

The DuSable Museum of African American History; Chicago, Ill.

http://www.soulofamerica.com/us-cities/chicago/chicago-cultural-sites/dusable-museum-african-american-history/

The museum's "Freedom, Resistance and Journey toward Equality" exhibit displays artifacts, art, videos and images representing two centuries of black history. It includes a reproduction of the hold of a slave ship, a bureau that belonged to celebrated anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells, a replica of a Pullman Porter sleeping car and the Chicago Black Panther Office front door, emblazoned with black power logos. Other galleries brim with art from such noted artists as Romare Bearden and Henry O'Tanner.

SoulOfAmerica.com's listing (http://www.soulofamerica.com/blog/top-black-museums/) also includes the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco and the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore (the most visited of all black history and culture museums). And the website has an overview page (http://www.soulofamerica.com/us-cities/washington-dc/washington-dc-cultural-sites/national-museum-african-history-culture/) with general information for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

About SoulOfAmerica.com

SoulOfAmerica.com is the web's most curated, comprehensive and trusted site for black travel, offering more than 30,000 pages of content and 26,000 photos. With travel narratives of the black history and culture around the globe, the website is a great resource for students, educators and researchers. SoulofAmerica.com was founded in 1997.

(Editor's Note: SoulOfAmerica.com CEO Thomas Dorsey is available for interviews at 310-214-8554)

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Webroot and Atera Next Generation MSP Security With the increased threat of ransomware attacks, we are adding another critical layer of protection for MSPs and their customers through our partnership with Webroot, said Gil Pekelman, CEO at Atera.

Atera, developer of the cloud-based IT automation platform that combines Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM software), Professional Services Automation (PSA), and remote access into one powerful solution, today announced that it has partnered with Webroot, the market leader in next-generation endpoint security and cloud-based collective threat intelligence. The partnership will offer managed service providers (MSPs) a seamless integration of Ateras MSP software solution and Webroots next-generation endpoint security powered by cloud-based collective threat intelligence.

With the increased threat of ransomware attacks, we are adding another critical layer of protection for MSPs and their customers, said Gil Pekelman, CEO at Atera. This new partnership will help MSPs simplify and streamline their security offerings to end customers, while increasing their operating margins. The integration with Webroot aligns with our strategy to offer the best-of-breed solutions to our customers with high functionality and ease-of-use.

Through Atera, MSPs will now be able to increase their recurring revenue opportunities by offering a complete set of security solutions, including a mail filtering solution, online backup, and now Webroots next-generation endpoint protection. Webroot SecureAnywhere Business Endpoint Protection is a cloud-based suite of cybersecurity solutions that are fully integrated into Ateras platform, eliminating the need for complex installation and server deployment into networks. Now it can be done through Atera with a click of a button.

This partnership enables MSPs to achieve standardization across all the networks they are managing. In conjunction with the partnership, Atera has added a new feature to its platform that immediately alerts MSPs if there are any security issues or problems.

In a rapidly changing threat landscape, the only way to protect businesses is with next-generation endpoint security, said Charlie Tomeo, vice president of worldwide sales at Webroot. Webroot SecureAnywhere Business Endpoint Protection is uniquely suited to bring Ateras MSPs better protection and performance, increase profitability, and lower operational cost by reducing the complexities associated with managing a traditional security solution.

Atera is enabling MSPs to improve their business, provide better service, and profitably grow. Its unmatched technology provides MSPs with the agility and Business Intelligence they require to succeed with its unique pricing model and a transformative billing dashboard that includes real-time statistics from The Benchmark.

Atera and Webroot will be hosting a webinar about the new partnership on Thursday, September 29 at 12:30 a.m. ET. To sign up for the webinar, please click here.

Atera also makes it fast and easy for MSPs to migrate their customers to the platform. To learn more about Atera, please call (877) 211-4666, or email info@atera.com. For a 30-day free trial, please visit http://www.atera.com.

About Atera

Atera is the developer of the cloud-based IT automation platform that combines RMM software, PSA, and remote access into one powerful solution. Ateras all-in-one innovative platform offers MSPs improved operational efficiency, seamless integration, end-to-end management and disruptive pricing. To learn more, visit http://www.atera.com.

About Webroot

Webroot delivers next-generation endpoint security and threat intelligence services to protect businesses and individuals around the globe. Our smarter approach harnesses the power of cloud-based collective threat intelligence derived from millions of real-world devices to stop threats in real time and help secure the connected world. Our award-winning SecureAnywhere endpoint solutions and BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Services protect tens of millions of devices across businesses, home users, and the Internet of Things. Trusted and integrated by market-leading companies, including Cisco, F5 Networks, Aruba, Palo Alto Networks, A10 Networks, and more, Webroot is headquartered in Colorado and operates globally across North America, Europe, and Asia. Discover Smarter Cybersecurity solutions at http://www.webroot.com.

2016 Webroot Inc. All rights reserved. Webroot, SecureAnywhere, Webroot SecureAnywhere, Webroot BrightCloud, BrightCloud, and Smarter Cybersecurity are trademarks or registered trademarks of Webroot Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
We believe that security is for everyone, states Gabriel Schonzeit, President of IDSecurityOnline.com Nobody should have to live in fear and not be in a secure environment each and every day

IDSecurityOnline.com, a leading provider of ID card printers and photo ID systems, today announced that its President, Gabriel Schonzeit was recently featured as a guest speaker on the Strategies of Success Radio Show to help increase awareness about the importance of school security. Schonzeit believes strongly in helping schools with their security and has made a vow to never turn down a school based on budget. During the radio show, Schonzeit discussed how each school has different security needs depending on location and how important it is to provide security at all layers.

IDSecurityOnline.com has never turned its back on a school in need and has donated a myriad of ID card solutions to school districts nationwide who could not afford it. We believe that security is for everyone, states Gabriel Schonzeit, President of IDSecurityOnline.com Nobody should have to live in fear and not be in a secure environment each and every day. Each school has different needs when it comes to security based on location and we make it a point to customize our solutions for each client.

From New York to Texas, IDSecurityOnline.com is on hand to help protect students and staff with the latest ID Card and printing solutions. No school is too small for IDSecurityOnline.com. Recently, when a small school district in Texas  Clarksville Independent School District needed help with their security measures, IDSecurityOnline.com was right there steering them in the right direction. With an increase of on-campus violence in recent years, having a security system in place at an educational institution is not only an added benefit but a necessity. The Clarksville ISD wanted a way to secure its schools with identification measures to prevent unauthorized access that could hinder the learning environment for students. The school district had recently installed an access control system in each of its three schools. With proximity card readers at each entrance way the only people allowed on the premise where those with the proper credentials. The Clarksville ISD needed an ID badge solution that would work seamlessly with the existing access control system. IDSecurityOnline.com had the perfection solution  an ID Badge Printer that could effortlessly provide Photo ID Badges for all employees and students at all three schools.

IDSecurityOnline.com recommended the ZXP Series 3 ID Card Printer https://www.idsecurityonline.com/zebra/zxp-series-3-card-printer/ along with software and supplies. After installing the printer software and setting up the ZXP Series 3 printer, the administrative department printed approximately 100 cards for all faculty members and staff. The ID Badge printer is also used to personalize student badges on an annual basis. With an automated process in place and all information entered into a master database, the printing process was a quick and efficient process.

IDSecurityOnline.com continues to lead the way in educating our country about the importance of school security and the latest security measures. Gabriel Schonzeit has become a thought leader on this subject matter and known for his industry expertise and commitment to providing security to everyone. The company is a one-stop provider of ID Card Printers, Photo ID Systems, ID Card Software, Card Printer Supplies that includes plastic badges and Badge Accessories and strives to exceed customer expectations with first-class customer support and service, free shipping on all orders, and a price match guarantee. The company serves organizations of all sizes and industries including corporations, education, government, healthcare, police departments, retail, associations, and event venues. For more information on IDSecurityOnlines ID Card Solutions, visit http://www.idsecurityonline.com/nyc-idprinters/.

About IDSecurityOnline.com:

IDSecurityOnline.com is a leading provider of ID solutions and answers the needs of all organizations and corporations such as government, Fortune 500 companies, schools/universities, hospitals, and international / local sporting events. IDSecurityOnline.com offers an extensive line of card printers, ID systems, supplies and accessories. These systems resist tampering with advanced features like holographic images, ghosted images, biometric data, smart card technology and enterprise level data base management. For more information, visit http://www.IDSecurityOnline.com.

IDSecurityOnlines PR Contact:

Monique Merhige

President

Infusion Direct Marketing & Advertising, Inc.

Phone: 631-846-1558

Email: monique(at)infusiondirect(dot)com
We are always reviewing new researchers, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Nic Gustavson. We may not need them now, but we always want to be prepared to deliver the best services to our clients, both nationally and globally."

Corra Group recently attended the Annual Convention for the National Association for Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), in Palm Desert, California. The trade show brings together thousands of consumer reporting agencies, vendors, software providers, and researches from around the world.

This year was a terrific show, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Nick Gustavson. We had a chance to meet with old friends and find new sources that are critical to employment screening both domestically and around the world. Of course, with the variety of seminars, we can remain current on FCRA regulations and the different laws governing employment screening on the federal and state level.

The NAPBS gives a sense of the status of our business, overall, said Gustavson. Many of us share information and exchange ideas that can help each other out. It is, as industries go, a small industry and after a while you get to know everyone in the business.

Gustavson noted that the El Segundo, California based Corra Group provides a dynamic range of background searches to a variety of industries. He pointed out that the NAPBS is the only place where within a few short days he can source and compare any number of vendors.

We are always reviewing new researchers, said Gustavson. We may not need them now, but we always want to be prepared to deliver the best services to our clients, both nationally and globally. We also review the new updates in the various software platforms so that we have a better idea how advancing technology will facilitate background checks in the near future. As with many industries, there are new demands and constant changes.

Among the sessions we attended, we were there for the Deverus presentation and were pleased by the new software updates and applications that will soon be coming online, said Gustavson. Anything we can utilize to better facilitate our client services can make a big difference in our order flow.

Gustavson noted that the general feel of this years NAPBS was upbeat and optimistic. Both he and business partner, Gordon Basichis, thought the attendees overall were highly energized and happy for the camaraderie and shared experience.

Palm Desert is quite beautiful and always a great place to be, said Gustavson. Better still, this NAPBS Convention was only a two-hour drive from our offices in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND: Corra operates as Corra Group and specializes in employment screening and corporate research and investigation. It is one of the few companies that will answer the phone.
The Erbert and Gerberts brand story has always been uniquely endearing, but with Shine Uniteds help we have been able to focus our messaging in a way that more clearly gets us our unfair share of attention.

The new campaign reaffirms the sandwich chains dedication to providing consumers with a unique, flavorful experience in every interaction with the Erbert & Gerberts brand. The campaign launches as the sandwich chain launches its 100th sandwich location.

Live Flavorfully is an affirmation of what weve always stood for and a declaration for our purpose as a sandwich chain, said Eric Wolfe, president, CEO and chairman of E&G Franchise Systems. The Erbert and Gerberts brand story has always been uniquely endearing, but with Shine Uniteds help we have been able to focus our messaging in a way that more clearly gets us our unfair share of attention.

Erbert & Gerberts agency of record, Shine United, developed the Live Flavorfully campaign, featuring digital and radio advertising, social media, and an updated in-store experience, including food packaging, interior signage and decor, staff uniforms and external signage and messaging.

LIVE FLAVORFULLY

The campaign speaks directly to the brands greatest point of difference, flavor. Sandwiches with intense toppings and unique sauces. Small-batch soups that tantalize taste buds. And a commitment to delivering a truly unique, satisfying guest experience.

It starts with the unique sandwiches and small batch soups, but its more than that, said John Krull, partner and creative director at Shine United. Live Flavorfully is an aspirational philosophy that goes far beyond just what you eat. Its about adding flavor to every part of your Erbert & Gerberts experience.

DIGITAL ADVERTISING

One digital display ad exclaims, Holy Cranberry Wasabi, to emphasize the intense flavor of the franchises sandwich ingredients. Another says, almost in disbelief, No Peppadew Mustard Way. The ads drive customers to find an Erbert & Gerberts location or to order online.

RADIO ADVERTISING

Two new radio spots playfully personify how Erbert & Gerberts is living flavorfully. One spot uses not so subliminal messaging to make mouths water and the second uses a thesaurus to find the most flavorful descriptions possible of their sub sandwiches.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A robust social media campaign encourages customers to get out of their #LunchRut, complete with a launch video, series of photographics and a promotion where the best (or worst) lunch rut photo wins a catered lunch for an entire workplace. One photographic features a bleak image of leftover Chinese food with the headline, Theres a reason its left over. Another includes a burrito inside a microwave with the headline, NSFW.

View creative samples here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/03rxseirqb88jlq/AAA_bdvc6zZKBnF12-HvGUmDa?dl=0

CONTACTS:

SHINE UNITED: Aleah Schroeder / aschroeder@shineunited.com / 608.442.7373

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Erbert & Gerberts

Founded in 1988 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and themed originally from a childs storybook, Erbert & Gerberts has grown to over 97 locations in 17 states, with locations ranging from urban centers to rural areas. Growth for 2016 is targeted in Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North and South Dakota and Michigan with additional franchises slated to open in Indiana and Nebraska. For franchising information, visit http://www.erbertandgerberts.com.

Shine United

Shine United is a $41 million advertising, design and interactive agency located in Madison, Wisconsin. The privately held companys client roster includes national brands such as Harley Davidson, LaCrosse Footwear, Wisconsin Cheese, GORE-TEX Running Footwear, Amazon.com, Winston Fly Rods, and Kohler Co. Shine is an environment where creativity, brilliance and teamwork are allowed to flourish  part of the reason we were named one of the best places to work by Outside Magazine the past three years.

Learn more at ShineUnited.com. Shine On.
Cape Cod Select is looking for spectacular bloggers, not professional bakers, chefs or bartenders, to compete in their First Annual Holiday Blogger Recipe Challenge. The recipe challenge date has been set, the pans will be banging and the shakers will be shaking and the stakes will be high to see who becomes the first Grand Prize Winner of their First Annual Cape Cod Select Holiday Blogger Recipe Challenge. Cape Cod Selects Holiday Blogger Recipe Challenge will be open to the first 75 qualified bloggers to create an original entree, beverage (alcohol and non-alcohol beverages) or baking dish recipe using Cape Cod Selects premium frozen cranberries.

Categories for the recipe challenge include beverages (alcohol and non-alcohol beverages), entrees (no side dishes), and baking dishes. Bloggers are encouraged to participate in all three categories. One winner we be selected from each category and be awarded $500.00.The winning recipes from each category will then compete to see who will become the $1,000.00 Grand Prize Winner of the Cape Cod Select Holiday Blogger Recipe Challenge. The contest starts on October 1, 2016 and ends December 31, 2016. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

All qualified participants will receive two free 16 oz. bags of Cape Cod Selects premium frozen cranberries to create recipes with. Entrants will be required to submit their recipes with an accompanying photo and post their recipes on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram pages. To take the challenge, participants can enter at http://www.capecodselect.com starting on October 1, 2016.

Cape Cod Select will be seeking recipes that are delicious and easy to create, great for families, and of course, original and inventive. Contest recipes will be judged on their taste, visual appeal and creativity.

To qualify for the Cape Cod Select Holiday Blogger Recipe Challenge you must be:



Must be 21 years old or older at time of entry

Must be a legal U.S. resident

Void where prohibited

Food or beverage blog must be updated frequently (at least once per week) and has been in existence for at least 6 months

RECIPE MUST BE ORIGINAL

Applicants cannot be professional bakers, chefs or bartenders

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

Cape Code Selects premium frozen cranberries are farm fresh, recipe ready, have no additives or preservatives and are Non GMO. Besides offering farm fresh frozen cranberries, Cape Cod Select also offers consumers a line of mixed fruit including Cranberries Plus Blueberries, Cranberries Plus Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Cranberries Plus Pineapple, Mango, Banana that provide consumers and families with a healthier lifestyle choice year round.

About Cape Cod Select

Cape Cod Select is a 4th generation family owned and operated business located in Carver, Massachusetts and places great importance on the safety and quality of their cranberry products. Cape Cod Selects cranberries are farmed for today's retail markets that demand sustainable harvest practices and traceability of source. Cape Cod Select cranberry products are being positioned for green and sustainable retail markets nationwide including Chain Supermarkets, Independent Supermarkets, Gourmet Food Stores and Club Stores. Cape Cod Selects frozen cranberries, Cranberries Plus Blueberries, Cranberries Plus Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries and Cranberries Plus Pineapple, Mango, Banana provide consumers and families with a healthier lifestyle choice year round. For more information about Cape Cod Select, contact Cindy Rhodes at 508-866-1149 or email her @ crhodes(at)capecodselect(dot)com
SWIM Mobile Payments Apps With SWIM, issuers and wallet providers can securely enable HCE mobile payments for their consumers with strong authentication!

Card Issuers across the world are launching their own branded HCE (host card emulation) enabled digital cards on mobile devices. Rapid mobile payments growth is expected as more cash transactions convert to digital driven by the millennial generation.

However, the current challenges with any HCE implementation are achieving strong customer authentication, auditability, end-to-end trust and security, and reducing implementation costs. To overcome these challenges, HCE Service has launched the worlds first PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) secured HCE card digitalising managed service  SWIM (Software Wireless Identity Module) HCE platform.

SWIM has drastically dropped the implementation costs of HCE cloud payments while adopting open standards (HCE, EMV, PKI, NFC, PCI-DSS, white box cryptography and biometrics), said Vivek Singh, Head of Business Development at HCE Service. He further emphasised, SWIM provides strong customer authentication based on Digital IDs provided to mobile users and this is compliant to Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2) requirements.

SWIM comprises HCE Wallet App, PKI based credential management, tokenisation based account enablement, and authorisation processing components delivered as a PCI-DSS compliant private cloud infrastructure to Issuers (banks, wallet providers, transport, corporates, etc.). Issuer mobile apps integrate easily via SWIM Software Development Kits (SDK) and Application Program Interfaces (API).

Hence Issuers can look at launching a secure and certified HCE project in a few weeks, without any significant investment on hardware or development resources. As the adoption of HCE grows within their consumer base, Issuers can then decide to either continue down the path of Managed Service or bring the technology in-house.

PKI offers the strongest possible User & Device authentication for an HCE based implementation

HCE Service solution leverages proven secure technologies: A wireless Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and best in class encryption standards to deliver PKI-secured HCE EMV mobile payments and value-added services to banks and other card issuers, at the lowest possible costs.

Customer credentials are downloaded to the mobile handset only after a very secure channel has been established between the customer device and the issuers private SWIM host. The provisioning of tokenised payment credentials in the mobile wallet apps is done via two distinct highly secure mechanisms: One for digital ID based strong authentication and integrity, and the other for dynamic issuance of HCE tokens. SWIM therefore utilises dual tokens to protect the critical data of HCE tokens over the Internet and within mobile devices. HCE tokens are stored securely in devices using whitebox cryptography and enable EMV NFC payments to be performed even if there is no mobile Internet connectivity.

A Software Development Kit (SDK) for mobile application developers and an open and simple Application Programming Interface (API) enables the Issuer or its solutions provider to rapidly implement a highly secure HCE compliant mobile payments platform.

With HCE Service, card issuers have access to an end-to-end HCE tokenisation and authorisation cloud based wallet service. It is open to their ecosystem of partners and developers, while meeting the requirements of the payment card industry with state of the art data protection. It maximises the customer experience and minimises the possible liabilities.

Offered via Software as a Service (SaaS) model, the platform can provide integration with Visa (VDEP) and MasterCard (MDES) Token Service, as well as an option to implement proprietary tokenisation. SWIM is a one stop shop secure mobile payments platform that can be tuned to optimise the trade-off between CAPEX, OPEX and risk. It is also future-proof as it integrates seamlessly with existing issuer infrastructures.

About HCE Service

HCE Service Ltd, UK and HCE Secure IT Services (Private) Ltd, India deliver innovative, secure and exciting mobile tokenisation services to our card issuing customers globally with the aim that their consumers can use SWIM secured mobile apps and contactless NFC mobile payments at Points of Sales. Our state-of-the-art hosted infrastructure provides services to telecom, transport and retail enterprises as well as banks and other financial institutions. Our SWIM (Software Wireless Identity Module) solution provides strong cryptographic security to a wide range of applications and services on mobile devices. Our MAP (Mobile Application Platform) host provides the most advanced HCE EMV card/token issuance payment service for most card/token issuers. For more information, visit: http://www.HCEservice.com.

Vivek Singh, Head of Business Development, sales(at)hceservice(dot)com

HCE Service Limited, Level39, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, UK, E14 5AB.

HCE Secure IT Services (Private) Limited, 401, Princes Business Skypark, Scheme Number 54, PU-3 Commercial, Vijay Nagar, Indore, MP, India, 452010.
The topics of the videos are designed to keep industry professionals up-to-date on regulatory changes and safety challenges to enable them to be faster, smarter and safer in their facilities.

Brady (NYSE:BRC), a global leader in industrial and safety printing systems and solutions, today announced its Toolbox Talks informative video series. These videos answer the questions users have been asking and provide insight on industry hot topics, best practices, safety tips and regulatory changes.

Bradys Toolbox Talks videos are about one minute in duration to quickly and effectively give viewers concise and valuable information in their area of interest, says Jason Strom, global director of digital and web experience for Brady. The topics of the videos are designed to keep industry professionals up-to-date on regulatory changes and safety challenges to enable them to be faster, smarter and safer in their facilities.

Toolbox Talks: GHS/HazCom is the first topic covered by the series, answering the following questions:

1. What does it mean to be in full GHS compliance for June 1, 2016?

2. What can you do if your upstream supplier is not yet in compliance with Safety Data Sheets?

3. What if I have an older chemical from 2011 on the shelf? Do I need to re-label it?

4. Do I need to provide annual training on GHS?

5. The final HazCom/GHS full compliance deadline has hit. Were in compliance what next?

View current videos and stay tuned for additional videos throughout the year on a variety of topics. The next topic will focus on sorbent programs and best practices.

For More Information

For Bradys complete product offering, visit BradyID.com.

About Brady Corporation:

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places. Bradys products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels, signs, safety devices, printing systems and software. Founded in 1914, the Company has a diverse customer base in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, medical, aerospace and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as of July 31, 2016, employed approximately 6,400 people in its worldwide businesses. Bradys fiscal 2016 sales were approximately $1.12 billion. Brady stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRC. More information is available on the Internet at bradycorp.com.
Im not a technical person so when I saw this, it really showed me the devastation before and after.

Just one week shy of the anniversary of a catastrophic thousand-year rain in South Carolina, Woolperts video on its groundbreaking disaster relief efforts employed immediately following that event was recognized.

Aerial Imagery Assists Flood Disaster Response in South Carolina, and in Record Time, a video by Woolpert Project Director Brian Bates, received an Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Award today from WEFTEC 2016 in the Technical Category. WEFTEC is the Water Environment Federations annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, and it is being held this week in New Orleans.

The video details the actions Woolpert took in the wake of the flooding in which 36 dams failed, 19 people were killed and 20,000 people displaced. The firm collected perishable orthoimagery and lidar and was able to share that information on a website and app within two days of the disaster.

We wanted to fly the imagery as quickly as possible, process it as quickly as possible and, while it was being flown and processed, simultaneously work on developing a web viewer that would allow us to share it with both the client and the public as soon as it was ready, said Chris Morabito, Woolpert software developer, in the video.

The information collected, layered with previous imagery of the site, showed a vivid before-and-after map of the region and clearly outlined the devastation caused by the flood.

When Brian came to show me the data and the app that was used, and I could see the areas that I grew up in and areas I visit on a daily basis and to be able to zoom in and see those areas, it was very impactful, South Carolina Rep. Beth Bernstein said in the video. Im not a technical person so when I saw this, it really showed me the devastation before and after.

To view Woolperts video, which is being shown and discussed at the conference today, visit http://woolpert.com/emergency-response-solutions-for-disaster-relief/.

This is the second year that WEFTEC has bestowed its IKE awards, and Woolperts first win.

About Woolpert

Woolpert is a national architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm that delivers value to clients by strategically blending engineering excellence with leading-edge technology and geospatial applications. With a dynamic R&D department, Woolpert works with inventive business partners like Google; operates a fleet of planes, sensors and unmanned aerial systems (UAS); and continually pushes industry boundaries by working with advanced water technologies, asset management, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable design. Woolperts mission is to help its clients progressand become more progressive. For over 100 years and with 23 offices across the United States, Woolpert serves the needs of federal, state and local governments; private and public companies and universities; energy and transportation departments; and the United States Armed Forces. The firm currently is doing business in all 50 states and in five foreign countries. For more information, visit woolpert.com or call 937-531-1258.
Joining Momenta Partners gives me a great opportunity to help companies across the Connected Industry embrace the next major technology shift to platforms, analytics, machine learning and digital business models

Momenta Partners, a global advisory, executive search and ventures firm focused on driving growth in Connected Industry companies, announced that Randy Krotowski, former CIO of Chevron and Caterpillar and CxO Advisor to C3 IoT and GE, is joining the Momenta Partners team.

Randy Krotowski brings deep Connected Industry and Digital Transformation experience gained during 34 years of helping large companies on their digital transformation journey. Randy was formerly CIO of Caterpillar, where he delivered the first generation of Cat Connect Solutions, and CIO of Chevron, where he led information technology strategy, delivery and support for Chevrons $100 billion exploration and production business. In addition he has acted as CxO Advisor to C3 IoT and GE.

Ken Forster, Managing Director from Momenta Partners, states: Momenta Partners was built on a team of deeply experienced Connected Industry practitioners. Randy has been a pioneer in the space of Connected Oil & Gas and Heavy Equipment, and we are proud to have him in the Momenta Partners team.

As key part of Momentas Advisory practice, Randy will be helping Connected Industry companies prepare for Digital Transformation.

Joining Momenta Partners gives me a great opportunity to help companies across the Connected Industry embrace the next major technology shift to platforms, analytics, machine learning and digital business models, says Randy Krotowski. I am pleased to be part of the team of such knowledgeable Connected Industry experts and look forward to working with the wide variety of companies across their broad Connected Industry ecosystem.

About Momenta Partners

Momenta Partners delivers proven and integrated Advisory, Executive Search and Ventures practices to drive growth in Connected Industry companies. Our Advisory practice helps our clients develop connected industry strategies, operations, technologies and solutions to activate and accelerate enterprise value. Our clients include Connected Industry leaders such as Accenture, CSC, Interdigital, Reliance Group, Schneider Electric and Xylem as well as young disruptors such as Davra networks, Eigen Innovations, PLAT.ONE, Sight Machine, Sensewaves and others. For more information please visit http://www.momenta.partners, join the @MomentaPartners conversation or contact info@momenta.partners.
A screenshot of the Division's fall microsite. Missouri is especially beautiful during fall, and with this microsite, we want to entice people to come and experience it for themselves, in their own unique way.

Fall is here and many will soon travel to destinations across the country, including Missouri, to catch a glimpse of Mother Natures colors at their finest. The Missouri Division of Tourism (the Division) is showcasing the states fall happenings, including festivals, outdoor adventures, lodging and eateries, on a beautifully designed fall microsite.

Whats different during the fall travel season is the type of traveler. Summer is for families, and autumn is for couples. In fact, the MRI 2015 Doublebase Study suggests that approximately 72 percent of Missouris fall travelers are couples looking for romantic weekend getaways.

With children back in school and the chance to cozy up with that someone special on the mind, its easy to see what draws couples to fall travel. In Missouri, travelers find a wide variety of activities and destinations  from such urban oases as Forest Park in St. Louis to wine-centered getaways including the Route du Vin wine trail near Ste. Genevieve.

Missouri is especially beautiful during fall, and with this microsite, we want to entice people to come and experience it for themselves, in their own unique way, says Mark Manion, SVP/Executive Creative Director, H&L Partners, the Divisions agency of record. "The fall microsite uses visually-appealing photography and user-generated video to highlight the many ways to enjoy fall in Missouri, while providing helpful tools to assist them with their trip planning.

This microsite comes on the heels of the newly launched Its Your Show campaign, which features user-generated content created by real groups of travelers throughout the state. The microsite houses videos created for the campaign in addition to stunning imagery to give users a well-rounded look at fall travel in the state.

Weve created a site where high design meets exceptional usability, says Chris Kilcullen, Digital Director, H&L Partners. Recognizing the states fantastic fall product, we developed and curated a site that, as you browse, makes you feel as if you are flipping through a magazine.

One featured destination, The Elms Resort and Spa, is a quiet escape near bustling Kansas City. Couples can enjoy luxurious rooms and relaxing treatments after exploring the citys surprising fall color hot spots, such as Loose Park, or experiencing fall traditions at Weston Red Barn Farm. Another destination showcased on the microsite is Stockton Lake in Stockton State Park. Couples can take a boat out and enjoy autumns beauty from the water, and cozy up for the evening at a campsite or in a rustic yet comfortable cabin.

Check out the fall microsite at http://www.VisitMO.com/fallforall. For more information, please contact Kara Gerstenecker at 314-454-3478, or kgerstenecker@handlpartners.com.

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About H&L Partners

H&L Partners is a full-service agency that specializes in retail and tourism marketing. Founded in 1985 and based in San Francisco, H&L (formerly Hoffman Lewis) offers a range of marketing services that include strategic planning, advertising and design, digital strategy, media strategy, planning and buying, and public relations.

With offices in St. Louis, Boston and Richmond in addition to San Francisco, H&L clients include McDonald's (serving the San Francisco, St. Louis, New England and Richmond

Co-Ops), Toyota, the Missouri Division of Tourism, Palm Desert (CA), the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, Purple Wine & Spirits, and more.

For more information about H&L Partners, please visit HandLPartners.com.
Geekz Information Technology, LLC, a leading system integrator company based in the United Arab Emirates, today announced a partnership with Stratoscale, the cloud infrastructure company, to provide agile, comprehensive and scalable data center solutions to customers of all sizes.

Stratoscale created its 360-degree partner program, PartnerFirst, with an all-inclusive approach to bring mutual benefits to customers and partners by maximizing technology, products and services. By partnering with Stratoscale, Geekz joins more than 20 global reseller partners, providing an intuitive and powerful experience by supporting legacy applications and enterprise-grade private cloud deployments with capabilities that are only available in web-scale environments.

Our customers are facing growing challenges with their aging VMware infrastructure, attempting to transition to an agile, flexible and scalable mode of operation. Stratoscales cloud infrastructure solution answers the challenge, allowing us to meet the IT demands of customers who require enterprise-grade data center technologies, said Subinson Thomas, customer success manager of Geekz.

We are excited to bring new and innovative approaches to market and provide our customers with a solution that propels them into the next generation of private cloud data centers, said Sabari Das, technical director of Geekz.

Stratoscale recently announced V2 of Stratoscale Symphony, the second generation of Stratoscales comprehensive cloud data center software. V2 breaks down the silos between virtualization, networking and storage, allowing a single administrator to manage all aspects of the infrastructure, freeing valuable time to support internal customers and the business. The solution provides a powerful experience that can be deployed on any x86 server and deliver an Amazon Web Services (AWS) experience in hours.

We are excited to see the Stratoscale PartnerFirst Program continue to grow with the addition of new partners like Geekz, said Ariel Maislos, CEO of Stratoscale. We are dedicated to building a robust technology ecosystem, working together with valued partners such as Geekz, in order to deliver a cloud infrastructure that scales quickly, simplifies operations and delivers the same kind of streamlined user experience that customers have come to expect from their smartphones and web apps.

About Geekz Information Technology, LLC

Geekz is a leading IT solution provider located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Geekz provides data and information management services, virtualization and management solutions, enterprise collaboration and communications solutions to enterprises. Geekz aims to provide quality service and consultation to IT infrastructure companies, delivering business needs without compromising security. For more information, visit: http://www.geekz.ae/ and follow us on Twitter @geekzinfo.

About Stratoscale

Stratoscale is the cloud infrastructure company, providing comprehensive cloud infrastructure software solutions for service providers, enterprise IT and development teams. The companys comprehensive cloud data center software, Stratoscale Symphony, can be deployed in minutes on commodity x86 servers, providing an Amazon Web Services (AWS) experience with the ability to augment aging VMware infrastructure. Stratoscale was named a Cool Vendor in Servers and Virtualization by Gartner and is backed by over $70M from leading investors including: Battery Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Cisco, Intel, Qualcomm Ventures, SanDisk and Leslie Ventures. For more information, visit: http://www.stratoscale.com and follow us on Twitter @stratoscale.
Logo of General Congregation 36

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the largest order of priests and brothers in the Roman Catholic Church, will hold the first plenary session of General Congregation 36 in Rome on October 3. The supreme governing body of the Jesuit order, a General Congregation has only happened 35 times since the Society was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

At the Jesuit Curia in Rome, the worldwide headquarters of the Society just steps from the Vatican, 215 Jesuits from around the globe will gather to elect a new Superior General, as Superior General Father Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, 80, has announced his intention to resign.

Fr. Nicolas, the 30th Superior General in the history of the Society, has served as leader since 2008, when he was elected at the Jesuits 35th General Congregation. Born in Spain, Fr. Nicolas joined the Jesuits in 1953. Before his election as Superior General, he served in Japan and the Philippines, including as provincial (superior) of the Jesuits in Japan and as head of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania, where he was responsible for the common works of the region from China to the South Pacific and Australia.

Fr. Nicolas said he believes this Congregation will be different from the previous one because times have changed and there is a new awareness in the Society that we need daring, imagination and courage in facing our mission as part of the bigger mission of God vis-a-vis our world.

The men who will gather in Rome to elect his successor represent the global Society of Jesus and come from 62 countries. One of the delegates will be Father Timothy P. Kesicki, SJ, president of the Jesuit Conference, the organization that represents the Society of Jesus in Canada and the U.S. Fr. Kesicki said that the delegates approach the upcoming congregation with generosity and faith. They are eager to engage their brothers and to offer the expertise of our own Conference to the whole Society. This is the first time a congregation has begun with a Jesuit pope, and the Society has a great desire to join the church in serving the vision and witness of Pope Francis.

The logo for General Congregation 36 includes the words, rowing into the deep, a phrase inspired by the exhortation of Pope Francis to the Jesuits in 2014, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Society of Jesus. His Holiness encouraged the Society of Jesus to know how to discern in the midst of difficult times, to be submissive and obedient to the will of God, and to row together in the service of the Church.

While the first 19 General Congregations in the Society of Jesus were held at the house in Rome where St. Ignatius lived and died, next door to the Church of the Gesu, recent Congregations have been held at the Jesuits headquarters at 4 Borgo Santo Spirito in Rome. The proceedings will take place in the complexs Aula, or hall, newly renovated as part of an extensive project that included wiring and plumbing upgrades, new LED lighting, and fire-retardant measures throughout the headquarters, which dates back to the 1920s.

The Congregation will gather for an Opening Mass on Sunday, October 2 to be celebrated by Fr. Bruno Cadore, Master of the Dominican Order. The first order of business will be electing the new Superior General. Delegates vote in as many rounds as necessary until someone receives a simple majority.

Once a new Superior General is elected and Pope Francis is informed, the successor to St. Ignatius will be announced. Pope Francis is familiar with the process, as he attended two prior General Congregations  GC 32 (1974-75) and GC 33 (1983). Following the election, a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at the Church of the Gesu.

After a new Superior General is elected, delegates turn their attention to discussing issues of importance in the Society, including mission, structure and Jesuit life and work. For instance, the 32nd General Congregation in 1974 established the service of faith and the promotion of justice as the overriding characteristic of all Jesuit works.

There is no set end date for the Congregation, but when the delegates conclude their work, a closing Mass will be celebrated at the Church of SantIgnazio in Rome.

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About the Society of Jesus in Canada and the United States

Founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius Loyola, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is the largest order of priests and brothers in the Roman Catholic Church. Jesuit priests and brothers are involved in educational, pastoral and spiritual ministries around the world, practicing a faith that promotes justice. In Canada and the United States, there are 30 Jesuit colleges and 80 pre-secondary and secondary schools with a shared goal of developing competent, compassionate and committed leaders in the service of the Church and society. Jesuits minister in parishes and at retreat houses and serve as chaplains at prisons, hospitals, nursing homes and in the military. The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, headquartered in Washington, D.C., represents all Jesuits in Canada and the U.S. For more information on the Society of Jesus, visit http://www.jesuits.org.
Western Independent Bankers (WIB), a trade association of community banks in thirteen Western states, announced today the launch of its new platform aimed at providing mobile financial technology (fintech) apps to banks. Linqto, a progressive California-based technology company specializing in apps for the financial services industry, powers the platform. The WIB Apps Store will house a variety of financial apps that banks can offer to their customers to increase their engagement.

Providing this type of cutting edge technology to our industry is important in two ways, said WIB President/CEO Michael Delucchi. All of our banks want to bring younger, more tech-friendly customers into the bank, as well as offer the latest mobile technology. By using the WIB Apps Store banks dont have to worry about an outdated delivery process from the vendor. The WIB Apps Store can revolutionize the way customers see their relationship between their bank and their mobile device.

Linqto will deliver the WIB Apps Store through its automated delivery platform. The Linqto Software Delivery Platform allows financial institutions to choose from a storefront, the latest fintech apps such as Score & Report or Wallaby. Within minutes the app is branded and available for internal bank testing. When finished with testing the app is automatically distributed to major app stores (Apple, Google, and Amazon). The WIB Apps Store will also offer a collection of non-fintech lifestyle apps that are gaining popularity with Millennials. The process is fully automated and offers a new opportunity for banks to compete.

Western Independent Bankers has a recognizable name and large footprint with community banks, said Bill Sarris, CEO Linqto. Via this strategic partnership with WIB and WIB Service Corporation, more than 800 community banks will have storefront access to the latest fintech apps. We can bring brand loyalty and market share to these banks through the Linqto Platform.

For any bank interested in learning more about WIB Apps Store, contact WIB SVP/CTO Betty House at 415.352.3222.

About Western Independent Bankers and WIB Service Corporation

For eighty years Western Independent Bankers (WIB) has been the premier networking and educational organization for community banks in the West. With over 22,000 individual members from 140 financial institutions, WIB informs, educates, and connects community banks with the resources and services to achieve the highest standards of personal and organizational performance. WIB Service Corporation was established in 1994 by the WIB Board of Directors as a wholly owned subsidiary of WIB. WIB Service Corporation conducts a strenuous selection process before putting the stamp of approval on an elite group of products and services that meet the highest industry standards and help WIB member banks to reduce costs, operate more efficiently, and compete more effectively. For more information, visit http://www.wib.org.

About Linqto

Linqto is a Silicon Valley-based software company specializing in enterprise solutions for banking and new Fintech applications. American Banker named Linqto one of the Top Ten Tech Companies to watch in 2015. Linqto received the Top Award in the 2015 Monarch Innovation Awards, in previous years awarded to Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi and Bank of America twice. Linqto began as a suite of streaming media technologies for Stanford University. Clients have included Intuit, Digital Insight, NCR, PBS, Obama for America, MacNeil Lehrer Productions, YouGov, Marriott, Stanford and Santa Clara Universities and thousands of small businesses. For more information, visit http://www.linqto.com.

Western Independent Bankers:

Betty House  Senior Vice President Strategic Alliances/CTO, WIB

415.352.3222

betty(at)wib(dot)org

Linqto:

Bill Sarris  CEO

831.521.3605

bill(at)linqto(dot)com

Media Contact:

Amy Palmer

512-502-5833

amy(at)leverage-pr(dot)com
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are pleased to announce Amy Keth, business consultant with the Clarion University SBDC, has been awarded the 2016 State Star for Pennsylvania. Keth was honored during the Americas SBDC Annual Conference in Orlando this September.

Amy Keth has been an exemplary member of the SBDC team at Clarion University for more than 12 years. She has demonstrated a consistently strong commitment to assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region, said Pennsylvania SBDC State Director Christian Conroy. She has fostered the development of strong collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholder groups including lenders, economic development professionals, and Clarion University personnel and students, added Conroy.

She consistently and effectively maintains a large client case load that contributes to the centers consulting hours, capital formation, and milestone metrics performance, said Clarion University SBDC Interim Director Cindy Nellis. Amy continually works to build solid relationships with clients through her work, which results in high customer satisfaction ratings and client support letter response, added Nellis.

Amy has also established and maintained many relationships with resource partners and stakeholders in the many counties she has served. Through her work she has connected many clients with organizations such as the county economic development organizations, local development districts, recreational and tourism organizations such as the PA Wilds, financial institutions, legislators, and the many experts and business organizations representing the energy industry.

Amy has coordinated a number of small business Grand Openings for her clients and participated in many business and community events that have resulted in excellent visibility for the center. Over the past two years, Amy has worked with a number of clients participating in the Get On the Trail Business Plan Competition focusing on building businesses around the Erie to Pittsburgh bike trail and area tourism attractions. Amys clients have been among the top three winners in the competition each year. Her assistance has been and continues to be publicly acknowledged and promoted by her clients.

During her time at the Clarion University SBDC, Amy earned her MBA. Her school work included a report on the Marcellus Shale industry, which has been posted to the SBDCs knowledgebase blog and shared with many clients, partners and stakeholders. In addition, Amy developed the Marcellus Shale Resource Guide to help both new and existing entrepreneurs pursing work in this industry. Not only was this guide extremely valuable to the many clients assisted by the Clarion University SBDC, but it is now a resource that is used in the Pennsylvania SBDC statewide network. Amy received the Pennsylvania SBDC Initiative Award in November 2014 for her work on this guide.

Amy became a member of the Marcellus Task Force Committee due to her focused work in this emerging industry. Over the last few years, Amy has sought out events and professional development opportunities to stay abreast of the updates and changes in the industry as well as to connect to key partners and stakeholders. Through her work, she has guided the center in their work to best serve businesses working or pursuing work in this industry and its supply chain.

Amy has spearheaded the development of the Resource Guide for Starting a Business. This guide was developed to easily provide information needed by new entrepreneurs with detailed information to answer most questions asked by those looking to start a business. Also, she and a Clarion University student worked together to update and enhance the curriculum taught at the centers five monthly First Step seminars.

Amy has always stepped forward when it comes to bringing new training to the region. After receiving training on the Affordable Care Act, Amy was the first consultant to coordinate training in her designated counties. She secured speakers and co-sponsors for a seminar that attracted almost 100 people. This seminar received the highest attendance of any SBDC seminar offered by the center.

In response to the Jobs 1st funding, Amy actively participated in the development of a financial management training series. This two day seminar was offered in three locations through the North Central region and together had an attendance of almost 150 people. The response to this series came primarily from existing business owners and their key management personnel assisting the Clarion University SBDC with outreach and promotion to many new potential clients.

Every year, one top performer from each state within the national network of SBDCs is recognized for his or her contributions to his or her SBDC program. Each top performer is awarded the State Star designation for his or her state at Americas SBDC Annual Conference. Employees are chosen for their exemplary performance, making a significant contribution to their state or regional SBDC program, and for showing a strong commitment to small business.

About Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

The Pennsylvania SBDC network is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses. SBDC consultants work with entrepreneurs in confidential, individualized sessions to help them with a range of business issues including testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities, and much more. The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 18 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth. For more information on the Pennsylvania SBDC services and impact, please visit http://www.pasbdc.org.
Thinium's ReCharge+ is the world's thinnest 2-in-1 Wall charger and Power Bank for Android and iOS The RECHARGE+ is the first product to deliver multiple charging options, in one gorgeous, compact product that is cord free. We could not think of a more perfect gift this holiday.

Thinium Technologies, creators of innovative, stylish, and versatile products for on-the-go charging, has unveiled in time for the holidays, the new Thinium ReCHARGE+. As the thinnest 2-in-1 portable battery and wall charger, this versatile product can charge a smartphone from its rechargeable battery, a wall outlet, or any USB charging source. The ReCHARGE+ is completely cord free and is the worlds first patented retractable charging dock that folds flat on a portable power bank. The ReCHARGE+, priced affordably at $69.99, first debuted exclusively with Lori Greiner, star of ABCs Shark Tank and the Queen of QVC and is also now available online at BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, Amazon and Thinium.com.

FEATURES OF THE RECHARGE:



Charge from a wall outlet, rechargeable battery, a computer or any USB charging source.

High Density 3000mAH Li-Polymer battery pack will provide up to two full charges, depending on your smartphone.

2.4A Quick Charge for the fastest charge possible for smartphones, wireless headsets, GPS devices, sports cameras and more.

Simultaneously charge a mobile device and the built-in battery pack so youre never without a charge again.

Additional integrated USB port for compatibility with any mobile device.

Completely cord free.

Space saving design for in the home or on-the-go.

We are extremely proud of the new Thinium ReCHARGE+, which elegantly combines style, portability and functionality, said Peter Greenberg, CEO of Thinium. As smartphones continue to be the center of our lives for work, personal, navigation, photos/video, music and more, it has never been more critical to stay charged while on the go. The RECHARGE+ is the first product to deliver multiple charging options, in one gorgeous, compact product that is cord free. We could not think of a more perfect gift this holiday.

Thiniums new ReCHARGE+ builds on the gorgeous design and portability of the companys flagship CHARGE which launched in 2014 as the worlds first ultra-slim and portable wall charger with a retractable/foldable charging dock. The CHARGE features a 1 AMP quick charge directly from a wall outlet, computer or USB without the need for a cable, and was the recipient of multiple awards including a 2014 International CES Best of Innovations Design and Engineering Honoree Awards in the Portable Power and Wireless Handset Accessories category, a Popular Mechanics 2014 CES 'Best of Show' award, and a iLounge's 2014 CES Best of Show Honoree Award.

The ReCHARGE+ (MSRP $69.99) is available now for Micro-USB and Apple Lightning Connectors in both black or white soft touch finish options at BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, Amazon and Thinium.com. The ReCHARGE+ in white soft touch is available for pre-order on Thinium.com.

About Thinium Technologies, Inc.

Thinium Technologies creates uniquely innovative, stylish and versatile products for on-the-go charging. It is a privately held company based in Los Angeles, CA and is backed and inspired by Jeff Rudes, founder of the iconic J Brand Jeans Company. For more information, visit http://www.Thinium.com.
QuarkXPress Icon

Visit Quark at The Print Show 2016! Along with print industry suppliers, a broad seminar program, and even an in-house bar, The Print Show is providing free education for attendees. Be sure to spend time in the Software Training Theatre with Quark, Adobe and Corel where QuarkXPress 2016 training sessions will run each day of the conference.

In the Software Training Theatre you will meet Martin Turner, QuarkXPress expert and author of Desk Top Publishing with QuarkXPress 2016. Martin will present a comprehensive overview of QuarkXPress 2016, the newest version of QuarkXPress that changes how designers and print service professionals work, including the ability to:



Create and export HTML5 publications

Convert print layouts to HTML 5 publications

Convert PDF, Illustrator and EPS Files to native, editable QuarkXPress objects

Paste as native objects from other Mac applications, such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Microsoft Office, including Excel charts

And more

The Print Show

October 11-13, 2016

NED Birmingham

Learn more about QuarkXPress 2016 and take advantage of a new promotion happening now. All purchases of and upgrades to QuarkXPress 2016 through the end of October will include a bundle of productivity software, including:

IDML Import XT (worth $69.99  Mac only): Import and edit InDesign IDML files with QuarkXPress

JoLetter Mail and Merge XT (worth $129.00  Mac/Win): Create mailings and personalized layouts in QuarkXPress from external databases

PDF Importer XT PRO (worth $19.99  Mac/Win): Automatically import and convert PDFs to multi-page QuarkXPress layouts with native QuarkXPress objects

PortraitPro 12 Standard (worth $79.90  Mac/Win): Retouch portrait photos in minutes

About QuarkXPress

QuarkXPress is leading graphic design and page layout software for creative professionals around the world who depend on quality, performance and stability. QuarkXPress 2016 is the new version of QuarkXPress that introduces transformative functionality and game-changing features, such as HTML5 Publications, the ability to convert PDF, Illustrator and EPS files to native QuarkXPress objects, and much more. Unlike many design suites, QuarkXPress is sold as a perpetual license, which means users make a single purchase and arent locked into an ongoing subscription. Learn more about QuarkXPress here: http://www.quark.com/2016.

# # #

Quark, QuarkXPress, and the Quark logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quark Software Inc. and its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries.
"The Hall of Fame lets us all take time to honor, remember and thank these individuals for their tireless contributions to our member-driven association, said Mark Lee, CHA Hall of Fame Committee Chair.

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) today announces five creative arts products pioneers will be inducted into the CHA Hall of Fame. Members of the CHA Hall of Fame are industry veterans and pioneers who have made extraordinary contributions leading to the growth and success of their organizations and the creative arts industry.

The 2017 CHA Hall of Fame inductees are Dave Catanzarite, Darice and Pat Catans; Emma Gebo, Ben Franklin Crafts; Jerry Hacker, Dees Delights; Catherine Kay, Elam  Kay & Associates; and Bob Ross, Joy of Painting Company.

We are very grateful for all of those who have served our industry before us and whose passion, dedication and hard work had a hand in shaping our great industry. The Hall of Fame lets us all take time to honor, remember and thank these individuals for their tireless contributions to our member-driven association, said Mark Lee, CHA Hall of Fame Committee Chair.

2017 CHA Hall of Fame Inductees:

Dave Catanzarite dedicated over 40 years to the arts and crafts industry. He and his father, Pat Catanzartie (better known as Pat Catan) built Pat Catans Arts & Crafts Stores and Darice (formerly known as Lamrite), providing thousands of products to retailers over his long career. Catanzarite worked tirelessly to develop great programs for his retail customers, teaching them how to form balanced assortments and making buyers of his products better at what they do. Catanzarite also gave back to his community. He created new employment opportunities for many; however, where he gave back the most was donating to the Special Olympics and Camp Cheerful. Now retired, Catanzarite is a legend among us today. His legacy lives on as the father of five children, several who are currently active professionals in the industry.

Emma Gebo, Ph.D. and her husband, Dave opened their Ben Franklin Crafts franchise store in Pocatello, Idaho in 1993. For Gebo, this venture was a second career. After achieving her Masters degree in Education she became a faculty member at Idaho State University in 1973. During the next 20 years, Gebo served as a faculty member and department chair; earned a doctoral degree; held leadership roles; and was awarded the Leadership Award from the American Association of Family and Consumer Science. Gebo switched her leadership focus to the craft industry when she accepted a position on the Ben Franklin Crafts National Advisory Committee. Since then, she has contributed to the industry through several roles, including but not limited to Board member, Secretary and President for Sierra Pacific Crafts, and Board member for the Association for Crafts & Creative Industries (ACCI), being directly involved in the merger with the Hobby Industry Association (HIA) to form CHA. CHA honored Gebo with the Meritorious Award in 2009. Even with her expansion career, Gebo values family more than anything. She and her husband have been married for 52 years, and have three children and six grandchildren.

Jerry Hacker was instrumental in developing the retail craft business during the 1970s. Hackers career began in sales for craft wholesaler Image Design in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1975, he became a general manager of Dees Delights, Inc., which at the time was a new wholesale distributing company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Six year later, Hacker bought the company and led it to being the largest distributor of dollhouse miniatures and building supplies in the world; Dees Delights had a 650 page catalog and stocked over 10,000 skus. In addition to building Dees Delights, he helped found the Mid-American Craft and Hobby Association (MACHA), the regions first regional craft trade association. Hacker served as an active member of the Board of Directors for MACHA and ACCI for several years, as well as the President of the Miniatures Industry Association of America. He also exhibited at HIA trade show for more than a quarter century.

Catherine Kay was a leader in the creative industry. Kays first job in the industry was an assistant buyer for Ben Franklin Stores; she was promoted to buyer, the chains first female buyer, in the late 1960s. From there, Kays worked for Peds, a division of American Corporation, Penn Products, and Goody Hair Products. During her time at Goody, she built the first ever merchandise planogramming program, which was sold through Walgreens stores across America. Inevitably, Kay started her own company, Elam-Kay & Associates, through which she represented Pentaco, Model Lace and Fibre Craft Materials Corporation. Most notably, Kay managed the creation and launch of The Original Doll Baby Head by teaming up with Martha Nelson Thomas, whose dolls inspired the Cabbage Patch Kids craze of the 1980s. The Original Doll Baby Head was Ben Franklin Stores first million dollar order. She was trailblazer who paved the way for the women who followed her in the industry.

Boss Ross was the first to bring painting to millions of viewers of all ages from around the globe through his public television broadcast, The Joy of Painting. For over 30 years, Ross has transformed individuals new to painting into canvas champions. Known for his gentle and encouraging words, Ross has a way of captivating a mass audience, teaching his painting technique and helping them make their own magic on canvas. His company, the Bob Ross Company was formed in 1981 and continues to operate as an active behind-the-scenes organization, even after the death of Boss Ross in 1995. The Best of the Joy of Painting has remained the most popular and most watched art show on television, uninterrupted since 1982.

The inductees were chosen by the CHA Hall of Fame Committee, which is comprised of CHA Board Members and member volunteers. The 2017 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during an awards ceremony at the Creativation Celebration (formerly the CHA Foundation Gala) on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 6:30pm  10:00pm during the 2017 Creativation Show (formerly the CHA MEGA Conference & Trade Show). The 2017 Creativation Show will take place January 19-23, 2017 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ, and is the place where the global creative products community comes together to learn, connect and discover.

For more information about Creativation and to register for an attendee badge or purchase tickets for Creativation Celebration, visit http://www.CreativationShow.org.

ABOUT THE CRAFT & HOBBY ASSOCIATION

The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) is an international non-profit trade association consisting of thousands of member companies engaged in the design, manufacture, distribution and retail sales of products in the worldwide craft and hobby industry. For more information about CHA, membership or its Creativation Show, visit http://www.craftandhobby.org.
Having access to new school supplies can make a difference in the success of a student's school year. Giving back to the young generations is our investment in the future.

The Dream Builders Project donated school supplies to more than 200 children this past Saturday, September 24th in Los Angeles for their annual Back to School event. The Dream Builders Project partnered with After-School All-Stars Los Angeles and two other organizations to supply more than 200 students with new backpacks filled with a variety of school supplies, including folders, notebooks, writing utensils, mathematical equipment, as well as other educational necessities.

At the Back to School event, there was musical performances, a popcorn machine, and informational stations for the parents. The children competed in an obstacle course, made crafts including backpack tags and, and did musical performances.

Having access to new school supplies can make a difference in the success of a students school year, says Mayer Dahan, Founder of The Dream Builders Project. Giving back to the young generations is our investment in the future. We wanted to make this day as special as possible and give them a memory they wont forget!

The Dream Builders Project received generous product donations from local and national companies and organizations including Bazic Products, Right to Write, and many other supporters.

To get involved with the any of our upcoming events, donate or sponsor, interview founder Mayer Dahan, or if you would just like more information about The Dream Builders Project, please contact Lindsey Conger on (323) 536-9246 or pr(at)thedbproject(dot)com.

About The Dream Builders Project:

The Dream Builders Project is a Los Angeles action-based, non profit organization whose mission is to grow and develop the community by aiding, funding, and raising awareness about many of the citys key social issues, including child abuse and neglect, poverty, homelessness, and severe illness and disease. With one objective and one goal in mind  to give back  The Dream Builders Project is not restricted to any particular group or cause but is purely dedicated to the improvement of humanity. http://www.thedreambuildersproject.com

About After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles:

Founded in 2002 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and with noteworthy support from Program Ambassador Kobe Bryant, After-School All-Stars Los Angeles (ASAS-LA) is a leading after-school program who aims to educate, enlighten and inspire thousands of students each day through various activities centered around academic support; such as health, fitness and nutrition; the visual and performing arts; youth leadership and community service learning.

http://www.la-allstars.org.
We are pleased to offer the advisors a familiar platform where they can continue to manage their assets at the same custodians that currently serve their clients and to introduce expanded service offerings to the advisors and their clients."

Sowell Management Services, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm, today announced that it expects to serve as the Registered Investment Advisor for approximately 120 Investment Advisor Representatives currently registered with Concert Wealth Management.

The registration process with Sowell Management Services should be completed within the next several weeks. The transfer of these advisors from San Jose-based Concert Wealth Management comes as a result of changes in custodial relationships at Concert.

We are pleased to offer the advisors a familiar platform where they can continue to manage their assets at the same custodians that currently serve their clients and to introduce expanded service offerings to the advisors and their clients, said Sowell Management Services President and CEO Bill Sowell.

Sowell said the firms Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP) and back-office services offer a solution for advisors who want to outsource the investment and client service functions of their business and take advantage of a centralized investment and integrated technology platform. The Sowell platform offers custodial services through Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, Schwab, Pershing, Scottrade and Trust Company of America.

This is expected to add an estimated $1.5 billion in assets under management and 10,000 custodial accounts to the firms existing $540 million and approximately 4,000 accounts, which should bring the firm to an estimated $2 billion in assets under management and 14,000 accounts.

About Sowell Management Services

Sowell Management Services currently manages investments for independent financial advisors through an extensive Broker-Dealer network as well as Investment Advisor Representatives and other Registered Investment Advisory firms. The firm also provides mid- and back-office services to other industry professionals. To learn more, visit http://www.sowellmanagement.com.

Press Contact

Bill Sowell, President and CEO

7301 River Pointe Drive

North Little Rock, Arkansas 72113

Phone: 501.219.2434

Toll-Free: 800.399.2391

bill(at)sowellmanagement(dot)com
UCHealth

UCHealth named Dr. Nils Albert, MD, the Medical Director of the new UCHealth Emergency Room  Arvada McIntyre opening this month.

Dr. Albert is an experienced physician and will ensure our new freestanding emergency room delivers the highest quality care to Arvada and the surrounding communities, said Dr. Richard Zane, UCHealths Executive Director of Emergency Services and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Albert received his undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Before joining UCHealth Emergency Room, Dr. Albert served as Medical Director and Attending Physician in the Emergency Department at Cheyenne VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. From 2001 to 2013, Dr. Albert served as Associate Medical Director at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colorado. While at UCHealth Emergency Room, Dr. Albert has served as the FMD of UCHealth Emergency Room- Arvada and as the Area Medical Director for UCHealth Emergency Rooms in the Denver metro. He is board-certified in emergency medicine and has over fifteen years of clinical experience.

The new UCHealth Emergency Room will be a full-service emergency facility, licensed by the state, and open 24-7. Additionally, the new location will have full access to UCHealths network of physicians, specialists and advanced treatment options while ensuring seamless transfer for patients requiring inpatient or specialty care. In the Denver metro, all UCHealth Emergency Room locations also accept Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare patients.

The new UCHealth Emergency Room- Longmont is located at 15240 W. 64th Ave., Arvada, CO 80007. For more information, visit http://www.uchealthemergencyroom.com/locations/denver/arvada-mcintyre.

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About UChealth

UCHealth is a Front Range health system that delivers the highest quality patient care with the highest quality patient experience. UCHealth combines Memorial Hospital, Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, Colorado Health Medical Group, and University of Colorado Hospital into an organization dedicated to health and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. UCHealth partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine and numerous community organizations to provide care. Separately, these institutions can continue providing superior care to patients and service to the communities they serve. Together, they push the boundaries of medicine, attracting more research funding, hosting more clinical trials and improving health through innovation.

About Adeptus Health Inc.

Adeptus Health (NYSE: ADPT) is a leading patient-centered healthcare organization expanding access to the highest quality emergency medical care through its network of freestanding emergency rooms and partnerships with premier healthcare providers. Adeptus Health owns and operates First Choice Emergency Room, the nation's largest and oldest network of freestanding emergency rooms and owns and/or operates facilities in partnership with Texas Health Resources in Texas, UCHealth in Colorado, Dignity Health in Arizona, Ochsner Health System in Louisiana and Mount Carmel Health System in Ohio. All Adeptus Health freestanding facilities are fully equipped emergency rooms with a complete radiology suite of diagnostic technology, on-site laboratory, and staffed with board-certified physicians and emergency trained registered nurses. For the last three years, Adeptus Health has exceeded the 95th percentile in patent satisfaction according to patient feedback collected nationwide by Press Ganey Associates Inc. Adeptus Health also was named a 2016 Best Workplaces in Healthcare by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine. For more information please visit adhc.com.
Building Better Narratives in Black Education Building a better narrative means privileging African American voices and perspectives as central drivers of successful urban school reform, as these conversations have largely excluded communities of color, UNCF CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax

UNCF, the National Urban League, and Education Post recently released "Building Better Narratives in Black Education," a joint report published by UNCFs Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, providing tangible approaches to shift the narrative concerning Black educational reform. The findings of the report aim to better engage communities around K-12 education and drive substantive policy changes for Black students. The three organizations gathered national and local education advocates, policy-makers, and community leaders Sept. 15 for a public launch event and reception at UNCFs headquarters, featuring special guests Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO, and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. Watch the discussion between Lomax and Morial here.

Building a better narrative means privileging African American voices and perspectives as central drivers of successful urban school reform, as these conversations have largely excluded communities of color, said Dr. Lomax. Were excited about engaging with our partners in this important work, which we believe will encourage substantive dialogue and drive meaningful changes to the way Black education reform is viewed, promoting an urgency of now in ed reform.

At a time when only seven percent of Black 12th graders are performing at proficient or above on national math assessments, compared with 32 percent of white students, we know weve got lots of work to do, said Morial. As education is the pathway to economic prosperity, were glad to work together with UNCF and Education Post to engage local communities in taking critical steps to address education achievement gaps.

The launch event also included a panel of education leaders who discussed accountability, improving educational outcomes, and improving college completion for African American students. Those panelists included:

 Moderator: Sekou Biddle, Vice President, K-12 Advocacy, UNCF

 Dr. Meredith B. L. Anderson, Senior Research Associate (Patterson and K-12 Advocacy), UNCF

 Eugene Pinkard, Deputy Chief of School Turnaround and Performance, DC Public Schools

 Hal Smith, Vice President, Education, Youth Development and Health, National Urban League

 Christopher Stewart, Director of Outreach and External Affairs, Education Post

 Shantelle Wright, Founder and CEO, Achievement Prep

Watch the discussion with panelists here and join in the discussion on social media by using the hashgtag #BBNBlackEd and following @uncf, @Edu_Post, and @NatUrbanLeague on Twitter.

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About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community, and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF annually awards $100 million in scholarships and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste.  Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

About Education Post

Education Post is a non-partisan communications organization dedicated to building support for student-focused improvements in public education from preschool to high school graduation. The organization advocates world-class schools that support children to love learning, to be challenged and supported in the classroom, to have access to a range of enrichment activities, to be socially and emotionally strong and healthy, and to graduate from high school with everything they need to pursue the future they see for themselves. Learn more at educationpost.org.

About The National Urban League

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in African American and other underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League impacts and improves the lives of more than 2 million young people and adults annually through direct service programs, which are implemented locally by 94 Urban League affiliates, serving 300 communities in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at nul.iamempowered.com.
QCT QxStack Microsoft Cloud Ready Appliances integrate all of Microsoft Windows Server 2016 SDDC technologiessoftware-defined compute, storage and networking virtualization, flexibility and scalabilityinto a hyper-converged cloud appliance.

Microsoft IgniteQuanta Cloud Technology (QCT), a global leader in hyperscale cloud and hyperconverged infrastructure, introduces QxStack Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Cloud Ready Appliances. The appliances, along with Microsoft Windows Server 2016 software-defined datacenter (SDDC) technologies inspired by Microsoft Azure, help customers create a more flexible, faster-to-value and innovative datacenter.

The announcement and the launch of the Windows Server 2016 platform was made today at Microsoft Ignite in Atlanta, which runs through September 30.

Todays datacenter operations are facing new challenges, from handling more data traffic driven by new applications, to security and limited budgeting that constrain IT resources. Windows Server 2016 can balance IT responsibilities and allow enterprises to innovate faster in order to compete effectively.

QCT QxStack Microsoft Cloud Ready Appliances integrate all of Microsoft Windows Server 2016 SDDC technologiessoftware-defined compute, storage and networking virtualization, flexibility and scalabilityinto a hyper-converged cloud appliance. These pre-installed, pre-configured and optimized modular appliances are easy to use, cloud ready and scalable from four nodes to 16 nodes in the same cluster to handle a variety of enterprise virtualization workloads.

QCT is currently undergoing validation on these appliances as required by the Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) Program. WSSD is a Microsoft program that enables solution vendors to design and validate hardware and deploy Windows Server 2016 software-defined infrastructure in a way that follows Microsoft requirements and best practices.

High-performance storage systems are critical to meet the performance of most business applications. The Azure-inspired, software-defined storage capabilities in Windows Server 2016 use policies and automation to reduce costs and add scale.

The QCT appliance lineup builds a Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Software Defined Storage features stack on the ultra-density configuration that offers 16 hot-swappable disks in a 1U form factor for workloads that demand high capacity, such as Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint, as well as data warehousing. For OLTP, VDI, IaaS and Data Warehouse workloads, QCT also offers NVMe cache tier with high-capacity SATA SSDs and HDDs for a blend of high performance and capacity. High availability is made possible due to the appliance having no single point of failure from the hardware layer to fabric management. The product also offers excellent value with the highest density, best price and best performance available.

Mike Yang, senior vice president of Quanta Computer and president of QCT, said, QCT has made a big commitment to software-defined and hyperconverged solutions for our customers. As a result, we now offer our clients the most diverse lineup of pre-integrated cloud hardware and software solutions, all ready to deploy and backed by the most trusted names in enterprise computing. QxStack Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Cloud-Ready Appliances are the latest example of our ongoing and in-depth collaborations with these industry leaders.

Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 offer our most cloud-ready server operating system and management solution ever, with exciting new innovations to help customers transform applications for the cloud, build a software-defined datacenter with cloud efficiencies, and keep IT safer than ever. The complementary solutions and services from our partners are what truly bring the innovations to life for our customers as they transform their IT solutions for a cloud-first world, said Erin Chapple, general manager, Program Management for Windows Server, Microsoft Corp.

About Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT)

QCT is a global datacenter solution provider extending the power of hyperscale datacenter design in standard and open SKUs to all datacenter customers. Product lines include servers, storage, network switches, integrated rack systems and cloud solutions, all delivering hyperscale efficiency, scalability, reliability, manageability, serviceability and optimized performance for each workload. QCT offers a full spectrum of datacenter products and services from engineering, integration and optimization to global supply chain support, all under one roof. The parent of QCT is Quanta Computer, Inc., a Fortune Global 500 technology engineering and manufacturing company. http://www.QCT.io
The Jive team created an infographic about the company's growth and culture, as they celebrate 10 memorable years. To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, were pleased to announce 10 company-wide service projects, one project for each amazing year.

A decade ago, Jive Communications entered the telecommunications industry with a handful of clients and six founders determined to change the world by offering better, less expensive business phone systems. Now Jive has hundreds of thousands of users, and more than 400 employees in seven states and four countries. With a love for development, dedicated and talented employees, and a bootstrap culture that rewards creativity and hard work, Jive looks forward to continued growth and success.

With year-over-year growth, Jive looks back at some of the companys favorite moments:

2006: Moving from Agile Studios to High Tech Headquarters. The first Jive Hosted PBX servers sat in the basement of Agile Studios, a small building in Orem, UT. Situated next to an Arbys, it featured 70s-style decorating and a unique layoutcomplete with a square office in the middle of the office floor that early Jive employees dubbed the Donut Hole. Ten years later, Jive has offices all over the world, with a headquarters located in a high rise off I-15, Utahs major corridor.

2007: Launching the Dial Plan Editor. Jives Dial Plan Editor has helped customers all over the world better manage their office phone systems. Its the only tool in the industry that lets you map out your call flows visually using a drag-and-drop canvas, said John Pope, CEO. Our customers appreciate being able to plan where incoming calls will go with elements like wait times, auto-attendants, voicemail boxes, sound clips, http notify nodes, ring groups and modify caller ID nodes.

2008: Creation of the Partner Program. Jive launched a partner program designed to reach more potential customers through managed service providers, telecom brokers, and value-added resellers. Partners can sign up as authorized resellers or full-service partners and enjoy industry-leading commission rates and substantial residual income streams in return for offering Jives Unified Communications products to clients.

2009: Launch of the K12 Vertical. School districts all over the county have found Jive to be a top Hosted VoIP provider and a welcome solution to their communication needs. Jive provides schools with custom-built solutions that make communication easier and more effective for parents, teachers, and administrators.

2010: Jive Hits 100 Employees. By 2010, Jive went from a handful of founders to 100 employees, growing every department within the company.

2011: John Pope Named Jive CEO. With Jives year-over-year growth, the company needed a CEO that had extensive entrepreneurial and sales experience. Pope was one of the original founders, and the board of directors recognized his talents in motivating employees, driving sales, and growing companies.

2012: Jive Begins Annual Employee Retreats. Jive leadership wanted to show employees how much they were appreciated, and invited employees and their families to a weekend retreat in Park City, Utah, where lifelong memories were created. Since then, Jive has held a retreat every year, sometimes returning to scenic Park City, and other times traveling to locales like Las Vegas.

2013: Growth Funding From North Bridge Private Equity Group. North Bridge invests in exceptional companies whose ideas have the potential to disrupt the status quo and improve the way people live and work. With Jives focus on changing the world by offering companies affordable business VoIP service, it was a perfect partnership.

2014: The Frost & Sullivan Award. Jive was named Entrepreneurial Company of the Year. The award recognized Jives incredible growth, the companys unique and innovative cloud services, and its industry-specific go-to-market strategies.

2015: Introducing the Jive Jeep. In 2015, Jive welcomed a new member to the family. The Jive Jeep has built quite a large fan base, and was created from a 2012 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited by Jive customer West Coast Customs. The Jive Jeep is outfitted with custom hardware from the nation's top off-road brands, making it 4,000 pounds of green-coated awesome.

2016: Sponsoring the Jive 05 Car in NASCAR. The company took on the NASCAR speedways with the Jive 05 car. Check out the race schedule, and join Jive in cheering for John Wes Townley, a veteran of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Truck Series.

As Jive has always focused on philanthropy, it makes sense for the company to celebrate its success with service. To celebrate our 10-year anniversary, were pleased to announce 10 company-wide service projects, one project for each amazing year, said Paul Thatcher, Jive Director of HR. A few of the first projects include providing essential items to refugees, teaching children to read, supporting our military, and organizing a book drive. We want our employees to remember this year as the best year of their careera year where they got out of the office and made a big difference in the community.

Join the year-long celebration on Facebook, where Jive will live stream the service projects and hold social media contests.
Eric Stavropoulos and his dog, Franklin. This is really a fantastic product and I know pet families in this community are going to love feeding it to their animals.

Eric Stavropoulos has always had a passion for pets  from the animals he had growing up to his dog now, Franklin. So when he had the opportunity to combine that passion with his love of entrepreneurship, Stavropoulos knew it was meant to be. Now hes proud to announce the grand opening of his new business  Pet Wants Glastonbury.

Pet Wants carefully developed proprietary pet food is slow-cooked with fresh, all-natural ingredients. The all natural dog and cat food is made in small batches once per month so every kibble is guaranteed to be fresh and packed with nutrition. Pet Wants Glastonburys store, which opened its doors on Thursday, September 22, is located at 2249 New London Turnpike in South Glastonbury. The business also offers free Pet Wants food delivery to families across Hartford and Tolland counties.

Pet Wants is a high-quality pet food thats made fresh and delivered right to your door. You dont have to worry about how long its been sitting on a shelf or whether or not its packed with by-products and fillers. This is really a fantastic product and I know pet families in this community are going to love feeding it to their animals, Stavropoulos said.

In addition to being made fresh monthly, Pet Wants only sources the best salmon, chicken, lamb, brown rice and other ingredients available. Theres no sugar added, no fillers and no animal by-products. And, since Pet Wants never uses corn, wheat, soy or dyes, the food is a great fit for pets with allergies.

I want to educate people about whats in the food theyre feeding their pets  whether its something they buy off the shelf at the grocery or something they buy from Pet Wants. I think its important for everyone to understand what theyre giving their animals so they can make informed decisions about whats best for their family. Im excited to be that resource in this community, Stavropoulos said.

Stavropoulos heard about Pet Wants through his other business, Fresh Coat of Hartford County. Pet Wants and Fresh Coat Painters have the same parent company and the Pet Wants president used to lead the Fresh Coat.

Being a successful business owner with Fresh Coat has allowed me the opportunity to open Pet Wants. I grew up with horses, dogs and cats and Franklin, my standard poodle, has had his share of health problems, so I understand the importance of being actively involved in the care of your animals and thats what makes Pet Wants so exciting. Pet Wants takes pet food to the next level and better food results in healthier, happier pets, Stavropoulos said.

Id encourage you to try Pet Wants with your pets for one month and see what you think. I am confident youll see a difference and Im happy to send you a free sample to get your started, he said.

Pet Wants originally launched in Cincinnati in 2010. Owned by Michele Hobbs, the business was built to provide proprietary crafted, fresh, slow-cooked, all-natural pet food delivered to customers through a retail store and a convenient home-delivery service. Hobbs, now the company founder, turned the business into a franchise in 2015 with the help of Franchise Funding Group, an investment and franchise-development company designed to help entrepreneurs scale their companies nationally as franchise systems.

To order Pet Wants food for your favorite companion or to learn about the company, call (860)633-2722, email EricS(at)PetWants(dot)com or visit http://www.PetWantsGlastonbury.com.

About Pet Wants: Pet Wants was started by Michele Hobbs out of love for her pets and frustration. Veterinarians were unable to help relieve her dogs painful skin allergies. After doing much research, Michele discovered the national dog food brand she trusted was not fresh, not all natural, and lacked sufficient nutrition...and when pet food sits in warehouses and store shelves for months and months it loses even more nutritional value. She was committed to developing a better solution for all dogs and cats. Their food is exclusively crafted fresh, healthy, slow-cooked and all natural with no sugar added, no fillers and no animal by-products. They source only the best salmon, chicken, lamb, brown rice, and other ingredients. Fresh ingredients make for better food and better health for pets. And since they never use corn, wheat, soy or dyes, the common pet health problems associated with these ingredients are no longer worries. Their fresh food is conveniently delivered to the customer within weeks of production, not months. Roughly half of Pet Wants products are sold through their store and half through their convenient, home-delivery program. You can learn more at http://www.PetWants.com.
United Benefit Advisors (UBA), the nations leading independent employee benefits advisory organization, is pleased to welcome GHB Insurance, Inc. as its newest Partner Firm. Headquartered in Olympia, Washington, since 1927, GHB Insurance has seen its largest growth over the past 10 years, expanding its sales division to serve all of Western Washington. With a current staff of more than 20 employees, GHB Insurance is now one of the largest brokerage firms south of Tacoma and was voted Washingtons Best of South Sound insurance agency in 2015.

We see this new partnership as a way to enhance the benefits of working with a local advisor while having the resources of a national organization, said Ron Bruchet, president and owner of GHB Insurance. Providing our clients with the best expertise and options available is our number one mission. UBA will provide resources and innovation that will magnify what we offer to those who trust us.

GHB Insurance employs a variety of skilled people on their team, but all have one common denominator  an absolute passion for helping their clients understand insurance. They are all self-proclaimed insurance junkies. Ultimately, their passion, drive, and tenacity for always working on their clients behalf is what has made GHB Insurance so successful.

With almost nine decades of leadership in the insurance industry and a staff of highly-dedicated, team-oriented employees, I am happy to welcome GHB Insurance to UBA, says UBA CEO Les McPhearson. Their growth over the past few years, combined with their long-standing service to their clients and the community at large, make them an ideal fit with our organization and I look forward to the mutual benefit of our shared ideas and practices.

As the newest Partner Firm of UBA, GHB Insurance, Inc. joins a network of employee benefits advisory firms that serve employers of all sizes across the United States, Canada, and Europe. As a combined group, UBAs annual employee benefit revenues rank it among the top five employee benefit advisory organizations in the U.S.

ABOUT GHB Insurance, Inc.

Griffith, Hunt and Burwell was founded in Olympia, WA, in 1927, offering Property/Casualty coverage to the marketplace. In the 1950s, the company shortened its name to GHB Insurance. Bill Perkins purchased GHB in 1992, expanding the service offerings to include Employee Benefits and Individual Medical. Ron Bruchet joined the organization in 2001, became President in 2007, and ultimately acquired the company in 2009. GHB Insurance is not only committed to its clients, but also to the community, supporting such organizations as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Thurston County Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club, Leadership Thurston County, Economic Development Council, Olympia Youth Choir, and the YMCA. For more information, visit http://www.ghbinsurance.com.

ABOUT United Benefit Advisors

United Benefit Advisors (UBA) is the nations leading independent employee benefits advisory organization with more than 200 offices throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. UBA empowers more than 2,000 Partners to both maintain their individuality and pool their expertise, insight, and market presence to provide best-in-class services and solutions. Employers, advisors and industry-related organizations interested in obtaining powerful results from the shared wisdom of our Partners should visit http://www.UBAbenefits.com.

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Immersive Volunteer Trips for All Generations Traveling with ME to WE is more than a trip. Its a way to live WE  coming together to learn from each other and make the world a better place, because we are stronger together.

The Travel Corporation and seven of its award-winning brands including Trafalgar, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Lion World Travel, African Travel, Inc., Adventure World, and the TreadRight Foundation celebrate on World Tourism Day the launch of their global partnership with ME to WE by offering immersive volunteer trips for all generations, worldwide. In partnership with ME to WE, travelers have a unique opportunity to visit three iconic destinations: India, the Ecuadorian Amazon and Kenya.

In conjunction with The Travel Corporations seven brands guided vacations, luxury river cruises and safaris, guests can book ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trips extensions on upcoming set departure dates or as a requested custom trip in these three spectacular destinations. As part of the culturally immersive experience, travelers will stay among local communities in comfortable lodges, fully owned and operated by ME to WE. All meals, ground transfers, transportation and local sightseeing excursions hosted by an expert facilitator are included.

Through our not-for-profit TreadRight Foundation, we have been working to create a positive impact to promote sustainable tourism worldwide, with carefully selected partners and projects and some of the numerous local communities we visit, said Brett Tollman, CEO of The Travel Corporation. Many of our travelers are open to experiencing meaningful travel with unforgettable, moving experiences. We are therefore very excited to be supporting ME to WEs outstanding immersive volunteer trips, which we will help promote with our 10,000 team members across the globe and with the involvement of our loyal travel partners globally.

Each ME to WE Trip takes place in a community where ME to WEs renowned charitable partner puts its 20-year history of holistic, sustainable development to work through its WE Villages program. What makes ME to WE Trips even more world changing is that half of ME to WEs net profits are donated to its charitable partner  helping travelers make an even bigger impact on the communities travelers visit. The other half is reinvested to grow the enterprise and its social mission.

What makes ME to WE Trips unique is that travelers have the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development work, which has a 20 year history impact and we are so pleased to be partnering with The Travel Corporation along with the committed support of their involved brands  Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Contiki Holidays, Lion World, African Travel, and Adventure World, said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. The work of the WE Villages development program has been able to build more than 1,000 schools and school rooms in our partner communities, giving 200,000 children the opportunity to gain an education, provided over one million people with access to clean water, and our immersive volunteer trips have been a huge part of making that happen. Traveling with ME to WE is more than a trip. Its a way to live WE  coming together to learn from each other and make the world a better place, because we are stronger together.

On a journey to Ecuador, travelers will enjoy a rainforest adventure in the Amazon jungle at ME to WEs Minga Lodge and join community members to work on a sustainable development project while learning about the indigenous Kichwa culture. They will also be invited to the home of a local shaman to experience a traditional cleansing ceremony and blessing. In vibrant India, guests will stay at Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp in Rajasthan, surrounded by the pink-hued Aravalli Mountains. Travelers will have the chance to help local women collect water for their families, learn to make chapatti bread or build a classroom for future generations. In Kenya, guests will stay at Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp in the Maasai Mara. They will join the women of the Maasai and Kispigis communities to learn the craft of beading, a tradition passed down through generations that empowers these women to earn a sustainable income and provide for their families.

Giving people better choices for a better world is at the very heart of ME to WE, which is why were so excited to partner with The Travel Corporation, said Roxanne Joyal, CEO of ME to WE. When you take a ME to WE Trip, you not only work in partnership with local community members, you also immerse yourself in a new culture, foster genuine connections and see the world through a new lens. Its travel with a purpose.

The ME to WE travel team will handle any volunteer trip extension inquiries and all custom ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trip bookings. Travelers can view these Travel Corporation trips at:



trafalgar.com/metowe

contiki.com/contikicares/me-to-we.html

metowe.com/insightvacations

metowe.com/uniworld

lionworldtravel.com/safari/me-to-we-kenya

africantravelinc.com/safari/me-to-we-kenya

adventureworld.com/metowe

For more details, please visit TreadRight.org. Join TreadRights social media community on Facebook or Twitter and follow the conversation using the hashtag #LetsTreadRight.
Our goal is to provide a joyful, safe, and respectful environment for couples to connect with LGBTQA-friendly wedding professionals

ThenComesMarriage.LOVE is launching its First Annual LGBTQA Wedding Expo in Atlanta this weekend! The ThenComesMarriage.LOVE event will be held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel, located at 1615 Clifton Road, on Saturday, October 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Our goal is to provide a joyful, safe, and respectful environment for couples to connect with LGBTQA-friendly wedding professionals, said event organizer Angie Celeste, Our vendors are among the best in the industry, and they are thrilled to share their expertise and resources with anyone who wants to celebrate love, no matter what that love looks like.

A comprehensive variety of wedding professionals will showcase their services at the expo, including florists, hair and make-up artists, photographers, musicians, caterers, dance instructors, officiants, jewelers, and much more. Tickets for ThenComesMarriage.LOVE can be purchased for $12 in advance at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/thencomesmarriagelove-1st-annual-lgbtqa-wedding-expo-tickets-26770110120 or at the door. Vendors interested in exhibiting can register at http://www.thencomesmarriage.love, subject to approval.

This event kicks off a tour across the southeast for ThenComesMarriage.LOVE expos, bringing LGBTQA communities together to help plan for one of the biggest days of their lives. Promoted by Events by Celeste, LLC, a member of the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the expos organizers are passionately committed to ensuring that LGBTQA couples have the wedding day of their dreams.

For more information about the event, please visit http://www.thencomesmarriage.love. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram @ThenComesMarriage.LOVE and on Facebook.com/ThenComesMarriage.LOVE

About ThenComesMarriage.Love

Founded by event planner Angie Celeste, ThenComesMarriage.LOVE aims to provide a safe and joyous space for LGBTQA couples searching for top quality wedding vendors and resources. Based in Savannah, Georgia, the event company connects couples with photographers, caterers, jewelers, florists, and more, who are supportive of the LGBTQA lifestyle. For more information, please visit http://www.thencomesmarriage.love.
Javier Cervera We are excited to have found this off-market opportunity in one of Miamis thriving neighborhoods, where our expertise in management will surely increase the value of the property.

A partnership associated with Javier Cervera, a real estate investor and member of the well-known Miami real estate family, has just acquired a 31,000 SF, retail shopping center in Westchester. The buyer, GALLO SHOPS, LLC, acquired the property for $5.2M on August 23rd. This is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Cervera R.E. Ventures, which has been actively acquiring properties in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

As part of the acquisition, CREV worked with the sellers to navigate various complexities unique to this deal. After 5 months of hard work, they were able to close this complicated transaction. One said challenge involved the renegotiation of a new long-term lease for Leon Medical Centers, who had been occupying the property for decades with their second longest operating location in Miami. A new lease is now in place which is advantageous to both parties.

We are excited to have found this off-market opportunity in one of Miamis thriving neighborhoods, where our expertise in management will surely increase the value of the property, said Mr. Cervera, In addition, we are thrilled to have Leon Medical Centers, one of Miamis premier medical service providers, as our anchor tenant in this most recent acquisition for our ever growing portfolio of income producing properties.

Through his vast network of brokers and other real estate professionals, Cervera was able to find this off-market opportunity and provide a decisive offer to acquire the center before it hit the retail market.

The property is located at 8870 - 8890 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33165 in Westchester and Cervera feels there are several strategic maneuvers that, when executed, will greatly improve the centers performance. Such efforts include: capital improvements, renovations, renegotiation of leases and creating efficiencies which will drive down expenses.

This acquisition was purchased with partial proceeds from a 1031 exchange, which CREV received from the sale of a N. Fort Lauderdale portfolio of 52 units by the name of Belkay North and Belkay South Apartments, which was sold earlier this year for $3.2 million. The portfolio was sold for significantly more than it was purchased, after Cervera improved performance, cash flow, and reduced expenses, during the hold period.

Cervera has positioned himself to add to his ever growing portfolio of income producing properties, by continuing to draw upon his intimate knowledge of the South Florida real estate market. With the various resources available to him, his company has continued to thrive and grow, with a bright future ahead.

About Cervera Real Estate Ventures

Since its beginnings, Miami has been a city shaped by real estate. Today, it is those with vision and hands-on expertise that are best equipped to capitalize on South Floridas many real estate opportunities and turn them into profitable holdings. For more than a decade, Javier Cervera and the rest of the Cervera Real Estate Ventures team have been that connection  offering joint-venture partners smart, sustainable portfolio growth based on solid research and proven real estate fundamentals.

Optimized real estate positions that increase in value and generate predictable returns are possible, even in the constantly evolving market that is South Florida. This is the advantage that Cervera Real Estate Ventures delivers.

Cervera Real Estate Ventures was founded out of a desire to harness unmatched market intelligence and make it the basis for maximized financial returns. As the second generation of the prolific Cervera Real Estate brokerage family, Javier Cervera draws upon a lifetime of hands-on expertise and a name that has played a pivotal role in building the South Florida skyline since 1960.

After working in numerous real estate roles including Sales, Acquisitions, Management, and Finance; Mr. Cervera recognized an untapped market opportunity. Few portfolio managers were giving individualized attention to each asset within the portfolio nor were they typically providing reliable first-hand knowledge about South Floridas market and its neighborhoods. And even fewer one-property acquisitions were being effectively managed to reduce risk and maximize returns. Thus Mr. Cervera started his own company, Cervera Real Estate Ventures, with an approach that combines strict criteria towards acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and hands-on property management.
ABF Logo.jpg My goal is to turn Robin's suffering into something meaningful.

The American Brain Foundation (ABF), a national charity whose mission is to bring researchers and donors together to defeat brain disease, today announced that Susan Schneider Williams, the widow of actor/comedian Robin Williams, has been appointed to its Board of Directors and will assume an active, leadership role on the Board.

Schneider Williams is committed to educating physicians and caregivers about her intimate, heartbreaking story of how brain disease, particularly Lewy body disease (LBD), slowly and tragically altered every aspect of her late husbands life. LBD, often undiagnosed, affects an estimated 1.4 million individuals and their families in the United States.

We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Schneider Williams to the ABF and look forward to her strong commitment to our cause, said Kevin Goodno, Chair of the ABF Board of Directors. She shares our organizations collective passion to accelerate brain disease research and find a cure for brain disease.

In addition to her new Board duties, Schneider Williams will be a special guest at the American Brain Foundations annual fundraising event, Standing Strong, on October 26, 2016, in Minneapolis, MN.

Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has also published an editorial in its September 27, 2016 issue written by Schneider Williams, in which she chronicles Robin Williams mental and physical struggles over the last few years of his life. The editorial titled, The terrorist inside my husbands brain, includes a powerful call to action for physicians, researchers and caregivers. Plus, Schneider Williams speaks candidly about her story in an interview on the September 27, 2016 Neurology podcast.

My goal is to turn Robins suffering into something meaningful, said Schneider Williams. Hopefully, from sharing his experience, our experience, I can help raise awareness and increase funding for brain disease research. She added, working with the ABF and their incredible community of medical professionals has given me hope that with more research, a cure is possible. 

The ABF Boards Honorary Chair, Walter Mondale, the former Vice President of the United States, praised Susan for her willingness to get involved in the Foundations critical mission.

I would say leadership begins with the idea that you have a responsibility to do something about a problem, said Mondale whose family has experienced tragic losses due to brain diseases. His wife, Joan, passed away in 2014 from Lewy body dementia, and his 51-year-old daughter, Eleanor, succumbed to brain cancer in 2011.  As we seek these dreadfully difficult answers at the American Brain Foundation, I think there is great hope that we have wonderfully committed people, like Susan, in our quest for a cure.

For more information about the Standing Strong event, or to learn more visit http://www.AmericanBrainFoundation.org, or find the Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

Link to podcast https://tools.aan.com/rss/index.cfm/getfile/AAN_3178.mp3

Attention Editors / Reporters: Interviews with Susan Schneider Williams and others from the ABF can be scheduled. Contact Robb Leer 612.701.0608, or by email at robbl(at)leercommunication(dot)com.
The firm is extremely proud of his client service commitment, community involvement, and business development endeavors recognized by this award.

Holland & Hart Partner Bryan Benard was among four individuals awarded the Presidents Award for Excellence by the Salt Lake Chamber, Utahs largest and longest-serving statewide business association. The award is presented annually at the Salt Lake Chambers Annual Meeting to honor those in the community who show exemplary support by committing their time and abilities to help further the Chambers mission and bolster the business community. Bryan and the other recipients (Randy Shumway, Jeffrey Nelson, and Vance Checketts) are receiving the award in recognition of their efforts on a working group representing business owners and employers related to Utah legislation intended to ban non-compete restrictions with former employees. Their efforts in part preserved an employers ability to use such restrictions.

Congratulations to Bryan on receiving this deserving recognition from the Salt Lake Chamber. Bryan is one of the premier employment lawyers in Utah, and this award recognizes his efforts to protect everyone doing business in our state. The firm is extremely proud of his client service commitment, community involvement, and business development endeavors recognized by this award, said Eric Maxfield, administrative partner of the firms Salt Lake City office.

Benard is the firm-wide practice group leader for Holland & Harts 40-lawyer labor and employment practice group. He is an experienced labor and employment attorney who represents clients in wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination claims, counsels clients on all aspects of employment law, and in particular has extensive background in both disability accommodations and medical leaves. His employment litigation experience includes successes with jury trials and significant wage and hour class actions in both Utah and California.

Benard will receive the award at the Salt Lake Chambers 129th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on September 27. For more details, please see Salt Lake Chambers website.

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About Holland & Hart

Established in 1947, Holland & Hart is a full service, national law firm that today has more than 500 lawyers in 15 offices across the Mountain West and in Washington, D.C. delivering integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes. Holland & Harts attorneys have consistently been recognized by leading national and international peer and industry review organizations for innovation and dedication to the practice of law. The firm was recently ranked No. 16 nationally among 300-plus law firms on BTI Consulting Groups BTI Client Service 30 2016 and for the sixth consecutive year was named to BTI Consulting Group's BTI Most Recommended Law Firms 2016 by corporate counsel. For more information, visit http://www.hollandhart.com.
Technology enables organisations to handle the interconnected complexities in hazardous operations. The right technology can provide people with the information they need to consistently make the right decisions and achieve operational excellence.

Petrotechnics, the developer of the hazardous industries first software platform, for Operational Excellence, has today released the results of its Operational Excellence Index into attitudes towards operational excellence among the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The Index shows operational excellence is regarded as a key priority for the majority of organisations.

Achieving operational excellence has also become more important to most organisations over the past two years. A third of respondents (33 per cent) said that it has become more or very important to everyone in their organisation, while 47 per cent say that it has become more or very important to some people in their organisation. Only 10 per cent say nothing has changed over the past two years, while five per cent believe it has become less important.

In todays complex operating environment, pressure is mounting to improve productivity, manage costs, and reduce risk  all at the same time, says Phil Murray, CEO of Petrotechnics. The idea of operational excellence has been with us for some time, but now an overwhelming majority of organisations recognise its role in addressing key challenges. The oil, gas and petrochemicals industries are making operational excellence a priority, and it has never been more achievable  or more necessary.

Drivers and objectives

The importance of operational excellence can also be seen by those sponsoring it within a business. Nearly half (46 per cent) of respondents said that achieving operational excellence is sponsored at a corporate level by members of the board. Nearly a third (31 per cent) said that everyone within the organisation is responsible, while 18 per cent said that it lies with a specific operational excellence function.

When it comes to the drivers for achieving operational excellence, 63 per cent cited the need to achieve greater cost efficiencies and reduce operational and major accident risk. The next most popular drivers are optimising maintenance programmes and influencing cultural and behavioural change (56 per cent).

When ranked by importance, the need to reduce operational and major accident risk came top of the list, followed by developing a more systematic approach to operational excellence (a better operating model). Achieving greater cost efficiencies is the third most important driver, while influencing cultural and behavioural change is fourth.

Mr Murray continues: The Index shows broad consensus from industry professionals that operational excellence is about reducing risk, reducing costs and improving productivity. By providing this three-dimensional global view of a plants operational reality in real-time to everyone from the boardroom to the frontline operators can begin to practically and routinely manage activity and mitigate risk in a joined-up way. This allows everyone to make better more informed decisions  and supports operational excellence.

The role of technology

The overwhelming majority of respondents also believe that technology has an important role to play in delivering sustainable operational excellence in oil, gas and petrochemicals. Just under half (49 per cent) of respondents strongly agree that technology is an enabler.

Technological advancements have made it possible to effectively and efficiently manage costs, risks, productivity and safety, concludes My Murray. Technology enables organisations to handle the interconnected complexities in hazardous operations. The right technology can provide people with the information they need to consistently make the right decisions and achieve operational excellence.

To access the complete results from the Operational Excellence Index, please visit http://www.petrotechnics.com/insights/the-oe-index-2016.

Notes to editors

The top findings from the Operational Excellence Index were:



Petrotechnics Operational Excellence Index shows that 82 per cent of respondents believe operational excellence is very important to the success of their organisation, 14 per cent say it is somewhat important.

47 per cent say it has become more important to some employees in the past two years, while 36 per cent say it has become more important to everyone.

The most common drivers for operational excellence are the need to achieve greater cost efficiencies and reduce operational and major accident risk.

58 per cent say increasing operational performance is their primary objective, 40 per cent say increasing HSE performance and operating cost reduction.

92 per cent agree that technology is an enabler for delivering sustainable operational excellence in hazardous industries.

About Petrotechnics

Petrotechnics has been keeping people safe in hazardous industries for more than 25 years. In todays operating environment the pressure to improve productivity, increase efficiency, and reduce risk is mounting. All at the same time. The solution is Petrotechnics Proscient, the worlds first operational excellence software platform.

For the first time ever, Proscient provides a global view of a plants operational reality  in real-time. By looking at three simple screens, everyone from the boardroom to the frontline can now visualise every activity and its associated risk, right across the enterprise: whats happening, where its happening, and whats driving the risk. More importantly, you now have the tools to practically and routinely manage activity and mitigate risk in a joined-up way. This allows everyone to make better more informed decisions.

The prize of getting Operational Excellence right is enormous. And at Petrotechnics, we do everything we can to help you achieve just that. Proscient enables you to think big, start small and scale fast. Its the smart and low risk approach to empower your organisations OE programme to deliver the tangible business advantage thats long been promised. Cut costs, reduce risk and increase productivity. Are you ready to begin?

Media contact

Rosie Williams

Aspectus

rosie(dot)williams(at)aspectuspr(dot)com

+44 (0) 20 7092 8127
Image credit: Flickr/Chris Ford We conducted an exhaustive search for someone who would further strengthen our boards breadth of talent and background, and we are delighted to have identified two such outstanding individuals.

The Climate Trust, a mission-driven nonprofit that specializes in mobilizing conservation finance, is pleased to announce two strategic additions to its Board of DirectorsMarc Hiller, Acquisitions Director at GreenWood Resources, Inc. and Jason Johns, Partner at Stoel Rives LLP.

Climate Trust Capital, an independent firm of The Climate Trust, recently launched a carbon investment fund to provide upfront capital to early-stage projects in the U.S.; aiming to demonstrate that financial performance can be tied directly to verified environmental performance. Hillers expertise, particularly around structuring and negotiating forestry transactions, complements the investment fund endeavor, providing scope and rigor to the boards project evaluation capacity.

Both Marc and Jason bring with them a track record of success and a deep knowledge in their respective industries, said Laura Beane, Board Chair and Vice President, Operations and Management Services for Avangrid Renewables. Their combined decades of conservation, financial and legal expertise, will bring an invaluable perspective to The Trusts investment fund efforts, and we are delighted to welcome them to our board leadership team, added Beane.

Hiller has extensive experience in timberland acquisition activities, working for almost two decades as a forester with private equity firms, small- and large-scale forest managers, and wood-product manufacturers and retailers. Hiller has served on for-profit Boards and advised international banks, NGOs, and trade associations on forest management, investment, conservation, and legality verification. Prior to his time at GreenWood Resources, he was part of the teams at International Forestry Investment Advisors, The Forest Trust, and Rainforest Alliance. Hiller currently serves as Treasurer for Ecologic Development Fund, an organization that supports local communities to restore and protect tropical ecosystems.

Johns has been working in the renewable energy industry for the past decade. As a partner at the law firm Stoel Rives, Johns has overseen power marketing and federal energy regulatory issues associated with renewables project development across the nation. Johns also works with several Fortune 500 companies, including the nations largest tech companies, on structuring their energy supply portfolios.

We conducted an exhaustive search for someone who would further strengthen our boards breadth of talent and background, and we are delighted to have identified two such outstanding individuals, said Sean Penrith, Executive Director for The Climate Trust. Marc has a rare mix of financial and sectoral expertise that will be of incredible value as we evaluate opportunities for investment, while the addition of Jasons industry-specific legal expertise is critical as our business strategy grows and evolves, added Penrith. Im confident that both Marc and Jason are going to make an important and positive impact on our business.

Hiller expressed his interest in joining The Climate Trust because of the nonprofits focus on mobilizing finance for forestry projects. I am excited to support The Trust in its effort to identify, evaluate, and close on natural resource investments with positive environmental and social impacts.

Johns shared Hillers excitement, stating, I have long admired The Climate Trust as a market leader, but I have been doubly impressed with their dynamic leadership team, said Johns. I have tremendous respect for the important work of The Trust Im honored to be joining their board.

The new board members join The Climate Trust at an exciting time, as the organization begins to allocate the first $5.5 million tranche of capital via their pilot investment fund. Both Jason and Marc will join The Trusts overarching Board of Directors, overseeing all non-Oregon programs and activities.

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Building upon a legacy of innovation and leadership in the carbon market, The Climate Trust mobilizes conservation finance to maximize environmental returns. We value air, water and soil through the development, purchase and sale of qualied osets and a relentless investment in people and projects with environmental purpose | http://www.climatetrust.org | @climatetrust | facebook.com/TheClimateTrust
The ATD Healthcare Executive Summit will be held on Nov. 13-15 in San Antonio, Texas

Jason Wolf, PhD, CPXP, President of The Beryl Institute, will keynote the inaugural 2016 Healthcare Executive Summit, hosted by the Association for Talent Development. The event will be held November 13-15, 2016 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX.

University Health System President and Chief Executive Officer George B. Hernandez, Jr., JD, will welcome attendees and discuss the importance of learning and development as a driver for innovation and transformation. University Health System is a seven-time ATD BEST Award winner.

Opening keynote speaker, Jason Wolf, PhD, CPXP, will talk about how organizations can become engines for patient experience excellence. Other experts will share ideas for creating next-generation healthcare environments through patient-centered innovation and transformational leadership.

Attendees of the ATD 2016 Executive Healthcare Summit will come away with actionable solutions for navigating the industrys most pressing challenges, and learn how to use talent development to create real business impact.

Program tracks for the event are:



Leadership Competencies for an Unknowable Future

Achieving Excellence in Patient Experience

The Importance of Onboarding for Healthcare Organizations

Powering Precision Health

Healthcare Communication in a Mobile-First World for Trainers

Sports Coaching for Healthcare: A breakthrough Approach to Increasing Outcomes.

Best Practices: Getting Results

The Role of People in Cybersecurity

The Future of Training in Healthcare

Population Health and Value Analysis

Human Capital Trends Reshaping Engagement

Role of Talent Development in Healthcare Transformation and Instructional Design

For more information about the ATD Healthcare Executive Summit 2016, visit https://www.td.org/Events/Healthcare-Summit-2016

Follow the summit action on Twitter with #ATDHESUMMIT

ATD is grateful to these event sponsors:

University Health System, Capella University

About ATD and the Healthcare Community of Practice

The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the worlds largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Originally established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

The Healthcare Community of Practice is a community of healthcare executives, providers, managers, and trainers working to create next-generation healthcare environments through learning, talent development, and cultural change.
Bill Priemer, President and CEO of Hyland It's very exciting to be part of a company like 7signal that is dedicated to crafting software solutions to manage the quality of Wi-Fi networks proactively, from the user experience point of view, to ensure maximum efficiency and business continuity.

7signal, The Wi-Fi Performance Company, announced today that Bill Priemer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyland, is joining 7signal's Board of Directors. Mr. Priemer is an accomplished enterprise software executive with over 25 years of experience in the information and process solutions industry. He joined Hyland in 1997 as Vice President of Marketing becoming Vice President of Sales & Marketing in 2001, Chief Operating Officer in 2005, and CEO in January 2013. Prior to joining Hyland, Mr. Priemer worked at FedEx Corporation and AST Research.

The Internet of Things is growing exponentially because of how it can lower operating costs and increase productivity. As a result, organizations depend on reliable, high performance Wi-Fi networks to make good on this promise. Yet many mission-critical Wi-Fi networks are not managed like strategic assets," stated Priemer. "It's very exciting to be part of a company like 7signal that is dedicated to crafting software solutions to manage the quality of Wi-Fi networks proactively, from the user experience point of view, to ensure maximum efficiency and business continuity."

Jeff Reedy, President and CEO of 7signal warmly welcomed Priemer, "Bill's experience will be such a tremendous asset and we are so delighted to have him on the team. Hyland is one of this regions greatest software success stories and we are looking forward to Bills contributions at the strategic level as 7signal enters the next phase of its growth.

Mr. Priemer received a masters degree in marketing from Northwestern University and undergraduate degrees from Boston College. He was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. While he has lived elsewhere and travels extensively, he is happy and proud to call the Cleveland area home.

About 7signal

7signal develops cloud-based Wi-Fi performance management software that enables enterprises such as AstraZeneca, Maserati and Steelcase, as well as service providers like Comcast and Charter Communications, to manage the Wi-Fi user experience on their networks. Software in 7signal sensors and mobile apps collect Wi-Fi performance data across the enterprise and the 7signal analytics engine presents the data as Key Performance Indicators in a browser dashboard, giving network administrators immediate visibility of Wi-Fi health and performance, enterprise-wide. The system enables businesses to significantly improve Wi-Fi baseline performance without adding access points, reduce troubleshooting time and lower the total cost of ownership of maintaining reliable, high performance WLANs. Learn more or request a demo at http://7signal.com.

About Hyland

Hyland is a leader in providing software solutions for managing content, processes and cases for organizations across the globe. For 25 years, Hyland has enabled more than 15,000 organizations to digitalize their workplaces and fundamentally transform their operations. Named one of Fortunes 2016 Best Companies to Work For, Hyland is widely known as both a great company to work for and a great company to do business with. For more information, please visit OnBase.com.
Abigail Denbeaux Kahl, Esq. and Nicholas Stratton, Esq. Our goal is that at the end of any matter each client is in a better position than when they retained this firm. This includes financially, emotionally and in the client's ability to move on with their life.

Denbeaux & Denbeaux announces the continuation and growth of the Family Law Practice established by the late founder, Marcia Denbeaux. Marcia passed away late this summer after a brave nine month fight against cancer.

For more than three decades Marcia passionately and humbly advocated for people. At the end she specifically requested that the firm continue to grow this area that is so central to domestic happiness.

In order to honor Marcias legacy the Family practice is now co-chaired by Managing Associate Nicholas Stratton and by Senior Counsel Abigail Denbeaux Kahl. They have been working with Marcia over the years on Matrimonial Law, Elder Law, Education Law, Real Estate Law and Domestic Violence litigation.

Mrs. Kahl graduated with High Honors from Duke University School of Law, clerked for Chief Judge John W. Bissell in New Jersey Federal District Court in Newark and practiced criminal defense law and employment litigation before coming to Denbeaux & Denbeauxs litigation department in 2011. She has also been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Mr. Stratton is a graduate of Seton Hall Law and has quickly risen through the ranks at Denbeaux & Denbeaux. Since 2013, Mr. Stratton has been the Managing Associate at the firm and led the firms foreclosure defense team before transitioning his practice to family law.

The Denbeaux team handles an array of family related cases including divorce, estate planning, custody disputes, domestic violence actions and real estate matters. Our goal is work to ensure that the client end the representation in a better position than when they retained the firm. It is important to us that by the end of the representation the client is in a financial and emotional place so that they can successfully move on with their lives, said the late Mrs. Denbeaux.

More than anything, Marcia helped people and families who needed help and I want to continue that tradition. I am a zealous advocate for peoples best interest and I will do everything in my power to leave them in a better place than when they met me, reflects Mr. Stratton.

My Mom said that she did not tolerate bullies, adds Mrs. Kahl. Although she was a small in stature she made up for it with a fierceness and quiet determination that would often win the day. We plan to honor her by continuing to fight for our clients in every aspect of their lives.

Denbeaux and Denbeaux, located at 366 Kinderkamack Road in Westwood, (201) 664-8855, is a family operated law firm rooted in New Jersey. Since 1989 they have provided zealous advocacy for individuals, families and small to mid-sized New Jersey businesses. Areas of expertise for the firm's attorneys include: family law, financial consumer rights law, foreclosure defense, real estate closings, estate planning, family disputes, and business planning. Denbeaux & Denbeaux aims to provide its clients with individualized representation tailored to the specific objectives of each client.
Tom Wheelwright and Robert Kiyosaki teach financial education to youth at St Andrews College Prep School in South Africa The Foundation for Financial Freedom is being launched to provide youth with financial education that is never taught in school. ~ Tom Wheelwright, Author, Tax-Free Wealth

In sync with back-to-school and a 2016 global speaking tour, Author, CPA and CEO of ProVision Wealth Tom Wheelwright is launching a Foundation for Financial Freedom for ages 6-18. With the lack of financial education in our global school systems, Mr. Wheelwright is dedicated to providing youth with the tools needed to learn how to be a successful entrepreneur and/or investor.

During a visit to St. Andrews College Prep School in Grahamstown, South Africa, this summer, Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad) and Tom Wheelwright (Tax-Free Wealth) spent a week teaching the 10th, 11th and 12th graders the Rich Dad principles for how to invest in assets that pay you versus work for a paycheck. The students played the CASHFLOW  Classic How to Get out of the Rat Race Game, and it was fascinating to see the different risk levels assumed.

As a follow-up, the Foundation for Financial Freedom is currently scheduling a series of Ask Tom Live webinars with high school students at this St. Andrews College Prep School in South Africa, similar to Tom Wheelwrights monthly Ask Tom Live webinars for professionals.

As an international Rich Dad Speaker and Advisor, who has spoken to 100k+ entrepreneurs on stage, Wheelwrights webinar topics for youth will cover investment options, ways to set up a business, how to save on taxes and financial education topics that are never discussed in school.

One of the key concepts of the Foundation for Financial Freedom is Pay it Forward thru financial education. During the St Andrews College Prep School visit in July, the 11th graders agreed to teach the financial education principles learned to the less privileged students in their community. Students embraced this program, and one teacher commented, The kids certainly were taken out of their comfort zone to think laterally. It was definitely something I wish that I had heard at the age of 17!

Some of the key principles of this Foundation for Financial Freedom include:

1. Everyone deserves a financial education.

2. Its important to Pay it Forward thru financial education.

3. Everyone should learn to invest in assets that pay you versus live for a paycheck.

4. The CASHFLOW Game is a powerful financial education tool everyone should play.

5. Your financial freedom is closer than you think.

In his teens, Tom learned financial principles from his mother, who was the Controller for his fathers printing company. Tom feels fortunate that financial education was part of their dinner table conversations. Mr. Wheelwright is also an avid reader and will recommend a Financial Freedom Book of the Month as part of this new foundation.

By the end of 2016, Tom Wheelwright will have spoken on all six continents with Robert Kiyosaki as part of a global Rich Dad financial education tour. Their goal is to teach entrepreneurs, small business owners and investors how to maximize their results. In October, Tom will be speaking in Finland, Estonia, Moscow and Kiev.

For a timely interview with Tom Wheelwright, please contact

Liz Kelly, Goody PR, 310-987-7207

Bio

Tom Wheelwright is a leading tax and wealth expert, Best-Selling Author (Tax-Free Wealth), CPA, and CEO of ProVision Wealth. Tom is best known for making taxes fun, easy and understandable, and specializes in helping entrepreneurs and investors build wealth through practical and strategic ways that permanently reduce taxes. Tom is a Rich Dad Advisor to Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), and an International Speaker at Rich Dad conferences worldwide. Tom is a Contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, and his work has been featured in Forbes, Investors Business Daily, Accounting Today, Newsday, ABC News Radio, Consumer Reports, Money Radio 1510 Business for Breakfast, AZTV and many more media. http://taxfreewealthadvisor.com
A new educational guide is available for businesses and organizations of all types and sizes to better understand how to hire an information technology (IT) consulting firm most effectively. The Guide to Hiring an IT Consulting Firm is authored by Jeff Scheper, Chairman of Chicago-based Prescient Solutions.

The Guide identifies typical IT services provided by IT consulting firms, 5 reasons when to make the hiring decision, a checklist for choosing the right firm, along with tips for achieving a successful relationship.

With rapidly changing cloud technologies and growing cyber security threats, hiring an IT consulting firm has become mission critical to access specialized expertise, states Jim Lagattuta, Prescient Solutions CEO. The new guide to hiring an IT consulting firm helps organizations be more efficient in what can be a complex process.

To download a complimentary copy of the Guide to Hiring an IT Consulting Firm, link here.

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About Prescient Solutions

Prescient Solutions is a Chicago-based IT consulting company that provides onsite, remote, managed and cloud-based services to small, mid-sized and global organizations, as well as government entities. For more than 20 years, its expert team has advised organizations on best practices in IT and cyber security, and guides executives in IT decision-making and implementation across all systems and networks. For more information call 888-343-6040, or visit http://www.PrescientSolutions.com.
Scytl and Swiss Post Online Voting Friburg

Scytl, the worldwide leader in election modernization and online voting solutions announces the addition of Fribourg to the Swiss Cantons authorized by the Swiss Federal Council to provide online voting. Together with Scytl, Swiss Post is able to provide a state-of-art online voting solution that covers all the unique requirements of the Swiss voting system.

The authorization from the Swiss Federal Council is a key milestone and necessary for any canton looking to deploy online voting. The authorization ensures the solution provided to Swiss citizens complies with the necessary software, security and infrastructure requirements to run a transparent and auditable online channel for binding elections and ongoing citizen consultations.

During the elections on November 27th 2016, Fribourg citizens overseas will benefit not only from the efficiencies that online voting provides, but also from full voting privacy, security and verifiability ensuring their vote has been cast-as-intended and recorded-as-cast. Post the November 2016 elections, in addition to overseas voters, in country citizens will also be enabled to leverage the online voting channel and offer universal verifiability to ensure the ballots have been counted-as-recorded.

The partnership and joint solution provided by Scytl and Swiss Post is enabling Cantons who wish to grow the percentage of citizens that can use the online channel for both binding elections and citizen consultations. The security and verifiability protocols provided have been customized by Scytl and Swiss Post to meet Swiss legal, security and verifiability requirements that will enable Swiss Cantons to implement online voting solutions with end to end security, verifiability and the reassurance that Swiss Post operates the online voting platform from its own FINMA-certified data centers within Switzerland.

About Scytl

Scytl is the global leader in secure election management and electronic voting solutions. Specializing in election modernization technologies, Scytl offers the first end-to-end election management and voting platform, providing the highest security and transparency standards currently available. Scytl has capitalized on its more than 18 years of research to develop election-specific cryptographic security technology protected by more than 40 international patents and patent applications, positioning Scytl as the company with the largest patent portfolio of the industry.

Scytls solutions have been successfully used in over 42 countries across the globe over the last 10 years, including Canada, the United States, France, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the UAE, India, Iceland and Australia. Scytl is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, with strategic offices in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Peru and Greece, as well as field offices in the UK, Ukraine, Mexico, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.scytl.com.

Media Contacts

Leticia Barcia

Vice President of Marketing, Scytl

leticia.barcia(at)scytl(dot)com

+34 934 230 324
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A rising full moon is seen over the distinctive twin towers of Germanys Deutsche Bank headquarters in Frankfurt. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Shares of Deutsche Bank have been clobbered over concerns the German lender needs to raise capital to pay a $14 billion fine from the US Department of Justice to settle probes over toxic mortgages it packaged leading up to the financial crisis.

But this is just a canary in a coal mine signalling a much bigger problem in the European banking system, according to former macro hedge fund manager Raoul Pal.

Deutsche Bank was just one of the warning signs out there for the banks. It just looks the worst based on the shear size, Pal told Yahoo Finance in an interview. Its one of the canaries in the coal mine telling something really bad is going on in the European banks overall.

Pal, who previously co-managed GLGs Global Macro Fund, is the publisher of The Global Macro Investor, a research letter read by top hedge fund managers. Hes also the co-founder of Real Vision Television, an online subscription investing video service.

Raoul Pal

In a presentation he gave on Real Vision in February, Pal said the European banks were the black swan nobody was looking at, referring to a hard-to-predict event. Its something hes been writing about in The Global Macro Investor for almost two years.

Across the board, European bank stocks have gotten slaughtered this year. Deutsche Bank (DB) has collapsed more than 50% this year. Credit Suisse (CS) has plummeted more than 40%, while UBS (UBS) has fallen 31%. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has fallen 48% and Barclays (BCS) has slumped more than 33%. Shares of Spanish banks Banco Popular and Bankia have also been pummeled.

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Pal highlighted five key issues that are creating storm clouds in the banking system.

1. The banks are still a mess. The European Central Bank has been trying to tackle the issue of non-performing loans (NPLs). The ECB has taken a massive amount of low quality collateral off the banks balance sheets, especially from banks in Greece and Cyprus. The banking system is still not functioning properly. There are still a ton of bad loans. Theres also concern that the banks dont have enough capital.

Story continues

2. Meanwhile, the yield curve has been getting flatter and yields have been turning negative. This is bad for the banking business since banks borrow at the short end and lend at the long end. When the yield curve is steep they can make money from the difference in the spread. Right now, spreads are very little and banks cant make money.

3. Regulations have been getting tighter. In addition to massive new collateral needs driven by the Basel III agreement, the European Union established rules designed to prevent taxpayer bailouts. Germany cant bail out Deutsche Bank. If it did, the fear is that Greece, Italy or Cyprus might insist that their bank bail-ins were inappropriate if those rules didnt apply to Germany. This sets the EU up for huge legal issues or even some countries wanting out of the EU altogether.

4. LIBOR (the London interbank offered rate) has become a worrying story for the banking system. Libor, a measure of banks borrowing costs, has continued to climb higher, making it more difficult to manage all that borrowing.

5. A lot of foreign companies and banks have, since the crisis, been borrowing in US dollars to invest in projects outside of the US. The BIS suggests these borrowings amount to $10 trillion. Dollars were seen as cheap and stable. As the US dollar moves higher this situation could get really ugly as it becomes more challenging to pay back those loans. The rise in Libor makes it even more concerning.

Its not yet a big storm, but the clouds are everywhere, Pal said.

Pal isnt alone in his concern.

For months, Pal and other guests on Real Vision Television have sounded the alarm on Deutsche Bank and other European banks. Hedge fund manager Edward Misrahi, the founder and CIO of RONIT Capital, recently said on Real Vision that the best tail-risk insurance for any portfolio is buying puts on Deutsche Bank. Top fund managers like Mark Hart of Corriente Advisors, Bernd Ondruch of Astellon Capital Partners, and Lee Robinson of Altana Wealth have also raised concerns.



Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance.

Read more:

Raoul Pal: The stock market is behaving the way it did back in 2000

Hedge fund manager Edward Misrahi reveals the best hedge of any portfolio

How one fund manager is preparing for the market liquidity crisis
By Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler and Vladimir Soldatkin

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Iran rejected on Tuesday an offer from Saudi Arabia to limit its oil output in exchange for Riyadh cutting supply, dashing market hopes the two major OPEC producers would find a compromise this week to help ease a global glut of crude.

"The gap (in views) between OPEC countries is narrowing. I don't expect that an agreement will come out of the consultations tomorrow," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier: "It is not the time for decision-making." Referring to the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, he added: "We will try to reach agreement for November."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold informal talks at 1400 GMT on Wednesday. Its members are also meeting non-OPEC producers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers.

Oil prices (LCOc1) have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

A deal has also been complicated by acute political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are fighting several proxy-wars in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen.

Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadh's position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.

WHAT IRAN WANTS

On Tuesday, several OPEC delegates said the positions of Saudi Arabia and Iran remained too far apart. Oil prices were down more than 3 percent by 1802 GMT. [O/R]

"There is a move forward, but they (OPEC) haven't got to the finish," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting Falih and Zanganeh. Novak and Falih said a deal was still possible later this year.

Story continues

Three OPEC sources said Iran, whose production has stagnated at 3.6 million barrels per day, insisted on having the right to ramp up to around 4.1-4.2 million bpd, while OPEC Gulf members wanted its output to be frozen below 4 million.

Several OPEC sources said Iran effectively rejected the offer despite last-minute attempts by Russia, Algeria and Qatar to rescue a deal.

The Saudi and Iranian economies depend heavily on oil, but Iran is seeing the pressure easing as it emerges from years of sanctions. Riyadh, on the other hand, faces a second year of record budget deficits and is being forced to cut the salaries of government employees.

BLAME GAME

Iranian oil sources said Tehran wanted OPEC to allow it to produce 12.7 percent of the group's output, equal to what it was extracting before 2012, when the European Union imposed additional sanctions on the country for its nuclear activities.

Sanctions were eased in January 2016.

Between 2012 and 2016, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf OPEC members have raised output to compete for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States.

As a result, Iran believes its fair production share in OPEC should be higher than its current output, which it says should rise once Tehran agrees new investments with international oil companies. Saudi output has risen to 10.7 million bpd from 10.2 million in recent months due to local needs for summer cooling.

Gary Ross, a veteran OPEC watcher and founder of U.S.-based think tank PIRA, said Saudi output had risen too steeply in recent months and even if it were cut to pre-summer levels, Iran would see an offer to freeze its own output as unfair.

"It is a carefully calculated offer because Saudi Arabia knows it will not be acceptable to Iran ... Saudi Arabia wants to put the blame of OPEC inaction in Algiers on Iran," he said.

Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB Markets, said: "We cannot see how Iran could possibly accept the Saudi offer. It would be like asking a long-time prisoner who was finally released from prison to go back again."

He said the lack of a deal in Algeria would result in further downside pressure on oil as Saudi Arabia would maintain elevated output levels while Iran boosted supply too.

Falih said he saw no need for significant output cuts as the market was rebalancing itself. He added that Saudi Arabia was investing in additional spare capacity and could withstand the current trend in oil prices.

(Additional reporting by Patrick Markey and Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Data will be released on Thursday.

Taiwan's monitoring indicators index for August is sheduled for release on September 29 and Standard Chartered believes the country to have remained in the 'green' zone.

Monitoring indicators index is a key gauge of economic activity for the next one to three months.

The index unexpectedly returned to green which suggests growth in July for the first time since February 2015, and coincided with a pick-up in export sales and industrial production. This provides added support to the bottoming out of the growth cycle H1-2016.





More From Singapore Business Review


When Chris Marlow met a starving young orphan at a gas station in Zimbabwe in 2007, he knew he had to do something to start helping those in need. Today, hes the founder of Help One Now, an organization that partners with churches and individuals to sponsor orphans and vulnerable children around the globe. In his first book, Doing Good is Simple (Zondervan, Aug.), Marlow encourages ordinary people to give back and make an impact from wherever they are in the world and in life. We spoke with Marlow about his book and mission, and here he provides six ways people can make a difference.

Just Start Somewhere

We spend so many of our moments figuring out where to start, but we usually find the best ways to make an impact when we begin to take small steps in the right direction. Do something, rather than nothingget involved with a nonprofit, volunteer on Saturdays, or sponsor a child. Theres so much more you can do besides writing a check or going on a mission trip.

Start Small

Dont feel like your small is insignificant. Its really significant. In my case, after meeting a starving kid at a gas station, I learned that there are 150 million orphans in the world. I felt overwhelmed by that number and there was a moment I wanted to give up because I couldnt help all 150 million. But I realized that maybe I could help a smaller number of kids and focused on that. You need to just start doing something, and its OK to start small.

Follow Your Passions

Oftentimes when were serving, we tend to work off the best part of who we are. Use the good things in your lifeyour passions and talents, education, and access to resources and networksto help other people live a good life as well. For example, I used to run a business in real estate and now I use that to do entrepreneur training and help people around the world build better businesses. Its fun to see people who are passionate about something in their own lives use that to give back.

Use Your Gifts

Its essential to use your gifts to make a difference. If youre a communicator, a writer, a homebuilder, a teacherwe all have certain things that make us amazing, and you should use those gifts to make a difference.

Build Relationships

Part of doing good is simply building relationships. Dont assume that knowing someones story, listening to their past, or understanding their needs is an insignificant thing. One of the most important things Ive learned is to listen to the locals, pay attention to their stories, and figure out what gaps we can fill.

Stick With It

Often when were trying to learn how to give back or to make a difference, we take a shotgun approach. We dont really get to see the impact of our generosity because were not involved long enough to see it come to fruition. Thats why I encourage people to stay involved with something for five to seven years, so they can see the impact theyre having. Its amazing when youre involved with an organization or community and get to see the literal impact and how youre making the world a little better.
The Swedish crime novel Quicksand, about a shooting in a Stockholm school, has been dominating the bestseller lists in its home country all summer and has sold in 23 territories to date. Its editor thinks the book, which has benefited from a groundswell of critical praise, was also helped along by unusually strong publisher support.

Book title: Storst av allt (in English, Quicksand)

First published in: July by Wahlstrom & Widstrand

Format: Hardcover, audio, and e-book

Author: Malin Persson Giolito was born in Stockholm and worked as a lawyer for a large Nordic law firm. She has published three previous novels.

Acquiring Editor: Asa Selling

How Its Done: The book has sold in 23 territories to houses such as Other Press (U.S.), Simon & Schuster (U.K.), and Intrinseca (Brazil). It has hit the bestseller lists of the Swedish newspapers Bokus, Adlibris, Svensk Bokhandel, and Forlaggarforeningen.

What makes this book stand out from similar titles on the market? Crime is a popular genre in our country," Selling said. But she believes Quicksand distinguished itself from the competition early by appealing to an usually wide variety of readers. "It can be read by [people of] all ages, and both men and women. I have heard about a number of middle-aged mothers that passed it along to their teenage daughters, who liked it just as much."

Why do you think its working?: Selling said that Quicksand had "massive" in-house backing. Wahlstrom & Widstrand encouraged retailers and book clubs to read the book early, and it was chosen as a main selection in the biggest book club in Sweden, Bonniers Bokklubb. Media attention swelled after the book club pick-up and, in late August, a long interview with the author ran in Dagens Nyheter, one of the country's most popular morning newspapers. The press attention helped solidify the book's status as one of Sweden's hottest books of the summer.
Shaun Michael Thomas of Urbana pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Monday in the death of 37-year-old Jessica Thomas. The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports prosecutors will recommend the 38-year-old Thomas' sentence be no more than 45 years as part of a plea agreement. Two other murder counts and one count of concealment of a homicidal death are to be dropped at sentencing on Nov. 30.

Champaign County sheriff's deputies found Jessica Thomas' body June 1 while doing a welfare check when she didn't show up for work.

Prosecutors said Shaun Thomas choked his wife after the couple argued about using a vehicle. He then taped her body in a plastic tote before seeing squad cars and turning himself in.
DAVENPORT -- A southbound South American priest now teaching in South Bend, Ind., will visit the Quad-Cities today to receive the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award.

The Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez, an internationally known "liberation" theologian, will get the award tonight from Davenport Diocesan Bishop Martin Amos, during a 6:30 p.m. free ceremony in Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

Rev. Gutierrez will join the ranks of such notable leaders as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Lech Walesa, to have received the annual award.

Rev. Gutierrez, 88, is considered a prominent figure in Latin American Catholicism. Liberation theology, of which he is considered as the founder, seeks to free the poor from unjust economic and social conditions.

He works as a John Cardinal O'Hara theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, dividing his time between South Bend and his parish church in Lima, Peru.

He was picked for the award by a coalition of local religious leaders representing St. Ambrose, Augustana College, Jewish Federation, Muslim Communities of the Quad-Cities, local religious sisters, and Quad-Cities Interfaith members, according to Kent Ferris, social action and Catholic Charities director.

The partnering organizations also share costs associated with the annual event, he said.

Rev. Gutierrez's work is quite relevant to this day and age, said coalition member, the Rev. Chuck Adam, "while we are seeking solutions to the plight of the poor in our own country, taking on important social issues such as job creation, just wages, health care and education, and overcoming urban violence and racial disparities."

"Liberation theology hasn't always gotten a warm reception," Mr. Ferris said.

"In the past, he was criticized for his advocacy efforts to seek change in the systems that foster poverty," according to news release materials. His writings were never condemned, but certainly were scrutinized, and now are being seen as having great value for a church that is envisioned by Pope Francis as a church of mercy, a 'field hospital.' "
MOLINE -- In a split vote, Moline-Coal Valley school board members approved entering a development and economic incentive agreement with Dolan Commons, LLC.

School board members Susan Tucker and Ben McAdams cast the only votes opposing the agreement for the $11.4 million project at Avenue of the Cities. Members considered the agreement at the Sept. 12 meeting, when chief financial officer Dave McDermott said the school district providing $1.2 million in economic incentives over 12 years could result in a return of $2.7 million in new tax dollars over 20 years.

District incentives will be provided only for completed phases of the project. The district now receives $6,000 in tax dollars annually from the unimproved site, and will continue to receive those funds through the development process, Mr. McDermott said.

Mr. McDermott said the agreement essentially means the district will abate its taxes for a term, with the hope that the development spurs other economic development. The Dolan site, 27th Street and Avenue of the Cities, previously included El Pavito, the Forest Hill Gas Station and an Aldi.

City aldermen already approved $3.2 million in city incentives for the multi-phase plan that includes renovating the Aldi building into a 13,000-square-foot residential building. The development also includes a 6,000-square-foot commercial building and a residential building of up to 40,000 square feet.

Mr. McAdams, who previously cited concerns the district would lose tax dollars in addition to funds already lost through other tax-increment-financing, on Monday said he still is concerned the deal will set a precedent of the district financing business projects.

Ms. Tucker, the other no vote on the agreement, said she still had questions about the deal administrators said they were unable to answer Monday. Among her questions was how many properties does Dolan own in the Quad-Cities.

Mr. McDermott said that, after the Sept. 12 meeting, he returned to the city and Dolan with follow-up questions from board members. He said he was assured by city representatives that the residential portion of the project has always been intended as a community for seniors 55 years and older.

Mr. McDermott also said he received a letter from Dolan that affirmed this and stated there are no intentions to have students residing at the development that would add to the school district population.

In other business, school board members on Monday:

 Approved entering a three-year lease in the amount of $22,617 with Midwest Transit Equipment, Kankakee, for an activity bus for Moline High School students.

 Heard from superintendent Lanty McGuire that the district is having trouble filling some staffing positions. He said he has discussed the issue with a professor at Augustana College, and was told education majors who remain in the area after graduation are being drawn to the Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley school districts. He said another issue is teachers hired from the Chicago-area often return to Chicago after a few years.

 Heard the Moline High School Empty Bowls Project soup night is planned 5-7 p.m. Oct. 25 in the cafeteria.
The other, in Pennsylvania, had lost a family member, too, back in 1986. The young woman had fled abruptly, leaving no clue. Where was she? They spent 30 years hoping she was alive and safe.

Earlier this year, a former Social Security Administration (SSA) investigator, Joe Velling, became convinced the dead woman, known as Lori Ruff, and the Pennsylvania woman were one and the same.

It had been a long road to get to this point. The SSA investigates identity theft, and Lori clearly had stolen someone elses identity  that of a 2-year-old girl from Pierce County, Wash., who had died in a fire decades earlier. An aide to a Texas congressman had asked Velling to look into the case, after being contacted by the Ruff family.

There was no indication she adopted the new identity for financial gain. So why did she do it? Velling used every tool he had, but turned up nothing. This was highly unusual.

With the support of the Ruff family, Velling turned to a reporter he knew at The Seattle Times in 2013, hoping that crowdsourcing would provide an answer. Surely somebody would recognize her from years ago. The story, which ran on the front page and later in publications all around the world, captured the online imagination.

For three years, a large cadre of dogged online sleuths has been trying to solve the mystery.

Late last year, a California scientist called Velling with a theory: Lori Ruff came from a family back East, she said. The Cassidys. Based on the evidence she provided, Velling believed she was right. Earlier this year, he took a plane to Philadelphia to knock on the door of one member of the Cassidy family. He had no idea what he was walking into. He didnt even know the missing womans name.

The Ruffs had provided him some photos, and he began laying them out on the table.

My God, the family member said, thats Kimberly!

Kimberly McLean, who left home at 18 and never came back.



During the past three years, theories about Lori Ruffs identity have run the gamut. Had she run away from a polygamous cult? An abusive partner? Had she committed a terrible crime? Was she in a witness-protection program? Some were even more outlandish. Did she really take her own life?

But as Velling would soon learn, the truth was much less sensational than all of the theories.

And also, in a way, even more puzzling than the mystery itself.

For most of the online sleuths, investigating the Lori Ruff case was a matter of poring through records of missing-persons photos looking for women who resembled Lori. There is no doubt they have spent thousands of hours doing this.

Colleen Fitzpatrick, a nuclear-physicist-turned-forensic-genealogist, went about the investigation differently. As a scientist, she worked on lasers and optics for 25 years, often using beams of light as a yardstick for measuring something. People used to ask what I did for a living, she recalled. Id say I shine light on things.

But in the early 2000s, she began writing a book about her hobby. Forensic Genealogy explained methodologies she had developed to solve different kinds of puzzles. Some have called it CSI meets Roots.

She has helped Holocaust survivors search for family members and adoptees find birthparents. She has helped estate lawyers track down heirs. In one case that made the news, she was able to find the identity of a child who died on the Titanic in 1912 by tracing his ancestry through his relatives DNA.

When Fitzpatrick read the story about Lori, she immediately thought about DNA. Lori and her husband, Blake Ruff, had a daughter in 2008 and that daughter shared Loris DNA. If the daughter provided a DNA sample, there was a way to subtract Blakes DNA profile from the daughters, leaving what is essentially Loris.

The Ruff family sent a saliva sample to 23andMe and Ancestry.com, companies that analyze DNA and provide tools to help people trace their family histories online. The family figured that the girl would one day want to know about her mother.

We were just wanting to at least have the ability to give her the answers, said Miles Darby, Blakes brother-in-law.

Fitzpatrick found a number of people whose DNA matched up with Loris, but most of them were distant cousins. They wouldnt be any help in identifying Lori.

Just one person came up as a first cousin: a man named Michael Cassidy. There were no other details, just a name, and there are probably thousands of people by that name in the United States. Which was the right one? Contacting him via the genealogy sites drew no response. Its unclear if he even saw the messages.

The Ruffs, along with Fitzpatrick and Velling, had reached a dead end.

And so they waited. Fitzpatrick periodically checked back in with the sites, working other angles as they popped up. All told, she figures she spent hundreds of hours on this. There were some clues pointing to the Pennsylvania area.

But for years, there was no real breakthrough. Then, finally, the name of a third cousin came up. That was too distant of a relative to provide answers to Loris identity.

But she could provide some clues through her family tree.

Fitzpatrick created a family tree based on the third cousins ancestry, tracing her familys roots to an Irish great-great-grandfather who was born in 1848. Then  and this is the key  she traced that family tree all the way down another branch and came to a familiar name: Michael Cassidy.

Suddenly, I had Loris extended family in front of me, Fitzpatrick realized.

With the family tree built, Fitzpatrick was able to zero in on the right Michael Cassidy, who lived in the Philadelphia area.

Between Facebook, online obituaries, public records and people-finder tools used by private investigators, she put together a picture of the Cassidy family. She gleaned from the family tree that Loris mother almost certainly was one of Michaels aunts. But which one? And what was Loris real name? There was no way to know.

She called Velling. He was convinced she was right.



When Velling flew to Philadelphia in March, he decided to forgo Michael Cassidy and instead approach another family member.

But how would he introduce himself? Hi, I dont know you and you dont know me, but I think youre related to this woman  who we also dont know the name of. Can you help?

But it had to be done. I had a boss that said, if something lands on your lap, do something, Velling recalled. I had news. Bad or good, I had it. And it had to get relayed.

When he arrived at the relatives workplace, he had no identification showing he was a federal investigator. He was just a retired government employee, after all. He wore a suit, kept a nonthreatening demeanor and hoped for the best.

Do you have a moment for me to tell you a story? he remembers saying to the woman before launching into the tale of Lori and the DNA and the great-great grandfather.

But the story is so convoluted, it wasnt really getting him anywhere. Then he pulled out the photos, laying them on the table one-by-one. Finally, he got to Loris most recent drivers-license picture, taken when she was around 40. Thats when it clicked. My God, thats Kimberly!

The hair on the back of my neck stood up when I realized she knew who this person was, Velling recalls. He had fielded countless emails from well-meaning people who thought they had an answer. They were contacting him long after The Seattle Times published Loris story. Now, he knew the answer.

The next day, Velling spoke with the large extended family, answering as many of their questions as he could. They were angst-ridden, he said. One thing was certain: It was definitely Kimberly.

Her mother was Michael Cassidys aunt, Deanne. And Deanne was then married to James McLean.

Lori Ruff was Kimberly McLean.

Later, Deanne took a DNA test and confirmed the match.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)



To Deanne, now 80, the news was devastating. She had last seen Kimberly 30 years ago, and now she learned her daughter was dead.

Certainly, there is much that we dont, and cant, know about Kimberlys disappearance. All of these events occurred a long time ago.

Deanne declined to speak with The Seattle Times, referring questions to her brother, Tom Cassidy.

Tom Cassidy provided some additional information. Kimberly grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, along with a sister. Deanne was a stay-at-home mom. Kimberlys dad was a carpenter and volunteer firefighter.

Cassidy said there were rides on fire engines and a magnificent hand-built playhouse in the backyard. There were family vacations and day trips and family dinners every night.

When Kimberly was an adolescent, her parents divorced. Deanne met a man named Robert Becker, remarried and moved the girls to Wyncote, Pa., where Kimberly attended Bishop McDevitt High School.

This was around the time the troubles started, according to Cassidy.

Kim never adjusted to the new house and the divorce, he said. There were new rules, a new school, and at some point, it became too much for Kimberly.

In 1986, when she was 18, she moved to King of Prussia, Pa., about a half-hour away, Cassidy said. Then one day, she told her mom she was leaving for good. Dont come after me, she warned.

The family never heard from her again. They tried everything they could think of, but Kimberly had ensured they would never find her by changing her name not once but twice.

For the life of me, we cant figure why, Cassidy said.

So, Lori Ruff wasnt in a cult, as far as anyone can tell. She wasnt a spy. She was a teenage runaway.

After leaving home in 1986, there are two years that Velling cant account for. Lori didnt pick up the false identity until 1988. Its clear she spent at least some time in Idaho, California and Las Vegas before moving to Texas, according to the investigation.

She got her GED, graduated from the University of Texas, and met Blake Ruff through church. She and Blake had a child. It was an ordinary life.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)



To Tom Cassidy, it underscores the sadness of it all, the futility.

Can you imagine, Cassidy asked? There was nobody from the family there to congratulate her on her college graduation. There was nobody there when she got married. She had a child without her mom there to help.

Her birthday was October 16, 1968, he repeated several times. Every year when that day came around, Lori couldnt celebrate. Can you imagine the burden of all that fakeness? How it all added up?

The Ruffs saw what that entailed. They watched as Lori got progressively more troubled, culminating in her suicide.

At least now we know her identity and know she had a family that loved her, said Darby, Blake Ruffs brother-in-law. Now, Lori and Blakes daughter has a new set of grandparents on the East Coast, and a whole new batch of cousins. The two families have been connected.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)

To Velling, the real story of Lori Ruff is in some ways even harder to understand than any of the wild speculation.

I wondered if she was AWOL from the Army. We wondered if maybe there was some connection to Las Vegas and she was caught up in some kind of crime-family stuff. Nothing like that ever turned up.

As far as Velling can tell, she was never connected to any criminal investigation, as Kimberly McLean or as Lori Ruff.

Velling hopes the speculation stops with the publication of this article, but suspects it wont.

Most of us, we get lonesome and homesick the first time we go to college, when we join the military. You wait for that first phone call to talk to mom and dad. And yet at 18, shes out there on her own, he said.

We cant fathom someone walking away with an intact family and never reconnecting.

On Sept. 19, Lori Ruffs name was removed from the federal governments database of missing and unidentified persons.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, speaking to Mayadeen TV from New York, also said the government is prepared to take part in a unity government incorporating elements from the opposition, an offer that has been rejected in the past.

Opposition activists say more than 200 civilians have been killed in the past week under a sustained aerial campaign that U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura called one of the worst of the 5 1/2-year war. The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting but failed to take any action because of deep divisions between Russia and Western powers.

"What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism, it's barbarism," said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power. "It's apocalyptic what is being done in eastern Aleppo."

Airstrikes on Aleppo on Monday killed at least six people, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an activist-run collective. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported hours later that 12 were killed, including three children.

President Bashar Assad's media adviser told Al-Mayadeen TV that the Syrian government abided by the cease-fire but the rebels did not. Bouthaina Shaaban said once the truce expired, "our Syrian Arab army resumed its operations against terrorists."

Al-Moallem accused the U.S., Britain, and France of convening the Security Council meeting a day earlier in order to support "terrorists" inside Syria. But he said ongoing communications between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meant a truce agreement brokered two weeks ago is "not dead."

Syria's military declared the cease-fire ended one week ago.

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the cease-fire is ineffective, but that Moscow is not losing hope for a political solution to the country's crisis.

However, Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the Kremlin is concerned that "terrorists are using the cease-fire regime to regroup, to replenish their arsenals and for obvious preparations to carry out attacks."

Peskov also took issue with harsh criticism by the United States and Britain over Russia's actions in Syria.

He said Russia considers the tone of the criticism unacceptable and "such rhetoric is capable of causing serious harm to the resolution process" in Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the Syrian and Russian governments "seem intent on taking Aleppo and destroying it in the process."

"While they're pounding Aleppo, dropping indiscriminate bombs, killing women and children, talk of a unity government is pretty complicated," Kerry said during a visit to Colombia.

He said the Syrian opposition won't be "particularly excited about having a negotiation when they're being bombed and starved," adding that statements by the Syrian government are "almost meaningless."

The White House meanwhile said it's difficult to envision any military cooperation with Russia in Syria because Moscow has repeatedly failed to fulfill its commitments to the cease-fire deal.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Syria's government has launched a "concerted campaign" to strike civilian targets, and that Assad's forces are trying "to bomb civilians into submission." He says government forces have also targeted the Civil Defense, volunteer first responders also known as White Helmets.

In the central Syrian city of Homs, meanwhile, a second group of rebel gunmen and their families began evacuating from an opposition neighborhood.

Some 120 gunmen and their families are expected to leave al-Waer as part of an agreement to restore the government's authority over the neighborhood, Homs Governor Talal Barazi said.

The agreement struck over al-Waer was in keeping with Assad's determination to settle the war on his own terms, securing surrenders through sieges and staying in power at least through an interim period to steer the country out of crisis.

Pro-government forces have kept al-Waer under a steadily tightening siege since November 2013, prohibiting food and medical supplies from reaching the remaining 75,000 residents, down from 300,000 before the start of the war in 2011.

In exchange for the evacuations, the government is permitting aid convoys to supply the neighborhood with badly needed food and medical supplies.

A Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy of 36 trucks delivered assistance for 4,000 families in the district Saturday.

U.N. humanitarian officials have condemned the sieges against civilians as "medieval" and in contravention to international law.

In New York, al-Moallem reaffirmed his government's proposed roadmap to end Syria's war, saying Damascus would support a referendum on a new constitution followed by parliamentary elections and the formation of a unity government.
Until recently, Nate Silver was every Democrats favorite polling analyst, a statistical oracle hailed for the preternatural accuracy of his Barack Obama victory projections in 2008 and 2012. But lately, the God-like aura that once surrounded Silver has been replaced by liberal dismay over his soothsaying.

The reason for the fall from grace is that Silver now gives Donald Trump a 40-percent chance of winning in November. The widespread skepticism that the bilious billionaire might be elected prompted an exasperated Silver to recently tweet, Never seen otherwise-smart people in so much denial as they are about Trumps chances. Same mistake as primaries. Brexit.

Hillary Clinton, speaking to a union audience Wednesday, expressed her own form of incredulity when she asked rhetorically, Why arent I 50 points ahead? Plausible answers range from Youre a badly flawed candidate yourself, Hillary to The news media, especially cable TV, cant get over its ratings-mad fixation with Trump.

But even the most euphoric Trump triumphalist would admit that the GOP nominees realistic route to victory depends on a narrow passage along the electoral map. As an illustration, giving the GOP nominee almost all of the swing states (but not Pennsylvania) and one of Maines four electoral votes would lead to an Electoral College verdict of Trump 270 and Clinton 268.

Such calculations serve as a reminder that the Electoral College consists of flesh-and-blood electors rather than disembodied numbers on a map. And even if the Republicans prevailed on Nov. 8, a handful of electors could cost Trump the White House.

Samuel Miles -- a Quaker from Philadelphia and a brigadier general during the Revolutionary War -- was the first faithless elector. In 1796, even though he was pledged to Federalist John Adams, Miles cast one of Pennsylvanias electoral votes for Thomas Jefferson, whom he judged less likely to plunge America into a war with France.

According to research by the advocacy group FairVote, 81 other electors in history have pulled a similar trick. In modern times, faithless electors have been motivated by ideology (votes for Barry Goldwater in 1960 and Ronald Reagan in 1980) and idiosyncrasy (an Alabama elector opted for home-town circuit court judge Walter Jones in 1956).

Normally, in a close election, party loyalty trumps any attempt by electors to jigger with the outcome. In fact, it is safe to say that there are few places in America where independent judgment is less prized than in the Electoral College.

But 2016 -- in case anyone hasnt noticed -- is not a normal election. Already, Baoky Vu, a Republican elector in Georgia, has taken himself off the ballot because he could not bring himself to vote for Trump.

And Politico reported in late August that a Texas GOP elector, Chris Suprun, a Dallas paramedic, also had deep reservations about backing Trump.

I recently spoke briefly by phone with Suprun, who was about to participate in an all-day vigil for the first responders who died on 9/11. The article is a mischaracterization of my statements, he said. I got into this with all intentions of supporting the nominee of my party.

If there is already this much public ferment over the sentiments of Republican electors, it is easy to imagine the potential firestorm if, say, Trump ekes out a hairsbreadth victory on Nov. 8. Republican electors would be monitored hourly for any signs of maverick tendencies up until the moment they cast their paper ballots for president and vice president in their respective state capitals in mid-December.

Nothing that we have learned so far in this campaign suggests that President-elect Trump would be magnanimous and reassuring in the first weeks after the election. Maybe he would start talking idly about dropping a nuclear device on the Islamic State or suddenly announce that Donald Jr. would make a primo justice of the Supreme Court. It doesnt take much imagination to contemplate a wave of buyers remorse sweeping through the reasonable wing of the Republic Party.

Also, remember that anti-Trump GOP electors would have choices other than making Clinton president. Under the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, if no candidate won a majority in the Electoral College, the House would choose the 45th president among the three highest finishers.

Three? Trump, Clinton and who else?

Going back to my original 270-to-268 electoral vote scenario, all it would take is for one Republican elector to write in a name like, well, Paul Ryan. (Yes, I know that you thought all saving President Ryan scenarios ended with no second ballot at the Cleveland convention).

In that case, the choice would rest with the Republican House voting by individual states. (Currently, the GOP controls 33 delegations, the Democrats 14 and 3 states are evenly split). Maybe Trump would still prevail, but I wouldnt rule out the election of a conservative Republican president who actually knows what the nuclear triad is.

For, in the end, Trump isnt just running against Clinton. He is also running against Samuel Miles and the powerful precedent he set in 1796.
Also known as the piwauwau, it managed to take the victory off the little penguin with the most transferred votes.

2 hours ago
Stage 2 involves track renewals on two sections of the route. In the south, 84km of track will be renewed on the Coronda - Laguna Paiva - Nare section in Santa Fe province. The $US 65m project will be financed by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).

At the northern end of the line, 277km of track will be renewed on the Talavera - Pichanal section in Salta province at a cost of around $US 210m, while $US 105m will be invested in the renewal of 139km of track between Embarcacion in Salta and El Chalican in neighbouring Jujuy. Both of these projects are being financed by China National Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Corporation (CMEC).

Bids are due to be submitted by next month and work is due to begin by February.

Stage 2 of the Belgrano renewal project is part of the Argentinean governments $US 4.4bn programme of investment in the rail freight network for 2016-23.
The LRVs will be delivered at a rate of 100 vehicles per year between 2017 and 2019 and the joint venture will maintain the fleet for 30 years.

The joint venture beat off competition from Stadler and UKVZ to clinch the contract with a bid of Roubles 95m per vehicle.

The vehicle will be based on PK Transport Systems Vityaz-M tram, and Muscovites will be invited to choose the final interior and exterior design of the LRVs, which will be equipped with CCTV, passenger Wi-Fi, and a modern passenger information system.
The agreement was signed in Montreal on September 23 by CRRCs president Mr Xi Guohua and Mr Alain Bellemare, president and CEO of Bombardier, during a state visit to Canada by Chinas premier Mr Li Keqiang.

Bombardier Transportation already has a strong presence in China with six joint ventures and seven wholly foreign-owned companies. Three of the six joint ventures are with CRRC subsidiaries in China. Bombardier Sifang Transportation, a 50:50 joint venture of Bombardier and CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock, has produced more than 3000 high-speed trains for operation in China. CBRC in Changchun, which is a 50:50 joint venture with the former CNR, has manufactured in excess of 2000 metro trains for the Chinese market.

We have been working closely with CRRC since 1998 and are very pleased to have reached this latest milestone in our relationship in order to provide Chinese and global customers a more competitive and broader range of rail transportation solutions, Bellemare says.
CRRC ZELC Verkehrstechnik opened its office in Vienna on September 26 as a basis for the expansion of its European railway business and the company has also signed a cooperation agreement with the Technical University of Graz, a key player in railway research in Austria.

Under a framework agreement with Leo Express, CRRC Zhuzhou will supply an initial batch of three EMUs with a options for up to 27 further trains. Delivery of the first train is scheduled for mid-2018.

Leo Express currently operates a fleet of five Stadler Flirt EMUs, which were delivered for the launch of its Prague - Ostrava service, which have since been extended to Zilina and Kosice in Slovakia. The company is looking to expand its operations internationally and is reportedly planning to launch services in Poland.

CRRC Zhuzhou has already supplied two EMUs and four DMUs to Macedonian Railways (MZ) under a 25m contract awarded in 2014.
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The recent removal of dangerous chemical weapons precursors from Libya prevented the Islamic State group from adding these heinous weapons to its arsenal of terror. The Libyan Government of National Accord sought the help of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons when it feared Islamic State group militants were advancing towards a facility that contained these deadly chemicals. Preventing the Islamic State group from adding deadly chemicals to its grisly cache of weapons in Libya is an extremely important counterterrorism success. Unfortunately the same has not been true in Syria.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper noted ( PDF ) in congressional testimony that the Islamic State group's use of chemical warfare agents in Syria is the first time a terrorist group demonstrated this capability since the 1995 Japanese cult Aum Shinryko used sarin on the Tokyo subway. Since the Toyko attack, terrorists have crashed passenger airplanes into the World Trade Towers; taken students hostage on the first day of school in Breslan, Russia, killing hundreds; and beheaded scores of hostages in Iraq. Terrorists have certainly talked about using poison, disease and radioactivity as weapons, but generally, they have pursued other weapons that were more readily available and easier to deploy.

In Syria and Iraq, the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front are breaking with this historical pattern and making chemical weapons part of their deadly arsenal. A United Nations panel investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria reported last month that it found evidence that the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front have acquired and used chemical weapons.

Over the course of the last several months, the United States and coalition partners fighting both groups have bombed suspected Islamic State group chemical weapons store houses and production facilities. Earlier this week, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian said in a press conference that coalition forces had struck a pharmaceutical plant that the Islamic State group was using to produce chemical agents. This will certainly curb the Islamic State group's and the Nusra Front's chemical weapons production efforts for now, but the long-term impact is uncertain.

But what may have led to these groups doing what no other terrorist group has done in the last 21 years? In a word, opportunity.

As the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front seized territory in Syria and northern Iraq, they came upon military sites where chemical munitions were hidden, abandoned or lost. In their land grab, they also captured industrial facilities with toxic chemicals. When these toxic capabilities became available, they used them. Tragically, the victims of these indiscriminate weapons were generally innocent civilians.

Not only did the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front exploit captured weapons resources, they also seized the opportunity to develop some of their own capabilities. Just as al-Qaida once enjoyed a safe haven in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, both the Islamic State group and Nusra Front have had the freedom to develop capabilities in Islamic State group-controlled territory and ungoverned spaces that neither the Syrian nor the Iraqi government has been able to control.

Corralling and securing exotic weapons and toxic materials is not always a priority when forces are engaged in heated conventional battle, but it should be.

Corralling and securing exotic weapons and toxic materials is not always a priority when forces are engaged in heated conventional battle, but it should be. The late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden's interest in toxic weaponry never got beyond testing and some crude efforts at production, but when U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban regime, al-Qaida's chemical and biological weapons efforts came to an abrupt halt. Libyan leaders have wisely taken a preventative action on the remaining chemical weapons left over from Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's chemical weapons program.

Recent U.S. and coalition military action has likely forestalled use of toxic chemicals by the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front, but it has probably not eliminated it. Given how many of these toxic industrial chemicals are available at industrial sites in the region, this would be a difficult challenge complicated by the potential for collateral damage. Nonetheless, for the sake of protecting civilians, reducing the opportunity for these groups to obtain chemical weapons should be a priority as the U.S. and coalition military campaign continues.

John V. Parachini is a senior policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and the director of the RAND Intelligence Policy Center.

This commentary originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report on September 23, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Moscow court upholds detention of Russian anti-corruption official

MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov)  The Moscow City Court has upheld the ruling of a lower court on detention of Dmitry Zakharchenko, Russian anti-corruption official, who is charged with receiving a large-scale bribe, RAPSI learned in the courtroom on Tuesday.

The court has dismissed an appeal filed by Zakharchenkos lawyers against Moscows Presnensky District Courts ruling, which on September 10 put the official in detention until November 8 as a part of a large corruption case.

Earlier, Zakharchenkos lawyer has insisted to put his client under house arrest or make him pay a 70 million ruble fine ($1,000,000).

As yet, officially Zakharchenko stands charged with receiving 7 million rubles ($107,600) bribe from an unknown source. He has also been charged with abuse of office and hindering the conduct of preliminary investigation.

On September 14, the Interior Ministrys official spokesman Vladimir Markin said that Zakharchenko is suspected of obtaining 8.5 billion rubles ($130 million) by criminal means. According to Markin, investigators currently are working hard to find out the source of the money seized as evidence as a result of a search at Zakharchenkos apartment in a bribery case. He added that the seized money was transferred to Russias Central Bank for safe keeping.

Zakharchenko himself denies any relation to seized funds.
Appeal against Russian Orthodox Church ex-employees sentence for treason set for Sep.30

Context Former employee of Russian Orthodox Church gets 12 years in prison for treason

MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova)  Russias Supreme Court will hear an appeal against a 12-year prison sentence handed down to Yevgeny Petrin, former employee of Russian Orthodox Church who claimed to be working as an operative of the Federal Security Service (FSB), for treason, on September 30, the court told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Petrin was convicted in June. He appealed the sentence immediately after it had been delivered, according to his lawyer Ivan Pavlov.

Prosecution demanded a 19-year imprisonment for Petrin, while defense asked the court to acquit him. The case was classified and heard behind closed doors.

As reported earlier, Petrin contacted with unnamed agents of US intelligence services and passed them secret information about the FSB. A criminal case against him was reportedly opened in April 2014. He was arrested soon afterwards and placed in pre-trial detention center.
At this years Insurtech Connect conference, Insider Engage spoke to Pranav Pasricha, Swiss Re's global head property and casualty solutions, Reinsurance, to discuss why the protection gap is the biggest challenge the reinsurance industry faces today and how Swiss Re is using technology to support clients to respond to new and emerging threats.
Climate change is the new energy policy. President Obama has shifted the nation in recent years away from the abundance of oil and natural gas to cleaner, though more expensive, renewable energy sources.

The president has made a 180-degree turn since winning re-election in 2012. Once supportive of an all-of-the-above energy policy, he has replaced it in the closing days of his administration with keep it in the ground.

The change represents a dramatic shift in our nations energy, environmental and economic policies. Its a goal that if realized would effectively prohibit using 89 percent of the nations current energy supply. To impose that shift, the Obama administration has issued a number of costly regulations requiring utilities and industry to cut carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions.

The new regulations, according to the administration, are necessary to protect health and stave off the worst effects of climate change.

Its a fundamental change and perhaps a worthwhile one. But the accumulation of regulation will have real consequences for millions of Americans, who can expect higher utility bills and fewer economic opportunities.

Hillary Clinton, in the first debate between the two major party candidates, repeated her support for transforming the nations energy sector, calling for generating enough electricity from renewable sources by 2026 to power every home in America, including the installation of 500 million solar panels on roofs across the country.

The goal is not without challenges, both in terms of available technology and economic impact.

Residential demand is 36 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption. Commercial and industrial users make up the balance. Of total U.S. generation, solar contributes only 1 percent, and all renewable energy combined  excluding hydropower, which continues to be widely opposed by the environmental community  equals only about 7 percent. Shifting just one-third of that generation to renewables will require a major government investment.

Ms. Clinton has proposed overcoming these hurdles with a clean energy challenge that would work with states and local communities to encourage innovation, update infrastructure, and incentivize deployment of renewable energy projects.

Ms. Clinton insists the benefits of the foretold clean energy economy will outweigh the downside of higher energy costs and loss of U.S. competitiveness. As the current presidents chief science advisor has said, transitioning to all renewables is not a technical issue but a challenge of economic and social practicality.

An economic challenge, indeed. The energy boom of the past five years, made possible by hydraulic fracturing  a practice Ms. Clinton has said wouldnt occur many places once her conditions are met  is credited as one of the few drivers of the struggling U.S. economy.

Republican candidate Donald Trump offers a more traditional vision for Americas energy policy. The New York businessman sees the nations energy resources as neither good or bad, but as opportunities to revitalize the American economy.

Mr. Trump says its important to maintain the nations energy production to enable a resurgent manufacturing sector and enhance national security in an unstable world.

Mr. Trump has said he would rescind the current administrations unilateral agreements on global climate mitigation and suspend new federal regulations, except those approved by Congress or for safety reasons. His plan also calls for investing oil and gas revenues in fixing the nations schools and public infrastructure.

Mr. Trump has promised to revoke policies that impose unwarranted restrictions on new drilling technologies, and has said that regulation of hydraulic fracturing should be done at the state and local level.

Mr. Trump, who has voiced support for regulations to protect air and water quality, has also made controversial statements about climate change, including calling it a hoax invented to help the Chinese.

Mr. Trump has since said that he was joking, but his concerns about the Paris Agreement potentially giving China a competitive advantage over the United States are all too real.

Americans face two very different choices November 8.

With Ms. Clinton, voters have someone who supports the energy and environmental policies of the current administration. Mr. Trump, on the other hand, is determined to use Americas energy resources to revitalize the economy, spur job creation, and maintain a strategic advantage in the world.
Europe has a new country. Or at least that is what a tiny territory between Serbia and Croatia is claiming. The Free Republic of Liberland (commonly known as Liberland) has failed to get international recognition, but its leaders are actually claiming control of a land that no other country seems interested in owning. While Liberland is unlikely to become anything more than a curious geographic anecdote, its existence raises questions about the meaning of statehood.

Since the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, Serbia and Croatia have each claimed several territories along their border, including some islands on the Danube River, that have been put to international arbitration. But in early 2015, Vit Jedlicka, a Czech politician and activist, found a small parcel of land on the western bank of the Danube that is not claimed by either side. And so on April 13, 2015 (Thomas Jefferson's birthday), Jedlicka proclaimed the birth of Liberland, Europe's newest nation. Its name may sound impressive, but its territory is not: Liberlands area is about 7 square kilometers (2.7 square miles) and is mostly covered by forest. It has no residents, and according to local media it has only an old house that has been abandoned for decades.

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Jedlicka designed a flag for Liberland, which consists of a yellow background (representing libertarianism) and a black horizontal stripe (representing anarchism). He claims the country will be ruled by only a handful of laws, and taxes will be paid on a voluntary basis. Liberland's website describes its government as a "constitutional republic with elements of direct democracy" under the motto "to live and let live." Through his website, Jedlicka is offering passports from Liberland  open to anybody except Nazis, communists and "extremists"  and inviting people to invest in the new country. He claims to have a plan to turn Liberland into a financial center and a tax haven.

Jedlicka's critics have accused him of creating Liberland as a publicity stunt, and the Serbian and Croatian governments have minimized the issue. But the case is notable because the Serbian government told American media in 2015 that Liberland would not theoretically violate its territory, since the area is not on Serbian land. Croatia has admitted that the area "is still the subject of negotiations" between Zagreb and Belgrade but said it should be awarded to either of the two countries, not to a third party.

Terra Nullius

Liberland bases its claim to existence on the argument that no nation has claimed ownership of the area. This would represent a case of "terra nullius" (nobody's land), a concept that describes a territory that is not under the sovereignty of any state and is subject to acquisition through occupation. The concept has existed for centuries and is widely accepted as a principle of international law. It has, however, created several disputes among countries, in many cases leading to war or international arbitration. What makes Liberland so interesting is that, unlike in most cases of terra nullius, no sovereign state seems to be particularly interested in owning this tiny territory.

A somewhat similar case is Bir Tawil, an area of just over 2,000 square kilometers along the border between Egypt and Sudan. Because of discrepancies in the interpretation of the border between Egypt and Sudan, some territories are claimed by both countries while others, like Bir Tawil, are claimed by neither. Over time, several people have claimed ownership of the area, but because of its inclement weather and hostile geography, most of these claims exist only online. In 2014, however, an American citizen traveled to the area and proclaimed the Kingdom of North Sudan.

According to its website, the Kingdom of North Sudan is "a nation of love and progress" that means to "bring together the world's best scientific minds and concerned global citizens wishing to fund cutting edge scientific advancement in sustainable agriculture, water and energy conservation." To do so, the country launched an online fundraising campaign in 2015. North Sudan has also applied for observer entity status at the United Nations, but so far no relevant international actor has recognized its existence.

Still, that Bir Tawil is unclaimed does not necessarily mean it is unwanted. Tribes from the region often visit the area, leading to accusations of racism against North Sudan's American "king." Unsurprisingly, North Sudan is one of the few "countries" that has recognized Liberland. The Kingdom of Enclava, a patch of land at the border between Slovenia and Croatia that also claims to be Europe's newest country, has recognized Liberland too.

Finders Keepers?

The cases of Liberland, North Sudan and others raise questions about the concept of statehood. A traditional line of thought established that something could be considered a state only if it was recognized by other sovereign states. The Congress of Vienna (1815) was crucial for the development of this position because it decided that future states would require recognition from the existing ones to be part of the international community. In other words, the Great Powers of the 19th century wanted to make sure they decided what could become a state and what could not.

But this theory led to disputes over what "recognition" actually means. After all, acknowledging the existence of a new territorial entity is not the same as granting it formal diplomatic recognition. This line of thought also faces problems in the many cases in which a new entity is recognized by some states but not by others. This remains a valid question to this day, since many states are not fully recognized by the international community. Places such as Kosovo and Palestine are not members of the United Nations but are recognized by several of its members.

A more recent line of thought holds that states need to meet certain criteria, such as a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and a capacity to enter relations with other governments. From this point of view, the recognition of other states is not a critical condition for statehood. These principles were formally laid out in the Montevideo Convention of 1933, a foundational document on statehood. Some experts on international relations have argued that since Liberland represents a clear case of terra nullius, it could theoretically satisfy Montevideo's requirements.

The Principality of Sealand, arguably the world's most famous self-proclaimed microstate, offers a case study for these issues. In 1967, a British family occupied an offshore platform in the North Sea and declared it an independent state. Though Sealand has not been formally recognized by any states, its government claims to have been de facto recognized by countries including the United Kingdom and Germany (for the simple reason that both governments have acknowledged it exists). Sealand also claims to have a government and a population (even if a caretaker seems to be the only permanent resident), which make it a state according to the Montevideo requirements.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, however, artificial installations do not possess the status of islands and do not qualify as "territories" in the traditional sense of the word. This has not stopped Sealand from establishing several business operations, most notably an internet hosting facility, or "data haven." Sealand may not be internationally recognized, but it has managed to remain economically viable for half a century.

A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours

Liberland, North Sudan and other self-proclaimed microstates will have a difficult time if they truly want to become formal states (whether their self-proclaimed leaders actually have this goal remains a subject of debate). The most basic of the obstacles to formal statehood is to actually occupy the land they claim to own.

The fact that countries have not claimed ownership of certain territories does not mean they are not willing to react if they feel threatened by third parties. Croatia and Serbia may currently consider Liberland little more than a joke, but they would almost certainly take action if there were any real attempts to populate it and establish an independent country. Since the case of Liberland became famous, Croatian police have been deployed in the area and have arrested several people trying to reach it. Egypt and Sudan may look at different maps when they think about their common border, but they would probably not be happy with a new state emerging between them.

Countries dealing with unclaimed territories would reach bilateral solutions on these lands rather than allowing Czech activists or American kings to occupy them. Ironically, this could lead to conflict if the involved governments simultaneously decide that they want to own an area they previously ignored. Most disputed territories have that status precisely because two or more actors claim ownership over them. Liberland is a curious case because, in principle, none of the actors that could claim control over it seems interested in doing so. But this will probably remain a curiosity with negligible consequences at the international level. For the rest of the world's disputed territories, violence and diplomacy will remain the main tools to claim ownership.
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Matt LeBlanc will return as co-host of "Top Gear" for two more seasons, the BBC announced Monday.

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Chris Harris and Rory Reid will co-host the car-themed program, while Eddie Jordan, Sabine Schmitz and The Stig will make regular appearances when it resumes next year.

"I am thrilled that Matt LeBlanc is returning to 'Top Gear.' He's a huge talent whose love of cars is infectious. I can't wait for the series to return to BBC Two next year," Patrick Holland, channel editor for BBC Two, said in a statement about the "Friends" and "Episodes" star.

"Matt was hugely popular with 'Top Gear' viewers last series with his humor, warmth and obvious passion for cars and for the show, so I couldn't be more delighted that he's agreed to come back and do more for us," added Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios.

Jeremy Clarkson was fired from "Top Gear" more than a year ago after a dustup with a producer, and his longtime co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond refused to do the show without Clarkson.

LeBlanc, Jordan, Schmitz, Harris, Reid and Chris Evans took over for a season, but Evans left after reports of low ratings and a lukewarm reception from fans.

Clarkson, May and Hammond are working on a new Amazon docu-series called "The Grand Tour."
My Journey as a Foster and Adoptive Parent.... 12 kids in 12 years.
Approximately 43 million Americans have student loan debt, and they will typically have to pay off that debt for a minimum of 10 years after their graduation, a number that will spike even more if the student wishes to pursue graduate, medical or law school. Here, UGA students give their opinion on the topic.
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Waste Management drivers OK contract

Waste Management Inc. drivers in Redding voted unanimously to ratify their contract with Teamsters Local 137, the union said.

Workers will enter the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan and receive health benefits, Local 137 secretary-treasurer Dave Hawley said in a news release.

There are 22 drivers in the bargaining unit. The contract was ratified after a year of negotiating and an election on Aug. 28, Hawley said.

Planet Fitness gives $1,000 to library

During its grand opening celebration, Planet Fitness in Redding donated $1,000 to the Shasta Library Foundation.

Planet Fitness celebrated its grand opening at 1725 Hilltop Drive on Sept. 15. The health club is next to the Institute of Technology inside the former Mervyn's department store building.

The club is 21,000 square feet and is open 24 hours Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Reporter David Benda can be reached at 225-8219 or at david.benda@redding.com.
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By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight

Shasta County gun advocates and owners were breathing a sigh of relief Tuesday after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed Monday a bill that could have made it harder  and possibly more expensive  to carry a concealed firearm.

Among those relieved by Brown's veto were Ted Lidie, founder and senior instructor for Redding-based Northern Firearms Instruction, and Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko.

"I'm very pleased the governor vetoed it," Bosenko said, noting that the bill could have potentially raised license fees to the point where the permits became unaffordable to many Shasta County residents.

Brown vetoed Assembly Bill 450, authored by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, during a day that saw him sign and veto a slew of various gun-related bills.

Brown shot down the concealed weapons permit bill, saying he saw no need for a change in the licensing fee process.

"This bill was spurred by a local (political) dispute in one county," Brown wrote in his veto message. "I am unaware of a larger problem that merits a statewide change at this time."

Lidie agreed with the governor's veto.

"There was no complaint anywhere else" other than in Sacramento County where, he said, it was created due to a political battle.

He also said the bill, if it had been signed, could have taken many months of review work to determine the cost of the permits.

"It would have taken quite a bit of analysis," he said.

That bill would have required that the fee charged for a CCW application cover the full costs of both issuing and enforcing the permit.

Shasta County charges $153 for new permits and $64 for permit renewals, though $93 and $51 of those respective fees go to the state.

Shasta County has some 7,000 permit holders, Bosenko said. Lidie also doesn't have to worry  at least for now  about a bill introduced by McCarty earlier this year to change a requirement to obtain a concealed weapon permit.

California law requires those seeking a permit to cite a "good cause" for the permit, though it's left to the issuing agency to judge that good cause as valid.

But Assembly Bill 466 would have changed that definition and require an applicant to show they face the potential for greater harm than the general public.

That measure, however, never came to a vote, although it possibly could be resurrected next year, a spokesman for McCarty's office said.

Among those bills that did gain Brown's signature on Monday was one requiring law enforcement officers and concealed weapon permit holders who leave firearms in their cars to lock them in a safe box or in the trunk.

That law was spurred by the separate thefts of guns from the cars of a federal Bureau of Land Management ranger and a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer that were used to kill two people in the San Francisco Bay area.

That bill, Senate Bill 869, will "ensure that the requirements for safe gun storage in vehicles are the same for everyone  law enforcement officers and civilians," state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Leandro), has said.

Although it's clear off-duty law enforcement officers will be affected by the bill, Bosenko said SB 869 will need to be thoroughly evaluated to determine its potential impact upon his on-duty deputies and others.

"It will definitely impact many gun owners," he said.

Redding Police Capt. Roger Moore said, however, he welcomes the new law, saying it does not apply to police officers during the course of their official duties.

But, he said, what it does do is make gun owners more responsible and accountable.

"I think this is a good law," Moore said. "It makes total sense."

Brown to the following action on other gun bills:

Signed: A bill aimed at speeding up action on gun purchasers who are ineligible to possess a firearm, giving the Department of Justice seven days to review each case when prohibited persons are discovered.

Signed: A bill requiring the state attorney general to develop a uniform license to carry a concealed firearm to replace the permits that differ from county to county.

Signed: A measure allowing law enforcement officers to buy and use guns on a list of firearms deemed unsafe for untrained civilians.

Vetoed: A bill that would have allowed joint registration of firearms shared by spouses and domestic partners and changed the rules for lending firearms to one another as well as mandate the Department of Justice to maintain a comprehensive database on gun owners and their firearms.
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Ronald Price Jared

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Accused man may plead in rape case

Plea bargain negotiations are ongoing in the criminal case of a Redding man charged with rape, stalking, corporal injury and a series of other felonies and misdemeanors stemming from allegedly abusive relationships he had with two women.

Ronald Price Jared was in Shasta County Superior Court on Monday for a settlement conference as he awaits an Oct. 25 trial.

Although his case did not settle, negotiations continue in an attempt to try to possibly resolve his case, attorneys said.

Jared was ordered in April to stand trial on multiple charges following a near day-long preliminary hearing which saw his alleged victims describe the abuse they said they had to endure from him.

One of those women testified that Jared hit and punched her in the abdomen and continued to physically assault her by striking her on the side of her head before he allegedly raped her.

Jared remains in Shasta County Jail without bail.

One person killed in crash near Anderson

One person has died and anther was hospitalized Monday following a single-vehicle crash in Happy Valley.

The California Highway Patrol reported that one man was killed and a woman was taken to a local hospital after a car crashed into the side of a hill shortly before 6 p.m.

The crash happened near the intersection of Peter Pan Gulch and Olinda Road, which is less than a mile west of Anderson High School.

CHP officers were still at the scene investigating the crash Monday night and Olinda Road was reportedly closed during the investigation, according to the CHP website.

It was not clear how the crash occurred or what caused it.

Forest thinning bill signed into law

A bill by Assemblyman Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, that removes red tape for those who want to thin forest on private land was signed into law, his office announced Monday.

AB 2029 extends a pilot project that exempts landowners from having to file a timber harvest plan if they want to cut down trees less than 24 inches in diameter.

The pilot program, put in place in 2013, allowed landowners to conduct small-scale thinning projects to reduce fire risk and give larger trees more room to grow. The initial program targeted parts of California prone to wildfires.

"This program is still new but I've heard from multiple landowners in Northern California that it is a critical tool," Dahle said in a prepared statement. "The cost of preparing a timber harvest plan makes basic forest maintenance  the work we want to encourage for long-term health of the trees  a money-loser. Streamlining the bureaucratic burdens makes this work affordable for landowners."

AB 2029 extends the pilot program through 2021. It also requires the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection  Cal Fire  to study the exemption. It also creates a path toward expanding the exemption to trees with 26-inch diameters.

Trial set in dog beating case

An Oct. 18 trial date was confirmed Monday in Shasta County Superior Court for a man arrested by Redding Police in April after he was seen beating a dog and then throwing her into traffic on Hartnell Avenue.

The dog, however, narrowly escaped being hit by a car, police have said.

Eric Dean Bethel, who is also charged with felony vandalism and misdemeanor resisting arrest, faces eight years, eight months in prison if convicted of all the charges against him at trial.

He is due back in Superior Court Oct. 14 for a trial readiness conference and remains in Shasta County Jail in lieu of $85,000 bail.
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By Sean Longoria of the Redding Record Searchlight

Don't expect more police on the streets immediately should Redding voters approve a half-cent sales tax hike in November.

Redding Police Chief Rob Paoletti said it could take as long as 18 months to fill all of the 16 sworn officer and 13 community service officer positions proposed by a spending plan for the tax money, which the city estimates at $11 million a year split between police, firefighters, the Shasta County Jail and county mental health services.

Paoletti said he'd look to entry level officers and recruits  those for whom the city would pay for academy attendance  to fill the vacancies.

"It'll allow a lot of our local young talent that doesn't necessarily have the money to take six months off to put themselves through the academy," Paoletti said.

He has about 30 such candidates to vet once he can began hiring, Paoletti said.

"I'm very confident that we'll be able to fill (open positions) within 12 to 18 months," he said.

Police recruits are paid $24.98 an hour and sworn officer are paid hourly from $29.26 to $43.23 in a nine-step pay range, according to the city's agreement with Redding Peace Officers Association. Effective Jan. 1, recruits will make $25.73 an hour, while officers start out at $30.14.

But those less-experienced people come at a different cost  training time. Recruits spend a year in the academy and training before they can become solo beat officers, Paoletti said. Hiring experienced officers from another agency cuts that time down to about six weeks.

The hiring process itself  screening initial applicants, background checks, oral interviews, polygraph tests, psychological and medical exams  while varied, can range from a few weeks to a few months, Redding Police Sgt. Casey Bokavich said.

If approved, money from the sales tax would start flowing to the city in April.

But the city doesn't want to wait until next year to start hiring. City Manager Kurt Starman said he'd seek council approval to advance money from the general fund to start paying for the new hires and repay those advances once Measure D money starts to flow.

"The city has sufficient liquidity to make a temporary advance such as this on a short-term basis if there is a reliable source of repayment," Starman said.

He was careful, however, to separate the idea of an advance from the idea that such a method could pay for police officers absent Measure D monies.

"It would not be feasible to utilize a temporary advance to pay for these new positions without the passage of Measure D for two reasons. First, there would be no source of repayment for the temporary advance. Second, the funds would only be sufficient for a few months," Starman said. "It is not practical or prudent to hire new police officers and community service officers one day and then turn around and lay them off a few months later due to the lack of a permanent funding source."

All but one member of the City Council has stood firm in claiming that the city's reserve funds can't be used to hire more police.

Councilman Gary Cadd, the most outspoken opponent of Measure D, cautioned that the city should use new hires who won't qualify for more generous benefits under the California Public Employee Retirement System. To do otherwise by hiring someone already in the CalPERS system, he said, would add to the city's unfunded pension liability.
SHARE Fred Ryness Patrick Henry Jones Pam Giacomini

By Alayna Shulman of the Redding Record Searchlight

The three candidates looking to fill the District 3 seat on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors all say government overregulation and unemployment are among the top concerns facing the largely rural district each hopes to oversee.

But the three Republicans cite different credentials they say qualify them to lead the eastern Shasta County district.

Pam Giacomini, 53, co-owner of Hat Creek Grown grass-fed beef, said her experience at the state level as a former vice chairwoman of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and a legislative advocate for the California Farm Bureau Federation have primed her to be a supervisor.

"I'm the only one that has worked at the state and local levels in both the legislative and regulatory climate and been able to accomplish things," she said.

Giacomini is endorsed by retiring District 3 Supervisor Glenn Hawes.

Patrick Jones, 44, a current Redding city councilman and owner of Jones Fort gun shop, said his tenure as an elected official in Redding gives him the edge.

"Learning how to be effective is not something we want people to train at," he said.

Jones, who is endorsed by the Shasta County Republican Assembly, said he moved from the Enterprise area of Redding, which was formerly in District 3, to a nearby home after 2011's redistricting etched him out of the district.

Fred Ryness, 64, a forestry supervisor and former high school teacher from Burney, said he's not sure he's the best candidate for the job, but his background in teaching and three-plus decades living in Burney give him the leadership skills and knowledge of the area needed to lead District 3.

Ryness said it's been too long since far eastern Shasta County had one of its own making decisions on the board.

"We've had some things imposed upon us by the county, I think, sometimes, because we're out here by ourselves," he said, citing the controversial Hatchet Ridge wind power project near Burney.

He's also president of the Burney Water District's board of directors, but he said his seat will run out before he'd take office as a supervisor.

He said earlier this week he has no endorsements.

All three candidates said more jobs and businesses are needed in Shasta County.

Jones and Giacomini have similar ideas for bringing business to the area.

Giacomini said she's involved in talks to include eastern Shasta County in the Redding-centered Shasta Metro Enterprise Zone to bring more jobs to the intermountain area.

She said the county also needs to be more lenient in granting permits to new businesses that want to locate here.

"Small business drives the world, and so we need to do everything we possibly can in order to enable them to get their businesses up and running and be profitable," she said.

Jones also said the county needs to be more "user-friendly."

"The government doesn't create the jobs, it's the private sector that does that. But we need to get out of their way and let them do what they do," he said.

He said he'd help the county budget by declining public health care and retirement benefits.

Ryness also said he's concerned about too many government regulations, but he said the economy in eastern Shasta County could also be partially fixed by promoting cogeneration plants there.

All three candidates said state and federal environmental regulations also are crucial issues looming for Shasta County.

Ryness cautioned that the state's Climate Action Plan is an example of government overreach.

"To say by a certain year you will be in compliance ? those things concern me," he said.

Jones and Giacomini, on the other hand, both mentioned the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan as a crucial county issue on the horizon.

But they disagree on how it should be handled.

Jones said Shasta County needs to make a "strong stand" against the plan.

Giacomini said having a hand in drafting the plan is the only way to make sure Shasta County is treated fairly once it's finalized.

Meanwhile, Jones and Ryness both said public safety realignment is an key issue for supervisors to monitor.

But they, too, have contrasting ideas on how to handle the state prisoners returning to Shasta County.

Jones said supervisors need to find room in the budget to keep prisoners incarcerated longer, "not simply let them in and out."

Ryness said more needs to be done to rehabilitate inmates so they don't commit more crimes.

"I think it's absolutely a must for us to rehabilitate these low-level felons, otherwise we're just going to be building more warehouses to house them over the years," he said.

In terms of campaign contributions, Giacomini is leading the way so far.

As of last month, the most recent deadline for campaign contribution filings, Ryness hadn't submitted any contributions to the Shasta County Elections Office, while Giacomini had $15,283 in monetary donations and Jones had brought in $11,500.

Giacomini's top donors were Christina Carroll, Shirley McArthur, Robert Jehn, Bidwell Ranch, Inc., and Hat Creek Construction and Materials, Inc.

Each of those contributors donated $1,000 to Giacomini.

The bulk of Jones' funding comes from a $10,000 contribution from restaurateur Reverge Anselmo.

Pam Giacomini

Age: 53

Education: Fall River Junior and Senior High School; bachelor's in journalism, 1976 California Polytechnic State University; master's in agriculture, 1980 California Polytechnic State University; 2002 California Ag Leadership, 1992

Family: Husband, Henry; son, Wade serving in Army

Town of residence: Hat Creek

Time at residence: 24 years

Link to official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pam-Giacomini-Candidate-for-District-3-Supervisor-Shasta-County/303095786416149

Professional experience: Owner, Hat Creek Grown/HP Livestock cattle and hay ranch for 24 years; member, Hat Creek Grown, LLC, Grassfed Beef for nine years; co-owner, Century 21 Big Pines Realty for seven years; California Farm Bureau Federation for 13 years.

Patrick Henry Jones

Age: 44

Education: Attended Shasta College and Sacramento State University

Family: Single

Town of residence: Redding

Time at residence: 40 years

Work experience: Manager at Jones Fort for 30 years.

Political experience: Redding City Council 2006 to present; mayor of Redding, 2010; Shasta County Regional Transportation Agency member; Redding Library board member; Veterans' Home Liaison.

Fred Ryness

Age: 64

Education: Associate degree from Shasta College; bachelor of science degree from Humboldt State University; lifetime teaching credential, Chico State University and U.C. Berkeley

Family: Married 44 years to Charlene; three children, Tiffany, Rip, Jay; nine grandchildren.

Town of residence: Burney

Time at residence: 34 years

Candidate's Web page: FredRyness.com

Professional experience: Worked seven seasons with the U.S. Forest Service; three years as a district forester; 17 years as a forestry and agriculture teacher; 20 years as owner of forestry services and Christmas tree business coupled with two years as a lodge owner. Currently works as a forestry supervisor.
Advocates of more openness and transparency from California's ethically challenged regulatory agencies are still as stunned and frustrated today as they were in early September, when the year's most important proposed government reforms died without so much as a state Senate vote.

Led by three-term Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the San Fernando Valley, advocates of the proposed changes wanted to limit private communications between regulators like members of the Public Utilities and Energy commissions and the people whose key issues they decide. Meetings and emails and phone calls could still have gone on, but summaries of their contents were to be required within three days.

Even Gov. Jerry Brown, who vetoed slightly tougher provisions a year ago, signed onto that. But Gatto and others backing the change bills were left stunned when their measures didn't even get voted on by the Senate after passing the state Assembly months earlier with a massive bipartisan 61-7 majority.

It's unclear who stalled even a committee vote until after the deadline, or why. One candidate, of course, is state Sen. Ben Hueso of San Diego County, chairman of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. Hueso is widely known as a "business Democrat;" his committee's inaction here plainly favored the interests of a few big businesses over tens of millions of consumers.

"I certainly did feel that the Public Utilities Commission, the Brown administration, the (utility and consumer) lobbyists  essentially everyone in Sacramento with an interest in the issue  had agreed on this," said a chagrined Gatto, who will be termed out later this year with more than $2 million remaining in his campaign war chest.

"It's very hard to know who was actively responsible," Gatto added. "But this didn't even get a vote, so no one is on the record and there are no fingerprints."

Fingerprints or not, the reforms are dead, certainly for this year and most likely for at least two more years.

There actually was a vote on an ex-parte communications ban for the Coastal Commission, and it lost at the last minute in the Assembly. This also shocked transparency advocates because that measure had easily passed the state Senate weeks earlier. The upshot is that there will be no meaningful changes in flawed procedures that led to an ongoing criminal investigation of the PUC itself, its former president Michael Peevey, and their ties to the Southern California Edison Co., plus the August criminal conviction of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. over its behavior after the fatal 2010 San Bruno natural gas pipeline explosion.

Gatto, who originally sought a virtual dismantling of the PUC, scaled that goal back in negotiations with the governor that he and everyone involved believed would guarantee passage of some changes, watered down as they would have been. In the end, there will be virtually no change.

Now Gatto contemplates using his remaining campaign funds to back a reform initiative. "I would consider making PUC members into elected officials, to provide more accountability," he said. "But it remains to be seen if I'll have the influence to do something like this (after leaving office). For sure, it's tough. But I'm not the first person to lose on a big reform bill in Sacramento."

In fact, most big changes in California have had to come via initiatives because of the heavy influence business lobbyists can bring to bear on the Legislature at key moments like the end of session crunch in which this year's planned reforms died.

The Coastal Commission is the result of such a legislative freeze, even if it has reform-worthy problems of its own. Gubernatorial vetoes have killed other needed changes.

So Gatto would not be the first to go the initiative route. Precisely the same kind of corruption and consumer dissatisfaction with appointed insurance commissioners led to the 1988 Proposition 103, which made that office electoral.

But could a reform initiative pass if Gatto and others tried one? That's highly doubtful considering the track record of big utilities in successfully beating back all proposed measures of the last 50 years aimed at accountability for them and the commissions that set their pricing and energy policies.

Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.
'Trade cannot take place when there is no trust.'

Dalip Sharma, Director, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), has been organising trade fairs with Pakistani businessmen, to promote business between the two countries, the volume of which has been abysmal at the best of times.

Whenever there is a good prospect of trade between the two countries expanding, Sharma says terror strikes set the clock back.

"India has always showed patience, but now a time has come that the message should be given to Pakistan that enough is enough," says Sharma.

"Kindly behave as a good neighbour. Don't get into terror activity as it is not good for you as well as us," Sharma tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

After the Uri terror attack, India has upped the ante to have Pakistan boycotted internationally. As a part of this measure, is it possible for India to halt its trade with Pakistan?

Trade cannot take place when there is no trust. Because of these (terror) incidents happening very often, the trust level is very low.

At the moment, with Pakistan, the trust level is in minus. In this kind of situation how can you expect trade to happen?

India as a country, in terms of our leadership, has given enough rope to our neighbour to engage in a peaceful dialogue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi even went to Lahore for Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's birthday. We have invited them to all kind of programmes in India and in spite of that they are behaving this way.

What will be the impact if trade between India and Pakistan is completely stopped?

A majority of the trade between India and Pakistan happens through third countries. Cross-border trade is not used to the extent that it should have been.

When you talk of trade vis-a-vis the country's security and safety, I feel the country comes first, trade with Pakistan comes second.

Assocham says that out of India's trade volume of $641 billion in 2015-2016, total trade with Pakistan is a meagre $2.67 billion. Can we do away with that trade altogether?

Trade with Pakistan can improve only if they start behaving like a good neighbour.

In the case of trade, if the trust factor is negative, people would not like to trade because you are not sure whether your product and payment are safe.

We expect that Pakistan should not take us for granted, but behave with responsibility and act like a good neighbour.

What are our major imports from Pakistan and what are our major exports to that country?

We get a lot of minerals and cement from Pakistan. And from India we export a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Punjab will be affected if trade is stopped with Pakistan because a lot of products that come from Pakistan is used in Punjab and the products which go from here is consumed in Pakistan's Punjab state.

What are the trade routes that are open from India to Pakistan?

Wagah is one route from where trade takes place and the other is Jammu and Kashmir where goods are exchanged through the barter system.

Has trade between India and Pakistan ever been completely stopped in recent years?

There have been highs and lows. Our leadership had taken a good initiative (for trade), but when similar response did not come from other side, one also gives up patience.

What do Pakistani businessmen say about trade being affected because of bad relations between the two countries?

We have been working with the business chambers in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and they too want good relations. They want trade between India and Pakistan to prosper, but Pakistani businessmen too have limitations.

Is it possible for India to withdraw the most favoured nation status granted to Pakistan?

As you know, although India granted the status to Pakistan a long time back, they have not responded in the manner they should have.

So we should put it on hold till the time Pakistan is not responsive enough in terms of how a neighbour should be.

Did you raise this issue with your Pakistani business counterparts as to why they have not extended MFN status to India?

They have always said they will take up this issue with the Pakistani government.

Will Pakistani businessmen be invited for international trade fairs in India in future?

Pakistan has called off the Alishaan Pakistan event, an annual event which was to be held in October in Delhi. Many other events that were to be held by Pakistani businessmen will be called off or be kept on hold till the situation improves and trust returns.

IMAGE: The Wagah checkpost between India and Pakistan. Trade between the two countries passes through the Wagah-Attari route. Photograph: Getty Images
Google announced a new Wi-Fi platform called Google Station, a video app called 'YouTube Go' and an offline feature for Chrome web browser and faster loading in Google Play on 2G network

Google turned 18, on Tuesday, and hosted a big party in India to unveil a bouquet of products designed for the world's second largest Internet market.

The focus of the products announced today - a new Wi-Fi platform called Google Station and a video app 'YouTube Go' - is to tap into the burgeoning Internet market in India, where users are primarily coming online through smartphones.

Outlining the three key areas of focus -- access, products and platforms -- Google vice president (Next Billion Users) Caesar Sengupta said that the US-based company is working to provide a better and more inclusive online experience for users in India.

"Our goal has not just been to help more Indians get online, but also to help Indians create the online experience they want. So, we have been thinking about how to build products and services for this wave of new users - products that work for any level of connectivity, in local Indian languages, and across the devices that are most frequently used in India," he added.

Following its partnership with RailTel and Indian Railways to provide Wi-Fi at Indian railway stations, Google has now launched a new platform called Google Station.

The new platform will work with partners like system integrators (SIs) and venue owners to roll out Wi-Fi hotspots, Sengupta said.

He added that this will provide more people in India and around the world fast, reliable, and secure Wi-Fi in places like malls, transit stations, and cafes.

Besides, users on a low-bandwidth connection will now be able to choose and install an app through their mobile network or install it when the phone next connects to Wi-Fi.

Google is also focusing on the next million of users who will come online in the coming years in regional languages other than English.

Its new messaging app 'Allo' will introduce support in Hindi for its Google Assistant later this year, Amit Fulay, group product manager at Google, said.

Google has also announced a group of tailored features for Chrome, like automatic optimising of pages when 2G-like networks are detected. These simplified pages load up to 2X faster, saving more than 90 per cent of data usage. This data saver feature will now support videos as well, helping users save upto 67 per cent data.

Rajan Anandan, vice-president, India and South East Asia said the company's vision is to make India a global hub of innovation and produce high quality mobile developers who will build not just for India but for the world.

India is one of the fastest growing markets for Internet usage. The user base, driven primarily by booming smartphone adoption, is pegged to grow from 350 million to 650 million by 2020.

The smartphone base in the same period is poised to grow to 500 million from 300 million in 2016.

Image: Employees work in their shared office space, decorated with a safari theme, at the Google office in downtown San Francisco. Photograph: Mark Blinch/Reuters.
With Anmol Ambanis induction into Reliance Cap board ratified by the AGM, the 3rd generation has well and truly taken charge at the two arms of the Ambani enpire.

Heres a quick at the two cousins, Akash and Anmol.

IMAGE: Anmol with his parents, Anil Ambani and Tina Ambani, at the Reliance Capital AGM in Mumbai on September 27, 2016.

With Anmol Anil Ambanis appointment as director of Reliance Capital being confirmed by the AGM, next-generations ascent in brothers Ambanis business empire has now been formalised.

Earlier this month, Akash Ambani made a splashy entry at the launch of father Mukeshs flagship Reliance Jio, to oversee which project he was lured back to India.

While the 24-year-old Anmol, who has been described by those close to the family as taking after the pater familias, Dhirubhai, for his low-profile manner and non-flashy demeanour, will earn a salary of Rs 10 lakh, Akashs emoluments are not known.

Both Mukesh and Anil had joined their father Dhirubhai business while in their early 20s.

Anmol, whose Twitter activity reflects his low-profile nature, having only one post so far, a retweet at that, did his BSc in management from Warwick Business School, the UK, while Akash did his bachelor in economics from Brown University, USA.

IMAGE: Akash with grandmother Kokilaben, and parents Neeta and Mukesh Ambani, at the formal launch of Reliance Jio in Mumbai on September 1, 2016.

After two years of active involvement with the companys various operations, including famously the negotiations with Nippon Life to increase stake in Reliance Life Insurance, Anmol was inducted into Reliance Capitals board last month, a decision that was ratified by the AGM on Tuesday, while Akash was all set to find work in the USA till his father threw the challenge of digitally empowering 1.2 billion Indians through Reliance Jio.

While Anmol will be involved in finance, Akash is involved in operations.

But what everyone watching Indias most discussed business family agrees upon is that the challenges facing the two cousins are the same: Taking their flagship to the next level.
Anil said the company is in the process of signing a contract with the Indian Coast Guard for the first defence order for 14 fast patrol vessels

Reliance Defence and Engineering is also looking to export defence equipment to other countries besides exploring opportunities in India.

"While we are pursuing several opportunities in India on the naval side, we are also pursuing foreign military sales, which is effectively selling defence naval equipment to other governments, other countries outside India," Ambani told shareholders at the AGM of RInfra on Tuesday.

"Our teams are engaged in multiple opportunities which we hope will materialise in the next few years," he added.

Reliance Defence, wholly owned subsidiary of RInfra, is looking at an integrated play in defence sector across all the verticals of army, navy and air-force, Ambani said, adding "the sector is new and it is taking baby steps in moving forward".

In January, RInfra took over the complete control of the management and control of Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering Co (PDOC) now called as Reliance Defence and Engineering.

"The Pipavav Shipyard will be the centre of excellence for everything to do with the naval operations. There are only two companies accepted by the government to build submarines, warships, to refit existing warships and existing submarines and we are one of them," he said.

Ambani also said experts from Germany, Russia, France came and surveyed the Pipavav Shipyard and have certified it as a world class facility.

All of them have expressed their desire and actually signed MoUs with RInfra to come and work with it in India and transfer technology, train the employees and also provide capital, the chairman added.

"So the capital is the constraint in the defence sector. It is not as capital intensive as most people think as capital is provided by the customer and in this case it is ministry of defence. It is a medium to light capital intensive business," he said.

The chairman also said the company is in the process of signing a contract with the Indian Coast Guard for the first defence order for 14 fast patrol vessels, estimated at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion).

"The navy has recently sent 3 of their ships to refit to Pipavav and there are bids there, and shortly, tenders to be opened for projects on the naval side worth of over Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion). So, we are deeply engaged and involved and committed to the defence sector," Ambani said.

Image: Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, poses for a picture in the cockpit of an An-170 aircraft during a visit to Antonov aircraft plant in the village of Gostomel, outside Kiev, Ukraine. Photograph: Reuters.
An article in China's Global Times warned Beijing that China needs to worry about effect of industrial transfer to India on production chain

As China's telecom firm Huawei starts manufacturing in India, official media in Beijing has raised the red flag, warning that Beijing needs to worry about job cuts due to shifting of production bases as economic rivalry increases between India and the world's second largest economy.

"China needs to worry about the effect of industrial transfer to India on production chain," an article in the state-run Global Times said on Monday.

"As Chinese manufacturers show an increasing interest in setting up assembly lines in India, the economic competition between the two countries is likely to enter a new stage as India and China vie to expand their industry chains," it said.

Huawei "joining a wave of smartphone vendors establishing production facilities in the promising mobile market" would result in job cuts if mobile manufacturing shifted to India.

"In recent years, countless Chinese companies have been included into the production chain for smartphone vendors. It is difficult to accurately determine how many Chinese workers are involved in the production chain, but what is clear is that all those workers face potential job cuts if smartphone vendors transfer the whole industrial chain of mobile production from China to India," it said.

"Frankly speaking, China can't afford that. The country has to ensure its competitiveness in production chains at a time when India is becoming a new processing base for manufacturers. This will require Chinese local suppliers to maintain technological advantage through continuous innovation," it said.

Another article in the same daily said as Chinese investments are on the rise, China's firms must understand Indian company and labours laws before investing.

"India's relatively stable political environment, sustained economic growth momentum, huge population dividend and cheap labour costs have attracted numerous international investors," it said.

Referring to survey by 2014 Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) which ranked India to be the most preferred destination for future investment, it said China's direct investment to India soared last year to $870 million, six times than in 2014.

"However, India was not among the 13 countries which received direct investment from China exceeding one billion in 2015 and China's investment in India only accounted for 2.2 per cent of the total $39.3 billion foreign direct investment received by India in 2015," it said.

"With increasingly more Chinese firms and investors casting their eyes to India, it is urgent to rationally assess the political and economic risks of investing in India," it added.

Photograph: Tim Chong/Reuters
'One of his most famous scenes is set in a prison in Delhi where the British try to subvert Karla, the legendary Soviet spy who is being transferred back to Moscow and is being temporarily detained by the Indian agencies.'

Ambassador B S Prakash salutes John le Carre.

IMAGE: John le Carre addresses the media at the film festival in Berlin, February 11, 2001, where British director John Boorman's film The Tailor of Panama, based on le Carre's novel, was screened. Photograph: Reuters

At 85 and with his 25th book, John le Carre continues to create a buzz.

Millions of his fans, and I am certainly one, are enthusing over his memoirs, The Pigeon Tunnel that was published recently and is already a publishing sensation with reviews by celebrated critics, recording of excerpts of his previous books by major actors and special spreads in the press.

John le Carre -- the pen name which David John Moore Cornwall, the English writer assumed in 1961 -- is a famous name like P G Wodehouse, Agatha Christie or in recent times J K Rowling. The fiction reading class world over knows him, but unlike the other three mentioned, lesser numbers are likely to have read him, and even fewer some of his recent novels.

Loyal fans are often annoyed by some familiar cliches about his writing.

First, many identify him as a novelist of the spy genre and as the writer of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. True enough: This novel set in Berlin in 1963 made him famous and rich, but for the real connoisseur to call his novels mere spy thrillers is like seeing Jane Austen's novels as chick lit or Dostovesky's immortal Crime and Punishment as a crime story!

It is to miss the depth, the complexity, and the literary craft that characterises the writing, going beyond the genre.

The second fallacy is to believe that le Carre lost his theme and plot with the end of the Cold War and therefore that he is dated.

True, he had created an entire oeuvre, including a beguiling atmosphere of intrigue, a distinctive lingo, and enduring characters like Smiley in his novels of the Cold War period, each a classic like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Smiley's People, The Honorable Schoolboy and others.

Did he lose his framework and content in 1991 with the end of the Soviet Union? Not at all. On the contrary, he should be credited with anticipating the impending end of the Cold War, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the resulting chaos in the initial years in Russia and the confusion of the new conflicts in the new Central Asian Republics -- all this in his novels, almost one a year, in the decade from 1989.

Later as the strivings and the grasping of the world became coloured more by greed, corruption and privatised violence by mercenaries or non-State actors, the motives for deceit, intrigue and spying also changed in his novels.

Hence, his nine novels since 1988 are set in places like Kenya, the Congo, Panama, Turkey, Georgia, Ingushetia, in parts of the world with divergent maladies and discontents.

IMAGE: John le Carre, left, with actor Gary Oldman, who plays George Smiley, arguably le Carre's most memorable character, in the film, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

What makes John le Carre's novels so special that great writers over the decades ranging from Graham Greene to Philip Roth have called them the best in the genre and as some of the best English fiction of the last fifty years?

First, the complexity of the plot and the pleasurable challenge to the intellect in following it. It is not that the language is complex or the structure obscure, as in say Salman Rushdie. Yes, le Carre is in the same class as Salman Rushdie and is not to be taken as a literary lightweight!.

But his stories are of fiendishly clever people at work, intent on deceiving the other, and set against a background of geo-political tension. Since the puzzle involves governments and their strategic intentions, and not just individuals, there is a greater political gravitas in the story being told, compared to the best quality crime thriller.

Second, le Carre is most certainly not either Ian Fleming creating a flamboyant James Bond, or a Tom Clancy with technological razzmatazz. His novels have characters that stay with you and their individual motives, frailties, and pathos are in play with larger causes.

Each character -- whether British, Russian or Chechnian -- comes alive from the description and dialogue that leaves an imprint. Further, it is always a human story within a much larger backdrop.

It is a tribute to le Carre that after the end of the Cold War, the heads of the KGB and Stasi, the East German spy agency, confessed that they had found in his novels the most authentic and sympathetic depiction of the lives and systems that they had run.

Third, the value-judgment that le Carre maintained in his novels of the Cold War period was of moral ambiguity. In the 1960s when he was 30, le Carre in fact worked as a spy for a few years in the British embassy in Germany. All his life, he kept faith with the liberal values of freedom, democracy and an open society.

But in his novels, the Russians are not villains; neither crude, cruel, nor stupid. His novels convey a many layered understanding of the compulsions of individuals and nations trapped in tragic competition, and a suspension of judgment of who is right or wrong.

A cerebral writer with exquisite narrative abilities, dealing with contemporary mega issues: This is the attraction of his novels.

As the decades went by, le Carre has turned more and more critical of American hypocrisy and duplicity in international affairs and of British subservience to the US.

In the last decade or so, his villains are sophisticated and smooth talking arms merchants, the people within the Establishments who are in league with them, and the corporate crooks out to extract profit even from blood.

And the victims? Seemingly innocent individuals caught in the whirl and tumult of larger events. Some of his recent novels inevitably deal with terrorism; bring out the complexities in labelling someone a 'terrorist', and the professional zeal that can create terrorist incidents where none were intended.

His loyalty to humanism has thus taken over his loyalty to 'nationalism', of which he has gradually become a sceptic.

Is there an Indian connection to le Carre? Unfortunately, no, in the sense that none of his novels are set in South Asia and the tensions that trouble us have not become his themes. This may be also be because each of his novels are impeccably researched concerning locale, politics, character and circumstance.

He may be too old now to wade into our troubles for his inspiration. But for his fans, one of his most famous scenes is set in a prison in Delhi where the British try to subvert Karla, the legendary Soviet spy who is being transferred back to Moscow and is being temporarily detained by the Indian agencies. Karla refuses to yield and is destined later to become the head of Soviet intelligence.

The memoir, The Pigeon Tunnel, captures vignettes from a celebrated writer's life. During a long career, he has conversed and dined with Presidents and dictators; exchanged notes with intelligence chiefs of half a dozen major powers; had actors like Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, and Sean Connery bring out his stories to life; and has researched in half the trouble spots of the world.

For the first and last time, he recalls some of this. His memories are told in his signature voice: Ambivalent, reflective, sceptical and at times cynical, bemused, and at times saddened and above all, deriving pleasure from the process of writing itself, year after year, book after book.

B S Prakash is a former Ambassador and a long-standing Rediff columnist.

You can read Ambassador Prakash's earlier columns here
'Very few people will have access to the granular detail of what options are available to India and what their costs, consequences and benefits are.'

'While Modi considers all of this, he would do well to do one thing. And that is to ignore the media,' says Aakar Patel.

There are those who have believed for a long time that India has deliberately been soft on Pakistan when it comes to terrorism. That when an episode of violence is inflicted on India it should react in turn with violence.

Even when there was demonstrable involvement by Pakistanis, as was admitted by Pakistan for the attacks in Mumbai, India did not retaliate.

This, according to the group that I am writing about, was a mistake. Pakistani prosecution of its citizens was not enough, according to this thinking, and India could do more.

This inaction was deliberate and it was cowardice and the option for revenge was available. The policy of not waging war when terrorist attacks happened in India is being called 'strategic restraint'.

The doctrine says that by not choosing to escalate a crisis, India is deliberately swallowing its anger because the cost to benefit analysis does not favour war.

This has been the path favoured by Atal Bihari Vajpayee when Jaish-e-Muhammad attacked Parliament in 2001 and by Manmohan Singh when Lashkar-e-Taiyba attacked Mumbai in 2008.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long included himself in the group that advocated action. After the assault in Uri he appears to have either moved away from his earlier promises of retaliation, or he seems to be hesitant to act as he said he would.

This could be for any number of reasons. It could be because he has learned things on taking office that he did not know before.

Whatever the reason, he has taken a hammering from his supporters, who believe they had been promised something that they have not got.

It is unusual to go through the comments section on our news Web sites and see criticism of Modi, who is a beloved figure. These days on the question of Pakistan it is different and most people writing such comments feel he is not delivering. What should he do?

None of those commenting on the matter have the information that Modi has.

The input from the armed forces, from the national security advisor, from the finance ministry. From the external affairs ministry on what the fallout of escalation will be abroad and from the home ministry and Intelligence Bureau on what the fallout will be within the country.

Very few people will have access to the granular detail of what options are available to India and what their costs, consequences and benefits are.

While Modi considers all of this, he would do well to do one thing. And that is to ignore the media.

It lacks, as I have said, the input available to him. But that does not stop us from offering him advice and direction and also abuse in case he doesn't act according to our point of view.

Many of us strut around pretending to be the guardians of India's national interest. The reality is that the media has no higher interest than ratings. Though we claim otherwise, this is the truth.

Much of the aggressive posturing of anchors comes from the belief that this is what their audience, and by extension the nation, wants. I am sure they mean well, but they give the same amount of coverage to a socialite murdering her daughter as they do to debates about taking India to war. They should not take themselves too seriously and certainly the government should not.

The second thing Modi would do well to avoid is getting on social media. He has been one of its champions and has over two crore (20 million) Twitter followers. He has used it brilliantly and he genuinely believes that social media has helped him overturn the bias against him that he feels exists, or existed, in traditional media.

But here also he is encountering angry followers, posting links to his previous hard statements, goading him towards war.

Modi went two or three days without tweeting after his initial reaction to the Uri attacks. He could stay away from it a little longer in times like these. Ultimately, this will blow over, and it is unwise to consider something grave while receiving casual input from social media and media.

A few weeks ago, the organisation I work for was in the news, and accused of being 'anti-national'. I was abroad when this happened and missed the first couple of days when the channels were at their angriest.

My father was worried for me and called me to express his concern. I said to him reality was different from what was happening inside the TV set. If he switched it off, it would go away. I'd tell Modi the same thing.

Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.

You can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

IMAGE: Baloch and Indian activists protest outside the United Nations in New York while Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly, September 21, 2016. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi. Image published only for representational purposes.
The latest round may have gone against him, but the chief minister is planning his counter-attack, says Nazarwala.

Deepak Singhal, who was sacked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as Uttar Pradesh's chief secretary, superseded more efficient IAS colleagues to reach where he did.

His strength lay in his late father-in-law Dorilal Agarwal's Hindi daily newspaper, Amar Ujala, the most widely circulated newspaper in the domain of Samajwadi Party boss Mulayam Singh's operations.



It is a respected newspaper, and its area of influence is Etawah, Mainpuri, Shikohabad, Firozabad, rather all over the Bundelkhand, Rohilkhand, Agra, Bareilly and Meerut divisions.



Mulayam Singh and his brother Shivpal Yadav know the newspaper's power and influence, more so during the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly poll season.



With anti-incumbency having set in against the Samajwadi Party, it becomes all the more essential to have Amar Ujala on your side, the Yadav brothers knew.



Singhal, it was probably expected, would mould public opinion in the ruling party's favour through his influence over the newspaper.



Over the years, Mulayam Singh has realised that his inexperienced elder son Akhilesh is oblivious of or indifferent to such political niceties.



The scheming IAS lobby soon poisoned the gullible Akhilesh's ears -- and the damage was done.



That attending 'outsider' Amar Singh's party in New Delhi led to Singhal's ouster, as is being reported, is a joke.

Both his father and uncle were present at the party, and Akhilesh dare not touch them.



Now Akhilesh, smarting from the fact that Shivpal Yadav as the party's UP chief has axed his confidants and that Amar Singh has been made SP national general secretary, is planning his next move.

On the chief minister's reported 'hit list' is Anita Singh, the IAS officer who is Mulayam Singh's trusted protege.

One wonders how the dour Netaji will react when Akhilesh makes that move.
'What Modisaab will accomplish by tampering with the treaty is providing ammunition to ultra-nationalist right wing elements within Pakistan who see India as an existential threat.'

In its 56-year existence the India-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty has survived armed conflicts and frosty relations between nuclear-armed neighbours.

The treaty was inked in 1960 by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan president Ayub Khan, which allocates 80 percent of water to Pakistan from the six river Indus Water System, including the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum that flows from India to Pakistan.

Pakistan has often considered the treaty, brokered by the World Bank, to be one sided.

The September 18, 2016 terror attack on the Army Brigade headquarters in Uri, which killed 18 soldiers, has prompted New Delhi to look for ways to hit back at Islamabad. And it found one in the Indus Water Treaty.

Reviewing the treaty with Pakistan on September 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have said that 'blood and water cannot flow at the same time.' It was also decided that New Delhi would expedite the construction of three dams -- Pakul Dul, Sawalkot and Bursar -- on the Chenab river.

To make sense of the impact that New Delhi's call on the Indus treaty will have on Pakistan, Rediff.com's Vipin Vijayan reached out to Dr Daanish Mustafa, senior lecturer at King's College, London, who has deep understanding of Pakistan's river management programmes.

Latest reports coming in seem to suggest that though India will not scrap the Indus Water Treaty, it may decide on greater use of the rivers that supply water to Pakistan. How will this impact Pakistan?

There are three rivers that Pakistan has somewhat exclusive rights to, that flow through India -- the Indus, Jehlum and Chenab.

India has a right according to the treaty to undertake reasonable use of these rivers as long as that use does not adversely affect Pakistan.

India has exclusive rights to the three eastern rivers.

India and Pakistan are not the sole parties, the World Bank is also a party to the treaty.

So if India wants to scrap it, it is going to have to scrap it with the World Bank, which will have consequences beyond just the India-Pakistan dynamic.

In the short run, India's withdrawal from the treaty will have no material impact, because one has to build infrastructure to deny water to Pakistan, which India does not have.

Secondly, on the Jhelum if India wants to build a dam, it will probably have to be in the Uri gorge -- I don't know of any other site for a major dam on that river.

And if you build one there, the lake behind it will probably flood the entire valley of Kashmir.

If India wants to drown the valley that it has fought so hard to retain, just to spite Pakistan, I suppose it could do that.

It could also build dams upstream of Baglihar or in the deep gorges on the Indus, but then where will it use the water?

Of course, if it wants to build gigantic dams on the three rivers, with nowhere to use the water, and a small market for the electricity, at the cost of billions of dollars, it could do that.

But the Pakistani press and security establishment will probably blow a gasket -- and that won't be good for Pakistan or for India either. So the issue is a lot more complicated than just plugging the water supply to Pakistan.

Calls to abrogate the Indus Water Treaty come up almost every time there is a major terror incident. Is it really a trump card in India's pack?

Not really. India has benefitted as much if not more from the Indus Water Treaty -- notice that all the infrastructure on the three eastern rivers was paid for by the World Bank and the international community.

It would be foolish for it to tamper with the treaty that has served it so well all these years.

Will India be justified in either altering the terms of the treaty, or even abrogating it, citing Pakistan's intransigence? Also, what options does Pakistan have to counter this?

The contemporary principles of trans-boundary sharing call for equitable apportionment between upper and lower riparians (the interface between land and a river).

India was fortunate to have the treaty signed when the principle had not been defined.

If it tampers with it -- which it cannot unilaterally -- it can only withdraw from it; it will be inviting the application of that principle to the three eastern rivers in any future negotiations or bargaining.

It would probably not want to open that box for obvious reasons.

Has the Indus Water Treaty offered Pakistan any advantages?

There have been some advantages in terms of the infrastructure development -- the link canals, barrages and two dams.

But it has also inherited ecological collapse of the Ravi and the Sutluj rivers, much to the chagrin of the ethno-nationalist elements in the south of the country that blame the Pakistani military establishment of selling off rivers to India in return for dams and link canals that mostly favour the northern Punjabi heartland.

So the treaty has been a mixed bag for Pakistan as well. I think the weight of evidence in my view suggests that India has benefited more from it, having gotten exclusive control of 3 eastern rivers (which won't happen contemporaneously) where the water demand and the market for it is.

It was also able to play the good guy by giving over three western rivers where it couldn't do much with them anyway because of geography.

Whatever India can do, on the western rivers, which makes any economic sense, it is entitled to do according to the treaty.

I guess what I am saying is that in the view of many in Pakistan, India may just do Pakistan a favour by withdrawing from the treaty, being that the architecture of the treaty and the way it serves the interests of the upper riparian would not be possible if it were renegotiated today.

What role do the Indus commissioners play in keeping the agreement going?

They undertake data sharing and arbitrate any disputes that may arise. They are responsible for the day to day management of the treaty.

How have successive Pakistani governments dealt with the sharing of river waters ?

They don't have to -- it is the job of the commissioners. They have been more busy with inter-provincial and local lever water distribution.

The IWT is a settled law, so there is nothing to be done with it.

How do you forsee the future of the treaty in the aftermath of the latest conflagration?

Modisaab is playing a dangerous game, that will lead to no changes in the treaty because the Indian water establishment knows that they made off like bandits with this treaty.

So biting the nose to spite the face won't be a very sensible approach here.

What Modisaab will accomplish is providing ammunition to ultra-nationalist right wing elements within Pakistan who see India as an existential threat.

You see India doesn't have a monopoly on stupid and evil people -- Pakistan has many of those as well.

IMAGE: The Baglihar hydroelectric power project on the Chenab river at Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: Kind courtesy Vinayak.razdan/Wikimedia Commons
The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed unhappiness over non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan through his lawyer in connection with the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked CBI to serve a fresh notice on the Samajwadi Party leader.

"In our considered opinion, the respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

It directed the apex court registry to provide copy of the case records along with the notice to CBI for serving them on the minister.

The court said that it seems whatever had been said by Khan is in "his personal capacity".

The remarks came when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, submitted that the notice could have been served through UP government as Khan is part of the cabinet.

The bench, meanwhile, allowed lawyer Kislay Pandey, appearing for the victim's father, to file additional documents in the case and fixed the matter for further hearing on October 25.

The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida-based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point.

The apex court had on August 29 taken note of the controversial remarks of Khan that the gangrape case was a "political conspiracy", while staying the CBI probe in the case. It had also asked whether the State should stop people holding high offices from making such comments on heinous crimes.

On September 8, the court lifted the stay on CBI probe in the case after modifying its earlier order and asked the agency to proceed as per law.

CBI had moved the apex court seeking modification of the order staying its ongoing probe in the case, saying it may cause "disappearance of material evidences" besides enabling six accused to seek statutory bail.

Initially, the FIR was lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police under various provisions on July 30. CBI had re-registered the case on August 18 in pursuance to the Allahabad high court's interim order.

The apex court had earlier appointed senior advocate F S Nariman as amicus curiae (friend of the court), while framing some legal questions with regard to freedom of speech and expression and probable impact of statements of those holding high offices on free and fair probe in heinous cases like this.

The court had said it would examine whether such statements are covered under freedom of speech and expression of an individual. It had said the statements, which are not given for self protection, comply with the concept of "constitutional sensitivities".

The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped in July on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen.

The Allahabad high court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation.

In the plea filed in the apex court, the victim's father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi "in the interest of justice".

Unhappy with the UP Police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by "some other competent agency".
Prakash Desai, Nathan DeSai's father, said his son was depressed because his law practice was not going well.

George Joseph reports from New York.

Nazi materials were found inside the car of attorney Nathan DeSai who shot six people and wounded another three in Houston September 26, 2015, according to media reports.

DeSai was dressed in a Nazi uniform and Nazi paraphernalia were found inside his car and apartment, according to these reports.

Captain D W Ready, head of the Houston police department's homicide division, did not confirm this. DeSai, Ready said, was dressed in some kind of military uniform and had Nazi emblems with him and at his house. The emblems, he added, may have been collector's items.

At DeSai's home, the police found vintage military equipment and paraphernalia dating back to the Civil War. 'He was wearing military-style apparel, I don't know exactly what nationality or exactly what army or anything like that,' Ready said.

'At this point we are very open minded as to the motive,' Houston's acting police chief Martha Montalvo said.

EARLIER...

DeSai was 46 and was unmarried. He served as a former prosecutor in Dallas county and also played in a band.

According to DeSai's family, he had dinner with his parents on Sunday night and that was the last time they spoke with him. On Monday morning, they saw his car on television and called him without getting a response.

After the law firm, where he was a partner was dissolved in February, he was working from his condo, which was located near the scene of the shooting.

Kenneth McDaniel, DeSai's former law partner, said they dissolved their partnership becaue of economic reasons. McDaniel said he had not spoken to DeSai since February.

'It's a horrible situation, I don't like hearing anything that's happened... Not only to Nathan, to everybody that is involved and I don't know what to say,' McDaniel told the media.

Nine police officers were involved in the gunfight while assisting wounded citizens, Ready said. The gunman took cover behind a tree, he said.

Desai was shooting randomly at passersby as well as anybody he could place his sights on, Ready said. More than 75 expended shell casings were found at the scene, he said.

The gunman had 2,600 rounds of ammunition for his .45-caliber pistol and .45-caliber Thompson carbine rifle, which carried a 40-round clip, Ready said.

The rifle was purchased legally in 2009, and the handgun was purchased legally in 2011.

Prakash Desai, DeSai's father, told ABC News that his son was depressed because his law practice was not going well. He said Nathan was not getting any business and he had been upset for a long time.

Prakash Desai said his son lived near Weslayan and Bissonnet, the site of Monday's shooting.

The police said one victim was critically wounded and another was seriously wounded. Most of the other victims were discharged from hospitals.

DeSai earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Houston in 1993 and his law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1998. He practiced business, family and criminal law.

Jennifer Moredo, the wife of one victim, told KHOU 11 News, 'What personal problems he has going on in his life, who knows. I do know there was a confrontation with a roofing company a few weeks ago that he had a problem with and I believe he was waving around his AR, but what set him off at 6:12 this morning, I don't know.'
Leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also decided not to attend the summit, which now has to be cancelled as per the SAARC charter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday decided not to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit in Islamabad in November, leading to its collapse with three more countries of eight-member grouping decided to pull out.

Citing continuous cross border terrorism by Pakistan against India, the government on Tuesday evening announced that in the prevailing circumstances, the government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad.

According to sources, leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also decided not to attend the 19th SAARC summit to be hosted by Pakistan. The Summit now has to be cancelled as per the SAARC charter the summit can not be held even in the absence of one head of the government.

Announcing the decision, India said that one country has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit.

India has conveyed to current SAARC chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

We also understand that some other SAARC member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad summit in November 2016, it said.

In its communication to Nepal, India has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.

Meanwhile in Islamabad, Pakistan termed as unfortunate Indias decision to not attend the summit.

A foreign office spokesman said that Pakistan has noted from Indian spokespersons tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad.

While we have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate, the spokesman said in a late night statement.

The announcement came on a day Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar issued a second demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over September 18 Uri attack and confronted him with proof of cross-border origins of the terror strike in which 18 jawans were killed.

The Foreign Secretary called in Basit on Tuesday and told him that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad and also gives details of Pakistan-based handlers.

The two countries have been engaged in a verbal duel at the United Nations with India calling Pakistan a terrorist state and a global epicentre of terror.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday convened a meeting at her room in the Apollo Hospital in Chennai to discuss the interim directions issued by the Supreme Court on the Cauvery issue.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Karnataka to discharge 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till Friday despite the former's assembly resolution, but called for a political solution to the impasse by convening of a meeting of chief ministers of the two states and the Centre.

The apex court, which was strongly urged by Tamil Nadu not to hear Karnataka till it complied with the previous orders, asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting of the executive heads of both states with the Centre over the next two days to find a resolution to the impasse.

The meeting will be held on September 29.



At the hospital meeting at 4:30 pm, Jayalalitha directed the Minister for Public Works Thiru Edapaddi K Palaniswami, Chief Secretary Dr P Rama Mohana Rao, Principal Secretary (Public Works Department) Thiru S K Prabakar and Cauvery Technical Cell Chairman Thiru R Subramaniam to attend the meeting on her behalf.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised last Thursday with fever and dehydration. The hospital and the state government have issued multiple reports to say she is responding well to treatment and will be discharged soon, seeking to quell rumours that the chief minister is very unwell.

Jayalalithaa, a government press statement said on Tuesday, dictated the speech that will be read out at the meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, which the Apex court has ordered the centre to facilitate by Friday.

Representative Image: Reuters
The state government is worried that the agitation may pose a serious threat to it, reports Sanjay Jog.

The massive peaceful protest marches by the Maratha Kranti Manch across Maharashtra has caused unease among the ruling and opposition camps. After initially neglecting the mobilisation, the government and opposition leaders are now participating in the silent marches to express solidarity.

The trigger for the marches was the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi, Ahmednagar district, in July. The community's demands include the hanging of the culprits, amending the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to avoid its misuse and implementation of a 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas at the earliest. The government should also pay attention to the plight of farmers who have committed suicide because of successive droughts, they have said. The Marathas are also against the state government's decision to award the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan to historian Babasaheb Purandare who belongs to the Brahmin community.

The state government is worried that the agitation may pose a serious threat to it. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party fear agitated Marathas may not forgive them for not doing enough for the communitys progress during their terms. The Congress and the NCP hope to use the agitation as a platform to revive their chances in the local body elections next year, after defeats in the Lok Sabha and the state assembly polls.

Bumpy road ahead

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government was committed to resolving the issues raised. The 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). Fadnavis also announced that the government was trying to empower the community through employment and entrepreneurship. The government has plans to give jobs to 500,000 youth.

Several Bharatiya Janata Party members said options were limited on providing reservation. The Bombay high court had overturned the 16 per cent reservation given by the Congress-NCP government ahead of the assembly polls in 2014.

A senior BJP minister told Business Standard that the government was exploring multiple options. "The government may consider promulgation of an ordinance under Article 16(4) of the Constitution or under 9th Schedule of the Constitution. The state government may urge the Centre to move an amendment to the Constitution to enable quota on the grounds of economic backwardness. The government will have to move quickly," he said.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, who denied any involvement in organising these marches, courted controversy for his statement that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act be scrapped. However, he clarified that he meant the act be amended. He also added he had come across cases where upper caste members filed cases under the act to settle scores.

Pawars statement attracted strong criticism from the Republican Party of India Chief Ramdas Athavale who announced that Dalits would take out marches to counter the mobilisation by Marathas. However, he clarified he was in favour of providing reservation to Marathas.

BJPs ally Shiv Sena has not yet made its plans clear. Sena President Uddhav Thackeray has been consistently demanding that a special session of the state legislature and Parliament be summoned to discuss the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and also for reservation to Marathas.

IMAGE: Maratha community members hold a protest rally demanding reservation and justice for Kopardi rape victim in Buldhana district of Maharashtra. Photograph: PTI Photo
The Republican aggressively blamed the nations problems on Clinton yet found himself mostly on the defensive in their first debate as she accused him of racist behaviour and hiding his income.

IMAGE: Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the start of their first presidential debate at HofstraUniversity in Hempstead. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Pool/Reuters

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Tuesday battled out in front of tens of millions of American voters over racism, terror and temperament in their fiery first debate ahead of the epic presidential election as the Democratic nominee put her Republican rival on the defensive.

The 90-minute clash witnessed the 68-year-old former secretary of state and the 70-year-old reality TV star, who have attacked the other for months in separate campaigns, taking the stage together in Hempstead for the first time to woo a substantial chunk of voters who remain undecided voters ahead of the November 8 polls.

The CNN/ORC poll declared Clinton as the clear winner in the first of a series of three debates, with a massive 62 per cent of voters giving an edge to the Democrat over Trump, who was deemed winner by only 27 per cent.

The two candidates indulged in a series of combative, acrimonious exchanges as the battle turned personal, with the controversial real estate mogul being questioning the "stamina" of the former secretary of state after her recent bout of pneumonia.

Clinton was seen smiling through the insults and landed jabs of her own to put Trump on the defensive over his temperament, refusal to release his taxes and his past comments on race and women in the debate that set netizens talking about the showdown in huge numbers.

Trump said he will release his tax returns if Clinton releases her 33,000 emails deleted by her from the period when she was the secretary of state in the first term of the Obama administration.

"As soon as she releases them, I will release," he said when he was being grilled for not releasing his tax returns.

The two leaders clashed as they came face-to-face for the first of the three high-stake presidential debates at Hofstra University in Hempstead, about an hour's drive from New York City and projected themselves as best-prepared to lead the nation just six weeks before the election.

Clinton accused Trump of being "anti-women" and challenged his allegations that she lacked the stamina to be the commander-in-chief as the real estate mogul said "she does not have the stamina".

"She doesn't have the look. I said she doesn't have the stamina. And I don't believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina," Trump said in response to a question during the first presidential debate.

Clinton hit back, saying: "Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."

She said the "racist lie" perpetuated by her rival about Barack Obama of not being a natural-born citizen "bothered and annoyed" the US President, whom she called a man of "great dignity". She slammed Trump's long record of engaging in "racist behaviour" and said "the birther lie was a very hurtful one".

Meanwhile, Trump -- who is running for the top post for the first time -- said Clinton has "got experience", but it is "bad experience" and that the country can not afford to have another four years of it.

However, the non-politician interrupted Clinton several times and appeared agitated as Clinton appeared calm and composed.

According to voters in the CNN/ORC poll, Clinton expressed her views more clearly than Trump and had a better understanding of the issues by a margin of more than 2-to-1.

Showing their political colours, Clinton was dressed in a Republican red pant suit while Trump in a Democratic blue tie.

Trump, who was seen drinking water multiple times during the debate that had Clinton making a number of thinly veiled swipes, alleged his rival has no plans to defeat the Islamic State, the biggest national security challenge to the country.

"Secretary Clinton is talking about taking out the IS. "We will take out the IS." Well, President Obama and Secretary Clinton created a vacuum the way they got out of Iraq, because they got out -- what, they shouldn't have been in, but once they got in, the way they got out was a disaster. And the IS was formed," he alleged.

Clinton disagreed, saying: "I have put forth a plan to defeat the IS. It does involve going after them online. I think we need to do much more with our tech companies to prevent the IS and their operatives from being able to use the Internet to radicalise, even direct people in our country and Europe and elsewhere."

She said Trump has flip-flopped on his policy on Iraq as he initially supported the war in Iraq, though Trump strongly denied the charge.

"I hope the fact-checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard. Donald supported the invasion of Iraq," she said as the two entered into a verbal duel.

Trump claimed that the US is being used as a "piggy bank" to rebuild China and many other countries are doing the same thing as he underlined the need to stop jobs from being "stolen" from the US.

Both elicited laughter and cheers despite pleas from the organisers for no cheering, booing or clapping. Moderator NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt could be seen struggling to get a word in edgeways, saying "We need to move on as Trump spoke into the microphone about the nuclear threat.

"I think my strongest asset, maybe by far is my temperament," said the real estate tycoon to laughter.

"Woah. OK," she said to more laughs.

Clinton, who acknowledged that using personal email hosted on a private server was a mistake, said Trump is not releasing his tax returns may be because of certain reasons.

"First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings, but we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes about $650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks.

"Or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes" she said.
The highly anticipated matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finally happened, and it didnt disappoint.

Here are all the highlights from the first presidential debate.

On jobs

Clinton says we need to build an economy for everyone, not just those at the top, citing her plan to create jobs in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and clean renewable energy. We also have to make the economy fairer, including raising the national minimum wage, instituting corporate profit sharing and paid family leave, affordable college and making sure and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.

Clinton retorted, US jobs are fleeing the country. Citing Chinas devaluation of its currency, Trump adds, They are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild their country. We cant allow it to happen anymore.

On policy, he said, Under my plan, I'll be reducing taxes tremendously, from 35 per cent to 15 per cent for companies, small and big businesses. Thats going to be a job creator like we havent seen since Ronald Reagan. Its going to be a beautiful thing to watch.

Taxes and emails

Hillary Clinton said shes taking responsibility for using a private server to get State Department emails.

When Donald Trump said he would release his tax returns if his opponent released what he called her 33,000 deleted emails, Clinton said, I made a mistake using a private email server.



Clinton said Trump has a simple reason he won't release his tax returns: Hes got something to hide. She noted that some of the Republican nominees income tax returns in the 1970s showed Trump paid no federal income taxes in certain years.

On racial unrest

Both candidates are asked how to improve race relations.

Clinton emphasised restoring trust between communities and police, reforming police practices and taking guns away from people who shouldnt have them. She said the police should be prepared to use force only when necessary. She said gun violence is the leading cause of death among young African-American men.

Trump said Clinton wont use the words law and order, which is what we need in our country. African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell in certain communities, he said. He also reiterated the need to take the guns away from bad people.

When Clinton said its unfortunate that Trump paints such a dire picture of these communities, he audibly sighed. Clinton cited statistics that African Americans are more likely to be arrested, charged and put in jail for the same offenses as white Americans. We cannot just say law and order. We have to come up with a plan, including ending mandatory minimum sentences and private prisons. She also cited common sense gun safety provisions and preventing people on the terror watch list from buying guns.

On Obamas origins

Clinton said Donald Trump started his political career by claiming US President Barack Obama was born outside the United States. Clinton accused Trump of spreading a racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen.

She added, He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour.

Trump responded by recalling bitter debates between Clinton and Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. He said Clinton treated Obama then with terrible disrespect. He said, When I got involved, I didn't fail.

Foreign policy

Clinton says Trump has been very praiseworthy" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and said things that have shocked America's national security rank and file. Thats why I was so shocked when Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans, she said.

Trump touts his foreign policy pedigree by citing endorsements from some admirals and the agency that represents border patrol agents. He also questions whether Russia was behind the hacking.

On Islamic State, Clinton outlines her plan including to prevent online recruiting, supporting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. Trump said Obama and Clinton created a vacuum in Iraq and Libya.

Clinton counter to Trump is that Trumps only plan for defeating IS is secret and that he doesnt have one.

The moderator also asked Trump to explain a prior comment that Clinton doesnt have a presidential look. Trump repeated his contention that Clinton doesnt have the stamina to become president. She cited her experience as secretary of State, having traveled to 112 countries and negotiated a peace deal and cease fire. When Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee he can talk to me about stamina, she said.

Image: Patrons fill the Capitol Lounge two blocks from the US Capitol to watch the first presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Pakistan will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the 58-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday, insisting the revocation of the treaty can be taken as an "act of war".

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy. He said that if India violates the treaty Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said Pakistan is considering to draw attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"Between the two countries, this act of revocation can be taken as an act of war," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on that country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six rivers -- Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum -- were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.

Commenting on the development over the treaty, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, a former federal law minister, President Research Society of International Law and an advocate in the Supreme Court on the issue India has no legal competence under the treaty to revoke it per se on its own as Article 12(4) of the treaty entitles the termination of the treaty only if both India and Pakistan agree in writing.

He said there is an arbitration clause in the IWT that can be set in motion if India go to that extreme.

"India cannot itself conclude that Pakistan has breached the treaty on any grounds, including mistrust. In case India 'revokes' the treaty, it literally means it has shunned it," he said.

"The dispute resolution mechanism under article IX and Annexes F and G of the IWT will be of no use and assistance to Pakistan. It is limited to a dispute under the treaty and not meant to provide for specific performance of the treaty itself.

"Since there is no provision in the IWT about its duration or suspension, there is no avenue that Pakistan can approach for 'revival' of the treaty. Nor can Pakistan approach the International Court of Justice seeking specific performance to implement the treaty because of the Indian reservation given under IC J statute that bars filing of case by Pakistan against India.

"In other words, Pakistan will not be left with any peaceful mechanism for seeking performance of the treaty by India," he said.

Soofi said in case India tries to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian, it is setting up a regional state practice which under international law can serve as a precedence and equip China with an argument to consider suspension of the waters of Brahmaputra river.

"India may have already damaged itself by even considering the suspension of water flow as an upper riparian and the Chinese government must be watching Indian moves with interest," he said.
The Election Commission gets cracking on caste, money and muscle power well ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections.

Sharat Pradhan reports.

The Election Commission is all set to undo the dominance of Yadavs over police stations across Uttar Pradesh, well before the state goes to poll in early 2017.

Indicating this at a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi said, "Among other things, the Election Commission has decided to keep its focus on the working of police stations in UP with a view to ensuring free and fair assembly elections."

Admitting that he had received complaints from different political parties about a large number of police stations being entrusted to Yadav officers, Zaidi added, "We will get the issue looked into and wherever we find SHOs being posted on considerations other than merit, we will have them removed."

Zaidi, who was in Lucknow on a two-day visit along with the other two election commissioners to take stock of the situation ahead of the 2017 state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, refused to outline when the assembly elections would be held in the state.

He said, "Since the next vidhan sabha has to be constituted before May 28, 2017, the polls should be held anytime before that."

Making it clear that the law and order situation would remain high on the Election Commission's priority, Zaidi said, "For the first time, we will identify vulnerable areas where voters are known to be intimidated and even physically prevented from exercising their voting right. Fool-proof security arrangements will be made in such areas to insure that every voter remains free to vote."

State Director General of Police Javeed Ahmad, he said, had been advised to prepare a data base of all election-related crimes along with complete dossiers on those behind such crimes.

"Preventive measures will follow against all such people with past history," he added.

Another aspect on the Election Commission agenda is "misuse of money and liquor".

In this regard, Zaidi held a meeting with top officials belonging to the income tax, excise and narcotics departments in Lucknow on Monday.

"I am sure that in the next few weeks a truly robust plan would be ready ensure effective curb on the misuse of money and liquor to influence the voting during the election. Likewise, another concrete plan was underway to keep a tab on the use of muscle power," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, guidelines have already been issued to prevent the misuse of social media in the elections.

"Election-related advertisements will also have to go through a pre-certification by screening committee to prevent objectionable or provocative content appearing in both the print and electronic media," he added.

Representative Image: PTI Photo
In a sprawling living room, a large crowd of about 300 men, mostly young, has gathered.

Many others are hanging outside the door, trying to get a glimpse of a tall, mustachioed man in a white kurta-pyjama.

There is pin-drop silence in the hall, as though everybody is under some kind of a spell.

Satyavrat Mishra reports from Siwan.

An uneasy calm hangs over Siwan as Mohammad Shahabuddin returns to his 'home' after over a decade

As one climbs up the marble staircase of an old house in Pratappur village, a strange sense of anxiety sets in.

A little ahead, in a sprawling living room, a large crowd of about 300 men, mostly young, is gathered. Many others are hanging outside the door, trying to get a glimpse of a tall, mustachioed man in a white kurta-pyjama.

There is pin-drop silence in the hall, as though everybody is under some kind of a spell.

One of the men whispers something into the ear of 'Saheb,' as they all address him, and he turns around, his gaze suddenly fixed on me.

And I find myself face to face with Mohammad Shahabuddin, the man who is, famously or infamously, known as 'the Sultan of Siwan.'

The don-turned-politician, who walked out of the Bhagalpur Central Jail on the morning of September 10 amidst a rousing welcome by thousands of his supporters, including several legislators from Janata Dal-United and Rashtriya Janata Dal, is back home in Siwan.

It's a week since his release and Shahabuddin is enjoying every moment of the freedom.

"It's been more than 13 years now since I last came here," he says. "I missed my people very much. I am thankful to them for their love and support."

As the former MP from Siwan walked out of prison on bail, this particular slogan hit a crescendo: 'Jail ke taale toot gaye, Sarkar ke Saheb chhoot gaye (the prison locks have broken, the government's boss is now free).'

To Bihar Chief Minister Nikish Kumar's embarrassment, soon after his release Shahabuddin declared that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, and not Kumar, was his chief minister.

Shahabuddin's release and his subsequent statements have severely dented Kumar's painstakingly built image as the leader who restored law and order in the once crime-ridden Bihar.

Shahabuddin says he is not a bit apologetic about his comments about Kumar. He has called him a 'chief minister of circumstance.'

"Did I say anything wrong?" he challenges. "A coalition is born out of political circumstances."

He even objects when asked, "Kya Siwan ke liye ladaai jari rahegi (Will you keep fighting for Siwan)?" Reacting with Gandhian philosophy, he replies. "I have a problem with the word ladaai (fight). It smacks of violence. I will keep struggling for Siwan."

It's ironical to hear the man talk about non-violence while sitting in a house from where the police recovered bullet-ridden bodies of 15 people almost 16 years ago after a four-hour-long encounter.

"It was no encounter, but a fierce battle," says a retired police officer who does not want to be named.

"Bullets were flying from every direction. We were pinned down and had to call for reinforcements from Uttar Pradesh. I still get nightmares of that day."

The main market of Siwan bears a deserted look. It is Eid al-Adha and most of the shops are closed. Many shopkeepers are heading to Pratappur to pay their respects to the former MP.

"He is our friend, philosopher and guide," says Mohammed Samim, who owns a small stationery shop in Siwan town. "The media portrayed him wrongly," quips another.

On the face of it, everything appears normal. "No, I have not had problems since he returned. It's business as usual," says Shiv Kumar Gupta, who runs a grocery store at the nearby Bardiha stand. "He is in his house, meeting and greeting people. How will that create any problem for us?" adds another.

The shops remain open past 7 in the evening, but there is a sense of urgency among people to return to their homes as soon as dusk sets in.

"I don't have anything to say on this matter," says a tea shop owner. Nobody wants to be photographed. "I don't want you to take photos of my shop," adds Gupta.

Everyone appears cautious when speaking with strangers. No one wants to make any comment about 'Saheb.'

Chandreswar Prasad, or Chanda Babu as they call him, is a rare exception. He sits behind a desk at a mobile recharge shop on Gaushala Road. The shop, it appears, has not been cleaned in months. He has a fractured leg and a broken arm. The septuagenarian also takes care of his paralysed wife and physically challenged son.

He is the most visible symbol of the reign of terror associated with Shahabuddin in the district of Siwan, which is also the birth place of India's first President, Rajendra Prasad.

Prasad alleges that two of his sons, Girish Raj and Satish Raj, were killed on Shahabuddin's orders in 2004. "Shahabuddin had his eyes set on my property. My sons resisted, so he ordered his men to pour acid on them. I never even got their remains," he alleges, tears streaming down his cheeks.

His eldest son Rajiv Roshan was gunned down on June 16, 2014, three days before he was to appear in court as an eyewitness in the trials for his brothers' murders. He had got married barely 22 days earlier.

In the few hours that I spend with him, not a single customer turns up at his mobile recharge shop. Prasad, who once owned a flourishing provisions store, today makes ends meet with a monthly rent of Rs 9,000 that he gets from the six shops he owns.

"Nobody wants to lease our shops," says his youngest son. "We rent them out for whatever money we get."

Their house has wooden cots, a few plastic chairs, a glass case that was once an aquarium and a TV set. The family has been assigned a security cover of four policemen who live in the upper portion of the house. Earlier, there were three but the security was increased last week. Prasad says he fears for his only surviving son.

Since Shahabuddin's release, Prasad's son says he has had to recount the murders of his brothers over and over again to visiting journalists. "Do you know how difficult it is to keep revisiting those most horrible moments of our life?" he asks.

Shahabuddin's release has given the Opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, powerful ammunition to attack the Bihar government with.

"Had the state government pursued the Rajiv Roshan murder case in earnest, Shahabuddin's release could have been prevented," says senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

Shahabuddin's release has exposed the deepest cracks in the ruling collation since it came to power last year. Nitish Kumar's visible inability to keep him in prison has made him look like a leader helpless to the devices of Lalu Prasad.

Desperate to win the losing perception battle, the Bihar government has now moved the Supreme Court against Shahabuddin's bail. Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan has also filed a public interest litigation against his release.

But for the moment, Siwan is once again Shahabuddin's home.

IMAGE: Mohammad Shahbuddin greets supporters after getting bail. Photograph: PTI
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Syria: Joint UN-Red Crescent relief convoy reaches besieged cities for first time in five months

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Syria: Joint UN-Red Crescent relief convoy reaches besieged cities for first time in five months, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea57ce40e.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

26 September 2016 - The United Nations and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have delivered life-saving food aid to 60,000 people under siege in four Syrian towns, their first supplies since April, but extreme concern persists for 250,000 people trapped in Aleppo, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported today.

"This convoy has brought extraordinary relief for 60,000 people who are in dire need of food and medical supplies, and have been cut off from humanitarian access for five months," WFP Syria Country Director Jakob Kern said of yesterday's deliveries to Madaya and Zabadani in Rural Damascus and Foaa and Kefraya in Rural Idlib.

WFP sent in 45 trucks carrying food rations and wheat flour as part of a joint UN-SARC convoy, with enough rice, lentils, bulgur wheat, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, beans and chick peas to feed 60,000 people for one month. WFP also delivered to Madaya and Zabadani a three-month supply of specialized nutritious products for the prevention of malnutrition for 250 children.

"Elsewhere in Syria, we are extremely concerned about the more than 250,000 people trapped in eastern Aleppo city who are cut off from food, water, medicine, and other essential supplies," Mr. Kern said.

"We call on all parties to this terrible conflict to immediately open transport routes that allow unconditional, unimpeded, sustained and safe humanitarian access to those in eastern Aleppo and every family across Syria that needs our support," he added.

Last week, a convoy reached the besieged area of Moadamiyet al Sham in Rural Damascus for the first time since July, delivering WFP food for 35,000 people for one month, as well as other humanitarian aid.

An additional interagency convoy went to Al Wa'er in Homs, providing WFP food for 37,000 people and wheat flour for 70,000 for one month. A third convoy to Talbiseh in Rural Homs brought enough WFP wheat flour for 84,000 people for one month, as well as other food.

Across Syria, WFP provides food assistance to more than four million people every month. Thirty per cent of this food is delivered through cross-border, cross-line and air operations to areas that are not reachable through regular road deliveries.

Last month UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien called on all parties to immediately lift sieges of civilians in Syria, including Madaya, Deir-ez-Zor, Douma, Foah and Kefraya, to end indiscriminate attacks on civilian-populated areas and civilian infrastructure, and to take all necessary measures to ensure protection for all civilians as required under international humanitarian and human rights law.
As Colombians bid farewell to 'decades of flames,' Ban pledges UN support to historic peace deal

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as UN News Service, As Colombians bid farewell to 'decades of flames,' Ban pledges UN support to historic peace deal, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea580e40e.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

26 September 2016 - Colombians are "bidding farewell to decades of flames and sending up a bright flare of hope that illuminates the world," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in Cartagena, welcoming the signing by the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP) of a peace deal ending more than 50 years of conflict.

Deeply moved to see thousands of Colombians at the signing ceremony, Mr. Ban said he was honored to celebrate the achievement of the parties "and that of countless Colombians who never lost hope in peace."

Since 2012, parties have been in talks hosted in Havana, Cuba. Throughout, negotiators have reached agreements on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and transitional justice. Among other developments, the Government and the FARC-EP announced in May an agreement to release and reintegrate child soldiers from the opposition force. The parties also announced the establishment of a gender sub-commission to bolster the voice of women in the peace process.

In his remarks today, the Secretary-General recalled when that when he first visited Colombia five years ago, the adoption of the Victims' Law had begun to build the foundations for peace.

"You had the vision to bring the victims to the forefront. What they have lost can never be restored. Yet victims have been among the most forceful voices for peace and reconciliation, and against bitterness and hatred. Their example should be an inspiration to all," he said.

Commending the parties for the first steps they have taken to acknowledge responsibility for tragic events of the conflict, the UN chief encourages them to continue on this path and, welcoming the commitments made to ensure truth, justice and reparations for all victims, he said: "This is how healing begins."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives at the San Pedro Claver Church in Cartagena, Colombia, to attend a reconciliation mass, ahead of the official signing ceremony today, of the peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP).

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Cartagena, Colombia, where he will attend the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrives in Cartagena, Colombia, where he will attend the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

The city of Cartagena prepares for the signing of the agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) receives a copy of the Colombian Peace Agreement from Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, President of Colombia (19 September). UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Secretary-General Attends Ceremony for the Colombian Ceasefire Agreement, in Havana, Cuba (June 2016). UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Peace Agreement document which was presented by President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon of Colombia to the President of the Council. UN Photo/Kim Haughton

 

With a ceasefire now in effect and violence in the country reduced significantly, the Secretary-General said that lives have already been saved. Moreover, the initial release of minors is a welcome beginning, he noted, commending the negotiating teams that worked tirelessly in Havana who had shown the courage that will be needed in the crucial period ahead.

The agreements promise not only to stop the armed conflict, but to create the conditions for lasting peace based on equitable development, human rights and inclusion. They envision a peace that values and ensures the participation of women, and a future in which there is room in politics for all, "but no room in politics for violence," underscored Mr. Ban.

And while the divisions and distrust from decades of conflict run deep, "I hope that the Colombian people can overcome the pain, join together and make this a truly national project." He also stressed that the peace process has been led by Colombians "every step of the way." With the peace accord reached, the parties have now entrusted important responsibilities to the UN, which the Security Council has unanimously endorsed. In that regard, he said the UN Mission in Colombia, tasked with the verification of the ceasefire and the laying down of arms, is already deployed throughout the country.

"Its verification mandate is activated with the signing of this agreement. I thank the countries from within and beyond the region that are providing observers," explained the UN chief.

Further, the United Nations system in Colombia will also be there to help implement the agreements, building on many years of engagement on peacebuilding and its work with victims and communities. "We will continue to offer our support to address the human rights and humanitarian challenges that persist. I am encouraged to know that there is already excellent collaboration among the Mission, the larger UN system in the country and our Colombian partners," the Secretary-General added.

Now, thanks to painstaking, visionary dialogue, you can look ahead with optimism.

He went on to recognize the invaluable contribution of Cuba and Norway, as guarantors of the process. He also commended Chile and Venezuela as accompanying countries. In addition, peacemakers working in other parts of the world are already studying Colombia's peace process for lessons that can inform their efforts, he noted.

"The challenge now is to convert the vision that was so carefully crafted in Havana into transformative change here in Colombia, especially in some of the most remote and historically neglected regions of the country. Demonstrating early dividends will be crucial for building confidence," he stressed.

Encouraging the parties to remain as strongly committed to implementing the agreements as they were to reaching them, the Secretary-General also encouraged them to welcome in this endeavour the contributions of all who are part of the diverse and vibrant nation: civil society, the private sector, Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, women and youth.

"But now, thanks to painstaking, visionary dialogue, you can look ahead with optimism.You are inviting Colombians to join you in pasando la pagina a un futuro en paz - turning the page to a future in peace," said Mr. Ban, adding: Today, Colombians are bidding farewell to decades of flames, and sending up a bright flare of hope that illuminates the entire world. Viva la Paz! Viva Colombia!

Also present at the signing ceremony, Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, congratulated all involved in the process and welcomed the historic opportunity, which brings an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict and opens a new chapter of peace in Colombia and Latin America.

"The 2030 Agenda clearly states that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development," and as such, he looked forward to the full implementation of the agreements and to continue "our strong engagement and support so the remarkable progress achieved may be reconfirmed in the coming months and years. Colombia and this process are an example and a beacon of hope to the international community."
Jordan: Prominent Writer Gunned Down at Court

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 27 September 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Jordan: Prominent Writer Gunned Down at Court, 27 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea589d4.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar was murdered on September 25, 2016, as he entered an Amman court to stand trial for insulting religion.

Authorities arrested Hattar on August 13, after he posted an anti-ISIS cartoon to his Facebook page in which the cartoonist depicted God's face. Following the posting, Prime Minister Hani al-Mulqi ordered Interior Minister Salama Hammad to investigate Hattar, leading the next day to his arrest. He was held in Marka Prison until September 8, then released on bail. Local media extensively reported on the case, though the authorities on August 14 issued a gag order on further reporting.

"Nahed Hattar's senseless murder in front of an Amman courthouse comes on the heels of the government's senseless charges against him over a cartoon he posted to his Facebook page," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Arbitrary prosecutions for defamation of religion stigmatize individuals and make them targets for vigilante reprisals."

Jordan's new cabinet should take immediate steps to introduce legislation to remove defamation of religion charges from the country's penal code. The charges limit free speech and put anyone charged with such an offense in danger, Human Rights Watch said.

Hattar, 56, was a well-known Jordanian writer and political commentator. His posting of the cartoon on August 12 ignited controversy. The cartoon, titled "In Heaven," depicts a jihadi fighter in bed with two women. The fighter orders God, whose white-bearded face is depicted, to bring him wine and other items and to send someone to clean up the dirty dishes.

The authorities charged Hattar with "inciting sectarian strife" and publishing material that insults "other people's religious feelings" under articles 150 and 278 of Jordan's penal code. The "inciting sectarian strife" charge can carry up to three years in prison. Authorities released Hattar on bail on September 8.

According to media reports, at 9 a.m. on September 25, Hattar was approaching the front steps of the Palace of Justice, a major court complex in the Abdali neighborhood in central Amman, to attend a court session relating to these charges, when a gunman approached and shot him three times, killing him. Hattar's family members and police apprehended the gunman.

Jordan's cabinet, as well as the Islamic Action Front, which is the Muslim Brotherhood's political party, and Jordanian nongovernmental groups quickly condemned the murder. Later in the day, a Jordanian prosecutor referred Hattar's alleged assailant to trial before Jordan's State Security Court on murder and terrorism charges.

According to media reports, Hattar's family has refused to claim his body until authorities take action against those who incited violence against him.

Human Rights Watch has documented previous cases in which authorities pursued defamation of religion charges. In 2013, authorities employed the same charges used in the Hattar case to jail and try five university students after other students alleged they had desecrated a Quran and engaged in "devil worship." The court eventually convicted the students and sentenced them to time served.

"Jordanian authorities should recognize that 'defamation of religion' laws and prosecutions effectively contribute to violent extremism," Whitson said. "The government should immediately suspend prosecutions for defamation of religion, move to repeal the provisions from its penal code, and allow citizens to engage in peaceful debate even of 'taboo' subjects."

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Disclaimer

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
Landmark ICC verdict against Al-Mahdi must be first step to broader justice in Mali conflict

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 27 September 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Landmark ICC verdict against Al-Mahdi must be first step to broader justice in Mali conflict, 27 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea5ac54.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Today's International Criminal Court (ICC) conviction of Ahmad Al Faqi Al-Mahdi, a senior member of the Ansar Eddine armed group, must be the first step towards broader accountability for all crimes committed during Mali's 2012 conflict, Amnesty International said.

The ICC sentenced Al-Mahdi to nine years imprisonment for intentionally directing attacks against religious buildings and historical monuments in the northern town of Timbuktu between June and July 2012. Al-Mahdi admitted his guilt to the court.

"This verdict is a clear recognition that attacks on religious and historical monuments can destroy the culture and identity of a population and constitute crimes under international law," said Erica Bussey Amnesty International's Senior Legal Advisor.

"This positive development should not let us lose sight of the fact that hundreds of civilians were murdered, tortured and raped during the 2012 conflict in Mali. The ICC should therefore continue to investigate crimes committed by all sides to the conflict."

Although the ICC's preliminary investigation found that there was a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes including murder, rape and torture had been committed in Mali since 2012, it has not issued any further arrest warrants. Domestic attempts to ensure accountability have also been limited.

Amnesty International considers that it is crucial that the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor, domestic judicial authorities in Mali and the international community as a whole ensure accountability for all crimes under international law, including murder, enforced disappearances, rape and other sexual violence, and torture that have been committed in the country since 2012, including by government forces.

Background

The situation in Mali was referred to the ICC by the government in July 2012. The ICC commenced its investigations in January 2013, with a focus on war crimes committed in Mali since 2012.

An arrest warrant for Al-Mahdi was issued on 18 September 2015, and he was arrested in Niger and transferred to The Hague on 26 September 2015. The charges against him were confirmed by a Pre-Trial Chamber on 24 March 2016. The trial opened on 22 August and eight victims participated in the proceedings.

This is the first guilty plea at the ICC. In the plea agreement, Al-Mahdi agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentence if it was within the range of 9 to 11 years.

The Malian authorities have only made very limited attempts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for serious crimes since the 2012 conflict. Moreover, in 2015, the authorities freed at least 200 detainees, including several allegedly implicated in crimes under international law during the 2012-2013 armed conflict.

The peace agreement provides for an international Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes under international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of sexual violence, but it has not yet been set up.

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Colombia: Historic peace deal must ensure justice and an end to human rights abuses

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Colombia: Historic peace deal must ensure justice and an end to human rights abuses, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea5c0d14.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The success of an historic peace deal between the Colombian government and the country's largest guerilla group, which was officially signed today in Cartagena, rests on the Colombian authorities' ability to ensure truth, justice and reparation for the millions of victims of the more than 50 year-long conflict, said Amnesty International.

The peace agreement will still need to be ratified via a plebiscite, to be held on 2 October.

"Today will rightly be a day of celebration in Colombia. The authorities must now guarantee this historic achievement is not undermined by ensuring that all those responsible for the despicable crimes under international law inflicted on millions of people over half a century face justice," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

"The crimes of those who carried out, ordered or benefited from these abuses, including those in business and politics, cannot and must not be brushed off with the stroke of a pen."

The transitional justice model agreed last year by the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will go some way to ensure a degree of truth, justice and reparation for some of the victims of the conflict.

However, many of its provisions appear to fall short of international law and standards on victims' rights. For example, the punishments for those who admit responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity do not reflect the gravity of such crimes. Likewise, the definition of command responsibility could allow many guerrilla and security force commanders to evade justice for human rights abuses and violations committed by their subordinates.

Colombia has come a long way since its most violent years. However, human rights abuses and violations against marginalized communities, particularly Indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant farmer communities, as well as against human rights defenders, including community leaders, trade unionists and land rights activists, continue unabated.

"Most of these attacks -many of which are attributed to paramilitary groups that continue to operate despite their supposed demobilization a decade ago -are not occurring in the context of combat and are often motivated by economic interests. Many of those communities at risk of attack are precisely those campaigning against the exploitation of their lands and territories by mining, infrastructure, industrial and agro-industrial concerns," said Erika Guevara-Rosas.

Ending hostilities between government forces and the FARC may do little to halt such attacks unless the authorities take effective action to combat those armed groups targeting civilians, and bring to justice those in the state, in politics and in business who support them,

"For any peace agreement to be effective and long lasting, it must also be implemented in very close consultation with the individuals, groups and communities who have been affected by this bloody conflict for decades. Anything less will be little more than words on paper," said Erika Guevara-Rosas.

Human rights in Colombia in 10 numbers

7.9 million - victims of the armed conflict, almost half of them are women. (Unidad para la Atencion y Reparacion Integral a las Victimas, UARIV, September 2016)

6.9 million - victims of forced displacement. (UARIV)

267,000 - conflict-related killings, mostly of civilians. (UARIV)

4,392 - victims of possible extrajudicial executions recorded by the Office of the Attorney General (Office in Colombia of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, March 2016).

46,386 - victims of enforced disappearance (UARIV).

29,622 - kidnappings (UARIV).

11,062 - victims of anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordnance (UARIV)

8,022 - child soldiers used by paramilitaries and guerrilla groups. (UARIV)

63 - human rights defenders, including Indigenous, Afro-descendant and peasant farmer leaders, killed in 2015. Fifty-two in the first nine months of 2016. (We Are Defenders Programme).

20 - trade union members killed in 2015 (The National Trade Union School (Escuela Nacional Sindical)

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Killing of Jordanian journalist a deplorable attack on freedom of expression

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Killing of Jordanian journalist a deplorable attack on freedom of expression, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea5ca74.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The shooting to death of a prominent journalist outside a court in Amman yesterday is an alarming attack on freedom of expression, said Amnesty International.

Nahed Hattar was in court to face charges of "offending religion" and "inflaming religious feelings" under the country's strict blasphemy laws, after he shared a satirical cartoon deemed to be offensive to Islam. His family warned he had received a number of death threats since his arrest in August.

"This deplorable murder of a journalist in broad daylight sends an alarming message about the state of freedom of expression in Jordan today. By using strict blasphemy laws to prosecute a person for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression the Jordanian authorities are fuelling a climate in which violent threats against people whose views are deemed offensive by others are allowed to flourish," said Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

"The Jordanian authorities must make it clear that attacks against people who peacefully express their views, however unpopular, will not be tolerated.

They must commit to protecting those who express unpopular views and to repealing restrictive blasphemy laws in Jordan's Penal Code which violate freedom of expression and could contribute to fuelling similar violent attacks. They must also investigate this murder and bring those responsible to justice in a fair trial which excludes the death penalty.

"The fact that Nahed Hattar was facing prosecution and a possible prison sentence for sharing a controversial cartoon is itself a blatant assault on freedom of expression. No one should be imprisoned for sharing a cartoon that does not incite violence, even if some view its content as offensive."

Nahed Hattar's lawyer had also raised fears of possible demonstrations and riots outside the courthouse on the day of the trial. Nahed Hattar's family had requested protection for his day in court, but it appears none was provided. After his killing a number of critics took to social media calling him an "infidel" and "justifying" his killing.

Jordan's government routinely restricts the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly under laws that criminalize peaceful expression.

Since 2015 dozens of journalists and activists have been arrested and detained under Penal Code provisions which criminalize defamation of religion, the monarchy and other institutions. Some critics - including journalists, pro-reformists and members of the Muslim Brotherhood - have been arrested and tried under the anti-terrorism law as amended in 2014, which allows for prosecution for harming Jordan's relations with "friendly" states.

In just one example, Professor Eyad Qunaibi served a one year prison sentence, handed to him by Jordan's State Security Court (SSC) last year, for an apparently peaceful Facebook post in which he criticized the Jordanian government's relations with Israel, and its treatment of religious Jordanians. He was convicted under charges of "undermining the political regime  or inciting opposition to it".

Background

Nahed Hattar was arrested on 13 August two days after he posted the satirical cartoon portraying a decadent scene in the afterlife purportedly featuring a member of the armed group which calls itself Islamic State (IS). He deleted the post a day after it was shared, saying he did not wish to offend Muslims but was still arrested the following day. He was held at Marka detention centre in Amman, denied bail three times until he was finally released on bail on 8 September.

The Attorney General had also issued a media ban against reporting on the case.

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Two years on, Pena Nieto cannot brush off Ayotzinapa stain

Publisher Amnesty International Author Erika Guevara-Rosas Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Two years on, Pena Nieto cannot brush off Ayotzinapa stain, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea5d044.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

There are certain events that mark a turning point in a country. The way a government decides to handle them defines the way they will go down in the history books.

This week marks two years since 43 students from a rural school in southern Mexico were forcibly disappeared after a brutal confrontation with security forces.

The unresolved tragedy has become such a stain for the administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto that it is now shorthand for the Mexican authorities' reckless approach to human rights in the country - where those responsible for crimes such as torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances are rarely brought before the courts.

The catalogue of failures in the way the Ayotzinapa case has been handled is so long, it beggars belief.

Six months after the students were forcibly disappeared, Pena Nieto's then Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam came out publicly with an official explanation of what they believed had happened. In a press conference, he said the students had been killed by a powerful local drug gang and that their bodies had been burned in a dumpster.

He called it the "historic truth".

His speech caused such havoc and indignation - particularly after a team of international forensic experts said the explanation was scientifically impossible - that Murillo Karam was effectively forced to resign. But still, neither he nor the government ever retracted his theory.

A few months later and in a bid to show action was being taken to shed some light onto the tragedy, the Mexican government agreed to allow a team of world renowned experts appointed by the Inter American Commission of Human Rights to look into the case.

But a year into their investigation, and after two damning reports pointing at a catalogue of failures by the authorities in the way the investigations had been handled, they were invited to leave the country.

The Pena Nieto administration had been embarrassed internationally and it did not like it.

Authorities promised they would take the inquiries forward, they promised justice. They said international help was no longer needed, that Mexico could take on the task of determining the students' fate and whereabouts.

Few believed them.

And they were right not to.

As was expected, in a country with an atrocious human rights record, progress on the Ayotzinapa investigation has reached a standstill.

As international pressure decreased and the world's attention moved on, pressure lifted on the Pena Nieto administration.

Reports that dozens of those arrested for their involvement in the disappearances had been tortured to "confess" were never followed up.

The scandalous revelation by the group of experts that Tomas Zeron de Lucio, a public official who had been in charge of the investigation, tampered the crime scene in a bid to show a piece of bone belonging to one of the students had been found in the banks of a local river in late October 2014 has also gone unpunished. A shallow investigation into the accusation has not led to any concrete results and Zeron was moved from the Attorney General's Office to a higher position in the Council of National Security.

The Pena Nieto administration's barefaced denial of what happened to the Ayotzinapa students is so deep-seated the president no longer dares to utter the word in public.

And the disappearance of these 43 young men is emblematic of everything that is wrong in Mexico. Human rights are nothing but an illusion for the thousands of men, women and children who are tortured, murdered and disappeared every year and will continue to be so as long as the authorities insist on saying everything is fine.

The stories of the 43 Ayotzinapa students are a reminder of the more than 28,000 men, women and children who have vanished across Mexico over the last decade - most since Pena Nieto took office in 2012.

They are a reminder of the extent to which people are routinely tortured into "confessing" crimes they did not commit in a vile attempt to show the government is actually taking action against the brutal criminal gangs terrorizing the country.

Time and time again we have heard the stories of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children of those who have simply "vanished into thin air" and have no one to turn to in their desperate search for truth and justice.

On 29 July 2016, the Inter American Commission on Human Rights approved a mechanism to follow up on the findings and recommendations of the group of experts, with the aim of determining the whereabouts of the students

But without any real support from the Mexican authorities, there is no mechanism that will shed any light onto these crimes or ensure that those responsible will face justice.

The Pena Nieto administration seems to be relying on Mexico's short-term memory; it hopes people will forget about the 43 students and many other human rights violations this country has seen over the decades have been forgotten.

What they are not counting on is the millions across this country, and around the world, who have had enough of empty promises. We will continue to fight, side by side, with all the brave human rights defenders and organizations who are not giving up hope to hold the Mexican authorities accountable and to ensure they fulfill their international obligations to protect human rights.

The time for political maneuvers is over. The relatives of the 43 young men of Ayotzinapa will never give up their fight until truth and justice for their children is achieved.

This oped was originally published by IPS

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Paris-Geneva, September 26, 2016 - The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT partnership) strongly condemns the verbal attacks and acts of harassment by the Kyrgyz authorities against Tolekan Ismailova and Aziza Abdirasulova in reprisal to their participation in the 2016 OSCE HDIM, and calls upon diplomatic missions and the OSCE to provide them with all necessary protection.

Human rights defenders Tolekan Ismailova and Aziza Abdirasulova are both heads of FIDH member organisations in Kyrgyzstan, Bir Duino and Kylym Shamy. They have recently been the subject to virulent verbal attacks and threats by Kyrgyz Members of Parliament (MPs), law enforcement agents and State-owned on-line media following their participation in the 2016 Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM), which is taking place from September 19 to 30, 2016, in Warsaw (Poland).

On September 20, 2016, Ms. Tolekan Ismailova made a speech in Warsaw, focusing on the rights of Kyrgyz women migrants and their children, during the working session of the annual OSCE/HDIM conference, titled "The International Covenants on Human Rights and their importance for OSCE Human Dimension". As she was delivering her speech, she found herself sitting by coincidence next to a Kyrgyz ethnic Uzbek political activist sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia for his alleged role in the ethnic conflict that took place in 2010 and who now resides in Sweden as a political refugee.

Shortly after Ms. Ismailova speech, a photo of her sitting next to the individual was published on the Internet, and sparked virulent reactions on the part of Kyrgyz MPs and law enforcement agents. Ms. Aziza Abdirasulova was also captured on the picture as she was entering the plenary hall, and was also subject to similar threats.

On September 22, 2016, a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan who attended a Parliamentary Committee on International Affairs Defence and Security publicly stated that the Ministry had received a negative reply from Interpol to its request to search for the above-mentioned individual, on the grounds that Interpol would not search persons prosecuted on politically motivated charges. During the same session, some MPs called for the opening of a criminal case against Ms. Ismailova, after which the press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that "operational work" had been opened to hold "Kyrgyz citizens" accountable[1]. Through social networks, a number of Internet users also promised to "welcome" "the traitors" upon their return to the country.

The Observatory fears for the physical integrity of the two human rights defenders, and urges diplomatic missions and the OSCE office in Bishkek to condemn the threats uttered against Ms. Tolekan Ismaikova and Ms. Aziza Abdirasulova, and provide them with all necessary protection, in line with the European Union and OSCE Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The objective of this program is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
The giant refugee holding cells in the Aegean

Publisher IRIN Author John Psaropoulos Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as IRIN, The giant refugee holding cells in the Aegean, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea72994.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Everyone knows everyone else in the village of Vavyloi on the Greek island of Chios. Such intimacy had long meant an absence of crime and a feeling of security. That all changed about a month ago when farmers noticed onions and potatoes being gouged out of their fields overnight. When the house break-ins started, the villagers began forming four-man night patrols.

"We take a piece of wood or plastic piping. We're not trying to hurt them; we're trying to deter them," said Yannis Siderakis, the village mechanic. He was referring to the hundreds of refugees and migrants camped a mile away at a bankrupt aluminium moulding plant known by its acronym, VIAL.

Purchased by the municipality last year to serve as a refugee shelter, VIAL's cavernous concrete nave and an adjoining fenced-in area of mobile housing units were meant to become a locked-down facility for processing asylum claims  a so-called 'hotspot'  when the EU's agreement with Turkey came into force in late March.

Six months later, there are 3,800 migrants and refugees on Chios, three times the number VIAL was designed for. All are free to move around the island.

"On our first night out [on patrol], I bumped into a thief," said Siderakis. "I saw a black man running with plastic bags. I shouted at him; he dropped the bags and ran. I didn't chase him. He had broken into a house and taken spirits, women's cosmetics, an iron, slippers, socks  not valuable things, but he turned the place inside out. The owner was in shock."

There are similar stories in Chios town, where the spillover from VIAL has spawned two tent cities. "We were robbed once. They took a bottle of whisky and a bottle of cognac. Next door, they took beers," said Adamantios Frangakis, the owner of a cafe around the corner from the town hall.

A destructive deal

The EU-Turkey agreement has changed views on migration here. While refugees were transiting through the islands on their way to the Balkans throughout the summer of 2015, islanders offered them food, clothing and assistance. But now that they are a stationary and growing population, the strains on local resources are showing.

Under the deal, in exchange for six billion euros from the EU over two years and a pledge from Brussels to relax visa rules for Turkish nationals, Turkey was to prevent as many refugees from setting out from its shores as possible, and readily readmit those caught on its territorial waters. Turkey also agreed to accept refugees and asylum seekers returned from Greece, on the basis (disputed by rights activists) that Turkey is a safe, third country. The deal appears to have had the desired effect. Arrivals to Greece so far this year have reached 166,000, compared to 385,000 by the end of September 2015.

But the deal has also turned Greece's eastern Aegean islands into holding centres. Those rescued by the Hellenic Coast Guard are shipped to the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros, and Kos, and confined there until their first asylum interview has been conducted. Depending on the outcome, they are either given permission to complete the asylum process on the mainland or deported back to Turkey. But so far, just 509 people have been returned to Turkey under the deal and there are now some 14,000 refugees on the islands, overwhelming facilities built for half that number. More arrive nearly every day.

"The EU-Turkey deal has limited flows [of refugees], but it is destroying the economy, destroying the sense of security, and as a result destroying social cohesion," Chios Mayor Manolis Vournous told IRIN.

Turning to crime

Overcrowding and increasing frustration among the refugees was one factor that sparked last week's riot and fire at the Moria hotspot on Lesvos. Tensions are also building on Chios, where Vournos described islanders and refugees as fellow inmates. "[Refugees'] confinement is not really administered," he told IRIN. "It's simply the island's natural boundaries. Water is the barrier. But that also includes [the] 50,000 people of Chios."

Marios and several other Syrian refugees have been sleeping on the floor of the island's small municipal theatre. A makeshift curtain of blankets hangs on a rope, separating the men from an area for women and children.

"Conditions here are awful," he told IRIN, readily admitting that people are so desperate that they are learning how to steal. "I'm a person who knows how to do a dozen different things I would go to work in the fields for as little as 15-20 euros a day just to be able to buy cigarettes."

"We know the people of Chios aren't to blame, but neither are we," said Marios. "Do they want us to leave? Give us our papers and we'll go today. Do they want to deport us? Deport us and let's have done."

Asylum applicants are allowed to work, but small island economies don't provide enough opportunity for thousands of outside labourers; and Greek unemployment now stands at 23 percent  the highest in Europe.

The economy of Chios has suffered setbacks unrelated to the migrants. Tourism has been falling, as measured by airport arrivals, from more than 16,000 eight years ago to just over 7,000 in 2015. Also this year, a fire devastated its mastic tree plantations. Mastic sap and its byproducts have been Chios's signature export since Ottoman times.

Fears about security and economic pressures have contributed to heated discussions about where to house the refugees. After a stormy municipal council meeting last week, Vournous was forced to evacuate the municipal theatre. Eventually, he also plans to evacuate the second tent city in town and create a large camp at a former landfill, which has been re-landscaped but still lacks water and electricity.

Solving the problem

Moving the refugees out of sight might give some island residents a little peace of mind, but it won't solve all the problems their presence creates. Vournous is furious that the Greek Asylum Service isn't processing people off the island faster. "The EU and Greek authorities aren't doing their job," he said. "Who is measuring their effectiveness?"

The European Asylum Support Office declared its intention to send 700 caseworkers to Greece after the March deal. So far 200 have arrived: only 126 are on the islands, and just 20 are conducting interviews.

Part of the problem is that EASO can't oblige EU countries to contribute caseworkers. "We have asked for more staff from the member states," said EASO spokesman Jean-Pierre Schembri. "[But] they are under pressure in their own country if you look at the backlog in the EU member states, which is over 1.1 million cases." Eighteen mobile interview units stacked up inside the VIAL hotspot amply illustrate EASO's frustrated ambition. Only a few of them are in use.

"Every day the islands receive an average of 120 fresh arrivals and no more than 50 asylum applications are adjudicated, while another 9,000 languish in the queue," said Christiana Kalogirou, prefect of the North Aegean region. "That is why the critical issue is the staffing of the asylum services."

Pressure on the islands could have been relieved. A year ago, EU members agreed to relocate 160,000 asylum applicants from Greece and Italy. But only 4,776 relocations have so far taken place from Greece, a performance the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, called an "unnecessarily slow" implementation of a "woefully inadequate" pledge.

Vournous believes the EU should make amends by offering the islands of the eastern Aegean some form of development assistance. "That's the least it can do because I am carrying out its policy to prevent Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Spain from flooding with people," he said. "I would expect it to help me develop the economy, to show that we won't always be a frontier post; but it has no wish to do this."
Moscow Tests Network-Centric Military Capability in Kavkaz 2016

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Roger McDermott Publication Date 20 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow Tests Network-Centric Military Capability in Kavkaz 2016, 20 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea74e14.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Every year, the Russian Armed Forces stage a large-scale training exercise to serve as the pinnacle of the combat training season. These annual major exercises are held, on a rotational basis, across Russia's various military districts (MD), which also allows the General Staff to test and assess progress in key areas. This year, the military carried out the strategic command post exercise (strategicheskikh komandno-shtabnykh ucheniy-SKSHU) Kavkaz 2016, held in southwestern Russia on September 5-10. And the preparations and snap inspections prior to staging Kavkaz 2016 focused on testing units in the Southern MD. Among the areas of high interest for the Russian top brass were inter-service coordination, strategic mobility, and examining progress in the system of military manpower, especially in relation to contract personnel. However, the SKSHU also provided an opportunity to further test advances in introducing network-centric military capabilities, which have been an ongoing theme in recent years since former defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov's (2007-2012) reforms were initiated (Mil.ru, September 14).

At the epicenter of this process was the need to further examine the functioning of the automated tactical-level joint command-and-control (C2) system, (Yedinaya Sistema Upravleniya v Takticheskom Zvene-YeSU TZ). Research and development (R&D) on the YeSU TZ has lasted more than 15 years, encountering multiple design issues requiring correction and modifications. Major-General Aleksandr Chaiko, the commander of the 1st Tank Army, highlighted the use of the YeSU TZ T3 during Kavkaz 2016, explaining that it was tested mainly by the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division, a unit subordinated to the 1st Tank Army. Referring to the system by its design company designation, Sozvezdiye-M, Chaiko noted that successful tests of the automated network-enabled system had increased the speed of commanders' decision making and markedly improved communications. He added that the YeSU TZ T3 was used from the highest divisional command level down to the lowest soldier participating in the exercise (RIA Novosti, September 11).

Defense ministry tests of the YeSU TZ have featured regularly in Russia's military exercises. Critics have faulted the system for its high cost, and they pointed to design flaws linked to software glitches and failed efforts to simplify the interface to make it more user friendly. Some detractors even suggested that the General Staff has questioned the YeSU TZ's survivability in combat. But all of these setbacks now appear to have been overcome. In June 2000, a presidential decree ordered the development of an automated command, control and communications system, with its earliest work rooted in forming the relevant guidance documents, with work later commencing on hardware and software systems. By July 2004, the Joint Concern Sozvezdiye was formed, with overall responsibility for the development of the new automated command and control. State tests began within two years. In 2007-2009, pilot experiments were conducted within the Armed Forces, and this became a prominent feature in strategic-level exercises following the Serdyukov reforms, commencing in late 2008. By 2010, elements of the Sozvezdiye-M were delivered to troops, and in recent years further refinements have improved the system (Russianarms.ru, Accessed September 19).

The immense challenges encountered by designers of the automated C2 system relate to the complexities involved in integrating the various software platforms and systems, developing the hardware and communications systems, unifying systems and subsystems, as well as overcoming the need for trained personnel. The latter led to experiments in the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade, with officers taught about its characteristics and how the whole system should be operated. However, exercise-level tests appear to have largely focused on redressing any remaining flaws (Army-news.ru, November 23, 2010).

Kavkaz 2016 certainly marks significant progress for the system and holds out the prospect of its wider use in the Armed Forces in the future. General Chaiko noted its profound benefits, with the YeSU TZ offering commanders real-time decision making and transmission to any point where the main effort could be focused on combat. Chaiko explained that the system "cuts the time of the decision," improving signal transmission and aiding with operational capability in a variety of combat situations. He added that divisional testing of the system, including defensive and offensive measures, was in use during a crossing of the Don River (Topwar.ru, September 11).

Kavkaz 2016 also rehearsed various training features such as air defense, including S-400s, coastal landings as well as sharpened the use of the fledgling reservist system. Moreover, it was timed to coincide with a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Strategic Rocket Forces. Commanders also claimed that some of its elements drew upon lessons learned from the military's experience of conducting operations in Syria. In addition, the chief of the General Staff, Army-General Valery Gerasimov, used a press conference a few days after the exercise to announce plans to enhance the numbers of battalion tactical groups (BTGs) from 66 to 125 by the end of 2018 (see EDM, September 15). These numbers are certainly ambitious. But Gerasimov said the BTGs in the Armed Forces are already "fully manned" by contract personnel (kontraktniki), and presumably the intention is to man all 125 BTGs with kontraktniki; this would fit with the introduction of high-tech Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems (Interfax, September 14; Maxpark.com, September 13).

The centrality of the YeSU TZ T3 to the conduct of Kavkaz 2016 denotes not only progress toward developing nascent network-centric capability in Russia's Armed Forces, but confirms the underlying unifying driver in the push for greater numbers of trained kontraktniki. Media coverage was scant on the thorny issue of the total costs involved in introducing the system, yet its extension to divisional-level testing during the SKSHU seems to indicate a breakthrough for the military. Since the reforms of 2008-2012, continuity has been most evident in the persistence of top brass interest in adopting C4ISR capability. For the time being, Russian commanders are content to experience improved speed in decision making and in gaining experience in the field in relation to the practical implications of the system. It will take time to fully work out how this shift in technology will actually influence the Russian Armed Forces' conduct in future military operations.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow Again Trying to Pit Ethnic Russians in Northeastern Estonia Against Tallin

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 20 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow Again Trying to Pit Ethnic Russians in Northeastern Estonia Against Tallin, 20 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea75564.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Moscow is again stirring the pot in northeastern Estonia, trying to pit the ethnic-Russian community there against Tallinn. And it is doing so in the classic tradition of Vladimir Putin's "hybrid" war: specifically, Russia is using a report prepared by the Estonian Security Police that leaked to the press in order to blame Tallinn for that group's problems. On the one hand, Moscow is trying to exacerbate relations between the ethnic Russians and Estonians to keep that country off balance. And on the other, it is seeking to raise questions among Estonia's Western allies about the internal stability of this Baltic republic as well as sow uncertainty about how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should respond to any further Russian troublemaking in Estonia.

Ever since Moscow's violent aggression began in Ukraine in early 2014, many asked where Putin would strike next; and Estonia was promptly identified as a likely target. Even though this country is a full-fledged member of NATO, it has a sizeable ethnic-Russian community whose relationship with ethnic Estonians has been troubled in the past. That community consists of two distinct parts. The first group is Russian-Estonians in the capital. Many of them are well educated, hold good jobs, learned Estonian, and have increasingly become full citizens of Estonia. The second group-Russian-Estonians in the northeastern portion of the country (particularly the county of Ida-Virumaa)-tend to be working class and older, and they have shown little interest in learning Estonian or integrating into the broader Estonian nation.

Because the latter are located on the Russian border and watch Russian television, many in Moscow feel that they potential allies in Putin's plan to build "a Russian world" ("Russkiy mir"). Indeed, at one point, Western speculation about the possibility that Moscow would move into this region became so widespread that some began to ask whether any in the Western alliance were ready "to die for Narva," the largest city in that region (Estonian World, June 16, 2015). Such concerns have been on the wane in recent months, but now a pro-Moscow commentator has reopened the issue. Writing for the online portal RuBaltic, directed at ethnic Russians in the Baltic countries, the author, Laima Katse, argues that the aforementioned leaked Estonian document "has done ten times more for the isolation and radicalization" of ethnic Russians in northeastern Estonia "than so-called Kremlin propaganda and Russification" (RuBaltic, September 16, 2016).

Katse-who in the past had repeatedly signaled new directions in Moscow's policies toward the Baltic countries-says the leaked document reveals that Tallinn's security police has "come to the conclusion that in the event of a conflict" with Russia, the Estonian government "could lose control over the 150,000 people in Ida-Virumaa, which has been 'thoroughly Russified." She adds that "for the destabilization of the situation, even a small network of approximately 200 'local terrorists' would be sufficient" (RuBaltic, September 16).

This report and the fact that it was leaked may be nothing more than an effort by the security police to overstate the existence of an enemy in order to justify calls for a bigger police budget, Katse admits. Yet, she asserts that such conclusions nonetheless "spit on the 60,000 Russian speakers who live in the region and who suffer from "objective problems" that the Estonian government has caused in some cases and failed to address in others.

"The unfavorable social-economic situation of the region," the pro-Moscow commentator says, "is a suitable milieu for a protest explosion The level of unemployment and crime in Ida-Virumaa is the highest in the country. Pay is the lowest-20 percent less than the Estonian average." Its population losses are the highest and it has the lowest life expectancies. And unemployment is surging given the collapse in oil prices, which negatively impacted the local shale oil industry, where most of Ida-Virumaa's ethnic Russians work or have worked in the past, she claims (RuBaltic, September 16).

Katse's article is a mix of truth and falsehoods. Ida-Virumaa, one of the 15 counties of Estonia, indeed does have problems. Its population, approximately 70 percent of which are ethnic Russians, has been suffering from economic problems. And this population has been falling from 221,000 in 1990, to an estimated 146,000 this year, as a result of Russians leaving for the Russian Federation as well as due to higher mortality among ethnic Russians than among ethnic Estonians (Stat.ee, June 10). But in contrast to the Estonian security police report, which talks about a small number of potential terrorists, Katse commits the sociological fallacy of ascribing to all members of this community the most negative and anti-Estonian attitudes. In fact, the ethnic Russians in Estonia, even those in the northeast, have long life expectancies and better incomes than ethnic Russians in neighboring Russian Federation regions like Pskov oblast.

And yet, the RuBaltic commentator does not leave it at that. She contends that the Estonian security police wants to increase the role of law enforcement agencies in Idu-Virumaa while not doing enough to improve the social and economic problems of that community. And she maintains that the police particularly does not want to recognize the region's ethnic Russians as a community that should be given equal status to others. In fact, these are exactly the same kinds of arguments Russian propagandists made before Russian forces went into Ukraine's Crimea and Donbas. Of course, this does not mean Moscow will necessarily follow the same scenario in Estonia's northeast; but the parallels suggest that the danger to Estonia from Russia has not passed and may be growing worse.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Circassians in Predominantly Ethnic-Russian Krasnodar Demand Recognition as Region's Indigenous Population

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Valery Dzutsati Publication Date 20 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Circassians in Predominantly Ethnic-Russian Krasnodar Demand Recognition as Region's Indigenous Population, 20 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 151, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea761c4.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Ramazan Khun, a Circassian activist from Russia's Krasnodar region, posted an unusual online petition on the website Change.org. The petition calls on the Russian government, President Vladimir Putin, and the administration of Krasnodar krai to grant indigenous rights to the Circassians, who reside on the territory of this southwestern Russian region.

The petition says: "Most cities and rivers [in Krasnodar region] have Circassian names. For centuries, Circassians have lived here; still Krasnodar Territory's Administration has not recognized my people as the indigenous population of the region. It means a lot to my people and the history of our ancestors. We do not need anything else than the recognition of this fact. If it happens, then my people will be able to turn the page of history and with gratitude go further forward! My people love their country [Russia] and defend its honor in sport, and in the military field. And so let our great country meet my people half way and recognize this fact because justice must prevail!" (Change.org, accessed September 20).

Krasnodar is currently a predominantly ethnic-Russian region in southern Russia with a population of 5.5 million and an area measuring about 29,000 square miles. Ethnic Circassians today comprise less than half of one percent of the population of Krasnodar region. However, until the start of the 19th century, Circassians occupied the entire territory of modern Krasnodar and effectively controlled the Black Sea coast. Following the Russian armies' advances, Circassians retreated to the mountains. Eventually, the vast majority of them were forced to leave their homeland and flee to the Ottoman Empire. An estimated 90 percent of the Circassians at the time either starved to death, died of decease or were deported to foreign lands by the Russian government (Natpressru.info, July 10, 2010).

Moscow has failed to recognize that the 19th century Russian government decimated the Circassian population along the Black Sea coast. Circassian activists have intensively petitioned Moscow for the recognition of the Circassian "genocide" in recent years but have achieved little when it comes to acknowledgement of their grievances by Russia. In particular, Circassian activists say that the authorities of Krasnodar region intentionally ignore their pleas to recognize them as the indigenous population of the area. The primary reason for the rejection of Circassians' claims is reportedly that "Circassians' play the nationalist card." The chair of the Circassian Council of Elders of Krasnodar region, Ruslan Gvashev, says, "They are scared of us. I do not understand why they fear us. We want to be citizens with equal rights while remaining Circassians. Include us into the Code of Krasnodar region." According to Gvashev, numerous leaders of Krasnodar's authorities have promised to recognize the Circassians as the indigenous people of the region, but these promises never materialized. Moreover, even the regional history textbooks ignore the Circassians as the indigenous population of the area. The paradox is that many people in Krasnodar region unofficially recognize the Circassians as the autochthonous people of the region, but government policy appears to be intentionally designed to exclude them from regional history (Onkavkaz.com, September 14).

Apparently, regional officials and the Russian authorities in Moscow fear that recognition of the Circassians as the indigenous people of the area will somewhat increase the validity of their claims for the recognition of the Circassian "genocide." It would also indicate a closer connection between Krasnodar krai and the ethnic republics of the North Caucasus, something that both Moscow and Krasnodar authorities want to avoid. However, a refusal to recognize the Circassians' indigenous rights also fuels their resentment. Currently, the Krasnodar authorities pretend that the Cossacks were the "indigenous people" of the area, even though their history in Krasnodar started in the 19th century and everything before that is "forgotten."

Although, to date, Circassian activists have been largely unsuccessful in gaining greater accommodation of their demands by Moscow, they have certainly achieved a much better self-awareness among the Circassians themselves. Vladimir Putin has personally pushed for "unified history textbooks," which would surely and conveniently "forget" about the Circassians and their struggle with the Russian Empire, along with other inconvenient truths (Slon.ru, May 5, 2015). But due to the rising national consciousness of the Circassian people, such attempts to rewrite history are increasingly unlikely to work among this group.

Little by little, modern Circassians have been rediscovering their history, which Russian and Soviet authorities had previously carefully stripped of all their important and proud historical moments. Among such events, Circassian activists have recently pointed to Article 6 of the Belgrade Treaty between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, signed on September 18, 1739. According to this point in the treaty, the activists argue, the Circassian lands at that time should have been granted independence, as they were formally released from any obligations to either the Ottomans or the Russians (Facebook.com, September 18).

The dynamics of today's Circassian movement and the Russian government's reaction to it indicate that the authorities in Moscow will not be mollified by the Circassians' passivity. Rather, this ethnic minority has learned that activism and collective action is needed to improve its bargaining positions vis-a-vis Moscow. For now, the Circassians have managed to calibrate their activities so as to push for a rejection of the loss of historical memory but without incurring any violent reprisals from the Russian government. It remains to be seen, however, whether growing frustration eventually throws this relationship out of balance.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Belarusians Debate Parliamentary Elections

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 21 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarusians Debate Parliamentary Elections, 21 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea769f4.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Political commentators continue to discuss the outcomes of Belarus's September 11 parliamentary elections (see EDM, September 12). According to the official results, the lowest voter turnout was in the city of Minsk, 61 percent; and the highest in Mogilev Oblast, 81 percent (Belarus Segodnya, September 12). Out of 110 elected members of parliament (MP), only 28 were lawmakers in the previous convocation of the House of Representatives (lower chamber of the Belarusian legislature). Thirty-eight MPs are women, and 16 are members of political parties. For comparison, only five party members were elected in 2012 (Belarus.by, September 12). Eight of the 16 elected party members represent the Communist Party. Two members of the opposition were elected for the first time since 2004.

The day after the vote, the talk show Matter of Principle, which airs on the first channel of Belarusian TV, presented Belarusian society's attitudes toward the elections. Two points of view connected to the authorities were expressed by Lidia Ermoshina, the chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission, and by Vadim Borovik, a political commentator. Ermoshina conceded the possibility of mistakes by the local electoral commissions and suggested that those who lost the elections are particularly critical of the entire process. Ermoshina suggested it would make sense to change a majority voting system in Belarus to a combination of a majority and proportional representation system. Thereby, MPs would be elected not only as individuals by a local constituency (as is the case today) but also as part of a list presented by every political party, thus assigning parliamentary seats proportionally to the number of votes the parties receive. For that to happen, however, "we should nurture a class of professional politicians," remarked Ermoshina. Borovik, meanwhile, accused the opposition of being "political prostitutes" accountable to external donors, and he disparaged them for attributing their abysmally low electoral ratings to vote rigging. In their turn, the invited members of the opposition vented their indignation over the alleged absence of transparency in the ballot-counting process at individual precincts. Particularly vociferous in their criticism were Sergei Kaliakin, head of the leftist party, A Just World (a splinter Communist group); Irina Veshtard, head of the Social Democrats; and the head of the Green Party, Anastasiya Dorofeyeva. The Green Party leader even called the talk show she was currently on "an imitation of a discussion of the imitation elections." The deputy chairman of the United Civic Party, Leonid Margolin, mentioned that on social networks one of the hotly debated issues is whether Anna Kanopatskaya, a member of the same party, had indeed been "elected" or simply "appointed" an MP (Ont.by, September 12).

Margolin's observation reflects the persistent refrain among the organized opposition and opposition-minded pundits regarding whether or not the authorities manufactured the results to allow two opposition candidates to enter the parliament. A series of recent articles by opposition writers certainly reflects such a mindset: for example, "Why Did Lukashenka Allow the Opposition in the Parliament?" (Carnegie.ru, September 14); "The Opposition Candidate has Been Appointed, not Elected" (Tut.by, September 14); and "How to Finish Korotkevich" (Belorusskii Partizan, September 9). The third piece was authored by Igor Drako and published two days before the elections. The article predicted the electoral outcome at Minsk Precinct 97, for which two opposition candidates ran against the director of the Minsk railway terminal, Alexander Drozhzha. One of the opposition candidates was Tatyana Korotkevich who campaigned for president of Belarus in October 2015. Representing the Speak the Truth civic campaign, Korotkevich then received 4.42 percent of the vote in last year's presidential election; but according to a post-election national survey by the now defunct polling firm IISEPS (see EDM, September 7), her electoral support was actually as high as 15 percent. Out of a total of four candidates running in Minsk Precinct 97 two weeks ago, Korotkevich enjoyed the highest name recognition. According to Drako, however, Korotkevich, who was long accused by the other members of the opposition of collusion with the "regime," committed the crime of not congratulating Alyaksandr Lukashenka on his 2015 electoral victory, and so she was doomed. However, losing the election to an unknown bureaucrat (Drozhzha), according to Drako, would not be an elegant result to present to the outside world. Thus, Drako predicted that the victory would be accorded to the other opposition candidate-which would be a) to the liking of the West, and b) snub Korotkevich (Belorusskii Partizan, September 9).

In fact, Korotkevich did end up losing to the other opposition candidate running in her electoral district: entrepreneur and lawyer from the United Civic Party (UCP) Anna Kanopatskaya. Korotkevich's Speak the Truth campaign alleges that 12,000 ballots were fraudulently inserted into ballot boxes at Precinct 97, which lifted the voter turnout from the actual 40 percent to almost 60 percent and ensured the victory of Kanopatskaya. Meanwhile, UCP itself also labeled the elections unfair but nevertheless decided to take advantage of its member acquiring a seat in the House of Representatives (Tut.by, September 14). Writing for Carnegie Moscow Center, Artyom Shraibman alleges that Kanopatskaya's electoral result and that of the other winning opposition candidate, Elena Anisim, were "handmade" by the government. Specifically, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been lobbying for a rapprochement with the West, which necessitated those results, he argues (Carnegie.ru, September 14).

Whether or not such interpretations are accurate, two facts are certain. First, since 2004, there had been no opposition in the Belarusian parliament; there is now. Second, the general public has so far not expressed any visible signs of discontent over the results of the elections. The latter point is especially important. As the above-cited commentator Shraibman once asked rhetorically: what can the opposition do in the absence of public demand for change? (Naviny.by, May 14, 2013). Rhetorical exclamations, however, may reflect an inability to explain reality. No single blueprint for socio-political development exists. Minsk is a well-functioning metropolis, and Belarus has more than its "fair share" of success stories-especially from the vantage point of its neighbors. Somehow these successes were accomplished, and worn cliches only obstruct the search for useful explanations.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Free Trade Agreement With China Boosts Georgia's Security, Strategic Regional Importance

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 27 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Free Trade Agreement With China Boosts Georgia's Security, Strategic Regional Importance, 27 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea76fa4.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On September 13, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Georgian government and Minister of the Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili stated at a press conference that Tbilisi and Beijing had finalized a free trade agreement between their two countries. "China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng plans to visit Tbilisi to sign a memorandum of understanding," Kumsishvili said. The agreement will be signed in December and come into force in the middle of 2017, he added. The deputy prime minister emphasized that Georgia concluded its free trade negotiations with China in record time-only seven months. "It took other countries from five to ten years," he declared (Civil Georgia, September 13).

The Georgian deputy prime minister noted that Beijing agreed to remove customs tariffs on 95.5 percent of all Georgian goods, including agricultural products, wine and mineral water. These exports will enter China completely tariff free without a significant transition period, within several months after the agreement is signed. "This is another unprecedented move, since, with other countries, Beijing normally introduces a lengthy transition period," the Georgian official said (Civil Georgia, September 13).

Minister Kumsishvili especially highlighted wine as one of the main sources of export revenues for Georgia. "In 2015, we sold 2.6 million bottles of wine on China's market. In 2016, the number will grow to 5 million bottles. This is despite the fact that our exporters pay a 40 percent customs duty. After the removal of such customs duties, Georgian wine will become one of the most competitive wines on the Chinese market," he declared (Bpi.ge, September 13).

It is noteworthy that in 2016, China became the second largest importer of Georgian wine, having overtaken Ukraine. Between January and August of this year, China imported 3,368,361 bottles of Georgian wine, while Ukraine purchased 3,042,192 bottles. Russia remains the largest importer of Georgian wine, with 14,664,610 bottles this year, as of August (Kvira.ge, September 13). Georgian authorities are hoping that after China lifts its customs barriers to Georgia, exports will increase even further, thus reducing the importance of the Russian market to Georgian winemakers. Then, Moscow will lose its ability to easily damage the Georgian winemaking industry in case of the resumption of a trade embargo, as happened in 2006-2012 (Agenda.ge, August 5).

At the same time, Georgian Minister of Agriculture Levan Davitashvili stressed that the free trade agreement with China also removes customs duties on Georgia's mineral water, which could transform exports of this product to China into one of the country's most important sources of revenue. So far, no country has removed customs duties on Georgian mineral water (Vestnik Kavkaza, September 14).

In 2014, Georgian signed a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union. However, unlike the agreement with China, the DCFTA allows the EU to restrict many types of agricultural imports from Georgia, and it introduces stringent norms for Georgian produce. The agreement with China has no such restrictions, which makes it more "comfortable" for the Georgian exporters to China's market (Vestnik Kavkaza, September 14).

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, in his turn, called the free trade agreement with China "historic." The head of the Georgian government said, "It is a great achievement that can positively affect the development of the 'Great Silk Road' during the new era" (On.ge, September 14). In referencing the Silk Road, Prime Minister Kvirikashvili was alluding to overland transportation links being constructed across the Eurasian landmass that will allow goods to travel from China's Pacific coast to Europe, via the Central Asian states. From Central Asia, one planned route envisions goods traveling via the Caspian Sea, Georgia, and Turkey to the EU, thus entirely bypassing Russia. The first train demonstrating the viability of this Great Silk Road transit corridor from Asia to Europe arrived in Tbilisi on December 13, 2015 (Apsny.ge, December 13, 2015).

The government in Tbilisi had meticulously assessed the risks of a free trade agreement with China for the Georgian economy and its domestic market. In 2015, the Georgian government asked an independent company, PMCG, to assess the consequences of the agreement with China. According to PMCG, after the free trade agreement is implemented, exports from Georgia to China will increase by 9 percent, while imports from this East Asian giant will grow by only 2 percent (Tabula.ge, July 24, 2015).

That conclusion became an important argument for the Georgian government to fight off alarmist warnings of some experts who said that removing customs duties on Chinese imports would "destroy the Georgian market." In fact, according to the president of the New School of Economics, Paata Sheshelidze, Georgia already removed all customs duties on Chinese goods several years ago. "Therefore, there will be no rapid increase in Chinese exports to Georgia. At the same time, Georgia will not only obtain access to the Chinese market, which is considered relatively liberal in the sense of its demands for agricultural products, but also Georgia will win access to the markets of China's neighbors-Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and so on," the expert argued (Author's interview, September 17).

During January-August 2016, the entirety of Georgian exports comprised $1.312 billion. Exports to China reached $117.682 million. Even before the free trade agreement was signed, China nearly outpaced Russia as the second-largest trade partner of Georgia. Currently, Turkey remains the largest recipient of Georgian goods with $134.405 million of Georgian exports, with Russia in second place at $118.187 million (Geostat.ge, accessed September 21).

The newly signed free trade agreement notwithstanding, Chinese businesses are already among global leaders of investment into the Georgian economy. In 2015, China was the fourth-largest investor after Azerbaijan, the Netherlands and Luxemburg (Geostat.ge, accessed September 21). The Hualin Group is the biggest Chinese investor in Georgia. Hualin owns 90 percent of the Georgian bank Basisbank, which has operated since 1993. In 2013-2015 Hualin Group invested $150 million into the construction of a 65,000-square-meter International Economic Zone in Tbilisi's Basisubani district (see EDM, March 25, 2015).

The rector of the Free University in Tbilisi, Vato Lezhava, told this author that the Georgia-China free trade agreement would further increase Chinese direct investments. "This is logical, because, on its own, the Georgian market is too little for the enormous China; but Georgia might become a 'vehicle' for Chinese manufacturers' exports to the EU since Georgia signed a DCFTA with the latter," Lezhava noted (Author's interview, September 17). Thus China may help Georgia to more permanently diversify its economy away from its heavy reliance on Russia.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Chechnya Hosts International Islamic Conference

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Mairbek Vatchagaev Publication Date 22 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Chechnya Hosts International Islamic Conference, 22 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 152, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea78014.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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It has become common practice for the authorities to hold large international Islamic conferences in Chechnya. The latest such conference took place on August 25-27, 2016, in Grozny. Over 100 religious leaders from 30 countries took part in the gathering, including Jordan, Qatar, Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, India, South Africa and Azerbaijan. Notably, however, a delegation from Turkey was absent from the conference. Particularly prominent figures among the participants included the grand imam of al-Azhar in Egypt, Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed el-Tayeb; the grand mufti of Egypt, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam; and the president of al-Azhar University, Dr. Ibrahim Salah Al Hudhud (TASS, August 25). The theme of the August conference was "The followers of Sunnah-who are they? Explanations and descriptions of the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah from the viewpoint of creed, Islamic law and Sufism. The effect of deviation from this path on the present reality" (Kavkaz.mk.ru, August 27). But both the hosts and the guests understood that the main topic of the proceedings would be about condemning Salafism. Indeed, this is the main topic of all conferences held in Grozny.

The primary objective of the conference, according to its organizers, was to provide a theological justification from the Sufi point of view for rejecting the Salafists' claim that they belong to the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Jamaat) (Onkavkaz.com, August 26). By involving world-renowned Islamic scholars into the discussion, the Chechen authorities tried to attack the Salafists' claim to being the true followers of Islam. The Salafists' formula automatically renders all others who do not belong to Salafism apostates and infidels. And by allowing the Salafists for years to call themselves the sole followers of the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, the Sufis implicitly agreed that they themselves are "apostates" who deviated from the "true way." Hence, it is not surprising that the adversaries of Salafism have decided to strip the Salafists of the privilege of saying they alone are traveling on the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah by calling all others apostates.

Salafists practically do not refer to or use madhhab, which is a school of thought within fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). Within Sunni Islam, there are four main jurisprudence schools. Critics have launched their offensive against the Salafists based on the latter's disregard for this established Muslim jurisprudence. The argument is that by staying outside a particular madhhab, the Salafists in fact stand outside the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah (Islamobr.ru, August 27). It is safe to assume that Salafists' disregard for the main Islamic jurisprudence schools will now be used in the future to challenge Salafist preachers in Russia. The conference in Grozny adopted a special document that was translated into Arabic. The document specifies that Ashari and Maturidi Schools of Islamic thought, four madhhabs, and Sufi tariqas (schools or orders) belong to the true Sunni; the document refers to Wahhabis and others as "misguided." The Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Islamic State and others also ended up in this latter category (Islam.in.ua, August 31).

The fact that 1,400 years since the founding of Islam Muslims still argue about who is on the true path or who is on the way to Sunnah indicates how multiple Islamic groups have distorted the essence of this faith. In the past, many such movements replaced the basic foundations of Islam with their own misanthropic views (Chechnyatoday.com, August 28). This process is quite important for the North Caucasus along with other regions of the world. North Caucasians are fighting in the ranks of the Islamic State, in Syria and Iraq. In this regard, however, the conference did not make many advances. Islamic theologians are divided on the issues of whom to actually consider a radical and what to do about such an individual.

The conference participants tried to indicate their support for what in Russia is considered "traditional" Islam-that is, the type of Islam that Russians accept. The conference specifically recommended that Russia's Muslim clerics should be trained at al-Azhar University in Egypt. The authorities also plan to open an Islamic science center called Tabsyr (Explanations), in Grozny, which would fight extremist ideas. Finally, the conference recommended that all Muslims in Russia refer to the teachings of the grand imam of al-Azhar in Egypt, Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed el-Tayeb. It appears that Moscow regards this figure as one of the most authoritative voices in the modern Islamic world (Dumchr.ru, August 27).

Yet, the conference in Grozny left out several important Muslim leaders of Russia. The heads of the two largest Muslim associations-Ravil Gainutdin, the chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, and Talgat Tajudin, who serves as the mufti of the Central Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Russia-did not attend the conference, although they both dispatched their representatives. Apparently, Chechen officials did not consult with other Russian Muslim leaders when organizing the conference in Grozny, and the latter decided not to participate in the event (Onkavkaz.com, August 31).

The August 2016 conference notably passed a resolution condemning Salafists, and the Russian government will almost certainly use that resolution to attack members of this group. However, the Salafists do not recognize the authority of any of the individuals who actually attended the Grozny conference; as such, Salafists will ignore all the decision taken there. Thus, the dispute within Sunni Islam will continue to drag on for a long time to come. Even one of the most moderate Islamic scholars, the General Secretary of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Ali al-Qaradaghi, spoke against the resolution passed at the conference. Well-known Moroccan scholar Hassan Dadu harshly criticized the conference in Grozny, as well. And the chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Moscow, Ildar Alyautdinov, expressed doubts that the resolution would help unite even the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia (Kavkazsky Uzel, September 3). In the end, the conference succeeded in carrying out Moscow's wish to denounce Salafists, but it will have no impact on the Salafists themselves.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
After a Delay, Russia Delivers New Types of Weapons to Armenia

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Armen Grigoryan Publication Date 26 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 154 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, After a Delay, Russia Delivers New Types of Weapons to Armenia, 26 September 2016, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 13 Issue: 154, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea79c73e.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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During preparations for a military parade to mark the 25th anniversary of Armenia's independence on September 21, Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile launchers (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone) appeared on the streets of Yerevan. This development became one of the most discussed issues in Armenia for the next few days.

Several media reports about the parade rehearsal asserted that the vehicles that appeared in the streets were Iskander-Ms; however, that type of weapon, with a range of 500 kilometers, could not be exported unless Russia decided to discard the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)-a multilateral voluntary covenant for prevention of proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies capable of carrying payloads above 500 kilograms at distances exceeding 300 kilometers. The spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Defense, Artsrun Hovhannissian, in an interview with Radio Liberty shortly before the parade, avoided answering the question of whether Armenia really acquired that type of weapon, saying it would be better "to keep the intrigue alive" until Independence Day (Azatutyun.am, September 19). During the parade, it was announced that the equipment on display had a range of 300 kilometers; therefore, this could be the Iskander-E, which has a maximum range of 280 kilometers and was specially designed to meet MTCR export restrictions. The defense ministry spokesman said that all equipment showcased during the parade-including the Iskanders, Smerch multiple rocket launchers, Buk anti-aircraft missiles, and Infauna vehicles carrying electronic warfare systems for jamming and communication management-were the property of the Armenian Armed Forces (Azatutyun.am, September 21). However, some vocal critics of Russia's policies and the current format of Russo-Armenian relations remain skeptical, arguing that the Iskanders belonged to Russia (5165news.com, September 24).

The deployment of the longer-range Iskander-M system to the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia, was announced several years ago (Azatutyun.am, June 3, 2013). The possibility for Armenia to acquire similar weapons, among other equipment, has been discussed since 2015, when the Russo-Armenian inter-governmental committee agreed that Russia would provide Yerevan a $200 million loan for buying weapons (see EDM, June 29, 2015). Already then, Russian military analyst Alexander Golts noted that supplies might include Iskander-Es, as Russia would hardly export the Iskander-M (1in.am, July 14, 2015). Still, Iskanders were not mentioned among the weapons and other equipment included in the purchase plans discussed at the intergovernmental level in early 2016 (see EDM, January 28; March 18).

The loan agreement stipulating that the procurement would be carried out until the end of 2017 came into force on February 10, 2016. No deliveries were reported for a few months, and that led to expressions of disappointment by Armenian officials, especially after the intensive battles in Karabakh-the so-called "four-day war"-in April, while the government also tried to contain the growing public discontent with Russia (see EDM, April 14). In June, some top officials said that Russia made ratification of an agreement on establishing a joint regional air defense system (which, according to several critics, would subordinate Armenian air defense to Russia's Southern Military District) a precondition for supplying the promised weapons worth $200 million (see EDM, June 20). Ratification of that agreement was postponed for about two weeks and took place after a visit of Armenian defense ministry officials to Moscow (Haykakan Zhamanak, June 24). The start of weapon deliveries was announced soon after a presidential meeting of Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, on August 10, followed by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's brief visit to Yerevan. The Iskander was not mentioned among the planned deliveries, although it was stated that the list had not yet been finalized (Izvestia.ru, August 16). More recently, the Russian newspaper Vedomosti reaffirmed that the annexes to the loan agreement did not include the Iskander, and referred to unnamed managers of a Russian military industrial company, who said that Iskanders were being supplied on the basis of a separate agreement in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) framework, and thus not covered by the $200 million loan. As such, the Iskander system has now apparently been exported from Russia for the first time; a 2005 contract with Syria was annulled by the Russian government upon request by Israel (Vedomosti.ru, September 18).

Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer noted that Russia's intention to supply weapons to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, reaffirmed also after the "four-day war," remains unchanged since Moscow considers that it can win even more regional influence this way. He also noted that further Russian supplies to Azerbaijan would depend on the latter's ability to pay (1in.am, August 4). As noted by David Shahnazaryan, an analyst at the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center, "Russia may agree to anything but settlement [of the Karabakh conflict]," and while the balance of military power is in Azerbaijan's favor, it may currently not be enough to solve the issue by force (168.am, September 23). Supplying heavy weapons to Armenia, and thus providing it with an additional deterrence capability, may be a part of Moscow's tactics of manipulating the conflicting sides, while it is also likely to induce Azerbaijan to spend more on procuring Russian weapons. Besides, there may be another reason for Moscow to show a more favorable attitude toward Yerevan at this moment. Russia would prefer to keep the current situation in Armenia politically stable, with both the government and the parliamentary opposition loyal to Moscow-as well as preserve the status quo after the 2017 general elections in Armenia. As such, this is a convenient moment to ease local anti-Russian sentiments by reinforcing the Russo-Armenian "strategic partnership" narrative.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Regional Elections: Complete Predictability Can Become Unpredictable

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vadim Shtepa Publication Date 26 September 2016 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Regional Elections: Complete Predictability Can Become Unpredictable, 26 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea7aa04.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The September 18 Russian elections (see EDM, September 19) were not only for the State Duma. In this "single voting day," Russians also elected 7 governors and 39 regional legislative assemblies.

Governors in today's Russia are formally elected by a direct vote, but this system is not fully free (see EDM, March 25). Competitive and free gubernatorial elections in Russia lasted from 1996 to 2004, but that year President Vladimir Putin began to appoint governors from the Kremlin. Mass "white ribbon" protests in 2011-2012 (see EDM, December 13, 2011; June 11, 2012) forced the authorities to restore gubernatorial elections, but these are nonetheless fundamentally different from gubernatorial elections of 1996-2004. Specifically, today's contests seriously restrict the opportunities for potential candidates. According to the 2012 electoral law, gubernatorial candidates can be nominated only by political parties (self-nomination is a rare exception in some regions). Moreover, candidate hopefuls must pass the "municipal filter," gathering the signatures of 10 percent of all city and district deputies of their region (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, May 4, 2012).

Since the ruling United Russia party dominates almost all local legislative assemblies across the country, it, of course, has an advantage when it comes to nominating candidates for governor. In addition, the law states: "The President on his own initiative may consult with the political parties to nominate candidates for the post of governor." Considering the weight of presidential opinion in Russia, these "consultations" are rather perceived as recommendations-and are, thus, de facto appointments of governors.

Gubernatorial elections this year were held in the republics of Chechnya, Komi and Tuva; Tver, Tula and Ulyanovsk regions; and Trans-Baikal Territory. All the winning candidates in these regions are United Russia members, and each was appointed acting governor by Putin prior to the elections. Therefore, these gubernatorial elections passed with no surprises.

Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov gained almost 98 percent of the vote. Taking into account the specific situation in this republic, it was difficult to expect another result (see EDM, June 13). Yet, Putin has called Chechnya "an example of federalism" (Newsru.com, September 5).

Candidates in other regions did not beat Kadyrov's "record," but many came close (Izbirkom.ru, accessed September 23). For example, Sergei Gaplikov, received 62 percent of the vote to become the new governor of the Komi Republic, despite lacking any personal links to this region. In 2004-2010, he was the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Chuvashia, and in 2011-2014, he led the state corporation Olimpstroy, which built Olympic facilities in Sochi. He was appointed acting head of the Komi Republic in September 2015, after the arrest of former governor Vyacheslav Gayzer. Following this high-profile case, the local elites apparently all fell out of favor in Moscow (Kommersant, September 20, 2015).

In the Tula region, Putin's former bodyguard and aide-de-camp General Andrei Dyumin (Meduza, February 8) won with a score of 84 percent. His proximity to the president was evidently more important for Tula's regional elites and the voters than his "non-native" origin. Dyumin also has no connection to Tula-he was born in Kursk, and later served in Moscow.

The new governor of the Tver region, Igor Rudenya, a former federal agriculture official, is another "Moscow guest." He received 72 percent of the vote, but he had no serious opponents there-in this region, even the candidate from the Communist Party was removed.

On the contrary, a new governor of the Trans-Baikal Territory, Natalya Zhdanova, who received 54 percent of the vote, is a local native. This fact probably played in her favor, given widespread local patriotism in the Siberian regions.

The head of the Republic of Tyva, Sholban Kara-ool, who again won the elections, is also local native. He leads the region since 2007 and this time received 86 percent of the vote. But in Tyva, where the titular nation makes up 82 percent of the population, a victory by a non-indigenous politician would be nearly impossible.

The re-elected leader of Ulyanovsk, Sergei Morozov, is a veteran of Russian politics. He was first elected to his post in 2004, and was subsequently reappointed for two more terms by presidents Putin and Dmitry Medvedev. His election victory this year, with a score of 55 percent, indicates that this former police official secured appropriate political "stability" in his region: all candidates (even from the opposition party Yabloko) are free to register, but their chances for victory are overwhelmingly undermined by the authorities' powerful administrative resources.

On September 18, Russians also elected 39 regional legislative assemblies. In each case, United Russia came in first. The opposition party Parnas (Party of People's Freedom) received no seats at all. Only Yabloko succeeded in creating a small faction in the regional parliaments of St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia and Pskov region, as well as in municipal councils of Perm and Kaliningrad (Yabloko.ru, September 19).

Political analyst Vladislav Inozemtsev believes the electoral failures of the Russian opposition can be primarily ascribed to these parties' promotion of their leaders rather than developing a broad alternative program. The result is a paradox: for example, Grigory Yavlinsky calls for "a change in power" but himself has led Yabloko for 23 years (Snob.ru, September 21).

In principle, the Russian president may dismiss elected governors at any time and appoint their acting replacements. Indeed, in July of this year, Putin appointed his former bodyguard Evgeny Zinichev acting governor of Kaliningrad region (Meduza, July 29). Yet, Zinichev did not participate in the September elections, suggesting his appointment is "unlimited." This situation makes the governor's legitimacy uncertain.

Russian governors are further limited by the fact they have no real impact on the local economies. All major companies in Russia have a "federal" status and are managed from Moscow. In these conditions, governors can only ask the federal center to increase subsidies. This economic dependence drastically reduces the possibility for independent political action.

Arguably, the situation can only change with the emergence of regional political parties. But unlike during the 1990s, today's governors are themselves afraid of the emergence of local opposition forces and thus inhibit local patriotism. Moreover, they fear being branded as "disloyal" to the Kremlin.

At first glance, the solid predictability of the recent elections points to the stability of Putin's "vertical of power" regime. However, these elections were characterized by the lowest voter turnout in the history of post-Soviet Russia-less than 48 percent (TV Rain, September 19). Falling living standards in Russian regions-caused by the centralization of the Russian economy and its isolation from developed countries-could lead to new protests and other processes of political change, even if this seems unlikely at present. Yet, a century ago, no one foresaw the February 1917 Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy in Russia.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Belarus and Russia Experience New Bout of Tensions

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 27 September 2016 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarus and Russia Experience New Bout of Tensions, 27 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea7b024.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In recent years, there has been no shortage of bad blood between Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and the Russian Kremlin. For example, in February 2004, Lukashenka referred to the stoppage of Russian natural gas flows into Belarus, in retaliation for Belarus's insistence on lower prices, as "terrorism at the highest level." And in June 2009, following a milk war-i.e., a series of rejections of Belarusian dairy products by Russia's agricultural import controlling agency-the Belarusian head of state promised to reconsider his country's participation in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Still, Lukashenka's September 20 televised statement during his talk with Grigory Rapota, the secretary of the Russia-Belarus Union State, was no ordinary event (Belta, September 20). The Belarusian leader displayed his utmost indignation at the state of economic relations with Russia, most importantly in regard to the ongoing argument about natural gas prices and repeated Russian bans on Belarusian dairy products. As for natural gas, since January Belarus has been paying $73 per 1,000 cubic meters, not $132, as was previously agreed upon (see EDM, June 15). In late August, as signs began to look promising for a breakthrough in the prolonged negotiations, sources in Russia reported a looming agreement stipulating $97 per 1,000 cubic meters as the new price until the end of 2016 and as little as $62.37 in 2017 (Kommersant, August 26). This report, however, was shortly disavowed. Then, on September 11, after a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenka assured the public that the issue would be resolved in two days, and yet the stalemate has continued to linger on (Tut.by, September 20). Moreover, in retaliation for Belarus's intransigence, in July Russia cut its supply of oil by 37.6 percent. As a result, Belarus lost $200 million in revenues in the third quarter alone due to its lessened export of refined oil to Western Europe (Naviny.by, September 20).

In his talk with Rapota, Lukashenka acknowledged that many Belarusians express concern over bilateral economic ties with Russia. Mutual trade shrank by more than one quarter in 2015. And it has declined yet again, by one tenth, during the first half of 2016. In part this is because trade is denominated in US dollars, whereas the Russian ruble has substantially devaluated since 2014. Lukashenka also characterized Russia's cutting back on oil exported to Belarus as "pressure that I would not tolerate and Belarusians would not either." As for agricultural trade bans, Lukashenka attributed them to indulging Russia's own oligarchs, who do not want competition from Belarus. In the end, Lukashenka warned he would "optimize" Belarus's participation in the Eurasian Economic Union: in particular, he pledged to withdraw part of the Belarusian representatives from of union's management body in Moscow (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 21).

Political commentators close to the government opine that Belarus's inability to extract benefits from economic integration with Russia is due to energy price incongruity (i.e., the fact that despite the existence of the economic union Belarusian producers have to pay more for gas than Russians). This situation, they argue, borders on absurdity (Sputnik.by, September 22). Some observers claim that Russia is penalizing Belarus for its rapprochement with the West and for Minsk's persistent support for Ukraine's territorial integrity (Naviny.by, September 20). Nonetheless, they suggest Lukashenka may be willing to resolve the gas price argument with Russia now-while the effect of Belarus's solidarity with the Russian team banned from the Paralympic Games in Rio is still strong. Indeed, on September 8, the Belarusian Paralympic team carried the Russian national flag in support of that country's banned athletes, alongside the Belarusian flag; the resulting outpouring of gratitude in Russia was overwhelming (Lenta.ru, RT, September 8).

Perhaps one should not blow the current rise in tensions between Russia and Belarus out of proportion. According to a well-known Russian adage, intra-species relations, like arguments within a family, are bound to be more acrimonious than inter-species ones, i.e., than relations with outsiders. Still, some commentators' observations about Belarus's excessive dependency on natural resources may be accurate. No wonder Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobiakov accurately attributed the country's 3 percent economic decline over the first eight months of 2016 to diminished deliveries of Russian oil and low prices on potassium (which Belarus exports). Yes, Belarus's High-Tech Park (see EDM, November 10, 2014) is great, say such commentators, but this is a drop in the ocean (Naviny.by, September 23).

But is it really just a drop? Unequivocal answers to this question are in short supply. On the one hand, exports of IT services from Belarus account for only 2.1 percent of GDP. On the other hand, from 2006 to 2016, this sector has grown at a rate of 26 percent per year and is now approaching $1 billion (Probusiness.by, September 19). In 2013, services for the first time exceeded industry in the proportion they contribute to Belarus's GDP. And in 2015, the IT sector exceeded the production of industrial machines and equipment as a share of GDP. So much for Belarus's much touted hyper-industrialization. What is more, there is a much higher share of value added in IT compared with manufacturing and even with oil processing (Probusiness.by, September 23). The IT production cycle is controlled by Belarus in its entirety, like that of potash (potassium); whereas much of Belarus's manufacturing depends on raw materials and semi-finished products from Russia, while agriculture depends on Russia's market. In contrast, pretty much all of Belarus's IT service exports are directed toward the West. So looking forward, the IT sector, with 157 resident companies at the Minsk-based High-Tech Park-plus Wargaming and Viber, which "reside" elsewhere in Belarus-is a diversification vehicle for the country's external relations.

In the meantime, however, the current economic situation looks rather grim, with the officially reported national average monthly salary in August amounting to just $389. In the Belarusian capital, the official reported monthly salary is $529 (Tut.by, September 23). Yet, these figure are difficult to reconcile when perusing Minsk's packed supermarkets and shopping malls as well as observing the massive fleet of new Western and Japanese cars owned by the city's residents.

The heirs to war-time partisans, Belarusians are not known for aggressive behavior or excessive pride. Nevertheless, they clearly have developed numerous subtle ways of defending themselves from outsiders and of putting to use all the assets of their seemingly resource-poor but neatly groomed country.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Number fleeing Burundi to neighbouring countries tops 300,000

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 23 September 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Number fleeing Burundi to neighbouring countries tops 300,000, 23 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea7c1c4.html [accessed 31 October 2022]

The number of people fleeing violence, threats, extrajudicial killings, abduction, torture and persecution in Burundi has passed the 300,000 mark, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said today.

The grim milestone comes some 18 months after the political crisis in the central African nation erupted in April last year.

While 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. Most are fleeing Kirundo, Makamba, Bujumbura city, Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces in search of asylum or international protection.

UNHCR expects numbers to continue rising in the remaining months of this year. However, there are fears that neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and aid agencies including UNHCR will struggle to continue providing adequate shelter, protection and life-saving services.

"The reception capacities of these host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (September 23).

These worrying trends would persist as long as a solution to the political crisis in Burundi remains elusive, he said, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region.

"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," Spindler said.

Tanzania is currently hosting 163,084 Burundian refugees, the largest number in the region. As the influx continues, UNHCR is in talks with the government to urgently identify a fourth camp site in the west of the country to alleviate crowding. However, resources desperately needed to provide protection and basic assistance.

In Rwanda, around 70 per cent of 81,000 Burundian refugees are living in emergency shelters, which are starting to deteriorate.

"Half of the Burundian refugees in Rwanda are children, many of whom arrived unaccompanied or separated from their familes," Spindler said. "UNHCR and its partners are concentrating on providing family tracing, reunification, and alternative care arrangements for these children."

Elsewhere, resources are also under strain in Uganda, which was hosting 41,938 refugees at the end of August. Every month, new arrivals number between 1,000 and 3,000 and more health clinics are desperately needed.

A surge of Burundians, almost 4,000, arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between July and mid-September, mostly women and children. With the start of the rainy season in late September, many of the emergency shelters constructed in the Lusenda camp since 2015 need urgent rehabilitation.

Lusenda camp now hosts more than 21,000 people - well over its capacity for 18,000 and UNHCR is working closely with the Congolese authorities to identify an additional site.

Smaller numbers have been fleeing to Zambia, totalling over 1,700 since April last year. Most are in Lusaka, the capital, awaiting word on their asylum applications. Once granted refugee status, the Burundian refugees are relocated to one of two refugee settlements, where they are allotted plots of land by the government and receive assistance from UNHCR and partners.

However, without funding and support, UNHCR and partners will struggle to continue helping those who have their homes with even the most basic assistance.

UNHCR requested US$175.1 million for the Burundi humanitarian response in 2016 and has to date received US$4.7 million, or about 3 per cent. The UN Refugee Agency thanks donors for their generosity to date while appealing for more urgent funding.
Guinea: 7 Years On, Justice for Massacre Needed

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 27 September 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Guinea: 7 Years On, Justice for Massacre Needed, 27 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea80124.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Guinea has yet to deliver justice for the grave crimes committed on September 28, 2009, at a Conakry stadium, six international and national human rights groups said today, in advance of the massacre's seventh anniversary. That day, more than 150 peaceful protesters were massacred by security forces and more than 100 women were raped. Hundreds of injuries and widespread looting were also documented.

"How much longer will we have to wait for justice to be done?" said Asmaou Diallo, president of the Association of Victims, Parents, and Friends of September 28. "We recognize the progress made, but we anxiously await the day those responsible for the murder and rape of our loved ones will have their day in court."

The six organizations are the International Federation on Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights Watch, the Guinean Organization for the Defense of Human and Citizens' Rights (OGDH), the Association of Victims, Parents and Friends of September 28 (AVIPA), Equal Rights for All (MDT), and the Coalition of Human Rights Defense Organizations (CODDH).

The investigation, which is being conducted by a pool of Guinean investigating judges, was opened in February 2010 but has not yet been completed. Nevertheless, the investigation has made major progress despite political, financial, and logistical obstacles.

Current and former high-level officials have been charged, including Moussa Dadis Camara, the former leader of the National Council of Democracy and Development junta, which ruled Guinea at the time, and his vice president, Mamadouba Toto Camara. Judges have heard the testimony of more than 400 victims and their family members, and they have also questioned witnesses, including members of the security services.

Some investigative aspects remain outstanding, including the questioning of at least one key witness, locating at least one suspect, and locating mass graves believed to contain the bodies of about 100 victims who remain unaccounted for. Witnesses allege that the security forces engaged tried to hide the evidence of their crimes and misrepresented the number of people killed. But these outstanding elements should not cause Guinean judicial authorities to delay the completion of the investigation, the groups said.

"The victims, their lawyers from the FIDH and the OGDH, and our organizations now want to see the conclusion of the investigation and a trial that will finally enable truth, justice, and reparations for the victims," said Dimitris Christopoulos, president of FIDH.

The beginning of a major reorganization of the justice system in 2014 has led to significant progress in the case and laid the foundations for an awaited modernization of the system, the organizations said. These changes are essential to overcome striking gaps in the Guinean judicial system and strengthen its independence, impartiality, and efficiency.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), which opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Guinea in October 2009, has regularly reminded the Guinean government of its obligation to deliver justice for the 2009 crimes. The Guinean government should ensure that the investigations phase of the case moves ahead with no further delay to organize the trial, the organizations said.

The ICC is designed as a court of last resort. Under the principle of complementarity, the ICC only steps in when national courts are unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute cases under its authority.

"Guinea could become, with this long-awaited trial, a real leader on justice for grave crimes in Africa," said Corinne Dufka, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The government of Guinea should give its strongest support to the investigative panel to complete its work so that those responsible for the stadium massacre can be tried without delay."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
UNESCO chief condemns killing of Mexican community radio host

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 September 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UNESCO chief condemns killing of Mexican community radio host, 27 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea80e64.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today expressed indignation at the killing of community radio host Agustin Pavia Pavia in the Mexican state of Oaxaca on 13 September.

"I condemn the killing of Agustin Pavia Pavia," declared Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"Targeting journalists for their work is an intolerable attack on society as a whole. It is important the authorities investigate this crime and bring its perpetrators to trial," she added.

Agustin Pavia Pavia was shot in his hometown of Huajuapan de Leon, where he hosted "Tu Un Nuu Savi," a political programme on community radio.

The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States in 1997, entitled "Condemnation of Violence against Journalists."
UN HRC: UPR Outcome for Tajikistan

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, UN HRC: UPR Outcome for Tajikistan, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea84af4.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

ITEM 6: ADOPTION OF UPR OUTCOME FOR TAJIKISTAN

22 SEPTEMBER 2016

ORAL STATEMENT

DELIVERED BY LUCY BYE, ARTICLE 19

Mr. Vice President,

Tajikistan's engagement with the UPR process has taken place at a time when there is an ongoing assault on the right to freedom of expression and democratic freedoms in the country.

We therefore regret that recommendations most relevant to these rights have either been rejected or accepted, with the heavy qualifier that that they are already implemented.

This could not be further from the truth: the crackdown on peaceful government opposition and critics of the government in Tajikstan has accelerated.

In June 2016, the deputy heads of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party were sentenced to life imprisonment, with 12 more members receiving prison sentences ranging from 5 - 28 years on charges of "terrorism", incitement to hatred, attempts to overthrow constitutional order and armed rebellion.

The trials took place behind closed doors, with no evidence provided publicly.

In August, two of these political prisoners, Kurbon Mannonov and Nozimdzhon Tashripov, died in prison. Tashripov's family reported signs of torture on his body, including that his neck had been broken.

Freedom of expression is not protected online in Tajikistan, nor in the print and broadcast media.

Tajikistan continues to regularly block access to independent news websites and social media sites. This is particularly evident around major events, including the Constitutional referendum in May 2016.

Though defamation has been decriminalized, "insult" of the president and of state officials remains a criminal offence (Articles 137 and 330 Criminal Code), while civil defamation lawsuits are persistently used to stifle independent media reporting. New legislation enables a court to suspend media publications indefinitely.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression, in his preliminary observations on his visit to Tajikistan in March 2016, found that "a climate of fear has descended upon key sectors of civil society, stifling free expression in ways that will only lead to resentment and insecurity", warning that "stability and economic growth cannot be achieved through the repression of dissenting views".

We call upon Tajikistan to implement the Special Rapporteur's preliminary recommendations. All individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges must be unconditionally and immediately released, alleged torture or mistreatment investigated and accountability ensured, and the intimidation of civil society and the media must end.

The government must repeal all laws restricting freedom of expression, including online and for the media, and ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society.

Thank you

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
UN HRC: UPR outcome of the United Republic of Tanzania

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, UN HRC: UPR outcome of the United Republic of Tanzania, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea84f63da.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

ITEM 6: UPR OUTCOME OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

ORAL STATEMENT

22 SEPTEMBER 2016

DELIVERED BY LUCY BYE, ARTICLE 19

Mr. President,

ARTICLE 19 thanks Member States for recommendations made to Tanzania during its second Universal Periodic Review to specifically advance protections for freedom of expression and information.

Despite protections for these rights in Tanzania's Constitution, numerous laws incompatible with Tanzania's international and regional obligations on freedom of expression remain in place and are abused; they must be urgently reviewed.

We welcome Tanzania's commitment to investigate promptly continuing attacks and threats against journalists and to ensure justice and redress for victims. Tanzania must themselves commit to end harassment of journalists reporting on malpractice and maladministration in public offices, including through the abuse of the 1962 Regions and Regional Commissioners Act and the 1962 Area Commissioner Act.

We welcome recommendations to amend the recently adopted Cybercrimes Act to ensure compatibility with the right to free expression and privacy. The law fails to protect whistle-blowers, or to ensure proper safeguards for searches, and imposes disproportionate minimal custodial and financial sanctions. The Act must be reformed.

The media are facing an increasingly restrictive environment. The 1976 Newspaper Act continues to be used to intimidate independent media and silence critical voices. Broad powers granted to the Minister of Information to ban or close media, and powers to police to seize publications in what amounts to prior censorship violate international law. Stringent registration requirements for print media, including excessive criminal sanction, are routinely abused to restrict free expression. The entire Act must be repealed.

Tanzania should abolish sedition offences, and decriminalise defamation, introducing civil remedies in its place. Powerful individuals can abuse these laws to limit legitimate criticism. As the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights decided in Konate v Burkina Faso in 2014, such laws are incompatible with the African Charter.

ARTICLE 19 further calls on Tanzania to adopt an Access to Information Bill, as committed to in the first cycle, to effectively guarantee the right to obtain and impart information. The right should be secured free of charge for information requesters. Exemptions to disclosure must be narrowly and clearly defined, and criminal sanctions for public officials who release information must be removed.

Thank you.

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Afghanistan: Ways Forward to Peace

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Publication Date 26 September 2016 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 555 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: Ways Forward to Peace, 26 September 2016, ARR 555, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57ea87024.html [accessed 31 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The conclusions of a long-running IWPR project on way to build peace in Afghanistan have been presented at a public event in the capital Kabul.

Some 200 people, including university students, journalists, political experts and representatives of various NGOs, took part in the September 20 debate at the Intercontinental Hotel.

After suffering more than three decades of war, Afghan now faces the challenge of negotiating with the armed opposition. Although the High Peace Council has been working for the last six years to facilitate talks, there has been little progress.

Afghan Reconciliation: Promoting Peace and Building Trust by Engaging Civil Society was designed to involve communities in active discussions about peace-building, human rights and reconciliation as the keys to a stable, functioning society.

IWPR project manager Munir Mehraban told attendees that the programme had reached around 20,000 people across the country in the course of the 200 debates it has held over the past two years.

He explained that the main messages they had encountered were that efforts to bring peace were more advanced on a local than on a national level, with the government stymied by the lack of a unified approach. Alliances were unclear, while opposition politicians often lacked commitment in the process. Poverty and unemployment were also major challegnes, making young men vulnerable to recruitment by the insurgents.

The event also heard from a number of experts and politicians, with audience members encouraged to put their own questions.

Khalilullah Safi is head of the Afghanistan branch of Pugwash, an international organisation promoting peace worldwide.

Negotiations were important, he said, because contrary to popular opinion the Taleban did not answer to outside forces such as Pakistan, where the leadership is based.

Safi added that Pugwash had organised several conferences involving countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Japan, France, and Germany as well as Afghan politicians and Taleban representatives.

"If Taleban are [based] in Pakistan nowadays due to some issues, we shouldn't say that they obey Pakistan's orders. The Taleban are independent and have the right to make their own decisions. If the problem is that they are in Pakistan, then the mujahedin also lived in Pakistan during the war with the Soviet Union, but they didn't get any orders from Pakistanis."

Parwan governor Asim Asim, himself a former mujahedin, disagreed strongly with Safi.

"First of all, the Taleban are terrorists, are not independent, and cannot make their own decisions," he said.

"Secondly, comparing the mujahedin with the Taleban is incorrect, taking into account the global and regional political situation in those days. The mujahedin were supported by the international community and the jihad in Afghanistan was considered lawful by Islamic scholars, while the Taleban's fight is not legal at all. The jihadi leaders were all independent and took their own decisions while the Taleban are not like that."

Balkh university lecturer Jamshid Fardin, a veteran IWPR debate participant, said that unemployment was a major factor driving young men to join the armed opposition. He recounted how he had heard this himself.

"When an educated youth joined the insurgents, he was asked why he had opted to rebel against the government," he said.

"The young man answered that he had a master's degree and had worked at government organisations for some time, but then another young man who had less education than him but was supported by local powerbrokers was hired and he was fired. After a long period of unemployment, he was forced to join the insurgents."

Kabul university student Saifurrahman Samim agreed that people had no trust in officials because of pervasive corruption throughout government. He asked the panel how peace could be brought under such circumstances.

Monira Yusufzada, the spokeswoman of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, responded that there was no doubt that corruption diminished public trust in government. However, fighting it was a national project that everyone needed to take part in.

"The government alone cannot eliminate corruption unless the public cooperates with them," she concluded.

Another Kabul university student, Waqif Baligh, asked whether there was social justice for people living in more peaceful parts of Afghanistan.

Parwan governor Mohammed Asim explained that there was no rule of law in regions ruled by the Taleban. The government, on the other hand, tried to bring justice to all in areas they controlled, regardless of tribe or ethnicity.

"We can claim that there is relative justice in areas that have relative peace," he said.

Logar governor Mohammad Halim Fidae agreed that peace was impossible without social justice.

"Unless all groups are given their fair share of power, and unless there is understanding among political parties, bringing peace and security will be undoubtedly prove impossible."

"This debate allowed ordinary Afghans to share their expectations and viewpoints with the local authorities, and make the government understand that Afghans need peace more than anything else," Mehraban concluded. "This debate made it clear that the peace talks conducted by the government for the last six years have not been on the right track."

Ozra Aziz Ahmadi, a civil society activist in Herat, said that IWPR was the only organisation that was able to deliver such educational campaigns even in the most remote areas of Afghanistan.

"These debates are very useful for public awareness," she continued. "Such debates decrease the distance between the people and the government and they get closer to each other."

Women's rights campaigner Hamida Wardak agreed that IWPR's activities set a benchmark within the activist community.

"The debates that IWPR has conducted are very effective and informative. They reflect how people really think."

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Plymouth, Devon -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/27/2016 --After a long and outstanding service, John Lawrence has stood down as Vice Chairman and handed the Vice Chairmanship over to Matthew Cahill MBA. John has agreed to remain part of the team as a co-opted member to offer advise and guidance if and when it is needed.



The UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations was founded in 1998 in order to provide a non political arena to discuss and implement changes to the profession of hypnotherapy.



The Organisation is a members Co-operative limited by a guarantee and its members are Registering Bodies and Accrediting Bodies. As with all Member bodies UKCHO does not accept the use of stage hypnosis and therefore are not members of the organisation or Associate member organisations.



Matthew Cahill is a full time practicing hypnotherapist in Plymouth Devon and Harley Street London, he has been in private practice for well over a decade and is the founder of the Observatory Practice in Plymouth Devon.



Matthew is also a trustee for the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and a senior lecturer at CPHT London and CPHT Plymouth.



Matthew's clinical experience and business knowledge will prove invaluable as he helps move the organisation to the next level, "i have a very keen interest in using my knowledge gained in real life and academia and i look for to embracing the future challenges" " its a real privilege to be working along side such a experienced team" says Matthew.



Many members of the organisation have serviced since its beginning in1998 and this will prove helpful in future decision making processes.



Although Matthew has expertise in Management and Finance his speciality is his understanding and implementation of the Marketing process. Matthew has already been assigned various projects which I'm sure he will embrace and complete on time.



Matthew is also advocate of real world research and measuring outcomes within the therapeutic setting, he is the co-founder of the outcomes and research programme CORP which focuses on seven key areas of ones wellbeing.



The programme takes only a few minutes to complete and is an enjoyable process for the client. Matthew says " it is really important that Hypnotherapists measure their therapy outcomes because there is so much fantastic work going unnoticed".



The programme allows the practitioner to be able to track the progress of each of their clients during the course of each and every session.



It means you build up a clear picture of evidence to show how effectively your practice is working. It also helps to provide an important confidence boost for existing clients who can chart their progress.



Two of Matthew's research papers each with different measuring tools has been put forward for analysis and he is currently waiting to hear the results.



Matthew is co-ordinating the research programme for the AfSFH and already he has several thousand hours of data to analysis and the next set results are due to be published at the end of 2016.



The published results will be available to read in the next Hypnotherapy Today Journal or visit http://matthewcahill.co.uk



About Matthew Cahill

Matthew Cahill is a reputed clinical hypnotherapist located in Plymouth and London, UK.



For more information, please visit http://matthewcahill.co.uk

Contact: 8 The Crescent Plymouth, PL13AB

Telephone: 07968178020

Email: matthew.s.cahill@btinternet.com
Shania Twain coming to Indianapolis on first tour in nearly five years
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By Timothy Chipp of the Abilene Reporter News

Brookesmith Independent School District, in Brown County, could be closing at the end of the school year, according to a Texas Education Agency representative.

According to the TEA, financial constraints are the cause, though the school superintendent refused to comment on the situation when reached by the Reporter-News.

"We're working through some stuff. Once we have it figured out, we'll comment," Superintendent Guy Birdwell said. "But for now, we're not going to comment on this. Every time we do, it gets twisted around."

DeEtta Culbertson, information specialist at TEA, said communication between the district and the agency has focused on financial trouble the district faces. She said Brookesmith ISD, which has an average daily attendance of 115 students, likely won't be able to afford to stay in business beyond the end of the school year.

She said TEA is not involved in any action against the school district, which wasn't always the case. In 2014-15, the district faced closure after a threat of accreditation revocation due to both poor financial and academic performance for four consecutive years.

Since an agreement between the agency and the district, TEA has not levied sanctions against the district and a conservator, which was in place to monitor finances, was removed, according to a message posted to the district's website on June 6.

"This is a great milestone and shows our tremendous progress, both academically and financially," the message says. "We are moving forward."

Twitter: @TimothyChippARN
It's hard for any entity involved in Syria's brutal five-year civil war to cite consistent stretches of success. President Bashar Assad would be on the ropes if it weren't for Russia's intervention. President Barack Obama's track record in Syria has been pockmarked with failure, and likely will leave a lasting stain on his legacy. Moderate rebel groups are fighting to survive. And the one group everyone wants out of Syria, Islamic State, has slowly, steadily been losing territory day by day, acre by acre.

One player in Syria, however, has been able to grow stronger and build on its battlefield victories. Syrian Kurds have expanded the territory they control in the northern part of the country, and have retaken from Islamic State key cities like Kobani and Manbij. As a result, the Kurds are in the best position to mount an offensive against Islamic State fighters in their de facto Syrian capital, Raqqa.

A victory over Islamic State in Raqqa, coupled with what the West hopes is an eventual ouster of the militant group from its biggest stronghold in Iraq, the northern city of Mosul, would deal a crushing broadside to the militant group's vision of a caliphate in the Middle East. The Islamic State would find itself on the run  hardly a selling point in its online recruiting.

Syrian Kurds' pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State has the White House weighing whether to arm Kurdish fighters. Up until now, the Pentagon has armed militias belonging to the Syrian Arab minority in Kurdish-held territory, but has not been directly arming Syrian Kurds. Speaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said bolstering Syrian Kurd fighters' military capability 'will increase the prospects of our success' to retake Raqqa. 'They are our most effective partner on the ground,' Dunford said.

Obama has had his share of tough choices to make during the Syrian conflict. Arming Syrian Kurds is one of the toughest  but it's the right choice to make.

Reinforcing Syrian Kurds' military capability would come with a price. It would further inflame tensions with Turkey, an important U.S. ally in the war against Islamic State but an avowed enemy of the Kurds, who have a history of separatist conflict in eastern Turkish provinces. U.S. relations with Turkey are already fraught, following the detentions and firings of tens of thousands of Turkish military officers, professors, teachers and judges in the aftermath of the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan is already incensed by Washington's refusal to extradite the man he believes masterminded the coup  Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric and Erdogan's primary political rival, now living in Pennsylvania. And there's another major complication: The stronger the Kurds get, the closer they move toward their vision of a transborder Kurdistan state.

Syrian Kurds have established a semiautonomous region across northern Syria that they call Rojava, with a separate constitution, instruction in Kurdish in many schools, and even foreign offices set up in Moscow and other European capitals. Together with the autonomous region Kurds have governed in northern Iraq since 2005, Kurdish leaders could one day forge their own de facto state, Kurdistan, stretching from Iran on the east to Turkey on the west and encompassing 9.5 million people. Can a trans-border Kurdistan co-exist with regimes in Ankara and Damascus that see Kurds as mortal enemies, and a government in Baghdad that uneasily tolerates Kurdish autonomy?

What's important now is the ouster of the Islamic State from Raqqa, and achieving that success involves arming Syrian Kurds.

Turkey might not acquiesce. One point the U.S. can stress to Erdogan's administration is that Kurds wouldn't be getting heavy artillery, just small arms and ammunition. They should also remind Erdogan that Islamic State remains a major threat to Turkish national security. The terrorist raid on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in June that killed 45 people was carried out by assailants that Turkey linked to Islamic State.

Some of Obama's most embarrassing failures in Syria have involved pinning hopes on the wrong fighting forces. A yearlong $500 million program to train and equip 5,400 moderate Syrian rebel fighters yielded just a handful of troops. Obama can at least start to redeem his record by beefing up the Syrian Kurds' arsenal.

Chicago Tribune
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Leader of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy (R), deputy CNRP leader Kem Sokha (C) and workers march to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of labor leader Chea Vichea, in Phnom Penh on January 22, 2015.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party plans to end its legislative boycott on Wednesday when CNRP lawmakers on the National Assemblys committees return to work, party officials said on Tuesday.

Speaking at CNRPs Phnom Penh headquarters the partys acting chief Kem Sokha told supporters that opposition lawmakers on the Permanent Standing Committee and the legislatures five commissions will attend the legislative meetings on Wednesday.

The Standing Committee is a powerful panel in the Cambodian National Assembly as it doles out legislative assignments for the commissions to consider and runs the assembly when it is not in session.

In November the Standing Committee approved the arrest of CNRP President Sam Rainsys following a court order for his arrest on a seven-year-old defamation conviction. Following the committee vote, National Assembly President Heng Samrin stripped Sam Rainsy of his role as a lawmaker, removing his parliamentary immunity.

By deciding to go back to the legislature, the CNRP may be signaling that it is ready to deal with Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP).

The two parties have been locked in a political stalemate as Cambodian authorities have stripped several lawmakers of their legislative immunity and put lawmakers on trial for a variety of offenses, many of which appear to be aimed at undercutting the CNRP before the local elections in 2017 and the national elections in 2018.

While the lawmakers plan to return to work, it is unclear if any of the opposition partys demands will be met.

Kem Sokha is still threatened with arrest in the governments wide-ranging probe into his alleged affair with a young hair dresser, other opposition lawmakers are still in jail and CNRP President Sam Rainsy is still living abroad as it is likely he would be jailed if he returned to Cambodia.

He didnt make any promises, but Kem Sokha told CNRP activists and the relatives of imprisoned activists that he is hopeful that all jailed activists will be released soon after the political tension is defused.

Earlier this month Hun Sen refused to negotiate with the CNRP saying: If I ever enter into such negotiations I will be nothing short of a dog.

While Hun Sen threatened, he also offered an olive branch when he declared a cease fire in the rhetorical war between the opposition and the CNRP for the Pchum Ben festival.

Hun Sen also appears to be prepared to allow the National Assembly to become the forum for discussions between the warring parties.

The decision to end the boycott and Hun Sens recent actions appear to ratchet down the political tension in Cambodia.

Reported by Moniroth Morm for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Police in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have tried to silence an exiled leader of the rebel village of Wukan by making his detained father persuade him by telephone to stop his activism.



Zhuang Liehong, who lives in New York after fleeing China for the United States in 2014, told RFA's Cantonese Service on Tuesday that he got a phone call from Lufeng Police Department in Guangdong. After the police officer confirmed if it was Zhuang, they handed the phone to his father, Zhuang Songkun.



"My father asked me if I planned any more actions over here and I then asked about his situation. He said he was being treated well by police and asked me not to stir things up overseas and be careful not to be used by other people," Zhuang told RFA.



"I told my father don't fuss too much. If they want to arrest you, just let them do it. I know the phone line has been under surveillance. My intention is to tell them if they arrest my father, there will be a price to pay," Zhuang added.



The elder Zhuang has been in police custody since Sept. 13, when he and three other people who sheltered journalists covering protests that erupted in late summer were issued with notifications of criminal detention.



While Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was attending the United Nations General Assembly last week, Zhuang Liehong staged protests at U.N. headquarters in New York in an effort to call attention to the crackdown, which followed more than 80 days of peaceful protests in his hometown, Wukan.



Wukan, a fishing village of just 13,000, grabbed world headlines in 2011 following pitched battles between police and local residents that came after a long-running land dispute and the death of an activist in detention.



Dozens of people were injured by rubber bullets and police batons during street battles in mid-September, while at least 13 were detained in mass police raids.



The latest protests and crackdown in Wukan came after a court in Guangdong's Foshan city sentenced Lin Zuluan, 72, to more than three years' imprisonment on "bribery" charges. He was made the new head of the village in 2012 as former protest leaders were elected to positions on the village committee following weeks of protests.



The elections that followed the sacking of ruling Chinese Communist Party village secretary Xue Chang for corruption were widely reported in China's tightly controlled media as a model of grassroots democracy.



Wukan residents rejected Lin's sentence, staging further protests over charges they said were trumped up.



Asked by RFA if the pressure on his father would silence him, Zhuang Liehong said: "Of course not. Am I that stupid? After all they did to the villagers of Wukan, did they silence me? I will take more actions based on my assessment of the situation in Wukan.



Reported by Koh Fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated by Wong Lok-to. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Myanmar police block the road to protesters in Yangon during a rally opposing a government edict pertaining to Muslim communities in the majority Buddhist country's restive Rakhine state, July 10, 2016.

Myanmars military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday cancelled plans to give partial control of five of its departments to regional and state chief ministers, following the leaking of an office memo about the change on social media.

Minister of Home Affairs Kyaw Swe sent a letter in August to leaders of the countrys regional and state governments, saying that the power-sharing deal would give them control of the management of the police, Bureau of Special Investigations, Fire Service Department, Prison Department, and General Administration Department.

But following the recent posting of a leaked copy of the letter on Facebook, the ministry has issued a new memo with different wording indicating the departments will remain under its control.

We just wanted to change the wording of that memo, cancelling the phrase that says we are putting these five departments under regional and state ministries, and replacing it with [a phrase stating that] regional or state chief ministers can coordinate, negotiate and supervise [along with the Home Affairs Ministry] according to the law, said Maung Maung Myint, an assistant secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

We changed the wording because people had different interpretations of the wording in the earlier release, and we dont want any controversy, he said.

The home affairs ministry, along with the defense and border affairs ministries, is controlled by Myanmars national military, which wields considerable power in politics.

The countrys current constitution, which went into effect in 2008 when a military junta ruled the country, mandates that only the military commander-in-chief can appoint the ministers of the three ministries, which would include the appointment of Kyaw Swe, a former lieutenant general who led the countrys Southwest Command in the port city of Pathein in the Ayeyarwady region.

When the original memo was issued last month, Maung Maung Myint said a constitutional provision allowed civilian chief ministers of states and regions to freely manage the five departments, according to a Myanmar Times report.

At the time, Lei Lei Maw, chief minister of southern Myanmars Tanintharyi region, told the local newspaper that the letter did not include details on the governance strategy and mentioned only better coordination of the key departments with local governments.

Political observers view the five departments as bastions of corruption that are anathema to the democratically elected, civilian-led government of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party which assumed power in April.

The NLD under Myanmars de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi has sought to reduce the power of the national military in politics by pushing for changes in the constitution to reduce its influence and control.

Reported by Waiyan Moe Myint for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Faced with growing tensions in its far northwestern region of Xinjiang, China has built a large complex of prisons outside the regional capital Urumqi, sources say.



The seven prisons, all placed next to each other, were constructed in the Xinshi New City District just north of the capital, one prison official recently told RFAs Uyghur Service, speaking on condition of anonymity.



All of them were put together, and there are quite a few, RFAs source said.



All the political prisoners are here, with the men housed in the jails for men, and women in the jails for the women.



One prison alone holds several thousand inmates, a former prisoner now living in Turkey told RFA, adding, Jail number two is the womens jail, and all the rest are for men.



The complex is located to the north of Urumqi in an area close to a special economic zone. It is like a city of jails, he said.



The number of prisoners currently jailed in Xinjiang, a region torn in recent years by ethnic tensions between Han Chinese and the regions mostly Muslim Uyghurs, is a closely guarded state secret, and reliable figures are hard to obtain.



Although the precise capacity of the new prison compound has not been made public, the facility is expected to house ordinary criminals as well those convicted of political offenses.



State media have reported recent efforts at expansion of Xinjiangs prison network, with government-controlled website people.cn reporting in February that 100 officials would be hired to direct political education programs in the jails, and Xinjiang Jail Magazine saying in July that more than 700 recruits would be hired as guards.



Political unrest



Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights activist now living in the U.S., said that Chinas construction of such a large complex of prisons near Urumqi reflects Beijings concerns over unrest in the politically sensitive region.



Chinas internal situation is unstable, Teng told RFA.

In the Uyghur region and in Tibet, unarmed people are violently suppressed, and these kinds of tactics will only increase tensions in Xinjiang.



China has vowed to crack down on what it calls religious extremism in Xinjiang and conducts strike hard campaigns including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people.



While China blames Uyghur extremists for terrorist attacks, experts outside China say that Beijing has exaggerated the threat and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012.



Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Richard Finney.




Nearly 85 percent of Azerbaijan's voters supported the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, with nearly 100 percent of the ballots counted, Baku's Central Election Commission has announced.

Commission Chairman Mazahir Panahov said on September 27 that 84.2 percent of voters approved the term extension, with 9 percent opposing it in the country's controversial September 26 referendum.

The change will allow President Ilham Aliyev, who has been in office since taking over from his ailing father in 2003, to avoid seeking reelection until 2020, instead of 2018.

Official results from the election are not expected until next month, but the election commission in Baku announced some early results and said that turnout was nearly 70 percent.

Earlier the Venice Commission, a European watchdog of constitutional-law experts, said the measures would weaken political dissent.

"Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving unprecedented powers to the president," it said.

Speaking to journalists in Baku on September 27, Aleksandar Nikoloski, head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe monitoring mission, called on the authorities to treat the Venice Commission's conclusions with respect.

Russian news agencies also cited exit polls indicating that all the constitutional changes were approved overwhelmingly by voters despite widespread international criticism that the referendum was designed to cement the rule of Aliyev and his family over the oil-rich country while further stifling dissent.

The 54-year-old president would only have to run every seven years -- something he would be able to do repeatedly, since a presidential term limit was scrapped in 2009.

Other changes would eliminate the minimum age restriction for running for president, as well as lower the minimum age for running for parliament, from 25 years to 18.

Those changes would enable Aliyev to groom a member of his family to become his successor from an earlier age.

TASS and Interfax reported that voters approved another change giving Aliyev the right for the first time to dismiss parliament, the Milli Mejlis.

They reported that voters also supported creating two vice-presidential posts, both of whose occupants would be appointed and dismissed by the president.

The first vice president would become second in line to the president, and would be appointed acting president if the president resigns, according to the changes.

There has been speculation that the post of first vice president is being created for President Aliyev's wife, Mehriban, who is a deputy chairwoman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, or for their 19-year-old son Heidar.

In 2002 and 2009, Azerbaijan organized constitutional referendums marred by fraud that directly benefited the Aliyev family.

'Weakening Dissent'

Opposition groups staged mass protests ahead of the latest referendum, denouncing it as an effort by Aliyev to extend his family's long grip on power.

The Venice Commission, a European watchdog of constitutional law experts, last week said the measures would weaken political dissent.

"Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving unprecedented powers to the president," it said.

Amnesty International warned that the referendum would grant the government even more power to interfere with freedom of assembly, in violation of international standards. It noted that preparations for the vote were marked by arrests and intimidation of critics.

The Azerbaijani government has rejected the criticism and insisted that the proposed changes are aimed at streamlining the government and promoting economic reforms.

"One of the main reasons for the referendum is the need to conduct fast economic reforms...to improve the efficiency of the government and cut the red tape," Aliyev aide Ali Hasanov told reporters on September 26.

With reporting by AP, dpa, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax
The head of Bosnia-Herzegovina's autonomous Bosnian Serb entity has rejected a summons by state prosecutors, saying he would not travel to Sarajevo for questioning after he defied a high-court ruling by holding a controversial referendum.

Republika Srpska's nationalist President Milorad Dodik was summoned after Bosnian Serbs on September 25 voted overwhelmingly to maintain a "statehood day" holiday on January 9.

Dodik told a news conference on September 27 that he would not travel to Sarajevo because he feared for his security.

"I will not go to the prosecutor's office in Sarajevo but I am ready to give a statement in any other judiciary office in [Republika Srpska]," he said.

He labelled the Sarajevo-based State Court and Prosecution Office a "farce."

His refusal to comply with the summons could force state prosecutors to issue an arrest warrant, which could be difficult to enforce in the autonomous region, where the influence of Sarajevo is limited.

"If Dodik fails to comply with a summons, and fails to justify it, the prosecution will then issue an arrest warrant," said Bosnia's Security Minister Dragan Mektic.

Bosnia's Constitutional Court had cancelled the referendum, ruling that the holiday is illegal because it discriminates against non-Serbs, but Dodik held the referendum despite that ruling as well as considerable pressure from the United States and the European Union.

A violation of Constitutional Court decisions is punishable with prison sentences ranging from six months to five years.

Western powers fear the vote could bring about instability in Bosnia, which only last week made its first major step towards joining the European Union.

The Bosnian conflict was ignited by Serbs' declaration on January 9, 1992, of an independent "Serb Republic" in the north and east of Bosnia. The territory became the autonomous region of the same name, Republika Srpska, under the Dayton peace agreement, which ended the war.

The referendum has led to the most heated debate between Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Serb officials since that pact was signed in 1995.

Most Bosniaks and Croats opposed the referendum out of fear that Republika Srpska could be preparing to secede, destroying the delicate federal structure put in place after the war.

With reporting by Reuters and AP


Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end.

Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II."

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations."

The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination.

Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance.

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War.

Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second-largest Eastern Slav country. It is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas.

The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine.

WATCH: A local official told Russian conscripts "You are not cannon fodder" in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are.

But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country.

Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts.

Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world.

Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build."

He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas.

"We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud.



"The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter.

Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation.

"It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine.

Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections.

"It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim.

Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area.

Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide."

According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff."

"We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military."
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, clashed in their first one-on-one debate on September 26, a contest that featured sharp insults and verbal sparring throughout the evening.

Here's a look at what the two rivals in the November 8 election said on issues ranging from national security to the economy to race relations to Russian hacking.

On Alleged Russian Hacking

Clinton: "Increasingly, we are seeing cyberattacks coming from states, organs of states. The most recent and troubling of these has been Russia. There's no doubt now that Russia has used cyberattacks against all kinds of organizations in our country, and I am deeply concerned about this. I know Donald's very praiseworthy of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, but Putin is playing a really tough, long game here. And one of the things he's done is to let loose cyberattackers to hack into government files, to hack into personal files, hack into the Democratic National Committee [DNC]. And we recently have learned that, you know, that this is one of their preferred methods of trying to wreak havoc and collect information."

Trump: "I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She's saying Russia, Russia, Russia, but I don't -- maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK? You don't know who broke in to DNC."

WATCH: Russian Hacking Claims Resurface In Debate

On NATO

Clinton: "NATO as a military alliance has something called Article 5, and basically it says this: An attack on one is an attack on all. And you know the only time it's ever been invoked? After 9/11, when the 28 nations of NATO said that they would go to Afghanistan with us to fight terrorism, something that they still are doing by our side."

Trump: "We pay approximately 73 percent of the cost of NATO. It's a lot of money to protect other people. But I'm all for NATO. But I said they have to focus on terror, also. And they're going to do that. And that was -- believe me -- I'm sure I'm not going to get credit for it -- but that was largely because of what I was saying and my criticism of NATO."

WATCH: Clinton, Trump Focus On NATO Antiterror Role

On The Extremist Islamic State Group

Trump: "You know what, it's no different than this, she's telling us how to fight [Islamic State In Iraq and Syria] ISIS, just go to her website, she tells you how to fight ISIS on her website, I don't think General Douglas MacArthur [U.S. Pacific commander in World War II] would like that too much."

Clinton: "At least I have a plan to fight ISIS."

Trump: "No, no. You're telling the enemy everything you want to do."

Clinton: "No, we are not. No, we are not."

Trump: "See, you're telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you've been fighting...no wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

Clinton: "Well... that's...go to the fact checker. Get to work."

WATCH: Trump, Clinton Clash On Terror Strategy

On Race, Politics, And Crime

Trump: "The African-American community has been let down by our politicians. They talk good around election time, like right now, and after the election, they said, see ya later, I'll see you in four years. The African-American community -- because, look, the community within the inner cities has been so badly treated. They've been abused and used in order to get votes by Democrat politicians, because that's what it is. They've controlled these communities for up to 100 years."

Clinton: "Race remains a significant challenge in our country. Unfortunately, race still determines too much, often determines where people live, determines what kind of education in their public schools they can get, and, yes, it determines how they're treated in the criminal justice system.... We have to restore trust between communities and the police. We have to work to make sure that our police are using the best training, the best techniques, that they're well prepared to use force only when necessary. Everyone should be respected by the law, and everyone should respect the law."

On Gun Control

Clinton: "I believe strongly that commonsense gun-safety measures would assist us. Right now -- and this is something Donald has supported, along with the gun lobby -- right now, we've got too many military- style weapons on the streets. In a lot of places, our police are outgunned. We need comprehensive background checks, and we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who will do harm. And we finally need to pass a prohibition on anyone who's on the terrorist watch list from being able to buy a gun in our country. If you're too dangerous to fly, you are too dangerous to buy a gun."

Trump: "You take the gun away from criminals that shouldn't be having it. We have gangs roaming the street. And in many cases, they're illegally here, illegal immigrants. And they have guns. And they shoot people. And we have to be very strong. And we have to be very vigilant. We have to be -- we have to know what we're doing. Right now, our police, in many cases, are afraid to do anything. We have to protect our inner cities, because African-American communities are being decimated by crime, decimated."

WATCH: Clinton Lauds Iran Deal, Trump Blasts It

On Temperament

Clinton: "[Trump's] cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. That is the No. 1 threat we face in the world. And it becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on any nuclear material. So a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, as far as I think anyone with any sense about this should be concerned."

Trump: "I have much better judgment than she does. There's no question about that. I also have a much better temperament than she has, you know?... I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. I have a winning temperament. I know how to win."

With reporting by The Washington Post, dpa, and AFP
Russian military aircraft recently flew under an Icelandic passenger jet without being detected by radar, raising alarms about their risky behavior, Icelandic officials have said.

The Icelandic Foreign Ministry said three Tupolev bombers flew between 1,800-2,700 meters below a commercial airliner flying from Reykjavik to Stockholm on September 22. The bombers' transponders were turned off, which meant they could not be detected by civilian radar.

The passenger jet's captain said he spotted the planes from the cockpit and thought their behavior was risky.

The ministry told AFP it "has repeatedly objected to unidentified Russian military flights, due to the danger this may pose to passenger flights," and would be doing so again.

Similar encounters between the Russian military and civilian planes have been reported in the Baltic region this year.

A Russian diplomat in Reykjavik, Aleksei Shadsky, said the bombers complied with international rules.

He suggested Icelandic officials were trying to "revive fear" of Russia in an effort to reopen the Keflavik air base that the United States closed in 2006.

During World War II and the Cold War, Keflavik was an important U.S. base but its usefulness to the alliance dwindled after that.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
India has said it will not attend a key regional summit in Pakistan, amid tensions between the archrivals.

India's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 27 that it would not participate due to "increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country."

The statement did not name Pakistan, but New Delhi has accused Pakistan-based militants of launching a deadly assault on an army base in India-controlled Kashmir this month that killed 18 soldiers.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad. Other member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said Islamabad remained committed to peace.

The SAARC was founded in 1985 to promote economic cooperation in the region, but tensions between India and Pakistan have often blocked its progress.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP


Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers.

Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead.

Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority.

"He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it."

The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police.

In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar.

The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses.

Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound.

At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi.

The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

"He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla.

"We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them."

He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary.

The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried.

"We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces.

But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims.

The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed.

Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved.

He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes."

RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters.

"I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished."

The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces.

Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator."

During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings.

"We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website.

"Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added.

He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces."

"The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran.
Two terrorist attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, have left at least 17 people dead and more than 50 injured.

Officials said eight people were killed and 29 injured in a bomb attack in Baghdad's Jadida neighborhood. Some sources said that attack involved a roadside bomb and a suicide bomber.

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for that attack, saying it was carried out by a man with an explosive vest.

Around the same time, a suicide bomber struck the Bayaa area in southern Baghdad, killing at least nine people and injuring 26.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Bayaa bombing.

IS has stepped up its campaign against civilian targets in recent months as Iraqi security forces have had success recapturing territory held by the extremist group.

Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, and AP
Prosecutors in Astana have called for lengthy prison sentences for the head of the Kazakh Journalists Union and his son.

On September 27, prosecutor Erzhan Quraqbaev asked the judge to sentence Seitqazy Mataev to six years and eight months in prison, and his son, Aset, the director of the KazTAG news agency, to six years.

Seitqazy Mataev has been under house arrest on embezzlement and tax-evasion charges since February. His son was placed under house arrest for alleged embezzlement in March. Their trial began on August 23.

Both deny the charges, and rights groups have said Mataev is being prosecuted on trumped-up charges in response to his work as head of the journalists union.

The trial has been delayed several times because of the 61-year-old Seitqazy Mataev's health issues.
A Kyrgyz film set during a 1916 uprising against tsarist Russia will be shown in Kyrgyzstan following weeks of uncertainty about its fate.

Officials at the Sayakbai Manaschy foundation, which financed the production, told RFE/RL on September 27 that the film Urkun will be shown for the first time at the Bishkek House of Cinema on September 28.

After that, the foundation said, the movie will be shown in cinemas across the country.

The film's producer, Mukhtar Atanaliev, earlier said Kyrgyz officials were hesitant to approve the film, fearing it would offend Moscow.

The dramatic film tells the story of one family that lived through the uprising that ensued when Russia decided to draft Central Asians into the army as unarmed workers to build fortifications during World War I.

Many Kyrgyz and Kazakhs refused the order and openly rebelled against the Russian authorities.

At least 150,000 Kyrgyz were killed by tsarist troops, and hundreds of thousands fled to the neighboring Chinese province of Xinjiang.

In August, a public commission in Kyrgyzstan concluded that the 1916 mass crackdown was genocide.

In April, Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin rejected the genocide allegations, saying that "all nations suffered 100 years ago."

Some Kyrgyz commentators have speculated that approval of the film was delayed until after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Bishkek on September 16 to attend a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
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Thousands of people demonstrated outside the Macedonian parliament on September 26 in the latest protest of the "Colorful Revolution" movement. The protesters rallied in defense of the special prosecutor who is investigating a massive government corruption scandal. (RFE/RL's Balkan Service)
A well-known anti-Putin protester has been detained again in Moscow, this time following his return from Ukraine. Police arrested Roman Roslovtsev after he appeared on September 27 in Red Square with a sign, saying "I Am Not Afraid Of 212.1!" That refers to a law that went into effect last year which criminalizes repeated violations of rules on public gatherings. (RFE/RL's Russian Service)
From independence in late 1991 until December 2006, Turkmenistan was ruled by Saparmurat Niyazov. He preferred to be called "Turkmenbashi," literally the "head of the Turkmen."

Turkmenistan possesses the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world. The country has made a great amount of money from that. The population is some 5 million people. Most of that money never benefitted them.

Instead, Turkmenbashi spent lavishly on new marble buildings in the capital, at Awaza on the Caspian Sea coast, and on monuments to himself, including the infamous 75-meter-high tripod with a gold statute of himself mounted on top that rotated so Niyazov's face was always turned in the direction of the sun.

According to a 2006 report from the London-based corruption watchdog Global Witness, Niyazov also had more than $3 billion in foreign bank accounts, "some $2 billion of which appears to reside in the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund (FERF) at Deutsche Bank in Germany." The report also said that "Global Witness has discovered that, according to a 2001 contract, gas revenues from 2002 to 2006 were intended to be paid into Central Bank of Turkmenistan account No. 949924500 at Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt."

Niyazov died in late December 2006 and Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov took over as president.

On August 29, Berdymukhammedov visited Berlin. It was a curious visit, lasting one day. A Turkmen-German business forum was planned and President Berdymukhammedov, apparently somewhat belatedly, chose to lead that delegation.

RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, learned there was some debate in the German government as to whether Chancellor Angela Merkel should meet with Berdymukhammedov while he was in Berlin.

Turkmenistan's human rights record has been abysmal for 25 years and despite the country's gas riches, Western leaders are not anxious to host Turkmen leaders.

Berdymukhammedov appeared at a press conference with Merkel, one in which his bodyguard brought in water to replace that offered by the German hosts.

The Turkmen president was asked about the rights situation, a question he was clearly expecting, and he deflected the issue by saying that Turkmenistan's people were supplied with free gas, electricity, and water, so how could the government be repressing them?

He omitted mentioning that he had earlier this year proposed canceling state subsidies for all those things, saying Turkmenistan had advanced so much over the last 25 years that those subsidies were no longer needed.

He did repeat that Turkmenistan was prepared to supply Europe with gas, something he has said dozens of times over the last few years, usually from inside Turkmenistan where no one asks about human rights.

It is doubtful Berdymukhammedov essentially invited himself to Germany so he could answer uncomfortable questions about the respect for rights in Turkmenistan. So what was the great need to make a quick trip to Germany?

Let's open up the lid of Turkmenbashi's treasure chest again.

Tom Mayne, who worked on the 2006 Global Witness report, says that after Niyazov's death, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development pressed Turkmen authorities to close some of the off-budget funds and accounts highlighted in the 2006 report, and they did. However, according to the source, Berdymukhammedov opened a new "Stabilization Fund," though it is unclear if it was with Deutsche Bank.

In 2008, Turkmenistan also passed a law on hydrocarbons. According to the Natural Resource Governance Institute website, the law "is publicly available but states only general principles and does not include fiscal terms." Furthermore, "rather than promoting transparency, the law prohibits government agencies from disclosing information about the hydrocarbons sector."

According to RFE/RL's source, the law allocates 20 percent of revenues from gas sales to the state budget, while the other 80 percent goes to the State Agency on Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan.

On March 21, 2014, Global Witness released more information. Referring back to the 2006 report, the corruption watchdog said Turkmenistan's "foreign exchange reserves have grown substantially, with international financial institutions estimating that the country held as much as $20 billion around 2009." The 2014 release continued, "Global Witness believes that as much as 75 percent of this could still be held in the off-budget 'FERF.'"

While in Berlin, Berdymukhammedov met with top officials from several businesses, including Siemens, Airbus, and Cargolux. Turkmen state media reported that Berdymukhammedov was discussing partnerships.

It's doubtful many German companies would be anxious to rush into Turkmenistan's business world, considering the experience of German oil and gas company DEA (formerly RWE Dea AG).

DEA signed a production-sharing agreement in 2009 for a block in Turkmenistan's Caspian Sea sector. In late 2015 DEA announced it was withdrawing from Turkmenistan. The opposition website Alternative News of Turkmenistan reported that "the Germans were simply tired of the bureaucratic entanglements."

If he didn't come home with new business partners it wouldn't necessarily mean the trip was a failure, however. Most telling about his visit were the meetings Berdymukhammedov reportedly had with people he already knew.

The pro-government website Turkmenistan.ru reported the Turkmen president met that day with "Deutsche Bank AG Executive Director for Central and Eastern Europe Peter Tilles and the bank's Senior Adviser Jurgen Fitchen."

Mayne notes that, in September 2014, Tilles and Fitchen were in Turkmenistan to meet with Berdymukhammedov.

So there is good reason to believe that banking was definitely part of Berdymukhammedov's reason for being in Berlin. The question is why now?

Turkmenistan could surely use some extra money.

The country currently has only one customer that pays cash for natural-gas supplies -- China -- and China has loaned Turkmenistan billions of dollars, which Turkmenistan is repaying with gas. It's unclear how much actual money Turkmenistan receives from gas shipments to China. And even then, the price of gas is less than half of what it was just two years ago.

The national currency depreciated in value by 23 percent last year but has held steady at $1 to 3.5 manats, though the black market rate has jumped, touching seven manats to $1 at times recently.

On September 6, the Turkmen opposition website Chrono-tm.org reported that police, teachers, and medical workers in two of Turkmenistan's five provinces -- Lebap and Mary -- had not been paid for the last three months.

Azatlyk has been reporting for months about layoffs in various sectors of Turkmenistan, including the gas and oil sector, the backbone of the country's economy. There are no official unemployment figures for Turkmenistan but some opposition websites claim the figure to be more than half the eligible workforce.

Berdymukhammedov likes to be called "Arkadag," the Protector. But there was no word from Berdymukhammedov, or any other official, indicating that the Protector might be bringing any of the money from this "Stabilization Fund" or "FERF" back home to help create jobs, pay wages on time, or prolong state subsidies.

There was a report, however, that Berdymukhammedov attended the opening of a new $100 million, five-star hotel at the Awaza resort area on September 9.

The "Gami" (Boat) Hotel joins several other multimillion-dollar hotels along the Awaza strip. Reports indicate occupancy at any of them is rarely even 30 percent. A fence keeps locals from coming onto the grounds of the resort area.

Turkmenistan is also hosting the fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games next year and is in the process of spending billions of dollars on facilities for the event.

In its 2006 report, Global Witness said, "It is clear that the money is not being spent on them [the people]: standards of health, education, and living quality have plummeted since independence in 1991."

That is all still true. And it appears that whatever business Berdymukhammedov had with one of the German banks that was last known to be holding billions of dollars from his country, it had nothing to do with helping out Turkmenistan's people.

Thanks to Azatlyk, and to the many people outside RFE/RL who helped prepare this report
Russia announced it is dropping a brief import ban on fruits and vegetables from Egypt, after Cairo backed down on tough restrictions on wheat imports from Russia.

Russia's agriculture watchdog said on September 26 that experts from the two countries "came to an agreement to renew the delivery of all vegetables and fruit from Egypt to Russia, except for potatoes."

Russia had imposed the ban on sanitary grounds on September 22.

The dispute between the two key trading partners began in August when Egypt, the world's top importer of wheat, announced it would refuse Russian deliveries due to the presence of ergot, a common fungus that can be dangerous in large quantities.

But before the ban started, Egypt's cabinet backed down from the tough wheat-import restrictions, saying it would allow up to 0.05 percent ergot in grain shipments.

Moscow accused Egypt of using the issue as a "haggling" strategy at a time when Russia is primed for a bumper harvest of wheat. Egypt imports 11 million tons of wheat a year.

Egyptian citrus fruit exports to Russia are worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP and TASS
Russian journalist and activist Grigory Pasko has been attacked by unknown assailants in the city of Barnaul in Russia's Altai region.

Pasko posted about the attack on Facebook on September 27 and said that he had been examined by doctors.

Danila Galperovich, a journalist with Voice of America, wrote on his Facebook page that he had spoken with Pasko by telephone and confirmed that the journalist was not seriously injured.

Pasko told him that the assailants shouted, "Get out of our city!" and warned him that they would attack him again.

The previous day, Pasko posted an article from a local newspaper in which a local nationalist activist complained that Pasko was a "foreign agent." Pasko wrote that unknown people were following him and loitering around his hotel.

Pasko, a former Russian naval officer, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2001 on charges of espionage connected to his publications on environmental issues in the Sea of Japan.

He was released in 2003 and allowed to leave the country in 2005.

He was in Barnaul to give a seminar on investigative-reporting techniques.
MOSCOW -- A prominent anti-Putin protester who fled Russia for Ukraine last month has been detained while demonstrating in Moscow.

Police detained Roman Roslovtsev on September 27 after he appeared on the Russian capital's Red Square carrying a poster, saying "I Am Not Afraid of 212.1!" The number refers to the Russian Criminal Code article, according to which people may be sentenced to up to five years in prison for participating in more than two unsanctioned public events in 180 consecutive days.

Roslovtsev has gained a reputation for staging one-man protests while wearing a mask of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He traveled from Russia to Ukraine via Belarus in late August, crossing the border on foot at night and telling Ukrainian authorities he wanted political asylum.

WATCH: Anti-Putin Protester Arrested Again In Red Square

Before being detained on September 27, Roslovtsev told RFE/RL that he had wanted to join the Ukrainian military, which is fighting Russia-backed separatists, but was rejected because of bad eyesight and decided to return to Russia and continue his protests.

"To put it bluntly, I had nothing to live on in Ukraine. I literally slept at the train station the last days before leaving," he said.
MOSCOW -- Russians are protesting the forced closure of an exhibition of work by a controversial American photographer after vigilante tactics by conservative activists who accused its Moscow organizers of promoting child pornography.

In response to the weekend furor that prevented the display of Jock Sturges' works at Moscow's Lumiere Brothers Photography center, Russian theater director Oleg Lipovetsky on September 25 called on compatriots via Facebook to post images of renowned paintings, sculptures, and photographs featuring nudity.

Many of Sturges' best-known photographs feature nude adolescents, and his work has prompted at least one FBI raid and efforts in the United States to get his books banned.

Activists calling themselves the Officers of Russia on September 24 blocked the exhibition to protest what they characterized as child pornography, and one activist was detained for throwing urine at some of the images.

WATCH: Protests Close U.S. Photographer's Moscow Exhibition





Lawmaker Yelena Mizulina, for decades a conservative cultural warrior in the parliament, assailed the exhibition as "propaganda of pedophilia" and reportedly asked authorities to investigate its organizers.

Lipovetsky urged sympathizers to register their disapproval of the exhibition's closure via social media via a "flashmob" with the hashtag #withoutshame (#).

"Let's remember the great images of art that glorify the beauty of the human body," Lipovetsky wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of the 19th-century sculpture Venus With Apple by Dane Bertel Thorvaldsen:

Facebook user Sergei Grushko posted a picture of the 1872 work The Sale Of The Child Slave by Russian war painter Viktor Verashchagin. "Officers of Russia!" he wrote, "Where have you been looking since 1872? Non-officers of Russia! Surely you don't want our children to be painted in such a way? Attention Yugend-Ombusdman! This obscenity is being displayed at the address: Moscow, Lavrushinsky pereulok, 10, hall 27" -- the address of Russia's Tretyakov State Gallery:

Irena Nesterova posted mirror-image photos of several works by Russian and Soviet painter Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, including his 1912 seminal work Bathing Of The Red Horse:

Pavel Rudnev posted contemporary Colombian artist Fernando Botero's Adam and Eve.

Tanya Sushenkova posted a "bodyscape" by photographer Carl Warner.

On Twitter, the hashtag appeared to have been hijacked for purposes other than those declared by Lipovetsky, with some users posting obscene sexual images and others attaching pictures of rubble and bloodied bodies, possibly in Syria.


A lawyer for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year sentence in a U.S. prison for drug smuggling, says his client has signed a form authorizing his extradition to Russia.

Lawyer Aleksei Tarasov told TASS on September 27 that U.S. authorities asked Yaroshenko to sign the document as part of the formal procedure of extradition. The same day the Izvestia newspaper published comments from Yaroshenko himself saying that he had signed the form on September 12.

Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia in 2010 and rendered to the United States. The following year, he was convicted of smuggling cocaine to destinations in South America, Africa, and Europe.

Russia has strongly protested Yaroshenko's arrest and his rendition to the United States, saying that he was "kidnapped" and describing the process as "open lawlessness."

Another lawyer for Yakovenko claimed in 2010 that his client had been kept bound and naked in a Liberian hotel for two days without water.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Dolgov said on September 27 the latest development in the case "fits within the activity we are continuing to ensure an early return of Konstantin Yaroshenko to his homeland" under the Council of Europe's 1983 Strasbourg Convention.

Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, RBTH, and The Washington Post
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson says Russia "may have" committed war crimes by deliberately targeting a civilian convoy on September 19 with air strikes in rebel-held parts of Aleppo. Russia denies involvement, claiming rebels fighting against Moscow's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, or a U.S. drone strike were responsible.

Meanwhile, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura says Assad's forces likely committed war crimes by repeatedly targeting civilians in Aleppo after a fragile cease-fire broke down on September 19. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says even if Assad's allies, Russia and Iran, have not intentionally targeted civilians, they "will be accomplices in war crimes committed in Aleppo" if they don't pressure Syria's government to stop the strategy.

Amnesty International says it has documented many cases of Syrian government war crimes -- including torture and what the rights group calls "deliberate attacks" on hospitals, civilian residential areas, and other civilian targets. But Avner Gidron, a senior legal expert at Amnesty International, says it is difficult to state definitely that any specific attack constituting a war crime was carried out by Russian forces.

Gidron also told RFE/RL that the complications of court jurisdiction and the Syrian war's status as a noninternational armed conflict make it unlikely there will be any trials in the foreseeable future for war crimes committed there by Russia or the Syrian government.

RFE/RL: Have war crimes been committed in Syria?

Avner Gidron: War crimes have been committed in Syria by all of the [Syrian] parties. The vast majority have been committed by Syrian government armed forces and associated militia and thats continuing on a huge scale.

There's no doubt that the vast majority has been committed by the Syrian government. You can start with the things they do to captured people. And its not just captured opposition fighters. It's human rights defenders, journalists, people suspected of having political sympathies for the opposition -- whether on the basis of their ethnicity or their religion, their perceived political affiliation. Weve documented that thousands of these people have been tortured, subjected to enforced disappearance, and killed in custody. Just the torture that they've committed has been on an industrial scale.

RFE/RL: What about the air strikes that reportedly have killed more than 230 civilians in rebel-held parts of Aleppo since the cease-fire broke down on September 19? What evidence would be necessary in a noninternational armed conflict like the war in Syria in order to define these attacks as war crimes under international law?

Gidron: It's definitely much more clearly established as a war crime in noninternational armed conflicts when a party has deliberately and directly attacked civilians or civilian objects. It's also established when attacks are inherently disproportionate. It's disproportionate when the anticipated harm to civilians would outweigh the anticipated military advantage from neutralizing a military target.

RFE/RL: Has Amnesty International collected sufficient evidence to prove Russia has carried out war crimes in Syria?

Gidron: We are not excluding the possibility that Russia is directly committing war crimes in Syria as well. It's just that we have not been able to definitely say that a particular attack, which appears to be a war crime, was committed by Russia. The problem that we have is always the same. It's been very hard for us to say "definitely by Russia" because it's the same equipment that the Syrian Air Force and the Syrian military are using. It's mostly stuff supplied by Russia.

We've researched a whole list of attacks on hospitals, medical clinics, and other civilian objects where there is reason to believe that Russia was involved. We've put all of these cases to them. Of course, they deny any role. But given the number of attacks and the way that they've been carried out, I personally would be surprised if they haven't carried out any war crimes directly in Syria. It's just that the evidence we have is relatively limited compared to the evidence we have about what the Syrian government has done or the Islamic State [militant group].

RFE/RL: Is it possible in the near future to conduct trials for war crimes in Syria?

Gidron: For these suspected war crimes by Syria itself and by Russia, there is no jurisdiction in Syria for the International Criminal Court (ICC). Syria isn't a party to it. Russia isn't a party to it. You could have the jurisdiction of the ICC with a UN Security Council referral. That's something Amnesty has been calling for now for five years. But because of the power politics and the permanent Security Council members' veto, that has not happened. Russia would never go for that.

The only way somebody could be prosecuted -- a Syrian or Russian commander who orders an attack on an aid convoy deliberately and knowing full well, not by mistake -- that could only be adjudicated through universal jurisdiction in which another state's court has jurisdiction over war crimes in a noninternational armed conflict. Another possibility, if you cant get an ICC referral, would be to set up some sort of special tribunal. But then again, you really need the Security Council's cooperation for that.
You get there and the line is so long it can take three to five days. People sleep in front of the factory.



Thats what a resident of Turkmenistans northern Dashoguz Province told RFE/RLs Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk.



What was worth sleeping outside a factory for several days?



A 50-kilogram sack of flour.



Despite the glowing accounts Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and other officials give of the countrys economy, testimony from the ground paints an entirely different picture.



According to people who contacted Azatlyk, in Dashoguz Province, where some 1.2 million people living in nine districts, domestically produced flour is available only in the Gyorogly district. For some people, this means a 200-kilometer trek.



The official explanation for the flour shortage is the temporary shutdown of the flour mill in the city of Konyeurgench. However, locals in contact with Azatlyk dismissed this notion, saying there are plants producing flour in each of Dashoguzs districts.



One person who works at a wheat storehouse in the province said there are other flour plants that are not working. This person said this was due to provincial storage facilities having the lowest amount of wheat in more than 20 years.



There is flour available.



For those who make the trip to Gyorogly district, a 50-kilogram sack of flour costs about 50 manats (a bit more than $14 at the official rate). Customers must have identification and documents showing their place of residence. There is a limit of one sack of flour per family.



There is the option of purchasing flour from Kazakhstan, which is more readily available but comes at a cost of some 190 manats (more than $50) for a 50-kilogram bag.



Theres more.

Several residents in Dashoguz told Azatlyk they had not been paid in three months. Some schoolteachers, for example, have bank cards and withdraw money from ATMs. Unfortunately, there usually is no money in the ATMs of Dashoguz Province and, when there is, the maximum withdrawal is 100 manats. Several said bank officials told them there was no money and urged them to wait. One said the local mayor told him, If you dont stop complaining, you will be fired.



In the Balkan, Mary, and Lebap provinces, wage arrears of two to three months are also affecting a growing number of workers in those provinces.



The opposition website Chronicles Of Turkmenistan reported on September 6 that police, teachers, and medical workers had not received their wages for two or three months.



Azatlyk heard from dozens of workers in the oil and gas sector in those three provinces that they also had not been paid for the last two or three months.



One person in eastern Lebap Province, who said he had been working in the gas sector for 10 years, claimed no one at his company has been paid since May, except the managers.



Azatlyk heard similar stories from oil and gas workers in Mary Province, with employees of oil and gas companies in Balkan Province saying their wage arrears went back two months.

Chronicles Of Turkmenistan reported on September 25 that layoffs are under way at the state railway company. According to the report, by years end some 30 percent of personnel are slated to be cut. And this comes less than two years after the opening of the much-heralded North-South railway line linking Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, which was supposed to greatly boost trade and eventually give Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan better access to ports on the Persian Gulf.



Clearly, Turkmenistans heavy dependence on natural gas exports is causing economic problems inside the country. It is difficult to say how bad the situation is because figures from Turkmen authorities have never been credible and it is nearly impossible for foreigners to get into the country and see.



What officials are happy to talk about -- and show -- are the lavish projects Turkmenistan is completing. The latest example is the new Ashgabat airport. Turkmenistan paid a Turkish company, Polimeks, some $2.3 billion to build it.

Farruh Yusupov and Toymyrat Bugaev of Azatlyk contributed to this report

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL
It's been 75 years since more than 100,000 people were killed in a series of massacres by Nazi soldiers at Babi Yar, in Ukraine. Many of the victims were Jewish, but non-Jews were also murdered -- including many Roma. It's a source of intense, ongoing pain for Raisa Nabaranchuk, who lost her grandmother in the massacres. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed over strategy for combating Islamic State (IS) militants during the first televised debate of the 2016 election campaign. Trump said Clinton had told IS what she would do by publishing her plan on her website, to which Clinton responded "at least I have a plan." (AP)
For the 18th consecutive year, Bon Secours Virginia Health System was named one of the 100 best companies in the country for working parents by Working Mother magazine.

The health system was joined this year by three other Virginia companies, all based in McLean: engineering firm Booz Allen Hamilton; credit card issuer Capital One Financial Corp., the Richmond regions largest private employer; and mortgage company Freddie Mac.

We apply for these awards because it gives us an opportunity to benchmark against other employers best practices, said Jim Godwin, Bon Secours vice president of human resources. We make adjustments to do things that are good for our employees.

Bon Secours offers about seven weeks of paid time off to its long-term employees, plus an additional five days for birth or child adoption. Hours also can be carried over from year to year.

So if one is planning for a pregnancy, one can build up that time, Godwin said.

Women make up more than 80 percent of Bon Secours Virginias workforce.

The company also offers on-site child care at three of its hospitals, providing scholarships for lower-wage employees to ensure they can use the facilities as well. It also has a sick child care program, sending a worker to an employees home if a child is sick and the employee wants to return to work.

Working Mother magazine has been compiling its list for about 30 years. The magazine, which is geared toward professional women raising children, highlights companies that create a culture through which their employees can flourish at work and at home, according to its website.
Virginia Commonwealth Police are asking the public to help identify a man sought in connection with a pair of sexual battery incidents on the university's medical campus earlier this week.

About 3:45 p.m. Monday, a victim reported that a man pushed her against the wall and attempted to unbutton her pants in a first-floor restroom of the McGlothlin Medical Education Center 1201 E. Marshall St., police said. The victim was able to push the man away, and he left the restroom.

In a second incident a few moments later, a man hit the buttocks of a woman standing outside the Kontos Medical Sciences Building at 1217 E. Marshall St., police said. The man fled north on Marshall Street.

Detectives are working to determine if the incidents are related, police said. Patrols have been increased in the area.
A teenager was arrested Tuesday in connection with a shooting last month in the Hillside Court public housing community on Richmond's South Side.

The 16-year-old was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, robbery and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police did not identify him because he's a minor.

Around 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 5, officers responded to the 1800 block of Southlawn Avenue, where they found a man on a nearby porch suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.

This shooting happened in broad daylight in a busy neighborhood, Major Crimes Detective Greg Russell said. Thanks to significant help from the community, we were able to identify and apprehend this individual."

Police said they are continuing to gather information in the case.

Anyone with additional information should call Russell at (804) 646-7715 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or www.7801000.com.
A woman charged with first-degree murder in the death of 3-year-old Latrice Walden is not competent to stand trial, a Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Danielle L. Turner, 25, of the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue, has been sent to a psychiatric hospital to be restored to competency.

In July, defense attorney Leonard McCall requested an evaluation of Turners sanity at the time of the offense, saying in his motion that he was concerned that the defendant lacks the capacity to explain and understand the events surrounding the victim in the case.

There have been instances when the defendant has described the victim as a teenager and it should be noted that the victim in this case was merely 3 years old, McCall said in the motion.

Last month, he amended the motion to evaluate her competency for trial.

On Tuesday, the results of her evaluation were presented to the judge, who found her unable to stand trial and ordered her to Central State Hospital.

Turner was charged with felony child neglect in February, days after the girls death. The charges later were upgraded to first-degree murder.

At about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 15, Richmond Ambulance Authority personnel called police to the 3900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue for a report of a child who was unconscious but breathing after reportedly falling in a bathtub.

The child, who had been living in the 5800 block of Orcutt Lane in Richmond, was then taken to VCU Medical Center, where she died.

According to an autopsy report, Latrice died from blunt-force trauma to the head. The medical examiner detailed more than 80 bruises and lacerations on the childs face, arms and legs.

Police have said Turner was a friend of the childs family. In her obituary, Latrice is referred to by the nickname Ladybug.

The case was continued until December while Turner receives treatment.
Calling the defendants actions pretty nauseating and pretty disgusting, a Henrico County judge sentenced a former dance instructor Wednesday to 16 years in prison for having sex with four underage girls and possession of child pornography.

Judge Gary Hicks of Henrico Circuit Court sentenced Andrew Defiesta in a crowded courtroom after the defendant apologized for his actions, lamented the destruction of his marriage and said that while in jail he had lost what dignity I had left.

Defiesta, 35, entered pleas in August and was convicted of eight counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor and 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

Defiesta, who had worked as an instructor at the Latin Ballet of Virginia and the Regency Dance Academy, had sexual intercourse with four students and tried to have sex with a fifth girl over a 10-year period, according to Henrico prosecutor Linda Scott.

Anna King, director of the Latin Ballet of Virginia, testified that Defiesta had told underage girls that he was an angel sent by God to protect them from the boys at school.

King said he also would take girls shopping to try on dresses, invite them out to the movies, visit their homes and told them they needed private lessons with him to sharpen their technique. He was later fired for his behavior.

He was a very good teacher, and they adored him, King testified. So it was easy for him to convince them.

One woman who had worked with Defiesta at the Latin Ballet testified that she had seen him massaging girls shoulders, getting them to sit on his lap and playing inappropriately in a pool with some of the girls.

Another former colleague of Defiesta testified she had walked in on Defiesta and a girl alone in a dance studio. The woman testified that Defiesta later tried to convince her that the girl he had been with in the studio was his wife.

One of Defiestas former students also took the stand and said that Defiesta would take her and other girls blindfolded into a basement to perform what he would call trust exercises, which involved painful stretches and inappropriate positions, she said.

Wednesdays testimony also brought out that Defiesta had claimed he became protective of teenage girls after a traumatic incident in which he killed a 17-year-old combatant while serving in the Army in Iraq.

Evan Nelson, a clinical psychologist, testified that Defiesta also described himself as a love addict.

Nelson said the defendant had an obsessive need to experience all the excitement of romantic love in these illicit relationships.

Another psychologist testified that Defiesta has at least some modicum of conscience and therefore is not a sociopath.

Two of the psychologists said they believe Defiesta is willing to undergo treatment and try to change his behavior.

I recognize my wrongdoings, Defiesta told the court before he was sentenced.

He said he had brought shame on himself and his family, had destroyed his marriage and had failed to fulfill his dreams of being a good father.

I will never see my children graduate from high school, he said. I am not the same man I was before.

(804) 649-6332
Rick Tatnall, who dropped out of Richmonds mayoral campaign in May, has withdrawn from the race for the 7th District seat on the citys School Board, throwing his support behind a competitor.

Tatnall, 58, was running for the seat being vacated by Donald Coleman, who was elected in 2008. The 7th District is one of five open School Board seats in November.

Tatnall said Tuesday that he made the decision to step away after a dinner conversation late last week with fellow candidate Nadine Marsh-Carter.

He said that the discussion, and what he knows about Marsh-Carter, convinced him that while their visions for the citys troubled schools are similar, she is better equipped for the work needed to influence change.

We see eye-to-eye on so many things, Tatnall said. I just feel like shes in a better position to take on the position of School Board (member) because shes willing and wanting to work together on a variety of things and sees value in the things Im proposing. I just felt it was a better pathway for change.

The third candidate for the seat is Kristen Gray.

Tatnall, who founded and runs Replenish Richmond, says hell focus on the community organization and on trying to gain support for his plan to set the school district on firm financial footing for decades.

His idea is to bring city leaders from government, schools, nonprofits, faith organizations and the business community together in January to formulate a plan for the districts future.

Hes calling for the creation of a 30-year strategic plan that includes dedicated funding.

For Tatnall, withdrawing from the race also spells the end to any thoughts of higher office, he said.

The mayoral run earlier this year was his second attempt for a shot at Richmonds top, and he left that race to run the race he just abandoned.
The office of Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring is asking a Charlottesville judge to throw out the latest attempt by George Huguely V to have his 23-year prison sentence cut short.

In the citys circuit court on Monday, attorneys for Huguely and the commonwealth presented arguments over the writ of habeas corpus filed by Huguely in January, which claimed that the former University of Virginia lacrosse player is being unlawfully imprisoned after an unfair criminal trial in 2012.

It was in that 2012 trial that Huguely was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2010 slaying of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Yeardley Love. The two were students at the time and were members of U.Va.s male and female lacrosse teams. The 28-year-old Huguely is currently serving his time in Augusta Correctional Center and faces two civil lawsuits  including a multimillion-dollar wrongful-death suit from Loves family  in relation to his conviction.

Since 2012, Huguely has been steadfast in appealing his conviction, although the attempts have thus far been unsuccessful. Last October, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to review Huguelys case, effectively ending his criminal adjudication. In turn, his January filing constitutes a civil matter against the commonwealth.

During the court hearing on Monday, Judge Richard Moore reviewed a motion from the commonwealth to dismiss the case entirely. In arguing the motion, senior Assistant Attorney General Leah Darron challenged a few issues in the case that had been brought up by Jon Sheldon, representing Huguely in the matter.

Primarily, Huguely has asserted that his trial counsel made fatal mistakes that led to his incarceration, including a failure to clarify certain jury instructions prior to deliberations. His attorneys have also stated that, according to an affidavit from one of the 12 jurors from the original trial, a dictionary was used to define the word malice during jury deliberations, which may have informed a decision that was not based on the legal definition of malice in a criminal case. They have further attacked a decision to disallow a neurologist from providing testimony about Loves supposed cause of death.

Speaking to the dictionary allegation, Darron noted that the other 11 jurors have not reported having seen a dictionary being used in the jury room during deliberations  an affidavit from one of those 11 even refuted the claim. Darron said that the juror who believed she saw the dictionary could not describe what it looked like and said that she may have been simply confused about what she had seen. Either way, there is no proof by preponderance of the evidence that a dictionary was even given to the jurors, Darron said.

Darron further argued that, when looking at the record of Huguelys appeals, previous judges have invariably ruled that the jury instructions from the original trial were adequate. All in all, Darron stated that even when viewed in Huguelys favor, the issues being presented by his attorney would have had no reasonable likelihood of creating a substantially different outcome of the original trial.

In defending his stance on the issues, Sheldon noted that the jury was very much split between finding Huguely guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. Had the neurologist in question been permitted to testify about the blunt-force trauma classification of Loves cause of death, the jury may have gotten a more nuanced perspective about what actions led to Loves demise. Speaking to the dictionary allegation, Sheldon said that if one person on the jury believed a dictionary definition of malice had been used, then that one jurors view of the case may have been skewed.

Moore said that he would review the arguments and make a ruling but that it may take him several weeks.

A local defense attorney not involved with the case has previously said that writs of habeas corpus rarely lead to success. However, even if the state wins the case, Huguely is still able to file a writ of habeas corpus at the federal level.
The trustee for ITT Technical Institute has denied state education officials access to the paper records thousands of former students need to prove their credentials.

The state attorney generals office on Monday notified the Chapter 7 trustee for the for-profit chain that Virginia code requires transfer of all student records when a postsecondary school closes.

ITT Technicals five campuses in Virginia closed abruptly Sept. 6 after the U.S. Department of Education restricted access to federal financial aid because of poor outcomes for students.

The letter from Allen T. Wilson, senior assistant attorney general, was sent on behalf of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to the Indiana-based trustee for ITT Educational Services, one of the nations largest educational companies.

According to the letter, SCHEV has been denied access to storage facilities where paper records are kept and to campus locations to examine electronic records. Access is required to ensure that all records are accounted for, the letter says.

The states acquisition of records is important for anyone with a degree or credits from ITT, SCHEV spokesman Greg Weatherford said. Without an official seal, former students will not be able to produce proof of degrees earned or transfer academic credits to other schools.

Weatherford said the problem for SCHEV primarily is obtaining records that exist only on hard copy, dating before 2000.

Sylvia Rosa-Casanova, director of private and out-of-state postsecondary education for SCHEV, said electronic records since 2001 are available from Parchment, a company that provides official transcripts.

But her concern primarily is with ITTs two oldest Virginia campuses. The Richmond metro campus opened in 1999 and Norfolks in 1988.

She said she currently is trying to obtain records for a student who is attempting to have ITT credits earned in 2000 transferred to another school.

Also, she said, its not clear whether hard copy records in warehouses are being stored properly and what steps will need to be taken to preserve them.

SCHEV hopes that this matter will be resolved quickly because the Commonwealth is unable to assist students in efforts to continue their studies without access to these records, Wilsons letter says.
By Sama Bilbao y Leon

The fracking shale revolution could transform the U.S. into the worlds biggest oil and natural gas producer. Unfortunately, this windfall of cheap fossil fuels is not going to help encourage Americans to take action against global climate change.

The prognosis for the future of our planet is indeed alarming. Scientists say scenarios include an increase in the frequency of extremely hot summers, terrible droughts, crop failures and dying forests. Sea levels are expected to rise significantly, resulting in massive flooding and possibly displacing hundreds of millions of people from coastlines, where more than a third of the worlds population lives. Groundwater supplies are set to shrink, reservoirs to dry up. Wildfires and violent storms will strike often and much harder. And much of this change is already playing out before our very eyes. For some people, like our neighbors in West Virginia or Louisiana, the future is now.

Without changes in energy policy that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we are likely to face the consequences of steadily increasing global temperatures. We are running out of time to act.

To prevent the worst effects of climate change, last December at the Paris Climate Summit, President Obama committed the U.S. to a goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. But the claims of environmental groups notwithstanding, to reach that lofty goal, a credible energy strategy will require much more than renewable energy alone.

Solar and wind power combined are small-bore, accounting for just 5.3 percent of U.S. electricity supply. Although the cost and efficiency of renewables continues to improve dramatically, their share of U.S. electricity production is simply too small to allow them to rapidly phase off fossil fuels, much less by themselves. By contrast, the U.S. fleet of 100 nuclear plants accounts for 20 percent of the nations electricity supply. More importantly, 62 percent of all U.S. carbon-free power generation comes from nuclear power. No other energy source comes close to matching it.

This is one of the reasons atmospheric scientist James Hansen, longtime head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has stated in no uncertain terms that zero-emission nuclear power is indispensable in the battle against climate change.

This is also why Dominions decision to seek approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew Surrys operating license so that the nuclear plant can run for a total of 80 years is so important. Other utilities are considering doing the same. Nuclear plants provide clean, reliable electricity 24/7, along with well-paying jobs and local tax revenue. This critical role was also recognized by the New York Public Service Commission earlier this summer when it included zero-emission nuclear power in New Yorks clean energy standard.

Even so, it will still be a challenge to scale up the use of nuclear power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. But it has been done before, and it can be done again.

Scaling up nuclear power would require deploying some of the new technologies like the molten salt, traveling wave and pebble bed reactors that promise to make nuclear power even more safe, efficient and economic. Any of these advanced reactors could contribute not only to a larger effort to combat climate change but also to bring economic development and an improved quality of life through plentiful electricity to more and more people around the world.
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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Monday accused each other of not possessing the proper temperament to be president, with Trump accusing Clinton of not being strong enough, and Clinton accusing Trump of being too easily taunted.

Clinton criticized Trump during the first presidential debate of the general election campaign for saying that U.S. Navy ships should open fire on Iranian boats that had taunted them in the Persian Gulf. She reused a familiar line from earlier in this campaign: His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. ... A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have their finger anywhere near the nuclear codes.

That ones getting a little bit old, Trump said,

Its a good one, Clinton said.

Trump had accused Clinton, earlier, for going along with President Barack Obamas foreign policy  criticizing her, in particular, for the nuclear deal with Iran, which he said had empowered Iran to become a major power and U.S. adversary.

We lose on everything, Trump said, striking a theme that he hit a number of times, on subjects ranging from trade to debt to cyber-attacks to military rivalries.

Trump criticized the NATO military alliance during the debate, repeating a charge that the U.S. allies in that alliance were not paying enough for the defense that the U.S. provides.

The 28 countries in NATO, many of them arent paying their fair share. And that bothers me, Trump said. When he made similar comments, weeks earlier, Trump was criticized for undermining the Wests primary military alliance.

Trump later got into a brief argument with debate moderator Lester Holt about the Iraq War, which Holt had said Trump supported just before it began.

I did not support the war in Iraq. That is a mainstream media nonsense, Trump said. Wait a minute. I was against the war in Iraq. Just so you put it out.

The record does not show that, Holt said.

The record shows that Im right, Trump said. He downplayed a 2002 interview with radio host Howard Stern, in which Trump had said he supported the war before it began. I said, very lightly, I dont know, maybe, who knows. 

In another part of the debate, Holt cited cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee, which revealed internal emails embarrassing to Democrat Hillary Clinton and her supporters.

I dont think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She says Russia, Russia, Russia, Trump said. It could also be somebody sitting on their bed, that weighs 400 pounds.

Later, in the debates last half-hour, the two candidates sparred about the Iraq War, and about who was responsible for the rise of the Islamic State. Trump blamed Obama, saying that the U.S. had withdrawn too many troops, too quickly, and had failed to take the oil out from under Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

Earlier, Clinton accused Trump of pushing a racist lie that Obama was not born in the United States.

It cant be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted, he persisted year after year, Clinton said. She cited 1970s lawsuits, in which Trump was accused of discriminating against black tenants: He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior.

Trump claimed credit for pushing the false notion that Obama was not born in the United States, saying that I think I did a good job.

Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it, Trump said, when Holt asked why he had continued to support the birther theory, even after Obama had released his birth certificate from Hawaii. But I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate, and I think I did a good job.

Holt had asked Trump what he would say to black voters, who were unhappy that Trump has persisted so long with the false notion.

Trump said earlier that African Americans and Hispanics in U.S. cities are living in hell, because the cities are so violent. He said he would restore law and order, in part by using the aggressive stop-and-frisk enforcement tactics once employed by the New York city police.

Trump declined again to release his income tax returns, offering two explanations  first, that his returns were under audit and second, that the returns would not be that revelatory anyway.

The debate turned unusually contentious in its first half-hour, with Trump repeatedly interrupting Clinton, and Clinton telling Trump, Donald, I know you live in your own reality.

At one particularly unusual moment, about 25 minutes in, Trump attacked Clinton for posting her plan to fight the Islamic State on her website. That, he said, was not something that Gen. Douglas MacArthur  a leader of American forces in World War II and the Korean War  would have done.

Well, at least I have a plan to fight ISIS, Clinton said.

Youre telling the enemy everything you want to do, Trump said. He followed with a charge that was not true: You have been fighting ISIS your entire adult life. The Islamic State has not existed for the bulk of Clintons adult life.

Trump frequently talked over Clintons responses. Later, Clinton said she felt that Trump had blamed her for things beyond her control.

Why not? Trump said.

Clinton, who was said to have prepared to deal with an unpredictable opponent, still seemed caught off guard: Just join the debate by saying more crazy things, she said, seeming to assemble a zinger one word at a time.

Clinton and Trump came into Monday virtually tied in national polls. Both candidates have been relying on negative messaging, in which the best selling point for each has been that the other candidate is worse.

The stakes Monday could hardly be higher for both candidates. A new Washington Post-poll released Sunday shows likely voters split nationally 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.

With barely six weeks remaining until Election Day, Clintons camp  after a prolonged focus on trashing Trump  sees the debates as a chance for her to present what she actually hopes to accomplish as president and to ease voters deep concerns about her likability and trustworthiness.

For Trump, his first one-on-one presidential debate offered an opportunity to demonstrate a command of the issues and to persuade voters clamoring for change that he is a cred- ible alternative, his advisers say.
APPOMATTOX  The fuse trailing from an attack ad by Democratic candidate Jane Dittmar against state Sen. Tom Garretts energy and environment record sparked Monday at the Appomattox debate.

The audience question regarding each 5th Congressional District candidates stance on uranium mining lit the confrontation toward the end of the debate that until then had been marked by general agreement that private businesses are overregulated.

This is like some crazy convoluted cartwheels that were getting here, but the bottom line is that 127 people voted to form the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, Garrett said. You need to learn to read bills. This one says nothing about uranium mining.

He called for Dittmar to apologize or retract the ad after earlier calling it a lie, rehashing statements made through media last week.

The ad referred to 2013s HB1790, which created a public Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority and the private Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, both charged with studying nuclear resources in Virginia. The authority reviewed potential for uranium mining among other issues. That session included hotly contested and ultimately failed bills aimed at lifting Virginias longtime moratorium on uranium mining.

Tom, Im not retracting something thats true. Heres the thing, people are sick of having politicians who rank down at the bottom below car dealerships. Politicians in Washington, 8 percent approval. Theyre tired of seeing money associated with votes for the people who have given them money. Im not saying thats what you did, but theres a correlation there, Dittmar said.

She had referenced donations he accepted from Chathams Virginia Uranium Inc., which has sought to develop a Pittsylvania County uranium mine.

Shaun Kenney, Virginia Republican Party executive director in 2014, wrote on the blog Bearing Drift last week that the bill was as Dittmar described it.

Dittmar referenced votes against the bill by Sens. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, and Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenburg, who both represent areas that would be affected by uranium mining, as evidence the bill was a backdoor to lifting the moratorium.

In a phone interview Monday night, Ruff said he originally voted against the bill thinking it was a backdoor to lifting the moratorium but later changed his mind after being assured it wasnt.

Speaking as majority whip, Stanley said Garrett was not for using this bill to lift the moratorium.

There were a lot of reasons to vote for this bill. There was some reasons to vote against this bill, Stanley said by phone late Monday night.

The debate Monday, hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and the Appomattox Chamber of Commerce, gave candidates 90 seconds each to answer with 45 seconds to rebut. ABC-13 WSETs Mark Spain moderated at Appomattox Inn & Suites.
RICHMOND  Former Del. Joe Morrissey waded into the simmering debate over public memorials to the Confederacy on Monday, announcing that one of his first actions as Richmond mayor would be to pursue removing the Jefferson Davis statue from Monument Avenue.

The Jefferson Davis statue is a political statue that glorified a failed political organization and championed a cause  slavery  that all Americans now find abhorrent, he said.

To put a statue like this in a main thoroughfare like Monument Avenue  this iconic road in the capital of the former Confederacy and the capital of the commonwealth of Virginia  its terribly painful for a lot of people.

Morrissey said he would not call for the removal of any of the other Confederate statues on Monument because they depict Virginians who fought in the war, while the Davis statue is dedicated to a politician who was the titular head of a failed political organization that championed  slavery.

Davis, of Mississippi, served as the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

The statue was erected in 1907  42 years after the war ended.

Morrisseys announcement makes him the only candidate in the eight-person race to stake out a strong position in favor of removing Confederate iconography on city property.

The only other mayoral candidates to suggest they would consider such action have approached the issue with less certainty.

Former Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney said he supports discussing the issue . Similarly, Councilman Jonathan Baliles has proposed establishing a commission to decide how to handle the memorials.
RICHMOND  Democrat Hillary Clinton appeared better prepared for the first presidential debate than Donald Trump, according to Virginia political analysts, but they caution against reaching long-range conclusions on the candidates first encounter.

In fact, the University of Mary Washington held a town hall debate watch on Monday evening and not a single person in the crowd said they walked into the debate supporting one candidate and walked out of the debate supporting another, said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science at UMW.

In a CNN post-debate survey, 62 percent of voters who tuned in to watch said Clinton won, compared with 27 percent for Trump.

But in an online vote for Fox News, 50 percent said Trump won, to 35 percent for Clinton.

It is dangerous to offer confident predictions of how the public will react to a debate immediately after it is concluded, wrote analysts Larry Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley of Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.

Its no fun to urge patience  but we think thats better than making sweeping pronouncements in the aftermath of a widely-watched national event that voters may interpret quite differently than experts may expect, the UVa analysts said.

The pundit consensus seems to be that Hillary Clinton won, but we all know how many times Donald Trump has been counted out, only for him to endure, the UVa analysts added.

However, Trump faces many questions about his qualifications for the job and his temperament, and we dont believe he did much to provide satisfactory answers to those concerns. Perhaps enough voters want change so much that they are willing to overlook their reservations.

Farnsworth said the main lesson from the debate is that Donald Trump needs to study the issues before the next debate. Without offering a clearer sense of how he would do some of the things he proposes, he will lose the issue competition to Hillary Clinton.

Trump gave solid answers about how Clinton hasnt been very effective in some areas, but that is only half the battle: the next step is to show how you would do better than your opponent.

Hillary Clinton gave effective, crisp answers on most questions, but she didnt do as well as she might have on issues of crime and law and order. She did a very good job of needling Trump, Farnsworth said.

Quentin Kidd of Christopher Newport University also thought Clintons preparation showed through, and Trumps lack of preparation showed through in the first contest.

The optics of him butting in and audibly moaning cant be good for him, and I dont think the split screen helped him ... his facial expressions werent helpful, Kidd said.

My overall sense is that she won the debate, but I dont think that means that she will have won over any Trump supporters, Kidd said.

Kidd added: I dont think the general dynamics of the race have been changed.
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More than 1,300 FFA members from across the state gathered at the 90th Annual Virginia FFA Convention at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on June 20-23. Read Mountain FFA was proud to be one of the three chapters attending and representing Botetourt County. While at the convention, Read Mountain participated in two middle school Career Development Events: Small Animal Care and FFA Quiz Bowl.

The Small Animal Care CDE tests students on knowledge of equipment, breeds, problem solving activities and a team problem. Team members Maddie Badgley and Reagan Hall both received blue ribbon recognition. Team members Daylon Compton and Lauren Gentry received red ribbon recognition. For the FFA Quiz Bowl, four team members took a written test about FFA history, present and past, upon arriving at VA Tech. The top 10 percent of that test are then invited to write a 500-word essay with the topic being revealed the next morning at the the computer lab.

Caleb Franklin and Madison Ulrey scored in the top 10 percent. Then on Wednesday, the entire team competed in the buzzer round. At the awards presentation on Wednesday afternoon, Caleb Franklin and Madison Ulrey received blue ribbon recognition. Mackenzie Phillips received red ribbon recognition and Braylee Ulrich received yellow ribbon recognition. Caleb Franklin received a medal for 3rd High Individual in the written test portion of the CDE. Madison Ulrey received a medal and plaque for 1st High Individual for the written test portion of the CDE. Madison Ulrey also received a plaque and a partially paid trip to the National FFA Convention to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, this fall for her 1st High Individual of the essay portion of the CDE.

Additionally, Reagan Hall and Maddie Badgley served as delegates to the convention. Reagan Hall was also recognized on stage with a plaque and medal for 3rd High Individual of the State FFA Jr Meats Evaluation CDE.Daylon Compton, Reagan Hall, and Caleb Franklin served on the FFA Courtesy Corps during the sessions held in Burruss Hall Auditorium.

The theme for this years convention was Unlock. Keynote speakers of the convention included past National FFA Secretary Landan Schaffert and current National FFA Western Region Vice President Sarah Draper. Members were also able to attend a workshop by Mr. Schaffert titled Listen and Resolve: Building Trust & Managing Conflict Effectively. Schaffert, a legally blind speaker and teacher, spoke of our potential to achieve greatness no matter what our obstacles may be.

The Quiz Bowl team was also treated to a tour of the FFA Historical Room located in Litton Reaves, by retired VA Tech professor John Hillison. They were able to view memorabilia about FFA and even see the actual table where Walter S. Newman, Virginia State Supervisor of Ag Education in 1925, and Edmund C. MaGill, Harry W. Sanders and Henry C. Groseclose, staff members of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute Agricultural Education Department, all gathered to form the forerunner to FFA, the Future Farmers of VA.

All FFA members said that they look forward to continuing FFA and plan to return next year to the 91st Virginia FFA Convention.

For more information about joining FFA in Botetourt County, contact an FFA advisor: Andy Bell, B-Tech; Stuart Byrd, Lord Botetourt; Jennifer Hannah, Central Academy; Amy Stevens, Read Mountain; and Zach Wakeman, James River.

Even if you do not have a child in FFA, you can support youth in FFA and 4-H programs in the county by joining the Botetourt FFA Alumni Association by contacting Stuart Byrd at sbyrd@bcps.k12.va.us.

Submitted by Amy Stevens
Virginia Western Community College will host its 10th annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Healthcare Summit and Employment Fair for high school and community college students on Friday, Oct. 7.

More than 50 STEM-H based organizations and businesses will be on hand at the free event to share information about high-demand career pathways in the Roanoke Region. The Summit will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the career fair from 1 to 3 p.m.

In 2015, nearly 300 high school juniors and seniors visited the Virginia Western for the STEM-H Summit and Employment Fair. In addition to the employer displays and opportunities to interact with Virginia Western students, the 2016 STEM-H Summit and Employment Fair will provide hands-on exposure at each of the many stations and laboratories located in the Advanced Technology Center and the Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions.

Activities include a look at an off-road vehicle built and raced earlier this year by Virginia Western students, a robotics demonstration and a look at Computer Aided Design (CAD), which allows industry the opportunity to develop virtual designs of products and test them before having to buy expensive raw materials. Additionally, the Fralin Center will offer informative tours of healthcare programs such as practical nursing, radiography, dental hygiene and human anatomy.

This event is an opportunity for business, industry and community partners to educate high school and community college students on the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful when they complete their education. Providing students with a career pipeline will support the Roanoke Regions desire to be an economically diverse region with a well-educated workforce.

For more information about this event, contact Terry Drumheller at 857-6366 or tdrumheller@virginiawestern.edu.

Submitted by Josh Meyer
pgs said: I always thought churches were sanctuary's , my how times have changed . Click to expand...

Known as "Cities of Refuge" in ancient Israel, pgs:"Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.Then the Lord said to Moses: "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there." (Numbers 35:6-15 NIV)Times are changing, indeed.
Remainers' rejection of Brexit is the sort of bitterness that once led Britain into civil war

27 September 2016The TelegraphThe EU referendum campaign and its aftermath has divided Britain more deeply than at any time in living memory.Our two main political parties have split over the issue, a Prime Minister has quit in ignominy, the entire "expert class" has been discredited, yawning gulfs have opened up within older and younger generations, and between our country's cities and regions, and keyboard warriors have leapt to their weapons spitting bile and venom.But could this storm of bitter enmity and verbal violence ever become the real thing? Well, it has happened before.In the long hot summer of 1642, England went to war with itself. The simmering conflict between King Charles I, an autocratic monarch convinced that he had Divine Right on his side, and an assertive Parliament equally certain that the Lord was with them was coming to the boil.When Charles raised his standard in Nottingham on August 22nd, all over the kingdom men and women were forced to choose their sides.London, then as now dominated by moneyed commercial interests, took Parliament's side, as did the South East. The West and Wales stood by the king, and the North split between the two sides.Families were also divided. Sir Edmund Verney, the king's Standard Bearer, very reluctantly joined his Royal master because "I have eaten his bread and served him near thirty years, and will not do so base a thing as forsake him".But Sir Edmund's eldest son and heir, Ralph Verney, plumped for Parliament, while Ralph's younger brother, Edmund junior, followed his father into Charles's service, poignantly telling his Roundhead sibling: "Although I would willingly lose my right hand that you had gone the other way, yet I will never consent that this dispute shall make a quarrel between us".In the 17th century, these deep divisions were only resolved by a ruinous civil war that killed more than 100,000 people, combatants and civilians (including the two Royalist Edmund Verneys). Yet although there have been other moments when Britain has been rent by deep political disagreements  the Chartist movement of the 1840s, the Suffragette struggle of the 1900s, and the General Strike of 1926, for instance  there has never been a time since when such strife has become mass bloodletting.The special circumstances of Northern Ireland and the Miners' strikes of the 1970s and 1980s apart, the politics of Britain have been notably free from the mass violence that has so often disfigured our European neighbours. Could that happy situation ever change?Civil wars in modern times have not just been confined to developing states outside our favoured western world. If Syria is the current and most terrible example of the phenomenon, the struggle over slavery that tore the United States asunder in the 1860s, the Reds versus Whites Civil War that gave birth to Bolshevik Russia in the early 1920s, and the ideological Spanish Civil War of the late 1930s show that even in advanced, industrialising states appalling violence over political differences can still tear a united nation to bloody, warring shreds.We may like to think of Britain as an "island of the blessed", a country devoted to pragmatic politics, where political discord has traditionally been settled peacefully, and where  since our own Civil War decided the issue  the mother of Parliaments has been the accepted democratic forum where the political direction of the country has been debated and decided. But in 2016 there are ominous and worrying signs that all this may be changing.As a convinced Brexiteer who campaigned to leave the undemocratic EU, and believe Britain took the right decision in June, I fear that our engagement with this disastrous project may have fatally infected Britain's hitherto healthy immune system.The referendum  an imported way of determining political issues as foreign to British traditions as the misbegotten EU project itself  has opened deep chasms of heated division, rancid abuse, and poisoned wells of hatred previously unseen in our slumberous political landscape.The Internet has put a weapon for expressing their violent opinions and vile abuse into the hands of fanatics who in previous centuries would have reached for a musket or sword, and would still do so today had they the means to find them in sufficient numbers.There is evidence, too, that disturbingly large lumps of the electorate are deserting the democratic process. The demonstrations on London streets calling for the Government to ignore the democratic will of the majority in the referendum, and the hundreds of thousands of naive or ill-informed individuals who have happily signed up to a Labour Party captured by a Marxist clique devoted to class warfare and revolutionary struggle, show that the previously accepted way we do politics in Britain may have broken down irrevocably.Reports of violence against East European migrants allegedly because of their origins since June 23 , show that actual violence is not far from the surface even in our hitherto tranquil body politic.But even more disturbing is the rhetoric encouraging such insensate violence by some of our leading politicians. When Shadow Chancellor (and quite possibly future Labour leader) John McDonnell calls the Conservative politician Esther McVey "a stain on humanity" and "jokes" about her being lynched, we are entering dark, dangerous and uncharted waters indeed.In previous centuries the conflicts unleashed this summer could easily have led to civil war. That probably is not on the cards. But we only hope that the peace of democracy is maintained in these troubling times.
The truth about those Brexit lies

EU elites think voters are too thick to know whats right.

, editor-at-largeSpiked22 September 2016After all the agonising over what was behind the Brexit vote, we finally have the official answer from Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission. It turns out that the majority of British voters backed Leave in the June referendum because something was wrong in Britain. Apparently what was wrong was that, ever since the UK joined the forerunner of the European Union in the early 1970s, Britains politicians have been spreading lies about the evident wonders of the EU.If, over 40 years, you are explaining to your general public that European Union is stupid, that there is nothing worth you cant be surprised that the day you ask people do you want to stay or do you want to leave? that a too high number of British in this case expressed the view that it is better to leave, Juncker told a French youth YouTube channel last week. On Europe, there are so many lies, so many half-truths that are circulated around, that one cannot be surprised.Let us leave aside for a moment Monsieur Junckers surprising claim not to have been surprised by the Brexit vote, when the entire political class in the UK and Europe was gobsmacked with astonishment by the audacity of the electorate. His point is that British politicians have all been anti-EU liars and  more importantly  that British voters have been naive and gullible enough to believe their lies and half-truths.Juncker says the problem is that we have been told that European Union is stupid. By implication, the bigger underlying problem is that 52 per cent of us must have been stupid enough to swallow it. Indeed, Juncker appears certain that most of the British public are sufficiently stupid to accept automatically whatever nonsense they are told. Why else would he not be surprised by the outcome of what he sees as a transparently dishonest campaign?Monsieur Presidents intervention removes the mask and makes clear the anti-democratic prejudice which motivates the EU elites response to the Brexit vote. They do not trust the mass of voters because they believe we are too unintelligent and emotional to make decisions on important issues. And they do not trust elected governments either, because they think politicians only win elections by pandering to the base appetites and instincts of the vulgar voters.Like every leading anti-democrat since Plato, the political elites of Europe believe that matters of government are far too complex and sophisticated to let the governed have a say, and are best left to the experts and authorities. As Juncker himself once said, in his previous life as prime minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (before becoming Duke of the Grand Duchy of Brussels), We all know what to do, we just dont know how to get re-elected after weve done it. Better by far not to bother the masses little heads with such democratic nonsense as elections and referendums at all.Junckers arrogant remarks have attracted some well-deserved flak from the Brexit camp. It is important to appreciate, however, that the widely reviled EC president is not the problem. He was giving voice to the anti-democratic prejudice about lying populist politicians and stupid voters that is common across the political and cultural elites in Europe and the UK itself.It is the same bigoted view of the ignorant, misled masses that is behind the various campaigns, petitions and court cases demanding that wise MPs and wiser lords in parliament overturn the brainless popular vote for Brexit. It is the same prejudice revealed in the remarkable focus-group findings that some Remain voters believe some of their Leave-supporting counterparts were stupid and shouldnt have the vote.It is the same prejudice that has the UKs Electoral Reform Society making the Orwellian-sounding proposal for an official body empowered to intervene when overtly misleading information is disseminated, to declare The Official Truth and protect gullible voters from themselves. And it is the same widespread, top-down prejudice that prompts a leading Belgian academic to publish a new book entitled, only to be trumped by an American professors new tome,If anything looks ignorant or misinformed in this discussion, it is Junckers claim that influential British politicians have been spreading anti-EU lies and half-truths for more than 40 years. Since the UK joined what was then the European Economic Community in 1973, no government has advocated leaving. The last time any major UK political party included a commitment to leave the EU in its election manifesto was Labours 1983 longest suicide note in history, which resulted in a devastating defeat. In the June referendum campaign, the leaders of every mainstream party  including that supposed longstanding Eurosceptic, Labours Jeremy Corbyn  backed the conformist Remain campaign.The popular Brexit vote looks far more like a spirited revolt against discredited and two-faced politicians than any tame acquiescence to their instructions.As for the lies that supposedly informed and decided the referendum campaign There were of course exaggerated claims and flights of fancy on both sides: from the official Leave campaigns fantasy extra 350million a week for the NHS to the Remain campaigns horror stories of imminent economic depression; from Boris Johnsons comparison of the EU with Hitler to David Camerons warning that Brexit would delight ISIS and could start the Third World War.Much of this is the normal cut-and-thrust of heated political debate in an electoral firefight. Voters do not need to be protected from such stuff by the wise men and women of the European Commission, or any other official body set up to decide The Truth on our behalf. What voters need is to be left alone to listen to all the arguments, join in the debate as they see fit, and ultimately decide for themselves what they consider to be truly in their, and their societys, best interests. In this sense, the EU referendum vote looks like the best advert for the virtues of popular democracy, rather than its opposite.Leaving aside their elitist proposals for sanitising future referendums, the Electoral Reform Society report on the campaign contained two powerful insights, based on their discussions with voters.The first was that most voters had a highly negative view of both useless official campaigns, and said the top politicians appeals had made no difference to how they voted in the end. Where there had been any effect, it was most often the opposite of what the politicians intended; the interventions by top Remain-backing figures, from Cameron and Corbyn to Nicola Sturgeon and Barack Obama, had all marginally made people more likely to vote Leave.The second insight, rather begrudgingly reported by the ERS despite its criticisms of the campaign, was that it had heard time and again from people who felt the EU referendum was the first time their vote had truly counted. The majority decided for themselves what the truth was about the undemocratic EU, and made their choice in defiance of whatever lies and half-truths were flung at them by the political class.It seems the EU referendum was a rare modern example of democracy that means something real, where votes truly count, because it is lived by the masses who take part in the moment. And that is why, three months on, the democracy-fearing elites of Europe and the UK still cannot handle the truth about what happened on 23 June.iss editor-at-large. The concise and abridged edition of his book,, is published by Williams Collins. (Buy this book from Amazon(UK) .)
Travis Sorensen never originally planned to be immersed in the restaurant business.

After graduating from Midland University in 1999, Sorensen acted as a band instructor for two years in Plattsmouth. But he wasnt satisfied with where he was in terms of career advancement and opportunities, so he deviated from his original course of action.

I enjoyed what I was doing immensely, unfortunately, I learned that theres just a lot more opportunities to be had in the food business  we will just put it that way, Sorensen said. So I went to work for Valentinos (Pizza) in Omaha from 2005 until 2010."

After working for Valentinos corporate office for that period of time, Fremonts Valentinos location, 1680 E. 23rd St., needed new ownership. Because of his familiarity with the Fremont community, Valentinos corporate thought he was the perfect fit for the job.

So he and his wife, Kim, took over the operation.

It just made sense, he said. We still knew all of the contacts in the area, I graduated from Midland, knew all of the people in the schools  it was just a great deal for us to buy. So we went ahead and did it.

Following the purchase in 2010, the Sorensens purchased a Valentinos in Crete in 2011. Sorensen and his wife also provide food at Tin Lizzy Tavern and Fremont Splash Stations concession stand.

When Sorensen learned that longtime Fremont resident and business owner Craig Corn was retiring to Florida, he decided there may be a business opportunity with purchasing the ChatterBox Cafe & Drive-Thru, 1743 E. Military Ave.

Sorensen said Corns former business associate took over Macs Cafe and Mels Diner, and that he and his wife met with Corn discussing business options.

We were looking at adding another Valentinos on this (east side) of town, Sorensen said. We thought we would do buffet on that end of town, and carry out/deliver over here  express, you know?

But because of the huge face lift the business received in terms of renovations before Corns departure, Sorensen decided to keep the ChatterBox Cafe & Drive-Thru business intact.

So he added on the freezer, and remodeled everything and it just looked beautiful, Sorensen said.  You can look around and its a beautiful restaurant now. He did such a good job with the remodeling, so when we came and saw that we discussed adding it on to our list of businesses.

While the restaurant itself looks drastically different, the ChatterBox menu also received an upgrade.

While menu staples like chicken fried steak, loose-meat sandwiches, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, waffles, Windsor loins and others still remain, Sorensen made it a goal to move a little bit away from the diner feel.

So we wanted to head in a direction of a Panera Bread-type feel, he said. So Panera is always busy and super popular. They have sandwiches, soups, and salads. Right now 70 percent of what we sell is breakfasts, so if we can get a good lunch and dinner going, this place will rock  huge for us.

Some of the new items added to the menu include: the shaved roast beef sandwich with signature sauce, the Asian honey-roasted turkey sandwich, grown-up grilled cheese, a variety of wraps, six new salads and the ChatterBox Burger.

This ChatterBox Burger will knock your socks off, he said. You take a cheeseburger with jalapenos, top it with beef brisket and barbecue sauce  Im telling you, this is going to be a staple.

Paving the way for the ChatterBox Cafe & Drive-Thru food creations is 21-year-old business manager Alec Windeshausen. A longtime employee for Corn, Sorensen said Windeshausens leadership has made his life a whole lot easier.

The food is great, the employees are great and Alec is a hell of a guy, doing a hell of a job, he said. Hes probably the sharpest 21-year-old kid Ive ever seen in my life, I kid you not. Hes got graphs and charts and he really just knows the restaurant business. Hes worked for Craig since he was like 14 years old.

The ChatterBox Cafe & Drive-Thru is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Sorensen encourages people to stop in and check out the new menu, loaded with new items. He said they wont regret their decision.

I love the restaurant business today  everything about it, he said. I love that we can put together a good menu, good food items and now we have a new motto here. It says Lifes too short for average food, which fits us perfectly because this food is great.
De Beers participated in the second US - Africa Business Forum, hosted by the US Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies at the Plaza Hotel in New York on Wednesday, IDEX Online reported.

De Beers Group CEO Bruce Cleaver joined world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Michael R. Bloomberg, various African heads of state, and other private sector CEOs from the US and Africa, to examine the partnerships that have led to deepened business relationships and the exciting potential for growth in Africa.

The Obama Administration and the US private sector recognize the tremendous potential of the fast-growing and dynamic economies of Africa, and agree that the promotion of economic partnerships, sustainable development, and increased two-way trade and investment is central to the US-Africa relationship, De Beers said in a statement.

The interactive sessions focused on a variety of key issues that impact US  African partnerships, including economic diversification and regional integration, entrepreneurship and bottom-up innovation, and the continents digital future.

Cleaver highlighted the success of the partnership between Botswana and De Beers, which has endured for almost 50 years and is one of the worlds longest and most successful public-private partnerships.

He said: Careful stewardship of Botswanas diamond resource by the Government and De Beers since independence in 1966 has transformed the country from one of the poorest nations in the world into a modern, upper middle-income country. This progress has been built largely on a diamond foundation, enabled by high standards of governance, political stability and the judicious investment of Botswanas diamond wealth.




Guest blog by Colum Delaney, RSPB NI Advocacy and Campaigns Officer

The new State of Nature report throws up big challenges for everyone who cares about nature and the protection of our natural environment.

These are challenges which require environmental organisations, government, business and the wider public to work together if were to tackle the stark declines in species and habitats that the report reveals. You can read the UK report, and the NI version, here.

Were seeing evidence that the NI government recognises the need for more joined up thinking, particularly in the Draft Programme for Government (PfG) 2016-21  the roadmap for the Executives next five years in power. However, as always, the proof will be in the ambition, delivery and success of the PfGs associated action plans.

Back in July RSPB NI clearly set out our vision for the future during the PfG consultation process.

We called for the protection of our best wildlife sites (both on land and sea) and the sustainable management of our countryside. Another key element of our response included the need to connect more people in Northern Ireland with nature to improve physical and mental well-being.

At the moment our immediate concern is ensuring the new Environmental Farming Scheme to incentivise farmers for protecting biodiversity, which is due to open in February 2017, is adequately funded. Worryingly, funding has not been guaranteed from Westminster as it misses the deadline for the Treasurys Autumn Statement. This delay means that many farmers have fallen out of previous agri-environment agreements and are no longer able to undertake the same level of wildlife friendly farming.

There is a feeling that Brexit changes everything, yet changes nothing. Many of the challenges that nature faces, like climate change, pollution, habitat and species loss, remain issues regardless of Brexit.

However leaving the EU will undoubtedly create uncertainty around environmental legislation and funding. The RSPB is fighting to ensure that whatever environmental legislation may be replaced or unpicked, whatever replaces it is at least as strong.

Recently, there has been a lot of media coverage on the impact of agriculture on nature. Leaving the EU means leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - which hasnt delivered for farmers or nature. We now have the opportunity to work in coalition - government, environmental organisations and the farming sector - to create a future for agriculture that produces safe, healthy food, sustains and restores nature, protects natural resources like soil, air and water and also enables farmers to secure a fair return for their produce and supports employment in rural areas, contributing to a diverse rural economy.

While this is undoubtedly a big challenge, we believe these issues can be solved by working together. The State of Nature report is full of inspiring stories which demonstrate that, with the right conservation interventions and partnerships, we can start to turn around many of the declines witnessed in recent decades.
Gross & Janes Co. has appointed Bill Behan as the companys new president, with Mike Pourney acting as CEO and overseeing strategic planning.

Behan will manage the companys daily operations, and representatives say his promotion is part of a larger succession plan for the companys senior management.

We are very pleased to elevate Bill Behan to the role of president to oversee all day to day activities of the company. Mike Pourney will continue his attention on strategic alternatives to grow Gross & Janes revenue opportunities, said John Brown, chairman of Gross & Janes Co.

As president, Behan and CFO Mike DiRaimondo have purchased a minority equity ownership in the company, officials say. Representatives say Behan and DiRaimondo are the companys first equity owners invited from outside of the Gross and Janes families since the companys beginning in 1920.

For the first time in our 96-year history, the owners are excited to invite the senior managers of the company to share in ownership, Brown said. Mike DiRaimondo is a long-time and respected financial professional. Together, Bill and Mike add unprecedented depth to our company.

Gross & Janes brought Behan on as vice president of Plant Operations in December 2015. With 30 years of forest products industry experience, officials say he has also previously overseen the operations of a large Mississippi-based sawmill. Behan is an alumnus of St. Louis University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has awarded seven grants totaling more than $2.2 million as part of the 2016 Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP).

Improving access to the commonwealths freight rail network is an important step in stimulating economic growth, said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. We look forward to collaborating with the recipients to advance their important projects and ensure that Massachusetts businesses have the tools and resources to grow and thrive.

IRAP is a competitive state-funded public/private partnership program that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants who are prepared to invest in industry-based rail infrastructure access improvement projects.

Created as part of the 2012 Transportation Bond Bill, IRAP provides grants to railroads, rail shippers and municipalities that identify a public benefit gained through improved rail transportation usage or economic growth that would be realized through improved access to rail assets.

MassDOT said the seven projects awarded funds are geographically diverse and are expected to result in an additional 16,500 carloads carried by freight railroads per year while eliminating 37,000 truck trips annually from Massachusetts roadways. The projects are also expected to retain 240 existing jobs and create an additional 77 jobs.

The 2016 recipients are as follows:
The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday.

The NZ dollar fell to a 5-week low of 72.83 against the yen, nearly a 5-week low of 1.5552 against the euro and nearly a 4-week low of 0.7220 against the U.S. dollar, from Friday's closing quotes of 73.11, 1.5486 and 0.7239, respectively.

Against the Australian dollar, the kiwi dropped to 1.0538 from Friday's closing value of 1.0516.

If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 71.00 against the yen, 1.57 against the euro, 0.71 against the greenback and 1.07 against the aussie.

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Forex News
Rihanna has been named a global ambassador for education by the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. The new appointment comes as part of her Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with the two aforementioned organizations.

"I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education," she said in a statement. "Therefore I'm proud to announce Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with education advocacy leaders like the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally."

Julia Gillard, GPE's Chair and the former Prime Minister of Australia, added, "We are thrilled that Rihanna is joining GPE as Global Ambassador to campaign for every child to be able to experience the power of a quality education. We have a once in a generation opportunity to build the commitment of world leaders to education, and Rihanna's voice and travels to countries where GPE is actively engaged, will be hugely influential in improving the lives of girls and boys everywhere."

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Entertainment News
Monetary aggregates from euro area and import prices from Germany are due on Tuesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's import prices for August. Economists forecast prices to drop 2.5 percent annually following a 3.8 percent decrease in July.

At 3.00 am ET, unemployment from Hungary are due. The jobless rate is seen unchanged at 5 percent in August.

Half an hour later, Statistics Sweden releases retail sales, producer prices and foreign trade figures. Sales are forecast to expand 0.5 percent on month in August reversing a 0.9 percent fall in July.

At 4.00 am ET, the European Central Bank is scheduled to issue euro area money supply data. Economists forecast M3 growth to rise marginally to 4.9 percent in August from 4.8 percent in July.

In the meantime, Italy's industrial orders for June are due. Orders had decreased 2.8 percent on month in May.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Dakota Becher of Plattsmouth needs a little help from her friends so she may travel to Botswana in Southern Africa to help the local schools there for 10 days.

Becher is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Composite English. She plans to attend graduate school in which she will major in Women, Gender and Sexuality studies.

She was recently accepted into a service learning program, which includes the trip to Botswana.

I have been trying to study/travel abroad for a few years now, but I havent been able to make my schedule work, she said. I have finally had the opportunity to travel and experience more of this big world we live in.

Becher says she will use her experiences from the trip in her future educational career.

My geographical lens is pretty narrow, because I have never been able to travel very far, especially out of the United States. This venture will broaden my perspective on culture community education and many other categories, she said.

Becher hopes you will donate to her cause on her GoFundMe page,

Botswana Service Learning Trip. She needs $1,500 to achieve her goal.
Sweden's producer prices continued to decline in August, though at a slower rate than in the previous month, figures from Statistics Sweden showed Tuesday.

The producer price index dropped 0.3 percent year-over-year in August, following a 1.1 percent decrease in July. The measure has been falling since July 2015.

On a monthly basis, producer prices climbed 1.0 percent from July, when it slid by 0.3 percent.

Import prices fell 1.7 percent in August from a year ago, while it grew 1.9 percent, month-on-month.

Prices for domestic supply, combining domestic and import , went down 0.4 percent annually in August, while it rose 1.2 percent from the preceding month.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) announced Tuesday that Phase 3 KYPROLIS CLARION study in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients did not meet the primary endpoint of superiority in progression-free survival.

The Phase 3 CLARION trial evaluated an investigational regimen of KYPROLIS (carfilzomib), melphalan and prednisone (KMP) versus Velcade (bortezomib), melphalan and prednisone (VMP) for 54 weeks in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who were ineligible for hematopoietic stem-cell transplant.

The company said the trial did not meet the primary endpoint of superiority in progression-free survival. While the data for overall survival, a secondary endpoint, are not yet mature, the observed hazard ratio was 1.21. Neither result was statistically significant.

Overall, the adverse events in the KMP arm were consistent with the known safety profile of KYPROLIS.

The company said these data will be submitted to a future medical conference and for publication.

Sean Harper, executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen, said, "Based on studies in the KYPROLIS label, including the ENDEAVOR study, a head-to-head comparison of KYPROLIS to Velcade in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, we know KYPROLIS to be a major advance in proteasome inhibitor therapy. The CLARION results, generated in the context of a melphalan-containing regimen, are disappointing, especially given the robust data we've seen in the second-line setting."

The company said it remains committed to exploring KYPROLIS in combination with other agents to advance the treatment of multiple myeloma.

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Business News
Crude oil futures tumbled Tuesday after Saudi Arabia and Iran downplayed expectations of a deal with Russia to curb oil supplies.

Major oil powers are meeting this week in Algiers to discuss the global supply glut that will likely last well into next year.

WTI crude oil was down $1.23 at $44.70 a barrel, having bounced in a volatile range around the $45 mark in recent weeks.

The American Petroleum Insitute releases its oil inventories data this afternoon, followed tomorrow by official numbers from the Energy Information Administration.

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Market Analysis
BP (BP.L,BP_UN.TO,BP) said that it has signed with His Excellency the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, Eng. Tarek El Molla, concession amendments for the Temsah, Ras El Barr and Nile Delta Offshore concessions in Egypt. These amendments allowed for the economic development of the Nooros development, where the company recently achieved record production.

Hesham Mekawi, Regional President, BP North Africa said, " The conclusion of these amendments was a critical milestone that allowed the discovery and fast track development of the Nooros field in the Nile Delta offshore concession which this month achieved record production of 700mmscfd and is targeted to reach 880mmscfd by early 2017. BP will also drill additional wells in Ras El Barr and Temsah areas that are expected to bring significant gas to the Egyptian domestic market."

BP holds a 50% interest in Temsah and Ras El Barr, and a 25% interest in the Nile Delta Offshore Concession. The remaining working interest is held by ENI through its subsidiary IEOC.

In June of this year, BP announced another important gas discovery in the Baltim South Development Lease which was immediately appraised by another well Baltim SW-2. This appraisal well encountered a gas column of 102 metres overall and 86 metres net within two sand layers of Messinian age rock holding excellent reservoirs.

With this new well, the gas potential discovered in the area has reached 3 tcf of gas in place, of which about 2 tcf is in the Nooros field, with the remainder in the new Baltim South West discovery. BP and its partner ENI are already working on the development options for this discovery.

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Business News
The European ended Tuesday's session in the red, extending their losing streak to three sessions. After getting off to a positive start, the markets quickly slipped into negative territory and remained there for the rest of the session. The early strength was attributed to the solid performance turned in by Hillary Clinton in her first U.S. Presidential debate with Donald Trump.

The continued weakness of the European banks weighed on investor sentiment. Concerns over Deutsche Bank and the enormous fine the German lender is facing from the United States has hit the sector hard in recent days.



Energy stocks were also under pressure, due to falling crude oil prices. Saudi Arabia and Iran downplayed expectations of a deal with Russia to curb oil supplies. The major oil powers are meeting this week in Algiers to discuss the global supply glut that will likely last well into next year.

The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index weakened by 0.06 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue chip stocks decreased 0.17 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, added 0.04 percent.

The DAX of Germany dropped 0.31 percent and the CAC 40 of France fell 0.21 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. declined 0.15 percent, but the SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.13 percent.

In Frankfurt, Commerzbank dropped 2.25 percent on a report that it plans to slash around 9,000 jobs over the coming years as part of a restructuring plan.

Rival Deutsche Bank fell 0.38 percent to extend Monday's 7 percent loss after a German magazine reported that Chancellor Angela Merkel had ruled out providing government aid to the bank.

In Paris, Societe Generale declined 1.05 percent and Credit Agricole weakened by 1.05 percent. BNP Paribas also finished lower by 0.52 percent.

Total decreased 0.85 percent and Technip surrendered 1.72 percent.

In London, Wolseley sank 1.30 percent. The plumbing and heating products maker has unveiled plans to close 80 U.K. branches and a distribution center after reporting full-year underlying trading profit below analysts' expectations.

Standard Chartered dropped 2.49 percent. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the company over allegations that an Indonesian power company controlled by Standard Chartered paid bribes to win contracts.

Thomas Cook Group fell 0.29 percent after the tour operator revealed a 4 percent decline in overall bookings for summer 2016.

Centrica decreased 0.80 percent after Jefferies downgraded its rating on the stock to "Underperform" from "Buy."

Travel and insurance firm Saga tumbled 2.74 percent after negative broker comments.

Royal Dutch Shell declined 2.09 percent and BP forfeited 0.88 percent. Tullow Oil also dropped 3.31 percent.

Food giant Nestle rose 1.12 percent in Zurich after announcing changes to its executive board.

Eurozone money supply growth accelerated in August and loans to households increased at a steady pace, the European Central Bank reported Tuesday. The broad monetary aggregate M3 climbed 5.1 percent year-on-year in August, faster than the 4.9 percent increase seen in July.

Economists had forecast the growth rate to improve to 4.9 percent from July's initially estimated 4.8 percent rise.

Germany's import prices continued to decline in August but the pace of decrease slowed for the fourth straight month, data from Destatis showed Tuesday.

Import prices declined 2.6 percent year-on-year in August, slower than the 3.8 percent fall registered in July. Prices were expected to fall 2.5 percent.

Home price growth in major U.S. metropolitan areas continued to slow in the month of July, Standard & Poor's revealed in a report on Tuesday. The report said the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite home price index was up 5.0 percent year-over-year in July compared to the 5.1 percent increase seen in June. Economists had expected the rate of growth to hold unchanged.

Consumer confidence in the U.S. unexpectedly improved in the month of September, according to a report released by the Conference Board on Tuesday. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index jumped to 104.1 in September from an upwardly revised 101.8 in August.

The increase came as a surprise to economists, who had expected the index to drop 98.8 from the 101.1 originally reported for the previous month.

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Market Analysis
Crude oil futures fell sharply Tuesday, once again tumbling below $45 as OPEC dithered on a possible output cut.

OPEC plans to discuss Wednesday a proposal that would cut almost 1 million barrels a day of global production over one year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

However, Iran and Saudi Arabia disagree over the specifics of the plan, so a deal is not expected this week at the big energy meeting in Algiers.

Nov. WTI oil settled at $44.67/bbl on Nymex, down $1.26, or 2.7%.

The American Petroleum Institute releases its oil inventories data this afternoon, followed tomorrow by official numbers from the Energy Information Administration.

Consumer confidence in the U.S. unexpectedly improved in the month of September, according to a report released by the Conference Board.

The consumer confidence index jumped to 104.1 in September from an upwardly revised 101.8 in August.

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Market Analysis
LINCOLN  Presidential candidates are not the only ones offering their positions on foreign policy. Nebraska students have studied the issues and have their opinions as well.

Nearly 100 students from across the state, representing over 1,500 of their classmates, took part in the 18th Capitol Forum on Americas Future at the State Capitol, deliberating four different foreign policy options. Capitol Forum is sponsored by Humanities Nebraska and Secretary of State John Gale.

Nebraska students suggest that cooperation with other countries is the best option when resolving complicated issues like immigration, environment, terrorism, poverty and human rights. The highest ranked choice marked a departure from thinking on policy options by participating students. For the past several years, students have advocated shifting focus from global concerns, to those affecting citizens more directly at home.

The last time students opted for a cooperative approach was 2010. This year, more than half (51 percent) of participants choose cooperation. Concentrating on national concerns was the second choice (26 percent). At 19 percent, the third preference was one that stipulated taking whatever actions were necessary to keep the nation safe and strong. The least favored option (4 percent) called for the U.S. to serve as a beacon for democracy, utilizing the nations military if necessary, to do so.

The Capitol Forum program is integrated by participating teachers into their classroom curriculum. Teachers picked classroom representatives to attend the day-long event on March 21 and report back what they learned to classmates in their home schools. Then, students voted on their choice of foreign policy and international issues.

In addition to ranking policy options, students also weighed in on specific concerns with regard to other nations. Top issues included: billions of people suffering from poverty, hunger and disease; biological and chemical weapons falling into the hands of terrorists; and, draining U.S. resources to solve the problems of other countries.

When asked about a plan of action to address issues and relations with other countries, the majority of students opted for negotiating strict international standards for dealing with climate change and other environmental threats. Previously, developing a policy to deal with immigration has been a key plan of action.

Capitol Forum is a Choices for the 21st Century project, an outreach educational program of Brown Universitys Watson Institute for International Studies. In Nebraska, the program is funded in part by the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Nebraska and NextGen Lincoln, a fund of the Lincoln Community Foundation.

List of Participating Cass County Schools & Students

Ashland-Greenwood High School: Noah Marburger, Mari Crisler, Quinn Fricke, Dea Kaelan, Joe Aguirre

Louisville High School: Kit Wilhelm, Cade Wolcott, Garrett Blatt, Jeni Michelle Leversee, Jonah Sayre
Dr. Rebecca S. Fahrlander, Plattsmouth High School Class of 1967, is she schools newest Hall of Fame inductee.

While at PHS, Fahrlander enrolled in honor classes and was interested in fashion. She often designed her own clothes. She volunteered for political campaigns, participated in Debate Club, gave speeches at Peru State College and Plattsmouth Rotary.

After high school, she attended Bellevue College and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts. In her three years at Bellevue, Fahrlander was a member of an academic sorority, Spanish Club and was on the Deans List. She received Bellevue College Board of Directors scholarships and tutored students in Spanish.

She attended University of Nebraska-Omaha (UN-O) earning her Masters Degree in 1976. She passed the Research Methods Comprehensive Exams with honors and taught graduate assistants.

She attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UN-L) where she attained her PH.D with honors in 1980. A list of her awards and accomplishments at UNL include the Happold Award for Student Research, Johnson Graduate Fellowship, Abbott Graduate Fellowship, graduate student representative on faculty committee, Graduate Research Teaching Assistantships, Nebraska Academy of Sciences conference presenter and being a fluent speaker of Spanish and German.

She is a former member of Bellevue Artists Association and was on the Omaha World Affairs Council for many years. She has volunteered as an Omaha Fashion Week model, Omaha Fashion Week Cancer Survivor Shows, and presented at workshops and conferences on cancer survivorship at The Whole Life Expo/Conference in California. Fahrlander was a presenter and award recipient at an American Cancer Society event where she received the Spirit of Survivorship Award.

Fahrlander was especially involved in politics. She served as a chair of a womens political caucus and as a vice chair of a county political party. She volunteered on the staff for a presidential candidate at a national political convention, served on the central committee of a county political party, volunteered in numerous state and national political campaigns, and attended both inaugurations in Washington, D.C., for former President William Jefferson Clinton.

She has been a professor of psychology and sociology most of her life, but has also taught interdisciplinary courses in related areas such as Leadership and Business Management. She writes for newspapers and other publications. Rebecca has appeared on national TV (Fox Business Network), discussing social issues. She conducted research at The Center for applied Urban Research at UN-O, concentrating on community issues as well as for business and non-profit organizations in Nebraska such as The Joslyn Museum.

Fahrlander also worked for a large corporation during her career where she managed a research department and training unit. She also edited newsletters on legislative/healthcare/insurance issues, presenting speeches at conferences on the same issues.

After her time in the corporate world, Fahrlander returned to teaching as a professor at Bellevue University and UN-O. While at UN-O, she received the Excellence in Teaching Award. She has taught thousands of university students through the years, including the daughter of a governor, wife of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and many community leaders.

She has continued to give workshops on finding ones career, managing employees, dealing with stress, cancer survivorship, travel and a myriad of other topics.

She has worked on other consulting and research projects with companies in the community. She has given presentations on health care to medical students at University of Nebraska Medical Center and in foreign countries.

Fahrlander has been a guest for radio interviews on local stations. Her photography has been exhibited at Bellevue University and Bellevue Library. She made travel presentations at Bellevue University and taught one of the first university courses on Sociology of Women when she was a graduate student at UN-L.

She has traveled to all seven continents, including Antarctica and has explored the Pyramids, Stonehenge, Timbuktu and the Lost City of Ubar. She has trekked across the Arabian Desert and has been on a safari in South Africa and Zimbabwe. She writes a monthly travel column, Safari Journal, for a metro newspaper. She has had articles published in USA Today, The Washington Post, Florida Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other large newspapers.

She has met the Crown Prince of Iran, President Clinton, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Edgar Michell, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, California Gov. Jerry Brown, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, naturalist Jim Fowler, Bill Gates, Dr. Deepak Chopra, author Dr. John Gray and Parliament member Rory Stewart. She also has met and visited with members of the Moody Blues, Chris Jagger, The Yardbirds, The Doors, The Zombies and Lady Gaga.

She is the daughter of the late Raymond F. Fahrlander and Freda Louisa Maria Ulrich Fahrlander. Her siblings include sisters Marcy Boyer, Elinor Mougey, the late Judith Fahrlander, the late Frances Iola Fahrlander, and brother Philip Fahrlander. She also has many nieces and nephews.
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
More than 70 years ago, Keith Meier missed out on getting a job at the Arlington post office.

But everything turned out all right.

Because although he didnt get the job, Meier eventually managed to get the pretty, young girl  who got the job  to marry him.

Earlier his month, Keith and Maxine Meier of Arlington celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. That equals 25,550 days or 840 months of marriage  and lots of memories.

More than seven decades ago, Keith Meier was a young man living during a tough time in American history.

He remembers when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps soon thereafter.

Meier was told the war wouldnt last long.

That prediction didnt quite hold true.

Meier trained for six months, then spent three years overseas. He worked in food supply and was with a fighter squadron. He spent time in England, North Africa, Corsica and Italy before returning home in November 1945 as a staff sergeant.

When he came back, Meier learned about a job opening at the U.S. Post Office in Arlington, but waited a couple days before applying for the position.

I waited too long, he said.

The postmaster apologized, noting that someone else had been hired.

You see that girl? he said, looking toward a post office window.

The young woman had applied and was hired two days earlier.

It was Maxine.

Keith wasnt upset that he didnt land the job.

I had no jealousy or animosity about that, because she was attractive, he said.

They didnt see each other for two or three months, but he would find reasons to visit the post office.

I did order things from mail order companies and I had to go in and get the packages, which gave me an excuse to see her, he said.

Then one day, he asked her for a date. It was January 1946.

He didnt wait too long, she noted.

They went on a double date with another couple to the Music Box, a dance place in Omaha. They traveled in a coupe, which had just one seat.

She had to sit on my lap, he said.

Maxine wasnt too crazy about that.

It was embarrassing to go out on your first date with somebody and sit on their lap, she said.

She did like him, though.

I liked his sparkly brown eyes  and he was tall and we loved dancing, she said.

He liked her, too.

I liked her good sense, her looks, her farm background and her just being a good person, he said.

They continued dating, but broke up a couple of times.

As Maxine explained: Keith knew he was getting serious about her, but still wanted to go out with the guys.

That was OK for a couple of times, but about the third time it made me mad, she said.

So one day, she took a bus from Blair to Fremont to see her grandmother. He followed the bus to Fremont and thought shed go out with him.

But she didnt.

And after that, it wasnt too long and he proposed, she said.

He got her an engagement ring in August.

And on Sept. 8, 1946, Keith Meier married Maxine Fagerquist in Marysville, Kan. His sister and brother-in-law were the matron of honor and best man.

Keith was 27 years old and Maxine was 21.

They took a trip to Colorado for their honeymoon and came home with just 35 cents.

Those were tough days, he said. We had an old car with worn-out tires.

They had two flat tires in one afternoon. On the way home, the cars water pump went out.

Hed bought a little house where theyd live on an acreage near his folks. They worked until midnight  many nights  getting it fixed up for when they had a family.

After she married, Maxine worked at the turkey processing place. Keith worked at Marshal Nurseries in Arlington. There, he did general nursery work.

I was in the field and ended up as a production manager when I retired, he said.

After their children all were in school, she began working at the nursery, eventually becoming his secretary.

I dont know how many years we worked across the desk from each other, she said.

They worked well together.

I think we got along real well, he said.

Theyve been members of St. Pauls Lutheran Church near Arlington for years. She was Presbyterian before they married, but wanted to join his church.

That was a good move, she said. I think you need to be together on your faith.

Whats made the marriage work?

Love, faith and belief in God, he said.

(Marriage) is a day-by-day thing, she said. Youve got to work at it all the time.

Today, the Meiers have three children, Larry, Lana and Mary; six grandchildren; and many great- and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Looking back, some of the Meiers favorite memories are of their children still being at home.

I can remember him mowing the grass and wed sit out there and watch  just being there together, she said. The happiest times are when your kids are all at home.

A granddaughter figured out that their 70 years of marriage equals 25,550  something that was printed on the Meiers light blue anniversary invitations.

Their invitations included something else: We thank God for all the years we have had and the ones yet to come.
$25K in Gannett Foundation grants go to central Kansas organizations

Four local organizations are receiving a total of $25,000 as the Gannett Foundation invests in community-building initiatives in north-central Kansas.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP)  In a combative opening debate, Hillary Clinton emphatically denounced Donald Trump Monday night for keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters and peddling a "racist lie" about President Barack Obama. Businessman Trump repeatedly cast Clinton as a "typical politician" as he sought to capitalize on Americans' frustration with Washington.

Locked in an exceedingly close White House race, the presidential rivals tangled for 90-minutes over their vastly different visions for the nation's future. Clinton called for lowering taxes for the middle class, while Trump focused more on renegotiating trade deals that he said have caused companies to move jobs out of the U.S. The Republican backed the controversial "stop-and-frisk policing" tactic as a way to bring down crime, while the Democrat said the policy was unconstitutional and ineffective.

The debate was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, but also needled the sometimes-thin-skinned Trump over his business record and wealth.

"There's something he's hiding," she declared, scoffing at his repeated contentions that he won't release his tax returns because he is being audited. Tax experts have said an audit is no bar to making his recon 17th graf.rds public. She said one reason he has refused is that he may well have paid nothing in federal taxes. He interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

Trump aggressively tried to turn the transparency questions around on Clinton, saying he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal internet server she used as secretary of state.

Trump's criticism of Clinton turned personal in the debate's closing moments. He said, "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president. He's made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of leveling a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.

Clinton leapt at the opportunity to remind voters of Trump's numerous controversial comments about women, who will be crucial to the outcome of the November election.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said.

The televised face-off was the most anticipated moment in an election campaign that has been both historic and unpredictable. Both sides expected a record-setting audience for the showdown at Hofstra University in suburban New York, reflecting the intense national interest in the race to become America's 45th president.

The centerpiece of Trump's case against Clinton was that the former senator and secretary of state is little more than a career politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international she's now pledging to tackle as president.

"She's got experience," he said, "but it's bad experience."

Both candidates portrayed themselves as best-prepared to lead a nation where many are still struggling to benefit from a slow economic recovery and are increasingly fearful of terror threats at home and abroad. When Trump jabbed Clinton for taking time off the campaign trail to study for the debate, she said, "I prepared to be president, and that's a good thing."

The candidates sparred over trade, taxes and how to bring good-paying jobs back to the United States.

Clinton said her Republican rival was promoting a "Trumped-up" version of trickle-down economics  a philosophy focused on tax cuts for the wealthy. She called for increasing the federal minimum wage, spending more on infrastructure projects and guaranteeing equal pay for women.

Trump panned policies that he said have led to American jobs being moved overseas, in part because of international trade agreements that Clinton has supported. He pushed her aggressively on her past support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while she was serving in the Obama administration. She's since said she opposes the sweeping deal in its final form.

"You called it the gold standard of trade deals," Trump said. "If you did win, you would approve that."

Disputing his version of events, Clinton said, "I know you live in your own reality."

Trump struggled to answer repeated questions about why he only recently acknowledged that Obama was born in the United States. For years, Trump has been the chief promoter of questions falsely suggesting the president was born outside of America.

"He has really started his political activity on this racist lie," Clinton charged.

Trump also repeatedly insisted that he opposed the Iraq War before the 2003 U.S. invasion, despite evidence to the contrary. Trump was asked in September 2002 whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with Howard Stern. He responded: "Yeah, I guess so."

Presented with the comment during the debate, Trump responded: "I said very lightly, I don't know, maybe, who knows."

The Republican also appeared to contradict himself on how he might use nuclear weapons if he's elected president. He first said he "would not do first strike" but then said he couldn't "take anything off the table."

Clinton said Trump was too easily provoked to serve as commander in chief and could be quickly drawn into a war involving nuclear weapons.

"A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes," she said.

Trump replied: "That line's getting a little bit old."

Some frequently hot-button issues were barely mentioned during the intense debate. Illegal immigration and Trump's promises of a border wall were not part of the conversation. And while Clinton took some questions on her private email server, she was not grilled about her family's foundation, Bill Clinton's past infidelities or her struggle with trustworthiness.
CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP)  Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he is "deeply concerned" about escalating political tensions in Venezuela as he held his first official meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The two met in Cartagena, Colombia, following the signing of Colombia's historic peace agreement between the Colombian government and rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

"We're very, very concerned for the people of Venezuela, for the level of conflict, starvation, lack of medicine," Kerry told reporters ahead of the meeting. "The humanitarian situation is of enormous concern."

Leading opposition politicians in Venezuela are demanding to hold a complex recall process on whether to cut short Maduro's term before it ends in 2019. Venezuela's opposition vowed Monday to press forward with its bid to recall Maduro this year and promised street demonstrations should the government continue to stymie the vote.

Opposition leaders spent most of the weekend holed up in a posh hotel debating how to respond to elections officials torpedoing what has been their main political effort  ousting Maduro and holding new elections.

Venezuela's professional class that makes up the bedrock of the opposition's support is eager for a quick response. Anti-Maduro candidates swept legislative elections in December in the biggest defeat yet for the movement started by the late Hugo Chavez, but they have been outmaneuvered ever since with their legislation blocked by the government-stacked supreme court.

The economy has only gone further into its tailspin as the price of oil remains low. Many basic foodstuffs and medicines have become impossible to find without turning to the black market, driving Maduro's approval ratings down to a nine-month low of 21 percent.

Kerry said delays to the recall have been "problematic," and said there needs to be "a way forward that can provide a consensus that provides relief to a nation under siege."

"We're not looking for conflict," he added. "We're looking for a solution here that works for the people of Venezuela writ broadly."
We all know what comes with time change.

For Sua Sopo, 60 years of life has given him the opportunity to witness firsthand the changes Samoa has gone through both physically and culturally.

Coming from the village of Apia, growing up in town gave Sua quite the insight of Samoas Central Business Districts (C.B.D.) transition over time.

The only reason many people are poor is because Samoans are trying to live like foreigners, he told the Village Voice.

I have lived and grown up in the town area all my life. I have seen all the changes from when I was young right up till now in my old age.

I wont lie to you; there are so many changes in Samoa now. Back in the days when life was so simple and easy compared to nowadays.

Sua also saw change in the way the young people did chores and served elders.

Gone are the days where you would tell the youth to go do the umu for the family and they would go quickly to do it, he said.

They would then serve the food to their elders and the church ministers. That has changed now; nowadays we elders just wait for our time to pass.

Respect and the act of serving is no longer what I am used to. Those days are now in the past and are gone.

Even when it comes to the way people ate, Sua says so much has changed.

You know back in the days we would use traditional table mats to serve food to the elders, he said.

Now we just eat on top of the table without it. The way food is served now to others has changed. There has been so much change in how we live life now.

Looking at the town area I have noticed there has also been a lot of work going towards it.

According to Sua; one of the reasons why people in Samoa struggle is because every buys food rather than growing it.

Another reason why people struggle a lot in Samoa is because so much money goes into food, he said.

Back in the days we never needed to spend much money on food. If we get breadfruit and coconut cream then thats what we eat from morning till night time.

But now people complain if they only had breadfruit and coconut cream for the day. Times have changed and so has the mindset of the people.

Everything has to be bought these days even though food grows freely on the land. We have a lot of breadfruit which can use for food.

Its like the children of these days are in charge of what we should do in the family. We should start teaching our children so they can grow up and have the same mindset that we had back in the days.

His advice to Samoa is for everyone to stop complaining and work as one like back in the days.

Samoa, dont complain if you think you cant do something, he said.

Just work together and you will be able to deal with so many problems you are currently facing. Fathers and men of the house, work hard to look after what comes tomorrow.
A Ralston man was sentenced by Judge Geoffrey Hall Monday morning in Dodge County District Court to spend the next several years behind bars inside of the Lincoln Correctional Facility.

Gregory J. Redler, 48, pleaded no-contest and was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a Class II felony; and being in possession of a controlled substance  methamphetamine, a Class IV felony.

If prosecuted to the full extent of the law, Redler could have faced 50 years in prison on the firearm charge. In addition, the defendant could have been sentenced upward of two years on the meth charge, faced nine to 12 months of post-release supervision and paid a $10,000 fine.

Through a joint agreement with the prosecution and defense, Redler was sentenced to four years in prison on the firearm charge and two years for being in possession of methamphetamine.

Redler, a habitual criminal, was previously convicted in Buffalo County on felony charges and was sentenced to spend eight to 15 years in prison.

The defendant was credited with serving 90 days in Saunders County Jail and under the Good Time Law of Nebraska, Redler could be eligible for release in two years.

Court records show that Redler was arrested June 3 by the Dodge County Sheriffs Office after crashing his pickup truck into a creek located on private property. The defendant and three other people were detained.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a 9 mm caliber handgun and illegal narcotics.

After sentencing, Redlers defense attorney asked if his client could remain out of prison for one week so he could marry his fiance.

I could make that happen, but Im not going to, Hall said. They can take care of that at the penitentiary if they want to.

In other District Court news:

*Raylene Schnoor, 43, of Fremont pleaded no-contest and was found guilty of being in possession of a controlled substance  methamphetamine, a Class IV felony. Schnoor faces upward of two years in prison, a $10,000 fine and 9 to 12 months of post-release supervision. Schnoor was arrested Jan. 12 after the III CORPS Drug Task Force searched her home and found several bags containing a crystal-like white substance, which later tested positive as being methamphetamine. Judge Hall ordered a pre-sentence investigation and sent down sentencing for 9 a.m. Nov. 14.
Four churches joined activists, governments officals and private sector representatives to highlight issues relevant to end violence against women and girls in Samoa.

The support was expressed last Sunday during Orange Day.

Orange Day promotes messages to end violence against women and girls, not only once a year, on 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), but every month. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about Gender Based Violence and show solidarity with the movement to End Violence against Women and Girls.

This time, it fell on Sunday 25 September.

Four churches based in Apia joined UN Women dedicating their sermons to the cause.

Participating churches included: Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, Bahai House of Worship, All Saints Anglican Church and the Apia Harvest Centre Church. All services were well attended with some members of the congregations wearing orange or sporting Strong Hands Stop Violence buttons.

Members of the Bahai Youth group, lead by Soul Weaver coordinator Tahere Talaina Leota Siisiialafia, wove orange stars to honour the day.

The Bahai house of Worship chose an excerpt from Bahai writings that stated: As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs.

Reverend Tilafono David Hunter of All Saints Anglican Church said in his moving sermon: I will remind us all, that God made us in His image, both male and female. We are all equal in the eyes of God, and likewise, He loves us all the same!

And Father Falaniko Matulino, of Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, addressing the large audience said, We pray for our women and children as we celebrate Orange Day. A day for awareness of ending violence against women and girls. Churches all around Samoa join us in prayer today.

As one worshipper stated, These issues affect many families in Samoa. It is good to see so many different denominations participating to raise awareness. I hope the discussion started here is continued at home by families during toonai.
A special celebration was held yesterday at the Martin Hautus Institute of Learning Samoa (M.H.I.L.S.) at Malololelei.

The occasion was the commemoration of the International World Tourism Day, the first time the event has been marked in Samoa.

Guided by the theme-Tourism for all: Promoting Universal Accessibility, the celebration began with a special message from the Secretary-General of the United Nation World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai

Tourism has experienced a revolution in the past 50 years, he said.

In 1950 there were 25 million international tourists; today there are around 1.2 billion people travelling the world. Travelling has become a huge part of many lives."

When travelling, we come across new people, new sights, and new ideas. Often our perception of the world changes as we see more of it. However, we must not forget that for many, travelling can be quite a difficult process."

15% of the worlds population is estimated to live with some form of disability. That is 1 billion people around the world who may be unable to enjoy the privilege of knowing other cultures, experience nature at its fullest and experience the thrill of embarking on a journey to explore new sights."

Accessibility for all should be at the center of tourism policies and business strategies not only as a human right, but also as a great market opportunity."

With the worlds population ageing, all of us will benefit sooner or later from universal accessibility in tourism."

As we celebrate World Tourism Day, let us recall that all of the worlds citizens have the right to experience the incredible diversity this planet has to offer."

We thus urge all countries and destinations, as well as the industry, to promote accessibility for all in the physical environment, in transport systems, in public facilities and services and in information and communications channels.

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, also spoke about the importance of the day.

Today, as we celebrate such a momentous occasion, with the rest of the world, we encourage the tourism sector and all others to make sure that people with disabilities, senior citizens and families travelling with small children, and sooner or later all citizens will appreciate the advantage of universal accessibility."

Tourism is a powerful industry in Samoa. In Samoa, we earn close to $400 million tala every year from tourism. We have invested in many other areas, but tourism is still at the top of the list in terms of priorities."

And this is why it is so important to have this institution to help train our people who will work at the tourism industry of this country.
An Associate Minister accused of forgery and fraud before the Supreme Court protested his innocence when he took the stand yesterday.

The Associate Minister for the Ministry of the Prime Minister, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, strongly denied the allegations brought against him by other company shareholders  including a fellow member of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P) and Cabinet Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.

The company in question is Local Partners and Associates Ltd. which Pesetas son, Leiataua Danny Schwenke, is a shareholder and Director.

Other Directors and shareholders include Apulu Lance Polu, Martin Schwalger and Laauli.

Last year, the trio lodged a complaint with Police accusing Peseta of forging the signature of Mr. Schwalger to transfer his sons share to his name.

Yesterday, Peseta maintained his innocence, saying Mr. Schwalger himself had signed the document.

Justice Mata Tuatagaloa is presiding with Peseta being represented by lawyer, Leuluaialii Olinda Woodroffe. Muriel Lui of the National Prosecution Office is the prosecutor.

According to Peseta, the company initially called Local Partners in 2012 was changed in 2013 when Chinese businessman Tupailelei Jack Chen arrived.

He said Mr. Chen was interested in having shares in the company, as well as Apulu Lance Polu. The company name was then changed to Local Partners and Associates Limited (L.P.A.).

There was a meeting where Laauli and Martin who brought Apulu along around 2013 to discuss the receivership of Pure Pasifika, Peseta recalled.

Pure Pasifika was a nonu exporting company, which has since gone bust.

I had made it clear that my sons shares will remain 50percent and the other 50percent is up to Martin and Apulu.

They said the Chinese man will give money for shares in the company and that is when I agreed to bring down the shares of Danny to 30 percent. I had also adviced Apulu at the time to go to Visekota to register his name under company.

Visekota was Maiava Visekota Peteru, the lawyer for L.P.A.

Peseta said at the time they had agreed to bid to buy Pure Pasifika for $1.5million. When the bid was successful the shareholders then discussed how they were going to pay the substantial amount.

Pure Pasifika had a factory warehouse, about 11 vehicles, one acre of land and machines to process nonu. In the factory was a stock of nonu juice valued at $6million from when the company went into receivership.

Another meeting was called after to discuss the shares of the company and the payment of the $1.5million, said the M.P.

I suggested that the easiest way to go about it is for each shareholder to pay their shares. My son had shares of 30 percent so hell have to pay about $200,000. I wasnt worried about my sons shares because I have land asset to guarantee his shares.

Peseta said Apulu and Mr. Schwalger did not have the money. He said he questioned them as to how they wanted to run a company if they didnt have money.

He said they later agreed to apply for a loan from the National Provident Fund, an application which was rejected.

We agreed to get a loan from N.P.F. thinking we can easily recover the money from the $6million worth of nonu juice that is in the company, he said.

But N.P.F. rejected it saying there are not enough assets of Pure Pasifika to secure the loan. They needed a piece of land, which had much more value. Then Laauli and Apulu suggested to use my land opposite A.C.P. (Vaitele) which has a big value.

I thought about it. Considering the nonu juice stored at the factory, I thought it was enough to make the payments and I also looked at my son who is now involved in the company with his registered shares.

Peseta said he agreed to give the land to buy Pure Pasifika and a contribution of his son in the company because Martin and Apulu had no money at this time.

It was accepted by N.P.F. and the new company started around April 2013.

But Peseta soon saw there were problems arising from company after the assets of Pure Pasifika were taken over by L.P.A.

The vehicles were removed from the company land taken and to Laaulis land, Peseta told the Court.

A month later my son came to me and we talked. He told me about what he was seeing at the company. He also told me he is not a signatory of the bank account, just Apulu and Laauli who did not contribute any money in the set up of the company. They had ignored the person who started the company with the land that has a value of $2.1million.

Peseta said he then decided to approach the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour to see the shares of the company.

To his surprise, the records at M.C.I.L. showed the shares were changed with Apulu having 35 percent while Schwalger and Leiataua Danny 32.5percent each.

That was when the commotions in the company started and I no longer trusted them, said Peseta.

I went home and talked with my son explaining to him what has happened. He then said to me he wanted to resign because of what has happened to the shares. He said it wasnt what was agreed upon. He also sad that he is not a signatory of the companys accounts.

A board meeting was called where Peseta voiced his concerns.

At this meeting, I said to Apulu why have you changed the shares with you having more shares than my son?

He replied to me he will go and check. I received a letter from M.C.I.L. that apologised to me about the error in shares.

At this meeting, my son tendered his resignation. I asked to go back to the initial shares agreement with my son holding 50 percent while they can do whatever they want with the other 50percent.

It was then we found that the space (on the paper) was filled with shares but there was no money to finance their shares.

Peseta said his son is another Director of the Aldan Company, that owns the land used to guarantee the loan from N.P.F to buy Pure Pasifika.

Around September 2015, Peseta said he went to see the company lawyer, Maiava Visekota Peteru for a resolution to transfer the shares to him.

But Maiava had advised Peseta he needs one more Director to confirm the board decision and to sign the resolution.

Before Peseta could continue his evidence, Prosecutor Muriel Lui objected.

Ms. Lui told the Court that some of the evidence from Peseta had not been put to Apulu.

Continuing his evidence, Peseta said he was later instructed by Maiava to come on the next day. She had arranged for Mr. Schwalger to come in the office to sign the resolution.

On that occasion, Mr. Schwalger did not turn up but Laauli did.

Peseta said he confronted Laauli about his sons shares. He told him he should be happy that they are getting something from the company, with his son keeping the other 50 percent.

According to Peseta, Maiava suggested to reschedule the meeting to a day when Mr. Schwalger could attend.

Peseta said he had gone to see Mr. Schwalger telling him his concerns and intention to transfer funds shares of his son under him.

He added Mr. Schwalger agreed to meet in Maiavas office the next day.

Martin came to Maiavas office where the resolution was explained to him. I told him that once he agreed to what was on the document then he can sign it, said Peseta.

He then signed the resolutions and I had asked Maiava to give me a copy of the letter which she did.

Peseta told the Court he later went to M.C.I.L. to transfer the shares of his son to him. When he arrived at M.C.I.L. he was instructed by an employee only Maiava could authorise the change.

Peseta telephoned Maiava who gave the password and the username to the M.C.I.L. employee to make the changes. He maintained that the document was legitimate and it was not forged.

When Maiava gave evidence, she told the Court she was instructed by Laauli to incorporate the company under the name Local Partners and Associates.

It was around some time in May when she was contacted by Peseta, where he expressed how unhappy he was with how the company was being run. He was particularly concerned about the assets.

He was also unhappy that the shares were changed from 50/50percent, said Maiava.

I told him I was not aware of the changes in the shares. I was then asked to contact Laauli who came down and they discussed the shares.

According to Maiava, Laauli and Peseta came to the office where they discussed the shares and agreed to revert the shares back to 50/50percent.

I prepared the resolution but it was not signed on that day, said Maiava.

Martin came and signed it on another day and I took it that he understood the document from Laauli who was the point of contact for Martin.

Maiava insisted she was asked to write up a resolution during the meeting between Peseta and Laauli.

She told the Court she had trouble making the changes of the shares of the company and it was the reason Peseta personally visited the M.C.I.L. office to do it. The hearing continues.
Biocom, the San Diego-based life science trade group, has named 10 winners of its new Life Science Catalyst Awards.

Presented along with with San Diego Venture Group, the awards recognize rising stars in research, technology and business fields who have made a lasting contribution to the regions life science industry before turning 40.

A committee of Biocom and San Diego Venture Group members vetted each nominee, evaluating then on innovation, leadership, vision and other factors. Biocom selected the winners.

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The winners are:

 Phil Baran, professor and Darlene Shiley Chair in Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute

 Martyn Gross, chief executive officer, Clarify Medical

 Tony Grover, vice president, business development, Banyan Biomarkers

 Susie Harborth, general partner, BioInnovation Capital,

 Michael Heltzen, chief executive officer, AllSeq

 Rob Knight, faculty director, Center for Microbiome Innovation Pediatrics, UC San Diego

 Dena Marrinucci, vice president of research, Salveo Dx

 Mike Milligan, principal, life science department, Barney & Barney

 Ed Truitt, co-founder and chief executive officer, Lubris BioPharma

 Ashley Van Zeeland, chief technology officer, Human Longevity

In addition,10 nominees received honorable mentions.

For more information, go to https://www.biocom.org/s/Catalyst-Awards.

Winners will be guests of honor at an awards reception hosted by Biocoms board of directors at celebrity chef Brian Malarkeys Torrey Pines restaurant, Farmer & The Seahorse. They will also be featured in the fall edition of Biocoms LifeLines magazine.

Biocom was formed more than 20 years ago from the merger of two predecessor groups, the San Diego Biocommerce Association and the Biotechnology Industry Council. It advocates for the life science industry in Southern California on matters of public policy and sponsors events of interest to its membership of about 800.

Analogous to Biocom, San Diego Venture Group is a trade group; it provides support to the local venture capital industry and start-up companies funded by venture investors.

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020

Twitter: @sandiegoscience

Facebook: facebook.com/UTBiotech
San Diego biotech startup Fortis Therapeutics has raised $18 million to treat drug-resistant cancers, the company said Tuesday.

Fortis was funded by investors led by the La Jolla venture capital firm Avalon Ventures. Other investors include Bregua Corp., Lilly Asia Ventures, Osage University Partners, and Vivo Capital.

The company is developing antibody-based therapies against late-stage metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

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Fortis therapies are based on antibody-drug conjugates. The antibody portion homes in on a target molecule found on cells of interest and carries the drug to the cell. The company is based on technology from the lab of Bin Liu, a UC San Francisco professor. The technology detects previously undetectable cancer cell molecules that can be targeted with antibodies.

Moreover, the target is more than a marker that identifies the cancer cells, its a cellular receptor thats functionally involved in the cancers defense mechanism, said Jay Lichter, an Avalon Ventures managing director and Fortis president and CEO.

This target receptor is over-produced in late-state prostate cancer, and becomes more active following standard of care treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. This kind of cancer has escaped controlled by androgen deprivation drugs, which suppress testosterone and produce reversible chemical castration.

The genes that code for the receptor are also active in multiple myeloma patients with a poor prognosis.

Lius preclinical research has been comprehensive enough that Fortis hopes to start its first clinical trial for one of the cancers in about 18 months. It will take roughly another 18 months to get clinical data if all goes according to plan. That amounts to 3 years to 3.5 years in all.

We also have data for colorectal cancer and mesothelioma, and we expect it to work on some other cancers as well, Lichter said.

The target is involved in scavenging nutrients from outside the cancer cells and taking them inside.

When you hit the target ... it actively brings the antibody drug conjugate into the cells, Lichter said.

The target is also present at very low levels in non-tumor cells, but in that setting doesnt transport the drug inside the cells in toxic amounts, he said.

Fortis is located in the offices of COI Pharmaceuticals, an umbrella company created by Avalon to manage its early-stage portfolio companies. The co-located companies share equipment and management, enabling them to focus on advancing their technologies.

This ready-to-go infrastructure provides for more rapid development than if Fortis was set up where the technology originated, Lichter said.

If you were to start it in the Bay Area, youd have to recruit a team, find space, and probably lose six months, Lichter said. Now were off and running, weve hired people, weve got a lot of experiments going. And the researchers at UCSF are an hour away, and we talk all the time.

Fortis has three employees, not counting those devoted to COIs umbrella operations, Lichter said. The company will probably hire a few more in coming months.

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020

Twitter: @sandiegoscience

Facebook: facebook.com/UTBiotech
Aspiring craft brewers who want to jump onto the Hops Highway are getting some help from a new leasing model called Brewery Igniter.

A project of the century-old real estate management company H.G. Fenton in San Diego, Brewery Igniter creates ready made commercial space for breweries  with everything from tanks to tasting rooms  and then finds tenants who want to move in.

Fentons third Brewery Igniter in the San Diego region would be built in Carlsbad, where longtime home brewer Rawley Macias has already signed a lease for half of the space.

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Its a great idea, said Macias, a mechanical engineer from Escondido. I walk into it with a lower amount of risk. Im not putting all of my money into renovating the building. I can spend the money to define my brand and my products.

The Carlsbad Planning Commission unanimously supported Brewery Igniter plan last week, but the project still needs the City Councils approval. The site would include two side-by-side breweries in adjacent suites in the Carlsbad Corporate Center, east of El Camino Real and south of Faraday Avenue. The second tenant has not been announced.

The start-up shop would ease entry in San Diegos crowded brewing scene, which is particularly robust in North County. The cities along state Route 78, which is widely known as the Hops Highway, boast more than 30 breweries and tasting rooms stretching from Oceanside to Escondido.

H.G. Fenton already leases space to some of the countys most successful craft brewers, including Ballast Point and Hess, so the company knows a thing or two about what the business requires. The new venture offers start-up brewers professional help based on lessons learned from those real-estate relationships.

Each brewer that rents Brewery Igniter space provides its own employees, recipes and ingredients, and has its own name on the door.

Tenants will be serious brewers who already know how to brew beer, Bill Hofman, a consultant for H.G. Fenton, told the Carlsbad Planning Commission last week.

Fenton already has Brewery Igniter locations in Miramar and North Park. The Miramar location opened last year with two breweries, Pure Project Brewing and Amplified Aleworks, and North Park has room for three that are expected to open this fall.

Vista and San Marcos lead the North County brewing scene with a couple dozen breweries and tasting rooms. Carlsbad is next in line, with two tasting rooms  Arcana and On-the-Tracks  a short walk from the Brewery Igniter location and a third, Culver, less than a mile away on Loker Avenue.

Macias, whos also a certified beer judge, said hes been thinking about going professional for several years, and had considered locations in Vista and San Marcos. But Carlsbad has a lower concentration of brewers and tasting rooms, and seems to a better opportunity for him.

Somebody will say San Diego is saturated (with breweries), but its not, he said. This is a huge mecca for craft beer.

Start-up costs would be more than $800,000 if he opened a brewery and tasting room on his own, Macias said. With the H.G. Fenton alternative, he said, he can open with an investment closer to $250,000.

Its much more reasonable, Macias said.

Hes named his venture Rouleur (pronounced ruler), which is French for roller, a type of cyclist who is savvy, consistent and always prepared. An avid rider himself, Macias said hes found a lot of cyclists have a taste for craft beer. He said he intends to focus on brewing beers that bend the rules of standard style guidelines.

I plan to make them different, but not so different that they scare people off, he said.

Each of the two Carlsbad breweries would have about 2,000 square feet for production and a little over 400 square feet for a tasting room.

Carlsbads planning commissioners unanimously supported the Brewery Igniter plan at their Sept. 17 meeting.

Commissioner Hap LHeureux called it an exciting idea, and Commissioner Kerry Siekmann said, Its a great idea to help a new business get started.
The Chula Vista City Council has approved a contract for design work on a streetscape master plan along F Street.

Consultant Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc., was chosen over two other firms to create a preliminary design for the F Street Promenade Streetscape Master Plan, a 1.25 mile segment from Third Avenue to Bay Boulevard.

The project creates a master plan and design, which will ultimately link the citys downtown village district and Civic Center with plans for the Chula Vista bayfront, city officials said.

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The master plans primary objectives are to establish a theme and identity for F Street between Third Avenue and the future bayfront. It will also identify focal points, and pedestrian and bicycle connections to community facilities, including parks, schools, restaurants and shopping centers.

The council voted on the $225,000 contract on Sept. 20. The design teams work is expected to take a year, but that can be extended.

Some potential street improvements include the undergrounding of utilities, the addition of bike lanes, enhanced paving, pedestrian-scale lighting and landscaping.

The consultant will coordinate with city staff during community workshops, development of the project, and the approval process.

As part of this contract, the project design team will first meet with the community to provide an overview of the project and to engage the public in designing various elements, said Patricia Ferman, landscape architect with the city. With their input, the design team must develop three conceptual design alternatives that will be presented to the community at a second public workshop.

Based on the comments from the community, the design team will refine the concepts and develop a preferred alternative to be presented again at a third public workshop. Then the master plan goes before the citys Safety Commission and City Council for review and approval.

The project was funded through a 2015 TransNet Active Transportation Grant that the city received from the San Diego Association of Governments.

In 2013, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation creating the Active Transportation Program to encourage people to bike and walk more.

Last year, the citys capital improvement budget was amended to establish a F Street Promenade Study, and it appropriated $491,000 in active Transportation Program grant funds and $27,000 in matching funds from the available balance of a Transnet fund.
Its been a long road for Leo in 4000 Miles, a play whose title refers (in part) to a cross-country bike ride that put this free-spirited young wanderer in the path of immense tragedy.

His second odyssey begins when the play does: At 3 a.m. in Manhattan, as Leo arrives at his grandmother Veras door for an unannounced visit that will alter the course of both their lives.

Thats the idea, anyway, behind Amy Herzogs much-buzzed 2012 work, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and is now getting its San Diego premiere at ion theatre in Hillcrest.

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Somehow amid all that journeying, though, the ion production feels as though it takes us only halfway to an understanding of what Herzog is attempting to express in this quiet story of two people struggling to bridge the gap between them.

The show has its charms: The two lead actors, Connor Sullivan and Jill Drexler, both are adept at inhabiting their characters as real people rather a collection of quirks (although both Leo and Vera possess plenty of those).

4000 Miles

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. Through Oct. 15.

Where: ion theatres BLKBOX, 3704 Sixth Ave., Hillcrest.

Tickets: $32 (discounts available)

Phone: (619) 600-5020

Online: iontheatre.com

Herzog also has a graceful way of salting in story details, rather than trying to shoehorn scads of back-story awkwardly into the dialogue (a stumbling block for so many plays).

We learn only obliquely, in fragments and half-mentions, what transpired on Leos coast-to-coast bike trip. When he finally reveals the full story, in a moving scene with Vera, its as if the last few pieces of a carefully considered puzzle have been snapped into place, and the satisfaction of that resolution throws into bold relief the sadness of the moment.

Director Claudio Raygoza, ions co-founder and executive artistic director, finds spaces for the show to breathe between Leos almost manic bursts of insight and emotion (convincingly conveyed by Sullivan) and Veras dignified reserve, which masks a surprising worldliness and a fair share of suffering, bravely borne.

One of the neo-hippie Leos first acts is to freak at Veras offer of a fruit snack (Theres no such thing as a local banana!, he barks). But the two find they share common ground in lefty politics and the idea of a greater good.

And yet it gets complicated: Leo is in deep denial about his family troubles (hes estranged from his mom and has a very odd relationship with his adoptive sister); its also intimated that he has cheated on his girlfriend, Bec, played by Michelle Marie Trester with a compelling blend of vulnerability and toughness in her relatively short appearances.

Theres a naturalistic rhythm to the show that works to some degree, but doesnt suit this piece as well as it did the memorably meditative staging of Annie Bakers The Aliens that ion put up last year.

And while 4000 Miles is driven by a gradual coming-to-terms between Leo and Vera, there just isnt enough friction between them here to serve as the plays engine, at least not yet. (Drexler, a local light making a welcome and distinguished ion debut, also seems markedly young to be playing the 90-something Vera.)

The piece does earn some good laughs (Yumi Roussin has an especially funny if out-of-left-field turn as Amanda, an art student and dim sum heiress whom Leo brings home one night).

The show, set entirely in the widowed and increasingly forgetful Veras rent-controlled apartment, also boasts a low-key but effective look and sound; Raygoza himself did most of the physical production, with producing artistic director (and fellow ion co-founder) Glenn Paris designing the smartly conceived costumes.

Theres a potent suggestion near the conclusion of the one-act, 95-minute show that Leo needs to help honor someone elses life before he can make sense of his own.

Its dampened, though, by a desultory ending that leaves this piece just short of satisfying.

Twitter: @jimhebert

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy and a jail inmate were injured early Tuesday when the cruiser they were traveling in collided head-on with another vehicle that drifted across the center line in Long Beach, police said.

The deputy was transporting the inmate to the Lakewood sheriffs station in his patrol car about 12:10 a.m., according to Marlene Arrona, spokeswoman for the Long Beach Police Department.

The deputy was driving south in the 6100 block of North Paramount Boulevard when a northbound four-door sedan crossed the center median and drove directly into the cruiser, she said. Both vehicles were mangled in the wreck.

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The deputy was trapped in his car and had to be pried free.

He suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital, Arrona said.

The inmate and the driver of the other vehicle also suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized.

None of the injured were identified.

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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lakewood Deputy who was seriously injured in a traffic collision and to his family during this difficult time, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said in a statement. We hope he can rest and have a speedy recovery. We appreciate the tremendous support from the community and in the department as we come together to support one of our own.

Long Beach detectives were investigating the crash and urged anyone with details to call the police departments Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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UPDATES:

10:50 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

This article was originally published at 10:30 a.m.
Donald R. Phillippe, 81, of Fremont died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Donald was born June 17, 1935, in Fremont to Clyde and Bessie (McNew) Phillippe. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1954. Donald joined the Army National Guard and served from Sept. 29, 1956, until Sept. 28, 1962. Donald was a master plumber and previously owned Platte Mechanical in Fremont. On Aug. 18, 2005, Donald married Mary A. Divis in Omaha.

Donald had a passion for air boating and fishing throughout his lifetime. He also built airboats. Donald was an avid Husker sports fan. He enjoyed working and tinkering in his garage. Donald attended First United Methodist Church in Fremont.

Donald is survived by his wife, Mary of Fremont; son, Dave (Ronda) Phillippe of Fremont; stepson, Matthew (Victoria) Keller of Mansfield, Texas; sisters, Betty Coufal of Fremont and Gladyese Gilligan of Wahoo; grandchildren, Krista (Ryan) Anders of La Vista, Benjamin (Amber) Phillippe of Omaha, Sheila (Jason) Meyer of Fremont, and Brian (Adrienne) Phillippe of Portsmouth, Va.; stepgrandaughter, Blayr Keller of Craig; great-grandchildren, Shauna Anders, Peyton McVey, Brittany Phillippe, Hunter Meyer, Ryleigh Phillippe, and Mason Phillippe; mother-in-law, Rita Divis of Wahoo; brothers-in-law, Jim (Linda) Divis of Colon and John (Kathy) Divis of Mead; sister-in-law, Donna Heuring of Fremont; and formerly married to Lois Phillippe of Fremont.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Dan and Eric; four brothers; and two sisters.

The graveside service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ridge Cemetery in Fremont. The Rev. Leland Foreman will be officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Fremont Honor Guard.

Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association or to the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.

Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Perhaps never have Americans been as familiar with both presidential nominees as they are with the two on the debate stage Monday night.

Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump needs to spend much time introducing themselves to voters. Instead, they will seek to use this uninterrupted forum to sharpen attacks, provoke and knock the other off balance.

The result could be a battle of psychology as much as policy.

Anything is possible, said Elizabeth Ossoff, chair of the psychology department at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. In the past, we might have been able to predict where the candidates were going to go in terms of their policy strengths. But I also think they know what people have been responding to, and the moderator is going to go to some of these character issues as well.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270

Here are some hurdles Clinton and Trump must overcome and strengths they can turn to in their last big chance to sway the unusually large chunk of the electorate that remains undecided.

1. Trump as Oval Office occupant

Trump thrived in the freewheeling Republican primary debates, relying on his gift of timing and his willingness to insult or be vulgar. The most infamous instance came in Florida in March when he responded to Sen. Marco Rubios personal attacks.

"He referred to my hands. If they're small, something else must be small," a defensive Trump said. "I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee it."

While those performances were memorable, they also led to criticisms that Trump lacks the temperament to serve as commander in chief, a line of attack the Clinton campaign has seized on.

Whether he can tone down his approach  or whether he wants to  is one of the chief questions about Mondays debate. Trump has in recent weeks stuck closer to a script, speaking regularly with a teleprompter and hewing to a message of change while casting Clinton as the embodiment of the status quo.

If Clinton finds a more sober Trump onstage, she may be tempted to go after what have proved to be his emotional triggers, another analyst said.

Theres one area that makes him anxious, where he doesnt look comfortable, he looks different to me as a psychologist, and that is when they talk about his bankruptcies, said Bart Rossi, a clinical psychologist, referring to Trumps business record. Hes always good at deflecting, minimizing, marginalizing everything. But not on bankruptcies.

2. Clintons likability

Clintons ratings on favorability and trustworthiness are among the lowest for major-party nominees  save for Trumps. Still, they are barriers for her in winning the votes of independents and Republicans put off by Trumps inexperience and bombast.

Her use of a private email server while secretary of State and the investigations it spawned have been key factors weighing her down.

She also faces a challenge unique to women in seeking power, Ossoff said.

Even though shes seen as competent, theres a sense of unease with a woman in that position, she said. So people may look for, at some level  a subconscious level  a way of reducing her legitimacy toward that role by seeking out some of these other attributes that people have focused on.

How does she counter those perceptions? Aides for rival Democratic campaigns pointed to the opening and closing statements she made in primary debates this year, particularly when she shared more of her personal story or connected her work to a specific policy concern such as the water crisis in Flint, Mich.

I want to be a president who takes care of the big problems and the problems that are affecting the people of our country every day, Clinton said in a Democratic primary debate in South Carolina.

3. Crooked Hillary

Trumps need to show presidential temperament may come into conflict with one of his most effective tools: boiling down a message about his opponent into a single, catchy put-down. Low-energy Jeb Bush, Little Marco Rubio and Lyin Ted Cruz led to Crooked Hillary. The insult will probably feature in Mondays nights debate as Trump seeks to push Clinton off balance.

That has a tendency to place the other person immediately on the defensive, and rather than come out and better Trump on what they know, theyre responding to his attack, Ossoff said. That puts them in a more vulnerable and weaker position in the eyes of the people watching it.

Ossoff saw little value in Clinton nicknaming Trump in return.

Its hard to play that one-up game without being seen in the eyes of the voters as too hard and too cold and not fulfilling the stereotype of the female personality, she said.

4. One on one

Trumps biggest liability could be the clock. As the number of candidates in Republican debates dwindled, the time for answers expanded. Trump struggled to fill time, and he opened himself to more fact checking from his opponents and the moderators, though not nearly as much as Clinton is likely to engage in.

Democrats hope he is unlikely to last 90 minutes onstage without an outburst, particularly in the face of sustained challenge and counterarguments from a woman.

They point to his first debate last year, in which Fox News Megyn Kelly was the first to pose him a direct question about his public comments disparaging women. He bristled at what he saw as unfair treatment: Ive been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me, he said. In the days that followed he continued to challenge Kelly as unfair, leading to his suggestion that she had blood coming out of her wherever to explain her tough questions.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter

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On Sunday, Escondido retiree Charty Bassett and German nurse Katrin Oppermann met face to face for the very first time. But in no way are these two women strangers.

Bassett, 67, and Oppermann, 32, are blutschwester, the German word for blood sisters. They have identical blood flowing through their veins, thanks to a donor stem cell transplant three years ago.

In 2013, Bassett was out of options after a three-year battle with an aggressive blood cancer. A bone marrow transplant was her only hope for survival, but there was no match in her family. So, doctors at UCSDs Moores Cancer Center logged into the international Be the Match donor registry and found her perfect match in Germany.

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Just two weeks after three bags of Oppermanns blood stem cells were pumped into Bassetts arms, all of her old O-type blood cells were gone and Oppermans cancer-free A-type blood was coursing through her veins.

Bassett is whats known as a full chimera, a person whose blood DNA is different from the DNA in the native cells of their body. The stem cell transplant saved Bassetts life, but there was a hitch that troubled her deeply.

For privacy reasons, Bassett wasnt allowed to know the name of her donor until two years after the transfusion. So she waited impatiently until the second anniversary on Aug. 23, 2015, and then, armed with Oppermanns contact information, she excitedly sent an introductory email. Oppermann, sitting at her computer in Husum, Germany, was eagerly awaiting the message.

I was staring at the screen and then I heard this ping, and youve got mail and I started to cry, Oppermann said.

Since then, the women have grown as close as family, thanks in part to the fact that Bassett speaks fluent German. On Sunday, Oppermann and her mom arrived for a 10-day stay with Bassett and her husband, Brant. When asked what touristy things Oppermann has in mind during her visit, she said all she really wants to do is hang out with her new sister. Bassett said shes overjoyed that Oppermann accepted her invitation.

Im so thankful to have a chance to meet her and get to know her, Bassett said. Its painful to be grateful and not be able to express that thankfulness. Its very calming to my heart to thank Katrin to her face.

Bassett is one of about 175 people who undergo a blood or bone marrow transplant each year at UCSDs Moores Cancer Center. When a family member cant be found to match, donors are often found through Be the Match, which has 20 million registered donors worldwide.

The majority of donors are Caucasian, of mostly Western European heritage, so people like Bassett have a 70 percent chance of finding a match. But Americans of black, Latino, Filipino or mixed heritage are underrepresented in the registry, so those patients have only a 25 to 35 percent chance of a match, said Jodi Garrett, a UCSD transplant coordinator.

Bassett had another ace in the hole, shes part German. Up until a few years ago, all Germans had to register at 18 for compulsory military service and they were strongly encouraged by their government to join the donor registry. As a result, Germans represent a disproportionately high percentage of European donors.

Oppermann said she discovered the importance of registering when she was in nursing school in 2009 and signed up, never imagining that one day shed get the call. When it finally came, she said she cried, got goose bumps and felt fantastic.

Brant Bassett, 67, said it was about six years ago when his wife began having mysterious hip pain when she walked. Then, during a dental appointment, her dentist spotted a sore in her mouth that looked worrisome. In February 2010, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that forms in the bone marrow and can generate tumors all over the body.

She underwent aggressive radiation, a variety of chemotherapies and treatments using her own stem cells. But by spring 2013, her immune system was shot and hope was dimming. Brant said it was a devastating time because he and his wife have been practically inseparable since they married 45 years ago.

Charty, which is short for Charlotte, was a star student in the Russian language program at Stanford University when Brant arrived from his native Escondido in 1967. Although they were in the same program, they didnt meet until after Brant went to Leningrad in 1970 for a summer program to perfect his language skills. A man in Leningrad asked him how to reach Charty, who had been in Leningrad the summer before, and that gave Brant a reason to track her down. Ten months later, they married.

I got really lucky, he said.

During grad school together at UC Berkeley in 1973, they were invited by the now-defunct U.S. Information Agency to travel with a cultural exhibit to the Soviet Union. As their language skills improved, their opinions of communism plummeted, so they spent the next eight years as Russian-language broadcasters on Voice of America, the U.S. government-run global radio network.

From there, they joined the U.S. State Department, which took them to postings in Hungary, West Germany, Mexico City, Vienna and Washington, D.C. Charty, who speaks six languages, worked part-time as a linguist while raising their three children. Brant, who speaks five, worked internationally in more than 70 countries. In 2007, they retired to Escondido and were enjoying an active retirement when Charty got sick.

Garrett, the transplant coordinator, said that finding a match in the registry is just the starting point. Even when all 10 proteins in the blood are a perfect match, the registered donor may not be available. Sometimes they have changed their mind about the procedure, or theyve moved, changed phone numbers, or become pregnant or ill. Garrett said it can take months to track down and test a donor. Meanwhile the patient has to undergo treatment to kill all off all their bone marrow to ensure a successful transplant.

Two weeks before the procedure in 2013, Bassett wrote an anonymous letter to her donor, praising her courage and generosity. Opperman said the pre-transfusion drug she took to build her stem cell count caused her bones to ache, but she never had a moment of regret. In her own anonymous letter back, she wrote It fills me with pride and honor to be able to help another human being.

Garrett said that once Oppermanns stem cells took residence in Bassetts bone marrow and began producing new white and red blood cells and platelets, a process called homing, the old cancer-causing blood cells were gradually killed off. But a downside of the cure is that the new blood doesnt recognize the hosts native cells, so Bassett has to take medications to control something called graft-versus-host disease. She said its a small price to pay.

Ive got issues with my eyes and my joints, but theyre an awful lot better than laying underground, she said.

In addition to having matching blood DNA, the women said they feel like true blood relations. Sitting together at the Bassetts kitchen table on Monday morning, they happily chatted in German, expressed a shared passion for travel and even wear the same haircut. Looking over at Charty and her blutschwester, Brant wiped away tears as he reflected on their good fortune.

It means everything to me, he said. Its a miracle. Its like if you didnt know God loves you, then you know it now.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
If you were destined to be hit by a car and could choose the accident location, you would be wise to have it near a hospital.

Maria Foust didnt have that option but, in a mixture of bad luck and good fortune, that was the El Cajon womans destiny.

She had just undergone shoulder reconstruction surgery at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Zion Avenue. Upon her release, a friend was escorting her from the hospital to the parking area.

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As they crossed the street, a vehicle came around the corner and plowed into Foust, knocking her up on its hood. She rolled off, crumpling onto the pavement with a thud.

Much to the surprise of Kaiser medical staff, Foust was re-admitted to the hospital within minutes of her release to have the same shoulder examined. As luck had it, other than some minor bleeding from the surgery site, and a few bumps and bruises, Foust was pronounced OK, treated and released.

She and her husband, Linn, did not press charges against the elderly driver. It turns out, he was rushing to the emergency room to see his ailing wife, who had just been taken there by ambulance.

Dog victims of flooding fly in from Louisiana to El Cajon to be taken to new rescue group, new homes.

Cat and dogs: When the Wings of Rescue chartered plane carrying homeless animals from waterlogged Louisiana arrived here Friday, its pet passenger count was 67 dogs  and one cat.

The canines were dispersed to various shelters for adoption, whereas Goldberg, a black and white tuxedo cat, climbed straight into the arms of his adoptive family.

Jan Percival Lipscomb and teenage daughter, Shaney, had spent four days in a sweltering Louisiana animal shelter, Caras House, cleaning cages, dispensing food, bathing, microchipping and trying to calm terrified dogs and cats.

While they had no adoption intentions, Jan fell in love with one cat in particular  Goldberg, a shelter favorite, who remained mellow and calm throughout the chaos.

She returned to San Diego hoping his family would claim him within the 10-business-day hold period, not knowing the cat actually had been at the shelter since June.

It was with bittersweet emotion that she soon found out Goldberg had been adopted. Imagine Jans surprise to come across his photo while perusing the shelter adoption website a few days later. She learned that he had been returned, infested with fleas.

So the lucky Louisiana feline now has joined the Lipscomb family with its menagerie of four cats and a previously adopted dog. As for the reaction of her husband, Jeff, Jan reports: He, too, has fallen under Goldbergs spell.

Reader to the rescue: San Diego-raised actress Annette Bening, honoree-to-be of the San Diego International Film Festival, told U-T music critic George Varga that she would love to re-connect with her Pershing Junior High School teacher, Ellen McLaughlin.

Wish granted. In no time, a reader contacted the film festival office with a phone contact for the teacher, actually Carleen McGlothlin, who now uses her maiden name, Hemric.

A friend called me and said, I know this is you, said Hemric, Benings ninth grade English teacher.

She was a very good student, very quiet. We had a very nice relationship, recalled Hemric, who often took her pupils to Old Globe plays, taking advantage of a student discount program.

Bening saw her first play at the Old Globe with her teacher and credits the experience with kindling her love of theater.

Ive followed her career since she got into the movies, added Hemric, now 80. The last time I talked to her was at an Old Globe gala about 15 years ago.

The Golden Globe-winning actress, whose parents still live in San Carlos not far from Hemric, has invited her former teacher to be a her guest at the Sept. 29 awards ceremony. Hemric, who retired in 2001, plans to attend with her daughter.

Going the extra step: Mary Murphy, of So You Think You Can Dance judging fame, is reaching out to people with Alzheimers disease. The choreographers mother was diagnosed with the progressive brain disorder at age 59.

Murphy, who owns Champion Ballroom Academy here, is now offering a social outing dance class through Alzheimers San Diego for people suffering from the disease and their caregivers.

At the organizations gala, CEO Mary Ball, without missing a beat, challenged Sheriff Bill Gore to join in taking the class. I know how much you love to dance, she said, tongue in cheek.

Gore, who sits on the groups advisory committee, was willing to take a bullet for the cause. He accepted her challenge.

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1518

Twitter: dianebellSD

Facebook: dianebell.news
A San Diego police sergeant resigned Tuesday after admitting in court that he beat up his girlfriend on a night out downtown.

Oscar Armenta, a 13-year veteran officer, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of domestic violence and was sentenced to three years probation, without jail time.

He was off-duty at the time of the July 3 assault.

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As one of the terms of probation, Superior Court Judge Dan Link ordered Armenta to not own or possess a gun for 10 years. Armenta also was ordered to complete a domestic violence recovery program and 120 hours of volunteer work.

Two bystanders jumped in to try to stop Armenta from repeatedly punching his girlfriend as the couple walked along Seventh and Island avenues in East Village on a Sunday night.

One of the men told The San DIego Union-Tribune that Armenta struck the woman again after she fell to the ground. The bystander said Armenta then turned on him and a second man and they couldnt hold onto him.

The woman suffered a cut on her head.

Police came soon after and took Armenta into custody. He bailed out of jail the next day and was placed on administrative leave.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman issued a statement after the sentencing hearing, saying,

Oscar Armenta pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence charges today and has subsequently tendered his resignation to the San Diego Police Department. As I stated back in July when this investigation first began, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and take the conduct of our employees very seriously.

The resignation was effective immediately, police said.

At the hearing, Armenta was directed to pay restitution of bills incurred by one of the men who intervened in the domestic violence.

The judge also told Armenta to have no future negative contact with his girlfriend.
San Diego police are searching for a man who stuck his hand up the dresses of three women, including one who was pregnant, in downtown San Diego Monday afternoon.

One of the victims said the man reached under the dresses of both her and her friend near Fourth Avenue and C Street just before 1 p.m., said San Diego police Officer Luis Roman. She followed the man to Fifth Avenue and Broadway, where she watched him get on a trolley.

Soon after, another woman reported a man reached under her dress near 2nd Avenue and Broadway, Roman said.

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The assailant was described as a short, Latino man in his 50s with a heavy build. He was wearing a gray shirt and gray cargo shorts.

Police located surveillance footage of one of the incidents and are reviewing it, Roman said.
Flames charred an apartment above a small dental office in the San Diego community of Bankers Hill Monday afternoon, a fire spokesman said.

The fire sparked in the second-floor home atop Uptown Smiles Dentistry on Third Avenue near Nutmeg Street about 3:15 p.m., San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Lee Swanson said.

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A dentist with a patient heard something cracking, went upstairs and saw the flames, Swanson said. He and others inside the office got out safely.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from the roof of the two-story building. Thick, black smoke could be seen for miles.

The blaze was put out in about 30 minutes, Swanson said.

The apartment sustained extensive damage. Two women, who were not home when the fire started, were displaced, Swanson said. The Red Cross was called to help them find temporary lodging.

Water used to douse the flames damaged some of the dental office, Swanson said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
A backyard grill may have caused a blaze that spread to a home in University City late Monday afternoon, a fire official said.

The residents, a married couple, told firefighters they had been using the grill and that some of its flames had flared, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Lee Swanson.

No one was injured in the fire, which sparked about 4:45 p.m.

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When firefighters arrived, flames were tearing through the roof of the home on Red Deer Street, south of University City High School. Fire crews also encountered thick smoke, Swanson said.

Fueled by winds, the blaze initially posed a threat to neighboring homes, but firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.

It took them about 40 minutes to put out the blaze, which damaged the homes attic and much of the ceiling, Swanson said.

The couple was displaced and planned on staying with friends, Swanson said.

Investigators had not determine the cause of the fire or the estimated damage.

Three headlines that you cant miss.

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A mentally ill man accused of killing his mother in her Valley Center hilltop home more than six years ago was in Vista Superior Court for a brief hearing Monday and appears poised to raise insanity as his defense.

An attorney representing David Leroy Lucero told a Vista judge that Lucero may change his plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity. Lucero will be back in court Nov. 2 for the potential change of plea.

David Lucero

Lucero, 31, is charged with murder and car theft in the March 2010 stabbing death of his 53-year-old mother, Margo Jean Lucero, who worked at a local casino. Her husband and daughter found her dead in the familys upscale home on March 9 of that year.

Later that night, the slain woman's Mercedes was found abandoned in the Arizona desert, and police arrested David Lucero for trespassing on the Tohono O'odham Reservation near Tucson. Authorities eventually returned him to California on the murder warrant.

Luceros mental illness has been at issue from the start, and is why the six-year-old case has not yet gone to trial. The defendant has spent much of the time at Patton State Hospital, a forensic psychiatric hospital in San Bernardino County.

Its a complex case, with complex mental issues, and sometimes that takes time to resolve, defense attorney Robert Kalunian said after the hearing.

Kalunian was standing in Monday morning for famed defense attorney Mark Geragos, who Luceros father  a medical doctor  hired six years ago to represent his son. Geragos has previously represented celebrities like Michael Jackson and Wynona Ryder, as well as high-profile murderers like Scott Peterson.

The day before his mother's body was found, Lucero was reportedly behaving so strangely that his mother called authorities for help. The deputy who responded to the Costalota Road home declined to take Lucero into custody for mental observation.

His arraignment in the murder case was twice delayed when he became combative and refused to leave his cell.

In May 2010, Geragos asked to have his clients mental competency evaluated. Doctors found Lucero was not competent, and he was sent to Patton.

Under the law, the case against Lucero had to move forward within three years or he would be released. As three years approached, prosecutors won a grand jury indictment against Lucero  not for the slaying, but for an unrelated allegation that hed battered a deputy while in custody in 2011.

Through that indictment, they were able to win what is called a Murphy conservatorship, which allowed them to keep Lucero in custody.

He was deemed competent last year, and was sent back to San Diego County to face legal proceedings.

In January, the prosecution secured a grand jury indictment in the murder case. Trial is set for next April.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
Lincoln High School introduced its new campus police officer to parents on Monday night amid efforts to maintain a positive relationship with students and the community.

Officer Marcos Gobbi replaces Bashir Abdi as the San Diego Unified School District police officer assigned to Lincoln. Abdi is on medical leave following injuries suffered during a much-publicized campus fight in February.

A former officer with the San Diego Police Department Juvenile Division, Gobbi was hired by the San Diego Unified police force in March. This is his second assignment at Lincoln, where he once worked as an hourly custodian to help pay his way through San Diego State University.

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I have always loved this community and its diversity, said Gobbie, 37, the father of three boys. I want to help the school forward. Im known for my positive approach, thats always been my style.

Gobbi was formally introduced to the community during Lincolns Back to school Night. The well-attended event included a skit where police and criminal justice students acted out various interactions with law-enforcement.

San Diego Unified Police Chief Ruben Littlejohn said during the school program that campus police would continue to respond to incidents with love rather than force.

Mondays event came some four weeks after the campus police officers union criticized San Diego Unified for allowing the student who was accused of assaulting officer Abdi to return to Lincoln this school year.

The teen, who is the son of local rap artist Brandon Tiny Doo Duncan, was charged with four felonies after the Feb. 26 fight. He later admitted to one or more of those charges, but because the trial was resolved in Juvenile Court, the findings were not made public.

Two other students were also charged and sentenced, and those findings have also been kept confidential.

Lincoln High is key in San Diego Unifieds efforts to use restorative justice when disciplining students. The concept aims to pair students who violate rules with victims or parties who were hurt.

Campus police reminded parents Monday of the districts police complaint procedure, which allows the public to register complaints on its website: sandiegounified.org/police-services

maureen.magee@sduniontribune.com
Today U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberrys office open, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 641 N. Broad St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

American Red Cross blood drive, 12:30-6:30 p.m., St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Cedar Bluffs. To make an appointment go give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

TOPS 58, 6-7 p.m., St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Fremont. Weigh-ins are from 5:30-6 p.m. For more information, contact Nancy Wit at 402-727-6745.

Celiac Disease Support Group, 6:30 p.m., Health Park Plaza, third floor, Room 2A/2B, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous open meeting, 6:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 540 W. Eighth St., Wahoo.

Narcotics Anonymous It Works Group, 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Education Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door.

Fresh Hope Support Group, 7 p.m., Fremont Healths Health Park Plaza, Room 5. The faith-based support group is for those suffering from mental illness or family members and/or caregivers.

Al-Anon meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club front room, Fremont. This support group is for families and friends of alcoholics.

Narcotics Anonymous open meeting, 8 p.m., United Faith Church, 218 W. Gardiner St., Valley.

Wednesday

American Red Cross blood drive, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Fremont High School. To make an appointment go give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Alzheimers Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Nye Wellness Center at Nye Square, 655 W. 23rd St., Fremont. The guest speaker will be Kim Heinrichs-Suey from Home Instead speaking on the upcoming walk and caregiver support education. For more information, call 402-753-6127.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Canned food drive, 7-8 p.m., Fremont neighborhoods. The confirmation class from First Lutheran Church of Fremont will be out canvasing neighborhoods to collect canned goods for Low Income Ministries. For more information, contact the church at 402-721-2959.

Eagles 200 Aerie and Auxiliary meetings, 7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club.

Fresh Hope Support Group, 7 p.m., Trinity Lutheran School, 16th Street and Luther Road, Fremont. The support group offers faith-based help for those with mood disorders and for loved ones trying to understand. For more information, call David and Wray Lynn Trost at 402-480-1777.

Narcotics Anonymous Library Group, 7 p.m., Keene Memorial Library East Building, Fremont.

Novel Idea Book Club, 7-8 p.m., Keene Memorial Librarys large meeting room. Everyone is invited to discuss books and meet new people. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Thursday

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Storytime, 10-10:30 a.m., Keene Memorial Library auditorium, Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Kiwanis Club, noon, First Lutheran Church, Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Pie, ice cream and hamburger night, 5:30-7 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club. Everyone is welcome.

Narcotics Anonymous It Works Group, 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church East Building, west of the church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Enter through the rear door.

Bingo, 7 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8223, 742 N. Main St., North Bend. Everyone is welcome.
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.

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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
The long-awaited first presidential debate found Republican Donald Trump on the defensive on a number of fronts with most analysts across the political spectrum concluding Democrat Hillary Clinton had the better night. But will that change the dynamics of the race?

San Diego Union-Tribune Government Editor Michael Smolens discusses the debate in an interview with Fox 5 San Diego.
Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will debate for the first time on national TV Monday night in what could be a pivotal event with polls showing the race is very close.

San Diego Union-Tribune Editor Michael Smolens was interviewed on Fox 5 San Diego before the debate about the challenges facing each candidate.
Ongoing litigation over San Diegos 2012 pension cutbacks could be costly for the city, but no one knows how costly and opinions vary widely.

Estimates in recent months of a potential city payout have ranged from $100 million down to less than $20 million, but even the people making such guesses always qualify them based on a wide number of variables.

Key among those variables is whether roughly 2,000 employees denied pensions since 2012 would have to split the citys costs of retroactively creating pensions for them, and whether they could do that with money in 401(k)-style retirement plans the city created in lieu of pensions.

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Other variables include whether the city would be forced to pay penalties and interest and how large those amounts would be, and what the city might owe in attorneys fees to the labor groups that filed the suit challenging the pension cutbacks.

And theres also a chance the city could pay nothing if it wins the case, which the states Fourth District Court of Appeal is scheduled to consider and decide sometime next year or in 2018.

Or the city could lose the case but have the appeals court demand a different remedy than suggested last winter by the state labor board, which said the city had to make the employees whole and pay them interest and penalties of 7 percent.

The most detailed analysis was completed last winter by an actuary the city hired to estimate its liability if the courts overturn Proposition B, the successful June 2012 ballot measure that made the pension cuts.

That analysis by the Cheiron actuarial firm said it would cost $20.1 million to retroactively create pensions on Dec. 31, 2015 for 1,635 employees hired since the city eliminated pensions for all new hires except police officers on July 20, 2012.

But time has passed since then, increasing the cost of creating those retroactive pensions, and the city has hired a few hundred additional employees since then, pushing the price tag even further up.

In addition, recent delays in the case caused by a flood of Amicus briefs and the sudden death of a judge could push a ruling into 2018, making the retroactive pensions more expensive and increasing the number of new hires entitled to them.

The city has been hiring between 300 and 500 new employees annually in recent years.

That $20.1 million estimate also came before the citys pension system sharply increased last month its estimates of overall pension debt based on employees living significantly longer than previously expected.

Tracy McCraner, the citys director of financial management, concedes that the $20.1 million estimate would certainly be higher based on the number of new hires since the end of 2015 and increased costs of providing them retroactive pensions.

But McCraner noted that the actuarial analysis said $9.4 million of the $20.1 million would come from employees to account for contributions to the retroactive pensions they havent been making, plus interest on those contributions.

If a court allows the city to require such retroactive contributions from employees, the citys liability would be slashed nearly in half.

McCraner said it would be ideal if the employees could use money from the 401(k)-style retirement plans the city created in lieu of pensions.

She noted that the city had contributed more than $19 million to those retirement plans through last year, nearly as much as the $20.1 million that actuary estimated as the citys liability if Proposition B gets overturned.

Our argument would be theyve been collecting it in a 401 (k) all along, so its not like they would have to come up with that additional money, McCraner said.

She conceded, however, that there could be legal hurdles because money contributed to such retirement plans is tax-deferred.

I dont know if they would even be allowed to move money from what theyve already saved, she said. I dont know if thats legal.

Michael Zucchet, general manager of the Municipal Employees Association, said its possible the court would allow the employees to keep the 401(k)-style plans and still require the city to retroactively create pensions for them.

Do the employees just get to keep that, or does the city get some kind of credit for what they contributed, said Zucchet, whose union is a co-plaintiff in the case.

McCraner said it would be illegal for individual employees to get both a 401(k)-style plan and a pension from the city, even in such an unusual circumstance.

While that sometimes happens for high-level city employees, such as department heads, she said it would not be legal because other employees represented by the same labor union would only be receiving pensions because they were hired before July 2012.

Zucchet also questioned the citys plan, at least as the actuary laid it out, to charge workers interest on contributions they would have made if the city hadnt eliminated pensions.

Why should the employees have to pay interest on something the city told them they couldnt be a part of? Zucchet said.

He said $100 million is a decent guess at the citys liability, but he stressed that its only a guess.

Nobody can come up with a rigorous defensible number, all they can come up with is guesses, he said. I think speculating about the number is a fools errand.

Zucchet also noted that all guesses become more like wild speculation if the appeals court veers from the ruling by the state labor board, known as the Public Employment Relations Board.

Even if we assume the appeals court agrees that the city violated the law, they may or not order the same remedy, he said. They may be very clear or very vague about the remedy that gets ordered. And there could be substantial negotiation or litigation about what the remedy is.

The uncertainty partly stems from San Diego being the only city in California to discontinue pensions for new hires, eliminating any chance of a blueprint to follow in restoring them.

This is completely uncharted territory, Zucchet said.

He said its his opinion that the city would benefit by losing the case, because the restoration of pensions for all employees would help solve the citys recruiting problems since Proposition B went into effect.

Zucchet also noted that eliminating pensions isnt saving the city money because they contribute nearly as much, if not more in some cases, to the 401(k)-style plans.

Proposition B supporters dont dispute that that the contributions are roughly equal.

But they stress that pension plans put cities in financial jeopardy because employees receive a defined benefit, leaving the city on the hook to come up with money to pay that benefit even if the stock market crashes or other problems arise.

The 401(k)-style plans, called defined contribution plans, dont guarantee a particular benefit, meaning the city faces essentially no risk.

The lawsuit over Proposition B contends former Mayor Jerry Sanders described it as a citizens initiative but used the power of his office to gather signatures, making it a city initiative that required conferring with labor groups.

Sanders has said he acted as a private citizen, not as the mayor, when he worked to help get the measure passed.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 @UTDavidGarrick
How hot was it in San Diego on Monday?

With temperatures hitting 100 or higher in some parts of the county, it was hot enough to make San Diego toastier than Borrego Springs. And for Laura Folta of Little Italy, our unseasonably high temperatures were hot enough to melt a promise like a popsicle.

When I moved here, my roommate and I made a pact to never complain about the weather, the former Georgia resident said as she attempted to cool off at the downtown San Diego Waterfront Park. I broke that pact today.

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And who could blame her? After lulling us into a state of Who needs air-conditioning? complacency with a surprisingly tame September, Mother Nature brought us back to roasting reality with San Diegos first 100-degree day since Sept. 15, 2012.

Monday was the hottest day of 2016 so far, with noontime temperatures higher in San Diego, Chula Vista and Carlsbad than they were in Borrego Springs. And in a weather rarity, it was hotter on the coast than it was inland. Del Mar weighed in at 100 degrees, Encinitas hit 100 and Oceanside was simmering at 104.

From cool places to hot records, here is a look at our day in the September sun.

1 / 9 Isabella Moreno, 11, holds her one-year-old brother Manuel Becerra as she runs through a stream of water while they and other people cool off at the fountains at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 9 Santa Ana winds blowing from the east made for a beautifully shaped wave for a surfer at Ocean Beach. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 9 Isabella Moreno, 11, runs through a fountain as she and other people cool off at at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 9 Isael Valles, 7, stands under one of the fountains at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 9 Camila Fernandez, 7, and her father Jose Fernandez let the water from a fountain fall on them as they cool off at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 9 Jerardo Velazquez, 7, lies on top of his cousins Christian Valles, 12, left, and Isael Valles, 7, as they stay cool in the fountain at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 9 People stay cool sitting and playing under the fountains at Waterfront Park. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 9 Santa Ana winds blowing from the east made for good surfing conditions at Ocean Beach. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 9 Because of the Santa Ana winds coming from the east, commercial jets take off toward the east instead the usual direction toward the west at the San Diego International Airport. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Heat wave history

As hot as it was on Monday, weve had hotter. According to the U.S. National Weather Service in San Diego, the hottest day on record for the city was Sept. 26, 1963. Temperatures hit 111 in San Diego that day, beating the previous record of 110 degrees on Sept. 17, 1913.

With those kinds of highs in our past, thats why you didnt see records being broken on Monday.

Weather 101

So what happened on Monday, anyway? Blame it on those devil Santa Ana winds, which bring hot weather to the coast and, by extension, everywhere else. Santa Ana events start being more frequent in late September and into October, so there is probably more discomfort in our future. But a short-term reprieve is in sight, thanks to a cooling trend courtesy of upper level lower pressure over northern Baja.

The heat will be going away on Tuesday, said Larissa Johnson, meteorological technician with the weather service And that is a beautiful thing.

Proceed with caution

Much of San Diego County was under a fire weather warning on Monday, with Cal Fire advising residents to skip yard work because sparks from equipment can start a brush fire. This is also a good time to make sure your wildfire preparedness plan is in place.

The family needs to sit down together and say, In the event that someone knocks on our door and says we need to get out, what items are we going to grab? How are we getting out? Where are we going to meet up?, said Capt. Kendal Bortisser with Cal Fire. When there are no fires, it is a great time to make a plan.

If you need a place to beat the heat, check out San Diego Countys official Cool Zones  coolzones.org. And if you need some perspective, just listen to someone else who was cooling their heels at the Waterfront Park.

This is glorious, said Laura Foltas brother, John, who flew in from Georgia for a chiropractic retreat in Joshua Tree. This is cooler than it is at home. This is good.

Staff writer Robert Krier contributed to this report.
Six endangered light-footed Ridgways rails moved into their new habitat Tuesday morning among the South Bay marshlands of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The hen-sized birds, which were bred in captivity and are about 60 days old, scrambled out of their carriers and headed straight for freedom as wildlife biologists and others who helped raise them applauded and cheered them on. The birds swam for a just a moment before they quickly disappeared into the reeds.

Very cool! Good job, said wildlife biologist Dick Zembal who is one of the leaders of the recovery effort.

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The release is a success for the team of experts in charge of the birds captive breeding program. It is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the U.S. Navy and more.

For the last 15 years, the program has been dedicated to preserving the species, which lives from Santa Barbara south to Baja. The bird is listed as endangered on state and federal lists and in Mexico.

Jen Miller, an aviculturist with SeaWorld, said that in the 1980s there were just 200 breeding pairs found in the wild in 11 different coastal locations. This years count was up to 656 breeding pairs in 18 spots, the highest number ever recorded in a single year.

Five of the rails were equipped with solar satellite radios which will allow biologists to monitor their whereabouts as they move about the restored wetlands, hunt for crabs, shellfish and insects and raise their young.

The tracking devices are attached to the birds with nylon straps designed to come off if it is caught on something so as not to harm the animal, Miller said.

This is just an example today of one more milestone in a very long road where we released these endangered birds in a restored wetlands area, a significant area in San Diego Bay, said Brian Collins, wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Collins said that if the birds thrive in the habitat, as he expects, it signals that the ecological systems are functioning properly and capable of supporting the wealth of fish and wildlife that also live in the area. A healthy ecosystem also benefits the public by making for cleaner water and for healthy fish nurseries, he said.

He also said that while today the focus was on one species that needs help, the real goal is to understand all of the wildlife that live in the wetlands.

Theres still much to discover, Collins said.

More information can be found on the teams Facebook page here.
As the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump came to an end Monday night, San Diego viewers shared their verdicts for both the Democratic and Republican candidates. Was there a clear winner? We are collecting your answers.

https://twitter.com/sdutIdeas/status/780598160754249729

Clinton and Trump sparred for 90 minutes on a number of high-profile issues: a plan to defeat ISIS, global trade, race in America, taxes, and even presidential temperament. While the two candidates traded jabs on each others record, viewers gave their two cents on each topic.

Here is how San Diego viewers graded the candidates on the questions the candidates were asked (in chronological order).

On jobs and trade:

https://twitter.com/EricHughesSD/status/780578437765267456

https://twitter.com/LisaRemillard/status/780576213462949888

https://twitter.com/ScottFordTVGuy/status/780576372783591424

On taxes:

https://twitter.com/jlcieslak/status/780581882069028864

https://twitter.com/jspeed04/status/780592952955416576

https://twitter.com/mcotteri/status/780612218849140736

On race relations:

https://twitter.com/rohangro/status/780585022872956928

https://twitter.com/panjier1469/status/780585207468404736

https://twitter.com/MacivanDiemon/status/780585378658955265

https://twitter.com/treein303/status/780586599591452672

On President Obamas birth certificate:

https://twitter.com/LolitaTaub/status/780588291787677698

https://twitter.com/BlametheBrand/status/780591567379705856

https://twitter.com/GoodMicWork/status/780582832695488513

On cyber security:

https://twitter.com/raminskibba/status/780590921939320832

https://twitter.com/Kragar_LGF/status/780591204907954176

On ISIS and the Middle East:

https://twitter.com/LauraNietoNews/status/780579911421472769

https://twitter.com/Jonahmv/status/780593785508024322

https://twitter.com/raminskibba/status/780591859768893440

On presidential temperament:

https://twitter.com/kimvlnguyen/status/780593513478053888

https://twitter.com/lina_park/status/780615059554787330

https://twitter.com/JustJakeTV/status/780593827211993089

Final verdict?

https://twitter.com/anshelsag/status/780597668666105856

https://twitter.com/codyrodriguez/status/780597483512614912

https://twitter.com/mcorreia/status/780597643613319168

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

ALSO

Recap: Watch Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump spar in first debate

Debate sketches by Union-Tribune editorial cartoonist Steve Breen

Better temperament debate? Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?
Who won the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Monday night? That depends not only on who you ask, but also how you ask them.

While cable news networks and some news organizations (such as The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board) declared Clinton a winner in the debate, Trump emerged as the winner based on a number of web polls and online forums like Reddit where the candidates supporters dominate the conversation.

By Tuesday morning, the hashtag #TrumpWon surfaced as the top trending topic on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/780758306239512577

The Twitter hashtag wasnt the only indicator that Trump won the debate. Numerous news organizations, including the Union-Tribune, ran online polls and many showed the Republican candidate emerged as the winner. (The Union-Tribune has long used online polls to drive conversation and get feedback from the community while explaining to its readers that they are entirely unscientific.)

Tuesday, some people questioned the validity of these polls  the Washington Posts The Fix called them garbage  since they are unscientific and easy to exploit. As people pointed out, Tuesdays results were overwhelmingly in favor of Trump.

https://twitter.com/MichaelCohen212/status/780748499705008128

https://twitter.com/pbump/status/780766330685304832

https://twitter.com/MaxOfS2D/status/780654276053983232

Why Trump dominated online polls Monday night may have something to do with supporters in online forums like 4Chan and Reddit pushing their weight, according to a few analyses of the results. Mashable says it is possible for people to vote more than once using multiple browsers. The Daily Dot argues that online polls are vulnerable to vote brigading, bots and other forms of manipulation.

Upcoming debates

Vice Presidential Debate: Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Time). The debate takes place at Longwood University in Farmville, VA. CBS News anchor Elaine Quijano will be the moderator.

Second Presidential Debate: Sunday, Oct. 9, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Time). This debate takes place at the Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper are moderating.

Third Presidential Debate: Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Time). This debate takes place at the University of Las Vegas in Nevada. Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace will be the moderator.

Depending on who you ask, whether it is on Twitter or Facebook, your perception of last nights debate could be shaped by some who may have already made up their minds. But what really counts is the undecided voters who could swing the election one way or another, especially as the two candidates remain in a dead heat.

Whats a middle-of-the-road take on last nights debate?

https://twitter.com/bethanyshondark/status/780603666793435136

https://twitter.com/mitchellvii/status/780595604267368449

How about you tell us in your own words: Who won Monday nights debate?

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez

ALSO

Poll: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton debate: who won?

Debate sketches by Union-Tribune editorial cartoonist Steve Breen

Better temperament debate? Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sparred over his past business dealings and her past mistakes with private emails, but one persons past was left out of Mondays presidential debate: Bill Clintons.

Ahead of the debate, Trump teased that he could delve into Bill Clintons rocky history with extramarital affairs when he tweeted that he might invite Gennifer Flowers to the debate. Clinton admitted in a 1998 deposition that he had sexual relations with Flowers while governor of Arkansas.

Trump ultimately kept a lid on that aspect of Hillary and Bill Clintons life during the debate Monday. But that didnt mean he didnt want to go there.

Watch how close he was to making such remarks in prime time.

Trump said Clintons campaign ads have been vicious and misrepresented him, and that he had to restrain himself from make similar comments about her personal life. In an interview after the debate, he alluded to Bill Clintons transgressions and explained why he didnt bring them up on live television that drew tens of millions of viewers.

Everything I wanted to say I got it out, other than the transgressions of Bill because you know she takes all these commercials, spending literally hundreds of millions of dollars on commercials and theyre lies.

And I didnt want to do it with Chelsea (Clinton), who I think is a very wonderful young lady, I didnt want to say what I was going to say with Chelsea in the room.

It became clear that going after Bill Clintons personal life may have been a planned strategy for Trump when his son and spokeswoman also discussed his restraint after the debate.

He wasnt going to attack someone in front of their family, Donald Trump Jr. said.

I appreciated the restraint at the end, Kellyanne Conway said. To tell Hillary Clinton after she accused him of being terrible with women.  I was prepared to go rough tonight and Im not going to do it because your husband and your daughter are here that is going to grow in importance very the next couple days as a moment of great temperance and restraint.

Trump did say he would possibly bring up Bill Clintons past in the next debate, which left viewers at home pondering the situation on social media.

Was Trump right to avoid the issue? Or should it be fair game?

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin

ALSO

Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton debate: who won?

Question: Does Trump or Clinton have better temperament?

Trump lost the debate to Clinton, but it may not matter
As plans move forward for a massive desalination plan in Rosarito Beach, a proposed pipeline to carry some of that water to San Diego County is undergoing scrutiny by the U.S. State Department.

Through October 14, members of the public are invited to comment on whether the project proposed by the Otay Water District is the national interest.

The department recently concluded its final environmental review of the pipeline. Because the structure would cross an international border, the department must evaluate the project before a Presidential Permit can be issued.

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The Otay Water District is hoping to initially purchase 20 million gallons a day of water from Mexico, with the possibility of eventually purchasing up to 50 million gallons a day. The desalination plant has been designed with a capacity for up to 100 million gallons of water a day, which would make it the largest such facility in the Western Hemisphere.

Aguas de Rosarito, a private consortium that signed a contract last month with the Baja California government, would build the plant and operate it for 37 years under a public-private partnership. Under the current schedule, operations would start in late 2019 or early 2020 under an initial phase that would produce 50 million gallons a day.

The companies that make up Aguas de Rosarito are NuWater of Singapore, French-owned Degremont, and a Mexican company called NSC Agua that is a subsidiary of Cayman-Islands based Consolidated Water.

In an Aug. 26 filing with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission, Consolidated Water stated that the contract signed with the state of Baja California does not become valid until Aguas de Rosarito secures the equity and debt financing required for the first phase of the project.

For the project to move forward, a series of other requirements must be met, including Aguas de Rosaritos securing permission from the relevant federal authority to discharge the residual water from the projects desalination plant, according to the SEC document.

Additionally, the Baja California State Water Commission must obtain the rights from the relevant federal authority to take and desalinate seawater and distribute it for municipal use, the SEC filing stated.

To submit comment to the U.S. Department of State, go to www.regulations.gov and look up docket number DOS-2016-0061

RELATED
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP)  A resettled Guantanamo prisoner who went missing for weeks and later resurfaced in Venezuela has now been deported back to Uruguay, authorities in the South American country said Tuesday.

Syrian native Abu Wael Dhiab has arrived and is well, said Christian Mirza, the Uruguayan government-appointed liaison with the former Guantanamo prisoners. Mirza said authorities planned to talk with him in the coming hours.

Dhiab was among six former Guantanamo prisoners who were resettled in Uruguay after being released by U.S. authorities in 2014.

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When Dhiab went missing in July, it alarmed neighboring countries and brought recriminations from U.S. lawmakers. Dhiab later popped up in the Venezuelan capital.

The disappearance raised questions about how closely countries that resettle former Guantanamo inmates should watch them, and for how long, as the United States prepares to release more prisoners.

Dhiab was deported back to Uruguay early Tuesday, Mirza said.

Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa told local radio Universal that Dhiab is not suffering from any clinical condition, but was being checked at a hospital in Montevideo as a precautionary measure.

After being seen along the border with Brazil, Dhiab left Uruguay at the beginning of July without passing through immigration control points. He showed up on July 27 at the Uruguayan consulate in Caracas, where he expressed his intention to travel to Turkey or another third country in hopes of reuniting with his family.

He clearly expressed that in no case was it his interest to return to Uruguay, but he required the help of our country to reach his aim, a statement from the Uruguayan foreign ministry said.

In an earlier interview with the weekly newsmagazine Busqueda, Dhiab said he was never a terrorist but that he later came to sympathize with al-Qaida because of the harsh treatment he received at Guantanamo. He also accused Uruguay of breaking its commitment to bring his family.

The six former Guantanamo prisoners  four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian  arrived in Uruguay in December 2014 as a humanitarian gesture by then-President Jose Mujica.
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In the mid-1960s, two men  head of the National Association for the Prevention of Addiction to Narcotics and a New York Judge  argued that the solution to the nations drug problem might be to give addicts the drugs they crave.

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American attitudes about how we deal with drug addicts seem to be shifting. According to polls from the Pew Research Center, 67 percent of Americans believe the government should focus more on treating drug addicts than on prosecuting them. The same study says that more than half of Americans support  or at least dont oppose  the legalization of marijuana.

But legalization arguments extend beyond marijuana. Some countries that are faced with drug addiction problems are trying an alternative approach: providing addicts with the drugs they need, for free, under professional supervision.

At first glance, such an approach seems reckless, heartless, and wasteful of social resources and addicts health. Yet these countries report that many addicts live with their addiction while leading productive lives. The state benefits from that productivity while saving the money it would otherwise spend arresting, trying, and imprisoning those drug abusers. Not only do addicts stay out of trouble with the law, many have used this service to reduce and even quit their dependency.

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Providing free drugs to addicts is not a new idea. The argument was exemplified half a century ago in the following two opinion pieces.

In Give Drugs to Addicts, from our August 8, 1964, issue, Nathan Straus III emphasized that drug abuse was a medical, not a legal, problem. He wanted to focus on what would work for addicts and for society and believed that giving drug addicts regulated access to narcotics could be beneficial.

Straus was the head of the National Association for the Prevention of Addiction to Narcotics, an organization that was starting the first national study of addiction. In later years, the NAPAN sponsored conferences to introduce the methadone treatment for opioid addiction.

Two years later, Jonah J. Goldstein made some of the same points from a different angle in Give Drugs to Addicts so We Can Be Safe. A judge in New Yorks court for 25 years, Goldstein knew addicts and what a drain on the legal system they could be. Out of this experience, he made a surprisingly practical and original argument for decriminalizing drugs: to protect everyone else.

Give Drugs to Addicts

By Nathan Strauss III

Originally published on August 8, 1964

Free drugs for addicts  no plan for coping with the national tragedy of narcotics addiction prompts greater outrage. All manner of experts, from government officials to heads of citizens groups, denounce the plan as immoral and dangerous.

We cant let dope fiends get drugs from clinics and then stalk the streets, the typical argument runs. Theyll prey on women and children  no one will be safe. Addicts will have a free-drug ride through life, and addiction simply will be perpetuated, made acceptable 

All such objections are shortsighted. Allowing addicts to obtain drugs legally from doctors, instead of from underworld pushers, is the one step that may end the chaos of drug abuse.

Today, after years of hysteria, neglect, and downright cruelty to the addict, we are still woefully ignorant about his disease. We still dont know exactly what addiction is, or what causes it or cures it. We do know that the police method of treating addicts  throwing them in jail  does not work. Addicts must not be punished or put away but treated in their own communities, if science is ever to make meaningful discoveries about their shattering sickness.

Even if there are risks, we must try treating addicts in clinics, for all else has failed. In our big cities there are tens of thousands of addicts, perhaps hundreds of thousands. Every year they consume at least $350 million worth of heroin and related opiates. Increasingly, young people are turning to cheaper, addictive dangerous drugs, amphetamines and barbiturates. (Of the 10 billion barbiturate and amphetamine pills produced annually in the United States, it is estimated that half end up on the illegal market.) The underworld thrives on illicit drug sales to addicts, and addicts themselves are forced to become criminals. Desperate for money to support their habit, they commit millions of thefts annually, and occasionally they murder.

The situation has become uncontrollable. A presidential commission reported recently that 95 percent of the heroin that smugglers bring to the U.S. every year gets past law-enforcement officials. Police freely admit that one addict may commit 500 or 1,000 or even 1,500 crimes before he is apprehended. In New York City alone, addicts commit about half the citys crimes, resulting in losses of more than $1 million per day. And the total is constantly increasing.

Of the addicts jailed or locked in hospital wards to detoxify, an estimated 90 percent or more soon return to shooting dope. Many of them resume taking drugs the day they are freed. Their connections wait for them outside the jail or hospital walls.

To combat this horror, we must bring addiction out into the open, as we have epilepsy, mental retardation, and, to a certain extent, emotional illness. We must regard it as a disease that can be studied, treated, and, hopefully, cured. Actually, the addict is a sick person, not a criminal, says a report of the New York Academy of Medicine. He needs medical care, not a jail sentence.

Where should we start? The organization of which I am president, the National Association for the Prevention of Addiction to Narcotics, will initiate this year a program with two goals: to help addicts conquer their addiction, and to provide medical and social scientists with sorely needed facts about the fundamental nature of the disease. With the cooperation of law-enforcement officials, NAPAN plans to establish two outpatient clinics for addicts, one in New York, the other in California. These are the states with the most serious addiction problems. The program, the first of its kind, will be operated on a strictly scientific, experimental basis.

In these clinics small groups of addicts, carefully selected and closely supervised, will receive drugs in gradually decreasing quantities. And, because addiction is related to emotional distress, the addicts will receive psychiatric treatment, counseling about education and jobs, and other forms of assistance. Only through such a comprehensive assault will we learn how to take the addict off drugs and keep him off.

Why attempt such studies of addiction? Because experience has shown that by studying illness in the walking patient, science learns things it never learns from patients confined to hospitals. Researchers in heart disease, for example, learned a great deal about anticoagulant drugs by studying their effect on heart patients leading their usual lives in the outside world. We may never find the secrets of addiction unless we study the addict who is out in the world and being tempted to take drugs by forces in his usual environment. The locked hospital ward simply does not permit this kind of searching and practical inquiry.

Through research with these selected addicts, we may learn whether addiction is fundamentally psychological or environmental, or whether it has a physical basis. Why does one person succumb to addiction while his brothers and sisters often do not? Why are teenagers so susceptible to the disease? And why do some 30- and 40-year-old addicts simply walk away from their addiction? At present we do not have the answers.

Is it unreasonable to hope for a specific, valuable treatment for addiction? I think not. It is just possible, for example, that addiction stems from an abnormality in body chemistry. If this is true  and well never know unless we study patients  perhaps we can isolate and neutralize the guilty chemical factor. Then we might be able to prevent addiction altogether, either through medication or by some immunizing injection.

Even if research fails to yield quick answers, the very fact that addicts can get drugs from doctors will have one tremendous effect. The addict will be lifted from the cellar of the criminal world to the level of the medical center where, as a sick person, he can be helped. This one measure will do a great deal to rid the addict of the stigma of his disease and to end his degradation. This has happened in England, where the punitive approach to addiction has been abandoned, and with excellent results. There doctors are allowed to treat addicts as exactly what they are  sick people. Most addicts in England are treated in doctors offices. Only a handful are involved with the underworld. (The English, however, have yet to mount the intensive research effort outlined above.)

It has taken years, but the American Medical Association has finally come round to the conclusion that addiction is basically a medical problem. Recently, the AMA conceded for the first time that it would be ethical for physicians to treat addicts on an experimental, out-patient basis. Similar endorsements have come from the New York County Medical Society and from the New York Academy of Medicine. The latter organization has declared that as long as the police approach to addiction prevails, the disease will continue to spread.

What until now has prevented organized medicine and individual doctors from supporting clinical research with addicts? For one thing, police agencies, especially the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, have threatened and intimidated doctors. Federal regulations restrain doctors from treating addicts  even though Supreme Court decisions clearly indicate that doctors are entitled to do so. As the New York Academy of Medicine report states, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics opposes the practice because it really does not trust doctors. The bureau, says the report, maintains that the only way to treat addicts is by abruptly depriving them of drugs. Its insistence on this harsh and futile method has crippled narcotics control in this country.

Organized medicine, too, has been shamefully timid about addiction. Doctors, like most of the rest of us, have passed the buck to the police, saying in effect, We arent interested in this kind of sickness. Lock up the addicts. Keep them away from nice people. Today the climate is changing. More and more doctors and law-enforcement officials are convinced that something new must be attempted  simply because all previous efforts have failed.

What of the bitter objections to outpatient treatment of addicts? For example, will addicts on maintenance doses endanger innocent people? Hardly. An addict becomes desperate only when he has no access to drugs or has no money to buy them. Under the influence of drugs, most addicts are quite harmless.

Will addicts use free drug doses simply as a convenience? Critics believe that the addict will not be content with controlled doses but will use them as a starting point for his kicks. After leaving the clinic, the argument goes, the addict will return to his criminal sources for additional drugs.

This objection is ill-founded. Soon precise new laboratory techniques will let doctors determine exactly how much narcotic is in the blood. If an addict-patient obtains drugs from a criminal pusher, the doctor will know immediately and the addict will have to answer to the police about his criminal sources of supply.

Many opponents of maintenance doses feel the most compelling argument of all is that if addicts are provided drugs, the door will be opened wide to lifetime addiction. As one misguided doctor said to me recently, Lets not permit doctors to lead the addict down the primrose path.

I must say that this objection, too, is shallow. In the treatment of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and all other illness, we do everything we can to cure the patient. However, if we fail to cure, we then try to control the patients symptoms, so that he will remain productive and relatively comfortable, physically and emotionally. Perhaps after years of research we will find that some addicts cannot be cured. We may find, however, that by giving these incurables maintenance doses, we can control the symptoms of their disease and enable them to lead productive and relatively normal lives.

In short, it is just possible that some addicts will need continued, reduced doses from the clinic in order to function in society. It is just possible, too, that their addiction itself serves to control a more serious and socially dangerous psychological sickness. Wouldnt it be ironic if we discovered that drugs keep some addicts from becoming murderers, rapists, or arsonists?

As hopeless as the narcotics picture may appear, much can be accomplished if we view the addict with compassion, not fear. Fear has led us to punish the addict instead of helping him. But we can no longer afford to indulge ourselves in this barbarity. For, as crime statistics grimly show, when we punish the addict, we punish ourselves.

Give Drugs to Addicts So We Can Be Safe

By Jonah J. Goldstein

Excerpted from an article originally published on July 30, 1966

Not long ago an office building in New Yorks Rockefeller Center area hired private detectives to catch the thieves who were stealing everything movable and salable from the offices in the buildings, night after night. The detectives caught 49 men; 43 of them were narcotics addicts.

Half the crimes in New York City today  the robberies, the muggings, the burglaries  are committed by drug addicts, and other cities are beginning to share New Yorks dangers. A while back, one of our newspapers carried a banner headline: NEW CRIME WAVE EXPECTED. Because federal narcotics agents had seized a big heroin shipment in the port, the story explained, heroin prices would go up, and addicts would have to rob more people to buy their shots.

What kind of police protection is it  what kind of law, is it  that turns a great triumph of law enforcement into the cause of a crime wave?

Discussions of drug addiction always seem to turn on the question of what happens to the addict. Instead of worrying so much about the one-tenth of one percent of the population who are hooked on drugs, lets worry about the 99.9 percent who arent, and whose homes and lives are less secure because we drive sick people to crime with our narcotics laws.

Mind you, the drug addict is almost never dangerous when hes under the influence of drugs  narcotics are sedatives. What makes him dangerous is the desperate need for the money to buy the next dose. And the costs are stupendous. The $50-a-day addict must steal $250 to $300 in merchandise daily to support his habit; and when you catch him, it costs $15 a day of tax revenues to keep him alive in jail.

I dont want the kind of system where people have to register to get their narcotics. Some addicts are wanted by the police: They wouldnt register. All we need is a simple arrangement by which the addict who can pay for the shot can go to his doctor and get it  and the poor addict can go to the clinic, just as the poor diabetic goes to the clinic for a shot of insulin.

Nobody would have to sign up for treatment unless he wanted it; nobody would even have to give a name or sign a receipt  just walk in the front door, get the shot, and walk out the back door. Any nurse could do the job. The single dose, of course, would have to be moderately light. If a mans condition is such that he needs another dose, he can come around to the front door again.

A simple test could guarantee that nobody gets narcotics at the clinic unless he is already addicted. Another test, perhaps an invisible-ink time stamp that comes out under an ultraviolet lamp, could give enough control on the number of doses to make sure nobody used the clinics narcotics to the point of killing himself.

One night at dinner at the Grand Street Boys Association, I was talking about narcotics with a monsignor of the Catholic Church. He asked me if Id give a man five dollars if he asked me for five dollars to buy a shot of heroin. I said, Of course I would.

Wouldnt you be concerned that you might be shortening his life? the monsignor said.

Thats his business, I said.

I think thered be a good case for giving the addict his drugs even if it did help him harm himself. There are a thousand times as many people who are not addicts as there are addicts, and the important thing is to help them. And I cant see how an addict can harm himself more by going to a clinic than he does now by roaming the streets and robbing people to get the money to buy adulterated stuff from a vicious pusher. Is the female addict any better off as a prostitute? Anyway, why do you think the addict is so sure to be harmed?

When I was on the bench and the cops brought in a workingman who was an addict, Id call him and his wife into my chambers and Id show them a map of Texas. Id say, Pick a town near the Mexican border, and go down there and get yourself a job. When you need the drugs, just walk across the border  you can buy the stuff there for the price of a pack of cigarettes. So you dont work eight hours a day, you only work six  youre still a lot better off than you will be up here, going in and out of jails and hospitals.

In my 25 years as a judge, I never had a rich user brought before me. I said that while I was still on the bench, and the newspapers picked it up. The next day I got a call from the governments chief New York narcotics agent, who said he wanted to see me. He came up to my chambers and said, Its not true we dont go after the rich addicts. Weve been following one for five years, and one of these days were going to get him.

I asked for the name, and he mentioned one of the most famous and best-loved men in America, a man whos given away fortunes to charity, especially charity to help kids. I asked the federal chief what good he thought it would do to take a man like that and throw him in jail and ruin him, just because he used drugs. And then  as a citizen, not as a judge  I called the man and warned him. He said sadly, I know about it.

Some say that giving shots to addicts will increase addiction. I doubt it. I dont think the end of prohibition increased the consumption of alcohol, or the number of alcoholics.

During prohibition important people never had any trouble getting whiskey. And there are some important people who have no trouble getting drugs today. Harry Anslinger, who was federal Commissioner of Narcotics, once testified to supplying a congressman with drugs out of the governments own stock, because it would be dangerous to let somebody outside get that kind of hold on a congressman. Everybody knows about doctors and anesthetists who have the habit. Narcotics agents dont want to let the doctors handle the problem because the police know that many doctors are addicts themselves. Men work as orderlies in hospitals for less money than they could make washing dishes in a cafeteria, because the job brings them near the source of their drugs. But why touch them  if they can live with their habit and do their work?

For years I have been receiving letters from people who are addicts, but nobody knows it except themselves and their doctors. They were in an accident or a fire once, or badly wounded in the war (I once had a man before me who got the habit as a prisoner of war in North Korea). The doses that then kept them from agony later became the curse of their lives. Some of them became substantial businessmen and professional men, but they had to live with the knowledge that they and their doctors were breaking the law every day.

Though many of the addicts we now make criminals could live useful lives with their habit, many others are hopeless derelicts. Nobody who has served as a judge in a criminal court could ever deny that addiction is a terrible thing. If we had a cure for addiction, there might even be an argument for the sort of program Governor Rockefeller has been advocating  ordering users to hospitals for treatment as soon as their addiction is discovered. But the hospitals dont help. Weve had federal narcotics hospitals for more than 30 years in Lexington and Fort Worth, and the biggest claim Ive ever seen for cures is 10 percent. Most doctors I know think 2 percent is optimistic.

In planning what to do right now, we have to start with the fact that addicts as a rule cant shake the habit, and that nothing we know how to do is much help to most of them. The psychiatrists have quit on the problem. One of them, Dr. Joost A.M. Meerloo, recently put their belief in his own kind of language: Drug addiction is much more related to the pusher and the existence of criminal seduction and hypocritical laws than to circumscribed pathology within the individual. Do you eliminate the pushers and criminal seduction and hypocritical laws by ordering people into hospitals?

All the police and the courts can do with todays laws is increase the risk to the pusher. The greater the risk to the pusher, the higher the profits from pushing, and the stronger the temptation to push. The mob opposes reform of the narcotics laws now, just as the bootleggers always backed the drys in the fight on prohibition.

Make the drugs easily available to the addicts, and you take the profits out of pushing. Then if you find anybody pushing drugs, especially to kids, you can slap him in jail and throw away the key  let him rot. The law can do its job. Without the profits, there wont be new pushers to come up and replace the jailbirds.

Giving away the drugs doesnt solve the problem  well still need a cure for addiction as much as we ever did. Todays stupid laws make it nearly impossible to launch a research project big enough to get near the problem. Dr. Berger estimates that in New York, the worst-afflicted city, there are now only five or six doctors interested in the addiction problem. Take the stigma off the subject and provide money, and maybe we can have doctors instead of pushers and police determining what happens to sick people in our country.

But lets keep our eyes on what our criminal laws are supposed to do. We dont write them to protect or to rehabilitate the addict or the criminal, to mete out exact Solomon-like justice to the pusher. We write them to protect the society, all the ordinary people who obey the law without even knowing thats what theyre doing. Our laws on narcotics should benefit the 190-odd million who dont take drugs, not the 200,000 who do. I think it would turn out that wed help them, too, but thats not whats important. The significant victim of the present law is not the derelict half-crazed addict with the need for drugs who mugs the old lady on the street, but the old lady herself.

Lets forget some of the fancy theories and make our cities safer by giving the addict the narcotics he needs.
Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/27/2016 -- The report "Aptamers Market by Type (DNA, RNA, XNA), by Application (Diagnostics, Therapeutics, R&D), by Technology (SELEX, Other Technologies), by End Users (Academic Research Institutes, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies, CRO) - Global Forecast to 2020", the global aptamers market is expected to reach $244.93 Million by 2020 from $107.56 Million in 2015, at a CAGR of 17.89%.



Browse 74 market tables and 67 figures spread through 125 pages and an in-depth TOC on "Aptamers Market"

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The report provides a detailed overview of the major drivers, restraints, and opportunities impacting the global aptamers market along with the estimates and forecasts of the revenue and market share analysis.



The global aptamers market is poised for rapid growth between 2015 and 2020. Factors such as strong trend of R&D investments in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, the patent expiration of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technology (SELEX), technological advancements, and the low cost and high efficiency of aptamers in binding to large molecules as compared to antibodies are driving the growth of the aptamers market.



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The aptamers market is segmented on the basis of type, application, technology, and end user. By type, the market includes DNA-based aptamers, RNA-based aptamers, and XNA-based aptamers. DNA-based aptamers will hold the largest share of the aptamers market in 2015, while XNA-based aptamers will grow at the highest CAGR between 2015 and 2020.



The applications included in this report are diagnostics, therapeutics development, research and development, and others. The diagnostics application segment will hold largest share of the aptamers market in 2015. Therapeutics development is expected to be one of the fastest-growing applications between 2015 and 2020.



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The technologies included in this report are SELEX and other technologies. SELEX will hold the largest share of the aptamers market in 2015. The other technologies segment is expected to grow at the highest rate between 2015 and 2020.



The end users included in this report are academic and government research institutes, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and other end users. Of these, the academic and government research institutes will hold the largest share of the aptamers market in 2015. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are expected to be the fastest-growing end-user segment between 2015 and 2020.



The geographic segments included in this report are the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The Americas are expected to hold the largest share of this market in 2015, while Europe is expected to grow at the fastest rate. Growth in the European aptamers market will primarily be driven by the increased number of aptamer manufacturers in this region.



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White Plains, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/27/2016 -- SPAR Group, Inc., a leading global supplier of merchandising and other retail services, today announced that it has taken a majority position in a newly created joint venture corporation acquiring ownership from The Interpublic Group ("IPG") in Brazil of New Momentum and New Momentum Services (which were part of their In-Store companies). The new corporation is called SPAR Brasil Servicos de Merchandising e Tecnologia S.A., and together with the acquired New Momentum In-Store companies collectively will be called SPAR Brazil.



SPAR Brazil will be headquartered in Sao Paulo with a second office in Rio de Janeiro and will provide merchandising, in-store promotion and other marketing and retail services throughout Brazil's 26 states. The acquired New Momentum In-Store companies will be consolidated subsidiaries of SPAR and are expected to add more than 20% to SPAR's annual revenue.



This new acquisition adds South America to SPAR's global coverage, which spans six continents and 50% of the world's population with operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.



"The arrival of SPAR in Brazil is very important to the development of this sector," said Jonathan Dagues, the former Managing Director of the New Momentum companies prior to their acquisition by SPAR and now CEO and President of each of the SPAR Brazil companies. "SPAR's global experience and sector intelligence, combined with its superior technology, give us a decided edge in the market as Brazilian in-store merchandising and marketing efforts continue to develop."



With the acquisition, SPAR continues to add new Fortune 500 brands to its existing client roster as these large, multinational companies value SPAR's global footprint and superior technology. SPAR Brazil's clients will benefit greatly from the SPARtrac Global Retail Service Operations System, which provides the field management, reporting, tracking and productivity enhancements global clients in Brazil have been asking for.



Steve Adolph, International President of SPAR, commented that, "our new joint venture opportunity in Brazil is our first entry into the important South American market and it will serve as a foundation for further expansion throughout the region. Jonathan's sector experience and strong leadership make him the best person to lead our expansion efforts and enhance our position as the leading global merchandising and retail service company."



About SPAR Group

SPAR Group, Inc., is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services Company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide, primarily in mass merchandiser, office supply, value, grocery, drug, independent, convenience, toy, home improvement and electronics stores, as well as providing furniture and other product assembly services, audit services, in-store events, technology services and marketing research. The Company has supplied these project and product services in the United States since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan in May of 2001. Product services include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories "on the shelf" in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, providing in-store event staffing and providing assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Audit services include price audits, point of sale audits, out of stock audits, intercept surveys and planogram audits. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets (including new store openings), new product launches, in-store demonstrations, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company currently does business in 9 countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through its operations in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa, India, China, Australia, Mexico, Turkey and now Brazil.



For more information, please visit the SPAR Group's website at http://www.sparinc.com.



Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements" made by SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP", and together with its subsidiaries, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"), will be filed shortly in a Current Report on Form 8-K by SGRP with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). There also are "forward looking statements" contained in SGRP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "Annual Report"), which was filed by SGRP with the SEC, SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 19, 2016 (the "Proxy Statement"), which SGRP filed with the SEC on April 27, 2016, and SGRP's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports and statements as and when filed with the SEC (including the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement, each a "SEC Report"). "Forward-looking statements" are defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, as amended (together with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, collectively, "Securities Laws").



The forward-looking statements made by the Company in this Press Release may include (without limitation) any expectations, guidance or other information respecting the pursuit or achievement of the Company's corporate strategic objectives (growth, customer value, employee development, productivity & efficiency, and earnings per share), building upon the Company's strong foundation, leveraging compatible global opportunities, improving on the value we already deliver to customers, our growing client base, continuing balance sheet strength, customer contract expansion, growing revenues and becoming profitable through organic growth and acquisitions, attracting new business that will increase SPAR Group's revenues, improving product mix, continuing to maintain or reduce costs or consummating any transactions. The Company's forward-looking statements also include, in particular and without limitation, those made in "Business", "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Annual Report. You can identify forward-looking statements in such information by the Company's use of terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue" or similar words or variations or negatives of those words.



You should carefully consider (and not place undue reliance on) the Company's forward-looking statements, risk factors and the other risks, cautions and information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Press Release, the Proxy Statement and the other applicable SEC Reports that could cause the Company's actual performance or condition (including its assets, business, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition) to differ materially from the performance or condition planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected by the Company (collectively, "expectations") and described in the information in the Company's forward-looking and other statements, whether express or implied. Although the Company believes them to be reasonable, those expectations involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control) that could cause those expectations to fail to occur or be realized or such actual performance or condition to be materially and adversely different from the Company's expectations. In addition, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these matters or how they may arise or affect the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure you that its expectations will be achieved in whole or in part, that the Company has identified all potential risks, or that the Company can successfully avoid or mitigate such risks in whole or in part, any of which could be significant and materially adverse to the Company and the value of your investment in SGRP's Common Stock.



You should carefully review the risk factors described in the Annual Report (See Item 1A  Risk Factors) and any other risks, cautions or information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or other applicable SEC Report. All forward-looking and other statements or information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such risk factors and other risks, cautions and information.



The Company does not intend or promise, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, risk factors or other risks, cautions or information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, risks or uncertainties, future events or recognition or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable law.



Company Contact:

James R. Segreto

Chief Financial Officer

SPAR Group, Inc.

http://www.SparInc.com

914-332-4100



Investor Contact:

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[NAIROBI] Sub-Saharan Africa should invest in research and development to promote blue economy  which includes marine biotechnology, fisheries, aquaculture, transport and tourism  for sustainable development, say African ministers.



The ministers of finance and agriculture from Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda note that Africa could reap the benefits of blue economy by investing in facilities that meet international standards.

We need more investments in research capacity and conservation of marine resources. Moses Zinnah, Ministry of Agriculture, Liberia

The ministers were speaking on the sidelines of the 6th Tokyo International Conference of African Development held in Kenya last month (27-28 August).



The event brought together scientists, governments and private sector experts from many countries to share strategies to improve Africas blue economy.



They pointed out that blue economy offers opportunities to improve livelihoods of Africans through increased food and nutrition security, and creation of jobs.



According to Ssempijja Bamulangaki, Ugandas minister of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries, investments in blue economy could help Africa sustainably feed its rapidly growing population.



He observes that over 12 million people are engaged in the fisheries sector in Africa and the continent could receive over US$50 billion annually if the sector is well managed with the right technologies.



Moses Zinnah, Liberias minister for agriculture, adds: We need more investments in research capacity and conservation of marine resources, noting that the continent needs increased monitoring and surveillance of marine resources that could help manage unregulated and unreported fishing.



He encourages strengthening of public-private partnerships and regional collaborations in building capacity and sharing of experiences on blue economy.



Willy Bett, Kenyas cabinet secretary for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, says that effective structures and policies should be put in place to help Africa reap the benefits of blue economy.



Haleh Birdi, World Banks director of Africa external communications and partnerships, explains that mismanagement is a huge threat to marine resources, adding that coral reefs have declined globally by 40 per cent due to illegal fishing and overfishing.



Climate change is creating more pressure on marine resources, says Birdi, We need a strategic vision, good governance and investments to sustainably use oceans.

But Obinna Anozie, policy analyst from African Unions Kenya-headquartered Interafrica Bureau for Animal Resources, says that the continent needs increased awareness of the importance of blue economy.We need to sensitize governments, and people on the significance of this sector in sustainable development, Anozie tells SciDev.Net.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
In a bizarre turn of nature, five lionesses in Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve have been observed to look and behave like males. The lionesses reportedly have manes, act like lions, roar, mark their scent and even try to mount other females. It is unclear why the lionesses exhibit male traits or look like lions.

In addition, one among the five lionesses has also been seen killing two cubs from another pride, a behavior that is most commonly linked to males. A paper published in the African Journal of Ecology describes the odd behavior, as per a report.

Simon Dures, a conservation ecologist, shared a photo on Twitter of one of the rare lionesses walking beside a lion. At first glance, the two may look like two lions, but on observing again, it becomes clear that the larger one is a lion and the smaller one is a lioness.

The five lionesses have been observed since 2014 by a group of researchers, who tracked the movements and traits exhibited by a particular lioness among the pride that has a small mane, known as SaF05. "While SaF05 is mostly female in her behavior - staying with the pride, mating males - she also has some male behaviors, such as increased scent-marking and roaring, as well as mounting other females," said Geoffrey D. Gilfillan, one of the researchers.

At the moment, researchers have suggested that the cause lies in high levels of testosterone, which also implies that the rare lionesses are infertile. The five rare lionesses at Moremi Game Reserve seem to be healthy but none has become pregnant so far, supporting the theory that they have a high level of androgen.

Since all the lionesses belong to the same pride, genetics may also play a role the development of male traits. Though this is not the first time that maned lionesses have been spotted, the previous cases were mostly sporadic and did not include a whole group displaying such behavior.
Experts have recently warned that online hackers could soon pose a threat at a different level - space and that the consequences could be disastrous. London's independent policy institute Chatham House has reportedly warned about a global catastrophe due to the hacking of spacecraft and satellites. The researchers have suggested that a cyber attack in space could also mean terrorists getting their hands on weapons.

A majority of the world's infrastructure, such as defense, communications, and air transport, are based on space machinery. Hacking into the system would mean an easy access to secret data by antisocial elements and terrorist organizations that could not only lead to its misuse, but the information can also be used to plan attacks on ground level.

According to the experts, one of the biggest challenges of preventing such a catastrophe from taking place is the evolving pace of technology. "Humans, too, are affected by digital ageing, and younger people use space-based and cyber communications in ways that make it difficult for older generations to fully understand the range of technologies and threats," said Patricia Lewis, Chatham House's research director of international security. However, the researchers also added that technology alone is not the only mean to prevent such threats or probable attacks.

At the moment, there are no global organizations that address the issue, and a counter plan to foil any cyber attacks in space needs international cooperation. Therefore, the experts suggest the creation of an international community comprising of able states and important organizations that belong to the insurance industry and international space supply chain.

As per Lewis, currently some work is in progress regarding the creation of such a system, and space agencies are giving a serious thought towards advanced protections for space infrastructure and safety. Furthermore, nations like China are looking at new types of measures like quantum entanglement, while new security measures have also been introduced at the European Galileo space navigational network. The threat of cyber security being breached is real and something that all countries could face, as per reports.
Climate change has been vastly happening here on Earth, a bad news even for the lobster lovers and fishermen out there. A new study shows that in Maine, Portland, if the oceans will continue to warm, baby lobsters won't be able to survive anymore.

Portland, Maine is the key location because it is known for lobster production. Scientists from the University of Maine Darling Marine Center and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences discovered this climate change effect in the lobsters.

The team of scientist discovered that the larvae of the lobster struggled for survival when they were reared in water warmer, by five degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer temperature is typical in the western Gulf of Maine, a lobster fishing area off England.

Though for now, the lobsters catch is still strong and so is the market sales. US fisherman topped the 100 million pounds of lobster for seven years in a row with a half billion of value. It shows that the lobster industry is not yet at its crucial point.

However, experts warned that the continuing rise of warm temperature already showed signs of the decrease in lobster production on southern reaches. As the survey shows that the lobster catches in the south if Cape Cod drop to about 3.3 million pounds.

The researchers also studied 3,000 lobsters from the moment they are hatched. Results show that baby lobsters develop faster in high temperature, by which it is beneficiary for them in surviving predators but, only a few survived, as reported by Greenwich Time.

Jessica Waller, co-author of the study shared that, "There has been a near total collapse in Rhode Island, the southern end of the fishery, and we know our waters are getting warmer. We are hoping this research can be a jumping off point for more research into how lobsters might do over the next century."

Meanwhile, an ocean scientist with the Anderson Cabot Center at the New England Aquarium, Michael Tlusty said that the research is important considering the effects of both warming and the change of the ocean chemistry. He added "This is the type of work that really needs to be done, the oceans are not changing one parameter at a time," according to Christian Science Monitor.
Who would have thought that a frog can discover something new? Yes, nature indeed is majestic. A devil frog puked and experts were surprised for what is in store for them. Experts found new ant species with the help of a puking frog.

Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri, the new ant species is a tropical ant which can be found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. A myrmecologist at the University of Rochester, New York Christian Christian Rabeling, said it is named after the German ant expert on his 80th birthday, Bert Holldobler who discovers the new species in the devil's frog or diablo's puke at Ecuador.

Oophaga sylvatican the so-called devil's frog or Diablito's is a poisonous bright orange frog known for eating ants. Because it is an ant-eating frog it is likely to hunt bugs in small hard to go to places. Thus, the scientist uses them as a tool to go to places scientists can no longer access. After they have captured experts then flush their stomachs which cause them to vomit. Researchers then look for potential discoveries just like the new species of ant, according to Zoo Keys.

However, the only specimen of L. hoelldobleri was found dead inside the stomach of the frog, so scientists cannot study it further. But, using a high-powered stereomicroscope to more or less look at the ant, it gives them few clues on how the insect lived.

Rabeling said that the shape of the mandibles looks like a forceps, which means that the ant uses its mouthparts to pry even smaller preys such as termites. The measurement of the L. hoelldobleri is less than a quarter inch long. In line with this, Rabeling admits that the findings are just his speculations.

The scientist is now challenged to find and study the L. hoelldobleri in the Eucadran rain forest. If successful the ants can undergo "cafeteria test." The test is offering a certain animal with multiple prey to see what it prefers. The struggle for them is finding the ant itself.

Devil frog can help them for further research for it can locate the ants. Christian Rabeling added that "Sometimes people think that our world is very well explored, nothing could be farther from the truth," in a report by National Geographic Channel.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the United States Department of Agriculture said that meat products that were sold at the farmer's markets from Adams' Slaughterhouse in Athol, Massachusetts are recalled after testing positive for E. coli. Among the recalled meats are veal, bison, and beef, as the contamination already made two people in Connecticut, as well as other nearby states, sick.

Fox61 News said that the DPH has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the USDA, as well as other state health departments, have been investigating the multi-state outbreak. Consumers who have left-over beef, veal, or bison products purchased from the local farmers' markets or directly from a Connecticut farm with USDA plant code #5497 printed on the label should verify whether or not their products have been processed by Adams' Slaughterhouse - as they would be included in the recall.

People have started getting sick on dates ranging from June 27 to September 4, and those who have been sick, according to CT Post, ranged in age from one-year-olds to 74-year-olds, with a median age of 25. In addition to the sick persons in Connecticut, others have been reported to have gotten sick in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Adams' Farm Slaughterhouse general manager Ed Maltby said of the incident, We pride ourselves on being a high-class facility with testing. We regret that people have gotten sick." He also said that none of the meat products have been sold to supermarket chains.

A complete list of the recalls from Adams' Farm Slaughterhouse was posted on the USDA website, but for consumers who were unable to get access to the original packaging can opt to contact the farm or retailer where they purchased their meat, to ask whether or not their product is included in the recall.

E. coli infection can result in severe stomach cramps, (often bloody) diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Although some infections are mild, most people suffer for 5-7 days, while there are severe or life-threatening cases that have been reported. For those who suspect to have been infected with E.coli, a visit to your physician is highly recommended.
For the savvy savers, dumping coffee grounds out every morning is a waste: after all, they are known to have a lot of practical uses - from marinating meats to facial scrubs, to plant fertilizers. However, it seems that they have an even more important use: help removes lead and mercury from drinking water.

A team of Italian scientists said that powder made from used coffee grounds could be helpful for water remediation. Mechanical engineer Constantine Megaridis of the University of Chicago shared on Chemical and Engineering News, "Millions of tons of spent coffee wind up in landfills every year, so the proposed method not only reduces the solid waste stream but removes dangerous heavy metal pollutants from water."

In their study, the Italian scientists turned used espresso coffee grounds into a powder and combined it with sugar and silicon. Once dried, the solid was dipped in water, dissolving the sugar in the mix and leaving behind little holes. This then created blocks of foam that acted like filters, which successfully managed to filter out 99 percent of the mercury and lead in the water in only 30 hours.

However, the experiment was in a still water, which is a different scenario compared to the running water we have in pipes. Yet, in that scenario, the team found that as much as 67 percent of lead can still be removed, which is a good thing, considering that lead-poisoned water is considered a major health hazard.

As noted by The New York Times, the metals needed some time to interact with the coffee, explaining why significantly lesser metals were filtered out in running water. Then, there is also the issue of maxing out absorption over time. According to Dr. Despina Fragouli, lead author of the study and a materials scientist at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, if this technology is to be used practically in the future, water will have to move very slowly through a very thick layer of foam, or be contained in a large, foam-filled tank for hours on end.
Young Prince George of Britain seemed to be not fantasized by the charm of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he unnoticeable snubs his low-five.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and kids George and Charlotte are spending a week in Canada as part of an official visit. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the family during their landing in Canada on Saturday. The charming prime minister even squatted down to offer the 3-year-old prince Canada's high-five variation, the low-five.

The toddler seemed to ignore Trudeau who then switched his palm for a high-five instead then started to offer a handshake both were also rebuffed by the little man. It seemed to be a pretty awkward moment on the airport tarmac in British Columbia.

Canadians are quite heartbroken with the prince snubbing their minister since they are accustomed to Trudeau winning over millions of fans worldwide with his undeniable charm. He was even said to have a social media star status for having a handsome face.

When Prince George met Barack Obama during his visit to England in April, he did shake hands with the US president even though the young prince was dressed in natty pajamas and a robe since it was bedtime already. So it was quite surprising he did not entertain the charming prime's attempt to please him. Blame it on jet lag or some random toddler tantrums, as said in NDTV.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte are spending their first time in Canada. Their parents are now there for the second time with the first visit happened in 2011. The royal couple is in Canada for official business. And immediately visited the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia on Sunday to personally meet volunteers and staff who helps migrants. Since it is a weeklong visit, they are also scheduled to meet many young leaders of different businesses and industries in Canada, as reported by Reuters.

Before they leave for England on October 1, they expect more than 30 engagements with various Canadian industries. Prince William is now second in line to receive the throne after his grandmother Queen Elizabeth was given the position Canada's head of state since 1952.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is getting close, and with the discussion of breast cancer comes another issue: should men worry about it, too? After all, while women are the most likely candidates for breast cancer, an estimated 2,600 men are still expected to be diagnosed with the disease this year alone.

Anthony Merka, an Oklahoma man who was diagnosed with the disease also urged both men and women in Oklahoma to screen themselves for signs of cancer, considering that out of the men diagnosed, another 440 will likely die from the disease.

Live Science noted that a man's chance of getting breast cancer in his lifetime is one in 1,000, making it 100 times less common than female breast cancer. It is because of these statistics that many think screening men in the general population with mammograms may not be too beneficial. Unfortunately, this also means that men are unlikely to get themselves checked until it is too late. However, those who have a family history of breast cancer, or those who have mutations in the BRCA gene should get themselves screened.

These gene mutations significantly increased or decreased the likelihood of someone getting breast cancer. To illustrate, women with any mutation BRCA1 gene had a 95 percent chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70, while women with any mutation in the BRCA2 gene could also get an 11 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer by the age of 70.

That being said, men too, should look into the disease. Fox News reported that Anthony's wife, Lisa, said about the disease, "There was no information when we started looking. When the doctor said it could be, we started to find research. Couldn't find anything." Merka underwent a double mastectomy, and his children, who all have a 50-50 percent chance of ever having the disease were also screened - and tests for his daughter came back positive, so she too, now undergoes regular tests for breast cancer.
For a while now, superbugs have been a problem in the science world. This is due to their resistance to antibiotics. But here's good news: Experts are currently testing a new approach that uses star-shaped polymers to fight and kill drug-resistant bacteria.

According to Science Alert, 25-year-old Shu Lam was the one who developed a star-shaped polymer that can fight and kill six various superbug strains without the need for antibiotics. Lam is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne.

At present, Lam and her team have done tests on mice and in the lab. The new approach could potentially solve the problem on antibiotic resistance. Such problem is becoming big; hence becoming a "fundamental threat" to global health, according to the United Nations.

The polymers could kill the bacteria in different ways. They can break apart the bacteria's cell walls. This will cause stress to the bacteria until they start to kill themselves. In the tests, the team was able to kill all the targeted bacteria. Moreover, they did not seem to develop polymer-resistance. According to Phys.org, the polymers are short chains of proteins created by the team from Melbourne School of Engineering.

Also called structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs), the polymers directly attack and penetrate the bacteria's cell membrane, and then destabilize them. Unlike antibiotics which can also affect healthy bacteria cells, SNAPPs don't affect the healthy cells.

While these star-shaped polymers still need more tests, the current findings provide great hope to solve that the problem with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Nature Biology has published the research and scientists believe it could make great changes in the modern medicine.

As of writing, data shows that antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill aproximately 700,000 people every year. A recent study revealed that the number could go up to 10 million in 2050. Apparently, the research can indeed give high hopes for health improvement.
HEMINGWAY, S.C.  The inaugural Bluegrass Festival: Pickin in the Street is scheduled for Saturday, and three North Carolina bands, in addition to local musicians, are set to perform throughout the day.

Deeper Shade of Blue is one of the headlining bands. Musician Troy Pope said the band performs traditional bluegrass music, in addition to bluegrass gospel.

We have one CD with all originals on it, plus weve done some covers, too, Pope said. Weve got a total of six (CDs) out.

The band consists of Pope, Scott Burgess, Frank Poindexter, Jason Fraley and Jimmy Fraley.

We like making the fans enjoy what we do, and we like seeing that, Pope said. We just like performing and meeting new people and getting to go new places.

The Hatley Family of Stanfield, N.C. will also perform Saturday. The group consists of four siblings and their father Ervin Hatley. The group is known for its great harmony and incredible instrumentation, according to band member Ronnie Hatley.

The Hatley family is a musical one.

Both of my grandparents played music, and from years back, played instruments, Ron Hatley said. And thats kind of how my parents met. My dad actually started playing in a band with my grandfather on my mothers side, and thats how he met my mother.

Most of the band members play more the one instrument including the fiddle, guitar, banjo, acoustic base, mandolin and Dobro.

The Hatley Family band formed in 1982, and theyve always performed bluegrass gospel and traditional bluegrass music. Hatley said one reason the band is into gospel music is because Ervin, the father of the group, is a Baptist pastor.

Hatley encourages the community to attend the festival and see what North Carolina bands have to offer.

South of K is the final headlining band for the festival. Band member Dennis Cooper said the group plays a variety of bluegrass music. They perform mainly for the fun of it.

We dont get to play a lot together because all of us are working, but we do OK, Cooper said. We do a couple originals. We were trying to write some, and we actually had a couple we were wanting to do down there (in Hemingway).

South of K consists of four members.

Hemingway Mayor Grady Richardson said each band is highly regarded.

Live music at Saturday's festival will begin at noon and last until 6:35 p.m. A chili cook-off and vendors will also be featured at the festival on Broad Street in Hemingway.

Contact town hall at 843-558-2824 for more information.
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan -- Now that the Taliban has overrun much of Afghanistans largest province, the governor of Helmand isnt mincing his words.

Hayatullah Hayat says endemic corruption, negligence, and dereliction of duties among some of the Afghan Army and police forces have helped the Taliban move from remote districts in the provinces south and north to now virtually besieging the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah.

Last year, I told you we would take back control of Helmands northern districts by winter, he told journalists in Lashkar Gah on September 24. Instead, failures by our security forces have dashed our dreams and paved the way for the enemy to move closer to Lashkar Gah.

Hayat says the government will prosecute commanders who abandoned their positions to Taliban fighters.

[During the past year,] our forces abandoned some 150 posts to the enemy [without fighting]. Out of these, 38 are military posts while the remaining 112 were manned by the police.

Since March 2015, the Taliban have overrun most of Helmands nearly 60,000 square kilometers, which borders Pakistan to the east and is close to Iran. They now control or contest 12 of Helmands 14 districts, and the insurgents are even present in parts of Lashkar Gah and the Gereshk district to its north, where the government claims full control.

In recent months, the Taliban have also repeatedly cut off the major highway linking Lashkar Gah to southern Afghanistans biggest city, Kandahar, some 130 kilometers to the east.

Hayat says the scale of dereliction of duties among some troops is baffling.

Not only they did they fail to fight the enemy, they also coerced civilians into taking over their vehicles to bring their excess luggage to Lashkar Gah, he said of the forces who abandoned posts on Helmands frontlines. They had time to take down their satellite antennas and solar panels, and even take off their slippers [and yet they failed to put up a fight].

The governor says he is shocked to notice that while 99 percent of the police force comprises Helmand residents, very few of the 10,000 army soldiers are locals.

Hayat says this has badly affected the coordination and morale amid the Afghan troops.

Instead of fighting as a united force, they are divided into cliques, he said. Sometimes they do not follow orders or even obey people outside the chain of command.

Helmands police chief, however, see endemic interference from civilian officials and strongmen as a major hindrance.

As long as the influence of mafia, drug traffickers, and strongmen doesnt diminish we will not see an improvement, Agha Noor Kintoz said.

He was referring to the regions powerful criminal cartels that exploit Helmands status as the worlds largest producer of illicit opium, which is processed into heroine and smuggled to the Middle East and Europe through Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asia.

In addition, we need to get rid of tribalism and ethnic competition, which are also leading Helmand into an abyss, Kintoz said.

Earlier this year, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appointed former communist general Abdul Jabar Qahraman to lead the Afghan forces in Helmand.

But he resigned this summer, saying he was disappointed in the troops he was leading.

Qahraman says that factional political interference in military, its anemic leadership, and an emboldened enemy -- who seemed to have worked out a good campaign plan -- have all contributed to the Talibans advances.

Helmand is hanging off a steep cliff. It can still be saved if officials can come up with a good strategy and honor their commitments, he said.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Mohammad Ilyas Dayee's reporting from Lashkar Gah, Helmand.
Carnivorous dinosaurs that rapidly evolved large bodies also tended to evolve bony skull ornaments, according to a new study. An open habitat likely favored both big bodies and conspicuous head features on meat-eating dinosaurs, helping to explain why these two seemingly disconnected characteristics so often appeared in tandem. The findings are reported in a paper published this week in the journal Nature Communications. "Head ornaments are very effective because they are on the major communication center of the dinosaurs," lead author Terry Gates of North Carolina State University's Department of Biological Sciences, told Discovery News. Gates and colleagues Chris Organ and Lindsay Zanno investigated the relationship between body size and skull ornamentation across theropod dinosaurs, meaning dinos like T. rex that had short forelimbs, two larger hind limbs for walking or running and a hunger for meat. RELATED: Dino Herds on the Move: Video The researchers show that evolution of large body size in dinosaurs was accelerated in lineages with bony skull structures known as ornaments. "Ornaments we defined as any structure that was extraneous," Gates said, explaining that they "came in varieties of crests, knobs, rugosites (wrinkled thick skin), and horns." Crests are thin sheets of bone that rise above the skull. In many dinosaurs, such as Dilophosaurus, they probably looked a bit like an elaborate hairdo from a distance. As for hairdos on humans, the ornaments probably served as unique identifiers. During displays, these features might have communicated information about the individual's sex, age, health and other factors. WATCH VIDEO: What Color Were the Dinosaurs?

"Animals today use signals other than size to communicate with one another," Gates explained, offering the rhinoceros as a living example. "Rhinos are large, but use their horns for maintaining social structure." He and his colleagues are not sure when ornaments first evolved on carnivorous dinosaurs, and what initial function they might have held. They suspect that the features started out small before becoming larger and more varied across different dinosaur species. Oviraptors -- a type of theropod that had claws, a toothless muscular jaw, slender limbs and other bird-like characteristics -- might have initially used their head ornaments for heat control. Later they were probably co-opted for visual communication, which is critical for today's birds. RELATED: Top 10 Largest Dinosaurs As some dinosaurs evolved feathers, the appendages became more important to visual displays. Feathers, more so than bony skull ornaments, allow for impressive flexibility. "For instance, feathers can be lifted or depressed; feather color can be changed by rubbing them; and animals with feathers get new ones every molt," Gates said. "This is in contrast to bony ornaments that have much less flexibility by being permanently on display." Today's birds have not completely gone off bony cranial ornaments, though. Hornbills, cassowaries, helmeted guineafowls and helmeted currasows, among others, all have flashy head ornaments along with their feathers. Paleobiologist Gregory Erickson of Florida State University told DNews that the new study is thought-provoking. "I don't think anyone (previously) suspected there was a relationship between cranial ornamentation and gigantism in dinosaurs," Erickson said, adding that he was most intrigued by the finding that feathered maniraptors -- dinosaurs closely related to today's birds -- generally did not evolve much, if any, cranial ornamentation. Peter Makovicky, associate curator of dinosaurs at the Field Museum of Natural History, said that the authors showed there is evolutionary and biological significance behind "some of the amazing structures that make predatory dinosaurs look 'cool.'" SEE PHOTOS: Dinos With Head Bling

style="text-align: left;"> A pair of rounded crests on the skull of 23-foot-long Dilophosaurus gave this large carnivore a punk hairdo that might have appealed to the opposite sex. style="text-align: left;"> Image: Recreation of Dilophosaurus. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

style="text-align: left;">Cryolophosaurus was given the nickname "Elvisaurus" because its head crest is reminiscent of Elvis Presley's pompadour. This meat eater grew to about 20 feet long and was 6 feet in height. style="text-align: left;">Photo: 3D model of Cryolophosaurus. Credit: Billy Bob Bain, Flickr

style="text-align: left;">The brow horns of 30-foot-long Carnotaurus gave it a devilish look. This carnivore also grew stud-resembling bumps down its neck and back that might have offered protection during combat. style="text-align: left;">Image: Recreation of Carnotaurus. Credit: Lida Xing and Yi Liu, hands and eye corrected by FunkMonk; Wikimedia Commons

style="text-align: left;">Guanlong, aka Five Colored Crowned Dragon, is thought to have had many forms of ornamentation: a head crest, textured skin, feathers, different colors and patterns. This meat eater lived about 160 million years ago in China. style="text-align: left;">Image: Recreation of Guanlong. Credit: Durbed (http://durbed.deviantart.com/art/Guanlong-wucaii-296270895), Wikimedia Commons

style="text-align: left;">Monolophosaurus, meaning Single-Crested Lizard, had an unmistakable crest on its snout and continuing to the top of its head. Because the crest was hollow, some have speculated that it was a resonating chamber facilitating loud vocalizations. Its precise function, however, remains a mystery. style="text-align: left;">Image: 3D reconstruction of Monolophosaurus. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

style="text-align: left;">Tyrannosaurus rex and related dinosaurs sported small head "knobs" as well as highly textured skin that paleontologists describe as rugosity. Living crocodiles are well known for this type of wrinkled, textured tough skin. style="text-align: left;">Photo: 3D reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus rex. Credit: Pixabay

style="text-align: left;">The spike above the eyes of Majungosaurus was porous, suggesting that it was all for show. style="text-align: left;">Image: Head restoration of Majungosaurus. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

style="text-align: left;">Anzu is thought to have been an omnivore, eating both meat and plants. Its prominent head crest was likely used for display rather than for battles. style="text-align: left;">Image: Recreation of Anzu. Credit: Fred Wierum

style="text-align: left;">Allosaurus, meaning Different Lizard, was an enormous carnivore whose largest individuals grew to at least 32 feet long. The horns above its eyes might have been used for display, combat and/or to protect this large hunter's eyes. style="text-align: left;">Photo: 3D model of Allosaurus. Credit: Jakub Hallun, Wikimedia Commons
Swiss researchers may have solved the mystery over the identity of a 17th-century man who was buried face-down with a knife and purse filled with coins.

X-ray computer tomography of the coins has revealed the man was likely a merchant, but the reason for his prone burial continues to puzzle the archaeologists.

Unearthed in 2013 in the Bernese Lakeland region of Switzerland during the construction on a new underground garage, the skeleton was found along 342 bodies laid to rest between the 8th and 17th centuries. The individual was among the last 15 bodies to be buried at the ancient cemetery.

The face-down skeleton stood out from all the other graves.

"It is certainly a deviant burial, in the sense that the burial practices here seem to be very unusual for the time," Christian Weiss, a numismatic expert with the Archaeological Services of Canton Bern, told Discovery News. "The individual was facing to the ground; moreover, a knife and a purse were found within the burial where we normally don't find any grave goods in this time," Weiss said.

RELATED: Anti-Demonic Burial Found in Poland

Under the individual's chest, the archaeologists found what remained of a leather purse. Over time, the leather had decomposed and the coins it contained had corroded together to form a solid block of metal.

Unable to separate the coins, the researchers turned to a powerful X-ray computer tomograph, a new instrument called DETECT. Used in conjunction with a high resolution detector, the DETECT revealed the presence of 24 coins.

"The astonishing fact about these coins is that they belong to three different coin circulation areas, the Fribourg-Bern-Solothurn, Basel-Freiburg in Breisgau and Luzern-Schwyz regions," Weiss said.

The finding suggests the individual was moving in these three areas, which had their own coins in local circulation at that time.

"It is possible he was a traveling merchant," Weiss said.

With one exception, a heavily worn silver coin from France, all the coins in the purse are of rather low value.

"They are really just small change," Weiss said. "The most interesting to me isn't really one particular coin, but the ensemble all together. We rarely get such a big ensemble of small value coins from this time."

RELATED: Medieval 'Witch Girl' Suffered From Scurvy

The latest among the coins in the purse dates from 1629, indicating the man must have been buried after then. The reason behind the face-down burial remains a mystery.

Like other deviant burials, in which the dead were buried with a brick in the mouth, nailed or staked to the ground, the prone burial aimed to humiliate the dead and prevent the individual from rising from the grave, since it was believed that the soul left the body through the mouth.

Usually these rare burials were meant as an act of punishment and in extreme cases the victim was interred alive.

In the case of the Swiss merchant, there is no conclusive answer.

"It is likely they buried the man intentionally facing downwards. Whether the burial was meant to prevent him from returning to the living, or to face him to hell is just speculation. There could be other, rather unspectacular reasons behind this," Weiss said.

WATCH VIDEO:What Does Death Smell Like?
Next time air purifiers are on sale, you might want to think about picking up a few for the whole family. According to new information released by the World Health Organization, about 92 percent of the world's population breathes polluted air.

This data comes from the most detailed analysis the WHO has ever conducted, including information from satellite measurements and over 3,000 ground monitoring stations with air transport models.

RELATED: China Pollution: How Bad Can the Air Get?

Breathing indoor and outdoor pollutants that exceed WHO limits can contribute to lung cancer, stroke and heart disease. Around 3 million deaths annually are connected to air pollution, with southeast Asia and western Pacific countries accounting for two out of every three.

While many wealthy countries have made strides in improving air quality in recent years, this new data reveals that poorer countries are actually getting worse. Turkmenistan topped the list as having the highest death rate connected to air pollution, with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Egypt also in the top five.

WATCH: This is What Pollution Does to Your Body
Bam pushes for a more tourist-friendly Philippines

As the Philippines joins the celebration of the World Tourism Day (September 27), a senator hopes to improve the country's tourist-friendliness through seminars and by penalizing the harassment of domestic and international visitors.

"This bill seeks to ensure a pleasant experience for tourists by discouraging aggressive solicitation and imposing fines for repeat offenders," Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 667.

The measure also establishes tourism help desks in identified tourist havens, where regular patrols should be conducted to safeguard the proper implementation of the law.

The Department of Tourism, in coordination with the barangay officials, shall promote responsible marketing and conduct regular seminars for the local vendors and residents to foster a tourist-friendly culture among communities located in tourist havens,

"We Filipinos take pride in our hospitality and ability to make guests feel welcome," Sen. Bam said.

"Ngunit dahil sa paghihirap, naiisip ng iba na pagsamantalahan ang mga turista. We hope to address this with proper training and imposing penalties," he added.

Under the measure, the DOT will identify barangays which will be considered as tourist havens, or places that have high volume of tourists who stay for longer than one day.

The bill punishes unlawful solicitation from tourists who have already expressed their desire not to be bothered by solicitations. First-time offenders will be issued warning while subsequent violations will be meted a P500 fine for each incursion.

Based on data from the DOT, around two million tourists visited the country from January to April of this year, earning the country a reputation of being one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world.

"With more and more foreign and local travelers in our country, it's time we develop that tourist-friendly mindset within our communities. Let's give our tourists a wonderful, hassle-free experience so they come back for more," Sen. Bam said.
Bam: Let's address the drug menace in our schools

A senator has submitted a resolution to look for ways to address prevalence of illegal drugs in public elementary and high schools in the country.

In Senate Resolution No. 168, Sen. Bam Aquino plans to conduct an inquiry on drug education and prevention programs in schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) that will help keep the youth away from the drug menace.

"All schools and alternative learning systems have a significant role to play in addressing illegal drug use and abuse among children through drug education and other prevention programs," said Sen. Bam.

The senator stressed the need for schools and learning institutions to apply evidence-based approaches in the development and implementation of drug education and prevention programs for Filipino children and youth.

Sen. Bam emphasized that peer counseling, after-school programs and the adoption of a drug education framework that fosters trust rather than scare tactics, have proven to be effective tools in thwarting the drug menace.

Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be integrated in the elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools.

The law also mandates all elementary, secondary and tertiary school student councils and campus organizations to include in their activities programs for the preventions of and deterrence of drug use and referral of treatment of students for drug dependence.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has identified preventive education programs as a key component of its drug demand reduction strategy to discourage users and impending abusers from experimenting with illicit substances or continuing to abuse them.

"As part of its mandate, the DDB must implement educational programs catering to every sector of society, including the youth and their educators," said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has also filed a resolution looking into the implementation of reproductive health education in our schools to address the rising number of teen pregnancy in the country.
Press Release

September 27, 2016 Pimentel: Federalism is next step

to decentralization in Ph democracy Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III Thursday said the next step in Philippine democracy is to move from decentralization to federalism to ensure a "society which is just and fair" for future generations of Filipinos. "If we truly want to empower the regions, we must federalize. If we want to speed up progress and economic development across the country and lay the basis for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, we must go federal," Pimentel told a conference on federalism in Makati City. Pimentel cited the great disparity between a bustling, modern metropolis in the country's traditional center of political and economic power called Metro Manila and the poorest and least developed provinces. "We realize that all the poorest places are far from the center," he said. Pimentel said the country is "ready for federalism," because the "conditions are ripe." He said, "We must act quickly. There is no time to lose." Filipinos want to live in a society "which is just and fair, which saves and shares, which is scientific and objective, which is peaceful and democratic, which is educated and healthy, and which is, most of all, happy and free, with overflowing love of God and country," Pimentel said. President Rodrigo Duterte campaigned last May promising, among other things, a shift from the current unitary system, which has centralized power in Manila, to a federal system. This has been the advocacy for over three decades of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilpino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), of which the President is chairman and Pimentel president. Pimentel said the constitution would have to be amended because a mere revision of the Local Government Code devolving the powers and resources to make federalism work could be easily taken back unilaterally. He also allayed fears that the internal revenue allotments (IRAs) of local government units (LGUs) would disappear as he debunked criticisms that rich regions near Metro Manila would enjoy more benefits while poor regions would not get their subsidies. "This argument comes from a false understanding of federalism. It assumes that in a federal countries the rich regions get to keep all their income and revenue while the poor regions are left to their own devices. They are grossly misinformed," he said. Federalism, Pimentel said, requires the continuation of the IRAs or what is termed as "fiscal transfers" from the federal government to poor regions. Pimentel said he planned to introduce a new system called conditional transfers wherein the federal government attaches conditions on the use and purpose of the funds by the regional and local governments. "These transfers are program specific and cannot be used for other purposes. And we will use these conditional transfers to promote national purpose and set standards in various devolved fields like health care or education," he said. In Federal countries like the United States, Canada and Germany, the principle of equalization or revenue sharing that provides for fiscal transfer from the federal government to the regions has enabled the federal states to better meet their responsibilities, Pimentel said. He said the 20-80 revenue sharing scheme, in favour of regional governments, being proposed by PDP Laban is simply for discussion. "The guiding principle which will determine the taxing powers and revenue share of each level of government is that the allocated resources must be commensurate to the powers and responsibilities assigned to them," he said. Since the LGUs are to be empowered, he said, "we need to provide them the needed resources to be able to fulfil their mandate. This is consistent with our belief that local governments deserve a bigger share of government resources since they are in a better position to address the needs of their constituents."
Press Release

September 27, 2016 Pimentel seeks to institutionalize "no opening" of balikbayan box policy On the average, loved ones and relatives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) receive some 400,000 balikbayan boxes every month. If Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III will have his way, a permanent "no opening" policy on balikbayan boxes should be adopted in recognition of the OFWs' significant contribution to the national economy. The balikbayan box "represents the love and care of OFWs for their families," said Pimentel after filing recently Senate Bill No. 1168 to institutionalize the "expanded balikbayan program," amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 6768, as amended by R.A. 9174, and for other purposes. He called the proposed legislation "a small measure of assistance in view of the tireless efforts of our OFWs, who work selflessly abroad and endure long separation and loneliness from their loved ones." He said balikbayan boxes would only be subjected to non-intrusive methods of inspection by the Bureau of Customs, using trained canine units, x-ray and inspection systems or other similar technologies. There are only two instances when BOC personnel could open the boxes, he said in his bill. One, when the consignor's export declaration and packing list are not attached, and another, when alerts are issued by authorities alleging banned, prohibited or regulated items. When approved, the law would also exempt from taxes and duties one balikbayan box for every OFW per month regardless, Pimentel said, of the "total dutiable value of its contents." He said the Senate must make certain that "our prevailing legislation would help augment not only the lives of our OFWs, but also of their families who are left behind." Personal remittances by OFWs in March this year reached $2.7 billion, higher by 4.3 percent compared to the first quarter last year, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas records. Government records showed that around 2.377 million OFWs were deployed abroad last year. "We cannot thus take for granted the crucial role played by our OFWs in helping sustain the continuous development of our economy through the foreign currencies remitted to their families," he said. Pimentel said the Constitution affirms labor as a primary social economic concern, guaranteeing the protection of the rights of workers and the promotion of their welfare.
POE: WAGE WAR AGAINST HUNGER

Sen. Grace Poe today said the government must focus on programs to arrest malnutrition and hunger as a way to invest in the nation's human capital, hand-in-hand with the ongoing battle to ensure peace and order.

Poe joined anti-hunger advocates and stakeholders at the Anti-Hunger Summit in Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City to strengthen public-private collaboration in helping provide solutions to the "real problem" of hunger.

"Kung gaano kasigasig ang pamahalaan laban sa droga, hinihiling ko na kasunod nito, gutom naman ang ating wakasan. Kung all-out ang gobyerno sa droga, all-out war sa gutom naman ang isunod natin," Poe said in the event organized by the Gawad Kalinga (GK) and Ateneo de Manila.

Poe said that while she supports the administration in its war against illegal drugs, the government should also "wage a war against hunger," with the Philippines accounting for bulk of malnutrition worldwide.

The lawmaker has filed two nutrition measures--Senate Bill (SB) No. 160 or the Libreng Pananghalian sa Pampublikong Paaralan that provides free school feeding program for all public schools and SB No. 161 or the First 1,000 Days Act seeking to establish a natal care program for expectant mothers and health care and feeding program for toddlers.

"Pangunahing adbokasiya natin ang tugunan ang problema sa gutom sa ating bansa. Naniniwala akong anumang pagsisikap natin na maiangat ang ating bansa ay walang silbi kung nagugutom ang ating mga mamamayan," Poe said.

The senator cited a survey by the Social Weather Stations indicating that 3.1 million Filipino families suffered from hunger during the first quarter of this year, an increase of half a million hungry families recorded in the last quarter of 2015.

Save the Children, meanwhile, reported that childhood stunting--the most prevalent form of undernutrition that has permanent effects on a child's growth and development--cost the Philippines P328 billion or almost three percent of its gross domestic product and had affected workforce productivity and education.

President Duterte had asked for an extension to his self-imposed deadline for his war on drugs, saying he will need six more months.

"Dapat walang pulitika pagdating sa pagkain para sa lahat," Poe said.

Poe earlier wrote Duterte to certify as urgent her twin anti-hunger measures to facilitate swift approval by Congress.

Feeding children at an early age is investing in the future of our country, the senator said.

Also participating at the event are Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, former Ateneo President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, GK Founder Tony Meloto, GK Executive Director Luis Oquinena, Teduray Tribe Leader Lydio Dismanos, among others.
A professional motorcycle competition over the weekend in Santa Rosa turned deadly for two young riders visiting California for the flat-track race, event officials said Tuesday.

Charlotte Kainz, 20, and Kyle McGrane, 17, were killed after sustaining injuries in separate races, according to AMA Pro Racing, the organization that ran the Sunday event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

Kainz, who died Sunday, traveled from her hometown of West Allis, Wis., for the race. McGrane, who succumbed to his injuries one day later, hailed from Gap, Pa.

The flat-track community is tight-knit, and today we are all mourning, Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing, said in a statement Tuesday.

Charlotte and Kyle were talented competitors with bright futures. Our deepest condolences go out to their families and friends in this time of need.

McGrane crashed his bike coming out of the fourth turn of the final lap of his race, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Kainz crashed while making a turn in a separate race.

Medical staff were on scene within seconds of the crashes, AMA said. Paramedics transported the riders to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

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.

Some on social media, including a man who identified himself as McGranes cousin, criticized the safety measures and track conditions that went into the competition, alleging negligence by event organizers.

Officials who organized the race couldnt be immediately reached for comment. An employee of AMA said many of the race officials were traveling back to their Florida headquarters Tuesday.

GoFundMe pages have been set up for the families of Kainz and McGrane.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
Facing criticism for a plan that would require pot entrepreneurs to hand over money and power to the city in exchange for permits to operate, three Oakland City Council members have revised their proposal  to require even more businesses to give the city money.

The new plan by Desley Brooks, Larry Reid and Noel Gallo would require all cannabis businesses, and anyone leasing space to a cannabis business, to give the city 25 percent of their profits and at least one seat on their board of directors. It would also restrict cannabis operating permits to people who have lived in Oakland for at least five years. The plan will go before the councils Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

Brooks, Reid and Gallo say the money generated from this arrangement would fund council district activities, loans for aspiring pot entrepreneurs who were hurt by the U.S. war on drugs, community beautification and three job-training programs that are run by politically connected people. One of them, a loose organization called Hispanic Engineers, Builders & Contractors of California, is headed by a childhood friend of Gallos.

I want to bring revenue to East Oakland, said Gallo, who generally opposes the legalization of marijuana but said he welcomes the money it could bring for job training and community services.

Responding to concerns from attorneys and policymakers who say the proposal would all but throttle Oaklands marijuana industry, Gallo said that he and the other council members are open to debate.

Does it have to be 25 percent of the profits? I think there could be a compromise, he said.

But lawyers and industry experts who spoke to The Chronicle on Monday saw the council members proposal as a form of political overreach and an attempt to siphon profits from a burgeoning market.

Its politicians trying to make a buck on this, said Dale Gieringer, who heads Californias chapter of the nonprofit lobbying group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Long-standing Oakland cannabis attorney Robert Raich said Brooks, Reid and Gallos proposed rules violate several state laws, including a provision of the states Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act that restricts the type of licenses a single entity can hold  if Oakland is reaping a quarter of the profits from numerous Oakland businesses, then the city would potentially hold many different licenses, Raich said.

Oakland could also run afoul of federal law, which deems it a felony for anyone, including a city, to participate in cannabis activity, regardless of what the state allows.

Yet Raichs biggest concern is that Oakland will drive out hundreds of cannabis businesses, along with their tax dollars and the jobs they could create.

The city is really harming itself, Raich said. The councilmembers are going to send cannabis businesses out in swarms, and that doesnt help Oakland.

Brooks, who did not return phone calls on Monday, said in a Facebook post Friday that the proposed rules would strengthen a cannabis equity program the council passed in May. The program reserves half the citys permits for people who were jailed on marijuana convictions in Oakland over the past decade or have lived at least two years in a designated East Oakland police beat where marijuana arrests were highly concentrated in 2013.

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.

Supporters of the equity program see it as a way to right the perceived wrongs of the U.S. war on drugs, which critics say disproportionately targeted African Americans and Latinos. Brooks has also said she wants to combat systemic racism in the cannabis sector, given that most of its visible leaders are white.

Members of the cannabis community and others who thought they had a lockdown on the billions to be made in cannabis went ballistic, Brooks wrote in the post of objections to the equity program, which many opponents say will choke off Oaklands pot trade as Californians prepare to vote in November on whether to legalize marijuana.

The citys Cannabis Regulatory Commission is pushing for a set of amendments to expand the equity permit program by including more police beats and granting equity permits to people with marijuana convictions that are more than 10 years old, and in cities beyond Oakland. The commissions proposal will also go before the Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

In her Facebook post, Brooks accused the commission of trying to dilute the equity program by opening it up to more people.

Brooks is fighting a public relations battle with the word equity, Raich said. But shes not actually doing anything to promote racial benefits; shes doing what she can to destroy an industry in Oakland.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
Criminal sentencing reform and an extension on tax increases for high earners are among Californias November ballot propositions supported by a majority of likely voters, a new Field Poll found.

Proposition 56, a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes, was also leading among the polls respondents, though by narrower margins. Fifty-three percent of respondents favored the tax, 40 percent were opposed and 7 percent remained undecided.

In several past elections, tobacco tax initiatives have performed competitively in polling only to fail on election day. In 2012, a $1 cigarette tax to fund cancer research was defeated by a margin of only 0.4 percentage points. In 2006, a proposed tax increase prompted $66 million in tobacco industry spending, and the measure failed.

Tobacco companies and their affiliates have spent over $55 million opposing Prop. 56, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission. It is supported by hospital and medical groups like the California Hospitals Committee on Issues. Hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer also spent $3.5 million in support.

Prop. 56 would redirect the revenue from the cigarette tax  estimated between $1 billion and $1.4 billion  to health care for low-income Californians. Smoking-related illnesses are costly to the state; a 2015 analysis from the California Health Care Foundation found that among Medicare patients, lung cancer was the deadliest and costliest to treat of the four most common cancers.

California residents now pay 87 cents a pack in state taxes, according to the State Board of Equalization. The national average as of Aug. 1 was $1.65, but rates are as high as $3.90 in Connecticut and $4.35 in New York.

Gov. Jerry Browns Prop. 57, supported by 60 percent of likely voters, would expand parole options for nonviolent offenders. It would also let judges decide whether teens 14 to 17 are tried as juveniles or adults. Prosecutors now make that determination.

Support from a voting bloc of Democrats, women, young voters, Latinos and parents has driven strong poll numbers for Prop. 57, but 19 percent of voters remain undecided and 21 percent intend to vote no. Republicans, in particular, are divided on the measure, with 37 percent in favor, 43 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided. Notable individual backers include Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who gave $980,962 to support the measure.

If successful, Prop. 57 will be the third criminal-justice-reform ballot measure approved in four years. In 2014, voters approved Prop. 47, which reduced many nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, making 1 million Californians eligible for changes to their records. Incarcerated people serving time for such crimes could petition to be resentenced.

In 2012, voters approved Prop. 36, revising the states 1994 three strikes law that had previously required offenders to serve a life sentence for any third offense committed after two serious or violent felonies.

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.

Prop. 55 is a 12-year extension on personal income tax increases for earners making over $250,000 a year, first enacted in 2012. The revenue  between $4 billion and $9 billion a year, depending on the economy and stock market  would be directed to primary and community college education and, in some years, health care.

Like earlier polls, the Field Poll found that support for Prop. 55 was split relatively neatly along partisan lines, with 82 percent of Democrats in support and 64 percent of Republicans opposed.

Survey responses were collected online from Sept. 7 to 13 through YouGov. The survey, conducted in English and Spanish, sampled 967 likely voters on Prop. 55, 943 likely voters on Prop. 56, and 484 likely voters on Prop. 57. YouGov did not supply a margin of error because opt-in online polls do not easily lend themselves to the calculation of sampling error estimates.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com
At first glance, Snapchats camera-enabled sunglasses appear to be everything Google Glass wasnt.

Theyre funky. Theyre colorful. Theyre obvious and dorky in that self-aware, post-cool, hipster kind of way. Theyre affordable.

But whether they will be able to avoid the backlash that befell Googles high-tech eyeglasses remains to be seen.

The Snapchat product, called Spectacles, includes video recorders created by Snapchats newly named parent company, Snap Inc. It raises questions about privacy, wearable technology and social norms that are similar to those surrounding Googles discontinued line of computer-enabled eyewear, experts said.

There are few answers.

When Spectacles debut on the market this fall  selling for $130  they will attempt to make society comfortable with the very thing that turned so many away from Google Glass: a wearable camera that can record people with the click of a button.

Whats particularly interesting about what Snap is doing is theyre positioning themselves to take on the Google Glass privacy problems head-on, said J.P. Gownder, a Forrester Research analyst.

Snapchats glasses are not subtle. Theyre round, mirrored and boldly colored. When the recording function is triggered, little lights on the inside and outside of the frames will glow, in a signal to others that the device has been turned on, Snap officials said.

But some, like Janet Vertesi, an assistant professor of sociology at Princeton University who specializes in technology and society, worry that may not be a clear enough signal for the uninitiated.

This kind of recording can very easily become everyday surveillance, she said. Not a lot has changed in terms of how people feel about that.

One of Google Glass biggest points of friction was the anxiety the devices caused among people who werent wearing one.

Glass hit the streets in 2013, when it was worn by on a select group of so-called Glass Explorers, or people who were willing to shell out $1,500 to test the device. Shortly after that, the backlash began. Bars and restaurants issued no-Glass policies. People were accosted for wearing them in public spaces. The wearables soon became a symbol of high-tech elitism while stoking fears of Big Brother surveillance.

It felt, to a lot of people, that these were the 1-percenters looking down at everyone else, Gownder said.

Snapchats glasses will only be able to record in 10- to 30-second bursts, the company said. And being sunglasses, theyre largely intended for outside use, perhaps preventing users from wearing them into bars, clubs and restaurants, Gownder said.

Making this more of an outdoor experience means youre dealing with sports, skateboarding and other physical activities, he said. That makes the use case more understandable.

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel told the Wall Street Journal last week that the glasses will record video in a circular frame with a wide-angle lens. They will connect wirelessly to a smartphone so the videos can be posted and stored in users Snapchat streams.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The intent of the glasses is to create a way for users to capture short bursts of video while freeing their hands to do other things. In a commercial for Spectacles, teens on skateboards record each other as they whiz by, performing flips and tricks. Its like a GoPro for your face, Gownder said.

Though there may be some backlash, Gownder doubts it will be as extreme as it was with Glass.

Video, he said, which has gained popularity and ubiquity with the rise in popularity of Facebook Live, Periscope, Snapchat and other video-centric apps, has become normalized since Google Glass first waded into the world.

The culture has shifted a bit, he said. We are used to there being this panopticon of filming. We are in a new world.

But Vertesi said the privacy issues surrounding the kind of surreptitious recording capability introduced by Google Glass are far from resolved.

Facial-recognition technology, which was less precise and less pervasive when Google Glass debuted, can pick up facial features with just a single frame of footage. This, she said, should worry users and non-users alike.

If I were in a room and someone walked in wearing one of those things I would have my hands up in front of my face from the get-go, she said. We think, People werent ready for this three or five years ago, but they will be now. Its a progress narrative that just isnt true.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
Im probably ruining my chances of becoming president of the United States, but Im still going to come out and admit that I am a criminal. I have tried marijuana.

Im sure my children are appalled, and my friends will now shun me, but Ive decided to come clean. I broke the law in California, and Im now willing to pay the price.

I have a defense, though, and it comes in three parts. (1) It was 40 years ago, while in college, so the statute of limitations might have expired; (2) I went to Cal, and its in Berkeley, which was not part of the United States at the time; (3) Every time I tried it, I just fell asleep.

But now we have Proposition 64, which is on the November ballot and, if approved, will legalize recreational marijuana in California. So in my role as intrepid reporter, I flew to Colorado to see if trying legal marijuana would keep me from falling asleep.

There was also a wedding I was attending, but that was secondary to my cannabis investigation. Once the nuptials were out of the way, I dived headfirst into the wonderful world of legal Colorado pot.

Good afternoon, I announced to the kind man behind the counter of the Original Leaf, one of the hundreds of marijuana dispensaries that have popped up all over Colorado. I would like to have a Rocky Mountain high.

Since I never liked the smoke in my lungs, I gravitated toward the edibles, which apparently are all the rage. Maybe they would make a difference, and I wouldnt fall asleep. After reviewing all the edible options, I made my choice.

Give me a couple of those Snoop Dogg gummy bears, please, I said, pointing to a product promoted by the well-known rapper, whose questionable marketing strategy was to call his products Dogg Treats. Im ready to begin my life as a law-abiding citizen.

The nice man rang up the sale, including a stiff tax to benefit the people of Colorado, and then gave me some instructions on eating Snoop Dogg gummy bears. But I wasnt really listening. Marijuana had never affected me  I would be fine, whether I smoked it or ate it.

Sure enough, two hours after taking those harmless, sweet-sounding Snoop Dogg gummy bears, I was feeling the usual nothing. I was having dinner with my wife and some friends, and explaining that legal or not, marijuana was just plain boring.

Thats when all hell broke loose.

Voices, including my own, lost all clarity. The room had no proportion. Faces were a blur. I was getting more and more disoriented by the minute. And I wasnt enjoying it.

My friends, of course, were sympathetic. Hey, I think your left arm is missing, one of them said, clearly enjoying my plight.

The next day, I thought that comment was funny. At the moment, I wanted to kill him. I got up and had my wife help me outside. I thought I was somewhere in Europe, and I didnt want to be in Europe.

Total paranoia. I sat outside our hotel for 2 hours, afraid to go anywhere near the elevator. I was on a bench, staring at the ground, knowing that if I looked at anything unfamiliar, I would lose control, and I like control. It ranked in the top five of the worst nights of my life, and Ive forgotten the other four.

I promise you I will never, ever try marijuana again, legal or not, I announced to my wife at 2:30 in the morning after I had just seen helicopters buzzing around our room. I know how much people enjoy it, and I know how beneficial it can be, but its not for everyone. I'm all for legalization. I just hope people listen to instructions better than I did.

She rolled over and looked at me on the other side of the bed, where I was wide-eyed, wondering what mysterious person had turned the television into a little radio.

A fine decision, she said sleepily. Snoop Dogg wont be happy, but hell get over it.

Nick Hoppes column appears Tuesdays in Datebook. Email: Hoppe61@aol.com
A proud and euphoric contingent from the Bay Area was in Washington over the weekend for the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. Some notes from them:

In keeping with the theme of the day, We too are America, Jewelle Taylor Gibbs, writer, psychologist and professor emerita at UC Berkeley, was particularly moved by the comments of Rep. John Lewis ... and tickled by Stevie Wonders assertion that he hadnt seen the museum yet, but Im going to.

There were big reasons and small to be excited: Gibbs, who was there with her husband, cultural anthropologist James Gibbs, was thrilled to have two family members  scientist W. Montague Cobb and jazzman Billy Taylor  honored in the exhibition; and teens from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington were thrilled, she says, when Will Smith walked past. Those dual feelings, happiness and sadness, were illustrated also by the big selfie sites: Chuck Berrys cherry-red Cadillac convertible, the casket of the lynched teenager Emmett Till, and life-size sculptures of Serena and Venus Williams. Gibbs saw the names of many Bay Area supporters on the donor wall.

Arts supporter Cheryl Ward of KGO-TV, who was there with her husband, YBCAs Charles Ward, says the difficulties in navigating traffic jams and long lines didnt dim the radiance of the occasion. The Saturday night gala was the best people-watching you could imagine. Thousands of beautiful, adorned, handsome bodies celebrating this long-overdue historic moment.

At opening ceremonies, Ward said, One of the most touching moments was President Obama saying he looks forward to bringing his daughters and then, in the future, holding a tiny hand and sharing it. He then wiped away a tear. The museum itself tells so many stories, many of course difficult and complicated. ... Its vast, and party nights dont allow for intimate viewing. The Wards will return, too.

Tenderloin activist Del Seymour attended a pre-opening event at the Washington headquarters of Twitter, hosted by the Blackbirds, a group of African American Twitter professionals. All the talk was on the historic event, says Seymour, and not the future of Twitter.

Despite  or perhaps because of  all this election strife that has dominated the news, Seymour says the biggest applause at the opening ceremonies was in response to Michelle Obamas embrace of President George W. Bush.

The Third Annual William F. Buckley Dinner, at San Francisco City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 22, was a fundraiser for the National Review. Former Secretary of State George Shultz was honored for his role in defeating communism. Michael Grebe, CEO of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation (its mission statement says it supports free representative government and free enterprise), was honored for leadership in supporting liberty.

Fortune cookies were packed with sayings of William F. Buckley, among them (from the National Review in 1964): One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.

Although the election is looming, there was no mention of the T-word (Trump) from the podium.

A person who doesnt want credit for this  because in this age, mention of a name will result in Google identifying the name with the subject matter for all time, and thats something to think about  has coined a name for a familiar street game: poopscotch. Thats when a pedestrian hops, skips or jumps in order to avoid stepping into a pile of specific organic matter on the sidewalk. (A related press release received last week noted that an estimated 120,000 dogs in San Francisco produce 32 million pounds of waste every year.)

At Fort Mason Center on Friday night, Sept. 23, the opening of Pride and Prejudice, the Musical was greeted with grateful applause. Thats because everyone loves the story; because the songs were tuneful and hummable; because Rita Abrams lyrics rhymed hypothesize with philosophize, morose with comatose, and esoteric with hysteric ... and most of all, because it was 2 hours without Donald Trump once crossing anyones mind. (Upon pondering it now, however ... money, ambition, women rated by beauty; dammit, hes everywhere.)

Bumper sticker spotted by Clark Sterling on a delivery truck in downtown Napa: Meat is the new kale.

Open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik

Public Eavesdropping

I apologize. I should not have yelled. That was very aggressive of me.
1 Endangered bees: A type of bumblebee native to North America may soon be named to the endangered species list. It would be the first bee species to be considered endangered in the United States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week formally proposed that the Bombus affinis, or rusty patched bumblebee, be listed as endangered under the guidelines of the Endangered Species Act. The federal agency estimates that native insect species, particularly bees, contribute $3 billion in economic value annually in the United States. And bumblebee species are better at pollinating some crops than honeybees. The bees decline can be attributed to habitat loss, climate change, disease, farming and pesticides, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

2 Missing boaters: One of two boaters missing for a week has been found alive, drifting on an inflatable life raft off the coast of Massachusetts, but his mother remains missing, U.S. Coast Guard authorities said Monday. The Coast Guard had suspended its search Friday for Linda Carman, 54, of Middletown, Conn., and her son, Nathan Carman, 22, of Vernon, Vt. The mother and son disappeared Sept. 18 after leaving a Rhode Island marina to go on a fishing trip in a 31-foot aluminum fishing boat. Nathan Carman was found Sunday by a freighter about 100 nautical miles south of Marthas Vineyard. He was listed in good condition. Linda Carmans whereabouts remain unknown.
Welcome to another edition of Totally Radical 1980s Front Pages.

The Chronicles cover from Sept. 27, 1984, features a number of classic stories that make for a page whose sum is greater than its parts.

Lets start with that photo. A driver from Alamo lost control of her BMW in San Francisco and it went speeding down the road for two blocks like a bullet. The car went airborne and ended up buried more than halfway into an apartment building at Jordan and California streets. The driver went to the hospital but would recover. The BMW, one assumes, wouldnt.

Directly below that photo of a car hanging out of a building is a story that couldnt have had better placement on the page. Its headline: Deukmejian signs driver insurance bill. A little late, perhaps.

A couple of serious only-in-the-1980s stories on the page cover plans for the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule and President Ronald Reagans suggestion that his predecessors were partly to blame for the bombing of the American Embassy in Lebanon.

Thats heavy stuff, so luckily theres a story headlined Zapping ads on TV at the top of the page that covers this important news: Television viewers who are bored, angered or nauseated by commercials can now zap them away electronically. Next week, Vidicraft Inc. will begin shipping a commercial cutter that, when connected to a video cassette recorder, automatically eliminates TV commercials.

And now a word from our sponsors ...

Top O the Top of the News: Dumb songs of the 60s with a sound you love to hate are a local bands specialty. Page 23. Also known as: the Monkees.

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

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SOQUEL, Santa Cruz County  The sound of helicopters means one of three things to people living on the fringe of the Bay Area in the isolated wildlands of the Santa Cruz Mountains: a medical emergency, a pot bust or a wildfire.

But the unmistakable whirr of choppers during Mondays 97-degree furnace blast left little doubt: Flames had returned.

Ive done this drill before, said Dave Norman, 67, who grew up in these hills south of Los Gatos and bought land here in 1980. A lot of people dont understand why we live out in the country. I was raised out in the country. I wouldnt be able to live in the city.

He spoke Tuesday as the Loma Fire continued to burn aggressively across as many as 2,250 acres after exploding the day before near the 3,790-foot Loma Prieta Mountain ridge, leveling at least one home and six other buildings, and forcing scores of residents to pack up at a moments notice and flee.

Another home had been damaged in the inferno, which officials said was 10 percent contained as of Tuesday night.

More than 500 firefighters were working to halt the advance of a blaze through dry, rugged landscape. While no deaths or serious injuries were reported, a second day of heat in the mid-90s charged the fire, which threatened 300 homes as it sent 70-foot flames into the air, while devouring pine trees and brush.

Residents along the winding maze of rural, sometimes dirt roads branching off Summit Road were under mandatory evacuation orders as the fire extended south to the edge of Uvas Canyon County Park.

The fire moved so quickly at the beginning, said 75-year-old Norman Noble, who fled Monday after noticing his neighbors house ablaze. I saw the billowing smoke that was probably from the house that burned.

Rather than packing belongings, he said he tried to find his cat, Peaches. But the flames became too intense, so he jumped into his hatchback  alone  and sped away. After spending the night on a cot at an evacuation shelter in Soquel, Noble waited Tuesday for word on his house and his cat.

Im very worried, he said.

One firefighter was recovering Tuesday after suffering a minor eye injury during a fierce overnight fight to keep the blaze from progressing west to Santa Cruz County after it ignited near Loma Prieta Avenue and Loma Chiquita Road in Santa Clara County.

As dawn broke, the fingers of the fire reached within feet of some homes on Casa Loma Road and crept toward telecommunications equipment at the mountains summit. Many firefighters on the ground set up on the fires southern front, working to slow its advance deeper into Santa Clara County.

Weve got a plan, said Battalion Chief Mike Mathiesen, stationed at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protections Alma Helitack Base in Los Gatos. Hopefully the plan will help us get a handle on it. It all depends on the weather.

Campers in the Sveadal grounds, a picturesque Swedish community and recreation area on the east end of Uvas Canyon County Park, were among the hundreds forced to pack up and get out.

Evacuation centers were set up at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, the Soquel Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley and the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church well east of the blaze. The fire was 5 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, and its cause remained under investigation, though the original report came in as a house fire.

For the mix of mountain denizens, ranging from retirees in modern homes to folks living out of makeshift dwellings and trailers, the threat of fire has become an acceptable trade-off for a simple life away from the bustle of the Bay Area.

Norman, among others, vividly recalls the major fires that have ravaged the community over the years. The Loma Fire of 2009 burned 485 acres and destroyed three structures just one year after the devastating Summit Fire destroyed nearly 100 structures on its way to blackening 4,000 acres.

Those who go back far enough remember the Lexington Fire of 1985 as one of the areas most frightening. A report that year in The Chronicle told of a 200-foot-high, mile-wide wall of flame that devoured the forested land just north of this years fire. In the end, that 14,000-acre inferno destroyed 23 homes and five trailers.

While fire is serious business here, many residents ordered to evacuate their homes along the Loma Prieta ridgeline stayed put Tuesday.

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.

Were pretty protected, said Art Johnson, 78, noting his swimming pool and 25,000-gallon underground water tank.

If necessary, he said, hes ready to summon a posse to help pump water around his property. You have to be self-sufficient out here, he explained.

Others were less equipped but still stuck around, hoping for favorable weather to help firefighters.

Were always ready to go, said 72-year-old Sharon Fournier, who lives on Loma Prieta Way with her husband, Bruce.

But the couple took their chances and stayed, watching as one of six air tankers assigned to the fire dropped bright red retardant on a nearby ridge.

There is a sense of freedom here, she said. Its normally very peaceful.

Kurtis Alexander and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KurtisAlexander @EvanSernoffsky
IOWA CITY | The Johnson County Task Force on Aging and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County will host Iowa 2nd District candidates in a forum from 2 to 3:30 Oct. 10 at the Coralville Public Library.

Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa City and Republican challenger Chris Peters of Coralville will take questions from the LWV and Task Force as well as moderators Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register and Dean Borg of Iowa Public Television. Audience members may submit questions, too.

The 24-county 2nd District covers most of southeastern Iowa including Johnson, Cedar, Washington, Muscatine and Louisa counties.

Loebsack, 63, a former Cornell College professor, is seeking a sixth term. He unseated 15-term Republican Jim Leach in 2006. Loebsack received a bachelors and masters degree in political science from Iowa State University and a doctorate from University of California, Davis.

Peters, 55, is a surgeon and owner of Corridor Surgery and Vein Center. Peters received a bachelors degree on psychology from the University of Kansas and an MD from University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Tripler Army Medical Center and a thoracic surgery residency at University of Oklahoma. Peters served as a general surgeon in the Army before beginning his private practice as a thoracic surgeon in 2000.
Democrat Hillary Clinton wasted no time Monday night getting under the skin of Republican Donald Trump. In a calm, controlled, almost surgical manner, Clinton showed a mastery of the format and provided a sharp contrast in preparation and temperament with Trump.

Going into the debate, Clintons campaign spoke of her intensive preparation for the debate, and Trump nearly prided himself on his confidence in his ability to wing it. It showed.

Time and again, Trump seemed caught off guard by questions he should have expected. A prime example was when Clinton noted that Trump was shown to have once paid no federal taxes. That makes me smart, Trump interrupted, in a statement that will not ingratiate him with many hardworking Americans who bear their burden. He also failed to produce plausible comebacks to other questions Clinton raised about his businesses practices: discriminating against minorities, stiffing contractors, seeking bankruptcy protections.

One of the most telling signs of how the night went for the two candidates was the number of times Clinton was able to laugh at the absurdity or hyperbole of a Trump response. Just listen to what you heard, Clinton said with a dismissive smile after Trumps convoluted response to questions about his spreading myths about President Obamas citizenship long after the issue was settled.

At another point, Trump contended, somewhat incredibly, that my strongest asset, maybe by far, is temperament. Clintons response: Whew, OK. The split screen all night showed that one candidate could keep her cool under the heat of a nationally televised debate and the other was more, well, temperamental.

For Americans who have been following the campaign, the Hofstra University debate did not unveil significant new ground on policy, especially with the breadth of issues covered. Trump once again laid out a dystopian portrayal of an America mired in debt, beset by crumbling infrastructure, ridden with violent crime in its inner cities and outwitted by global competitors. He pledged that his tax policies would invigorate the economy.

Clinton was more typically measured and well steeled to anticipate and deflect Trumps shots.

Trumps overbearing bluster served him well in the crowded Republican primary debates. It became a liability in a one-on-one setting with the camera fixed on him throughout. The split screen was devastating for Trump, highlighting his discomfort and propensity to get rattled and sent off message by the first hint of criticism.

One of Donald Trumps big selling points is that he can somehow stand up to foreign leaders more effectively than recent presidents have. His debate performance against Hillary Clinton suggests otherwise.
Donald Trumps style was on full display during Monday nights presidential debate  characteristics many observers have cited to explain Trumps low levels of support among racial minorities, women and young people. But a look at GOP nominees down through history shows Trumps inability to connect with these voters is not a Trump problem; its a Republican problem.

Trumps support among nonwhite, female and young voters, as reported by Gallups polls  about 18 percent of nonwhites, 37 percent of women and 30 percent of voters younger than 30  is low, but well within the range of what we might expect from a typical GOP candidate. In light of Trumps well-publicized history of disparaging women, immigrants, Mexican Americans and others, it is surprising the candidate is not faring even worse.

With regard to nonwhite voters, these numbers reflect a battle that Republicans have willingly forfeited for decades. In 1970, Richard Nixons political strategist, Kevin Phillips, told the New York Times, From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote, and they dont need any more than that. The same sentiment was echoed by Mitt Romney four decades later, when he remarked at a fundraiser that 47 percent of voters were dependent upon government and would vote for Obama no matter what.

The belief that whole swaths of the electorate were beyond the GOPs grasp has been coupled by offensive and alienating campaign tactics.

Nixons Southern Strategy appealed to Southern white Democrats who were resentful of the civil rights movement. Ronald Reagan followed suit, extolling states rights at the Neshoba County Fair near Philadelphia, Miss., where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

Eight years later, George H.W. Bushs campaign launched the infamous Willie Horton ad, which was widely understood as an effort to evoke race-based fears among white voters. In July, Trumps son, Donald Jr., made a campaign stop at the Neshoba County Fair, a move some saw as an echo of Reagans apparent nod to white nationalists.

The story is different when it comes to women and young people  groups Republicans actually used to win.

Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush each defeated their Democratic counterparts among young voters, and it was common for Republican candidates to win the womens vote until 1992.

What changed? Romneys binders full of women comment and Trumps insults have not helped, but the problems run deeper.

For one, its likely the GOPs tactics and positions vis-a-vis civil rights issues have eroded support even outside the nonwhite electorate. Women and Millennials have been shown to weigh compassion issues, such as race relations, poverty, minority rights, health care and education, more than men and older voters.

Women have also recoiled from consistent Republican arguments that Roe vs. Wade be repealed. Polling shows women often cite abortion as the most important political issue affecting women, while the issue does not even appear in the top 10 for men.

The partys poor performance among racial minorities, women and young voters was explicitly flagged in the 2012 GOP autopsy report after Romneys loss. The Republican National Committees report stated: young voters are increasingly rolling their eyes at what the party represents, and many minorities wrongly think that Republicans do not like them or want them in the country.  The Republican Party needs to stop talking to itself.

Clear advice  that was clearly ignored.

By nominating Trump, the party has sent perhaps the clearest signal yet that it does not care whether voters outside its base are ever brought into the fold. We should not be surprised that those voters have noticed.

Lauren W. Wright is the author of On Behalf of the President; Presidential Spouses and White House Communications Strategy Today (Praeger, 2016) and a member of the board of the White House Transition Project.
CLEAR LAKE  Clear Lake High Schools American Heritage classes will bring local history alive during a cemetery walk next month.

Juniors will put on the first annual event 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Clear Lake Cemetery, located on North 20th Street near the high school. It will be free but donations will be accepted to benefit the schools D.C. Scholarship Fund and the Clear Lake Historical Society.

Irene Swanson plans to wear an ankle-length hoop skirt as she portrays teacher Delia Fletcher, one of eight featured historical features.

Fletcher, who was a teacher in Clear Lake during the 1860s, began her career at age 14, Swanson said. Known as an independent woman, Fletcher was 19 years old when she came to Clear Lake, arriving via bobsled with the mail.

Its insane being a teacher at 14, Swanson said. I cant imagine teaching at my age.

Through research aided by the Clear Lake Historical Society, Swanson learned that Fletcher, a lifelong educator, also acted in local productions and played the organ at her church.

As one of several tour guides, Luke Eggers will take guests to grave sites where they can meet other notable Clear Lake residents: Joseph Hewitt, Mrs. Amy Louise Drake Phillips, Carl Bates, Tom Howard, Mrs. Rosa Howard, Dr. Margaret Colby and Ellen Wilhite.

Through his class project, Eggers said he has learned how the town was founded and history on the towns schools.

Were just a small town, so normally I dont think about that, he said.

Grace Hartnett and Ana Starbeck, who are handling public relations and advertising for the walk, said theyve learned Clear Lake was founded in 1851, with State Park once home to the main part of the city.

Lured by reports of a beautiful lake with fish and fowl, the Clear Lake Historical Society says, Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson settled on the east side of the lake, a summer home to Dakota and Winnebago Native Americans. Other settlers began arriving in 1853.

Social studies teacher Kate Richtsmeier said the walk  something thats been done in her hometown for a decade  was a way to incorporate Clear Lake history into curriculum, which will also have an Iowa history component in the spring.

We thought it would be a good way to get kids involved other than just researching to write a paper, she said.

Richtsmeier said the juniors became leaders of the project, allowing her and fellow educator Sarah Raymond to be hands-off during the process.
Coriander-rubbed chicken breast with Swiss chard and sweet potato. Whole wheat spaghetti tossed with baby spinach and broccoli. Organic steel-cut oatmeal topped with fresh fruit.

These are some of the healthier options that diners can choose at the old-school Oak Room Restaurant, situated in a wood-paneled room in San Franciscos Westin St. Francis hotel, which dates back to the early 20th century. Appropriately portioned to meet current nutritional standards and carefully crafted to include all the buzz-worthy and on-trend ingredients, these dishes are a far cry from the heavy, protein-based comfort foods served there only a few years back.

Gone are the days of 8-ounce steaks, half chickens, foie gras and cream sauces. Now its boneless chicken thigh, a puree of vegetables with a light sauce and quinoa, said Bernd Liebergesell, the St. Francis executive chef and director of food and beverage, who serves up to 1,000 people a day in the hotel  including staff. While you can still order a hamburger off any of the restaurants menus, he said, everything is lighter overall and a smaller portion.

Hotels, one of the citys last remaining strongholds of Continental cuisine, have jumped on the wellness bandwagon, as they say guests are demanding healthier options while traveling, tired of coming home bloated and out of shape. The result has helped shape new, more nutritious menus across small boutiques and large hotel brands  and the benefits are being felt both ways.

Liebergesell  who has cooked for everyone from presidents to Midwestern tourists during his decades at the hotel  noticed an uptick in requests for smaller portions and healthier options about three years ago. Shortly after, the Westin launched a company-wide Westin Well Being campaign, and the St. Francis became the first hotel in San Francisco to offer an entirely gluten-free menu for buffets and banquets.

The moves have been good for the hotel, too. Smaller portions made up of more grains and local produce, Liebergesell said, have contributed to a reduction in the hotels food costs  especially for banquets. Once hovering around 28 to 30 percent (considered a healthy range for most restaurants), the chef now manages to keep the hotels food costs below 24 percent of all expenses.

Small plates and vegetable-centric dishes made with locally sourced ingredients are pretty standard fare throughout many of the Bay Areas farm-to-table eateries. But the clean-eating movement has been slower to catch on in hotels, although local hotel brands like Kimpton are working to change that image.

Smaller portions are definitely trending in our hotels, along with farro, quinoa and kale, said Kimptons George Morrone, a legendary San Francisco chef who was recently tapped as the companys national director of culinary development. On a recent visit to one of the groups Washington, D.C., properties, Morrone said he was pleased to find a carrot juice kombucha as a welcome amenity.

More than half of Kimptons 79 restaurants offer house-made cold-pressed juices, while a few are working on new menus with small share plates and locally sourced meats, fish and produce. Morrone added that most chefs in the company these days are into living healthy lifestyles  and thats reflected in their menus.

Kimptons South Water Kitchen in Chicago, for instance, has a gluten free-certified chef, while its Red Star Tavern in Portland, Ore., has its own farm for sourcing ingredients to create dishes like eggs Benedict with roasted vegetable salsa served on chickpea cakes instead of toast. At Square 1682 in Philadelphia, resident chef Caitlin Mateo cooks most of her fish en papillote with minimal oil and lets the vegetables shine without any heavy sauces.

While each Kimpton restaurant handles its own food costs, Morrone said, the trend toward smaller portions and sourcing locally makes business sense and does keep food costs down. You have a lot more control that way and dont have as much left over, he said.

It also changes the way people order, he added, meaning that diners may order more dishes.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Not all hotel chefs have seen costs come down. Daniel Corey at San Franciscos Intercontinental Hotel said Luce, the hotels Michelin-starred restaurant, has always focused on sourcing locally; offering more organic food or healthy options hasnt had a noticeable impact on his costs.

Epiphany

The evolution is going beyond hotel restaurants and into the hotel rooms, too. Palo Altos 2-year-old Epiphany Hotel, which is part of the Joie de Vivre brand, helps guests avoid midnight minibar cravings by giving them an option to preorder a $95 Fresh Fridge that is stocked with house-made superfood bars, local trail mixes, yogurt parfaits, juices and seasonal salads prepared daily by the hotels executive chef.

The hotels management also decided to take its standard in-room minibars a step further by filling them with more healthful or local snacks like Cliff bars and Tcho chocolates. For general manager Lorenz Maurer, the benefits  especially the economic benefits  are clear.

Its easy for hotels to just offer the standard stuff, but curating it with local tastes makes all the difference in the world, Maurer said. While the fridge or the minibar arent big cash cows for the hotel, he said, its in-room snack sales are 30 to 40 percent higher than most hotel minibars that offer the usual Pringles and Snicker bars.

Were in the middle of the health food trend and surrounded by healthy eating options, he said. Theres really no option but to do better. Plus, it helps to spoil our guests a little bit by offering something truly local and good.

Renee Frojo is a freelance writer. Twitter: @frojofeed Email: food@sfchronicle.com
1 Boko Haram attacks: Extremists killed eight soldiers and wounded 17 in two attacks in northeastern Nigeria, the countrys military said Monday. The attacks in the town of Bama bring the official toll to 10 troops killed and 24 wounded this past week after a lull during which Boko Haram confronted a leadership struggle. The Islamic State groups West Africa Province claimed more than 40 soldiers from a multinational army were killed in one attack last week.

2 Iran prisoner released: A Canadian Iranian retired professor was released from prison on humanitarian grounds and flown out of Iran on Monday, state media reported, ending her months of detention alongside other dual nationals swept up by hard-liners in the security services. Homa Hoodfar returned to Canada, the state-run IRNA news agency said. Hoodfar, 65, was questioned and barred from leaving Iran in March after traveling to the country to visit family following the death of her husband. Her family said she has been held in Tehrans Evin Prison since June. Hoodfar until recently taught anthropology and sociology at Montreals Concordia University.
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Stoked by hot, dry conditions, a blaze in the Santa Cruz Mountains charred about 1,000 acres and destroyed at least one structure as it quickly moved through the area Monday, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations, officials said.

Calls started coming in around 2:30 p.m. reporting large plumes of smoke in the area, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Loma Fire was centered between Los Gatos and Morgan Hill off Loma Prieta Avenue and Loma Chiquita Road, near the 4,000-foot Loma Prieta Mountain, officials said. Air tankers and helicopters were deployed to spread fire retardant as crews battled the blaze on the ground.

Evacuations were ordered for all of Casa Loma Road from Loma Prieta Avenue to Mount Madonna Road, said Cal Fire Assistant Chief Michael Borelli. Three hundred homes were threatened by the blaze, which was 5 percent contained Monday night.

The Red Cross opened a shelter for evacuees at Soquel High School on Old San Jose Road.

Firefighters say the blaze, ripping through brush, oak woodland and pine forest, was initially burning east toward Morgan Hill, confined to Santa Clara County. After sunset, the northern part of the fire began to pick up and firefighters feared it may also head west toward Santa Cruz County.

I put a lot of faith in the CDF, but yeah, Im a little nervous, said Mary Lindsay, who lives about 3 miles from where the fire was burning and runs Muns Vineyard in Los Gatos. I can see all the smoke billowing up from the fire. My guess is that Im not going to be staying here tonight.

Roger Mason, owner of the Mason-Taylor Ranch in Los Gatos, lives about 10 miles from the fire. He said he kept an eye on the blaze throughout the day and had plans to move his chickens, goats and rabbits if the fire spread or smoke got too heavy.

It looks like it could be coming around through the night if the winds change, Mason, 69, said. Its exploding up there. Things are so dry and the heat is working against it.

Santa Cruz had a high of 97 degrees Monday afternoon with temperatures as high as 104 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

There was just virtually no marine air, said Rick Canepa, a meteorologist with the weather service. Its just hot. Dry.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

Cal Fire officials warned area residents, specifically those from Loma Prieta Avenue to Soquel San Jose Road, of the blaze through an automated 911 calling system.

There were residents, however, who received orders to evacuate and decided to spend the night in their homes.

Becky and Tim Farley checked out the fire while cruising in their Toyota 4Runner a short distance from their home on Loma Prieta Avenue.

Although the sheriffs office had asked them to evacuate, the couple said they planned to stay at their house with their 19-year-old daughter, two dogs and six cats until the flames became more menacing.

It looks like its really getting close, Becky Farley, 54, said as she looked up at the orange plumes of smoke drifting near a pair of transmission towers.

Were watching this fire instead of the debate, her husband added.

Nancy Long, 61, also lives on Loma Prieta Avenue. She said she and her neighbors had been outside all day waiting to see whether the fire would come up from behind Loma Prieta Mountain.

All of us said the same thing, Long said. Were not leaving unless it jumps the last ridge.

Wildfires have ravaged the region throughout the years, such as the Loma Fire of 2009 that burned 485 acres, injured four and destroyed three structures just a mile from the start of this years blaze.

The more devastating Summit Fire of 2008 blackened more than 4,000 acres in the region, resulting in 16 injuries and nearly 100 destroyed structures.

Longtime residents also remember the 1985 Lexington Fire, which burned through more than 13,000 acres in the region and prompted a disaster declaration.

This years Loma Fire ignited a day after a blaze swept through The Geysers geothermal facility in rural Sonoma County.

Like in the Loma Fire, soaring temperatures challenged the nearly 500 firefighters battling the 1,500-acre Sawmill Fire that was 45 percent contained Monday night, officials with Cal Fire said.

The Sawmill Fire started about 11 a.m. Sunday and spread quickly as gusty winds kicked up in the late morning and temperatures in the 90s fanned the flames burning just over a ridge about 10 miles east of Cloverdale.

Air tankers and helicopters made passes over the fire throughout the afternoon as the flames initially forced evacuations of 36 homes near the fires inception point at Big Geysers and Geysers Resort roads. The orders and road closure were lifted in the evening.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Chronicle staff writer Evan Sernoffsky contributed to this report.

Kurtis Alexander and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @kurtisalexander, @JennaJourno
Photos of the the fiery scene in the mountains above the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are popping up all over social media.

It looked as if a volcano was spewing hot molten lava behind the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk last night as a the Loma Fire continued to burn in the mountains behind the amusement park.
Criminal sentencing reform and an extension on tax increases for high earners are among Californias November ballot propositions supported by a majority of likely voters, a new Field Poll found.

Proposition 56, a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes, was also leading among the polls respondents, though by narrower margins. Fifty-three percent of respondents favored the tax, 40 percent were opposed and 7 percent remained undecided.

In several past elections, tobacco tax initiatives have performed competitively in polling only to fail on election day. In 2012, a $1 cigarette tax to fund cancer research was defeated by a margin of only 0.4 percentage points. In 2006, a proposed tax increase prompted $66 million in tobacco industry spending, and the measure failed.

Tobacco companies and their affiliates have spent over $55 million opposing Prop. 56, according to the California Fair Political Practices Commission. It is supported by hospital and medical groups like the California Hospitals Committee on Issues. Hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyer also spent $3.5 million in support.

Prop. 56 would redirect the revenue from the cigarette tax  estimated between $1 billion and $1.4 billion  to health care for low-income Californians. Smoking-related illnesses are costly to the state; a 2015 analysis from the California Health Care Foundation found that among Medicare patients, lung cancer was the deadliest and costliest to treat of the four most common cancers.

California residents now pay 87 cents a pack in state taxes, according to the State Board of Equalization. The national average as of Aug. 1 was $1.65, but rates are as high as $3.90 in Connecticut and $4.35 in New York.

Gov. Jerry Browns Prop. 57, supported by 60 percent of likely voters, would expand parole options for nonviolent offenders. It would also let judges decide whether teens 14 to 17 are tried as juveniles or adults. Prosecutors now make that determination.

Support from a voting bloc of Democrats, women, young voters, Latinos and parents has driven strong poll numbers for Prop. 57, but 19 percent of voters remain undecided and 21 percent intend to vote no. Republicans, in particular, are divided on the measure, with 37 percent in favor, 43 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided. Notable individual backers include Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who gave $980,962 to support the measure.

If successful, Prop. 57 will be the third criminal-justice-reform ballot measure approved in four years. In 2014, voters approved Prop. 47, which reduced many nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, making 1 million Californians eligible for changes to their records. Incarcerated people serving time for such crimes could petition to be resentenced.

In 2012, voters approved Prop. 36, revising the states 1994 three strikes law that had previously required offenders to serve a life sentence for any third offense committed after two serious or violent felonies.

Prop. 55 is a 12-year extension on personal income tax increases for earners making over $250,000 a year, first enacted in 2012. The revenue  between $4 billion and $9 billion a year, depending on the economy and stock market  would be directed to primary and community college education and, in some years, health care.

Like earlier polls, the Field Poll found that support for Prop. 55 was split relatively neatly along partisan lines, with 82 percent of Democrats in support and 64 percent of Republicans opposed.

Survey responses were collected online from Sept. 7 to 13 through YouGov. The survey, conducted in English and Spanish, sampled 967 likely voters on Prop. 55, 943 likely voters on Prop. 56, and 484 likely voters on Prop. 57. YouGov did not supply a margin of error because opt-in online polls do not easily lend themselves to the calculation of sampling error estimates.

Filipa Ioannou is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: fioannou@sfchronicle.com
A report on New York City Airbnb rentals has found cases of air mattresses in kitchens, bunk beds in dining areas and listings for up to 32 people, showing the need for tighter rules on the popular online home rental service, according to the two state lawmakers who issued the analysis.

The study, from Democratic Sens. Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino, looked at advertisements for 110 rentals offering space for 13 or more people. Klein, whos from the Bronx, said some of the rentals were unsafe and in violation of state and city housing codes. According to the review, most of the 110 advertisements offered space for 16 or more people, despite rules capping occupancy at 16.

We must take legislative action to prevent potential tragedy that could occur from illegally packing people into spaces and hold sites like Airbnb accountable, said Klein, who leads a group of senators known as the Independent Democratic Conference.

The overwhelming majority of hosts in New York share their homes as a way to earn extra money and keep up with the rising cost of living in the city, the company said.

Employment

Palantir sued

 bias alleged

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit accusing a high-flying Palo Alto software company of systematically discriminating against Asian job applicants over the last five years.

Palantir Technologies, co-founded by tech financier Peter Thiel with backing from an investment arm of the CIA, makes data analytics software used by the military and law enforcement agencies, along with banks, insurance companies and other private clients.

The suit claims Palantir routinely eliminated Asian candidates during the resume-screening and telephone-interview stages. The claims are based on a statistical analysis conducted by federal officials responsible for making sure government contractors comply with discrimination rules.

Palantir denied the allegations, saying the governments analysis is flawed.

Cybersecurity

Guilty plea

in Verizon case

A former Verizon Wireless technician is accused of using the companys computers to obtain customers private call records  plus data showing where customers phones were  and then selling them to an unnamed private investigator, federal prosecutors said.

Daniel Eugene Traeger, who worked in Alabama, sold the confidential information for more than four years, from 2009 to 2014, authorities said.

The court records dont say how many customer records were sold, or how they may have been used.

Representatives from Verizon Wireless didnt immediately return phone messages Monday requesting comment on how widespread the breach may have been.

Shortly after the charges were filed last week, Traeger pleaded guilty to a felony count of unauthorized access to a protected computer as part of a plea deal, court records show. His lawyer didnt immediately return a phone message Monday.

Between April 2009 and January 2014, the defendant was paid more than $10,000 in exchange for his provision of confidential customer information and cellular location data to the PI, an unauthorized third party, court records state.

Housing

New-home

sales tumble

Sales of new homes retreated in August, one month after surging to the highest level in nearly nine years. Activity fell in all regions of the country except the West.

New home sales dropped 7.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 609,000 units, the Commerce Department reported Monday. That followed a surge in July when they jumped 13.8 percent to a rate of 659,000, the fastest pace since October 2007.

Sales had been expected to slow following the July surge.

Even with the August decline, sales of new homes are up 20.1 percent from a year earlier. Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, pointed to a number of positive factors helping the housing market.

Home builder confidence is up and price growth has slowed, which is good news for first-time home buyers, as are easing credit standards and low mortgage rates, she wrote in a research note.

The median price of a new home sold in August was $284,000, down 3.1 percent from July and 5.3 percent from a year ago.

Chronicle News Services
Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf will forfeit $41 million of stock, plus some salary, as the banks board investigates the companys bogus-account scandal.

Former retail bank chief Carrie Tolstedt, who has left the company, will forgo all unvested stock, valued at about $19 million, and agreed not to cash in outstanding options during the review, the San Francisco bank said Tuesday. Neither Stumpf nor Tolstedt will receive a bonus for this year, the bank said.

We are deeply concerned by these matters, and we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of the companys business are conducted with integrity, transparency and oversight, Stephen Sanger, the boards lead independent director, said in a statement. We will proceed with a sense of urgency but will take the time we need to conduct a thorough investigation.

Separately, the U.S. Labor Department is investigating possible abuses of employees by Wells Fargo in connection with the banks alleged efforts to open millions of unauthorized accounts to meet sales goals.

A group of Democratic senators last week asked the department to investigate whether Wells Fargo tellers, branch managers and customer service reps were harassed and threatened with termination in the aggressive sales push. A complete review of cases and complaints is needed to determine if the second-largest U.S. bank violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, the senators said. About 5,300 employees have been fired since 2011.

In a letter Monday, Labor Secretary Tom Perez said the department takes the senators concerns seriously and has started a top-to-bottom review of labor practices at the San Francisco bank.

We take the concerns raised in your letter very seriously, Perez told the senators, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Given the serious nature of the allegations ... and recent media reports, I have directed enforcement agencies within the department to conduct a top-to-bottom review of cases, complaints or violations concerning Wells Fargo over the last several years.

Bank spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn declined to comment on the Labor Department action.

The scandal over millions of deposit and credit card accounts allegedly opened without customers permission has widened. The Labor Department review comes atop investigations by congressional committees and federal prosecutors.

Federal and California regulators fined Wells Fargo $185 million this month. In a feverish drive to meet sales targets, bank employees opened the unauthorized accounts, transferred customers money into them and signed people up for online banking, according to the regulators. Debit cards were issued and activated, as well as PINs created, without customers knowledge.

Senators of both parties heaped criticism on Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf last week as he testified at a hearing by the Senate Banking Committee, accusing the bank of fraud. He apologized for the misconduct and promised to assist affected customers. Senators told Stumpf he was scapegoating legions of lower-level employees while senior executives kept their jobs and received hefty pay packages.

In their request to the Labor Department, the Democratic senators noted that the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had found at Wells Fargo a workplace characterized by stringent sales quotas and aggressive incentives imposed on its employees. In the drive to meet sales quotas, employees were faced with threats of termination, mandated hours of unpaid overtime, harassment and other forms of retaliation, the senators wrote.

On Friday, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said Stumpf is resigning his position on the advisory council to the Fed board in Washington. Stumpf made a personal decision to give up his position as representative from the Feds San Francisco region to focus on his top priority of leading Wells Fargo, the company said.

Stumpf is returning to Congress to testify Thursday before the House Financial Services Committee.
SCOTT MASON/Associated Press

Yahoo should face a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into whether the Sunnyvale company properly informed investors and the public about a massive data breach that it confirmed last week, Sen. Mark Warner said in a letter to SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer waited until last week to formally disclose that information on 500 million accounts had been compromised in the 2014 breach even though shes known about it as early as July, wrote Warner, a Virginia Democrat and co-founder of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus. He also questioned whether Yahoo also failed to give timely notification to Verizon Communications Inc., which announced plans to acquire the companys core assets this year.
This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

More than half of Texas high school students did not complete or submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in the 2014 application cycle, according to a study by NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Texass rate of incompletion is higher than the national FAFSA incompletion rate of 45%, among students in all states and Washington, D.C.

The FAFSA is needed to determine eligibility for financial aid. NerdWallet found that in 2014 more than 1.4 million high school students nationwide didnt fill out the FAFSA. By not applying, students miss out on federal, state and school financial aid, including student loans, scholarships, work-study and grants. Nationwide, in the past academic year, students missed out on $2.7 billion in free grant money, while Texas high school students missed out on $327.8 million.

Many are unaware this money can be for them, says Jerel Booker, assistant commissioner for theTexas Higher Education Coordinating Boards Division of College Readiness and Success. Its an educational process, says Booker, to ensure that all students and families know what FAFSA could do for them, especially those most in need. Nearly 60% of students are economically disadvantaged in Texas, which has the second largest statewide population in the country.

The state has worked hard for its completion numbers, ensuring nearly half of its students apply for FAFSA, says Booker. This year, high schools are being challenged to increase rates of both college applications and FAFSA applications by 4%.

The commissions Generation Texas initiative aims to help students of all ages and backgrounds get excited about going to college through social media campaigns, localized and regional events and devoting the entire month of November to promoting college applications and FAFSA completion. Another program, Advise Texas College Advising Corps, is aimed especially at ensuring low-income, first-generation or otherwise underrepresented students achieve postsecondary education. These efforts support statewide goals of ensuring 60% of Texans ages 25-34 have a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2030.

Were curious to see how the new FAFSA filing date will impact how we do business, adds Booker. We think it might be positive, but we wont know for sure until this time next year.

Texas students will soon have a chance to improve overall completion rates and claim more grant money. The new start date to fill out your FAFSA is Oct. 1, 2016, for the 2017-2018 school year, giving students the chance to find out about financial aid three months sooner than in previous years. The U.S. Department of Education encourages students to submit an application as soon as possible since many forms of aid can run out. The cutoff point to submit the FAFSA will be June 30, 2018, but states and schools will have their own deadlines.

This year youll be able to use prior-prior year tax information to apply  that means 2015 tax info, not 2016. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically transfer tax information to your form. To speed up the process, make sure you have all other materials youll need to apply. Youll also be asked to choose up to 10 schools that you want to receive your student aid report. You can do this by using codes found through the federal school code search tool or on each schools website.

You can file your application online at fafsa.ed.gov. Before you apply, learn more details about the changes to this years FAFSA.

Anna Helhoski is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski.

The article 53% of Texas High School Students Didnt Complete the FAFSA originally appeared on NerdWallet.
MASON CITY  A man police say had methamphetamine, cash and other illegal drugs during a traffic stop near North Iowa Area Community College has been sentenced to federal prison.

Ernesto Ruiz, 28, was sentenced to 70 months, or five years and eight months, this month for a charge of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

State charges were dismissed after the federal indictment.

Authorities say Ruiz and Alyssa Sandry, 23, of Forest City, had several drugs in their possession when they were pulled over at 2:51 a.m. Nov. 30 at 12th Street Northeast and College Drive.

A Cerro Gordo County sheriffs deputy reported finding meth, marijuana and prescription drugs tizanidine, alprazolam, hydromorphone and amphetamine.

Officials also seized $1,440 in cash.

Sandry pleaded guilty in state court to misdemeanor possession of meth. She served a week in jail with work release.

Two misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug were dismissed in exchange for Sandrys plea.

Ruiz was ordered to serve five years of supervised release after his prison term is complete.
Youngsters who are convicted of crimes can be ordered to stay home at night as part of their probation. But the law is different for adults, even if theyre caught at 2:15 a.m. while driving under the influence of drugs, an appellate court said Monday.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas Nassetta, stopped by the Highway Patrol one night in March 2014 while driving erratically on Interstate 880 in San Leandro, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge and to felony possession of cocaine for sale. He was sentenced the following November to 36 days in jail and five years probation, which included a condition that he abide by a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all five years.

Agreeing with a prosecutor that the curfew was related to Nassettas crimes, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson said about two-thirds of the DUI cases hed seen involved driving in the middle of the night, and very few occurred in the daytime. Particularly in view of Nassettas past problems with both drugs and alcohol, Jacobson said at the sentencing hearing, curfew seems like a really reasonable and sensible idea.

The First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco had a different view.

Driving under the influence, and possessing cocaine for sale, can happen at any hour, Justice Marla Miller observed in a 3-0 ruling Monday striking down the curfew condition. She said Jacobsons anecdotal apportionment of DUI offense times wasnt accompanied by any statistical evidence, and noted that the same observations might be made about driving on holidays or on the occasions of sporting events or concerts.

There is no basis on this record to conclude a curfew is reasonably related to preventing (Nassetta) from driving under the influence, Miller said. He could be out at night as a pedestrian, a passenger in a car, or on public transportation and pose no risk of committing a DUI.

And while minors in California can be ordered to live with their parents and keep a curfew while on probation, Miller said, such an order is proper for an adult only if if it has some reasonable connection to the adults criminal conduct or the prevention of future crimes.

Nassettas lawyer, Sejal Patel, acknowledged that judges have a difficult task finding probation conditions that protect the public without putting unjustifiable burdens on the probationer. But a curfew is a severe curtailment of liberty for adults, she said, and I want my clients to get jobs that might require being out at night.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
One of three young drifters linked to a savage crime spree took the witness stand Tuesday to say the drug-addled group had selected its two killing victims  the first in San Francisco and the second in Marin County  almost randomly while dreaming of moving to Oregon to start a pot farm.

They chose 23-year-old Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey because she was foreign and possibly had money, and they initially intended to rob her but not kill her, said Sean Michael Angold, referring to the young woman who was found dead Oct. 3 in Golden Gate Park amid the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Two days later, the three chose to kill a hiker in Fairfax, 67-year-old Steve Carter, because they wanted his station wagon for their journey north, Angold said. He said they followed Carter as he walked his Doberman pinscher, Coco  and when they could not find him, waited for him to return.

We decided we were going to shoot the individual for the car keys, Angold said of Carter, a respected tantric yoga instructor.

Angold, 25, appeared at a preliminary hearing after admitting to second-degree murder in a plea bargain in Marin County Superior Court. He testified for the prosecution in its double-murder case against his former co-defendants, Lila Scott Alligood, 19, and Morrison Haze Lampley, 24. A judge will decide Friday whether to send the case to a jury trial.

Angolds chilling testimony filled in many details of crimes that horrified the Bay Area, but his memory was clouded by admitted drug use and his answers were riddled with gaps in time and contradictions with earlier testimony.

Attorneys for Alligood and Lampley seized on the inconsistencies, while suggesting Angolds testimony was compromised by the deal he struck for a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison, rather than life without parole.

When Amy Morton, Alligoods attorney, asked Angold about his drug use, he answered that he had been on a run of meth for about a week before he met up with the defendants.

Chief Public Defender David Brown, Lampleys attorney, established that Angold has a history of lying to police. Angold admitted that during questioning soon after the killings, he pretended he didnt know Carey was dead.

I said a lot of things that day that werent true, Angold said.

Angold testified that the spree began on a San Francisco street near Coit Tower, where the three pulled on the door handles of parked cars, testing to see if any were left unlocked. They found one: a Ford F-150 that held a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun and ammunition in a camouflage pouch in the console.

Investigators said the gun theft occurred either late Sept. 30 or in the early hours of Oct. 1. Lampley and Alligood  who referred to each other as husband and wife  had joined Angold in San Francisco about a week before, Angold said.

He said he and Lampley, the alleged ringleader of the group, had the gun when they crossed paths with Carey about a day later near one of the windmills at the edge of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. They had been smoking crystal meth, which Angold said he had sold throughout the city. Carey, who was on her first solo backpacking trip in the United States, asked to join them, and together they drank beer and smoked weed, Angold said.

The group stayed together, getting pizza and returning to Ocean Beach. During this time, Angold said, he and Lampley came up with a plan to rob Carey  an idea that Alligood later agreed to. At about sunset, they went into the bushes by the windmill and continued smoking pot and cigarettes.

We were just kicking and talking, Angold said. I left to take a leak. When I came back, Ms. Alligood had jumped across the circle and tackled her.

Angold said he ran to Careys feet as Lampley held her shoulders and Alligood tried to bind her hands. When Alligood was unsuccessful, she threw the rope to Angold, who tied it around Careys legs to keep her from chasing them, he said.

I see Mr. Lampley reach back for the pouch, Angold said. I heard Mr. Lampley say, Shut up, bitch, or Ill kill you. She said, Just kill me then. Then I heard a pop. I didnt know what was going on. (Lampley) said, Shes dead, dude. Dont worry about it.

Angold said he then separated from his friends and went to Berkeley, but found them again at Fishermans Wharf. He said he stole a bike and a bottle of whiskey and they rode across the Golden Gate Bridge, doing some heroin and speed along the way. They spent the night at the vista point, where Angold said he sold tourists LSD and took some himself.

In Sausalito, Angold said he stole another bicycle before the group followed a trail to Fairfax. They tried unsuccessfully to hitchhike from a turnout, Angold said, when there was a group consensus to shoot somebody for a car.

At that point, Carter pulled into the turnout in his silver Volkswagen Jetta station wagon. He looked at us like we were crazy, Angold said, then drove to another turnout to park. He said Alligood was the one who decided Carter would be a good target, partially because of his age, and they followed him to his trail.

When Carter was found, his dog was also wounded, and he was still clutching the leash. Lampley, Angold and Alligood were arrested two days later outside a Portland, Ore., soup kitchen after authorities tracked them with the station wagons GPS device.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @vivianho
Getty Images

An assailant wielding a hatchet attacked a stranger for no apparent reason Monday in San Franciscos Jefferson Square Park before he was thwarted by two Good Samaritans, police said.

The 39-year-old victim was sitting in the Hayes Valley park when the man approached him and struck him with the handle of the hatchet, police said. As the victim tried to run, the attacker continued hitting him with the hatchets handle, police said.
A pair of armed robbers wearing Halloween masks shot a member of the Orinda school board twice and pistol-whipped her husband during a robbery in the driveway of the victims Orinda home, authorities said Tuesday.

Orinda Union School District officials identified the victims as 70-year-old Carol Brown, a member of the school board, and her husband, Tom Spalding, also 70.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the driveway of the victims home on the 30 block of Claremont Avenue around 9:09 p.m. Monday, said Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel. The victims were unloading groceries from their car when they where confronted by the assailants, one brandishing a pistol, he said.

Paul Chinn

The robbers demanded Spaldings wallet and Browns purse, Nagel said. Out of nowhere, one assailant pistol-whipped Spalding even though he complied with orders to hand over his wallet, Nagel said.

Dazed and bleeding from a gash to the head, Spalding stumbled inside his house to call 911. Then came the crack of two gunshots.

The masked muggers shot Brown twice before fleeing the scene, police said. The school board member was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with non-life-threatening injuries, Nagel said, and her husband later joined her to receive medical attention for the gash to his head.

In a letter to parents of district students, schools Superintendent Carolyn Seaton wrote that she asked police to step up patrols around nearby Wagner Ranch Elementary School, near the victims home, out of an abundance of caution.

Before being attacked, Brown picked up her husband from the Orinda BART Station. They stopped at a Safeway less than 2 miles from their home to buy groceries. Police havent identified a motive in the robbery, but are looking into the possibility that the two masked men scoped out their victims at the Safeway, then followed them to their home in the quiet residential area.

It is very surprising, Nagel said. Its very unusual for this city, and I do want to reiterate that I do believe we are still safe. We are a very safe city.

Neighbors heard the gunshots but did not see the suspects, police said.

Job No. 1 is to put this all together, Nagel said. Were going to keep working on this.

In a joint statement, Seaton and Julie Rossiter, president of the Orinda school board, said they were shocked and stunned to learn that Brown and Spalding were victims of the violent attack.

We are deeply relieved and grateful to know the injuries are not life threatening, and that Carol is receiving excellent care, Seaton and Rossiter said in their statement. Its hard to believe this violent act took place in our peaceful community.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley
A driver who brandished a gun in a road-rage incident caused a lockdown Tuesday at a Nordstrom store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto after police found the suspects car in the parking lot, officials said.

The road-rage incident occurred about 10:40 a.m. between two drivers. During the encounter, one of them pulled a gun, said Lt. Zach Perron of the Palo Alto Police Department.

A man and his wife were driving on Embarcadero Road near Middlefield Road when another driver, 28-year-old Charles Christian Simbulan Blano, made an unsafe lane change prompting the road-rage incident, Perron said. Blano then pulled out a .45-caliber Glock pistol and verbally threatened the man and his wife in the other car when they reached Quarry Road and Arboretum Road, he said.

Police tracked Blanos car to the parking lot outside the Nordstrom, and issued a shelter-in-place order as they closed off streets to the Stanford Shopping Center and searched for the suspected gunman. Nearly 255 Nordstrom customers and employees were instructed to remain in the store for about 40 minutes until police were able to confirm that the suspect was not in the area. No injuries were reported, Perron said.

It was never an active shooter scenario, said Perron. There wasnt a man running through the streets with a gun.

Blano, a Fremont resident, was eventually found about a mile away at the Stanford Health Center around 12:40 p.m. after police received reports that he worked there. He was cited for misdemeanors for brandishing a firearm and possession of a concealed firearm that not properly stowed in a vehicle. He was released at the scene, Perron said.

Police are on high alert after mall shootings in Seattle and Houston shook the nation over the last few days. On Friday, five people were killed and a gunman was arrested at mall north of Seattle. And on Monday, nine people were wounded in a mall shooting in Houston by a gunman police shot to death.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was escorted by police off the Hofstra University campus Monday, hours before the school was to host the debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

Stein was "nicely escorted" from campus after authorities found that she did not have proper media credentials, a Nassau County police spokesman told ABC News.
MASON CITY  A man accused of telling a 10-year-old girl to lie about accidentally shooting herself with his gun last year in Milwaukee has been arrested in Mason City.

Criston Thomas, 36, was being held Tuesday at the Cerro Gordo County Jail without bond, pending an extradition hearing with authorities in Wisconsin.

He was arrested late Saturday by Mason City police on Milwaukee County warrants for felony second-degree recklessly endangering safety, second-degree reckless injury and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Investigators say a 10-year-old girl shot herself in the hand with Thomass gun while at her grandfathers home in Milwaukee on Sept. 4, 2015, according to court documents.

The girl allegedly grabbed Thomas gun from a table, thinking it was a toy.

Investigators say Thomas and others in the house covered up evidence of the shooting and told the girl and other children to lie and say it happened at a Milwaukee park.

Although the victim told police it happened in a park, police say another child later told investigators it happened at the home and that the children were told to lie so Thomas and another man in the house, both felons banned from having guns, wouldnt have to go to jail for illegal gun possession, according to court documents.

Capt. Mike McKelvey said an officer spotted Thomas walking near 19th Street and South Taft Avenue, ran his name through a police database and then arrested him on the Wisconsin warrants.

Thomas was being held without bond Tuesday for Milwaukee County authorities. His extradition hearing had not been scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon.
Hillary Clinton was waiting for this one on Monday night: a line of questioning about Donald Trumps refusal to release his income tax returns.

And she pounced, listing off theories of why Trump would not do so.

Perhaps he did not want to reveal foreign business interests. Maybe he had not been so charitable or was not as wealthy as he claimed. But it was another possibility  that Trump had not been paying income taxes  that set off a curious response from him that sounded a lot like an admission.

That makes me smart, Trump said when Clinton brought up how he had paid no taxes more than two decades ago.

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

When she suggested a short time later that Trump was still paying no federal taxes and had not done so for many years, Trump offered another retort: It would be squandered, too, believe me.

For someone as wealthy as Trump to pay no federal income taxes would be remarkable, all the more so given the doctrine of progressive taxation long embraced by the United States.

Even before Mondays debate, it was known that Trump had not paid any income taxes in certain years, based on paperwork he filed with New Jersey casino regulators and other instances in which his taxes appeared in a public record. But those records are all at least 25 years old.

Tax experts say that real estate developers like Trump have access to a range of tax breaks, meaning it would be possible for him to pay minimal taxes even as his wealth expanded. Others have suggested that major losses in his businesses in the 1990s may have sheltered him from paying taxes for years. A business loss in one year can be used to offset income in future years, reducing or even eliminating someones tax burden.

Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have released their 2015 returns, showing that they paid $3.6 million in federal taxes on adjusted gross income of $10.6 million, for a 35 percent tax rate. The Clintons have released taxes dating to 2007 for this campaign, in addition to taxes that they have made public during earlier campaigns.

Trump says he is not releasing his tax returns because they are under a routine audit from the Internal Revenue Service, but IRS officials have said he is under no obligation to keep his forms secret.

Presidential candidates are not required to make their taxes public, but doing so is seen as valuable  particularly for a candidate running on a business record  because the returns can offer insights into financial dealings, investments, charitable donations and tax payments. Trump has filed the required personal financial disclosure, which includes details of business interests  and during Mondays debate, he suggested that viewers seek out that document for information on his finances.

As far as my tax returns, you dont learn that much from tax returns, he said.

With the race in its final phase, there is substantial interest among voters in Trump making his taxes public, according to recent polls. A CBS News/New York Times Poll this month showed that 59 percent of respondents said it was necessary for him to release his tax returns. In a survey by Fox News last month, 60 percent said they believed that Trump was hiding something in his returns.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  An elaborate system of temporary flood walls largely protected Cedar Rapids homes and businesses Tuesday as the river that runs through the city reached its second-highest peak ever.

City officials said the 9.8-mile system of Hesco barriers and earthen berms that contractors erected over the weekend was successfully holding back the rain-swollen Cedar River.

The city, Iowas second largest, received good news as the river crested Tuesday morning at 22.1 feet  a foot lower than predicted Monday and 3 feet lower than forecast over the weekend. That was 9 feet below the 2008 flood that destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the worst natural disaster in Iowa history.

The Hesco barriers used to hold back the floodwaters are comprised of steel mesh panels, lined with a thick polypropylene material that can be quickly filled with sand or dirt, usually using a front-loader. The barriers, which have been used extensively by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep water from seeping through to the other side, but allow moisture to drain out the bottom.

City crews had worked through the night to patch any weaknesses in the protection system and pump out water that seeped through the barriers or came up through the saturated ground.

City employees and contractors worked in really heroic ways to make sure the temporary system we put in place was fully functional, said City Manager Jeff Pomeranz.

Their work continued Tuesday as the city turned its focus underground to its pressure-packed sewer system, which officials worried could send water shooting onto streets in the coming hours and create dangerous conditions for any bystanders.

The enemy now is what we dont see, Pomeranz said.

City crews pumped water back into the river Tuesday in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, which were largely abandoned as residents heeded the citys call to evacuate.

Nick Jelinek, 37, said the flood protection was working great as he pumped water out of the basement of a business building he owns in the usually bustling New Bo district. This is as good as it could go, he said.

While the protection system was largely working, city officials said that many homes and businesses near the river will likely have water in their basements. They warned about the prospect of residential sewer backups and structural damage.
HOUSTON  A disgruntled lawyer wearing military-style apparel with old Nazi emblems had two weapons and more than 2,500 rounds of live ammunition when he randomly shot at drivers near a Houston condo Monday before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.

Nine people were injured during Monday mornings shootings on the street in front of the condo complex; six were shot and three had eye injuries from flying glass. One person was in critical condition and another in serious condition, officials said.

Houston Homicide Capt. Dwayne Ready and Interim Police Chief Martha Montalvo did not identify the man and did not have information about a motive. A bomb-squad robot examined a Porsche that police said belonged to the gunman; Texas motor vehicle records in a commercially available database showed the car is licensed to Nathan DeSai at an address in the condo complex.

Authorities first received reports of the shootings about 6:30 a.m., and the man began firing at officers when they arrived. The man had two legally purchased guns  a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle commonly known as a Tommy gun and an unsheathed knife, Ready said.

Ready said nine officers  five with the Houston Police Department and four with two other local agencies  engaged the suspect who was shooting randomly at passersby as well as anybody he could put his sights on.

Jennifer Molleda and her husband live in the same condo complex as Nathan DeSai. Though she heard gunshots about 6:12 a.m. and called 911, her husband left for work. She called him not long after, and he told her, Im hit, Im hit.

After the shooting stopped, Molleda found her husband, 49-year-old Alan Wakim, several blocks away in the parking lot of a strip mall. His Mustang had two shots that went through the windshield, and he told her that he saw a red laser beam before the shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.

He got out of his car, we hugged, we cried, Molleda said.
MASON CITY  A Mason City police officer hurt while arresting a man last week remained on restricted duty Tuesday.

Officer Steve Shrader hurt his foot while struggling with Cody Henderson early Saturday on the 500 block of Eighth Street Southeast, said Mason City Police Capt. Mike McKelvey.

He said Henderson, of Mason City, ran from Shrader and another officer while the two were investigating a possible domestic disturbance or road rage incident.

Henderson ran from a garage where he, a woman and the two officers were talking and then slammed the screen door of his home in Shraders face while trying to get away, McKelvey said.

He said Henderson advanced at Shrader when the officer was trying to handcuff him, and the two began to struggle on the ground.

At one point, Henderson allegedly had his arms on Shraders neck. Officers responding to the scene separated the two.

Shrader later went to the emergency room for the foot injury.

Its not clear how long he will be on restricted duty, McKelvey said.

Way too early to tell how long, he said.

Henderson was arrested for misdemeanor charges of interference with official acts and assault on a peace officer. Hes free on bond.

 Molly Montag
CLEAR LAKE  The parents of a young man with autism and epilepsy who died earlier this year of a brain injury are suing Opportunity Village, claiming negligence led to his death.

Melanie Huckins and William Huckins, both of Mason City, filed the lawsuit last week in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

Opportunity Village CEO Jeff Nichols told the Globe Gazette that he had not seen the lawsuit and would not be able to comment on any case as it is pending litigation.

Justin Huckins, 22, who lived at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake, fell and injured his head shortly before 7 a.m. April 13, according to the lawsuit.

He then repeatedly complained to staff of a headache and stomachache, the lawsuit states.

His parents allege he was on the floor at around 8:20 a.m. and staff observed he appeared tired when he stood up and his leg was shaking.

A few minutes later he was given Tylenol and 7Up, and staff observed him throw up and spill the pop, according to the lawsuit.

Shortly after that he had a seizure and a nurse was called. He was non-responsive, with his eyes closed and continuing to have seizures, the lawsuit states.

He was given one dose of Lorazepam, which is used to treat seizures, and moved to the bed, where his legs would tighten up and relax and he breathed heavily, according to the lawsuit.

When William Huckins arrived at Opportunity Village shortly after 9:15 a.m., he insisted an ambulance be called, the lawsuit states.

The ambulance was called within minutes and Justin Huckins was taken to the hospital, where it was confirmed he had sustained a significant brain injury, including but not limited to an active brain bleed for about three hours, according to the lawsuit.

After multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay, he died on May 19 as a result of complications from the brain bleed that resulted from the delay in treatment by Opportunity Village, the lawsuit states.

His parents allege Village staff had been inadequately trained regarding their sons individual support plan and the nature of his seizures.
MASON CITY  Mehran Kohansiek, who goes by Mike Kohan, the new owner of Southbridge Mall, has a history of financial and legal problems with other malls he has owned.

But he said Tuesday he invests in disasters that he tries to rebuild, and some work out better than others.

He owned Lincoln Mall in Matteson, Illinois, that was cited for many safety violations. A court ordered him to pay $100,000 for repairs as well as another $100,000 in an apparent fine. Kohan said he paid the fines and no longer owns the mall.

That mall had $2 million in issues. It was a disaster, he said.

He owned Woodville Mall in Northwood, Ohio, which was ordered closed because of multiple violations. Its owners, including Kohan, were ordered to pay $1.69 million.

Kohan said Tuesday he was listed as one of the owners, but had sold his interest and did not have to pay anything.

Kohan was also cited for owing back taxes on Northland Mall in Worthington, Minnesota, and has had problems at malls in Effingham, Illinois, and Florrisant, Missouri.

When questioned about all of these, Kohansiek admits that he has purchased some disasters, but said his business is buying distressed properties and trying to revitalize them.

I do not consider Southbridge Mall a disaster, he said. I am excited about the possibilities.

And while he admits to having problems with some of the malls he has purchased in the past, he said they are small in number compared to the number of successes he has had.

His website, www.kohanretail.com, shows his company owns 18 malls nationwide, not including Southbridge.
TRENTON, N.J.  Two lawsuits ended in jury verdicts worth $127 million. Two others were tossed out by a judge who said there wasnt reliable evidence that the talc in Johnson & Johnsons iconic baby powder causes ovarian cancer. So whos right? And is baby powder safe?

Most research finds no link or a weak one between ovarian cancer and using baby powder for feminine hygiene, a practice generations of American mothers have passed on to their daughters. Most major health groups have declared talc harmless. Johnson & Johnson, whose baby powder dominates the market, says its perfectly safe.

Yet some 2,000 women have sued, and lawyers are reviewing thousands of other potential cases, most generated by ads touting the two big verdicts.

Talc is a mineral that is mined from deposits around the world, including the U.S. The softest of minerals, its crushed into a white powder. Its been widely used in cosmetics and other personal care products to absorb moisture since at least 1894, when Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder was introduced.

Like many questions in science, theres no definitive answer if it causes cancer. Finding the cause of cancer is difficult.

While ovarian cancer is often fatal, its relatively rare. It accounts for only about 22,000 of the 1.7 million new cases of cancer expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year.

Factors that are known to increase a womans risk of ovarian cancer include age, obesity, use of estrogen therapy after menopause, not having any children, certain genetic mutations and personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

The biggest prospective studies have found no link between talcum powder applied to the genitals and ovarian cancer. But about two dozen smaller, look-back studies over three decades have mostly found a connection  a 20 to 40 percent increased risk among talc users.

Like the studies, courts have produced mixed results.

In the first trial two years ago, a South Dakota jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for one womans ovarian cancer but didnt award any damages. This year, state court juries in St. Louis awarded plaintiffs $72 million and $55 million  verdicts the company is appealing.
CLEAR LAKE  A bicyclist hit by a car in Clear Lake on Tuesday was hospitalized with what police called substantial injuries.

Gary Beach, 47, of Clear Lake, was riding a bicycle a little after 2 p.m. and was struck by a Hyundai Veloster driven by Nicholas Horst, 36, of Mason City, according to the Clear Lake Police Department.

The car was traveling west on Main Street, just east of South 22nd Street, and dragged Beach for more than 150 feet after the collision, according to Police Chief Pete Roth.

Clear Lake Police Capt. Mike Colby said one of Beachs legs and part of his bike were initially pinned under the front of the vehicle, but he pulled himself free.

Blood was smeared on the front license plate of the black, two-door Hyundai, and there was also was blood on the pavement in front of the car.

Beach was taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, where he was reported in stable condition Tuesday evening.

Roth said Horst was transported to the Clear Lake Police Department for further investigation, and the Iowa State Patrol was assisting with the investigation.

No charges had been filed and the investigation remained open as of Tuesday evening, Roth said.

 Molly Montag
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SOQUEL, Santa Cruz County  The sound of helicopters means one of three things to people living on the fringe of the Bay Area in the isolated wildlands of the Santa Cruz Mountains: a medical emergency, a pot bust or a wildfire.

But the unmistakable whirr of choppers during Mondays 97-degree furnace blast left little doubt: Flames had returned.

Ive done this drill before, said Dave Norman, 67, who grew up in these hills south of Los Gatos and bought land here in 1980. A lot of people dont understand why we live out in the country. I was raised out in the country. I wouldnt be able to live in the city.

He spoke Tuesday as the Loma Fire continued to burn aggressively across as many as 2,250 acres after exploding the day before near the 3,790-foot Loma Prieta Mountain ridge, leveling at least one home and six other buildings, and forcing scores of residents to pack up at a moments notice and flee.

Another home had been damaged in the inferno, which officials said was 10 percent contained as of Tuesday night.

More than 500 firefighters were working to halt the advance of a blaze through dry, rugged landscape. While no deaths or serious injuries were reported, a second day of heat in the mid-90s charged the fire, which threatened 300 homes as it sent 70-foot flames into the air, while devouring pine trees and brush.

Residents along the winding maze of rural, sometimes dirt roads branching off Summit Road were under mandatory evacuation orders as the fire extended south to the edge of Uvas Canyon County Park.

The fire moved so quickly at the beginning, said 75-year-old Norman Noble, who fled Monday after noticing his neighbors house ablaze. I saw the billowing smoke that was probably from the house that burned.

Rather than packing belongings, he said he tried to find his cat, Peaches. But the flames became too intense, so he jumped into his hatchback  alone  and sped away. After spending the night on a cot at an evacuation shelter in Soquel, Noble waited Tuesday for word on his house and his cat.

Im very worried, he said.

One firefighter was recovering Tuesday after suffering a minor eye injury during a fierce overnight fight to keep the blaze from progressing west to Santa Cruz County after it ignited near Loma Prieta Avenue and Loma Chiquita Road in Santa Clara County.

As dawn broke, the fingers of the fire reached within feet of some homes on Casa Loma Road and crept toward telecommunications equipment at the mountains summit. Many firefighters on the ground set up on the fires southern front, working to slow its advance deeper into Santa Clara County.

Weve got a plan, said Battalion Chief Mike Mathiesen, stationed at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protections Alma Helitack Base in Los Gatos. Hopefully the plan will help us get a handle on it. It all depends on the weather.

Campers in the Sveadal grounds, a picturesque Swedish community and recreation area on the east end of Uvas Canyon County Park, were among the hundreds forced to pack up and get out.

Evacuation centers were set up at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, the Soquel Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley and the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church well east of the blaze. The fire was 5 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, and its cause remained under investigation, though the original report came in as a house fire.

For the mix of mountain denizens, ranging from retirees in modern homes to folks living out of makeshift dwellings and trailers, the threat of fire has become an acceptable trade-off for a simple life away from the bustle of the Bay Area.

Norman, among others, vividly recalls the major fires that have ravaged the community over the years. The Loma Fire of 2009 burned 485 acres and destroyed three structures just one year after the devastating Summit Fire destroyed nearly 100 structures on its way to blackening 4,000 acres.

Those who go back far enough remember the Lexington Fire of 1985 as one of the areas most frightening. A report that year in The Chronicle told of a 200-foot-high, mile-wide wall of flame that devoured the forested land just north of this years fire. In the end, that 14,000-acre inferno destroyed 23 homes and five trailers.

While fire is serious business here, many residents ordered to evacuate their homes along the Loma Prieta ridgeline stayed put Tuesday.

Were pretty protected, said Art Johnson, 78, noting his swimming pool and 25,000-gallon underground water tank.

If necessary, he said, hes ready to summon a posse to help pump water around his property. You have to be self-sufficient out here, he explained.

Others were less equipped but still stuck around, hoping for favorable weather to help firefighters.

Were always ready to go, said 72-year-old Sharon Fournier, who lives on Loma Prieta Way with her husband, Bruce.

But the couple took their chances and stayed, watching as one of six air tankers assigned to the fire dropped bright red retardant on a nearby ridge.

There is a sense of freedom here, she said. Its normally very peaceful.

Kurtis Alexander and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KurtisAlexander @EvanSernoffsky
A 33-foot-long anaconda encountered earlier this year by a group of construction workers in Brazil could be the longest snake ever found.

Earlier this year, a 26.2-foot-long python photographed in Malaysia was hailed as the world's longest snake. The snake was longer than Medusa, a snake captured in Kansas City that's identified in the Guinness Book of World Records.
CHARLES CITY  Tina Slinger doesnt live anywhere near the Cedar River, but the Charles City resident spent Monday morning pulling flood-damaged debris out of her basement.

Water started coming into her basement on E Street Wednesday night. It was bubbling up through the drains on Thursday, some six inches deep, and more groundwater seeped in on Friday.

I took out a bunch of stuff last night. I have more to get out today, said Slinger, whose street was dotted with piles of flood debris pushed to the curb. Its gonna be a tremendous project for many people for several days.

In this particular instance I suspect the majority of our damage is going to be in the north end of town, said Charles City Mayor Jim Erb.

Officials estimated 100 to 150 homes in the citys north and north-central neighborhoods were swamped Friday by flash flooding on Hyers Creek.

At Slingers home, last weeks disaster was worse than the record flooding in 2008.

I know in 2008 it was better for me: I got more water this time (and) more drain backup this time, said Slinger, whos lived in the neighborhood 15 years. In 2008, I had maybe two inches. This year I had six.

Flooding was less severe than expected along the Cedar River, which crested at 21 feet at 11:45 p.m. Friday. That was three feet less than originally anticipated. The river had dropped below the 10-foot mark by Monday evening.

The highest level ever recorded was 25.33 feet on June 9, 2008.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds met with city and county officials on Monday morning and toured Charles Citys now-repaired wastewater treatment plant.

The plant was knocked offline on Friday when a valve malfunctioned, allowing water to flood and short-out four large motors that move water through the facility.

Im very proud of the way that people here have responded, Branstad said Monday at Charles City Hall. I know that they underwent some hardship because of the wastewater treatment plant and losing the use of that for a few days, but they got it back in operation very quickly and the cooperation of the community and the people of the whole county is really something to be very proud of.

Residents and visitors were strongly urged not to flush or pour water down the drains until the three motors could be repaired and returned, which meant no showers, doing laundry or doing dishes.

City officials said people complied with their plea to not flush water, greatly reducing inflows to the Shaw Street facility until the restrictions were eased Sunday afternoon. They were lifted completely Sunday night.

The governor has declared 14 counties disaster areas due to flooding.

Floyd and Wright were among the first named to the list last week. Cerro Gordo, Worth and Mitchell were added on Monday.

Branstad also deployed the Iowa National Guard to assist with the flood response.

The last time the Guard was deployed for this reason in 2011 in the Sioux City area for historic and prolonged flooding of the Missouri River.

State and local officials are in the process of gathering information about the financial impact of the damage. The total financial impact will determine if the area receives a presidential disaster declaration, which would free up federal resources.

Based on what hes seen, Branstad thinks its a possibility.

Itll probably be a week or so, maybe a couple weeks before we know for sure on that, but I would not be surprised considering the extent of the damages that we will be eventually applying for that as well, he said.

Among the assessments will be the battered Floyd County secondary road system.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Kuhn said damage to the system may exceed the historic flooding in 2008. So many roads were closed in Floyd and Chickasaw counties that road crews ran out of road-closed signs, he said.

Virtually every road in the southern half of the county and many in the northeast were closed, Kuhn said.

Forty-one roads in rural Floyd County were covered in water at the height of the flood. Four  one with a bridge and three over culverts  remain closed on Monday due to structural damage.

Officials said the bridge was damaged but they do not expect to need to replace it. They hope to have it open soon.
Earlier this month, Hurricane Hermine caused storm surges that flooded the Florida coast, killed one person and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.

This is the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since 2005s Category 3 Hurricane Wilma, but the Atlantic basin is no stranger to major storms. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean sees seven named storms per year now, up from an average of five just a few years ago. And storm intensity is increasing in the Pacific Ocean as well.

For decades, companies profiting from the fossil fuel economy have funded scientists, think tanks and politicians that oppose the general consensus of scientists worldwide that humans are causing climate change.

Mountains of studies and models show that climate change is real, primarily caused by humans, and is already having major impacts on human civilization. But climate deniers have persuaded many to doubt climate change, slowing the critical transition to renewable energy and clean transportation technologies.

But now, the climate deniers have a real problem. The earth itself is providing overwhelming evidence that climate change is happening much sooner than predicted and already impacting our lives.

And its not just hurricanes.

In July, NASA provided data demonstrating that each of the first six months of 2016 was the hottest on record. July and August went on to break records for summer temperatures. These record temperatures couldnt be explained away by El Nino weather patterns, but they can be by the increasing greenhouse gas effect.

So, too, can the massive rains that caused extensive flooding in Louisiana, killing 13 people and damaging or destroying over 60,000 homes.

All along the East Coast of the United States, cities are experiencing sunny day flooding where water inundates cities in the absence of storms. Rising seas, resulting from climate change, are already creating conditions where cities receive flood waters of one to two feet on a regular basis, causing significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Rising seas are caused by rapidly melting ice. The Greenland ice sheet, one of the largest ice formations on earth, is losing ice at a rate of 270 gigatons of ice per year  the equivalent of 110 million Olympic-sized swimming pools per year.

This year, the arctic experienced the second-highest level of sea ice melt on record, which will impact the habitats of gulls and polar bears.

Increasing storms and storm intensity and rising sea levels have long been predicted by climate models and now appear to be coming true.

What does all this building evidence mean for climate deniers?

Clearly, its time to stop pretending climate change isnt real, and recognize that its already having major impacts in the world. And the many corporations that tell the public theyre addressing climate change while simultaneously funding climate-denying politicians need to end their duplicitous practices.

Climate impacts are already harming the most vulnerable people in the United States. People of color, indigenous people and the poor, who are least equipped to adapt to climate impacts, are the most vocal advocates for stopping polluters.

We need to stop questioning the validity of climate science and instead rapidly scale up renewable energy, clean transportation and sustainable agriculture and forestry, all while immediately investing in adaptation nationwide.

The debate is over  its time for climate deniers to concede defeat and start becoming part of the solution.
For air travelers, it feels like an old friend has moved back into the area. Round-trip passenger service to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is coming back.

Air Choice One, which flies small, comfortable planes, began service in Mason City in November 2014 with daily flights to Chicago and St. Louis.

Now, those are good places to go either to visit or as hubs for service to other airports.

But Mason City Municipal Airport customers had become accustomed to flights directly to Minneapolis  short flights and easy connections. That all came to a halt when Great Lakes Airlines, which had served Mason City for two years, quit operations in February 2014, citing a pilot shortage.

The Mason City Airport Commission, working through the U.S. Department of Transportation, sought requests from other airlines twice  rejecting the first proposals it received.

The commission settled on Air Choice One, established and incubated as a next generation scheduled commuter airline by Multi-Aero Inc., a St. Louis-based aviation company, according to its website, airchoiceone.com.

It began service in Mason City in November 2014 with daily flights to Chicago and St. Louis, and passenger numbers were good.

Now, Minneapolis service will begin Nov. 7 with 12 weekly flights. Service to Chicago and St. Louis will continue with one stop, either in Fort Dodge or Burlington.

Enthusiasm greeted the move on both sides.

Shane Storz, chief executive officer of Air Choice One, said the airline is proud to restore Mason City service to Minneapolis which North Iowans had enjoyed for years through previous commercial airlines.

We hope it will continue to grow passenger ridership and will help drive passenger traffic up, in and out of the Mason City Municipal Airport, he said in a news release.

Were really excited about this, said Tom Hovland, chairman of the Mason City Airport Commission. This is a great thing for the airport and the public.

We agree wholeheartedly. A quick trip to Minneapolis can have a traveler on a plane to anywhere around the world in basically the time it would take to drive there. Plus, theres no parking hassle or expense in Mason City  truly a benefit considering the high parking fees at Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

Theres more good news to report, too. Essential Air Service, a federal Department of Transportation program that helps finance commercial service possible to smaller airports, has been extended in Mason City to Feb. 28, 2017.

This, again, is terrific news for air travelers who love making connections in Minneapolis. Plus, were still keeping flights to two other major hubs.

Of course, the key to keeping the service is using it. We urge North Iowans who love the convenience of flying out of our airport to spread the word: Now more than ever, connections to the world are just a short flight out of Mason City. Kudos to the Airport Commission and Air Choice One for making it happen.
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Orbital ATK, Inc. (Orbital or the Company) (NYSE:OA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, and docketed under 16-cv-01031, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Orbital securities between June 1, 2015 and August 9, 2016 inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased Orbital securities during the Class Period, you have until October 11, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

Orbital develops and produces aerospace, defense, and aviation-related products for the U.S. Government, allied nations, prime contractors, and other customers in the United States and internationally. The Company was formed through a February 2015 merger between Orbital Sciences Corporation and Alliant Techsystems Inc. In September 2012, Orbital entered into a $2.3 billion long-term contract (the Contract) with the U.S. Army to manufacture and supply small caliber ammunition at the U.S. Armys Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Orbital lacked effective control over financial reporting; (ii) as a result, the Company failed to record an anticipated loss on the Contract after the loss became evident in 2015, as required by generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Orbitals public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On August 10, 2016, pre-market, Orbital announced that the Company would miss its Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q filing deadline for its most recent quarter and that the Companys previously issued financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (fiscal 2015), the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2015 (2015 transition period), the quarters in fiscal 2015 and the 2015 transition period, and the quarter ended April 3, 2016 . . . should no longer be relied upon as a results of misstatements relating primarily to the Contract. The Company advised investors that [a]fter considering the misstatements . . . the Company believes that the Contract will result in a net loss over its 10-year term. The Company further stated these issues indicate the existence of one or more material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.

On this news, Orbitals share price fell $17.98, or 20.25%, to close at $70.79 on August 10, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com




NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Embraer S.A. (Embraer or the Company) (NYSE:ERJ) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-06277, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Embraer securities between April 16, 2012 and July 28, 2016 inclusive (the Class Period). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased Embraer securities during the Class Period, you have until October 7, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

Embraer designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aircraft and systems in Brazil, North America, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and internationally.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company had paid bribes to officials in the Dominican Republic to secure contracts for the sale of aircraft; (ii) Embraers President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Defendant Frederico Pinheiro Fleury Curado (Curado) was aware of the bribery scheme; (iii) the foreseeable consequences of the foregoing conduct would cost Embraer hundreds of millions of dollars; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants statements about Embraers business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On November 1, 2013, after the market closed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Embraer was under investigation by the U.S. and Brazilian governments concerning bribery of Dominican Republic officials to secure a contract for the sale of military aircraft.

On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $0.17, or 0.57%, to close at $29.55 on November 4, 2013, the next trading day.

On September 23, 2014, shortly before the market closed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Brazilian authorities had filed bribery charges against eight Embraer employees, claiming that they had bribed officials in the Dominican Republic to secure a $92 million contract.

On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $0.26, or 0.68%, to close at $38.25 on September 24, 2014.

On March 16, 2016, after the market closed, various media outlets reported that Elio Moti Sonnenfeld (Sonnenfeld), a sales consultant who purportedly paid bribes on behalf of Embraer, had told Brazilian prosecutors that he believed the Companys top managers, including Defendant Curado, then CEO of Embraer, knew of the illicit payments made in connection with the Dominican Republic sales.

On June 9, 2016, after the market closed, Embraer announced that Defendant Curado was stepping down from his position as CEO after 32 years with the Company, and that Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva would replace Curado as of July 2016.

On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $1.18, or 5.44%, to close at $20.51 on June 10, 2016.

On July 29, 2016, Embraer filed a Form 6-K with the SEC, stating, in relevant part, that: [N]egotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the settlement of the allegations of non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) have significantly progressed, to the point that Embraer is recognizing a US$ 200 million loss contingency in the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Embraer also announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Embraer reported, inter alia, the $200 million loss contingency and a net loss for the quarter totaling $99.4 million, or $0.55 per share.

On this news, Embraers ADRs fell $2.93, or 13.82%, to close at $18.27 on July 29, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled on the debate stage at Hofstra University in New York state on Monday.

Throughout the debate, the candidates covered a multitude of topics, and interrupted each other at times. Topics included trade deals, foreign affairs, history of policy changes, race in America and job growth.

Twitter: Tweets weigh in on 400-pound DNC hack 'suspect'

Taxes also became a heated topic. Tempers flared as the two discussed Trump not releasing his tax returns.

"I will release my tax returns against my lawyers' wishes when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted," Trump said.

Clinton responded by suggesting there might be another reason why Trump isn't releasing his taxes.

"Maybe he's not as rich as he says he is," Clinton said, or maybe Trump is "not as charitable as he claims to be." Then, she suggested that perhaps "he's paid nothing in federal taxes."

"That makes me smart," Trump said.

READ MORE: Trump's definition of a 'small loan' gets roasted by Twitter

All the while, Twitter users and other social media accounts were vastly chronicling the words of each candidate. Many of their responses created hilarious memes.

Click through the gallery above to see the top social media reactions during the first debate.

More coverage of the debate
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed in ideology during their first debate on Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

While the candidates didn't cover every issue and proposal -- Trump's wall for the border and the Clinton Foundation were pretty much nonexistent -- the two presidential hopefuls traded quite a few memorable jabs at one another.
French English

Independence serves 8.5 million people in 32 states plus Washington DC

IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - September 27, 2016 - MDxHealth SA (Euronext: MDXH.BR) announced that Independence Blue Cross (Independence) has issued a positive medical coverage policy decision for the ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer test.

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With its affiliates, Independence serves nearly 8.5 million people in 32 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region.

Independence is one of the 38 independent companies that form the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) that collectively cover more than 98 million people or 1 in 3 Americans. This positive policy decision for their commercial and Medicare lives represents the first BCBSA plan to establish coverage for ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer.

"This positive coverage decision by Independence Blue Cross is a significant milestone as we work towards achieving nationwide payer adoption of our ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer test," stated Dr. Jan Groen, CEO of MDxHealth. "This decision demonstrates that our investment in clinical studies and our work with managed care organisations in the US continues to yield positive results."

About ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer

ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer is the first epigenetic, and only tissue-based test in the 2016 NCCN Guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer which addresses false negative biopsy concerns. It is the only molecular diagnostic test that provides a very high negative predictive value (NPV) of 96% for clinically significant prostate cancers, and 90% NPV for all prostate cancers, as well as prostate mapping of the test results to help guide repeat biopsies. Each year, more than 1 million American men undergo an invasive prostate biopsy with a negative result, however approximately 30% of those men actually have prostate cancer. The current standard of care for prostate biopsy procedures samples less than 1% of the prostate, leaving men at risk for undetected cancer and leading to a high rate of repeat biopsies, even on cancer-free men. ConfirmMDx for Prostate Cancer helps urologists identify low-risk men who may forego an unnecessary repeat biopsy and high-risk men who may benefit from intervention. To date more than 3,000 urologists have ordered ConfirmMDx on more than 45,000 patients. ConfirmMDx has qualified for Medicare reimbursement and covered by numerous private health insurance plans.

About MDxHealth

MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company's tests are based on proprietary gene methylation (epigenetic) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of cancer, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth.

For more information:







Dr. Jan Groen, CEO

MDxHealth

US: +1 949 812 6979

BE: +32 4 364 20 70

info@mdxhealth.com















Jonathan Birt, Chris Welsh, Hendrik Thys (PR & IR)

Consilium Strategic Communications

UK: +44 20 3709 5701

US: + 1 917 322 2571 (Rx Communications Group LLC)

mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com





This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws.

NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
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WASHINGTON  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that its up to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to win over the young voters who she said are keeping the race with Donald Trump close by flirting with third-party candidates, particularly Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson.

A narrow victory would deprive Hillary Clinton of a big mandate that I think she should have going into the White House and that would be helpful as to how we go forward, the San Francisco Democrat said.

A close presidential race would also probably deprive Pelosi of a shot at becoming House speaker again. She held the post from 2007 to 2011.

Pelosi predicted that Democrats would make gains in the House in November, but said the size of those gains would be linked to Clintons fortunes. Democrats would have to net 30 seats to make Pelosi speaker again. Many analysts think Clinton would have to win in a landslide to give the Democrats a shot at a House victory of that magnitude.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, said Monday that prospects were improving for House Republicans. I internally have not seen one poll where a Republican incumbent is behind, he said. As (Trumps) numbers go up, our numbers go up as well.

Pelosi blamed the tight polls mainly on young voters interest in Johnson, and suggested he wasnt worthy of their attention.

Do you think most people who have said theyre going to be for the Libertarian because they like his hairstyle or whatever it is are going to stick with that? Pelosi said at a briefing in her Capitol conference room.

Clintons big August polling lead over Trump has narrowed to a near-tie, in part because she has not secured support from Millennials, those born after 1980. Young voters powered Barack Obamas primary victory over Clinton in 2008 and fueled Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stiff primary challenge to Clinton this year.

Pelosi said the Future Forum, a group of House Democrats in their 30s led by Rep. Eric Swalwell of Dublin, has identified four big issues that young voters care about: climate change, college affordability, Wall Street reforms and money in elections.

Pelosi said Sanders emphasized all those issues in his campaign, while the Libertarian Party platform is to shut down public schools, eliminate clean air, clean water and every kind of protection in terms of regulation, dismantle Social Security, dismantle Medicare.

She predicted that Sanders will work hard for Clinton in the last stretch of the campaign, but that Clinton is going to have to make her own case to them as well because you can only transfer so much.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com
China Unicom leverages Nokia 7950 XRS core router to address surging Internet traffic and national broadband initiative

Nokia technology helps China Unicom improve speed and response times to meet future capacity demands and support the country's national broadband plan.

Espoo, Finland - Nokia is expanding its exclusive partnership with China Unicom for the high-end core router CR-B for three continuous years with its large-capacity core router platform - the 7950 Extensible Routing System (XRS). China Unicom selected the 7950 XRS family to build a more intelligent, flexible and scalable core network with the ability to meet future capacity demands and support the country's national broadband plan.

China Unicom initially deployed the 7950 XRS into metro networks in six provinces - Beijing, Shandong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia and Qinghai - and this year plans to scale out to an additional four including Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang and Hunan to improve speed and response times for the fixed and mobile broadband subscribers.

In 2013 China launched its Broadband China initiative to invest $182 billion to boost the speed and quality of Internet services across the country. The aim is to reduce the digital divide by providing businesses and urban and rural citizens with national broadband coverage by 2020. In keeping with this initiative, China Unicom has been continually improving the scale and capacity of its networks.

Nokia's industry-leading 7950 XRS platform delivers the scale, efficiency and versatility required so China Unicom can address the full range of core networking requirements with room to also meet capacity demands well into the future. In addition, the XRS is based on a highly programmable Network Processor (NP) architecture that provides the capacity and capabilities needed as cloud service requirements evolve.

Quotes:

"We are honored to continue our work with China Unicom in the CR-B core router segment," says Mike Wang, head of the joint management team of Nokia Networks China and ASB . "Leveraging the Nokia 7950 XRS platform, China Unicom gains the bandwidth, flexibility and programmability necessary to manage its growing networks and to better meet the needs of the country's ambitious broadband strategy."

Key Facts:

The Nokia 7950 XRS provides a more flexible, intelligent network that offers the scalability and capacity to meet future traffic demands

The XRS supports open interfaces that SDN WAN controllers can use to program the network through mechanisms such as OpenFlow, NETCONF/YANG, PCE-P or BGP/LS.

The industry-leading 7950 XRS platform efficiently addresses the full range of core networking requirements, including Internet routing, IP Peering, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), IDC interconnecting and infrastructure services.

More Information:

Nokia 7950 XRS Website:

https://networks.nokia.com/products/7950-extensible-routing-system

IP Core Routing Website :

https://networks.nokia.com/solutions/ip-core-routing





Connect with Nokia:

About Nokia

Nokia is a global leader in the technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of our connected lives.

With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication service providers, governments and large enterprises deliver on the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things. http://nokia.com

Media Enquiries

Nokia

Sarah Miller

IP/Optical communications

Phone: 613 720-9716

Email: sarah.miller@nokia.com

Twitter: @sarahjmiller2

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com
The Borgias was a lusty series about poison and duplicity; The Tudors was a lusty series about sex, lies and executions. Versailles is a series about real estate.

The 10-episode series, said to be the most expensive series produced in France, premieres on the Ovation channel with back-to-back episodes on Saturday, Oct. 1, and uses the expansion of the royal hunting lodge at Versailles into the grandest palace in Europe as a backdrop for Louis XIV coming into his own as king of France.

Louis (George Blagden) is a young man as the series begins, but hes already been king since he was 4 and is driven by the fact that he barely knew his father. At this point in what would be a very long reign, he is married to Queen Marie Therese of Spain (Elisa Lasowski), but theirs is hardly a love match. For Louis, the queen is merely a vessel for ensuring the Bourbon lineage. Meanwhile, he dallies daily with other women, but mostly his sister-in-law, Henriette (Noemie Schmidt). His brother Philippe (Alexander Vlahos) doesnt mind all that much because he is generally occupied with his lover Chevalier (Evan Williams) or any other young, willing male in the court.

Louis is determined to make Versailles the primary royal palace, but many in the court, including the queen, are against the idea. They miss the sophistication and gaiety of Paris, so much so that the expansion of the hunting lodge sparks more serious dissension among some members of the court who begin plotting against Louis.

The first four episodes of the series are rather talky, although heaven knows there are moments of eye-opening action of the carnal variety.

As for other varieties of action, when Louis sends Philippe to lead the French troops in battle, we dont even see the battle  just the aftermath, with a bunch of extras playing dead on the battlefield.

But the talk, at least, is revealing and sophisticated, not to mention often filled with intrigue. As Louis and his advisers plot strategy against the Spanish and other factions, he is evolving as a character, finding his footing as king. The more he realizes how few people he can really trust, the stronger and at times more merciless he becomes. When the queen betrays him, he takes his time, using her infidelity as a way to manipulate a strategic alliance with the new king of an African nation. After sending Philippe into battle, he agonizes between his personal concern about Philippes safety and his duty as the king of France. But is there also perhaps another point of conflict in the kings mind? If Philippe were to be killed, he could make Henriette entirely his, if he could figure out a way to dump the Spanish queen.

The series was created by Simon Mirren and David Wolstencroft, and in spite of the fact they rely heavily on talk and even on talk about real estate, they have created powerful and compelling characters to hold our attention. There are moments  blessedly few, thank goodness  when Versailles seems to want to make a pitch for French culture and tourism. We see that in particular when Louis outlines his plans for Versailles, and at an even more awkward moment when he orates about a coming revolution. For a moment, we think hes somehow looking ahead more than a century to the French Revolution of 1789. Mais non. Hes talking a far more important revolution: the dawn of a future age when France will be the worlds foremost center of fashion.

Well, in the meantime, we can be more than content with the jaw-dropping costume designs by Madeline Fontaine in the series produced by France, England and Canada.

The performances are quite good, especially Blagden, Lasowski, Vlahos, Stuart Bowman as the kings valet and most trusted friend, Tygh Runyan as the kings chief of police, and Amira Casar as the conniving Beatrice, who shamelessly pushes her daughter Sophie (Maddison Jaizani) under the kings nose at every opportunity, in hope that shell soon be under him in more socially advantageous ways.

Well, what else can Bourbon courtiers do, stuck out in the middle of nowhere, years before the invention of the Metro and the RER?

In the end, even in the 17th century, its all about location, location, location.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email:dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV

Versailles: Dramatic series. Back-to-back episodes 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, on Ovation channel.
BEIRUT  With international diplomacy in tatters and the U.S. focused on its election, the Syrian government and its Russian allies are seizing the moment to wage an all-out campaign to recapture Aleppo, unleashing the most destructive bombing of the past five years and pushing into the center of the Old City.

Desperate residents describe horrific scenes in Syrias largest city and onetime commercial center, with hospitals and underground shelters hit by indiscriminate air strikes that the United Nations said may amount to a war crime.

Debris covers streets lined with bombed-out buildings, trapping people in their neighborhoods and hindering rescue workers. On Tuesday, activists reported at least 11 people killed in air strikes on two districts in the rebel-held part of Aleppo.

The battle for Aleppo is unlikely to be an easy one for government forces because the isolated rebels say they are determined to fight until the end to defend their neighborhoods. Insurgents outside the city could also attack government troops to try to reduce pressure on comrades trapped inside.

If government forces and their allies capture the rebel-held eastern neighborhoods, it would be a turning point in the 5-year-old civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced half of Syrias population.

Over the course of the conflict, the government has slowly regained control of major cities. Its aim appears to be securing what some analysts call useful Syria  a portion containing the four largest cities of Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama, along with its Mediterranean coast.

Aleppo is the last of the major cities still being contested, and it could take government forces between six months and a year to capture it, unless they aim to annihilate the politically significant city, a Western diplomat said. The envoy, who is familiar with the cease-fire talks that have faltered, spoke on condition of anonymity because of his governments regulations.

Once all of useful Syria is in government hands, international diplomacy would have to determine the fate of the jihadist-controlled northwest and those areas dominated by the main Kurdish militia and the Islamic State.

President Bashar Assad doesnt want a negotiation, the diplomat said, adding that the Russians wouldnt or couldnt stop him from attacking Aleppo.
CARTAGENA, Colombia  More than 220,000 deaths, 8 million homeless and countless human rights violations: These are the tragic toll of South Americas oldest armed conflict, which begins to wind down with the signing Monday of a historic agreement between Colombias government and the countrys largest rebel movement to end a half-century of hostilities.

Underlining the significance of the deal, President Juan Manuel Santos and the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a rebel fighter known by the alias Timochenko, signed the accord in the colonial city of Cartagena. Fifteen Latin American presidents as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Secretary of State John Kerry were on hand to witness the signing.

In a ceremony charged with symbolism befitting a historic moment that generations of Colombians thought they would never see, the more than 2,500 guests were asked to wear white as a sign of peace and Santos signed the 297-page accord with a pen made from a recycled shell used in combat.

Earlier Monday, Santos and the foreign dignitaries attended a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, at a baroque church named for St. Peter Claver, a 17th century Jesuit priest revered as the slave of slaves for his role aiding tens of thousands of African slaves brought to the New World as chattel.

In a stirring homily, Pope Francis envoy praised Colombians for overcoming the pain of the bloody conflict to find common ground with the rebels.

All of us here today are conscious of the fact were at the end of a negotiation, but also the beginning of a still open process of change that requires the contribution and respect of all Colombians, the cardinal said.

Across the country Colombians marked the occasion with a host of activities, from peace concerts by top-name artists to a street party in the capital, Bogota, where the signing ceremony was broadcast live on a giant screen. It was also celebrated by hundreds of guerrillas gathered in a remote region of southern Colombia where last week top commanders ratified the accord in what they said would be their last conference as a guerrilla army.

The signing wont close the deal, however. Colombians will be given the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. Opinion polls point to an almost-certain victory for the yes vote, but some analysts warn that a closer-than-expected finish or low voter turnout could bode poorly for the tough task the country faces in implementing the ambitious accord.

Only if the accord passes the referendum will the FARCs roughly 7,000 fighters begin turning over their weapons to U.N.-sponsored observers.
HAUGESUND, Norway  Ten-year-old Anna Thulin-Myges passport shows what looks like an ordinary Norwegian girl wearing her long, blond hair fastened with a clip. It lists her first name as Anna, but under sex it says M.

That means male, Anna says, running her finger across the document. In some weeks, Im going to have a new passport, and then its going to say F.

Norway, a wealthy, progressive nation of 5 million people, recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children.

Provided they have parental consent, Norwegian children as young as 6 can now self-identify as male or female, effectively overruling the gender assigned to them at birth. Anna is one of nine minors in the country to have taken advantage since the new rules were adopted in June.

With no requirement for surgery or counseling, the process is as easy as filing a tax return. So far, Norway has not refused a single application. Soon, Anna will receive the official letter confirming the government recognizes her as the girl she always knew herself to be.

When I was little, I liked to dress up in dresses, she says. And play with dolls, and so I actually think that I was a girl the whole time.

Annas mother, Siri Oline Myge, agrees. Her daughter endured several years of confusion and rejection when she was forced to be a boy named Adrian at school, and the legal recognition means Anna can look forward to a future without suspicion and constant misunderstandings, she says.

Though Norwegian lawmakers concede that some of the questions surrounding transgender children remain unsettled, the law generated little controversy when it was introduced. Parliament members from left to right approved the legislation in June on a 79-13 vote.

After completing an online form that generates a mailed response from tax authorities, applicants must only return a letter confirming their intention to change genders.

Once their applications are approved, they receive a new national identification number that unlocks the ability to update all forms of identification, from passports and drivers licenses to birth certificates and credit cards.

Until July, Norway was one of 32 European countries that required people to undergo long periods of counseling, hormone replacement and ultimately sex reassignment surgery before their gender changes would be legally recognized.
BEIRUT  Syrias foreign minister said Monday that an internationally brokered cease-fire is still viable, as rescue workers in Aleppo sifted through the rubble from the heaviest air strikes on rebel-held areas of the northern city in five years.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, speaking to Mayadeen TV from New York, also said the government is prepared to take part in a unity government incorporating elements from the opposition, an offer that has been rejected in the past.

Opposition activists say more than 200 civilians have been killed in the past week under a sustained aerial campaign that U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura called one of the worst of the 5-year war. The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting but failed to take any action because of deep divisions between Russia and Western powers.

What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism, its barbarism, said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power. Its apocalyptic what is being done in eastern Aleppo.

Air strikes on Aleppo on Monday killed at least six people, according to the Local Coordination Committees, an activist-run collective. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported hours later that 12 were killed, including three children.

President Bashar Assads media adviser told Al-Mayadeen TV that the Syrian government abided by the cease-fire but the rebels did not. Bouthaina Shaaban said once the truce expired, our Syrian Arab army resumed its operations against terrorists.

Al-Moallem accused the U.S., Britain, and France of convening the Security Council meeting a day earlier in order to support terrorists inside Syria. But he said ongoing communications between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meant a truce agreement brokered two weeks ago is not dead.

Syrias military declared the cease-fire ended one week ago.

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the cease-fire is ineffective, but that Moscow is not losing hope for a political solution to the countrys crisis.

However, Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that the Kremlin is concerned that terrorists are using the cease-fire regime to regroup, to replenish their arsenals and for obvious preparations to carry out attacks.

Peskov also took issue with harsh criticism by the United States and Britain over Russias actions in Syria.

He said Russia considers the tone of the criticism unacceptable and such rhetoric is capable of causing serious harm to the resolution process in Syria.

Kerry said the Syrian and Russian governments seem intent on taking Aleppo and destroying it in the process.

While theyre pounding Aleppo, dropping indiscriminate bombs, killing women and children, talk of a unity government is pretty complicated, Kerry said during a visit to Colombia.
Secrecy Surrounds Lawsuit Dismissal

A federal lawsuit filed by several people who had their emails stolen by Jamie Estrada, a former Republican operative who gained control of Gov. Susana Martinez's 2010 campaign web domain, is no longer on the court's docket and

. Its not clear if the two sides reached a secret settlement.

New Mexico Sixth Poorest State

New Mexico has one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, but the folks in Los Alamos dont represent the majority. A new report for 24/7 Wall St shows the Land of Enchantment is the

. Median income here was only $45,382. For most Americans, the median income is $55,775.

Violent Crimes Rise in New Mexico

Homicides were up 16 percent in New Mexico last year, according to new crime data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and in 2015 the

. Espanola has the states highest violent crime rate per capita.

Lawsuit: Inmates Not Seeing Judges Quickly

A federal class action lawsuit claims Santa Fe County Detention Center inmates

since not all prisoners are getting to see a judge quickly. In fact, two inmates spent up to two months before seeing a judge, according to the prisoners' attorney.

Mental Health Service Boost

Bernalillo County is raising $17 million in new taxes to

, but so far commissioners have only set aside $4 million to assist people before they go into crisis, which usually requires expensive police or other emergency personnel intervention.

Court Welcomes Environmental Groups' Input in PNM Power Plan Case Review

New Mexico Supreme Court justices will

when they review a power replacement plan approved by the Public Regulation Commission.

On Monday, the city of Santa Fe, along with 37 other New Mexico environmental groups, regional politicians and tribal representatives, submitted a 35-page amicus curiae, or friend of the court brief, supporting a renewable energy advocacy groups appeal of state regulators decision to approve the power plan because it continues to rely heavily on coal power.



Paul Hultin, a Santa Fe attorney who wrote the brief, said he was pleased the states highest court had decided to accept it. He said the brief is meant to provide scientific evidence that coal-fired electricity is a major cause of climate change, is bad for the environment, and presents unwarranted economic and public health risks for the people of New Mexico  evidence that the New Mexico Public Regulations Commission  ignored.

Johnson Live-Tweets First Debate

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson wasnt invited to participate on stage during last nights national presidential debate, so the former New Mexico governor spent the evening at Twitters headquarters expressing his views. He weighed in on the same issues Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were

about, including race, terror and the economy. Read a collection of his tweets and counter views

.

Voter Registration Campaign Records Early Success

The New Mexico Secretary of States postcard campaign to let people know they are eligible to vote is

. Morgan Lee over at the Associated Press reports the office saw a nearly eight-fold increase in weekly online voter registration and updates to voter records. Elections Director Kari Fresquez says online registrations and updates increased to 8,778 last week from 1,189 the previous week.

Students Study Beer-Making

Students looking to get a head start in the booming craft brew industry can now get an

at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque. Thirty students have already signed up for the program. So far, CNM isn't offering to teach students how to grow medical cannabis plants.

Santa Fe Reporter
Swedish English

Gothenburg, Sweden, September 27, 2016 - Immunicum AB (publ), a biopharmaceutical company pursuing to develop sophisticated, safe and efficient therapeutic cancer treatments with powerful and long lasting immune responses, today announced the appointment of Carlos de Sousa as Immunicum's Chief Executive Officer effective on October 1, 2016. Mr. de Sousa brings more than 25 years of relevant experience in the international pharmaceutical and biotech industries, including senior positions at Nycomed/Takeda, Pfizer, Novartis, BBB Therapeutics, Newron Pharmaceuticals and, most recently, as Chief Business Officer at Zealand Pharma in Denmark.

Mr. de Sousa has a long international career, honing his expertise on the business side of the pharma/biotech industry both in big pharma and the smaller biotech arenas. Prior to Zealand Pharma, as Chief Business Officer at BBB Therapeutics, Mr. de Sousa was instrumental in driving strategy design and implementation for out-licensing of phase I and phase II compounds and implementing the U.S. market and pricing research for the two lead compounds.

His experience in leading and transitioning companies from early clinical stage to bringing a product to market is highlighted by his ability to build key partnerships and comes to Immunicum with an extensive global network of contacts.

Mr. de Sousa is a Medical Doctor by training, having earned his medical degree at School of Medicine, University of Lisbon and holds an Executive MBA from the Stern School of Business, New York University.

"We welcome Carlos's experience and leadership to Immunicum," said Agneta Edberg, Chairman of the Board. "In his new role as chief executive, he will be responsible for driving the development of INTUVAX, and our other cancer immunotherapies, in order to bring innovative therapeutic solutions to critical patient needs and create a profitable business for Immunicum's shareholders. His results-oriented approach and ability to think strategically will play a pivotal role in the coming years while helping us grow towards profitability".

Mr. de Sousa will replace Jamal El-Mosleh, Immunicum's CEO since September 2007, who will now work with Mr. de Sousa to assure a smooth and seamless transition.

"Immunicum has made significant progress since the Company's inception and especially over the last few years, due, in part, to the great efforts of our former CEO, Jamal El-Mosleh. We are now in a very pivotal stage in the Company's existence and the Board felt it was time to seek new competencies for the further development and capitalization of our lead product INTUVAX. Jamal El-Mosleh has achieved a lot during his tenure as CEO and we are truly grateful for his efforts," continued Ms. Edberg, Chairman of the Board, "We are unanimous in our excitement for the future of Immunicum."

For more information, please contact:

Agneta Edberg, Chairman of the Board, Immunicum

Ph: +46 (0)70 555 75 18

Agneta.edberg@gmail.com

The company's Certified Adviser is Redeye AB

Ph: + 46 8 545 013 31

www.redeye.se

About Immunicum AB (publ)

Immunicum AB (publ) develops cancer immune primers for the treatment of tumor diseases. A phase II clinical trial for the Company's most advanced product - INTUVAX against kidney cancer - has been initiated. The project portfolio contains additional clinical phase I/II studies in liver cancer and in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Immunicum is listed on First North Premier. www.immunicum.se

The information in this press release is disclosed pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was released for public disclosure through the agency of the company's contact person on September 27, 2016 at 08:30 CET
OceanaGold said it is seeking clarification from the Philippines government after officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources named the company's Didipio site among mining operations that could be suspended because of outstanding social issues.

The comments were reportedly made by DENR secretary Gina Lopez and Leo Jasareno, DENRs senior undersecretary and head of mining audit. Lopez was quoted in the Philippines Star last month as saying she would look into complaints of several environmental groups regarding corrupt officials at DENR. Protesters had come from mining-affected communities including from the Nueva Vizcaya region where the Didipio Gold and Copper mine is located.

Melbourne-based OceanaGold said Didipio was among 23 mining companies named but the company hadn't received any formal order from DENR and "is currently seeking clarification and further details".

"In the meantime, mining and processing activities are continuing at the Didipio Mine," it said in a statement. "The company will consider all avenues, including working collaboratively with the DENR, to facilitate the immediate resolution of this matter to ensure no disruption to our operations and our valued local workforce".

OceanaGold extracted 90,887 ounces of gold and 12,244 tonnes of copper in the first half of the current financial year from Didipio, amounting to 40 percent of total production. Profit soared 174 percent gain in first-half profit, reflecting a recovery in the price of gold and increased production.

Chief executive Mick Wilkes defended the Didipio operation, saying it had "a strong social license to operate".

"Our achievements since recommencement of construction in 2011 would not have been achieved without our steadfast commitment to the community and most importantly the strong endorsement from the residents of Didipio and the nine other communities in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, he said.

According to the Environmental Justice Atlas website, which purports to document and catalogue social conflict around environmental issues, Didipio is located on indigenous Bugkalots ancestral land and has "has caused large human rights violations and environmental destruction".

OceanaGold said it employs more than 1,800 people at the site and contributed about US$70 million to the Philippines economy in royalties and taxes in the past 3 1/2 years.

The company operates the Macraes and Reefton mines in the South Island. Last year it acquired the Waihi mine from Newmont Mining Corp and it is also developing the Haile mine in the US, where commercial production is slated to start in early 2017.

OceanaGold shares last traded at $4.76 on the NZX and have gained 69 percent this year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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An Australian expert in market manipulation will give evidence that none of the trades identified by the Financial Markets Authority in its case against Milford Asset Management portfolio manager Mark Warminger created a false or misleading appearance in the market.

Warmingers lawyer Marc Corlett QC, in his opening defence at the High Court in Auckland today, said Professor Michael Aitken, a professor of ICT strategy at Sydneys Macquarie University and one of the worlds leading experts in market manipulation, will give evidence on behalf of Warminger.

After considering all 10 courses of action the FMA has alleged against Warminger, Aitken concluded there was not a single instance where the fund managers trading between December 2013 and August 2014 breached securities law by creating a false or misleading appearance.

Aitken has a particular interest in the design and implementation of real-time market surveillance systems to identify prohibited trading behaviours such as insider trading and market manipulation and has designed the SMARTS system in use in more than 50 national stock exchanges worldwide.

The case against Warminger is the first market manipulation case in New Zealand to go to trial.

Warminger, who has been on extended leave from the fund management firm since last year, 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 FMA alleged his activities contravened the Securities Markets Act 1988 which prohibits trading that is not for a genuine commercial purpose.

Corlett said Aitkens evidence would compare with that of the FMAs own experts  one an analyst and another a trader  who think they can divine from the trade data, a handful of emails, and the timing of some telephone calls, a malevolent intention behind Warmingers trading on 10 occasions.

He argued that Warminger traded stock as part of his role looking after $669 million worth of funds under management rather than just buying the stock and holding until he wanted to divest them.

The FMAs lawyer Justin Smith QC said yesterday that Warminger was under a certain amount of pressure to improve the under-performance of the funds under his management.

But Corlett said motive for the alleged market manipulation remained a real bewilderment to Warminger.

If the FMA case was proved, the 10 trades would have increased the value of the fund by around $50,000 which represents an increase of just 0.007 percent on the funds under his management, he said.

The theory that Warminger was under pressure over the performance of the funds was never put to him during the FMAs interview process and the FMA hadn't called a single witness to talk to the document that it is based on, he said.

Over a six-month period he was just over 1 percent behind the benchmark, Corlett said. This FMA interpretation of personal appraisal documents is in there for no other reason than the need for the FMA to come up with something to explain the otherwise inexplicable  why a highly regarded and successful fund manager would put his career in jeopardy by engaging in criminal conduct for no obvious financial gain?

Corlett said the case rests on the FMA having to prove that the buying and selling Warminger did had the effect of inflating, depressing, or maintaining the price and led to a price for the shares that is different from the proper and efficient market price.

In other words, a false and misleading price had to be contrasted with the real price, being the outcome reached by arms-length transactions between parties which resulted from the normal forces of supply and demand, he said.

Originally four Milford witnesses were to be called and now none are, although executive director Brian Gaynor is being called by the defence to give evidence.

Currently, the court is considering an interlocutory application for discovery of documents from the defendant which is opposed, the content of which has been placed under suppression orders by Chief High Court judge Geoffrey Venning.

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Intueri Education Group chairman Chris Kelly says the market has had "a bit of an overreaction" to today's news that an Australian government audit of its subsidiaries across the Tasman could threaten the viability of the company, and the company is confident in its future.

Audits by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) found that Online Courses Australia (OCA) and Conwal & Associates weren't compliant with its standards.

Intueri has until Oct. 21 to respond before the ASQA makes a decision, with possible outcomes ranging from a directive to correct areas of non-compliance through to the full cancellation of OCA and Conwal's registrations as registered training organisations (RTOs).

Cancellation of the registration for Conwal, which generates some 95 percent of OCA's revenue, "would place serious doubt on OCA Groups ability to continue to operate, and also significantly impact Intueris ability to remain a going concern as it would be unlikely to meet its future banking covenants," Intueri said today in a statement.

OCA accounted for 35 percent of Intueri's $50.1 million of revenue in the six months ended June 30.

"We're quite confident we can rebuff many aspects of it, but until that due process has happened we have to warn the market accordingly, and they've taken rather a pessimistic view of the situation, in my view," Kelly told BusinessDesk. "I think there's been a bit of an overreaction, but investors don't like uncertainty, and right now the environment is uncertain."

"We're confident we can rebuff much of what's been written in the audit - we have an opportunity to reply to it, they will then re-assess it, we can then appeal - so there are a number of processes to go through, and we're not by any means the first company to be audited and not be given a clean bill of health."

The shares had been halted for the announcement at 30 cents, having fallen 58 percent this year, and tumbled by as much as 87 percent to just 4 cents when they resumed trading today, valuing Intueri at $4 million. They recently traded at 7.7 cents, down 74 percent on the day.

Kelly said the board has every confidence in current management.

"If the investors wish me to stand down, I will do that in a shot. I'm terribly disappointed with what's happened, and like many things, it's not one thing in particular, but if shareholders have a desire to replace me I will step down."

Grant Williamson, director at Christchurch-based Hamilton Hindin Green, said it would be "a long road back" for the company.

"They're certainly on the critical list, it's all down to the outcome of when these Australian authorities look at their papers," Williamson said. "I can certainly understand why some investors are getting out."

A large percentage of students in Intueri's Australian online courses are funded through VET Fee-Help, a scheme which helps either pay some or all of a student's fees. The Australian government has imposed a cap on the scheme this year, holding all providers to their 2015 revenue levels.

When Intueri reported its first-half earnings last month, it posted a 43 percent decline in first-half profit to $3.5 million and gave full-year earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation guidance of about $15 million, dependent on a $6 million lift in its government funding cap. Kelly said today that he was confident Intueri would get that $6 million lift, based on information from other organisations who had applied for their funding caps to be lifted.

"All our information thus far suggests we will get that payment, but we haven't got it yet," Kelly said.

Kelly also said initiatives mentioned in the first-half earnings, set to deliver benefits in the second half and next year, are "tracking really well."

Intueri's shares listed at $2.35 in May 2014 and peaked at $3.35 in September 2014. Since then the company has missed prospectus forecasts and has been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. Its Quantum Education Group and Dive School units have been reviewed by the Tertiary Education Commission, with dividends suspended in February pending the outcome of that review. It has shed 70 staff and in May directors agreed to cut their fees as the company sought to slash costs.

In March this year it was ordered to pay about $150,000 in reparations to the family of a foreign diving student who died during training after pleading guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, in addition to a $54,000 fine.

In June, TEC said Intueri must refund $1.47 million plus tax after an investigation into its dive school showed some student enrolments between 20092014 could not be validated and some courses under-delivered against their funding agreement.

Shares in ASX-listed Arowana International, which floated Intueri and retains 24.88 percent of the business fell 9 percent to 70 Australian cents.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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The second stage of a major South Canterbury irrigation scheme, Central Plains Water, will be finished by September 2018 after unanimous support from shareholders.

The first stage of the project began last August and, when completed, the scheme will irrigate 50,000 hectares of dairy, horticulture and stock land between the Rakaia and Waimakariri Rivers. However, a third stage has effectively been covered off in the second stage, with plans also to extract water from the Waimakariri River shelved and underground pipes favoured over the extension of the scheme's canal system.

CPW shareholders buy rights to the amount of water they want from the project, and at a special meeting for Central Plains Water (CPW), the second stage, which will cover development of 20,000 hectares, got the unanimous support of over 200 shareholders, CPW said in a statement.

The total project is estimated to cost $400 million, with $250 million to be spent on the second stage. CPW shareholders have contributed $90 million, while government-funded Crown Irrigation Investments has committed "significant support" from its revolving fund to kick-start irrigation schemes, for this stage of the project.

The Ministry for Primary Industries' Irrigation Acceleration Fund has also contributed, and Selwyn District Council provided a short-term loan, with more lending from ANZ Bank and Westpac.

The government invested $11.8 million in the first stage of the project through Crown Irrigation Investments and the Irrigation Acceleration Fund, and $3.5 million for the early investigation phase of stage 2. In May, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy announced $6.6 million in further funding to help develop the second stage of the project.

CPW chief executive Derek Crombie said Waimakariri River water was no longer needed as it could be sourced from Lake Coleridge. The project will use a buried pipeline and will lay 21 kilometres of main pipe, linking to 184km of pipes to take water to the farm gate, while 14 pump stations will be built.

"Very little extra capacity has been built into each pipeline, so it is imperative that those wanting to purchase further shares do so now, otherwise it could be too late. We cannot retrofit extra capacity," Crombie said. "Across all the three stages, mixed farming systems (dairy, sheep and beef, arable including some dairy support), will be the predominant land use."

Crombie said the scheme would provide significant environmental benefits by replacing current groundwater abstraction with river water. The first stage replaced 75 percent of the groundwater abstraction in that area, with bore levels remaining steady even during a drought period, and the same is expected in the next stages, he said.

CPW says the full scheme is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs and add more than $1 billion annually to the economy.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Unit: Field Training Detachment 20, 372d Training Squadron

Location: Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

Mission: Make Great Maintainers and Communicators Even Better.

Vision: Provide Field Training and Training Support That Makes A Lasting Difference.

Motto: Anytime, Anywhere, Death From Above

Detachment 20, located at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas provides B-1B maintenance training directly supporting the mission of the 7th Bomb Wing and associated tenant units, including the newly reactivated 489th Bomb Group (AF Reserve). Master Sgt. Eduardo Velarde, the detachment chief, said, This detachment has 20 instructors across nine AFSCs, whose efforts also contribute to C-130J maintenance and Air National Guard maintenance, as well as Faculty Development training for Security Forces, Maintenance Group Staff, and TDY Instructor personnel. In FY15, Det 20 graduated 812 students, taught 277 courses, totaling 16,095 hours. Dyess AFB is the training detachment of choice for B-1B Depot maintenance technicians stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Det 20 is also one of the two detachments that teach the B-1B Crew Chief Mission-Ready Airmen (MRA) course graduating an average of 30 new B-1B crew chiefs a year.

Accomplishments:

Production Supervisor for the det, Tech. Sgt. Victoria Ruiz said, Detachment 20 employs the only B-1B Egress Instructor who trains host technicians and has executed five Mobile Training TDYs to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. The AGE Instructor is a regional asset and has been tasked to teach from coast-to-coast and all over the world. In addition to his rigorous teaching schedule, this instructor has worked in conjunction with the Curriculum Monitor to develop and validate two brand new courses: one, which replaced the AGE 7-Level course, and another for a newly acquired air conditioner cart. Det 20s Trainer Development Team is one of the busiest around. They recently executed a 3-day site visit to AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to inspect two B-1B engine nacelles for conversion into Maintenance Trainers valued at $250K per trainer. This team inspected and tracked over 200 parts, and advanced the acquisition process which was at a stalemate for more than five years.

Section Chief Tech. Sgt. Joshua Burkhart said, Det 20s MRA Instructors are now transitioning the B-1B Crew Chief technical school from Sheppard AFB, Texas, to the two Main Operating Bases of Ellsworth, South Dakota and Dyess, Texas. As a result, these FTDs get the honor of instructing and producing the entire MRA training curriculum for every B-1B Crew Chief in the U.S. Air Force.
Capt. Adam Thompson, 80th Operations Group executive officer and a native of Frederick, Maryland, has been in the Air Force for eight years and is the Instructor of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for the week of September 27 - Oct. 3, 2016.

Most significant accomplishments:

I was honored with the 'most valuable instructor pilot' award from an Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals class, along with 'the hammer' award from a few other classes, Thompson said. I am part of the team leading an initiative to improve the pilot training process, with the advanced pilot trainer on the horizon. Additionally, I received the 80th Flying Training Wing 'aviation well done' award for handling an emergency in flight while flying with a University of Kentucky Air Force ROTC cadet in the back seat. Lastly, I was awarded the 88th Fighter Training Squadron 'company grade officer of the quarter' for April through June of 2016.

Airmans story:

I was born in Germany, while my father was a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force, Thompson said. Then I moved up and down the east coast until I entered the Air Force in 2008 through the ROTC program. I attended pilot training at Sheppard Air Force Base, and then became an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot with my first assignment at Lakenheath, United Kingdom. During that tour, I married my wife and we traveled Europe. I arrived in the 88th Fighter Training Squadron in October 2014 to instruct basic fighter maneuvers, surface attack, and surface attack tactics. While here, my wife had our first son, which is my best accomplishment to date.

Commanders comments:

Captain Thompson promotes and ensures top-tier student training in the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals program through his dedication both as the group executive officer and an IFF instructor pilot, said Lt. Col. Richard Blagg, 88th FTS commander. His focus on the transition to a wingman mindset is what helps to prepare future combat pilot for the Air Force. His help in additional duties, such as the advanced pilot trainer initiative, shows his ability to go above and beyond his daily duties and excel as an officer. He is an irreplaceable asset to the squadron, group, and wing with a bright future ahead.
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ReachLocal, Inc., a leader in powering online marketing for local businesses, today announced new plugins for ReachEdge, its award-winning marketing, analytics and lead inbox software. The plugins allow the software to be instantly deployed on WordPress, Drupal and Joomla Web sites, which represent 85 percent of all website content management systems on the market today. Easily deployed with no IT involvement, these plugins enable one-click access to ReachEdge.



ReachEdge helps businesses understand where their leads come from, while improving their overall lead response process. Research shows that 50 percent of consumers will choose to do business with the company that calls them back first. But many businesses struggle to quickly respond to new contacts. ReachEdge helps businesses solve this problem by providing instant lead notifications and mobile alerts so they can quickly and easily call back every new lead along with marketing automation to help convert more leads into customers.

ReachEdge users appreciate the efficiency effectiveness and insights this software provides.

ReachEdge was quick to turn on, and then we instantly had control off all the different leads coming in to our business - online, phone and email, said Chuck Blatt, a ReachEdge user and president at K9-University Plano. The lead tracking tells us where all these leads are coming from and we now know where to invest more.

ReachEdge enables local businesses to:

Understand what marketing is driving results through online lead and call tracking and marketing reports

Improve lead capture and response through a simple lead inbox with alerts, reminders, classifications, routing and more

Convert more leads into customers with automated email programs to help you stay in front of potential customers

Get up and running quickly with a ReachLocal team dedicated to helping the setup process

ReachEdge plugins are available in the plugin directories for WordPress, Drupal and Joomla. For more information or to contact us to get started with ReachEdge, visit www.reachlocal.com/reachedge.

About ReachLocal

ReachLocal, Inc. helps local businesses grow and operate their business better with leading technology and expert service for our clients' lead generation and conversion. A subsidiary of Gannett Company, Inc. (NYSE:GCI), ReachLocal is headquartered in Woodland Hills, Calif. and operates in four regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. For more information, visit www.reachlocal.com.
The traffic board of Stockholm County Council has decided to extend the service contract with Nobina for bus transport services in Norrtalje. The contract is extended for two years and, through this decision, runs until June 2021. Nobina started its bus transport services in Norrtalje in 2011 and the service contract contains clear goals focused on passengers. Among other things, the contract includes provisions stipulating an increase in the number of passengers and satisfied passengers, something Nobina has worked with continuously since the start in 2011. According to SL traffic service (AB Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) we have the most satisfied passengers in Stockholm, something we are very proud of. Together with SL and Norrtalje Municipality, we have achieved strong growth in passenger numbers, an increased validation rate and improved customer satisfaction and we are very pleased to have received renewed confidence in Norrtalje, says Jan Bosaeus, MD of Nobina Sweden. The contract runs until June 2019 with a possibility for a two-year extension, and that is what has now been decided on by the Traffic Board. The contract thus applies until June 2021 and includes approximately 90 buses. The information comprises such as Nobina AB (publ) is obliged to publicly disclose pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Market Act. Through the above contact person, the information was submitted for publication at 4.30 pm CET on 27 September 2016. For further information, please contact: Annika Molander, Communications Director Nobina AB, +46 733 55 06 16 About Nobina Nobina is the largest and most experienced public bus transport service provider in the Nordic region. The Companys expertise in prospecting, tendering and active management of public bus transport contracts in combination with long -term delivery quality makes Nobina an industry leader in terms of profitability, development and initiatives that promote a healthier industry. Every day, Nobina ensures that more than one million people arrive at work, school or other activities by delivering contracted public bus transport services in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. In addition, Nobina offers express bus services under the Swebus brand in the Swedish market. The Company has sales in excess of SEK 8 billion (2015/16), approximately 10,000 employees, and is headquartered in Solna, Stockholm. For more information, see Nobinas website: www.nobina.com
Houston, Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SHLX) today announced it has agreed to acquire from Shell an additional 20 percent equity interest in Mars Oil Pipeline Company (Mars) and a 49 percent equity interest in Odyssey Pipeline L.L.C. (Odyssey) for $350 million.

This acquisition further diversifies the Shell Midstream Partners portfolio with the inclusion of a well-positioned eastern Gulf of Mexico asset. In addition, the partnership acquired an additional interest in an existing asset with a strong track record of delivery, said John Hollowell, CEO of Shell Midstream Partners. Both Mars and Odyssey build on our key corridor pipeline strategy in the Gulf of Mexico and are advantageously positioned to continue to capture growth of offshore volumes along our footprint of assets.

The acquisition price reflects an approximate 8.4 times multiple of the forecasted 2017 Adjusted EBITDA of the acquired interests. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to unitholders and funded with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under Shell Midstream Partners credit facilities. The acquisition is expected to close on October 3, 2016.

Mars and Odyssey Highlights:

Mars delivers crude from the prolific Mars Basin and the Amberjack system, offering 600 kbpd of capacity into LOOPs Clovelly facility

Odyssey has 220 kbpd of capacity from the eastern Gulf of Mexico to the Delta Pipeline system, enabling deliveries to refineries in Louisiana and Mississippi

The terms of the acquisition were approved by the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner of Shell Midstream Partners, which is composed entirely of independent directors. This committee was advised by Evercore Group, L.L.C. as to financial matters and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as to legal matters.

# # #

About Shell Midstream Partners, L.P.

Shell Midstream Partners, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a fee-based, growth-oriented midstream master limited partnership formed by Royal Dutch Shell to own, operate, develop and acquire pipelines and other midstream assets. Shell Midstream Partners assets consist of pipelines, crude tank storage and terminal systems that serve as key infrastructure to transport and store onshore and offshore crude oil production to Gulf Coast and Midwest refining markets and to deliver refined products from Gulf Coast markets to major demand centers.

INQUIRIES:

Investor Relations: +1 (832) 337-2034



Media Relations: +1 (713) 241-4544

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on managements current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include statements expressing managements expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the prospects for and financial performance of the acquired assets and the financing and closing of the transaction. You can identify our forward-looking statements by words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, goals, objectives, outlook, intend, plan, predict, project, risks, schedule, seek, target, could, may, will, should or would or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. In accordance with safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. In particular, expressed or implied statements concerning future actions, future drop downs, volumes, capital requirements, conditions or events, future impact of prior acquisitions, future operating results or the ability to generate sales, income or cash flow or the amount of distributions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, September 27, 2016, and we disclaim any obligation to update such statements for any reason, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this paragraph. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. These factors include the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as updated by our other filings with the SEC. If any of those risks occur, it could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Because of these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release includes the terms Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution provides useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures that management and external users of our condensed consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, may use to assess:

our operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy industry, without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, financing methods;

the ability of our business to generate sufficient cash to support our decision to make distributions to our unitholders;

our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and

the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.

The GAAP measures most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP net income or net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, because Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.

References in this press release to Adjusted EBITDA refer to net income before income taxes, net interest expense, gain or loss from disposition of fixed assets, allowance oil reduction to net realizable value, and depreciation, amortization and accretion, plus cash distributed to Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. from equity investments for the applicable period, less income from equity investments. We define Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Shell Midstream Partners as Adjusted EBITDA less Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests. References to cash available for distribution refer to Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Shell Midstream Partners, less maintenance capital expenditures attributable to Shell Midstream Partners, net interest paid, cash reserves and income taxes paid, plus net adjustments from volume deficiency payments attributable to Shell Midstream Partners and certain one-time payments not reflected in net income. Cash available for distribution will not reflect changes in working capital balances.
NEW DELHI: India today signed a fifteen year MoU with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a move that will give New Delhi the exclusive rights to exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) in Indian Ocean.



Further, it will enhance India's presence in the Indian Ocean where other players like China, Korea and Germany are active.



The contract was signed by M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences and Nii Allotey Odunton, Secretary General, ISA, an institution set up under the Convention on Law of the Sea to which India is a party.



The programme will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the participation of various national institutes and research laboratories/organisations.



The ISA earlier approved an application submitted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for allotment of 10,000 sq km area along with 15-year plan of work for exploration of PMS along Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) region of the Indian Ocean.



The Union Cabinet approved signing of this contract in its meeting held on June 15.



Polymetallic Sulphides, containing iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold, platinum in variable constitutions, are precipitates of hot fluids from upwelling hot magma from deep interior of the oceanic crust.



PMS in the ocean ridges have attracted worldwide attention for their long term commercial as well as strategic value.

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NEW DELHI: A two-week long joint Indo-US military exercise, focusing on counter insurgency and anti-terror operations, in Uttarakhands Chaubattia forest has been very successful, the Army said today.

The exercise Yudh Abhyas - 2016, which concluded today, was carried out as part of efforts by both the strategic partners to enhance overall defence cooperation.

The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and fifth Battalion of 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army.

In his remarks at the end of the exercise, Major General Thomas James of US Army said army to army relationship between India and the US has never been so stronger and that the exercise provided a great way to enhance interoperability.

The combined exercise was "undoubtedly, an unprecedented success", the Army said.

The exercise was the 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army.

Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise.

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, the Army said.

Major General RK Raina, in his address, said both countries are faced with similar challenges from the "divisive" forces ofextremism and international terrorism and that the synergy achieved would enable both sides to operate together, if the need arises.

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BENGALURU: Foodie is more of a patriotic term for many taste and food conscious people. In todays fast-paced time we have discovered a tendency to hang out a lot for grabbing our favorite mouth watering foods that attracts our taste buds. We never bargain while spending money in delicious eateries and sometimes even never bother to check their prices. So, a question arises in mind, have you ever been charged extra penny for the foods that you eat or in the other way round, have you ever ignored to collect the remaining balance of your bill. The Times of India City reported that, T Narasimha Murthy, an advocate residing in Bangalore, lodged a petition in the district consumer forum for charging Re.1 extra for a food item in the restaurant.

The case was registered against Vasudev Adigas Fast food private limited for charging 25 for one plate of idlis while the price mentioned in the menu card was Rs 24. The district court ordered the food joint to pay Rs 100 as the compensation amount with an additional litigation fee of 1000. T Narasimha Murthy also insisted that charging the additional sum was unfair and further placed an estimated amount the hotel was charging from its customers.

Adigas on the other hand argued that the additional amount imposed on the mentioned dish was directly used for the donation purpose to an NGO that runs mid day meals across the country. Moreover, Adigas states that the menu card also carries information for the same. However, Murthy retaliated by saying that the extra Re.1 on the bill indicated that this money was going unaccounted and the basic issue is that the bill should have the same amount as the menu card.

A petition raised by the hotel chain was dismissed by the High Court and the hotels petition to challenge the lower consumer court filed on April 2014 was again dismissed on September 8, 2016 following which the order of the lower court was on effect.

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BENGALURU: PM Modi launched a blistering attack on Pakistan regarding the deadly attack in Uri on 18th September. He was addressing BJPs national council meeting at Kozhikode, Kerala. The Indian Prime Minister questioned the failed leadership of the neighboring country and warned that India will isolate Pakistan on international forums and expose their hands in exporting cross-border terrorism. As reported by The Business times, PM Modi was addressing a public gathering for the first time after the Uri attack where India lost its 18 brave soldiers.

Modi went for an all-round attack on Pakistan by holding them directly responsible for the cowardly terrorist attack. He said that one Asian country is involved in spreading terrorism in the whole region. That country is a safe haven for the terrorists from where they export terror around the world. The PM gave reference of attacks in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Paris and others and said that either the engaged terrorist is from that country or currently residing there, after committing the crime.

Narendra Modi lashed out at Pakistani leaders who said that we will fight with India for next 1000 years, by saying that lets fight to end poverty, illiteracy, unemployment. Take the challenge and lets see who will win the race. He further extended that India never surrendered for terrorism and will never do it in the future, we will continuously work to overpower it. Modi assured safety of the whole country and paid tribute to the bravery and valor of the Indian Army.

Congress spokesperson, Manish Tiwari, targeted PM by saying that his speech in Kerala was only shooting the breeze after the Uri attack, without any policy or plan of action. He blamed that ruling party is making blunt statements to hide their inefficiency in tackling such kind of terrorist attacks. The ruling party in Kerala, CPI (M) attacked the central government by saying that they are lacking policies to deal with issues of Kashmir and Pakistan.

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BENGALURU: The proliferation in the capitation fee by National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) has influenced private medical colleges across India to significantly upsurge the tuition fees. The government colleges cost on the other hand remains unchanged.

Private medical colleges and deemed universities in Tamil Nadu has hiked the cost of medical education. The education cost at SRM Medical College has grown by leaps and bounds. The college located within the renowned SRM University hiked MBBS tuition fee from 10 lakh to 21 lakh per annum, excluding the books and lodging expenses.

The drastic increase in the tuition fee was also seen Katihar Medical College in north Bihar. This college has amended the fee from 8 lakh to 12.5 lakh. Likewise in Delhi, at the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences, education fees for the management quota students has surged up significantly from 15 lakh to 18 lakh.

Comparing the fees of private medical colleges with the government medical colleges shows distinctive result with huge differences. The education fee of government colleges present in Rajasthan and Punjab ranges from 9000 to 4.4 lakh for complete MBBS course.

One of the reasons for private colleges being expensive is that most of these medical colleges come under the supervision of Supreme Court appointed fee committees in which each state and deemed universities hardly come under the states' radar, allowing them to randomly fix the fees.

Another common reason on why the medical institutions have increased their fees is because of the competition with the rival colleges. Earlier colleges used to hike the fee by 3 pct every year, but now it is revised up to 32 pct.

Dr. Raj Bahadur, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, asserts that MCI requisites for hospitals and college infrastructures are very inflexible. Moreover, it is very necessary to attract faculties from clinical practice, which is very difficult.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina have announced that the $65 fee currently required to apply to the College of Staten Island and other CUNY colleges will be waived for low-income families. (Staten Island Advance/Diane Lore)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Applying for admission to the College of Staten Island, or any other City University of New York (CUNY) college just got cheaper for Staten Island high school seniors from low-income families.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina have announced that the $65 fee currently required to apply to CUNY will be waived for struggling families.

The waiver applies to families of students who live in homeless shelters or are in the foster-care system, as well as to families whose children are eligible for federal free and reduced-price lunch programs in their schools. To be eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a family of three must earn about $37,000 or less in a year.

De Blasio said that the application fee, while not expensive, can be burdensome to low-income and struggling families.

"I want to remind you that $65 is a lot of money for many families in New York City," the mayor said when he announced the waiver Monday. "This is something that we think is going to make a big difference," he said.

City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said high school students would not need to apply to skip the fee; that no extra step is required in the admission process.

The waiver will cost $2.4 million a year; the city will pay $2 million, and CUNY, which receives state funding, will cover the remaining $400,000.

The change will take effect during this fall's application season.

Nearly 60 percent of the city's college-bound public school seniors end up enrolling in CUNY schools, according to CUNY Chancellor James Milliken.

The move is part of the de Blasio's "College Access for All" initiative to improve college access for city students.

The DOE has started taking middle school students on trips to local colleges, to get them thinking early about applying. And this school year, the SAT will be offered free to all public school juniors during weekdays; the test is usually given on Saturdays and costs money, two reasons a student might avoid it.
firefighter.jpg

n this frame from video provided by WABC-TV, smoke rises from a house that exploded in the Bronx borough of New York on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A firefighter who responded to a report of a gas leak Tuesday morning was killed in the blaze. (Associated Press)

NEW YORK -- New York City's fire commissioner says a Bronx battalion chief killed in a house explosion Tuesday morning was a "rising star" in the department.

Commissioner Daniel Nigro and Mayor Bill de Blasio say Michael Fahy, a 17-year veteran, was a father of three and the son of a fire chief.

The house and surrounding buildings had been evacuated Tuesday following a gas leak report. Fahy was directing operations from the street when he was struck by falling debris.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill says part of the investigation will involve looking into the location as a possible marijuana "grow house."

Nigro says there were renters living in the house. Police say six officers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

The FDNY confirmed the firefighter's death shortly after the Bronx explosion.

The mayor's office had tweeted that the mayor and fire commissioner were at the hospital.

Authorities said firefighters had gone to a two-story private house to investigate a report of a gas leak.

The firefighters discovered what they believed to be a drug lab and notified police.

The house exploded shortly afterward. Images from the scene showed much of the house gone and debris on the street and covering parked cars.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city will pay its respects to the fallen battalion chief who had been considered a rising star in the FDNY.

All flags shall be flown at half-staff "immediately and from sunrise to sunset until interment" of Michael Fahy, a 17-year Fire Department veteran and father of three, who was directing operations from the street when he was hit by falling debris, the mayor said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio issued the order Tuesday afternoon.

It includes all flags -- the New York state and City flags, and the POW-MIA flag on all City buildings, as well as stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs.

Fahy, who was promoted to chief in June 2012, had a doctorate from New York Law School. He got his undergraduate degree from New York's Binghamton University in 1994 and his master's degree at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security's Naval Postgraduate School, according to education records.

'ULTIMATE SACRIFICE'

The firefighter was fatally wounded Tuesday when a row house exploded as he was supervising an evacuation following a report of a gas leak, and authorities are looking into whether the building was being used to grow marijuana.

The two-story house and adjoining homes in the Bronx had already been emptied of occupants and fire personnel had been on the scene for an hour when the 7:30 a.m. blast jolted neighbors awake, tore off the building's roof and hurled pieces of wood and brick into the street.

Michael Fahy, a 17-year fire department veteran and father of three, was directing operations from the street when he was hit by falling debris, authorities said.

"We -- (FDNY) Commissioner Nigro, (NYPD) Commissioner O'Neill and I, spent time with his wife and with his parents here at the hospital and saw the unspeakable pain when they were told formally they had lost Michael," the mayor said. "It is a reminder of the dangers that our first responders face every day, the dangers that the men and women of the FDNY face and the bravery with which they do their job. ... A family that has given so much and today made the ultimate sacrifice to this city."

"It is a reminder of the dangers that our first responders face every day, the dangers that the men and women of the FDNY face and the bravery with which they do their job," de Blasio said after meeting with Fahy's family at a hospital.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill said that about two weeks ago police had received information about possible drug activity on the block. Part of the investigation into the explosion will include a probe of whether the home was a marijuana "grow house," he said.

The cause of the blast hadn't been determined. The force of the blast moved mugs in a cabinet several houses away, said resident Mary Lahti, who also had dust covering her furniture.

'HE WAS ON THE RISE'

"He was on the rise; he was a star," fire Commissioner Nigro said.

The commissioner said he was a contemporary of Fahy's father, who had been a fire chief before his son.

Residents milled around in the aftermath: Debris strewn on the street and covering parked cars; the former house a mangled heap of walls, wiring and twisted metal. Authorities said the house had renters, and they were looking into who they were.

"The explosion felt like a bomb on my house," said Nicholas Kolotouros, who lives across the street. "We got scared, and we jumped out of bed. We didn't know what it was."

Within minutes, police told him to leave his house, one of a lineup of two-story homes on a tree-lined street.

Lahti woke up around 6:30 a.m. "smelling something odd, but I wasn't sure what it was," she said. "It didn't smell like gas, really."

She went back to sleep. The explosion woke her up an hour later.

"I thought it was a car that ran into the house, the way the house shook," she said. "I was jolted out of bed."

When she looked out the window, she said, "it was a lot of smoke, a lot of smoke." Hours later, occasional whiffs of smoke still floated over the neighborhood.

(Associated Press material was used in this report.)
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We didnt feel a strong reaction on their part, Patrick says. In nearby Villeneuve-Loubet, Elisabeth, a 56-year-old topless beachgoer, is more explicit. They [Muslims] want to impose their way of life. If they want to settle here, then they should do as we do.

The state has let us down

Muslim groups argue the bans are a visible sign of the mounting Islamophobia in France.

Laicite, they argue, has become the respectable excuse. More than 429 anti-Muslim acts  everything from insults to physical attacks on people and property  were reported last year, a threefold increase on 2014, according to the government.

Ndella Paye, who describes herself as a Muslim feminist and anti-racist activist, believes the burkini bans are a manifestation of the sexist and colonial attitude of the French establishment.

We are told that to be free, we need to undress. And by whom? By white mayors and white feminists stuck in the 1970s, says the 42-year old, who wears a hijab. Muslim women in France are ostracised, she says. They cant go to schools, they cant go to work, they cant go to the beach or the swimming pool. The French are worse than the Saudis.





Other female Muslims disagree. Nadia Ould-Kaci and Nadia Benmissi, residents of Aubervilliers, a suburb in northern Paris, say Islamic fundamentalists are trying to impose their rule on the area. It has become difficult to walk, shop or go to restaurants for women who, like them, choose not to wear the hijab, they say.

Its not just teenagers or converts who wear the hijab now. There is an increasing number of young girls all covered up, Ms Benmissi says. The 62-year old was born in Algeria, where she did not wear the hijab. Yet, in Aubervilliers, she gets daily intrusive remarks. Last time I was shopping, a man looked into my bag and said: This is not halal. There is always someone to remind you that you are not a good Muslim here.

The hijab is not just a piece of cloth, she insists. We talk a lot about freedom, but what about gender equality? Why is this not as important? The veil symbolises the unequal status of women, Ms Benmissi says.

In Sevran, north-east of Paris, Nadia Remadna, a French-born social worker, fumes about Muslim feminists like Ms Paye. These women think that progress is when they can pray behind the men, instead of in the basement, she says. When she was 15, her father took her back to his home town in Algeria. For 10 years, Ms Remadna stopped going to school and was forced to stay at home  until she fled back to France.

So when she saw her son removing pictures of her from the family album because he found them immodest, she started fretting. Later she overheard an older boy rebuking a younger one at her sons high school, because he had not seen [him] at the mosque the night before.

She was shocked to find out the older boy was not a student, but a school supervisor employed by the state.

You entrust the state with your children, you think they are protected from religion in state schools and this happens, she says. Laicite is not enforced in the banlieues. Local politicians strike deals with local Salafists [followers of an ultra-conservative movement within Sunni Islam] to get votes and maintain public order in the banlieues, she says. The state has let us down.

Rise of conservatism

The emergence over the past three decades of the hijab in the banlieues has coincided with increasing religious conservatism and gender segregation. Research by Gilles Kepel, a professor at Sciences Po, shows that the influence of Salafist movements has grown in these areas in the past 20 years, especially among second-generation immigrants. It has, says Mr Kepel, provided fertile ground for Islamist extremism.

Field work by Jennifer Selby, a Canadian scholar, in Petit Nanterre, a poor district west of Paris, underlines the growing influence of religion on daily life  the women stay at home, the men, many of whom are unemployed, spend their time monitoring the whereabouts of female residents.

Those neighbourhoods are increasingly populated by Muslim families, who grapple with high unemployment, discrimination and oppressive panoptic architecture  towers that allow someone to observe everyone without being seen themselves, says Ms Selby.





The government has poured 40bn into renovation of these districts over four decades, but unemployment is still higher than the 10 per cent national average and the estates are plagued by crime.





Mr Roy says: Ghettoisation is a huge issue, Salafists are filling a void left by the state. But this problem is not going to be solved by policing the hijab.





More regulation of religious signs would be counterproductive, says Mr Bauberot. Should we consider all Muslims as enemies of the republic at the risk of stigmatising them? he asks.





In 1905, the decision was to try and include the vast majority of Catholics and it worked: with time they embraced the republic and on the eve of the first world war, France was united, he says. We are wrong to forget the lessons of history, adds Mr Bauberot.

Building bridges: Secular republic seeks to create an Islam of France




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On Monday, the City Council held its first hearing on a bill that would require the city to provide lawyers for indigent tenants facing eviction in Housing Court, more than two years after the legislation was first proposed.

Unlike defendants in criminal cases, individuals who cannot afford an attorney in civil proceedings, such as Housing Court cases, are not entitled to state-provided counsel. In New York, this gap means tens of thousands of tenants who go to Housing Court each year without legal representation.

According to Public Advocate Letitia James, who spoke at a rally before the Courts and Legal Services Committee hearing, 90 percent of landlords in Housing Court cases are represented by counsel, compared to 10 percent of tenants. James said the eviction rate for tenants who represent themselves in Housing Court is 50 percent.

"This is a bill that will give a voice to thousands of New Yorkers facing eviction because of lack of access to counsel," said Councilmember Vanessa Gibson, who along with Councilmember Mark Levine, sponsored the bill. "Housing Court is broken."

The bill, known as Intro 214-a, would require the city to provide counsel to Housing Court defendants whose incomes are under 200 percent of the federal poverty line, which, according to 2016 data, would be $23,760 for a single person and $48,600 for a family of four. According to a study commissioned by the New York City Bar Association in March, this requirement would cover about 128,000 of the more than 150,000 tenants who face eviction in Housing Court each year.

One such tenant is Debbie Stevens, 58, who has lived in the same five-room apartment in Bay Ridge for 33 years. Stevens shares the apartment with her son, who is autistic. Her landlord has filed repeated eviction notices against Stevens because, she said, she refused to allow exterminators into her apartment. "They've been dragging me to court for two and a half years," she said.

Stevens said she suffers from suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and didn't want the insecticide Transport Mikron, a compound commonly used to treat bedbugs that she feared would exacerbate her condition, sprayed in her apartment. Citing the "reasonable accommodation" provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, she demanded that her landlord provide an alternative treatment. (She said she asked for the exterminator to use a soybean-based product.)

"My rent is $1,180. They could get $2,500," Stevens said. "Thats what this is about."

Most Housing Court cases are resolved in the halls outside the courtroom, where landlord lawyers and tenants sign "stipulations" specifying conditions to settle a case, such as the tenant agreeing to pay back rent by a certain date or face eviction. Without counsel, tenants are at a huge disadvantage in these negotiations, particularly if they are unfamiliar with basic housing law or speak limited English.



City Council co-sponsors Vanessa Gibson and Mark Levine address a crowd before the hearing. (Steven Wishnia)

In December 2015, Stevens signed a stipulation agreeing to let her landlord do the extermination. "I didnt know any better. I didnt have a lawyer to advise me, and they had high-powered attorneys," she said. "They were threatening to throw us out before Christmas." She claims the judge told her that if she went to trial, she would lose. Ultimately, Stevens was able to win dismissal of the eviction proceedings in federal court.

Last year, around 22,000 people were evicted after losing cases in Housing Court. At the hearing, former New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, who has been an advocate for legal representation for indigent New Yorkers, said tenants are 77 percent less likely to be evicted if they have an attorney.

Judge Lippman said that if the Council passes the right-to-counsel bill, New York City would revolutionize access to justice. Theres a crisis in access to justice in this city, this state, and this country, he testified. Poor people and people of modest means are falling off a cliff.

Forty-two of the 51 members of the City Council have signed on as co-sponsors of Intro 214-A. But there are two key names missing from its list of supporters: City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Money may be the sticking point. A 2014 study by the city Independent Budget Office found that that the bill would cost the city an extra $100 to $200 million a year. The Bar Association study, on the other hand, estimated that if the bill were passed, it would save the city $320 million.

That study found that the additional $140 million the city would have to spend on counsel for indigent tenants would be outweighed by savings on providing social services, including shelter, to tenants who are evicted and preserving thousands of affordable housing units. (The IBO study did not account for potential savings on preserved affordable housing, while the Bar Association study didn't account for reduced federal aid for shelters.)

Human Resources Administration Commissioner Steven Banks said the de Blasio administration is still reviewing the bill. He told the committee that the de Blasio administration has increased funding for legal services and eviction-prevention tenfold since 2014. According to a report released in August by the citys new Office of Civil Justice, this spending boost increased the percentage of tenants with representation in Housing Court from one percent in 2013 to 27 percent in 2015. According to the OCJ report, there were 22,000 evictions last year, down from a record high of 29,000 in 2013.

In his testimony, Banks, a longtime advocate for the homeless who also leads the city's Department of Homeless Services, echoed many of the arguments used by supporters of the bill. "Providing legal services is much less expensive than the cost of a homeless shelter," he said. "And of course, no price can be put on averting the human costs of homelessness."

Steven Wishnia is a New York-based journalist and musician, and the editor of Tenant/Inquilino. He is also the author of "When the Drumming Stops," "Exit 25 Utopia," and "The Cannabis Companion."
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The Liberals plan to refer a series of government payments to UnionsACT to the auditor-general, saying a funding arrangement for work health and safety services appears murky.

The Chief Minister, Treasury, and Economic Development Directorate has been paying the union to deliver work health and safety training and awareness to Canberra workplaces for the past 13 years, without going to competitive tender.

Deputy Opposition Leader Alistair Coe plans to refer payments to UnionsACT to the auditor-general. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Originally, the funding, now worth about $121,000 a year, was tied specifically to a position within UnionsACT, described as a "work health and safety liaison officer".

But that position no longer exists, and has been changed into a policy and research role, which is now filled by former ACT Labor branch president, Australian Education Union industrial officer, and ministerial staffer, Garrett Purtill, who does have some work safety experience.
In a city awash in blue, red and white, how hard is it being a Sydney Swans supporter?

Victorian fans say it's tough barracking for a team that might, just might, slay the underdog and destroy the fairytale of the Western Bulldogs winning their first grand final since 1954.

David Woolfe with his wife Rhonda, son Darren and grandchildren Emma and Lucas, three generations of famliy who are out and proud Swans supporters. Credit:Eddie Jim

Darren Woolfe, a proud Swan supporter, is certainly feeling the heat.

"At the moment, it feels like we are the bad guys," Mr Woolfe says.
OceanaGold shares slumped 8.2 per cent on the news to $4.35 before trading was halted as the company prepared a statement, which is expected to be released later Tuesday.

However earlier Tuesday the Philippine government said as many as 20 miners must 'show cause' to avoid shutdowns due to claimed environmental lapses. It follows a crackdown earlier in the year which also hit a number of nickel miners.

The Australian company has been the subject of ongoing complaints from local residents for several months, mainly opposed to its planned exploration program.

OceanaGold has been caught up in a crackdown launched by the Philippine government, with a number of miners - mostly nickel producers - facing a suspension from operating.

OceanaGold operates the Didipio copper and gold mine north of Manila, where it expects to exhaust an open-cut mine by the end of 2017 when it will switch to mining underground. It has been ramping up exploration to secure the mine's future, which appears to have put it into conflict with some local groups which claim the mine is a threat to their farms.

Each of the miners "will be given a report and then they will have to explain their violations", Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Leo Jasareno told a news briefing.

Earlier in the year, a crackdown over environmental concerns at a number of nickel mines in the Philippines interrupted both production and exports, driving up the price of the metal. Optimism the latest crackdown in the Philippines will push the nickel price higher saw the share prices of locally listed nickel groups surge, with Western Areas and Axiom Mining both up around 10 per cent as the largest, Independence group, gained 4 per cent to $4.26.

Taking into account the suspensions from earlier in the year, the latest round of prospective suspensions could restrict more than half of the country's output of nickel.

For OceanaGold, earlier this week local newspapers reported the local government had requested Environment Secretary Regina Lopez review the company's exploration activities. According to the reports, the government sent a team to investigate amid claims the minister had threatened to revoke the company's exploration permit. At the time, OceanaGold's local officials said the company has not received any order cancelling its exploration permit.
Industry super fund-backed ME Bank is hoping to push into the online home loan space as technology changes help boost its profit by 29 per cent to $74.7 million.

Chief executive Jamie McPhee said in an interview that the bank would be in a position to offer "robo advice" and approve home loans online within the next 12 months.

Faced with tough competition not only from the big four banks but a new league of online lenders who can process loans in minutes, ME has spent $90 million overhauling its core banking platform.

The project took five years to complete and will allow the bank to offer different prices across different products. It previously had a one-price for all approach, which made competing with the other banks difficult.
Customer loyalty programs are often criticised for being too complicated and offering little in the way of savings.

And yet almost three-quarters of Australian consumers over the age of 14 maintain a loyalty program membership, with one store scheme standing out as a consumer favourite.

Woolworths Rewards is Australia's most popular loyalty program, counting 49 per cent of all consumers in its membership.
Drivers on Sydney's northern beaches suffered the most at the bowser over the past three months, paying the highest petrol prices among the nation's cities at 118.4 cents per litre.

Prices in Perth's Claremont and Cottesloe were the second most expensive at 118.2 cents per litre.

Ivanhoe and Greensborough in Melbourne were that city's most expensive suburbs, with prices at 115.5 cents per litre. In Brisbane it was South Brisbane at 116.7 cents.
Police are questioning the mother of a 6-year-old Harlem boy who died yesterday after she brought him to a Manhattan hospital with bruising on his head and body. Cops are also reportedly questioning the woman's boyfriend, whose name has not been released.

According to the NYPD, officers responded to a 911 call regarding an unconscious 6-year-old boy at 606 West 135 Street in Harlem just before 2:30 p.m. on Monday. When they arrived at the address, apparently the child's home, police were informed that the mother had already transported her son, Zymere Perkins, to Saint Luke's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Nuni Perkins posted on Facebook this morning: "my nephew Zymere he was taking [sic] from not only me but from a whole host of family that loved him there is no reason for this...."

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The cause of death is pending from the Chief Medical Examiner.
Woolworths Holdings has plucked another executive from British powerhouse Marks and Spencer for its Australian operations appointing Scott Fyfe as the chief executive of the Country Road Group.

Woolworths Holdings chief executive Ian Moir said Mr Fyfe would start formally in the role in early 2017 replacing Matt Keogh who was "resigning from the business to pursue new career opportunities".

Country Road chief executive Matt Keogh will leave the business. Credit:Paul Jeffers

"I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Matt who has made a significant contribution across our Group in Australia and South Africa over the past 11 years," Mr Moir said.

A company statement said Mr Fyfe has spent 20 years at Marks and Spencer in a wide variety of roles spanning buying, merchandising and sourcing.
Australia might be missing out on up to $1 billion in uncollected taxes annually from Chinese agents who ship food back home to meet insatiable demand from a booming middle class.

There are 40,000 so-called Chinese 'daigou' in Australia making anywhere between $40,000 to $100,000 a year selling sought after products like baby milk formula, vitamins and organic cosmetics in China, according to industry consultants.

Most of that income earned by daigou - meaning 'buy on behalf of' in Chinese - is unlikely to be declared, said Benjamin Sun, director at consultancy ThinkChina.

"A Chinese consumer pays the daigou in renminbi. The daigou buys the product using the Australian dollar and then ship it," said Sun.
The World Trade Organisation has cut its forecast for global trade growth this year by more than a third, reflecting a slowdown in China and falling levels of imports into the United States.

The new figure of 1.7 per cent, down from the WTO's previous estimate of 2.8 per cent in April, marked the first time in 15 years international commerce was seen lagging the growth of the world economy, the trade body said.

China's weakness has prompted a downgrade. Credit:Grant Faint

The figures should be a wake-up call for governments, WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo said in the six-monthly trade outlook report.

"We need to make sure that this does not translate into misguided policies that could make the situation much worse, not only from the perspective of trade but also for job creation and economic growth and development which are so closely linked to an open trading system," the report quoted him as saying.
Land profiteering is another good little earner for them, whereby they restrict the sale of house blocks, so pushing up prices, which then forces many first-home buyers into high-density apartment living, thus generating more rates per unit area of land. And they erroneously believe that having such a high concentration of humanity in such a small area will guarantee patronage of that vanity of vanities, the tram. This ACT government exhibits a smug complacency common to all regimes that have been in power so long they believe they have a divine right to rule. The question is, at the next election will ACT voters succumb to their ingrained masochistic love of Labor and vote for four more years of abuse, or will they finally utter the safe word: Change. Lee Welling, Nicholls Air curfew a must

Les Sullivan from Cook (Letters, September 27) claims a curfew is not necessary at Canberra Airport, because for example, Mount Majura protects inner-north residents. I have lived in both Hackett and Cook and can report that aircraft noise adjacent to Hackett is very obvious at times during the day, but far less so in Cook most times. The situation is worse at night for Hackett, as background noise is low. With only the sound of kangaroos chewing at the back of Hackett at night, some Hackett residents will likely have their sleep disturbed by jets such as the Boeing 777-200 in the early hours above the Majura Valley. Freight planes would be worse, as overnight affected freight airports generally go over like a lead balloon with their associated populations. To protect residents in vulnerable Canberra suburbs, as well as residents in rural areas surrounding Canberra, a curfew at Canberra Airport is the sensible way to go.

Murray May, Cook Rail railing distracts All the noise from opponents of the light rail project is stealing valuable print and electronic media attention from a wide range of issues that should be ventilated in the current election campaign, with Kent Fitch, KymMacMillan and Brendan Halloran (Letters, September 27) being the latest offenders. Issues such as the longer-term fiscal sustainability of the ACT self-government model, is the ACT on a credible path to achieving carbon neutrality and why recent road safety initiatives have not been effective are drowned out by the din. I am sure these people could contribute on a wider range of topics. They just need to realise the current government made a decision to construct light rail after weighing up the competing views and has entered into binding contracts.

The notion that a sensible government would abandon a lawful contract on a whim is absurd. Bill Gemmell, Holder Flexibility a privilege Jenna Price wrote of flexible and inflexible workplaces ("Getting to flexibility", September 27, p14). Typical of the inflexible workplace was the one that offered her acquaintance the job she had always wanted but refused her immediate request to job share. One wonders how badly the lady wanted that job. As Dr Rae Cooper reported in her recent study on the subject, "flexible work can be challenging for managers and it can add workload". Cost-benefit analysis can limit alternatives.

Just like passports, flextime in the public service is a privilege, not a right. It is dependent on the manager's assessment of workplace requirements. Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor Roads to ruin Interesting with all the cosmetic road repairs going on, drivers are probably wondering if the neglected collection of potholes at the intersection of Owen Dixon and Kuringa drives in Spence will ever get attention. While being messy enough to dangerously affect a small vehicle, these potholes are such a regular gig that one should consider naming them after the Ten Tenors. Michael Doyle, Fraser

Hanson can't hide behind 'freedom of speech' Senator Hanson invents numbers and statistics to endorse false arguments against a very specific religious group. The bigger picture being by definition too big, it escapes her powers of analysis and those of her supporters, if they at all bother. Many have rallied to defend her ignorant and highly divisive approach as an unalienable right under the "freedom of speech" banner. The first integrity-of-thought test I would propose is the following: would this support be equally granted, and by the same people, if her manipulative and blind hatred was directed at Christians or Jews? After all, the principle remains the same. Then of course there is the context: demonise what here is in actual numbers a fraction of a minority, and make enough noise to paint it as the greatest challenge of our times. Ignore also that both the mainstream moderate currents within Western Islam and "us" face the common threat of radicalism (same context) and the only answer is to face it together.

This, however, does not seem to fit well with a survival-of-the-fittest, "white-folks- only" agenda, which may be the real issue on the table. Nor does it attract niche votes. Luca Biason, Latham Detention shame What a surprise to see Malcolm Turnbull is now less popular than Tony Abbott, and who would have thought that Labor is now ahead in the polls? Every time a member of the Liberal Party gets up to talk about one of their polices, they always remind everyone that anything that went wrong was Labor 's fault.

To hear Malcolm Turnbull speaking to the United Nations about how amazing they were in closing our borders, and keeping innocent people in places like Nauru and Manus is truly sickening. Once again blaming Labor the Rudd-Gillard government for opening the borders and letting people drown. Much nicer to put them in never-ending detention and leave them to suffer and some to commit suicide. Mr Turnbull has made me ashamed to be an Australian. Do we really have to put up with this for another 2 years? Rosalind Carew, Isaacs Slurs invented Rob Westcott accuses a majority of Australians of being ignorant for wanting to "prevent the dilution of our racial and cultural identity", which he says is part of a "sadly pathetic, sanctimonious, self-righteous delusion", along with a desire "to keep Australia to ourselves, and to believe in our innate superiority over the rest of the human race" (Letters, September 27).

Westcott seems wholly ignorant of the fact that Australia's society and culture have been dramatically transformed over the past 70 years as the result of massive multi-cultural immigration program. Completely contrary to Westcott's defamatory fusillade, Australians have shown a remarkable tolerance for absorbing new elements into our racial and cultural identity, Pauline Hanson's judgment on multiculturalism notwithstanding. There is nothing either "pathetic", "sanctimonious" or "self-righteous" in further seeking to ensure that the multicultural society and culture so embraced does not fray at the edges by absorption of too many new elements too quickly or elements unwilling to be absorbed into the larger multicultural fabric. Recent evidence of the appalling impact uncontrolled immigration has unleashed on the countries of Europe is a reality histrionic jeremiads like Westcott's never seem to acknowledge. If Westcott wants to have a sensible debate about immigration and asylum seekers, he should stick to the facts and not invent slurs designed to give him an unjustified air of moral superiority. Greg Ellis, Murrumbateman, NSW Tasercams a must

The news that Tasers will be funded for all of Canberra's front-line police, by either political party, is troubling. Some police forces require cameras to be fitted to a Taser ("Tasercam") to record what is happening  from the time it is powered up, to when it is fired. There is no word whether the AFP's new Tasers will be equipped with Tasercam. Tasers are routinely misused by police in Australia and around the world. The most notable abuse of a Taser in Australia resulted in the death of Roberto Curti. Mr Curti died on March 18, 2012, in Sydney, after being Tasered 13 times by police. In her findings, NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram was critical of police evidence stating one officer's evidence "was so self-contradictory, self-serving and obscure that it hardly bears narrating". Ms Jerram stated the officer was unable to explain the constant difference between his version of events and what was shown by Tasercam footage. It seems inevitable that Tasers will be rolled out in the territory. Whichever party gets elected has the responsibility to ensure the police use Tasers responsibly and lawfully and should ensure all Tasers used in the ACT are fitted with a Tasercam.

Peter Woodhouse, partner Ben Aulich & Associates, Canberra Bogan marriage vote The concept that the general population should be allowed to put into law their prejudice via a plebiscite on gay marriage is mind boggling. Or on any other "moral" matter. If the Turnbull government insists on plebiscites, may I suggest a much better topic would be: should bogans be allowed to marry and/or have children? Chris Swinbank, Kingston,

Bishop's two faces Strange that Australia's always-helpful Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reacted to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, that it had the jurisdiction to conduct a "conciliation" process dealing with Australia's maritime boundaries with East Timor, by immediately stating that the process "is not binding" ("East Timor appeals to Australia over border", September 27, p11) After all, it was only a couple of months ago that Ms Bishop was publicly rebuking China for adopting the same position in response to the court's ruling on the South China Sea. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW

TO THE POINT LIP SERVICE Peter Stubbs (Letters, September 27) provides a very good explanation why Australian crowds don't sing at footy games. But there is a further reason  if spectators have their mouths full of song, who is going to hurl obscenities at the referee? Brian Smith, Conder

SHAME ON BLAME Has Nev Ridge of Bowral (Letters, September 27) not heard of the saying you don't kick a man when he's down? I'm sure Edrick Lee's harshest critic will be himself. There were many reasons the Raiders lost: poor refereeing decisions and injuries among them. All the players played their hearts out. So to blame Edrick for the loss is shameful of you. Jan Gulliver, Lyneham TIPPING POINT

Dear David and Elizabeth Teather ("All to ourselves", Letters, September 27), we were all joining in the community action at the Mugga Lane tip (sorry, the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre). James Walcott, Mawson SHORT ON THOUGHT? Bill Shorten apparently cannot see the advantages of having canvassed all our views on same-sex marriage. This is woolly thinking with a vengeance. Is Shorten really such an intellectual lightweight, or is he kidding? Barrie Smillie, Duffy

ON RIGHT TRACK I understand the point Bill Bowron is making about the risks of runaway costs with new ventures ("Bus cost mystery", Letters, September 26). A multi-party genuine think tank approach is really the only way to proceed. This would de-politicise the important and costly issue of transport to everyone's benefit. Noel Haberecht, Ainslie EXPLANATION NEEDED

I'm sure I am not the only person in Canberra who would like an explanation of the $9million of "financial irregularities" revealed in the Auditor-General's report into Calvary Hospital's performance and budget. Is the money missing? Where did it go? Who is responsible? Why the silence on these issues? Those responsible should be held accountable. E. Nelson, Wright THE HOWARD LEGACY John Howard's decision to amend the Marriage Act 1961 in 2004, without public consultation, is now costing us $200 million, a divisive plebiscite and much angst. Another of Howard's proud legacies? Patricia Saunders, Chapman
In any normal political campaign, Donald Trump's performance in the US presidential debate would be judged an unmitigated disaster.

In the 56 years of televised debates in US political history, no candidate for commander-in-chief has behaved like the Republican nominee did. Trump did not have a bad night in the way a sweaty Richard Nixon did in 1960, a muddled Gerald Ford did in 1976, or an unengaged Barack Obama did in 2012.

Instead, Trump demonstrated once and for all that he has no business being a serious contender for the presidency of the United States.

In the lead up to the debate, the first of three encounters between Trump and Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton, observers wondered how Trump would craft his approach.
Donald Trump would love for this debate to be seen as a metaphor for what he'd do to Washington  shake things up. He did what he wanted, not what the moderator wanted.

His performance was energetic  it would be impossible to accuse him of being a "low energy" Jeb Bush.

Hillary Clinton brought policy precision and poise. But she did not hesitate to attack Trump. She even brought up the loan from his father. Her attacks seemed to get under Trump's skin.

Much of the debate was spent with Trump defending and justifying his previous actions and statements. He fell into Clinton's obvious trap.
Circling and sparring, neither candidate landed what might be described as a knockout blow in the first debate of the US presidential race. "Just listen to what you heard," an incredulous Hillary Clinton said to the audience after one of Donald Trump's rants, in what must surely rank as the most memorable line delivered on the night.

Her remark captured the widespread bemusement and apprehension about this entire election. The whole world is indeed wondering what they have just heard  and more importantly, just what dangerous strangeness might unfold should Mr Trump actually prevail in the November ballot.

After months of primary contests followed by the set-piece convention rallies, the key themes of this campaign have already been well established. This is, regrettably, an election far more about personality than policy. The debate at Hofstra University in New York  broadcast on Tuesday, Australian time, to an estimated audience of at least 100 million  offered little to illuminate the specific plans of the Democratic and Republican rivals.

The first debate was instead seized upon as a chance to showcase and expose the character of the candidates, and Mr Trump displayed none of the qualities you would hope and expect a national leader to exhibit. He was evasive when quizzed as to why he had not released his personal tax returns, as each candidate has traditionally done in elections past. He then sought to claim tax avoidance as a virtue, before attempting a blustering denial about his long-running, race-baiting and erroneous campaign to question the birthplace of President Barack Obama.
The powerful private schools sector has warned the Turnbull government not to treat it as an "easy target" for cuts after Education Minister Simon Birmingham said some wealthy schools may need to have their federal funding reduced.

Senator Birmingham said on Monday's episode of Q&A that some private schools are "over-funded" and could be worse off under a new funding model to be introduced from 2018.

While Labor accused the government of preparing a secret Mark Latham-style schools "hit-list" for funding cuts, Senator Birmingham's comments were welcomed by public school advocates and the Greens.

Julia Gillard promised that no school would be worse off under the Gonski reforms - a commitment, critics argue, that led to significant taxpayer funding continuing to flow to well-funded non-government schools instead of needy public schools.
An asylum seeker who says he still suffers nightmares from the violence at Manus Island more than two years ago has been transferred from a Melbourne detention centre to Christmas Island to share a compound with some of Australia's most violent offenders.

The 26-year-old Iranian insists he has not been told why he was taken from his room at the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre last week, handcuffed and sent to the remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

"I'm under a lot of mental stress and physical pain as well," Spik (not his real name) told Fairfax Media by phone from Christmas Island. "I see no hope for the future and I do not deserve this."

The man was injured when Manus detainees were attacked by guards and locals in February 2014 and eventually transferred to Australia for surgery on his neck. He says he fears for his safety and requires further treatment after the surgery.
The NSW branch of the RSL is preparing to launch a forensic audit of the past seven years' spending by its senior leadership amid concerns about possible fraud and questions about financial transparency.

The state council, which acts as a board for the half-billion-dollar veterans' organisation and its 364 sub-branches, agreed to have the independent audit scoped at an extraordinary meeting held last week.

The NSW RSL is under scrutiny over the state of its finances. Credit:Getty Images

That meeting was called by chief executive officer Glenn Kolomeitz, who pushed for the audit and told council members in writing afterwards that "in the event the audit provides evidence of fraud on the part of any person/s, ignoring the issues is tantamount to concealing indictable offences or wilful blindness to the commission of such offences".

The minutes of last Thursday's meeting, provided to Fairfax Media, show the council agreed that Mr Kolomeitz would carry out a scoping study for a forensic audit of state council members and senior executives "in order to protect the integrity of RSL NSW and its senior officers from lingering concerns and suspicions".
We know that women's clothing sizes are all over the shop. You can be an 8 at one brand and a 12 at the next, or wear a medium top and not fit into size 16 pants. Go figure.

A political party in Britain has attempted to do the figures, found that they don't add up and decided that we shouldn't be ashamed of a size that doesn't fit fashion's mythical proportions.

No size fits all. Credit:wckiw

"One in five women in the UK cut the label out of their clothes, with 70 per cent stating they do so out of shame and embarrassment at their size," the Women's Equality Party (WEP) said on Instagram, adding that the average woman in the UK is a size 16 (the same as Australia).
A key witness in the murder trial of the Charbaji brothers has been accused of falsifying evidence to downplay his role in the killing of Dane McNeill, whose charred remains were found in a Sydney park.

Haysem and Azam Charbaji are on trial in the NSW Supreme Court, accused of tying-up, drugging and stabbing Mr McNeill, 20, before his dead body was stuffed in a suitcase and set on fire at a reserve in Picnic Point.

Brendan Gallo told the trial that he was "scared for his life" during the ordeal. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Haysem's then girlfriend Lexy May Jamieson is also on trial for accessory after the fact of murder after she allegedly sought advice on how to dispose of a body and clean a crime scene.

The trio has pleaded not guilty.
A 16-year-old girl has gone missing from Sydney's south just 24 hours after she arrived back in Australia.

Cassie Olczak, from Sylvania, was last seen on Sunday when she boarded a southbound train at Banksia railway station just before 7pm.

Missing: Sydney teenager Cassie Olczak. Credit:NSW Police

She was expected to alight from the train at Hurstville but police and her family said they did not know if she ever arrived there.

The teenager had arrived back from visiting her father in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
Surfer Cooper Allen has given the thumbs up to cameras from his hospital bed, but a graphic photograph of the teenager's injuries reveals just how close an encounter he had with a shark off the NSW North Coast on Monday.

Four deep bite marks can be seen on Cooper's upper right thigh in a photograph that was taken by one of his friends as he recovered in Lismore Base Hospital.

Remarkably, the Year 12 student did not have to undergo surgery for his wounds, but was stitched up and could be released from hospital as early as Tuesday.

In another photograph, obtained by Channel Seven, Cooper is shown giving the thumbs up from his hospital bed, with his father by his side.
Unpaid business taxes detected by state government investigators have grown to reach more than $188 million this year, as the proportion recovered by its investigators and prosecutions falls.

Office of State Revenue documents released under freedom-of-information laws show $188 million in suspected non-compliance with payroll taxes was detected by its investigators last financial year. $115 million was recovered by the agency in the same year, a gap of more than $70 million.

The value of non-compliant payroll taxes detected each year has grown by more than 45 per cent over the past three years, from less than $130 million in 2013.

The proportion clawed back each year by investigators has also fallen from about 67 per cent, or $85 million in 2013 to 61 per cent last year.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered to build shark nets and drum lines south of the border, following an attack on a teenager at Ballina.

But there's a catch - Ms Palaszczuk wants New South Wales to pay for it.

Cooper Allen, 17, was attacked while surfing with a friend about 9am on Monday. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition.

On Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk said she would contact NSW Premier Mike Baird to offer Queensland's assistance.
Queensland scientists believe Australia may have been colonised more than 50,000 years ago.

The research, by James Cook University scientists, mapped the positions and permanency of water bodies to determine human movement.

Debate continues over when Australia was colonised. Credit:Michele Mossop

"The findings suggest that a series of well-watered routes across Australia, particularly in the Channel Country in western Queensland, could have made possible the rapid human occupation of the continent's arid interior," said JCU Professor Sean Ulm.

JCU Professor Michael Bird said there was still debate over when and how Australia was colonised.
"To be able to choose your way of life is the ultimate luxury." Ms Atkinson, who served as lord mayor from 1985 to 1991, certainly made the most of her choices. From a journalist with the Brisbane Telegraph, to serving as an alderman and, eventually, lord mayor in Brisbane City Council to overseas trade posts and ASX-listed company board positions, Ms Atkinson opened many doors previously closed to women. Now, Ms Atkinson can add "author" to her list of job titles, with the impending release of her memoir, No Job for a Woman. "If there's a message (in the book), I guess it's that you can be an ordinary person and do extraordinary things," she said.

But No Job for a Woman was not a title of Ms Atkinson's choosing. "The title that I had chosen was An Unexpected Life, because that's what I thought it was, but the editor at (the University of Queensland Press), after they read it, said it seemed to be a theme that came up all the time," she said. "When I said I wanted to be a journalist when I was 17, my grandfather said 'that's no job for a woman'. "At university, I'd wanted to go into the diplomatic corps, but the man from Foreign Affairs said 'that's no job for a woman'. "And when I went into the council at my first election, again, it was 'no job for a woman' and somebody even accused me of keeping a man out a job.

"That's how things were back in those days, back in 1978." Thankfully for the next generation, Ms Atkinson said, things had changed somewhat, although there was still a way to go. "I've now got four daughters who are all working, so it's extraordinary to think about that now," she said. "I was the first in so many things and it just happened accidentally; I never considered myself a feminist and I was never proactive in the women's movement, but I just wanted to do things and I did them." And she was taking a keen interest in US presidential election, where Hillary Clinton was the first woman to become a major political party's nominee for the White House.

"I think in Australia we've got over what I used to call the 'wow' factor, you know, 'wow, we've got a woman premier', or 'wow, we've got a woman governor' and 'wow, we've got a woman lord mayor'," she said. "I'm quite sad we've never had another female lord mayor, so we're still waiting to have two  many cities in Australia have now had two. "But, yes, the American election will be very interesting. The glass ceiling, no matter what people say, is still there. "You even had (Queensland Child Safety Minister) Shannon Fentiman this week saying that even though there are more women than men in cabinet now, people still focus on how you look and all that sort of stuff." Twenty-five years after she lost the lord mayoralty to Labor's Jim Soorley, Ms Atkinson said, at 74, the time was right for her to put pen to paper.

"I think many people write their memoirs too early," she said. "You need time to stand back and, also, I've been very, very busy and I'm less busy now. "So I've had time to sit back and reflect and, luckily, I'm a hoarder." Ms Atkinson said her time in City Hall was the high water mark of her career and the single thing of which she was most proud was the establishment of South Bank, on the site of Expo '88. "I live in Brisbane and every day I can see the city and look out at the results of my handiwork and that's not given to many people," she said.

"I can see the results of my career." Ms Atkinson said she wanted to talk about politics in a different way and while No Job for a Woman was a book about politics, it was "not a political book". "Most books about politics are about who said what to who and when and the plots behind the scenes," she said. "I just wanted to give an idea of what it was like to be in politics, to be a person being a politician; you know, the funny phone calls at night I got and going out and talking to people." Including one late-night call in particular.
One of Australia's largest universities has failed in its bid to appeal a scathing workplace watchdog finding into its investigation of a controversial study.

The bus racism research drew international attention amid comparisons with Eddie Murphy's classic "White Like Me" Saturday Night Live skit.

UQ proposed to demote a professor over the bus racism research but Fair Work has since declared the university investigation process unreliable. Credit:Michelle Smith

In June, the Fair Work Commission found the University of Queensland's two-year investigation into an academic who published research showing evidence of discrimination on Brisbane buses was so "infected by error" as to be useless.

UQ found economist Professor Paul Frijters guilty of misconduct in sanctioning the research and proposed to demote him, but the action was never carried out.
A man has been charged with one count of murder, over a fatal daylight shooting inside a busy shopping centre car park in Melbourne's north on Monday.

George Marrogi, 27, appeared before a bail justice about 11.30pm on Tuesday, and did not speak during the short hearing.

The scene of Monday's fatal shooting in Campbellfield. Credit:Channel Nine

The bail justice asked whether the Greenvale man had any medical issues and he replied by shaking his head, to say no.

He nodded when asked whether he had spoken to a solicitor that day.
A man has been arrested over a fatal daylight shooting in a busy shopping centre carpark in Melbourne's north, which is believed to be a reprisal attack in an escalating feud between rival drug gangs.

Shoppers, including young children, were forced to flee after a gunman opened fire on a man in front of Officeworks in Campbellfield at 3.30pm on Monday.

The scene of Monday's fatal shooting in Campbellfield. Credit:Channel Nine

The victim, a 24-year-old from Southbank, was struck multiple times in the leg, thigh and buttocks and later died in hospital.

Police confirmed a 27-year-old man from Greenvale had been arrested on Tuesday. He is being questioned by detectives. No charges have been laid.
Yeshiva Centre child sexual abuse whistleblower Manny Waks is suing his brother for defamation, in a case likely to re-inflame tensions over abuse cover-ups in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Gym owner Avi Yemini is the co-founder of IDF Training in Caulfield. Credit:www.facebook.com/AviYeminiOfficial/

Mr Waks' brother Avrahem (Avi) Yemini has refused to remove from his public Facebook page explosive claims that Mr Waks and his parents hosted a known paedophile in their home for financial gain.

Mr Waks has acknowledged that the Waks family had a man convicted of a child sex offence - New York Rabbi Moshe Keller - staying at the family home over a period of days last year. (Rabbi Keller was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child after a court heard he had inappropriately touched a 15-year-old boy, The New York Times has reported.)
A judge has crushed moves by a tobacco giant to access the confidential survey results of Australian schoolchildren, including information revealing their attitudes to cigarettes and alcohol.

British American Tobacco used freedom-of-information laws to seek access to six Cancer Council Victoria files, arguing it was in the public interest to expose to scrutiny the raw material used to underpin its plain packaging position.

VCAT has refused the release of school children data to British American Tobacco.

The council opposed in all six cases, saying the data was either gathered on a confidential basis for the purpose of public health, or was outdated or incomplete and its release was contrary to the public interest.

The non-profit health group also argued there could be no limit to what the tobacco company could do with the material from the Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug Survey, which includes information that may have commercial value as a marketing tool to attract young smokers.
Human remains, believed to be those of murdered pensioner Richard Andrews, have been found at two separate locations, 100 kilometres apart, police allege.

Police on Tuesday located human remains after searching an area in Gidgegannup.

Police located human remains believed to be those of missing Calista pensioner Richard Andrews in North Dandalup on September 20. Credit:@9NewsPerth

The grim discovery follows human remains, likely those of Mr Andrews, 70, found in bushland in North Dandalup on September 20.

Mr Andrews, from Calista, was last seen in August.
Perth Royal Show organisers found themselves between a rock and a hard place on Tuesday after a prominent showbag with out-of-date candy was sold at the popular event.

Padbury grandfather Maurice Rose has accused Perth confectionary maker Roc Candy of deliberately selling old candy in its showbags, in a story first revealed on Radio 6PR Breakfast's Rumour File.

The Roc Candy sugar free showbag has five lolly packets - all best before December 2015. Credit:Maurice Rose

Mr Rose, who helped pay for his grandchildren to attend the show last Saturday, was overjoyed when they bought him back the Roc Candy Sugar Free showbag as a thank you gesture ... until he bit into it.

"I took a bite of one of them and expected it to taste better, so I looked at the back of the packet to check the date," Mr Rose said.
The letter was also sent to Prime Minister Charles Michel as well as the federal Interior, Energy and State Security ministers. It says: "This summer, State Grid came into disrepute after the rejection of an investment in Australia. The Australian government blocked an upcoming deal in the interest of national security." "State Grid Corporation of China does have ties to Chinese intelligence services," the memo stated. VSSE also warned customers' details could be made available to the Chinese government and its intelligence and military agencies. "In principle, the whole state apparatus is available for use by Chinese intelligence services."

"De facto the broad policies of such companies are being determined by the Chinese State, meaning the Chinese Communist Party. They are not obliged to report to shareholders, only to the state and the party." "Apart from a risk of interference by Chinese authorities this participation therefore also carries the risk that Eandis technology ends up with the Chinese military." "The electricity grid is considered to be a strategic sector. Because of the close ties between State Grid and the Chinese authorities and the Communist Party extreme caution with regard to an investment in a strategic sector is called for." The company is currently owned by 229 Flemish local cities and councils who will vote next week whether to approve or reject State Grid's bid. A three-quarter majority is required. Political journalist Isolde Van Den Eynde has been leading coverage of the story for Belgium's most-read newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws and says it has exploded into a hot political issue.

She says it is now difficult to predict if the deal will go through. "The situation is confusing. I don't think Belgians have an idea if it is good or bad news that the Chinese want to invest in Eandis." "Some politicians say  only off the record  if you change the deal with Eandis, it will cost us 5000 jobs that exist thanks to the Chinese investments in our country. "On the other hand you have this geopolitical problem. I think Belgians think: is this really true? Will it really come that far?" Bjorn Rzoska, an MP for the Greens party, known as "Groen", said his party was the first to object to the deal.

"The Greens have been countering the deal on the regional and the local level. Their objections were shared by numerous analysts and scientists," he said. Eandis said in a statement it retained confidence in State Grid and the security agencies had never flagged their concerns with the company. "To our surprise we have read in the press that the State Security department has formulated advice on the agreement between Eandis and State Grid Europe Limited (SGEL), based on what seems a rather brief analysis of SGEL. "If such a problem does exist, however, we expect to be informed by the security authorities at a later date." "This is by no means a 'takeover'," Eandis said.

"The public sector has an 86 per cent share. The private partner does not acquire a right to veto or block any decisions." The Belgian State Security service's warning on China's State Grid as translated for Fairfax Media in full: Synthesis: State Grid = Chinese state-owned company* Controlled by State Council and Party* Strategic interests of China placed 1st* can be used by Chinese intelligence services *State Grid investment in Australia rejected because of national security*State Grid has ties to Chinese military
Jakarta: A woman accused of murdering her friend with a cyanide-laced coffee in Jakarta allegedly told her former colleague in Australia: "If I want to kill someone, I know how".

Kristie Carter, director of marketing and media at NSW Ambulance, did not come to the Indonesian capital to give evidence at the high profile murder trial of Jessica Kumala Wongso.

Jessica Kumala Wongso sits at hearing in Central Jakarta Court in June. Credit:Tatan Syuflana

Instead, a statement made by her to Indonesian police was read out by prosecutors at Jakarta District Court in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following a marathon hearing.

In the statement Ms Carter described the Australian resident Wongso as a woman with "two personalities".
An international court has found an Islamist militant leader guilty of war crimes for the destruction historical sites in the ancient city of Timbuktu, marking the first such prosecution by the tribunal as it expand the definition of abuses during conflict.

The decision by the International Criminal Court also could lay the foundation for possible future cases against groups such as the Islamic State for ravaging cultural heritage such as the 1400-year-old St Elijah monastery in northern Iraq and the nearly 2000-year-old ruins at Palmyra in Syria.

Ahmad Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi pleaded guilty to destruction of historic mausoleums in Timbuktu. Credit:AP

The former militant, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, had admitted ordering the attacks in 2012 when a faction linked to al-Qaeda, Ansar Dine, held control of the famed city of Timbuktu in central Mali, which was a centre of scholarship, commerce and study of the Sufi branch of Islam during the city's golden age beginning seven centuries ago.

In a hearing last month, Mahdi asked court for leniency, claiming he was caught up in an "evil wave" as head of a special gang that sought to enforce strict Islamist codes. Many hard-line Islamist groups consider Sufism, which can include music, chanting and movement, as a heretical interpretation of the faith.
The debate was like no other in the television era. Credit:AP Holt declined to call out Trump's assertion early in the debate that Ford Motor Co. was "leaving" the country; Ford, in fact, is opening a new plant in Mexico, but the company isn't closing its domestic factories. Instead he simply asked Clinton to respond to Trump's claim. The moderator also didn't referee Clinton's statement that Trump had called climate change "a hoax" perpetrated by the Chinese. Former president Bill Clinton watched the debate live. Credit:AP Trump himself objected to this repeatedly, interrupting Clinton to do so. Trump actually did make such a claim.

Throughout the debate, both candidates repeatedly talked over Holt's attempts to rein them in. Melania Trump, left, Ivanka Trump, centre, and vice-presidential candidate Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Credit:AP At several junctures, Trump simply ignored Holt's efforts to get him to cede the microphone to his opponent. Holt, who replaced Brian Williams as the anchor of "NBC Nightly News" last year, also had to navigate the subtle gender dynamics of the Clinton vs. Trump meeting - the first in U.S. history in which a woman is the nominee of a major party. He seemed to be mindful that pushing Clinton too hard might be interpreted as badgering and sexist by her supporters.

Trump had argued that Clinton would be treated with excessive deference because she is a woman. But Holt dug in from time to time, too, and seemed to push harder on the Republican businessman. In a discussion about Trump's decision not to release his tax returns, he asked the nominee, "Does the public's right to know [about your tax returns] outweigh your" personal privacy? When Trump said he would release his returns when Clinton releases the 33,000 emails deleted from her private server as secretary of state, Holt responded, "So it's negotiable?" Holt eschewed long preambles and kept his questions short and direct. At one point, during a discussion of race relations, he asked Trump simply, "How do you heal the divide?" Holt said, "Stop and frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York. . . . The argument is that it's a form of racial profiling." Trump disputed that it was unconstitutional; in fact, it was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.

Holt also followed up on Trump's assertion that he opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003. "The record shows otherwise," Holt said. Trump rolled over Holt's attempts to pin him down and quickly segued to a boast that his temperament is superior to Clinton's. The moderator's questions hopscotched across numerous topics during the 90-minute debate, held at Hofstra University in New York. Among others, he prompted discussion about income inequality and job creation, outsourcing, tax cuts, Trump's apparent reversal on "birtherism;" cybersecurity; terrorism; and nuclear weapons proliferation. But he avoided or had insufficient time to ask about a host of other important issues: Supreme Court nominations, Social Security, gun control, abortion, student loans, military affairs and health care, especially the Affordable Care Act.

Nor did he address such matters as how the two candidates make decisions, how they would work across the aisle as president, or what role their spouses would play in the White House. He didn't ask Trump about his string of inflammatory comments about Muslims, Mexicans, women and the disabled; his favourable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin; his relationship, if any, to the white supremacist movement; his treatment of the news media; or how he would resolve potential conflicts between his personal business interests and his responsibilities as president. Clinton escaped direct questioning about her role in the aftermath of the Benghazi terrorist attacks while she was secretary of state; her private email server and deleted emails during her time in office; or her "deplorables" comment. Trump has made the moderator of the debates an issue from the beginning of his campaign. He publicly criticised Fox News host Megyn Kelly for the questions she asked in the first Republican candidates' debate nearly 14 months ago. His complaints about Kelly prompted him to boycott a debate sponsored by Fox News before the Iowa caucus in January.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the presidential debate. Credit:AP The debate was like no other in the television era: The first female presidential nominee of a major party facing off against an alpha male businessman with no political experience, both of them world-famous and both of them deeply unpopular, with a potential record-setting audience of 100 million watching and hoping to see their preferred candidate blow the other to smithereens. The opening seconds were almost surreal. For months, Clinton has portrayed Trump as nothing less than an enemy of the republic, a demagogue who traffics in racism, sexism, xenophobia and a bizarre adoration for President Vladimir Putin of Russia, while Trump has relished calling her "crooked Hillary" and revelled in his supporters' chanting "lock her up." But after being introduced by the moderator, Lester Holt of NBC News, Clinton and Trump strode across the stage toward each other, shook hands and even smiled. Trump alienated journalists so much that we couldn't see what was before our eyes. Credit:AP "How are you, Donald?" Clinton said.

"Good, Hillary," he replied. The debate was like no other in the television era. Credit:AP Seeing them side by side after so much rancour was a spellbinding moment in American politics. No one watching across the country, or across the world, knew what would happen next. Clinton, taking the first question, got off to a confident start: Asked by Holt why she would be better at creating jobs, she said she would support small businesses, working parents, equal pay for women and paid family leave. Trump was steady as well, sounding familiar themes about cutting taxes and stopping auto manufacturers and other companies from moving jobs overseas. He also said that "Hillary and I agree on child care," but parted ways on other topics. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Credit:AP

Clinton assailed Trump's economic policies as favouring wealthy Americans, calling them "trumped-up, trickle-down," and then made the first of several attempts to bait Trump into an overreaction. She said he got a $US14 million loan from his father to start his business and asserted that he "really believes the more you help wealthy people, the better off we'll be." Trump responded simply that it was "a very small loan" - a sign that he had been prepared to be careful about attacking Clinton. Clinton also poked at Trump by saying he believed that climate change was a "hoax," prompting him to interject, "I do not say that, I do not say that." (He did, in 2012.) He called himself "a great believer in all forms of energy" and said the nation had too much debt to risk jobs on energy policies that might protect the environment. Then he blasted Clinton as a candidate with lots of policy ideas but no history of success or results. "Hillary, you've been doing this for 30 years," Trump said. "Why are you just thinking about these solutions?" "I have thought about this quite a bit," she said.

"Yeah, for 30 years," he replied sarcastically. The candidates were largely left to themselves to challenge and correct each other's facts: The moderator, Holt, was an unobtrusive presence, asking pointed questions but infrequently butting in to stop Trump from interrupting Clinton or talking over his time limit. Trump was characteristically elastic with the truth, mis-stating Clinton's views on issues like trade and job creation, but Holt rarely called him out, and Clinton had a hard time interjecting. A revealing moment for Trump came when Holt asked him why he would not release his tax returns, as other presidential candidates have done for four decades. "I don't mind releasing - I'm under a routine audit," Trump said, then insisted that his financial disclosure form was available to the public, even though it lacks extensive details. Holt pressed him, saying that he was allowed to release his returns even under audit. Trump dodged the question. "I will release my tax returns against my lawyers' wishes when she releases her 33,000 deleted emails," Trump said, drawing a rare burst of applause from the audience as he referred to the messages Clinton's team deleted as nonwork-related when she turned over her State Department emails.

Clinton seized on the issue of Trump's taxes, which polls show is resonating with voters. "It must be something really important, even terrible, that he's trying to hide," she said. If Trump were "to get near the White House," she continued, "what would be those conflicts? Who does he owe money to?" Trump quickly criticised Clinton for using a private email server as secretary of state. "I made a mistake using a private email," Clinton said. "That's for sure," Trump said.

"And if I had to do it over again, I would, obviously, do it differently," she added. Trump would not let it go. "That was more than a mistake - that was done purposely," he said. "When you have your staff taking the Fifth Amendment, taking the Fifth, so they're not prosecuted, when you have the man that set up the illegal server taking the Fifth, I think it's disgraceful." Trump had one major task in the debate: to start persuading more voters that he has the competence and temperament to be commander in chief. That is a relatively low bar for a traditional nominee to pass, but a critical one for Trump given his history of making inflammatory and insulting comments about Hispanics, women, Muslims, people with disabilities and other groups. Loading He was on the attack against Clinton from the start, mostly sticking to policy differences but often raising his voice, interrupting her, and sometimes talking over her and mocking her.
Washington: Donald Trump must have left Long Island's Hofstra University a confused man on Monday night  he had dispatched 16 challengers for the Republican presidential nomination, most of them men  but pitted against that Clinton woman in the first of three presidential debates, none of his old tricks worked.

After an opening 30 minutes in which Trump performed strongly and noisily on jobs and trade, he suddenly found that Democrat Hillary Clinton was in control of the spectacle  with debate moderator Lester Holt retreating to the shadows and pretty much leaving the two candidates to go for each other.

Working their way through the entrails of the Iraq war, his tax affairs and her private email server, his alleged racist tendencies and her alleged gender shortcomings, they slugged it out for 90 ad-free minutes.

In the end, those calling it a win for Clinton included The Washington Post, The New York Times and Fortune magazine  along with dozens of boldface political and analytical names culled from the Twittersphere by Fox News, including The Atlantic's Ron Fournier, who tweeted: "Donald Trump lost his cool and maybe the race, taking bait coolly served by Hillary Clinton."
The first US presidential debate has finished and both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were out in force the morning after as verdicts on their performance flowed thick and fast.

Given the surreal nature of the campaign so far, it's no surprise that there was a fair degree of crazy in the themes coming from both camps. Here are some of the highlights.

Trump's microphone "didn't work"

Republican candidate Mr Trump said he believed he was given a defective microphone at the debate, asking at one point if, perhaps, it was on purpose.
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PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- Port St. Maarten Management and Supervisory Board would like to congratulate all the workers working in the tourism and hospitality sector on the occasion of World Tourism Day (WTD) to be observed on Tuesday, September 27.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has chosen to celebrate WTD-2016 on the theme of Tourism for All  Promoting Universal Accessibility. People with disabilities, senior citizens and families traveling with small children should have universal accessibility.

For the last quartercentury World Tourism Day, held annually on 27 September, has aimed to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic impact.

Port St. Maarten Management: We at Port St. Maarten have recognized the right of accessibility in tourism, and have made the necessary investments from the onset when the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility was constructed.

We are fully aware of the requirements for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and families traveling with small children. They are all cruise passenger customers and should receive the same service as all others. As a tourist destination we have the responsibility of catering to all visitors.

We continue to work on a daily basis to improve our services and encourage all other businesses to also make the necessary investments in making tourism accessible to all. These same investments must also be made in the public sector especially when it comes to infrastructural improvements. Accessibility for persons with disability, senior citizens and families with small children must also be part of any tourism product infrastructure improvements.

According to the UNWTO, reaching universal accessibility in tourism is a shared responsibility of all parties involved in the tourism value chain, as well as a business opportunity for companies and destinations, as everyone has the right to access leisure and tourism services on an equal basis.

One billion people around the world living with disability, along with young children, seniors and persons with other access requirements, still face obstacles in accessing fundamentals of travel such as clear and reliable information, efficient transportation and public services, and a physical environment that is easy to navigate.

Even with modern technologies, those with visual, hearing, mobility or cognitive impairments are being left behind in many tourism destinations, according to a statement by UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon.

A conference will take place on Tuesday in Thailand where official celebrations to mark WTD are planned. The conference will address innovative strategies in the development of accessible tourism infrastructure, products and services which add value to destinations and enhance their competitiveness on the global tourism market. A number of best practices will be featured with the aim of emphasizing the value of investing in accessibility.

The UNWTO says 2016 started on a strong note for international tourism. International tourist arrivals grew by five per cent between January and April 2016. Results were robust across almost all sub-regions and many destinations reported double-digit growth.

Destinations worldwide received 348 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2016, some 18 million more than the same period last year (+5.3 per cent). This follows an increase of 4.6 per cent in 2015, and could make 2016 the seventh consecutive year of above-average growth.
Carl Data Solutions Appoints Kevin Marsh as Vice President of Business Development

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA  (Marketwired)  09/26/16  Carl Data Solutions Inc. (CSE: CRL)(FRANKFURT: 7C5) (Carl or the Company), a developer of Big-Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS)-based solutions for data integration and business intelligence, is very pleased to appoint sales professional, Mr. Kevin Marsh, as Vice President of Business Development (VP Business Development) and concurrently Vice President of Sales for the Companys subsidiary, FlowWorks Inc.

As VP of Business Development, Mr. Marsh will play an integral role in the expansion of sales of the FlowWorks Application (FlowWorks or the Application) throughout major North American cities and municipalities as well as across multiple new industry verticals targeted at the Utilities sector. Mr. Marsh will be responsible for all business development activities, focusing on commercial matters, including pricing analysis, sales reporting and marketing, benchmarking, commercial and customer strategies and business process improvements of FlowWorks as well as retaining new business in the Internet of Things (IoT) Utilities markets.

Mr. Marsh has an extensive technical sales background that includes roles as Vice President of Sales of Marsh-McBirney, where he led one of the industrys first successful efforts to commercialize an IoT based Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution. After transitioning that business model to Hach Company as their Data Delivery Services division and overseeing the services rapid market adoption, Mr. Marsh joined Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) start-up OptiRTC, Inc. as their Vice President of Sales and Marketing, further pursuing his passion for bringing disruptive technologies to an otherwise conservative marketplace. In addition, he has held numerous leadership positions in the Water Environment Federation and the American Water Works Association. Mr. Marsh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Delaware.

Mr. Marsh commented, Carl is at the forefront of what many experts are dubbing the next industrial revolution  the nexus of Industrial IoT, which has the ability, through machine learning and artificial intelligence, to organize and make sense of the enormous amount of data that is generated by sensors of all types, every day. Im thrilled to be in a position to bring Carls unique solutions to marketplaces that may not otherwise immediately benefit from breakthrough technologies like FlowWorks. Having spent most of my professional life helping municipalities and utilities companies I see the benefits that we can bring to them with this Application. I am very excited to be part of the Carl team as I know we have a great opportunity in a very important and growing industry.

Greg Johnston, CEO of Carl, commented, We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Marsh to the team. His extensive background in the water and wastewater monitoring field will accelerate our expansion in this market and assist us in introducing our solutions to new industry verticals. As a key member of Carls executive group, Kevin will provide strong leadership and oversight for our sales and marketing team and critical insight into our overall business development strategy.

About FlowWorks

FlowWorks is a powerful Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based application for collecting, monitoring and analyzing all types of environmental data. FlowWorks is flexible, affordable and easy-to-use compared to competing software packages. The FlowWorks Application has the unique ability to collect data from all types of monitoring equipment, gauges and sensor hardware, SCADA systems and other sources of public and private data to merge the information into a single platform to perform comprehensive analytics and reporting, saving time and money for the end user. More information on the FlowWorks Application can be found at .

About Carl Data Solutions Inc.

Carl Data Solutions Inc. is focused on providing next generation information collection, storage and analytics solutions for data centric companies. Building on its recent acquisitions, Flow Works Inc., a company that helps its clients analyze and understand all forms of environmental data through a powerful platform of data collection, monitoring, analysis and reporting tools and Extend to Social Media Inc., a company that specializes in unstructured data analysis from Social Media, Carl develops applications to work with new cloud-based mass storage services and analytics tools (Big-Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS)).

Carls development platform can accommodate virtually unlimited storage of any type of data. This technology allows Carl to build advanced applications for monitoring, reporting and analysis. Carls data collection and storage methods allow the company to build smart Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based applications that can collect data from many diverse sources and provide deep insight for decision-making purposes. More information can be found at .

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release related to future expansion of sales are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, will, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the ability of the new VP of Business Development to increase sales of FlowWorks in new geographical regions and similar software in new industry verticals, in industries that are themselves expanding, and the strong leadership and oversight that he will bring to the Carl sales and marketing team. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks which may cause actual results and the Companys plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including: the risk that the Company will be able to carry out its marketing plans and that they will be successful; the effects of government regulation on the Companys business; risks associated with the Companys ability to obtain and protect rights to its intellectual property; risks and uncertainties associated with the Companys ability to raise additional capital; and other factors beyond the Companys control. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of such factors on the Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Readers should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure outlined in the Companys continuous filings filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia Securities Commission on SEDAR at .

Contacts:

Tiffany Tolmie

Corporate Communications

Carl Data Solutions Inc.

(778) 379-0275
Testing properly  it is within ones grasp: Technical exhibition of renowned service providers and tool vendors at Software-QS-Tag

On both conference days, 3rd and 4th November 2016, well-known international companies present their solutions. CQSE GmbH offers services and products to analyse and improve the quality of software. dpunkt.verlag supplies books, magazines and events for the professional computing scene, IT experts and students. Ekobit introduces with BizDataX a test data management solution for the management of test data and data anonymization. And FINARIS provides with the software suite RapidRep effective automated back-end testing and flexible reporting.

gasq Global Association for Software Quality is also in attendance and thus one of the leading international exam providers in the field of software quality. imbus presents tool support for the test of systems with many variants as well as managed testing solutions. Software Quality Lab shows how efficiency, effectivity and quality in system- and software development can be increased. Testfabrik develops software tools for web testing along the whole supply chain. Likewise, TestPlant, international software business based in London, will be pleased to provide attendees with any information. In addition to this, the event is supported by iX.

The Software-QS-Tag provides space to get in touch with the companies and do networking in a relaxed and collegial atmosphere.
Rage Frameworks to Showcase Artificial Intelligence Expertise at AI Summit San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  09/27/16 

, a provider of Artificial Intelligence for the Enterprise, will attend the AI Summit San Francisco, an event curated specifically for IT business leaders with a strong interest in the evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The flagship San Francisco event is expected to attract the entire community of AI, from start-ups and academics to researchers and leading media.

Rage Frameworks SVP of Semantic Intelligence Solutions, Vikram Mahidhar, will join Artificial Intelligence enterprise experts for the panel debate Strengthening the Foundations & Overcoming the Challenges for a Bright Future for AI in the Enterprise. The discussion will take place on day two in Stream A, and will feature Rage and other innovators discussing the investment needed in embedding AI technologies in legacy IT and how to look at the practical challenges of implementing AI within an organization.

The panel will highlight additional topics such as what AI technologies make sense for organizations, skill sets required to implement AI, updates to IT infrastructure, and address truths and myths surrounding AI for knowledge workers. Rages Mahidhar will highlight the companys traceable deep learning technology, RAGE-AI, with use case examples of how this technology is leveraged by global enterprises seeking to significantly extend the frontier of deep learning and machine intelligence technology.

Rage Frameworks was also named a finalist for Best AI Innovator in The Alconics Awards, the worlds only independently-judged awards celebrating the drive, innovation and hard work in the international artificial intelligence community. Winners will be announced during The AI Summit.

Fort Mason Center

2 Marina BLVD

San Francisco, CA 94123

September 29, 2016 at 9:15 a.m. PDT, Stream A

RAGE Frameworks Inc. is a leader in AI powered automation technology for knowledge based Enterprise processes. Headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts with global operations centers in Pune and Belgaum, India, RAGE-AITM brings unprecedented speed, flexibility and insight in solving todays most complex, critical business problems. Visit us at to learn more about RAGE AI and our entire suite of Intelligent Machines, and follow us on Twitter .

Kay Kelly

SVM Public Relations

401-490-9700
Dr. Andrzej J. Strojwas of Carnegie Mellon University Honored With 2016 Phil Kaufman Award

SAN JOSE, CA  (Marketwired)  09/27/16  Andrzej J. Strojwas, Keithley professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Phil Kaufman Award for Distinguished Contributions to Electronic System Design (EDA).

The award is presented yearly by the (ESD Alliance) and the (CEDA). The award ceremony and dinner will be held at the Fourth Street Summit Center in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, January 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Strojwas is being recognized for his pioneering research in the area of design for manufacturing in the semiconductor industry. According to Dr. Larry Pileggi, the Tanoto professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, virtually every fab in the world, as well as a vast majority of chips manufactured today, use methodologies Dr. Strojwas developed. Since the 1970s, he has done as much as anyone to co-optimize IC design and manufacturing, driving the more sophisticated use of design data in fabs.

At CMU, Dr. Strojwas and his colleagues Wojciech Maly and Stephen Director realized that semiconductor yield involves more than controlling contamination in a fab, says Rob Aitken, R&D fellow at ARM, Inc. It is also a consequence of design decisions. This insight led to the observation that yield influencers could be modeled, and that yield could be predicted by building a set of systematic test structures and analyzing the results. This systematic approach in many ways has enabled the fabless semiconductor ecosystem.

Dr. Strojwas contributions to improving and streamlining fabrication in the 1990s cannot be overstated, adds Rick Wallace, chief executive officer (CEO) of KLA-Tencor. Deciding which wafers to inspect and where on the wafer to look were significant decisions. Dr. Strojwas developed a novel methodology using product layout design information to determine critical area-based sampling, reducing the amount of inspection time required and making in-line inspection affordable and effective. All major semiconductor fabs today employ these methods.

Semiconductor manufacturers have benefited from doubling of yield learning rates, resulting in billions of dollars in increased revenue since the 0.35 micron node. Dr. Strojwas was instrumental in enabling this by using statistically accurate test chips and simulation for rapid yield learning, states John Kibarian, CEO of PDF Solutions, Inc., and co-chair of the ESD Alliance. His contributions have become industry standards in yield improvement.

Dr. Strojwas has published his research work extensively, including three books, more than 80 journal papers, and nearly 250 conference papers, comments Shishpal S. Rawat, president of CEDA. He has successfully transformed his research into developing ULSIC designs with superior manufacturability as well as diagnosing manufacturing process issues that continuously improve line yield for these chips.

Andrjzej has been more effective in transferring university EDA research to industry than nearly all other academics, remarks Dr. Chenming Hu, TSMC distinguished professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, and the 2013 Phil Kaufman Award recipient. The result is an exemplary four-decade long career that has significantly advanced the art and science of design for manufacturability.

John Chen, vice president at NVIDIA Corporation, observes: Dr. Strojwas Design for Inspection methodology allows us to detect the undetectables, allowing the industry to achieve the perfection required to cost effectively manufacture todays chips containing billions of transistors and tens of billions of contacts and vias.

The relationship between design and manufacturing has never been more important, and we must give Dr. Strojwas great credit for recognizing early on that design for manufacturing needed to be a key element of chip design automation, concludes Bob Smith, executive director of the ESD Alliance. His work was instrumental in bringing design and manufacturing together in a way that has benefited the semiconductor design and manufacturing communities as well as the broader electronics products markets.

Andrzej J. Strojwas is the Joseph F. and Nancy Keithley Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Since 1997, he has served as Chief Technologist at PDF Solutions. He has held positions at Harris Semiconductor Co., AT&T Bell Laboratories, Texas Instruments, NEC, HITACHI, SEMATECH and KLA-Tencor.

He received multiple awards for the best papers published in the IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing and IEEE-ACM Design Automation Conference. Dr. Strojwas is a recipient of the SRC Inventor Recognition Award. He was the Editor of the IEEE Transactions on CAD of ICAS from 1987 to 1989 and served as Technical Program Chairman of the 1988 ICCAD and Conference Chairman of the 1989 ICCAD. In 1990, he was elected IEEE Fellow.

Dr. Strojwas received a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Warsaw, Poland, and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

The Phil Kaufman Award honors individuals who have had demonstrable impact on the field of EDA through technology innovations, education/mentoring, or business or industry leadership. The award was established as a tribute to Phil Kaufman, the late industry pioneer who turned innovative technologies into commercial businesses that have benefited electronic designers. Last years recipient was Dr. Walden C. Rhines, chairman and CEO of Mentor Graphics Corporation. He was honored for growing the EDA and integrated circuit (IC) design industries through his efforts as a leading voice of EDA and for pioneering the evolution of IC design to system-on-chip (SoC) design. For more details and registration information for this years Phil Kaufman Award Dinner, visit

The , an international association of companies providing goods and services throughout the semiconductor design ecosystem, is a forum to address technical, marketing, economic and legislative issues affecting the entire industry. It acts as the central voice to communicate and promote the value of the semiconductor design industry as a vital component of the global electronics industry. For more information about the ESD Alliance, visit

The IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) provides a focal point for EDA activities spread across six IEEE societies (Antennas and Propagation, Circuits and Systems, Computer, Electron Devices, Microwave Theory and Techniques, and Solid-State Circuits). The Council sponsors or co-sponsors over a dozen key EDA conferences including: the Design Automation Conference (DAC), Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC), International Conference on Computer Aided Design (ICCAD), Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), and events at Embedded Systems Week (ESWeek). The Council also publishes IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design of Integrated Circuits & Systems (TCAD), IEEE Design & Test (D&T), and IEEE Embedded Systems Letters (ESL). In order to promote the recognition of leading EDA professionals, the Council sponsors the A. Richard Newton, Phil Kaufman, and Early Career Awards. The Council welcomes new volunteers and local chapters. For more information on CEDA, visit: .

All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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For more information, contact:

Nanette Collins

Public Relations for the ESD Alliance

(617) 437-1822

Jennifir McGillis

IEEE Council on EDA

(785) 564-2182
UK ITDMs demand government action on STEM in Brexit wake

New Survey from IP EXPO Europe Shows 70% of ITDMs believe UK Government should do more to attract young people to technology professions

LONDON  27 September 2016  New research commissioned by IP EXPO Europe, Europes number one enterprise IT event, today reveals that 23% of UK IT decision makers (ITDMs) identified STEM and the need for young IT talent as one of the main technology issues for enterprises in 2017. Over half (55%) of respondents currently believe the lack of young talent at their organisation is an issue; a rising concern with 26% stating they are more worried about not having enough young talent in the workforce now than 12 months ago.

In light of this ITDMs are calling for Government action to help. 70% believe the UK Government should be doing more to encourage students and young people to enter technology professions. In fact, over a third (35%) are demanding more direct investment to solve the issue. With 27% claiming that the recent Brexit vote could lead to a skills shortage of qualified IT professionals, immediate action was demanded to address the situation.

Bradley Maule-ffinch, Director of Strategy for IP EXPO Europe, comments For the last couple of years the lack of STEM skills has been a key area for debate throughout the IP EXPO series of events. The research results show that the recent Brexit vote has exacerbated the concern over the available talent pool. For all of our exhibitors at this years IP EXPO Europe, having access to top IT talent is critical for the evolution and success of their businesses. This year, were working with a number of companies, including HPE, to further the discussion on what can be done to address the skills gap, boost STEM skills in the UK and future proof the UK IT industry.

Respondents identified cyber security (27%) and coding (27%) as the STEM skills they believed would be most in-demand in the future, with AI coming in at 15%. Interestingly DevOps skills came in at just 4% and despite 22% identifying big data and data analytics as a major technology trend for 2017, only 9% thought that these skills would be in demand in the future.

Its not simply a lack of skilled individuals which is cause for this ongoing STEM problem, 41% of ITDMs believe that todays graduates are lacking in not only baseline experience, such as apprenticeships and work-study, but also (34%) that they arrive with obsolete knowledge and that the school curricula is failing to keep up with technology used in the enterprise. This is resulting in 30% of respondents claiming that graduates just arent technically minded enough. Organisations are clearly attempting to plug the gaps, with 53% of ITDMs spending between 4-10 hours on training each of their young employees.
Calix Unveils the AXOS E3-2 Intelligent PON Node; Disrupts the Economics of Fiber Deployment and Network Operations

Revolutionary intelligent deep fiber access node collapses access and service edge functions into a distributed network architecture eliminating up to 80 percent of headend and central office facilities and associated OPEX

PHILADELPHIA  September 27, 2016  Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX), the world leader in subscriber driven access, today introduced the AXOS E3-2 Intelligent PON Node, a revolutionary system designed to collapse access and service edge functions into a distributed network architecture, disrupting the economics of driving PON technology into a fiber deep architecture and dramatically reducing service provider operational costs. Featuring an environmentally hardened, modular deploy anywhere design that can be mounted aerially, on a pole, on a wall, or in a pedestal, the E3-2 is fully upgradable and serviceable, enabling rapid upgrades to 10 gigabits per second (10 Gbps) and higher speed PON technologies in the future.

This first of its kind system establishes a new intelligent strategic location in the network, allowing the E3-2 to move the OLT, routing, and IP policy and accounting functions from the headend or central office toward the subscriber, thereby extending the reach of edge functionality from the data center. This distributed intelligence model, combined with the extended reach of fiber technologies, can catalyze the consolidation of existing facilities  eliminating up to 80 percent  and dramatically alter the existing operational cost structure of service providers. The AXOS E3-2 delivers on the promise of Software Defined Access (SDA). Its always on stateful system allows operators to deploy independently rich software features deep into the network, while using the zero touch activation and nodal management capabilities of AXOS and Activate to simplify system and network management. The E3-2 modular software facilitates virtualized architectures in an SDN multi-vendor, multi-technology environment further reducing operational complexities and providing a rich alternative to D-CCAP.

As gigabit services have become the gold standard in highly competitive broadband markets, service providers of all types are looking for new ways to provision network infrastructure to support gigabit services to meet increasing customer demand, said John Kendall, principal analyst, Connected Home at IHS Markit. Regardless of platform, service providers are increasingly looking to deploy PON deeper into their networks in order to leverage existing last mile access infrastructure and still deliver symmetrical gigabit residential services. Once deployed, an OLT at this point in the network allows the service provider increased flexibility and control over the configuration of their network infrastructure, allowing for a coexistence with remote PHY architecture and network function virtualization.

The E3-2 provides another critical element in delivering the Calix SDA architecture and portfolio. The Calix SDA architecture is aimed at providing a transparent, ubiquitous subscriber experience for business and residential deployments across cable operators, telcos, and a variety of new communications service providers by eradicating the traditional constraints and limitations of the access network while changing the deployment and operational economics of high-demand services. The E3-2 has a number of unique innovations making it an ideal solution for service providers making the transformation to a distributed SDA architecture, including:

 Modularity  Fully field serviceable and upgradeable, the E3-2 delivers any flavor of todays PON technologies to provide gigabit services, while allowing service providers to easily transition to multi-gigabit services using next generation PON technologies, including 10G EPON, in the future.

 Flexible deployment options  With its rugged IP-68 rated aluminum enclosure, the E3-2 can withstand the most challenging operating environments and conditions, and can be mounted virtually anywhere  resulting in projected savings of 50 percent or more in total cost of ownership over cabinet-based solutions. Furthermore, deployment times are dramatically reduced as the E3-2 eliminates many construction challenges associated with cabinet deployments, such as land acquisition and permits.

 Layer 3 services and routing  The E3-2 delivers full layer 3 support allowing it to participate in routed architectures and enforce layer 3 policy and accounting. As a result, the E3-2 system provides unprecedented visibility to the traffic entering the network and enabling subscriber management, including subscriber accounting and the use of policy and filters to prevent network attacks. Featuring layer 2 and layer 3 support, the E3-2 fits naturally into all types of wireline operators.

 Virtualized architecture  The E3-2 provides the ideal form factor for service providers evolving their networks to a common SDN and virtualization architecture. Starting with a feature-rich system upon deployment, service providers can deploy both a common SDN management infrastructure and move specific software components off the E3-2 and up into the cloud. The AXOS platform provides a simple migration path to a complete common SDN and NFV architecture, as physical networks continue to evolve and service providers are faced with developing a common architecture for CCAP, PON, and other technologies in their networks.

 Versatile powering options  The E3-2 support for 60/90VAC powering allows cable operators to snap the E3-2 into their existing outside plant infrastructure. The E3-2 will also support a number of other powering options for a variety of network topologies, including negative 48V DC, commercial AC power, and span powering.

The AXOS E3-2 Intelligent PON Node uniquely combines best-of-breed influence from the industry with the relentless Calix focus on access network innovation, said Michel Langlois, Calix senior vice president of systems products. Today, the E3-2 allows operators to effectively extend the reach of the data center seven-fold and reduce their operational costs by up to 80 percent, while at the same time facilitating the transition to the Software Defined Access revolution of the future. When combined with Compass products like Open Link Cable that allow seamless integration into DOCSIS provisioning systems and existing fiber deep architectures, the E3-2 is unquestionably the transformative vehicle service providers need today to stay ahead of their competition, and the demands of their subscribers.

Calix is offering a video tour of the breakthrough capabilities of the E3-2 Intelligent PON Node as well as more information about its award winning AXOS platform. To learn more about how Calix is accelerating the network transformation efforts of cable operators, visit the Calix booth (#641) at the SCTE/ISBE Cable-Tec Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, September 26-29.
D-Wave Systems Previews 2000-Qubit Quantum System

BURNABY, BC  (Marketwired)  09/27/16  D-Wave Systems Inc., the worlds first quantum computing company, today announced details of its most advanced quantum computing system, featuring a new 2000-qubit processor. The announcement is being made at the companys inaugural users group conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The new processor doubles the number of qubits over the previous generation D-Wave 2X system, enabling larger problems to be solved and extending D-Waves significant lead over all quantum computing competitors. The new system also introduces control features that allow users to tune the quantum computational process to solve problems faster and find more diverse solutions when they exist. In early tests these new features have yielded performance improvements of up to 1000 times over the D-Wave 2X system.

D-Waves quantum system runs a quantum annealing algorithm to find the lowest points in a virtual energy landscape representing a computational problem to be solved. The lowest points in the landscape correspond to optimal or near-optimal solutions to the problem. The increase in qubit count enables larger and more difficult problems to be solved. The new control features enable the system to find the lowest points more efficiently, and include:

The ability to tune the rate of annealing of individual qubits to enhance application performance;

The ability to sample the state of the quantum computer during the quantum annealing process to power hybrid quantum-classical machine learning algorithms that were not possible before;

The ability to combine quantum processing with classical processing to improve the quality of both optimization and sampling results returned from the system.

As the only company to have developed and commercialized a scalable quantum computer, were continuing our record of rapid increases in the power of our systems, now up to 2000 qubits. Our growing user base provides real world experience that helps us design features and capabilities that provide quantifiable benefits, said Jeremy Hilton, senior vice president, Systems at D-Wave. A good example of this is giving users the ability to tune the quantum algorithm to improve application performance.

Our focus is on delivering quantum technology for customers in the real world, said Vern Brownell, D-Waves CEO. As we scale our processors, were adding features and capabilities that give users new ways to solve problems. These new features can enable machine learning applications that we believe are not available on classical systems. We are also developing software tools and training the first generation of quantum programmers, which will push forward the development of practical commercial applications for quantum systems.

D-Waves first users conference is being held on September 28-29 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference features speakers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA, Lockheed Martin, the Roswell Park Cancer Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USC and D-Wave, as well as a number of quantum software and services companies.

D-Wave Systems is the first quantum computing company. Its mission is to integrate new discoveries in physics, engineering, manufacturing, and computer science into breakthrough approaches to computation to help solve some of the worlds most complex challenges. The companys quantum computers are built using a novel type of superconducting processor that uses quantum mechanics to massively accelerate computation. D-Waves customers include some of the worlds most prominent organizations, including Lockheed Martin, Google, whose system is hosted at NASAs Ames Research Center, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. With headquarters near Vancouver, Canada, D-Waves U.S. operations are based in Palo Alto, California. D-Wave has a blue-chip investor base including Bezos Expeditions, BDC Capital, DFJ, Goldman Sachs, Growthworks, Harris & Harris Group, In-Q-Tel, International Investment and Underwriting, and Kensington Partners Limited. For more information, visit:
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Jennifer Anne Beausoleil (Jenn) died unexpectedly from heart failure on September 19, 2016, with her daughter by her side. She was 38 years old.

Jenn was born September 22, 1977 in Great Falls, Montana to birthmother Kari McLean. She was lovingly placed for adoption with her parents Joe and Helen Beausoleil days after her birth where they brought her home to Helena to live with her big sister, Kristan.

Jenn's childhood was filled with adventure. She loved to ride her bike and run around the neighborhood with close friends. She chased butterflies, ran lemonade stands and played outside until the sun would begin to set. She had an infectious laugh and smile that could light up a room. It was in her early years cooking with her Mom that she discovered her passion for food, making pies and elaborate cakes for her family's birthdays.

She graduated from Helena High School in 1996 and shortly thereafter set off for Seattle, WA to attend the Culinary Institute of Art. There she earned straight A's and was elected Class President. Jenn loved working as a chef, her passion for creating good, beautiful food was the highlight of her career. She worked at multiple restaurants in Seattle where she created signatures dishes each with her special ability to not only make the meal taste good, but also a work of art.

Jenn married her high school sweetheart, Bridger Burt on November 29, 2002. Shortly thereafter, their daughter Ella Soleil Burt was born. Jenn took to motherhood with ease. She chose to step away from her career to be a full time mom. It was the realization of becoming a mother, and the importance of family, that pulled her and Bridger back home to Montana, where they could raise their daughter around grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jenn and Bridger welcomed their second child, Finnley Bridger Burt in 2009. He was the apple of her eye. She often said the best accomplishments of her life were her children. She enjoyed watching Ella's ballet recitals and Finnley's talent shows. She spent much time helping at her children's preschool centers and schools.

It was during this time that Jenn began to struggle with addiction and mental health issues. She sought assistance in many forms. She overcame multiple obstacles but peace always seemed to elude her. She and Bridger divorced in 2014, determined to raise their children as friends.

The past year, Jenn suffered from a serious health issue related to addiction. After a close brush with death, she was determined to regain her health and refocus her energy into her children. She set about making things right, both physically and with Ella and Finn. She spent the last few months of her life rebuilding the bonds of love with her family.

Jenn was preceded in death by her birth mother, Kari McLean. She is survived by her daughter Ella Burt, son Finnley Burt, parents Helen and Joe Beausoleil, sister Kristan Barbour, brother-in-law Troy Barbour, nephews Holter and Deakon Barbour and her birth grandmother Vonnie McLean, multiple aunts, uncles, cousins and many wonderful friends.

A funeral Mass will be 1:00 p.m. September 23rd at St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue, with burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Reception Hall, 3750 N. Montana Ave. If you would like to make a memorial please consider a donation to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, NAMI Montana, P.O. Box 1021, Helena, MT 59624 (NAMI.org). Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Jenn.
5 seats up for election on St. Joseph County Council, majority at stake

Five of the nine seats on the St. Joseph County Council are up for election
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Bear attacks left two Montana hunters injured in separate encounters over the weekend.

The first incident occurred on Saturday, when a man hunting near the Cabin Creek area north of Hegben Lake in Gallatin County was calling for elk. He received minor injuries from a bear assumed to be a grizzly, said a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release.

The hunter was carrying bear spray and deployed it during the incident, said FWP spokeswoman Andrea Jones. Additional details, such as whether the spray successfully halted the attack, were not available, she added.

The second attack occurred Sunday morning on the north side of Tom Miner basin north of Gardiner. A bear believed to be a female grizzly with two cubs mauled a man bow hunting elk, the release said.

That hunter was carrying a firearm but did not use it, Jones said. He was not carrying bear spray.

Both hunters were treated at local hospitals and released.

The attacks are considered nonpredatory in nature, with Jones describing them as chance encounters where the elk calling apparently attracted the bear in the first incident and the hunter likely got too close to the sow and cubs in the second. Officials do not plan to search for or trap the bears, she said.

Following the two hunter-grizzly bear incidents over the weekend, FWP is urging archery hunters to stay alert for bears, to know what to do in the case of an encounter and remember that all of southwest Montana is bear country.

While FWP notes it is impossible to prevent all events like these, archery hunters should understand the inherent risk of hunting in bear country and do what they can to avoid encountering grizzlies.

Before venturing into an area, hunters should take notice of warning signs at trailheads, observe the brush at a distance for movement and look at the ground and trees for bear signs such as tracks, scat and tree scratches, FWP says.

Bear spray should be carried in an accessible place, and hunting with at least one other person is highly recommended.

Note that areas with high deer and elk hunting success may attract bears and that ravens circling may indicate a kill. Elk bugling and cow calling also may bring in bears, according to FWP.

Hunters should have with them what they need to immediately field dress their game. If hunters have success in the field and cant haul their meat out right away, they should remove the meat from the kill site and hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile.

When returning to the meat later, a hunter should check with his or her binoculars to see if it has been disturbed. Hunters should never attempt to haze a bear off a kill, FWP says.

More information about safety in the outdoors and bear awareness can be found at FWPs website, fwp.mt.gov.
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The skeleton of the Milky Way galaxy is coming into focus: A group of researchers recently dug up a cache galactic "bones" using a method that could answer key questions about these objects.

Galactic "bones" are long, cold, dense filaments of gas that have been discovered running through the center of the Milky Way's spiral arms. But many other filaments have also been found in the fringes of the galactic arms, or in between them, prompting questions about where these features form.

The new paper reports the identification of 54 galactic filaments, nine of which have been previously identified. This is the first census of a large portion of the galaxy, according to the authors of the new work. The team used a computer algorithm to identify the filaments (previous investigations have searched for these filaments "by eye."). The authors say the method can help them begin to answer questions about how the filaments formed, how they affect the growth and development of the galaxy, and what happens to them over time. [Photos: Stunning Photos of Our Milky Way Galaxy]

Finding Nessie

The Milky Way Galaxy is our home in space. The galaxy contains about 400 billion stars, with a 4-billion-solar-mass black hole at its core. See how our Milky Way Galaxy works in this Space.com infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate, Space.com Contributor)

In 2012, a group of scientists at the Harvard Smithsonian center for Astrophysics (CfA) announced that a cold, dense thread of gas called "Nessie" was actually running straight through the center of one of the Milky Way galaxy's four main spiral arms. The arms are made up of a sparser collection of gas, dust, stars and other cosmic objects (that could perhaps be considered more "flesh" than the bones). Nessie, which is at least 260 light-years long, was already known to scientists, but no one realized its apparent connection to the spiral arm.

The discovery raised questions about Nessie's formation: Could the gravitational weight of the arm have formed this "bone"? Did the entire galaxy have a skeleton running through it? Since that discovery, a few other studies have identified a handful of other filaments; while some seem to have definite associations with the structure of the galaxy, some lie in between the arms.

The problem with trying to answer questions about the galactic bone formation is that there haven't been enough filaments to conduct a comprehensive study, according to Ke Wang, an astronomer with the European Southern Observatory and lead author on the new paper.

With only a small sample of bones to study, it's difficult to figure out if a particular property is unique to one filament or characteristic of filaments in general. The new study further emphasizes that there is actually tremendous variety among these filaments, and not just their location in the galaxy, Wang told Space.com. The new paper also identifies filaments that are shaped like the letter C, some like the letter S, some like the letter L, and still others like the letter X. What's more, some of these filaments were "wiggling" and "twisting," Wang said.

In order to do a characteristic study of the galactic filaments, Wang and his colleagues set out to complete the first large-scale census of the galaxy, and identify as many of these features as possible.

The team built a computer program inspired by something called a "minimum tree spanning" algorithm, which was invented back in the 1920s, and used today to optimize networks, including roads and water pipe systems, Wang told Space.com. The new program looks through a data set that has identified single points in the galaxy that feature the kind of cold, dense gas that defines the filaments. The program then tries to show that groups of those points are connected and make up a single structure.

This first survey used data collected by the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory 10 meter (32.8) telescope, which covered nearly half the galactic plane, as well as data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and the Arizona Radio Observatory.

The filaments identified in the new paper are between 10 and 276 of parsecs long, where one parsec is about 3.2 light-years, or about 18 trillion miles  in other words, these features are massive. (At 260 light-years long, Nessie is about 79 parsecs). The team identified 54, in a region that covers almost half the galactic plane. In the paper, the authors speculate that there are about 200 filaments of about this size in the entire galaxy.

"By revealing a relatively complete (in the searched region which is about half the Galactic plane) and a statistically significant sample, we are now confident with the statistics," Wang said in an email. "We find that most large filaments concentrate along major spiral arms, but only about 30% of them run along the center of spiral arms." Wang defines "bones" as those that lie in the center of a galactic arm.

"[The astrophysical community is] really at the start of revealing the whole population of these kinds of filaments in the entire galaxy," Wang told Space.com.

Building the skeleton

The new cache of galactic filaments identified by Wang and his team seems to have only opened up more questions about these cosmic objects. While some previous studies have shown that the bones can be found preferentially inside the galactic arms, others have shown that they form preferentially outside the arms, Wang said. But, previous studies only had a few filaments to study, he said. (He noted that various studies have also provided slightly different definitions of what constutites a galactic filament).

So right now, scientists don't know how the filaments form of why about 30% of them are showing up in the middle of galactic arms. Wang said scientists have hypothesized that the filaments could be formed by the "differential rotation of of materials in the galactic disk," by turbulence in the interstellar medium, by magnetic fields, or some combination of factors.

"With the observations so far, including ours and other teams work, we are now at the starting of answering this question," Wang said. "The community is excited about these large filaments, and there are more ongoing observational and theoretical works. I think in a few years' time we may have an answer."

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
The company proposing to develop a copper mine in the Smith River watershed submitted a revised copy of its mine operating permit, which the state says may take extra time to review.

Tintina Resources submitted the revised application to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality on Sept. 19 to develop the Black Butter Copper Project near White Sulphur Springs. The state has 30 days to review the updated application and can either accept or return it to the company for additional information.

If a final application is approved by DEQ, it triggers full environmental review coupled with public hearings.

The project has been controversial since its proposal.

Supporters cite economic potential and modern mining techniques as reasons the mine can be beneficial and environmentally responsible.

Opponents argue that minings boom-and-bust economics, poor environmental record and Black Buttes proximity to the iconic Smith make the project too risky.

Tintina first submitted a mine operating permit late last year. DEQ returned it with a list of deficiencies, ranging from some minor typographical errors to incomplete data for several sections, including geochemical and hydrological testing.

A review team hired by mine opponents Trout Unlimited and Earthworks also faulted the original applications completeness.

Tintinas latest application aims to fill in missing data as the state moves to approve or deny the permit.

I want to thank the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for their professional and thorough approach, Tintina CEO John Shannahan said. Our application is now more comprehensive because of the excellent questions posed by the DEQ.

The amount of new information in the revised application will make review within the legally mandated 30 days challenging, said Kristi Ponnozo, DEQ public policy director, and the agency will potentially request an extension.

Earlier this month Tintina also went back to investors to generate additional funds. Because the company is not turning a profit as it works towards Black Butte, its approximately $4 million per year in expenses is paid through upfront capital.

The stock offer aims to raise nearly $5.6 million primarily from majority shareholders Sandfire BC Holdings Inc. and Elctrum Global Holding L.P. The purchase will raise the firms ownership stake from 73 percent to 81 percent, according to the offering.
It's been more than 40 years since a human stepped on another world, and the usual motivators  national pride, scientific discovery and even profit  may not be enough. Instead, people may turn to religion, according to some experts.

At the annual Mars Society convention in Washington, D.C. last week, in a panel called "Cosmos in Cosmoi  Worldview & Visions for the Future of Humanity as a Multi-Planetary Species," four experts discussed the reasons human beings have explored outer space, including religious and social motivators. The panel was moderated by Nicole Willett, education director of the Mars Society.

The group noted that popular notions of the religion-science divide don't often hold up to scrutiny, and that the urge to go to remote places can be rooted in a fundamentally religious impulse. [Should Humanity Take Religion on Interstellar Space Voyage?]

"Religion has received a sometimes justified, sometimes not justified, rap as being opposed to science and knowledge," said Paul Levinson, a science fiction writer and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University, during the Sept. 23 panel. "We should take this idea of interrelationship of space travel and religion a little further."

Levinson noted that human spaceflight to other worlds basically stopped in the 1970s, and that the motivations were clearly not powerful enough. "Since we got to the moon and we'd already beaten the Soviets that motive was gone," he said. Science proved insufficient as well. "Science continues to be motivating factor, but it's a weak motivation," he said. "NASA has tried, and it hasn't ignited any real passion."

Profit hasn't proven very helpful, either. "Everybody wants to make a buck," Levinson said. "SpaceX has had some mixed success, and Richard Branson has put some money into it, but I don't see a fleet of spaceships going out beyond the solar system."

That led him to think that some religious motive, based on wonder, might be the way to go. "There's a motivation every sentient being has. Every person and, for all I know, dolphins, has wonder We ask what is the meaning of our place in the universe. Science doesn't even scratch the deepest parts of that question."

Lance Strate, also a professor of communications at Fordham, said the whole enterprise of space travel was always about more than just the science, or even beating the USSR. "Moses Maimonides came up with idea of planets as intermediary between angels and humans," he said. "All of this suggests we are trying to look for something beyond ourselves."

"The space program is channeling all these resources and labor to send people to our conception of heaven," he added. "Think about the question of what is the reason for doing this."

Beyond motivation, religions are not automatically challenged by space travel, Levinson said. He noted that evangelicals are more likely to believe that aliens landed in Roswell, New Mexico. Also, many of the questions that govern ritual and practice would take a different meaning in space. "Where is Mecca if you're on Mars?" he said.

Michael Waltemathe, a theologian at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany, added that space's challenges to religious observance have already been hashed out. "There was a fatwa put out by Malay Muslim authorities on how to do rituals on the International Space Station  all this has been thought through," he said. (The fatwa says that one can use a "home" time zone to time the prayers, and simply face in any direction.)

Rev. James Heiser, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America, noted that Johannes Kepler's speculation on the nature of life on other planets wasn't a direct challenge to his faith.

Asked by Willett about the psychological aspects of long space journeys, Waltemathe added that the religious tradition of setting up monastic communities in remote areas could tie into space travel as well. "The theological idea was that these people were on their own to get a greater connection to transcendence," he said.

Levinson said some forms of religious observance may become less important, because when traveling in space all the celestial markers  moonrise, sunrise, sunset or what phase the moon is in, no longer exist. That could actually have a strengthening effect on religion, he said. "They will see these rituals are not that necessary and religion can then get down to exploring the basis of what religion is  which is what are we doing in this universe."

You can follow Space.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Update for 8 pm ET: Read our full story on Elon Musk's Mars Interplanetary Transport ship announcement today here: SpaceX's Elon Musk Unveils Interplanetary Spaceship to Colonize Mars

Elon Musk is set to unveil SpaceX's ambitious Mars colony plans today (Sept. 27), but not everything he says will be a big reveal.

Musk will discuss how the company aims to help establish a permanent human settlement on the Red Planet, during a talk today at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico. You can watch the presentation live, beginning at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), live here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, or directly via SpaceX here http://www.spacex.com/webcast or here https://www.youtube.com/user/spacexchannel.

The billionaire entrepreneur  who has repeatedly said he founded SpaceX in 2002 primarily to help colonize Mars  has been dropping some bread crumbs about these plans recently, doling out a few details of the company's Red Planet architecture via Twitter, appearances at conferences and occasional interviews with reporters. [SpaceX's Red Dragon Mars Mission in Images]

Here's a brief rundown of what we know so far.

Big things should happen soon

SpaceX wants to launch its first Mars mission less than two years from now, in May 2018. The company aims to land one of its uncrewed Dragon capsules on the Red Planet, mainly to test out landing systems and other key technologies that human Mars missions will require.

Perhaps the most critical of these is "supersonic retropropulsion." Dragon will slow down from supersonic speeds in the Martian atmosphere not by deploying a huge parachute, as previous missions have done, but by firing onboard thrusters against the path of flight.

NASA views supersonic retropropulsion as critical to crewed Mars efforts, which will have to set multi-ton payloads such as habitat modules down on the planet's surface. This explains why the agency  which aims to put boots on Mars sometime in the 2030s  is providing technical support (but no funding) for SpaceX's 2018 "Red Dragon" mission.

A regular 'cargo route to Mars'

If all goes according to plan, Red Dragon will be just the beginning: SpaceX aims to launch Mars missions every 26 months thereafter, taking advantage of every possible window. (Earth and Mars align favorably for interplanetary missions just once every 26 months.)

"Essentially, what we're saying is [that] we're establishing a cargo route to Mars," Musk told The Washington Post in June. "It's a regular cargo route. You can count on it. It's going to happen every 26 months. Like a train leaving the station. And if scientists around the world know that they can count on that, and it's going to be inexpensive, relatively speaking, compared to anything in the past, then they will plan accordingly and come up with a lot of great experiments."

In 2020, the company plans to launch two uncrewed Dragon capsules using two Falcon Heavy rockets (the same type of vehicle that will loft Red Dragon in 2018), Musk said. The 2022 effort will also be uncrewed, but it will employ an entirely new spaceflight system: SpaceX's Mars-colony architecture, which Musk recently christened the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS).

The reusable ITS will consist of a spacecraft and a super-heavy-lift rocket. That rocket will be powered by a new engine called Raptor, in contrast to SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launchers, which employ Merlin engines.

Not much else is known about the ITS. Musk has said he'll unveil the system today during his presentation at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Guadalajara, Mexico.

1 million Mars pioneers?

Musk has said he wants the ITS to fly a handful of people to Mars as early as the 2024 launch window. But his overall vision for the Red Planet is much more ambitious: He said he wants to help establish a stable, permanent and self-sufficient colony, to hedge humanity's bets in case something terrible happens here on Earth.

How many Mars pioneers will it take to make this vision a reality? In 2014, Musk told Aeon magazine that 1 million people would probably do the trick. It might take 100,000 trips to build the colony up to that level, Musk added, but he expressed confidence that it could all happen within 100 years.

How's he going pull that off? Tune in today and find out.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
An artist's rendition of a cis-lunar space station, which the Boeing spaceflight company has proposed as a stepping stone on the path to human missions to Mars.

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The aerospace company Boeing has a grand plan to build a crewed space station in orbit around the moon, a sort of lunar proving ground for the technologies and procedures needed to send astronauts even farther out, to Mars.

"If we're thinking about going that far away to Mars, we need to take a kind of interim step," said John Elbon, Boeing's vice president and general manager for space exploration, in a closed-door presentation for journalists at a major industry conference earlier this month. "And to take the capabilities that we're developing on station, take them to the next level and test them a little farther away. And that's the idea of going to cislunar space."

Boeing's plan involves assembling the station between 2021 and 2025 by using payload space available on five launches of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. The five components of the station include two habitat modules, an airlock, a logistics module, and a power bus and augmentation module. [5 Manned Mission to Mars Ideas]

Elbon spoke about the company's ambitious plans at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space 2016 meeting in Long Beach, California.

Crews would spend the rest of the 2020s evaluating environmental control and life support, habitability, logistics, operational procedures and vehicle systems in the radiation-rich environment of deep space, Elbon said.

Under the Boeing plan, a mission to Mars orbit would follow in the early 2030s, with a landing on the surface to follow in the mid- to late 2030s.

Getting astronauts to the surface of the Red Planet will require the development of specialized skills and technologies. The Boeing company things those things could be developed in a cis-lunar space station. (Image credit: Boeing)

In contrast to a lengthy Mars mission, living and working aboard the International Space Station is comparatively easy. Crews can come home quickly in an emergency, communication is almost instantaneous, the station can be easily resupplied and the facility and its occupants are protected from radiation by the Earth's magnetic field.

Mars crews and their vehicles will need to operate more autonomously from mission control, due to time delays caused by distance, Elbon said. For several weeks, there will be no communication between Earth and Mars when the planets are on opposite sides of the sun.

Astronauts aboard the cislunar station could add time delays to communications to simulate this effect. "And then we can take that complex on journeys away from here, and be perhaps a month or so away from getting back to Earth," he added.

The station could serve as a staging ground for governments and private companies that are interested in exploring and developing the moon.

"Our idea would be to build a complex there in the area of cislunar. From there, if folks want to, they can go up and down to the lunar surface," Elbon said. "The Europeans seem excited about doing that. There would be that opportunity. We could practice controlling robots and explore the far side of the moon. But, mostly, we could practice living in deep space and what that would be like."

Boeing's plan is aligned with that of NASA, which is planning to test out the Orion spacecraft in cislunar space. Boeing is already working on a prototype cislunar habitat under the space agency's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships 2 (NextSTEP-2) program. In addition to Boeing, NASA also awarded contracts in August to Bigelow Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada Corporation and NanoRacks.

Boeing's plan for Mars is much less aggressive than the one proposed by Elon Musk. The SpaceX CEO has outlined a plan to launch an automated Red Dragon spacecraft to land on the surface in 2018. Additional Red Dragons would follow every two years, followed by a human flight to the Red Planet in 2024.

Elbon said that while Musk's plans are positive in that they are getting people excited about going to Mars, Boeing believes a more gradual approach is required.

"To some degree, you know, we've been doing this since McDonnell Douglas, who is one of the companies that is now part of Boeing, was making Mercury capsules that put John Glenn into orbit," he said. "So we have a real pragmatic, practical approach to this. We have an appreciation for how difficult it is. It does causes us to think about we would do things."

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Al Capones Alcatraz letter, which was sold at an auction in Massachusetts, was very personal. On Monday, RR Auction in Cambridge sold a letter written by Capone for $62,500 to an anonymous buyer from Chicago, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Before the auction, experts had predicted that the letter, which showed a softer side of the late criminal, would be sold for at least $50,000. Capone, whose real name is Alphonse Gabriel Capone, aka Scarface, is considered as one of Americas most notorious gangsters.

Born to a family of Italian immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, Capone rose to fame during the prohibition era and was the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit. Capone took part in organized crime all across the United States, especially in Illinois.

He illegally supplied alcohol, he was linked to kidnappings and the murders of several people. In 1931, Capone was charged with income tax evasion as well as with various violations of the Volstead Act and was eventually sent to Atlanta U.S. Penitentiary in 1932 for eleven years. According to his bio:

Even in prison Capone took control, obtaining special privileges from the authorities such as furnishing his cell with a mirror, typewriter, rugs, and a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Because word spread that Capone had taken over in Atlanta, he was sent to Alcatraz.

While locked up at the infamous Alcatraz cell 181 in San Francisco, he wrote a three-page letter to his son, Albert Sonny Capone. The content of the message has not been revealed to the public, but it has been confirmed that he signed it, Love & Kisses, Your Dear Dad Alphonse Capone #85, which was his number at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.

Capone, who was battling syphilis and became confused and disorientated, only served six and a half years and was released for good behavior. Upon his release, he was hospitalized and was seen by a psychiatrist that concluded that Capone had the mental capability of a 12-year-old child.

In 1947, Al Capone died in his home, surrounded by his family.
WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump supporters may be passionate, but they're a bit irony-challenged.

In the days since I wrote that Hillary Clinton wasn't necessarily wrong to say that half of Trump's supporters are racists and other "deplorables," the response has been, well, deplorable. A sampling of the thousands of emails and social media replies:

"Please do not tell me you think we whites are just as violent, nasty, and/or Godless as the other races."

"You call it racism, I call it concern that in time 'foreign' folks will have the voting power to make the USA another Muslim state."

Another writer informed me that "blacks are the most violent population in America," that "blacks work the least of any race in America" and that "black women have the lowest moral standards of all women in America," concluding: "The biggest problem for blacks is blacks."

Many others suggested I perform an impossible sex act on myself and another sex act on male genitals, called me a "scumbag" and far worse, and suggested I eat feces. Some took the opportunity to inform me that I and my fellow Jews are "the most racist people on the Earth," that I worship Satan, and that my children and I will be boiled in oil.

Then this simple note was sent to me: "I hope you outlive your children."

I reprint this small sample of the nastygrams not to ruin your next meal but because the half of Trump supporters who aren't motivated by prejudice, and the few voters who remain genuinely undecided, should be aware of the bigotry that Trump has brought into the open -- and that those who vote for Trump are condoning.

Last week, police shootings of African-Americans in Tulsa and Charlotte provoked more racial strife -- and Trump apparently couldn't help but stir the pot. He said he was "troubled" by the shooting of the unarmed motorist in Tulsa, and he delivered a speech that was, in the prepared text, balanced: "We all have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes."

But even as he tried to pull back from the flagrant and well-documented bigotry that has characterized his campaign -- coziness with white supremacists, scapegoating of Latinos and Muslims, anti-Semitic imagery -- Trump couldn't resist going off script and announcing, without proof, that "if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor" in the Charlotte protests. He told a questioner in Cleveland that he would reduce violence in black communities with the "stop-and-frisk" policy that has produced discriminatory treatment of African Americans; he later said he would do that only in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Trump's campaign chair in Mahoning County in eastern Ohio resigned after she told the Guardian in a video interview that there wasn't "any racism until Obama got elected."

"If you're black and you haven't been successful in the last 50 years, it's your own fault," the official, Kathy Miller, said. "When do they take responsibility for how they live? I think it's due time, and I think it's good that Mr. Trump is pointing that out."

And in Charlotte, Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.), an enthusiastic Trump backer who claimed he had Trump's support in his primary, told the BBC that the Charlotte protesters "hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." He apologized.

Are Pittenger and Miller and those who send vile emails representative of Trump supporters? Or are they more like the way Donald Trump Jr. describes refugees: a few bad ones in a bowl of Skittles?

That's what I tried to answer in my column analyzing Clinton's claim that half of Trump supporters are racist, Islamophobic and the like. I cited data from the American National Election Studies, the gold standard of public opinion research for seven decades. It showed a big recent jump in prejudicial sentiment, to the point where 62 percent of white people believe black people are either lazier or less intelligent than white people, or both. The study further finds that such people disproportionately favor Republicans. Extrapolating, you can calculate that a solid majority of Mitt Romney's voters in 2012 were white people who thought black people lazier and/or less intelligent than white people. The proportion will likely grow for Trump.

This doesn't mean most Trump supporters are running around wearing sheets and burning crosses. But it does indicate racist sentiment is more widespread than commonly thought. What's truly deplorable is that Trump -- unlike Romney and others who carried the Republican banner before -- is encouraging the sentiment.

Dana Milbank is a columnist for The Washington Post.
Nathan Carman, 22, a boater, who vanished at sea along with his mother, Linda Carman, more than eight days ago has been found alive. However, Linda Carman is still missing.

Sunday, a miracle took place for family and friends of the Carmans  a passing freighter off the coast of Massachusetts spotted the young man adrift on an inflatable life raft. Nathan Carman, who has Aspergers Syndrome and had been missing for over a week, was rescued.

Linda Carman, 54, and her son left Rhode Island marina and went fishing on the young mans 31-foot aluminum boat named the Chicken Pox on September 18, and they were never seen again. Linda and Nathan Carman are experienced fishers, who have traveled as far as Alaska to enjoy their passion.

The Coast Guard Coast Guard launched a massive search spanning 62,000 square nautical hoping to find the mother and son. Last Friday, family, and friends were devastated when the search was called off.

Someway, somehow, Nathan Carman made it out alive and well, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole Groll, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. The young man was spotted by the Orient Lucky freighter crew about 100 nautical miles south of Marthas Vineyard.

He is expected to reach home on Tuesday, but the authorities did talk to him on the phone and asked him to explain what happened. Carman told Groll that the boat sank very fast, and he was not able to locate his mother. Groll said in a press conference:

He looked for his mother and did not see her. He had some food and water, and he jumped into the life raft, and that was it.

Groll added:

The Coast Guard did not receive a distress call when the boat began taking on water. It is unclear whether the boat was equipped with a radio, but recreational boaters are urged to carry a radio and a waterproof case.

On Tuesday morning, when the Orient Lucky arrives in Boston, Coast Guard officials will meet and talk with Carman to get some answers. Groll stated:

When Nathan comes into port, hell be met by Coast Guard officials, and theyll get a better understanding of what happened in this particular case and how to better prevent something like this from happening in the future.

The Coast Guard also revealed that they would not reopen the search for Linda Carman because she is presumed dead. Sharon Hartstein, a friend of Linda Carmans, said she is happy and heartbroken at the same time. Hartstein said:

I was ecstatic, and then I found out Linda wasnt with him, and I was terrified.

Maynard Rounds, a neighbor in Vermont, said:

Carman largely kept to himself while renovating and expanding a home he bought almost two years ago.I worried about Carmans safety because he worked alone, even while up on the roof.

This is not the first time Nathan Carman went missing. In 2011, while living in Connecticut, the then 17-year-old was devastated after his horse died. He was found in Sussex County, Virginia a few days later. Carman took a bus to Virginia and purchased a scooter so he could move to Florida.

These past few years have been tough for the family. In 2013, Linda Carmans 87-year-old father, John Chakalos, was shot and killed at his home. The death was ruled a homicide, but the police have not been able to arrest anyone as yet for the crime.
Algiers, Sept 27, 2016 (SPS) - The Sahrawi President and Secretary General of Polisario Front, Brahim Gali said that the "absence of a clear and firm position" of the United Nations Security Council in the face of Morocco's violation of its decisions, would result in "dangerous developments" that would threaten peace, security and stability in the whole region.

"The Moroccan occupying forces have launched, on Friday 23 September 2016, works for the extension of a section of the road in the buffer strip," said Sunday President Gali in a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

"The construction works, which continued on Saturday 24 September 2016, punctuated with the flying of a military aircraft over the area, is a new provocative action reflecting a malicious intent to continue in stubbornness and create tensions, despite the repeated calls, including Ban Ki-moon's call for the immediate halt of all construction works in the buffer strip," added the Sahrawi president.added Sahrawi president

The construction works "aim at causing a deliberate escalation, because they are a flagrant and continuous violation of the military agreement N1 of the ceasefire agreement, signed between Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco, under the aegis of the UN," he said.

The Sahrawi president underlined that the "absence of a strong, clear and firm position of the Security Council in the face of (Morocco's) violation of its decisions, would encourage such irresponsible behaviours and would lead to dangerous developments, which would threaten peace, security and stability in the whole region."SPS

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New York, Sept 27, 2016 (SPS) - the Republic of Belize expressed its full solidarity with the just struggle of the Saharawi people for self-determination.

The Foreign Minister of Belize, Mr. Wilfred Elrington said on Monday, during his speech at 71th session of the United Nations General Assembly that his country will maintain its commitment to defending the right of peoples to self-determination and independence.

The diplomat head of Belize said, "We reiterate our full solidarity with the struggle of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence". SPS

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Autumn Driscoll / Hearst Connecticut Media

In early November, Norwalk Community College is hosting a regional rung of the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards organized by the Connecticut chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization, with the winner to qualify for a national competition in March 2017.

The NCC event takes place at 2 p.m. on November 9, 2016 at Norwalk Community College, and is open to undergraduate students who are primarily responsible for a business that has been operating for at least six months.
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STAMFORD  Grab a partner and get ready to swing them round  Harbor Point is hosting a square dancing night to wrap up its outdoor summer programming.

The hootenanny is the culmination of a summer-long urban programming experiment in the redeveloped South End neighborhood, spearheaded by Biederman Redevelopment Ventures, a company best known for its revitalization of Bryant Park in New York City.

I love square dancing ... its a great way to get people to gather because it works for dates, but the small groups of four and eight that come with a Virginia Reel are also great for anyone who just wants to swing through and get to know people, said BRV Chief Operating Officer Dan Biederman, whose work in Bryant Park garnered him national attention.

Biederman brought square dancing to Bryant Park after he discovered a fun and patient band caller working at a church in New Hampshire a few years ago. The Bryant Park square-dancing events started with crowds of about 200 people, but attendance has grown to as many as 1,000 at an event this month, Biederman said.

BRV will try to replicate that success in Stamford on Oct. 8 when event organizers will transform Harbor Point Square into a barnyard dance hall with hay bails, a live band and games of corn hole. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

Biederman is also bringing his band caller, Dave Harvey, who runs a barn dancing company in Brooklyn, N.Y., and calls all of Bryant Parks square dances.

When you do an event like this for the first time, you dont always know how its going to go. The value for us here is that BRV has already done this in a lot of other spaces and its worked well, said Ted Ferrarone, Building and Land Technologys chief operating officer. I think it will be a really fun event, and I hope it draws a lot of people down here.

Summer programming

As Harbor Points residential development reached a critical mass this summer, developer BLT asked Biederman earlier this year to help revamp the more than 12 acres of public open space in its South End neighborhood.

Biederman led the redevelopment of Bryant Park in the early 1980s, after the area was stricken with violence and drug crime for most of the 1970s. He now advises several downtown redevelopment efforts in other U.S. cities.

Biederman and BLT have worked together since June to develop unique outdoor programs like the weekly Yappy Hour events for dog owners at Commons Park and outdoor fitness classes in the park and along the boardwalk.

Weve done much more this year than weve done in the past ... a lot of it isnt necessarily designed to draw big crowds; its designed to physically keep people in the parks for longer and improve their day-to-day experience outside their homes, Ferrarone said.

Harbor Point also revamped its outdoor movie series this summer, extending it by four weeks and showing movies that appealed more to the millennial crowd. The movies drew about 100 people each week, according to BRV.

Other weekly activities, like free outdoor yoga and painting classes, each drew about 40 people.

This summer was meant to be an experiment, and these attendance numbers are really promising for an early experiment. They are larger than other big cities were in like Newark (N.J.) and not far off the numbers we were hitting when we started things in Bryant Park, Biederman said. What used to just be dog walkers around Harbor Point is much more than that now.

nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton
What does it take to become an agent of change? To be a role model for others?

It starts by seeing a condition that must be changed, then feeling empowered and motivated to take action. In the case of diversity in the workplace, the evidence and conditions for action are abundantly clear -- especially in the technology industry.

A recent New York Times article stated that women make up only 20 percent of the total workforce in Silicon Valley and a December 2014 USA Today study that focused on leading Silicon Valley-based companies showed data supporting the fact that African Americans and Hispanics are vastly underemployed by tech companies, making up only 5 percent of the companies (versus 14 percent nationally). According to Leaders 2020, a recent global study by Oxford Economics and SAP, diversity has increased substantially among the general workforce over the past three years, but change has been slower to come to mid-level management, and even less evident among senior executives and corporate boards. Additionally, the same survey found that female executives and employees are less optimistic about the state of diversity programs, and are less likely to say their company fills roles from within.

Related: Dotting the I's: Why Intuit QuickBooks Is a Role Model for Serving Small Business

So whats the setback, and how do we motivate more people to change?

It starts by understanding the value of embracing diversity. In 2016, a commitment to diversity and inclusion is much more than a cultural nice to have -- it is a must-have. Driving diversity and gender equality in the workforce are business and economic imperatives. According to McKinsey & Company, diversity can increase economic performance by as much as 2.2 times for profitability and two times stock valuation. Additionally, according to the American Sociological Association, companies with the highest rate of racial diversity brought in nearly 15 times more sales revenue on average than those with the lowest levels.

So, despite the obvious benefits of diversity, why is bias (conscious or unconscious) still widely prevalent? One reason seems to be that inequity, while sometimes unintentional, tends to be the result of biases and stereotypes that have been built up over long periods time -- and left unidentified or corrected, have sadly become business as usual.

Related: Be a Role Model, Not a Dictator

Moving your business beyond bias is a strategic component to any organizations ability to innovate, understand its customers, outperform the competition and maximize employee productivity. In the technology arena, where the pace of innovation separates the winners from the losers, a greater variety of insights and experiences is needed to create a more compelling climate for new ideas. Thus, diversity and inclusion is even more critical.

While some companies, like SAP, have made (and are actively working to achieve) commitments to increase the percentage of women in management, it is just one step in the journey to reduce bias and reach greater equality in the workplace. Instead of taking the backseat waiting for someone to make a change, I challenge my colleagues in any role, at any company, to be their own agent for change. In other words, don't wait to see a role model, be a role model.

Here are three things you can do today to make your company a better place for all who are underrepresented todayand in the future.

1. Recognize unconscious bias.

Building an equality-based workforce starts by understanding the concept of unconscious bias. We all have unconscious biases based on who we are, our experiences, and how we see the world. Its a natural part of human psychology. There are differences as humans that we see in each other, and we need to understand and embrace those differences, regardless of background. My advice for companies is to strive to create a judgment-free environment where all employees can be transparent and acknowledge their biases, which in the end will help everyone. Understanding that a difference exists is the first step to achieving real change.

2. Band together.

Establish and/or join employee network groups at your company -- and band together. I strongly believe that in order to make real change, we need to help each other, to back each other, and to network. By discussing experiences, sharing best-practices and building relationships, we can build a stronger sense of community, better educate others, and help influence decision-makers. Dont over think it -- consider creating an information-sharing meeting at lunch or over coffee or, if you work for a global company, perhaps host a conference call open to interested parties. For example, at SAP we host a monthly, Womens Professional Growth webcast series which, to date, has reached close to 10,000 people in more than 40 countries. This has helped our employees, no matter their location, to benefit from leading experts, share and listen to inspirational stories -- and feel more connected to colleagues around the globe who are often facing similar challenges and obstacles. The series has become so popular, that we now open it to our customers on a quarterly basis.

Related: 4 Great Non-Business Role Models for Entrepreneurs

3. Dont strive for diversity, focus on inclusion.

Many companies think about diversity in terms of the end results -- or even in terms of quotas and percentages. While it can be beneficial to set goals, perhaps a better way to describe a true bias-free, equality-based effort is to focus on inclusion. Diversity is not possible without inclusion; its a necessary action to achieve an end result. Creating an inclusive culture is critical to making your company both a successful company and a great a place to work. At SAP, were committed not only to the principles that underlie this culture, but to the day-to-day practices that bring it to life.

Being the first to act can be a hard road but a great opportunity to pave the way for others. But no one gets anywhere without action. Waiting for someone else to act is not the path forward when it comes to reducing bias and improving equality in the workplace. We need to take the lead and set the example for the next generations to come. So heres to being the role model.

Related:

Effective Leadership Is Not About Running for Class President

4 Ways to Motivate Employees to Achieve Phenomenal Results Every Day

Global Women in STEM Conference 2016 In Dubai This October



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This article originally published September 7, 2016.

Less than 60 days remain until the election, leaving many employers asking the question: How do I prevent the political divide from becoming a workplace divide?

Related: How to Mix Business and Politics Without Ruining Your Business

Here are eight questions employers frequently ask about the election, and the answers to them.

1. Dont employees have a First Amendment right to say what they want politically?

The First Amendment applies only to restrictions imposed by the government. Private sector employees have no First Amendment rights in the workplace. So, you can prohibit employees from talking politics without worrying about the First Amendment. An exception to keep in mind is that in some states' constitutions, such as California's, free speech rights may apply to private sector employees. Therefore, imposing a ban in California, for example, is asking for trouble.

2. Do employees have any rights to express their political views in the workplace independent of any constitutional right?

Yes, employees covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) probably have the right to share their views -- including the right to wear buttons -- if their political statements relate to the terms and conditions of employment.

Two examples:

Vote for Clinton so there is paid parental leave.

Vote for Trump so that religious rights in the workplace are respected.

Important note: Supervisors and managers are not protected by the NLRA.

3. Can employers discriminate against a message that favors one political view over another?

This may come as a surprise too, but, unlike race, sex or religion, political affiliation is not a protected group under federal law and almost all state laws.

There are exceptions, though, such as in the District of Columbia and a few other localities.

Still, just because something may be lawful does not make it right. It would be foolish, even if not illegal, to discriminate based on political viewpoint. Do you really want to alienate a large percentage of your employees and customers?

Related: The Real Reason You Should Never Talk Politics at Work

4. What if what is said in the workplace is discriminatory?

What if someone makes a conduct hostile to Mexicans? Or disparages Christians?

Employers have more than a right to respond to discriminatory messages in the workplace. They have a legal obligation to do so. Employers can brook bias of no kind, and that includes during this election season.

5. Are we better off banning all political speech to avoid disruptions?

I can answer this question in one word: No. It is simply not practical, and it will get even harder to do as we inch nearer to the election.

It's also not desirable. Ban political talk, and political opponents may agree on one thing -- you as the employer have gone too far.

6. What reasonable restrictions should employers impose to minimize disruption and risks of upsetting customers?

Yes, you probably could have a rule that states that anyone who interacts with the public may not wear a political button or otherwise convey a political message of any kind. I say probably and not absolutely, because the federal board that interprets the NLRA continues to limit what employers can do.

So employers need to balance the potential legal risk against the business risk of doing nothing.

7. What if there are disruptions in the workplace?

Some disruptions are inevitable. You absolutely can respond to the disruptions. It's not like you are paying employees to be as dysfunctional as Congress! Try to focus on the disruption as opposed to the content of the disruption -- unless what is said is discriminatory. There should be both the reality and the appearance of being even-handed.

8. May an employer, as leader, express his or her own views?

There's no question that employers may share personal views. The question is how and when.

Remember: Power is based on influence, and someone's influence may be tarnished if he or she does not temper personal political views.

Related: Why Politics and Business Don't Mix

Better to support a candidate than bash the other side. And, at all costs avoid saying, "I dont know how anyone could vote for [fill in the blank]." You are effectively calling those who disagree with you idiots. Not exactly the key to employee engagement.

Related:

The Surprising Election Issues Working Families Care About Most

Contrary to Perception, Small Businesses Do Back a Minimum-Wage Increase

Election Stress in Your Office? 8 Answers to Employers' Most Important Questions



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Montana has some of the least-restrictive gun laws in America, which is good. Carrying firearms in Montana is free of many restrictions unless the firearm is concealed. Even Montanas concealed firearm laws are some of the least restrictive in the nation, which is also good.

The common-senselaws wehave are intended to preserve the peace in our cities and towns. They are firmly grounded in the Montana Constitution, which states:

Article II. Declaration of Rights. Section 12. Right to bear arms. The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his own home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons.

A person in Montana may carry a concealed firearm while they are hunting, fishing, hiking, ranching, or on their own property, and the list continues. However, when they enter a city or town, a permit from the county sheriff is required to carry a concealed firearm. Montanas current laws strike an equitable balance between citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights with as few limitations as possible while also protecting public safety.

When applying for a concealed weapon permit, the applicant is subject to a more thorough background check than the background check done when purchasing a firearm. Your sheriff checks to ensure the person is not wanted for a crime, a past felon, or restricted from carrying firearms for other reasons. The sheriff may deny an applicant a permit to carry a concealed weapon if the sheriff has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant is mentally ill, mentally disordered, or mentally disabled or otherwise may be a threat to the peace and good order of the community to the extent that the applicant should not be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. At the time an application is denied, the sheriff shall, unless the applicant is the subject of an active criminal investigation, give the applicant a written statement of the reasonable cause upon which the denial is based. Prior to issuing a permit, the sheriff may require the applicant to demonstrate some familiarity/safety with firearms. If these criteria are met, the sheriff MUST issue a concealed weapon permit.

A concealed weapon permit entitles a person to carry a concealed weapon, skip the background check when purchasing a firearm, and carry concealed in states with which Montana has reciprocity.

In the 2013 and 2015 Legislative Sessions, Governor Bullock vetoed bills that would allow any person legally allowed to possess a firearm to carry a concealed weapon in a city or town without a permit. For example, House Bill 304 in 2013 would have effectively eliminated Montana's concealed weapon permitting process by allowing anyone eligible to possess a handgun to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. The measure would have allowed individuals to decide whether they are eligible to carry a concealed weapon.

In fact, we asked Governor Bullock to veto HB304 and others like it because we strongly believe the current law provides an additional necessary check to ensure public safety when carrying a concealed weapon in Montanas cities and towns.

While we, as a group, do not support or endorse any political candidate, we do wish to set the record straight. Sheriffs support the existing permit requirements for concealed weapon permits, as a matter of public safety. Opposing unrestricted concealed carrying of weapons by anyone, anywhere does not equate to opposing the Second Amendment.

The undersigned elected sheriffs in the State of Montana support the Second Amendment. We also support the existing permit requirements for concealed weapon permits as a matter of public safety.

Sheriff Keith Van Setten, Teton County; Sheriff Tony Harbaugh, Custer County; Sheriff Brian Gootkin, Gallatin County; Sheriff Chris Hoffman, Ravalli County; Sheriff Leo Dutton, Lewis and Clark County; Sheriff Chuck Curry, Flathead County; Sheriff Mike Linder, Yellowstone County; Sheriff Donna Whitt, Toole County; Sheriff Dan Tronrud, Sweet Grass County; Sheriff Bob Edwards, Cascade County; Sheriff Frank Kluesner, Beaverhead County; Sheriff Glenn Huestis, Blaine County; Sheriff Wynn Meehan, Broadwater County; Sheriff Troy Eades, Fergus County; Sheriff Vern Burdick, Chouteau County; Sheriff Josh McQuillan, Carbon County; Sheriff T.J. McDermott, Missoula County; and Sheriff Craig Doolittle, Jefferson County.

Editor's Note: A prior version of this letter incorrectly stated that the Montana Department of Justice had verified which states recognize concealed weapon permits issued in Montana. The DOJ did not verify this information, but it does maintain a list of states whose CWPs are recognized in Montana.
When we hear the term well-being, most of us imagine physical health. But well-being holds a much bigger significance in the workplace -- how employees envision their future, goals, overall outlook and attitude.

Related: Commit to Employee Well-Being and Your Team Will Grow the Company

In the November 2015 Impact of Excellent Employee Well-Being study of 2,363 employees, conducted by the O.C. Tanner Institute, employees rated their life at work at the middle point of a 10-point scale. In five years, they said, they didn't see that well-being improving much.

That's not good: With well-being affecting turnover, performance and the overall health of organizations, its necessary for employers to begin changing these statistics. Here are five ways to change how your employees view their well-being in the workplace:

1. Improve their social well-being.

Lets face facts: Many employees spend more time with their coworkers than they do with family. So, having a positive attitude toward their role and future at the company has got to weigh heavily on their interactions with fellow employees. Employers who recognize this will actively focus on team-building and establishing healthy coworker relationships.

To do this at your company, plan events around building teamwork skills and communications. Try coordinating monthly planning meetings where employees can brainstorm ideas for the coming months. Designate a chat room where employees feel free to express to one another work and personal issues. Establish a special team-volunteering day.

2. Look to the future.

Its imperative that employees see how their paths can continue within an organization. Offering them a clear visual will motivate them to strive for goals and see possibilities for personal growth.

So, be specific when showing employees their their future at the company is bright and includes them. Use one-on-one meetings to understand each staffer's expectations and goals. Sometimes, its hard to remember which goals were set, and on what time line; so keep track by utilizing a tool like Workstory, a personal accomplishment journal.

Above all, be transparent so each individual can see what steps need to be accomplished to reach their ultimate goal.

Related: How You Can Improve Employee Engagement (Infographic)

3. Focus in on emotions.

When emotionally drained or stressed, any of us will are going to find it impossible to achieve our highest-quality work. Work-related stress is an enormous factor in mental well-being. Employees who have a natural drive may find it difficult to unwind and take care of that well-being.

Unfortunately, only 63 percent of 828 employees surveyed said they believed that company leaders cared about trying to create a more human workplace focused on employee well-being. The source for this data was The ROI of Recognition In Building a More Human Workplace study released in November 2015 by Globoforce.

Encourage employees to take time for breaks, especially those involving exercise. Relieve pressure by ensuring the organization is properly staffed, and ensure that employees and leaders are on the same page about expectations of goals and hours worked.

4. Offer educational opportunities.

Leaders who provide educational opportunities are showing employees that their goals and future at the company are important. Fifty-five percent of 600 U.S. employees surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in November and December 2015 rated opportunities to use their skills and abilities at work as a very important contributor to their job satisfaction.

Give employees a chance to perform at their highest quality and contribute to the betterment of the company. Providing these opportunities will show them that the organization is invested their future.

5. Recognize hard work.

The overall outlook and attitude of employees has a trickle-down effect from leadership. The way leaders interact and acknowledge accomplishments affects the overall well-being of both employees and the company as a whole.

Related: 10 Examples of Companies With Fantastic Cultures

Letting team members know management is aware of their achievements will promote a healthy and positive outlook throughout the organization. Use recognition software to build up employee confidence, and dont forget peer-to-peer recognition.

Related:

Show Employees You Care About Their Well-Being. Here are 5 Ways.

Is Employee Feedback Missing at Your Company? Here's Why and How to Fix It.

15 Things Your Boss Is Tired of Hearing



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A number of companies are being hailed as some of the best for Connecticut working mothers, according to Working Mothers magazine. Here are the companies that best serve working mothers with large stakes in Connecticut, according to the magazine.
Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  Police are investigating an arson behind a vacant West Side home where several men have routinely been chased off the property.

Sgt. Simon Blanc said the fire started about 3 p.m. Sunday behind a multifamily West Main Street home, about 10 minutes after the owner told officers he found several men on the property. The owner said one of the men had been kicked off the property numerous times and pointed him out as he walked by the scene, Blanc said.
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STAMFORD  State lawmakers representing Stamford districts stepped up a fight against a spate of gun-related incidents this year, urging immediate action while suggesting a number of crime-busting strategies of their own.

To confront gun violence in our city, we need to do this together, State Rep. William Tong said at a forum held Monday at the Chester Addison Community Center.

I know that the mayor and the chief of police have implemented several important strategies, he said. But I think we all can agree that we are part of this, too. The mayor and the chief of police cannot do this alone.

Tong, chairman of the legislatures Judiciary Committee, organized the meeting to brainstorm initiatives to cut the frequency of shooting incidents. Members of Stamfords state legislative delegation, city officials, school representatives, law enforcement authorities, and community and clergy leaders participated in the forum.

There have been nine shootings and 22 reports of shots fired around Stamford over the past six months. None of the incidents were fatal, but a special police task force was established this summer to investigate those crimes.

Mayor David Martin said police have recovered more than 120 illegal weapons in the community this year. However, a small group of armed men still manages to elude police as most shooting victims are refusing to cooperate with detectives.

I believe weve had some success behind the scenes, Martin told the panel of about 30 state and local leaders. But Id be a fool if I told you this is over. The truth is we have a long way to go... We need your help.

That type of lifestyle

The panel noted that Stamford often ranks as one of the safest cities in New England, but they agreed the city needs help from the community and legislators to maintain that status.

Some recently launched efforts include a crime-stopper anonymous rewards program, which offers $1,000 for a tip leading to the arrest of someone in possession of an illegal gun; a summer program at the Yerwood Center, which provided an outlet for city youth to socialize in the evenings; and the Girls and Boys leadership programs, which involve veteran police officers mentoring at-risk teens.

Michael Lawlor, undersecretary of the Office of Policy and Management for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, spoke Monday about Project Longevity, an initiative created to reduce violence in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford. The project brings together young people, often with gang associations or prior convictions, for call-ins with community leaders and social service providers.

Lawlor said most victims and shooters follow certain patterns that police can identify and then intervene in their lives.

Though most in the room praised the project, some were unsure it would work in Stamford  which has a much lower crime rate than the projects three inaugural cities.

This project is good, but I think its focus is after the trigger is pulled, said Jack Bryant, president of the Stamford NAACP chapter. It seems to focus on the perpetrators... We need to save kids from that type of lifestyle.

Industry mentors sought

Barry Woods, young adult program director at the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, told the panel that interventions need to start early and be consistent.

We say to ourselves all the time that we believe that our children are the future, he said. But we have to have a mechanism in place... We need those individuals. Right now, were not sure were going to have those individuals in 10 years.

Stamford High School Principal Ray Manka said his school and the district have several initiatives to keep children and teens focused on education and career building, but he wishes there was more interest from the business community.

Manka cited the Early College Opportunity program, or ECO, a partnership between SHS and Norwalk Community College that would allow students to earn an associates degree along with their high school diploma. But the program is struggling to find industry partners, he said.

In another effort, Domus, the nonprofit that runs Stamford Academy High School and Trailblazers Academy middle school, hopes to partner with police for job-readiness training, which has been dubbed Project New Hope.

With police guidance, Domus would target teenagers and young adults who are either already committing crimes or are at-risk of following that path. The goal is to provide them with the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment.

What weve seen with our work is a lot of these young people really need someone to have a positive relationship with them, because they have lost hope in their future, said Garland Walton, Domus chief of staff. We want to be connecting them with those positive relationships and building the right skills they need to manage their social and emotional and professional growth.

Staff writer Nora Naughton contributed to this report.

noliveira@hearstmediact.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson
Tis the season.

Three nonpartisan candidate forums are planned for this week, with the first of them scheduled for Tuesday night.

Tuesday: State Legislature and county commission

The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce event is slated to run from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Helena Regional Airport second floor meeting room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Local legislative candidates as well as the two who are running for a seat on the Lewis and Clark County commission are to be featured.

The Candidate Forum is designed to give Lewis & Clark County residents an opportunity to hear candidate views on issues important to businesses in our region, a news release noted.

Questions for the forum were being prepared by the chamber, and the event is to be moderated by Chuck Johnson, who has worked for the Lee Enterprises state bureau for Montana.

As of Monday morning, those confirming attendance were: SD40: Republican Terry Gauthier and Democrat Hal Jacobson; HD70: Republican Rep. Kelly Flynn and Democrat Merlyn Huso; HD75: Democrat Sabrina Steketee; HD80: Republican Becky Beard, Democrat Elizabeth Cain and Independent Valerie Clague; HD81: Democratic Rep. Janet Ellis; HD83: Democrat Kim Abbott and Republican Bob Leach; HD84: Libertarian Paula Bonar, Democratic Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell and Republican Steve Gibson.

In the county commission race, Jim McCormick, a Republican, and Matt Elsaesser, a Democrat, also confirmed their attendance for the forum.

Wednesday: County commission

The League of Women Voters will hold a forum with Helena Civic Television at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the HCTV studio, 1015 Poplar Street.

The forum is slated to feature the two candidates for county commission. Both have confirmed they will attend.

The live forum will be recorded for rebroadcast on channel 189 on additional dates that have not yet been announced.

Thursday: State Legislature

Completing the trio of events will be the YWCA forum scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Myrna Loy Center, 15 N. Ewing St.

The forum is sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana; the Pride Foundation, which supports LGBTQ equality in Montana; and Forward Montana, whose mission is to "mobilize and engage young Montanans to use the democratic process to improve their lives and the lives of their fellow Montanan.

The YWCA forum, featuring candidates in races representing Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties, will also be moderated by Johnson.

Candidates who have confirmed attendance are: SD38: Democrat Edith (Edie) McClafferty; SD40: Republican Terry Gauthier and Democrat Hal Jacobson; HD17: Democrat Barnett Sporkin-Morrison; HD70: Democrat Merlyn Huso; HD79: Democratic Rep. Jenny Eck; HD80: Republican Becky Beard, Democrat Elizabeth Cain and Independent Valerie Clague; HD81: Democrat Janet Ellis; HD82: Democratic Rep. Moffie Funk; HD83: Democrat Kim Abbott; HD84: Democratic Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell and Republican Steve Gibson.

A list of possible questions will be mailed to each candidate who RSVPs in the affirmative, a news release from the YMCA stated.

Each attending candidate will be asked to select ahead of time two questions from the list to answer, and the moderator will select a third question from the list to ask each candidate.

Candidates will be given one minute to respond to each question. No rebuttals from other candidates will be allowed. Questions will not be taken from the audience.
I an Hannam, the former JPMorgan rainmaker who was fined for market abuse, saw profits leap at his new corporate finance boutique, despite a dearth of natural resources deals.

Turnover rose 37% to 7.4 million and pre-tax profits rose from 570,000 to 2.4 million in the 12 months ended March, accounts for Hannam & Partners filed at Companies House show.

Chief executive Neil Passmore, the former JPMorgan colleague of the so-called King of Mining, said profits were re-invested by the companys partners, who include Hannam and veteran City broker Tim Hoare.

The firms biggest public deals included advising on the 135 million takeover of Asia Resource Minerals, the Indonesian miner formerly known as Bumi, and Worldviews equally divisive buyout of Irish oil explorer Petroceltic. Much of its business is raising capital for private clients.

Hannam, a former Territorial Army captain who earned a reputation for arranging huge mining deals including Glencores tie-up with Xstrata, was fined 450,000 by the Financial Services Authority in 2012 for giving insider information on Heritage Oil to Kurdistans oil minister.

He resigned from JPMorgan in 2012 and bought Strand Partners the same year before rebranding it Hannam & Partners.

Passmore said the business was in good shape in a market where a lot of our competitors blew up last year, referring to the closure of GMP Securities London office and job cuts for Canaccord Genuity.

In relative terms were very happy were weathering the downturn and building a brand when others are failing to do so. In absolute terms, I was frustrated that the business stayed stuck in the same kind of modest revenue zone, he said.

Passmore said trading in the six months since March had been much better.
O ne in five private tenants in London has been a victim of law-breaking landlords, with renters having gas and electricity supplies cut off, deposits left unprotected, and possessions thrown out illegally.

Thats according to YouGov research for housing charity Shelter, that found some 350,000 renters in the capital have suffered from landlords unlawful behaviour, such as entering homes without permission and making threats.

Yet Londons housing capacity problems, and soaring rents, makes tenants more willing to tolerate bad landlords. So if a private landlord threatens you with eviction, enters your flat or house without asking consent, or discriminates against you, what can you do?

If youve been faced with eviction

First, check the threat is legal: landlords have to follow specific rules, especially for tenants with a fixed-term contract.

Most landlords will have to issue a Section 21 notice with two months warning of eviction, and apply for a court order  they cant just turn up at your door threatening eviction. Landlords also need to have placed your deposit in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme. If not, their eviction efforts may be illegal.

If a mortgage lender is trying to evict you because the landlord has missed payments, there may still be a way out. If, for example, you were living in the property when the mortgage was granted, you may be able to avoid being evicted. If not, and the property is being repossessed, new rules allow you to delay this process by up to two months. Contact your local CAB (citizensadvice.org.uk) for help, or Shelters advice line on 0808 800 4444.

If your deposit isnt protected

Any landlord offering an assured shorthold tenancy (the most common type) beginning after April 6, 2007, has to put the deposit into a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme.

If yours hasnt done so, you can take the landlord to the small claims court to reclaim the deposit, and a penalty.

Landlords and harassment

Clearly theres a difference between an annoying landlord with over-strict rules and a harassing one.

The latter disturbs or removes your belongings, cuts off your energy or water, is violent, or enters your home without permission. It could also be harassment if your landlord tries to take away your legal rights as a tenant, says Shelter.

If you are being harassed, keep written records or photos of incidents, ask them to contact you only in writing, and only see them with a witness.

Shelter advises that if their harassing behaviour continues even after you write them a complaint, write saying you will take legal action.

Contact your local councils tenancy relations officer to speak to your landlord on your behalf. If you feel the council doesnt deal with it properly, contact the Local Government Ombudsman (lgo.org.uk).
B rits brushed off fears of a Brexit-fuelled armageddon and flocked to foreign holidays this summer, according to Thomas Cook.

The travel agent and airline  which issued a profit warning in July  saw Britons book 1% more trips this summer than last, with the Balearics, US and Canary Islands most popular. That came despite concerns that the pounds post-Brexit devaluation would lower British appetite to travel abroad.

Bookings from the UK were up 13% when stripping out last years breaks to Turkey, which terrorism and a failed coup has turned into a no-go zone for travellers.

British travellers have booked 7% more winter breaks this year compared with the same time a year earlier.

Although demand is lower in Cooks other major market, Germany, it stuck to its annual profit guidance of 300 million for the year to October.

Peter Fankhauser, chief executive of Thomas Cook said: "We remain focused on ensuring that we have the right holidays available in the most popular destinations in order to meet changes in customer demand."

Shares inched up 0.2p to 70.3p.
T he high-profile chairman of troubled airline Monarch, Sir Roy McNulty, quietly left his role last month, it can be revealed.

Monarch Holdings, the owner of the 50-year-old airline which is still trying to finalise a multi-million-pound rescue package amid fears that its close to going bust, filed documents at Companies House in August revealing Sir Roys departure from the board.

When Sir Roy, chairman of Gatwick Airport and former chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, was promoted to the role from non-executive board member in July 2014, Monarch lauded the fact that one of Britains most experienced executives in the transport and aviation sectors was its new chairman.

This summer, however, the airline  which has admitted seeking out significant investment in a bid to weather tougher market conditions and to fund its ongoing growth  issued no statement about Sir Roys exit.

He is still listed on the Monarch website as chairman, although the airline on Tuesday claimed Marc Mehoyas, co-founder of Greybull Capital which bought Monarch two years ago, had become chairman at the time of the purchase.

Sir Roy and Monarch both claimed his exit was a long-established arrangement.

Monarch said Sir Roy retired as chairman at the time of Greybulls 100 million rescue deal in November 2014.

Sir Roy told the Standard: I agreed to stay on for a time as a non- executive director. We agreed earlier this year that this arrangement would end this summer. McNulty was deputy chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Monarch thanked the veteran aviation boss for kindly stay[ing] on as a non-executive director until recently and wish him and his wife a long and happy retirement.

The private equity owners of Luton-based Monarch are considering selling the troubled airline to the Chinese, holding talks with HNA Group, the owner of Hainan Airlines.

A sale would raise new concerns about Chinas influence over major UK businesses and infrastructure, after the Government expressed reservations over Chinese involvement in the 18 billion Hinkley Point nuclear plant.
H eating and plumbing giant Wolseley axed 800 jobs on Tuesday in a major overhaul of its struggling UK business as the blue-chips latest results flopped in the City.

The cuts represent nearly 15% of the blue-chips 6000-strong UK workforce while the company  known for brands like Plumb Center  is also shutting 80 of its 737 branches as well as a distribution centre.

The shares slumped to the bottom of the FTSE 100  down 153p or 4% to 4147p  as analysts focused on sales falls in the UK and Nordic markets like Denmark and Sweden. That dragged down Wolseleys healthier US arm, which generates 80% of group profits.

Chief executive John Martin said the UK cuts were unrelated to the Brexit decision, adding that the move was a push to drive more profits out of a market weakened by the absence of spurs like Government subsidy schemes for new boilers. There isnt a lot of natural growth in the market, he added.

The gloomy assessment of the sector knocked shares in rivals like Travis Perkins  down 2%  and Marshalls, whose shares slid 3%.

Wolseley, which added that the competitive landscape has been very challenging for some time, will take a 100 million hit on the cuts programme, which is expected to take up to three years to complete and generate savings of as much as 30 million a year.

In the latest quarter, UK same-store sales sank 2.1%, while Wolseleys Nordic business  where sales fared even worse  has also been placed under review.

Despite a much stronger sales advance of 3.1% in the US, where the company owns the Ferguson plumbing distributor, European woes dragged back overall sales growth to 1.5% in the three months to July 31.

Liberums Charlie Campbell said sales were slower than we would have expected, with the disappointment more outside the US.

Wolseley posted a 7% rise in trading profits to 917 million for the year to July, also shy of City forecasts despite a 10% rise in the dividend.

The profit performance would have been even worse if not for a 46 million boost from the weaker pound, inflating the sterling value of the companys mainly US-generated profits. Overall revenues rose 9% to 14.4 billion.

The blue-chip is eyeing the US for growth with 300 million in bolt-on acquisitions approved since the end of July, Martin added.

Peel Hunts Clyde Lewis said: While Ferguson continues to deliver strong growth the rest of the group looks set to weigh.
J ust three hours away from London, Calais is at boiling point, as French President Francois Hollande discovered yesterday when he pledged to dismantle The Jungle refugee camp by winter.Hollandes pointed call on Britain to play its part and fulfil its obligations despite Brexit reflects the frustration felt in France at the refugee crisis.

It is a frustration felt in Britain too, with Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, confirming the construction of a taxpayer-funded 2 million wall and a 80 million private security contract to police the port and the Channel Tunnel in Calais. British officials are seething with indignation that the French government is not doing its job.

Today in Calais, 2,700 French police and soldiers are exhausted. The population of Calais is exhausted. Hauliers are exhausted and scared. And the 10,000 migrants at the camp are desperate to recoup the money they paid people-traffickers to transport them to what they were sold as the British El Dorado. Half the migrants are from Africa, notably Sudan and Eritrea, while a third are Afghans, according to a report released this week by Help Refugees. Syrian refugees are a small minority.

So despite Brexit, Britain and France need to act now to address the problem.We must urgently renegotiate the Le Touquet agreement signed in 2002 between Great Britain and France. Last week Nicolas Sarkozy said that if he wins the Presidential elections in May next year he will appoint the president of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region, Xavier Bertrand, to negotiate on the French side.

This doesnt necessarily imply that the British border will move back to the UK and that The Jungle will be in Dover. It means we must strengthen economic co-operation between the two countries and protect a transport route that is worth more than 250 billion a year.

These bilateral deals have nothing to do with Brexit. If the British Government were to call for a renegotiation now  without waiting for Article 50 to be triggered, as it has nothing to do with Le Touquet  we would gain time even though a period of two years of discussions is part of the treaty. In any case, France will denounce the agreement in May 2017: all Centre-Right wing candidates in the next French presidential election  Juppe, Sarkozy, Fillon and Le Maire  have announced that they would do so after their election and it is likely that even a socialist government would be forced to act.

So why still lose nine months and allow a disastrous situation to continue? It penalises hauliers, ferry operators and British and French tourists. In July more than 10,000 cars were blocked in Dover because there were not enough French staff to carry out security checks.

The protection of the British border requires much more funding. The cost of the deployment of the French police force in Calais exceeds 50 million a year. Unfortunately, the current Le Touquet agreement is imprecise about the funding. What France and the UK have to pay respectively must be clear-cut.

Renegotiating the Le Touquet agreement offers Brexiteers a unique opportunity to negotiate with a neighbouring country and to show that an independent England can continue to work in harmony with its partners as before.

J-P Mulot is a former managing editor of Le Figaro
T hats the trouble with Londons rich. Take away their nannies and next minute they are fighting like rats in a sack. In Kensington they become maniacal moles, digging under each others houses. In Battersea they buy-to-leave and sue for the title deeds when they divorce. Now in Southwark of all places they look up each others knickers and scream blue murder.

The saga of Tate Modern and net-curtain-gate has more irony than an Alan Ayckbourn play. The Tates boss, Sir Nicholas Serota, once objected to residential towers going up behind his beloved power station. He lost, and a tower by Richard Rogers duly rose next door, and now he has hit back with a truly hideous tower of his own. That is what rich people do to each other. Serotas viewing balcony leers down on Rogerss svelte Neo Bankside glasshouse just 20 metres away.

The battle is, as these people say, on the cusp of iconic. Tate visitors who make it to Serotas 10th floor without seeing a single real work of art on the way are left hanging from the parapet, starved of aesthetic stimulus. There, tantalisingly out of reach, is pure performance art, rich housewives in 4.5million flats going about their chores in full public view. One panting visitor tweeted: I could swear I spotted a Francis Bacon on one of the walls. It was more than he had found in the Tate. It was lucky that the tower did not topple in the stampede.

Cue catfight. The residents are understandably furious as people queue up to peer into their rooms, lenses trained, Instagram at the ready. One lady protested that her daughters were being photographed in their rooms, and must now live in blinds-down gloom. They did know that a gallery was being built next door but not that they would be its defining work of art. A resident retaliated with a cardboard cut-out of Serota in his underpants for visitors to photograph.

Next, Serota loftily entered into the spirit of the spat. He was derisive. The residents knew Tate Modern was going up next door The character and uses of the building were also widely known. He said they bought their flats with their eyes wide open. As a concession he would ask visitors not to gesticulate or photograph the flat-dwellers. But since gesticulation appears to be an important facet of modern art appreciation, Serota suggested that if the neighbours wanted privacy they should get net curtains.

The net curtains did it. Curtain-gate went viral. Outrageous insult, said the local Liberal Democrat councillor, Adele Morris. Serota, she said, was referring to net curtains only because the residents were rich. He would not have said it if they were council flats, she added, which was almost certainly true.

The artist Grayson Perry lasered in on the net curtains. They were, he informed the BBC, a perfect storm of class taste, the strongest of class signifiers. Serota was really skewering his neighbours. As Jilly Cooper once put it, the world is divided between the haves and have nets. In Perrys part of Islington a net curtain would have the neighbourhood watch round to tell you to take it down. Proper people have shutters. Anyway, said Perry, the Neo-Banksiders were rich and were driving poor artists out of town. He made no mention of any ordinary mortals.

Two aspects of curtain-gate are quite baffling. Serota has to be right that legal searches for a property of this value would surely have disclosed the Tates plans in detail. The Tate was clearly likely to block the Neo Banksiders view of St Pauls, so the obvious question was with what? If I were a resident I would sue my lawyer.

On the other hand I find it equally inexplicable that Southwark planners can have given the Tate permission for a viewing gallery that so closely overlooks peoples homes. Given that the only view from the balcony at this point is of the flats, a screen of sorts would surely have been in order.

At the very least there should have been some reflective coating on the windows, though this was reportedly stopped by the architects. Once the rich have been parted with their money they lose all rights.

The trouble is that Southwark no longer has a planning department worth the name. As any stroll around the north of the borough will attest, nothing there has been planned there for years. Neo Bankside was already controversial when it failed to provide on-site affordable and social housing. The developers and council did a section 106 deal cash straight to the council.

This lucrative loophole is now depopulating central London. The reality is that any developer in north Southwark can do anything he wants. It is open country, the Canary Wharf of central London.

Planning requirements are merely indicative. When hundreds of millions of pounds are swilling about the luxury flat market rules are only for wimps.

What I find surprising about curtain-gate is that there are actually people living in Neo Bankside. These places are usually empty investments. We hear no similar complaints from the new Battersea Power Station since no one is expected to inhabit it. That is why Wandsworth council has allowed massive over-building, with residents so close to neighbours that, if there were any, they could almost shake hands.

As for these gated estates in London generally, the only advice is caveat emptor. Anyone who buys a flat by a modernist architect knows it will have no privacy. Modernists dont do walls. They do glass.

In this battle between the aristocracy of modern art and aristocracy of modern cash there are no losers  just fools. The rest of us should imitate Oscar Wilde who, after reading of the death of Little Nell in Dickenss The Old Curiosity Shop, said: It would take a heart of stone not to laugh.
T he Evening Standard is right to say that for democracy to work we need a proper Opposition [Comment, September 23]. But we havent had one for more than 30 years.

The last Labour governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown fully accepted the basics of the Tory agenda: that the state hinders business and enterprise so therefore its influence should be reduced to the bare minimum.

The approach was to sell off what we could and cut control  it was a recipe for disaster. Selling off basic infrastructure such as gas, water and electricity supply to private companies was bound to fail. Such companies exist only to make money, and with all structures already in place they were able to slash wages to boost profits and executive pay.

Democratic governments exist to control the worst elements in our world: the rich, powerful and greedy. Without controls we end up with the likes of Mike Ashley and Philip Green treating their companies and employees as pawns to play with and make money from.

Until we have an Opposition that is prepared to condemn such behaviour and protect our peoples rights, nothing will change. Only time will tell if Jeremy Corbyn will rise to the challenge.

David Reed

Who won and who lost in Saturdays Labour Party leadership election? After being re-elected as leader Jeremy Corbyn was the obvious winner, but in my view the Labour Party itself lost.

There has always been a puzzle at the heart of Labours philosophy. Is the party principally about large-scale nationalisation and enforced equality or something less radical? Until this basic issue is resolved we are unlikely to see the Opposition truly challenge to be elected to government.

The Rev Andrew McLuskey

Isnt it about time we stopped labelling Jeremy Corbyn as unelectable? If anything if he is more electable than Theresa May, the current Prime Minister, having won two party leadership elections in the space of a year, each with a clear majority.

Corbyns pledges  notably the 10 he announced in August  have been widely praised for tackling areas where the UK is failing, such as welfare, transport and foreign policy.

He has also offered an olive branch to Labour rebels who wanted him out in an attempt to reunite the party. Would any other politician do such a thing?

Todd Harrison

In your editorial you stated that the Labour Partys best MPs stayed out of the contest [Comment, September 23]. But who exactly are these MPs? What is so good about them and what solutions could they have offered without compromising the core values of the party they were elected to represent?

Ian Shacklock

Hammers need to arrest the slump

West Ham United fans are right to be angry after another home defeat. After the excitement of moving to the London Stadium this should have been the start of new era for the club, having finished seventh in the Premier League last season. However, this season has quickly turned into a nightmare.

Supporters have complained about the distance from their seats to the pitch, with some even taking binoculars to games. And what they have seen so far is far from satisfactory. That said, I think some Hammers fans need a dose of reality about what to expect.

Last seasons achievements were far beyond expectations and with other clubs strengthening their squads in the summer it was always going to be difficult to maintain that level of performance. Granted, Sundays 3-0 loss to Southampton was not good enough but, as with any big move, it will take time for the players to adapt to their new surroundings.

The future is certainly bright for West Ham  now the fans need to get behind the team and help them out of this slump.

Dave Naughton

Getting under the skin of super derms

Your article uses the term super derm for doctors who are not on the GMC Dermatology Specialist Register [September 22]. With the boom in cosmetic medicine, some doctors work in London but have not completed UK dermatology or plastic surgery training, but may call themselves a dermatologist or skin doctor. Not only is this misleading but it gives a negative image to the cosmetic interventions industry when procedures go wrong.

Dermatologists do not just deal with aesthetic issues but also treat diseases such as skin cancer, psoriasis and eczema. Perhaps the term super derm would be better applied to the consultant dermatologists who work within the NHS?

Dr Nick Levell, president, British Association of Dermatologists

Well done for your food waste drive

I would like to congratulate the Evening Standard on its much-welcomed campaign to cut food waste. As a Saturday boy at a supermarket in the Eighties I recall my manager ordering me to throw away the bakerys unsold items. When I asked why we didnt give the food away I was told it would only encourage people to wait around for unsold food.

Now, thanks to the Standard and The Felix Project, lets hope that we can finally end this needless waste and help those struggling to make ends meet.

Syed Kamall, MEP for London (Con)

Action not words for Berwick Street

Cllr Daniel Astaires support for Berwick Street Market is welcome [Letters, September 23] but how can senior councillors with borough-wide responsibilities be expected to deal with such local issues?

In this case, Cllr Astaire recognises that Londoners love Berwick Street and that the market is a key part of Sohos character. But the market is half-empty because of his own councils poor management. The way forward is to suspend the so-called privatisation and encourage council officers to develop a meaningful partnership with the community.

Andrew Murray
Review at a glance









O n December 5 well know whos won the Turner Prize. In the meantime, the display of work by the four contenders efficiently captures arts current mood. Cynical about all sorts of things  mass media, politics and society, objects and commodities, art itself and the institutions of art  the show generates an attractive room-to-room glamour out of not believing in anything. Or apparently so: belief and significance ultimately tiptoe back.

Helen Marten is the least nihilistic about beauty. Its her approach that is unexpected. Infinitely subdivided assemblages are constructed from limes, seashells and coloured tubing along with innumerable other unlikely things. They appear, repeat themselves, and then on closer inspection turn out to be something quite different, a shiny white billiard ball transforming into a squidge of clay, for example. Theres a feeling of narratives giddily fragmenting and multiplying. Thought-associations never reach a conclusion. Instead, visual pleasure and the joy of making are immediately apparent, and a feeling of, Oh my God, youre so right at her juxtapositions.

Marten is the most likely to win but the rest are still pretty fascinating. For Josephine Pryde objects possess little sensual impact and the temptation at first is to walk straight through her space. However, possibilities of theories and notions  models of thought  that initially nondescript flotsam eventually leads to, is the exciting element. Its a journey and you have to make an effort.

Summer of 2016 (London, Athens, Berlin) is a row of wooden surfaces each covered in a dingy brown-grey imagery of simple shapes. They turn out to be the traces of ordinary objects  oven racks, saucepans and the like  which were laid out on newly bought kitchen worktops, and the surfaces exposed to sunlight for the period of time between Pryde hearing shed been nominated and the display going up at Tate Britain. The resulting shapes constitute a crude camera-less photograph.

I know the Dada artist Man Ray used the technique in the Twenties, calling the results Rayographs, but Ive no idea why the three cities in Prydes title should be significant. I suppose she resided in them all last summer. Surely thats a bit trivial? But then how profound is anything else about this work? It suggests avant-gardists of the past. It marks time, literally. And when you learn how it was made it suggests a basic rule of feminism: women can be artists but their struggle against confinement to their supposed natural realm, the kitchen, isnt over.

This is unarguable but Summer of 2016 isnt necessarily marvellous or full of truth. And, at first at least, the two other displays in her space dont seem much better. One is a set of photos of womens hands called For Me and the other a scale model of a diesel locomotive on rails called The New Media Express in a Temporary Siding (Baby Wants to Ride).The train is large enough for people to sit on. When Pryde has shown it in other galleries visitors rode around on it. Here it stands still on its rails. On the guards carriage a graffiti artist has inscribed the phrase The train drives through the tunnel. In other cities different carriages also received tags: one says Nuts.

Trains are a corny Freudian phallic symbol. Maybe the train is phallocentric, the notion in Julia Kristevas theories that language is patriarchal and has to be struggled with. Maybe the guard guards language. Maybe nuts are testicles. The train could be anything. Its the realm of men but its little: masculinity is diminished. Its certainly silly. It would be embarrassing to ride around a gallery of solemn didactic artworks on it.

Prydes photo series suggests fashion magazines yet it seems also deliberately less than that: gloss and shimmer are suggestive rather than really there, as such. In the catalogue interview we learn that shes interested in art students often explaining their art as being done for themselves as opposed to illustrating a theory. And were alerted to a theme of dual touching. On the one side, things: objects that meant something to Pryde personally, Christmas presents and the like. On the other, the chest of the human being whose hands these are (weve no idea if any are Prydes own).

The photos might make up a single proxy self-portrait and the whole room of objects might be that. The room with all its apparent initial nothingness gradually becomes both serious and playful.

Michael Deans installation of sculptures based on writing, which nevertheless mostly dont communicate anything directly, also contains a mountain of pennies whose meaning is unambiguous. (I dont know if hes interested in the fact that the overall amount is a little less than the money the eventual prize winner will receive: 25,000.) The title makes it clear  United Kingdom Poverty Line for Two Adults and Two Children: Twenty Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty Six Pounds Sterling as Published on 1st September 2016. A single penny has been removed, so in effect the sum is below the poverty line.

As with Prydes worktops theres nothing much to write home about with this work despite the appalling social truth it points to. Truth referenced by art doesnt automatically translate into artistic richness  some kind of imaginative transformation is also required. Dean seems to know this but wants to go ahead and be banal anyway, and the strength of the rest of his display, its careful muted colour, variety of textures, and sustained elegant linearity, makes the decision acceptable.

Anthea Hamilton is the other likely front-runner besides Marten  in her case based on attention-grabbing sensationalism. When the shortlist was first announced in May the press emphasised above all a big arse made by Hamilton. This work  six metres high, executed in painted polyurethane and finally manifesting an unrealised architectural project from modernisms recent past (an arse-shaped doorway in New York by an Italian designer of the Seventies)  is idiotic. But again a world of meaning  meaning about the world  can be extrapolated from it, if that isnt too disgusting an image. Good luck to whoever wins.

The winner of the Turner Prize 2016 is announced on December 5; the exhibition runs at Tate Britain, SW1 until Jan 2; tate.org.uk

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O scar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg graced the red carpet last night at the European premiere of his latest film, Deepwater Horizon.

His arrival was greeted with loud cheers and applause from fans who queued outside Cineworld Leicester Square in the hope that they can take a selfie or two with their idol.

The film is based on the real life Gulf Coast oil rig, named Deepwater Horizon, that burst into flames in 2010 which killed 11 crewmen and caused the largest oil spill in US waters.

Wahlberg plays electrician Mike Williams in the disaster film, who was the last person to make it out alive from the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

He was joined by the action-packed films director Peter Berg, who Wahlberg already worked with in the 2013 American-British war film Lone Survivor.

Wahlberg said: We know what our job is and the responsibility that weve taken on and so weve got to deliver, you know, and Pete [Berg] and I were very aware of that and wed discuss that on a daily basis.

Wahlberg added: I knew that it would have to be handled a lot more delicately and sensitively and after our experience on Lone Survivor I knew he was the guy for the job."

Deepwater Horizon Featurette

Real-life survivor Williams was also at the premiere accompanied by his wife Felicia, who is played by Kate Hudson in the big screen.

We actually talked a few times before a deal was reached, Williams said.

I had to be certain that he would honestly tell the story of what I saw that night without reading the script and without even knowing what the movie was going to be about.

The first two years after the disaster it was difficult for me to even leave the house and now here I am in front of thousands of people, he added.

Last night's exclusive screening was a big hit.

Voxpop at Deepwater Horizon premiere

Deepwater Horizon enters UK cinemas on September 29.
 I don't think I can tell you all the ways I hate Donald Trump, says Michelle, 34, a heavily tattooed Latino woman who has come to the Abbey bar in West Hollywood to watch the first Presidential debate. Hes a narcissist, a bigot. If Hillary doesnt win, I may have to move out of the United States. Legitimately.

Its fair to say this crowd is biased. The Abbey has been a cornerstone of the Los Angeles LGBT scene for 25 years and since Clinton spoke here in 2007 its been a hotbed of support. Tonight is an official debate screening put on by Hollywood for Hillary, the local chapter of the Clinton campaign, which has more than 1,000 volunteers. The West Wing cast were waving placards. Moby and actor Jeff Goldblum have both volunteered in phonebanks, says one local organiser.

The clientele is a cross-section of multiracial, polysexual, liberal America. A rainbow flag is adorned with the words #ShesWithUs. The closest I can see to a Trump supporter is a papier mache effigy.

But a couple of hours before the debate begins the mood is tense. CNN has been running a second-by-second countdown for days; the campaign teams have been practising their prebuttals; the pressure on moderator Lester Holt to fact-check or not fact-check is huge.

Im 60 and this is the first time Ive felt the need to watch a debate in public. says Chase, 60, an abstract painter who has come with his long-term partner Steve, an actor. This one really matters.

Marie, 64, an African-American sipping a sling at the bar, says: We have some nerves just based on the political climate. Shes going to be judged on a bunch of stuff she cant do much about. If youre a woman youre too strong, thats a problem. Youre too weak, thats a problem. You smile, theres a problem. You dont smile, theres a problem.

These are strange times, says her friend Milton. You ought to get that Queen of yours sent from England.

Send the baby! adds Michelle.

I do not believe in the government, says Kelsey, whos visiting from Pennsylvania. What has gotten better? Every year something gets worse. Theres more stigmatism with race, with sexuality. Really? Gay marriage? A black President? Isnt that progress? I guess so. But I feel like theres so much anger. I dont enjoy being in this country any more.

The most palpable optimism is to be found in the campaigners, who hand out badges and encourage whooping. Im looking forward to seeing the Hillary we all love show herself, says Marissa, whose T-shirt reads: SPOILER ALERT: HILLARY WINS. Arent there a lot of people who dont love Hillary? I hope they do some research. I can see how people see her as the establishment but the idea that youre then OK with everything he stands for? I dont know how to talk to that person. Which perhaps explains why the polls are so close.

When the candidates loom on the big screen, I see a one-word text pop up on Chases screen: ANXIETY. There are cheers for Clintons call to raise the minimum wage and incredulous laughter at Trumps scheme to reduce corporation tax. But soon everyone becomes fixated on his sniff  is he on cocaine, I hear someone wonder  and then simply his incomprehensibility. Did he just imply that Hillary Clinton weighs 400lb? whispers Chase to me after he tries to make a point about cyber crime. Holt gets a cheer for his fact-checking but the biggest noise comes when Clinton calls Trump a racist three times over his birther conspiracy  and then finally his Miss Universe misogyny.

I think she did great, says Marissa. She was a commander-in-chief from the moment she stepped on stage. She dealt with all the issues like her emails with grace and dignity and then she moved on. He couldnt get any footing. There were so many times we were sitting around going What the bleep is he talking about?

I return to Marie. She is impressed that for all his talk of stamina, Trump sipped water while Clinton displayed a camel-like lack of thirst.

Shes got real information, says Marie. She stood her ground and didnt respond to bullshit.

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But an hour or so later I see worried faces. Can they be sure that what they heard, others heard? Does fact-checking matter in a post-fact election? The countdown begins again.

Follow Richard on Twitter @richardjgodwin
W hat the?

Pretty impressive huh? Neuschwanstein is a 19th century fairy tale castle in Bavaria; an elaborate homage to the German composer, Richard Wagner.

Wait, havent I seen that in a Disney movie?

So Neuschwanstein featured prominently in a handful of films including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Great Escape, but the reason it looks so familiar is that it was the key inspiration for the Royal Castle in Sleeping Beauty, and in turn, the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris we all know and love.

Where?

Neuschwanstein is set up on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau, near Fussen, in southwest Bavaria, Germany  an area of pretty epic castles it seems  check out Hohenschwangau Castle too.

Who lives there?

Okay, so no one lives there anymore but it was, back in the day, the quiet retreat of King Ludwig II of Bavaria  aka Fairytale King. He commissioned the build for his personal merriment (but also as a homage to the composer Richard Wagner, whom he much admired.) Seven weeks after King Ludwig II died in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public.

Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

Its the prettiest castle we ever saw

Neuschwanstein was built in 19th century Bavaria at a time when castles werent required for defence purposes, so it is solely decorative. Ludwig was somewhat transfixed with the fantasy world, hence built this crazy spectacle atop a hill

Whats it like inside?

If it had been completed, Neuschwanstein would have had more than 200 rooms, but sadly, King Ludwig II died before completion so only 15 rooms and halls were finished. Those ones though are incredibly majestic, with strong Byzantium influences and characters from Wagners operas.

30 places to visit before you turn 30 1 /41 30 places to visit before you turn 30 Click through our gallery to discover the places you should visit before you turn 30... Shutterstock 1. Bali Highland panoramas, scenic waterfalls, open blue skies, golden sunsets and awesome sunrises across the coastline. Theres a reason why people say that Bali stirs the soul.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Explore temples and palaces, go river rafting, sign up to a surf school, volunteer at an orangutan sanctuary, take a yoga class in the mountains and party all night. Best of all, its cheap - so youll be able to live like a king on a fortnights trip here. Stephan Stansfield/Flickr 2. Island hopping in Greece If youve never made it to Greece, then schedule in some time to discover its lesser-known islands by boat. Go to big-hitters Santorini, Crete and Rhodes and and discover little-known gems Astypalea and Tinos.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because you can explore whitewashed cubic houses, lie on white hot sands, take a dip in the bath water-warm Aegean. Shutterstock / Mikhail Gnatkovsk 3. Myanmar Until fairly recently, Myanmar was off limits to wanderlust Westerners. But after five decades of military rule, Asias formerly Junta-controlled diamond in the rough has finally opened its crystal shores to nirvana-seekers.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Unsullied beaches, ancient Pagan temples and incredibly cheap prices make Burma the perfect holiday spot for cash-strapped travellers in their 20s. Joe Connor 4. Ibiza No surprises here - the Island that never sleeps has long been one of the hottest places to play for people in their 20s. This hedonistic paradise is a lure for British clubbers drawn in by sun, sand and world-class DJs.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because nowhere does sunset chilling quite like Ibiza. Shutterstock / FP media 5. Croatia Ancient walled towns, dreamy deep-blue seascapes, an unrivaled festival scene and guaranteed good weather. Whats not to love about Croatia?



Why go here before you turn 30?



Visit festival and wellness island Obonjan, go fun-seeking at Sonus, take a Game of Thrones tour, go white-water rafting, stroll around the museums in Zagreb or simply spend your days enjoying cocktail after cocktail on the beach. Angus Webster 6.Toronto, Canada Forget Williamsburg, hipsters looking for a cultural injection should make a beeline for Canadas largest city for art, food and dive bars by the dozen.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Ethnic enclaves, a bustling food scene and cool designer stays - there are plenty of reasons to discover Toronto. Shutterstock / njene 7. Pammukale, Turkey Pamukkale is actually Turkish for cotton castle, which accurately sums up this amazing display of natural hot water pools in Denizli Province. The city is famous for its travertines - terraces of dazzling white carbonate minerals left by the flowing water that tourists can bathe in.



Why go here before you turn 30?



It'll make for one stunning Instagram. Shutterstock / Copycat37 8. Backpack through Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is one of the most accessible regions for the novice traveller - thanks to its mix of volcanoes, rainforests, rice fields, beaches and coral reefs. Some popular stops include Chiang Mai in Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Laos, Hanoi in Vietnam.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Explore thousand-year-old Hindu ruins, rave on the beach, attend a Buddhist ceremony at dawn and hike through the jungle looking for wildlife. The possibilities are endless. Shutterstock / Lena Serditova 9. Costa Rica Theres plenty of time for gentle package holidays in your later years. This tiny Central American oasis is a twenty-somethings playground of wild beaches, rocky points, volcanoes, reefs, rare wildlife and spectacular rainforests.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because you can learn how to surf on the Nicoya peninsula, try truly amazing Costa Rican coffee, learn to speak Spanish, get lost on a hike in a rainforest, go white water rafting at Turrialba and see real life sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, ocelots and toucans. Autentico Adventures Costa Rica/Flickr 10. Tiger's Nest Monastery, Bhutan William and Kate put this remote kingdom on the map earlier this year, and a trip here isnt complete without paying a visit the the Tigers Nest Monastery. Believed to be the birthplace of Bhuddism, the Monastery has been a place of pilgrimage since it was built in 1692.



Why go here before you turn 30?



The temple complex clings to a cliff, a dizzying 3120 meters above the sea level on the side of the upper Paro valley. If you want to take in the stunning views of blue pines and rhododendrons youll need fearless stamina to hike to the top. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images 11. Songkran Festival, Thailand Songkran festival, or the Thai New Year, is three days of nonstop revelry. Its celebrated across the country, with locals and tourists gathering in the streets with super soakers, water balloons and buckets of water one almighty water fight.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because who doesnt love a water fight? AFP/Getty Images 12. Banff, Canada This resort town is one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs. A visit here offers the chance to experience the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and glacier-fed lakes, bull elk and brown bear sightings, and small-town charm like no other.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because its some of the finest mountain scenery youll find on the planet. Shutterstock / Songquan Deng 13. Norway Picturesque fjords, magical mountains, quaint coastal towns and the possibility of spotting the Northern Lights makes Norway a tempting trip for those on the hunt for natural beauty.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Visit trendy Oslo, discover magical lesser-known towns, stand on a gravity-defying boulder, sail around the fjords, stay in a fishermans cottage you may even spot a polar bear. Shutterstock / Carsten Pasternac 14. Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is one of the greatest hiking challenges a traveller can undertake. This granite dome sits at the eastern end of one of Americas most spectacular national parks.



Why go here before you turn 30?



The terrain is dramatic, the scenery is amazing, and its probably the single most iconic thing you can do in California. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images 15. Iceland This Nordic island nation isnt far from the UK, but packs in astonishing natural phenomena and take-your-breath-away landscapes.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Contemporary cuisine, Lord of the Rings-esque lands, stargazing, endless hours of daylight and geothermal springs. Its hard to narrow it down. Shutterstock / pranodhm 16. The Inca Trail, Peru The Inca Trail is by far the most famous trek in South America. In just 26 miles it manages to combine beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because the final destination of the trail just cannot be beaten: Machu Picchu, the mysterious "Lost City of the Incas". Brent Stirton/Getty Images 17. Manchester, UK The capital of The North might not strike as the most exotic of travel destination, but its giving London a run for its money thanks to a wealth of music and art history, smart fine dining restaurants, hipster neighbourhoods and a swathe of cool new boutique hotels.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because it's only 2 hours away by train from the capital. Shutterstock / Tupungato 18. India The food alone is enough of a draw to India, but throw in palm-fringed beaches, one of the seven wonders of the world, forts, mosques, monuments and ancient ruins, and you have a holiday on that ticks all the boxes on your hands.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because youll want leave enough room to come back again and again over your lifetime. Shutterstock / LukaKikina 19. Berlin Edgy, cool and creative, Berlin is one of the worlds best cities for boutique shopping, brilliantly offbeat nights out and hipster hangouts.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because its one of Europes most exciting cities. Shutterstock / Claudio Divizia 20. Melbourne, Australia Whether youre looking to party, simply kick-back on a beach or sample some of the best brunch in the world, Melbourne offers it all to young travellers and backpackers.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Australias coolest capital holds all kinds of attractions for people in their 20s, from bars and boutiques to clubs and cafes. Shutterstock / GagliardiImages 21. New Zealand Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places on earth, New Zealand is home to some incredibly unspoilt scenery. Make sure to take a decent camera, because stunning national parks and reserves make up a third of its land.



Why go here before you turn 30?



When else can you spend a whole month hiking its natural peaks and troughs? Gareth Richman 22. Carnival, Rio de Janeiro Forget Notting Hill carnival: once a year, several million travellers descend on Rio to enjoy four days of parades and partying at the beginning of Lent.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Who wouldnt want to be part of the biggest street party on the planet? Raphael Dias/Getty Images 23. The Great Wall of China As the famous Chinese saying goes, 'he who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man'. This great engineering marvel winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching across over 13,000 miles.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because your 20s arent just for partying and frolicking... AFP/Getty Images 24. Burning Man Festival, Nevada Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in Nevadas Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary festival of art, hedonism and self-expression.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because its the most outrageous festival of all: alongside meditation and yoga theres spanking classes, orgies, and naked foam parties. Chances are, youll only want to get involved when youre young enough not to regret it. Duncan Rawlinson/Flickr 25. Antelope Canyon, Arizona Located just outside of Page, in the heart of Navajo Country, Antelope may just be the most photographed slot canyon in the world - thanks to its awe-inspiring, sandstone formations.



Why go here before you turn 30?



The celestial light beams in the canyon make this place completely unforgettable and unmissable. AFP/Getty Images 26. Pacific Coast Highway, California The PCH is a road trip-lovers dream, with its winding ribbon roads that meander alongside the crashing Cali coast from Carmel to Morro Bay. The 123-mile route takes in Big Sur and the much photographed Bixby Bridge, as well as five hours of cliff-hugging open road.



Why go here before you turn 30?



The all-American road has been voted one of the top motorcycle rides in the U.S - its basically the drive of a lifetime, but youll enjoy the freedom most on two wheels. Howard Ignatius/Flickr 27. Bosnia & Herzegovina Turquoise rivers, medieval castles and tumbling waterfalls. It sounds like something out of a fairytale, but the craggily beautiful lands of Bosnia and Herzegovina are real - and theyre one of Europes best kept secrets.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because there are few places in the world where you can enjoy hiking, beautiful countryside, rafting and swimming, inner-city bridge jumping and skiing all within one country. Shutterstock 28. Tokyo, Japan Japans busy capital shouldnt be overlooked - as well as providing endless Instagram opportunities, it manages to pack in both the ultramodern and the traditional - from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because you can sleep in a capsule, walk across the beautiful Tokyo bay, spend hours in an multi-storey arcade, slurp down some heavenly ramen and spend hours strolling through the brightly-lit streets. Shutterstock 29. Osea Island, Essex On Osea Island, they know how to throw a party. Located in the middle of Essexs Blackwater Estuary, the private island  which is only accessible by boat, helicopter or car at low tide  boasts four and a half miles of its own beaches and coastline perfect for social gatherings.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Because you can throw the most incredible weekend parties here. Alamy Stock Photo 30. Las Vegas, Nevada Live like a celebrity for amongst the glitz and glitter of one of the worlds most famous strips.



Why go here before you turn 30?



Win big at a casino, take in a cirque production, party all night, go four-wheeling in the surrounding national parks just make sure you dont accidentally get hitched. Shutterstock / Don Mammoser

I need to see it

You definitely can. Its the most visited castle in Germany, welcoming over 1.3million people a year. Hohenschwangau is a 90-minute drive from Innsbruck airport, and Neuschwanstein is just a 30-minute (steep!) walk from the village. Enjoy!

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D etectives investigating the murder of a gentle giant in south London have released fresh CCTV footage from the night of the attack.

Andrew Oteng-Owusu was stabbed to death on the Lovelinch Estate, in Bermondsey, last month.

The 19-year-old died from a single stab wound to the leg on August 4.

The teenager staggered back to his home in Upnall House after the attack, which happened around 11.30pm on August 3, but was pronounced dead in hospital 12 hours later.

He was found by his mother Tina Ababio, who is on dialysis, crying out for help as he lay dying on his own doorstep in Sharratt Street with blood pouring from his leg.

She told the Standard: I dont know who would be capable of taking his life.

Andrew was a very gentle, humble and polite young man, helpful to everyone he knew, especially in the neighbourhood.

Carer Andrew Oteng-Owusu, 19, was stabbed around 50 yards from his home in Bermondsey

He was a wonderful carer for me and my only child and loved by everyone who knew him because of his nature.

Metropolitan Police are offering a 20,000 reward for information and have today released CCTV footage of two men spotted in the area when Mr Oteng-Owusu was killed.

They are also searching for a young black man who walked the victim to his home after the attack.

New images: Police are looking to speak to these two men who they believe may hold key information over the attack / Met Police

Detective Inspector Tom Dahri said: "It is nearly two months since Andrew was stabbed near to his home at the junctions of Hornshay Street and Lovelinch Close.

"We know that after he was stabbed he staggered home and collapsed at his front door, where he was found by his mother.

"There are few clues as to why this might have happened.

"The community on the Lovelinch Estate have been really supportive of the investigation, and we have spoken to a number of witnesses so far, but I would still like to speak to a young black man, who we understand walked with Andrew to his block after he had been stabbed.

"Also the two men in the CCTV images we have released who were both walking in the area when Andrew was stabbed.

"It is entirely possible that they may have seen or heard something that could be important to the investigation and it is imperative they come forward.

"I would like to reassure them that they are being treated as witnesses and will be dealt with in the utmost sensitivity."

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on September 6 and has been bailed to a date in November pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8721 4961 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
A Co-Op delivery driver failed to check his mirrors properly before he hit and killed a physiotherapist with his lorry as she cycled to work, a court was told.

Esther Hartsilver, 32, went under the wheels of Philip Beadles HGV as he turned off Denmark Hill on May 28 last year, Blackfriars crown court heard.

She was taking her regular route through rush-hour traffic to work at Kings College Hospital when she was hit at about 8am. She was taken to the hospital, where her colleagues fought to save her life, but died later that day.

Beadle, 47, from Colchester, denies causing death by careless driving. Yesterday, prosecutor Benedict Kelleher said the experienced driver had had about six seconds to spot Ms Hartsilver in his wing mirror before he turned left off Denmark Hill into Orpheus Street.

Tragedy: Esther Hartsilver died aged 32 (Picture: Facebook)

For whatever reason in these moments, Mr Beadles driving was careless. He could and should have seen Ms Hartsilver in his mirrors, Mr Kelleher said. CCTV caught the final moments before the crash, as Ms Hartsilver, a Manchester University graduate, cycled towards Beadles lorry as he waited at a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Kelleher said the lorry set off again and almost immediately began to indicate left, as Ms Hartsilvers bike pulled up alongside in the adjacent bus lane.

Ms Hartsilver would have been in the view of the driver, had he looked in the mirrors in those seconds when he began to move forward from the crossing and began to turn, he said.

That period of time is around six seconds. He turned his lorry left in a manoeuvre which was a legitimate turn from the main road into a side street.

"As he did, Ms Hartsilvers bicycle came up just to the front side of his lorry, she was caught on the wheel and went under.

Beadle was in shock afterwards and told police officers he had checked his mirrors but did not see Ms Hartsilver, the court heard.

The trial continues.
A dangerous paedophile has been jailed for life after raping one 12-year-old girl in Enfield and sexually assaulting another.

Apedelrazek Badran, 33, had only been out of prison for a few months following a previous nine-year sentence for rape when he committed the offences.

He now faces at least eight years and four months behind bars before he can even be considered for release.

Investigating Officer Detective Constable Lee Ranson said Badran is one of the most dangerous offenders he has ever prosecuted and another detective said "the streets are safer without him".

Badran, of Hadrian's Drive, Enfield, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court in August of raping a schoolgirl in January after pretending to be a security guard.

The court heard how he told her she fitted the description of a shoplifter and he needed to search her.

As he approached her she had been on the phone to her mother, who rushed to the scene in terror but could not find her daughter.

An hour earlier he told another schoolgirl, also 12, that he was a police officer and planned to arrest her before attempting to force her into a nearby van.

He grabbed her wrists but she managed to escape. The jury was shown CCTV of her running in the street with Badran following on his bike.

He was also found guilty of three charges of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

In 2003, Badran, aged 20, was jailed for raping a nine-year-old girl in east London after he was caught by a DNA test.

He assaulted the youngster after spotting her fishing at a canal near the Hackney Marshes nature reserve

Detective Inspector Mark Rogers of the Met's Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Badran posed a serious threat to young girls and the streets are now safer with him behind bars.

"It is possible that he may have approached, and even attacked other children and I would urge them to come forward.

"We take all allegations of sexual offences incredibly seriously and have specialist officers on hand to speak with anyone who has been the victim of assault."
P olice are hunting a gunman after a 20-year-old man was shot near Hampstead.

Officers were called to Fellows Road, close to Swiss Cottage, to reports of shots being fired last Wednesday.

After attending at about 11.20pm officers found evidence of gunshots but no one was injured at the scene.

Police later found that a 20-year-old man had suffered a gunshot injury and was being treated in a central London hospital.

His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

Detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command are investigating.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Anyone with information should call Trident on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A man who attempted to rape a woman in a north London park on Valentines Day has been jailed after his victim escaped by biting him.

Terry McBride, of no fixed address, followed his victim through Valentines Park in Ilford at about 9am on February 14.

The 25-year-old forced her to the ground, put his hand over her mouth and climbed on top of her, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The woman, aged in her early 40s, tenaciously fought off her attacker by punching him in the face and biting his hand.

She screamed and continued to bite until six-feet-tall McBride told her: I'm not going to do anything, I will let you go, the court was told.

The victim then called the police and bravely followed McBride who fled when he turned to see her talking on the phone.

He was identified by DNA found at the scene of the attack and arrested on February 18.

He was found guilty of attempted rape at the same court on July 29 and was today jailed for 10 years.

Detective Inspector John Delaney said: "I must praise the victim's courage; she tenaciously fought off her attacker and then bravely followed him.

McBride is a big man, of a heavy build and over 6ft tall, but the victim turned the tables and forced him to flee from her.

This was a violent and cowardly attack at the hands of complete stranger and a long prison sentence is justified and appropriate."
A man was left bleeding from his head after he was punched by a stranger during an unprovoked attack in south London.

The 45-year-old victim was walking along Brixton Road, near the Ritzy Cinema, in Brixton when he was struck in the forehead by a man which left him with a cut to the head.

The man was tended to by bystanders before he was rushed to hospital by paramedics and was later discharged.

Detectives today have appealed for witnesses to come forward following the attack on Sunday at 11.21pm.

No arrests have been made.

Police described the suspect as a black man, about 5ft 5ins tall, of a stocky build and has a shaved head.

DC Anne-Marie Long, of Lambeth CID, said: "People should be able to walk along the street without the fear of violence.

"There were a number of people in the area at the time of the attack. I would appeal to any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward so we can catch the person responsible for this attack."

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
T his is the moment police stormed a cannabis factory in south-east London.

Bexley Police discovered 200 plants at a house in Welling during a raid in the early hours of this morning.

Officers posted dramatic footage on social media showing the moment the factory was revealed.

The clip shows officers come across a white sheet concealing the entrance to the factory.

The camera pans round, revealing hundreds of cannabis plants as a generator buzzes in the background.

Cannabis farm: Bexley Police have released footage of the discovery of a large cannabis farm in south-east London / Twitter/BexleyMPS

Police said they are now working in partnership with the UK Power Network to make the property safe.

A spokesman for Bexley police said: Forensic opportunities will be explored in the address and all cannabis plants and hydroponics will be destroyed.

"Following intelligence received from Crimestoppers in recent weeks my team have acted promptly to secure a warrant at the address.

This has led to significant cannabis factory being found and a large quantity of drugs being taken off the streets of Bexley ."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A violent thug who left his ex-partner needing more than 40 stitches after attacking her with a Stanley knife has been jailed for 21 years.

Carlington Francis launched a campaign of abuse against his 36 year-old ex, resulting in a non-molestation order being made against him.

Despite this, as the victim got in a taxi on Hornsey Road on March 8, outside London Metropolitan University, Francis leaned into the car and slashed her face with a Stanley Knife.

The 39 year-old then grabbed the victims handbag and ran off towards the Emirates Stadium.

The victim suffered two deep cuts to both cheeks and a deep cut to her hand as a result of the attack, causing tendon and nerve damage.

In total, the victim required more than 40 stitches for the cuts to her face and arms.

An investigation was launched by the Mets Islington Community Safety Unit (CSU) and Francis was arrested at Heathrow Airport a day after the attack as he attempted to leave the country.

He was found with approximately 3,000 in cash.

After being found guilty of GBH with intent and breaching a non-molestation order at Blackfriars Crown Court last Friday, Francis, of Balliol Road, Tottenham, was jailed for 21 years.

Islington CSUs detective constable Pritpal Bhabra said: "I would firstly like to commend the courage and dignity of the victim, who has been through a dreadful ordeal. This attack was brutal and unprovoked and the victim suffered terrible injuries as result.

Francis has shown no remorse for his violent actions and the long prison sentence is entirely justified.

It sends a clear message that domestic abuse will not be tolerated and those who carry out such attacks will be held to account for their actions."
MISSOULA -- A man facing a federal charge for allegedly organizing a prostitution ring that included teenage girls was being supervised by a Missoula probation officer before he was arrested in Billings.

Terrance Tyrell Edwards, 34, has been charged with felony sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and made his initial appearance by video in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on Monday. He is being held without bond in the Yellowstone County jail.

Court records list five women and girls as victims in the case. Edwards met the first woman through the social networking website MeetMe.com earlier this month, according to a sworn statement by Missoula police detective Guy Baker, who is also a FBI task force officer. The affidavit did not identify the woman or her hometown, but authorities in Lake County and with the Montana Department of Justice previously identified her as a 22-year-old from Polson.

The woman traveled to Missoula, thinking she and Edwards were going to start dating, according to Baker's statement. Instead, Edwards bought red lingerie, took pictures of her in the lingerie for advertisements to be posted on the internet and told her he planned to make money with her, Baker said in the statement. On the first day, the woman earned $1,400 for sex with multiple men, according to the statement.

As the woman had sex with men for money in Montana and in Salt Lake City, Edwards went to Washington state to pick up a second woman who was brought into the operation, Baker said.

At one point, Edwards struck one of the women in the face for looking at a man who was not a customer, and he then required her to check in with him every two hours, Baker said.

That Polson woman told Baker that on Sept. 19 she drove Edwards to Missoula so that he could be released from probation for a prior prostitution conviction. Edwards has two prior felony prostitution arrests in Missoula.

One dates to 2010, when he was charged with promoting prostitution for arranging and forcing a 19-year-old Missoula woman to meet clients for paid sex. In February 2011, District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps gave him a five-year sentence, all of it suspended, after Edwards pleaded no contest as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

In January 2012, Edwards was arrested in Texas, where he had moved without telling his probation officer, and new charges for promoting prostitution and witness tampering were filed against him and his brother after investigators found he had been recruiting more women.

His suspended sentence was revoked in June 2012 and Deschamps sentenced him to five years in the Montana State Prison, with credit for 269 days already served in custody.

According to the Montana Department of Corrections, Edwards was granted parole in September 2015 under the conditions that he complete chemical dependency and sex offender counseling. He was released from custody at the start of March and was under the supervision of the Missoula office of Adult Probation and Parole until Sept. 19, two days before his arrest, when he was discharged because his sentence was completed.

In a statement Monday, Department of Corrections Deputy Director Loraine Wodnik said around 38 percent of the men released from prison in Montana are re-incarcerated within three years.

At the Montana Department of Corrections, were emphasizing evidence-based treatment and other programming. Our probation and parole officers do a tremendous job of working with caseloads of up to 85 felony offenders in many of our bigger urban areas. We as a department do our absolute best to assist in the rehabilitation of all offenders, but ultimately, it is each offender who makes the decision to change, she wrote.

According to his federal court complaint, Edwards traveled to Fargo, North Dakota, on Sept. 20 and picked up three girls ages 15, 16 and 17; two from North Dakota and one from Minnesota. One of the girls did not know the purpose of the trip, Baker wrote.

When Edwards left the state, one of the women he left behind contacted authorities with a cellphone Edwards apparently gave her for customer calls, Baker said.

Police arrested Edwards Wednesday morning outside a Billings hotel. The three girls were returned to North Dakota, Baker said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
T housands of three and four-year-olds across London could miss out on nursery places as a result of government funding changes, town hall chiefs warned today.

London Councils, which represents local authorities, said the long-term future of many nurseries was at risk.

It said it was very concerned that plans to reform early years funding could have a disproportionate effect on state nurseries, many of which are in poorer areas.

Working parents will be able to take up to 30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds from next April, which is likely to see soaring demand for places.

Under the plans, all childcare providers in a borough would receive a universal basic rate to fund the childcare but nurseries in different parts of London face huge variations in costs.

London Councils called on the Government to make sure no area suffers a drop in their hourly funding rate per child as a result of the formula changes.

Nine London boroughs - Hackney, Southwark, Brent, Lewisham,Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Ealing and Tower Hamlets - will all see a reduction in the rate of around 10 per cent.

This is on top of the early years flat funding rate that has been in place since 2013-14, equivalent to a 4.5 per cent real-terms cut.

The town halls want those boroughs which are missing out to get additional funding  but not at the expense of the remaining 23 boroughs in the capital which are set to get more.

Councillor Peter John, London Councils schools spokesman, said: More than 140,000 children across the capital benefit from free childcare provided by maintained nurseries.

"These places support some of the most deprived children in London, particularly where there is a lack of alternative childcare options.

Setting a universal base rate of funding for all childcare providers will result in many nurseries losing out if they have higher running costs.

"Quality early years education enables children growing up in deprived areas to catch up with their more affluent peers by the time they start primary school. It would be a huge concern if the new funding formula resulted in nurseries reviewing or cutting back the service.

Overall 240,000 children between two and four in London get free childcare, more than any other part of the UK.

Whitehall is giving an extra 55 million a year to councils for state-funded nursery schools for at least two years, but there is no commitment beyond that.
A young man has been rushed to hospital after he was hit by a police car on a 999 call outside a west London college.

The man, aged in his 20s, was struck by an unmarked police car in London Road, Isleworth at the junction with Harvard Road on Tuesday afternoon.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before he was rushed to hospital. Police said they are awaiting an update on his condition.

The road was taped off at around 3.30pm when police and ambulance crews were called to the scene.

The collision took place near to the main campus of West Thames College, a further education college based in Hounslow.

A Met spokesman confirmed a police car was involved in the collision. He added early indications showed the car was responding to an emergency call at the time.

He added the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards will be investigating the collision.
A London fashion graduate was killed in a car crash in bad weather during a dream round-the-world trip, an inquest heard.

Theresa Falvey, 25, was on the two-year trip following her graduation from the London College of Fashion when tragedy struck in Tasmania, North London coroners court was told.

The car she was travelling in skidded off a road in the north of the Australian island and overturned.

Her mother Alison, from Watford, said: It was pouring with rain, the driver of the car hit a pothole on an incline at a bend in the road.

She swerved and lost control, and the car turned over and went off the road into a field.

The other three people in the car were not seriously injured.

Theresas parents have criticised authorities for failing to provide enough support after their daughters death on March 10.

Mrs Falvey said: Theresa was born here, she died abroad but she was a British citizen. Lots of kids go travelling, and most come back.

Sadly for us Theresa did not, but the British consulate should provide more support. We have heard nothing from them. I hope something will be done about this.

Speaking outside the court after the inquest was adjourned last week, Mrs Falvey added: Im so disgusted that there was no letter of bereavement or any proper contact from the British consulate.

Theresa died on March 10 and now it is September and there has been nothing from the Government. I just feel our Government should do something to be there for people in our situation.

We heard about Theresas death at 2.30am in the morning when police came and knocked on our door.

The Tasmanian police had told Interpol, who told the Watford police, who then came to us. We were advised to phone the British consulate in Tasmania. The consulate person did not get back to me until hours later, via email, and said, Here are two bereavement leaflets and added, Sorry for your loss  and that was pretty much it.

Coroner Andrew Walker adjourned the inquest until a Tasmanian coroners court has come back with its own verdict on the crash. Mr Walker said: We will wait to get their coroners report, look at it together and decide if it is something we should adopt or whether we should do our own inquiry.

If we cannot have a verdict from a Tasmanian coroner, we will come back and do what we can.

Mrs Falvey said: We are learning to adjust to our life without Theresa. She had two brothers, John and Joe, and they were all exceptionally close. The inquest is the final part of the jigsaw. In one way it will bring us closure.

Theresas father Donald, brother Joe and other family members also attended the North London hearing.

The British consulate in Tasmania was not available for comment.
P olice have launched a probe after a teenager was shot on a south London housing estate.

The 19-year-old man was injured on Monday night and took himself to hospital with gunshot injuries where he currently remains. His his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Police were called to the Tulse Hill Estate, opposite Brockwell park, at just before 10pm following reports of a group of males with a firearm.

Officers found nothing suspicious at first but fifteen minutes later the shot teen turned up at a nearby hospital.

A discharged shotgun cartridge was later found on a grassy area near to Cherry Close.

Detectives are now appealing for information and witnesses to help in the investigation.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Tulse Hill area, or has information that may help, should call Trident detectives on 020 8247 4863 or via 101. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
B oris Johnson sought to spin his way out of a diplomatic gaffe today by praising his beautiful Turkish washing machine.

Before being appointed Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson sparked controversy by writing a satirical limerick about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Visiting Turkey today, where he was due to meet Mr Erdogan, the former Mayor of London sought to build diplomatic bridges.

We are lucky in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods, he said at a joint press conference in Ankara with Turkish EU affairs minister Omer Celik.

I am certainly the proud possessor of a beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine, like so many other people in my country.

Mr Johnson, who has Turkish ancestry, was awarded a 1,000 prize by the Spectator in May for winning the magazines competition to write the most offensive poem possible about the key regional power broker.

The limerick read: There was a young fellow from Ankara. Who was a terrific w******r. Till he sowed his wild oats. With the help of a goat. But he didnt even stop to thankera.

After Prime Minister Theresa May surprised the diplomatic world by appointing Mr Johnson Foreign Secretary in July, Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim said he needed to make it up with the Turks.

May God help him and reform him. And I hope he wont make any more mistakes and tries to make it up with the Turks, he said.
F ormer Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith today launched a withering attack on George Osborne as the Tory civil war over Brexit escalated.

The former work and pensions secretary also urged Prime Minister Theresa May not to wobble over severing ties with the EU.

Mr Duncan Smith hit out at the former chancellor after he argued last week that the country had not voted for a hard Brexit, stressing that the mainstream majority in our country do not want to be governed from the extremes.

The former Tory leader challenged Mr Osbornes interpretation of the June 23 referendum vote, deriding his inside knowledge of what the British people voted for.

Criticising his ex-Cabinet colleagues speech in Chicago on the EU in which he warned against a hard Brexit, Mr Duncan Smith added: He went on as the representative of the liberal mainstream majority (and, it appears, as their spokesman) to warn Theresa May, in terms redolent of Project Fear, that she shouldnt govern from the extremes. Humility, it seems, can take many forms  though apparently not if one is mainstream, liberal or in the majority.

The MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, writing on the ConservativeHome website, added: Still, it is always good to know that someone out there is sticking to the plan.

Mr Duncan Smith clashed repeatedly in government with Mr Osborne over welfare reforms, with the latter believed to have sought at one stage to move him from the Department for Work and Pensions.

In the run up to the June 23 vote, Mr Duncan Smith quit as Work and Pensions Secretary in a row over disability cuts, a move which dealt a blow to David Camerons government in the midst of the EU debate.

Appealing to Mrs May to stick to her pledge that Brexit means Brexit, he added: After all, the British people voted to take back control of their borders, their money and their laws; that seems pretty mainstream to me. He also accused ex-No 10 spin chief Sir Craig Oliver of just the faintest element of re-writing the past in his book which accuses Mrs May of dragging her feet over backing the In campaign and undermining Mr Camerons attempts to negotiate a new EU deal, a claim denied by No 10.

Mr Duncan Smiths intervention, just days before the Conservatives annual rally in Birmingham, highlights the deep divisions which Mrs May will have to address as she seeks to strike a Brexit deal which will be backed by her party and the country.

Meanwhile, a leading German businessman argued Brexit could leave Britain better off than its EU partners. Mathias Doepfner, chief executive of publishing giant Axel Springer, said he could see the UK adopting a more free market-oriented model which could be a highly attractive alternative to the EU economy.

He told the Financial Times that Britain was bound to experience short-term pain as a consequence of its June 23 vote to quit the EU.

Mr Doepfner added: But in three to five years from now, my bet would be that England will be better off than continental Europe. The UK would be free to implement a very healthy, talent-oriented immigration policy once outside the EU and remaining EU members would lose Britains healthy influence.
S adiq Khan today said it was time for Jeremy Corbyn to walk the walk as the Mayor set out his blueprint for Labours return to power.

Mr Khan told activists the party should follow his example in London and turn its attention to winning elections again.

He urged them to fight for a Labour prime minister in Downing Street but his failure to single out Mr Corbyn by name revealed hints of his own ambitions for No 10.

Aides deny Mr Khan is planning any direct challenge to Mr Corbyn and claim his team is working on an eight-year masterplan for London.

But many moderate MPs are looking to City Hall and their partys most senior elected politician as an alternative power base around which to rally.

Mr Khan made no attempt to dispel the rumours in his speech to his partys annual conference in Liverpool, suggesting Labour was not currently providing an effective opposition to the Tories. He said it was time for Mr Corbyn not just to talk the talk, but walk the walk and that he had a duty and responsibility to try to win elections.

Powerful message: Sadiq Khan addresses the Labour conference in Liverpool / Getty Images

Relations between the two men are strained  last week, the Standard revealed they had not spoken since before the EU referendum in June.

Labour is not in power in the place that we can have the biggest impact on our country, Mr Khan told activists.

Its in government that Labour can make the biggest changes to peoples lives. And every day now we see what happens when Labour is not in power. The people who need us the most are those who suffer the most when Labour is not in power.

However, the former Tooting MP also told his party that with the leadership decided it was time to put the bruising contest, in which he backed Mr Corbyns rival Owen Smith, behind it.

Now its time for us all to work together towards the greatest prize. Getting Labour back into power, he said. Its only when Labour is in power that we get the chance to fix the problems that we care most about. Its only with Labour in power that we can make a real start  and a real difference.

Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough.

Mr Khan said the party should begin by winning mayoral elections across the country next year. With Labour in power in cities and regions we can show that our party can be trusted to govern again, he said.

The Mayor cited his record in London  more affordable homes, tackling air pollution and supporting business  as proof he had made more difference in four months in power than six years in opposition.

But he told activists there would not be a revolution overnight because real and meaningful change takes years. And he courted their support by praising them for going above and beyond for getting Labour back into power in London and other cities.

Mr Khan suggested that under the Conservatives the country would continue to be divided  between rich and poor as well as between different faiths and ethnicities. And he spoke directly to EU citizens in London to say youre welcome here and that Theresa May should be ashamed at using them as a bargaining chip in her Brexit talks.
T he shadow education secretary today vowed to use her experiences as a teenage mother to deliver a childcare revolution to benefit parents across London.

Angela Rayner, an outspoken Left-winger with no university degree, said the blueprint for the shake-up was the way London schools have been radically improved.

Announcing a new childcare taskforce, she told the Standard: Parents all over London are struggling to meet the soaring costs of childcare which is flexible enough to fully meet their needs.

Labours childcare taskforce is now charged with ensuring that every parent in London  whether single or a couple, working full-time or part-time, on shift work or nine-to-five  has access to affordable, top-quality care for their children.

Highlighting how poor-performing schools in the capital were turned around, she added: Labour has already shown, through the London Challenge, that we can raise standards amongst children living in some of the most deprived areas of the capital. Our task now is to focus on the early years, which can make such a huge difference to a childs future life chances and social mobility.

Mrs Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, was today to tell Labour delegates in Liverpool how Labours Sure Start centres had helped her.

I left school at 16, pregnant, with no qualifications, she was due to say. Some may argue I was not a great role model for todays young people. The direction of my life was set. But she stressed that excellent childcare had helped as she strived to get the best for her three sons.

Mrs Rayner has led Labours attack on Theresa Mays plans to expand selection in schools, including with more grammars.

Selection is toxic, the Labour MP was set to argue today at the partys conference, dismissing the Prime Ministers stance that it can be used to help more children from poorer backgrounds get into good schools.

Describing Labour as the party of comprehensives, she added: Selection  or segregation as it should be called  entrenches division and increases inequality.

Labour is to launch a campaign on Saturday against more grammar schools. Mrs Rayner also emphasised that failings in the existing school system needed to be tackled including oversized classes, teacher recruitment problems, and ensuring all academies and free schools are fully accountable to the local community that they serve.
P olice are set to check whether a piece of fabric found in the excavation hunt for missing Ben Needham could be the toddler's clothing.

South Yorkshire Police officers and archaeologists are digging up the site on the Greek island of Kos where 21-month-old Ben was last seen before he disappeared 25 years ago.

After day one of the dig on the stretch of farmland, which began on Monday, the 19-strong team said they have found fabric which they will investigate to see whether it could be Bens clothing.

The fresh excavation was launched after a new line of enquiry suggested the Sheffield toddler may have died in an digger accident near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating in July 1991.

Search for missing toddler Ben Needham in Kos

Hunt: An officer investigates the ground before starting the dig for Ben Needham. / REUTERS

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, from South Yorkshire Police, said the team - joined by local search and rescue volunteers - had made good progress in recovering potential evidence.

He said: "We found, as expected, a vast number of bones yesterday. Each one was examined immediately, and each one was discounted there and then as being an animal bone.

"There are some other items that are of slight interest - the odd piece of fabric. That is being analysed and looked at, but there is slight interest.

"Everything is being carefully looked at."

Missing: Ben Needham disappeared from the Greek island of Kos in 1991 / PA

He added: "We want to make sure: do they or do they not relate to any of the items Ben was wearing on that day?"

The toddler was wearing a white and green shirt and a pair of leather sandals on the day he went missing, July 24 1991.

The items have been forensically collected and photographs sent to colleagues back in the UK before a decision is made on whether they require further examination and testing.

Mr Cousins, the senior investigating officer, said: "We got ahead of time which meant we got digging a little bit earlier than I expected.

Team: Forensics, police and archaeologists are working together. / PA

"So far it is going better than to plan, which I'm pleased about."

Searches of the site, around two miles east of the Greek island's historic town centre, are expected to last for at least a week.
A glamorous Duchess of Cambridge stepped out as a lady in red during the first glitzy event of the royal tour of Canada.

Kate, 34, dazzled in a red dress, by London-based fashion firm Preen - a nod to her hosts national colours.

She also wore a silver maple leaf broach loaned by the Queen.

The Duchess, who had earlier braved torrential rain and storms on a visit to Bella Bella in the countrys remote wilderness, made a quick change to join husband Prince William for an historic reconciliation ceremony with Canadian First Nations groups last night.

She was epitome of glamour at a reception for political and civic leaders from across British Columbia at Government House in Victoria.

The royal couple mingled with 200 guests in the ballroom of the grand house, the monarch's official residence in the province of British Columbia.

Glamorous event: The Duchess dazzled in a red dress / Getty images/Chris Jackson

Before the reception they joined around 25 people, including First Nations representatives, in the drawing room for a ceremony designed to heal the wounds of conflict between indigenous people and the government.

Assisted by two Indian chiefs, William, also 34, added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod - a ceremonial staff of British Columbia's Legislature modelled on the one used in Parliament in London.

Created in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it is adorned with three rings, representing the province, Canada, and the link to the UK.

The Duke of Cambridge added a fourth ring  engraved with eagle feathers and a canoe  to symbolise First Nations in the province.

Grand Chief Edward John of the Tl'atz'en helped hold the Black Rod as Chief Shane Gottfriedson handed William the ring.

He stood in for one of the most influential Indian chiefs in British Columbia who snubbed the ceremony in protest at the treatment of his people by the Canadian government.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, leader of 115 First Nation tribes in British Columbia known as the Union of BC Chiefs, said he was boycotting the ceremony because it was a charade.

Royal couple: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge mingled with 200 guests / Getty images/Chris Jackson

He said in a statement: "With the deepening poverty of our communities, remembering the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and the ongoing negligence of indigenous child welfare policies across this country, in good conscience, I cannot participate in the Black Rod Ceremony.

Kensington Palace officials declined to comment on the controversy.

William and Kate have met First Nations representatives on their tour but have avoided publicly discussing some social issues, including the high level of suicides among indigenous people.

In Britain, the couple have launched a campaign to highlight the high rate of suicide among young men and to encourage measures to preventative measures.

In Bella Bella earlier, the couple were given a warm reception by First Nations people.

Royals in Bella Bella 1 /8 Royals in Bella Bella William and Kate were given a traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community in Bella Bella PA wire Kate looks pleased after the couple braved torrential rain as part of the visit PA wire Prince William watches on as the ceremony takes place PA wire The Duchess of Cambridge meets leaders inside a community centre after activities were forced indoors because of weather PA wire The couple were honoured as "people of standing"  with important men known as as Hemas and the women Umaks PA wire The Duke and Duchess were greeted by each in turn before a welcoming dance was performed and musicians played drums PA wire

Kate sported a Holland and Holland jacket and Zara jeans and was wearing earrings by Pippa Small, a Canadian designer.

Some of the royal couple's planned activities had to be scrapped - most notably a float plane tour of the area the couple had been hugely looking forward to  due to bad weather.

Royal aides said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were still determined to make the most of their visit despite the severe weather warning.

"It is still a beautiful place in the rain and everyone is prepared to get wet," said a Kensington Palace spokesman.

The area was recently named as Canada's commitment to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QQC), a unique network of forest conversation initiatives involving all 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

PrinceWilliam.mp4

In a speech in the remote Wilderness village of Bella Bella, William praised the work of the he historic owners of the land, the Heiltsuk people for protecting the area known as the "Amazon of the North."

He said his grandmother has asked him to thank them for being part of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network.

He said: "Her Majesty has asked me to convey her sincere thanks to the Government of British Columbia, and the Federal Government of Canada, for nominating your innovative Ecosystem-Based Managementprogramme in Great Bear to be part of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network.

The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy was launched in Malta last year - appealing to all 53 Commonwealth nations to contribute areas of indigenous forest, to be preserved in perpetuity in The Queen's name, marking her service as Head of the Commonwealth.

He went on, "I am pleased to say that more than 15 countries have already dedicated forestry projects or are planting new forests, with another 10 finalising their submissions.
P ippa Middleton has launched a High Court action in what is thought to be an attempt to stop publication of hacked photos.

The Duchess of Cambridges sister is listed as the claimant in a case listed to be heard on Wednesday against a "person or persons unknown".

No other details are listed about the case.

It comes days after a man was arrested by police investigating claims Miss Middleton's iCloud account had been hacked.

A 35-year-old man has been released on bail.

Police said the man had been arrested at an address in Northamptonshire late on Saturday, on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence.

Officers said he had been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are reportedly among 3,000 images taken from Miss Middleton.

Private photographs were said to have been offered to The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers, via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp.
P olice were left stunned after they pulled over a driver suspected of assault only to find two zombie actors on their way home from a film set.

Steve Lowe and Diane Holden, of Ashton-under-Lyne in Manchester, were returning from filming online zombie comedy Dead Town on the M62 when they were stopped by police in an unmarked car.

Police were sent to an area of the motorway shortly before 6pm on Sunday by a panicked caller who believed they saw a man assault a woman in the car.

The duo said stunned officers burst into laughter when they saw the couple dressed up in gory costumes complete with fake blood and white contact lenses.

Mr Lowe, 60, said: "What happened was we were filming all day and there was nowhere for us to get changed, so we just got in the car and thought nothing of it.

"I don't know where the assault report came from, but an unmarked police vehicle pulled us over just as we were getting home.

"We wound down the window and when the officer saw us he burst out laughing. He asked to take a picture because no-one would believe him back at the station."

The charity volunteer, who dresses up for zombie-themed charity events with his friend, Mrs Holden, said he was overwhelmed the picture went viral on social media in just a few hours.

He said: "This has really been our 15 minutes of fame.

I've been playing drums for 40 years and I never once got my name in the paper. Put on a zombie costume and we're splashed all over the internet."

North West Motorway Police posted its photo of the duo on Twitter, saying: "report of female being assaulted on M62, vehicle stopped pair of extras making to a job - posing as Zombies - takes all sorts."
C olumbias government and Leftist rebels have signed a historic peace deal to end 52 years of war that has killed more than 220,000 people.

An audience of 2,500, dressed all in white as a symbol of peace, watched the emotional ceremony in the city of Cartagena last night.

The agreement was sealed by President Juan Manuel Santos and by Timochenko  the nom de guerre of Rodrigo Londono, chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the countrys biggest rebel group.

They shook hands on Colombian soil for the first time and signed the accord with a pen made from a bullet casing.

As Mr Santos handed Timochenko a white dove pin the crowd, many of whom wept, chanted: Long live Colombia, long live peace.

The horrible night of violence that has covered us with its shadow for more than half a century is over, Mr Santos said through tears.

We open our hearts to a new dawn, to a brilliant sun full of possibilities that has appeared in the Colombian sky.

Peace deal: President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Farc, Rodrigo Londono shake hands / AFP/Getty Images

Attendees, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US secretary of state John Kerry, observed a minutes silence in memory of those killed, maimed, raped, kidnapped and displaced.

The deal follows four years of talks and is expected to be approved by voters in a referendum on Sunday.

Farcs estimated 7,000 fighters will hand their weapons to UN-sponsored observers within six months.

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They will change from a guerrilla force into a political party nad be guaranteed at least 10 seats in congress over the next two legislative periods.

No one should doubt we will conduct politics without arms, said Timochenko, who asked for forgiveness from FARC victims.

We are all prepared to disarm in our minds and our hearts.

Opponents of the deal, who include former president Alvaro Uribe, have criticised it for sparing guerrilla leaders jail time if they confess to war crimes.

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Farc was set up in 1964 and at its height had 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of Colombia.

More than eight million people were driven from their homes during the conflict.
G ermany is on high alert today after two bombs were detonated in the eastern city of Dresden.

One went off outside the entrance to a local mosque, the other outside a congress hall. No-one was hurt in the blasts.

Although so far noone has claimed responsibility, we believe a xenophobic motive lies behind these crimes, said Dresden police chief Horst Kretzschmar.

He added: We also see a connection to the Unification Day ceremonies due to take place this weekend.

The day marks the annivesary of East and West Germany becoming one state shortly after the fall of communism in 1989.

Police have for long warned that neo-Nazis in Germany have been forming themselves into well armed paramilitary cells.

The DIY bomb at the mosque went off at 9.57pm, at the congress at 10.19pm.

Police confirmed the discovery of home made explosives at the two crime scenes.

Now we working in crisis mode, the police chief added. The polices main mission, he said, was to protect the affected mosque in the Dresden district of Cotta as well as stepping up security at more mosques in the city.

An Islamic centre in Cotta would be intensively guarded, he added.

Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony, scene of repeated attacks against foreigners and refugee centres since the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants into Germany began in earnest last year.
T he worlds first three-parent baby has been born.

The five-month old boy was born in April but the sensational circumstances surrounding his birth were not revealed until today, New Scientist reported.

The boys parents, a Jordanian couple, received treatment for the controversial technique so that their child would not suffer from a genetic mutation.

The childs mother reportedly carries genes for Leigh syndrome, a fatal disorder which affects the nervous system, which was responsible for the death of her previous two children.

The couple were helped by John Zhang, of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York, who has been working on a three-parent technique to avoid genetic diseases being passed down to newborns.

The treatment, which was recently given legal approval in the UK, was apparently carried out by scientists in Mexico because the procedure was not permitted in the US.

Because the couple were Muslims, Dr Zhang used a specific technique for the birth that did not result in the destruction of embryos.

He removed the nucleus from one of the mothers eggs and placed it into a donor egg with its own nucleus removed. The resulting egg was then fertilised with the fathers sperm.

Experts described the birth as exciting news with the findings due to be discussed at the American Society for Reproductive Medicines Scientific Congress in Salt Lake City next month.

Dr Zhang told New Scientist: To save lives is the ethical thing to do.
L ord Sugar thinks that the Great British Bake Offs move to Channel 4 will be a total disaster.

The entrepreneur, who returns with season 12 of The Apprentice this week, has said that his loyalty lies with the BBC.

I think its going to be a total disaster, he told the Radio Times. Think about their personal credibility as the production company, if this thing bombs on Channel 4.

The business mogul added: I mean, the difference between 15 million viewers, right, which Bake Off got, to possibly settling down to about 3 million on Channel 4, surely thats got to mean something to them, hasnt it?

Sugar, whose reality show has been running on the BBC for 12 years, insisted that he would never leave the broadcaster.

My loyalty is with the BBC, he said. The rights owner would need to run it past me, because theyd need to sound out whether Id go with it, and then would be told no.

Sugar went on to say that he finds it unfair that the BBC develop successful formats and then have them poached by commercial channels.

He said: I think they [the BBC] are getting a raw deal these days.

Mary Berry leaves Bake Off and Paul Hollywood stays - Twitter reacts

I mean, because they make something successful like Bake Off or The Voice [which is moving to ITV], then suddenly a commercial channel comes along and just goes and buys it off them, and greedy production companies sell it to them. I dont find that morally correct.

Sugar is back on the BBC next week as this years batch of business wannabes battle it out in the boardroom for 250,000.

The Apprentice 2016 1 /26 The Apprentice 2016 Lord Sugar will see you now Lord Sugar with his 18 potential business partners Getty New recruits Nine men and nine women are preparing to battle in the boardroom Getty Courtney Wood Courtney Wood Age, 29, is a novelty gift company owner who thinks he is awesome. He is not one to sit back and plans to assert his authority in the process. He thinks his cutthroat tactics will help him reach the top. He says: How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: awesome. BBC/PA JD OBrien JD OBrien, 37, owns a beachwear company and believes he can make the best of any situation whilst still being a good bloke. He says he is going to put in the hard work and aims to make no mistakes along the way. He says: I wont suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who dont know their arse from their elbow. BBC/PA Oliver Nohl-Oser Oliver Nohl-Oser, 33, is the founder and director of a sausage manufacturer who believes his greatest business skills lie in his powers of persuasion. When it comes to winning, he regards honesty as the best policy but says he wont be befriending other candidates as he wants to focus on the prize. He says: Sometimes I feel like James Bond when Im in my suit. BBC/PA Dillon St. Paul Dillon St. Paul is a 37-year-old art director for a fashion magazine who intends to be Machiavellian about tasks and says he will tell white lies if he needs to. He says: Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy  so they can see those lashes. BBC/PA Samuel Boateng The 27-year-old sales manager says he has excellent public speaking abilities and admits he will be on the charm offensive, but doesnt want to seem an easy target. He says: My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy. BBC/PA Frances Bishop The 25-year-old owner of a children's clothing company describes herself as "fiery and talkative". Bishop says: "Im a pocket rocket. Im quite fiery and live by the rule kill them with kindness. BBC/PA Grainne McCoy Grainne McCoy Age, 31, owns a makeup studio in Northern Ireland and had a hunger and passion to succeed. McCoy is confident that her self-belief and strong-mindedness will see her through the tasks. She says: I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million. BBC/PA Michelle Niziol Michelle Niziol, 35, owns a property consultancy and describes herself as straight-talking, passionate and honest but admits that she can sometimes be bossy and impatient and struggles to let others take the lead. She says: I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic. BBC/PA Jessica Cunningham The 29-year-old online fashion entrepreneur wants to get close to the other candidates to find out how they operate, analyse their strengths and weaknesses and attempt to use them to her advantage. She says: A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning. BBC/PA Paul Sullivan The 38-year-old owner of a marketing agency is a self-proclaimed charmer but doesnt think he needs a USP to win because he thinks consistency and sincerity will put him ahead. He says: I'll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I'm here to win; I'm not here to make up the numbers. BBC/PA Mukai Noiri The 36-year-old digital marketing manager believes his charm is one of his strongest qualities but says he can come across as insensitive. He says: I feel sorry for Lord Sugar because previous applicants have been weak. BBC/PA Trishna Thakrar Trishna Thakrar, 28, works for a large IT company to provide internal recruitment services is engaging and funny and will use her charm to win over Lord Sugar. Cross her at your peril, she will not hold back. She says: My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win. BBC/PA Alana Spender Cake company owner Alana Spencer, 24, started her first business at age 17, a chocolate company, before moving on to selling cakes. She believes she is an adaptable businesswoman who will not shy away from any task Lord Sugar sets. She says: I am incredibly hard working, driven, and I'll stop at nothing to get what I want. BBC/PA Rebecca Jeffery Rebecca Jeffery, 31, owns a design and marketing agency. She prides herself on being relentless and possessing an infectious enthusiasm  but admits that numbers and calculations are a weakness for her. She says: People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety. Im proof that you can get things done without whinging. BBC/PA Karthik Nagesan Karthik Nagesan, 33, owns an IT consultancy and prides himself on having a monobrow and cites Alexander the Great as his role model. His friends describe him as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail. He says: If I wanted to be like everyone else, Id have waxed my monobrow. BBC/PA Natalie Hughes The 30-year-old hair and beauty salon owner considers her best quality to be her quick-thinking, but she is also a persuasive talker who insists that nothing embarrasses her. She says: I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustlers ambition. BBC/PA Sofiane Khelfa Hailing from Essex, Sofiane Khelfa, 32, is a senior sales executive with high profile clients, whose friends say he can sometimes be overzealous. He believes when he gets down to business, his skills and personality will shine through. He says: The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and Im the best at adapting. Im like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime. BBC/PA Aleksandra King Aleksandra King, 38, is the owner of a business consultancy who believes she has a gift for spotting a good business opportunity and cites her mother as an inspiration as she is fluent in seven languages and has an ability to get people. She says: Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, he said: There are winners and losers in the process.

There are real winners and then there are the past people who have won and gone into business and now employ lots of people.

Thats what I do this for, thats what we do this for, thats what the BBC does this for.

The Apprentice airs at 9pm on BBC One on October 6.
CLINTON  A Bloomington man in custody for an Iowa credit union robbery is suspected of the July 1 robbery of the DeWitt Savings Bank in Clinton.

Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers said Anthony Javon Brown, 32, is in McLean County Jail, in connection with the Aug. 18 robbery of the Ascentra Credit Union in Bettendorf, Iowa. After interviewing Brown, officials identified him as a suspect in the Clinton bank robbery, as well.

Were happy to have this investigation behind us with the suspect identified and in custody so that prosecutors can move forward to the next phase, Lowers said. I appreciate the diligent work by our detective and the other assisting agencies that has brought us to this resolution in the case.

Brown has not been formally charged with the Clinton robbery, but a federal indictment is pending, Lowers said. The DeWitt County States Attorneys Office has deferred prosecution to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Central District of Illinois.

Police think that about 3:50 p.m. on July 1, Brown entered DeWitt Savings Bank at 302 W. Main St. in Clinton and gave a handwritten note to a teller demanding money. The employee complied with the demand. No weapon was displayed, and no one was injured. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash to a nearby parked car and drove west at high speed through residential neighborhoods.

Police think the same man also was spotted in Carlock prior to robbing the Clinton bank. Officials say he is not a suspect in any criminal activity in Carlock.

A criminal complaint was filed Aug. 30 in federal court in Iowa, alleging that Brown robbed the Bettendorf credit union. Officials allege Brown entered the lobby and grabbed a deposit slip from the counter. He then demanded money from a teller and produced a paper bag. The teller filled the bag with $4,646 and fled in a gold/brown Chevrolet Impala that was parked in an adjacent lot.

According to court documents, Brown left the deposit slip on the counter, which was dusted for fingerprints, leading detectives to Brown. An arrest warrant was issued after surveillance footage positively identified Brown as the suspect, said police.

Brown was arrested by Bloomington police on Aug. 23. During a search of his residence, detectives identified clothes the suspect wore in the Bettendorf robbery and $3,031 in currency. Also, a 2003 Chevrolet Impala registered to Brown was found in the driveway.

Court documents indicate Brown said he spent money on food, gas, marijuana and a trip to St. Louis.
This set of statistics has been discontinued. Statistical data on this topic are published in connection with another set of statistics. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website.

This page is archived.

Published: 27 September 2016

Number of new students in vocational training 122,200 in 2015

According to Statistics Finland's education statistics, a total of 122,200 new students attended education leading to a vocational qualification in 2015. Of the new students, 48,400 studied in curriculum-based education aimed at young people leading to an initial vocational qualification, 36,300 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 37,500 in further vocational education (further and specialist vocational qualifications). There were one per cent more new students than in the previous year.

New students in vocational education by field of education and gender in 2015

Thirty-eight per cent of the new students studied in the field of technology and transport, twenty per cent in the field of health, welfare and sports, and eighteen per cent in the field of business economics and administration. The shares of men and women among the new students were almost equal. The fluctuation in the shares of men and women viewed by fields of education was, however, large. In the field of health, welfare and sports, the share of women was 82 per cent and in the field of technology and transport it was 20 per cent.

In the calendar year 2015, a total of 325,100 persons were studying in vocational education leading to a qualification.

There were 167,000 students in curriculum-based basic vocational education provided by educational institutions in 2015. Since 2013, data on the number of students in education for young people have been available both for the calendar year and for the autumn cross-sectional point on 20 September. On 20 September 2015, there were 124,200 students in education for young people. There were four per cent less of them than in the previous year.

There were 109,000 students in preparatory education for a skills examination provided by educational institutions. There were seven per cent more students than in the year before. Of the students, 61,900 studied in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 47,100 in further vocational education.

There were 49,100 students in apprenticeship training. The number of students was two per cent lower than in the year before. Of the students, 500 studied in curriculum-based education aimed at young people leading to an initial vocational qualification, 17,900 in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination, and 30,700 in further vocational education.

Qualifications from vocational education 20102015

Altogether, 74,600 students completed a vocational qualification in 2015. Curriculum-based basic vocational education qualifications numbered 37,800, examinations in preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination totalled 17,400, and qualifications in further vocational education amounted to 19,400. The number of attainers of vocational qualifications was four per cent higher than in the previous year. Fifty-three per cent of them were women. More than half, 55 per cent, of those who attained qualifications studied in the fields of technology and transport, or in health, welfare and sports. Sixteen per cent of the qualifiers were apprenticeship students.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Reija Vento 029 551 3279, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (212.1 kB)

Updated 27.9.2016

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Vocational education [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-1986. 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 31.10.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/aop/2015/aop_2015_2016-09-27_tie_001_en.html
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MONTICELLO  Monday morning, the parents and three sisters of Sheryl Ann Houser filed into the courtroom and took seats in the front row of the gallery, a few minutes before Gregory J. Houser was ushered in by correctional officers, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and a belly chain.

They had been waiting for almost 26 years to see Houser, now 56, facing charges in the death of the 29-year-old nurse, who was found dead in her garage with a rope around her neck.

Prosecutors and police allege that Gregory Houser staged the crime scene as a suicide. He was out on bond, awaiting trial for sexual assault of Sheryl Houser, at the time of her death. He was later acquitted of that crime.

Houser, who is entering a plea of not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, stood before the bench of Circuit Judge Timothy Steadman, along with his attorney, Brendan Bukalski.

Houser, who was arrested Thursday and is being held without bond in the Piatt County Jail, is accused of killing his estranged wife at her rural home, located between Mansfield and Mahomet, Oct. 4 or 5, 1990. He was no longer living at their former shared residence at that time.

Bukalski, of Bloomington, told the judge Monday that he filed a motion for bond to be set for Houser, in order for him to be released from jail. That issue is expected to be addressed when Houser appears in court for his preliminary hearing, scheduled for Oct. 7.

The body of Sheryl Houser was discovered by police on Oct. 5, 1990, after co-workers at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, called her house when she failed to report for her 7 a.m. shift.

Her 6-year-old son answered the phone, telling the caller that his mother was asleep in the garage with a rope around her neck, said a probable cause affidavit by Piatt County Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Russell.

When officers from the sheriff's office and Illinois State Police responded, they found her on the concrete floor, clothed only in a nightgown, suspended partially by a nylon rope.

The yellow nylon rope was wrapped multiple times around her neck, the affidavit said.

A used condom was found on the floor, between the inside of the house and the garage.

DNA evidence collected from the condom showed matches with the profiles of Gregory and Sheryl Houser. Authorities have said that improved recent technology have made the conclusive DNA matches possible.

Jurors at an inquest held shortly after her death ruled that the manner of death was undetermined.

Due to the recent DNA development, as well as a 2011 finding by forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton that her cause of death was strangulation, authorities decided to hold another inquest. At the inquest, held in a Piatt County courtroom July 8, jurors ruled the death as a homicide.

Renee Fehr, Sheryl's sister, said the family is grateful for the advances in technology that aided officials in making the arrest.

We want to thank the Illinois State Police, Piatt County Sheriff's Office and Piatt County state's attorney for diligently pursuing justice for Sheryl, Fehr said.

She said it was comforting to know how many people care about their family, with their kind words and support.

I don't think any of my family members fully expected the tremendous impact Sheryl's death continues to have on us, Fehr said.
When Whitney Gilbert and Shadese (DeeDee) Griffith began dating more than a year ago, neither could have expected that they and their family w
DECATUR  Alvin Jackson had told the children and parents participating in the free haircuts at Old Kings Orchard Community Center on Monday that it would be a basic haircut.

But Major Burries, 6, is such a charmer that the barber gave him a fancy Mohawk with a design.

Major, his brother Lee, 7, and Keshawn Gude are students at Hope Academy, where Jackson is the parent liaison. Monday morning was the first of what organizers hope is a monthly event to provide haircuts to Decatur students.

Minister Janice Gavin, a member of Resurrection Life Church, said she had felt a nudging from God to do this for a while. After she talked to her pastor, the Rev. Jack Greenwood, she started making calls to barbers and stylists. Enough responded and brought equipment to the event that they were capable of giving 100 haircuts.

It's a vision that God gave me, Gavin said. I worked for the school district for 18 years, and I just got up one morning and thought, I'm going to call and talk to some of the administrators and parent liaisons. My only concern was, I don't have a building. It just all came together.

They wanted a central location where all the schools could bring the kids, so I offered OKO to be the host location, said Megan Meyrick, who is a parent liaison for French Academy.

The parent liaisons at each building chose the children using whatever criteria they felt was appropriate. Stylists were available for both boys and girls, capable of doing hair of various ethnicities. Students from Reflections Academy of Beauty did the shampooing prior to the cuts, giving the students a chance to get some real-life experience, said cosmetology instructor Sallie Harmon.

Jamie Park, who owns J. Park's Studio of Hair in Elkhart, had just finished a little girl's hair.

She said she wanted it really short, Park said, adding with a laugh, but the other girl (with her) said, 'You better not! Mom will be mad!' So we compromised on a bob.

Park's shop is in her hometown, which she calls a tiny dot on the map, but she lives in Latham. She said she wanted to help out on Monday because she thinks it's important to be involved in her community.

Joe Eilers and Lori Fenner of the Hair Cuttery said that they had to trust the kids were telling the truth about how short, or not, their families would approve.

We try to do what the kid wants, Eilers said.

Mike Young of Freestylzz Barber Shop brought six of his barbers to the event.

I think when God has blessed you, you have a responsibility to give back, Young said.
The Minister of National Defence, Mihnea Motoc, has announced that on Wednesday the first six F16 aircraft will be taken over from Portugal, the day being branded as "historical" by the Romanian dignitary. "The first six F16 Fighting Falcons that bear the tricolour roundel of the Romanian Air Force will be officially taken over from Portugal tomorrow, September 28. Although I hesitate to use big words when I speak of acquisitions, be them major, I must say that tomorrow will be a truly historical day for Romania and its army," said Motoc, on Tuesday, on Facebook.

In 2013, Romania decided to buy from Portugal 12 used F16's. The initial intent was to buy 24 airplanes, but the final decision was for 12, for budgetary reasons. Beside the F16, offers were made by companies producing the JAS-39 Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon, the offers being for new aircraft. Furthermore, the offer for French Dassault Rafale planes was analyzed. The price for the 12 F16 aircraft was set at 628 million euro, the planes going on to be stationed at the air bases in Fetesti and Campia Turzii, two airbases especially modernized for this type of aircraft. According to specialists, Romania needs 48 multirole aircraft, meaning four squadrons. In 2015, Romanian authorities announced the intention to buy other F16 airplanes.

Minister of Defence Mihnea Motoc stated on February 22 that Romania intends to buy another 12 F16 airplanes, with the contractual procedures to be begun this year for the second squadron.

Agerpres
President Klaus Iohannis sent on Tuesday a message due to the occasion of the 4th edition of the Bucharest Science Festival, in which he states that the interest in education, research and science can easily be stimulated through less formal approaches, free of institutional constraints.

"We live in a globalized world, interconnected where the changes rapidly succeed and the competition accentuates in all aspects, having an important impact on everyone's life. All these new opportunities and challenges impose a permanent adaptation of the education, research and innovation to the society's needs and ambitions, in agreement to their cultural values and identity. This is why it is essential for Romania to respond to this permanent changing context through science and education," the head of state says in the message delivered by State Counselor Ligia Deca.

The President underlined that through the granting of the High Patronage to Bucharest Science Festival, he wanted to encourage the steps meant to bring the children, but also the adults closer to the world of knowledge, helping them to understand the scientific explanation behind all that surrounds them. "I'm convinced that less formal approaches, freed from the institutional constraints, can easily stimulate the interest in education, research and science. I believe it is important to support similar steps in all the country's regions, especially in the rural environment where this type of opportunities is limited," the head of state points out. He states that "The Educated Romania" means "not only a quality education system, but the growth of curiosity, the joy of discovering, the understanding of the phenomenon that surrounds us and the contribution to the transformation of the world we live in." "Science can be an ally that could ease our day to day activity and lead to an economic growth and to the competitiveness' development," Iohannis underlines.

The head of state hails the implication in this type of activities of the cultural institutes, the university environment, the research institutes, the national museums and the private environment.

Agerpres
SPRINGFIELD  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has denied a request from David Gill that would have allowed him to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in Illinois 13th Congressional District.

Gill appealed to the Supreme Court on Friday after the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a lower court order that would have assured him a spot on the ballot alongside U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur.

The Bloomington physician said Monday that hes again very disappointed for the voters in the district and that he plans to appeal to a different Supreme Court justice, which is allowed under court rules.

My victory in federal court on August 25 was clear and decisive, he said. To watch our judicial system grant a temporary reprieve to the State, a reprieve that lasts long enough to have the election go on without me, proves the point of my independent Congressional campaign: we live within a rigged system, designed to protect the major parties and the large financial concerns that sponsor them.

Gill, whos run for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates after he collected fewer than 8,500 of the 10,754 valid signatures he needed on his nominating petitions.

Gill contends that the requirement is unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirements for major party candidates. Davis and Wicklund each had to collect fewer than 740 signatures.

U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough ordered last month that the Illinois State Board of Elections allow Gill to appear on the ballot because he and his supporters would be irreparably harmed if he were excluded. The Chicago-based appeals court subsequently blocked that order, and the elections board voted unanimously Sept. 19 to remove him.

When Gills attorneys filed their appeal Friday, they acknowledged that going to the Supreme Court is always a long shot but said theyd exhausted their other options. The appeals court declined to reconsider its decision or to grant Gill a prompt hearing on his case before Election Day.

Kagan reviewed Gills request because she oversees the 7th Circuit.
DECATUR  A new Japanese cherry tree in Central Park represents the 50-year relationship between Decatur and Tokorozawa.

Next month, a 15-person delegation including Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe will see a tree planted in a Tokorozawa park to mark the same occasion.

The gestures celebrate the longstanding relationship between the cities, which have exchanged many cultural lessons and student ambassadors over the decades.

All of the students who visit Tokorozawa and Decatur's German sister city, Seevetal, come home saying their lives have been changed, said Kathy Sorensen, treasurer of the committee.

It opens their eyes. Most of these students certainly haven't been out of the United States, Sorensen said. Some of them haven't really been out of Illinois, and here we are, sending them to another culture.

The committee's chairwoman, Jaclyn Osborne, knows firsthand how the experience shapes students. Her daughter Angela traveled to both cities, which laid the foundation for her career as an intelligence analyst.

She's been to 66 countries since then, Osborne said. It helps shape their future and it gives them something to reach for outside Decatur. They see that they can do this, too.

Moore Wolfe said the relationship has always been valuable for the friendships it creates and the understanding that people from different countries and cultures generally all want the same things out of life.

I hope that as we progress in the future that we're able to maybe even take this to a new level, one where we can even grow jobs and grow relationships, she said. In our global economy, I think there are some great opportunities for our community as well as Tokorozawa.

The Kwanzan flowering cherry tree is 6 or 7 years old, said city forester Randy Callison. It will bloom a brilliant pink in the spring.

It was planted in the southeast corner of the park and will have a plaque dedicating the tree to the relationship between Decatur and Tokorozawa.

The committee is recruiting area high school sophomores and juniors who might be interested in traveling to either Tokorozawa or Seevetal next summer. For more information, visit www.decatursistercities.com.
Smart meter and utility services company Aclara is moving its headquarters from Hazelwood to Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights.

The lease for 63,000 square feet of space gives the company room to expand, Aclara said in a statement. Aclara plans to move from its current building on Hornet Drive in the spring.

The company provides infrastructure monitoring equipment and services to utilities. In the last year, Aclara has acquired GE's smart meter business and won a large contract to supply smart meters for Consolidated Edison in New York.

Esco Technologies owned Aclara until selling it to Florida private equity firm Sun Capital Partners in March 2014. Aclara employs about 225 people in the St. Louis area.

With the addition of Aclara, Westport Plaza will be more than 90 percent leased and support a daytime population of 5,000 people, Craig Cobler of Lodging Hospitality Management, which manages Westport, said in a statement.

Last year, Maryland Heights-based World Wide Technology, one of the largest private companies in the region, announced it would build a new $95 million headquarters in Westport. The new building is expected to be complete next year.
OTTAWA  Canada is assessing data from bidders to replace its aging fleet of fighter jets, a Boeing Co. executive said on Monday.

The country's Liberal government promised during last year's election that it would launch an open competition to replace Canada's CF-18 fighter aircraft.

It pledged not to buy Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 jets, as the previous Conservative government had planned to do, calling them expensive and unnecessary.

While the government has yet to release details on such a competition, it requested data this summer from five companies that have fighter aircraft in production or planned production, including Lockheed and Boeing, which wants Canada to buy its St. Louis-made F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

The government sought up-to-date information on areas including capabilities and economic benefits.

"The focus on data was very clear, very strong," said Marc Allen, president of Boeing International, the unit which handles Boeing's strategy and operations outside the United States. "It gave all of the suppliers a chance to set down in black and white what it is their platform does."

Since then, Boeing has been engaged in a "ping-pong" set of questions and answers with the government, said Allen.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan has said the government foresees a growing capability gap in the 2020s and that there is an urgent need to replace the CF-18s.

"They know it's imperative to solve that capability gap," said Allen. "They are moving in a way that says they understand that."

Allen said ordinarily it can take multiple years from when an order is placed to when jets are delivered.

The other potential fighter jet suppliers are Saab AB, Dassault Aviation SA, and the Eurofighter consortium, which includes Airbus Group.

As Boeing campaigns to win the contract, it is citing the work opportunities that would be available to Canadian firms across the country if the federal government were to purchase the Super Hornet.

Allen did not rule out giving work to struggling planemaker Bombardier Inc., noting that Boeing always works with its competitors.

"We're not going to rule out anybody from the perspective of who would be a good partner," he said.

Boeing earlier this month formally challenged a decision by the Danish government to pick the F-35 fighter jet over the Super Hornet, citing a flawed evaluation process.

Allen said that was a very particular circumstance and that Canada's process was calibrated to ensure an accurate analysis.
Schnucks union grocery workers voted Monday to authorize a strike and reject a proposed three-year contract that they say could cut 133 full-time jobs, threatens health benefits and offers wage increases that do not keep up with the cost of living.

Of the 2,194 Schnuck Markets employees who are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and voted, 1,934, or 89 percent, rejected Schnucks proposed contract. More than 4,500 Schnucks employees are in the union.

A strike, if the union decides to pursue it, wont happen immediately. The union wants to use the strike vote to continue bargaining with Maryland Heights-based Schnucks until the company changes the contract terms or negotiations break down. Union leaders hope to return to the bargaining table this week.

Before employees can go on strike, the union has to give the company five days notice, according to a termination agreement between the parties.

What was represented today, and is very evident by the vote, was not acceptable on any front, said David Cook, president of Local 655, of the contract proposal after Mondays vote. This seems typical of the 1 percent mentality that were dealing with in America today.

Union leaders point out that the proposal increases employees share of health care coverage, threatens health care for part-time employees and lowers employer pension contributions for new employees.

In an emailed statement Monday, Schnuck Markets Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck called Mondays union gathering a PR stunt to get attention and said his company was disappointed that union leadership was pursuing a vote no campaign.

The companys goal, the statement said, is to deliver a proposal that meets the needs of our teammates while keeping our business competitive against nonunion grocers and stores that sell food, and this includes some of the worlds largest companies.

The company, in a statement after the vote, said it plans to meet "with 655 leadership for what we expect to be productive and meaningful discussions," but offered no details on any scheduled talks.

Schnuck pointed to superstores, like Walmart, that are selling groceries. He said Schnucks is the largest of four union grocers in the St. Louis area, but there are also 16 nonunion grocers.

The proposal includes bonuses of $600 for full-time employees, including department managers, and $300 for part-time employees. But union leaders say thats not enough, given that the employees in question havent had raises since November.

Union leaders dont believe the companys proposed increased health care contributions are enough to maintain the current level of benefits. The contract also increases weekly health care deductions for all employees.

Another proposal the union opposes would affect pension contributions for new employees. Schnucks would give 40 cents an hour in pension contributions for employees hired in 2017 and beyond. Current employees receive 89 cents, but Schnucks would increase that to $1.12 an hour for existing employees.

The union also points to a provision that would reduce the scheduled hours reserved for full-time employees from 55 percent to 45 percent. The union estimates that would lead to 133 fewer full-time jobs.

Part-time employees hired in 2010 and after would have maximum vacation time of two weeks a year, when they previously could earn up to five weeks. The contract would increase the weeks when no employee can take vacation to four from three.

Under the proposed contract, employees could also be moved around to different departments.

Members heard from union leaders about whats in the contract proposal and participated in a question-and-answer session before voting.

The short time that employees had to make a decision worried some union members who wanted more time to read the proposal. The contract proposal was presented to union leaders Thursday, but most employees didnt see it until Monday.

Brad Hunt works about 25 hours a week as a checker at the Maryland Heights Schnucks on Dorsett Road. He has worked at Schnucks for less than a year. This was his first time being part of a union. Within minutes of the meetings start time, he was flipping through the contract, trying to figure out what it meant.

Its just a dense document, he said.

Prior to the meeting, Hunt said he received texts from the union telling him to just vote no.

I feel like Im being bombarded with information, he said.

Collin Reischman, a union spokesman, said the union arranged the meeting this way because thousands of workers assembling for a vote sends a more powerful message to Schnucks. In the past, the union has mailed contracts to employees and waited weeks for mailed ballots.

When we believe a contract is as bad as this is, we want to have them here to talk about it, Reischman said of the members.

Margaret Watkins, who has worked at Schnucks since 2008 and is a checker at the Bridgeton Schnucks on St. Charles Rock Road, said she doesnt want to go on strike. She considers her customers to be like her family.

Im not vengeful toward Schnucks, she said. But then again, Im trying to look out for myself and my co-workers.

The last time grocery workers went on strike in St. Louis was in 2003, when 10,000 employees conducted a strike and lockout that disrupted operations at 97 grocery stores in Missouri.

Local 655, Schnucks largest union, also has several thousand employees at Dierbergs and Shop n Save. Only Schnucks employees were voting Monday night at the Family Arena in St. Charles.

Privately held Schnuck Markets operates 99 stores in five states and has $2.7 billion in annual revenue. The grocer said Local 655s contract covers Schnucks employees in 52 St. Louis area stores in Missouri.

Lisa Brown of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Six U.S. senators on Tuesday demanded that Yahoo Inc. explain why hackers theft of user information for 500 million accounts two years ago came to light only last week and called the companys handling of the breach unacceptable.

The lawmakers, all Democrats, said they were disturbed that the 2014 intrusion, which was disclosed by the company on Thursday, was detected so long after it occurred.

That means millions of Americans data may have been compromised for two years, the senators wrote in a letter to Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer. This is unacceptable.

A Yahoo spokesman said the company would respond in a timely and appropriate manner to the letter, which was signed by Sens. Patrick Leahy, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden and Edward Markey.

The top U.S. stock market regulator said separately that prompt disclosure by companies of cyber events is a priority. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White, asked about Yahoo, said she could not comment specifically on it. She earlier said at a conference that SEC examiners in recent months have been checking that companies comply with 2011 agency guidance stressing the need to disclose hacks.

Yahoo has faced mounting questions about exactly when it knew about the 2014 cyberattack that exposed the email credentials of users, a critical issue for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover of its core business by Verizon Inc.

The internet firm has said it detected the breach this summer after conducting a security review prompted by an unrelated hacking claim that turned out to be meritless. Yahoo has not given a precise timeline explaining when it was made aware of the 2014 attack, or if it knew of the breach before announcing the deal with Verizon in late July.

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said her agency supported quick disclosures although she declined to say whether the FTC was investigating Yahoo.

In our view, approximately 30 to 60 days (after a breach is discovered) might be appropriate, she told the Senate Commerce Committee. It is necessary for consumers to be notified so they can take appropriate steps to protect themselves.

The senators letter requested Yahoo brief them on the companys investigation, cooperation with authorities and plans to protect affected users.
The city of St. Louis is considering purchasing a condemned parking garage in the heart of downtown.

On Tuesday, the citys Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority voted to recommend blighting the parking structure at 310 North Tucker Boulevard, setting up the process for the city to potentially buy the property.

The garage at the intersection of Locust Street and Tucker Boulevard used to house a Papa Johns and other tenants but has been unused since cracks appeared in the structure in July 2014.

Dale Ruthsatz, director of commercial development for the St. Louis Development Corporation, told the LCRA board that the city will still need approval from the St. Louis Board of Alderman before taking any action. City staff will also need to analyze whether it makes more sense to tear down the garage or try and rehab the existing one.

The best solution might be for LCRA to use eminent domain to acquire the property, Ruthsatz said.

There have been some preliminary discussions with the St. Louis Treasurers office, which runs the citys parking services, about the possibility of the city acquiring the structure from the private operators, Ruthsatz said.

The building is currently owned by Tucker Parking Equities and Tucker Parking Holdings, limited liability companies associated with The Becker Organization out of New Jersey.

Tucker Parking is fighting with the operator, Central Parking System of Missouri, which listed owners in Tennessee. In January, a St. Louis judge ordered the owners to pay Central Parking $4.1 million for work done to stabilize the structure. Tucker Parking has appealed the ruling.

Ruthsatz said the owner was supportive of the city using its eminent domain authority to acquire the property, which would also wipe it clean of liens.

St. Louis Development Corporation Director Otis Williams stressed that no decisions had been made yet.

There is a need to do something about this particular property given the structural decay, Williams said.

The city could decide to keep it or put out requests for new developers. Williams said his agencys requests for developers on other properties have been getting plenty of interest recently.

The marketplace and timing is probably right for us to try and find someone who can take on this particular property, he said.
McBride & Son Homes has launched a new promotion for the first week of October aimed at prospective buyers.

Dubbed the "Picture Perfect Selfie Tour," the homebuilder invites guests to snap a cellphone photograph of themselves, then scan an onsite QR code and upload the photo to a gallery for a chance to win one of 10 different prizes. No purchase is required to be eligible for prizes.

The more homes our customers visit and the more selfie photos they upload, the better the odds of winning a prize, said McBride CEO John F. Eilermann Jr. in a press release. Weve put fun photo props and life-size cutouts in the display homes so guests can really be fun and creative. It should be a wild time.

Prizes include an all-inclusive six night/seven day trip for two to Jamaica, a $1,000 Best Buy gift card, $500 Ikea gift card, a 55-inch 4k flat screen television, St. Louis Cardinals season tickets (weekends), iPhone 7, iPad, Apple iWatch, Weber grill and cooking classes, and a KitchenAid deluxe mixer.

The McBride & Son Picture Perfect Selfie Tour runs from Oct. 1 through Oct. 9 at all McBride communities and information centers. Office hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
WASHINGTON  Late last year, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack strode into the Oval Office to tell President Barack Obama that he wanted to resign.

"Mr. President," he said, "I think it's time to go."

Vilsack had survived nearly eight years in Washington as Obama's model Cabinet secretary  a disciplined and efficient technocrat who understood the inner workings of his department, worked well with lawmakers and did not cause trouble for the White House.

Lately, though, that approach did not seem to be enough to fix the problems he was seeing in the country. Vilsack was frustrated with a culture in Washington that too often ignored rural America's struggles and dismissed its virtues. "I just sometimes think rural America is a forgotten place," he often said.

Vilsack sometimes felt forgotten, too. The number of consequential issues crossing his desk had dwindled. "There are days when I have literally nothing to do," he recalled thinking as he weighed his decision to quit.

The Oval Office conversation would change the trajectory of Vilsack's career and affect him personally in ways he that could not have predicted. Obama asked him to take over the administration's response to the opioid crisis that was ravaging rural America.

The new assignment would force Vilsack to confront not only the immediate drug crisis in the country but also the frustrations and feelings of economic hopelessness that had taken root and allowed the epidemic to flourish.

Soon Vilsack's days were consumed with coordinating the federal government's response. Each morning his staff passed him statistics that tracked the administration's top priorities: its push to train physicians on the risks of opioid addiction; the latest on its effort to get the overdose reversal drug naloxone out to more communities; the status of federal grants earmarked for struggling communities.

He visited hard-hit places, such as New England, Nevada and Appalachia. Recently he was in Missouri, a state with a surging overdose death rate, where his staff had set up a meeting with doctors, police detectives and drug counselors who waited for him in a gray-carpeted conference room in Olivette, near St. Louis.

"I am here to learn and here to listen," Vilsack told the group. "I want to make sure that when I walk out of here, I have a very good understanding of the problem."

He pulled out a stack of index cards and a pen from his suit pocket to jot down notes.

"The last time I was on ER call at one of our local hospitals I delivered three mothers who were opioid addicted and had no prenatal care whatsoever," one doctor said.

"We have no resources here," the health director for St. Charles County said.

"We see a ton of overdoses," said the next doctor from a hospital just south of St. Louis. "This Fourth of July we had three firework injuries and 23 overdoses."

"Wow," Vilsack muttered under his breath. He scribbled "3/23" on an index card and slid it back into his suit pocket.

________

The opioid epidemic was the kind of crisis that too easily escaped the attention of powerful people in Washington. It had developed slowly, over the course of decades, in parts of rural America that were isolated, poor and often overlooked.

Its effects, though, were devastating and were a major factor in the startling surge since 1999 in the death rate for white women between the ages of 25 and 55.

For Vilsack the crisis was personal. A former small-town mayor and two-term Iowa governor, Vilsack had spent his adult life fighting for rural America. He was also the child of an alcoholic and prescription drug addict.

The story of his mother's addiction and her suicide attempts had long been a part of his political identity; one that he had told hundreds of times on the campaign trail. Sometimes he used it to explain away his shyness and his gruff, workaholic manner.

In other instances, he told it inspire voters, focusing on his mother's recovery, her religious faith and transformation into a steady and sober parent.

Now, as he traveled the country, the story served a different purpose. Vilsack used it to make the case for the kind of help that Washington could provide: more money for doctors, drug counselors and mental-health clinics to treat those who were suffering.

"When I was a kid, I judged my mom," he had said earlier that morning in Missouri. "I thought she could just decide tomorrow to stop doing what she was doing. I had no idea it was a disease. I do now."

Vilsack walked out of his meeting and into the bright sun of a Missouri afternoon, mostly pleased at the possibilities the roundtable had offered. His shaggy hair, which hung over his ears, had not changed since boyhood. But his tall and rangy frame was now slightly stooped. At 65, he moved with the stiffness of advancing age.

He ran a sprawling bureaucracy with 93,000 employees and a $150 billion budget but knew that he did not have money for anything ambitious. An urgent request from the White House earlier this year for $1.1 billion to battle the opioid epidemic was stalled in Congress. His department's discretionary budget, which he could use to fund clinics, was $2 billion less than it had been in 2010.

So Vilsack channeled his energy into little things: A police officer he had met complained that prices of naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug, had tripled since January to nearly $160 per dose, making it too costly for many rural police and fire departments. Vilsack promised to raise the issue with the White House.

Someone else showed him a chemical treatment bag that could be used to safely dispose of old prescription drugs. "You can't just dump them in the sewers. The disposal bags could help," Vilsack said.

But, he was most excited about a four-state pilot program he was developing to use USDA grants to build a small number of regional mental-health and addiction clinics.

Vilsack had spent most of his adult life fighting these kinds of battles. He grew up in Pittsburgh but moved to tiny Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1975 when his father-in-law wrote him a seven-page letter asking him to join his tiny law practice. The salary: $1,000 a month.

Some of his first clients were farmers fighting to stave off bankruptcy during the 1980s farm crisis. "They would come in and say, 'Save my farm. Save who I am,'" he said. "You all of a sudden think, 'Jesus, what are we doing here? What can I do?'"

After a psychologically damaged World War II veteran and former POW opened fire during a city council meeting in 1986, killing Mount Pleasant's mayor, the deceased mayor's father urged Vilsack to run for the office.

There was a short stint as an Iowa state senator followed by a successful, long-shot run for governor. "For the first time in 70 years, we reversed the outmigration of people from Iowa," Vilsack said of his two terms.

Vilsack knew that the past 15 years had hit rural America especially hard. Rural child poverty rates had begun climbing in 2003, peaking at levels last seen in the 1960s. Only in the past few years had they begun to edge back down. Rural Americans were older, more likely to be obese, less likely to go to college and more likely to become pregnant in their teenage years than people in the rest of the country. And now the opioid crisis.

At a recent news conference in Missouri, reporters peppered Vilsack with questions about whether the administration was moving fast enough to address the epidemic.

"There is some frustration that it took so long  ," one reporter said.

"Why wasn't this done years ago?" another asked.

They were versions of a line of questioning that had begun to "piss me off," Vilsack said.

He did not blame the president for the lack of attention to rural America, though his last one-on-one meeting with Obama had taken place 10 months earlier when he tried to resign.

His frustration was with the rest of the country  the media, Congress and the private sector  which he felt had ignored the struggles and contributions of a region that produced most of the country's food and, during 15 years of war, had disproportionately filled the ranks of its military.

Publicly, Vilsack often played the role of booster, citing modest economic gains as proof of rural America's "remarkable comeback," after "years of stagnation."

Privately, he let his anger and frustration with Washington flash. He was sensitive to the smallest slights directed at rural America or his record. Denis McDonough, the president's chief of staff, sometimes referred to Vilsack as the "cranky" Cabinet secretary.

"Maybe I have been here too long," Vilsack grumbled. He gazed up at his sprawling Beaux-Arts style office with its gold filigree columns, massive windows and stunning views of the Mall.

"I have to be cranky," he continued, "because people don't pay attention to this part of the country."

________

Vilsack told staff organizing his Missouri meetings that he did not want to spend his time listening to stories of people fighting addiction or parents who had lost children. He wanted to hear from the people battling the epidemic. "We're here to talk solutions," he said.

The exception was Karla Jaques, a USDA employee from Dexter, Mo., whose 28-year-old daughter, Alicia, had died of a heroin overdose in April.

Vilsack was waiting for her in a small room at Stephens College in Columbia, when Jaques walked in carrying a picture of Alicia wearing her crisp, white sailor's uniform, taken in 2007 just a few hours after her daughter's Navy boot camp graduation.

"She was so happy and so proud of herself," Jaques told Vilsack. "She always was until all of this."

"I have some understanding," Vilsack said.

He then recounted the story of his own mother's addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. Vilsack had recently started to probe his adolescent memories, trying to piece together what might have caused his mother's addiction. He tried to recall exactly when his mother had begun to grapple with drugs and alcohol. Was it when she went in for gallbladder surgery and the doctors gave her pills for the pain? "Did she like that sensation and need more of it?" he wondered. Did her problems begin when his father suffered his first heart attack or when his father's real estate business began to fail?

These were the same questions Jaques was asking about her daughter, who had been embarrassed by her addiction and avoided her family in the year before she died. Most of what Jaques knew about her daughter's problems came from journal entries Alicia had written in rehab.

She wrote that her addiction began in 2010 when she had eye surgery and was given painkillers by Navy doctors in Jacksonville, Fla. "I would get a prescription every few months so if I was given a urinalysis test I would pass," one journal entry read. The prescription provided an excuse when her urinalysis tests came back positive.

A military career that began with promotions, overseas deployments and awards faltered and then fell apart. Her first arrest for heroin possession came in October 2014, six months after she left the service. Last fall, one of Alicia's Navy friends called Jaques to tell her that Alicia was an addict and down to a skeletal 85 pounds. There was a second arrest for heroin possession followed by a four-month stint in prison rehab.

"I want to rebuild my relationship with my mom," she wrote during that period. "I will call her more often and share pictures of myself and what I'm doing so she can help with my recovery.  I want to go back to Missouri.  I want to go back to school.  I want to be comfortable with myself. I want to be able to talk in front of people and not be afraid I sound stupid."

Four days after her release, she died of a heroin overdose. Jaques was upset that the Navy had just punished her daughter, rather than providing medical help. "If you have a good person and all of a sudden things start going down hill, they need to find out what's going on and not just harass them and kick them out," she said.

Decades earlier, Vilsack's mother had written a letter to her sister in Philadelphia describing her recovery and hopes for the future. Like Jaques's daughter, she had been sober for only a few months.

She wrote about rehab and looking for steady work and an apartment in the same neighborhood where Vilsack was living with his father.

"I simply cannot afford to take any more chances," she wrote. "I have all the confidence in the world in myself now  something that I haven't had in a long time.  I am sure if I do my part, God will help me."

Vilsack had read and reread the 1964 letter, trying to piece together what had allowed his mother to find sobriety after so many failed attempts. Her faith had been central; she found a good job at a bank that had helped ease the family's financial strains.

"Then you start thinking about the little things, like my dad used to be a bourbon drinker," Vilsack said. When his parents moved back in together, his father switched to vodka. "What was with that?" Vilsack wondered. "Maybe it was his effort to help mom?" Maybe the smell or color of bourbon triggered a craving? Vilsack guessed.

Downstairs another town hall meeting had begun. A drug-treatment court judge was saying that more than 50 percent of the nonviolent offenders coming through her courtroom were hardcore heroin addicts who only a few years ago would have been sent to a criminal court. "We are dealing with people who we would never have considered taking in the old days and getting much better results," she said. "But our funding is lacking."

Vilsack talked about the need for more federal spending, and he outlined his "four-pillar plan" to revitalize struggling rural economies. The answer, he said, was more investment in organic farming, eco-tourism, biofuels and bio-based manufacturing.

He slid his speaking notes into his suit pocket and glanced up at Jaques, who was sitting in the front row. There had been so much that Jaques had wanted to tell him and so much that she still did not know. "I was worried that I covered everything," she said.

When he was finished speaking, Vilsack sought her out in the crowd. His staff and security detail were hovering just out of earshot. His government SUV and driver were waiting outside to ferry him to the airport. Vilsack told her that he had already shared her daughter's story with Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

He promised that he would talk about it in Washington.
A St. Louis lawyer has secured the right to proceed with a national class-action lawsuit that could pit more than 440,000 U.S. corn farmers against Switzerland-based seed giant Syngenta.

A Kansas federal district court judge ruled Monday that the case can move forward as a class action, leaving Don Downing of St. Louis-based Gray, Ritter & Graham P.C., as one of four lawyers from around the country to represent farmers in the proceedings.

The legal dispute against Syngenta first emerged in 2014 and is centered on allegations that the company prematurely and irresponsibly released new seed varieties that were not approved in China. Eventually those varieties, Agrisure Viptera and Duracade, contaminated U.S. corn exports to China, leading to a trade ban in late 2013. Plaintiffs say the trade ban and Chinas continued unwillingness to buy genetically modified corn from the U.S. has resulted in estimated losses of $5 billion to $7 billion for domestic corn growers.

Once youve lost a foreign market, its very difficult to get it back because they tend to look to other countries to fill their needs, Downing said. He explained that China has turned to Ukraine as its primary supplier of corn imports. He says China now also uses imports of milo, a sorghum product, as a feed grain substitute to replace American corn.

Downing says virtually all U.S. genetically modified corn producers were affected by fallout from the trade ban.

When we lost the Chinese market, it affected the Chicago Board of Trade price for corn, Downing said. All farmers across the country were affected on a per-bushel basis, equally.

In terms of sheer monetary value, Downing says the legal case to recover losses could be one for the ages.

In the agricultural sector, it certainly has the potential to be the largest case in history, Downing said.

The Courts ruling will make it easier and less expensive for farmers to pursue their claims against Syngenta, said Scott Powell, another of the plaintiffs lawyers, in a released statement. Instead of having to retain and pay individual counsel, file their own lawsuit, produce voluminous farm records, sit for a deposition and appear at trial, the Court found that all class members may attempt to prove their claims through a limited number of class representatives. If those class representatives win, all class members win. No individual farmer has to file a lawsuit to seek a recovery.

Downing, raised from a farming background in southeast Missouri, has past experience with similar cases. He was the co-lead counsel in a $750 million settlement reached between Bayer and U.S. rice farmers in 2011. In that case, U.S. long-grain rice exports were embargoed after an unapproved, test variety of seed  called LibertyLink 601  contaminated the domestic rice supply.

Despite some overall similarities, Downing says there are key differences in the cases, arguing that the Bayer episode was more of an instance of negligence while Syngentas responsibility was more intentional. He says many in the grain industry warned Syngenta that Chinas failure to approve the seed varieties in question presented an unnecessary risk to an important foreign trade partner.

At the end of the day, the question is whether they should have approved Duracade at all, says Downing. And if so, given the lack of approval in China, what it could and should have done to minimize risk to farmers.

A trial in the case is currently set for June 2017. In addition to the nationwide class established by Mondays ruling, statewide classes of affected farmers were approved in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

Syngenta said it may appeal the district courts decision.

Syngenta respectfully disagrees with this ruling, particularly given the widely varying ways in which farmers grow and sell corn in different markets across the U.S., Syngenta spokesman Paul Minehart said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The longtime CEO of Wells Fargo agreed on Tuesday to forfeit $41 million in performance pay three weeks after the bank acknowledged that for at least five years thousands of low-level employees allegedly set up sham accounts to meet sales quotas.

The San Francisco-based bank has repeatedly apologized for the scheme and said it had fired 5,300 employees for bad behavior and put in place more stringent internal controls. But that hasnt been enough for members of Congress who have been pushing for the companys top leaders to give back the millions in bonuses they earned while the misconduct was occurring.

The independent directors of the Wells Fargo board announced Tuesday that they were launching an investigation into Wells Fargos retail business.

We are deeply concerned by these matters, and we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of the companys business are conducted with integrity, transparency, and oversight, Stephen Sanger, the lead independent director, said in a statement.

John Stumpf, the chief executive, will forfeit unvested stock awards currently worth about $41 million, will not receive a salary while the investigation is ongoing and will not be eligible for a 2016 bonus, the committee said in a statement. Carrie Tolstedt, the former head of Wells Fargo community bank unit, where the misconduct took place, will give up $19 million in unvested stock awards and not be eligible for a 2016 bonus. Tolstedt had announced her retirement in July, but had initially planned to stay at the bank until the end of the year.

Both Stumpf and Tolstedt still have millions in stock and other compensation at Wells Fargo. But this action by the banks board is, by far, the most aggressive and public effort by a financial firm since the 2008 financial crisis to show that top executives will be held responsible for misdeeds.

In early September, Wells Fargo was fined $185 million by regulators after it discovered that thousands of employees were setting up unauthorized accounts, from credit cards to checking accounts, that customers didnt ask for. In some cases, the customer was charged various fees for accounts they didnt know existed.

The case has sparked a national outcry, with lawmakers pummeling Stumpf before the Senate Banking Committee last week, with one calling on him to resign. He is set to be the only witness before the House Financial Services Committee, and this move could help head off some recrimination from lawmakers.
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis will erect barriers this week to shield viewers from works in Direct Drive that critics are calling racially charged and exploitative.

Informational signs will also explain the objections to the work, so viewers can decide what they want to see.

The exhibition at the museum in Grand Center was called into question during an artist talk Sept. 17 at which some attendees said Kelley Walker, a white Georgia native who now lives in New York, was hostile to those who inquired about his appropriation of images featuring black civil rights activists and black women on magazine covers. The images were digitally altered to include streaks of whitening toothpaste and chocolate in a way that made viewers question the artists intent.

Both Walker and the museums chief curator Jeffrey Uslip bristled at questions during the talk. One St. Louis artists call for a boycott was echoed by hundreds more.

Soon after, the museums three black administrative employees  De Andrea Nichols, Lyndon Barrois Jr. and Victoria Donaldson  distributed a letter calling for the removal of four offensive pieces and for Uslip to step down. If their requests were not met, they said they would not perform duties related to the exhibit, including hosting tours of the work and otherwise supporting its promotion. (They were unavailable for comment Monday.)

A panel discussion of black artists and leaders of art groups held Thursday at the museum called for the offensive pieces to be removed and apologies made.

CAM executive director Lisa Melandri was in discussion with the board, her staff and local artists for days as the museum decided how to proceed. She said the decision was to make modifications to respect the pain and trauma reported by viewers who think Walkers intent was malicious.

A statement from the museum reads in part: Taking down the show would violate the museums core principles and end the productive dialogue that this work has initiated. CAM has a history of showing controversial artists; we have shown works that have challenged common sensibilities and presented work that has critiqued, in a difficult way, misogyny, patriarchy, homophobia and the military industrial complex, among other issues. Despite the debates and discomfort these exhibitions generated, we never removed them.

Melandri later said by phone that she doesnt take the situation lightly and wants to show all parties the proper respect and space for expression.

There will be no staff changes at the museum related to the exhibit. I stand by my entire staff, Melandri said.

She said the response and continuing discussion could ultimately do some good as the institution strives to make better and more inclusive decisions.

I think we can really create opportunity from this  opportunity for something different and something new with renewed parity and equity. We can do better and do something really important here, she said.

Melandri also acknowledges that critics may not be readily appeased, and shes willing to keep working with them. Anyone with concerns can email her at lmelandri@camstl.org.

Damon Davis, a St. Louis artist who originally called for a boycott of the exhibit, is troubled that the museum is using the controversy to attract visitors who are very comfortable seeing us in pain.

The response to us asking them to take something off the wall is to build more walls, he said. We asked for a simple gesture of respect and compassion, and this was the response  more walls. That was not what we wanted. This is not done. We are not done here.
Jan Meyer, Amy Loui and Sophia Brown, starring in Three Tall Women at the St. Louis Actors Studio, play characters called A, B and C. How minimalist that sounds. But their roles and their performances scarcely could be richer.

Director Wayne Salomon tears into Edward Albees most autobiographical play with relish, especially in the complex second act.

But even the first act  in which a thoughtful caregiver, B, and a testy young lawyer, C, urge the aged A to sign documents shes ignored  is a galloping troika ride.

Meyer gives a knockout performance as a frail, wealthy woman who has enough of her wits to do damage, albeit not quite all of them. Because A is so weak, Meyer cannot employ a lot of action: She spends most of the act in one chair, with a broken arm in a sling. Meyer just cant use about half her theatrical toolkit.

But As mind bounces around like a jumping bean, and Meyer lets us see each skip and hop. A moves from the instantaneous present tense (she has to use the bathroom) to dreamy memories of her dancing days. She loves horses and dislikes Jews. Shes got opinions on everything, especially how badly some people have treated her. She is related to most of them.

B, her trim, professional caregiver, takes it in stride; shes heard it all before, probably within the hour. B urges the lawyer to let it go. But C  who grimaces at As parade of prejudices and glances at her watch to measure the waste of time  wont oblige. In a way, C, rather than B, gives A full credit for her humanity; she takes her at her (often horrible) word.

That also opens up the way for more stories  stories that stretch from the early 20th century to 1991, when the three women meet in As refined Sutton Place bedroom (impeccably designed by Patrick Huber).

Even B gets in on the act, inventing a ridiculous story about how she stole As silver to make the old lady laugh. Laughter and tears, whispers and shouting all find their place in this layered scene. It ends with A suffering a massive stroke.

But the play is only half over. (It is not a mystery, or for that matter a new drama, but if you treasure an element of suspense stop reading now.) What happens next is a bolt of pure Albee, daring stagecraft that few would have thought of, and nobody else could pull off.

The A we have known is now portrayed by a dummy, lying in bed. Meyer, Loui and Brown are all A at different ages: Brown as a lovely young model, looking for excitement and love; Loui as a wealthy socialite with no illusions but plenty of jewelry; and Meyer as grande dame, quite elderly but erect, well-coifed, and very well-spoken. They are all onstage at once, talking to one another.

Meyers promise to the others of relief to be through with so much  with all the demands of life, all the expectations waiting to be thwarted  is perhaps as hopeful as Albee can allow himself to be. It does, at least, hint at calm after two stormy theatrical hours.

It does not fully explain how to understand this scene, though. But Salomon does, along with a big hand from costume designer Carla Landis Evans.

In the first act, all three women are aptly and attractively attired. But in the second act, Meyer and Loui wear evening ensembles in loud, awful colors, more or less right for their eras but paired with the wrong accessories. And Brown, in an innocuous pink float, looks like shes ready for bed.

The difference between the two acts makes it extremely unlikely that these costumes are merely a lapse in taste or execution. Landis and Salomon are telling us how to understand Act 2: Its a dream in the unconscious As head. In dreams, we remember things vividly but not accurately; A remembers a lot of things at their worst. That even seems to include the clothes she associates with different periods in her life.

What a smart approach. Salomon and Landis dramatize the old saying about your life passing before your eyes as you die. We know just what is happening and how to understand it: with sympathy for the dummy. Edward Albee might well have understood.
Two months after Robbie Montgomery closed the Grove location of her soul-food restaurant and reality-television subject Sweetie Pies, a new establishment called Sweet Times at the Mangrove is set to open as soon as this week at 4270 Manchester Avenue.

Sweet Times operator will be a familiar name to Sweetie Pies fans: Tim Norman, Montgomerys son and a fellow star of Welcome to Sweetie Pies on Oprah Winfreys OWN network. Norman also operates restaurants in Berkeley, Florissant and North Hollywood, Calif.

In July, only a few days after she closed Sweetie Pies in the Grove, Montgomery sued Norman in federal court, alleging his three restaurants are infringing on the Sweetie Pies trademark. Montgomery still operates Sweetie Pies the Upper Crust in Grand Center and the original Sweetie Pies location in Dellwood, which reopened in May after a two-year closure.

Norman could not be reached for comment. However, when a Post-Dispatch reporter visited Sweet Times on Monday, a person working inside the restaurant said Norman was the operator.

(The worker declined to give his name.)

Chris Colizza, asset manager for the real-estate developer Mangrove, which owns the building at 4270 Manchester, confirmed Normans involvement with Sweet Times in a phone call Tuesday.

Some of it will be similar to Sweetie Pies, Colizza said, but there will also be some new components.

A peek into the windows Tuesday morning revealed that the cafeteria line has been moved to the side of the building along Tower Grove Avenue. A menu above the line listed main dishes (baked and fried chicken, rib tips, pork steaks) and an array of sides.

Were really excited to support them, Colizza said.

The exact arrangement of the Sweet Times operation is still unclear. Colizza provided Off the Menu with the phone number of a person whom he described as part of the Sweet Times team. This person turned out to be the contractor, who also confirmed he was working with Norman.

Normans apparent involvement in Sweet Times continues a tumultuous year for the extended Sweetie Pies family. In addition to the closure of the Grove restaurant and Montgomerys lawsuit against Norman, a burglar smashed the front door of the Dellwood restaurant in July and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

early Sunday morning, a fire damaged the roof of the Dellwood location. Chief Floyd Renner of the Metro North Fire Protection District told the Post-Dispatch that arson investigators investigated the scene because we didnt see any reason for the fire to occur. The restaurant opened on Sunday.

Ron Wade of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  I can forgive you. I do forgive you.

Those were the last recorded words of Charles Lucas, 25, felled by a single pistol shot from rival lawyer Thomas Hart Benton. The duel took place Sept. 27, 1817, on Bloody Island in the Mississippi River across from St. Louis.

Their meeting is the most infamous duel here because Benton later became a national figure, serving Missouri in the U.S. Senate for 30 years. Matters of petty ego led them to the island. But their rivalry was shaped by the opposite sides they took in St. Louis first major political schism  the prolonged fight over land titles between the French-speaking founding families and the American newcomers.

Lucas was a son of Judge Jean Baptiste Charles Lucas, a former congressman from Pittsburgh. In 1805, President Thomas Jefferson appointed the elder Lucas to the Board of Land Commissioners for the Territory of (upper) Louisiana. Despite Lucas French birth, he fiercely opposed many of the holdings of the Chouteau family and its allies, to whom the former Spanish colonial rulers had bestowed generous grants.

Many newcomers thought the Louisiana Purchase made the land Americas to dispense. Further complicating things were the difficulties of making detailed surveys in a wilderness and the hurried nature of some Spanish grants, especially those written near the end of colonial days.

Benton arrived here in 1815 from Tennessee after tangling with future president Andrew Jackson. Benton quickly made friends with Charles Gratiot, a brother-in-law of first citizen Auguste Chouteau. Benton took the founders side in the land fight.

In a routine court case in 1816, Benton and Charles Lucas traded insults during closing arguments. On election day in August 1817, Lucas publicly questioned Bentons right to vote. Incensed, Benton said, I do not propose to answer charges made by any puppy who may happen to cross my path.

Lucas challenged him to a duel. They met 12 days later on the island and wounded each other. Residual hard feelings led six weeks later to the fatal replay.

Benton became a newspaper editor and added statehood for Missouri to his passions. Elected U.S. senator by the legislature, he began shifting his sympathies to the growing number of farmers and other small landholders. In 1824, he proposed less-desirable land be given free to poor families if they would work it.

The larger land disputes lingered for decades in the courts, the last one settled by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1888. Resolutions defy easy summary. The commissioners generally upheld even shaky land claims if they were small and owner-occupied. The founding families survived well enough  Auguste Chouteau still held more than 50,000 acres when he died in 1829.

In the end, both sides could claim vindication. J.B.C. Lucas ended his days scorning Benton as an assassin and tending to extensive family land holdings, including a large tract northwest of St. Louis his late son called Normandy. The name endures as a suburb and school district.

Other prominent duels at Bloody Island

Here are two other duels that took place on Bloody Island between prominent St. Louisans:

 On June 30, 1823, Thomas Rector shot and killed Joshua Barton, who was U.S. attorney here and a U.S. senator's brother. Barton was the source of an anonymous newspaper article that accused Rector's brother, federal surveyor William Rector, of padding his payroll. William Rector was away from town, so his brother, Thomas, demanded the duel to protect family honor. The distance was 10 paces. Rector was unharmed.

 On Aug. 26, 1831, U.S. Rep. Spencer Pettis and retired army Maj. Thomas Biddle both died in a point-blank exchange of pistol shots. Pettis had criticized the Bank of the United States, which was run by Biddle's brother, Nicholas, and a major flashpoint in Jacksonian-era politics. After Thomas Biddle assaulted Pettis in a hotel, Pettis issued a challenge to duel. That meant Biddle could set the terms. He chose face-to-face because he was nearsighted.

Despite laws against dueling, old-time honor sometimes still demanded gunfire. On Aug. 26, 1856, U.S. Attorney Thomas Reynolds wounded newspaper editor Gratz Brown on an island near Herculaneum, a secret location they chose because police were watching Bloody Island. Theirs was the last local duel to draw blood.
The Missouri History Museum has spent two years collecting artifacts from the Ferguson unrest, but theres a conspicuous absence of items provided by Ferguson City Hall.

The museum has artwork from boarded up windows, protesters gas masks, empty tear gas grenades and even clothing worn by protesters in the weeks following Michael Browns shooting death by a police officer. But Ferguson officials are yet to contribute anything to the collection.

City Hall spokesman Jeff Small said the city isnt involved because it hasnt been formally asked to participate, and moreover, it has nothing to offer.

At no point did the city ever maintain any collection of items, Small said.

Mayor James Knowles III said he would help, but he hasnt personally been contacted by the museum about the collection since the end of 2014.

But activists and museum researchers say theyd be surprised if the city doesnt possess anything of historical significance.

We would need to have conversations with them to determine exactly what they have, museum director of library and collections Chris Gordon said. They might not understand some of this material may be of interest to us.

The museum is also recording oral histories of the events in Ferguson from people who lived through them. Gordon said about 10 such interviews have been recorded to date. Emily Davis, a Ferguson activist who contributed artwork to the collecting initiative, said its difficult to believe City Hall isnt in possession of items that might be considered artifacts.

Davis said she thinks the city simply doesnt want to remember the events between Aug. 9, 2014  when Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot  to November 2014  when a grand jury declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the killing.

They want to pretend this didnt happen and we were given a bad rap, Davis said. I dont think theyre particularly willing to acknowledge it as a historical moment.

Small said its not city officials role to act as historians, but that they are supportive of efforts to preserve the history for research and education. He added that there are concerns about how the events might be portrayed and said some groups might want to exploit events for their own agenda.

We understand those who would have a purpose of doing something that is meaningful that acknowledges the controversial nature of the events, but that presents any materials in a respectful way that hopefully educates, Small said. No one wants to see anything exploited in some manner or used for some type of ill will.

Small said the city would consider a formal request to participate, but didnt elaborate. Knowles said he would only need to be personally contacted.

At one point the Missouri History Museum and the city of Ferguson were progressing on a formal collecting agreement, Gordon said. But those talks were tabled in the spring of 2015 following a Department of Justice report excoriating city management, and an exodus of the citys top brass, including resignations by the police chief and city manager.

At that point a whole new group of people came on and its been our goal to reach out and re-establish a new relationship with the new people, Gordon said.

Knowles said City Hall has been short-staffed in multiple departments in addition to the administrative turnover. Preoccupation with implementing a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice and providing basic services take precedent over collecting artifacts for the history museum, he said. Knowles said the city has helped the Ferguson Historical Society collect artwork from boarded up windows.

Wed be happy to provide what we can, but some requests we just cant fulfill because we dont have those items, Knowles said. Specifically, the Missouri History Museum had requested Wilsons uniform, badge and firearm. Knowles said the uniform and badge are Wilsons personal property, and the firearm was handed over to St. Louis County as evidence when the case was being investigated.

Some of the artifacts from the Ferguson collecting initiative will be displayed in an upcoming Missouri History Museum exhibition on local civil rights history. The yearlong exhibit opening in March will specifically focus on the African-American freedom struggle in St. Louis, according to promotional materials.

Gordon said the museum has received a small number of items from counterdemonstrators who supported law enforcement during the Ferguson unrest, but would like more from both sides. A Ferguson-specific exhibition would be years away, either way, he said.

We want to show this in a big picture perspective and not just showcase one side, Gordon said. Anything we can gather to get a well-rounded picture of the events that occurred.

Anyone interested in donating items to the collection can email objects@mohistory.org or visit support.mohistory.org/pages/artifact-donations.
Prison officials on Tuesday refused to discuss any changes made after a sexting scandal at the federal prison in Marion, Ill.

Renee Strauss, 42, was sentenced Aug. 30 to four months in prison for smuggling smart phones and contraband to an inmate. The pair were having a sexual relationship at the time.

Federal Bureau of Prison officials on Tuesday refused to comment on the case, or any changes that they have made to prevent a recurrence of that type of incident, saying only that the bureau does not comment on legal proceedings.

The Justice Departments Office of Inspector General provided on Friday a redacted copy of an Abbreviated Report of Investigation in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Post-Dispatch.

That report says that on Sept. 27, 2015, OIG investigators approached Strauss and the inmate during one of their regular Sunday morning meetings, which were held out of camera surveillance range. They found chewing tobacco and two packages of Newport cigarettes on Strauss. They found a cellphone and other contraband in the inmates cell. On the phone were nude images of Strauss, photos of the two together and several sexually oriented text messages.

The inmate told investigators that Strauss smuggled in three cellphones. Two have never been found, according to court testimony at Strauss sentencing.

Strauss admitted to a sexual relationship with the inmate, and said the pair exchanged emails nearly every day. She initially lied about smuggling the phones and tobacco, but later admitted both.

Strauss was a case manager at the prison. The inmate, since moved to another prison, is serving a 25-year term. He has declined the Post-Dispatchs interview request.

At Strauss sentencing hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney James Cutchin said that the missing cellphones presented an elevated risk at Marion, where inmates in a communications management unit have their contact with the outside world restricted. Among those inmates are terrorists and inmates whove threatened or assaulted judges, prosecutors and other federal officials, he said.

In a June report, the OIG said that contraband smuggling was a persistent problem and can pose grave dangers to staff, inmates, visitors and the public.

The report says that phones are the most common item recovered from prisons, and that 8,700 were seized from 2012 to 2014. Inmates with phones can carry out criminal activities undetected, including threatening and intimidating witnesses, victims, and public officials, and coordinate escape attempts, the report says.

The prisons bureau cant effectively track contraband recoveries and analyze contraband trends, has no comprehensive and effective staff search policy and has deficiencies in their security camera system that are known to both inmates and staff, the report concluded.
WASHINGTON -- Impeachment is among the most severe and solemn powers Congress has, right up there with declaring war.

Not since 1876 has an executive-branch appointee been impeached, and not in the history of the republic has Congress impeached an executive-branch official below the Cabinet level.

Now, Republicans in Congress would change that. Last week, they wheeled out the sacred tool of impeachment -- weeks before an election -- for the purpose of smearing an honorable public servant, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, in service of a lie.

"The IRS has been abusing taxpayers and illegally targeting conservatives and getting away with it," Rep. John Fleming, a Republican Senate candidate in Louisiana and leader of the House effort to impeach Koskinen, says in a new radio ad. "The head of the IRS ordered 24,000 emails erased before Congress could review them. ... I'm fighting back with an impeachment vote against the head of the IRS."

There are just a few wee problems with the Republicans' logic. The targeting of conservative groups ended in 2013. The Treasury Department's inspector general, originally a Republican appointee, reported no evidence of political motivation in the targeting. The Justice Department, too, found "no evidence that any IRS official acted based on political, discriminatory, corrupt, or other inappropriate motives" and "no evidence that any official attempted to obstruct justice." The official responsible for the targeting resigned before Koskinen came to the IRS at the end of 2013. And the same IG said last year that "no evidence was uncovered that any IRS employees had been directed to destroy or hide information from Congress, the DOJ, or [the IG]."

House Speaker Paul Ryan, eager to avoid the spectacle of the House voting to impeach an innocent man based on false charges without a proper hearing, got impeachment advocates to settle for last Wednesday's hearing in which Koskinen testified before the House Judiciary Committee. But that hardly improved matters: To say this impeachment inquiry is a kangaroo court would be an insult to marsupials.

The hearing was called without the usual protocol of a vote of the House authorizing an investigation. The accused was not represented by counsel or given the right to present evidence. He was even denied access to the "evidence" the House Oversight Committee amassed that forms the basis of the charges against him.

Even the kangaroos on the Judiciary court were denied the secret evidence behind the bogus charges. "Does the committee majority have access to the unedited transcripts of the interviews conducted by the Oversight Committee?" Democrat Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) asked the committee's chairman, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

"We do not think so," Goodlatte replied.

If they lacked evidence, Republicans on the panel compensated with hysteria.

"We expect this kind of behavior from dictatorships," announced Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.). "It represents a direct attack on freedom of religion -- excuse me. It represents a direct attack on freedom of speech and, thus, an attack on our Constitution and our democracy."

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) took the unusual tack of accusing Koskinen of refusing to testify even as he sat there testifying: "You circled the wagons and clammed up, and you took the Fifth, and you destroyed evidence and betrayed the country."

Rather than join in the wild accusations, several Democrats on the panel chose instead to ask Koskinen about Donald Trump's taxes -- a line of questioning that brought an objection from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) because it was "outside the scope of this hearing."

The chairman let Issa know that he couldn't tell the Democrats which questions to ask; even a kangaroo court has some standards.

There's no dispute that Koskinen misinformed lawmakers in 2014 when he said that all evidence had been preserved relevant to the targeting. In fact, IRS workers a few months earlier had destroyed backup tapes that contained relevant emails. Koskinen says he didn't know that at the time. The IG spent a year investigating the matter and attributed the erasure to bureaucratic errors, finding "no evidence that the IRS and its employees purposely erased the tapes in order to conceal responsive e-mails from the Congress."

But Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), one of those leading the charge to impeach Koskinen, doesn't believe that.

"That's just a coincidence?" he asked Koskinen on Wednesday about the erasures. "That just happened by chance?"

Jordan is entitled to his beliefs and his conspiracy theories, even if they run contrary to the evidence. But when it comes to the awesome power of impeachment, the burden of proof should be higher than wild speculation.
ST. LOUIS  Police on Monday provided the locations of about 100 vehicles that had windows broken by vandals over the weekend, primarily in south St. Louis.

Reports of broken windows started rolling in Saturday morning from multiple areas, officials said. The windows were likely shot out by a pellet gun.

Police said no one was injured and nothing was reported stolen.

Police gave the following list of damaged areas:

2900 to 3100 blocks of Lafayette Avenue (18 vehicles)

2200 block of Arsenal Street (4 vehicles)

2900 to 3100 blocks of Shenandoah Avenue (12 vehicles)

2900 to 3000 blocks of Caroline Street (27 vehicles)

2000 to 2200 blocks of Nebraska Avenue (18 vehicles)

2300 to 2800 blocks of Park Avenue (number of vehicles unknown).

6000 to 7100 blocks of Jamieson Avenue (6 vehicles)

7300 block of Parkview Drive (10 vehicles)

7300 block of Hampshire Drive (1 vehicle)

Police encouraged anyone with information about the incidents to contact CrimeStoppers.
ST. LOUIS  A woman from California who used counterfeit credit cards to buy gift cards has been sentenced in federal court here to four years in prison, prosecutors said.

Chesterfield police were originally called on Latricia Newell, now 38, after the name on a credit card she used didn't match the information on the account, prosecutors said.

When an officer approached her car, that officer spotted 20 credit cards that had fallen out of her purse, and later found 51 gift cards and 64 credit or debit cards that were embossed with her name but encoded with the account numbers of other people, prosecutors said.

Newell used the credit cards to buy gift cards in St. John, Brentwood, Clayton and Hazelwood, prosecutors said. In 2014, officials in Austin, Texas, found more than 323 gift cards and 39 re-encoded credit cards in luggage. Thirty-eight of those credit cards had Newell's name on them, prosecutors said.

Newell, of Harbor City, Calif., pleaded guilty in June to one count of possession of 15 or more counterfeit credit cards, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of use of unauthorized access devices.
ST. LOUIS  Police have identified a St. Louis woman found dead Sunday morning after she was stabbed Saturday night by a group of unknown suspects in the Dutchtown neighborhood.

Erica Young, 28, was found dead around 11:16 a.m. Sunday in a vacant lot in the 4000 block of California Avenue.

Young was stabbed in the back Saturday night while she was in the area with another woman, 42, and that woman's daughter, 18, according to a police report. Young fled the attack and collapsed in the lot where she was found the next morning.

The 42-year-old woman told police the three women were in the Dutchtown neighborhood when they were attacked by a large group of unknown suspects.

The 18-year-old woman was stabbed multiple times and taken to a hospital where she was listed in stable condition. Her mother was cut on the hand.

Young fled the scene after sustaining a stab wound to the back and apparently collapsed in the vacant lot.

Police were called to the vacant lot Sunday morning where Young had been found unconscious in the lot, according to the report. Young was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

No other details were available.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the 42-year-old woman as Young's mother. The woman was not Young's mother. She is the mother of the 18-year-old woman, according to a police report.
UPDATED at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday with mugshots and additional detail, including that a third person was in custody

CHESTERFIELD  Three people from New York are jailed in St. Louis County in connection with the theft of more than $8,000 in merchandise from a Chesterfield outlet mall Saturday.

Daniela Corso-Castro, 22, Juan Cisternas, 33, and Francisco Beiza-Sanmartin, 31, all of Flushing, N.Y., were each charged with receiving stolen property. Police say they suspect the thefts could be part of an interstate shoplifting ring.

Some of the stolen items had been hidden in several large laundry bags and "booster bags" that were made to bypass security sensors, police say.

At about 2 p.m. Saturday, an employee of the Gap Factory Store at Taubman Prestige Outlets, 17017 North Outer 40 Road, called police after spotting a man and woman leaving the store with clothes they hadn't purchased, said Chesterfield Police Sgt. Keith Rider.

Within minutes, officers saw a man matching the description of the thief, Rider said. The man was driving a van with Pennsylvania license plates. Police stopped the van on North Outer 40 Road near Boones Crossing and found $8,000 in stolen clothing and other merchandise inside the van, police say. They arrested Corso-Castro, Cisternas and Beiza-Sanmartin.

The three were being held at the St. Louis County jail in Clayton in lieu of $50,000 bail for each. They are charged with the felony of receiving stolen property but could also face municipal charges for felony theft, Rider said.

Rider said Chesterfield police have seen this kind of large-scale theft before and suspect the three people arrested Saturday could be part of an interstate theft ring. What police usually find is that the band of thieves meet up in a motel room and mail the merchandise to someone else to sell, Rider said.

Rider said police haven't found a motel connected to this trio; but he said police think they might be part of a larger ring because of the amount of merchandise stolen and the fact that the three carried identification indicating they lived out-of-state and were driving a vehicle from another state.

Rider said investigators are still working to see if the three are tied to any other recent crimes.

Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.
Reports of violent crime, including murders, increased faster in 2015 in the greater St. Louis area than it did nationwide, according to FBI statistics released Monday.

The FBIs annual report does not include crimes reported during 2016.

Assembled statistics for the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the city and 14 surrounding counties in Missouri and Illinois, show that 13,560 violent crimes were reported in the region in 2015, an increase of 14.8 percent from 2014. There were 294 murders reported in 2015, or 20 percent more than in 2014.

The FBI said violent crime rose nationwide 3.9 percent in 2015 and the number of murders was up 10.8 percent. It said violent crime nationwide in 2015 was 6.9 percent less than in 2010 and down 16.2 percent since 2005.

The city of St. Louis accounted for 188 of the regions murders in 2015, or 57 percent, up from 159 in 2014. The city has reported 146 murders this year as of Monday, down six from the same time in 2015, but 2016 statistics are not in the FBI report.

St. Louis County police reported 28 murders in 2015, more than double the 12 in 2014. East St. Louis had a decline in murders over those two years, to 19 from 27 in 2014, according to the FBI.

The 1,066 rapes reported in the metro area in 2015 represented an increase of 9.4 percent. About one-fourth of those were reported in St. Louis, although the city had 13 fewer rapes than in 2014. Ferguson reported eight, up six from 2014, and Kirkwood had three, down five from the year before. Edwardsville reported three rapes in 2015, up one from 2014.

Reports of robberies and assaults also increased in the metro area. The city accounted for about half of the robberies, but some suburbs, including Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Ferguson and Edwardsville also had more robberies than before, although in far fewer numbers.

For example, St. Louis reported 1,790 robberies in 2015, up from 1,562 in 2014. Chesterfield had 13 robberies in 2015, up nine from the year before, the FBI says. The city of St. Charles reported 31 robberies in each of those years.

The FBI material is posted in detail, by state and police jurisdiction, online. Included are figures for Missouri municipalities, Illinois municipalities, Missouri counties and Illinois counties.
ST. LOUIS  Richard Gaines, a member of the Special Administrative Board that oversees St. Louis Public Schools, defended the school systems handling of lead-contaminated drinking water Monday.

At a meeting of the administrative board, Gaines came under fire from Bill Monroe, who sits on the elected school board  which currently has little say in the districts governance.

Monroes primary query involved the timeliness of the appointed board in addressing the issue, noting $10 million the district spent to fix environmental problems.

This summer a report found 30 school buildings in St. Louis Public Schools have elevated lead levels. Water samples from 16 schools in the city had lead levels higher than commonly found in homes in Flint, Mich., after the water contamination crisis there.

But Gaines quickly rebutted Monroes comments, saying he didnt think the gathering should have to sit through misinterpretation, bad information and maybe outright lies, regarding the boards actions.

We had a lead based paint problem that we knew of. We didnt know about a water problem. Most school systems in this country didnt know about a water problem, Gaines said. The water crisis in Flint prompted the district to test school lead levels. He said the district is in the middle of correcting a potential major health problem. Exposure to lead can lead to developmental problems in babies and children under age 6.

District Superintendent Kelvin Adams said a comprehensive update on replacing school water fountains and sinks will be released Oct. 30. In the meantime, he said, the process is moving in the right direction.

Were still replacing sinks and water fountains. And theyre still testing, he said.

In addition to talking about school lead levels, the board also talked about low student enrollment in city elementary schools. Better marketing, administrative organization and student recruitment were some suggestions to addressing the problem. Adams briefly outlined a timeline until the end of the year to discuss school consolidations.

A new board member

Darnetta Clinkscale, the patient care director at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, was appointed Monday to the special school board by Mayor Francis Slay. She replaces former member Melanie Adams, who resigned from the board last month to move to Minnesota. Clinkscale will serve along with Gaines and Rick Sullivan, members since the state created the board in 2007.

Slay said in a statement Monday he believed Clinkscale would bring stable governance. Her appointment ends June 2019.
A steady line of voters cast absentee ballots in the St. Louis area on Tuesday, the first day to vote absentee in Missouri.

Early voting in Illinois begins Thursday.

In Missouri, voters who cannot go to their regular polling places on Election Day, Nov. 8, can apply and vote absentee at local election offices.

Illinois allows general early voting.

In both states, votes are not counted until after polls close on Election Day. In St. Louis County, the absentee polling place is in the Deer Creek Shopping Plaza, 3232 Laclede Station Road in Maplewood. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7; and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on four Saturdays: Oct. 15, 22 and 29, and Nov. 5.

In St. Louis, absentee votes are taken at the election board office, 300 North Tucker Boulevard at Olive Street. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 6 p.m. Tuesdays; and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three Saturdays: Oct. 22 and 29, and Nov. 5.

In St. Charles County, they are cast at the election authority office, 397 Turner Boulevard in St. Peters, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on two Saturdays: Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

In Jefferson County, the county clerk takes absentee votes in the county administration building, 729 Maple Street in Hillsboro, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 5.

In Madison County, voters can cast ballots beginning Thursday in the clerks office of the county administration building, 157 North Main Street in Edwardsville, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The clerk will open nine satellite early voting locations on Oct. 24.

The St. Clair County clerks office in the county government building, 10 Public Square in Belleville, will allow voting from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The clerk will open seven other locations beginning Oct. 24.

 Illinois voters also can apply to vote by mail. Clerks will begin mailing applied-for ballots on Thursday.

For more information on absentee voting, go to stltoday.com or check with your local election offices.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Republican mega donor and his family have poured another $2 million into their efforts to make Missouri a right-to-work state, pushing their political contributions this year past the $10 million mark.

On Monday, David Humphreys, president and CEO of Joplin-based Tamko Building Products, and his sister, Sarah Humphreys Atkins, contributed $1 million to Republican attorney general candidate Josh Hawley of Columbia. On Tuesday, Atkins wrote a $1 million check to a political action committee that has worked to oust lawmakers who oppose right-to-work laws.

The newest contributions put the Humphreys' financial stake in the 2016 election in the neighborhood of another Missouri mega donor, retired St. Louis investor Rex Sinquefield, who has dumped over $11 million into the 2016 election.

A Tamko spokesman said Humphreys was traveling and could not immediately be reached for comment.

A right-to-work law would ban contracts requiring workers to pay dues to a union. Supporters say the law would boost the states economy. Opponents say it would lead to lower wages and weaker labor unions.

The Republican-led majorities in the Missouri House and Senate have enough votes to approve a right-to-work law, but not enough to uphold a gubernatorial veto of the legislation.

Atkins contribution went to the Committee for Accountable Government, which spent heavily in the primary against Republican incumbents who had voted against right-to-work.

Among them was Rep. Anne Zerr, a St. Charles County Republican, who lost her primary race to Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring.
JEFFERSON CITY  Like Donald Trump, the candidates for Missouri governor are making it difficult to determine how much they earned and paid in taxes last year.

Despite multiple requests from the Post-Dispatch over the course of the past month, Republican Eric Greitens and Democrat Chris Koster have not released their 2015 income tax returns.

While Trump, the GOP nominee for president, maintains he cannot release his returns because of an ongoing audit, the two candidates for governor appear to be playing a political game of chicken.

Greitens spokesman Austin Chambers said the campaign wont release the information unless Koster does.

Were not going to blink, Chambers said.

A Koster spokesman declined to comment for this story.

As the two candidates head toward a Nov. 8 showdown, the reluctance of the candidates to release their tax information leaves voters with an unclear picture of each candidates sources of income, their effective tax rates and charitable contributions, said University of Missouri-St. Louis political scientist Dave Robertson.

In a climate of so much mistrust in government, I think it is important for people who want to be in a position of leadership to show as much information about themselves as possible, Robertson said.

Although individual income tax returns are private, most U.S. presidential candidates dating to the early 1970s have chosen to release their returns.

In some states it also is common for governor candidates and other statewide officials to make their returns available for scrutiny.

In Illinois, for example, voters learned in 2015 that Gov. Bruce Rauner, a wealthy investor, earned $58 million the previous year. Farther down the ballot, former Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon released her tax returns in her unsuccessful bid for comptroller.

Gov. Jay Nixon, who is leaving in January after two terms as chief executive, has not typically released his returns.

The Post-Dispatch also has requested the tax returns for the candidates running for U.S. Senate, incumbent Republican Roy Blunt and Democratic challenger Jason Kander.

Tax returns provide a window into the kinds of things people use when assessing their future leaders. They want to know that their leaders are completely honest and have any questions about their independence thoroughly answered, Robertson said.

Public records show Koster earns $116,400 annually as attorney general. Financial disclosure reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission also show he holds stocks and other investments worth more than $10,000 each in nine accounts, including Panera Bread, Pfizer and General Mills. Two of the accounts are pooled investment funds associated with his brother Matthew Koster, a managing partner in Eagle Private Capital in Clayton.

Koster, who is not married, also will be eligible for a state pension.

Greitens finances are less clear.

An Associated Press review of tax filings, independent audits and annual reports of The Mission Continues charity founded by Greitens shows he worked without pay in 2007 and 2008 as the organization designed to help veterans got underway.

After receiving a grant from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, records show Greitens was paid a total of $150,000 from mid-2009 through 2010. His salary was increased to $175,000 in 2011 and he received a $25,000 bonus that year. His salary remained at that level the next two years, before he stepped down in 2014 to begin running for governor.

According to financial disclosure statements filed by the Missouri Ethics Commission, Greitens and his wife, Sheena, hold stocks, bonds and other holdings in seven accounts, each worth more than $10,000.

Campaign finance records also show the two own a house in St. Louis Central West End neighborhood. The 5-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom single-family home is listed on a number of real estate websites as being worth more than a half-million dollars.

Sheena Greitens is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Missouri. Her salary at the Columbia campus is $63,000 annually.
CHICAGO (AP)  Nine historic preservation projects in Illinois will be honored next month at an awards celebration in Chicago.

The projects are being honored by Landmarks Illinois, which is a nonprofit group. The award celebration is Oct. 22.

Among the projects being recognized by the preservation group are the Strand Apartments in Chicago, the Stone Avenue Train Station in LaGrange, the Jail Hill Inn in Galena and an American history project at Gibault High School in the southwest Illinois community of Waterloo.

Landmarks Illinois President and CEO Bonnie McDonald says the award winners have transformed once vacant and forgotten buildings into vibrant community spaces.
ST. LOUIS  Mayor Francis Slay made his case to roughly 200 people Monday night that they should be active participants in the revitalization efforts the city is planning north of downtown.

With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency scheduled to complete construction of a new campus in the St. Louis Place neighborhood by 2022, city leaders are hoping the spy agency will be the anchor that sparks an economic turnaround in an area known for disinvestment and neglect.

City leaders are calling their plan Project Connect. Mondays meeting at Confluence Academy in the Old North neighborhood, was the second of four public meetings scheduled between June and February.

This is a big opportunity in a neighborhood that hasnt seen a whole lot of investment in a long, long time, Slay said. What were doing is making sure we get it right. Its imperative as we move forward that no one is left out of this growth spurt.

The $1.75 billion NGA project is expected to bring with it 3,100 employees. Slay told the audience the Project Connect exercise is about defining and prioritizing neighborhood stability, quality of life and how public money is used.

Slay was joined by Otis Williams, director of the St. Louis Development Corporation and representatives from the NGA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

After a series of presentations, guests were encouraged to give input and ask questions at several information tables set up inside the gymnasium.

Ronald Ferguson of Hyde Park called the Project Connect meetings a wonderful thing, but said hes most concerned about minority inclusion during the NGA construction phase.

Officials associated with the project have said hiring goals would be at the federal minimum of 14.7 percent minority and 6.9 percent women workers  far from an actual reflection of the citys demographics.

Ferguson, said his input to state and federal officials Monday will be focused on boosting those numbers.

But, in all, I feel as though this is going to be a good thing, he said. This will be the biggest project in this area since Sportsmans Park.

Tom Bratkowski, from Old North, said hes not entirely clear on the overall goals federal officials have laid out. He added his concern over losing a sense of community if the surrounding neighborhoods are merged together into a super neighborhood, as he suspects will happen.

Also, I dont see how the ideas I put out would find their way to the people making the decisions, he said.

Calvin Riley, the founder of the George Boyer Vashon African American Culture Research Center Museum in St. Louis Place, said hes optimistic.

We should all make an effort to give our input, he said. Some people will be affected negatively, but, overall, this is a positive thing.

Two more Project Connect meetings are scheduled for January and February. Construction on the NGA site is expected to begin in fall 2017.
ST. LOUIS  An Eric Greitens supporter who narrates a new campaign ad for the Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate has re-posted internet memes disparaging Muslims, falsely alleging that President Barack Obama is a foreigner and joking about differing strategies that liberal and conservative women should use to fight off rapists.

One meme re-posted on Army veteran Robert Murphy's Facebook page shows a woman being grabbed across her mouth and crotch by a male attacker, over the words: "Liberal Anti-Rape Tips  Urinate on yourself to ruin your rapist's mood / libido.

An accompanying picture shows the woman wielding a gun to illustrate the "Conservative Anti-Rape Tips  Pull out a Glock and make the rapist p--- himself."

Other memes Murphy has re-posted in the past year announce, No to gun control, Yes to Muslim control, and decry having to fear offending "some 7th Century Islamic goat humpers."

Several other memes falsely allege Obama is a Muslim who wasn't born in the United States, including one showing Obama's face on a wanted poster with the words: Missing from Kenya.

Greitens is a former Navy SEAL who frequently references that service in his ads. Murphy appears as the sole narrator in the attack ad Greitens released Tuesday against his Democratic opponent, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster.

At least one Greitens staffer is listed on the "Friends" section of Murphy's Facebook page, indicating the campaign had access to the postings.

"This election is about creating jobs and bringing fundamental change to Missouri, not random social media posts," Greitens campaign manager Austin Chambers said in a written response to the Post-Dispatch.

He continued: "Robert Murphy fought for the media's right to write dumb gotcha stories, and for his own free speech right to say things that aren't politically correct, even things others, including Eric, don't agree with."

Missouri Republicans have a recent example of how politically dangerous it can be to riff on the subject of rape.

In 2012, Todd Akin, Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, doomed his own campaign and set off a furious national debate by making the medically invalid suggestion that, with legitimate rape, women's bodies tend to automatically prevent pregnancy. He made the comment by way of defending his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape.

In the new commercial, Murphy, wearing a Combat Veteran, Vietnam cap and VFW insignia, says into the camera: Koster never served his country, only himself . . . It just makes me sick.

Murphy's publicly accessible Facebook page includes numerous expressions of support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who avoided service in Vietnam with four college deferments and one medical deferment. Near the start of his campaign last year, Trump famously diminished the heroism of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other former prisoners of war by declaring: I like people who werent captured.
JEFFERSON CITY  Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise Missouri's cigarette tax for early childhood education programs launched an ad Tuesday highlighting the benefits of pre-K education.

In the commercial, those benefits are written out on a classroom chalkboard while a narrator explains that kids attending pre-K programs are more likely to graduate and be stronger in reading and math.

Another focal point is language in the initiative that mandates funds generated "shall not be diverted for any other purpose" other than educating kids.

Entitled "23 years"  a reference to how long its been since the state raised the tax on packs of cigarettes  the commercial also slams lawmakers, painting the plan as an alternative to their political agendas.

"It's for children and families," the narrator says. "Vote against the politicians."

The ad is paid for by Vote Yes on 3 for Kids, the first of the fall campaign season. Its release comes a week after more than 100 state legislators came out against the amendment, Democrats and Republicans both.

St. Louis area lawmakers opposing the proposal include interim Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, House Minority Floor Leader Jacob Hummel, and Reps. Mike Leara, Bob Burns, Tracy McCreery, Marsha Haefner and others.

Also opposing the initiative are both candidates seeking to be Missouri's next governor: Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, a Democrat, and Eric Greitens, a Republican.

But other lawmakers have expressed support, including Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis.

The proposal seeks to raise the tax on tobacco by 60 cents, but has been caught up in a lengthy legal battle over whether or not it should qualify for the ballot at all. Opponents, including tobacco vendors and smaller cigarette companies, have pointed to a misleading summary that was later rewritten by an appeals court and language that stipulates funds can't go to stem cell research.

But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander was right to certify the petition for the ballot, saying voters had the right to weigh in on the issue.

Now, supporters are trying to shift the conversation back to early childhood education, estimating that the proposed tax increase could bring in nearly $300 million a year.

"We know that early childhood education works. It improves academic outcomes. It reduces crime. It helps grow the economy. And we know that, for far too long, Missouri politicians have failed to fund it," said attorney Jane Dueker, who defended the proposal before the Supreme Court. "This is a constitutional amendment that guarantees this funding goes to our children, families, and classrooms, and that the politicians cant touch it or divert it."
FLORISSANT  Nathan Cameron spent the morning of his 16th birthday in a rite of passage that ended with his departing the Florissant Meadows Shopping Center with his first drivers license.

Chances are that Nathan, in the coming years, will return to the local office for license renewal, vehicle tags or title transfers.

The bureau he visits in the future will differ in a significant way from the one where on Wednesday he filled out paperwork, had his photo taken and strolled out the door a licensed driver.

Come Oct. 3, patrons of the Florissant License Office will be served by employees of Elle Management, a privately owned OFallon, Mo., company that will add the North Lindbergh Boulevard location to a network of eight license fee offices it operates across the state.

The beginning of Elle Managements tenure will mark the end of 23 years of stewardship by the Florissant Rotary Club, a nonprofit that supported local charities with any earnings after meeting payroll, rent and other financial obligations of the office.

Mike Cameron, Nathans father, described the ownership transfer as very sad.

Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider offered another characterization.

Shameful, said the mayor.

Schneider headed a lobbying campaign that failed to convince Gov. Jay Nixon and other state officials to keep bureau operations with the Rotarians.

The effort to maintain Rotary ownership included a petition bearing 5,000 signatures.

The service has always been fantastic, Schneider said. We had people come to our office because they received cruddy service at other offices. Its beyond me what there wasnt to like.

Over nearly a quarter-century, the Rotary Club funneled more than $2 million into north St. Louis County food pantries, sheltered workshops and other causes.

Every penny we have ever made on that office has gone back to charity, said Rotary President Rick Dorsey.

The loss of Rotary ownership is rooted in a 2009 Nixon administration policy decision aimed at removing politics from lucrative state licensing bureaus that each year collect millions of dollars in processing fees.

Under the new rules, patronage gave way to a merit-based point system to award contracts for the operation of license offices.

A formula designed to treat nonprofit and for-profit entities equally has resulted in a statewide turnover of license offices operated by long-tenured contractors.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has so far this year put only six license offices up for grabs. The bidding has to date resulted in the awarding of four contracts.

The revenue agency this year also granted contracts to 17 applicants that responded to bids posted in 2015.

Nonprofits currently operate 21 of the 180-plus license offices scattered across the state. The state does not have data to reflect how many nonprofit bureaus were in operation before the 2009 point system took effect.

The Rotary managed to stave off a loss of ownership the first time the state put the contract for the Florissant bureau out for bid.

But the organization wasnt as lucky when the state posted the Florissant contract a second time.

Dorsey said the Rotary challenged the state decision to award points to privately held Elle Management on the basis of corporation filings that identify the firm as female-owned.

Elle scored additional points for a commitment to extend operating hours and expand Florissant office staff to 20 from 12.

With the exception of the office manager, all 12 Rotary club employees will begin receiving checks from Elle Management in October.

Elle Management will move the office to a location in the same shopping center.

On the mid-September morning that Nathan Cameron received his drivers license, the wait extended to over an hour at the Florissant license office. Just five employees were available to serve upward of 40 patrons.

They need more help, thats for damn sure, said Robert Aubuchon, waiting to transfer a vehicle title.

Most of the customers were unaware that a small fee on each transaction that day would go to a nonprofit, until the Rotary Club banner on the south wall of the office was brought to their attention.

Luella Irving allowed that in at least one respect, the switch from a nonprofit to corporate ownership will make little difference to the average patron.

Doesnt matter, said Irving, noting that obtaining a new operators license will still cost money.

Irving nonetheless expressed regret that North County causes could suffer when the Rotary Club closes the license office doors for the last time on Friday.

No one cares about anything anymore, she lamented. All they care about is making money.

Dorsey said the Rotary will attempt to recoup the loss of fee office revenue through its annual dinner auction and other fundraising efforts.

But the loss of the license office will leave the Rotarians, and the charities it benefits, with a significant financial hole to fill.

Were basically starting from scratch because for a generation (with the exception of the dinner auction) we havent held fundraisers, the Rotary president said. We have a whole generation of members who have never had to raise money.

Dorsey pointed out that motorists and vehicle owners interested in continuing the tradition of seeing a portion of their license fees go to charity will have one option.

The Ferguson Lions Club is the sole remaining nonprofit operating a state license office, 728 South Florissant Road, in North County.
ST. LOUIS  A few hundred black students have graduated from Washington University School of Medicine since 1972, and a portion of that number is credited to one mans earnest efforts to recruit and mentor black medical students.

Alumnus and medical school admissions committee member Dr. Julian Mosley Jr. had a passion for his profession and for Washington University, which were both evident in his efforts to encourage black prospective students to attend the school.

Dr. Mosley died Wednesday (Sept. 21, 2016) of prostate cancer at his home in St. Louis He was 72.

Will Ross, professor and dean of minority affairs at the School of Medicine, said he was one of the students Dr. Mosley convinced to attend Washington University instead of another school.

I probably would have gone to Duke, Ross said. But he vividly remembers a snowy day in 1979 when he interviewed with Dr. Mosley and how the two talked at length about shared interests.

I was poor as a church mouse, Ross recalled, but Dr. Mosley assured him that he belonged at the school. We became very good friends.

Dr. Mosley, born in 1944 in St. Louis, grew up in East St. Louis, where his father, Julian Mosley Sr., was a police officer and later police chief.

Dr. Mosley graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1962 and received a degree in chemistry from St. Louis University four years later. He then became the first East St. Louisan and second black student to graduate from Washington University School of Medicine and worked at the former Jewish and Homer G. Phillips hospitals. In 1977, he and another doctor opened a private practice in St. Louis.

Even through his career as a surgeon, his work educating black people about cancer and involvement in local medical foundations, Dr. Mosley was a humble man, Ross said, who cared about people and Washington University.

Among the survivors are his wife, Annetta Booth of St. Louis; a son, Julian C. Mosley III, of Los Angeles; and two grandchildren. Plans for a memorial service in St. Louis are pending.
CLEARFIELD, Pa.  A Pennsylvania coroner says a Guatemalan found dead over a guardrail had swallowed up to $500,000 worth of heroin and was killed when one of the packets burst.

Clearfield County Coroner Mike Morris tells WJAC-TV he's working with state police and drug enforcement agents to determine the source and destination of the drugs.

Morris says the man's name is Boris Reyes, though he has yet to confirm the man's age.

A passing motorist found the body along a rural road on Sept. 16.

Authorities had suspected Reyes was a drug courier. They say tests indicate he had swallowed "multiple packets" of heroin worth a total of $250,000 to $500,000.

Morris won't say how the drugs were packaged.
NBC News anchor Lester Holt took a largely passive role Monday as the moderator of the first presidential debate of 2016, staying in the background as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump traded verbal blows on the economy, race relations and national security.

Holt irregularly asked follow-up questions and declined to intervene as Trump interrupted Clinton and made a series of questionable assertions.

From the start, Holt's role was itself under debate. Clinton's cam

p urged him to call out any inaccurate or false statements by Trump as they occurred during the debate. Trump argued that such an approach would interrupt the proceedings and introduce potential bias. He has advocated doing away with the moderator altogether.

Several times, Holt asked both candidates to answer the same question in turn, a strategy that seemed designed to create an even chance for the two rivals. He began by asking both, "Why are you a better choice than your opponent at creating jobs that will put more money in workers' pockets?"

Holt may have been mindful that posing different sets of questions to the candidates could foster the sort of criticism that dogged his NBC colleague, Matt Lauer, after his moderation of recent town-hall interviews. Lauer devoted a significant part of his interview with Clinton to her deleted emails but ignored a number of controversies in questioning Trump, drawing outrage from Clinton's supporters.

Holt declined to call out Trump's assertion early in the debate that Ford Motor Co. was "leaving" the country; Ford, in fact, is opening a new plant in Mexico, but the company isn't closing its domestic factories. Instead he simply asked Clinton to respond to Trump's claim.

The moderator also didn't referee Clinton's statement that Trump had called climate change "a hoax" perpetrated by the Chinese. Trump himself objected to this repeatedly, interrupting Clinton to do so. Trump actually did make such a claim.

Throughout the debate, both candidates repeatedly talked over Holt's attempts to rein them in. At several junctures, Trump simply ignored Holt's efforts to get him to cede the microphone to his opponent.

Holt, who replaced Brian Williams as the anchor of "NBC Nightly News" last year, also had to navigate the subtle gender dynamics of the Clinton vs. Trump meeting - the first in U.S. history in which a woman is the nominee of a major party. He seemed to be mindful that pushing Clinton too hard might be interpreted as badgering and sexist by her supporters. Trump had argued that Clinton would be treated with excessive deference because she is a woman.

But Holt dug in from time to time, too, and seemed to push harder on the Republican businessman.

In a discussion about Trump's decision not to release his tax returns, he asked the nominee, "Does the public's right to know [about your tax returns] outweigh your" personal privacy?

When Trump said he would release his returns when Clinton releases the 33,000 emails deleted from her private server as secretary of state, Holt responded, "So it's negotiable?"

Holt eschewed long preambles and kept his questions short and direct. At one point, during a discussion of race relations, he asked Trump simply, "How do you heal the divide?"

Holt said, "Stop and frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York. . . . The argument is that it's a form of racial profiling." Trump disputed that it was unconstitutional; in fact, it was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.

Holt also followed up on Trump's assertion that he opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"The record shows otherwise," Holt said.

Trump rolled over Holt's attempts to pin him down and quickly segued to a boast that his temperament is superior to Clinton's.

The moderator's questions hopscotched across numerous topics during the 90-minute debate, held at Hofstra University in New York. Among others, he prompted discussion about income inequality and job creation, outsourcing, tax cuts, Trump's apparent reversal on "birtherism;" cybersecurity; terrorism; and nuclear weapons proliferation.

But he avoided or had insufficient time to ask about a host of other important issues: Supreme Court nominations, Social Security, gun control, abortion, student loans, military affairs and health care, especially the Affordable Care Act.

Nor did he address such matters as how the two candidates make decisions, how they would work across the aisle as president, or what role their spouses would play in the White House.

He didn't ask Trump about his string of inflammatory comments about Muslims, Mexicans, women and the disabled; his favorable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin; his relationship, if any, to the white supremacist movement; his treatment of the news media; or how he would resolve potential conflicts between his personal business interests and his responsibilities as president.

Clinton escaped direct questioning about her role in the aftermath of the Benghazi terrorist attacks while she was secretary of state; her private email server and deleted emails during her time in office; or her "deplorables" comment.

Trump has made the moderator of the debates an issue from the beginning of his campaign. He publicly criticized Fox News host Megyn Kelly for the questions she asked in the first Republican candidates' debate nearly 14 months ago. His complaints about Kelly prompted him to boycott a debate sponsored by Fox News before the Iowa caucus in January.

The audience for Monday's debate, the first of three, may exceed the record of 80.6 million viewers who watched the 1980 debate between President Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan. Monday's debate was carried live on the major broadcast networks and cable networks such as Fox News and CNN, and streamed live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others.

debate-moderator

_____

Keywords: Lester Holt, moderator, NBC News, presidential debate, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Hofstra University, 2016 campaign
Hillary Clinton was Hillary Clinton  poised, steeped in policy ideas and not above an occasional zinger, the same Clinton that America knew for 25 years before she became the Democratic presidential nominee.

Donald Trump was Donald Trump  bluff, blustery and focused on the shortcut messages that propelled his unexpected rise to the Republican presidential nomination.

So the big surprise of the first presidential debate of this very surprising political year was that there were few surprises. Clinton did what she does best, talking about ideas. Trump did what he does best, talking about himself and avoiding accountability for his own words. Moderator Lester Holt of NBC News stayed mostly in the background. Its unlikely that die-hard Trump fans were swayed. The key is whether fence-sitters were put off enough by Trumps performance to move over to the Clinton camp.

Trump wasnt exactly presidential and on occasion, he was downright rude. But he was in control. His grasp of international affairs was sketchy at best, but it always has been.

Trump seemed determined to press his status as an outsider, criticizing Clinton for what he seems to think was her dominant role in foreign trade deals that caused jobs to flee the country. He boasted that he would cut corporate income taxes from 35 to 15 percent  a beautiful thing to watch  and predicted this would spark a renaissance in American jobs.

Clinton hammered back by citing outside estimates that Trumps economic plan would cost the country 3.5 million jobs while her plan would create 10 million. She went directly at Trumps failure to make his tax returns public, suggesting that perhaps it was because he hadnt paid income taxes.

That makes me smart, Trump said almost as a concession that he hadnt paid.

Clinton sought to tie Trump to economic policies that led to the Great Recession of 2007-2009. In fact, she said, Donald was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis. He said, back in 2006, Gee, I hope it does collapse, because then I can go in and buy some and make some money. Well, it did collapse.

Trump, as ever unapologetic, replied, Thats called business, by the way.

He boasted of his $640 million income this year, claiming that some of his friends have said it doesnt seem like that much. Its about time this country has somebody running it who knows something about money, he said.

The candidates differences on race and crime have been stark. They were stark Monday night, too. Trump repeated law and order as a mantra, describing American inner cities as dangerous places haunted by gangs. Clinton, as ever, was more nuanced, talking about policy prescriptions. Voters owe it to themselves to know the difference.
Police say that three people were struck by the vehicle as they left the fairgrounds on Sunday night
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?
I am a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who as a captain in the early 1980s at the height of the Cold War was a NATO emergency actions officer in Europe. So I am very familiar with the launch approval process, which involves several steps through the National Command Authority and in my location with the supreme allied commander-Europe and the NATO command and control system. We practiced daily in receiving and authenticating various execution messages and monthly with major exercises to launch unloaded aircraft, or what we called a generation.

I also attended a residence Air Force command and staff college, which included national security studies and strategy. In addition, I commanded a large missile security squadron in Montana to protect 200 ICBMs and worked directly for the operations group commander at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Despite what Donald Trump may say, there are many layers in the emergency war order execution system, which safeguard a singular decision by the president. I recall how columnists and liberals called Ronald Reagan a cowboy, reckless and had an itchy finger on the button, when he was running for office and after he was elected. In fact despite mass opposition here in the U.S. and by some of our NATO allies, President Reagan ordered the deployment of the Ground Launch Cruise Missile in England, Italy and the Netherlands. The Russians were furious, but it brought them to the negotiation table and eventually through meetings, we started the reduction of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons. All this by a supposed cowboy. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the Cold War was over.

It is also fact that a Democrat president greatly expanded our role in Vietnam based on faulty premises and we lost over 55,000 military and some civilians in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Remember too, which I support, a Democrat president ordered the use of nuclear weapons to end World War II. Mistakes are made, such as the second Iraq War, the Beirut Marine barracks terrorist attack and the failed attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran, but unfortunately that is the world we live in. Trump knows its a dangerous world.

Trump should be more careful in what he says, but I dont believe hes a wild-eyed maniac bent on nuclear holocaust. We need to understand that the world is dangerous and some unstable countries possess nuclear weapons, especially North Korea and Pakistan, and perhaps in a decade, Iran. I believe Trump will no doubt be very circumspect and serious about national security when hes fully briefed on our emergency war order execution plans.

Without divulging classified information, our posture today is much more passive than in the 1950s when we flew nuclear-loaded B-52 bombers around the globe or when we had positive target sets for other weapons systems. In fact our strategic bomber force is no longer on quick reaction alert. For full details on our nuclear weapons history, I recommend the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser.

The writers argument reminds me of the old canard that Republicans like dirty water and dirty air, despite the fact Republicans breath the same air and drink the same water as Democrats. Republicans just like Democrats would prefer we not engage in a nuclear war but that we maintain a strong posture to discourage countries such as Iraq, North Korea and China from engaging in hostile actions. Even President John F. Kennedy supported Mutual Assured Destruction, which is no longer in effect. Remember too, that in 1962 we came very close to strategic war with Russia over their missiles in Cuba.

The cowboy President Reagan proposed a nuclear free world just as President Obama has, but the reality is there are other countries and leaders who think differently, and any president has to be prepared to do the unthinkable. I am very confident Donald Trump is sensible enough to realize this.

Phil Henning of Smithton is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.
Armen Amiryan was today appointed Armenias Minister of Culture, replacing outgoing Hasmik Poghosyan.

Amiryan has a background in TV. He was appointed executive director of Armenian Public TV in 2010 and has served as a member of the board since 2015.

From 2010 to 2013, Amiryan served as the head of the Department of TV and Radio Journalism Department at Armenias State Teachers Universitys Faculty of Culture.
By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices settled up nearly 6 percent on Wednesday after OPEC struck a deal to limit crude output at its policy meeting in November, its first agreement to cut production since 2008 and after the market crashed on oversupply.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reached agreement to limit its production to a range of 32.5-33.0 million barrels per day (bpd) in talks held on the sidelines of the Sept. 26-28 International Energy Forum in Algiers, group officials told Reuters.

OPEC estimates its current output at 33.24 million bpd.

"We have decided to decrease the production around 700,000 bpd," Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said.

OPEC will agree to production levels for each member country at its Nov. 30 meeting in Vienna, group officials said. After reaching its group target, it will seek support from non-member oil producers to further ease the global glut.

Brent crude settled up $2.72, or 5.9 percent, at $48.69 a barrel, hitting a more than two-week high of $48.96.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by $2.38, or 5.3 percent, to settle at $47.05, after a peak $47.45, its highest since Sept 8.

The oil rally spilled over into the stock market, with Wall Street's index of energy shares rising 4 percent for its best one-day gain since January. [.N]

"This is a historic deal. This is the first time OPEC and non-OPEC will agree together in over a decade. This should put a floor on oil and should see oil move back toward the $60s," Phil Flynn, analyst at Chicago-based brokerage Price Futures Group.

"The cartel proved that it still matters even in the age of shale!," Flynn wrote in a market commentary. "This is the end of the 'production war' - OPEC claims victory."

Other analysts saw a selloff down the road, citing OPEC's general lack of adherence to quotas.

Oil prices have more than halved from highs above $100 a barrel in mid-2014 as surging production from U.S. shale oil combined with other global oversupplies and OPEC output.

As oil traders looked to OPEC to cut output, key members such as Saudi Arabia and Iran resisted, becoming more protective of individual market share even though the rout hurt the group's oil-dependent economies. The deal in Algiers follows failed talks in Qatar in April for a production freeze.

"This was unexpected for sure," Scott Shelton, energy broker for ICAP in Durham, North Carolina, said, referring to the deal. "No one that I know of saw it coming. The market doesn't seem positioned for it. The fundamentals in the U.S. are already tighter than we expected and is due to get tighter."

Oil prices gyrated earlier in the day after U.S. government data showed a surprise drop in domestic crude stockpiles for a fourth week in a row. [EIA/S]

Jeff Quigley, director of energy markets at Stratas Advisors in Houston, said it was "too preliminary" to get excited over the OPEC deal.

"The devil's in the details here," Quigley said. "And for them to say it's going to start in November is very suspect to me. We dont know yet who's going to produce what. I want to hear from the mouth of the Iranian oil minister that he's not going to go back to pre-sanction levels."

Before the news of Wednesday's deal, Iranian's Zanganeh said the Islamic Republic would agree to curb production "at close to 4 million barrels per day". Iran's output has stagnated at 3.6 million bpd since the lifting of Western sanctions.

Michael Cohen, head of energy commodities research at Barclays in New York, was similarly pessimistic.

"Our view is that it is likely that what is going to happen is nothing more than the status quo, in which the Saudis usually reduce their output post-summertime," Cohen said. "And this is a good way to put a good face on what is likely happening already."

(Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Swetha Gopinath in LONDON and Keith Wallis in SINGAPORE; Scott Disavino in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Crestwood Equity Partners LP (NYSE: CEQP) announced that it has entered into a long-term agreement with SWEPI LP (SWEPI), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc, to construct, own and operate a natural gas gathering system in Shells operated position in the Permian - Delaware Basin. The system will be owned through Crestwoods previously announced joint venture with First Reserve, Crestwoods indirect general partner and largest unitholder, which was formed to finance and own midstream infrastructure in the Delaware Basin. Crestwood estimates the full build-out of the gas gathering system will cost approximately $180 million. Project development activities are underway with a targeted initial in-service date on or before July 1, 2017.

SWEPI will provide Crestwood with a dedication of approximately 100,000 acres and gathering rights for SWEPI gas production across a large acreage position in Loving, Reeves and Ward counties, Texas. The initial gathering system is designed for gas production of approximately 250 million cubic feet per day and will include 194 miles of low pressure gathering lines, 36 miles of high pressure trunklines, and centralized compression facilities which are expandable over time as production increases. Crestwood will provide gathering, dehydration, compression and liquids handling services on a fixed fee basis. Additionally, Shell has the option to purchase up to a 50 percent equity interest in the system prior to September 1, 2017.

Robert G. Phillips, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crestwoods general partner, stated, We are pleased to enter into this important, long-term gathering agreement with SWEPI in the prolific Permian Basin where Shell has been developing its premier Delaware Basin acreage position since 2012. This agreement demonstrates Crestwoods strong operating track record in the Marcellus, Bakken, Barnett and Delaware basins and our leading commitment to customer service, safe and reliable operations and environmental stewardship.

Mr. Phillips continued, Importantly, the Delaware Basin joint venture with First Reserve will provide Crestwood with additional financial flexibility to invest in this great long-term growth project while maintaining a disciplined balance sheet and strong distribution coverage. With the financial structure from our joint venture and the targeted in-service date for the new natural gas gathering system, we expect the investment will be accretive to Crestwood as early as late 2017 and, in any event, fully accretive to Crestwood in 2018. Additionally, with First Reserves support and incremental capital commitment to the joint venture, Crestwood is very well positioned financially to execute on the SWEPI opportunity and other midstream opportunities in the Delaware Basin, including the previously announced 3-stream gathering system in Reeves, Loving, & Culberson counties, Texas which remains under exclusivity with an anchor shipper.

First Reserve Joint Venture

First Reserve, a leading global private equity and infrastructure investment firm exclusively focused on energy, and Crestwood have previously announced the formation of a joint venture to finance and own midstream projects in the Delaware Basin. Under the terms of the joint venture, which will be owned 50% by Crestwood and 50% by First Reserve, First Reserve will fund 100% of the initial capital requirements during the early-stage build-out of the gathering system, after which Crestwood will fund 100% of capital requirements until such time as both parties have funded an equal amount of capital. Additionally, Crestwood and First Reserve will make an initial pledge up to a combined $500 million for the joint venture to pursue incremental midstream infrastructure growth opportunities in the Delaware Basin, including the previously announced 3-stream gathering system currently under exclusivity with an anchor shipper. Crestwood will fund its portion of capital with internally generated cash flow and borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Gary Reaves, Managing Director of First Reserve, stated, First Reserve is pleased to partner with Crestwood to develop a premier gas gathering system in the core of the Delaware Basin. The joint venture with Crestwood serves as a strong platform for Crestwood and First Reserve to pursue incremental opportunities in the Delaware Basin which, in our view, is currently the most attractive onshore resource play in the United States. As general partner of Crestwood, we remain highly committed to the success of Crestwood and view the opportunity as recognition of Crestwoods ability to capture greenfield projects and operate as an industry leading midstream provider of gathering services.
U.S. Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley Fischer addresses The Economic Club of New York in New York March 23, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve should avoid raising interest rates too much, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said on Tuesday, adding that gains in U.S. incomes are a sign that workers are benefiting from a tighter labor market.

"I don't want to raise the interest rate too much," Fischer told students at Howard University. He said rates should rise but that "I don't know when" that should happen.

The U.S. central bank left rates steady at a policy meeting last week, but policymakers including Fed Chair Janet Yellen signaled a hike was likely by the end of the year.

Fischer, the Fed's No. 2 official, said the recently-reported increase in median household income in 2015 was a sign that the low U.S. jobless rate was pushing wages higher.

"We are beginning to see the fruits of a higher pressure labor market," Fischer said.

Speaking at one of America's traditionally black colleges, Fischer urged students there to study economics and inject more diversity into the profession.

More diversity could help inform study of economic mysteries like the decline over the last half century in labor force participation by men in their prime working years, Fischer said.

The Fed has come under fire for the dearth of minorities in its upper echelon. Only one of its 17 policymakers is from a minority group - Neil Kashkari, the president of the Minneapolis Fed, is the son of immigrants from India. None of the policymakers are black or Hispanic.

Fischer said the Fed was trying to increase diversity within the central bank. "These are steps on what will be a long road," he said.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Paul Simao)
** For the most up-to-date information on this topic, please click here . About a week ago I was reading some information with regards to...
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco today announced that Chairman and CEO, Jim Myers, a 26-year company veteran and CEO since 2004, will be retiring. As part of Petco's long-term succession plan, company President and Chief Merchant, Brad Weston, who joined Petco in 2011, will succeed Myers as CEO as of February 1, 2017.

Myers joined Petco in 1990 and has been a key leader in building and growing the company from a regional player into a leading national pet specialty retail chain with more than 1,470 Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico. Petco also boasts a rapidly growing online business through Petco.com and Drs. Foster & Smith, the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier of prescription services and pet supplies.

"I am tremendously proud of the entire Petco team and all we've accomplished during the last 26 years," said Myers. "We've assembled one of the strongest leadership teams in the industry and together we've built a great brand and a very clear strategy that informs our long-term objectives and priorities."

Myers continued, "There is no one better than Brad to lead Petco as we continue to be pet parents' trusted partner of choice, and continue to evolve and grow as a leader in the pet specialty business. I look forward to serving the company in an advisory capacity and as a board member going forward."

As President and Chief Merchant, Weston has been responsible for driving the company's overall business strategy, operations and merchandising activities, as well as marketing and e-commerce. Prior to joining Petco, he held senior leadership roles at Dick's Sporting Goods, May Merchandising Company and Robinsons-May.

Christopher Stadler, Managing Partner of CVC Capital Partners (CVC), commented, "Petco's bright future is due in large part to Jim Myers' vision, dedication and hard work. Under his leadership, the company has experienced significant growth, and as the retail landscape has evolved, Jim has created a great foundation from which Petco will continue to grow. All stakeholders of Petco owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jim for all he's done to make Petco the pet parents' trusted partner of choice."

Cameron Breitner, Partner of CVC, added, "A key factor in the decision that we and CPPIB made to invest in Petco last year was its strong bench of leadership talent to drive future growth. In his five years with Petco, Brad Weston has clearly proven his ability to lead Petco forward in its ongoing commitment to meet the needs of pet parents across all demographics and expand in new and innovative ways. We are very glad that Jim Myers will remain an important part of Petco's future and are excited for Brad as he takes this step forward."

"I couldn't be more excited about the incredible opportunities that lie ahead for Petco and our more than 25,000 Petco Partners across the company," said Weston. "We've come a long way over the past 50 years and I look forward to working closely with our partners, vendors and other stakeholders to continue supporting pet parents with the very best in products, services and solutions for better lives together."

For more information about Petco or to find a location near you, visit petco.com.

About Petco and the Petco Foundation

With more than 50 years of service to pet parents, Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful relationships between people and pets. We do this by providing the products, services, advice and experiences that keep pets physically fit, mentally alert, socially engaged and emotionally happy. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,470 Petco and Unleashed by Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico; prescription services and pet supplies from the leading veterinary-operated pet product supplier, Drs. Foster & Smith; and petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has invested more than $167 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.

About CVC Capital Partners

CVC Capital Partners is a leading private equity and investment advisory firm. Founded in 1981, CVC today has a network of 24 offices and approximately 340 employees throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. To date, CVC has secured commitments of more than US$65 billion from some of the world's leading institutional investors across its European and Asian private equity, strategic opportunities and growth funds. In total, CVC currently manages over US$33 billion of assets. Today, funds managed or advised by CVC are invested in 51 companies worldwide, employing c.330,000 people in numerous countries. Together, these companies have combined annual sales of over US$90 billion.

For further information about CVC please visit: www.cvc.com

About CPPIB

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits on behalf of 19 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build a diversified portfolio of CPP assets, CPPIB invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City and Sao Paulo, CPPIB is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At June 30, 2016, the CPP Fund totalled C$287.3 billion.

For more information about CPPIB, please visit www.cppib.com.

Contact: Lisa Stark, [email protected], 858-453-7845 x222558

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150817/259044LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brad-weston-to-become-petcos-chief-executive-officer-as-jim-myers-announces-plans-to-retire-after-26-years-with-the-company-300335072.html

SOURCE Petco
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tetsuji (Ted) Ohashi, President and CEO of Komatsu Ltd. (TYO: 6301), and Ted Doheny, President and CEO of Joy Global Inc. (NYSE: JOY), met today at MINExpo INTERNATIONAL2016 in Las Vegas. Both companies have a major presence at this years show, the premier exposition of mining equipment and services in the world.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006527/en/

Tetsuji (Ted) Ohashi, President and CEO of Komatsu Ltd., and Ted Doheny, President and CEO of Joy Global Inc. meet Sept. 26, 2016 MINExpo INTERNATIONAL2016 in Las Vegas. (Photo: Business Wire)

Komatsu and Joy Global in July announced an agreement in which Komatsu will acquire Joy Global. During their meeting Monday, Ohashi and Doheny reaffirmed their commitment to pursue new innovations that drive customer benefits after the acquisition is complete. The companies are working to finalize the transaction by mid-2017.

Our customers are sharing very positive feedback about the agreement. Some have approached us at MINExpo to congratulate us on our decision, Ohashi said. We are working closely with Joy Global and relevant authorities to move the process forward.

Doheny agreed, noting industry recognition of the complementary nature of the two companies product and service offerings.

Many of our customers and other business partners see the benefit of combining companies: a broader offering of products, systems and solutions across a wider scope of mining and construction applications, Doheny said. Both companies believe in having the best products, direct service, being operationally excellent, and having the best people in the world.

Joining Joy Global with the Komatsu Group will offer several benefits to customers, including:

A broader line of industry-leading mining and construction equipment for drilling, earthmoving, loading and hauling systems and solutions for both underground and surface mining. Joy Globals best in class rope shovels, for example, pair well with Komatsus best in class large electric dump trucks.

Enhanced global customer support through the companies mutual commitment and expertise in direct sales and service directly connected via embedded personnel in the mines, and electronically connected with world class fleet management systems.

The synergistic collaboration between the companies will drive our innovation and enhance our capacity to provide quality products and solutions that improve the safety and productivity of mining operations, Ohashi said. We will together strive to become an even better, more invaluable partner for our customers.

The combination of two world-class companies offers exciting opportunities to enhance and expand the solutions and services we provide customers, Doheny said. With strengthened capabilities and a continued focus on solving our customers toughest challenges, we look forward to working together to advance the mining industry.

Caution concerning forward-looking statements

This press release and other statements by Komatsu and Joy Global may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Forward-looking statements in this release include without limitation statements regarding the expected timing of the completion of the transaction described in the press release, operation of Joy Globals business following completion of the Acquisition, and statements regarding the future operation, direction and success of the business. Such statements are qualified by known and unknown risks and uncertainties surrounding future business performance, development and financial standing of Komatsu and Joy Global, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as believe, anticipate, expect, plan, intent, may will, estimate and future and other similar expressions, or in particular in the form of discussions of strategies, plans or intentions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) uncertainties as to whether or when the transaction will be consummated, (ii) uncertainties as to the approval of Joy Globals shareholders required in connection with the Acquisition, (iii) the possibility that competing offers will be made, (iv) the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied, (v) the effects of disruption caused by the announcement of this transaction making it difficult to maintain relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and other business partners and the potential inability to retain existing Joy Global management upon whom Komatsu will rely, (vi) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the transaction may affect the timing of the transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability, (vii) other business effects, including the effects of legal systems, accounting principles or other changes in business environment outside of the control of Komatsu or Joy Global, (viii) the risk that anticipated synergies and other benefits of the acquisition will not materialize, (ix) financial instability and other changes in economy in general or industry, (x) transaction costs, (xi) costs and availability of financing on favorable terms and future capital needs, (xii) changes in costs of supplies and raw materials, customer preferences, exchange rates and other national, regional or global economic and financial conditions, (xiii) marketing, regulatory, product liability, supply, competitive, political and other risks, (xiv) actual or contingent liabilities, (xv) changes in and ability to comply with environmental, tax, labor and employment, and other laws and regulations, and (xvi) other risks including but not limited to those set forth under the risk factor section in Joy Globals Annual Report on Form 10K which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and other material submitted to the SEC (as available from the SEC website free of charge at http://www.sec.gov).

Unless legally required, Komatsu and Joy Global disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements in this announcement are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Information in the news releases is current on the date of the announcement and is subject to change without notice.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006527/en/

Komatsu Ltd.

Akira Satou

PR Manager

2-3-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8414, Japan

TEL:+81-(0)3-5561-2616

http://www.komatsu.com/

or

Joy Global Inc.

Caley Clinton

Advertising & PR Manager

[email protected]

01 414 670 5955

www.joyglobal.com

Source: Joy Global Inc.
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm, today announced that Marc Baca has joined the firm as a member of its Industrial and Energy and Natural Resources Practices, with a specialization in Utilities. Based in Houston, Marc will be responsible for conducting C-suite executive and board searches for both public and private clients.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005529/en/

Marc Baca, Russell Reynolds Associates (Photo: Business Wire)

Marc brings extensive experience and deep industry knowledge to our Industrial and Energy and Natural Resources Practices, said Constantine Alexandrakis, leader of Russell Reynolds Associates U.S. business. Houstons status as a global energy center makes it imperative that we help our clients attract top talent to the region. Marcs background in nuclear engineering and broad network of executives places him in a unique position to offer our clients strategic and forward-thinking counsel, added Constantine.

Prior to joining the firm, Marc was a senior vice president at Advisian, the independent advisory arm of WorleyParsons, where he led business development in the E&P, LNG and power sectors in the United States. Prior to that, Marc spent 14 years at ExxonMobil, having held executive-level positions and assignments in Houston, Qatar and Angola. He began his career in the United States Navy as a nuclear submarine officer onboard the USS Boston fast attack submarine.

Marc holds a B.S. in control systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an M.S. in engineering management from The George Washington University. Marc is a certified nuclear engineer.

About Russell Reynolds Associates

Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leader in assessment, recruitment and succession planning for boards of directors, chief executive officers and key roles within the C-suite. With more than 370 consultants in 46 offices around the world, we work closely with public, private and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions. We help our clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet todays challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, environmental and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005529/en/

Russell Reynolds Associates

Vijaya Singh, 212-351-1987

[email protected]

Source: Russell Reynolds Associates
By Kieran Guilbert

DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Taking away school meals from 180,000 pupils going back to class in Mali, where insecurity has closed schools in the north, may deprive even more children of an education, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said on Tuesday.

Halting a school meals program due to a lack of funding will leave these children, in around 1,000 schools across Mali, without a guaranteed healthy meal each day, the WFP said.

The U.N. agency said without these meals, many children may not go to school in the West African country, which faces a growing threat from Islamist groups in its desert north and has been rocked by a series of violent raids this year.

"School meals are often the only nutritious meal a child receives a day, relieving families from further financial stress and motivating parents to send their children to school," Silvia Caruso, WFP's country director for Mali, said in a statement.

"Teachers tell us that if the meals are no longer provided, there is a significant risk that parents will no longer send their children to school," said Caruso, adding that children find it tough to walk to or stay in school on an empty stomach.

Violence in northern Mali, which has forced teachers to flee and schools to remain closed, left nearly 400,000 children out of education months into the academic year in 2015, according to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF.

More than a third of primary school-aged children in Mali are missing out on an education, more than four years after conflict involving rival armed groups and Islamist militants erupted, UNICEF said earlier this month.

Armed groups have proliferated since Islamist groups took advantage of an ethnic Tuareg uprising in 2012 to seize the north of the country. A French-led intervention drove them back in 2013 but instability has continued and undermines a fragile U.N.-backed peace process.

Despite the insecurity and challenges of being able to reach people in need, the WFP said it had managed to provide school meals to an average of 170,000 children a year since 2012.

"Going to school helps (the children of Mali) regain their childhood, and school meals play an important role in keeping them in school," Caruso said, adding that the WFP urgently needed $3 million to resume its school meals program in Mali.

Dwindling funds and shifting donor priorities mean that more than 1.3 million children across West and Central Africa risk missing out on school meals from the WFP by the end of 2016, the U.N. agency said last month.

(Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
The logo of the PKO BP is seen on the bank's headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, May 6, 2016. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

By Marcin Goclowski

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government has set out to buy bank stakes back from foreign investors, a move some bankers and economists say will hamper lenders that prospered through the global financial crisis.

Last Wednesday, state-run Alior Bank and PKO BP (NYSE: PKO) confirmed they are in talks to buy Raiffeisen's banking and leasing arms respectively.

The government has already bought back GE Money's (NYSE: GE) Polish arm this year and plans to buy the second-largest lender Pekao (NYSE: PEO) from UniCredit .

The state owns two other banks outright, controls majority stakes in a further two and has a 30-percent-plus stake in the biggest bank, PKO: http://tmsnrt.rs/2df8gYJ

Poles played a leading role in the 1980s in ending communist rule in eastern Europe. Some now fear banks owned partly by the government would boost lending to projects such as coal mines or large infrastructure projects that might create jobs but not profits in an economy long viewed as a showcase for democracy.

"I'm not a supporter of turning re-Polonisation into nationalisation," said Cezary Stypulkowski, the chief executive of Poland's No.4 lender mBank (NYSE: MBK), advocating "domestication" of management instead to ensure credit reaches local companies.

"It is very easy to manage the banking sector by political structures. In such cases, a tendency to circumvent the rules typically ends in disaster."

PiS chairman and former Polish prime minister Jarosaw Kaczynski told supporters in 2012: "It must be made clear ... that our goal is a re-Polonisation of Polish banks."

PiS, which came to power last year, pledged to introduce new taxes for banks and supermarkets, cut the retirement age and boost state payments for children.

It also wanted to help homeowners who borrowed in foreign currency when exchange rates were favorable by converting the debts into Polish zlotys at the original rate, a promise the state has yet to fully meet.

POLITICAL WILL

But its plans for banks could prove most controversial.

"There's a political will to conduct re-Polonisation," said one senior official. "It was decided, politically, that there's too much foreign capital in the banking sector."

If the government succeeds in its strategy, the state and other Polish investors, including one of its richest men, Leszek Czarnecki, will control banks with 54 percent of Poland's banking assets, including mortgages and loans.

That will displace foreign investors who now control the majority of such assets.

Officials familiar with government thinking told Reuters that it is motivated, in part, by a desire to prevent banks from choking off credit to the economy to preserve large shareholder dividends.

"The issue is to make sure no one turns off the tap when a crisis occurs, like in 2009," one of those people said.

Some managers have publicly supported such a stance.

"We prefer to credit the economy than pay out a dividend," Zbigniew Jagiello, chief executive of top bank PKO BP (NYSE: PKO), recently told Poland's PAP state news agency, adding that he hoped to do both. PKO is a state-controlled entity.

The government in Warsaw has also played down any risk of political interference. "After possible re-Polonisation, the government's impact on banks will be rather small," said Rafal Bochenek, a spokesman for the government.

But others are skeptical. "I haven't seen any research confirming that international banking groups overestimate the risk in crisis times," said Jakub Borowski, chief economist at Credit Agricole in Warsaw.

"We are dealing with an expression of faith that has not been confirmed by empirical studies yet."

Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, head of Polish banking lobby group ZBP, said that while he supports some increase in state ownership in the sector, he hoped it would not lead to lending for loss-making projects or generous loan restructuring.

"One should ... avoid the situation where public opinion forces politicians to act in a way that poses a threat for the financial sector," he said.

The Polish government is examining its next steps.

It could, via state-owned Alior Bank, buy Raiffeisen's Polish unit, as well as Pekao, via state-run insurer PZU, from UniCredit. Raiffeinsen is worth around 1 billion euros. The value of UniCredit's 40 percent stake in Pekao is worth roughly $3.5 billion.

But Credit Agricole's Borowski questions "what is more beneficial for long-term economic growth and welfare. Can we spend these billions of zlotys more productively than parking them in banks?"

(Additional reporting by Jakub Iglewski and Pawel Sobczak; editing by John O'Donnell/Ruth Pitchford)
By Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler and Vladimir Soldatkin

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Iran rejected on Tuesday an offer from Saudi Arabia to limit its oil output in exchange for Riyadh cutting supply, dashing market hopes the two major OPEC producers would find a compromise this week to help ease a global glut of crude.

"The gap (in views) between OPEC countries is narrowing. I don't expect that an agreement will come out of the consultations tomorrow," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier: "It is not the time for decision-making." Referring to the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, he added: "We will try to reach agreement for November."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold informal talks at 1400 GMT on Wednesday. Its members are also meeting non-OPEC producers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers.

Oil prices have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

A deal has also been complicated by acute political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are fighting several proxy-wars in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen.

Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadh's position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.

WHAT IRAN WANTS

On Tuesday, several OPEC delegates said the positions of Saudi Arabia and Iran remained too far apart. Oil prices were down more than 3 percent by 1802 GMT. [O/R]

"There is a move forward, but they (OPEC) haven't got to the finish," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting Falih and Zanganeh. Novak and Falih said a deal was still possible later this year.

Three OPEC sources said Iran, whose production has stagnated at 3.6 million barrels per day, insisted on having the right to ramp up to around 4.1-4.2 million bpd, while OPEC Gulf members wanted its output to be frozen below 4 million.

Several OPEC sources said Iran effectively rejected the offer despite last-minute attempts by Russia, Algeria and Qatar to rescue a deal.

The Saudi and Iranian economies depend heavily on oil, but Iran is seeing the pressure easing as it emerges from years of sanctions. Riyadh, on the other hand, faces a second year of record budget deficits and is being forced to cut the salaries of government employees.

BLAME GAME

Iranian oil sources said Tehran wanted OPEC to allow it to produce 12.7 percent of the group's output, equal to what it was extracting before 2012, when the European Union imposed additional sanctions on the country for its nuclear activities.

Sanctions were eased in January 2016.

Between 2012 and 2016, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf OPEC members have raised output to compete for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States.

As a result, Iran believes its fair production share in OPEC should be higher than its current output, which it says should rise once Tehran agrees new investments with international oil companies. Saudi output has risen to 10.7 million bpd from 10.2 million in recent months due to local needs for summer cooling.

Gary Ross, a veteran OPEC watcher and founder of U.S.-based think tank PIRA, said Saudi output had risen too steeply in recent months and even if it were cut to pre-summer levels, Iran would see an offer to freeze its own output as unfair.

"It is a carefully calculated offer because Saudi Arabia knows it will not be acceptable to Iran ... Saudi Arabia wants to put the blame of OPEC inaction in Algiers on Iran," he said.

Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB Markets, said: "We cannot see how Iran could possibly accept the Saudi offer. It would be like asking a long-time prisoner who was finally released from prison to go back again."

He said the lack of a deal in Algeria would result in further downside pressure on oil as Saudi Arabia would maintain elevated output levels while Iran boosted supply too.

Falih said he saw no need for significant output cuts as the market was rebalancing itself. He added that Saudi Arabia was investing in additional spare capacity and could withstand the current trend in oil prices.

(Additional reporting by Patrick Markey and Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson)
" " This gravestone marking the Boston Massacre lists the names of the five people who were killed. See Revolutionary War pictures.  Kevin Fleming/Corbis

Massacre. The very word is chilling. For many, it immediately brings to mind hundreds or even thousands of innocent people savagely slain. With good reason. In the 1937 Nanking Massacre, for example, at least 300,000 people were brutally killed by Japanese troops [source: Nanking Massacre]. In the ancient Massacre of the Latins of 1182, Constantinople's Eastern Orthodox citizens murdered or drove out some 60,000 of the city's Roman Catholic citizens, who controlled Constantinople's maritime trade and financial sector [source: Pegg]. Yet interestingly, despite our common collective image of what a massacre is, the definition of the word is actually a bit vague. Merriam-Webster dictionary states that it's the act of killing "a number" of helpless people via atrocious means, and that the origin of the word is unknown.

Since no specific number of deaths is required to consider a group-killing a massacre, it's up to us to decide what is and isn't. Sometimes we've decided based on the number of dead, other times on the sheer brutality involved. If you pore through the annals of history, you'll find massacres of five, 25, 500, and well over 100,000. Here are five of the (thankfully) smallest massacres that have occurred.
Police investigating the alleged sexual assault of a woman near Waikato Hospital are appealing for information.

The 31-year-old woman was assaulted at about 4:30am yesterday while walking through the carpark of St Stephens Church, on the corner of Mahoe and Ohaupo Roads.
Two men caught stealing 54 ponga logs from the Rotoehu Conservation Area near Rotorua have been sentenced to a total of 460 hours of community work.

Ngongotaha locals Tyson Brake and Bruce Hector McCollum pleaded guilty to taking the logs from public conservation land when they appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Monday.
Finance Minister Bill English has congratulated the new chair of the Reserve Banks board of directors Professor Neil Quigley.

Professor Quigley has been elected unanimously by his fellow directors, replacing Dr Rod Carr who is standing down after three years as chair. Economist Kerrin Vautier has been appointed as deputy chair.

Professor Quigley, the Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University, has had a distinguished academic and consulting career and has served on the board since 2010. I look forward to him continuing to serve the bank and the public.

Mr English thanked Dr Carr for his service and leadership, first between 1998 and 2003 as deputy governor and then acting governor of the bank and, since 2012, as a director on the board.

Dr Carr has successfully led the board through a challenging period during which the banks ambit has widened to include the macroprudential framework and active supervision of the banking and insurance industries.

Bank directors are appointed by the finance minister for five-year renewable terms, and elect their chair from among their number for one-year terms. The chair appoints a deputy chair for a one-year term.

The boards primary function is to monitor the performance of the governor and the bank on behalf of the finance minister. It is responsible for assessing whether the quarterly Monetary Policy Statements are consistent with the Policy Targets Agreement between the minister and the bank, and it monitors the banks six-monthly Financial Stability Reports.

SOURCE: Office of Bill English
A Consumer NZ campaign has led retailers to drop gift card expiry dates.

Major retailers Countdown, Kathmandu and Noel Leeming are dropping 12-month expiry dates on their gift cards in response to consumer pressure.
Its another Stage Challenge trophy in the cabinet for Tauranga Girls which won the Bay of Plenty regional finals back in June.

The group were gobsmacked when the national results were announced, just absolutely amazed and extremely excited. I dont think weve ever had a result like this for our school before which is really cool, says teacher in charge Caroline Gill.

In total 100 students ranging from Year 9 to 13 were involved, from our performers to the backstage crew, and they came up everything the choreography, the sets, costuming, absolutely everything.

These students are extremely talented and for them to be rewarded like this is absolutely amazing.

I am strength, I am beauty explored moko kauae and how the traditional tattoo representing strength, beauty, fertility, and the empowerment of women, as well as focussing on the journey to womanhood.

The performance integrated traditional kapa haka movements with contemporary dance, and presented the process of ta moko through the use of fabric and weaving.

We knew it was something different and we really wanted to involve our whole school community, so we involved the colleges head of Maori plus our kaumata about how we could present this performance in a sensitive but special way.

From a choreographic potential we thought the theme had lots of potential because we could use the patterns of the moko kauae, so we did a lot of research into the history of the Bay of Plenty and the types of moko people had.



Tauranga Girls College performance presented the traditional ta moko process through the use of fabric and weaving. Supplied Photo.

Caroline believes the process of crafting and presenting the performance had a huge impact on all the students involved, particularly the members of the colleges kapa haka group who took part.

Our performance was a very different way of presenting kapa haka, and for our kapa haka girls it was quite enlightening for them, it was something theyd never done before which was special.

There was also a lot of reciprocal learning taking place, with our contemporary dance girls integrating traditional kapa haka movements into their dance style and vice-versa, which was really awesome to see.

National Stage Challenge judge Cate Prestidge made her decisions based on video footage of schools that placed at every regional event throughout the country earlier this year.

Her decision was based on performances concepts, soundtracks and drama, and says Tauranga Girls came a close second to Whanagui High Schools performance, 29 Below.

Positive and strong performance that audiences would have found easy to relate to due to the overall message of ones journey to womanhood, says Cate.

Also winning an award this year was Mount Maunganui College which was named joint-winners of the National Backstage Award which presented a fantastic Crew Portfolio that outlined their props and the purpose of each in great detail.

And while they didnt win a national award, Papamoa High School also got a special mention for the performance - Dia De Los Muertos- The Day of The Dead, which was based on the Mexican tradition of celebrating the memories you have for someone whos passed on.

PrCate describes their performance as visually stunning due to the dramatic use of skeleton props and the powerful concept Papamoa High portrayed.



In total 100 students ranging from Year 9 to 13 were involved in Tauranga Girls Colleges award winning performance Sacred Journey  I am strength, I am beauty. Supplied Photo.


New Zealands biggest farming organisation is closer to its goal of becoming carbon neutral and planting 10 million plants by 2025 through the signing of an agreement with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand.

The memorandum of understanding between Landcorp and CVNZ allows them to work together on a range of planting and conservation projects on Landcorp farms across the country.
A Te Puna born constable is one of three officers to have their names added to the Memorial Wall at Police College this year.

Constable Louis Hekenui Bidois, known as Heke, was born in 1899 in Te Puna.
The darlings of New Zealands youth orchestra scene are heading to Katiakti and Whitianga to enthral and delight classical music lovers this weekend.

The Auckland Youth Orchestra proudly present its October Concert Series which is on at St Pauls Presbyterian Church in Katikati this Saturday, and then at the Whitianga Town Hall on Sunday.

Featuring 81 musicians who currently attended either university or high school, the AYO is the premier regional youth orchestra in New Zealand and is led by music director Antun Poljanich.

The programme for these upcoming concerts includes Ravels Bolero, music from Tchaikovskys The Nutcracker and Chen Yis The Golden Flute which will feature flautist and 2015 AYO Soloist Competition winner Eva Ding.

Be mesmerised by the insistent rhythm of Ravels Bolero  one long, gradual crescendo culminating in brief, tumultuous chaos, says AYO manager Jospeh Chen.

Experience the colourful textures in the Golden Flute by Chen Yi, performed by Eva. Be captivated by the illustrious, rich, and vibrant themes of Tchaikovskys popular Nutcracker, including Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers.

Shanghai-born, Auckland-raised Eva Ding has been a member of the AYO since 2013 and originally fell in love with the flute at the tender age of eight.

A recipient of numerous scholarships from the likes of the University of Auckland and the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Evas also won several awards including the National Young Performer Award and Tauranga Performing Arts Competitions Societys Carey Concerto and Smith Shield awards.

Recently returned from a six-month exchange to the University of California in Los Angeles, Eva is brimming with inspiration from her time abroad, and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to take lessons with flute professors from elite music schools Julliard and Eastman.

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she intends to continue her studies in performance flute, and will pursue a Master of Music.

A portion of the proceeds generated by ticket sales for the Whitianga Town Hall concert on the Sunday will go to Creative Mercury Bay to cover their direct costs, with the remainder donated to the Auckland Youth Orchestra.

SunLive has one double pass to give away to one lucky reader for the Whitianga Town Hall concert on Sunday who can tell us the name of Chen Yis work which will feature flute soloist Eva Ding?

Enter online at www.sunlive.co.nz under the competition section. All entries must be received by Friday, September 30.

The Auckland Youth Orchestra performs for free at St Pauls Presbyterian Church in Katikati on Saturday, October 1, from 7.30pm. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

The orchestra then heads to the Whitianga Town Hall for a ticketed concert on Sunday, October 2, from 2.30pm. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students, $ for children, and $40 for families, and are available from Whitianga Paper Plus on Albert Street.

For more information visit: www.ayo.org.nz
The Studio

In 2010, the first-ever edition of the MYS Breaking News Centre - run by Superyachts.com  came online. The first interviews were filmed in a single tent, located at the very end of the show; taking the views of industry experts in a time of uncertainty before delivering them to the world.

Today, the MYS Breaking News Centre sits at the heart of an entire pop-up village at the entrance of the Monaco Yacht Show (QSE12).

Having published over 60 interviews in 2015, the Breaking News Centre is back and bigger than ever with over 80 of the biggest names in the superyacht industry preparing to return with ground-breaking news and insights; from owners to innovators and brokers to builders.

Industry leaders - such as Lurssen Yachts, Espen Oeino, Oceanco, Andrew Winch, Feadship, Perini Navi, Nobiskrug, Benetti, Moran Yacht & Ship, Amels, CRN, IYC, Fraser, Cecil Wright, Camper & Nicholsons and Burgess as well as the organisers of the Monaco Yacht Show to name a few - joined us last year, offering the latest insights into new projects and developments changing the superyacht world forever. This year, the Superyachts.com team are back and will be bringing you more breaking news, directly from the show.

The Village

Returning to the Breaking News Centre village for the fourth year and continuing their support of the Superyachts.com Village is The Bahamas, bringing the stunning island chain charm to superyacht owners and charter guests at the show.

For the third year in a row, NetJets are returning to represent the cutting-edge of private aviation lifestyle and presenting the opportunities available on board the latest projects such as Latitude.

This year, Coco Wolf  exclusive to Lillingston Living  will be adding an edge of comfort in the heat of the Monaco sun with lavish new furniture for those at the show to catch up, go over notes and enjoy the heat of the Monaco sun in the Superyachts.com outdoor seating area.

Joining us for the first time in the Superyachts.com Village are the leading names from the British Virgin Islands; shining a spotlight on two completely different, but equally beautiful, areas worthy of an unbridled adventure on board.

Flying the banner of the British Virgin Islands are the BVI Tourism Board, BVI Finance, the Official BVI Shipping Registry, leading international law firm Harneys and the regions most exclusive private wealth management firm VP Bank.

YCCS Virgin Gorda, a major superyacht hub in the BVI, will also be presenting the finest in superyacht destination choices for those in search of unparalleled exploration.

Cecil Wright & Partners will be in attendance to offer insights into exactly how the stunning surroundings of the BVI can be best discovered on board.

The Coverage

Superyachts.com will be updated daily with the latest luxury yachting and lifestyle news from across the show; covering in-depth interviews, exclusive event insights, yacht walkthroughs and daily photo galleries.

For those on the go, sign up to our daily newsletter, or catch up fast through our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram streams.
In this Aug. 13 photo, Ed Rosenthal, nicknamed the "Ganja Guru," judges marijuana plants at a competition designed to select nine specimens for display Aug. 26-Sept. 5 at the Oregon State Fair. The exhibit was the first time real pot plants were open for public viewing at the annual agricultural showcase. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Christian Samara joins Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC as an associate in the tax department.

Previously, he was an intern in the tax department.

He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Le Moyne College.

Samara is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and is working to complete the certification process to earn his designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

He resides in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 16-year-old was stabbed Monday afternoon during a large fight on Syracuse's South Side, city police said.

Syracuse police were called at 4:45 p.m. Monday to respond to a fight in the area of Valley Drive, near Ballantyne Road, Syracuse police Sgt. Richard Helterline said in a news release.

When officers arrived, they found the 16-year-old girl injured. She had been stabbed in the face, Helterline said in the release.

American Medical Response Ambulance took the teen to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where she is being treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police are continuing to investigate, but say they have no suspect information and no arrests have been made. Syracuse police ask anyone with information to call them at (315) 442-5222.
Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse anti-violence protester walked out of court today repeating "Lies! Lies!" in response to accusations that he harassed a Syracuse police officer.

Maurice "Mo" Crawley, 52, who calls himself an "OG Against Violence," made headlines after a video surfaced in July of him being detained while filming police arrest another person.

While Crawley filmed, an officer can be heard telling him, "Say one more word and I'll arrest your (expletive)."

Crawley replies, "What? I didn't hear you." The encounter escalated from there.

Crawley was initially charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and obstructing police.

A YouTube video of the arrest got more than 125,000 views and prompted a protest by a local chapter of the anti-police-violence group Black Lives Matter.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick later said that the police officer, Vallon Smith, overreacted against Crawley and did not handle the situation properly. The DA dropped the initial charges.

But Fitzpatrick then charged Crawley with harassing Officer Smith over "at least a dozen encounters" leading up to the July 28 videotaping incident.

"The defendant shouts at this officer, calling out my last name, stating the 'tornado' is coming and threatening lawsuits against this officer," Smith said in court paperwork.

The decision to charge Crawley led to a strong rebuke on Syracuse.com by retired Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Dean David Rubin. Fitzpatrick then fired back with his own op-ed.

The harassment charge, which is like a traffic ticket, brought Crawley back to Syracuse City Court today.

And though Crawley's charge is not technically a crime, he had no intention of backing down.

In conversations with Judge Mary Anne Doherty, defense lawyer Rome Canzano said neither side could reach a deal. Prosecutor Alison Fineberg agreed.

Given Crawley's reaction, it appears nothing less than a dismissal would be enough. An animated Crawley walked out of court crying, "Lies! Lies!" and wondered why he couldn't go to trial now to prove his innocence.

Canzano, his lawyer, briefly talked him through the process in the hallway. Next, Canzano will file legal arguments on Crawley's behalf. The prosecution will have a chance to respond. The judge will make rulings.

It could take months for this to get to trial. And gauging Crawley's reaction, don't expect him to plead guilty.
Jose Reyes and Johnny Gaston

Jose Reyes (left) and Johnny Gaston (right)

(Provided by Syracuse Police Department)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say a man who ran from a vehicle they had just stopped removed a black handgun from his waistband and turned the weapon toward two officers chasing him.

It appeared to the officers that 26-year-old Jose Reyes "was preparing to shoot at them" during the foot chase Saturday evening, city police Lt. Geno Turo said in a news release Monday.

Officers Jeremy Decker and Darren Ettinger, members of the Syracuse Police Department's Crime Reduction Team, immediately drew their duty weapons from their holsters, the release said.

But no shots were fired by the man or police.

Instead, Reyes threw the handgun onto the roof of Mondo's gas and service station, 1127 S. Salina St., and surrendered to the officers, Turo said.

Reyes, of 231 Seneca Drive, Syracuse, was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, unlawful possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and littering.

Police say they found a bag of marijuana on Reyes' possession as they arrested him. Officers also were able to retrieve from the roof the handgun -- a Glock model 36 .45-caliber gun loaded with six rounds of ammunition, which had been reported stolen from the state of Georgia.

Officers also arrested another man who was in the vehicle with Reyes during the traffic stop at 5:04 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Raynor Ave., Syracuse.

Johnny Gaston, 27, of 349 Garfield Ave., was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Crime Reduction Team Officers Matthew Erwin and William Lashomb found Gaston in possession of cocaine and marijuana, Turo said.

Reyes and Gaston were sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center before their arraignment. The county jail inmate lookup website showed Gaston was no longer in jail Monday. Reyes, however, remained in jail Monday night, records showed.
The Museum of International Masks and Puppets is part of the Open Hand Theater located in an historic mansion at 518 Prospect Ave. in Syracuse. Managing Director Andrea Wandersee (left) and Artistic Coordinator Peter Fekete in a portrait with a puppet theater shaped like a tree trunk.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Open Hand Theater and International Mask and Puppet Museum will move from the historic mansion on the corner of North Salina Street, Ash Street and Prospect Avenue.

The move is part of a bigger process for the theater, to launch a new partnership with another local arts or community nonprofit. It's an effort to secure Open Hand's financial health and sustainability.

"It's absolutely a growth move for us," said Andrea Wandersee, the theater's managing director. "We're not going anywhere. This is about creating a successful, long-term future for us, and to be better connected with our peers."

Wandersee and Peter Fekete, Open Hand's artistic coordinator, have been in talks with at least six organizations in Syracuse and DeWitt, and will announce a partnership in the coming months.

The old Victorian mansion, affectionately referred to as "The Castle," was built in 1890 by Charles L. Hoffman, president of the National Brewing Company. Several families have lived there over the decades. Before Open Hand bought the property in 1999, it had been used as a fraternal lodge, a union hall and bridal shop.

Last June, Open Hand's board of directors voted to approve the move. Last week, the castle at 518 Prospect Ave. went up for sale.

"After a lot of soul-searching, we did decide to put it on the market," Wandersee said. "It's kind of sad to say farewell, but the castle is in great condition. This castle could go to someone who will do something really cool with it."

Poor accessibility was a major factor in seeking a move. Wandersee said Open Hand didn't have much freedom to update the historical structure to accommodate visitors with disabilities.

Even an elevator to the second-floor theater was out of the question.

"That's been a real concern, when someone can't get to us," Wandersee said. "We have a lot of grandmas who want to see their families in a play, but can't get up the stairs. A functional program space with access is more important to us than having the beautiful character of the castle."

Puppet workshop at Open Hand Theater, Syracuse, N.Y.

A larger space, too, would better fit the needs of the theater's shows, educational workshops and camps. Open Hand's giant puppets, which regularly turn heads at local festivals, can't fit comfortably in the castle's 65-seat theater.

While JF Real Estate handles the property sale, the theater programs and workshops will go on as normal throughout the holidays.

"We hope people understand this is about keeping the art available," Wandersee said. "We'll certainly keep the magic of the programming alive."

Open Hand's identity and mission, to celebrate the human experience through puppetry, masks and theater traditions from around the world, will not change, nor will its logo (an illustration of an open hand with a castle tower).

No matter where they relocate, Wandersee said Open Hand would continue to work with city schools and the Center for New Americans on the North Side. The items in the International Mask and Puppet Museum will also move to the new location when it has been chosen.

We will report updates about the mansion's sale and Open Hand's relocation as new information becomes available.

Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook
dena2.jpg

Syracuse native Dena Tyler stars in CBS's new drama "Bull."

(CBS)

Syracuse native Dena Tyler now appears on CBS's new show "Bull," opposite Michael Weatherly, who plays the brainy, brash Dr. Bull in the drama.

Tyler plays the role of Liberty, a somewhat geeky, frazzled attorney hand-picked by Bull to join a team of experts at Trial Analysis Corporation. Bull's team uses psychology and technology to help predict and influence trial verdicts.

Syracuse native Dena Tyler stars in CBS's new drama "Bull."

The show was inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw as a trial consultant before he became a widely known TV personality.

The show is written by Paul Attanasio ("House") and McGraw himself ("Dr. Phil") and produced by Steven Spielberg.

Tyler said her audition for Liberty was long delayed. By the time she went in, she had huge underarm stains.

"I don't apologize for my beauty or my ugliness anymore," said Tyler. "Ironically, those are the things that are getting me noticed today. I flashed CBS my sweaty pits and belched in my audition."

She promptly landed the role, which is Tyler's first recurring role on network television. She describes the character as "raw and fiercely committed."

Tyler grew up in Syracuse, attended Onondaga Central High School and studied at the Upstate Medical Center for Respiratory Therapy (RRT). Out of college, Tyler moved to New York City to work as an actress. Her parents still live on Onondaga Hill.

Originally a stage actress, Tyler has landed comedic guest spots on the hit Netflix show, "Orange Is The New Black," as Miss Rosa's chemo nurse, on "Louie" as a cult leader and on "30 Rock" as Rob Riggle's ex-wife. She has also appeared on Showtime's "Homeland" and multiple times on "Law & Order."

Tyler appeared in the premiere episode of "Bull," which aired on Tuesday, Sept. 20 (and can be viewed online). The next episode will air tonight at 9 p.m.

Katrina Tulloch writes music and culture stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact her: Email | Twitter | Facebook
St.Joes_Cardiac_Surgery.jpg

Heart surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse.

(St. Joseph's)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center had the lowest patient death rate in the state for heart value surgery from 2011 through 2013, according to a state report.

The state Health Department report shows St. Joe's had a risk-adjusted mortality rate of 2.06 percent for these operations, the only hospital in New York significantly lower than the state average of 3.45 percent.

Heart valves control the flow of blood entering the heart. Heart valve disease develops when a valve cannot open all the way. A risk-adjusted mortality rate is an estimate of what a hospital's death rate would be if it had the same types of patients as all other hospitals in the state.

Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester (5.58 percent), Rochester General (4.91 percent) and Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira (14.37) all had risk-adjusted mortality rates significantly higher than the state average.

Rates for Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse (3.15 percent) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica (4.86) were not considered significantly different than the state average.

The report also shows the statewide mortality rate for open heart surgery in 2013 was 1.84 percent. Buffalo General (3.68 percent) was the only hospital in the state significantly higher than the state rate. Here are open heart surgery mortality rates for Central New York hospitals: St. Joe's, 1.10 percent; Upstate, 2.49 and St. Elizabeth, 2.88.

Here are risk-adjusted mortality rates for Central New York surgeons who perform open heart and/or valve operations.

St Joe's

Charles Lutz: 0.91

Mehdi Marvasti: 1.21

Ahmad Nazem: 1.33

Randy Green: 1.42

Zhandong Zhou: 2.0



Upstate:

Charles Lutz: 2.15

Greg Fink: 2.45

St. Elizabeth

Frederic Joyce: 3.0

Nabeel El-Amir: 3.2

Adanna C. Akujuo: 3.97

Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245
Felony drug charges are pending against an Onalaska couple tied to a large distribution conspiracy case after authorities found them with $24,000 worth of drugs on Saturday.

Police from multiple agencies searched Douglas and Juanita Owens apartment at 1206 S. West Ave., No. 3, their candy shop business at 1201 S. 10th Ave. and permanent residence at 854 S. 12th Ave. in Onalaska, according to La Crosse police.

Authorities recovered $14,300 worth of drugs, including 34.5 grams of heroin, 556.7 grams of marijuana, Xanax pills, 3.3 grams of methamphetamine and Ecstasy. The couple was arrested at their La Crosse apartment.

Juanita Owens also concealed $10,500 worth of drugs inside her body, including 52.8 grams of crack cocaine, 31.4 grams of powder cocaine and 10.3 grams of heroin, according to police.

The couple sold more than 300 grams of heroin in the past several months, prosecutors said in court Monday.

Douglas Owens, 33, and Juanita Owens, 38, each face charges of conspiracy to deliver heroin and cocaine and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, heroin and marijuana when they appear Wednesday in La Crosse County Circuit Court.

Douglas Owens is jailed on a $100,000 cash bond and his wife on a $50,000 cash bond.

Police say the couple is involved in an ongoing drug conspiracy case under investigation for more than one year. Additional arrests are expected.

Circuit Judge Elliott Levine placed Douglas Owens on two years of probation in May 2015 for selling $40 worth of crack cocaine. He has drug delivery and firearm convictions in Illinois.
Curriculum2.png

This is the introduction to a lesson on percentages from the 243-page packet given to teens housed in isolation at the Onondaga County Justice Center. The Syracuse City School District is named in the class-action lawsuit for its alleged failure to meaningfully educate students at the jail.

(Provided)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Teenagers who are subject to isolation at the Onondaga County Justice Center are given a 200-plus-page packet of education materials to complete as they sit alone in cells for 23 hours a day.

The materials, which were attached as an exhibit as part of a lawsuit to end juvenile jail isolation, prompt the 16- and 17-year-olds to teach themselves about multiplication, reading comprehension, grammar and other topics. Some of the materials are apparently from a GED-preparation package.

One exercise asks students to write about a dozen words three times each. Another prompts them to solve a word search.

The Syracuse City School District was named in the lawsuit filed last week by the New York Civil Liberties Union and Legal Services of Central New York. The lawsuit claims 86 teenagers, mostly young men of color, were subject to "solitary confinement" between October 2015 and August 2016. The lawsuit claims the practice is unconstitutional and damages young and developing minds. It also claims the teens don't have contact with teachers.

The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, which operates the jail, has declined to comment on the lawsuit. However, jail officials in emails attached as exhibits in the suit have suggested they disagree the practice amounts to "solitary confinement" and say it is necessary for the protection of the teens and other inmates.

The lawsuit represents six teens currently being held in isolation at the jail. Of those, four were diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the lawsuit, making "the idleness in isolation especially difficult."

Legal Services CNY spokesman Samuel Young said in an interview the school district is also being sued because the district is failing in its responsibility to adequately educate students residing in the district boundaries, even those who sit alone in 7-foot-by-9-foot cells inside the jail.

"The school district has the responsibility under state law for educating all of the eligible students within its district, and the justice center is within its district," he said. "Simply naming the jail or the sheriff's office and not the school district would not solve the problem of lack of education or special education."

Young said he doesn't know what ability the school district has to change jail policies or practices, but that doesn't change the fact that incarcerated students are being denied meaningful education, he said.

The sheriff's office and the school district declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Syracuse City School District spokesman Michael Henesey also declined to say whether the materials given to students in isolation were graded, provided by teachers, based on state curriculum, or part of a GED preparation program.

In an email provided with the court documents, Esteban Gonzalez, the chief deputy of the custody department, said the jail staff, mental health and other health-care workers make regular rounds through the unit. He also said the inmates get an hour of exercise each day and have access to other jail services.

"The Segregation Housing Unit provides our staff with the means to safely

house inmates who pose a heightened risk to the safety and security of everyone that comes to the Justice Center," Gonzalez wrote in an email regarding a particular inmate in December 2015. "Additionally, all of the operations at the Justice Center are compliant with existing local, state and federal law."

At a news conference last week announcing the lawsuit, 16-year-old Randy Pope said he hopes others his age won't be subject to the experience. He's not among the plaintiffs named in the suit but said he spent two days in isolation. The lawsuit said many juveniles spend much longer than that alone in those cells, "often weeks and months on end."

"I tried doing crossword puzzles but kept thinking about killing myself," Pope said at the news conference.

The materials were among hundreds of pages the plaintiffs' attorneys submitted as part of an argument that the jail practice warrants a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the 16- and 17-year-olds subject to housing in isolation at the Segregation Housing Unit section of the jail.

The lawsuit claims the 86 juveniles were subject to solitary confinement more than 250 times total during their incarcerations. The juveniles were either waiting for bail, trial or serving sentences of less than a year.

The lawsuit used jail records to analyze how many juveniles were subject to isolation. On Sept. 21 of this year, for example, the jail housed 18 16- and 17-year-olds, according to the lawsuit. Of those, at least 13 had "received at least one solitary confinement sanction during the 11-month period for which data was provided."

Review the education materials given to juvenile inmates below:

Exhibit 29 by PatLohmann on Scribd
2013-08-26 STAR booth at fa.JPG

A state tax department representative helps an Eastwood couple register for their STAR tax break in 2013 at a booth at the New York State Fair.

(Glenn Coin | gcoin@syracuse.com)

New York state has begun mailing tax credit checks to homeowners, but some senior citizens are receiving a check for less money than they are entitled to, local assessors said.

The mistake in the checks appears to affect hundreds, maybe more, of homeowners statewide. It could cost individual homeowners hundreds of dollars if not corrected.

Lynda Lannie, a Liverpool homeowner, said she realized something must be wrong when she got a school tax rebate check in the mail, but it was for half of what she thought she'd get with the Enhanced STAR tax exemption. She took it to the town of Salina assessor's office, who checked and realized the check was wrong.

"We are on a fixed income, so it makes a difference,'' Lannie said.

Denise Trudell, Salina's assessor, said an error occurred at the state level, so she contacted state taxation officials. She said a state official in an email acknowledged the problem.

The state became aware of the problem immediately after sending out the first mailing of checks over the weekend, said James Gazzale, a spokesman for the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

"We have identified those taxpayers and are currently contacting them to inform them they'll be receiving an additional check,'' he said.

Those phone calls should be completed today, Gazzale said.

He said he doesn't know immediately how many homeowners are affected, but said he will attempt to find out.

How can a senior know if their check is wrong? Homeowners could look at last year's exemption on their tax bill to see if the check amount is similar, he said.

Trudell, who is a past president of New York State Assessors' Association, said she has heard from assessors all over the state who have realized there are mistakes with some of the checks for the Enhanced STAR program.

The Enhanced STAR property tax exemptions go to people who are 65 years old or older with a combined income of $86,000 or less. (The mistake does not appear to affect rebates through the Basic STAR program, which is available to most homeowners.)

The mistake in the checks appears to only affect seniors who have bought a home since March 1, 2015, Trudell said.

New state rules enacted this year require anyone who purchased a home after March 1, 2015 to register with the state Department of Taxation and Finance instead of registering through their local assessor.

Before the change, STAR would cut a homeowners' assessment thus lowering the tax bill.

For the new homeowners since March 1, 2015, STAR will give them a check equal to the amount they would have saved under the past program that cut the assessment.

STAR details

STAR (School Tax Relief) program was started in 1997 to lower school tax bills for some homeowners in New York state.

To receive Basic STAR: You must own your own home as a primary residence. There is no age restriction, rather an income eligibility limitation of $500,000 or less of the combined incomes of the homeowners and owners' spouses who reside at the property.

To receive Enhanced STAR: The residency rules are exactly the same, but owners must be 65 or older and income must not exceed $84,550.

The Basic STAR provides an exemption from the first $30,000 of the full value assessment of a primary home.

Enhanced STAR recipients receive an exemption on the first $65,300 of their home' s assessed value.

Enhanced STAR eligibility must be applied for on a yearly basis; basic STAR is granted annually.
Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick, right, tweeted this photo of himself next to Rev. Jesse Jackson at the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. on Sept. 26, 2016.

(Twitter | @SvanteMyrick)

A Central New York mayor is responding to Donald Trump's comments about race and birtherism during the first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

Moderator Lester Holt asked about the Republican candidate's years-long claims that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya. Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the U.S. last week, then accused Clinton of starting the birther movement.

"I say nothing. I say nothing because I was able to get him to produce [his birth certificate]," Trump said Monday at Hofstra University in New York. The White House released Obama's birth records in 2011.

"It can't be dismissed that easily," Clinton argued at the debate. "[Trump] has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen."

"I think that I developed very, very good relationships over the last little while with the African American community," Trump said. "I think you can see that."

When asked about recent police shootings across the United States, Trump called for "law and order" to fight "gangs roaming the streets."

"African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell. You walk down the street and you get shot," Trump said. "African American communities are being decimated by crime."

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick objected strongly to Trump's statements.

"As a black man and the head of a police department - Trump on race relations and the police is disgusting. He doesn't know a thing," Myrick wrote on Twitter Monday night. "Trump didn't believe Obama wasn't born in America. He never asked about any other president. Why? Obama is black. Period."

Myrick, who was elected New York's youngest-ever mayor at 24 years old in 2011 and re-elected last year, also tweeted: "My name is Svante. I'm an African-American and I don't live in hell." He added the hashtag #ImWithHer, supporting the fellow Democrat in the upcoming election.

Clinton argued that violent crime has decreased nationally. Fortune reports the former secretary of state advocated restoring trust between authorities and citizens while promising to "tackle the plague of gun violence."

My name is Svante. I'm an African-American and I don't live in hell. #ImWithHer https://t.co/PTDMiHI4qq  Mayor Svante Myrick (@SvanteMyrick) September 27, 2016
Hillary Clinton

In this photo taken Sept. 21, 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign stop in Orlando, Fla.

(Matt Rourke | AP)

Hillary Clinton's name was spelled wrong on "Between Two Ferns" with Zach Galifianakis last week -- as a joke. And then it happened again.

The Democratic presidential candidate's first name was misspelled as "Hilary" with one L on 350 "souvenir tickets" issued to students for Monday's event at Hofstra University. Donald Trump, her foe at the first presidential debate of the 2016 race, had his name spelled correctly.

A spokeswoman for Hofstra told NBC 4 New York that the commemorative tickets are not "official tickets" for the debate.

"They were printed at the last minute to create a souvenir for the students. We'll be reprinting them for all those who won tickets," Karla Schuster said.

A spokesman for the Commission on Presidential Debates told The New York Times that official tickets did not have any misspellings or typos. A photo of those tickets shared by Mark Cuban, Clinton's guest at the debate, showed none of the candidates' names.

According to NBC, more than 7,500 students at Hofstra University entered a lottery to attend the debate in person on the Long Island college campus. The winners received the souvenir tickets after being notified last week.

Both Trump and Clinton have been in the public eye for decades. The Republican presidential candidate made a name for himself as a real estate mogul, billionaire businessman, author and reality TV star before entering the race for the White House last year. Clinton, meanwhile, was First Lady of the United States of America when her husband Bill Clinton was president for two terms, then served as a U.S. Senator for eight years and Secretary of State for four.

Clinton appeared on Funny Or Die's comedy series "Between Two Ferns" last week. Her first name was also spelled with one "L" when introduced with the mocking byline "had pneumonia."

The debate between Trump and Clinton begins at 9 p.m. Follow live updates here.
A new committee is working to put Baraboos long-dormant train depot back on track.

Mayor Mike Palm has formed an ad hoc committee to identify options for the building, which is owned by Sally Glorch. Her familys business, Servo Instruments, used it for storage for decades, but has cleared it out in hopes of redevelopment.

Options include the city taking ownership of the building and stabilizing it before turning it over to a developer for commercial or residential use.

I think this really is a unique opportunity for the city, said Alderman Tom Kolb.

Hes one of five appointees to the committee, which met for the first time Monday. The committee decided to bring in an engineering firm to analyze the buildings structural integrity. An engineering report commissioned in the 1990s found no fatal flaws.

I think we have to find out if its structurally sound, Kolb said.

City Administrator Ed Geick presented videos and photographs of the building that showed a hole in the roof, a caved-in portion of floor and cracked walls. I think it goes without saying theres significant problems with the building in some areas, said Alderman Dennis Thurow.

The 1902 depot played an integral role in Baraboos early history. Its second floor was home to the Chicago & North Western Railroads division headquarters offices, and the depot saw up to 18 passenger trains  and another 50 freight trains  daily in its heyday. In 1903, 388 men worked there. A lot of people dont realize what an important rail center Baraboo had in the early 1900s, Geick said.

I would like to see something done with that building because it was so important at one time, Thurow said.

The division headquarters left Baraboo in 1933, and the last passenger train departed 30 years later. The Glorch family, which owns Servo next door, bought the depot in 1978. Sally Glorch told the committee Monday that her father Gordon felt an attachment to the depot, as he held a railroad job as a young man. He and wife Ann died last year. I think my dad had a hard time giving up the depot, Sally Glorch said.

Shes willing to have the roof repairedat an estimated cost of $100,000  as a gift in memory of her parents.

City leaders said such a gift would help prevent further interior decay and buy time to stabilize the structure. The committee agreed its next step should be to get an estimate on how much it might cost to stabilize the building.

If you shore it up and put the roof on before winter, that would help it out substantially, Glorch said.

Sauk County Historical Society Executive Director Paul Wolter will be asked to consult the group about potential grants to help pay for restoration work. Baraboo leaders may seek historical landmark status for the building.

The committee has no operating budget, and with the citys 2017 budget nearing completion, its unlikely funds will be earmarked for a depot study this year. The committee will proceed once it has an estimate in hand, and more information about historical restoration grants. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Historical Society informed Wolter the depot is eligible for the state and national Registers of Historic Places, making it eligible for 20 percent credits on state and federal taxes for preservation work.

Id like to see the building salvaged and used for something, said committee member Aural Umhoefer.
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The website of prominent security blogger Brian Krebs is back online this week after sustaining one of the largest distributed denial of service attacks in Internet history.

DDoS attacks typically disrupt service at a website by flooding it with junk traffic. In this case, garbage traffic assaulted Krebs site at 620 gigabits per second. By comparison, consumer bandwidth is in the 10-15 megabit per second range; businesses, 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

The attack may have been even larger than reported so far, maintained Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare.

There was evidence that a lot of the upstream providers were getting congested and dropping packets upstream, he told TechNewsWorld.

When thats taken into account, this attack could have been close to a terabit attack, Prince said.

Akamais Exit

The attack was so large that Akamai, the company that had been protecting Krebs site from DDoS attacks for years, had to withdraw its support from the blogger.

Let me be clear: I do not fault Akamai for their decision, Krebs wrote in a Sunday post.

I was a pro bono customer from the start, and Akamai and its sister company Prolexic have stood by me through countless attacks over the past four years. It just so happened that this last siege was nearly twice the size of the next-largest attack they had ever seen before, he explained.

Once it became evident that the assault was beginning to cause problems for the companys paying customers, they explained that the choice to let my site go was a business decision, pure and simple, said Krebs.

Akamai had to assess what the attack was costing it in manpower and network overages, said Martin McKeay, a senior security advocate at the company.

An attack of this size has serious financial costs, he told TechNewsWorld.

Google to the Rescue

Krebs had to pull the plug on his website until he could find a new safe harbor. He found one behind Googles Project Shield, which uses the search giants massive infrastructure to protect independent news sites from DDoS attacks.

Although it isnt known who launched the attack on Krebs website, Akamais McKeay doesnt believe it was a nation-state actor because it exposed a valuable asset to discovery.

Its very unlikely a state-actor because its burning this botnet, he said.

Theres enough people looking at this that this botnet will not last very long, McKeay observed. Its somebody who doesnt care if this botnet is useless in a week or two.

It may be someone with a short tenure on freedom.

When large attacks like this happen, the people behind them arent long for walking around freely, Cloudflares Prince suggested.

When you look at the history of attacks like this, in almost every case, the individuals behind them are tracked down and prosecuted, he added. Its hard to generate this much traffic and create this much pain without leaving fingerprints.

IoT Culprit

A botnet of hijacked Internet of Things devices  routers, IP cameras and digital video recorders that are exposed to the Internet and protected with weak or hard-coded passwords  mounted the attack on Krebs site.

There are hundreds of thousands of cameras connected to the Internet that have a vulnerability that allows an attacker to abuse them and start sending attack traffic at a victim, Prince pointed out.

An attacker sends a message to an IoT device and spoofs the return address, explained Slawek Ligier, vice president of engineering for security at Barracuda Networks.

Those responses are directed at the victim, so the victim receives a flood of data from IoT devices from around the world, he told TechNewsWorld.

The IoT is opening the floodgates for DDoS hackers, said Akamais McKeay. When people create IoT devices, unless theyre secured properly, youre opening up the possibility of it being used for just about any malicious purpose that you want.

While the attack on Krebs site appears abnormal now, it may not be in the future, he said. Within two years, this will probably be the new norm.
Google may have more in store than some new Pixel phones at its upcoming hardware event Slater for October 4. According to a reports from Android Police and 9to5Google, the company might finally be ready to talk about its long rumored merger of Chrome OS and Android into one hybrid operating system, which is internally known as 'Andromeda'.

The operating system could be showcased at the event but an official consumer launch could still be some ways off. Android Police claims Andromeda is a completely distinct effort from Google's current campaign to bring Android apps to Chromebooks --- the initiative is being pursued via merging Chrome features into Android, not the other way around.

There are little details about what that will mean for the future of Android and Chrome OS and if all three operating systems will be maintained separately for different product categories.

Google is said to be testing its forthcoming Andromeda Android/Chrome OS hybrid OS on an upcoming Huawei tablet. However, the goal appears to be launching the new OS alongside a 'Pixel 3' laptop in Q3 2017 to rival similar devices from Apple and Microsoft. The laptop, codenamed Bison, is currently planned as an ultra-thin device with a 12.3" display, powered by an Intel m3 or i5 Core processor with 32 or 128GB of storage and 8 or 16GB of RAM.

Google has already found some success with Chrome OS devices and has been working towards enabling a more traditional windowed-app approach where it makes sense. Aside from bringing Android apps onto select Chromeblooks, Google also added freeform window mode to Android 7.0 Nougat, a feature we've yet to see on any production device that basically enables Android tablets to handle apps in individual windows.

With just over a week to go until Google's event things are starting to get interesting.
WhatsApp's announcement last month that it would start sharing more user data, including phone numbers, with its parent Facebook didn't go down well with many people. Now, a privacy regulator in Germany has taken particular exception to the update, demanding that the collection process is stopped and all gathered information be deleted.

The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information said Facebook is infringing data protection law by collecting user data from WhatsApp. Johannes Caspar ruled that the social network "neither has obtained an effective approval from the WhatsApp users, nor does a legal basis for the data reception exist."

Germany isn't the only place where the update is facing the wrath of privacy groups. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office is investigating the matter; the Electronic Privacy Information Center in the US has already filed a complaint with the FTC; and CNIL, France's data protection authority, is monitoring the situation "with great vigilance."

WhatsApp said the reason for the policy change was to test new features, such as the ability for businesses to communicate with customers, and to help the social network make better friend suggestions and deliver more relevant ads. It's also said to "fight spam and abuse, and improve experiences across our services and those of Facebook and the Facebook family." Users can opt out for ad-targeting purposes, but not out of all data sharing activities.

"This administrative order protects the data of about 35 million WhatsApp users in Germany," Caspar said. "It has to be their decision, whether they want to connect their account with Facebook. Therefore, Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance. This has not happened."

Responding to the ruling, a Facebook spokesperson said: "Facebook complies with EU data protection law. We will work with the Hamburg DPA in an effort to address their questions and resolve any concerns."
A Baraboo man who allegedly robbed a gas station at gunpoint Monday night was chased by law enforcement squads and allegedly fired a flare gun at officers after his car was disabled.

Andrew Videc, 18, was taken into custody on tentative charges of fleeing/eluding an officer and armed robbery, along with numerous traffic citations, the Sauk County Sheriff's Office said.

The robbery happened at about 11:40 p.m. Monday at Kwik Trip, 602 W. Pine St. in West Baraboo.

Videc allegedly entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded cigarettes and money. He then drove away in a white-colored Buick. Nobody was injured in the robbery.

The license plate number of Videc's car was given to deputies, with a sergeant seeing the white Buick heading north on Highway 12. The sergeant attempted to make a traffic stop but the Buick sped away, with squads from the Sheriff's Office and Lake Delton police in pursuit. Videc allegedly kept going north before heading west on Highway 23.

The Buick was disabled when a Reedsburg police sergeant deployed a tire deflation device in the road, the car coming to rest on Evergreen Road.

"Videc exited the vehicle and displayed and discharged a flare gun at responding law enforcement officers and at himself," said Sheriff Chip Meister. He then talked to officers and was taken into custody.
Krebs on Security, the security blog run by Brian Krebs, has been taken down for most of last week because of a suspected revenge cyberattack. The website is now back online with help from Google's Project Shield.

The attack on Krebs' blog is widely believed to be in retaliation for previous blog posts that exposed two major cyberattack sellers, leading to their subsequent arrests. Krebs himself believes that it was perpetrated by allies of vDOS, one of the companies he exposed selling cyberattack services. It was carried out by launching a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), within a scale that engineers consider as the worst in internet history so far.

The attack reached 620 Gbps in size and has effectively crippled the website, keeping it off the internet in the process. It also took several forms such as SYN Floods, GET Floods, ACK Floods, POST Floods and GRE Protocol Floods. Krebs' own inbox and Skype accounts were systematically targeted with subscriptions and requests.

The attack has prompted Akamai Technologies to drop support for Krebs on Security. The company has been protecting the blog against such kind of DDoS attack for free. While its engineers were able to counter the attack, the disruption reportedly proved too costly.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Akamai claimed it stands to lose millions if the blog, which has been moored within its network, continues to attract similar attacks thereafter. It stressed that while the company has the technology to protect the website, it cannot afford to shoulder the breadth of resources needed to consistently fend-off assaults of such scale.

Krebs, for his part, said that he did not blame Akamai for its decision, although he noted that the company only gave him two hours to migrate his entire website off its network.

"I was a pro bono customer from the start, and Akamai and its sister company Prolexic have stood by me through countless attacks over the past four years," Krebs said in a blog post. "Once it became evident that the assault was beginning to cause problems for the company's paying customers, they explained that the choice to let my site go was a business decision, pure and simple."

Krebs on Security is now using Google's Project Shield, a free program being offered by Google in order to protect news outlets and journalists from censorship. Whether the initiative's technology could effectively protect Krebs on Security remains to be seen.

Google has explained that Project Shield is capable of Advanced DDoS protection through a multi-layer defense system against DDoS attacks. The service is also free and unlimited regardless of the size of a website.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Swiss luxury brand Gresso is synonymous with decorative top-end smartphones as well as accessories that are perfect for those who are eyeing something exclusive.

Gresso has now introduced its latest iPhone 7 Black Diamond collection, which is composed of three black variants of the iPhone 7 that will set consumers back by a whopping $500,000 each.

The luxury handcrafted iPhone 7 has been spotted by the folks at PhoneArena and takes lavishness up several notches.

The luxe versions of the Apple flagship will redefine opulence, and for those wondering what makes it so special that it can command such an exorbitant price tag  the back panels of the handsets are embellished with a cool 1,450 black diamonds, which total 102 carats. Have we mentioned that the iPhone 7's body has been recrafted as well using top-of-the-line grade-5 titanium?

That's not all, the camera frame and Gresso logo are comprised of 10 gms of 18-karat gold. The iPhone 7 units are carefully handcrafted by Gresso, and for those wondering how long this labor of love takes to be assembled  18 hours for a single piece.

The iPhone 7 is not the only Black Diamond-encrusted product that buyers get, as Gresso throws in AirPods that match the handset. The AirPods are also covered in black diamonds  30 to be precise (2 carats).

All this you get for $500,000 and the iPhone 7 you get as part of this luxurious deal is the unlocked 256 GB version. In comparison, the regular model of the 256 GB iPhone 7 would set you back by $849.

Gresso is not only offering the $500,000 iPhone 7 but also a case that has diamond embellishments as well. It's made of grade-5 titanium, too, and has 18-karat gold inlay. The damages? Be prepared to shell out $2,500 for one of the 999 pieces the company made.

For those eyeing something floral, the Gresso Diva collection is a great option.

"The luxurious way of the new iPhone 7 by Gresso Diva underlined by a combination of expensive materials  diamonds, 18-karat gold and titanium. Exquisite floral ornament engraved with a jeweler's precision on the back of the product reflects the unique style and bright personality," notes the company.

If you are enamored by the Black Diamond-encrusted iPhone 7 and cannot wait to get your hands on the exclusively crafted version, you need to hold on to your horses. Why? Because Gresso is yet to reveal the shipping date for the product. Keep your eyes peeled on Gresso's website for more updates.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
As the launch of Pixel and Pixel XL handsets draws nearer, more leaks and rumors are surfacing. The most recent ones feature new renders of the two phones.

Autumn is a special time for Android fans because back-to-school season becomes synonymous with new Android OS releases as well as Google hardware to run it on. Previous editions of Google phones involved manufacturers such as LG, Samsung or Huawei to bring the Nexus gadgets to life.

2016 marks a first, however, as Google announced that it will push out "Made by Google" devices, meaning Android smartphones will join the existing Pixel line from the company.

News and rumors about the Pixel and Pixel XL handsets have pelleted news feeds, and the latest feature a couple of new renders of the upcoming devices. Luckily, fans of the ex-Nexus-future-Pixel phones have to wait just a bit longer as the launch of the much-anticipated handsets should take place during the debut in October.

Twitter user Haniff (@iamaniff) shared two images of 3D renderings of seemingly Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. The tweet went on Reddit as well, but redditors gave it a rather lukewarm welcoming.

Keep in mind that the renders only show the backside of the device and seem to be very similar in shape to leaked images that came out earlier this month. However, observant users will note the significant missing piece: there's no camera flash on the rear of the devices.

This leads to the conclusion that the renders fall more in the fan artwork category than serious leaks. Alongside the tweeted images, @iamaniff commented "Completed by HTC, approved by Google."

This would indicate that HTC was heavily involved in the design process, which we know to be false. What is more, Google plans to advertise this year's models with the "Made by Google" tagline, which curbs the HTC involvement rumor even more.

Shortly after Twitter user Haniff posted the two images, Simon Paturel (@SimsaysP) notified Haniff that the two images have actually been crafted by him in August. To support his claim, Paturel provided a link to his Google+ account, where he had posted the renders last month.

Those who are on their toes waiting for the Pixel and Pixel XL handsets are looking at some Google phones packed with powerful specs and highly improved cameras. Insiders from the company hinted that the phones will be the first devices to support Daydream VR, so the wait will most likely be worth it.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Facebook recently apologized for disabling the personal social media accounts of a few executives and editor of two major Palestinian news outlets.

The social media company says that it suspended the accounts after reports arrived stating that the pages were violating Facebook's community standards. However, the news outlets believe that the incident has to do with Israel's increased dedication to curbing online incitement to violence.

Al Jazeera reports that three execs from Quds News Network and four editors with the Shehab News Agency were unable to access their personal accounts as Facebook hit them with the banhammer on Sept. 23.

Both Quds and Shehab report on daily news from the occupied Palestinian territories, and their Facebook pages count 5.1 million and 6.3 million likes, respectively.

"[Sharek-Quds News Agency] does not publish anything that violates Facebook standards," says Nisreen Al-Khatib, a journalist with Quds News Network.

She goes on to add that her news agency still gets targeted, despite complying with Facebook's norms and regulations.

The Quds editors received no explanation for the suspensions, but they assume that the action was connected to a recent partnership between Israel and Facebook that aims to limit violence-enticing content on the platform.

Palestinians chastised Israel for its social media policing initiative, pointing out that street violence does not start from online incitement, but from the almost 50 years of military occupation.

Activist groups highlighted that by playing along Israel's silencing policy, Facebook puts a damper on Palestinians' freedom of speech.

On Sept. 25, the Israeli military said that it identified and indicted 145 Palestinians who were inciting violence over social media.

Ayelet Shaked, the Israeli Justice Minister, stated earlier in September that her government urged Facebook to take out 158 pieces of content labeled as "incitement." The company cooperated and agreed to 95 percent of the requests.

The social media company, alongside other enterprises such as Twitter and Google, is in talks with authorities in the European Union and the United States to act promptly so that any extremist content belonging to far-right groups or terrorist organizations is swiftly removed.

Facebook unlocked the accounts of editors from Shehab and execs from Quds, and explained that the suspensions were "a mistake."

"The pages were removed in error and restored as soon as we were able to investigate," a Facebook spokesperson says.

The company notes that its report team has gone through "millions of reports each week," which leads to false flagging. Facebook continues by stating that it is "very sorry" about the situation.

Facebook did not go into details about which community standards caused it to crack down on the accounts.

In a digital protest against Facebook's cooperation with Israel and subsequent censorship, journalists from Quds boycotted the social media site by abstaining from posting content on it for two hours.

The protest carried the hashtag #FBCensorsPalestine.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Amazon UK is facing a fine amounting to 65,000 pounds, or more than $84,000, for its failure to comply with regulations associated with shipping dangerous packages. The online retail company has been found guilty on four counts for airmailing perilous goods between November 2013 and May 2015.

A complaint by Royal Mail, which routinely checks items for air freight, has instigated the investigation. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has then brought the grievance to the proper court.

In 2013, Royal Mail has repeatedly voiced out its worries to Amazon in writing. The series of letters reiterate concerns about the retail group's sending of dangerous goods via airmail. A total of 782 packages are cited to contain hazardous materials.

Along the way, the parcels delivery company manages to block three Amazon packages from entering the airmail system. A fourth attempt has been stopped by United Parcel Service (UPS).

Despite the delivery misgivings, Amazon's Defense Counsel Stephen Spence points out that dispatching 331,400,000 shipments during the indictment period "suggest a pretty cracking success rate."

Charges for 11 deliveries have been forwarded by CAA. Amazon has been acquitted on one count while the jury fails to come up with a verdict on six other complaints.

The Aviation Authority claims that a system failure occurred during the process of mislabeling items as safe for airlifting. The goods in question include lithium ion batteries and flammable aerosols.

According to remote reviews from warehouse staff in India, Romania and China, four packages have been designated as safe even though Amazon computers indicated them as precarious.

The E-Commerce company's miscalculations are not without basis. Amazon USA has been facing a $350,000 fine based on a case filed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The hefty penalty is due to improper handling of dangerous items. The Aviation Administration cites that Amazon transacted UPS to deliver a gallon of "Amazing! Liquid Fire" substance from Kentucky to Colorado. The chemical is actually a corrosive drain cleaner. Nine personnel of the parcels delivery company have felt a burning sensation shortly after managing the package. It has been found that the box had a leak. The FAA has noted that the delivery indicated no warning signs. There is also no proper declaration on the packaging. A Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods is supposed to accompany the item.

"From February 2013 to September 2015 alone, Amazon was found to have violated the hazardous materials regulations 24 other times," the FAA said.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
At the end of Marvel's now-iconic Civil War comic book event, Captain America is assassinated. His death sent shockwaves through both through the Marvel universe and the real world as well, as fans and characters alike mourned the loss of one of the greatest heroes to have ever graced the pages of a comic.

But that didn't happen in this year's Captain America: Civil War, which is loosely based on the Civil War comic event. How come? Producer Kevin Feige and directors Anthony and Joe Russo have a compelling answer.

"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," Anthony Russo says during a Marvel Q&A to promote the release of Captain America: Civil War on DVD and Blu-ray. "It's about a divorce. And if somebody dies, it would create empathy [from the other characters], which would change [things] and allow for repair, and we didn't want to do that."

The goal with the film was to have the superhero "family" shattered prior to the events of the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, which is also to be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The tragedy of the movie, Anthony Russo says, is that the family falls apart, not that it falls apart and somebody also dies.

Feige also elaborates on why the decision was made to have all the characters survive. During the film's climactic airport battle, Rhodey, wearing his War Machine armor, is shot out of the sky and crash-lands. It's at first unclear if he survives the crash, but it is later revealed that he is alive and mostly well, though he does have to undergo physical therapy and might have retired from acts of superheroism permanently.

"In the comic, in the amazing comic book story, which certainly, the conceit of this movie is based on, some of the specifics, during their big battle, which has a hundred times as many characters, a character died," Feige says. "And we talked about that for a while, and ultimately, what happened to Rhodey (Don Cheadle) in the movie we thought it would be enough of a downer for the tone of the movie."

Though nobody met their end in Captain America: Civil War, it seems like anything could happen in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War. The superheroes of Earth will at long last be facing off against the intergalactic villain Thanos, and if there was ever a time for a major character to die, it would be while doing battle with the Mad Titan.

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Snapchat is Snapchat no more.

The company's CEO Evan Spiegel announced on Saturday, Sept. 24 that it has officially changed its name, which will now be Snap Inc.

This is a major announcement that has many people scratching their heads as to why the company would want to rebrand now.

Since launching in September of 2011, the company has grown to be one of the most popular apps, with about 100 million daily active users.

What started as a platform known for sexting and commonly used among teens, Snap has become the must-have messaging app for millennials looking to interact with friends (and not their family on Facebook) and provide in-the-moment sneak peeks of their day to others in a way staged Instagram photos can't. It's even a platform now popular among celebrities, allowing followers to see what they are up to on any given day, giving normal folk a look into their lavish lives.

With its yellow ghost icon and iconic filters (like the dog, flower crown and now the popular deer), say the name Snapchat and everyone knows what you are talking about.

So why change such a recognizable name?

Spiegel revealed in a a blog post that the decision to ditch the "chat" was made because the company plans to expand to be more than just a messaging app.

In a separate blog post, the company announced its plans to release $130 wearable glasses called Spectacles that are the more hip version of the geeky Google Glass. The sunglasses, which will be available in three trendy colors, are equipped with a wireless video camera that allows the user to snap Memories and share them directly on the app.

"When we were just getting started it made sense to name our company Snapchat Inc., because Snapchat was our only product," Spiegel wrote. "Now that we are developing other products, like Spectacles, we need a name that goes beyond just one productbut doesn't lose the familiarity and fun of our team and brand."

The CEO also notes that removing the "chat" from its name will also make it easier when people are searching for Snap's products as it moves into hardware and other ventures in the future. It would make sense that the company be called Snap to include other ventures, while the app keeps its signature, household name.

It might not even be that weird for users to get used to since many people already refer to the app as Snap anyway (as in, "Check out my Snap, now.").

This is actually not the first time the company has changed its name. The app originally started off with the name Picaboo in its early stages before taking on the Snapchat title.

It's doubtful that the name change will have a serious consequence on the company. Users will continue to use the app every day, especially as the company continues to roll out new features like being able to save snaps and creating Memories.

Unlike the major Instagram logo change that caused an uproar for seemingly coming out of left field with something so different, this change is so minor and close enough to its familiar name that the company should be in the clear.

And it makes perfect sense. How strangeor cornywould it be like say you got those Snapchat Spectacles when Snapchat has been known up until this point as a messaging app?

Still, it will take some time to get used to just saying Snap.

Yes, a new dawn is upon Snap. And unlike Instagram's sunset logo fail, users can expect it will have no problems with rebranding.

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Sen. Mark Warner (D) is asking the United States Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct an investigation on the recently reported Yahoo data breach.

The Virginia senator wants a probe whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled their obligations to keep both investors and the public informed regarding the breach.

Moreover, Sen. Warner also asked the SEC to investigate if the company made a complete and accurate representation regarding the security of its IT systems.

"Disclosure is the foundation of federal securities laws, and public companies are required to disclose material events that shareholders should know about," writes Warner in his letter to the SEC. "Data security increasingly represents an issue of vital importance to management, customers and shareholders, with major corporate liability, business continuity and governance implications. A breach of the magnitude that Yahoo and its users suffered seems to fit squarely within the definition of a material event."

According to Yahoo's report, which was posted on Sep. 22, Thursday, the data breach involving 500 million user accounts occurred in 2014. However, it is unclear when the company learned of the breach. The senator cites press reports, which suggest Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer had knowledge of the breach since July 2016.

Protocol dictates that data breaches must be disclosed to investors and the public within four business days via a Form 8-K. Sen. Warner notes of Yahoo's failure to do so despite the scale of the aforementioned breach.

Sen. Warner adds that Yahoo did not inform Verizon, which is in the process of closing the $4.83 billion deal for the acquisition of Yahoo's core business, until Sep. 20. Both companies have been in talks regarding the acquisition since July this year.

Further confusing things is a statement that Yahoo issued earlier this September.

"To the knowledge of Seller, there have not been any incidents of, or third party claims alleging, (i) Security Breaches, unauthorized access or unauthorized use of any of Seller's or the Business Subsidiaries' information technology systems," a proxy statement reads.

The senator says that Yahoo's pronouncement creates serious concerns about truthfulness in representations to the public. He notes that the public must know what Yahoo executives knew of the breach and they were informed of it.

Aside from the concerns that the senator raised, Yahoo is yet to answer whether the claims of a hacker known as Peace is valid or not. Note that Peace sold 200 million Yahoo user accounts via the dark web. The hacker claims that the dumps are from 2012.

Moreover, Yahoo is also yet to clarify whether Peace and the "state-sponsored actor" who was responsible for the reported hack of 500 million user accounts were one and the same. Some analysts speculate that they are not the same, which means two instances of hacking took place, if Peace's claims are true.

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The United States Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Palantir Technologies, amid accusations that the $20 billion Silicon Valley federal contractor and software company practices racial discrimination against job applicants who are Asians.

Founded by Alexander Karp, Palantir, a data mining firm and one of the most valuable private companies in the world, is best known for the assistance it provided to the United States government in tracking down Osama bin Laden. Among Palantir's clients are the United States Army and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In the complaint filed by the Department of Labor, it was said that Palantir has been using a hiring process since January 2010 that prevented Asian applicants from being hired into the company on the basis of their race. The complaint claimed that Asian applicants were taken out of the hiring process during the resume screening and telephone interview stages, despite the applicants being qualified for engineering positions as white applicants.

In one of the examples that were included in the lawsuit, the Labor Department claimed that Palantir hired 11 Asian applicants and 14 non-Asian applicants from a pool of more than 1,160 applicants. The likelihood of such happening was one in 3.4 million, the lawsuit claimed, considering that 85 percent of the people making up the applicant pool were Asians.

At the heart of the case is the in-house referral system being used at the company, which is a common practice among Silicon Valley firms that allow current employees to nominate people they know for job openings. According to the Department of Labor, such a system only reinforces inequities that are already present in the workforce of a company.

The accusations against Palantir can be considered unusual in Silicon Valley, as major companies such as Apple and Facebook have actually received criticisms for workforces made up mostly of white and Asian employees and too few Hispanics and blacks.

The Labor Department is looking to end the racial discrimination in Palantir's hiring practices, with the lawsuit seeking to recover lost wages plus interest for the affected class, along with other benefits.

The company, through a statement, has denied the allegations, while expressing disappointment in the decision of the Department of Labor to go ahead with an administrative action.

According to Palantir, the claims of the department were based on a flawed and narrow statistical analysis on three job descriptions that were posted between 2010 and 2011, and so the company intends to vigorously defend against the accusations.

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Unless efforts are heightened, the United States will likely miss the goals it set under the 2015 Paris climate accord, a new study suggested.

Along with more than 190 nations, the U.S. vowed to dramatically reduce the country's emissions of greenhouse gases by 2025, with the goal of shrinking emissions up to 28 percent below 2005 levels.

However, researchers from the Department of Energy estimate that the country will only reach four-fifths of the 2025 goal, given the current efforts by local and state governments.

Jeffrey Greenblatt, lead author of the study, said the U.S. can't reach the goal with its current set of policies.

"We will likely fall short without additional policies," said Greenblatt.

Not Meant To Discourage

Greenblatt and his colleague Max Wei examined all types of greenhouse gas emissions including methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and other fluorocarbons in the country.

Current proposed policies require the U.S. to cut down 1,330 million tons of carbon emissions.

But Greenblatt and Wei suggest that in order to reach the 2025 goal, the U.S. will have to reduce around 1,660 million tons of yearly emissions.

The gap is at around 330 million tons of emissions, they calculated.

Still, Greenblatt says the study does not mean the U.S. can never reach the goal, but it does emphasize it has to do more. He says he is optimistic that with more action, the country can come close to 26 percent of the goal.

Reduction In Carbon Emissions

Greenblatt and Wei estimate that the biggest reduction in carbon emission would come from the Clean Power Plan, which was expected to decrease carbon pollution from power plants, particularly coal.

Unfortunately, the plan is on hold in courts. If it is not implemented immediately, it would become even harder for the U.S. to reach its 2025 carbon emission goal, said Greenblatt.

It is also a policy that Republicans, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, promise to repeal if they win.

John Sterman, a management professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the U.S. will have to take up more ambitious policies to fulfill the commitment under the Paris accord.

He said that in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the U.S. and other countries must reduce emissions sooner.

"There's simply no time to lose," added Sterman.

The report was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Photo: Dirk Duckhorn | Flickr

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A Madison man who police said terrorized a family during a wrong-address invasion of a Far East Side home in January pleaded guilty on Monday to three felonies.

Rollo R.P. Prince, 32, pleaded guilty to being a party to second-degree reckless endangerment, substantial battery and burglary, all as a repeat offender, for a Jan. 24 home invasion in the 4800 block of Retana Drive, during which a man was shot.

Under a plea agreement, the second-degree reckless endangerment charge was reduced from first-degree reckless endangerment.

Three other charges  armed robbery, firearm possession by a felon and second-degree reckless endangerment  were dismissed but can be considered by Dane County Circuit Judge Josann Reynolds when she sentences Prince on Dec. 5.

Under the agreement, prosecutors can ask for up to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision.

The family said a second man was also involved in the incident, but nobody else has been charged.

According to court documents, a couple and their two young daughters were asleep shortly before dawn when Prince and the other man broke into their house. They did not know either man or what they wanted.

During the incident, one of the intruders shot the father of the girls and his wife was beaten with a gun. They had kicked open a bedroom door to get to them, demanding to know, Where is it? Where is it?

The man was shot in his shoulder. Prince and the other man left after realizing that the woman had called 911.

One of the intruders took the womans phone, which was found smashed on a sidewalk nearby.

Prince fled to Chicago and was treated there after accidentally shooting himself during the incident.

DNA from blood stains found in the home matched Prince, according to court documents.
Fiat Chrysler has unveiled the 2017 Jeep Compass, the compact SUV that will be replacing the brand's Compass and Patriot lines once it hits the market in the first quarter of next year.

The start of production for the 2017 Jeep Compass was celebrated at the company's plant in Pernambuco, Brazil, with three images of the vehicle released by Fiat Chrysler.

The 2017 Jeep Compass features a design that is more aerodynamic compared with the outgoing Compass and Patriot models, with some styling elements seemingly influenced by the sleeker Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Jeep Cherokee instead of the boxier Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Renegade.

"Having something that looks like a smaller Grand Cherokee is probably a good way to go," said Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell, who is also the firm's director of pricing and industry analysis, considering the success that Fiat Chrysler has had with the vehicle.

The two Jeep compact SUVs that the 2017 Jeep Compass will replace, despite not getting a full redesign for a decade, have topped combined annual sales of 100,000 units since 2011, with growth each year starting 2012. This reveals that the segment is an important one to be in for Fiat Chrysler, which likely spurred the redesign of its offerings into the 2017 Jeep Compass.

Caldwell, however, warned that it may be tough for the 2017 Jeep Compass to challenge the most popular options in the segment, namely Honda's CR-V and Toyota's RAV4.

The 2017 Jeep Compass will offer customers with 17 powertrain options across over 100 countries, but the options specific for the United States were not revealed. The large number of options likely means that United States customers will have more than one choice once they would purchase the vehicle. There is also a chance, albeit very slim, that the 2017 Jeep Compass will offer a manual transmission option.

While it was claimed that the 2017 Jeep Compass will be "the most capable compact SUV ever," further details on the vehicle have largely been kept secret. More details on the 2017 Jeep Compass will surely be unveiled at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, which will be held in November.

Another Jeep offering that recently made headlines was the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, as a leaked internal memo revealed that the vehicle will have aluminum doors and an aluminum hood. The usage of aluminum will reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, though it will also increase repair costs that customers will have to pay in case of damage to these components.

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Adams Farm Slaughterhouse has issued a recall of some of its beef, veal and bison products over concerns that these might contain a strain of potentially deadly strain of E-coli bacteria.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that at least seven people in four U.S. states have already been identified to have been infected by the potentially lethal E. coli O157:H7 believed to be linked to Adams Farm Slaughterhouse.

E. coli O157:H7 is known to cause possibly life-threatening infections particularly in older adults, young children and those with weak immune systems. Infection may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea or worse, a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Infected individuals in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and West Virginia got ill from June 27 and Sept 4. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that five of these patients were hospitalized. The CDC added that 57 percent of those who were infected were female.

Authorities found reason to believe that the outbreak is linked to Adams Farms Slaughterhouse since all of the five hospitalized patients reported consuming products sold by the company.

The CDC also uses a national database that can catch emerging outbreaks by identifying DNA matches from bacterial samples of infected individuals and this indicate that infection likely came from the same source.

"FSIS determined that there is a link between beef from Adams Farm Slaughterhouse and this illness cluster," the USDA said in a statement.

"Traceback information was available for 5 case-patients and indicated that all 5 case-patients consumed beef products supplied by Adams Farms Slaughterhouse."

Affected products were shipped to several locations which include retailers, farmers' markets and restaurants in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and eastern New York.

Recalled products were from animals that were slaughtered on different dates starting July 15 to Aug. 26 and were packed between July 21 to Sept 22.

In a statement, Adams Farm Slaughterhouse said that it is working with health authorities to protect their customers.

"We are working with the USDA and the Mass Department of Public Health to ensure that all product that could be contaminated is withdrawn from sale to protect our customers and those that buy from our customers," the company said.

A USDA spokesman said that USDA continues to conduct investigation and may expand the recall if necessary.

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New Study Proves that Horses can Communicate With Humans

By Angel Soleil, | September 25, 2016

Scientists can communicate with humans through symbols.

A new study published in the Applied Animal Behavior Science journal claims that horses can communicate with humans by pointing at symbols or objects.



Dr. Cecilie Mejdell of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute led the study, which included training 23 different breeds of horses. The aim was to develop a tool to ask if the animals preferred wearing a blanket under different weather conditions. It is common in Nordic countries for a horse to wear blankets in all weather conditions.



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The horses were trained to touch a board with their muzzle to indicate if they wanted to wear a rug, receiving carrot slices as an incentive. The horses were taught to tell the difference between various symbols on the board; a horizontal bar meant they wanted a blanket, a vertical bar meant they wanted a blanket off and a blank to indicate no change at all.



By the end of the training, the researchers reported that the horses learned how to signal if it was too cold or hot by approaching the appropriate board and asking for the rug to be taken on or off. The animals requested a blanket when it was wet, windy and cold while preferred not wearing one when the weather was sunny.



Mejdell told BBC News that in general, horses were intelligent animals and the experiment just proved that they can make a choice based on their own motivation.



Karen McComb, a professor of animal behavior and cognition at the University if Sussez said that "This [training] is a really interesting and innovative study that has conceived a very novel way of getting at what is going on in the mind of the horse."



Mejdell and her team hope that the study would supplement future research while McComb believes that the training method would be beneficial to animal welfare.


Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken an insurmountable lead in the initial vote count of the runoff held this Sunday against president Jair Bolsonaro, according to... | Read More
A naked Crawford County man who reportedly had taken controlled substances had to be tased by a deputy after wreaking havoc in his residence.

Samuel Clark, 33, was tentatively charged with disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and resisting arrest, the Sheriff's Office said. He was taken to Crossing Rivers Health Center in Prairie du Chien.

The incident happened on Sept. 16. The Sheriff's Office got a 911 call about an intoxicated man walking naked on Highway B, screaming and threatening to jump off a bridge.

"A deputy arrived to find Samuel Clark completed naked, destroying items in his residence with a female and two young juveniles present," the incident report said. "He refused to calm down and speak with the deputy, and left out the back of the residence."

Clark started walking to the river located behind the property, and told the deputy he was going to jump into the river to kill himself.

"After several attempts to verbally stop Clark, the deputy tased Clark in an attempt to subdue him and keep him from harming himself or others," the incident report said.
A federal judge on Tuesday cut about two years from the prison sentence of a former Fitchburg businessman who had been ordered to be re-sentenced by a federal appeals court because of an error in calculating his sentence.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb re-sentenced Christian Peterson, 47, former owner of the Pancake Cafe, to four years and nine months in prison, down from the seven-year sentence she gave him in December 2014. Peterson has so far served 22 months of his sentence.

I am honestly impressed by what youve done, frankly, to start making amends for the mess youve made of your life, Crabb told Peterson, who joined the hearing by telephone from the federal prison camp in Duluth, Minnesota, where he is serving his sentence.

In May, a federal appeals court ruled that $300,000 was included in a $1.1 million loss figure for Petersons crimes that should not have been included. The loss amount was part of the calculation to determine the advisory sentencing range that Crabb used to sentence Peterson. The $300,000 should not have been included because Peterson had paid it back, the appeals court said.

Petersons lawyer, federal defender Craig Albee, said that since he was incarcerated, Peterson has worked hard at his prison jobs and has worked to get insight into the character traits that contributed to his crimes.

A jury found that Peterson took out bank loans for a now-closed scrap foam business in 2006 and 2007, wiring some of it directly to a Las Vegas casino to pay off debts there, and also found he took nearly $30,000 from an employee retirement fund. Peterson was convicted of bank fraud, money laundering and making false statements.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz asked for a sentence of about 5 years, while Albee sought a four-year sentence.
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A bakery, hotel and restaurant were all held up by an armed assailant on Sunday and Monday, and police believe the same woman is behind the string of robberies, the Madison Police Department said.

Sunday around 7 p.m., a woman with a handgun went into Pan & Pan Bakery, 3559 E. Washington Ave., and left with cash, police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. On Monday around 12:45 p.m., an armed woman entered Best Western, 4801 Annamark Drive, stole money from the front desk and fled, DeSpain said.

About half an hour later, Chang Jiang restaurant, 4929 Commercial Ave., had an armed robber leave with cash and get into a minivan where a male driver spirited her away, DeSpain said.

The robber is described to be a woman of heavy build around 30-years-old with a tattoo above her left eyebrow, he said. The description from the bakery robbery said the tattoo about her eye is possibly a vine while she has a flower tattoo on her right arm, according to police.

Her hair has some red in it, according to another description.

She was also noted as carrying a large white purse during Sunday's robbery and either a red or pink purse on both of Monday's robberies, DeSpain said.

At the restaurant, the getaway driver pointed a gun at an employee in pursuit of the robber, he said.
DENHAM SPRINGS  About 45 percent of flooded structures in Denham Springs evaluated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been deemed substantially damaged, the citys building official said Monday.

Homes and businesses in special flood hazard areas that are below base flood elevation and found to be substantially damaged must be elevated before a repair permit can be issued, under regulations the city adopted in order to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Substantial damage: What does it mean for Louisiana flood survivors? As Louisiana flood victims continue rebuilding their lives and property, many are facing the

FEMA inspectors evaluated 2,729 residential and commercial structures in the city and found 1,222 had sustained damage estimated to cost 50 percent or more of the structures value to repair, Building Official Rick Foster said. The city had not yet received data on another 150 or so structures that FEMA assessed.

David Hiegel, a natural hazards program specialist for FEMA Region 6, told the City Council on Monday that the agencys inspections were designed to provide data for the citys permit office staff, rather than make a detailed and final determination of whether structures were substantially damaged by last months flood.

Our activity is truly data collection on behalf of the community because the work load is so big, Hiegel said. FEMA is not making a substantial damage determination. We fully expect many of the cases between 45 and 65 percent (damage) will need a more in-depth look at their properties.

Property owners will get a true determination from the citys permit office through the appeal process, Hiegel said.

Building Official Rick Foster said he asked for the FEMA inspection teams to come in and perform some of the initial damage estimates because there were too many flooded structures for his four-person department to assess in a timely manner.

After delay, Ascension, FEMA agree on deal to do damage assessments, hire inspectors Within the next two weeks, FEMA will have 10 two-person teams of inspectors doing damage ass

Once we get a number (from FEMA), if its below 50 percent, we can issue permits on those guys immediately, Foster said. It makes it that much faster for those guys to get back in and get to work.

For property owners facing FEMA damage estimates of 50 percent or more  substantial damage  the process is not over.

If you want to appeal, get us a market value and repair estimate, and those are tools we can use to get you some help as quickly as we can, Foster said.

Hiegel noted that it is very, very common for property owners to appeal the FEMA damage estimate.

Councilman Chris Davis asked Hiegel whether it was correct that property owners could provide a barebones repair cost estimate to the permit office for a damage determination to receive a repair permit, then get a second estimate for insurance purposes, as City Attorney Stephanie Hulett had said during the last council meeting.

Denham Springs residents voice frustrations over regulations that could require them to elevate their homes DENHAM SPRINGS  Residents packed Old City Hall's second-floor courtroom, overflowed to the 

Hulett said Monday that numerous FEMA personnel had told her that was the proper method for determining the level of damage.

We got that information directly from FEMA, Hulett said.

Hiegel said that information is incorrect.

The substantial determination process is a matter of (National) Flood Insurance Program compliance, he said. From that, we expect a realistic cost of repair, to the condition the house was in before. If it was a contractors spec home used as a rental house, minimum standards, repair to that. If its a high-end house, marble countertops and all, we need an estimate to repair to that condition.

Deferred maintenance or depreciation can be factored into determining the pre-flood condition of the structure, he said.

Hiegel said he recently reviewed a sample of the permit offices files and found that the city was properly documenting and handling its flood-related repair permits.

Im glad to report that everything we looked at was in good order, Hiegel said. We expect to see background documents in the file also, and we found all of those to be in good shape.

The city had received 698 permit applications, issued 453 permits and found 29 structures to be substantially damaged as of Monday, Foster said. Another 76 were awaiting inspection, while 131 applications needed more information or to be reviewed. Nine structures failed inspection.
PLAQUEMINE  Four men injured in the 2013 explosion at the Williams Olefins Geismar plant were awarded a total of $13.6 million in damages after an Iberville Parish jury late Monday night ruled the company, several plant officials and its parent company were negligent and knew with substantial certainty that the deadly fire could occur.

The jury rendered its verdict after five hours of deliberation in the three-week trial in the first of several lawsuits related to the incident that killed two people and injured 114 workers.

"For a month they were trying to shift blame onto their shell company (Williams Olefins) and I'm glad the jury saw right through it," Kurt Arnold, attorney for the plaintiffs, said after Monday night's verdict.

The jury found that Williams' Oklahoma-based parent company was 95 percent responsible for the explosion and Williams Olefins was 3 percent to blame. The jury apportioned 1 percent of the blame on plant official Parker Tucker and 1 percent for plant supervisor Larry Bayer, who were also named defendants in the lawsuit. The jury absolved defendant Erick Comeaux, a plant official.

Plaintiff Shawn Thomas will receive the highest payout in damages, awarded $9.4 million for past and future medical bills, lost wages and mental anguish, and pain and suffering. Kris Devall was awarded $3.6 million and Eduardo Elizondo and Michael Dantone were awarded $360,000 and $205,000, respectively.

The company, in a written statement issued after the verdict, says it plans to appeal: "Nothing about the tragic accident at the Williams Olefins facility in Geismar on June 13, 2013 was intentional. We believe there is sufficient Louisiana case law that supports our legal position, and we will appeal the jury verdict rendered in the 18th Judicial District Court."

In their closing arguments, attorneys for the four men asserted Williams Olefins administrative leaders and plant managers had some idea an explosion could occur, ignoring for seven years warnings that could have prevented the tragedy at the facility, which straddles the Ascension-Iberville line.

"This accident doesn't happen if the board of directors and CEOs heeded the warnings they were told," Arnold told the jurors.

But the jury was asked by defense attorneys to view the decisions and actions of the company and its plant officials as a mistake they never intended to happen.

"This case is not about responsibility. Williams Olefins already accepted responsibility," defense attorney Glenn Farnet said. "It was a horrible mistake. Human beings make mistakes. Mistakes are not intent."

Farnet asserted that in order for the plaintiffs to argue intent Williams' officials would have had to have known three sequential factors would occur on the day of the explosion.

"The scenario that happened that morning had never happened in 13 years because it was an unusual scenario," he said.

The plaintiffs contended that Williams, key management figures and others had known for years that one of two reboilers used in the refinery process was isolated from pressure relief  which meant there was a risk of over-pressurization and explosion.

Both sides admitted in the court the explosion could have been prevented if car seals, costing less than $5, were tied onto the rebroiler valves. But defense attorneys claimed corporate officials were under the assumption the safety measures had been followed based on what they were told by plant managers.

Much of the debate during the three-week trial centered on the whether Williams' Oklahoma-based corporate headquarters should bear much of the responsibility for the explosion since its administrative leaders must sign off on many of the day-to-day decisions made at the Geismar facility by the plant managers who work for its limited liability company, Williams Olefins.

"Williams Olefins stood up here and took the blame, but that wasn't enough," said Jim Reed, the attorney representing two of the parent companies named in the lawsuit. "Sometimes the truth is very simple. Lawyers complicate things."

Arnold, the plaintiffs attorney, asserted in court Monday that Williams should bear 90 percent of the responsibility for the plant explosion and Williams Olefins should take 4 percent of the blame. The remaining liability should be apportioned among the remaining defendants, he said.

Arnold asked the jury to award Thomas and Devall $12.1 million each to cover past and future medical bills, lost wages and mental and physical suffering since the explosion.

Arnold asked that Elizondo and Dantone get at least $1.6 million and $835,364, respectively, for past and future medical expenses and lost wages. He left it to the jury to determine what additional money, if any, the two men should receive for past and future mental anguish and pain and suffering.

But Randy Cangelosi, one of several attorneys arguing on behalf of Williams, said some of the plaintiffs exaggerated their injuries while others had pre-existing conditions or weren't injured severely enough to prevent them from getting high-paying jobs in the future.

"This case is about what's fair and reasonable. It's not about punishing any company," he told the jury.

Cangelosi said Dantone should receive between $65,000 to $80,000 in damages, Elizondo somewhere in the range of $65,000 to $80,000, Thomas between $1.4 million to $1.7 million and Devall's payout should fall somewhere between $400,000 to $925,000.

Tony Clayton, another attorney for plaintiffs, told the jurors that Williams should not be allowed to injure its employees and then turn around and determine how much money the workers should receive for their injuries.

"Your verdict will be a historical marker of how (these plants) conduct themselves in the future," Clayton said in his closing arguments. "If they're man enough to come here and make profits off of us, then they need to be man enough to pay for their substantial mistakes."
The major Republican and Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate divide along party lines when asked whether they support Gov. John Bel Edwards decision to allow the working poor to qualify for Medicaid.

The four Republicans oppose the Democratic governors decision, while the two Democrats support it, according to a survey of the candidates by The Advocate.

The newspaper asked the question after Edwards Department of Health on Monday reported that 305,000 Louisiana residents have enrolled in Medicaid and are beginning to treatment for various maladies.

Over 100 patients, following a colonoscopy, underwent the removal of polyps, to eliminate a precursor to cancer. Treatment has begun for 160 adults who were diagnosed with diabetes, and 24 women are now getting treatment for breast cancer.

+2 Medicaid expansion enrollment tops 300K in Louisiana Louisiana leaders say that hundreds of residents newly added to the state's Medicaid rolls h

It makes health care available to people, said Foster Campbell, a Democrat from Bossier Parish who serves on the five-member Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities.

Campbell applauded Edwards executive ruling to make the working poor eligible for Medicaid under President Barack Obama's administrations Affordable Care Act.

Its not a good decision, Campbell said. Its a great decision. G-R-E-A-T. I thought the other side was heartless. They should be worried about people getting the medicine they need.

Republicans in the House have voted about 60 times to roll back the Affordable Care Act. But Democrats in the Senate have blocked those efforts, and Obama has insisted he would veto anything that got through Congress.

State Treasurer John Kennedy, a Republican who lives in St. Tammany Parish, doesnt believe the Medicaid expansion will help patients.

Show me how the extra money we spend every year on Medicaid is making our people healthier, Kennedy said. You cant do it.

Kennedy opposes the Medicaid expansion. But now that it has been implemented, he said that state officials ought to make patients pay more through higher co-pays when they visit emergency rooms for nonemergency needs, as a way to encourage them to see primary care physicians.

U.S. Rep. John Fleming, a Republican, also doesnt believe the Medicaid expansion will make an appreciable difference.

You now have 300,000 more people carrying a (Medicaid) card around, said Fleming, a family practice physician before his 2008 election to the House representing northern Louisiana. Theyre getting the same care as before.

Fleming said Medicaid patients face a fundamental problem. Most doctors do not accept it for payment because payment is oftentimes lower than what they can operate their practices on, he said.

Rob Maness, as he has done throughout the campaign, offered a full-throated cry against a Democratic program.

The expansion is just a trap for the state, said Maness, a retired Air Force colonel and Republican who finished a distant third in the 2014 Senate race. Its going to enable the federal government to grab more power at the expense of people.

The Edwards administration has said the expansion will save the state nearly $200 million this fiscal year as the working poor seek treatment with doctors rather than make more costly emergency room visits.

Maness believes the expansion will cost more.

Every estimate assumes that the federal government will keep its side of the bargain, he said, referring to the provision that calls for the federal government to cover at least 90 percent of a states costs. I dont trust Washingtons commitment to the state.

Washington could alter its commitment if the president and Congress, which is currently in Republican hands, approve a lower federal matching rate.

Under the expansion, adults who make less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level  about $33,500 a year for a family of four or $16,200 for a single adult  can qualify for free health care coverage.

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, a more moderate Republican, offered a more nuanced opposition to the Medicaid expansion.

Without reforms, its a bad decision, said Boustany, who was a heart surgeon in Lafayette before his 2004 election to the House. It will add more stress to the state budget. Were going to be delivering the most expensive care. Theyre not going to have access to a good patient-doctor relationship.

Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans attorney, accepts the Edwards administrations view that the Medicaid expansion will save the state money.

Our money was already going out of state because of (Gov. Bobby) Jindals refusal to accept the (federal) dollars, said Fayard, noting that Edwards decision is bringing millions of dollars from Washington to Louisiana.

Fayard also questioned why Fleming and Boustany would oppose the Medicaid expansion given their medical background.

I find it ironic that there are physicians in this race who are so anti-health care, even though providing health insurance means people can be working, she said. Its the right thing to do for people who are working every day and providing for their families. When you talk to a single mom working multiple jobs to feed her family, if her children are able to get coverage, that is what government is good for.

Troy Hebert, a political independent who served in the state House and Senate before working in the Jindal administration, sides with the Republicans in believing that the Medicaid expansion ultimately will harm the states budget.

In the long term, sooner or later the tab is going to come due, and taxpayers will foot the bill, Hebert said.

Republican David Duke, of Mandeville, refused to be interviewed. His campaign released a statement saying Medicaid and Medicare should encompass all who work for a living, full or part-time. The problem is that the illegal alien presence sucks enormous funds from the health care system financed by those who work or have worked.
Both major parties are now pledging to fund the expansion the use of Tasers to officers below the rank of sergeant, and the Australian Federal Police has signalled it is moving in that direction.

But the police union has welcomed Labor's pledge to fund a wider Taser rollout, saying it will give officers another non-lethal option to subdue violent offenders.

Plans to equip Tasers to all of Canberra's frontline police have drawn opposition from civil libertarians, who fear they may be overused and deployed prematurely.

Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers told ABC radio on Tuesday that the "growing threat environment" and threats to police had made him rethink the need for more than just sergeants to be equipped with the weapon.

"Labor's pledge would be to roll those Tasers out to all frontline constables, including sergeants, so an extra 350 people will be armed with something that is a much less lethal option than a firearm," he said.

"It will allow police to much better protect themselves against what we consider to be an imminent threat against police, but also to be able to use a much less lethal force against violent offenders on our streets."

Crime rates are dropping the ACT, and the latest criminal justice statistical profile showed reported offences had dropped significantly since mid-2015, and were trending downward over the past five years.

Civil Liberties Australia vice-president Tim Vines said he remained opposed to a wider rollout of Tasers, and called for a review of their use to date by ACT Policing.
Canberra winemakers have welcomed plans to water down a $500 million tax on backpacker workers after claiming it would devastate the local industry.

The federal government announced on Tuesday that a proposed 32.5 per cent tax on earnings would be dropped, after facing considerable pressure from Nationals MPs and industry groups.

John Leyshon, president of the Canberra District Wine Industry Association, said winemakers are dependant on seasonal labour. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Backpackers will now be taxed at 19 per cent on earnings up to $37,000 with lost revenue to be made up by a $5 increase in the passenger levy. The tourism sector will also get a $10 million hand out to market jobs to backpackers.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the government would also reduce the application charge for working holiday visas by $50 to $390.
Mass murderer Julian Knight has lost his bid for Commonwealth compensation for abuse suffered while he was a cadet at Duntroon.

Knight is serving a life sentence in Victoria's Port Phillip Prison for killing seven people and injuring 19 others in the Hoddle Street massacre in August 1987.

Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight.

He went on the shooting rampage in suburban Melbourne weeks after he was kicked out of the army for stabbing a superior officer.

Knight pursued action against the ACT and the Commonwealth government relating to the alleged physical abuse during his time as a junior staffer cadet at the Royal Military College.
Drivers in the Necedah area apparently are not interested in signs warning of floodwaters on roads, and are moving the "road closed" signs to get to their destinations.

The Juneau County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday that reports are coming in about people moving the signs in the town of Necedah, which is a violation of the law.

"High waters are compromising roadways, and travel on flooded roads can cause additional damage to the roads," the Sheriff's Office said.

The National Weather Service has a flood warning out for the Yellow River in Necedah with the river at 16.8 feet as of Tuesday; flood stage is 15.0 feet. The river is expected to drop below flood stage on Thursday.

The town of Necedah surrounds the village of Necedah; the Yellow River runs through the village and the town in a north-side direction. The riverway also had plenty of wetlands along the banks, just east of the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

"Do not move the signs to travel through the area or you could face enforcement action," the Sheriff's Office said.
Jetstar will resume flights to and from Bali on Wednesday, a day after a volcanic ash cloud grounded planes at the holiday destination during the busy school holiday period.

The airline said at 7am on Wednesday that its pilots had made the decision to resume flights to and from Denpasar Airport on the latest information from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre after Mount Rinjani, near Lombok, began rumbling and ejecting ash into the atmosphere the previous day.

"We are looking at what additional flights can be scheduled to get people to their destinations. We will provide customers an update later today," Jetstar said in a statement.

"As it is school holidays our whole network is extremely busy, so it will take us some time to get everyone on their way.
We now have a pricetag for the recent spate of "bank bastardry"  as government MP Warren Entsch has colourfully characterised a mounting litany of poor behaviour.

Figures from the corporate watchdog for the year to June 30, 2016 show more than $200 million in compensation was clawed back for customers and investors who suffered losses due to such "bastardry".

Yes, it seems compensation schemes are becoming a common occurrence after a myriad of financial scandals revealed customers were being done over in one form or another.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) tallied up the figures as part of a guidance note into a review and remediation conducted by Australian Financial Services Licensees (AFLS) that offer personal advice to customers.
Listed darling Domino's Pizza's chief pizza tosser Don Meij was far from pleased to receive a second serve of a certain Deutsche Bank research note on the company.

Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Simotas caused Domino's some considerable heartburn in July when he estimated wages at the pizza chain could blow out by $32 million if the company paid full penalty rates.

Domino's Pizza's chief pizza tosser Don Meij.

Simotas wrote that note over concerns the company's new pay deal with workers would result in full penalty rates being paid.

Much to the displeasure of Meij, the Deutsche Bank note came up again this week when the company announced it would be hiring 2500 new, and presumably fully paid, employees. He called BusinessDay to set the record straight.
A Queensland conservation group says it's "highly disappointed" by a decision from the state's highest court to knock back an appeal opposing Gina Rinehart's Galilee Basin coalmine project.

Environmental group Coast and Country had hoped the appeal, which was dismissed by the Queensland Court of Appeal on Tuesday, would block Hancock Coal's proposed Alpha coalmine.

Hancock Coal's Alpha mine has overcome a legal challenge. Credit:Glenn Hunt

It came after it argued in the Land Court the transportation and burning of coal from the proposed mine would result in environmentally harmful emissions which, when combined with other sources' emissions, would boost greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

But that court ultimately found emissions directly linked to the mine would be "infinitesimal" and made recommendations about any mining lease and environmental authority based on different grounds.
Remember globalisation? It was big news some years back. Now, however, the leaders of the global economy worry that public opinion is turning against it, pressuring governments to reverse it.

Globalisation is the process by which the barriers separating nations and their economies have been broken down by international co-operation and deregulation, but mainly by advances in technology.

Illustration: Simon Letch

We now have much more telecommunications, travel, trade, investment, money flows and migration between countries. News now travels around the world almost in real time.

Just how worried leaders have become about a reversal of this trend is revealed by a speech Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, gave in Canada this month.
Sixty per cent of all Australians say they would be concerned if a relative married a Muslim, according to a new university research project tracking attitudes to Islam.

It also found that more than a third of people would not object to Muslims being searched more thoroughly at airports than other people.

And a quarter would not be fazed if all anti-terror efforts were focused exclusively on Muslims.

The study comes on the heels of a poll last week that found half of all Australians support a ban on Muslim immigration.
Treasurer Scott Morrison says the government won't ditch its plans for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, despite a new poll showing more Australians support a vote in Parliament.

Support for the plebiscite has fallen from 70 per cent earlier this year to 39 per cent, a Newspoll in The Australian on Wednesday shows, with 48 per cent of respondents saying they favour a vote by members of Parliament to resolve the issue.

The poll found 13 per cent of respondents were undecided.

Among Coalition voters, 47 per cent support a plebiscite compared with 44 per cent who support a parliamentary vote.
A speech Turnbull government MP Stuart Robert gave to Parliament defending the Gold Coast property developer Sunland was substantially written by the lead lobbyist for the company.

Fairfax Media can reveal that former Tony Abbott staffer-turned-developer-lobbyist Simone Holzapfel was the true author of whole sections of the speech that Mr Robert delivered in November 2012.

Ms Holzapfel wrote a four-page defence of Sunland after a November 17 newspaper article scrutinised the company's dispute with an Australian man who spent five years trapped in a legal nightmare in Dubai.

Seven sections of that response - provided to various government officials and obtained by Fairfax Media - subsequently found their way into Mr Robert's adjournment debate speech on November 26.
Hillary Clinton can tease - "Donald, I know you live in your own reality" - but the decision-makers for Australia's diplomacy are scrambling to urgently imagine life in the Trump universe.

Trump unloaded on America's allies during the candidates debate, reprising a complaint he's made before. "We defend countries," Trump fumed, but "they do not pay us".

Donald Trump likes to give allies a spray. Credit:AP

"They should be paying us because we are providing a tremendous service. And we're losing a fortune."

He ignores that the spread of US military bases around the world gives America unprecedented global power, but no matter. Japan, Germany, South Korea and Saudi Arabia all copped a frothy spray.
So with two more debates to go one upside for Trump is that after his incoherent performance during debate one he has set himself a ridiculously low benchmark for debates two and three.

The first set of ratings are in. Preliminary figures show more than 80 million tuned in for round one on television, but this figure doesn't included online streams, so is still likely to rise. Nevertheless, that still makes it the "most watched debate ever." [ Michael Idato/Fairfax ]

Ever the spin-man, Trump is blaming the moderator and his mic (anyone but Trump basically). Trump says he "eased up" on Clinton and "may hit her harder in certain ways" in rounds two and three.

Hillary Clinton greets Donald Trump at the first debate. Credit:AP

"I was going to hit her with her husband's women. And I decided I shouldn't do it because her daughter was in the room," he told Fox. [Reuters]

Trump surrogate, Rudy Giuliani, also attacked Clinton today over her husband's infidelities, saying "if you didn't know the moment Monica Lewinsky said that Bill Clinton violated her that she was telling the truth, then you're too stupid to be president." [Louis Nelson/Politico]

There's still a long way to go between now and November 8.
The Lussier Family East YMCA could reopen by the weekend after flooding last week forced the facility to close until electrical repairs could be made.

Scott Shoemaker of the YMCA notified members on Monday that "good progress" was made over the weekend on changing out the building's electrical system, damaged during the flooding that was triggered by heavy rains.

"Assuming everything goes as planned, we hope to reopen the East YMCA by this weekend," Shoemaker said.

The facility, at 711 Cottage Grove Road, shut down Thursday after the city's building inspector determined the electrical system was damaged by the flood and needed to be replaced.

The child care program and several other programs were temporarily moved to the Northeast YMCA in Sun Prairie, but that facility is also getting heavy use this week, thanks to the closing of schools in Sun Prairie because of mold problems.

"We are providing 'School's Out' days, due to the emergency closure of Sun Prairie schools," Shoemaker said. The special event provides child care for $45 (lunch not included) and a Y membership is not needed.

For more information, go online to the YMCA website.
What is new is the introduction, by our current prime minister, of the same-sex marriage plebiscite legislation to Parliament. In doing so, he clearly stated that "Australian society would be stronger if more people were married". There is a range of strong opinions on this issue. But one specific issue has yet to receive much attention at all. A plebiscite would offer up a widely used psychological assessment method known as "two-alternative, forced choice". This is most often used to test someone's speed of response to a particular stimulus; and it can be very useful in certain contexts. But the real question here is: does forced decision making leads to the best decisions? Probably not.

Studies suggest that, when faced with two options, decision-makers tend to take more extreme positions than they otherwise would. And it's not hard to imagine how these more extreme positions could lead to more extreme reactions  and levels of abuse. Which is exactly what Jensen Byrne wrote about experiencing during the Irish referendum on marriage equality in 2015. Ireland ultimately voted "yes" but, as noted by Byrne, the "victory was hard-fought and painful to those on both sides of the debate ... [it was also incredibly] divisive". This is what Adam fears. "One of my main concerns," he said, "is that this will provide an opportunity for hate groups to voice their opinions for all to hear." Opinions, it's worth noting, that are often ill informed, bigoted and potentially very harmful. It may also force those young people who're still unsure about their sexuality to rush a decision, or perhaps feel pressured into taking a more extreme position. Many experts in recent times, however, have argued sexuality is far from a binary construct. Michele, to whom I referred earlier, gradually grew to be a more confident and mature young adult. He is, however, very concerned for those who, like him, took some time to understand their own sexuality. "How would you feel," he asks "if the nation was voting to decide whether you had the legal right to marry the person you loved? How is it their decision?"

Consider that more than 50 per cent of those who identify as gay or lesbian hide their sexuality due to fear of abuse or violence. It's pretty safe to say that this won't be helped in any way by a "debate" that "forces" people to take more extreme views. It's also pretty safe to say that this will have an even greater impact on the mental health of those directly experiencing this than it's already having. Consider the following research findings. In 2010, a Columbia University School of Public Health study examining the effects of institutional discrimination on the psychiatric health of LGBTI individuals found an increase in psychiatric disorders, including a more than doubling of anxiety disorders, among the LGBTI population living in states with bans on same-sex marriage In December 2011, the Australian Psychological Society called for marriage equality for those in same-sex relationships, on health and wellbeing grounds. The unanimous decision was based on psychological evidence showing the mental health benefits of marriage, and the harm caused by social exclusion and discrimination arising from not having the choice to marry.
Trump then fell spectacularly into an own goal for Hillary and her fact checkers, yelling that the 68-year-old has been "fighting ISIS her entire adult life." Erm... 2. Taxes Clinton's owning of Trump often came in the form of clever baiting, laying the trap and just waiting for Trump to stumble into it. Like when she expertly brought up his poor tax record. Not only did she manage to deflect attention away from her own email scandal, she got Trump to basically admit that he doesn't pay his taxes. And that he's proud of himself for that.

3. Financial crisis Likewise, she laid the trap for Trump when she accused him of "rooting for the housing crisis." His response? "That's called business." Umm Donald, I think some folks out there might disagree on that point. 4. Race On the topic of racism, Donald Trump performed an excellent demonstration everything that is wrong with American race relations by jumping straight to the issue of crime. Not on the fact that black Americans are targeted by law enforcement, but on his desire to continue to do so.

Defending the controversial "stop-and-frisk" police largely considered to be a vehicle for racial profiling and harassment, Trump suggested Clinton is afraid of uttering the words "law and order", and that the biggest race relations issue America faces is in fact crime within black and Hispanic communities: "African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell. You walk down the street you get shot we have to stop the violence and bring back law and order." In contrast to Trump, Clinton was actually willing to acknowledge the existence of racism, saying "I think implicit bias is a problem for everyone in society." And with the call of the night, when moderator Lester Holt asked her for a response to Trump she told him "just listen to what you heard." Goes for the whole debate, really. 5. Preparation

When Trump tried to own Clinton by criticising her for preparing for the debate, rather than winging it on the seat of her pants as he was clearly trying to do. Boom. 6. Personality When Trump owned himself with the biggest joke of the night, claiming: "My greatest asset is my temperament. I have a winning temperament."

No words necessary, except: "OK..." and a little dance of laughter. 7. Health When Holt pressed Trump on his comments about Clinton lacking the "presidential look", he tried to flip the issue to her "stamina", saying: "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina... to be president of this country you need tremendous stamina." Hillary's response: "As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."

She then ran hard with the opportunity to talk about Trump's vile sexism, an issue that - judging from the attack ad the Clinton camp released this week featuring nothing but Trump's own words about women - is working for them. "He tried to switch from looks to stamina, but this is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs." Of course, there were some uncomfortable moments for Hillary too. The email server question continues to be a problem for her, although she did a solid job of deflecting criticism back to Trump this time. And questions over her flip-flopping on the TPP were an awkward moment. But overall, she decimated Trump. From the start of the debate until the handshake at the very end.
A teen missing from Noosa has been found safe and well but police are continuing to appeal for help finding a 14-year-old girl who disappeared north of Brisbane.

EARLIER

There are concerns for the welfare of two teens who went missing within hours of each other.

A 14-year-old girl missing has been missing from her family home north of Brisbane for 24 hours.

Police are calling for community help to find the Burpengary girl, last seen about 9.15am Monday at Hedges Avenue.
Footage appearing to be of the bright flash caused by the falling celestial body emerged on Tuesday courtesy of the Department of Transport.

Astronomer Owen Bennedick argued there needed to be funding for observatories to monitor asteroids.

Several experts said an asteroid was likely responsible for the multiple reports of a large bang, a flash in the sky and tremors near Gladstone about 8.30pm on Monday.

Astronomers have raised concerns about the ability to watch for near-Earth asteroids bigger than the one thought to have lit up the central Queensland sky on Monday night.

Astronomer Owen Bennedick from Wappa Falls Observatory said not enough was being done to monitor the thousands of objects orbiting the Earth, hundreds of which were asteroids one kilometre or larger in diameter.

The Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013 was brighter than the sun. Credit:YouTube

"There's not enough research done around the world and not enough observatories or observing time to do it," he said.

Mr Bennedick argued there needed to be funding for observatories to monitor the bodies, an organisation to help coordinate monitoring or amateur astronomers had to pick up the slack.

"It's only when they get a big scare, like when comet Schumacher-Levy hit Jupiter or when the one blew up over Chelyabinsk, everyone sort of runs to the telescope and looks for a while then they get bored and go off and do other things," he said.
Google is celebrating 18 years as a company, and is marking the occasion in the only way the web giant knows how: with a Google doodle.

Today the Google home page features an animation of the logo's capital G contorting a long party balloon into the shape of "oogle", before being dragged skyward by the buoyancy of its own hot air.

The Google Doodle for Tuesday, September 27 2016.

Google celebrates its birthday on September 27, although its not clear what significance that date actually has. The company lists its incorporation date as September 4, 1998.

The first Google Birthday doodle was in 2002, celebrating four years. It was on September 27, although in the proceeding years a birthday doodle was posted on September 8 and September 7. Since 2005 it has always been September 27.
A government primary school in Melbourne's south-east was Chebiwot Kipsaina's first choice for her daughter, six-year-old Malaika.

Close to home and near to public transport, initially at least, it ticked all the boxes.

Chebiwot Kipsaina and her Australian-born daughter Malaika Kisia. Credit:Chris Hopkins

But Malaika would have been the only black African at the school, so during orientation Chebiwot asked the principal how it promoted diversity.

"We have children from Denmark," was his reply.
Authorities have given an atomic wedgie to an online protest against a change to Victorian sexual offences laws which explicitly outlaws mooning.

Victoria Police have moved to shut down the "Moon the Parliament House of Victoria" Facebook event, telling organisers to keep their pants on or "potentially risk criminal charges".

Organisers had set up the protest to show their "disgustment and devistation [sic]" at the Victorian government, which has introduced an amendment to laws covering obscene behaviour in public.

The amendment will separate mooning and streaking from more serious acts of sexual exposure, such as flashing. The move has come as part of a wider update to sexual offences laws.
Police are hunting two alleged muggers who threatened to stab and then headbutted a man after he asked them for the time in Melbourne's CBD.

The attempted armed robbery took place about 11.30pm on September 4, when the 18-year-old victim approached two men and asked them for the time on the corner of Collins and Swanston Street.

An image of two men police would like to speak to. Credit:Victoria Police

Police say one of the men responded by allegedly revealing a knife and threatened to stab the victim unless he handed over his possessions.

"The man then headbutted the victim before the two men walked east up Collins Street," Victoria Police spokesperson Belinda Batty said.
Students at mid-range Victorian state schools receive less government funding than their peers at similarly sized Catholic schools, but more than those at independent schools.

This is the finding of a new report that coincides with the re-emergence of school funding wars, with Federal Education minister Simon Birmingham conceding that some private schools are over-funded.

Students at mid-range state schools receive less funding than their peers at similar Catholic schools. Credit:Eddie Jim

Centre for Policy Development researchers Chris Bonnor and Bernie Shepherd found that students at mid-range Catholic schools in Victoria received 105 per cent of the state and federal government funding that similar state school students received.

The average government funding per student at a mid-range Victorian Catholic school was $9832 in 2014, compared to $9384 for a similar public school student.
You may be forgiven for thinking there is only one story on today, dear reader. And you are right, the world, it seems, awaited the US presidential debate between Democratic Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump with bated breath.

It started at 11am AEST - we are live blogging, live streaming and keeping up with all the news breaking from the clash. Not surprisingly every other news outlet, from political rags to lifestyle and celebrity gossip magazines, is doing the same. So cut through the noise and log back on after lunch to get Paul McGeough's insightful analysis and the best of the coverage on our site.

But there are other important stories in the world.

In Colombia, an agreement signed with a pen made from a bullet today has ended - or so they hope - the 52-year-old conflict between the government and the Marxist FARC guerrillas.

The same cannot, sadly, be said for the war in Syria, where Russia has been aiding the Assad regime in annihilating the rebel-held city of Aleppo, to cries of "barbarism" and "war crimes" from the US, the UN and the UK. It is said that only 30 doctors remain to care for all the injured in clinics that have moved underground but are still being bombed. Russia today complained the criticism is "unacceptable". Tell us what you think.
Out-of-state students and those in UW-Madisons professional schools could soon see another round of tuition increases after Chancellor Rebecca Blank told faculty Monday she plans to ask the universitys governing board in the coming months to raise prices for those students.

Blank also said UW-Madison plans to distribute $9 million in raises and bonuses to its faculty and academic staff in a move aimed in part at shoring up morale among employees.

The chancellor announced the initiatives during her State of the University speech Monday at a meeting of the UW-Madison faculty senate, where she touted the universitys achievements over the past year but acknowledged the challenges it faces in creating a more stable financial base amid declining state funding.

The University of Wisconsin Systems Board of Regents last approved tuition increases for non-resident and professional school students at UW-Madison in the spring of 2015, raising annual tuition by $6,000 over two years for out-of-state undergraduates. Blank had sought a $10,000 increase over four years, but the board scaled back her request.

I went and asked for four years of increases, they gave me two and said, Come back again when two years are up, Blank said. Two years are up in this current year.

Undergraduates from outside Wisconsin and Minnesota pay $32,738 per year to attend UW-Madison, compared to $10,488 for in-state students.

Blank called the tuition costs in UW-Madisons professional schools very low.

I will be back again talking about what we need to make our professional schools competitive with market-based tuition, she said.

In-state students in the UW-Madison law school pay $21,450, while non-residents pay $40,147; in the medical school, Wisconsin residents pay $29,865 per year, while out-of-state tuition is $39,761.

Neither Blank nor a UW-Madison spokesman said how much of an increase the university will seek.

UW System officials are also asking lawmakers to end the tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates in the next state budget. Gov. Scott Walker has said he wants to keep the limit in place through the 2017-18 school year, but has not committed to extending it beyond that.

More tuition revenue

As lawmakers have cut funding for the UW System in recent budgets and limited how much money universities can take in from Wisconsin undergraduates as a result of the freeze, UW-Madison and other campuses have sought greater revenue from professional students and non-residents, who pay higher tuition than their in-state counterparts.

Campus officials have credited the 2015 tuition increase, which they say brought tens of millions more dollars to UW-Madison, for helping reduce the size of the campus budget deficit after lawmakers cut the UW Systems funding by $250 million over two years.

UW-Madison has also sought to enroll more out-of-state students. The Regents last fall granted a request from the flagship campus to eliminate a cap on the number of non-residents who could enter in each freshman class while also enrolling at least 3,600 freshmen from Wisconsin.

Some on campus have raised concerns that the push to attract more out-of-state students, who tend to come from wealthier families, risks making UW-Madison less accessible to low-income students and those from Wisconsin.

Raises for faculty, staff

Blank framed the issue of pay for UW-Madison faculty and staff as a question of how we make sure UW is a place where outstanding people want to be and live and work.

Compensation is No. 1 on my list, Blank said. You know how poorly we look relative to some of our peers in compensation.

She noted that the Board of Regents plans to request across-the-board pay increases for UW employees in December. But, Blank said, It is never popular to go to state legislators and say, Youve got to make pay increases for public employees.

Its a tough sell, she said.

In the meantime, UW-Madison will provide $3.5 million for merit-based faculty raises and another $3.5 million to increase staff pay, along with $2 million for one-time bonuses to reward faculty and staff who performed above expectation, Blank said.

Funding for the raises will come from state dollars, a UW-Madison spokesman said, and they will be distributed over this school year.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to seek a return to the post in next year's election, saying his participation would "polarise" the country.

"I didn't tell him don't run, I said it's not in your own or the country's best interests to run," Khamenei said, according to an audio file of his speech on the website of the semi-official Fars news agency.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly told Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "it's not in your own or the country's best interests to run". Credit:AP

The statement confirms months of media speculation that Ahmadinejad wanted to run but might not win official backing.

It also leaves open the question of who hardline factions will support.
Donald Trump made a fool of himself so many times it wasn't worth counting. He told half-truths and plucked lies out of the air ["I opposed the invasion of Iraq"]. He blurted streams of incomprehensible free association. He raved, interrupted and sniffled like a coke addict.

But here's the thing, as Trump might say. It almost certainly didn't matter.

Not to the Trump army.

He's been raving and lying and making a fool of himself ever since he stood in the marble and glitz foyer of his Manhattan tower on June 16 last year  yes, more than 15 months ago  and declared the American dream was dead but he'd make America great again by building a great, great wall against Mexico's rapists and drug dealers and criminals.
US presidential candidate Donald Trump called the winner of his first Miss Universe pageant a pig and bullied her for gaining weight, Hillary Clinton said during the first US presidential debate.

The former secretary of state used the fiery showdown to focus once again on Mr Trump's appalling record of speaking about women.

Close to the end of the 95-minute televised sparring session, Mrs Clinton reminded the audience the Republican candidate is "a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs".

She then invoked Alicia Machado.
LEARN MORE: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Information Archive 1993-Present

VANCOUVER and INGOLSTADT, Germany, Sept. 26, 2016 - Ballard Power Systems today announced that automotive OEM Audi AG has issued purchase orders to Ballard to accelerate certain key development activities under the current long-term Technology Solutions program that Volkswagen Group has with Ballard.

As announced by Ballard in a February 11, 2015 press release, the current 6-year engineering services contract with Volkswagen Group runs to March 2019, with an optional 2-year extension beyond that date. The contract has an estimated value of C$100-140 million (approximately US$80-112 million at the time of Ballard's press release). The resulting HyMotion program encompasses automotive fuel cell stack development as well as system design support activities.

Volkswagen Group recently transferred responsibility for fuel cell development to its Audi luxury brand, and is also accelerating the timeline for series production. The acceleration in HyMotion program activities is focused on reconfiguration of the current fuel cell stack and acceleration in the development of a next-generation fuel cell stack.

Dr. Petra Hackenberg-Wiedl, head of Fuel Cell Office Audi AG and Volkswagen Group said, "We see our future as including electric powertrains, both battery and fuel cell vehicles."

Randy MacEwen, Ballard President and CEO said, "This acceleration of the HyMotion program confirms Volkswagen Group's commitment to fuel cell technology and its long-term partnership with Ballard. At Ballard, we are fully committed to the consistent delivery of program goals and to the support of Volkswagen Group and Audi as it progresses toward its electrification targets with the world's leading fuel cell stacks."

Dr. Kevin Colbow, Ballard's Vice President  Technology and Product Development added, "Our HyMotion team of engineers and scientists are collaborating closely with Audi's experts and together we are on-track with respect to key technical and financial goals set for the current year."

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
Live From 2016 Paris Motor Show: Hyundai Debuts New Generation Hyundai i30 And RN30 +VIDEO







Live broadcast begins at 9 AM ET, on Thursday, September 29th

LONDON - September 27, 2016: Hyundai will be broadcasting its press conference live at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, and you can watch it all right here on TheAutoChannel.com. The live broadcast allows a wider audience to get insights on the New Generation Hyundai i30 and other new models. Media, fans and enthusiasts around the world can become part of the experience.

One of the highlights of the show will be the New Generation i30. The third generation of the successful i30 delivers great value to everyone: single people, families, young and old. It is a smart and rewarding choice featuring new design, a new range of turbocharged petrol engines, an engaging and dynamic ride, and a comprehensive safety package. Its quality and reliability are guaranteed by the unique, industry-leading 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Alongside the New Generation Hyundai i30, the New i10 and the high-performance Hyundai N Concept RN30 will celebrate their world premieres. Ready for its European launch, the All-New IONIQ is also displayed in all three electrified versions.

The broadcast will start at 9 AM east coast time, 6 AM pacific time. Ahead of the press conference, viewers can look behind the scenes and watch interviews with European executives from Hyundai Motor, previewing the latest news from the brand.
I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm...

2 weeks ago
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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.
Donald Trump continued to stonewall on releasing his tax returns on Monday night, even when asked directly about it on a national stage by presidential debate moderator Lester Holt.

He then gave different conditions for when he would finally publicize his tax returns, leaving confusion about when or if he would finally do so. Every major presidential candidate after Richard Nixon has released his or her tax returns before Election Day.

But Trump continues to use the excuse that he is under an IRS audit in some years to so far avoid releasing any of his returns.

Youre perfectly free to release your taxes during an audit, Holt responded.

Trump continued to obfuscate by saying that he would happily release his tax returns after the audit was complete, but added, look, Ive been under audit for almost 15 years.

The Republican presidential nominee also said that he would release them as soon as Hillary Clinton releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted. As soon as she releases them, I will release, Trump said.

Clinton fired back that she thought Trump did not want to release his tax returns because it would embarrass him in some way.

There is no prohibition on releasing it when youre under audit. So youve got to ask yourself, why wont he release his tax returns? Clinton responded. And I think there may be a couple of reasons. First, maybe hes not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe hes not as charitable as he claims to be or maybe he doesnt want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that hes paid nothing in federal taxes.

Trump responded by boasting about his income, which his taxes would shed considerable light on.

I could give you a list of banks, if that could help you, I would give you a list of banks, these are very fine institutions, very fine banks I have a great company, I have a tremendous income. And the reason I say that is not in a braggadocios way, but because its about time this country had somebody running in it that has an idea about money.
The Daily Show was the first of several late-night shows to go live following Monday nights debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. And host Trevor Noah was eager to weigh in on what will surely be one of the most-watched political events of all time.

Welcome to the real live version of Twitter, people! Noah said after playing a montage of the debates nastiest moments. At that point, Lester Holt wasnt even moderating anymore, he was just eating popcorn like everyone else.

Noah proceeded to hit Trump for claiming Clinton has been fighting ISIS her entire adult life, asking Why not? when Clinton suggested he would blame her for anything, and bragging about not paying his taxes. Im sorry, what? Dude, taxes are a responsibility, not something to evade, Noah said. Youre running to be the No. 1 citizen of a country. You shouldnt brag about ways you found ways to get around the rules.

But nothing made Noah angrier than Trump comparing American airports to those in developing-world countries. Our airports are nicer than yours, Donald Trump, the South African host said. Dont bring third-world countries into this shit, you hear me?

Finally, Noah channeled Trump when he brought up the candidates persistent, audible sniffing throughout the debate. I dont want to start any rumors, but theres a reason I think Trump didnt do well, he said. Im not sure and Im not trying to start rumors, but Trump was sniffing a lot at the debate. And someone needs to look into that. Perhaps, the host suggested, Trump was just sniffing all of the bullshit he was saying.
Donald Trump again defended his so-called birther crusade on Monday night.

I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate, Trump said at the first presidential debate, fending off criticism that his skepticism about the first African-American presidents citizenship, expressed over a period of many years, was motivated by race.

Were talking about racial healing in this segment, moderator Lester Holt reminded Trump, who responded that he says nothing to those who were offended by his birther crusade because he forced the president to produce his long-form birth certificate.

Holt continued to press Trump on why he continued the birther effort even after Obama released it in 2011. As recently as January, Trump expressed doubt that Obama was born in this country.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton called Trumps birtherism a racist lie on which he began his foray into politics, characterizing it as a precursor to his White House bid.

There was absolutely no evidence for it, but he persisted, Clinton said. He persisted year after year because some of his supporterspeople that he was trying to bring into his foldapparently believed it or wanted to believe it.

The Republican presidential nominee also mentioned his recent outreach attempts to the black community as an example of his good relationships with African Americans, despite polling in the single digits among black voters.

As for his years-long push to question the first black presidents country of birth, Trump said he is satisfied because he was successful while Clinton failed to get Obama to disclose his birth certificate.

I think I did a great job and a great service not only for the country, but even for the president, in getting him to produce his birth certificate, Trump repeated.

In response to Trump, Clinton mentioned that he was sued by the Department of Justice in 1973 for discrimination at his apartment buildings.

Trump also claimed that a former Clinton aide, Sidney Blumenthal, was among the first to spread the birther rumor in order to discredit Obama in 2008, an unproven claim Trump has repeatedly made.

In the post-debate spin room, Trump doubled down on the false claim involving Blumenthal and the campaign manager of Clintons 2008 presidential bid, Patti Solis Doyle. Trump claimed Doyle fired a staffer because that individual had started the birther chatter, but Doyle said on CNN after the debateas she has several times previouslythat the junior staffer was fired for forwarding an email claiming that Obama was a Muslim.

The GOP nominee admitted for the first time earlier this month that Obama was born in the United States, period. Clinton called that admission, coming after years of suggestions by Trump that Obama was an illegitimate president, a sickening display.
Make Amerrica Great Again?

Debate-themed menus at the Benjamin Bar & Lounge, the lobby bar of Donald Trumps new Trump International Hotel Washington D.C., spelled the word America wrong.

Specifically, if you ordered the Benjamin beer silver bucket, priced at $100 per person, you would be treated to unlimited Amerrica beer.

Also on the menu? Trump sliders and Hillary hummus, both for $29 bucks a pop.

The error was spotted and posted to Facebook by former Breitbart spokesperson Kurt Bardella, who said he watched the debate at the hotel as a gesture of irony.

In an even more ironic turn, Trump spent a minute of Mondays presidential debate with Hillary Clinton plugging the very hotel where the error was spotted.

To illustrate his claim that there are tens of thousands of people that are unbelievably happy and that love me, Trump mentioned that he was just opening up a new hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, right next to the White House.

Were opening the Old Post Office, Trump said at the debate. Under budget, ahead of schedule, saved tremendous money. Im a year ahead of schedule, and thats what this country should be doing.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, Republican candidate Mitt Romney was widely criticized for misspelling America as Amercia in parts of his campaigns official iPhone app, then misspelling Ronald Reagans last name during a campaign slideshow.
Donald Trump may have a super-healthy testosterone level, as his purported medical stats indicated on Dr. Oz, but in his first-ever debate against Hillary Clinton, she was the more macho candidate.

That was the analysis of Gonzaga University anthropologist David B. Givens, director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies in Spokane, Washington, who watched Mondays debate without regard for the candidates words.

Mr. Trumps ordinarily confident body language looked oddly defensive this evening, rather than offensive, as per his previously bumptious appearances on the media stage, Givens emailed The Daily Beast after the candidates walked offstage. His usually confident, expansive hand gestures, head nods, chin juts, and pugnacious pouts were fewer, replaced by reactively more timid head shakes, diffident lip pouts, and lowered eyebrows. Ordinarily offensive, he was overall defensive this time around. Meanwhile, Sec. Clinton calmly smiled and assuredly made her political points verbally clear. Her body showed no reactivity to Mr. Trumps comments; she was totally (presidentially?) in control.

Givens, who has been analyzing the nonverbal communication of politicians for the past three decades, explained that nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving wordless messages by means of facial expressions, gaze, gestures, postures, and tones of voice. On balance, Clinton seems to have won the first debate, at least on the nonverbal side. This may have been apparent had you turned off the soundand just watched.

Givens added that Trump wasnt all bad.

Nonverbally, at least, he emailed, Mr. Trump managed to control his anger (red face, slashing hand gestures, and overloud voice), but failed to show offense as he defensively shrugged his shoulders, grimaced, and repeatedly shook his head in the second half of his meeting with Sec. Hillary Clinton. While the latter looked confident overall, with her smiles and calm demeanor, the former definitely appeared stressed, uncomfortable, and nonplussed with his vocal interruptions, lip compressions, pursed-mouth expressions, and aversive tongue shows.

With the sound off, never mind the sound on, Trump appeared to be a hot mess.

You may have noticed Mr. Trumps hyperactive body movements as Sec. Clinton ticked off her debate points, Givens emailed. These were uncontrollable on his part, purely visceral reactions, to words he could neither defend nor respond to with thoughtful remarks of his own. So instead, he responded with facial expressions and shoulder elevationsuncertainty shrugsrather than politically thoughtful dialogue.

As for her own verbal monologue, Sec. Clinton enunciated well, and her body-confident body language seemingly backed her up.
Minutes before Tuesday nights presidential debate began, Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate and former New Mexico governor, was shouting at a reporter in a conference room in the basement of Twitters New York City headquarters. Twitter had invited Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, to attend a debate watch party at the social networks Manhattan offices.

Fantasies of getting stoned with Johnson while watching Trump and Clinton face off on stage were dashed when he and Weld arrived and set up shop in a private room.

Johnson, who wore a navy blazer, light blue jeans, and his trademark black Nike sneakers, invited reporters into the inner sanctum for a few minutes before the debate began.

He was instantly irate when a reporter mentioned his now-infamous What is Aleppo? gaffe on MSNBC earlier this month.

Im tired of innocent people being killed in these countries! he cried, speaking broadly at first. Hillary Clinton dots the is and crosses the ts on all of the names and everything associated with this, but as a result we have the foreign policy that we have right now thatI have to tell youI think is horrible. Horrible!

There was an uncomfortably long pause: This was not the warm, affable Johnson we know, the 63-year-old, mountain-climbing triathlete and first major national politician to favor legalizing marijuana. You half expected him to break the silence with a characteristically goofy grinhis own gotcha moment.

Instead, Johnson became more enraged. Certainly this was no act, but he wanted to make a point that hed be just as bullish if the issue came up in a debate.

I would be angry that people would be calling me out on the names of geographic locations, names of foreign leaders when the underlying policy has thousands of people dying! And that is unacceptable. It angers me to no end!

Johnson was on his feet, hovering over a small plate of food that included a single deviled egg and several cauliflower stalks, while Weld sat next to him with one leg crossed over the other. He wore a pinstripe suit and a thin smile, looking at once amused and horrified. Its no secret that the two balance each other out, though Welds calmly authoritative, even aloof demeanor has been deemed more presidential than Johnsons eccentric charm.

When the same reporter pointed out that theres more support for Johnson to be included in the debates than there is for Johnson to be president, the candidate deflected to Clinton and Trumps unpopularity.

That has everything to do with the fact that both of them are vilified! he fired back, beginning to lose the thread of his argument. Sixty percent of Americans view them negatively.

Weld, whose ruddy face now looked pinker than usual, stepped in to clarify and smooth Johnsons rough edges. What the governor meant to say, he explained, was that the Johnson-Weld ticket doesnt have as much support in general because not enough people know about the Libertarian candidates.

If we have 50 percent recognition instead of 30 percent, well go to 25 percent in ballot preference because Gary doesnt seem to have the negatives that the two major-party candidates seem to have, Weld, 71, told reporters.

Indeed, an hour outside of Manhattan at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, the two most disliked presidential candidates in polling history were about to go onstage without Johnson.

As Johnson likes to point out, Ross Perot was polling lower than him, around 8 percent, ahead of the debates in 1992 when he was invited into the ring with George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Johnson was at 8.6 percent two days after the Commission on Presidential Debates ruled him out of the first round, according to RealClearPolitics most recent roundup of national polls. (The fact that Perot was leading the race earlier in the election cycle likely factored into his participation).

After months of hovering around 9 percent (a Pew poll in mid-August found him as high as 10 percent), Johnsons numbers have begun to decline in a slew of more recent polls. Crunching the numbers on Monday, Reason.com linked the drop to a shrinking gap between Trump and Clinton, prompting third-party voters to abandon Johnson in a panicked attempt to thumb the scale in two-party proceedings.

Johnsons Aleppo moment on MSNBCs Morning Joe in early September generated plenty of media buzz, but it didnt move the needle on the polls much. (Johnson subsequently told The Daily Beast he was thinking about an acronym, not the Syrian conflict.)

Morning Joe contributor Mike Barnicle had no choice but to awkwardly inform Johnson on national television that Aleppo was not an acronym but the city at the center of Syrias refugee crisis. Barnicle then went on to defend the candidates ignorance in a Daily Beast column, arguing that neither Trump nor Clinton have been asked about Aleppo recently.

Still, even Johnson thought his Aleppo gaffe might sink his campaign. Appearing on The View a few hours after Morning Joe, he said there was no excuse for ita decidedly more conciliatory tack than the one he took at Mondays debate watch party.

But anti-war, third-party voters have mostly stuck with the candidate who has been consistently non-interventionist, if occasionally slow on the uptakeespecially given the other options: Hillary Clintons pro-military intervention record includes voting for the Iraq War and pushing to bomb Libya, and Trump who can hardly wait to bomb the shit out of ISIS.

The Commission on Presidential Debates mandates that candidates average at least 15 percent in five major national polls to qualify for the debates, and Johnson has argued that he could still make it to the third round. On Monday night, Weld made the case to reporters at Twitters offices that the social-media network could help them get there.

This really is the year of social media, he said. Its not a year where bought-and-paid-for advertising in the last week of the campaign is going to swing the election. Because people will tune that out.

Johnson sounded a negative note once again, remarking that the Clinton campaign is spending $18 million right now to discredit us. Despite his own campaigns strong fundraising, including $5 million in the month of August alone (75 percent of which came from small donations), Johnson stressed that Clinton had spent more money discrediting him than he and Weld will end up using to run their entire campaign.

When the same reporter Johnson shouted at earlier asked him and Weld about being spoiler candidates, drawing votes away from Trump and Clinton (recent polls have shown Johnson pulling slightly more votes from Clinton, in part because of his popularity among libertarian-leaning liberals), Johnson cut her off before she could finish.

Why do you even say that? he asked, shouting again. Were giving people a chance to vote for something [they believe in] as opposed to the lesser of two evils! You want to waste your vote on Hillary or Trump? Go right ahead. Were not spoilers were the first vote!

This time the governor was cut off by one of his aides, who asked for a last question from the small crowd, but Johnson continued antagonizing: So I guess what youre saying is that we should drop out? Is that what youre saying? Is that your editorial here? That we should drop out?

Weld stepped in to pacify the situation once more.

Another way of putting it is that this is a year when voters really have to think for themselves, he said, meaning that educated voters will make the best decision. If they do think for themselves, theyll recognize that Johnson and Weld encompass the broad fiscally conservative but socially liberal sweet spot, representative of roughly 60 percent of the United States, according to Weld. In business terms, thats a pretty good addressable market, so its a question of getting that story out there.

Wed love to be on the stage tonight but, failing that, were very grateful for the chance to tell our story through this medium, Weld concluded with a gracious nod to their hosts that evening.

Down the hall, 50 or so people had gathered in a coffee shop-like setting outfitted with the kind of trendy decor ubiquitous at hip restaurants: filament lightbulbs, tufted brown leather couches, hashtag-shaped marquee lights, and gold-and-black, boudoir-ish wallpaper.

They filled their plates with elegantly displayed comfort food like chicken wings, tomato soup, grilled cheese, and cauliflower mac n cheese.

There was an overwhelming amount of support for Clinton in the crowd. They whooped and cheered her gleeful mocking of Trump, and heckled moderator Lester Holt for allowing the former reality-TV star to talk over the former secretary of Stateand, on several occasions, over Holt himself.

Johnson and Weld, meanwhile, live-tweeted their own frustrations from the other room, with Johnson sounding like the stereotype of a cranky libertartarian. @realDonaldTrump says @Hillary Clinton is the scourge of the earth and vice versa, he wrote, then: Im finding that Im in agreement with both of them at the moment.

He also neatly summarized his policies, like lowering income taxes, ending the war on drugs, and pushing free trade.

The crowd cleared out quickly at the end of the debate, with only one or two guests lingering in hopes of talking to Johnson (one managed to briefly shake his hand). Reporters lingered too, but were told that Johnson was done giving interviews and had had a long day.

Indeed, that much was clear before the debate began.
The cable-news countdown clock on the TV at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps was saying the big debate was 88 minutes away when a report of a man shot came over the scanner.

Lets go! Chief Colin Raeburn said.

Just 20 miles and a whole other reality away from where the Long Island stage was set for the candidates, American greatness in the person of Raeburn and two other BSVAC members hurried to the ambulance outside. Raeburn took the wheel, EMT Jon Shalov hopped into the seat beside him and Deputy Chief Shameika Wright climbed in the back.

When the BSVAC started 28 years ago, it had been an ambulance corps that could not afford an ambulance and its charter members had dashed on foot through Brooklyn carrying their gear. It now has four ambulances, though it can only afford to pay insurance for the one that now sped toward the scene, siren wailing, lights flashing.

In minutes, the BSCAV arrived at a housing project courtyard that was filled with uniformed cops who had responded to the shooting. Wright, who is 29, just a year older than the BSVAC, grabbed her tech bag filled with whatever she might need that was not already in her fanny pack.

Show time, she said.

The accordion legs of the stretcher expanded as Wright and Shalov took it from the back. They wheeled it through the cops and saw that the man shot was in fact a teenage girl. She was on the ground, her head propped up by a friend.

The girl was conscious but frightened nearly to the point of incoherence as Wright helped ease her onto the stretcher and hoisted her into the back of the ambulance. A uniformed cop joined them. Wright was beside the girl, speaking gently.

Where you shot, sweetie? Wright asked.

The girl mumbled something about her legs and her stomach. Wright and Shalov checked her vital signs and began inspecting her for gunshot wounds as Raeburn sped toward Woodhull Medical Center, lights and siren going again.

Im going to have to cut your pants, Wright told the girl.

Wright and Shalov checked her legs, the left and then the right.

Whats your name? Wright asked.

Princess, the girl said.

How old are you?

Sixteen.

When were you born?

August 30th.

What year?

2000.

The girl said she was having problems breathing, but it seemed it might be more from fear than injury.

Were going to put you on oxygen, sweetie, Wright said.

The girl appeared to breathe easier with the aid of an oxygen mask attached to a portable tank. Wright and Shalov had yet to find a bullet wound when the ambulance arrived at the hospital. The girl rolled partly onto her left side.

My stomach hurts, she said. My stomach hurts.

But she had no apparent wound to her abdomen as the BSVAC crew wheeled her from the back of the ambulance through Woodhulls emergency entrance. They turned left toward the signs saying Pediatrics.

The waiting room for the pediatric emergency room was divided into two areas, both packed, a TV mounted on the wall of each, neither tuned to the pre-debate coverage. The BSVAC crew wheeled the girl on through the double doors into the triage area and then turned left into a treatment room.

Whats your name? a nurse asked the girl. Do you know what year it is?

The check for wounds continued and they saw a small hole in her buttock, trickling blood.

Call trauma! a voice called out.

The trauma team responded and called for a sonogram machine to see where the bullet might have gone.

Any parents? Any guardian? a nurse asked. She have a phone?

She has a phone in her bag, somebody said.

Three detectives from the 79th Precinct squad arrived. The BSVAC completed the paperwork and changed the sheet on the stretcher.

At 8:26 p.m., the BSVAC headed back out through the pediatric emergency waiting area. One of the TVs was tuned to a cartoon, the other to Dancing With the Stars. The friend who had cradled the wounded girls head stood by the double doors, on her cell phone.

Princess got shot, she was saying.

The crew arrived back at their base on Green Avenue just as the big debate was about to begin. The 76-year-old founder of the BSVAC, Commander James Rocky Robinson, was at his desk. Also present was his daughter, Deputy Commander Shanida Robinson. The cable news countdown clock on the TV said the debate was just minutes away.

Theyre doing their thing and were doing our thing, the elder Robinson said.

On another wall was a photo of Robinson from decades past, when he was in the Army. He said he had been in an honor guard and had at one point served as a sentinel at the eternal flame that marks President John F. Kennedys grave in Arlington. He recalled a moment when the former first lady and her children visited.

Robinson was out of the army and back in Brooklyn on the day his 7-year-old niece was struck by a car. He dashed to the scene.

I got on my knees and Im hollering, Somebody, please get an ambulance! he remembered.

When an ambulance did arrive, the attendants put the child in the back without administering emergency first aid.

Im pleading crying: Baby please dont die, Robinson recalled. And she died.

Robinson remembered that something came over me and led him to join the citys Emergency Medical Service, where he eventually retired as a captain. While working there, he also founded the BSVAC ambulance corps, along with a fellow medic named Joe Perez in 1988.

Robinson and Perez were quite a sight in those early days. Robinson remembered, Me and Joe came running through the streets of Bed-Stuy with no ambulance, oxygen on our backs, trauma kit in our hands, scanner to our ears. Everybody was laughing excerpt one; the person we got to.

The BSVAC was deemed a point of light by the first President Bush and received accolades from a succession of mayors and governors. Various benefactors donated a total of four ambulances and the BSVAC was first on the scene when two New York City police officers were shot in December of 2014.

BSVAC was also the first there when a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo was hit in the head by a stray round during a pre-dawn West Indian Day celebration in 2015. Wright and Shanida Robinson were just instants away because they had spent the night in their ambulance by the event, anticipating trouble to come. They had called to 43-year-old Carey Gabney as they fought to keep him alive.

Keep breathing! Keep breathing! We got you. Were going to get you to the hospital, man. Just keep breathing!

Wright and Robinsons daughter kept Gabney alive, and he hung on for a week before he finally succumbed to his wound.

I saw his wedding ring, Shanida Robinson would remember. Thats the thing that stood out for me.

But Cuomo never offered even his thanks. And the accolades that did come over the years were seldom accompanied by money. The elder Robinson now keeps the BSVAC going with what he can muster.

With a reverse mortgage on my home and my pension, he said

His reward on Monday night was to hear happy news when his crew returned from aiding the shot 16-year-old named Princess.

Shes stable, Wright reported.

Robison nodded and looked toward the television, where the two candidates were about to step up to their podiums out on Long Island. He offered a pre-debate opinion of Trump as the moment arrived for the big debate.

America is better than that, he said.

Robinson watched the first minutes with the eye of somebody practiced in detecting stress. He noted that Trumps hand was shaking when the candidate picked up a water glass.

Nervous, Robinson said.

Robinson offered an opinion on how Hillary Clinton was doing.

Shes got him on the ropes, he said.

A report of a car accident with injuries came over the scanner and the BCVAC crew was on the way, Raeburn again at the wheel. He had the radio set to the debate, but the words that some 80 million Americans were following were droned out by the siren if you were riding in the back.

Another ambulance had arrived at the scene first and the BSVAC was preparing to head back to the base, no siren going now, the debate audible on the news radio, but only for the moment before the scanner carried the report of an assault with injuries.

The debate was again drowned out by the siren as the ambulance raced to where a 20-year-old man in a grey sweatshirt was on his knees in the street, slumped forward with a significant head wound.

The ritual recommenced and the young man was soon on the stretcher and in the back of the ambulance, seemingly semi-conscious. Wright spoke gently as she wrapped a bandage around the bleeding wound.

I got you, sweetie, she said.

Shalov raised a penlight to check the pupil response.

Can you open your eye, sweetie? Wright asked.

Outside, a witness was telling police that the young man had been attacked on the street. The young mans older bother arrived, out of breath, nearly frantic.

Thats like my child, he told a cop.

The brother climbed into the ambulance and ran a reassuring hand over the young mans chest.

What were you doing out here? the brother asked.

The young man was soon at Kings County Hospital. The BSVAC finished the paperwork and was just heading back when there was a report on the scanner of a 1-year-old child with asthma.

The siren rose over the last of the debate. The BSVAC arrived to find a worried mother in front of her building with a 16-month-old girl in a stroller. Wright crouched down and was checking the child when a cop came up.

Is the baby okay? he asked.

Yes, Wright was glad to report.

Mother, baby, and stroller went in the ambulance. Wright and Shalov prepared a child-sized oxygen mask, but the child resisted it all the way to Interfaith hospital.

In the pediatrics area, a wall-mounted TV was tuned to The Late Show and a debate comedy bit by Stephen Colbert with Rob Lowe playing an undecided voter. Nobody so much as glanced at the screen.

The child had discovered that the oxygen mask coupling could come apart and go back together. She seemed content with her new toy, even giving herself some oxygen on her own while the medics and her mother kept a watchful eye.

A report of a male shot came over the scanner, but the BSVAC specializes in arriving in those first precious moments before anybody else gets there. That time would have passed before they would have been able to depart Interfaith and arrive at the scene.

Shalov finished the paperwork. Wright looked over at the child, who is just starting her life and would not even remember this trip to the hospital on the night of a great debate that could affect the lives of all the children in America, perhaps the world.

Bye, precious, Wright said. Bye, beautiful.
At times it felt like a comedy act, except, with the stakes now apparent and tens of millions of Americans tuned in, the act no longer seems funny.

On Monday evening at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton met for the first time on the debate stage for a surreal 90 minutes of nonstop bickering, mocking, and shaming one another.

The routine went something like this:

Clinton would begin to speak, and she would inevitablyand gleefullycriticize Trump. He would interject a comment, often for comedic effect.

By the end of this evening Im going to be blamed for everything thats ever happened, Clinton said, smiling, at one point.

Trump leaned into his microphone. Why not? he said.

Clinton laughed. Just join the debate by saying more crazy things!

She would continue, and he would talk over her again, moderator Lester Holt would remind him who had the floor while Trump talked over him.

Rinse and repeat.

The night began with Clinton crossing the midway of the stage into Trump territory, dressed in a cherry red pantsuit, to shake his hand. How are you, Donald? she said.

It would be the last cordial word of the evening.

She dismissively called Trump Donald while he sarcastically referred to her as Secretary Clinton.

In all fairness to Secretary Clintonis that OK? he asked her when he spoke to her for the first time. Good, he said, I want you to be very happy.

And she was.

Because Trump supporters that were hoping for a cool, calm, collected leader had to be pouring themselves stiff drinks about 15 minutes in.

There was ample evidence before Monday night that Trump does not take criticism well, but the debate stageand the absence of an audience to play offunderscored his lack of self-restraint in devastating fashion.

The Trump who performed was a haphazard mix of rally Trump, primary debate Trump, and Twitter Trumpwith a few minor guest appearances early in the night from Teleprompter Trump, the version of the Republican nominee whos been semi-trained by his professional strategists and handlers.

One of his most measured moments came early in the debate when he challenged Clinton on her record on trade and the economy. Hillary, Id just ask you this. You've been doing this for 30 years. Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now? he said.

For 30 years, youve been doing it, and now youre just starting to think of solutions.

When she started to defend her record, Trump needled her for her support of the North American Free Trade Agreement signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

You go to New England, you go to Ohio, Pennsylvania, you go anywhere you want, Secretary Clinton, and you will see devastation where manufacturing is down 30, 40, sometimes 50 percent, he said, echoing the message that has been so effective for him on the campaign trail. NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, but certainly ever signed in this country.

He then hit her for flip-flopping on the Trans Pacific Partnershipwhich Clinton supported as a member of the Obama administration, once calling it the gold standard of trade deals and then deciding against it entirely as she ran for president.

But, then, Teleprompter Trump took a breather for the rest of the debate.

Over and over againon cybersecurity, on ISIS, on raceTrump seemed to get lost in his own explanations, coincidentally a judgment often lobbed at Clinton as proof of her inherent dishonesty and untrustworthiness.

When Trump was asked by Holt to explain why he refused to release his tax returns, Trump first said he was being audited, then said he would release them if Clinton released her 33,000 emails that have been deleted. As soon as she releases them, I will release.

Clinton offered her own theories for why hes kept them under wraps: Hes not that rich, hes not very charitable, hes got something to hide.

Trump responded, in an exasperated tone, by bragging about his income, which remains impossible to verify without those returns.

But it was during his explanation of his early support for the Iraq War that he came unglued altogether.

I did not support the war in Iraq, he said, falsely. That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her because she frankly I think the best person in her campaign is mainstream media.

And then they did an article in a major magazine, shortly after the war started, I think in 04, but they did an article which had me totally against the war in Iraq. And one of your compatriots said, you know, whether it was before or right after, Trump was definitelybecause if you read this article, theres no doubt, Trump said, referring to an Esquire feature that came out in August 2004. The Iraq War began in March 2003.

Holt interjected, referring to Trumps statement in 2002, on Howard Sterns radio show.

Are you for invading Iraq? Stern asked.

Yeah, I guess so. You know, I wish the first time it was done correctly, Trump said.

Trump suggested last night that statement wasnt legitimate, but didnt explain why not. I said, he recalled, shrugging his arms wildly, I dont know! Who knows?

It never really got better for Trump.

Clinton started the debate with a look on her face that suggested she was slightly aggravated to be on the same stage as a former reality-television star with no government experience, and whose closest experience to an event like this was, before last year, Wrestlemania.

But by halfway through, Clinton couldnt have appeared more satisfied. As he fumbled through his answers, she smirked and beamed. After his Iraq rant concluded, she did a little celebration dance with her shoulders that was quickly turned into a GIF on social media.

And you could hardly blame her for her glee.

He bungled attacks on her record as secretary of State, her emails, the Clinton Foundation, and her use of the words super predator to describe criminals among young black men in the 1990sa mistake for which shes apologized. He never mentioned the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, despite having a survivor of it in the audience as his guest.

Instead, during a conversation about racial issues in the U.S., he bragged about successfully getting President Obama to release his birth certificatewhich many people considered to be motivated by race.

Ive done a great job and a great service not only for the country, and for the president, in getting him to produce his birth certificate, he said.

Near the end of the night, Clinton calmly but menacingly broached the subject of Trumps impolite words about women. This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs, and dogs, she said. And someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women dont deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men.

Trump couldnt resist the bait, and responded at lengthmaking things much worse.

Rosie ODonnell, I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her, Trump replied.

In the spin room after the debate, a designated area where the candidates surrogates spin, or lie, to the media in an attempt to persuade them that their side won as soon as the debate is over, Trump made an unusual appearance.

Its common practice for candidates to attend the spin room during the primary, but virtually unheard of during the general election. A generous interpretation of this decision is that Trump is not the kind of politician to turn down a roomful of cameras, or an opportunity to call his opponent a loser. A more realistic one may be that Trump knew he lost, and needed to save face.

With an entourage of his wife Melania, his children, his campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, and his press secretary Hope Hicks, Trump walked into a large pen formed by metal barriers and did a loop, talking to the cameras before disappearing out a side entrance.

He had actually been very restrained on stage, Trump said of himself, because he had planned to mention Monica Lewinsky as a way of humiliating Clinton, but chose not to out of respect for Bill and Hillarys daughter, Chelsea, who was in the room.

Teleprompter Trump, in other words, is officially dead.
Few (if any, really) of Hillary Clintons celebrity surrogates are as personally acquainted with Donald Trumps history of misogyny and denigration as former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.

On early Tuesday afternoon, she appeared on a press call hosted by Team Hillary to discuss, among other things, how Donald Trump and this election have been a really bad dream for me.

Machado, now an actress and activist, pledged on the phone call to do everything she could between now and November 8th to urge her fellow Americans to pull the lever for Hillary and defeat Trump, her one-time beauty-pageant terrorizer.

I'm a real woman," she said. I'm a mother. I'm an activist. I'm here for her.

Machado mentioned how she cried last night when Clinton stuck up for her during the debate, and how grateful and surprised she was. After all, the first time she interacted with a 2016 presidential candidate, Donald Trump forced her to do sit-ups to keep her job.

Clintons team has already made Machados story a highly visible part of her campaign. The former Miss Universe has already stumped for Clinton in Miami late last month, just as Machado became an American citizen and registered to vote.

But two decades before she ever campaigned for Clinton and became the main topic during a televised presidential debate, the former beauty queen was already the target of Trumps public fat-shaming tacticswhich even included being forced to work off her weight at a gym in front of an assembled gallery of reporters.

It all started in 1996, when Machado, representing Venezuela and only 19 years old, won the Miss Universe crown. (It was the same year that Trump bought Miss Universe, Inc., and first assumed his role as executive producer of the annual international pageant.) Machado quickly became the subject of a media frenzy when she she reportedly gained almost 60 pounds during her subsequent reign as Miss Universe.

When Alicia Machado of Venezuela was named Miss Universe nine months ago, no one could accuse her of being the size of the universe, the 1997 CNN report reads. But as her universe expanded, so did she, putting on nearly 60 pounds. (Years later, Machado would say she actually gained closer to just 15.)

It was then that Trump had invited what CNN called a rowdy pool of reporters to an exclusive gym to look on and snap photos as he trotted out the beauty queen to exercise in front of the cameras. Trump had her do sit-ups, ride a stationary bike, and jump rope for the crowd of photographers.

In recounting the gym incident to the New York Times, Machado said that I was about to cry in that moment with all the cameras there. I said, I dont want to do this, Mr. Trump. He said, I dont care.

Rumors had surfaced that Machado might be forced to relinquish her Miss Universe crown if she didnt slim back down.

We had a choice of termination or do this, Trump said at the time. We wanted to do this... A lot of you folks have weight problems. I hate to tell you.

In the years since, Machado has found herself in the middle of other tabloid-ready controversies, including being accused in 1998 of driving the getaway car from the scene of a shooting. (A Venezuelan judge concluded that there was insufficient evidence to arrest her as a suspected accomplice in the attempted murder.) But the one that she claims has stuck with her the most over the past two decades is the bullying and racism she says she endured from The Donald.

Earlier this year, Machado started making the media rounds, accusing Trump of bigotry. Machado alleged the GOP nominee referred to her as Miss Housekeeping and Miss Piggy during her Miss Universe stint. Trump had also dubbed her "an eating machine" on Howard Stern's radio show.

Machado told Inside Edition in May that Trumps bullying occurred all the time, and claimed that it made her very depressed.

After that episode, I was sick, anorexia and bulimia for five years, she told The New York Times. Over the past 20 years, Ive gone to a lot of psychologists to combat this.

Trump has not denied the allegations of cruel nicknames and bullying. When asked about his tactics and how he pushed her to lose weight, he simply stated, "To that, I will plead guilty.

Trump has for years thought of what he did to her as a show of support and an act of charity.

During Monday nights debate, Clinton shined a spotlight on Trumps treatment of the former Miss Universe, and Trump took the bait.

She has become a US citizen and you can bet she is going to vote this November," Clinton said on-stage, after referencing her story.

The Clinton campaign subsequently tweeted out a video it had shot recently starring Machado as one of Trumps victims.

On Tuesday morning on Fox & Friends, Trump predictably doubled-down on his past jabs at Machados weight.

"She was the winner and, you know, she gained a massive amount of weight and it was a real problemwe had a real problem," Trump said, in defense of his actions. "Not only that, her attitude, and we had a real problem with her, so Hillary went back into the years and she found this girl... and talked about her like she was Mother Teresa.

Ironically, Trump is, himself, overweight. Even his campaign says so.

Earlier this month, a Trump campaign aide told The New York Times that TV personality Dr. Oz had declared Trump slightly overweight, coming in at 236 pounds. Other reports had him weighing in at closer to 267 pounds.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
When the actor Phillip James Brannon wears the shackles that prevent his character, Nat Turnerthe slave who led a rebellion of other slaves in Virginia in 1831from moving, the weight of history is very literally on his shoulders.

The shackles themselves are from the same period, and Brannon told The Daily Beast he imagines they too may have been worn by a slave, and so their heaviness is both real and symbolic.

Brannons electric, passionate performance in Nathan Alan Daviss Nat Turner in Jerusalem, now at the New York Theatre Workshop, focuses on Turners last night in jail in Jerusalem, Virginia, before he is hanged the next day.

Turner is having a pop-cultural momenthe is not only the subject of this play, but also of Nate Parkers film, The Birth of a Nation.

The second character in Daviss play is Thomas R. Gray (Rowan Vickers), an attorney who represented some of the 41 slaves and five free blacks who were tried in connection to the rebellion led by Turner, which took place in Southampton County, Virginia.

The rebels stopped at 16 houses, killing 12 men, 19 women, and 24 children. As the notes accompanying the plays program make clear, The dead included all those who had ever claimed to own Turner, including his current legal owner, a 10-year-old boy named Putnam Moore.

Gray later secured a copyright for his pamphlet, The Confessions of Nat Turner, as fully and voluntarily made to Thomas R. Gray, and the play imagines him and Turner parrying not just over what happened in the revolt, but also belief, injustice, inequality, and how the story may become Turners legacy, and what the nature of that legacy will be.

As well as Gray, Vickers plays Turners prison guard that night, and their relationship is far thornierthe jailer and the jailed. More graphically violent scenes have been cut from the newest version of the play, which still contains scenes of the guard spitting on Turner.

The staging for Daviss play, by Susan Zeeman Rogers, is spare: a square stage that moves, as Turners last night progresses, down and then back to its original position in the midspace between two banks of seats. The only prison bars are a simple square elevated to near the lighting rigs.

Otherwise the wooden square is Turners jail cell, asthroughout this long nighthe entertains visits from both Gray and his jailer, the latter of whom Turner calls my friend, begging him to be present at the moment of his execution, so he may see a face he knows.

For Davis the playwright and the plays director, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, as well as the cast I spoke to, the contemporary resonances with present-day racial unrest, incidences of police brutality, and the resistance and activism of Black Lives Matter are inescapable and welcome.

Brannon sees Turner as a revolutionary, whose spirit he aims to inhabit so completely he sees the role as one of invocation. He has had a long-standing historical interest in Turnerencouraged by his history-loving fatherand has suffered hate and discrimination in his own life.

His Turner is motivated by and directed by God, he speaks plain truth about injustice. He also feels empathy for his jailer, and fears a lonely death. He is absolutely resistant to Grays overtures to rewrite what happened during the slaves rebellion, and why it happened.

Of the shackles, Sandberg-Zakian and Brannon both note the sensitivity of the cast and crew around Brannon wearing them. There was a period of silence as he put them on and took them off every day during rehearsals, said the director, noting that although this is acting, there was discomfort watching Brannon doing this around them, a cast and crew who were predominantly white.

Brannon, while appreciating their sensitivity and approach, laughed that after a certain point he just wanted to get on with the job of portraying Turner as convincingly as possible. Vickers said he tried not to spit directly on Brannons face when that moment is required.

Vickers, who was born in Canada and grew up in Bermuda, went to Southampton to learn more about the rebellion, and the period. It wasnt something he was ever taught about in school, and judging from what other friends had told him, he said, Turners story for many seems to be not that well-known.

He walked in the forest where Turner hid from the authorities, and noted the silence of the countrysideof course, it was more loaded for him, he accepts, given the project he is involved in, but still the locale seemed fraught with significance.

The play comes with a detailed note, explaining the historical background of the story: The plays one flaw is that it doesnt contain enough of that information. It assumes we know the Turner story too well.

Of course, we know the day after witnessing Turners long, dark night of the soul he was killed. We also know the almost three centuries of racial injustice that have followed it: The through-line from Nat Turner to the deathsand consequences flowing from those deathsof Freddie Gray and Keith Lamont Scott, and the many other instances of racism and racial inequality in our world today, is all too clear. Brannon notes that, sadly, racial injustice will continue many years after this play.

What stays with you, after Brannons incredible performance, is Turners pin-sharp articulated anger and passion. He is not a victim or sonorous martyr. He is furious and unapologetic, while also eliciting grace and intimacy from Gray and his jailer.

He does not prophecy what will follow his death, but his indignation and fighting spirit flows to our age through one of the plays major symbolswater, its currents, its power, and its ceaselessness through time.

The staging of Nat Turner in Jerusalem may be simple, but its message and resonance are complex and stark. It is far from surprising that, as Brannon told me, he needs a couple of hours to unwind to return to his own body and mind after the performance.

That and a shot of whiskey, he said.

Nat Turner in Jerusalem is at New York Theatre Workshop until Oct. 16. Book tickets here.
Troops based at the Pentagon watched Mondays presidential debateand grimaced. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump discussed the final days of the war in Iraq, the self-proclaimed Islamic State, and NATO in largely simplified terms. But in the hallways of the Pentagon, those black-and-white depictions didnt match the thorny global security issues as they saw themfar more complex and in the grey.

And when the candidates werent mangling issues, they planted themselves in fantasy worlds.

Take Trumps assertion that his temperament was best suited for the job. That really captured the militarys attention, particularly at the Pentagon, which is filled with commanders who rose through the ranks, in part, because of their perceived temperament on the battlefield.

I cant believe he said he had the right temperament to be president while yelling. Ive seen better in basic training, a soldier concluded.

And with that, the one Washington institution that was supposed to be insulated from the 2016 election threw itself into the fray, all through personal experiences and recollections.

Trumps suggestion Monday that the U.S. should have snatched Iraqi oil after the 2003 invasion had eyes popping in the Pentagon. So many currently serving here were deployed to Iraq in the early days of the invasion, and remember their orders at that time. Many noted that the U.S. had said it went to Iraq to spread democracy, not steal oil.

Remember when people were mad at us for protecting the Ministry of Oil [in the early days of the war] because they said were there for the oil? Now we should have stolen it? one colonel noted.

Then there was Trumps ongoing embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putineven as the U.S. and Russia are battling each other in Syria through local proxy forces. Relations are increasingly tense between the two states amid failed ceasefires and growing distrust.

On the cyber, as Trump referred to cybersecurity Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate offered a rambling answer, saying that a 400-pound individual might have hacked Democratic Partyand not Russian operations, as the U.S. intelligence community has concluded.

Trumps response elicited a silent shaking of the head from one commander who works cybersecurity.

Other concerns from the troops were more subtle. Trump assailed Clinton and President Obama for withdrawing all remaining U.S. troops in Iraq at the end of the 2011, as part of a status of forces agreement between the U.S. and Iraq. Trump said it was foolhardy for Obama to announce the withdraw date and that is led to subsequent disaster.

Meanwhile, Clinton noted that President Bush, not Obama, said set the withdrawal date and the terms. And she noted that the Iraqis would not give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution, making signing another SOFA, and keeping troops in Iraq, impossible.

But many who served, and remember the tense weeks both before the first SOFA and in the lead up to the withdrawal two years later, said both candidates left out key details. It was Bush who set the terms of the 2011 withdrawalincluding the announced withdrawal date.

For her part, Clinton never mentioned that SOFAs can always be renegotiatedand frequently are. And while then-Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would not give U.S. personnel immunity, which the administration said ended SOFA talks, there are other ways to protect troops, like diplomatic notesagreements between states that promise immunity. The Obama administration secured such a note in 2014 to send U.S. troops and advisers back into Iraq to confront ISIS.

How the hell else would we have 5,000 troops there now? one exasperated Army commander asked when he as he and his colleagues debated the debate, citing the diplomatic note. The withdrawal date was imbued with politics. We left when we did so the president could say he ended the war by the 2012 election.

We are the last people to propose announcing a withdrawal date, he continued.

In other words: both Bush and Obama played a role in the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. At least that is how the commanders remember it.

Some in the military were annoyed by how the candidates described solutions for current security threats, like ISIS.

In her anti-ISIS strategy, Clinton said she would do everything possible to take out their leadership, noting the U.S. has taken out much of al Qaedas leadership. She stressed that she would target Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. But to some in the Pentagon, which is filled with drone operators, pilots and ground commanders who in the last 13 years have killed too many jihadi leaders to count, the approach sounded anachronistic.

The military no longer talks about how a key leader, or even a major battle, will end a jihadi movement but rather how, whoever is killed, the virtual caliphate will still pose a threat. Therefore, rather than just kill leaders, defeating ISIS demands political solutions on the ground.

What we're really addressing now is what has to be done to disrupt the physical caliphate and bring defeat to the physical caliphate, which of course, is only half of the job, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during a July briefing.

At one point, Trump told Clinton that she had been fighting ISIS your entire adult life, even though the terror group has been around formally for only three years. Perhaps the charge that ISIS has been around for decades stung worst for commanders who has been confronting jihadi terrorism longer, and more directly, than Clinton has.

Sometimes it feels like a lifetime, one Army colonel dryly replied to Trumps charge.

Clinton also said that were hoping that within the year well be able to push ISIS out of Iraq and then, you know, really squeeze them in Syria. But no major leader in the Pentagon has been that publicly optimistic. Moreover, privately many dont believe the U.S. can determine that, but rather the Iraqi government and military. At best, they hope a substantially weaker ISIS will exist in Iraq but no one is willing to say Iraq will be free of ISIS.

The defeat of ISIS is not up to us. It is up to the Iraqis, one commander explained. And by the way, we are going after Baghdadi now. We are not waiting.

Trump also had his own unconventional ideas about defeating ISIS. Trump, for example, said that sales from illegal oil sales in Iraq allowed ISIS to expand. The illegal sale of oil has never been the sole source of revenue for ISIS. Instead the terror group has depended on taxing residents in the cities they capture and theft for revenue.

At their financial peak, analysts at the RAND Corporation concluded that ISIS collected $875 million in 2014 from extortion and taxes, compared to $100 million in oil sales. Robbing banks garnered another $500 million, RAND concluded.

In February 2015, the Pentagon declared that oil is no longer the main source of ISIS revenue, pushing the terror group toward extortion. Since then, the U.S. military has aggressively attacked ISISs oil revenue sources, attacking cities from which they stole oil and stopping trucks from carrying that oil out.

And while Trump said it is largely because of what I was saying and my criticism of NATO that the alliance formed a counterterrorism unit earlier this year, the military, which worked with its NATO partners after every major European attack and in the war against ISIS, remembered it differently.

NATO formed its counter terrorism unit because of the attacks on Paris and Brussels, and the need to coordinate across European borders and American partners, not because of Trump, they said.

That was a decision that was taken a long time ago but is implemented now, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Foreign Policy earlier this month, in response to Trumps claims.

The result Tuesday was, despite Dunfords repeated attempts to keep the election out of what is supposed to be an apolitical military, the debate pushed politics to the fore.

On Tuesday morning, as troops gathered to talk amongst colleagues, some talked about urging family members to change their votes for one of the candidates. Some argued about who won the debate. Still others wondered how many of the politically-appointed civilian leaders at the Pentagon will still be at the building after the election. And who will replace them?

Most of all, the chatter around the building was about planning for what could happen after the election.

Regardless of who wins, the next four years is gonna be like an Iraq deployment. Nothing will get better. We just have to get through it, an Army commander concluded.
Playboy magazine has just featured an article about a hijab-wearing Muslim-American, Noor Taguri, making a forceful case for modesty.

Yes. You read that correctly.

In its October Renegades issue, Playboy is showcasing a religious-conservative practice as emblematic of an independent woman.

White religious-conservatism is not often celebrated or glamorized by American liberals and progressives, it is derided. But switch up white Amish or Catholic notions of modesty with brown Muslim ones, take a fashion shoot complete with a graffiti-ridden backdrop, and presto: brown religious-conservative attitudes about hiding the female form in the name of modesty become progressive.

To be fair, many Islamists and Muslim fundamentalists advocate a much stricter form of hijab and modesty, which one presumes would not countenance photo shoots for Playboy. And I applaud anyone who trolls the Muslim religious-police mindset.

So, well done there Noor Taguri! I know you will be criticized by our own fundamentalists, and I stand with you wholeheartedly against those female-obsessed Quran-thumpers. Certainly what you represent is a step forward from the austere Saudi form of hijab that includes the full-face veil, and bans on women driving.

But, it is also a step backward from the progressive feminism many Muslim women enjoyed in the 1980s. That was before theocratic Islamism and Muslim fundamentalism began competing over who is Muslim enough. Now, they punish those who dare to bare too much flesh.

No debate around this issue is complete without solemnly recalling this reverse trajectory for the rights of Muslim women.

In the West, the hijab should be a choice that faces the same liberal scrutiny that all other religious-conservative choices face, which it currently doesnt.

Globally, though, it is not a choice.

Millions of girls are forced to be modest by wearing the hijab. Of course women should be left to choose what to wear, but it has only ever been male Quran exegetes who have told women that covering up equates to modesty.

As such, the hijab is enforced by law over female populations in theocratic Muslim states.

This is why the Catholic nuns habit is no comparison. No state in the world enforces the Catholic habit over all women then punishes them for not complying. And rarely would a nun be glamorized by American liberals, or by Playboy(!), as a symbol of female emancipation.

This need not be a zero sum game. Progressive liberals can simultaneously defend the legal right to wear a hijab, while disputing whether it is right to wear one.

As a reforming secular liberal Muslim, I do not endorse the gender-discriminatory body-shaming and moralizing of the hijab. I will fight fiercely to protect anyones right to wear this medieval flag of female chastity, but that doesnt mean I think the wearer is right to do so. Let us not ban the hijab, but let us not glamorize it either. I prefer leaving that to religious conservatives who are fixated on nudity, modesty, and female honor. This is a conservative, not liberal, view of the human body. Such illiberal, regressive-left promotion of religious conservativismonly for Muslims mind youis nothing short of exoticized Orientalism rehashed.

The assumption made by some liberals is that the authentic Muslim woman is the hijab-wearing one, while non-hijabis are seen as Westernized, inauthentic Muslims. Likewise, the religious-conservative Muslim assumption equates concealing the female form to modesty, as if a woman who shows her hair or reveals her figure is somehow immodest.

This is a not-so-subtle form of bigotry against the female form, and it has real consequences, including rising social-conservative attitudes across Muslim communities around gender and sexual freedom. In too many instances across Muslim-majority societies, including those embedded in Europe, this modesty theology has led to slut-shaming of women who do not cover. Worse yet, it can lead to so-called honor killings.

Many non-Muslims simply assume there is only oneconservativeway of being Muslim. But we Muslims are no longer this distant and native other that liberals and conservatives can visit once a year to share a bit of falafel.

We are born and raised among you, and Islam is therefore now firmly native to our societies. So judge us by the same progressive standards you reserve for everyone else. We Muslim reformers have to be able to demand the same progressive rights within our communities that are enjoyed by everyone else. Your intervention and interaction with Muslims intra-religious debate around these issues is not neutral. A civil war is raging within our communities about the future of Islam for Muslims.

Liberal Muslim theologians such as Britains Shaykh Salah al-Ansari, Dr. Usama Hasan, and Pakistans Javaid Ghamidi, argue that the hijab is not a religious duty (fard) at all. And that is how it used to be.

Up until the 1980s, the female body was not shamed out of public view in Muslim-majority societies. But from the 80s onward, theocratic Islamism began replacing Arab socialism as the ideology of resistance against the West. This struggle against the other necessitated defining what is ours and what is theirsand women, of course, were deemed ours.

Suddenly, womens bodies became the red line in a cultural war against the West started by theocratic Islamism. A Not Muslim Enough charade was used to identify true Muslims against Western stooges. Religious dress codes became a crucial marker in these cultural purity stakes. Any uncovered woman was now deemed loose, decadent, and attention seeking. In short, aligned to the Western enemy.

Back to the Playboy shoot: The admirably entrepreneurial Noor Taguri advises younger girls who look up to her to stay fearless and remember that everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.

My advice to Noor is: I hope you do the same, sister. Do look up the late great Egyptian feminist Huda Sharawi who truly stepped out of her comfort zone when, in 1923, she shocked Muslims everywhere by removing her hijab publicly for the first time.

Within months Muslim women the world over were encouraged to shed this gender-discriminatory medieval throwback to modesty. Those were the days when genuine Western progressives supported genuine Muslim feminists.
The plainclothes officer was on Dollarsai Yurghs property with an assault rifle to audit the vote, he said. But the scene looked more like a stickup.

Show me your hands! the officer allegedly yelled, pointing his gun at Yurgh. When he finally left Yurghs property, it was with a warning: If Yurgh tried to vote at his current address, police would arrest him for voter fraud.

Yurgh is a member of the Hmong community in Siskiyou County, California. The rural area could have been a haven for the Hmong people, hundreds of whom settled there as refugees after the Vietnam War, some with their children who were born in the United States. But instead of refuge, the Hmong community says its facing a new kind of discrimination. In a new class action suit, Siskiyous Hmong people say theyre the targets of a massive voter suppression scheme at the hands of a racist sheriffs office that wants to drive them out of town.

Siskiyou County has a Hmong community of approximately 1,000 people, most of whom moved there from Minnesota and elsewhere in California in 2015, to a cold welcome from local officials, attorney Brian Ford told The Daily Beast.

Even outside his rural California county, Siskiyou Sheriff Jon Lopey is a force. Lopey is a loud spokesperson against federal land regulations, a stance that allies him with the Bundy family, and has allegedly made local Native Americans uneasy about driving down Siskiyou County roads alone. Lopey is also member of the so-called Constitutional Sheriffs , a right-wing order that includes notorious sheriff Joe Arpaio, and encourages officers to only enforce laws they believe to be constitutional.

And just before Californias June primary elections, when Lopey was up for reelection, he became focused on allegations of voter fraud. His scrutiny fell on the Hmong people.

I believe some of these Asian Americans were manipulated, perhaps cajoled or coerced into filling out voter registration cards, Lopey told Talking Points Memo in June, adding that a lot of these people havent been here for a long time.

Lopey, who did not return The Daily Beasts request for comment, has told local outlets that accusations of voter suppression are absolutely ludicrous, although his office says it assisted with voter fraud investigations shortly before the election.

But Lopeys anti-fraud strategy looked like a ground invasion, the Hmong communitys lawsuit claims. Local officers would drive to a Hmong home en mass, armed with assault weapons to question the residentsmany of whom are not native English speakerson their voter registration.

The sheriffs taken to wearing this sort of combat gear: big black bulletproof vest, very visible, cargo pants tucked into the boots like if you were in an invading force. The most notable part though are the assault rifles, Ford said, adding that many of his clients still experience deep trauma from fighting in Vietnam and living in war-stricken Laos.

These are people who are very familiar with assault rifles and their destructive force. It instantly triggers that memory of seeing people die, he said. I literally have clients who are afraid to be on their property alone.

These plaintiffs include Joua Chao Moua, who claims he saw officers attempting to enter his home with an assault rifle, causing him to faint and require hospitalization. Another plaintiff, Joua Yeng Vang said that he has been afraid to return to his home since officers allegedly threatened to arrest him if he registered to vote there. A third plaintiff, Wang Chang, fought for the United States in the Vietnam War, and panicked when he saw officers pointing an assault rifle at him; he does not speak English, and thought the men were there to kill him, he claims in the suit.

But officers allegedly targeted Hmong people even outside their homes.

We have reports that there was a checkpoint outside their community where people were being stopped and asked about their voter registration, Lori Shellenberger, voting rights director for the ACLU of California told The Daily Beast. This is the first time Ive seen voter suppression this overt in the five years Ive been working on voting rights in California.

The Hmong communitys standoff with Siskiyou began even before the voter fraud investigations, Ford told The Daily Beast. It started with legal ordinances: new regulations on water hookups and medicinal marijuana plants enacted shortly after the Hmong moved to Siskiyou in 2015.

Before the Hmong residents settled there, Siskiyou County had a relatively permissive policy on medicinal marijuana. But after some Hmong people tried growing the plants on their property, Siskiyou County passed a series of new ordinances, placing strict caps on the number of plants a person could own, and prohibiting would-be farmers from growing weed on their property without a connection to the municipal water system.

This presented a unique problem for the countys new Hmong residents, many of whom were building homes or placing trailers on new, rural lots, where they either provided their own water or had allegedly been rebuffed when they asked the county for water hookups.

Enforcing the new law, police allegedly conducted raids on Hmong homes, leaving the buildings in disarray, or handcuffing residents at gunpoint. When police issued citations, they awarded them almost exclusively to Hmong people, Ford said. During one hearing, a large amount of Hmong people had showed up, about 300 people, he said. The only white people were the judge and attorneys. Visually it became apparent that they were only enforcing against the Hmong people.

Even people who didnt grow marijuana felt unwelcome.

Weve been getting reports and received phone calls from a few water truck companies that their drivers were threatened with felony prosecution if they drove out there, Ford said of the Hmong peoples water supply.

In the countys more populous areas, where voting centers are located, some Siskiyou residents have begun looking out for their Hmong neighbors.

At the ACLUs urging, some 40 Siskiyou County people volunteered to stand outside polling places to watch for any police impropriety. The community really rallied around them, Shellenberger said.

Only in the presence of others did some Hmong people arrive at their polling places. These people came out and voted together, Shellenberger said. But we cant even know how many people didnt vote.

Dollarsai Yurgh and many of his fellow plaintiffs are among this latter group: people who were forced to choose between their rights and the risk of arrest or violence.

They were afraid to leave their houses, Shellenberger said.
Along with the release of Bruce Springsteens first memoir, Born to Run, comes a new compilation album of 18 songs chosen by The Boss himself to act as a companion to his lifes story.

The first five songs on Chapter and VerseBaby I, You Cant Judge a Book by the Cover, Hes Guilty (The Judge Song), The Ballad of Jesse James, and Henry Boyare previously unreleased, with the first two recorded by The Castiles and featuring a teenaged Bruce on guitar and lead vocals.

In honor of Springsteens epic 500-page memoirwhich details everything from his tumultuous relationship with his late father and his brief marriage to a young actress to his struggles with depressionand in the spirit of his never-before-heard material, heres a deep dive into some other songs never officially released by The Boss.

Though these tunes have circulated among bootleg collectors and Springsteen nerds for decades, theyve never been counted among his expansive repertoire. They should be.

Visitation at Fort Horn

Before he found his early-album voice as a narrator of West Side Story-like tales of urban angst, complete with switchblade fights and street racing, Springsteen seemed obsessed with mythologizing the Old West.

Written and recorded in July 1972, Visitation at Fort Horn feels like a treatment of an eerie Christopher Nolan film about a supernatural force besieging a Western military fort and taunting its haughty captain. Over a chord progression reminiscent of Amazing Grace, Springsteen tells of how matters worsen, even after the captains men capture and hang their paranormal prisoner. The theatrical climax sees the captain falling to his knees with the hanging body silhouetted on his door, a raging storm building overhead, realizing to himself: A magician.

The song was recorded solo and planned for inclusion on his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., but CBS executive Clive Davis wanted more radio-ready rock songs, and so Visitation was scrapped and forever left on the cutting-room floor, in favor of last-minute additions Blinded by the Light and Spirit in the Night.

Jazz Musician

Springsteen first recorded Jazz Musician solo on piano during his fateful John Hammond 1972 demo sessionswhich led to his signingand intended to include it on his first album. But like Visitation, it was discarded in favor of full-band tracks that had more potential for radio play.

Just shy of 6 minutes in length, Jazz Musician is sprawling in its verbositya relic of his early periodand its lyrical content is in keeping with the street-punk dramas he so clearly favored. We meet a struggling jazz musician in the smoky Blue Light Lounge, contemplating his successes and failures; and the price of garnering even the slightest hint of fame.

Ultimately, its a shame this was left off the final tracklist for Greetings, as its piano-driven instrumentation strikes a similar feeling to inferior The Angel, which did make the cut.

Two Hearts in True Waltz Time

Its really quite stunning how many great songs were cut from Springsteens debut record alone. Two Hearts in True Waltz Time was recorded multiple times over the course of 1972, during the Greetings sessions, as an acoustic guitar-and-bass Dylanesque folk ballad, but was ultimately discarded.

First recorded during his audition session with John Hammond, Two Hearts seemed to tell the story of an unhappily married woman and her affair with a police officer, with the ballroom crime of two hearts in true waltz time as the theme for their forbidden love. The bass lines at times invoke film noir smokiness, and Springsteens idiosyncratic strumming hinted at the frenetic type of songwriting seen a year later on The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.

Evacuation of the West

Continuing Bruces early obsession with the West, this song, originally titled There Are No Kings in Texas, was recorded in 1973 for The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, but sounds like it wouldve been perfectly at home on Greetings. The funereal, dramatic piano backing and the gradual introduction of drums and organs is undeniably similar to first-album stunner Lost in the Flood, right down to the gunslinging protagonists who go to war with the law.

Although it didnt make the cut for Bruces jazz-folk opus of a second album, it was considered for release in 1997 as part of the massive Tracks compilation. But no such luck.

Song for Orphans

If you were lucky enough to be in attendance for Springsteens Trenton stop on the 2005 Devils & Dust tour, youd have heard this song in some official capacity. Otherwise, its been largely relegated to legend among only the geekiest fans.

Springsteen often opened shows during the Greetings album tour with this track, accompanied only by a haunting accordion, and he included it in 1974 among an early list of 10 songs he planned to include on what eventually became his third and arguably most famous album, Born to Run.

A year later, it was gone. And the legendary Born to Run went a decidedly more operatic route.

The Klansman

Recording during the 1983 lead-up to Born in the U.S.A., The Klansman was written from the perspective of a conflicted young boy witnessing the Ku Klux Klans seductive racism take hold in his working-class town.

I was 10 years old when my Pa said, Son, some day you will see / When you grow to wear the robes like your brother and me / When the war between the races leaves us in a fiery dream / Itll be a Klansman who will wipe this country clean / This, son, is my dream, he sang over a frighteningly stark guitar-and-drum-synth track recorded solo in his L.A. home.

Thirty years later, the song seems oddly prescient as a new brand of racism, in the form of Donald Trumps alt-right fans, creeps into our national political discourse.

The Train Song

Far and away the oldest song of the bunch, Train Song was recorded in 1970 with Springsteens band Steel Mill. Its a strikingly country-folk song, likely as a way for the band to show its versatility when it hadup until thenonly played swampy barroom rock n roll.

The stompy piano-and-guitar saloon tune seemingly tells the story of a man on a long train ride, itching to get back to his pretty little woman, only for the floor to drop out when Springsteen reveals hes a convict anxiously awaiting his chance to go waltzing arm-in-arm with my darling electric chair.

As such, the gorgeous song is an important signpost along the road to developing one of Springsteens key lyrical tools: the punchline.
Weve heard just about every hangover remedy in the book, from the age-old advice to drink a glass of water and take two aspirin before bed, to recommendations for the boozy hair of the dog. But what if a hangover could be avoided altogether?

According to Professor David Nutt of the Imperial College London, hangovers will be gone by 2050 thanks to a synthetic he patented known as Alcosynth.

It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin. Theyll dispense the Alcosynth into your cocktail and then youll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart, he told The Independent.

Formerly a member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, neuropsychopharmacologist professor Nutt has reportedly patented close to 90 different Alcosynth compounds. Two are undergoing testing for widespread use.

Nutt asserts that the past few decades have led to greater understanding of the brain science of alcohol, allowing scientists to create non-toxic substitutes that will replicate the positive effects of alcohol while avoiding the not-so-pleasant consequences.

This isnt the first time claims of a side-effect-free alcoholic substance have been publicized.

Earlier this year, a piece in The Pyongyang Times claimed that Koryo Liquor, a ginseng-based beverage from North Korea, causes no hangover.

Hangover-free alcohol substitutes are kind of like the holy grail, Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told The Daily Beast. He added that while Dr. David Nutt is a very well-respected researcher, his reaction to Alcosynth is a bit of skepticism.

Koob said that he is unaware of any drugs that dont produce an opposite effect later on; it may substitute for some of the effects of alcohol, but whenever the brain sees a drug that changes something, the brain reacts to that.

The idea of a hangover-free alcohol substitute challenges his long-held belief that theres no free ride in the brain.

A hangover is like a mini withdrawal syndrome, Koob said. The idea that you could take any drug, including Alcosynth, with no afterburn or reaction to that perturbation seems unlikely.

On the other hand, Alcosynth may prove to be a useful compound for treating alcoholism and alcohol dependence, Koob argued.

If Alcosynth could successfully manipulate the neurotransmitter GABAone of the compounds responsible for the sensations we associate with being drunkwithout harming other parts of the body, this would mean that the compound could simulate many of the sensory aspects of being intoxicated without other negative physiological effects.

If this is true, Alcosynth could prove very useful for the treatment of alcohol disorders in the long term, Koob said. It may even help people move from excessive drinking to deciding they want to do something about it.

When asked if the promise of a hangover-free alcohol substitute could increase binge-drinking and risky drinking behavior, however, Koob said it was plausible.

There is actually old data to suggest, and part of the lore of treatment of alcohol use, that substitutes like benzodiazepinesone of the substances used to aid alcohol withdrawalcan actually cause increased drinking, like to whet the appetite of someone who is severely dependent.

Further, if Alcosynth impacts subjective intoxication [i.e., the feeling of being drunk] without reducing cognitive impairment, it could leave users quite vulnerable to intoxicated risk taking, says Dr. William R. Corbin, professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and expert on alcohol misuse and related risk behaviors.

Since subjective experiences of intoxication recover relatively quickly within a drinking episode, whereas the impact on cognition and behavioral control is prolonged, according to Corbin, this often leaves individuals feeling like they are not intoxicated despite ongoing cognitive impairment that may result in poor decision-making (e.g., drinking and driving) and risk-taking.

In addition, Corbin continued, if Alcosynth reduces the level of rewarding effects, people may simply choose to drink traditional alcoholic drinks or use other drugs that give them the desired effects. This may be particularly true for those at greatest risk.

Corbin highlighted another potential danger of using Alcosynth: interactions with other substances.

We dont know anything about potential interactions with other drugs including traditional alcoholic drinks. If users combine Alcosynth with traditional alcoholic drinks or other drugs, the risks could be considerable.

And alcohol alone isnt responsible for the negative side-effects we associate with being hungover, like that mind-numbing headache and unbearable nausea.

Another contribution to hangovers are what are called congeners. These substances are [basically] anything in alcohol besides alcohol and water, which people do get sensitive to, Koob told The Daily Beast. So if Nutts alternative drinks contain congeners, said Koob, presumably there would be some possible negative effect.

That means that the compounds often responsible for that hangover are also responsible for a lot of the flavor in alcohol, such as whiskey. Vodka, for example has very few of these compounds since it is filtered and distilled repeatedly. So the question is: could an Alcosynth beverage ever have the flavor of a complex Scotch?

Another reason Alcosynth probably wont replace alcohol by 2050? People dont just drink to get drunk, said Nicole Austin, a chemical engineer and the Director of the American Craft Spirits Association.

There are already plenty of ways to consume alcohol today that dont result in a hangover, Austin said. The incentive to choose something thats hangover free is pretty low, unless youre a binge drinker.

Drinking only for the experience of being drunk and not for the rich experience of a fine beverage isnt how Austin would describe most drinkers right now.

Humans have been imbibing alcohol produced by natural fermentation for about as long as we have been humans. I dont anticipate that changing in less than 40 years and its certainly not where the market is headed, she said.

with additional reporting by Noah Rothbaum
Donald Trump pretty much got his wisha presidential debate without a moderator.

But for Lester Holt, the NBC Nightly News anchor chosen to preside over the first of three debates between Trump and Hillary Clinton, Monday nights back-and-forth was truly, as Clinton supporter Mark Cuban quipped in an entirely different context, the Humbling at Hofstra.

While the debate might well have done its job in giving American voters their deepest and most sustained look at the two people who could become leader of the free world, they barely got a look at Holt, who spent his debate in a kind of nightmare limbooccasionally heard, as he struggled mostly unsuccessfully to keep the candidates on time and on point, but never seen.

The Internet Wants to Know What Happened to Lester Holt at the Presidential Debate, read the headline on the Fortune magazine website, which sampled tweets such as this one: Just grabbed some milk from the fridge and sure enough s picture is on the side of the carton.

Meanwhile, The New Yorkers resident satirist, Andy Borowitz, captured the weird and frankly unsettling scenario in a piece headlined CNN LAUNCHES MANHUNT AFTER LESTER HOLT VANISHES FROM DEBATE.

CNN launched an urgent manhunt Monday after Lester Holt, the moderator of the first Presidential debate of the 2016 general election, mysteriously vanished two minutes into the contest, Borowitz reported.

Network officials became concerned after the two Presidential nominees, Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton, were observed shrieking at each other nonstop for ninety seconds without intervention from Holt.

For the 57-year-old Holt, it was supposed to be a crowning moment in a rocket-launched career that unexpectedly achieved escape velocity last year when Brian Williams, the top-rated network news anchor for the better part of a decade, was forced from his throne amid scandal and Holt was suddenly elevated from journeyman television journalist to alpha male of NBCs news division.

This was going to be his golden opportunity to introduce himself to a huuuuge domestic and worldwide audience, and show off his journalistic chops and anchormanic authority as he sharply interrogated the candidates in the service of the planets most powerful democracy.

It was appealing and kind of touching when Holt, who is universally thought of at NBC and elsewhere as a good guy and a thoroughgoing pro, told the elite crowd in the auditorium before the debate formally began, The thud you heard tonight was the sound of my knees buckling when Frank [Fahrenkopf, the Republican co-chairman of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates] said 100 million people would be watching tonight.

Holt then sat down at his desk onstage, introduced Clinton and Trump, and was never seen againuntil the end of the debate, when the candidates shook hands, their family members piled onstage, and the so-called moderator (who also received a handshake from Trump and Clinton) appeared in a wide shot from a great distancea tiny man sitting behind an outsized desk.

Needless to say, the fact that Holt was not an on-screen presence, during what was incessantly touted by cable pundits as the most important presidential debate in the modern history of American politics!, seriously undermined his ability to discipline the proceedings.

Clinton and, much more often, Trump, regularly steamrolled over his attempts to keep them to the two-minute time-limit, move on to another subject, interject questions, or otherwise exercise a modicum of control. Partisans in the audience, usually Trumpkins, also regularly disregarded his pre-debate admonition not to applaud or cheer their particular candidates declarations.

This viewer was left wondering if Holt, or for that matter the candidates, were aware that he was simply a disembodied voice, and not a physical forcea thwarted authority figure more easily ignored than a beleaguered substitute teacher of an unruly, spitball-hurling classroom.

And if Holt was aware of what was going on in the control room, where the commissions director was producing 90-odd minutes of road-blocked television and picking all the camera angles, one wonders how he could have agreed to it.

At least one debate reviewer, however, loved Holts performance: Donald Trump.

I thought Lester did a great job, Trump told CNN. Honestly, I thought he did a great job. I thought they [the questions] were very fair.

Indeed, most of the questions Holt was permitted to ask, however few, were solid and well-formulated. He grilled Trump on his latent birtherism and challenged him on his reasons for not releasing his tax returns, but largely failed in his efforts to keep Trump from filibustering, wandering into a polemical netherworld, andfor the first time in the history of general election debatesmentioning the words Howard Stern (his Iraq War interlocutor) Rosie ODonnell (his long-ago adversary from The View), and Sidney Blumenthal (the Clinton confidant who allegedly, though Blumenthal vehemently denies it, raised the first doubts about Obamas natural-born citizenship).

At one point, while dishing out non-responsive word salad, Trump peevishly interrupted Holt as he tried to enforce some semblance of order.

You asked me a question, Trump chided the ignorable invisible man who may have been somewhere nearby.

It wasnt a good look.

As a corporate culture, the debate commissionwhich was founded in 1988 by the two major parties, a Washington replacement for the nonpartisan and independent League of Women Votershas long been allergic to activist debate moderators.

The commissions longtime executive director, Janet Brown, told CNN on Sunday that the anchors chosen to keep the trains running on time should not be in the business of fact-checking politicians, because how were they to differentiate between big facts and little facts.

When CNNs Candy Crowley leapt in to correct Mitt Romney in President Obamas favor during the 2012 foreign policy debatepronouncing that contrary to the Republican nominees assertion, Obama promptly called the Benghazi attack an act of terrorthe debate commission had a collective aneurysm and has been quietly preaching non-intervention in the years since Crowleys alleged impertinence.

One can only hope that the next three debates reflect a prudent change of heart.
To borrow one of CNNs advertising slogans, the cable outlet decided to go there during Monday nights great debate.

If you depended on that particular news source, as I did, to watch Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump mix it up at Long Islands Hofstra University, you might have gotten the idea that the debates moderator, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, was merely a disembodied voice, posing questions from a kind of nightmare limbooccasionally heard, as he struggled to keep the candidates on time and on point, but never seen.

CNNs nearly 10 million debate viewers could be forgiven for wondering if the Commission on Presidential Debates was responsible for marginalizing their hand-picked moderator by providing camera angles of the candidates but essentially making Holt disappear, except when he introduced Clinton and Trump at the beginning of the event and shook their hands at the end.

Maybe the debate commission was still trying to atone for CNN anchor Candy Crowleys notorious intervention in the 2012 foreign policy debate between Mitt Romney and President Obamawhen Crowley took Obamas side in a dispute over how quickly he had called the Benghazi attack an act of terror.

Indeed, the commissions executive director, Janet Brown, had declared this past Sunday that fact-checking the candidates isnt a moderators job.

And if Holt had hoped to introduce himself and his journalistic chops to a record-breaking domestic and worldwide audience, that hope was pretty much dashed.

Other journalistic outlets, such as the New Yorker and Fortune magazines, apparently had the same impression.

The Internet Wants to Know What Happened to Lester Holt at the Presidential Debate, read the headline on Fortunes web site, which sampled tweets such as this one: Just grabbed some milk from the fridge and sure enough @LesterHoltNBC's picture is on the side of the carton.

Meanwhile, the New Yorkers resident satirist, Andy Borowitz, captured the weird and frankly unsettling scenario in a piece headlined CNN LAUNCHES MANHUNT AFTER LESTER HOLT VANISHES FROM DEBATE.

CNN launched an urgent manhunt Monday after Lester Holt, the moderator of the first Presidential debate of the 2016 general election, mysteriously vanished two minutes into the contest, Borowitz reported.

Network officials became concerned after the two Presidential nominees, Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton, were observed shrieking at each other nonstop for ninety seconds without intervention from Holt.

It turns out that CNN is an outlier in this regard. MSNBC--CNNs fierce rival in the cable TV ratings race for second place to long-dominant Fox Newswas very much in the mainstream when it regularly showed the 57-year-old Holt, large as life, filling TV screens as he sat at his moderators desk and grilled the candidates.

Some criticisms of Holts debate performance--of not stopping Trump from interrupting Clinton multiple times, for examplemay still stand, whether we could see him or not.

But the image of Holt on other networks beside CNN actively taking charge on the occasions that he didmost memorably, challenging Trump on his birtherism obsessiontended to undercut the verdict that Holts authority to discipline the candidates and keep the proceedings moving had been severely undermined, not only for the huuuge viewing audience (at 80.9 million (at time of writing), the most-watched presidential debate in American history) but also for partisans in the hall.

Clearly, the notion that CNNs eccentric debate coverage was representative of Holts performancea premise in my initial review for The Daily Beast that was posted after midnight and later removed from the home pagewas now inoperative.

So how CNN come to make its choices?

My investigation quickly led to the debate coverage decisions of CNN President Jeff Zucker, a famously hands-on news executive who rose from producing NBCs Today show as a 26-year-old phenom, to running NBC Universal, before being ousted in 2010, albeit with a $30 million to $40 million golden parachute, when the cable giant Comcast bought NBC from General Electric.

Apparently Zucker, as is his wont, was in a control room Monday night as his network chose shots from the debate commissions eight pool cameras being operated by ABC News.

Unlike the broadcast and cable outlets I checked with today, which regularly showed Holt at work during the debateABC, CBS, Fox Television, Fox News, Fox Business Network, Univision, and, of course, all of the NBC properties (including MSNBC and Telemundo)CNN stayed with a split screen of Clinton and Trump and never cut to the NBC anchor.

C-SPAN, available in 100 million homes, did the same, but its sister channel C-SPAN 2 (97 million homes) offered viewers a Holt-friendly broadcast.

I asked CNN and Zucker for insight into this odd circumstance, but didnt receive a response.

There are, of course, no shortage of conspiracy theories at NBC surrounding the super-competitive Zucker, who seldom misses an opportunity to give derisive quotes about his former employer along with MSNBC and its talent, although he is said to like Lester Holt and praised his debate moderating job internally at CNN, which has published positive stories about the NBC anchor on its website.

Still, an NBC insider, who asked not to be further identified, told me: "Once again Jeff sacrificed journalism and the interests of the viewing audience at the altar of his own childish grudge against NBC. I guess the CNN staff should just be grateful he didn't cut away to Corey Lewandowski mid-debate"a reference to the former Trump campaign manager, and perhaps Zuckers most controversial hire this election cycle, who is on CNNs payroll as a pundit while also receiving $20,000 a month in severance checks from the Trump campaign.

CNN offered no reply.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed in unusually personal terms during a taboo-breaking first general-election presidential debate on Monday evening, with Clinton accusing Trump of pushing racist lies about President Barack Obamas birthplace, and Trump accusing Clinton of lacking the stamina to be president.

She doesnt have the look. She doesnt have the stamina. I said she doesnt have the stamina. I dont believe she does have the stamina, Trump said, when moderator Lester Holt asked him about a past comment that Clinton lacked a presidential look. You have to be able to negotiate our trade deals . . . I dont believe that Hillary has the stamina.

Clinton responded that she had traveled to 112 countries as secretary of state, and negotiated trade deals and other agreements. If Trump did that, she said, He can talk to me about stamina.

Trump responded that Hillary has experience. But its bad experience.

Clinton also noted that Trump has called women pigs, slobs and dogs.

That was a fitting end to a debate in which Trump repeatedly interrupted both Clinton and moderator Lester Holt, and accused both of misrepresenting his past statements, even though they were often right. The GOP nominee brought a flavor of the rowdy Republican primary into the normally staid world of late-fall debates, with asides, eye-rolls and complaints about the way he had been treated by Clinton, onstage and off.

Its not nice, Trump said at one point, referring to Clintons TV advertising against him. And I dont deserve that.

Clinton seemed thrown off-guard at several moments, at one point letting out a whoo! of apparent surprise, after a Trump attack on her temperament.

Trump and Clinton accused each other of not possessing the proper temperament to be president, with Trump saying Clinton is not being strong enough, and Clinton saying Trump is too easily taunted.

Clinton criticized Trump during the first presidential debate of the general election campaign for saying that U.S. Navy ships should open fire on Iranian boats that had taunted them in the Persian Gulf. She re-used a familiar line from earlier in this campaign: His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. . . . A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have their finger anywhere near the nuclear codes.

That ones getting a little bit old, Trump said,

Its a good one, Clinton said.

Trump had accused Clinton, earlier, for going along with President Obamas foreign policy  criticizing her, in particular, for the nuclear deal with Iran, which he said had empowered Iran to become a major power and U.S. adversary.

We lose on everything, Trump said, striking a theme that he hit a number of times, on subjects ranging from trade to debt to cyber-attacks to military rivalries.

Trump criticized the NATO military alliance during the first presidential debate of the general election campaign, repeating a charge that the U.S. allies in that alliance were not paying enough for the defense that the U.S. provides.

The 28 countries in NATO, many of them arent paying their fair share. And that bothers me, Trump said. When he made similar comments, weeks earlier, Trump was criticized for undermining the Wests primary military alliance.

Trump later got into a brief argument with Holt about the Iraq War, which Holt had said he supported just before it began.

I did not support the war in Iraq. That is a mainstream media nonsense, Trump said. Wait a minute. I was against the war in Iraq. Just so you put it out.

The record does not show that, Holt said.

The record shows that Im right, Trump said. He downplayed a 2002 interview with radio host Howard Stern, in which Trump had said he supported the war before it began. I said,very lightly, I dont know, maybe, who knows.

In another part of the debate, the candidates discussed cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee, which revealed internal emails embarrassing to Democrat Hillary Clinton.

I dont think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She says Russia, Russia, Russia, Trump said. It could also be somebody sitting on their bed, that weighs 400 pounds.

Trump has been accused of being too friendly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The stakes Monday could hardly have been higher for both candidates. A new Washington Post-poll released Sunday shows likely voters split nationally 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.

With barely six weeks remaining until Election Day, Clintons camp  after a prolonged focus on trashing Trump  saw the debate as a chance for her to present what she actually hopes to accomplish as president and to ease voters deep concerns about her likability and trustworthiness.

For Trump, his first one-on-one presidential debate offered an opportunity to demonstrate a command of the issues and to persuade voters clamoring for change that he is a credible alternative, his advisers say.
September 24th was an extremely important day: the opening day of the 17th CITES Congress, where Government representatives meet to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival.

It was also the day that I was to join top conservationists and event organiser Action for Elephants UK, as we were to 'March On Downing Street' in the name of banning the UK and world trade in antique ivory.

Experts working closely with elephants and rhinos have informed me directly that these iconic animals have just seven to ten years to extinction if they continue to be poached at the current rate. Some 90-100 elephants are killed a day, and about three rhinos a day.

We have around 250,000 elephants left and only 28,000 rhinos. You may think 250,000, well that's not bad, but if you go back to the beginning of the 19th century, there were over 5 million elephants. We have lost 90% of the population in only 110 years.

Not only are the elephants suffering, but lions are also down to 15,000, their bones crushed for traditional medicine (an 'inferior' replacement to the now rare and banned wild tiger bone), their skins taken for rugs, their heads as distasteful trophies on hunter's walls, (such as notorious 'Cecil' killer dentist Walter Palmer), their mouths set into snarls, so as to suggest the hunter must have been pretty brave to have shot that 'confined' canned lion.

Conservationists working in Africa and Asia now struggle to find a live pangolin, their scales crushed down and consumed as traditional medicine in Asia and their flesh eaten as a luxurious delicacy. Humans have managed to destroy 50% of life on earth in just the last century.

Clsing the loopholes on ivory and rhino horn

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, currently have placed most of the world's elephants and rhinos on its Appendix 1, which automatically means they receive a worldwide ban on the trade in their body parts.

However a few elephants and rhinos in several regions remain on Appendix 2. This means they are still at risk. Many countries also own stock piles of confiscated ivory which they stash until they win rights for legal sale, which is applied for via CITES. This doesn't happen often, but when it does, this fuels the demand in ivory immediately with the highest consumers being China, USA and Japan.

Countries such as Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa appeal ongoing to CITES to sell their stock piles legally in order to generate money. The loophole here is whenever 'legal' ivory is released for sale, illegal poached ivory is 'laundered' into the trade and this is why poaching is not decreasing and is on the increase.

To make matters worse, there is still domestic trade allowed within a country's borders, this includes trade from previously authorised stockpiles of ivory and 'old' ivory sold and crafted before the ban.
Plan your week ahead in SE Iowa with these local events: music, art, more

Your guide to getting off the couch and out the door this week in Southeast Iowa.
As his budget office was berating the state Freedom of Information Commission over trivia  wanting to maintain its subscription to a law review  Governor Malloy went to Stratford to announce his plan to give Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. $220 million just for staying in Connecticut for 16 more years, about $14 million per year.

The plan isnt really for INCREASING the companys employment in the state but merely MAINTAINING the current level. While the governor touted Sikorskys promise to increase its subcontracting in Connecticut, state governments ability to verify this is doubtful, since the company will control the past and future data submitted even if anyone in state government could interpret it. (The other day the state auditors WERE able to interpret spending data from the University of Connecticut and reported that the university had misspent more than $50 million, but this passed without comment by the governor and even by the General Assembly, to which the auditors report.)

As usual, the argument for the huge subsidy to Sikorsky is that other states are bidding for big employers and Connecticut has to compete. Sikorskys president, Dan Schultz, whom the governor called his new best friend, said Connecticut was not the cheapest state where the company was considering locating but the subsidy plan puts us in a competitive mindset.

Of course the governor and most state legislators are presenting the Sikorsky deal as a triumph for the state. While it is surely a triumph for the company, it actually signifies how low Connecticut has sunk  how it has to bribe even businesses of historic standing in the state to keep them here.

Yes, Connecticut has to compete. The big policy question, bigger even than the bribe to Sikorsky, is why the state fails every day to compete for all sorts of productive businesses and residents but instead competes for all sorts of UNPRODUCTIVE residents, dependents on government. There long has been a steady exodus of the former. The huge tax increases imposed in the last few years at the governors behest did not mean to make Connecticut more competitive for the productive class but rather less so.

The governor says the subsidy package for Sikorsky requires the General Assemblys approval, and so a special session is to be held this week. It is to be a mere formality, a single day, to ratify whatever the governor submits. There will be no public hearings, no investigation of the criteria for the subsidies and the method of their calculation, if indeed there WERE any criteria beyond what Sikorsky thought it could extort from this state and other states, and no discussion of the general policy of bribing a few large corporations to stick around so the government might distract from the continuing disaster of the many smaller departures from Connecticut, though economists note that most new jobs are created by small businesses.

Unnoticed by anyone in authority is that with Sikorsky, as with state governments recent massive subsidies to the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies Corp., federal government military contracts are the essential leverage being used for corporate extortion and welfare. That is, the federal government is letting itself be used to impoverish the states for the benefit of military contractors.

Congress could prohibit this by legislation. The Defense Department might prohibit it by contract. If they had the wit and status in Washington, Connecticuts members of Congress might prohibit it by bringing their political influence to bear. But the corruption of this business overwhelms everything.

Chris Powell is managing editor of the Journal Inquirer in Manchester.
One of the toughest things about living in America is the relative absence of the presence of the past.

In England one is immersed in the past to such a degree that it is all too easy to forget that its there or to take it for granted. I once lived in a tiny cottage half way between the ruins of a Norman castle and the ruins of a Cluniac priory, both dating from the eleventh century. The cottage itself was built in the fifteenth century from the stones from the now deserted castle. The priory was destroyed by Henry VIII a century or so after my home, or hobbit hole, was built.

After I came to the States, I was struck by the relative absence of the past. In Michigan, the state which I first called home, there were few buildings, if any, that were older than the early nineteenth century. When I moved to south west Florida a couple of years later even the nineteenth century was absent. I recall phoning my father back home in England from the Old Post Office Museum in old Naples, informing him that I was in the oldest place in the city in which I lived. When was it built, he enquired. In 1930, I replied, the same year in which you were born. Its hard to sink roots in a place in which the human roots go no deeper than the length of ones own fathers time on earth.

My father-in-law was a native of Missouri whose own family can trace its roots to the Mayflower (this is not merely anecdotal wishful thinking because I have seen the evidence). He was a geologist who loved the past. Knowing of my own love for the past, he recounted with delight a scene from the film, The LA Story, starring Steve Martin, which Ive still not seen, in which Martins character exclaims excitedly to his unimpressed English friend that some of the buildings in Los Angeles are nearly thirty years old.

After we relocated to South Carolina, moving north from Florida in order to move south, a paradox that delights my Chestertonian sensibility, I became aware that the past was present in a manner that is not true of Florida or even Michigan. The past is real in the Old South, even if its sometimes the source or cause of bitterness. Within a few miles of our home, historic markers indicate battles or skirmishes during the Revolutionary War or the War Between the States. One of the reasons, I am sure, that I feel so at home in South Carolina and fly the state flag from our porch, is that there are real historical roots in which I can sink myself, finding the rootedness that I crave in the rootedness of the culture in which I live.

This same rootedness is found throughout the Old South, not least of which in middle Tennessee where I currently spend one week a month as Director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Aquinas College in Nashville. Imagine my delight, therefore, when the construction of a new female dorm on campus uncovered a graveyard dating back to at least the middle of the nineteenth century which contained the gravesite of one of the early fathers of the city.

Charles Bosley, Sr., whose gravesite was uncovered during construction, was born in 1777, only a year after the birth of the nation, and died in 1870, only five years after a war that had ripped the nation apart. He had purchased the property on which Aquinas College now sits in 1818 and remained there until his death more than fifty years later. All in, it was about 2000 acres. His wife, Eliza, died in 1873.

Charles Bosleys father, Captain James Bosley, arrived in Nashville in the late 1780s as a land grant recipient for his service in the Revolutionary War. He was, therefore, among the earliest settlers of the new town, which had been founded only a few years earlier by other veterans of the War, including heroic Overmountain Men, frontiersmen from west of the Appalachians who had won the famous victory over the British at Kings Mountain, not far from my home in South Carolina.

In 1913, a year before another war would rip the Old World apart, Joseph Warner built the White House on the foundations of the Bosley home, a Georgian mansion which is still the beautiful centerpiece of the campus of Aquinas College. The Nashville Dominican sisters bought the property and the home in 1923 and founded the College at which I now teach and work in 1961, the year of my own birth.

As I contemplate the discovery of Charles Bosleys grave, I shiver with excitement at the thought that his roots, somewhere along the way, intertwine with my own. Like the Pearce family, the Bosleys arrived in England after the Norman Conquest. They were part of that Norman presence in England which is still present in the ruins of the castle and the priory in the village in which I once lived and in the very stones of the cottage which was once my home. It is, therefore, with the deepest gratitude that a chance discovery of old graves during the construction of a new dorm has brought to life, as in a resurrection, the ghostly presence of a living past.

The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.
Nebraska counties struggling with dilapidated bridges will soon get help from the state of Nebraska.

State officials announced last week that they will begin taking applications in October for county bridge repair projects under a program passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Pete Ricketts this year.

The states new match program will pay 55 percent of a projects costs, up to $150,000 per bridge. The state has allocated $40 million for the repair work through 2023.

For most counties, the funding comes at a time when its desperately needed. Many, too many, bridges in the state  and elsewhere in the country  are old, dilapidated and in danger of collapse. Bridge repair projects are especially needed in rural areas, the same areas where counties are struggling to find the funds to pay for the repairs.

So the state funding comes at an important time and in an important area.

Nebraska Department of Roads Director Kyle Schneweis said 40 percent of the states 11,000 county bridges are more than 50 years old. Hall County has 21 structurally deficient bridges, according to Public Works Director Casey Sherlock. He said Hall County will seek funding help on repairing six or seven of those bridges.

Good infrastructure is important everywhere. In rural areas, where farmers are transporting crops and livestock, its especially important that bridges can stand heavy loads. And over the years, ag equipment has grown in size and in general is heavier than what was in use when most of these bridges were built. So many of the bridges need to be strengthened to hold heavier loads.

Most counties in Nebraska have been strapped for cash for years. They just havent had the funds to repair more than one or two bridges a year. That leaves a lot of work still to do.

So it is good to see the state step in to help. The Legislature and the governor deserve credit for finally addressing this pressing need that was put off for too long.

The state will pay for the bridge repair work by taking $50 million from the states cash reserve. Another $400 million will come from the states gas tax between now and 2033 and will help pay for highway construction projects as part of the Transportation Innovation Act.

The states new match program wont solve all of the bridge problems, but its a good addition to federal funding and what the counties can provide.

It wont solve all of the problems, but it sure helps. Ill take anything I can get, said Steve Mika, Saunders County highway superintendent.

Thats a sentiment echoed in counties throughout the state.
Most Bucks towns have an earned income tax, and some residents pay twice
The Friends of the Wildey Theatre welcomes The Courthouse Steps for one final evening of political comedy on Friday.

A fun-filled evening of political parody in song is coming to the Wildey Theatre on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. as the Friends of the Wildey welcome The Courthouse Steps, a collection of musical lawyers who satirize local and national events.
A dangerous section of road in Maryville will soon be safer.

Maryville recently received notice that the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) approved the Keebler Road Roundabout and Sidewalk Project.

At the last regular meeting of the Maryville Board, Mayor Larry Gulledge said this helps the project be one step closer to completion.

We have cleared a big first hurdle and we will be moving towards contracting for engineering, Gulledge said. This is going to be a big plus for the community especially as we continue to grow in the area west of Maryville.

The project involves building a roundabout at the intersection of Route 162 and Keebler Road. A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic flows almost continuously in one direction around a central island.

In May, trustees learned that the project was one on a list to receive federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds (CMAQ).

According to the East-West Gateway TIP fiscal year 2017-2020 report, the Maryville project would cost an estimated $1.5 million. The project would receive about $900,000 from the Federal Governments CMAQ program with the additional $600,000 coming from the village and Madison County.

The federal CMAQ grant program was implemented to support surface transportation projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality and improvements and provide traffic congestion relief.

Gulledge said as more of the area is developed along Route. 162 and as more area residents use Keebler Road and Route 162, the intersection has become dangerous.

In July of 2015 a young woman was killed at the intersection and her family and friends recently made a plea to the village board to make that area of roadway safer.

Gulledge said he reached out to the family when he learned of the projects approval.

I let them know that we had cleared a major hurdle in getting the project underway, he said. They were very emotional about the news and wanted to extend thanks to everyone on the board and everyone involved in this project.

The East-West Gateway Council for Governments is a regional quasi-governmental organization made up of county representatives from both Illinois and Missouri.

The organizations TIP program is a financial and implementation schedule for projects receiving federal transportation funding in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Projects identified in the plan are prioritized from, and must be consistent with, the regions 20-year long-range transportation plan.
A communication was sent to all Lincoln Middle School, Liberty Middle School, and Edwardsville High School parents Tuesday morning regarding the results from the canine drug search that was conducted.

Dear Lincoln Middle School, Liberty Middle School and Edwardsville High School Parents:

This morning a canine drug search was conducted at Edwardsville High School, Lincoln Middle School, and Liberty Middle School in cooperation with the Illinois State Police, Madison County Sheriffs Department, the Troy Police Department, and the Edwardsville Police Department. The search focused on the interior of the buildings, as well as students book bags.

Im pleased to report that there were no drugs found. Our students, faculty, and staff are to be commended on their cooperation during the search. In addition, special thanks go to Principals Dr. Dennis Cramsey, Mrs. Beth Crumbacher, Dr. Steve Stuart, and their administrative staff on the professional approach used in conducting this search.

Sgt. Dennis Gunderson supervised the canine search as part of his commitment to the Project DrugSmart campaign. He commented on how pleased he was with the cooperation of students and the professionalism demonstrated by our employees.

Respectfully,

Dr. Lynda Andre

Superintendent
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host We Are One  Are We? Monday, October 3, in the Morris University Center Conference Center. The SIUE Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion will present the event.

SIUE espouses the We Are One philosophy regarding diversity and inclusion, said Venessa A. Brown, PhD and associate chancellor in the SIUE Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. However, we need to live the philosophy and bring it to life every day. We will talk about strategies and tactics to do just that. Our goal at SIUE is to keep talking and listening to each other.
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Linkedin IGB. Dharma Agastia (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Tue, September 27, 2016

In Robert Kaplans book, Asias Cauldron, I came across this particularly interesting quote: Submarines are the new bling, everybody wants them. At the same time, I was also doing research on Indonesias naval modernization program, which included submarine acquisition. Can it be that Indonesias submarine program is based on flimsy prestige politics rather than accurate strategic assessment?

(Read also: Achieving mastery of the seas)

When President Joko Jokowi Widodo stepped into office in 2014, he had dreams of reinvigorating Indonesias maritime legacy. He then constructed a grand maritime vision, the Global Maritime Fulcrum. Jokowi envisioned Indonesia as a regional maritime power and economy in Southeast Asia. The most important driving factor of Jokowis dream would be the Navy. Against the backdrop of increasing regional tensions particularly in the South China Sea and an increasingly competitive arms dynamic in Southeast Asia, a major part of Jokowis Global Maritime Fulcrum rests on whether or not the Navy would be capable of becoming a middle-power navy that can safeguard Indonesias maritime interests.

Two years have passed since then. The Navy is in the process of modernization. Working under the framework of the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) left behind by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and embedded in the Strategic Defense Plan (Renstra). According to MEF standards, the Navy aims to have around 154 naval vessels by 2024. Ten to 12 of them include submarines. Indonesia is expecting three Chang Bogo submarines from Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering and is further planning to procure three more Kilo-class submarines from Russia.

While the Navy indeed has a long history of operational experience with submarines, given the limitations of Indonesian waters and other pressing issues in maritime security, it might be time to take a step back and start rethinking our submarine dreams.

Times have changed since the 1950s, when Indonesia was arguably one of the most powerful submarine operators in Southeast Asia. However, we need to consider the changes in the character of conflicts and threats that Indonesia faces. In this day and age, does the Navy really need 10-12 submarines?

Given the rising tensions in the South China Sea, the appeal of submarines is apparent. Submarines are classic weapons for sea denial and can act as a force multiplier for surface combatants. Submarines also serve as a potent deterrent due to their stealth and power. In conditions of war, submarines can be used to transport troops covertly and conduct espionage. This is perfectly in line with the Navys ambition of becoming a green-water navy capable of guarding Indonesias maritime sovereignty.

However, beyond these capabilities, submarines serve little purpose. We need to consider the limitations of the submarine itself and then position them within the larger picture, such as geography, the character of security threats and the economy.

First, there are the absolute limitations of geography. Indonesian waters are narrow and shallow, especially in sea lanes of communication between islands and straits which function as sea trade routes and naval chokepoints. Shallow waters would force the submarine to emerge, hence negating its stealth. Additionally, those particular bodies of water are often congested with maritime trade vessels. Insisting on operating in congested waters poses the risk of collisions, which would have diplomatic and economic ramifications that can have a ripple effect. It is also worth noting that as other Southeast Asian countries are also acquiring submarines and have relatively little operational experience, the possibilities of accidents increases.

Second, there is a question of utility. As elaborated above, submarines are great when it comes to sinking huge warships in naval battles. However, the maritime security threats that Indonesia faces today are not from imperial navies. They come from illegal fishing and piracy. Submarines are useless when it comes to low-intensity operations. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastutis explosive measures against illegal fishing boats reflects the gravity of the problem. Indonesian waters are plentiful with fish, yet due to illegal fishing, Indonesia stands to lose US$20-25 billion per year. Seeing such grave losses, it would make more strategic sense to invest in enhancing surface capabilities, such as fast patrol boats, rather than in submarines.

Indonesian waters still remain a hotbed of piracy. In 2015, the IMB reported 108 actual and attempted attacks in Indonesian waters, which is the highest in Southeast Asia. The Navys forces are spread thin and we cannot blame them, for they have to cover a wide expanse of water. Pirates operate similarly to illegal fishermen; in small, fast boats capable of maneuvering through the many islets scattered across the archipelago. Here, we also see a limit to the usefulness of a submarine. From 2004 to today, the trilateral joint patrols in the Malacca Strait have managed to reduce piracy to a bare minimum. The success was mostly due to a sustained naval presence, which deterred pirates. Submarines cannot achieve similar results, considering they are more comfortable remaining below the waves.

Third, there are financial limitations. The Indonesian government is currently facing a number of budget cuts that affect all aspects of spending, including defense. In 2016, defense spending might be reduced by Rp 2.8 trillion ($214.2 million), which would certainly affect future acquisition plans.

It is important to remember that the purchase of a submarine does not stop when it arrives at your doorstep. A submarine requires constant maintenance, which is technically complex. Without proper infrastructure and the right technical expertise, it would only be a matter of time until a new submarine quickly became an expensive hunk of metal. A major portion of the acquisition budget would need to go into investing in proper supporting infrastructure, particularly into shipbuilding facilities. Though the new Chang Bogo submarines have been completed, Indonesia has had to delay them until December due to infrastructural problems. Additionally, it takes a high degree of skill to maintain and operate a submarine, meaning that the government would need to invest in specialized training.

Considering these conditions, perhaps we need to rethink the urgency of our submarine dreams. Though submarines may be useful in facing off against a stronger navy, the threat of an all-out naval battle in Southeast Asia remains small. The funds invested in submarines might be better off used in enhancing our surface capabilities, since there are far more pressing security threats in our seas and to the livelihood of Indonesians.

***

The writer is a postgraduate student at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore, majoring in strategic studies. His research interests are maritime security, civil-military relations and future warfare. He can be reached on Linkedin or by email.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Hello Sehat (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

If you pay attention to the information table of nutrient value on food packaging, then youll often find a statement that says, AKG percentage based on 2000 kcal energy requirement. Your energy requirement may be lower or higher. This means that the amount of calories you need per day differs from other people.

What is a calorie?

Before knowing your calorie requirements, its best to know what a calorie is. A calorie is a measuring unit to determine the amount of energy contained in foods. When we eat or drink, we give energy (calories) to our body. The body then uses that energy as fuel to run our various activities. The more activities we participate in, the more calories are used.

The number written on food packaging usually uses a kilocalories unit, or kcal. As an example, 500 calories will be written as 500 kcal. Other than kcal, calories can be written as kilojoules or kJ. One kJ equals to 0.239 calorie.

Why is ones calorie requirement different from the other?

Calorie requirement depends on factors such as gender, age, body weight and height, body composition, activities and physical condition. Calorie needs of men and women differ, even if they are the same age. Even twins will have different calorie requirements depending on their physical condition and daily activities.

Standards of calorie intake differ from one country to another. In the US, men are recommended to consume 2,700 calories per day and 2,200 calories per day for women. Meanwhile, based on the UK's National Health Service, men are recommended to consume 2,500 calories while women only 2,000 calories. This is in contrast to the FAO, which recommends adults to consume a minimum of 1,800 calories per day.

In Indonesia, there is a nutrient value necessities table guide, which contains a recommendation of how much calorie required by each age groups, for example:

- 7-11-month-old babies with 9 kilograms body weight and 71centimeters body height require 725 kcal of energy per day.

- 19-29-year-old men with 60 kg body weight and 168 cm body height require 2,725 kcal of energy per day.

- 19-29-year-old women with 54 kg body weight and 159 cm body height require 2,250 kcal of energy per day.

- Men above 80 years old require 1,525 kcal of energy whereas women of the same age require 1,425 kcal of energy per day.

- Pregnant women require more added energy around 180-300 ckal per day, depending on the trimester of the pregnancy. Same goes with breast-feeding mothers; in the first six months they require more energy of up to 330 kcal and an extra 400 kcal in the next six months.

(Read also: Which is more effective for losing weight: exercise or diet?)

How do I calculate how many calories I need?

There are a number of ways to calculate your calorie requirements, which are:

Harris-Benedict Formula : This formula is commonly used by nutritionists. Harris-Benedict formula takes age, gender, body weight, body height and your level of physical activities into account. Formula used to calculate mens calorie needs is = 66.5 + 13.8 x (body weight in kilograms) + 5 x (body height in cm) divided by 6.8 x age. Meanwhile for women= 655.1 + 9.6 x (body weight in kilograms) + 1.9 x (body height in cm) divided by 4.7 x age. Result of the equation must be multiplied with your physical activity factor. If you have low physical activity, then multiply by 1.2. If you participate in average physical activity then multiply by 1.3. For people who do heavy physical activities, multiply by 1.4.

WHO Formula : Differs from the Harris-Benedict formula, this formula is simpler and does not calculate body height. WHO Formula is categorized based on ones age. For example, to find out the needs of energy for women between 18-29 years old, we use a formula of 14.7 x (body weight in kilogram) + 496. Whereas for men age 18-29 years old, formula used is 15.3 x (body weight in kilogram) + 679. The result is then multiplied by physical activity factor.

Calorie needs and the relation to your health

Although most food packaging shows a nutrient value percentage based on 2,000 kcal energy requirement, now you know that not all people need 2,000 kcal of calories in their daily basis. Your energy needs depends on gender, age, body weight, body height, physical condition and your daily activities. Knowing your daily energy requirement can help you maintain your health because it can balance your energy intake.

The main principal in fulfilling energy needs is actually simple; its all about balance, because if you consume more calorie than needed, it can cause an increase in body weight in the near future aside of increasing the risk to suffer from certain diseases, especially degenerative diseases. If you consume less calorie than needed, youll encounter weight loss but at the same time decreasing the function of bodily organs due to the deficiency of required amount of energy. (kes)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Hello Sehat (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Experts are still unsure about the cause of hangovers. Some say that alcohol disturbs the bodys biological rhythms; others say that withdrawal from alcohol is the primary cause.

Research shows that residual substances from alcohol distillation can make you feel nauseated; the sweeter your alcohol tastes, the higher the residual level. Liquors, malts and red wine especially contain highly toxic residue. Headaches in the morning after a night of drinking beer could be caused by dehydration and how the body adapts to the decreased level of alcohol in the blood after you stopped drinking.

Many recommend drinking less alcohol to prevent a hangover. Hangovers make you feel nauseated because alcohol is highly toxic. Increasing your alcohol level when you have a hangover is only postponing the effects that will happen anyway. By adding more alcohol, it means that you are not giving your body a chance to heal itself. Hangovers will still happen and can even worsen the next day. Theres one cure that has been proven effective: time. For hangover symptoms to be completely gone, you need at least 8-24 hours to completely recover.

In the meantime, try some of these simple tips to ease your headaches, migraines, nausea and other complaints due to hangovers:

Drink water

Alcohol is a diuretic that can make you lose a lot of body fluid, also known as dehydration. To avoid a hangover the next morning, drink a glass of water for every glass of alcohol. The less drunk you are, the milder the hangover youll get. Taking in other fluids besides alcohol will slow down the alcohol absorption and decrease the level of alcohol concentration in the blood. Most hangover symptoms occur due to dehydration, so substituting fluids is the best alternative to ease your symptoms.

Drink lots of water, up to 2-3 liters a day. Coconut water is a good liquid alternative to overcome hangovers as it is rich in electrolytes to restore your body fluids. Green vegetable juice is also good for you because it contains minerals and is high in electrolytes.

Avoid junk food

Foods that are greasy and high in fats cant help you ease a hangover, even though many myths say so. Junk food will only force the heart to work harder, and this is surely not good for your body. Choose a high calorie breakfast that is rich in fats and proteins, yet still easy to digest, like fried eggs, avocado, spinach, toast, or a bowl of cereal. The electrolytes contained in these types of food will help you restore body fluids and fulfill your bodys need for calories. Or have a salad. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, Chinese cabbage, Brussel sprouts and carrots contain enzymes that help with liver detoxification.

Drink lemonade

Add a pinch of salt and a little lemon juice into some water as an alkali agent to restore body fluids. Other than that, a mix of lemonade and apple cider vinegar (one spoon of apple cider vinegar and half a teaspoon of turmeric) is also good to accelerate detoxification in the liver.

(Read also: Hangover remedies in 20 countries)

Chew some ginger

Ginger has been used for generations as a herbal alternative, rich in antiseptic and antibacterial properties. This spice contains active ingredient such as Gingerol, zingerone, 1-dehydrogingerodine, 6-gingesulfonic acid, shogaol, carbohydrates, palmetic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, caprylic acid, caproc acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, stearic acid, linolenic acid, lecithin and gingerglycolipids (A,B,C) that are useful as an antidote for stomachaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. A study by the US National Institute of Health revealed that consuming ginger combined with a tangerine and brown sugar before drinking alcohol could decrease the risk of nausea and vomiting the next morning.

Sweating

Exercise can trigger your lymphatic system to excrete body toxins and improve your blood circulation. Exercise also releases endorphins, a good mood hormone that can help you cope with your hangover after drinking. Do do some swimming or yoga to banish your hangover symptoms.

Sleep

All of the discomfort you are feeling during a hangover is not caused by lack of sleep, even though a lack of sleep will worsen the symptoms. To restore your energy, try to compensate by taking a nap.

Avoid coffee

Many choose to drink coffee to keep them awake during their daily activities. Alcohol residue combined with caffeine will only worsen your headache. Caffeine narrows your blood vessels, making it harder for your blood to flow. A combination of these two things will only worsen your hangover symptoms. If you are a heavy-duty coffee drinker, try to drink a glass of water after your first morning coffee.

Drugs

Painkillers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or gastric drugs might help a little. One thing you are must not do with a hangover is consume drugs that contain acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, since it can cause serious liver damage when mixed with alcohol. A vitamin B supplement is recommended for your hangover symptoms; it is responsible for a number of the bodys metabolic processes, one of which is liver detoxification. (kes)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Seth Borenstein (Associated Press) Washington  Tue, September 27, 2016

A new study paints a picture of an Earth that is warmer than it has been in about 120,000 years, and is locked into eventually hitting its hottest mark in more than 2 million years.

As part of her doctoral dissertation at Stanford University, Carolyn Snyder , now a climate policy official at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, created a continuous 2 million year temperature record, much longer than a previous 22,000 year record. Snyder's temperature reconstruction, published Monday in the journal Nature, doesn't estimate temperature for a single year, but averages 5,000-year time periods going back a couple million years.

Snyder based her reconstruction on 61 different sea surface temperature proxies from across the globe, such as ratios between magnesium and calcium, species makeup and acidity. But the further the study goes back in time, especially after half a million years, the fewer of those proxies are available, making the estimates less certain, she said.

These are rough estimates with large margins of errors, she said. But she also found that the temperature changes correlated well to carbon dioxide levels.

Temperatures averaged out over the most recent 5,000 years  which includes the last 125 years or so of industrial emissions of heat-trapping gases  are generally warmer than they have been since about 120,000 years ago or so, Snyder found. And two interglacial time periods, the one 120,000 years ago and another just about 2 million years ago, were the warmest Snyder tracked. They were about 3.6 degrees (2 degrees Celsius) warmer than the current 5,000-year average.

With the link to carbon dioxide levels and taking into account other factors and past trends, Snyder calculated how much warming can be expected in the future.

(Read also: Fever: Federal report says global warming making US sick)

Snyder said if climate factors are the same as in the past  and that's a big if  Earth is already committed to another 7 degrees or so (about 4 degrees Celsius) of warming over the next few thousand years.

"This is based on what happened in the past," Snyder said. "In the past it wasn't humans messing with the atmosphere."

Scientists give various reasons for past changes in carbon dioxide and heat levels, including regular slight shifts in Earth's orbital tilt.

Four outside scientists praised the study's tracking of past temperatures, with caveats about how less certain it is as it gets deeper in the past. Jeremy Shakun of Boston College said "Snyder's work is a great contribution and future work should build on it."

But many of the same scientists said Snyder's estimate of future warming seems too high. Shakun called it unrealistic and not matching historical time periods of similar carbon dioxide levels.

A fifth scientist, Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, called the study provocative and interesting but said he remains skeptical until more research confirms it. He found the future temperature calculations "so much higher than prevailing estimates that one has to consider it somewhat of an outlier."
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Linkedin Gianna Francesca Catolico (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network)  Tue, September 27, 2016

One lucky couple got a surprise guest during their wedding.

Newlyweds Elizabeth and Ryan were at the Central Park in New York when Tom Hanks appeared out of nowhere to congratulate them. Their wedding photographer, Meg Miller, captured the felicitous moments and shared them on social media.

The Sully actor, 60, was jogging along the park on Sunday when he spotted the joyous couple.

Yesterdays wedding was so beautiful! Elisabeth and Ryan, you planned one amazing celebration, Miller wrote on Instagram. The icing on the cake was @tomhanks stopping in Central Park to wish them congratulations.

(Read also: Review: How 'Sully' recreates 'Miracle on the Hudson')

A photo posted by Meg Miller Photography (@megmillerphotography) on Sep 25, 2016 at 7:06pm PDT

Hanks also posted his selfie with the lucky couple on his Instagram account.

Elizabeth and Ryan! Congrats and blessings! he captioned the selfie.

Elizabeth and Ryan! Congrats and blessings! Hanx. pic.twitter.com/Uy2GIqYphU  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) September 24, 2016

Hanks previously gatecrashed weddings when he was filming Forrest Gump in 1993, he honked his horn and extended his warm wishes to Mary Dunning Chapman, a bride who was about to get hitched in Beaufort, South Carolina. She took pictures with the actor and sent them to him, Beaufort Online reported.

Later, Hanks signed one and returned it to them with this caption, Congratulations! The only bride more beautiful was the one I marriedIm just sorry I missed the ceremony! God Bless, Tom Hanks.
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, September 26 2016

The collapse of an elevated pedestrian bridge in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Saturday has triggered concerns about safety in public places. In the past, pedestrians have fallen victim to different kinds of misfortune on pedestrian bridges throughout the city.

The incident, which occurred during a rainy afternoon, killed three pedestrians, all women, and injured eight others. All the fatalities are Depok residents. Their bodies were sent to their respective homes for burial on Sunday.

Meanwhile, those injured were taken to Tarakan Hospital in Central Jakarta and Siaga Raya Hospital in South Jakarta.

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Linkedin Syofiardi Bachyul Jb (The Jakarta Post) Padang  Mon, September 26 2016

A legislator from West Sumatra apparently cannot understand why local authorities are opposing his business interests in the province, which he has represented at the national legislature for the past 12 years.

Veteran House of Representatives member Epyardi Asda has insisted that his company has not attempted to reclaim land in the development of his hotel and recreation center at Lake Singkarak, as concluded by West Sumatra authorities. He has insisted on going ahead with his controversial plan even though the government has made it clear that he will be issued a permit.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama confirmed a statement made by former Agung Podomoro Land (APL) CEO Ariesman Widjaja that the company had contributed Rp 1.6 trillion (US$12.387 million) to the Jakarta administration.

The contribution was related to a project of APL subsidiary PT Muara Wisesa Samudera to develop Islet G in Jakarta Bay. Development of the islet has been put on hold over environmental concerns.

APL spent Rp 1.6 trillion on the development of public facilities, but it hasnt handed over all of the contribution to us. Most of the contribution is in the form of low-cost apartments, Ahok said on Tuesday, praising APL as the most compliant developer.

Ariesman made the claim when he was testifying during the trial of Mohammad Sanusi, a city councillor accused of accepting a bribe from APL in December related to the deliberation of two reclamation bills by the Jakarta City Council.

The bills, the deliberation of which was stopped after the arrest of Sanusi, were initially to become legal bases for contributions paid by developers of reclamation projects in addition of 5 percent of the land resulting from the projects.

The alleged bribe was reportedly linked to the developers effort to decrease the percentage of the contribution from 15 percent to 5 percent.

Ahok said facilities developed by APL would be handed over to the administration after being appraised by an independent appraiser. The calculation will be based on 15 percent additional contribution, Ahok added. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono has ordered his subordinates to "shoot on sight" when spotting criminals in Semarang, following reports of increasing numbers of violent begal (muggers) in the capital city of the province.

"We must ensure safety for people going about their activities at night," he said on Tuesday as reported by Antara news agency.

The order is not only meant to ensure security and comfort for the public, but is also aimed at limiting the movements of criminals, Condro added.

Semarang Police chief Sr. Comr. Burhanudin echoed the order, saying that the police were referring to standard operating procedures for keeping public security.

"If the criminals resist, police personnel would not hesitate to take them down," he said.

A string of violent robberies, such as assaults on motorists, have occurred recently in Semarang, according to police reports. Police recently shot suspected robbers near the Central Java Police headquarters and two alleged begal also reportedly died after falling from a cliff while trying to escape from mobs in Rowosari in Tembalang of Semarang. (rin)
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Linkedin M. Kholikul Alim and Debora B.Sinambela (The Jakarta Post) Samarinda, East Kalimantan  Tue, September 27 2016

Eyesore: An abandoned coal pit in North Sempaja, Samarinda, lies less than 500 meters from habitations. (Courtesy of JATAM (Mining Advocacy Network))

Tragic stories arise after the black gold rush in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

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Linkedin Joshua Goodman & Andrea Rodriguez (Associated Press) Cartagena  Tue, September 27, 2016

Colombia's government and the country's largest rebel movement signed a historic peace accord Monday evening ending a half-century of combat that caused more than 220,000 deaths and made 8 million homeless.

Underlining the importance of the deal, President Juan Manuel Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, signed the 297-page agreement before a crowd of 2,500 foreign dignitaries and special guests, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Many in the audience had tears in their eyes, and shouts rose urging Santos and Londono to "Hug, hug, hug!" But in the end, the two men just clasped hands and the rebel commander, also known as Timochenko, put on a pin shaped like a white dove that Santos has been wearing on his lapel for years. Seconds later five jets buzzed overhead in formation trailing smoke in the colors of Colombia's flag.

During a minute of silence for the war's victims, 50 white flags were raised. Everyone at the event wore white as a symbol of peace.

"Viva Colombia," Ban shouted at the conclusion of his speech welcoming the peace deal.

The signing was greeted by wild cheers by about 1,000 FARC rebels in Sabanas del Yari, where the group recently concluded its last congress by endorsing the peace deal. "Yes, we can; yes, we can; yes, we can," they shouted, followed by calls for Timochenko to be president.

"Let no one doubt that we are going into politics without weapons," Londono said in his speech after the signing. "We are going to comply (with the accord) and we hope that the government complies," he added.

Earlier in the day, Santos and foreign dignitaries attended a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, at a baroque church named for St. Peter Claver, a 17th century Jesuit priest revered as the "slave of slaves" for his role aiding tens of thousands of African slaves brought to the New World as chattel.

In a stirring homily, Pope Francis' envoy praised Colombians for overcoming the pain of the bloody conflict to find common ground with the rebels.

"All of us here today are conscious of the fact we're at the end of a negotiation, but also the beginning of a still open process of change that requires the contribution and respect of all Colombians," the cardinal said.

Across the country Colombians marked the occasion with a host of activities, from peace concerts by top-name artists to a street party in the capital, Bogota, where the signing ceremony was to be broadcast live on a giant screen. It was also celebrated by hundreds of guerrillas gathered in a remote region of southern Colombia where last week top commanders ratified the accord in what they said would be their last conference as a guerrilla army.

The signing didn't close the deal, however. Colombians will have the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. Opinion polls point to an almost-certain victory for the "yes" vote, but some analysts warn that a closer-than-expected finish or low voter turnout could bode poorly for the tough task the country faces in implementing the ambitious accord.

Among the biggest challenges will be judging the war crimes of guerrillas as well as state actors. Under terms of the accord, rebels who lay down their weapons and confess their abuses will be spared jail time and be allowed to provide reparations to their victims by carrying out development work in areas hard hit by the conflict.

That has angered some victims and conservative opponents of Santos, a few hundred of whom took to the streets Monday to protest what they consider the government's excessive leniency toward guerrilla leaders responsible for scores of atrocities in a conflict fueled by the country's cocaine trade.

To shouts of "Santos is a coward!" former President Alvaro Uribe, the architect of the decade-long, U.S.-backed military offensive that forced the FARC to the negotiating table, said the peace deal puts Colombia on the path to becoming a leftist dictatorship in the mold of Cuba or Venezuela  two countries that along with Norway played a vital role sponsoring the four-year-long talks.

"The democratic world would never allow bin Laden or those belonging to ISIS to become president, so why does Colombia have to allow the election of the terrorists who've kidnapped 11,700 children or raped 6,800 women?" he told protesters gathered in a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Cartagena.

The stiff domestic opposition contrasts with widespread acclaim abroad for the accord  a rare example in a war-torn world of what can be achieved through dialogue. On Monday, European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said that with the signing of the peace agreement, the EU would suspend the FARC from its list of terrorist organizations.

Asked whether the U.S. would follow suit, Kerry was less willing to commit but expressed a possible openness to similar action.

"We clearly are ready to review and make judgments as the facts come in," he told reporters. "We don't want to leave people on the list if they don't belong."

The FARC was established in 1964 by self-defense groups and communist activists who joined forces to resist a government military onslaught. Reflecting that history, the final accord commits the government to addressing unequal land distribution that has been at the heart of Colombia's conflict.

But as the war dragged on, and insurgencies elsewhere in Latin America were defeated, the FARC slipped deeper and deeper into Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade  to the point that President George W. Bush's administration in 2006 called it the world's biggest drug cartel.

As part of the peace process, the FARC has sworn off narcotics trafficking and agreed to work with the government to provide alternative development in areas where coca growing has flourished.

Only if the accord passes the referendum will the FARC's roughly 7,000 fighters begin moving to 28 designated zones where, over the next six months, they are to turn over their weapons to U.N.-sponsored observers.

Negotiations, which had been expected to take a few months, stretched over more than four years and had to overcome a number of crises, from the military's killing of the guerrilla group's then top commander, known as Alfonso Cano, shortly after he authorized a secret back channel with the government, to the rebels' capture of an army general who until a few months ago would have been a trophy prisoner.

"This is something I waited for my whole life  that I dreamed of every day," said Leon Valencia, a former guerrilla who is one of the most respected experts on Colombia's conflict. "It's like when you're waiting for a child that is finally born, or seeing an old love or when your favorite team scores a goal." (ags)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

People evicted from Papanggo, North Jakarta, and Duri Kepa, West Jakarta, filed a judicial review at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday asking the court to amend a law issued in 1960 that is frequently used to facilitate evictions.

The process is often unfair for residents because the Jakarta administration is not required to proof ownership of land, while the residents have to provide evidence of their ownership, said Jakarta Legal Aid Institution (LBH Jakarta) lawyer Alldo Fellix Januardy in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He referred to Law No. 51/1960 concerning the prohibition of the use of land without permission from the entitled or proxies.

We believe that Law No. 51/1960 is unfair as it enables the Jakarta administration to carry out forceful evictions and with the assistance of unauthorized parties like military personnel, Alldo said, while accompanying the residents at the court.

If the residents are required to show their right of ownership over the land, the administration should also show all documents that state they deserve to manage the land, said Alldo.

If judges grant our review, the administration will be required to prove its land ownership rights before the court, Alldo said, adding that the Pasar Ikan and Budi Darma evictees in North Jakarta would join the judicial review as interested parties.

The law is no longer relevant because it was made during a period of unrest during the 1960s, Alldo said. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) expects exports to amount to US$750 billion in the next 10 to 15 years, up by 500 percent from the countrys export target set at $150 billion by the end of 2016.

Kadin's deputy chairman for trade Benny Soestrisno said achieving this target would require commitment and cooperation among all parties related to export development, including the government, lawmakers and businesspeople.

"To streamline the implementation of strategic steps in Indonesias export development, joint action between the government and the countrys businesspeople in developing national exports needs to be prepared," Benny said during a national trade conference themed "Trade and Export For All" in Jakarta on Tuesday.

To that end, he further said, Kadin had proposed a road map comprising five main pillars to boost exports in Indonesia. This included an increase in the number of exporters, export product diversification, export market expansion, export price increases and the development of an export ecosystem.

Benny admitted, however, that exporters had suffered a decline in the last five years due to a lack of competitiveness and financial capacity, along with the sluggish global economic condition.

"We need to increase our number of exporters, encourage existing companies and potential entrepreneurs to carry out export activities," he went on.

Benny further said the government should also provide incentives for businesspeople who wanted to export their products. "We need a program to motivate and increase the capacity of businesspeople to export," he said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Edith M. Lederer (Associated Press) United Nations  Tue, September 27, 2016

The failed attempt by the US and Russia to revive a cease-fire in Syria stole the spotlight at the annual UN gathering of world leaders but every other global hotspot had its moment  and there were some chuckles as well including a message to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be ready to receive his gift of a "white bull" from South Sudan.

With the final speeches of the six-day gabfest delivered on Monday, there were also a few high points.

Last December's Paris climate agreement got 31 more ratifications at a high-level event hosted by Ban, topping the 55 countries required and just over 7 percent short of the 55 percent of global emissions needed for the deal to enter into force. It is expected to reach that magic number before the next UN conference on climate change in November in Morocco.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called the agreement a "historic achievement" that would never have happened if the world's nations hadn't shifted course to preserve life on Earth.

"There might be a Plan B in life but there certainly is no Planet B," Eliasson said Monday in wrapping up the General Assembly's annual General Debate which was attended by over 135 heads of state and government and more than 50 ministers.

The high-level meetings began with the first-ever UN summit on refugees and migrants called to tackle one of the most contentious issues facing the world: millions of people fleeing conflict and poverty  and not many countries willing to accept them.

World leaders approved the New York Declaration aimed at providing a more coordinated and humane response to the largest refugee crisis since World War II, and President Barack Obama secured thousands of new resettlement places and billions of dollars in pledges to help the refugees at a summit the following day.

Eliasson said both events gave "new structure to the work on refugees and migration which will be very useful."

"But above all I hope we shall make sure that this organization sends the signal of everybody's equal value, and that we need to work in such a way that we prevent the xenophobic tendencies to prevail which are still strong in today's world," he said.

As for the "buzz" in UN corridors, it was two newcomers making their debuts on the international stage that captured the most attention: British Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

May assured the General Assembly that Britain will remain a global power and continue playing a role in trying to resolve the many challenges in the world despite its decision to leave the European Union. And Trudeau announced new plans for Canada to become more globally engaged, including providing 750 UN peacekeepers, and tried to calm security jitters after a weekend bombing in New York City on the eve of the global gathering.

When the VIPs meet, small countries are almost always ignored, which angers many.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, population 183,000, told the 193-member General Assembly that "as a small island state within this body, our voice is meant to be equal, but long experience and realpolitik prove the contrary."

Chastanet also questioned the format of the so-called General Debate where leaders deliver speeches from 9 a.m. often until after 8 p.m.

"While many speak, few stay around to listen; far less respond," he said. "Then we wonder how and why this entity is so negatively perceived by the persons we are elected to serve."

One of the UN's great failures has been its inability to end the 5 1/2-year Syrian conflict, which has claimed over 300,000 lives. During the ministerial meeting, not only did lengthy US-Russian negotiations fail to restore a cease-fire but the Syrian government announced a new offensive to retake Aleppo, unleashing some of the heaviest bombing of the war.

Other conflicts, large and small, had opposing sides attacking each other.

India and Pakistan squabbled over Kashmir, which is claimed by both countries who have fought two wars over the Himalayan region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted that Israel would have a bright future at the UN and invited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address Israel's parliament  an offer Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour dismissed as "a new gimmick."

A number of Pacific island nations including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Tonga accused Indonesia of mass killings and other human rights violations in West Papua  criticism that Indonesia brushed off as being politically motivated. And the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of sponsoring "terrorism", a claim Tehran denies.

In almost every speech, leaders called for global action against radical extremist groups which have spread from Syria and Iran to North Africa, Europe and the United States.

There were no speeches about the search for a successor to Ban, whose second term as secretary-general ends on Dec. 31. But there was plenty of behind-the-scenes chatter about the nine candidates vying to replace him and whether the winner would be front-runner Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister or someone from Eastern Europe which has never held the post that by tradition rotates by region, or the first woman.

Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick told the assembly she would like "to finally see a woman lead this organization  which has been such a trailblazer for gender equality."

One of the lighter moments came in the speech of Taban Deng Gai, first vice president of war-ravaged South Sudan, who paid tribute to Ban and recalled that President Salva Kiir gave the UN chief a "white bull" as a sign of peace.

"It has grown [and is] now ready to be delivered to his excellency," Deng Gai said. There was no word on where and when the secretary-general will take delivery.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Astor contributed to this report from the United Nations.
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Feedlotters who take part in the new five-plus-one cattle import scheme will be required to nurture local breeders and plasma farmers and not only work on their feedlot business, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said.

Under the new scheme, in which feedlotters must import one cow for every five calves they import, the cows will be bred by local breeders working with plasma farmers. The plasma farmers will have to form a group, with each group getting at least 10 calves to feedlot.

"The plasma farmers will help to breed the cow, if two calves are born, one of them will be kept by the farmers, while the other will be handed over to the breeders," Enggartiasto said at his office in Jakarta, on Monday.

Every newborn calf would result in an additional five calves in the feedlotters import quota, he explained. Meanwhile, farmers and breeders could make money from the milk and the dairy products and they could sell the cow for meat to the feedlotter.

"This program will provide incentives to breed the cows. During the beef shortage in 2012 to 2014, many cows were slaughtered, thus the population decreased," Enggartiasto said.

Currently of the 25 feedlotters that have applied for the program, three big feedlotters have sealed their permits for importing a total of 300,000 calves over the next two years. At the end of 2016, two other companies--including giant Astra Group--will join the list. (ags)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has accused his subordinates of allowing flooding to occur on many road sections across the capital for funds from the Jakarta administration.

As an example of the alleged effort, he said after a flooding occurred on Jl. S. Parman in Grogol, West Jakarta, near Tarumanagara University, a subordinate of his submitted a proposal to buy water pumps.

Grogol had been free from flooding But now, flooding has returned and they need a new water pump, said Ahok at City Hall on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

He also cited flooding on the overpass on Jl. Casablanca in South Jakarta, where workers found various items, such as old tires and plastic bottles blocking the waterways.

How could the old tires be dumped on [the overpass] if not intentionally [to block the waterway], said the governor, adding that the flooding in Angke, West Jakarta was also suspicious.

A number of areas in Jakarta have been hit with flooding following heavy rains. The Meteorology, Climatology ad Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that heavy rains will continue in Jakarta until the end of the month. (bbn)
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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Four Indonesian sailors released by their Abu Sayyaf captors have been reunited their families, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The deputy foreign minister [AM Fachir] has handed over the four Indonesians freed by the Abu Sayyaf group to their respective family representatives, the ministry said in a press release.

An official from East Flores regency witnessed the handover ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry on Jl.Pejambon, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

Three of the four Indonesian sailors, Theodorus Kopong Koten, Lorens Koten and Emmanual, are from East Flores, West Nusa Tenggara. They were on board a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat when it was attacked in Lahad Datu waters, Malaysia, on July 9.

Herman Manggak is a sailor from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi. He was on board a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat hijacked in Sabah waters on Aug. 3.

Accompanied by a Foreign Ministry official, the four men arrived in Indonesia on Saturday.

"All processes have been completed in accordance to their families' requests," the ministry further said. Unlike previous occasions, the handover of the four former hostages was conducted privately, without media presence.

Five Indonesians still remain in captivity. These sailors are held by two different groups in the southern Philippines, according to the government, adding that it was continuing efforts to see to the safe release of the five crewmen. (ebf)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

The government has stepped up its commitment for the Indonesian-Japanese flagship deep sea project in Patimban, West Java, by including the project in its Blue Book.

The Blue Book is a list composed by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) that contains projects to be funded by foreign loans from 2015 to 2019. The inclusion of the Patimban project on the list is as traditionally required in a foreign loan process.

As much as US$1.7 billion in foreign loans is expected to be channeled into the deep-sea project and the Indonesian government is also to provide an additional $595 million in loans for it, according to the Blue Book, after it was revised last Friday.

Following the revision, the Blue Book now lists $10.3 billion worth of loans for transportation-related projects, up from the previous $6.8 billion.

Transportation Ministry port director Mauritz HM Sibarani stated that the $1.7 billion loan figure was still only a proposal from the Indonesian government. There are still discussions required, such as on the actual amount of the funding, he said on Monday.

The government has yet to allocate fresh funds for the project as it prefers to wait for a response from its counterpart. We will then make a yearly commitment, Mauritz said, adding that the government expected the loan to only be disbursed in about March or April 2017, in line with the beginning of the fiscal year in Japan.

The future Patimban Port will be located about 70 kilometers from the Karawang Industrial Estate and Bekasi in West Java. It will have a container capacity of 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) once it is partly completed by 2019 and will be expanded to 7.5 million TEUs by 2027, which is half of the Tanjung Priok Ports capacity.

The Indonesian-Japanese joint project is considered a national strategic project that is expected to help ease the flow of goods and services into the country.

The megaproject was previously planned to be built in Cilamaya, also in West Java, but was moved to Subang as concerns arose that it would disrupt state oil and gas firm Pertaminas operations.

The government hopes that the new port will provide more ease in distributing goods shipped into the country, which has been plagued by staggering logistics costs.

During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in May, President Joko Jokowi Widodo also extended a guarantee to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Japan could develop the project.

Japan has been conducting a feasibility study on the port since July, complementing a previous feasibility study carried out by the Transportation Ministry.

Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yasuaki Tanizaki previously claimed that the feasibility study for the project had been completed and it concluded that the ports presence would be necessary to support the countrys growth over the next 10 years.

Japan also expects the draft of its detailed engineering design (DED) to be finished by the beginning of 2017 and will provide exact figures on the projects costs.

The Japanese Embassys economic councilor, Tasaka Takuro, said that the Japanese government welcomed the Indonesian governments move to include the project in the Blue Book.

Its a very good stepping stone for the two countries to proceed with the project, he said. However, he said that Japan would not make any decision on the matter before completing its research.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

The House of Representatives will carry out legislative diplomacy with the Saudi Arabian legislative body, the Shura Council, to seek an additional haj quota for 2017, House Speaker Ade Komarudin says.

Following his official visit to Saudi Arabia, Ade said while the 2016 haj went better than last year, the government should maximize efforts to secure a higher haj quota to better accommodate Indonesia, the largest sender of haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

"I will organize an official visit [to Saudi Arabia] in December to discuss improving the haj next year, including [lobbying] about the haj quota and accommodation," Ade said on Monday.

He went on to say that Indonesia should intensify lobbying to secure unused haj seats from neighboring countries, so that Indonesians waiting to go on the haj would not be tempted to falsify documents to use the unused haj seats allocated to other countries.

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said the government expected that the 2017 haj quota for Indonesia to go back to 211,000 seats, since the renovation and expansion of al-Haram Grand Mosque in Mecca was complete.

Since 2013, the Saudi Arabian government has only allocated Indonesia with 168,800 haj seats on account of construction at the mosque. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Threats and criminalization still plague human rights activists in recent years despite a guarantee of freedom of expression in the reform era, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Tuesday.

Human rights activists still receive threats while providing aid to people or for staging protests, Komnas HAM commissioner Siti Noor Laila said. There were at least three threats from 2012-2015 aimed at human rights activists, such as murder, death and kidnapping threats, according to data collected by Komnas HAM.

Even though Indonesia's democracy began after the fall of Soeharto's dictatorship in 1998, there has not been a significant improvement toward protection of human rights activists in the reform era, Siti said noting several cases of criminalization aimed at activists in recent years.

"In the democracy era, freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, crimes against human rights activists must never happen," Siti said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.

She cited examples, such as Yogyakarta-based activist Raden Mas Aji Kusumo who spent three and a half months behind bars in 2015 for staging a rally to reject the construction of an apartment in Kaliurang, Sleman regency of Yogyakarta believed to cause environmental degradation.

Two public lawyers from Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) Tigor Gempita Hutapea and Obed Sakti Andre Dominika have also been arrested for disobeying police orders when assisting laborers in a rally in front of the State Palace in October last year.

Samsul, known as Salim Kancil, was a farmer and anti-mining activist who was beaten to death in September last year for organizing a protest against invasive sand mining in his village in Lumajang, East Java. (wnd/rin)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

The Surakarta municipality will build concrete walls along a 4.2-kilometer section of the Bengawan Solo River from Mojo until Jurug in Surakarta to prevent flooding when the river is swollen. Hundreds of residents are to be evicted prior to the commencement of the project.

Relocation is absolute. Dont wait for bigger floods and then take action. The project is for the benefit of the people as well, especially those living along the 4.2 km section of the river, said Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudy Rudyatmo on Monday. Rudy added that the Surakarta municipality had compensated only 76 of 194 building owners because the remainder did not agree to the amount of compensation.

In accordance with a 2007 appraisal, every building located along the riverbanks, no matter its condition, was to receive compensation of Rp 8.5 million (US$655), while land was valued at Rp 12 million.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, September 27 2016

Two workers were killed in a boiler room explosion in a tofu factory in Perbaungan district, Serdang Bedagai regency in North Sumatra early Monday.

The victims were Supri, 37, of Pantai Cermin village, and Koko Susilo, 21, of Suka Jadi village. Both died in the hospital from severe burns.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at 12:30 a.m. and the loud explosion woke up sleeping residents.

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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Tue, September 27, 2016

At least 100 activists, students and farmer representatives grouped under the West Nusa Tenggaras Peoples Defender Front (FPR) staged a rally in commemoration of National Farmers Day in front of the provinces governor office in Mataram on Monday.

They urged the government to implement its land redistribution program for farmers, including those who live in Lombok.

They are calling on the governor [NTB Governor M.Zainul Majdi] to urge President Joko Jokowi Widodo to immediately realize its land redistribution program for farmers, said Marzuki, the rallys orator who is also the chairman of the Land Reform Movement Alliance (AGRA) NTB.

He said the governments land reform program comprised not only land redistribution but also legalization programs, in which it targeted to certify 9 million hectares of land for farmers.

They included 0.6 million ha of non-certified transmigration land, 3.4 million ha of land assets belonging to the Agrarian National Operation Project (Prona), 0.4 million ha of land with cultivation permits (HGU), which are abandoned and have expired permits, and 4.1 million ha of forest areas released.

The land redistribution program must be able to touch farmers in Lombok because land ownership has become a serious problem affecting the sustainable livelihood of our farmers, said Marzuki.

He said AGRA NTB recorded at least 16,000 ha of the provinces land was now controlled by the tourist sector, while 889,000 ha belonged to the forestry sector. Meanwhile, national parks controlled 105,000 ha of land while 114,000 ha were owned by plantation companies.

With such figures, NTB farmers owned only around 0.3  0.5 ha of land per person on average, Marzuki further said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roeslani has submitted an application for tax amnesty, symbolically representing businesspeople complying with President Joko Widodo's flagship policy.

Rosan explained that he and several businesspeople had simultaneously declared their assets following the governments decision to give additional time for people to complete their administrative filings in the first phase of the tax pardon program.

"The recent adjustment is very helpful and encourages businesspeople to participate in the tax amnesty program," he told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday, adding that Kadin applauded the governments decision to allot extra time.

Earlier, businesspeople complained of the limited time to participate in the program in the first phase.

Rosan, a 47-year-old businessman who is currently the president director of coal producer Bukit Mutiara, has run various corporations, some of which are concerted with the Bakrie Group such as Berau Coal Energy, Recapital and Bumi Plc. (ags)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has pledged to closely monitor feedlotters participating in the 5 plus 1 cattle import program, in support of the nations livestock sufficiency measures.

Under the program, feedlotters are permitted to import cattle for breeding with an obligation to import one female cow for every five calves.

"This program will help Indonesia become self-sufficient in beef. The President targets nine to 10 years [to achieve the goal] but I think the target can be reached faster. We will supervise their activities and report those who cheat," KPPU chairman Muhammad Syarkawi Rauf said after a meeting at the Trade Ministry in Jakarta on Monday.

Twenty five feedlotters have applied for the program, three of which have been approved, namely Japfa Comfeed subsidiary Santosa Agrindo (Santori) and Gunung Sewu Group's Great Giant Livestock (GGL).

"If they are proven to violate the rule, we will confiscate their cows. It has been stipulated in the agreement and legally sealed," said Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, adding that an audit into their operations will be launched in 2018 at the latest. (ags)
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha and Ruslan Sangaji (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Mataram/Palu  Tue, September 27 2016

Floods have been hitting a number of regions across the country, displacing people, destroying agricultural fields and inundating hundreds of houses in the affected areas.

The National Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded 1,495 disaster incidents that have occurred across the archipelago from January to August, with floods (535 times), tornadoes (405) and landslides (323) as the most frequent ones.

The events, which claimed a total of 257 lives and injured 303, forced 2.1 million people to migrate from their areas as thousands of houses were destroyed.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) member Ahmad Basarah has warned teachers on the dangers of liberalism, saying that it has drugged the nation.

"The nation has been under the spell of liberalism and capitalism, our minds are filled with the doctrine of consumerism," Ahmad said while addressing the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) members during an expose of the MPR's four guiding pillars in Lampung on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Ahmad, a politician with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said several aspects of community life in Indonesia had been compromised by liberalism, without people realizing it.

He cited examples of water, mobile phones and toothpaste, which are commonly used by society, as having been colonized by foreign nations.

"Therefore I remind you that Pancasila is the basis and the state ideology. Pancasila values in society will usher in the purpose of the state," Ahmad said.

Liberal ideology has also entered the political arena; he went on, with a democratic system that is driven to be very expensive. Liberalism in politics is also evidenced in the high costs of those aspiring to be regional heads or House of Representative members, Ahmad added.

"Indonesian democracy has become a political industry, with regional heads and House memberships requiring exorbitant costs," he said. (liz/evi)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

The Culture and Education Ministry has selected 500 elementary and secondary schools across Jakarta for the trial of the full-day school program.

Minister Muhadjir Effendi, who announced the program last month, said he would welcome any school that wanted to voluntarily register for the trial.

Currently, we are preparing 500 schools to become the gauge [for the success] of the implementation of the full-day school program, Muhadjir was quoted by kompas.com as saying on Monday after attending a seminar in Padang, West Sumatra.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

Four Indonesian hostages released by the Abu Sayyaf group returned to Indonesia over the weekend, an official has confirmed.

They departed from the Philippines on Saturday and the process was handled by the Foreign Ministry, Wibanarto Eugenius, ministerial counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He added that along with usual procedures, the four Indonesian sailors would undergo medical checkups in Jakarta before returning to their families in their respective hometowns.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, September 27, 2016

The North Sumatra General Elections Commission (KPUD) has opened an Election Smart House in North Sumatra to increase voter participation in the upcoming elections.

The Election Smart House, located at the KPUDs office in Medan, was officiated by General Elections Commission head Juri Ardiantoro and North Sumatra governor T. Erry Nuradi.

Juri said the house was open to the public and was aimed at increasing voter participation, which had been declining in past elections.

Our target is a higher level of voter participation in elections at several levels compared to the last elections, he said Tuesday.

KPUD head Mulia Banurea said the smart house provided complete information about the elections, from their history to the process and stages of elections. Mulia said his office had partnered with several universities in Medan to manage the smart house.

We are going to visit universities and schools to spread information about the importance of elections for our democracy, Mulia said. (evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Jakarta Police will investigate the cause of the collapse of part of a pedestrian bridge in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, during heavy rain last Saturday.

The bridge was made to last a long time. Therefore, it needs maintenance. We want to see if the maintenance was implemented or not, said Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by tribunnews.com.

If maintenance was conducted, the investigators will want to know if it was carried out properly, he added.

They must have missed something while conducting the maintenance, he said, adding that the investigation into the case had just begun and the investigators would soon summon a number of relevant officials.

The collapse left three people dead and injured six others.

Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama blamed the incident on the billboard display on the bridge, which added weight to the facility. He said that his administration wanted to clear all pedestrian crossing bridges of billboards.

Iriawan said that the investigation into the case would involve a team from the National Polices Central Forensic Laboratory.

We will investigate it because the incident caused fatalities. Give us time to work, he said. (bbn)
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Sungguminasa, Gowa  Tue, September 27, 2016

The Gowa administration and members of the Gowa kingdom have called on the South Sulawesi Police to investigate an attack on the Gowa Legislative Council building in Gowa, South Sulawesi.

Gowa Regent Adnan Purichta Ichsan Yasin Limpo said local consultative forum (Muspida) members decided in a meeting on Monday evening they would let the police handle the case.

We have fully entrusted the handling of the case to the South Sulawesi Police and the Gowa Police, and hope they can investigate the incident thoroughly, the regent said.

The incident began when hundreds of people comprising Gowa royal family members and members of the public concerned with Gowa customs and traditions held a rally in front of the council building at 1 p.m. local time on Monday.

They demanded the Gowa Legislative Council revoke Bylaw (Perda) No.5/2016, which mandates the establishment of a Gowa customs and traditions institute (LAD). Under the bylaw, Adnan was inaugurated as the LAD head and plays the role of and undertakes the functions of the sombaya (king) of Gowa, which has always inherited the throne through bloodline.

With no response from council members, the rally turned violent, with protesters reportedly setting the building alight.

If you want to call for the revocation of the bylaw, just go ahead but please use proper mechanisms. Dont take an anarchic, brutal action, said Adnan.

Gowa customs and tradition community head Andi Maddusila Andi Idjo, who was recently inaugurated as the 37th Gowa king, condemned the council building burning. He denied accusations that the attack was perpetrated by community members. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

State-owned fertilizer producer Pupuk Indonesia is intensifying agriculture research through its subsidiary, Pupuk Indonesia Pangan, in its effort to strengthen national food security.

Pupuk Indonesia investment director Gusrizal said his office had contributed to food security through its research and development programs nationwide since 2013.

We have conducted research programs in Kapuas [Central Kalimantan], Ketapang [West Kalimantan] and Merauke [Papua], Gusrizal said in a statement on Monday.

He further said Pupuk Indonesia had prepared Rp 30 billion (US$2.3 million) to conduct research on upstream product development and fertilizing, land cultivation and for marketing programs conducted under the assistance of agriculture experts from various institutions this year.

The research has helped farmers increase their harvest yields for the last three years, Gusrizal claimed.

He further said the company would focus on researching downstream products, such as ammonia and urea fertilizers. (rez/ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

Former Constitutional Court judge Haryono insists there is an error in the construction of Article 70 of the Regional Elections Law, saying that leave should not be obligatory for an incumbent who is taking part in an election campaign.

In the fifth hearing of a judicial review into the law on Monday, Haryono  an expert witness for Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama  said that the decision to take leave had to do with an incumbents financial rights.

If an incumbent decides to take leave, he would not get his financial rights and vice versa, but the article stipulates that an incumbent should take leave for a re-election campaign, which automatically means he has to forfeit his salary, he said at the Constitutional Court.

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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

The government said on Monday that it would fight for an increase in the countrys haj quota for next year to prevent people falsifying immigration documents to use the quotas of other countries.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said Indonesias haj quota might be returned to 211,000 people next year, the level it was at before 2013 when the Saudi government slashed the countrys quota by 20 percent due to renovations at the Al-Haram Grand Mosque in Mecca.

We will persuade the Saudi government to reconsider the current quota because it is no longer in proportion with the total Muslim population in Indonesia, Lukman said. Many of our citizens must wait for years to be able to complete the haj due to the very limited quota.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

The government is seeking to benefit from the inclusion of Chinas renminbi in the International Monetary Funds (IMF) special drawing right (SDR) in October, hoping that the free use of the currency will help improve trade relations between the two countries.



The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries official reserves.



Its value, according to information on the IMFs website, is currently based on a basket of four key currencies, namely the US dollar, the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen.



The inclusion of the renminbi is slated for Oct. 1 and after that it will be freely usable by the international community as it will be convertible under the flexible capital flows in and out of China.



An expert staff member of the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry, Sahala Lumban Gaol, said recently that the renminbi was slowly becoming an important part of trade, considering that China is one of Indonesias major trading partners.



Our economic growth and activities will lead our trade using more renminbi in the future, he said.



China, which is the worlds second biggest economy, sealed US$27.81 billion worth of trade with Indonesia from January to August 2016. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) placed China as Indonesias third-largest export destination and its largest import source.



Exports mostly consisted of commodities, such as mineral fuels, wood and rubber, while imports were made up of mechanical appliances and electrical machinery.



Indonesia already has a bilateral currency swap arrangement worth 130 billion renminbi ($19.49 billion) with the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC)  which is Chinas central bank  that will facilitate Indonesia in obtaining the currency whenever necessary, including for trade.



Zhang Min, the country manager at the Bank of Chinas Jakarta branch, said the use of the renminbi would promote the trading and economic development of Indonesia and China and reduce unnecessary foreign exchange losses.



The usage of the renminbi will reduce the losses caused by US dollar exchange fluctuations in bilateral trade activities, which will also lead to the healthy development of bilateral trade and investment, he said.



More than 30 overseas central banks and monetary authorities have brought the renminbi into their foreign reserve portfolios to the amount of 864.70 billion yuan by the end of 2015, Zhang said, quoting data from the PBOC.



Separately, Institute for Development of Economics and Finance executive director Enny Sri Hartati warned that the inclusion of the renminbi in the SDR basket could strengthen the currency, thus making importation more attractive than exportation.



The prices of commodities have been plunging and we still see limited demand for them. If the renminbi strengthens, we could see a stagnation of exports to China, she told The Jakarta Post.



Indonesia is known for its abundant natural resources, including coal and tin. However, as the global economy slumped and has remained weak for years, demand for commodities fell along with prices. (vps)

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Jakarta deputy gubernatorial hopeful and notable businessman Sandiaga Uno has applied for a tax amnesty in Jakarta on Tuesday to fulfill his promise to be transparent while running for office.

He joined fellow businesspeople who served as board members on the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) who requested the tax amnesty at the Directorate General of Taxation in Jakarta. Sandiaga was serving as micro, small and medium enterprises deputy chairman of the Kadin.

He only reported his firms tax status, while his team was still preparing the relevant documents for his private application. I have been very busy for preparing for the gubernatorial election over the last three months. Insha Allah [God willing], I will apply for a private tax amnesty tomorrow [Wednesday], he told journalists.

Sandiaga called on his gubernatorial rivals and other businessperson-politicians to follow his example.

Earlier, he took up the challenge from incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to open up his finances. "Lets open all. Im ready to be transparent about my wealth, Sandiaga said.

Sandiaga claimed he declared and repatriated all his companies assets. I reported my 10 firms, Sandiaga said.

Prior to stepping into politics, Sandiaga was an executive in notable companies such as investment firm Saratoga Capital and coal mining firm Adaro Energy.

Sandiagas company Saratoga was listed in the Panama Papers, a big data leak about the clients of Mossack Fonseca, which manages offshore companies located in tax haven countries. Sandiaga admitted to being a client of Mossack Fonseca, but he said he never broke any law. (rez/evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

The president director and founder of private carrier Sriwijaya Air, Chandra Lie, applied for tax amnesty in Jakarta on Monday.

His participation fulfilled his recent promise to President Joko Jokowi Widodo in a meeting with prominent businesspeople, including Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Rosan P. Roeslani, OSO Group Founder Oesman Sapta Odang and media magnate Dahlan Iskan.

Chandra only reported his private tax administration, while his staffers were still preparing the relevant documents for his companys application. I hope my companys application for tax amnesty can be filed in the near future, he told journalists.

Chandra refused to disclose the value of his assets to tax authorities. He declared his personal wealth and planned to repatriate his overseas assets.

I want to purchase more aircraft for my business expansion, he said.

Chandra founded Sriwijaya Air with his brother Hendry Lie in 2003. With a fleet of 46 aircraft, the airline is now serving 47 domestic routes and seven international routes.

He expanded his business by establishing low-cost carrier NAM Air in 2013. (rez/bbn)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Deputy gubernatorial hopeful Sylviana Murni has the potential to attract the votes of senior civil servants in next year's Jakarta gubernatorial election on the back of her vast experience as a city official in the Jakarta administration, an analyst said on Monday.

The current Jakarta governors assistant for tourism has a long career record of serving in the city administration, Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) survey program director Sirojudin Abbas said.

The former winner of None Jakarta beauty pageant has previously served as Central Jakarta mayor, the head of city's primary education agency, acting West Jakarta mayor and acting head of Public Order Agency in her long career which started in 1985.

"Sylviana has wide connections up to the subdistrict level. The senior bureaucrats who dislike Ahok's leadership may support her instead in the election," Sirojudin told The Jakarta Post.

Moreover, Sylviana also has a close connection with former governor Fauzi Bowo, who is also a Democratic Party member. Fauzi might also be able to mobilize city civil servants to choose Sylviana and her partner in the race, gubernatorial hopeful Maj. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

Four parties have thrown their support behind the Agus-Sylviana pair for the election, namely the Democratic Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and National Mandate Party (PAN).

Sirojudin also noted that despite his lack of political and administrative experience, Agus could attract voters on the back of the big name of his father, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as his military and higher education background.

"It is impossible if he doesn't have political leverage that may improve his chances in the Jakarta election," he said. (rin)
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Linkedin Julie Pace & Jill Colvin (Associated Press) Hempstead, New York  Tue, September 27, 2016

Donald Trump blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and anyone but himself Tuesday after he was forced onto the defense by Hillary Clinton's cascade of attacks about his taxes, honesty and character in the first presidential debate.

Trump tried aggressively to pin America's problems on Clinton at Monday night's debate. But Clinton, showing her intensive preparations, went after him as hard or harder, including sharp criticism of his business practices and crude comments about women.

She also attacked his false assertions about President Barack Obama's birthplace, calling it part of a pattern of "racist behavior." And she repeatedly criticized for breaking tradition by refusing to release his tax returns, declaring, "There's something he's hiding."

Still, Trump insisted on Tuesday he'd gotten the better of Clinton, awarding her a C-plus while declining to assign himself a grade. Unsurprisingly, Clinton's aides and running mate took to television to argue she'd accomplished precisely what she'd set out to do.

Both campaigns knew the highly anticipated first debate could mark a turning point six weeks before Election Day, but it was unclear if either candidate would reap significant gains. Trump and Clinton are locked in an exceedingly close race and competing vigorously to win over undecided voters.

Clinton's preferred tactic  provoking Trump with jabs aimed at rattling him  continued to pay dividends the day after the debate. After brushing off Clinton's claim that he'd once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight, Trump on Tuesday dug deeper.

"She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem," Trump told "Fox and Friends" about the 1996 winner of the pageant he once owned.

Though he said on Twitter he had "really enjoyed" the debate, he accused moderator Lester Holt of a left-leaning performance and going harder on him than Clinton. He insisted he had "no sniffles" and no allergies despite the #snifflegate speculation that had exploded on social media.

And in one of the more bizarre moments in presidential debate history, he floated the theory that organizers had intentionally set his "terrible" microphone to a lower volume than Clinton's.

"I wonder whether that wasn't set up that way on purpose," Trump said. "I don't want to believe in conspiracy theories, but it was much lower than hers."

With precious few weeks left to campaign, both candidates returned promptly to the trail, with Clinton campaigning Tuesday in North Carolina and Trump in Florida. Those are among a handful of toss-up states whose winners could help determine the outcome of the election. Obama and Trump are slated to face each again on Oct. 9 during the second debate, in St. Louis.

The debate was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, often smiling through his answers, well-aware of the television cameras capturing her reaction.

"Hillary told the truth and Donald told some whoppers," Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, told ABC News.

Trump has said he can't release his tax returns because he is being audited, though tax experts have said an audit is no barrier to making the information public. When Clinton suggested his refusal might be because he possibly paid nothing in federal taxes, he interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

Trump's criticism of Clinton turned personal in the debate's closing moments. He said, "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president. He's made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party.

The centerpiece of Trump's case against Clinton is that the former senator and secretary of state is little more than a career politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international problems she's now pledging to tackle as president.

"She's got experience," he said, "but it's bad experience."

When Trump made a crack about Clinton taking time off the campaign trail to prepare for the debate, she turned it into a validation of her readiness for the White House.

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate," Clinton said. "And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Josh Lederman and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.
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Linkedin Prima Wirayani and Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

As the clock ticks toward the end of the tax amnestys first phase, conglomerate owners have started to swarm into tax offices to report their undeclared assets.



Chandra Lie, co-founder and president director of private carrier Sriwijaya Air, became the latest tycoon to take part in the governments tax amnesty program. The businessman submitted his amnesty application at the Large Taxpayer Office (LTO) in South Jakarta on Monday.



Chandra, like other businessmen who took advantage of the amnesty earlier, kept mum about the details of his assets, merely stating that most of them were located onshore and only a small amount was kept overseas to fund his childrens school fees, among other things.



I will repatriate some of the funds to buy more planes, he told journalists after submitting his documents.



Prior to Monday, several other tycoons publicly declared their participation in the program, such as Santini Group founder Sofjan Wanandi, Lippo Group boss James Riady and Central Cipta Murdaya founder Murdaya Poo.



Tommy Soeharto, son of former president Soeharto, is included on the list as well.



As of Monday, there were 514 individual taxpayers and 57 legal entities that had submitted asset statement letters (SPH) in the first phase to the LTO, which handles about 1,200 large taxpayers. Their participation resulted in Rp 7.5 trillion (US$577.5 million) in penalties or redemption payments  including from the tycoons  and Rp 279.2 trillion in declared assets.



The first phase, during which the lowest penalty rates of 2 percent and 4 percent are imposed compared to in the second and third phase, will end on Sept. 30.



With several days left, the amount of money redeemed from large taxpayers accounted for less than a fifth of the nationwide figure of Rp 45.9 trillion. The nationwide figure itself was equal to 27.8 percent of the Rp 165 trillion targeted by the government.



The amount of repatriated assets reached Rp 98.7 trillion, 9.9 percent of the target, and the amount of declared assets was Rp 1.94 quadrillion, almost half of the target.



JPMorgan wrote in a recent report that the declared asset figure had been higher than the $30 billion to $50 billion the market initially expected.



We now think that the final tally by March next year could be Rp 2 quadrillion. We estimate this may create fiscal headroom of 0.3 to 0.5 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] without second-order benefits, the report said.



According to JPMorgan, the immediate boost to government revenues via penalties could be from Rp 50 trillion to Rp 60 trillion, in line with Bank Indonesias (BI) earlier estimates.



The bigger impact, in our view, could be from taxation of future earnings from declared assets and then the second order from investment or consumption benefits. Assuming a 10 percent return on assets, we arrive at a potential Rp 40 trillion to Rp 60 trillion annual impact, or about 0.3 to 0.5 percent of GDP as additional first-order fiscal headroom.



Publicly listed lender OCBC NISP, the local subsidiary of Singapore-based OCBC, claimed that there had been inflows of money from overseas since its appointment as a gateway bank two weeks ago.



OCBC NISP president director Parwati Surjaudaja said some customers had chosen to repatriate their funds, but the total amount was still less than Rp 100 billion. The lender had also facilitated penalty payments exceeding Rp 1 trillion.



Meanwhile, the government expected to attract higher participation by issuing two more finance minister regulations (PMKs) that ease several rules, including the reporting requirement that has been revised to once a year from once every six months during the mandatory three-year investment period.



The government also held a coordinating meeting with BI and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) for the same purpose. The State-Owned Enterprises Ministry is preparing steps for state-owned companies to absorb repatriated funds as well, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said after the closed-door meeting.



The OJK has even established a special team to expedite the necessary process for companies wishing to conduct corporate actions, such as initial public offerings (IPO) and bond issuances.



The OJK commissioner for capital market supervision, Nurhaida, said the financial regulator had issued follow-up regulations regarding capital market products that were allowed to absorb repatriated funds, such as stocks, bonds and real estate investment trusts (REIT). (mos)

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27 2016

The easiest way to win hearts and minds is through the stomach. The premise rings true for Australias Victoria state government, as it showcased a range of Victorian dairy products at a culinary demonstration here on Monday.

The event, attended by hundreds of hospitality students from the Podomoro University as well as other vocational schools in Jakarta, was held at Agung Podomoro Land Tower in West Jakarta.

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Linkedin Jim Gomez (Associated Press) Manila  Tue, September 27, 2016

The new Philippine president uses an expletive to warn key ally Barack Obama not to lecture him on human rights and, in another impromptu speech, declares a dramatic policy change in policy such as removing US counterterrorism forces out of his country's volatile south. His key officials walk back the remarks and say everything is normal.

And the world wonders which pronouncement is the one that will stick.

Impassioned speeches by Rodrigo Duterte about the United States, the European Union and the United Nations have repeatedly led his government to issue clarifications, though he has been on the job less than three months.

Here's a sampling of Duterte's broadsides  and the ensuing clarifications by him or other Philippine officials.

'SOB' (BUT WON'T CUT UMBILICAL CORD)

THE STATEMENT: "I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody. You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Putang ina, I will swear at you in that forum."

Duterte in a Sept. 5 speech, using the Tagalog phrase for "son of a bitch" in answer to a reporter, who asked what he'll do if President Barack Obama questions his deadly anti-drug fight when they meet in Laos during the annual summit of leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

THE BACKTRACK: Obama responded by canceling a much-awaited meeting with Duterte, who expressed regret over his remarks. The two leaders, however, met informally in a holding room before a gala dinner in Laos, where Duterte said he told Obama the SOB remark wasn't directed at him. The brash Duterte capped the tempestuous week in US-Philippine ties by discussing, in another Laos meeting with Obama and other world leaders, how US colonial forces killed Muslims in his country's south in the early 1900s. Back home, Duterte railed at the US again in a speech but said he would not "cut our umbilical cord to countries we are allied with."

MIGRAINE OR PRINCIPLES?

THE STATEMENT: "I purposely did not attend the bilateral talks between ASEAN countries and ... the president of the United States. I really skipped that ... Now, the reason is not I am anti-West. The reason is not, I do not like the Americans. It's simply a matter of principle for me."

Duterte in a Sept. 12 speech at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila.

THE BACKTRACK: The remarks by Duterte, who has been critical of Obama and US security policies, came four days after his much-noticed absence from the summit of ASEAN leaders and the US president in the Laotian capital of Vientiane.

Duterte's spokesman, Martin Andanar, and at least three Cabinet officials, however, told the media in Vientiane at the time that the Philippine leader couldn't attend the annual ASEAN-US summit because he had a migraine and wasn't feeling well.

DRIVING US FORCES OUT OF THE SOUTH

THE STATEMENT: "The special forces, they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao. There are many whites there, they have to go."

Duterte in a Sept. 12 speech. He added that he was reorienting the Philippines' foreign policy and that Americans were under threat of attack by Muslim militants. "I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go. It'll become more heated. If they see an American, the latter will really be killed. Ransomed off, then killed."

THE BACKTRACK: Duterte's key officials initially explained that his remarks were based on fears for the safety of the Americans. But his defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, later played down the safety issue: "The fears of the president that they might be subject to reprisal by the Muslims is a little bit, may not happen because they're only in the camp and they don't go out of the camp alone or unless they're accompanied by our troops or they are also armed. ... (T)hese people are also combatants. They are not civilians that are subject to kidnapping by terrorists.

Duterte later suggested he only made the remarks to pacify restive Muslims opposed to the US presence in the south: "I didn't say [they] have to leave immediately. I said, 'There will be sometime in the future that I will ask the special forces to go' ... I never said, 'Get out of the Philippines,' for after all, we need them there in the [South] China Sea."

RATINGS OUTBURST

THE STATEMENT: "The issue here is not my mouth. And they would say the ratings on business, on the economy, so be it, you get out of here. Then we will start on our own. I can go to China, I can go to Russia. I had a talk with them, they are waiting for me, so what the hell."

Duterte, after US-based firm Standard & Poor last week maintained its investment-grade rating and stable outlook for the Philippines but added that a credit rating upgrade in the next two years under Duterte was unlikely. It also warned it may lower that rating if reforms stall.

THE BACKTRACK: Presidential spokesman Martin Andanar took a more optimistic stance. "We welcome S&P's decision as it gives government greater resolve to make our economy growth robust, sustainable, and inclusive. The fundamentals of the economy are solid and strong. ... Peace and order is a must for investors to invest more in the country."

ON BREAKING OFF FROM THE UNITED NATIONS:

THE STATEMENT: "Maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you're that rude, son of a bitch, we'll just leave you. So take us out of your organization, you have done nothing here anyway."

Duterte at a news conference in August, reacting to concerns by UN-appointed human rights rapporteurs about drug-related killings.

THE BACKTRACK: Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay later assured that the Philippines isn't bolting out of the 193-nation world body and clarified the context of the president's remarks: "I can assure you that he remains committed to the United Nations, of which the Philippines is one of the founding members, and to the purposes and objectives of which this august body stands for."
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Four Indonesian former hostages of the Abu Sayyaf militant group who returned to Jakarta over the weekend are expected to reunite with their respective families on Monday evening, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has confirmed.

"Since all the procedures have been completed, they are now in the process of returning home. They are all here already today," Wiranto said on Monday.

Three of the captives, Theodorus Kopong Koten, Lorens Koten and Emmanuel, were crewmen on board a Malaysian-flagged boat hijacked by Abu Sayyaf militants in Lahat Datu waters, Malaysia, on July 9. They will be returning to their homes in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

The fourth sailor, Harman Manggak, was the captain of another Malaysian-flagged fishing boat attacked by armed militants in Sabah waters on Aug. 3. He was freed a few days after the former three's release last week and will be returning to his home in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi.

The government has claimed that no ransom was paid for their release.

Unlike previous hostage releases, the government stayed quiet about the return of the sailors, providing neither public information on their arrival time nor a ceremony to mark the official handover to their families.

Five other Indonesian sailors, who were crewmen aboard the Indonesian-operated tugboat Charles, still remain hostage since June 21, making them the longest-held captives in the recent string of abductions of Indonesian sailors. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, September 27, 2016

Indonesia should pay more attention to the ASEAN market following the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) this year, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roeslani has said.

From January to August 2016, Indonesia's exports to ASEAN countries reached US$18.33 billion, a slight decrease from the same period last year at $18.19 billion. However, during the same period, the contribution to Indonesia's exports rose from 20.4 to 21.89 percent.

The export portion was bigger than that of the EU, which contributed 11.09 percent to the countrys total exports, and the US, China and Japan markets, which contributed 12.31 percent, 10.06 percent and 10.14 percent, respectively.

"It is time for Indonesia to focus more on the ASEAN market [] We have big hope that the AEC will motivate Indonesian exporters to boost exports to ASEAN countries," he said during the National Trade Conference themed "Trade and Export For All" in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Although Indonesian exports to the main traditional markets in ASEAN decreased, such as to Singapore (-0.46 percent) and Thailand (-6.09 percent), Rosan pointed out that exports to the other six countries showed a tremendous increase by 13.71 percent from $5.02 billion to $5.7 billion during January-August 2016.

The export value to those six ASEAN countries (Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei), however, was still lower than that to Singapore alone, which stood at $5.81 billion. Therefore, he urged businesspeople to further penetrate the six countries. (ags)
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Linkedin Christopher Torchia (Associated Press) Johannesburg, South Africa  Tue, September 27, 2016

Some call it "ivory on wings," part of the bill of a critically endangered bird in Southeast Asia that is sought by poachers and carved into ornaments for illegal sale to Chinese buyers.

The helmeted hornbill isn't getting as much attention as the beleaguered African elephant at a global wildlife conference this week in South Africa. But the killing of elephants by the tens of thousands for their tusks is intertwined with a surge in the slaughter of the rare bird whose beak part is a coveted substitute for ivory.

"It's all part of the rising demand for ivory," said Richard Thomas, spokesman for TRAFFIC, a conservation group based in Britain.

Poaching of the helmeted hornbill has soared since around 2010, particularly in Indonesia. The timing roughly coincides with an increase in elephant poaching that has caused a sharp drop in elephant populations. Last year, the helmeted hornbill was designated as critically endangered on an international "red list" of threatened species.

Delegates are discussing protections for elephants, helmeted hornbills and other vulnerable wildlife at a meeting in Johannesburg of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. The 12-day meeting of the UN group, which regulates wildlife trade, ends Oct. 5.

The helmeted hornbill is a bird of lore, featuring in an ancient belief that it sits by a river between life and death. Its feathers have been used in traditional ceremonies. During breeding, the female is sealed into a nest, relying on the male to provide food.

The call of the helmeted hornbill is an intermittent, honking sound that slowly builds in tempo until it ends in what resembles, for some listeners, shrieks of laughter. Loud and long, the call helps poachers locate their prey.

In a CITES document, Indonesia asked for more collaboration among law enforcement agencies from countries where helmeted hornbills live, as well as "end market" nations  a reference primarily to China.

China, the world's main ivory consumer, has already said it plans to close its domestic ivory market.

A large lump on top of the beak of the helmeted hornbill is made of keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn and other animal and human parts. It has a red tinge is softer than elephant ivory, making it an attractive material for carvers who have fashioned belt buckles, snuff boxes, pendants and images of Chinese deities from it over many centuries.

The upper part of the bill, also known as a casque, is solid, unlike the hollow casques of other hornbill species. Its price on the illegal market is higher than that of elephant ivory. A casque weighs up to 350 grams (0.7 pounds); the average weight of an elephant tusk is five kilograms (11 pounds), though a big male's tusk can weigh 10 times as much.

At least 2,170 heads and bill parts of helmeted hornbills were confiscated from the illegal trade in Indonesia and China between 2012 and 2014, TRAFFIC said.

Investigators found helmeted hornbill products being sold openly in Laos, a major transit point for wildlife traffickers that borders China, according to a TRAFFIC report released this month. Sale locations included a luxury hotel and convention center in central Vientiane, the capital, it said.

Indonesia said it has arrested more than 20 people in the helmeted hornbill trade and sentenced most of them. Penalties include up to five years in jail and a heavy fine.

On Saturday, rangers in Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park arrested a suspected helmeted hornbill poacher with a rifle and silencer, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, a group based in New York. The suspect had just entered the forest and did not have any bird parts.

"This species needs to be on people's radars," said Elizabeth Bennett, vice president of species conservation at WCS.

Illegal logging in Indonesia is shrinking the habitat of the helmeted hornbill. Conservationists fear poachers will focus on the Malaysian population once supply dries up in Indonesia.
On September 9, Hillary Clinton violated one of the cardinal rules of campaigning for any office- not to attack your opponents voters. At a fundraiser for Hillary in New York City, just the sixth one this year that was open to the press, she proclaimed that you can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. She didnt stop there, going on to label half of Trumps supporters as racists, xenophobes, and Islamaphobes. She also called these people irredeemable and not America. Attacking rank-and-file citizens in this manner was obviously not a smart move. Her polarizing rhetoric will not win her any new voters, and it will likely feature in Republican attack ads from now through Election Day. Many reluctant Trump supporters who were previously ambivalent about voting for the colorful real estate mogul likely feel personally offended now, and as such are more likely to turn out to defeat Hillary on November 8.

Reaction from the Trump campaign was as swift as it was harsh. Just when Hillary Clinton said she was going to start running a positive campaign, she ripped off her mask and revealed her true contempt for everyday Americans, charged Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, whose job is primarily to legitimize Trump and his supporters, piled on at the Values Voter Summit in Washington DC. The truth of the matter is that the men and women who support Donald Trumps campaign are hardworking Americans- farmers, coal miners, teachers, veterans, members of our law enforcement community, members of every class in this country, Pence huffed indignantly. they are not a basket of anything. Of course, he and the Trump campaign failed to mention the element of Trumps support which is in fact comprised of neo-Nazis, from the KKKs David Duke straight on down to Trumps army of white supremacist Twitter trolls. These people, the worst filth our society has to offer, did not support Bush, McCain, or Romney- at least not enthusiastically. But Donald Trump excites them with his hateful rhetoric and nativist policy proposals. So while a large majority of Trumps supporters are not deplorable or irredeemable, a loud and significant percentage of them are. And the Trump campaign is not doing anyone a favor by pretending thats not the case.

A simple fact check, however, can conclusively prove that Hillarys claim that around 50% of Trump supporters are deplorable is not even close to accurate. A PPP exit poll of Februarys Republican primary in South Carolina found that 10% of GOP voters there believe white people are superior to those of other races. 16% of Trumps voters felt that way, far more than those of any other candidate. However, white supremacists still made up far less than half of Trumps support base, even in a southern state with a history of racism. Now that Trump is the nominee and his base has expanded to include most Republicans and some independents, the percentage of Trump supporters who are racists, Islamaphobes and xenophobes is probably somewhere in the mid- to high-single digits. Its certainly nowhere close to half. In addition, the Real Clear Politics polling average currently has Trump at around 44% support in a head-to-head matchup with Hillary. So with her vicious attack against Trump supporters, Hillary accused more than a fifth of the voting public of being deplorable human beings. Any American citizen knows that nothing could be farther from the truth.

In fact, Hillarys basket of deplorables comment is so ironic because it runs contrary to the entire message of Hillarys campaign. If the central plank of Donald Trumps campaign has been the belief that America is no longer great (as evidenced by his provocative slogan), the Democrats message this campaign has been that America remains great and that our Union is still strong. American greatness and prosperity were the main themes of the Democratic National Convention (other than that Trump is dangerous). The topic of American greatness has also played a prominent role in both campaigns this cycle, with Trump dwelling on everything he thinks is wrong with America and Hillary painting a much rosier picture. But how can everything be so rosy in America if more than one in five Americans is walking around hating everyone who is not exactly like them? There is no answer to this question, because the premise is wrong. Americans overwhelmingly are not haters. 22% of the voting public does not consist of white supremacists. Hillary is totally wrong on that account.

There is another thing Hillary said in that ill-conceived speech, however, which is much more accurate and is worthy of discussion. After her deplorable remark, Hillary continued by positing that unfortunately, there are people like that and [Trump] has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people, now have 11 million. He tweets and retweets offensive, hateful, mean-spirited rhetoric. Sadly, this statement is very true. Trump has retweeted material from actual neo-Nazi accounts, including tweets with images that contain swastikas and other anti-Semitic imagery. He has peddled in conspiracy theories, including those based in racist ignorance. He has mocked the disabled, repeatedly insulted various American minority communities, and has surrounded himself with alt-right thugs who have peddled in all sorts of racism, nativism, and anti-Semitism. His campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon, ran one of the most overtly bigoted media outlets in the country. Trump has surrounded himself with stereotypical angry alt-conservatives, the crowd of racist xenophobes who believe lies invented by Breitbart and talk radio, like that members of ISIS are sneaking over our Southern border, joining the Obama administration and implementing Sharia law. Most Trump supporters dont believe that stuff, but many of the people around Trump do. And thats not a good sign regarding how the candidate himself might feel about these topics.

In summary, Hillary is wrong about Trump supporters. She owes nearly every Trump supporter an apology, because most Trump supporters are in fact good, hardworking people who are anxious about the future of the country they love. That fact is evident both with a look at the statistics and a look at those around us. The Trump supporters who are deplorable racists are not the Trump supporters I know. Do the deplorables exist? Yes. Are they loud? Yes. But they do not represent the bulk of Trumps voters. What is more concerning- and what Hillary should focus on- is the bigoted element within Trumps inner circle, because it is both more relevant and more present than the bigotry within the ranks of his voters.
In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season in Uman, we ask that you take the following precautions:

Defer all travel to the Crimean Peninsula and the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia-backed separatists continue to control areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, establishing illegal checkpoints and threatening, detaining, and kidnapping individuals, including U.S. citizens, for hours or days. Violent clashes between the Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have resulted in thousands of injuries and deaths, with civilian deaths being reported on a regular basis.

Exercise situational awareness and maintain a low profile to help prevent becoming a victim of crime. According to the Ukrainian Government, criminal activity throughout Ukraine is increasing, including a rise in weapons-related crime. Non-violent crimes, such as pick-pocketing, cell phone theft, and purse snatching remain prevalent and constitute a majority of the reported non-violent crimes. U.S. citizens are targeted for criminal activity when such opportunities present themselves and criminals have not hesitated to use violence if victims resist. The embassy routinely receives reports of ATM and Credit Card fraud throughout Ukraine. The embassy recommends against using any ATMs, but if necessary use ATMs situated inside banks. ATMs on the streets and in bars/clubs often have malicious code installed to steal your information. With regards to credit cards, the embassy recommends that exercising extreme caution when using credit cards. Try to use cash wherever possible to avoid credit card and ATM card compromise.

Know where your passport is at all times. If your passport is lost or stolen, you will need to come to the embassy in Kyiv to apply for a replacement, which will cost $135. As soon as you become aware of the fact your passport has been lost or stolen, please contact the U.S. Embassys American Citizen Services Unit at +38(044)521-5566 to report the incident and discuss next steps for obtaining a new passport.

Enroll in the Department of States STEP program. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Ukraine are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Department of States Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.step.state.gov to receive the latest travel updates and to obtain updated information on security within Ukraine. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

[TLS]
Anyone walking past the Tenement Museums building at 103 Orchard St. can see that big changes are in the works. A few weeks ago, a long-awaited $12.5 million expansion project got underway. On July Fourth of next year, a new exhibition focused on the years after World War II will open to the public and the museum will have taken its biggest leap since the institution was founded back in 1988. So we thought it would be a good time to check in with Tenement Museum President Morris Vogel, whos overseeing the high-profile project.

In an interview that took place in his office earlier this month, Vogel talked about the future of the Lower East Sides second most popular tourist attraction (only the New Museum draws more annual visitors). We also discussed key issues of importance to the local community, including ongoing efforts to establish a historic district in the blocks around the museum.

On Sept. 15, local elected officials, museum board members and staff gathered on Orchard Street to officially mark the beginning of construction. The heart of the museum is the restored tenement at 97 Orchard St., where staff members have always told the stories of European immigrants who called that building home. But those stories ended in 1935, when the building closed. The new exhibit, Beyond the Melting Pot, will allow the museum to represent the experiences of Puerto Rican and Chinese immigrants, as well as Holocaust survivors. Its being created on the third floor of 103 Orchard St., the same building where the museum store is located.

In our conversation, Vogel said the new exhibition is really all about building on the Tenement Museums vision of bridging the past and the present. This is a chance, he said, to overwhelm our visitors with the fact that (the museum tells) todays story Its happening on your streets. This is why your city or community looks the way it does. This is why the country faces the issues it does and this is a strength to draw on in negotiating those issues.

Vogel, himself a first generation immigrant from Kazakhstan, remembers having lunch with a board member across the street from the museum in 2008, shortly after he became president. They were both the children of Holocaust survivors. It was during this lunch, Vogel said, that he said to Ethel Klein, the board member, We will tell the story that you and I recognize because it is our story. In the years that followed, staff members set out to find the stories of immigrants who lived in 103 Orchard after 1945. They succeeded, enabling the museum to build narratives around three families: the Epsteins (1950s), the Saezes (1960s) and the Wongs (1970s). [The New York Times recently profiled all three families.]

During the Sept. 15th event, Board Co-Chair Scott Metzner spoke glowingly of the expansion, which he called a celebration of our individual histories and common culture. He also noted that the project is a risky one. Vogel talked about those risks during our interview, which took place later that same day.

We are a very small museum, he explained, where everything we do, we have to do right because theres no endowment, because we bought buildings, often at market cost  we built them out at market cost, without any guaranteed income.

The new stories will challenge the staff to step outside their collective comfort zone. We grew strong by concentrating on what we do best, said Vogel. Were not associated with telling the story of Puerto Rican migrants or Chinese families. Were not even associated with telling the stories of Holocaust survivors. Were going to be shifting what we do. But he said the risks are carefully calculated risks, adding that, its what you have to do if you want to try something  not just new  but something that is so necessary.

In the case of 103 Orchard, the museum paid $7 million for the property. The 1888 structure was actually three separate tenements. Parts of the property were demolished at various times in the past 127 years. The restoration project has posed many challenges. Vogel said, the exterior walls on the upper floors  the walls around the air shaft  crumbled as we did asbestos abatement. The brick walls, which are load-bearing, in many cases werent connected to structural elements of the building. The building stood up, as many of these buildings do, because it was too tired to fall down. Thats not a joke. It was gravity itself that kept it from going down.

First, contractors are rebuilding those walls, making sure theyre safe. Then the roof will be rebuilt and crews will move to the building interior. An 800 square foot apartment will be taken apart and put back together again, with a new staircase, wider corridors and other improvements. It is a massive piece of construction, said Vogel. The heavy work should be done by January, 2017, at which time the period-specific rooms will begin to take shape.

The project now taking shape is part of a larger vision by the museum to focus not just on the Lower East Sides immigrant past, but on its present and future, as well. One of my goals when I came here, said Vogel, was to make sure that people understood that we respected this neighborhoods history, that we saw that history as an ongoing process, that the history hadnt ended in 1940.

The Tenement Museum has always had a complicated relationship with the Lower East Side community. Many people, no doubt, appreciate its longtime commitment to documenting the neighborhoods rich history. A lot of small businesses value the museums role in drawing pedestrian traffic to the struggling retail district on and around Orchard Street. But as Vogel concedes, theres also a long history of conflict with some local residents. He referenced an ill-fated push in 2002 to seize a neighboring building through eminent domain. That really worked out badly, said Vogel. It made enemies up and down, not just the street, but the neighborhood. The museum was seen as imperial, as having its own vision and was going to do things its own way.

There have been more recent issues, too, impacting the way some locals view the museum. During the past few years, there have been vague rumors and references to the fate of several families living in the upper floors of 103 Orchard St. The suggestion was made that the Tenement Museum sought to displace residents as it plotted its expansion.

Vogel spoke with us in detail about the situation. Its true that a handful of people living in market rate apartments were required to move out. The residents of six rent controlled and rent stabilized apartments, he said, were relocated within the community. The Wong family, whose story is being told in the new exhibition, is among them. The living conditions in the original units were less than ideal. They were in bad shape and, in some cases, lacked bathrooms within the apartments.

In a neighboring building, we rebuilt apartments, said Vogel, complete with level floors, new walls, countertops, new appliances and guaranteed anyone with any sort of a rent stabilized arrangement a better apartment for the same rent and a guarantee that the rent would never go up over the course of their lives. In one case, the museum worked with Asian Americans for Equality, a local organization, to relocate a resident with a disability to a modern elevator building. The museum is paying his full rent.

Another hot topic in the neighborhood is a campaign launched by local preservationists to establish a Lower East Side historic district. The Tenement Museum led a push for an expansive historic district in 2006, but abandoned the effort in the face of strong opposition from local property owners. This time around, the museum has chosen not to play a leading role. This past November, a spokesperson told The Lo-Down, the Museum is sensitive to the full range of community interests and is currently letting the LES Business Improvement District (now known as the LES Partnership) take the lead on this initiative. The Partnership has expressed serious concerns about the impact of a historic district on small property owners, but called for a continued dialogue about the best ways that we can preserve the unique architectural character of our community.

In our interview, Vogel explained why the museum is keeping a low profile on the issue. Although he arrived on the scene shortly after the first landmarking effort failed, conversations continued with the leadership of the citys Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). In a meeting, then LPC Chair Robert Tierney spelled out a vision for a historic district. Vogel said he was extraordinarily supportive of it, and agreed to take the idea back to the Lower East Side BID.

Even before he could explain the commissions thinking, said Vogel, a local elected official (who he declined to name) launched into, a scathing denunciation of landmarking. He then, regrettably, went back to Tierney, apologizing for not being able to feel out the group. At around the same time, present day landlords were accusing preservation advocates, including Vogel, of employing a double standard. The argument, said Vogel went something like this: Your people (meaning European Jews) came to this neighborhood to make their money and now you want to stop me from making my money in my neighborhood.

So today, Vogel has a new perspective on the landmarking issue. Do we have to be the ones carrying a red flag on a rusty bayonet down Orchard Street?, he asked. Probably not. We live here. These are our neighbors. Were very conscious of their aspirations. Were sensitive to them because we tell the story of aspirations of generations. He added, The museums vision statement calls for the (institution) to work as hard as it can so that the political system, whether it be through zoning or landmarking, preserves the scale and the feel of a tenement district in the immediate area of the museum. Thats something we really want to see. But I dont want to be the one to go out there, especially to a new immigrant and say, We did ours, you cant do yours.

The ongoing dialogue with the neighborhood, said Vogel, has helped shape the new exhibition, as well as the museums overarching mission. We want to be understood as telling the story of how this neighborhood continues to evolve, he said. This has long been a beacon, New York and the Lower East Side especially so Its our responsibility to make sure people know where theyve come from and what their deepest values are  (and that the museum) reflects their deepest values and their hopes for the future.
The world was watching as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed face-to-face for the first time.

The Democrat and Republican rivals squared off in a 90-minute debate at Hofstra University in New York  their first head-to-head debate in the race to the White House. It was screened to tens of millions of television viewers in America and live-streamed across the world.

Here are the key points from the passionate debate, as the candidates hurled accusations at each other.

The showdown

It was the first time the pair had shared a stage (Mary Altaffer/AP)

After months of mud-slinging over the airwaves and online it was the first time Trump and Clinton shared a stage.

The pair arrived in the auditorium at Hofstra University in New York to cheers and smiled as they shook hands, Clinton greeting the tycoon with: Hey, how are you Donald?

Jobs and the economy

The candidates kicked off with different approaches to the first question on Americans wealth and work, Clinton looking to future policies while Trump targeted the Democrats record in government. Clinton noted that it was her granddaughter Charlottes second birthday as she pledged to achieve gender parity in the workplace and increase taxes for the wealthy.

Trump said the US had lost jobs to Mexico and industry to China and promised to revive the US economy by lowering taxes, cutting regulation and renegotiating trade deals. He repeatedly attacked his rivals husband, former US president Bill Clinton, for the North American Free Trade Agreement that was approved under his administration in the 1990s.

Clinton used the subject of family income to launch a personal attack on Trump, contrasting his charmed start in life with her own.

Emails and tax returns

Clinton admitted she had made a mistake (Julio Cortez/AP)

These were two subjects both candidates could expect to be attacked on. Clinton admitted that she had made a mistake by using a private email system during her tenure as US Secretary of State.

Trump said he would only disclose his tax affairs if his rival releases the 33,000 emails deleted from her private server.

However, Clinton accused Trump of hiding something terrible, suggesting he may not be as wealthy as he claims, pays a low rate of tax or gives smaller charitable donations than he has claimed.

Climate change

Trump denied saying climate change was false (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Trump denied saying climate change was false despite tweeting in January 2014: Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!

He also claimed in 2012 that the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.

Race

The presidency isn't a reality showit's as real as it gets. Make sure you're registered to vote: https://t.co/tTgeqxNqYm #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/87TwYLuDM2  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016



The candidates were asked how they would heal race relations in the wake of police shootings that have provoked outrage across the US. Clinton said gun violence is the leading cause of death among young African-American men and tackling the plague of gun violence is critical.

The pair clashed on stop and frisk laws, with Trump claiming a judges ruling that the practice was unconstitutional was wrong. He said: Right now our police are afraid of doing anything and that if you walk down the streets in places like Chicago, you get shot. A theme throughout his campaign has been to make America safe again.

Birther controversy

Trump blamed Clinton in the debate for starting the false claim that Obama was born in Kenya (Susan Walsh/AP)

Trump recently dropped a conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and was therefore ineligible to serve as President. The retreat came after years of campaigning for Obama to release his birth certificate.

In the debate Trump blamed Clinton for starting the false claim that Obama was born in Kenya and said that he was instrumental in achieving the certificates release. Clinton accused her rival of spreading a racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen.

Gun laws

Trump said he supported Clintons view that people on watch lists should have restrictions on buying guns (Matt Rourke/AP)

On a rare point of agreement between the candidates, Trump said he supported Clintons view that people on watch lists or no-fly lists should have restrictions on their ability to buy guns.

We have to look very strongly at no-fly lists and watch lists, the tycoon said.

Defence and cyber security

This is the simple fact about @HillaryClinton: she is a typical politician - all talk, no action. #Debates2016  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016



After batting off questions over his temperament Trump said he would not use the USs nuclear arsenal unless the US was struck with warheads first. However, he also said he cant take anything off the table and referred to issues with Iran and North Korea.

The candidates were quizzed on their views on cyber security, with a focus on Russia. Clinton said the US is not going to sit idly by and let hostile nations attempt to hack public or private information. Trumps past praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin left him open to attack. He simply replied wrong when the comments were raised.

Terror

Trump was quick to bring national security into the debate (John Locher/AP)

Trump was quick to bring national security into the debate, even when the question was on a separate issue. He first accused Clinton of leaking tactics to Islamic State on her campaign website and criticised the Obama administration for the ascendancy of the terror group. The Democratic candidate said she is hopeful that IS will be eradicated by the end of the year  with taking out its leaders her top priority in office.

In the wake of several deadly terror-related incidents in the US, Clinton said her rival had consistently insulted Muslims abroad, Muslims at home, while people from within the Muslim community would be key to fighting terror.

Fitness to serve

University of Scranton students watch the televised presidential debate (Butch Comegys/AP)

Both candidates appeared fit and well during the debate. However, sniffling by Trump set chins wagging on Twitter. After Clinton revealed earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia, Trump questioned whether she had the stamina to be president. You have so many different things you have to be able to do and I dont believe Hillary has the stamina, he said.

Clinton said Trump should not talk about stamina until he has tried out the busy schedule she kept up as Secretary of State.

Former president Bill Clinton and Melania Trump were among those in the audience at the event, which was expected to be the most watched debate in TV history.

Trump and wife Melania (Evan Vucci/AP)

Former president Bill Clinton in the audience (Matt Rourke/AP)

Some 2,000 protesters gathered outside the debate hall, including Hardhats for Hillary, socialists and activists calling for a living wage, police said. 24 people were arrested on mostly disorderly conduct charges.

Trump and Clinton will take part in two more debates before the November 8th election. Their running mates, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence, will square off next week.
On a New York debate stage that will have felt like home to both candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed in the first televised debate of the campaign.

The polls showed them just about neck and neck, with key swing states split almost down the middle. As many as 100 million viewers worldwide would be tuning in to watch the Democrat and Republican nominee draw their battle lines and make their first case to the American people on why they were best suited to being Commander in Chief. The stakes could not be higher.

As each of the candidates stepped in front of the camera, they each had a very different mission. Clinton had to present herself as relatable and likeable, to win over voters who feel she comes across as cold and distant. Trump, on the other hand, had a precarious balancing act on his hands. He had to maintain the outsider persona that had brought him such unprecedented success and at the same time reassure undecided voters that while he was not a career politician, he could, at least be a statesman.

In what has been billed as the most unpredictable presidential race in history, this first encounter was always going to make a fascinating spectacle.

At the start of the evening, Clinton plugged a newly fitted fact-checker on her homepage. Tonight, it would be put to use. Host Lester Holt challenged Trump after he called for the national implementation of 'Stop and frisk', a policy ruled unconstitutional in New York after it was found to be a 'policy of indirect racial profiling.' He denied calling Global Warming a hoax created by China, despite posting the claim in a Tweet which is still visible on his Twitter profile. Trump also claimed that the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement had been introduced by Bill Clinton, when in fact it was George H. W. Bush.

At times, Trump looked easily rattled. Occasionally he found himself waffling on business and taxation, and Clinton had him on the ropes on a number of issues. He appeared to suggest he paid no federal income tax, describing it as smart. When accused of rooting for the collapse of the housing market, he described it as business. And Clinton challenged him on a 1973 law suit against him, where the Department of Justice alleged he was guilty of housing discrimination, Trump had no more to offer than we settled.

But he did have some tricks up his sleeve. He questioned why, with all these novel ideas, she hadnt been able to implement them in the last 30 years of her career. When grilled on the 33,000 emails missing from her private server, Clinton was forced to concede that she had made a mistake, and accepted full responsibility.

He also referenced comments she made in 1996 about young African American men, describe them superpredators. Minority groups are a cornerstone of the Democratic base and Clinton will be hoping that these comments do not come back to haunt her on election day.

Playing on her recent illness, Trump also suggested that the Democrat nominee lacked the stamina to be president.

For the most part, Clinton was comfortable and when it came to soundbites, perhaps unsurprisingly, she came out on top. She lambasted her opponents Trumped up trickle-down economics, saying Americans must build an economy that works for everyone, not just for those at the top. As Trump became increasingly flustered, she said I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate... And yes I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think thats a good thing.

Clinton called Trump's attitude towards nuclear weapons deeply troubling, saying a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes.

For all the sparring and the toing and froing, there was a rare moment of consensus between the two. Each of them called for tighter restrictions on gun laws, of all things  specifically the availability of weapons to those on no-fly lists. Aside from that, though, there was very little common ground to be had.

Clinton held her nerve while at times; Trump lacked composure. Still, with one debate under his belt, he could come out swinging in the next debate. After all, this was only the first act of what is bound to be a polarising and closely fought election. This was a feisty affair. Dont expect things to cool down any time before November 8th.
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Krabi Boat Lagoons The Cleat wins inaugural Thailand Property Award

KRABI: The Cleat Condominium at Krabi Boat Lagoon has been recognised at Asias largest real estate awards as the Best Residential Development for Phang Nga/Krabi for 2016.

propertyconstruction

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 27 September 2016, 12:15PM

The Cleat Deputy Managing Director Sriya Yongsakul (left) proudly receives the award for Best Residential Development for Phang Nga/Krabi for 2016 at the Thailand Property Awards.

With a total of 36 companies competing in 33 categories, this was the first year that the Best Residential Development for Phang Nga/Krabi was introduced at Thailand Property Awards.

We are focused on being the regions industry leader, and this provides a good return to our investors for long-term investment opportunities. Were more than just a marina, where our resort development and condominium enhances the surroundings, said Sornkom Kitprasan, Managing Director of Krabi Boat Lagoon.

Construction of the The Cleat commenced five years ago, with two buildings now completed and works in progress for Phase 3 of the development, which will see enhancements to the projects distinctive designs with offerings of larger units.

The Cleat Condominium is sold under a freehold strata structure, with foreign nationals able to own up to 49 per cent of the units. The developer also offers a rental management service to provide attractive rental yields.

Each room in the development is decorated in a different style, from contemporary-nautical to modern themes. The units overlooking the marina present a luxury waterfront location with unobstructed views.

The project also offers the opportunity to own units with boat moorings.

The prestigious award was bestowed at a gala ceremony at the Plaza Athene, a Royal Meridian hotel, in Bangkok on last Thursday (Sept 22).

Joining Mr Sornkom at the event to receive the award was The Cleat Deputy Managing Director Sriya Yongsakul.

This award and recognition further boosts the confidence in our team to provide better quality developments, Miss Sriya said.
Phuket lifeguards warn of dangerous surf after Chinese tourist rescue

PHUKET: Lifeguards have repeated their call for swimmers to obey red no swimming flags at the beaches along Phukets west coast after a Chinese tourist was rescued from dangerous surf at Kata Beach yesterday afternoon (Sept 26).

Chinesetourismmarineweather

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Tuesday 27 September 2016, 02:46PM

Lifeguards rescued several Chinese tourists from dangerous surf at Phuket beaches yesterday (Sept 26). Photo: Courtesy of David Tawan

Lifeguards rescued several Chinese tourists from dangerous surf at Phuket beaches yesterday (Sept 26). Photo: Courtesy of David Tawan

Lifeguards rescued several Chinese tourists from dangerous surf at Phuket beaches yesterday (Sept 26). Photo: Courtesy of David Tawan

There were a lot of tourists on Kata Beach yesterday, though the wind and the waves were both very strong, making any swimming in the surf dangerous, Uten Singsom, chief Phuket Lifeguard Service lifeguard for Kata-Karon beaches, told The Phuket News today.

At about 3pm lifeguards noticed a Chinese man, about 40 years old, in distress.

He needed help, so two of our lifeguards went into the water with surfboards and brought him safely back to shore, Mr Uten said.

Luckily, he survived, but he was not the only one  lifeguards had to rescue several others yesterday, too, he added.

Mr Uten noted a lack of thanks from the people whose lives the lifeguards saved.

After the Chinese tourist was rescued from the dangerous waves, he left without even saying Thank you. He just picked up his clothes and walked away.

But in the big picture, we are not worried about it. Our job is to save peoples lives, he added.

Mr Uten said that a big part of the problem remained tourists ignoring warning flags and verbal warnings from lifeguards to not enter the water.

The problem is that tourists still ignore lifeguards warnings. They still ignore the red flags, he said.

Mr Uten urged all people intending on swimming during the current heavy weather to observe the warning flags.

Please swim only where it is marked with red-yellow flags indicating where it is safe to do so, and where lifeguards are on patrol, he said.

If you have a doubt, just do not go into the water at all, Mr Uten advised.
PIWC Meet & Greet Coffee October

Start From: Thursday 13 October 2016, 10:30AM to Thursday 13 October 2016, 12:00PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

WHERE: Starbucks @Central Festival WHEN: 2nd Thursday of each month from 10:30AM to NOON WHAT: New members are encouraged to join our monthly Meet & Greet Coffee Morning to find out more about our organization. Its also a great opportunity to chat with a few members in a more casual setting over a cup of coffee. Contact info@piwc-phuket.com attention Maggy Wigman if you have questions.
11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly, center, and her attorney Michael Critchley, second from left, are surrounded by media as they leave Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse after a hearing Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Newark, N.J. Kelly and former Port Authority executive Bill Baroni are on trial for fraud. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
FBI Director James Comey, center, flanked by Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson, left, and Director of National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the National Intelligence, Nicholas J. Rasmussen, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Nathan Carman arrives in a small boat at the US Coast Guard station in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Carman spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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As the famous castle of Dracula in Transylvania goes up for sale it is a a remarkable coincidence that featured in my new book is a medieval painting from a church in Transylvania that some researchers believe depicts a UFO (see below).



In Romania, everyday people, especially in the countryside, always considered the heavenly apparitions not as something impossible but as "divine signs" that can happen normally, though rarely. There are countless testimonies in this regard. This belief was reinforced by the fact that the holy characters of the Christian religion, from the Old and the New Testament were seen on occasion coming down from heavens and returning whence they came.

Dan D. Farcas PhD

The UFO Chronicles

9-27-16 Dan D. Farcas PhDThe UFO Chronicles9-27-16

The authors could not find who did the painting, nor when. However the text can not date before Luther had translated and published, in 1534, the Bible in German. The authors also noted that the same disc hovering, diagonally divided into sectors and with the stick underneath, appears on a number of medals from the seventeenth century, probably chips used in gambling. It issued its opinion that these objects represent the cartwheel described in Ezekiel's vision.





A similar picture exists in Liber Prodigiorum, a book, written by Julius Obsequens, a fourth-century Roman historian. But the book, which describes the unusual heavenly appearances over Rome, was printed, with engravings added, only in 1552. The authors noted some differences between Sighisoara painting and the objects on the medals; for example, these have almost all a circle of stars on the circumference, while they are not on the object depicted in Sighisoara.

Dan D.Farcas Phd is the author of the brand new book UFOs OVER ROMANIA published by Flying Disk Press and is out now on Amazon.

Flying Disk Press

About the author: Dan D. Farcas Ph.D.

Born in 1940 in Resita, Romania, he holds an MSc in mathematics and physics and a Ph.D. in mathematics and computers. Since 1968, he was a project manager for several countrywide information systems, mainly in health and science management. He was elected in 1993 a full member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania. Since 2011 he has been the President of the Association for the Study of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (ASFAN) in Romania. He has published in Romania over 25 books (on IT, philosophy of science, Extraterrestrials, UFOs etc.), more than 1,200 articles and he also has participated in numerous radio and TV debates.









In past centuries, when, in Romania, most of the population was illiterate, religious teachings were spread and reinforced by the use of frescoes, depicting biblical scenes, covering the walls of churches both indoors and often also outdoors as well. Even if these scenes evoke ancient events and distant lands, the painters painted men and buildings as they knew them in the environment they lived. Similarly, we can assume that they sometimes painted such holy characters in heavenly vehicles that resemble certain celestial objects that they saw themselves flying in the sky (Comets, meteors etc), or that were reported by witnesses of strange airborne apparitions. In areas with Orthodox religion there are many such representations in a variety of different churches.The city of Targoviste was the capital of Walachia for several centuries. The construction of the Princely Church in the city was completed in 1583. The frescoes inside have not been repainted but only retouched with all of the original figures and objects remaining exactly the same. As the Romanian journalist Gabriel Tudor noted, on the west wall of the nave, the fresco depicting the moment of receiving the tablets of the Law by Moses on Mount Sinai (the ten commandments), we see a character not mentioned in the Bible: depicted as an angel and placed between two concentric circles, looking as if it had just come out to watch the proceedings. What are those two circles? In any case, surely not clouds which are clearly represented in the nearby paintings in a completely different manner. Also they can not be stars or the moon, because on the same fresco the sun is seen, whose rays are prominently depicted to draw attention that the scene takes place in broad daylight. Could it be that the two circles are a graphic representation, in a primitive manner, of a disc-shaped UFO with a domed top, which the anonymous painter, having not a very good capacity to represent things in a three-dimensional perspective, drew as a circle inside another circle?The writer and researcher of mythology Victor Kernbach (1923-1995), in his book(Riddles of astral myths), detailed that similar frescoes have been in churches from Bucharest as the (old) Saint Spiridon and Bucur. Unfortunately, the first was demolished under the communist regime, but the second exists today and the pictorial representations are of the same type as those at the Princely Church of Targoviste.As the Romania author Calin Turcu (1942-2006) noted in his book(Aliens in Romania), On the walls of the chapel Lainici (Gorj County) can be distinguished a picture quite different from the others. The drawing, done in the early seventeenth century and representing the Annunciation, depicts, above the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary, a heavenly vehicle with the shape of a double balloon which again can not be a cloud. The flying object ends with a narrow open tube, where red streaks appear to burst and absorbed behind by a red cloud.On the walls of Tutana monastery (Arges county), built in 1577, is depicted an astronaut, equipped for space flight. It is by no means an earthly character. Images such as those presented above are reported not only in Romania but also in other countries of the Orthodox faith, as in the Decani monastery in Kosovo and on a number of Russian religious icons.But the paintings with UFOs are not restricted only to the Orthodox churches. One such painting exists also in a Protestant church, in the centre of Romania. Gili Schechter and Hannan Sabbath, from the, commented in an article of a photo of a mural fresco in the Monastery Church, not far from the Clock Tower in the city of Sighisoara (Transylvania). The photo reproduced in the article was made by Catalina Borta. Under the image is written in German, a passage from Psalm 130, 7: Israel trust the Lord! In the image is a large building, possibly a church, above which floats, slightly oblique, a large disc-shaped object, divided in to about 10 large sections. From the centre of the disc pointing down is a sort of spike. Above the bright object is a short column on which you see other objects that are hard to identify.Are these paintings depictions of medieval UFO sightings or do they have a much more mundane and simpler explanation ? As an academic and a UFO researcher I must admit that the images on these paintings are certainly worth a second look and we should not rule out the possibility that they do depict something that today would be described as a UFO.
Organisation: Build Africa

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Reports to: Board

Chairperson and Build Africa Global Chief Executive Officer

About US:

Build Africa is an International NGO that has been operational in

Uganda since 1996. Build Africa Uganda (BAU) programmes focus on Education and

Livelihood improvement. BAU currently works in 13 districts with its field

programs coordinated through two Area offices located in Kumi and Masindi.

Build Africa is currently implementing a number of projects from different

donors.

Job Summary: The Country

Director (CD) is a key leadership position responsible for overall strategy and

management of the Build Africa Uganda Country Programme. The CD, in

collaboration with the SMT, will lead the development of budgets and work plans

and their implementation. The CD will work closely with the government, donors

and other key stakeholders to improve education outcomes. As a member of the

International Leadership Team the Country Director also contributes to the

international strategy development, as well as ensuring the strategy is being

effectively implemented, monitoring progress, managing and mitigating risk.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will play a key role in the

International Leadership Team to devise, execute and monitor the

organisatipnal strategy.

Take lead of the SMT in developing and

delivering a robust business model ensuring growth of diversified income

streams, including innovative financing and more traditional grant

resources.

Lead Build Africas vision in Uganda and

manage the short, medium and long term plans.

Steer the design of proposals and budgets and subsequent delivery of

quality focused implementation

The incumbent will develop the

organisation by strengthening capacity, building high performance teams,

identifying and promoting talent and managing performance.

Actively promote evidence-based

decision-making and support/initiate operational research to better

understand the needs of beneficiaries.

Ensure that Build Africa Uganda is

implementing best practice of Child Safeguarding throughout the programmes

prioritising the needs of children.



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

The ideal candidate should preferably hold

a Masters degree in relevant field (Bachelors degree holders with

relevant experience will also be considered)

At least ten years of relevant experience

The Country Director must be an

international development professional with a passion for education

Previous exposure and experience of

working with USAID, OFID, EU and UN funds is highly desirable

Broad knowledge and understanding of the

education sector in Uganda, Africa and at global level desirable

Excellent track record of delivering on a

strong growth strategy without compromising quality

Broad knowledge and understanding of

social business models highly desirable

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates are strongly

encouraged to submit an application letter and a CV along with the contacts of

three professional referees via courier to:

The Director,

Future Options Consulting Ltd,

4th Floor, Office No .417, DIB Centre, Kampala Road,

P.O. Box 34934, Kampala, Uganda



5.00pm Deadline: 30th September 2016 by5.00pm
But the tribe has a long way to go
The tourism sector in India will undergo a shift in its focus with the Union government intending to build a few islands into global tourism spots.

The Niti Aayog is working on the details of the plan to turn nine virgin islands into fabulous tourist destinations similar to those in Singapore, Hawaii in the USA and Pattaya in Thailand. The planning body is in consultation with the ministries of tourism, home, finance and tribal affairs on island tourism.

This follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to make use of Indias huge island wealththere are about 1,380 along the Indian coastline. Earlier, the Prime Ministers Office had proposed to build 26 islands into tourist spots.

The places identified by Niti Aayog are Smith Island, Ross Island, Avis Island and Long Island in Andaman & Nicobar, and Bangaram, Thinnakara, Suheli, Cheriyam and Minicoy in Lakshadweep.

The government wants to construct world class resorts and hotels on these islands to attract mostly foreign tourists. These can be developed as prominent surfing destinations. Surfing is a major financial driver in water tourism.

The Niti Aayog is looking at holistic and sustainable economic development of these islands with private investments. The government is expected to ease environmental norms.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Photo: Shaji N Karun for Manorama

Now, almost 90 per cent of the Andamans is classified as reserved forest. So the government wants to encourage use of renewable resources like solar energy on the environmentally sensitive island. Only the south, north and middle areas of Andaman Islands are inhabited, leaving the eastern and western parts uninhabited.

At present, only four lakh touristsmostly domestic touristsvisit Andaman Islands in a year. Foreign tourists are put off by lack of infrastructure and restrictions imposed on travel to certain areas of the island. Most foreign visitors are budget travellers.

Even fewer tourists visit Lakshadweep a yearbetween 10,000 and 15,000.

The emphasis on island tourism comes at a time when the country's top tourist destination, the Taj Mahal, is losing its attraction. The number of foreigners visiting the Taj has been falling steadily for the last few years. There were only 6.48 lakh foreign visitors to the Taj in 2014, a 7 per cent fall from 6.95 lakh in 2013. About 7.43 lakh foreigners had visited the 17th century monument in the previous year.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram, who has been hospitalised for the past five days with fever and dehydration, is recovering and responding to all tests, said a press statement issued by the doctors at Apollo hospital on Sunday evening. While the Chief Minister still recuperates, press statements and party releases continue to be issued from the hospital. The very next day after she was hospitalised, a statement on Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department was issued under the Chief Ministers instruction.

On Monday, while the authorities maintained that she would continue to be in the hospital for few more days, the candidate list for all 12 corporations going to elections on October 17 and 19 was issued by the AIADMK in her name. She also condoled the death of 15 people in a road accident in Ariyalur near Tiruchy in Tamil Nadu, announcing a compensation for the relatives of the families. But speculations are rife about her health, in the absence of any concrete statement either by the hospital or by the government or from her party. With every other minister and party cadre making a beeline to the hospital premises at Greams road in Chennai, the state secretariat wears a deserted look.

Fort St George, the seat of administration in Chennai, which used to be flocked by AIADMK cadres and relatives of ministers, doesnt have any VIP visitors these days. A few review meetings, say sources in the secretariat, have been held as scheduled, but files have piled up in these five days waiting for the Chief Ministers concurrence. The anxiety about CMs health condition is rife in the corridors of power in the secretariat. Apparently, during every AIADMK regime in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa was always at the helm of affairs and every movement in the government happened under her nose. It may be recalled that she is the only Chief Minister in the history of Tamil Nadu to reshuffle the cabinet or the bureaucracy every often for administrative reasons. Her absence for more than five days, along with a lack of movement, lends credence to conjecture.

In a statement on Tuesday, Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Dr S.Ramadoss demanded that the chief minsiter release an audio or video from the hospital to put an end to the rumours. One of the opposition leaders, who earlier wished her good health, has also said that such speculations should not be allowed to endure. Congress leader Karti Chidambaram tweeted, The best way to end rumours is transparency. A categorical visual is the need of the hour. Uncertainity, rumour, and gossip is not good for TN.

While rumours refuse to die down, it is still unclear as to who calls the shots when the CM is in the hospital. According to a press statement from the government, Jayalalithaa convened a meeting inside the hospital, between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, with the authorities to discuss the interim directions given by the Supreme Court with regard to Cauvery water row. The court had earlier asked the attorney general to facilitate a meeting with the executives of both the states.

According to unconfirmed reports from the hospital, it was neither the Chief Secretary nor the all-powerful advisor, but an extra constitutional authority who was calling the shots. Top bureaucrats, who wished to remain unnamed, say that this extra constitutional authority has completely taken over the government related issues and issuing orders to the bureaucrats. Another interesting fact is the CM doesnt have any blood relatives. A section of observers wonder what moral, ethical or legal authority the extra constitutional entity possesses, to liaison the CMs medical requirements with the doctors.

Even observers and opposition wonder why the Governor has not visited the CM at the hospital when the rumours fly thick and fast. Though it may not be a protocol, customary practice demand that the governor visit the CM whenever the latter is ill and admitted to hospital. Tamil Nadu doesnt have a full fledged governor. The decision of Maharashtra governor Vidyasagar Rao, holding additional charge, not to visit the ailing CM raised eyebrows in a few quarters.

The real question, however, remains: Even retired bureaucrats are worried that an extra constitutional authority gaining super powers is a recipe of disaster for the state.
The Supreme Court is likely to hear the Karnataka Governments plea to modify an earlier order on the sharing Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

In its plea, Karnataka has said its reservoirs are dry and it can only release water to Tamil Nadu by the end of the year.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu government said that the state government is likely to file a contempt plea against Karnataka government for not following the apex court's order.

The petition came three days after Karnatakas legislature passed a resolution saying the river will be used only for meeting the drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery Basin and Bengaluru.

The resolutions, however, did not mention the top courts order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs every day (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu till September 27.

Karnataka has said its citizens would go thirsty and crops in the state will be ravaged if it releases any more water to Tamil Nadu.

Over the past month, both states are fighting a legal battle in various courts over the sharing and distribution of Cauvery waters.
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)
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Due to the growing financial problems within Keren Kiruv Yaldei Yisrael, which are now threatening the future education of 30,000 children across Israel, the esteemed Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Aharon Leib Steinman, shlita, recently gathered Gedolei Yisrael in his home to brief them on the mushrooming crisis.

.

The meeting was attended by Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita; Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh Harav Gershon Edelstein, shlita; and Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka Harav Dov Landau, shlita. The directors of the fund presented the Rabbanim with the deepening financial hole that the fund is currently facing. If the financial hole is not plugged in the immediate future, tens of thousands of Israeli children could end up going to state secular schools, instead of Tamludei Torah and Bais Yaakov schools due to a lack of funds to transport the youngsters to the religious educational institutions.

The chairman of Kerev Kiruv, Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz, related that the cost of transportation for these students this year alone is more than $17 million dollars. Today we have debts of millions of shekels to drivers, he revealed. If we dont have money to give them, no one will bring these tens of thousands of children to Talmudei Torah and Bais Yaakov schools, and if these children dont attend, all the 115 Kiruv schools may collapse, chalilah.

The Mashgiach, Harav Chizkyahu Mishkovsky, shlita, one of the Rabbanim of Keren Kiruv, spoke in very emotional terms. He said, We are facing a situation where more than 30,000 children may be lost! Harav Elyashiv, ztl, told me that this is not a matter of taking a secular child and making him religious. He is already with us and this means throwing him out of our schools!

The severity of the situation made an impression on the Gedolim, where they issued a call under the heading of A Time of Distress for Yaakov. In their letter, they used unusually strong wording and it is an absolute obligation for each and every person to try to do no less than adopt one child

Despite the grim report at the meeting, the Gedolim expressed optimism that their message will resonate within the Torah world and that the community will become vital partners, in making sure these children will be able to grow in Torah and Yiras Shamayim.

For more information or to donate:

www.chinuchatzmai.org
Carol Jones knows what she wants to hear Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump discuss during their first televised debate: education and jobs. Shes far from sure which candidate will earn her vote on Election Day.

All we see is the cat fighting, says the Shirley, Arkansas, retired substitute teacher. At Mondays debate, the 70-year-old says, they need to talk about their programs  but I dont think they will.

A majority of Americans, like Jones, say theyre frustrated, angry  or both  with the 2016 presidential election, according to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Most Americans arent feeling proud or hopeful about the race, and half feel helpless, the results find. Majorities of Americans want more focus on issues that are important to them, starting with health care, Social Security, education, terrorism and homeland security.

Apathy isnt the problem, the survey found. Eighty-six percent of Americans are paying at least some attention to the race.

The campaign is certainly hard to miss. Trump and Clinton are the two least popular presidential candidates in history, and their ferocious battle is smashing precedents and dominating public discourse.

Trump has built his campaign in large part on attention-getting and frequently untrue  accusations, such as that his opponent is the devil and President Barack Obama founded the Islamic State group. But hes found success linking the nations immigration woes to its national security concerns, the latter of which is rated by Americans as among the top issues facing the country.

Clinton is a former senator and secretary of state who is an avowed foreign and domestic policy wonk. She has tried to make the election, in part, a referendum on Trumps fitness for office. Her recent stumble during an abrupt exit from this years 9/11 memorial ceremony, captured on video, added to the reality-show quality of the election. Her campaign disclosed that shed been diagnosed with pneumonia.

Clinton and Trump have clear political and stylistic objectives during their first debate Monday, the first of three such showdowns certain to influence the race in its final six weeks. For both, its about rattling the other candidate  and not being baited into a less-than-presidential performance. Trump is looking to shore up his credibility with moderate white voters, particularly women, after more than a year of remarks that appeared intolerant or bigoted. Clinton is trying to appeal to young Americans, who are unenthusiastic about her candidacy.

Issues? Jones suggests the candidates owe more on that front it to potential voters who dont have access to the internet or the time she has to hunt down their policy positions.

I went looking on the internet for (Clintons) position on free (college) education, and it was hard, but I finally found it, says the lifelong Democrat, who isnt sold on Clinton because she doesnt trust her, or husband Bill, the former president and governor of Jones state. They need to talk about their programs on this, this and that.

Whether the candidates ever get to informative discussions of their policy positions and their professional qualifications is unclear. But the demand is there.

The survey found that nearly two-thirds of Americans say the campaign focuses too little on the issues that matter to them personally. More than 6 in 10 Americans of both parties agree. A bit more than half say theres been too little focus on the candidates qualifications, with Democrats being more likely than Republicans to feel that way, 61 percent to 45 percent. And more than half of Americans in the survey said the campaign is focused too much on the personal characteristics of the candidates, with Republicans and Democrats about equally likely to feel that way.

The issues Americans care most about? Health care comes in first, with 81 percent listing that as very or extremely important, while similarly high percentages said the same about Social Security, education, terrorism and homeland security. The next most-cited issues: crime and economic growth, which three-quarters of respondents listed as at least very important. Similar majorities cited poverty and taxes. Ranking lower, according to the findings: immigration, with just 61 percent listing the issue as very or extremely important to them.

Theres bipartisan agreement on the importance of some issues. Nearly identical percentages of Democrats and Republicans call crime and unemployment top issues. At least three-quarters from both parties call Social Security very important.

On many other issues, their priorities diverge: Democrats are particularly likely to call health care and poverty top issues, while Republicans are particularly likely to rank terrorism, taxes, debt and foreign policy as very important. About 7 in 10 Democrats but less than half of Republicans named as top issues call gun control and income inequality. Three-quarters of Democrats, but only about a third of Republicans, say the same about racism, the environment and climate change.

Republicans are far more likely to name international trade agreements as a very or extremely important issue. And 7 in 10 Republicans, but only about half of Democrats, call immigration a top priority. Among Americans with a favorable opinion of Trump, nearly 8 in 10 say so.

(AP)
Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Dov Kalmanovich laments the fact that the city does not provide funding for a simchas beis hashoeva for the dati leumi community, only do so for the chareidim. He said NIS 750,000 is allocated for chareidi events on Sukkos while the dati leumi community gets zero.

Many have found the remarks from the deputy mayor distasteful, unprofessional, and according to some, untrue. It is cited that the city funds many slichos and other events for the dati leumi community and the deputy mayors sour grapes attitude is out of place.

Dati leumi websites quote aides to the mayor as sources and not by name, speaking out against Kalmanovich, adding deputy mayor is not an expert in his area of responsibility in City Hall and he also paints an inaccurate picture for the public due to his ignorance, often doing so for his own political gain.

One of the examples mentioned is the fact that Mayor Barkat added NIS 200,000 in funding the dati leumi Jewish Heritage event, and as one in charge of this portfolio he is expected to know what he says before shooting off his mouth.

In response to the attacks against him, Kalmanovich explains he earned a living as an accountant for 30 years and he is well-aware of what is and is not spent for the different sectors and does not require an explanation from anyone. He adds that his performance as a deputy mayor is exactly what it should be, rejecting any and all criticism against him. He adds that if need be, he will prepare an accounting to show everyone in clear numbers just how much is spent for the chareidim and dati leumi communities.

Aides to the mayor, all quoted anonymously, signal Mayor Barkat is far less than pleased with Kalmanovichs remarks and is weighing removing the deputy mayor position from him.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The hearing in a district court regarding the early release from prison for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto was held on Monday morning as scheduled. As reported, a parole board voted to release the rabbi on Sunday, 22 Elul after serving seven months of a one-year term due to his deteriorating illness. The rabbi is receiving chemotherapy while serving his term.

The state appealed and this led to the district court hearing, seeking to reverse the decision and compel the rabbi to complete serving his sentence, as per the plea bargain agreement he signed with the prosecution.

The court heard the facts in the case and promised to announced the verdict on Thursday, 26 Elul. For the time being, the rabbis release was placed on hold and he remains in prison.

The closed-door appeal hearing began at 10:00AM on 23 Elul, with Justice Avraham Tal presiding.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
In August 2016 it was reported that an elderly wheelchair-bound woman was tied to a fence in Tel Aviv on a very hot day by her foreign caretaker. The news went viral along with the photo on social media, leading to police and prosecution involvement.

Some public officials were quick to call for a probe while Interior Minister Deri called to expel the caretaker.

The Tel Aviv Prosecutor took the case and a probe was launched. The caretaker was told she is not facing criminal charges for tying the woman to the fence near Ayalon Shopping Center in Ramat Gan. According to the Facebook post, the elderly woman was tied to the fence for at least 40 minutes. Needless to say the response on Facebook was quite an angry one, directed at the caretaker.

In the statement to the media released on Monday 23 Elul, the prosecution reports that a thorough investigation into the matter was conducted. The caretaker reported she had to enter a place that was not wheelchair accessible and therefore, the elderly woman was tied to the nearby fence, for no longer than ten minutes. The prosecutions investigators were unable to find any evidence contradicting the statements from the caretaker. In addition, while some may find the actions of the caretaker as inappropriate or worse, the state adds the elderly woman was never in life-threatening danger as was believed initially.

Weighing the evidence, the statements, facts and evidence in the case, the decision was made to inform the caretaker that she will not face charges. The family of the woman who was in the wheelchair was also informed of the states decision in the case.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The governments key witness in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing case said that he interpreted an email from one of the defendants that it was time for some traffic problems as an order to put a political revenge plot into action.

David Wildstein worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency that operates New York-area bridges, tunnels, ports and airports. He pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to cause traffic gridlock near the bridge to punish Fort Lees Democratic mayor for not endorsing Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

Bridget Kelly, Christies former deputy chief of staff, has claimed the email from mid-August 2013 was a joke, but Wildstein testified Monday that he didnt take it as one.

I understood that to mean it was time to change the lanes configuration at the upper level of the George Washington Bridge in order to create traffic in the borough of Fort Lee, Wildstein said. We had had joking emails before. I did not think she was joking.

The government contends that a month later, Wildstein, Kelly and Port Authority executive Bill Baroni put the plan into action and caused four days of traffic jams.

Baroni and Kelly are on trial for fraud, conspiracy and civil rights counts. Christie hasnt been charged, but prosecutors say Wildstein will testify that he told the governor about the plot on the third of the four days of traffic chaos. Christie has denied that.

Both defendants say Wildstein conceived and carried out the scheme in September 2013. The bridge, one of the worlds busiest, spans the Hudson River and connects Fort Lee, New Jersey, with New York City.

Last week, Wildstein testified that Christies office used the Port Authority as a source of political favors for local Democratic officials whose endorsements were sought for his 2013 re-election. Christie wound up winning easily.

Wildstein said Christie and his former campaign manager, Bill Stepien, were among those who discussed the strategy at a meeting about Christies re-election.

Stepien and another former Christie aide who testified Friday, Matt Mowers, now work for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps campaign.

Kelly and Baroni have pleaded not guilty and have said the government has twisted federal law to turn their actions into crimes. They also have said other people with more power and influence were involved in the lane closures but arent being prosecuted.

Wildstein also testified he told Stepien about the lane closures in mid-August 2013, shortly after his email and discussion with Kelly, and told Stepien he was going to create the cover of a traffic study.

Mowers, a former Christie campaign staffer who worked with Kelly in early 2013, testified last week that Kellys office kept a spreadsheet noting what favors mayors had received and, on a scale from 1 to 10, their likelihood of endorsing Christie.

Prosecutors say Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, one of the Democratic mayors who declined to endorse Christie, was the target of the traffic jam scheme in September 2013.

(AP)
A Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam had to divert to Manchester for two hours overnight Saturday into Sunday after smoke and an unknown smell developed in the passenger cabin.

A Delta official and senior U.S. official both told ABC News that the emergency on Flight 138 was caused by a Samsung tablet. The Delta official explained that the tablet fell inside a seat and became jammed after the seat either reclined or was returned to upright. Underneath the seat cover, the tablet and foam then started smoking and passengers could smell a strange odor.

The flight diverted to Manchester, where the seat was replaced entirely. After two hours on the ground, the flight was airborne en route to Amsterdam, where it landed at 5:11 ET on Sunday.

The device that caused the emergency is apparently not the Samsung that is subject to recall because of a faulty battery.

The FAA is reviewing the incident.

In a statement on Monday, Samsung said: It appears that external factors contributed to this incident. This is not related to the Galaxy Note7. We have reached out to Delta to investigate as the cause is yet to be determined.

Samsung did not immediately respond to ABC News request today for additional comment.

(AP)
Following another round of non-public school reimbursements from the $250 million Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) agreement, Teach NYS, a project of the OU Advocacy Center, thanked Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders for providing record funding for Jewish day schools.

We remain extremely grateful to the New York Legislature and the governor for this program said Maury Litwack, Director of State Political Affairs at the Orthodox Union. This historic repayment continues to bring real money that delivers a tangible impact to our schools. Teach NYS will continue to advocate for programs that bring new and increased funding into our schools.

The repayment agreement, reached among Gov. Cuomo, Sen. Majority Leader John Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in June 2015 set aside $250 million over two years to repay Jewish day school and other nonpublic schools to compensate for a period of underfunding of the CAP program in previous administrations. Teach NYS maintains a full-time lobbying team in Albany during the legislative session and has long advocated for increases to CAP and Mandated Service Reimbursement (MSR) funding as well as the current CAP repayment.

CAP and MSR are state programs that provide funding for non-public schools that comply with state requirements for attendance, testing, immunizations and other services.

We are now seeing more non-public school funding than ever before in New York State said Jake Adler, New York Policy Director for Teach NYS. Thanks to Gov. Cuomo, Sen. Majority Leader Flanagan and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Jewish day schools and yeshivas are receiving more funding from the state than ever. We will continue our work on the ground in Albany with the senate, assembly and our communitys schools so that they are ultimately funded at the same level as public schools.

In addition to its advocacy team, Teach NYS also employs school resource specialists who work with Jewish day schools and yeshivas to ensure they receive the local, state and federal government funding to which theyre entitled.

(YWN Desk  NYC)
Two months after a historic delegation of prestigious rabbonim traveled to Toronto to raise funds to provide the recent waves of French immigrants to Israel with a solid education within the Charedi school system comes a second trip to benefit the recently established French Childrens Fund, this time to Chicago.

The Satmar Rebbe, HaRav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum and HaRav Malkiel Kotler will be joined by Hagaon HaRav Dovid Feinstein on their Tuesday journey to Chicago. Although the days preceding Rosh Hashana are extraordinarily busy for all involved, the need to provide for the spiritual health of the French Jews was significant enough to warrant making the trip during the final days of Elul.

Over the past few weeks, more than 1,000 French children were placed within Charedi schools in Israel with the help of French Childrens Fund, which also sent money to Paris to assist floundering community institutions facing imminent closure because of their perilous financial situations. With so many of these children now successfully enrolled in proper yeshivos, the focus is widening to include their whole families and plans are underway to open five centers, known as merkazim, that will offer batei midrashim, shiurim and other community services.

The rabbonim will be flying by private jet for the eight hour Chicago visit with several private individuals, accompanied with the funds leading philanthropists Ruvi Sharon and Reuven Wolf. The trip is part of a larger effort coordinated by the Kalever Rebbe, who has been working tirelessly for years to benefit Frances Jewish community. Having representation from so many facets of the Jewish community emphasizes the importance of the mission to provide French children and their families with a solid foundation in yiddishkeit and Torah values, both in France and in Israel.

Photo Attached: Meeting of the Gedolim last week to hear report on the Funds activities

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]

Rabbi G. and his wife Batya (of Beit Shemesh) are givers. Theyve both been working hard for many years in order to support their beautiful family and enable them to give help to others. In addition to working full time and learning, Rabbi G. has also been an active volunteer with various well known emergency medical services. Giving help, whether financial or medical, has always been one of their priorities- a significant focus in their lives.

Last Simchas Torah, Rabbi G. and Batya were blessed with the birth of identical twin boys. Taking care of twins is always a busy, full time job, one which requires double the usual amount of work, dedication, patience, and sleepless nights. Rabbi G. and Batya were prepared as usual, to step up to the challenge of helping people-this time, their babies. However, this time the help they would need to provide would be of a different and unexpected sort, as both babies were born with Downs Syndrome, an extremely rare occurrence.

CLICK HERE to help this family

Yaakov ben Batya Miriams and Refael ben Batya Miriams health requirements kept both babies hospitalized for months after their births. They weighed so little (only about two and a half pounds each) and have multiple medical issues. One child is missing a hand. Both babies have fingers that are fused together. Between them they also have heart, lung and hernia problems.

For five months the babies parents spent their days and nights at the hospital, accompanying them as they recuperated from heart surgery and taking care of their many medical needs. This took them away from their other six children and as one can imagine it was extremely taxing on the family. The babies parents could not keep up the hospital vigils while keeping their jobs so both were forced to give them up for their babies sakes.

Currently the twins are out of the hospital but still need to go to back at least twice a week for various medical treatments and follow up appointments. At home, they need round-the- clock care, due to their many needs. They must be fed in a very specific way which is a time consuming project, averaging one hour per baby for each feeding.

The babies well-being and care is all consuming. Rabbi G. and Batya are doing the best they possibly can to keep up-they are positive, hardworking and determined people with strong emunah. As Rabbi G. says, Hashem entrusted us with 2 precious jewels. We were chosen to be the guardians of these treasures, to raise them and take care of them as best as possible.

CLICK HERE to help this family

But because of all the demands they need to meet, neither parent has been able to return to work. The familys finances therefore, have taken a bad turn and the home has been breaking down for some time, with no end in sight. Rabbi G. describes how the house is empty. There is no food in the refrigerator, a situation with which this family has never been familiar. The small stipend they receive through Bituach Leumi nowhere near covers their expenses, even minimally. The G.s oldest son is getting married in two months and his parents are overjoyed. But there are no funds with which to make a wedding, turning what should be a happy & exciting time, to one of concern and worry.

Rabbi G. and Batyas biggest wish right now, besides the health of all their children, is to get their family back on their feet and bring a sense of normalcy to their lives. But in a few months Yaakov and Rafael will be back in the hospital for the required surgeries on their hands and fingers, additional heart surgeries and hernia operations, and the cycle of hospital stays will begin anew.

No family could withstand this constant upheaval and turmoil. We must step in to give help to these givers as soon as possible. Our goal is to raise $18,000 to give them some relief. With these funds we will enable them to buy food for their family, help them cover medical expenses and provide them with nursing care throughout the upcoming months. Then they can start planning for the wedding, bringing simcha to them all.

Thank you for giving. Every donation to Milkas fund makes a difference..

CLICK HERE to help this family
A delegation of Rabbis from Dirshu will hold a prayer meeting, empowered by the multitude of the learners of the Mishnah Berurah, on the Yahrtzeit of the Chafetz Chaim, ztl.

The nation of Israel will unite in a tremendous prayer event on the day of the yahrtzeit of the Chafetz Chaim that has the capacity of bringing actual salvations boosted by the power of the tens of thousands of the learners of the Daf Yomi of the Mishnah Berurah. * Those who learn, and those that take upon themselves to learn, the Daf Yomi of the Mishnah Berurah are invited to send in their names for prayers to be recited on their behalf and those names will be placed on the Sefer HaGiborim on his holy gravesite.

In preparation for the upcoming Yom HaDin, the nation awakens and prepares themselves by doing good deeds, repenting and strengthening all of their positive traits in order to be judged favorably on the Day of Judgment. In the international organization for strengthening the learning of the Torah, Dirshu, is excitedly organizing the upcoming unique event, the third trip by Rabbis of Dirshu to the gravesite of the holy Chafetz Chaim, the High Priest from Radin, on the day of his Yahrtzeit, the 24 th of Elul, only five days before the Great Day of Judgment.

This is a unique and extraordinary trip that envelops not only the tremendous power of tefillah by the Tzadikim of the generation but also boosted by the spiritual force of the countless leaners of the Daf Yomi of the Mishnah Berurah, when they pray by the grave of the Tzaddik as emissaries of the myriad of learners who ask that their prayers coming from the depths of their broken hearts be accepted by the Merciful One.

It should be noted that this is the third trip organized by Dirshu in the third year in a row in a trip that is completely a holy mission entrusted to these tzaddikim by the countless number of those who accept upon themselves the learning of the Daf Yomi of the Mishnah Berurah whose numbers increase and increase each and every year. The mass prayer will take place tomorrow, on the day of the Petirah of the Chafetz Cahim, 24 th of Elul in the city of Radin from where he spread out his Torah teachings to the whole world.

These tzaddikim will stand erect before the grave of Maran, the holy Chafetz Chaim, after this past month when the different branches of Dirshu throughout the world joined forces in order to encourage more and more people to join the countless number of learners of the Daf Yomi of the Mishnah Berurah, who delve into the teachings of the Chafetz Chaim in order to acquire the depth and breadth of his holy teachings that will literally afford life to those who learn it and want to act in the way a Jew should act.

Special pages of his teachings have been dispersed throughout the Jewish communities and also in the different educational centers for boys and girls who will set aside time on that special day in order to unite with Klal Yisroel in prayer and thought and beseech from him: Rebbe, we learn your teachings and they gives us life, he should be a Meilitz Yosher for all of us.

The live broadcast of the prayers by the grave of the Chafetz Chaim will be broadcast on the site.
President Reuven and First Lady Rivlin on Monday evening 23 Elul departed for a State Visit to Ukraine during which President Rivlin will participate in the commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the Babi Yar Massacre.

Over this visit we will commemorate the past, but we will look to the future, said the President before departing, and added, we are nearing 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and this visit is an opportunity to mark the cooperation between us, to make new commitments to working in partnership for the benefit of both our peoples. I see this visit as a good opportunity to strengthen the relations between our countries, and between our peoples.

Tuesday, President Rivlin will lay a wreath during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kiev, at which a minute silence will be held, followed by the playing of the Ukrainian and Israeli national anthems. He will then go on to lay a wreath at the memorial to the Holodomor, the mass starvation in the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33. Later President and First Lady Rivlin will be received at an official state ceremony by Ukrainian President Petro and First Lady Maryna Poroshenko. The Presidents will review a guard of honor and will together stand for the national anthems. Following the official welcome, President Rivlin will hold a working meeting with President Poroshenko after which the two will deliver media statements at the Mariyinsky Palace. Later, President Rivlin will address a special plenary of the Ukrainian Parliament as part of a day of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the Babi Yar Massacre. To conclude the day, President and First Lady Rivlin will be guests of honor at a State Dinner in honor of their visit, at the beginning of the event both Presidents will deliver addresses.

On Wednesday, President Rivlin will visit Odessa and meet the citys Mayor before taking a tour of the sites and institutions of Odessas Jewish and Zionist heritage including Jabotinskys house, Prof. Joseph Klausner house, the Geula building, and the home Chaim Bialik. President Rivlin will speak at the inauguration of the World ORT school in Odessa named after Zeev Jabotinsky.

During the event which will see the President officially unveil the sign bearing the schools name, students will present readings of Jabotinskys letters in Hebrew and Ukrainian, and the President will join students in a Hebrew lesson. Later, President Rivlin will participate in a conference celebrating the life and work of Zeev Jabotinsky before going on to meet Mikheil Saakashvili, Governor of Ukraines Odessa Oblast (region). Before returning to Kiev, President Rivlin will address the opening of an exhibition at the Odessa Literary Museum on the work of Jabotinsky, and then will attend a concert at the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater conducted by Benjamin Yusupov about the city in the days of Jabotinsky.

On Thursday, President Rivlin will meet with Jewish community leaders in Kiev, and then go on to hold a working meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at the Prime Ministers Office. In the afternoon, President Rivlin will participate in a reception for world leaders and figures ahead of the ceremony commemorating 75 years since the Babi Yar Massacre, and then participate in the official memorial ceremony at the site.

President & First Lady Rivlin will return to Israel early on Friday morning 27 Elul.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Recently, Mrs. Leah Steinberg, Agudath Israels Special Needs Advocate and Director of Project LEARN, proposed changes in inter-agency cooperation policy between the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York States Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The changes proposed would ensure that the OPWDD provide information on services and programs for the disabled in places that are accessible to nonpublic school students  thus empowering millions of individuals with disabilities throughout New York State.

As a member of New York States Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) of the OPWDD, Mrs. Steinberg strongly advised that the yearly communication/forums from OPWDD include both public and nonpublic school students. In addition, and even more importantly, the brochures given out to special needs children at Committees on Special Education (CSE) meetings, where these children are evaluated for special education services, and in follow-up mailings, should include information on disability services from all State agencies. This information has long been available in public schools and will hopefully be available, in the near future, to individuals attending nonpublic schools.

Enabling the disabled to help themselves is the goal, said Mrs. Steinberg, many individuals with disabilities do a free-fall after services for school age children end because they have no idea that they may be eligible for similar supports through other government agencies. These children never go to public school, so if the information isnt disseminated at the evaluation meetings at the CSE offices where these children are served, there is a strong possibility that they will never find out what services and resources are available.

The DDAC, the key body which promotes and helps implement policy directly with the NYS OPWDD Commissioner, gleans its information from a number of subcommittees. These subcommittees recommend policies that improve the day-to-day operation of the OPWDD at ground level. Mrs. Leah Steinberg is also a member of two DDAC subcommittees, The Vocational/Post-Secondary Opportunities Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Self-Direction, which is now being formed.

The Subcommittee on Self-direction will determine the process by which parents in the Self-direct Initiative apply for and obtain services. Self-direction is a relatively new service model where special needs individuals approved to receive OPWDD services are allotted a specific budget and then control how and by whom the services are delivered. That subcommittee is still formulating the self-direction process; Im trying to make sure that it takes the specific nuances of our community into account at the earliest planning stage possible.

Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Agudath Israels Executive Vice President, said, We are proud of Mrs. Steinbergs strong and tireless advocacy for the Jewish special needs community. She is active on two levels  both in the Advisory Council and in its subcommittees  creating policy and fine-tuning it for the benefit of our community. When she sits on these committees, she is truly a voice for the klal.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Egged bus driver who verbally assaulted and insulted a chareidi soldier on a number 75 bus two weeks ago has been fired.

The driver called the soldier Smelly dos (smelly chareidi) among other insults. In a statement released by Egged, after speaking with the driver and reviewing his file, the decision was made to dismiss him from the company.

Egged stresses once again the actions of this driver in no way reflects the position or policies of the bus company.

While the soldier was not in uniform, after asked to identify himself he showed the driver his valid IDF identity card that permits him to travel free of charge even when not in uniform. The driver was uninterested in hearing it, continuing his verbal assault against the soldier and chareidim in general.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The question that many are now asking is why the IDF does not seem to have the necessary funds to make sure the mezuzos on basis are kosher. The Tzav Echad NGO has received testimony from soldiers that their rooms do not have a mezuzah while others are found to be pasul.

The NGO used its Facebook page to reach soldiers, asking them to takes photos of mezuzos and report to them. A special app was designed to facilitate this process, permitting the mezuzah to be inspected at the other end to determine its kosher status. Soldiers were asked to download the app, photograph mezuzos and send them in. It has already been determined that 50% of the mezuzos on IDF basis are pasul and this has not been addressed by the IDF Rabbinate.

YWN-ISRAEL reported this back in June 2015, and sadly, it appears outgoing IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz has done little to correct the situation.

As was the case back in 2015, the IDF Spokesman explains efforts are made every year to replace pasul mezuzos, adding this time There is no budgetary issue with this, promising in the coming months, news mezuzos will be received.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Smart Morning (  ) show hosted by David Chacham, revealed the store chain owned by Eyal Ravid, which also operates Victory Mehadrin stores in chareidi areas, has removed books authored by Rabbi Shalom Arush from its shelves. The move follows a post on social media accusing Rabbi Arush of religious coercion. This particular Facebook post earned 50 likes, with most persons expressing surprise over the accusation against Rabbi Arush. Nevertheless, the books have been removed from the stores.

Yair Taylor of Dossim feels that in this case, if anything, it is a case of secular coercion. He adds that if a store abroad did this, there would be an outcry in Israel, adding what makes things worse is the fact the stores in question earn their livelihood from the frum community.

Ravid refused to be interviewed to comment on the story. He did say however the books authored by Rabbi Arush were not removed for this reason, simply for the reason they lack space in the stores for book sales.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
China said Tuesday it is making every effort to ensure stability on the Korean Peninsula, responding to implications from U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump that it isnt putting enough pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.

Beijing didnt cause the nuclear crisis currently gripping the peninsula, but would oppose the spread of nuclear weapons, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters at a daily news briefing.

China has been making unremitting efforts with all sides concerned to achieve a proper resolution over the peninsular nuclear issue, for the purpose of maintaining the peninsular peace and stability and the system of international nonproliferation, Geng said.

China is Pyongyangs only significant ally but has signed on to economic and political sanctions brought by the U.N. Security Council over the Norths nuclear tests and missile launches. China has also enacted unilateral measures to cut down on trade with the North and pressure it into returning to denuclearization talks.

In Monday nights debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump said China should go into North Korea, implying that it was up to Beijing to resolve tensions over Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program that has appeared to make new progress in recent months.

You look at North Korea, were doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea, Trump said.

Despite traditional warm ties, China says it has relatively little leverage with North Korea and is opposed to any moves that could bring down its fellow communist regime and unleash a potential wave of refugees and unrest across its border.

International concern over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programs is deepening following its fifth and largest atomic test explosion this month, its second this year. Thats fueling worries that North Korea is moving closer to its goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could one day strike the U.S. mainland.

(AP)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you so much, Rabbi, for the warm introduction. Shanah Tovah to everybody. Thanks for taking time to join this call. I know its a busy and important time. I couldnt be more grateful to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Rabbinical Council of America, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly for cosponsoring this call. And special thanks to Rabbi Jonah Pesner and Barbara Weinstein from the Religious Action Center for coordinating todays conversation.

As Rabbi Matanky noted, Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection, and Im not exempt from that. So, looking back on the last eight years, Im both proud of what weve accomplished together, but also mindful of the work we have before us.

When it comes to the unshakeable commitment to Israels security, weve taken a clear stand, and the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding constitutes the single largest pledge of military assistance in U.S. history to any country, totaling $38 billion over 10 years.

I made a commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and because of our principled diplomacy, every pathway to a nuclear weapon is now closed off. Iran has dismantled two-thirds of its installed centrifuges, shipped out 98 percent of its enriched uranium, rendered its plutonium reactor core unusable, and adopted the most comprehensive nuclear inspection ever.

On the global fight against anti-Semitism, weve worked in partnership with Israel and other countries to take a lead role in organizing the first ever U.N. General Assembly meeting to combat anti-Semitism last year.

And so on these issues and many others we have worked incredibly closely with many of you, allocating millions in assistance for Holocaust survivors, and ensuring that the U.N. finally recognized Yom Kippur as an official holiday, and more broadly, working to rebuild a sinking economy  so that weve cut the unemployment rate by more than half, provided health care to 20 million people who didnt have it before, ramped up our production of clean energy, signed a historic Paris agreement that hopefully will curb the accelerating speed at which our planet is warming and could threaten the future of our children and our grandchildren.

Of course, weve still got a lot of work to do  on the refugee crisis, on criminal justice reform, reducing violence, and creating a political culture in this country thats a little more functional. But a new year brings new hope, and the community represented on this phone call has always known what it means to stand up for the less fortunate, the stranger, the immigrant, the refugee. And so Im confident that we can stand together and make sure that as we pass the baton to the next administration that were going to be able to build on the enormous progress that weve already made.

And I just want to reemphasize how grateful I am to all of you, not just for the work that the various associations and assemblies and congregations have had on policy issues, but just as importantly, or more importantly, the work that you do in your respective communities every single day to help those in need and to help lift up the values that helped to build this country.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
17.35: The FTSE 100 closed down 10.37 points at 6807.67 as traders absorbed the fallout from last night's contentious US presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Oil prices took a knock after Iran quashed speculation that a deal to freeze production could be in the works, while bank stocks were in the red amid pessimism over the impact of a 'hard' Brexit which would mean abandoning the single market as well as the EU.

The US Dow Jones was up 89.5 points at 18,184.3 while Germany's DAX fell 32.2 points to 10,361.5 and France's CAC 40 was off 9.2 points at 4,398.7. Brent crude was at $45.76 a barrel.

No joy: Hopes were that Hilary Clinton's performance last night would raise market sentiment but this has not translated across global stock markets

'Declines in prominent German and Swiss banks have revived fears of a European banking crisis. Stocks had opened moderately higher in a small nod to establishment candidate Hilary Clinton winning the US presidential debate,' said Jasper Lawler of CMC Markets.

'The FTSE 100 erased early gains to fall in early trading with commodity-related stocks contributing the most to the declines. Shares of Royal Dutch Shell fell over 2 per cent as the possibility of an oil output freeze agreement in Algiers went up in smoke when the Iranian oil minister said it was just a consultation meeting.'

investors pulled out of financial stocks amid mounting concerns over the health of Deutsche Bank, which is facing a $14billion (10.7billion) fine proposed by the US Department of Justice.

It is feared the bank's capital buffers may not be able to cope with the settlement proposal linked to the sale of mortgage-backed securities in the run-up to the financial crisis.

There are also signs that a staff exodus from UK banks might have begun in the wake of the Brexit vote.

Deutsche Bank closed down 0.4 per cent at 10.51 euros on Germany's Xetra exchange, while Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays dropped 2.9p to 174.6p and 2.2p to 165.9p respectively in London.

Saudi Arabia and Iran poured cold water on hopes of securing an OPEC oil deal to curb output at a meeting in Algeria this week, dealing a blow to Royal Dutch Shell, which emerged as one of the biggest fallers on the market, dropping more than 2 per cent or 42.5p to 1882.5p.

Shares in Plumb Center owner Wolseley sank after it announced plans to axe up to 800 jobs as part of a restructuring that will see it shut 80 branches and a distribution centre. The firm dropped 56p to 4244p after it saw a sharp slowdown in growth in the UK market.

Tour operator Thomas Cook was also trading lower after it said bookings remained under pressure as the travel market continues to be hit by recent terror attacks. Shares were down 0.2p to 69.8p.

However, retailer Card Factory climbed 8.4p to 310.5p as it increased revenues and profits despite store sales taking a hit from slowing footfall on Britain's high streets.

On the currency markets, the pound was up against the euro at 1.16 euros and higher against the US dollar at $1.30 dollars.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Carnival up 171p to 3,726p, Pearson up 24p to 750p, Sky up 13p to 847.5p, Barratt Developments up 7.3p to 484.2p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Standard Chartered down 15.6p to 610.1p, Royal Dutch Shell B down 42.5p to 1882.5p, Royal Dutch Shell A down 38.5p to 1800.5p, Capita down 19p to 951.5p.

17.01: The FTSE 100 closed down 10.37 points at 6807.67. More to come.

15:20: The Footsie was heading for another session of losses following a weak start on Wall Street at the opening bell.

US stocks have opened slightly lower, with energy shares pulled down by weak oil prices.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 16.4 points at 18,078.43, while the S&P 500 was down 2.35 points at 2,143.75. Meanwhile the Nasdaq composite was down 4.13 points at 5,253.37.

In late afternoon trading in London the FTSE 100 index was down 20.9 points at 6,797.5.

13.30: The Footsie was being brought down by the banks for the second straight session as fears mounted about the future of the sector if the UK Government pursues a 'hard Brexit'.

At lunch, the FTSE 100 was off 31.9 points at 6,787.1 - undoing the positive sentiment at the opening bell, when the index initially ticked up.

Analysts said that Hilary Clinton's strong performance at the US presidential debates last night was the only cause for optimism at present.

No fun: Oil and bank stocks were all having a tough time on the FTSE 100 index this session

Brexit aside, Royal Bank of Scotland's chief executive Ross McEwan has warned that it could fail to sell Williams & Glyn before the end of this year.

Shares in the state backed lender have tumbled 3 per cent, or 5.7p, at 171.8p.

At the same time Standard Chartered faces a US probe over Indonesian investment, according to media reports.

The reports allege US prosecutors are looking into whether the London-listed bank is culpable for not stopping alleged misconduct at Maxpower Group.

Standard Chartered's shares have slumped 2 per cent, or 15.5p, at 610.2p.

Elsewhere Brent Crude Crude was back in the red, with Brent down 2.2 per cent at $46.33 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate down by 2 per cent at $45.04 a barrel, after Saudi Arabias energy minister cast doubt on the chances of a deal emerging from this weeks meeting of big oil producers in Algiers.

This seen BP and Shell dragged down by 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively.

Connor Campbell, analyst at Spreadex, said: 'Combine that with the banking slump and its a surprise that the FTSE is only down by 0.5 per cent - perhaps some of the goodwill generated by last nights Clinton debate win is tempering the negative tone that has crept in this morning.'

Retailers and supermarkets have also been left in the lurch after British sales unexpectedly fell this month after a strong showing in August, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry showed this morning.

The CBI distributive trades survey's retail sales balance dropped to -8 in September from a six-month high of +9 in August, below all forecasts.

Tesco was off 1.4 per cent, while Marks & Spencer has lost 1.5 per cent.

11:00: The Footsie's comeback has not lasted long and the index is now firmly back in the red after a positive start to the session.

Fears over a so-called 'hard' Brexit and its impact on the City have gripped investors for the second day in a row.

The FTSE 100 index shed lost 18.9 points at 6.798.8 by mid-morning having been in the black at the opening bell. In Europe the mood has also darkened, with Germany's Dax losing 1 per cent and France's Cac 40 off 0.6 per cent.

What does the future hold?: Worries over a hard Brexit have spooked the markets again

Banks remain in focus after UK Treasury officials warned that a so-called 'hard Brexit' could lead to at least 10billion in tax from the City being lost each year.

This is significant as the banking sector contributes about 31billion annually to the UK economy, the officials pointed out.

As a results Royal Bank of Scotland has lost 2.6 per cent, or 4.7p, at 172.8p, while Standard Chartered fell 2.2 per cent, or 13.8p, at 611.9p and Barclays was off 1.6 per cent, or 2.8p, at 165.2p.

In Europe Deutsche Bank shares have 2shed .6 per cent - marking a 53 per cent collapse since the start of the year - and rival Commerzbank is down 2.8 per cent loss.

Italy's Mediobanca and Spain's Banco Popolare have both lost 2.4 per cent.

Jasper Lawler, analyst at CMC Markets, said: 'Stock markets dropped on Tuesday. Declines in prominent German and Swiss banks have revived fears of a European banking crisis.

'Stocks had opened moderately higher in a small nod to establishment candidate Hilary Clinton winning the US presidential debate.'

Elsewhere in London, shares of Wolseley fell over 3 per cent to the bottom of the FTSE 100 after the plumbing and building supplier said it would cut 800 jobs and close 80 branches.

The restructuring at its UK arm will cost Wolseley around 100million and took away from the rise in profits and dividend hike. Cutting costs in the UK while focusing growth efforts on its profit-driving US business suggests Wolseley is moving closer to being an American-only business.

Building materials supplier Travis Perkins dropped in sympathy.

Shares of Thomas Cook were also under pressure despite the company maintaining its full-year profit guidance.

Investors fear that Thomas Cook will be unable to replace the sharp drop-off in demand for holidays to Turkey, especially when the fall in the pound makes holidays to Europe more expensive.

08:20: The Footsie has calmed in early trading after a tough session yesterday which saw the index fall nearly 100 points.

In early trading London shares were up 31.8 points at 6,847.2 as stocks in Asia stabilised overnight - with Japan's Nikkei 225, up 0.4 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng adding 1.2 per cent.

The catalyst has been Hilary Clinton's assured performance in the presidential debates in which Donald Trump looked flustered and under-prepared.

In a tight race, opinion polls have shown that Clinton is ahead by four points, with 41 per cent of likely voters.

On top: Clinton appeared better prepared on policies such as increasing the minimum wage

Investors will be focused again on the European banking sector and in particular Deutsche Bank.

Germany's largest bank is currently embroiled with the US Department of Justice over the mis-selling of mortgage backed securities with the latter insisting that the bank pays a $14billion fine.

Since its peaks last October Deutsche Bank's share price has fallen over 60 per cent reflecting increasing investor disquiet about its ability to deal with its problems at a time of negative rates, shrinking profitability, no dividend and the prospect of tighter capital rules.

The Dax in Germany is currently down over 2 per cent, but the Cac 40 in France has regained its composure and has moved up 0.5 per cent.

Mike van Dulken, analyst at Accendo Markets, said: 'A positive opening call comes as markets suggest victory for Clinton in the first of three US Presidential Debates.

'Not so much for her own performance, more because rival Trump failed to keep his cool and/or appear more presidential as many had expected.

'It's still early days. Trump could be setting the bar low for the remaining face-offs. And he does have a bouncebackability that has already helped his campaign get within touching distance of the oval office.'

Stocks in focus in London include:

VODAFONE - The telecoms giant has injected $7.2billion into its Indian business has turned up the heat just days ahead of an $84billion airwave auction which could decide who wins and loses in one of the world's fastest-growing telecoms markets.

THOMAS COOK - The travel firm has stuck to its annual profit guidance, after strong demand for summer holidays to destinations other than Turkey helped offset pressure on the group.

QINETIQ - The defence company has appointed David Smith, Rolls-Royce's outgoing chief financial officer, to succeed David Mellors as its CFO in the new year.

WOLSELEY - The heating and plumbing products supplier announced it would close 80 UK branches and a distribution centre, leading to up to 800 job losses.

Economic news scheduled today includes:

UK CBI distributive trades survey at 11am

US Markit PMI at 2.45pm

US Consumer confidence at 3pm
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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PerkinElmer, Inc. provides products, services, and solutions to the diagnostics, life sciences, and applied services markets worldwide. It operates through two segments, Discovery & Analytical Solutions and Diagnostics. The Discovery & Analytical Solutions segment offers a suite of solutions, including reagents, informatics, and detection and imaging technologies that enable scientists to enhance research breakthroughs in the life sciences research market, as well as contract research and laboratory services. It also provides analytical technologies, solutions, and services for the environmental, food, and industrial markets that enable its customers to understand the characterize the health of various aspects, including air, water, and soil. In addition, this segment offers solutions to farmers and food producers; and analytical instrumentation for the industrial market, which includes the chemical, semiconductor and electronics, energy, lubricant, petrochemical, and polymer industries. The Diagnostics segment provides instruments, reagents, assay platforms, and software products for the early detection of genetic disorders, such as pregnancy and early childhood, as well as infectious disease testing in the diagnostics market. Its products are used for testing and screening genetic abnormalities, disorders, and diseases, including down syndrome, hypothyroidism, muscular dystrophy, infertility, and various metabolic conditions. This segment also develops technologies that enable and support genomic workflows using protein coupled receptor and next-generation DNA sequencing for applications in oncology, immunodiagnostics, and drug discovery. It serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, laboratories, academic and research institutions, public health authorities, private healthcare organizations, doctors, and government agencies. PerkinElmer, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Cardinal Health, Inc. operates as an integrated healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceutical and Medical. The Pharmaceutical segment distributes branded and generic pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical, and over-the-counter healthcare and consumer products. The segment also provides services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers for specialty pharmaceutical products; operates nuclear pharmacies and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities; repackages generic pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter healthcare products; and offers medication therapy management and patient outcomes services to hospitals, other healthcare providers, and payers, as well as provides pharmacy management services to hospitals. The Medical segment manufactures, sources, and distributes Cardinal Health branded medical, surgical, and laboratory products and devices that include exam and surgical gloves; needles, syringe, and sharps disposals; compressions; incontinences; nutritional delivery products; wound care products; single-use surgical drapes, gowns, and apparels; fluid suction and collection systems; urology products; operating room supply products; and electrode product lines. The segment also distributes a range of national brand products, including medical, surgical, and laboratory products; provides supply chain services and solutions to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and other healthcare providers; and assembles and sells sterile, and non-sterile procedure kits. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio.
SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank that provides various financial services for consumers, businesses, corporations, institutions, and not-for-profit entities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer and Wholesale. The Consumer segment provides deposits and payments; home equity and personal credit lines; auto, student, and other lending products; credit cards; discount/online and full-service brokerage products; professional investment advisory products and services; and trust services, as well as family office solutions. This segment also offers residential mortgage products in the secondary market. The Wholesale segment provides capital markets solutions, including advisory, capital raising, and financial risk management; asset-based financing solutions, such as securitizations, asset-based lending, equipment financing, and structured real estate arrangements; cash management services and auto dealer financing solutions; investment banking solutions; and credit and deposit, fee-based product offering, multi-family agency lending, advisory, commercial mortgage brokerage, and tailored financing and equity investment solutions. This segment also offers treasury and payment solutions, such as operating various electronic and paper payment types, which comprise card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, check, and cash; and provides services clients to manage their accounts online. The company offers its products and services through a network of traditional and in-store branches, automated teller machines, Internet, mobile, and telephone banking channels. As of December 31, 2018, it operated 1,218 full-service banking offices located in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. was founded in 1891 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company offers peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and additional dialysis therapies and services; intravenous therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets, and drug reconstitution devices; remixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services; parenteral nutrition therapies and related products; biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention; and continuous renal replacement therapies and other organ support therapies focused in the intensive care unit. It also provides connected care solutions, including devices, software, communications, and integration technologies; integrated patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies to help diagnose, treat, and manage a various illness and diseases, including respiratory therapy, cardiology, vision screening, and physical assessment; surgical video technologies, tables, lights, pendants, precision positioning devices and other accessories. In addition, the company offers contracted services to various pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. Its products are used in hospitals, kidney dialysis centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, doctors' offices, and patients at home under physician supervision. The company sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through independent distributors, drug wholesalers, and specialty pharmacy or other alternate site providers in approximately 100 countries. It has an agreement with Celerity Pharmaceutical, LLC to develop acute care generic injectable premix and oncolytic molecules. Baxter International Inc. was incorporated in 1931 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.
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. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. 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.

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B&G Foods, Inc. manufactures, sells, and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen foods, and household products in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company's products include frozen and canned vegetables, vegetables, canola and other cooking oils, vegetable shortening, cooking sprays, oatmeal and other hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, wine vinegar, maple syrups, molasses, salad dressings, pizza crusts, Mexican-style sauces, dry soups, taco shells and kits, salsas, pickles, peppers, tomato-based products, baking powder and soda, corn starch, cookies and crackers, nut clusters, and other specialty products. It markets its products under various brands, including Ac'cent, B&G, B&M, Back to Nature, Baker's Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary's, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Davis, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Emeril's, Grandma's Molasses, Green Giant, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald's, Mama Mary's, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann's, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Red Devil, Regina, Rumford, Sa-son, Sclafani, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Sugar Twin, Tone's, Trappey's, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria, and Weber and Wright's. The company also sells, markets, and distributes household products under the Static Guard brand. It sells and distributes its products directly, as well as through a network of independent brokers and distributors to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets, and specialty distributors. The company was formerly known as B&G Foods Holdings Corp. and changed its name to B&G Foods, Inc. in October 2004. B&G Foods, Inc. was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
Ooma, Inc. provides communications services and related technologies for businesses and consumers in the United States and Canada. The company's products and services include Ooma Office, a cloud-based multi-user communications system for small and medium-sized businesses; Ooma Office Pro, which offers various services, including HD video meetings, call recording, enhanced call blocking, and voicemail transcription; Ooma Connect, which delivers fixed wireless internet connectivity; Ooma Managed Wi-Fi, a plug-and-play enterprise-grade Wi-Fi solution; and Ooma Enterprise, a unified-communications-as-a-service solution. It also provides Ooma AirDial, a plain old telephone service; Ooma Telo basic that provides unlimited personal calling within the United States; Ooma Premier, a suite of advanced calling features on a monthly or annual subscription basis; PureVoice HD, a residential phone services; Ooma Telo, a home communications solution designed to serve as the primary phone line in the home; and Ooma Telo 4G, which combines the Ooma Telo base station with the Ooma 4G Cellular Adapter and battery back-up. In addition, the company offers the Ooma Mobile HD app that allows users to make and receive phone calls and access Ooma features and settings; Ooma Telo Air, a wireless Ooma Telo with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; Ooma Smart Security, a security and monitoring platform; and Talkatone mobile app. It offers its products through direct sales, distributors, retailers, and resellers, as well as online. Ooma, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
Deckers Outdoor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and distributes footwear, apparel, and accessories for casual lifestyle use and high-performance activities. The company offers premium footwear, apparel, and accessories under the UGG brand name; sandals, shoes, and boots under the Teva brand name; and relaxed casual shoes and sandals under the Sanuk brand name. It also provides footwear and apparel for ultra-runners and athletes under the Hoka brand name; and fashion casual footwear using other plush materials under the Koolaburra brand. The company sells its products through department stores, domestic independent action sports and outdoor specialty footwear retailers, and larger national retail chains, as well as online retailers. It also sells its products directly to consumers through its retail stores and e-commerce websites, as well as distributes its products through distributors and retailers in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, Latin America, and internationally. As of March 31, 2022, it had 149 retail stores, including 75 concept stores and 74 outlet stores worldwide. The company was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Goleta, California.
Maximus, Inc. provides business process services (BPS) to government health and human services programs. It operates through three segments: U.S. Services, U.S. Federal Services, and Outside the U.S. The U.S. Services segment offers various BPS solutions, such as program administration, appeals and assessments, and related consulting works for U.S. state and local government programs, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, child support programs, Preadmission Screening and Resident Reviews, and Independent Developmental Disability assessments. This segment also provides program eligibility support and enrollment; centralized multilingual customer contact centers, multichannel, and digital self-service options for enrollment; application assistance and independent health plan choice counseling; beneficiary outreach, education, eligibility, enrollment, and redeterminations; person-centered independent disability, long-term sick, and other health assessments; and specialized consulting services. The U.S. Federal Services segment offers centralized citizen engagement centers and support services; document and record management; case management, citizen support, and consumer education; independent medical reviews and worker's compensation benefit appeals; Medicare and Medicaid appeals; and federal marketplace eligibility appeals. This segment also provides modernization of systems and information technology infrastructure; infrastructure operations and support services; software development, operations, and management services; and data analytics services. The Outside the U.S. segment offers BPS solutions for governments and commercial clients outside the United States, including health and disability assessments, program administration for employment services, and other job seeker-related services. The company was incorporated in 1975 and is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia.
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.
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By Gina Martinez

HomeGoods is finally coming to the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. The store, which sells a wide variety of affordable home decor, is set to open in mid-October.

HomeGoods replaced a 25,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble bookstore, whose closing caused outrage in the community when it was first announced last year. The Bay Terrace bookstore was the last remaining Barnes & Noble in Queens after the Forest Hills location shut its doors.It was eventually replaced by Target.

According to HomeGoods, the new Bayside store will open Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. The store is expected to hire 65 full and part-time employees.

Bayside residents tried to save the Barnes & Noble.

Resident Vasiliki Gliagias started an online petition on chang e.org called Do not close the Bay Terrace Barnes & Noble retail location! last year when the news of the bookstores final days was announced. The petition had 3,247 supporters, just short of its 5,000 goal. On the page Gliagias urged Cord Meyer Development,which owns the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, to negotiate with Barnes & Noble on a leasing deal.

The Queens community is in disbelief that a 25,000-square-foot bookstore so important to the community with activities for students and children, an incredible book selection, and a refreshing Starbucks corner could ever shut down, she wrote. It is an atrocity to rid the largest borough of New York City of its most popular bookstore. Queenss 2 million residents will no longer be able to partake in browsing and purchasing novels at their leisure. Bookstores will have been a thing of the past.

David Deason, vice president of Barnes & Noble Development, released a statement on the closing of the Bayside location.

Despite our best efforts to secure lease extensions at both our Forest Hills and Bayside Barnes & Noble locations, the respective property owners decided to lease to other tenants, he said. When our lease came back up for renewal, the property owner notified us that they chose a tenant who was willing to pay rents far in excess of what we were willing to pay.

But months later it seems the community is adjusting and is ready for the new store. Warren Schreiber, president of the Bay Terrace Community alliance, said there is a lot of anticipation in the neighborhood.

From what I understand people are excited, he said. Theyre looking forward to its opening. HomeGoods is very popular and I think theyre going to do very well, especially on its opening day, Oct. 16. Im pleased to have them in the neighborhood as it seems everyone is. Theres nothing negative about it. I certainly hope they do well and become a good neighbor.
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By Bill Lewis

The New York State Conservative Party held a meeting of its State Committee earlier this month and by a large margin endorsed Donald Trump for president. The result is that Trump will be running for president on both the Republican and Conservative Party lines in New York.

Trump spoke to the assembled gathering and emphasized the issues of jobs and immigration at the Sept. 8 meeting at a Times Square hotel. Trump indicated he will make a strong effort in New York state. The endorsement of the Conservative Party will increase Trumps voting totals in New York.

As has been stated many times in the last several months, there has never been a presidential campaign like this one in which the two major candidates have such high negative ratings. Some voters will be voting for the candidate they dislike least.

One factor that stands out among the candidates is their totally different positions on the issues. On the issue of immigration they cannot be more different, with Trump favoring putting up a wall on our southwestern border to keep out illegal aliens and drugs. He also wants to put restrictions on the number of immigrants coming into our country. Clinton is opposed to building the wall and favors increasing immigration.

In terms of national security they take different approaches. Trump seems to be more interested in building our military and destroying ISIS. while Clinton has indicated she does not favor the use of American ground troops in Iraq and Syria.

Considering the ages of both candidates, the people are entitled to have information about their health. Hopefully, that will be forthcoming.

Clintons campaign has a much larger field operation than Trump has and more television commercials. However, Trump has much larger crowds at his political rallies and speaking engagements than does Clinton. An important aspect of this race is that Trumps supporters seem more enthusiastic than Clintons. They also display constant strong support.

As we look at Trumps political gatherings this would seem to indicate a strong turnout on Election Day. It may all come down to what is called the battleground states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Both candidates are putting a lot of resources into these areas.

With the summer almost over and Labor Day behind us, peoples interests seem to be turning more and more towards politics. The American presidential election, which for all purposes began two years ago, is finally nearing an end. The election began with 17 Republican and five Democratic presidential candidates. It is now down to the two major political candidates after the primary process eliminated the rest.

It would seem such a prolonged U.S. presidential race would discourage candidates from participating. Considering the large number of candidates we have had this year interested in becoming president, the process continues. That is true even though candidates have to raise large amounts of money to finance their campaigns and also need to set up a campaign organization in all 50 states.

Based on the number of candidates entering the early primaries, however, interest remains high for those seeking the presidency. This is one of the most interesting presidential campaigns in the history of our nation.
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By Patrick Donachie

Queens Legal Services is finally moving into a new space to serve its clients after decades of operating in a group of offices that were in disrepair. The new space at 89-00 Sutphin Blvd. in downtown Jamaica will be an office for the organizations more than 70 attorneys, paralegals, social workers and advocates.

The grand opening of the new offices on the fourth and fifth floor of the building was celebrated last Friday with a ribbon-cutting that included elected officials, community leaders, and staff of the Queens Legal Services, including Director Jennifer Ching.

Every year, we serve thousands of New Yorkers in crisis  families facing eviction, victims of domestic violence and trafficking, disabled veterans cut off from life-saving income  all of whom deserve a dignified and welcome space, she said at the opening. We are so grateful to our local representatives for providing the capital support, which has enabled us to serve our neighbors in a professional setting and with cutting-edge technology that increases our efficiency and efficacy.

The new Queens Legal Services Community Law Center was funded with $813,000 in combined capital funding from the Queens Borough Presidents office as well as the City Council. There will be nine languages spoken on-site as well as instant phone and video interpretation services for any client.

Queens Legal Services is a part of the Legal Services of New York City, which began in 1967 as the Community Action for Legal Services. The organization specializes in protecting its clients from bankruptcy, predatory lending, and affordable housing crises, as well as an array of other issues. The Queens department covers civil rights, disability advocacy, workers rights, domestic violence cases, HIV advocacy and the rights of veterans, immigrants, and the LGBT community, among others.

The departments reach extends beyond Jamaica. Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) said attorneys who offer legal services for the organization were an outstanding partner with the Flushing community, thanks to monthly workshops about tenants rights and services held at his offices.

By extending critical lifelines of support to struggling individuals and families during their time of greatest need, Queens Legal Services helps create a level playing field for those who find themselves facing the often unfamiliar and daunting territory of the courts, Koo said.

The legal assistance hotline is open all five weekdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and can be reached at (917) 661-4500.
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.
Image courtesy USA800

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USA800 looking to expand call center to Wichita Falls

By John Ingle of the Times Record News

USA800 said they are aggressively looking to expand their call centers, which includes looking at Wichita Falls, but their CEO said it's not a done deal, yet.

In an exclusive interview with the Times Record News on Monday, Tom Davis, CEO of employee-owned USA800, said nothing is official at this point and won't be until a lease is signed with the current owner of the facility where WDS Global, another call center, once set up business. They are also waiting to see what type of incentive package will be offered by the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corp.

A meeting of the WFEDC is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday to consider an incentive package for the group. The WFEDC decided in May to donate equipment to the owner instead of having to remove it at an exorbitant cost or monthly fee to keep it there.

While the facility might be the perfect set up for USA800, a lease has not been signed and an incentive package from the WFEDC has yet to be offered and agreed upon.

"Nothing's official yet," Davis said. "We don't have a signed lease at this point, and it's conditional on getting the economic incentives approved.

"Once those two things happen, then it will be official. But, those two things have not happened yet."

It's not known, yet, what the WFEDC will offer in the form of an incentive package.

According to a Facebook post on Friday, the company is looking to hire more than 200 employees to occupy the call center in a short amount of time.

The company website says, "Employee ownership delivers an entrepreneurial spirit across our people; delivering an uncommon commitment to our partners' success. We're long on experience, but still small enough to care."

The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce & Industry reported in May that the economic impact from having WDS Global in Wichita Falls was about $150 million.

The city invested heavily in WDS Global with $1.2 million on infrastructure at the facility located at 2236 Airport Dr. including cubicles, a fire suppressant system, a backup generator and "uninteruptable" power supply as part of the incentive package to have the call center set up in Wichita Falls. Another roughly $1.8 million in cash for jobs and training made up the rest of the deal.
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Back in the 1960s, as large numbers of black students were entering a certain Ivy League university for the first time, someone asked a chemistry professor  off the record  what his response to them was. He said, "I give them all A's and B's. To hell with them."

Since many of those students were admitted with lower academic qualifications than other students, he knew that honest grades in a tough subject like chemistry could lead to lots of failing grades, and that in turn would lead to lots of time-wasting hassles  not just from the students, but also from the administration.

He was not about to waste time that he wanted to invest in his professional work in chemistry and the advancement of his own career. He also knew that his "favor" to black students in grading was going to do them more harm than good in the long run, because they wouldn't know what they were supposed to know.

Such cynical calculations were seldom expressed in so many words. Nor are similar cynical calculations openly expressed today in politics. But many successful political careers have been built on giving blacks "favors" that look good on the surface but do lasting damage in the long run.

One of these "favors" was the welfare state. A vastly expanded welfare state in the 1960s destroyed the black family, which had survived centuries of slavery and generations of racial oppression.

In 1960, before this expansion of the welfare state, 22 percent of black children were raised with only one parent. By 1985, 67 percent of black children were raised with either one parent or no parent.

A big "favor" the Obama administration is offering blacks today is exemption from school behavior rules that have led to a rate of disciplining of black male students that is greater than the rate of disciplining of other categories of students.

Is it impossible that black males misbehave in school more often than Asian females? Or Jewish students? Or others?

Is the only possible reason for the disparities in disciplining rates that the teachers and principals are discriminating against black males? Even when many of these teachers and principals in black neighborhoods are themselves black?

But Washington politicians are on the case. It strengthens the political vision that blacks are besieged by racist enemies, from which Democrats are their only protection. They give black youngsters exemptions from behavioral standards, just as the Ivy League chemistry professor gave them exemption from academic standards.

In both cases, the consequence  unspoken today  is "to hell with them." Kids from homes where they were not given behavioral standards, who are then not held to behavioral standards in schools, are on a path that can lead them as adults straight into prison, or to fatal confrontations with the police.

This is ultimately not a racial thing. Exactly the same welfare state policies and the same non-judgmental exemption from behavioral standards in Britain have led to remarkably similar results among lower-class whites there.

The riots of lower-class whites in London, Manchester and other British cities in 2011 were incredibly similar to black riots in Ferguson, Baltimore and other American cities  right down to setting fire to police cars.

One of the few bright spots for black children in American ghettos have been some charter schools that have educated these children to levels equal to, and in some cases better than, those in affluent suburbs.

You might think that this would be welcomed by those who are so ready to do "favors" for blacks. But you would be dead wrong. Democrats who have been in charge of most cities with sizable black populations, for decades, are on record opposing the spread of charter schools. So is the NAACP.

That is a de facto declaration of moral bankruptcy in both cases, just as in the case of the Ivy League chemistry professor. In all three cases, it is a question of promoting one's own special interests, while offering "favors" to blacks.

The Democrats' special interest is in serving the teachers' unions, which oppose charter schools and support Democrats financially. The NAACP's special interest is in serving the same donors  and in keeping ghetto schools controlled by racial activists, as part of their turf.

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com.
ALBANY  A man who conspired to sell hundreds of painkiller tablets in the Capital Region pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge in U.S. District Court on Monday.

Salvatore Commisso, 33, of Albany, admitted to Judge Mae D'Agostino that he arranged to move 745 tablets of the drug for $6,250. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance between December 2015 and February 2016.
Ballston Spa

A remorseless sexual predator of children who savagely tortured two young Corinth girls over a decade was sentenced to 69 years to life in prison Tuesday, but not before delivering a rambling speech in which he quoted the Bible, New York state penal law and likened himself to a Holocaust victim.

Arthur Gannon, 48, used duct tape, rope and handcuffs to bind, gag and blindfold his small victims after grooming them for sadistic abuse that began when they were as young as 4 years old. Gannon placed bandanas down the mouths of his victims, the judge said.

And after being previously convicted of the sexual abuse of an 8-year-old girl in Schenectady County, Gannon studied up on ways to become a more effective child molester, Saratoga County prosecutors said.

Jurors convicted Gannon of a 10-count indictment charging him with predatory sexual assault; predatory sexual assault against a child; use of a child in a sexual performance, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. The sex offender sat and listened Tuesday in a courtroom packed with Saratoga County sheriff's deputies and the victims, who testified at trial.

Their victim impact statements were read out loud in court.

"Everyone has said to forgive but not forget. I will never be able to forgive or forget," said one of the girls' messages. "He does not deserve my forgiveness, God's or anyone else's. Arthur Gannon is a disgusting man. He hurt me, ruined my childhood and has made my life more difficult than it ever should have been. He deserves to have the rest of his life ruined  as he ruined the beginning of mine  by being behind bars and treated as I was until he dies. I pray Arthur Gannon gets the maximum sentence possible for what he did to me so that he can never get out of prison and hurt anyone else. What he has done to me has scarred me for life. But I will overcome it."

The other victim said she still has nightmares of being tied up against her will, but added, "I may be a victim, but I am a survivor in my mind. I will overcome you and what you have done to me."

Gannon ignored advice from his attorney, William Roberts, to remain silent.

Instead the defendant claimed that every year, "hundreds of thousands" of false sexual abuse claims are made because authorities believe children who report sex crimes. That alleged fact was in addition to Gannon reciting American Bar Association standards, a Bible phrase about justice and his reference to the Holocaust.

"In today's criminal justice system, defendants who are charged with sex crimes have become a kind of new Jews of Nazi Germany," Gannon said.

The words rankled the judge, who presided over a seven-week trial at which Gannon was convicted of the most serious sex crimes on the books.

"Your comments insult all those of the Jewish faith who endured the concentration camps," an astounded Saratoga County Judge James A. Murphy III told Gannon. "I find that reprehensible and also frightening that you compare yourself in any way to that."

Assistant District Attorney Michele Schettino, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Alan Poremba, requested the 69 years-to-life sentence.

"(Gannon) actually studied the crime upon which he was convicted," she said. "He studied the subject matter of children testifying in court. He studied the subject matter of child sexual abuse so that he could learn how to become the perfect offender."

Schettino noted that three witnesses provided consistent facts about the abuse the victims suffered. Gannon had instilled fear in the victims not to come forward and groomed the victims and portrayed his tying up the girls as a "game," the prosecutor said.

Gannon videotaped the abuse so he could look at what he had done to them, Schettino said.

"This isn't a crime that happened once or twice. This is a crime that went on for over 10 years," she said.

One of the victims said Gannon, a paralegal, dreamed of being part of a large court case  and that his wish came true.

"But it was your biggest mistake," the victim said. "You made it so our voices were heard by the world. And now you are stuck behind bars hopefully for the rest of your life. You will pay the ultimate price for what you did to us and we will move on living our lives like nothing ever happened."

rgavin@timesunion.com  518-434-2403  @RobertGavinTU
Newark N.J.

A commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was informed of the plan to create gridlock in Fort Lee by closing access lanes to the George Washington Bridge weeks before the plot was set in action, according to the government's star witness in a federal trial.

David Wildstein said he told commissioner William "Pat" Schuber  a former Bergen County Executive and a Republican  about the plot to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich at a breakfast meeting in late August 2013. The lanes were closed in mid-September.

Schuber is one of six Port Authority commissioners appointed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Christie himself has become a centerpiece of the trial, as testimony continues to place the governor's office and aides at the center of the scheme to close access lanes to the world's busiest bridge.

"I viewed Mr. Schuber as a loyal member of Gov. Christie's team," Wildstein said.

He added that he told Schuber that the order for the lane closures "came from the governor's office."

"Mr. Schuber said he understood," Wildstein said.

Wildstein is a prosecution witness in the political conspiracy trial of two former allies of the governor in federal court in Newark.

Wildstein said he informed Schuber of the plot because Schuber was from Bergen County and he would most likely receive complaints once the closures took effect.

Wildstein said that in 2011, he shared his idea about the lanes with two top aides to the governor, Bill Stepien and Bridget Anne Kelly, and with Bill Baroni, the governor's top executive appointee at the Port Authority, which owns and operates the bridge.

In the summer of 2013, Wildstein was Christie's second highest-ranking executive appointee at the Port Authority.

His former boss, Baroni, as well as Kelly, are accused of closing two of three access lanes to the bridge in September 2013 to punish Sokolich, a Democrat, for not endorsing Christie's re-election that year.
A Taliban spokesman says that after watching Monday's debate, leaders of the group decided Republican nominee Donald Trump is a "non-serious" candidate.

Taliban leaders who were "very interested in watching" the US presidential debate took in the proceedings from a secret location. And it didn't take them long to decide that one candidate was something of a joke.
The first B-52H Stratofortress to be resurrected from long term storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) to rejoin the active strategic bomber fleet soared into the sky from Tinker Air Force Base Sept. 27.

The historic flight of tail number 61-007, known as Ghost Rider on its nose art, marked the end of the warbirds 19-month transformation from a mothballed 55-year-old, eight-engine jet parked in the Arizona desert to a fully updated conventional- and nuclear-capable global strike bomber platform.

Tinker AFBs 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group handed over the plane 90 days ahead of schedule to Air Force Global Strike Command. Ghost Rider will join the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, N.D.

I am extremely proud of the team that was able to deliver Ghost Rider back to Air Force Global Strike Command, said Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Johnson. This is really a testament to accomplishing the Art of the Possible. It shows that when there is a common goal, team members from across multiple organizations can rally behind the objective and deliver their team's full impact to the project. Everyone involved -- 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, aircrew, engineers, Defense Logistics Agency, and Air Force supply chain professionals, and of course, mechanics, schedulers, planners, from across the OC-ALC -- all brought their best to return combat capability back to the warfighter. Our ALC should be proud, Tinker AFB should be proud and Oklahoma should be proud of this historic aviation accomplishment.

Tinkers 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron completed the overhaul, modernization and restoration work in 272 calendar, or flow days.

Charles Chuck Alley, 565th AMXS director, said maintainers, engineers and support teams were excited to work on the historic project, spending approximately 45,000 man-hours restoring Ghost Rider to fighting shape.

Mr. Alley said pilots of Tinkers 10th Flight Test Squadron flew the B-52 six times to verify system functionality and ensure a safe and reliable aircraft before declaring the plane ready for delivery Sept. 13. The jet needed an extra 7,000 man hours over normal programmed depot maintenance to get it up to speed with all the other B-52s in the fleet, Mr. Alley said.

I told people during test flight that because the aircraft sat in the desert so long, were knocking all the ghosts out of it, the director said. It seemed like every time it came back it had two or three different things wrong with it.

Lt. Col. Darrel Hines, B-52 flight commander with the 10th Flight Test Squadron, flew the plane from Arizona to Barksdale AFB, La., in February 2015, and flew in part of the six final functional test flights. The plane arrived at Tinker on Dec. 14, 2015 with overhaul and maintenance work beginning Dec. 31, 2015. The plane was due to be delivered later this year on Dec. 23 but delivered 90 days early.

Colonel Hines praised all the organizations involved in the restoration, including the 309th AMARG, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, and above all the maintainers whose skilled hands-on work made the difference.

This was a great team effort from multiple commands and it was a great success, Colonel Hines said. Now this plane is going to come out of Tinker back to the warfighter, and its going to be a huge asset to the guys going out in combat.

Brenden Shaw, production management chief for Tinkers B-52 Systems Program Office, helped oversee Ghost Riders revival from the beginning. He watched it receive new fuel, oil and some other minor additions when the engines were initially restarted at AMARG.

Mr. Shaw described the project as a huge undertaking into uncharted territories for organizations including Air Force Global Strike Command, Program Depot Maintenance, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Air Force Supply Chain team and the Air Staff.

Mr. Shaw thanked all the team members who had a part in making this historic event happen ahead of schedule. It is truly impressive what we can accomplish when we all pull in the same direction.

"Ghost Rider will join 75 other B-52H Stratofortresses in the Air Forces operational bomber fleet.
Family members are concerned about the whereabouts of Shelly Mae Beach, of Oil City. They have not heard from her in more than six months.
[September 27, 2016] Assisted Living Facility The Haven at Windermere Selects Ascom teleCARE IP Emergency Call

Resident safety and security are critical to privately-owned, long term senior care center The Haven at Windermere. That's why the Baton Rouge, Louisiana facility upgraded its emergency call system and enhanced resident safety and security by installing a new teleCARE IP solution from Ascom, the leading global healthcare information and communication technology (ICT) provider. Alongside partner Executone of Louisiana, Ascom's (News - Alert) clinical and technical teams implemented a solution specifically designed to streamline resident and caregiver communication and improve staff efficiency. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006125/en/ When you live at The Haven, we want you to be happy. The Haven's management and staff know that this line is more than a motto. Maintaining their outstanding reputation was one of the primary drivers for selecting Ascom to replace their outdated emergency call system. As the senior care market continues to grow in both size and competitiveness, leveraging the latest technology to keep residents safe is key when marketing their facility. The staff truly understand how important it is for families to enjoy the peace of mind that their loved one is cared for exceptionally well. "We had an old call system that was just outdated and didn't work anymore," says Denise Ortego, Executive Director at The Haven at Windermere. "The staff had pagers and if a resident in an apartment would push their button or if they wandered, the pager was supposed to go off. Unfortunately, that didn't always happen. Since we installed teleCARE IP with Ascom and Executone, our residents appreciate the immediacy of pushing the button on their pendants or wristband and quickly hearing a reassuring voice. Our care team is much mre efficient and can prioritize the more urgent requests and easily locate residents within the facility."



Through discussions with The Haven's staff about their daily routines, common activities and frequent request times and types, Ascom's clinical team worked with the center's longtime vendor and Ascom Partner Executone of Louisiana to incorporate the elements of teleCARE IP most beneficial to them. In speaking with the residents, their biggest desire was for independence but with the security of knowing that help is only a button press away. The results of the implementation are literally life changing, with caregivers now able to talk live to residents using the speech mode and a vastly improved response time. And with their new Ascom mobile devices, the staff can now discern whether a call is a real emergency and prioritize accordingly. As a longtime partner, Executone of Louisiana relies on the expertise provided by Ascom's engineers and RNs (Registered Nurses) for The Haven project. "What made the difference in this project, and with all of our Ascom sites, are their people and the relationships they forge with the end-users and my team," said Ronnie Juneau, President of Executone of Louisiana. "Our technical staff works seamlessly with the engineers and nurses at Ascom, and the customer support and training we receive is just phenomenal."

In addition to a collaborative partner approach, another key to Ascom's successful healthcare workflow implementations is to make clinical consulting available at every stage of a technology implementation. Julia Greer, RN, a Clinical Application Specialist at Ascom, explains that this approach is unique in the marketplace. "Whenever we work with a customer, we use our nursing background and ask our clients questions about what they want from the system, what are their goals and objectives to help them do their jobs better." She says, "We spend time doing that pre-consultation work to gather the information, and then work with the actual implementation engineer to design an ideal solution to reach their goals." Winner of a Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) 2016 Best Practices Award for Nurse Workflow Solutions, Ascom's expansive line of healthcare workflow solutions gives clinicians real-time access to patient information so they can provide higher-quality care. Ascom's patient alert system with integrated escalation capabilities ensures that caregivers receive acuity-based, prioritized alerts that enable them to respond in a timely manner. About The Haven at Windermere Founded in 1999, The Haven at Windermere is a privately-owned long term senior care center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The staff is renowned for knowing every resident by name, as this adds to the personable, warm and family-like environment that makes everyone feel right at home. The Haven is a proud member of the Louisiana Assisted Living Association, and its staff is certified in CPR and first aid. Visit www.thehavenbr.com for more information. About Executone of Louisiana Executone of Louisiana is a fifty-five year old local telecommunications company that delivers diverse communications solutions to a broad range of businesses and health care facilities of all sizes. Executone has grown from a one-office suite to five locations throughout Louisiana, serving 56 parishes in the state of Louisiana and 11 counties in southeast Texas. For more information, visit http://www.executonela.com and follow @Executonela. About Ascom Wireless Solutions Founded in 1955, Ascom Wireless Solutions, a division of Ascom AG, provides mission critical ICT for global healthcare. Today, more than 100,000 of our systems are installed in hospitals, senior care and independent living facilities and any business areas where mission critical communication is vital. Above all, we are dedicated to making a difference in healthcare. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006125/en/

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[September 27, 2016] BAE Systems to Modernize Mk 45 Naval Guns under $50 Million Award

The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems (News - Alert) a $50 million contract option to upgrade four additional Mk 45 Naval Guns on guided missile destroyers (DDG 51s), converting the guns to a fully-digital Mod 4 configuration. The option, exercised under an initial 2015 award, brings the full value of the contract to $130 million for a total of 10 modernized gun systems. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005494/en/ BAE Systems will upgrade four Mk 45 Naval Guns on guided missile destroyers (DDG 51s) under a new $50 million contract from the U.S. Navy. (Photo: U.S. Navy) Key updates to the Mod 4 configuration include a mechanically strengthened gun mount and a completely digitized control system. The stronger mount allowsthe gun to achieve 50 percent higher firing energy, and the new digital control system provides significantly more computing power while utilizing a user interface similar to that of a smartphone. These major enhancements enable the seamless integration of targeting and fire control data, such as GPS, positioning the Mk 45 to fire precision guided munitions at unprecedented ranges.



"The proliferation of high-volume, low-cost threats is driving the need for multi-mission, cost-effective precision fire from naval guns like the Mk 45," said Joseph Senftle, vice president and general manager of Weapon Systems at BAE Systems. "As a leader in large-caliber naval guns and precision guided munitions, our team is committed to developing reliable and affordable technology that adapts faster and reaches farther than ever before." The updated Mk 45 guns are expected to remain in service for decades to come, making the cost-effective Mod 4 conversion and the continued development of advanced munitions - such as the Hyper Velocity Projectile and Standard Guided Projectile - essential components of future surface warfare.

Work on the Mk 45 Mod 4 conversions will be performed at the BAE Systems' facility in Louisville, Kentucky, with support from its facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Delivery of the first upgraded gun will take place in late 2017 with the last delivery scheduled for 2020. BAE Systems has designed, produced, and supported Mk 45 Mods 0-4 for more than 40 years. The Mk 45 is the lightest, most compact 5-inch fully-automatic naval gun in the world and also the most widely deployed, with more than 260 deliveries to the U.S. Navy and 10 international fleets. The company's Louisville facility houses its Naval Guns Center of Excellence for manufacturing, providing component and spares fabrication, as well as final system assembly and testing of new and modernized gun systems. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005494/en/

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[September 27, 2016] Campus Apartments Announces $175 Million in New Development

Campus Apartments, one of the nation's largest providers of on- and off-campus student housing, has announced three new student housing developments, totaling more than 1,700 beds, in Tennessee, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Through a joint venture with Collegiate Development Group, Campus Apartments will develop two off-campus student communities at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (603 beds) and Clemson University (706 beds). Both projects will offer a pedestrian-to-campus location, state-of-the-art amenity package and ground floor retail. Currently under construction, the Clemson development is scheduled for delivery in August 2017, while the Knoxville development is slated for an August 2018 completion. Campus Apartments has also partnered with University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to develop a 400-bed freshman residence hall to mark the start of a multi-phase effort to improve facilities across the University over the next several years. The third-party development is scheduled for completion in August 2018. "Each of these student communities responds t a specific market need," said Daniel Bernstein, President and Chief Investment Officer at Campus Apartments. "At USciences, we're creating a true live-learn community equipped with social and academic space that will support the institution's rigorous academic culture and student life objectives. At UT-Knoxville, we'll provide a value-conscious market with high-density unit types at an affordable price point, and at Clemson we'll cast a wide net by offering studio through five bedroom units in the heart of downtown."



The two new off-campus development projects are the latest investment of the Campus-Clarion Student Housing Partners, LP Fund. Closed in April 2015, the fund targets investments in university-related real estate through acquisition and development, both on- and off-campus, throughout the US. "We're confident that each project will be well-received by its respective student body. It's an exciting time for Campus Apartments and our fund," continued Bernstein.

About Campus Apartments Founded in 1958, Campus Apartments is one of the nation's largest providers of on- and off-campus student housing. As a vertically integrated firm, Campus Apartments is experienced in all facets of the student housing industry. The company has $2 billion in assets under management in 24 states, serving more than 70 colleges and universities. For more information, visit: www.campusapts.com and connect with Campus Apartments on Twitter and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006223/en/

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Global Satellite M2M Connections and Services Market to Witness Growth Through 2020, Owing to Application in Diverse Industries: Technavio

According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global satellite M2M connections and services market is expected to grow at a CAGR of almost 15% and 10% respectively during the forecast period.

This research report titled 'Global Satellite M2M Connections and Services Market 2016-2020' provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. This market research report also includes an up to date analysis and forecasts for various market segments and all geographical regions.

The presence of M2M products, solutions, and services in varied application areas, such as smart homes, connected cars, connected supply chain management (SCM) in manufacturing, and connected transport and logistics is fueling the services market revenue.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=52571

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

The report categorizes the global satellite M2M connections and services market into four major application segments. They are:

Government

Transportation

Oil and Gas

Others

Government

The global satellite M2M services market by government sector is expected to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of more than 5%. The government sector dominates the global satellite M2M services for various military and government applications that involve monitoring and tracking of logistics and location-based tracking of military forces.

Governments employ systems such as Blue Force Tracking (BFT) and movement tracking system (MTS (News - Alert)), which help to provide the location of friendly and hostile military forces. MTS is a system that provides the technology necessary to communicate with tactical wheeled vehicles and other combat support. It plays a vital role in battlefield distribution operations. Satellite M2M connectivity is used in the implementation of these systems.

Transportation

The global satellite M2M services market by transportation sector is expected to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of almost 12%. Satellite M2M services are extensively used in the transportation sector for asset tracking, fleet management and monitoring, and telematics.

According to Rakesh Kumar Panda, a lead analyst t Technavio for M2M and connected devices research, "They help to improve the overall efficiency of supply chains by allowing inventory level monitoring, fleet tracking, event-based monitoring, and inventory condition monitoring." For example, a gold mining company in the remote region of Western Ghana would not be able to track its truck from the mining site to the base location where the company is located due to lack of cellular connectivity. In this scenario, satellite M2M would be the solution to this issue and provide an economical and effective way to monitor the location of the truck.







Oil and gas

The global satellite M2M services market by oil and gas sector is expected to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of approximately 13%. The global satellite M2M services market by oil and gas sector will grow steadily during the forecast period. The market is driven by an increase in the number of oil and gas rigs and the growing dependence of the industry on high-speed broadband services for the safety and security of rigs and pipelines. Most exploration and production (E&P) units are located in remote areas, where terrestrial connectivity is unavailable. Thus, satellite communication remains the only reliable and cost-effective way to obtain high-speed broadband connectivity for these companies.

The oil and gas industry will have to meet a demand-supply match in addition to contending with the increased rates of depletion of producing reservoirs. Satellite M2M communication provides comprehensive high accurate surveying and mapping benefits for the oil and gas industry. In addition, due to easy deployment and installation, most oil and gas companies prefer satellite communications. "VSAT and MSS satellite units are easily deployable and can operate in hostile locations. The smaller size of the VSAT and MSS terminals also makes them highly portable and an ideal solution for emergency situations," says Rakesh.

Others

The global satellite M2M services market by other sectors is expected to reach USD 240 million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of more than 11%. The global satellite M2M services market by the others segment will generate significant revenue during the forecast period.

This segment includes the use of satellite M2M in sectors such as utilities, mining, green energy, and agriculture. In mining, satellite M2M connectivity is used to track and monitor assets from remote locations. Satellite M2M provides reliable and economical means of communication in remote areas. In the utility sector, satellite M2M is widely used in smart grid communications.

The top vendors highlighted by Technavio's ICT research analysts in this report are:

Globalstar

Iridium (News - Alert) Communications

Kore

ORBCOMM

Rogers Communications

Browse Related Reports:

Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact [email protected] with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected].

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[September 26, 2016] Preferred Meals Chef Wins IFSA National Competition

Preferred Meals Executive Chef P.J. Lemoncelli has won the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) Best In-Flight Executive Chef of 2016 at the 8th Annual Chef's Competition, held at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, on September 21. Preferred Meals is highly regarded for its culinary expertise and retail food service products. It is one of the country's largest, innovative suppliers, of healthy, well-balanced meals to public and private school districts, charter schools, senior citizen facilities and airlines. Chef Lemoncelli competed against the most talented chefs from around the world. Each chef was provided with a market basket of ingredients from which they performed his or her culinary magic to produce an onboard-ready creation in 30 minutes. Judging was based upon presentation, flavor, textures, and doneness. This year the chefs worked with five ingredients to create the appetizer and entree: sea asparagus, white miso paste, king trumpet mushrooms, langoustine and beef tenderloin. Chef Lemoncelli's winning appetizer was Langoustine sauteed in Butter/Olive Oil with an Israeli Couscous Salad with Sea Asparagus and garnished with Lightly Seasoned Microgreens and Lemon Oil. The winning entree was pan-seared Asian Beef Tenderloin with a Sweet and Salty White Miso Trumpet Mushroom Glaze and Pan Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. "I put my hert and soul on the plate and cooked with passion," Chef Lemoncelli said. "Our entire Preferred Meals team puts the same passion into every meal we develop for our customers," he added.



"We are extremely proud of Chef Lemoncelli for winning this prestigious competition." George A. Chivari, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Preferred Meals said. "He is recognized for his creative and innovative recipes, and meticulous, organized approach to meal preparation. Chef Lemoncelli always strives to develop great tasting meals for Preferred Meals customers," Chivari added. Chef Lemoncelli was awarded a personalized chef jacket and two round-trip tickets to Hawaii as well as bragging rights for a year. He received a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts Degree from the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA and graduated with honors (Cum Laude). He has been with Preferred Foods for 9 years and resides in Dunmore, Pennsylvania with his wife Shelly.

About IFSA Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the International Flight Services Association is a global professional association created to serve the needs and interests of airline and railway personnel, inflight and rail caterers and suppliers responsible for providing onboard passenger services on regularly scheduled travel routes. IFSA's membership is dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of the multi-billion dollar inflight and railway onboard services industry. About Preferred Meals Founded 50 years ago, Preferred Meals is highly regarded for its culinary expertise and retail food service products. It is one of the country's largest, innovative suppliers, of healthy, well-balanced meals to public and private school districts, charter schools, senior citizen facilities and airlines. Prepared Meals operates three central kitchen operation facilities as well as distribution centers across the country and the company employs nearly 2,000 employees. For further information about Preferred Meals visit www.preferredmeals.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006435/en/

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[September 27, 2016] Ralph H. Smith II Elected President of Association of American Rhodes Scholars

Ralph H. Smith II, President and CEO of the Ralph Smith Group LLC and special counsel with Jones Walker LLP, has been elected President of the Association of American Rhodes Scholars (AARS). He is the first Alabama Rhodes Scholar to lead the prestigious organization. "Ralph has been an integral part of the success of AARS, leading some of our most challenging work. I am delighted to pass the President's torch to Ralph, as I know that the greater Rhodes community will benefit from his strong leadership," said Steve Crown, the Immediate Past President of AARS and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Microsoft (News - Alert) Corporation. Mr. Smith, currently the Vice President, has served on the board of AARS since 2006. He is also responsible for the annual Rhodes Scholarship selections in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and the American Caribbean. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University and his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. He attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where he received an M.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. "Studying at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar was a life-changing experience. I am honored to serve both the university and the Rhodes Scholarships by being elected to lead the American Rhodes Scholar community," said Mr. Smith. Ralph Smith served for almost a decade as General Counsel and a Member of the Chancellor's Senior Policy Staff at The University of Alabama System, where he also taught and advised on international initiatives. A corporate and business transactions lawyer by training, Mr. Smith attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar from 1973 to 1976 and helped launh in 2012 the Global Innovation Alliance, a consortium of business, government, and academic institutions to promote innovation and economic development. He was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 to the Order of St. John, an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown with historical roots in the 11th century. In 2015, Mr. Smith was named a Distinguished Friend of Oxford by Oxford University.



"The trustees and the Warden are delighted Ralph has been elected President of AARS and very much look forward to working with him and his colleagues in the period ahead," said Sir John Hood, Chairman of the Rhodes Trust and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford. About AARS and the Rhodes Scholarships

The AARS (www.americanrhodes.org) was founded in 1907 and today has a membership of more than 2,100 Rhodes Scholars elected from or currently living in the USA. The mission of AARS is to bring Rhodes Scholars in America together in support of the Rhodes Scholarships, Oxford University and the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service that underlie the awards. The AARS publishes a highly acclaimed journal, The American Oxonian, promotes reunions and events, and administers charitable trusts supporting Oxford University and the distinguished Eastman Professorship at Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarships (http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/) were created in 1902 and are the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship awards in the world, providing students from the USA and 44 other countries with postgraduate education at Oxford University. Today there are more than 4,800 Rhodes Scholars worldwide. About Jones Walker Jones Walker LLP (www.joneswalker.com) is among the 120 largest law firms in the United States, serving local, regional, national, and international business interests with offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, and Texas. The firm is committed to providing a comprehensive range of legal services to major multinational, public and private corporations, Fortune 500 companies, money center banks, worldwide insurers, and emerging companies doing business in the United States and abroad. About The Ralph Smith Group LLC The Ralph Smith Group LLC (www.ralphsmithgroup.com) provides strategic consulting services to business and higher education institutions worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006301/en/

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[September 27, 2016] Ximedica Named Development Advisor to Newly Minted Cambridge MedSpace

XIMEDICA, a leading full service medical technologies development firm, today announced its strategic partnership with Cambridge MedSpace. Located in the heart of Cambridge, the concept for MedSpace is the brainchild of MIT (News - Alert) researcher Nevan Hanumara who recognized that, while the Boston-Cambridge area is a hub for innovation, there was an opportunity for an incubator space and community focused specifically on empowering healthcare technology innovators and Ximedica and Cambridge MedSpace, together, are dedicated to filling this need. Says Hanumara, "We know that healthcare technologies face unique challenges; particularly the standards of the FDA, alongside the usual business and technology hurdles, which puts a burden on timelines and funding. With Ximedica as our lead partner, our idea is to create a highly focused environment, with specialized resources and expertise, to enable technology validation, de-risking and acceleration." Ximedica will provide personalized guidance leveraging its 30 years of experience designing and developing for medical, deep tribal knowledge of the industry along with a "curriculum" comprised of workshops and toolkits which we have been running as Xilab for 3 years now. "In short the goal here is to germinat human-centered solutions that create impact," says Aidan Petrie, Ximedica's Chief Innovation Officer, "and success is helping healthcare visionaries understand the evolving use scenarios and environments and bring innovation to the market that they serve."



Randy Barko, CEO of Ximedica adds "Cambridge is the east coast hotbed of healthcare innovation, with startups and fortune 500 companies vying for access to new markets, technologies and opportunities. Ximedica is already working with the region's major hospital groups, universities and the funding community to help bring technologies to market. When Nevan approached us about partnering on MedSpace it was clear to me that we were a perfect fit. MedSpace brings together all of the necessary assets to concept, design, develop and launch healthcare solutions. We expect to develop similar partnerships in Minneapolis and on the West coast." About Ximedica

Ximedica is a full-service ISO 13485-certified and FDA-registered product development firm. For 30 years Ximedica has provided a unique growth platform enabling organizations to successfully deploy medical technology products into the market. Its headquarters are in Providence with offices in Hong Kong, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Los Gatos. In November of 2014, SV Life Sciences, a Boston-based private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in Ximedica, enabling the company to execute its growth strategy. www.ximedica.com About Cambridge MedSpace Cambridge MedSpace is a dynamic ecosystem of healthcare technology visionaries that enables the advancement of human-centered healthcare solutions. Located in the middle of Cambridge, Massachusetts we provide office and meeting space, a workshop with benches and an events area. We draw upon a network of technical, clinical, academic, prototyping, business and regulatory experts to provide community members with the support needed for technology validation, de-risking and acceleration. www.cambridgemedspace.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006546/en/

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[September 26, 2016] Speed Isn't Everything: It's Control that Online Shoppers Crave in e-Commerce Logistics

SINGAPORE, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- E-tailers will only remain competitive if they give customers greater control over where, when, and how they receive their deliveries, according to a study conducted by Deutsche Post DHL Group. "Speed isn't everything," said Charles Brewer, CEO, DHL eCommerce. "Through the survey of more than 1000 online shoppers in Germany, we found out that 78% of e-commerce customers wish to specify the time for their deliveries, while 68% want control over the date when their orders arrive. Online shoppers also gain satisfaction from a greater choice of delivery location as 94% of respondents said they were very happy when they could specify parcel lockers like DHL's Packstations as alternative delivery addresses, while one in every two said they would like the option to deliver to their trusted neighbors in their absence." Drawing similarities with the trends in Asia Pacific, Malcolm Monteiro, CEO, DHL eCommerce Asia Pacific noted that, "In a region where fast deliveries have become the norm, Asian e-tailers can no longerdifferentiate themselves on speed alone. We've also seen a growing number of e-tailers in Asia seek greater customization and flexibility in the range of delivery options we offer to their customers."



In fact, control over delivery time and location appear to matter more than how quickly a parcel arrives -- only 66% of e-commerce shoppers in the study said quick deliveries were important to them. The survey also found that 88% of online shoppers interviewed want direct access to shipment tracking, while 84% want to know the name of the company making the delivery. Eighty-five percent of the consumers involved also said direct links to shipment tracking portals were an essential part of the e-commerce experience.

Commenting on the results, Monteiro commented that, "E-tailers need fully-managed delivery solutions that can adapt to, answer, and meet consumers' ever-changing demands, without putting extra burden on their own resources, if they're to win over consumers in a market where speed no longer comes first." "A successful delivery is no longer solely determined by the speed of the last mile; it requires a whole new level of digital infrastructure from real-time fleet tracking to SMS alerts and mobile apps," he added. "Providing that level of visibility determines how much trust customers will put in any e-commerce brand, and how effectively it can grow and maintain customer loyalty." - End - Media Contact:

DHL eCommerce

Cheryl Han / Monica Ng

Email: [email protected] / [email protected] http://www.dhl.com/en/press.html DHL - The logistics company for the world DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 340,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world". DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 59 billion euros in 2015. Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160926/8521606094

Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150811/8521505246LOGO

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[September 27, 2016] PAC Man Cary Lee Peterson: Trump-Clinton Presidential Debate Was A Great Beginning to Change in America

CAIRO, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - The first presidential debate wrapped up last night with no love loss between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and super business mogul Donald Trump. However, political activists have followed up with comments to escalate the argument, as the prolific PAC Man Cary Lee Peterson, an American lobbyist who weighed in for law enforcement and public safety issues back in 2014 after various urban community issues regarding the African and Hispanic American community, as discussed with reporters at New World Order Politics podcast this morning. Cary Peterson comments, "Trump stated, Law and Order. I went to an inner-city junior high and senior high school in the 90's when crack and gang violence was on a high. Our local police are peace officers working for peace and prosperity in the community against the civil society; they should be protected and respected. I started writing a book in '14 based around the Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner issues, which provoked me to started a federal PAC for awareness on law enforcement and public safety in February 2015, and was sidetracked by the pro-Sanders committee liabilities." Peterson continues to mention, "The fact is that the urban community issues are much like the inner-city high school I attended as a teenager. Who does a high school have to mitigate social issues among students (besides the principal) - counselors; social workers! What type of experience, degree, and training do these types f people possess? They're trained in courses and have college degrees that qualify them to deal with various types of characters, personalities, lifestyles, and demeanors; social services. Why don't our local law enforcement officers get this sort of training, and why is this not a requirement to become an authorized badge on the streets dealing with the general public? The issues in the community are Mickey Mouse. Get the funding availed from Fed to train the men and women risking their lives in the community, because its social services meets protect and serve 2.0. I'm lobbying for such a thing right now on The Hill. I'm not sure how this simple element or fact was overlooked from Jump Street. The military trains for global defense issues. Other departments train for relevant issues. Why are our peace officers on the street not trained sufficiently to deal with various mental and social issues that plague our society? Am I the other one smelling the latte? I doubt it. But I will be the first one to say it outright: fund and train our law enforcement property - we need social services training. It will cure the majority of our issues in the community. Men and women who are familiar with cultural trends and ways in Flathbush or South Chicago yet grew up in Utica, New York or Janesville, Wisconsin need to know the norm in these communities before hitting the street and doing confrontations with civilians possessing characters and personalities that they're not familiar with - case and point. Would the military drop a reserve off into the Gulf with no training on their culture or social element? Of course not!"



New World Order Politics recently interviewed Peterson about his past with Wall Street, diplomacy, and an infamous Bernie Sanders supporting PAC, which gained over 50,000 viewers in the past week. His recent interview this morning about his feelings about the first 2016 U.S. Presidential Debate show that there are still western patriotic figures alive in America that believe in more than war and greed, while interacting with the Gulf States and Asia. Peterson closes with comments saying "The debate was great and I am impressed by the feedback from both candidates. One is an expert in overall business affairs, domestic and international. The other is a veteran in foreign affairs and as a person who serves for diplomatic relations I can very much respect the feedback from Clinton in that topic."

There is definitely more to come with upcoming podcasts for New World Order Politics and the general public will be informed.

New World Order Politics is a webcast that focuses on global political issues that raise the unquestionable and ignored topics that many believe to be conspiracies or cover-ups generated by the evolution for new world order and those trying to stop it. SOURCE New World Order Politics

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[September 27, 2016] D+H to Discuss Blockchain Technology at Sibos Open Theatre Session

NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DH Corporation (TSX: DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced that Gene Neyer, Group Leader, Payments, Industry & Regulatory Product Management, D+H, will discuss the potential for blockchain technology to transform the payments industry during a Sibos Open Theatre Session, scheduled on September 27 at 3:30 p.m. local Geneva time at Open Theatre One. The session, titled "Blockchain: The Way Forward in Payments?", will focus on blockchain's transformative potential to modernize payments infrastructure and processes. Neyer will provide insights on how this technology stands to disrupt the industry, proviing use cases for banks and corporations, and will address key considerations for adoption.



D+H is a market leader in payments, providing financial technology solutions to banks and corporations of all sizes around the world. Please visit D+H at Stand F70 during Sibos 2016 to meet with our experts and learn more about our solutions. About D+H

D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visit dh.com.

please contact: Patrick Kilhaney, Public Relations & Analyst Relations Manager, D+H, +1 917 286 1053, [email protected]; Cognito, +1 646 395 6304, [email protected]



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[September 27, 2016] California Life Sciences Association Partners with LA BioMed and Lab Launch to Grow World-Class Life Sciences Innovation Hub in Los Angeles; Opens Los Angeles Office

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the nation's largest statewide public policy and business leadership organization representing California's leading life sciences innovators, today announced new strategic partnerships with LA BioMed and Lab Launch, and the unveiling of its Los Angeles satellite office, to regularly engage and bolster Los Angeles County's life sciences community. LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It facilitates approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and therapies for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. Lab Launch is a bioscience incubator that enables scientists and entrepreneurs of Los Angeles to develop their ideas in affordable, high-quality lab facilities, with access to services and a supportive innovation community to accelerate their success. "Los Angeles is home to numerous world-class research universities, teaching hospitals, biomedical research organizations and start-up firms. The region also boasts thousands of gifted scientists and a highly skilled talent pool of life sciences graduates, many with advanced degrees," said Sara Radcliffe, President and CEO of California Life Sciences Association (CLSA). "This is a pivotal time for the life sciences sector in Los Angeles, and we're thrilled to partner with LA BioMed and Lab Launch, with whom we share a long-standing commitment to growing a world-class innovation hub in and around the greater Los Angeles area." Both alliances reflect CLSA's strategic investment towards enhancing the visibility of the Los Angeles region as a competitive life sciences cluster and destination. These alliances will harness the full power of CLSA's statewide market access, business resources and commercialization services, while leveraging the strengths and scale of LA BioMed and Lab Launch to help foster the expansion of biotech start-ups. As part of the agreement with Lab Launch, CLSA will open its new office in Monrovia. The new location will bolster CLSA's current work in Los Angeles County including political advocacy, special industry events, and professional development to create a thriving life sciences sector in Los Angeles. "Our partnership with California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is right in line with Lab Launch's mission to create an environment that fosters high-growth startup businesses in Los Angeles County," said Llewellyn J. Cox (News - Alert), PhD, CEO of Lab Launch Inc. "CLSA's business solutions programs and public policy advocacy offerings are essential to reverse the trend of young companies moving to San Francisco or San Diego to ommercialize their businesses. This partnership will encourage research discoveries from Los Angeles' universities to stay in Los Angeles, grow into successful businesses, employ staff from the area, and lay down a strong foundation for the 21st century economy."



CLSA and LA BioMed will work together to offer services and programming including commercialization and capital access programs. The agreement also allows eligible stakeholders to participate in CLSA's Business Solutions program that leverages its $100 million buying power to offer steep discounts and quality services ranging from lab supplies to its healthcare benefits TRUST program. "Life sciences technologies are predicted to be among the leading growth industries of the 21st century. This alliance with California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the latest in LA BioMed's ongoing work to help solve the world's most pressing health concerns," said David Meyer, PhD, President and CEO of LA BioMed. "We are very pleased to work with CLSA and foster an environment that encourages advanced discoveries by the researchers of tomorrow while promoting local, national, and international health and wellness advancements far into our future."

To learn more about CLSA and its offerings, please visit: www.califesciences.org. About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the state's largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. With offices in Sacramento, San Diego, South San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington DC, CLSA works closely with industry, government, academia and others to shape public policy, improve access to innovative technologies and grow California's life sciences economy. CLSA serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers throughout the Golden State. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. About LA BioMed Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and therapies for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including prenatal counseling and childhood nutrition programs. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit http://www.LABioMed.org. About Lab Launch Lab Launch's mission is to enable the scientists and entrepreneurs of Los Angeles to develop their ideas in affordable, high-quality lab facilities, with access to services and a supportive innovation community to accelerate their success. Our vision for the future of Los Angeles is a vibrant network of affordable, accessible biotech incubators across the region, where life science innovators from any background can access the facilities and equipment they need to move their ideas forward. For more information, please visit http://lablaunch.org/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005301/en/

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[September 27, 2016] VizExplorer Licenses Operational Intelligence Solutions to Multiple Shooting Star Casino Properties

VizExplorer, a leading provider of operational intelligence solutions for the gaming industry, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Shooting Star Casinos of Minnesota to install multiple operational products at its Mahnomen and Bagley gaming properties. As part of the agreement, Shooting Star Casinos will install the next-generation hostVizOps product which includes mobile access to player data, instant host notifications in response to real-time, on-property player activity, alongside a slew of enhancements that empower hosts to improve the VIP experience at both properties. Shooting Star has also licensed floorViz for slot floor and profit optimization, and campaignViz to give its marketing department improved campaign management, customer segmentation and reporting capabilities across its multiple properties. "The Shooting Star team is excited to bring VizExplorer on board, and to start deploying what we believe are the best software tools available to drive operational intelligence, promote business efficiency and generate revenues at two, and soon three of our properties," said William Mash, General Manager at Shooting Star Casinos.



"By utilizing the real-time capabilities of hostVizOps, both the marketing and services of known customers will have a positive impact on improving customer satisfaction. We look forward to assisting all operational users by providing them with critical insights and allowing them to anticipate, respond and take action on those insights," added Jeffrey Hoss, VizExplorer Vice President of Business Development. Shooting Star Casino properties in Mahnomen and Bagley, Minnesota are owned and operated by the White Earth Nation, with a new casino planned for 2018.

The agreement was handled by VizExplorer reseller Game Changing Technologies, a provider of licensing and consulting services to companies doing business in the casino industry. VizExplorer solutions will be integrated with technology solutions from House Advantage and Aristocrat. VizExplorer will be demonstrating its products at G2E Las Vegas, September 27-29, 2016 in Booth #3846 at the Sands Expo. About VizExplorer VizExplorer offers Operational Intelligence (OI) solutions to the casino industry. The next generation in data driven decision making, OI delivers on the promise of business intelligence by letting businesses analyze live, fast-changing data and take immediate action using a single toolset. VizExplorer's applications and tools enable enterprises to address smart space and profit optimization, marketing campaign management, CRM and customer service. VizExplorer is led by a team of distinguished OI experts, seasoned industry veterans and world class software developers devoted to building the very best products backed by extraordinary support. VizExplorer is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Las Vegas and Wellington, New Zealand. www.vizexplorer.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005158/en/

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[September 27, 2016] Smart Grid: the Energy Revolution is Digital - ENERGY SAXONY SUMMIT in Dresden

DRESDEN, Germany, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Digitalizing the energy system plays a key role in the successful revolution of the energy supply toward renewable energies. On September 27, 2016, the energy sector is meeting under the slogan "ENERGY SUPPLY OF THE FUTURE: digital, flexible, and climate neutral," during the ENERGY SAXONY SUMMIT at the International Congress Center Dresden. In the joint project WindNODE, energy suppliers and research institutes of the Saxon network 'Energy Saxony' are collaborating with national and international partners; 50 participants are creating a transnational competence center at the interface of energy technology, information and communications technology, and software. When it comes to transitioning from traditional to renewable energy, Germany is an international pioneer. With a growing proportion of enrgy generated from wind and photovoltaic sources, all areas of energy supply, the generating, networks, and usage and storage areas, must interact intelligently. The energy revolution, therefore, requires solutions from information and communications technologies. A key component for successfully realizing this transition in Germany is the joint project WindNODE, which is part of the Federal funding program 'Smart Energy - Digital Agenda for the Energy Transition (SINTEG)'. SINTEG, launched by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in 2015, is funding five selected German regions over a period of four years with a total of 230 million Euro. The solutions developed in these model regions shall serve as a blueprint for its widespread implementation throughout Germany.



Full press release: http://datas.weichertmehner.com/ensax2016.pdf For further questions, please contact:

State Capital Dresden, Kai Schulz, spokesman: +49(0)351-4882390; [email protected] Energy Saxony, Lukas Rohleder: +49-351-486797-11; [email protected] WeichertMehner (PR Agency), Mathias Rentsch: +49(0)351-50140200; [email protected] SOURCE State Capital Dresden

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[September 27, 2016] Time to modernize tools to protect personal information, Privacy Commissioner urges in annual report

Report to Parliament highlights need for change to address emerging privacy risks; highlights key public and private sector investigations, audit and review work and other activities. GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - New technologies and business models are putting ever-greater pressures on privacy and demand a more modern approach to protecting personal information, says the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. "We're trying to use 20th Century tools to deal with 21st Century privacy problems and it's clear those tools are increasingly insufficient," Daniel Therrien says. Meanwhile, 90% of Canadians are very concerned about their inability to protect their privacy. "The government should give greater priority to the modernization of laws and policies and it should invest more resources in building robust privacy protection frameworks. This is essential to maintaining public confidence in government and the digital economy," says Commissioner Therrien. The need for modernization in the face of rapid technological change is the key theme of the Commissioner's latest Annual Report, tabled today in Parliament. The 2015-16 report describes the work of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) as it relates to both the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the federal private sector privacy law. Both laws predate many of the technological innovations that are creating new challenges for privacy protection by enabling businesses and governments to collect and analyze exponentially greater quantities of information. In fact, as the report notes, the Internet did not even exist when the Privacy Act was proclaimed in 1983 and Facebook had yet to be imagined when PIPEDA came into force in 2001. In March, the OPC provided a Parliamentary committee studying the Privacy Act with a submission on modernizing the legislation that included 16 recommendations covering three broad themes: responding to technological change; legislative modernization; and the need for transparency. In addition to the changes needed on the public sector front, Commissioner Therrien says it is also clear that new private sector challenges must also be addressed. This includes the notion of consent for the collection use and disclosure of personal information, which has been a cornerstone of PIPEDA. Many are questioning how Canadians can meaningfully exercise their right to consent to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information in an increasingly complex environment involving new technologies and new business models where personal informaion plays a central role. The OPC has launched public consultations aimed at identifying possible solutions to address growing challenges related to consent.



A second consultation process is examining privacy issues related to online reputation, with the ultimate goal of helping to create an environment where individuals can use the Internet to explore their interests and develop without fear their digital trace will lead to unfair treatment. Work related to information sharing powers created under Bill C-51

The annual report includes details of the OPC's review of how the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act (SCISA) was implemented and applied in the first six months after it came into force following the passage of Bill C-51. The Act was aimed at facilitating information sharing between federal government institutions in order to protect against "activities that undermine the security of Canada." The OPC has also undertaken discussions with Public Safety with respect to the implementation of SCISA. The OPC has found that the privacy impact of the new authorities conferred by SCISA was not properly evaluated during implementation and recommended that formal Privacy Impact Assessments be performed. Privacy Impact Assessments are a key tool in reducing privacy risks and government policy requires they be conducted when departments establish any new or substantially modified program or activity involving personal information. "It was therefore quite surprising to learn that most departments did not conduct Privacy Impact Assessments related to implementation of SCISA's new authorities, particularly given the government had said this legislation was crucial in addressing gaps in its ability to protect the public," says Commissioner Therrien. The OPC has also found several weaknesses with a Public Safety Canada guidance document intended to help departments implement the SCISA. Although Public Safety Canada agreed during consultations with the OPC to improve the guidance, no changes have been made a year after the OPC provided recommendations aimed at minimizing privacy risks. The first phase of the review surveyed departments, which reported using the legislation's new information sharing powers to generate 58 disclosures and 52 receipts of personal information all with regard to individuals they said were suspected as posing threats to security. The next phase will seek to verify this information and will also examine the exchange of personal informationfor national security purposesusing legal authorities other than the SCISA. The goal of this work is to provide as clear a picture as possible of the use of SCISA and other laws, in order to inform public and parliamentary debate over the course of the government's planned review of Bill C-51. "Our hope is that our work in this area will result in the adoption of measures to protect privacy effectively in relation to the collection and sharing of national security information," says Commissioner Therrien. The Commissioner also notes that his office will be contributing to the Government's recently announced national security consultations. While the public consultations are a welcome development, he will be raising concerns about the approach. "The scope of these consultations is too narrow. They don't appear to be looking at key privacy concerns related to Bill C-51, such as the inadequate legal standards which allow for excessive information-sharing," says Commissioner Therrien. "I'm also troubled by the tone of the Government's discussion paper  it focuses heavily on challenges for law enforcement and national security agencies, which doesn't present the full picture. Canadians should also hear about the impact of certain surveillance measures on democratic rights and privacy. A more balanced and comprehensive national discussion is needed." CSE metadata sharing raises privacy concerns The oversight authority for the Communications Security Establishment (CSE)  the Office of the CSE Commissioner  revealed in its 2014-15 annual report that metadata had been shared with international security partners without being properly minimized. The Minister of National Defence subsequently announced that, until further notice, the CSE would no longer share certain metadata with partners. Given the potential impact on Canadians' privacy, the OPC conducted a review of the circumstances that allowed that situation to arise. As noted in a summary of the review included in the annual report, the OPC questioned the CSE's contention that the risk to privacy was minimal. Metadata can reveal very sensitive information about individuals' activities, associates, interests and lives. As well, the CSE acknowledged that the volume of metadata that had been shared was large. To minimize the risk, the OPC recommended that the National Defence Act be amended to clarify the CSE's powers and to add specific legal safeguards to protect Canadians' privacy in relation to the collection of metadata. About the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman and guardian of privacy in Canada. The Commissioner enforces two laws for the protection of personal information: the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector; and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada's federal private sector privacy law. The latest annual report is the first to cover issues related to both the Privacy Act and PIPEDA. An amendment to PIPEDA in 2015 aligned its reporting period with that of the Privacy Act, enabling the OPC to prepare one annual report, as opposed to having two reports tabled at different times of the year. SOURCE Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

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[September 27, 2016] Huawei Drives Video and Broadband Service Transformation for MSOs

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2016, Huawei unveiled the industry's first DOCSIS prototype that supports a downstream rate of 25Gbps and a series of E2E solutions intended for global Multi-System Operators (MSOs). These solutions help MSOs achieve video and broadband service transformation and enhance their competitiveness in the digital era. Huawei Exhibits Hybrid Video Solutions and Gigaband Network Solutions The DOCSIS prototype Huawei launched demonstrates that the DOCSIS technology can extend the spectrum to 3 GHz, which ensures high-quality UHDTV experience for users. This product, an innovation of coaxial cable technologies, boosts MSOs' confidence in building Gigabit networks with existing coaxial cables, which is the focus at the Expo. Huawei will also present a series of video and broadband E2E solutions which increase MSOs' service and network capabilities and ensure a premium video experience for end users. In the Hybrid Video solution, Huawei helps MSOs build next-generation video platforms and provides various TV services through an integrated delivery process. Huawei's 10Gbps hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) access platform, which realizes one-stop DOCSIS 3.1 deployment, helps MSOs achieve integrated network construction and IP-based video service transformation. It enables MSOs to build all-digital networks and cuts the total cost of ownership (TCO) by 30%. The Giga transport solutio supports an ultra-large capacity and high-quality transmission, ensuring that the SDN technology-based optical networks achieve better flexibility and higher efficiency. In addition, Huawei released the Giga backhaul solution to help MSOs build future-oriented IP backhaul networks. These networks support multi-service access and adopt NP-based programmable architectures, which ensure convenient deployment and smooth service evolution.



To meet the fast emergence of connected equipment and better competitive ability in the market, MSOs demand fast transformation to create competitive edges and increase revenues. Using Huawei strategies, MSOs can offer high-quality multi-screen video services to achieve fast transformation and enhance broadband performance to ensure a premium user experience. Huawei is actively innovating cable technologies and has provided innovative cable solutions for multiple global MSOs, driving video and broadband service transformation. The SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2016 will be held on September 2729, 2016 in Philadelphia, US. Huawei's booth is located at #1471 of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.google.com/+Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei Media contacts:

Jannie Tong

(214) 919-6438

[email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412516 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huawei-drives-video-and-broadband-service-transformation-for-msos-300335124.html SOURCE Huawei

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Samsung's Global SSD Summit in Korea is always the location of the company's biggest announcements, and this year's event was no exception. Samsung unveiled its new 960 Pro and Evo models, which brought the anticipated increases in performance and capacity, but the company also outlined a new advance in SSD controller technology that promises to bring about a sea change in M.2 SSD designs. Samsung is also forging ahead with a new density-increasing form factor that it outlined (briefly) at the Flash Memory Summit.

Densifying M.2 With PoP

One of Samsung's most interesting revelations is the addition of a package on package (PoP) design for its Polaris SSD controllers. PoP designs, which combine the memory and the logic into one discrete package with two components, have been a staple in the mobile segment for over a decade. In some respects, it is surprising that it took this long for PoP to make it into SSD designs, but economics may have been the true hurdle.

Image 1 of 3

The technique is fairly straightforward: The SSD controller (logic) resides on an underlying substrate that has an array of BGA (Ball Grid Connectors) underneath, just as with a normal BGA-mounted controller. The PoP aspect comes into play when the vendor places a DRAM package on the top of the controller. The DRAM package connects through two additional rows of BGA connectors that ring the underlying controller. As with any standard design, the logic resides on the bottom of the stack due to its need for more connectors.

There are several advantages to PoP designs, with density being the primary consideration for M.2 SSDs. High-performance SSDs require a DRAM cache to hold the LBA tables, which speeds the process of locating data held on the NAND. The DRAM package consumes space on the PCB, which reduces the number of NAND packages that the vendor can pack into the small form factor.

Most M.2 SSDs have only NAND components on one side of the PCB, which is referred to as a single-sided design. Vendors can mount additional packages on the bottom of the PCB (double-sided) to increase density. Unfortunately, most notebooks and mobile devices support only single-sided M.2 SSDs because the slimmer SSDs offer a lower profile for thin designs. The need to pack as much NAND as possible on one side of the SSD turns every square millimeter of the PCB into precious real estate.

Removing the separate DRAM component from the SSD allows Samsung to include additional NAND packages on the PCB, which increases storage capacity and performance. As a result, Samsung can cram in four 16-die packages onto the 960 Pro, which brings capacity up to 2TB. Using a PoP controller likely increases production costs to some extent, but Samsung has extensive experience with the technology through its line of mobile SoCs. Scale is always helpful to defray production costs, and Samsung has it in spades.

Samsung's vertical integration provides it with a key advantage over its competitors that extends beyond cost. For instance, NAND is the most expensive component on an SSD. In contrast to popular belief, the SSD controller is really only a very small part of the BOM (Build Of Materials) cost, with prices projected between $5 to $15 apiece. However, having access to one's own controller technology provides a faster time to market and tighter integration.

In many cases, utilizing a third-party SSD controller is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Third-party SSD controller vendors, which almost all of the major fabs use, design their controllers to work with several types of NAND from multiple vendors. Accommodating for a wide range of 2D and 3D NAND in SLC, MLC, TLC (and now QLC) flavors means that there is less targeted optimization for the vendors' specific NAND. In many cases, SSD vendors that utilize third-party controllers also have to interact with the SSD controller vendor to get important fixes and optimizations pushed through the pipeline, which increases the time to market and reduces flexibility. Also, the NAND fabs don't want to give away all of their secrets, so information sharing becomes a major concern. Adding in contractual constraints only complicates the process. Samsung and Toshiba both have their own organic SSD controller programs, which cuts through all of the red tape.

Samsung's new PoP design is yet another advantage, but the third-party SSD controller vendors will likely follow suit. PoP designs require the ultimate in integration and experience, so it will be interesting to see how the industry reacts. There is a pronounced industry-wide move to the M.2 form factor, so PoP could be a big advantage in the hottest market segment. Samsung has dominated the SSD market for several years by leading the race to 3D NAND. The other fabs are finally shipping 3D NAND, which levels the playing field, but PoP may just be the next Samsung advantage for the next few years.

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Samsung also touted its 16-die stack technology as another key to its new 2TB SSDs--but it isn't new. Each die has 48-layers, but NAND fabricators stack the die atop each other to increase density. SSD manufacturers tend to shy away from using 16-die stacks because of manufacturing complexity. Samsung's move to the dense packages likely indicates that it has surmounted the manufacturing challenges associated with wire bonding the die together. Higher die stacks also lead to reduced performance due to increased impedance from longer wires. We know that Samsung is already using small F-chips in some 48-layer NAND die, which helps to defray the performance loss associated with the increased impedance, so it already solved the performance challenges.

A New Form Factor Beckons

Samsung is also working on a new form factor SSD that will increase density in enterprise environments. Intel famously led the M.2 form factor charge, which it named the "Next Generation Form Factor" (NGFF) before the standards committees shortened the name to the friendlier "M.2." Samsung is driving the next initiative, which it also describes as an NGFF form factor, albeit with the addition of the "Small & Dense" tagline.

The new form factor measures 32 x 114mm, which is much wider than current designs. The increased width allows Samsung to place two rows of NAND chips on each side of the PCB. The technique will increase density up to 8TB per SSD, which easily outweighs any existing products.

Another important addition is a modified latching mechanism. You have to slide current M.2 SSDs into the connector at an angle, and then you latch the SSD downward to lock it into position. The latching mechanism makes it nearly impossible to use M.2 SSDs in the front bay of a server, which hampers adoption. Enterprise users require hot-swappability (another feature M.2 lacks) and front-accessibility to ease servicing. The new Samsung form factor will support both features, and the server rendering indicates that the new SSDs will likely fit into somewhat normal drive sleds.

Samsung is working with the standards committees, much like Intel did with the first NGFF form factor, to foster widespread adoption. A standardized approach means we may eventually see the new form factor from other manufacturers.

Density is one of the key advantages of SSDs; we always want faster devices with more capacity in smaller packages. Samsung has all four of the most important aspects of an SSD (NAND, controller, DRAM, and firmware) directly under its own control. The company is working on several fronts to increase its capabilities, and in many respects, dragging the rest of the industry along with it.
Melbourne alt-folk artist Delsinki Records (Craig Johnston) and vocalist Brooke Taylor continue an impressive run of video clips with Winter (From The Ashes), the final track from their Love One EP.

Previous tracks have followed a seasonal theme, and the theatrical duet Winter is no different. A stark militaristic dirge, its mood is matched by the cold blue tones of the accompanying visuals, featuring dancers Maggie Rogers, Veronica Waite and Wally Howlett painted in vibrant hues.

Brooke and Craig lay down powerful intertwining lead vocals, while Trumpeter Ted Kazan of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra imbues the track with forlorn tones, bringing the EP to a sombre close in comparison to the sounds of seasons past.

The aim with Winter, as its the ending, was to make it sound like a funeral procession; that kind of vibe, says Taylor. The death of the relationship as it were.

The videos will be played alongside the live performances when Delsinki Records and Brooke Taylor take the project on tour across Victoria in October and November, dates below, while the record is available now.

Delsinki Records Tour Dates

Thursday Oct 6  The Golden Vine Hotel Bendigo

Sunday Oct 16  Winnebago Lounge St Kilda w/ A Whale Called Phenix

Saturday Oct 22  Swagger Music Festival

Saturday Oct 29  Gold Diggers Banquet, Pooyong

Saturday Nov 5  Wesley Anne for the Darebin Music Festival

Sunday Nov 6  The Westernport with guest Jamie McDowel

Saturday Nov 12  Wesley Anne for the Darebin Music Festival

Saturday Nov 19  Wesley Anne for the Darebin Music Festival

Saturday Nov 26  Wesley Anne for the Darebin Music Festival
Loving live music isnt just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artists massive arena show.

Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs  which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue.

Here are our picks for this weeks best local gigs from Aussie talent  from Perth to the East Coast  and all for the price of a good meal.

The Ocean Party

Where: Petersham Bowls Club, Sydney NSW

When: 8pm  11pm, Friday Sep 30

Why: Wagga legends The Ocean Party are launching their new EP Restless with a national tour, and are stopping by Sydney this Friday with some of our other guitar faves in Big White and Solid Effort  a great night of tunes for a tenner.

Tickets & Info: $10, more info here.

Silentjay and Friends

Where: Howler, Melbourne VIC

When: 8pm  1am, Thursday Sep 29

Why: Acclaimed crooner Silentjay is taking to the stage with a live band for a one-off performance at Howler to launch his new record The Wrap Tape. With a flair for production, the man can also play the saxophone, piano and keyboard, drums, and flute, as well as having a pretty enough voice to sing backing vox for Hiatus Kaiyote. Thisll be a great show.

Tickets & Info: $15 on the door, more info here.

Destrends & West Thebarton

Where: Yah Yahs, Melbourne VIC

When: 8pm  5am, Saturday Oct 1

Why: Head down to Yah Yahs after the big game to catch two killer bands on the one bill. Local post-punk outfit Destrends are kicking things off, while West Thebarton Brothel Party will be playing a late gig in the 2am slot to give you more to look forward to.

Tickets & Info: $10, Yah Yahs, Melbourne VIC8pm  5am, Saturday Oct 1Head down to Yah Yahs after the big game to catch two killer bands on the one bill. Local post-punk outfit Destrends are kicking things off, while West Thebarton Brothel Party will be playing a late gig in the 2am slot to give you more to look forward to.: $10, more info here

Zombitches & From Oslo

Where: Cherry Bar, Melbourne VIC

When: 8pm  5am, Saturday Oct 1

Why: To celebrate the anniversary of the christening of Melbournes AC/DC Lane, rockers Zombitches will take to the Cherry stage, supported by From Oslo and James Moloney & the Mad Dog Harrisons. Perfect kick-ons after the Granny wraps up.

The Aston Shuffle

Where: The Fat Controller, Adelaide SA

When: 10pm  5am, Sunday Oct 2

Why: A long Sunday of choons at The Fat Controller to round out this long weekend, as The Aston Shuffle drop in for a set accompanied by a host of other accomplished spinners.

Tickets & Info: $10, more info here.

Donny Benet & Broadway Sounds

Where: Plan B Small Club, Sydney NSW

When: 8pm  11pm, Friday Sep 30

Why: Red Bull Sound Select is putting on a great lineup for this one (curated by Laneway festival),with the always entertaining Donny Benet joined by another fave in Broadway Sounds, as well as emerging local beatmaker Klue. A mere three bucks if you join the guest list, and only a tenner if you dont  a no brainer.

Tickets & Info: $3/$10, more info here.

Lucy Cliche

Where: Peoples Club, Sydney NSW

When: 8pm  3 am, Friday Sep 30

Why: Production maestro Lucy Cliche is taking to the Peoples Club stage to put on one of her impressive live sets, with a host of DJs in support to keep the tunes pumping well into the morning.

Tickets & Info: Free entry before 9, Peoples Club, Sydney NSW8pm  3Production maestro Lucy Cliche is taking to the Peoples Club stage to put on one of her impressive live sets, with a host of DJs in support to keep the tunes pumping well into the morning.Free entry before 9, more info here.

Amateur Dance, Jennifer Loveless & More

Where: Hugs&Kisses, Melbourne VIC

When: 9pm  3am, Thursday Sep 29

Why: An absolute stack of great producers here on Good Manners party lineup, with Amateur Dance, Jennifer Loveless and Couture playing live sets, as well as DJ sets from the likes of Martin King, The Harpoons and Rat & Co.

Tickets & Info: $10, An absolute stack of great producers here on Good Manners party lineup, with Amateur Dance, Jennifer Loveless and Couture playing live sets, as well as DJ sets from the likes of Martin King, The Harpoons and Rat & Co.$10, more info here

Sunbeam Sound Machine, Crepes & More

Where: The Curtin, Melbourne VIC

When: 7:30pm  12am, Thursday Sep 29

Why: After a great fortnight already, the Deaf Ambitions label-curated residency comes to a close in style, with Sunbeam Sound Machine, Crepes, The Shabbab and Dianas all crowding into The Curtin. Not a dud in the bunch, get down to this one. Youve got a day off on Friday!

Tickets & Info: more info here.

Australia

Where: Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC

When: 8pm  11-pm, Thursday Sep 29

Why: The band whose name is so ill-advised that they have to point out that they are in fact a band and not a country at every opportunity are nonetheless a damn good band. Theyre playing Karova on Thursday with mates Electric Mud and Teal AV, so its a great way to write yourself off for the rest of the weekend.

Tickets & Info: $12, more info here.
NBC Action News: KCMO police investigate 3rd homicide in 24 hours

















Today, gunfire rang out across the Kansas City metro and pushed our homicide count even higher.At this time last year there were only 76 homicides and reports claim KCMO is trending toward a 7-year-murder high.Here's the roundup . . .Developing . . .
A US consulate in Turkey is warning of specific and credible potential terrorist threats against hotels run by American companies in the resort city of Adana

A US consulate in Turkey is warning of specific and credible potential terrorist threats against hotels run by American companies in the resort city of Adana. Just days earlier, the State Department allowed families of its diplomats to return to Adana.

US Consulate General Adana informs US citizens that it has obtained specific and credible threats of potential terrorist activity targeting US-branded hotels in Adana, the consulate said in a statement on its website. "US citizens in Adana are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these establishments."

The consulate has not revealed the particular hotels, but the US State Department has been warning its citizens against traveling to southeast Turkey in general amid increased threats from terrorist groups across the country.

The message from the US Consulate in Adana comes just three days after Washington updated its Turkey Travel warning, which ended the ordered departure of relatives of US diplomats, posted both in the consulate in the resort city as well as Izmir, Turkeys third-largest city.

The Department of State will authorize employed adult dependents (21 year or older) of employees to return to Adana, the agency said in a statement released on September 23.

Continued security concerns

The mandatory evacuation order for family members both in Adana and Izmir has been in place since the end of March, affecting nearly 700 dependents.

The decision was based on the US European Command statement that cited continued security concerns in the region. The order was then extended following the failed July 15 coup in Turkey.

As the Turkish government declared a 90-day State of Emergency, the US announced the authorized departure of its staff's family members from its embassy in Ankara and the US Consulate General in Istanbul.

The Department continues to monitor the effects of the ongoing State of Emergency; recent terrorist incidents in Ankara, Istanbul, Gaziantep, and throughout the Southeast; recurring threats; visible increases in police or military activities; and the potential for restrictions on movement as they relate to the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens in Turkey, Washington said in a September 23 statement.

Surge in terrorist attacks

Turkey has seen a surge in terrorist attacks targeting the countrys major cities in recent months.

In June, three suicide attackers killed at least 41 people and wounded dozens more at Istanbuls main airport.

In March, a suicide bomber struck a main avenue in Istanbul, killing at least four, including two Americans, in an attack that Turkey said was carried out by Islamic State.

In January, a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 10 foreigners in an attack on Istanbul's central historic district.

At the same time, some of the recent attacks, including a car bombing in Ankara in February, have been attributed to Kurdish militants.

Those attacks have affected tourist flow to Turkey. According to the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office, over 20 percent fewer American tourists visited Turkey in the first five months of 2016.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis said on Tuesday he is ready to pay the first installment for the acquisition of a nationwide TV license

Greek-Russian businessman Ivan Savvidis said on Tuesday he is ready to pay the first installment for the acquisition of a nationwide TV license, adding that all his business activities are transparent.

I have no pending issues. As far as my financial ability is concerned, everything is transparent. Im waiting for the order to immediately pay the first installment, Savvidis told the Athens-Macedonian New Agency when asked when he will pay for the license.

Asked whether he is negotiating to acquire Alpha TV channel, which didnt secure a broadcasting license in the recent tender, he said: From what the owners attitude shows, we will probably not negotiate with him  From what I understand, his friends will not allow him to maintain the [current] jobs. He is definitely anxious, but he must learn to lose apart from winning.

Savvidis also said that if the attempted deal falls through, he will try to open a new TV channel, but added hes certain he will eventually acquire the license.

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
Moscovici said he was hoping for deal on Greece that would include its debt and the participation of IMF by the end of the year

European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici on Tuesday said he was hoping for deal on Greece that would include its debt and the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the Greek programme by the end of the year. Speaking at Morning Exchange Live event organised by the Brussels-based weekly "Politico", Moscovici also noted that 'Grexit' was no longer on the cards after many years of work to avoid it.

We want to build a success story with Greece," he said, while referring to "good progress in implementing prior actions.

A Greek exit would have turned the eurozone into a fixed rate regime, Moscovici noted, and "history shows they don't survive."

The Commissioner also called for greater "intelligence and flexibility" in applying the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact, which he said needed to be simplified.

We need to commit on the coherence of the pact. We can discuss that. Simplify, yes. Destroy? Certainly not, 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
Turkish Cypriots only have one port of call and that is Turkey, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has told Anadolu agency on Tuesday

Turkish Cypriots only have one port of call and that is Turkey, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has told Anadolu agency on Tuesday.

He added that it is clear the Turkish Cypriot side want an agreement that will include the security provided [by Turkey], otherwise it will not be accepted.

As long as the security system works, the Turkish Cypriot leader mentioned, and it is put in place and the sense of security exists on both sides, then a re-evaluation can occur.

A talk has been taking place on a bizonal federation and one of those zones will be a Turkish Cypriot state, which will have its own police, something it did not have in the past, Akinci closed his statement.

Source: CNA

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 former manager of the Church of Greece non-governmental charity "Allileggii" (Solidarity) and three alleged accomplices were on Tuesday indicted to stand trial

The former manager of the Church of Greece non-governmental charity "Allileggii" (Solidarity) and three alleged accomplices were on Tuesday indicted to stand trial on serious charges ranging from embezzlement of public funds to breach of trust. The charges relate to the management of money given to the NGO in 2005-2006 for actions and activities not carried out.

The four will be tried before a Three-member Criminal Appeals Court. They include the NGO's manager Dimitris Fourlemadis, an associate of the late Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, as well as former Court of Audit commissioner Georgia Lymberi and two former church finances inspectors, Ioannis Petsos and Theologos Makris.

The case concerns the amount of 5.6 million euros given by the foreign ministry to supply food aid to Iraq. The sum was an advance on a total sum of 7.0 million euros that the charity was to use in order to send 2.65 tonnes of frozen poultry to Iraq over a period of six months, from September 2006 until March 2007.

According to the charges, the charity only bought 371,093 kilos of frozen poultry in total, which was stored at a warehouse in Rendi until declared unfit for consumption by the veterinary service. The foreign ministry then terminated the contract and demanded the return of the 5.6 million euros but the NGO returned only 500,000 euros. The remainder, according to the charges, was illegally appropriated by Fourlemadis, who had complete financial control over the charity. There are also charges connected to smaller amounts given for projects that were not fully completed, such as the construction of a museum in the Alexandria Patriarchate, a school in Indonesia and a shelter for battered women in Romania.

Lymberi is accused of using her position in the Court of Audit to assist Fourlemadis in embezzling the funds, while the other two defendants falsely claimed that the sums were still in the NGO's accounts when they had disappeared.

The charges are also compounded by the heavier penalties imposed by law for embezzlement of public funds.

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 close of summers high tourist season has seen Tax Free Shopping (TFS) improve in Europe with sales performance less in decline at -3% for August, vs -20% in July year-on-year

The close of summers high tourist season has seen Tax Free Shopping (TFS) improve in Europe with sales performance less in decline at -3% for August, vs -20% in July year-on-year (YoY)

EU Infographic Regional shift

This significant improvement in the region is due to shifting tourism trends towards central and southern Europe, as globe shoppers (especially Chinese) move away from traditional itineraries including Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland towards destinations such as the Czech Republic, Spain and Nordic cruises, all perceived as safer.

The regions transactions are flat at 0% (vs -16% in July), with average spend down just -3% (vs -5% for July)  average spend has been boosted by non-eurozone countries performing well due to favourable FX and limited exposure to the threat of terrorist attacks.

France continues to suffer from tourists persistent perception of insecurity and risk of terror attacks, which is leading globe shoppers to shift away from Global Blues top destination, although France still accounts for almost one fifth of global TFS spend. For August France posted -20% sales (vs -24% for July) YoY.

After a difficult four to six months, Italy and Germanys TFS sales performances are back to either single-digit or low double-digit decline, with Italy posting a drop of -7% and Germany of -11% (vs -18% and -33% for July) YoY.

Brexit bling

The UK is benefiting from rocketing TFS sales, up +37% in August (vs +7% in July) after the Brexit referendum. The softer pound continues to attract key spending nationalities, including Chinese, Middle Eastern and American globe shoppers, who comprise the UKs top three spending nationalities. Watch and jewellery sales in the UK were up nearly +13% in August and +18% in July, fueling Brexit bling spending, according to Reuters. Switzerland, the only pocket of growth in central Europe, posted +14% sales performance for August, probably due to its robust luxury shopping destination status, and limited threat of terror.

Spanish star performance

Spain is a star European performer this month. The countrys TFS sales performance of +16% for August (vs -4% in July) YoY, is growing due to an increased number of transactions across all nationalities, driven by new flight connections and targeted local marketing activities.

Look ahead: Golden Week

According to Global Blues Chinese tour operator partners, Golden Week is shaping up to remain a key travel period for Chinese globe shoppers. However, forward bookings for October travel to Europe are currently between 30% and 50% down on last year and we expect a dip YoY.

Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland are the main representative itineraries for western Europe, confirms one of Beijings leading Chinese tour operators. The number of customers for this upcoming Golden Week is definitely more than normal times; however bookings are down by 30% this year compared to last year. The main reasons are threat of terrorism attacks and the low growth of Chinas domestic economy. As the classic itinerary, western Europe still has market recognition; therefore the downturn should be temporary, as long as it is not affected too much by reduced value-priced tours and the increasing FIT [Free Independent Travellers] market, says the tour operator spokesperson.

Another Shanghai-based tour group operator concurs over slow forward bookings for Golden Week  down 50% for western European destinations. And the market is very competitive in terms of price. Airlines have opened new routes or connecting flights, so the supply of transport capacity exceeds demand. The customers spending power is lower and their disposable income is not as much as before, says the tour operator.

Global Blue takeouts:

 In line with Chinese globe shoppers changing their regional destination focus, Europes TFS landscape is shifting from traditional western Europe destinations to central or southern countries where shopping is considered safer.

 After a difficult four to six months, Italy and Germanys TFS sales performance is now in single-digit or low double-digit decline.

 Spain is a significant pocket of growth in Europe, due to its diverse globe shopper mix.

 The Brexit referendum effect continues to drive positive sales growth in the UK.

 Forward bookings for Chinese visiting Europe are down 30% to 50% for Golden Week this October, according to Global Blues main tour operator partners.

 The changing value-seeker profile of Chinese globe shoppers is a major headwind for TFS spending, mainly due to increased numbers of FITs looking for experiential travel and less affluent travellers from second-tier and third-tier cities who are becoming the new normal in Europe.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
A 36-year-old Greek Cypriot man is being held in Istanbuls Maltepe prison, after he was discovered at the airport with 2.5 kg of cocaine in his suitcase

A 36-year-old Greek Cypriot man is being held in Istanbuls Maltepe prison, after he was discovered at the airport with 2.5 kg of cocaine in his suitcase, reports said on Tuesday.

The Consular General of Greece is expected to visit the man after he has received all the necessary clearance from Turkish authorities.

The 36-year-old resident of Nicosia was arrested at approximately midnight at Istanbuls airport after having arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Reports suggest that the cocaine was secreted in the walls of the mans suitcase.

Sources mentioned that the 36-year-old was expected to fly into the illegal Tymvos airport in the occupied areas.

Infamous conditions at Maltepe jail

The prison that the man is being held in has been the recipient of hundreds of allegations regarding its living conditions, many of which reached the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Claims against the prison had been filed within months of its opening.

Maltepe prison is known for hosting foreigners who are being held for extradition. This is one of the reasons that it has garnered attention from the CPT, reports said, referring to the frequent visits made by committee members to the prison.

The jail is made up of a number of blocks, which hold approximately 4,000 individuals. The prison blocks are as follows:

- One for children and teenagers, with a holding capacity of approximately 950 individuals

- One L2 block, which is a maximum security prison, with a holding capacity of approximately 1,000 individuals

- One military prison block in which high level military officials are held, with a holding capacity of approximately 1,000 individuals

- One prison block for criminals, with a holding capacity of approximately 1,000 individuals

- One open prison block for individuals with limited restrictions to their movements, with a holding capacity of approximately 444 individuals

Turkey has approximately 384 prisons, which are split into three categories. There are closed jails, semi-open, and open prisons. Closed jails are then further split into maximum security and normal, with womens blocks and underage blocks always remaining separated. Individuals who have been detained are split into detainees and convicts.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Three facets of the Cyprus problem were discussed during President Nicos Anstasiades meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May in London

Three facets of the Cyprus problem were discussed during President Nicos Anstasiades meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Tuesday.

In statements after the meeting government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides said that President Anastasiades and PM May had discussed the issue of the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus after a solution, the security and guarantees issue, and the territory and property issues.

UK ready to help in security issue

Specifically, on the security and guarantees chapter of the ongoing Cyprus negotiations, Christodoulides said that PM May has stated that the UK is ready to help, either through the United Nations Security Council or some other method.

Mentioning the traditional role the UK has played on the island [as one of the guarantor powers], Christodoulides said that, although important, the PM has reiterated that they are not demanding the role of a guarantor power, but are ready to play whichever role is asked of them and do whatever is decided by both communities.

Bilateral relations-Brexit on the discussion table

During their meeting President Anastasiades and PM May discussed the bilateral relations between Cyprus and the UK.

Christodoulides said that the topics discussed included: Firstly our bilateral relations, and the need  after the recent referendum on Brexit  to not only maintain them, but to strengthen them even further. In this framework there was also a discussion on the negotiations between London and Brussels, which are expected to start as soon as the British government decides to enact article 50.

He added that there is a need to achieve a smooth transition from the current state of affairs to the new situation.

Birthday wishes to Anastasiades

After their meeting at 4:00 pm, PM May said that relations between the UK and Cyprus have developed very well and this progress can be built on.

The PM then wished President Anastasiades well for his birthday, which is today, and gave him a present.

President Anastasiades thanked the UK PM and said that during their meeting opinions had been exchanged, and the two had brainstormed bilateral relations, the Brexit, and the Cyprus problem.

I am sure that the bonds that have tied us for decades will continue in the future, 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
Tenmou, Bahrains first Business Angels organisation, in strategic partnership with the Economic Development Board (EDB) will host the third Mena Angel Investors Summit in November.



More than 40 start-ups are expected to attend the event running on November 22 and 23 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Bahrain.



The Summit aims to provide a strategic platform to facilitate angel investors and high-potential, innovative entrepreneurs from around the Mena region and beyond. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to present their business ideas, exchange deal-flow, learn best practices and raise awareness related to angel investment in the Mena region.



Hasan Haider, CEO of Tenmou said: We, at Tenmou, are committed to build a robust support eco-system and position Bahrain as the entrepreneurial hub for the Mena region. Our strategic partnership with the Economic Development Board has helped us to further develop this cooperation between angel investors and venture capitalists over the years.



We have witnessed several deals being signed and start-ups connect with leading industry leaders and angel investors from around the world. This year again, we have a strong line-up of high-potential entrepreneurs who will be able to unleash the potential of angel investors and challenge them to make tangible, measureable commitments to support their endeavours, he added.



Last year, more than 300 angel investors and entrepreneurs from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the US Silicon Valley participated in the Mena Summit. Regional agreements worth more than $4 million were signed as a result of the Summit last year.



Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive at the EDB, said: The Mena region, and the GCC in particular, offers globally unique opportunities for investment in the technology sector. It has a young, growing, technologically adept and affluent population which is an essential driver for the rapid growth in demand for mobile data, applications and services and startups in particular will have a big role to play in the future growth of the economy.



Events like the Mena Angel Investors Summit allow us to continue to have conversations with some of the best startups in the Kingdom, and to learn about the challenges and opportunities they experience in order to ensure that they have the tools to thrive in their environment and build an ecosystem which is supportive for future innovation, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Work has started on a BD185-million ($483 million) Bahrain sewerage network project to link 52 residential units in the Muqaba area of the kingdom to the network.



The scope of work includes the extension of 680-m-long main connections along with 727-m-long sub-connections besides the construction of 105 inspection chambers, said a top official of Bahrain's Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.



The project is part of a complete scheme put in place by the ministry to improve sewerage services at the Northern Governorate, remarked Asma Murad, the sanitary engineering assistant undersecretary of the ministry.



The project was awarded to Abdul Karim Al Jahrami Contracting, she added.-TradeArabia News Service
Qatar Rail has announced the successful completion of all tunneling work on the Doha Metro project with the final breakthrough taking place at Terminal One of Hamad International Airport (HIA) this week.



The first tunnel boring machines started the work in July 2014 and the final 111th km was crossed by TBM "Msheireb" on the southern part of Red Line of this landmark mega project.



According to Qatar Rail, the tunneling milestone was achieved three months ahead of the deadline, thanks to the active deployment of 21 tunnel boring machines at the project site.



Celebrating the feat at HIA station was Sheikh Abdulla Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Qatar, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and vice chairman of Rail Steering Committee at Qatar Rail along with Abdulla Al Subaie, the managing director and chairman of the executive committee at Qatar Rail and its CEO Dr Saad Al Muhannadi.



In order to achieve 100 per cent of the tunneling for the Doha Metro project, a total of 470,497 concrete segments were required to produce 70,071 tunnel rings to make the 111km of tunnels. The overall completion of Doha Metro currently stands at 50 per cent.



Al Sulaiti said the Doha Metro project would form the vital backbone of the integrated public transport system of Qatar, supported by other key projects such as the Lusail Light Rail Transit and the Long Distance Passenger and Freight Rail, to encourage the use of public transport and services.



The completion of tunneling work for Doha Metro, he stated, brings the company a step closer towards making this landmark megaproject operational, as per the set timeline and budget, highest quality standards, use of eco-friendly technologies and best international standards.



In his comments, Al Subaie said: "The end of tunneling marks an impressive milestone in the progress of construction of this important project, and therefore, I would like to congratulate all those involved in making this milestone happen."



"This is an incredible feat of engineering and I am especially proud that the tunnels have been built to a world-class standard with the very highest standards of quality and safety having been achieved," he added.



According to him, tunnelling for the Doha Metro began just over two years ago and has seen a record breaking 21 TBMs work to achieve this milestone.



The Doha Metro project is a vital part of Qatar's long term plan to support a growing economy while improving the lives of the country's residents. The achievement of this significant milestones brings us one step closer to its much anticipated delivery."



"It has been made possible due to the combined efforts of the entire Qatar Rail team and joint venture contractors," he added.



Commenting on the achievement, Dr Al Muhannadi said this is yet another major milestone for the project and one that has been achieved on plan and to schedule.



"Until now 7.5km of above ground tracks viaducts have been installed and base slab and foundations have been completed on 33 stations," he stated.



Roofs have been completed on eight stations and roof slabs are progressing at 27 different stations, the official said.



"We are delighted to have been able to achieve all this within the timelines and budgets allocated and this is due to the hard work and dedication of all parties involved. We look forward to sharing many more milestones with you, especially the arrival of the Doha Metro train mock up later this year," said Al Muhannadi.



He pointed out that though tunneling had been completed, much still remained to be done.



"Now that tunneling is over,, we are moving to the laying of the tracks, awaiting the arrival of the train mockups, and working on the completion of the interiors of the stations with mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works," he stated.



The first phase of the Doha Metro project is likely to be completed in the next four years. Also by then, Doha Metro's 37 metro stations are expected to be operative, with an average journey time of two minutes between adjacent stations.



By 2030, all the three networks - Doha Metro, Lusail Tram and the long-distance rail, which will link Qatar with the GCC Rail network - will be ready, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Aramco continues to look at several overseas exchanges including New York, Hong Kong and London for a listing in 2018 of a part of the state-owned oil company, CEO Amin Nasser said.

"This thing will happen in 2018," he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Dubai.

He added that the company was working with Chinese partners to look at locations for oil storage, and wanted to boost its oil recovery rate to 70 per cent from 50 to 55 per cent currently.

Although the oil market has recovered it is still weak and will remain volatile in the near future, Amin Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, told a conference in Dubai on Monday.



The market has proven that companies with strong downstream operations are in a better position, he added.



Meanwhile, crude prices rebounded on Monday after Algeria's energy minister said the day before that all options were possible for an oil output cut or freeze at this week's informal meeting of Opec producers.



That came after prices tumbled 4 per cent on Friday amid signs Saudi Arabia and Iran were making little progress in achieving preliminary agreement to freeze production.



Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from September 26-28, where they will discuss a possible output-limiting deal.



"We will not come out of the meeting empty-handed," Algerian energy minister Noureddine Bouterfa said in Algiers on Sunday.



US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures had climbed 42 cents to $44.90 a barrel as of 0914 GMT after falling $1.84, or 4 per cent, in the previous session. US crude gained 3 per cent last week.



Brent crude futures advanced 42 cents to $46.31 after settling down $1.76, or 3.7 per cent, at the previous close. The benchmark rose 0.3 per cent last week.



"The fact countries like Algeria are still talking about a deal means it's still on the table regardless of others' views about what might be happening," said Jonathan Barratt, chief investment officer at Sydney's Ayers Alliance.



"I expect Algeria and Venezuela to keep pushing for a deal - it's imperative for them to keep the price up," Barratt said. - Reuters
GE Oil & Gas has signed a landmark long-term, multi-million-dollar contract with Petroleum Development Oman for the provision of progressive cavity pump equipment (PCP) and related services commencing in the third quarter of 2016.



This is aligned with PDOs In Country Value initiative and marks the first contract awarded by PDO to GE, for providing PCP equipment and services. The strategy aims at promoting localized sourcing, developing Local Community Contractors (LCCs) and strengthening Omani talent development through training programmes.



GE Oil & Gas will sub-contract services to LCCs that will also be trained on the various aspects of PCP services. The engagement of the LCCs and sub-contracting of work to them is crucial to driving local talent development and boosting south Omans local economy.



A PDO spokesperson said: The award of the integrated PCP contract to GE for the Nimr fields synergizes and aligns with the integrated RRP contract for the Nimr fields previously awarded to GE. In Country Value was an important feature of the negotiations and this contract is further evidence of our commitment to secure long-term sustainable economic benefits for the Sultanate.



Rami Qasem, president & CEO, GE Oil & Gas for Mena and Turkey, said: The contract builds on our long-term partnership with PDO and underlines our commitment to investing in Oman and supporting PDO to achieve their long-term goals. The provision of advanced equipment and services will help in meeting and exceeding the average run-life of the PCP equipment, a critical component in PDOs production operations.



As part of the deal, GE Oil & Gas has joined hand with its local partner Edgo to provide a wide range of specialized equipment and ensure preventive and corrective maintenance for a number of inherited PCP systems in addition to supervising the use of these systems in well interventions. GE Oil & Gas will also provide technical training to the PDO team.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on Tuesday that talks among Opec and non-Opec oil producers in Algiers this week are consultative, casting doubt on the chances of any policy decision during the meeting.



He also said he was optimistic about the oil market.



"We are optimistic about the fundamentals. The market is trending in the right direction, slower than what we had hoped for a few months ago but the fundamentals are moving in the right direction," Al-Falih told reporters.



"From that aspect we are feeling good about the market and I think the rebalancing is here but taking slower than what we had hoped."



Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are meeting on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria. The evnet which started on September 26 will run till September 28. Non-Opec producer Russia is also attending.



"This is a consultative meeting, as said by many of my colleagues. We will consult with everyone else, we will hear the views, we will hear the secretariat of Opec and also hear from consumers today," said Al-Falih. - Reuters
Noel Massoud, vice president operations and development of Middle East, Swiss-Belhotel International, has moved up five spots in the eight edition of the Power List by Hotelier Middle East, for his role in the massive expansion of the hotel chain in 2016.



From a noteworthy position of #31, the CEO has now been ranked #26 among the 50 hospitality professionals.



2016 witnessed the inception of a host of properties that sweep across the Middle East that includes Saudi Arabia and Egypt, making the Middle East a crucial market for Swiss-Belhotel International. Massoud pioneered Swiss-Belhotel Al Khobar, the 100-room project in Saudi Arabia expected to launch in Q4 of 2016. The property joins the hotels in Makkah and Riyadh.



In addition, under the management of Massoud, the brand has acquired five properties in Egypt, set to launch over the coming three years- Swiss-Belhotel Marseilia, Swiss-Belhotel and Suites Asmarat, Swiss-Belresidences Asmarat, Swiss-Belresort Batter Sea & Swiss-Belresidences Batter Sea.



Massoud said: I am very pleased that we have achieved such success over the past year and I would like to express immense gratitude for this recognition.



Over the past decade, Swiss-Belhotel has invested heavily in the Middle East with the goal of being one of the top hotelier of the region. The consistent growth of the hotel chain is rewarding as it emphasises on how we focus on offering the best premium hospitality services for guests, added Massoud.



Swiss-Belhotel Internationals portfolio in the Middle East consists of 20 hotels, with six currently operating and a further 14 in the pipeline stage.



Total properties operating globally is around 135 hotels and resorts, in Asia-Pacific destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and Europe. - TradeArabia News Service
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Immigration and Border Force staff in Australia are expected to carry out 30-minute strikes all day, every day as a sign of protest for not reaching an agreeable negotiation with the Federal Government.

For the next two weeks or so, Australia's international airports, cruise ship terminals and cargo facilities will experience interruptions as workers are anticipated to do scheduled walk-outs during business hours, as reported by Huffington Post.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) said the strikes were a result of the 1,000 days of talks between the staff and the government, "These workers are trying to get government to take this seriously and give us someone to sit down with and resolve this longstanding mess," the news site added.

According to the Huffington Post report, in March, 80 percent of Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) staff opposed to the contract which will eliminate certain rights and conditions in replacement of a one percent raise every year.

The Villages Suntimes reports, "The design of this action is such that it is likely to create unreasonable levels of disruption and uncertainty across critical functions. and will likely limit the Australian Border Force's ability to mitigate threats and risks at the border", according to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

"The CPSU remains more interested in organizing and promoting industrial action that disrupts and inconveniences Australian travelers than ensuring their members receive a pay rise", CPSU national secretary, Nadine Flood said.

CPSU's demand of 12.5 percent increase for pay grade were deemed "unrealistic" and as a result, it would end-up letting go more than 10,000 public sector jobs, The Village Suntimes reports.

Travelers are urged to arrive earlier than usual to their ports of entry and exit to avoid inconvenience due to the occurring strikes done by Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Golden Eagle Festival is a nomadic traditional festival held in Mongolia every October, in which you can join the hunting expedition in Altai Mountains for $16,000.

In the annual festival, "Burkitshi" or the Kazakh eagle hunters attend the feast with their Golden Eagles, known as "Berkut", to join the agility, speed and accuracy testing competitions. it is a celebration of hunters' traditional culture organized by the local community, according to Nomadic Expeditions.

Golden Eagle Festival CEO, Jalsa Urubshurow, founded the hunting festival in 1999 and has preserved both the tradition and the Golden Eagles up to now.

The expedition to Altai Mountains also includes opportunities to horseback riding alongside the hunters as well as local mosque, town market, provincial museum, and archaeological site visits.

Bloomberg reported that the festival runs from September 27 to October 5 which offers seven-day guided engagements with a local family. Stay in tents with hand-carved wooden beds which warmed by wood burning stoves. At night, a dinner of goat ribs or beshbarmak stew is served with Chinggis Khan vodka and wine.

In the morning, steaming cups of spiced milk tea is served with breakfast before a ride on horseback with the hooded birds to search for the trails of lynx, foxes or rabbits.

"When you find them, your hunter releases his eagle, which flies 100 to 200 feet up before it circles, locates, then dives on the animal. What these big birds lack in speed-70 mph, vs. a peregrine falcon's 200 mph-they make up for in mass. They weigh 14 pounds and have a 7-foot wingspan. The force of their attack can take out an animal as large as a wolf," Bloomberg wrote.

"Getting there is an adventure in itself. From Ulaanbaatar (at least a 17-hour flight from New York), it's a 3-hour flight west to Ulgii, then 2 to 5 more hours via Land Cruiser into the wilds. From $15,995 per person, double occupancy; 800 998-6634."

The Golden Eagle Festival is considered one of the extraordinary experiences you will have during your stay in Mongolia.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
With its amazing and breath-taking sceneries, enormous ice-age glaciers, diverse landscapes, the aurora borealis, abundant wildlife, Alaska is surely one of the places in the world to visit.

You'll find a wide variety of happenings in Alaska, everything from the mild to the wild.

According to US News Travel, if you are ready to explore epic landscapes in peace and serenity, here are some reasons why fall might be the best season to visit Alaska:

You can get away from huge crowds.

You will certainly have a peace and quiet time away from huge crowd of tourists since most of them only flock to America's northernmost state from May to early September, leaving the entire month of October free from an influx of visitors.

The same incredible views of the dramatic vistas, staggering glaciers and historical towns can be enjoyed in autumn.

It can be seen in the Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau, the tall, snow-capped peaks of Denali National Park and the whale-filled waters near Anchorage- without heavy crowds and with the addition of radiant fall leaves.

You may have higher chances of seeing the northern lights.

Since the sun sets around 7 p.m. on average in October, Alaska has darker skies and earlier sunsets. The chances of spotting the aurora borealis during a fall visit are relatively high.

The northern lights are an amazing array of orange, yellow, red, green gas molecules blown about the night sky by solar winds.

Experts recommend being in the north, at least three nights, for the best chance of watching colorful streaks the dark night sky can display in autumn.

You can have an urban escape to hit the trails in peace.

Fall is definitely the ultimate time to channel your inner adventurer and hike Alaska's trails in tranquility. The temperature in Alaska during that season of the year is 40s and 50s. Autumn is the perfect time for hiking through Alaska's wilderness.

If you're in Anchorage, you may hit the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, this park is a perfect urban escape for both a wilderness adventure and a leisurely day outdoors. While in Seward, you can park your car and take the peaceful 30-minute hike to the Exit Glacier.

You can enjoy watching the Wildlife.

Tourists enjoy the chance to spot some of the state's most famed wildlife such as caribou, moose, grizzly bears and black bears with ease in fall.

You may head over to the Kenai Fjords National Park for a chance to watch the whales before they migrate and Denali National Park for the best opportunities to spot bears.

You can stroll through the State Capitol.

Juneau, Alaska's state capital, is also one of its most beautiful cities and one of the most visited communities in the state.

During fall, fewer ships visit Juneau, giving you the chance to stroll the streets of Alaska's State Capitol without thick crowds at your side.

Stop by the Mendenhall Glacier, one of the city's most iconic sites sits at the edge of a residential neighborhood, to enjoy picturesque views and perfect photo opportunities.

Spectacular views, pristine lakes and towering mountains are all part of the Alaska driving experience. So don't miss out travelling to Alaska, especially this Fall.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
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Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 26

With the taking off of the IndiGo Airlines 180-seater Airbus A-320 at its scheduled departure time, 4.05 pm from the international airport here, direct air connection with Dubai was established today.

The airbus, carrying 127 passengers on board, departed from here amidst much fanfare following a brief ceremony. The ceremony witnessed the lighting of a traditional lamp and cutting of cake by the IndiGo associate vice-president Vijay Matta and Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Some of the passengers were also offered rose buds by the IndiGo staff

The direct and non-stop flight took 3.30 hours to reach its destination at 7.35 pm (IST). Earlier, the same flight, which departed from Dubai this morning with 90 passengers on board, reached here at 11.10 am today. Then it left for New Delhi at 12 pm from here and returned at 2.45 pm.

We have got a good response, as there will be 60 to 70 per cent occupancy rate in the coming days, which is encouraging. We are hopeful of getting tremendous business from here, said Matta.

Sources said most passengers on the flight were from the tricity. The daily flight is available at an all inclusive return fare of Rs 9,999.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

One more person died in Mohali today, taking the total number of dengue deaths in the district to six. Apart from that, 72 fresh cases of dengue and two of chikungunya were also reported from Mohali district today. In Chandigarh, as many as 17 new cases of dengue and six of chikungunya were registered on Monday. From Panchkula, two fresh cases of dengue were reported today, taking the total number in the town to 87.

Dengue Helpline Number 9779558282

The tricity total of dengue cases has climbed to 1,140 and of chikungunya to 39.

The 17 cases of dengue reported from various health institutions today include 12 new and nine confirmed cases among the probables. Four confirmed cases were also reported from the GMCH-32 yesterday.

According to health officials, of the six new cases of chickungunya reported by the GMCH-32 and the PGI, one is imported, one was reported as wrong address while four are residents of Chandigarh. The details of 30 cases of chikungunya detected in Chandigarh till now is  seven imported, seven wrong address and 16 from Chandigarh.

Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, Anti-Malaria Officer, UT Health Department, said a surveillance drive was conducted at the Marble Market, Dhanas, today. "Other than that, to strengthen preventive activities, daily fumigation is also being carried out along with strengthening of field activities which includes mass awareness, checking of breeding sources like coolers, containers, tyres and other sources," he said.

He added that in case of fever or dengue or chikungunya-like symptoms, the patient must immediately visit a doctor and get the prescribed tests done. "Avoid self-medication," Dr Aggarwal advised.

Status of cases

Dengue

Tricity total 1,140

Mohali district 794

Fresh 72

Deaths 6

Chandigarh 259

Fresh 17

Panchkula 87

Fresh 2

Chikungunya

Mohali 2

Chandigarh 30

Fresh 6

Panchkula 7
I am lucky to get the first boarding pass of the Dubai flight. The direct flight to Dubai is a convenient option for people of the region. It also made me the first person to board the flight to Dubai. Its special for me as I work in Dubai.  Vikas Raheja, Chandigarh resident

Has given us opportunity to visit our dream city

Usually, my professional obligations do not allow me to spend quality time with my family. We always wanted to go to Dubai but could not get enough time. Now, the flight has given us an opportunity to explore our dream city. We are excited as we would be there after four hours.  Jasbir Singh, Mohali-based advocate

Could not resist myself

I have never been to a foreign country before but this time I could not stop myself from becoming a part of the flight to Dubai. I have heard a lot about Dubai. It has now become easy to go there. Next time, I will take my family along.  Naresh Dhiman, mohali-based industrialist

Start flights to other destination too

Earlier, I, along with my friends, had a programme to visit Hong Kong. Then, after the announcement of the flights to Sharjah and Dubai, we changed our plan. Now, flights to Bangkok, Singapore and London should be started.  Sushant Nagpal
Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

A local court today convicted a 23-year-old school bus conductor for molesting a five-year-old girl studying in Kindergarten at Stepping Stones School in Sector 38. The quantum of sentence is scheduled to be pronounced on September 28.

Jagjeet was arrested on May 13 last year in this connection and was booked under Sections 354 & 354 A of the IPC and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to a complaint submitted to the Sector 39 police station, the victims mother had alleged her daughter returned home from school and was visibly frightened and refused to talk.

On being asked, she started crying and disclosed that the conductor of the school bus touches her private parts on seeing her alone on the bus as she was the last one to be dropped. The girl also had red rashes on her chest.

It was said in the plaint, the conductor also threatened and told her not to tell anyone about what he did to her. There was no woman helper on the school bus.

The girls parents brought the matter to the notice of the school principal immediately. The parents had alleged that school Principal Sanjiv Kumar refused to take action and it was only when the parents of other students raised the issue that the matter was brought to the notice of the police and a case was registered.

Similar case

August 26: For molesting a minor student, a sweeper and a woman helper of St Stephens School, Sector 45, were sentenced to two years in jail each and fined Rs 6,000 each by a local court. Surprisingly, they were working with the school till the day they were convicted by the court.

Principal refused to take action on complaint of parents

The parents had alleged that school Principal Sanjiv Kumar refused to take action and it was only when the parents of other students created a hue and cry that the matter was brought to the notice of the police and a case was registered.
Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Unhappy with the BJP-led Narendra Modi governments diplomatic offensive on the Uri killings, Delhi minister Kapil Mishra has initiated a petition addressed to the Prime Minister urging him to declare Pakistan a sponsor of terrorism, impose economic sanctions and withdraw the most favoured nation status to it.

The AAP leader, known for being vocal on issues, intends to send the petition to the Prime Minister with requests from people asking him to send a strong message to Pakistan. Mishra also took a swipe at Modi asking him to refrain from making speeches and take strong action against Pakistan.

Uri should be the last attack on Indian soil. To ensure this, India needs to act differently, he stressed.

The move assumes significance as the Aam Aadmi Party wants to convey its strong stance against Pakistan ahead of the next years assembly polls in Punjab where the party hopes to repeat its Delhi success.

This petition will be signed by citizens across India and will be sent to the PM. The petition will make the Prime Minister understand the mood of the nation and implore him to act tough on Pakistan instead of just making speeches.

Actions speak louder than words. Apart from speeches what action has the government taken to show Pakistan that we are serious about combating terrorism? The government makes tall claims and false propaganda. Making speeches is good only for news headlines and Whatsapp forwards, the petition read.

Though Mishra underscored war is not what the country wants putting soldiers or citizens lives at more risk, he asserted that India needs to show Pakistan that their support of militants and attacks in India will have consequences.

If that doesn't happen, attacks like Uri will become the norm. That is why I am asking PM Modi to impose economic sanctions on Pakistan, he wrote.

Pointing out that there are some top Indian industrialists who are making investments in Pakistan, he demanded that it is pertinent to make sure that no industrialists are investing or trading in Pakistan.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Taking exception to a Canadian court order denying exemption to Sikhs from wearing helmet, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, general secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), has urged the Union government to take up the issue with the Canadian government.

In a letter written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Sirsa has pointed out this recent judgement which borders on racial discrimination. The Sikh community perceives it as a direct affront to their religious sentiments.

Dubbing the judgement as a clear violation of the provisions of the Charter of Canada and gross violation of human rights, Sirsa urged the Union government to look for a way-out.

In another letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, Sirsa has urged him to take appropriate steps to safeguard the Sikh communitys interests.
KM Singh

IT is indeed heartening to note that after around 75 days of turmoil, the Valley seems to be slowly limping back to normalcy. However, one has to keep the fingers crossed, hoping that good sense will prevail among people behind this turmoil with the realisation of the large-scale losses of lives, property, livelihood and loss to economy.

In his address to the nation on Mann Ki Baat on September 25, the PM stated that Kashmiris were beginning to recognise well the true face of the anti- national forces. Highlighting the importance of peace, unity and harmony for progress and development, he expressed optimism in finding solutions to the problems to pave the way for future generations in Kashmir.

This statement of the PM may provide solace to the peace-loving constituency in Kashmir and reassurance to the people of the country. However, looking into the complexities of machinations of various anti-national forces within the Valley and across the border, the optimism envisioned by the PM is a tall order, easier said than done. To attain this, the political leadership may have to tread on a cautious path, taking into consideration the sensitivities of the people, not only in the Valley, but also all three regions of the state. The roadmap should be a well-considered vision document, focused on a long-term development plan, and not a knee-jerk reaction, as has been the case in the past.

In this context, it must be realised that the external factor, bedevilling the situation in Kashmir with state-sponsored terrorism, particularly over the last 25 years, is beyond our control. However, the internal dimension of the problem is something that has to be taken care of by the Union and the state governments. This would call for a deep introspection into various omissions and commissions by the political leadership over the years, leading to a huge trust deficit in the Valley.

This trust deficit has been fully exploited by elements from across the border. Significantly, the complexion of the uprising has undergone a change in the recent crisis and the movement of azadi has transcended human rights issues. This uprising is run by a new post-1990 generation  the children of conflict  highly suspicious of customary peace talks with a clear message we dont want to be part of India. Hence the need for a visionary initiative to win back the hearts of the Kashmiris.

As far as the handling of the Kashmir situation is concerned, the general impression is that hitherto the main focus of the government has been on conflict management rather than conflict resolution. It has to be realised that it may not be possible to contain the situation and bring about normalcy in Kashmir only by the security forces and the Army. On the contrary, it adds to the trust deficit, leading to alienation of people, a serious problem warranting due consideration.

Lack of any serious initiative by the Union government towards the integration of people in Kashmir with the rest of the country has contributed significantly towards the trust deficit. The Valley is separated from the rest of the country with the high-altitude Pir Panjal range with no connectivity by rail or an all-weather highway. As a result, a very small percentage of Kashmiris have travelled out of the state. High- speed train connectivity and an all-weather highway will not only contribute toward integration, but would also provide the basic infrastructure for any developmental activity.

As far as infrastructure for development activities are concerned, shortage of power in the state is another major constraint. At present, the availability of power in summer is around 16-18 hours in urban areas and 13-14 hours in rural areas, but in winter the availability is just about 8-10 hours. In any long-term development plan, establishment of industries in the state would need to acquire high priority and this would call for manifold enhancement in the availability of power.

Lack of employment opportunities is a major contributory factor with youth falling prey to the exhortations of anti-national elements and playing the role of mercenary stone-pelters. Taking the skill development programme forward in a major way and setting up a large number of small and medium-scale industries across the state may ease the situation to some extent. Significantly, most of the stone-pelters may be seen queuing up in line in case of any recruitment in the Army, security forces and the police. Some sanctioned posts in these organisations are still not filled.

With the leadership of the present uprising being in the hands of misguided youth, whose mindset is conditioned by adverse propaganda against India and in support of global jehad, there is need for a proper education policy. The state has nearly 14 lakh school-going children, but for sheer want of schools providing formal education, a large number of them are exposed to teachings in madrasas. There is need to have state-run schools in every village in a phased manner. Even in textbooks of state schools there is no chapter on Indias stand on Kashmir and the irrelevance of the UN resolution. The HRD Ministry and the state education department should look into it.

Lastly, there is the issue of lack of consistency in government policy vis-a-vis J&K. Even on issues like dialogue with Hurriyat leaders or engagement with Pakistan, the decision is based on knee-jerk reaction. There is need to have an effective mechanism to deliberate and delineate a long-term policy. In the present arrangement, the subject is dealt with by the MHA, which has a huge responsibility, besides J&K affairs. As such, the Joint Secretary handling the subject becomes the key decision maker in the normal period. Considering the importance of the Kashmir issue, the suggestion of having a department of Kashmir affairs within the MHA, manned by officers knowledgeable in this field, deserves consideration. This body may be assisted in policy formulation by a think tank comprising experienced and right thinking people from all three regions of the state, besides knowledgeable persons having served in J&K in the civil services, security forces, defence services, intelligence organisations, as also technocrats.

To sum up, a clear-cut visionary policy of the Union government, with full backing of the state government focussing on the development of J&K, welfare of people and integration of Kashmir with the rest of the country is called for.





The writer is a former Special Director, IB
KV Prasad

OVER the past few weeks, the issue of holding simultaneous elections in the country for both Parliament and state sssemblies has resurfaced in the public domain. The immediate trigger for the renewed debate is a reference by President Pranab Mukherjee who endorsed the idea, albeit with a rider.

Responding to the students question on Teachers' Day in a President's Estate school, Mukherjee was of the view that elections to state assemblies in one part of the country or other frequently comes in the way of development with the Model Code of Conduct coming in.

He said if political parties put their heads together a solution can be found. He suggested that political parties across the spectrum should think of how to address the issue of political stability. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue at an all-party meeting. He said holding simultaneous elections to elected bodies at various levels would provide political parties and its workers more time to take people's welfare programme to the grassroots.

To put the issue in perspective, the First General Election to the Lok Sabha and all the state legislative assemblies was held simultaneously in 1951-52. The practice continued in three subsequent elections of 1957, 1962 and 1967. A break in this cycle came when some legislative assemblies in 1968 and 1969 were dissolved prematurely. In1970, the Fourth Lok Sabha met a similar fate when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi went in for early elections in 1971 to constitute the Fifth Lok Sabha. The term of the latter was extended till 1977 under Article 352. While four Lok Sabhas  8th, 10th, 14th and 15th, completed the five-year term, the 6th, 7th 9th,11th 12th and 13th Houses were dissolved ahead of time as were also various assemblies. These were largely due to unstable governments. For the last 48 years separate elections are being held to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, disrupting the cycle of synchronised elections in the country. Besides halting development works as the Model Code comes into being as soon as poll schedule is declared, the rising cost of conducting polls is also a concern. According to statistics, if the cost of conduct of the first General Election stood at Rs 10.54 crore, it touched a three-digit figure in 1989 at Rs 154 crore, and turned into four digits at Rs 1,400 crore in 2008. It was estimated Rs 3,500 crore in 2014. The last three figures are for the conduct of Lok Sabha polls, while those of the states are separate.

Simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies also found reflection in a report on electoral laws by the Law Commission a decade and a half ago. Suggesting incremental steps, the report stated though desirable this cannot be achieved any time soon.

Measures suggested included advancing elections of some legislative assemblies by making necessary orders; holding elections to assemblies making adjustment in phases to reduce the frequency till the desired goal of simultaneous elections is achieved. There was also a proposal for a possible constitutional amendment to provide extension/curtailment of term of one or more assemblies.

There is a tendency to look at other models in the world and many hold this fanciful idea of emulating the United States of America model of simultaneous elections. Lost in the argument is a basic difference. The US follows the Presidential form of democracy and the government is not required to come to the Congress barring for the passage of the Budget. The United Kingdom, whose Westminster model India adopted, in 2011 passed a Fixed-term Parliaments Acts to provide stability and predictability of tenure. As per it, the first elections was to be held on May 7, 2015 and on the first Thursday of May every fifth year thereafter. The Parliament cannot be extended beyond five years. Another section envisages early elections if a motion for it is agreed to either by two-thirds or the House or without division ; or, if a no-confidence motion is passed and no alternate arrangement is confirmed by the House of Commons within 14 days through a confidence motion.

Last year, a Standing Committee presented a report to the Parliament of India on the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections. It suggested holding of elections in two groups to some assemblies at midterm of Lok Sabha and to the remaining at the end of the tenure. The panel drew up a tentative list of assemblies that can be pooled with the first lot facing polls in December this year. Since the December 2015 report, assembly polls were held in Kerala, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. As per the Representation of the People Act, the Election Commission can notify the elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies six months prior to the end of their natural terms, a proviso the Commission invoked in 1996 in Punjab.

Hoping to build consensus, the Modi government is inviting suggestions from the people on its MyGov platform. At the last count, some 3,000-odd people responded and the majority said it was a good idea, without offering any concrete suggestion on how it could be done.

Since the BJP-led coalition appears keen to be seen reforming this process, there is an opportunity next year for it to conduct an experiment. The states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, are due to elect new assemblies before March; Uttar Pradesh by May; and Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat towards the end of next year. The BJP is in power in almost half of the seven states where polls are due between March and October 2018. It can opt to go in for early elections at these places by truncating the term of its state governments, thereby creating pressure on those parties who reject the idea as impractical and unworkable. The move should take the idea a step closer of having nearly half the states whose assembly terms will be somewhat mid-way of next Lok Sabha.

The course correction for assemblies of Delhi, Bihar, Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal, where polls were held in the last 12 months, can be thought of in due course.





kveprasad2007@gmail.com
Foreign Minister Sushma Swarajs UN address was the perfect antidote for the ones who had felt let down by the Prime Ministers measured belligerence against Pakistan at a public meet in Kerala last Sunday. Although the imposing UN assembly hall was only half full at that hour, Ms Swaraj turned in a skillful performance. She drew global attention to her speech by linking the Uri attack to a string of massacres in metropolises the world over and deflected Nawaz Sharifs broadside on Kashmir by bringing in Balochistan. Her charges drew more attention from Afghanistans backing of Indias concerns over state patronage to militant organisations. Though neither named the country, the inference was obvious.

Short of freezing diplomatic ties, Swarajs is one of the arrows in a full Indian quiver being aimed at Pakistan after the Uri attack. But much water has flown under the Jhelum and the Chenab since the killing of Burhan Wani for Pakistan to appear conciliatory. Constantly in the throes of a civil-military struggle, both its quarrelling wings gain by diverting public attention to the unrest in Kashmir. India, as an aspirant to the global high table, has a much broader agenda than squabbling with Pakistan on Kashmir. This was reflected in Ms Swarajs speech when she batted for the developing world by asking the West to fulfill its part of the bargain in the Paris Accord.

But when the diplomats later took over at the UN, the thrust of the arguments and counter-arguments was all on Kashmir. Usually, third parties find it handy to get involved at this stage of squaring off. Hillary Clinton as President would be keen to mediate a closure of this dispute. China will also be an interested party as Pakistan has gifted it a part of PoK. It also has strategic and financial stakes in the economic corridor passing through Kashmir. Swaraj brought her experience to bear by reducing the odds on this messy possibility. India, she declared, is ready for talks without preconditions. Pakistan should take up the offer. Once, Pakistan was known for exporting doctors. It should get that reputation back instead of being accused of exporting terror.
Praveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 27

Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has announced that procurement of paddy has been advanced from October 1 to today (Tuesday).

He was speaking at the launch of e-Kharid, an initiative of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and the Department of Food and Supplies.

Paswan and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched a mobile phone application for e-Kharid.

Farmers of the state had been demanding early start to procurement. In the absence of government agencies, farmers were forced to sell paddy to private dealers for Rs1,200 to Rs1,300 a quintal. The minimum support price (MSP) is Rs1,510.

Khattar, Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar and Minister of State Karan Dev Kamboj asked me on phone to bring a copy of an order, stating that paddy procurement starts today. They told me paddy had started arriving in grain markets, Paswan said.

He handed over the copy to Dhankar and said the government advanced procurement by four days in the interest of farmers. I have asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other agencies to start procurement today.

He called e-Kharid a unique initiative that would benefit farmers, traders and consumers alike.

Paswan appreciated the state government for linking ration cards with Aadhaar numbers, resulting in unearthing 1 lakh fake ration cards.

He said, The governments aim is to end corruption. On November 1, all ration depots in the state will have Point of Sale (POS) devices.

CR Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said people were scared of online system, but it was important to bring India among top five countries of the world. Under e-Kharid, farmers and traders will get SMS alerts about the rate of produce, he said.

Khattar said it was a matter of pride for Haryana to have taken the lead in implementing e-Kharid which would ensure transparency.

On e-NAM, he said a delegation of arhtiyas met him in Chandigarh recently. I assured them of implementing e-NAM with their consent.

Khattar said the state would implement a system that would deduct amount of farmers on the basis of moisture in produce.

Farmers are happy

Kaithal: Farmers in Kaithal welcomed a decision to advance paddy procurement by four days. Anoop Bansal, president of the new grain market, and Manish Sikka, commission agent, said the decision would benefit farmers as they could not withhold their produce till October 1. District Food and Supplies Commissioner (DFSC) Monika Malik asked farmers to bring only dry produce to mandis. She asked farmers not to bring the produce harvested at night, as it added moisture to it. The government agencies can purchase crop with moisture up to 17 per cent, she said. OC
Tribune Reporters

Kaithal, September 27

A man, identified as Vijay Seth (39), died of dengue here today. Sonu Seth, brother of the deceased, said Vijay was admitted to a private hospital here after his blood platelets count came down. He was responding to the treatment, but his condition deteriorated last night and he was taken to Columbia Hospital in Patiala. He died today. His other brother, Shiv Kumar Seth, is also reported to be suffering from dengue and is being treated at a private hospital here. Another one-year-old child is also reported to be suffering from dengue in the Chatta Lachman Dass area of the town.

A team of officials from the Kalayat CHC today visited Badsikri Kalan and Badsikri Khurd villages and collected samples. Dr Manish Bansal, CMO, said he had no information about any dengue death. He said 26 patients reported positive but all were treated. He said an isolation ward had been set up in the hospital to treat dengue patients.

Faridabad: With 48 positive cases reported so far, chikungunya has overtaken dengue, the confirmed cases of which are 30. The number of positive cases of malaria has been 110 so far in the district.

Dr Ram Bhagat, District Malaria Officer, said efforts were on to contain the diseases caused by mosquitoes. He said while 14 fogging machines had been made available with the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), 10 were being procured to carry out fumigation in rural areas of the district. Health Minister Anil Vij was being updated on the latest data of dengue and chikungunya cases in almost all districts through a group formed by the department on the social media, it is reported.

Though the number of vector-borne diseases has touched the figure of 188, the department officials claim that it is likely to go down with the changein weather in the next couple of weeks.

It is reported that the suspected cases of chikungunya and dengue were around 200 and 225, respectively, and the Health Department had collected more than 67,000 slides for test this year, which was perhaps the highest in the past few years. The total number of dengue and malaria cases in the district last year was 200 and 134, respectively.

Every fourth or fifth person in the city was a victim of viral infection and majority of them were down with chikungunya, claimed Varun Sheokand, a social activist who had recently procured four fogging machines to carry out fumigation in the city.

He said the authorities, especially the Municipal Corporation, had failed to ensure cleanliness and fogging in the city.
Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala September 27

Cabinet Minister Anil Vij welcomed the Shaheed Samman Jagriti Yatra here today. He slammed the Congress for sidelining the freedom fighters and taking credit of winning freedom for the country.

Vij said, The real freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh were ignored and people of a particular party took the credit. A notification must be issued and book carrying information about them should be published for the coming generations to know. The yatra will play a crucial role in it.

Yadvinder Singh Sandhu, Bhagat Singhs grand-nephew who led the Yatra, demanded a museum dedicated to the freedom fighters should be built so that the people realise that we did not get freedom in charity. We will present a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee in this regard. Vij too supported his demand.

The Yatra carrying soil from Bhagat Singhs Samadhi Sthal started from Amritsar yesterday and will conclude at the India Gate in New Delhi tomorrow, also the birth anniversary of the martyr.

Yatra in Panipat

Panipat: Residents welcomed the Shaheed Jagriti Chetna Yatra here today. Naveen Nain, a participant, said such programmes should be organised in the memory of martyrs and big proposals, projects, roads and others should be named after them. TNS
R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 27

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday contended in the Delhi High Court that the CBI had no grounds to register a second preliminary enquiry (PE) against him in a disproportionate assets case after finding nothing against him in nearly three years of investigation under the first PE.

Arguing before a Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi, senior advocate Dhyan Krishnan said the CBI had registered the first PE on October 19, 2012, and closed the probe on May 14, 2015, for want of evidence.

In between, CBI and other departments filed as many as five status reports in the high court but these were not made available to Singh, Krishnan argued, pleading with the court to peruse these reports to ascertain if the findings justified registration of a second PE on June 17, 2015.

CBI has approached the high court seeking permission to file a chargesheet against Singh for allegedly accumulating unaccounted wealth amounting to about Rs 6 crore during the assessment period 2009-12.

Krishnan also questioned CBIs propriety in booking his client while a PIL was pending in the High court seeking a probe into Singhs wealth and the Income Tax Department was looking into the issue.

Justice Sanghi, however, wanted to know how Singh had accumulated Rs 6 crore. Krishnan said the merits of the case would be dealt with later by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was not well.

On September 15, Sibal had questioned the legality of CBIs disproportional assets case against Singh on several counts, contending that the agency had flouted laws to proceed against him with an element of enthusiasm and mala fide intention.

Sibal said CBI also could not have registered the DA case in Delhi as the alleged assets were in Himachal Pradesh. The agency had booked his client under Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for purchase of insurance policies for Rs 6 crore using undisclosed income, not for taking bribe which fell under Section 13(1(d) of the Act, he had noted.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 27

Efforts have been stepped up by senior state Congress leaders to put an end to the feud that has erupted over the remarks of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the appointment of state Congress secretaries with Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also directing all office-bearers not to issue any statement and resolve matters within party forum.

Sukhu is learnt to have met Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes at her residence today morning and discussed the issue. Later in the day, he held parleys with Transport Minister GS Bali, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) vice president Harsh Mahajan and HPCC general secretary Harbhajan Singh Bhajji.

We are of the firm opinion that these kinds of statements will weaken the party and give advantage to the BJP. So both sides, including the Chief Minister, must exercise retrain, said a senior leader.Sukhu, when contacted, confirmed that he had asked all party office-bearers to exercise retrain and not issue any statements. It is in the interest of the Congress party that we resolve all issues within the party forum and not issue statements against each other, he said, adding that it could be because of communication gap that such a situation had arisen and he would meet the Chief Minister to sort out all issues.

Sensing that if there is no let up in this verbal duel, the bickering within the party would intensify, senior leaders held talks with Sukhu on the issue. Even today some office-bearers of Youth Congress and National Students Union of India (NSUI) issued a statement condemning the remarks of some of the HPCC secretaries against the Chief Minister. They even warned that if these statements against the Chief Minister did not stop, they would be forced to react.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 27

With five state districts making it to the list of 10 open defecation-free (ODF) districts in hilly regions of the country in a national level survey, the state is now endeavouring to be the second ODF state after Mizoram on October 20.

Though Mizoram became ODF in 2005 but the state slipped back. Himachal is aiming to be the first state to achieve this feat. The state already has 97 per cent toilet coverage and work on the construction of 47,000 toilets is under way. The 11,000 dysfunctional toilets too will be repaired before October 20.

Having achieved the 100 per cent toilet coverage, we will stake claim before the Centre on October 20 to declare Himachal an open defecation-free state, said Onkar Chand Sharma, Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development. He said work on achieving this target was in full swing and inspection by officials would be complete before October 20 so that the case could be sent to Delhi.

He said the review by nodal officers for ensuring 100 per cent ODF coverage would be complete after the October 2 gram sabhas and the report be sent to the Centre by October 20.

Kerala has set the deadline of November 1 but with only 35 per cent toilet.

As per a survey carried out by the Quality Council of India for the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for choosing the cleanest city, Mandi district had been ranked number one, Shimla number three, Hamirpur number five, Kullu at seventh place and Chamba got the 10th rank among the hilly states.

While Mandi had been declared ODF, on October 2 six other districts of Hamirpur, Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Lahaul Spiti likely to be ODF. The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will undertake a campaign, headed by the Chief Secretary from September 28 to October 20, for ensuring solid and liquid waste management, provision of clean drinking water and proper hygiene all over the state.

The campaign will see the involvement of various departments such as Health, Irrigation and Public Health and Social Justice and Empowerment. The survey was based on four parameters like having access to safe toilets and their use, cleanliness around houses, average score of cleanliness around public places and houses having no waste water.
Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, September 26

At least three CRPF men were injured in a grenade attack by militants in Wanpoh area of Anantnag district, along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway today.

Our men were taken by surprise by a close-range attack by militants, Inspector General Operations of the CRPF in Kashmir Zulfiqar Hassan said during his visit to the spot. The attack was carried out around 2.15 pm.

There has been added presence of the CRPF and Army men in the sensitive Wanpoh area to contain protests that have rocked the Valley for over two months now, and to guard the national highway.

The militants hurled a hand grenade towards a group of paramilitary men and injured three of them, he added. All of them are in a stable condition. The injured were identified as Amit Kumar, Deepak Kumar and Pawan Kumar of the 90 Battalion. Hassan said the security forces had got vital leads.

Meanwhile, searches were conducted close to the LoC in Gurez sector after gunshots were heard this morning.
Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 26

The Kashmir valley returned to its routine  shutting down markets and businesses  as the longest break in shutdown ended on Monday morning and the region continued to remain in the grip of unrest.

The markets and commercial centres that were jam-packed on Sunday afternoon, when the shutdown was relaxed by separatists steering the unrest, were again shut and deserted as shutdown resumed this morning.

The partial movement of traffic, mainly private vehicles, was restricted to few commercial neighbourhoods of Srinagar and the footfall significantly came down in the afternoon.

The shutdown resumed as the 16-hour relaxation called by the separatists ended while the unrest, which has relaxed in intensity in recent days, continues to affect normal life even in its thirteenth consecutive week.

The unrest sparked by the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 evening had led to widespread and intense protests leading to an uninterrupted spell of shutdown so far. More than 80 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the unrest.

The police have launched a major crackdown on protesters, making arrests on a daily basis across the region. This has dented the intensity of demonstrations, but the weekly calendar of protests and shutdown, issued by the separatists, continues to guide the unrest.

People are following the calendar and this was reflected in what happened yesterday when the markets opened and today when the markets are closed. It suggests that separatists continue to influence the street and the unrest is likely to continue for some more time, a political observer here said.

In the districts of south Kashmir, which had emerged as the epicentre of the ongoing unrest, the intensity of protests has significantly reduced as many residents there are now busy harvesting apples, residents of several south Kashmir districts said.

There is also a scare, a resident of Pulwama district said, because of the crackdown launched by the police. It, however, remains speculative whether the protests will resume in south Kashmir districts after the harvesting season ends.

The people are not in a mood to end protests. They say protests will be resumed once the harvesting is done. The anger has not subsided at all, said Javed Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag district, which registered the maximum number of deaths during the ongoing unrest.

4 stone-throwers held for targeting vehicles

Srinagar: The police have arrested four persons for throwing stones on civilian vehicles and injuring many people, including some Haj pilgrims, near Singhpora on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway on Sunday. A police spokesman said a case was registered at the Pattan police station. TNS

Police foil MLA Rashids march

Srinagar: At least six protesters were injured and nearly 150 were detained, including Independent legislator Engineer Sheikh Rashid, who had called for a march to the UN office in Srinagar today. Six protesters sustained injuries and about 150 protesters, including Rashid, were arrested by the police while the police foiled a march towards the UN office here, said a statement issued by Rashids political front  Awami Ittihad Party. Dozens of protesters defying police restrictions started a march from Regal Chowk towards the UN office in Sonawar, carrying black flags and shouting slogans in favour of plebiscite. However, police and CRPF men stopped them near Sher-i-Kashmir park and dispersed the protesters.  TNS
Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 27

Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan, the Central government has sought a detailed report from Jammu and Kashmir to suggest ways and means for maximum exploitation of water of three large western rivers falling under the World Bank-brokered 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between the two countries.

The Centre has asked the J&K Government to explain within one week the scope of enhanced power generation and irrigation from these rivers which flow into Pakistan through the state.

We received a communication from the Union government on Monday evening to suggest widened scope for exploitation of rivers on which Pakistan has exclusive rights under the IWT, a senior state government official told The Tribune.

The IWT, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan president Ayub Khan in September 1960, is a water-sharing mechanism to regulate the flow of the Indus and its five tributaries  Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej  between India and Pakistan.

Under the treaty, India received exclusive rights of use of waters from the Indus and its eastward-flowing tributaries Ravi, Beas and Sutlej before they enter Pakistan, whereas Pakistan has rights to three large western rivers that first flow through J&K  Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

Following the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, New Delhi is weighing both military and non-military options to give a befitting response to Islamabad. To review the IWT, the Prime Minister on Monday chaired a meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the Water Resources Secretary and senior PMO officials in New Delhi.

Following the meeting, the J&K Government was asked to submit the detailed report within a week, the official said. Under the IWT, an officials said J&K cant store water on the main rivers but it can generate unlimited hydropower from run-of-the-river power plants, the officials said.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 27

The cross-LoC trade resumed today in Kashmir after over two months. A total of 12 trucks laden with listed goods today cross Peace Bride at Kaman Post in Uri, which connects the two divided parts of Kashmir along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.

The trade was suspended on July 12 due the unrest in Kashmir following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.

Custodian, Trade Facilitation Centre, Salamabad-Uri, Farooq Shah said 12 trucks carrying goods from this side of Kashmir crossed the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) while only one truck came from there.

The trade went on smoothly for the first time in over two months, Shah said over the phone fron Uri.

The reason for only one truck coming from PoK was that the traders in Kashmir will not be able to market the goods due to the ongoing unrest.

The authorities from Kashmir and PoK agreed to resume the trade on Monday evening. A meeting of officials from both sides was, however, held this morning at Zero Point on Kaman Post after which the trucks crossed over.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 27

A girl was killed and another injured in a road accident caused by a stone-throwing incident in Srinagar even as over 20 civilian protesters were injured in clashes in south Kashmir on the 81st day of the current unrest.

The police said a stone-throwing incident led to the death of Fozia and injuries to her sister Nadia when they were hit by a private vehicle being reversed in the Parimpora area on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The driver was reversing his vehicle as it was being stoned by miscreants in Parimpora. The two sisters were critically injured and taken to a hospital, where Fozia (20) succumbed to her injuries.

At least 12 persons were injured, two with pellets, in clashes after the police foiled a protest rally at Kanelwan village in the Beijbehara area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir this afternoon.

Nearly 10 other civilian protesters were injured when they were protesting against the arrest of some youths in Samboora village near Pampore of Pulwama district. Two of them were admitted to a hospital.

Furqan Hamid received injuries in the head when some protesters threw stones at him when he was driving a Scooty in the Eidgah area of Sringaar. He was taken to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, where his condition was stated to be stable.
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 27

Illicit liquor was seized in different parts of the city today.

A man was caught by a police patrol team near the Civil Hospital area. He was found in possession of one carton of whiskey and four cartons of rum. The Division Number 2 police booked the suspect, identified as Gurinderpal Singh, a resident of Ganj, under sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act.

In another case, the Division No. 7 police nabbed a person with 64 quarters of countrymade liquor and rum during a raid at his house following a tip-off. The suspect has been identified as Tony, a resident of Tajpur Road.

In another incident, 12 cartons of rum were seized from two persons who were riding an auto-rickshaw on Link Road. They were caught by the Salem Tabri police on a tip-off. The suspects have been identified as Gurdeep Singh, a resident of Salem Tabri, and Ashok Kumar, a resident of Bhaura Colony.

Eight cartons of countrymade liquor were seized in the Sherpur Road area. The Focal Point police carried out a raid in the area following a tip-off. On seeing the police team, the suspect fled the spot, leaving behind the cartons of liquor. He has been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, alias Gora, a resident of Sherpur. All suspects have been booked under sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered a case of sexual assault against Haryana Rajya Sabha MP Shadi Lal Batra, 76, on the complaint of a lawyer who alleged Batra had raped her on the pretext of getting her a job in the Haryana judiciary. She said she had met Batra a few months ago through a common friend. She said Batra had invited her to his house in South Delhi where he spiked her drink and raped her.

A police official said the complainant failed to appear before the magistrate on Tuesday and give her statement under Section 164, CrPC. Batra said the case was part of a political conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his image. TNS
Panaji, September 27

Six years after a 35-year-old British woman was found dead near Anjuna beach in Goa, the CBI has filed a closure report in the case as no evidence of assault or homicide has been found.

The 50-page closure report in the death case of Denyse Sweeney was filed yesterday by a special team of CBI which arrived here from Mumbai.

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"The report has been filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa," Nandkumar Nair, the head of CBI's special branch in Mumbai, told PTI today.

He said forensically, the cause of death was cerebral pulmonary oedema, which means accumulation of fluid in brain and lungs.

There was no evidence of assault or homicide and also there was no eyewitness or circumstantial evidence due to which the closure report was filed, Nair said.

Sweeney was on a holiday in Goa when she was found dead on April 16, 2010 near the toilet of a night club in Anjuna beach area.

Local police had cited drug overdose as the reason behind the death, but later registered a case of murder after Sweeney's family suspected foul play.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case in January.

The development in Sweeney case came days after Goa Children's Court in Panaji acquitted two men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving to die British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling at Anjuna beach in February 2008. PTI
Chandigarh: Expelled AAP state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur has decided to float his political outfit on October1. Jasvir Singh Dhaliwal, former Anandpur Sahib zone in charge of AAP, said they were considering two names for the outfitAam Lok Party or Apna Punjab Party. He said on October 1 office-bearers of political affairs committee, state executive and district committees would be announced. He said they were open to an alliance with any political party. Dhaliwal said they were in talks with AAP rebel MP Dharamvira Gandhis group and other breakaway AAP factions. Chhotepur parted ways with AAP last month. TNS
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

India today summoned Abdul Basit, Pakistans High Commissioner, and gave evidence to prove Pakistans complicity in the Uri attacks. Basit was given details of two guides who helped the terrorists reach the Uri Army camp on September 18.

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The guides are Yasin Khurshid (19) of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad and Faizal Hussain Awan (20) from Potha Jahangir. Basit was told a third Pakistani arrested recently had said he had undergone training with the Lashkar before making his way to Uri. India said it was willing to provide Pakistan consular access to all three.

Meanwhile, India and Pakistan continued their war of words at the UN General Assembly with both accusing each other of lying in their Right of Reply after the address by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said Swarajs speech was a travesty of facts and history, that Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory and the final status of Jammu and Kashmir was yet to be determined.

Eenam Gambhir, First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN, replying to Lodhis charges, quoted Swarajs speech to make the point that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. The US advised restraint to both sides.
Hempstead, September 27

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump today battled it out in front of millions of undecided American voters over racism, terror and temperament in their first presidential debate with the media declaring the Democratic nominee as the winner of the fiery contest.

Edit: Clinton wins the debate

The 90-minute clash, watched by an expected television audience of up to 100 million, saw the 68-year-old former Secretary of State and the 70-year-old Republican nominee, who have attacked each other for months in separate campaigns, taking the stage together here for the first time to woo a substantial chunk of voters who remain undecided ahead of the November 8 poll.

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The CNN/ORC poll declared Clinton as the clear winner in the first of a series of three debates, with a massive 62 per cent of voters giving an edge to the Democrat over the reality TV star, who was deemed winner by only 27 per cent.

The two candidates indulged in a series of combative, acrimonious exchanges as the battle turned personal, with the controversial real estate mogul questioning the stamina of the former Secretary of State after her recent bout of pneumonia.

Clinton smiled through the insults and landed jabs of her own to put Trump on the defensive over his temperament, refusal to release his taxes and his past comments on race and women. Trump said he would release his tax returns if Clinton released her 33,000 emails deleted by her .

The two leaders came face-to-face for the first of the three presidential debates at Hofstra University in Hempstead near New York City. They projected themselves as best-prepared to lead the nation. Clinton accused Trump of being anti-women and challenged his allegations that she lacked the stamina to be the commander-in-chief.

more reports page 15
Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, September 27

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on today reiterated the Assam Governments request before the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to help the state completely seal the border with Bangladesh to prevent infiltration across it.

During a meeting with Rajnath in New Delhi , Sonowal requested him to hand over the border fencing work to the Army as was done in case of Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official source here.

Sonowal apprised Rajnath of his personal visit to Indo-Bangla border in Dhubri sector. Out of 280-km Indo-Bangla borders in Assam, 71-km portion was unfenced in patches, while a 60-km stretch within the unfenced portion was riverine that required specialised technology to completely seal the border.

Sonowal also requested Rajnath for additional companies of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the state. He discussed about the possibility of raising Indian Reserved Battalion in Assam. Rajnath asked him to submit a proposal for the same and assured that the initial fund for raising the force would be provided by the Centre.

Sources say there is an apprehension that jihadi activities in states remote areas may witness an upsurge.

Sonowal requested Rajnath for immediate extension of the term of the Foreigners Tribunal in the state for five more years. At present 100 Foreigners Tribunals are functioning in Assam out of which 64 were created in 2014 in compliance with the Supreme Court directions for a period of two years. As the validity of these tribunals expired on February 9, 2016, Sonowal requested for extension of their terms.

He also requested Rajnath for early release of fund for speedy updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New DelhiI, September 27

India today pulled out of the SAARC Summit which was to be hosted by Pakistan in November. The decision comes on a day when India summoned the Pakistani envoy to hand over evidence on Pakistans complicity in the Uri attacks.

India said that the atmosphere was not conducive for holding a successful summit. Sources in the governmentsaid apart from India, three more nations  Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan  were likely to pull out of the summit.

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Post Uri attacks, this is the most discernible action India has so far taken against Pakistan to register the fact that Pakistan cannot go on sponsoring terrorism in India without any repercussions. Afghanistan and Bangladesh too have been blaming terrorism emanating from the Pakistani soil for attacks in their countries.

The latest clash at the UN where Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir were firmly rebutted by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday. But Sharifs speech and Pakistans agenda of internationalising the Kashmir issue has provoked India to make a statement that Pakistan will have to pay for its actions.

The summit was scheduled to be held from November 9 to 10.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Hours after it decided to review the 'Most Favoured Nation' (MFN) status granted to Pakistan, India on Tuesday decided to pull out of the SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad in November.

A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not to take part in the proposed SAARC summit in the prevailing circumstances.

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A meeting to review the MFN status to Pakistan will be held on Thursday and will be attended by top officials of the government, including Commerce and External Affairs, top sources in the government said.

India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country has created an environment that is not conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad.

India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity but believes that it can only go forward in atmosphere free of terror, the MEA said.

Other countries skipping SAARC summit in Pakistan are Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan, sources told ANI.

We also understand that some other SAARC member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending Islamabad summit in November, the MEA added.

Indias decision to pull out of the SAARC summit and review of MFN status comes amid a clamour to take action against Pakistan in the backdrop of the September 18 Uri attack.

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. Pakistan has not given a similar status to India.

The MFN status to Pakustan was accorded in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

According to Assocham, out of India's total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan 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 Pakistan was equivalent to 0.41 per cent of India's global merchandise commerce," Assocham secretary general DS Rawat said in the statement.

The MFN 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.

The major items of Indian export to Pakistan include organic chemicals, vegetables, cotton, plastics and processed food waste, like fodder.

Items of Indian imports from Pakistan include cottons, fruits and nuts, mineral fuels, wax, sulphur, lime, cement and hides.

"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," Rawat said.

Assocham 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.

At another review meeting here on Monday, Prime Minister Modi directed that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan be revisited.

"Blood and water cannot flow together," Modi said at the meeting to review the Indus Water Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960.

It was decided that the meetings of Indus water commissioners, that are held to resolve disputes, will now be held "only in an atmosphere free of terror".  With agencies
Patna, September 27

Former Supreme Court judge Markanday Katju's comment of offering Kashmir to Pakistan provided it also took Bihar drew sharp criticism from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who ridiculed him for trying to become the states 'Mai-Baap' (guardian).

Katju's post on Facebook clubbing Bihar with Jammu and Kashmir triggered sharp reaction, as some leaders demanded that he should be tried for sedition.

"We offer you Kashmir but you should take Bihar also," Katju had said in one of his Facebook post. "I have just received authoritative information from the Govt. of Pakistan. They have point blank refused the offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar, and they have profusely apologised for ever asking for Kashmir at all and have promised never to ask for it again. Evidently the idea of getting Bihar too has horrified them out of their wits."

"Once Firaq Gorakhpuri, my English teacher in Allahabad University, said to me 'hindustan ko khatra Pakistan se nahin hai, Bihar se hai'."

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar criticised the remarks without naming Katju.

"Ghar baithe 'mai-baap' ban rahe hai Bihar kaa...(trying to become guardian of Bihar while sitting at home),"Kumar said in his speech after launching two of his seven resolves of providing drinking water and toilet to every household. "A few people are gripped with disease of getting printed in newspapers.

The chief minister spoke of Bihars history as the land of the Buddha, Mahavira, Chanakya and mathematician-astronomer Aryabhatt.

"Patliputra, the ancient name of present Patna used to be capital of the Magadh Empire whose territory extended to the entire country," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also objected to Katjus post.

"Bihar has always shown the way to the country in good and bad times," said the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

JD (U) General Secretary KC Tyagi and senior party leader Shyam Rajak wanted the former judge tried for sedition.

Madhepura MP and Janadhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav also condemned Katju's comments and sought public apology from him.

Faced with a barrage of protests, Katju wrote on Facebook: I was only joking about Bihar.  PTI
Lahore/Islamabad, September 27

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that the militant strike on the Indian army camp in north Kashmirs Uri was a plot devised by India, even threatening to use the countrys nuclear warheads against the neighbour.

Claiming India had no proof of Pakistans involvement, Asif told DawnNews that India had engineered the strike to turn the worlds attention away from Kashmir.

Asif said Pakistan would not hesitate to its nuclear stockpile  estimated to be the worlds fastest growing one  against India in a war, replying to a question about how it would respond to a surgical strike.

"We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India," the defence minister told private TV channel SAMAA. "We have not made atomic device to display in a showcase. If a such a situation arises we will use it and eliminate India."

India claims it has evidence that proved the attackers came from across the border.

He said Pakistan would give a befitting response should India violate its airspace and claimed the world knew that India was no serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan. About a move by the US Congress to categorise Pakistan a terrorist state, he said: Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state.

Meanwhile, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa claimed Pakistan's security forces were closely monitoring the countrys eastern borders and were prepared to respond to any act of aggression.

Eighteen soldiers were killed when gunmen struck an army camp in Uri on September 18. India blames the attack on the Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outlawed militant organisation that operates in Pakistan and has been blamed for several attacks in India, including a predawn strike at a military installation in Pathankot in January. India has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to crackdown on terrorist organisations.

The attack has led to an already-cold relationship between the two rivals frigid, as they two countries traded barbs in the ongoing session of the United Nations General Assembly. India has also pulled out of this years SAARC summit in Islamabad.  PTI
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to review the unilateral grant of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan under the World Trade Organisation  an another attempt by New Delhi to increase pressure on Islamabad post Uri attack.

The PM will on Thursday review the decision at a meeting that would be attended by officers of the Ministries of Commerce and External Affairs. This will be second review meeting after the one on Indus Waters Treaty on Monday.

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India accorded the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 under the WTOs General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Both India and Pakistan are signatories to the agreement. It means they have to treat each other and the rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners. Pakistan is yet to grant India the MFN status.

Under WTO rules, the status implies that every time a country lowers a trade barrier or opens up a market, it has to do so for the same goods and/or services from all trading partners.

The bilateral trade between India and Pakistan stood at $2.61 billion in 2015-16  with Indian exports at $2.61 billion and imports of $ 441 million. This accounts for a fraction of Indias total merchandise trade of $ 641 billion. Statistics show a good 30 per cent of top 10 Indian exports to Pakistan is cotton while the rest include polypropylene, chickpeas, tomatoes, sugar, yarn etc while imports from Pakistan comprise light oils, dates and cement.

More than the formal trade, the informal trade between the two countries is much higher, with a recent study by economic think-tank ICRIER putting the figure through the India-Dubai route at $4.71 billionIndian exports at $3.99 billion and imports at $72 million.

Another study says the bilateral trade potential could be around $10 billion, with Indian exports around $7.9 billion and imports from Pakistan at $3 billion. The withdrawal of MFN status is likely to hurt Pakistani industry, say experts. Pakistanss industry will squeeze if India decides to withdraw the status., international trade expert with the IIFT, Rakesh Mohan Joshi, said. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations said if India stopped exports, their manufacturing cost will go up.

Like Indus treaty, will only have symbolic impact

MFN, mentioned in all the three world agreements on trade, services and intellectual property rights, forms the very basis of a non-discriminatory trading regime

MFN treatment means a country has to offer similar terms of trade to all its trading partners

Indias MFN is not really operational because Pakistan has not reciprocated

India-Pakistan trade is governed by negative lists that are longer than the list of tradable items

Direct India-Pakistan trade is $3 billion; due to lack of MFN, trade worth about $6 billion is routed via Dubai, Colombo & Singapore

In 2006, Pakistan was among the last countries to be granted MFN status by India

Islamists, agriculturists and automotive makers opposed Pakistans initial attempt to give MFN status to India

Finally, Pakistan decided to give India MFN status under a new name  Non Discriminatory Market Access. The process was shelved after the Indian General Election

Therefore, the decision to review MFN status, much like the review of Indus Waters Treaty, will have a symbolic impact

India-China consensus

Beijing: India and China on Tuesday held their first anti-terrorism talks amid growing India-Pak tension following the Uri terror attacks and reached an "important

consensus" on strengthening cooperation in combating the menace and on measures to jointly deal with security threats. Seen as a significant step forward in anti-terror cooperation following differences over India's bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar

designated as a terrorist by the UN, top intelligence officials from both countries held candid discussions about stepping up cooperation in counter-terrorism. PTI
New Delhi, September 27

The Supreme Court has asked Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu until Friday, notwithstanding a resolution the state assembly had passed against sparing any water to its rival in the dispute.

The court also called for a political solution to end the deadlock through a meeting between chief ministers of the two warring states and the central government and asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate the meeting.

"We think it appropriate that Karnataka releases 6,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu in three days by following the order passed by us, despite the resolution passed by the assembly," a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit said.

Even while the court was dictating its order, senior advocate FS Nariman, who represented Karnataka, opposed the direction saying there was "no logic in it" and the order amounted to "a direct confrontation".

Tamil Nadus counsel, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, blamed Karnataka's "obstructionist and obstinate" attitude for the impasse and told the court: "On instruction, I am saying that the state (Tamil Nadu) is fed up. We are simply tired of this litigation. We are not getting what is our legitimate right".

"We are in a federal structure and in a democracy like India, no state can say it will not obey the Supreme Court's order. You cannot pick up fight with everyone. It is not about Karnataka or Tamil Nadu or any state, there has to be federal cooperativism," the Bench said.

When Tamil Nadu continued to ask the court to have the order enforced, the Bench said: "Have patience for few days. This is not an ordinary litigation. Let us see how things shape up."

The development comes a days after Karnataka told the court it had no water to spare until January 2017. The Karnataka Assembly passed a resolution last week against using Cauvery water for any purpose other than drinking and said it could not spare any water to Tamil Nadu.

The two states have been involved in a dispute over sharing of Cauvery waters that had turned violent earlier this month.

The court asked Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu on September 20, up from the 3,000 that a committee on water sharing, the Cauvery Supervisory Committee, had directed only a day before.

The Supreme Courts September 20 order was a modification order two previous order: on September 5, it asked the Karnataka Government to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, but the order was modified to 12,000 cusecs on September 12 when Karnataka said it did not have enough water to fulfill its own needs. Karnataka later asked the court to modify the second order also, saying it was too much water to give away.

Both orders met with violent protests in Karnataka, even leading to a persons death in police firing.  Agencies
KV Prasad in taiwan

Seeking to leverage its strengths in the form of a quality-education provider and as a tourist destination, Taiwan is planning to forge a new and mutually beneficial model of cooperation with Asian countries, including India.

As part of its multi-pronged approach under the new South Bound Policy, the Tsia administration is laying stress on outreach to India in two sectorsattract greater number of students to go beyond the current 1,000-plus and adding more education centres in India.

Having just concluded another Higher Education Exposition in Mumbai, Taiwan sees great scope to fill in the demand for affordable and quality education for Indian students. Having forged understanding with six universities in India, including IIT-Chennai and Jamia Millia, Taiwan is now moving to add IIT-Mumbai to the list. Interacting with a visiting group of Indian journalists, Professor Wei-Chung Wang, senior adviser for global affairs in National Tsingh Hua University, said the institution has over 200 students from India.

Diwali is celebrated on the university and every year the students along with engineers who work in the National Science Park come over to the campus on the occasion, Profess Hsiao-Wei Chang, responsible for India outreach, said.

They said students from India have the option of learning Mandarin but courses have English as medium of instruction. Education counsellor-director Julie Chu in the Ministry of Education said a plan for change in law allowing outstanding foreign students to stay back and work in Taiwan is on the anvil. As for tuition fees, it ranges between $2000 and $3,500 in public universities for courses in medicine and engineering.

Meanwhile, faced with the prospect of slowing down of tourists from mainland China, partly due to changing nature of relationships after the advent of the Democratic Progressive Party government, there is an attempt to woo Indian tourists.

Last year, almost 40 per cent of its 10 million tourists were from mainland China but officials admitted the numbers from the country was less this year. The country earned $1.43 billion from tourism last year and the challenge is to keep it at that level. Tourists from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong, a majority of them Chinese, continue to pour in.

As for India, Ying Hui Cheng, deputy director, International Affairs Division of Tourism Board, said the challenge was to create recall identity of the country as a tourist destination offering lifestyle, culture, natural wonders, adventure theme parks and free wi-fi across the country to keep pace with modern gadget-bound people. Hopes for an increase in numbers from India also increases with the prospect of more direct flights to Taiwan.

(Concluded)
United Nations, September 27

The message that Kashmir is an integral part of India should be loud and clear, India on Tuesday told Pakistan, calling it a dysfunctional state that committed atrocities on its own people and preached about tolerance, democracy and human rights.

Responding to Pakistans Right of Reply (RoR), India also asked Pakistan if it could clarify how terror havens continued to flourish on its soil despite getting billions of dollars in anti-terrorism aid.

Pakistans envoy to UN Maleeha Lodhi, exercising the RoR to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs address to the UN General Assembly here on Monday, earlier said Pakistan rejected all the baseless allegations made by her and asserted that Kashmir never was and could never be an integral part of India.

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She called Kashmir a disputed territory, the final status of which is yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council.

First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN Eenam Gambhir, in Indias Right of Reply to Lodhis remarks, said it appeared that the Pakistani envoy did not hear clearly what our Minister of External Affairs stated during her address earlier.

Quoting Swaraj that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and would always continue to do so, Gambhir said we hope that the message is loud and clear.

In the RoR, Lodhi claimed that the attack on the Indian Army base in Uri, particularly its timing, had all the hallmarks of an operation designed to divert attention from Indias atrocities in Kashmir.

The international community is well aware that several such incidents have been staged in the past to serve Indias tactical and propaganda objectives, she said, adding that India is utilising the Uri incident to blame Pakistan for the current Kashmiri uprising and divert attention from its brutal occupation.

Gambhir, who had given Indias strong RoR to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs UN General Assembly address, said the world heard from Pakistan the views of a dysfunctional state which built atrocity upon atrocity on its own people, preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights.

We reject entirely these sermons, she said.

Gambhir said the Pakistani envoy was making a fanciful and misleading presentation in her RoR on the situation in Kashmir, in yet another attempt to divert international attention from her countrys continued sponsorship of terrorism.

Gambhir said Pakistan is not answering questions that are being posed to it by the international community, such as how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in her country continued to flourish despite the Pakistan armys much-vaunted counter-terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains.

Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy?

Can the representative of Pakistan deny that Pakistan had assured in 2004 that it would not allow its territories, or territories under its control, to be used for terror attacks against India? And can the representative of Pakistan deny that it has failed to honour that assurance given at the highest level? Gambhir asked.

India questioned whether the representative of Pakistan would deny that the armed forces of her country committed one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in human history in 1971.

Will the representative of Pakistan deny that its armed forces have used air strikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly? Will the representative of Pakistan explain why is it that Pakistans civil society is being silenced by the plethora of heavily armed militias that go by names such as Jaish or Army, Lashkar or Army, Sipah or soldiers and Harkat or armed movement, Gambhir said.

Responding to Swarajs call that nations that did not join the global strategy to fight terrorism should be isolated, Lodhi said Indias government is delusional if it believed it could isolate any country.

It is India itself, which because of its war crimes in Kashmir and elsewhere, and because of its warmongering, is likely to be isolated in the international community, she said.

The Pakistani envoy said Swarajs statement reflected the deceit and hostility of the Indian government towards Pakistan.

These allegations are designed principally to deflect global attention from the brutalities being perpetrated by Indias over half a million occupation force against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri children, women and men in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Lodhi said.

In an RoR exercised after Sharifs address to the UNGA, India had accused Pakistan of committing war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Lodhi in her RoR said the call for freedom of the Kashmiri people had been met with Indian brutality.

This is the worst form of state terrorism, a war crime, that India has continued to perpetrate in the situation of foreign occupation in Jammu and Kashmir for the past many decades, she said, adding that Pakistan demanded a full and impartial investigation of the Indian atrocities and massive human rights violations in Kashmir.

We ask that India accept the investigation proposed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and allow them access for the purpose, she said.

In response to Swarajs reference to Pakistani national Bahadur Ali, who was arrested in Kashmir, Lodhi said the recently captured Indian spy, an intelligence officer, had confessed to Indias support to such terrorist and subversive activities, particularly in Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. PTI
Seema Kaul

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Twenty-year-old Anoyara Khatun from Sandeshkhali near the Sunderbans in West Bengal has just returned from a UN session in New York where she was on a panel discussion on adolescent health. A victim of trafficking herself, she got involved in child rights, gender and anti-trafficking issues after being rescued from Delhi in 2006. In an interview with The Tribune, she narrates her experiences and her journey post-rescue.

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What did you do at the UN this year?

I attended the appointment ceremony of Nadia Murad as UN goodwill ambassador for the dignity of survivors of human trafficking. I was part of a panel on adolescent health with Vandana Gurnani, a joint secretary from the Health Ministry. I along with three other youth delegates did a live Facebook chat and answered questions from people across the world for half an hour. I also met Dr David Nabarro (UN special adviser on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development) at the Global Citizens Festival and discussed gender rights with him.

Your role at last years UN session?

I shared space with Melinda and Bill Gates at a UN panel on maternal and child health. In 2015, NGO Save the Children supported 15 children from across the world to be nominated as champions to advocate child rights. The UN invited the NGO to bring the child champions back this year for the UN session.

When did you begin schooling?

At the age of six, I started as a class I student at my village school in Chotoajgra. It was a primary school up to class IV.

Was there a break in your studies?

I was in class VII in a high school in the neighbouring village when there was a break in my schooling. I had to go away from home to work in Delhi in 2006 to support my family. I returned to my village in 2007 after working for a few months in Delhi. I completed my schooling in 2012 from the same high school.

Your role in child rights issues?

I became a member of child protection groups in high school near my village and took on a leadership role. We would keep a watch and prevent child marriages and trafficking and exploitation of children. This involved counselling children and their families and keeping an eye on movement of outsiders in our village.
Islamabad, September 27

Pakistan will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspended the 58-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, the countrys top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday, insisting the revocation of the treaty could be taken as an act of war.

The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty, Aziz, Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said the unilateral revocation of the treaty could pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy. He said if India violated the treaty Pakistan could approach the International Court of Justice.

This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council, Aziz said.

He said Pakistan is considering drawing the attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

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Between the two countries, this act of revocation can be taken as an act of war, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will exploit to the maximum the waters of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including the Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on that country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six riversthe Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum--were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and has gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.

Commenting on the development, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, a former federal law minister, president, Research Society of International Law, and an advocate in the Supreme Court on the issue, said India had no legal competence under the treaty to revoke it per se on its own as Article 12(4) of the treaty entitles the termination of the treaty only if both India and Pakistan agreed in writing.

He said there is an arbitration clause in the IWT that could be set in motion if India went to that extreme.

India cannot itself conclude that Pakistan has breached the treaty on any grounds, including mistrust. In case India revokes the treaty, it literally means it has shunned it, he said.

Soofi said in case India tried to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian, it would set up a regional state practice which under international law could serve as a precedence and equip China with an argument to consider suspension of the waters of the Brahmaputra.

India may have already damaged itself by even considering the suspension of water flow as an upper riparian and the Chinese government must be watching Indian moves with interest, he said. PTI
Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, September 26

The police today booked Akali leader Jagseer Singh Seera, his accomplices Satwinder Singh, Rajdeep Singh, Mahinder Singh, Buta Singh, Sukha Singh and Bhinda Singh, and eight unidentified persons for the murder of AAP activist Jagroop Singh.

A case was registered under Sections 302, 307, 323, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at Dharamkot police station in the district.

Jagroop was shot dead over a property dispute at Bhinder Kalan village late last night. His nephew, Pritpal Singh, was injured. No arrest had been made till the filing of this report.

SHO Satwinder Singh Virk told mediapersons that Seera and two of his aides were admitted to the Civil Hospital as they were injured in a clash. We will arrest them soon after they are discharged, he added.

Jagroops brother Ranh Singh, whose son Pritpal is battling for life, said they had complained repeatedly to the local police that Seera wanted to grab their land.

We got an FIR registered against Seera on August 14, but the police did not arrest him, he alleged.

Seera, an ex-sarpanch and a former chairman of the local market committee, has been active in Akali politics for the past three decades.
Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

Six months after her husband Lance Naik Jang Singh was killed in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Sukhdev Kaur of Bagrian village in Sangrur district, gave birth to Jang Singhs son. She named him Manjit Singh, as was suggested by her husband. But she lost him in a road accident when he was eight. Sukhdev Kaur now lives with her elder daughter.

When 18-year-old Bant Kaur married sepoy Piara Singh of Duladi village, near Nabha, in 1964, he promised to build a pucca house after returning home from duty next year. But the soldier never returned. He died in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1965 war. Beant Kaur is now 69 years old. And she still lives in two-room dilapidated house in a corner of the village.

Baljinder Kaur of Chamba Kalan village in Tarn Taran district rues that she has never seen her father. When sepoy Balwinder Singh attained martyrdom in 1971, Baljinder was just two-and-a-half months old.

Dozens of war widows and members of around 161 families of martyrs, who began their indefinite protest in front of Chief Ministers official residence here today, have almost similar tales to narrate.

For the past four to five decades, the compensation, be it in the form of land, cash or jobs to the kin, is eluding them. Worse, the state governments apathy has made the war widows to stage second such protest in Chandigarh within a span of 45 days.

We had a meeting with the Chief Minister on August 11. We were told that that all our demands will be met in a month. But we waited for 45 days. We know that nothing will happen if we keep sitting at home, said Bant Kaurs son Gursewak Singh.

Baljinder Kaur said: The government has crores of rupees to spend on events such as World Kabaddi Cup. We wonder why they have no money to compensate war widows and the families whose members have sacrificed their lives for the country.

Col Kuldip Singh Grewal (retd), president, State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association (SEWA), who was accompanying the protesters, said: As their files remained stuck in government offices for years due to various reasons, around 161 families of martyrs have yet to receive compensation.

KBS Sidhu, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), said, Around 130 families have approached the state government after 1976-77, which was fixed as a cut-off year to avail the compensation. But the government has agreed in-principle to award compensation to all affected families and we are working on it.
Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

There should be no stoppage of trade between India and Pakistan. This is the dominating opinion among businessmen engaged in trade with Pakistan via Wagah border. After Uri terror attack, there has been a demand from certain quarters to stop trade and snap all ties with Pakistan.

India exports a large number of goods, including cotton, dyes and chemicals, herbs, spices, processed food and fresh fruits to Pakistan, while the imports include cement, dry fruits such as dates and gypsum. The balance of trade is highly in favour of India. As of now, there has been no adverse affect on the trade between the two countries post-Uri attack.

Pradeep Sehgal, chairman, CII North zone and member of the Joint India-Pakistan Business Council, said the trade between the two nations should continue. While it is easy to stop the trade, it will be very difficult to resume it. There have been problems at the Indo-China border in recent years, but the trade with China is continuing without an interruption, said Sehgal.

Moreover, any impact on the trade via Wagah would hurt India more in fiscal terms, he said. India had launched a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan which as the right approach, he said.

Sehgal said the nearest sea port from Punjab is about 1,700 km away. It is not possible to do trade by sea port from states like Punjab. Wagah is the only dry port in this region from where trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan is possible, he said. Balbir Bajaj, chairman, Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce, said: For me, nation comes first and trade is secondary. The decision whether the trade should continue or not is to be taken by the government. Prof RS Ghuman, an expert in Indo-Pak trade, said the total trade between the two nations for 2015-16 was $2,544 million from both land and sea routes.
Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, September 27

A massive search operation was launched by the Pathankot police after they received a tip-off that some suspicious persons were loitering near a private school on the Jalandhar-Dalhousie bypass.

At the time of filing this report, the school and some adjoining buildings were cordoned off by a police team, led by SSP Rakesh Kaushal. A massive search operation was launched in and around the city and heavy police force was deployed at strategic points on the Pathankot-Jammu national highway. The SSP said he had informed senior officers in Chandigarh about the development.

The IG (border range) and the DIG have also been informed. If the need arises, we will call in reinforcements. The Air Force and Army authorities too have been given information about the movement of some suspicious people. There were some rumours that an Army uniform, including a belt, had been found from the bushes near the school. However, after cross checking the facts, we came to know that some people had floated these rumours. We have identified them and will take them into custody once the search operation ends, he said.

All roads leading to the city have been sealed and check posts have been established. A general alert has been sounded in the entire district. Patrolling near the international border has been increased, the SSP said.

Residents living near the base were being questioned and people were being asked to remain indoors. Civilians who were present in the base for official duties were being asked to move out.
Dehradun, September 27

President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today for a quiet sojourn during which he will pay obeisance at the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath and take part in the Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar.

The President began his visit to the hill state with the inauguration of the renovated Rasthrapati Ashiana, the Presidents retreat in the city, refurbished with laying of new lawns, planting of hedges and ornamental plants comprising flowering trees and herbs.

Accompanied by Governor KK Paul and a host of senior officials, Mukherjee planted a Rudrakasha sapling on the Ashiana premises and then was shown around its renovated building built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the Presidents Bodyguard and being revived at Mukherjees initiative after long years of disuse.

KR Narayanan was the last president who stayed here in March 1998.

The commandants bungalow was built in 1920 and then renovated and re-designated as Rashtrapati Ashiana in 1975-76 to provide a suitable summer retreat to the then President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed as an alternative to Shimla.

Mukherjee, who will stay at Rashtrapati Ashiana for the entire duration of his visit, will attend a dinner hosted by Governor KK Paul this evening where distinguished residents of the city have been invited.

He will go to Kedarnath tomorrow morning at around 8.25 am and will return to Dehradun in the afternoon.

The President will visit Haridwar on September 29 to witness its famous Ganga aarti before leaving for Delhi the same evening.

It will be Mukherjees first visit to Kedarnath after assuming office as the President and after the 2013 deluge which killed thousands of people besides inflicting large-scale damage on areas adjoining the centuries old shrine tucked in the Himalayas.

Earlier in June this year, Mukherjee had to return without paying obeisance at the shrine when his helicopter could not land there due to the bad weather.

The Presidents proposed visit to Kedarnath in April 2015 had also been cancelled due to heavy snowfall at the Himalayan shrine.

Earlier, as the President arrived at the Jollygrant airport, he was accorded a warm welcome by Governor KK Paul, Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh and DGP MA Ganpati.

After the Presidents arrival at Ashiana he was given a demonstration by representatives of Prashak Techno Enterprises, who have done extensive work in the field of building and sanitation in Thailand using cost effective disaster resistant technology.

Called Habitech-Nivara Tantra technology in which compacted inter-meshing blocks each weighing about 6 kg are used instead of bricks to build houses, they advocated its adoption for building houses in the disaster-prone hill areas of Uttarakhand.

Security has been tightened across the city in view of the Presidents visit with the deployment of around 2,400 policemen including those from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the fire department.  PTI
Hempstead, September 27

Democrat Hillary Clinton accused Republican Donald Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance on Monday, putting him on the defensive during a debate that a snap poll said boosted her White House chances.

Trump, a real estate tycoon making his first run for public office, said Clintons long years of service represented bad experience with few results, adding that she lacked the stamina to serve as commander-in-chief.

Clinton was under pressure to perform well after a bout with pneumonia and a drop in opinion polls, but her long days of preparation appeared to pay off in her highly anticipated first 90-minute standoff with Trump.

Trump, a former reality TV star who eschewed a lot of debate practice, was strong early on but appeared to become repetitive and more undisciplined as the night wore on in front of a televised audience that could have reached upwards of a record 100 million people.

A CNN/ORC snap poll said 62 per cent of respondents felt Clinton won and 27 per cent believed Trump was the winner.

In signs that investors also awarded the debate to Clinton, Asian shares recovered from an early bout of nerves while the Mexican peso surged on Tuesday. Her chances in the November 8 election improved also on online betting markets.

Great debate

You feel good tonight? Clinton asked supporters after the event. I sure do. We had a great debate. Trump, 70, declared himself the winner to reporters at the debate site, then opted against a visit to a local debate watch party that his staff had left open as a possibility.

The 68-year-old Clinton relentlessly sought to raise questions about her opponents temperament, business acumen and knowledge.

Trump used much of his time to argue that the former first lady, US senator and secretary of state had achieved little in public life and wanted to pursue policies begun by President Barack Obama that had failed to repair a shattered middle class, with jobs lost to outsourcing and over-regulation.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Trump suggested that her disavowal of a trade deal with Asian countries was insincere. Her handling of a nuclear deal with Iran and Islamic State militancy were disasters, he argued.

In one of their more heated exchanges, Clinton accused Trump of promulgating a racist lie by suggesting that Obama, the first US African-American President, was not born in the United States.

The President, who was born in Hawaii, released a long-form birth certificate in 2011 to put the issue to rest. Only this month did Trump say publicly that he believed Obama was US-born.

He (Trump) has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted. He persisted year after year, Clinton said.

Trump repeated his accusation that Clintons failed 2008 presidential campaign against Obama had initiated the so-called birther issue.

Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it...I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job, Trump said.

Tax returns

Trying to get under Trumps skin and provoke a volcanic eruption, Clinton suggested that Trump was refusing to release his tax returns to avoid showing Americans that he paid next to nothing in federal taxes or that he is not as wealthy as he says he is.

It must be something really important, even terrible, that hes trying to hide, she said.

Trump fought back, saying that as a businessman, paying low taxes was important. That makes me smart, Trump said.

I have a tremendous income, he said at one point, adding that it was about time that someone running the country knew something about money.

Trump sniffed loudly at points--a campaign aide said the candidate had no cold--but largely contained himself. He said he would release his tax documents after a government audit.

But Clinton, the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US political party, seemed to pique Trumps ire when she brought up Trumps past insults about women.

He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them and he called this one Miss Piggy and then he called her Miss Housekeeping, she said.

During the debate Trump darkly hinted at wanting to say something but stopped short. Afterwards he told reporters he had thought of raising the sex scandal involving Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, who was in the audience with their daughter Chelsea.

I was going to say something extremely tough to Hillary and her family and I said I cant do it. I just cant do it. Its inappropriate, its not nice, he said.

Red and blue

Clinton wore a red pantsuit, and Trump wore a dark suit and a blue tie to the encounter. She called him Donald. He avoided his campaign trail name for her, Crooked Hillary and instead called her Secretary Clinton for much of the debate before switching to her first name.

Towards the end of the debate, Trump said Clinton did not have the endurance to be president but avoided mentioning her bout this month with pneumonia.

She doesnt have the look, she doesnt have the stamina, he said.

Clinton retorted: As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents ... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina. Clinton called Trumps tax policies Trumped-up trickle-down economics and Trump accused Clinton of being all talk, no action.

I have a feeling Im going to be blamed for everything, Clinton said during one tough exchange.

Why not? retorted Trump.

The Mexican peso, dubbed the Trump thermometer because of its sensitivity to the US presidential campaign, climbed 2 per cent. Trump has pledged to build a wall at the Mexican border to prevent illegal immigration. Reuters
Los Angeles: Herschell Gordon Lewis, the horror filmmaker, known as the Godfather of Gore for directing movies like Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs, has passed away. He was 87. His spokesperson confirmed that the director died in his sleep. Lewis pioneered the horror genre in the 1960s known as the splatter film, which focused on gore and gruesomeness. Other horror films created by Lewis included A Taste of Blood, The Wizard of Gore, The Gruesome Twosome, She-Devils on Wheels and Scum of the Earth.  pti

Malaysia plans logo for Muslim-made goods

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is considering a new halal logo to identify products made by Muslims. Othman Mustapha, Director-General of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, however, warned the logo could be unlawful unless it is certified by regulatory authorities. Mustapha said a clarification would be sought from authorities on their intentions to issue the new logo. Halal refers mostly to food products, but is also applicable to cosmetics and other consumer goods.  IANS

Briton is youngest commercial airline captain



London: A 26-year-old woman in the UK is believed to have become the worlds youngest ever commercial airline captain, British media reported. Kate McWilliams, with budget carrier easyJet, began flying at the age of 13 in the air cadets before embarking on a training programme at CTC Aviation in Southampton on her 19th birthday. She first became interested in planes after attending an air show at age four.  pti
The Hague, September 27

War crimes judges today sentenced a Malian jihadist to nine years in jail for destroying the fabled shrines of Timbuktu, in a landmark ruling experts hope will help safeguard the world's vulnerable monuments.

Judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague found Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi guilty of directing the 2012 attacks on the UNESCO world heritage site in northern Mali.

Mahdi "supervised the destruction and gave instructions to the attackers", presiding judge Raul Pangalangan told the tribunal. "The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," he added, saying the crime had "significant gravity".

The court "unanimously sentences you to nine years of imprisonment," Pangalangan added as Mahdi, dressed in a sober grey suit and blue-striped tie, listened intently.

Prosecutors will likely be satisfied having asked for a jail term of between nine and 11 years, which they said would recognise both the severity of the crime and the fact that Mahdi was the first person to plead guilty before the court.

Observers say they hope the sentence will act as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned for "tearing at the fabric of societies".

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, aged between 30 and 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of "intentionally directing" attacks in 2012 on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque. "Legend had it that this door had not been opened for 500 years and that its opening would lead to the last judgement," the presiding judge said.

But while the court recognised the severity of the crimes targeting sites which were dedicated to religion and historic monuments and were not military objectives, the judges also gave Mahdi credit for his guilty plea.

The ICC has been examining events in Mali since 2012, when Tuareg rebels seized part of the north, imposing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. French and Malian troops pushed them back the following year.  AFP
Beirut, September 27

Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new military campaign that has destroyed a US-backed ceasefire.

The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battlefield after nearly six years of civil war.

Washington, which agreed a ceasefire with Russia this month that collapsed after a week, says Moscow and Damascus are guilty of "barbarism" and war crimes for targeting civilians, health workers and aid deliveries in air strikes.

More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs.

Only about 30 doctors are left inside, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies.

The World Health Organisation called for the "immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded" from the besieged eastern part of the city.

Tuesday's assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, attempt to attack Aleppo's Old City near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city's major access points.

Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off.  Reuters
In a decision that could affect at least 1,000 pending cases, the state Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that overturned the revocation of an Edmond mans drivers license linked to his driving-under-the-influence arrest.

The ruling was the latest in a series of court decisions that have found rules governing the administration of DUI breath tests were improperly adopted by a state board.

This will affect any case on appeal for drivers license revocations at this point, said attorney Bruce Edge, whose law firm handled Eric Samples challenge of his DUI arrest in Edmond.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision issued Monday, denied a motion by the state Department of Public Safety to review the lower court decision, effectively deciding the case in favor of Sample.

This effectively will invalidate all current drivers license issues involving breath tests, Edge said. The breath test is not valid, and they will not be able to suspend the drivers license because of the breath tests.

The challenge dealt with how the state approved rules governing the use of two pieces of equipment utilized in the breath test procedures: a canister containing a gaseous mixture and a mouthpiece the subject uses to blow into the testing device.

The Monday ruling deals with a Court of Civil Appeals finding in January that upheld a district court decision. The district court found that the state Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, which oversees the breath testing process, improperly approved rules governing the use of the gas cylinders. The rule should have been approved through the state Administrative Procedures Act, a process that requires approval by the state Legislature and governor, rather than by resolution by the Board of Tests.

The appellate court also upheld a district court ruling that found that the director of the Board of Tests had no authority to approve certain mouthpieces utilized in the breath test procedure.

Contacted about the ruling, Stephen Krise, general counsel for DPS, said the agency was frustrated with the courts desire to focus on technicalities and losing sight of the big picture.

The agency will still be able to rely on other evidence to revoke licenses at the administrative level, Krise said. But he was uncertain about the fate of cases that have been or will be appealed to district court.

The court decision will likely have the same effect on a number of pending cases; I just dont know how many yet, Krise said. Were just going to have to take them one at a time and deal with the results as they come in.

He estimated that about 1,000 cases have been put on hold at the district court level pending a decision by the state Supreme Court.

The agency handled about 3,000 license revocations last year, and the number varies from year to year, Krise said.

Kevin Behrens, director of the Board of Tests, said the agency was disappointed with the court decision.

I felt like the arguments we made in the friend-of-the-court brief were valid and strong arguments, Behrens said.

The board was not a party in the lawsuit, but it filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the existing testing protocol.

Behrens said while he could not address how the decision would impact existing appeals, he maintained it would not affect future DUI enforcement efforts.

The breath test is not required for a DUI arrest or a DUI prosecution, so its not open season on driving drunk, Behrens said. Law enforcement officers will still be making DUI arrests.

The court did not find, and there was no allegation, that the breath test was faulty or unreliable, Behrens said. The instruments are very reliable and they are sound.

Behrens said the board would meet in the near future and promulgate some rules that will effectively do what the rules already do except in a way the court will accept.

Behrens said the board would likely approve a new set of emergency rules regarding the gas canisters and mouthpieces until it can come back and approve rules that go through the regular administrative process that includes the state Legislature and governor.

Edge said the Monday ruling did not address the criminal side of the DUI arrest process.

I think it will exclude the criminal part, but it is not as clear at this point, Edge said.
Correction

This story originally misspelled the name of Dr. Camara Jones, president of the American Public Health Association. The story has been corrected.

A forum on how racism affects health was planned well before the high-profile shooting death of an unarmed black man by a Tulsa police officer. It could not have been better timed.

A group of 150 people  social workers, public health workers, educators, faith leaders, nonprofit workers and residents  gathered for the forum Monday at the Tulsa Health Departments North Regional Health and Wellness Center, 5636 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The site is about three miles from where 40-year-old Terence Crutcher was fatally shot Sept. 16 by Officer Betty Shelby, who has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Reggie Ivey, chief operating officer of the Health Department, said he was with Crutchers parents when they were told of their sons death. He has known the family for years and was good friends with their older son, who died of cancer in 2014, he said.

It has caused us to really think about how we can have a discussion with law enforcement on these issues, Ivey said. Im referring to racism and how it impacts health outcomes.

Crutchers parents were preparing for a musical at a church to be held on Sunday, Sept. 18. Crutcher died on Friday, Sept. 16. Two hours after being told of their sons death, they let the musical director know that the show would go on.

If this family can be that resilient in the face of such tragedy and agony, then this community can be resilient, Ivey said.

He said a police officers reference to Crutcher as looking like a bad dude, which can be heard in a video and audio recording from a police helicopter, is an example of bias.

People are judged by their skin and not who they really are, Ivey said. I have hope again that our community will be resilient and that we will do the things necessary to make change in our community.

A life-expectancy gap: In Tulsa, a 2006 study found that a 14-year gap in life expectancy existed between residents of north Tulsa and south Tulsa. The study was the first to provide data that illustrated the disparity, including fewer doctors and medical facilities on the citys north side.

Broken down by ZIP codes, the lowest life expectancy was in areas with the highest percent of black residents. Those neighborhoods also had high concentrations of poverty and unemployment.

That was 10 years ago. Since then, more than $46 million in public and private funds has been pumped into the area for health-care facilities. The OU Wayman Tisdale Specialty Clinic has been built, Morton Comprehensive Health Services has expanded, the Health Departments regional center has been established and improvements have been made to other facilities.

In September 2015, a follow-up study found that the life-expectancy gap had been narrowed from nearly 14 years to about 11 years. Its clear that while those new and expanded facilities provided more access to services, they havent leveled the field in health outcomes.

In July, the Health Department launched an initiative to address other issues that affect health, including economic sustainability, education and neighborhood cohesion.

Ivey said racism, classism, sexism and immigrant bias play a role in peoples health.

We recognize that in order for a communitys health to keep improving, we have to focus on a number of items and not just access to care, he said. This presentation today is merely a fragment of what I hope will raise the consciousness regarding racism in this country and its impact on health outcomes.

Seeking health equity: Dr. Camara Jones, president of the American Public Health Association, noted that Crutchers death could be the catalyst for Tulsans to address health disparities and inequities in the community.

Its more urgent for people to understand the urgency of this conversation now, Jones said.

Her approach is to provide a framework for naming and identifying racism, ask how it looks in the city, and provide tools for developing strategies on how to address it.

Jones defines racism as a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks.

When considering the national issue of law enforcement shootings of unarmed black men, her analysis would include police policies, practices and norms such as over-policing communities with a high percentages of residents of color, a code of silence among officers, a lack of citizen oversight and a view of black men as inherently threatening.

Right now this nation is still considering that this might be a problem of bad apples police officers, but its not, Jones said. There is a structural systemic problem.

These realities translate into health outcomes such as high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease, Jones said, adding that they are compounded by poorly supported schools, lack of markets with healthy food and few places to get exercise.

Oklahoma consistently ranks high in obesity and low in consumption of fruits and vegetables. The state sits at the bottom of two national health reports and has the seventh-highest number of uninsured residents in the country.

For people in poor and disadvantaged neighborhoods, the health realities are worse than in more prosperous areas. Knowing how those neighborhoods got to that point requires acknowledging that racism played a role.

Narrowing the gap on health outcomes is going to take more than building facilities. Talking about how institutionalized biases impede progress  and then doing something about it  will be key.

Health disparities will be eliminated when health equity is achieved, Jones said. Health equity is not an outcome but a process.
Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has said the terrorist YPG forces, which are the PYD/PKK's armed wing, are retreating to the east of River Euphrates and are also emptying Manbij city in northern Syria.

Speaking to the media during a break from the Council of Ministers meeting in Ankara on Monday, Kurtulmus said: "This is an important and positive development for Turkey."

Turkey has long demanded that PYD/PKK and its affiliate YPG remain to the east of Euphrates and not cross the river towards the west in Syria.

Turkey will never let the PKK/PYD form a terrorist corridor. Now a large number of PYD forces are returning to the east of the Euphrates River, which is an important development for Turkey, the deputy prime minister said.

About the Euphrates Shield Operation, Kurtulmus said Turkey rejects a corridor in Syria's north that would include the PYD/PKK and YPG, terrorist groups which want full domination in the area.

"We know that a corridor established in the region that includes claims of PYD and YPG means Syria will practically be separated just like Iraq," Kurtulmus said. "Naturally, Turkey will not let that happen and [will] intervene."

Kurtulmus also added that Turkey was "not against" the existence of Kurdish people who are residing in Syria's north. He also said Turkey remained determined to clear Syria's Raqqa province and Iraq's Mosul province from Daesh elements.

Operation Euphrates Shield began last month and saw Free Syrian Army fighters, backed by the Turkish military, take control of Jarabulus in northern Syria from Daesh.

Syrian opposition forces recently took control of the Tal-ar district in the town of Cobanbey in the northwestern Aleppo province, which had been occupied by Daesh militants.

Turkey has said the operation aims to bolster border security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the threat posed by terror organizations, especially Daesh.

The operation is in line with the countrys right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to Turkeys armed forces by its parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.

The deputy premier also highlighted counter-terrorism efforts in the country, saying that Turkey was fighting against all three terrorist groups, including the PKK, Daesh and Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

About the extension to state of emergency imposed in Turkey, Kurtulmus said there was nothing specific about such an extension.

"Nothing was discussed in the Council of Ministers regarding the extension of the state of emergency," Kurtulmus said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced a three-month state of emergency after the July 15 coup bid.

Kurtulmus, when asked to evaluate global credit agency Moody's decision to downgrade Turkey's rating, said the rate cut had been "politically motivated".

"Any of the credit rating agencies' move of lowering Turkey's grade is not the end of life. It is obvious that Moody's move was politically motivated," he said.

"The thing that we are facing a hard time to understand is that how come the perspective of Moody's analysts changed to the opposite way in just two days," he said.

Moody's Investor Service revised Turkey's rating Friday to "Ba1" from "Baa3" and assigned a "stable" outlook.

The global credit agency said the move "concludes the review for downgrade that was initiated on July 18," which began after a failed coup attempt.

Moody's said assigning stable outlook balances downside risks in the Turkish economy, which the agency defined as "large and flexible".

Turkey's economy continued to expand while the Turkish government still has "a strong fiscal track record, it said. "The stable outlook on the Ba1 rating reflects the strengths in the credit profile, namely the government's robust balance sheet, which would allow for the absorption of shocks and flexible responses.

Anadolu Agency
Ankara has asked German authorities to find, arrest and hand over two high-profile Gulenists accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government.

The Turkish embassy in Berlin recently sent a diplomatic note to the German Foreign Ministry and demanded an investigation be launched on the whereabouts of former prosecutors Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara, a senior Turkish official told Anadolu Agency on Monday.

Turkeys diplomatic move last week came after media reports that claimed the two fugitives, who fled Turkey in late 2013, were currently residing in the southern German city of Freiburg.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said Turkey had officially asked Germany to investigate the validity of these media reports, and if these would prove to be correct, immediately arrest and hand over the two suspects for prosecution in Turkey.

The two controversial figures Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara are suspected to be senior members of the Gulenist network, also known as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), led by the US-based Fetullah Gulen.

FETO is accused of infiltrating the state institutions and organizing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey to overthrow the democratically elected government.

Oz and Kara played a key role in a controversial anti-corruption probe in late 2013, which targeted senior political figures in Turkey. Later, they were accused of fabricating false evidence, as part of a plot to overthrow the government.

The two former prosecutors have not been seen in public since they fled Turkey in late 2015, but various media reports claimed that they were hiding in southern Germany.

Last year, German authorities told their Turkish counterparts that they had no information supporting claims that the two suspects were hiding in the country.

Germany is among the countries where Gulenists carry out significant activities through dozens of private schools, business associations, and media organizations.

Despite widespread suspicions, German authorities have been reluctant so far to curb activities of Gulenists, underlining that they would only act if they received concrete evidence suggesting that these institutions were engaged in activities that violate the constitution and laws of Germany.

Anadolu Agency
The U.S. on Monday sharply criticized Russia for its participation in a Syrian government offensive to retake Aleppo, saying Moscow and Damascus are carrying out a concerted campaign against civilians.

The White House said the parties are intentionally targeting civilians to bomb them into submission.

People of good conscience around the world should speak up and are speaking up, spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

President Barack Obama is deeply concerned about the situation, Earnest said.

Aleppo is being pummeled in a joint operation by Russian and Syrian forces that began four days ago, after a seven-day truce failed to stymy the violence and initiate nationwide aid deliveries to besieged areas.

At least 85 people were killed and 178 others injured Sunday in Syrian and Russian airstrikes on residential areas in opposition-held parts of Aleppo.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that day that he is appalled by the military escalation in Aleppo, and that the use of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes.

Russia's support for the Syrian government offensive is only playing into the hands of extremist groups, Earnest said. "Russia is going to have to deal with the fallout because their actions are fueling extremism, not just in Syria and not just in the region, but around the world, including in Russia."

Syrias pre-war largest city has been divided into two since 2012 when rebel forces ousted government troops. Assads forces continue to hold the west, while rebels hold the east.

The Syrian Center for Policy Research, a Beirut-based NGO, has put the death toll from Syria's six-year-old conflict at more than 470,000.

Anadolu Agency
The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A
Silvia Colloca returns to ABC next week with a new 8 part series Silvias Italian Table, in which she is joined by three well-known Australians.

Her guests will roll up their sleeves while being guided by her to create a gourmet Italian meal.

Appearing across the series are Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Lauren Jackson, Kathy Lette, Tara Moss, Magda Szubanski, Amanda Vanstone, George Negus, Ita Buttrose, Emma Alberici, Sarah Ferguson, Matt Moran, Marta Dusseldorp, Lisa McCune, Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson and Ken Done.

Life in Italy revolves around food, its preparation, and of course, eating and enjoying good conversation, says Silvia Colloca. Its the fuel that sparks the Italian way of living  loud and passionate!

Im very excited to welcome some of the most interesting personalities in Australia to cook alongside me and share their stories, and I want my Italian Table to be a warm place, abundant with food to enjoy, and full of honest conversation.

Silvia grew up in Milan where daily life revolved around the kitchen table, and where cooking and conversation went hand in hand. Now she wants to share her heritage with Australia, inviting three interesting personalities into her kitchen to cook simple, mouthwatering Italian dishes while sharing stories about their lives and the things that matter most to them.

The series will see self-taught cook Silvia Colloca, who now lives in Sydney, lead three celebrities around the kitchen bench and dining table as they cook an entree, main and dessert together, all the while serving up delicious conversation.

The conversations in each 30 minute episode are themed  with topics such as family, defiance and courage  leaving viewers not just entertained, but also feeling like theyre at the dinner party engaging in chat and getting to know some of Australias most familiar faces a little better.

In each episode, Silvia will also take viewers to some of the most stunning parts of Italy as she shares her memories and the inspiration for recipes that tie in with the dishes she cooks with her guests.

As Silvia breaks bread with her guests, the conversation will take numerous and varied directions, often resulting in laughs, tears and intimate thoughts.

Thursday October 6 at 8pm on ABC.
Media reports today claim Nine CEO Hugh Marks has told a Senate inquiry that Nine is calling for a halt to media reform proposals until broadcast licence fees are cut.

Nine seeks that all media reform be deferred until the issue of licence fees is addressed, he wrote in a submission to a Senate inquiry.

Changing any ownership rules before addressing onerous and unfair licence fees has the potential to distort the market and have unintended consequences.



In March Nine offered conditional support for the removal of the 75 per cent population reach rule and two-out-of-three cross-media ownership cap.



One executive described the move as bizarre, with suggestions it was a stalling tactic to buy time to help Nine fend off the prospect of potential takeover bids.

Meanwhile TEN supported the governments proposed changes of removing the reach rule, and the two out of three rule, as well as licence cuts.

Even with the May 2016 reduction, commercial free-to-air broadcasters continue to pay 3.375 per cent of gross revenue to the government as an additional broadcast tax on top of normal corporate taxes and in addition to meeting onerous and increasingly expensive Australian content obligations. This remains by far the highest free-to-air television licence fee in the world, TENs submission said.

The Senate Committee is due to report its findings on November 7.

Source: AFR, The Australian
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
Russian-backed militants launched 40 attacks on ATO troops in eastern Ukraine over the past day, the ATO press center posted this on Facebook.

Ten ceasefire violations were recorded in Luhansk direction. Terrorists shelled Novooleksandrivka, Novozvanivka and Stanitsa Luhanska using grenade launchers, machine guns, and small arms.

In Mariupol direction, 18 ceasefire violations were spotted. The militants used small arms and grenade launchers to shell Marinka, Starohnativska, Shyrokyno and Pavlopil. In addition, a sniper targeted the Ukrainian positions in Marinka, and infantry fighting vehicles were used to shell Starohnativka.

Also, terrorists violated ceasefire 12 times in Donetsk direction. The militants used 82-mm and mortars to shell Zaitseve, 120-mm mortars to shell Nyzhne Lozove. Also, the enemy launched attacks on the Ukrainian army in Verhnyotoretske, Zaitseve, Avdiivka and Nyzhne Lozove using small arms and machine guns.

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A total of 53,000 service members have concluded contracts for military service with the Ukrainian Army since January 2016.

Spokesperson of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Lieutenant Oleksiy Chornobai said this at a press conference on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Since the beginning of the year, about 53,000 servicepersons, of whom over 6,000 are officers, have signed contracts with the Ukrainian Army, Chornobai said.

He also noted that another several thousand concluded contracts with the Ukrainian Army after the completion of a special training course.

Every month about 6,000 contract soldiers join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, he added.

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No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but three soldiers were wounded in ATO area in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Spokesman for the Presidential Administration on the ATO Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but three soldiers were wounded as a result of armed hostilities in ATO area over the past day, he said.

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The Ukrainian government and the Norwegian government will cooperate to increase the volume of mutual trade, implement certain investment projects, fulfil transit obligations in good faith, raise energy efficiency and effectively implement financial aid in Ukraine,.

The press service of the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry has reported this after the first meeting of the Ukrainian-Norwegian intergovernmental commission on cooperation in trade, entrepreneurship and economics in Oslo, headed by Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk and Norwegian Trade and Industry Minister Monica Miland.

The Ukrainian side sets a high value on this meeting as a practical mechanism for further development of investment, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, Nasalyk said.

He also added that Ukraine considers European integration as an extra impulse to domestic reforms, and thus, the Ukrainian government relies on further support of Norway.

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The European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs supported a report and draft resolution on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime with the European Union.

The voting on the report represented by Bulgarian MP Mariya Gabriel took place on Monday, September 26, own Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels reports.

The document approved a decision on putting Ukraine on the list of the third countries whose nationals are abolished visa requirements for short-term travel within the European Union (except the UK and Ireland).

After this, according to the procedure, the European Parliament, the EU Council and the European Commission are to begin talks on a visa-free regime for Ukraine.

It is expected that this decision will be put for a final voting during the plenary session of the European Parliament this autumn.

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The Council of the European Union has instructed the European Police Office (Europol) to sign an agreement with Ukraine regarding operational and strategic cooperation.

A corresponding decision was announced at a meeting of the European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in Brussels on Monday, own Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"According to the agreement, Ukraine is a priority partner in the European Neighborhood Policy, as well as in the Eastern Partnership, reads a report by the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU.

It is expected that this agreement will be signed at the EU-Ukraine summit, which is to be held until the end of this year.

Also, Bulgarian MEP Mariya Gabriel stressed that such an agreement is very important in the process of granting Ukraine a visa-free regime.

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Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy is convinced that the European Parliament will decide on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime next week.

The speaker wrote this on his Facebook page.

"During my last meeting with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, he said that in case of positive solution of the relevant committee a final vote on granting a visa-free regime will be held during the next session of the European Parliament in early October. Therefore, I believe that next week the MEPs will support this important issue for every Ukrainian," he said.

At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada chairman thanked the European partners for their consistent support of Ukraine.

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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko today, September 27, will hold talks with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who is on an official visit in Ukraine.

This has been reported by the presidents press service. The Israeli president during his stay in Ukraine will also participate high-level events dedicated to the 75th commemoration of the Babi Yar tragedy and visit Odesa. iy
Only 6,5% of Ukrainian citizens believe that visa requirements for short-term travel within the European Union will be introduced for Ukrainians by the end of the current year, while 29.7% are sure that it will happen after the year 2017.

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Center.

Only 6.5% of the respondents believe that Ukraine will get a visa-free regime with the EU by the end of 2016, 15.4% - in 2017, 29.7% - after 2017, and 19.6% say it will never happen. Those respondents, who believe that Ukraine will never receive a visa-free regime, are from the East and total 39.4% of those polled, reads a report.

The introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU is very important for 19.2% of Ukrainians, rather important for 25.7%, less important for 22.3%, and not important at all for 26.7%.

Sociologists note that in western and central regions of Ukraine the respondents believe that the introduction of a visa-regime is important or rather important, while in southern, eastern regions and Donbas - less important or not important at all.

The survey was conducted the Razumkov Center on September 9-14, 2016. A total of 2,018 respondents aged over 18 from all regions of Ukraine, except Crimea and occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, were interviewed. The margin of error does not exceed 2.3%.

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Alnur Burtel may be an old man now, but he still remembers how his university teachers at home in Sudan inspired him to live a good life and study hard for a better future.

Now, in the Ethiopian refugee camp where he has lived since 2011, the 71-year-old seeks to be a similar guide to young Sudanese who have also ended up here. It is a place where inspiration and motivation can be in short supply.

"Education is instrumental for life and development," says Burtel, from his Light Language Centre at Sherkole camp in western Ethiopia. He built the small one-room education centre himself, and teaches English and civics to teenage and young adult refugees who lack proper schooling or vocational training.

"Education is instrumental for life and development."

Young refugees are wasting their lives, doing nothing," he adds. "It's time to end these problems. These young people are the future of our countries.

Back home in Sudan, Burtel taught English at local high schools and at Omdurman University. "I thought, let us feed their minds. If I succeed at changing the life of just one, that will make a difference.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, which helps manage Sherkole camp, where Burtel lives alongside more than 11,200 mostly Sudanese refugees, does its best to provide as much schooling as it can, but resources are stretched. UNHCR's appeal for Ethiopia is only 35 per cent funded, with a US$181 million shortfall, meaning that education loses out to providing refugees with the basics like shelter, food, and health care.

Alnur Burtel stands in front of the classroom where he teaches refugee youth.  UNHCR/Diana Diaz

That is where committed volunteers like Burtel are crucial to fill in the gaps. He and two fellow refugee volunteers teach 130 students English and civics, transparency, rule of law and what Burtel describes as "peaceful coexistence." UNHCR and the Ethiopian government refugee agency, ARRA, have provided two blackboards and chalk.

Burtel is from Kauda, a town in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan's South Kordofan region, where conflict broke out again between rebels and government forces in 2011. The day he and his wife fled, in June that year, was "a day when Nuban people were massively killed," he remembers, with tears in his eyes. His two uncles were killed and his home was destroyed.

"I left everything behind except my knowledge," Burtel says. "I have the dream of developing education services for the youth. I encourage them to learn from each other. It helps them uplift their self-confidence. I have many brilliant students who just need a bit of confidence."

"I have many brilliant students who just need a bit of confidence."

The Light Learning Centre has only been open since January 2016, but Burtel's students already recognize the impact of his lessons and feel committed to further learning.

"I didn't fully understand the importance of learning before," says Sudanese refugee Emoel Yakub, 27. "With Alnur I am not only learning how to speak English, I understand why we must respect each other. We are becoming better and more responsible people so we can have chances of a better future."

Yakub and several other graduates of the Light Learning Centre are now using what Burtel taught them, and teaching English themselves to refugee children in the camp.

Sirak Sileshi, a UNHCR protection associate at Sherkole, commends Burtel for adding these valuable lessons to his basic language curriculum.

Alnur Burtel teaches in the bamboo classroom he named the 'Light Language Centre' where young refugees have access to language and civics education.  UNHCR/Diana Diaz

"Alnur inspires refugees to pursue their dreams through education, whilst returning a sense of normalcy to their lives," says Sileshi. "Given funding constraints, UNHCR and our partners are not always able to provide secondary or language education to refugees. We rely on volunteer work like Alnurs for young refugees to fulfil their full potential, to recover their hope in life and to prepare for durable solutions in pursuit of productive lives."

Burtel's five adult children, aged from 21 to 35, all studied in Kenya thanks to scholarship programmes. They are poised to launch professional careers as teachers, nurses, and development workers.

The refugee youth at Sherkole constitute some 15 per cent of the population and are often at risk of violence and engaging in harmful coping mechanisms. Alnur hopes that he might also encourage a whole generation of young refugees at the camp to pick up the skills needed to find jobs when they can go home.

"I wish that the youth could convey messages of tolerance so that peace overwhelms our turbulent countries," he says. "Education is not the only solution, but it is a start for our youth to contribute to their communities."
By PTI: Rameswaram (TN), Sep 27 (PTI) About 200 kg of sea cucumber, an endangered coral reef species, which was meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka was seized at Mandapam near here and two youths arrested in this connection, marine police said.

Acting on a tip-off, Marine police personnel seized the dried sea cucumber stocked by two persons, with the intention to smuggle them to Sri Lanka, they said.

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The duo has been arrested, they added.

Sea cucumbers, classified as endangered species and their harvest banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, are in demand in South-East asian countries. PTI CORR VS CHT TRK

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Children living with albinism in the Democratic Republic of Congo often face discrimination and exclusion from their peers, causing some of them to skip school or drop out altogether. Learn how UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education to make sure that children with albinism and other vulnerable students get the support they need to stay in school.



KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, 26 September 2016  "I had to fight to get here, but mostly against myself," says Michel Mualaba as he overlooks the city of Brazzaville from the terrace of his brand new offices. Michel, a 35-year-old lawyer and financial affairs expert, was raised in a supportive, middle-class family. But he has faced discrimination his entire life because he has albinism.

Albinism is a condition that deprives the hair, eyes, and skin from melanin, our body's natural pigment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, as in other African countries, people with albinism still endure fear and rejection. Schools are no exception.

Socially, I did have friends, although many other children were afraid of me, Michel says. To protect himself, he had to learn to build a virtual wall around him to withstand the mockery.

"It wasn't always easy, I had to hang on, he admits.

On top of these issues with his peers, Michel also had to cope with impaired vision caused by his albinism. I always needed to sit at the front of the classroom, and sometimes, had to be literally inches away from the blackboard because of my sight problems," he says.

Luckily, Michel did not have to overcome the prejudices alone. In my family, we all had to go through this: my albino brother is now a doctor, my sister, also albino is an interior designer, and my other sister, also albino, is completing her university degree in communication," he says.

Today, Michel continues to work hard to be a role model to younger people with albinism, including victims of prejudice and discrimination.



Inclusive education

In an effort to support the most vulnerable, including children with albinism, UNICEF is working with the Democratic Republic of Congos Ministry of Education to implement social protection measures in approximately 5,000 schools across the country. This programme provides grants to schools to cover fees for students from lower-income households, as well as school supplies and extracurricular activities.

The social protection programme will also take steps to reduce absenteeism and exclusion of vulnerable children in classrooms. An early warning system for absenteeism will be implemented, and tutoring sessions will be organized for children with learning difficulties.

Although there is no statistical survey data on absenteeism among children with albinism in the Democratic Republic of Congo, anecdotal evidence suggests that these children have a higher rate of attrition in schools.

What is certain is that there is a tendency: these kids do suffer from discrimination, mockery, and so some end up dropping out, says Aime Dunia, Education Programme Officer for UNICEF. That is why we are launching a social protection programme to support the most vulnerable children. We will subsidize these schools so that they do not drive away these children.



A model student

Around 1,000 kilometres away from Kinshasa, near the city of Kisangani, Tresor, 10, is facing the same difficulties that Michel experienced twenty years earlier. While taking notes, his face is just inches from the paper of his notebook. He doesnt have glasses because his family cannot afford them.

In his primary school in the Tshopo district, there have been some improvements to how children with albinism are taught. School supervision is more careful, including his teacher, Mr. Jean Bonnard Yeye, 65.

Mr. Yeye recognizes that Tresor has to take extra steps to participate because of his sight problems. You can tell he's making significant efforts as he's forced to stand up to get as close as possible to the blackboard, he says.

Despite these challenges, Tresor is one of the best students in his class, and a genuine source of pride for his teacher. "Tresor is an attentive, focused student, says Mr. Yeye. He writes well and works very hard."

"It's very important to provide schooling to albino children, he adds. They are just kids, like any other."
After the Ice Bucket Challenge, the 22 Push Up Challenge is here to knock at your philanthropic side!

By Nikita Bhalla, India Today Web Desk: If back in 2014, you witnessed or were in fact a part of the Ice Bucket Challenge yourself, this new challenge is bound to get the good of you. After a landmark success of the Ice Bucket Challenge--a viral craze which raised funds for the ALS Association, there's a new fitness challenge on the block-- #22PushUpChallenge. And once again, you get to see a bevy of stars flexing their muscles for a philanthropic cause on social media.

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The initiative was started in order to raise money and awareness for post-traumatic stress disorder among United States war veterans and servicemen. According to reports, 22 former servicemen and women tend to take the suicide route after suffering from mental health problems associated with their time in the military.

All you need to do is make a video of yourself doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and then nominate three friends to do the challenge themselves.

Also read: The Ice Bucket Challenge didn't go waste; it just helped fund an ALS breakthrough



The challenge was created by Honor Courage Commitment in the US and started at the beginning of this year to raise funds to manage suicide prevention through education and empowerment. Not just fitness buffs, regular folk and your favourite celebs have been taking part in it and posting their videos on their social media feed.



Joining the likes of The Rock, Chris Evans, and Aaron Paul is now David Beckham, who took up the challenge and uploaded a slew of videos doing push-ups.

And trust us, he looks just as 'haaaawt' doing this at 45,000 ft as he does elsewhere. He also wrote that he may not put up more videos on a daily basis but will continue to do the push-ups as the cause stands very close to his heart.

Day 3 of the #22pushupchallenge to raise awareness of the devastating effects of PTSD on the lives of servicemen, servicewoman & their families. I won't be posting these everyday so as not to clutter your feed but trust that I will be doing them and you will see the evidence. This cause is too important to me.... A video posted by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Sep 22, 2016 at 10:53pm PDT

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Video or no video, we're only hearting all these efforts by the stars which can bring about a real change.



Have a look at some of the other hotties are slaying it with the #22PushUpChallenge.

Thank you to all the men and women who serve this country #22PushupChallenge @Renner4Real @AnthonyMackie pic.twitter.com/BbA5j67uaM Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 15, 2016

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Aamir Khan will star as astronaut Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian man to go to outer space. The film is being produced by ex-UTV honcho Ronnie Screwvala.

By India Today Web Desk: Aamir Khan is the only star who has not only earned money but credibility also. That's the big reason why trade and his fans are always curious what will be his next film.

Now the sources say that Aamir's next film will be also a biopic like Dangal, based on the first Indian astronaut in outer space Rakesh Sharma.

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ALSO READ: Masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor wants Aamir Khan to play him in his biopic?

ALSO READ: Thug with Aamir Khan and Yash Raj a great honour, says Amitabh Bachchan about his first screen outing with Aamir

Rakesh Sharma flew aboard Soyuz-11 in the month of April in 1984 . The 67-year-old Ashok Chakra awardee is going to be helping the writing process of the film as well from his training to his eventual trip to the outer space .

The movie is going to be produced by Ronnie Screwvala's new production company RSVP and will be directed by director Mahesh Mathai who had previously directed the 1999 film Bhopal Express, based on the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

The yet-untitled movie is said to mount the sets by next year and will be targeted for a 2018 release. Rest of the cast and crew are yet to be finalised .

Before that, Aamir will be seen in a special appearance in his assistant Advait Chandan's film Secret superstar.

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By Shivendra Srivastava: Yet another Aam Aadmi Party minister Satyendra Jain found himself in the dock today after the Income Tax department served the Delhi health minister a notice for alleged violation of income tax rules.

ALSO READ: AAP troubled by internal contradictions, corruption: BJP



Jain, however, said it was only a "re-assessment" of an old case. "This is not an investigation, it is just a re-assessment. I have been called as a witness. In the past, I had invested in these companies which are being re-assessed," he told reporters.

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ALSO READ: Anandiben's resignation result of AAP's fight against corruption: Arvind Kejriwal



The AAP leader then went on to dare the media to telecast an expose which Arvind Kejriwal will make later this week. "The Delhi Chief Minister will make a big expose in the Delhi Assembly two days later. I dare the TV channels to air it," he said.

ALSO READ: Anandiben's resignation result of AAP's fight against corruption: Arvind Kejriwal



So far, 12 of AAP's 67 legislators in Delhi have been arrested in various cases. Last week, MLAs Somnath Bharti and Amanatullah Khan were arrested and later released on bail within a span of two days.



AAP suffers corruption taint, Manish Sisodia cries foul







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From the pricetags to photos of alleged Pixel and Pixel XL - here's what you need to know about Google Nexus Phone 2016!

Google Nexus Phone 2016 rumor: Pixel and Pixel XL photos show up on the internet

Nexus fans cherished this specific leak as it finally shows the alleged Pixel and Pixel XL in details. In the leaks posted by Android Police, there are two Google Nexus phones in white colors - side by side.

The first photo shows off the back panels of both smartphones - which could confirm the rumor of two variant of Nexus 2016, the 5-inch Pixel and 5.5 inch Pixel XL.

The handsets which were codenamed HTC Marlin and Sailfish, have aluminum finish and fingerprint sensor. The leaked image has been swirling around the web for awhile - generating user comments on how the design is not worth the price.

Google Nexus Phone 2016 rumor: Pixel and Pixel XL specs

Under the hood, the upcoming Nexus phones will run Android Nougat out of the box. The Pixel and Pixel XL are rumored to be built by HTC with Snapdragon 820 chipset and 4GB of RAM. Pixel will likely sport 32 GB of internal storage whilst the Pixel XL may get 128 GB of storage. The phones could pack 2,770 mAh battery - a quite low capacity compared to its competitors.

Google Nexus Phone 2016 rumor: Pixel and Pixel XL price leak

The next Nexus Phone could be priced at $649 for 32 GB storage base model. This is considered pricey to some of the fans given the absence of waterproof feature. Furthermore, Pixel and Pixel XL may not have external storage for memory expansion.

The news that the Pixel starts at 650 means the Pixel XL will likely start at 700/750. This is frustrating. Is price result of Verizon deal?  Eric Johnson (@MrJohnsonEric) September 20, 2016

There is a reason why some smartphone users prefer Android, for instance, the ability to have extra space for memory.

If Nexus phones do not have the feature, it could be a dealbreaker. While these are only rumors, WccfTech post has many people 'complained' - as they disagree with what the phones have to offer - and even compare it to iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy series, which could be slightly better.

Google Nexus Phone 2016 release date: Pixel and Pixel XL will arrive on October 4

A few days ago, Google uploaded a teaser #MadeByGoogle, showing a search engine box morphs to phone silhouette - placed between "G" logo and "October 4". Many have assumed that it is the Pixel and Pixel XL release date, University Herald reported.

It is also speculated that Google might announce the Android-Chrome OS merge which has been developed since 2015, 9to5 Google wrote. As October 4 is approaching, we'll find out soon about that.

Pixel and Pixel XL rumors:
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S8 soon. The tech giant could make the wrongs, right - by making everything better.

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored specifications: 4K display and foldable?

Investigating the leaks and rants circulating through the web, the Galaxy S8 is rumored to sport 4K UHD display. This would be one of the best VR-ready smartphone with 5.5 inch screen.

Galaxy S8 could sport dual-screen display as the tech giant has already filed a patent regarding the technology. Will it be a foldable smartphone with hinge? University Herald has also learned that another patent submitted by Samsung includes improved stylus with grip gesture, UV sensor and ultrasonic input.

Samsung might equip the handset with a huge RAM of 6 GB for the gaming purpose and 128 GB of internal storage as well.

Android Nougat out of the box is surely the OS. Other rumored components include USB type C port and dual camera system similar to the iPhone 7 Plus'. It is unclear whether Samsung might follow Apple's path to ditch the earphone jack.

What the rants agree on, is the fact that Samsung will (and should) learn from Note 7 mistakes by fixing the battery issue. Galaxy S8 will have the flaw replaced with much better power consumption and performance.

It is rumored to get Smart Glow feature - which reduces the bluelight significantly for a more comfortable and better viewing.

Samsung Galaxy S8 release date

Not planning to distract the public even more with the Note 7 recall, Samsung could unveil Galaxy S8 earlier than expected. The S7 successor might already have a release date, according to Forbes.

Samsung might launch the Galaxy S8 at Mobile World Congress (MWC 2017) which will be held on Feb 27 - March 2 in Barcelona.

Is Samsung Galaxy S8 worth the wait?

Many mobile phone users have been disappointed with the iPhone 7- which is said to sport 2014 smartphone specifications. Many have compared it to Google Nexus 6P and the others have decided to wait for Galaxy S8 launch despite the Note 7 huge recalls.

@IGN my thoughts on the #iPhone7 is to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge  Big Hoss (@skylerfoster5) September 7, 2016

The rants about Galaxy S8 specifications could possibly be the reason as to why people are eagerly waiting for Samsung to launch the handset.

As for now, the fans should wait and see on what Samsung has to offer with its Galaxy S8 next year.
Politicians are looking at ways in order to provide free higher education to its citizens - young ones and adults alike. While both camps are looking for a way to budget and promote free colleges, or save students from financial debt, it seems like a free college education is a bit too far to reach.

If college was free, then it should be easy to get. However, according to the Denver Post, the United States is already swimming in $18 trillion in debt. And if college was free, then there shouldn't be a problem. However, there are five problems already foreseen:

1. If college was free, then that means tuition is free. But there are a lot of good paying jobs that are not filled because they don't require employees to have a degree to apply. Instead, they just need certification from technical schools.

2. If taxpayers like the government would pick up the tab, then "there would be no incentive for colleges to hold down costs." If college was free, then kids would go for the Ivy Leagues.

3. If college was free, then the need for dorms, labs and other academic resources would already be covered. But these are not free. These are expenses necessary to provide education.

4. If college was free right now then everybody, especially those above 25 years old would go back to campus. Imagine if everybody in the country, including senior citizens, decide to go to school. That would swamp the universities. And if they are to be denied, then wouldn't that be age discrimination?

5. Lastly, if college was free because the government paid for it, then they have the right to run it. Does the American community feel comfortable with that idea?

Currently, many believe that the nature of a free college education is still a fantasy. Many still say that a long-term solution is necessary for this to come into fruition.
In 2014, Emma Watson was named as the United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador. She helped launch the United Nations Women Campaign, called HeForShe. HeForShe canlls for men to advocate gender equality.

Until now, she champions that cause. "We will cross the finish line," quotes Marie Claire. In a powerful video, Emma Watson talks about gender inequality that affects all issues. In her stand on feminism, she talks about campus safety and discusses overcoming gender inequality.

The video, titled "Hurdles" is a video Emma Watson debuted on Twitter. She partners with Global Goals, an organization dedicated to sustainable development. Watson voices the video while Sia's "Chandelier" plays as the soundtrack. She opens with an explanation saying that women and girls are facing challenges everywhere but that has never become a hindrance. "We've sacrificed, fought, campaigned, succeeded, been knocked back and succeeded again. In the race for justice, we've leapt over countless obstacles to win our rights," intros Watson.

In a powerful show, female Olympians were showcased as an example of overcoming hurdles. She uses it as a metaphor for overcoming gender inequality. Gender inequality is present everywhere - in business, culture, schools, education and even Hollywood. Her powerful two minute video hopes to reach everyone's hearts and minds.

"Excited to show you this small film I helped make. Hope it gets you going! #Hurdles #GenderEqualityTogether @TheGlobalGoals #Goal5," wrote Watson on her Twitter page. To support her voice, she recites the historic achievements in the quest to overcome gender inequality. She counts basic rights such as education for women and girls, voting rights for women and even women competing in the Olympic games, as an example. But the battle is not over yet.

Around the world, women and girls are still suffering gender inequality. Girls are being forced into marriage at a younger age, and violence women and children are still rampant in certain areas, not necessarily poor and developing countries. And girls are still being excluded from the education system.
You may know him as a famous television host or actor. But he was first known as A.C. Slater on "Saved by the Bell." Now, he hosts the magazine news show, "Extra."

Now, Mario Lopez goes back to school. By partnering with General Mills and the Box Tops for Education Program, the actor urges everyone to join him and he, himself, "enlists the next generation" of kids. All kids need to do is cut the box tops of cereal boxes and redeem them for cash needed for their schools.

But first, a little background. Lopez, who is born in 1973 in San Diego, California, was a graduate of Chula Vista High School in 1991. He was quite an active boy during his time there. He joined and wrestled for the Chula Vista wrestling team.

Now, he uses his voice to champion a cause. In an interview with the Celebrity Cafe, Mario Lopez speaks out about how his own experience urged him to get involved. His role as a dad of two made him realize that he needs to advocate education. Which is why he is involved with Box Tops for Education.

How did Box Tops for Education start?

In 1929, General Mills, an American brand that markets Betty Crocker, Haagen-Dazs, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs and More started a sponsorship. At that time, General Mills products' contained box top coupons (which is known as Betty Crocker coupons) that holds varying points. These point values are redeemable for discounts on houseware products featured in the widely distributed Betty Crocker catalog. This has been discontinued in 2006.

In 1996, a similar program was restarted, but this time it is aimed towards education. Box Tops for Education shells out similar coupons from different General Mills products so schools can redeem it for cash.

Mario Lopez hopes and wants to have both of his kids involved by becoming leaders of "the next generation." Joining Box Tops for Education is just the start of it all.
Hillary Clinton has been very vocal about her plans for education even before she started her campaign for the 2016 U.S. elections. The Democrat presidential candidate and her running mate, Tim Kaine, have stated their plans to make education affordable and, if possible, free for low-income American families.

Hillary Clinton's primary education focus is on the soaring costs of college. She has suggested free tuition at in-state public colleges and universities for working families that earn up to $125,000.

Moreover, she also plans to implement a three-month moratorium on loan payments for all federal borrowers. With that, students would be able to consolidate their loans or enroll in other plans that can help cut costs.

Her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, assured current college students that he and Hillary Clinton understand their plight. According to him, their team "is fully committed to sending every child in this country to world-class schools with great teachers, no matter where they come from."

NPR reported on Hillary Clinton's in-depth plan for the education of American children. Her plans for early childhood education include doubling federal funding for home-visit programs, Early Head Start as well as Head Start for low-income students. She has worked on these advocacies when she was first lady of Arkansas as well as when her husband served as president. She also aims to increase the wages of childcare workers and to have universal pre-K for 4-year-olds.

Hillary Clinton has also had proposals to lower childcare cost for families, particularly for parents who are still college students. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the Democrat presidential candidate's proposals are estimated to cost up to half a trillion dollars.

Her plan for K-12 schools involves rebuilding the school infrastructure, continuing President Obama's universal computer science education as well as a reformation of school discipline practices. For higher education, aside from her "free college" advocacy, Clinton also proposed moratorium of three months on all student debt payments. For entrepreneurs, this freeze could be extended for up to three years.
The Border Security Force may soon have an air wing of its own which will allow it to keep an eye on every movement along the border, be it on land or air.

BSF may get an air wing of its own soon. (Photo for representation)

By Jitendra Bahadur Singh, Mausami Singh: Keen to not allow a repeat of the Uri terror attack, the government is planning to introduce a raft of steps to improve border security and surveillance.

If sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs are to be believed, the Border Security Force (BSF) may soon have an air wing of its own. This will allow the BSF to keep an eye on every movement along the border, be it land or air.

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According to sources, presently a part of the BSF's air wing is controlled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while helicopters such as MI-17 V-5 are controlled by the Air Force.

Also read: India Today at LoC: After Uri attack, India quietly fortifies border positions, locals worried

The government is holding several discussions with the Ministry of Finance to work out the funding for a modernization of the border security system.

The move comes after the Madhukar Committee report was submitted to the government on August 29. The report had made several recommendations on improving border protection vis-a-vis Pakistan, including an air wing for the BSF.

Don't pass the buck, Rajnath tells BSF



Meanwhile, amid increasing criticism from all corners on the government's inability to prevent a terror attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh pulled up the BSF for not doing enough.

"Don't pass the buck, come up with a comprehensive mechanism to stop infiltration," Singh is said to have told the BSF chief.

Singh made the statement at a review meeting with the BSF today, a week after four armed terrorists reportedly infiltrated the border and carried out one of the biggest attacks on the security forces in Uri on September 18.

Stressing on the need for the security forces to work together, Singh asked the BSF to improve its "coordination with the state police".

Also read: Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri

The home minister also discussed and sought suggestions on ways to modernize the security system on the borders, with a special mention on the need to increase electronic surveillance.

Singh said that is high time the "porous border" issue is tackled by the security forces, and the menace of drug and cattle smuggling is dealt with a firm hand.

Singh said that it is the state's responsibility to take care of the jawan and his family so that he can do his job without worrying about anything else. "Resources should not be a constraint" for any soldier. "To ensure that the soldier's morale is always high, extra care should be taken to look after his family," the minister said.



The meeting also saw Singh discussing the Madhukar Committee report with the BSF.

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How government plans to secure border:

Hi-tech fencing

Electronic surveillance along the border

Underground sensors at vulnerable locations

Laser wall and underground water sensors in areas with rivers, streams

Electro-optic sensors near the border

Foliage penetrating radar to keep a vigil in forest areas

--- ENDS ---
The U.S. Department of Education has officially stripped the authority of the largest for-profit accreditor, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). This comes after an intense federal scrutiny on the organization.

U.S. News reported that ACICS is the largest accrediting agency of for-profit colleges and universities. Last Thursday, the Department of Education has announced that it will no longer recognize the organization as an official accrediting agency. This is the final blow for concerns over the council's ability to be a watchdog for students and taxpayers.

"I am terminating the department's recognition of ACICS as a national recognized accrediting agency," Emma Vadehra, chief of staff to the education secretary, wrote in a letter to the institution. "ACICS's track record does not inspire confidence that it can address all of the problems effectively."

This comes after a federal panel voted to shut down the organization in June as it faced intense criticism of the council for its lenient oversight of educational institutions. ACICS was the agency for Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute campuses, which have now been shut down.

The Education Department also delivered a formal recommendation to remove the accrediting agency. ACICS currently oversees about 725 institutions. Last year, it oversaw $3.3 billion in federal financial aid.

The organization has confirmed that it plans to appeal the decision. It will have 30 days to file the appeal, which will be considered by Education Secretary John King.

ACICS' interim president, Roger Williams, said that they plan to continue their efforts to renew and strengthen the organization's policies and practices in order to come to full compliance with the Education Department's recognition criteria. 'We are confident that if given the opportunity to do so, we will be able to demonstrate major reforms and ongoing progress towards compliance with the department's recognition criteria," he added.

Vadehra, however, does not share the same sentiment. She noted that the organization needs more than new policies in order to address the issues that caused ACICS' shut down in the first place.
For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OS/475

27 September 2016

The United Nations and Sierra Nevada Corporation

Announce First Ever Dedicated

United Nations- Dream Chaser  Space Mission

Launching a Dedicated Dream Chaser Microgravity Mission for Member States in 2021

27 September 2016 - The United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have announced details of the first ever dedicated United Nations space mission at the International Astronautical Congress today in Guadalajara, Mexico. The dedicated Dream Chaser  Mission is targeted at providing developing countries the opportunity to develop and fly microgravity payloads for an extended duration in orbit; however, all United Nations Member States will be able to propose payloads for the mission.

"One of UNOOSA's core responsibilities is to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space," said Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of UNOOSA. "I am proud to say that one of the ways UNOOSA will achieve this, in cooperation with our partner Sierra Nevada Corporation, is by dedicating an entire microgravity mission to United Nations Member States, many of which do not have the infrastructure or financial backing to have a standalone space programme."

This announcement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2016 between UNOOSA and SNC to collaborate on this historic United Nations space mission. The first ever United Nations space mission is intended to launch in 2021 and will allow United Nations Member States to participate in a 14-day flight to low-Earth orbit (LEO) on SNC's Dream Chaser spacecraft.

According to Ms. Di Pippo, funding of the mission will come from multiple sources. "We will continue to work closely with SNC to define the parameters of this mission which, in turn, will provide United Nations Member States with the ability to access space in a cost-effective and collaborative manner within a few short years. The possibilities are endless," said Ms. Di Pippo.

Countries selected to provide mission payloads will be asked to pay a pro-rated portion of the mission cost, based on the resources required to host the payload and their ability to pay. In addition, major sponsors are being sought to finance a large portion of the mission costs.

"At SNC our goal is to pay it forward," said SNC's owner and President, Eren Ozmen. "That means leveraging the creation and success of our Dream Chaser spacecraft to benefit future generations of innovators like us all around the world."

Over the next year, mission partners will conduct briefings to United Nations Member States and potential payload providers about the goals and framework of the mission and to solicit proposals for payloads. To make the programme more accessible to nations without a highly developed space industry, UNOOSA will offer technical support to countries that lack expertise or experience in developing microgravity payloads. Payloads will be selected in early 2018 to allow time for development and integration into the Dream Chaser spacecraft for launch expected by 2021.

SNC's Dream Chaser is the only reusable, lifting-body, multi-mission-spacecraft capable of landing at commercial airports or spaceports able to accommodate large commercial aircraft - anywhere in the world. This offers the opportunity to land the United Nations mission in any licensed Member State supplying a payload on the mission. SNC is currently working with airports and spaceports to be granted a Federal Aviation Administration reentry license for commercial Dream Chaser missions. Recently selected to provide cargo delivery, return and disposal services for the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA's Commercial Re-supply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, Dream Chaser is a safe, affordable, flexible and reliable system capable of crewed and uncrewed transportation services to LEO destinations such as the ISS.

* *** *

For further information, please contact:

Daria Brankin

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

Telephone: (+43-699) 1459-8718

Email: daria.brankin[at]unoosa.org

Krystal Scordo

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)

Telephone: (+1-303) 810-9382

Email: krystal.scordo[at]sncorp.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished her birthday via a video conference call, Late APJ Abdul Kalam referred to her as a blessing to mankind--but who is Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi?

Narendra Modi is among the many people who believe in Amma. Picture courtesy: Instagram/amritanandamayi

By India Today Web Desk: In a world where people don't have enough time for their acquaintances--let alone complete strangers--a certain Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi has dedicated her whole being to the service of mankind.



Fondly referred to as Amma among her ocean of followers, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi's teachings are smeared with the need for altruism and compassion towards not just fellow humans but also animals. With eminent public figures like Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, Late President APJ Abdul Kalam among several others included in her bandwagon of believers, Amma is hailed as a saint by many.



PM Modi greeting Amma on her 63rd birthday. Picture courtesy: Twitter/@PIB

A file picture of Amma and Late President APJ Abdul Kalam. Photo: Reuters

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Also Read: Mother Teresa declared St Teresa of Calcutta: 15 facts you didn't know about the nun

But how did a little girl from a modest family in Kerala become an embodiment of compassion and motherhood for millions?

As a child, Amma encountered poverty and misery when she was given the task of collecting food scraps for her cattle. She subsequently ended up distributing clothes and food among these folks--most of which was brought from her own house. Her family wasn't too supportive of the act as they too weren't very affluent or wealthy. But by now, Amma had figured out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life and as they say, rest is history.





Amma is believed to have embraced over 33 million people around the world: Photo: Reuters

In the years that followed, she rejected the idea of getting married and devoted her existence to altruism and easing people of their suffering by means of embracing them. According to Wikipedia Amma "has embraced more than 33 million people throughout the world for over 30 years."

A string of charitable activities, simple-yet-profound words and her vision of gender equality have made Amma an extremely eminent name in the world of spirituality today.



She has been involved in altruism since the age of 17. Picture courtesy: Instagram She has been involved in altruism since the age of 17. Picture courtesy: Instagram

Amma dreams of "a world in which women and men progress together, a world in which all men respect the fact that, like the two wings of a bird, women and men are of equal value."



But equality is just one of the many things Amma is a flagbearer of. Here are some other things we humans can learn from Amma's beliefs and induce the magic of empathy in our lives.





1. "Let us try to see the divinity in the poor and needy and then see what we can do to make their lives better."

2. "Love is not to be kept hidden in the pocket, but expressed in action."

3. "We all have a role to play in restoring the lost harmony of nature."





Amma's words are thought-provoking and simple. Photo: Reuters Amma's words are thought-provoking and simple. Photo: Reuters

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4. "Without love, there is no life."

5. "We should take only what we need from Nature, not more. Taking more and wasting it is adharma."





--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Jammu, Sep 27 (PTI) Army today refuted the allegations of mowing down 13 horses in Kulgam area on September 25 and termed them as "vicious, fabricated and bizarre".

"The Army strongly refutes the allegations of any involvement in the killing of 13 horses in Prisal, Kulgam on 25 September as reported in some newspapers (in Kashmir)," an army spokesperson said here.

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"The nature of allegations that the Army had purposely rammed their Casspir repeatedly into the livestock is viciously fabricated and even bizarre, evidently levelled with ulterior motives," he said.

In section of the media in the Valley, reports had emerged that a Casspir belonging to the armed forces had mowed down 13 horses in Prisal village in Kulgam on September 25.

The spokesman said the allegation was "a clear attempt at vilification of the fair image of the Army and evinces a pattern in some sections of the media to malign the security forces especially in these sensitive times".

"It is also an insult to the intelligence of the readers to suggest that any one vehicle could cause such an incident where so many animals would continue to remain in the tracks to be knocked down by a vehicle while it goes to and fro", the spokesperson said. PTI AB CHT RG CHT

--- ENDS ---
Flu Shots Not Available to UW Faculty and Staff from Student Health Service

The Student Health Service will not provide flu shot clinics for University of Wyoming faculty and staff this fall. Flu shots are available only for eligible students, according to Joanne Steane, UW Student Health Service director.

Steane says UW faculty and staff are able to obtain flu shots at several areas on and off campus:

-- The Student Health Service has requested that the Wyoming Health Fair clinics provide additional flu shots when this program comes to the UW campus. The program will be in the Classroom Building Thursday-Friday, Oct. 13-14. The Wyoming Health Fair also is available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7-10 a.m. at 920 E. Sheridan St.

-- Albany County Public Health will host flu shot clinics on the following days: Friday, Sept. 30, from 3-7 p.m. at the downtown Farmers Market; and Friday, Oct. 7, from 7 am.-6 p.m. at the Lincoln Community Center.

-- By appointment at the Albany County Public Health office. For more information, visit the website at www.publichealthlaramie.org/.

-- All Laramie pharmacies have flu shots and also the two urgent care clinics.

Steane says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges everyone 6 months of age and older to get a flu vaccination every season, with rare exceptions.

For more information, contact the UW Student Health Service at 766-2130 or studenthealth@uwyo.edu.
Free Tailgate Banner Contest for UW Homecoming Week

The University of Wyomings Copy and Print Center is sponsoring a contest for a free personalized banner of the winners choice. The winner will be announced Monday, Oct. 3, the beginning of homecoming week.

UW staff, faculty, students and Laramie community residents are allowed to enter as many times as they wish.

Participants will create a poster that will be made into outdoor banner material and will be 3 feet wide by 6 feet long. Cold laminate for weather protection and grommets can be added to hang the banner.

The winner can promote or display any logo or statement he or she wishes to add onto the banner. The Copy and Print Centers designer will work with the winner to create a banner of his or her choice for tailgate events.

As Cowboy fans, we wanted to give everyone a chance to show their brown and gold spirit for these events, says John Scozzafava, UW Copy and Print Center manager. Homecoming is a great time for getting together, and this banner will be a great part of that.

To enter the contest, like the Copy and Print Center on Facebook and like the post about the banner, or stop in Room 114 of the Wyoming Union to fill out an information sheet.

This is a gift from the Copy and Print Center to show our great appreciation to UW and for the Laramie communitys dedication to us, Scozzafava says.

To contact the Copy and Print Center, email print@uwyo.edu, call (307) 766-3890, or use the online ordering system at www.uwyoprint.com.
UWs Saturday U Program Returns to Jackson Oct. 8

The University of Wyomings popular free one-day college education program, Saturday U, returns to Jackson Saturday, Oct. 8, for a discussion on three different topics from a trio of professors.

The day begins with coffee and pastries at 8:30 a.m. at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, followed by opening remarks at 8:50 a.m.

Each Saturday U term features lectures from three outstanding UW professors or community college representatives. Following the lectures, all three professors will participate in a final roundtable discussion. Participants may attend one, two, three or all four sessions. No registration is required, and the event is free and open to the public.

In its eighth year, Saturday U is a collaborative program that connects top UW professors with lifelong learners. Offered six times a year -- twice each in Jackson, Gillette and Sheridan -- Saturday U is sponsored by the university, the UW Foundation and Wyoming Humanities Council, and presented locally by Central Wyoming College and the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts.

Listed below are program topic descriptions and UW professors lecturing in the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts:

9-10 a.m. -- Flight of the alpine bumblebee in cold, thin air, Michael Dillon, UW Department of Zoology and Physiology associate professor.

The challenges of high altitude to human mountaineers are widely appreciated, Dillon says. Reduced available oxygen -- hypoxia -- makes it tough to breathe, such that most climbers require supplemental oxygen to summit the highest peaks.

And bitterly cold temperatures can penetrate even the fanciest of outdoor gear, he says. Imagine, then, the challenges faced by animals living in these extreme environments without supplemental oxygen or technical gear.

Dillon says that small flying insects have the highest oxygen demand of any organism, but their ability to acquire and use oxygen may be severely compromised by both hypoxia and cold temperatures. Compounding the problem further, flapping wings produce less lift at altitude because air density is low. Despite these challenges, bumblebees are abundant and diverse at high elevations (17,000 feet), presenting a compelling physiological paradox. Dillon asks: How do bumblebees flourish at high altitude despite the compounding physiological challenges of limited O2, cold temperatures and reduced aerodynamic lift?

10:15-11:15 a.m. -- The Ecological Impacts of Our Plastic Footprint: Microplastics in Aquatic Environments, Kirsten Kapp, Central Wyoming College biology and math professor.

Humans have enjoyed the benefits of plastic for more than a century, so much that global plastic production increased 38 percent between 2004-2014. Yet, there are costs to humans love affair with plastic, Kapp says.

Kapp will explain why plastics constitute an environmental contaminant and why leading scientists continue to express concern over this environmental problem. She and her students researched the presence of microplastics in the Snake River watershed, and Kapps talk will highlight the science on microplastics and their local impact.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- When the planet warms up will social relationships cool down? A furry tail, Merav Ben-David, UW Department of Zoology and Physiology professor.

Coastal river otters (Lontra canadensis) exhibit an unusual social organization with higher sociality among males, Ben-David says. Her lecture will discuss climate changes limiting fish, which leads to the decline in otter abundance and sociality.

Declines in otter abundance and sociality will reduce community diversity, resilience and carbon sequestration capacity of Alaskas coastal forests, Ben-David says.

For more information about the Jackson program, visit the Saturday U website at www.uwyo.edu/saturdayu/current%20term/fallterm2016jackson.html.

The final Saturday U program for the fall 2016 semester is Thursday, Oct. 27, in Gillette.
By Indrajit Kundu: In a crucial step to ascertain cases of 'brain death' in hospitals across the state, the West Bengal government has made the formation of 'Brain Death Declaration Committees' mandatory in every hospital.

According to a circular issued by the West Bengal Directorate of Health Services, it mandatory for all hospitals to form such committees which will ascertain and certify brain death cases.

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The health department has set up a panel of 16 observers consisting of senior health officials who will be monitoring the activities of the individual committees in each hospital.

The circular says, such observers will "verify the identity proof of the brain dead case" and give the final consent for brain death declaration.



ALSO READ: Need to strengthen India's disease surveillance network: WHO

A person is considered brain-dead when he or she no longer has any neurological activity in the brain or brain stem - meaning no electrical impulses are being sent between brain cells. Doctors perform a number of tests to determine whether someone is brain-dead, one of which checks whether the individual can initiate his or her own breath, a very primitive reflex carried out by the brain stem.

The committee will also check the identities of the relatives of such patients who will be giving the consent for organ donation. This, officials say will bring in transparency in the system and boost organ donation.

West Bengal: Ailing man dies near hospital after being ignored by onlookers for five days

According to the rules laid out by the health department, the head of individual hospitals will head the panel, while the other members will include an attending physician or surgeon, a neurologist and an anaesthesiologist.













--- ENDS ---
Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi today slammed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for unable to keep gangsters in jail.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi has criticised Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and said that he was successful in keeping RJD strongmen turned politician Shahabuddin inside jail only till the time BJP-JDU government was in power.

Modi further slammed Nitish for the comments made by the latter where he said that dons if sighted in the state will be sent to jail.

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"Nitish is trying to fool the industrialist fraternity with his comments that dons would be sent to jail. A don named Shahabuddin was seen carrying out a victory procession from Bhagalpur to Siwan," said Modi.

Citing the scathing comments where the Apex Court questioned the haste which Bihar government showed in challenging Shahabuddin's bail now, Modi questioned under whose pressure state govt put forwards a weak lawyer which facilitated Shahabuddin's release from jail.

"Under whose pressure the state govt put a weak lawyer in Shahabuddin case which facilitated the release of the convicted history sheeter?" asked the BJP leader.

Also read:

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar supporting convicts to stay in power, alleges BJP leader Sushil Modi

Tejaswi and Tej Pratap following Lalu's footsteps: Sushil Modi



--- ENDS ---
Vietnams digital economy has seen significant growth over the last decade and is expected to be valued at US$57 billion by 2025. The countrys digital...
Welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I post them to my magazine on on Flipboard, but for those of you who arent Flipboard inclined, heres everything Ive strained out of the wine-related muck for the week.

Enjoy.

Late Sunshine Rescues Champagne Harvest

Yay! More Champagne, please.

California Goes Gaga for Grower Champagne

More and more CA wineries importing their own.

Wines To Watch From Spain: Vino de Pago

Katie Kelly Bell on new discoveries in Iberia.

Coming soon: Chateau Permafrost, wine from Siberia

And people say theres no global warming

Why UKs Naked Wines US marketing push flopped

Direct mail? Seriously?

Jefford on Monday: Englands Marlborough moment

Andrew Jefford tastes a few bottles of English fizz.

Rioja Resists Single-Vineyard Push

Tradition is against the single vineyard.

Cinsault Tipped as South Africas Malbec

Now theres an interesting idea

Daniel Brunier on the State of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Christopher Barnes talks to the pater familias

How the Wente Chardonnay Clone Became Americas Choice

An discussion with Karl Wente

Bordeaux 2016  refreshment at last

Gavin Quinney on this years vintage

Fancy yourself as a wine writer?

Jancis is giving away a big book, free site membership, and maybe a job.

Grapes (Picked), Workers (Poached), And Other Harvest Updates From Sonoma

Its come to this, people trying to poach workers, mid-harvest.

Which Wine Apps Actually Help You Choose and Buy the Best Wine?

Elin McCoy spends her time testing wine apps so you dont have to.

Temecula winemakers are sick of the haters. They want to change your mind about SoCal wine

There is good wine in Temecula.

The 300-year-old story of what makes Chianti wine so special

Enough to give up the underwear business for it.

As wine sales hit record highs, Virginia wineries are in a race for grapes

58% growth in plantings from last year? Thats a boom if Ive ever heard of one.

Aichi winery helps mentally disabled make a living

This winery continues to do great work.

How California built its industry: We sold all the wine ourselves

Dave McIntyre profiles Joel Peterson.

North Coast wine growers facing new vineyard wrinkle: SAD

NOT, Seasonal Affective Disorder, just in case you were wondering.

How does a wines color affect what we think of its flavor?

Science Friday does wine psychology.

Every Trick Your Waiter Uses to Rip You Off on Wine

Except this person thinks the storage system has to do with whether wine is corked. Bozo.

In California, Grenache Packs More Than Power

Asimov reviews a few interesting ones.

The Specter of Smoke Tainted Wine

Matt Kettman writes a very nice piece about smoke taint.

Australian Wine Shows off its Wild Side

Adam Lechmere reports on the Artisans of Australian wine tasting.

Bill Zacharkiw: Discover the white wines of Sicily

Discover them, then drink them.

Sip Thai wine in hills of Hua Hin

Sign me up.

Your Guide to Aged Wines

Snooth asks wine writers to talk about older wines.

Oregons Willamette Valley: Wine Country Travel Without the Headaches

Lettie Teague wanders around the Willamette

With Albarino, or Any Wine, Dont Forget the Context

Eric Asimov says your Albarino will taste better with shrimp.

French microalgae may be the answer to key vine diseases

Geeky, but I am SUPER excited about this.

Harvesting Grapes in France, With Champagne as Reward

Fancy a working vacation?

Why Portlands Best Natural Urban Winery Is Breaking Every Rule in the Book

And, folks, this is really killer juice.

China grows wine in space to beat harsh climate

Vines.in..Spaaaaaaaaace.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Split: Who Gets the Winery?

My bet? The Perrin Family will buy it.

South African Wine Flies High at Nederburg Auction

Record sales at the annual auction.

Out and About in Budapest, Hungary

Yes! Budapest NOW!

Harvest Report: Here comes the cab

A report from each of the appellations.

Burgundy Braces Itself for a Smaller Harvest

Hail and frost reducing yields by 27% or so.

The Worlds Most Expensive Fortified Wines

Wine Searcher lists the pricey little bottles.

What Shouldnt Be Missed

Matt Kramer on what he things everyone should try at least once.

Luxury Wines From Californias Central Coast

Wine Enthusiast tracks down the priciest juice from the middle of the state.

Whatever Happened To Merlot?

Thomas Pellechia follows up on the Sideways effect.

US government makes small, smart move toward accurate alcohol levels on wine labels

Blake Gray on a new TTB rule.

Heritage: boon or burden?

Tims speech for the Nederberg wine auction in South Africa.

Wine Retailers Throw Down Gauntlet Against Direct-Shipping Restrictions

Lets take this one all the way, baby.

East Bay Gets a New Wine Appellation

A small band of vintners is braving the crazy diurnal shifts of the Orinda hills.

The Night the Worlds Top Tea and Wine Geeks Got Crazy

Truth in the glass, it seems.
Notably, Nam A Bank replaced both its general director and CEO for personnel reasons in 2015. Nguyen Quoc Toan, who was removed from the position of chairman of the board of directors in July 2015, was reappointed in April this year to replace Phan Dinh Tan.

In the same month, Le Van Quyet was elected as CEO of Eximbank. Accordingly, Quyet will join the board in the 2015-2020 period. Previously, Tran Tan Loc was elected as acting CEO since Pham Huu Phus end of term in October 2015.

However, the personnel problems at Eximbank are far from settled. The power struggle has become even more violent as accusations of election fraud surfaced. This newest episode to the banks odyssey was the reason behind the two failed shareholders meetings in 2016.

The bank recently decided to hold a shareholders meeting for the third time in August. However, the meeting has been postponed without a final decision on the number of board members to appoint.

Just in the course of last year, Viet A Bank dismissed six deputy CEOs. In May, the bank dismissed CEO Phuong Thanh Nhung and appointed her deputy chair of the board of directors instead. The bank also decided to appoint Nguyen Van Hao to the post of deputy CEO on May 6, 2016.

The winds of change did not stay away from VIB, which appointed Vuong Thi Huyen, previously director of corporate banking, and Godfrey Swain, director of retail banking, as deputy CEOs. With the appointment, VIBs board of directors now has seven members, a CEO and six deputies.

BIDV's management board elected Tran Anh Tuan, a member since 2012, to be in charge of the board's operations from September 1, replacing Tran Bac Ha who retired in early September.

At Techcombank, Nguyen Le Quoc Anh has become general director on September 23. Previously, the bank appointed Nguyen Le Quoc Anh as its new deputy general director to maintain the bank's business activities after CEO Murat Yuldashevs resignation on March 1.
Postal stamps of yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman was launched by the Norway postal department to commemorate the Qurbani actor at Bollywood Festival Norway 2016.

By India Today Web Desk: Among the highlights of the 14th edition of Bollywood Festival Norway 2016, yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman was recognized for her lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.



The Norway postal department released a special stamp to commemorate the cinematic contributions of the Qurbani actor. Apart from Zeenat Aman, actor Huma Qureshi was also present at the event as the guest of honour.

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ALSO READ: Aamir Khan to play astronaut Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to go to space

ALSO READ: Fawad Khan HASN'T left India because of MNS, he left long ago

At Lorenskog hus kino, some of the eminent personalities from Norway like Ragnhild Bergheim, Mayor of Lorenskog, Bard Folke Fredriksen, Secretary of State, Himanshu Gulati, State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and several Bollywood and Iranian stars were present.



Zeenat Aman, who shot to fame after Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), went on to act in blockbusters like Ishq Ishq Ishq (1974), Warrant (1975) and Darling Darling (1977). She is often known as the sex symbol of Bollywood, especially after the song Dum Maro Dum from Hare Rama Hare Krishna.



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All 298 passengers and crew on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 were killed when the plane was shot down over the Ukrainian village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in 2014. (AFP/Alexander Khudoteply)

Ukraine and the West insist pro-Russian rebels blew the Boeing 777 jet out of the sky over war-torn east Ukraine on Jul 17, 2014, with a missile system likely supplied by Moscow.

An international inquiry concluded last October that a Russian-made BUK missile fired from a zone held by pro-Russian separatists brought down the aircraft, but stopped short of saying who was responsible for killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Dutch prosecutors believe the MH17 was shot down by a BUK surface-to-air missile. (AFP Photo)

Russia and the rebels have consistently denied any role in downing the plane, releasing a series of sometimes contradictory claims that critics say are intended to confuse the issue.

At a specially arranged briefing on Monday, Russia's defence ministry released what it claimed were radar images showing that no missile fired from rebel-held territory in the east could have hit the plane.

"The fact that Ukraine has not yet released information from the radar station suggests that the location from which the missile was launched - if it was a BUK - was in territory controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces," Russian army commander Andrei Koban said.

"If the Malaysian Boeing was hit by a missile launched from any area located east of the crash site, it would have been detected by Russia's primary radar," Koban said, without explaining why Russian radar did not cover the areas west of the passenger jet's flight path.

The radar footage released by Russia on Monday appeared to directly contradict earlier claims by Moscow, made in the immediate aftermath of the incident, that a Ukrainian jet was spotted close to the doomed airliner.

Initial results from a Dutch-led criminal probe into the downing of flight MH17 are due to be revealed on Wednesday.

Investigators from the Netherlands - where the majority of the passengers came from - have said the results should shed more light on the type of missile used and exactly where it was fired from.

The downing of flight MH17 ratcheted up international tensions over the conflict in Ukraine that started in April 2014 after pro-Russian gunmen took over towns in the country's industrial east, and has since claimed some 9,600 lives.

The tragedy saw the European Union slap tougher sanctions on Russia - blamed by the West for being behind the rebellion - and the punitive measures remain in place as the fighting drags on.
Thailand proposed to impose anti dumping duty onViet Nam's steel products at Thai market. -Photo baoxaydung.com.vn

This was revealed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Viet Nam Competition Authority.

The Viet Nam Trade Office in Thailand reported to the authority that on September 20, Thailand's Ministry of Trade's Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) released its proposal on imposing anti-dumping duty from 7.94 per cent to 40.49 per cent on Viet Nam's cold rolled steel plated or coated with the alloy of aluminum-hot dipped galvanized at Thailand's market.

DFT will receive written feedback by October 6, 2016, from firms which will have steel duty imposed on them. It will then listen to the firms' explanations on their cases at the department's headquarters in Thailand on October 12.

Thailandbegan investigating products imported from Viet Nam in September 2015 upon receiving a request from the NSW.Bluescope Company and studying that particular case.

This was the second anti-dumping lawsuit initiated by Thailand on Vietnamese goods. The first lawsuit in 2012 was for Viet Nam's cold rolled steel products imported to Thailand.

In another development, Thailand decided to impose anti-dumping duty on welded stainless steel tubes imported from mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Viet Nam within five years starting September 17, 2016.

According to a report on the Royal Thai Government Gazette website on September 16, the duty was 145.31 per cent for China's stainless steel tubes, 11.96 per cent for SeAH Steel Corp, 51.53 per cent for other companies from South Korea and 12.29 per cent for Froch Company, as well as 2.38 per cent for YC Inox and 29.04 per cent for other companies from Taiwan. The highest rate of 310.74 per cent was for Son Ha International Joint Stock Company and other companies from Viet Nam.
A logistics vessel of Hanjin Shipping Global.- Photo zing.vn

Bui Thi Lien Thuy, director of Hai Bang Trading and Service Logistics Company, said Vietnamese exporters risk losing their goods shipped by Hanjin while freight forwarding firms could be fined for violating contracts.

Thuy said her company has to offload goods carried by HJS ships at a Singapore port and hire another carrier at a cost of US$3,000 a container to deliver to their customers on time.

Nguyen Dinh Viet, deputy director of Viet Nam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine), said the bankruptcy has affected business around the world, not just Vietnamese ones, and the Government should help firms offset their losses.

In addition, Vinamarine encourages firms to be active in finding solutions themselves for containers outside Viet Nam.

He added that the Ministry of Transport has asked the Government to establish a team to deal with the effects of the HJS bankruptcy.

According to Vinamarine, Hanjin accounts for over five per cent of Viet Nam's container shipping industry. The bankruptcy has badly hurt many Vietnamese companies, especially those exporting seafood, garment and textile products, footwear and furniture to China, South Korea and the US.

Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), estimated that about 150 containers of frozen seafood due to reach the US by the end of this month are affected.

The Hanjin Chennai has been stranded for days off the coast in southern Vietnam as it was refused permission to enter a port in Vung Tau. There are concerns about whether the failed shipping line could pay docking and other fees.

Vietnamese seaports should allow Hanjin ships to dock in Viet Nam as soon as possible to reduce losses, Viet urged.

As many as 733 containers of merchandise on the Hanjin Chennai were scheduled to dock in HCM City on September 2.

There were also reports that some

ships had been seized in China on behalf of creditors.

Customs statistics show that the South Korean shipping line has run up a debt of about $2.5 million to HCM City-based Sai Gon Newport Corporation, and more than $200,000 to other ports in the north.

Some said Sai Gon Newport should ask for help from relevant authorities so that the Hanjin Chennai can dock in HCM City and allow retailers and companies to offload their cargo, while creditors can seize other assets.

HJC accounts for 2.9 per cent of the world's sea shipping market share, ranking the 7thand biggest shipping firm in South Korea. The carrier has operated 140 vessels on 60 international maritime routes. It carries more than 100 million tonnes of goods a year.
Bhujbal filed a petition challenging the constitutional validity of certain sections under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and asked for a bail.

By Vidya : The Bombay High Court today clarified that it was not inclined in granting interim relief sought by former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

Bhujbal filed a petition challenging the constitutional validity of certain sections under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and asked for a bail.

The division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice M S Sonak said the question of releasing Bhujbal on bail does not arise as this petition is challenging the act.

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"You will have to file a separate application seeking bail before the competent court. As far as granting interim relief by way of releasing you from jail is concerned this court is declining it," said Chief Justice Chellur.

The bench directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its affidavit in response to Bhujbal's petition and posted the petition for further hearing after six weeks.

BHUJBAL'S ARREST

Bhujbal, was arrested in March by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of money laundering and the court directed the agency to file their affidavit in response to Bhujbal's petition.

Read: OBCs in Maharashtra plan a silent march for Bhujbal's release



INVESTIGATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS

Meanwhile, another bench of the high court directed the police commissioner of Mumbai to look into the reports submitted by the police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and state ACB to the court over allegations of misappropriation of Mumbai Education Trust funds by Bhujbal and his family.

The petition was filed by Sunil Karve, former founder of Bhujbal's Mumbai Education Trust (MET), asking for an FIR against the NCP leader and his family members alleging that they have misappropriated funds of MET.

Earlier both the EOW and ACB had submitted reports stating that they could not find any cognizable offense in the allegations leveled by Karve. They added that the jurisdiction in the matter lies with the Charity Commissioner.

Both ACB and EOW now have to file their reports in the next two weeks.

Bhujal is currently undergoing treatment for an ailment in JJ hospital.

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Can racist tweets help predict hate crimes? LA is about to find out
Photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS

Searching for extraterrestrial life is among the goals of the Aperture Spherical Telescope, which is located in the remote Pingtang county in southwest China.


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A man in West Bengal's Burdwan district has claimed that he was arrested for sending an SMS to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Police deny charge, say he has been booked for harassment.

By Indrajit Kundu: A man in West Bengal's Burdwan district has claimed that he was arrested for sending an SMS to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Thirty-seven-year-old Sudipto Roy, an advocate at the Burdwan Court, has alleged that on Sunday afternoon, a group of police officers from the Burdwan police station visited his house and inquired whether he had sent any SMS to the Chief Minister.

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A lawyer by profession, Sudipto Roy had allegedly sent a text message to Mamata Banerjee seeking help for his mother. Roy claims he has been fighting for justice for his mother, who was sexually harassed by CPI-(M) workers in 2012.

Also read: CBI arrests railway divisional engineer in Murshidabad for harassing complainant for bribe



AWAITING JUSTICE, SAYS ROY



"The police officers told me that I was being detained for sending an SMS to the Chief Minister. I had sent an SMS to Mamata Banerjee seeking justice for my mother. CPI-(M) leader Bisheshwar Ray tried to rape my mother in 2012. But so far, no action has been taken in this regard and we have not got justice," Roy said.

Roy was initially detained and later taken to the Burdwan police station, where he was shown arrested. He claims he was repeatedly questioned by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police and the local Inspector-in-Charge on why he had sent an SMS to the Chief Minister.

Also read: Mamata Banerjee redeems promise, returns 9,117 land records to Singur farmers

ROY'S BROTHER DETAINED



Sudipto said his elder brother Subrata was also detained for questioning on the matter. "Officers told me that my brother had been detained for sending a text message to the Chief Minister although I have no knowledge about the matter. Even I was detained with my brother," claimed Sudipto's elder brother Subrata Roy.

BURDWAN POLICE REFUTES ROY'S CLAIMS



However, the district police have refuted Roy's claims, stating that he was arrested based on a harassment complaint lodged by his estranged wife at the Burdwan police station recently.

"On Sunday, a complaint of harassment was lodged with the Burdwan police station by Sonali Roy, who is reportedly his estranged wife. Sonali lodged a complaint against her husband Sudipto Ray for repeatedly threatening and harassing her. So we produced the accused before the court where he was remanded to 14-day police custody. IPC Sections 498 and 307 have been imposed on him," informed Burdwan Additional Superintendent of Police Dyutiman Bhattacharya.

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President Barack Obama was honored Monday by Native Americans as an adopted son and a leader who has kept his promises, at the 8th Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. This year, many of the Native American participants are focused on stopping a proposed pipeline that would carry oil through four states, from North Dakota to Illinois. VOA White House Correspondent Cindy Saine has the story from the White House.
The Syrian government continued shelling rebel-held areas of Aleppo over the weekend, leaving the U.S.-Russian brokered cease-fire in tatters. The United States has condemned Russia for supporting the regime that is targeting civilians and humanitarian workers. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports that aid trucks reached several besieged communities on Sunday, delivering food for the first time in months, while those in Aleppo lack medical supplies and even water.
Ja Jaan, a member of the Afghan national police, was traveling home from his job in the provincial capital of southern Uruzgan province to spend a few days off with his family when he came under attack from the Taliban.

I was armed, and I knew that I was going to be killed. In a split second I decided to engage them, Jaan said. We exchanged fire, and I got injured a few minutes into the firefight. Luckily, my check post was not that far, and reinforcements arrived to help me. The insurgents took off after my friends arrived.

Jaan was injured in the neck. After some emergency first aid, he was driven about two and half hours to a hospital in neighboring Kandahar province where he went through multiple surgeries. Jaan survived and returned to his job on the front lines of Afghanistan's war.

Many of Jaan's colleagues have not been so lucky. Afghan security forces have faced steep challenges since foreign troops disengaged from front-line fighting in 2014.

Worrying statistics

U.S. military analysts said in a report earlier this year that the government lost control or influence of nearly five percent of its territory between January and May of 2016. A top U.S. commander said Afghan forces suffered more than 900 fatalities in July of this year alone.

The Afghan government does not publish casualty numbers of its forces on a regular basis. However, the U.S. Defense Department reported a 27 percent increase in Afghan security forces casualties between January and November of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. A more recent report published this June said the casualties continue to increase, without specifying exact figures.

The same report said that 42 percent of Afghans say that security is worse now than during the time of the Taliban.



Ali Ahmad Jalali, minister of interior during the previous administration of president Hamid Karzais and current professor at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., said some of this can be attributed to international forces playing a more advisory role.

"It is a complex situation. First of all, this year is the second year that Afghan forces are fighting the insurgents with very little assistance from the international forces. On the other hand, the Afghan air force capability is very limited," Jalali said. "Taliban also increased their operations, hoping that in the absence of international forces they could make inroads into many districts and provinces."

Insurgent groups see opportunity

Some observers say that around the same time the U.S.-led NATO forces were winding down their combat mission at the end of December 2014, others like the Islamic State group started targeting Afghanistan.

"The threats are not only posed by the insurgents who are fighting with a foreign agenda, we also have to put up with intelligence proxy warfare and terrorists from all over the world. From Africa to the Middle East, and South and Central Asia terrorists are trying their best to turn Afghanistan into their safe haven," said General Mohammad Radmanesh, spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Defense. "Madrasas (religious schools) in the neighboring countries are being used as a hub for exporting terrorism to Afghanistan to destabilize the country," he added.

The responsibility for responding to such groups has in many cases fallen to the police, forcing them to choose counter-insurgency operations over enforcing the law.

Critics like General Zalmai Wardak, a military analyst in Kabul, says the challenge is compounded by a lack of leadership.

"When leaders fail to embrace their responsibilities, and there is lack of coordination within the force, it will automatically contribute to increase in casualties," Wardak said. What adds to all of this is the fact that soldiers are put in the theater only after two months of training."



General Jabar Qahraman was put in charge of the military operations in southern Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold, by President Ashraf Ghani in the beginning of the year. But he is not leading those forces anymore. He said he stepped down from his post because he came to believe that military operations alone cannot end the fighting.

In an interview with VOA, he said he supports negotiations, in part because the current predicament is even more dangerous than the country's soviet era insurgency which was followed by a brutal civil war of the 1990s, fought among various militant factions.

One of the reasons that this war is increasingly having a big toll on the [Afghan National Security Forces] is that the war itself is multidimensional, involving regional players. In addition to that, its an asymmetric warfare which, if fought with conventional means, will without doubt have casualties, Qahraman said.

IEDs

Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesperson General Radmanesh pushes back on the criticism, saying the leadership is focused on the right problems.

We do have an increase in casualties within our force, and we do have some problems within our ranks at the tactical levels but in general our leadership is committed to look after its forces and reinforce them on a timely basis, Radmanesh said. They (insurgents) have all kinds of weapons, and they have increasingly relied on IEDs which has increased our fatalities.

Retired U.S. Marine Johnny Joseph Jones, who was an explosive ordinance disposal technician in Afghanistan in 2010, believes IEDs could be the main contributor in the rise of causalities.



If the enemy is still using IEDs against the Afghan forces the way they were using it against us, without proper medivac you are going to lose every one of them that get the hit, Jones said. It is all a fatal hit unless you have the proper medical assistance in time which includes air support and we are talking 15 to 20 minutes. One amputation could mean death, Jones said.

Afghan policeman Jaan agrees. He said he was lucky to have survived his wounds during the drive to the hospital. Several of his friends who had life threatening injuries in other IED attacks were neglected for days before they could treated. Some died while waiting.

Jaan's colleague Abdul Bari, who serves in Uruzgans Deh Rawood district, told VOA that he is wounded and has yet to be treated.

I am resident of Deh Rawood district and a member of the Afghan police force. I am wounded. The roads are blocked, and there is no medical help available, Bari said. I hope that they send a doctor and take care of us soon.



Follow the reporter on Twitter at @Alikozai86.
Azerbaijan held a referendum on Monday on extending the presidential term from five to seven years, a step that a European democracy watchdog said would hand unprecedented power to President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev, 54, succeeded his father as president in 2003 and can seek re-election indefinitely after term limits were scrapped in another referendum seven years ago.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0400 GMT) across Azerbaijan and closed at 7 p.m. (1500 GMT). There are 5.3 million eligible voters in the oil-producing, former Soviet republic.

The authorities argue that a longer presidential term will make for more continuity in decision-making, which they describe as vital after a slump in world oil prices halted Azerbaijan's long run of economic growth.

"One of the main tasks of the referendum is implementation of economic reforms in the post-oil boom period in Azerbaijan, the elimination of bureaucratic mechanisms and creation of an effective governing system," said Ali Hasanov, the president's assistant on political issues.

European democracy watchdogs have said previous votes in Azerbaijan have been marred by vote-rigging and unequal access to the media. The Baku government denies the accusations.

The Venice Commission, an advisory unit of the Council of Europe, a rights and monitoring body of which Azerbaijan is a member, said of the referendum: "Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving 'unprecedented' powers to the president."

Some rights activists also criticized other proposed amendments, which would give the president power to declare early presidential election at his convenience, as well as to dissolve parliament.

"The referendum has been accompanied by arrests and intimidation from the beginning," Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, said in a statement. "Those who have attempted to criticise and campaign against these proposals have faced assaults and harassment by the authorities."

The Central Election Commission reported a turnout for the referendum of 64 percent by 5 p.m.

"I voted in favor of all changes, although I have not read what those changes are about," Sanuber Muradova, 40, a school teacher, said after casting her ballot. "Politics is not for ordinary people, but I'm a teacher and I have to go and vote."

Aliyev's rule long benefited from an economic boom fueled by oil pumped to Europe from a region where the West and Russia are vying for influence over huge energy reserves.

But a slump in global oil prices in the past two years has weakened the Azeri currency, the manat, and shrunk the economy.
Suicide bombings killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50 in Shi'ite districts of Iraqs capital Baghdad, police and medical sources say.

At least eight people were killed and at least 29 wounded Tuesday in the eastern new Baghdad Jadida commercial area when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a commercial street.

Another suicide attack hit a commercial street of Bayaa in western Baghdad, killing at least nine and wounding 22 people, the sources said.

On a militant website commonly used by the extremists, a source self-identified as Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it targeted Shiite militia members.

The jihadist Sunni Muslim group has carried out frequent bomb attacks on Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims, whom it considers to be heretics, and in government-held areas as it loses territory to U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias.

The group continues to control vast areas in northern and western Iraq, including the city of Mosul, captured in 2014.

Tuesday's violence came two days after another suicide bombing claimed by IS killed six people in western Baghdad. On Monday, bomb and gun attacks claimed by the jihadist group killed 12 people in the area of Tikrit, north of the capital.

IS claimed a truck bombing in July that killed at least 324 people in the Karrada shopping area of Baghdad, the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Despite its recent decision to part ways with the European Union, Britain will still oppose any attempts the alliance makes to form its own military force, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon said Tuesday.

We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters which would simply undermine NATO, Fallon said during an EU meeting in Bratislava.

Fallons comments came as EU members attempted to hammer out a major new roadmap for military cooperation between the 28 member states.

France and Germany pushed the proposals, which would include increased spending on military missions, increasing the EU peacekeeping footprint across the globe and cooperating to combat cyber-attacks.

Fallon said he opposed the idea of an EU army, but wouldnt veto military cooperation plans because there is no majority to support it.

There are a number of other countries who believe with us that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states, he said.

Britain has long pushed against such plans out of fears of a powerful, central European army controlled from Brussels. Germany's Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian dismissed Fallons fears and said there were no plans for a European army.

"On the contrary, it is about bundling the various strengths of European countries to be ready to act together quickly, von der Leyen said.

Fallon said Britain would continue to support European defense through NATO, despite plans to exit the EU, and said more British troops would be stationed in Estonia and Poland next year.
Views from around the world on Monday's first U.S. presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump:

AUSTRALIA:



Richard McConochie watched the debate on a big screen in a Canberra pub and said, To me, Trump aced it.



He came across as a man who could control himself. They said Trump's ignorant of the issues. I think he proved that he had at least a working handle on most of the stuff he was talking about.



I think he'll swing a lot of Americans over to Trump just by proving that he is not the sort of unstable, dangerous lunatic that he's painted to be, McConochie said. I don't see that Trump would be any more incompetent than Clinton.



Milton Gan, a Sydney-based photographer, said it seemed like Trump was trying to rein in his temper for the first 15 minutes, then went off the rails.



He started interrupting Clinton, he started interrupting (moderator) Lester (Holt) and he started steamrolling. And you could see he was just getting really irate about everything, Gan said.



The most ridiculous thing was at the end when he said he had the better temperament to be president, Gan said, laughing. It was just hilarious.



Clinton came off prepared, confident and composed, Gan said: Obviously, she's done her prep and she's got so much experience in politics and I think that really showed.



NIGERIA:

Timi Soleye, an energy executive, stayed up to watch the debate in the middle of the night at his home in Lagos, Africa's most populous city.



Clinton has decent policies, I wished she should talk about them and just make her points, he said. Attempts to ridicule and characterize Trump policies were distracting in the beginning. And he looked dangerously reasonable at the beginning, but of course he veered off into his trademark semi-unreasonableness.

Soleye described himself as conservative, but he called Trump's characterization of world economics as a zero-sum game in which America must crush other countries to succeed disheartening.



I sincerely hope he doesn't win, he said. It's simply too risky. The man seems unhinged sometimes.

IVORY COAST:

Valery Akpole Koffi, a customer service representative in Abidjan, thought Trump did a good job of coming across as less aggressive and more precise in his responses.



He took the lead on foreign affairs, condemning the U.S. interventions in Iraq and Libya, Koffi said. He also was reassuring on the issues of employment and tax relief in order to give back hope to Americans.

CHINA:



Wang Pei, a graduate student in communications studies, watched the debate from a cafe in Beijing and said he thought Clinton carried herself better.



I personally like Trump's character and the feeling that he's a fighter, Wang said. But from today's performance, I think Clinton was more like a mature politician and Trump looked a bit like a misfit in this kind of setting.

BRITAIN:



Tim Stanley, a columnist for Britain's conservative Daily Telegraph, said in his column Tuesday that Trump won the debate but may lose the election. He said Trump repeated many of his outrageous campaign statements and defended his earlier questions about whether President Barack Obama was really born in the U.S., but they played well in a debate that should be judged as reality TV.



He said Trump said everything that people who hate Clinton have wanted to say for 30 years.



In terms of reality TV, he did well, Stanley wrote. He harassed, he shouted, he taunted, he talked over. And Clinton let him do it.



But he said Trump said nothing during the debate to win over non-whites and female voters and did not act particularly presidential.

GERMANY:



Sigmar Gabriel, German vice chancellor and head of the Social Democratic Party, told daily newspaper Bild on Tuesday morning that Clinton was the clear winner and that Trump's performance showed striking weaknesses.



Trump didn't have a plan. Neither for the U.S. nor for the big foreign policy challenges, Gabriel said. Clinton convinced with competence and clarity. It was a clear victory for her.



LIBERIA:



In this West African country founded by freed black slaves repatriated from the United States in the 19th century, radio talk shows carried lively post-debate discussions.



With his temperament, America cannot entrust Donald Trump with nuclear weapons, said David Targbeh, the co-host of the New Dawn show. He accused Trump of displaying his usual racist posture.



Jusu Freeman, who phoned into the program, said Trump stands a chance because America does not need a female president.

But Targbeh countered that, saying: People made a similar insinuation that America was not ready for a black president. At the end of the day, Barack Obama emerged victorious.

JAPAN:



Narushige Michishita, a Japanese analyst, said it was in some ways heartening to hear his country mentioned in the debate, since Japan is often overlooked these days. But he disagreed with Trump's criticism that Japan and other U.S. allies aren't contributing enough to their defense.



There is a small truth to what Mr. Trump was saying, in the sense that Japan was a kind of free-rider or at least a cheap-rider back in the 1970s and 80s, said Michishita, director of the security and international studies program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.



But... now given what Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe is doing to make Japan much more proactive on defense and security matters, and trying to make Japan more engaged in international security affairs, it's like, `What are you talking about?



Hirotsugu Aida, author of a book on the Trump phenomenon, agreed that Trump misunderstood the U.S.-Japan security alliance but said he still did better than Clinton.



Trump unexpectedly acted presidential. It might be a setback for Clinton, who wanted to make him look unsuitable for presidency, he said.

PHILIPPINES:



Victor Andres Manhit, president of the think-tank Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, welcomed Clinton's assurances that the U.S. would honor its treaty obligations if she becomes president.



I'm really hoping that that kind of statement reminds our own government that we have an ally in the United States vis-a-vis our fight for territorial integrity and our maritime rights in the South China Sea, he said.

SPAIN:



Spain's main newspapers were unanimous in awarding victory to Clinton in the debate, each highlighting what they said was the Democratic Party candidate's superior preparation and more convincing presidential image.



In its digital edition Tuesday, leading daily El Pais' headline said Clinton corners Trump with attacks on his racism and lack of preparation. The center-left newspaper said that while neither candidate committed any major error, Clinton was able to put Trump on the defensive by questioning his credentials as a businessman, accusing him of racism and placing in doubt his temperament to be commander in chief.



Conservative daily ABC said that the first debate does not resolve anything but it does leave the impression that the ex-secretary of state did her homework, knows the lesson better and transmits a more presidential image.

SIERRA LEONE:



Doris Conteh, a teacher, listened to the debate on the BBC World Service early in the morning and found herself thinking that the United States is not ready for a female president despite Clinton's extensive experience in government.



Although she performed well during the debate and Trump failed to triumph over the hilarious Hillary Clinton, I doubt it, she said.
The farmers who live along the Cauvery delta region in Tamil Nadu rely on the water from Cauvery for their crop irrigation and for the last 124 years.

By Akshaya Nath: "Our faith on the Supreme Court has only increased," said Ayyakannu, a farmer from the Cauvery delta region after the Supreme Court directed Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water for the next three days before the next hearing on Thursday.

The farmers who live along the Cauvery delta region in Tamil Nadu rely on the water from Cauvery for their crop irrigation and for the last 124 years the battle for this water has been going on. "Every year the Karnataka government does this. They don't release water on time. This time we have completely put our faith on the supreme court to help us," said another farmer from Trichy.

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Earlier the Karnataka legislature had passed a resolution that water can not be shared stating that the lack of rainfall has left Cauvery with low levels of water which will be sufficient only for drinking purposes in Karnataka. Though the SC which was listening to the case did not slap the state with contempt of court, it said that 6000 cusecs of water be shared to Tamil Nadu before the next hearing which is scheduled for September 30, 2015.

WATER IMPORTANT FOR IRRIGATION



"The Karnataka government should share water with Tamil Nadu otherwise it will be contempt of court. We are demanding for water only for the benefit of our farmers, whose samba crops will get destroyed if the required water is not released," said AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswati.

With the hospitalisation of CM J Jayalalithaa rumours were strife that the state will face difficulty in the Cauvery issue, but the latest information that Jaya convened a meeting with government officials to discuss the Cauvery issue has come as a relief. "Amma will work for the people and she will come back soon and will bring the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as well," said an AIADMK follower.

The CM in a reported meeting with the officials has directed who should represent the state in the executive meeting and has also narrated the CM's note that needs to be read in the executive meeting that will be conducted as per the directives of the Supreme Court.

"We are not certain that the delayed release of the water will help our crop, but it will help our crops grow enough to handle the north east monsoon," said Ayyakannu hoping for the best.

Also read:

Cauvery row: Karnataka welcomes Supreme Court's directive to hold talks with Tamil Nadu



--- ENDS ---
For months, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been telling supporters about their plans for the country and lobbing criticism at each other. On Monday, they got to do it in person at a debate that largely gave voters a reiteration of the candidates they have come to know.

There was Trump's denial that he supported the war in Iraq, his blaming Clinton for the rise of Islamic State and her charge that he has no plan to defeat the militant group. He again questioned whether she has the stamina to be president, and she said he lacked the temperament for the office. Clinton said Trump's economic plans would benefit the rich, and he said the wealthy will create jobs for the middle class.

I think that what we saw was very, very much the Trump that weve been seeing up until now and the Clinton that weve been seeing up until now, and so probably most voters are going to have the same material that they had before and it probably wont move the needle very much," said Hans Noel, an assistant professor of government at Georgetown University.

Noel told VOA he expected Trump would make a shift to being more moderate, like fellow Republican Mitt Romney did in 2012, and that others expected Clinton to be focused on delivering her message and not engaging with Trump. But he said neither happened.

The election in November will have a winner, and at each step along the way there is often a focus on who is ahead in polls and who wins events like the debates.

Multiple polls, including those from CNN/ORC and Public Policy Polling showed Clinton as the winner Monday night. Talkwalker, which examines social media trends, said mentions of #NeverHillary outpaced #NeverTrump 66 percent to 34 percent before the debate, but that by the time it ended hashtags supporting Clinton were at 68 percent compared to 32 percent for Trump.

Cary Covington, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa, said Trump was "very forceful, very assertive," while Clinton appeared "more calm and in control."

"Hillary Clinton demonstrated commands of policy questions," he told VOA. "Donald Trump focused in on a small number of issues that he wanted to talk about, [but] wasn't as adept at speaking broadly to the range of topics that were asked about."

Covington said presidents have to be ready for any question that concerns the nation's interests, and that during the debate Clinton "did a better job of at least addressing the merits." That included, he said, a question about her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state that has drawn great criticism and which she again Monday called a "mistake."

The campaigns, and particularly the many debates that have taken place since Democrats and Republicans began the process of nominating candidates last year, have brought extra focus on journalists and others fact checking what Clinton and Trump say.

That continued Monday with statements like Trump's assertion that he never called global warming a hoax "created by the Chinese," which he said on Twitter in 2012. Clinton said Monday of the Trans-Pacific Partnership she "hoped it would be a good deal," but when she was secretary of state she repeatedly touted it only to change her position during her presidential run.

Noel said voters watching at home are likely to believe the candidate they already like.

"Most people have already made up their mind, so when Trump says something and someone challenges him on the facts and he says no, no Im still right, the people who are inclined to like Trump are going to continue to think that way, theyre going to believe that," he said. "And the same when Clinton says something and some people challenge her on that or push back and then theyre going to say Im going to believe her because they already did."

Both candidates were, unsurprisingly, positive about their performance after the debate, with Clinton saying she felt great and Trump declaring himself the winner.

Covington said the ultimate outcome depends on what each felt they needed to accomplish in a race that Clinton has generally led in polls but which has recently become tight.

"Trumps goal has to be to overtake Clinton. Thats a much more difficult task. That means persuading people who are either on the sidelines or are leaning towards Clinton to come over to his side. I dont think he did much to help himself on that goal, but its a more demanding goal than the one that Hillary Clinton faced," Covington said. "Hillary Clinton needed to reassure voters who dont want to vote for Trump that shes acceptable, shes already got the lead. She was able to give that impression."
U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton put their contrasting plans on the economy and America's role overseas in front of potential voters Monday night as they squared off in the first of three head-to-head debates.

Trump repeated his assertion that Clinton lacks the stamina to be president, and said her policies have led to a range of problems facing the country, including the threat posed by the Islamic State group.

Clinton portrayed Trump's economic plans as favoring the rich over the middle class and suggested he does not want to make his tax returns public because he is not as rich as he says or is hiding something that would be a conflict of interest if he were elected.



WATCH: Clinton blasts Trump on 'Trumped up trickle down economy'

Experience



The debate was the first of three they will have before Americans vote on November 8.

Clinton touted her experience traveling to more than 100 countries and negotiating peace deals and cease-fires while secretary of state during President Barack Obama's first term.

Trump responded that while she has experience, it is "bad experience." He sharply criticized the nuclear deal the United States and five other powers struck with Iran to limit the country's nuclear program, while Clinton cited it as an example of effective diplomacy that cut off Iran's path to a nuclear bomb.

The two candidates did agree that nuclear weapons are the biggest threat facing the world, and that anybody who appears on a terror watch list should not be allowed to buy a gun.

Clinton called for criminal justice reforms to "restore trust between communities and police" and to make sure that officers only use force when necessary.

Trump emphasized the need to "bring back law and order" and promoted his plan to bring back controversial "stop and frisk" policing.



WATCH: Trump on 'stop and frisk' policing

"We have a situation where we have our inner cities, African-Americans, Hispanics, are living in hell because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot," Trump said.

Clinton rejected that view of black communities, calling it "dire."

"There's a lot that we should be proud of and that we should be supporting and lifting up."

Cyber attacks



Both candidates also noted the threat posed by cyber attacks from abroad, saying the U.S. needs to do more to fight back.

On the war in Iraq, Trump strongly asserted that he never supported the war, despite interviews he gave at the time suggesting he did. He criticized the Obama administration's handling of withdrawing U.S. forces, saying at least 10,000 troops should have stayed behind and that coupled with "taking the oil" would have prevented the rise of the Islamic State group.

Clinton pointed to the Iraqi government's unwillingness to agree to a Status of Forces Agreement that would give legal protections to American troops as a key in the decision to pull out.



Next debate



The next debate will be October 9. Trump's running mate Mike Pence and Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine will have their only debate on October 4.



WATCH: Political correspondent Jim Malone sums up the debate

WATCH: Reaction on Social Media
It was midmorning Nov. 9, 2014, when two FBI agents visited the Minneapolis home of Yusuf Aden Abdurahman. They asked if he knew the whereabouts of his son, Zacharia Yusuf Abdurahman, 20.

"To our knowledge he is in town, in college," the elder Abdurahman told them.

The agents informed him that the FBI had stopped his son at JFK airport in New York as he prepared to board a flight to Athens via Moscow. He hadn't been arrested, the agents said, but the FBI had reason to believe Zacharia had planned to make his way to Syria to join Islamic State.

Abdurahman and his wife looked at each other. "I felt the sky has fallen on us," he said.

That was nothing compared to the feeling five months later, when Zacharia was arrested, this time for co-planning a scheme to obtain false passports, travel from Minnesota to Mexico, and fly overseas to hook up with IS, an organization the U.S. government has designated as a foreign terrorist group.

In September 2015, Zacharia pleaded guilty to conspiring to travel to Syria in an effort to provide material support to IS. He is one of six who pleaded guilty to the same charge; they await sentencing in November. Each could get up to 15 years in jail.

Seeking answers

Zacharia's attempt to join IS has led his father to question how his son could have been radicalized into an Islamist militant. It's a problem that has plagued Minnesota's Somali-American community for a decade, since the Somali insurgent group al-Shabab began recruiting in the state.

Zacharia did not seem a likely recruit for such groups. He was born in Minneapolis in 1995, part of the first generation of Somali-Americans to be U.S. citizens from birth.

Abdurahman says he was close to his son, played games with him, took him to movies. He says he and his wife loved Zacharia and pushed him to succeed. "We came to live in a country different in culture to ours, so we ran and worked hard to get him into education," Abdurahman said.

The work seemed to be paying off. After nine years of public school, Zacharia attended a local Somali charter high school and graduated in 2013. After a year off, he enrolled at Minneapolis Community and Technical College with the goal of becoming a software engineer. He also got a job at Hennepin County Hospital.

But IS sympathizers got their hooks in him anyway, his father said. Abdurahman blames Somali education centers, which he said do not protect children from radical religious thought.

"When something happens among these students it stays among them, there is no one from a different culture who says. No, I don't see it that way, this is the correct way ... what you are involved in is not religious, don't do crazy,'" he said.

Deqa Hussein, whose son also pleaded guilty to the same charges as Zacharia, agrees.

"I took him to Quran school when he was 16 years old. At 18 years old, the FBI contacted me and said your son is palling around, walking with, dining with a group of people whom we are suspicious of," she said.

Hussein adds that she is not saying the teachers or imams recruited her son for Islamic State. But they didn't safeguard him either.

"There are people who live with us in this country, who look like us, who have the same religion as us, but differ in interpretations," she said. "The people who recruited my son have used Quran school and mosques as a cover."

Hiding responsibility

Sheikh Ahmed Tajir, the imam of Ummatul Islam Center, says the criticism is not justified.

"Somali-chartered schools ... and Quran schools play an important role," he said. "The management are Somalis, the children meet their cousins and uncles in these schools, and they protect our good culture."

He defends mosques, as well.

"The mosques deserve honor and respect, he said. They are doing the work of religious ministries. They deserve blessing, they produce hundreds of Quran memorizing students, and they bring back hundreds from falling off the train."

But Abdirizaka Bihi, a Minneapolis community leader, says mosques should not be in denial. Bihi's nephew Burhan Hassan traveled to Somalia in 2008 to join al-Shabab and died there.

"Most of the young people who traveled to join ISIS or al-Shabab, [it's] known which mosques they used to go to and the messages they used to hear. We should not hide from it," Bihi said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

"A young man who was born here, who goes to cinemas in the Mall of America or a university is not just going to wake up one morning, go to Google and then say I'm looking for al-Shabab and ISIS, or I want to find out somewhere I can blow myself up. There are people who mentor and prepare them," Bihi said.

Abdurahman says he is very pleased that his son was arrested before he traveled to Syria. He now regularly visits his son in prison. He says Zacharia regrets what he has done.

"He has missed playing with kids, school, friends and the family, and above all, his actions interrupted his plans to marry," he said. "A girl was ready to marry him, but now who is going to wait for a loser?"
French President Francois Hollande warned Tuesday that Libya must not turn into another Syria, and he vowed to support the countrys fragile unity government, whose prime minister is visiting Paris.

Hollande saluted the push by Libyan forces to liberate the city of Sirte from Islamic State control, but he warned the fight against radical groups in the North African country is far from over.

Speaking to reporters alongside Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, Hollande said terrorist groups are still operating in Libya, and they must be hunted down and neutralized. Libya must not follow the tragic example of Syria, the French president said, describing the scene in the Syrian city of Aleppo, hit by massive aerial bombardments in recent days, as a massacre.

Hollande also backed Serraj's efforts to expand his unity government, saying the interest of the international community is to have a stable and sure government.

Libyas unity government suffered a recent setback when rival forces loyal to an eastern Libyan commander evicted Serrajs allies from the North African countrys oil ports.

A recent British parliamentary report harshly criticized France and Britain for their military intervention in Libya in 2011, which it said helped to bring on the countrys political collapse and the rise of the Islamic State group.
Ali Bongo Ondimba was sworn in Tuesday as Gabon's president for a second seven-year term, after winning re-election by a slim margin in a disputed vote.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Bongo vowed to defend the constitution and to be fair to all. He called for political dialogue, but opposition candidate Jean Ping rejected the offer, accusing Bongo's ruling party of vote-rigging.

Bongo's victory by fewer than 6,000 votes has drawn unwelcome scrutiny of the president, whose family has ruled the oil-producing state in Central Africa for 49 years. His second mandate received a cool reception from the African Union and the United Nations, while the European Union voiced regret that the count had not been transparent.

Gabon's Constitutional Court on Saturday declined Ping's petition for a recount and ratified the result.

The United States acknowledged the ruling. However, it called for details of its proceedings to be made public.

Violent protests erupted across Gabon when the initial election results were announced August 27. At least six people were killed in clashes between protesters and security forces.
The International Criminal Court Tuesday sentenced a former Islamist rebel to nine years in prison for his role in wrecking holy sites in the ancient Malian city of Timbuktu, ending a groundbreaking cultural war crimes trial.



Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdis sentence was the minimum requested by the prosecution. It was also far less than the 30 years he could have faced for leading and participating in the smashing of 10 holy shrines in Timbuktu in 2012, when Islamist rebels controlled the renowned trading city.

Al-Mahdis early admission of guilt and remorse helped speed his trial that opened in August at The Hague-based International Criminal Court. As presiding judge, Raul Pangalangan pointed out it also factored into the sentencing.

The chamber has found no aggravating circumstances, and five mitigating circumstances. Namely your admission of guilt, your cooperation with the prosecution, the remorse and empathy you have expressed for the victims, your initial reluctance to commit the crime and the steps you took to limit the damage caused, and even of limited importance, your good behavior in detention," said Pangalangan.

The trial was the ICCs first-ever to consider cultural destruction as a war crime. Some observers say they hope it may set a legal precedent for similar cultural crimes, such as the destruction of ancient monuments in Iraq and Syria by Islamist rebels. Rights groups also want the ICC to investigate broader crimes committed during Mali's 2012 conflict.

Al-Mahdis conviction amounts to only the fourth the ICC has delivered since it began operating in 2002. The court, which has indicted individuals ranging from Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony to former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, has also acquitted one defendant.
India announced Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend a regional summit to be held in Islamabad in November because of increasing cross-border attacks in the region.

The decision was announced days after Modi said that he will mount a global campaign to diplomatically isolate Pakistan in the wake of a terror attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers.

Tensions between the two countries have spiked after India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militants. Islamabad has denied any role in the assault, and said it could be a reaction to the situation in Indian Kashmir, which has been wracked with widespread civilian unrest since July.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said that "increasing cross-border attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of the member states have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful hosting of the SAARC [South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation] summit."

Other countries concerns

Without elaborating, the statement said that other countries have also conveyed their reservations about attending the South Asian gathering.

They are believed to be Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which also blame Pakistan for supporting terror groups. Neither country has publicly disclosed such reservations.

SAARC includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives.

Modi's decision to stay away from the South Asian meet came a day after India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the U.N. General Assembly in New York it is time to identify nations that "nurture, peddle and export terrorism."

She said Pakistan believes terrorist attacks will allow it to gain territory it covets in Kashmir. "My firm advice to Pakistan is: Abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so," Swaraj said.

Litany of falsehoods

In a sharp response to the Indian foreign minister, Pakistan's envoy to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, called the Indian allegations a "litany of falsehoods" and said Kashmir was an "internationally recognized dispute."

Lodhi said the attack on the Indian army base had all the hallmarks of an operation designed to divert attention from "India's atrocities" in Kashmir.

While New Delhi accuses Pakistan of backing and supporting militant groups that mount terror strikes in India, Islamabad holds India responsible for human rights violations in Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between them and claimed by both. About 80 civilians have been killed since July in the largest anti-India protests in recent years.

On Tuesday, India also summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit in New Delhi for the second time in less than a week and presented him with what it said was proof of Pakistan's involvement in the militant strike on an Indian army base in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers.

India's foreign ministry said it gave the Pakistani diplomat details on two "handlers" of the four militants who attacked the army base. Officials say the "handlers," who are in Indian custody, and one of the militants killed in the attack were from Muzaffarabad in Pakistani Kashmir.

Regional isolation is one among a range of retaliatory measures New Delhi has been weighing against Islamabad.

Water exploitation

On Thursday, Modi is due to hold a meeting to review the Most Favored Nation status that New Delhi has granted to Pakistan.

Indian officials have suggested they are also exploring ways in which New Delhi can increase the exploitation of water from three Himalayan rivers that flow into Pakistan. India has a right to use roughly 20 percent of the water under a 1960 pact, but says it has not done so.

New Delhi says there is no plan to scrap the treaty, but it will see how it can utilize more water allowed under its terms.

Such a move could further heighten tensions between the two countries. The waters of the three rivers are crucial for Pakistan.
The number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe has fallen sharply this year but migration to the continent has grown more deadly, according to new data released Tuesday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

From January 1 through September 25, 302,149 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, a drop of more than 40 percent from the same period last year, the IOM, the largest migration organization in the world, reported.

Refugee deaths rose, however, with the IOM recording 3,501 refugee and migrant fatalities through September 25, up nearly 20 percent from the same period last year.

In the latest tragedy, a boat overloaded with at least 600 migrants headed for Europe capsized off the coast of Egypt last week, killing at least 170 people.

Last year more than 1 million refugees and migrants fled to Europe, as the conflict in Syria spurred the largest migration crisis in the world since World War II.

Syrian refugees accounted for the largest group of migrants seeking asylum in Europe, followed by migrants from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Most refugees enter Europe either through Greece or Italy. The IOM said that while arrivals to Italy have remained steady this year, arrivals in Greece have fallen by 20,000 since late March. Since Friday, it recorded a mere 51 arrivals in Greece.
Part of the Islamic State terror groups plan to turn the northern Iraqi city of Mosul into hell on earth could well include a barrage of homemade chemical weapons.

U.S. military officials fully expect IS militants to unleash their chemical weapons arsenal as Iraqi and Kurdish forces advance on the self-declared caliphates Iraqi capital.

This is real. Theyre dead set on it, Pentagon spokesman, Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Monday, saying the military has documented at least a couple of dozen instances in which IS has used or tried to used chemical weapons.

As this road toward Mosul progresses, ISIL is like to try to use it again, Davis said, using an acronym for the terror group.

So far, from a tactical standpoint, Davis says the impacts of the use of IS chemical weapons have not been militarily significant.

Its not generally in a lethal concentration, he said. Its more of an irritant than anything else.

Many of the IS chemical weapons attacks have involved the use of what the Pentagon describes as a mustard agent, a powder bound together with oil and then placed in a rocket or a mortar shell.

While the resulting explosion can allow the mustard agent to cause harm, Pentagon officials say it is nowhere near as deadly as mustard gas, used to deadly effect during World War I.

Mustard gas, according to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), can cause burns and blisters on the skin but will also damage the eyes, lungs and other internal organs.

Preparing for an attack

Despite the Islamic States lack of tactical success with chemical weapons, the U.S. is taking the threat seriously.

The Pentagon says all U.S. personnel deployed to the region have been given training and equipment to protect themselves from possible chemical weapons attacks.

U.S.-backed forces are also getting help.

The Pentagon says it has distributed 40,000 gas masks to Iraqi Security Forces brigades and another 1,500 to Iraqs elite Counter Terror Service.

U.S.-backed Peshmerga have also received 9,000 gas masks, part of a $415 million aid package that also covered stipends and other costs.

We want to make sure that the Iraqi Security Forces and the Peshmerga have the ability to detect this and to defend against it, said the Pentagons Davis.

The U.S. and its coalition partners have also taken steps to stagnate IS nascent chemical weapons program.

At least twice in the past month, coalition airstrikes have targeted IS chemical weapons facilities.

On Saturday U.S. Central Command announced a strike near Qayyarah, south of Mosul, which destroyed an IS chemical weapons factory."

Another strike, announced on September 15, targeted what CENTCOM described as a chemical weapons storage facility near Al Huwayjah, Iraq.

Earlier this month, U.S. officials also described airstrikes against a former pharmaceutical plant complex near Mosul, after intelligence indicated IS had converted it into a chemical weapons production facility.
A new study suggests U.S. college students who change their majors may be more likely to graduate.

Only 60 percent of students seeking a bachelors degree at an American college or university finish their study program within six years, according to the United States Department of Education.

The new study, which looks at full-time students who attended a four-year college or university for the first time in 2008, finds 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.

Declaring a 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, the new study suggests that students who change majors are more likely to graduate.

The Education Advisory Board (EAB), which studies higher education and tries to help American colleges and universities make improvements, based its conclusions 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.

EAB Senior Director Ed Venit would not comment on whether or not college students should change major, but 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," Venit said. "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 6-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.

Low graduation rates

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, a private institution in the northern state of Minnesota, has about 2,000 students. The 4-year graduation rate of students who began studying there in 2009 was 91 percent.

George Shuffelton, associate dean at Carleton College, 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," he said. "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.

Meta-majors

Susan Burleson, vice-president of student success and communications at Davidson County Community College in North Carolina, 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," Burleson said. "It is a time, developmentally, when you should be exploring who you are and what you want to be some day."

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.



This story was originally reported by VOA's Learning English service.
The Supreme Court asked the Centre to facilitate a meeting between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the Cauvery issue.

By Rohini Swamy: Karnataka today welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court asking both the states to sit down and discuss the Cauvery water sharing issue.

With the Supreme Court directing the Centre to facilitate a meeting between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka said that the Supreme Court has taken the decision based on the ground situation which has become quite grim.



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Also read: Supreme Court to Karnataka: Release Cauvery water for two more days



Speaking to the media here, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working President Dinesh Gundurao said, "It looks like the Supreme Court has understood the situation the state is in and we welcome the move to attempt talks between both the states. We will take a decision after the chief minister returns from his tour in Bidar."

As of now the Cauvery matter has been adjourned till September 30. The Attorney General has been directed to facilitate a meeting between the executive of both the states.

Also read: Bengaluru: Former Karnataka minister and Kannada actor's properties on storm water drains face demolition



MUST RESPECT SENTIMENTS OF PEOPLE: DIGVIJAYA SINGH

Digvijaya Singh expressed his views on the Supreme Court's latest order saying that the sentiments of people should also be respected. He added that as per the policy, the Karnataka government shall comply by the order. "The party is yet to review it as we need to discuss the same with senior advocate - Fali Sam Nariman for a comprehensive view," said Singh.

Conveying Congress' support behind the government of Karnataka, Singh added that they will also appeal to the Tamil Nadu officials to look into the matter of water availability.

Our national water policy prioritises water for drinking, release order does not become an immediate law, said Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. He also blamed Jagadish Shettar for politicising the matter.



--- ENDS ---
A popular U.S. television show is breaking ground by featuring the first openly transgender child as a cast member.

On Wednesdays episode of Modern Family, 8-year-old Jackson Millarker will play a transgender character who is a friend of Lily, played by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.

Openly transgender people have acted on TV before, notably in Orange Is The New Black and Nashville, but Modern Family will be the first to include an acting role for a transgender child.

The mockumentary-style situation comedy's plot revolves around three family types, nuclear, stepfamilies and same-sex families.

The episode, called "A Stereotypical Day," centers on Lily wanting to bring her friend Tom over for a play date. At first, Lilys parents are proud of their daughters open-mindedness, but things reportedly become more complicated as the show progresses.

The Modern Family episode airs as many celebrities call for more roles for transgender people.

At this years Emmys, actor Jeffrey Tambor, who plays a transgender woman on the show Transparent, called for more roles for trans people in television and movies.
With the abrupt collapse of a cease-fire in Syria last week, international migration officials expect no letup in a wave of migration out of the Middle East that has set off the worst global migrant crisis in 70 years.

The five-year conflict in Syria has displaced half its population, driving more than 6 million Syrians out of the country. Though more than 1 million Syrians have escaped to Europe, the majority live in camps in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

The September 12 cease-fire, brokered by the U.S. and Russia, had raised expectations that the break in fighting could pave the way for peace, eventually allowing millions of Syrians living in temporary shelters in the region to return home instead of seeking asylum in Europe.

But as the truce crumbled in the wake of a U.S. airstrike on Syrian troops and Syrian government bombings of a U.N. aid convoy, hopes that a recent drop in migration to Europe could be extended were all but quashed.

"I'd turn the question around by saying, 'Have the drivers, have the root causes of forced movement  have they changed?' " said William Lacy Swing, director general of the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM). "And the answer is, clearly, given the state right now of the Syrian cease-fire, clearly the root causes have not changed."

Numbers down, deaths up

Data released by the IOM on Tuesday showed that the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe via the Mediterranean has plunged this year.

From January 1 through September 25, 302,149 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, down 40 percent from the 508,347 who crossed the Mediterranean during the same period last year, the IOM said.

Though migrant arrival numbers fell for the year, refugee deaths rose, with the IOM recording 3,501 refugee and migrant fatalities through September 25, up nearly 20 percent from the same period last year.

Last week, a boat overloaded with at least 600 migrants headed for Europe capsized off the coast of Egypt, killing at least 170 people, including women and children.

"This is a tragedy," Swing said in an interview with VOA. "People are dying needlessly because our policies end up indirectly and inadvertently subsidizing the smugglers." The migrants are pushed into smugglers' hands, he said, "because there are not enough avenues for people to get to their destinations."

More than 1 million migrants fled to Europe last year, with Syrian refugees accounting for 28 percent of the figure, followed by refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq, according to U.N. data.

With no end in sight to the conflicts in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East and South Asia, Swing said the flow of refugees to Europe was likely to continue over the coming year.

The top priority, he said, "is to get the biggest problem solved, which is Syria."

Resettlement

Of a record 21.3 million refugees in the world today, the majority live in countries that neighbor their native lands. Less than 1 percent, however, are resettled in so-called third countries, mostly Western nations, through the U.N. refugee agency.

Under pressure to tackle the migrant crisis, more than 50 countries and organizations met in New York last week and pledged to double the number of refugees they take in through the U.N. program to 360,000 next year, with the U.S. raising its annual cap to 110,000 refugees in 2017.

But even with the additional pledges, the new resettlement target falls well short of the 1.2 million refugees the U.N. says will be in need of resettlement in 2017.

Swing said he was confident the nations attending last week's Leaders Summit on Refugees would honor their pledges of admitting more refugees, but with conflict driving ever greater numbers of people into exile, he added, "I do think it is pretty bad ... that we cannot reach a quota of 1 million."

President Barack Obama told the summit that the migrant crisis was "a test of our international system where all nations ought to share in our collective responsibilities, because the vast majority of refugees are hosted by just 10 countries."

To encourage other nations to take in refugees, the administration last week announced a new funding mechanism through which wealthy nations give money to less developed nations. The U.S. has contributed $11 million to the fund, which will be managed by the IOM and the U.N. refugee agency.

Swing said the fund could "play a major role" in expanding the global refugee resettlement program.

Meanwhile, the administration's plan to increase the number of refugee admissions from 86,000 this year to 110,000 refugees next year has touched off vocal opposition from Republicans and other immigration critics worried that bringing in more refugees could expose the country to terrorism.

Swing said those fears are unfounded.

"I think that if you look at the hundreds of thousands of cases that have come in here, up to now they have found virtually none," he said. "More likely is what happened in Europe: If they get here and they're not properly integrated, then they can become a problem."
Officials of the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Cobra Faction, formerly led by David Yau Yau, have vowed to wage war again against the government of President Salva Kiir because it allegedly has not lived up to its side of a peace agreement signed in 2014.

Yau Yau signed the peace deal with Kiir in May 2014, which granted the Greater Pibor area a semiautonomous administrative status. But current SSDM/Cobra Faction leaders say the Kiir administration has abandoned just about all other provisions of the deal.

When the peace deal was signed, Yau Yau was appointed deputy defense minister. The new SSDM/Cobra Faction leader is Lieutenant General Khalid Botrus Bora, whose spokesman, Kernoy Philip Kadal, held a news conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday to say the group would join other militants in their efforts to topple the Kiir administration.

"The SSDM/A [South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army] is announcing that it shall from today join the struggle against the authoritarian tribalistic regime in Juba. Being conscious of the need to unify the ranks of all the forces opposed to the regime, SSDM/Cobra shall immediately enter into serious dialogue with the like-minded patriotic forces already in the field of combat with the aim of cooperation, coordination or merger," Kadal said.

The peace agreement was brokered by church leaders, led by Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban of the Roman Catholic Church. It marked an end to four years of conflict that left hundreds of people dead and destroyed property in the former Jonglei state.

The deal created the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, with a status similar to that of a state. It also created a special fund for improvement of basic services in the area, and it gave indigenous people the right to manage the land and its resources, but Kadal said the government had failed to follow through on those commitments.

Administrative roles, development

"The provisions that made people happy were not implemented," Kadal said, citing in particular the failure to nominate Cobra Faction members to lead or administer Greater Pibor, and the failure to build roads linking Juba to the Pibor area.

He also said that "the other basic provisions, such as the schools, medical services and the other developmental things, have never materialized."

Kadal said Yau Yau had decided to join the government and dump the agreement altogether, even though little has been achieved.

Akol Paul Kordit, deputy minister of information, strongly denied the accusations.

"The allegations that the government dumped the agreement and that the agreement was never implemented are false," Kordit said. "This has to be made clear to them  that this new phenomenon, where anyone decides to rebel, even if you are an individual, with the hope that if you rebel you will be shown in and given a public office is a bad culture."

Kordit said Kiir also promoted some Cobra Faction forces to high-ranking positions in the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

From the start of South Sudan's independence, the Anyuak, Jie, Kachepo and Murle people in Jonglei sought greater autonomy from the former Jonglei state government, which was dominated by Nuer and Dinka. The resulting armed insurrections against the government eventually dispersed, then coalesced into the SSDM/A, which ultimately became dominated by Yau Yau and his Cobra Faction.

Peace talks in early 2014 led to a compromise that carved out two counties within Jonglei state to create the new semiautonomous Greater Pibor Administrative Area. But later, Kiir unilaterally decided to create 21 states out of the original 10, throwing into question the legitimacy of the Greater Pibor region.
The West must step up its efforts to combat and counter the information war being waged by its opponents, according to NATO officials. They warn that countries like Russia are exploiting the freedom of the press in Western media to spread disinformation.



The term "hybrid warfare" is frequently used to describe the tactics used by the Kremlin in its forceful takeover of Crimea in 2014, when unmarked, heavily armed gunmen now widely known as the little green men began storming Ukrainian military bases in the region.



Moscow initially denied they were Russian military, yet weeks later similar unidentified armed units appeared in eastern Ukraine. That conflict between Russia-backed rebels and the Ukrainian military is still continuing.

The West is under attack



Speaking at this months United Nations General Assembly, Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko said hybrid warfare is being waged against the whole Western world.

Political pressure, blatant propaganda, interference with the electoral process, economic coercion, secret subversive and military operations, cyberattacks, misuse of diplomatic measures, these are modern and congenial methods of the undeclared war, Poroshenko said.



At a recent conference on Information Warfare at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, the Director of the NATO StratCom Center of Excellence Janis Sarts said the West is playing catch-up.

West not focused on this type of warfare



The technology is ours. The marketing powerhouses are in our countries. Yet were having this discussion against the feeling of being pushed. Against the feeling of being pushed by different actors: Russia, Daesh also China in more subtle ways, said Sarts, using and Arabic term for the Islamic State.



The conference focused on the growing reach of Russian state media such as the 24-hour news channel Russia Today or RT, often accused of being a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin.



Senior editor at The Economist Edward Lucas argued channels like RT should not be considered as journalism.



Russia has really grasped the post-truth environment. And they will lie about things absolutely brazenly. They understand the weaknesses of our media in the post-Cold War environment: that we prioritize fairness over truth.

Russia investing big money



Lucas added the West should do more about what he termed "social media hygiene."



Theres a real problem with comment fields, and with fake social media accounts, particularly on Twitter. The Russians are putting lots and lots of money into creating tens of thousands of trolls.



Mark Laity, the chief of Strategic Communications at NATOs Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe or SHAPE, noted that Russia includes information strategy as a key pillar of its conflict planning, but in the West the communications are often handed off to separate public relations teams.



We are still fighting on the margins, he said, when actually a properly funded, strategic communication effort is incredibly cheap compared to other costs.



Laity warned Russia was deploying disinformation and hybrid warfare in its intervention in Syria  most recently in the disputed bombing of an aid convoy outside Aleppo earlier this month. He added the West must learn how to fight back.
U.S. President Barack Obama was honored by Native Americans Monday as an adopted son and a leader who has kept his promises.

At the 8th Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference, the president enjoyed a jubilant welcome from representatives of 567 federally recognized tribes, taking part in a traditional Native American honoring ceremony.

Leaders wrapped him in a fire red wool blanket, a gift, and crowned him with a straw hat. Obama joked that he is glad the tribal leaders also gave a blanket to first lady Michelle Obama, saying otherwise she would steal his.

When the president held the first tribal nations conference in 2009, he vowed to be a partner in the spirit of a true nation-to-nation relationship.

Obama said he is proud of his record.

We havent solved every issue; we havent righted every wrong, but together weve made significant progress in almost every area," the president said. "Together weve permanently protected sacred lands for future generations. Weve restored more than 428,000 acres of tribal homelands to their original owners.



Despite all the affection, the president acknowledged there is one contentious and unresolved issue that has sparked a resurgence of Native American protests - the proposed Dakota Access oil pipeline. It would cross four states and go from North Dakota to Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued to block construction of the pipeline, citing concerns about potential water contamination and destruction to culturally sacred sites.

Their leader, Dave Archambault, told VOA their concerns are simple: It is to protect our water, protect our ancestral sites, protect our children, even the ones that are not here yet, and stand up with our sovereign rights.

A federal judge in Washington denied the Standing Rock tribe's request for a temporary injunction to stop construction of the pipeline. But the Justice Department, the Interior Department and the U.S. Army intervened earlier this month with an unprecedented joint statement requesting that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity near an important lake.

Obama said that many of the participants had come together from across tribes and across the country to support the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and that they have made their voices heard. He said he hopes he will leave a strong legacy for the next U.S. president of consulting with tribal leaders on all matters that impact Indian country.
A court in Oman has shut down a privately-run newspaper and sentenced three journalists to prison for reporting on alleged corruption inside the judiciary.

They include the editor-in-chief of the Azamn newspaper.

Charges against the paper and the journalists include disturbing public order, undermining the prestige of the state and misusing the Internet.

Authorities suspended the newspaper's publication last month, and Monday's court decision makes it permanent.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner says the United States is "very concerned" about the court's action, and that the U.S. ambassador to Oman made that concern clear "at a senior level."

"We support freedom of expression and maintain that societies are strengthened when their citizens are able to voice their opinion," Toner said.
Pakistan says it has completed construction of 20 percent of outposts being established along a largely porous border with Afghanistan, and called for the strife-torn country to take matching steps for deterring terrorist infiltration.

The two uneasy neighbors share a nearly 2,600 kilometer rugged mountainous frontier, called the Durand Line, with several hundred irregular crossing points, facilitating movements of militants and smugglers in both directions.

Army spokesman Lt. General General Asim Bajwa, told reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar that regular and paramilitary soldiers have also been deployed at some of the newly-built installations located in high mountain passes.

The soldiers are now firmly positioned there, effectively blocking any movement from Afghanistan into Pakistan, and similarly no one can cross over the border from this side, he asserted.

Afghan authorities have long alleged Taliban insurgents affiliated militant groups plot and stage cross-border attacks using sanctuaries on Pakistani soil.

Officials in Islamabad reject the charges and blame the porous border as well as decades old localities housing millions of Afghan refugees for sheltering the insurgents.

Bajwa said border management efforts are mostly underway on the Pakistani side. They will most effective when Afghan security forces occupy positions on their side. We hope that in coming days there will be more forces deployed on the other side so both countries can benefit from these measures.

Afghanistan disputes the Durand Line demarcation put in place by former British rulers of the Indian subcontinent and opposes Pakistani plans of building permanent structures on the border.

Islamabad dismisses those concerns and says Pakistan inherited the frontier after it gained independence from Britain in 1947. It has vowed to speedily implement its border management measures, saying it will also help address mutual terrorism concerns.

The determination to strengthen border security despite Kabuls objections stems from allegations the Afghan intelligence agency is sheltering and facilitating anti-Pakistan militants to conduct terrorist attacks on Pakistani territory, charges Afghan officials deny.

General Bajwa asserted probes into this months terrorist attacks in Peshawar and the nearby city of Mardan have concluded they were planned in Afghanistan. He added female facilitators, now under detention along with several other suspects, also played a role in the violence, but gave no further details.

Details of these incidents are being shared at all levels with (NATOs) Resolute Support mission [in Afghanistan], with the Afghan government, with the Afghan military and with their intelligence to the extent it is possible, Bajwa said.

Both countries regularly blame each other for supporting violent attacks on their respective territories, fueling bilateral tensions.

U.S. military commander General John Nicholson last week reiterated Washington's concerns Islamabad is not putting "adequate pressure" on the Haqqani Network of militants fighting along side the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, to prevent them from staging cross-border attacks.
Some call it "ivory on wings,'' part of the bill of a critically endangered bird in Southeast Asia that is sought by poachers and carved into ornaments for illegal sale to Chinese buyers.



The helmeted hornbill isn't getting as much attention as the beleaguered African elephant at a global wildlife conference this week in South Africa. But the killing of elephants by the tens of thousands for their tusks is intertwined with a surge in the slaughter of the rare bird whose beak part is a coveted substitute for ivory.



"It's all part of the rising demand for ivory,'' said Richard Thomas, spokesman for TRAFFIC, a conservation group based in Britain.



Poaching of the helmeted hornbill has soared since around 2010, particularly in Indonesia. The timing roughly coincides with an increase in elephant poaching that has caused a sharp drop in elephant populations. Last year, the helmeted hornbill was designated as critically endangered on an international "red list'' of threatened species.



Delegates are discussing protections for elephants, helmeted hornbills and other vulnerable wildlife at a meeting in Johannesburg of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES.

The 12-day meeting of the U.N. group, which regulates wildlife trade, ends Oct. 5.



The helmeted hornbill is a bird of lore, featuring in an ancient belief that it sits by a river between life and death. Its feathers have been used in traditional ceremonies. During breeding, the female is sealed into a nest, relying on the male to provide food.



The call of the helmeted hornbill is an intermittent, honking sound that slowly builds in tempo until it ends in what resembles, for some listeners, shrieks of laughter. Loud and long, the call helps poachers locate their prey.



In a CITES document , Indonesia asked for more collaboration among law enforcement agencies from countries where helmeted hornbills live, as well as "end market'' nations - a reference primarily to China.



China, the world's main ivory consumer, has already said it plans to close its domestic ivory market.



A large lump on top of the beak of the helmeted hornbill is made of keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn and other animal and human parts. It has a red tinge is softer than elephant ivory, making it an attractive material for carvers who have fashioned belt buckles, snuff boxes, pendants and images of Chinese deities from it over many centuries.



The upper part of the bill, also known as a casque, is solid, unlike the hollow casques of other hornbill species. Its price on the illegal market is higher than that of elephant ivory. A casque weighs up to 350 grams (0.7 pounds); the average weight of an elephant tusk is five kilograms (11 pounds), though a big male's tusk can weigh 10 times as much.



At least 2,170 heads and bill parts of helmeted hornbills were confiscated from the illegal trade in Indonesia and China between 2012 and 2014, TRAFFIC said.



Investigators found helmeted hornbill products being sold openly in Laos, a major transit point for wildlife traffickers that borders China, according to a TRAFFIC report released this month. Sale locations included a luxury hotel and convention center in central Vientiane, the capital, it said.



Indonesia said it has arrested more than 20 people in the helmeted hornbill trade and sentenced most of them. Penalties include up to five years in jail and a heavy fine.



On Saturday, rangers in Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park arrested a suspected helmeted hornbill poacher with a rifle and silencer, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, a group based in New York. The suspect had just entered the forest and did not have any bird parts.



"This species needs to be on people's radars,'' said Elizabeth Bennett, vice president of species conservation at WCS.



Illegal logging in Indonesia is shrinking the habitat of the helmeted hornbill. Conservationists fear poachers will focus on the Malaysian population once supply dries up in Indonesia.
Using the contents of a deer's intestines to make soup may not be everyone's cup of tea, but then neither was quinoa before it became a trendy superfood known for its health benefits.

Both are foods of indigenous peoples who may hold solutions on how to feed a growing population and cope with the impact of climate change, campaigners and researchers said at an international food festival in the Italian city of Turin.

Just three crops provide 60 percent of the world's calories: rice, wheat and maize, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), leaving the global food larder vulnerable to changes in climate and the spread of new plant diseases.

Indigenous peoples are some of the few who can expand the world's food base, said Yon Fernandez de Larrinoa, indigenous peoples team leader at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

"Indigenous peoples are the last people that are domesticating [wild] plants ... and they are the last people to have knowledge to domesticate plants," he said, speaking at the Slow Food festival, where hundreds of farmers, campaigners and academics have gathered.

Their means of growing food is an important model as the world grapples with how to grow enough to feed a population which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, up from more than 7 billion today, Fernandez de Larrinoa said.

But their way of farming is threatened both by pressure from companies wanting to take their land, and a growing number of indigenous people themselves wanting to move to cities, he said.

Innovative and resilient

Indigenous peoples live on or use 25 percent of the world's land, and they protect 80 percent of global biodiversity, according to the World Bank.

They are innovative, extremely resilient and successful at adapting to climate change, said Vanda Altarelli, a specialist in indigenous issues and president of SONIA, a Rome-based non-profit group that works with marginalized groups worldwide.

They can monitor changes in climate by observing the abundance of flowers, changes in skin colors of wild animals, and the flight direction of birds, she said.

Depending on the weather, indigenous peoples change where they grow crops and when, and how they prepare the soil. In years when the weather is hard to predict they plant drought-resistant crops alongside those which are flood resistant, she said.

And they often test new plants to see how they grow.

"Indigenous food systems do not consume the capital - they live from the interest, the profit. They don't deplete the forest, they eat from the forest while they preserve the forest," said Fernandez de Larrinoa.

Many traditional indigenous foods, once shunned by urban consumers, are increasingly fashionable.

In Latin America, for example, quinoa was once considered a poor man's food and the indigenous peoples who ate it were considered "backward," said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.

"There's a lot of medicinal and health benefits in indigenous foods which have been despised and discriminated against. Suddenly now they are being looked upon as the cure."
The death toll from militia clashes with security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week was at least 49, more than three times the number earlier reported, the governor of the province hit by the violence was quoted on Monday as saying.

Fighters from militia group Kamwina Nsapu, seeking to avenge the death of their leader of the same name, battled security forces on Thursday and Friday in the town of Kananga in the center of the vast central African country.

U.N.-funded Radio Okapi quoted Alex Kande, governor of Kasai Central province as saying that 27 of the dead were militiamen, 16 were members of the security forces and six were civilians.

Initial estimates had put the toll at 13. The militiamen first entered Kananga on Thursday morning and continued attacks on Friday, including against the town airport.

Tensions between local authorities and Kamwina Nsapu, whose men are often armed with little more than clubs and magic amulets, has erupted into deadly violence on several occasions.

A decade after the end of a 1996-2003 regional war in Congo that killed millions, the mineral-rich country remains a tinderbox of armed groups and ethnic militias.
The Supreme Court earlier in the day asked Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water for the next three days till it hears the matter again on Friday.

By India Today Web Desk: Following the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water issue, prohibitory orders have been extended in Bengaluru till September 30.

WHAT SC ORDER SAID

The Supreme Court earlier in the day asked Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water for the next three days till it hears the matter again on Friday.

Karnataka had moved the apex court, seeking modification of the September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu, saying its reservoirs did not have enough water to do that.

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ALL-PARTY MEET TOMORROW

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will convene an all-party meeting tomorrow to take a decision on the Supreme Court order.

Siddaramaiah while speaking to reporters said that they are yet to decide what the next course of action will be. "I need to speak to advocates. Priority is for drinking water according to our national water policy. So when they say release water immediately it does not become a law or an order," he said.

Also read:

Cauvery row: Siddaramaiah to convene all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss Supreme Court order

Cauvery row: Karnataka welcomes Supreme Court's directive to hold talks with Tamil Nadu

Supreme Court to Karnataka: Release Cauvery water for 3 more days



Tamil Nadu had filed a counter affidavit, urging the Supreme Court that Karnataka should not be heard till it complied with the directives of the apex court as well as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

The Supreme Court also asked the Centre to convene meetings of the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the contentious release of Cauvery river water.

Last week, the Karnataka Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to save the Cauvery river water for drinking purposes only due to an acute crisis arising out of deficit monsoon rains.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the apex court on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21-27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for more water to save its samba paddy crop.

--- ENDS ---
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat.

The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end that country's civil war.

"[Kerry] spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," said State Department Spokesman John Kirby.

Kerry and Maduro also agreed to continue bilateral discussions that began in recent months, Kirby said.

Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the meeting. Venezuela and the United States have been at loggerheads since the government of late President Hugo Chavez, with frequent exchanges of barbs and expelling each others' diplomats. They do not have ambassadors in place following expulsions several years ago.

Maduro's government is struggling under an unraveling socialist economic system that suffers from triple-digit inflation, extensive shortages of staple products and food riots.

Maduro says the country is victim of an "economic war" backed by the United States and the Venezuelan political elite. Venezuela's opposition called on Monday for a nationwide rally on Oct. 12 to push for a referendum to recall Maduro this year as they seek to oust his Socialist Party in an early presidential election.

The recall effort has run into opposition from the election board, which is imposing restrictions and argues it will take until 2017 to put the proper conditions in place.

"Everybody knows we're working toward this recall. It's been delayed. That is problematic," Kerry said before the meeting. "And we need to find a way forward that can provide a consensus that provides relief to a nation under siege."

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, better known as Timochenko, signed the peace accord on Monday at a ceremony attended by international leaders and thousands of Colombians.

Santos' predecessor, Alvaro Uribe, frequently accused the government of neighboring Venezuela of harboring and supporting the FARC.
NATO commanders are calling on the West to step up its efforts to combat and counter the information war being waged by adversaries. The commanders warn that countries like Russia are exploiting the freedom of the press in Western media to spread disinformation. Henry Ridgwell reports from London on the new age of information warfare.'
Somalia's elections, which were slated to begin last weekend, have been postponed again. The government now says the polls won't start until late October.

The country's parliamentary elections have been pushed to October 23. The presidential vote has been rescheduled for November 30.



The internationally-backed process has been beset by problems.



There is political wrangling over voter delegates. National and state authorities complain the international community hasn't given pledged funding.



Meanwhile, crucial institutions such as a dispute resolution commission remain unformed.



Adam Ibrahim Aw Hirsi, the justice minister of Jubaland state, said the delays are no surprise.



"The capacity of the people that promised that they would get things done should have been doubted from day one," HirsiHirsi said. "Everybody knew this wasn't happening on time because the push from the internationals, especially to those who deal with Somalia from diplomatic offices, wanted something great to report to their respective countries that wasn't in sync with the reality on the ground."



'A first step'



But the elections will still represent a major gain for Somalia when they do happen, says presidential spokesperson Daud Aweis.



"Although this is not going to be a direct election, it is going to be a first step... This is a country which has not held elections for 47 years. Many people, if you talk about elections they don't even know how to cast their votes," said Aweis.



Technically, Somalia held a presidential poll in 2012, when parliament elected President Hassan Mohamud. But it's true there hasn't been a poll of the people since the 1960s.

This year's polls won't be a one-person one-vote process. Due to security concerns, 14,000 delegates will vote for parliament. The new parliament will then choose the president.



Joe Contreras, spokesperson for the United Nations assistance mission in Somalia, says this model isn't ideal.



But he says it is better than the 2012 poll when only 135 clan elders voted.



"I don't think that anyone is calling this a democratic election in the sense that most of us think of a democratic election," Contreras said.

Yet already this small electoral process has been hampered by accusations of misconduct.



Opposition candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame says the government is undermining other candidates, including tearing down his campaign posters.



"Government is still trying to use the state resources and state security apparatus and state money and state institutions for advancing one particular candidate, which is the incumbent president," said Warsame.



The government denies that accusation.
Somali radio journalist Abdi Aziz Ali Haji has been shot dead in Mogadishu.

Director of Shabelle radio Abukar Sheikh Mohamud told VOA that two men armed with pistols on a motorbike shot and killed Haji in Yaqshid district on Tuesday evening.

Mohamud said the victim was walking when he was targeted.

He did not come to work today he was on leave, he was visiting his father and relatives who live in that area, Mohamud said.

Shabelle Radio has lost the most journalists of all media organizations Somalia. Haji is the 13th journalist working for the station killed since 2007. Eleven of them were gunned down while two others died in al-Shabab suicide attacks.

The National Union of Somali Journalists NUSOJ strongly condemned the killing.
An international team of scientists has identified a new strain of superbug that has made people sick, and it apparently came from chickens.

The new strain of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA, sickened 10 people in Denmark. Researchers traced the staph bacteria, which is resistant to several antibiotics, and can be fatal, to contaminated poultry people handled or ate.

Most people dont acquire MRSA from chickens or other food animals. Its usually spread in hospitals, through person-to-person contact, where people live and gather in close quarters in the community. While farm workers are at higher risk of becoming ill with staph infections, the new strain was acquired by city dwellers.

The latest findings, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, demonstrate that MRSA, which is known to exist in pork, beef and dairy products, can be spread to people through contact with infected animal products.

In the study, researchers used genetic analysis to compare the strains of MRSA found in the 10 Danes to staph infection in other people and in livestock. The analysis showed it was exactly the same MRSA strain found in contaminated poultry. The chicken meat was imported from other countries, including France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Last week, the United Nations hosted a high level meeting of hundreds of experts on antibiotic resistance to discuss how it will become a global crisis if nothing is done.

The participants called for a number of collaborative measures by public and private sectors to ensure the smart use of antibiotics.

One of those in attendance was Laura MacCleery, Vice President for Consumer Policy and Mobilization at Consumers Union based in Washington D.C.

One of the groups main concerns is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock, which can make the drugs ineffective and create superbugs like MRSA.

Animals are routinely given sub-therapeutic doses of antibiotics because the conditions in which they live are unsanitary, said MacCleery.

While the drugs are designed to keep the food animals healthy and promote their growth, the antibiotics, and the bacteria resistant to them, can be passed along the food chain to humans.

At the U.N. meeting, MacCleery said a number of measures were discussed to reduce antibiotic resistance, not only in animals as a source, but in general.

Drug pricing and availability at a level of provider incentives, those are the kinds of things that governments can do to discourage inappropriate prescribing among physicians, and to educate consumers about the potential risk of antibiotic resistance, said MacCleery.

MacCleery said Consumers Union has been successful in getting a number of fast food chains, including MacDonalds, to commit to not using chicken that has been treated with antibiotics.

Meanwhile, researchers predict there will be a rise in new, more virulent strains of MRSA if antibiotics continue to be used in livestock.
Suspected Taliban assailants have killed 13 soldiers in northern Afghanistan.

The overnight attack took place at a security outpost in the restive Kunduz province.

The victims were asleep when two fellow soldiers with suspected links to the Taliban massacred them, regional police commander, Sher Aziz Kamawal, told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the attackers involved in the so-called insider attack fled and joined the insurgents.

But a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed its fighters staged an overnight assault on the security post and overran it.

The security outpost is part of a defensive ring Afghan forces have established around the provincial capital in the face of repeated Taliban attempts to overrun the northern city.

Insider attacks are not uncommon in war-torn Afghanistan and scores of Afghan security personnel and their international partners have died in such incidents. Though officials say preventive measures in recent years have led to a significant reduction in the violence.

The Taliban briefly captured Kunduz a year ago, but days later Afghan forces retook its control with the support of American airpower. This was the first time the Islamist insurgency overran a provincial capital in the Afghan insurgency, now in its 15th year.
Syrian troops have seized a central neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo from rebel forces, according to reports on state television and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

After capturing the neighborhood of Farafra, government forces continued to engage rebel troops in the same area near the famous citadel in Aleppo.

A rebel official from an Aleppo-based faction said Syrian and Russian warplanes and artillery pounded a number of areas in and around the city as ground forces gathered to reinforce the strikes.

The capture of Farafra follows other sieges by government forces in recent weeks in eastern rebel-held neighborhoods, in which scores of people were killed and a number of buildings destroyed.

Relief workers from the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, writing on Twitter, said the dead included children. They also said medical personnel and hospitals are "overwhelmed," with no additional supplies arriving.

Intent on taking Aleppo

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says nearly 250 people have been killed in Aleppo and outlying areas since a shaky cease-fire disintegrated earlier this month. That truce, negotiated by Russian and U.S. diplomats, was called to allow aid workers to distribute critically needed food and medicine to hundreds of thousands of civilians cut off from supplies.

Observers, however, pointing to the deadly bombing of a relief convoy last week near Aleppo, say the cease-fire failed almost from the beginning. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Monday said the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian allies "seem intent on taking Aleppo and destroying it in the process."

The Syrian army's new offensive seems to be aimed at regaining control of Aleppo. Doing so would deal a blow to the five-year-old rebellion against Assad.

Fighting in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, has been underway since 2012. During this time, Aleppo has been roughly divided among government troops and rebel militias, Islamic extremists and Kurdish fighters.

Since 2012, a year after the country erupted into civil war, U.N. officials estimate that 400,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed.

IN PICTURES: Syria, Russia Bombard Aleppo
China found itself the focus of unwanted attention during the first presidential debate Monday, with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accusing Beijing of stealing American jobs and failing to do enough to tackle the rising nuclear threat in North Korea.

During the debate, China was mentioned a dozen times, and most of those mentions came from Trump.

In his opening remarks, Trump blamed China for having manipulated its currency to gain trade competitiveness.



Theyre using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, he said, adding, Theyre the best, the best ever at it [currency devaluation].

He also accused China and other countries of stealing American jobs.

The accusation about stealing jobs is not new, but following the debate in China, there were many online and on the streets who disagreed, even those who feel he is the better candidate.

China is strong [economically], but that is fleeting, havent all the jobs gone to Southeast Asia and India?  asked Jana, a designer in Beijing who admires Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons campaign style and ability to brand herself.

Labor used to be cheap in China, but now it is getting more and more expensive, she added. Many factories have had to shut down and are shifting their operations elsewhere.

Lucy, who works in the financial sector, said she thinks Trump is a better choice than Clinton, but disagreed with his take on jobs.

Every country struggles with the problem of unemployment, she said. It is not like the global economy is lopsided and governments do not have the ability to make adjustments because of pressure certain countries put on employment.



Blame China

Chinese state media kept reporting on the presidential debate to a minimum and there appeared to be a concerted effort to keep it from making headlines. But that did not stop many from discussing and dissecting the candidates performances and remarks.

On Chinas Twitter-like site Weibo, the topic was ranked fourth in searches shortly after the debate ended. But many felt the accusations were aimed more at winning over voters and not necessarily a reflection of candidates true intentions.

Its a must [for U.S. candidates] to put the blame on China so as to garner support from voters. As a matter of fact, you have no idea how much those in power [in the U.S.] have liked China, wrote one Weibo user.

Another chirped, Before taking office, [U.S. candidates often] wage a fight with China. But after taking office, [theyll] come begging China for help. These have been old tricks, played in past U.S. presidential elections over and over again.

Chen, a young real estate agent, who could not remember Trumps name, but said he likes the aggressive candidate who has made no secret of his wealth, agreed that the comments were more aimed at boosting popularity.

At least he has said what he is thinking and that way we can be prepared for a tougher approach to China, he said. Hillary has not and so who knows what she is thinking.

Trumps comments were not all negative and even as he was criticizing China for manipulating its currency, some took note with pride that he said Beijing is the best at it.

The U.S. real-estate tycoon also praised countries, including China, that have incredible airports, which he said the United States should look up to.



Reigning in Pyongyang

But many found his comments about North Korea unrealistic.

During the debate, Trump also said he looks to China to solve the rising nuclear threat in North Korea. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea, he said.

WATCH: Trump on China, North Korea

Few here felt China has the capability to do that, given the unpredictable nature of the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, and the long and complicated history between the neighbors.

Relations with North Korea are not as simple as some in America think, said one retiree named Lu, who grew up in Chinas northeast near the North Korean border. Theres no way that China would send in the military or try to launch a coup.

Lu said he thinks Clinton is the better candidate because Trump lacks experience in governance and as he put it is unreliable.

Chen, the real estate agent who likes Trump, said China would never go into North Korea.

Its not a question of whether one is capable of doing that, he said. "There are many countries in the world, strong countries like the United States that are capable of doing that ... but right now everyone is doing everything they can to maintain world peace.
U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump reiterated sharply opposing views on the issue of military support for American allies around the world, and for Japan and South Korea in particular, during their first televised debate on Monday.

Clinton, the Democratic candidate, criticized past statements made by Republican nominee Trump that indicated he might withdraw troops from Asia unless allies more fairly compensate the U.S. for protection.

He has said repeatedly that he does not care if other nations got nuclear weapons, Japan, South Korea even Saudi Arabia, said Clinton.

Trump countered that his opponent was misrepresenting his position, which he indicated was about negotiating a better compensation deal for U.S. support.

All I said was they may have to defend themselves or they have to help us out. We are a country that owes $20 trillion, they have to help us out, he said.

Fact checking Japan, South Korea troops

Trump has in the past singled out Japan and South Korea as free-riders for paying Washington too little for contributing 50,000 American troops in Japan and 28,500 in South Korea to maintain regional peace and security.

And if Tokyo and Seoul refuse his demand to increase security reimbursements to Washington, Trump has said he would consider withdrawing troops from the region and allowing Asian Pacific allies to acquire their own nuclear deterrence.

Trump defended his position that allies must pay more for American defense saying the U.S., with massive financial and trade deficits, can no longer afford the costs of stationing thousands of troops abroad.

I want to help all of our allies but we are losing billions of dollars. We cannot be the policemen of the world, said Trump.

Compensation for US bases



Tokyo reportedly pays about $1.6 billion and Seoul pays over $866 million annually to Washington for the military bases in their countries.

While Trumps criticism of allies not paying their fair share may be a legitimate point of contention, arming allies with nuclear weapons would violate the U.S.s longstanding commitment under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to prevent the spread of these weapons of mass destruction.

His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. That is the number one threat we face in the world and it becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on any nuclear material, said Clinton.

Trump agreed that the possibility terrorists might acquire a nuclear device is the single greatest threat facing the United States.

US commitment to allies

Clinton reaffirmed that if elected she would stand by Americas longstanding commitment to protect its allies with both conventional and nuclear forces if attacked.

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck on Tuesday said South Korea is monitoring the U.S. presidential election and how it might affect relations in the future, but the alliance with the U.S. remains strong.

I can tell you that our government has been contributing and playing a role to maintain and strengthen Korean-U.S. joint defense capability and provide stable conditions for the USFK (U.S. Forces Korea) to be stationed, said Cho.

In July Republican Senator John McCain, who supports Trump, and Senator Robert Menendez, his Democratic counterpart on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a commentary to say that the U.S. will meet its mutual defense treaty obligations no matter who is the next president, and urged American allies in the region to take Trumps comments with a grain of salt.

However a growing number of conservative lawmakers in Seoul have cited a lack of confidence in the U.S. defense commitment and are urging the South Korean government to develop its own nuclear deterrent to defend against the growing North Korean threat.
The U.S. Congress lurched closer to a government shutdown Tuesday as the Senate failed to advance a short-term spending bill.

Democrats blocked a bill that would extend federal spending authority into December. Unless Congress acts, that authority expires at midnight Friday, the end of the current fiscal year, and non-essential government services would be suspended, less than six weeks before the November elections.

Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for the turn of events, which saw the stopgap spending bill fall 15 votes short of the three-fifths backing needed to advance in the Senate.

Can it really be that Democratic leaders have embraced dysfunction so thoroughly that theyd tank a noncontroversial 10-week funding bill over what, exactly? said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. Does anybody know what the issue is? Do they [Democrats] even know? The rationale seems to change by the hour.

The Republican legislation misses the mark, asserted Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Watch video report from VOA's Zlatica Hoke:

Democrats objected to a provision that would weaken disclosure requirements for corporations that contribute to political campaigns. They also complained that the bill contains no funding to eliminate lead contamination from drinking water in Flint, Michigan, a hazard that began two years ago.

One hundred thousand people ingesting lead, said Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin. Imagine 9,000 children in Flint poisoned with lead-contaminated water. That happened. In that poor city they are still drinking water out of bottles every single day.

Republicans countered that they fully intend to provide funds for Flint, but will do so in separate legislation that deals specifically with water safety, not a short-term spending bill for the entire government.

Republicans see election-year politics in play, alleging that Democrats believe their chances of winning control of the Senate will be boosted if Republicans are seen as unable to fulfill basic legislative functions.

Democrats are marching us down a path that leads to a shutdown in order to gain some sort of political advantage, said Texas Republican John Cornyn. What a terrible thing to do to this country.

But Democrats see a double standard, noting that the spending bill does not address Flints water crisis but does contain funds to help flood-ravaged Louisiana.

Im happy to support Louisiana, said Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. If, in fact, the people of Flint have to wait again, then the people of Louisiana can join them in that wait till the end of the year.

Fiscal drama is nothing new in Washington, where federal shutdowns have either been threatened or actually occurred in five of the last six years.

Funding the government is supposed to be an orderly process in which Congress appropriates yearlong federal spending in a series of bills covering a multitude of departments and agencies.

With Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on spending levels, Congress has been forced to enact catch-all bills weeks or months into the new fiscal year, and often needs a stopgap funding extension to get the work done.

This is not the way the Senates supposed to work, but this is the hand weve been dealt because of their [Democrats] obstruction, Cornyn complained.

Democrats accuse their Republican colleagues of hypocrisy, noting that Republicans regularly blocked bills when they were in the minority in the Senate.
By Rohini Swamy: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will convene an all-party meeting tomorrow to take a decision on the Supreme Court order asking the state to release 6000 cusecs of water over three days.

Siddaramaiah while speaking to reporters said that they are yet to decide what the next course of action will be. "I need to speak to advocates. Priority is for drinking water according to our national water policy. So when they say release water immediately it does not become a law or an order," he said.

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Also read: Supreme Court to Karnataka: Release Cauvery water for 3 more days

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) passed a resolution recommending the Karnataka government not to release water to Tamil Nadu as there is a paucity for drinking water in the state. "We passed a resolution in the KPCC meeting to advise the state not to release 6000 cusecs of water over three days as directed in the SC order," said G Parameshwara, KPCC President.



BJP BOYCOTT



In the previous all-party meeting that was convened by the chief minister on September 14, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) had boycotted it stating that they did not want to be a 'culpable partner of the Congress government's omissions and commissions." However, the BJP has today said that it will participate in the all-party meeting convened by the chief minister. BS Yeddyurappa and all other BJP leaders will attend the meeting.

During the special session, it unanimously passed a resolution in the legislature stating that no water will be drawn from the state's reservoirs except for drinking water purposes for the towns and villages in the Cauvery basin and the city of Bengaluru.

Also read: Difficult to assess impact of Cauvery issue on Tourism

But in the fresh order the SC ruled, "However, we direct the State of Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs of water from tomorrow i.e. 28th September, 2016. We are sure that the State of Karnataka shall obey the order without any kind of impediment, obstruction or any other attitude till we take up the matter on 30th September, 2016. Needless to say, the water that has been released will be adjusted in the eventual adjudication. Mr. Nariman has

submitted that there will be difficulty on the part of the State of Karnataka because of the resolution passed. The water shall be released despite the resolution that has been brought on record vide Annexure-I."



CHEAP POLITICKING OF ISSUE



Karnataka BJP President BS Yeddyurappa said, "The Supreme Court direction to Karnataka to release 18 thousand cusecs of water for three days is grossly unfair as well as unfortunate. BJP will stand by any decision taken by the state government in the interest of the farmers and the people. Congress leaders and MP's continue to indulge in cheap politicking on the issue of drawing PM and the union government in this issue. The Congress leaders have misinterpreted and twisted one of the comments of the judges."

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Also read: Bengaluru: Ready to face any proceedings against me, says HD Kumaraswamy

Janata Dal (secular) President HD Kumaraswamy reacted saying, "Regarding today's Supreme Court's direction to release water for two days, I think government is in a critical position, they can't release water. On the floor of the house, it had been decided not to release the water. A decision can be taken only after calling a session now."

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court asking the advocate general or the Centre to mediate a meeting between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

--- ENDS ---
The United States is calling for the immediate release any U.S. Citizen detained by the Houthi-controlled National Security Bureau in Yemen.

Such detentions are unacceptable and put in jeopardy any Houthi efforts to establish that they are credible and responsible interlocutors, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

They also pose serious questions about Houthis' commitment to seek a lasting peace for Yemen, the statement said, adding that if U.S. citizens held unjustly in Yemen were harmed, it would be the responsibility of those organizations, groups, or individuals detaining them.

An American English teacher in Yemen was detained last week in the capital Sanaa on suspicions of espionage.

Masked gunmen wearing the uniform of the rebels' national security service took Peter Willems from the principal's office of the Exceed Language Center he heads in Yemens capital.

Other Americans detained



Other Americans before Willems have been detained by Shiite rebels known as Houthis since they captured Sanaa in 2014, and are allied with security forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, backed by Iran.

In April, a U.S. citizen was flown out of Sanaa to Muscat after successful negotiations for his release by Oman, the only Gulf state which is not participating in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels. Last November, Oman evacuated three Americans held by rebels on claims of spying. In September of last year, Oman also helped to negotiate the release of a Briton, two Americans and three Saudis.

The hostility to Washington has increased since the Saudi-led coalition launched its military campaign in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March of last year with reconnaissance and refueling support from Washington.

Only a few Western nationals are still living and working in Sanaa. Western diplomats have long relocated to neighboring countries.
If Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton were elected, would she be more like she was as first lady during her husband Bill Clintons presidency or more like the U.S. senator from New York she was from 2001 to 2009?

Clinton has a wealth of political experience to draw on if she is elected, including her tenure as secretary of state under President Barack Obama. How she does that will affect how she governs and how she is perceived by the American public.

If, as president, Clinton is more like she was as first lady, its going to be problematic for her. If shes more like she was as senator, shell find much more success, said John Hudak, senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

First lady Clinton

Clinton opted to be a more active first lady than many of her predecessors, choosing to tackle policy issues like health care reform. But her 1,000-page bill went to defeat in Congress in 1993 and opened her up to criticism both for its complexity and her role, as the president's wife, in drafting it. Her approval rating dropped by almost 20 points.

Clinton's approval rebounded in 1998 when she became a fierce defender of her husband during the scandal over his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

Theres always been that side of Hillary Clinton who has looked with suspicion towards the news media and has been quite combative and that sometimes contrasts with the public image that Clinton likes to present, said Michael Isikoff, a journalist who first uncovered the news of Lewinisky affair.

Isikoff said Clinton is still on her guard with the press even now.

While she gives TV interviews, Isikoff said, she doesnt give press conferences where reporters can ask anything they want and are likely to badger her with questions she doesnt want to spend a lot of time answering.

That reluctance to speak with media  combined with self-acknowledged weaknesses as a politician  can make Clinton look like a weak candidate.

But when it comes to Hillary Clinton, the important thing to remember is that campaigning is not the same as governing, said Indira Lakshmanan, a contributor to Politico, who covered Clintons 2008 presidential run and her time as secretary of state.

Shes much better when shes actually in office, and you see it even in just her body language and her behavior, Lakshmanan said. She was much more relaxed around her own staff, around the press, just more relaxed and comfortable when she actually was in office.

Senator Clinton

If she is elected as the first female president of the United States, Clinton is expected to continue the work of her predecessor, the first African-American president.

We know that she has more hawkish tendencies. She is more of a traditional Cold War, realist Democrat, said Lakshmanan. But I think she would double down on health care and she would perhaps try to do more interventionist  for humanitarian reasons  foreign policy than the Obama administration has been willing to do."

A key difference between Clinton and Obama could come in their approaches to Congress. President Obama was not known for his ability to build bridges with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but Clintons experience in the Senate could be valuable as she builds a policy agenda for her first 100 days.

If its controlled by Republicans, shes going to have to veto an Obamacare repeal. Shes going to have to deal with all of the things President Obama has had to deal with coming from Congress, said Hudak.

Clinton could draw on her pragmatic side to deal with that challenge and extend an olive branch and say, Listen, Im not going to try to pass dramatic tax reform or an extension of Obamacare or something I know youre going to hate. I want to get things done, and I want you to help me, he said.

Clinton would do well to recall her time as a U.S. senator when she was actually working hard in a wonkish fashion behind the scenes and working on bipartisan legislation, Lakshmanan said.

Political lessons learned

To run an effective administration, Clinton would also need to apply the lessons learned from her first presidential run and time as secretary of state.

We saw in 2008, and at the State Department, an inability to run a big operation in a 21st century way, said Fournier. The best argument she has on the email fiasco is, 'Well, we didnt know what the rules are.' Thats not a very good thing. Fournier also cites the much-discussed Benghazi embassy attack, saying the controversy considered even under the most favorable light for Clinton still raises questions about her management style and credibility.

Fournier  who has known and covered Clinton since her time in Arkansas in the 1980s  said he has always found her very warm and engaging on a personal level and admired her approach to problems:

She thinks like a lawyer, Heres what we got to get done. Boom-boom, get it done. Think it through; work it through.


An international seminar focusing on the growing crises resulting from both climate change and the hundreds of dams being built on Tibets rivers was held on Sunday at the India International Center in New Delhi. The Students for a Free Tibet organized seminar focused on two Tibetan rivers, the Yarlung Tsangpo, known in India as the Brahmaputra, and the Dzachu, known in South East Asia as the Mekong.

The Director of SFT-India said that Tibet's rivers feed 2 billion people in East and South East Asia, and that with the, speakers from Bangladesh, Thailand, India and Tibet, we aim to build a network of civil society and environment stakeholders to collectively call for saving Tibet's rivers through this seminar."

The presenters at the event included Prof. Milab Chand Sharma, an expert on Himalayan glaciers, Mekong River Activist Tanasak Phosrikun from Thailand, Expert on the Brahmaputra river Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh, research scholar Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen from Dharamsala based Tibet Policy Institute, and Founder-Activist of "Tibet's Rivers, Asia's Lifeline" campaign, Ms. Jyotsana George.

The over 200 participants of the seminar were comprised of representatives from various foreign missions in the Indian capital, and students from Delhi University and Jawaharlal University.
Suspected Zanu PF activists go on the rampage in Harare stoning residents and destroying market stalls owned by vendors.

The vendors reportedly hit back leading to the arrest of some of them.

Vendors groups that had running battles with municipal police on Monday who attempted to evict them from their selling points, dissociated themselves from the protest.

National Vendors Union Zimbabwe leader Stan Zvorwadza told VOA Studio 7 that the people who stoned members of the public and destroyed vendors goods worth about $7,000, were linked to President Robert Mugabes ruling Zanu PF party.

But Zanu PF Youth League secretary for economic affairs, Tongai Kasukuwere, dismissed claims that the protests were conducted by members of his party.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights (ZimRights) condemned the protests saying they deprived informal traders of a source of income.

In a statement, ZimRights said, The ploy is suspected to be aimed at denying people the constitutional rights to demonstrate and petition, and freedom of assembly by raising fears of violence.

In fact, it is now suspected that the group of youths armed with stones were the ones behind the burning of vendors properties after an earlier clash between vendors and the municipal police.
Marion Louise Dahlke, 86, died on October 23rd at Grace Pointe Crossing in Cambridge, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 28th at Anderson Funeral Home.
The top court had issued notice to Khan, saying one can understand if accused makes a statement brushing away the offence alleged against him but how can a person in authority, who has nothing to with it, comment on the crime.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today asked the CBI to issue notice to Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan for calling the Bulandshahr gangrape a political conspiracy.

The apex court asked why any lawyer representing Khan had not appeared before it despite a notice served to the politician. The matter will be next heard on October 25.

The top court had issued notice to Khan, saying one can understand if accused makes a statement brushing away the offence alleged against him but how can a person in authority, who has nothing to with it, comment on the crime.

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"To get power, politicians can get down to any level, they can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people. So the truth has to be found out," said Azam Khan, known for his foot-in-mouth comments.

He, however, clarified later that he didn't mean to say the Bulandshahr incident was an "opposition conspiracy".

"I just said that the Uttar Pradesh polls are nearing and the fact that so many such incidents are happening needs to be investigated," he said.

The Bulandshahr rape survivor's father had sought the registration of an FIR against Khan for his remarks. He had also demanded that the case be shifted out of Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

The minor girl and her mother were allegedly gangraped on the national highway near Bulandshahr while on their way to their ancestral village on July 29.

ALSO READ:

Have all qualities to be PM, except that I am a Muslim: Azam Khan

Bulandshahr gangrape: SC seeks explanation from Azam Khan, UP government



--- ENDS ---
Special units of the US Armed Forces and Secret Services are trained for PYSOPs: psychological operations that the Pentagon defines as planned operations to use specific information to push emotional and motivational buttons and thus the conduct of the public, organizations and foreign governments. Why? To bring about or consolidate conduct promoting pre-set objectives.

This is exactly what the colossal political and media PSYOP launched against Syria aims at.

An attempt has been made for five years to demolish the Syrian state, pulling it apart from within with armed terrorist groups and infiltrating it from abroad and causing more than 250,000 deaths. Now that the military operation is failing, a psychological operation is launched to make the government and any Syrian resisting aggression look like the aggressors.

The PSYOP kicks off with demonizing President Assad (a fait accompli with Milosevic and Gaddafi). Thus Assad is presented as a sadistic dictator who delights in bombing hospitals and exterminating children, with the help of his buddy Putin (depicted as a neo-tsar of the born-again Russian empire).

This is why, at the beginning of October, various humanitarian organizations took the initiative to organize a photographic exhibition at Rome, funded by Qatars absolute monarchy. This has already been exhibited at the UN and the Holocaust Museum in Washington through the joint initiative of the USA, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. This contains part of the 55,000 photos that a mysterious Syrian deserter (code name Caesar), says that he shot for the Damascus government to document the torturing and killing of prisoners, that is, its own crimes (regarding the reliability of the photos see the reports below).

At this point we need another exhibition, to exhibit all the documentation that PSYOPs intelligence on Syria demolishes.

For example, the official document of the Pentagons Intelligence Agency, dated 12 August 2012 (de-classified on 18 May 2015 through the initiative of Judicial Watch): this reports that Western countries, the Gulf States and Turkey support the opposition forces in Syria to establish a Salafist principality in Western Syria, something the powers that support the opposition desire with the aim of isolating the Syrian regime.

This accounts for the meeting in Syria in May 2013 (documented by photo) between the US Senator John McCain (representing the White House), and Ibrahim al-Badri, the caliph, at the head of Isis.

This also explains why in 2013, President Obama secretly authorizes operation Timber Sycamore. This operation driven by the CIA and funded by Riyadh with millions of dollars, armed and trained rebels to infiltrate Syria (see The New York Times [1]).

Other documentation is found in Hillary Clintons e mail (de-classified under case number F-2014-20439, Doc No. C05794498). In December 2012, Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State, writes that given the strategic relationship between Iran and Syria, overthrowing Assad would constitute a huge advantage for Israel, and would also reduce Israels understandable fear of losing its nuclear monopoly.

To destroy the PSYOPs intelligence, we also need to look back in history, to how the US has exploited the Kurds since the first Gulf War in 1991. At that time the aim was to balkanize Iraq, while today it is to disaggregate Syria. Today, the airbases set up by the US in the Kurdish area in Syria serve the strategy of divide and rule, a strategy that does not strive to liberate people but to subjugate them  including the Kurds.
Mr Chairman,

Ladies and gentlemen,

A year ago, from the same rostrum at the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly, plenty of accurate assessments were made of the situation at this crucial stage of international development. The main theme was the recognition that humankind, in transitioning from a bipolar and unipolar international order to an objectively evolving polycentric, democratic system of international relations, is faced with challenges and threats that are common to all and that can only be overcome by joint efforts. It was rightly noted that there is a pressing need to change the philosophy governing relations between states and do away with attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of states and impose development models on countries and nations.

Unfortunately, the ideas of mentorship, superiority and exceptionalism, as well as the pursuit of ones own interests at the expense of just and equitable cooperation, have become deeply ingrained among the political elites of a number of Western countries.

We can see the results of unilateral reckless solutions, born of a sense of infallibility, in the bleeding region of the Middle East and North Africa. This erodes the foundations of global stability.

It is high time to draw lessons and avert catastrophe in Syria. It was largely thanks to Russian military aid to the legitimate Syrian government in response to its request that the collapse of statehood and the countrys disintegration under terrorist pressure was prevented. Our involvement led to the creation of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) as a means to establish an effective political process to enable the Syrian people themselves to determine their countrys future through an inclusive dialogue between all ethnic and religious groups. This course, which has no alternative, was enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions and found its practical embodiment in the recent agreements between Russia and the United States as ISSG co-chairs.

The main thing now is to prevent the collapse of these agreements and to investigate objectively and without bias the incidents in Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo that undermine them, all the more so since there are plenty of those who wish to subvert the agreed-upon approaches to achieving a settlement in Syria. It is very important to implement the requirement of the UN Security Council to disassociate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists, and the members of the US-led coalition bear special responsibility in this respect. The refusal or inability to do this in the current conditions is bound to enhance suspicions that this is an attempt to take the heat off Jabhat al-Nusra and that the plans for regime change are still in place, which is a flagrant violation of the relevant resolution of the UN Security Council. It will be impossible to resolve the Syrian crisis and improve the frustrating humanitarian situation without suppressing ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and the extremist groups that have merged with it. This is the key to consolidating the ceasefire regime and achieving a nationwide truce. It is also unacceptable to delay the start of intra-Syrian talks without any preconditions, as UN Security Council Resolution 2254 requires. Overt subversion of the political process by some representatives of the foreign opposition with the connivance of their patrons is negatively affecting the prestige of the United Nations and suggests that the reason for this may be rooted in an attempt to create a pretext for regime change.

Ukraine, which is a country close to us, has fallen victim of those who like to play zero sum games. Its development was subverted by the unconstitutional coup and is now being blocked by Kievs refusal to abide by the Minsk agreements of February 12, 2015. It is obvious to everyone that efforts to use the Ukraine crisis for self-serving geopolitical goals will not go anywhere. We hope that the natural course of events will lead to the implementation of all measures that the Ukrainian leadership signed onto in Minsk. The recent meeting of the Contact Group gives us some grounds for a degree of optimism.

More broadly, the only way to make the Euro-Atlantic region a space of equitable and indivisible security and mutually beneficial cooperation, as the OSCE declared almost 20 years ago, is by honestly implementing all agreements. Neither NATO nor the EU can replace genuinely collective efforts in pursuit of common interests, without winners and losers.

And it is certainly intolerable to hold hostage to political ambitions such spheres as sport, which has always helped bring nations closer together and build friendship and trust. A desire to usurp the right to predetermine the outcome of the battle on the playing field does not improve the image of those who boast about their commitment to honest competition but in reality trample on the principles, approved by the UN General Assembly, of the independence and autonomy of sport and the inadmissibility of any discrimination in sport.

In todays world, it is unacceptable to be guided by the philosophy of antiheroes from George Orwells dystopia Animal Farm where all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. In the enlightened 21st century, it is simply indecent to lecture anyone on what to do, while reserving the right to engage in doping, reckless unilateral actions without UN approval, geopolitical experiments that cost millions of humans lives, or extraterritorial blackmail against everyone, including ones closest allies, whenever there is the chance of financial gain for ones own kind. Or even the right to set the criteria of greatness for one country or another. It is my belief that this is unworthy of the principles of liberty and equality that once formed the foundation of the great nations in whose name their elites are now threatening the whole world.

This year, we are marking the 70th anniversary of the Nuremberg Tribunal verdicts. This anniversary will prevent us from forgetting the lessons of the Second World War, and remind us of the catastrophic consequences of attempts to control the fate of the world by trampling on the legitimate interests of other states or people. Freedom of expression or peaceful assembly should not be used as cover for condoning radical movements that profess the Nazi ideology, or seek to glorify fascists and their accomplices. The persistence of these vicious instincts calls for consistent efforts to block the way for neo-Nazism and revanchism, strengthen interethnic and intercultural harmony, and fortify in younger generations the ideas of justice and equality. Russia invites all of you to take part in the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students to be held in Sochi in October 2017.

There is no place for hegemonism in the future, if we want it to be fair and for people to be able to choose their own path of development. This requires learning to respect partners, as well as the cultural and civilizational diversity of todays world. Its about returning to the path, norms and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and other documents of this world organisation. Russia reaffirmed its commitment to this approach by signing on June 25, 2016 a Russia-China Joint Declaration on the Promotion and Principles of International Law. The decency and legitimacy of any member of the international community should be measured by their respect for the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in the internal affairs of others.

It is naive to think that global issues like fighting international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other threats that transcend borders can be resolved without renouncing the philosophy of exclusivity and permissiveness.

There is no place for double standards when it comes to combatting terrorism. No less than universal joint efforts are needed to form a broad counter-terrorism front, as President Vladimir Putin proposed at this podium one year ago. The tragedies of Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria are indicative of the need to stop opportunistic attempts to use extremists in order to further ones geopolitical aims. Before it is too late, we need to focus on countering the spread of terrorist and extremist ideologies that are literally taking todays youth hostage in various regions of the world. We are drafting a UN Security Council resolution aimed at mobilising efforts to fight this scourge, and hope that you will support our initiative. The settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also make a significant contribution to eliminating a breeding ground of radical sentiment. It is important to break this deadlock, which is precisely the objective of the July 1, 2016 report by the Quartet of Middle East mediators. Russia calls on all the parties to abide by its recommendations.

Trends in the areas of non-proliferation and weapons control are deeply troubling. There are attempts to replace the crucial task of sustaining strategic stability with populist slogans about nuclear zero. The fact that a number of nuclear weapons nations are not parties to existing treaties is also neglected.

The foundational Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is being subjected to pressure, with its parties finding it ever more difficult to find a common language, particularly as some nuclear powers torpedo any compromises that would allow for the start of negotiations on establishing a zone free of WMDs and their means of delivery in the Middle East.

Russia has consistently advocated liberating humankind from the threat of nuclear weapons and other kinds of weapons of mass destruction. But progress along the path to nuclear disarmament should proceed with a full accounting of the totality of factors affecting strategic stability, including the impact of unilateral global missile defence systems, the designing of non-nuclear strategic offensive weapons, the threat of placing weapons in space, the inability to ensure that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty takes effect, and the growing imbalance in conventional weapons in Europe.

We note the growing support for our initiative to draft an international convention on combatting chemical and biological terrorist attacks. The start of substantial negotiations on this problem, as well as on the Russian-Chinese draft Treaty on the Non-Deployment of Weapons in Space, could end the impasse over the key component of the multilateral disarmament mechanism  the Disarmament Conference. We are also calling for careful consideration of our proposals on upgrading the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons.

NATO countries have led conventional weapons control in Europe to an impasse. Our attempts to rescue it encountered tough, ideological resistance. Any and all ideas on returning to this issue would only be worthwhile now if the North Atlantic Alliance realises the absolute futility of ultimatums aimed at gaining unilateral advantages. We are still open to a dialogue with NATO based on equality and mutual respect, including dialogue through the OSCE.

It is also vital to enhance stability and ensure equal and indivisible security in other parts of the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific Region. Recent actions by the DPRK in violation of UN Security Council resolutions must stop. Russia calls on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes and return to the NPT. However, this situation should not be used as a pretext for massive militarisation of Northeast Asia and the deployment in the region of yet another positioning area for the US anti-missile defence shield. All parties must refrain from further escalating tensions and work towards a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula by resuming negotiations.

Russia will continue to promote dialogue at East Asia Summits with a view to shaping a regional security and cooperation framework in the Asia-Pacific Region based on non-block principles. A number of participating countries, including Russia, India, China and Indonesia have put forward their proposals to this effect. We also invite all countries of the region to coordinate efforts aimed at implementing President Vladimir Putins initiative to create a broad Eurasian partnership that would bring together members of the Eurasian Economic Union, other CIS members, as well as members of the SCO, ASEAN and other interested countries. I would like to emphasise that this is an open initiative in full accord with earlier plans to create a single economic and humanitarian space between Russia and the EU. It will be based on WTO norms and principles, unlike projects to set up closed trade and investment blocks that threaten the unity of the global trading system.

Russia will continue promoting a unifying agenda in various international formats, primarily the UN, BRICS, SCO and the Group of Twenty. The recent Hangzhou Summit reaffirmed the G20s status as a leading global economic and financial forum. Russia thanks the Chinese G20 Presidency for its efforts to make efficient use of this representative forum that provided us with an opportunity to exchange views on the key global economic and political issues for further promoting agreements in the universal framework of the UN.

The signing of the Paris Agreement to fight climate change has become a milestone for the United Nations. The fulfilment of nationally determined contributions is expected to ensure that the Agreement delivers on its stated purpose by keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. In order to achieve this goal, there is now a need to devise clear implementation rules and procedures regarding the Paris Agreement taking into account the interests of all participating countries. Launching the market and non-market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as envisaged in Article 6 of the Agreement is now becoming a priority. Ultimately, this will be crucial for preventing the competitive environment from deteriorating and the transfer of polluting production facilities from one country to another to the detriment of efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.

The United Nations was established with a view to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war and promoting equal cooperation between states. Today, this aim covers all areas of international life and human interaction: from military and political aspects of security to climate change, from conflict settlement and peacekeeping to ensuring human rights and liberties, from sustainable development to fair IT regulations, from fighting terrorism and drug trafficking to combatting corruption, from eradicating infectious diseases to affirming corporate social responsibility and encouraging scientific and technological advances. Of course, the purpose of the UN is also to promote dialogue between civilisations, support pluralism and equality among cultures and traditions, and fostering advances in research and the arts. In fact, this is a matter of preserving the humankind in all its rich diversity. It is this objective that should form the foundation for our collective efforts and become a global development imperative, an incentive for improving global governance and fostering true democracy in international relations.

I would like to express appreciation to His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, who made considerable efforts as UN Secretary-General to revitalise the world organisation in keeping with the demands of the time. We expect the next UN Secretary-General to contribute to reaching these objectives.
Representatives of the Quartet  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini  met in New York on 23 September.

The Quartet Principals were joined by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and France during the second part of the meeting to brief on their work to support Middle East peace. All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution.

The Quartet reiterated its call on the parties to implement the recommendations of the Quartet Report of 1 July 2016, and create the conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues.

The Quartet recalled its findings from the Quartet Report and expressed concern about recent actions on the ground that run counter to its recommendations. In particular:

The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace, and expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion in Area C and East Jerusalem, including the retroactive legalization of existing units, and the continued high rate of demolitions of Palestinian structures, are steadily eroding the viability of the twostate solution.

The Quartet expressed serious concern for the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the closures of the crossings as well as for the illicit arms build-up and activity by militant Palestinian groups, including rockets fired towards Israel, also increase the risk of renewed conflict. In addition, advancing Palestinian national unity on the basis of the PLO platform and Quartet principles remains a priority.

The Quartet condemned the recent resurgence of violence and called on all sides to take all necessary steps to de-escalate tensions by exercising restraint, preventing incitement, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric, and protecting the lives and property of all civilians.

The Quartet stressed the growing urgency of taking affirmative steps to reverse these trends in order to prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples.

The Quartet acknowledged certain practical steps and agreements by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that could improve conditions for the Palestinian people, while stressing the importance of full and timely implementation. The Quartet also noted the importance of a political horizon and reiterated its call for significant policy shifts consistent with the transition to greater Palestinian civil authority contemplated by prior agreements and called for in the Quartet Report.

The Quartet underlined its commitment to achieving a negotiated, comprehensive, just and enduring resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

The Quartet expressed appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations Special Coordinator. It directed the Quartet Envoys to continue engaging with the parties and key stakeholders and to keep the Principals apprised on implementation of the Reports recommendations.
Cover of Cheap Novelties. Photo: Ben Katchor

Theres a fake newspaper ad near the end of Cheap Novelties: The Pleasure of Urban Decay that more or less captures the essence of cartoonist Ben Katchors early work. MAN-SIZED CRIB, it cries in its headline, above a description of the fanciful product: There is an infant in all of us and to smooth over those moments of infantile frenzy, nothing works better than a man-sized crib. To live in a big city is to feel occasional moments of such frenzy: at public infrastructure, at corruption, at decline, at police violence, at those damn tourists in Times Square, and so on. But Cheap Novelties, a beautiful and perhaps even essential collection, is that crib: It comforts and soothes urbanites, reminding us why we pack together in the shadow of towers and bridges.

The book is a collection of the work that first brought Katchor to the fore in the ranks of American cartoonists, containing many of the dreamy, monochromatic two-row strips he had published between 1988 and 1991 in the late New York Press. The comics follow the travels and observations of a stocky, besuited man by the name of Julius Knipl. Hes ostensibly employed in the practice of photographing real estate for clients, but he seems to spend most of his time musing on the ways his city functions and, more important, the ways it used to function before changes great and small swept aside what once was.

Knipls city is unnamed, but its transparently New York  or, more accurately, a dream of what New York could have been. He spins a rack of postcards in one strip, contemplating fictitious, though plausibly named, points of interest: Binocular Park, the Kitzler Building, Roman Boulevard, the Smolt Bridge. Although theres a subtle reference to the action taking place as recently as the early 1990s, everything is old-fashioned in a way it hadnt been even in the years just before Giuliani: All the shops are mom-and-pops, all the men dine in cafeterias, and its a damn shame that the price of coffee has risen above a dime.

In other words, the whole endeavor is Borges by way of Bellow, presented with evocatively crude artwork that somehow brings an air of watercolor to its black-and-white scenery. A reader in the 2010s gets easily and joyfully wrapped up in its fictions, stupidly wondering whether such things as public mustard fountains really did exist at some point. Knipl is fixated on the details of his city and its changing nature, sometimes complaining about how the burg has changed, but always regarding it with tremendous respect.

Excerpt from Cheap Novelties. Photo: Ben Katchor

He doesnt rail against city hall or incoming gentrifiers; hes too concerned with men who keep watch on theater-district lights to note when they blow out, or his frustration with a local campaign to do away with the sale of day-old bread. He empathizes with vendors of eight-foot-tall balloons who cant figure out the best spots for selling their wares and he repeatedly orders something called Herbert Water from soda shops, only to find it has disappeared from menus. The conscience of the city hovers above his hot coffee, a narration box reads at one point, but Katchor could just as easily have replaced that second word with consciousness. In our modern parlance, one might say Knipl is all about mindfulness: maintaining an awareness of his world that all of us can so easily lose when we become wrapped in routine.

To read Cheap Novelties in 2016 is to feel nostalgia about nostalgia, to weep at the notion that our memories fade and that the past cannot always be preserved in photos or museums. As the world moves forward, rose-colored glasses can only see back so far before the horizon disappears. At what point does the statute of limitations on lamentation pass? People long for the danger of the old 42nd Street, but is anyone left to personally long for the synagogues of the 1910s? Given that none of us today ever saw Manhattans very first Chinese-owned laundries, wouldnt any of our affection for them be viscerally indistinguishable from Katchors for made-up candy stores?

Actually, there is one big difference: There are no Chinese people in Cheap Novelties, nor really any characters of color. This is a series of distinctly white longings. Its not exactly a case of whitewashing  the tales have a distinctly Jewish feel, and hearken back to an era when Jews were not considered white. Readers can see Cheap Novelties as a love letter to a time before an entire population gradually subsumed itself into whiteness. Even so, one of Old New Yorks joys lay in the fact that ethnic enclaves often melded into one another, defined more by class than color  and when they couldnt meld, there was conflict, something wholly absent from Katchors placid set of miniature narratives.

But no one said this was a realistic set of tales. The staccato vignettes, where narration and dialogue noisily intermix with one another like the cacophony of a busy street, are about pure pleasure. Knipl, tubby yet reliably dynamic, looks from under his hats brim at a world that feels empirically happier than ours. Without leaving the city, Mr. Knipl feels a pang of homesickness, the narration reads at the end of an installment about bus drivers. We share that homesickness, comforted by the fact that, in the pre-fluorescent light of a time-unstuck 24-hour diner, there is joy even in melancholy.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 27 (PTI) Amid reports of an increase in infiltration bids, the Centre today directed the BSF to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid and seal all vulnerable points along the Indo-Pak border.

The directive was given by Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a meeting attended by top officials of the Home Ministry and the Border Security Force, which guards Indo-Pak and Indo- Bangladesh borders.

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The meeting reviewed the overall functioning of the BSF, besides gaps and lapses in border guarding and how to plug them as the Home Minister expressed concern over infiltration from across the International Border and Line of Control.

The BSF has been told to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid along with the state police forces to act promptly on the intelligence gathered by the border guarding force to effectively check infiltration along the international border, official sources said.

The Home Minister is believed to have conveyed to the BSF that despite difficulties they have to perform and must ensure that there is "zero infiltration", the sources said.

A high-powered committee, headed by former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, has flagged gaps in fencing and vulnerability along the Indo-Pak border and suggested that technology should be used and vigil strengthened on riverine frontiers.

Besides using water sensors in the riverine areas, the Committee also suggested installing electronic sensors and putting up fences on the Indo-Pak border, the sources said.

It also suggested installing underground sensors in infiltration-prone areas and foliage penetrating radars in forests and areas with heavy vegetation.

Of the 3,323 km-long Indo-Pak border, 1,225 km falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including the LoC), 553 km in Punjab, 1,037 km in Rajasthan and 508 km in Gujarat.

The Committee was set up three months after the Pathankot attack to suggest ways to strengthen security along the border with Pakistan and address the vulnerability in fencing.

Referring to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Home Minister asked the BSF to ensure that smuggling of cattle and narcotics is stopped and advised better coordination with state police forces. India shares a 4096 km-long border with Bangladesh.

At the meeting, the Home Minister approved the long-pending demand of the paramilitary force to issue "Battle Casualty" certificate to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. PTI ACB GVS SK GVS

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Its a must-have. Photo: Bernd Mueller/Redferns/Getty Images

Attention, music completists: Bob Dylan is about to gift you 36 albums worth of rare live recordings from 1966 like hes a regular old Kris Kringle. Under your Christmas tree this year will more than likely be The 1966 Live Recordings, a 36-disc box set all taken from shows during Dylans tour-heavy Blonde on Blonde year. The collection, which arrives November 11, includes shows in Australia, Europe, and America  the highlights being his infamous Judas concert in Manchester, England (which was previously released), and his Royal Albert Hall shows, the first night of which will get a standalone release on November 25.

One song performed at the latter, Tell Me, Momma was never released on a studio album, but itll now exist on wax as part of these live recordings. (All of which were gathered from soundboards, CBS Records mobile recordings, and audience tapes, and sourced during the making of last years The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12.) So while you start your preliminary Christmas list scheming, take a listen to that song now and consider it an early present.
Sasha Lane in American Honey.

The verite nonfiction director arrives on the scene as a visitor, allowing the subjects to determine the action, while the fiction director maps out parameters and shapes a story line. In the work of the British-born filmmaker Andrea Arnold, the two types of directing merge. Unprofessional actors anchor her projects. She discovered the leading lady of Fish Tank on a train platform screaming at an uncooperative boyfriend. She found the central actress, Sasha Lane, of her new film, American Honey, on a beach. This stuff makes a great publicity hook, but think of the risk of putting a film in the hands of untested performers and functioning in part as an observer on ones own movie. In this case (as in Fish Tank), the payoff is so huge you feel the medium is expanding before your eyes.

Arnold was drawn to a real group of teenagers who  under the management of a den father/Fagin  traveled in a bus around the U.S. selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door and, in the evenings, partying hard. My initial hope that American Honey would make a case for the essential role of print magazines in a world that devalues them was quickly dashed. These kids have no connection with what theyre selling. Theyre just selling. Really, theyre spieling. They say, for example, that theyre formerly wayward youth pulling themselves up by the old bootstraps and trying to pay for college. Each day they return to the fold and turn over a substantial part of their earnings to Krystal (Riley Keough), who doesnt just embody capitalism at its least sentimental  she constantly reminds her employees of that fact. You sell or youre cast adrift.

Star (Lane) had been caring for two young siblings in the home of a seriously creepy stepfather. In the first scene, shes sifting through a trash can for expired foodstuffs. When the van full of rowdies goes by, she gazes on it longingly  and on one flamboyantly flirty stud, Jake (Shia LaBeouf), with naked desire. She abandons her sister and brother  a wrenching moment, reminiscent of Fish Tank  and hops aboard that bus. The kids (most played by nonactors that Arnold found in the milieu) roll on the ground and playfully punch one another; theyre a blur of unharnessed energy. Star is transported in more ways than one.

Lane is everything Arnold must have hoped shed be. The longing is in her eyes, but her mouth, with its thick upper lip, suggests skepticism and a healthy self-possession. Stars only loss of control is around Jake. If you think LaBeouf is a joke, you need to see him here. Theres wildness there, but acting centers him. Hes magnetizing. Keough  the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla  has a soft face but hard eyes. Krystal has a fascinating strategy: She gives her charges the illusion of freedom.

One thing you notice when Star passes her little siblings onto their mother, whos usually found in a bar: The woman  who doesnt want the responsibility of parenthood  isnt on a stool, soused. Shes rehearsing an intricate line dance. Again and again, Arnold seeks out things about people that dont fit your expectations. When, in the Southwest, Star has a fight with Jake and jumps into a classic convertible with three middle-aged men (one is played by Will Paton) in ten-gallon hats, they clearly cant believe their luck at having this teenage cutie (drinking copious amounts of mezcal) to themselves. You wait for them to turn predatory, and maybe they will. Or maybe they wont. Might happen, might not. In any case, theyre not predators. No character is fixed. No character is really a character. Its like they all were waiting for Arnold to find them and put them on film.

*This article appears in the September 19, 2016, issue of New York Magazine.
In a moving and bleakly funny interview on Conan last night, Patton Oswalt discussed life after the sudden death of his true-crime writer wife, Michelle McNamara, earlier this year, whom he memorialized in his Emmy acceptance speech. As you might have expected, his life is currently horrible. Im a widower and if I put it in really basic terms, Im like every bad 80s sitcom where theres a dad raising a kid by himself  except my 80s sitcom sucks, he jokes. Theres no punch lines. Theres just a lot of insomnia. Theres a lot of me eating Cheetos for dinner. Im waiting for my daughter to turn to the camera and say, No wonder Im in therapy. Oswalt also subtly reminds the public not to bring up his wifes death in front of his daughter if they see the pair in an airport, a warning you wouldnt think the world would need, but here we are.
A woman doctor took an Ola cab to her work on Sunday when the driver and his two friends started assaulting her. She narrowly escaped the assault.

By Pramod Madhav: A woman doctor luckily and narrowly escaped a sexual assault attempt by an Ola cab driver at Neelangarai in south Chennai late on Sunday.

The doctor, who lived in Injambakkam in south Chennai, used to regularly commute by cabs to a private hospital at Ambattur in north Chennai.

But this time when she took a cab, it proved to be a nightmare.





HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED: She hired an Ola cab and left for work as she had a night shift on Sunday. The driver took the ECR road and being a weekend, the traffic was significantly less. As the cab was crossing VGP Peace Temple in south Chennai, the driver stopped the car unexpectedly. Before the woman could react, two men opened the back doors and forced themselves inside, on either side of the woman. When she asked the driver who they were, the Ola driver said that they were his friends and they would get down on the way. Fearing something was wrong, the doctor messaged her friend and asked the driver to pull over the vehicle. But the driver denied and the men began to assault her. The woman began yelling and the driver started driving faster. Hearing the doctor's cry for help and watching the speeding car, a man who was behind the cab chased the cab and blocked its way. As the crowd started gathering, the two men who were seated behind ran away, but the cab driver was caught.

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POLICE ARRESTS ALL THREE ACCUSED



The police was informed and upon enquiry, they found that the driver was 23-year-old Marudhu. During police investigation, he revealed the identity of the two men. All three were detained and are being interrogated at a private place.

People commuting through ECR complain that there is only one police check post in the entire stretch, making it easier for anti-social elements to operate.

The recent events in Chennai have put the city in bad light and have raised security concerns among women.

Also Read:

Delhi girl's account of sexual assault by drunk intruder in her own PG will make you cringe

Belgian woman molestation: AAP calls for ban of unlicensed app-based cab services

Ola cab driver sent to 14-day judicial custody for molesting Belgian woman in Delhi



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By PTI: Port Blair, Sep 27 (PTI) In the interest of public health, consumption of chewing tobacco will be banned in the Andaman and Nicobar islands from next month.

Officials of the union territory said Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar islands Jagdish Mukhi has given instructions to ban the use of all forms of chewing tobacco products from October 2 for a period of one year.

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Accordingly, a total ban has been imposed on manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of all forms of processed, flavoured or scented chewing tobacco, whether going by the name or form of gutka, pan masala, zarda (packaged and loose), tobacco leaf in any form and pan masala-based sugar boiled confectioneries.

The ban has been imposed as tobacco is known to adversely impact the health of consumers and could also lead to deadly diseases, including mouth cancer, officials said.

The official order, banning these products for a year starting October 2, was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety. PTI NIK DKB RC

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The Salvation Army of Waco will have a RePurpose for a Purpose fundraiser at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Phoenix Ballroom, 401 S. Third St.

Tickets cost $50 per person, or $80 for a couple, and include heavy hors doeuvres.

For more information, call Christy Huffman at 756-7271.

Sul Ross birthday

Oakwood Cemetery, 2124 S. Fifth St., will have a birthday party for Gov. Sul Ross from 2 to 3 p.m Tuesday at Ross gravesite in the cemetery.

Guests at the free event can explore Waco history and celebrate Gov. Sul Ross 178th birthday.

The cemetery is the final resting place of notables from veterans to governors, presidents of universities, senators, Texas Rangers, sheriffs and many others who contributed to the history of Texas.

For more information, call 754-1631.

BU faculty recital

Jeffrey Powers, professor of horn at Baylor University, will present a faculty recital with three of his School of Music colleagues at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Baylors Roxy Grove Hall.

Kae Hosoda-Ayer, assistant professor of piano; Eka Gogichashvili, associate professor of violin; and Brent Phillips, associate professor of trombone, will join Powers.

For more information about the free programs music, visit www.baylor.edu/music or call 710-3991.

Volunteers for elderly

The Heart of Texas Area Agency on Aging and Senior Medicare Patrol will have an orientation and informational meeting for potential volunteers at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the HOT Council of Governments offices, 1514 S. New Road.

Volunteers are needed to help in the fight against health care fraud and scams against the elderly, including IRS scams and identity theft.

For more information, email janice.mancherian @hot.cog.tx.us or call 292-1871.

Library story times

The Waco-McLennan County Librarys will have a Buggy for Bugs Time story time, for ages 3 to 6, at the following times, dates and locations:

10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the East Waco Library, 901 Elm Ave.

10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Central Library, 1717 Austin Ave.

10:30 a.m. Friday at the South Waco Library, 2737 S. 18th St.

For more information, call 750-5942 or visit www.wacolibrary.org.

Car show, garage sale

The China Spring Tabernacle, 127 Ford St., will host a garage sale and a car show Saturday.

The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The public can rent tables for $15 to sell their items.

Car show entry fee is $20 per car.

For more information, call Angela Shaw at 836-9015 or Betty Manchego at 836-1905.

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. Notices cannot be accepted by phone. Because of high volume, some items might be omitted.
A former Lacy Lakeview woman who participated in the three-year sexual abuse of two young girls, including one who had a baby as a result of the abuse, was sentenced to 40 years in prison Monday.

Peggy Sue Knox, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, seven counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by contact.

In exchange for her guilty pleas, prosecutors dismissed one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a charge that carries a minimum of 25 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life with no parole.

Judge Ralph Strother of Wacos 19th State District Court sentenced Knox to 40 years in prison on the two aggravated charges and 20 years each on the remaining eight counts.

Knox will serve the sentences concurrently and will have to serve at least 20 years before she can be considered for parole.

Knox initially agreed to the plea bargain, but balked Monday when it came time for her hearing. She later changed her mind again, ultimately accepting the plea offer.

The two girls, family members of Knox, cried during victim-impact statements Monday after Knox was sentenced. Despite the abuse, the girls said they love her. The older girl, who is now 15, told Knox she is going to be a good mother to the child she had in May 2015 as a result of the sexual abuse.

Knoxs attorney, Jack Hurley, declined comment after the hearing.

Knox and her common-law husband, Terry Wayne Harrison, 55, were arrested last year after the older girls pregnancy sparked investigations by police and Child Protective Services.

They both are alleged to have sexually abused the girls at a home in Lacy Lakeview from November 2012 to 2015 beginning when the girls were 11 and 12 years old.

Investigators say Harrison fathered the child and alleged that Knox not only was aware of and condoned the abuse but participated in the sexual assaults.

Harrison remains in the McLennan County Jail. His charges are pending and no trial date is set, court officials said Monday.
The Texas education commissioner will replace the Marlin Independent School District board of trustees with a state-appointed board of managers and promote the districts Texas Education Agency monitor to a conservator who will advise trustees, according to a letter from Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

Morath will announce appointments to the board of managers and superintendent position, though it remains unclear when. TEA monitor Rose Camerons promotion to conservator is in effect, according to the letter. Cameron was brought on in June to replace a previous monitor and to move the district toward better accountability.

The commissioners letter comes after the state announced in August that Marlin had failed preliminary academic accountability ratings for the fifth year in a row. Marlin had signed an agreement last year saying the state could appoint the board of managers if it didnt meet academic accountability ratings this year.

I was not surprised at all, Marlin Superintendent Michael Seabolt said in an email Tuesday morning. The process is slow, however, and that creates instability.

Seabolt, who has been with the district for about a year and was brought on to turn the district around, is unsure of what will happen to his job, he said in the email.

Seabolt said the board appointments and superintendent announcement could come as soon as December.

In his email Tuesday, Seabolt said failures on the TEAs part led to Marlins standing and also said other school districts should be wary of TEA monitors and officials.

The Marlin ISD board of trustees was given some very bad advice and false reports from the former TEA monitor, Seabolt wrote, referring to the monitor before Cameron. The district worked on almost nothing meaningful, at least as far as classroom instruction goes, for years. When I got here last year, I read the reports, observed instruction myself and told the board the monitors reports were not consistent with classroom performance or testing data.

Had the board not been deceived by someone the board considered an expert, the kids would not have lost years worth of quality instruction. Warning to other schools: Some TEA monitors are excellent, some have no clue how to improve a school. Its a roll of the dice with TEA. Be warned, he wrote.

TEA spokesperson DeEtta Culbertson said previously the TEA would not comment on those allegations about the districts previous monitor, who was replaced by Cameron.

Cameron, the conservator appointed by Morath, will oversee the district until the board can be cobbled together, Seabolt said.

Morath stated in his letter that Camerons responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

 Attending board meetings, including executive session, and directing the board as necessary.

 Ensuring that a comprehensive needs assessment of the district is performed.

 Overseeing general administration of the district.

 Overseeing financial management and governance of the district to ensure that it complies with state and federal law.

The district will pay Cameron $85 an hour, plus necessary travel expenses not to exceed the states per diem rate, the letter states. Though the district waived its rights to challenge the appointment of a board, it still has the right to request an informal review regarding the appointment of a conservator by Oct. 3.

Escalating the role

I am escalating the role of the current monitor to a conservator . . . due to the ongoing and long-standing deficiencies and because such intervention is necessary to prevent substantial or imminent harm to the welfare of the districts students or the public interest, Morath wrote in his letter.

Marlin entered an abatement agreement with the Texas Education Agency last year that held off the districts closure after it received ratings of improvement required or academically unacceptable for four years in a row. Texas law states that school districts with failing financial or academic accountability scores for four straight years can be closed.

The abatement agreement states that if the district failed preliminary 2016 academic accountability ratings, the commissioner would appoint a board of directors.

The abatement agreement also states that the commissioner could close the district if it fails final academic accountability ratings for the year. The commissioner also has broad discretion under the agreement to close the district at any time if he decides its performance is unacceptable.

Potentially complicating the districts fate, Moraths letter came three days after Marlin ISD trustees voted Sept. 20 to appeal this years STAAR ratings. The same day, the board decided to become the first school district to join a Travis County lawsuit against the commissioner, which argues the 2015-16 assessments were illegal.

District officials have until Friday to file the paperwork to appeal the ratings to the TEA, but as of Tuesday, the district had yet to submit the appeal, Culbertson said. The district filed a notice Aug. 30 stating its intention to appeal.

Once the appeal is submitted, the district will have to wait on another final decision from the commissioner in December, Culbertson said. Appeal documents are not public until the commissioner issues a final decision, she said.

Seabolt said Tuesday he wants parents and teachers to know he is still hopeful about how the rest of the school year will go.

We are still teaching kids, Seabolt said in his email. We had some great improvements last year with the instructional systems we put in place. We will do even better this year as we were able to attract and retain some quality teachers due to the salary increases.
This was the second time in a week that Beijing has distanced itself from Islamabad's statements on Kashmir, with the two sides offering very different accounts of meetings between their top officials.

Chinaas foreign ministry said it was not aware of any comments on siding with Pakistan in case of any aggression.

By Ananth Krishnan: China on Monday contradicted reports in Pakistani media that Beijing would side with the country in case of any aggression and on backing it on the Kashmir issue. This was the second time in a week that Beijing has distanced itself from Islamabad's statements on Kashmir, with the two sides offering very different accounts of meetings between their top officials.

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PAK MEDIA MISREADS CHINA'S STAND

On Sunday, Pakistani media reports, quoting a press release from the Lahore office of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, claimed Chinese Consul General Yu Boren had pledged China's support "in case of any foreign aggression". Yu was also quoted as saying China "will side with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue" and there were "no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris", in language markedly different from the usual Chinese stand.



CHINA MAINTAINS NEUTRAL STANCE



However, Beijing declined to confirm the comments attributed to its Consul General in Lahore on Monday. "I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said. "China's position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear," he added.

"As a neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India, we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation, and jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region."

2 VERSIONS OF SEPTEMBER 21 MEETING

China and Pakistan also had differing versions of a September 21 meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN. Islamabad used the meeting to claim Li had backed Pakistan on Kashmir.

The Chinese statement however made no reference to Kashmir. In fact, it pointedly called on Pakistan to take more steps to protect Chinese personnel there.

CHINA DOWNPLAYS INCURSION REPORT

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday played down reports of an incursion along the eastern sector of the border in Arunachal Pradesh. Reports said PLA troops had entered into Indian territory on September 9, and a flag meeting was held later to resolve the issue.

Indian and Chinese officials have played down what they call "transgressions" on account of mutually overlapping claim lines of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which both sides are yet to clarify.

"China's position on the boundary question between India and China is consistent and clear," said spokesperson Geng Shuang. "The boundary between the two sides is yet to be demarcated. We are engaged in dialogue and consultation to address differences," he said.

Also Read: In snub to Pakistan, China rejects reports of change in Kashmir stance

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Pakistan in talks with China over NSG entry after India's failed bid



--- ENDS ---
What would you do if you got a free ticket to Coldplay's highly-anticipated debut concert in India?

By India Today Web Desk: Virtual queues were formed, authorities were cursed, memes were generated and a whole range of emotions were felt when the ticketing floodgates for Coldplay's India concert swung open earlier this month.

But before all the angst and memes, came the news of the free concert tickets that could be won by participating in a certain set of social emancipation activities across social media platforms.

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We know you'd believe us when we say how the 'free' tickets seemed like an unrealistic, distant dream to us--until recently, when an acquaintance won free tickets to Coldplay's debut concert in India.



Also Read: This is the final line-up of Coldplay's concert in India, and it's not what you'd expected

"Initially I wasn't very happy, I'd rather someone else have it," he said--much to our surprise, of course!

"It's not really a free ticket, you know, I still have to pay for my travel to Bombay," the Delhi-based friend said, citing a valid point.

The band's @glastofest show has been nominated for Spectacle of the Year and Best Festival Performance at LIVE UK's Music Business Awards! (?? Andrew Allcock) A photo posted by Coldplay (@coldplay) on Sep 26, 2016 at 9:28am PDT

Since the news of the Global Citizen Festival coming to India in November was confirmed, not a single day has passed without its mention. From the star-studded lineup to the exorbitant ticket prices, Coldplay has managed to create buzz around its first official visit, much in advance.

The band will make their live debut in India when they headline the first Global Citizen India Festival in Mumbai on Nov 19th! Tickets are FREE by taking action at http://globalcitizen.in #ShuruaatHoonMain A photo posted by Coldplay (@coldplay) on Sep 12, 2016 at 3:57am PDT

Also Read: Early bird passes for Coldplay's concert sold out; tickets now priced at Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000



The tickets come alongside a plus one provision--the mere mention of which is enough to resurrect the high school nightmares of many, when choosing one 'best' friend among a group was a matter of life and death.

"I felt kind of bad when I had to choose among my many friends, that's not something I claim to enjoy too much."

He went on to mention how the non-transferrable nature of the tickets troubled him. "I know so many people who wanted this more than I did. If I could pass on these tickets, believe me--I would've," he said.

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While the concerns mentioned above are anything but illogical, we know there will be many who would kill to lay a hand on these tickets, which otherwise are priced upto Rs 35,000!



The second Action Journey will go live on www.globalcitizen.in from Monday 26 September until Thursday 6 October - giving people another chance to win free tickets to the Festival



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By PTI: Srinagar, Sep 27 (PTI) Cross-border trading resumed today between the divided parts of Kashmir along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route after remaining suspended for nearly two months due to the unrest in the valley.

While a dozen loaded trucks reached Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Uri sector from this side, only one truck came from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, officials said.

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Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir was suspended on August 4 after Pakistani traders reportedly stayed away from work for a week initially, to protest civilian killings in the valley and express "solidarity with the people of Kashmir".

Twenty-one items, including eatables, garments and handicrafts, are traded on the twin routes -- Srinagar-Muzaffarabad in Kashmir and Poonch-Rawalakote in Jammu - on which around 50 trucks ply for four days a week.

Trade between the divided parts of Kashmir is considered as the second major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) after the launch of historic bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad on April 7, 2005.

Although agreed upon by India and Pakistan in 2004, the trade became a reality on October 21, 2008. PTI MIJ TA JM

--- ENDS ---
The local sharemarket is set to open lower this morning on the back of a global selloff of bank stocks and ahead of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

We should see some of the momentum coming out of the local market on open, with a move sub 5400 expected. The rally that start on 14 September equated to close to 5 per cent, but indecision was seen in the price action yesterday and there was no conviction to push the move higher. The bears will have a greater say today.

The key markets to watch though are S&P futures and the USD. With many focusing on USD/MXN and also USD/CAD, given the ramifications on the Mexican and Canadian economies if Trump dominates the debate and gets a step closer to the Oval Office. USD/JPY is also a must watch for a move into 100.00.

But it really is a day where the participant's gets to sense check market moves against who performs the strongest. Donald Trump is the underdog (on paper), but he knows that and who knows if he sticks to the script his advisors provide and does his homework he could do well. The fact there is no ad breaks makes this uncharted ground for him and there is nowhere to hide if he is found out. He can't bully Hillary like he did to 'Little Marco' or Ted Crux, so we watch with fascination on how he plans to dominate and fact check Clinton. Game on.
Rio Tinto is taking advantage of its strong cashflows to slash as much as $US7.5 billion ($9.78 billion) off its debt by the end of the year.

As some analysts have begun to raise profit forecasts for leading miners in the wake of rises in some commodity prices, the global miner has outlined plans to repay $US 3 billion on top of the $US4.5 billion of outstanding debt it repurchased earlier this year.

Compared with other miners, Rio Tinto has a strong balance sheet and earlier this year completed $US4.5 billion in bond buybacks. Credit:Bloomberg

Of the latest round of securities to be repurchased, the highest nominal yield is 9 per cent and the lowest 2.875 per cent.

"Rio is again taking advantage of its strong liquidity position to further reduce gross debt," it said in a statement that disclosed details of the debt to be repaid.
The more women you have in senior management roles, the better your company will perform. This is the conclusion from a major global study that examines the correlation between gender and company performance.

The report, by Credit Suisse, identifies 27,000 senior managers at over 3000 companies around the world.

It is the second report by the investment bank that finds evidence that companies with a higher participation of women in decision-making roles generate higher returns on equity, while running more conservative balance sheets.

"Where women account for the majority in the top management, the businesses show superior sales growth, high cash flow returns on investments and lower leverage," it says.
The longest continuous reconstruction of the Earth's surface climate suggests that current greenhouse gas levels could commit the planet to as much as 7 degrees of warming in the next 1000 years.

The study, Evolution of global temperature over the past 2 million years, was conducted by Stanford University then doctoral student Carolyn Snyder, and marks the longest continuous reconstruction of the Earth's surface climate to date.

It comes as a national poll found public support for federal government-led action on climate change has bounced back, with increased support for renewable energy production.

The Climate Institute's Climate of the Nation poll found 65 per cent of Australians want their country to lead the world on climate change solutions, a marked increase since the time of divisive debates about the Gillard government's carbon tax.
Following the custodial death of Chinthathiripet resident, his mother has alleged that the police had tried to pay them to hide the lock-up death.

By Pramod Madhav: 'Visaranai' a film that talks about police brutality on innocent men was recently selected official entry to the Academy Awards talks about police brutality on innocents. Few days ago the announcement, a similar incident rocked Chennai.

The shocking incident of custodial death took place in Chennai on September 21. The incident pushed locals to revolt against police. Meenkulambu Karthik, a 23 year old man who lived in Chinthathiripet was detained by Kannagi Nagar police under suspicion of chain snatching.

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His family was not allowed to meet him. Karthik worked in a fish market and was taking care of his mother. His mother, with help of neighbours, arranged for a lawyer to for his bail on September 21. But Karthik's life was waiting to take a disastrous turn.

POLICE DID NOT INFORM ABOUT THE DEATH



"On Monday evening, he left for Kannagi Nagar with his friend Arunachalam to attend a wedding. He did not return that day and I was informed that he was detained under suspicion. We went to meet my son but they didn't allow us," said Karthik's mother Ganga.

Ganga added that on Monday morning, police officers came to her residence and her along with her daughter in a jeep. She said that the police did not tell her that her son was dead. According to her the police, made her to go to different police stations.

Ganga alleged that the officers had tried to persuade her to think that Karthik fell down and died which she was not ready to accept. Police sources earlier stated that Karthik suffered from breathing difficulty while interrogation. The police said that he was rushed to the hospital soon after but he died on the way. Police officials maintained that Karthik was not tortured to death.

Also read: 4 cops surrender after being booked for custodial death of man



''Police took us to Tharamani police station and gave Rs 50,000 to my mother and asked her to use it for Karthik's funeral and said that they will give us another Rs 1.5 lakh when we would collect Karthik's body from General Hospital and another Rs two lakh once we get the post-mortem report. We had no other option as we were surrounded and only way for us out of the station was only if we accept the money. We were almost in a locked up condition''.

INCIDENT TRIGGERS PROTEST IN KANNAGI NAGAR



The news of Karthik's custodial death rattled up entire Kannagi Nagar. People had surrounded the police station and protested against police brutality. The next day, petrol bombs were hurled and 12 motorbikes parked inside the police station got gutted by fire.

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According to Ganga, the cops gave her Rs 50,000 and gave Rs 1.5 lakh rupees to Karthik's father when he went to collect the body at GH. After performing Karthik's last rites, Ganga and Uma decided to get justice for Karthik's death.

They took the money given to them by the cops and went Police Commissioner's office. They tried to return the money and demand justice for Karthik's death but they were sent away.

POLICE TRIED TO PAY MORE



Ganga, with the help of a lawyer went back to Kannagi Nagar police station and returned the money. They tried to give her another Rs Two lakh if she felt that the money was not enough.

Karthik's friend Arunachalam went missing and his mother had to file 'habeas corpus' following which police officials stated that he was arrested, produced before Tambaram magistrate and was currently in Puzal prison.

Explanation from the police end was that two officers were suspended for two months and an inquiry has been initiated. However, they refused to talk about the custodial death.

Also read:

Chennai: Enraged by custodial death of 22-year-old, protesters hurl petrol bombs at police station





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--- ENDS ---
Not for the first time may Malcolm Turnbull find himself ruing the day he cited Tony Abbott's poor performance in Newspoll as a key reason for terminating his prime ministership.

Tuesday's Newspoll holds more grim news for the Member for Wentworth, who despite enjoying his best two weeks in in the job strutting the world stage is back facing the reality of his domestic woes after presiding over another fall in the Coalition's primary vote.

Published by News Corp, the survey of 1662 voters recorded a lowering of the Coalition's primary vote to 38 per cent, down 3 per cent, which is just on the error of margin.

On a two-party preferred basis, Labor leads the Coalition 52-48 which is the opposition's biggest lead since Malcolm Turnbull took power.
Kevin Rudd had begun secret discussions to create a new national cultural institution before he was dumped as prime minister  a vision that would have built on his legacy as the leader who apologised for systemic mistreatment of the first Australians over generations.

Behind the scenes, the then prime minister instructed bureaucrats in 2009 to begin discussions for a landmark museum dedicated to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, to be built in Canberra's parliamentary triangle on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Days after US President Barack Obama inaugurated a new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, Mr Rudd has called on Australia's political, cultural and business leaders to take up the idea of a new museum  funded by government, philanthropic donations and corporations who owe debts to Indigenous Australia.

The former Labor leader had asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to identify a site and funding for a nationally significant architectural monument and educative institution.
What do we not understand about addiction and how to avoid it? A lot according to JFK's nephew Christopher Kennedy Lawford.

And Lawford, who was in Australia last week to launch the new South Pacific Private rehab clinic, would know.

Patricia Kennedy, JFK's sister, Peter Lawford and a two-year-old Christopher. Credit:Bettmann

For his 21st birthday, his father, actor and Rat Pack member Peter Lawford gave him a vial of cocaine. Many years later, as Christopher's alcoholic mother Patricia was dying of tongue cancer, Christopher fed her cubes of wine to satiate her addiction.

Christopher himself also had the self-destruct button pushed in firmly. Having taken LSD as a 13-year-old, he later moved onto heroin and spent 17 years in the grips of addiction.
Gennifer Flowers is probably not coming to the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tonight, but that's not really the point. When Clinton invited Mark Cuban, a businessman and sharp critic of Trump, to the debate, Trump responded (whatever his campaign says now) not by inviting someone who questions Clinton's credentials to be president, like Patricia Smith, whose son died in Benghazi, to join him. Instead, he suggested that he might bring along a woman who had an affair with Clinton's husband. The point wasn't to debate Clinton but to reduce her, yet again, to being nothing more than Bill Clinton's wife.

There's no question that Hillary Clinton's marriage is an important part of her biography and resume, or that the Clintons themselves made their relationship a selling point during the 1992. I found Bill Clinton's rendition of the fractured fairy tale that is their marriage at the Democratic convention this summer to be touching. But it's maddening to watch the conversation about Clinton narrow, time and time again, to her marriage.

Witness the fuss over what Bill Clinton will be called should his wife become the president, whether he'll pick out china patterns, and how the country can possibly survive if the president's spouse does something other than the ceremonial duties that have traditionally been the purview of the first lady.

Less flippantly, I've been disappointed to see some otherwise smart conservatives express concern that by giving Bill Clinton a role in policy, Hillary Clinton will be setting him loose to harass his new co-workers. Somehow, a legitimate question about how Clinton might pursue harassment policies for 2.6 million civilian federal employees, not to mention 1.5 million members of the military, which has its own shocking weaknesses when it comes to sexual harassment and sexual assault, comes down to a question about one man.
What do you want to be when you grow up?

It's a question we ask too often of children  who legitimately should have no idea  and not nearly enough of adults.

Australians are working longer than ever before, but the idea of a job for life is dead. The typical worker will now have several jobs in their lifetime and the nature of those jobs is constantly evolving.

On the surface, our economy appears to be in a process of slowly sanitising itself. Grimy jobs in manufacturing and agriculture have been lost, replaced by an army of professional services workers toiling in gleaming skyscrapers.
Native title rights are being undermined in the Kimberley region and the demand for land development is forcing Indigenous communities from their homeland, a detailed global Oxfam report has found.

The report is critical of state government policies and actions, including the controversial proposed closure of remote WA indigenous communities, the weakening of laws protecting sacred cultural sites and the undermining of successful carbon offset projects.

An Oxfam report says state government policies further native title woes in the Kimberley.

Oxfam Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Program manager Justin McCaul said the Kimberley was the only region in a highly-developed nation represented in the report.

He said Australia was in many ways less supportive of Indigenous land rights than other developing nations.
The federal government has backflipped on its proposed backpacker tax, which is set to put a smile on the faces of Western Australian farmers.

Earlier this year the Australian Government announced working tourists would be taxed 32.5 per cent from their first dollar earned - a move that drew heavy criticism from the tourism and agricultural sector in WA.

Backpackers will only pay 19 per cent tax after a government backflip. Credit:File/Rob Griffith

But on Tuesday, Treasurer Scott Morrison announced the tax would be scaled back for those on 457 working visas to 19 per cent from 1 January 2017.

WAFarmers Federation chief executive officer Stephen Brown said the changes will have a positive impact on the farming and tourism industry in the state.
Charleston, South Carolina: The first of some 3000 potential jurors in the Dylann Roof death penalty trial began reporting Monday to the US District courthouse in downtown Charleston.

Jurors were summoned, some 80 at a time, before Judge Richard Gergel, whose questions were aimed at weeding out those who obviously cannot or who will elect not to serve: people over 70, having no one else to care for young children and the like. Also to be excluded: those whose minds are already made up about Roof's guilt, or whether to impose the death penalty.

Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley speaks to the media in front of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church after a mass shooting at the church that killed nine people on June 19, 2015. Credit:Getty Images

Roof, 22, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, is charged with federal hate crimes resulting in death in the June 2015 slayings of nine African-Americans who were attending an evening Bible study at historic "Mother" Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AEM) church.

Of the first 80 prospective jurors in court, some 90 percent were white. Nine were black. All were sombre. Gergel deferred two teachers.
By now Trump seemed quite nonplussed, interjecting with a demand to know where Clinton had come across this woman. "He called this woman 'Miss Piggy.' Then he called her 'Miss Housekeeping,' because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name": Hillary Clinton moved the debate to Donald Trump's attitude to women. Credit:AP Clinton: Her name is Alicia Machado and she has become a US citizen. Trump: Oh, really? Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. Credit:AP

Clinton: And you can bet she's going to vote this November. Clinton came across as an agile thinker, developing ideas and themes as she built arguments. Trump didn't drift far from his rally slogans, save to become louder, at times talking over Clinton and debate moderator Lester Holt, as he challenged long-established facts, such as he did support the Iraq war in the lead up to the US-led invasion in 2003. Donald Trump. Credit:AP Despite past Trump complaints that Clinton was shrill, her tactical achievement on the night was to not allow Trump to shout her down. Instead, she stuck to the point, or shifted to a new one of her choosing, rather than allow herself to be trapped in an exchange on the point of Trump's interjection. Despite pre-debate taunts, Trump did not bring up former President Bill Clinton's extra-marital straying. "I said to myself, I can't do it. I just can't do it," he said during the debate. Later he explained he had curbed his tongue out of respect for Chelsea Clinton who was in the audience.

But there was no explanation for his failure to capitalise on Clinton's admission that her private email server had been a mistake, or for allowing her to slip away by resorting to a cute phrase  "well, Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but that is not the facts"  when he had correctly pinged Clinton for early support for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, before she rejected it. Trump made little effort to defend himself against a charge voiced by Clinton three times  unprecedented in a presidential debate  that he was racist, especially in his birther campaign against the legitimacy of the Obama presidency and on the misogynist terms in which he has referred to women. And he seemed positively dumbstruck, unable to protest in any way, as Clinton enumerated all the reasons for his refusal to release his tax returns. For a candidate whose ego required that he be addressed as "Mr Trump," Clinton went out of her way to address him simply as "Donald" more than 20 times. Trump, by contrast, resorted to faux graciousness when he first addressed Clinton as "secretary." And Clinton seemingly gulled Trump into an admission that he didn't pay income tax and that he had rooted for a crippling housing crisis in the US so that he could "go in and buy some and make some money". To this, Trump responded a bit too much in the vein of the infamous Romney 47 per cent quote: "That's called business." The majority of the fact-checkers' ink was expended on utterances by Trump: from his claim that Clinton, age 68, had spent her "entire adult life" fighting ISIS, which first emerged as recently as 2003, to NATO failing to fight terrorism (it did deploy troops and resources in Afghanistan), the US was not updating its nuclear arsenal when the project is already under way with a price tag of tens of billions of dollars, to a "they're all leaving" charge at corporate flight and consequent job losses in Ohio and Michigan, when Ohio gained 78,300 jobs in the past year and Michigan gained 75,800.

All these points will be debated endlessly in that part of the US that is furthest from where the people live: inside the Washington DC Beltway. But it remains to be seen how they'll play in real America; to date Trump's fabulist tendencies have not damaged his standing with the Republican base. But Trump must grow his support if he is to win the November 8 election. While polls in the coming days will give a clearer picture, analysts' calls on the night were that Trump likely had failed to move many of the estimated 20 per cent of voters who are still undecided. Did Trump come across as temperamentally suited to the roles of president and commander-in-chief? Um, no, not really. Every answer seemed to come back to him rather than the US people; problems affecting particular states were rendered less important by Trump's need to affirm he had an investment or real estate in those states. Searching for an expression of the points of difference between the two candidates on the night, Nick Confessor, live blogging for The New York Times, wrote: "I think that in sacrificing a lot of his bombast, [Trump] sacrifices the sense of absolute certainty in his ideas. And [Clinton's] hesitancy  her slowness and sometimes awkward moments  was less apparent  and at the same time she had some very confident moments when she swung hard and hit." Those Clinton practice sessions, much ridiculed by Trump, produced some memorable lines: Trump's political rise was built on the back of a "racist lie", his tax plan was "Trumped-up trickle-down", and she several times urged the fact-checkers to get to work on a particular Trump comment.

Clinton did attempt to portray herself as warmer than her customary media posture. She mentioned her granddaughter to segue to a commentary on the future and she dwelt on her textile-printing father as the kind of worker who might have been stiffed by Trump. And in that she seemed to ignite interest out in voter land. As Trump started to stall about an hour into the debate, Republican pollster Frank Luntz tweeted that, in a group of 20 voters he had brought together to watch the debate, 17 said Clinton was winning. Only three backed Trump's performance. John Weaver, a Republican consultant and adviser to Ohio Governor John Kasich, who was one of Trump's challengers for the GOP nomination, was cutting in his tweet: "Two thoughts: (1) She kicked his ass and (2) he helped her." Progressive, or liberal, analyst Josh Marshall detected a bad early turn for Trump: "Clinton clearly went into this debate not looking for one or two big 'Have you no decency' moments but rather looking to hit him with a rat-tat-tat series of taunts and jabs to see if she could get him to lose his cool and throw him off his game. It ended up happening a lot more quickly than I expected.
Daughters took apart their own roof top in Odisha to collect wood for their mother's funeral. The girls even pleaded villagers to help them but they refused.

By India Today Web Desk: After Dana Majhi who carried his dead wife's body for 10 km in Odisha, another tragic incident has hit the news where a woman's daughters had to take apart the roof of their home to collect wood for her funeral.

Kanak Satpathy, a 75-year-old woman, died on Friday night after a prolonged illness, according to reports. After Kanak's death, her daughters asked villagers for help to arrange their mother's funeral, but they all refused.

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The girls still waited for hours for the villagers to show up, and when they did not, they placed the body on a woven cot and started for the crematorium.

Photo: ANI

On reaching the crematorium, they realised they did not have wood so they dismantled the roof of their home and used it for their mother's funeral.

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Hillary Clinton's probability of winning the White House gained in online betting markets following the first debate between her and Donald Trump, according to Reuters.

A Clinton contract on the popular PredictIt betting market gained 6 cents from the previous day's level to 69 cents, while a contract favouring Donald Trump's prospects for victory tumbled 7 cents to 31 cents.

The price swings for both candidates were the largest since early August, and placed Clinton's lead in that market at the widest in about two weeks.

Full story here.
Republican nominee Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to hit rival Democrat Hillary Clinton harder in the next presidential debate after she put him on the defensive by accusing him of being racist, sexist and a tax dodger during their first matchup.

Mrs Clinton blasted Mr Trump again the day after a forceful performance in the first of three scheduled presidential debates. The New York real estate mogul, she said, "was making charges and claims that were demonstrably untrue, offering opinions that I think a lot of people would find offensive and off-putting."

Mr Trump, making his first run for public office, praised himself for not attacking Mrs Clinton about the marital infidelity of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, during the debate at Hofstra University, but said in a Tuesday morning interview with Fox News that he may take up the attack line going forward.

"I may hit her harder in certain ways," Mr Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox & Friends. Mr Trump added that when Mrs Clinton criticised him for his treatment of women, he resisted. "I was going to hit her with her husband's women. And I decided I shouldn't do it because her daughter was in the room."
Delhi Police has cracked the murder case of a government school teacher in Nangloi with the arrest of two students today from nearby Begampur area.

By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police has cracked the murder case of a government school teacher in Nangloi with the arrest of two students today from nearby Begampur area. One of the accused is a class 12 student while another is his classmate, who was rusticated from the school some time ago due to poor attendance. A knife and blood-stained clothes have been seized.

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Mukesh Kumar, a government school teacher in Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School on Sultanpuri Road in West Delhi's Nangloi, was stabbed thrice in front of the entire class yesterday evening.

ACCUSED BELONG TO NANGLOI

The class 12 student is an 18-year-old resident of Prem Nagar-II locality in Nangloi. His accomplice -- another student who was rusticated from the school on account of poor attendance was also apprehended.

Acting on a tip-off regarding the murder, a team of Delhi Police offficials yesterday reached the Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School on Sultanpuri Road in Nangloi and found teacher Mukesh Kumar lying in a pool of blood inside Room no. 108. Kumar was rushed to Sri Balaji Action Hospital in Paschim Vihar.

TEACHER SUCCUMBS TO STAB WOUNDS

The injured teacher was hospitalised in the ICU. The vice-principal of the school said, "The accused duo are friends. Both are indisciplined students from class 12, who remain frequently absent. The teacher used to single them out for indiscipline and tried to reform them. On the fateful day, the duo entered the school and stabbed Mukesh Kumar thrice. Kumar succumbed to his injuries while he was being treated."

As many as 7 special teams of the district were constituted as part of the search operation to trace the accused. On being interrogated, the two accused confessed to their crime, saying they had planned to teach their teacher a lesson for singling them out before the entire class. They said they bought one knife from a nearby area of Nangloi and stabbed teacher Kumar. After committing the crime, they were arrested from the nearby Begampur area.



DELHI GOVT ANNOUNCES COMPENSATION

The Delhi government will provide Rs 1 crore to the family of a school teacher stabbed to death by two of his students, it was announced on Tuesday.





Also Read:

Caught on camera: Woman stabbed 22 times in broad daylight in Delhi

Delhi Police arrests man for kidnapping six-year-old boy, kidnapper wanted to marry victim's aunt





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SS Rajamouli's fantasy drama Eega, shattered the box-office records when it released in 2012. Now, actor Nani, who played the lead in the film, has expressed his desire for the sequel.

By India Today Web Desk: Actor Nani, who is best known for working with director SS Rajamouli's fantasy drama Eega, says he's a fan of the film and he would like the sequel to be made. Also, he believes Rajamouli is the best person to take a call on this.



ALSO READ: Happy Birthday Nagesh- Remembering the legendary comedian on his 83rd birthday

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ALSO READ: Baahubali 2- SS Rajamouli to wrap up shoot this November

Speaking about the sequel, Nani said, "Even today, I keep reading reports on Eega 2. As much as I wish it was true, there's no update about the project. Whenever I bump into Rajamouli sir, I jokingly ask him about Eega 2. As a fan of Eega, I want the sequel."

In the critically-acclaimed 2012 film, Nani returns as a fly to avenge his killers and protect his girlfriend.

"I die in the first part. Technically, I won't have a role in the sequel, but I still want it to be made. However, the decision to make the sequel completely rests with Rajamouli sir. I'm eagerly looking forward to it," he said.

Nani is currently shooting for the Telugu film Nenu Local while his Majnu, which release last week, opened to decent response from the audience.

Meanwhile, SS Rajamouli is rigorously shooting for the much-awaited film Baahubali: The Conclusion. While the unit is currently shooting for the climax of the film, the first look poster is expected to be released on Prabhas' birthday (October 23).

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The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 94.67 lakh of Pradeep Sharma, former IAS officer of Gujarat cadre under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: The Enforcement Directorate or ED has attached assets worth Rs 94.67 lakh of Pradeep Sharma, former IAS officer of Gujarat cadre under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

During the investigation, ED found that Sharma, the then District Collector of Bhuj, had abused his power and allotted land to Welspun at lower rates, thereby causing a huge loss to the exchequer.

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Also read: Black money tussle: DRI seeks to end ED's monopoly over money laundering act



"He had transferred huge amounts/Proceeds of Crime (PoC) outside the country. Therefore, the property of the equivalent value held by him within the country is liable to be attached in terms of Section 5 (1) of PMLA, 2002," an ED official said.

LIST OF PROPERTIES ATTACHED

1. House located at 465, A/2, Sector-1, Gandhinagar, worth Rs 72.82 lakh.

2. Land measuring 4856 Sq. mtr. located at Village/Mouje Amraji na Muvada, Tehsil Degham, District Gandhinagar valued at Rs 21,85,200.

Earlier, the ED had attached the property amounting to Rs 28 lakh, which had been subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA, New Delhi.

Also read: ED attaches Rs 1.67 crore assets in coal scam case



ARRESTED IN 2016



Sharma was arrested in the money laundering case in June 2016. The special court, Ahmadabad had granted him remand for custodial interrogation for seven days. As of today, he is in judicial custody at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmadabad.

Till date, the ED has attached total assets worth Rs 1.22 crore in this case.

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ResMed Inc. develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets medical devices and cloud-based software applications for the healthcare markets. The company operates in two segments, Sleep and Respiratory Care, and Software as a Service. It offers various products and solutions for a range of respiratory disorders, including technologies to be applied in medical and consumer products, ventilation devices, diagnostic products, mask systems for use in the hospital and home, headgear and other accessories, dental devices, and cloud-based software informatics solutions to manage patient outcomes, as well as provides customer and business processes. The company also provides AirView, a cloud-based system that enables remote monitoring and changing of patients' device settings; myAir, a personalized therapy management application for patients with sleep apnea that provides support, education, and troubleshooting tools for increased patient engagement and improved compliance; U-Sleep, a compliance monitoring solution that enables home medical equipment (HME)to streamline their sleep programs; connectivity module and propeller solutions; and Propeller portal. It offers out-of-hospital software solution, such as Brightree business management software and service solutions to providers of HME, pharmacy, home infusion, orthotics, and prosthetics services; MatrixCare care management and related ancillary solutions to senior living, skilled nursing, life plan communities, home health, home care, and hospice organizations, as well as related accountable care organizations; and HEALTHCAREfirst that offers electronic health record, software, billing and coding services, and analytics for home health and hospice agencies. The company markets its products primarily to sleep clinics, home healthcare dealers, and hospitals through a network of distributors and direct sales force in approximately 140 countries. ResMed Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the North American foodservice and commercial baking industries; and manufactures and markets pet food products, including dog and cat food. The company markets its products under the Annie's, Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Blue Buffalo, Blue Basics, Blue Freedom, Bugles, Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, Golden Grahams, Haagen-Dazs, Helpers, Jus-Rol, Kitano, Kix, Larabar, Latina, Liberte, Lucky Charms, Muir Glen, Nature Valley, Oatmeal Crisp, Old El Paso, Oui, Pillsbury, Progresso, Raisin Nut Bran, Total, Totino's, Trix, Wanchai Ferry, Wheaties, Wilderness, Yoki, and Yoplait trademarks. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, e-commerce retailers, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, convenience stores, and pet specialty stores, as well as drug, dollar, and discount chains. The company operates 466 leased and 392 franchise ice cream parlors. General Mills, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Contrary to reports that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has left India due to MNS's threats, he did leave India, but long ago in July.

By India Today Web Desk: Amid protests and threats by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) which wants Pakistani actors and artists to leave India, reports are in that, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan has left India and that he has no plans to come back anytime soon.

The MNS had earlier threatened that the party would have to get physical with Pakistani actors if they did not leave India by Sunday (September 25).

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ALSO READ: Why is Pakistan actor Fawad Khan giving Indian women (and men) sleepless nights?

ALSO READ: MNS and Raj Thackeray's love for Bollywood and Mumbai remains unrequited



According to a report in Hindustan Times, Fawad flew out to Pakistan as the MNS was targeting his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in particular.





However, a source from Dharma Productions told India Today that Fawad left India long ago in July because his wife is about to deliver their second child in September.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is director Karan Johar's new film. The film which is scheduled to release on Diwali also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma.



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Cascades Inc. produces, converts, and markets packaging and tissue products in Canada and the United States. The company operates through three segments: Containerboard, Specialty Products, and Tissue Papers. It manufactures containerboards, as well as converts corrugated products. The company also offers uncoated recycled paperboards for use in packaging converters and industrial users of headers and wrappers for the paper industry, as well as partitions that are used as protective packaging; honeycomb paperboards for the beer, wine, and spirits industry; laminated paperboards for food packaging and furniture backing industries; and specialty containers, structural components, and paperboard and fiber composites. In addition, it provides egg filler flats and egg cartons for egg processors and four-cup carriers for the quick-service restaurant industry; polystyrene foam trays for processors and retailers in the food industry; rigid plastic packaging products for food industry, processors, and retailers; and flexible films for frozen foods, bakery, and ice industries. Further, the company offers bathroom and facial tissues, paper towels, paper hand towels and napkins, and other related products and services under the Cascades PRO Signature, Cascades PRO Perform, Cascades PRO Select, Cascades PRO Tandem, and Cascades PRO Tuff-Job brands; and under the Cascades Fluff, Cascades Tuff, and Satin Soft labels, as well as private labels and other secondary marks. Additionally, it offers services to recover and process discarded materials for the municipal, industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors. The company sells its products through own sales force and external representatives. Cascades Inc. was incorporated in 1964 and is headquartered in Kingsey Falls, Canada.
By PTI: Theni (TN), Sep 27 (PTI) Ganja worth around Rs three crore being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to Kerala was today seized from a lorry and two persons were arrested at Cumbum, near here, by Narcotics Intelligence Bureau officials, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team, led by DSP Venkateswaran, intercepted and carried out an inspection of the vehicle, police said, adding that the narcotic substance, weighing 300 kg, was kept hidden in a secret chamber of the vehicle.

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Though the lorry looked empty, the ganja was neatly packed and hoarded in the secret chamber behind the drivers cabin, police said, adding that both the occupants of the vehicle were arrested.

The seized narcotic was worth Rs three crore in the illicit market, police said, adding that it had been procured in Andhra Pradesh. PTI CORR SSN VS RC TRK

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By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) Goa Shipyard has delivered first fast patrol vessel in record time to Mauritius government, giving a fillip to defence cooperation between the countries, the Shipping Ministry said today.

"Indo-Mauritian Defence Cooperation got another fillip with the delivery of first Fast Patrol Vessel, MCGS Victory, designed and built in-house by Goa Shipyard Limited for Mauritius Coast Guard, on September 25, 2016," the ministry said in a statement.

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The vessel is primarily designed for coastal patrolling, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, anti-drug Surveillance, anti-poaching operations, and search and rescue operations. "The vessel is 50 meter long, fitted with 30 mm CRN-91 Gun, 12.7 mm HMGs & 7.62 mm MMGs besides state-of-the-art Navigation and Communication equipment and is capable of achieving a high speed of 35 knots," the statement said.

The contract for the vessel was signed on May 17, 2014, and the keel of this vessel was laid on December 18, 2014. "Despite all the challenges, including delay of over six months in supply of steel and being the first ship of the series, we have successfully delivered this ship as per contractual schedule of Sept, 2016, i.e. within 20 months of keel laying which is a record in itself, and is in line with the track record of GSL in recent years of timely deliveries and shows the dedication and commitment of all the stakeholders involved," Goa Shipyard CMD Shekhar Mital said. GSL is the largest exporter of ships from the Indian subcontinent and is presently executing export orders worth Rs crore. PTI NAM MR

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By Adam Morton

Sep. 26, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By Adam Morton Sep. 26, 2016 | 07:17 PM | PADUCAH, KY

The McCracken County Fiscal Court has introduced an ordinance that would allow alcohol sales on Election Day.



Even though the Kentucky state legislature has already lifted a statewide ban, the previous Fiscal Court left the ban in place in McCracken County. Judge Executive Bob Leeper said he was approached about the issue not too long after the election.



The newly proposed ordinance would allow alcohol sales in the county from 6 am until 6 pm on Election Day for general, primary and local elections.



When Leeper asked for comment from the audience, a concerned citizen asked the court to leave the ban in place. He suggested that alcohol can be bought on the day before, and people must have a clear mind to vote. In contrast, a county business owner said that the ban hurts businesses like his that rely on tourism.



On Monday the Fiscal Court passed the the first reading of the ordinance. The vote is scheduled for their next meeting.



Kentucky was the second-to-last state to lift the ban on alcohol sales on Election Day. The long-time ban was in place from a time when saloons doubled as polling places, and votes were once bought with booze. As polling place locations changed, the state lifted the ban.




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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 25, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 25, 2016 | 03:01 PM | PADUCAH, KY

In response to various current events and popular civil and criminal issues, local organizations are partnering together for "Know Your Rights and Responsibilities" forums at West Kentucky Community and Technical College tonight and Wednesday night.



The events, which are free and open to the public, are part of WKCTCs 2016 Diversity and Inclusion series. The forums will be held in the colleges Emerging Technology Center, Room 109 from 6  9 pm and will be hosted by WKCTC, the Paducah-McCracken County Chapter of the NAACP and Sullenger Law Office.



Representatives from the McCracken County Attorneys Office and local law enforcement will also participate in the forums. Refreshments will be served.



A panel of speakers, facilitated by media specialist Amanda Watson-Smiles, will discuss a variety of topics each evening related to individuals rights and responsibilities in the areas such as employment law and civil rights, criminal law, and family law. Speakers will address the audience on topics including the rights and responsibilities of employees in the workplace, rights of individuals during police interactions, proper interactions with law enforcement, proper procedure when faced with a criminal warrant, gun laws, law enforcement community outreach programs, common issues in family law, abusive relationships resources, minimizing the trauma of divorce for children, and more.



For more information, contact Dr. Belinda Dalton-Russell, WKCTC vice president of student development and cultural diversity director, at 270-534-3081, belinda.dalton-russell@kctcs.edu or Amanda Watson-Smiles, owner of Amanda Smiles Creative, LCC, at 270-933-7838, amanda@amandasmiles.com.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 27, 2016 | 10:08 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

One person was injured when a vehicle struck a McCracken County school bus Tuesday morning.According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened about 7:20 am on Old U.S. Hwy 60 at the rear entrance to McCracken County High School. Deputies said 17-year-old Rebecca Griffith of Paducah was driving east when her vehicle struck the rear of a school bus driven by 45-year-old Burlin Brower of Kevil.Police said Brower was stopped and waiting for traffic to clear so he could turn left into the school. Griffith said she was blinded by the sun and did not see that the bus was stopped in the road.Griffith was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Brower was not injured, and no one else was on the school bus at the time of the collision.Traffic in the area was reduced to one lane for approximately 45 minutes after the accident.
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By Jeremy Rose, CFSB Sep. 26, 2016 | 09:49 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) will host a prayer service at each of its Banking Centers today at 9 am for the areas law enforcement officers. The event See You at the Pole will take place at each locations flag pole. The prayer service is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

Our Team Members are appreciative of the efforts of those brave individuals who protect and serve their community, as well as their families," CFSB President/CEO Betsy Flynn said. "We want to take this time to lift our law enforcement up to God in prayer. Thank you all for your sacrifices for the greater good of our area.

CFSB Banking Centers are located in Benton, Calvert City, Draffenville, Murray and Paducah.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 17, 2016 | 11:41 PM | CALDWELL COUNTY, KY

A detailed search of a vehicle stopped on I-24 near Kuttawa has led to an additional seizure of evidence.Kentucky State Police say that after the September 15 discovery of over $23,000 in a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Valentin Serrano-Balcazar of Kansas City, Kansas, a more detailed search was conducted at State Police Post 1. A non-factory access door leading to a false compartment was discovered in the vehicle. The compartment was lined with aluminum tape and contained an additional $172,345. This brought the total amount seized in the arrest to $195,787.

In the September 15 arrest, Kentucky State Police stopped a car traveling on Interstate 24 at around 9:30 am for a traffic violation, and the trooper saw several indicators of criminal activity.

After getting consent to search the vehicle, police found 1/2 gram of crystal methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and $23,442 in cash, concealed in a way consistent with trafficking.

Serrano-Balcazar was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Caldwell County Jail.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 26, 2016 | MARSHALL COUNTY, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 26, 2016 | 12:23 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY, KY

A Marshall County woman faces a DUI charge after a single-vehicle accident Sunday evening.



A Marshall County Sheriff's Deputy responded to the wreck on Old Olive Road about 6:25 pm. Investigation at the scene determined that 43-year-old Jennifer S. Smith of Gilbertsville was driving north when her vehicle drifted off the pavement. She over-corrected and the vehicle left the opposite side of the road and hit a utility pole.



Witnesses at the scene said Smith tried to put the vehicle in reverse and leave the scene. They also told the deputy they saw her throw something from the vehicle. A bottle of vodka was found nearby.



The deputy said when he spoke with Smith, her speech was slurred and she smelled of alcohol. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries she received, and was cited to court for DUI.
By The Associated Press Sep. 27, 2016 | 04:56 AM | HEMPSTEAD, NY

Donald Trump aggressively tried to pin the nation's economic and national security problems on Hillary Clinton in the first presidential debate, belittling the former senator and secretary of state as a "typical politician" incapable of delivering the change many Americans crave.

But Trump found himself on the defensive for much of the 90-minute showdown Monday night. Clinton was thoroughly prepared, not only with detailed answers about her own policy proposals, but also sharp criticism of Trump's business record, his past statements about women, and his false assertions that President Barack Obama may not have been born in the United States.

The Democrat also blasted Trump for his refusal to release his tax returns, breaking with decades of presidential campaign tradition.
Even with 5-0 lead, Verlander can't get 1st World Series win
By PTI: (Attn.editors: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Busineswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same). GoDaddy Launches Affordable Cloud Hosting Services in India

Bangalore, Karnataka, India (Business Wire India) Tuesday, September 27, 2016 *

Offers Cloud Servers at the starting price of INR 0.50 paisa per hour *

Offers Cloud Applications powered by Bitnami and utility billing for web developers and small businesses

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GoDaddy, the world?s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, today expanded its hosting services with the launch of Cloud Servers and Cloud Applications for small businesses in India.

The new offerings are designed to help the web developers to quickly build, test and scale cloud solutions for their SMB customers.

With 54-second or less provisioning, the GoDaddy Cloud Servers allow developers to build, test and re-provision the virtual instances instantly. This ?pay-as-you-go? utility billing offering provides the flexibility and control of hourly billing and monthly limit making it affordable for customers. The easy to use solution is available at an industry leading price of INR 0.50 paisa per hour.

?The launch of Cloud Servers from GoDaddy will enable India?s web developers with affordable and intuitive solutions to better serve their customers and grow their businesses?, said Rajiv Sodhi, Managing Director and Vice-President of GoDaddy India & Australia. ?India presents a sizeable market for expanded hosting products such as Cloud Servers. By offering a powerful, yet simple cloud offering that integrates domains, DNS, security and backups all in one place, developers can save time and exceed their clients expectations.? MORE BUSINESSWIRE PS PS

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A group of city council members in Barcelona wants to take down the famous statue of Christopher Columbus in the town center, arguing that it inappropriately celebrates the explorers colonial history.The memorial of the Italian explorer, which stands 197 ft. tall, was built for the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1888. It features a bronze statue of Columbus atop a column, with a base decorated with figures from Spanish history.The same Barcelona council members are also calling for the city to stop celebrating a national Spanish holiday on Oct. 12 commemorating Columbuss first arrival in the Americas.Columbus Day in the U.S. is celebrated on the second Monday in October, although some cities observe the national holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day instead.The image of Columbus is not the only monument on their hitlist: the councillors also want the statue of the merchant and slave trader Antonio Lopez y Lopez, Marquis of Comillas, removed from its plinth outside the post office building.In its place, the trio propose a monument to commemorate the victims of the slave trade.Jose Maria Gonzalez, the Podemos-backed mayor of the southern city of Cadiz, tweeted: We never discovered America; we massacred and suppressed a continent and its cultures in the name of God.
After laying dormant for two long years, ex-Swansea defender Chico Flores has finally seen the man who once so cruelly besmirched his good nature at Upton Park get his long-overdue comeuppance.

Back in February of 2014, Flores was caught up in an aerial tangle with Andy Carroll in which the burly West Ham striker savagely bludgeoned the Spanish full-back to the floor.

However, instead of sympathy, all Flores got was Hammers boss Sam Allardyce guffawing like a rutting hog in his face before going on to brand Carrolls red card an injustice.

Today, retribution

He who laughs last and all that jazz.

In all seriousness, Flores play-acting was thoroughly shameful and duly deserved the utter incredulous disdain it deserved.

Quite why he has been harbouring this grudge for two years is beyond us.
After an entire year of warring on Twitter each other, American presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton finally came face-to-face for the first presidential debate. And they also goofed up.

A woman poses outside Hofstra University, the site of the first presidential debate between US Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in New York. (Reuters Photo)

By Vishakha Saxena: After an entire year of warring on Twitter, American presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton finally came face-to-face for the first presidential debate.

And sure, they made some pertinent points, but they also goofed up quite a few times.

Here's how:

#1 When Trump boasted about his temperament

Nothing shouts 'under prepared' more than... well... shouting -- something Trump was seen doing again and again during the debate. Ironically, he claimed during the debate that his 'winning temperament' was better than Hillary, but as Vox points out he interrupted Clinton 25 times in the debate's first 26 minutes. Not even Holt was spared.

Stop-and-frisk was ruled unconstitutional.?? Lester Holt interrupts Donald Trump on his call for stop-and-frisk in Chicago #debatenight pic.twitter.com/TUgMdO1sga Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) September 27, 2016

Trump's debate prep was just him quickly shouting "wrong" into a mirror for 12 hours. Chris Person (@Papapishu) September 27, 2016

I don't like either candidate but Trump talking about temperament after shouting at the moderator was pretty funny. #Debates Alex Mendez (@GoldenboyFTW) September 27, 2016

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The Clinton camp, meanwhile, turned Hillary's reaction to his statement into a GIF.

And it is viral.

When Donald Trump says he has a "winning temperament." #debatenight pic.twitter.com/ElQ7aG2vxu Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

P.S. It wasn't just the interruptions. At one point Clinton accused Trump of painting "a dire negative picture of African-American life," to which he responded with an "ugh". And he sniffed so many times during the debate, that it's become a phenomenon of its own.

LESTER: How will you bring jobs back? TRUMP: Well *loud sniff* companies are leaving *loud sniff* LESTER: But how? TRUMP: *loud sniff* Ian Sams (@IanSams) September 27, 2016



#2 When Trump openly admitted to tax evasion

The Donald's financials have always been a bone of contention, and it isn't a surprise that they were brought up during the debate. So, as Clinton accused him of never paying taxes except when he needed a green-light for his casino license, pat came the reply: "that makes me smart".

Ironically, the response really shows how much it doesn't, considering he accepted on live television, during a presidential debate, that he does actually evade taxes.

"That makes me smart" - Donald Trump's reaction to Hillary Clinton's accusation that he doesn't pay enough income tax. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/MFIr8YmnoE

Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) September 27, 2016

Trump really admitted that he evades taxes during a presidential debate, in which he is a candidate and tomorrow, no one will care. Yung Metaphysique (@SoloExMachina) September 27, 2016

um...did Donald Trump just admit he evades taxes in a PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE pic.twitter.com/QQxpktVtQ6 GLiTcH ?? (@ttoryb) September 27, 2016

#3 When Hillary claimed she never supported a particular trade deal - but she really did

Trump accused Hilary of calling the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal (TPP) the "gold standard" of trade agreements. But Hillary denied she ever said that, saying she just hoped it would be a good deal. Except, that's not entirely true:



TPP is a controversial agreement involving the 12 Pacific Rim countries, that aims to deepen economic and trade ties them. It can potentially create a new EU-like single market.

According to the New York Times, Clinton spoke in favour of the deal in "more than 40 public appearances."

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#4 When Trump lost his chance to really get under Hillary's skin

As he ducked questions about his financials, Trump brought up Hillary Clinton's infamous email scandal. And, that was it. He could have persisted (probably should have, since Holt didn't) and put Hillary in tough spot by opening a can of worms that include Benghazi, Iraq war and even Syria. But he remained incredibly defensive, especially about his tax returns.

Trump chose defending Putin to attacking Hillary's emails.

Trump chose defending business to attacking Clinton Foundation.

Dumb. Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 27, 2016

Trump did very well in defining Hillary's failed policies. But missed opportunity in cyber security. Perfect opening to bring up her emails. Family for Trump (@TheresaMechele) September 27, 2016

He then went on to turn that missed opportunity into a convoluted mess, saying, "I will release my tax returns, against my lawyer's wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."



How does one release mails that are already deleted?



#5 When Trump made it exceedingly clear he was unprepared

If you ask someone a question and in response they simply evade, or rake up another issue or circle back to an older issue (basically, do everything but answer your question), what's the first thing you understand? This dude's got no idea what he's talking about.

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That's precisely the kind of vibe Trump gave off in the presidential debate. Several times, he resorted to cross-talking or shouting to do anything but answer the question he was asked. At some points Holt even reminded him to get back to the question, but Trump continued to wing it.

Every time Trump evades the question and brags about something business-related he allegedly did, do a shot Gabi Moskowitz (@BrokeAssGourmet) September 27, 2016

This made me dislike Donald Trump even more. Literally watching him melt right now. He evades every questions main point. #Debates All About Adam (@AJMattis) September 27, 2016



#6 When Trump forgot his own tweets

Too many times during the debate, Trump flipped statements he had made earlier, including those made on Twitter. And what happened next... well you know. Twitter, and Holt, schooled Trump about his flipping stances.

For example, when Clinton accused Trump of calling climate change 'a hoax invented by the Chinese' he snapped back saying, "I did not say that." Clearly, he forgot this:

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The 2012 tweet is still alive and well for Trump to be able to fact-check himself.



Trump is lying that "nobody was pressing" birtherism after 2011. pic.twitter.com/bHaiUNNhnt Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 27, 2016



#7 When Hillary made a promise she couldn't keep

Clinton claimed during the debate that her plan was to "make college debt free," but a fact-check by AP showed that under her plan, the government would pay for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for students from families earning less than $125,000 a year.

As soon as Hillary said make college debt free she won my vote Cz these loans ain't no joke ?? #debatenight #ssu #ssu20 Miss Annamae (@missannamae3) September 27, 2016

Hillary wants to make college debt free. Entire crowd here at Michigan State University claps and applauds. #Debates2016 Daniel Eggerding (@DanielEggerding) September 27, 2016

But the more costlier bit - that really adds to their debts - is the cost of room and board, which "makes up more than half of the average $18,943 sticker price at a four-year public university." So... not exactly debt-free.

Besides, experts have raised concerns about possible spillovers from this strategy, like: Will colleges raise tuition once the government starts paying, increasing the cost to taxpayers? Will more students flock to public colleges because of the subsidy, also raising costs?



#8 When Trump got his timeline AAAALL wrong

At one point during the debate Trump told Hillary, "you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life." Which is ridiculous, considering Hillary is 68 and was already half into her adult life when ISIS emerged in 2013.

trump has been fighting the IRS his entire adult life Kristin Chirico (@lolacoaster) September 27, 2016

Sad that Hillary Clinton fought ISIS her entire adult life and bugged Watergate and set fire to the White House in the War of 1812 and Matt Singer (@mattsinger) September 27, 2016

You simply cannot found ISIS and also fight it your entire adult life. Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) September 27, 2016



Greatest debate in the history of 'Merica?

Read more:

Trumped it: Opinion poll gives win in presidential debate to Hillary, Trump rubbishes it

Presidential debate takeaways: How Hillary got under Trump's skin

Lie another day: When Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton denied their own words in debate

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By PTI: London, Sep 25 (PTI) Horses can learn to communicate with humans and express their feelings and opinions, a new study has claimed.

Researchers from Norwegian Veterinary Institute trained horses by offering slices of carrot as an incentive to touch a board with their muzzle to indicate if they wanted to wear a blanket.

The horses requests matched the weather, suggesting it was not a random choice.

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Researchers hope that the method could be used to ask horses more questions. They believe that ordinary horse owners will be able to train their horses in this way.

Researchers led by Cecilie Mejdell from the institute said they wanted to find a way to ask the horse whether or not it liked wearing a blanket.

In Nordic countries, it is common for horses to wear a blanket in all weathers.

"Horses are often considered to be not very intelligent but this shows that using the right methods they can actually communicate and express their opinions and they can take choices that seem sensible to us even," said Mejdell.

Researchers worked with a horse trainer to teach 23 horses of various breeds how to communicate with humans.

First the horse was trained to approach a board hung on a fence and touch it with its muzzle, BBC News reported.

It was taught to tell the difference between different symbols on the board - blanket on (horizontal bar), blanket off (vertical bar) and no change (blank).

Finally, the horse was taught to associate a particular action with the symbols on the board.

By the end of the training, a horse was able to signal if it was too cold or too hot by going up to the appropriate board and asking for its rug to be put on or taken off.

Horses requested a blanket in wet, windy and cold weather, but went without when the weather was sunny, the researchers found.

This shows the horse was making a choice based on its own motivation, not that of its trainer, they said.

The whole process took place over two weeks with 10 to 15 minutes of training a day. PTI SAR SAR

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By PTI: From Seema Hakhu Kachru

Houston, Sep 27 (PTI) Houston Police was today struggling to find the motive behind the mass shooting by a disgruntled Indian-origin lawyer who fired indiscriminately and injured nine persons at a strip mall here before being shot dead.

Nathan DeSai,the 46-year-old shooter who previously worked at McDaniel & DeSai LLP, was wearing a vintage military uniform and had Nazi emblems on him.

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Acting Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters yesterday that police did not yet know exactly what caused DeSai, described as a lawyer struggling to keep his small law practice alive, to do what he did.

"At this point we are very open-minded in terms of motive," Montalvo said, adding the department was working with the FBI to find answers.

DeSai used a .45-caliber handgun during the assault and police later found 2,600 rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun in his car, a black convertible Porsche parked near where he was killed.

DeSai lived in a condominium complex near the scene of the shooting at Weslayan and Law streets.

A search of his home turned up additional weapons and several pieces of military regalia and other items going back to the Civil War. The .45-caliber handgun was bought in 2011. The Thompson submachine gun was purchased in 2009, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing police.

Photographs of DeSais body show he apparently wearing military-style spats strapped over his boots. He was lying face up. His dark shirt was over his face.

Police said Nazi emblems were found in his clothing.

"We did find some old Nazi emblems about some of his personal effects, and I understand there were some in where he lived," the paper quoted Houston Police Capt. Dwayne Ready as saying.

"To what extent that played...I dont know, because there was also other, what I would refer to as historic or vintage military stuff in the apartment, going back to the Civil War."

According to local media, DeSais father said his son was upset over the failure of his law firm and the business closed due to a lack of clients. He confirmed his son owned multiple guns and said he had a license to carry.

He said DeSai drove a black Porsche, the same type of car police were examining in the shopping centre parking lot. That cars license plate showed it was registered to DeSai.

DeSai held a bachelors in psychology from the University of Houston and a law degree from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated in 1998, according to the Texas State Bar Association.

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He specialised in criminal, business and family law, according to the bar association. Houston Police said officers had never previously encountered DeSai.

Yesterdays shooting came days after a shooting at a Washington state mall left five people dead. On September 17, a 20-year-old man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot to death by an off-duty police officer. PTI SHK ZH AKJ ZH

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON  There are controversial plays and there are great plays, but its rare for a theatrical work to share the intersecting circles in the Venn diagram of both commodities.

The Book of Mormon is one of those chosen few. Written by scatological South Park satirists Trey Parker and Matt Stone in collaboration with Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), it is rude, vulgar and downright contemptuous to the notion that we must always respect the beliefs of others.

But at the same time, it is hilarious, with toe-tapping songs, breathtaking production numbers and characters that warrant the emotional investment we (surprisingly) find ourselves paying out over the two-and-a-half-hour running time, including intermission. Subsequent to its debut on Broadway in 2011, it is small wonder that it won nine Tony Awards.

JOAN MARCUS Ryan Bondy, left, and David Aron Damane perform in The Book of Mormon in an Edmonton performance two weeks ago.

The Broadway Across Canada production at the Centennial Concert Hall is the second tour to land in Winnipeg after an initial run in March 2015. This review is based on the performance with an all-new cast viewed in Edmonton two weeks ago.

Our heroes emerge as young Mormon missionaries and are given their mission assignments in Provo, Utah. If it can be said there is such a thing as a Mormon missionary hotshot, that would be Elder Price (Ryan Bondy) who sings of anticipating a plum assignment alongside the needy, bumbling nebbish Elder Cunningham (Cody Jamison Strand) in the song You and Me (But Mostly Me).

It turns out their assignment is to northern Uganda, where the two Salt Lake City-raised missionaries are plunged into real-world horror that includes violence, ignorance and AIDS. The residents of the village are under the control of a warlord with an unprintable name (David Aron Damane) whose own political/religious doctrine includes random murder and forced female circumcision. When the villagers sing the consoling upbeat number Hasa Diga Eebowai, suffice it to say, the translation bears no earthly resemblance to its Lion King inspiration, Hakuna Matata.

Price and his fellow Mormons are resigned to failing in their mission to win souls. (Not helping: Mormon founder Joseph Smiths assertion that dark skin signifies a curse from God, only recently retracted from Mormon doctrine.) It is Elder Cunningham that promises to save the day for the villagers, particularly the winsome Nabulungi (Candace Quarrels) with whom he shares the double entendre-laced love ballad Baptize Me. Cunningham hits on the idea of using a strategy that plays to the Mormon mooks facility to make stuff up.

Bondy and Strand fit into the two lead roles of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham so superbly, one wonders if these guys werent somehow genetically engineered for the roles. The same goes for Daxton Bloomquist, who takes the lead in the repressive anthem Turn It Off sung by Elder McKinley, a missionary primarily concerned with crushing his own homosexual impulses.

That particular tune is an especially good example of how the musical can be zany at face value, yet possessed of an undercurrent of the tragedy and dread that powers the satire.

With dazzling set and costume design (especially on view in the Spooky Mormon Hell Dream number), Book of Mormon has all the attributes of a good old-fashioned, escapist Broadway musical except that when it comes to confronting some uncomfortable truths about religion, Parker, Stone and Lopez refuse to turn it off.

randall.king@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @FreepKing

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobas northern child welfare authority was so bad at tracking cases that mandatory reviews of children who died in care were not performed.

An independent review of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority flagged gaps in the authoritys management ability  failing to request internal reviews after a child died and failing to track live births reported by the authoritys child welfare agencies.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Childrens Advocate, which investigates all deaths of children in care, only became aware of the report when notified by the Free Press, which had filed an access of information request to obtain it.

Certain child deaths did not have an internal agency review requested, the review said. We noted the tracking sheet for internal agency reviews was not complete (and) certain internal agency review reports were completed beyond the 30-day requirement.

A review is supposed to be requested by the authority after consultation with the front-line child welfare agency within 30 days of a childs death, if a review is deemed necessary. The authority is mandated to oversee seven child-welfare agencies in northern Manitoba.

Child death reviews must be conducted on each child death, the review said. The extent of the review may vary by type of situation.

The 27-page independent quality assurance review was prepared for Manitoba Family Services during the 2014-15 fiscal year  after the authority was placed under provincial administration. In 2014, it was placed under provincial administration and the board was dissolved after the organization repeatedly failed to follow provincial standards, the NDP government said at the time.

This was in order to help the authority meet these provincial standards to ensure children are safe, a government spokeswoman said in late 2014.

Key among the requirements was that the seven agencies overseen by the authority use the central data-management system that tracks all children in care. The most recent data show more than 3,000 kids are in care under the northern authority.

Childrens Advocate Darlene MacDonald said when a child dies, her office is notified by the chief medical examiner, but notification by an agency gives them a quick synopsis of the circumstances that happened.

Maybe a case once in awhile (falls through the cracks) and then we will pick up the phone and make sure we get copied on it. As you know, we are doing our review no matter what, MacDonald said.

At the very least it is a quick overview of the facts and what happened and how long the agency has been involved in the case. Each case is different so some will have quite a bit of information (and) others may have just cursory information.

MacDonald said she has seen improvements with the northern authority.

A number of years ago, we would say they were not in compliance, but our understanding is that they have turned the corner on that, she said.

The depth of information the authority has recorded recently has improved, she said.

Its unclear what changes have been made to ensure the authority complies with provincial standards after the review or when the provincial administration will be lifted.

The quality assurance review makes more than 100 recommendations, including implementing a records management policy, a spreadsheet policy to track live births and complaints, as well as conduct an audit into the process and activities at the authorities within the province.

It also recommends the authority should perform an internal agency review for every child who dies and develop standards for the level of evidence gathering required when a child dies.

A spokesman for the northern authority said the organization would respond to the Free Press today.

A transitional briefing note provided to Families Minister Scott Fielding in April stated some First Nations agencies, primarily under the northern authority, opposed the use of the central data-management system.

Some agencies of the northern authority have between 40 to 85 per cent of information missing, the note said. Other child welfare agencies and external authorities (e.g. the Winnipeg Police Service) have stated that this places children at risk.

It also noted a letter was sent to the government March 9 by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO)  a northern indigenous advocacy organization that appoints the authoritys board  asking the administration order be lifted.

MKO didnt respond to a request for comment Monday.

Fielding told the Free Press Monday removing the order remains a work in progress. He offered no timeline of when it would be lifted.

He couldnt say where the authority had improved or whether it had changed the way it tracks live births or the way it requests reviews into the death of a child.

They are moving in the right direction, but as you can see in the report, there are some areas where they still need to improve. As I understand, we will be getting specific answers to these questions over the next numbers of weeks, Fielding said.

Government staff meets with the authority on a monthly basis, he said.

I think there has been some progress, and the leadership has been very good to work with.

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man who lived on the lam for years in Mexico with his kidnapped children will serve another two years in jail for sexual assault.

Kevin Maryk, 45, was given a four-year sentence Tuesday as part of a plea deal that gives him credit for two years hes already spent behind bars. Hell spend another two years less a day in jail and then will be on unsupervised probation for an additional two years. He pleaded guilty last spring to repeatedly sexually assaulting one woman over the course of a year more than a decade ago.

Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Justice Chris Martin agreed with the plea bargain, which defence lawyer Todd Bourcier said was the result of extensive negotiations.

Kevin Maryk is pictured in an undated handout photo.

Maryk declined to speak to the judge when given a chance, but Martin had stern words for him, saying Maryk had shown complete disregard for the victims dignity and physical integrity and said he believed Maryk had sexually assaulted the woman out of a deep need for power and control.

I dont know whether youre capable of feeling empathy toward her, the judge said, noting at least Maryk had pleaded guilty to spare the victim from having go through a trial.

Have no doubt, sir, this behaviour is absolutely abhorrent, Martin said.

The victim, who cant be identified under a publication ban, came forward about the sexual assaults after Maryk was brought back to Canada in 2012 for abducting his two children and fleeing to Mexico four years earlier.

His son and daughter, then seven and five years old, respectively, disappeared while visiting Maryk in August 2008. Their mother had full custody. Police tracked him down in 2012 living in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco in central Mexico. The children were denied medical care and education and were kept in houses surrounded by barbed wire and guard dogs.

Maryk finished his four-year sentence on the abduction charges in May 2015 and remained in custody without bail on the sexual assault charges.

A pattern of violence, rape and forced sex acts meant the victim lived in fear of Maryk, court heard. In a victim impact statement, she said she still does.

The now 34-year-old woman has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and anxiety and is unable to work. Shes afraid Maryk will come after her, court heard.

The years I suffered Ill never get back, but my future should belong to me, she said in the statement.

Maryk had a history of assault, including a 1995 harassment conviction. Hell now be registered as a sex offender for the next 20 years and will have to follow a weapons ban and a no-contact order with the victim.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
The Hrithik-Kangana fight has taken a new turn with Rakesh Roshan claiming that the truth will shock everyone. Here's a timeline of the fight that has been on since January this year.

By India Today Web Desk: The Hrithik Roshan-Kangana Ranaut fracas does not seem to get over. As soon as things quiet down, either party makes some noise, somewhere, proclaiming about them being in the right, and it becomes news. Well, recently, Hrithik's papa Rakesh Roshan told Hindustan Times, that if Hrithik chooses to speak the truth about himself and Kangana in the public, it will shock everyone.

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ALSO READ: Rakesh Roshan breaks silence on Hrithik-Kangana fight, says truth will shock everyone

Papa Roshan also commended his son's ability to stay calm and dignified even as "someone was spreading lies about him." Earlier, Hrithik had echoed similar sentiments with the Indian Express, when he said, "When truth is on your side you don't need support."

Hrithik and Kangana's rumoured affair, which is said by many to have caused Hrithik and Sussanne Khan's divorce, grabbed headlines throughout the year. Here's looking at the timeline of events, starting from Kangana's infamous interview which started it all to Rakesh Roshan batting for his son recently.

Exes do Silly Things to get Attention | January 28



In an interview with Pinkvilla.com, Kangana Ranaut said, "I don't know why exes do silly things to get your attention. For me that chapter is over and I don't dig graves." when asked about her not acting in Aashiqui 3.

Hrithik hits back | January 28



That very day, Hrithik hit back with the following tweet.

Ther r more chances of me having had an affair with d Pope dan any of d (Im sure wonderful)women d media hs ben naming.Thanks but no thanks. Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) January 28, 2016

Hrithik's legal notice

Soon, Hrithik Roshan sent a legal notice to Kangana Ranaut asking her to apologise in a press conference and come clear about their supposed affair, the existence of which he refuted.

"Since quite sometime you (Kangana) have been insinuating and trying to create an image within the film industry through print and social media and in public at large that there was some relationship between our client (Hrithik) and you," the notice sent by Hrithik's advocate Deepesh Mehta to Kangana on February 26 said.

Hrithik's four-page notice also said, "Our client states that it is needless to mention that there was no relationship between him and you. You are trying to propagate a false idea and thereby gain publicity with ulterior motives and malafide intentions."

Kangana's counter-notice

Kangana then, reportedly, said that she is not a 'dim-witted' teenager and refused to apologise. She, in turn, sent a counter-notice to Hrithik on March 1 warning him to take back his notice or face a criminal case.

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"It is pertinent to record that your client throughout supported my client and fully involved her. He also did not make any attempt to block her. There is no communication from him to my client objecting to an emails. This proves that he received the emails with his participation and consent," Kangana's notice said.

Kangana's lawyer Rizwan Siddique was quoted by PTI as saying, "Hrithik doing anything like this is the silliest thing he could have ever done. He has made a fool of himself. Its been more than seven days we havent got any reply from them."

"We are waiting for them to react to the notice first as we have the facts and law on our side," he added.

The E-mail wars



Hrithik's version

If one has to believe Hrithik's side of the story, he and Kangana met on May 24, 2014 at Karan Johar's birthday party where Kangana walked up to Hrithik and thanked him for sending her a congratulatory mail in which he appreciated her acting in Queen.

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"To this, our client told you that he has not seen the movie yet. Our client further clarified to you that the email ID from which you received the mail was not his and he gave you his real email ID," the notice said.

"On coming to know of Hrithik's real email ID, you (Kangana) sent a barrage of emails to him. Our client tried to ignore all the emails (total 1439) to him even though it amounted to mental harassment and stress. Besides sending emails to our client you have also been telling people in the film industry about your affair with him and then called our client a 'silly ex'," the notice continued.



Kangana's version

Kangana claimed that the E-mail ID, on which she and Hrithik had been corresponding with each other, was provided by Hrithik himself.

"My client (Kangana) states that it was Hrithik who wanted to communicate from a newly created ID because of his impending divorce. In an effort to safeguard his name, image and reputation your client (Hrithik) time and again malafidely and in mischief hacked my client's email ID and deleted all the mails sent by him," Kangana's notice said.

Does Kangana have Asperger's Syndrome?

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Hrithik alleged that while shooting an outdoor scene of Krrish 3, Kangana in a drunken state, created a scene in front of the cast and crew. Later Kangana's sister Rangoli apparently told him that Kangana is suffering from Asperger's Syndrome and that she requests him to not tell anyone.

Hrithik also said that Kangana approached Rakesh Roshan but papa Roshan made it clear that Hrithik was not interested in her.

However, Kangana refuted all the allegations and claimed that she was not really a stranger to Hrithik or his family. In fact, she claimed that she had been invited to Hrithik's sister's birthday parties in 2011 and 2012, among others.

"Your client (Hrithik) is living in his own illusionary narcissist world which starts and ends at self-aggrandising. Kangana, in her interview about her silly exes, never mentioned the name of your client (Hrithik). It was your client's own unwarranted and uncalled reaction that made people look at him and assume that the 'silly ex' could be your client," Kangana's notice said.

Kangana also said that she did not suffer from Asperger's Syndrome

Bollywood support for Kangana



Sonam Kapoor

At an event in May, Sonam Kapoor said that she was very impressed with the way Kangana had handled the situation with Hrithik and as a woman, she supported her.

Raveena Tandon bats for Kangana

In her blog post, Raveena spoke about how Bollywood female actors were victimised by powerful male stars from the '90s and lauded the fact that in 2016, people could come forward and say the truth on social media. She also called Kangana "someone who will tell the truth and stand by it."

Vidya Balan also spoke in support of Kangana

No legal proceedings at all?



Recently, Kangana at an event, spoke about the issue and said that the matter had no legal angle ever.

She said, "The incident I faced recently is very different from what I faced in the past. This time there were no legal proceedings against me. There was lot of media drama, threats, lot of slut shaming but there was no case filed against me. There was no question of fighting it legally."

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/09/2016 (2225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DAUPHIN  When it comes to delivering emergency food, Winnipeg Harvest doesnt limit itself to the confines of the Manitoba capital.

Barrelling down Highway 6, driver Paul Brault is transporting more than 4,500 kilograms of food in a five-tonne refrigerated truck. Ten pallets carry a variety of produce  544 kilograms of potatoes, 400 kilograms of onions, 500 kilograms of other vegetables  alongside 479 litres of milk, 434 portions of Bothwell cheese, 22 cans of formula and 500 pre-packaged food kits.

Once or twice per year, Harvest makes a northern road trip to deliver goods when the going gets tough. This week, they plan to stop in Dauphin, Swan River, Flin Flon and Thompson.

JESSICA BOTELHO-URBANSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Robin Gambler and her granddaughter, Acelyn, 8, work together at the Dauphin food bank.

Northern food banks try to be self-sufficient, gathering donations from their communities. In some cases, there are emergency needs, such as in Flin Flon right now, where the food bank was destroyed about three weeks ago after an adjoining apartment caught fire.

Harvests crew was ready to hit the road before the Flin Flon blaze, but that crisis amplified their call to action.

Theres a lot of challenges in northern, isolated communities. In Gimli, we have a real challenge because people dont realize the growing need, said Rhonda Powers, the executive director for Gimlis only food bank, Evergreen Basic Needs. She said shes met community members who dont know the food bank exists, yet it served more than 1,600 hampers last year.

Because Gimli is largely a retirement hub, many of Evergreens clients are seniors on fixed incomes, Powers said. When they did their annual hunger-count survey in March, they served 209 adults and 94 children in one month.

Powers and Karen Flett, Harvests agency administrator, are both taking Harvests northern trip for a second time. Brault, a volunteer driver whos been with Harvest for seven years, Ray Ali, a member of Harvests Hunger and Poverty Awareness Committee, and the Free Press are getting a first glimpse.

Stopping at Evergreen on the way to Dauphin, Powers said shes trying to make ends meet at the food bank while having to run a $52,000 deficit this year.

I had to lay off one of my key (staff) people. He was very devoted to the organization, worked very hard and was passionate about what we do, she said. You can come across as being cutthroat or cold-hearted, but the reality is I only have so much money in my budget, Powers said.

Food from Winnipeg Harvest is going to Dauphin, Swan River, Flin Flon and Thompson.

You work for money or for love. If youre working for a food bank, you work for love, Powers said. And I suppose a sense of justice.

Upon arriving in Dauphin, the food banks executive director, Robin Gambler, relays her passion for the gig.

All it takes for me is one person crying while theyre getting food and it makes it all worthwhile, Gambler said.

The Dauphin food bank serves about 180 families per month, she said, whether from in town or surrounding communities. Gambler has seen people drive about an hour to pick up food, sometimes spending more on gas than what the food is worth.

Harvests truckload couldnt have come at a better time, she said. Its nearing the end of the month when paycheques can no longer be stretched and welfare cheques are long gone.

Summers always harder because (donors) go on holidays, people are away, you know. They dont realize that people still need to eat, Gambler said. But we do get monetary donations, so we purchase food to make sure we get through the summer months.

They spend about $1,000 each time they go grocery shopping and lately thats happened every two to three weeks, she said.

JESSICA BOTELHO-URBANSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Parkland Crossing community minister Wayne Olson gives a tour of the building, which used to be McKay Residential School.

At last, some free food arrives. Gamblers eight-year-old granddaughter, Acelyn, helps unpack. Shes been doing it since she was three.

Dauphins food bank is located in the basement of the former McKay Residential School. The building also provides housing for single, low-income tenants and a portion of the upstairs rooms are reserved for students from Assiniboine Community College, said Wayne Olson, the community minister.

Regardless of location, its clear these food banks are running on goodwill and adrenalin. With the holiday season around the corner, theyre hoping for more of the former.

jessica.botelho-urbanski@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @_jessbu
Opinion

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This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Few images have captured the zeitgeist of 2016 quite like Barbara Kinneys photograph of Hillary Clinton at a rally in Florida.

In the campaign photographers image, Clinton is beatific, smiling broadly. Shes waving and looking very presidential. But then you notice something strange. The first several rows of supporters have their backs to her. Their arms are outstretched, holding up their smartphones in a tell-tale pose: they are taking selfies.

Campaign designer Victor Ng tweeted the photo Sunday afternoon with a perfect one-word caption: 2016, yall. (Actually, he tweeted 2016 yall.

BARBARA KINNEY / HILLARY FOR AMERICA U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton poses with the crowd for a bunch of selfies at a rally.

Ng now knows the unique pain of having a tweet with a typo in it go viral.)

People ignoring an accomplished woman in a pantsuit isnt what makes this particular photo notable; that very thing continues to happen every day in boardrooms across the land.

No, this photo is being held up as a perfect illustration of Generation Selfie.

This image has proved polarizing and has prompted some visceral responses. When looking at that photo, some see engaged voters who care about their candidate enough to snap a selfie. Others see a culture of vapid, pathetic narcissists so hellbent on getting a photo with Clinton that they are literally turning their back to her  although the non-viral photos Kinney took at the same rally provide some important context: this was an organized mass selfie. (The Clinton camp confirmed that in an email to me Monday; unfortunately, Kinney wasnt available for an interview.)

You may recall a column I wrote last year about selfie sticks. I am not anti-selfie, but I wondered if we should stop living our lives through our phones. Mindfulness is all the rage in 2016  you cant turn around without encountering an article or self-help book extolling the virtues of living in the now. And yet, photo-sharing app Instagram has more than 500 million users and counting.

Phones provide a barrier to experience, however thin. I argued in the selfie-stick column that were so focused on perfectly documenting moments for social-media consumption that we forget to experience them.

An image is burned into my brain from Beyonces 2014 concert at Investors Group Field. Beyonces face was on every single phone screen in the lower bowl. A copy of a copy of a copy, row upon row upon row. There was something almost sci-fi about it.

But organized mass selfies? They are moments unto themselves. The documentation of the moment is the moment. They say what all photos meant for social sharing say: I was there. I was part of this. Carving out a moment to get the photo many people in attendance will try to get anyway is smart on several levels, not the least of which being that it makes the woman who may well be the next leader of the free world seem approachable, accessible and available. The moment is organized and deliberate, and yet it still feels spontaneous. And therein lies the allure of the mass selfie, whether its taken at a political rally or at the Oscars. It makes a formal moment informal.

The grip-and-grin photo ops with celebrities or politicians of yore are cheesy and staid. Selfies are not, even though they are essentially capturing the same thing.

This is a move that should be very familiar to Canadians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a lot of selfies. And they, too, make him seem approachable, accessible and available.

Trudeau has taken a lot of heat for those selfies, his critics saying they are evidence of a PM who makes style a priority over substance  even though its entirely possible to care about both at the same time.

Whether Trudeaus selfies are a calculated PR move or not, they have ushered in Trudeaumania 2.0. Look at the faces in those selfies. They are overwhelmingly millennial.

Maybe the definition of living in the moment has changed. Maybe theres no right way to experience something, be it a political rally or a concert.

Many virtual tears were shed for humanity on Sunday night by people who believe selfies represent the end of civilization. And when you look at Kinneys photo, you might cringe.

Me? I smiled.

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @JenZoratti
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Pallister government has approved a new five-year contract with the provinces engineers that will see some receive a pay hike of more than four per cent this year.

The agreement, retroactive to spring 2014, calls for annual wage increases of one, one, two, two and two per cent. Some senior engineers will see a further top-up of 2.5 per cent this year.

The agreement is similar to a deal reached earlier this year by the province and its 14,000 civil servants, represented by the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union. MGEU members also settled for annual wage increases of one, one, two, two and two per cent.

The main difference between the two deals is the MGEU also negotiated a no-layoff clause covering employees hired on or before April 1, 2015.

A tentative agreement between the province and its engineers was reached March 12, in the midst of the provincial election campaign. It was ratified by employees in early May, after the Progressive Conservatives swept to power April 19. The provincial cabinet formally approved the agreement Sept. 7.

Finance Minister Cameron Friesen was en route from New York on Monday and unavailable for comment, a spokeswoman said. Officials with the engineers bargaining agents, the Manitoba Association of Government Engineers and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, did not respond to interview requests.

The Tory government has said its No. 1 priority is to get Manitobas fiscal house in order. The province projects a summary budget deficit of $911 million this year. Friesen has said it could take eight years to balance the budget.

In a statement late Monday, the provincial spokeswoman said the engineers contract does not set a precedent of any kind as it was reached by the previous government. She said the new government has inherited significant fiscal challenges and future negotiations will require a fresh perspective.

The cabinet order approving the deal was published on the provinces website. The Free Press requested and received a copy of the deal from the government. The 153 engineers covered by the contract work in a variety of departments, including agriculture, water stewardship and sustainable development.

The most senior engineers (Engineer 5) will see their salary top out at $119,568 by the end of the contract.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A St. Vital-area park was officially renamed Tuesday to honour a Winnipeg woman who was a pioneer in the citys political history.

Florence Pierce, a former teacher, served as a councillor for 19 years in the RM of St. Vital, the City of St. Vital and the City of Winnipeg in St. Vitals Glenlawn ward.

The triangle-shaped park  which had been called Harry Paul Park since 1971 in honour of the former mayor of St. Vital before the citys amalgamation  is located at the southwest corner of Fermor Avenue and St. Marys Road. The park is near the St. Vital Library and across from Glenlawn Collegiate.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESSPark on the SW corner of St Marys Road and Fermor Ave was renamed for pioneering St. Vital Councilor Florence Pierce. Sept 27, 2016 -(See Ashley Prest story)

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who called Pierce a remarkable figure, said he discovered her trailblazing role when he was researching another project, and this name just kept coming up.

He noticed the influential male civic politicians of the same era had been honoured in various ways, but there was nothing bearing her name.

I discovered she had this remarkable triple-header (elected at three levels of municipal government) in addition to being the first woman (elected in St. Vital). You couldnt repeat that, Mayes said. Im thrilled to have found a way to honour Coun. Pierce and tell her story.

Mayes said he was looking for a suitable place to honour Pierce in the neighbourhood when he realized the park at H.S. Paul School also had Pauls name on it.

I was stuck in traffic by Glenlawn one day, and I was looking at the sign and I thought, theres another park named after him, and that was all I needed, Mayes said, noting both historic figures are now recognized. It worked out great.

Mayes noted Pierce is part of a St. Vital tradition of strong female politicians and St. Vitals Seine River riding  now represented by Conservative MLA Janice Morley-Lecomte  is the only one in Manitoba that has been represented solely by women. The seat was formerly occupied by the NDPs Theresa Oswald (2003-16) and Louise Dacquay (1990-2003).

Pierce became the first woman elected to St. Vital council in 1958. During her 19 years of service, she represented the area during several major turning points in its history.

Pierce, who had taught school in rural areas and in Winnipeg prior to serving as a councillor, retired from civic politics in 1977. She died March 5, 2007.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In New York City, police sirens and cranky horns were at full volume, thanks to traffic log-jams caused by phalanxes of black SUVs conveying diplomats and political leaders to the UN General Assembly where a summit on refugees was convening.

The street confusion and frustration was not too great a price to pay, given the importance of this UN convocation, an effort to address a set of issues that have become a worldwide cause of deep suffering for the many thousands of refugees and migrants who have been cut adrift from the barest minimum of security and normalcy. As if to highlight the point, word was spreading of the breakdown of the ceasefire in Aleppo, Syria and the savage attack by the Syrian army on a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid.

Some progress was made. Thirty governments and private groups responded to the need to substantially up the ante on humanitarian support. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged an additional $64 million of humanitarian assistance. In a roundtable I attended, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephane Dion, made a strong pitch for increased help on education for all the young refugees deprived of opportunities for learning. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum announced a program jointly with George Soros to help other countries set up the much admired Canadian program of private refugee sponsorship. The UN building was a source of hope that finally there is a beginning effort to work positively and together on the growing global issue of refugees and migration.

RICHARD DREW / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Canadas Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum addresses the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants, at the United Nations earlier in September.

But there is a long way to go before substantial reform or action on filling critical structural gaps will emerge. There is still not a system to share collective responsibility for the growing incidence of displaced people around the world by establishing definitive norms of responsibility for broad sharing of settlement. There also needs to be a system for redirecting development assistance to mitigate environmental and economic disasters that force people to leave. There must be a system of accountability to expose the increasing disregard of many governments to commitments made in signing international treaties to treat refugees as prime victims of human rights transgressions.

The increase in direct assistance was encouraging. Still missing is a clear commitment to reform the system.

One reason there wasnt a more cutting edge at the UN was the absence from the New York meetings of Germanys Angela Merkel, a key world leader who, by her brave actions last fall in opening borders to close to a million refugees, displayed a rare political courage.

She was in Berlin, trying to manage a growing political crisis. For the second time this month, voters delivered a stunning setback to chancellor Merkel and her governing party. Once again, the Alternative for Germany party, a right-wing, anti-immigration group, won close to 15 per cent of the votes, pushing the other parties to their lowest level in years. This was an ominous portent a political upset in the German federal elections may be in the making next year, and Merkels leadership would be seriously compromised.

Little attention was paid in Germany to the international efforts underway at the UN to change the paradigm, and media coverage there was minimal. Instead, the media were playing to the sense of insecurity by many, heightened by the arrest of three Syrians suspected of terrorism. The tide of xenophobic politics is growing stronger in Germany. This weakens Merkels ability to help build a more effective system of handling the large-scale migrations underway around the world. She publicly expressed she would like to roll back the clock a year and do it a different way.

So the vibes from Berlin ran counter to those from New York, and that is a sad reality. A competition is underway, centred on the refugee issue, between those who believe collective international action to provide human security is possible and the right way forward, countered by those who play the politics of fear and want us to retreat behind national borders, even as the forces of globalization sweep across them.

Remember the old saying that for want of a horse the kingdom was lost. Well, in our contemporary scene, it is for lack of a compelling idea that can give a new narrative to people who are insecure and fearful in the global arena that the competition may be lost. That is what the leaders of good will who gathered in New York last week must now start to work on.

Lloyd Axworthy is a former federal Liberal cabinet minister and is currently chairman of the CUSO board as well as fundraising to raise funds for inner-city kids at the University of Winnipeg Rec-Plex.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The editorial Climate right for privatization talk (Sept. 23), draws some parallels between my work analyzing the privatization of the Alberta Liquor Control Board (ALCB) in the mid-1990s and the current climate in Manitoba and the new mandate of Brian Pallisters PC government and concluded it might be the right time to eliminate Manitobas state liquor board, the MLL.

While ostensibly there are a few congruencies between the two periods  high provincial deficits, a desire to reduce public expenditures and the need from all public employees to show their value  drawing a direct comparison is problematic.

The decision of Ralph Kleins government to eliminate the ALCB was a policy shift dependent on specific factors during a specific period; that is largely why it was, and still is, the only provincial government to fully eliminate its provincial liquor board. The Klein government opted to eliminate the ALCB largely because it was very keen to differentiate itself from previous Conservative governments and to show this was a new era in the governing of the province.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES If the Pallister government were to eliminate the MLL, it would have to devise a new retailing system for alcohol.

They were able to eliminate it largely because a comprehensive blueprint to privatize the board had been in the works for some three years prior to their arrival, and upon their election the elimination of the ALCB and the creation of a new market run by private firms was largely already set to go.

This policy, then, was rolled out largely because of the ease of its implementation as well as the overwhelming political need it served to this new government  to look and appear different from previous incarnations of the Tory brand. This was not a move motivated by some sort of neoliberal ideology as many observers have claimed. If this were true, why then did the same Klein government not only retain the public ownership of a government-owned bank, ATB Financial, but also initiate a series of institutional reforms that marked the fundamental modernization of this publicly owned and operated financial institution?

There should be little concern the government of Brian Pallister will privatize or eliminate the publicly owned MLL  unless, of course, it wants some major additional political problems to deal with.

Opposition to liquor board privatization is most vehement from the private-sector firms that supply the boards with most of their products, as they like the lower costs associated with doing business with one firm and the fact its limited shelf space keeps competitors out. Strenuous opposition would come from the politically significant owners of beer off-sales as well, mostly in the hotel sector.

Opposition would also arise from the public health sector and their very valid arguments regarding the causative relationship between the availability of alcohol and the negative social and health consequences associated with it  a point made eloquently in a recent Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report by Greg Flanagan.

Further, the prices of alcoholic products most likely would rise with privatization, as happened in Alberta, as the higher costs of a private market mechanism would have to be passed onto consumers  and it is unlikely the government would (or should) reduce its take of taxes from alcoholic products.

If the government were to eliminate the MLL, they would then have to devise a new retailing system and figure out an equitable way to distribute the licences to retail alcohol and decide on new store locations and restrictions, in addition to having to figure out what to do with the current MLL retail stores, among just a few of the policy headaches such a scheme would create.

Finally, they would have to rationalize to Manitobas citizenry why this is required. Most Manitobans, myself included, quite like the service they receive at the MLLs retail stores and from their staff members. They may make more than your average retail employee, but they are, for the most part, friendly, hardworking and knowledgeable regarding the products they carry. Why would a government extend so much energy to deal with a problem most Manitobans didnt know they had with their liquor distribution system?

Contrary to popular belief, Conservative governments are good for government-owned firms, as they tend to put emphasis on the business and commercial orientation of their operations, over other policy goals that are often foisted by their public owners onto the management of these Crown corporations. It was, after all, the Conservative government of Mike Harris in Ontario that kicked the modernization of the LCBO into high gear in the mid-1990s, increasing its capital allotments and eliminating the last vestiges of problematic political interference in its operations.

The Pallister government, from early indications, is following this course of action with its plan to stop the development of a new head office for the MLL in downtown Winnipeg. However laudable the previous NDP governments goals were in moving the headquarters, property ownership and redeveloping an old heritage building is far outside the expertise of the MLL and its executives.

They quite rightly ought to focus their energies on selling alcohol in a socially responsible manner, earning revenues for the government and providing high value to their citizen customers.

Malcolm G. Bird is an associate professor of political science at the University of Winnipeg.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pensions were central issues for Canada Post and for General Motors Canada in their labour negotiations this summer. Both employers wanted to provide defined contribution pensions for the workers they hire from now on, in place of the defined benefit plans provided for the earlier generation of workers. These two labour disputes and their results show how Canadas pension landscape is evolving.

The post office, a Crown corporation, backed away from its demand to switch to a defined contribution plan. The employer concluded a labour contract for two years instead of the usual four years. This defers for two years the showdown over pension curtailment. General Motors, however, stuck to its guns: Unifor, the autoworkers union, backed off and agreed to new pension packages for newly hired workers.

Canadians are being divided more and more sharply between those who work for the government, including teachers, whose pension benefits are guaranteed by their employers, and those who dont, who must be successful investors in order to enjoy a good income in their retirement years.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS The government announced it will review Canada Post operations.

In a defined benefit plan, the employees contribute to the plan out of their paycheques and the employer promises a stated level of benefits after retirement. If the pension fund is not large enough to cover the benefits when the time comes, the employer makes up the difference. In a defined contribution plan, the employer makes no promise about the level of benefits. The employees assume the risk of poor investment returns. The employer is spared the expense of covering a pension plan deficit. Employers who lack the power to impose taxes prefer defined contribution plans.

The automobile workers have long been trendsetters in the Canadian labour market, winning job security provisions, fringe benefits and pay rates that were copied bit by bit in other branches of industry. Now that the autoworkers have given up on resisting the switch to defined contribution plans, the writing may be on the wall for defined benefit plans in the rest of Canadian industry.

Ottawa and the provinces have agreed to expand the Canada Pension Plan. Starting in 2019, employee and employer contributions will be increased in small annual steps over seven years so that the contribution of an employee earning $54,900 would rise by $75 each year and by $515 over the whole seven-year phase-in period. Benefits will also be raised so CPP will pay about one-third of a persons salary instead of the present one-quarter.

The shift to defined contribution plans, accelerated by the General Motors settlement, shifts to families the obligation to keep an eye on economic conditions and on their retirement income arrangements. Individual families have to make sure they have saved enough for their retirement and invested it wisely because their former employer will offer no help if the company pension turns out to be inadequate.

The enhanced Canada Pension will offer a part of the retirement income security private-sector employers will no longer provide. Employers such as General Motors will gradually reduce their pension costs  but at the same time their contributions to the Canada Pension Plan will increase. The net effect in industry may be to channel a larger share of retirement savings through the CPP and less through the private pension industry.

The net effect for government workers may be to pile enhanced CPP on top of cushy defined benefit pensions and create an economic elite of retirees enjoying the best of both pension worlds.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There may be another reason for Canadians to feel a sense of pride about their country. On Monday night, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton faced off for the first time in an American presidential debate.

It was so bad, retired journalist Dan Rather wrote: Ladies and gentlemen, whatever civility once existed in our politics is tonight officially dead. Never in the history of televised debates have we witnessed such a show. And thats what the Donald wanted. A show. He got it, but will he be seen as the hero or the villain?

The debate ran longer than the scheduled 90 minutes. Mr. Trump interrupted, bullied and railed against Mrs. Clinton, who was rational, concise and calm.

PATRICK SEMANSKY / THE ASSOCIATE PRESS Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump

Yet, despite her performance, the right attacked her for being too prepared and smiling as if she were at her granddaughters second birthday party.

Mrs. Clinton talked policy. Mr. Trump used the word absolutely a lot and was resolutely unclear.

It is hard to understand how politics has come to this, how the most powerful country in the world can be on the precipice of electing a man who has such a thin grasp on reality, but it is.

Mr. Trump has effectively portrayed the American people as being treated unfairly, something he spoke about at great length Monday. Jobs are being taken by Mexico and China. Free trade is hurting the economy. American allies are not paying their fair share for U.S. protection.

While his arguments are generalized, nebulous and often predicated on falsehoods, the tone is the same. Feel sorry for the U.S., which is being treated horribly by everyone. The poor me routine continued Tuesday morning. Mr. Trump blamed the microphone and the host for his own lacklustre performance.

For the most part, he has successfully caught wind of the mood of many Americans. He has become the poster child for anyone who feels the American dream is now a nightmare and future generations have no hope of having better lives than their parents.

Yet, he admitted Monday he doesnt pay taxes and thats what makes him smart. Thats the joke: hes suckered an entire segment of the American population into believing hes one of them.

Meanwhile, every time Mrs. Clinton speaks positively about the American economy, about the importance of trade, she strengthens his cause, particularly for those who havent experienced a resurgence in the economy or a return to prosperity.

Its easy to watch the presidential election from the cheap seats, eating Skittles and being more than a bit smug that this couldnt happen in Canada. However, if Mr. Trump wins the election Nov. 8, our relationship with our number one trading partner could be fundamentally changed.

The expectation of the western world to look to an American leader capable of speaking with diplomacy and tact will be gone. Americans who want an end to a slow economy and a return to wealth may be sorely disappointed.

This election could fundamentally change the United States and its position as a world leader.

Canada and the rest of the world have a lot at stake, too.

We really may be at the end of civility in politics.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/09/2016 (2225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dr. Ed Cloutis has his sights set on a chunk of asteroid that may tell the story of how our planet came to be.

The University of Winnipeg professor is part of a Canadian group, supported by the Canadian Space Agency, working with NASA to monitor a spacecraft that will travel to, and collect a sample from a distant asteroid called Bennu. The spacecraft was launched on Sept. * and is scheduled to return in 2023.

Our contribution is one of the science instruments on the spacecraft and as part of that, a number of Canadian scientists also get to be involved in the entire mission, Cloutis said.

Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation Scientists prepare the spacecraft that will travel to an asteroid. Winnipegs Dr. Ed Cloutis will have a hand in deciding where the object should land.

He has taught in the universitys geography department for the last 20 years, but does most of his research in geology and planetary exploration. This mission, called Osiris-Rex, is the first of its kind in which Canada is involved.

He said the instrument he and his colleagues have been working on will help to map the asteroid and determine a good landing spot.

Were going to an asteroid that we think is a remnant of the asteroids that led to the formation of the Earth, so it will give us a snapshot of what the conditions were like when the Earth was formed and by bringing a sample back, one of the interesting things well be looking at is what kind of organic molecules it has.

Cloutis said the data will help them get an idea of how asteroids contributed to life on Earth, though the asteroid in question was created long before life of any kind appeared on the planet.

It probably dates back to the beginning of the solar system, so we want to see what kinds of molecules were out there how much of a kickstart did life on earth get from the kinds of organic molecules that might have been in space at that time?

The professor said he and his fellow researchers will be able to monitor the spacecrafts journey through space and operate it remotely once it lands. Until that time, Cloutis said he is excited to have his students and others from the university take part in the mission.

It gives students a unique chance to work on an actual spacecraft mission which I know theyre enthused about and its kind of a cool thing to be able to involve them in this work, he said. Ive got probably four or five students at the U of W who are working with me.
In the wake of the Uri attack, an ex-Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer has suggested that India should put a bounty on its most-wanted terrorists, even if they are in Pakistan.

By India Today Web Desk: As new information suggests Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) Masood Azhar may to be the mastermind behind the Uri terror attack, an ex-Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer has suggested that India should put a bounty on its most-wanted terrorists, even if they are in Pakistan.

Writing for DailyO, RK Yadav said that the bounty system is an effective "tool to combat terrorism", and countries like the United States (US) have used it successfully.

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ALSO READ: Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack



Osama was captured, thanks to the bounty

He said that the US had put a bounty of $25 million on Osama bin Laden. "The most dreaded terrorist of the century was hunted and killed, thanks to the bounty on his head," Yadav said.

According to Yadav, the US administration claims the bounty programme is a success, and has helped it neutralize many high-profile terrorists - a sum of $125 million has been paid to more than 80 informants.

US had put $10 million on Saeed's head



Yadav said that in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, a US intra-agency rewards committee, headed by then secretary of state Hillary Clinton, was convened to determine the bounty on mastermind Hafiz Saeed. "The committee announced a lesser reward of $10 million on Saeed's head," he said.

ALSO READ: Uri attackers came from Pakistan: India summons Delhi envoy, shows proof



Yadav said that Pakistan does it too, but more to settle political scores.



Greed can work to India's advantage

The ex-RAW officer said that India too should consider putting a bounty on Saeed, Maulana Masood Azhar, Syed Salahuddin, and other terrorists operating from Pakistani soil.

"Bounty declaration would have political repercussions in Pakistan since its army and intelligence nurture terror outfits," Yadav said.

"Greed for big money may bring dividends from Pakistan where treachery has been long established and even capitalized on by the Indian intelligence," he added.

Yadav, however, said that bounty programmes may sometimes not be successful. India, for instance, could not on its own soil capture Veerappan, the sandalwood smuggler of Karnataka, for 30 years despite offering a reward of Rs 5 crore on his head.

ALSO READ: Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri



--- ENDS ---
One more person has been arrested and charged in connection with the Sept. 2 burglary of a southeast Minnesota gunshop.

Sasha Marie Erdner, 29, of Peterson, Minn., was charged in Wabasha County District Court with one count of aiding an offender after the fact in the early September break-in in Millville, Minn., that netted thieves nearly 80 handguns and a large amount of ammunition.

According to court documents, Trinity James Wicka, one of the individuals charged in the break-in, came to party in Erdners RV the night of Sept. 7. While there, he told Erdner he had 20 to 25 guns in two bags in his vehicle.

Later, Wicka left the RV, but soon returned with two bags of guns after getting his vehicle stuck in a ditch. He said he brought the guns to the RV because he was afraid the car in the ditch would draw attention from police.

Between the time the guns were brought to Erdners RV and the time charges were filed Friday, the guns disappeared from the RV.

Erdner was taken into custody and, following her first court appearance, is being held in the Wabasha County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bond.

Wicka was arrested Sept. 10, in Austin, Minn., on a felony-hold warrant. Charges in the burglary case were filed in Wabasha County District Court on Sept. 16 and a warrant was issued for Wickas arrest and detention. He remains in custody.

In related matters, two Winona men  Cody Charles Dickenson, 19, and Jeremy Wayne Polus, 41  have been arrested and charged in Winona County District Court for possessing firearms stolen from the gun shop.

Guns taken in the burglary have also been linked to Sept. 2 armed robberies in Winona. Xzaviar Dominique Rian Aune, 18, of Winona, and Alex Boyd, 37, of Chicago, have each been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and second degree assault; two boys, 16 and 17, were charged as juveniles in the robbery.
Winona

Tuesday

10:12 a.m.  A door was damaged and forced open at a business on the 950 block of West Fifth Street.

4:39 p.m.  A 72-year-old Winona woman was injured when she was struck by a vehicle making a left turn at West Mark and Main streets. No citations were issued.

4:53 p.m.  A GPS unit, two prayer books and other items were reported missing from a vehicle parked on the 900 block of West King Street.

6:31 p.m.  A GPS unit and phone charger were reported missing from a vehicle parked on the 350 block of Hilbert Street.

7:25 p.m  A woman's purse and contents were reported missing from the Winona Bowl.

Tuesday

1:48 a.m.  A report of a a home invasion at a residence on the 50 block of Wildridge Drive was found to be groundless after a houseguest was identified as the individual appearing on a security video.

Winona County

Tuesday

12:00 a.m.  Charges of fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and introducing contraband into a jail were referred against Samantha Leann Ewing, 35, after detention deputies found a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine in a concealed container. Ewing is in custody in the Winona County Jail.
The Vakkertland Lodge, a local Sons of Norway chapter, will hold a special meeting on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the East Lemonweir Lutheran Church in Elroy.

The church, located at W8943 County Road S, will offer an all-you-can-eat heritage style dinner for $12 per person. Following dinner will be a program featuring retired Madison pastor Bill White, talking about his book Little Oslo. To join the Sons of Norway for the dinner and program, call Connie Wolfgram at 608-547-9192 by Oct. 1 to make a reservation.

The Vakkertland Lodge typically meets every second Saturday of the month at the Kilbourn Library in Wisconsin Dells. The lodge, which serves Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties.

In November, the Vakkertland Lodge will meet at the Christ Lutheran Church in DeForest for an annual lutefisk dinner. The lodge is also planning a Christmas party at the Farm Kitchen in rural Baraboo.

The Sons of Norway formed in 1895 in Minneapolis. The groups mission is to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, celebrate its relationship with Nordic countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to its members.
If you have ever wanted to tell someone in authority that a particular road needs fixing  or if you have ideas about how, and how much, Wisconsin should pay for fixing its roads  Thursday night is your chance to speak out.

People from all 72 Wisconsin counties  especially municipal government officials  are invited to Turnout for Transportation, described as the first-of-its-kind town hall meeting on transportation-related issues.

Columbia Countys meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Columbia County Highway Department administration offices, in the second-floor conference room, at 338 Old Highway 16 Road, Wyocena.

Columbia County Highway Commissioner Chris Hardy said the county is partnering with the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Towns Association and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities to put on the sessions, to generate support for solving the states transportation shortfall.

Columbia County is one of many municipal government bodies throughout Wisconsin to adopt a Just Fix It resolution, promoted by the states Transportation Development Association to facilitate discussion and action regarding the states infrastructure.

Turnout for Transportation is one component of the TDAs Just Fix It effort, to address the impact of transportation, and roads in need of repair, on the states economy, and on residents and businesses.

With the exception of a joint meeting for Bayfield and Ashland counties in northern Wisconsin  to be held at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland  each Wisconsin county is hosting its own Turnout for Transportation session at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Sessions in counties surrounding Columbia County are planned for:

Adams County  Adams County Community Center, 569 N. Cedar St., Adams.

Dane County  Madison Municipal Building, room 260, 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Madison.

Dodge County  Highway shop, 211 E. Center St., Juneau

Green Lake County  Green Lake Government Center, training room, 571 County Highway A, Green Lake.

Marquette County  Harris Town Hall and Community Center, W4987 County Highway J, Westfield.

Sauk County  West Square Building, room B24, 505 Broadway St., Baraboo.
The man attempting to become the first to travel by stand-up paddle board the entirety of the Wisconsin River stopped in Portage on Saturday  for a Taco Bell run.

Considering his experiences farther up river last week, adventurer and film producer Jesse Hieb probably deserved the fast-food respite.

He survived last Wednesday nights thunderstorms and downpour at the rivers edge by taking shelter for eight hours in the mens restroom at Castle Rock State Park. Then, a couple days later after storms had passed but the river had swelled, he he narrowly avoided the whirlpools around the Devils Elbow in the Upper Dells. (He paddled to the right of Blackhawk Island.)

By early afternoon Saturday, when Hieb arrived in Portage along the river where Highway 33 crosses, he was ready for something perhaps more tasty, if less healthy, than the snacks and foodstuffs he had packed for his two weeks-plus journey upon his trusty paddle board.

After searching fruitlessly in nearby downtown Portage for somewhere to eat downtown, he caught a ride to Taco Bell on Highway 51 and dug into a Queserito and two Chicken-Loaded Grillers.

While he was thinking outside the bun, Hieb discussed his multiple inspirations for the unprecedented paddle board trip, which is scheduled to conclude later this week where the Wisconsin meets the Mississippi at the Iowa border.

A self-avowed adventure seeker who once attempted to paddle board across Lake Michigan, Hieb was already planning the trip when he learned, via the Wisconsin River Alliance, the story of how the river was cleaned up by its residents.

I just found it so interesting, and such an incredible story  of how thousands of people came together and agreed to make a decision that was going to cost them a whole lot of money and a lot of stress, and take care of the river that had been taking care of them, he said. My hope is that with telling this story, people around the world who are having freshwater issues are able to look at Wisconsin and the river and say, OK, it is possible.

Hiebs goal, besides making it to the end of the river by paddle board, is to increase the awareness of the river and its success story, in concert with the Wisconsin River Alliance.

In addition to the hefty orange, water-proof suitcase, a hammock and down blanket and other supplies needed for the journey, Hieb brought along two cameras, one mounted to the bow of the board.

When Hieb set off from the rivers headwaters in Lac Vieux Desert on Sept. 9, he did not bargain for the weather that greeted as he paddled north of the Dells and Lyndon Station on Tuesday.

He spent one night in a hammock with a rainfly pulled over it, then, after only making it a mile down river Wednesday only to survive a nearby lightning strike in the midst of Wednesday nights storms, he spent the night in the Castle Rock Park restroom.

By Friday night he had made it through The Narrows above the Dells, around the Devils Elbow and then the portage around Kilbourn Dam. He also spent that night in his hammock, tied between two trees offered up by a river-side homeowner up river from Portage.

Hieb did not appear worse for the wear, considering the harrowing adventure hed just experienced. But, hed been through trying times before  his aborted Lake Michigan crossing was followed by an all-night storm on his support teams boat, with 13-foot seas crashing around him.

Hieb said he expected to make it all the way to the Mississippi River before weeks end, he hoped in time to return to Portage on his way back to Milwaukee to recount his adventure to the students of Bartels Middle School science teacher Jenny Karpelenia  and, ultimately, turn the experience into a documentary or three-part series.

Im in this to tell the story, he said, and I would love for people to see what I actually got on camera.
Baraboo is joining municipalities across Wisconsin in asking lawmakers to change the way road work is funded.

On Monday, the City Councils public safety committee voted unanimously to approve a resolution asking for improved transportation funding. City leaders said state highway allocations havent kept up with needs, and theyre asking the governor and legislators for help.

Its an age-old problem: How do we pay for infrastructure? said City Engineer Tom Pinion. This is just bringing it to the forefront.

The full council will consider the resolution  which is based on wording provided by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities  on Tuesday. On Thursday, a Turnout for Transportation event will be held at the West Square Building to rally support for reform. Mayor Mike Palm said such events will be held in all 72 counties, featuring an educational video and discussions.

Were asking the legislators to look at sustainable, realistic ways of funding roads across the state, Palm said. The idea here is to work with other counties so we have a unified voice coming into the legislative session.

The resolution notes that a report commissioned by the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin found the condition of Wisconsins highways ranks in the bottom third nationally. It states that state funding has failed to keep up with costs, declining from $275 per capita in 2000 to $227 in 2012. Levy limits prevent municipalities from making up the difference.

The resolution also notes the city is paying $500,000 to repair Highway 33 this year because the state couldnt  or wouldnt  tackle the project. It calls for increases to the state gas tax and vehicle registration fees, and asks the state to stop relying on borrowing as a stop-gap funding source.

Aldermen said they couldnt agree more. How can we make it stronger? said Alderman Phil Wedekind.
JUNEAU  Voters are being reminded that absentee ballots are available through local city, village or town clerks for the Nov. 8 election.

Beaver Dam deputy city clerk Linda Carney is already matching up the absentee ballots that come in with the voter log. Carney said the number of absentee ballots so far are comparable to what the city of Beaver Dam received for presidential races in the past.

We are early in the process though, Carney said, who added that the city of Beaver Dam municipal building will have extended hours the week of Oct. 31 to help voters.

Four years ago there were between 700 and 800 people in Beaver Dam who voted as absentee. Beaver Dam currently has 8,363 registered voters.

Residents are reminded to look at both sides of the ballot when voting.

Karen J. Gibson, Dodge County clerk, said voters must be a registered in order to receive a ballot (military and permanently overseas voters are exempt). To determine if individuals are registered voters, log onto the states public access website, http://myvote.wi.gov, contact a local municipal clerk or call the county clerks office at 920-386-3605.

Those who are not registered will need to contact the local clerk before they may vote and receive a ballot, Gibson said. When registering proof of residence is required. Registration by mail ends 20 days prior to the election.

Any qualified elector who is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place on Election Day may request to vote by absentee ballot. A qualified elector is any U.S. citizen who will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day, who has resided in the ward or municipality where he or she wishes to vote for at least 10 days before the election. People must make a request in writing and provide a photo ID in order to obtain an absentee ballot. Those who are not already registered will need to provide proof of residence and register to vote before an absentee ballot can be sent to them.

Those who request an absentee ballot by mail may download the absentee ballot request form from the Wisconsin Elections Commissions website or contact a local municipal clerk to have an application form mailed to them, Gibson said. The application must be received by the municipal clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday before the election for an absentee ballot to be mailed out.

Voters may also request an absentee ballot in person at their municipal clerks office. Voters will need to complete a written application, provide photo ID, and vote an absentee ballot. There is no absentee voting on the Monday prior to the election.

For more information contact the municipal clerk or call the county clerks office at 386-3605. For a list of municipal clerks, polling places and election-related information visit http://www.co.dodge.wi.us/index.aspx?page=82.
India and China today held a counter-terror meeting in Beijing amid tensions with Pakistan.

By Ananth Krishnan: India and China have held a key counter-terror dialogue in Beijing today and agreed to step up cooperation amid rising concerns on Pakistan-sourced terror in the wake of the Uri attack.

RN Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China, held "in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard", the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

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Also Read: China distances itself from Pakistan on Kashmir issue

FIRST INDIA-CHINA HIGH LEVEL MEET

This was the first meeting of India-China High Level Dialogue on counter-terrorism and security.

Both sides agreed to formalise and deepen cooperation on terror during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Beijing, when he met with China's top counter-terror czar Meng Jianzhu.

Both sides "exchanged views on the international and regional security situation".

They also exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and further enhance their understanding on issues of major concerns to both sides, the statement said.

Also Read:



Pakistan in talks with China over NSG entry after India's failed bid



China intruded into Arunachal this month but issue resolved through joint mechanism



--- ENDS ---
Where to go to college if you want to earn the most money
A new so-called dark money group has hit Wisconsin airwaves with more than $200,000 worth of ads praising Democratic state Senate candidate Mark Harris.

The ad, which aired on Green Bay TV last week and Monday, touts Harris financial management of Winnebago County, of which he is chief executive. Harris is running against Republican Dan Feyen in state Senate District 18, which includes Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, in a race that is widely viewed as this years most competitive state Senate contest.

When you see County Executive Mark Harris, tell him to keep standing with taxpayers! the ads narrator says.

Little is known about the group airing the ad, Prosperity for Everyday People, because it and other so-called dark money groups operate mostly in secret. Unlike candidates or political parties, these groups may raise or spend millions on elections without disclosing where the money comes from or how it is spent.

What looked like a possible clue about the groups origins appeared briefly on its website last week. A page on the Issues section of its site said: The Greater Wisconsin Committee takes all the necessary legal steps to make sure our activities are in full compliance with state and federal law.

By Monday, the reference had been scrubbed from the website.

Sam Raymond, executive director for Prosperity for Everyday People, told the Wisconsin State Journal in an email Monday that the group has no affiliation with the Greater Wisconsin Committee, the states largest pro-Democratic outside campaign group.

Raymond described the scrubbed website reference to Greater Wisconsin Committee as a technical web issue on our end.

We used the technical language from the Greater Wisconsin website as only a template. Inadvertently the newly formed website went live before the mistake was corrected, he wrote.

Greater Wisconsin Committee spent about $32.9 million between 2006 and 2015 on electioneering activities  more than any other special interest group in Wisconsin, according to an analysis by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. It primarily has aired negative ads against Republican candidates for governor, state Supreme Court and other offices.

Democracy Campaign executive director Matt Rothschild said there is a growing trend of dark money groups spawning offshoot groups for branding purposes.

Leading dark money groups on both sides are reproducing themselves to have a less tainted name, Rothschild said.

Greater Wisconsin Committee did not respond Monday to a request for comment.

Prosperity for Everyday People responded to a State Journal inquiry in part by saying it is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)4 organization  a typical means of incorporation for dark money groups. The group was incorporated with the state of Wisconsin last year, state records show. It registered an independent expenditure committee with the state Ethics Commission last week.

The groups response said it is advancing policies that will help everyday people prosper, specifically the promotion of fair taxation and fiscal responsibility, good-paying jobs and increased wages, and proper treatment for our veterans and seniors.

The group also inquired with at least one TV station about rates for potential ads that would mention Republican state Sen. Luther Olsen, an FCC document shows. Olsen is running against Democrat Brian Smith in what Democrats predict will be a competitive race in Senate District 14.

Greater Wisconsin Committee may have its own ad campaign scheduled in the District 18 race, the District 14 race, or both. It has purchased more than $700,000 in TV advertising in the Green Bay area for October and early November, FCC records show.

The group isnt required to disclose which race or races the ads will mention, but the Green Bay market includes most of Senate District 18, part of District 14 and Wisconsins 8th U.S. Congressional District, which is an open seat in this election.

Dark money groups have drawn greater interest in Wisconsin in the wake of the now-ended John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walkers 2012 recall campaign. Under scrutiny in that investigation were Walkers ties to Wisconsin Club for Growth, which aided Walker and GOP senators in the 2011 and 2012 recalls and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser in his 2011 re-election bid.
Items are listed under the day of the event only, running as space permits prior to the event. To submit items, call 745-3511, email jcutsforth@capitalnewspapers.com or visit www.portagedailyregister.com. Include name and phone number.

TODAY

Dedication ceremony: 5:30 p.m. K.I.A. Monument Dedication, Blue Star Park, 100 W. Slifer St., Portage. The Blue Star Park Committee, made up of members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America, invite the community to a dedication ceremony for the monument. Parking will be located along West Slifer Street and on the frontage road located directly across from the park. The parking lot in Blue Star Park will be available as a drop-off area only. Rain date is Sept. 28.

Library event: 10 a.m. Preschool Story Time for ages 3 to 5 years, (siblings welcome), Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. This weeks theme is Rainy Day with stories, songs and activities. Preschoolers will make a rain stick during craft time. Registration is recommended and can be done at any time by calling 742-4959, ext. 211 or online at www.portagelibrary.us.

Prayer time: 8 to 8:30 a.m. First Presbyterian Church, 105 S. Main St., Pardeeville. The church will be open for quiet, personal time for reflection, thought and prayer. There is no planned service or leader. For more information, call 608-429-2646.

Genealogy event: The Genealogy Researchers group will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. The basics of genealogy research will continue when Julie Kayartz presents information regarding the records available at the Columbia County Courthouse. The office is planning to move to the new Courthouse location. Records are being scanned and are currently inaccessible.

Kayartz will tell the group what to xpect in the future. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Portage Family Skate Park public meeting: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Gerstenkorn Administration Building, 305 E. Slifer St., Portage. All interested people are welcome to attend. If the Portage Schools are closed or released early the PFSP meeting will be canceled and announced on our Facebook page with a new meeting location as soon as possible.

Speaker series: 6:30 p.m. Summer Speaker Series, Historic Indian Agency House at Fort Winnebago, 1490 Agency House Road, Portage. Professor James Leary will discuss his book Folksongs of Another America. The speaker series is free to the public. For more information, call the Historic Indian Agency House at 608-742-6362.

Zumba Toning: 4:30 p.m. Woodridge Primary School, Portage. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28

Bingo: 5:30 p.m. 131 Restaurant, North Main Street, Pardeeville. Bingo will be played every Wednesday, except the first one of the month.

Blood drive: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wyocena Red Cross blood drive, Columbia Health Care Center, 323 W. Monroe St., Wyocena. Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required.

Clinic: 8 a.m. to noon, Columbia County Public Health Walk-In Clinic, Columbia County Health Department, 2652 Murphy Road, Portage. Use door 4. Bring childs immunization record. Visit www.co.columbia.wi.us for more information.

Endeavor Sharing Supper: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Endeavor Elementary School, Endeavor. Enjoy a free meal with your neighbors and learn about your community. Kids corner with activities for children. Informational booths and free blood pressure checks available. This months supper is prepared and sponsored by Endeavor Freedom Riders Snowmobile Club. All are welcome.

Cooking class: 6 p.m. free healthy cooking class, Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2100 Highway 33 East, Portage. This class features Delicious Dinners, with samples and recipes. All welcome.

Free clinic: 9 a.m. to noon, St. Vincent de Paul free medical clinic, Wilz Drugs lower level, 140 E. Cook St., Portage. No appointments needed. Information needed is name, date of birth and a contact number. A chiropractor is available from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. A foot clinic is available every week. The clinic can do exams and prescribe medications. Physical therapist available. Discounted medications are available at Wilz and Wal-Mart. Call Bonny Oestreich, RN, at 608-234-0159 for information.

Card party: 6:30 p.m. Texas Hold em card tournament, VFW Hall, 215 W. Collins St., Portage. Register at 6 p.m. Entry fee is $20. One hundred percent payout. Open to the public. For information, call the VFW Hall at 742-5350.

Writing group: 9:30 a.m. Pauquette Wordcrafters, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. All writers welcome.

Biking: 6 p.m. Portage Pedalers Wednesday night ride, meet at Pat and Dougs house, W7956 Douglas Center Road (East of Briggsville on Highway 23 North via 3rd Avenue). Wear a helmet and bikers under 18 must ride with a parent.

Library event: 10 a.m. Preschool Story Time for ages three to five years, (siblings welcome), Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. This weeks theme is Rainy Day with stories, songs and activities. Preschoolers will make a rain stick during craft time. Registration is recommended and can be done at any time by calling 742-4959, ext. 211 or online at www.portagelibrary.us.

Screening: 1 to 5 p.m. Free blood pressure screenings, Divine Savior Healthcare, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. No appointment necessary. Call 745-6405 for more information. Do not eat, smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes prior.

Senior meal: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday Soup, Salad and Sandwich Bar, Portage Senior Dining Site, lower level of the Portage Municipal Building, 115 W. Pleasant St., Portage. For seniors age 60 and older; suggested donation $4. Order by noon the day before by calling 608-742-8726.

Womens Civic League: 9 a.m. Board meeting, Club House, West Edgewater Street, Portage.

Zumba: 5:30 p.m. 1208 Northport Road (the former Freedom Carpeting building). This is a $5 drop-in class. For more information, contact Deb at DJMACK00001@yahoo.com or Rena at 697-6713.

Zumba/Zumba Toning: 5 p.m. Montello. $5 drop in fee. Contact Tami at 608-346-3971 or 4dreamers@frontier.com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

Bingo: 6:30 p.m. Endeavor Lions Club Bingo, Endeavor-Moundville Fire Department, Endeavor.

Prayer time: 4:30 to 5 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 105 S. Main St., Pardeeville. The church will be open for quiet, personal time for reflection, thought and prayer. There is no planned service or leader. For more information, call 608-429-2646.

Museum: 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Museum at the Portage, 804 MacFarlane Road, Portage. Admission is free.

Card party: 7 p.m. Open Texas Hold em, Sport Club 22, Pardeeville. For information, call 566-9655.

Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Portage World War II Museum, 119 E. Cook St., Portage. Free tours for veterans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The tours take 2 1/2 hours. For information, call 608-697-3690.

Varicose Vein Presentation and Screening: Free presentation and screening, Divine Savior Healthcare, 2817 New Pinery Road, Portage. Learn what you can do to treat varicose veins, and to see if you are a candidate for treatment. Free screenings from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (appointment required by calling 608-745-6289). Presentation at 5:30 p.m. by Divine Saviors General Surgeons Dr. Eric Anderson and Dr. Josh Pogorelec.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30

Card party: 6 p.m. meal and 6:30 p.m. Euchre card party, Portage Presbyterian Church, 120 W. Pleasant St., Portage. Donation of $5 includes cards and the meal. A donation to the food pantry would be appreciated. Proceeds to benefit the Yakutat pledge.

Library event: 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Pre-K Klub for children ages four to six, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. Pre-K Klub is for children enrolled in a prekindergarten program or home schooled (it is not intended for preschoolers attending weekly library story times) and is a STEM-based program: science, technology, engineering and math. This month features science and math with Rocket Science and the book The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers. Registration is required and can be done in person at the library, by calling 742-4959, ext. 211 or visiting www.portagelibrary.us.

Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Portage World War II Museum, 119 E. Cook St., Portage. Free tours for veterans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The tours take 2 1/2 hours. For information, call 608-697-3690.

Unique Singles: 5 p.m. Susies Steak and Seafood, county Highway CX, Portage. All single men and women older than age 50 welcome. The group is strictly social with no dues or officers.

SATURDAY, OCT. 1

Library event: 10 to 11 a.m. FamilyFunEvent, Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St., Portage. The first Saturday of the month, October through May, the Childrens Department holds a different free family event that is recommended for families with children up to eight years but older siblings are always welcome to attend. This month will be Family Yoga with yoga instructor, Kari Langkamp. Kids and adults both should come dressed in comfortable clothing and be ready to learn some simple yoga moves and have fun learning about yoga. Registration is not required. For more information, call 742-4959, ext. 211.

Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Portage World War II Museum, 119 E. Cook St., Portage. Free tours for veterans every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The tours take 2 1/2 hours. For information, call 608-697-3690.

Performing Arts Series concert: 7:30 p.m. The International First Lady of Piano Teresa Walters, Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St., Portage. Reserved tickets on sale online, over the phone or at the office. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets will also be available at the door. Major Sponsor: Crawford Oil and Propane.

Unique Singles: Monthly Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Dinos Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Road, Portage. All single men and women older than age 50 welcome. The group is strictly social with no dues or officers.

SUNDAY, OCT. 2

Student Recital Series: 1 p.m. Student Recital Series featuring performances from students of independent music teachers located throughout the surrounding region: Portage, Poynette, Pardeeville, Baraboo, Montello, Lodi, Waunakee, Madison, Coloma and more, Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook St., Portage. Open to the public. Cost is $5 at the door. Sponsored by Portage Soundworks.
Classical pianist Teresa Walters has two first-time performances on her busy schedule, and she doesnt make much of the differences in location.

In a few weeks, shell perform in Argentina. In a few days, shell perform in Portage.

Music, Walters said, is a universal language.

Walters kicks off the latest Portage Arts Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Zona Gale Theatre in Portage Center for the Arts. She has been dubbed by reviewers as The International First Lady of Piano. Walters in her career has received high marks from The New York Times, The Washington Post and The London Times, and shes performed in almost every state and more than 30 countries.

Over the past 15 years shes performed in Carnegie Hall, Moscows Great Hall, Australias International Conservatorium, the Salle Cortot in Paris, and Wigmore Hall in London. But that doesnt make Portage less important to Walters.

(My career) has sustained itself in rather miraculous ways, Walters said. In this day and age, classical music can struggle in some places, and thats why I want to perform in some out-of-the-way places, where people maybe havent had a chance to hear a classical pianist.

Thats important to me, and Im committed to it.

Walters calls Saturdays program a Celebration of Musical Heritage, and that means a lot of interacting with the audience, she said. Whether (performing for) a sophisticated audience or for people who are hearing this for the first time, I think (interacting) helps them understand the music, the context, the perspectives, and I want to do that in Portage.

The concert is her first visit to Portage, but Walters has been to Wisconsin many times.

I always enjoy Wisconsin, Walters said. Ive been a cheese lover since I was a little kid and enjoy the people very much. Ive always had nice experiences there.

Walters, who grew up on a farm in Nebraska, started playing piano when she was 4 years old. She doesnt remember how it happened, exactly, but her parents tell her about one particular day at her grandmothers house.

One day we were there, and (music) came on the television, Walters said. They tell me I went to the piano and played it. They stopped what they were doing and went, I didnt know she could play.

Walters parents signed her up for lessons and a lasting love of piano followed. Walters went on to gain her doctorate in music from Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, and she became the first American pianist to perform three anniversary concerts in honor of Franz Liszts birthday.

The piano has so much potential  there is such versatility, Walters said. You can make it sound like a percussion instrument, you can make it sing, you can make it sound like a nightingale. It is essentially an orchestra at my fingertips, and I love all the worlds and the doors it opens, and I love when I can make that happen for an audience and let them hear, let them experience all those things.

Its just very rewarding. Its a way to reach out and touch a world that is eternal.

I think its a link between heaven and earth, and a language understood in every country in the world.

Classical music goes beyond time and space  a world beyond anything else that I know.

International acclaim for her performances is nice, Walters said, but she would play with or without it. Playing piano feels like a calling, something she views as a gift.

Supporting the arts, then, is critical to Walters.

I think if the world becomes, if you will, more unsteady, more unstable, I think music is an anchor for the soul and for the human condition, and I think its more important than ever that great music remains one of the pillars in which civilization rests.

These great composers dont belong to any one country  they belong to all of humanity, forever, and they represent the best of the human spirit. I like to think it has the potential to bring out the best in all of us.

For more information about Walters, visit teresawalters.com.

For information about Saturdays show, call the PCA at 742-5655.
Ferriter will look out for the little guy

in Assembly

Wisconsins failure to fund the Medicaid expansion has lost our state $256 million. This means the federal tax dollars we Wisconsinites put in each year are going to help states like Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota rather than our own uninsured citizens like many of my neighbors.

In the 42nd District our representative, Keith Ripp, hasnt expressed concern over this inequity but his opponent, George Ferriter, thankfully has. Its time for a change... a representative who is concerned more about the little guy.

George Ferriter understands that Wisconsin is not an impoverished state. Its a state that needs to show more thoughtfulness and compassion in the use of its resources. Ferriter will put pressure on the governor to let our tax dollars come back to Wisconsin.

Mary Gorman, Pardeeville
Klang was tragically shot and later died as a result of the gunshot wounds incurred that day in 2006. To honor his memory, the Weston School District will hold several memorial activities Sept. 29 outside the school at the John Klang Memorial. In case of inclement weather, the activities will be moved indoors.

At 7:30 a.m. staff members will gather for a moment of reflection. Middle and high school students will have a discussion about the tragic events and at 8 a.m. they will proceed outside to the memorial for a moment of silence and reflection. Community members are welcome to gather at 4 p.m. at the memorial for a short service. For more information, call Sue Louis at 608-986-2151 Ext. 120 or email louis@weston.k12.wi.us.
Howard E. Althiser Sr., 65, of Reedsburg, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, from complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Howard wrote this obituary.

I came into this world as the third child of Fred and Mary (Wasson) Althiser on Aug. 6, 1951 at Graham Hospital, Canton, Illinois.

After a short time spent on the Wasson family farm southeast of Farmington, Illinois, and a farm in southeast Warren County, Illinois, we moved to a farm in Liverpool Township, Section 31, about four miles southeast of Lewistown, Illinois, in the spring of 1955. It was there that my impressionable childhood and young teenage years were spent. Unfortunately, my mom and dad divorced soon after moving to Lewistown. My mom then married O.K. Smith, the man that didnt have to be my dad but took on the responsibility the best he could. I love him for his love for me and his guidance, even though I didnt always follow it.

I attended the Lewistown community schools until the second semester of my junior year (January 1968) at Lewistown Community High School. At that time we moved to Hill Point, where we also transferred our milk cows and continued to farm until 1973.

Upon moving to Wisconsin I attended and graduated with a great bunch of kids from Weston High School in 1969.

I worked short stints for Grede Foundries and Lakeside Foods in Reedsburg, while looking for a full-time job I thought I would like. I started at Hankscraft, Inc. in October 1969. Soon afterwards, it looked as though the draft would be catching up with me so I volunteered for the United States Navy, as I didnt want to go to Vietnam. Of course things change and a person is guided to things that we never really suspect. I ended up volunteering for Vietnam and spent 16 months at a small Navy support base called Nha Be. It was here, in a noncombatant position, that I learned the value of my farm upbringing of cooperation and doing the best job you can. After leaving Vietnam during the Easter Offensive of 1972, I spent some time at home and then reported onboard the USS Fresno (LST-1182). I spent the remainder of my Navy service on the Fresno making several friends of which I still communicated with until my demise.

After discharge from the Navy in 1974, I returned to Hankscraft and in 1975 I met and fell in love with the Sunshine of My Heart, Susan Mullikin. I thank God that she decided to find work at Hankscraft. We were married on Sept. 18, 1976, in Lime Ridge, at the United Methodist Church.

To our union were born two children, Howard Jr. in 1977, and Heather Lee in 1982. Our daughter predeceased me in 2010 and I look forward to our reunion. Our son married and he and his wife, Becky, have given us three delightful granddaughters. Samantha was our first granddaughter and then twins, Katelyn and Andrea.

Except for my short employment at Lakeside Foods, Grede Foundries, my four years of naval service and two years at Zinga Industries, my entire working life has been with Hankscraft/Gerber/Hankscraft Motors.

I have been a life member of the VFW Post 1916 where I held various elected posts, including, post commander, senior vice-commander and quartermaster.

I was preceded in death by my mother Mary E. Smith; father Fred Althiser; stepfather O.K. Smith; father-in-law Keith Mullikin; mother-in-law Irene Mullikin; brother-in-law, Timothy Mullikin; and my beautiful daughter Heather L. Althiser.

I have been survived by my wife of 40 years Susan (Mullikin) Althiser of Reedsburg; son Howard (Becky) Althiser Jr. of Reedsburg; my older brother, Leslie (Sue) Althiser of Ipava, Illinois, older sister, Connie Herrman of Lewistown, Illinois; half-siblings, Bonnie (Thom) Stewart of Wonewoc, Randy (Jill) Smith of Lake City, Minnesota; step-sister, Edie (Merle) Swearingen of Lewistown, Illinois; brother-in-law, Dale Mullikin of Bangor; sister-in-law, Judy Orsborne of Madison; brother-in-law, Paul (Karen) Mullikin of Arcadia; brother-in-law, Donnie (Debbie) Mullikin of Wisconsin Dells; sister-in-law, Sandy (Rod) Scheeler of Reedsburg; along with many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, at Farber Funeral Home, Reedsburg, with Pastor Joseph Corbin officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Reedsburg. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Sunday at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by the Reedsburg VFW Post 1916. In lieu of flowers all donations will be divided between the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Reedsburg Area High School Scholarship Program.

Farber Funeral Home is assisting the family.
What started as a love of writing in high school turned into a career in storytelling for the Sauk Prairie Eagles newest reporter, Autumn Luedke.

Luedke, who calls Windsor home, has lived in Wisconsin for the past 15 years. She grew up in Western New York by the Canadian border in a neighboring community of Niagara Falls. Her passion for writing led her to study journalism at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. After obtaining her degree, Luedke moved to the Midwest to pursue a career in journalism, where she wrote for several community weekly publications.

After a decade in the business, Luedke took a break from journalism to raise her son and pursue other interests. She currently lives in Windsor with her husband, five children and two dogs. When she is not writing, Luedke can be found volunteering for a Milwaukee-based pug rescue group or catching up on her favorite television show, The Walking Dead. She also enjoys reading, traveling and scary movies.

Its been a few years since I have written on a full-time basis, Luedke said. The desire to write always persisted. I tried many other jobs, but never quite felt as satisfied as I did when I was writing.

Eagle Editor Todd Krysiak said he is glad to have Luedke on board.

Autumn brings a lot of experience to the Eagle and I am confident she will be a great fit for our community, Krysiak said.

Luedke said she is happy to return to her roots in writing.

I am excited to be covering these two great communities and cant wait to meet everyone, Luedke said.

Luedke started Sept. 26. She can be reached at aluedke@capitalnewspapers.com, or 608-393-5777.
Houston shooter who went on a rampage, firing at nine people on Monday, was an Indian-origin lawyer with Nazi sympathies.

An Indian-origin lawyer shot at nine people in Houston. (Photo for representation)

By India Today Web Desk: It was a bloody Monday morning for Houston, US, when an Indian-origin lawyer went on a rampage, shooting at nine people before being killed by the police.

According to the authorities, Nathan Desai, with apparent Nazi sympathies, was wearing military-style clothes with Nazi symbols during the 20-minute shooting spree where he fired at passing cars.

Police said that they did not know what prompted Desai to shoot at people at random.



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All his victims survived; one person was critically injured and five others were hospitalized, Houston's Acting Police Chief Martha Montalvo said.

ALSO READ: 7 injured in shooting at Houston shopping center, assailant shot down

TROUBLE WITH LAW FIRM



Montalvo described the shooter as a lawyer who was having problems at his law firm. When police tried to subdue him, he shot at them and was killed when the cops returned fire, Montalvo said.

The shooter's father, 80-year-old Prakash Desai said that his son was "worried" because his law practice was not doing well.

Forty six-year-old Nathan Desai owned several guns to protect himself against his clients, some of whom were "funny people and criminally-minded people", said his father, a retired geologist.

MILITARY ITEMS FROM CIVIL WAR ERA



A Houston daily reported that the police found in his apartment several military items that date back to the Civil War. They found a Thompson sub-machine gun in his Porsche and a 0.45 caliber handgun that he used against the police.

ALSO READ: Washington: Cascade Mall shooting suspect in police custody



The daily said that the police used a robot to examine his car and his flat for explosives.

SIMILAR CASES IN THE PAST



This is the second mass shooting by a person of Indian origin in the US in more than a decade.



In 2003, at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Biswanath Halder went on a rampage, taking hostages, killing a graduate student and leaving a student and a professor injured.

He was a graduate of the university's business school. He was captured alive and sentenced to life after a trial.

In January 2016, Mainak Sarkar caused a lock down at the University of California at Los Angeles and killed a professor before committing suicide. Later, it was found that he had also killed his wife.

ALSO READ: Charlotte protests continue as family of man shot by police views video of shooting



(with inputs from IANS)

Editor's Note: Apart from being a Nazi emblem, the Swastika also holds a great significance in Hindu mythology. It is a Sanskrit symbol which translates to 'asking the well-being of the gods'. Therefore, we cannot confirm if the 'swastika' symbols found on the spot were Nazi symbols or Hindu symbols.



--- ENDS ---

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Condolences from Wits University

It was with great sadness that the University learnt about the passing of Mr Celumusa Ntuli.

Mr Ntuli was a cleaner on the Wits Braamfontein campus and passed away last week.

Mr Ntuli (39), from Soweto, was cleaning the Jubilee Hall of Residence last Tuesday, when protestors entered and released fire extinguishers. He fell ill shortly thereafter and was attended to by a nurse from the Wits Campus Health and Wellness Centre. She advised that Mr Ntuli should be rushed to hospital without delay. Mr Ntuli was taken to Milpark Hospital where he was treated for three days and discharged. He went home but then developed complications. His family tried to get him back to the hospital but he passed away while being transported.

The cause of death is still to be determined. The Universitys Campus Control, together with Mr Ntulis employer, are conducting investigations into the incident.

The University commiserates with Mr Ntulis family, friends, colleagues and loved ones during this difficult period. May he rest in peace.
A Pentagon spokesperson on Monday warned of a possible chemical attack by ISIS, and said that US and Iraqi forces must be prepared for it.

By Reuters: Islamic State militants are "dead set" on using chemical arms and are likely to try them again as Iraqi forces advance on Mosul, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday, a week after a rocket with a possible chemical agent landed near US troops.

The rocket fired on Tuesday by ISIS landed in an unpopulated area near Qayyara West base, several hundred yards from where hundreds of US troops are working to prepare an airfield for an Iraqi offensive to recapture the city of Mosul. No one was hurt in the attack.

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Also Read: From mustard gas in WW-I to Agent Orange in Vietnam, all you need to know about chemical weapons



ISIS HAS DONE IT MANY TIMES: PENTAGON

The shell initially tested positive for a mustard agent, but two subsequent tests have been inconclusive and the device is undergoing further tests, Navy Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters.

"We fully recognize this is something that ISIS has done before. They've done it many times, at least a couple dozen that we know of where they have launched crude makeshift munitions that are filled with this mustard agent," Davis said using an acronym for the group.

An air strike by the US-led military coalition destroyed an Islamic State chemical weapons factory on Friday near Qayyara, the second attack against a chemical arms facility this month.

Davis said ISIS' ability to weaponize mustard agent has been rudimentary. The group typically uses a chemical powder bound together with oil, which leaves behind a telltale oil trace.

"It's not generally in a lethal concentration. It's more of an irritant than anything else, but again, not something we view as militarily significant," he said, noting that the gas form of mustard agent used in the First World War was far more lethal.

Also Read : 'Angelina Jolie of Kurdistan', a brave soldier, dies while battling ISIS in Syria



US, IRAQ NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE CHEMICAL ATTACK

Even though Islamic State has not perfected the ability to weaponize chemicals, US and Iraqi forces still have to be prepared for a chemical attack, Davis said.

"We recognize this is real. They're dead set on it. They would love to be able to use chemical weapons against us, against the Iraqis as they move forward," Davis said. "We are making every effort to make sure that we're ready for it."

He said US troops deployed to the region have the training and equipment they need to defend against chemical attacks and are working to ensure the Iraqis are prepared and properly equipped as well.

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Davis said the United States has provided more than 50,000 gas masks to Iraq, with about 40,000 going to Iraqi security forces.

Also Read:

ISIS wing claims responsibility for Minnesota mall attack



ISIS plans to attack India through its bases in Bangladesh and Pakistan



ISIS inspired youth stabs man in Australia

Sharia-enforcing ISIS bans the burqa in Iraq and you wouldn't believe why

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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.
By PTI: Chennai, Sep 25 (PTI) With the Mars Orbiter Mission completing two years, ISRO today said it will be doing a "major event" of effecting a manoeuvre on the Orbiter next year to reduce the impact of an "eclipse duration" to allow the spacecraft "survive" for more time. ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said the MOM had completed two years yesterday, although its original mission life was slated to be six months, and that the space agency had released a lot of first year data beamed by its five payloads. "Our next major event in the Mars Orbiter will be sometime in the beginning of next year when we will be doing a manoeuvre to reduce the impact of the eclipse duration the satellite is going to encounter," he told reporters here. He said during an eclipse the battery in the satellite has to support its operation and if the eclipse duration is "very long" then the battery may not be able to support it. "So we intend to do a manoeuvre of the spacecraft so that the impact of eclipse duration will reduce and with that we will be able to survive for many more years because the satellite still has large (amount of) fuel left in it," he added. The MOM, also called Mangalyaan, was successfully launched on November 5, 2013 by ISROs PSLV-C25 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. After a 300-day journey in deep space, it was successfully inserted into Martian orbit on September 24, 2014. PTI COR SA BN RCJ

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New Media Investment Group Inc. invests in, owns, and operates local media assets in the United States. The company's principal products include 146 daily newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 1.5 million; 323 weekly newspapers with total paid circulation of approximately 268,000 and total free circulation of approximately 1.4 million; 132 shoppers with total circulation of approximately 3.1 million; and 581 locally-focused Websites, including Internet and mobile devices with approximately 364 million page views per month. Its principal products also comprise 77 business publications; and UpCurve Cloud and ThriveHive, which provides digital marketing and business services. In addition, the company produces niche publications that address specific local market interests, such as recreation, sports, healthcare, and real estate. Further, it offers print and online products that offer local market news and information on various topics comprising local news and politics, community and regional events, youth sports, opinion and editorial pages, local schools, obituaries, weddings, and police reports, as well as commercial printing services for publishers; and prints commercial materials, including flyers, business cards, and invitations. Additionally, the company produces approximately 350 annual events with a collective attendance approximately 400,000, such as themed expo, signature event, endurance event, and white label event services; and provides digital and print advertising services. It reaches approximately 22 million people per week; and serves approximately 199,000 business customers. New Media Investment Group Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in New York, New York.
This is a current list of the top 250 companies by market capitalization on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Learn more .

Many investors understand the reasons for having a diversified portfolio. One way to accomplish this is to diversify within an asset class. For equity investors in the United States this can mean investing in both growth and value stocks.

It can also mean investing in international stocks. And when investors want to do this, they need look no further than our neighbor to the north. Canada has a range of stocks for investors to consider. This article will focus on strategies that investors can use when looking to invest in Canadian stocks.

Why Buy Canadian Stocks?

There are a few reasons for investors to consider Canadian stocks as part of their diversification strategy:

A Large Natural Resources Sector  The sheer size of the country and its location lets investors know that it is an area rich in natural resources. This also means that the country has a source of current and future wealth.

An Advanced Skills-Based Economy  In this regard, Canada is similar to other western nations. The difference is that it is not as common to find these skill-based professions in a country with so many natural resources.

Stability  Canada is not exempt from any problems that impact the global economy. However, the country is known for stable financial and business policies that have kept the economy relatively stable. This Goldilocks economy has meant that many Canadian stocks havent enjoyed the outsized growth of some U.S. equities. However, it also comes with a bit of protection against downside risk.

How Have Canadian Stocks Performed?

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, there was a time when U.S. stocks and Canadian stocks performed nearly identically. Heres a graph that shows the performance of the S&P 500 Index vs. the TSX Index



Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence

You can see that with a couple of exceptions, the two indexes performed remarkably similar. That all changed around 2012 and Canadian stocks became less attractive.

Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence

This disparity is widely due to one sector, technology. However, Canadian technology stocks have been on the rise. And in 2022, the country is benefiting from renewed interest in materials stocks as well as a spike in commodity prices.

What Are the Best Sectors of Canadian Stocks?

For different reasons finance, materials, and energy stocks are among the best performing stocks as of September 2022. Heres a brief overview of each sector and some of the top names for investors to consider.

Financial  Similar to the United States, Canada has a strong banking industry. Many Canadian banks have a track record of solid performance that can provide long-term value to a portfolio. And several of these stocks pay dividends with attractive yields for investors.

This sector makes up the largest percentage of the TSX at roughly 30%. And the Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY)is the top-weighted constituent in the TSX. Beyond the Royal Bank of Canada some of the other top-performing Canadian financial stocks include:

Materials and Mining  Canadian stocks can be an ideal choice for investors looking to diversify into gold and precious metals without owning the physical metal. Canada has a large natural resources sector. So, its not surprising that there are a number of gold mining companies with Canadian origins. This sector also gives investors exposure to other components in the mining and agriculture sectors. This sector makes up approximately 11.5% of the TSX. Some of the top Canadian materials and mining stocks include:

Energy  Canadian stocks offer both traditional fossil fuel-based energy stocks as well as some renewable energy stocks. This sector makes up approximately 18.5% of the TSX. Some of the top Canadian energy stocks include:

Technology  As mentioned earlier, technology stocks have largely been the domain of the United States. As evidence of this, information technology stocks make up only about 5.5% of the TSX. However, there are a few Canadian companies that have become stars in the new economy being created. Some of the more popular names include:

What Are the Risks of Investing in Canadian Stocks?

One concern about investing in Canadian stocks is that they can be heavily weighted towards cyclical industries. For example, as of February 2022 financials (33.5%), energy (14.8%) and industrials (11.7%) made up nearly 60% of the index. That may be too much for some investors particularly because those sectors all tend to correlate roughly the same way as the economic cycle. But as a long-term play, Canadian stocks are worth considering with a small part of your portfolio.

How to Buy Canadian Stocks

Buy Individual Stocks on a Stock Exchange

Hundreds of Canadian stocks have dual listings on either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the NASDAQ. This is the most convenient way to get exposure to Canadian stocks because there are no barriers to stock ownership. These shares can be purchased in U.S. dollars directly from the exchange just like purchasing a U.S. stock.

However, for a full list of the best Canadian stocks, investors should look at the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The TSX is one of the oldest stock exchanges having been founded in 1852. Its also the third largest stock exchange in North America in terms of market capitalization.

The Toronto Stock Exchange includes approximately 1,500 companies. It allows investors to trade stocks, investment trusts, exchange-traded products, bonds, commodities, futures, options, and other derivative products. All transactions on the TSX are executed in Canadian dollars.

Invest in a Mutual Fund or ETF

There are many mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that supply exposure to Canadian stocks. Some funds supply exposure to both U.S. and Canadian stocks. Other funds hold just Canadian stocks. Some examples of those include:

BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF

Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF

Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap ETF

As with investing in any asset class, investors need to consider their investment objective, time horizon and risk tolerance before choosing a fund that fits their needs. Investors will also want to pay attention to the funds fee structure to ensure youre making the most efficient use of your capital.

The Final Word on Investing in Canadian Stocks

Investing in Canadian stocks is one way for investors to add diversification to their portfolio. MarketBeat provides a list of the top Canadian stocks that trade on the TSX. This is Canadas version of the NYSE or NASDAQ in the United States and includes many of the same stocks.

Thats one advantage of investing in Canadian stocks is that many have a dual listing which removes many of the obstacles that can come with investing in international stocks.

However, investors should be aware that many of the best Canadian stocks are in highly cyclical industries which can lead to underperformance when those sectors are out of favor. Still, due to their relative stability and in some cases an impressive dividend, Canadian stocks may have a place in an investors portfolio.
GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures and sells motorcycles. The company operates in two segments, Motorcycles and Related Products and Financial Services. The Motorcycles and Related Products segment designs, manufactures, and sells Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including cruiser, touring, standard, sportbike, and dual models, as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and related services. This segment sells its products to retail customers through a network of independent dealers, as well as e-commerce channels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The Financial Services segment provides wholesale financing services, such as floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and parts and accessories; and retail financing services, including installment lending for the purchase of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as point-of-sale protection products comprising motorcycle insurance, extended service contracts, and motorcycle maintenance protection. This segment also licenses third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards bearing the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A joint search operation was launched by police and army in Linga Manjmi area of Doda where large quantity of arms were recovered.

By Ashwini Kumar: Police and security forces in Jammu today achieved major success by recovering a large quantity of arms and ammunition from a hideout of terrorists during a joint search operation. The operation was carried out in the wee hours today in Linga Manjmi area falling under the jurisdiction of Dessa police station in the mountainous district of Doda, J-K.

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Reports revealed that the police on a tip off launched a search operation in the Linga Manjmi and a column 10 Rashtriya Rifle (RR) also joined the operation. The suspected area was cordoned off and during the search, the troops were successful in locating the natural hideout of terrorists.

Also read: Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri



AMMUNITION RECOVERED



The natural hideout of terrorists noticed by the troops was smashed and recoveries made from it include; one Rifle AK-47, 08 nos. Rifle 12 Bore, 01 UBGL, 01 No. Grenade, 01 Chinese grenade, 2263 ammunition AK-47, 02 diaries, 01 purse, 01 notebook, 02 AK mags., 02 radio sets and 02 Chinese pistols.

It appears that a consignment of arms was hidden by the terrorists who had been operating in the area and have now either been killed or migrated to the other parts of the state.

Also read: Curfew imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town



DODA INACTIVE



There has been no active militant is operating in this district for the last five years. However, the consignment could have been used to revive subversive activities in the areas.

Doda Police has already launched a massive campaign to dig out the hidden arms and ammunition in the area. During the year 2015, four hideouts were busted and huge recoveries were made jointly by the police and army in the district.

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: Low sugar-content potato farms thrive in Valley





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Vecima Networks Inc. engages in the development of integrated hardware and software solutions for broadband access, content delivery, and telematics. The company operates through three segments: Video and Broadband Solutions, Content Delivery and Storage, and Telematics. The Video and Broadband Solutions segment offers platforms that process data from the cable network and deliver high-speed internet connectivity to homes over cable and fiber, as well as adapt video services. Its principal products include Terrace and TerraceQAM, which are designed to meet the needs of the business services verticals, such as multi-unit dwellings, hotels, motels, and resorts; and Entra distributed access architecture platform comprising EntraPHY, EntraMAC, EntraOptical, EntraControl, and EntraVideo that addresses the network migration to a distributed access architecture. The Content Delivery and Storage segment offers solutions and software for service providers and content owners that focus on ingesting, producing, storing, delivering, and streaming video for live linear, video on demand, network digital video recorder, and time-shifted services over the internet under the MediaScale brand. The Telematics segment provides information and analytics for fleet managers to manage their mobile and fixed assets under the Contigo, Nero Global Tracking, and FleetLynx brands. The company also offers optical access nodes, Terrace TC600E, Terrace IQ, Entra FPXT-B, Entra access controller, Entra access switch, Entra Remote PHY Monitor, Entra Video QAM Manager, MediaScale Origin, MediaScale storage, and MediaScale transcode. In addition, it provides engineering and consultation services; lifecycle program management; installation and commission; training and certification; workforce optimization; and operations and customer support services. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Victoria, Canada. Vecima Networks Inc. is a subsidiary of 684739 B.C. Ltd.
Newell Brands Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, and distributes consumer and commercial products worldwide. It operates in five segments: Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances, Home Solutions, Learning and Development, and Outdoor and Recreation. The Commercial Solutions segment provides commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions; closet and garage organization products; hygiene systems and material handling solutions; and home and security, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms products under the BRK, First Alert, Mapa, Quickie, Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, and Spontex brands. The Home Appliances segment offers kitchen appliances under the Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, Oster, and Sunbeam brands. The Home Solutions segment provides food and home storage; fresh preserving; vacuum sealing; and gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery, and home fragrance products under the Ball, Calphalon, Chesapeake Bay Candle, FoodSaver, Rubbermaid, Sistema, WoodWick, and Yankee Candle brands. The Learning and Development segment offers writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens, and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; and baby gear and infant care products under the Aprica, Baby Jogger, Graco, NUK, Tigex, Dymo, Elmer's, EXPO, Graco, Mr. Sketch, NUK, Paper Mate, Parker, Prismacolor, Sharpie, Waterman, and X-Acto brands. The Outdoor and Recreation segment provides outdoor and outdoor-related products under the Campingaz, Coleman, Contigo, ExOfficio, and Marmot brands. It serves warehouse clubs, department and drug/grocery stores, mass merchants, home centers, office superstores and supply stores, contract stationers, and distributors, e-commerce, sporting goods, specialty, and travel retailers. The company was formerly known as Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and changed its name to Newell Brands Inc. in April 2016. Newell Brands Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Carnival Corporation & plc is a leisure travel company operating a fleet of cruise ships, hotels, and resorts with international destinations. Brands under the Carnival Corporation umbrella include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, P&O Cruises, Seaborn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Cunard. The companys goal is to provide extraordinary vacations at an exceptional value. As of 2022, the company laid claim to nearly half of the global cruising market share with several new ships in the works.

Carnival Cruise Line was launched in 1972 with one second-hand ship and a tank of fuel. The first port of call was San Juan, Puerto Rico, but soon more were added. The original growth strategy included a festive atmosphere, features and amenities unlike any other cruise line at the time. Slow to start, the growth strategy shifted into overdrive in 1980 when Carnival shocked the world by building its own ship. The Tropicale became an iconic name in the cruising industry and sparked a wave of shipbuilding that is still underway.

The companys growth hit a new stride in 1987 following the IPO which floated 20% of the company on the open market. The proceeds from the IPO allowed the company to embark on a voyage of acquisition and now Carnival is the worlds largest travel and leisure business.

Today, Carnival Corporations 87 ships visit approximately 700 ports worldwide and employ more than 120,000 people while serving more than 13 million guests annually for a total of 85 million passenger cruise days per year. Net revenue, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, peaked out at over $6.5 billion annually.

Carnival Cruise Line is the companys largest brand serving guests on all coasts of North America. The brand's 22 ships make 1500 voyages per year with trips ranging from 2 days to 3 weeks and ports of call from the Caribbean to Alaska. The company's largest ship is named Panorama and can accommodate more than 4,000 passengers.

Carnivals 9 brands provide access to a wide range of cruising styles and destinations including the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, England, and ports in Asia. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida and has offices around the world. The company also has the distinction of being the only company included in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 250 indices.
Mosquito-repelling jewellery is now a reality. And it looks good too!

The jewellery has been designed by a Singapore-based brand called By Invite Only. Picture courtesy: Facebook/By Invite Only

By India Today Web Desk: With chikungunya and dengue wrecking havoc in our lives, long-sleeved clothing and mosquito-repellent creams have become a part of the everyday.

A Singapore-based jewellery brand, however, has found a way to keep vector-borne diseases at bay, while staying fashionable.

By Invite Only, a Singapore-based fashion jewellery brand, has come up with a collection titled Yu Ahn, which consists of bracelets and necklaces that bracket something called a citronella ball, which is refillable and lasts up to seven days.

Picture courtesy: Facebook/By Invite Only

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Don't scratch your head, citronella oil is a non-toxic essential oil that is found rather commonly in mosquito repellents. It is particularly known to be effective against the Aedes aegypti mosquito (which spreads dengue).

By Invite Only founder Trixie Khong told Mashable, "We realised that people don't want to bring around mosquito repellent all the time, even though mosquito-borne diseases are a problem in Singapore. So as a jewellery designer, we decided to combine the concept of safety with fashion."

Picture courtesy: Facebook/By Invite Only

The price for the jewellery ranges between S$48 (Rs 2346) to S$65 (Rs 3177) and the refill costs S$4.90 (Rs 240).

The pendants have been paired with Burmese jade and beaded charms, strung along Rhodium-plated chains, to give the jewellery a fashionable, workable look.



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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. 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NASA scientists have now made a fascinating discovery of water vapour plumes emitted from the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. They believe it to be one of the most promising places for possibility of alien life.

By India Today Web Desk: Could humanity be on the verge of discovering alien life? NASA's announcement that it has spotted plumes of water erupting from Jupiter's moon might just be a clue about extraterrestrial life.



The most vital factor for a planet to support life is the presence of liquid water. And this is exactly what NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted on Jupiter's moon Europa. According to the latest research, there are higher chances for the missions to Europa to sample the ocean without having to drill through miles of ice.

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Back in 2012, the Hubble found hints of water vapor venting from Europa's south pole and the latest discovery is built on this evidence. Hubble Space Telescope has spied what appear to be water plumes on one of Jupiter's icy moons shooting up as high as 125 miles.



The plumes at the south pole were detected by the workhorse telescope as the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Scientists believe the eruptions on Europa are sporadic since they were only able to spot them on three out of the 10 times that they looked over more than a year.

If scientists confirm this discovery, Europa would be the second moon in the solar system where water plumes have been detected.

"Europa's ocean is considered to be one of the most promising places that could potentially harbor life in the solar system," said Geoff Yoder, acting associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "These plumes, if they do indeed exist, may provide another way to sample Europa's subsurface."

NASA is also planning a mission to Europa that could confirm the presence of plumes. The mission planned in the 2020s would involve putting a spacecraft in a long, looping orbit around Jupiter to make close flybys of the ice-encrusted world.

Watch the video below:



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Tack lecturer Campbell to explore complex world of German detectives

Campbell's collection (part of it) Some of the German pulp fiction that Tack Faculty lecturer Bruce Campbell has spent 15 years dissecting. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Under the lights Tack Faculty lecturer Bruce Campbell discusses why The Detective is [not] a Nazi with W&M videographer and multimedia producer Hunter Hall. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Bruce Campbell employed many of the attributes of a great detective to embark on a path of study  German pulp fiction  that has occupied the past 15 years of a sterling academic career since, coming to William & Mary.

Campbell, associate professor of German studies at the university, will share the most intriguing aspects of that under-appreciated, under-publicized genre as the Tack Faculty Series lecturer on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.in the Sadler Centers Commonwealth Auditorium. Those planning to attend are requested to RSVP.

A generous commitment by Martha '78 and Carl Tack '78 established the Tack Faculty Lecture Series, which invites a celebration of faculty excellence. Through this series, a William & Mary professor addresses the community on a topic of general interest at least once a semester.

The Detective is [not] a Nazi is the title of Campbells lecture, and while the reason for that might seem obvious to some, Campbell said the answer has many layers that involve haunting memories and angst.



{{youtube:medium:center|rsPtwD8uPwQ, Why German detective fiction is different from all others}}

Campbells interest in the topic began in conjunction with his reading detective fiction penned by the late Richard Hey (pronounced ree-CARD High). Heys main character, Katharina Ledermacher, was different from other American and British detectives Campbell had enjoyed through the years. Ledermacher was the first female police inspector in German detective fiction. Her initial case, the murder of an old man, involved a former Nazi judge who uses his legal knowledge to ultimately evade justice.

But what separated the novel from what Campbell was accustomed to reading was the fact that Ledermacher eschewed her bosss insistence on using force to obtain confessions. Instead she plumbed her background as a ward in a childrens home to eventually uncover the real culprit, ignoring more obvious suspects.

It was probably while reading him that I got the notion that there was something going on here, Campbell said, that German detective fiction was different from Anglo-American detective novels in really interesting ways.

The question was why? Rough-hewn, punch-first-ask-questions-later detectives have ruled the genre everywhere since coming into being. Why would that turn off German readers? Campbell began to dig through the clues, many of which had been overlooked for years.

Detective fiction has to do with truth and justice. It has to do with the police, Campbell said. But in the very recent German past  during the Third Reich  the police played a central role in carrying out the Holocaust. They were not only arresting people, they were killing people in large numbers.

Germans cant read a novel centered on a detective of some kind  and in Germany that means a police detective  without thinking about the past. If youre going to ask German readers to identify with a fictional detective, youve got to make sure they know that the detective is not a Nazi.

German authors got around the problem in many ways. One was to simply set their novels in the U.S. or Britain, and pretend not to be German at all.

After the war a number of authors took on American or British-sounding pseudonyms, Campbell said. That was their way of separating themselves from the Nazi past.

In the 1960s, German authors brought their characters and their cases back home. Even then, non-conformity ruled. There were women like Ledermacher, magic mushrooms, cats, gay people and grandfathers.

Campbell said the influence exerted by the United States, Great Britain and France cannot be overstated.

You look at the biographies of the leading writers of German, Austrian and Swiss detective fiction; they spent a year in an American high school, Campbell said. They studied at American or British universities. They studied at French universities. Theyve read [Raymond] Chandler in the original. Theyve walked the mean streets of L.A. That has been very important for them.

There is much more to the conundrum that is German pulp fiction, as Campbell will reveal on Oct. 27 in Commonwealth Auditorium.
W&M junior is youth delegate at White House Tribal Nations Conference

Nation to nation W&M junior and Quapaw tribal member Mackenzie Neal is spending the week in Washington D.C. as a youth delegate to the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference and the White House Tribal Youth Gathering. Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Neal

Nation to nation W&M junior Mackenzie Neal caught this photo Monday of President Barack Obama at the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Neal Photo - of - Hide Caption

William & Mary junior and Quapaw tribal member Mackenzie Neal is in Washington, D.C., this week as one of about 100 youth delegates chosen to participate in the Eighth Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference.

On Tuesday, Neal, a government major, will attend the second annual White House Tribal Youth Gathering alongside fellow youth delegates and tribal and senior federal leaders. The gathering includes a series of breakout sessions, panels and youth-specific programming, according to the White House. It is part of the larger Tribal Nations Conference, linked by the White House, which she has been attending since Sunday.

Native American youth in the United States face more challenges than any other group, Neal said, citing statistics on poverty rates, high-school graduation rates, suicide and attempted suicide rates, obesity rates and more among Native American youth. The White House realizes there are so many unique challenges they need to address, and that youth are the best people to talk about their problems.

Neal said that in 2014, the White House launched a new initiative, Generation Indigenous (or Gen-I), which invited students to be agents of change in their own communities and has brought about many youth-driven, community-service programs, including youth and peer mentoring. The same year, the president added the youth gathering to the Tribal Nations Conference lineup.

Neal has been making good use of her time at William & Mary. W&M News interviewed her in 2014 about her Quapaw heritage as she arrived on campus. The Quapaw Tribe is a division of the larger Dhegiha Sioux that today makes its home in Oklahoma, though Neal herself is from Richmond. At the time, she said she hoped to help revitalize the American Indian Student Association at William & Mary.

I feel like Ive really blossomed here, she said. Its great.

By any measure, shes been a success. Shortly after that interview, she heard about another student, Emily Williams 18, who had also reached out to student leadership development about the clubs status. The pair joined up and, through word of mouth, attracted the few other Native American students they could find. They also contacted former association member Morgan Faulkner 12, member of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, for guidance.

Surprisingly, most of our members are actually anthropology students, linguistics students, English majors, people who are interested in the culture and history and in becoming allies to Native Americans, Neal said. We had to expand in that direction, since there is not a base of students to draw from with that ethnic identity. But it's created this really cool dialogue between Natives and non-natives that I think is much stronger in the long run.

The club was associated last year with the visit of Haida artist Robert Davidson, but their largest event is the annual powwow, which the group founded in 2014 and now runs every spring.

We invite Native Americans from across the East Coast and from across the country to come to Williamsburg to dance, to sing, she said. It's become a staple in the Virginia community.

In addition, Neal also spent the spring semester at George Washington University for a study-away program with the Native American Political Leadership Program, where she met other Native students working on sovereignty and other relevant political issues.

She then spent the summer interning with the State Department through the Washington Internships for Native Students program at American University. There, she worked on tribal consultation issues. She explained that every federal agency is required to consult with tribes on issues that could affect them.

The Obama administration has been pushing for a more nation-to-nation relationship, Neal said. That's actually where this Tribal Nations Conference comes from, trying to enhance the dialogue between tribes and the federal government.

Which leads to the cause of Neals ultimate excitement before she left for the conference: the likelihood that she would be up close and personal if U.S. President Barack Obama spoke at the conference. I cant wait, she said.
Karan Johar, who is loved by almost everyone in the industry, made a candid confession about the relationships in Bollywood, the darkest period in his life, the loss of his father and the fear of never finding a life partner.

By India Today Web Desk: He is known to make happy and larger-than-life films. He invites Bollywood's A-listers to his chat shows. He pouts alongside his heroines in selfies. He is Bollywood's very own Karan Johar. But one thing that many don't know about this 44-year-old filmmaker is that he has battled depression for almost two years.

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone tells the world how she fought depression

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ALSO READ: I thought Deepika's depression was due to some boyfriend issue, says her mom Ujjala



In an interview to NDTV, Johar made certain revelations that will stun anyone. The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director, who is loved by almost everyone in the industry, made a candid confession about the relationships in Bollywood, the darkest period in his life, the loss of his father and the fear of never finding a life partner.

Here are five revelations by the filmmaker in the interview that left everyone shocked:

Bollywood does make you feel lonely

"The industry should not be generalised for the reason of your loneliness. But you really wonder how many of your relationships matter and how many don't. Sometimes, the lines are very blurred in our industry. We live in this bubble all the time because we talk film, we sleep film, you eat films. And then you build relationships and emotions, and you don't know if those emotions are only for films or you take them even when you are not working together. So you end up wondering about every equation you make in the industry.

At 44, when you don't have a partner or kids, it is difficult

At 44, when you are lonely, you are not in a relationship. You wonder I don't want to grow alone, I don't have kids. You wonder what your life is going to be. All the attention and success that you get, where does that go because you have to take it somewhere. And when you don't have someone to share that love with, it gets you worried. It is the recent kind of anxiety that I have discovered about myself.

It felt like a cardiac arrest

There was a phase in my life where I went through depression. I thought it was something to do with me getting a cardiac arrest at one point. I went to my GP (General Practitioner) and he told me that you are going through an anxiety attack. I met a psychologist post that. I realised I had to deal with a few internal issues that had all built up and reached to a point that was resulting in this anxiety. The psychologist told me that you are going through depression and as a result of that depression, there is anxiety. And then I went through a series of anti-anxiety medication. And year-and-a-half later, when I stopped it, I realised I was in a much better condition.

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Hadn't dealt with the loss of my father

I had not completely dealt with the loss of my father, though it's been 11 or 12 years. I felt the hurt and pain of certain relationships that had dwindled from my life. I was carrying all that baggage and the fear of the future. The fear that I wasn't being able to find a life partner though I was able to live vicariously through my cinema. I wasn't able to feel that love and laughter in my life. At one point, it was really bothering me.

Darkest period of my life

I can't explain to you the pain, anxiety and anguish. I felt helpless, sad, unhappy. I wanted to always get on a flight and always leaving the city and walking the streets of other cities without anything to say to anyone. It was a very dark, deep and helpless time.



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Kareena Kapoor Khan has a hilarious response when she was asked about being stuck in an elevator with ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.

By India Today Web Desk: It's been almost 10 months since Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif decided to go separate ways. But after all this time, their break up and awkward silence between them still makes headlines. And even Ranbir's sister Kareena Kapoor Khan won't know what to do if she has to spend time with the ex-lovers in an elevator.

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ALSO READ: Saif-Kareena inspired by Shahid and Mira, to name their child Saifeena?!

ALSO READ: 5 other times Katrina Kaif avoided anything to do with her ex Ranbir Kapoor



When Kareena, who will be the next guest on Vogue BFFs, was asked if she is stuck in an elevator with Ranbir and Katrina, what would she do? Pat came the reply, "Oh God! Kill myself!"

Kareena is one witty woman and her reply has many in splits. The Begum of Pataudi knows how to deal with such situations with a dash of humour.

Kareena was often spotted hanging out with Katrina when the latter was dating Ranbir. But the equation between the two actors is known anymore.

Things were different back in 2013 when Katrina and Ranbir were dating and during one of the episodes on Koffee with Karan, Kareena continuously teased Ranbir about Katrina. So much so she called Katrina her 'sister-in-law'.

On the work front, Ranbir and Katrina will be seen together in Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos.

Watch the video HERE



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Curfew has been imposed in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir after three men were arrested on Saturday.

By Mail Today Bureau: Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed a curfew in Kishtwar town after tensions escalated due to the arrest of three men on Saturday night. Authorities said the arrests have been made for antisocial activities.

Police had conducted raids in Kishtwar district of Jammu arresting several persons including two local Hurriyat Conference leaders and Imam of a local mosque Saifuddin Bhagwan. All three have been released now, an official said.

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MORE THAN 300 BOOKED

The government has upped the ante against protesters in the Kashmir valley and has booked more than 300 persons under the preventive detention law, Public Safety Act.

The PSA is a law applicable in Jammu and Kashmir under which a person can be detained without a judicial process.



3600 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY

According to the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar the region has not witnessed untoward incident during the curfew.

We have taken around 3600 people in custody under different FIRs across Kashmir. Hundreds among them have secured bail and were released,?? said a senior police official. He said all those who have been arrested were stone-throwing protesters.

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5. Description and History

The first Europeans to come upon what was once called James Island were Portuguese navigators on their second expedition up the River Gambia in 1456. The island contains the ruins of structures once built by colonial Britain and was the last strip of African land the natives saw before being plunged into the into the transatlantic slave trade.

The area was eventually purchased by the Baltic Germans in 1651, who built the first fortifications on the island and used it as a base for trade between Lithuania , Latvia, and these new African provinces. The Dutch held it briefly from 1659 till 1661, when it was seized by the Royal Adventurers of England Trading Into Africa who had a charter from Charles II to prospect for gold and trade in ivory and slaves. The island was subsequently renamed after the future king James III.

James Island was Britains first permanent settlement in Africa, though the region frequently changed hands between the British and the French over the course of the next two centuries. After the British Empire passed the Slave Trade Act in 1807 abolishing slavery, it built the Six-Gun Battery and Fort Bullen on either side of the River Gambia to thwart slave trafficking. The island and the surrounding sites were finally abandoned in 1870.

4. Tourism

Kunta Kinteh Island, or James Island, the Battery and Fort Bullen are visited as part of the greater Roots tour, which includes the nearby villages of Juffure and Albreda. There is also a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the region. The Island and the fortifications are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Since 1986, Gambia s Department of State for Tourism and Culture has established the annual International Roots Homecoming Festival. Conducted as a heritage week, the event aims to encourage the African Diaspora to tour the sites. The festival has a day-long pilgrimage to Kunta Kinteh Island , Juffureh and Albreda.

3. Uniqueness

Visitors here can see the ruins of the slave trade infrastructure, such as the caves and prisons where slaves were imprisoned before being shipped off to the American colonies in sub-human conditions. Kunta Kinte Island was so named after a character in the novel Roots: The saga of an American family by Alex Haley, who claimed that Kunta Kinte was based on his Gambian ancestor, who was brought to America as a slave in the latter part of the 1700s. The novel was later adapted to two U.S. television series.



2. Natural Surroundings, Sights, and Sounds

The island and its connected sites on the River Gambia are a living testimony to the various aspects of European colonialism in Western Africa, spanning between the 15th and 20th Centuries. The river was the first route to the interior of Africa and was heavily used in the slave trade. All the sites including the nearby villages and the remains of European settlements and fortifications are intricately linked to the beginning and the end of the slave trade.

1. Threats and Conservation Efforts

The island and most of the related sites are now largely in ruins. Two of the major buildings were restored in the nineties and others in varying degrees of disrepair have been stabilized. The isolated position of the structures keeps them relatively safe but they are especially vulnerable to the effects of sea erosion. A buffer zone adjacent to the sites also keeps them free from undesirable development.
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in western Africa that borders six countries, including Benin, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo. Burkina Faso, as with many African countries, is teeming with cultural heritage sites. The Loropeni Ruins was the first UNESCO world heritage site to be inscribed in Burkina Faso in 2009. The site is a cultural landmark in Burkina Faso and represents the former affluence of medieval kingdoms during the trans-Saharan trade. The ruins were abandoned in the 19th Century but remain well preserved due to their spiritual importance to local communities.

5. Description and History -

The ruins consist of majestic stone walls rising to nearly six meters and enclosing an old abandoned settlement. The ruins were inhabited by either the Koulango or Lohron people as early as the 11th Century. The Loropeni Ruins are the best preserved in the Lobi area, which has a total of ten such fortresses. The settlement is similar to other abandoned settlements which thrived during the trans-Saharan gold trade. The Loropeni settlement is thought to have been vital during the trade, in particular between the 14th and 17th Centuries, where it was at its highest prominence. The Loropeni ruins mirror other West African medieval settlements that were part of the trans-Saharan trade. The settlement was abandoned in the 19th Century due to slave raids.

4. Renown and Tourism -

The ruins, being the only world heritage site in the country, are a major tourist destination in Burkina Faso. Tourism in the ruins has facilitated the growth of the nearby Loropeni market town. The ruins offer the best example of similar settlements which were scattered across West Africa before slave trade and colonization. They are a living testimony of organization as it was in medieval Africa.

3. Uniqueness -

The ruins serve as a representation of the lucrative trans-Saharan gold trade, and the affluence associated with it. The ruins have persisted for around 1,000 years, and remain 80% intact, evident of a strong fortification. The ruins cast the inhabitants as having been well skilled in medieval architecture, making the ruins stand out from other ancient fortified structures in the region.

2. Natural Surroundings, Sights, and Sounds -

The ruins are surrounded by trees and vegetation in modern times which provide habitats for small animals such as rodents and birds. The Black Volta River also flows near the ruins. Currently, the ruins are overgrown with trees and the walls are almost crumbling.

1. Threats and Conservation -

The Loropeni Ruins are adversely affected by environmental conditions. Increasing rainfall volume, rough winds, and high temperatures are the major environmental threats to the sustainability of the ruins' preservation. Activities of rodents on the walls have led to the weakening of the walls foundation in some areas. Fires, especially during the dry seasons, have caused some level of damage to the ruins. Structural weaknesses are also causing the walls to crumble. Skilled craftspeople from surrounding communities are facilitating conservation efforts on the ruins. The ruins have spiritual importance to the neighboring communities, and they are therefore actively involved in their preservation.

The Loropeni ruins were listed on a 2008 watchlist on World Heritage sites, necessitating more intensive conservation management policies by the government in partnership with cultural agencies. The Loropeni ruins remain a well-preserved heritage site in Burkina Faso.Currently, the ruins is surrounded by 670 acres of an area consisting of a buffer zone to control encroachment and protect the site from activities such as farming and quarrying
Dr. Adekunle Williams Owolabi (left)

By: Chan Yuan

A doctor was charged with misconduct after being accused of sexually harassing women during medical exams, according to officials in Canada.

Now, Dr. Adekunle Williams Owolabi of Labrador West, has lost his license to practice medicine for six months after being found guilty of four counts professional misconduct.

Before he resumes his work as a doctor, he must take a course on appropriate doctor-patient boundaries. Owolabi was also ordered to pay $75,000 in costs related to the investigation and disciplinary process.

According to the investigation, Owolabi inappropriately hugged and kissed several patients. In one incident, Owolabi asked a woman whether she likes big ones or small ones as he was performing a Pap smear.

A total of four women filed complaints against the doctor, and a tribunal established by the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons, found that Owolabi has shown a lack of respect for the dignity and privacy of his patients, constituting professional misconduct.
Jonathan Martin

By: Feng Qian

(Scroll down for video) Police in Kentucky, asked people to be on the lookout after a creepy clown was trying lure children into the woods.

Authorities said that while dressing in a costume is not illegal, creating unnecessary alarm is illegal and a crime.

Five other police stations across the United States, have announced that they were looking for clowns with different masks, who were seen around their towns.

Now, police in Kentucky, have announced that they have arrested one clown. He was identified as 20-year-old Jonathan Martin.

Police arrested Martin, and charged him with wearing a mask in a public place and disorderly conduct.

He was spotted at around 1:00 a.m., in a full clown suit and mask squatting among trees across an apartment complex in Middlesboro, police said.

Recent reports of clowns who tried to lure children into wooded areas have caused concern to residence.

Police believe that one person started the trend of wearing clown masks in public and then there were copy cats.

Authorities hope that the Martin arrest will deter others from dressing up as clowns and scaring people.
By PTI: Kottayam (Ker), Sep 27 (PTI) Protesting the stray dog menace in a barbarian manner, youth activists of a Kerala-based party allegedly killed around 10 canines, tied a few to a pole and took them out through the town.

Police said they have registered a case against 15 activists of Youth Front (M), an offshoot of Kerala Congress (M) led by former state minister K M Mani, under section 429 (committing mischief by killing the animals) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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The activists, protesting against the increasing stray dog menace in the state and Union Minister Maneka Gandhis stand on the issue, displayed the dead dogs in front of the Head Post office here yesterday.

Accusing Maneka Gandhi of adopting a negative approach towards the menace, the activists also sent letters to Gandhi asking her to change her stand on the issue.

Youth Front (M) state president Saji Manjakkadambil said they decided to kill the stray dogs as they were posing a big threat to people in Kottayam town.

Vetenerary chief surgeon Mohana Chandran Nair performed postmortem of the dead dogs and their internal organs have been sent for forensic examination, police said.

Animal rights activists condemned the incident, calling it as "disgusting".

"These people who are beating and using dogs to their advantage and political opportunity will do the same to people they are trying to impress. This is completely barbarian way to deal with a situation...is it leading to a solution? No way!!," Delhi-based animal rights activist Khushboo Gupta said.

Gupta said solution for the problem is dog sterilisation, garbage management and shaping peoples attitude for co-habiting with animals.

"Kerala is perfect example of how sensible actions has no connection with your literacy level," she wrote on her Facebook page.

Gandhi has criticised the governments proposal to take stern measures, including culling, to check the continuing stray dog menace which came to sharp focus recently after an elderly woman died after being attacked by a pack of street dogs near Thiruvananthapuram. PTI CORR TGB VS ASV

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Residents Meeting Planned to Discuss Drug, Alcohol & Antisocial Behaviour Issues in Rhosddu

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Sep 27th, 2016

A meeting is being organised for residents living in the Rhosddu and Stansty areas to discuss drug, alcohol and anti-social behaviour issues in the area and what can be done to address the problem.

Cllr Steve Wilson and Cllr I David Bithell are organising the meeting with local Conservative campaigner Andrew Atkinson and representatives from the Police, Wrexham Council and other agencies will be in attendance.

The event follows on from a similar meeting held recently for residents and traders in the town centre and Pen-y-Bryn area. The meeting was held privately to allow those with concerns to air them openly.

During the meeting attendees will be able to share their concerns and discuss what more can be done by the various authorities and agencies locally  along with an update on what is currently being done.

Issues within the Rhosddu area have been well documented over the past two years, with residents and traders voicing concerns about antisocial behaviour and drug abuse in the area, particularly in the park.

This lead to the introduction of a PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) in April 2016.

Under the new PSPO anyone found drinking, smoking, taking drugs or sleeping rough in the park or cemetery will be issued with a fine.

The Order, which will last for three years, means that anyone who is acting anti socially, such as drinking or abusing drugs, rough sleeping and associated littering in the area can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of 100 or 75 if paid within seven days.

Both council staff and police officers have the powers to issue the fines.

The meeting is currently being organised and a date will be announced shortly, once a convenient date can be reached to suit the various stakeholders and agencies, in the meanwhile Mr Atkinson is asking residents in the two wards who would like to attend to register their interest by email and he will keep them updated.

Speaking about the previous meeting regarding antisocial behaviour in the town centre, Mr Atkinson said It was a straight-talking meeting trying to achieve two things, the first, to update traders about the new PSPO powers and how they can engage with them to address the anti-social behaviour problems affecting their businesses and the town; and secondly, to look at what the powers do not cover, what is still unaddressed and how can these issues be fixed.

We were all clear from the start that there are no easy answers and that we are talking about the actions of people who need help and support, but also clear that more needs to be done.

The new PSPO order has seen 15 penalty notices issued so far and has been going properly for about 2 weeks. A number of people were pleased to hear that Wrexham Council is pioneering a multi-agency approach so that they are not just fining people who cannot or will not pay a fine but giving them the opportunity to get help.

He added: No-one wants to see a problem simply moved up the road and we must address causes where possible and Im working with Cllr Steve Wilson and Cllr I David Bithell to hold a similar meeting for residents of Rhosddu and Stansty wards.

To register your interest please email Mr Atkinson at andrew4wrexham@gmail.com or call 07914211631.

*Pictured  the launch of the Rhosddu PSPO
North Wales Drug Dealers Ordered by Court to Hand Over 220k in Crime Money

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Sep 27th, 2016

Three men whose drug related crimes spanned north Wales, throughout the UK, Thailand and the Netherlands have been ordered to pay over 220,000.

The men, two of which were from the Wrexham area, were sentenced in 2015 at the same Court for conspiracy to supply cannabis after a successful investigation by the North Wales Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

Yesterday (Monday September 26) they were ordered to pay over 220,000 at a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) Hearing at Mold Crown Court.

The POCA hearing found that William OBrien, 33, from Wrexham, had benefited from his crimes to a total of 725,363.31 and had assets totalling 1,195. A Confiscation Order for this amount was made against him.

In October 2015 he had been sentenced to four years imprisonment for his involvement in the conspiracy.

It was agreed that James OBrien, 30, of Erbistock, who had received a suspended 12 month sentence last October, had a criminal benefit of 22,745.47 with assets totalling 6,736.50. A Confiscation Order for that sum was made.

In his absence it was determined that a third male, David Higgins, 44, from Leigh, had benefited from his crimes to a total of over 214,637.24 with sufficient assets in order to meet the order.

In October 2015 he had been sentenced to a two year prison sentence suspended for two years.

William OBrien and James OBrien were given three months to pay the orders or serve six months in prison if they failed to do so.

David Higgins was given three months to pay the order or face three years imprisonment.

North Wales Police Financial Investigator, Janine Kelly said North Wales Police are sending out the message that those involved in drug trafficking offences will have their assets taken from them when they are caught and convicted.

We want the assistance of the public to bring these people to justice. Any information will be taken seriously and appropriate action will be taken.

This is another example of how under Operation Scorpion North Wales Police will actively pursue criminals and will use the powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to strip offenders of any property, including their homes, cars and cash that they possess.

Anyone who may information relating to drugs offences is urged to call North Wales Police on 101. Or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Alternatively, contact the control room direct via the new web live chat.
By PTI: Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 26 (PTI) CPI(M)-led LDF government today introduced in the state assembly the much-awaited Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, which among other things envisages raising funds from outside the budget to boostinvestment and take up infrastructure projects.

The bill, comprising a set of guidelines to revive and expand the operation of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, was introduced by Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac.

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It was referred for the consideration of subject?committee of the state Assembly later.

The government had recently amended the KIIFB Act through an ordinance and the present Bill was introduced without making any changes in its clauses.

During the discussion, Isaac said government would give administrative sanction for projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.

The government also has plans to mobilise funds for 23 social and development sectors, he said.

The minister also said more public works projects would be implemented in one year by the LDF government than the previous UDF government did in last five years.

He also claimed that there would also be a major change in the public education system in the state.

Meanwhile, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran introduced the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (Amendment) Bill,which among other things aims at making appointment in Devaswom Boards through state-run Public Service Commission.

It was also referred for the consideration of subject committee. PTI LGKAPR SMJ

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On Sunday, the government of Republika Srpska (RSSerb Republic), led by President Milorad Dodik, held a referendum on keeping January 9 as a national holiday. Some 99.8 percent voted in favour in a 56 percent turnout of the republics 1.2 million registered voters.

The referendum went ahead despite the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court ruling it illegal, saying that January 9, a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and the day on which Bosnian Serbs declared independence from Bosnia in 1992, discriminated against Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) and Croats.

The referendum is inflaming ethnic tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and within the Balkans more generally, and heightening tensions between the Western imperialist powers and Russia. The controversy shows that after 21 years, nothing has been resolved by the US-brokered 1995 Dayton Accord, which divided BiH into two semi-independent entitiesthe Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), inhabited mainly by Bosniaks and Croats, and the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS). The Dayton agreement ended the four-year war provoked by the imperialist powers policy of dismembering Yugoslavia, itself bound up with the restoration of capitalism in Eastern Europe.

Dodik was promoted as an opponent of then-RS President Radovan Karadzic. He was praised by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, who brokered the Dayton process, as well by as the US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, who called him a breath of fresh air, and the foreign secretary of the British Labour government, Robin Cook.

Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak member of the tripartite BiH presidency and leader of the Party of Democratic Action, warned recently that the referendum was some kind of test balloon that could slowly plunge [BiH] into conflicts which later you will be unable to halt.

Nobody is more ready to defend this country all the way to the end, Izetbegovic added.

Sefer Halilovic, the former Bosnian army chief of staff and leader of the Bosnian Patriotic Party, which has one MP in the BiH parliament, was more outspoken, warning, If someone wants to break Bosnia apart, that will not go [ahead] without a war.

RS President Dodik called such reactions hysteria, adding, This is not a referendum about secession as many want to portray it.  It is not even a beginning of such a process.

However, Dodik has worked to whip up nationalism, and his Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) has agreed to hold an independence referendum in 2018 if powers he says RS lost as a result of the Dayton process are not restored by next year.

Prior to the referendum, Western diplomats belonging to the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), created to oversee the Dayton agreement, issued a statement declaring, We once again urge the RS authorities not to hold the referendum.  The decision of the BiH Constitutional Court will remain fully in force and must be respected.

The statement added, Republika Srpska will remain an integral and essential part of the sovereign state of BiHthere will be no redrawing of the map.

Russia, a member of the PIC, did not sign the statement. Petar Ivancov, Russias ambassador to Bosnia, called the referendum an act of democracy, adding, Our position is very clear. We believe the people of Republika Srpska have the right to declare themselves on vital issues.

Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Dodik, after which the RS president expressed his gratitude for Russias unambiguous supporta barb directed at Serbian Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic, who opposed the referendum. Serbia is walking a tightrope between Russia, with which it is trying to maintain a long and close relationship, and the European Union (EU), with which it is conducting membership negotiations.

Behind Ivancovs sudden concern for the democratic rights of the Bosnian Serbs is Russias attempt to counter a renewed offensive by the US and EU in the Balkans. Last week, the NATO Military Committee chairperson, General Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic, said the Balkans remained a potential source of military conflict, adding that NATO had to be in a position to deter adversaries and defend its members.

Russia has seen one Balkan country after another join the EU or apply for membership, including BiH, which applied last February.

Following the UK Brexit referendum vote to leave the EU in June, in an attempt to prove that the EU was not suffering from expansion fatigue, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Bosnias three presidents and offered to help speed up Bosnias accession to the EU. Merkel declared, I personally promise that we, from the German side, will try to help entrepreneurs in BiH if they have certain disadvantages and drawbacks. If there are real problems, we will support farmers financially.

Last week, the EU formally accepted BiHs membership application, declaring its unequivocal commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovinas EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country. The EU commissioner responsible for enlargement, Johannes Hahn, made it clear, however, that a precondition for BiH joining the EU was acceptance of pro-market restructuring and the dismantling of state social welfare subsidies. He declared, One of our biggest challenges in preparing the Western Balkan countries for the EU is restructuring the economic model to ensure that all countries are functioning market economies and are driven by export and investments rather than import and consumption.

The demand for restructuring is what lies behind Dodiks referendum manoeuvres. His escalation of Serb nationalism, coming in the run-up to October 2 municipal elections that will likely benefit the opposition alliance led by the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), is aimed at distracting attention from the EUs austerity agenda and dividing workers along ethnic and communal lines. The aim is to prevent a united movement against a corrupt ruling elite that has overseen growing social inequality and unremitting attacks on the social position of the working class.

The unemployment rate in BiH is 42 percent, forcing 80,000 young people in a country of less than 4 million to emigrate last year. The average monthly wage is 1,293 convertible marks (US$748), and the minimum wage is 403 marks (US$232). BiH remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. The countrys richest 85 people, however, are worth US$9 billion.

Over the last year, as EU spokesperson Jamila Milovic Halilovic recently reported, Bosnia has made crucial progress towards meeting its demanding 2015-2018 Reform Agenda agreed with the EU. It was a long list and, as a result, there were some delays.  But virtually all reforms were concluded or introduced, including difficult political measures like new labour laws in both entities, Halilovic explained.

The imposition of austerity will only get worse. In early September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed to a 553 million three-year loan that was reported as pulling BiH back from the brink and averting a liquidity crisis. The freezing of the bank accounts of hospitals is just one sign of the growing financial nightmare facing both Bosnian entities. The IMF could cancel the second instalment of the new loan if concrete reforms are not apparent within three months.
Kerala Congress (M) youth wing took to the streets yesterday with carcasses of dogs on a pole to protest against stray dog menace. Reports have it that the protesters killed the dogs themselves.

By Revathi Rajeevan: In a protest against the stray dog menace in Kerala, Kerala Congress (M) youth wing hit the streets yesterday with carcasses of dogs on a pole.

After a 65-year-old woman died due to being attacked by stray dogs in Thiruvananthapuram, the government had decided to go on a sterilization drive for all stray dogs. However, the protesters allege nothing has been done so far.

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The protesters marched to the city corporation office with the dog carcasses, where they placed them on the ground and continued to protest. They were also said to be carrying pictures of children bitten by stray dogs.

Reports have it that the Youth Front protesters themselves killed the dogs, as a warning for the government to take immediate action.Here are some visuals from the protest:





7-year-old challenges protesters

Niranjan Kannan, a seven-year-old dog lover, has openly challenged protesters who want to kill strays to put an end the "dog menace" in Kerala.

Niranjan, who is the son of an animal rights activist, Sally Kannan, says in a video with his dogs that he is ready to come anywhere in Kerala where people are accusing dogs of being aggressive and rabid.

He also says killing stray dogs is not a solution.



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The criminal charges announced against nine defendants last week, including high-ranking figures in the administration of Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, are a major blow to the New York governor. Three of the nine defendants are close associates of Cuomo, and the others are leaders of construction and energy firms that have donated heavily to his political campaigns.

The 80-page complaint released by US Attorney Preet Bharara describes two related schemes involving bribery, bid-rigging and extortion in connection with major upstate economic development projects, including the Buffalo Billion stimulus plan touted by Cuomo as making possible the economic recovery of the city on the shores of Lake Erie that has been devastated by deindustrialization over the past four decades.

One of the figures at the very center of the corruption charges is Joseph Percoco, the former executive deputy secretary to Cuomo, a close friend for at least 20 years, who was known as Cuomos enforcer and was at his side on an almost daily basis until he left his post earlier this year. Percoco was hired at the age of 19 by then-Governor Mario Cuomo, the father of the current chief executive in Albany. He was considered so close to the family that Andrew Cuomo, speaking at his fathers funeral this past January, called him my fathers third son.

The announcement of charges in the wide-ranging New York scandal, after an investigation lasting more than one year, came in the midst of sensational testimony in the trial of close aides to Republican Governor Chris Christie in the neighboring state of New Jersey.

The trial, in connection with the closing of four lanes to the George Washington Bridge over a four-day period in September 2013, comes three years after the scandal first surfaced. The lane closing operation, which led to traffic chaos, was designed to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, on the New Jersey side of the bridge, for his refusal to back Christies re-election campaign. The scandal became known as Bridgegate when it began to unravel some months later.

The juxtaposition of the New Jersey trial and the New York complaint dramatically underlines the bipartisan character of corruption within the big business political establishment. It should also be noted that both Christie and Cuomo came to their current jobs swearing to clean up corruption. Christie was appointed US Attorney for New Jersey in 2002, and quickly became known for his demagogic law-and-order rhetoric and high-profile corruption cases. Cuomo was New York State Attorney General before his run for governor in 2010, and used his anti-corruption credentials to argue that he would have zero tolerance for the notorious fraud and dishonesty in the state government.

Cuomo is now in the closing months of his sixth year in office, and this past year has seen the corruption convictions of both the top Democrat and the top Republican in the state legislature, longtime Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos respectively. The Silver and Skelos cases were only the most recent in a very long series of indictments and convictions, although sentences were usually rather light. Far from cleaning up state government, Cuomo has found his own administration prominently featured in the corruption follies.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department complaint in the current case provided intimate detail on the sleazy operations of some of Cuomos closest aides. Percoco is charged with receiving bribes and other favors in exchange for providing access to the administration and steering huge contracts towards the businessmen named in the complaint. Emails and other evidence include the term ziti, the Mafia code word for cash, used by Percoco and his confederates.

Another defendant, lobbyist Todd Howe, pleaded guilty last week to eight counts, including extortion, wire fraud and conspiracy charges. Howe is cooperating with the prosecution, and his testimony is expected to figure heavily in the case against the other defendants.

Another of those charged is Alain Kaloyeros, the president of the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute in Albany, whose position enabled him to oversee the awarding of contracts and funding for various projects. Kaloyeros has been suspended from his position without pay. Both he and Percoco have entered not guilty pleas.

Meanwhile, the testimony in the New Jersey trial raised anew the charge, repeatedly denied by Governor Christie, that he knew about the lane-closing plans to punish his political enemies. One of several major defendants in the case, former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey official David Wildstein, testified after a silence of three years that Christie knew of and inspired the action.

Wildstein, who has confessed to being the author of the scheme, is a cooperating witness in the federal trial in Newark. He said that Christie and his close aides were working to line up political support so that his expected re-election in November 2013 could become the springboard to an eventual run for the presidency.

Wildstein had no transportation experience when he was hired by another Christie associate, Bill Baroni. Transportation experience was apparently not a priority for the tasks he was expected to perform. According to Wildstein, it was explained that decisions of the bi-state agency, which runs major transportation systems in the New York-New Jersey region, would be based on the one constituent rule. The only person that had to be happy was Governor Christie. We used that as the barometer by which a decision would be made at the Port Authority, he explained.

The idea was to use the Port Authority as a means of wooing Democratic mayors in New Jersey to back Christies re-election bid. Wildstein testified that he had discussed with Bridget Kelly, then the deputy chief of staff for Christie, various things in the Port Authority goody bag  all the things the Port Authority had available, including jobs and patronage positions. When the Fort Lee mayor did not cooperate, he apparently received a form of political punishment rather than items from the goody bag.

Christie huffed and puffed his denials of involvement in the Bridgegate scandal, although all of his underlings were known for their unquestioning loyalty and the utter unlikelihood that they would take any such action on their own. The Governor dismissed the scandal as a case of aides who had disappointed him by not living up to the high standards expected. The case continued to shadow Christies unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination, however.

Neither Christie nor Cuomo has so far faced charges in connection with these scandals. Speaking of the New York Democrat, US Attorney Bharara told a news conference, There are no allegations of any wrongdoing or misconduct by the governor, anywhere in this complaint. As another observer quoted in the New York Times put it, however, Its unrealistic with an adviser that was this close to the governor, that the governor doesnt know what was going on. Or, if lack of knowledge is in fact that case, Its a sign that hes not minding the store.

There is one other aspect of the bipartisan bi-state scandals in New York and New Jersey that should be noted. Christie, despite his connection to the lane-closing scandal, was tapped by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to head his transition team if he wins the election. Trump has recently reiterated his support for Christie. As for Cuomo, he is one of the most prominent national Democrats campaigning for Hillary Clinton.
In a statement issued last Thursday, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced that deportations of Haitian immigrantswhich had been suspended after the January 2010 earthquakewill resume. Johnsons statement cited policies prioritizing the removal of  individuals apprehended at or between ports of entry while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States.

In other words, Haitians who have committed no crime other than seeking a better life will be denied that opportunity. The policy is being applied to anyone who arrived at the border on Thursday or afterward.

Those stuck at the border have been forced to sleep outside or seek food and beds at shelters in Tijuana. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Tijuanas four main shelters have found themselves overwhelmed; more than 2,800 people have stayed in just one of the shelters, Desyunador Salesiano Padre Chava, this summer.

The trigger for DHSs decision is a more than 10-fold increase in the number of Haitians entering or trying to enter the United States through the San Ysidro, California border crossing. During the year ending September 30, 2016, more than 5,000 have entered the United States on parole. The previous year saw fewer than 350 Haitians enter at San Ysidro. The humanitarian parole process allows people to enter the US and stay for up to three years while an immigration court hears their case. Since the deportation policy was announced, Homeland Security officials have told the press that 2,000 people will be deported.

This brutal policy is being implemented not by Republican Donald Trump, but by President Barack Obama and the same Democratic Party that postures as a friend of immigrants and uses identity politics in a cynical attempt to corral voters.

Media reports indicate that the policy change was made unilaterally by the US government, which complained that the Haitian government is not well prepared to process the deportees. Interim Haitian President Jocelerme Privert, in New York to address the UN General Assembly, found out about Johnsons decision the day it was announced, according to Le Nouvelliste.

Thousands of Haitians migrated to Brazil after the earthquake, at a time when that countrys economy was still booming and its unemployment rate was low. Even while it was supplying many of the generals who oversaw the UNs MINUSTAH peacekeeping force of soldiers and police in Haiti, the Brazilian ruling elite was happy to increase its own supply of low-paid labor through immigration, and therefore offered work visas. Now that Brazils economy is in crisis, the Haitian workers are making the more than 7,000 mile trip from Brazil to the US by land. The long, life-threatening and expensive voyage can cost as much as US $13,000.

MINUSTAH troops, who have occupied Haiti since 2004, have sexually abused hundreds of Haitians, including children under age 18. The crimes are so serious that Privert raised them in his address to the General Assembly last week.

Johnsons September 22 statement claimed that the situation in Haiti has improved sufficiently to permit the U.S. government to remove Haitian nationals on a more regular basis. This, at a time when the number of cholera cases and deaths in Haiti is increasing, when its interim president has warned the UN General Assembly that the Zika and chikungunya viruses are still rampant, and when flooding from any tropical storm this season will increase the death toll from these diseases. Fox News reported two weeks ago that 25,000 cholera cases were registered in Haiti from January to July of this year, a more than 20 percent increase from the same period in 2015.

Haitis economy has not improved sufficiently either. Citing World Bank figures, the Miami Herald has reported that the countrys economic growth is likely to be less than 1 percent this year, and that foreign aidwhich was more than $2 billion in 2011is now only $250 million per year. A sharp decrease in the value of the Haitian Gourde against the US dollar is driving up the cost of food imports, while parts of Haiti are suffering from severe drought.

Appeals for political asylum from new arrivals or those being processed in US immigration courts are likely to fall on deaf ears. Presidential elections in Haiti are scheduled for next month, the legislature is again in session and mayors are starting to be elected instead of appointed. The US government will use these developments to deny asylum applications, even though they do nothing more than reverse the policies of US client president Michel Martelly, who ruled by decree during his last year in office.

Nor have conditions improved sufficiently for Haitians trying to emigrate elsewhere. Suriname is now denying entry to Haitianseven on commercial flightsFrench Guiana is beginning deportations and the Dominican Republic continues to force tens of thousands of people across its border. Alterpresse reported this weekend that since June 2015, approximately 120,000 families and more than 1,600 unaccompanied children have crossed into Haiti from the Dominican Republic. Nearly 24,000 have been officially transported to the crossings at Ouanaminte, Malpass, and Belladere during that time by the Dominican government.

Johnsons statement does continue the exemption from deportation of Haitian immigrants who entered the US in Temporary Protected Status after the earthquake, but only through July 22, 2017. To qualify for the extension, a person needs to have been continuously residing in the United States since January 12, 2011.
On Saturday, thousands of workers and youth marched in Jaffna to protest the policies of the US-backed Sri Lankan regime of President Maithripala Sirisena, and the support Sirisena has received from the Tamil Nationalist Alliance (TNA) of R. Sampanthan.

Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members distributed the leaflet Mobilise workers against Sri Lankas Sirisena-Wickremesinghe-Sampanthan regime! and interviewed marchers at the rally. They spoke to many working people and youth. The marchers all expressed their anger at the Sirisena regime and at the TNA, as well as their distrust towards the Tamil nationalist factions represented in the Tamil Peoples Council (TPC), which had called the protest.

Seven years after the Sri Lankan government carried out a bloody mass slaughter of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters at the end the Sri Lankan civil war, none of the disasters the war left behind have been resolved. Marchers spoke of their concern and sorrow over the fate of relatives who are still missing, called for the return of land still occupied by the Sri Lankan army, and demanded the release of political prisoners.

Sayanthan, a student at Jaffna university, said: Like the others, I came here to mark my protest against the Sirisena-Ranil Wickramasingha government. When it came to power, it promised to solve the problems of the Tamil people with a 100-day programme. But nothing has been done in the last 21 months. Tamil voters elected the TNA as their representatives, but they have not done anything to release the political prisoners or to solve any other issues concerning the Tamil people. They turned out to be the friendliest possible opposition to the government.

Sayanthan also indicated his mistrust towards the TPC. As far as I saw, I couldnt find any differences between the organisers of this rally and the TNA, he said, adding, The organisers of this rally intend to manipulate the Tamil issue for their political needs. We need to take the fight in our own hands.

An accounting teacher told the WSWS: I came from the Kurunagar area to participate in this rally. The world knows we fought for decades for our rights, but nothing remained except massacres and destruction. The new government made many promises. We were told the government is for good governance and change, but nothing has changed. The previous government was pro-China, the present government is pro-America.

She criticised the TNAs relationship with US foreign policy: America and other countries that were silent during the killing of our people in the war are now invading Jaffna for their own interests. Last month, the American and Sri Lankan navies conducted a joint exercise in our waters with the support of Sampanthan. He is not interested in the release of political prisoners, his aim is to serve the government and America. The TNA has made us as political orphans. I think we all came here to protest this policy.

The demonstration was characterised by opposition of the marchers not only to the pro-Washington and pro-Colombo policies of the TNA, but also to those of the TPC organisers. The TPC tried to focus the rally on opposing the construction of Buddhist temples by members of the Sinhalese ethnic majority on formerly Tamil-owned land seized by the armyseeking a way to divide the growing sense of unity between Sinhalese and Tamil workers.

Speaking of the TNA and TPC, Rajamanoharan said, There is no difference between the two factions. Both are with the government, so why couldnt they release the political prisoners? Why couldnt they find out the truth about the disappeared? It is simply because they didnt want to.

No political parties including TNA speak about the destructive politics of America in other countries, he added. Its intervention in Sri Lanka is for its interests and would create similar destruction. People are not much aware of these developments.

A bus driver who discussed historic role of Tamil nationalism with SEP members ultimately agreed that parliamentary politics or the armed struggle politics of the LTTE could not fulfill the democratic aspirations of the Tamil people. Speaking of the TPC, he said, I joined in this protest with some hope that this rally would win our demands. It appears to me what you say about them is correct. They also cheat us.

The intervention of the SEP members in the rally was vehemently opposed by the TPC organisers. They demanded that marchers reject the SEP pamphlet, saying that the TPC was not distributing it. Afterwards, however, workers and youth surrounded SEP members in order to get more copies.

In his speech to the rally, TPC co-chair Wigneswaran covered up the slavish support he and the TNA extend to US imperialism, which seeks to transform Sri Lanka into a staging ground for war with China. He cynically complained that our good governance government is not fulfilling its promises and avoided any reference to the close relations between the government and the TNA, which carries equal responsibility for the continuing oppression of the Tamil masses.

While Wigneswaran appealed to the international community in Jaffna, Sirisena was participating in the UN General Assembly in New York. He received praise from UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Raad Al-Hussein for positive change in Sri Lanka. After meeting Obama, Sirisena told the media: President Obama said Sri Lanka was an example to others and that US will be with us whenever we need assistance.
The Left Party has reacted to the recent Berlin state election with a sharp shift to the right. While it is preparing to participate in an administration with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Greens in the capital, its representatives are beating the drum for a red-red-green government at federal level.

Most recently, it is the partys federal parliamentary leader, Sahra Wagenknecht, who has made clear that the Left Party does not differ from the parties that imposed the Hartz IV welfare and labour reforms and have supported Germanys increasing militarism. She is contributing to the anti-refugee hysteria, demanding more police officers, and supports the governments aggressive foreign policy.

In an interview on Saturday with the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Wagenknecht emulated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in their anti-refugee tirades. Every mayor is saying that capacity [for refugees] has reached its limit, this has nothing to do with stirring up fear. The problems cannot be solved by bringing more and more people to Germany, or by just enticing the better educated, who are then lacking in their own countries.

Wagenknecht accused the federal government of never making any arrangements to solve our urgent problems in recent years. By this, she does not mean the social misery for which the Left Party is responsible from its previous period in office in the Berlin Senate or in East Germany, but parallel worlds from which the state has increasingly withdrawn and where radical Islamists now seek to occupy the free spaces.

Questioned by the FAZ, Wagenknecht said that the Left Party differs fundamentally from the AfD and all the other parties. Her comments, however, once again underline that the Left Party is indeed part of a right-wing front of all bourgeois parties, which extends from the AfD to the Left Party, and is increasingly hated by the population.

If the Left Party differs from all other parties then it is in the sense that it advocates more aggressively the construction of a police state. We have always criticised the cutting of police jobs, Wagenknecht proclaimed. Then she affirmed: We are not the party of the weak state, but want a state that is well enough equipped to fulfil its tasks. This includes ensuring the security of its citizens.

Wagenknechts plea for a powerful state goes hand in hand with her support for an aggressive German foreign policy. In another interview with the German weekly Die Zeit, she responded unequivocally to the question, Can you imagine a red-red-green coalition agreement in which Bundeswehr [armed forces of Germany] missions abroad continue to be possible? as follows: According to the constitution, the Bundeswehr has one objective: That is defence. Germany is not being defended in Syria or Afghanistan. Therefore, we should talk about such missions in the coalition negotiations.

Last Wednesday, in an interview with the RedaktionsNetzwerks Deutschland, Wagenknecht said she saw movement in the SPDs foreign policy. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had expressed concern about the aggressive NATO policy towards Russia, and placed more importance on talks than military solutions, as the pro-Left Party Neues Deutschland summarised Wagenknechts views.

Wagenknecht chose to express her support for the SPD foreign minister just as he was calling for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria when speaking in New York. The situation today in Syria is on a knife edge, said Steinmeier. If the ceasefire is to have any chance whatsoever, the only way is to have a time-limited but complete ban of all military aircraft movements over Syria, at least for three, or even better, seven days.

On Friday, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, Steinmeier went even further: Assads air force must stop its attacks. I also see Moscows responsibility here. If we fail in this, all efforts for a political solution will go down in a hail of bombs. For this reason alone, we must continue our efforts for a ceasefire, which failed in the ISSG [International Syria Support Group].

In reality, a no-fly zone, which would be enforced by the US, Germany and other NATO powers, would not be an effort for a ceasefire but, as in the NATO bombing campaign against Libya in 2011, a massive escalation of war for regime-change in Syria fuelled by the Western powers. In his speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Friday, Steinmeier called for the violent overthrow of the Syrian government. While the world struggles for a cease-fire in New York, Assad continues bombing Aleppo to rubble. This shows once again that the Assad regime cannot and should not determine the future of Syria.

By explicitly supporting Steinmeier, Wagenknecht is signalling to the ruling class not only that the Left Party supports the installation of a pro-Western puppet regime in Damascusin the organization of the Syrian opposition in Berlin it has long played a decisive rolebut that the Left Party fully supports the return of German militarism to the world stage.

Since Steinmeier spoke at the Munich Security Conference in 2014 together with German President Gauck and Defence Minister Von der Leyen (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) to announce that Germany must be willing to become involved in foreign and security policy earlier, more decisively and more substantially, he has driven German foreign policy systematically in a militarist direction. The SPD-led foreign ministry elaborates strategy papers whose goal is the militarization of Europe under German hegemony, and in articles, Steinmeier himself boasts about Germanys new global role.

The Left Party has been involved in the new offensive of German imperialism from the outset. Stefan Liebich, the partys representative in the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, was among the 50 leading politicians, journalists, academics, military and business leaders who, under the auspices of the pro-government Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and the Washington think tank German Marshall Fund (GMF), elaborated the strategy paper New power, new responsibility, which formed the basis of the speeches of Steinmeier, Gauck and von der Leyen.

The statements by Wagenknecht and other leading representatives of the Left Party in recent weekse.g., Bodo Ramelow, the Left Partys first minister president in the East German state of Thuringia, recently proclaimed that the Lefts are not pacifistsmake clear how much the entire party has lined up behind Germanys war drive. In a possible red-red-green federal government, the Left Partys specific task would be to enforce the increasing military pursuit of German imperialisms geostrategic and economic interests with humanitarian arguments, against the growing opposition to war among the population.

A 2014 anthology published by the Left Party calling for a left-wing foreign policy, titled In a world falling apart at the seams, claims that the majority of Germans would be prepared to support the armed forces  for exclusively humanitarian purposes and in order to prevent genocide. But there was no majority, however, for giving troops their marching orders to ensure access to raw materials and for trade wars.
Brazilian police on Monday took into custody Antonio Palocci, the former finance minister and chief of staff in the Workers Party (PT) governments of presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and recently impeached Dilma Rousseff.

Palocci, one of the most prominent figures within the PT hierarchy for decades, is accused of serving as a go-between for the Workers Party and Odebrecht SA, the largest construction conglomerate in Latin America, in a massive bribes-for-contracts scandal that siphoned billions of dollars from the state-run oil giant, Petrobras. Various figures who have already been charged in the Petrobras scandal have reportedly testified as part of plea bargain deals that the former finance minister arranged bribes.

The arrest of Palocci is the latest stage in the sweeping Operation Lava Jato (Car Wash) investigation that has implicated hundreds of politicians and some of Brazils wealthiest capitalists in the kickback scheme, which has discredited not just the PT, but some of the countrys largest corporations and virtually every bourgeois party.

Paloccis arrest comes less than a week after the federal judge overseeing the investigation ruled that Lula, the former metalworkers union leader who became the Workers Partys first president in 2003, will stand trial on charges of money laundering and corruption. Prosecutors have charged that Lula was the supreme commander of the Petrobras kickback scheme and that the pervasive corruption could not have existed without his active participation. He is also charged with personally benefiting from over $1 million worth of bribes from a major construction contractor.

Lula and PT supporters have denounced the charges as unsubstantiated and insisted that they are aimed at derailing a likely bid for his return to the presidency. He was considered a front-runner in the 2018 election, which is to choose a successor to Michel Temer, the former PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party) vice president who was installed in the presidential palace following last months ouster of the PTs Dilma Rousseff in an impeachment process based on trumped-up charges of fiscal irregularities.

In a further indication that the corruption scandal is steadily engulfing the core of the PT, Paloccis successor as finance minister, Guido Mantega, was arrested on a temporary detention warrant and released after only a few hours in deference to his wifes hospitalization. Mantega is charged with having solicited a $2.35 million illegal bribe from billionaire Eike Batista, a mining and energy magnate who previously ranked as the richest man in Latin America. Close to the PT, he built up his business empire through billions of dollars in loans from the state development bank, BNDES. He also secured contracts for building Petrobras oil platforms worth nearly $1 billion. These deals are now the subject of a corruption investigation.

Another of Brazils wealthiest billionaires with close ties to the PT, Marcelo Odebrecht, the head of the construction giant of the same name, has been convicted on charges of bribery, money laundering and organized crime in relation to the Petrobras scandal and sentenced to 19 years in prison. Among the charges pending against Palocci is that he improperly approved loans to Odebrecht from the BNDES for building oil platforms in Africa.

The conviction of Lula, Palocci and Mantega could spell not only the end to the former presidents electoral ambitions, but the demise of the PT itself. The same crisis, however, is gripping the entire ruling establishment in Brazil, including the PTs erstwhile allies who carried out the Rousseff impeachment. Last Friday, Brazils Supreme Court approved a prosecutors request to open a corruption investigation against newly installed President Temer in connection with the Petrobras bribery scandal.

Palocci is an emblematic figure in terms of the historical and political trajectory of the Workers Party. His career tracks its emergence as a vehicle created with the critical participation of pseudo-left elements, including, most prominently, groups that had broken with the Trotskyist movement, as well as the PTs subsequent transformation into the premier party of Brazilian capitalism, accompanied by its descent into corruption and intensifying crisis.

The future finance minister and top PT leader began his career as a student activist at the University of Sao Paulo in that states northeastern city of Ribeirao Preto. The year was 1980, when the Workers Party was founded amid a wave of militant strikes and mass student demonstrations that forced an end to two decades of US-backed military dictatorship.

Palocci was a member of Liberdade e Luta (Freedom and Struggle), the student group of a tendency known as the OSI (Organizacao Socialista InternacionalistaSocialist Internationalist Organization). The OSI was the Brazilian affiliate of the so-called Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International, the international conglomeration led by Pierre Lambert of France, who had broken with the International Committee of the Fourth International in 1971 and sought alliances with various movements in Latin America based on a rejection of both the political independence of the working class and the fight to construct a revolutionary Marxist leadership.

The Brazilian Lambertists, following much the same trajectory pursued by their parent organization in France, the Organisation Communiste Internationaliste (OCI), in relation to the French Socialist Party, liquidated themselves into the PT, putting forward the political thesis that it would be transformed into a genuine revolutionary party of the working class. In reality, they turned themselves into the obedient political servants of the dominant right-wing Majority Camp faction identified with Lula within the Workers Party leadership.

Palocci, who made little impression as a radical student activist, proved adept at securing ever higher posts, both elected and within the party apparatus. He rose from the city council in Ribeirao Preto to state deputy and, by 1992, to the post of mayor of the city. In that position, he established tight connections with a local business mafia.

Having begun political life as a supposed adherent of revolutionary socialism, Palocci became a political agent of local capitalist interests, carrying out privatizations and other policies that benefited his new business allies and attacking public sector workers. After a stint as a federal deputy, he returned to office as mayor in 2000, with the head of the local Commercial and Industrial Association as his running mate.

In the PT itself, he became president of the state party in Sao Paulo in 1997, and in 2002 became the head of Lulas first successful campaign for the presidency after an official first tapped for the job was kidnapped and murdered under what are still unexplained circumstances.

After Lulas election, Palocci became the head of his transition team and was then named finance minister, a position he used to impose a right-wing economic program in line with the austerity policies of the previous capitalist government, along with unwavering subservience to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund.

So right-wing were Paloccis policies that Henrique Meirelles, the former Wall Street banker selected by Lula to head the central bank, and currently finance minister of the Temer government, was able to declare in 2003, My level of conservatism is equal to that of Palocci.

Paloccis meteoric political rise was temporarily aborted with the eruption of a corruption crisis in the first Lula government during the second half of 2005. He was accused of playing a role in the so-called Mensalao scandal involving monthly payments to members of Congress in return for voting in favor of the government.

While initially protected because of support from big business and right-wing opposition parties, Palocci was ultimately forced out in connection with re-evaluations of his participation in parties organized at a mansion in Brasilia attended by businessmen, politicians and prostitutes, where deals were made and cash exchanged. Lula was compelled to sack his most powerful minister when it emerged that the government had illegally obtained the bank records of the mansions caretaker, who had testified about the parties, to see if he had received payments from political opponents.

Emerging unscathed from multiple investigations, Palocci returned to politics as manager of Rousseffs successful campaign for the presidency in 2010, after which he was named her chief of staff. Amid renewed corruption allegations, including those surrounding Petrobras, he was forced to resign by 2011.

Palocci was not the only ex-Lambertist to assume a senior position in PT governments. Others included Luis Gushiken, the ex-minister of communications, who was also forced out over charges of corruption, and Clara Ant, who was Lulas confidential secretary and currently occupies the position of director of the Lula Institute in Sao Paulo. Ants home was raided last March, when Lula himself was arrested, as prosecutors pursued an investigation into charges that the Lula Institute was also a conduit for bribe money.

The fate of Palocci and the PT are, in the final analysis, bound up with far broader political and economic processes. The crisis gripping world and Brazilian capitalism has made it impossible for the Brazilian capitalists to continue the methods of rule they pursued during the13 years of PT government power. The PTa bourgeois, not a workers, partypresided over the growth of corporate profits and the accumulation of vast wealth by the ruling elite, even as it diverted a small share of the revenues from the commodities and emerging market booms to finance minimal social assistance programs aimed at dampening the class struggle.

Under conditions of Brazils deepest economic crisis in a century, coinciding with the collapse in commodity prices, both the Brazilian bourgeoisie and international finance capital are demanding a sharp change in course directed at imposing the full burden of the crisis onto the backs of the working class. Rousseff was impeached not because the PT was unwilling to pursue such policies, but because the financial markets demanded a decisive and abrupt change.

Those pseudo-left forces who promoted and built the PT, including not only the likes of Palocci who stayed in the party and entered the top circles of the Brazilian ruling elite, but also organizations like the Morenoite PSTU and the Pabloite tendencies who were forced out, bear direct political responsibility for the immense dangers now confronting the Brazilian working class.
Allina Health and the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced a new round of negotiations beginning September 26, as the strike by 4,800 nurses at five Minneapolis-St. Paul metro-region hospitals enters its fourth week.

The recall of both sides by a federal mediator indicates that the company, the MNA bureaucracy and the Democratic Party are laying the groundwork for a final attempt to force through a sellout contract against the resistance of striking nurses.

Both Allina and the MNA maintain that the two sides were close to an agreement before talks broke off and an open-ended strike began on September 5. The MNA leadership has admitted they have walked away from safe staffing ratios and the defense of the traditional nurses health care plans that were the product of more than two decades of struggle.

What has stood in the way of concluding the strike on terms acceptable to the company is that an overwhelming majority of nurses are opposed to concessions and have voted down three contracts. Consequently, the MNA has been appealing to Allina management for a more graduated transition away from nurses traditional health care plans that will serve as a face-saving device for the union.

The company, the Democratic Party and the MNA leadership calculated that the isolation of Allina nurses from the broader mass of nurses and workers across the Twin Cities would break their resolve and compel them to accept concessions. Added to this is that on October 1, company contributions to health care for Allina nurses ends and the full burden of health care costs falls on the backs of striking nurses.

Allina spokesperson David Kanihan has indicated that the company may deepen its demands for concessions from nurses, declaring, The longer the strike goes on, it puts us in a financial position where we are less able to potentially give them everything that we offered before the strike started.

Preceding the announcement of renewed talks, a group of high ranking Democratic politicians sent a letter to Allina CEO Penny Wheeler urging Allina to reach a compromise with nurses and held a press conference on the picket line issuing mild criticisms. This stunt has nothing to do with any genuine support for nurses. Certainly, some politicians calculate that it might garner votes for their party in the coming election, but the main purpose is to create the illusion that nurses can rely upon the Democratic Party to fight their battle for them as the new negotiations begin.

The MNA has also sought to divert the militancy of nurses into a corporate campaign that is targeting various CEOs who sit on Allinas board of directors. As an example, the MNA sent out a delegation of nurses and other workers to the office of David Kuplic, who sits on the Allina Board of Directors and serves as the CEO of Securian  asking Mr. Kuplic to use his decision-making power on the board and push forward [a]fair contract for RNs, patients, and the community.

On September 27, General Mills is holding a shareholder meeting where the MNA will seek to pressure John Church, a senior vice president of General Mills and chair of the Allina board of directors, to let him know that he should support nurses!

Allina nurses should stop to consider the bizarre nature of this campaign. These corporate sharks are from the same capitalist class as Allina CEO Penny Wheeler, who has remained unmoved by nurses from day one of contract negotiations. These CEOs will relish the defeat of the Allina nurses, not a fair contract. For them, contract concessions will result in future profits through business with Allina.

Nurses should view all of the forces arrayed against themthe federal mediator, the MNA, the Democratic Party and the array of corporate CEOs and bankersas their class enemies. And they must view with the greatest skepticism the current negotiations, which is a conspiracy to foist the companys demands on nurses.

The real allies of nurses are their class brothers and sisters among health care workers and the millions of workers throughout the Twin Cities and across the United States. What is at stake in this struggle is not just working conditions and health care for Allina nurses. The decision of Allina and the banks to take on the nurses is part of a nationwide assault on health care for all workers that was initiated by the administration of President Barack Obama through the Affordable Care Act.

Nurses must break the isolation of their strike by electing rank-and-file committees that will turn towards the working class and mobilize them in a united struggle to fight for the right to health care for all.
The announcement that a US Navy ship will visit New Zealand in November for the first time in 33 years marks a significant milestone in the strengthening of military ties between the two countries. The Socialist Equality Group and International Youth and Students for Social Equality are holding public meetings to wage a political fight against Washingtons war drive against China.

The National Party government, the opposition Labour Party and the Greens have welcomed the decision. Like other US allies, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, New Zealands ruling class is dragging the country into Washingtons aggressive military encirclement and provocations against China.

To counter its economic decline, the US has already waged brutal imperialist wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. It is now threatening Russia and China to ensure US dominance over every region of the globe. As the Union of Concerned Scientists warned in May, the US military build-up in Asia poses the very real danger of all-out war between nuclear-armed powers.

New Zealands military alliance with the US has been fully restored. Successive Labour and National governments have sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. In recent years, US troops have been invited to train in New Zealand and the NZ Navy has joined major US-led exercises in Asia and the Pacific. Last year Edward Snowden revealed that New Zealand, as part of the Five Eyes alliance, has spied on China on behalf of the United States.

Supported by the opposition parties, the government has announced an extraordinary $20 billion for new ships and other military upgrades over the next 15 years to improve interoperability with Australia and the US.

The vast majority of the worlds population is opposed to war. They have been kept in the dark about the extent of US war plans. The issue has been buried in the current US presidential contest, and by the entire political establishment in New Zealand. The pseudo-left organisations, which protested against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, are also silent; in the US many of these middle class groups promoted illusions in Obama, who has expanded the wars begun under Bush and launched new military interventions.

In New Zealand, Greenpeace, which protested against US warship visits in the 1980s, has hailed the resumption of such visits as a victory for people power. Its endorsement reflects the sharp shift to the right by a middle class layer that has embraced imperialism and war.

The drive toward another catastrophic world war can be stopped only by the international working class, armed with a socialist program. We urge workers, students and young people to attend our public meetings in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Auckland to discuss the urgent need for a new anti-war movement, based on a socialist and internationalist perspective.

Wellington

Wednesday October 5, 4:00pm

Victoria University Wellington

Student Union Building, Room SU220

Lower Hutt

Saturday October 15, 4:00pm

Russell Keown House

Corner of Laings Road and Queens Drive

Meeting Room 1

Auckland:

Sunday November 27, 2:30pm

Grey Lynn Library Hall

474 Great North Road

Grey Lynn
This week, as criticism of the US-Russian cease-fire in Syria mounted within the Pentagon brass, a prominent foreign policy analyst issued a statement denouncing the truce. He reiterated US calls for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, and he advocated a major escalation of the US-NATO intervention in Syriaarming the Islamist opposition with anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons.

As almost everybody can now tell, this critic wrote, the new cease-fire agreement on Syria is doomed to break down, as would any such agreement that does not settle the core political problem of the crisis. Of course, even a respite that doesnt last is better than nothing at all (although the truce has so far been very disappointing with regard to humanitarian relief). But short of an agenda that includes a comprehensive agreement for Bashar al-Assad to step down and allow a transition toward a pluralist government, no cease-fire stands a chance in that war-torn country.

He added, Without a balance of military forces on the ground in Syria which would compel the Assad regime and its Iranian backers to seek real compromise, a genuine political settlement is not possible.  [T]he issue of creating such a balance of forcesespecially by providing the Syrian opposition with anti-aircraft missiles capable of limiting the Syrian regimes use of air power, its main weapon of large-scale destructionhas been the principal bone of contention on Syria within the Obama administration since 2012.

One might assume that this essay had been prepared by a CIA operative, or, perhaps, a columnist for either the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. In fact, the author is Gilbert Achcar, the prominent associate of Frances New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA). Achcar left that movement to take a professorship at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London and join the NPA-linked Socialist Resistance group in Britain. His latest article was written for the Nation and republished on the Pabloites International Viewpoint web site, affiliated with the NPA.

As Achcar was drafting his essay, Ashley Smith of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) in the United States published a similar warmongering appeal on the Socialist Worker web site. For Smith, the truce should be used to re-arm US-backed revolutionary militias fighting alongside the Al Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front. He wrote that the truce at best, might allow breathing space for revolutionaries to regroup for a future uprising against the regime.

Smith attacked the Obama administration for lacking the appetite for a major confrontation with Russia. Smith criticizes Obama for having failed to militarily exploit the concocted poison gas episode of 2013 to overthrow Assad and bring the opposition to power.

This was because Obama, Smith wrote, has been hesitant to press this policy out of fear of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East." He continued: "Thus, whenever the Assad regime crossed supposed red lines, like its continuing use of chemical weapons, the US preferred to cut deals with Russia rather than take any action that might topple Assad, but also threaten a wider upheaval. The US has also refused to supply the FSA [Free Syrian Army militia] with weapons it pleaded for to defend itself against regime air strikes.

Smiths denunciations of the Assad regimes relentless bombing of civilian targets are utterly hypocritical and tailored to the specific needs of American imperialism. His selective outrage overlooks the US-backed Saudi bombing and blockade in Yemen, which has killed thousands and threatens hundreds of thousands of children with starvation. Smith has written nothing on Yemen, which has been ignored by Socialist Worker and the entire pseudo-left press.

Nor is Smith concerned about the sectarian massacres carried out by the US-backed Islamist opposition in Syria, and the bloody record of US imperialism itself, whose wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria have still claimed a far greater toll than the Kremlins Syrian intervention.

The writings of Achcar and Smith obliterate any significant distinction between the positions of leading pseudo-left political tendencies and the most ruthless representatives of American and European imperialism. Indeed, in an extraordinary passage, Achcar closes his essay with a friendly quotation from Anthony Cordesman, the head of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank.

If anyone in the region had any illusion about the democratic and humanitarian pretexts invoked by Washington in previous wars, they have lost them completely by now, he writes. As Anthony Cordesman, one of the most astute observers of the military-political situation in the Middle East, recently observed, the US president is now entirely focused on an exit strategynot an exit from the Syrian crisis, though, but his own exit from office.

Achcars astute observer is in fact one of American militarisms most important strategists. He is the author of innumerable reports calling for the escalation of US wars in the Middle East and aggression against China and Russia. He is also the author of a CSIS report on nuclear war that dismissed the destruction of India and Pakistanthat is, the slaughter of hundreds of millions of peopleas economically unimportant. The loss of India and Pakistan might create some short term economic issues for importers of goods and services, he wrote. However, the net effect would shift benefits to other suppliers without any clear problems in substitutions or costs.

From Achcars standpoint, however, Cordesman is a colleague with whom he can work on the friendliest basis. They share the same objectives, as well as the same enemiesthat is, anyone who opposes their war policies.

The articles by Achcar and Smith express not just the positions of these two individuals, but the evolution of social forces and their reflection in political tendencies.

In 1999 David North, international editorial board chairman of the World Socialist Web Site, wrote:

The objective modus operandi and social implications of the protracted stock market boom have enabled imperialism to recruit from among sections of the upper-middle class a new and devoted constituency. The reactionary, conformist and cynical intellectual climate that prevails in the United States and Europepromoted by the media and adapted to by a largely servile and corrupted academic communityreflects the social outlook of a highly privileged stratum of the population that is not in the least interested in encouraging a critical examination of the economic and political bases of its newly-acquired riches. [A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony 1990-2016]

This social stratum and the political tendencies that reflect their interests have moved sharply to the right. The writings of Achcar and Smith show how, amid growing anger and mass disaffection with war in the working class, pseudo-left organizations are being integrated and recruited to play major roles in imperialist politics. The organizations and tendencies that were in the leadership of anti-war protests in the late 1960s and 1970s are now shamelessly pro-war. Workers, students and youth must understand this fact, and the social processes that underlie it, in order to build a new movement against the immense dangers that confront mankind.

The fight against imperialist war requires the systematic political exposure of the pro-imperialist pseudo-left. But this theoretical-political work is inseparably linked to the political organization and education of the working class and the broad mass of youth. It is within this powerful social force that the mass constituency for revolutionary opposition to imperialist war will be found. The Detroit conference called by the Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social EqualitySocialism vs. Capitalism and Warwill mark an important advance in the fight to build a new movement against war. We urge readers and supporters of the World Socialist Web Site to come to Detroit on November 5 to participate in this critically important conference.
In the wake of Sundays narrow ratification by autoworkers of the framework agreement at General Motors (GM) Canada, Brad Duguid, Ontario Liberal Minister of Economic Development and Growth, let a little more out of the bag than he perhaps intended in his statement to the press announcing his pleasure at the sellout deal.

Our government is now working with our partners at GM, Unifor and the federal government to assist in landing these new product investments. This agreement is extremely positive news for workers and their families in Oshawa, St. Catherines and Woodstock, and also for the burgeoning auto parts sector.

Wait a minute.

To assist in landing these new product investments? So, despite the phony assurances of Unifor President Jerry Dias to the 4,000 workers who toil in GM Canada facilities that his historic deal will save jobs at Oshawas production facilities, Duguid states that new product investment commitments are not yet landed. Government will now work with its union and corporate partners to try to close a deal.

Workers will not be surprised by this. Outraged. Disgusted. But not surprised. Unifors deeply anti-democratic decision not to release any details of the deal prior to Sundays ratification vote demonstrated that Dias framework was a rotten concessionary contract, cooked up behind closed doors by pro-management union officials and GM executives to serve the interests of GM shareholders and their big business backers.

Unifor claimed during the bargaining process that the central issue was securing investment and used this to justify major concessions and to rush through a vote. As it turns out, details of new product and job numbers have not yet been worked out. Under questioning from autoworkers on the floor of the thousand-strong ratification meeting in Oshawa, Unifor officials were unable to give specifics on the exact nature of the so-called new work being allotted to the plant.

The revelation from the Ontario Liberal government confirms the explicit warnings made by the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter. We wrote, In the current deal, Dias claims to have obtained investment commitments for the GM Oshawa plant to keep it open beyond 2019 and additional funding for the St. Catherines facility. Workers should reject such bogus assurances. The volume and identity of the new products supposedly secured by Unifor are still to be formalized and appear as simple over-runs from other plants.

The federal government of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has remained tight-lipped about when they will announce changes to the Automotive Investment Fund that the auto bosses are demanding to keep product in Canada. They recently signaled that they intend to eventually change their low-interest loan program to one providing grantsthat is, outright cash handoutsto the auto and parts manufacturers. The provincial Liberal government is also examining their contributions to the coffers of the auto companies.

In 2009, GM and Chrysler received over $14 billion in bailout funds ($3.5 billion of which was never recovered by the government) at the same time as workers were blackmailed with the threat of the loss of their jobs into making wage and benefit concessions worth some $20 per hour per worker. Any monies now shifted to the Detroit Three, all highly profitable enterprises, will without doubt be siphoned from provincial and federal budgets, resulting in further cuts in spending on ever deteriorating social and public services, like healthcare.

The exposure in a matter of hours of Unifors central argument in favour of the GM contract as a lie demonstrates that Sundays GM ratification vote was a fraud. Not only were workers not able to study the proposed contract in advance, what they voted on remains a work in progress.

Consequently, GM workers should not feel bound by it.

As for workers at Fiat-Chrysler and Ford, as they are presented with GM pattern contracts over the next several weeks, one lesson should be foremost in their minds. Not a single word that comes out of the mouths of Dias and his team of Unifor bureaucrats can be believed.

***

Opposition among GM Canada workers to Unifors sellout contract continues to grow. The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter has received a large number of new subscriptions over recent days and hostile comments directed at the union bureaucracy are mounting on social media.

One GM retiree who signed up for the Newsletter called for the removal of the union leadership. This contract is a complete let down, he wrote. Dias should be ashamed of himself not thinking he did us a big favour. You sold us out Dias. Step down.

I have worked at the St. Catherines Plant for 33 years and this has to be the lowest percent for ratification of a contract ever, a veteran worker wrote. We gave up so much over the last 12 years and got very little back this round.

Another worker summed up the widespread sentiment with the remark, Not happy nor impressed with the new GM contract.
SGI Commex claimed to have bought airbus A319-133 at a price of Rs 27.39 crore ($ 4.1 million), which was nearly one-sixth of the reserve price.

The auction of the jet was challenged by the Mumbai airport, who claimed an unpaid amount of airport fees. Photo: Reuters

By Mustafa Shaikh: An aircraft of embattled Kingfisher Airlines is slatted for a re-auction as the bidder SGI Commex informed the Bombay High Court on Monday that they want to withdraw their bid.

DUES TO BE CLEARED



The auction of the jet was challenged by the Mumbai airport, who claimed an unpaid amount of airport fees.

As per an order passed on August 22, SGI Commex will have to pay an additional amount under taxes, hangar charges and the cost of equipment to be installed to make the aircraft air-worthy.

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Justice SC Dharmadhikari was hearing a plea filed by the service tax department, challenging a 2014 decision of the debt recovery tribunal that had waived off dues worth Rs 18 crore of the Kingfisher Airlines.

Last week, court had observed that Mallya "Couldn't have come up with a better name than 'Kingfisher' for his entity, for just like the bird can fly with no boundaries to prevent it, he flew away."

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Service Tax Department had informed the court that it wished to recall the auction as the highest bidder who bid for the airbus had bid only "81 per cent of its total cost".

Its likely that the aircraft will undergo rebidding to recover dues. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh said that both the Union government and the Service Tax Department were committed to selling the airbus and only needed to work out some modalities.

SGI Commex claimed to have both airbus A319-133 at a price of Rs 27.39 crore ($ 4.1 million), which was nearly one-sixth of the reserve price.

On June 30, the department had conducted an e-auction for the airbus advertising it as "designed exclusively for exotic and luxurious use" but recalled it after the highest bidder at the time offered just Rs 1 crore.

In August this year, it conducted a second auction saying that it had set the reserve price of the airbus at Rs 152 crore. That's when SGI Commex bought it at a much lower price.



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According to reports, Karan Johar's popular talk show Koffee with Karan Season 5 will now feature Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt as its first guests.

According to reports, Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt will be the first guests to feature on the show. Picture courtesy: Instagram/fawadkhan81; Instagram/iamsrk; YouTube

By Hardeep Dugal: Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, sources now claim that it will be Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt instead of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan who will feature on the first episode of Karan Johar's popular chat show, Koffee with Karan Season 5. The show is likely to go on air this October.

Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra in a still from the show. Picture courtesy: YouTube

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According to reports, Fawad Khan is currently in Pakistan and has no plans of coming to India anytime soon since the Kapoor and Sons actor wants to be by his wife's side who is pregnant with the couple's second child.

Also read:Koffee With Karan Season 5: Not SRK, but Fawad Khan to be KJo's first guest?



The actor will also not be seen promoting his upcoming movie, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which has been directed by Karan Johar; the movie is due for release this Diwali.

Bollywood's cross-border heartthrob Fawad Khan is one of the many victims of the animosity between India and Pakistan post the Sept 18 Uri attacks which left 18 Indian soldiers dead. Soon after, MNS issued a 48-hour deadline to all Pakistani actors to leave India, an order vehemently opposed by the rest of the film fraternity.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that SRK will shoot for the first episode of the highly controversial yet fun chat show Koffee with Karan Season 5 after returning from Europe, where he is currently shooting for Imtiaz Ali's next called The Ring, along with Anushka Sharma.



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TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - A former president has planned to stop in the Capital City.

Bill Clinton has planned to visit Tallahassee on Friday during the "Stronger Together" bus tour. The tour will focus on his wife, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, and her current economic plan.

While he's in Florida campaigning, Clinton also has made plans to visit Panama City and Jacksonville.

There's still no location or time set on Clinton's visits. We will continue to update this story as we confirm more information.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Federal and local law enforcement came together to arrest a man in Tallahassee for the murder of a 14-year-old Jacksonville girl.

Bryan Goggins, 24, was arrested at an apartment complex on South Adams after police negotiated for his surrender for about an hour according to the U.S. Marshall's Office.

The Florida Fugitive Task Force set up surveillance an apartment complex on the 3000 block of South Adams Street Monday afternoon. After spotting Goggins leave and return to the complex, the task force surrounded the apartment he was staying in.

K-9 and helicopter units from Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office were brought in as well.

Police said that Goggins killed the teenage girl on August 12th in Jacksonville.

He is also the only suspect in the shooting where at least 3 people were shot, according to investigators. Police alleged that he stepped out of a car following an argument and opened fire, killing one.

Police said he was also the only person witnesses identified as the shooter. Goggins has been moved to the Leon County Jail until he can be moved to Jacksonville.

Investigators across a multitude of agencies to include Tallahassee Police Department, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and others, said they are working on getting a search warrant for the apartment.
By PTI: Garg said Yusuf and Shahidul were arrested from Natun

Garg said Yusuf and Shahidul were arrested from Natun Bazar under Basirhat area of North 24 Parganas district while Farooq and Rubel were picked up from Bagda Road in Bangao in the same district yesterday, Garg said.

Kalam was held from Cooch Behar station in north Bengal yesterday while Jahidul was arrested from Cachhar district of Assam on Saturday.

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He said, "Farooq was on the wanted list of Bangladesh Police and was looking after the financial aspect of the JMBs West Bengal unit. Yusuf was supervising the training programmes carried out at different Madrasas in the state and the NIA was looking for him in connection with the Khagragarh blast."

Surya, also the JMB chief for the N-E India, was entrusted to build up movements in the International border areas of Assam while Rubel was in-charge of inducting leaders from Bangladesh into the JMBs Bengal unit, he said.

Jahidul and Kalams specific roles were yet to be ascertained though primary questioning revealed that the latter was assisting Surya in his job, Garg said.

Forged identity documents, white powdery substance weighing around two kilogrammes, one laptop, mobile phones, detonator, wire-cutters, batteries, Bangladeshi and Indian currencies, letters written in Bengali, travel guide, books on chemicals and memory cards for camera were seized from them, he said.

Asked whether they were planning to conduct any subversive activity, another STF official said, "Going by their activities, it seems that that was their agenda subsequently. They were intending to assemble at an unknown place to chalk out the blueprint of the possible attack. We are talking to them and trying to get the details of that." PTI SCH SUN CR TIR

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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A Yakima business that produces lollipops made with Yakima Valley hops is in the running for a spot in the Samuel Adams Brewi
YAKIMA  A 31-year-old Yakima man has been charged with motor-vehicle theft after police said he drove off with a high-end SUV from a South Fi
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Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung's stern warning was countered by the sanitation workers who threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, demanding regularisation and payment of arrears salary.

L-G Jung directed the MCD and the NDMC to take strict action against concessionaires responsible for cleaning dhalaos (garbage dumps).

By Mail Today Bureau: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung minced no words on Monday when he asked the civic bodies to clear the garbage dumps twice a day even as the Capital reels under the vector-borne diseases of chikungunya and dengue. However, his stern warning was countered by the sanitation workers who threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, demanding regularisation and payment of arrear salary.

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TOP LEVEL REVIEW

Holding a top-level review meeting with all the stakeholders, L-G Jung discussed the issues related to cleanliness in Delhi and measures to be taken to control the vector-borne diseases in the city. He also instructed the Delhi government to take action against private hospitals that deny admission to poor patients.

STRICT ACTION AGAINST POOR PERFORMANCE



Jung directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to take strict action against concessionaires responsible for cleaning dhalaos (garbage dumps) in case of poor performance. "All three municipal commissioners and chairman (NDMC) have been directed to ensure that dhalaos are cleared and cleaned twice a day, starting from Tuesday.

Each supervisor of dhalao must submit a written report of compliance of cleaning the dhalaos twice daily to the municipal commissioner," the LG's office said.

L-G Jung also directed all deputy commissioners (revenue) to step up efforts and prepare a daily roster of inspections to be personally monitored by them and their subdivisional magistrates and additional district magistrates. Daily reports of the visits undertaken are required to be submitted to the divisional commissioner with a copy to the Lt Governor's office.

NO POOR PATIENT IS TURNED AWAY

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior officers from concerned agencies, besides the Delhi health minister. All deputy commissioners were directed to visit private hospitals in their districts to ensure that EWS quota is followed strictly and no poor patient is turned away. Strict action should be initiated if private hospitals do not adhere to the EWS quota, the L-G's office said.

Officials of the NDMC and MCD briefed the Lieutenant Governor about the efforts made by the civic bodies to tackle the outbreak of vectorborne diseases. They told him that the number of chikungunya and dengue cases decreased in the last week.



SANITATION WORKERS DEMAND REGULARISATION, DUE PAYMENT



Meanwhile, the sanitation workers are demanding regularisation of sanitation workers and payment of their arrears along with other benefits. "This is our long-pending demand which is neither being addressed by the BJP which is in power in the MCD nor by the AAP government. We want regularisation of employees, cashless medical card and other benefits which others are getting.

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Our family members are cleaning up the drains and garbage of this city and getting infected but no one cares for us," Sanjay Gehlot, who is leading the umbrella body of sanitation workers unions, told Mail Today.

NO PROPER EQUIPMENT PROVIDED

He further alleged that no gumboots, mask or gloves are being provided to clean the mess of the city. "We understand the problems of city, but even we are left with no option. If our demands are not met we will stop dumping of garbage at landfill sites and even block the NH-24," Gehlot said.

Several sanitation workers under the South corporation has stopped collecting garbage and will organise protests from Tuesday.

"We are not going to collect the garbage till the time the government make contractual sanitation workers as permanent staff. We met SDMC mayor about the issue but he passed the buck on to the Delhi government. But, neither the BJP nor the Congress or the AAP did anything meet the demands of sanitation workers," Navin of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sanh said.

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Also Read: Kejriwal to LG: Reconsider scrapping appointment of DERC chief

Ink attack on Manish Sisodia outside L-G Najeeb Jung's house

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Yakima police Chief Dominic Rizzi Jr. said hes still interested in becoming Spokanes police chief regardless of bumps in the process that in
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Iraqi Kurdish journalist Widad Hussein Ali, 28, from the Roj News Agency, was abducted on the morning of August 13 and later beheaded by Kurdish security forces in the city of Dohuk in Iraqi Kurdistan. His body was found by a roadside. He had been tortured to death for publishing articles critical of Kurdish authorities. His abduction and beheading came after almost 12 months of interrogation by Kurdish police.

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Iranian blogger Mohammad Reza Fathi was sentenced to 444 lashes on June 9 because of articles posted on his blog about social affairs and civil rights. He was accused of "spreading lies" and "disturbing the public opinion."

Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassan was released on September 10, after serving 10 years in prison in Iran. Hassan had originally been sentenced to death for defending Kurdish rights for a now-closed local weekly newspaper, Asou. He was the longest serving journalist in an Iranian prison.

Arrest of journalists after Turkey coup attempt (Photo: AP)

Stories like these are not uncommon in the Middle East, an area where journalists often fear for their lives. Journalists are frequently threatened, harassed, arrested, charged, sued, imprisoned, and even beheaded for spreading information and voicing their opinions.

Middle Eastern governments, which are among the worlds most unstable and authoritarian, have gone to great lengths to censor and restrict the free flow of information to present a particular image and to maintain power, with the result being that free press barely exists in the region. Journalists often adhere to traditional forms of censorship as well as self-censorship out of fear.

In the past few years, however, the situation of the press in the Middle East has deteriorated even further.

Oman recently shut down the newspaper Azamn and arrested three of its journalists. Since surviving an attempted coup detat in July, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey shut down over 130 media outlets and arrested hundreds of journalists. Bahrain is holding an activist who faces up to 15 years in prison because of tweets he published last year. Jordan has banned media outlets from publishing anything about the royal family. Egypt imprisoned 24 journalists this year. Iran created a state-sponsored intranet to stop the flow of information into and out of the country.

The Middle East takes up about six percent of the surface of the earth. But in 2016 alone, 19 of the 37 journalists who were killed worldwide were murdered in the Middle East, according to Reporters Without Borders (RWB), a Paris-based NGO dedicated to defending press freedom worldwide.

We cant talk about free press because there is no free press in the region, Alexandra El Khazen, head of the RWB Middle East and North Africa desk, told The Media Line. Murder is the ultimate form of censorship. So, when a journalist is killed, which is really frequent, the right to information for the broader public is also in danger.

Up to the Turkish coup, there were 145 journalists imprisoned worldwide, 65 of them jailed in the Middle East. However, Punto 24, a Turkish non-profit organization dedicated to preserving editorial independence and press freedom in Turkey, has estimated that since the abortive coup, at least 200 journalists have been detained while some 2,308 journalists were fired.

Protest against attempts to silence the press in Turkey (Photo: AFP)

While in detention, many journalists are tortured and denied basic human rights.

This year, every Middle Eastern country, including Israel, has been ranked in the bottom half of the Press Freedom Index, compiled by RWB, with six countries ranked in the bottom 10 per cent.

Overall, its pretty abysmal. It is hard to find a diversity of opinions and editorial independence. There has never been a country in the Middle East that has had full freedom of the press, Issandr El Amrani, North Africa project director at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group told The Media Line.

Tunisia, ranked at 96; Lebanon, ranked at 98; and Israel, ranked at 101, are considered to have the freest press in the region. These countries, however, are still plagued by censorship, especially military and political censorship.

Most recently, Mudar Al Momani, a prominent Jordanian journalist who lives part of the time in Jerusalem, has been denied entry into Israel due to security concerns.

Nevertheless, media within Israel is considered to be free, enjoys the ability to scathingly criticize the government, all while the power of the military censor is steadily diminishing.

The more conservative countrieslike Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Statesand the more politically unstable oneslike Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Turkeyare usually the countries guilty of the most censorship and the tightest restrictions.

Journalism is feared by leaders trying to seek stability, the RWBs El Khazen added. The list of topics limited by the authorities is rather long and it keeps getting longer.

Bahrain, which is ranked 162 by Reporters Without Borders, is guilty of human rights abuses towards journalists. On July 31, Bahraini journalist Hassan Jassim Hasan Al-Hayki, 35, died after allegedly being tortured. Al-Hayki had been in custody for around a month before his death was announced. Several human rights organizations have called on the Bahraini government to investigate the circumstances of his death. According to Freedom House, another watchdog NGO promoting democracy, press in the Middle East and North Africa is 0 percent free.

Change over time?

The Middle East has consistently had the lowest rankings in terms of freedom of the press and information. In 2008, eight countries were ranked in the bottom 10 percent and 15 countries were in the bottom half of the RWB Press Freedom Index.

Throughout the Arab Spring uprisings beginning in 2010, press freedom significantly deteriorated because of the wave of mass protests in the Middle East, spurred by civilian dissatisfaction with governments, the economy and corruption.

The protests began in Tunisia in December 2010 and spread throughout most of the Middle East, with the largest protests in Egypt.

Since the Arab Spring, there has been a sweeping movement to repress journalists and the press in the region in almost all Arab countries except Tunisia, which seems to be moving towards allowing broader freedoms. Many other countrieslike Turkey and Syria and Egypthave fallen into political and social disarray as leaders have tightened media control and censorship in a bid to retain power.

The freedom of the press in the countries of the Arab SpringEgypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Tunis and Yemenbecame more restricted than before, Mahasen al Emam, director of the Arab Women Media Center in Jordan, told The Media Line.

While the Arab Spring called for overall reform, stability, and democracy, the outcome has been anything but.

The real result of the Arab Spring is more political turbulence and instability, El Khazen said. We have seen a global decline in freedom of information in the region because of the unstable regimes and unstable political and security environments.

Oman, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia are five examples of Middle Eastern areas notorious for tight control over freedom of expression and information in print and online media as well as through social media platforms.

Oman

Ranked 125 by RWB, Oman is a country where journalists are frequently imprisoned for criticizing the ruler and his family, Islam, or the political system.

Nabhan Al-Hanshi, an exiled Omani journalist now living in the UK, was arrested twice in Oman in 2011 and 2012 for demanding political reforms in in his country.

Al-Hanshi was arrested on June 8, 2012, and placed in solitary confinement for 54 days. He was sentenced by a court to serve 18 months in prison; however, after posting bail and paying a fine, he was released. He fled the country in December 2012.

Writing or being a human rights or political activist means only one thing in Oman: it means to be an enemy of the state, Al-Hanshi told The Media Line.

In Oman, it is very bad, I can say currently, its worse than before, Al-Hanshi said. In general, no one in Oman can write or publish anything against the regime or criticize Sultan Qaboos, who has absolute power.

The West Bank and Gaza Strip

The Palestinian territories of the West Bank, ruled by the Palestinian Authority, and the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, are notoriously harsh on journalists. Human Rights Watch, along with other international bodies, have condemned these governments for their actions.

A Palestinian journalist Ahmed (he asked that he remain anonymous) who has worked in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank, recalled a time he was beaten by Hamas in Gaza.

Palestinan journalists protest PA attacks (Photo: Reuters)

A few years ago, Ahmed and his team were covering a prayer celebration at a local mosque when he noticed Hamas officials beating a man who was praying.

Ahmed immediately began filming the incident. I was terrified that they would take the tape so I hid it and put in a new, blank tape, Ahmed told The Media Line. Then, two guys jumped on me and they beat me with a stick. I started screaming, people began gathering and the chief of police showed up and took the empty tape.

Egypt

Egypt, which is ranked 159right below Iraqout of 180 countries, is considered to be partly free. It has become an unpredictable place for journalists.

It is the worst time for journalists in Egypt. (Experts and journalists) feel that the regime is being more paranoid and more allergic to any kind of criticism of the regime, its politics or its decision-making. Freedom of expression or independence is shrinking. Journalists dont even know where the limits stand, El Khazen said.

A protest outside a Berlin court to release journalist wanted by Egypt (Photo: AP)

News outlets have been banned, both traditional and self-censorship are widely practiced, and Egypt has imprisoned a record number of journalists. Egypt is turning into a police state, according to El Khazen.

Egypt is a nightmare, Ahmed said. Ive been to Egypt a lot of times and there are a lot of restrictions because you could be arrested for no reason, just because you are a journalist.

Journalists imprisoned in Egypt (Photo: AP)

In the past, foreign journalists used to experience more freedom than local journalists; however, as the country continues to fight for stability, even international correspondents are not safe from the regime's iron fist.

Syria

Syria, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2011, is ranked at 177 out of 180 by RWB, making it the least free country in the Middle East. The country is divided between the government and rebel groups.

There is no freedom for anybody in Syria at the moment, Liz Sly, the Washington Post's Beirut bureau chief, told The Media Line.

Between kidnappings, murder, and arrests, both local and foreign journalists have fled Syria because it is far too dangerous to work. Most press coverage of the civil war comes from outside the war-torn country.

Foreign journalists have a much harder time covering Syria than local journalists do, according to Sly, who has been to Syria on a number of occasions on both the government and rebel sides.

On the regime side, (local) journalists are kept under a tight leash. Journalists who try to criticize the government have fled or been imprisoned and those who are left are pro-government people. On the rebel side, it is more chaotic and you see a greater degree of freedom of the press, Sly said.

(Syria) is a tomb for journalists, El Khazen added.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, ranked 165 by the Press Freedom Index, is infamous for its crackdowns on journalists and the media. However, unlike some other Middle Eastern countries, this is not a new phenomenon.

Its beyond not free, Adam Coogle, a Middle East Researcher at Human Rights Watch told The Media Line. There is no free press in Saudi Arabia. All press outlets are heavily censored. There is very little public debate and absolutely no criticism of religion, the king or the royal family and anything that is close to criticism is heavily censored, while the person who dared to do such a thing is arrested.

Journalists and human rights defenders are banned from travel and can be sued and risk being imprisoned for 10 years and condemned to arbitrary sentencing for any criticisms, El Khazen added.

According to Ahmed, when foreign journalists like himself travel to Saudi Arabia to cover a story, they are often accompanied by a government official who acts as a guard dog and deters ordinary citizens from being interviewed for fear of arrest.

Government control over the media has pushed citizens to use social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to voice their opinions and opposition.

The only space of freedom of expression can be found on social media and online but only to a certain extent, El Khazen said. People are not at ease criticizing in a free manner because once they become popular (on social media), they are targets of the regime and the regime can find any excuse to silence them.

As people moved to social media platforms in the past five years, the government has followed suit by monitoring and censoring the internet.

For journalists in the region, like Ahmed, there doesnt seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

The fear is not what you are doing now, but what will happen to you in the future, Ahmed said. I am trying to show everything that is happening in society but the government doesnt want this stuff showing up and my fear is being arrested for something Ive done that the people should know about.

International bodies and organizations, like RWB, have called on the United Nations Secretary General to appoint a journalist protector to defend the rights of journalists and to increase the spread of unbiased information.

Article written by student journalist Katie Beiter.
Jaow Loung, a loyal dog who had been waiting for the last one year by the road where she got separated from her owners, got killed in a car accident.

By India Today Web Desk: Jaow Loung, a three-year-old dog who got lost in Thailand last year, was a lot like the Hachiko. But her end was much sadder, and almost cruel.

Ever since she got separated from her owners, Loung spent her days waiting by the road where she got lost in Thailand's Chanthaburi province for the past 12 months. And as she did, she gradually became a local celebrity.

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But Loung's wait for her family came to tragic end when a passing car on the Sukhumvit Road hit and killed her.

Also read: Kerala politicians parade with dead dogs on a pole to protest against strays



Jaow Loung. Source: Facebook



The Bangkok Post reports that Loung was believed to have fallen from a vehicle last year near a village named Ban Nong Khon. After Loung started appearing on the busy highway over the following months, locals began to take notice of her.

Loung was mostly fed by the villagers, and emerged as a beloved celebrity.

After she was discovered to have died in a car accident last week, her story went viral on social media.

The Telegraph reports that a local dog-lovers' club plans to bury her in the Tha Mai district.



--- ENDS ---
With a tightly controlled state media, little access to outside information and a deeply instilled belief that whoever runs the White House is bound to be their sworn enemy, North Koreans aren't expecting much from the US presidential electionsif they know about them at all.

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Saying the name Donald Trump to most North Koreans will most likely elicite a blank stare. The same goes for Hillary, though some remember the name Clinton: Bill Clinton was, as US presidents go, a little more willing to engage with their country than most, though that was long, long ago and didn't last very long. President George W. Bush quickly rolled that back and declared North Korea part of the "axis of evil."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and Republican nominee Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters)

"I don't know about the US elections and I don't care," said Kim Un Byol, a 27-year-old office worker in Pyongyang. "As long as we have Marshal Kim Jong Un and nuclear weapons, we have nothing to worry about."

The outcome of the US elections in November could have major ramifications for North Koreaor maybe bring more of the same. It's far from clear how either presidential candidate intends to deal with Pyongyang, or how Pyongyang will deal with a new administration in Washington.

For the most part, the state-run media has been quiet on the topic.

Earlier this month, however, it lambasted the elections as a "hot money-squandering competition."

"Elections in the US are little short of tycoons' ceremonies of choosing their running dogs, utterly indifferent to the will and desire of the popular masses," KCNA, the stated-run news agency, reported on Sept. 3. "Only moguls fully enjoy free suffrage in the US Without money one can never become a successful politician in the US that openly asserts 'money fertilizes politics.'"

"Money is everything in the US society," it added, citing WikiLeaks as divulging that "Democrats got even the present chief executive involved in horse-trading with tycoons to collect more election funds from them."

"It is nonsensical to discuss genuine human rights and democracy in such a political climate of the US," it concluded.

In North Korea, there is no public debate over policy come election time. That is decided by the ruling Workers' Party and Kim Jong Un, who does nominally stand for elections to his seat in the national parliament but has never been challenged for his hereditary position as the country's supreme leader. Voters have only one choice on their ballots. They can choose either yes or novirtually no one votes no.

Going to the polls is expected of all eligible voters, and turnout rates are generally reported at around 99 percent. But while the elections are in political terms mostly a formality, along with being celebratory-style events, they have solid practical applications. Mustering the nation every so often is a chance for the authorities to hone their mobilization skills, check up on the efficiency of local leaders and get a snapshot of internal movements.

Kim, the Pyongyang office worker who spoke to The Associated Press on her lunch break recently, echoed the argument that the US elections are actually less democratic than the North's, "where the people love the leaders and the leaders love the people."

"In capitalist countries like the United States, they buy the presidency so they never take care of their people," she said. "Obama fusses a lot about human rights, but I heard about a lot of things like shootings and police killing black people. The U.S. should focus on its own humanitarian issues."

Pyongyang has been extremely critical of US President Barack Obama's ongoing policy of "strategic patience," which boils down to minimum engagement with North Korea, punitive measures in response to its nuclear tests and rocket or missile launches, and building up ties with allies in the region to put more pressure on North Korea to either back down or feel the economic pain of heightened sanctions and isolation from international markets.

While the Nort Korean media often slams Obama, it has not said much about the presidential campaign.

In June, while still the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Trump got some good press in North Korea for suggesting he would be willing to meet Kim Jong Un and was open to re-examining the deployment of and possibly withdrawing US troops from South Korea. One state-sanctioned news outlet juxtaposed the "wise" Trump with what it called "dull Hillary."

However, the column was attributed to a "China-based scholar," deflecting the notion that North Korea might officially support the comments.

In the meantime, Pyongyang is pushing ahead with its nuclear and missile programs, so whoever wins in November will likely have to deal with North Korea one way or anotherand North Korea isn't known for its generosity with olive branches.

"Obama is trying to force our system to collapse, but that's just a pipe dream," said Pang Hak Song, a 29-year-old student at Pyongyang Architectural University. "The US is our enemy and I don't want to even say that country's name. But if I had anything to say to the new president, it would be to give up their hostile policy toward our country if they ever want peace."
Cab fares in Israel are set to be reduced starting in October, following an order signed by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu). The order, which will reduce cab fare by 11 percent, was signed after a reduction of taxi drivers' expenses towards the state came into effect, and with reduced oil prices worldwide in mind.

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When the changes take effect, the starting price of a cab ride will stand at NIS 10.90 instead of NIS 12.30. In addition, an 11 percent reduction in cab meter fees will also take place by way of increased distances traveled before a payment threshold, as well as increased time increments when the cab is stopped.

Cab drivers opposed the price reduction. (Photo: Yaron Brener)

The price reduction order was a product of a inter-ministerial committee's recommendation. It was signed by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) first, and became official after Minister Kahlon's signature was also attached.

This will be the first reduction in taxi fares since the prices were raised in June 2013, following a rise in global oil prices. Since then, even though gas pricescab drivers' main expensehave gone down, fares have remained the same.

Cab drivers' associations fought against the forced reduction in prices, saying that drivers still have to contend with the rising costs of insurance and mechanical maintenance.
WASHINGTON -- The collapse of the latest Syria ceasefire has heightened the possibility that Gulf states might arm Syrian rebels with shoulder-fired missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian warplanes, US officials said on Monday.

Still, the US administration continues to maintain that negotiations are the only way to end the carnage after Russian-backed Syrian forces intensified their bombing of Aleppo, the last major urban area in rebel hands.
We are at the home of the Assayag family on Nahal Tekoa Street in the settlement of Nokdim. The owner, Jack, leads us to the lawn in the backyard to enjoy the desert view. It is indeed splendid.

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The Palestinian town of Teqoa is located on the southwest mountain range, and the Israeli Tekoa is to its eastern side, lower. Nokdim is separated from the opposite range by a deep wadi with a rocky mountain descending towards it on a steep slope. The desert on the east is the only thing it is open to, and it strives to reach it in a curvature created entirely by natural forces.

Elon Moreh. Green and red dots mark buildings on private land

Assayag built his stone-covered home on half a dunam of land. In January 2015, he was summoned by the community's secretary, Shmulik Leizerovich, for an urgent meeting at his office.

"When I arrived, Shmulik turned his computer screen towards me and showed me an aerial shot of the community with blue markings. 'Look here.' he told me, 'This is your home. The new blue line leaves it outside, beyond the community's legal line. Only the grass in the back remains inside.' The new line has created a complete mess here. In the home of my neighbors, the Gali family, the new line ate into the children's room, and in the Boxer family's home to my left it removed part of the storeroom."

Beit El

The community was established in 1982 and is situated in eastern Gush Etzion, at the foot of Herodium ("Herod's Palace"). Leizerovich, the secretary, says the state invested millions of shekels in the community's infrastructure of water, sewage, electricity, roads and pavements.

"It was all based on zoning and legal permits," he says. "All the houses were built on land that the state itself defined as its own. Suddenly the new blue line, which basically fixes the community's limits, says there are houses here which are beyond the line of state lands. In other words, that the land is private. The new line eats into the yard of (Defense Minister) Avigdor Lieberman's mother, who used to live in the house adjacent to his. The Yitzhak family's home was completely removed by the line. The line basically reduced our community by 11 houses."

Beit Hagai

A mapping project, which is being published here for the first time, based on the maps and database of the Civil Administration in the Judea and Samaria Division, demonstrates how the land ownership issue is eating into dozens of settlements, even the largest and oldest ones.

Aerial shots of the settlements have been marked with green dots in each community indicating permanent buildings, and red dots indicating mobile homes. All the dots have one common denominator: They are all located on lands which are not state lands, but are considered private lands. This fact makes these buildings illegal.

Har Bracha

While US President Barack Obama declared last week at the United Nations that Israel "cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land," a look at these maps reveals just how complicated the situation on the ground really is  both legally and practically, as well as from a human point of view: Just like the 11 homes in Nokdim, where the defense minister lives, there are more than 2,500 housing units, residential buildings and commercial buildings which have been subtracted in recent years by the Civil Administration from the defined area of state lands in Judea and Samaria, or were not within the communities' blue line and were built on private land to begin with.

With of the upcoming eviction of the Amona outpost in about three months, all of the buildings are facing a state of uncertainty.

Yitzhar

Those whose houses were removed outside the boundaries of state lands or were never included in them are mainly afraid of High Court petitions by left-wing legal organizations which help the Palestinians. In this case, it's not a few dozen families in an outpost, but about a much higher number than the number of families that were evicted from Gush Katif in the disengagement from Gaza in 2005.

"There will be many more Elon Morehs," late Prime Minister Menachem Begin declared on his first visit to the settlement of Elon Moreh. Now it turns out that there may definitely be many more Amonas are well.

Kochav Yaakov

A statutory mess

It's a complicated story requiring an understanding of the background of the establishment of settlements in the territories occupied in 1967. Until 1979, West Bank settlements were built for security purposes in order to control Palestinian communities and routes, even if the lands they were built on were private. The establishment of Elon Moreh at the entrance to Nablus on private lands belonging to Palestinians from the village of Rujeib led to a High Court ruling ordering the eviction of settlers from the area.

As a result, the Begin government decided that from that point onwards settlements would only be built on lands declared state lands  in other words, lands with no ownership claim or ownership registration. Attorney Plia Albeck, who served as head of the Civil Division at the Justice Ministry at the time, was tasked with marking the state lands.

Michmash

Albeck traveled around the West Bank with maps and defined with a thick black marker areas which were untilled and had no Palestinian community on them. All the lands included within the lines marked by Albeck and her team were then declared state lands. The process lasted many years, until the early 1990s, when the Oslo Agreements were signed. The settlements established on the state lands were defined with a blue line and all the area within the communities' blue lines was meant to be state lands.

In the late 1990s, the Civil Administration appointed a team to present a more accurate picture of the state land declarations provided by Albeck. As technology became more and more sophisticated, the work of the Blue Line Team, as it became known, became more and more accurate. Albeck used a black marker pen on a 1:100,000 map, and the pen's thickness itself took away Palestinian lands in many places. Blue Line Team uses mapping systems based on satellites and aerial shots from the 1970s and 1980s. Any evidence of land tilling automatically turns it into private land.

On the one hand, the team's work marked extensive areas around the settlements as state lands and added them to the settlement enterprise, but on the other hand, in many places the new blue line took away lands which already had homes built on them. In fact, this marking made many neighborhoods and homes in the West Bank illegal.

In March 2016, the Blue Line Team finished drawing the line for Eli. The team's work added 596 dunams (about 147 acres) to the settlements, "all in areas attached to the community, rocky grounds with nothing on them," says Ido Meushar, chairman of the community's committee. At the same time, the new line subtracted 590 dunams from Eli, "and most of that area includes inhabited houses which were built by the state."

Ma'ale Amos

Eli's establishment is backed by a government decision from April 1984. The 2,781 dunams the settlement is situated on were recognized as state lands. But like what happened in several locations, modern technology created a new order.

"We have 190 houses outside the blue line, entire streets," says Meushar. "Harakefet, Halilach and Hanurit Streets were all built by the state, and some of the houses there remain outside the line, meaning that the land they were built on is allegedly private, according to the Civil Administration. So on the one hand, the state invested millions of public funds in the massive development of water and sewage infrastructures, roads, electricity, communication, public buildings and educational institutions, and on the other hand an arm of the state is now saying, 'Excuse me, some of the lands we built on are not exactly state lands. We suspect there was plowing or sowing there, some kinds of tilling.'

"This isn't Amona. There are 4,000 people living here. The GOC signed an order approving the community's establishment. This isn't a community of settlers with windproof jackets and Uzi submachine guns who decided to climb up the hill one day. All activities of the government's ministries in Eli are documented in writing. In the Neveh Shir neighborhood, for example, 34 homes were approved and built by the Housing Ministry. They are all beyond the blue line now."

"There are 11 High Court petitions against us because of this statutory mess. Throughout the years, the state did not swallow the settlements in Judea and Samaria and did not throw them up. On the one hand, it invested, funded, encouraged people to come live here, and on the other hand it did not put a final legal seal on this place."

But the blue line is subject to interpretation too, depending on which side of the board one is located. "The numbers you have about Eli are inaccurate, to say the least," says Attorney Shlomi Zecharia of the Yesh Din organization, who filed some of the pending High Court petitions against the community. According to Zecharia, the Blue Line Team added some 60 housing units to Eli and subtracted only about 10. The rest of the homes which were located outside the blue line to begin with were not included in the community  in other words, they were built on private lands.

"the Blue Line Team's goal is to bypass the procedures of announcing state lands and evade the diplomatic repercussions," says Zecharia. "We filed a High Court petition attacking the legality of the team's work in all cases in which it added lands to settlements about two years ago. This petition is still pending."

Pnei Hever

Ovad Arad, director of field operations at the Regavim movement, which is affiliated with the Israeli Right and monitors and documents illegal Arab activity on state lands, says the number 190 is completely solid. "Thirty-eight houses which were on state lands have been redacted beyond Eli's new blue line, including 31 homes that were built with state funding and seven in which the state funded the infrastructure. These homes join 152 houses which were built beyond the blue line by the state."

'How did they let us buy houses on private land?'

From Eli we traveled to Ofra, where we found a very nervous Shuki Moriah. He is 52 years old, owns a dry cleaning company, and bought a 200-square-meter home 16 years ago on half a dunam. He purchased the home from the community's cooperative society, which initiated the construction with the Amana company.

"At the time I had returned from a long stay in the United States and did not know about the Land Registry Bureau. I understood one thing at the time, that it was all fix, all glatt kosher. About a year ago, I heard people talking about a High Court ruling on the demolition of nine houses in the community. Those nine houses are my neighbors, a few minutes' walk from me. I began asking questions and realized that my house was not better off than those nine houses. I suddenly discovered that there was a demolition order against my house too, an order I never knew about and no one informed me of."

Ofra is an example of a community which was built on expropriated private land. The land was expropriated by the Jordanians in order to build a military base on the territory. Ofra's establishment was essentially based on the Jordanian expropriation. In the past year, Palestinians have raised ownership claims over the lands the Ofra founders' neighborhood was built on, in the heart of the community. A Civil Administration examination showed that the Jordanian expropriation procedures were not done properly. Now, the future of 45 dunams, which dozens of homes have been built on, is unclear. Ofra is in general an odd story: Seven hundred houses have been built in the community, and 530 of them are situated on private land.

Neve Daniel

According to Moriah, in his neighborhood alone there are some 100 houses with demolition orders against them.

"Let's assume I want to sell my house today. I can't. No one will buy it because the bank won't give them a mortgage. No bank will give a mortgage for a house on land that belongs to someone else. Today I realize that the banks did not know the truth about the land ownership either. Imagine how many such houses there are in all the communities in Judea and Samaria. How many mortgaged houses are on private lands? Dozens? Hundreds? Let's assume that some of the people are unable to keep paying the mortgage payments. Can the bank use the property?

"I'm telling you that these houses have lost most of their value. I wanted to take a loan to expand my business. I went to the bank. They asked me if I had a property to mortgage. I said, 'Of course, I have a great house.' They checked where, what, who, and laughed at me. They said, 'You house isn't worth a penny.'

"I'm telling you, people are living in a dream world. They don't understand that we're stuck in the mud. We have nothing in our hands. We bought houses with all our money and were left with air. I was sold a house that stands on air, and I paid all the mortgage payments. All my neighbors are walking with their heads in the ground, ashamed that we were fooled. They cheated us just like that, without even blinking!"

Who cheated you?

"Everyone. (Ariel) Sharon, (Yitzhak) Rabin, (Shimon) Peres, Zambish (Ze'ev Hever, secretary general of the Yesha Council's Amana company and one of the most influential figures in settlement construction), the Israeli government, whoever approved this thing. They said, sign here, sign there, but hid the truth from us. How did they let us buy houses on private land? This isn't mine. I'm not ashamed to say it, the whole business here is built on nonsense. Either they arrange this or move us out of here."

Susya

Like pawns on a chessboard

The key word right now is regulation. That's what Amona's residents, who are slated to be evicted this coming winter, want. It's what the rest of the property owners in the settlements, whose houses were subtracted from the state lands or were never on them, want too. They are afraid of a domino effect. Amona will be evicted in December, the nine houses in Ofra will be demolished two months later, and the Netiv Ha'avot outpost in Gush Etzion is scheduled to be evicted and razed in a year and a half, according to a High Court ruling. The big question is - which community or neighborhood will join this list.

Eli

Attorney Doron Nir-Zvi refers to this situation using the terms of a second disengagement with a legal engine. "These are the numbers," he says. "It doesnt take too much imagination to understand what we've got here. So it's an issue that must be resolved through legislation.

"There is a dispute among us, in the settler public. The old guard believes we must continue working with the Civil Administration and the other government authorities, and build another community instead of Amona with the old pragmatism. People from my generation, on the other hand, are saying that they must stop putting out fires and using people like pawns on a chessboard, moving families with children from place to place because of mistakes made by the state. We are saying that the entire issue must be solved from its roots and all the settlements considered illegal must be regulated under the law."

The need for regulation presented by the settlers is backed by a ruling from the state's response to the High Court in the Amona case, which reveals the great fear of the future and the magnitude of the mess created by the settlement construction.

Under the headline, "Across-the-board ramifications," on the decision to evacuate the outpost, the state wrote: "The ramifications of the decision to evacuate all the buildings located on private lands even without a specific petitioner may exceed the boundaries of this petition. There are thousands of additional buildings on private lands across Judea and Samaria due to different combinations of circumstances, including thousands of buildings located in recognized and regulated communities which have existed for decades."

Otniel

This is a critical decisive point which everyone understands. The settlers are asking the state to contain the settlements in the territories in practice, through a legislative procedure. Attorney Avichai Boaron, head of the Amon resident's action committee, points an accusing finger at the state's leadership.

"(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is terrorizing the political system, saying that the international community will eat him up alive if the 'Amona Law' passes. We are saying that the prime minister, Lieberman, (Bayit Yehudi Ministers Naftali) Bennett and (Ayelet) Shaked must enter a controlled conflict with the international community in favor of the agenda they were elected for. If they are in the political right, they must lead an agenda of a political right.

"The settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria is suffering from a malignant disease. The metastases have spread all over the body. The entire legal infrastructure of the settlements has been fundamentally undermined. This disease breaks out in a different community each time. Once it's at Givat Haulpana in Beit El and once it's at Migron and today it's in Amona and tomorrow in Ofra, and later on in dozens of places with an illegal status.

"And the political echelon, which was elected with the national camp's votes, is afraid to deal with the actual disease. It prefers to cut off organs where the disease has broken out. To move communities, ruin neighborhoods, evacuate citizens from houses they have lived in for decades  just so they dont have to deal with it. It's time for the government, which is allegedly the most right-wing and national government possible, to be brave and regulate the communities built by the state through legislation. Even the international community will eventually understand that thousands of families cannot be transferred."

Is it a lost cause in Amona's case?

"Of course not. We definitely expect the government and its leader to regulate Amona through legislation. If they decide to evacuate us after all, we will launch the battle of our life over our home. We are certain that we will be joined here by tens of thousands of people who believe in us and in our way and won't accept the injustice and the distortion that have been created. There will be a popular and justified protest here, which says that legal complexities must be solved with legal tools and through legislation, without ruining people's lives. Enough is enough."

Ofra

These emotional comments are rejected by Attorney Michael Sfard, who is responsible for many High Court petitions against the illegal construction in the settlements. According to Sfard, the Amona Law is in fact an illegal expropriation of lands.

It will lead to a huge international crisis. In any normal country there are defined, clear rules for expropriation. Expropriation is always for public purposes. You dont expropriate from one person in order to give to another person. That is simply robbery, disinheritance.

Expropriation in an occupied territory is possible under international law only for the occupied publics needs. If the state would decide to renovate the road between Ramallah and Nablus in favor of the Palestinians, it would be able to expropriated lands in order to build the road. Thats legal. Expropriation in favor of settlement construction is illegal. The last thing Israel has left is the appearance of a civilized state. Netanyahu understands how dramatic this is for Israel.

The response to this story is just another small example of the size of this mess and the fact that there is no one to take responsibility for this situation. When we turned to the spokesperson of the coordinator of the governments activities in the territories, requesting an explanation for the chain of events, we were told that the Military Advocate General deals with this issues and were referred to the IDF Spokespersons Office, which took a few days to get back to us with the following answer: Its not us, its the Civil Administration.

In any event, we were told both by the IDF Spokespersons Office and by the spokesperson of the coordinator of the governments activities in the territories, this is a political and diplomatic issue.
RAMALLAH  Facebook apologized Monday after temporarily disabling accounts linked to two Palestinian news sites critical of Israel, a move that drew concern over potential online censorship.

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Facebook pages of a number of editors of Quds News Network were suspended for several hours last Friday, a campaigner said, in what the social media giant later called a "mistake".

Pages linked to the Shehab News Agency were also disabled, an editor there said.

(Photo: Guy Levi)

Quds has 5.2 million likes on Facebook, while Shehab has 6.35 million.

"The pages were removed in error and restored as soon as we were able to investigate," Facebook said in a statement.

"Our team processes millions of reports each week, and we sometimes get things wrong. We're very sorry about this mistake."

The US-based company did not respond to a request for more details on what prompted the closures.

Israel has been in discussions with Facebook to stop what it calls online incitement, including at a meeting of top officials earlier this month.

The country's justice and public security ministers are also seeking legislation banning the use of Facebook to advance "terror" and outlawing incitement from the Internet.

Israeli authorities say such incitement is a main cause of a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks over the past year.

Palestinians say they fear the Israeli campaign will lead to censorship of legitimate information and suspect last week's closures were linked to it.

Activists called on Palestinians to boycott Facebook activity for two hours on Sunday in protest. The hashtag #FBCensorsPalestine was also being used on Twitter.

"We fear that Facebook will assist the occupation and close the only space for free expression for the Palestinians," said Iyad al-Rifai, spokesman for a campaign against such closures.

Hussam al-Zaygh, managing editor at the Gaza-based Shehab, called the closures "a political decision dictated by the Israelis".

"It is our right as Palestinian journalists to make our voice heard," he said.

Israeli and American victims of Palestinian attacks filed a $1-billion lawsuit against Facebook in July over allegations it was used by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas to organise violence.
A federal judge in New York scolded Facebook Thursday night and said the social media giant has not done enough to discourage terrorists from using its platform.

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The comments were made in the New York District Court during a hearing on a class-action lawsuit filed against Facebook on behalf of 20,000 Israelis for incitement and encouraging violence. The plaintiffs sought to prove that Facebook doesnt implement the same measures against blatant incitement against Israelis, while allowing Palestinians to continue with inflammatory statements unabatedly.

Facebook incitement

During the hearing, Judge Nicholas Garaufis accused Facebook of not taking global terrorism and the killing of innocent people seriously enough. The judge also harshly criticized Facebook for sending an associate to the hearing, saying, "I think it's shocking, irresponsible and insulting." The judge ordered Facebook to send a more senior attorney to the hearing scheduled for the 28th of September, saying, "I want to talk to someone who can speak with the senior management of Facebook."

The judge is currently involved in two different suits against Facebook that were filed by civil rights organization Shurat HaDin  the Israel Law Center. One is a class action lawsuit against Facebook and the other is a damages claim of a $1 billion against Facebook. The judge said that despite these claims being problematic, as American law exempts content published by individuals from liability, it does not mean Facebook doesn't need to take the issue seriously.

"Let's put the law aside and talk about reality," said the judge. "Less than a week ago a bomb exploded in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan and wounded 29 people, and the reality is that these people were communicating via social media, whether it be Facebook or Google, and as a result of that communication, there is a potentially dangerous situation that can cause damage in terms of international terrorism."

Garaufis admitted that federal judges have limited abilities to deal with terrorism and can't always be involved with such cases until someone is arrested and charged with a crime, but that doesn't mean that "Facebook shouldn't be socially responsible for world citizens."

The judge went on to ask if there are other ways to find a solution to this complicated reality without involving the courts or the legal system.

Facebook said in response, "Facebook is obligated to make people feel safe using our social network. Our community standards are clearthere is no place on Facebook for groups or content engaged in terrorist activity or express support for such activities. We are working all the time to remove this content when it is reported to us. We sympathize with the victims of these terrible crimes. "

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, chairman of Shurat HaDin, added, "Facebook is beginning to understand that they can no longer ignore the reality in which incitement to terrorism on their pages leads to people being murdered in the street. Facebook needed to get a reprimand from the judge in order to start to take this phenomenon seriously. We will continue to act to stop this incitement in social media. Social media must be socially responsible."
Youve been given a chance? Grab it with both hands and come deliver the address of your life in a special Knesset session in Jerusalem. The floor will be yours, Mahmoud Abbas . You'll be the star. The eyes of the whole world, as they say, will all be directed at you. Find the courage, bring the text and say exactly what it is that you want to saywhat you're suggesting, how we move forward.

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Even if your loyal spokesman, Ahmad Tibi, did a good job describing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus invitation at the United Nations General Assembly last week as a theatrical gesture rather than a real diplomatic initiative, an invitation is an invitation.

Come tear the mask off Netanyahus face. After the cameras took pictures, the microphones broadcast, and almost every media outlet quoted Netanyahu calling on you you (I have no partner) to come to us, take him up on his word. "I," Netanyahu pledged, "am willing to come and speak at the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah." Dont worry, Abbas, Netanyahu wont show up. He has no intention of coming, and the Shin Bet wont let him.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas address the UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP)

Netanyahus speech, even his rivals agree, was polished. Much more so than your delusional call on the British government to apologize for the Balfour Declaration. Why are you clinging to the Balfour Declaration? It might be your age or it might be your advisors who have made you forget the Arab refusal to recognize the Partition Plan.

Notice how Netanyahu makes sure to look forward, while you insist on settling an account with the past. Bibi knows how to sell the two-state dream. And you talk about peace, but sound like someone who doesnt really recognize the State of Israels right to exist.

Its not too late. Try to imagine what would happen if one of your senior assistants called Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and announced, "The president of the Palestinian Authority is coming to address the Knesset." We know the excuse: You are afraid to come out empty-handed, youre guessing Bibi will trick you, you are afraid of the response from the Palestinian public. You also remember what happened to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

Ill agree with you that Netanyahu didn't really mean itthat he missed out on an acting career, as Tibi put it. Lets also agree that he would not have called on you to come to the Knesset if he didn't know for certain that you wouldn't come. So what? Surprise him. Play a counter-trick on him. Prepare an ardent speech, present the Palestinian red lines and come talk to your people and to us over his head.

Its easy to sit with your people and complain about Netanyahu. Say it to his face. Talk about the division of Jerusalem, suggest a logical solution for the settlements, talk about economic collaborations and about stopping the incitement to terror. To tell you the truth, it doesnt matter what you say. Your presence will kick off a movement.

Go out on our street. Ask for a meeting with students. Prove to them that you are living in the present and are not settling a score with that which didnt happen. The missed opportunities are not just on our side. Remember that the wider world is no longer interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No one will volunteer to sink in a quagmire of endless arguments. We've already been there. Ask Saed Erekat.

We're busy working to prevent the next conflict with Hamas. You know as well as we do that the next fight will be much more violent than Operation Protective Edge and will have dangerous repercussions on your territory as well. Dont rely on us. Just as you're insisting on waiting for the next president in Washington, there are people here who are already marking the next president to take your seat in Ramallah.
Copenhagen - Four young Danes who were tried for "complicity in a terrorist act" for the attack on a Danish synagogue in February 2015 in which one Jew was killed were acquitted on Tuesday.

The four men were the acquantainces of the attack's sole perpetrator, 22-year-old Omar El-Hussein, a Dane of Palestinian origin who had pledged allegiance to ISIS and who was killed by police a few hours after the attack.
In his last address to the United Nations General Assembly as president of the United States, Barack Obama mentioned Syria in a few sentences, almost incidentally. When it comes to Syria, he really has nothing to be proud of. Only to be ashamed, to be sorry, to apologize.

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He is ending his presidency with plenty of achievements in his countrys social-economic policy and plenty of failures in its foreign policy, especially the policy towards the Arab and Muslim world. Syria , or what is left of it, serves as ultimate proof of that.

US President Barack Obama addresses the UN General Assembly for the last time (Photo: AP)

Obama cannot be accused of being a pacifist, a seeker of peace at all costs, who is therefore not trigger-happy. He is trigger-happy: The number of targeted assassinations he approved in recent years far outweighs the assassinations approved by his predecessors. But they launched wars. He didnt.

Obama chose the diplomatic way in every decision. Not just because he did not want to shed the blood of his countrys soldiers far from its borders and for the sake of goals he did not view as serving the national interest  although these reasons did play a part too. His decision came from the depths of his worldview and not from cost-benefit calculations. Obama is a political realist, and basically prefers a diplomatic solution over a military one and a fair compromise over a violent conflict. These are commendable leadership qualities. But in todays torn world, the real politics approach does not work.

Obamas decisions to take the military option off the negotiating table with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Syrian President Bashar Assad stemmed from that same positive and rationalistic worldview, which believes that political and economic pressure is capable of forcing the tyrant regimes hands and, moreover, that these regimes will keep their promises, despite their criminal nature.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens, tens of thousands of Afghans and tens of thousands of Iraqis were sacrificed, unknowingly and with good intent, for the sake of the sincere desire to talk to the evil regimes, precisely in order to prevent those unnecessary victims. Its a shame the bad guys failed to understand Obamas rules, internalize them and play by them.

Whether the agreement with Iran survives or collapses soon due to internal disputes in Tehran, appeasement in the global arena in general  and in the Middle Eastern arena in particular, critically damaged Obamas legacy. His apparent frustration, which is apparent in his recent appearances and interviews, is understandable when one goes back to his new beginning speech at Cairo University in June 2009.

Death and destruction in Aleppo; Obama's foreign policy legacy (Photo: AFP)

In Jerusalem, that speech was interpreted as an act of flattery to the Arab audience, but the truth is it was the first time Obama presented his vision for a democratic, liberal, competitive, thriving and developing Middle East which recognized the Jewish peoples right to a Jewish state based on the 1967 borders.

None of that happened in reality. The opposite happened. In the seven years that have passed since his Cairo speech, the march of progress in the Muslim world has not hit the road. Obamas US did not initiate it and did not lead, and sometimes even blocked its buds which wilted from their very beginning. To be fair, it should be mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin  a big bully equipped with an aggressive, military worldview  has no impressive achievements in our region either. Assad is pulling him by the nose too.

Nonetheless, Obama settled for words although he knew that shedding words does not stop bloodshed. In his foreign policy, he preferred to ignore Winston Churchills historical warning against a slippery slope in the negotiations he was offered with the Nazis in June 1940. Signing contracts and agreements with fanatics and murderous dictators, Churchill asserted, gives them legitimacy which they will use, among other things, to renounce actual agreements.

Obama suffered another miserable defeat in the way he handled the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two peoples are now further away from a dialogue than they were during the terrible days of the second intifada. Add to that the disgrace in Syria, Afghanistans collapse, Iraqs disintegration, al-Qaedas recovery, Turkeys audacity, Africas surrender, and the masses of ISIS soldiers  and youll get all the reasons why two-thirds of Americans define their presidents foreign policy as a failure in most areas, and especially in the area around us and within us.
ANKARA -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that cooperating with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in a potential offensive to retake the Islamic State-controlled city of Raqqa would endanger the future of Syria.

Turkey views the YPG, which has enjoyed US backing in the fight against Islamic State in northern Syria, as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil.
BJP leader and Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has justified the diatribe by the MNS against Pakistani artistes in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Amid the controversy over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's tirade against Pakistani artistes, the party received an unexpected support from the BJP. Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has justified the diatribe by the MNS against Pakistani artistes in the wake of the Uri terror attack. On Tuesday afternoon, MNS workers had staged a protest against director Karan Johar for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his upcoming film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'.

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MOOD OF NATION AGAINST PAKISTAN



Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mungantiwar said,"In the wake of the Uri attacks, every Indian is seething with anger. The mood of the nation is against Pakistan. Every party has a right to protest in democracy. In such a scenario, it is not wrong to protest against Pakistan or anyone supporting Pakistan."

Also read: Fawad Khan HASN'T left India because of MNS, he left long ago



The statement by Mungantiwar has raised many eyebrows as general opinion over MNS' agitation against Pakistani artists is divided. "We welcome Sudhir Mungantiwar's statement. But the party should not stop at just that. They are in power both at the Centre and in the state. They should now issue orders asking Pakistani artistes to quit India and further strengthen our stand", said Amey Khopkar, president of the MNS's film wing, Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Kamgar Sena.

MNS ISSUES ULTIMATUM



Around 100 party workers of the MNS staged protests at Karan Johar's office. The MNS had earlier given a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artists and actors to leave India or "be pushed out".

Also read: Karan Johar: Banning talent and artistes not a solution



--- ENDS ---
PESHAWAR -- Pakistan's military says it has arrested seven militants accused of carrying out attacks on a Christian colony and a court house in which 13 people were killed.

Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said Tuesday the army had broken the militant network responsible for the Sept. 2 attacks.

He says the attacks were planned from Afghanistan, and that Pakistan has informed Kabul.
If you havent decided what to do on the holidays and youre looking for a unique challenge, how about crawling through mud and swimming through ice? Legion Run, the international extreme obstacle course, is coming to Israel for only one day on October 14, at the Manara Cliff.

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25 tons of ice, 200 km of cables and dozens of containers full of equipment weighing 200 tons will land in Israel straight from Paris. According to organizers, NIS 3 million have been invested in the event.

Legion Run

The extreme obstacle course is 5km long and includes more than 30 obstacles of mud, fire, ice and wire designed to challenge the participants. In addition, there are also several headlining obstacles such as the Collosus  a smooth, concave wall 7.5 meters high that participants have to climb without a rope, the Coliseum  crushing a car, the Censura  jumping from wooden beams to different platforms and the Barbarian  crawling under a wet net in a muddy maze.

The Collosus

Additionally, there are swimming obstacles involving ice blocks and muddy water in which participants need to swim through and climb out that are designed to push participants to their physical and mental limits.

The Legion Run is a team sport whose object is to conquer the course together and is geared toward companies, families, friends from army units or people choosing to compete alone. The track is open to anyone over the age of 16, whether they are physically fit or not. The oldest person to compete in the event until now was 87 years old.

Those who book tickets early only pay NIS 184, while those who pay at the event will pay NIS 300.
Turkey's foreign minister says the international coalition needs a strategy to defeat the Islamic State group without the involvement of Kurdish rebels, which Turkey deems a terrorist group.

In a televized news conference Tuesday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said Syrian Kurdish militia cannot be partners in clearing the Islamic State group from Iraq and Syria.

Cavusoglu says the Syrian Kurdish militia forces inclusion in an operation to liberate Raqqa from the Islamic State group would endanger Syria's future.

He says more than 200 Syrian Kurdish fighters remain in the city of Manbij, despite promises by U.S. leaders that they would withdraw east of the Euphrates. He asks, "if you cannot send more than 200 of them back, how will you trust them in other places?"

He was speaking at a joint news conference with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in Ankara
Gil and Aviva Sissai from Gan Yavne have decided to name their newborn son Elor, after Sgt. Elor Azaria, who is facing manslaughter charges after shooting dead a seriously wounded terrorist in Hebron.

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"During the pregnancy, I was already thinking about how I wanted to name my son Elor," the new father said.

Baby Elor Sissai

"That entire time I've been thinking about what Elor is going through, his family and all of the wrongs done to them," Gil continued. "A child went to protect the country, and they're ruining his family and his life."





Sgt. Elor Azaria (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"Everyone loved the name," the father added. "The synagogue was packed with people and they all shook my hand."

Sissai also had words of support for Azaria: "After the trial ends and he comes out innocent, I invite him to our home to visit little Elor. To me, he's a hero and I admire him."
The former commander of the Gaza Division, Brig. Gen. (res.) Shmuel Zakai, asserted on Tuesday that Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot dead a seriously wounded terrorist , did not shoot with the intention of killing.

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"In my lifetime, I've seen people who shot to kill, with the intention of killing, and fortunately all of these people were not IDF soldiers," Zakai said. "And I've seen shooting to remove a threatit's not the same as a person who shoots to kill with the intention of killing. Those who want to kill shoot to the center of mass and shoot more than one bullet."

He went on to say that "You can see in the video that the soldier is looking at the terrorist, cocks his weapon carefully, fires only one bullet to the head and immediately withdraws back. This is worth more than a thousand witnesses."

Brig. Gen. (res.) Shmuel Zakai shaking Azaria's hand in court (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"The way Azaria is documented in the videos shooting the terrorist, it was clear to me that he was in danger," the former IDF officer added.

Zakai clarified that "shooting without cause, just to kill, is wrong, and I oppose this most emphatically. When the defendant claimed he shot the terrorist because he thought he was carrying an explosive on his personthen that is a reasonable reason under the circumstances to open fire."

He also stressed that he "understands the difference between concern there is a bomb and the certain identification of an explosive," adding "in my opinion, I assume (Azaria) was afraid of a bomb."

B'Tselem video of the shooting (:   .   )

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Zakai criticized Azaria's company commander, Maj. Tom Na'aman . "My feeling is that had the company commander properly clarified the rules of engagement, this incident would have been avoided," he said.

Zakai explained that in some operational situations, orders are given that alter the rules of engagement, such as when opening fire would put IDF soldiers at risk. "The company commander, who by his own testimony has conducted many such operations, did not give that order and left the soldier with the previous and unclear rules of engagement," he elaborated.

The former Gaza Division commander did not spare his rod from Azaria's former brigade commander, Col. Yariv Ben-Ezra , either, criticizing the orders he gave his soldiers.

At the end of his testimony, Zakai walked up to Azaria, shook the soldier's hand, and told him: "You acted according to procedures, I believe in your innocence."

Psychiatrist: 'I didn't identify PTSD in Azaria'

After Zakai, psychiatrist Prof. Mark Weiser, who met with Azaria after the incident to assess his mental state, took the stand.

Prof. Weiser clarified that he did not hear testimonies from other soldiers regarding Azaria's mental state after the shooting and that his assessment of the defendant was based solely on their meeting.

During that meeting, Azaria told the psychiatrist that he did not trust his opinion, accusing Prof. Weiser of cooperating with the prosecution in an attempt to convict him at any cost. The soldier also claimed the psychiatrist laughed at him.

Sgt. Azaria and his mother Oshra at court (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Weiser responded to this at court, saying "I told him I wasn't trying to trip him and that I had no interest in acting against him. I didn't laugh at the defendant. I might have smiled at him when he said I wanted to harm him, because I saw this as something that I considered a bit humoristic."

Azaria's attorneys have claimed that the soldier was suffering from trouble sleeping before the attack, and that he arrived at the scene of the incident exhausted.

"According to my assessment, this wasn't the kind of sleep deprivation that might have affected the defendant's behavior," the psychiatrist said. "There is no explanation relating to hours of sleep, cognitive issues or confusion that could explain the defendant's behavior, in my opinion."

He went on to say that the "post traumatic symptoms I identified in Azaria did not justify a diagnosis. It was not my impression that the defendant was suffering from PTSD. He told me the company commander asked him to gather up the brain of the man he shot, and I didn't get the impression this was a particularly special and important incident, that is why I didn't detail it (before)."

Azaria's lawyer, Eyal Besserglick, said at the court hearing on Tuesday that the defense was open to mediation, something the military prosecutor is against.
NAIROBI- Riot police fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse Kenyan university students protesting over road safety.

Multi Media University students Tuesday protested the death of one of their colleagues in an accident over the weekend when a minibus taxi overturned. The taxis, called matatus, are Nairobi's main source of public transportation. About 100 students accused the matatu drivers of reckless driving which they allege is not stopped by police.

Nairobi police chief Japheth Koome said two students, two police officers and two guards sustained injuries in the melee.
BRUSSELS- European Union nations pressed ahead Tuesday with plans to boost military cooperation as Britain vowed to oppose the creation of an EU army or headquarters.

With Britain leaving the EU, France and Germany have been spearheading moves to boost Europe's capacity to run its own security operations.

Britain insists the NATO military alliance is the only forum for European security, and London has routinely blocked deeper EU cooperation in the past.

"We're going to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters, which would simply undermine NATO," British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said at EU defense talks in Slovakia Tuesday.
Government ministers, Knesset members and a variety of right-wing leaders joined hundreds of residents of the Jewish settlement of Ofra across from the government complex in Jerusalem Tuesday morning to demand the government formalize the legal status of the community. The educational system in Ofra also went on strike for the same reason.

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The High Court of Justice accepted claims that about 11 acres of land at the center of Ofra are still privately owned by Palestinians, and has ordered nine buildings to be demolished. The fate of the buildings is considered a test case for more than 2,500 homes located around the West Bank that are currently considered illegal by Israel.

MKs Yehuda Glick (Likud), Moti Yogev (Habayit Hayehudi) and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) were present and spoke in support. Shaked promised the protesters that the Habayit Hayehudi and Likud parties, both members of the government, would move to legalize the settlement.

Minister Ayelet Shaked at the protest to legalize Ofra

Ofra, and all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria deserve to be legal, said Yogev. We have not inherited some strangers land. We have come home. Today, while Ofra has to go on strike to come and protest across from the prime minister's office, we call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the entire government, and on the attorney general, to do everything you can to formalize the legal status of all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria."

Hagit Moshe, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, who spoke in Mayor Nir Barkats name, told demonstrators to be strong and added that Jewish settlements in the West Bank play an important role in the defense of the capital.

While the protest had the feeling of holiday atmosphere ahead of Rosh Hashanah, some demonstrators warned that residents of Ofra, Amona and other similar settlements would not make do with demonstrations if the protests failed to yield positive results.

There are two levels of demonstration, two ways to deal with the situation, protester Yaakov Shapira told Tazpit Press Service (TPS). One way is the formal, polite way of protestingthats what youre seeing now. Unfortunately, however, these actions have historically not proven to be effective.

But there is another way, a better way, a more effective way (to protest): To build new Jewish communities, all over Judea and Samaria  at Migron, Amona, and other places. That is the only thing that worked at Sebastia, and it is the only way that will work here, too.
Police forces which were deployed across Jerusalem on Tuesday afternoon following a security alert are now leaving the area.

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"Police officers are being deployed along the main roads and setting up roadblocks," a statement from the Israel Police said. "At this stage, there are no special instructions for the general public, but we urge vigilance and ask residents to report any suspicious persons or packages."
LONDON- Four in five children living in Haiti's orphanages have at least one living parent and are sold or given to the homes on false promises of an education or medical care, according to a charity founded by British author J.K. Rowling.

London-based charity Lumos said many orphanages in the poor Caribbean nation were run by enterprising traffickers who starved and beat children to attract sympathy and money from well-intentioned donors.

"When people hear the word 'orphanage', they imagine that it's a good thing or they imagine that it's necessary," Lumos Chief Executive Georgette Mulheir told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Tuesday.

"They do not imagine that so many orphanages are actually trafficking, beating, sexually abusing and starving children."
By the age of 30, the average Maldivian woman, has been divorced three times. Picture courtesy: Instagram/@nenepanene2

By India Today Web Desk: Thinking about a place like Maldives never fails to evoke stunning visuals full of blue, dotted with newly married, much in love couples frolicking on the beach.

Ironically, it turns out that the honeymooner's paradise, is also the divorce capital of the world! According to a report published on The Telegraph, "The island nation has a divorce rate of 10.97, earning it recognition in the Guinness Book of Records. The UN even estimates that the average Maldivian woman, by the age of 30, has been divorced three times."

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Also read: This author is happy about America's rising divorce rate

The same report states that the ease of securing a divorce, lack of childcare facilities and an increasing amount of women entering the workforce have been cited as the main factors that have led to Maldives securing the top spot with 10.97 divorces per year, per 1,000 inhabitants.

Russia comes a far second with a divorce rate of 4.5, followed closely by Aruba, Belarus, Latvia and United States rounding off the top 5.

Also read: From Phil Collins to Madonna: Musicians who've had the most expensive divorces

Considering the societal stigma associated with divorce in our country, it's unlikely that India's going to make it to the list anytime soon. The only Asian nation besides Maldives to figure in the list is Hong Kong, with a divorce rate of 2.76 divorces per year, per 1,000 inhabitants.

At a rate of 2.5, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Portugal and Sweden finished last, among the top 20 spots with the highest divorce rate in the world.





--- ENDS ---
EL DIAMANTE - Veterans of Colombia's FARC guerrilla army could soon be making a living as eco-tourism guides, beef processors or cheese makers under plans by the Marxist group to invest in economic projects once a peace deal takes hold.

Vast swathes of rural land abandoned for decades because of war will be open to development, including by ex-fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) working on communal farms and other initiatives funded by the group.

President Juan Manual Santos and top rebel leader Timochenko signed peace on Monday, ending a 52-year-old conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and forced millions more from their homes. The deal will be put to a public vote on Oct. 2 and is expected to be approved.

The economic projects, many planned for the future and some already functioning, will be run by the FARC to provide jobs to some of its 7,000 former fighters.
Got a live carp in your bathtub? Planning on losing a day to food prep for the October Jewish holidays?

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We don't think so, and neither do Jeffrey Yoskowitz and Liz Alpern.

They're the authors of a new cookbook, The Gefilte Manifesto, a lively collection of Ashkenazi standards  some with a twist and others left to wander back to the old country.

Out in September from Flatiron Books, the collection of history and recipes by the two young Brooklynites celebrates Jewish soul food from soup to nuts, kicking off with a bagel butter flecked with not one but two kinds of sesame seeds, black and white, and winding down with beverages, from beet and ginger kvass to a seeded rye cocktail.

As for the catchy title, there are three takes on gefilte fish, the fish food some people love to hate. That once included Alpern, who as part of her family's Passover seders, declined the dish "every year of my life" growing up. It was the gelatinous jarred version, "and I hated it," she said in a recent interview with Yoskowitz.





Gefilte fish. The traditional dish is being revitalized. (Photo: Yaron Brener)

"Until I started making my own, I associated it with something I would never eat," Alpern said of her upbringing in Long Beach, New York, just outside New York City.

Yoskowitz, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, grew up with lots more love for gefilte fish. It was made by his grandmother, then she stopped and his family relied on a local shop, he said.

"But I didn't like the horseradish. It was usually the beet horseradish," Yoskowitz recalled. "But later, the moment I put horseradish on, I felt like an adult."

In 2011, the two friends started making gefilte fish together, experimenting as they embraced its place in Ashkenazi lore, in both Europe and North America.

They wondered why nobody was making gefilte fish relevant again, putting the soul back in.

At its most basic, gefilte is made by mixing pulverized freshwater fish with eggs, onions and spices. Bread crumbs are often used today. It stood, especially on the Passover seder table, as a symbol of Ashkenazi resourcefulness, the two said. Exactly how far can a single fish be stretched to feed an entire family?

Usually served cold or at room temperature, there were practical aspects to gefilte fish. It's often poached or baked, when it doesn't come from a jar.

Lake fish is commonly used, including carp and pike. The two don't use carp because, Yoskowitz said, it's a bottom-feeding fish that tends to be high in heavy metals, especially when it comes from the Great Lakes.

"Most people commonly think of gefilte fish as a bunch of fish balls in a jar. That's where the misconception is, that gefilte fish is gross and unappetizing," he said.

Their recipes look anything but, often coming in terrine form, sliced and served with their colorful, grated horseradish relishes: A sweet beet version and a carrot-citrus version.

"What we realized right away was we need to make all of this look like something you'd want to eat," Alpern said. "The first thing I would say to someone who is unfamiliar and maybe unwilling is you'll see that this is a fish pate."

Prep time for their gefilte dishes? Usually under an hour and a half, including baking, Yoskowitz said. No live carp in the tub needed. Just use fillets.

"We like to say that our gefilte fish tastes like gefilte fish," Alpern said. "We're not trying to add, you know, hot sauce or cumin to our gefilte fish."

But there are twists, such as fresh herbs to add color and freshness.

An Ashkenazi Passover staple. (Photo: Yaron Brener)

In researching gefilte fish, which in Yiddish translates to "stuffed fish" (there's a recipe for that, too) the two delved into what they describe as "The Gefilte Line."

In Galicia, or modern-day southern Poland, sugar beet factories were common and Polish Jews added sugar to everything, including gefilte, they said. North of Galicia, Lithuanians, Latvians and some Russians spiced gefilte fish with pepper.

And there was a third group: People who lived farther south of Galicia, in places that included Hungary, preferred not to spice their gefilte with anything at all.

The two compromised in the book with a couple of recipes that include both sweet and peppery flavors, but not much of either.

They also discovered that Lithuanian Jews, Hungarians and Galicians all agreed that horseradish relish, or chrain in Yiddish, is the only acceptable condiment to grace the top of gefilte.

Why? This Yiddish proverb speaks volumes: "Gefilte fish without chrain is punishment enough."
The grenade explosion that killed two soldiers in the Golan Heights two months ago was set off because one of the soldiers was playing with it, an IDF investigation into the incident found.

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The investigation also found that the grenade in question belonged to the previous squad that was using the jeep. The IDF's criminal investigation division's (CID) probe is still ongoing.

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot condemned the incident and ordered that all IDF soldiers be briefed on the report's findings within two weeks.

Soldiers injured in grenade tragedy are evacuated (:  ,  )

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An official reprimand has been given to the head of the 601st IDF combat engineers battalion, Lt. Col. Ziv Nemani. The company commander is barred from being in a command position for three years.

Staff Sgt. Tafash (L) and Sgt. Rindenow (R)

Staff Sgt. Husam Tafash, 24, from Beit Jann, and Shlomo Rindenow, 20, a lone soldier from New Jersey who was living in Sde Yoav, died from shrapnel wounds sustained from the grenade blast next to an outpost at the foot of the Hermon mountain. Three additional soldiers were injured in the incident  one moderately and two lightly. Reservists were amongst the soldiers injured.



Sgt. Rindenow made aliyah from the US two years prior to his death, and moved to the town of Netzer Hazani. He leaves behind his parents and nine brothers and sisters  five of whom also served as IDF lone soldiers in combat roles.

Injured soldiers are evacuated from the scene

Staff Sgt. Tafash was in the military as a non-commissioned officer, and served as a driver for patrol vehicles. "He finished his mandatory IDF service and decided that he wanted a career in the military," his father Abdullah Tafash said following the tragedy.

The 601st Battalion, where the disaster occurred, also experienced an accident in which a D9 tractor collided with an APC during operations in Har Dov, also in the Golan Heights. Seven soldiers were injured in the accident, two severely.

A senior IDF officer claimed that the two cases were not connected, pointing out that they occurred in two different companies in a well-regarded battalion. The same officer claims that the rebukes given to the officers are no light punishment.
MOGADISHU- The US military says it has killed four al-Shabab extremists in Somalia in what it calls airstrikes in self-defense.

A US Africa Command statement on Tuesday says the extremists launched attacks on Somali troops and their US advisers on Monday in a village near the port city of Kismayo.

The statement says Somali forces returned fire, killing several extremists, but the attack continued. The US then conducted its strike, killing four fighters.

US forces have carried out several airstrikes in Somalia in recent years, killing many al-Shabab leaders.
Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new campaign that has destroyed a US-backed ceasefire.

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The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battlefield after nearly six years of civil war.

Washington, which agreed a ceasefire with Russia this month that collapsed after a week, says Moscow and Damascus are guilty of "barbarism" and war crimes for targeting civilians, health workers and aid deliveries in air strikes.





The aftermath of a regime strike (Photo: Reuters)

More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs.

One air raid killed 12 people from two families when it brought down a building on Tuesday, bringing the death toll in opposition districts to more than 30, said Bebars Mishal, a spokesman for the Civil Defence emergency service.

A video purported to be of the attack's aftermath showed emergency workers bringing an apparently lifeless, dust-covered body out of the wreckage in a cherry-picker crane.

Only about 30 doctors are left in rebel-held Aleppo, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies.

Only 30 doctors remain in rebel held Aleppo (Photo: AP)

The World Health Organization called for the "immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded" from the besieged eastern part of the city.

Tuesday's assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, attempt to attack Aleppo's Old City near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city's major access points.

Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off.

Destruction caused by regime bombs (Photo: Reuters)

A rebel official said insurgents had advanced against government forces in a separate battle further south, in Hama province.

The rebels took over several villages in Hama's northeastern countryside, building on gains they made nearby on Saturday, said Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group.

The Observatory also reported the advance.

"FEROCIOUS CONFRONTATION"

Senior combatants on both sides said pro-government forces were massing in several parts of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, now divided into a western zone held by the army and a smaller, besieged area held by rebels.

The commander of an Iraqi Shia militia fighting in support of Assad told Reuters a large force spearheaded by the army's elite "Nimr", or Tiger, forces had started to move in armoured vehicles and tanks for an attack on rebel-held areas.

Quelling the uprising in the city would give Assad his biggest victory yet of the war and deliver a powerful blow to his enemies.

It is far from clear whether an all-out attempt to storm the rebel-held area is planned soon: that would require a massive assault by the army, backed by Lebanese and Iraqi Shi'ite militias, Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Russian air power.

Rebel forces in Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

The government's strategy in other locations such as Damascus and Homs has been to use years of siege and bombardment to force eventual surrender, rather than attempting to storm well-defended territory.

However, Assad's allies now openly say they have abandoned the peace process and are betting instead on military victory.

"There are no prospects for political solutions ... the final word is for the battlefield," the leader of Lebanon's Shia Hezbollah terror group, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was quoted in a Lebanese newspaper as saying on Tuesday.

The Assad regime and the Russians have allegedly been hitting hospitals in rebel held Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

The head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Aleppo's fate would be determined only "through a forceful confrontation".

Aleppo residents said the ferocious air attacks of previous nights had abated somewhat.

State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City and engineering units were clearing mines in the area.

The Syrian Civil Defence, otherwise known as the White Helmets, try to save people buried underneath the rubble (Photo: AFP)

A senior rebel source said the army had taken some positions near that area, but had been forced to withdraw. Neither assertion could be independently confirmed. The army had also been repelled after heavy fighting in assaults on four other fronts, he said, describing it as the biggest wave of ground attacks since the offensive was announced last week.

Zakaria Malahifji, a politburo member of the Fastaqim group which is active in Aleppo, said the army had assembled infantry and heavy vehicles in a military buildup in the city.

"Until today, thank God, attempts to advance have been blocked," he added.

The senior rebel official said pro-government forces were mobilising near the rebel-held Sheikh Saeed district on the city's southern outskirts, near the location of the heaviest fighting this summer in Aleppo.

"They are working to expand on any opening they create," said the official from an Aleppo-based rebel faction, citing reports from his fighters.
More than 100 Airmen from the 433rd Airlift Wing with Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland arrived at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, to participate in the exercise Alamo Express Sept. 15-19, 2016. The Alamo Express is the 433rd AWs premier training exercise, which prepares Airmen for real-world situations.

Alamo Express is a local exercise for the wing, piggybacking on a larger contingency plan for the Air Force Reserve," said Maj. John Sebesta, 68th Airlift Squadron acting officer in charge of Alamo Express. "It was to demonstrate to, not only the wing, but also AFRC, that when they give us the call, we can do it.

We are demonstrating the C-5Ms capabilities; we are demonstrating the 433rd Airlift Wing personnel's abilities to deploy and the 68th's abilities to operate and for them to get us where we need to go, said Sebesta.

To maximize the effectiveness of the exercise, the wing requested support from the 502nd Air Base Wing, JBSA-Lackland, Texas; 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, California; Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, U.S. Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead, Port Aransas, Texas, to participate.

Simultaneously, just north of Corpus Christi at Kelly Field Annex, a team of flight nurses and technicians with the 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, also players in the Alamo Express exercise, prepared patients for transport in a C-17 Globemaster III with the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, on a local flight.

This medium-scale exercise, which is held at different locations annually, gives members in the wing an opportunity to hone their skills and prepare the wing in meeting their mission of providing combat-ready forces for deployment.

The five-day exercise began with members processing through a mobility processing line before departing Lackland. Once arriving at the simulated overseas location, the 433rd Airlift Control Flight members began setting up a fully functioning base to manage aircraft flight following maintenance of aircraft, loading and unloading of cargo and command and control.

Teamwork between the 26th Aerial Port Squadron and the 68th and 356th Airlift Squadrons, made the exercise flow smoothly. Airmen from all three squadrons processed cargo and manifested passengers for sorties, which was constant throughout the exercise. Maintainers from the 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron worked long hours ensuring all sorties were executed safely and efficiently.

Members from the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas, were one of the several players in the Alamo Express exercise. Before loading personnel and equipment on the C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, the WMDCST is required to go through an inspection process, ensuring its equipment is properly weighed, stowed and secured for transport.

The 433rd was a key enabler for facilitating this exercise for us, said Army Guard Lt. Col. William Phillips, 6th CST commander. This type of training becomes very challenging (hard to get) for us when it comes to the availability of aircraft assets.

During the exercise, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead, Port Aransas, Texas, and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi assisted in the exercise by providing water and air support for water survival training in the Gulf of Mexico. Pilots and aircrew personnel spent the day learning techniques they will need after egressing from an aircraft, such as donning life vests, using MK 12 and MK 13 Day/Night ignition flares and getting into a 25-manned life raft and hoisted from a Life Preserver Unit to a hovering MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Tech. Sgt. Justin Samaniego, 433rd Operation Support Squadron survival, escape, resistance, and evasion specialist was in charge of instructing land and water survival training during exercise Alamo Express.

The overall objective was to give them a realistic scenario, he said. The Coast Guard took them out to where they couldnt see land or the boat; so they could see the issues they will have to deal with in an open-ocean environment, like getting food and water. It was really good as far as the exposure goes, for them to see its not comfortable, but doable.
ISR Airman honored during AFA Conference

Staff Sgt. Aaron Tobler was one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year recognized during the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2016.



Tobler is a geospatial intelligence analyst with the 50th Intelligence Squadron, Beale Air Force Base, California, a classic associate unit under the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.



An Air Force Reservist, Tober was recognized for his contributions to the Air Force's intelligence efforts. According to his nomination citation, Tobler was requested repeatedly to fill active duty ISR operations, logging hundreds of combat mission hours. He exploited 45 high-value targets, providing key Indicator and Warnings to seven combatant commands.



He provided intelligence support to Special Operations resulting in terrorist camps and associated members neutralized. He identified terrorist weapon manufacturing compounds which resulted in network being crippled and destroyed. He facilitated joint task force convoy over-watch, with more than 2,000 miles cleared with all forces secured and hostile combatants marginalized.



He earned Project Management Professional Certification in addition to be awarded Master Analyst Program Certificate from Sacramento State as part of civilian employment with the State of California.



Additionally, he lead Friendship Place charity event attended by the President of the United States and first family, raising more than $4 million for research and grant writing.
Residents across Queensland heard a loud bang, a flash in the sky and tremors that shook their homes.

By India Today Web Desk: A huge meteorite crashed into the ocean, just off the coast of central Queensland, on Monday night. Dozens of people shared their experiences on social media with many describing a 'bright flash', loud 'booms' and their houses 'trembling'.

However, Geoscience Australia has stated that there was no quake, with weather forecasters Higgins Storm Chasing saying that,'It looks like a meteorite has impacted somewhere offshore from the general Gladstone area.'

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Higgins Storm Chasing wrote on its Facebook: "A bright flash or light has been reported by hundreds of people, this light was seen as far South as Hervey Bay and as far North as Yeppoon with a tremor being felt upon impact over the general Gladstone area and Boyne Island."

A Harvard astrophysicist, Jonathan Powell, told the Gladstone Observer the bright light, boom and shaking was most likely caused by a meteor about a metre across, the biggest one in recent times.

Police received multiple calls from residents in the Gladstone area about 8:30 PM on Monday in what was initially believed to be an earthquake.

The video was shared by Ellie Thompson on the Higgins Storm Chasing Facebook page shows the bright flash of light captured by the surveillance footage outside her house.





Also read: Australia is shifting so fast it may not be as Down Under anymore

--- ENDS ---
Here is all you wanted to know about MFN.

By India Today Web Desk: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a meeting on Thursday to review Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, it is time to understand all the macro and micro points regarding the matter.

The MFN status is governed by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

MFN is apparently a misnomer. It sounds like a contradiction. Though it suggests special treatment, it actually means non-discrimination - treating virtually everyone equally.

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Also read: Pakistan's 'Most Favoured Nation' status may be withdrawn by Modi government

According to WTO, each member treats all the other members equally as "most-favoured" trading partners. If a country improves the benefits that it gives to one trading partner, it has to give the same "best" treatment to all the other WTO members so that they all remain "most-favoured".

The principles of the trading system should be:

Without discrimination: A country should not discriminate between its trading partners (giving them equally MFN status); and it should not discriminate between its own and foreign products, services or nationals (giving them "national treatment").



Freer: Barriers coming down through negotiation.

Predictable: Foreign companies, investors and governments should be confident that trade barriers (including tariffs and non-tariff barriers) should not be raised arbitrarily; tariff rates and market-opening commitments are "bound" in the WTO.

More competitive: Discouraging "unfair" practices such as export subsidies and dumping products at below cost to gain market share.

More beneficial for less developed countries: Giving them more time to adjust, greater flexibility, and special privileges.

Also read: How to punish Pakistan



What MFN really means, under the WTO agreements:

1. Treating other people equally

Countries cannot normally discriminate between their trading partners. Grant someone a special favour (such as a lower customs duty rate for one of their products) and you have to do the same for all other WTO members.

It is so important that it is the first article of GATT, which governs trade in goods. MFN is also a priority in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) (Article 2) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) (Article 4), although in each agreement the principle is handled slightly differently. Together, those three agreements cover all three main areas of trade handled by the WTO.

Some exceptions are allowed. For example, countries can set up a free trade agreement that applies only to goods traded within the group - discriminating against goods from outside. Or they can give developing countries special access to their markets. Or a country can raise barriers against products that are considered to be traded unfairly from specific countries.

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And in services, countries are allowed, in limited circumstances, to discriminate. But the agreements only permit these exceptions under strict conditions.

In general, MFN means that every time a country lowers a trade barrier or opens up a market, it has to do so for the same goods or services from all its trading partners - whether rich or poor, weak or strong.

Also read: India's options in dealing with Pakistan and cross-border terror



2. National treatment: Treating foreigners and locals equally

Imported and locally-produced goods should be treated equally - at least after the foreign goods have entered the market. The same should apply to foreign and domestic services, and to foreign and local trademarks, copyrights and patents. This principle of "national treatment" (giving others the same treatment as one's own nationals) is also found in all the three main WTO agreements (Article 3 of GATT, Article 17 of GATS and Article 3 of TRIPS), although once again the principle is handled slightly differently in each of these.

National treatment only applies once a product, service or item of intellectual property has entered the market. Therefore, charging customs duty on an import is not a violation of national treatment even if locally-produced products are not charged an equivalent tax.

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Freer trade: gradually, through negotiation back to top

Lowering trade barriers is one of the most obvious means of encouraging trade. The barriers concerned include customs duties (or tariffs) and measures such as import bans or quotas that restrict quantities selectively. From time to time other issues such as red tape and exchange rate policies have also been discussed.

Opening markets can be beneficial, but it also requires adjustment. The WTO agreements allow countries to introduce changes gradually, through "progressive liberalisation". Developing countries are usually given longer to fulfil their obligations.

Predictability: through binding and transparency back to top

Sometimes, promising not to raise a trade barrier can be as important as lowering one, because the promise gives businesses a clearer view of their future opportunities. With stability and predictability, investment is encouraged, jobs are created and consumers can fully enjoy the benefits of competition - choice and lower prices. The multilateral trading system is an attempt by governments to make the business environment stable and predictable.

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Also read: Uri attack is another watershed moment in cross-border terrorism



India-Pakistan MFN status

India and Pakistan have no formal bilateral trade agreement. India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in the year 1996. Pakistan is yet to reciprocate.

A composite dialogue between India and Pakistan started in 1998. Bilateral dialogue between the two countries resumed in April 2010 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Bilateral trade dialogue with Pakistan was re-initiated in April 2011. This was followed by further rounds of talks between 2011 and 2012.

The Commerce Ministers of India and Pakistan met on January 18, 2014 on the sidelines of the Fiftth SAARC Business Leaders Conclave held at New Delhi. Both ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their governments to expeditiously establish normal trading relations and in this context to provide Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA), on a reciprocal basis. Both sides decided to intensify and accelerate the process of trade normalization, liberalization and facilitation and to implement the agreed measures.

Pakistan has moved from 'Positive List' regime to a 'Negative List' regime comprising of 1209 tariff lines of import of goods not allowed from India. Both countries have Preferential Trading arrangement under South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) process. Benefits under the SAFTA process are partially blocked by Pakistan through 'Negative List'.

Also read: Pakistan says India can't suspend Indus Waters Treaty unilaterally





As per the obligation under the WTO, the member countries of WTO shall extend MFN status to each other automatically, unless otherwise specified in the agreement or schedule notified to the WTO by the member country. Pursuant to this provision, in case of goods, India has extended MFN status to member countries of WTO.

As regards SAARC countries, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are members of WTO and except the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, these countries have extended MFN status to India.

India has extended MFN status to all these SAARC countries including Pakistan. So far as exception to MFN status, if any, in services is concerned, each member country has indicated the same in the schedule of commitments in services notified to WTO.

It leads to equal treatment amongst countries and ensures a more stable, predictable, reliable and competitive international trade.

--- ENDS ---
The MNS protestors raised slogans against Karan Johar and threatened that they won't allow the film to be released in Mumbai.

By Saurabh Vaktania: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers today created huge ruckus outside the office of Karan Johar protesting against his stand on Pakistan artists and his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that stars Pakistan actor Fawad Khan.

A day earlier, Shalini Thackeray of the MNS had said that it won't allow the film to release in Mumbai or Mahrashtra according to the order of MNS Chief Raj Thackeray.

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Also read: Fawad Khan HASN'T left India because of MNS, he left long ago

Karan had recently made a comment that art and politics should be separate, on which the MNS felt agitated and said that Karan should go to Pakistan and make films there with Pakistan actors.



SLOGANS AGAINST KARAN JOHAR



On Tuesday afternoon, the MNS declared to stage a protest outside Karan's office at Veera Desai road in Andheri West. As the protest was declared earlier, huge number of cops were deployed outside the Dharma Production office for security.

Also read: Zee to ban Pakistani shows; 5 dramas on Zindagi Channel that will always be cherished

The MNS workers raised slogans against Karan Johar. The workers also raised slogans against Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif. They had brought photos of Nawaz Sharif also which they tried to burn but the cops did not allow them.

The protesting MNS workers even threatened that they won't allow his film to be released in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

The police detained all the MNS workers and booked them under Bombay Police Act but they were released later.

Also read: LOL: Brad Pitt sings Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for Angelina Jolie in this hilarious parody





--- ENDS ---
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - On Saturday, October 8th, the Yuma County Library District will join libraries across the nation to celebrate the 1st Annual Indie Author Day. As the world of independent publishing continues to grow, libraries are reaching out to support local writers and help them connect with other writers and readers.

At 10:30 a.m., author Graeme Ing will present An Introduction to Independent Publishing at the Main Library. Graemes book Necromancer is one of the most read fantasy books on Library Journals indie publishing website, SELF-e. He is a founding member of the San Diego Writers Group, and a member of the Romance Writers of America.



At 12:00 p.m., Graeme will be joined by local authors Christine Howard and Melissa Stevens for an independent publishing question-and-answer session. Co-Municipal Liaisons for National Novel Writing Month as well as Co-Moderators of the Foothills Library writing club Write on the Edge, Christine and Melissa have 13 books published between them.



There is no charge to attend.



The Main Library is located at 2951 S 21st Drive. For more information, call (928) 782-1871.
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- President Klaus Iohannis has convened the meeting of the Supreme Council for the Country's Defense (CSAT), which will take place on Tuesday, starting at 14:00, at the Cotroceni Palace, a release by the Presidential Administration from 11 October reads, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele

- Acting Senate president Alina Gorghiu and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marcel Ciolacu had a joint meeting on Tuesday with President of the Republic of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, who is on an official visit to Romania; talks focused on the priorities of the bilateral agenda and regional and international

- Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, will be received on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Palace by President Klaus Iohannis, on the occasion of her official visit to Romania. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help

- President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that Romania's National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) has made great progress, becoming a model at the European level for a provider of expertise and best practices in the fight against corruption, although its journey was not free of obstacles, setbacks

- President Klaus Iohannis declared, on Tuesday, at the UN General Assembly, that the war in Ukraine has global consequences and emphasized that Romania will continue to support this country. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro

- Studies conducted by the World Bank on the decoupling of electricity prices from gas prices would be useful in making decisions in this regard, President Klaus Iohannis said Tuesday, at a bilateral meeting with the president of the World Bank Group, David R. Malpass, a press release from the Presidential

- The legal committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved, on Tuesday, the draft whistleblower law, under review at the request of President Klaus Iohannis, the Save Romania Union (USR) amendments being rejected, even though they would have facilitated the disclosure of irregularities in public institutions,

- Parliament will be illuminated, on Tuesday and Wednesday, in the colors of the Ukrainian flag - blue and yellow, to mark the National Flag Day and the Independence Day celebrated by the neighboring country, the Chamber of Deputies informed. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste
Here's how you can get Mount Everest off your bucket list.

Trekkers on their way to the Everest Base Camp. Photo: Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: A lot of us have dreamt to be at the top of the world, literally. But summiting Mount Everest is not a joke. But then, we can at least go close enough.

Trekking to the Everest Base Camp is the best way to get closest to the world's highest mountain and at the same time, enjoy breathtaking views of the Great Himalayan Range.

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Worried as to how you are going to do? We suggest that you worry only about getting fit enough to do it and leave the rest to renowned tour operator brand Cox & Kings.

Cox & Kings has introduced trekking packages for Everest Base Camp. They will arrange all the logistics of the trek and guide you on the trail.

Also read: First-hand account of an expedition to Kala Patthar, the best viewing point for Mt Everest



Costing Rs 66,000 the trekking package will include return flights from Kathmandu to Lukla, all meals, water and beverages, travel insurance and tea-house stay during the trek.

With a limit of up to 16 people in a group, the 15-day trek will start from Kathmandu and will be accompanied by a team of local sherpas and a guide from Cox & Kings.

The departure dates released by Cox & Kings are October 8 and December 16 in 2016, and March 17 and April 16 in 2017.



--- ENDS ---
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- President Klaus Iohannis has convened the meeting of the Supreme Council for the Country's Defense (CSAT), which will take place on Tuesday, starting at 14:00, at the Cotroceni Palace, a release by the Presidential Administration from 11 October reads, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele

- Education is the foundation of the development of democratic societies, the essential premise for the modernization and evolution of nations towards an increasingly prosperous standard of living, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday, in his message sent by the State Councilor Catalina Galer

- President Klaus Iohannis condemned on Tuesday the attacks with Russian missiles over the cities and civil infrastructures of Ukraine, showing that the analysis doesn't reveal, at the moment, an increase of risks in Romania. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro

- President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday welcomed visiting Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, with military honours. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your friends know

- President Klaus Iohannis participated on Tuesday in a videoconference with European Council President Charles Michel and a group of European leaders as a preparation stage for the meetings to take place on Thursday and Friday in Prague. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste

- President Klaus Iohannis signed, on Friday, the decree designating Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization Sebastian Burduja as Acting Minister of Education. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro  Help your

- President Klaus Iohannis will lead the Romanian delegation that will participate in the high-level segment of the 77th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, on Tuesday and Wednesday, in New York, the Presidential Administration informs. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri.

- President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday sent a message on the European Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day, underscoring that the stigmatization and discrimination of minorities must be "severely sanctioned." Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro
Chonmipem Horam `Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent`- Victor Hugo Can you imagine a life void of music? Absolutely NOT! Whether you admit it or not, music permeates our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. Music is harmony and music is beauty. Music has the quality of expressing the inexpressible. One cannot approach music with ones own peculiar likes, dislikes or tastes, which are all a part of ones own conditioning. Music is something both extraordinarily complex and incredibly simple at the same time.Roots of World Music day World Music Day also known as Fete de la Musique, was a music festival that began in France in 1982.The idea was conceived by French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang in 1981. Since then June 21st has been celebrated every year as World Music Day. Today, it has spread to Argentina, Australia, Britain, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Costa Rica, China, India, Lebanon, Pakistan and many other countries. On this day, the musicians perform for free in open areas. Free concerts are organized in parks, museums, train stations, castles etc. This is done to promote music, making all genres of music accessible to the public. It gives an opportunity to communicate and share special bond through music. The term World Music includes traditional as well as non-western music. It is folk music of any culture, created and played by indigenous people. It is a classical form of music accompanied by traditional ethnic instruments, some prominent forms are  Japanese Koto music, India raga music, Tibetan chants and South African `township music`. Genres India, being a land of unity in diversity with various cultures, traditions, art forms, every region has its own unique musical form. While there are various genres, Indian classical music has been divided into North Indian tradition known as Hindustani music and Carnatic music belonging to South India. But apart from these, there are varied forms such as  Bhangra, Bhajans or devotional, Ghazals and Qawwalis, Indi-pop, Folk, Tribal, Film songs, Remixes, Fusion. While, Bhangra is a dance oriented folk music, Bhavageete (literally `devotional song`) is a form of expressionist poetry and light music. Qawwali is a Sufi form of devotional music based on Hindustani classical. And in the West, we have Metal, Punk, Rock, Hip-Hop, Hard Rock, alternative, Experimental, Country, Disco, Funk, Classical, Progressive, Trance, Techno, Ska, Reggae music. Trance Music was developed in early quarters of 20th century and is generally played in club houses and dance floors. Indigenous Country Music born of the US is in form of folk, Celtic, church, gospels and tribal music, while, Pop Music is both classical and folk. Reggae is a music genre developed in late 1960`s. Its lyrics deal with faith, love, sexuality, relationships, injustice etc. Hip-hop is both a cultural movement and genre of music developed in New York City in 1970`s by African Americans and Latin Americans.The good, the bad and the ugly Music is an important form of communication. Its a reflection of society in a particular time and place. Music needs no boundaries, it bonds us irrespective of who we are, and where are we from. Not only its a source of entertainment but it also acts as a medium to convey messages, of how things are, and what lies ahead in the future. Michael Jackson`s song `Heal the world sounds beautiful as well as inspiring as it echoes noble thoughts. There`s A Place In Your Heart, And I Know That It Is Love, And This Place Could Be Much Brighter Than Tomorrow, And If You Really Try You`ll Find There`s No Need To Cry,In This Place You`ll Feel There`s No Hurt Or Sorrow There Are Ways To Get There If You Care Enough For The Living Make A Little Space, Make A Better Place... Heal The World, Make It A Better Place, For You And For Me And The Entire Human Race There Are People Dying, If You Care Enough For The Living, Make A Better Place For You And For Me If You Want To Know Why There`s A Love That Cannot Lie Love Is Strong, It Only Cares For Joyful Giving If We Try, We Shall See In This Bliss We Cannot Feel, Fear Or Dread We Stop Existing And Start Living Then It Feels That Always Love`s Enough For Us Growing So Make A Better World Make A Better World... And The Dream We Were Conceived In, Will Reveal A Joyful Face And The World We Once Believed In Will Shine Again In Grace Then Why Do We Keep Strangling Life Wound This Earth, Crucify Its Soul Though It`s Plain To See, This World Is Heavenly Be God`s Glow We Could Fly So High Let Our Spirits Never Die In My Heart, I Feel You Are All My Brothers Create A World With No Fear Together We`ll Cry Happy Tears See The Nations Turn their Swords Into Plowshares We Could Really Get There If You Cared Enough for The Living Make A Little Space, To Make A Better Place... You And For Me Music also grants us the freedom of expression. Like in late 1980`s and 90`s, young black Americans coming out of the Civil Rights Movement used this to show the limitation of the movement. It used Hip-hop to voice their issues. It lets them the world to be noticed. But inspite of all these social impacts, there have been negative aspects as well. Some of the most popular songs in Hip-hop genre have negatively influenced violence, drugs, alcohol, sex and disrespect for authorities, which is detrimental to the lives and education of the youngsters.Festivals There are many World Music festivals and jazz/folk/roots/new age crossover events. The Ariano Folkfestival is the biggest World Music festival in southern Italy, is held in mid August. The California World Music Festival is held each July at Nevada County Fairgrounds. The World Sacred Music Festival is held annually in Olympia, Washington State. FloydFest in Floyd, Virginia, USA. The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, New York, USA. Rainforest World Music Festival is another world music festival held in Malaysia. Stern Grove festival is a San Francisco celebration of musical and cultural diversity. The Starwood Festival in New York has been held in July every year since 1981.
By India Today Web Desk: It's already been 23 hours since Human of Bombay shared the story of a girl who belongs to the red light area of Mumbai, aka Kamathipura, yet her words continue to raise some degree of hope in a world that seems to be turning a shade darker, every passing day.

Also read: This Humans of Bombay story about the friendship of two old ladies will have you feeling warm and fuzzy

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Recounting her childhood days in the area, she said, "Growing up, I faced a lot of discrimination. I had everything going against me - a dark skinned Indian girl from a red light area. At school, the other children refused to talk to me or play with me. They would call me a 'crow' or 'black cow' behind my back and treat me like an untouchable. I was always by myself and at the age of 10, one of my professors at my school took advantage of the situation and raped me. Our education system is such that we're not even taught about what a good touch or a bad touch is, so how was I to know? I was too scared to tell anyone until the age of 16 when I began therapy and realized that I had been raped."

However, with the help of therapy and theatre, she managed to turn her life around and even went to San Francisco for a special programme. But the most inspiring bit is the fact that even though she's had a very hard life, the path she's chosen for herself is based on the idea of giving back, by choosing to be a part of a theatre group that raises awareness on subjects that are considered a taboo in our society. "My only coping mechanism through everything has been theatre. I'm part of a street play group where we go around explaining through theatre what a 'bad touch is' or about menstruation and sex.

Also read: Explore the unexplored stories of Mumbai's oldest red light area with a night walk

She also spoke about the fact that even though her parents had managed to move to Kerala, Kamathipura continues to be her home. Talking about the largely unfair treatment that's been meted out to her outside Kamathipura she tries to change the way people perceive her home. "My parents moved back to Kerala in 2013, but I've been here in Bombay because Kamathipura is my home. And it's a beautiful home--there's so much love here. The women here are amazing, beautiful humans who have treated me like their daughter. I remember, a few months ago I was crossing the road when a taxi drove over my foot and refused to even stop. To him, anything he did in Kamathipura was acceptable because everyone there is 'dirty' according to him. But these 2-3 women charged upto him and said 'how can you treat our daughter like this?...get out of your car and apologize'. So many times men will look at me and make lewd gestures, but these women will come to my defence and tell them to back off. Funny isn't it? I was never discriminated against in Kamathipura, but I was outside. I was never sexually abused here, but I was at a school in Bombay. That's why I'm still here. Through Kranti I went to San Francisco for a programme called 'Girl on the Run' and I learnt so much. I found people were so accepting of my color, my background and my abuse. For the first time, I could speak freely about sex without worrying about a cop shooing us away. I learnt so much that I wanted to come back here and make my home a more accepting place through my theatre."

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But it's the questions she asks that leave you with a chance for introspection, "Why is beauty so superficial? You maybe fair and I'm dark, but I still feel beautiful. Why is beauty associated with skin color? Why does where I come from matter? Why can't we see people for the good in them? Why can't we just accept?"

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Read the full post here:

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Paris: Libyan prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj says military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls the north African country`s main oil ports, should be represented in a new, more inclusive government.

"We have no other choice but dialogue and reconciliation," Sarraj told AFP in an interview in Paris on Tuesday.

"No one wants an escalation or a confrontation between Libyans," he added, less than two weeks after Haftar`s forces seized control of the strife-ridden country`s "oil crescent".

The Libyan leader pledged to "quickly" submit "the composition of a new government in which everyone will be represented in a balanced way."

Sarraj, who met with French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, said: "We should be united to fight the terrorism that is spreading in Libya."

His fragile unity government, formed in March following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community.

But the Government of National Accord (GNA) has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Libya has Africa`s largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically through years of crisis.

The parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk, is under Haftar`s influence and refuses to recognise the Tripoli-based GNA, which runs day-to-day affairs.

Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by Haftar, who is in turn backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a closed parliamentary hearing whose proceedings have just been released that he had asked the two countries to "suggest" to Haftar that he meet with Sarraj.

The parliament rejected the GNA in a confidence vote last month.

Sarraj said he now hoped "the parliament will convene and that it will respond within six months as it did the last time."

He said the GNA`s conciliatory attitude following the offensive by Haftar`s forces to seize the oil terminals showed its determination to avert civil war.

Sarraj said he has met with Haftar and still maintained "indirect contacts" with him in order to "unify the military institution and the security forces".

France was forced to admit that it has provided military assistance to Haftar after three French troops were killed in Libya during an intelligence-gathering mission in July.

Sarraj said French authorities promised to inform the GNA in future of "any security coordination" with Haftar`s forces.
Houston: Nine people were injured on Monday when a man armed with several weapons opened fire on vehicles in southwest Houston, the largest city in the US state of Texas.

According to the Houston police, it started when police and firefighters responded at about 6.30 a.m. local time (1130 GMT) after reports of a shooting victim at a strip centre on Weslayan at Bissonnet, Xinhua news agency reported.

Several vehicles that stopped near the scene had bullet holes and busted windows. The injured persons were said to be drivers or passengers in the vehicles that were struck.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect was a disgruntled lawyer, and the police have confirmed that he had been killed.

According to the police, six people were rushed to hospitals for medical treatment, but their conditions are unknown. Three others, suffering from slight injuries, left the scene.

The police said that they have begun to investigate the cause of the shooting.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coming up in Jhajjar will be equipped with top medical facilities, including a first-of-its-kind tissue repository, and plans are afoot for conducting research there on cancers which are more specific to India, Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said.

The NCI, said to be the largest tertiary healthcare facility proposed in the country since Independence, is being built in Haryana under the AIIMS at a cost of Rs 2,035 crore.

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"The proposed institute (NCI) will have 710 beds for different facilities such as surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, anaesthesia and palliative care, nuclear medicine and proton therapy.

"It will have a tissue repository which is the first-of-its-kind in India. The institute aims to plan, conduct and coordinate research on cancers which are more specific to India like tobacco-related cancers, cancer of the uterine cervix, gall bladder cancer and liver cancers," the Health Minister said.

The foundation stone for NCI was laid by Nadda in December last.

"The cancer institute will be modelled after the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the government has already entered into an MoU with it during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in October 2014," he had said.

It is slated to be a premier institution for all cancer-related activities in the country and will have linkages with all regional and cancer centres.

Nadda was addressing a gathering on the Foundation Day of the AIIMS currently celebrating its diamond jubilee.

"AIIMS has always maintained the highest standards of meritocracy and learning. It has attracted the best talents across the country who enter this institute as young students and pass out with the intensity of commitment to serve the poorest of the poor," he said.

The minister, who is also the President of AIIMS, in his address, touched upon various projects rolled out by the Centre for its expansion and development.

It is the apex medical institution in the country. And, the government is "committed" to raising its stature up further, he said.

AIIMS Director Dr M C Misra, said, "In 60 years of its journey, AIIMS has grown in strength thanks to the sheer dedication of our former directors who shaped this institution."

A special exhibition chronicling the 60 years of the institute was also opened on the occasion. (MORE) PTI KND PMS SK PMS

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Hartselle: An Alabama lawmaker unhappy with Hillary Clinton's allegations during the presidential debate that Republican Donald Trump is sexist expressed his disapproval by tweeting the Democratic nominee's husband is "likely a rapist."

Rep Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, posted to Twitter just after the debate- "It is ironic that Lying Hillary blast Trump as a sexist when she is married to Bill, who is likely a rapist."

The tweet copied in Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway.

Former President Bill Clinton was accused of rape by Juanita Broaddrick while running for governor of Arkansas in 1978. He's adamantly denied the charges.

Henry is co-chair of Trump's Alabama campaign. He attended the GOP convention in July as a Trump delegate. Efforts to reach Henry were unsuccessful. The tweet has not been removed.
State of New York: Democrat Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump took the stage on Monday for their crucial first presidential debate, in what could be the most watched US political event in years.

Sparring over plans for US economy, Clinton accused Trump of peddling "trumped up trickle down" economics in the opening minutes of their first presidential debate, setting a combative tone as the candidates clashed over how to increase US jobs.

Trump gave a classic answer about China and Mexico stealing American business and jobs. He also had his first point of agreement, his unexpected (for the GOP) child leave plan: "I think Hillary and I agree on that, we probably disagree a little bit as it relates to numbers and amounts," he said.



"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we have to stop companies from leaving the United States," he added.

As the pair tangled over trade, taxes and government regulations in the opening salvos of the 90-minute debate Clinton said, "I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts."

Clinton and Donald Trump traded blows on the debate stage Monday over the Democrat`s use of a private email server as secretary of state, and the Republican billionaire`s refusal to release his tax history.

"I will release my tax returns against my lawyer`s wishes when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," Trump said when pressed on the issue during their crucial first White House debate.

"I have no reason to believe that he`s ever going to release his tax returns, because there`s something he`s hiding," Clinton fired back.

Clinton accused her Republican White House rival of launching his political career by supporting a "racist" theory that questioned Barack Obama`s citizenship.

"He tried to put the whole racist `birther` lie to bed," adding, ""But it can`t be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," the Democrat said.

Trump went on to blame Clinton for the the rise of the Islamic State by noting the Democrat had laid out some of her plans on her website.



"You're telling the enemy everything you want to do," Trump said as Clinton shook her head in amusement. "No wonder you've been fighting IS your entire adult life."

Trump said the country needed law and order. "African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street you get shot," he added.



Clinton has called for restricted gun control in the US, saying "We've got too many military-style weapons on the streets. In a lot of places, our police are outgunned  we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who'd do harm."

Moderator Leslie Holt of NBC News opened the 90-minute debate at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York, with the first topic, "Achieving Prosperity", CNN reported.

The two White House hopefuls, in a virtual dead heat in polls with barely six weeks before the November 8 election, cordially shook hands as they readied for a 90-minute face-off.
New York: An Indian-origin lawyer with apparent Nazi sympathies went on an early morning rampage in US' Houston city shooting nine people on Monday before he was killed by police, according to authorities.

Nathan Desai was wearing military-style clothing with Nazi symbols during the 20-minute shooting spree when he fired at passing cars.

Police said that they did not know why Desai went on the rampage hitting people at random.

Desai's name was written with the 's' capitalised in media reports in Houston, making it sound European, but his father was identified as Prakash Desai.

All of his victims survived but one person was critically wounded and five others were hospitalised, Houston's Acting Police Chief Martha Montalvo said.

She described the shooter as a lawyer who was having problems at his law firm. When police responded to the shooting, he shot at them and was killed when police returned fire, Montalvo said.

The shooter's father, 80-year-old Prakash Desai told KPRC TV that his son was "worried" because his law practice was not doing so well.

Forty six-year-old Nathan Desai owned several guns to protect himself against his clients, some of whom were "funny people and criminally-minded people", his father said.

Houston Chronicle said that Prakash Desai is a retired geologist.

The daily reported that police found in his flat several military items that went back to the Civil War.

Police found a Thompson submachine gun in his Porche and a 0.45 caliber handgun that he used against the police.

The Chronicle said that police used a robot to examine his car and his flat for explosives.

This is the second mass shooting by a person of Indian descent in the US.

In 2003, at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Biswanath Halder went on a rampage, taking hostages, killing a graduate student and wounding another and a professor.

A graduate of the university's business school, he unsuccessfully sued a university administrator.

He was captured alive and sentenced to life after a trial.

Although it was not a mass shooting incident, in January 2016 Mainak Sarkar caused a lock down at University of California at Los Angeles when he killed a professor there. He had also killed his wife and committed suicide.
State of New York: Democrat Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump took the stage on Monday for their crucial first presidential debate, in what could be the most watched US political event in years.

Sparring over plans for US economy, Clinton accused Trump of peddling "trumped up trickle down" economics in the opening minutes of their first presidential debate, setting a combative tone as the candidates clashed over how to increase US jobs.

Trump gave a classic answer about China and Mexico stealing American business and jobs. He also had his first point of agreement, his unexpected (for the GOP) child leave plan: "I think Hillary and I agree on that, we probably disagree a little bit as it relates to numbers and amounts," he said.

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we have to stop companies from leaving the United States," he added.

As the pair tangled over trade, taxes and government regulations in the opening salvos of the 90-minute debate Clinton said, "I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts."

Clinton and Donald Trump traded blows on the debate stage Monday over the Democrat`s use of a private email server as secretary of state, and the Republican billionaire`s refusal to release his tax history.

"I will release my tax returns against my lawyer`s wishes when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," Trump said when pressed on the issue during their crucial first White House debate.

"I have no reason to believe that he`s ever going to release his tax returns, because there`s something he`s hiding," Clinton fired back.

Clinton accused her Republican White House rival of launching his political career by supporting a "racist" theory that questioned Barack Obama`s citizenship.

"He tried to put the whole racist `birther` lie to bed," adding, ""But it can`t be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," the Democrat said.

Trump went on to blame Clinton for the the rise of the Islamic State by noting the Democrat had laid out some of her plans on her website.

"You're telling the enemy everything you want to do," Trump said as Clinton shook her head in amusement. "No wonder you've been fighting IS your entire adult life."

Trump said the country needed law and order. "African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street you get shot," he added.

Clinton has called for restricted gun control in the US, saying "We've got too many military-style weapons on the streets. In a lot of places, our police are outgunned  we need to keep guns out of the hands of those who'd do harm."

Moderator Leslie Holt of NBC News opened the 90-minute debate at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York, with the first topic, "Achieving Prosperity", CNN reported.

The two White House hopefuls, in a virtual dead heat in polls with barely six weeks before the November 8 election, cordially shook hands as they readied for a 90-minute face-off.
Washington: The US Senate will vote on Wednesday to override President Barack Obamas veto of legislation that would allow the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks to sue the Saudi Arabian government of Saudi Arabia.

The revelation was made by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday, Politico reported.

The Congress is expected to easily clinch the two-thirds support needed to override Obama's veto, which would be the first veto override of his presidency, according to officials.

The legislation, known formally as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), sailed through Congress with no recorded objections earlier this year.

But with a veto override apparently imminent, some lawmakers, particularly ones who specialise in national security policy, have become increasingly vocal about their concerns with the bill.

Both the chairman and the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee - Republican Mac Thornberry of Texas and Democrat Adam Smith of Washington - are circulating letters urging lawmakers to oppose JASTA, Politico noted.

They have warned that the legislation could open up US officials abroad to retaliation.
Kathmandu: At least 17 persons were killed and 20 injured on Tuesday when a passenger bus veered some 300 metres off a hilly road in Nepal`s Dhading district, police said.

The bus was travelling from a village to the district headquarters of Dhadingbesi.

Chief District Officer Bishow Prakash Subedi said the bodies of the victims including 10 men and four women were retrieved from the accident site.

Six of the injured were in critical condition. They were airlifted to capital Kathmandu for treatment, Subedi added.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known but the police believe it could be the result of a combination of an overloaded bus and the steep gravelled road.
Geneva: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti on Monday welcomed India's move of slamming Pakistan over its atrocities in Balochistan.

Bugti, who recently sought asylum in India, thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for calling Pakistani war crimes in Balochistan "the height of atrocities" in her speech at United Nations General Assembly.

The Baloch leader's reaction came after Swaraj said those accusing others of rights violations must introspect as it censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

Taking a veiled dig at Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address at the 71st UN General Assembly session said there are nations "in our midst" where UN designated terrorists roam freely and deliver "their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity", an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

Rebutting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's contention last week at the UN that India had placed unacceptable conditions for talks, she listed a series of gestures, large and small, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended to Islamabad.

Sharif "said that India has placed pre-conditions for talks which are not acceptable to him," she said asking, "What pre-conditions?"

"We took the initiative to resolve issues not on the basis of conditions, but on the basis of friendship," she said. "We have in fact attempted a paradigm of friendship in the last two years which is without precedent."

She also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism and for whom sheltering terrorists has become "their calling card".

"In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account," Swaraj asserted in her nearly 20-minute speech.

"These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations," Swaraj said, in essence making a call to the international community to isolate such nations.
Tel Aviv: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he believed either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would maintain strong support for Israel if elected, steering clear of US politics after meeting both candidates.

Netanyahu faced criticism in 2012 over what many saw as his support for US President Barack Obama`s Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

This year, the veteran prime minister and former US resident has been careful to strike a balance after coming come under fire from political opponents who accuse him of damaging relations with Israel`s most important ally.

Netanyahu returned to Israel on Monday after a trip to New York to speak at the UN General Assembly. He met both Clinton and Trump on Sunday.

The premier, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, said he "spoke with them at length about Israel and the region."

"Both spoke about their support of Israel and the importance of the relations between the countries," Netanyahu said.

"It doesn`t matter which of them is elected. The American support for Israel will remain strong. This bond will remain strong and even strengthen over the coming years."

During Sunday`s meeting with Netanyahu, Trump pledged to recognise Jerusalem as Israel`s "undivided" capital if elected president, which would break with decades of precedent and put the United States at odds with most UN member countries.

In her meeting, Clinton promised to help Israel confront "terrorist threats" and also said she was committed to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "negotiated directly by the parties."

Netanyahu has called for direct negotiations, while the Palestinians, frustrated with years of failed talks and Israel`s continuing occupation of the West Bank, have pursued an international strategy.

On Tuesday, the Israeli premier also acknowledged his "disagreements" with Obama, but said "these disagreements have not clouded the strong and solid relations between the countries at all."

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the Iran nuclear deal spearheaded by the United States along with other world powers.

His address to the US Congress in March 2015 to lobby against the deal angered the White House.

But the two men put aside their differences in recent months to agree on a new, decade-long $38 billion defence aid package deal for Israel, which was signed on September 14.
London: A woman who attempted to click picture of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Harrods in London was harassed by his security men, as per a media report,

According to India Today, the woman, on spotting Sharif shopping at the high fashion retail store, approached him.

However, his security personnel reportedly reprimanded the woman, with the media house quoting sources as saying that they even misbehaved with her.

A London-based data scientist Shoaib Taimur posted a series of tweets about it after which the incident came to light.

Following is what he tweeted:

An acquaintance on a Whatsapp group found nawaz sharif shopping for Gucci shoes at Harrods.  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016

He got flustered when approached by Pakistanis. His security team stopped her and Harrods security took her phone away  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016

All because people questioned why he was there  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016

Oh here is a photo of Nawaz Sharif at Harrods pic.twitter.com/pW3mgIOj1w  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016

What got to him was that people questioned his presence there. Why wasn't he in Pakistan?  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016

So if you question Nawaz Sharif while he is shopping at Harrods, he will get the High Commission to summon you. #outrageous  Shoaib Taimur (@shobz) September 26, 2016
Marathi TV actress Nivedita Saraf tweeted to railway minister Suresh Prabhu about rats in the first class compartment of a train and said her bag was gnawed by rats.

By India Today Web Desk: Marathi actress Nivedita Saraf was travelling in the first class compartment of Devgiri express train when she heard rats squeaking, and she got up to see that her bag had been chewed.

She tweeted, "22 Sept Latur Express A1 27 rat did this to my bag while I was sleeping. [sic]" and also said she had kept the bag near her head.

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She got a response from the Ministry of Railways who redirected her 'tweet complaint' to the Mumbai Circle.

"I was aghast when I saw my purse because it had been right below my head. What if the rat had taken a bite off my face, or hair? I tweeted a photo of my ruined purse and tagged Suresh Prabhu," Saraf said.

Senior railway officials have said that they have considered Saraf's tweet as a proper complaint, that they take it very seriously and that they will ask the pest control staff to do their job more frequently.

Nivedita seems to be fairly new to the micro-blogging site. She has joined sometime this month, doesn't have a profile picture, follows 31 accounts and is followed by 45.

She has only made two tweets, both of which are addressed to the Railway Ministry and railway minister Suresh Prabhu. Her first tweet was on September 22.

And her second was yesterday.

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Tehran: Former hardline Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday he will not compete in next year`s presidential vote, following advice from Iran`s supreme leader, media reported.

"In following the will of the great leader of the revolution, I have no plans to be present in next year`s presidential competitions," he wrote in a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published by Iranian media.

It came a day after Khamenei, in his own cautiously worded remarks, said: "A certain person came to me and I told him not to do a certain thing, believing it would be to the benefit of both the person himself and the country."

Khamenei implied that Ahmadinejad`s candidacy would create "a bi-polar atmosphere" that would "damage the country".

The hardline former president had made numerous public appearances in recent months, leading to speculation that he was planning a comeback in elections next May.

The news is likely to reassure moderate President Hassan Rouhani, who is expected to run for a second term on May 19.

Ahmadinejad`s inflammatory rhetoric -- particularly regarding Iran`s nuclear programme and hostility towards Israel -- was blamed for deepening tensions with the West, but his populist approach and humble roots means he has retained popularity with poorer sections of Iranian society.

Rouhani, who oversaw a deal with world powers to end sanctions in exchange for curbing Iran`s nuclear programme, faces mounting pressure from conservatives who say the accord has brought few benefits to Iran.
Aurangabad: Eight smugglers have been arrested with a large quantity of liquor from GT road, under Town police station, in Bihar's Aurangabad district, the police said today.

During vehicle checking near Keshav crossing last evening, the police intercepted two SUVs and found a large quantity of liquor smuggled in from Haryana.

Eight occupants of the vehicles, all smugglers, were arrested and the consignment comprising 875 liquor bottles of two different brands, besides 115 bottles of country-made liquor from Jharkhand, seized, SP Satya Prakash said.

Six mobile phones were also seized from the smugglers, he added.

Among those arrested on liquor smuggling charges, three were from Haryana and the others were locals, Satya Prakash said.

The accused will be produced in court, the SP added.

Bihar has banned liquor consumption in the state from April this year.
Patna: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has invited criticism from Bihar politicians, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for his `humiliating` comment on Bihar on the social media.

The Chief Minister, along with his deputy and even the opposition, slammed Katju on Tuesday reacting strongly against his `humiliating` comments against the state and its people.

Katju had on Monday posted a sarcastic comment on Bihar offering Pakistan "a package to solve the Kashmir crisis".

He had tweeted: "It`s a package deal. You have to take the whole package or none at all. Either you take both Kashmir and Bihar or nothing. We will not give you Kashmir alone", and also posted on Facebook.

"Is Katju `mai-baap` (mother and father) of Bihar or is Katju `maalik` (owner) of Bihar," Nitish Kumar told media persons here.

Nitish Kumar said Bihar has a glorious past and a history full of remarkable contributions. "We are proud of Bihar and our roots here".

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav wondered who gave Katju the right to humiliate Bihar and its 10.5 crore people.

"The state of Bihar may be lacking in resources but it did not give Katju a free hand to humiliate Bihar... The state may be devoid of resources but it does not mean anyone can lambast it," Tejaswi countered in his tweet.

Ruling Janata Dal-United leaders have termed Katju`s comment as an instance of sedition and demanded legal action against him.

The opposition BJP has also demanded Katju`s "immediate arrest" on charges of "sedition".
Raipur: Two Naxals were today killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

"The encounter took place early this morning in the dense forest of Fulbadgi Police Station area while a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation," Sukma Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI.

Composite squad of District Reserve Group (DRG), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and local police had launched the operation in the interiors of Fulbagdi, located around 450 kms away from here, based on specific inputs, he said.

About 8 kms away from the police station, an exchange of fire broke out between both the sides after ultras opened fire on security forces, the SP said, adding, rebels soon managed to flee the spot taking the cover of dense forest.

"During search of the area, bodies of two male Maoists, beside a muzzle loading gun and one 315 bore gun were recovered from the spot," he added.

The identity of the ultras will be ascertained once the patrol party will return to its camp, the SP said.

Yesterday, three Naxals, including two hardcore commander rank cadres, were gunned down by security forces at separate places in Bastar division.

With today's encounter, the number of Maoists having been?killed?in separate encounters in Bastar this year has reached to 99.
New Delhi: The Archbishop of the Faridabad-Delhi Syro-Malabar Catholic Church on Tuesday condemned the Uri terror attack and deplored the calls for war against Pakistan, saying the neighbouring country can be isolated internationally through dialogue and diplomacy.

"The terrorist attack on the army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, killing 19 jawans, needs to be condemned," Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara said.

"It is time for reason and common good to prevail over emotion and retaliation. A war will put the economy back by decades. We must abjure all talks of war. Instead we need to strengthen the path of dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

"Call for war and provoking statements to initiate a war against Pakistan must be reined in. War will affect the economy of our nation," he told reporters here urging "not to deal terrorism with terrorism."

Lauding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's reply to Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, the former UN diplomat of the Holy See called for more efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally.

"Public opinion in the world has been turning against Pakistan for the overt and covert support it has been giving to terrorists. India has the diplomatic strength to isolate Pakistan on this issue and put it in the dock," he said.

The Archbishop of the four-million strong Syro-Malabar Catholic Church said Kashmir was a political issue and must be dealt with politically.

"The Kashmir trouble is a political issue and it requires a political solution," he said.
New Delhi: A person allegedly having links with ISIS has been denied interim bail by a special court here which said his liberty "shall impact the security of the State".

The fundamental right of liberty of accused is "sacrosanct but the security of the nation was paramount consideration", District Judge Amar Nath said while dismissing the interim bail plea of Syed Mujahid who was arrested in January from Bengaluru.

He was accused of having links with the terror outfit, seeking "to establish Caliphate" in India and recruiting Muslim youths to work for it.

"Granting bail of the accused Syed Mujahid at this stage (of trial) shall impact the security of the State. Hence, the bail application of the accused does not deserve any merit to succeed at this stage," the court said.

The court also noted that the grounds that his father's health was deteriorating could not be considered to grant him bail as he was facing the trial for crime committed under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

It also said that there were apprehensions that he could flee from trial if granted bail.

The interim bail was sought by the accused on the ground that his father was suffering from different ailments and his condition was deteriorating day by day and he needed surgery.

The prosecution, however, opposed the bail plea saying if he was granted relief, he could tamper with evidence and there were chances that he may escape from the country.

According to the prosecution, the accused had revealed during his interrogation that he, along with others, had formed an organisation -- Junood-ul-Khilafa-Fil-Hind -- seeking establishment of Caliphate in India and pledged allegiance to ISIS and other terror groups to recruit Muslim youths to work for ISIS and commit terror act here.

The accused, who is currently in judicial custody, was arrested on January 23, 2016, from Bengaluru and Jihadi pictures and messages were retrieved from his Twitter account.

Six phones, five SIMs and other belongings were recovered from his possession.
New Delhi: The Income Tax department has issued summons to Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, asking him to appear before it in connection with its tax evasion probe against certain Kolkata-based firms.

Officials said Jain has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4 and has also been directed to furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years during his appearance.

They said the department received records of certain financial transactions connected to Jain after their counterparts in Kolkata recently searched a firm in connection with a tax evasion and alleged illegal financial remittances case.

They said the department reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three firms and had a link to Jain.

"The summons are issued as part of inquiry into the case which the I-T department has been probing for sometime now. Jain will be confronted with documents seized during searches at Kolkata," sources in the department said.

Reacting to the summons, Jain said he has been summoned as a witness only.

The minister said that he has done nothing wrong and he will appear before the Income Tax department on October 4.

"As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four year back, but I?have nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation," Jain told reporters here.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed Jain was being "framed", saying if Jain was "guilty", he would have thrown him out.

The Chief Minister said he stands by Jain. "I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him," Kejriwal said in a tweet.
New Delhi: Delhi Police has chargesheeted JNU student Anmol Ratan for allegedly raping a 28-year-old fellow student in university hostel.

The charge sheet was filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen who has fixed the matter for hearing on October 8.

According to the charge sheet, the victim had written on her social networking website's wall that she wanted to watch the movie Sariat and had asked if anyone had its CD. Ratan then messaged her saying he had a copy.

Later, he picked her up on August 20 on the pretext of giving her the CD and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stayed. There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and raped her.

Ratan is at present lodged in judicial custody and his bail application is pending before a sessions court.

The police have told the court that call details of the woman and the accused, fingerprint report and other CFSL reports pertaining to the case are still pending and the agency is likely to file a supplementary charge sheet in the matter.

Ratan, an AISA activist, was expelled from association after being accused of rape.
New Delhi: In a horrific incident, a teacher was allegedly stabbed in front of students in west Delhi's Nangloi area on Monday.

The victim, who was undergoing treatment at Balaji Action Hospital, succumbed to injuries today.

Two Class XII students of a government school allegedly stabbed Mukesh Kumar after one of them was rusticated for low attendance.

The incident took place at around 5 pm when the students were writing their exam at the Government Senior Secondary School.

Mukesh Kumar, who was a PGT teacher and taught Hindi, was stabbed thrice allegedly by the two boys in front of the entire class, after which the duo fled, a police officer said. Both the students have been apprehended.

One of the accused was rusticated for low attendance. He went to the school to speak with Kumar. During the conversation, he and his friend, who was writing the exam, reportedly lost temper and stabbed him, police said, adding one of the accused is 18-year-old while the other will turn 18 in two months.

Meanwhile, teachers today protested against the incident at the school.

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had last night visited the injured teacher in a hospital in Paschim Vihar area.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today criticised the Centre's "inaction" against the perpetrators of the Uri terror attack and appealed to the Prime Minister to announce a compensation of Rs one crore each for the families of the slain soldiers.

He said the compensation policy for the families of soldiers residing in Delhi should be replicated by the Centre and implemented across the country, beginning with the victims of the recent terror strike at Jammu and Kashmir's Uri.

"There is rage and gloom across the country over the Uri attack. It is understandable when our enemy neighbour attacks us. But, are we that weak so as to keep quiet after every such attack?

"I am not saying there should be a war as it is not the solution. There are 100 other ways to give a befitting reply (to Pakistan). The silence pains me and it would be a betrayal with the freedom fighters if we do nothing," Kejriwal said.

The AAP supremo was addressing the gathering at the 110th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhagat Singh, organised by the Delhi government at Talkatora Stadium here. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Labour Minister Gopal Rai were also present on the occasion.

"Del Govt gives Rs 1 cr "samman rashi" to family of any soldier who is resident of Del n who dies in any operation. Today, on Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary, I urge PM to announce this scheme 4 all soldiers 4 whole country n make a beginning wid Uri (sic)," Kejriwal later wrote on Twitter.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today dismissed Congress demand for convening a special session of Parliament to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, saying there is "no logic in it" and asserted that Indias security is in safe hands with Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs.

On Congress criticism of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that she did not pitch for imposing economic sanctions on Pakistan during her address at the UNGA, he said the NDA government knows "what should be said" in the countrys interest better than the opposition party.

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"We are ready for a discussion and debate on the matter in Parliament. But convening a special session to discuss the issue...There is no logic in it. There is no discussion on convening a special session at our level," the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said after attending the annual conference of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

Naqvi, also the Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge), assured that India and its respect and security "are in safe hands" with Narendra Modi at the helm of countrys affairs.

"There will be no weakness (in dealing with Pakistan- backed terrorism)," he said.

The Minister lauded Swaraj for her "very good" speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, saying "it exposed the nexus between Pakistan and terrorists".

He said the world is listening to the "cacophony of terrorism" emerging from Pakistan and asked it to either "break ties with terror or get disintegrated".

Congress had yesterday demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to declare Pakistan a terrorist state in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

It also alleged that the Narendra Modi government has responded only with catch phrases and through rhetoric since the attack took place and favoured withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation Status to Pakistan and imposition of economic sanctions on it.

Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had tweeted, "If India wont determinedly ask for diplomatic & economic sanctions against Pak in UN, who will? Modi Govt again failed us by meek response(sic)."

"Why is EAM Sushmaji shy of calling a spade a spade in UN? Why did we not call upon UN for diplomatic & economic sanctions against Pakistan?(sic)" he had asked. PTI ENM GVS SK GVS

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Mumbai: With a view to sensitise the people towards the importance of eye donation, the Maharashtra unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday launched a six-day campaign here.

"The drive, under which volunteers would create awareness among the people about donating the cornea after death, was kickstarted in the city as well as on the outskirts," Satish Jain, AAP's coordinator for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), told PTI.

He said the party has come up with a portal -- www.Aapkaclinictrust.Com/netradaan -- where citizens can pledge their eyes for donation.

Citing the eye-bank data figures, Jain said there are around 3.7 crore blind people in the world, of which over 35 per cent are in India and 10 per cent of the 1.5 crore blind people in the country suffer from corneal blindness.

"During the drive, we would sensitise the people and collect their details. Thereafter, we plan to distribute donation cards among those who wish to pledge their eyes," he said.

Currently, only 35,000 corneas are collected in the country every year, as against the 1,50,000 required to combat corneal blindness, Jain said, adding,

"As a result, the wait to get a corneal transplant done keeps getting longer with each passing day."

"Creating awareness among the masses and encouraging them to pledge their eyes for donation, therefore, is of paramount importance. All those who make the pledge will be contributing significantly towards Zero Corneal Blindness by setting an example among their relatives and friends," he said.

The drive would conclude on October 2, on the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jain said.

According to the eye-bank rules, eyes can be donated only after death and must be removed within four to six hours after death only by a registered medical practitioner. A toll-free number, 1919, has also been launched across the country to provide information about the drive.
Hyderabad: Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh has said Delhi government cannot have jurisdiction over the city police, which has to rest with the Centre to avoid conflict of interest.

He also made clear Congress' stand against the full statehood demand for Delhi, noting that nowhere in the world the national capital stays with another state.

"Washington is directly controlled by Federal Government. It's a matter of internal security also," the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister told PTI, citing an example.

"If there is a conflict of interest, between the Chief Minister of one party and government of another party (at the Centre), what will happen?" Singh asked.

"What does the statehood mean? It means the police is also with the state government. What happens if Delhi Chief Minister files a criminal case against Prime Minister?"...It should be understood that the Delhi government has all the powers, except the powers of police. Everything else is there," Singh said.

"There has to be clearcut definition, defining of powers in the Constitution, which is there," he said.

On frequent "run-ins" between the Delhi government and Centre-appointed LG Najeeb Jung, Singh said: "If you compare the working of Sheila Dixit (former Chief Minister) and Arvind Kejriwal, both functioned with same powers. She delivered. People say that never so much work has been done, as was done during her tenure."

The AAP government in Delhi earlier this year released a draft bill on full statehood to Delhi, seeking to bring police, land, municipal corporations and bureaucracy under its control, and invited suggestions from the public.
New Delhi: A 45-year-old Delhi government school teacher stabbed by two Class 12 students succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. The Delhi government announced Rs 1 crore to the grieving family.

Police said they had arrested the two students, including a minor, for the horrific killing of Mukesh Kumar which triggered widespread anger in the teaching community in the capital.

Kumar, a teacher at Nangloi, was attacked on Monday evening by the two students after one of them was rusticated for low attendance. The teacher was collecting exam sheets in the classroom when the killers barged in.

A police officer said while one of the students held a stunned Kumar firmly, the other student plunged the knife into him. As Kumar collapsed, the young assailants escaped.

Kumar, a father of three, died in a hospital on Tuesday. He hailed from Bahadurgarh in Haryana.

"Both students were frequent absentees and indisciplined. Kumar took steps to maintain discipline. The minor student was rusticated from the school due to poor attendance," Joint Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak told IANS.

"On interrogation, the students revealed that they planned to teach Kumar a lesson. So they bought a knife and stabbed him," Pathak said.

"After committing the crime, they roamed around Nithari lake and Begumpur area before they were apprehended," he said. A knife and a blood stained cloth were recovered from them.

Both students were charged with murder. The adult student was identified as Vivek Jha.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said Kumar's family can never be compensated for the loss they have suffered.

"The government will give Rs 1 crore to his family as immediate financial assistance," he said.

The government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the killing.

Jai Bhagwan Dahiya, Principal of the nearby Government Boys School at JJ Colony at Nangloi, profusely praised the dead teacher.

"Mukesh Kumar was an honest, hard working and very able teacher," Dahiya told IANS.

"This kind of incident has happened for the first time in this area although brawls are frequent among students," he said.

C.P. Singh, President of the Government School Teachers Association, told IANS: "I knew (Kumar) since 1993... You won't find a better teacher than him."

Sisodia made a passionate appeal to parents: "It is high time we talk to our children and teach them to respect our teachers."

Kumar's death caused mass anger in the teaching community, particularly in the government schools.

Examinations were stopped at a number of schools following a protest by the Government School Teachers' Association (GSTA).

The affected schools included those at Rani Jhansi Road, New Rohtak Road, Dev Nagar and Prasad Nagar. At some schools, students were sent home after the mid-day meal.

The teachers held a condolence meeting for Kumar in Nangloi.

The GSTA demanded that Kumar's family be given at least Rs. 2 crore, his name be added to the school's name and his statue be installed.

They also sought better security in schools.
New Delhi: The police on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that the necessary sanction to prosecute Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy in a case lodged against him on charge of writing an inflammatory article in 2011 has been obtained.

The Delhi Police had, on October 3, 2011, registered the case under Section 153-A (spreading enmity between communities) of the Indian Penal Code against Swamy.

The case was registered on a complaint from the National Commission for Minorities for writing the article in a Mumbai daily in July 2011, which allegedly sought revocation of the voting rights of Muslims

Justice I.S. Mehta, hearing a plea by Swamy for quashing the FIR, was told by the police that a draft chargesheet in the case was ready and would be filed soon.
New Delhi: The murder of a Delhi government school teacher by two class 12 students has resulted in teachers strongly demanding stringent action against the murderers.The incident was reported at Government Boys Senior Secondary School in west Delhi's Nangloi.

The agitated protestors demanded a compensation for the kin of the deceased and a speedy probe in the matter.

"This incident has happened with a very nice person; he was a very hard working teacher. The whole society of teachers is very sad over this incident. And we demand that the government gives the kin of the deceased Rs five crore as compensation and his children government jobs according to their calibre. And, we also demand that those students be punished," said government school association senior vice president Rajbeer.

Expressing grief over the incident, a history teacher in the same school said the accused were regular offenders.

"The boys were regular miscreants. They used to create indiscipline all the time, they even used to bunk classes and the school, they had a group. We did counsel them, but it had no effect. The victim Mukesh Kumar ji was their class teacher. We tried to inform their parents, summoned them but none of them paid heed. Then, we posted letters when parents of a few children came to the school and we informed them," said Jasveer Chillar, the history teacher.

Chillar further said the incident took place after 5 p.m. when Kumar was arranging answer sheets. He also said that the accused stabbed Kumar and ran away.

"We came running, but by that time, the accused had run away. They were seen running away. We tried to catch them, but they jumped across the wall and ran away," he said.

According to reports, the police has identified the two boys and detained them.

School authorities said Mukesh Kumar, a Hindi teacher, was allegedly attacked with a knife in a school room after an examination yesterday. Kumar, 45, who was on ventilator support at the Balaji Action Hospital succumbed to his injuries this morning.
Bratislava: Britain said on Tuesday it would oppose any EU plans to combine European forces into a single army or set up an EU military headquarters while London is still in the bloc.

At a meeting of EU defence ministers in Bratislava, Britain`s Michael Fallon said it was up to NATO, not the European Union, to defend Europe against a more hostile Russia and that northern and eastern EU countries agreed.

France and Germany had hoped that Britons` decision to leave the EU, as well as London`s need for goodwill in its exit negotiations, would leave the path open for common defence proposals that are meant to pull the remaining governments together. The proposals were presented on Tuesday.

But Britain`s hardline position suggests Paris and Berlin may face a tougher time than diplomats expected to push through plans to bring together the EU`s disparate military assets, develop technology and rely less on the United States.

Britain`s concern is that the EU`s ambitions could suck financial resources away from NATO, where allies have spent years cutting budgets following the 2008 financial crisis.

Most EU countries, including Germany and France, are members of the US-led alliance and contribute to EU and NATO rapid reaction forces.

The EU also needs Britain, one of the few European nations able to lead large military missions, as a partner.

"There are member states who would like to see...a single set of forces. That looks and sounds to me like a European army, and we would oppose that," Fallon told reporters.

"Europe is littered with HQs, what we don`t need is another one."

Britain retains full voting rights until it leaves the European Union. Fallon said Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania had also voiced concern about Franco-German proposals at the meeting, although it was not immediately possible to verify their positions.

At the meeting, France and Germany made the case for the EU`s defence plan, searching for a coherent strategy that their leaders can formally back at a summit in December.

The proposals include increasing spending on military missions, jointly developing assets such as helicopters and drones, expanding peace-keeping abroad and building stronger defences against state-sponsored hackers in cyberspace.

Standing together on arrival, Germany`s Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian were at pains to stress there were no plans for army of European soldiers wearing the same uniforms.

"On the contrary," von der Leyen said. "It is about bundling the various strengths of European countries to be ready to act together quickly."

She cited how Europe had struggled to coordinate support during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In 2011, the British and French air campaign in Libya also showed Europe`s limits, as the operation quickly became reliant on a NATO-led operation including the United States, Canada and Norway for refuelling planes, logistics and military know-how.

EU`s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who has put forward her own proposals, said there was "nothing ideological" about what the bloc was trying to do.

Building on initiatives dating back to the late 1990s, the plans could strengthen the bloc`s ability to respond without the help of the United States to challenges on its borders, such as failing states or a more aggressive Russia.

European military spending is a fraction of the United States` and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defence.

France is a major European military power and Germany has many military assets but has traditionally been cautious given its history in the 20th century`s two world wars.

The diplomacy in European capitals over the coming months will be about showing London that stronger EU defences are in NATO`s interest, according to Urmas Paet, a former Estonian foreign minister and now a lawmaker in the European Parliament.
London: Britain's counter-terrorism officer investigating the murder of a Bangladeshi-origin imam today charged a 24-year-old man for helping his killer flee the country.

Jalal Uddin died of multiple injuries to his head and face in the UK earlier this year and his killer, Mohammed Abdul Kadir, was convicted of the 71-year-old's murder earlier this month in absentia.

Kadir is believed to have fled to Syria and joined Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists.

Mohammed Syadul Hussain has now been charged with assisting an offender contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 and is accused of helping Kadir leave the country for Turkey three days after the murder on February 18.

Hussain has been remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court on October 24, Greater Manchester Police said.

The new charge comes 10 days after 21-year-old Mohammed Syeedy was jailed for a minimum of 24 years for his part in Uddin?s murder.

Kadir and Syeedy were found guilty of killing Uddin after a trial which heard Uddin practiced a form of Islamic healing called Ruqya, considered to be "black magic" by some extremists.

Syeedy and his friends surveilled Uddin for 18 months before Kadir bludgeoned him to death with a hammer in a children?s playground as he walked home from his mosque at night.

"It seems to me that this was a case of two members of the Muslim faith killing another member of the Muslim faith solely because they disapproved of a particular practice carried out by that person," Judge David Maddison said.

Kadir remains the subject of an international manhunt.
Ahmedabad: The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday withdrew its petition in Gujarat High Court after the police granted it permission to hold a rally on October 16, to be addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The party withdrew its petition being heard by a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi today, as Surat Police Commissioner today informed the court that permission has been granted for the rally.

AAP, through its spokesperson Harshil Nayak, had moved the petition seeking permission for the rally which, it said, was not being granted by the district administration, nearly a month after the party had applied for the same on August 19.

The court had last week issued notices to the district administration and Additional Home Secretary, Surat Police Commissioner, and Collector.

AAP said this will be their first political rally to be addressed by Kejriwal, for which it required sufficient time for preparation and hence, sought permission well in advance.

Nayak said preparation has begun for the rally which will be the first in the run-up to the state Assembly polls to be held in 2017.

"The rally will be held at Yogi Chowk in Surat's Varachha locality on October 19. Party volunteers have already begun preparations for the same in full-swing," he said.
New Delhi: The National Commission for Minorities, in its report on the murders and gang-rape of two members of a Muslim family in Haryana's Mewat, welcomed the transfer of investigation to CBI and recommended regular jobs for the victims or their kin.

"The incident has shaken the people of the area and there is a lot of resentment, especially among Muslim community, partly due to allegations that the culprits were 'gau rakshaks'. The role of police in handling the case is also being widely criticised," said the report, released on Tuesday.

It recommended the Haryana government should take steps to promote communal harmony and restore people's confidence in the functioning of police. "The state authorities should co-ordinate with CBI to ensure quick completion of investigation," it said.

The Commission, appreciating the state government for "paying compensation to the victims at double the rate of compensation recommended by the district administration under the existing rules", said that the "same spirit of magnanimity is expected in the matter of giving jobs to the victims and their dependants".

It said that the offer of casual employment is inadequate and as assured by the Haryana Chief Minister, regular employment may be given to the victims or their kin.

On the night of August 24, around four to five unknown persons entered the house belonging to a family from the Muslim community, killed the husband and wife and gang raped two other women of the family in Dingeri village in Tauru police station area of Mewat.

Four people have been arrested and identification parade of the arrested was conducted on September 14 on the court's order.

NCM Chairman Naseer Ahmad and Member Praveen Davar visited the Dingeri on September 22 to look into the incident and meet the victims and people of the locality.
Beijing: China on Monday reacted guardedly to India's decision to suspend talks with Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty, saying it hopes the two countries can "properly" address disputes and improve ties through dialogue and consultation.

"As a friendly neighbour to both India and Pakistan, China hopes that India and Pakistan can properly address disputes and improve relations through dialogue and consultation, maintain and enhance all-round cooperation and join hands to promote regional peace, stability and development," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told PTI in a written response.

His response came to a question on India's decision to hold the talks between Commissioners of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) only when the atmosphere was free from cross border terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on that country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six rivers -- Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum -- were to be shared between the two countries.
By PTI: Peshawar, Sep 27 (PTI) The Pakistan Army today said it had arrested a gang of seven militants, including women, involved in carrying out terror attacks on a Christian colony and a court house here in which 13 people were killed.

Speaking at a security meeting here, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said four facilitators who helped the perpetrators to carry out the Christian Colony attack in which one person was killed.

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The attack was plannedin Afghanistan and one co-accomplice of the attackers is hiding somewhere in Afghanistan, Bajwa said at the meeting headed by Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif.

He also said that three persons were arrested for their involvementin the suicide attack on a court house in Mardan in northwest Pakistan in which 12 people were killed.

Three suicide jackets were also recoveredfrom the arrested militant, Bajwa said, adding that they were planning to attack Mardan Police Lines and NationalBank.

Noting that all the arrested were involved in facilitating the attackers to reachtheir target points from Torkham, Bajwa said that women were also nabbed for their involvement in terror incidents and would be prosecuted according to law.

He said 1,470 intelligence-based operations had been conducted in Peshawarand FATA which has significantly improved overall security situation in the restive region.

The kinetic element of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, including Khyber III, has been successfully concluded and mountainous range ofRajgal has been cleared in Khyber Agency, he claimed.

Bajwa said the security situation would improve if Afghanistan plays its due role.

One person was killed when four gunmen stormed a Christian colony near Peshawar and 12 people died when a suicide bomber struck a court in the town of Mardan on September 2. PTI AYZ MRJ AKJ MRJ

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New Delhi: Stating that China has not extended support to Pakistan when it really mattered in the past, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution India, Dhruva Jaishankar, on Tuesday said that China`s intervention in reducing the hostile feelings and tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad would not be welcomed.

"If the past is any guide, China has not helped Pakistan when it really mattered, either in 1965, 1971, or 1999. However, China is taking a much stronger position in support of Pakistan and has over the past couple of years invested much more economically, stepped up political support at multilateral organizations, even on the issue of terrorism," Jaishankar told ANI.

"So any Chinese intervention now would not be welcome, from New Delhi`s point of view," he added.

Jaishankar`s view came a day after China denied having any knowledge of a senior diplomat assuring Pakistan that Beijing will back the country in case of a war with India.

Last week, consul general of China in Lahore, Yu Boren, was quoted as saying that China will extend support to Pakistan in the case of "foreign aggression" and that his country was on Islamabad`s side in the Kashmir dispute. When asked about Yu`s categorical statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) brushed it aside.

"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," MFA spokesperson Geng Shuang said at the regular press briefing on Monday.

"China`s position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear. As neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and manage and control the situation besides jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region," Geng said.

China`s reaction on Monday was the second time since September 22 that it distanced itself from Pakistan media attributing Beijing`s support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.
Jammu: The curfew imposed in Kishtwar district following a stone pelting incident triggered by arrest of three separatists remained in force for the third day today.

Three separatist leaders in the town were arrested on Saturday night and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for disrupting peace in the district following which some persons resorted to stone pelting prompting the authorities to impose curfew in the district.

The curfew continues for the third day today, but the situation is under control. There is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere, police officials said.

One more person, Asif, was detained by police during a raid last night for disrupting peace in the mountainous district. Three persons were detained on Saturday night for trying to disrupt peace, he said.

More arrests are likely as police have prepared a list of people who can been seen shouting "objectionable and provocative" slogans in some video clips, they said.

The authorities had yesterday relaxed the restrictions for two hours.
New Delhi: The Delhi government will provide Rs 1 crore to the family of a school teacher stabbed to death by two of his students, it was announced on Tuesday.

The teacher, Mukesh Kumar, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Tuesday, a day after he was attacked.

"There can be no compensation for the family's agony... The government will give Rs 1 crore to his family as immediate financial assistance," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

Sisodia visited Mukesh Kumar at the hospital on Monday night and spoke to the doctors.

"Our government respects teachers and believes that the contribution of a teacher is just as important as that of a soldier serving at the border," he added.

Mukesh Kumar, a government school teacher at Nangloi here, was stabbed on Monday by two Class XII students in front of their classmates for allegedly rusticating them for low attendance.
Beijing: India and China on Tuesday discussed ways to enhance security and cooperation to combat terror as officials from the two sides exchanged information on policies and legislation to deal with terrorism at the first high-level dialogue where they reached "important consensus".

The two sides exchanged views on the international and regional security situation at the first meeting of the India- China High Level Dialogue on Counter-terrorism and Security held here.

The meeting was co-chaired by R N Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.

They exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and further enhance their understanding on issues of major concerns to both sides, according to a press release issued by the Indian embassy here.

"The two sides had in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard," the release said without elaborating.
Delhi: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday issued a demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed him incriminating proof regarding Uri terror attack.

Basit was confronted with proof of 'cross-border origins' of the terror strike and was told that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad.

At the same time, he was also given details of Pakistan-based handlers.

Details of guides are - Faizal Hussain Awan (20 years), son of Gul Akbar, resident of Potha Jahangir, Muzzaffarabad and Yasin Khurshid (19 years), s/o Mohammed Khurshid, r/o Khiliana Kalan, Muzzaffarabad.

Names of handlers - Mohammad Kabir Awan and Basharat.

Further, the FS termed continuing cross-border terrorist attacks from Pakistan against India as unacceptable.

Foreign Secretary calls in Pakistan HC Basit today & presents proof of Cross border origins of #UriAttacks.1/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Informs him that the two guides who helped infiltration were apprehended by local villagers and are now in custody 2/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Faizal Hussain Awan(20 yrs),S/o Gul Akbar;R/o Potha Jahangir,Muzzaffarabad. 3/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Yasin Khurshid(19 yrs),S/o Mohammed Khurshid R/o Khiliana Kalan,Muzzaffarabad.4/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of d slain Uri attackers:Hafiz Ahmed,S/o Feroz,R/o Dharbang, Muzaffarabad. 5/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of handlers also obtained:Mohd.Kabir Awan &Basharat.FS terms continuing CB terrorist attacks frm Pak against India as unaccpt'le.n/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Sushma Swaraj slams Nawaz Sharif at UN, asks Pakistan to stop dreaming about Kashmir

The development comes a day after India, in a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, had said at the United Nations that those accusing others of rights violations must introspect.

India had also censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

Taking a veiled dig at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address at the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) session had said that there were nations "in our midst" where UN designated terrorists roamed freely and delivered "their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity", an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

She had also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism and for whom sheltering terrorists had become "their calling card".

"In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account," Swaraj had asserted in her nearly 20-minute speech.

"These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations," Swaraj had said, as per PTI.

In a strong rebuttal of the "baseless allegations" made by Sharif from the podium of the General Assembly about human rights violations by India in Kashmir, Swaraj had added, "I can only say that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of state oppression."

Her speech came just over a week after 18 Indian jawans were killed in a deadly attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from across the border on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir.

Four terrorists were also killed by the Army.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: A two-week long joint Indo-US military exercise, focusing on counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations, in Uttarakhand's Chaubattia forest has been very successful, the Army said on Tuesday.

The exercise 'Yudh Abhyas - 2016', which concluded today, was carried out as part of efforts by both the strategic partners to enhance overall defence cooperation.

The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and fifth Battalion of 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army.

In his remarks at the end of the exercise, Major General Thomas James of US Army said army to army relationship between India and the US has never been so stronger and that the exercise provided a great way to enhance interoperability.

The combined exercise was "undoubtedly, an unprecedented success", the Army said.

The exercise was the 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army.

Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise.

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, the Army said.

Major General RK Raina, in his address, said both countries are faced with similar challenges from the "divisive" forces of extremism and international terrorism and that the synergy achieved would enable both sides to operate together, if the need arises.
Islamabad: Amid indications that Modi government is reviewing the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has come out in the open with a warning that it will seek legal recourse if India goes back on the 1960 agreement.

Sartaz Aziz, the advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, asserted, Tuesday, that India cannot go back on the Indus Water Treaty and said that both the countries are bound to follow what has been agreed upon by Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistani president Ayub Khan.

India can neither unilaterally abrogate nor alter the treaty, Aziz said, adding that Pakistan will approach the International Court of Justice over the issue.

Aziz went on to claim that the Indian government has received a setback in its efforts to isolate Islamabad diplomatically.

According to Dawn, Aziz claimed that about 56 countries of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Human Rights Council of the United Nations and other world bodies have supported Pakistans stance on Kashmir by firmly rejecting Indias allegations.

Emphasising that Pakistan had strongly rejected Indian narratives, Aziz said that the Pakistan government had addressed letters to the world leaders, highlighting the grave situation in Kashmir, besides handing over of dossiers containing facts about the ground reality.

He also alleged that Indian government was trying to impose Indian hegemony in the region with its own narratives, which was unacceptable to Pakistan.

Rebuffing Indias claims over Balochistan, the advisor asserted by saying that there was no relevance between the situation in Kashmir and the province. He added: It was an attempt to divert attention from the gross human rights violations in the Valley.

(With Agency inputs)
Mathura: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today charged that the Narendra Modi government does not have a "stable" policy towards Pakistan and has not been able to decide on how to put Islamabad in the dock in the wake of the Uri attack.

On the Indus Water Treaty, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the government should consider all pros and cons and take a decision keeping in mind the future.

"The BJP government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony and visited the Pakistani premier uninvited on his birthday.

"And many a times, he has adopted a very tough stance against Pakistan. His government has not been able to decide on how to deal with Islamabad," Azad, who was here to launch Congress' yatra from Deoria to New Delhi, said.

"In the Modi government, the Foreign Secretary favours talks with Pakistan but the National Security Advisor suggests suspension of the dialogue with Islamabad. Nobody knows what they want," he said.

Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Azad claimed that Modi had promised the people of the country that he would "avenge the death of our soldiers and that he would bring 10 heads for every martyred jawan, but he has forgotten them now".

To a query on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said the Modi government believes in taking a decision in seconds on issues that have been there for decades.

"It should consider all pros and cons and then take a decision in this regard. Bilateral issues have many other things linked to them. A decision concerning such issues should be taken keeping in mind the future," he said.

Azad blamed the PDP-BJP government for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying there was peace in the Valley when the National Conference government was at the helm of affairs, but tension is prevailing there since the new government has taken over.

He also hit out at the central government for not sending more emissaries to different countries.

"While Pakistan has sent over 15 emissaries to create pressure in its favour, India has sent only a couple," he claimed and said there was a need for exposing Pakistan at the international fora.

Asked if his party was open to a tie-up with other parties for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he said, "Congress will go alone."
Delhi: In a significant development, India has decided not to participate in SAARC summit in Islamabad in wake of deadly terror attack in Uri that killed eighteen soldiers.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that in the prevailing circumstances, the government of India was unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad.

It also pointed out that regional cooperation and terror don't go together.

"India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in internal affairs of Member States by one country created environment that is not conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad," MEA said.

MEA added, "India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity but believes that it can only go forward in atmosphere free of terror."

"We also understand that some other SAARC member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending Islamabad summit in November 2016," the ministry said.

Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/jabKoaBegJ  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Other countries skipping the summit in Pakistan are Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan, ANI quoted sources as saying.

The 19th SAARC summit is scheduled to be held in Pakistan's capital Islamabad from November 9 to 10, 2016.

Indian announcement is unfortunate: Pakistan MoFA

Meanwhile, reacting to the news, Pakistan MoFA stated, "Pakistan has noted from Indian spokesperson's tweet on Indian announcement about their refusal to participate in SAARC summit being hosted by us."

"We have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate," it added.

Pakistan MoFA also said, "Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation. Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region."

India confronts Pak envoy with proof, issues second demarche

On the other hand, earlier today, for the second time in less than ten days, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar issued a demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over Uri attack.

The FS called in Basit and told him that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad and also gives details of Pakistan- based handlers, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Informs him that the two guides who helped infiltration were apprehended by local villagers and are now in custody 2/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Faizal Hussain Awan(20 yrs),S/o Gul Akbar;R/o Potha Jahangir,Muzzaffarabad. 3/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Yasin Khurshid(19 yrs),S/o Mohammed Khurshid R/o Khiliana Kalan,Muzzaffarabad.4/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of d slain Uri attackers:Hafiz Ahmed,S/o Feroz,R/o Dharbang, Muzaffarabad. 5/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of handlers also obtained:Mohd.Kabir Awan &Basharat.FS terms continuing CB terrorist attacks frm Pak against India as unaccpt'le.n/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

This is the second time since the attack on September 18 that the Pakistani envoy has been summoned over the terror strike which India maintains was carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups.

New Delhi has already offered to provide Pakistan with fingerprints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in Uri and Poonch, if that country wished to investigate these cross-border attacks.

During the earlier summoning on September 21, Jaishankar had also shown Basit the content of GPS recovered from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates that indicate the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the subsequent route to the terror attack site and grenades with Pakistani markings as evidence of Pakistan's role, as per PTI.

Today's summoning comes amidst India weighing the options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack. After a review of Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the government is also planning to review the MFN status granted by it, unilaterally, to Pakistan.

During the review of IWT, the government decided to take a number of steps including to "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact and suspension of IWT Commission meeting till the atmosphere was "free of terror".

(With Agency inputs)
London: The only child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose wants to bring her late father's ashes back to India, according to one of Japan's leading newspapers.

Anita Bose Pfaff, a professor of economics based in Germany, told 'Yomiuri Shimbun' daily this week that she hopes the debate around the circumstances of the freedom fighter's death can finally be laid to rest.

"I want to bring back his ashes to India, which is now an independent nation. Indian independence was his (her father's) ardent wish," the 73-year-old is quoted as saying.

According to Bosefiles.Info, a UK-based website set up to catalogue the circumstances around Netaji's disappearances, claims the 'Yomiuri Shimbun' story was published in the context of a 1956 Japanese government investigation report on the death to be made public on Friday.

The same Japanese government investigation report was published by Bosefiles.Info on September 1.

"The document, which has been treated as classified by the Japanese government, will be available for browsing at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan," the paper reports.

The document concludes Bose died as a result of a plane crash at Taipei on August 18, 1945.

Professor Pfaff was quoted by the paper as saying: "I hope that the new document can end the debate."

'Yomiuri Shimbun' writes: "According to the document (the Japanese government investigation report), which is based on testimonies by witnesses and army physicians who were at his bedside when Bose died, the airplane which Bose was on board crashed at 13:50 on 18 August, 1945, immediately after taking off from Taiwan, where the plane landed for fuelling.

"Bose, who suffered burn injury all over his body, requested 'to treat others before himself' at the army hospital he was admitted to. Despite his request, physicians treated Bose first. However, Bose died at 19:00."

It further reports: "The document also shows the process as to how his ashes and belongings were transported to Japan."

Bose's ashes have reportedly since been preserved at the Japanese capital's Renkoji temple for 71 years.

The paper reports the chief priest at this place of worship, Kyozen Mochizuki, "also hopes that the release of the document will lead to (the) return of the ashes to India".
Pakistan today categorically said that India had no right to unilaterally separate itself from the Indus Waters Treaty.

By India Today Web Desk: A day after India decided to revisit its Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, Islamabad today said New Delhi has no right to unilaterally separate itself from the 56-year-old agreement between the two countries.

"According to the international law, India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty. If India violates the treaty, Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice," Pakistan Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz told the Pakistani media.

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Aziz said the Indus Waters Treaty was not suspended "even during the Kargil and the Siachen wars" between India and Pakistan.

Also Read: Indus Waters Treaty: Blood and water can't flow together, says PM Modi

MODI HAD SAID BLOOD AND WATER CAN'T FLOW TOGETHER, WHAT NOW?

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hit out at Pakistan over the Uri terror attack, bluntly telling the neighbouring country that "blood and water cannot flow together" in a high-level meeting.

The government decided in the meeting to look at the full utilisation of the waters of the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, the three western rivers of the Indus water system that flow through Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.

Using water as a weapon, the government has decided there would no meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission set up to overlook implementation of the treaty till "terror is in the air", and that India would also take a final call on the unilateral part of suspension of the Tulbul water navigation project in Jammu and Kashmir depending on what Pakistan did next.

The meeting decided that an inter-ministerial commission would be set up to look into various provisions of the bilateral water treaty that was signed in Karachi on September 19,1960, out of Pakistan's fear that since the source of rivers of the Indus basin is in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan during times of war.

Also Read:

Indus Waters Treaty: Options before PM Modi

11 things you need to know about Indus Waters Treaty and why it is in news again



--- ENDS ---
Dehradun: President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Uttarakhand on Tuesday for a three-day visit, officials said.

Elaborate security arrangements were made for the high-profile visit and security has been beefed up at places where he is slated to visit.

On his first day, the President will inaugurate a building 'Aashiana' at the Presidential Bodyguards' campus at Rajpur road here. He will also lay the foundation stone of 12 new units and after a brief stopover would proceed to Raj Bhawan.

Governor K.K. Paul would be hosting a dinner for the President on Tuesday night. Mukherjee is scheduled to leave, with family, for the Kedarnath shrine on an Indian Air Force chopper on Wednesday.

In other itineraries, Mukherjee will host a high tea for dignitaries and local VIPs at the Raj Bhawan on Wednesday.

On Thursday, he will attend the Ganga Aarti on the banks of the river at Haridwar. His stopover in Haridwar would be for two hours. He is set to leave for Delhi on Thursday in a special plane from the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, an official informed IANS.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review border security.

However, there is no official word from the home ministry so far but media reports said that Rajnath Singh expressed concern over continued infiltration.

Also, it was reported that Rajnath Singh reviewing border security told BSF that accountability for infiltration and lapses on border must be fixed.

Noteworthy, the meeting came on the heels of Uri terror attack.

Heavily armed militants, suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM, had stormed an army base in Uri in North Kashmir last Sunday.

18 soldiers were martyred in the attack.
Delhi: A day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a strong pitch at the United Nations to isolate nations who speak the language of terrorism, it was reported on Wednesday that Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja M Asif, in what many would call bizarre, accused India of being involved in the many terror attacks that have plagued his country for several years.

Not only this, Asif has claimed that the deadly terror strike on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri was "self-generated" by India.

"India has been involved for several years in the many attacks that have taken place in Pakistan. And I firmly believe that the entire Uri incident is self-generated by India," Asif said in an interview to a Pakistani TV channel, as per ANI.

Moreover, following the Uri attack, the Defence Minister in a late night tweet had stated that blaming Pakistan for Uri and any attempt to escalate tension to deflect attention from state terrorism in Kashmir, would "prove expensive for Indians".

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had stated that Indian`s assertion that Islamabad was behind the Uri attack, was New Delhi`s "long-time habit".

However, three days after the Uri attack in which 18 Army soldiers lost their lives, India had summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and presented evidence of Pakistan`s role in it as other strikes like Pathankot.

Displaying a list of proofs nailing Pakistan`s involvement in the attack, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup had emphasised that a number of items - 1. GPS from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates that indicate the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the subsequent route to the terror attack site, 2. Grenades with Pakistani markings, 3. Communication matrix sheets, 4. Communication equipment, 5. Other stores made in Pakistan, including food, medicines and clothes.

Calling on the Pakistan government to take active involvement into the investigation of the attacks, the MEA spokesperson had said that if Islamabad wishes to investigate cross-border attacks, India was ready to provide fingerprints and DNA samples of those terrorists killed in the Uri and Poonch incidents.

Sushma Swaraj slams Pakistan at UN, asks Pakistan to stop dreaming of Kashmir

On the other hand, yesterday, in a sharp rebuke to Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir, India had said that those accusing others of rights violations must introspect as it censured Pakistan for the first time at the UNGA for perpetrating the "worst form of state oppression" in Balochistan.

Taking a veiled dig at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address at the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) session had said there were nations "in our midst" where UN designated terrorists roamed freely and delivered "their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity", an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

"In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account," Swaraj had asserted in her nearly 20-minute speech.

"These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations," Swaraj had said, as per PTI.

In a strong rebuttal of the "baseless allegations" made by Sharif from the podium of the General Assembly about human rights violations by India in Kashmir, Swaraj had said, "I can only say that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of state oppression."

Her speech came just over a week after 18 Indian jawans were killed in a deadly attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from across the border on an Army base in Kashmir's Uri.

Four terrorists were also killed by the Army.

(With Agency inputs)
Surat: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack, Shiv Sena activists have handed over a memorandum to a collector, urging the Centre to declare war against Pakistan.

In the memorandum, 28 Shiv Sena members hailing from Surat, Gujarat have offered to become human bombs for the destruction of Pakistan.

They have also offered to donate organs to injured soldiers in case of a war between India and Pakistan.

President of Shiv Sena (Surat) Arun Kalal confirmed the news and said all 28 Shiv Sainiks had signed and submitted the memorandum to the Collector on Monday.

On Monday, Shiv Sena had said that India's "worldliness" in the past two years has proved meaningless since after the Uri terror attacks the whole world seems to have deserted India.

"After Uri, many countries gave a tongue-lashing to terror, but we can swear that not a single nation has stood by India solidly," the Shiv Sena said in a stinging edit in the party mouthpiece `Saamana`.

It pointed out how the condemnation of the incident by various nations was spun off as support to India by BJP supporters on the social media amid claims of Pakistan being isolated globally - but the reality was different.
Birbhum: For the past three years, a Hindu-dominated village in West Bengal is not allowed to organise Durga Puja.

It may appear strange but the reason behind the denial is that Muslim families in the village have raised objections to Durga Puja.

This year too, some 300 households in Kanglapahari village of West Bengal's Birbhum district are struggling to get permission from the district administration just to organise a Durga puja in their village.

For the past three years, they didn't get go-ahead for Durga Puja by the local administration following objections by a few Muslim families in the village, according to a report in Mail Today.

The organisers have already knocked the doors of the district administration to submit their request application before the office of the district magistrate, police superintendent, sub-divisional officer (SDO) and sub-divisional police officer (SDPO).

But, they have not got any response so far.
Phulbagri (Chhattisgarh): At least two naxals were killed during an encounter with the security forces in Phulbagri district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the slain naxals.Two Naxal Commanders were neutralised in an encounter with security forces in the jungles of Banspal-Toinar in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

Tirupati and Lokesh of PLGA military company 6 were killed in an encounter with DRG of Narayanpur district.

The security forces received an input that a platoon would be coming in the night towards Jhara to attack CAF jawans in similar fashion as last month in Kukdajhor, where two jawans were injured seriously by small action teams.

Kicking into action, the Narayanpur police launched a surgical operation and laid ambush in the route of the naxal party near the jungles of Banspal and Toinar.

Around 5 a.m. the naxal party of about 20 reached the spot where ambush was laid and opened indiscriminate fire over the police party.As a retaliatory measure and for self defence police also fired over the naxal party and the encounter lasted for one hour after which naxals fled away with some of their injured and killed using jungles as cover.

On searching the area, the police recovered two male Maoist bodies which were identified as Tirupati (Akash) r/o Madded in Bijapur and Lokesh (Ramesh) r/o Tirkanar, PS Dhaurai, both commanders in military company 6.

Weapons and other naxal items were also recovered during search of the area, additional parties were sent to the area where they are searching for rest of the naxal party which fled from the encounter.
New Delhi: Weighing options to hit back at Pakistan for sponsoring terror in the wake of the Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday hold a meeting to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to the neighbouring country.

The Congress had on Monday demanded the withdrawal of the MFN status to Pakistan and an imposition of economic sanctions.

India had unilaterally granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this, which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

According to Assocham, out of India's total merchandise trade of USD 641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre USD 2.67 billion.

India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 percent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 percent, of the total inward shipments.

India has decided to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan as PM Modi on Monday bluntly said that "blood and water cannot flow together".

Using water as a weapon, the government has decided there would no meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission set up to overlook implementation of the treaty till "terror is in the air", and that India would also take a final call on the unilateral part of suspension of the Tulbul water navigation project in Jammu and Kashmir depending on what Pakistan did next.

Notably, India has forcefully asked the world to isolate Pakistan for nurturing terrorism and firmly advised Islamabad to stop dreaming it can ever capture Jammu and Kashmir with the help of its aided terrorists.
New Delhi: Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, accused of rape of a minor girl, has stoked another controversy after he was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for his check-up by a medical board.

Reports say that when a nurse was serving him breakfast (bread and butter) at AIIMS, Asaram allegedly told her that there was no need for butter, as she was herself like it. Your cheeks are red like apples, you must be a Kashmiri, the 72-year-old Asaram allegedly told the nurse.

Asaram was arrested after a 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint on August 20, 2013, accusing him of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur.

The Supreme Court has asked AIIMS to constitute a three-member medical board to examine him for the ailments he is complaining about.

Asaram is lodged at the Central Jail in Jodhpur in Rajasthan since September 2, 2013, and is being tried under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

The self-styled godman and his devotees on Sunday created a scene aboard a Jet Airways flight, spelling trouble for fellow travellers.

The controversial religious leader was travelling to Delhi from Jodhpur jail for medical examinations at the AIIMS when the incident occurred.
Jammu: Authorities today gave a six-hour relaxation in curfew that was imposed on Sunday in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir following a stone pelting incident triggered by arrest of three separatists.

"We relaxed the curfew from 12 noon to 6 PM and everything remained normal during the hours of relaxation," deputy commissioner (DC) Kishtwar GN Balwan told PTI.

He said the authorities have decided to again impose the curfew during the night though they might completely lift the restrictions tomorrow.

"Situation has remained normal after the curfew was imposed on Sunday and it has also remained peaceful during relaxation hours. We might review the situation and can decide to completely lift the curfew tomorrow morning so that schools and colleges and other offices start functioning normally," Balwan said.

Three separatist leaders in the town were arrested on Saturday night and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for disrupting peace in the district following which some persons resorted to stone pelting prompting the authorities to impose curfew in the district.

One more person, Asif,?was detained by police during a raid last night for disrupting peace in the mountainous district. Three persons were detained on Saturday night for trying to disrupt peace, he said.

More arrests are likely as police have prepared a list of people who have been seen shouting "objectionable and provocative" slogans in some video clips, he said.

"So far five people have been detained and booked under various sections and action as per law has been initiated against them for disrupting peace in the district," he said.

Yesterday the authorities had relaxed the curfew for two hours.
Srinagar: Signs of normalcy on Tuesday started showing up in parts of Kashmir Valley, which remained by and large peaceful after days of unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

No area in Kashmir is under curfew today, but restrictions on the assembly of people are in place in many parts of the Valley as a precautionary measure, a police official said here.

He said there has been a considerable improvement in the overall situation in the Valley.

There was no untoward incident yesterday and the situation remained by and large peaceful during the day, the official said.

However, normal life continued to remain affected in Kashmir for the 81st straight day today due to the separatist call for shutdown.

Shops, petrol pumps, and other business establishments remained closed, while public transport remained off the roads.

There was, however, an increase in the movement of cars and auto-rickshaws in and around the city centre in the summer capital Srinagar, with some areas witnessing the heavy rush of people.

Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions also remained closed across the Valley.

The separatist groups are spearheading the ongoing unrest in Kashmir and have been announcing weekly protest programmes with periodic relaxation on some days.

As many as 82 persons, including two cops, have been killed and thousands of others injured in the ongoing unrest.
India is likely to withdraw the 'Most Favoured Nation' status given to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a review meeting on Thursday in which Pakistan's MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status is likely to be withdrawn by India over the Uri attack.

The meeting is likely to be attended by senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The MFN status is granted to a country in accordance with international trade practices and World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime. A country that has the MFN status from another country gets assurance that it would not be treated disadvantageously in matters of international trade.

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The decision to review the MFN status came a day after Modi chaired another review meeting of the 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty in which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

Also Read: India, Pakistan get battle-ready at Line of ControlAIM IS TO ISOLATE PAKISTAN

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. By virtue of the status, Pakistan gets low trade tariff and high import quota. On the other hand, despite its assurance, Pakistan has not returned the favour to India till date.

Last week, there were indications that India may withdraw or downgrade Pakistan's MFN status after Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Meghwal told India Today that the matter was under consideration.

Meghwal had confirmed that the diplomatic crackdown against Pakistan is on the agenda of the Modi government. "The thought process is on to isolate Pakistan on economic front in view of their consistent support to acts of terror," Meghwal had said.

Also Read:

Modi's new Pakistan plan

China distances itself from Pakistan on Kashmir issue

Indus Waters Treaty: Options before PM Modi



--- ENDS ---
Jammu: Security has been stepped-up at the Vaishno Devi Shrine ahead of Navratra, which begins October 2, with deployments of extra police companies and CCTV surveillance across Katra town here, police said on Tuesday.

"The four additional police companies are being deployed at the Vaishno Devi Shrine's Bhavan and at its base camp. They will also ensure security in Katra town ahead of Navratra," Senior-SP Reasi Sujit Kumar said.

Hotels and guest houses, especially those on the route of the Shobha Yatra, are being verified. Meetings are being held with transport operators and the hotel association for better coordination on the issue, he added.

Strict security is being ensured by police check posts and stations in Katra. The railway station and Banganga track are under CCTV surveillance, Kumar informed.

"Spotters have been also deployed at Katra and Mufti," the SSP said, adding police, army and para-military forces are conducting day and night patrolling.
Jammu: Some unidentified militants on Tuesday evening hurled grenades at the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) camp attacked in Soura, Srinagar.

However, no casualty has been reported so far.

The security forces have sensitised the area and a massive combing operation is underway.

The attacks comes shortly after four suspicious men were spotted by villagers near Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border.

According to news agency ANI, the security forces also found abandoned army fatigues from the area.

The four suspicious men wearing army uniforms were seen near Chakki Khadd on Pathankot-Himachal border. Meanwhile, a high alert was been sounded in the area and the police in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been informed about the incident.

Efforts were on to nab those suspects. The security forces were also trying to determine if there is any terror link between them.

The local police also conducted searches in the nearby areas to trace those suspects.
New Delhi: In a big setback to the Karnataka government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state to release at least 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for next three days.

The apex court also directed the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting between executive heads of two states and the Centre to resolve the deadlock.

The SC told the Siddaramaiah-led government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till September 29 and warned against any disobedience, stating that 'it won't be a solution in a federal structure'.

The order was passed by the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, which fixed September 30 as the next date for hearing in the matter.

Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru till September 30th midnight, in wake of ongoing violent protests over Cauvery water sharing row.

SC calls for meeting of CMs

The apex court's instruction to the central government came after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi suggested that the Centre could sit with the two Chief Ministers - K. Siddaramaiah and J. Jayalalithaa.

The bench told the two states fighting over the river water to respect the principle of "federal co-operation", and advised Tamil Nadu to exercise "patience" and shun being "emotional" over the issue.

"We direct the State of Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water. We are sure that Karnataka would not create any impediment or obstruction in the release of water," the apex court said.

The bench also clarified in the order that the water to be given to Tamil Nadu (6,000 cusecs per day for next three days) would be adjusted against the total release of water to the state.

Attacking Karnataka for not complying with the court's September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day for next seven days, Tamil Nadu said Karnataka's plea seeking modification of order should not be heard.

"They (Karnataka) should not be heard till they obey the orders of the court. This is a gross defiance of the court's order ... end of the rule of law," senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the court.

He further said: "Tamil Nadu is tired of this litigation. Two-thirds of Bangalore is outside the Cauvery basin, yet (Cauvery) water flows to it."

Naphade described the stand of Karnataka as "obstructionist" and "obstinate", Naphade told the bench that "Tamil Nadu has come to conclusion that, come what may, Karnataka will not give it (Tamil Nadu) its legitimate share (of Cauvery water)."

Over-ruling Naphade's assertion that Karnataka should not be heard, the bench said: "Attempt should be made by the executive of both States to manage and resolve the issue."

At one stage in the course of the hearing, the bench asked senior counsel Fali S Nariman as to under what provision of the Constitution the Karnataka assembly had passed the resolution denying release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The Karnataka government, in an application on September 26, told the Supreme Court that it can release additional water to Tamil Nadu only by December, and that "Karnataka's all major cities, including Bengaluru, are falling short of drinking water".

CM Siddaramaiah calls all-party meet

The Karnataka government-led by CM Siddaramaiah today called for an all-party meeting and emergent cabinet meeting on Wednesday to deliberate and decide on the Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for three days from Wednesday, an official said.

"The chief minister has convened tomorrow (Wednesday) an all-party meeting followed by a cabinet meeting to discuss and decide on the apex court order, which directed the state to release water despite the assembly passing a resolution against it," an official was quoted as saying by the IANS.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa also chaired an emergency meeting at her room in Apollo hospital in Chennai on the ongoing Cauvery impasse where she gave directions to her ministers on how to handle the issue.
Bengaluru: In a setback to the Karnataka government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state to release at least 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for next three days.

The apex court has further asked the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting between executive heads of two states and the Centre to resolve the deadlock.

The SC told the Siddaramaiah-led government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till September 29 and warned against any disobedience, stating that 'it won't be a solution in a federal structure'.

Yesterday, an aggrieved Karnataka had sought time till January from the Supreme Court to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu as it needs the depleting quantity for drinking purpose.

The state had also substantiated its plea with the resolution of the state legislature passed unanimously on September 23, which resolved to use the water in the four reservoirs across the river basin for supplying drinking water to the region.

However, the top court has directed the state to release water to Tamil Nadu despite the Karnataka Assembly passing a resolution on the matter.

A division bench of the apex court resumed hearing in the case today.

Notably, Tamil Nadu had filed a counter-affidavit, complaining against Karnataka for not obeying its order to release water for irrigating samba inter-crop.

The next hearing in the case will be held on Friday.
Bengaluru: In a setback to the Karnataka government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state to release at least 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for next three days.

The apex court has further asked the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting between executive heads of two states and the Centre to resolve the deadlock.

The SC told the Siddaramaiah-led government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till September 29 and warned against any disobedience, stating that 'it won't be a solution in a federal structure'.





Yesterday, an aggrieved Karnataka had sought time till January from the Supreme Court to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu as it needs the depleting quantity for drinking purpose.

The state had also substantiated its plea with the resolution of the state legislature passed unanimously on September 23, which resolved to use the water in the four reservoirs across the river basin for supplying drinking water to the region.

However, the top court has directed the state to release water to Tamil Nadu despite the Karnataka Assembly passing a resolution on the matter.

A division bench of the apex court resumed hearing in the case today.

Notably, Tamil Nadu had filed a counter-affidavit, complaining against Karnataka for not obeying its order to release water for irrigating samba inter-crop.

The next hearing in the case will be held on Friday.
Thiruvananthapuram: Police on Tuesday fired tear gas at Youth Congress workers denouncing alleged collusion between the government and private colleges over the fee structure in professional colleges.

The Youth Congress workers alleged that when the Congress was in power, the fee was increased by seven per cent. But the present government had raised it by 35 per cent in one go.

Tear gas shells fell in front of Congress President V.M. Sudheeran when he was visiting the demonstrators, who have been on an indefinite fast for eight days in front of the Secretariat.

"Never before has such a thing happened... I was surprised to see how police used force against our activists," said an angry Sudheeran, who sat in the middle of the road against "police high-handedness".

State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose and his deputy C.R. Mahesh, who have been fasting, were shifted to a hospital after the police action.

About a dozen people, including police and Youth Congress activists, were injured in the clash and taken to hospital.

The police action took place after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made some curt remarks against the Youth Congress.

Leaders of the Congress-led UDF then decided to observe a dawn-to-dusk shutdown in the capital district.

Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, also took pot-shots at the media.
Morena (MP): An undertrial prisoner escaped from the district hospital's jail ward here, officials said today.

The incident took place last night. Dariya Gurjar complained of stomach pain following which he was admitted in the hospital's jail ward on September 25, Deputy Superintendent (Jail) B S Morya said.

Gurjar fooled the police guard on duty on the pretext of going to toilet and escaped from the hospital, said the official.

Gurjar is a resident of Dholpur, Rajasthan and is accused of loot and dacoity. He was in the jail for quite some time.

A case was registered in this regard in Morena Kotwali Police Station and search is on to nab him soon, he added.
Shirdi: Over 1,000 students of a junior college here have written postcards, to be delivered to the Indian army, condemning the recent Uri terror attack in Kashmir in which 18 security personnel were killed.

Around 1,350 students of Shri Saibaba Junior College have condemned the attack and paid tributes to the slain personnel in the postcards, principal Vikas Shivgaje told PTI.

The college is run by Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

One of the students, Sidhheshwar Ranmale, wrote, "I salute those killed in the cowardly attack and who sacrificed their lives to save ours. Those who perpetrated the attack should be punished."

Another student, Shabnam Sheikh, said she was pained by the attack on the army base.

Pratikshya Thorat wrote that as the jawans were protecting the country's borders, the residents were living safely.

The postcards will be sent to the General Officer Commanding of the Army's Northern Command, Shivgaje added.
Thane: Unidentified persons allegedly belonging to the Sambhaji Brigade pelted stones at the Saamana printing press in Navi Mumbai while some other persons threw ink outside the Thane office of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece on Tuesday, an official said here.

The provocation for the attacks comes from a cartoon published in the Saamana on Sunday, poking fun at the ongoing statewide stir by Marathas seeking reservation and other issues, according to officials.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said some persons attacked the Marathi publication's offices in Saanpada suburb with stgones, shattering two or three glass windows on the outer wall.

"Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action taken against the accused," Nagrale told media persons.

In adjoining Thane town, some persons threw ink outside the office of Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally in both the central and Maharashtra governments.

A letter thrown by suspected attackers in Saanpada, purportedly on a letterhead of the Sambhaji Brigade, Mumbai office, claimed responsibility for the attack, though an official confirmation is awaited.

The Maratha community has taken strong objection to what it alleged were snide comments made in the Saamana cartoon.

In the past fortnight, nearly a score of huge, peaceful marches by the Maratha community, with at least one in Pune attracting over a million participants, have stirred the political cauldron over reservation in Maharashtra.

The police have beefed up security at the head offices of Saamana and its sister publication and Hindi daily Dopahar ka Saamana in Dadar and other branch offices in the state following the attacks.
Thane: Unknown persons pelted the Saamana printing press in Navi Mumbai with stones and threw ink at its offices in Thane on Tuesday, an official said here.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said some culprits stoned the publication`s offices in Saanpada suburb, shattering two or three glass windows on the outer wall.

"Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action was taken against the accused," Nagrale told media persons.

In adjoining Thane town, some persons threw ink outside the office of Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally in both the central and Maharashtra governments.

Though officials declined to comment, the provocation for the attacks stems from a cartoon published in the Saamana on Sunday, poking fun at the ongoing statewide stir by Marathas seeking reservation and other issues.

The Maratha community has taken strong objection to what it alleged were snide suggestions made in the Saamana cartoon.
Highly placed intelligence sources in Pakistan said that training camps of the Lashkare-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Hizbul Mujahideen were relocated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The terror camps were shifted in fear of surgical strikes by the Indian army in retaliation of the attack at the Uri camp.

By Mail Today Bureau: Pakistan has pulled 17 terrorists camps operating close to the Line of Control (LoC) in POK deeper into its territory, fearing a surgical strike by the Indian army in retaliation of the terrorist attack at Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed.



LET,JEM CAMPS RELOCATED TO POK



Highly placed intelligence sources in Pakistan said that training camps of the Lashkare-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Hizbul Mujahideen were relocated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Four terror camps each were operating at Mansehra and Muzaffarabad.



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The location of the rest of the camps is not known.Pakistan troops have temporarily replaced about 200 militants who were waiting to infiltrate.The Pakistani establishment has cancelled leaves of its border guarding forces.

CAMPS SHIFTED WITH HELP OF PAKISTANI ARMY



Intelligence agencies gathered that these terror camps were shifted with the help of Pakistani army and Inter-services Intelligence. The new terror camps have been erected near heavily built villages within PoK in an attempt to camouflage with residential population.

In some cases, terror camps were shifted within Pakistani army bases. The rationale behind this move is to evade identification by Indian agencies, sources said.

Sources said that Pakistan looks completely ruffled with India's diplomatic and strategic offensive in the aftermath of Uri terror attack and is doing everything to save its skin. Shifting terror camps from their current location is one such attempt.

INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY AT LOC

The line of control and the border between India and Pakistan has seen hectic activities after Uri terror strike. Both the countries have increased their military presence on the ground.

Pakistan even shut down its airways in PoK and nearby areas to give time to its air force to get prepared for a possible strike by Indian forces. Unverified reports of F16s flying over Islamabad even caused panic in Pakistan.

KASHMIR VALLEY SECURITY DISCUSSED AT HIGH LEVEL MEETING



PM Narendra Modi and defence minister Manohar Parrikar have repeatedly said that the sacrifice of 19 soldiers, who died in the September, 18 terror attack, would be avenged in a suitable manner and at a time of their picking.

Meanwhile, union home minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high level meeting in New Delhi to discuss internal security and situation in the Kashmir Valley.

Apart from national security advisor Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau chief, RAW chief and senior officials of the home ministry attended the meeting. Kashmir Valley has been tense for over two months following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.



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Chandigarh: In a shocking incident, a 100-year-old woman was murdered by unidentified persons outside her house at a village near Punjab's Patiala.

Her family has alleged that the woman was raped before being killed. They suspect the hand of drug addicts in the incident.

According to NDTV, the woman's body was found in a semi-naked state near paddy fields in Daub Kalan village early Monday. According to family members, the victim used to sleep in the open.

"In the morning we found her dead. She had been raped and died because of the wounds in her head," NDTV quoted the woman's grandson as saying.

The Punjab Police has filed a case of murder. If post-mortem confirms rape, relevant charges will be added.
Kota: A 25-year-old man from the tribal Bhil community was beaten to death by villagers in neighbouring Baran district after he allegedly harassed some women of a hamlet in an inebriated condition.

Shyamlal Bheel was rushed to Chipabarode government hospital in a critical condition following the incident in at Saitkolhau village yesterday. He succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Police have booked seven persons, including a woman, under various sections of IPC including Section 302 (murder). However, none of the accused have been arrested so far.

The man's body was handed over to his family yesterday evening after a postmortem, said Brij Prakesh Nama, SHO of Chipabarode police station.

The deceased youth was a habitual drinker and yesterday too he had been heavily drunk since morning, the SHO said, adding that he had been creating disturbance in the village and harassing the local women for the past few days.
New Delhi: The security forces have launched a massive search operation after four suspicious men were spotted by villagers near Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border on Tuesday.

According to news agency ANI, the security forces have also found abandoned army fatigues from the area.

The four suspicious men wearing army uniforms were seen near Chakki Khadd on Pathankot-Himachal border. Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded in the area and the police in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been informed about the incident.

Efforts are on to nab those suspects. The security forces are also trying to determine if there is any terror link between them.

The local police is also conducting searches in the nearby areas to trace those suspects.

This comes at a time when the relationship between Indian and Pakistan have been badly hit in the aftermath of terror attacks in Uri.

India today summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner and handed over "proof of cross-border origins" of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Abdul Basit and provided him the details of the two guides who he said helped the terrorists to reach the Uri army camp on September 18.

"Foreign Secretary ... presents proof of cross border origins of Uri attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Swarup said Basit was told that the two guides were caught by villagers in Uri and were in Indian custody.

The official identified them as Yasin Khurshid, 19, s/o Mohammed Khurshid and a resident of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad and Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, s/o Gul Akbar and from Potha Jahangir, also in Muzzaffarabad.

Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistani Kashmir and is known to provide sanctuary to militant groups operating against India.

Four terrorists believed to be from Pakistan were killed after they stormed the Uri army camp and killed 18 Indian soldiers on September 18. Pakistan has denied any links with the attackers.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday chaired an emergency meeting at her room in Apollo hospital in Chennai on the ongoing Cauvery impasse where she gave directions to her ministers on how to handle the issue.

CM Jayalalithaa also nominated PWD minister and three officials to attend the chief ministers' meeting, likely to be held on coming Thursday over Cauvery water row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

A press release of Tamil Nadu government stated, "The Hon'ble Chief Minister Jayalalithaa convened a meeting between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm today in her room in the Apollo Hospital, Greams Road, Chennai, on the Interim directions issued by the Supreme Court on the Cauvery issue.

The Hon'ble Chief Minister was apprised of the directions of the Supreme Court today on the Applications filed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with reference to the orders of the Supreme Court dated 5/6.9.2016, 12.9.2016 along with the application filed by Tamil Nadu on 26.9.2016 that Karnataka shall not be heard on any matter on Cauvery until and unless it complies with and makes good the shortfall in releases as directed by the Supreme Court.

In this meeting, the Chief Secretary to Government Dr P Rama Mohana Rao, IAS Advocate General Thiru K N Venkataramanan, IAS (Retd.) and Secretary-IV to Chief Minister Thiru A Ramalingam, IAS, partipated.

The Hon'ble Chief Minister was apprised of the directions of the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 3 days. The Hon'ble Chief Minister was apprised that the matter has been posted for further hearing at 2 pm on 30.9.2016. The Hon'ble Chief Minister was also apprised that the Supreme Court had directed the Attorney general to facilitate a meeting with Executive Heads of the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with the Ministry of Water Resources to recommend ways to break the impasse in the issue. The Hon'ble Chief Minister was informed that the above meeting is likely to be scheduled on 29.9.2016 (Thursday).

The Hon'ble Chief Minister directed the Minister for Public Works, highways and Minor Ports Department, Thiru Edapaddi K Palaniswami, the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr P Rama Mohana Rao, IAS., and Chairman, Cauvery technical Cell, Thiru R Subramaniam to attend the meeting on behalf of the State of Tamil Nadu.

The Hon'ble Chief Minister discussed in detail the issues to be taken up by Tamil Nadu at the meeting. The Hon'ble Chief Minister dictated the speech of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, which will be read out at the meeting by the Chief Secretary to Government."

Honourable Amma convened a meeting between 4.30pm & 5.30pm today in Apollo hospital on the interim directions issued by SC on cauvery issue. pic.twitter.com/Q6hlapTCBk  AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) September 27, 2016

Earlier today, in a setback to the Karnataka government, the Supreme Court directed the state to release at least 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for next three days. The apex court further asked the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting between executive heads of two states and the Centre to resolve the deadlock.
Chennai: Ending its alliance with DMDK-PWF combine forged for the May 16 Assembly poll, the GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) today announced its decision to face the upcoming local body polls by itself, also scotching speculations of a tie-up with DMK.

Party chief Vasan said that efforts had been on in the party for the last three months to face the local-body polls single-handedly.

"Based on that, now a conducive atmosphere has emerged for us to face the local body polls by ourselves..Preparations are underway in the local units," for this purpose, he said.

He had joined the DMDK-PWF combine to take forward "decent" and "alternative politics" but the alliance failed in the elections as it did not have the time to reach out to people with its stated objectives, Vasan said in a statement.

Vasan's TMC had joined hands with Vijayakant-led DMDK and the four party People's Welfare Front (PWF), whose constituents are MDMK, CPI (M), CPI and VCK.

Referring to his attempts to stitch a pact with DMK for the local body polls, being held in two phases next month, he said that "we made an attempt in lines with the desires of the local leaders," but did not specify why the efforts did not materialise.

Vasan had recently called on DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, triggering speculations of an alliance for the local body elections.

Vasan, who quit Congress in 2014 post Lok Sabha polls before reviving his father GK Moopanar founded TMC, said that national parties in the state 'ignored' Tamil Nadu's interests while regional parties were not keen about national interests.

His party strived for both, he added.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to serve a notice to Uttar Pradesh minister Azam khan for his alleged statement and remark in the Bulandshahr gang-rape case.

The apex court asked the agency to send the notice to Khan for his personal appearance in the matter.

The top court had earlier also asked Khan to appear before it for his alleged remarks in the case, but he did not appear before the court.

The apex court earlier on August 29 issued notice to the senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan over a Bulandshahr rape victims` plea seeking a transfer of the case out of the state.

While issuing a notice, the apex court pulled up both the Samajwadi Party-led state government and Azam Khan for their unwarranted comments.

Khan had earlier hinted at a political conspiracy behind the gang-rape of the mother-daughter duo in Bulandshahr.

Khan said that a desperate opposition could stoop to any level to defame and disgrace the government since the state elections are approaching.

However, the Samajwadi Party leader defended his remarks.

The incident took place earlier on the intervening night of 29-30 July when a 35-year-old woman and her daughter were allegedly gang-raped by a group of robbers in Bulandshahr district.

The victims were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with the other family members when their vehicle was stopped near a cycle repairing shop in Dostpur village on NH-9, which connects Noida and Bulandshahr.
Bareilly: In yet another incident of medical apathy, a woman was forced to deliver her baby aboard a tonga (horse-drawn carriage) in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.

Reportedly, the woman was brought to the CHC hospital in the Mirgunj area for delivery, but due to negligence on the part of the hospital staff, the relatives of the pregnant woman had to make the delivery themselves right outside the hospital gate.

The hospital staff kept watching as the woman gave birth to a baby outside the hospital.

The incident comes after a woman was forced to deliver a baby on a tonga in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh in July.

The woman had to deliver the baby on the tonga as the ambulance did not come on time.

Earlier in the same month, reportedly a 23-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh was forced to deliver baby in a makeshift tent made of sarees outside a government hospital just because its doctors were busy attending a meeting.
New Delhi: The two-week-long Indo-US joint military exercise, being conducted at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand, concluded on Tuesday.

The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army and 5th Battalion 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army, an army release said.

The release further said: "The exercise was 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and US armies. It is the third Indo-US Army exercise and complements number of other exchanges and exercise between the forces."

Speaking to both contingents on the successful conduct of the exercise, Major General R.K. Raina of the Indian Army congratulated them and said Indo-US friendship is steadily rising. "The bonhomie shown by both contingents further reinforces it and paves the way for a strong and irrevocable strategic partnership," he said.

Major General Thomas James of the US Army in his address said that "our army-to-army relationship has never been stronger and this exercise provides us a great way to build upon that strong relationship between our armies, by enhancing interoperability, strengthening cooperation and increasing readiness".

The release further said: "Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise and Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2016 has witnessed a Brigade Headquarter-based Command Post Exercise, an Infantry company carrying out Field Training Exercise and discussions on issues of mutual interest by experts of both countries."

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, said the release.
Kolkata: The arrested head of West Bengal unit of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Anwar Hussain Farooq, used to look after the finances of the outfit, police said on Tuesday.

This fact came to light during investigation of the respective roles of the six arrested JMB militants.

"He (Farooq alias Inam) was looking after the financial part of the outfit and being the head of the JMB's West Bengal unit, he is the most important among the six arrested," a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said.

Farooq, a resident of Bangladesh's Jamalpur, was carrying a laptop at the time of his arrest from the border area of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas.

"Encrypted files in the laptop have been found and we have cracked some of these. But the details of the other files are yet to be recovered. For that purpose we are taking the help of technical people," the officer in the force's Special Task Force (STF) said.

A diary was also recovered from Farooq's possession in which the outfit's "tree" in West Bengal is jotted down.

He is wanted in connection with several cases in the neighbouring country.

"That will be quite crucial but most of these names can be pseudonyms," the IPS officer said.

On Maulana Yusuf aka Yusuf Sheikh, described as the second man-in-command of the JMB's unit in the state, he said, "Going by hierarchy, this person was definitely another important man. Many of the madrasas in West Bengal were under his supervision. He was the chief motivator and had visited madrasas in Simulia a couple of month's ago.

A madrasa in Simulia in Burdwan district was linked to the Khagragarh blast case.

Police officials said they were in touch with their counterparts in Bangladesh and a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also visited the Kolkata Police headquarter at Lalbazar.

On their mode of communication, the officer said they used messengers to pass on instructions and never used Facebook or any other form of social media to communicate.

"Only one app-based system was used but that also rarely. Otherwise they had messengers to pass on instructions," he said, adding, Yusuf never used even mobile phones.
Kolkata: The West Bengal government will take up with the central government the problem of erosion caused by the Ganga and Padma rivers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.

Addressing a meeting at Baharampur in Murshidabad district, Banerjee expressed concern over the problem of erosion but lobbed the issue into the central government's court.

"Ganga erosion is a major and perennial problem in the district. But this matter is under the jurisdiction of the Centre. I have told the Chief Secretary (Basudeb Bandopadhyay) to talk to the central government."

This was Banerjee's first meeting in Murshidabad after the ruling Trinamool Congress wrested control of almost all local bodies in the district over the past couple of months, by causing desertions from the Congress and Left parties.

The Trinamool now controls the Murshidabad Zilla Parishad -- the topmost level of the three-tier panchayat or local body system.

Banerjee said that even 69 years after independence, Murshidabad lacked a proper drainage and conservancy systems. It had a shortage of schools while the bidi workers lived in abysmal condition.

Bringing up the problem of trafficking of women, Banerjee said: "We have to stop this. We have to stop cattle smuggling also. We have to restore Murshidabad to its past glory."

Murshidabad was the capital of erstwhile Bengal in the 18th century under the Nawabs.

Attacking the opposition, Banerjee said they should try to complete "one percent of the work which I have done" before criticising her.


Created with a goal of 100,000 signatures on September 21, there have already been 123,000 signatories in under five days.

By Pranav Priyadarshi: A petition on the official website of the White House asking for Pakistan to be declared as a state sponsor of terrorism has gathered massive support from netizens, according to the Indian media. Created with a goal of 100,000 signatures on September 21, there have been over123,000 signatories in under five days.

YOU CAN SIGN THE PETITION HERE



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DECLARING A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM IMPORTANT



The petition states that declaring Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism is 'important to the people of United State of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism.'



Pakistan must act against terror groups targeting its neighbours: US



This closely follows the move by two US lawmakers who had introduced legislation in the US Congress aimed at designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.



MOVED BY REPUBLICAN ON COMMITTEE ON TERRORISM



The bill was moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism. "It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," said Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism.



The online petition on the White House website has its deadline till October 21 but is expected to reach its target much earlier.

This online system of petitioning the White House has been used on several occasions but is mostly for issues ranging from local, national and international issues. The website promises a response from the White House within 60 days if 100,000 signatures are gathered on a petition within 30 days.

MOUNTING PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN



The pressure on Pakistan has been mounting on almost every front with US repeatedly urging the country to crackdown on terrorism originating from its soil. In the wake of the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Pakistan even faces the risk of being isolated by the international community.



--- ENDS ---
Baghdad: Bombings targeting shopping areas in Shiite districts of the Iraqi capital on Tuesday killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50, security and medical officials said.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed an attack in the Baghdad Jadida neighbourhood in the east of the city, saying it was carried out by a man wearing an explosive vest.

Officials said at least eight people were killed and at least 29 wounded in Baghdad Jadida, although some said the area was hit by a roadside bomb as well as a suicide bomber.

Conflicting accounts are common in the confused aftermath of attacks in Iraq: police at the scene said it was hit by a roadside bomb that wounded six people but left no fatalities.

Another suicide bomber targeted the Bayaa area in south Baghdad, killing at least nine people and wounding at least 26, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack, but IS frequently carries out suicide bombers targeting Iraqi Shiite Muslims, whom it considers to be heretics.

Tuesday`s violence came two days after another suicide bombing claimed by IS killed six people in western Baghdad.

A day before that, bomb and gun attacks claimed by the jihadist group killed 12 people in the area of Tikrit, a city north of the capital.

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 jihadists seized in June 2014.

But IS has maintained the ability to carry out attacks in government-controlled areas even as the jihadist group lost ground, and it is likely to increasingly turn to such insurgent tactics if it loses Mosul.
Washington: Defense Secretary Ash Carter says legislation backed by the families of September 11 victims could be devastating to the US military.

Carter's concerns are detailed in a letter to a senior member of Congress that was released on Tuesday.

Congress is poised to override President Barack Obama's veto of the bill that would allow the families to sue Saudi Arabia for the kingdom's alleged backing of the terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks.

Obama has warned the legislation would make the US vulnerable to retaliatory litigation in foreign courts that could put American troops in legal jeopardy.

Carter amplifies Obama's concerns. He says cases tried overseas could put the US in the difficult position of having to choose between revealing secrets and suffering adverse rulings for refusing to do so.
Lahore: Making way for the adoption of a widely-acceptable family law for the Hindu community living in Pakistan, the National Assembly has finally approved the Hindu Marriage Bill 2016.

According to Dawn, the bill which was tabled before the house by Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael, will now be forwarded to the Senate for consideration and passage.

The bill also allows separated Hindu persons to remarry.

Clause 17 of the bill states that Hindu widows "shall have the right to re-marry of her own will and consent after the death of her husband provided a period of six months has lapsed after the husband`s death".

There are penalties for violating the provisions of the bill, which also enables Hindus to finally have a proof of marriage document called the `shadiparat`, similar to the `nikahnama` for Muslims.

Even though the legislation was approved unanimously by the lower house without any opposition from political parties, the law met with minor objections raised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) MNA Lal Chand Malhi.

He pointed towards Clause 12(iii), which deals with `Annulment of Hindu Marriage`, saying that it could encourage or give cover to `forced conversions`.

The clause stipulates that any marriage under this act could be annulled if the other party "has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition".

A proviso defines `desertion` as "desertion of petitioner by other party to the marriage without reasonable cause and without the consent or against the wish of such party and includes the willful neglect of the petitioner by the other party".

However, the minister for Human Rights pacified the Hindu legislator from Umerkot, assuring him that he had misunderstood the clause.
Mexico City: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has said that his government will continue to investigate the case of the 43 students who went missing in Guerrero state in September 2014.

Addressing a news conference in Colombia on Monday, Pena Nieto reaffirmed his government`s commitment, Xinhua news quoted a press statement released by the presidency.

Pena Nieto said his government`s "only interest" was finding out what happened on the evening of September 26 and on September 27 morning in 2014, in Iguala, Guerrero. He guaranteed action against all involved in the disappearance, Xinhua said.

The 43 students from Ayotzinapa were listed `missing` in 2014 after police from Iguala detained them while travelling on buses.

The government`s hypothesis is that the students were abducted by the police and handed over to members of organised crime gang Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors), who suspected the students of being from a rival organisation.

According to statements made by alleged criminals arrested later and an expert survey, members of Guerreros Unidos had killed and cremated the students in a rubbish dump in Cocula.

The students` parents have since rejected the version because two forensic studies carried out by experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team ruled out this possibility.

They said that it would be impossible to light a fire capable of completely burning 43 bodies in the dump.

On Monday, students from several parts of the country, mainly in Mexico City, and the southern states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, held marches demanding the government to clarify the facts.
Manila: A visit to China by a Philippine special envoy tasked with rebuilding tattered ties with Beijing has been cancelled, his aides said on Tuesday, the latest turn in a foreign policy increasingly unpredictable under the new president.

Fidel Ramos, who was president from 1992-1998, would still go to Beijing when the time was right, according to an aide. News of the aborted trip was posted on the website of the Philippines embassy in Beijing.

President Rodrigo Duterte picked 88-year-old statesman Ramos to start a dialogue with China in the wake of a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, which invalidated Beijing`s claim to most of the South China Sea and put much of the region on edge.

No official announcement had been made about the trip, and it was not immediately clear with whom he had planned to meet.

The aide said Ramos still planned to go to Beijing "at the proper time".

China refuses to recognise the arbitration case. Both sides have pledged to pursue warmer ties, but it remains unclear how they plan to navigate the issues of the ruling, China`s man-made islands and its blocking of Filipino fishermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

China`s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters the reason for cancelling the trip was because it clashed with Duterte`s schedule. He is due to visit Vietnam starting Wednesday evening.

"The president`s visit to a number of Asian countries is being arranged," the source added.

Duterte in a speech on Tuesday reiterated his hopes of making China a new friend, along with Russia, and said by next year he will have "entered into so many new alliances".

His rhetorical outreach towards Russia and China was accompanied for a second day by a chiding of longtime treaty ally and former colonial power the United States, which he would not allow to "impose on us anything".

A foreign policy for years aligned with the West looks set for a shakeup following Duterte`s near-daily, profanity-riddled rebukes of anyone from the United Nations, Britain and France to the European Union and United States. He has taken aim at those critical of his war on drugs, which has killed about 3,000 people in his three months in office.

A U.S. official said Washington is trying to work as closely as it can with Manila despite Dutertes public comments.

"He does say a lot of things in public, but we are still full speed ahead on cooperation with the Philippines," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Weve gotten no indication from the Philippines that they are done with us, that they want to cut off counter terrorism cooperation, so there is this odd disconnect between what he says publicly and what we see privately," he added.

China too was not spared criticism, with Duterte on Tuesday telling Beijing to control drug gangs supplying narcotics to the Philippines.

"If you consider us your friend and want to help us, most of the materials are from China, what does that mean?" he said.

Lauro Baja, a retired former deputy foreign minister and Philippines ambassador to the United Nations, said Duterte should send a clearer message on his foreign policy intentions, and not through the media.

"The view from the outside is that the Philippines` worst enemy is itself, its foreign policy is confusing," he said.

"So, both Washington and Beijing would ask, what does the Philippines want?"
Riyadh: Thousands of Saudis have signed a petition urging an end to the guardianship system giving men control over the work, study and even travel of female relatives, an activist said Tuesday.

The petition calls for the kingdom`s women to be treated "as a full citizen, and decide an age where she will be an adult and will be responsible for her own acts," said campaigner Aziza Al-Yousef.

The retired university professor told AFP that she had tried unsuccessfully to deliver the petition with 14,700 names to the Royal Court on Monday.

The activists will now send it by mail as requested.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world`s tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member must grant permission for a woman`s study, travel and other activities.
Istanbul: Turkey has dismissed 87 staff from its spy agency over alleged links to the failed July 15 coup, state media said Tuesday, in the first purge of one of the country`s most powerful institutions.

The National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) has suspended 141 personnel in an internal probe over links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara alleges was behind the coup.

Of these, 87 have now been expelled, the Anadolu news agency said. Criminal complaints have been lodged against 52 of them, it added.

In a separate development, Turkish police detained 41 suspects from a charity organisation called Kimse Yok Mu (Is There Anyone There?) for alleged links to Gulen, Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkey has fired tens of thousands of people from state institutions following the attempted putsch but this was the first announcement of dismissals from the powerful spy agency.

Turkey`s secret service was widely criticised for not warning authorities about the coup bid and the government has acknowledged a vacuum in gathering intelligence.

The 87 staff from the Turkish intelligence will no longer be able to work in another state institution after their dismissal, Anadolu also reported.There had been intense speculation over the future of spy chief Hakan Fidan after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly said intelligence lapses had helped the coup.

The Turkish strongman had admitted he himself found about the coup not from the intelligence service but from his brother-in-law, and that he had been unable to reach Fidan on the night of the putsch.

Fidan was named to head MIT by Erdogan in May 2010 after serving as his foreign policy adviser for three years.

Erdogan, who described Fidan as his "secret keeper", had made no secret of his discontent when the spy chief in February 2015 resigned as head of MIT with the aim of becoming an MP from the president`s ruling party.

But Fidan later withdrew his candidacy and remained at the top of the intelligence service.

In a picture that sparked a frenzy on social media, the previously clean-shaven Fidan was shown in a meeting with the president in the aftermath of the coup in July with a moustache.

Several top ministers, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, have grown facial hair in recent months in what is widely seen as a sign of loyalty to the moustachioed head of state.

The MIT is one of Turkey`s most secretive but powerful organisations, handling issues ranging from internal security to the sensitive areas of foreign policy.Turkish police carried out operations in 18 provinces including in the mega city Istanbul in search of 121 suspects linked to Kimse Yok Mu?, which had been shut down by authorities after the coup along with other Gulen-linked groups, Anadolu reported.

They detained 41 suspects while 77 were abroad, two arrested as part of unrelated probes, and one was still at large.

The suspects stand accused of several charges including "membership of an armed group" and "financing terror."

On a key visit to Turkey, Britain`s colourful foreign minister Boris Johnson condemned the July coup bid as a "deeply sinister" attack on Turkish democracy.

He said the Gulen community "seems to me to have many aspects of a cult" and vowed to take action if necessary against affiliated groups in Britain.

The Turkish government on several occasions asked US authorities to extradite Gulen to face justice at home.

The preacher, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement in the putsch.
Taipei: Typhoon Megi made landfall in Taiwan Tuesday, the third storm to hit the island in two weeks, with thousands evacuated, schools and offices closed and hundreds of flights disrupted.

More than 50 people were injured as the typhoon brought violent winds and torrential rain across the island throughout the morning before making landfall at 2:00 pm (0600 GMT).

The Central News Agency said a bus was bowled over by winds on a highway in the centre of the island, injuring three Japanese tourists.

Billboards and scaffolding were torn down, and television footage showed waves surging past breakwaters in the northeastern county of Yilan and outlying Orchid Island.

Over 8,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and around 2,800 are in shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Centre. At least two million households have lost power.

Four hundred international and domestic flights were cancelled as of Tuesday afternoon, and over 400 delayed. Most trains and ferries were halted.

In the capital Taipei, which was also lashed by downpours and winds, bus services and overground metro trains were suspended as some roads were flooded.

More than 900 millimetres (35 inches) of rain had fallen in mountainous areas of Yilan as of Tuesday afternoon, reports said.

The weather bureau said accumulated rainfall in mountainous areas could reach 1,300 millimetres before the storm moves on, increasing the risk of landslides.

"Typhoon Megi has maintained its strength after making landfall and will continue to bring strong winds and rains till tomorrow morning," said forecaster Shang Ching-sheng.

At 0800 GMT Megi was 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of the eastern county of Hualien, packing gusts of up to 198 kilometres per hour.

It is moving at 16 kilometres an hour.

More than 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with disaster relief.

Ahead of the storm, 3,700 tourists had been evacuated at the weekend from Orchid Island and Green Island.

Hualien and Taitung were first to be hit by the storm.

Those areas are still recovering from damage brought by Super Typhoon Meranti earlier this month -- the strongest storm for 21 years to hit Taiwan.

Meranti, which left one dead in Taiwan before killing another 28 as it moved to eastern China, was followed closely by the smaller Typhoon Malakas.
Geneva: A top UN rights official called Tuesday for an independent investigation into a surge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisting the country could still avert a large-scale crisis.

"There can be no appeasement," said Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"An independent, transparent and credible investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators and instigators of violence to justice," she insisted in a speech before the UN Human Rights Council.

Her comments came after deadly clashes between police and demonstrators in Kinshasa last week, as opposition groups demanded the resignation of President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila has ruled since 2001, and under the constitution, is barred from running for a third term, but although his current term ends on December 20, no date for new elections has been announced and there are fears he plans to stay in power.

"I can confirm to you here that there is no question of breaching the constitution," DRC minister of justice and human rights Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told the council Tuesday.

"The elections will be organised," he said, adding that the specific date was still being determined in cooperation with "international entities, including the United Nations".

At least 49 civilians and four police officers were killed on September 19 and 20 alone, and 127 civilians were injured, "allegedly at the hands of the Republican Guard, army and police," Gilmore said.

DRC police last week put the toll at 32 killed, while the opposition said there were "more than 100 dead".

"A large-scale crisis could be just around the corner," Gilmore said, urging "all actors to heed this wake-up call."

"Charting a path away from the violence of this past week is entirely doable. It is simply a matter of political will," she insisted.

The UN`s top rights body is set this week to vote on a resolution on the situation in DRC, and rights activists have been calling for a strongly worded text.
New York: US Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, looking poised and in control, came up trumps in the first presidential debate against her Republican rival Donald Trump as both clashed on job cuts, tax payments, rise of the Islamic State and racism in the most anticipated televised faceoff of the election campaign.

Clinton, whose striking red trouser suit lent her an added air of professionalism and capability, effectively countered Trump on several issues and cornered the New York businessman on his personal tax returns and business dealings and for peddling a "racist lie" about US President Barack Obama.

The former Secretary of State was declared the winner of Monday night's presidential debate by 62 per cent of voters who tuned in to watch, while just 27 per cent said Trump had a better night, according to a latest CNN/ORC Poll.

The 90-minute debate, the first of three debates, was held on Monday night at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York.

Clinton started the debate by asking Trump, looking sober in a sharp black suit with a cobalt blue tie, "How are you, Donald" as the crowd cheered -- in spite of being cautioned against doing so.

The debate centred around three broadly defined topics: America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. It was split into six 15-minute segments. Two minutes was allotted to answer a question asked by moderator Lester Holt, two minutes to reply and the remaining time for the nominees to debate.

Trump, who started with a calm pace and deliberately measured tone, appeared to lose his composure as Clinton repeatedly referred to him as "Donald" and needled him on his business and wealth.

"There's something he's hiding," Clinton said, after Trump said he won't release his tax returns because he is being audited. She countered that one reason he has refused to declare it may be because he would have paid nothing in federal income taxes. Trump said: "That makes me smart."

Trump remains the first Republican nominee since 1980 to not release his tax returns.

Trump tried to corner Clinton, saying he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal server she used when secretary of state.

As Trump targeted Clinton for being a "typical politician: all talk, no action", she retorted: "Words matter when you run for president, and they really do matter when you are president."

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. You know what else I did? I prepared to be president," she added, never once looking flustered during the debate.

Clinton accused Trump of racism for questioning President Obama's citizenship.

"He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour. And the birther lie was a very hurtful one," she said.

Clinton, who is also the first woman presidential candidate representing a major US political party, said her economic plan would create 10 million jobs, while Trump's plan would cost the nation 3.5 million jobs.

On employment in the US, Trump said China and Mexico were "stealing" American business and jobs.

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we have to stop companies from leaving the United States," he said.

He also threatened to scrap or renegotiate some of the "bad" trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that came into force in 1994, or re-define the terms of military agreements like NATO.

The real-estate mogul also blamed Clinton for the rise of the IS. He attacked her for being weak on the terror group and mocked her by saying: "You've been fighting IS your entire adult life."

Trump attacked Clinton's suitability as president, and questioned her "stamina", repeating the word a few times, in obvious reference to her recent fainting spell when she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

"She doesn't have the look and she doesn't have the stamina," he said. "I've been all over the place. You decided to stay home," he added.

Clinton calmly rattled off her visit to 112 countries in four years as Secretary of State, and shot back: "When Donald Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."

Clinton also recalled Trump's stream of insults to women over the years.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women don't deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men," Clinton said.

In other attacks, Clinton criticised Trump for terming climate change a Chinese hoax and also for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moderator Holt, in the final question of the night, asked both Trump and Clinton if they would accept the will of the voters on Election Day.

Clinton said: "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but I certainly will support the outcome of this election."

Trump pointed that he would "want to make America great again. We are a nation that is seriously troubled ... If she wins, I will absolutely support it".

The audience included the nominees' families with Hillary's husband and former US President Bill Clinton and Trump's wife Melania prominent among those present.

This was the 20th US presidential debate and was organised by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-governmental organisation.


Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf said that those burning Pakistan flags in the country deserved to be butchered.

By India Today Web Desk: In an exclusive interview with India Today, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said that it was saddening that India was pulling out of SAARC summit.

He said that India had its influence on Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who too were likely to scuttle the summit under India's influence.

He further added that the Uri attack in Kashmir, for which Pakistan was being blamed, was being escalated to a political level.

Musharraf slammed Sushma Swaraj's speech at the UN General Assembly by calling it cosmetic.

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BIRTHDAY VISITS DON'T WORK ALWAYS: MUSHARRAF

"Unless you remove the causes of anger, there will be no peace. The causes that have lead to conflict and war, unless you remove them, no amount of visiting on birthdays will work. It is unfortunate that Pakistan is blamed for everything while you refuse to address the core issues," he said.

Also read: Sushma Swaraj slams Pakistan at UNGA, says Kashmir will always be integral part of India



"You are looking at effects of Uri attack. This is a way too serious issue to be dealt with emotionally. Immediately after every incident, in the next 12 hours Pakistan is blamed. Not only Pakistan, you say it is the Pakistan government and the Army that is responsible," he said.

He also said that allegations smearing Pakistan government and Army lead to unnecessary escalation and hysteria among people.

The cause is not being addressed. Talking about the Indus Waters Treaty, Musharraf said that Pakistan was not rattled and in fact was fully prepared for retaliation.

"Stopping water to Pakistan will escalate conflict to an unacceptable level, Pakistan will not sit idle if India does that," Musharraf said.

PEACE NOT AT THE COST OF US

"I don't believe in India bashing, I believe in peace with India. There has to be a resolution with the cause which is Kashmir. But you cannot have peace at our cost, on your dictation. Let there be a give and take," said Musharraf.

He added that RAW and ISI do the same thing. Musharraf was vehement in his attack on the anti-Pakistan elements in his country.

Also read: India Today at LoC: After Uri attack, India quietly fortifies border positions, locals worry about escalation



When asked about Brahamdag Bugti, Musharraf said that he was not acknowledged among the members of his own community. He added that Bugti was distorting facts and that the European Union and other international organisations supporting him were largely misinformed.

INDIAN MACHINATION AT UN, EUROPEAN UNION

He said that it is Indian machination that is influencing United Nations and European Union.

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"There are a few separatists in Balochistan who are playing under RAW. Those who stay in Pakistan, burn Pakistan's flag and raise anti-national slogans deserve to be butchered," said Musharraf.

He further added that there was no violation of human rights while dealing with anti-Pakistan elements within the country.

Also read:

Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty

Watch video here:









--- ENDS ---
Washington: The United States plans to speed up deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system to South Korea, given the pace of North Korea`s missile tests, and it will be stationed there "as soon as possible," a senior US official said on Tuesday.

Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, also told a congressional hearing the United States was in discussions with international partners, including the European Union, to deny North Korea access to the international banking infrastructure, after its recent nuclear and missile tests.

Russel told the Asia Pacific sub-committee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee the exact timing of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system was matter for the Pentagon, but added:

"Given the accelerating pace of North Korea`s missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis  I would say as soon as possible."

Asked if the deployment was a done deal," Russel replied: Yes, I do.

Russel told Reuters last week THAAD deployment was not negotiable as part of efforts to agree new UN sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on September 9.

China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to THAAD deployment and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new UN measures.

Asked at the hearing if consideration was being given to restricting North Korea`s access to banking transaction services such as the Swift system, as was done with Iran, Russel replied:

"The Swift system is not a US system, and therefore not under our direct control. I believe it`s an EU system ... .

"We are in discussions with our partners, including the EU, about tightening the application of sanctions and pressure, including and particularly to deny North Korea access to the international banking infrastructure that it has abused and manipulated in furtherance of its illicit programs.

"Our hope is that we will in fact ultimately be able to reach an agreement that will further restrict North Korea`s access."

Russel said the US government looked at North Korean banking activity "with a view to shutting down anything that might contribute to illicit programs."
Since she had previously given birth to two stillborn babies, a tantrik was called to remove evil spirits from the body of an eight-month pregnant woman.

By India Today Web Desk: A 26-year-old pregnant woman was beaten by a tantrik as he performed a religious ritual to remove "evil spirits" from her body.

Archana, resident of Raksi village in Uttar Pradesh, was admitted to Bundelkhand Medical College in Sagar district by her husband Bhanu Chadar. When her condition worsened, Bhanu decided to call a tantrik from Nimon Padwar, a nearby village.

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The eight-month pregnant woman was exorcised by the tantrik who recited mantras and slapped Archana. She was taken to the hospital corridor for the ceremony and reports say that nobody from the hospital administration interrupted the ritual despite her ill health.

Archana was then taken back to the maternity ward. Bhanu said his wife is doing fine now.

Archana's husband said that she had earlier given birth to two stillborn and to avoid that the tantrik was called, reported HT. Bhanu said the tantrik "exorcised four evil spirits from her body" out of which three were from the hospital itself and the fourth one belonged to his elder brother who died few years ago.



The Bundelkhand Medical College's dean Dr JN Soni has denied that such an incident took place and has ordered an inquiry.

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By Tatsam Mukherjee: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a born story-teller. That becomes more and more apparent as he cushions his answers nicely with context, setting them up nicely. Almost hell-bent on making them sound poetic.



His latest film Mirzya is slated for an October 7, 2016 release. Ahead of the release of Mirzya, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra speaks to IndiaToday.in about his upcoming film and all else. Excerpts from the conversation:



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We've been seeing a lot of period romances getting adapted recently. The many interpretations of Romeo-Juliet, Heer-Ranjha, what drew you to Mirza-Sahiban's story? What was it you were looking to explore that hasn't already been explored in the love story genre?



It's NOT a period romance. About 80 per cent of Mirzya is set in contemporary Rajasthan, and it is based on the folklore of Mirza-Sahiban, the eternal love story. Those of us who aren't familiar with the romance; there's a parallel timeline for exposition purposes, and how that lands in today's times. Are there a Mirza and Sahiban today? Is the old-world idea of romance still out there in the world? The intensity?

ALSO READ: Mirzya star Harshvardhan Kapoor - At 16, I predicted Anurag Kashyap will change the film industry



ALSO READ: Karan Johar - Banning talent and artistes not a solution

At what stage did Gulzar come into the picture? Had he already written the story? Did you want him to write one specifically on Mirza-Sahiban? How did it happen?



I had seen the play of the folklore at a culture festival back when I was in college. Some group from Punjab University had performed it and the story stayed with me. So as it happens in the end, the lovers have eloped and are being chased by a posse of Sahiban's brothers who are blood-thirsty for Mirza. Almost on the brink of escape, the lovers are found resting after riding for four consecutive days and nights. Mirza is woken up by the neighing of the horse, and as he tries to pick up his bow and arrows, he finds they're broken. And then as the arrows of Sahiban's brothers kill him, he has that question in his eyes, why did Sahiban break the arrows? 35 years later, I called up Gulzar bhai and asked him, "Why did Sahiban break the arrows?" Gulzar bhai replied in typical fashion, "Tum woh Sahiban se jaake puchho." (Go and ask Sahiban that.) To which I said, "Kab se dhund raha hoon, mil nahi rahi Sahiban. Aap hi bata do." (I've been trying to find her for long, haven't been successful yet. Please tell me where to find her.) And then he said, "Haath pakad ke chalte hai dhundhte hai Sahiban ko, unhi se poochh lenge." (Let's join hands and look for Sahiban and ask her) - so that was my proposition; if he would write, and that was his gracious acceptance. The idea was to dwell on why she broke the arrows, and let's soak ourselves in love, romance the il-logic of it. And who better than Gulzar?

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Have to talk about the music, which many are saying is the best album from Bollywood till date. What was your brief to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy?



Once we started work on the film, I remembered this documentary called Latcho Drom, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary. The documentary chases the gypsies and nomads of Rajasthan, how they change nationalities, forms when they travel. So they became Afghans, Persians, Turks, Russians, Romanians and how the spirit travelled all the way to East of France where they finally settled. So I remembered the interesting way the story was told to us in the form of nomads coming together after a hard day's work and singing about the folklore. So I asked if we could narrate our folklore musically like that, which would land in the present times. And I love telling stories in a non-linear fashion; it just comes to me like that. There's no real design to it. So when Gulzar bhai heard this, he started re-writing the script. He started making pointers where music would come in, so in a way we had the whole music written even before we decided on Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

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We took that blue-print to them and it only became more interesting. I was very keen that we have something really rooted in terms of the music, which is why we got voices like Sain Zahoor from Pakistan, Akhtar Chanal from Balochistan, Nooran Sisters and Daler Mehendi from Punjab because that's where the folklore is set. Kaushiki Chakraborty making her Bollywood debut, and then Mame Khan since the love story is set in Rajasthan. The interesting thing was a Rajasthani singer NOT singing Rajasthani folk but EDM. And then my only brief to them was - let's give ourselves the permission to fail. I said we won't create a hit album, let's just go out in search of music. And those maestros, they got it; and as artists, this was something they really got the chance to sink their teeth into. And then they just blossomed, so many influences started creeping in from EDM, jazz, blues, folk, retro; basically the influence of world music. So that's how Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy took all these influences and took it to the next level.

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Talking about your lead pair Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher - what was that one quality that convinced you they could play Mirza-Sahiban? Was there a particular trait you were looking for?



The thing with casting actors, is you have to instinctively feel the character when you meet the person. Casting is one of the crucial bridges that you have to cross in filmmaking. So we looked at a few established actors, but in my mind I just couldn't see ANY established actor playing the characters. I was only seeing Mirza, Sahiban, Adil, Suchitra, and I thought could we go with newcomers? Should we try? And that's how we landed Saiyami Kher, Anuj Chaudhary from Delhi, Anjali Patil a Maharashtrian actor, and of course Harshvardhan Kapoor from a film-family in Mumbai making his debut. The quality was simple, I wanted to see the characters in them. I saw the potential. Instincts are the best way to tell if an actor can play the character or not.

Harshvardhan Kapoor has a lot of curiosity surrounding him after he signed Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi, and Sriram Raghavan's next. Do you think star kids have turned over a new chapter?



When I was casting people for the film, they were all newcomers for me. No one was really a star kid. When I sat them down, after a lot of prep work which included readings, acting workshops, I told them listen this is not about your first film. What is important when you cross over in front of the camera only one thing will matter - whether you are an actor or not. It doesn't matter how young or old you are. Just because we're in the glamour industry and we get written about more than we deserve, doesn't mean anything.

(This interview is in two parts. This is the first part. Watch this space for Part 2.)



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Reuters

If world markets on Monday take their cue from Friday's melt up on Wall Street it will round off what has, in many ways, been a truly remarkable month. Investors face another (likely) bumper U.S. rate hike from the Fed later this week, and profit-taking and re-positioning as the new month begins could also burst the revival bubble. The implied Fed terminal rate rose around 50 bps to 5% (also Goldman's new forecast), bond yields rose, global inflation remained sticky, 2023 recession risks increased, and the Q3 U.S. earnings season has been patchy at best, or a disaster at worst.
By India Today Web Desk: Seems like Rohit Shetty, the man behind Dilwale, the Golmaal films, Singham and Chennai Express has found his latest muse in Ranveer Singh.

The filmmaker has already directed Ranveer in the latest Ching Returns ad which has garnered over 10 million views on Youtube. In an interview with DNA, the 100-crore director expressed his desire to direct Ranveer in an out-and-out action film.





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Rohit was quoted as saying, "I want to do an out-and-out action film with Ranveer because I think, out of the younger lot, he's one actor who can play a cop or an underworld guy or like in Bajirao Mastani, the father of an eight-year-old son. Out of the whole young lot, he's the only guy who can pull off all these characters, which few people can understand. He has that versatility, body and structure. He is that one boy out of the younger lot who can pull off any role. Ranveer has that kind of talent to do it all."



ALSO READ: Deepika-Ranveer's Padmavati might be in trouble because of Hardik Patel

ALSO READ: Ranveer Singh and Chak De! India will team up for a film

OPINION: Is Befikre love only for West? Is India too ugly for Labon Ka Karobaar?

As one can read, Rohit is clearly smitten with the Befikre actor. Ranveer Singh had a fantastic 2015. On one had, he starred in the urbane family drama Dil Dhadakne Do, directed by Zoya Akhtar. On the other, he also starred in the larger-than-life Bajirao Mastani directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This year, he has 2016's biggest romantic film, Befikre, to be directed by Aditya Chopra.

Rohit spoke in appreciation of Ranveer's ability to work had and connect with the masses. He said, "The first time he (Ranveer) had come to my office was when I was making Singham. That Ranveer Singh and today's Ranveer Singh has not changed a bit. He is the way he was. The boys of today now work round the clock, like how the way the big stars like Ajay (Devgn), Salman (Khan), Akshay (Kumar), Shah Rukh (Khan) used to work. You can see a younger version of them, hard- working and dedicated to their craft and that is why you will see them reach where the superstars of today are - with that attitude."

But perhaps, the biggest compliment for Ranveer was when Rohit said that the actor is like Salman and Shah Rukh.

Explaining Ranveer's versatility as an actor and a superstar, Rohit Shetty said, "Ranveer is the superstar of the next generation and the biggest reason is his connection with the audience. He has a connect with the masses - the way he behaves, puts himself out, the way he interacts with people, comes and dances - that makes the masses think that he's one of us. A guy from the chawl can think Ranveer is his hero and a girl from Peddar Road can also think he's her hero. That makes a superstar. Shah Rukh and Salman have that quality. And Ranveer has that. When we had the ad shown at Chandan there were over 500 people and he met each one of them. They would have carried him home and told another 10 people about it so 5 lakh people would know that Ranveer sab ke saath aisa dance kiya. And he's genuine."

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On the film front, Rohit Shetty is directing Golmaal 4 next.

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Facilities

Cornell U Lands $23 Million for Science and Technology Center

Beam accelerators at Cornell University are about to get a lot brighter. The university was awarded $23 million from the National Science Foundation to build a center dedicated to enhancing beam accelerator capabilities, including making them 100 times more intense.

The proposed Center for Bright Beams (CBB) at Cornell is part of the NSFs Science and Technology Center program, in which four universities will receive up to $24 million each over a five-year period to develop new approaches to science and engineering. Cornell, a key institution in beam accelerator research, is tasked with studying beam production, acceleration, transportation and storage.

Particle accelerators produce powerful X-ray and electron beams that show the structure of biological molecules and materials, down to the structure of the proton. According to the Cornell Chronicle, approximately 10,000 researchers in the United States rely on beam accelerators for research in fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science. CBBs resulting bright beam technology will be used to advance research, as well as industry applications like accelerator components, electron microscopy, photolithography and water inspection, according to the NSF program site.

Beam science enables these devices, but questions in beam science require a new approach, Ritchie Patterson, principal investigator for the CBB, told the Cornell Chronicle. To realize the full potential of beams for science and industry, we need to combine the expertise of accelerators physicists with the knowledge of tools of scientists and mathematicians from a wide range of disciplines.

The CBBs objective is to decrease the cost of key accelerator technologies while simultaneously increasing the intensity (brightness) of charged particle beams by two orders of magnitude, or about 100 times more intense, according to the NSF program site.

Our vision is to develop the fundamental knowledge that is required to improve the performance and lower the costs of accelerator technologies, said Steven Sibener, a physical chemistry professor at the University of Chicago who will help lead the center. We will leverage the diverse experience available at universities and national labs, and will transfer the knowledge and technology back to them.

The new center will have help from the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Science and Education (CLASSE), which studies beams and accelerators, photon science, particle physics and the early universe. The center will also collaborate with the University of Chicago; Chicago State University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; University of Florida; University of Maryland at College Park; Brigham Young University; Morehouse College; Clark Atlanta University; and University of Toronto.

Further information about the proposed center is available on the NSF site.
Conservation Specialist Nicole Ahr has only been with the District for one year, but what a year its been. A valuable addition to the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District team from the onset, Ahr is an experienced biologist with an undergraduate degree from University of Oregon and a masters degree in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University.

She has worked with the U.S. Forest Service, the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and, most recently, the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District. Much of her professional focus has been on wildlife habitat, including on-the-ground projects as well as data analysis and statistical modeling.

Project Highlights

Since joining the District, Ahr has worked collaboratively with District staff, partners, and local agencies on a wide variety of projects. She has helped bring Audubons Backyard Habitat Program further into Clackamas County to help landowners create valuable wildlife habitat in our urban communities. Additionally, she has been instrumental in the development of a series of oakscaping projects and programs to help manage, restore, and revitalize native Oregon white oak habitat for both rural and urban landowners within the District.

Her most challenging and exciting project, however, has been a proposal for the Molalla River Forest Habitat Corridor Project. If approved, this project will protect wildlife habitat on a significant stretch of older growth forest along the Molalla River. This is an incredible opportunity to preserve this special spot for future generations, says Ahr. This particular piece of property connects to a very long corridor of Bureau of Land Management habitat land that reaches down to the Table Rock Wilderness. Its some of the best habitat in the Molalla River Corridor.

Wildlife habitat has always been my favorite pursuit, says Ahr. My dream job has has always been to work outdoors with native plants, fish, and wildlife. She shares that this was one of the main reasons she was attracted to her position with the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District. I especially enjoy working with private landowners because it provides opportunities to apply knowledge in an effective and productive way. She says she thrives on the diversity and variety of her work, and takes joy in bridging science with real, on-the-ground projects.

Influences

A local Oregonian, Ahr grew up in rural Corvallis and describes her younger self as  a nature-loving, hippie child. I always had a deep affinity for nature and wildlife, starting with plants and birds, and it just grew from there, she states, noting that her parents, who hold degrees in horticulture and Fish and Game, also had an influence on her development. Ahr also credits her spouse, Michael Ahr, Forest Conservationist with the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, for inspiring her. Im so lucky to be able to go home at the end of the day and talk about my work with someone who is truly excited by what I do, says Ahr.

Goals

Ahr is looking forward to developing further expertise in a variety of conservation practices as she continues to grow and work with the District. She intends to help people create wildlife habitat on their properties as part of a more comprehensive conservation plan for their property. She also hopes to deepen the Districts involvement in the Farm to School movement.
Russia and the US can exit the deal on Syria if it is not implemented, according to the text of the agreement.

"Every side reserves the right to exit the deal if it believes that its provisions are not implemented."

All Syrians, including members of armed opposition, can leave Aleppo via Castello road, according to the deal.

Neither Syrian army, nor the rebels are allowed to occupy new territory, controlled by the other side. The deal also stipulates areas where the Syrian Air Force will not conduct combat missions.

Commenting on the release of the document, the foreign ministry said that it had proposed to make the document public, however, Washington refused to do so. The move caused "some questions about whether the US is sincere or not."

"The unwillingness [of the US] to publicly confirm their commitment to separate opposition from al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and jointly conduct strikes against terrorists and their partners in crime who did not cease hostilities called for special attention."
By Somya Abrol: Whether or not you're a Priyanka Chopra fan, if you've seen even a single episode of Quantico so far, you know you're hooked for good. Quantico Season 2-premiered in India on Monday night-is only a grade above that.

While Priyanka Chopra continues to look her hot self, caught in the swirls of an all-new mystery, here are the other reasons that make Quantico 2 a can't-miss. Oh, and did we tell you, she's joined the CIA now? Yes, well, life's like that.

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1. Ryan Booth and Alex Parrish are going undercover TOGETHER

Technically, they're now brand-new CIA training recruits, but they're actually FBI undercover agents; what for, we don't have the liberty to divulge yet.

So, Ryan and Alex go undercover together, on the same night that he was going to propose to her (yes, with a ring and all)! Obviously then, ever since their FBI days, the two have been dating, we infer.

2. PeeCee taking off her shirt like it was no one's business!



Picture courtesy: Instagram/alexand.ryan

You get the gist. If Episode 1 is like that, we can only imagine what the subsequent episodes would bring forth. *Is it getting hot in here?*

3. Because there's a dead man walking around casually

The man in question is a certain Jeremy Miller, who is apparently a rather famous mystery novelist, and is part of the team of new recruits who joined the CIA training alongside Alex and Ryan.

In one of the typical time-laps in Season 1, in the present day scenario, Alex spots him causally walking down the streets of Manhattan, and talks to Shelby about spotting a man she "killed herself". This guy makes a second appearance in the episode as one of the terrorists who've taken over the currently underway G-20 summit, at which the American president is also present. *And the plot thickens*

4. That new CIA intern, though... Uff!

Are you as excited? RT and give us a shoutout! #Quantico pic.twitter.com/uQRWtpZ9KI Team Priyanka Chopra (@TeamPriyanka) September 26, 2016

'Nuff said.

5. The First Lady gets killed in the first episode...

...Or so it seems. That was the last scene, really-where terrorists from the Citizens' Liberation Front proceed to behead her, despite the President giving into the terrorists' demands. Whether or not there was bloodshed there, only time shall tell.

--- ENDS ---
- By insider





CEO of Copart Inc (CPRT) A Jayson Adair sold 200,000 shares of CPRT on 09/23/2016 at an average price of $53.61 a share. The total sale was $10.7 million.

Copart Inc provides online auctions and vehicle remarketing services in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Brazil. The Company offers vehicle sellers with services to process and sell vehicles over the internet. Copart Inc has a market cap of $5.87 billion; its shares were traded at around $53.65 with a P/E ratio of 23.84 and P/S ratio of 5.43. Copart Inc had an annual average EBITDA growth of 11.30% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Copart Inc the business predictability rank of 5-star.





CEO Recent Trades:

CEO A Jayson Adair sold 200,000 shares of CPRT stock on 09/23/2016 at the average price of $53.61. The price of the stock has increased by 0.07% since.

Directors and Officers Recent Trades:

Director Matt Blunt sold 65,000 shares of CPRT stock on 09/23/2016 at the average price of $53.53. The price of the stock has increased by 0.22% since.

President Vincent W Mitz sold 200,000 shares of CPRT stock on 09/22/2016 at the average price of $53.27. The price of the stock has increased by 0.71% since.

Executive Vice President William E Franklin sold 100,000 shares of CPRT stock on 09/22/2016 at the average price of $52.95. The price of the stock has increased by 1.32% since.

For the complete insider trading history of CPRT, click here

.This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






By Barani Krishnan and Amanda Cooper

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - Oil settled up 3 percent on Monday as the world's largest producers gathered in Algeria to discuss ways to support prices, with nervous trade driving volatility to its highest since a similar meeting to freeze output in April in Doha which failed.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers led by Russia are meeting informally on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26-28 to tackle a crude glut that has battered prices for two years now.

Key OPEC member Iran, the fourth largest crude exporter which is still trying to recapture output before Western sanctions in 2012, downplayed the chances of a deal while some OPEC members remained hopeful.

"Unless there's an impressive production cut by OPEC on top of a freeze, I think we'll give back everything we've gained by the end of this week," said Tariq Zahir, an oil bear at Tyche Capital Advisors in New York.

Brent crude futures <LCOc1> settled up $1.46, or 3.2 percent, at $47.35 a barrel after trading between $45.74 and $47.66.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures <CLc1> rose $1.45, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $45.93 after a session high of $46.20 and low of $44.43.

Both benchmarks moved in a near $2-band between the highs and lows, one of the widest swings in weeks.

Implied volatility, a gauge of how much oil prices move, was at its highest since April 18, when the meeting in Doha among OPEC members to discuss an output freeze ended in an impasse, leaving crude at just above $40.

Scepticism about a deal being reached in Algiers had prompted money managers to cut their bullish bets on U.S. crude futures to a one-month low last week, with prices falling nearly 5 percent. [CFTC/]

Some analysts believe an output freeze will only be implemented after OPEC's all-important policy meeting beginning in Vienna on Nov. 30. Until then, the group and non-members, including No. 1 producer Russia and top oil consumer the United States, are likely to ramp up production.

Story continues

OPEC pumped near a multi-year high of 33.24 million barrels per day in August, data showed. Russian production hit record highs of 11.75 million bpd last week. U.S. output has fallen this year but its oil rig count, which signals future production, has risen for 12 of the past 13 weeks. [RIG/U]

"If more Libyan and Nigerian production come online and Iranian production continues to increase, then by November the surplus could be high enough and prices low enough to encourage OPEC to act," said James Williams, analyst at WTRG Economics in London, Arkansas.

A Reuters poll showing that U.S. crude stockpiles had risen by as much as 2.8 million barrels last week after three prior weeks of declines also caused concern for some market participants, analysts said. [EIA/S]

(Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper in LONDON and Keith Wallis in SINGAPORE; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Louise Heavens)
Getty Images. Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton did not get under his skin except "maybe" when she brought up accusations by a former Miss Universe.

Donald Trump said Tuesday Hillary Clinton failed to get under his skin during the first presidential debate, except "maybe" after she brought up a former Miss Universe winner who accused him of calling her derogatory names after she gained weight.

And in a tweet Tuesday, he again lashed out at "Crooked Hillary."

Alicia Machado, who was crowned Miss Universe in 1996, accused Trump of pressuring her to lose weight and publicly shaming her in a New York Times story published in May. She later told the television program "Inside Edition" Trump called her "Miss Piggy." Trump also called her "an eating machine" on the Howard Stern Show, "Inside Edition" reported.

Trump, who had taken over the Miss Universe pageant shortly before the 1996 contest, acknowledged to the Times he pushed Machado to lose weight.

"She was the worst we ever had, the worst, the absolute worst. She was impossible," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday, without mentioning Machado by name.

"She was the winner and, you know, she gained a massive amount of weight and it was, it was a real problem," Trump said. "We had a real problem. Not only that, her attitude."





Clinton mentioned the incident near the end of the debate while discussing Trump's past name-calling of women.

Trump told "Fox & Friends" he felt he performed best while discussing the issues of immigration, the police and law and order, and international trade and jobs.

Asked what he would do differently in the next debate, Trump said, "I may hit her harder in certain ways. You know, I really eased up because I didn't want to hurt anybody's feelings, so I may hit her harder in certain ways."

Earlier in the interview, he said he had considered bringing up former President Bill Clinton 's infidelities, but chose not to because he felt it was not the right thing to do and because Chelsea Clinton was present.

As for the moderator, Trump said Lester Holt did "really good" for the first half, but criticized the NBC News anchor for bringing up a housing discrimination lawsuit the federal government brought against Trump Management in the 1970s and for not directly questioning Clinton about her email scandal or the fatal 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, that occurred while she was secretary of state.

Story continues

Trump also speculated over whether someone had purposely set up his microphone improperly.

"I had a problem with a microphone that didn't work. I don't know if you saw that in the room, but my microphone was terrible. I wonder was it set up that way on purpose?" he said.

"When I tested it, it was beautiful, like an hour before I said what a great mic  It was much lower than [Clinton's]. I don't want to believe in conspiracy theories, of course, but it was much lower than hers, and it was crackling, and she didn't have that problem."

Correction: This story was revised to correct that Trump spoke to "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday.





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LONDON and BARCELONA, Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VSI is delighted to welcome Sonygraf, one of Spains most prominent dubbing and audio post-production facilities, as the newest member of the VSI Group. This latest acquisition further reinforces VSIs leading position in the field of localisation, being the only company with its own studios in all four FIGS (France, Italy, Germany, Spain) territories.



Now renamed VSI Sonygraf, and based in central Barcelona, this high-end, purpose-built 1,500 m2 facility boasts seven sound recording and editing studios, two theatrical mixing rooms, three 5.1 mixing rooms and two post-production suites, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

A pioneer in the Spanish and Catalan broadcast and cinema industry, Sonygraf was first established in 1954. Continuous investment in the facility has maintained its position at the forefront of the dubbing industry, and its reputation for producing quality Spanish language versions in one of the worlds most important dubbing territories.

VSI Sonygraf additionally has dubbing studios in Valencia, and will soon expand further in Spain. It also provides subtitling and other supporting services.

Jordi Daura, current Sonygraf president and son of original founder, Joan Daura, had this to say about the deal:

We are very proud of the contribution Sonygraf has made to the development of audio-visual post-production in Spain, and our long-term retention of many of the worlds leading broadcasters, VOD platforms and film studios as our clients, in what is an extremely competitive market. We decided to join forces with an international localisation provider, VSI, with its outstanding track-record, was a natural choice. We respect their quality-led approach and that whilst they function as a global business, studios in local territories retain their own identity.

VSI Group Managing Director, Norman Dawood, added:

Im thrilled that Sonygraf is now part the VSI Group. We have worked together as partners for a number of years, and the excellence of their work sits perfectly with the high levels of quality provided by our studios in Paris, Berlin, Rome and in other key territories. As a result of this acquisition, VSI is the only localisation provider with its own dubbing facilities in all four FIGS territories, a position which will further enhance the solutions and level of creative control we can offer to our clients.

About The VSI Group

VSI has been providing a full range of foreign-language versioning to broadcasters, distributors and media companies for over 25 years. With 21 facilities located in four continents, the business employs over 250 staff across offices in the worlds major media hubs.

VSIs services include: Lip-sync Dubbing, Voice-over, Subtitling, Translation and Access Services, as well as Compliance, Creative and Post-Production services.

www.vsi.tv
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not go to Islamabad to attend the SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in November, says Ministry of External Affairs.

India has decided to boycott the SAARC summit in Islamabad in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack.

By Maha Siddiqui: In the wake of Uri terror attack, the Ministry of External Affairs has announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not go to Islamabad to attend the SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in November.

In response to a question, an official spokesperson of MEA said, "India has conveyed to the current SAARC Chair in Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment which is not conducive to successfully holding the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016."

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Also read: Uri attack: India shows evidence by identifying handlers, summons Pak Envoy Abdul Basit

The MEA statement added that India remained steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts, but believed that these could only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.



INDIA TO BOYCOTT SAARC MEET IN NOV



The MEA spokesperson added, "In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad. We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016."

Also read: India Today at LoC: After Uri attack, India quietly fortifies border positions, locals worried

OTHER NATIONS TO ALSO SKIP EVENT



A SAARC summit can take place only when leaders of all member countries are present.



According to sources, other countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh and now even Bhutan may not attend the summit.

INDIA'S DECISION UNFORTUNATE: PAK



Meanwhile, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has not received any official communication of India's response to not participate in the SAARC Summit. "But the public announcement to that effect is unfortunate.As far as the excuse used by India for boycotting SAARC Summit in Pakistan is concerned, Khulbushan Yadav, Indian national arrested in Balochistan over charges of spying for RAW, is a living example of India's interference in Pakistan", the statement added.

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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
It seems Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan have already found a name for their to-be-born child- Saifeena.

By India Today Web Desk: It seems Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, who are expecting their first child together in December this year, are following the footsteps of Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput. Taking a cue from the new parents, who have named their baby daughter Misha, an amalgam of Mira and Shahid, now the expecting couple is planning to name their child- Saifeena.

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ALSO READ: Saif and Kareena to fly to Dubai to enjoy their babymoon?

ALSO READ: Shahid-Mira name their daughter Misha



Ever since Saif and Kareena started dating, the two have been referred to as Saifeena by the media and fans. And this very name has caught the fancy of Nawab of Pataudi.

On a chat show Vogue BFFs, Kareena revealed, "Saif finds it really funny. He says we'll name our child Saifeena." It seems the comment was made in jest.

It was in the middle of this year when the news of Kareena's pregnancy started doing the rounds. And soon enough, Saif and Kareena issued a joint statement saying they are expecting their first child soon. Since then, Kareena has become the talk of the town. Unlike her contemporaries, she is no mood to take a sabbatical. From walking the ramp to promotions to film shoots, this glowing mom-to-be is breaking all stereotypes.

When asked how Saif reacted when Kareena told him about her pregnancy, she said, "He said, 'I love you more pregnant. I think you should just continuously be pregnant.'"

The expecting parents will soon fly to Dubai for their babymoon. According to a report in Times of India, Saifeena will be travelling 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.

On the work front, Kareena will soon begin shooting for Rhea Kapoor's Veere Di Wedding.



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By Rohit Kumar Singh: Siwan has been put on alert ahead of the hearing on RJD strongman Shahabuddin's bail in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangement in the district especially in Pratappur which is the village of Shahabuddin to keep trouble makers at bay.



The apex court had deferred hearing on a petition challenging Shahabuddin's bail from Monday to Wednesday after Shahbuddin's lawyer Ram Jethmalani requested for two more days to prepare documents relating to the case.

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The state government challenged the bail granted to the four-time RJD MP after Patna High Court granted the same to Shahabuddin which facilitated release of the don from Bhagalpur jail on September 10.

PRASHANT BHUSHAN TOO CHALLENGED THE GANGSTER'S BAIL

Senior Supreme Court counsel Prashant Bhushan has also challenged Shahabuddin's bail on behalf of Chanda Babu, whose three sons were allegedly killed by the gangster-turned politician. The apex court last week had served notice to Shahabuddin on bail granted to him should not be cancelled.



Anticipating trouble in Siwan if Shahabuddin's bail is cancelled by the apex court on Wednesday, security arrangement has been beefed up to the same level which was present when Shahabuddin returned to Siwan after his release from jail. The district administration is also keeping a close vigil of persons close to Shahabuddin especially in and around Pratappur.



The district administration soon after the don's release from jail had submitted a report to state government asserting that there was an atmosphere of fear in Siwan after hi s release and recommended sending back Shahabuddin to jail.

Also read:

Shahabuddin case: Bihar government replaces its lawyer hours before scheduled hearing

BJP leader Sushil Modi asks 10 questions from Bihar CM Nitish over Shahabuddin controversy

Supreme Court notice to Shahabuddin on cancellation of bail, Bihar govt seeks NBW





--- ENDS ---
While Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab was about Punjab's drug abuse problem, Ben Elton's High Society is about the British drug culture.

By India Today Web Desk: The critically acclaimed Udta Punjab, starring Shahid Kapoor, might just be copied from the 2002 English novel High Society by writer Ben Elton.

The Times Of India speculated so in a September 23 report. A recent report in Scroll.in has published the similarities between the novel and the film.

While Udta Punjab was about Punjab's drug abuse problem, High Society is about the British drug culture.

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The similarities between the novel and the film are uncanny. For starters, one of the primary protagonists of Udta Punjab is drug-addled Punjabi rapper Honey Singh. One of High Society's main characters, on the other hand, is rock musician Tommy Hanson who is a drug addict.



MOVIE REVIEW: Udta Punjab

ALSO READ: We kept asking ourselves where we went wrong, says Udta Punjab writer Sudip Sharma

Similar to Udta Punjab's storyline, Jessie in High Society, is a 17-year-old girl who runs away from London to her home in Scotland. There she gets exploited by a pimp who keeps her drugged at all times as he forces her into the prostitution business. There is a righteous police commander, Barry Leman, who wants to expose the drug business in England, that is held together by top-level police officers and politicians.

In the film, Jessie and Barry Leman's characters and storylines are strangely similar to those of Mary Jane (Alia Bhatt) and ASI Sartaj Singh (Diljit Dosanjh).

As can be seen in the report on Scroll.in, there are also major bits and parts of the novel that mirror the film's storyline. Or is it the other way round?

When asked whether High Society inspired Udta Punjab, the film's writer Sudip Sharma told the website, "Not really. The one big inspiration for me was Traffic. That 2000 crime drama, directed by Steven Soderbergh and based on the 1989 British television series Traffik, deals with illegal drug trade between America and Mexico. I had read the book a long time back. I don't remember most of it."

Interestingly, the 2015 Anushka Sharma-starrer NH10, also written by Sudip Sharma, has similarities to an existing British film as well.

While NH10 was about Anushka Sharma fighting off a bunch of misogynist, psychopathic men in the badlands of Haryana after a vacation with her husband goes wrong, the 2008 film Eden Lake, starring Michael Fassbender, is about a couple fighting off a bunch of psychopathic teenagers after a journey to an English countryside goes wrong.



--- ENDS ---

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Special CBI court to pass order by evening on the application by Peter to delay Sheena Bora Murder case trial until CBI finishes investigation.

By Vidya : Former television head honcho Peter Mukerjea's lawyer advocate Mihir Gheewala filed an application asking the special CBI court not to go ahead with framing of charges in the Sheena Bora Murder Case until the agency had completed it's investigation.

Peter Mukerjea sends fresh notice to stall release of Sheena Bora murder movie

He addressed the court and said, "There is no clarity on the stand of CBI. They are not saying when they will conclude the investigation as even now they are saying it's at crucial stage. And since they are concluding the evidence, court should not accept any more evidences."

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He added, "The court cannot put me in jeopardy. I am not against the proceeding of the trial but my right to get discharged gets over if the charge framing is done."

Sheena Bora murder: Driver says Indrani strangulated daughter, silent on Peter

Judge HS Mahajan said, "If there is no sufficient evidence then I myself will discharge the accused. It is their (CBI) duty to satisfy the court that there is sufficient evidence."

CBI counsel Bharat Badami told the court that the power to continue investigation cannot be taken away from the agency. He alleged that the application made by Peter's lawyer was made only to delay the trial. This kind of application is unwarranted he added.

Sheena Bora audio tapes: Will leaked conversations nail Peter Mukerjea now?

CBI had said that they will take a few more months to finish their investigation as they are waiting for some important communication from couple of countries.

It is from here that they are expecting their crucial evidence against peter. CBI as well as Peters co-accused and his wife Indrani Mukerjea, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna have already said that the trial should start immediately.

Meanwhile judge mahajan extended the judicial custody of all accused in the case till October 5.





--- ENDS ---
Political parties and Maratha organisations have slammed Shiv Sena for a cartoon in its mouthpiece Saamana that mocked the ongoing statewide stir by Marathas seeking reservation and other issues.

There has been outrage against the Shiv Sena from across Maharashtra for the Saamana cartoon.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: The controversy over the alleged offensive cartoon in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana refuses the die down. After Maratha organisations blasted the Shiv Sena, now political parties too have vented their anger against the Maharashtra-based party. Not only the Opposition, even ally BJP has slammed the Shiv Sena for the Saamana cartoon.

Mumbai BJP President Aashish Shelar has demanded an apology from Saamana Executive Editor and Shivsena Leader Sanjay Raut. "Looking at the recent deeds of the Executive Editor, he himself deserves to be called a cartoon. He has hurt the sentiments of the Maratha community. He should tender a public apology."

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Also read: Saamana carries 'couple kissing' cartoon mocking Maratha's 'silent rally', draws flak



SHIV SENA UNAPOLOGETIC



Despite the fact that Saamana had issued a clarification about the controversial cartoon on Tuesday, its office in Navi Mumbai was attacked by workers of Sambhaji Brigade. In the middle of the controversy, the Shiv Sena has remained defiant and unapologetic.

Also read: Shiv Sena flays latest incident of desecration, threatens stir



Defending the attack on Saamana office in Navi Mumbai, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil called the attack on Saamana office a symbol of Maratha anger. "Shiv Sena has always been known as an anti-Muslim, anti-dalit party, but now it has also turned anti-Maratha", Vikhe-Patil tweeted.

MARATHAS ENRAGED



The massive rallies by the Maratha community have already worried the state govt. The political controversy is only likely to add fuel to the already raging fire.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PANKAJ KHELKAR)



--- ENDS ---
According to the customs department, the manpower, route and the money required to smuggle these iPhones were decided upon much ahead of its launch date.

By Ankur Sharma: The iPhones are coming in from the United States. But no, it's not through the legal route. In fact, smugglers are having a field day as they keep routing iPhone7 and iPhone7-plus to India. And from here, these expensive phones will be smuggled to Bangladesh and Nepal.

But the customs department is doing everything in their capacity to nab these smugglers. In just 15 days, more than 100 phones have been seized.

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According to the customs department, the manpower, route and the money required to smuggle these iPhones were decided upon much ahead of its launch date.



SMUGGLERS IDENTIFY PLACES WHERE PHONES CAN BE SMUGGLED



The smugglers also identified places from where they can sneak in iPhone7 and the route through which these expensive phones will be smuggled.

Ahead of the launch in India, some smugglers managed to get these phones to sell them in the Indian market. The cost of the newly launched smuggled iPhone7 is around one lakh rupees, according to customs department officials.

"Almost two weeks before iPhone7's official launch date, smugglers decided everything including the carriers, cost, modus operandi, etc. Once it got launched on September 7, Delhi-based smugglers contacted people in Hong Kong and asked them to provide the phones. Some sent their carriers to transport these phones to India unlawfully," a senior customs official told Mail Today.

POLICE BUST 2 SMUGGLERS



The customs department at the IGI Airport has arrested a shopkeeper who went there to receive the iPhone7 and iPhone7-plus and another person who had been living in Hong Kong for the last six years. "The accused went to Hong Kong from Bihar almost six years back. He told us that he was asked to smuggle iPhone7 by a Delhi-based businessman. He was only a carrier and wanted to come to India but didn't have money to stay and buy tickets. So it was arranged by smugglers," sources said.

Smugglers activated their carriers soon after the launch and they started getting these phones to India from September 11. Customs department's first catch was a Delhi-based shopkeeper who was arrested on September 18.



26 iPHONES TO SUPPLY TO VARIOUS SHOPS



The accused Gaurav Khanna claimed that he was getting 26 iPhones to supply them to various shops including his own shop. "He told the investigators that he was supposed to sell these iPhones for anything between Rs 80,000 to 1 lakh. He chose Hong Kong as he claimed that it was much easy to get these phones from there than any European country.

HUGE DEMAND IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

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He would have made a profit of Rs 20,000 per phone if he had managed to skip the customs counter at the IGI Airport," a senior official claimed. These iPhones are also in demand in countries like Bangladesh. Air Intelligence units had got a tip-off regarding the probable countries where iPhone7 and iPhone7-plus will be smuggled from India.

"We have inputs that once iPhone7 is launched in India, it will get smuggled to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal where the phone will be launched two weeks later. But the route would be different," the official added.

Also Read: Hung from the neck: Viral video shows cruel side of cattle smuggling on India-Bangla border

Rapid fire with Bangladesh Border guard over cattle smuggling issue



--- ENDS ---
Sofia Hayat has now taken a dig at yoga guru Baba Ramdev, by claiming in an Insta video that she wears more clothes than him.

By India Today Web Desk: Former Bigg Boss contestant Sofia Hayat is back in the news. After her controversial spat with Rakhi Sawant over the subject of clothes on social media, the model-turned-saint has now commented on Baba Ramdev's minimal clothing.

Sofia recently took a dig at the yoga guru when she claimed that she wears more clothes than him.

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Also read:The cold war of words between Rakhi Sawant and Sofia Hayat over the latter's sexy picture is now showing on Insta



Apparently, the whole issue came up after the model-actress posted some of her pictures in a crop top, performing yoga, on her Instagram account. Following this, she started receiving a lot of negative comments, and some people even proceeded to write in the comments section that she was faking her new-found spiritualism.



A video posted by Gaia Mother Sofia (@sofiahayat) on Sep 24, 2016 at 1:39am PDT

Therefore, in the wake of all the hate, Sofia decided to post a little video where she slammed all the people who called her a fake. In the same video, Sofia compare herself with Baba Ramdev, and asked why she was getting all the flak when Baba Ramdev foes yoga wearing fewer clothes than her.

Model-actress Sofia Hayat. Picture courtesy: Instagram/sofiahayat

Sofia further said that there should be no discrimination on such issues between men and women, and people should spread love, instead of hate.

We wonder what Baba Ramdev has to say on the subject. After Patanjali announced its plans to launch swadeshi jeans, maybe yoga attire should be on the cards next.



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Producer Kalaipuli S Thanu, who is basking in the success of superstar Rajinikanth's Kabali, will bankroll the latter's daughter and director Soundarya Rajinikanth's upcoming Tamil film.

By India Today Web Desk: After the stupendous success of superstar Rajinikanth's gangster drama Kabali, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu is producing director Soundarya's next yet-untitled directorial project.

In an official statement, the team has announced it has begun the casting process and is keen on roping in newcomers.



ALSO READ: Happy Birthday Nagesh- Remembering the legendary comedian on his 83rd birthday

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ALSO READ: Nani on Eega 2- As a fan of Eega, I want the sequel



Soundarya took to Twitter and shared this exciting news.



Such an honour to be working with you uncle ??????????????? always need your guidance & blessings ! https://t.co/vaT0EpX5d8 soundarya rajnikanth (@soundaryaarajni) September 26, 2016

Starting off as a graphic designer, Soundarya went on to direct Kochadaiiyaan, which is touted to be India's first motion capture 3D film. She has also produced Tamil comedy Goa.



Earlier, rumours were rife that actor Dhanush is likely to play the lead in the film. However, rubbishing all the rumours, Soundarya has confirmed that Dhanush is not playing the lead role in the film. Tipped to be a romantic comedy, the film is expected to hit the screens next year.

Soundarya, who recently announced her separation from her husband Ashwin Ramkumar, has already begun pre-production work on the project.

--- ENDS ---
The issue of Tamil fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan territory and subsequently getting arrested has been long debated.

They were taken into custody for breaching into the the Sri Lankan territory while fishing.

By Akshaya Nath: Four Tamil fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for trespassing international border were released today. These fishermen hail from Pudukkotai and were arrested at Kodiakarai in August this year.

They were taken into custody for breaching into the the Sri Lankan territory while fishing.

Following this, fishermen from Pudukkotai went on a strike demanding their release.

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The issue of Tamil fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan territory and subsequently getting arrested has been long debated.

Fishermen from Rameshwaram, Nagercoil, Pudukkotai have been suffering due to the threat of an arrest lurking continuously and say that it has started to affect their livelihood.

"When will the Indian government come to our aid?," ask the fishermen.



--- ENDS ---
A Massachusettsi Muszaki Egyetem (MIT) mesterseges intelligenciat kutato laboratoriumanak programozoja, Richard M. Stallman bejelenti a GNU Projektet, amely egy Unix-szeru, de kizarolag szabad szoftverekbol allo operacios rendszer kifejleszteset celozza. A munka vegul 1984 januarjaban kezdodott el, a nyilt rendszer pedig 1992-ben a Linux-kernel beemelesevel valt teljesse. A GNU egy rekurziv rovidites, melynek feloldasa: a GNU nem Unix.



Stallman a GNU-mozgalom szuleteserol

A bejelentes eredeti, angol nyelvu szovege:



From CSvax:pur-ee:inuxc!ixn5c!ihnp4!houxm!mhuxi!eagle!mit-vax!mit-eddie!RMS@MIT-OZ

From: RMS%MIT-OZ@mit-eddie

Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards,net.usoft

Subject: new Unix implementation

Date: Tue, 27-Sep-83 12:35:59 EST

Organization: MIT AI Lab, Cambridge, MA



Free Unix!



Starting this Thanksgiving I am going to write a complete

Unix-compatible software system called GNU (for Gnu's Not Unix), and

give it away free to everyone who can use it.

Contributions of time, money, programs and equipment are greatly

needed.



To begin with, GNU will be a kernel plus all the utilities needed to

write and run C programs: editor, shell, C compiler, linker,

assembler, and a few other things. After this we will add a text

formatter, a YACC, an Empire game, a spreadsheet, and hundreds of

other things. We hope to supply, eventually, everything useful that

normally comes with a Unix system, and anything else useful, including

on-line and hardcopy documentation.



GNU will be able to run Unix programs, but will not be identical

to Unix. We will make all improvements that are convenient, based

on our experience with other operating systems. In particular,

we plan to have longer filenames, file version numbers, a crashproof

file system, filename completion perhaps, terminal-independent

display support, and eventually a Lisp-based window system through

which several Lisp programs and ordinary Unix programs can share a screen.

Both C and Lisp will be available as system programming languages.

We will have network software based on MIT's chaosnet protocol,

far superior to UUCP. We may also have something compatible

with UUCP.





Who Am I?



I am Richard Stallman, inventor of the original much-imitated EMACS

editor, now at the Artificial Intelligence Lab at MIT. I have worked

extensively on compilers, editors, debuggers, command interpreters, the

Incompatible Timesharing System and the Lisp Machine operating system.

I pioneered terminal-independent display support in ITS. In addition I

have implemented one crashproof file system and two window systems for

Lisp machines.





Why I Must Write GNU



I consider that the golden rule requires that if I like a program I

must share it with other people who like it. I cannot in good

conscience sign a nondisclosure agreement or a software license

agreement.



So that I can continue to use computers without violating my principles,

I have decided to put together a sufficient body of free software so that

I will be able to get along without any software that is not free.





How You Can Contribute



I am asking computer manufacturers for donations of machines and money.

I'm asking individuals for donations of programs and work.



One computer manufacturer has already offered to provide a machine. But

we could use more. One consequence you can expect if you donate

machines is that GNU will run on them at an early date. The machine had

better be able to operate in a residential area, and not require

sophisticated cooling or power.



Individual programmers can contribute by writing a compatible duplicate

of some Unix utility and giving it to me. For most projects, such

part-time distributed work would be very hard to coordinate; the

independently-written parts would not work together. But for the

particular task of replacing Unix, this problem is absent. Most

interface specifications are fixed by Unix compatibility. If each

contribution works with the rest of Unix, it will probably work

with the rest of GNU.



If I get donations of money, I may be able to hire a few people full or

part time. The salary won't be high, but I'm looking for people for

whom knowing they are helping humanity is as important as money. I view

this as a way of enabling dedicated people to devote their full energies to

working on GNU by sparing them the need to make a living in another way.





For more information, contact me.

Arpanet mail:

RMS@MIT-MC.ARPA



Usenet:

...!mit-eddie!RMS@OZ

...!mit-vax!RMS@OZ



US Snail:

Richard Stallman

166 Prospect St

Cambridge, MA 02139


Kibo Acquires Baynote #shoporg16

Advanced Personalization Platform puts the consumer at the center of the brand experience, driving growth and loyalty for retailers

DALLAS  Sept. 27, 2016  Kibo, the worlds leader in cloud-based omnichannel commerce solutions today announced its acquisition of Baynote, a cloud-based personalization platform. With this acquisition, Kibo continues to strengthen its commerce solutions with industry-leading personalization technology that quickly enables retailers and brands to provide individual buying experiences.

Baynote software provides a smart data hub that leverages historical data and real-time behavior, creating a holistic view of the consumer across all devices. The technology utilizes big data and predictive intelligence to create meaningful one-to-one consumer and buyer profiles. Retailers can use the profiles and personalization tools to create an individualized, relevant experience for each and every consumer. Baynotes innovative approach to individualized commerce has helped hundreds of retailers across the globe to accelerate their brand experience.

Kibos mission is to make omnichannel retail accessible to all sellers regardless of size or technical depth, says Kenneth Frank, CEO, Kibo. Personalizing experiences at every touchpoint is one of the top priorities for retailers to drive growth and loyalty. We found Baynotes technology, backed by cutting edge data science, can move the needle for this industry. The Baynote platform is designed and architected to be self-service and easy to implement, enabling speed to market and value creation. Individualization has proven to uplift sales and we are excited to bring this to B2C and B2B retailers and brands of all shapes and sizes.

Baynote is extremely excited to join the Kibo family, says Baynote CEO, Bill Hustad. Kibo and Baynote have a shared vision for the personalized future of omnichannel commerce. As a pioneer and innovator in personalization for B2C and B2B commerce, we are looking forward to integrating our industry leading capabilities with Kibo. As part of Kibo our innovative one-to-one personalization technology will empower the retail industry to create incredible customer experiences that dramatically increase revenues and customer retention without increasing acquisition costs.

Kibo is committed to delivering modular and integrated retail solutions. Customers will be pleased to know that the Baynote personalization solution will continue to be available standalone and will be compatible with any platform. In addition, the solution will be integrated with Kibos omnichannel commerce platform, which includes eCommerce, order management (OMS) and mobile point of commerce (mPOC).

Personalization is something that our shoppers have come to expect and has become a top priority to drive strong revenue growth, said Kibo customer Aldus Chapin, CEO, Distinctive Apparel, Inc. Our strong partnership with Kibo coupled with Baynotes technology will enable us to scale fully automated personalization and drive more dynamic customer experiences on Chadwicks.com and our other sites.

Providing personalized experiences is at the top of retailers agendas, says Victoria Brown, Senior Research Analyst, IDC. This is the right time for companies to streamline and invest in personalization to build intimacy, increase conversation and foster loyalty. This is not just an opportunity for B2C sellers and is in fact even more critical for B2B buying use cases.

About Kibo

Kibo empowers retailers and branded manufacturers to achieve optimal performance of B2C and B2B commerce through unified consumer experiences. With over 40 years of innovations, Kibo provides a complete omnichannel commerce platform delivered with the lowest total cost of ownership and the fastest time to market. By leveraging cloud technologies, individualized buying experiences, and true enterprise scale, Kibo enables you to reach higher peaks of sales and consumer loyalty. No matter the challenge, Kibo powers your success. For more information, visit kibocommerce.com.

About Baynote

Baynote is a leading provider of big data and machine learning solutions for digital commerce. Using BaynoteONE, retail companies deliver a seamless, personal consumer experience by combining real-time intent with historical preferences to display the most compelling offers, content and products across consumer devices and digitally enabled touchpoints. BaynoteONE rapidly integrates with existing websites, onsite search engines, mobile sites and applications and email systems to increase ROI without deep IT involvement or expensive system upgrades. Based in San Jose, Calif., Baynote is trusted by more than 300 of the worlds most well-known brands, including: Hayneedle, Jockey, The Buckle, and more. For more information about Baynote, visit www.baynote.com.

More POS news:
Supreme Court issued notices in the PIL seeking guidelines for raids by the CBI and other investigating agencies.

By Atir Khan: Supreme Court has issued notices in the public interest litigation seeking guidelines for search and seizure by the Central Bureau of Investigation and other investigating agencies.

A PIL demanding guidelines for search and seizure by the investigating agencies had been filed in the Supreme Court, earlier this month. The Chief Justice had recused himself form the matter. In the hearing on Monday, the court has issued notices to Law Commission of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, CBI and other investigating agencies.

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WHAT PIL DEMANDED

The petition has demanded that there should be a system for search and seizure and there should be clear demarcation of these proceedings in residential and other premises. Often search and seizure leads to social stigma, which in turn leads to people taking drastic measures.



EXAMPLES

The petition gave example of senior Ministry of Corporate Affairs official BK Bansal. After his arrest, Bansals residence in East Delhi was searched by the CBI in July early this year. Following which his wife and daughter had committed suicide.

ALSO READ: Exclusive: CBI to register another DA case against jailed bureaucrat BK Bansal



Bansal was arrested in an alleged case of corruption. It was alleged that he had accepted bribery to scuttle probe against a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company.

ALSO READ: Exclusive: CBI to register another DA case against jailed bureaucrat BK Bansal



Similarly, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbharda Singh's house was also searched on the day of his daughters wedding.

ALSO READ: ED arrests LIC agent in Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh money laundering case



Senior advocate Rajiv Dhavan said the Supreme Court has already issued elaborate guidelines for arrest of a person in the matter of B.K. Basu, however the PIL says that there should be guidelines for search and seizure as well.

Some provisions of law such as Prevention of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act prohibits search and seizures after sunset, however there are no uniform guidelines in other matters.

FOLLOWING THE WEST

Advocate Keshav Mohan said in US and UK there is a system of oath on affirmation, whereby the officials of investigating officers submit an affidavit stating detailed information about the raids or searches prior to carrying them out. But in India there is no such system.

He said often residential premises are searched or raided which causes a social stigma and harassment of family members. The notice has been served and court has assured the petitioner that it will examine the matter. The investigating agencies declined to comment on the matter.



--- ENDS ---

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PURCHASE, N.Y.  On Friday, October 28, 2016, MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) will release its third-quarter financial results. The company will host a conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The dial-in information for this call is 877-201-0168 (within the U.S.) and 647-788-4901 (outside the U.S.), and the passcode is 89677548. A replay of the call will be available for 30 days and can be accessed by dialing 855-859-2056 (within the U.S.) and 404-537-3406 (outside the U.S.), and using passcode 89677548.

This call can also be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the companys website at investor.mastercard.com [1] .
A Timeline: The Police Response to Charlotte Protests

Last week was difficult for police departments across the country as people reacted to officer-involved shootings in Oklahoma and North Carolina. While those upset with the shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma attended vigils and peacefully exercised their rights to protest the death of Terence Crutcher, protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina became violent following the death of Keith Scott.

On Sept. 20, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were attempting to find a suspect with a warrant out for arrest when they came across Scott. Police and witnesses say Scott was shot by an officer after he exited his vehicle with a weapon. Scotts family does not believe that he owns a weapon and said that he often waited in his car, reading a book, while he waited for one of his seven children to finish school.

Backlash was quick and fast and was spread around the Charlotte community after Scotts daughter broadcasted the scene from Facebook Live. She also gave a statement on Facebook expressing her frustrations and grief of her fathers death.

Family members and faith leaders from around the community went to the place of the shooting to peacefully protest the death of Scott that afternoon, but as the sun went down others joined the demonstration and things turned violent.

CMPD outfitted themselves in riot gear and dispersed tear gas as the crowds grew larger and protesters began flipping trashcans upside down and setting their contents on fire. 16 police officers were injured that night as rocks and debris were thrown at them by protesters. Windows were shattered and graffiti covered windows and walls of uptown Charlotte with, Black Lives Matter.

The next morning, CMPD and the mayor of Charlotte, Jennifer Roberts gave a press conference stressing their extreme disappointment in the violence that occurred. Roberts said there would be no tolerance for the kind of demonstrations they saw on Tuesday night, but that did not stop protesters from showing up for a second night in a row. This time, they were even more upset.

Protests on Wednesday where peaceful during the day, just like the day before. But again, as night fell, the unrest turned violent. Stores in the Charlotte area were looted, ATM machines destroyed and stolen from and a hotel had to go into lockdown when protesters began throwing rocks through the windows of the lobby.

Police attempted to break up crowds with tear gas and convince protesters to go home, but protesters lingered creating more damage to North Carolinas largest city. Soon there were reports that a civilian had been shot by another civilian in the head. Protesters swarmed around the scene of the shooting as police tried to get the person to the hospital where the victim was placed on life-support. On Sept. 22, police confirmed the victim had died.

By 9:30 p.m., following the shooting, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency. He began to deploy the National Guard and State Highway patrol to assist local law enforcement.

I have declared a State of Emergency & initiated efforts to deploy the Nat'l Guard & Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in CLT  Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) September 22, 2016

On Thursday, CMPD police Chief Kerr Putney led a press conference stating 44 protesters had been arrested during the demonstrations the night before. A total of four officers had been injured and 9 civilian victims were injured as well.

Chief Putney told the press he had devised a plan that included the use of the National Guard and State Highway Patrol. He said they would be patrolling the buildings in downtown Charlotte, keeping the demonstrators from creating any more damage, while CMPD focused on the protests.

Early Thursday night, Mayor Roberts put into effect a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. ahead of the third night of protests. The curfew will be in effect until the state of emergency is over.

ALERT: @CLTMayor and @CMPD have enacted a citywide curfew beginning Sept. 23 imposed at midnight until 6 a.m.  City of Charlotte (@CLTgov) September 23, 2016

The collaboration between the National Guard, State Highway Patrol and CMPD proved to be successful, as the third night of protests came to an end with minimal property damage, very few injuries and arrests. The curfew was not enforced as the protests were peaceful and lasted until the early morning hours. The protesters marched throughout the city, briefly blocking a highway, before moving returning to the streets of uptown Charlotte. CMPD made it a priority to keep the march moving, not lingering in one spot too long, as that is usually when the violence begins. Bicycle officers were deployed to the areas of the march and rode beside the protesters throughout the night.

CMPD Chief Putney said at a press conference Friday morning that the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Departments Real Time Crime Center a huge help throughout the protests. The Crime Center, which was activated on all three nights of the protests, has access to roughly 1,000 cameras throughout the city.

Sights and sounds behind scenes of command center pic.twitter.com/UC3WSUidRc  CMPD News (@CMPD) September 23, 2016

The crime center was able to help police find footage of instances of crime throughout the protest, for example, the shooting that happened on night two. Police were able to identify Rayquan Borum as the shooter. He was arrested and charged with the death of Justin Carr on Friday morning.

Others were identified for their roles in the damage and looting of the uptown buildings in Charlotte.

One of three identified so far -- Daniel Baker is jailed on numerous charges in connection with damage and looting at Jimmy Johns. pic.twitter.com/WAbhYHty0p  CMPD News (@CMPD) September 23, 2016

During the Friday press conference, Chief Putney confirmed that the officer-involved shooting of Scott will be investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation. All evidence and future updates will be handed over the SBI, including the decision to release dash cam footage of the shooting.

Chief Putney told press that he was not in favor of releasing the video while the protests were still violent, stating that the video did not show definitive proof that Scott was holding a gun when he was shot. He believed if the video was released to the public, the protests could get worse.

The police response to the Charlotte Protests can be argued two different ways. Either you believe that the CMPDs response was appropriate to the situation and they did everything they could, or you believe that the CMPD as well as the local government failed Charlotte in a way by taking over 48 hours to calm violent protesters.

Which side would you argue? Send me a tweet with your answer at @SecProdsSydny.
Oil prices edged down in Asia Tuesday amid continued speculation about whether producers will agree to restrict output at talks in Algeria this week, analysts said.

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet Wednesday with key non-OPEC producer Russia on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers.

They are expected to discuss ways to stabilise prices that have been depressed since 2014 amid a stubborn supply glut, with hopes producers might agree a production cap.

But while most oil producer states have been supportive of a cap, pre-forum talks between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and Iran have been less productive, with neither side willing to give in.

The UAE has meanwhile said it supports a deal to freeze output if other nations agree but that production cuts are not up for discussion, according to Bloomberg News, which also reported that Nigeria backs reaching a deal.

At about 0645 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery was down 12 cents at $45.81 while Brent crude was down 24 cents at $47.11. Prices had jumped around three percent Monday.

"The markets are waiting for more news out of Algeria. Trading has been thin so what we're seeing is mostly early morning profit-taking in Asia," OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley told AFP.

An attempt in April to reach a production cap was scuppered by Iran, which refused to take part in talks after it had just emerged from years of Western-imposed nuclear-linked sanctions.

"Trading has been volatile and sentiment seemingly entirely driven by speculation on the outcome of a deal," Alex Furber, a senior client executive at CMC Markets, said in an email commentary.

"The last meeting in Doha in April was a complete non-event and key figures have downplayed the chances of the (Algeria) meeting procuring a clear outcome," he added.

Crude prices have been battered since late 2014 by supply that has far outweighed demand, with prices hitting 13-year lows earlier this year.

Traders will also be watching for crude stockpile data from the American Petroleum Institute due Wednesday.
Cheers and jeers marked the start of the trial on Tuesday of 15 people over a confrontation in which Air France workers angry over planned layoffs left two executives with their shirts shredded.

The trial over the October 2015 incident, which made headlines worldwide, opened in a packed courtroom outside Paris with raucous scenes among backers of the defendants.

Five of the defendants are charged with "organised violence" and face up to three years in prison and a 45,000 euro ($51,000) fine if convicted in the two-day trial.

The other 10 face lesser charges over the confrontation, which arose from a dispute over plans to cut 2,900 jobs under a restructuring plan that the airline has since scrapped.

The court viewed a clip from footage of the incident in which a worker can be distinctly heard threatening human resources boss Xavier Broseta: "You've got millions, you're going to pay."

Union activists at the trial cheered as defence lawyer Lilia Mhissen took on six opposing lawyers representing the aviation giant.

Banging his gavel, the judge warned the defendants' backers: "No demonstrations, no protests or I will have the court cleared. This is not a show!"

But he was equally stern with the lawyers, ordering them "not to bicker".

The court deliberated over whether the union activists had the right to break down the gate of the perimeter fence at the company headquarters near Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport.

The defence argued that the gate was normally open, and that padlocking it on the day of the incident was a "provocation".

After crashing through the fence, dozens of workers broke into the conference room where management was unveiling the restructuring plan to the company's works committee.

As well as Broseta, another executive, director of long-haul operations Pierre Plissonnier, had his shirt and jacket torn in the incident.

Broseta fell to the ground at one point as he was trying to escape the mob, while guards employed by the company were also injured in the melee.

Story continues

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the defendants, whom he branded "rogues", should be given stiff sentences.

Air France's lawyer Dominique Mondoloni said Monday that the defence would seek to "transform the perpetrators (of the violence) into victims and the victims into perpetrators."

- The bigger picture -

Mhissen, the defendants' lawyer, said she hoped her clients would "not be judged on the basis of video clips that last a fraction of a second" but on the bigger picture.

At least two of them "clearly acted to protect Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier", she said.

"If they had retrieved all of the video images... the story would have been different."

Some Air France workers observed a strike on Tuesday in solidarity with the defendants, which the company said did not affect operations.

The hardline CGT trade union, which spearheaded sometimes violent protests earlier this year against France's controversial new labour law, led a rally of some 300 union members outside the courtroom.

One of them, Mahchid Modjaverian, said the trial amounted to "the criminalisation of union action".

"They can't take the right to protest from us," she told AFP. "It is engraved in the marble of the constitution."

Air France-KLM returned to profit last year after seven years of losses, but faces stiff competition from Asian and Gulf airlines as well as new, low-cost long-haul alternatives.

Air France, which employs around 55,000 people, still faces tensions with pilots and flight crews that staged strikes in late July.

The airline also faces a downturn in bookings, notably by Japanese, Chinese and American customers, because of the string of jihadist attacks that have hit France over the past 21 months.

evs-jto/gd/kjl
AFP News

Ukraine's maritime grain exports were halted Sunday after Russia suspended its participation in a landmark agreement that allowed the vital shipments, blaming drone attacks on its ships in Crimea. The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine and brokered by Turkey and the UN, is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict. The agreement had already allowed more than nine million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19. On Saturday, Russia said it was halting its participation after its army accused Kyiv of a "massive" drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, which Ukraine labelled a "false pretext". US President Joe Biden called the move "purely outrageous" while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Moscow was "weaponising food". The centre coordinating the logistics of the deal said in a statement that no traffic was planned for Sunday. "A joint agreement has not been reached at the JCC for the movement of inbound and outbound vessels on 30 October," it said. "There are more than ten vessels both outbound and inbound waiting to enter the corridor." Ukraine and the UN have urged that the agreement remains in force. "I call on all states to demand that Russia stop its hunger games and recommit to fulfilling its obligations," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the Russian move "an absolutely transparent intention of Russia to return the threat of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia". "Just today, more than two million tons of food are in the sea. This means that access to food has actually worsened for more than seven million consumers," he said in his nightly address. Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said: "It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort". - 'Peddling false claims' - Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea has been targeted several times in recent months and serves as the headquarters for the Black Sea fleet and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine. The Russian army claimed to have "destroyed" nine aerial drones and seven maritime ones in an attack on the port early Saturday. "In light of the terrorist act carried out by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea fleet and civilian vessels involved in the security of grain corridors, Russia suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports," the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram. Moscow's forces alleged British "specialists", whom they said were based in the southern Ukrainian city of Ochakiv, had helped prepare and train Kyiv to carry out the strike. In a further singling out of the UK -- which Moscow sees as one of the most unfriendly Western countries -- Russia said the same British unit was involved in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month. Britain strongly rebutted both claims, saying "the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale". Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday Moscow would raise the blasts and the alleged drone attack at the UN Security Council. Moscow's military said ships targeted at their Crimean base were involved in the grain deal. The United Nations Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Amir Abdulla, reported that Russia had notified him earlier Saturday of "its concerns about the safety of movements of merchant vessels" under the agreement. Russia had recently criticised the deal, saying its own grain exports have suffered due to Western sanctions. - 'Massive' attack - Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, said Saturday's drone attack was the "most massive" the peninsula had seen. City authorities said the harbour was "temporarily" closed to boats and ferries and urged people "not to panic". Attacks on Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, have increased in recent weeks, as Kyiv presses a counter-offensive in the south to retake territory held by Moscow for months. Moscow-installed authorities in Kherson, just north of Crimea, have vowed to turn the city into a fortress, preparing for an inevitable assault. In early October, Moscow's bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- personally inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 -- was damaged by a blast that Putin blamed on Ukraine. The Russian fleet stationed in the port had also been attacked by a drone in August. Russia's allegations Saturday came as the Ukrainian army reported fighting in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions in the east, including near Bakhmut -- the only area where Moscow's forces have advanced in recent weeks. Pro-Russian separatists fighting alongside Moscow also announced a new prisoner exchange with Kyiv, saying 50 will return home from each side. bur-gw/bfm/caw/mca-yad/dva
Tan Chee Yeow pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. (Yahoo Singapore photo: Safhras Khan)

Having dated for more than eight years, 40-year-old Tan Chee Yeow demanded for his partner Tan Chin Siong to come out of the closet and announce their relationship to the latters family.

However, Chin Siong, 49, refused to do so and instead tried to end the relationship. Frustrated, Chee Yeow confronted his former lover at a walkway behind Ang Mo Kio MRT station in the morning of 4 September 2015.

Chee Yeow pleaded to salvage the relationship but Chin Siong ignored him. Stung by the rejection, Chee Yeow plunged a 12-inch knife into the victims chest and back.

At the High Court on Monday (26 September), Chee Yeow pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and was jailed 12 years.

A tumultuous relationship



Court papers revealed that the two met in Johor Bahru in 2007 and soon entered into a relationship.

Chee Yeow later moved to Singapore at Chin Siongs request. He stayed with a friend, Chor Siang Cee, in the latters house in Yishun, and worked as a hairstylist. Chin Siong, a Singapore Permanent Resident, stayed in Ang Mo Kio and was an assistant vice-president at United Overseas Bank.

Their relationship deteriorated on the victims birthday on 28 August last year. Chee Yeow confronted his lover at his flat in Yishun and complained that he had yet to be introduced to Chin Siongs family. Chee Yeow threw a tantrum and was consoled by Chor.

Despite the incident, Chee Yeow and Chin Siong went to Northpoint Shopping Centre the following day to buy a bottle of wine.

At the mall, Chee Yeow said he wanted to buy a knife as he felt like dying. Chin Siong tried to dissuade his lover but decided not to create a scene and allowed him to buy the knife. Chin Siong then left Singapore to visit his family members in Johor Bahru to celebrate his birthday.

Later in the day, Chee Yeow called Chin Siongs mother and told her about their relationship. Shocked by the revelation, Chin Siongs mother told Chee Yeow that it was not possible for them. Chee Yeow tried to contact Chin Siong thereafter but his calls and messages were ignored.

Story continues

The following day, Chin Siong answered one of Chee Yeows phone calls and told him that he was not gay and wanted to get married and have children. Chee Yeow then went to Johor Bahru the next day to look for the victim but he was unable to meet him.

On 31 August, Chin Siong told Chee Yeow to see a psychiatrist. After giving the opinion that Chee Yeow was suffering from anxiety disorder, the psychiatrist advised Chin Siong to delay the break-up by two weeks so that Chee Yeow could start his medication.

On September 3, Chee Yeow went to Northpoint again to buy another knife, which he intended to use to commit suicide.

Confrontation at Ang Mo Kio MRT station

The next morning, Chee Yeow decided to look for his lover and brought along the knife. Spotting Chin Siong walking towards Ang Mo Kio MRT station at about 8 am, Chee Yeow walked up to him. Chin Siong ignored Chee Yeows plea to have a talk.

Taking out the knife from his haversack, Chee Yeow stabbed Chin Siong twice in the chest and once on the back. An unidentified Malay man, who happened to be passing by, saw the attack and managed to kick the knife away.

Chee Yeow then broke down and sat down nearby while eyewitnesses called the police and ambulance. He was promptly arrested on the spot. Chin Siong was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9.14 pm.

Incident was premeditated

Pressing for a deterrent sentence of between 12 and 14 years, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Faizal said that Chee Yeow understood what he was doing when he brought the knife to confront his lover.

He knew the circumstances and when his victim said no to the reconciliation, a life was extinguished. Moreover, the attack took place during rush hour near to a train station, said the DPP.

In his mitigation, Chee Yeows lawyer, Josepheus Tan, who was acting on a pro bono basis, said that even though the relationship was never given the legal recognition by Singapores laws, it was a real marriage in his clients mind.

Pressing for a sentence of less than 12 years, Tan revealed that vows were exchanged between the two at a temple in Taiwan in 2011.

Whatever punishment to be meted out will pale in comparison to the ultimate guilt of taking the life of the one person dearest to your heart, said Tan.

Several of Chee Yeows family members attended the hearing and they were given some time to talk to him after it was over.

When approached, Chee Yeows mother, who declined to be named, said about her son, He is not a bad person and we will wait for him. She added that her family would like to apologise to the victims family.

Additional reporting: Elizabeth Tong
The deaths have caused the largest population decline in 25 years, according to a new study published on Friday at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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.

Though poaching makes up 60 percent of the elephant deaths, loss of habitat is also threatening the majestic mammal species.
Earlier, the Sexual Offences Committee was tasked with revamping the country's rape laws. In its final report to be presented on October 5, the committee is expected to add a consent clause to the bulk of rape laws, Swedish state broadcaster SVT reported. Additionally, the most serious sexual offenses should provide a harsher punishment for the perpetrator. Notorious rapists may thus face up to 10 years in prison.

Today, to convict an accused rapist, Sweden prosecutors have to prove that threats or violence were used. Furthermore, a sex crime constitutes rape if the victim was taken advantage of or was unable to resist due to being drunk, drugged, asleep or disabled. Whereas the present-day laws fail to clearly define what exactly constitutes rape, under the new legislation a simple lack of consent would be enough to place the sexual offender behind bars.

The public debate about rape was fueled by last week's study by the Sodersjukhuset Hospital and the Karolinska Institute, according to which nearly 70 percent of rape victims experienced some sort of "freezing response," as if becoming paralyzed. According to the study "Tonic immobility during rape," rape victims tend to become immobile and unable to resist, SVT reported.
Karnataka was ordered to release 6000 cusecs per day of Cauvery water for three more days till the Supreme Court hears the matter again on Friday.

By Anusha Soni: The Supreme Court today asked Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs per day of Cauvery river water for three more days till it hears the matter again on Friday.



Karnataka had moved the apex court, seeking modification of the September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu, saying its reservoirs did not have enough water to do that.

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Tamil Nadu had filed a counter affidavit, urging the Supreme Court that Karnataka should not be heard till it complied with the directives of the apex court as well as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

The Supreme Court also asked the Centre to convene meetings of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the contentious release of Cauvery river waters.



Last week, the Karnataka Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to save the Cauvery river water for drinking purposes only due to an acute crisis arising out of deficit monsoon rains.

The resolution implied that the state is not in a position to comply with the Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for a week.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the apex court on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21-27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for more water to save its samba paddy crop.



MUST RESPECT SENTIMENTS OF PEOPLE: DIGVIJAYA SINGH

Digvijaya Singh expressed his views on the Supreme Court's latest order saying that the sentiments of people should also be respected. He added that as per the policy, the Karnataka government shall comply by the order. "The party is yet to review it as we need to discuss the same with senior advocate - Fali Sam Nariman for a comprehensive view," said Singh.

Conveying Congress' support behind the government of Karnataka, Singh added that they will also appeal to the Tamil Nadu officials to look into the matter of water availability.

Our national water policy prioritises water for drinking, release order does not become an immediate law, said Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. He also blamed Jagadish Shettar for politicising the matter.

--- ENDS ---
Boasting a total population of almost four million people, the resund region is a transnational metropolitan area centered around the Swedish region of Skane (capital city Malmo) and the Danish region of Zealand (capital city Copenhagen). Besides being one of Scandinavia's most densely populated areas, the resund region plays a major role in the economies of Sweden and Denmark, as thousands of people commute daily over the resund Bridge connecting the two states.

The reintroduction of ID checks and border controls has affected jobs, trade, tourism and travel times in the region, a recent report by the Administrative Board of Skane pointed out. Traveling times between Copenhagen and Malmo increased by 30 to 60 minutes, with departures being heavily reduced at peak hours. Even the resund labor market took a beating, Danish and Swedish employers indicate. Half of all major Danish companies report that it has become considerably more difficult to recruit Swedish personnel, Swedish news outlet Norra Skane reported. Earlier this year, angry workers were reported to have left their jobs in both Denmark and Sweden out of frustration over the commuting schedule.
According to Sedille, one way out of the situation for the family is a trip to Ukraine to process a passport for the daughter. However, the circumstances are not as easy as they seem.

Richard told Sputnik why he cannot go to Kiev.

In Crimea and Ukraine there is no longer any air service. If we want to go to apply for the documents in Ukraine, we will have to go by car, but I refuse to take my family because I could be arrested there. For the Ukrainian authorities, it would be an illegal entry into the territory of Ukraine. So if I'm there, I run the risk of ending up in prison, Richard said.

Richards wife, Ekaterina also shared her thoughts with Sputnik regarding their complex situation.

"We cannot come to Kiev for several reasons. Firstly, I have Russian documents for my child which were issued here in Sevastopol by the Russian registry office, which the Ukrainian side does not accept, hence, they are not valid for the border guards so they will not let us in.

She further said that to register her child as a citizen of France, she must bring her daughter to the embassy in Kiev. I cannot bring her because her birth certificate is Russian and it is not valid for the Ukrainian customs. The registration of my child at the embassy in Kiev can only be done if my husband is present there as he needs to sign it, Ekaterina said.

Hence, a trip to Ukraine is not an option for the family. According to Ekaterina, they have tried all possible options but there is no hope left.

Richard tried everything. He contacted politicians, spoke to a lawyer, he was even ready to bring his family to France illegally but all to no avail.

Currently, Vasilisa is in a hospital in Sevastopol. She doesnt recognize me. I am like a stranger to her. When I am in France, we see each other only on Skype or FaceTime. There is a photo of me in her room, she looks at it and says dad, dad. But when I talk to her on Skype, she gets very embarrassed. I think it is not normal for a two-year-old child to have such a relationship with her father, Richard said.
The think tank which has produced the Global Peace Index for the past 10 years, lists the countries of Botswana, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Mauritius, Panama, Qatar, Switzerland, Uruguay and Vietnam as the only ones left that are free from any level of civil conflict or wider inclusion in a war outside of its regions.

Worrying growth in global inequality in peace has been measured. The most peaceful countries are said to be continuing to improve while the least peaceful seem to be falling into greater violence and conflict. It is said that amidst such deterioration worldwide, the global agenda of governments is to continue spending vast resources on creating and containing violence and very little on implementing structures to bring about peace.

#Goal16 recognises that to reduce violence, there is a need to focus on building the structures that maintain Positive Peace. #PP2016 #SDGs pic.twitter.com/jqw8R37Lia  Global Peace Index (@GlobPeaceIndex) September 27, 2016

The report acknowledges that many of the challenges facing humanity are fundamentally global in nature, such as climate change, decreasing biodiversity, continued economic instability and increasing migration, but it also shows the impact terrorism has had across the world as another significant contributor.
Ikuko Isa, 55, another Takae resident told the Japan Times last week "Osprey aircraft fly around the community once an exercise starts and their low-altitude flights shake our buildings."

Protesters at the helipad construction site and in Tokyo have been met with riot police. One demonstration in July saw police descend on the protesters, outnumbering them five to one. Opposition escalated recently following Tokyos attempt to restart construction.

"It's been 71 years since the war ended and America is still occupying large parts of Okinawa, freely roaming around Okinawa's skies and waters," said Keiko Itokazu, a lawmaker born in Okinawa, quoted by Military.com. "Okinawa is not treated as an equal of the rest of Japan."
Faced with Chinas growing military presence in the region and other challenges, Washington sees this Russian-Japanese partnership as a stabilizing factor, so it will hardly be trying to undermine this process, Streltsov continued, adding that even if the US wanted to hamper this fence-mending process, Shinzo Abe has made it perfectly clear that he wants to pursue an independent policy regardless of what Washington may think about it.

During their meeting in May, Shinzo Abe and Vladimir Putin agreed a new approach to the territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands, and the Japanese Premier was the only G7 leader to show up at the opening of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Even though Japan joined the anti-Russian sanctions under strong pressure from Washington, it hasnt been too keen to enforce them. Shinzo Abe has already had over a dozen meetings with Putin and he hopes that closer economic ties with Russia, including Japanese investments in Russias resources-rich Siberia and the Far East, could eventually help resolve the long-running territorial dispute between our two countries, Dmitry Streltsov said in conclusion.
New Delhi  India could sign military logistic support agreements with countries like Russia and France.

Indian government sources told Sputnik that many countries have expressed their desire to sign such agreements, and it is conducting crucial meetings to ink similar contracts with friendly nations.

Such agreements with other nations would not only enhance the operational capacity of the Indian Armed Forces but also do away with some concerns in the minds of our close allies about defense relations with the US, said one government official.
New Delhi  India will obtain helicopters to buttress its Border Security Forces (BSF) to counter infiltration and respond quickly in any emergency along the border areas. Rajnath Singh, India's Minister for Home Affairs, chaired a high-level meeting which reviewed the functions of the Border Security Force (BSF) to discuss and expedite pending issues related to infrastructure development, the welfare of troops and various other border management issues.

"The issue of implementing a BSF Air Wing as a self-regulating establishment along the same lines as the Coast Guard has been flagged for discussion. Comments in this regard have been invited from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defense and Coast Guard separately," reads a statement released by the country's Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier, highly placed Border Security Force (BSF) officials informed Sputnik of the necessity of purchasing more helicopters, such as the MI-17 V-5. These would complement its five existing MI-17 V-5 helicopters, which are controlled by the Air Force. India plans to buy additional helicopters from Russia; more than a dozen of these would be earmarked for use by the BSF.
NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh.

"In response to a question, the Official Spokesperson stated that India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016" the statement said.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."
"Contrary to the claim fabricated by the Global Times, the Singapore delegation did not raise the South China Sea or the tribunal ruling at the NAM Summit," he said, in a formal letter to Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin, posted to the Singaporean Foreign Ministry website.

According to the letter, Singapore "intervened to support the common position of ASEAN," of which Singapore is a member.

"Only a very small number of NAM Members outside Southeast Asia raised objections to ASEAN's updates at the NAM Senior Officials' Meeting at Margarita Island," the letter states.

Global Times editor Hu, however, refused to accept the ambassador's objections, stating in the paper's blog that he stood by the story, adding that its source was "serious and reliable" and the report accurate.

This was followed by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official statement from ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

"The facts are clear. Individual countries insisted on highlighting the South China Sea-related contents in the outcome document, but failed to do so, because they did not secure the approval of the majority of NAM members and these contents did not represent the consensus of parties related to the South China Sea issue," Geng said.

The two countries continue to trade accusation and allegation. Regardless of whether Singapore, if indeed it made the request that the Chinese media outlet claims it did, acted on behalf of ASEAN or out of its own interest, as well as whether it was "many" or "some" countries that objected to the inclusion of the South China Sea issue; Singapore, according to the Chinese version of events, failed to win the sympathies of the majority of the delegations.
Sanjay Srivastava, a sociology professor in New Delhi, told Deutsche Welle that "There is a craze about selfies in India. The young people want to impress others, and they don't even care about the dangers. They want to be seen as daring."

Mumbai, Indias largest city, introduced "selfie free zones" in January after a woman drowned trying to take a selfie in the sea and another woman drowned trying to save her. Authorities in the city identified 16 dangerous selfie destinations, including the Marine Drive promenade and a beach.
After Sushma Swaraj seeks global support on isolating countries that harbour terrorists, the US asks Pakistan to act against all terror groups, including those targeting its neighbours.

US State Department Deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said that Pakistan must act against all terror outfits. (Photo: PTI)

By India Today Web Desk: Following External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's impassioned speech at the United Nations General Assembly session, wherein she asked the world to isolate countries giving shelter to terrorists, the US said that Pakistan needs to act against all terror groups, including those that target its neighbours.

CLOSE ALL SAFE HAVENS FOR TERRORISTS

"Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability, as I just said, to deal with a terrorist threat on their soil," US State Department Deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said in his daily press briefing on Monday.

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"They're fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism," he said.

ALSO READ: Sushma Swaraj slams Pakistan at UNGA, says Kashmir will always be integral part of India



"We do believe that they're making progress, that they're taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we've been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbours, and close all safe havens."

These comments come after the September 18 cross-border terror attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers.

India has blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit for the attack.

NO ZERO-SUM GAME

Toner called for normalization of India-Pakistan relations saying that there was "no zero-sum game" in the region.

"I think our long-standing position is that we believe India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalization of relations between them and practical cooperation between them, and we encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

On Russia carrying out its first joint military exercise with Pakistan close on the heels of the India-US "Yudh Abhyas" drill in Uttarakhand, Toner said: "Well, if the insinuation is that there's some kind of a tit-for-tat or a Great Game being played out here, that's not at all the case. Look, we've long said with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there's no zero-sum game here."

ALSO READ: Uri attack: Pakistan lands jets on highways, denies reports of war readiness



Stating that the US was pursuing "very close relations with India", he said that Washington has "a deep and broad bilateral and multilateral relationship" with New Delhi.

"They (India) are the world's largest democracy and we share, I think, a very similar vision of the world," Toner said.

"And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation."

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SWARAJ CORNERS PAKISTAN AT UN

Earlier on Monday, Sushma Swaraj, in her speech at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, said: "These nations, in which UN-declared terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, areas culpable as the very terrorists they harbour, such countries should have no place in the comity of nations."

In a warning to Pakistan, she said, "History proves that those who seed extremist ideologies, reap a bitter harvest."

(with inputs from IANS)



ALSO READ: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA: Full text of the speech



--- ENDS ---
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russia is ready to discuss coordination of oil output with other states, but an internal consensus within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is needed for the bloc's deal with oil producers that are not part of the cartel to take place, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

"Russia is ready to join and discuss coordination of oil exporting countries, but, first and foremost, such a consensus should be reached within the OPEC countries. As you know, April talks in Doha did not result in a final agreement, because there was no common position in OPEC," Novak told Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

Novak added that on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algeria he held a meeting with new Secretary General of OPEC Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, met with energy ministers from Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  An informal meeting of OPEC oil producers is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of an energy forum in Algiers this week. It is expected to be attended by the Russian energy minister.

Minister Suhail Mohammed Faraj Mazroui told reporters in Algiers his country was positive about the possible agreement, adding that it would support any collective decision aimed at curbing oil price slumps.
VIENNA (Sputnik)  The protocol on realization of practical measures on fulfillment of obligations of the 1995 agreement between the two countries was signed by Rosatom CEO Sergei Kirienko and STUK Director General Petteri Tiippana on the sidelines of the IAEA 60th General Conference in Vienna.

In January 1995, Russia and Finland have signed an agreement on early notification about nuclear accidents and the exchange of information concerning nuclear facilities.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  Minister Suhail Mohamed Faraj Mazroui spoke with RIA Novosti as representatives of 73 International Energy Forum (IEF) members converged for the September 26-28 conference on oil-related issues.

Russia should join the initiative on oil output freeze, the minister told Sputnik.

The informal meeting of 12 OPEC member states and possibly non-OPEC oil producers including Russia is expected to take place on September 28 on the sidelines of the IEF, where plans to reverse the drop in global oil prices amid ongoing overproduction would be sketched out.
German authorities, however, are not rushing to announce their possible support for the bank amid the administrative turmoil in the Eurozone heightened by the recent Brexit. The representative for Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday he sees no grounds for the government to provide bailout funds to the lender that owns roughly $2 trln in assets. Previously, the speculation was that Merkel rebuffed any possibility of aiding Deutsche Bank, as such a perceived misallocation of taxpayer money would complicate Merkels electoral perspective  she aims to run for the fourth term in the upcoming federal elections.

"This is a very political issue and I think, sadly, it's going to be politics and not share prices that dictates the market's view of Deutsche," Lionel Laurent of Bloomberg Gadfly said.

Meanwhile, further complicating the outlook for Deutsche Bank, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision was reported as considering new regulations aimed at tightening bank risk assessment.

In such an environment, investors are reducing their exposure to risks associated with Deutsche Bank, undermining the lenders longer-term resilience.

The government will have to step in, should this become a self-fulfilling prophesy with the share price going down too low, Utermann of Allianz reiterated.

Deutsches stock dropped 6.9pc on Monday only. Coupled with the slowdown in the German economy and the overall turbulent outlook for the Eurozone, the negative consequences might be very serious to the lender. As banking sector regulations have tightened substantially on a global scale in the recent years, Deutsche Bank would find it extremely hard to raise capital without a partial asset selloff, which will inevitably result in a contraction of its scale of global outreach, regardless of whether the governmental bailout arrives or not.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  Algeria calls for the fair level of oil prices on the international market that would ensure stable development of the industry, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said on Tuesday at the inaugural session of the 15th biennial International Energy Forum (IEF).

"Algeria advocates the formation of a fair and reasonable price for investments in the energy chain, compensation of producers, replenishment of consumer safety and the stability of the markets," the prime minister said.

Major oil-producing countries should reach an agreement on oil production freeze to ensure sustainable development of the sector, Abdelmalek Sellal said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev discussed joint energy projects with his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim over the phone, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement Tuesday.

"Dmitry Medvedev and Binali Yildirim also discussed topical trade and economic cooperation issues, the implementation of major joint energy projects, including the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the Turkish Stream gas pipeline," the statement reads.

It added that the prime ministers coordinated a schedule of upcoming bilateral meetings.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Monday, Russia's agricultural safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor decided to resume imports of vegetables and fruits from Egypt, except potatoes, following an inspection visit by Russian experts.

"The negotiations with the Russian side were not easy at all, the Russian side has naturally been sticking to standards and specifications, but the strong historical relations between Egypt and Russia on both the official and public levels, as well as relations between the Russian and Egyptian presidents, have made the success of the negotiations possible," Abdel Hamid Demerdash said.

He added that the Russian delegation would pay a visit to Egypt next month.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia had not yet made a decision on participation in the meeting.

"No, it will not, because this is an informal meeting," he said when answering the question whether Russia will participate in the OPEC meeting that is due to take place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 15th International Energy Forum (IEF15).

The three-day IEF that kicked off on Monday is focused on the challenges for the energy industry, prospects of renewable resources and energy governance. The forum gathered ministers, senior officials, international organizations and experts from 72 countries.
GRANGEMOUTH (Scotland), (Sputnik)  Ratcliffe spoke to a press conference following the arrival of the company's first shipment to the United Kingdom of shale gas from the United States.

"I think there will be a few petty arguments in the negotiations with Europe, that is bound to surface, but ultimately our view is that common sense will prevail and we'll have a sensible arrangement with mainland Europe. The UK as the 5th largest economy in the world is too big for Europe to ignore," Ratcliff, a British national himself, told journalists.

The INEOS head went on to say that both the United Kingdom and the European Union were too dependent on each other economically to not reach a mutually beneficial deal.
Eleven plus-size male models walked the runway at a fashion show in Tokyo to break down obesity taboos.

By Reuters: Japanese pop-girl group, Pottya, who describe themselves as "chubby", performed their hits while 11 plus-size amateur models strutted along the catwalk at a new men's fashion show in Tokyo aimed at breaking down obesity taboos.

The Tokyo Pochari (plump) Collection, jointly organised by a plus-size clothing brand Sakazen Shoji Co and fashion magazine, Mr Babe, featured models weighing more than 100 kg (220 pounds) walking, twirling and posing on the catwalk.

Picture courtesy: Reuters

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The event, held on September 22, attracted more than 100 people, who were invited to disclose their weight for a discount on a new range of ready-to-wear plus-size clothing items, but organisers said the event wasn't just about sales.

They hoped to change attitudes towards plus-size people in Japan, where obesity levels are among the lowest in the developed world and large people--sumo wrestlers aside--are often depicted as figures of fun on television.

Picture courtesy: Reuters

"I wanted to spread a notion that big and tall men, who have trouble finding clothes to wear, can actually choose from a wider varieties of outfits and enjoy being fashionable," said Li Tianwei, Sakazen Shoji sales manager.

This year's event was so successful that organisers hope to run a bigger show in 2017 with both male and female models, they told Reuters.

Picture courtesy: Reuters Picture courtesy: Reuters

"As a fatso or big woman, I want more of these kind of events. Even this one is still small-scaled, I want it bigger," said 37-year-old Momoko Kashiwazaki.

--- ENDS ---
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to Kasoulides, Cyprus is already preparing for the commercial exploitation of its natural gas reserves, with plans for the export of gas to begin in 2020-2022, if not sooner. He added that there were signs of potentially more hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus in addition to those already known.

"We have a burning desire to see Russia participate in the development of the fields. We hope that Russian companies will participate in the exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits, which are located in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. It would be useful for maintaining balance in the region," Kasoulides told reporters.

In August, Cyprus signed an undersea gas pipeline agreement with Egypt, and is currently negotiating export deals with Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  An informal meeting of 12 OPEC member states and possibly non-OPEC oil producers including Russia is expected to take place on September 28 on the sidelines of the IEF, where plans to reverse the drop in global oil prices amid ongoing overproduction would be discussed.

"For Norway to participate in the freeze just doesn't make sense, the trend [for oil prices] is downwards anyway," Lien told reporters.

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 at the talks as reason for not supporting an output freeze.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The RD-33MK turbojet engine is a modernized modification of the basic RD-33 engine installed on all versions of famous MiG-29 fighter jet. The engine has high thrust-to-weight ratio, low specific fuel consumption and is equipped with modern digital electronic management and control system.

"Chernyshev Moscow Machine-Building Enterprise [part of UEC] has manufactured and delivered over 100 RD-33MK turbojet engines for the Indian Navy. The deliveries were carried out within the earlier agreed contract between the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG and the Indian Defense Ministry," the press release said.

UEC is a subsidiary company of the United Industrial Corporation, producing various engines including those for military and civil aviation.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  The Turkish Stream project, which envisions bringing Russian gas via the Black Sea into Turkey and southern Europe, was suspended after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24, 2015.

"I hope that by mid-October, may be even a bit earlier, we will prepare a coordinated draft of the intergovernmental agreement," Novak said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television.

In June 2016, following Turkey's apology to Russia for the November incident, the sides resumed the preparation for signing an agreement on the implementation of the project.
On Tuesday, speaking to journalists after the events of the conferences second day, Kirienko noted that countries such as Russia, having expertise in various fields of application of nuclear technologies bear special responsibility to those countries desiring to have access to peaceful nuclear technologies ranging from the energy sector to application of nuclear science in agriculture and healthcare.

On Monday, the first of the four contracts was signed with Tunisia. Kirienko and Tunisia's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Slim Khalbous signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy usage for peaceful purposes, creating a legal basis for future bilateral cooperation in many areas.
ALGIERS (Sputnik)  Earlier in September, Russias Gazprom energy company said it had received the first permits from Turkey through diplomatic channels to construct the offshore section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and that the project was advancing to its practical implementation stage.

"We plan to get the remaining permits in the near future," Novak told Ria Novosti.

According to Novak, the coordination work on drafting the intergovernmental agreement and the roadmap is currently on the stage of consultations with Turkey.
"For the eighth consecutive year, Switzerland tops the GCI, achieving an even higher score than in previous years Singapore ranks 2nd for the sixth year in a row thanks to a remarkably strong performance. It features in the top 10 of ten pillars The United States remains stable overall in 3rd position, showing improvement in areas including macroeconomic stability, the result of a declining budget deficit," WEF said in its Global Competitiveness Report for 20162017.

Since 1979, WEF experts have issued annual global competitiveness reports based on metrics of economic growth, cultural development and the so-called Global Competitiveness Index, taking into account information gathered from about 140 countries.
Even if Iran did develop nukes  then they wouldn't use them as they'd be deterred by the Israeli and US ones. Powell's email shows us what a scam the whole Iranian "nuclear threat" narrative was.

Remember, draconian sanctions were imposed on the Islamic Republic  sanctions which caused great hardship to ordinary Iranians  on the grounds that the country was secretly developing nuclear weapons, which would threaten the entire world. But Powell admits that the Iranians wouldn't be able to use a nuclear bomb, even if they had been developing one. Rather than being the "threat," Iran was the country threatened.

Then, a day after the Powell email story broke, we had the US  and other coalition "allies"  bombing the Syrian army at Deir ez-Zor, when the SAA was preparing to launch an assault on Daesh. The US said, the attack, which killed 62 soldiers and injured 100, was an "accident." Yet the SAA has been static in the area for some time.

Just imagine the repercussions if the Syrian air force had bombed and killed 62 US soldiers in the US..https://t.co/Y0dXTGypzl  Neil Clark (@NeilClark66) September 17, 2016

The attack was further proof (and there's been enough already), that the US' priniciple aim in Syria is not fighting Daesh and other terror groups, but to bring down the secular government fighting these groups.

It's noteworthy that while the US bombed the Syrian Army, Daesh launched a simultaneous attack. Talk about "partners in crime."

Two days after the massacre at Deir ez-Zor, an attack on an aid convoy again showed us the US' true colors. Even though we still don't know whether the convoy was bombed from the air  the UN revised an earlier statement saying it was an airstrike  the attack was blamed on Russia and used by the US to make the case for the imposition of a no-fly zone (NFZ) in Syria or, more accurately a "we can fly, but you can't zone."

The US wants a No Fly Zone in #Syria but only for Syrian and Russian planes. The Exceptional Nation & its allies wld still be able to bomb!  Neil Clark (@NeilClark66) September 23, 2016

The "Exceptional Nation" and its allies would, needless to say, not be subject to the NFZ  it would only apply to Russia and the Syrian Air Force!

How's that for Imperial arrogance?

@NeilClark66 "No Fly Zone" has only ever (and always) meant "We Bomb With Impunity Zone" in post cold war Washingtonian newspeak  Brennan Young (@brennanyoung) September 23, 2016

The last time the US got its way with the imposition of a no-fly zone was in Libya and we can all remember how that one ended. A country which had the highest living standards in the whole of Africa, and which had an excellent education and health care system, was transformed, thanks to NATO, into a failed state and a haven for Daesh and other terrorist death squads.

Earlier in the month we had the UK Parliamentary report into the 2011 US-led Libyan "humanitarian intervention," which concluded  surprise, surprise  that decisions were not "based on accurate intelligence."

"The Government," the report said, "failed to identify that the threat to civilians was overstated and the rebels included a significant Islamist element," as indeed was claimed by Muammar Gaddafi, to much ridicule from western politicians.

Crucially, the report held "the proposition that Muammar Gaddafi would have ordered the massacre of civilians in Benghazi was not supported by the available evidence."

The US and its allies clearly want us to forget the lurid claims of "genocide" they made before the Libyan "intervention" and get us all on board the latest "humanitarian" campaign for a NFZ in Syria. Do they really think we are that stupid?
These American, British and French officials wouldnt know sincerity if it smacked them in the face. For them, politics is just a media show, much like a commercial break in which they mouth a few lines before moving on to the next promotion.

Lets take the Western show of condemnation at the UN. First of all, where are they getting their information to formulate the grave claims that Russia and its Syrian ally are indiscriminately bombing civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo?

Why, none other than anonymous activists and groups like the so-called White Helmets who are propaganda conduits for Al Qaeda terror groups that dominate the militants. Western governments and mass media have degenerated into nothing more than broadcasters for terrorist groups, whom they euphemistically refer to as moderate rebels.

And it is these terror groups like Jaysh al Fatah and Jabhat al Fatah al Sham (formerly al-Nusra Front) that are holding some 250,000 civilians hostage as human shields in the eastern quarter of Aleppo.

If Syrias President Bashar al Assad was such a villain, why are six times that population  1.5 million  living willingly in the government-held western side of the city?
China and Iran are related in varying degrees to the New Silk Roads and of course the pivot to Asia, which was first announced by Hillary. So she had to say, I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual defense treaties and we will honor them. Crucial add-on; Our word is good. Asians, as demonstrated in the last G20 in China, are not impressed.

On NATO, Trump said the Atlanticist monolith must engage in direct counterterrorism operations in the Middle East. NATO actually has a Defense Against Terrorism program for 12 years now. The problem is the priorities are regime change  from Libya to Syria; keeping the heroin flowing from Afghanistan; and not giving a damn about moderate rebels.

Trump did promise to make NATO follow the money: They have to understand Im a business person. Allies are not paying their fair share.

Secretary Clinton went no holds barred emphasizing Trump has been praiseworthy of Vladimir Putin. Trump: Wrong. He could have qualified, if he was not sniffin so hard; in a March 20 debate, Trump said, Putin is a strong leader, absolutely. He is a strong leader. Now I dont say that in a good or bad way. I say it as a fact.

It went virtually unnoticed. But Trump, in one sentence, actually may have ruled out WWII if he becomes President; I would certainly not do first-strike  as in the official US doctrine, reiterated by Obama, that guarantees a US first nuclear strike. Secretary Clinton did not comment.

I want my Pyongyang Tower

Donald seems to have found a solution to North Korea; You look at North Korea, were doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea. Crucial add-on; Iran also has power over North Korea.

Now imagine a three-way summit involving Xi Jinping, Ayatollah Khamenei and Kim Jong-un debating Trumps deal, which might throw in a Trump Hotel and Casino Pyongyang for good measure.

Secretary Clinton was adamant that Donald supported the invasion of Iraq. Trump: Wrong. Actually, right; he did, already in 2002. But

that is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her!
The Ministry of External Affairs said Swarup informed Abdul Basit that the two guides who helped the Uri infiltrators were apprehended by local villagers and are now in custody.

By Maha Siddiqui: India today summoned Pakistani High Commissioner to Delhi Abdul Basit to give him proof of the cross-border origins of the Uri attackers, who killed 19 Indian soldiers earlier this month.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar termed the continuing cross-border terror attacks from Pakistan against India as unacceptable as he presented details of the "handlers" behind the Uri army camp attack.

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"Foreign Secretary ... presents proof of cross border origins of Uri attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.



The Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar informed Basit that the two guides who helped the Uri infiltrators were apprehended by local villagers and are now in Indian custody.

Also read:

India Today at LoC: After Uri attack, India quietly fortifies border positions, locals worried

Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri



The attackers came from Muzaffarabad, which is the capital of the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Swarup told Basit as he gave the details of the guides and handlers who helped the four terrorists, who were also killed in the Uri attack.

According to the Indian security agencies, the two who acted as guides and helped the infiltrators cross the LoC have been identified as 20-year-old Faizal Hussain Awan and 19-year-old Yasin Khursheed from Muzaffarabad.

Faizal Hussain Awan is believed to have identified during his preliminary statement one of the slain attackers as Hafiz Ahmed from Muzaffarabad. He also revealed details of the two handlers of this operation namely Mohd Kabir Awan and Basharat to the NIA.



India has blamed Pakistan -based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad for the attack.



The details shared with Pakistan are as follows:

Guides

Yasin Khurshid (19), S/o Mohammed Khurshid, R/o Khiliana Kalan, Muzzaffarabad

Faizal Hussain Awan (20), S/o Gul Akbar, R/o Potha Jahangir, Muzzaffarabad

Handlers

Mohd Kabir Awan

Basharat

One of the attackers: Hafiz Ahmed, S/o Feroz, R/o Dharbang, Muzaffarabad

The Foreign Secretary also provided details of Pakistani national Abdul Qayoom from Sialkot who was apprehended in Molu sector. The individual has reportedly confessed to undergoing three weeks of training with the terrorist group Lashkar e Toiba (LeT) and donating substantial funds to Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, their front organization.

India has told Pakistan that it is willing to provide consular access to all the three persons apprehended post the Uri attack.



URI ATTACK AN INSIDE JOB: PAKISTAN DEFENCE MINISTER

India's action came shortly after Pakistan's Defence Minister termed the Uri attack an "inside job" and "planned by India itself". Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Dawn News that no proof implicating Pakistan in the September 18 attack has surfaced yet, alleging it was "evident" the attack.

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When asked why Pakistan did not raise the issue of captured alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadav, when Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj termed Bahadur Ali a "living evidence" of cross-border terrorism against India in the UN General Assembly, Asif said Islamabad has been "raising the issue on a daily basis" for several months.

"Not only Kulbhushan Jhadav but we also have Brahamdagh Bugti, to whom India issued a visa on a fake identity as proof," Asif said.

Tensions have been at peaks between the two neighbouring nations since July 9, a day after top militant Burhan Wani was killed in a clash with security forces. Pakistan had described Wani as a "martyr" while India hit back saying that Kashmir has been on edge due to Pakistan's interference in the country's "internal matters".

The relations further soured after the September 18 attack in which four terrorists, suspected from across the border, attacked the Indian Army camp at Uri.

Sushma Swaraj in her address on Monday told the General Assembly that Pakistan "harbours terrorism" and it should be "isolated" from the entire world.



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Also read:

2 Pakistan nationals acting as terror guides for Jaish-e-Mohammad arrested in Uri: Indian Army



--- ENDS ---
According to Crotty, there are strong economic reasons why the government should give the green light to fracking in Scotland.

"I'm not sure what more can be done to persuade the Scottish Government of the merits of shale gas exploration. What we have tried to say is that we need the gas for jobs. The North Sea is running out, whatever way you cut it. We're importing close to 16 percent of our gas needs now and there is gas right under our feet, so using it seems like a great way to boost the Scottish economy, keeping finances in Scotland and not spending it somewhere else, particularly at a time when North Sea revenue is declining," he explained.

Environmental groups in Scotland strongly oppose the shipment of shale gas from the United States describing it as "dirty and dangerous," but Crotty told Sputnik there were strong environmental reasons why shale gas would play an important environmental role in the decades to come.

"One of the issues for us is to say, firstly, that gas is essential. We can't see a future in the next 30, 40, 50 years that doesn't involve gas. It's the cleanest hydrocarbon fuel you can have. The UK's supplies of it are running lower and lower, but if as a transition fuel to renewables you have to have gas," he said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Mir national payment system kicked off in Russia on April 1, 2015. The system was created after Visa and MasterCard ceased to serve the cards of some Russian banks because of the US sanctions imposed on Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine. The system seeks to ensure the sovereignty of the national payment industry and secure the processing of domestic transactions using Russian bank cards.

"We are holding talks with Visa. World payment systems already view us as an interesting partner, as the NSPK has been able to ensure an extensive network for the functioning of the national card in the short period of one yearNow, three major west European processors, from France and Germany for example, are interested in collaborating with the NSPK, they approached us themselves. European retailers want to motivate Russians via a Russian payment system," Komlev said in an interview with the Russian Izvestia newspaper, published on Tuesday.

The international acceptance of Mir is a key indicator of the system's maturity, he added, noting that agreements have been signed with MasterCard, JCB, AmEX and Union Pay payment systems.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The chair of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has agreed to meet the head of Poland's commission investigating the deadly 2010 presidential plane crash in western Russia, the IAC said in a statement Tuesday.

"In response to the Polish Ministry of National Defense's Smolensk plane crash investigation sub-committee chairman's official request, IAC Chair Tatiana Anodina expressed her consent to host [Waclaw] Berczynski at his request," the IAC said.

The commission's plan to visit Moscow at an as-yet undetermined date was disclosed to Polish media over the weekend by Kazimierz Nowaczyk, the deputy head of the commission.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  It is too early to predict the success or failure of a set of agreements to settle the conflict in Donbass, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Tuesday, clarifying that the Minsk accords are still alive following the latest troop pullout agreement.

"It all depends on the meetings taking place these days at various formats. This is the Contact Group, where an important decision to withdraw the sides in three locations was taken. It all depends on how we actually move forward. I know that presidential aides maintain contacts as part of the Normandy format," Karasin told RIA Novosti. "We work on a daily basis."
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  On September 15, Hollande and Merkel held a meeting in Paris, which came a day prior to the informal gathering of the 27 heads of states of the remaining EU members.

"They [Hollande and Merkel] did not talk about the creation of the European army, they discussed the necessity to strengthen the capacity of the EU actions in the areas where operations are conducted at the EU initiative. We have come to reach progress on the issue," Le Drian told journalists before the informal meeting of EU Defense Ministers in Bratislava.

He also stressed, that the EU army was the main topic of discussions which would last until the end of November. He expressed hope the bloc would achieve significant developments on the issue by the end of this year.
In December 2015, the Polish Government added five "politically friendly" judges to the country's Constitutional Tribunal, in a move seen by critics as making it easier to push through legislation with less opposition.

The amendment meant that the tribunal would need a two-thirds majority to take a decision on constitutional matters instead of a simple majority. The minimum number of judges needed to make a decision was also raised from nine to 13, making it more difficult to convene a quorum.

The changes stated that there should be a six-month period before the tribunal can examine a case, rather than two weeks, which critics say allows the government to pass legislation that will go unchallenged for months.
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I welcome the plans of Germany and France for closer EU defence cooperation, including a new military HQ and swifter deployment of missions.  Urmas Paet (@Urmaspaet) September 15, 2016

"The initiative is designed for a strong Europe," Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's defense minister told Reuters.

"This Europe also wants to have good relations with Britain in the future, especially in the area of defense," she added ahead of talks.

Fears Over Impact on NATO

However, the issue has divided EU member states amid concerns greater military cooperation could undermine NATO and suck financial resources away from the military alliance.

The UK, still an EU member state despite the country's vote to leave the bloc, has been the most vocal opponent of the deepening of military ties, raising concerns over the prospect of an EU army and the impact it could have on NATO.

Defence Secretary Fallon says UK will oppose EU army while a member  forgetting best way of permanently blocking would be to Remain  Raymond Snoddy (@RaymondSnoddy) September 17, 2016

British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, said earlier this month that he would reject moves that would duplicate NATO structures in the EU, potentially triggering a showdown on the issue.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon discusses European security challenges with @NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Bratislava. pic.twitter.com/64XAgEoRZG  Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) September 27, 2016

Fallon's comments prompted a warning from his German counterpart von der Leyen, who said the Brexit-bound UK should "make good its promise that it will not hinder important European Union reforms."

EU army latest: Stoltenberg says 'no contradiction' with strong NATO, (and slapping down Britain's Fallon in the process)  Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) September 27, 2016

However Britain may have some support in the form of Poland and Baltic EU member states, who have raised concerns about anything that might weaken NATO, particularly given the purported threat of Russia.

Russia, for its part, has rejected the notion that it is a potential threat to the EU's security, instead highlighting the NATO build-up of missiles in eastern European as a key factor inflaming tensions between the two groups.
Staffing shortage

The promised police enlargement by 15,000 people translated into just 6,500 real jobs on the federal level that would have to tackle new challenges relating to crime, terrorism and social protection of refugees, Wendt said, adding that fresh staff would need about four years of training.

"Let me give an example. Europe and Germany in particular pledged to cut by 40 percent the number of fatal car accidents by 2020. To achieve this goal police should mobilize up to 30 percent of staff in some federal states. On the other hand, police have to guard refugee shelters amid over 1,000 attacks against the shelters last year. It is impossible to accomplish these global tasks simultaneously amid staffing shortage," Wendt concluded.

Outdated infrastructure

Wendt criticized the "hopelessly outdated" police and prosecutors infrastructure, citing the lack of a single system of criminal records on the federal level.

"When the same refugee comes to a migration center in Berlin to register under one name, and the next day he does the same under another name  this is first and foremost an infrastructure failure," Wendt said.

He slammed the security building package proposed by the government in August, in particular the arms and equipment overhaul in the law enforcement agencies, citing the lack of funds for proper implementation of the plan.

"Police in Berlin buy outdated pistols in Schleswig-Holstein while police in Schleswig-Holstein are equipped with new guns," Wendt said.

Terrorism in Germany
However, the latest probe comes on the back of another investigation into the LuxLeaks affair, which exposed "sweetheart" deals given by Luxembourg  allowing hundreds of companies to use taxation devices to reduce their tax liabilities in other member states.

#PanamaPapers inquiry committee hears from journalists who reported on them. Live  https://t.co/kPepbT9HSS pic.twitter.com/0CrtdQ0MCR  European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) 27 September 2016

Despite taking evidence for several months, the LuxLeaks investigation has, so far, failed to put an end to the schemes. The original investigation  known as TAXE 1  criticized some member states for not cooperating with their inquiry and called on the European Commission to take action to stamp out such tax avoidance schemes.

Following the sheer scale of tax avoidance exposed by LuxLeaks and the Panama Papers, lawmakers called for a clampdown on companies with offshore profits and assets, in order to reduce their tax liabilities in EU member states.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Dawn News that no proof implicating Pakistan in the September 18 attack has surfaced yet, alleging it was "evident" the attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, was a plan "devised by India itself".

By Indo-Asian News Service: Pakistan's Defence Minister has termed the terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir an "inside job" and said the assault which left 19 soldiers dead was planned by India itself.

NO PROOF IMPLICATING PAK HAS SURFACED YET: ASIF

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Dawn News that no proof implicating Pakistan in the September 18 attack has surfaced yet, alleging it was "evident" the attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, was a plan "devised by India itself".

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Also read:

Uri attack: India shows evidence by identifying handlers, summons Pak Envoy Abdul Basit



When asked why Pakistan did not raise the issue of captured alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadav, when Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj termed Bahadur Ali a "living evidence" of cross border terrorism against India in the UN General Assembly, Asif said Islamabad has been "raising the issue on a daily basis" for several months.

"Not only Kulbhushan Jhadav but we also have Brahamdagh Bugti, to whom India issued a visa on a fake identity as proof," Asif said.

Also read:

India Today at LoC: After Uri attack, India quietly fortifies border positions, locals worried Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri

In a remark on the bill moved against Pakistan in the US Congress, Asif said anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impact of their voices depends on the policies of those countries. "Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he said.

"INDIA NOT SERIOUS ABOUT RESOLVING KASHMIR DISPUTE"



According to Asif, the "entire world knows that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is" and that India has not received support from anywhere despite launching a diatribe against Pakistan.

He also said that China supports Pakistan's viewpoint on the Kashmir issue which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had raised again in his address at the General Assembly.

Tensions have been at peaks between the two neighbouring nations since July 9, a day after top militant Burhan Wani was killed in a clash with security forces. Pakistan had described Wani as a "martyr" while India hit back saying that Kashmir has been on edge due to Pakistan's interference in the country's "internal matters".

The relations further soured after the September 18 attack in which four terrorists, suspectedly from across the border, attacked the India Army camp at Uri.

Sushma Swaraj in her address on Monday told the General Assembly that Pakistan "harbours terrorism" and it should be "isolated" from the entire world.

Also read:



2 Pakistan nationals acting as terror guides for Jaish-e-Mohammad arrested in Uri: Indian Army



--- ENDS ---
Current unemployment levels in Ticino are 3.2 percent, while the Swiss national average is 3.1 percent.

Italy, EU Warns of Consequences

The decision has sparked a strong reaction from both Italy and the EU, who had previously warned residents against voting in favor of the changes.

Roberto Maroni, member of the Italina Lega Nord movement, vowed to retaliate against Ticino with "adequate counter-measures," while Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni warned that "any discrimination against our cross-border workers will be an obstacle to reaching an agreement between the EU and Switzerland."

Margaritis Schinas, spokesperson for EU commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also weighed into the matter

"The four fundamental freedoms of the single market [free movement of goods, of people, of services and of capital] are inseparable," he said.

Ticino in #Switzerland votes against free movement. But seem to be pro the wealth that those #Italy workers employing firms bring. Complex.  Robin Bew (@RobinBew) September 26, 2016

"In the Swiss context, this implies that free movement of people is fundamental," he told a daily briefing.

Swiss officials moved to ease the concerns of Italian residents working in Ticino, saying that there would be no immediate impact and that the final decision would have to be taken by the national parliament and government.

Brexit Looms Amid Stalemate

Immigration is a matter of huge political concern to Switzerland, with the country currently locked in negotiations with the EU over plans to introduce migrations controls, after 50.3 percent of the Swiss population voted in favor of doing so in a 2014 referendum.

Although Switzerland is not an EU member state, the country has a series of bilateral agreements with Brussels, with EU officials warning any attempts to implement immigration controls could see Switzerland locked out of the European single market.

EU-Switzerland negotiations constant time consuming process and neverending. EU will not want to replicate that mess for the UK.  EU Referendum (@eureferendum) September 2, 2016

Bern has until February 2017 to honor the result of the 2014 referendum and implement migration legislation, with lawmakers on both sides currently so far unable to come to an agreement.

The Swiss situation has also taken on greater importance following the UK's decision to vote to leave the EU on June 23, with any negotiations between Bern and Brussels set to act as a precedent to impending Brexit talks.

There are concerns in Switzerland that the looming British talks will force EU officials to play hardball with the Swiss, in order to set an example to the UK.
He added that he would not be surprised if the Albanians brought tear gas to the talks after repeated cases of tear gas being used during parliamentary sessions in Pristina.

No kidding! I believe they would do it because this has been their strategy from the very start. They use the Self-Determination party to block all normalization agreements, Filipovic emphasized.

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Repatriation Dalibor Jevtic also criticized the EU idea as very bad.

I dont see how the Kosovo oppositionists can contribute to the negotiations in Brussels as our opposition parties have a most radical way of pushing through their ideas. Well, maybe someone wants to have the scenes we see taking place in the streets of Kosovo now happening also in Brussels, Jevtic said.

Many local observers are now saying that Kosovos accession to the EU has slowed down, just like the process of visa liberalization.

The migrant crisis and the terrorist threat are a major headache for the European Union, and have been compounded by Britains decision to leave the bloc.

Euroscepticism is on the rise and many high-ranking politicians now admit that the European Union could eventually fall apart.

Foreign policy experts in Pristina believe that the emerging problems could harm the regions chances of joining the EU now that Belgrade is already in talks to join the 27-nation bloc and all the self-proclaimed republic Kosovo has achieved so far is an agreement on stabilization and association with Brussels.

To be able to agree the sides need to be on an equal footing. We hope that the positions of Belgrade and Pristina will be taken into consideration by our friends in Europe and the US and that they will do all it takes to help us, a source in the Kosovo delegation told Sputnik.
According to reports, 3,735 Yazidi people are still being held by Daesh despite efforts made to free them.

Thousands of Yazidi men have been executed since 2014, and thousands of young Yazidi girls have been sold into slavery and forced to become sex slaves for Daesh militants, who do not consider them to be human.

Of the 6,413 believed to be captured, 3,443 are thought to be women and girls.

Tweet for Yazidis

Aug3,the 2nd Anniversary of ongoing Yazidi genocide

pls tweet / join #StopYazidiGenocide campaign pic.twitter.com/hAju4QlM4b  Khalaf Yazidi (@KhalafSmoqi) July 11, 2016

However despite managing to escape, Idan Barir, an expert in Yazadi culture, told Sputnik that they continue to be persecuted by Kurdish authorities in refugee camps.

"They face oppression by Kurdish internal security forces in refugee camps, many of them prefer to return to the northern region of Sinjar. The southern part is still a war zone and even they know that the situation is very unstable, they prefer to go back to a problematic place than stay in a refugee camp, exposed to weather conditions and repressed by the Kurdish authorities."

Meanwhile, thousands remain captive at the behest of Daesh militants, their fate unknown, and their people, almost forgotten.
WARSAW (Sputnik)  On Monday, media reported that a Russian national was arrested for illegally flying the drone over Polish prime minister's office, the Defense Ministry and the president's residence.

The man was detained on the allegations of violating Poland's aviation regulations banning the use of drones near governmental buildings, media reported citing Warsaw police spokesman Mariusz Mrozek.

"The Polish authorities informed us that a Russian national had been detained yesterday and that he was charged with violation of the aviation law," Valeria Perzhinskaya said.
Kiev, in its turn, severely criticized Rutte's statement, considering his stance "unacceptable." According to Ukrainian authorities, this demonstrates the unwillingness of the government to take responsibility for the decisions it made in the past (the main argument here is that the agreement had already been approved by Dutch Parliament before the referendum, namely in July 2015).

In 2014, the European Union signed an agreement with Ukraine to deepen political association and economic integration. Ukraine had to implement a series of political and economic reforms to gain free-trade access to the EU market.

Kiev also awaits the introduction of visa-free travel for its citizens; a final decision will be reached regarding this issue in the near future.

"The introduction of visa-free regime will ensure that Poland and other Eastern European countries will get extremely cheap labor from Ukraine," Russian economist Michail Delyagin told Life.ru. "There are no jobs in Ukraine, in principle, at least those which pay decent wages. And Poland still has farms and small businesses, so the Poles need workers ready to work their butts off for nothing."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Khan spoke at a Labour Party conference and slammed the government for its migration policy as well as the previous party leadership for the failure to win the general election last year.

"With Labour out of power we have just been through a divisive and bruising EU referendum campaign. With Labour out of power, the future of EU citizens in Britain  who came here because they want to work and contribute  is being used as a bargaining chip. Well thats wrong and the Government should be ashamed," Khan said at the conference.

Khan added that European migrants were "welcome" in the United Kingdom and thanked them for "a massive" economic, social and cultural contribution to the country.
This trip was organized on behalf of my initiative, with the participation of representatives of other regions of Italy. With our visit, we want to show that we support the Crimean authorities and protest against the sanctions and policies pursued by the government of Italy and the European Union, Valdegamberi said.

He further said that many Italian regions voted against the anti-Russian sanctions and they would like to show their support and to meet personally with the Crimean residents to protest against the EU policy.

The EU wants to isolate and punish Russia, despite the fact that the inhabitants of Crimea expressed their position in a referendum. Therefore, the purpose of our trip is to draw attention to the paradoxical politics of Italy and the European Union, the deputy said.
VIENNA (Sputnik)  The ceremony was attended by Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency CEO Sergey Kirienko and Secretary General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukia Amano.

"Russia has a long tradition of high technologies and the Russian institute of Kurchatov proves that we are benefiting from the results of these achievements," Amano said at the ceremony.

He also thanked Russia for "the excellent tradition" of cooperation with IAEA.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On September 21, the German federal government revealed a report that names xenophobia and racism a major risk to economic growth in Germanys eastern states.

"Right-wing extremism, xenophobia and terrorist attacks are damaging Germany's image abroad and could have an impact on the volume of inbound travel to the country that would then affect its tourism economy," the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, in 2015 the volume of overnight stays made in Dresden fell by 3 percent to 4.3 million, the first time the number declined in six years. In the first half of this year the figure went down by further 0.2 percent.
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  Echeverri, who goes under the alias of Timochenko, signed a historic peace deal with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday. The signing ceremony was shown live by the TeleSUR channel.

"No one is giving up their ideas here, we will continue to fight for our ideas on the political arena," the commander said.

Timochenko asked all those who suffered as a result of the conflict for forgiveness and declared a new era for Colombia.
By PTI: Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American

Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American position that the US believes India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations.

"We encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

"We have long said that with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there is no zero-sum game here. We are pursuing very close relations with India," the deputy spokesperson said.

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"We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the worlds largest democracy and we share a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation," he said.

"Similarly, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses and terrorist groups that seek refuge in its territory," Toner added. PTI LKJ AYP

--- ENDS ---
During the meeting that was held in the Colombian city of Cartagena on Monday, Kerry said that Washington is committed to wellbeing of Venezuelan people and improving the relations with Caracas, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said.

"[Kerry] spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," he said.

Venezuelahas been in a state of emergency since the beginning of 2016. The countrys opposition blames the shortages of food in the country on President Maduro, while the latter insists that the West is responsible for the crisis in the country.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Achieving peace in Colombia after 50 years of war in the country should be an example and inspiration to all the states trying to reach truce and has already become a lesson for peacemakers worldwide, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

"You had the vision to bring the victims to the forefront. What they have lost can never be restored. Yet victims have been among the most forceful voices for peace and reconciliation, and against bitterness and hatred. Their example should be an inspiration to all. Peacemakers working in other parts of the world are already studying Colombia's peace process for lessons that can inform their efforts," Ban said at the signing of the Colombia peace agreements.

He also pledged to continue to help the government implement the peace agreements and normalize the situation in the war-shattered country.
DAMASCUS (Sputnik)  Shaaban, who advises the Syrian president on political and information matters, told the Lebanese Al Mayadeen channel on Monday that "no guarantees of any coordination between Turkey, Russia and Iran regarding the deployment of Turkish forces in Syria" have been provided.

Shaaban stressed that a common agreement on a Turkish operation was not possible between the three sides to begin with.

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 the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Turkey also targeted Kurdish forces present in the area, ordering them to move east of the Euphrates river.
Human Rights Watch reported Saturday that women's rights activists in the kingdom initiated a Twitter campaign to support the move, trending such hashtags as #StopEnslavingSaudiWomen, #IAmMyOwnGuardian and #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship. Additionally, activists used social media to spread instructions on how to submit a telegram calling on the king to comply with their demands.

The petition says that Saudi women, who are being treated as legal minors based on an interpretation of the Quran, must have the right to move freely around the country and abroad, as well as make important decisions regarding their own lives, without asking a man's permission.

"In every aspect, the important issue is to treat a woman as a full citizen," Saudi human rights campaigner Aziza Yousef told BBC.
DAMASCUS (Sputnik)  On September 9, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov brokered a ceasefire in Syria that took effect three days later. The agreement called for unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and stipulated that only designated terror groups would be targeted in military strikes.

"Russia does not agree on any details without the Syrian government's approval. We took part in discussing this agreement with Russia at its conception stage. This is true not only for this agreement, but for everything concerning Syria," Shaaban told the Lebanese Al Mayadeen channel on Monday, referencing the September deal.

Russian diplomacy distinguishes itself by respecting the principle of national sovereignty, she added.
Al Jazeera reported Monday that the personal Facebook accounts of four editors from the Shehab News Agency and three editors from the Quds News Network were disabled by the network last week without explanation.

Both media platforms, documenting millions of likes, report daily news out of the occupied Palestinian territories. According to Nisreen Al-Khatib, journalist and translator at the Quds News Network, the accounts were blocked even though no Facebook publication standards were violated.

After a widespread outcry, the social media titan restored access to most of the pages over the weekend and apologized for the incident, claiming that it was an accident.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  There is still a chance to unite the disparate Syrian opposition groups into one and conduct the next round of intra-Syrian negotiations directly with the government, leader of the Moscow-Cairo-Astana opposition platform Qadri Jamil told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"We were the first to demand direct negotiations. This implies the existence of a unified opposition delegation," Jamil said, underscoring the need to persuade the Riyadh-formed High Negotiations Committee (HNC).
However, the plan to use Aleppo as the centerpiece of an offensive on Damascus failed due to firm resistance from the Syrian Army and local militia groups. Finally, combat actions outside Aleppo resulted in cutting off supply lines for jihadists and so-called moderate rebel forces in the city.

Currently, the largest and the most capable jihadists and moderate forces are concentrated in Aleppo. It is entrapped by the Syrian Army.

If they are defeated this may not end the war but will definitely change the situation for the benefit of Damascus.

"In fact, the defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is inevitable. The West and its allies suddenly realized this fact. As a result, they intensified political and military efforts to save the entrapped militant group," the article read.

If the Syrian Army restores control over Aleppo, this will open the way to Idlib, which currently is the center and the headquarters of Syrian militants.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian operation is Syria that has lasted for already a year helped the country survive and keep united, without falling in the arms of terrorists, leader of Moscow-Cairo-Astana opposition platform Qadri Jamil told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"The role of Russia has been decisive. It prevented the country from falling apart. We were close to falling in the arms of Daesh. It was a historic step," Jamil said.

Russia launched airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria on September 30, 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Since that time and until March 2016, Russian aviation had conducted over 9,000 strikes against the terrorist group outlawed in Russia, helping Damascus launch offensives in key regions of the country.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On September 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry presented a new plan on the peace settlement in Syria, which included a new ceasefire and stipulated separation of "moderare" rebels from designated terrorist groups like Jabhat Fatah al Sham (previously known as al-Nusra Front), the al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

On September 19, the Syrian army declared the end of the ceasefire regime blaming the rebels for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities senseless.

"There is no other way, and the talks will eventually resume. It depends only on whether the Western coalition headed by the United States would be able to isolate al-Nusra Front or not, whether they would fight terrorists or not, and whether they would insist on complying with the obligations under the US-Russia deal or not," Jamil said.
According to a new CNN/ORC poll, debate watchers put Clinton at 62 per cent while Republican rival Donald Trump lost by 27 per cent in Monday night's debate held at the Hofstra University, New York.

By Agencies: Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton today won the first US presidential debate in New York according to a TV channel poll.



According to a new CNN/ORC poll, debate watchers put Clinton at 62 per cent while Republican rival Donald Trump lost by 27 per cent in Monday night's debate held at the Hofstra University, New York.

Meanwhile, Trump in his tweet claimed that he has won the debate polls except the CNN one. He goes on to say he's okay not winning the opinion poll of CNN as he doesn't watch CNN.

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"Wow, did great in the debate polls (except for @CNN - which I don't watch). Thank you!, "tweeted Trump.

Here are the top takeaways from Monday's debate:

TRUMP'S TEMPERAMENT:

If Clinton aimed to get under Trump's skin in the first 30 minutes of the debate, the Democratic nominee appeared to succeed. Clinton often put Trump on the defensive, saying he had "rooted for" the collapse of the housing industry and had considered climate change to be a hoax. In another exchange, Clinton said, "I have a feeling that by the end of this evening I'll be blamed for everything that ever happened."

Trump interjected, "Why not?" Later on, Trump said he had a "winning temperament," prompting Clinton to respond: "Whew. OK."

Also read: US professor who correctly predicted results of last 8 election says Donald Trump will win

CLINTON'S ZINGERS:

Often delivered with a smile, Clinton came prepared with pithy lines that undercut Trump's case on the economy. In an early exchange, Clinton said Trump would push for "trickle-down" tax cuts that would only benefit the wealthy, calling it, "trumped-up trickle-down." When Trump got in a dig at Clinton's absence from the campaign trail, she said there was nothing wrong with spending time preparing for the debate. "You know what else I did?" she asked. "I prepared to be president."

ALSO READ: US presidential debate: Hillary, Donald clashed on terrorism, racism, economy | Highlights



THE POLITICAL OUTSIDER:

Trump repeatedly underscored his role as a political outsider, questioning the economic stewardship of President Barack Obama and the administration of former President Bill Clinton, who sat in the front row. Describing the loss of manufacturing jobs in states like Michigan and Ohio, Trump said Clinton had been in government for 30 years, asking, "Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now?" When the discussion turned to foreign policy, Trump said Obama and Clinton failed to confront the Islamic State group, saying his opponent was there when it was "an infant."

TRUMP'S TAXES:

Clinton savaged Trump with a lengthy explanation of why Trump won't release his tax returns, concluding he's got something to hide. She said Trump may not be "as rich as he says he is" or "maybe he's not as charitable" as he says he is. Clinton warned that perhaps Trump hadn't paid any federal income tax at all, noting that some of Trump's income tax returns in the 1970s showed he had paid no federal income taxes in certain years. Trump disclosed the returns to New Jersey casino regulators.

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CLINTON'S EMAILS:

Clinton took responsibility for using a private email server as Obama's secretary of state and gave Trump nowhere to go. Despite her past statements in which she changed her story from previous iterations or left wiggle room by not being completely accurate, on Monday she avoided getting wrapped up in a lengthy exchange over one of her biggest liabilities. When Trump said he would release his tax returns if Clinton put out what he called her "33,000 deleted" emails, Clinton said, "I made a mistake using a private email" server. Trump interjected, "That's for sure," prompting Clinton to respond, "I take responsibility for that."

ALSO READ: US professor who correctly predicted results of last 8 election says Donald Trump will win



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RACIAL POLITICS:



Trump has said black voters have "nothing to lose" by supporting his candidacy but he was forced to answer for his role in claiming Obama was born outside the United States. Clinton accused Trump of spreading a "racist lie" that our "first black president" was not an American citizen, adding, "He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior." Trump responded by recalling the bitter debates between Clinton and Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, saying Clinton treated Obama then with "terrible disrespect." Later, when Clinton said Trump's view of black communities was too grim, Trump sighed, rolled his eyes and said, "Ugh."

ALSO READ:

First US presidential debate 2016: All you need to know about the Clinton-Trump face-off

US presidential debate: Hillary accuses Trump of 'hiding something' in taxes



--- ENDS ---
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the Anadolu news agency, 52 people of those dismissed will face criminal investigation.

The attempted military coup took place in Turkey on July 15. It was suppressed the following day. Turkish authorities have accused Gulen of having incited the coup and have demanded his extradition from the United States.

Following the coup, thousands of people, mostly officials, legal and educational workers, were detained or dismissed over alleged ties to Gulen or his supporters' movement.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Tuesday to create humanitarian corridors in the Syrian city of Aleppo to make possible the transportation of sick and wounded people from the besieged eastern part of the city.

"As the escalation of fighting in Aleppo claims more victims every day, WHO calls for an immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said at a news briefing.

Over 200 people were injured in east Aleppo last week while there are only 35 doctors in this part of the city, Chaib added.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the ministry, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met on Tuesday with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad in Moscow to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian crisis.

"The Russian side underlined its strong determination to continue helping the Syrian government in fight against terrorism, as well as facilitating an expedient political solution to the Syrian crisis in line with UNSC Resolution 2254," the ministry said in a statement.

Moscow has been conducting an aerial campaign against terrorists in Syria since September 30, 2015, at President Bashar Assad's request. The Russian side has also helped negotiate ceasefire deals in the war-hit country.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Houthi rebels in Yemen should immediately release a captured US citizen, Department of State spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The United States is monitoring the situation in Yemen very closely and calls on the Houthis to immediately release any US citizens currently being held," the statement said.

Last Thursday, local media reported that rebels aligned with the Houthis had kidnapped American teacher Peter Willems from the Exceed Language Center in Yemens capital, Sanaa. The schools website identifies Willems as its academic coordinator.
"It took some time to analyze the recording. But the statement by Hadiya Abbas proves that the government possesses the recording," the lawmaker told Sputnik.

According to him, Washington directly and indirectly supports terrorists in Syria.

"The US is lying. The Americans are playing their own game. US senators have said that the US receives an income from various terrorist groups in Syria. Thus, the US is very concerned over Moscow-Damascus coordination," he said.

The lawmaker underscored that even before the audio recording was analyzed, it was obviously not a mistake that five aircraft had carried out five airstrikes in a row. Military analysts pointed out that the attack was deliberate.

"Now, the key point is that the airstrikes were preplanned in coordination with Daesh. It was no surprise that right after the attack Daesh launched an offensive," Al-Akkam said.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Earlier in September, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would accept Washington's proposal for a joint operation in Raqqa, as long as it excluded the YPG.

"Inviting the Kurdish self-defense forces to take part in operations targeting Daesh in Raqqa or elsewhere in Syria means to put the future of this country at risk. Cooperation with a terror group against another terror group is a betrayal of own values and of Syria's and Iraq's future," Cavusoglu said.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States, Toner said, was under no illusion that a ceasefire in Syria was in effect like the one the members of the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) envisioned roughly ten days ago.

"I am not going to confirm what anonymous US officials may or may not have said," Toner told reporters when asked about a report that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states may arm members of the Syrian opposition with MANPADS, like the United States did arm the Mujahedeen against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan some 30 years ago.
The broadcaster added that the appearance of US soldiers immediately caused tensions between the militants of Jabhat Fatah al Sham, previously known as the Nusra Front, and FSA troops. Extremists from Jabhat Fatah al Sham called for "a fight with the Americans" and burnt several FSA flags, according to Al Mayadeen.

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 FSA split into several groups and shrank to some 60 units, which are allied to Jabhat Fatah al Sham, according to the Syrian intelligence.
"We have seen reports obviously that Afghan soldiers were killed. I believe it is reportedly an insider attack," Toner told reporters about an incident in Kunduz.

On Friday, NATO Resolute Support Mission Commander Gen. John Nicholson told reporters he was concerned by the high casualty rate suffered by Afghan security forces who continue to fight despite these losses.
Shahzad Akbar from the Foundation of Human Rights described the agencys drone strikes as "clearly illegal," and that a combination of sluggish Pakistani courts and an American government unwilling to take responsibility makes these cases hard to register. Khans case has taken 6 years to register.

Khan observed that civilian deaths perpetrated by the US create the same kinds of militants they purport to be fighting.

"They tell the whole world that they are killing terrorists in drone strikes, but in fact, they are killing innocent people[If] I come to your house, and kill you or you brother and sisteror your innocent children, what would be in your heart for me? Wont there be hate in your heart?"
If you haven't caught up with it yet, here's a quick look at how Clinton and Trump 'respectfully' bit each other's face off.

By Shreya Biswas: Since the first US presidential debate aired live on TV, people have not being able to stop talking about it. And one of the reasons why this 90-something-minute debate is intriguing people is the snarky potshots that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took at one other.

As far as presidential debates go, this one was as nasty as they come. A debate full of personal attacks that covered allegations of racism, misogyny, tax evasion, to not having a particular look, this one took the renowned US presidential debating system to a new low.

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The two US presidential frontrunners had a lot to talk about and argue over. They debated and disagreed over the Iran nuclear deal, over NATO, cyber-attacks on DNC, the Iraq War, the ISIS, etc. The debate, which brought Hillary and Trump in a face-to-face confrontation for the first time, was heavily interspersed with personal attacks.

If you haven't caught up with it yet, here's a quick look at how Clinton and Trump 'respectfully' bit each other's face off:



Trump: "Clinton doesn't have the stamina."

When debate moderator Lester Holt questioned Trump about his earlier statement, where he said Clinton "did not have the presidential look", Trump went below the belt. "Clinton doesn't have the stamina to be President of the United States," he claimed.

Holt had weaved this question with the statement that Clinton was the first woman in American history to garner such major support in the general elections, which seemed like he was hinting at the underlining sexism in Trump's statement.

Trump, of course, ignored the "look" comment and said he did not believe Clinton had the stamina to be POTUS.

To this, Clinton responded with a smile, saying the day he (Trump) travelled to 112 countries and negotiated trade deals, as she did as secretary of state, "He can talk to me about stamina."

Clinton: "Trump called women pigs, slobs, etc."



That was not the only unpleasantness in the debate. Clinton referred to her rival's alleged misogynistic past. "Trump has called women pigs, slobs, dogs, referred to Latino Miss Universe as 'Miss Piggy' and 'Miss Housekeeper,' she said.

After taking most of Trump's potshots with grace, Clinton unleashed her talons with this strike. "She has a name, Donald," she snapped at Trump, referring to Alicia Machado, former winner of Trump's Miss Universe pageant.

She also accused Trump for calling pregnancy an inconvenience for employers and for saying women do not deserve equal pay unless "they do a job as good as men."

When Clinton spoke, Trump repeatedly interrupted her, denying making any of the comments.



Trump: "Clinton should quit her holier-than-thou act over the birther controversy."

While Clinton accused her Trump of pushing a "racist lie" about Obama's birth, Trump accused her of trying to dig up information on Obama's birth place when she was contesting against him. He claimed Clinton's close ally Sidney Blumenthal had tried hard to prove that Obama was not born in the US but failed.

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He then said Clinton, who is now all praises for Obama and his work as a president, should quit the "holier than thou" act because, "It doesn't work that way."

The next round in the debate brought up the racism angle.

Clinton: "Trump did not want to rent apartments to African-Amercans."

After Trump spoke about the "disastrous" treatment that African-Americans and Hispanics "are currently facing in the US", Clinton hinted at him having shown racist tendencies in the past with his actions.

Clinton, who had clearly come to this debate well prepared, had just brought out the (not-so-hidden) skeletons from Trump's closet to make her point on the racism card.



Trump: "I have much better temperament than Clinton."

Yes, he said that.

Actually, Trump said he has "much better judgement and temperament that she does." He even went as far as to say, "My biggest asset is my temperament."

We'll leave you to think over that. Though Clinton was among the people who laughed at this statement.



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Clinton: "Taunts are enough to provoke Trump into starting a war."

Speaking about the incident when Iranian sailors were said to have taunted some American sailors at sea, Clinton recalls Trump having said that he'd respond to their taunts by "shooting them out of water."

"His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling," Clinton said, adding: "A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his hands anywhere near the nuclear codes."

Trump: "Clinton invests millions on making derogatory ads about me."

Trump complained about how Clinton has financed ad campaigns that say mean things about him, and how he is a better man in this picture as he did not do the same about her.

"I don't deserve that," pouted Trump.

Clinton: "Trump lives in his own reality."

As Trump kept talking over her and blaming Obama for the NAFTA deal, Clinton admonished him by saying, "Donald likes to live in his own reality."

Trump also accused Clinton of having "no plan", when Clinton lashed out by saying she has written a book on it and he should read it to learn more.

Every now and then, Clinton and Trump slightly agreed on things, such as on gun violence, attacks on African-Americans, etc. But that did not, of course, mean a call for truce. Throughout the debate, the two said numerous mean things to each other. In fact, Trump did not even spare moderator Lestor Holt.

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Talking about the Iraq invasion -- Clinton accused him of supporting it and Holt pointed out that there was proof that he did -- Trump lashed out saying: "I did not support the war in Iraq. That is mainstream media nonsense."

All in all, the first US presidential debate 2016 showed Clinton as the smart one who knew how to get under her rival's skin, and Trump as the over-emotional, unruly one who had a lot to say, often succeeded in rattling his opponent, but mostly just interrupted everybody talking.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The president said that the aid for Syria was based on the Iranian belief that terrorism posed a major threat to the region and the entire world.

The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep assisting Syria in the fight against terrorism and in the establishment of security in the region, Rouhani said at a meeting with Speaker of the Peoples Council of Syria Hadiya Khalaf Abbas in Tehran, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.
Kuwait's Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways will be the first to fly their planes out of the terminal, with a total of 15 foreign carriers set to relocate to the building. The terminal has a capacity of servicing some 7.5 million passengers per year, bringing Egypt's total annual passenger capacity to 30 million.

The opening comes as Egypt prepares to resume air traffic with Russia, which was suspended after an Airbus A321 plane flying to St. Petersburg crashed soon after taking off from Sharm El-Sheikh on October 31. All 224 people aboard died as a result of what was classified by the investigation as a terrorist attack.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik)  Russian and Indian motorized infantry personnel taking part in the joint Indra-2016 military exercises used Russia's Orlan-10 drone to strike simulated terrorist groups, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry's Eastern Military District said Tuesday.

"During the exercises, the Eastern Military District and Indian troops used Russian Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles to jointly learn to detect simulated illegal armed groups," Vladimir Matveev said.

Orlan-10 drones are designed to carry out remote surveying and can work to adjust fire or survey damages, as well as function as a connection repeater. The UAV has been used in Russia's counterterrorist aerial campaign in Syria.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  An air defense unit from Russia's Central Military District (CMD) has successfully hit high-speed simulated targets using the S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile system in a military exercise in the Russian Far East, an aide to the districts commander Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin said Tuesday.

"An anti-aircraft missile regiment from the Central Military District, which received the S-400 'Triumph' system a year ago, has successfully carried out combat launches as part of a joint exercise between the air force and air defense forces at the Telemba training range in the Republic of Buryatia," Roshchupkin said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Reykjavik claimed on Monday that three Tu-160 bombers reportedly flew 6,000-9,000 feet below a flight heading from Iceland's capital to Stockholm, Sweden, last week.

"The claims of Iceland's pilots and diplomats concerning an allegedly dangerously clpse flight to a civilian airliner by Russia's long-range aircraft over the Norwegian Sea are no more than a figment of their imagination," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov stressed that the Russian aircraft were following a mapped patrol route with switched-on transponders at a safe distance from civilian aircraft and without crossing airways.
However, subsequent reports turned out to be rather contradictory, as the number of the Russian planes varies between two and three, as is the make of the bombers. In some sources, the bombers were identified as Tu-22M Backfire, a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber, whereas others suggested they were Tu-160 Blackjacks, a heavy strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons and traveling at supersonic speed.

Per Froberg, press officer for the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration, pointed out the Russian aircraft had remained within the allotted airspace regarding distances from passenger aircraft.

"At cruising altitude the minimum permitted distance is 300 meters vertically," Froberg told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

Whereas Swedish military officials and Icelandic sources portrayed the episode as a threat to flight safety, Jan-Olov Bergling, sector manager at the Swedish aviation industry, brushed aside risks of collision.

"No, it is unlikely. The Russian pilots want to survive too," Jan-Olov Bergeling told the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet.

Meanwhile, violations of Swedish airspace have become so frequent that they hardly make the news. In August, US reconnaissance aircraft RC-135U flew over Swedish territory south of Karlskrona without permission, the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen reported.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Iran and Italy have launched joint naval drills in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz near Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Commander of Iran's First Naval Zone Adm. Amir Hossein Azad said on Tuesday.

"The drill is held to improve combat capabilities and information transfer of both Iranian and Italian Navies; Italy is a NATO member state and had been taken by surprise upon viewing of Irans military might and the capability to hold drills in such scopes," Azad was quoted as saying by the Mehr News Agency.
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  He stressed that the European Union and NATO should avoid duplication in their defense strategies.

"I also welcome the debate which is now taking place on how to strengthen European defense and European defense cooperation. Because there is no contradiction between strong European defense and a strong NATO. Actually it reinforces each other," Stoltenberg told journalists ahead of the meeting with EU defense ministers in Bratislava.

Earlier in September, media reported that French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urging her "to take measures in the field of defense of European citizens" and calling for setting up the EU collective defense, a single EU military budget and a surveillance system.
"The most pressing challenge for the United States Air Force is the rise of peer competitors with advanced military capabilities rivaling our own. Adversary advances are challenging our control of the air."

When asked about his plans for addressing these challenges, Goldfein stressed that he would push ahead with a number of modernization programs including "new platforms such as the F-35 and B-21, which will ensure a qualitative edge against likely adversaries."

However, it seems that the technological gap between the US and its peers  Russia and China  is nevertheless narrowing steadily.

Walls points out that in 2018 Russia plans to start fielding its first stealth fighter jet  the T-50.

"The twin-engine plane is designed to be highly maneuverable and equipped with sophisticated electronics to spot enemy aircraft from miles away," he stressed.
"We didnt say, 'Lets go to Congress and say we want that.' Somebody may give that to us as we go to the next administration and take a hard look or the operating environment might drive us," Walsh said.

"What well be able to do is if somebody says, 'Hey, if youve got some money, got more force structure, what would you buy?' We now have conducted a force structure assessment that would allow us to do that."

While Walsh is focused on the size of the Corps, quality may be more valuable than quantity. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies last month, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller warned that the US Armed Forces lack the training to counter adversaries with near-peer fighting capabilities.
A woman lawyer from Haryana has accused the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Shadi Lal Batra of raping her. Police have registered an FIR.

By India Today Web Desk: A woman from Haryana has accused the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Shadi Lal Batra of raping her. Police have filed an FIR in this regard at the Tilak Marg police station.

The woman, who is a lawyer, in her complaint said that she was promised a job by the MP, who later invited her to his place and raped her. The incident had occurred on Saturday.

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ALSO READ: CBI to serve Azam Khan notice for calling Bulandshahr gangrape a 'political conspiracy'

The woman also alleged that Batra, 76, had threatened her against approaching the police.

According to the complaint, the woman was invited to the MP's residence in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Batra, an MP from Haryana, allegedly spiked her drink and then raped her.

A political veteran, Batra enjoys considerable influence in the Congress party.

(with inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ: Scarlett Keeling's rape and murder: Both accused acquitted by Goa court

--- ENDS ---
LONDON (Sputnik)  Syria is witnessing intensified fighting in the city of Aleppo, after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities null and void.

"All these things are gonna be considered," Johnson told the Sky News broadcaster, answering a question whether Russia could face further sanctions over the escalation of hostilities in Syria.
Doctorow further said that the US-coalition airstrike on the Syrian Arab Army in Deir ez-Zor and the SAA resuming air raids in Aleppo are not sufficient to explain this level of verbal hostility.

On Monday, Damascus said that the Syrian intelligence services have an audio recoding of communications between US forces and Daesh prior to Deir ez-Zor attack that claimed the lives of at least 62 Syrian servicemen on September 17.

"It could be true, but it will have no implications because truth is the least of the factors on the playing field today," the analyst noted.

Doctorow recalled that the Western media did not cover the Russian Defense Ministry's press briefing over Daesh's illegal oil trade with Turkey.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Yaroshenko said in an interview published by the Izvestia daily on Tuesday he was pressured by the US Federal Bureau of Prisons into signing a document requesting his transfer to Russia under the Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

"No, they have not discussed it. Indeed, we have also learned that the document was signed. There is nothing more to add in this case, the decision is behind the US authorities. We have repeatedly spoken about the fact that many of our citizens are, in our view, illegally held in custody in the United States," Peskov told reporters.

Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to import more than $100 million worth of cocaine into the United States, having been arrested in Liberia in 2010 and subsequently extradited to the United States.
In a written statement for the meeting, 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.

His stance is close to the position of the United States and Britain. Both Washington and London have accused Russia of prolonging the war.

This statement is part of the strategy France has been following since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. Paris supports military actions against the Syrian government, French senator Gilbert Roger said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov congratulated the Colombian people on the signing of the peace agreement between the country's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and offered Russias assistance to the conflict settlement process, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has sent a message to Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia Maria Angela Holguin to congratulate her and Colombia's people on the conclusion of the peace treaty and wished them success in building a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Colombia," the statement read.

On Monday, the formal signing of a peace agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government took place in the Colombian city of Cartagena. The representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) attended the ceremony.
The idea is not new. Policymakers in China have championed joint development initiatives since the 1990s, but the majority of projects were not carried out. Other countries that Beijing courted have largely remained suspicious of China's true intensions in the region. In addition, China wanted its potential partners to recognize its territorial claims, which is a non-starter.

Only time will tell whether Beijing is ready to become more flexible on the issue, but "to many claimant countries," Stratfor said, "developing maritime resources in the disputed areas of the South China Sea has become more of a crucial economic imperative than ever."

Take Vietnam, for instance. "With its near-shore oil and natural gas blocks long past their peak productivity, [Hanoi] needs new energy sources to satisfy its domestic economy and provide export revenue to pay for its growing demand for imported refined oil products," the analysts explained.

For its part, "the Philippines has some natural gas production but imports virtually all of its crude oil," they said.
VIENNA (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov  On Monday, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak said Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant must be closed as the world could not risk another catastrophe following the Chernobyl disaster

"We are living in this country and the NPP is being used in our country as well. So it is most important for us to be sure that the security and safety standards are on the highest level. So the statement of the Turkish minister has nothing to do with reality, it [the statement] is politics, not a professional assessment," Galstyan said.

The deputy minister added that Metsamor was tested by an independent organization to ensure that post-Fukushima standards of security and safety are fulfilled.
Power's remarks have nothing to do with Syria, the analyst suggested.

"Apparently [the war-torn Arab country] and the terrorists are not really related to Washington's mood and plans. Power accused Russia of launching 'an all-out air and ground offensive,'" the analyst noted. "Indeed, Russia is fighting against armed rebels when in fact Moscow has to fight against the Syrian government!" she added with irony.

Russia and the United States have long been at odds over the origins of the Syrian crisis and the ways to resolve it. Moscow has focused on tackling terrorist groups fighting in the country, while Washington has viewed President Bashar al-Assad as the element behind the conflict. In recent months, the US has partly readjusted its focus, saying that degrading Daesh is a priority at the moment, but Assad's departure is still on Washington's agenda.
"We need a serious process, with no cheating, and without people changing their stance every two days. The agreement was [achieved], and the only thing needed is for it to be implemented instead of changing positions," said Russias envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin.

The differences that have recently deepened in mutual rhetoric between Moscow and the West may not signal the deterioration of ties between the two parties.

"Such rhetoric looks more like a media performance. But real diplomacy is always cautious and hidden from the public. I wouldnt say that Russia and the US want to abandon cooperation," Andrei Kazantsev, senior analyst at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told RBK.

Alexei Malashenko from the Carnegie Moscow Center suggested that the recent events, including the attack on a humanitarian convoy and the rise of violence in Aleppo are only a pretext for the main issue  the fate of President Bashar Assad.

"Russia is again interested in Assad staying in power while the West insists that Assad must go. As for this issue, the situation in Syria is a deadlock," Malashenko said.
Moscow launched its anti-Daesh operation in Syria almost a year ago, on September 30, 2015. Unlike the US-led coalitions' efforts in the country, Russia's campaign has been authorized by Damascus and is conducted in close cooperation with government forces.

"Russian aircraft have brought Syrians hope for life and security," the source said. "In Latakia alone, dozens of villages were liberated in several months [after the Russian operation was launched]. Thousands of people returned to their homes. The SAA retook control of hundreds of strategic locations. People are no longer at risk of the militants shelling them because [radical fighters] were pushed far away from Latakia."
Currently, the French presidential campaign is in its early stage. The election is scheduled for April. One of the most notable candidates is leader of the right-wing party National Front Marine Le Pen, who said Monday that if elected she will recognize Crimea as part of Russia.

"Given the historical realities, as well as the choice which was clearly expressed during the referendum on accession, I will recognize Crimea as part of Russian territory if elected," the politician said in an interview with RT France.
"The United States has been providing assistance to us, but they clearly have their own strategy. On the one hand, they have said that they support the Kurds in their fight against Daesh. On the other hand, they have turned a blind eye to Turkey's intervention in Jarablus," he told the newspaper. "Time will tell what goal the US is pursuing."

The People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been among the Pentagon's key allies in Syria. Kurdish militias have been instrumental in liberating strategically important locations, including the towns of Manbij and al-Shaddadi, as well as the Tishrin Dam. US military officials initially wanted the Kurds to push Daesh out of Raqqa, the group's de facto capital, and northern Syria since the militants used the porous border with Turkey to rearm and resupply.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  He also called for the creation of political and economic stimuli to push the parties to the conflict to make concessions.

"The situation in Syria is a shame for Europe. It is easy to point at the Russians and the Americans. But the Europeans have failed themselves, because they have not taken responsibility [for it] Europe could have promised investments worth tens of billions to recover Syria if the ceasefire was observed," Ischinger told Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper on Monday.

According to the diplomat, military solutions to the crisis, such as a no-fly zone in Syria cannot be ruled out as well.
ANKARA (Sputnik)  Cavusoglu stressed that both countries were eager to do utmost to develop bilateral economic cooperation.

"The decision of the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union saddened Turkey, however, everyone should respect the will of the people. Furthermore, its leaving the bloc may open new dimension in Turkey-UK relations," Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who is currently visiting Turkey.
Maavak referred to Roger Stern, an economic geographer at Princeton University, who carried out a detaled analysis of the US military expenditures for protecting oil-rich Gulf region in his 2010 article for Energy Policy entitled "United States' cost of military force projection in the Persian Gulf, 1976-2007."

In the late 1970s, James Earl Carter declared that the crude flowing from the Persian Gulf was of an ultimate importance to US national security.

Citing the Carter and Wolfowitz doctrines, Stern pointed out that the US' Middle Eastern policy had resulted in $8 trillion being wasted since 1976.

"The cost of military force projection in the Persian Gulf (CPGfp) is an important variable in US energy and national security policy. The cost of oil supply protection is widely cited as national security externality Externalities related to energy security, or more properly to energy insecurity, have been described as 'the loss of economic welfare that may occur as a result of a change in the price or availability of energy.' These welfare losses are of three kinds: those related to (1) energy import volume; (2) energy price variability; and (3) national security and military expenditures for supply protection," Stern underscored.

Mark Thompson of TIME had repeatedly quoted Stern's study, raising alarm over the "money wasted" (that had reached $10 trillion by 2014) and urging to ease Washington's addiction to Gulf crude, "which too often has served to grease the skids of war."

In fact, the US has been spending about $300 billion per annum for the Gulf monarchies' protection, Maavak stressed.

Saudi Arabia's Involvement in Funding Extremists Casts Shadow on the US

According to Maavak, since Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States have been spotted funding Sunni radicals and Islamists in the Middle East and beyond, the poisonous US-Saudi alliance has dealt a heavy blow to America's international image.

"The global public perception fallout has been disastrous, with the man in the street equating the United States with ISIS [Daesh] and Al-Qaeda itself. [US Republican presidential nominee Donald] Trump may have done some damage limitation by attributing the rise of ISIS (Daesh) to Hillary and Obama, but the complete failure of the War on Terror and Gulf Arab appeasement since 9/11  a continuation of the Rambo script of Mujahedeen 'holy warriors' of the 80s  has only reinforced this public perception of a tight US-Jihad entanglement," the academic argued.
ROME (Sputnik)  In an article published in the newspaper Unita, Italy's foreign minister recalled that his country was among the states that positively assessed Moscows presence in Syria, given the "containing influence" it could have on Assad.

"However, it turned out differently. Moscow did not force the regime and different Shiite groups that support him to change direction: indiscriminate bombings against civilians continue, sieges have become more severe, international commitments and the UN Security Councils resolutions are consistently ignored. That's why the time has come to send a strong message to Moscow. It's high time for Russia to prove it wants to use its influence on the regime," Gentiloni wrote in the article.

Moscow and Washington are among the key actors in the mediation Syria's protracted internal conflict, which has lasted since March 2011. Government forces loyal to President Assad are fighting numerous opposition factions and religious extremist groups. The latest ceasefire in Syria was brokered by the United States and Russia on September 9. Having entered into force on September 12, the deal, nevertheless, broke apart over repeated violations of the truce.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the ambassador, the so-called pro-visa, which provides a simplified procedure for Russian tourists to enter the territory of Cyprus, has been implemented because the issue of visa-free regime between Russia and the European Union has not been progressing.

"Cyprus supported, supports and will support the idea of abolishing visas between Russia and the European Union We see that it is extremely important for both sides," Kasoulides told journalists.
Western policymakers have called upon Kiev to implement its part of the Minsk deal and provide the breakaway regions with autonomy in accordance with the agreement.

Kiev would be able to reinstate full control over the state border "throughout the conflict area, starting on day 1 after the local elections and ending after the comprehensive political settlement," the text of the Minsk agreement reads.

Simultaneously, influential voices in Germany have emerged urging the initiation of negotiations with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union to create a common economic space stretching from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

According to Rahr, that would have helped solve the Ukraine economic crisis.

"The West can not shoulder the financial burden alone," the analyst emphasizes.

He calls attention to the fact that it is the first time when Poroshenko has come under fire from the US. He suggests that the Ukrainian president is likely to find himself in an even more awkward position if Donald Trump is elected. If Trump wins the US presidency, he may seek to establish working relations with Moscow, Rahr assumes.

Strategic Forecasting, Inc. (Stratfor), a global intelligence company, echoes Rahr in its recent analysis on the matter.

"The West is divided over how to handle the Ukrainian conflict," Stratfor's report states.
According to Alexei Mukhin, Director General of the Center for Political Information, NATO's representatives are using aggressive statements because they act as marketing specialists who monitor the main trends on the market and change their "product" accordingly.

"NATO is developing according to the laws of the market. On the one hand, it is a bureaucratic organization, which requires considerable resources, and on the other hand, it is a kind of a showcase used to promote NATO's products and its brand, arms and engineering services, which are being imposed on other countries," the expert said during a press conference hosted by Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.

Along with other experts, Mukhin prepared a special report on NATO's capacities and plans, which analyzed NATO's activities over the last 50 years as well as the trends in the alliance's development.
Americans are losing leverage on the whole arena in Syria. They are not in a position in a sense to tell people what to do and this is very serious, Waqqaf said.

We can also make reference to the fact that they are fearful of exposing and publishing the whole agreement with Russia, which Russia is very much insisting upon. Its not only that but also having some sort of Security Council resolution binding that sort of the agreement, the deputy said.

He further said that the US is trying to balance between very contradicting interests, such as those of the Saudis and the Turks, let alone the many factions on the ground.
"It is a misnomer. Its very easy for him to paint himself as if hes somehow less pro-warits very easy for him to do that because he doesnt have an actual voting record to hold him to like Secretary Clinton and President Obama and Bernie Sanders and other actual politicians in office."

As Schlehuber pointed out, hawkishness from both candidates is to be expected.

"I dont think the US government and anybody that runs for higher office knows anything but war," he said, pointing out that Washington had a number of opportunities to prevent the Syrian civil war from erupting, but chose to ignore the warnings.

"Here we are, some five years later, the whole things on fire, we have no idea how to go in and resolve it whatsoever. We have preventable situations both domestically in our US cities as well as abroad that can be prevented before these things spark and catch fire," he said.

"Once theyre on fire, weve shown complete ineffectiveness through our military and our police to resolve and de-escalate. Once the escalation starts, all we do is escalate, escalate, escalate, and thats what youll get from a Trump or a Clinton presidency."
In the beginning of September, after it was clearly evident that Syrian government forces are about to annihilate every terrorist in the city of Aleppo, the US reached out for a truce. Despite the fact that US representatives neglected to separate terrorist factions from the so called moderate rebels, Moscow Foreign Ministry was quick to jump on the deal since stability in Syria directly translates into a more stable Middle East. Unfortunately for the Syrian people the arrangement did not last. Five days into a relatively quiet ceasefire US coalition warplanes incinerated a Syrian army base in a strategic city of Deir-Ez-Zor claiming they were targeting Daesh terrorists on the run, but ended up killing over 60 Syrian soldiers by mistake. This mistake has not only delivered death just like Pentagon's accidental attack on MSF hospital in Afghanistan, but effectively ended the ceasefire. It's hard to imagine that Pentagon did not see it coming. Bill Hicks, George Carlin, and Louis CK deliver the funny, while Ali Rizk (independent Middle East expert and commentator from Lebanon) shares his professional opinion.

We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com
On this first episode of Hard Facts, John Wight is joined by writer and human rights activist, Eva Bartlett, for a discussion on Washington's attempt to blame the breakdown in the recent ceasefire on Russia and its Syrian ally.



We also explore the recent massacre of dozens of Syrian soldiers in a US airstrike while engaged in combat against Daesh in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor. Was this really the accident that Washington claims? Or is it further evidence of the US government's commitment to the overthrow of Syrian president, Basher al-Assad, even if it means the country being overrun by Salafi-jihadists?



Eva Bartlett has been visiting Syria since the conflict began and provides a unique insight into the gulf between the Western narrative of the conflict and the reality on the ground. Syria is a key frontline in a global struggle between East and West for a multipolar alternative to US hegemony. As such the stakes in the outcome could not be more serious. As for the Syrian people, when will their suffering end?
Figures this week suggest that thousands of men, women and children from the Yezidi community in Northern Iraq are still being held by Daesh forces. This comes following suggestions from the UN earlier this year that Daesh had earned around $50million, in part from ransoms paid for the release of many Yezidis. We speak to Idan Barir, Research associate in the Forum for Regional Thinking and Tel Aviv University.

The controversial President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has offended many a world leader, and snubbed the United Nations, but in his moves to re-instate the death penalty in his country  he's turned his ire on an even greater adversary, asking "What if there is no God?"

You can find previous editions of World in Focus here.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Monday, media reports emerged that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree on abolition of the committee.

"This is all circulating on the level of rumors. As it is known, we do not comment on rumors," Peskov told reporters.
Well in some ways they are ahead of us and the other way round, he said, underscoring the need for serious investments into research and experimental work.

In an interview with Sputnik, Leonid Ivashov, President of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies, a Moscow-based think tank, mentioned the so-called Lightning Strike strategy which has been in effect in the US for almost 17 years now.

The Americans made this headway after they realized that using nuclear weapons on a battlefield can lead to a global nuclear war. In 2003 they changed their strategy after then President George W. Bush signed the Prompt Global Strike directive to develop a system to deliver airstrikes using precision-guided conventional weapons, including hypersonic cruise missiles, to bring any country, Russia included, down to its knees, Ivashov said.

He added that the Americans considered hypersonic weapons a sacred cow and refused to limit their use.

With their range, speed and accuracy similar to those of strategic weapons, cruise missiles are in no way limited when it comes to their destructive effect. We tested such weapons back in the 1980s, but were unable to produce them en masse. We had good ideas, so the Americans learned much from us, Leonid Ivashov noted.

He added that the appearance of hypersonic weapons in Russia would restore the balance of force.

There is no way you can possibly defend against such weapons. Fully aware of this we started developing advanced systems of early detection, such as the A-50 plane equipped with the state-of-the-art Shmel-2 radar. Our primary task was to ensure 100-percent coverage of the countrys territory to see low-flying targets. Another task was to ensure their quick detection and destruction, Leonid Ivashov said.

In April, Russia successfully carried out the first test flight of a hypersonic Yu-71 glider launched with the use of an RS-18A strategic ballistic missile in the Orenburg Region in the Ural Mountains.

The missile accelerated up to 7,000 MPH.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to Father Alexander Volkov, the appeal calls for recognition of the beginning of human life at the moment of conception and stresses that the embryo should be legally protected.

The document also proposes to ban any surgical or therapeutic interruption of pregnancy, as well as "the use of contraceptives with abortion-inducing effects."

According to Russian pro-life activists, about 1 million women in Russia have induced abortions every year.
Last week, NASA teased a major announcement about Europa, a moon of Jupiter, suggesting that "surprising activity" had been observed. Many were quick to speculate about the discovery of alien life, but the news, while not quite that big, is still exciting.

New images from the Hubble Space Telescope show what appear to be plumes of water vapor ejecting from the surface of Europa. This not only supports the widely-held belief that the moon is host to a vast ocean below a thick layer of surface ice, but that the study of that ocean could be easier than previously thought.

"Europas ocean is considered to be one of the most promising places that could potentially harbor life in the solar system," said Geoff Yoder, acting associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate, according to an agency news release.
"I understand why they may need to discuss the topic. But they're representing it as some kind of apocalypse  which it isn't," Mr. Hammond told Sputnik.

The inquiry will be co-chaired by Watson and barrister Helen Mountfield QC and joined by philosophy professor Michael Sandel, Naomi Climer, who is the president of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and MP Jon Cruddas.

"The world of work  the heart of our lives and the center of our Labour identity  is getting ever more complex and uncertain," Watson will say in his speech.

"Complex,because new automated technologies are fusing with the Internet, and creating models of work and jobs we haven't seen before."

"Daily we hear stories of machines and systems that can do things we thought only humans could do: driving cars, drafting contracts, even composing music."

"It's been called the 'fourth industrial revolution,' a new era of fast technology driven change, which we're beginning to feel in everything we do," Watson will tell the audience in Liverpool.

Words, futurologist Ray Hammond describes as "patronizing" and "ignorant."

"It seems to be an extremely ignorant approach. But it may well be that the Labour party feels it needs to talk down or patronize its followers," Mr. Hammond told Sputnik.

"We already know about the automation of jobs and robotics and that they're going to free-up workers to do other work  rather than replicate jobs and take them over in the next ten years."

Mr. Hammond suggests that successive cycles of automation are already happening in industries which have seen workers moved into different areas rather than being replaced by robots, causing wholesale unemployment.

"Automation has already seen the end to bank clerks, type setters and yet there seems to be an unending demand for things we never knew we wanted. New jobs have clearly been created as our economy has grown with automation replacing old jobs."

Robot delivery pods to be trialled in Washington DC this year. #futurist  Ray Hammond (@hammondfuturist) September 26, 2016

This will continue for the next ten years, it will be the same process," sad the futurologist, who predicts that "20 years from now  it'll be a different story."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Forty-seven percent of young voters this year said they will definitely vote, down from 58 percent in 2012 and from a peak of 74 in 2008, the poll also revealed.

"While the debates could attract record audiences and the election is sure to dominate news coverage for the next several weeks, as long as Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, remain unpopular, voter turnout  particularly among younger Americans  may suffer," a press release explaining the poll said on Monday.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Both contracts have an estimated completion date of September 25, 2023, the Defense Department stated.

"BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems [of] Nashua, New Hampshire was awarded a $383.9 million contract for crew served weapons sights," the announcement said on Monday. "DRS Network and Imaging Systems was awarded a $337.7 million contract."

Crew-served weapons operated by the US Army include high-precision rifles, medium and heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, mortars with calibers less than 120 mm, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-launched missiles and ground-positioned anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Trump claimed that he will release his tax return when his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton releases her deleted emails.

"When she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted, as soon as she releases those, I will release my tax returns," Trump stated on Monday night.
The former secretary of state also repeated her pledge to raise the national minimum wage and to ensure equal pay for womens work. She also vowed to force US companies to share more of their profits with their employees.

Clitnon criticized what she claimed were Trumps plan to have the biggest tax cuts for the top one percent of the wealthy.

"The better we can invest in the middle class the better off we will be," she said.

However, Trump countered by criticizing the 1994 NAFTA deal negotiated by Clintons husband, President Bill Clinton during his first term in the White House, as having decimated US jobs.

Today, the United States continued to operate under a serous disadvantage with Mexico because Mexico imposed heavy taxes on US imports, but the United States imposed on goods it imported from south of the border, Trump maintained.

"When we sell into Mexico there's a tax 16 percent when they sell into us there's no tax," he stated.

Trump also ridiculed many of Clintons proposals arguing that in her almost quarter century of experience as first lady, a US senator and secretary of state she had not succeeded in improving conditions for job creation and industry within the United States.

"She's been doing this for 30 years, why hasn't she making them better?" he asked.

Clinton argued that her policies would make the United States the clean energy economic super power of the 21st century.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Monday, Syrian parliament speaker Khadiya Abbas said Damascus has evidence of US troops communicating with IS fighters and directing them toward Syrian government troops after carrying out the airstrike.

"The allegations are ludicrous and categorically false," Pentagon Spokesmen Adrian Rankine-Galloway told RIA Novosti.
Clinton also sought to defuse the growing concerns about the annual US $800 billion trade deficit with the rest of the world by saying she would appoint a special prosecutor to enforce free trade agreements.

However, Trump reminded Clinton that her plans include raising the tax burden on the American middle class.

The two also traded criticisms on personal issues when Clinton called on Trump to release his tax returns.

Trump said he would do so when the US Internal Revenue Service completed its audit of his businesses and he countered by saying he would still release them when Clinton released the 33,000 emails she had deleted from her private server during her years as secretary of state.

Trump also charged that the deletion of the emails by Clinton was done deliberately and not by accident.

Clinton wrote off the use of a private server as a "mistake" and also defended her health and stamina saying she had travelled to 112 countries during her years as secretary of state while Trump had not.
Mayor Jim Forts analyzed the difference in approach from both camps. He called Clinton "prepared and robotic," but used less favorable words for Trump.

Trump-Clinton debate demonstrated that Hillary is highly disciplined, programed, and robotic.Trump on the other https://t.co/CK4WgXpg8o  Mayor James Fouts (@MayorJimFouts) 27 September 2016

#TrumpWon because we are tired of smug elitists who laugh at all criticism and accept no responsibility for their actions. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/sQWJwMYE9s  Deplorable AJ (@asamjulian) September 27, 2016

Canada

The Canadians also got in on the debate and saw the heated exchange as a useful life lesson. One Twitter user posted an article on "debating with a moron" and how it can help you survive in the office.

How to debate a moronand what it can teach you about surviving at the office https://t.co/Vs3LZctuKh via @TP1  Naomi Goldapple (@omichild) September 27, 2016

United Kingdom

The UK stayed up into the early hours of the morning to catch any gold nuggets of the heated exchange and many didn't have to wait too long either.

One Twitter user noticed that Hillary had clearly "got under" Mr. Trump's skin, exposing his business deals, cloudy opinions on trade and refusal to release his tax information.

Score one for Hillary  she got under Trump's skin, exposed his business record but wobbled on trade  Lionel Barber (@lionelbarber) September 27, 2016

Kuala Lumpur

The people of Kuala Lumpur also had an opinion on the much talked about political war, as they focused on Trump's use of words, which they claim was not extensive, and filled with interruptions.

Trump's limited vocabularies during presidential debate with Clinton: China, Mexico, Deal, Believe Me and whole lots of interruptions.  Norman Goh (@imnormgoh) 27 September 2016

India

Tweeter users in India were far from impressed, with one lady saying she felt "lousy" and happy that India did not have a similar debate going on.

After watching lousy & lackluster #USPresidentialDebate between Trump & Clinton, I am so happy that in India we don't have such a debate.  DrLatha Isloor-Corry (@LathaIsloor) 27 September 2016

Australia

The Aussies were easily pleased however with the debate, one Twitter user chanted that Hillary Clinton could win the debate and hoped her cheers could be heard from all the way down under.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Comey stressed that the phenomenon of Americans and other foreigners traveling to join Daesh has changed dramatically over the past year, adding that the terrorist group appears to have lost some of its power to attract troubled souls to travel there.

Where we used to see 8 or 10 people from the United States trying to go to the so-called caliphate, we're now down to one or none a month, Comey testified to the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Since 2014, about 27,000 foreign fighters from more than 100 countries have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join Daesh, according to official US estimates.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  There is no indication that Ahmad Rahami, suspected in a series of bombings in the New York City area, is part of a terror cell, US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey testified to the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday.

"That investigation is open, Comey said. We see, so far, no indication of a larger cell or the threat of related attacks.

On September 20, federal prosecutors filed terrorism and weapons charges against Rahami in connection with three bombings in New York City and New Jersey over the previous weekend.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  On Thursday, Yahoo announced that a state-sponsored actor hacked its networks in late 2014, stealing information about some 500 million users.

"User information was first compromised in 2014, yet the company only announced the breach last week. This is unacceptable," the letter stated.

The senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal and Patrick Leahy, asked Yahoo to provide a briefing on the companys investigation into the incident.
Back in May, while the Senate was deliberating the document, Obama vowed to block it. Nevertheless, the bill was adopted unanimously. The drafts author, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, pointed out that approval of the document will allow families of the victims to achieve justice, to at least some extent.

Mosiba Na'imi, who is General Director of the Iranian Arabic-language newspaper Al-Wafag, said in an interview with Sputnik Persian that this bill actually reflects the indifference of the American authorities towards their citizens and may result in a search for new culprits in the September 11 attacks.

The Americans themselves know very well that the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 were done by Saudi Arabia. The people behind this terrorist act are known, so the fact that the Americans relented and offered some concessions regarding this issue, show how the United States is indifferent to its own nationals, Naimi said.
"We always talk about maximizing cooperation to the extent possibleBut we are very clear-eyed and candid about the differences and that there is competition between us," an unnamed senior official told NT. "There is no question that some of Chinas activities in the maritime realm are generating significant tension, but there are other areas where developments have been extremely positive."

There are also those who believe that Beijings claims in the South China Sea and building of islands could pose a threat to the US. China dismissed a July ruling from the Court of Arbitration at the Hague that found its territorial claims to have "no legal basis." The court also found that China had transgressed the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Manila originally brought the charge to the Hague in 2013.

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the decision "null and void," has "no binding force," and said that "China neither accepts nor recognizes it."

Chinas maritime expansions have also got Tokyos attention, prompting Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to approve a record-breaking defense budget of 5.05 trillion yen ($41.4 billion), according to The Diplomat.
The Iraqi National Project has stated that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which would allow 9/11 victims and families to sue Saudi Arabia over the nations role in the attacks, has opened a pathway for lawsuits against foreign governments.

The White House claims that the bill was vetoed because it would open the floodgates for other nations and organizations to sue the US, which is exactly what the Iraqi group wants to do.

In light of the majority vote by the US Congress and Senate in support of the 9/11 bill removing the sovereign immunity rights of Saudi Arabia and other countries accused of being implicated in terrorismand in spite of President Obamas veto on September 23rd 2016we hereby declare that if this bill is actually passed and becomes a law, then it constitutes a window of opportunity for millions of Iraqis who have lost their sons and daughters in military operations by US military forces and US contracted forces since the US invasion in 2003 to pursue compensation from the US government for what they have endured, a letter published by the Iraqi National Project states, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  During the Monday presidential debate, Clinton asserted "there is no doubt" that Russia organized the July hack against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other election-cycle cyberattacks.

"I have no comment on that, sorry," Johnson told Sputnik when asked about Clintons statement during the Monday night US presidential debate claiming that Russia was behind recent election-cycle hacks in the United States.

Clinton's allegations do not match the official statements by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Department of Homeland Security, which have not yet made any attribution for the DNC hack or recent cyber breaches of US state election systems.
DeLaurentis has served as Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Havana and was previously Chief of Mission at the US Interests Section in Havana, the release noted.

In December 2014, Obama announced the United States would normalize relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of non-engagement and hostilities.
Following the story going globally viral, the teen was invited to the White House, met US President Barack Obama and, later, visited with the president of his home country of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, a wanted war criminal accused of orchestrating a genocide during the Darfur conflict, beginning in 2003.

The teen and his family accepted the Sudanese presidents invitation, in spite of the charges, stating that it would have been rude to refuse. Ahmeds father is a Sudanese immigrant to the United States, and himself a former presidential candidate in Sudan, who ran against Bashir last year.

The family then picked up and moved to Qatar, where the teen was offered a scholarship.

The 21-page lawsuit cites multiple statements made by commentators and news organizations, which they point out are false.

"My theory is that for some reason Irving is important to the Islamists, not the Muslims, but the Islamists. It could be as simple as the progressives trying to turn Texas blue, and this is just the place where they're just going to start planting the seeds and taking a stand. You pissed them off, and now this is a dog whistle. This is not a story that is for anybody to hear, except for the Islamists because once you create a boogeyman, now all the money, all the resources, all the intellectual power, all is focused on your little town of Irving, Texas, the complaint quotes Beck saying to Van Duyne, Courthouse News reports.

It then quotes Hanson agreeing with Beck, saying, "Think it's happening. I don't think there's any question that this latest event was a PR stunt. It was a staged event where someone convinced this kid to bring a device that he didn't build, as you mentioned. It's a Radio Shack clock that he put in a briefcase, and in a briefcase it looks like a bomb They did that to create the exact scenario that played out. They wanted people to react, and they wanted to portray this kid as an innocent victim. I think he was a pawn of potentially his father. His sister actually claimed that she was suspended. His sister told MSNBC that she was suspended by the same school district for making a bomb threat years ago. Don't know if that's true yet, but she said that in her own words. So, there's a vendetta from them, and they're tied, as you mentioned, with CAIR and CAIR is Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas-tied. They're basically involved in civilization jihad, so I think you're right."

It further quotes Shapiro claiming that, "This was a hoax, this was a setup and that President Obama fell for it because it confirms a couple of his pre-stated biases against police and against people who he perceives to be Islamophobic."

Another quote cited in the complaint comes from an interview with Van Duyne that aired on Fox-affiliate KDFW, in which the mayor claimed that the family was "non-responsive" about requests to release records relating to the incident.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Triton will support a wide range of missions for the US Navy, including maritime intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance patrol; signals intelligence; search and rescue; and communications relay, the Defense Department noted.

"Northrop Grumman Systems is being awarded [a] $255.2 million contract for the procurement [of] three MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, one main operation control station, one forward operation control station, training courseware and tooling," the release stated on Tuesday.

Production of the Triton will take place in a dozen US states and Canada, and will be completed in August 2020, according to the announcement.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Carter claimed that Russias development of new nuclear weapons systems raises serious questions about Moscows commitment to strategic stability.

"We are refreshing NATOs nuclear playbook to better integrate conventional and nuclear deterrence to ensure we plan and train like we fight and to deter Russia from thinking it can benefit from nuclear use in a conflict with NATO," Carter stated on Monday.
The pilot expressed hope in a more positive outcome this time but said this was less likely as it is easier to refuse a private individual request than an official one.

"I did not ask [to make a request], but I was forced to say yes or no. Can you see the difference? To officially respond to the Russian Justice Ministry is one thing and to reply to me, a regular prisoner, is another thing altogether," he said, expressing doubt in the US side's intentions and speculating that the move may be a delaying tactic.

The Justice Ministry told the newspaper that it had not been notified of Yaroshenko's request.

Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to import more than $100 million worth of cocaine into the United States, having been arrested in Liberia in 2010 and subsequently extradited to the United States.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly expressed concern over the circumstances of the pilot's arrest and the poor conditions of his detention.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The so-called initial radar images of the Ukrainian airspace on the day the Malaysia Airlines flight crashed were submitted to the Russian Defense Ministry last week by Almaz-Antey, whose subsidiary produces and manages civil radars. The concern also builds Buk air defense systems which missile, according to the Dutch Safety Board report, downed the plane.

"The Dutch Safety Board has presented its final report concerning the crash of flight MH17 on 13 October 2015. Since the presentation, we have followed all publicity about the investigation, but up until this day there is no issued information that affect the conclusions of our final report," Vernooij said.
According to Micallef, an investigative reporter who co-founded the media site Migrant Report, such plans should only be made with the consent of Libya, and take into account the current domestic situation in the country.

"Here, one must first find out what Libya thinks about this. It would be crucial to having something like this. And this sort of statement ignores that fact. The Hungarian Prime Minister was talking about having major infrastructure on Libya soil, completely not considering the Libyan opinion," Migrant Report's executive editor stated.

On Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban insisted that the EU's external borders should be under total control including the Mediterranean border, which concerns Libya. Libya has been a key gateway to Europe for migrants fleeing war and poverty and, according to Orban, should be involved in the process of controlling migration.
Following the announcement regarding Assange's questioning to be conducted by an Ecuadorian prosecutor on behalf of Swedish interrogators, his legal team said earlier in September it was unaware of the interview and was not even sure whether it would take place eventually.

In August, the Ecuadorian authorities said they could allow the questioning of Assange at its embassy in London, where he has been residing since June 2012 over fears he could be extradited to Sweden where he is accused of rape. Assange denies the allegations, claiming they are a ruse organized by Washington to hand him over to the United States where he is wanted for leaking thousands of top-secret documents and embassy cables detailing US war crimes in Iraq.
He also noted that no matter what the results of the voting will be, "we should be pleased that we improved Serbia's reputation on the global stage. We are further working with the permanent members of the UN Security Council and all those who will participate in the voting in the first week of October. "

Noteworthy is the fact that Jeremic seems to be a man of action and thus stands out from the other candidates. In particular, he has prepared a 80-page UN reform platform, which contains not only suggestions on how to improve UN peacekeeping missions, but also concrete proposals regarding the reform of the UN Secretariat, the reduction of bureaucracy, the fight against corruption as well as the general "modernization" of the UN and its adaption to the realities of the 21st century.

The Serbian politician once said that if the UN can't cope with the current problems, including those in the sphere of security, "the question arises whether one needs the United Nations at all."

Former Serbian Ambassador to the UN Pavle Jevremovic also told Sputnik that the issue of reforming the UN is not new.

Indeed, politicians from all around the world have been debating UN reform over the last several years. In particular, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the need to increase the number of permanent members of the UN Security Council, while Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe threatened that all African countries would withdraw from the UN, if one of them doesn't become a permanent member to represent the African continent.

"It is illogical that Africa does not have its own representative in the UN Security Council. Discussions on this subject are ongoing, but one needs patience and a lot of political agreements to implement this reform. But I don't think that any practical proposals will be considered in the coming years," he said.
"A ban will be an effective tool to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to new countries and to put pressure on those countries that currently possess nuclear weapons, including North Korea," Fihn added.

North Korea has been under pressure from the international community since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in tightening sanctions against Pyongyang in the new UN Security Council resolution in March.

On September 9, Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test at its northeastern nuclear test site. The nuclear experiment is believed to be the fifth and the largest since North Korea started pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that mandates signatories to ban all nuclear explosions for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted at the 50th session of the UN General Assembly on September 10, 1996, and opened for signature two weeks later. It has been signed by 183 countries. At present, the treaty is ratified by 36 states, including the three nuclear weapons possessing countries  Russia, France and the United Kingdom. In October 1999, the US Senate rejected ratification of the treaty in a 51-48 vote.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups.

"Personally I am skeptical about the immediate creation of a no-fly zone [in Syria]. Obviously, Syrian authorities and Russia must take a step toward strengthening, renewing the ceasefire and humanitarian support. But what we are witnessing is really very brutal and targeting the civil population. Now only negotiations may help in moving forward. But in recent days we are witnessing a very deep regress," Merkel said.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  In December 2015, the international community agreed to limit global average temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by reducing emissions. The agreement will be open for signature until April 21, 2017, and will enter into force when ratified by at least 55 of the 196 signatory states.

"The meetings will convene OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development] climate and environment Ministers and will focus on key policy challenges to moving forward on climate change priorities for the year," the release stated.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson made this announcement during his visit to Turkey, where the Syrian conflict was on top of the talks agenda.

"Building on UK efforts to help victims of the conflict in Syria, the Foreign Secretary pledged 1 million for de-mining projects to allow essential humanitarian and stabilisation efforts to commence in northern Syrian towns recently liberated from Daesh," the statement issued Tuesday said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, such as IS and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra), both of which are banned in Russia and a range of other countries.
On October 13, 2015, the Dutch Security Council issued results of its own investigation. The council did not try to blame any party to the conflict in Ukraine for the plane crash  it revealed that the jet was hit by a 9M38 missile fired from a Buk missile system. The Security Councils report only said that the missile had been launched from a 320-square-kilometer (more than 120 square miles) area in eastern Ukraine.

Russia agreed with the reports conclusion that the missile exploded near the left side of the jet. But Russias arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey said that it was a proof that the missile had been launched from the Zaroshchenske region controlled by Ukrainian armed forces. According to Almaz-Antey, if the missile had been launched from Snezhnoye controlled by eastern Ukrainian pro-independence militia, it would have hit the right side of the plane.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 establishes protections for undocumented immigrants who are victims of sex trafficking and slavery.

"[I] instruct the United States Executive Director of each multilateral development bank and of the International Monetary Fund to vote against and use best efforts to deny any loan or other utilization of the funds of the respective institution to Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Zimbabwe until such governments comply with the minimum standards or makes significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance," Obama wrote on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Babi Yar is a ravine in the Ukraine capital of Kiev where more than 33,000 Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis and Ukrainian collaborators on September 29-30, 1941. Many historians consider it the largest single massacre in the Holocaust.

"Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has been designated by President Obama to lead a Presidential Delegation to Kiev, Ukraine, for the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Babi Yar Massacre on September 29," the release said on Tuesday.

During the visit, Pritzker will meet with Ukrainian leaders and legislators to discuss progress on the countrys economic reform agenda, according to the release.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Meeting with Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev on Tuesday, Fallon confirmed that the United Kingdom will send a Type 45 guided missile destroyer to the Black Sea in early 2017 to protect NATO's southern flank, the ministry said in a statement after Fallon's visit to Bulgaria.

"We want to send a clear message to our Bulgarian and European allies that we are standing strong with them to defeat our shared security threats. By tightening our ties today were giving citizens in Bulgaria, the UK and the whole of Eastern Europe greater hope of a brighter future," Fallon was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Election 2016

PBS Kids Launches Child-Friendly Election Website

PBS Kids has launched a kid-friendly website for ages 6-8 that provides children with relevant, nonpartisan information through interactive exploration and video.

PBS Kids You Choose aims to teach kids about the presidential election process in an engaging and fun way, informing them that even though they are unable to vote, their voice still matters.

You Choose 2016 allows kids to:

Meet the candidates and learn fun and important facts about them;

Collect trading cards of past presidents and their spouses;

Create a campaign poster digitally, using a new online coloring tool;

Watch videos featuring favorite PBS Kids characters and new role models discussing democracy, election and government-related topics.

Younger siblings can also get involved in the conversation. Older children from middle and high school (and adults too) can turn to PBS LearningMedias new interactive Electoral Decoder, an adjustable timeline of presidential elections  since the first in 1789, where kids can run different scenarios to see what states a candidate must win to achieve the key number of 270 electoral votes.

All of the above sites and tools are free. These recent additions to the larger PBS Election Central initiative now enable entire families and kids of all ages to be involved in the presidential elections, which are Nov. 8  less than 50 days away.
- It was an incredible moment when the King of Jordan, Abdullah II met an old Kenyan friend during his Kenyan tour in Nairobi

-Abdullah II ran into the old friend, a retired KDF major with whom he studied at a military academy in the United Kingdom

It is only mountains that do not meet. This saying was especially true after King Abdullah II of Jordan ran into an old Kenyan friend at the Embakasi Garrison on Monday.

King Abdullah II meets Retired Major Samuel Mbugua

READ ALSO: What Jordanian King has promised KDF fighter pilots

The king was witnessing a joint military exercise between two elite KDF units-Special Forces and Ranger Regiment and the Quick Reaction Force of the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces when he met Retired Major Samuel Mbugua.

The two first knew each other and trained together at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst commonly known as just Sandhurst in the UK.

READ ALSO: US helicopters carry out elimination raid on al-Shabaab training base

The two are catching up as Defence CS Raychelle Omamo and other military top brass look on in amazement. They first met at the Sandhurst, UK

His Majesty took some time off to catch up with Mbugua as the military top brass present including Kenya's Defence Cabinet Secretary, Raychelle Omamo gazed at them in utter amazement.

READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta watches KDF train alongside Jordanian army (photos)

The King engages President Uhuru Kenyatta at Embakasi Garrison

King Abdullah II and his host, President Uhuru Kenyatta discussed security issues with a focus on the fight against terrorism.

The two agreed to work together with the King promising to train KDF fighter pilots besides other forms of assistance.

The Jordanian leader wrapped up his one day trip to Kenya and was seen off by President Kenyatta at the JKIA.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Betfred Set To Purchase 360 Betting Shops From Ladbrokes-Gala Coral

September 27 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor

Warrington-based Betfred is widely tipped to have tabled the winning bid for the 360 betting shops being sold as part of the 2.3 billion Ladbrokes and Gala Coral merger.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) gave the green light to the Ladbrokes and Gala Coral merger on the basis they sold a number of their betting shop. Initial reports suggested up to 1,000 shops would have to be sold, but the CMA then set the figure at between 350 to 400 licensed betting offices.

Ladbrokes currently operates 2,154 betting shops in the United Kingdom and Coral approximately 1,850. Without the sale of the 360 betting shops, the merged company would have more than 4,000 outlets, dwarfing the 2,370 shops of the next biggest bookmaker William Hill.

Irish bookmaker Boylesports, founded by John Boyle in 1982, made a bid of 118 million earlier this year, but industry insiders have reasons to believe that Betfred has pipped them to the post. Boylesports has more than 200 shops in the Republic and Northern Ireland, employing 1,700 people.

Betfred is considered to be one of the so-called Big 4 bookmakers in the UK thanks to its retail portfolio of 1,370 betting shops. Founder Fred Done has made no secret that his company is interested in purchasing some of the Ladbrokes-Gala Coral real estate despite the fact Betfred reported losses of 76 million for the year 2015.

Betfred has been looking to expand its business having purchased The Tote in 2011 in a deal worth 265 million. Ironically, Boylesports were reportedly interested in buying The Tote three years early for more than 500 million.

An official announcement about the winning bid for the 360 Ladbrokes  Gala Coral betting shops is expected within the next few days.

Lead image courtesy of the Manchester Evening News

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TEMPE, Ariz.  Three people, including a local activist, were arrested Monday at a protest against police brutality in Tempe.

Police took the Rev. Jarrett Maupin, Michael Moynihan and Calvin Hollins Jr. into custody after they refused to get out of the roadway. Initially, authorities reported that four had been arrested but later said that figure was incorrect.

All three were booked into a Tempe city jail for obstruction of a public thoroughfare and failure to obey a lawful order of a police officer. The trio had separate municipal court hearings later in the day.

Maupin was released on his own recognizance but ordered back Oct. 10 for an arraignment, according to online court documents. His attorney, Benjamin Taylor, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

It was not immediately known if the other two were also released.

Between 40 and 60 protesters showed up to the morning demonstration. The group marched on the Mill Avenue Bridge and attempted to block traffic. Several police officers on motorcycles and bicycles ordered them to get onto the sidewalk.

It was then that Maupin, 29, was arrested and placed inside a police transport van. Demonstrators continued their march and returned to downtown.

Most protesters left the area about 90 minutes later. No injuries were reported, police spokeswoman Liliana Duran said.

Maupin has organized several protests of fatal shootings by Phoenix-area officers in recent months. He and demonstrators have singled out Tempe police over the July shooting death of Dalvin Hollins.

Hollins was shot and killed by a Tempe police lieutenant who was pursuing him after a robbery. Believing Hollins was pointing a gun at him, Lt. Edward Ouimette shot him. The 19-year-old entered a pharmacy wearing a ski mask and, with his hand in a black bag, gestured as if he had a weapon, authorities said.

Protesters also expressed outrage over the August 2014 shooting death of a mentally ill woman by Phoenix police. Sgt. Percy Dupra was with other officers serving an emergency mental health pickup order on Michelle Cusseaux. He shot the 50-year-old when she confronted them holding a hammer over her head. Dupra was demoted to officer after the incident.

___

This story has been corrected to say that three people were arrested, not four as originally reported by police.
Q: My naturopath prescribed licorice to ease nausea and acid reflux. A month later, I was in the emergency department with high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, chest pain and lightheadedness.

My potassium was too low, whereas a month earlier it was within normal limits. I searched licorice and potassium and found a link. I have thrown away the licorice pills, and after a few days of potassium pills prescribed by the ER doctor, I am starting to feel normal.

A: Your naturopathic doctor was irresponsible to prescribe licorice without careful monitoring. Although natural licorice might help with stomach upset, its active ingredient, glycyrrhizin, can cause fluid retention, hypertension and low potassium. This could lead to irregular heart rhythms that could be life-threatening.

A safer alternative might be deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). With the glycyrrhizin mostly removed, it is less likely to cause dangerous side effects. Dont take potassium pills indefinitely, since too much can be as dangerous as too little. A blood test will tell your doctor when your potassium is back to normal.

Q: As a pharmacist, I see the impact of high drug prices every day. People on Medicare Part D are reaching the doughnut hole earlier every year due to the high cost of their meds.

I have customers on insu lin pens who cant afford their prescriptions because the cost has gone from a copay of $47 to $204 every month. It doesnt help when I tell them that the usual and customary price is $489, and they are getting a discounted price.

Many times people go without their meds because they cant afford them. Switching to vials and syringes may save some, but the cost of insulin is so high.

A: People with Type 1 diabetes cannot survive without insulin. Like so many other medications, insulin has been soaring in price. An article in JAMA (in April) said the cost more than tripled from 2002 to 2013. In some instances, out-of-pocket expenses can be as much as $400 a month.

Some people now buy their insulin from Canada. Others use patient-assistance programs provided by the manufacturers (888-477-2669). You can learn more about Canadian pharmacies and shopping strategies in our Guide to Saving Money on Medicines at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

Q: Youve written about side effects of tamsulosin, prescribed for frequent nighttime urination. You said nothing about sexual problems.

I have been using drugs for erectile dysfunction for several years. When one ED drug stopped working, my doctor switched me to another, but it didnt help.

I thought the problem was a side effect of another drug I am taking. When I researched this, I found these side effects listed for tamsulosin: lack of interest in sex, difficulty getting or keeping an erection and abnormal ejaculation. I stopped taking tamsulosin for a week, and my sexual problems werent as bad. Ill discuss this with my doctor soon.

A: Tamsulosin (Flomax) and similar drugs (doxazosin, terazosin) are prescribed for men with enlarged prostate glands. They make urination easier.

Side effects of these alpha blockers can include sexual difficulties such as the ones you have mentioned. Please discuss your concerns with your doctor. Tadalafil (Cialis) has been approved for both urinary problems and erectile dysfunction.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Email them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.  2016 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
POCAHONTAS ISLAND, Va.  He roams from house to house along the quiet streets of this little neighborhood, giving voice to its history and spirits. The collection of modest homes, tucked between an empty lumber factory and an abandoned rail yard, doesnt look like a rare and haunted place.

But in Richard Stewarts eyes, Pocahontas Island is alive with an unexpectedly dramatic past. Using a black magic marker, Stewart scrawls the words of 12 generations of ancestors on old porch rails, doorways and window frames.

Aint no looking back master Im at the promised land.

1861-65 we were called black confederate

Nat Turner father sold less than a mile from here

Pocahontas Island  70 acres in the middle of the Appomattox River next to downtown Petersburg  is home to one of the oldest African-American communities in the United States. Pocahontas became a town in 1752, a center of tobacco trade and, later, shipping and railroads. White people lived here, too, but the community always had African-Americans at its heart.

The richness of the soil and its history  cant no money replace that. This is my holy land, Stewart said. This is my place.

A retired federal worker, Stewart, 72, has used his pension and a little family money to buy several properties on Pocahontas Island and create a homespun historical park. Its solitary, back-breaking work. He cuts the grass, patches walls, even reframes collapsed roofs. He installed a Black History Museum in one of his houses, and he painted the others in eye-catching colors, festooning them with flags to catch attention.

If his work seems a little frantic, thats because Stewart is trying to capture something even well-funded museums struggle to conjure: the soul of a place. Pocahontas Island is significant not just because its old, but for its connections to the Revolutionary War, the slave rebellions of the early 1800s, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.

You may have a museum in Washington, D.C., Stewart said, but we are on natural ground. We are on land where slaves walked, where abolitionists walked. This is our native land.

Stewart grew up here when it was still full of life, and he swam in the river and played Civil War in the woods. He was orphaned by age 16, but others on the island looked out for him. He left to work for the military and civil service, but always came back. As the neighbors got older, some gave him discounts to buy their property, with the understanding that he would take care of it. So, it became his lifes work.

And along the way, he absorbed stories.

One of his ancestors, Charles Stewart, was profiled in an 1884 edition of Harpers Monthly magazine under the headline, My Life as a Slave. Richard Stewart tells how Charles, who had money because he was a champion horse trainer, went to Richmond to buy a wife for $350.

After four years, Betsey Dandridge had borne him three children and done untold amounts of laundry and cooking. But Charles grew frustrated that she wouldnt give up voodoo, Richard Stewart said. So he took her back to Richmond, sold her  and the children  for $350 and used the money to buy a horse. Betsey and the children wound up somewhere in Chesterfield County, but Richard Stewart doesnt know their fates.

Slaves and free blacks lived side by side on Pocahontas Island, which was a port on the Appomattox before joining the city of Petersburg. It became an island after a canal was built in the late 1700s. Today, its more of a peninsula, as the main channel of the river clogged after a flood in the early 1970s.

Petersburg was one of the busiest slave markets in the old South, but it also had one of the highest concentrations of free blacks, attracted by jobs and by the presence of a community of their own. For a time, in the spirit of liberty after the Revolutionary War, a few planters freed their slaves.

And Pocahontas Island was where many went to live. That means history has played out here from an African American point of view from before the Revolution until today.

It is an active African American community that has direct ties to that period of not only Petersburg but Virginia history, and by extension the nations history, said Louis Malon of the nonprofit Preservation Virginia, which plans to catalog sites on the island beginning this month. In 2014, the organization listed Pocahontas Island as one of the most endangered historic sites in the state.

About 50 houses, one chapel and a community center are laid out on five streets. The population is down to roughly 60 people, from a high of several hundred in the mid-20th century, and all the stores and businesses are gone. The only brick building is the Jarrett House, built in 1810 and once home to a free black woman and her children. The city of Petersburg bought it and has stabilized it, but is mired in budget woes, so restoration is on hold.

Richmond writer and entrepreneur Free Egunfemi discovered Pocahontas Island when researching her familys history, and has become a passionate advocate, writing articles in a local news blog.

It is a place, Egunfemi said, of self-reliance and black freedom.

The rooms of Stewarts history museum are crammed with too much for the eye to take in. He has slave shackles, countless pictures and artifacts dug up from nearby yards: a dolls head, iron locks, bottles, shells. The 1860 sheet music for the Virginia Polka by Tom the Blind Negro Boy Pianist sits next to a one-year contract to hire a slave in 1836. And all of it is papered with hand-lettered signs, some listing rolls of blacks who fought in the Revolution or even for the Confederacy.

Outside, Stewart has bought the small house next door, which he said was built in the early 1800s by a mixed-race man whose white mother sold him into slavery as a child because she couldnt be seen with him. Stewart painted it pink and yellow and covered it with words and pictures related to Nat Turner.

At least one man who helped Turners bloody slave rebellion in 1831 in nearby Southampton County hid, for a time, in the woods on Pocahontas Island, Stewart said.

Folks here provided him food, he said.

This is the kind of detail of history thats hard to prove. Stewart has the word of older generations, but not much was documented in any formal way.

Across the street stands an empty duplex wrapped in faux-stone composite paper. Stewart doesnt own this house, but he watches over it nonetheless. According to city records, the house was built in 1809, and according to local lore, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Look up under here, Stewart said on a visit, pointing to a hole in the homes foundation. This will give you an idea what the Underground Railroad was like. Below the house is a dirt-floored crawl space, unusual for this area, and just high enough for an adult to stand upright. Even more striking: a brick fireplace, directly beneath the main fireplace of the home. Soot still stains the bricks from where someone  a runaway slave?  once made fires.

Some of the islands landmarks remain in memory only. Where the empty lumber factory stands was once a home that belonged to Joseph Jenkins Roberts, who ran a small fishing business while cutting hair in Petersburg. He left in 1829  the state had appropriated money to send blacks back to Africa, Stewart said. In 1847, Roberts became the first elected president of Liberia. Pocahontas Island used to hold an annual festival in his honor.

Stewart talks about slavery in an offhand way that can seem jarring. He credits his stature and strong build to what many regard as the myth of selective breeding. In colorful terms, he tells how mixed-race children were sent to live on the island: We had a lot of out-of-wedlock mulattos over here. You might have seen a child walking along over here white as snow, and [the] mama walking along dark as a bag of coal.

His stories have a way of making a troubling past seem disconcertingly close. And to Stewart, it is.

When he looks at the issues of today  racial tensions, police shootings, economic disparities  he sees their roots in the post-traumatic stress of slavery. Emancipation was left unfinished. Families who never accumulated wealth or property had nothing to pass down to their children, who could never break the cycle of poverty.

The post-traumatic stress of slavery did not leave you any generational wealth, he said, and thats whats wrong with America, in my opinion.

In 1993, Pocahontas Island was devastated by a tornado that also destroyed significant parts of downtown Petersburg. Two good things came of it, Stewart said: College students and other outsiders descended on the neighborhood to help it clean up. And an old junkyard was cleared away.

Previous owners, he said, had prohibited locals from cutting through the junkyard to get to the Appomattox River, where Stewart grew up playing under the trestles of a bridge that Robert E. Lee once crossed on his way to Richmond.

I told God if I ever got a chance to buy this property, theyd never deny my people going to the river again, Stewart said. So when I got the chance, I bought it.

On slow days  most days  Stewart likes to walk on the path along the riverbank. He takes stock of his property, and worries about the work still ahead. At his age, he said, hes running out of energy. He doesnt know whether Pocahontas Islands traditions will survive beyond him.

But he tells himself hes done everything he could. Your history is here. Its living. Its American history, thats whats here, he said. I walk the nature trail and look at Pocahontas and see the spirits of yesterday. I know I sound crazy. I see the spirits of yesterday, and they speak to me and tell me Im doing all right.

pocahontas-island
A U.S. appeals court panel that barred Kansas, Alabama and Georgia from adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to a federal voter registration form wrote Monday that federal law leaves it to a federal elections agency  not the states  to determine whether such a change is necessary.

The 2-to-1 written opinion follows a Sept. 9 order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The panel wrote that although the document requirement unquestionably hinders voter registration groups ahead of the November elections, there was precious little evidence of voter fraud by noncitizens, the problem the states said the measure is intended to fight.

The Kansas secretary of state had told the court that between 2003 and 2015 eighteen noncitizens had tried to or successfully registered to vote. Only one of them attempted to use the Federal Form, the judges wrote.

U.S. Appeals Court Judges Judith Rogers and Stephen Williams granted a preliminary injunction Sept. 9 that told the states to process the federal voter applications filed since January as if documented proof of citizenship were not required.

Voting rights groups asked for the temporary halt to enforcement as they continued to challenge the document requirement in a case before U.S. District Judge Richard Leon.

Mondays opinion, which noted that voting rights groups probably would win their lawsuit at trial, likely is the final word before the Nov. 8 presidential election but sets up the legal battle over proof-of-citizenship laws for the 2018 federal elections.

Judge Rogerss opinion is flawed because it fails to address all of the statutory issues in this case, as well as a 1994 federal regulation, said Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach after the ruling on Monday. Kobach pointed to the dissent from U.S. Appeals Court Judge A. Raymond Randolph, who called the court order unconstitutional.

It is the States, and the States alone, who have the authority and the power to determine the eligibility of those who wish to vote in federal elections, Randolph wrote.

He added, Neither the Congress nor the President nor any federal commission and, most certainly, not two federal judges sitting in Washington, D.C. (or even eight or nine) have the authority to prevent Kansas, Georgia and Alabama from enforcing their laws in the upcoming federal elections.

The decision came in a lawsuit by the League of Women Voters and other groups, which sued after what they called an unauthorized and unilateral decision on Jan. 29 by Brian Newby, executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, to grant the three states requests to alter the federal registration form to incorporate state identification requirements.

Kansas is the only state enforcing a demand to show documentation such as a birth certificate, passport or naturalization papers to register to vote in federal races, instead of allowing applicants to check a box, sign and swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens.

In an unusual move, the Justice Department did not defend Newbys action, siding with voting rights groups and leaving it to outside parties, including Kansas, to intervene in court.

In Mondays opinion, the appeals court said that Newby acted unilaterally, without a vote by the four-member federal elections panel, and also without determining that the states request was necessary to enforce voter-qualification rules.

The groups that sued argued that citizens who lack documents tend to be poor, rural and African-American, and the Supreme Court has said the federal form is meant to provide a backstop and guarantee a simple way to register to vote in federal elections  no matter what hurdles states impose.

Permitting the states to dictate the contents of the Federal Form would undermine its role as a backstop, the two-judge majority wrote. The Commission, not the states, determines necessity.

If the proposed change to the Federal Form is necessary to enforce voter qualifications, then the [National Voter Registration Act] and probably the Constitution require its inclusion; if not, the NVRA does not permit its inclusion and the Constitution is silent, the judges said.

voter-id
SANTA FE  A 19-year-old man who worked for a downtown restaurant was arrested over the weekend and charged with calling in the bomb threat that forced the shutdown of the Santa Fe Plaza for about an hour Friday afternoon.

Ronald Ayala-Santos was taken into custody about 3 p.m. Saturday at the venerable Plaza Cafe  located on the citys historic town square  where he worked as a dishwasher, according to a Santa Fe Police Department report. When confronted by officers, the report says, Ayala-Santos asked if this was because of what happened yesterday on the Plaza. Police seized two smartphones he was carrying.

The report indicates that the bomb threat call came into police dispatch at 4:33 p.m. Friday. A man who identified himself as Francisco Leno said he had put three bombs in trash cans on the Plaza. Mr. Leno stated that he hated people on the Plaza and wanted them to die, the report says.

Mr. Leno said the bombs were in black bags and he threw them like the bombs were trash, the report continues. Mr. Leno said when he pressed the number 1 on his cellphone key pad, the bombs were going to blow up. The caller also said he was armed with a .45 caliber handgun, that he was by himself and that time was running out.

The police report appears to indicate that the caller also told a dispatcher that he was wearing a white shirt and black jeans, and had a green bicycle. Ten minutes after the call began, the caller said there were five minutes left until the bombs were to be activated.

While the dispatch centers pings placed the callers cellphone first on a street in mid-city and then at a northeast Santa Fe location, the dispatcher told police that the caller was in the Plaza Cafe and had been planning this for weeks. At 4:43 p.m., the dispatcher said the caller was not responding any more and there was an open phone line.

Responding officers evacuated the Plaza while it was searched and told people in area buildings to stay put. The shelter in place advisory was also distributed by social media and automated reverse 911 calls. Online Santa Fe County jail records showed that Ayala-Santos was still behind bars Monday afternoon with a $5,000 bond.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  For weeks, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein had invited her supporters to join her in handcuffs. There would be civil disobedience before the presidential debate at Hofstra University, and as in 2012, when she first ran as the Greens nominee, she would get arrested.

We may decide to have supporters attempt to escort our candidates into the debates, her campaign said in an advisory note to protesters, which advertised a protest bus. This situation may lead to arrest  it is possible but not definite.

There is a reason that campaigns do not usually make these kind of announcements before major media events surrounded by the Secret Service. Stein, who has edged down to the low single digits in polls, was repeatedly stymied in her effort to create a moment outside of the debate center. A perimeter much larger than anything in 2012, when the college last hosted a debate, kept political activity far from the area where more than 1,000 reporters were working. The Commission on Presidential Debates was also screening debate attendees to catch anyone who might be planning an outburst.

All of the highest-profile third-party candidates spent Monday in New York, riding along with the media herd. Steins only media exposure came when she arrived for an MSNBC interview, walked away, and was stopped by security guards who told her she lacked proper identification.

By pure coincidence, independent #NeverTrump candidate Evan McMullin was watching from across the street as Stein and her staff packed into a van and sped off. Alongside a trio of strategists, he was waiting for the credentials that would let him roam around Hofstra for interviews.

Getting arrested does sound like fun, McMullin said. Its less work than having an actual policy discussion. We could actually get that done right now.

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential candidate, did not bother making a public appearance at Hofstra. I dont think its my style, he said in an interview. Instead, Johnson and running mate Bill Weld stayed in Manhattan for interviews, including a Facebook Live chat moderated by Reason magazine Matt Welch, and a forum at Twitters offices that would run through the debate.

Johnson, like Trump, had jumped into politics after a career in business. My approach was: Ive never been in politics, but if you elect me, here are the certainties Id like you to count on, said Johnson. I will not raise taxes one penny. From a government employment standpoint, when I leave office, there will not be more state employees than when I took office. And Ill take a common sense business approach. If Trump took that approach in a debate, he might be in good shape. The problem is that his promises are insane.

As Johnson headed to his Facebook live chat, Stein held her protest; the Russian network RT was the largest media outlet that stopped by to watch. Her running mate, Ajamu Baraka, told protesters that they were standing against a phony corporation that is excluding the voices of the people. Stein tried to make the most of the police-enforced distance between the gathering and the debate.

This out here is what democracy looks like! she said. We are the real debate here  on the other side of the highway, we have the police state!
SANTA FE  First responders tried to save Anton Gress from inside his burning car after it was rammed by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 25 near Santa Fe on Saturday night.

But they couldnt free the 23-year-old before flames completely engulfed his car, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office.

Gress and the woman whose car struck his head on, Clara Avina, 44, are both dead as a result of the fiery crash. Both were from Santa Fe.

Theres evidence that Avina, who was a records clerk at the State Personnel Office, may have been driving drunk, but deputies wont know for sure until her toxicology report comes back after an autopsy by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Sheriffs Office spokesman Juan Rios said deputies and Santa Fe city police officers were dispatched to I-25 east of town around 11:30 p.m. Saturday after the emergency dispatch center received several 911 calls about a wrong-way driver. While officers were en route, another 911 caller reported that two cars had collided.

When deputies arrived at the scene  about two miles east of the Old Pecos Trail exit  they found Avinas 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe completely in flames, while Gresss Volkswagen Tiguan had a fire in the engine compartment, Rios said.

Gress was conscious when deputies arrived, but his dashboard had pinned him in the drivers seat. Officers used a fire extinguishers on the flames, but the Tiguan was soon engulfed in fire.

They were making every effort to put out the fire and extract him from the wreckage, but were unsuccessful, Rios said. The car was fully engulfed and they were not able to save him. On Monday, a burn spot at the accident scene was about an inch deep in the pavement.

Rios said Avinas family told investigators that Avina, who does not have a New Mexico criminal record, was drinking before the crash. State Personnel Office spokesman Joseph Cueto said Avina has worked as a records clerk in the department since August 2015. Rios said there was no evidence that either driver hit the brakes before the crash.

Gress, a 2011 graduate of Desert Academy in Santa Fe, was a bartender at the Izanami restaurant at Ten Thousand Waves spa who also had a knack for music. He was definitely doing some big things with his music, 20-year-old Christopher Glenn of Albuquerque told the Journal Monday. He was an amazing, amazing DJ.

Glenn said he met Gress a few years ago at a show in Albuquerque and said Gress was one of the best up-and-coming DJs in New Mexico. Glenn and a few other Albuquerque musicians are planning a tribute show for Gress at an all-ages venue in either Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Gress had studied theater arts at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. He was one of the best, kindhearted people I have yet to meet, Glenn said. He always went out of his way to make people happy.
CHARLESTON, S.C.  The first of some 3,000 potential jurors in the Dylann Roof death penalty trial began reporting Monday to federal court in Charleston.

Jurors were summoned, some 80 at a time, before U.S. Judge Richard Gergel, whose questions were aimed at weeding out those who cannot serve or will not serve for reasons such as being over 70, having no one else to care for young children or who are opposed to the death penalty.

Roof, 22, a self-proclaimed white supremacist from Columbia, is charged with federal hate crimes in connection with the June 2015 slayings of nine African-Americans.

The nine were attending evening Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME church.

Roof has said he will plead guilty if federal prosecutors give up their bid to seek the death penalty.

Of the first 80 prospective jurors in court on this morning, some 90 percent were white. Nine were black. All were somber.

Of the 3,000 summoned for initial jury screening, 23 percent are black, 72.8 percent white and 1.47 percent are Hispanic. Twelve are Native American and 31 are Asian.

Initial jury selection is taking place in a small courtroom in an old federal courthouse. It has about 80 seats, nearly all of which were taken up Monday by prospective jurors.

Gergel allowed a sketch artist along with one pool print reporter to sit in the courtroom.

Other journalists and members of the public watched the proceedings on a flat-screen television in a nearby courtroom. Unlike state court, no cameras or tape recorders are allowed. The in-court proceedings in this story were furnished by pool reporters.

When prospective jurors were out of the room, Roof was animated, smiling and chatting with his attorneys.

However, once the people who might decide his fate arrived, he stared emotionless at his lap, peering up only a few times throughout the morning panel, the pool reporter wrote.

In numerous pretrial hearings, Roof has waived his right to be present.

During the morning, Gergel excused two white teachers. He also excused one white man who cared for a spouse with a severe health ailment and excused one black man who said service would be highly detrimental to his business. In the afternoon, Gergel dismissed an emergency worker, a woman who needed to take care of her child and three men whose positions were essential to their businesses.

For much of the morning, Roof stared down at his defense table. He wore striped jail garb then but switched to a blue long-sleeved sweater with grey slacks later.

Roofs case is set to be one of the most sensational criminal trials ever in South Carolina due to the multiple killings and the racial dimensions.

Underscoring the emotionalism of the upcoming trial and the effect of publicity, Gergel has ordered dozens of pretrial documents dealing with yet-unpublicized evidence to be kept secret. He has said he fears publicizing the inflammatory contents may taint the jury pool.

Gergel told prospective jurors not to discuss or research the case. No Googling, he said.

Prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty against Roof on state murder charges. That trial wont begin until next year.

Mondays proceeding in federal court was the opening day in a screening process designed to ultimately produce a smaller pool of some 700 qualified prospective jurors. The actual trial will not start until late November or early December. If the trial goes through Christmas, court will shut down and resume after Jan. 1.
MEXICO CITY  Two years after 43 Mexican college students vanished in the southwestern city of Iguala, the case remains a grisly mystery and a dark stain on the administration of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The public anger was on display Monday  the anniversary of the presumed mass killing  in Mexico City, where thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand justice. The 43 students, all young men who had been studying at a teachers college in the rural town of Ayotzinapa, had hijacked buses in hopes of reaching a demonstration, only to be intercepted by local police and never seen again.

Critics allege a coverup reaching to high levels of the Mexican government.

I cant believe that we are here, two years later, with the same pain, the same demands, said protester Patricia Beltran, a 25-year-old student. The government laughs at peoples pain, but we are here today to tell them that it is not only the parents of the 43, but all of Mexico that insists that this government do its job.

At the head of the march through the heart of the capital were some of the missing students parents, many holding photos of their disappeared sons.

Mexicos highest-profile human rights scandal of recent years, the case has cast a harsh glare on the nexus between corrupt officials and paramilitary gangs awash in cash from drug smuggling and other illicit activities. Critics say links between criminal networks and Mexican security services and politicians are embedded nationwide, not just in violence-ridden states like Guerrero, where the 43 were abducted.

The case has also become a rallying cry for those who see it as emblematic of the official culture of impunity and corruption that continue to undercut justice and accountability.

We demand that the government doesnt just wash its hands, said Carlos Ruben Ortiz, 53, a businessman who was among the protesters rallying at the Angel of Independence monument, the start of the nearly four-mile march to the citys central plaza. We do not forget that the authorities are involved.

The scandal has sparked two years of international condemnations and protests, including on the streets of Los Angeles. But authorities seem no closer to answering the central question: What happened to the 43 students?

The investigation is bogged down in conflicting theories, contradictory statements, incompatible hypotheses and reports of forced confessions, planted evidence and debate over what happened to the bodies.

Allegations of a government whitewash have battered the image of Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012 amid broad hopes for judicial, police and economic reforms.

More than halfway through his six-year term, the president is facing historically low approval ratings. His ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party recently suffered a series of humiliating defeats in gubernatorial contests across the country.

According to the Mexican governments official account  what a former attorney general called the historic truth  local police rounded up the students during a night of street violence and handed them over to members of the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel, who proceeded to kill them, incinerate their bodies in a remote garbage dump in the town of Cocula and toss their charred remains into a river.

Relatives of the students have long derided the official scenario as a historic lie, and in April the official account was shattered by a panel of international lawyers convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The panel found that much of the governments evidence had been provided by suspects who were tortured. The lawyers also cited a possible case of evidence tampering by government officials.

The findings lent weight to charges that the government was more interested in putting the case to rest than tracking down the guilty.

More than 130 people have been arrested, including the ex-mayor of Iguala, his wife, various local police officials and drug cartel members. One popular theory holds that the mayor ordered the students abduction because he feared their presence might disrupt a formal event organized by his wife.

The international investigators offered another potential motive: Unbeknownst to the students, one of the buses they commandeered may have been ferrying a clandestine load of heroin. Guerrero state is a key producer of the opium poppy used in production of heroin.

In addition, the international panel found that members of the federal police and military in the Iguala area knew what was happening as the incident unfolded, contradicting government assertions that only local officials were involved.

The panel, along with other experts, has also raised doubts about whether a fire sufficient to incinerate the remains of the 43 men had ever occurred at the garbage dump.

The Mexican attorney generals office, which is officially in charge of the inquiry, has pulled back from its historic truth hypothesis.

The former chief investigator in the case resigned this month. Authorities said that the inquiry remains open, with police reportedly planning a new round of searches for the students remains.

I want a better country for my kids, thats why Im here with them, said Raquel Cisneros, 40, who marched in Mondays protest along with her two children, ages 7 and 12. I want them to live in a country without fear that someone will kill or disappear them.



(Sanchez is a member of the Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau. Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this reports.)
With just six weeks left until Election Day, Donald Trump is planning to hit the airwaves in New Mexico.

The Republican presidential nominee is planning for a $140 million advertising blitz in the elections home stretch that will reportedly include ads in 13 states, including new target states of New Mexico, Wisconsin and Maine.

Its unclear how much of that money will be spent in New Mexico. The Trump campaign had not yet signed contracts with three large Albuquerque-based television stations as of Monday, and the campaigns New Mexico state director, Todd Johnson, said no state allocation has been announced.

However, the ad buy could signify belief within the Trump campaign that New Mexico  and its five electoral votes  could be in play in the Nov. 8 general election, despite the fact President Barack Obama, a Democrat, won the state handily in both 2008 and 2012.

In a statement, the Democratic Party of New Mexico called Trumps ad buy a desperate attempt to gain traction with New Mexicans, while also pointing out Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has declined to formally endorse Trump.

Trumps Democratic general election opponent, Hillary Clinton, has already aired TV ads in New Mexico during the 2016 primary election cycle and could launch additional campaign spots of her own in the coming weeks.

The Trump ad blitz will include $100 million in television airtime and $40 million in digital ads, according to ABC News.

Straight party out

For the third consecutive general election, New Mexicans will not have the option to vote a straight party ticket.

Former Secretary of State Dianna Duran, a Republican, decided in 2012 to drop the option, which had been a fixture on the ballot for decades, because there was no provision in state law explicitly authorizing it.

Subsequent attempts to enact such legislation have failed, and Bureau of Elections Director Kari Fresquez recently told the Journal there will be no straight party ticket option on this years general election ballot.

Straight-party voting allows voters to support a political partys entire slate of candidates by checking a designated box on the ballot. Straight-party votes had accounted for 41 percent of ballots cast statewide in New Mexicos 2010 general election.

While its unclear whether doing away with the option has helped Democrats or Republicans more here, a recent attempt by another state to get rid of straight-party voting was recently shot down.

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for straight-party voting to continue in Michigan earlier this month by invalidating a proposed law that would have banned the practice.
WASHINGTON  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump clashed repeatedly on issues ranging from jobs to trade to police tactics during the highly anticipated first general election debate of the presidential campaign Monday night, but neither candidate landed a blow likely to change the course of the election.

The debate, moderated by NBCs Lester Holt, also touched on Trumps tax returns, Clintons use of a private email server while secretary of state and which candidate would be tougher on the Islamic State terror group. The debate at Hofstra University, which was expected to draw as many as 100 million viewers, gave Americans their first glimpse of Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and Trump, the Republican candidate, on the same stage together.

Locked in an exceedingly close White House race, the presidential rivals tangled for 90 minutes over their vastly different visions for the nations future. Clinton called for lowering taxes for the middle class, while Trump focused more on renegotiating trade deals that he said have caused companies to move jobs out of the United States.

The Republican backed the controversial stop-and-frisk policing tactic as a way to bring down crime, while the Democrat said the policy was unconstitutional and ineffective.

The debate was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, but also needled the sometimes-thin-skinned Trump over his business record and wealth.

Theres something hes hiding, she declared, scoffing at his repeated contentions that he wont release his tax returns because he is being audited. Tax experts have said an audit is no bar to making his records public. Clinton said one reason he has refused is that he may well have paid nothing in federal taxes. He interrupted to say, That makes me smart.

Perhaps the nights best zinger belonged to Clinton, who responded to Trumps claim that she had stayed off the campaign trail recently while he was barnstorming the country.

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate, Clinton said. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And that is a good thing.

The line triggered applause from an audience that was asked to remain silent during the debate, but Trump generated applause of his own when he asked the whereabouts of some 30,000 emails during Clintons tenure as secretary of state. The email controversy, in which Clinton used a private server instead of official government channels, has dogged her campaign for months. Clinton described her handling of emails as secretary of state as a mistake.

The candidates also sparred over taxes and how to bring good-paying jobs back to the United States.

Clinton said her Republican rival was promoting Trumped-up, trickle-down economics  a philosophy focused on tax cuts for the wealthy. She called for increasing the federal minimum wage, spending more on infrastructure projects and guaranteeing equal pay for women.

Trump panned policies that he said have led to American jobs being moved overseas, in part because of international trade agreements that Clinton has supported. He pushed her aggressively on her past support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while she was serving in the Obama administration. Shes since said she opposes the sweeping deal in its final form.

You called it the gold standard of trade deals, Trump said. If you did win, you would approve that.

Disputing his version of events, Clinton said, I know you live in your reality.

On the issue of race and policing, Trump said a so-called stop and frisk policy that called for police to detain and search suspects they deemed suspicious worked very well in New York. The New York Police Department recently discontinued the tactic amid concerns about its constitutionality.

Secretary Clinton doesnt want to use a couple of words: law and order, Trump said. We have to have it. We need law and order in our country. We have a situation now where African-Americans and Hispanics are living in hell because its so dangerous.

Clinton said restoring trust among police and minorities will take time and training.

We have to be sure our police are using the best training and techniques and use force only when necessary, she said. Everyone should be respected by the law and unfortunately, thats not always the case in some of our neighborhoods.

Brian Sanderoff, the Journals pollster and a longtime political analyst, said Trump was at his best during the debates first 20 minutes when he was criticizing trade deals negotiated by Democrats. And Clinton was effective in needling Trump about his business record and other issues, according to Sanderoff.

Neither of them was great, but they both had their strong points in articulating their visions and criticizing their opponents, he said.

Partisans in New Mexico cheered their candidates performances.

Hillary Clinton focused on the issues, gave substantive answers, and reiterated that were stronger together, said Debra Haaland, chairwoman of the New Mexico Democratic Party.

In stark contrast, Donald Trump was unprepared, didnt give any specifics, and once again showed that he doesnt have the temperament to lead our country.

Debbie Maestas, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, saw the contest differently.

Donald Trump continually pointed out in the debate tonight that Hillary Clinton has had every opportunity in the past 30 years to support the policies that will improve the lives of everyone in America, and yet 30 years later still nothing has changed, Maestas said. This election is about which candidate can exhibit the strength and vision needed to make America great again and Donald Trump is that candidate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SANTA FE  A small Santa Fe distillery is growing again.

In just six years, Santa Fe Spirits has already expanded twice at its location on Mallard Way in south Santa Fe.

On Monday, with help from Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales and Edward Herrera, director of the state Economic Development Department Office of International Trade, the company broke ground on a 4,000-square-foot temperature- and humidity-controlled facility that initially will be used to age their products in wooden barrels. There are plans to move distilling operations into the space down the line.

Santa Fe Spirits owner Colin Keegan said its always a good idea for businesses to look ahead. But we have to plan our business three to five years out because we age some of our products, said Keegan, whos company makes Scotch-style whiskies and Calvados-style apple brandies, as well as a vodka and gin.

The expansion was made possible by a $325,000 local economic development grant from the state of New Mexico. The city of Santa Fe is providing $100,000 in waived fees and incentives.

Mayor Gonzales said Santa Fe Spirits has come a long way in a short time. Its a product the world has recognized, a product that is gaining traction in the marketplace, he said of the spirits the company distributes in eight states and four countries.

The mayor said the business will also mean more jobs. Santa Fes Sarcon Construction will building the facility. The grant calls for the company to hire 14 new full-time employees within the next 10 years.

With a tasting room at its south side location and another in downtown Santa Fe, Keegan said next step for Santa Fe Spirits is to open a tasting room in Albuquerque by early next year. Tasting rooms are our way to compete with the big boys, he said.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A New Mexico community college is offering a new program that allows students to major in brewing beer.

KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports (https://goo.gl/x3SQvq) 30 students at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque are enrolled in the schools new Brewing and Beverage Management Program.

School officials say students in the program learn the basics of beer production and recipe formulation. Students are expected to apply their knowledge of beer production in hands-on laboratory-style classes.

Instructor Nick Jones says there are more than 70 brew pubs in New Mexico and the demand for trained workers is soaring.
LAS CRUCES  Jesse Denver Hanes spoke two words Monday in a Las Cruces courtroom as he was arraigned on charges related to last months slaying of Hatch police Officer Jose Ismael Chavez.

Hanes, 38, of Columbus, Ohio, replied yes twice when asked by state District Judge Manuel Arrieta if he understood his constitutional rights and the nature of the charges in the seven-count indictment that was filed Aug. 25 by a Dona Ana County grand jury.

Hanes is charged with first-degree willful and deliberate murder in the Aug. 12 shooting death of Chavez during a traffic stop on Franklin Street in the town of Hatch, 40 miles north of Las Cruces.

He also has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine, distribution of marijuana, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Through his attorneys, Liane Kerr and Marie Miller of Albuquerque, Hanes pleaded not guilty to all seven charges during the brief arraignment.

It was his first appearance in 3rd Judicial District Court since his arrest last month by Dona Ana County sheriffs deputies. Unlike his initial court appearances last month, when he required the assistance of a wheelchair, Hanes on Monday was able to walk from the jury booth to a podium in the middle of the courtroom and stand for a period of time.

Hanes arrest on Aug. 12 came in connection to a violent crime spree that authorities said began when he was pulled over by Chavez around 3:40 p.m. He was driving a 1991 silver Lexus and was carrying two passengers, James D. Nelson, 36, of Newark, Ohio, and Tony M. Jones, 44, a hitchhiker whose last known address was in Hannibal, Missouri.

It is not known why Chavez, a two-year veteran of the Hatch Police Department, pulled over the Lexus or if he knew that Hanes and Nelson had been on the run from authorities in Ohio, where they are accused of shooting and killing a 62-year-old man in Ross County on July 25.

According to court filings, Chavez approached the passenger side of the Lexus, requested the vehicles paperwork and asked Hanes to step out of the vehicle. At that point, (Hanes) brandished a firearm and shot Officer Chavez in the upper chest/lower neck area, fatally wounding him, Hanes indictment reads.

Chavez, 33, a Las Cruces resident and father of two, was pronounced dead several hours later after undergoing surgery at University Medical Center in El Paso.

Authorities said Hanes then fled from Hatch, heading south on Interstate 25, and led another Hatch officer on a brief high-speed chase. The pursuit had come to an end by the time the Lexus reached the Rincon area, where Nelson and Jones had parted ways with Hanes.

In an interview last month with the Sun-New, Jones claimed that Hanes planned to kill him while they were in Rincon, but he instead shot himself in the groin.

Alone and with a gunshot wound, Hanes fled Rincon in the Lexus and headed south. He exited the interstate at a rest stop near Radium Springs, where he allegedly tried to carjack a vehicle from a couple, but they refused to hand over their keys. Authorities said he then approached another man and demanded the keys to a red Chevrolet Cruze.

The man gave the keys to Hanes, but refused to get inside the vehicle. Hanes is suspected of the shooting the man in the hip before fleeing in the Chevrolet Cruze.

Authorities began pursuing the Chevrolet when it was spotted traveling on N.M. 185. The tires on the Chevrolet were eventually deflated, and the vehicle crashed into a pile of wood in the 23000 block of N.M. 185. Hanes had briefly barricaded himself in the vehicle before he was taken into custody.

Hanes was subsequently transported to UMC for medical treatment and was released to federal custody in Otero County on Aug. 18. A day earlier, federal prosecutors filed firearms and carjacking charges against Hanes. He was eventually indicted on five charges by a federal grand jury and ordered to be detained in custody as a flight risk and danger to the community until trial.

During Hanes arraignment on Monday, Kerr asked for a bond bet set in the states case against Hanes, arguing that holding him without bond is unconstitutional. Following the indictment in the states case, Chief District Judge Fernando R. Macias ordered that Hanes be held without bond.

We believe it is unconstitutional not to at least set a bond of some kind, Kerr told Arrieta. I think its obvious that Mr. Hanes is going nowhere. He is being held in federal custody, and we ask that you set a bond.

But Chief Deputy District Attorney Gerald Byers said defendants charged with capital offenses are not entitled to a bond.

This argument should be disregarded, Byers said. Judge Macias, whenever the case was originally charged in District Court, set a bond of no bond. It is the states position that is correct and is completely in accordance with the law.

After hearing the brief arguments, Arrieta declined to a set a bond and said the parties would have to address the matter before the assigned judge.

No trials have been scheduled in either the federal or state case, court records show.

Nelson and Jones are each facing drugs charges and remain in custody at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

Carlos Andres Lopez can be reached 575-541-5453, carlopez@lcsun-news.com or @carlopez_los on Twitter.



2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
The consensus that Donald Trump badly lost the first debate gelled overnight. Liberals predictably panned the GOP nominees performance on Long Island, but some of the harshest reviews are coming from conservative thought leaders who had been starting to come around.

 Instant reaction:

Republican pollster Frank Luntz conducted a focus group of undecided voters in Pennsylvania. Sixteen said Hillary Clinton won. Five picked Trump, per CBS News.

In a Florida focus group organized by CNN, 18 of 20 undecided voters picked Clinton as the winner.

Not one of 29 undecided voters in an Ohio focus group organized by Park Street Strategies thought Trump prevailed, while 11 picked Clinton and the rest said neither. By a 2-1 margin, the group thought Clinton had the better tone and, by a 3-1 margin, they thought she came across as more knowledgeable on the issues.

A CNN/ORC flash poll found that 62 percent said the Democrat won, compared to 27 percent who picked Trump. Thats on par with 2012, when Mitt Romney was seen as the winner of the first debate.

In a separate instant-poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, 51 percent said Clinton won and 40 percent picked Trump.

Eight in 10 insiders in the key battleground states thought Clinton performed better, including 57 percent of Republicans, according to the Politico Caucus survey.

 Trumps surrogates in the spin room were downbeat, and the candidate himself has already begun making excuses: They gave me a defective mic, he complained to reporters during a gaggle. Did you notice that? My mic was defective within the room. I wonder, was that on purpose? There was no clear problem with his microphone during the debate, The Washington Posts Jose DelReal notes.

Trump was supposed to stop by the Nassau County Republican Committees watch party on his way home. He skipped it. Clinton, meanwhile, celebrated with hundreds of supporters in Westbury, N.Y.

And Rudy Giuliani, a top Trump surrogate, even suggested that Trump should skip the next two debates unless he gets concessions. If I were Donald Trump I wouldnt participate in another debate unless I was promised that the journalist would act like a journalist and not an incorrect, ignorant fact checker, he said.



With Breanne Deppisch and Elise Viebeck

debate-gop-react
MARICOPA, Ariz.  The Latest on the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who fired at police (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

The U.S. Border Patrol says an agent found dead inside his Arizona home after exchanging gunfire with police responding to a 911 call died from an apparent suicide.

Officials from the Border Patrols Tucson Sector say 40-year-old Jeremy Russo joined the agency in September 2011. They say his most recent assignment was at the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station.

Police in the city of Maricopa, south of Phoenix, say Russo fired a rifle from a second-floor window at two officers responding to a call about domestic violence Monday evening.

Police spokesman Ricardo Alvarado says one officer shot back and that no officers were injured.

___

8:40 a.m.

Police in Maricopa say a man found dead inside his familys home after exchanging gunfire with police responding to a 911 call was a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado identified the man found dead early Tuesday morning as 40-year-old Jeremy Russo.

A spokeswoman for the Border Patrols Tucson Sector said the agency had no immediate comment but plans to release a statement.

Alvarado said the incident began Monday evening when two officers responded to a 911 call about domestic violence at the home and a man in a second-floor window fired a rifle at them.

Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that its not immediately known whether Russo died from a police bullet or a self-inflicted wound.

No officers were injured.

___

6:55 a.m.

Authorities say a man who allegedly fired a rifle at police responding to a 911 call made by a girl reporting domestic violence in a Maricopa home has been found dead inside.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that it isnt immediately known whether the man was killed by gunfire by police or himself.

Alvarado says a robot sent inside the home by a state police SWAT team that used explosives to breach the front door found the mans body in an upstairs closet.

The robot was sent in early Tuesday morning about four hours after the incident began Monday evening.

According to Alvarado, the mans wife and his two children had earlier made it out of the home OK.

No identities were released.
The 2014 electoral cycle marked a new low for U.S. voter turnout: Not since World War II had fewer Americans gone to the polls, as a percentage of the population.

Now, nearly 300 tech firms want to counter the decades-long decline in voter participation by making Nov. 8, the day America will select its next president, a paid company holiday. In what may be the most coordinated effort yet by tech companies to change a downward trend in U.S. voting behavior, some industry officials say they hope their stance on Election Day will spur other businesses  and maybe even the federal government  to follow suit.

It creates pressure across the board for more companies to do that in places where their employees maybe arent as likely to vote, said Jim Pugh, founder of the political data firm ShareProgress, which has endorsed the policy. The more we can have this be a norm within the corporate space, the more its going to push good civic corporate behavior.

The idea, proponents say, is to help compensate workers for the income they may give up by going to the polls (instead of going to work). The current list includes mainly smaller companies, not all headquartered in the Bay Area. But it also features household names such as Spotify, About.com and the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia.

Political scientists attribute the decades-long decline in voter participation to a host of factors, but more worrying than the cause of voter apathy might be its consequences. Ideological hard-liners on both ends of the political spectrum tend to vote more often than other Americans, and together with falling rates of voter turnout could result in more extreme candidates or policies, according to William Galston, a scholar at the Brookings Institution.

Our low turnout rate pushes American politics toward increased polarization, Galston wrote in 2011.

Members of the tech industry whove endorsed making Election Day a holiday believe their efforts could help blunt these effects, and potentially change how American democracy functions.

Thats what motivates Hunter Walk, a former Google employee-turned-venture capitalist. In July, Walk fired off a series of tweets urging people (and companies) to block off time to vote on Nov. 8. Within hours, dozens in Silicon Valleys tightknit start-up community had vowed to give their workers the day off. The number of participating companies grew so quickly that Walk had to begin keeping track of them on a Google spreadsheet.

More people were signing up every few days being like, Now were up to 50, 75. What about your company?  said Walk in an interview.

As of Monday, 277 companies had been added to the spreadsheet.

Silicon Valley firms are hardly the first to propose the policy. In 2001, President George W. Bush endorsed a report from a commission chaired by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford recommending, among other things, that Election Day be moved to Veterans Day  the better to entice Americans to vote as a patriotic duty. More recently, President Obama said in an interview with a college newspaper that he favors making Election Day a national holiday.

But could the push to make Election Day a corporate holiday really lead to meaningful changes in turnout? It all depends on how you look at it.

On its own, the move isnt likely to shift the course of the presidential race, political scientists say. Most of the people affected by the policy would be those who are already likelier to vote compared to some of their lower-income, minority counterparts.

I would say that it is probably negligible, just because generally speaking, these tech workers are salaried workers, said Ernest McGowen, a visiting assistant professor at Georgetown University who studies political behavior. Its hourly workers, particularly in lower-wage jobs, where that kind of thing is more pressing  its more of a reason people dont turn out.

Even if Election Day were made a national holiday by government mandate, said McGowen, it would look a lot like other federal holidays where legions of Americans still report to work.

Its not like theyre shutting down McDonalds, McGowen said. People are going to want to make money because its a holiday.

Still, McGowen said, the idea could make a small impact on downticket races in contested districts or on ballot referendums. Which party might benefit more? The answer isnt clear. While tech workers in California appear to lean Democratic, some companies on Walks spreadsheet hail from states such as Ohio and Colorado where things are more mixed.

Research shows that the more important factors governing peoples decision to vote have to do with their in-person social networks and a feeling that their ballot will have an impact on the final outcome. While these may be linked to a persons socio-economic status, a voters income level is only a partial predictor of their propensity to vote, according to Corrine McConnaughy, an associate professor of political science at George Washington University.

For example, said McConnaughy, black Americans tend to vote at higher rates than other Americans of the same socio-economic status.

Part of the explanation people offer for that is that there is this ongoing in-community mobilization, she said.

Still, even if the current crop of tech companies winds up benefiting wealthier voters by making Election Day a holiday, the hope among tech advocates is that their efforts may set a precedent that prompts other businesses to hop on the bandwagon, just as their office culture has spread across the country.

vote-tech
The U.S. dollar is usually seen as a symbol of Americas strength and economic dominance. But the mighty greenback may not be all its thought to be.

In a new book, The Curse of Cash, Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff argues that paper currency, especially large-denomination bills, may be undermining Americas success by facilitating crime, corruption, tax evasion, and illegal immigration. As Rogoff explains, the cash economy has also limited what economic planners around the globe could do to revive their countries after the recession.

I recently spoke with Rogoff about some of the surprising advantages that phasing out large bills could bring. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Many places have already phased out very large notes  the 500 Euro note, Canadas $1,000 bill, Singapores S$10,000 bank note, and Swedens 1,000-krona note. Could Americas $100 bill, the $50 and the $20 be next?

Q. This idea of getting rid of cash sounds radical. But you point out that the history of money has included an incredible amount of evolution, right?

A. Im for less cash, not no cash. But probably were not going to have any paper currency in 50 or 75 years, 100 at most. It will all be electronic, maybe in ways we cant even imagine at the moment. Were clearly in a transitional state. Debit cards have exploded, smart phone variants are coming.

So its happening. A lot of my kids friends dont even carry cash around. My son worked at Starbucks a summer ago, and I went in, and I use cash. Im old, basically. I paid in cash, and my son said dad, youre the only person who has paid me in cash today. He might have been joking a little, but not much.

So yes, we live in a history of change and change will surely come again.

Q. What do you see as the ideal form of money?

A. My plan is to keep $10 bills and less around forever. There are needs still for physical cash: for privacy, to use after a disaster like hurricane Sandy, for low-income people. The kind of transactions that take place in poor communities, or sending your kid to the store, thats not going to change.

But most other transactions should be electronic. I think smartphones will take over as the way of doing transactions. In Sweden, if I want to buy your television set at midnight, I just pay you on my smartphone and the transaction clears immediately. That technology is here in the Nordic countries. In the U.S., its very inferior by comparison.

Q. In your book, you describe a stunning amount of cash in circulation around the world, especially U.S. dollars. How much is out there, and why?

A. The U.S. had $4,200 in paper currency in circulation, outside of banks, at the end of 2015 for every man, woman and children. Just shy of 80 percent of that is in $100 bills, which amounts to $3400 in $100 bills for every American man, woman and child. Certainly some of that is abroad. Lets say at least half of it is in the U.S., which means the average American should be holding 15 or 20 $100 bills.

However, the surveys the Fed has done find maybe 5 percent of people holding a $100 bill. These bills are not in cash registers, they are not in businesses, they are not in wallets. The truth is, we dont know exactly where they are. But we know that when there are crime busts, drug busts, tax evasion cases, political corruption cases, they find piles of cash. Cash is used very intensively in crime.

Q. How much would eliminating large bills cut back on crime?

A.There would still be crime, but I think a number like 5 or 10 percent is not a wild-eyed number. The benefits of that are very hard to put a number on, but it might be very significant, if you look at the human cost.

Q. You also say eliminating cash could go a long way to solving illegal immigration, since most businesses that hire illegal immigrants are paying them off the books in cash. Eliminating cash could be a much easier and more effective solution than building a big wall.

A. First, let me say that I favor expanded legal immigration and a fairly broad amnesty program for undocumented illegals who are here already. Certainly employers pay illegal immigrants in cash, and they pay them off the books. Now, theyre not giving them $100 bills. So if you really want to target this, youd need to use more restrictions further down the road, for example on very large cash deposits. But in the long run, I do think its reasonable for countries to be able to control their borders, and in a world where cash was used less, it would be easier to do.

cash
CARY, N.C.  Donald Trump so captured Ron Townleys attention as an outsider ready to tear down the system, just the one who might break the Washington logjam, the doer to build new airports and highways, that he was considering voting for him.

But Trumps response Monday night when Hillary Clinton accused him of not paying a cent of federal tax left Townley appalled.

That makes me smart, Trump said, unapologetic and smiling, during the presidential debate.

That comment caused a gasp in the hotel conference room where Townley and a half dozen other undecided voters in this battleground state were watching the debate.

Thats offensive. I pay taxes, said Townley, 52, a program director for a local council of governments.

Another person would be in jail for that, agreed Jamilla Hawkins, 33, who was sitting beside him in the Crescent conference room of the Embassy Suites in this city of 150,000 near Raleigh.

Hawkins mother had chided her to get off the fence and support Clinton, but the 33-year-old felt no connection at all to the Democratic nominee. I just wasnt sold on her. A lot of my friends were on the Bernie Sanders train, she said.

But Hawkins said the debate made her appreciate Clinton more. She said she now leans to voting for her  a feeling shared by most of the undecided voters gathered here for an informal focus group.

Polls show that the race between Clinton and Trump is deadlocked in North Carolina, a once-solidly conservative state that has seesawed between Republicans and Democrats in recent years and is now too tight to call for either candidate.

Many believe that the race will come down to undecided voters like Townley and Hawkins  those committed to voting but not yet to a candidate. In North Carolina, the undecideds amount to around 10 percent of the electorate, according to surveys; in other parts of the country their numbers are even higher.

In an election that is predicted to be as close as this, these undecideds could well be the deciding factor, said Anita Brown Graham, professor at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina.

Most voters in this polarized election support either Trump or Clinton and couldnt possibly consider voting for their rival. Yet there are a significant number who see attractive qualities and flaws in each of the two major party candidates and have not yet decided whom to choose.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday showed that 17 percent of registered voters said the debate might change their minds about which candidate to support; 6 percent said there was a good chance the debate could do so.

The undecided voters gathered here Monday by The Washington Post were from all over the state; they were in Cary to attend a Rural Center conference, where gubernatorial and Senate candidates were among the speakers.

Each of the men and women said they had not yet found a candidate to rally around because they found fault with both. But after the debate, four of the six undecided voters said they now leaned toward Clinton after she showed mastery of the issues and appeared more presidential. A fifth voter declared himself essentially now in the Clintons camp: After tonight, I think I am convinced, I will vote for Clinton, said the Rev. Kelly Andrews, a Baptist pastor from Tarboro.

But Cindy Adair said the 90-minute debate did not help her at all. She still abhors some of Clintons policies, including NAFTA, which destroyed the textile industy she grew up in.

Thats a lie! she said as Clinton, under attack for the trade agreement blamed for sending jobs overseas, insisted that domestic manufacturing jobs increased in the 1990s.

Clinton looked snarky at times, Adair said  though she did think she looked more professional than Trump. She said she didnt find Clintons better performance surprising given that the former U.S. senator and secretary of state is a career politician practiced in this kind of forum.

Adair, a registered Republican, said she likes that Trump will reduce taxes. She thinks it is a big mistake that Clinton will continue Obamacare and the move toward socialist health care.

On a scale to 10, Adair said Clinton scored a five and Trump a two. By the evenings end, she was still at a loss over whom to support on Nov. 8.

The others watching the televised debate had new problems with Trump after listening to him one-on-one for an extended time. They said he appeared racist in some of his remarks about African-Americans, not as prepared and rude in his frequent interruptions of Clinton.

When Trump gloated about not paying taxes, many called it a huge mistake. Clinton accused him of hiding something by not publicly releasing his federal tax returns, and she noted that some returns seen by state authorities showed he had paid no federal taxes.

Hawkins, 33, who works in community development, said that gave her a new view of the Republican candidate: that he is out of touch with the ordinary middle class person who doesnt think its right for the rich to not pay their share of taxes.

He started out OK, but then after 30 minutes, he started attacking. He is inconsistent and doesnt have the temperament, she said.

Hawkins eyes widened with incredulity with his unexpected answer about the culprit behind recent cyber attacks: It could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?

Really? she said, calling it childish and offensive to those with weight problems.

Hawkins main issue with Clinton  her difficulty relating to ordinary voters  hasnt disappeared. But she has a whole lot more issues with Trump.

Amy Bridges, 49, who voted for President Barack Obama in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012  a mirror of how this state went  was troubled by Trumps inability to keep his attention focused.

He cannot stay on topic, she blurted out, when Trump started talking about ISIS when he was asked about his call for Obama to produce his birth certificate to prove he is a natural-born citizen. I just want you to answer the questions! she said at another point.

Before the debate, Bridges talked of her reservations about Clinton, especially the feeling that she was untrustworthy. But afterwards, she said, It was far more obvious she knows her stuff. I felt a bit more comfortable with her.

Andrews, the Baptist pastor, had been attracted to Trumps business experience and his understanding that people are upset about manufacturing jobs send overseas. He said his wife lost her job when a plant closed that made tools and drills. But then when he listened to Trump Monday night, he started shouting at the TV screen.

 Stop-and-frisk is unconstitutional! Andrews hollered. Andrews, who is African-American, said Trumps call for the controversial practice to instill law and order would allow police to frisk any black person.

Trump also said African-Americans and Hispanics in the inner city are living in hell because its so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot, Trump said.

Andrews found that statement ridiculous.

John York, a tech consultant, said the bottom line for him was that Trump gave few details and showed he really doesnt have a plan.

The very big highlight for me was when Hillary tried to assure the world rattled by this election, York said. Trump talked off ripping up trade and other international agreements while Clinton promised that America would honor its defense treaties and said our word is good.

I think people want change but they are not ready to flush the whole system, he said.



Emily Guskin contributed to this report.

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Donald, I know you live in your own reality, Hillary Clinton told Donald Trump during the first debate between the two contenders for the presidency. And rather than deny it, Trump proceeded to give millions of Americans a tour of the rarefied world he inhabits and the decidedly unique attitudes that guide his dealings with people outside that sphere. Trump may have spent much of the debate lapsing into nonsense, but that message, at least, got through loud and clear.

Early in the debate, Trump dismissed the $14 million he received from his father to start his business as a very small loan that was no reflection on his actual business acumen or work ethic. I built it into a company thats worth many, many billions of dollars, with some of the greatest assets in the world, he said.

How did he do it? Trump painted a portrait of his business dealings rooted in contempt for anyone weak enough to let him take advantage of them.

When Clinton pointed to his glee over the collapse of the housing market, Trump interrupted to inform her thats called business, by the way. When Clinton told the stories of small-business owners who had done work for Trump, only for him to refuse payment, Trump shrugged it off by saying, Maybe he didnt do a good job, and I was unsatisfied with his work, before going on to explain that I take advantage of the laws of the nation because Im running a company. My obligation right now is to do well for myself, my family, my employees, for my companies. And thats what I do.

When Clinton parsed some of his old income tax returns and noted that he didnt pay any federal taxes, he bragged, That makes me smart. And when Clinton pushed him again on what he has or hasnt paid, Trumps version of a pivot was to suggest that any taxes he paid would be squandered, too, believe me.

In the portion of the debate about race, Trumps explanation for why he cares about Charlotte, a city torn by riots after a recent police-involved shooting, was that it is a city where I have investments. His explanation for a lawsuit early in his career, when he was sued for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to African-Americans? A lot of other people did it, too, and We settled the suit with zero  with no admission of guilt. It was very easy to do.

A couple of patterns define these responses.

First, theyre a dumb persons idea of cleverness. Refusing to pay people who cant afford to sue you to collect what theyre owed isnt some sort of brilliant business strategy that Donald Trump alone discovered and had the courage to use. Its just using your personal wealth and the size of your company to skip out on basic obligations. In a similar way, settling a discrimination suit with no admission of guilt doesnt make you innocent of discriminating against black people, in the same way that being found not guilty of rape is not the same thing as a ringing endorsement of your personal conduct.

The second is that they reveal Trumps astonishing self-centeredness. In the world he occupies, $14 million is trivial, theres always another contractor who needs the work even at the risk of getting stiffed, and the map of the world is determined by where Trump himself stands to gain or lose.

In this context, some of Trumps more bizarre moments achieve a certain coherence.

If youve never ventured out of your gold-encrusted palaces, and never endured hardship more serious than some light meanness from Rosie ODonnell, then maybe the rest of the world does seem fraught and terrifying. Following from that, if you truly believe that many of your fellow citizens occupy some sort of violent garbage pile, then may be it is the height of magnanimity to open up your private club in Palm Beach to anyone who wants to join.

And if you believe that youve purchased a womans hotness  as was the case with a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, who says Trump taunted and harassed her about her weight and ethnicity  maybe it does seem as though when that woman gains weight, its a real problem.

Trumps messages, his contempt for the basics of citizenship and his delight in putting one over on the people he ostensibly wants to serve may be unique in presidential history. But Trump was remarkably consistent in his commitment to showing the debate audience the world as he sees it, even taking a moment to plug his new hotel in the District of Columbia. If I dont get there one way, Im going to get to Pennsylvania Avenue another, he said on Monday night.

Lets hope we can get Trump bundled up back in the gilded luxury where hes most comfortable as quickly as possible. The real world and the rules everyone else plays by seem as though they might be too harsh for Trump to bear.

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According to an exclusive report in New Scientist, a breakthrough birth occurred under the radar some five months ago. With the help of John Zhang from the New Hope Fertility Center in New York City, a Jordanian couple conceived and gave birth to a child with more than two genetic parents.

So-called three parent babies actually have more like 2.001 parents, according to experts. And the baby boy born earlier this year isnt the first child to have a little more DNA than mom and dad could provide on their own: An IVF technique that relied on small transfers of donor DNA was pioneered in the U.S. during the 1990s, but was banned after fewer than 100 babies were born.

This Jordanian newborn represents the first successful birth in a new wave of three parent techniques  ones that are more sophisticated, and that will likely stick around much longer.

For now, there is no country where the method used to conceive the baby boy is explicitly legal. Zhang performed the procedure in Mexico, where, he told New Scientist, there are no rules.

These techniques involve the transfer of mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA. Often called the power plants of the cell, the mitochondria convert energy from food into energy that can power a cell. When someones mitochondria dont function properly, its bad news indeed for cells. Mitochondrial diseases can cause a whole host of life-threatening problems, and its estimated that as many as 4,000 children are born with such conditions in the United States each year. In this case, the couple had experienced four miscarriages and lost two children at young ages to Leigh syndrome, a neurological disorder caused by a mutation in the mothers mitochondrial DNA.

Mitochondrial DNA, which contains just 37 genes compared to the staggering 20,000 or so carried by DNA in a cells nucleus, comes entirely from the egg cell  the sperm cell contributes no mitochondria to the fertilized embryo, so theres no chance of a fathers healthy genes picking up the slack after conception. Replacing the mothers faulty mitochondria with donor mitochondria in the newly conceived embryonic cells can produce a healthy baby while preserving the vast majority of its mothers DNA.

The United Kingdom recently approved a technique where two eggs (one from the mother and one from a donor) are fertilized with the fathers sperm. The parents genetic information is inserted into the donors embryo, which has had everything but the mitochondria cleared out.

Because the parents who sought Zhangs help are devout Muslims, they didnt want to use a technique where embryos were destroyed. So instead, Zhang used a technique that does the cutting and pasting before fertilization takes place: The nucleus of a mothers egg cell is placed directly into a donor egg, replacing its original nucleus.

The baby seems to be healthy, New Scientist reports, but dont expect kids with 2.001 parents to become mainstream just yet: The baby was one of five embryos created for his parents using the technique, and he was the only one to develop normally after fertilization. He also still carries a small percentage of mitochondria with his mothers genetic mutation. His doctors hope and expect that he will develop normally, but theres no way of knowing how the presence of those malfunctioning genes might affect his health.

And then there are the legal hurdles: While the United Kingdom has embraced research on the genetic engineering of embryos  one three parent technique has already been approved, and scientists have been given the green light to more extensively modify human embryos in the lab for research purposes  the United States is at a standstill. In February, an expert panel of scientists and ethicists gathered by the Food and Drug Administration offered their approval of some applications of these techniques. But the omnibus fiscal 2016 budget bill passed by Congress in 2015 prohibited the use of government funds for experiments that genetically alter human embryos.

Zhangs team will describe their methods in more detail at the American Society for Reproductive Medicines Scientific Congress in Salt Lake City in October.

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PHOENIX  Court officials say a former Maricopa County sheriffs deputy has pleaded guilty to theft and drug paraphernalia charges.

The pleas entered Tuesday in Superior Court follow Scott Michael Walters arrest in 2015 as a result of an investigation into multiple robberies and attempted robberies in the Phoenix area.

At the time of his arrest, he denied any involvement in crimes but said he was a heroin addict.

Police searched his home and reported finding boots and glasses believed to have been used in the robberies plus narcotic drugs, drug paraphernalia and a ledger documenting the sale of drugs.
WASHINGTON  For all of his occasional restraint, Donald Trump offered debate viewers a greatest-hits collection from his history of mangled facts, with some new ones thrown in. For all of her policy sobriety, Hillary Clinton was far from flawless.

People who had somehow avoided the campaign until the opening presidential debate heard with fresh ears Trumps bogus claims that he opposed the Iraq war before it started and that he never branded climate change a made-in-China hoax. For people whove been paying attention, everything old was new again.

A sampling of the statements from Monday night and how they stack up with the facts:

TRUMP, when Clinton said he paid no income tax for several years: That makes me smart.

THE FACTS: Savvy tax planning was why he avoided paying taxes in those years. It was because he was losing money.

For at least two years in the early 1990s, the businessman posted losses that were large enough to cancel out any gains he would have had to report from his creditors writing down his debts. That is known because Trump had to show tax returns then to New Jersey gaming regulators to get a casino license. Hes otherwise refused to make his returns public.

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CLINTON: When I became secretary of state, Iran was weeks away from having enough nuclear material to form a bomb. They had mastered the nuclear fuel cycle under the Bush administration. They had built covert facilities. They had stocked them with centrifuges that were whirling away.

THE FACTS: Not so. Iran moved to being as close to weeks away from bomb-making capability during the Obama administration, when she was secretary of state, not under President George W. Bush.

On the day Clinton was confirmed as secretary, David Albright, a former chief U.N. weapons inspector, wrote that Iran appears to need at least another few months to accumulate enough low-enriched uranium to have a break-out capability. And some U.S. intelligence officials at the time were estimating that Iran could be still a year away from such capability. U.S. officials only began citing a time-frame of weeks as they closed in on a final deal with Iran in 2015.

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TRUMP, when asked why he continued to raise questions about Barack Obamas country of birth even after the president produced his birth certificate in 2011: Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it.

THE FACTS: Trump himself continued to press false theories about Obamas birthplace after they were debunked. His claim that the matter faded when the birth certificate came out belies his efforts to keep the myth alive.

Was it a birth certificate? he asked in a 2012 interview. He was perhaps born in Kenya. Very simple, OK? Trump said in 2014. Who knows about Obama? Trump asked in January 2016.

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TRUMP, denying Clintons accusation that he supported the Iraq war: Wrong. Wrong. Later: That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her. I was against the war in Iraq.

THE FACTS: There is no evidence Trump expressed public opposition to the war before the U.S. invaded, despite his repeated insistence that he did. Rather, he offered lukewarm support. He only began to voice doubts about the conflict well after it began in March 2003.

His first known public comment on the topic came on Sept. 11, 2002, when he was asked whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with radio host Howard Stern. Yeah, I guess so, Trump responded. On March 21, 2003, just days after the invasion, Trump said it looks like a tremendous success from a military standpoint.

Later that year he began expressing reservations.

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CLINTON: Were working with NATO, the longest military alliance in the history of the world, to really turn our attention to terrorism.

THE FACTS: When it comes to longevity, NATO takes a back seat to the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the Peloponnesian League and numerous other military alliances.

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, still in effect, is either 643 years old or 376 years old, depending on whether the start date is considered to be before or after a rupture along the way.

The Peloponnesian League, organized and led by Sparta, lasted 200 years, from the 6th to 4th centuries BC.

NATO is 67 years old.

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CLINTON, denying Trumps accusation that she called the Trans-Pacific Partnership the gold standard of trade agreements: No  I did say I hoped it would be a good deal.

THE FACTS: Trump is correct. On a 2012 trip to Australia as secretary of state, Clinton said the deal taking shape sets the gold standard in trade agreements. She championed it in other venues around the world. She did not merely express the hope it would turn out well.

Clinton flip-flopped into opposing the trade deal in the Democratic primary when facing Bernie Sanders, who strongly opposed it. She said the final version of the deal didnt address her concerns. But the final version actually had been modified to try to make it more palatable to liberal critics.

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TRUMP, when Clinton accused him of calling climate change a hoax invented by the Chinese: I did not. I did not.

THE FACTS: He did, he did, in the form of a 2012 tweet: The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. He later claimed he was kidding, but hes also repeated the claim that climate change is a hoax, and one that benefits China.

He tweeted in January 2014: Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!

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CLINTON called for making college debt-free so more young people can get their education.

THE FACTS: Clinton has proposed making college tuition free for in-state students who go to a public college or university. But tuition-free doesnt equate to debt-free.

Under her plan, the government would pay for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for students from families earning less than $125,000 a year. That would leave students still bearing the cost of room and board, which makes up more than half of the average $18,943 sticker price at a four-year public university, according to the College Board.

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TRUMP to Clinton: Youve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life.

THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton was born in 1947 and is 68 years old. She reached adulthood in 1965. The Islamic State group grew out of an al-Qaida spinoff, al-Qaida in Iraq in 2013, the year Clinton left the State Department.

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TRUMP: My father gave me a very small loan in 1975.

THE FACTS: Trump got a whole lot more than a small loan. Aside from $1 million in financing from his father, Trump received loan guarantees, bailouts and a drawdown from his future inheritance. Tim OBrien noted in a 2005 book that Trump not only drew an additional $10 million from his future inheritance during hard times, but also inherited a share of his fathers real estate holdings, which were worth hundreds of millions when they were eventually sold off.

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TRUMP: You dont learn that much from tax returns.

THE FACTS: Americans stand to learn plenty if he releases his tax returns like other presidential candidates have done.

They would provide vital information about his wealth, taxes paid, tax avoidance efforts, exact amounts of real estate holdings and charitable donations that cant be gleaned from any other source. For these reasons, every major party candidate for the last 40 years has released at least a few years of recent tax returns.

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TRUMP: Our jobs are fleeing the country. Theyre going to Mexico. Theyre going to many other countries.  Ford is leaving  thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio.

THE FACTS: There are no official data on job flows between countries. However, the U.S. economy has added nearly 14.9 million jobs since 2010, when the economy bottomed out after the recession.

Since GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy, the auto industry in particular has recovered and resumed hiring. The industry has added 300,000 jobs since June 2009, when the recession ended. Ford has announced it is moving production of small autos to Mexico, but says it wont cut any U.S. jobs because it will make other vehicles at the affected plant.

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CLINTON: Independent experts have looked at what Ive proposed and looked at what Donalds proposed, and basically theyve said this, that if his tax planwere to go into effect, we would lose 3.5 million jobs and maybe have another recession. Theyve looked at my plans and theyve saidwe will have 10 million more new jobs.

THE FACTS: Those numbers come from one expert, Moodys Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, a widely respected analyst but one who has also donated to Clintons campaign. His estimate that Trumps plan would cost 3.5 million jobs was issued in June 2016, and Trump has altered his tax cut proposals and other policies since then. And Zandi estimated Clintons policies would actually create 3.2 million more jobs over 10 years, not 10 million. An additional 7.2 million would be created under current law, Zandi calculated.

___

Associated Press writers Jeff Horwitz, Alicia A. Caldwell, Bradley Klapper, Eric Tucker, Stephen Braun, Jim Drinkard, and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

EDITORS NOTE  A look at the veracity of claims by political figures
A bipartisan group of 51 U.S. representatives is asking the Obama administration to reconsider a unilateral move by the Drug Enforcement Administration to ban the drug kratom, a plant whose opiate-like effects are making it an increasingly popular alternative for treating pain and drug addiction.

The DEA recently decided to place the drug kratom into schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, the most restrictive regulatory category, to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety. The ban is likely to go into effect on Friday.

The DEAs decision to place kratom as a Schedule I substance will put a halt on federally funded research and innovation surrounding the treatment of individuals suffering from opioid and other addictions  a significant public health threat, the letter states. Mitigating the effects of the national opioid epidemic  which along with heroin killed close to 30,000 people in 2014  has been a major goal of the Obama administrations drug policy.

In the letter to the Obama administration, spearheaded by Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., the representatives urge the director of the Office of Management and Budget to use his authority to delay the DEAs action.

Noting that the DEA did not take public comment from consumers, researchers, and other stakeholders before the decision, the representatives say that the DEAs move threatens the transparency of the scheduling process and its responsiveness to the input of both citizens and the scientific community.

The letter notes that federal research grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, led to a patent application for the use of kratom in treating withdrawal from addictive compounds. The researchers involved with that patent said that the active chemical in kratom completely blocked all withdrawal symptoms and could provide a remarkable step-down-like treatment for people addicted to hardcore narcotics such as morphine, oxycodone or heroin in a 2013 press release.

Other research published this summer by Columbias Andrew Kruegel and colleagues found that the active chemicals in kratom interacted with the brains pain receptors in novel ways that could allow it to reduce pain without the high risk of addiction and side effects posed by traditional opiate painkillers.

The White Houses Office of National Drug Control Policy referred inquiries to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The DEA did not respond to a request for comment.

Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant that has shown promise as a potential replacement for highly addictive and deadly opiate painkillers. Anecdotal evidence suggests people can use the drug to wean themselves off opioids and alcohol, as well as to treat otherwise intractable chronic pain.

But the DEA has said that these opiate-like effects are sufficient grounds to temporarily place the drug into schedule 1. In a Federal Register notice, the DEA cited more than 600 poison control center calls related to the drug between 2010 and 2015. It also noted 15 deaths linked to kratom use between 2014 and 2016, although a DEA spokesman later clarified that in only one of those cases was kratom the only drug involved.

Scientists studying the drugs effects are worried that the DEA ban will stifle further research. Andrew Kruegel of Columbia University, who studies how compounds in kratom act on the brains pain receptors, told Scientific American that hell have to destroy all the kratom samples in his lab because hes not currently licensed to work with Schedule 1 substances.

In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Kruegel said that the new regulations will restrict our ability to pursue the development of new painkillers that could replace the deadly opiates currently causing thousands of deaths annually.

Kruegels colleague, Susruta Majumdar of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said in the call that kratom research could lead to the holy grail of painkiller medicine  a drug thats both effective at treating pain, and unlikely to be abused. But a ban will definitely hinder our understanding of how the compounds in kratom work.

Other researchers have echoed similar concerns. Marc Swogger, a clinical psychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center who has published research on kratom use, said in an interview earlier this month that the research indicates that this is a pretty mild substance and that criminalizing kratom use is insane to me.

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Angry members of Congress are urging the Office of Personnel Management to delay a major price hike in the long-term-care insurance program for federal employees and retirees.

Placing a good portion of the blame for the cost increase on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), three Democratic lawmakers expressed their outrage over the dramatic premium increases, in a letter sent Friday to acting OPM director Beth Cobert. Reps. Chris Van Hollen, Md., Gerald Connolly, Va., and Don Beyer, Va., signed the letter.

OPM was not swayed. The agency said it shares the concerns expressed by the members of Congress and the Federal employees, but theyll get no more than that. OPM will not extend the Sept. 30 deadline for customers to make a decision about their long-term-care policies under the higher pricing.

But would a delay make a real difference?

Postponing it will just delay the inevitable, said Martha Sewell, 66, a former Architect of the Capitol employee from Falls Church, Virginia. Why were not small increases made in a more gradual manner?

The lawmakers criticized the agency for approving the increase, which will take effect in November. The increases will average 83 percent, but could go as high as 126 percent. Federal long-term care premiums are not subsidized. Customers pay the full charge to John Hancock Life and Health Insurance, which provides the insurance.

The letter quoted promotional literature sent to them in 2002: Your premiums can change only with OPMs approval and only on a group, not an individual, basis. That assertion makes the huge hike particularly egregious, the lawmakers wrote.

This leaves policyholders with few choices, none good. Among them: Maintain the current level of coverage at a much higher price, maintain the current premium for an inferior product, fashion a combination of those two or abandon the policy and lose the premiums already paid.

There also is the little-known paid-up option that would allow most customers to stop paying, while getting reduced benefits.

Complaining that our constituents were blindsided, the letter said the policyholders are now faced with paying the increased premium or reducing or even dropping coverage that some have held since the program began more than a decade ago.

OPM rejected the call for a delay, saying any additional delay of the increase would result in enrollees ultimately paying a greater premium rate, since the increase would need to take into account and correct for any additional period of time with inadequate premiums.

Samuel Schumach, OPM press secretary, explained: The new pricing adjusts for changing trends in morbidity and mortality rates as well as expected return on investments and these increases are necessary to be sure that OPM is meeting its statutory requirement for FLTCIP (Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program) premiums to reasonably and equitably reflect the costs of the benefits provided.

This provides little comfort to the participants, about 270,000 of them, and the representatives who feel their questions have not be adequately answered.

Since this announcement was first made in July, we have not received acceptable answers for why changes in actuarial projections occurred so suddenly as to justify this dramatic premium hike, why the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) failed to provide advance notice of the impact of these projections to enrollees, and how OPM plans to improve oversight of the program to prevent sudden hikes in the future, the lawmakers wrote.

While the lawmakers demanded an extension, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) has changed positions on that point. Saying we feel an extension is no longer necessary, NARFE did an about-face after getting additional information.

After the Sept. 30 deadline, enrollees will receive individualized packets with their new premiums and coverage, Jessica Klement, NARFEs legislative director, explained. They will then have 30 days to change plans.

With packets mailed starting in October, the 30-day time period will start after we know the FEHBP (Federal Employees Health Benefits Program) premium increase next year and the annual cost-of-living adjustment to Social Security benefits and federal annuities, Klement said. Given that by Oct. 18 federal employees and retirees will have all the health care information necessary to make informed decision regarding long term care, Medicare and FEHBP, we no longer feel an extension is necessary. However, we will not discourage OPM or Congress from granting an extension, as many enrollees have asked for one.

NARFE remains upset with the price hike, as is Jerome Duncan of Annandale, who put in almost 34 years with the government before retiring.

People need to be fired, from the very top on down through the first management levels, he said. I think that OPM did not do adequate research on the providers of LTC and they allowed them [Hancock] to get away with an outright theft.

Anger like that could be vented at a congressional hearing that some members of Congress have suggested. None is currently scheduled, but word on Capitol Hill is a hearing might be called for November.

That, of course, would be too late to do anyone any good.

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In his first presidential debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton on Monday night, Republican candidate Donald Trump played loose with the facts on how China is devaluing its currency, made an apparent shift in position on continuing to fund NATO defense of European allies and seemed to call for China to invade North Korea. Washington Post correspondents in Beijing, Brussels and Tokyo analyzed Trumps statements.

 On Chinas currency, Trump said:

Our country is in deep trouble, and we dont know what were doing, when it comes to devaluation, all countries all over the world, especially China  theyre the best, the best ever at it. What they are doing to us is a very, very sad thing.

Beijing correspondent Simon Denyer checked the facts and found that Trumps view of China is at best outdated and at worst showed a lack of understanding of what is happening with the Chinese currency.

Trump is, at best, a little out of date, and he may not have the winning hand he claims, Denyer wrote.

Chinas currency has actually appreciated rapidly over the past decade, and recently, Chinas central bank has been intervening in the markets to bolster the yuan to prevent a depreciation. The Bank for International Settlements compiles data on real effective exchange rates. It shows Chinas real exchange rate has risen by 39.5 percent since the end of 2004. Last year, the International Monetary Fund declared that Chinas currency was no longer undervalued.

 On continuing to support NATOs defense of European allies, Trump said:

Im all for NATO, but I said they have to focus on terror, also. And theyre going to do that. And that was, believe me, not going to get credit for it, but that was largely because of what I was saying and my criticism of NATO.

But Brussels correspondent Michael Birnbaum says that Trump cannot take credit for that because the NATO plans were announced before the July 20 Trump interview with The New York Times in which he questioned U.S. commitments to the alliance. Birnbaum says that Trump essentially did a flip-flop on his former position.

Trump backed down from his suggestion over the summer that he would check whether U.S. allies fulfilled their obligation to us before coming to their defense  stressing financial obligations, Birnbaum wrote. That assertion upended decades of U.S. military doctrine, unsettling allies who count on American guarantees of their security, particularly in Eastern Europe, which is fearful of Russia.

The U.S. spends more than 2 1/2 times as much on defense as the other NATO nations combined, which has long been a sore point for both Democratic and Republican policymakers who say Europe relies too much on the United States for its defense. Just five of NATOs 28 nations spend more than the alliances recommended level of 2 percent of GDP on defense, Birnbaum wrote.

 On North Korea policy, Trump said:

You look at North Korea, were doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea.

Tokyo correspondent Anna Fifield says that while the idea of using Chinas influence to curb North Korea is not new, expecting China to invade North Korea is completely unrealistic.

The idea that China  once North Koreas patron, now the closest thing it has to a friend (and its not that close)  has leverage over North Korea is not new, wrote Tokyo correspondent Anna Fifield.

She noted that Beijing has become increasingly angry during the reign of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and has supported increasingly stringent sanctions, but analysts say its ultimate consideration has not changed: It does not want the regime to collapse, sending millions of hungry North Koreans into China and, potentially, the 28,000 American troops stationed in South Korea right up to its border.

But Trumps suggestion that China go into North Korea took the exhortations for Beijing to act to a whole new level and is a bit of contrast to his own suggestions over the summer. Remember that back in June, Trump suggested he would deal with North Korea by inviting Kim to Washington  but not for a state dinner, just for hamburgers around a conference table.

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WASHINGTON  The Federal Aviation Administration has taken another step into the 21st century, replacing an archaic system that required a pencil and paper with a digital link between pilots and the control tower.

The computer link with planes awaiting takeoff has been installed in 45 major airports  including New Yorks three, all three in the Washington-region and Los Angeles  and will be added shortly in several others, including Chicagos OHare International, the FAA said Tuesday.

The system in use to date has been a throwback to the days post-World War II, and it gives passengers who have wondered a glimpse into whats going on in the cockpit as they inch along the line toward takeoff.

Heres how it works: The airline sends the control tower a proposed flight plan for the plane thats warming up at the gate. The captain will have picked up a copy of that as he walked on-board. In the tower, that plan prints out on an 8-by-1-inch piece of paper. On a good day, controllers in the tower give the thumbs up and the paper is stacked on a board that shows the order in which the planes will take off.

On a bad day, when the weather makes for ugly flying or something else has disrupted they system, the tower controllers have to come up with a new route to get the plane where its going. That new plan will pop out on another 81 piece of paper. The controller then reads the instructions to the waiting pilot, who writes them all down on paper. The pilot then reads them back and the tower corrects any mistakes. The pilot confirms the corrections, and the tower clears the plane to fly  although all the back and forth may have cost the pilot his place in line, further delaying the flight.

With the new system, the whole business can be done with the push of a button. The airline dispatcher files the flight plan with the tower, the tower approves or revises, the flight plan pops up on a mini-screen in the cockpit, pilot reviews and approves it, plane takes off.

This eliminates a huge amount of traffic on the radio, said UPS pilot Gregg Kastman, who demonstrated the system in a UPS plane cockpit at Dulles International Airport on Tuesday.

The system, known as Data Comm, has been tested for more than two years at Memphis and Newark international airports. The FAA says that in return for its $741 million investment, Data Comm will allow planes to fly more direct routes, saving fuel and reducing airplane exhaust fumes. The major U.S. carriers have signed on for the program, though not all of their planes been equipped yet.

A similar system has been used by U.S. and foreign carriers for more than a decade on oceanic flights. For now, the FAA says, Data Comm will be used to speed planes as they prepare for take off. By 2019, they expect the system will be used by the 20 centers that control planes at cruising altitude.

The Data Comm system, which is being delivered two years ahead of schedule, was an early inclusion when the FAA created NextGen as an umbrella for numerous works in progress.

Its the brand name the FAA created more than a dozen years ago as it recognized that it needed to sell Congress on funding for a grab bag of expensive new programs with the potential to dramatically change the way in which airplanes travel from place to place.

But with the massive funding for NextGen  the airlines are expected to invest billions as well  came pressure from Congress and the White House Office of Management and Budget to show meaningful results, expectations that might not have arisen for several individually funded projects that no one outside the FAA fully understood.

One result of that pressure was that NextGen expanded like an accordion, with projects that pre-dated NextGen by several years suddenly being added to the NextGen portfolio as they neared completion, and could be pointed to as milestone of success.

For example, in 2000, IBM told the FAA that it didnt intend to support the agencys navigational system beyond 2010. So the FAA set out to revitalize the system with something it called En Route Automation Modernization, or ERAM.

That system, now in operation, was instigated before the term NextGen was coined, yet the FAA now says it is the heart of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

I would argue that it isnt really NextGen, said a former top FAA official who asked not to be named because he still works in the aviation industry. It really is replacing what they had in 2001. Thats sort of what theyre touting as NextGen, but all this does is, eventually, when they build NextGen, is to plug new systems into it.

In the heyday of NextGen funding, he said the inside joke at the agency was that someone at FAA could figure out how to modernize the cafeteria and call it NextGen to cover the cost.

airtraffic
Hospitals have a lot of jobs  and food trays  to fill, and there is a new push among major Albuquerque institutions to tap into more local sources to do it.

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Presbyterian Healthcare Services are joining a series of other local entities on a new collaboration called Healthy Neighborhoods Albuquerque, an effort to improve the communitys health beyond providing medical care. Dr. Richard Larson, the partnerships organizer and the Health Sciences Centers executive vice chancellor, said the goal is to address the other factors that play into an individuals health, like employment and education.

Its a three-legged stool of hiring locally, buying locally and supporting the startup and growth of local businesses in the communities that need them the most, Larson said in an interview. When you do that, the health of those communities should improve because their social and economic status improves and over time well have healthier neighborhoods. In fact, we would see some of our health care costs would even decrease as a result.

The hospitals could, for example, start buying their salad-bar vegetables from local farmers and use area schools to teach basic job skills so that their entry-level workers  such as those in janitorial or food service positions  are more likely to succeed and therefore advance to better positions, Larson said.

Other collaboration partners include the City of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque Public Schools, First Choice Community Health Care and the Albuquerque Community Foundation.

Larson said the program is based on something similar he and Health Sciences Chancellor Paul Roth saw on a visit to Cleveland. Albuquerque is working with the same nonprofit consultant, the Democracy Collaborative, to implement similar programs. The goal is to have some programs in place by 2017.

If we really want to make a change in the trajectory of our communities, of our populations and of our state of New Mexico, it means we have to embrace this idea of social determinants of health and disease, Roth said during a news conference Tuesday.

Roth said hes particularly excited about customized training programs through APS that will prepare students for employment. He said the Health Sciences Center  which employs more than 10,000 people  and other anchor institutions combine to have thousands of jobs available each year.

Large employers have long relied on the local workforce to fill entry-level jobs, Larson said, but special programs could help potential candidates excel in them by covering basic workplace skills and expectations  even something as simple as punctuality.

Once they had that training we would hire into our hospital and hopefully put them on a career path where they could turn some of the basic entry-level jobs up to becoming a coder or biller, Larson said.

Presbyterian will focus on ways to get more people to eat healthy, local food, according to President and CEO Jim Hinton. The health care system has already made moves in that direction, hosting growers markets on its campuses and doling out prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables that patients can redeem at local farmers markets.

Buying more local food will probably be a key component of the local Healthy Neighborhoods push, said Democracy Collaboratives co-founder and president, Ted Howard. But he pointed to other ways big institutions can boost their local economy. In Cleveland, for example, a major hospital was trucking 20 million pounds of laundry each year to a contractor 45 miles a way. It agreed to redirect 3-4 million pounds to a new cooperative laundry created in Cleveland that now employs 50 people, most of whom were previously unemployed and some of whom were returning to the workforce after incarceration.

These big anchor institutions are really important. Theyre often the biggest employers in the city (and) theyre huge purchasers of goods and services, so if you can reorient that you can really make something happen, Howard said.
WASHINGTON  Critics of a bill that would allow 9/11 victims families to sue the Saudi Arabian government said they have accepted Congress will override President Barack Obamas veto of the legislation and are now focusing on how to scale back the measure once it becomes law.

The Senate has scheduled an override vote for Wednesday and the House is expected to act before the end of the week.

We see the writing on the wall: the override is going to occur, said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, who has been leading efforts to negotiate a narrower alternative to the measure but who still intends to vote in favor of the override. Its going to become law.

Corker is one of several members who argue the bill, which would allow courts to waive claims to foreign sovereign immunity in situations involving acts of terrorism on U.S. soil, is so broad that it could expose the United States to retaliation in foreign courts.

He complained that if the bill becomes law what you really do is you end up exporting your foreign policy to trial lawyers, adding that U.S. personnel might find themselves dragged into lawsuits abroad over American drone use in Pakistan and Afghanistan, or even its support for Israel.

Lawmakers might be more open to scaling back the measure after observing the blowback once the legislation becomes law, Corker argued. He said he is working with Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, in the hopes that during the lame duck, maybe theres a way to be successful in tightening this up.

The Saudi government has denied it had any ties to the terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks and has lobbied fiercely against the bill. But victims families have pushed for the legislation so they can press their case in courts and lawmakers who support the measure argue if the Saudis did nothing wrong they have nothing to worry about.

Both chambers passed the measure without dissent earlier this year, but now many lawmakers are echoing the White Houses argument that the legislation could set a dangerous precedent, inviting other nations to respond by suing American diplomats, military personnel and other officials in foreign courts.

In a letter Monday to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and ranking member Adam Smith, D-Washington, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that allowing the bill to become law risked damaging our close and effective cooperation with other countries and could ultimately have a chilling effect on our own counterterrorism efforts.

Thornberry and Smith both circulated letters among members in the last few days, urging them to vote against overriding the veto.

But on Tuesday, many Senators dismissed the national security concerns raised by the administration.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters she had not decided how she would vote, but she is not concerned the legislation would put any military personnel at risk.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was going to vote to override the presidents veto because its the right thing to do.

Even senators vocally opposed to the legislation in its current form  like Sen Dianne Feinstein, D-California,  seemed to be wavering Tuesday.

Feinstein would not say how she planned to vote on the override, though she noted she is still worried about the bills impact on the intelligence and national security communities. She said she is exploring what might be able to be done at some point to address her concerns.

While White House staffers have reached out to certain members of Congress, President Obama has not launched an all-out lobbying push to pull members away from this bill.

I know of no counting or anything theyve asked me to do on that, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, told reporters Tuesday. Pelosi intends to vote to override Obamas veto.

The bills authors, Sens. Charles Schumer, D-New York, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have not warmed to any of the alternative proposals critics are floating.

What Ive seen proposed doesnt make the grade, Schumer said.

One alternative lawmakers have discussed is limiting the measure to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, as a way of satisfying the demands of the 9/11 victims families without opening the United States to continuing diplomatic and legal problems.

But Cornyn dismissed the idea Congress will revisit the legislation later this year.

As far as Im concerned this bill is a done deal, Cornyn said. Obviously any senator or group of senators can offer any additional legislation they want, and well take it up in due course.

  

Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.

sept11-senate
With its leering eyes, furrowed brow and hands cupped around a pockmarked face, there is no mistaking what the Scary Peeper Creeper is meant to imitate: the head of a peeping Tom looking in through a window.

Perfect for scaring friends and family during Halloween or any other time of the year, promises a description for the product on Home Depots website. Realistic face looks just like a real man is peering through the window at you.

For at least one Toronto-area woman, though, it was too realistic.

Breanne Hunt Wells told CBC Radio that she was unnerved after spotting the Halloween decoration at a Home Depot in Markham, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto.

I fail to see the humor in it, Hunt-Wells told the radio stations Metro Morning show Monday. It makes light of a very serious crime. Voyeurism is a crime in Canada.

The mother of two told the radio program that the decoration seemed to downplay voyeurism, which can often lead to more serious offenses such as sexual assault or rape, CBC News reported.

I would say to people that say its just a joke there are a lot of things in our society that have been just a joke over time, Hunt-Wells told CBC. Racial jokes, cultural jokes. It takes some talking and thinking to realize that maybe we need to be more sensitive. The people that commit this crime are not harmless people.

Home Depot told CBC News on Monday it would pull the Scary Peeper Creeper from its stores after hearing of Hunt-Wellss complaint. Another Home Depot spokesman clarified later that the product would be removed from their stores in Canada.

We agree that this is not in line with our core values, and when we heard, took immediate action and are currently in the process of removing this product from our assortment, Home Depot spokeswoman Emily DiCarlo told CBC. Weve reached out to advise the customer of our actions and apologize. Were sorry for any offense that was caused.

Home Depot also decided to pull the product from its Canadian stores because it had received other complaints stating that the Scary Peeper reminded them of infamous Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo, Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes told The Washington Post later Monday.

It was especially sensitive in Canada [because of] to that connection, Holmes said.

The product would remain in U.S. Home Depot stores, he added. As of Monday afternoon, the product was also for sale on HomeDepot.com.

Scary Peeper, owned by a husband-and-wife team based in North Carolina, said Monday that it had also reached out to Hunt Wells to apologize.

We at Scary Peeper would never, ever, condone any type of violence, owners Morgan and Emily Dowtin said in a statement emailed to The Post. Our intention for this product is for it to be used as a fun-spirited prank. We offer our sincerest apologies to anyone who has been offended by our products, and certainly, to those who have been victimized by voyeurs. Violence towards women is a serious issue, and our products are not intended to make light of serious crimes.

Reactions to the decision on social media ranged from indifference to indignation  on both sides.

Who thinks that pretend voyeurs are a cool Halloween treat to a. create and b. sell? Seriously a Twitter user named Sonja Boon posted.

Seriously!? people need to stop being so offended about everything, tweeted another user named Felix Kay.

The Dowtins said they have been selling some version of the prop since 2013 and that this was their first complaint.

In a recent interview posted to Halloween fan Trish Reddings YouTube channel, Morgan Dowtin said they started the Scary Peeper line about five years ago as a joke.

It just started as like a prank, Dowtin said. I was going to mess with a friend.

A mask-maker in California helped design a prototype  and then Dowtin started having fun with it and scaring people.

After the product took off at a trade show, Dowtin said they began producing and selling it on a larger scale.

Now weve got all different kinds, Dowtin said in the video.

The prop comes in several versions, including one with animated eyes, one thats painted to look like a clown and a motion-activated Tapping Peeper. Its website includes a section of videos showing people reacting to seeing a Scary Peeper in a window.

Try placing Scary Peeper on the passenger side of a car window, in a bedroom window, basement window, kitchen window, bathroom window, or garage window, the website says. Wed love to hear where youve gotten good results with your Scary Peeper!

An online search shows the Scary Peeper is also sold by several other big-box and specialty online retailers. On Amazon.com, the Halloween decoration has 90 reviews and a five-star rating, with several commenters posting anecdotes about scaring people with the prop.

We have been very fortunate: Our products have been received with overwhelmingly positive feedback, funny anecdotes and videos, as well as a loyal following, the Dowtins said in a statement. The support we have received from all around the world has reinforced that the vast majority of people see and use our products as intended. We cannot stress enough that there is absolutely no malicious or ill-intent on our part.

homedepot-decoration
Hillary Clintons performance in Monday nights debate with Donald Trump may help her staunch the flow of young voters gravitating toward third-party alternatives, according to pollsters and political analysts.

Libertarian Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, is drawing an average of only about 8 percent support nationally, but polling shows hes pulling slightly more voters away from Clinton than the Republican nominee. Thats particularly true with younger voters. Clintons lead among those under 35 drops significantly in polls when Johnson, and the Green Partys Jill Stein, are included.

It was a good night for Hillary and a bad night for Johnson, said John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics. Hillary began to reset that relationship with millennials and I think theyll take another hard look at her in the upcoming debate.

The Institute of Politics surveyed about 60 college students across the country during the debate. While 52 percent said they were backing Clinton ahead of the debate, 63 percent said they thought Clinton won. Della Volpe said they did not see an increase in support for Johnson within this small sample.

The conversation up until last night for millennials was I dont like Hillary, I dont like Trump, Johnson is a solid third choice, he said. I didnt hear a lot of that conversation last night.

Clintons difficulty in attracting younger voters was illustrated during the Democratic primary, when Bernie Sanders mounted a serious challenge to her on the shoulders of millennial voters. Symone Sanders, who was national press secretary for the Vermont senators campaign, said young voters in the general election will be attracted by her emphasis on issues rather than Trumps appeals to fear.We got to see the Hillary Clinton that a lot of folks see out there on the campaign trail when the cameras arent on, the Hillary Clinton that talks about policy and issues, Sanders said. Those are the things that millennial voters care about.

Neither Johnson or Stein made the threshold of support for inclusion in the debate at Hofstra University. Johnson tried to use that exclusion from the debate as a rallying point for his supporters. To be included in the next debate, he must reach an average of 15 percent in the five national polls sanctioned by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Hitting the magic number will require convincing voters that hes a viable third option, not just a protest candidate, Della Volpe said.

He needs to talk about the differences between his policy, his persona, his campaign, and that of Hillary and Trump in a meaningful, policy focused way, Della Volpe said. As the two major party nominees debated on Long Island, Johnson and his running mate Bill Weld tweeted critiques and commentary from Twitters watch party in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City. Johnson grew testy when asked before the debate started whether hes running a spoiler campaign. Its horrible, why would you even say that, Johnson said. Were giving people a chance to vote for something, as opposed to the lesser of two evils  You want to waste your vote with Hillary Clinton or Trump go right ahead.

Republican strategist Steve Schmidt said that Johnson supporters were more likely to shift to Clinton than cast a protest vote after seeing Trumps lack of preparedness on foreign policy issues.

A lot of those Gary Johnson voters are Republican voters who are just not comfortable with Trump, and theres nothing that he did tonight thats going to pull those voters into that column, Schmidt said.

Johnson is also making his case directly to the American public. Please, America, he Monday night. Get them to put a third podium on that debate stage on 10/9.
LOS ANGELES  SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk on Tuesday unveiled his plans for colonizing Mars, which could eventually involve a fleet of up to 1,000 spaceships to transport as many as 1 million people to the Red Planet.

Musk envisions continuous launches from Earth, with massive rockets returning for reuse and spacecraft refueling in a parking orbit around Earth. The spacecraft, carrying as many as 100 people, would fly on their own to Mars. They would return using a combination methane and liquid oxygen fuel mined from Mars.

Speaking to the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Musk said he hoped to reduce the per person cost of getting to Mars from $10 billion, the price using traditional methods, to close to $200,000.

The total cost for SpaceX to develop the interplanetary transport system could be $10 billion. The entire project would cost much more and would probably require a public-private partnership, Musk said.

Musk said the Los Angeles-area company currently is spending less than 5 percent of its resources on the Mars system. But in a year and a half to two years, Musk said, most of SpaceX could be working on the project and the company could spend about $300 million a year on it.

In a tweet before the speech, which was titled Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species, Musk said the rocket booster for his interplanetary transport system will measure about 39 feet in diameter, and the spaceship will be about 55 feet in diameter.

When the two are stacked on top of each other, the total height will be about 400 feet. That is taller than the Saturn V rocket that carried the Apollo astronauts to the moon in the 1970s, and the SpaceX rocket would have nearly four times as much thrust.

On Sunday night, Musk tweeted that SpaceX had conducted its first test firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine.

He said the spacecraft might fly within four years, with development of the full Mars transport system several more years down the road.

In April, SpaceX said it was planning to send an unmanned Dragon spacecraft to the Mars as early as 2018. That mission, known as Red Dragon, will get some technical support from NASA, which has said it is interested in the entry, descent and landing data. Musk said the company wants to send a steady cadence of Dragon spacecraft to Mars.

Musk has said a crewed mission to Mars could launch in 2024 with arrival on Martian soil in 2025. But on Tuesday, he said that if things go well, the time frame could be more on the order of 10 years.

Tuesdays speech came almost a month after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded on a launch pad in Florida while being fueled before a standard pre-launch test. The blast also destroyed a communications satellite the rocket was supposed to lift into orbit.

Last week, SpaceX said a preliminary investigation found that a large breach occurred in the helium system of the rockets second-stage liquid oxygen tank, and that it was looking into all plausible causes.
PHOENIX  A man and his girlfriend have been arrested in connection with a deadly armed robbery at a Phoenix motel last month.

Phoenix police say 32-year-old Quincy Lofton was booked into jail Tuesday on suspicion of murder, robbery and possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor.

Under Arizona law, suspects can be charged with murder if the crime theyre participating in comes with a reasonable likelihood of death.

Police say 31-year-old Fatuma Hassan was arrested on suspicion of hindering prosecution.

Quincy and Hassan were arrested Tuesday at a Tempe motel.

Its unclear if they have lawyers.

Police say two masked men with guns entered a Motel 6 on Aug. 21.

One man jumped over the counter and was fatally shot by a security guard while the other man fled.
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Bern, 27.09.2016 - An independent impact study published by a research team from Tufts University has proven that an improvement in working conditions in the garment industry does not only improve worker well-being but is also good for business. That is the goal of a programme supported by SECO implemented in seven countries, covering 1,300 factories and more than 1.6 million workers.

Since 2009, SECO has supported the Better Work programme in the garment industry, a joint initiative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This programme helps export businesses improve their working conditions and promotes competitiveness in the global supply chains.

The impact assessment published yesterday proves that factories in the Better Work programme benefit in terms of quality, productivity as well as profitability. The research team also finds a link between company training for women and increase in productivity. In fact, 80% of workers in the garment industry are women and training of supervisors has led to a 20% increase in productivity.

For several years now, SECO has supported the creation of better-quality jobs in its partner countries for economic cooperation, and these results now confirm that social progress goes hand with hand with economic progress.

The Better Work programme is a win-win solution for all those involved. Workers have been able to increase family remittances, thanks to higher wages and less pay discrimination. The case of Vietnam shows that rather than damaging business, these improvements have actually improved sales performances. After four years in the programme, Vietnamese factories have seen a 25% increase in profits.

Address for enquiries

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO

Holzikofenweg 36

CH-3003 Bern

Tel. +41 58 462 56 56

Fax +41 58 462 56 00

Publisher

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

http://www.seco.admin.ch




General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC

Bern, 27.09.2016 - Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard will be paying a working visit to Canada from 2 to 6 October 2016. She will be holding talks on energy and climate policy, as well as on various transport-related issues, with her Canadian counterpart in Ottawa. In addition, the head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) will be visiting Montreal and Toronto in order to get an insight into how efforts in the above areas are progressing in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

The objective of this working visit is to strengthen cooperation between Switzerland and Canada. Federal Councillor Leuthard will commence her visit in Montreal, where she will meet with the Prime Minister of Quebec, Philippe Couillard. Her agenda includes a visit to Hydro Quebec, one of the largest and most innovative hydropower companies in the world, as well as to CORIM, a leading platform for international know-how exchange. In Ottawa, Federal Councillor Leuthard will hold talks with Transport Minister Marc Garneau, Innovation Minister Navdeep Singh Bains and Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, who is also responsible for energy issues. She will also be attending a cleantech event organised by the Canadian foreign affairs agency, Global Affairs Canada. In Toronto she will be holding talks with the Prime Minister of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, as well as with Glenn Murray (Environment and Climate Minister of Ontario) and several other ministers. The head of DETEC will also be using her visit to Canadas business capital as an opportunity to acquaint herself with the start-up promotion organisation, MaRS, which focuses on the cleantech sector, as well as with the regional transport agency, Metrolinx, and a variety of other entities.

The Canadian federal government is currently working together with the relevant provincial authorities to determine how to implement the climate protection objectives at the national level. Some provinces have already created the necessary framework conditions and introduced CO2 taxes or carbon pricing models. Quebec and the US State of California have jointly introduced a market for the trading of emissions certificates, and Ontario is to participate in this market with effect from 2017. The aim here is to use the anticipated revenue to promote innovation in green technologies. In addition, the electrification of public and private transport is to be expedited in certain urban areas of the country. These moves will also open up new market opportunities for Switzerlands export industry.

During her visit to Canada, Federal Councillor Leuthard will be accompanied by a delegation comprising representatives from the business sector and the scientific community.

Address for enquiries

Annetta Bundi, Press and Information Service, DETEC. Phone +41 78 646 38 80

Publisher

General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC

https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html



Federal Office for the Environment FOEN

https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en




Ares Management is reportedly seeking to raise more than $45bn for its latest batch of funds.
There was 595m worth of Irish mortgage approvals in August, an increase of 50% on the same month of 2015 according to new data released this morning by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).



Mortgage approvals have surged in recent months. There was 1.8bn in three months to August, up 33% on last year.



According to Davy Stockbrokers, the concern for banks is that in a tightening housing market growing numbers of mortgage approvals are chasing too few properties.

In 2015, 5bn of mortgages approved for house purchase translated into 4.4bn of actual lending. However, the conversion rate in the first half of 2016 had slipped back to 77% from 88% last year. Mortgage lending for house purchase equalled just 2bn in the first half of 2016, far lower than the 2.6bn of approvals.



A report by Davy Stockbrokers commented, "We know that the number of homes listed for sale on MyHome was close to a historic low at 23,500 in June 2016. Similarly, the average time to sale agreed narrowed to just 4.1 months in the second quarter. This is consistent with potential buyers under greater pressure to secure homes."

They added, "The overall number of residential transactions in the first eight months of year is down 5% on 2015. Put simply, the lack of housing construction means that greater numbers of potential buyers are focusing on a smaller pool of homes listed for sale."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
A number of participants have been inducted onto Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers programme at the Limerick Institute of Technology today.

LIT will be running Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers programme for the next 5 years in the Mid-West. Companies on the LIT New Frontiers programme in 2015/2016 raised over 5 million and have helped create almost 200 jobs.



New Frontiers is a three phase programme designed to help early stage emerging high potential startups (HPSUs). The 2016 cohort of 12 Entrepreneurs in LIT were chosen via a very competitive process from over 70 applications and from across industry sectors.

The Entrepreneurs will have access to key industry experts, consultants, focussed training and mentoring.

They also receive a 15k stipend from Enterprise Ireland (EI) and assigned a personal Development Advisor with opportunities for funding from EI or Local Enterprise Offices, business angel and VC networks, as well as LITs own Enterprise Ladder Fund (ELF) or Ryan Entrepreneurship Fund for Tipperary managed by LIT.



The Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme is run nationally and is now one of the largest employment generators in the country.



Vice President for Research Enterprise and Development at LIT, Dr. Liam Brown commented, "New Frontiers is the national entrepreneurship programme for early stage high-potential start-up companies. It is a tremendously important programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship in the Mid-West, and we in LIT are particularly proud of our role in the programme."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Modified On Sep 27, 2016 05:23 PM By Alshaar

India has overtaken South Korea as the fifth-largest carmaker in the world with 25.7 lakh cars manufactured in the first seven months of the 2016 calendar year. Other countries ahead of India in the charts include Germany, Japan, the USA and China. Its for the first time in a decade that the Land of the Morning Calm has lost its spot in the top-five automobile manufacturing countries. Last year, it had manufactured a total of 45.5 lakh vehicles against Indias 41.2 lakh.

READ: Hyundai to partner Kia in India?

Reports in South Korea suggest that the trend could continue further in the year, resulting in the country losing the fifth spot on an annual basis. It is also being said that Korean auto industry is facing a slump that has led to dramatic fall in both domestic and export numbers.

The crash is being attributed to the ongoing strikes from the Hyundai-Kia labour unions that are demanding bigger wage increases. This has resulted in a loss of production of more than 1 lakh cars, worth more than 2.23 trillion Won (Rs 13 thousand crore), according to Reuters.

READ: Indian exports rise, courtesy Maruti

On the other hand, the Indian automobile market has witnessed steady growth, contributing to almost seven per cent of the countrys economy. The Make in India scheme has also given a boost to manufacturing in the country, with an aim to increase the output by many folds and providing employment to an additional 2.5 crore people by the end of this year.
Published On Sep 27, 2016 07:05 PM By Raunak for Maruti S-Cross 2017-2020

The S-Cross facelift, which was revealed globally in the month of July 2016, has gone on sale in the UK. The crossover is known as the SX4 S-Cross in the European market and the updated version is priced at 14,999 (approximately Rs 12.92 lakh). This mid-life update of the second generation SX4 S-Cross came after three years of its introduction in the European market (October 2013). However, the S-Cross was introduced in the Indian market in August 2015 and the facelift is expected to be launched here in 2017.

Speaking of the aesthetic changes, it is the front fascia that went under the knife the most. The Japanese automaker has completely redesigned the front profile of the crossover, which now sits upright compared the previous version and comes with a larger grille and new headlamps. The sides remain largely unchanged, with the only update being the new machined alloys. Changes at the rear are subtle and the tail lamp cluster now comes with updated graphics and LED lighting.

Mechanically, in Europe, the S-Cross facelift comes with two brand new turbocharged petrol engines  1.0-litre (111PS/170Nm) and 1.4-litre (140PS/220NM) Boosterjet  replacing the old 1.6-litre naturally aspirated unit. The 1.6-litre DDiS diesel (120PS/320Nm) continues to do its duty in the updated version as well. Adding in context to India, it remains to be seen whether the automaker will introduce the new Boosterjet engines with the S-Cross face-lift next year or not. However, Maruti will debut the 1.0-litre Boosterjet in the country soon with the Baleno RS. So, in all probability, the updated S-Cross  which doesn't come with a petrol engine as of now  might borrow the downsized turbocharged motor in India.

Read in-depth about the RS: Maruti Suzuki Baleno RS: What To Expect

Recommended Read: Maruti S-Cross - Long Term Report

Read More on : S-Cross india
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Deutsche Bank shares saw renewed selling in stock markets on Monday after a report seemed to rule out any state-aid for the embattled German lender.

Focus, a German weekly news magazine published in Munich, reported on Friday that Chancellor Angela Merkel had categorically ruled out stepping in to help Deutsche Bank with its U.S. legal troubles in 2017, citing unidentified government officials. The article states that Merkel made her views clear in discussions with Deutsche Bank CEO John Cryan.



Shares of the bank have been hit hard this month after the U.S. Justice Department suggested the bank pay $14 billion to settle a number of investigations related to mortgage securities. The investigations refer to the way it sold these securities before the financial crash of 2008.

A German government spokesperson released a statement to reporters on Monday saying that there was no need to speculate about state aid for Deutsche Bank. Jorg Eigendorf, head of communications and senior group director at the bank, "At no point of time (CEO) John Cryan has asked the chancellor for support in the negotiations with the Department of Justice and he doesn't intend to do that. He is very strong on that position," he said.



Deutsche Bank signage. Patti Domm | CNBC
Except that millions of Americans are second guessing their decision to bank with Wells Fargo, not much has changed since the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced the massive fake accounts scam perpetrated by Wells Fargo on its own customers. Predictably, a few proposed class action lawsuits have been filed by Wells Fargo customers, shareholders, and former employees alike.



Americans expressed outrage over the first highly publicized banking scandal in a few years, and observers on both sides of the political aisle cheered Sen. Elizabeth Warrens (D-Mass.) much-deserved verbal spanking of Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.

That video never gets old.

Industry analysts say that the Wells Fargo scandal has damaged the banks reputation, but there is no indication that a mass exodus has occurred among the banks customers.
Who are the Kardashians? I am willing to bet my monthly salary that you know who they are, whether you are a male, female, parent, or grandparent. Why? Because they are EVERYWHERE. No, they havent done anything positive for the human race, nor are they athletes or intellectual super-beings. They are viral sensations because they have successfully marketed their name and created a brand by using social media to their advantage.

The Kardashians have a clothing line, a makeup line, a reality television show, and yes, even a sock line. Their children are making more income than most credit unions just by having their pictures taken. But before all of the media attention that they gathered from their highly innovative Momager (Kris), they were just an everyday, socialite family. Granted, we dont all have cousins like the Hiltons, but regardless, they used social media to capitalize their name and make a FORTUNE by striking when the internet iron was hot.

Our credit unions can take a page from Momager Kris Kardashian when it comes to harnessing the power that social media has on this generation. By understanding what a huge impact social media has on the world today, we can begin to use it to our advantage. Prior to 2005, there was very little social media. We had Napster, Myspace, and a handful of sites that were used by some that had access to internet and smart phones. Now, nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, and that doesnt include tablets, laptops, or other devices that offer quick access to the internet. Since 2005, sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, and Snapchat have taken the world by storm.

Your Credit Union should at least be dipping a toe in the social media waters at this point, using a number of these outlets to expand your brand and engage with members. There are a few minimum social media expectations for credit unions today.

Blogging and Google+

You should have a content developer regularly blogging about share-worthy topics. Whether regular basis to you means weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, the most important thing is to be consistent. The more valuable content you provide, the more positive brand equity you gain. Completing your Google+ profile can be extremely beneficial for search engine optimization  so use Google+ the same way you might use Facebook, post content, photos, and provide value.

Targeted/Segmented Emailing

Most credit unions understand the role that email plays in the overall marketing strategy and that its here to stay. However, not all credit unions understand the importance of email segmentation. Customizing content to various segments and sending relatable, appropriate content to those segments can go a long way when it comes to ROI, click through and open rates, not to mention the level of engagement perceived by the member when they receive a customized, personal email.

Social Media Bigwigs (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)

This is where your inner Momager needs to come out. There are so many ways to use these big players in social media, from live video and tutorials to providing valuable content, landing pages, contests, member service, and beyond. Be sure to have a written content strategy before simply throwing information out to the internet. This will allow for you to build your brand and engage with members in a more controlled environment. Videos are a phenomenal way to use storytelling, and tutorials may engage a new audience. Finally, we have Twitter. A tweet is simply a short sentence that can be seen by millions. Once again, a 20-word tweet by or about your brand will be seen by many in an instant, so be sure to develop an appropriate content strategy. None of these social media bigwigs will cost you a dollar yet they can help you become just as recognizable as the Kardashians. Similar to the Kardashians, social media may cost you your reputation if you dont have proper strategy or policies in place.

So, where would the Kardashians be today without social media? Its hard to tell, but I would venture to say that Kims assets wouldnt be nearly as valuable, Kylie would still have her original lips, and the world wouldnt have the pleasure of keeping up with the Kardashians every week. Are you ready to boost your brand image? Kick it in to gear, Kardashian style.
You know taxes are illegal, right? Its just modern day slavery, the young man earnestly told his dad, as I eavesdropped from my neighboring booth in a local diner on Saturday morning.

Fifty years ago, in a similar political conversation, this young man would have groused about fascist war pigs and the establishment. Youthful distrust of the government is nothing new, but these days, its not just young Americans who feel the need to stick it to The Man.

Say what you will about Donald Trump, but that man understands marketing. While other Republican presidential hopefuls trotted out the same old outdated messages, Trump recognized attitudes among the working class, the backbone of the Republican party, had changed. Factory and farm jobs have disappeared, and many who have attempted upward mobility through higher education have come up dry.

Economic inequality has been a reality for minorities throughout Americas history, but for working class whites, the struggle is relatively new. And according to them, theres no hope in sight.

CNN conducted an extensive survey of white working class Americans in an attempt to better understand Trumps supporters. The results arent surprising, but they are among the first to quantify the reasons behind Trumps political success.

Sure, some Trump supporters are racist, and those idiots are on full display on social media. However, racism hasnt fueled Trumps momentum. Dismissing it as such is short sighted, and the CNN survey confirms that. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed blamed the federal government for their economic problems. Sixty-two percent also said its harder to get ahead financially than it used to be, and 67% said its harder to find good jobs.

Working whites were significantly more pessimistic than working class minorities about the government, the economy and the future. Plenty of news articles have asserted those perceptions are wrong, and the U.S. is actually stronger than ever, but tell that to the factory worker laid off in Ohio, the unemployed ag worker in Alabama, the Kansas school librarian whose position was eliminated or the cocktail waitress whose casino closed in New Jersey. These folks dont want a government handout, they want jobs. They want to work hard, and at the end of the day, receive enough money to pay their bills.

As a political outsider, Trump can distance himself from the blame, but can he deliver a solution? Even Trump supporters arent entirely sure. The fact that hes touting Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as his economic adviser is a bad sign. However, enough Americans are so desperate, theyre willing to take the risk with a wildcard.

Where do credit unions fit into this mess? For starters, theyve been affected by these job losses. Once upon a time, those blue collar jobs represented credit union legacy sponsors. Community charters werent just a fad, credit unions had to expand beyond the factory to grow. Low-income designations arent just a way to skirt the member business lending cap; theres a real need to serve poor populations in communities all across America, particularly in regions that were once prosperous.

For years, credit unions have marketed themselves as having the same products, services and conveniences as banks, but at a lower price point. The cooperative nature of the institution was a marketing afterthought, if addressed at all.

The Trump narrative changes that. Banks are part of the distrusted establishment.

The father and son I overheard at the diner also discussed loans. The father suggested his son refinance his mortgage to a 15-year term or make twice monthly payments.

You dont want to pay on that for the rest of your life, the father advised.

They wouldnt let me do that, the son countered. Why would they when it would mean they make less money?

The father assured his son that to keep his business, the bank would refinance the loan into a shorter term or with more frequent payments.

I listened closely. There was no mention of a credit union option. For all I know, the sons loan is at a credit union and they dont know the difference.

November 5 marks the five-year anniversary of Bank Transfer Day. Credit unions saw a huge swell in membership thanks to one angry consumer and her Facebook page, yet the community hasnt since leveraged anti-bank sentiment to replicate that success since. The recent Wells Fargo scandal was much worse than Bank of Americas decision in 2011 to charge a $5 monthly debit card fee, and yet most credit unions say they wont capitalize on the Wells Fargo scandal to market credit unions.

Americans are as fed up with banks as they are career politicians. Credit unions should take Donald Trumps lead and aggressively court working class bank customers by positioning themselves as alternative to Wells Fargo. Of course, this can be accomplished with more class than Trump has displayed, but it will require a more direct approach than the usual baby ducks and rainbows credit union marketing strategies.

Credit unions need to get fed up with banks, too. Their trade association is suing the NCUA over its MBL rule. Remember the embarrassing banker campaign that questioned CUNAs Bank Transfer Day membership numbers? And then theres the constant banker lobbying on Capitol Hill to tax credit unions.

Its time credit unions stick it to banks. Working class Americans and their financial cooperatives deserve better.
This speech will also be his last in his current term as Irans President, coinciding with President Obamas last appearance at the UNGA.

This year, Rouhanis message is different, since Iran has achieved its objectives of having sanctions lifted. This years message is aimed at not only to advancing Irans moderate agenda, but also strives to appeal to the hard-line ruling-politicians of Iran including Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, senior generals of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Quds force, Irans ministry of intelligence, and its conservative judiciary branch, according to Dr. Rafizadeh.

Additionally, this year, thousands of Iranian-American dissidents and their supporters have held a rally outside the UN Headquarters in New York protesting Rouhanis visit.

Dr. Rafizadeh states that the agenda that Rouhani and his foreign minister Javad Zarif promoted at the UNGA 71 are as follows:

 Depicting Iran as the frontrunner of fighting against terrorism in the region

 Demonizing Irans regional rivals by describing them as contributors to extremism and terrorism

 Blaming the US for not adhering to the terms and parameters of the nuclear deal (aka the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA)

 Attempting to attract more investors in order to bring more revenues by conducting business deals with the Islamic Republic.

Further, Dr. Rafizadeh says, One of the top priorities of the Iranian team at the UNGA was discussing the threat of ISIS and other radical groups. Within this landscape, Iran depicts itself as the victim as well as the forerunner of fighting this threat, adding that, This narrative makes Iran to be an indispensable force for the West in the battle against terrorism. As a result, due to these benefits that Iran claims to be offering the West for fighting terrorism, Tehran will inevitably become the Wests geopolitical and tactical ally. With this, Rouhani hopes to pressure the West into ignoring Irans transgressions, such as its role in Syria, Iraq, etc., and its violations of UN Security Council resolutions regarding the nuclear deal.

This narrative will also buttress Irans argument that the international community needs to support the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Irans staunchest ally, in the battle against ISIS and other radical Sunni groups. Meanwhile while Iran describes itself as the formidable force in fighting terrorism and fundamentalist groups, Rouhani and his technocrat team try to show that Irans regional rivals are a crucial reason behind the surge in extremist groups. This narrative will further change the West calculations in leaning toward Irans regional rivals, says Dr. Rafizadeh.

All four rounds of the UN Security Council sanctions have been lifted thanks to the Obama administrations efforts including giving exemptions to Iran to meet the deadlines, but Dr. Rafizadeh believes Rouhanis other priority includes blaming the US for not honoring its promises when it comes to the implementation of the nuclear deal, in an attempt to get more concessions from Washington, and also send a message to the Iranian people that the US is untrustworthy, and that the US is the reason why they have not seen the fruit of the lifting of sanctions.

In a recent speech,Khamenei pointed out that the US is attempting to destroy Irans economic relationships with other countries, and added, Was it not supposed to be so that the unjust sanctions would be removed and it would have an effect on peoples lives? After six months, is there any tangible effect on the lives of the people? If not for America violating its oaths, would the administration not be able to do many things during this time?  Of course it has been some years that I have been repeating this about the lack of trust with America, but for some it was hard to accept this reality.

Now, Rowhnai is tactically shifting his message to resemble that of the hardline spectrum of Iran. After all, he also needs the blessings of the hardliners, particularly Khamenei, in order to increase his odds of winning Irans upcoming presidential race, Dr. Rafizadeh concludes.
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Talking Points:

Crude Oil Technical Strategy: Short bias remains as falling resistance favors move to $43/bbl

Supply glut may get worse as IEA favors imbalance through late 2014

US Dollar continues sideways, which takes out a component of downward price pressure

The last week of Q3 has all focus on the OPEC and Russia meeting in Algiers. The Federal Reserve announcement did little for the US Dollar as many now see even the likelihood of one rate hike as a fading possibility. Now, Algiers may be a disappointment for Oil Bulls as the FOMC meeting on September 21 were to US Dollar Bulls as Iran has said they are not going to freeze output at the current level, and Saudi is not interested in freezing production alone.

Track short-term Crude Oil price levels and patterns with the GSI indicator!

While much focus is now on the outcome of the OPEC meeting in Algiers, and the following meeting in November where rumors will likely run rampant once again. However, on Tuesday, IEA came out with a warning that oversupply will exceed demand until late 2017. Traders will likely keep this warning in their back pocket and look for a possible failed-OPEC accord alongside DOE data on Wednesday to show a further build to increase further bearish bets on Oil.

Another development in institutional positioning has the aggressive bearish sentiment that has not been seen since September 2015. The bearish sentiment comes in the forms of Bearish Puts, which are purchased when traders want to sell higher than they believe the market will be in a set amount of time. Such bearish exposure could see the market test some key levels on the charts.

TradingView D1 Crude Oil Price Chart: Head & Shoulders Bullish Pattern Still Validating

The chart above shows competing technical stories. As explained earlier, the fundamental pressure appears to be for a push lower. Only a reversal of main themes such as a weak US Dollar, Oversupply, OPEC failed accord, followed by a price breakout above $50/bbl should turn traders attention toward the bullish mindset of Q2. The competition comes in the form of a potential bullish head and shoulders pattern that would activate an upside bias on a daily close above $50/bbl.

Currently, the price of Crude Oil is sitting in the middle of the August price range, which has engulfed Septembers price action. Tuesdays low was the 50% retracement of the range that spans from $49.10/bbl down to $39.22/bbl. The price support in focus now appears to be near the September low of $42.74/bbl, and if the price is unable to hold above that support, we will turn focus toward the daily price range of the August low from $40.84-$39.22/bbl. Such a breakdown would keep us patiently on the bearish side of the Oil market with a keen focus on fundamental stories.

Looking at the chart above, you can also see the 200-DMA also sits very close to the support levels mentioned above. Many eyes are on these levels from an institutional side to see if buyers begin to pour into Crude long positions with stops likely at the August low of $39.22/bbl.

Key Levels Over the Next 48-hrs of Trading As of Tuesday, September 27, 2016

T.Y.
In two weeks' time, Dalhousie will celebrate its next class of graduates  and, alongside, three outstanding individuals.



Fall Convocation ceremonies take place on Monday, October 3 and Wednesday, October 5 in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium of the Dalhousie Arts Centre. More info: Convocation website One of the highlights of Convocation is the presentation of honorary degrees. As outlined by the Dalhousie Senate, the degrees honour "both the individual and the University and contributes to the recognition and celebration of excellence in society in a manner that reflects the University's character and values within the community and the world." (Currently, Senate has a call out for nominations for honorary degree candidates for Spring and Fall Convocation 2018. Learn more.) Read more about each of this fall's honorary degree recipients below.

Glenn Marcus Murcutt Architectural innovator

Monday, October 3 (9 a.m. ceremony)



Australian architect and teacher Glenn Murcutt's ecologically sensitive house designs have earned international acclaim and inspired legions of architects around the world to consider landscape and the environment as essential elements in the architectural process. Although he has worked primarily on private homes in Australia over his more than 50 years in the field, Mr. Murcutts influence has spread beyond borders, thanks in part to his extensive teaching and lecturing abroad.



Mr. Murcutt was born in London, England in 1936, to Australian parents. He spent the first five years of life in Papua New Guinea before his parents moved the family to Sydney, Australia. Following a diploma in architecture from the Sydney Technical College, Mr. Murcutt set up his own private practice in 1969.



Working as a sole practitioner has provided Mr. Murcutt the freedom and control to experiment with wind patterns, materials, light and climate, and to cater projects to clients needs and their ecological surroundings. By paying attention to such details, he has been able to design houses that respond to their unique Australian environment and climate. His homes are built using materials manufactured with as little energy as possible and designed to operate with the same principle in mind.



Among Mr. Murcutts dozens of awards are some of the highest honours in his field, including Finlands Alvar Aalto Medal and the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. He was also the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2002, widely regarded as the Nobel Prize of the architecture world.



Dr. Linda Lee OBrien-Pallas Nursing research trailblazer

Monday, October 3 (12:30 p.m. ceremony)



Dr. Linda OBrien-Pallas trailblazing research has led to changes in Canadas health-care system and many others around the world to improve the well-being, quality of work life and workplace satisfaction of nurses. Her needs-based health human resource planning framework remains an internationally recognized standard, a robust model to better support primary health-care workers, nurses, nurse practitioners and midwives.



Dr. OBrien-Pallas is Professor Emerita at the University of Torontos Faculty of Nursing, where she was a faculty member for 23 years. During that time, she was one of the Facultys most successful nurse scientists, generating $40 million in external funding and co-founding the Nursing Health Services Research Unit in 1990  the first funded nursing research unit in Canada.



Her scholarly work and achievements have made substantial contributions to the profession of nursing and to health services delivery in Canada and internationally. These include research on retention and recruitment in the face of projected human resource challenges, informing strategies implemented in Nova Scotia and across Canada to help avert an immediate crisis in nursing human resources this decade. Her work continues to have global reach through organizations like the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre in Dalhousies School of Nursing, led by her former PhD student Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy.



From 2000 to 2010, Dr. OBrien-Pallas served as National Chair of Nursing/Health Human Resources for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. Among her many awards and honours are three sequential Career Scientist Awards (1989-1999) from the Ontario Ministry of Health, fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2005), and the Canadian Nurses Associations Jeanne Mance Award (2006)  Canadas highest award for nursing. This is her first honorary degree.


Last weekend (24 and 25 September) saw John Deere host a two-day show to celebrate 50 years of green-and-yellow tractors in the UK.

More than 14,000 visitors browsed the 200 tractors spread around Deeres headquarters in Langar, Nottinghamshire, which spanned 100 years of production.

At least one tractor representing every year from 1962 to 2011 was on show, including several 6910 models, which is one of the most popular full-frame tractors ever sold in Europe.

See our pick of photos below and go to our galleries for the huge John Deere tractor gallery.

The oldest machine at the event was a 1916 Overtime Model R, which was imported to Britain from the US during the First World War to aid food production.

See also: Photos: Massey Ferguson celebrates 70 years with 70 tractors

There was also a vintage 1919 Waterloo Boy Model N, which is memorable for being the first tractor produced by John Deere in the US after it bought the Iowa-based Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company.

Moving through the generations, a 1996-built 6400 with 48,000 hours on the clock made the 11-hour, 220-mile trip to Langar from Cullompton in Devon.

Even higher up the horsepower ranks was the new 620hp 9RX  a long way from the first self-scouring ploughs with which John Deere first made his name as a blacksmith.

See the full John Deere 50th anniversary gallery.
Milpitas Residents Say No to Urban Landfill Expansion by Sharat G. Lin and Charlotte Casey

Residents of Milpitas, fed up with relentless foul odors from the Newby Island Landfill, took to the streets on September 18, 2016 to stop planned expansion of the landfill. They have been lobbying for nearly two years with the cities of Milpitas and San Jose to close the largest remaining urban landfill in the Bay Area.



"What do we want? Clean air! When do we want it? Now!" These were the demands of people of all ages who live and work in Milpitas, downwind from two major landfills and waste disposal sites.



Anyone who drives on Freeway I-880 through Milpitas is frequently assaulted by foul odors that vary in intensity with the time of day, wind and humidity. But Milpitas residents face these smells every day in and around their homes and schools, and when they go about their daily errands.



The primary source of the unpleasant smells is the Newby Island Landfill operated by Republic Services. The winds blowing through the Golden Gate move in a southeasterly direction over the Tri-Cities Landfill, then the larger Newby Island Landfill, and finally through central Milpitas.



On Sunday morning, September 18, some 200 Milpitas residents said, "Enough is enough," and "Dump the dump." They marched along Dixon Landing Road from Milpitas Boulevard to the entrance to the Newby Island Landfill.



While Milpitas residents have been upset with the foul odors for decades, they had become particularly alarmed by Republic Services proposal to extend the lifetime of the landfill and composting facility from 2025 to 2041 by raising the height limit from 150 feet to 245 feet. The City of Milpitas has appealed to the San Jose Planning Commission to reconsider the planned expansion. Newby Island lies within San Jose city limits.



Milpitas residents, many of whom had never before engaged in a protest march, had been pressuring the Milpitas City Council to take action in an attempt to block the landfill expansion.



The Newby Island Landfill, operated by Republic Services, is currently reaching its maximum capacity, but unlike more than 44 landfill operations around the San Francisco Bay that were closed when they reached their maximum capacity, Republic is requesting approval for an expansion that would increase capacity by 15 million cubic yards. Newby Island is the largest and one of the last remaining landfills around the San Francisco Bay.



According to data from a state government organization, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, on odor complaints, Newby has received 10 public nuisance tickets, 17 notices of violation, and over 7000 odor complaints in 2 years. Because of the push from SVFBC, the San Francisco Water Board listed 1,4-dioxane as the new item to be tested. From test results for 2015, the SF Water Board found that groundwater contamination is already occurring and is bound to worsen. It hopes to convince the San Jose Planning Commission and City Council that new evidence of ground water contamination and an overwhelming number of odor complaints show that a new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) should be required.



Milpitas residents have complained that the landfill operations not only produce a foul smell but also pollute the air and contribute to airborne particulates with unknown health consequences. They support a new EIR, one that they expect will confirm their complaints of hazards to livelihood, health and environment. Milpitas homeowners are also distressed that the incessant odors depress the resale value of homes.



Republic Services blames some of the odors on the San Jose-Santa Clara Wastewater Treatment Facility nearby, but the bacterial digesters that break down organic materials are housed in giant covered tanks precisely to contain the odors. Republic Services also argues that closing the Newby Island Landfill when it reaches its current limit will increase costs to residents and businesses served by Newby Island.



But Milpitas residents complain that the smells are intolerable and air quality is unhealthy. They argue that urban landfills should not be allowed, let alone expanded.



Jennifer Strohfus, Arzhang Kalbali and other Milpitas residents organizing with the Silicon Valley Foundation for a Better Community (SVFBC) have been fighting to halt the Newby Landfill expansion for almost two years.



Some protesters are demanding, "No expansion, no exception." Others want to close the landfill altogether and as soon as it reaches its current licensed capacity limit.



Arzhang Kalbali says that SVFBC is advocating a ban on all landfills located in urban areas.



Originally opened in the 1930s, the Newby Island Landfill was once surrounded by vacant land and open fields. Now it is rapidly becoming surrounded by urban development in Milpitas, Fremont, and San Jose.



Jennifer Strohfus points out that we should all be consuming less and creating less garbage approaching to zero waste.
Phyllis Bennis and other critics like the Jewish Voice For Peace have done damage control for Israel and refused to mobilize against US arms sales to Israel.

Bennis Is "rear guard of the Israel Lobby."Benniss Delusions of Massive Opposition to Israel Evaporate Under Harsh Light of Realityby Jeff Blankfort / September 26th, 2016There is massive opposition to Israeli actions in the United States today, particularly importantly in the Jewish community, where theres been an enormous shift in that discourse.So you still have organizations, right-wing organizations like AIPAC that include very wealthy donors, no doubt, but they no longer can even make the claimwhich was probably never true, but it certainly is no longer truethat they speak for the majority, let alone all, of the Jewish community.You now have an organization like J Street in the center. You have Jewish Voice for Peace on the left, which has over 200,000 supporters across the country. So you have a very different scenario now of where public opinion is. Phyllis Bennis, interviewed on The Real News Network, September 14, 2016Massive opposition to Israeli actions in the United States? Within the Jewish community? Who does Phyllis Bennis thinks shes kidding and, as importantly, why is she doing so? That there is no sign of any activity or combination of activities in the US opposing Israels actions that qualify as massive among the larger public and definitely not within the Jewish community should be patently as well as painfully obvious.Her comment becomes even more mystifying since it came on the day that Barack Obama announced that the US would award Israel a record breaking $38 billion in arms over the decade beginning in 2018. What opposition there was to the deal on the part of the public, much less the Jewish community, was barely visible.This had been reflected a month earlier in the Democratic Partys decision to bar any reference to Israels occupation or illegal settlement construction in its platform which was then approved without so much as a whimper by the convention delegates. A week before, the Republicans, stepping back from their traditional lip service to the two-state illusion, discarded any notion that Israel would be obliged to surrender land to the Palestinians for their own state at any time in the future.Bennis, speaking to The Real News Networks Jaisal Noor, incredibly, portrayed the humiliating Democratic platform defeat as a victory:I think he [Obama] is seriously misreading where the American people are at, where the Democratic Party is, where the public discourse on this question has shifted. I think hes acting as if this was 20 years ago and no politician could do wrong by being more supportive than the other guy of Israel.Now thats not the case anymore. We saw that during the debate over the language on Israel and Palestine in the Democratic Party platform debate. (Emphasis added)While it is true that there is less support for Israel among the youth and the Democratic Partys base, what we learned from that debate was the degree to which the Congressional Black Caucus, including one of its most liberal members, Barbara Lee, is under the thumb of the Israel Lobby. Lee, appointed to the committee by Debbie Wasserman Schultz, cast the critical vote in the platform committee that eliminated any reference to Israels illegal occupation or the ongoing construction of Jewish settlements.How Bennis could put a positive spin on that outcome should raise concerns not only about her judgment but also her agenda.Despite the fact that it had been the subject of discussion in the US and Israeli media for more than a year, there was no attempt to mobilize opposition to the arms package for Israel, about which Bennis was being interviewed, by either Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) or the US Campaign to End Israel Occupation (USCEIO), the two largest organizations, ostensibly working for justice in Palestine over which Bennis appears to act as an eminence grise.Bennis did not mention nor had either organization expressed support for or even note on their websites, the first of its kind lawsuit filed by the Institute for Research: Middle East Policys Grant Smith on August 8 that would block the announced arms deal on the basis of long standing US law that prohibits US aid to non-signatories of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty known to have nuclear weapons.That Bennis, moreover, presented J Street in a positive light at that moment strongly suggests that projecting a positive image of the Jewish community within the Left and in the eyes of the larger public is her primary motivation.J Street, after all, is nothing more than a light beer version of AIPAC. It was created for Jewish liberals whose self-image requires the display of an occasional whiff of conscience, but nothing that would jeopardize Israels domination of Washington. It was in such full applause mode over the arms deal that it issued a statement, welcoming it, on September 13, the day beforethe White House officially announced it:J Street warmly welcomes the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel that will ensure Israels security and its qualitative military advantage over any potential enemy for the next 10 years.We congratulate President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as all those who worked hard to produce this agreement, which represents the biggest pledge of US military assistance made to any country in our nations history.And Jewish Voice for Peace? In a statement on the groups website, JVP director, Israel-American dual citizen Rebecca Vilkomerson, after acknowledging that the deal had been in months of negotiation, declared that, As a result, the US is effectively underwriting Israels occupation and apartheid policies towards the Palestinians.True and well said, Rebecca, but what had JVP been doing to stop it during those months? And in the two weeks since, knowing that it is Congress that must ultimately approve the deal? Apparently nothing, judging from the constant stream of requests for money that arrive in my email box daily.Rather ineffectively, if measured by the paucity of results, it has also been pushing for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) targeting companies doing business in the West Bank, giving it the appearance, if not the substance, of doing something for the Palestinian cause.With steely determination, its leadership was also continuing a behind the scenes campaign to vilify and marginalize an individual and an organization, without the payroll and national outreach of JVP, that was attempting a nation-wide effort to alert the American people to the latest transfer of their earnings to Israel, namely Alison Weir and her organization, appropriately named if Americans Knew.Through billboards, bus cards, bumper stickers, simulated checks, and postcards, carrying the slogan, Stop the Blank Check for Israel, Weir has made a tireless effort to inform all Americans, but particularly those without any vested interest in either Israel or Palestine, (who constitute the majority) about what is being done for Israel by the US government and members of Congress in their name. A useful exercise for readers would be to compare the If Americans Knew website with that of Jewish Voice for Peace.Weirs crime in the eyes of her critics is that she has ignored the Left choir and its gatekeepers and expressed a healthy willingness to speak to any group or media host that asks for her views on the largely hidden history of Israels domestic Zionist operations going back to World War One. Several of those talk show hosts, which amount to a tiny fraction of Weirs overall efforts, her attackers find objectionable even though some of them have appeared on the same programs.Weir also has had the temerity to make exposing the cover-up by Congress and the media of Israels attack on the USS Liberty off the coast of Egypt during the 1967 war a critical part of her work. The unprovoked assault on a clearly marked intelligence ship by Israels air force and navy left 34 US sailors dead and 171 wounded. The subject is as off-limits for Jewish Voice for Peace and the US Campaign to End Israeli Occupation, as well as the entire American Left, as it has been for the Jewish establishment. (The implications of that are worthy of an entire article by itself.)Weirs slim but fact-packed, copiously foot noted paperback, Against Our Better Judgment detailing the obscured activities of the Zionist Lobby both before and after Israeli statehood, has sold more than 27,000 copies on Amazon and, apart from making them more than a trifle jealous, has, I suspect, been an irritant to JVP and USCEIO whose founder and current policy director, Josh Ruebner, is, like JVPs Vilkomerson, an Israel-US dual citizen. (This apparently raises no questions as would, say, if white South Africans had played prominent roles in the American anti-apartheid movement.)What JVP really appears to be about is establishing the acceptable parameters within which those who support justice for Palestine can criticize Israel or Jewish support for it without being labeled anti-Semitic.The latest target of Vilkomerson is Miko Peled, the son of former Israeli major general, Matti Peled, the only representative of Israels top military echelon ever to advocate for Palestinian justice.Living in San Diego and now a US citizen, Peled has become one of Israels most forthright critics and supporters of the BDS movement but fell afoul of Vilkomerson over a tweet that she considered to be anti-Semitic.Responding to the announcement of the arms deal, Peled tweeted, Then theyr surprised Jews have reputation 4being sleazy thieves #apartheidisrael doesnt need or deserve these $$. Vilkomerson, in turn, tweeted, No place 4 antisemitism in our movement and congratulated the Princeton Committee for Palestine for using her tweet as the basis for canceling a scheduled speaking engagement by Peled at the university, to show our commitment towards educating our campus about Israel-Palestine issues.If justification for Peleds tweet is needed, all one has to do is read the op-ed in the Washington Post (9/14) by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and the speech before the AIPAC spawn, Washington Inst. For Near East Policy, by former Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon (Times of Israel, 9/15) in which each of them expressed their fury at Netanyahu for not getting yet more than the record $38 billion. Seriously. There is no limit to their sense of entitlement.The USCEIO which usually follows JVPs lead has yet to weigh in on the Peled controversy, but there are dated references to the arms deal for Israel on its website, including a petition to President Obama launched in September, 2015, asking him not to approve it. The petition gathered more than 65,000 signatures but since it was still collecting them the day Obama announced the deal, there is no indication it was ever sent.Now, two weeks after Obamas announcement, there is no mention of it on its website nor was there any suggestion that people should go beyond signing a petition and confront the members of Congress in their home districts who will be voting on the $38 billion appropriation.This is particularly noteworthy while USCEIO will be holding its national conference in Arlington, VA, October 14 to 17, there is no mention of it on its tentative agenda.That campaigns to stop aid to Israel are missing from the agenda of both USCEIO and JVP, I would argue, is significant given that, in the early 80s, it was a nationwide campaign on the part of Nicaragua solidarity activists to have the public call members of Congress in their districts that produced the Boland Amendment, halting a $15 million appropriation for the Contras.For reasons that I can only speculate such a grassroots campaign has never been undertaken by either organization over which, as noted above, Phyllis Bennis exerts an outsized influence.The speculation centers on Benniss past history of minimizing the importance of both Congress and the pro-Israel Lobby, most notably AIPAC, in formulating US Middle East policy.In 2002, at a three-day conference at the University of California in Berkeley, sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine, I took a seat with a friend in the back of a lecture hall where Bennis was speaking on a topic relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict. At one point in her presentation, having apparently seen me enter and looking directly at me, she interrupted her talk to loudly blurt out, Congress is not Israeli Occupied Territory!I quickly assumed she was referring to an essay that I had written 10 years earlier that was published in the 1992 edition of the City Lights Review, entitled, Occupied Territory: Congress, the Israel Lobby and Jewish Responsibility. In the essay I had sharply criticized the Left and particularly the Jewish supporters of the Palestinian movement for their failure to deal with the issue of the Israel lobby.I am not one to interrupt speakers with whom I dont agree but since her outburst was clearly intended for me, I responded with an immediate Yes, it is!. No it isnt! she shouted back, rather displeased, and went on to describe an effort that some members of the Congressional Black Caucus were making regarding the illegal use of US arms by the Israelis against Palestinian civilians (an effort that, of course, went nowhere).During the question period she seemed anxious to keep me from getting the floor. In an unusually long-winded and virtually content-free response as to what people could do to help the Palestinian cause, she appeared to be hoping time would run out for the session.What would she have activists do? Believe it or not: write letters to the editor once a week. Thats what she said. As far as calling their members of Congress objecting to their support for Israel, Bennis said nary a word.Despite an obvious effort on her part to get the moderator who had promised me the next question, to choose someone elseI seized the moment and proceeded to describe four situations in which the Israel lobby had demonstrated its power over Congress. I explained how it had run members of the Black Caucus who criticized Israel out of office and was trying to do the same (and would later succeed) with CBCs remaining critic of Israel at that time, Atlantas Cynthia McKinney.As I wrote shortly afterward, (Palestine Chronicle 3/26/07) neither Bennis nor her co-panelist, a Jewish professor, said a word when I finished, (although the latter later falsely circulated an email that he had). Since I had known Bennis for 20 years, had previously worked with her in the San Francisco Bay Area on Palestinian issues and, a year earlier had her as a guest on my first radio program on my current station, I went over to say hello and jokingly mentioned that she still had not yet understood the role of the Israel Lobby.She was neither friendly nor amused. The issue is dead and has been dead, she replied. End of conversation and though our paths have crossed over the years we havent spoken since.Though the issue isnt dead for Jewish Voice for Peace or the US Campaign to End Israeli Occupation, by any measurable standards, it might as well be.Informing their members or member organizations, in the case of USCEIO, of the extent and methodology of AIPACs control over Congress is noticeably missing from their agendas and websites.There was an exception. In September, 2012, I participated in a workshop on AIPAC and the Israel Lobby at USCEIOs annual organizing conference in St. Louis. It was the only workshop even remotely related to the subject and had been organized by the now purged Alison Weir, whose If Americans Knewwas, at the time, one of USCEIOs member organizations. With Weir and her organization now gone from the USCEIO, AIPAC has less to worry about.This guarantees to a certainty that whatever approach it takes to members of Congress with the ostensible goal of changing US policy will continue to end in failure.This is exemplified in a section on its website Building relationships with congressional staff and Members of Congress is critical to enacting policy changewhich links to a step by step process that should ordinarily be followed by anyone seeking an audience with a member of Congress, or her or his chief of staff or legislative aide on most issues. But the Israel-Palestine issue is not like any other.The notion that politely presenting US legislators or their aides with evidence of Israels latest atrocities or the damage that US support for Israel has done to the US image globally will move any of them to change their positions, as if ignorance of the facts is the only obstacle, is naive at best. Nevertheless, thats what those attending the USA CEIOs upcoming conference will do on their day of lobbying on Capitol Hill.By Einsteins definition of insanitydoing the same thing over and over and expecting a different resultthe approach advocated by USCEIO and practiced by JVP, qualifies as insane since nothing has changed with regard to US support for Israel.A more productive tactic would be to impolitely challenge members of Congress in their home districts, ideally but not necessarily at public events, exposing to the utmost degree possible the amounts of money they have received from pro-Israel sources and circulating statements that they most likely have made expressing their affection for Israel which can usually be found on the internet.Why hasnt either the USCEIO, JVP, or for that matter, Phyllis Bennis encouraged such an activity? Well, we already know Benniss bold plan; write letters to the editor.There was nary a word about Congresss role from Bennis in her latest interview despite telling TRNNs Paul Jay in December, 2013, that We have massively changed the discourse in this country, an exaggeration then as now. She did then acknowledge, What has not changed is the policy, and that has far more to do at which point Jay interrupted, saying, The policy and the politics, like, congressional politics, and Bennis replying, Yes, but thats where the policy gets made. That hasnt changed. And thats the huge challenge that we face. (Emphasis added)In that same interview, she offered a rare view of AIPAC and the Lobby:It used to be that AIPAC, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the other pro-Israel lobbies in the Jewish community, could meet with members of Congress and say, look, weve got money. We may give you some. Mostly were going to hold you hostage, that if you dont toe the line, were going to fund an opponent that you dont even expect yet.But well also bring you votes, because we have influence in the Jewish community and people will vote the way we tell them.They cant say that anymore. And thats huge. They still have the money, but they dont have the votes, because the Jewish community has changed.Her comment is only partly true and overly simplified, revealing an ignorance that should be embarrassing for someone who has spent so many years in Washington analyzing US Middle East politics.AIPAC would never promise a politician that it would deliver Jewish votes. It has been mostly about getting them money, expert technical assistance and assigning key, experienced AIPAC members from the legislators district to work in his or her campaigns and use their clout with the local media to gain its support.Bennis then goes on to regurgitate an argument that Noam Chomsky has frequently made but with a twist that fails to make it any more valid. Whereas the professor compares the Lobbys successful efforts to pushing through an open door, when what it advocates is already White House policy, she compares it to pushing a moving car:The reason that the lobby often seems so powerful is that, yes, it does have a lot of influence. I dontIm not denying that. But it has been historically pushing in the same direction as the majority of U.S. policymakers want to go.So imagine if youre running behind a car, and you start to push the car as it goes forward, and the car starts to go fast. You can claim, wow, I was really strongI pushed that car 30 miles an hour. You know, maybe you didnt. Maybe you were pushing it in the direction it wanted to go anyway.Neither Chomsky nor Bennis have ever shown a willingness to debate their critics but this argument is more an example of damage control than fact on their part and can easily be refuted by examining what is nearest to hand, the origins of the Iraq war.It is well documented that the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was on the Israel Lobbys agenda well before it became US policy. In fact, the first president George HW Bush was reamed by his Jewish critics in the mainstream media; Mortimer Zuckerman, owner of the US News & World Report and the NY Daily News, Abe Rosenthal and William Safire in the New York Times, and Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post, to cite four who come to mind, for not going all the way to Baghdad and taking out Saddam in 1991.The reason Poppy Bush gave for not overthrowing Saddam was that it would destabilize the entire region, one whose stability was essential to Americas national security and would involve the US military in an endless quagmire That opinion was shared by his Secretary of State, James Baker, his National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the ouster of the Iraqi army from Kuwait But what did they know?The election of his son, George W, did not change the senior Bushs mind, nor that of his former aides, Baker, Scowcroft and Schwarzkopf. All of them opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a fact ignored by those who claimed it was a war for oil, and one that becomes more important when we consider that the war has left hundreds of thousands dead and wounded and millions displaced as refugees across the entire region.When asked by the late Tim Russert on NBCs Meet the Press about his fathers opposition to the war, Dubya responded that I answer to a higher father. Who or what, in fact, he was answering to was PNAC, the Project for a New American Century, three signatories of which, Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, and David Wurmser, had contributed to a paper for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1996, entitled, A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm, which called for the overthrow of Saddam as did the PNAC screed that appeared the following year.Subsequent to the election of George W Bush in 2000, the three of them were brought into the highest levels of the national security apparatus along with Paul Wolfowitz and Lewis Scooter Libby, fellow signatories to the PNAC declaration. They began immediately to plan the invasion of Iraq and create the false intelligence to justify it within days of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Pearl Harbor event that the PNAC document said was necessary to put its plans of global conquest into action. This scenario is fairly well known and not contested.It, like subsequent events in the Middle East, seemed consistent with a plan laid out by Oded Yinon, a former member of the Israeli government who, in 1982, wrote a proposal, A Strategy for Israel in the 1980s, which was published by the World Zionist Council. Yinons plan called for dissolution of Iraq and Syria into areas controlled by its respective religious communities. Sound familiar?Clearly, the war on Iraq was not a case of the Israel Lobby, of which the neocons were and remain a major part, getting behind an already moving car or pushing through an open door but one in which they took over the entire premises.I have given up expecting Phyllis Bennis to understand this but I assume there are those who read this who will appreciate and nod their heads when reading what Lenni Brenner, the foremost authority on Nazi-Zionist collaboration, told me in the late 90s when I interviewed him on San Franciscos KPOO radio:The left is the rear guard of the Israel Lobby.Jeffrey Blankfort is former editor of the Middle East Labor Bulletin, long-time photographer, and has written extensively on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also hosts a program on international affairs for KZYX, the public radio station of Mendocino County, California. He can be reached at: jblankfort [at] earthlink.net . Read other articles by Jeff.This article was posted on Monday, September 26th, 2016 at 9:09am and is filed under BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement), Disinformation, GWB, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Media, Narrative, Obama, Propaganda, The Lobby, Weaponry, Zionism.
Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 / Courtesy of Andy Hughes



By John Redmond



Among the 160 acts playing at the fifth annual Zandari Festa, Scotland's Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 promises to be one of the more interesting acts.

The event, regarded as one of Korea's largest music showcase festivals, will see bands from 18 other countries present their talents for local fans and music industry staff from around the world. The Korea Times spoke with Colonel John Thomas McMustard of Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 about his expectations of Seoul and the festival.

Q: Why are you excited to be coming to Seoul to play at Zandari Festa?

A: We can't wait to come over and get involved with Zandari. We're looking forward to representing the Dijon 5 and spreading our yellow movement to a part of the world we've wanted to go to for a long time and hopefully show people some of the positivity happening in Scotland right now.

Q: Aside from playing, what else would you like to see or do while you're in Seoul for the festival?

A: I want to go hike Mt. Bukhansan, climb to the peak and sing a song to all the people of Seoul. I also want to visit the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, which was designed by the remarkable Zaha Hadid, who sadly died this year. She designed the Transport Museum in Glasgow, our hometown. I want to surf on the famous Korean wave and soak up all the culture and dynamic happenings. We would love to collaborate with a K-pop artist or local hip-hop act and create something new.

Q: With so many options at Zandari Festa, why should everyone be sure to catch your showcase?

A: We're a giant pollen count of energy, happiness and good vibes. If people come to our gig, they'll have a guaranteed smile on their face, they will dance, they will sing and they will be the 6th Dijon. One of our aims is to break down the barriers between the crowd and the band.So some people might even end up onstage with us.

For more information, visit zfesta.com/en.
Shockingly, Tehran officials arrested Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidi, along with Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and his wife, and charged them with acting against national security for taking part in a Christian ritual. The pastor and his wife have since been released, but the three converts remain behind bars. They are due to appear in court next week, and if found guilty, face punishment by flogging.

Sacramental wine is used when receiving Holy Communion, along with small wafers, known as Sacramental Bread. As such, it is used by billions of Christians worldwide in celebration of the Eucharist. However, drinking alcohol in Iran is forbidden under the countrys strict Sharia law.

Elaheh Azimfar, of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), says that the Christians may be flogged at a police station if found guilty of any crime. A three foot long whip is usually used to punish offenders, who are likely to be sentenced to anywhere from 10 lashes to 100 lashes across the back.

Humanitarian Groups have spoken out against the use of the corporal punishment, saying that the penalty amounts to torture. Last year, Amnesty International said that courts in Iran continued to impose, and the authorities continued to carry out, punishments that violate the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. These were sometimes carried out in public and included flogging, blinding and amputations.

Also punishable by flogging in Iran is adultery, kissing in public, homosexual acts, and blasphemy.

Elaheh Azimfar, of the NCRI, condemned the punishment, saying, Irans regime continues to hand down brutal punishments such as flogging under the banner of Islam; whereas in reality this is a medieval punishment that has nothing to do with Islam. Ms. Azimfar added, Only a few months ago the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the German Foreign Ministry condemned the regime for flogging a group of students that had attended a graduation party. However the regimes officials continue to carry out this brutal practice, and she continued, This brutal punishment will have no place in the free Iran of tomorrow. These are not laws or justice; they are sheer brutalities.

The regime has recently clamped down on underground churches, and the arrests and potential conviction of Christians increases, but they are not alone. Since President Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013 the number of people jailed for their religious beliefs has increased, such as the 500 people who were arrested, 480 of whom were tried and convicted within 24 hours, for publicly breaking their fast during Ramadan. The Deputy Prosecutor General in Shiraz announced that most received flogging sentences, administered by the Office for Implementation of Sentences.

The advocacy charity, Open Doors, said, While those considered ethnic Christians, such as Armenians or Assyrians, are allowed to practise their faith amongst themselves, ethnic Persians are defined as Muslim, and any Christian activity in Farsi is illegal.

Underground churches are increasingly monitored, which makes some afraid to attend, and at least 108 Christians were arrested in the last year. Interrogation methods in prison can be harsh and sexually abusive.
- Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate has said the Buhari-led government is corrupt

- The militant group says the APC-led administration cannot be trusted

- The group has threatened to make a new statement that will shock Nigeria

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), has said that the Buhari-led administration cannot be trusted.

Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), has said it will not trust the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group, on Monday, September 26, said it would not join in the ceasefire declared by other militant groups in the Niger Delta.

NDGJM said its unwillingness to lay down arms is owing the alleged insincerity of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

READ ALSO: Tension: Nigeria will be destroyed, if you touch Jonathans wife  Top 13 quotes (pictured)

According to The Punch, the militant group also alleged that the current Federal Government was too corrupt to be trusted, threatening that attacks on oil facilities would continue until the government and oil firms operating in the region turn from their oppressive tendencies against the people.

The spokesman for the militant group, Aldo Agbalaja, in a statement issued on Monday asked the multinational oil companies and the military to watch out for the next big statement. It shall shake your imaginations.

The statement also condemned another militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, for being too quick to have announced a ceasefire with the government.

It further added, The chickens seem to be coming home to roost now. The truth is dawning on the blacklegs that are working to short-change their people will always backfire.

When the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate said we were out to engage the oppressors to the last, some snickered and bluffed, their indignation became most annoying when those pretenders called Avengers gave life to our prediction and announced a ceasefire.

Now they are all coming back to the basics; falling back in line after seeing, first hand, that we have been right all along about the Nigerian Federal Government; it is a corrupt system that should never be trusted.

However, we are using this medium to warn the Nigerian Armed Forces to properly advise their leadership; militarisation of our region can only lead to an avoidable armed confrontation and if this happens, we swear by the gods and ancestors of our land, we shall ensure it is a long and tedious campaign that the Nigerian state will forever regret.

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice mandate further threatened to launch what it termed Operation Hammurabi Code, adding, Until we see a sincere and genuine step towards a just and equitable mending of the injustices of all the years past done to our people, this war shall persist and we can guarantee that they cannot win this one, even if they get all the worlds arsenal assembled behind them.

READ ALSO: Controversy: Nigeria in trouble as ex-First Lady sues?

Operation Crocodile Tears is the mildest of what the world should expect from us, by the time we initiate the phase II and get started with Operation Hammurabi Code only God knows what will then become of these plains called Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) said all marked facilities in the region have been rigged with explosives at strategic points, waiting to be detonated, adding that the detonation was being held back because of the people in the environment.

NDGJM warned the Federal Government to be wary of Chief Edwin Clark, insisting that the ceasefire declared by the elder statesman on behalf of militants was a big fat lie, another charade.

Source: Legit.ng
According to Rueters, two Russian Sukhoi SU-24 warplanes were in the skies above the aid convoy at the time it was struck, but Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman denied the assertion, telling reporters at the United Nations that, We have nothing to do with this situation.

The attack prompted the United Nations to suspend all aid shipments into Syria.

EU foreign affairs chef Federica Mogherini and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides issued a statement on September 20 calling the air strike alarming violations of international humanitarian law, as well as saying that, This attack risks setting an unacceptable precedent, jeopardizing the safe delivery of humanitarian aid everywhere. Mogherini and Stylianides further said, We call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from any new attack and respect fully the cessation of hostilities. We call in particular on the Syrian government to cease its air campaign against non-terrorist targets in Aleppo, and to allow the immediate and unhindered resumption of humanitarian access to all besieged areas and in particular to the people of Aleppo.

Additionally, a report in Rueters has French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault saying that Russia and Iran would become accomplices in war crimes if they continued to prolong the war in Syria. He called on Russia and Iran to take their responsibility by stopping this strategy that leads to a dead-end. Further, he said,Otherwise, Russia and Iran will become accomplices of the war crimes committed in Aleppo.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was reported on September 25 to have said he was appalled by the chilling upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in Syrias battleground city could amount to war crimes, citingreports 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, in a statement from his spokesman. Ban also said of the air strikes that killed some 45 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday, that he considers this a dark day for the global commitment to protect civilians. He urged a clear message to send to the Syrian government that it will not tolerate the use of indiscriminate and ever more deadly and powerful weapons against civilians.

The United States and Russia support opposite sides in the war between Assads government and insurgents but are both fighting against Islamic State militants. Washington and Moscow had made a deal to share targeting information.
Spain and home-sharing sites arent currently on the best of terms. From Barcelona to Madrid, cities are imposing stricter regulations on renters; the latter most recently attempting to require a minimum five-night stay in private apartments. Even so, there are hundreds of rentals available in the city for as little as one night, with entire-place rentals averaging $81 and private rooms just $33. Here are 10 of our favorite private rentals in Spains capital city.

1. Light-filled apartment 2. Vibrant, art-filled space 3. Apartment with a view 4. Funky Chueca flat 5. One-bedroom attic apartment 6. Stylish four-bedroom 7. Two-bedroom apartment 8. Gran Via studio 9. Blue studio apartment 10. Lavapies Duplex Loft

Erica Jackson Curran is a former alt-weekly editor turned moonlight freelancer based in Richmond, Virginia.

1 of 10 This light-filled apartment effortlessly blends modern and antique styles for a look that's right at home in Madrid's trendy, gay-friendly Chueca barrio. The space is filled with personal touches, like a Chesterfield sofa upholstered in golden tapestries from the host's grandfather's 1950s-era fabric company, and hand-painted tile in the bathroom from Seville. The central apartment is two minutes from Gran Via, the city's most famous corridor peppered with shops, restaurants, bars and attractions. Airbnb

2 of 10 A local photographer converted his studio into an apartment, and this vibrant, art-filled space is the result. The small kitchen is stocked with coffee, fruit, snacks, and even a welcome bottle of cava. Guests can entertain themselves with a collection of art books and movies, or simply get out and enjoy the surrounding Malasana neighborhood. It's a block from San Ildefonso Square and easy walking distance to tourist attractions and several metro stops. Airbnb

3 of 10 This apartment comes equipped with not one but two balconies overlooking the square in the heart of the historic, eclectic Lavapies barrio. Located in a turn-of-the-century building, the completely renovated flat has AC, a full (hot pink!) kitchen, and a separate bedroom. There's a metro station just in front of the building, and it's a short walk from Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid's main hubs, and Paseo del Pardo, a.k.a. museum central. Airbnb

4 of 10 There's room for six guests in this funky Chueca flat, which has an open layout on the main floor with a separate sleeping room upstairs. Host Emilio claims it's the best location in Madrid, with easy proximity to museums, the Royal Palace, restaurants (ask him for paella recommendations), and the weekly open-air Rastro flea market. The apartment has more than 200 glowing reviews thanks to its location, cleanliness, and Emilio's welcoming attitude. Airbnb

5 of 10 This one-bedroom attic apartment is right on Gran Via, making it perfectly situated for exploring Madrid. The main living area has large windows with views of the bustling street below, while the interior bedroom offers an escape from the noise. The kitchen includes a washing machine, and there's also a private terrace with an outdoor shower. There's a metro stop two minutes away. Airbnb

6 of 10 This stylish spot in Chueca sleeps four with a private bedroom and a sofa bed. The kitchen is small but has all the basicsincluding an oven and refrigeratorand there's a dining area that seats four. The large windows let in a lot of light, but they're also equipped with blackout shades to allow for sleeping late and siestas. Past guests say hosts Abel and Emilio have their finger on the pulse of the city's hippest new spots, so be sure to ask them for recommendations. Airbnb

7 of 10 Multiple skylights flood every room of this two-bedroom apartment with that famous Spanish sunlight. The main living space has a sitting area, dining area, and modern kitchen, and both bedrooms have queen-sized beds. Half of the apartment faces the street, while the other half faces the building's unique corrala (courtyard), which retains the Mediterranean charm of its early-1900s roots. Located in Lavapies, the apartment is right across the street from the Escuelas Pias ruins, and it's also near the Mercado San Miguel, which host Guillermo says "provides the best tapas experience ever." Airbnb

8 of 10 Superhost Andrea says "I truly believe that my home represents the Madrid experience exceptionally well"and nearly 200 past guests seem to agree. The Gran Via studio has a roomy bathroom with a bidet, a full galley kitchen with a washing machine, and a spacious, plant-filled terrace. Parking and an extra bed are available upon request. Airbnb

9 of 10 This studio apartment near Puerta del Sol has a bit of a blue mood going on, with azul accessories adding color to the otherwise monochromatic space. There's a semi-separate bedroom along with a sofa bed, a dining area, fully equipped kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows opening to a long balcony overlooking the street. Past guests call Superhost Israel "awesome" and "perfect." Airbnb

10 of 10 A good bet for traveling families, this duplex loft in Lavapies has two bedroomsone with a double bed, the other with two singlesas well as a sofa bed. Spread out over two floors, the apartment has one bathroom, a study area, storage space, and a new kitchen with a chalkboard wall. It's close to plenty of tapas bars as well as El Rastro and art museums like the Museo del Prado and the Museo Nacional Centra de Arte Reina Sofia. Airbnb
Colombian story has an unhappy ending. Sometimes, stories do.

Colombia has a notoriously violent past, but its violence has nearly always been linked to organized causes-paramilitary/military units, drug cartels, or gangs. Lone wolf gun violence, carried out by a single unhinged individual00the kind of killing so terrible (and sadly frequent) nowadays in the United Statesis extremely rare here.

One particular incident, 30 years ago, stands out. You may not wish to read further.

The story starts in the 1930s in a little village called Durania, near the border with Venezuela. A man and a woman married there. It did not go well. The husband learned somehow, perhaps from chirping birds or whispers in the winds, that his wife was not a virgin on their wedding night.

The whispers sparked jealousy. The man came to believe his wife had lost her maidenhood to a prior suitor beneath a great saman tree in the town plaza.

The husbands jealousy over his wifes past became an obsession. Like the saman, it overshadowed all else. He grew depressed. He stood in the door of his shop near the plaza, and each morning cursed the unfaithful leaves that fell from the saman and settled in his doorway. He swept and swept. Still, he could not sweep his bitterness away.

One night, this Senor Delgado hired someone to girdle the tree, killing it. The living symbol of his wifes past would no longer haunt him, taunt him.

His act outraged the townspeople. Their magnificent tree had been the pride of the village, a feature so grand that visitors journeyed to marvel at its towering crown and spreading branches. Not even a troubled husband had the right to take the tree away. So the Delgado family was driven out.

The man and woman had a child by this time, a boy named Campo Elias Delgado. This story now becomes Campos.

resettled. But even in their new village, birds twittered and whispers troubled the jealous father. He did his best. He rose and worked and ate. But finally, unable to forgive, unable to forget, Senor Delgado killed himself.

Some accounts say that young Campo watched his father take his own life.

The mother moved with her son to Bogota, far from the rural memories of youthful lovers under trees, far from the fresh grave of a man tormented to death by a past not even his own.

The son matured. He resembled his dad in ways. He had an unsettling quietness. He developed quirks.

As Campo grew, he asked more and more questions about his father. His mother must have tried to explain, but who knows what she told? How much should a son know? How much could a son ever understand?

It turned out Bogota had birds and whispers too. Somehow, the son heard stories, rumors. In time, anger coiling tighter and tighter around his heart, he came to blame his mother for his fathers suicide.

Two pasts, neither his own, clouded young Campos mind. To find himself, he joined the military, where he excelled at soldiering. He enlisted twice, a Colombian serving alongside United States soldiers in the Vietnam War. The young Campo mastered deadly force, the use of knives and firearms. He made sergeant. He won brevets for valor.

Then he came home to mama. The demons hed invented or inherited came too.

Brooding years passed. Campos inner clock ticked and ticked. Later, after terrible things had happened, 20/20 hindsight would suggest that some sort of mental illness or PTSD or  what?  possessed Campo Delgado.

He never shook hands, for fear of germs. He never wore long sleeves. He had a hard time making friends. He dried his body after a shower wiith rolls of toilet paper instead of a towel. He taught English to students using The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as his textbook.

Then one day, as with his father, Mr. Hyde took over.

At noon on December 4, 1986, Campo went to a bank and withdrew all his money. When the cashier left 43 cents in the account to keep it active, he waited patiently, insisting on every last cent. A short time after Campo exited the bank, he purchased a .38 caliber pistol and 500 rounds.

He then made a malevolent visit to one of his English students, a female. He bound and gagged the young woman and her mother. He killed both with a hunting knife. He stabbed the student 22 times.

Then Campo went to see his mother.

been one of those late afternoons when, at age 72, Campos mom reminisced about being a girl again. Of lying still, innocent no more, under the branches of a great tree as wind ruffled the leaves, ruffled her pulled-up dress, ruffled her fluttering secrets into the future.

For more than an hour that afternoon, neighbors reported Campo argued loudly with her about something. Then the 52-year-old son plunged his hunting knife into his mothers neck as she sat in a favorite chair, her back turned.

Campo wrapped his mother in newspaper, then set her on fire. (Before he struck the match, according to one story, he performed a purification ritual hed witnessed in Vietnam.)

His mothers corpse smoldered. Smoke and the smell of burning hair and flesh filled the apartment building. Campo walked down the corridors, knocking only on the doors of female neighbors, yelling: Fire! Fire!

One alarmed woman after another opened doors. Campo shot each in the face.

On the first floor, he slaughtered more women. He then left the building and the neighborhood, visiting a long-time female friend. He talked uncharacteristically loud and long, she said, never barely stopping for breath. He claimed to have a one-way ticket out of Colombia. He didnt harm this woman.

About 7:15 p.m., Campo walked into Pozzetto, an upscale Italian restaurant in the Chapinero neighborhood. He carried a briefcase. He never drank, but this night he ordered red wine with his spaghetti bolognese. He calmly cleaned his plate.

Campo read a magazine while servers cleared the table. He took his time, finishing two screwdrivers and a vodka before moving to a seat at the bar and ordering yet another drink.

At a quarter after 9 p.m., Campo stood, opened his briefcase, pulled out the pistol and ammunition, and opened fire. He moved through the restaurant methodically, cornering one victim, then another, firing a single bullet at point-blank range through pleading hands and into foreheads. He shot more than two dozen people. He killed a 6-year-old girl.

During the day-long spree, Campo Elias Delgado killed 29 people and wounded 12 more.

The marksman shot back when policemen showed up firing Uzis. A bullet to the temple ended the 52-year-old Campos life  and Colombias most notorious lone wolf killing spree.

Theres a persistent rumor among bogotanos. They say that in the end, Delgado turned the pistol on himself, dying like his father, a suicide.

Image: Lucho Molina, CC-BY

Charles McNair is Pastes Books Editor emeritus. He served the magazine as writer, critic and editor from 2005-2015.
Winter is coming, and, with that, the Northern Lights and cheap flights to Iceland.

Last week, we mentioned the ridiculously cheap flights to Scandinavia, and, this week, it looks like Iceland wants in on the action, with airfare currently costing about half it normally does for this time of year. WOW Air already offers, quite literally, $99 flights, from cities across the U.S., to Reykjavik, and, somehow, these flights for later this year still havent sold out.

This deal comes at the perfect time because, following this winter, the Northern Lights are projected to dim for the next decade, and theres no better place to experience the aurora than during winterfrom now until mid-Marchin Iceland.

To book one of these flights, search via the WOW Air flexible travel dates. Some sample round-trip fares to Reykjavik this December cost:

Boston: $250

Miami: $198

NYC: $350

Washington D.C.: $390

Tom is a travel writer, part-time hitchhiker, and hes currently trying to imitate Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but with more sunscreen and jorts.
Last night, the first-ever Concert Across America to End Gun Violence took place. It featured 350 events across the country with more than 5,200 artists performing to honor victims of gun violence and to promote gun violence prevention as a voting issue in the November elections.

Musical events took place over the course of the day at places of faith, historical theaters and other venues from coast to coast.

The concert series started with a sunrise Aloha chant in Hawaii, the state with the lowest gun death rate. Moby made a surprise appearance at the Los Angeles concert, while Joan Osborne joined the New York City performance.

These concerts are about getting common sense gun laws passed, said Jackson Browne, who performed at the Beacon Theater in New York City.

During his performance, also at the Beacon, Eddie Vedder said:

Together we have power. If we rise to the challenge to unite and support sensible gun violence prevention measures in our cities and our towns, then we have the power to save lives. Lets use our power for good. The Harlem choir brought tears to my eyes. Im honored to be on stage tonight, especially knowing that Im at one of 350 other venues tonight.

Wearing a Moms Demand Action t-shirt, Vedder continued, I love the moms that work on this issue, if you want something done, call a mom.

The founder of the Million Mom March and concert co-chair Donna Dees remarked on the number of organizations present at just the Beacon Theater alone. Among them were representatives from Moms Demand Action, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, the Brady Campaign, Stop Handgun Violence and Gays Against Guns. The solidarity measure was one that certainly made its presence known.

Others showed their support via social media: Bette Midler, Snoop Dogg, Chelsea Handler, Sarah McLachlan, Valerie Jarrett, Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor are among those who expressed support using the hashtags #ConcertAcrossAmerica (to) #EndGunViolence.
Political and economic relations between Cuba and the U.S. are in the process of being restoredbut dont forget about musical relations. On March 25, The Rolling Stones made history by performing an epic, free concert in Havana to 1.2 million people, the biggest show in Cuba on record.

Now The Stones have announced that theyll release a live album and concert film of the performance, to be titled Havana Moon, on Nov. 11. It will be available on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and DVD+3LP, as well as a special deluxe edition.

Rock music was blocked from Cuban radio in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Many commentators viewed The Stones concert as an indication of the countrys opening up more, culturally as well as economically. The show was well-timed, occurring just days after President Obama completed his trip as the first American president to visit Cuba in 88 years.

Check out the trailer for Havana Moon below, and beneath that, find the live albums tracklist.

Havana Moon Tracklist:

1) Jumpin Jack Flash

2) Its Only Rock N Roll (But I Like It)

3) Out of Control

4) Angie

5) Paint It Black

6) Honky Tonk Women

7) You Got the Silver

8) Midnight Rambler

9) Gimme Shelter

10) Sympathy For The Devil

11) Brown Sugar

12) You Cant Always Get What You Want

13) (I Cant Get No) Satisfaction
Global demand for information technology is on the move. America and Europe are declining and Australasia is gaining. The top 25 countries represent close to 85% of total demand.

By: TBK Consult Holding ApS

World Demand for Information Technology is on the Move - The BECH Index 2015

Contact

Hans Peter Bech

***@tbkconsult.com

+45 2347 6762 Hans Peter Bech+45 2347 6762

End

-- The BECH Index, which is published annually by TBK Consult, shows the share of global demand for each of the 226 countries in the world for the years 2012-2015. The trend is very clear and shows a decline in the shares of South and North America, Europe and the Middle East, a stable share for African countries (including South Africa) and an increase in the Australasian countries."Although the trends seem clear I would not rush away from North America and Europe just yet," says Hans Peter Bech, managing partner at TBK Consult. "The two continents still represent well over 50% of global demand and are massive consumers of productivity improvement technology. The changes in demographics and the increasing share of government spending in both North America and Europe can only be offset by investments in information technology. Leaders in private and as well as public organizations are very well aware of the need for massive investments in productivity improvements through IT. You can still get the highest prices for both your products and your services in these markets."When starting international expansion, issues such as language, personal network, political stability, proximity and cultural alignment may be much more important than the size of a market; most small companies do not have the resources to fully cover a larger, international market anyway. However, in the longer term - which in the information technology is only 5-10 years - no company can grow enough muscle to withstand the global competition unless they secure a leading position in the top 25 markets before their competitors take these positions.Get the full report here: World Demand for Information Technology is on the Move - The BECH Index 2015 http://tbkconsult.com/ product/world- demand-information- te...
ASDF Headquarters has now announced the new set of Office Bearers Arab Region which will be headed by Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed from 2015 to 2020. Officially announced by the ASDF International President.

By: ASDF International

Contact

Rajkumar Sugumaran

***@asdf.res.in Rajkumar Sugumaran

End

-- Association of Scientists, Developers and Faculties incepted in 2010 has now landed in Arab region with full fledge from January 2015. The Governing Council under the leadership of visionary leader Pr. Dr. Anbuoli Parthasarathy has unanimously selected the office bearers of ASDF Arab Region which has got resolved in the board with fullest support. The span of the office bearers from 2015 to 2020 of the Arab Region will be headed by Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed who is a senior academician with decades of teaching experiences across the world.This Arab Region consists of all the Arab states including Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Arab League, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Mauritania, Yemen, Djibouti, Comoros and Somalia. The International Secretary Kokula Krishna Hari Kunasekaran has delegated his powers of signing the Industrial, Research, University and Academic Institutes Memorandum of Understandings to the Arab Region Secretary Ghassan Yassine which needs to witness by the Arab Region President Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed.The President of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed has more than 30 years of experience in academia as well as professional discipline that go around the enterprise architecture that its core competencies include expertise strategic and technical planning, policy development, capital planning and investment control, change management, systems engineering and architectural design, business process reengineering, and largescale program management. Prior to this he worked as Enterprise Architecture consultant of multinational entities. His research interest include: non-profit organization digital strategic planning using artificial intelligent tools. He received her M.Sc in Computer Science from Wittfield University, Wittfield Alabama State, USA and PhD from Alabama State University, Wittfield Alabama State, USA.The Vice-President of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Manal Abdulaziz Abdullah is a Associate Professor in Computer Science Department from Faculty of Computing and Information Technology FCIT at King Abdulaziz University, KAU. She has more than Fourteen years of teaching and more than twenty years' experience in Industry. She has serving a consultant of Ministry of Military Production since 1995 to 1997. She has appreciated from Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia for participation in the arbitration of student's participation in the fourth scientific conference of higher education and received Excellence Honour Award from Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at King Abdulaziz University, KAU. She received her M.Sc in Computer and System Engineering from Ain Shams Universityand PhD from Computer and System Engineering from Ain Shams University.The Secretary of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Ghassan Yassine is a Free-Lance Consultant from Business Development. He has more than Fifteen years of Free-Lance Consultant from Business Development.He has Expert on active workforce market business systems and regional development employment restructuring in enterprises, Vocational Education and Training, working conditions including ICT issues and Expert on Regional Development Agencies, organization, structures, resources allocation, program implementation and monitoring, etc. He has Experience in project management and Team Leadership. He has member in Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, Information System Audit and Control Agency, Microsoft partner through MIT.The Treasurer of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Eisa Yeslam BA-Eisa is a General Manager from Al Jouf Cement Co. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has Board Member of new Precast Company, Chairman of Steering Committee, Arab Union for Cement & Material Building and Committee Member of Saudi Cement. He has previously working in General Director from Tabuk Cement Co. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia since 2009 to 2013. He has excellent knowledge about Cost Reduction in any strategic project, Effective Team Work, Technical Studies, Safety and Environmental Control.The new council has decided to concentrate on University and Government partnerships in establishing Joint Research Activities across the region. ASDF Arab would like to give a thrust to research activities across the region by taking up various research studies in all the areas. ASDF Arab will also undertake activities to encourage research and innovation within the industry and well as in academia / University. While initiation of ASDF Arab Leadership Series will facilitate exclusive interaction between the members of ASDF and industry leaders, at State / National / International level and in turn, provide a platform for exchange of experience and technical know-how, various events will enable the members to get acquainted with the future directions, trends, opportunities and learning across key sectors through lectures by some national & international industry stalwarts. Apart from that a series of learning and development events will also be organized for the senior leadership team of ASDF HQ & EI members such as CFOs / Finance Heads, CMOs / Marketing Heads, HR Heads, CIOs / CTOs / Technology Heads and other key functional heads of the organization.In the mid of 2017 new events are also about to be rolled out which will happen annually at Arab region.This kind of events will discuss the most relevant topics of the uptrends. The International Collaboration will enable the member organizations / bodies to participate in international delegations, both inward and outward, as well as meet people both - nationally and internationally. Schedule for all of these events will be finalized in due course.
[September 26, 2016] Fitch: Excess and Surplus Insurance Lines Will Outperform P/C Industry

Excess and surplus (E&S) underwriters will likely outperform standard market underwriters in 2017 even if underwriting profitability weakens in 2017, according to Fitch Ratings' latest U.S. Excess and Surplus Lines Market Review report. E&S underwriters outperformed the property/casualty (P/C) industry's combined ratio by an average of 8 percentage points from 2011-2015. E&S market direct premiums written (DPW) grew 4% in 2015, representing the fifth consecutive year of positive growth. However, initial data for first-half 2016 shows a slight decline in DPW from the prior year. "As E&S insurer premium rates began to flatten in 2015, Fitch does not expect positive rate movement due to competitive market conditions and recent industry consolidation, and profitability will likely deteriorate modestly in 2017," said Gerald Glombicki, Director, Fitch Ratings. The E&S market provides an alternative for hard to place nonhomogeneous risks that require substantive underwriting expertise. Fitch believes that successful companies in this environment are traditionally strong underwriters, have solid niche market positions, and have geographically diverse product offerings with which to take advantage of attractive rates in select areas of the market. "The E&S market is increasingly becoming an attractive alternative for reinsurers with E&S underwriting capabilities to offset reduced reinsurance premiums," added Glombicki. Underwriting outperformance in the E&S market is concentrated in the commercial multi-peril and medical professional liability lines, both exhibiting a strong advantage over the P/C industry. The E&S market did not underperform the P/C industry in any line over the past five years; however, performance varies from year to year and by company. Although the E&S market is highly specialized, it remains dominated by large, standard market insurers and the top two, Lloyds of London and American International Group, Inc., account for almost 35% of total premiums. While Fitch does not expect many new entrants into the market, we note that Berkshire is rapidly expanding, with direct written premiums growing nearly 50% two years in a row. Insurers with the most favorable and least volatile underwriting results for the 2011-2015 period include Alleghany Group; QBE North America; and Travelers Companies, Inc. Insurers with the worst and most volatile results are American International Group, Inc.; Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd.; and State National Insurance Company, Inc. The "US Excess and Surplus Lines Market Review" report is available at www.fitchratings.com or by clicking on the link. Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: U.S. Excess and Surplus Lines Market Review (Strong Market Performance Continues) https://www.fitchratings.com/site/re/887263 Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.



Copyright (c) 2016 by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. 33 Whitehall Street, NY, NY 10004. Telephone: 1-800-753-4824, (212) 908-0500. Fax: (212) 480-4435. Reproduction or retransmission in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission. All rights reserved. In issuing and maintaining its ratings and in making other reports (including forecast information), Fitch relies on factual information it receives from issuers and underwriters and from other sources Fitch believes to be credible. Fitch conducts a reasonable investigation of the factual information relied upon by it in accordance with its ratings methodology, and obtains reasonable verification of that information from independent sources, to the extent such sources are available for a given security or in a given jurisdiction. The manner of Fitch's factual investigation and the scope of the third-party verification it obtains will vary depending on the nature of the rated security and its issuer, the requirements and practices in the jurisdiction in which the rated security is offered and sold and/or the issuer is located, the availability and nature of relevant public information, access to the management of the issuer and its advisers, the availability of pre-existing third-party verifications such as audit reports, agreed-upon procedures letters, appraisals, actuarial reports, engineering reports, legal opinions and other reports provided by third parties, the availability of independent and competent third- party verification sources with respect to the particular security or in the particular jurisdiction of the issuer, and a variety of other factors. Users of Fitch's ratings and reports should understand that neither an enhanced factual investigation nor any third-party verification can ensure that all of the information Fitch relies on in connection with a rating or a report will be accurate and complete. Ultimately, the issuer and its advisers are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide to Fitch and to the market in offering documents and other reports. In issuing its ratings and its reports, Fitch must rely on the work of experts, including independent auditors with respect to financial statements and attorneys with respect to legal and tax matters. Further, ratings and forecasts of financial and other information are inherently forward-looking and embody assumptions and predictions about future events that by their nature cannot be verified as facts. As a result, despite any verification of current facts, ratings and forecasts can be affected by future events or conditions that were not anticipated at the time a rating or forecast was issued or affirmed. The information in this report is provided "as is" without any representation or warranty of any kind, and Fitch does not represent or warrant that the report or any of its contents will meet any of the requirements of a recipient of the report. A Fitch rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a security. This opinion and reports made by Fitch are based on established criteria and methodologies that Fitch is continuously evaluating and updating. Therefore, ratings and reports are the collective work product of Fitch and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating or a report. The rating does not address the risk of loss due to risks other than credit risk, unless such risk is specifically mentioned. Fitch is not engaged in the offer or sale of any security. All Fitch reports have shared authorship. Individuals identified in a Fitch report were involved in, but are not solely responsible for, the opinions stated therein. The individuals are named for contact purposes only. A report providing a Fitch rating is neither a prospectus nor a substitute for the information assembled, verified and presented to investors by the issuer and its agents in connection with the sale of the securities. Ratings may be changed or withdrawn at any time for any reason in the sole discretion of Fitch. Fitch does not provide investment advice of any sort. Ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of payments made in respect to any security. Fitch receives fees from issuers, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, and underwriters for rating securities. Such fees generally vary from US$1,000 to US$750,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent) per issue. In certain cases, Fitch will rate all or a number of issues issued by a particular issuer, or insured or guaranteed by a particular insurer or guarantor, for a single annual fee. Such fees are expected to vary from US$10,000 to US$1,500,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent). The assignment, publication, or dissemination of a rating by Fitch shall not constitute a consent by Fitch to use its name as an expert in connection with any registration statement filed under the United States securities laws, the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 of the United Kingdom, or the securities laws of any particular jurisdiction. Due to the relative efficiency of electronic publishing and distribution, Fitch research may be available to electronic subscribers up to three days earlier than to print subscribers.

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Mechanical system specialist, NTS has expanded its measurement capabilities with a new multi-channel analysis system

By: Bruel & Kjaer

Contact

Bruel & Kjaer

***@bksv.com Bruel & Kjaer

End

-- Based at the company's Eindhoven facility, the PULSE analysis software and LANXI data acquisition hardware is utilised by the development department for a vast range of tests, including impact tests on transport packing, self-noise measurements in air bearings and modal analysis of machine frames.With an increased demand in development projects, NTS approached Bruel & Kjaer's exclusive Benelux distributor - ENMO Sound & Vibration Technology (http://www.enmo.eu/)to discuss various options. ENMO recommended Bruel & Kjr's PULSE system with LANXI Data Acquisition Hardware input modules Types 3160 and 3053, as the ideal kit for NTS' multiple application tests requirements.The two modules can be combined into one system with 16 channels or work as individual units. The PULSE fast Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis software has all the functionality required for signal and system analysis with constant bandwidth.More information about Bruel & Kjaer's LANXI data acquisition hardware is available at: http://www.bksv.com/Products/frontends/lanxiNTS develops, produces, assembles and tests complex (opto) mechatronic systems and mechanical modules for large, high-tech machine manufacturers (OEMs). As a first-tier systems supplier, we focus on companies active in markets with high levels of product diversity, low volumes and high complexity, such as the semi-conductor, life sciences and digital printing markets, in which precision and manoeuvrability are paramount. NTS excels in these disciplines, advising and assisting customers in the realisation of their objectives throughout the machine's entire life-cycle.Over recent years, NTS has amassed knowledge and know-how of systems and modules for the handling, transfer and positioning in machines. This knowledge is duly applied to our customers' unique products, leaving our customers free to focus their full attention on their core processes and, together with us, delivering their machines in a shorter turnaround time and at a lesser cost.At NTS flexibility, ambition and expertise form the basis for efficient collaboration that is both solutions-driven and service-oriented. What's more, we are local to all of our customers, worldwide. This means direct lines of communication and fast responses on our part.Working with NTS means: Accelerating your businessENMO Sound and Vibration Technology is exclusive partner and Service & Support Center for Bruel & Kjr sound and vibration measurement solutions in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.Bruel & Kjr Sound and Vibration Measurements A/S is a multinational company with more than 1,000 specialists worldwide to work in sound and vibration technology and market leader in the development and production of high-tech sound and vibration measurement equipment. Bruel & Kjr products are integrated into various solutions in the aerospace, automotive, telecom, wind energy and environmental sectors and therefore become the standard by which others compare themselves with.From this collaboration it allows ENMO, since 1996, to offer an unique expertise available in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg in the disciplines of Sound and Vibration Engineering, Electro-dynamic shakers and Machine Conditioning Measurements. ENMO's equipment and measurement solutions are frequently used within industrial companies, government, airports and universities.Bruel & Kjr is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of sound and vibration measurement systems.We help customers measure and manage the quality of sound and vibration in their products and in the environment. Focus areas are aerospace, space, defence, automotive, ground transportation, airport environment, urban environment, telecom and audio.Bruel & Kjr has an unparalleled portfolio of sound and vibration equipment and is a long-established designer and manufacturer of innovative instrumentation including sound level meters, microphones, accelerometers, conditioning amplifiers, calibrators, noise and vibration analysers, and PULSE software.We also design and manufacture the LDS range of vibration test systems, as well as complete airport and environmental monitoring systems: WebTrak, ANOMS, NoiseOffice and Noise Sentinel.To see the full range of solutions, systems and products, please visit www.bksv.comBruel & Kjr runs a variety of training courses - from basic introductions to noise and its effects to more specialised classes teaching customers how to get the most out of their equipment. Free online training courses, conducted by our expert engineers, run throughout the year too. For all course registration details visit http://www.bksv.com/coursesBruel & Kjr is a subsidiary of UK-based Spectris plc (www.spectris.com)which has annual sales of 1.1bn and employs around 8,300 people worldwide across its four business segments.Heather WilkinsMarketing CoordinatorBruel & KjaerTelephone: 01223 389 800Web: www.bksv.comEmail: heather.wilkins@bksv.com
In a bid to attract wellness tourism, The Ajman Palace Hotel is all set to welcome a group of tourists from Ukraine for a Detox Tour programme. The weeklong tour is scheduled from 23rd to 30th September.

Media Contact

Marketing Pro Junction

***@gmail.com

+971502093801 Marketing Pro Junction+971502093801

End

-- In a bid to attract wellness tourism, The Ajman Palace Hotel is all set to welcome a group of tourists from Ukraine for a Detox Tour programme. The weeklong tour is scheduled from 23to 30September.The stay includes well-thought of routine of exercises and yoga sessions combined with a daily revival spa treatments throughout the week. The exercises consist of Pilates and yoga along with other workout sessions. To make the tour successful, food experts at the hotel will help the participants with individually created nutritional plan.Ferghal Purcell,General Manager of The Ajman Palace Hotel, said, "We are a perfect venue for this tour offering a quiet and relaxing location by the beach, with beautiful green lawns for workout, state-of-the-art gym with advanced equipment, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam. Our award-winning team of chefs is working on a special menu for the participants that is being created to offer the right mix of nutrition and taste."Equally exciting are the revival spa treatments ranging from cosmetology, scrubs and wraps, to a mix of fabulous massage options. The customers can choose a tailor-made programme based on their individual requirements. Additionally, various experts will work with the participants to achieve the right body and mind balance.Similar customised programmes are on offer for other travellers at the hotel. These are created on a case-to-case requirement of specific groups who are then charged accordingly.The Ajman Palace Hotel, managed by HMH  Hospitality Management Holdings, is a picturesque sanctuary conveniently located 22 km from Dubai International Airport and 11 km from Sharjah International Airport. Set on a private beach, this alluring hideaway is a heritage resort with a modern spirit. Bringing an unprecedented level of luxury, with captivating views of the Arabian Gulf, the resort is a destination unto itself. Balancing world-class facilities with the legendary Arabian hospitality, it offers 254 rooms, suites and serviced residences, a remarkable range of restaurants and lounges, fabulous meeting and event venues including the largest ballroom in the Northern Emirates ideal for weddings and conventions, as well as an array of leisure and recreation options at Lifestyle Club featuring a Spa and state-of-the-art fitness facility. A magical experience awaits you here.
Contact

America 2030, LLC

***@america2030.net America 2030, LLC

End

-- America 2030, LLC has negotiated with gas producing company on search of capital/investments for the development of natural gas deposits. The company has a great number of wells.The goal of capital attraction is to increase the natural gas extraction, to modernize the existing outdated equipment, and to implement the latest technology in this area of industry. The implementation of such project will improve the situation at the energy market of the country because with the increased internal output Ukraine becomes less dependent on the external factors which have a negative impact on the growth of gas price for consumption by the individuals and by the industry.The President of America 2030, LLC, Val Sklarov noted: "Ukraine has huge reserves of oil and natural gas deposits in Eastern region and Carpathian Mountains. There are lot of unexplored reserves in the Southern region close to Black sea. Additional investments will transfer Ukraine from import to export oriented country."America 2030, LLC makes a lot of efforts to maximize the implementation of such projects. That would give an opportunity for the foreign investors to have a fresh look on Ukraine and to make it more attractive and open for doing business with foreign investors and partners.America 2030, LLC is comprising many directions in business. Since 1984 it has been providing services in export and import activities, location of investors, business brokerage, bankruptcy, restructuring and consulting.www.america2030.net
End

-- Jewel Cars Gatwick located in Airport Taxi UK, 54, Prince Albert Square, Redhill, RH1 5AW, United Kingdom, is one of the popular names in the taxi service industry that has been providing quality taxi services to clients from a very long time. Based in an area close to London Gatwick Airport, this taxi service association is authorized by Reigate and Banstead committee, Surrey, UK, giving air transfers at the advantage of the clients. An awesome characteristic of this taxi service organization is that they are always available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week when it comes to airplane transfers or long distanceto any other destination.Delivering exceptional taxi services with the best-experienced drivers, Jewel Cars Gatwick additionally obliges corporate customers if there is a need for a month to month or even week by weekrequisite. For the advantage of their customers, they are additionally conveying Meet and Greet services where drivers will hold up with travelers or customer's name in the landing lobby. Concentrated on giving the best experience to the travelers, this famous taxi service company is implied for the complete fulfillment of the general public heading out to their destination point.In the contemporary times, Jewel Cars Gatwick is one of the most demanded taxi services and one of the favorite choices of people looking for taxi services for traveling to any place. A beautiful aspect of this taxi service is that the vehicles are always neat and clean and this is actually what the passenger's say when they are availing their service for the first time. From the beginning, Jewel Cars Gatwick is a name that is popular for punctuality because they arrive within 10 minutes after booking.Also, the drivers that are employed by this taxi organization are very experienced but still they are trained and tested before hiring them for the job. The drivers of this taxi service are also well aware of the various routes and roads in the city so even if you late then do not worry because they will take you through the shortest route to drop you at your destination before it gets late.Situated in Airport Taxi UK, 54, Prince Albert Square, Redhill, RH1 5AW, United Kingdom, Jewel Cars Gatwick is one of the top taxi service providers which people consider 'better' than most of the taxi service organization in the contemporary times. So if you are worried about your current taxi service provider then make sure you are availing the taxi service of this organization because from what people say is they are just perfect than the rest of the herd.This is the webiste of Minicab to Gatwick company http://www.airporttaxi- uk.co.uk/
By: Jedox

End

-- LearnQuest is pleased to announce it was recently named Global Training Partner for Jedox to deliver public and private training. Germany-based Jedox unleashes the power of data for organizations with its straightforward, self-service Enterprise Planning and Business Intelligence (BI) solutions across 127 countries with 180 business partners and for over 1,900 customers worldwide.As Global Training Partner, LearnQuest will effectively manage the sales and delivery of Jedox Academy's active class schedule and comprehensive training offering: eight courses covering planning, analysis, reporting and more. Featured courses are divided into four levels and specifically suited to students across different divisions, roles and skill levels, from beginner to expert-level. The Academy program serves the complex needs of Jedox power users within Finance, planners in various business departments, as well as IT managers and administrators.Jedox Academy empowers clients to own their solution through hands-on, practical courses and provides flexible, dynamic training worldwide, through Jedox and certified Jedox training partners, like LearnQuest. Their training experts enable users to manage and develop their planning solution through passing on extensive experience, subject matter expertise and crucial technical skills."LearnQuest welcomes this opportunity to partner with Jedox as it continues to build tremendous momentum in the area of enterprise planning with its unified learning solutions. As a Jedox Global Training Partner, we're excited to use our deep training industry experience and global capabilities to bring Jedox Academy training courses to a growing customer base and target new regions of expansion," said Dimitri Schneiberg, Managing Director of LearnQuest."Jedox is growing rapidly, and our network of certified Jedox Training partners plays a vital part in our global expansion. At several training centers worldwide, Jedox business partners provide effective, long-lasting knowledge transfer that empowers project managers and business users to build, maintain, and enhance their Jedox planning and budgeting solution. We are delighted to work with LearnQuest to meet the growing demand for enterprise planning expertise, accelerate solutions development and significantly shorten time-to-value for international Jedox clients," said Thomas Arampatzis, Head of Jedox Academy.Interested parties can contact LearnQuest by visiting LearnQuest.com, calling 877-206-0106, or via info@learnquest.com for additional details on this partnership.For twenty years, LearnQuest has been the leading provider of global IT and Business Skills training for corporations and government agencies. An award winner for Innovation in Learning Effectiveness, LearnQuest offers classroom, virtual, and self-paced training in a wide variety of formats to match today's learner needs. LearnQuest designs, develops and delivers training on hundreds of IT topics such as Cloud, Analytics, Big Data, Mobile, Security and Business Skills areas, including Project Management, Business Analysis and Leadership.LearnQuest maintains strategic partnerships with Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Infor, Lenovo, as well as the Project Management Institute and the International Institute of Business Analysis. Most recently, LearnQuest was named IBM's 2016 Worldwide Training Partner of the Year and has been selected by TrainingIndustry.com as a Top IT Training Company and Top Workforce Development Company.LearnQuest currently has offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, India, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore to customers in 180 countries. LearnQuest is accredited by ACCET (The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training), an ISO 9001:2008 certified agency and APMG-International as an IAITAM Accredited Training Organization (ATO). To learn more about LearnQuest, please visit About Us.Jedox simplifies planning, analysis, and reporting with one unified and cloud-based software suite. Jedox empowers decision makers and business users across all departments and helps them work smarter, streamline business collaboration, and make insight-based decisions with confidence. Over 1,900 organizations in 127 countries use Jedox for real-time planning on the web, in the cloud, and on any device. Jedox is a leading Business Intelligence and Corporate Performance Management solution provider with offices on four continents and with over 180 certified business partners. Independent analysts Gartner, Howard Dresner and BARC recognize Jedox for its leading enterprise planning solutions.
Contact

Jennifer Gatti

***@liebertpub.com Jennifer Gatti

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-- The recent BREXIT vote in the UK threatens to disrupt scientific progress and clinical advances in the development of innovative gene and cell therapies. Leading UK researchers have called for proactive solutions to ensure continued access to critical funding and ongoing collaborative opportunities with the broader scientific community in the European Union in an Editorial in, a peer-reviewed journal from(http://www.liebertpub.com/). The article is available free on the(http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/hum.2016.29033.ahb)website until October 31, 2016.In the article "Impact of BREXIT on UK Gene and Cell Therapy: The Need for Continued Pan-European Collaboration (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/hum.2016.29033.ahb),"coauthors, University of Edinburgh,, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, and, University College London, emphasize the need for a rapid response to alleviate the current uncertainty, which is "potentially harmful, for both building and maintaining scientific interactions,"and "to avoid loss of momentum in a rapidly developing field."The UK is a leading force in both the basic science and clinical translation of gene and cell therapies. Over the past years, the EU has invested substantially in broad-based consortia to drive advances in the field, and continued progress will depend on ongoing collaboration and mobility across national borders for research, training, and clinical studies."Gene therapy scientists live and work in the context of a broader society and may be affected by political changes beyond their control," says Editor-in-Chief, Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education and Dean, Provost, and Executive Deputy Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. "Members of the British Society of Gene Therapy have been outspoken leaders in advocating for preserving the benefits of EU funding for the scientific community and for patients and families who benefit from their innovations.is proud to provide a forum for this advocacy."the Official Journal of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, French Society of Cell and Gene Therapy, German Society of Gene Therapy, and five other gene therapy societies, is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print and online. Led by Editor-in-Chief, Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education and Dean, Provost, and Executive Deputy Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School,presents reports on the transfer and expression of genes in mammals, including humans. Related topics include improvements in vector development, delivery systems, and animal models, particularly in the areas of cancer, heart disease, viral disease, genetic disease, and neurological disease, as well as ethical, legal, and regulatory issues related to the gene transfer in humans. Its companion journals,published bimonthly, focuses on the application of gene therapy to product testing and development, and, published quarterly, features data relevant to the regulatory review and commercial development of cell and gene therapy products. Tables of contents for all three publications and a free sample issue may be viewed on the(http://www.liebertpub.com/hgt) website. http://www.liebertpub.com/ ) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, includingandIts biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the(http://www.liebertpub.com/)website.
By: Minkels

Minkels Next Generation Cold Corridor (aisle containment)

Media Contact

Minkels

Vincent Liebe, Marketing Manager

***@minkels.com

+31 (0)413-311187 MinkelsVincent Liebe, Marketing Manager+31 (0)413-311187

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--Its strategy of 'global presence, local excellence' is letting Minkels serve the market better. Christiaan van Terheijden, CEO of Minkels, says, "Thanks to closer cooperation with our Legrand sister companies and other partners, we can achieve more synergy worldwide and therefore create more value for the clients. This means not only that our products will be available internationally, but that they are often used with our partners' products as part of a total solution. The Legrand sales network has already contributed to excellent local and export results over the last six months."Minkels' own sales activities are becoming increasingly international as well. Mr van Terheijden adds, "We recently delivered an aisle containment solution to MainOne, the key supplier of networking and data centre solutions in western Africa, for instance. And after joining the Node Pole Alliance, we're now very much active in the Scandinavian market; the global hub for innovations in data traffic and data management. Additionally, we've also started assembly and production activities in the US. We're serving the American market from a location close to New York. Production in China is growing steadily too. We are producing goods in Wuxi for Hitachi Data Systems and others, as well as for other customers from the local Legrand organizations."Minkels will be underlining its international pedigree by exhibiting its range of products ( http://www.minkels.com/ server_cabinets ) at several trade fairs worldwide over the next short while. For example, Minkels was present at Com-Ex in Switzerland last week. At the PowerBuilding & Data Center Convention (2829 September, Austria) and IP Expo (5-6 October, UK), Minkels will be speaking about the influence that the Internet of Things (IoT) is having on data centre infrastructures. At Datacenter Forum (5 October, Switzerland), Minkels will be presenting its micro data centre solutions. At the beginning of November, Minkels will also be at Datacenter Dynamics (12 November, UK). IT Room Infra (15 November, Netherlands)is the finale of the trade fair season.***Minkels (minkels.com)is a knowledge-driven producer and worldwide supplier of high-quality solutions for data centre infrastructure ( http://www.minkels.com/ index.php?id= 1560 ). Minkels is part of the brand portfolio of Legrand, a publicly traded company (NYSE Euronext Paris: LR) with worldwide sales in the low voltage installation, data network and data centre markets. Legrand operates in more than 180 countries and achieved worldwide revenues of 4.8 billion euros in 2015.Minkels' products stand out for their innovativeness and flexibility. Customers can always be assured of getting the very latest data centre technology, modular solutions that respond to evolving, customer-specific business requirements.For more information about Minkels, please go to www.minkels.comThis press release and additional image material can also be found ONLINE.


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An opportunity fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners, the pan-European real estate investment manager, is to invest around 40 million in a rare opportunity to acquire an existing asset with significant development expansion land in the Port of Hamburg, Germany, the second largest container port in Europe.

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THE chief operating officer at Govia Thameslink Railway is moving to HS1 after two and a half years.

Dyan Crowther, who was previously LNW route director at Network Rail, moved to GTR during the months of mobilisation in mid-2014, and was one of the franchises original team of senior directors when it was launched in September of that year.

She will be replaced at GTR in November by Nick Brown, who until recently was managing director of two Transport for London divisions, London Underground and Rail. He will report directly to GTR managing director Charles Horton.

Dyan is expected to join HS1 as chief executive officer in January. She is the replacement for Nicola Shaw, who left the high-speed concession-holder in May. Chairman Rob Holden has been acting as CEO of HS1 since Nicolas departure, and will continu e to do so until Dyan arrives.

Charles Horton said: Dyan carries with her into her new venture with HS1 my warmest congratulations and grateful thanks for her significant contribution to GTR over these past two years.

He also welcomed her replacement, saying: We're delighted that Nick is joining GTR. He has a first class pedigree in the transport industry, a wealth of experience and a strong track record of leading businesses in the rail and bus sectors.

"Nick's broad experience and intimate knowledge of the sector makes him ideally placed to help us achieve our business goals and deliver a better railway and excellent service for our customers. I know hell add real value to the business.
IoT Tech Expo: Exclusive Samsung Workshop for Developers Taking Place in Silicon Valley Next Month

The leading IoT event; IoT Tech Expo will arrive in Santa Clara on October 20- 21st for 2 days of top level content and networking. In collaboration with leading sponsor, Samsung, there will be an exclusive hands-on workshop covering IoT from module to cloud with ARTIK as the centerpiece. It will use tools including ARTIK Cloud, Node-RED and Arduino.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006223/en/

Exclusive hands-on Samsung Workshop taking place on October 20th at the IoT Tech Expo in Santa Clara, CA (News - Alert) (Graphic: Business Wire)

It is free to take part, and will start with the IoT basics, board bring-up, and GPIO, before building a smart parking system. You will then let the parking spaces in the system communicate with each other through M2M.

Find out more about the Samsung ARTIK Workshop, and apply for your place. Limited places available.

In addition to the ARTIK Workshop, the IoT Tech Expo will host 200+ industry leading speakers who will be sharing their IoT experiences and case studies within the 8 conference tracks, namely, Developing & IoT Technologies, Data & Security, Smart Cities, Connected Services, Wearables, IoT Innovations, Connected Industry and Connecting Living.







Speakers include:

Patrick Bass, CEO, Thyssenkrupp North America

Andy Timm, Chief Technology Officer, PTC

Prith Banerjee, EVP & CTO, Schneider Electric (News - Alert)

Juha Pankakoski, Chief Digital Officer, Konecranes Plc

Dr. Robello Samuel, Chief Technical Advisor & Technology Fellow, Halliburton

Jonathan Reichental, CIO, City of Palo Alto (News - Alert)

Lane Arthur, Director, Information Solutions Group, John Deere

Sebastien Henot, Manager of Business Innovation, Renault

Shuchi Roy, Director of Innovations for Connected Home, Direct Energy / Centrica

Hardik Bhatt, CIO, State of Illinois

John Mattison, Assistant Medical Director, Chief Medical Information Officer, Kaiser Permanente

Cameron Craig, Director of User Experience, Macy's / Bloomingdales

Steve Carlin, VP Marketing & Business Development, SoftBank Robotics

Sarah Peach, Senior Director IoT, Samsung (News - Alert)

Al Salour, Technical Fellow- Research & Technology, Boeing

Michael Young, Director, Corporate Strategy, Caterpillar

You can also register for a free expo pass for access to the 'Developing & IoT Technologies' conference and exhibition which features the likes of Centri, Verizon, Wirepas, Ubuntu, Covetit, Rigado, RTI, Flexera, Synapse, Nerdery, Sensoro and more.

To learn more about the IoT Tech Expo and register your pass, visit the corresponding sites:

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About IoT Tech Expo

The IoT Tech Expo World Series (www.iottechexpo.com) hosts top level content and discussion, introducing and exploring the latest innovations in the Internet of Things arena. It brings together key industries including Manufacturing, Transport, Health, Logistics, Government, Energy, Retail and Automotive. Upcoming events taking place in Silicon Valley and London.

IoT Tech Expo North America: 20-21st October, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA

IoT Tech Expo Global: 23-24th January 2017, Olympia, London

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006223/en/
Glioblastomas are incurable malignant brain tumors. Usually the patients affected survive for only a few months. In addition, every tumor is quite different, which makes treatment very difficult. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now developed a completely new method as the basis for creating custom-tailored, two-stage therapies. Using tumor samples from a patient, they do lab tests to determine which substances can first make the different types of cancer cells uniform and then effectively kill them. The study has already been published online and will soon appear in the print edition of the technical journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Glioblastomas are among the most common and malignant of brain tumors. "The tumor cells characteristically display great variety," says Professor Dr. Bjorn Scheffler of the Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology at the University of Bonn, who recently began doing research at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and is a Professor at the Essen University Hospital. The cells in such a brain tumor can display very different characteristics, such as varying cell size or number of cell nuclei. Because the different cancer cells within a tumorous tissue also develop different modes of defense against therapeutic measures, the treatment of patients is extraordinarily difficult. After surgical removal, radiation, and chemotherapy, this type of tumor often returns; drugs are then usually no longer effective.

A team under Professor Scheffler, consisting of researchers from the Bonn University Hospital, the Life & Brain Center, The German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research, Tufts University Boston/Massachusetts, and other institutes in the USA, has now developed a new method that is expected to combat such complex brain tumors better. From tissue and cell samples from five glioblastoma patients, the scientists obtained 33 individual cancer cells capable of reproduction, which grew into very different tumors in the lab. For each patient, multiple representative test systems were thus available to study the different facets of a tumor representatively and individuallyseparately.

For each individual cancer cell, 180 active substances are tested

To find the best therapy for each one of these 33 tumor facets, the researchers tested about 180 different active substances. In doing so, the scientists made a surprising observation: "One and the same active ingredient caused most of the tumor facets to die," reports lead author Roman Reinartz of Professor Scheffler's Team. However, the cancer cells of individual other tumor facets of the same patient survived the treatment and were even able to reproduce much more intensively. "These initially resistant tumor facets could then be combated much more effectively with other active ingredients."

The different nature of the tumor cells requires the use of combined therapeutic measures. How many drugs were then needed to combat all the facets of a tumor effectively? "In the best case scenario two," explains Reinartz. Instead of using the combined chemotherapies simultaneously, as was previously the case, the researchers want to proceed step by step in the future. This is how the therapy of the future could look like: In order to prevent the further spread of the tumor in the brain, parts will be removed surgically, as is the current procedure. In the future, the tissue samples obtained could be subjected to lab tests, in order to catalogue the response behavior of the various tumor facets. For each patient, the suitable combination treatment could then be designed, which, in the first step, would turn the variety of different tumor cells into a mass of cancer cells of the same type. In the second step, the precise substance would be found selected from the catalog that would be the most effective weapon against the specially particularly enriched tumor facet.

Scientists bring order to chaos

Until now, the differences in the types of cancer cells in a glioblastoma have prevented successful treatment, because some of the resistant tumor facets might reproduce more intensively under the chemotherapy. With their method, the scientists are creating order from this seeming chaos. Professor Scheffler provides a comparison for the procedure: "Like a car that is disassembled into its individual parts to check for damage, we examine the different cancer cells." Once the characteristics of the cells of the tumor are known, this knowledge can be used to steer the complex system in the right direction.

With funding from the Lichtenberg Program of the Volkswagen Foundation, the researchers under Professor Scheffler at the University of Bonn have spent about eight years studying the characteristics and mechanisms of glioblastomas. "Our strategy can be expected to improve therapeutic chances substantially in the future, because this route makes it possible for us to make very precise predictions for the custom-tailored treatment of patients," says Professor Scheffler. The researchers have already carried out this step successfully in mice. In order to make the therapy available to people as well, further research will be necessary.
Bilingual education programs, in which a substantial part of the teaching is done in a language different from the mother tongue and from the language of the students surroundings, have been fully established for years in countries such as India, Spain and the United States. In order to analyze the effects of these programs, these researchers evaluated the program that the Autonomous Community of Madrid introduced in a group of public primary schools in 2004.

We have found a negative effect on the level of competence and knowledge displayed by the students who have followed this bilingual program in those subjects that were taught in English, states one of the researchers, Jesus Carro, of the UC3M Department of Mathematics. The study, which was recently published in the journal Economic Inquiry, uses data from the test of essential knowledge administered by the Community of Madrid when students complete their elementary education.

These students and teachers are making an additional effort because they have to teach and learn the subjects in a language that is not theirs. They have to spend more time and make a greater effort to learn English, which can affect their learning of the specific material taught in subjects such as Science, History and Geography, the researchers explain. Another consideration is that these students take the official exams in Spanish, given that the same test is administered to all the students in the Community of Madrid. The results are still relevant, because as they progress through the Spanish educational system these students are going to be evaluated in Spanish, and they need to not only have certain knowledge, but to be able to express that knowledge in this language.

The Parents Educational Level

This negative result is more pronounced in those students whose parents have a lower level of education, while the difference is hardly noticeable in students whose parents have a higher level of studies. We can establish a number of hypotheses with the regard to the reasons behind this, such as that they receive more help at home, they have greater resources, they are more exposed to situations where other languages are used or that are linguistically richer, comments Jesus Carro. Because the negative effect is so localized in a specific group of students, it would be easy to establish a tutoring program to solve the problem, he suggests. Moreover, he points out that none of the students in the bilingual program obtain worse results in the area of reading comprehension in Spanish.

This evaluation only refers to the bilingual program that has been carried out in public schools. Over the years, a program that is similar to those employed in private charter schools has been implemented, but the results of this study cannot be extrapolated to those schools because it is not clear that they have the same level of teachers prepared to implement the program, the professor states.

There are several important questions to examine, according to the researchers. The first is to find out what has happened to these students in the following stages of their education. Its possible that the negative effect that we have detected will disappear at that point, because in secondary school, the students have a higher level of English, says Carro, who also proposes another topic to be analyzed: find out what other factors can influence the programs results, such a the importance of the teachers level of English. This is relevant both in terms of finding out if that could improve the test results, as well as in terms of getting a better idea of what might be happening with the program in the years following the ones we are analyzing. Over the years, the program has expanded a great deal, and very quickly, in both public schools and charter schools, but it is not so clear that the same number of teachers who are prepared to implement the program are available now as there were during the first years the program was established in public schools. Nobody has studied this, as far as I know, the professor concludes.
It has become commonly accepted that women do worse than men following a heart attack or other coronary event. Earlier studies have documented that young women are more likely to die from cardiac-related events compared to men in the twelve months after hospital discharge. A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, drawing on contemporary data from 26 hospitals, reports that young patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have good one-year prognosis and that both men and women now do equally well.

The occurrence of coronary heart disease in the general population has steadily declined over the past few decades, however, premature ACS remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The rate of decline in deaths from ACS among young to middle-aged adults has slowed, possibly due to increasing prevalence of abdominal obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in this population. In young women it has even increased.

"Despite such trends in younger adults, outcomes data in this population are still scarce," explained lead investigator Louise Pilote, MD, MPH, PhD, Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Furthermore, sex differences in adverse clinical outcomes of these patients remain understudied. We therefore aimed to measure the incidence of adverse clinical outcomes, as well as rates and reasons for rehospitalizations over the twelve months following hospitalization for an adverse coronary event, in patients aged 55 years or less."

Investigators used data from GENESIS-PRAXY (Gender and Sex Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease from Bench to Beyond in Premature Acute Coronary Syndrome), a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for ACS.

The wider aim of GENESIS-PRAXY is to document potential differences between men and women in presentation, access to care, and outcomes after the premature occurrence of acute coronary syndrome, and to investigate the potential biological, clinical, psychosocial, and environmental determinants of these differences.

Eligible patients were adults aged between 18 and 55 who were admitted to hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of ACS. Between January 2009 and April 2013, over 1,200 patients were enrolled in centers in Canada, the United States, and Switzerland.

Specifically, investigators documented two types of adverse clinical outcomes: major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as any occurrence of recurrent ACS, a need for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, or cardiac-related mortality; and death (all-cause and cardiac-related).

In contrast to earlier studies, these investigators observed similar rates of major adverse cardiac events, deaths, and cardiac-related rehospitalizations between men and women in the year following hospitalization for premature ACS. In both men and women, the majority of rehospitalizations were cardiac-related, with chest pain or angina the most common reasons for rehospitalization.

Women were overall more likely than men to be rehospitalized for all causes after premature ACS, regardless of ACS type, but this difference was not present when looking at cardiac-related rehospitalization specifically. Men and women faced a high, yet similar, likelihood of MACE within the twelve months following the initial event. Women did not have an increased risk of mortality compared to men, and the overall mortality rate was low. The survival rate at one year was 99%.

"Although women were more likely to be rehospitalized, they had similar outcomes to men," commented Dr. Pilote. "It has been shown that women are more concerned and aware of their health than men, so it is possible that women have a greater rate of rehospitalization because they are more inclined to consult, and likely to be admitted following ER visits, given their recent ACS history.

"The 99% survival rate at one year is encouraging, and is lower than mortality rates observed in prior studies of older and comparable age patients, which may indicate that practices in younger ACS adults have improved," she concluded.

"In 2012, almost 1,900 Canadians under the age of 55 died from ischemic heart disease, which accounts for 9% of all deaths under 55 years in Canada annually. Premature ACS is also a significant cause of lost work productivity, unemployment, and disability in this young age category," noted Tara L Sedlak, MD, and Mona Izadnegahdar, PhD, of Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in an accompanying editorial. "This comprehensive and well-written study is encouraging for the future and provides valuable and much needed insight into understanding and improving the prognosis of younger ACS patients. The results of this long-term study, among an ACS population, are reassuring in that no important differences were seen in mortality or MACE between men and women during the first twelve months."
Increasing the concentration of specific fats in the brain could suppress epileptic seizures. This is evident from ground-breaking research carried out by the research groups of Professor Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven) and Professor Wim Versees (VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel). The results of their close collaboration have been published in the leading trade journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

Professor Patrik Verstreken specializes in brain research, focusing on synapses. These are the junctions between two nerve cells where electrical signals are transmitted. In various brain disorders -- such as Parkinson's disease -- there is impaired communication at these synapses.

Professor Wim Versees examines the processes which take place in our cells, right down to the level of individual molecules and atoms. By figuring out the three-dimensional structures of protein molecules, he tries to obtain crucial information about their role in the cell and the mechanisms which underlie various disorders.

The key role of TBC1D24

In earlier research involving fruit flies, Professor Verstreken had already demonstrated that a protein known as 'Skywalker' plays a crucial role in maintaining communication between brain cells. An almost identical protein operates in the human brain under the name 'TBC1D24'.

Professor Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven): "Genetic mutations of the protein TBC1D24 cause a deviation known as the DOOR syndrome. Alongside deafness, deformed nails, brittle bones and mental retardation, this serious genetic disorder is characterized by neurodegeneration, movement disorders and epilepsy."

Analysis with atomic precision

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By joining forces with Professor Wim Versees at the VIB research center for structural biology, the scientists were able to figure out the three-dimensional structure of Skywalker, making it possible to study the protein in microscopic detail.

Professor Wim Versees (VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel): "Looking at Skywalker in this way gave us completely new insights into the precise function of this protein, and therefore also the function of the human protein TBC1D24. Among other things, we discovered that it connects with specific brain fats. And more importantly, this connection is impaired in over 70% of patients with a TBC1D24 mutation."

Suppression of epileptic seizures

On the basis of this discovery, the scientists increased the concentration of specific brain fats in fruit flies with a Skywalker mutation. What happened? The epileptic seizures in the sick fruit flies were completely suppressed.

Professor Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven): "Our work shows that increasing specific brain fats at the synapses of patients with a TBC1D24 mutation is a possible strategy for preventing epileptic seizures. And although our work focuses on people with TBC1D24 mutations, we think that our findings could be relevant to various forms of epilepsy."

Scientific cross-pollination

Professor Wim Versees (VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel): "Our two research groups will now continue to collaborate in order to seek out strategies for increasing the concentration of specific fats in the brain to prevent epileptic seizures. This research stems from cross-pollination between structural biology, biochemistry and genetics, so we will certainly continue down this interdisciplinary route."
Around the world -- from tundra to tropical forests, and a variety of ecosystems in between -- environmental researchers have set up micrometeorological towers to monitor carbon, water, and energy fluxes, which are measurements of how carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor and energy (heat) circulate between the soil, plants and atmosphere. Most of these sites have been continuously collecting data, some for nearly 25 years, monitoring ecosystem-level changes through periods of extreme droughts and rising global temperatures. Each of these sites contributes to a regional network -- i.e. the European Network (Euroflux) or the Americas Network (AmeriFlux) -- and the regional networks together comprise a global network called FLUXNET.

Recognizing that a plethora of scientific insights could be gleaned from this information, over 450 sites worldwide are sharing their observation data with the FLUXNET database. The project's most recent data release -- FLUXNET2015 -- includes some of the longest continuous records of ecosystem data ever taken. The information has undergone extensive quality checks and controls (QA/QC) and is now publicly available online: http://fluxnet.fluxdata.org/data/fluxnet2015-dataset/

Computer scientists at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) contributed to the development of the FLUXNET database and website, as well as the software tools that automatically perform QA/QC and fill gaps in field observations. They also helped build tools that allow researchers to easily upload, download and share datasets, as well as track how and where each site's data will be used. Much of this work was done in collaboration with colleagues at the Max Planck Institute of Biogeochemistry and the Universities of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Virginia (UVA) and Tuscia, Italy.

The AmeriFlux Management Project -- which is funded by the DOE and led by Berkeley Lab, the European Ecosystems Fluxes Database and FLUXNET project -- worked with several regional networks to process and harmonize all of the information in the FLUXNET2015 release.

According to Dennis Baldocchi, UC Berkeley Professor and FLUXNET Principal Investigator, this data is allowing researchers to ask questions about long-term trends in climate and ecosystem health that would have previously been impossible to investigate. The data could also be used to help a variety of people, from meteorologists to farmers, make better-informed decisions.

"We know that the concentration of CO2 changes in an ecosystem over time, and now we can look at how these changes affect the photosynthesis or water usage of an entire forest or desert," he says. "We can also look at the affects of extreme weather events -- like hot and cold spells -- on an ecosystem."

FLUXNET: A Collaboration Decades in the Making

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According to Baldocchi, an international flux collaboration began in 1995 when a handful of scientists who were just starting to collect year-round observations of the CO2 exchange between the ground and atmosphere met in La Thuile, Italy to discuss the best methods for collecting and recording data. Shortly after that meeting, the DOE created the AmeriFlux program and began funding a handful of researchers to measure CO2 exchange in a number of ecosystems around North America. Meanwhile, European counterparts were launching similar studies of ecosystems across Europe, and NASA launched the Aqua Satellite to understand Earth's water-cycle and Terra Satellite to explore connections between Earth's atmosphere, land, snow and ice, ocean and energy balance.

Concurrently, NASA also funded the FLUXNET collaboration to blend data from the regional networks to validate their satellite data. In 1999, the official FLUXNET group met again at the Marconi Conference Center in Marshall, California to work on harmonizing their datasets. This included coming up with common names, units and time-steps in their field data descriptions, which was crucial for multi-site analysis. The researchers also developed a process for filling gaps in the field data.

"When you are observing in nature it's inevitable that you will have gaps in your data because a raindrop or bug messes with a sensor, or a sensor may malfunction. We use statistical models to fill those gaps of information," says Baldocchi.

Once the initial NASA funding expired in the late 1990s, international researchers who saw a benefit in keeping the FLUXNET collaboration going sustained it through a patchwork of funds from agencies in Canada, Europe and the U.S., as well as "in-kind" support from research groups, universities and foundations. In fact, this is how Berkeley Lab's involvement in building software tools for FLUXNET began.

"It's a big deal that we are able to get hundreds of scientists to come together, trust each other, share and exchange data and work toward a common goal," says Baldocchi. "In the early days, this was a small group and everyone knew each other so we were able to meet in a place like Italy and form a personal relationship. As the community grows, software tools that track where and how each site's data is being used are invaluable to form trust."

Berkeley Lab Joins the FLUXNET Software Collaboration

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Berkeley Lab computer scientists officially joined the FLUXNET collaboration in 2006, when CRD's Deb Agarwal offered to use funds from her Microsoft Research Grant to help the collaboration build a website, queryable database and a workflow for requesting and sharing site data. With limited funds, the initial versions of the FLUXNET website and database were extremely utilitarian.

"In the beginning, many researchers were nervous to share their data publicly because they risked losing credit if someone used their data without acknowledging them, or published a paper on their data before they could," says Agarwal. "So we focused on tools that would give the site managers an incentive to comfortably share their data. In the beginning, we focused on enabling data policy compliant use of the data."

"By 2006 we were getting to the point of big data, and the computer scientists essentially provided the site managers with some guidance and 'adult supervision' by convincing us that the FLUXNET website should serve as our central point of data exchange," says Baldocchi. "Before this, a lot of scientists were just emailing data files back and forth to each other. There was no version control or vetting of the files, so we would have no idea what version was the most recent, what had been analyzed, or how it was different from the original dataset. We got all of this with the new website and database."

Once the Microsoft grant ran out, Agarwal and the Berkeley Lab team were able to maintain the FLUXNET site with limited funds from Baldocchi and DOE. At the same time, European collaborators who did have funding worked on updating the FLUXNET data standards and building tools for quantifying uncertainty in the field data, which will be especially useful for climate models. Eventually, as Berkeley Lab received funding to build tools for the AmeriFlux project, Agarwal and Gilberto Pastorello were able to work with the European collaborators on metadata standards, as well as building pipelines for QA/QC, gap filling and uncertainty quantification. Both groups leveraged this work to update tools for the global FLUXNET collaboration.

"The data in the recent release is dramatically better than previous releases," says Agarwal. "Our team re-standardized the data completely and our European collaborators completely revamped the uncertainty quantification. We created a high bar for QA/QC and ran every single site year of data through this pipeline, we manually inspected the things that weren't automated and sent data that didn't pass muster back to the sites to fix. With these new standards, we have established a baseline of quality that guarantees the sites are comparable. "

According to Gilberto Pastorello, a Berkeley Lab Computer Scientist and FLUXNET contributor, the uncertainty estimates for FLUXNET data are especially valuable for climate modelers who want to validate their simulations with FLUXNET data.

"We've adopted a model where we take the most recent and well accepted developments in the flux community and incorporate them into our pipeline, which can be quite challenging because we are having to rework some of the codes to ensure that they will run in a production environment. It's a lot of work to get the code ready to run in a very uncertain set of conditions and not misbehave," says Pastorello. "Ultimately we want to get this pipeline to a point where we can run it consistently here at Berkeley Lab and in Europe, as well as share it with the community so that anyone who wants to run it can use it."

Pastorello is also currently working with European collaborators to implement a partitioning tool into the pipeline, which will break down CO2 flux data into respiration and photosynthesis.

"It was incredibly important to me to keep this project going. This data isn't something that you can re-create, you can't start collecting this information from scratch again," says Baldocchi. "Today's FLUXNET has exceeded my hopes and aspirations, our datasets contain some of the oldest flux measurements in Europe and North America, and now we have contributors from Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific."

"People work very hard to collect field data, so their data is very valuable to them. To share it openly, the way they are doing, seems counterintuitive to their efforts, but after seeing how their data is being used to do regional and global studies more and more of these researchers want to share their data and are asking us why their data isn't in the latest FLUXNET release yet," says Pastorello. "It is extremely rewarding to see our tools help these individuals realize the advantages of FLUXNET."
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in prairie soils that had little or no exposure to human or animal activity.

Antibiotics have effectively treated bacterial diseases for years, but some bacteria have developed resistance to the antibiotics that once killed them.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers are investigating agriculture-related antibiotic resistance and developing solutions to address food safety, animal production and protection, and the environment. Part of their efforts involves looking at antibiotic resistance in soils.

Microbiologist Lisa Durso and her colleagues at the ARS Agroecosystem Management Research Unit in Lincoln, Nebraska, recently demonstrated that ungrazed prairie soils have measurable amounts of bacteria with antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes found in soils where manure was deposited by animals can provide valuable information about what is currently present in a sample site, such as a feedlot. However, the concern is that even if bacteria in manure are dead, their genes can persist in soils.

A tool for measuring resistance is needed to identify the source of antibiotic resistance on farms and in the environment, according to Durso. Establishing baseline levels of antibiotic resistance will allow scientists to differentiate resistance caused by human antibiotic use from resistance that occurs naturally.

Durso and her team examined native prairie soils that had little human impact and no animal grazing during the past 20 years. They collected soil samples from the sites and screened them for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They found that all prairies contained bacteria that were resistant to tetracycline and cefotaxime -- two commonly prescribed antibiotics that treat a wide variety of infections -- and nearly half of the samples contained bacteria resistant to two or more antibiotics.

According to Durso, data from the study can provide a baseline for what occurs naturally in soil -- giving scientists a starting point for figuring out how best to manage antibiotic resistance in agricultural productions.
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[September 26, 2016] Esri Chosen by Microsoft as its GIS Service for Enterprise Users

Esri, the world leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, is collaborating with Microsoft (News - Alert) Corp. on two new offerings leveraging Microsoft Power BI and Microsoft Azure. This collaboration makes the power of geospatial analytics available to a much broader audience than ever before. Esri's GIS platform, ArcGIS, will be integrated into Power BI (Business Intelligence), a set of business analytics tools, which enables its enterprise users to create dashboards, reports, and data visualizations through a cloud-based service. Power BI, which has more than five million subscribers, will be able to leverage integrated data and geospatial analytics capabilities from ArcGIS, including interactive basemaps, US demographics, and secure access to organizational data. "ArcGIS geoenables Power BI with some of the world's leading spatial analytics," said Dirk Gorter, Esri director of product management. "We're excited to give Power BI users access to data and enhanced map visualizations so that they can tell compelling stories using spatial and nonspatial data. More and more, this location-based insight is becoming an important source of intelligence for the business." In addition, Esri's premier professional desktop appication, ArcGIS Pro, can take advantage of Microsoft's Azure cloud platform in a desktop as a service (DaaS) configuration, part of a growing collection of integrated cloud services.



Joint users of Esri and Microsoft's Azure cloud platform will now also enjoy all the capabilities of ArcGIS Pro on Azure's virtual desktop. ArcGIS Pro as a service on Azure enables GIS users to visualize, edit, and analyze geographic data in both 2D and 3D, as well as share their work with others. This development is especially important to ArcGIS Desktop implementations with extremely intensive graphics performance requirements. "Microsoft Power BI is committed to developing high-touch business relationships that result in value for Power BI users," said John Doyle, director, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Corp. "The ArcGIS Maps for Power BI solution will provide Esri's vast experience with geospatial analytics to all Power BI users for their analysis and data visualization needs. When armed with a strong geographic understanding, Power BI users can make informed location-based business insights for everything from allocating resources to the best places to start a new business."

This innovative collaboration was announced at Microsoft's Ignite Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, which kicked off Monday, September 26, and continues until Friday, September 30. Learn more about the collaboration between Esri and Microsoft. About Esri Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. As the market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news. Copyright  2016 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, ArcGIS, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006240/en/

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A man with links to the Bay of Plenty is wanted by police.

Akatai Hehepa Purua-King has two warrants for his arrest on charges of burglary and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
UPDATE: Read the latest development on the Montreal pit bull ban here. City councillors in Montreal just signed a death warrant for thousands of dogs in the Canadian city. At a council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, legislators voted in 37 to 23 favor of breed-specific legislation, effectively outlawing any dog that resembles a pit bull - unless owners meet a strict set of conditions.

"I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens," Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters after the vote. But pit bull-type dogs currently in city shelters need not apply. Under the ban - which loosely covers American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers - no dog considered a pit bull can be adopted from Montreal shelters. "For dogs that don't have an 'owner' on the day of the passing of the legislation, the way the legislation is drafted, the dogs have to be euthanized," Alanna Devine, of the Montreal SPCA, told The Dodo last week.

Dodo Shows Soulmates Growling Little Kitten Becomes Her Mom's Best Friend

The Montreal SPCA takes about 2,000 dogs into the city shelters it runs every year. Among them, she says, about a third, or 700, meet the city's standard as pit bulls. "Based on the way legislation is drafted, they can't be adopted," Devine noted.

Some pit bull-type dogs have already found their way out of Montreal shelters in advance of the ban. Rescue groups have been working feverishly to find spaces for them in western provinces that don't enforce a breed-specific ban.

"It absolutely makes no sense whatsoever," Carolynn Williams, who has been organizing a pit bull exodus from the city, told The Dodo earlier this month, "It's a proven fact that it doesn't work. They're just going to force people to hold them illegally which will create more problems." So far, the handful of dogs who have found safe haven in Alberta and Saskatchewan pales in comparison to the number facing euthanization in Montreal.

ONE LAST CHANCE RESCUE

Not everyone on city council could get behind the legislation at Tuesday's vote. Debates raged for much of the morning, resuming again after lunch. Sterling Downey, a city councillor representing the political party Projet Montreal, warned that a ban would set Montreal apart from many jurisdictions that have rejected similar laws. And he wasn't wrong. Protest over the ban has erupted around the world, from dog lovers, celebrities and even the organizations like the American Bar Association, which sent a letter to Coderre questioning the legality of the ban.

Even the Quebec Order of Veterinarians has a lodged a formal complaint against the ban, saying its members have the right to choose whether they want to euthanize a dog. "I, professionally, morally, ethically am not required to euthanize those animals," Karen Joy Goldenberg, a veterinarian at a local animal hospital, told CBC News.

In addition, the SPCA of Montreal has issued its own ultimatum. The group, which operates shelters and animal services in 12 Montreal boroughs, says it will cancel its contract with the city under the ban. The legislation was proposed after a spate of dog attacks in the city. Among them, the most notorious resulted in a woman being killed by a dog in her yard last June. But, even in that case, there's doubt whether the dog that attacked her was even a pit bull. Under the law, people who own dogs deemed pit bulls have until March to undergo a criminal background check and pay $150 for a special permit. Their dog will have to be sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped -as well as muzzled and on a 4-foot leash at all times in public. "There are a lot of low-income and homeless people in Montreal who simply won't be able to afford all of the criteria they need in order to get the special permit," Devine told The Dodo. "Those dogs will have to be seized and have to be euthanized."
A female bobcat who lives along the border between the U.S. and Mexico has figured out where she can pass and where she can't. This bobcat lives near the fence that already stretches intermittently across 650 miles from California to Texas, and was mandated under President George W. Bush. She was collared for tracking by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and roams an estimated 730 acres - along both sides of the fence.

A lone animal facing the fence that cuts through his habitat. | Matt Clark/Defenders of Wildlife

But, if elected, Republican candidate Donald Trump proposes to expand this barrier to keep illegal immigrants out of the U.S. "A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border," Trump writes. He claims he will force Mexico to pay for the wall. If this expansion of the barrier were to happen, the environmental effects would be devastating: This particular bobcat's very survival could be compromised - along with the lives of thousands of other wild animals, including endangered species, who call the contentious area home. "It is important to ensure that animals have the ability to travel across wild landscapes," David Steen, assistant research professor at Auburn University Museum of Natural History, told The Dodo. "Movement is important to maintain gene flow among populations and it can also help species recolonize areas where they've gone locally extinct."

Dodo Shows Comeback Kids Family Stops At Nothing To Help Their Great Dane Run

A North American bobcat in Southern Texas | Shutterstock

The Mexican wolf, an endangered species, has been making a comeback - but a border wall could change that. | Shutterstock

"Many species undertake seasonal migrations to take advantage of changing conditions and find suitable areas for foraging or reproduction," Steen said. "It is easy to imagine how building a structure that restricts animal movement will result in numerous negative consequences for wild creatures." The wall would greatly impact the animals who traverse the boundary to survive and have families. It's estimated that 111 endangered species could suffer as a result Trump's wall, as well as 108 species of migratory birds.

A section of the border fence in Arizona. | Shutterstock

Also, when environmental hardship strikes - like drought - the animals need to be able to roam to find water. A wall wouldn't allow for that. "In key locations ... fencing seriously hampers the movement of predators and migratory animals," Beckmann wrote. "For species like wolves and jaguars, which need to range widely between habitats that are susceptible to drought, this is a grave threat to survival." Drought is becoming more and more of a problem - and it indicates a global climate disaster. But Trump also denies larger environmental problems - like the ones affecting the entire planet.

A family of javelinas trapped along a stretch of fence between Mexico and the U.S. built under President George W. Bush. | Matt Clark/Defenders of Wildlife

"This election season, those of us who are concerned about conservation, who care about the quality of our air and water, who worry about climate change and who want to protect imperiled wildlife around the world and in our own backyards MUST make our voices heard at the ballot box," Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, wrote recently.

Ocelots have started to repopulate the habitats where they'd been wiped out in the U.S., but a wall would stop this progress. | Shutterstock

You can follow David Steen's commentary on politics from a biologist's perspective on Twitter and Facebook.
Artist Robert Batemans Haliburton-area cottage has sold for nearly $300,000 over the asking price.

The 2,100-square-foot, custom-built log home on 6.3 acres was listed for $520,000. After attracting eight written offers, it sold for $800,000.

The new owner, Alexandra Frastacky, said that the Batemans chose her offer against some higher bids because of a personal connection and factors aside from monetary gain.

Affectionately dubbed The Lodge by the Bateman family, the cottage was profiled in the Star in August. It drew so much interest that the four-person team at the Haliburton Re/MAX brokerage that listed the property had to put most of its other business on hold for three days, said Amanda Robinson, who helped agents Troy Austen and Jeff Wilson market The Lodge.

Prior to the sale, Bateman, 86, said he hoped to negotiate visits with the propertys new owner once it changed hands. The artist and naturalist, known for his paintings of wildlife, has been cottaging in the Haliburton area since 1939.

The Lodges main assets were a sense of peace and the sound of two different waterfalls, Bateman told the Star last month.

Frastacky said she sensed the property was special from the moment she set foot there.

I could sense the creative imprint that the Batemans have had on the dwelling and its surrounding area; from a puppet show stage, to the use of water in and around the cottage, and of course, the studio space on the second floor, this is a truly unique and special place, she wrote in an email.

The birthplace of many pieces of prestigious Canadian art, the property also harbours many of the Bateman familys private memories, said Frastacky, who described herself as a nature lover.

Bateman plans to continue visiting family in the area. But his principal residence is now on Salt Spring Island, B.C.

The Batemans are leaving a signed print for Frastacky to hang over the fireplace.

A portion of the sale proceeds will go to the Bateman Foundation, which promotes opportunities for children to experience nature.

That gives me goosebumps, said Frastacky.

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A parcel of land bought in the 1960s by Ted Rogers in farm country at the western edge of what is now downtown Mississauga is to be transformed into a 10-tower condo development hailed as a fitting tribute to the telecom pioneer who passed away in 2008.

Rogers Real Estate Development Limited, a private holding company owned by the Rogers family, along with Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie on Tuesday unveiled a $1.5-billion, 15-acre, 4.3-million-square-foot project at the southwest corner of Burnhamthorpe Rd. and Confederation Pkwy. that promises more than two acres of public parkland downtown.

Rogers has an enduring history with the City of Mississauga, Edward Rogers said, noting that his father originally planned a radio transmitter for the site he bought for just over $170,000 a generation ago.

We believe in the city and in the vision that was set forward in Downtown21, he said, citing Mississaugas strategy embracing a more pedestrian-friendly core with community squares, outdoor markets and abundant green space.

Called M City, the Rogers project is on part of the tract that was coveted because it offered wide-ranging reception to transmit signals from broadcast stations being assembled by the progenitor of Rogers Communications Inc., including Toronto radio outlet CHFI, whose transmitter is now located atop the CN Tower.

In an interview Monday, Edward Rogers said much of the land had been sold off, but the family held a long-standing ambition to develop the remaining acreage. He called M City a first foray in real-estate development that could pave the way for further projects down the road.

The project will be anchored by an iconic design, will prioritize public spaces and parkland, and offer residents the best in wireless, high-speed Internet and cable-TV technology now and into the future, he said.

Plans call for 6,000 units to be available for rent or for sale at prices ranging from around $200,000 up to $750,000. Some 700 units are envisioned for the first phase, with construction to begin in late 2017 or early 2018 and to continue in stages as units are pre-sold or rented and as the Rogers family retains ownership of the land.

While his father did not live to see the development finally take shape, his son said it feels as though he is a part of it.

Its a wonderful project, Edward Rogers said. It will be built to specifications that would have made Ted proud.

According to architectural renderings, M City features will include extending existing city streets on a unique, angular plane to create a fine-grained network of blocks, enabling a pedestrian-friendly environment. Typical residential blocks will provide two-way roads with on-street parking, generous sidewalks and residential frontages.

Rogers has put forward a bold, exciting and forward-looking vision for Mississaugas growing, thriving and promising downtown, Crombie said in a statement.

These new planned developments by Rogers are consistent with the City of Mississaugas commitment to build a livable, walkable city, home to mixed-use residential and commercial developments that are connected to an extensive public transit network.

New York-based urban design firm Cooper Robertson was brought on board to design the framework for M City while Cooper Robertson partner Donald Clinton was the lead designer on the project.

Architects delivered a winning design that will redefine Mississaugas skyline with a striking, undulating tower that rotates seven typical floor plates in repetition as it rises 51 storeys, said a press release outlining the development.

Rogers, because theyre not builders, theyre a renowned Canadian corporate entity that doesnt have to squeeze every penny out of this, Rogers is creating a legacy here, said the areas councillor, Nando Iannicca.

Rogers will partner with a construction management company and a highrise builder on the project, which Iannicca said will be a defining feature of Canadas sixth-largest city. The towers will house privately owned condos and rentals, with a wide variety of leased commercial properties on the lower floors.

The Toronto-based holding companys plan describes a signature tower just west of city hall and right next to the downtown loop of a future $1.3-billion LRT to be fully funded by the province. The land has sat as a vacant field for decades, while vertical development has exploded around Mississaugas city centre.

The project is being assembled by the Rogers family independent of Toronto-based Rogers Communications, the telecom and media giant founded by Ted Rogers father, Edward S. Rogers.

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Its something financial planner Mark Coutts sees from time to time.

Clients come into his Toronto office and tell him they want to invest in a companys stock based solely on its brand-name recognition. Often, its an investment strategy he cautions against.

Just because you own an iPhone doesnt necessarily mean that Apple is the right stock for you. Just because you get a coffee every morning at Tim Hortons doesnt mean thats the right investment for you, said Coutts, an adviser at Sun Life Financial.

It means you understand the product, but do you understand all the other factors you would normally consider when making any investment decision: the strength of the management, their competitive advantage, the maturity of the industry, the economic factors that impact that sector. Those are all factors you should bake into the equation.

The idea of investing in what you know has been touted by many, including legendary investor Warren Buffett.

The reasoning behind it is that people have a better grasp on what theyre investing in if they understand the products or services of the company.

While owning a piece of large, well-known companies may be attractive to many, one of the risks investors can run into is missing out on the potential for faster or bigger growth if they only stick to the tried-and-true brands.

With Apple, for instance, investors may want to buy the companys shares because they see the huge lineups out the door every time it launches a new product. But getting in on the company now may be expensive, and there may be more growth opportunities if investors looks at smaller firms that may have a connection to Apple, such as its chip maker.

Coutts says buying into big, brand-name stocks also doesnt guarantee perpetuity, such as the cases of Bombardier and the now bankrupt Canadian tech firm Nortel Networks, which both saw their shares plummet.

But on the flip side, HollisWealth senior adviser Allan Small says that although investors may be drawn to new, emerging startups because they have more potential to grow  their longevity and returns are also not guaranteed.

You have to be really careful. Just because a young company has promise and potential doesnt mean it will shoot up and continue to go on forever, he said.

Sometimes owning a company like that makes sense if youre an investor who can handle the risks associated with it. But for those who want steady and slow because they believe thats what wins the race  these bigger names may fit the bill.

Small says investors need to evaluate their risk tolerance, time horizon and goals with any investment strategy.

Avoiding home bias is another consideration, adds portfolio manager Adrian Mastracci.

For instance, some investors only want to invest in Canadian stocks and dont even consider American or international stocks.

Instead, he suggests diversification as a better guideline to follow for sound investment plans.

Just because youre a foodie, you shouldnt just pick A&W (restaurant) stocks because you wont have enough diversification, said Mastracci, president at KCM Wealth Management in Vancouver.

I like putting all the sectors in a portfolio because I dont know which ones are going to be good ones.

He advocates buying shares when times are bad and selling shares when times are good  in other words, buying low and selling high.

Thats the better approach as opposed to loading up on a particular stock because you think its big, Mastracci said. Size is great but its not always going to save you.

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HAUGESUND, NORWAYTen-year-old Anna Thulin-Myges passport shows what looks like an ordinary Norwegian girl wearing her long, blond hair fastened with a clip. It lists her first name as Anna, but under sex it says M.

That means male, Anna says, running her finger across the document. In some weeks Im going to have a new passport, and then its going to say F.

Norway, a wealthy, progressive nation of 5 million people, recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children.

Provided they have parental consent, Norwegian children as young as 6 can now self-identify as male or female, effectively overruling the gender assigned to them at birth. Anna is one of nine minors in the country to have taken advantage since the new rules were adopted in June.

With no requirement for surgery or counselling, the process is as easy as filing a tax return. So far, Norway has not refused a single application. Soon, Anna will receive the official letter confirming the government recognizes her as the girl she always knew herself to be.

When I was little I liked to dress up in dresses, she says. And play with dolls, and so I actually think that I was a girl the whole time.

Annas mother, Siri Oline Myge, agrees. Her daughter endured several years of confusion and rejection when she was forced to be a boy named Adrian at school, and the legal recognition means Anna can look forward to a future without suspicion and constant misunderstandings, she says.

Anna had two separate identities, Oline Myge says. It took a long time for her to get her confidence back.

Though Norwegian lawmakers concede that some of the questions surrounding transgender children remain unsettled, the law generated little controversy when it was introduced. Parliament members from left to right approved the legislation in June on a 79-13 vote.

I have met several young people who have told me that this new law is making their lives easier. Several have come out of a dark place, said Health Minister Bent Hoie, a Conservative Party member who piloted the legislation through the Storting.

Lawmakers considered adding a mandatory reflection period for both adults and children before they could legally transition, but concluded that would be patronizing, Hoie said.

Instead, after completing an online form that generates a mailed response from tax authorities, applicants must only return a letter confirming their intention to change genders.

Once their applications are approved, they receive a new national identification number that unlocks the ability to update all forms of identification, from passports and drivers licences to birth certificates and credit cards. The tax ID numbers in Norway are gender-specific.

Until July, Norway was one of 32 European countries that required people to undergo long periods of counselling, hormone replacement and ultimately sex reassignment surgery before their gender changes would be legally recognized.

The provision effectively prevented children from transitioning legally and put off many adults who either couldnt afford or didnt want the surgery. In the United States, requirements vary by state, but transgender residents generally must provide proof of clinically appropriate treatment.

Although Malta allows parents or guardians to seek gender changes on behalf of children in court, Norway is the only country where minors go through the same administrative process as adults.

Some supporters, including Transgender Europe Senior Policy Officer Richard Kohler, think Norway should go even further and remove the remaining restrictions on official gender changes for children under 6.

It shows that there is an underlying belief that trans is bad and problematic, Kohler said of the age limit. It gives the signal that we dont believe children, and that we need to protect them from gender from an early age.

Anna lives with her mother, stepfather and three siblings by a fjord in Haugesund, a small west coast town. The family dog sniffs around their wooden house; a dinner of home-caught moose simmers in the kitchen.

When she was 5, concerned relatives and neighbours said Annas mother was indulging a dangerous fantasy and accused her of projecting a desire for a daughter onto her son. Norways child protection services were called. Social workers monitored the family until doctors persuaded the child welfare agency that Annas female identity was genuine.

I saw that Anna was different from before she was 3, Oline Myge says. She wanted to wear clips in her hair and got really unhappy when I cut it.

After legally changing her name in July 2013, Anna started wearing dresses to school and encountered some bullying. She enrolled at a new school this year where classmates have never known her as Adrian. She says she is much happier there.

The Norwegian Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity, which helped draft the law, successfully lobbied to have the age threshold lowered from 7 to 6 so children could start school with their records already updated  heading off the sort of public transition Anna had.

Most of the 250 Norwegians who have applied for a gender change since the law took effect are adults. Christine Jentoft, a 28-year-old who requested a new tax identification number over the summer, welcomes the ability to self-identify, saying its not the governments place to decide her gender.

The only people who know about my genitals are my doctor, my girlfriend and me, said Jentoft, who is the biological father of a 5-year-old girl and identifies as a lesbian.

Jentoft started living as a woman six years ago. But she has been reluctant to leave Norway without a passport that matched her gender identity. Now, she can get the marker on her passport and all of her other government-issued records revised.

I dont have to suffer a lot of questions anymore like Ive done in the past, like people wanting to know, Why does it say male here? Why do you have a male personal number? she said.

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OTTAWA-- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally appealed to Canadian allies Italy and Switzerland, and allies of Iran, namely Oman, to secure the release of Homa Hoodfar from a Tehran prison where she was jailed since June, the Star has learned.

The effort to plead Hoodfars consular case had stalled through much of the summer, but gained urgency in the past several weeks as her family said her health was fragile and declining.

Trudeau met with key diplomats on the sidelines of international summits and, in what would become a breakthrough on Sept. 9, telephoned Omans foreign minister to request the aid of the Sultan of Oman in lobbying Iran, according to a senior Canadian official.

It was seen as a bit of a long shot, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity,

Everything started to move after that. Why that is, your guess is as good as mine. But theres no doubt we were hitting a brick wall until they had that discussion.

The appeals from the top culminated Monday with the surprise release of Hoodfar, 65, a retired Montreal sociology and anthropology professor, who was photographed stepping off a Royal Air Force of Oman plane to freedom.

Hoodfars release  the second in two weeks of a Canadian citizen stranded in dire circumstances  follows Kevin Garratts return to Canada after spending two years in a Chinese jail. Both were believed jailed on trumped up charges. In Garratts case, Ottawa had even dispatched CSIS director Michel Coulombe to Beijing to deliver a message  in the words of another senior official  Garratt hadnt been asked to spy for the agency.

The Hoodfar and Garratt cases could represent, for two Canadian families, the fruits of the Liberal governments strategy of deliberate re-engagement.

Or Hoodfars release could be a result of an internal power shift in the Iranian regime, split between hardliners and moderates, and unrelated to Canadas efforts, according to a University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau. The former DND analyst specializing in Iran pointed out Iran is absolutely opaque on issues like this.

We dont know why she was taken. We dont know if she was taken as a bargaining tool by the Iranians to create leverage with the Canadians to obtain something in exchange or if she was jailed solely as a result of internal factional disputes inside Iran  hardliners wanting to trip up moderates to damage their efforts at re-engaging with the international community.

Juneau said if that is the case, Hoodfars release may be a function of internal politics and pretty independent of what Canada is or is not doing.

Nevertheless, Hoodfars case is the latest to signal a willingness on Trudeaus part to go out on a limb and personally engage in politically delicate cases.

In doing so, Trudeau is said to have turned aside early advice from officials during transition briefings when he took power not to get personally involved in consular cases.

At that time, Egyptian-born Canadian citizen Mohamed Fahmy, a jailed journalist in Cairo, was in the headlines, said the official who has knowledge of the file.

But he said, Look, I believe really strongly in this, that Im going to be more involved in these cases than my predecessors have been as a matter of practice, because I was a Canadian who travelled all over the world and I know how important it is to have your government behind you when you find yourself in a difficult situation,  said the Canadian official.

What the prime minister said to foreign minister of Oman which was almost a carbon copy of what he said to Chinese officials about Kevin Garratt was its really hard  we want to have a change in the tone in the relationship here  but its really difficult to have a fresh approach to the relationship when (Iran) has got a Canadian citizen in jail for effectively being a feminist, said the official, adding there was no specific commitment to do anything return.

Key in conveying the message to Iranian officials was the effort by Italy and Switzerland, too, said the official.

Over the summer, Canadas global affairs department mapped relationships in Iran and the region. Canada had closed its embassy and pulled its ambassador to Tehran in 2012. Ottawa had zero contact with Tehran and had to turn to its friends for help in the region.

At the G20 summit in August in China, Trudeau spoke to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, whose government maintains diplomatic ties to Iran. Renzi personally directed Italys diplomats to make representations in Tehran on Hoodfars behalf.

The Italians were amazing, said the official. They did treat her as they would treat an Italian in the same situation and worked channels with their contacts, though no Italian official was able to visit Hoodfar.

During the Sept. 9 phone call, Trudeau reached a willing listener. Omans foreign minister told Trudeau his countrys leader, the Sultan of Oman, might be willing to press Canadas case with Tehran and promised to follow up with the Canadians at the United Nations General Assembly.

We thought what does that actually mean and will anything actually transpire, said the Canadian official who has knowledge of the file.

The Canadians speculated the Iranians may have been surprised by the direct intervention of the prime minister since there had been little movement in the relationship after diplomatic ties were cut, apart from Canadas agreement with other countries to lower sanctions following Januarys agreement to see Iran restrict its nuclear activities.

There followed a flurry of meetings in New York between Canadas global affairs minister Stephane Dion and foreign ministers of Iran, Oman, Italy and Switzerland, and finally a long meeting on the sidelines between Trudeau and Omans foreign minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah before Trudeaus speech Sept. 20 to the General Assembly. And thats when he said, Look, I think we can really help you on this,  the official said.

On a broader policy level, Trudeaus re-engagement strategy could bear fruit, though experts disagree on who stands to gain more.

Canada has agreed to requests by the leadership in Beijing to explore free trade talks and an extradition treaty with China. It agreed to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank  a move the official said was not a bargaining chip but a good thing for Canada that we were going to do anyway, we were looking for the right timing to do that.

In the case of Iran, Juneau said the hard truth is that Canadas decision to list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act was a booby-trap left by the Conservatives. The law allows terror victims to sue for compensation. It isnt a legal obstacle to renewing relations, he said, but unless Canada agrees to drop the listing  stating it doesnt believe Irans involvement in state-sponsored terrorism  from Irans perspective there would be little interest in deeper engagement.

Carleton University professor Stephanie Carvin said the re-engagement with China and Iran leaves little doubt Trudeau has moved to joyfully embrace multilateralism in a way that purposefully changes the tone and differentiates the Liberals from the Harper Conservatives. But she suspects there is a division in Trudeaus cabinet as to how far Canada should go in the case of China, given concerns about economic espionage, and foreign influence.

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The current vaccine for pertussis, or whooping cough, is highly effective during the first three years after children get their shots, but immunity wanes over the next several years, leaving little protection from the disease, researchers have found.

In an Ontario study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers learned that by the time a child is into the first few grades of elementary school, the vaccines effectiveness has diminished significantly.

The protection that the vaccine gives is very good in the first couple of years after the immunization is given, said Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, chief of applied immunization research for Public Health Ontario. So its good news for protecting babies.

But that protection, it fades pretty quickly. So by the time youre at seven or eight years old, youve got very little protection left.

Researchers found the odds of contracting whooping cough following vaccination increased by 27 per cent each year, although the overall risk remained small.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the respiratory tract and is often marked by a severe hacking cough, followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a whoop. Some infants may not cough, but may struggle to breathe or even temporarily stop breathing.

Pertussis is particularly dangerous for babies and can lead to hospitalization and, in rare cases, death.

Before the introduction of Canadas public pertussis vaccine program, annual incidence of the disease averaged 156 cases per 100,000 people. Since the vaccination program came into effect, the number of new cases has ranged from two per 100,000 in 2011 to 13.9 cases per 100,000 in 2012.

Most cases occur in under-immunized populations, often among those in which parents oppose vaccination, usually on philosophical or religious grounds.

In 2012, there was an outbreak of pertussis in southwestern Ontario that was first identified in an under-immunized religious community, which spread to the general population and then to a second under-immunized religious community in the region.

Almost 450 cases of whooping cough were confirmed, including 13 that required hospital admission. No deaths were reported. Among those who were fully immunized and yet contracted the disease, more than half were aged 10 to 14 years old, with a median of 5.6 years since their last immunization.

Last year, Manitoba and New Brunswick both experienced pertussis outbreaks, while B.C. and the Northwest Territories also saw above-normal spikes in cases.

The pertussis vaccination  which also includes components to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and sometimes other diseases  is recommended at two, four, six and 18 months of age, followed by a dose between four and six years old. Since 2011, a booster for 14- to 16-year-olds was introduced and a second booster during adulthood is also recommended.

What were finding is that the baby vaccines are barely going to get you through to that booster, Crowcroft said of the adolescent shot. And after that, the question is how long are people going to be protected?

Part of the answer seems to lie in the type of whooping cough vaccine given to kids.

Since 1997, Canada has employed whats known as an acellular vaccine, which is also used in the rest of North America, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe. The original whole-cell vaccine was discontinued in North America because it didnt work very well and caused adverse reactions in children, which included soreness at the injection site and fevers.

But Crowcroft said the study, which analyzed provincial health data for almost 6,000 people born between 1992 and 2013, turned up an interesting finding.

We found something thats quite new, which is that people in our study who had their very first dose of vaccine that was the whole-cell vaccine  the old-fashioned style of vaccine  as a baby, they seemed to get longer-lasting protection, she said, noting that subsequent doses would have been the acellular type of immunization.

People who received the acellular version of the vaccine for their first three infant vaccine doses were twice as likely to contract pertussis compared with people who had received the older whole-cell vaccine when they were infants, the researchers showed.

Scientists arent sure whats behind the difference, but they agree a better type of pertussis vaccine needs to be developed to prolong immunity throughout childhood, the teen years and into adulthood.

Theres a couple of things we can do now while were waiting for a better vaccine to come along, and one of them is that adults can go and get a booster, which helps protect younger kids, said Crowcroft, adding that studies have shown that babies often catch pertussis from their parents.

Older kids, whose vaccine-induced immunity wanes over time, can also contract the infection and pass it to infants, who are most at risk for the diseases adverse effects.

Women should be immunized against whooping cough during pregnancy, she said, because the vaccine has been shown to be safe and provides early protection to the newborn, as the mothers antibodies are passed to the baby in-utero.

The first couple of months of life is a really vulnerable time. Babies are the important targets of the immunization program and most of the deaths from whooping cough happen in the first six months or even two months of life.

In a related commentary, Dr. Nicole Le Saux of the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Kingston, Ont.-area Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill suggest that until newer vaccines with a longer duration of protection are available, a rethinking of the optimal use of the current pertussis vaccine is needed.

Perhaps a booster at 10 years of age should be recommended to reduce the incidence among pre-adolescents, or perhaps regular boosting throughout life is needed, they write. We dont yet have a clear answer.

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KELOWNA, B.C.First Nations leaders have urged the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to encourage the British Columbia and federal governments to take their issues seriously, marking the second straight day of the royal tour that aboriginal leaders expressed frustration.

Chief John Kruger of the Penticton Indian Band spoke directly to Prince William and Kate during an event at the University of British Columbias Okanagan campus on Tuesday, urging them to advocate for reconciliation for Aboriginal Peoples.

True reconciliation involves the honour of the Crown, the federal government, provincial government and the indigenous people of this land.

Kruger was standing in for Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, who has boycotted royal events. His members, which represents more than half of the 203 First Nations in the province, voted that he should not attend reconciliation events with the royals.

Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nation Summit filled in for Phillip at the Black Rod Ceremony in Victoria on Monday and used his time at the podium to make an even stronger plea.

John said the status quo hasnt served indigenous peoples well as he noted the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has determined there was cultural genocide against his people.

The current Crown approaches of deny and delay cannot continue. We cannot hope that our future means more litigation or protests on the land, as we see now.

He said when Canada became a country it wrongly pursued laws to proselytize indigenous people to become Christians with the residential schools.

The purpose of these schools was to kill the Indian in the child. The impacts, including indigenous language loss, have been deep, and now intergenerational.

During the ceremony, Prince William added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, which is used in the legislature when the Queen or her provincial representative is present. The ring is meant to represent the connection between the Crown, indigenous peoples and all British Columbians.

John said the reconciliation ring should guide future relationships between the Crown, governments and Aboriginal Peoples.

Marilyn Slett, Coastal First Nations president and Heiltsuk chief, said the royal visit to her community of Bella Bella on Monday represented an opportunity to continuing relationship building with the governments of Canada and B.C.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Kelowna on Tuesday for a tour of the city and a chance to sample British Columbias culinary scene.

The couple unveiled a plaque marking the 10th anniversary of the University of B.C. Okanagan campus, watch a demonstration by the womens volleyball team and met with students.

They also stopped at the Mission Hill Family Estate to view the vineyard and learn about the provinces agrifood sector at the Taste of British Columbia Festival.

They are spending Wednesday in Yukon.

More on thestar.com:

Prince William and Kate to get a taste of B.C.s culinary scene

Prince William dedicates B.C. rainforest to Queens conservation program

B.C. First Nations grand chief absent from royal ceremony in protest

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[September 26, 2016] Skkynet's SkkyHub Powers Becker Mining Demo at MINExpo 2016

Mississauga, Ontario, Sept. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (Skkynet) (OTCQB: SKKY), a global leader in real-time cloud information systems, announces that its SkkyHub technology is being used to provide real-time, remote data displays for a Becker Varis SSFM-100 smartsense Atmospheric and Environmental System demonstration at MINExpo 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Show participants will be able to view live data from the SSFM-100 on a display monitor, as well as securely from their mobile phone browsers over their own cellular connection, in real time. The SSFM-100 smartsense monitor provides a lighted display on the sensor itself for a user to read data directly, and it also supports standard industrial data communications protocols like Modbus and OPC. Connecting in this way to SkkyHub enhances the SSFM-100 by allowing its data to be viewed by any authorized users computer or mobile phone, with SkkyHub WebView. Connecting to SkkyHub makes the SSFM-100 IoT-ready, said Jian Zhao, Engineering Manager - Environment and Safety at Becker Mining Systems. Mine managers can monitor the gas levels in the mine from a computer in the office, while ventilation maintenance personnel can see the same data from their smartphones from any location. Here at our offices, we can also use that data for routine or emergency maintenance on the equipment, as needed. This demonstration is a real-world example of the practical value of the Industrial IoT, and SkkyHubs implementation of it, said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. Its all about putting useful or critical data into the hands of people who need it, on-site or remote, at any level of the organization. The smartsense fixed monitor SSFM-100 with its integrated controller functions as a black box storing critical information such as calibrtion record, Alarm History and Data Logging for post-accident investigation. The SSFM-100 is an all-in-one package and eliminates the need for complex cables connections and troublesome programming, out of the box the SSFM-100 is the most versatile and hassle free Atmospheric and Environmental System on the market. The SSFM-100 system design has taken into account the requirements of the industry and placed on the security and features into a single compact design but still maintaining the main requirement of reliability / accuracy / low power consumption. The SkkyHub service allows industrial and embedded systems to securely network live data in real time from any location. It enables bidirectional supervisory control, integration and sharing of data with multiple users, and real-time access to selected data sets in a web browser. The service is capable of handling over 50,000 data changes per second per client, at speeds of just microseconds over Internet latency. Secure by design, it requires no VPN, no open firewall ports, no special programming, and no additional hardware. About Becker Mining Systems Becker Mining Systems is a system supplier for mining infrastructure with its headquarters in Friedrichsthal, Germany. With 1,800 employees in every essential mining region, the company, which is completely family-owned, sells its products to the leading mining companies of the world. In addition to Germany, Becker Mining Systems is also represented by its own subsidiaries in France, Poland, Russia, China, South Africa, Australia, the United States, Canada and Chile. Since the middle of the 1980s, Becker Mining Systems has followed a consistent internationalisation strategy and thus countered the receding mining market in its home country. About Skkynet Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: SKKY) is a global leader in real-time cloud information systems. The Skkynet Connected Systems platform includes the award-winning SkkyHub service, DataHub, WebView, and Embedded Toolkit (ETK) software. The platform enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no programming required. Skkynets platform is uniquely positioned for the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 because unlike the traditional approach for networked systems, SkkyHub is secure-by-design. For more information, see http://skkynet.com. Safe Harbor This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Skkynet assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Skkynet believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Skkynets annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. Paul E. Thomas, President Office: (888) 628-2028 Fax: (888) 705-5366 Web: http://skkynet.com Email: [email protected]

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Toronto Star reporter Dale Brazao had a knack for finding people that didnt want to be found: people on the run, people police cant find, people thought to be dead. After four decades chasing stories at Toronto Star, Brazao has earned his retirement. But hes spun a final few yarns about how he got those stories.

How a notorious bank robber turned into Mother Teresa

Edwin Alonzo Boyd, tracked down by Star reporter Dale Brazao, spent the last 35 years of his life caring for two disabled women.

Wheres Edwin Alonzo Boyd?

The lanky city editor, Dave Ellis, hovered over my desk. How should I know? I shrugged. And who the hell is Edwin Alonzo Boyd?

It was the summer of 1996, and the cops had just unearthed a trove of rusty guns in Lake Wilcox, north of Richmond Hill, and suspected they might belong to the notorious Boyd Gang that had terrorized Toronto banks throughout the 50s.

Boyd had not been seen since 1966, when he was paroled from Kingston Pen after serving part of his eight life sentences  one for every bank he admitted to robbing. Perhaps more than his crime spree, he had cemented his name in Canadian crime lore with not one but two sensational escapes from the Don Jail.

It would be a great story if you could find him, my editor said.

Boyds Hollywood good looks and bravado captivated Toronto. He would jump on bank counters waving the Luger he had taken from a dead German soldier in the war, ordering the tellers to hand over the dough. His robberies dominated the pages of the Daily Star and the Telegram, and women crowded into courtrooms to get a glimpse of the famous bandit.

But Torontos love affair with the Boyd Gang came to an end in early 1952, when two gang members, Steve Suchan and Lennie Jackson, fatally shot a police detective. The men were later hanged back-to-back at the Don Jail, on Dec. 16, 1952.

The courts found Boyd had nothing to do with the detectives murder. Boyd was given eight life sentences, one for each bank robbery he admitted to pulling, for a total take of $115,000  more than $1,000,000 in todays dollars.

The microfiche files in the Stars library were filled with clippings of Boyds exploits, but nary a clue as to his current whereabouts.

I tracked down someone who had been close to Boyd. After we chatted for the better part of a day, she agreed to give me the new identity imposed on him by the parole board along with the instructions to relocate out of Ontario. I headed for the airport.

When I first laid eyes on Boyd, he was coming out of a bank in Sidney, B.C., squinting in the sunlight as he counted a handful of $10 and $20 bills. He had just cashed his old-age pension cheque.

If this had happened 45 years earlier, Boyd would not have bothered to stop and count. He wouldve been too busy dodging bullets. Tellers in those days kept pistols in their money drawers.

After getting out of prison in 1966, Boyd headed west with his new identity and $1,700 he had earned in prison pay. He took a job transporting people in wheelchairs on their daily routines. Thats how he met Marjorie, whom he later married.

He invited me to his home, where I shared a can of Liptons tomato soup with the aged pistolero.

What I saw in that house choked me up.

Canadas most notorious bank robber had spent the past 35 years of his life looking after two paraplegic women  his second wife, Marjorie, and their friend and housemate, Pearl. The only one of the three who could walk, Boyd did all the housework, cooking and cleaning and driving them to shopping and medical appointments in a van modified to handle the wheelchairs.

He had rigged the small bungalow they shared with fishing line running from their bedrooms to different sounding bells in the kitchen. A ring of a bell would send him hurrying to their bedsides, ready to pour a cup of tea, fluff a pillow, or settle a blanket.

Boyd, a war veteran and son of a Toronto policeman, says he embarked on his bank-robbing career reading a newspaper story about how a teenager had made off with $64,000 in a bank robbery.

After that, I said, What am I doing working?

Despite the lengthy criminal record, contrition was not a word in Boyds vocabulary. He relished the fame his bank-robbing days brought him. Regrets, he said, he had just one.

I shouldve stayed on my own, he said, lamenting that he had picked a bunch of idiots as partners. I was doing quite well on my own. The first time I took a partner I got caught.

Edwin Alonzo Boyd died on May 17, 2002, after being hospitalized with pneumonia. He was 88.

The cache of guns in Lake Wilcox turned out not to belong to his gang after all.

How the Star found a disgraced CSIS mole in the neo-Nazi movement

Reporter Dale Brazao remembers how a fence, a post and a smokestack led him to alleged agent provocateur Grant Bristow in 1995.

Find the fence. Follow the fence. Find the spy.

Thats not terribly sexy work in the world of investigative journalism, but it is, in this stranger-than-fiction episode, the truth of how in 1995 I tracked down Grant Bristow, a government agent who had infiltrated the Canadian neo-Nazi group, the Heritage Front.

Bristow was now in hiding after allegations surfaced that the CSIS mole had instigated and funded many of the criminal acts he was supposed to be monitoring. He co-founded the hate-mongering Heritage Front and allegedly drew up lists of targets for the group, encouraging its members to spy on and harass prominent Jewish leaders, all while on the government payroll.

After he was outed, the government took its spy in from the cold and hid him, allegedly for his protection. Finding Bristow had become an obsession among the ultra-competitive Toronto media.

Now, courtesy of a source, I had a photograph of the disgraced spy, sitting in the backyard of his new house somewhere in Canada. Beside him, by a pinkish-white stucco post, a pair of crutches to one side.

If I could find that fence, I could find Bristow.

I had worked on the Bristow case for months, chasing multiple, fruitless sightings. I had compiled quite a bit of information on Bristows time inside the Heritage Front, even his visit to Libya as a guest of Moammar Gadhafi, but I had drawn a complete blank as to his current whereabouts.

Then came the lucky break.

A man walked into the Star newsroom carrying photographs of Bristow, his wife and son, which he claimed had been taken at their new hideout, somewhere out west, possibly Calgary or Edmonton. CSIS had given Bristow a new identity, a new home and two brand-new cars, he said.

One piece of information that would prove invaluable in my search for Bristow was that he was getting treatment at a hospital very near his home, after breaking his leg while learning to ice skate. The source said he thought the facility was called Sturgeon or some other big fish.

The most important of the photos was one that showed Bristow, who had been careful not to pose in front of his new house, sitting in front of that unmistakable pinkish stucco post.

I asked the Star darkroom technicians to enlarge the photos, focusing on the stucco post and a large smokestack in the distance. I would use these as my landmarks.

At the Worlds Biggest Bookstore on Edward St. (this was before the Internet), I bought detailed street maps for both Calgary and Edmonton. The map of Edmonton contained the neighboring town of St. Albert. Sturgeon General Hospital was listed there.

I was on my way to Edmonton that afternoon.

Thinking that I might need to stake out this spy, I asked the rental company for a van with dark tinted windows. The only one they had was a bright cherry red minivan. No tinted windows. I took it.

I put the enlarged photos of the fence, the post and the smokestack beside me on the passenger seat and charted the quickest route to Sturgeon Hospital. As I neared the facility I noticed that the fence surrounding a new subdivision looked a lot like the one in the Bristow photograph.

I followed the fence into the Evergreens of Erin Ridge subdivision and I spotted it, two houses in from the corner: the pinkish stucco post.

Barely 40 minutes out of the Edmonton airport and I had found Bristow.

Driving past the front of the house, I saw two brand-new Fords in the garage bearing near-identical licence plates.

The next morning, I was staking out the house when a red Aerostar pulled out. I kept down and saw a man that looked like Bristow. I gave chase. Unaware that I was tailing him, Bristow stopped briefly at a convenience store to pick up a newspaper and a coffee, then drove to the Sturgeon General Hospital and disappeared inside.

When Bristow walked out the front door an hour later I quickly snapped a dozen frames. Then I jumped out.

Hi, Mr. Bristow. Dale Brazao, Toronto Star.

Bristow instinctively covered his face with the newspaper, said nothing, and then limped as fast as he could back into the protection of the hospital.

My exclusive on Bristow would share the front page of the Star the next day with the horrific bombing of an Oklahoma City government building that left 168 dead. Years later, Bristow called me at the Star saying he was writing a book and wanted to know how I had found him.

I told him I was saving that information for my own book.

How the Star helped a hit-and-run driver do the right thing

Jose Castro, who struck a girl and killed her, returned to face justice after reporter Dale Brazao tracked him down in Portugal.

Kara Parman lay dying in the road.

The 7-year-old Toronto girl was crossing the street to buy some candy when she was struck by a car. The driver sped off. The date was Nov. 22, 1993.

Kara, a Grade 3 student, died after lingering in a coma for five days. Police set up a special squad and launched a massive dragnet to catch the driver.

I was searching for him, too. I worked day and night, following a tip that he might have been a Portuguese immigrant. I knocked on doors across the Torontos Portuguese community: body shops, cafes, neighbourhood parties. Like the police, I was coming up with nothing. The trail went cold for more than a year.

Thanks to a source, I ended up checking out a tip on Rogers Rd., just a few blocks from where the collision happened.

One of the dozens of people I had canvassed thought the driver may have rented a basement apartment there. They knew him as Jose Fernandes.

The landlady was stunned when I told her that her quiet, hard-working tenant might be the hit-and-run driver police had been searching for more than a year. She knew him as Jose Castro.

She recalled an agitated Castro arriving home one day, saying his father had suffered a stroke and he had to leave for Portugal immediately. He asked if he could store his car in their garage. A month later, he called, saying he was not coming back, and she was free to sell off his belongings.

A friend came by to pick up his car, a 1985 Volkswagen Jetta, and the television. When a yard sale failed to move the microwave stand Castro had recently purchased at IKEA, his landlady, who was Portuguese, kept it for herself. Feeling she owed him for the microwave stand, she had visited him while on vacation in Portugal and paid him $50. He was living in a medieval town in the northern hills.

She drew me a map on a paper napkin.

Dont bother asking for the names he used in Canada, she said. Nobody would know him by Jose Castro or Jose Fernandes. Ask instead for his father, Jose the tractor man.

I was on a plane the next day.

After getting lost in the hills, and being given directions by a prostitute plying her trade at the side of the highway, I was knocking on the door of a centuries-old house. Jose the Tractor Man answered, showing no ill effects of a supposed stroke. Neither he nor his wife was aware of the real reason their son had returned home. A young man sat upstairs on the edge of a loft bed. He jumped down and came to speak to me.

After initially denying any involvement in the accident, Castro broke down and confessed: He had been grocery shopping and was heading north on Dufferin St. At the lights near Hope Ave., he saw a little blonde girl dash across the street. He tried to avoid her, he said. He panicked and fled the scene.

Two days after Kara died, the 25-year-old who had been working illegally in Canada for five years, as a security guard and cleaner, flew home.

I knew the consequences of the story I just heard. As I prepared to leave, I offered the young man some advice.

You can stay in Portugal and nobody can touch you. Portugal does not extradite its nationals. But Im writing the story, and from this moment on you will be a fugitive for the rest of your life. Is that the life you want?

Two weeks later I got a call from his mother. Her son wanted to turn himself in but was scared. She asked me to extend her condolences to Karas mother. As a mother I feel her pain. My son will do the right thing.

I went back to Portugal and accompanied Jose Fernandes Castro to Canada. When we arrived at Pearson airport on March 2, 1995, two RCMP officers came aboard and arrested him. He was carrying a letter from his priest and a letter from his mother to Karas mom.

Castro was sentenced to a year in jail, but was released after serving eight months and immediately deported to Portugal.

The story garnered international headlines and praise from my employer, colleagues, the police and Karas mother, Karen, who went on radio and television to personally thank me for bringing closure to her horrific nightmare.

But segments of the Portuguese community felt the story portrayed them in a bad light, that by finding Castro I was airing family laundry in public. Castro came back because he was a decent human being who made a horrible mistake. By running, he turned an accident into a crime.

When I found him, he was a deeply wounded man, depressed, and haunted by what he had done. By finding him, I gave him the opportunity to do the right thing.

Every so often I toy with the idea of trying to find out what happened to him. Did he marry? Did he have kids of his own? How did things turn out for him after he went back?

Someday, I might just try to find out.

Finding the woman who faked her own death

Vera Tugwell was desperate to escape a life she felt was hopeless

Vera Tugwell will always hold a special place in my heart.

In my 40 years at the Star, Ive tracked down a lot of people who didnt want to be found. Vera is the only one I brought back from the dead. The year was 1984.

The afternoon assignment editor handed me a two-paragraph wire story that said a Canadian woman was missing and believed murdered while visiting Orlando. The FBI was called in to help track down the killer, who had mailed investigators a bloody dress, a knife and note written in crayon.

Executioner hear my song, the note said. This is not the first, she wont be the last. Now find her, and the others if you can.

My assignment editor sketched out the headline on the spot, steeped in a black humour that often permeates newsrooms. The last steps of Vera Tugwell. A lovely Christmas story, he said.

Tugwell, from Penetanguishine, had gone to Walt Disney World, ostensibly to study cartoon animation. The Star sent me to Florida to find out how she had met her untimely demise.

My first stop was a run-down, $45-a-week Christian hostel in downtown Orlando from where Vera had phoned her parents weeks earlier saying she had run out of money.

Here, I learned that Vera had befriended a recently-released convict who was upsetting residents at the hostel by pulling up his shirt to reveal what he said were bullet holes from a gunfight with police.

The next day, I was sitting inside the Orlando police station, interviewing the two homicide detectives in charge of the case, when an officer rapped on the office door. Someone resembling Vera had been spotted at a bus shelter.

The detectives ran out and I followed. They found the woman standing by a bus stop, a birthday cake and champagne bottle in hand, heading to a local hotel to meet the ex con from the hostel.

Once taken in for questioning, the woman was adamant police she was not Vera Tugwell. She was Cathy Hanson, from California, and was working as a $100-a-week domestic in Winter Haven, an affluent community outside Orlando.

She stuck to the story even after police put her on the phone with her father and wired her mug shot to him for identification.

Frustrated by her lack of cooperation, police charged the woman with giving false information and sent her to the Orange County Jail. The police said they were going to pursue deporting her for working in the United States illegally.

So I offered the cops and the prison warden a deal.

If I could get her to admit she was indeed Vera Tugwell, would they drop the charges, and let me take her back to Canada? No real harm had been done, I argued. It was just days to Christmas and the Star had this thing about happy holiday stories.

So they locked me in a tiny cell with the woman. When she began with her, Im Cathy Hanson from California routine, I levelled with her: There was only one way to avoid deportation and a possible life-time ban from the United States.

Or you can be Vera Tugwell  and you are  and well be on the 4:30 flight to Toronto and I can write a nice happy Christmas story.

Im Vera, came the quick reply.

The police kept their part of the bargain.

They put us in a paddy wagon and gave us a police escort to the airport. Vera said she hatched the bizarre murder hoax to get away from a life of hopelessness.

She said she was completely unaware of the statewide manhunt for her purported killer.

She knew the report of her death would be hard on her parents at first but believed it was better than sentencing them to a life of anguish if she simply vanished. With more than 1,000 murders a year in Florida, who would care about one more?

So she purchased a knife for $6 at a flea market, cut her finger, and sprinkled the blood on the dress, bundled it all up and sent it to police. The note scrawled in crayon was supposed to make police believe it was the work of a psychopath.

We arrived in Toronto to a media circus. To keep other media from cashing in on our story, we snuck out a VIP exit at the airport and I put her up in a downtown hotel overnight while I wrote the story. I drove her home to Penatanguishine the next day. As I drove on to the property, and saw the tiny trailer and the outhouse in the yard, I realized why she had done what she did.

A couple of weeks later, when I called to see how she was doing, her father broke the news: Shes gone again.

The Mounties couldnt find their man  but I did

Corrupt undercover cop sold RCMP information to Columbian drug cartel

If there was ever a story where I thought I might get a bullet in the head, this was it.

Jorge Leite, a former undercover officer with the RCMPs drug squad in Montreal, vanished in May 1991 amid allegations he was on the take from a powerful Colombian cocaine cartel.

As a paid mole for the Cali cartel Leite was alleged to have taken some $500,000 in bribes, and jeopardizing several major drug investigations. The Mounties wanted badly to get their hands on him.

Canadas national police force, which according to folklore always gets their man, could not find Leite. The Star asked me to try.

As Ive told generations of young reporters, the secret to finding someone who does not want to be found, is simple  Find the Car, Sit on the Car. Everybody goes to their car at some point.

Sometime after disappearing, Leite faxed his resignation with some information that led the RCMP to believe he might be in the Middle East. In the fax Leite also said he hoped his sudden departure would not affect his severance pay for his four years on the force.

The one key clue I had as I began my investigation was that Leite had air freighted a red Toyota Previa minivan to Portugal bearing Quebec licence plates.

After weeks of working sources in the Portuguese communities in Toronto, Montreal and Cambridge, I learned that Leite was headed in the Previa from his home near Lisbon to his father in laws place in the countryside.

I flew to Lisbon, rented a compact Fiat Uno, and set out to find the elusive Mountie. After searching for days I ended up in Praia da Vieira, a fishing village some 150 kilometers north of the Portuguese capital.

I mingled with pensioners feeding the pigeons in the park, passing out my business cards and writing on the back of each one the name of the bed and breakfast where I was staying.

Hours later, as Im using the phone at the front desk and lamenting to my editor about another failed day of searching, I got a tap on the shoulder. You looking for Jorge Leite? the old timer asked. Im his father in law. He was carrying one of my business cards.

Leite, his wife and their two daughters were visiting the holy shrine at Fatima but would be back in the evening. Lets grab a bite to eat, he said. As I watched the old man down a few glasses of the fine, inexpensive, Portuguese house wine, I kept thinking of that Latin saying: In Vino, Veritas. In wine, Truth.

Patrao, mais vinho, por favor, I bellowed. Boss, more wine, please.

And out came the truth.

Leite had arrived unannounced at his home two months earlier with his two young daughters in the van. His wife, Maria, had stayed behind in Montreal to pack up their belongings. Hed recently purchased a large mansion, with a pool near Lisbon, and a condo in the Algarve.

Life in Canada had been very good to him, the old man said.

Time wore on. The old timer left to get Leite. An hour later Maria arrived at the restaurant offering regrets. Leite was in no mood to talk. She launched into a spirited defence of her beleaguered husband.

Leite didnt leave because he was on the take from Colombians drug barons. He left because he was fed up with being disrespected by his fellow horsemen. He had grown tired of being the brunt of jokes about his diminutive size. Leite, a former Portuguese marine, was only 54.

They called him the dwarf.

Maria was incensed that the Mounties had suggested her husband was having an affair with Ines Barbosa, a convicted cocaine kingpin known as the Godmother of the Cali cartel in Montreal. I just laughed. I told them that if my husband was going to have a lover he could do better then that.

She refused to produce her husband for an interview. So I followed my own advice. After driving around the village for a couple of days, I found the red Previa parked near the ocean. Fearful that Leite might move it, I slept in my car, and staked out the van all night.

The next morning, as Leite came to move it, I took his picture. He sped off. No interview. After filing my story I flew home to Canada.

After a two year investigation the Mounties charged Leite with corruption, fraud and breach of trust, and then embarked on a long diplomatic effort  ultimately fruitless because Portugal does not extradite its nationals  to bring him back to Canada for trial.

Eight years after I found him, the Portuguese finally agreed to put Leite on trial. The Mounties flew to Portugal with a 500 page dossier of evidence, and I went to cover the trial.

Leite admitted he sold information to Barbosas gang on 49 different occasions, but did it on instructions from his supervisor, Inspector Claude Savoie, to infiltrate the drug cartel. He had turned over all the money to Savoie, but had kept the Previa van for himself, he told the three judge panel.

Leite, who faced a 14 years prison term, was sentenced to a three year suspended sentence, four years probation, and a meager $1,500 fine. Charges of credit card fraud were also thrown out.

Savoie killed himself with his service revolver as investigators arrived at his office to question him.

Ines Barbosa committed suicide with a prescription drug overdose.

All charges in Canada against Leite were dropped.

How to find Dale Brazao

Forget following the car, find this beach, and youll find Dale Brazao.

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MONTREALIn the dead of the pre-referendum summer of 1995, a copy of a federal government memo summing up a recent meeting between a high-ranking Canadian foreign affairs official and a European ambassador was sent anonymously to my desk in La Presses Parliament Hill bureau.

The diplomat had shared the highlights of a private discussion between Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau and the European Unions envoys to Canada with his Canadian interlocutor.

Most notably, Parizeau had illustrated the irreversibility of a pro-secession referendum victory by comparing Quebecers in the aftermath of a yes vote to lobsters caught in a trap.

When the premiers office got wind of the leak, former journalist Jean-Francois Lisee  then a senior adviser to Parizeau but today a leadership candidate for the Parti Quebecois  was dispatched to plug it.

As is often the case in such situations, Lisee opened the conversation with threats. Should the story be published, it would be denied categorically, at great cost to my professional future as a journalist.

Then he changed tack. If La Presse agreed to hold the story over the weekend, he would find ambassadors to back his contention that the quote was a fabrication.

Lisees offer would turn out to be a great gift to La Presse.

For on the following Monday, the ambassador of Belgium rang up, not to back the premiers version but to confirm, on the record, that Parizeau had indeed  believing that he was speaking in confidence  compared Quebecers after a yes vote to trapped lobsters.

This was not the first of Lisees strategies to backfire and if he becomes PQ leader next month, it likely will not be the last.

Given a choice between prolificacy and consistency he tends to default to the former at the expense of the latter.

In the lobster case for instance, Lisees calculations did not include the inconvenient fact that in 1995 many EU ambassadors were sympathetic to federalism and, therefore, more likely to dig a deeper hole for Parizeau than to help him out of one.

In the PQ leadership campaign, some of Lisees versatility has again been on exhibit.

As a member of Pauline Marois cabinet he defended the project of a secularism charter. But in opposition he said he would have resigned rather than see some public servants risk being fired for refusing to observe a government-imposed secular dress code.

Then, over the course of the leadership campaign, he said he would consider a ban on the wearing of the burka in public, to prevent terrorists from hiding under a full-body cloak.

He alleged his main leadership rival, Alexandre Cloutier, had ties to a controversial Islamist activist because the latter had made positive comments about his campaign. In the wake of Lisees gratuitous association Cloutier and his family received death threats.

On the weekend, Lisee told party members the national assembly should unanimously back any Liberal initiative to affirm Quebecs secular character if only because it could lead to a showdown between the province and the Supreme Court.

To this day, variations on the secularism charter continue to divide the PQ and to drive younger voters away but that does not mean there is not a method to Lisees apparent strategic madness.

At last count the average age of the PQ membership hovers around 60 years old. Not only is the party most popular with older voters, they are also the most supportive of coercive measures on the secularism front.

Lisee initially seemed destined to play a maverick role in the leadership campaign. His pledge to put a referendum on the back burner until 2022 was expected to be a very hard sell with the diehard sovereigntists that make up partys shrinking base.

But with Cloutier running a lacklustre campaign, and with the resurgence of the dog-whistle identity politics as a wedge issue, the playing field has levelled off. Lisee is going in the home stretch to the Oct. 7 vote, with, if not a lead, at least some momentum.

If he fails to become leader next month, it will likely be because he is not the second choice of enough of the supporters of the two also-ran candidates. If he does win, the PQ may be in for its rockiest transition to a new leader ever. The battle for Pierre Karl Peladeaus succession has been the most acrimonious Quebec leadership campaign in living journalistic memory. With a scorched earth strategy, Lisee may once again have outsmarted himself.

Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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Some residents of The Beach are aghast at the notion that a redrawing of Torontos political boundaries could suddenly thrust them into Scarborough.

No one wants to live in Scarborough, one woman grumbled in a Facebook thread about proposed changes that would, to equalize the population of Torontos 44 wards, carve up neighbourhoods including the proud waterfront community. About half of The Beach would join a new ward dominated by southwestern Scarborough.

Michael Thompson, who has represented Ward 37 Scarborough Centre for 15 years, chooses his words carefully when asked to respond to such fears. I think Scarborough is the best place in the world to live, work and play, and I would invite people who dont want to live here to come on a tour with me.

The ongoing boundary review was launched in 2013 amid concerns that ward population disparities  some have almost 100,000 residents, others barely half that  mean Torontonians have unequal political representation.

It has triggered fierce debate at city hall, even though many Torontonians dont actually know which ward is theirs. The final choice could shape the citys politics and, to a small degree, loosen suburban councillors dominance on decision-making.

Joanne Purdon, author of the Facebook comment decrying the prospect of joining Scarborough, told the Star she fears that the new boundaries will take away from the village within the city feel that The Beach is known for. Via email, she said she hung out in the area in her youth, when it was such a quaint area (with) lots of small unique businesses and no one wants to lose it to Scarborough.

Mayor John Tory is adamant that Toronto doesnt need more municipal politicians so the number of wards should be capped at the current 44. A report pegs the cost of any new ward at about $290,000 per year, plus one-time $70,000 start-up costs.

Thompson agrees with Tory, saying few Torontonians are asking for bigger government.

But many of his colleagues are rebelling against the option that would largely erase ward boundaries reflecting the former municipalities. Support is growing for a 47-ward option that keeps more areas intact.

There is a gathering storm over the proposals that would redraw the map with 44 wards and carve up neighbourhoods, said Councillor James Pasternak whose Ward 10 York Centre, stretching from Highway 401 to Steeles Ave. roughly between Bathurst and Dufferin Sts., would vanish entirely under that scenario.

My ward is completely unique, with Jewish and Italian neighbourhoods full of newcomers, he said. To just erase the ward as if it theres no history and meaning there is terribly misguided.

Ward boundary review sounds so boring, people arent paying attention, said Ward 32 Beaches-East York Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon. Maybe we should have called it Losing your ward, losing your Beach, losing your councillor review.

The rejigged 44-ward proposal is not really registering but when Beachers find out about it, theyll lose their minds, predicted McMahon, who is not planning to run for re-election. She said she is hearing concerns about the possible dissection of a treasured neighbourhood, not about joining Scarborough which ceased to be a municipality when Toronto amalgamated in 1998.

Some councillors are worried that Toronto wont get new boundaries set in time to use for the 2018 municipal election, raising the possibility of city wards being set at the provinces Ontario Municipal Board.

The city-hired consultant concluded 47 wards achieves the best voter parity with about 61,000 per ward. It would create three new downtown wards and one in North York, collapse three wards west of downtown into two, and redraw the boundaries of all but six wards.

At Torys urging, council voted to seek public consultation on two options, the one with 44 wards averaging 70,000 residents and another with 26 averaging 112,500 residents. The results will go to Torys executive committee next month, but full council will later be able to consider all options.

Torys staff said in an email his position is unchanged. The issue is expected to come before executive committee later this year and the mayor will review and discuss with his council colleagues at that time.

Councillor Ana Bailao (Ward 18, Davenport) said council needs to adopt preferred boundaries as soon as possible to allow time for a process that includes public consultation and an Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

If we dont do it well and thoughtfully and in a timely manner there is always the risk of the OMB deciding for us, she said. Theres lots of councillors feeling the same way as me, that we need more than 44 wards and residents need to be properly represented.

Residents, Bailao said, usually agree with her when she points out they need a lot more contact with their councillor, and city hall, than with Torontos 25 members of parliament. Theres an Aha moment when people say I want to be able to have that proximity to the things that affect me most. 

With files from Jennifer Pagliaro

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A group of developers is laying claim to the rights over a large stretch of the rail corridor downtown, complicating the citys intention to build a 21-acre park in that space.

Mayor John Tory last month announced the proposal to build a rail-deck park between Bathurst St. and Blue Jays Way  which city staff now say could cost more than $1 billion. The mayors executive committee voted last week to move ahead with that plan, which Tory has backed as a legacy project.

The city, Tory and local Councillor Joe Cressy have said that preliminary talks over the sale of the air rights over the active rail lands with two rail companies, who say they own most of those relevant rights, have been positive.

But Matthew Castelli, a GTA developer behind Senator Homes and the Kingsman Group, says those air rights have already been sold to a consortium of developers that includes the Craft Development Corporation, based in Etobicoke.

I cant really talk about anything at all. The only thing I can confirm is Im part of a consortium that do own the air rights over the rail lands, Castelli told the Star on Friday.

Castelli said the groups rights include the entire 21-acre stretch being eyed by the city and that the rights were not purchased recently.

He refused to provide more details about the terms of the deal or any documentation confirming the ownership.

We want to bring out our story at a later point in time, Castelli said, noting a public relations firm would be in touch. You can talk to the city. Theyve got evidence of it. Theyre fully aware.

However, the city says it has only done preliminary searches, which do not confirm this. The rail companies have refused to comment.

Councillor Joe Cressy, whose ward encompasses the proposed park space, said Craft came to meet him with a proposal for seven to 10 giant condos built on a deck over the rail corridor, which would include a small park.

My initial and immediate response was, what is your ownership? Cressy told the Star. The developers, Cressy said, promised to share the details, but never did.

Theyve been making these claims, but they have not substantiated it, Cressy said. So that was the end of the conversation.

Craft did not respond to a request for comment for this article. Castelli did not respond to follow-up questions about Cressys comments.

Ownership of air rights is a complex business in Ontario.

When you purchase land, the owner typically holds title on everything below and everything above the property. But those rights can be stratified, or parsed, and sold-off for a price  in order to allow, for example, mining in the rights below or bridges in the rights above.

Jeffrey Lem, director of titles for the province, has told the Star that determining who exactly owns those stratified rights  which can be tiered like a wedding cake  is difficult to determine. He said the rail lands are of the most complicated in the province. Title searchers are paid to do this kind of work, he explained.

According to land records searched by the Star, a previous private sale for just a one-acre transfer of air rights east of Union Station totalled $8.7 million.

City spokesperson Wynna Brown said, There are various entities that have rights along the corridor and that the city has not yet done an extensive title search on the required properties and interests. Part of the initial spending on the project still to be approved by council will include paying a title searcher, according to a staff report. An initial search by staff, Brown said, found properties can have upwards of 10-20 registered documents on title relating to various types of agreements.

Tory acknowledged there are letters floating around from lawyers and assorted others all claiming various interests in this.

He reiterated that positive discussions with the rail companies over the air rights have been in good faith.

And ultimately, he said, its up to the city to determine how the area can be developed through zoning, with the city moving to re-designate the area for park use only.

I am pushing ahead to try to build a park with absolute determination, and I have told that to these people, Tory told the Star. Theres a lot of pieces of paper floating around and a lot of people flying the halls of city hall telling people things, and I would just say thats all very interesting, but Im just trying to build a park.

Cressy said its possible the developers  who do not appear currently to be big players in the downtown development game  have secured conditional ownership, which would hinge on the lands being zoned for development.

But no one involved is saying much.

In an email Aug. 3, CN Rail spokesperson Mark Hallman told the Star: Some of the air rights in question in the rail corridor are owned by Canadian National Railway Company (CN), and others by Toronto Terminals Railway (TTR), which is 50/50 owned by CN and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.

When asked about the group of developers this week, Hallman said CN as a matter of corporate policy, does not confirm the existence or absence of pending transactions.

In a letter to executive committee this week, George Huggins, director of operations for TTR, identified the company and CN as owners of most of the air rights and property strata above the (Union Station rail corridor). He also criticized the city for moving toward rezoning the area, calling it premature and inappropriate.

But in a later email to Torys chief of staff, which was forwarded to the Star, Huggins clarified that TTR has a history of collaborating with the City of Toronto in moving important public infrastructure projects forward, and we will continue to co-operate on any and all projects. We regret any misunderstanding.

Asked about the group of developers Friday, Huggins said: Im sorry, I dont have any comment.

When Castelli was asked if he was aware of the citys intention to zone the area for parkland, he simply said Yeah, and laughed but refused to comment further. He did not respond to a question about whether the group has agreed to a conditional purchase only.

Both Cressy and the mayors office downplayed the potential for the developers interest to cause additional challenges to securing the rights at a still undetermined cost.

Regardless of who owns the rights, Cressy said the city will deal with the rightful owners in purchasing them to build the park.

We are negotiating with the owner of the property, Cressy said. We have not been shown anything from anyone to state that its changed.

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Rhea Carlisle has grown up in an era when the phrase mean girls is part of the lexicon and anti-bullying discussions are part of school routine.

The 16-year-old Toronto student is aware of how girl-on-girl hate, as she calls it, can be acted out through cliques, playground bullies or social media mocking. She remembers her own distress at being excluded by other girls in elementary school, and how the dynamics improved after her teacher raised the issue of kids leaving other kids out in class the next day, without naming names.

It was always something that was talked about, says Rhea, a Grade 11 student at Notre Dame High School and one of two student trustees at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

I dont think bullying is taboo anymore, adds the teen, who says she hasnt experienced it at her all-girls high school.

So she was surprised to learn that while overall suspensions have declined at Toronto Catholic schools over the past five years, one trouble spot has emerged: elementary school girls.

Last year, suspensions for girls up to Grade 8 rose for the second year and particularly among tweens, according to the boards latest safe schools report, sparking concerns that the insidious mean girl phenomenon is still going strong despite years of anti-bullying programs.

In 2015-2016, there were 196 suspensions among elementary school girls, says the report, presented at a Catholic board meeting last week. Thats 38 more than in the 2014-2015 school year and 68 more than the previous year.

School days lost to suspension among those girls increased by 96 days to 411 days. While boys receive a significantly higher number of suspensions  with 785 last year and 1,787 days lost to suspension  those numbers were down from a year earlier.

The number of girls suspended two or more times last year also increased by 29 from 2014-2015, and notices of suspensions climbed for the third straight year, up by 63 to 262. While some of those did not result in actual suspensions, they may be red flags for worrying behaviour.

In the context of 60,000 elementary school students in the Catholic board, of whom roughly half are female, its not huge but its a concern, said Vincent Burzotta, superintendent of safe schools.

We base our action plans on trends, so if theres a trend that girls year over year are increasing in suspensions then we have to respond, he said.

The report also included student surveys that highlighted the differences in the ways boys and girls act out with peers. Significantly more girls than boys at both elementary and secondary levels said they had experienced or witnessed bullying.

Girls reported more incidents of social or online bullying, which are more difficult for adults to notice and monitor, while boys reported higher levels of physical bullying. Bullying is among common reasons for suspension.

This year has reinforced the notion that girls are becoming more aggressive, said Burzotta. Weve seen that they are engaging more in social, verbal and exclusionary behaviours.

He said teachers are being armed with more information and strategies on how to identify mean girls, cliques and other dynamics that put peers at risk.

Were very concerned because that is the age at which social inclusion is everything for these girls, he said.

Trustee Maria Rizzo called the latest findings about young girls alarming.

If (suspensions) are going up, Im worried about it. I would really like to explore whether this is a trend and what we can do about it.

Trustee Jo-Ann Davis stressed that student surveys show most students feel very safe or safe in school  95 per cent in elementary schools and 91 per cent in high school, the safe schools report found. But whats happening among young girls deserves attention, she added.

How are we ensuring that were creating an environment thats not enabling this kind of behaviour? And what can we do for girls that are finding themselves in the middle of this and want to be getting out of it?

York University bullying researcher Debra Pepler cautions against drawing definitive conclusions from the numbers, which dont reveal reasons for suspensions.

These are a small minority of children rather than any alarming trend, said Pepler, a professor of psychology at York University and co-director of PrevNet, a network of researchers and organizations aimed at stopping bullying.

Its possible that as awareness increases, teachers are becoming better attuned to the more covert ways girls act out and bully peers, she said.

However, she also noted that girls behaviour tends to escalate to more extreme levels before adults become aware of whats going on and intervene, whereas boys are more likely to be physical and blatant and draw attention sooner.

So higher rates of female suspension may be a reason to worry about the impact on victims and witnesses leading up to that point, she added.

No similar upward trend of elementary school suspensions among girls has been reported at the Toronto District School Board in the last two years, said spokesperson Ryan Bird. Ministry of Education data for the most recent five years available, ending in 2013-14, shows a steady decline in suspensions of students of both genders. It does not break down male versus female suspensions according to elementary versus secondary levels.

Rhea Carlisle says she hasnt experienced or witnessed bullying in high school but recalls that often prepubescent and middle school girls have a lot more insecurity and struggle to find out where they fit in socially. That can lead to inappropriately targeting other girls, which may be why the numbers are higher for the elementary group, she said.

Rhea said continuing the anti-bullying conversation is a priority for her and fellow student trustee Karina Dubrovskaya this year.

We are really going to be pushing inclusion and belonging.

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Its human nature to ignore pension tensions. Until the money runs out.

Full credit to our political leaders for coming together to expand the Canada Pension Plan this summer, recognizing that a looming retirement shortfall requires a long-term remedy.

Their historic CPP deal came just in time, for time is running out on conventional pensions in the private sector.

Long live the CPP. Private pensions are on life support, and fading fast.

If anyone still doubts the need for concerted action, or ignored the high stakes negotiations over the summer, here are two bracing wake-up calls from just the past week:

First, unionized autoworkers at GM made an unprecedented concession to relinquish full pensions (which pay a defined benefit upon retirement) for newly hired employees. The agreement, ratified by Unifor members over the weekend, marks the end of an era in retirement security.

Like virtually all other private-sector workers, new hires at car factories will be given a glorified RRSP savings account. These so-called defined contribution plans (I prefer not to call them pensions) get matching employer contributions but remain at the mercy of the stock market for decades to come, without the security of annuitized payments upon retirement.

Its hard to fault Unifor for throwing in the towel after long insisting on pension parity among all workers. They were among the last major private-sector unionists to cling to full-fledged pensions that have been phased out across North America.

Why continue to burden your own employer with legacy pension costs that disadvantage them against competitors? For example, Air Canada has faced major pension liabilities in recent years, while upstart start-up airlines like Porter were free from such legacy costs and financial risks because their newly hired workers werent getting defined benefit (DB) plans backstopped by the company.

A second development last week tells the story of our pension peril from a different angle: While autoworkers were surrendering full pensions for new hires, steelworkers were fighting to rescue and reclaim their full defined benefit pensions.

But the way in which their pensions are being salvaged portends a losing battle. When U.S. Steel Canada filed for creditor protection, after taking over Stelcos assets, it revealed a pension shortfall of more than $800 million. Upon insolvency, that liability would land in the lap of the provinces little-known Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund.

It has always been something of a Potemkin pension fund, with little to prop up its facade of protection. Like an undercapitalized bank, the pension fund could not withstand a run on its assets if too many private pensions failed  requiring replenishment by the provincial government and all other employers in the province.

Thats why Queens Park has long been loath to see a big bankruptcy deplete the fund. Behind the scenes, it recruited former TD Bank CEO Ed Clark to find a way to rehabilitate what remains of the old Stelco operations so that those pension liabilities could somehow be avoided.

After drawn-out court hearings and closed-door negotiations, a New York investment firm signed a deal last week with the provincial government to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to save 2,500 jobs  and prop up those pensions a little longer. The United Steelworkers union, which had been deeply skeptical of previous bidders, likes this proposal because it provides a pension infusion.

While that may sound like good news for pensioners and workers, it is surely just a stop-gap  neither a sure thing for the former Stelco workers, nor a safe bet for the taxpayers who could be on the line if it all unravels.

We dont know how the story will end. The only certainty is continued uncertainty for private-sector pensions, no matter how much union muscle is brought to bear. Private DB pensions are dying, and our only recourse is a reliable, diversified public DB pension in the form of the CPP.

All the more reason to herald the CPP expansion agreed to this summer after nearly a decade of drawn-out negotiations and foot-dragging by the previous Conservative government in Ottawa. A strong push by Ontarios Liberal premier, Kathleen Wynne, and national leadership by the new federal Liberal government, helped persuade other premiers to accept a pan-Canadian compromise.

Details of the CPP reform, announced this month, will take years to phase in. In truth, it is a relatively modest and staged increase after a half-century of virtual stasis since the plans creation.

It is a promising start. But decades from now, as more private sector plans die off and todays young people grow older, Canadians will wake up to the need for a more robust round of CPP expansion to pick up the slack.

Its only human.

Martin Regg Cohns political column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. mcohn@thestar.ca , Twitter: @reggcohn

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CALAIS, FRANCEThe migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea and elsewhere keep coming. Almost 100 a day arrive at this dusty, ramshackle camp perched at the edge of the English Channel, just 50 kilometres from Britain, their ultimate goal.

French authorities have tried for 18 months to dismantle the vast camp, known as the Jungle. In their last attempt, in March, when about 4,000 people lived here, they leveled almost half of it. But since then, the camp has almost doubled in size. It is larger than ever, and it remains one of the most visible symbols of Europes inability to cope with the influx of so many desperate people.

Authorities say about 7,000 people live in squalid conditions near the port of Calais hoping to get to Britain, but aid groups say the number is closer to 10,000.

Dazed and ragged, new migrants stumble up the industrial road from nearby Calais every day, past the graphite electrode factory and underneath the well-guarded highway overpass that serves as the entrance to the camp, where three Afghan boys recently took shelter.

Space has grown so tight that the fresh arrivals, overwhelmingly young men, spend hours looking for a free spot to pitch their tents.

The situation is like Africa in this Jungle, said Mohammed Zakaria, a 25-year-old Sudanese man who shares a 4-by-2-metre tent with nine others. As bad as conditions are in Calais, he does not want to go back to Sudan.

But there is little chance for him or the others to press ahead. On Monday, French President Francois Hollande reiterated his pledge to dismantle the camp. French authorities have vowed to raze it by the end of the year, saying new demolitions will begin in October. Last week, amid clashes with police, construction began on a high wall to keep migrants from trying to sneak aboard trucks bound for Britain.

Hollande, who is eyeing a re-election bid, is facing harsh criticism from conservative and far-right rivals who say the camp is a symbol of his failure to deal with Europes migrant crisis.

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who is competing to win the conservative primary, promised last week in Calais that he could solve the issue in a few months by re-establishing strict border controls all around the country.

France is a member of Europes passport free-travel zone while Britain is not.

In a speech to police forces securing the area, Hollande vowed to shut the camp with method and determination so that new camps dont appear near Calais or elsewhere across France.

Hollande said police forces will remain in the area as long as needed after the camp is shut.

We must guarantee a durable and effective sealing of the French-British border, he said, insisting that British authorities must also do their part.

Already, nearly 4-metre-high fences topped with barbed wire stretch more than a mile along the highway to the port of Calais to prevent migrants from storming the cargo trucks entering the tunnel under the channel on their way to Britain. There are regular police sweeps with tear gas to keep migrants away.

Migrants and their smugglers deliberately induce accidents to stop traffic so they can board trucks. This month, fed-up truckers blocked traffic bound for Calais on the English side of the tunnel in protest.

With no income and no means to make money, the migrants have little to do with their time but to wait for any opportunity to cross into Britain.

One group supplies some migrants with SIM cards so they can phone their home countries, and men perch atop a hill to gain better reception.

In the meantime, the camp has taken on an air of increasing permanence, to the frustration of local people.

For six months theyve allowed construction to take place, theyve allowed migrants to arrive, said the mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, who says the port is losing money and who has led protests against the camp. Theres been a very sharp worsening of the situation.

Humanitarian groups do much that French authorities will not, including providing food and basic necessities. But shelters remain flimsy and hard to come by, leaving many migrants wet and cold.

Migrants are free to roam outside the camp, but they cannot go far without money and proper documentation.

Local officials and aid workers agree that the states attempt to clear the camp in March was a failure, as Yannick Le Bihan, director of Medecins du Monde, put it. The authorities are always one step behind the situation on the ground.

For most of the camps residents the goal is still to get to Britain, and the countrys vote in June to leave the European Union has not deterred the flow. I dont want to go to school, said Zakaria, the Sudanese man. I want to go to England.

Hollande expressed opposition to renegotiating the 2003 treaty that effectively puts the British border in Calais. Sarkozy, who signed it as interior minister, now wants to send migrants to a centre on British territory.

This would be too easy to say: let them go to the U.K. ... That would largely open the stream (of migrants), Hollande said in a second speech in the port of Calais.

Hollande said Frances 164 migrant reception centres will hold 40 to 50 people for up to four months while authorities study their cases. Migrants who dont seek asylum will be deported.

In a letter to Hollande, eight non-profit organizations helping migrants called for a long-term policy of hospitality and integration in France. They criticized the dismantling of the Calais camp as a short-term view that does not solve anything for the dozens of people who will continue to arrive every day in Calais.

In Calais and elsewhere, France does not respect human rights, they wrote.

With files from The Associated Press

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Just after midnight on Sept. 13, Officer Sherry Hall radioed for help. She had just been injured in a gun battle with a man in a cul-de-sac in Jackson, Ga. He was 250 pounds, she said, mentally disturbed  and black.

Without warning, Hall said, the man stood up and fired his gun, shooting a round into her bullet-resistant vest. As she took cover, she said, he ran away.

It was, seemingly, another unprovoked attack on a law enforcement officer in a summer full of them. In July, officers were targeted and killed in Dallas. A week later, it happened again in Baton Rouge. The shooters claimed the bloodshed was retaliation for the killing of black men by white law enforcement officers.

Now, people were about to learn there was a cop-shooting black man on the loose in Jackson, a city of 5,000 where 41 per cent of the people are black, according to the U.S. census.

Hall stoked the fear during an interview with a local CBS affiliate.

For him to have such a disregard to human life really angers me and upsets me, she said amid a manhunt for the man she had described. If hell do this to an officer, how much more will he do to a citizen on the street.

She was grateful for her training, she told the station, and relieved to make it home to her three children.

The shooting set residents on edge.

Its a little bit scary, so hopefully they catch him really soon, Jackson resident Stacey Patterson told ABC-affiliated KLTV.

Shortly after, though, Halls story began to unravel.

During three interviews, she told investigators that she didnt turn on her patrol cruisers dashcam or audio recording device, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

But investigators pored over the equipment  even reaching out to the manufacturer  and recovered video and audio from a hard drive.

They discovered numerous inconsistencies, including some with the physical evidence in the case.

They interviewed Hall again, pointing out things that didnt add up.

During this interview, a bureau statement said, Sherry Hall watched the video and at that time Hall stopped co-operating with the investigation.

The probe shifted focus, from a still-unidentified 250-pound black man to the white officer who said shed been shot.

Particularly damning: She hadnt told investigators about a second gun that was issued to her by the Jackson Police Department on July 1.

Police havent said whether they believe Hall shot herself with the second gun and they havent said what they believe motivated her. But they have said they werent looking for any suspects and the citys mayor called the incident a ruse.

On Sept. 23, the bureau obtained arrest warrants for Hall. Shes accused of making false statements, tampering with evidence, interfering with government property and violating her oath of office.

Her case is reminiscent of the 2015 death of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, a police officer in Fox Lake, Ill. Gliniewicz radioed that he was pursuing three possible suspects and, a short time later, was found dead of a gunshot wound. His case sparked a massive manhunt. But police say the killing was a ruse to cover up a suicide after Gliniewicz stole money from his own police force.

In Jackson, after Hall was charged, officials rushed to assure people that they werent in danger.

There is no person out there with a gun shooting at our police officers, Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Richard Milam said at a news conference, according to The Associated Press. There is no person out there that needs to be found.

Mayor Kay Pippin told the people of Jackson that she was disappointed about being duped.

Our citizens have been made to fear that a shooter was loose in our community, Pippin said in a speech to citizens that was transcribed and posted on the citys Facebook page.

I am disappointed that anyone would cause such fears. For two weeks, the good people of the city of Jackson have poured out their hearts, expressions of concern and their support for what they believed to be a police officer, one of their own, harmed in the line of duty. I share their disappointment in what we now believe to be a ruse.

Hall had come to the Jackson Police Department from the nearby Griffin Police Department three months before the shooting, Chief James Morgan told the AP. While he had to talk to her about some minor issues, such as being late, other officers had no major complaints, Morgan said.

Before the charges were filed, she voluntarily booked herself into a private facility to seek help and will be arrested and booked into the Butts County jail once she is released from that facility, the AP reported. Her case will be brought before a grand jury, and she could face more charges, Milam said.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C.Almost too small to reach the microphone, Zianna Oliphant stepped to the podium at the Charlotte City Council meeting on Monday.

Six days had passed since the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a period marked by anger and unrest in North Carolinas largest city.

Zianna had come to discuss race relations.

More specifically, the young girl wanted to talk to city leaders and police about being black.

Ive come here today to talk about how I feel, and I feel like that we are treated differently than other people, she said. I dont like how were treated. Just because of our colour . . . doesnt mean anything to me.

I believe that . . . .

Then, she bowed her head and broke down in tears.

Youre doing great, someone shouted from the crowd. Youre doing a great job.

Dont stop! another adult quickly chimed in. Do not stop!

At the first council meeting since Woods was fatally shot, many Charlotte residents sharply criticized Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Police Chief Kerr Putney and other city leaders for how they responded to the deadly encounter and for how information was conveyed to the public.

Protesters had clogged the citys streets night after night, calling on police to release video of the shooting.

Putney first said he had no plans to release the footage to the public, telling reporters that transparency is in the eye of the beholder.

The department ultimately released two videos, neither of which answered a key question: Was Scott pointing a gun at police when he was fatally shot?

(One of the officers failed to turn on his body camera when he responded to the call, which goes against department policy.)

On Monday night at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, less than 15 km. from the scene of Scotts fatal encounter with police, residents flooded the council meeting to voice their displeasure.

Hands down! Shoot back! they shouted. No justice, no peace!

They also demanded that authorities release, release the whole damn tape, according to the Charlotte Observer.

One speaker, Henry Lee, demanded that the mayor and police chief step down.

The way it was handled, the secrecy, the lies . . . we dont deserve this, he told the council, according to the Observer.

People are losing their lives, and you are backing these people with these policies.

You dont deserve to be the mayor of this fine city.

You are on the verge of bringing this fine city to its knees.

Step down!

During the emotionally charged meeting, Zianna got up to say her piece.

She wore a T-shirt decorated with a rainbow-coloured skull-and-crossbones, with hearts floating from it.

A young boy helped her lower the microphone.

We are black people and we shouldnt have to feel like this, Zianna said, sobbing.

We shouldnt have to protest because yall are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights.

The girl, whose age was reported by some local news outlets as 10, said she was born and raised in Charlotte. She said that, until recently, Ive never felt this way.

I cant stand how were treated, she said, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Its a shame that our fathers and mothers are killed and we cant even see them anymore. Its a shame that we have to go to that graveyard and bury them. And we have tears, and we shouldnt have tears.

We need our fathers and mothers to be by our side.

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At one point during Monday nights debate, Republican nominee Donald Trump described the wealth he says he has.

I have a tremendous income, Trump said. And the reason I say that is not in a braggadocious way. Its because its about time that this country had somebody running it that has an idea about money.

What is striking about that statement  beyond the juxtaposition of I have a tremendous income and not in a braggadocious way  is the use of the word braggadocious. It is an uncommon adjective, appearing in English-language books far less regularly than synonyms like arrogant or boastful. As told by Google Trends (which offers a rough snapshot of spikes in search-engine popularity), interest in the word peaked twice in the past half-decade.

Both instances involved Trump, and both instances involved non-boasts of whopping assets.

Here was Trump in September 2015, during a Republican primary debate: I say, not in a braggadocious way, Ive made billions and billions of dollars dealing with people all over the world. (Donald Trump is worth an estimated $2.9 billion U.S., according to Bloomberg.)

Braggadocious, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, first appeared in the United States in the 19th century. It is the adjective form of the noun braggadocio, traced to the poet Edmund Spenser. In his late 16th-century epic, The Faerie Queene, Spenser included a pompous character named Braggadochio. Despite his knightly boasts, Braggadochio is ultimately exposed as gutless. Like Lothario, the seducer in Don Quixote, the name became a stand-alone word, its definition reflecting the trait that the character embodied.

As for where Spenser came up with the name, etymologists believe the poet took the word brag or braggart and tacked on a faux Italian suffix, as was fashionable among writers at the time. (There is some debate from where the English language procured brag. It is perhaps of Scandinavian origin.)

This is not the first time a politician has sent curious voters hunting for the dictionary. At least briefly, a popular speech or political debate can spike interest in obscure vocabulary. Joe Biden, for instance, is fond of dropping the phrase a bunch of malarkey in his speeches, as he did in July. (Malarkey, meaning nonsense  or, less charitably, BS  is of uncertain origin.) Bernie Sanders prompted a rush on the definition for socialism last October.

During Mondays debate, another curious word appeared to surface: bigly, meaning in a large way. The adverb is indeed also a real word  albeit an uncommon one, like braggadocious.

But the transcript indicates that Trump said big league, as in, Im going to cut taxes big league, and youre going to raise taxes big league, end of story. Its another Trump favourite: Im a believer, big league, in God and the Bible, he said last September. Trump once declared, I know words  I have the best words, but bigly does not seem to have made the cut.

MORE ON THESTAR.COM

Trump doubles down on Alicia Machado, says ex-beauty queen's weight gain was 'a real problem'

Donald Trump said 34 false things at first presidential debate

Highlights from the U.S. presidential debate

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[September 26, 2016] Smart Cards Market Contact, Contactless, Dual-interface and Hybrid - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2023

LONDON, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart cards are IC-based cards that accumulate and retrieve information using various computer systems. Smart cards consist of central processing units and memory units. Smart cards primarily act as a cost-effective way to store, manage, and maintain credentials for their users. This makes these products highly convenient for different applications. In addition, the portability of smart cards enables their extensive adoption across different applications. Currently, smart cards are widely used across sectors such as telecommunications, BFSI, and government. Due to the numerous advantages they offer, smart cards are increasingly used in the healthcare, government IDs (e-passports), and retail sectors. Thus, strong ongoing adoption of smart cards across different sectors is estimated to substantially spur the market's growth in the coming years.



The research study titled "Smart Cards Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2023" provides in-depth analysis of the market and related sub-segments. The report strategically focuses on market segments including different types of smart cards and components. In addition, this report provides market insights and forecasts of the size and growth of each segment across each of the geographic regions. The report includes detailed analysis of prevalent market trends and profiles of key players. In order to provide better understanding of competition in the market, the report offers ecosystem analysis and competitive landscape. The study on the global smart cards market has been conducted with the objective of providing thorough coverage of the underlying technological and socio-economic factors driving the market. The smart cards market is expected to see consistent growth in the coming years due to the increasing demand for secure and reliable payment transactions across the retail and BFSI sectors. Moreover, cost-saving schemes for merchants from payments brands such as Visa, MasterCard, and Europay is driving the smart card technology innovations. The decreasing prices of subscriber identification module (SIM) cards and tariff rates are increasing the number of mobile subscribers, and thus further contributing t the growth of the smart cards market. However, factors such as price pressures and technological challenges along with the cost of migrating to smartcard compatible readers affect the adoption of smartcards. Conversely, technological advancements, falling prices, and the introduction of high-end SIMs offer potential opportunities for the growth of the smart cards market.



This report studies the current scenario as well as the future market potential for smart cards globally. The market for smart cards has been segmented based on three major parameters: card type, components, and geography. The major types of smart cards used are contact smart cards, contactless smart cards, hybrid smart cards, and dual-interface smart cards. On the basis of components, the smart cards market is segmented into microcontroller-based smart cards and memory-based smart cards. The demand for microcontroller-based smart cards is significantly high owing to the wide adoption of such cards for contactless and dual-interface smart cards. The market size and forecast, in terms of revenue and volume (US$ Mn & Mn units), for each of these segments has been provided for the period from 2013 to 2023, considering 2013 and 2014 as the base years. For 2015, report provides actual data for the first half and estimate for the second half. Also, the report provides market size and forecast in terms of volume (Mn Units) for various segments for the above mentioned period. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period 2016 to 2023.



Geographically, the market for global smart cards has been segmented into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The report also provides a competitive landscape, wherein the market share analysis of leading players in the global smart cards market for the year 2014, in terms of value percentage, has been discussed. The report concludes with the company profiles section, which provides an overview of the major companies operating in the market including strategies deployed by them to gain competitive advantage, annual revenue generated by them in the past two years, and key developments in the market. The companies profiled in this report include the American Express Company, Atos SE, NXP Semiconductors NV, Infineon Technologies AG, Gemalto NV, INSIDE Secure, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) GmbH, and Texas Instruments, Inc.

The global smart cards market is categorized into the following segments:



Smart Cards Market, by Type



Contact Smart Cards

Contactless Smart Cards

Hybrid Smart Cards

Dual-interface Smart Cards

Smart Cards Market, by Component



Microcontroller

Memory Card

Smart Cards Market, by Geography



North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Latin America

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BUCHARESTA district of the Romanian capital on Monday celebrated hundreds of couples who have been married for at least half a century by handing out cash awards and inviting them to a joint lunch.

Bucharests fifth district town hall says it has given each golden anniversary couple 1,000 lei ($333.70) to honour family and marriage.

Some 600 people participated in the festive three-course lunch and dance, held in a ballroom. Red balloons decked the room, women were handed red roses and a live band played traditional romantic Romanian songs.

One couple took a joint selfie, and another couple walked out of the ballroom together complaining the music was too loud.

Organizer Florentina Popescu said the longest marriage in the district had lasted 66 years. They are an example for all of us what marriage means, she said.

One of the participants was Silvia Agapi, 72, who has been married for 52  years.

We started from the idea that we wanted to do everything possible to make the other person happy, she said. We wanted to stay together all our lives.

She added that she was disappointed that divorce had become commonplace.

Octogenarians Dumitru and Floare Caldararu, who have been married for 55 years, said mutual understanding, was necessary for a successful marriage, adding divorce had become a fashion.

Some critics speculated the celebration was held for electoral reasons ahead of Romanias parliamentary election in December.

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WASHINGTONMeasured versus agitated. Practiced versus improvisational. Mostly factual versus  frequently not even close.

If anyone in America still believed there is no real difference between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, a dramatic and acrimonious first debate likely disabused them.

Hectoring and grimacing, Trump pressed a populist economic message that sought to portray Clinton as a do-nothing agent of a failed status quo. Clinton, smiling and quieter, painted Trump as a bigoted and dangerous charlatan with dark financial secrets and a long record of mistreating average people.

Recap: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debate

Trump began the debate in his sweet spot: jobs and trade. But he seemed to falter as the night proceeded, taking Clintons bait on uncomfortable matters of race, gender and his business past.

And Trump delivered the only lines that may turn into damaging gaffes. When Clinton noted that he cheered for the housing crisis because it could present a money-making opportunity for himself, he said, Thats called business. And when Clinton pointed out that he paid no income tax in some years, he said, That makes me smart.

Speaking in generalities as usual, the businessman dispensed with direct answers in favour of angry attacks on a former senator and secretary of state he said has no solutions for a country in crisis.

Typical politician, all talk, no action, sounds good, doesnt work, never going to happen, he said at one point. Our country is suffering because people like Secretary Clinton have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of whats going on.

Trump, though, refused to explain what he would do to bring back the jobs he alleged that Clinton had chased away. (First of all, you dont let the companies leave, he said when pressed.) And he struggled to explain the most damaging parts of his history, regularly resorting to lies when challenged by Clinton and moderator Lester Holt.

The biggest whopper: his repeated claim that he opposed the war in Iraq, which he supported until 17 months after the invasion.

Among other things, he also falsely claimed that New York has seen more murders since the city ended its stop-and-frisk police search program, that stop-and-frisk was not ruled unconstitutional, that he did not press the issue of President Barack Obamas birthplace after 2011, that he never suggested he could renegotiate the countrys debt, and that he has never called climate change a Chinese hoax.

The debate arrived as Clintons once-formidable lead in national polls evaporated into a tiny edge averaging between one and two percentage points amid deep concerns about her honesty. Perhaps more troubling for her, polls in two of the most critical states, Colorado and Pennsylvania, have also tightened considerably.

Clinton, who appeared to grow stronger as the 90-minute clash unfolded, launched her sharpest attacks on three of Trumps chief vulnerabilities: his refusal to release his tax returns, his record of sexist remarks, and his spotty record in dealing with and talking about racial minorities.

Youve got to ask yourself, why wont he release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons. First, maybe hes not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe hes not as charitable as he claims to be, she said.

Trump insisted, as usual, that he has been under a routine audit for years, a claim the U.S. tax authority has suggested is unlikely.

The debate, held at Hofstra University on Long Island, was merely the first of three. But the audience was expected to be the biggest for this one  and some analysts thought it might hit 100 million people  and strategists believed it would be the most important. David Plouffe, Barack Obamas 2008 campaign manager, told the Washington Post that it was 75 per cent of the rest of the campaign.

Clintons allies had feared that pundits would give her bombastic rival undue credit for showing a modicum of politeness and decorum. They needed not worry. The Trump who showed up in New York was the combative one who shows up at raucous rallies  a man with little regard for traditional conventions, prepared zingers, or the message discipline preferred by political professionals.

Clinton, who is almost as widely disliked as he is, adopted a far gentler strategy. Listening politely, she broke into a practised smile at the end of several of Trumps rants.

Why not, she said at one point. Just join the debate by saying more crazy things.

Clinton depicted herself as a steady hand who could, unlike Trump, be trusted with nuclear weapons. She suggested his policies and temperament could produce a war with Iran and a nuclear war in Asia.

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate, she said after he criticized her for not joining him on recent trips. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think thats a good thing.

Among their sharpest exchanges came on the subject of Trumps years of advocating the nonsensical birther conspiracy about Obama. Trump, pressed on the matter for the first time since he acknowledged without explanation that Obama was born in America, claimed he did a great job and a great service, not only for the country, but even for the president in getting him to produce his birth certificate.

Clintons response began: Just listen to what you heard.

The audience laughed.

It cant be dismissed that easily, she continued.

He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it, but he persisted. He persisted year after year, because some of his supporters, people that he was trying to bring into his fold, apparently believed it or wanted to believe it. But remember, Donald started his career back in 1973 being sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination.

Trump did not seem ready for this. His response: I settled that lawsuit with no admission of guilt. But that was a lawsuit brought against many real estate firms, and its just one of those things.

Trump appeared strongest at the beginning of the debate, when he seized a question on jobs to denounce the North American Free Trade Agreement he promises to renegotiate and then tear up if he does not get what he is seeking from Canada and Mexico.

We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us. We have to stop our companies from leaving the United States and with it firing all of their people. All you have to do is take a look at Carrier air conditioning in Indianapolis. They are going to Mexico. So many hundreds and hundreds of companies are doing this. We cannot let it happen, he said.

As has been the case all campaign, their differences were starkest on the question of race. Asked how he would heal the countrys racial divide, Trump jumped straight to crime.

Secretary Clinton doesnt want to use a couple of words. And thats law and order, he said. We need law and order. If we dont have it, were not going to have a country. He went on to say that black and Hispanic people are living in hell because its so dangerous.

You walk down the street, you get shot, he said, repeating a frequent refrain.

Clinton, conversely, began with a paean to black achievement.

Its really unfortunate that he paints such a dire, negative picture of black communities in our country, she said as Trump scoffed.

Vibrancy of the black church. The black businesses that employ so many people. The opportunities that so many families are working to provide for their kids. She continued by calling for criminal justice reform and common sense gun control.

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Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off in the first of three presidential debates Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY.

Here are some of the more memorable points of the 90-minute showdown.

The 400-pound hacker

When asked about how the candidates would address the issue of cyber attacks, Trump, in defending himself against Clintons claims that he was too cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said no one actually knew who hacked the Democratic National Conventions emails earlier this year.

It could have been Russia, China, or, as Trump put it, it also could be someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 lbs.

Its already spawned a Twitter account.

Obamas birth certificate

Moderator Lester Holt followed up a question about repairing race relations in America with a question aimed specifically at Trump  after five years of perpetuating the myth that Barack Obama wasnt born in the U.S., why did Trump finally admit earlier this year that Obama was, in fact, American by birth?

In a strange twist, Trump implied that it was in fact Clintons campaign in 2008 which had started the birther conspiracy, a claim Clintons former campaign manager Patti Doyle later denied on CNN.

Trump also said he did a great job and a great service, not only for the country, but even for the president in getting him to produce his birth certificate. When Holt noted Obamas birth certificate had already been produced in 2011, Trump responded that it should have been produced sooner.

Just listen to what you heard, Clinton responded, adding that Trump had launched his political career on a racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen.

She also alleged he was sued by the Justice Department in 1973 for racial discrimination because he wouldnt rent apartments to African-Americans.

We settled the suit  with no admission of guilt, Trump said.

The tax divide

One of Trumps more composed moments of the night came early on, when Holt asked about jobs. Trump argued that, to help promote job growth in the U.S., he would reduce taxes on companies from 35 per cent to just 15 per cent; high taxes, he said, are causing companies to leave the U.S. and take their money elsewhere or avoid bringing their money into the U.S. altogether.

He also criticized Clintons flip-flopping on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and said her approach of higher taxes on the wealthy would regulate  businesses out of existence.

Clinton called Trumps plan Trumped up, trickled down, and was pushed him on not releasing his tax returns, suggesting that he might have something to hide.

The Iraq War

It happened over and over and over  Clinton said Trump had supported the Iraq War and Trump denied it.

The issue first arose after Holt asked the candidates how they would deter homegrown terrorism, considering events like the San Bernardino attacks.

Clinton and Obama, Trump said, had contributed to the creation of Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) by pulling American troops out of Iraq when they shouldnt have entered, and not taking all its oil.

Clinton and Holt pushed back at different times, saying he was on the record supporting the war, but Trump defended himself by claiming by repeatedly saying the word, wrong.

Temperament and stamina

When asked about his previous statements about Clinton being unfit for president  specifically, when he said Clinton didnt have the look  Trump said hed said Clinton didnt have the stamina for the job, especially when it would come to negotiating trade deals.

Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina, Clinton responded.

Trump also said his temperament was better suited for president than Clintons.

I have much better judgment than she does, he said. Theres no question about that. I also have a much better temperament than she has  I have a winning temperament.

Stop-and-frisk

Answers on how to bridge the gap of race in America veered off-topic again when Trump claimed the controversial and now-endedstop-and-frisk program in New York City was not ruled unconstitutional.

Both Clinton and Holt said that it was, in fact, found unconstitutional for unfairly targeting young black and Hispanic men, but Trump insisted stop-and-frisk was needed, especially in places like Chicago with high gun violence.

Beauty queen, ugly words:

Clinton confronts her opponent for once calling a Miss Universe, Miss Piggy, because of her weight gain, as well as, Miss Housekeeper, for her Latina origins. Trump interjects, Where did you find this? Clinton continues: Her name is Alicia Machado. And she has become a U.S. citizen, and you can bet shes going to vote this November.

History of racism, alleged:

Clinton refers to his family company being sued by the federal government in the 1970s for not renting apartments to blacks. The suit was settled, with conditions. She ties that to more recent behaviour: He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen ... So he has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour. And the birther lie was a very hurtful one. You know, Barack Obama is a man of great dignity. And I could tell how much it bothered him and annoyed him that this was being touted and used against him.

Hot air on global warming:

Clinton chides her opponent for calling global warming a Chinese hoax. Trump denies saying it. Hes not telling the truth, and gets busted immediately. Thousands of people start circulating a tweet four years ago where Trump said exactly that: global warming was a Chinese hoax. Hes called global warming a hoax many other times.

Quips

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think thats a good thing. Clinton

We have a situation where we have our inner cities, African-Americans, Hispanics are living in hell because its so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot. Trump

You know, he tried to switch from looks to stamina. But this is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women dont deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men. Clinton

Shes telling you how to fight ISIS on your website ... Youre telling the enemy everything you want to do. Trump

Typical politician, all talk, no action, sounds good, doesnt work, never going to happen. Trump

With files from The Canadian Press

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As both presidential candidates strived to portray themselves as tough on trade Monday night, Donald Trump won the headline with a wrongheaded attack on Ford (F) for moving small-car production to Mexico.

Yes, Ford is moving small car manufacturing to Mexico. The reason is that small cars are barely profitable, so Ford needs lower labor and other costs to justify building and selling models like the Ford Focus and Ford C-Max.

Otherwise, Ford could wind up like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) which has been forced to discontinue its unprofitable Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200. Ford's assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., where the Focus and C-Max used to be built, isn't being demolished -- it's where the new Ford Ranger midsize pickup will be manufactured.

Thus, Ford's Michigan employees keep their jobs; more Ford jobs also will be created in Mexico. Trump's statement that "Ford is leaving, you see that -- their small car division -- thousands of jobs, leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio" is a rhetorical ploy at best, a deliberately inaccurate statement at worst.

The key point is that Mexico has developed into an impressive venue for building and exporting vehicles that is vital to the financial health of Ford, the other two Detroit-based automakers, FCA and General Motors (GM) , as well as Japanese, German and South Korean automakers and auto-parts makers. Lower labor costs aren't the only reason; another is the favorable -- meaning lower tariff -- trade agreements that Mexico has negotiated, facilitating vehicle export.

Mexico, in fact, exports more vehicles to the U.S. than Japan, Germany or South Korea. A shrewd debater Monday night might have quipped: "Mexico's auto industry is one of the reasons we consumers in the U.S. can afford to buy so many new cars and why our automakers stay in business as employers of Americans. Let's say thank you."

Economists starting with Adam Smith have extolled the wealth and job-creating virtues of free trade while politicians tend to exploit for partisan purposes the disruptions caused when prices of goods and labor create opportunities for new players -- and hardships for incumbents. The Detroit-based industry, for example, stumbled starting in the 1980s when Japan began to build cars in places like Marysville, Ohio, and Smyrna, Tenn., leading to all sorts of vile political rhetoric.

Detroit-based automakers have bounced back, largely because their more expansive global viewpoint has led to joint ventures in China, smarter manufacturing decisions in Europe and, yes, increased investment in Mexico.

Current economic realities typically don't last long, meaning that automakers must adjust constantly or risk failure. Costs in Mexico have been rising along with the boom in manufacturing. The shortage of qualified labor in Mexico is causing high turnover at the factories and rising rates of pay. In other words, the country's relative advantage as a site for carmaking may not stay that way for long.

Political candidates could do the public a service by shedding light on the need for freer more flexible economic arrangements among countries and markets, which mainly serves to create the wealth and opportunity that the U.S. and other countries are seeking.

However, Antonia Oprita of Real Money (TheStreet's premium site for active traders) says that as protectionism sweeps economies around the world, new International Monetary Fund figures show that global trade is shrinking. Click here to see what Oprita says that means for the global economy.

Doron Levin is the host of "In the Driver Seat," broadcast on SiriusXM Insight 121, Saturday at noon, encore Sunday at 9 a.m.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Iran is not ready to freeze oil production, Iran Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh told BloombergTV's Caroline Connan at the informal OPEC meeting in Algeria. The interview was aired on Tuesday morning's "Bloomberg Markets."

Reports that the oil cartel was calling for an unscheduled meeting this week sent oil prices up last month, as people anticipated an oil production freeze deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and a production cap in Iran to come out of it, in order to cut down on the current global oil glut.

"Is Iran ready to freeze production at current levels?" Connan asked.

"No" Zanganeh answered.

"You don't want to freeze production?" she asked.

"At the current level, we are not ready to," he responded.

Iran wants to grow its oil production to four million barrels per day, Zanganeh told Connan.

He thinks a more concrete decision will happen at the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on November 30.

Bloomberg News' Yousef Gamal El-Din was also at the informal gathering and spoke to several oil ministers.

"The consensus or the feeling is one of optimism, but also you have the backdrop of ever increasing amounts of oil going into the supply equation of the global oil market and that's worrying a lot of participants here, including the head of the International Energy Agency," Gamal El-Din said.

IEA Head Fatih Birol said the oil supply will continue to exceed demand until late 2017 at the earliest, according to Gamal El-Din.

Considering how great the oversupply of oil is on the market, we may need a production cut rather than a freeze, Nigerian Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu told Gamal El-Din.

While the talks happening tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Algeria could produce some sort of compromise, "at the moment there is just a lack of common ground and also the reality of the oversupply in the market," Gamal El-Din concluded.

Oil prices were lower in late-morning trading on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Wells Fargo (WFC) were increasing in early-afternoon trading on Tuesday despite the Department of Labor opening an investigation into the San Francisco-based bank.

U.S. Labor Department Secretary Thomas Perez said he would conduct a "top-to-bottom" review of all cases, complaints and any alleged violations that the department has received related to Wells Fargo in recent years, according to Reuters.

The move comes after Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and other senators last week wrote a letter to the department asking that it open an investigation into whether Wells Fargo violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The senators said Wells Fargo imposed "stringent sales quotas" and "aggressive incentives" upon its employees. Some employees complained of threats of termination and were reportedly required to perform unpaid overtime work.

Perez said that the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has received several complaints from Wells Fargo employees over the years, Reuters reports.

Earlier this month, Wells Fargo was fined $185 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for opening 2 million customer accounts illegally. The company's CEO John Stumpf testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee last week.

Additionally, two former Wells Fargo employees are suing the company alleging wrongful termination and failure to pay wages.

(Wells Fargo is held in Jim Cramer's charitable trust Action Alerts PLUS. See all of his holding with a free trialhere.)

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 has this to say about the recommendation:

TheStreet Ratings team rate Wells Fargo as a Buy with a ratings score of B. This is driven by a few notable strengths, which it believes should have a greater impact than any weaknesses, and should give investors a better performance opportunity than most stocks it covers. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins and attractive valuation levels. The team feels its strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows weak operating cash flow.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: WFC

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The U.S. Labor Department will re-examine six years worth of whistleblower cases against Wells Fargo (WFC) amid a comprehensive review spurred by the creation of as 2 million bogus customer accounts by workers under pressure to meet sales goals or lose their jobs.

"I have directed enforcement agencies within the department to conduct a top-to-bottom review of cases, complaints or violations concerning Wells Fargo over the last several years," Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said in a Monday reply to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's request for a probe of the San Francisco-based bank's compliance with wage and hour laws. The department has also created a Web page with information about worker-protection laws for bank employees at www.dol.gov/wells fargo.

The Labor Department probe adds to mounting pressure on the San Francisco-based company, which gave up 11% of its market value this month after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a $185 million settlement over the accounts. Employees, customers and investors responded by suing the bank, one of the biggest in the U.S., and Congress summoned CEO John Stumpf to Washington, D.C., for hearings.

It was after the first of those, a contentious session with the Senate Banking Committee, that Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, requested the Labor investigation. In a letter signed by seven other senators, she cited reports that employees, who made as little as $12 an hour, worked after-hours and on weekends trying to meet management's goal of selling as many as eight products to each customer, a strategy referred to as cross-selling.

"I'm glad the Department of Labor is initiating a prompt and thorough agency-wide review" to determine whether additional claims against the bank are warranted, Warren said in a statement Tuesday. "Every other federal agency with jurisdiction in this matter should follow the Labor Department's lead and promptly determine whether Wells Fargo and its senior executives should be prosecuted or otherwise sanctioned."

Since the settlement, Stumpf has pledged to end retail sales targets as of Jan. 1 and to expand the bank's checks for unauthorized accounts from California, where they were first reported, to the rest of the country.

EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE: Wells Fargo is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio. Want to be alerted before he buys or sells the stock? Learn more now.

"Management has announced multiple actions including changes to training, monitoring and controls, performance measures and sales incentives," Susan Roth Katzke, a Credit Suisse analyst, said in a note to clients last week. "Heightened political, legal and regulatory attention indicates that this may not be enough. What we don't know is where this ends, be it with additional settlements/fines and/or management changes."

While Wells Fargo fired 5,300 employees involved with the unauthorized accounts over a five-year period, Stumpf refused to commit to clawbacks of his own pay or that of consumer banking chief Carrie Tolstedt, who oversaw the cross-selling strategy. He did tell the Senate banking committee that he would support whatever decision the board of directors reached on the matter.

Stumpf earned $19.3 million last year, and Tolstedt is taking home as much as $125 million as she retires, the senators said.

The CEO, who was roundly criticized by senators for failing to discipline senior executives along with front-line workers, will likely face more questions on the matter Thursday in a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee.

The consumer bureau's probe "uncovered a workplace characterized by stringent sales quotas and aggressive incentives imposed on its employees, and staggering neglect by management of the obvious consequences to consumers," Warren and the other senators wrote in their letter to Labor Secretary Perez.

While Wells Fargo declined to comment on the Labor Department review, the bank has disputed the lawmakers' characterization of its management style. Wells Fargo, which has nearly 265,000 workers, has won the Gallup Great Workplace award for three years in a row and offers employees competitive pay and benefits as well as career-development opportunities, Jennifer Dunn, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mail last week.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Amazon.com (AMZN) were rising in late afternoon trading on Tuesday as the company looks to grow its delivery operations, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources at the company.

The Seattle-based ecommerce retailer is currently laying the groundwork for its own shipping network which would compete with shippers like FedEx (FDX) and UPS (UPS).

Amazon.com hopes to create a "massive" delivery network rather than simply providing extra shipping capacity during peak seasons like holidays, former company managers told the Journal.

The company partners with major U.S. carriers for much of its delivery services, but already offers some merchants internal Amazon.com shipping services called Fulfillment by Amazon.

FedEx CFO Alan Graf said that attempts to replicate the shipper's services would be "daunting" and "unrealistic," the Journal notes.

UPS Chief Commercial Officer Alan Gershenhorn similarly mentioned that UPS's network would be "very difficult" to mirror, according to the Journal.

(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
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09/27/2016

By Ed Brennen

As the new dean of a growing business school thats on the verge of moving into a gleaming $47 million facility, it would be easy for Sandra Richtermeyer to focus all her attention on the future.

But as Richtermeyer dives into her first year as dean of the Manning School of Business, shes making a point to connect with the schools past and present to make herself a better leader in the years ahead.

Im really glad that Im here in this older building, where the schools been for a long time, because it gives me a true sense of our culture, Richtermeyer says, gesturing to her third-floor surroundings at Pasteur Hall, where blueprints of the soon-to-be-completed Pulichino Tong Business Center lean against a conference room wall.

This is our skin, this is our home right now, and it really helps me to see what people are used to, she says. I can see where faculty connect  which hallway, which watercooler, which office  and see what the student experience is like when they come to us for help.

This isnt the first time Richtermeyer has helped shepherd a business school into a new home. She went through the process in her previous role as associate dean of the Williams College of Business at Xavier University in Cincinnati, where she spent 12-plus years before joining the Manning School in July.

Photo by Ed Brennen Photo by Ed Brennen Rob Manning '84, left, talks about the dean search process that led to the business school's hiring of Sandra Richtermeyer.



Its a big deal, Richtermeyer says of the planned spring 2017 move to the 54,800-square-foot Pulichino Tong Business Center, which will feature 10 modern classrooms, dozens of faculty offices and a state-of-the-art trading room. Theres a lot of excitement, and I really want to capitalize on that.

To do so, Richtermeyer spent her first few weeks as dean meeting face-to-face with as many student groups, alumni and community members as possible.

Im very much in listening and conversation mode, says Richtermeyer, who is visiting all first-year classes and working with lecturers Ralph Jordan and Deborah Finch to find ways to increase involvement in student organizations. A lot of our students work and are busy, so we need to make it easy for them to jump in and participate when it fits their schedule.

As an avid Twitter user (@SRichtermeyer), the new dean plans to connect with more students via social media. Students need to read their emails, she says, but we need to be able to reach them through other means.

Richtermeyer also got a crash course in the business schools history this summer from its founder, Stuart Mandell. I want to understand the really important foundations of our history, Richtermeyer says, and make sure we respect the past as we get excited for the future.

Wyoming Roots

Richtermeyer was born and raised in the least populous state in the nation, Wyoming, in the capital city of Cheyenne (which, for the sake of reference, has just over 62,000 people  or about 44,000 fewer than Lowell).

Its a wonderful place to grow up, says Richtermeyer, a fourth-generation Wyomingite who tries to return home to see family as often as she can. My Wyoming roots taught me to be strong and independent  very goal-oriented.

She says that goal-oriented nature is what led her to pursue a dual-degree in management information systems and accounting from the University of Wyoming. Realizing she needed a bigger pond to grow as a business person, Richtermeyer moved to Denver to become a CPA and earn a masters degree in information systems from the University of Colorado Denver.

She also began teaching two nights a week at a community college, an experience that would alter her career path.

Photo by Ed Brennen Photo by Ed Brennen New Manning School of Business Dean Sandra Richtermeyer introduces herself to the school's advisory board last spring.



I would come home at 10:15 at night after teaching back-to-back classes, and I would be really happy and energized, she recalls. I was thinking, I really like this. I love being able to help these students. But I knew If I wanted to make a career out of it, I needed to get my Ph.D.

So Richtermeyer moved to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned an MBA in 1992 and a Ph.D. in accounting in 1997. Soon after, she was hired as an assistant professor of accounting at her alma mater, the University of Wyoming, where she earned tenure.





Rob Manning '84, the business schools namesake who co-chaired the dean search committee with Francis College of Engineering Dean Joe Hartman, says Richtermeyers love of teaching set her apart in the interview process.

A passion for teaching is the most important aspect of the job, Manning said when introducing Richtermeyer to the schools advisory board in April. The research and all the programmatic things we do are wonderful, but at the end of the day, what makes the Manning School of Business great is that our professors change these kids lives. And Sandra understands that.

Instant Connection

Richtermeyer says she was drawn to UMass Lowell by the impressive momentum created by its leadership, as well as by the instant connection she felt to the schools culture and people. She is very appreciative of how interim dean Scott Latham (now vice provost for innovation and workforce development) helped her prepare and transition into her role.

Hes been such a help to me, says Richtermeyer, who was also drawn by the universitys clearly defined strategic goals and metrics for success. Thats really rare in a lot of places, so its really exceptional to have such a great plan in place, wrapped around great leadership and amazing faculty.

Throughout her career, she has been actively involved with a variety of professional organizations. Shes on the global board of directors for the Institute of Management Accountants and is on the board of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), a thought leadership initiative that releases guidance on improving internal control, risk management and governance in organizations of all types.

Photo by Ed Brennen Photo by Ed Brennen Manning School of Business Dean Sandra Richtermeyer chats with the school's founder, Stuart Mandell, during last spring's advisory board meeting.



Being actively engaged with the professional community helps me understand what corporations and organizations are looking for when hiring students, says Richtermeyer, who has delivered presentations to business audiences on six continents. It has really given me that global vantage point that I need to effectively run the type of business school thats going to take our students forward and prepare them for the global business community.

She also has an insiders perspective on the first-year student experience. Her son, Luke, just began his freshman year at Ohio State, where hes making mom proud and studying accounting.

As our students were coming in this fall, I was thinking this is exactly what hes going through right now, says Richtermeyer, who hopes her son becomes as actively engaged on his campus as Manning School students do here at UMass Lowell.

Its the beginning of a new era for us, she says, and its a great time to be a student in the Manning School of Business because you get to be part of building that community.
[September 27, 2016]

Lockheed Martin to Deliver New Simulation-Based F-16 Training Environment to Royal Jordanian Air Force

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will deliver a new simulation-based F-16 training environment for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) under a contract valued at nearly $40 million. The family of training systems includes a comprehensive suite of full mission trainers and combat tactics trainers that can be networked together, aligning technologies to deliver advanced training while meeting affordability goals.

"Our solution builds on our proven fifth-generation training system with hardware and software tailored for the F-16," said Sandy Samuel, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Training and Simulation Solutions. "By fielding a family of training systems, we can help the Royal Jordanian Air Force reserve higher fidelity devices for more advanced training scenarios and optimze their pilot throughput in training."







Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will deliver the suite of simulators in 2018, also providing contractor logistics support services. The technology can be networked together to enable multiple pilots to train together on advanced scenarios.

RJAF's F-16 training environment includes the Lockheed Martin-developed Scalable Advanced Graphics Engine (SAGE) image generator. SAGE blends the company's expertise in military simulation with advanced gaming technology to provide richly detailed images and motion for increased realism in flight simulation.

Since 2001, Lockheed Martin has delivered F-16 training solutions and services to airmen from 15 allied nations. The simulation-based training environment replicates all systems, sensors and weapons for a total training solution for F-16 pilots.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com/training.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-to-deliver-new-simulation-based-f-16-training-environment-to-royal-jordanian-air-force-300334578.html

SOURCE Lockheed Martin
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Venture investors often demand proof of concept in the marketplace before theyll pour precious capital into a technology start-up.

If youve helped grow successful companies in the past, however, it turns out all you really need is your resume and a few co-founders.

Thats what happened when a little-known company called Expel, Inc. popped up in Herndon earlier summer. Despite having no customers, no office and only a few employees, the company has already attracted $7.5 million from well-known local technology funds Paladin Capital Group and New Enterprise Associates.

Expels secret sauce seems to be its leadership team, three executives who played important roles in one of the regions biggest technology success stories.

Chief executive Dave Merkel is a former Air Force cybersecurity guru who went on to climb the ranks at AOL in the companys heyday. He later made his name as chief technologist at Mandiant, which emerged from Northern Virginia to become one of the dominant players in the murky world of corporate cyber-defense, employing complex technology to investigate potential hacks.

Mandiant hit a home run in 2013 by suggesting the Chinese government was sponsoring the cyber-espionage many had long suspected, publishing a report linking the Peoples Liberation Army to a notorious hacker group known as APT1 (short for Advanced Persistent Threat). The company cashed in a year later when it sold for almost $1 billion to FireEye, another major player in corporate cyber-defense.

Merkel has been tight-lipped about what exactly Expel is going to do, except that it will sell cybersecurity services to the private sector. He implied that it wont just be a Mandiant re-boot but declined to elaborate.

Whenever you build a company you have an opportunity to make a whole bunch of mistakes, Merkel said. This time were hoping well get a chance to make new and different mistakes.

Harry Weller, a partner at New Enterprise Associates, suggested the firm will do more than just spot hacks.

That team is extraordinarily experienced not just at identifying problems, but at actually fixing them, Weller said of Expels co-founders.

Betting on more experienced founders is something of a theme for NEA lately, which just upped its bet on a ThreatQuotient, a cyber-threat management start-up headed by a team of executives from Sourcefire the regions other big cyber-security exit.
The longtime chief executive of Wells Fargo agreed on Tuesday to forfeit $41 million in performance pay three weeks after the bank acknowledged that for at least five years, thousands of low-level employees set up sham accounts to meet sales quotas.

The San Francisco-based bank has repeatedly apologized for the scheme and said it had fired 5,300 employees for misconduct and put in place more stringent internal controls. But that has not been enough for lawmakers, who have been pushing for the companys top leaders to give back the millions of dollars in bonuses they earned while the irregularities were occurring.

The independent directors of the Wells Fargo board announced Tuesday that they were launching an investigation into the banks retail business.

We are deeply concerned by these matters, and we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of the Companys business are conducted with integrity, transparency, and oversight, Stephen Sanger, the lead independent director, said in a statement. Sanger, who has been a member of Wells Fargos board since 2003, is the former chairman of General Mills, the packaged-food company.

John Stumpf, the chief executive, will forfeit unvested stock awards worth about $41 million, will not receive a salary while the investigation is underway and will not be eligible for a 2016 bonus, the committee said in a statement. Carrie Tolstedt, the former head of Wells Fargos community banking unit, where the misconduct took place, will give up $19 million in unvested stock awards and not be eligible for a 2016 bonus. Tolstedt had announced her retirement in July but had initially planned to stay at the bank until the end of the year.

Stumpf and Tolstedt still have millions of dollars in stock and other compensation from Wells Fargo. Stumpf, for example, was awarded $161 million in bonuses and performance awards between 2011 and 2015, the period in which the misconduct took place, according to Equilar, a research firm. Tolstedt was awarded more than $60 million in bonuses in the same period.

But this action by the banks board is, by far, the most aggressive and public effort by a bank since the 2008 financial crisis to show that top executives will be held responsible for their companies misdeeds.

In early September, Wells Fargo was fined $185 million by regulators after it discovered that thousands of employees were setting up unauthorized accounts, including credit cards and checking accounts, that customers had not requested. In some cases, the customers were charged various fees for accounts they did not know existed.

The case has sparked a national outcry, with lawmakers pummeling Stumpf before the Senate Banking Committee last week, with one even calling on him to resign. He is to be the only witness before the House Financial Services Committee when he attends a hearing this week, and the move to take back financial awards could help head off some of the inevitable anger of lawmakers.

The debate comes as regulators try to finalize rules called for by the 2010 financial-reform bill, known as Dodd Frank, to overhaul the way Wall Street executives are paid and to address years of complaints that excessive bonuses helped lead to the 2008 financial crisis.

The long-awaited rules were aimed at stopping executives from making risky financial bets to boost their pay and then collecting large bonuses before the consequences of their actions are clear. But the banking industry is mounting a counterattack against the rules, which critics say do not allow enough flexibility. Some employees would be subject to claw-backs for up to 11 years after being awarded bonuses, much longer than the current industry standard of three to five years, industry officials have said.

In July, Wells Fargo joined the debate, saying it was concerned that the rules may have unintended consequences. We have worked, and are continuing to work, diligently . . . to improve and evolve our incentive-based compensation practices, Hope Hardison, Wells Fargos director of human resources, said in a letter to regulators.

But the rules would create an un-level playing field, driving high-quality talent away from big banks subject to the rules, she wrote.

The controversy surrounding Wells Fargo is likely to make it more difficult for banks to mount efforts to weaken the rules, industry officials say.

Stumpf is expected to face tough questioning when he appears before the House Financial Services Committee on Thursday. In addition to questions about executive compensation, he is likely to face questions about a recently launched Labor Department inquiry into the bank.

The Labor Department says it is conducting a top-to-bottom review of Wells Fargo after lawmakers complained that the banks workers were forced into a hypercompetitive environment that led thousands of them to set up the sham accounts to meet aggressive sales goals.

Some former employees allege that they were unfairly fired when they did not cut corners to meet Wells Fargos aggressive sales targets.

That could violate federal rules, according to lawmakers and some labor experts. Last week, former Wells Fargo employees who say they were fired for following the law filed a $2.6 billion lawsuit against the bank. They are seeking class-action status.

The Labor Department said it has set up a working group to expedite a review of the issue.

Given the serious nature of the allegations . . . I have directed enforcement agencies within the Department to conduct a top-to-bottom review of cases, complaints, or violations concerning Wells Fargo over the last several years, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said in a letter released Tuesday by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who had asked the agency to look into the matter.

We take the concerns raised . . . very seriously, Perez wrote.

A Wells Fargo spokeswoman declined to comment on the Labor Department review.

It is just the latest sign that San Francisco-based bank will be grappling with the fallout from this case for some time. Federal prosecutors are considering civil or criminal charges against the bank.
Jim Andrews is in a medical office wearing just a hospital gown, staring at his doctor of 11 years, who is staring back at him through the sleek, metallic lens of Google Glass.

As the doctor examines Andrews, a new kind of medical scribe is watching the examination, transcribing everything he sees. The scribe, named Rahul, is thousands of miles away in India, and he is viewing the office visit live through the pint-size, WiFi-connected camera attached to the doctors glasses.

When was his last physical? the doctor, Albert Chan, asks as he listens to Andrewss breathing and checks his reflexes. Rahuls nearly immediate answer pops up in a text bubble display in the right corner of the doctors field of vision. June 3, 2014!

[What it was like to get examined by a doctor wearing Google Glass]

The entrepreneurs behind the technology  which could one day morph into something as tiny as a contact lens  say it is more than a transcription tool: Its the first step to supercharging doctors with instantaneous information that transforms how medical decisions are made. Instead of human scribes taking down notes, they envision a world in which artificial intelligence software could transcribe the office visit in real time, while immediately comparing the patients medical issues with those of millions of others, then making predictions about what treatments would work best. Moreover, they say the technology is bringing health-care professionals back into the moment with their patients  returning a sense of humanity that has been lost as computers have become a fixture in the doctors office.

Darren Phelan discusses healthcare options with patient Lindsy Martin in Menlo Park, Calif. (Christie Hemm Klok/For The Washington Post)

Yet, like much new digital technology in health care, Google Glass has the potential to create more problems than it solves. Medical scribing is a tough job that requires a high level of accuracy  note-takers in far-off lands need to know terms such as eosinophilic esophagitis  and getting a word wrong could have grave consequences.

Health systems are also far more vulnerable to cyberattacks than other industries, such as banking, a gap that hackers have aggressively exploited in recent years, said Avi Rubin, director of the Health and Medical Security Lab at Johns Hopkins University. In recent years, hundreds of hospitals have been victims of ransomware attacks, in which outsiders block the hospital from accessing its own data until the hospital pays them money.

Rubin said that hospitals are prime targets because of a perfect storm of weak security systems, the increasing digitization of data, and the fact that medical records can be so time-sensitive and critical to making life-or-death decisions. A live-streaming video of a patient exam with a doctor could be most sensitive of all.

Youre taking something that was in the doctors office and now youre streaming it across the world, Rubin said. The whole health-care industry has lax security, and if you combine that with how private the information is and how it needs to be immediately available, thats where I have concerns.

Google Glass is in part a response to the most recent major technology introduced into the doctors office. The switch to electronic health records has received billions in federal funding and been hailed as a major step forward for the medical field. Doctors now say they are turning to Google Glass so they can escape the burden of spending an entire patient visit  and several hours later in the day  typing information into forms.

I can look my patients in the eye again, said Teresa Nauenberg, a primary care physician who works with Chan at the hospital Palo Alto Medical Foundation and has been using the technology for two years.

Live-streaming visits

Today, roughly 500 doctors in 27 states put on Google Glass. They wear them through the day, live-streaming their office visits to the virtual scribes, who look on and take detailed notes.

Ian Shakil, the 32-year-old chief executive of Augmedix, the San Francisco start-up that has partnered with search-engine giant Google to distribute the technology, hopes that in the near future, seeing a doctor wear Google Glass will feel as normal as seeing one with a stethoscope. Augmedix has raised more than $36 million from venture capitalists and health systems, including Dignity and Sutter Health, which owns Palo Alto Medical Foundation. The start-up charges doctors between $1,500 and $4,000 a month for the service, which Sutter says saves doctors up to two hours a day.

Scribes receive about three months of training from Augmedix before they can do the work, which is performed in sealed-off rooms. The companys 200 scribes, divided between San Francisco and Bangalore, India, must leave pens, paper, smartphones and all other belongings at the door.

For Shakil, accuracy is critical. Beyond extensive training of scribes, he says that doctors must ultimately review the notes to make sure all details were recorded accurately.

If Augmedix is successful, it would also be a huge coup for Google, which has had a troubled history with Glass and health data.

Glass emerged in 2012 as a pet project of Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Brin wanted to sell the $1,500-a-pair glasses as a high-end fashion item, and he went so far as to partner with designer Diane Von Furstenberg. But the product fell flat.

Even in a society that is always recording, the glasses felt too much like a privacy violation  or a gimmicky party trick. Google discontinued its limited consumer sales last year and retooled the devices. (Snap, the company behind Snapchat, last week launched sunglasses with an embedded camera that can create 10-second videos.)

Augmedix is now one of nine Google partners, which include start-ups using Glass to enhance museum tours, record surgeries and train workers doing equipment repair.

In 2013, Google shuttered its personal health record platform, Google Health, because so few people were using it. Today, the search giant is competing with Amazon.com (whose chief executive, Jeffrey P. Bezos, owns The Washington Post), Microsoft and others for hospital customers to store data on its cloud servers. Many hospitals are wary of tech giants storing their data. Augmedix does not share any data with Google.

Google declined to comment.

Like many entrepreneurs, Augmedixs founders say they believe in the Silicon Valley vision of better technology liberating people from older technologys burdens. Yet in health, the record has not been so clear.

Electronic medical records were supposed to make the medical system more efficient  reducing errors and enabling doctors to track a patients history. But their implementation has been rife with unintended consequences, said Robert Wachter, the interim chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco and the author of a 2015 book on the subject.

A 2014 study by the American Medical Association and RAND Corporation found that digital records were a major contributor to physician dissatisfaction. Another article, in the journal Health Affairs, found that two-thirds of a primary care physicians day was spent on clerical work. Theres also some evidence that electronic health records have increased the practice of overbilling Medicare by stuffing digital data fields with unnecessary procedural codes.

You see rates of physician burnout skyrocketing, and many blame it on the electronic record, said Wachter.

Augmedixs solution could usher in unintended consequences of its own.

The start-up takes extensive precautions in protecting data. The video, which is scrambled, is sent directly from Google Glass to the scribes. It doesnt pass through hospital servers, which are often the vulnerable point that hackers exploit. The video is deleted after each medical visit. But the company is exploring ways to expand its business to make the video available to doctors who want to review it later.

The latter is a riskier proposition, Rubin said. Hackers look for the weakest link in the system.

Few patients seem concerned. Its a conflict, theres no doubt about it, Chans patient, Andrews, said of the privacy issues as he got ready to head back to work from his appointment. How Ive rationalized it is, if this can help my doctors provide me with better medical care at this stage of my life, Im fine with it. If someone finds out I have an artificial knee, then so be it.

Andrews, who is 61, noted that Chan seemed more relaxed ever since he started wearing the device.

Chan said that in his two years wearing Google Glass, only a small fraction of patients  4 percent  have asked him to remove it. Many forget its even there, he said.

Augmedix says that under 2 percent of patients ask their doctor to take off the lenses. Others doctors said they take their own measures to protect privacy  flipping the glasses over their foreheads, for example, when they are examining private parts.

Stuart Peterson, senior partner with the venture capital firm Artis Ventures, said he felt uncomfortable after his visit.

You dont know who is on the other side of it. Its a scary thought, he said.

Low-cost scribes

Augmedixs capacity to become a wider solution to entrenched problems in the health-care system will depend, for now, on the start-ups ability to find and train low-cost scribes.

For decades, physicians have dictated their notes into tape recorders; paid transcriptionists converted them into written reports. Today, the growing use of medical records has created a demand for human scribes, who largely tag along full-time with doctors. Shakil has spent the better part of the past several years refining the training process; Augmedixs San Francisco scribes  mostly 20-somethings looking to get start-up experience before medical school  are now trainers for people like Rahul.

Like many start-up founders, Shakil is planning for a future in which the work done by humans is outsourced to machine. In recent years, artificial intelligence software such as Apples Siri have made big strides in understanding human speech. Medical transcription, however, presents far bigger challenges than asking Siri what the weather is. Still, hes confident it will happen.

Theres not enough scribes in all of South Asia to serve the nearly million doctors here, Shakil says. Uber has driverless cars. One day, well have scribe-less scribing.
Home prices rose modestly in July, pulled up by strong gains in Portland, Ore., Seattle, and Denver, a private index said Tuesday. (John Bazemore/AP)

EMPLOYMENT

Study: Women hit glass ceiling early

Although many efforts to boost women in business focus on meager numbers in the executive suite, a new study shows female workers are at a disadvantage from the first rung of the career ladder.

For every 100 women who are promoted from an entry-level position to manager, 130 men advance, says the study released Tuesday by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Co. Women trail men at every step, but the gap is largest at the point when they first could move into leadership.

Women are hitting the glass ceiling earlier than people realize, said Rachel Thomas, president of LeanIn, a group founded by Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. Men are off to the races and women are starting to see hurdles right out of the gate.

The study looked at employee pipelines at 132 companies and also surveyed 34,000 workers.

Women asked for promotions or raises slightly more frequently than men, and were more likely to be labeled bossy or aggressive when they did, the study found. Women also got less access to senior leaders than men, less advice on how to improve their work and fewer high-profile assignments.

The disparities are most pronounced for women of color, who make up 20 percent of the U.S. population but only 3 percent of C-suite positions. Although 78 percent of companies reported that gender diversity was a top 10 priority for their chief executives, up from about 56 percent in 2012, only 55 percent said racial diversity was a high priority.

 Bloomberg News

FOOD INDUSTRY

Tyson recalls cooked chicken nuggets

Tyson Foods is recalling 132,520 pounds of fully cooked chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with hard plastic.

The voluntary recall includes 5-pound bags of Panko nuggets sold at Costco locations around the country, Tyson said in a statement Tuesday.

Also included are a small number of 20-pound cases of nugget-shaped chicken-breast patty fritters with rib meat sold under the Spare Time brand to a wholesaler in Pennsylvania.

The recall was prompted by a small number of consumers telling Tyson that they found pieces of hard, white plastic in the nuggets.

 Bloomberg News

Also in Business

 Aetna will give some customers and employees discounts on Apples smartwatch. The health insurer, which covers about 23 million people in the United States, is developing apps for Apple devices that will help consumers remember to take their medicines, get a refill on prescriptions or contact a doctor. The applications, which will be available next year, will also help members understand their insurance benefits and use Apples Wallet feature to pay bills, Aetna said Tuesday in a statement with Apple. Aetna said its almost 50,000 employees will be eligible for the watch at no cost. It will be up to employers that contract with Aetna to decide whether their workers get the watch, and how or if its subsidized.

 From news services

Coming Today

 From news services


Arepas Pues La Surena arepa features a masa shell packed with grilled chicken, chorizo and avocado. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The waitress approached our table in the front window of Arepas Pues, her face flush and her expression slightly embarrassed. She had just sampled the house hot sauce, the one you have to request or theyll hand you a bottle of the commercial stuff. My dining companion and I had been raving about the homemade condiments combination of fruitiness and supernova heat.

Perhaps we should have been more circumspect around the server, who had told us flat out that shes not a chili head. Clearly, curiosity overcame her back in the kitchen. She had returned to our table to, in essence, file a report on her hot sauce tasting: She was waving a hand in front of her face, the color of a freshly steamed lobster. Although she could barely cough out the words, she stated the obvious: Too hot for me! She was laughing at her own heat intolerance, and I was charmed down to the tips of my toes at her mettle and humility.

Theres no question about it: The hot sauce at Arepas Pues in Silver Spring is blistering. Should you try it  and you should  youll soon know how crab meat feels when pasteurized at high heat. To many Colombians, the condiment is an indispensable part of eating arepas and other dishes, serving the same role as salsa on Mexican tacos or aji sauce on Peruvian rotisserie chicken. It completes the bite.

Arepas Pues owner and chef Nicolas Arcila calls the condiment very hot pink sauce, which sort of sounds like a website you shouldnt visit. But the sauce is just a molten, habanero-and-Trinidad-scorpion-pepper-spiked riff on a traditional condiment, salsa rosada, which Colombians slather onto their beloved hot dogs and other snacks. If you havent guessed by now, Arcila is a Colombian native.



Chef Nicolas Arcila stands with his son, Ruben, in front of Arepas Pues, the Colombian restaurant he opened earlier this year. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The serial entrepreneur  Arcila has operated multiple restaurants, served as a promoter for Colombian bands and still runs a Colombian bakery and market in Silver Spring  has stretched himself with his latest venture. Arepas Pues isnt limited to Colombian dishes. The 40-seat restaurant also serves Venezuelan and Cuban fare. The former cuisine makes sense, of course. Venezuela shares a border and culinary DNA with its neighbor. But Cuban cooking?

It seems to run in the family. The chefs brother-in-law hails from the island and has taught Arcila a few things about the Cuban kitchen, including how to whip up a mean mojo, the garlicky condiment liberally slathered on almost everything. I pounded down way too many fried plantain chips one evening  each yellow strip cut semi-thick for a pleasing chew  with a combination of mojo and very hot pink sauce. It was chips and salsa, Cuban style, and I worked my arm so much I was in danger of repetitive stress syndrome.

As the name implies, Arcilas place focuses on arepas, the stuffed masa cake found in both Venezuela and Colombia. As with almost any dish available in multiple countries  empanadas leap to mind  there has been a friendly rivalry between Venezuela and Colombia over which nation makes the better arepa. Im not about to put myself in the middle of that conflict, but I will say this: Arcila typically takes a leaner Colombian approach in preparing his arepas. Few of the arepas I sampled looked like those colorful, overstuffed pockets that Venezuelans often call sandwiches.



Arepas Pues serves dishes influenced by Cuba and Venezuela, such as the avocado-and-chicken-salad-stuffed reina pepiada. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The closest I came to the Venezuelan model was a third-trimester corn cake called reina pepiada, which Arcila translates into the PG-rated beauty queen, even if others have spelled out the term in more PG-13 language, like curvy queen or pimped-out queen. Whatever you call it, the arepa comes packed with a creamy avocado-and-chicken salad that benefits from both very hot pink sauce and the good, griddled corn shell, at once thick and crispy.

Arepas Pues offers its namesake snack one of two ways: tricked out in a dozen-plus house preparations or as a stuff-your-own shell featuring 19 ingredients for the filling. The house-made arepas are a greatest hits compilation from Venezuela and Colombia; among my favorites are La Surena (a shell wedged tight with grilled chicken, chorizo and avocado), La de Pernil (roasted pork shoulder with tomato and spicy sauce) and the pupusa-like arepa de queso, a Colombian specialty. While spare, the plain cheese arepa has one significant benefit over the others: No bite comes up empty of filling, a common issue with the Venezuela-style arepas.

Soups are a highlight at this masa-heavy shop. The chupe de pollo Caraqueno, a gift from Venezuela, goes down like a lightly seasoned cream of chicken soup until you discover the white paisa cheese embedded in the bowl, these tiny depth charges of milkiness. Not to be outdone, the Colombian ajiaco is a rustic, slow-cooked chicken soup that naturally thickens as its three-potato mixture breaks down in the broth. You can doctor the bowl to your preferred level of richness and saltiness with the accompanying condiments, including avocado and capers. Needless to say: More is more.



At Arepas Pues, the carnivorous Andean dish bandeja paisa includes a half ring of chicharron as well as a fried egg. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The gray meat plates generally suffer from too much heat and too little seasoning. The sobrebarriga en salsa, a Colombian carnival of a dish, is notable for encircling flank steak with a vibrant spectrum of sides and sauce, all of which add almost nothing to the well-done meat. The bandeja paisa, a carnivorous Andean dish with a half ring of chicharron, could have suffered a similar fate if not for the fried egg that enriched the dry meats. A major exception to my Meat Theory is the paradigm-shifting Colombian tamal, a bulky mass of masa stained yellow with a saffron spice mix and stuffed with bone-in chicken and other delicacies.

But what did I expect? The place is not called Carne Pues. Arcila tells me the restaurants name translates into, more or less, arepas, of course. But in casual conversation, he adds, the phrase assumes an air of exclamation. As in this call-and-response:

Would you like arepas?

Of course!

Just make sure the very hot pink sauce is stationed nearby.


Greater World Community, near Taos, N.M., is the only Earthship site in the world that is open for tours and available for sleepovers. (Kirsten Jacobsen/Earthship Biotecture)

I have never felt so righteous about flushing.

At most eco-lodgings, I experience a pinch of guilt over pressing the handle, worried that I am loosening the stopper on our finite water reserves. Thats not the case at the Greater World Community near Taos, N.M. The worlds largest off-the-grid subdivision considers the toilet a friend of Mother Earth. The blackwater from the bowl hydrates the yards of its 70 residences, including several rental properties available to overnight visitors. If you see a tropical bloom in the New Mexico desert, you can lay your thank-you flowers before the porcelain throne.

Its just simple homesteading stuff, said Ryan Halpin, who works in Earthship Biotectures rental division and is building a Bachelorship for himself. Its a conscientious lifestyle.

Earthship Biotecture is a supermodel of sustainable living. The construction firms houses are based on the environmental innovations and Seussian designs of American architect Michael Reynolds. The oft-called Garbage Warrior, who built his first Earthship home in 1988, discovered his calling on the side of the road. A glint of trash led to an of-this-world experience.

Using the empty beer cans as building materials was a flash of inspiration for everything that later followed, said Kirsten Jacobsen, Earthships education director.

Earthships appear in all 50 states and more than 20 countries. The homes are built for a wide spectrum of individuals and environments, such as a family residence in Guatemala, an emergency shelter in post-earthquake Haiti and a planned resort on an environmentally fragile island in Indonesia. The Taos-area community is the only site in the world that is open for tours and available for sleepovers. In July, I booked an eco-pad for the night out of curiosity  and to be prepared in case Cormac McCarthys The Road turns out to be a work of nonfiction.

These are the ways people are going to have to live in the future, said Kirsten, who owns an Earthship styled after a Manhattan loft.

The structures embody a string of self-hyphenates: -sufficient, -reliant, -sustaining, -empowering. (The ship in the companys name represents the concept of autonomy.) Reynoldss blueprints rely heavily on natures resources and humankinds drinking and driving habits. He uses discarded tires packed with dirt for the exterior walls and recycled bottles and cans for the interior structures. Buried cisterns collect melted snow and rain; the filtered water flows through sinks in the bathroom and kitchen. Instead of air conditioning, the walls absorb the heat, and knee-high vents expel cool air from subterranean depths. In the winter, the structure emits the stored toastiness like a space heater. No doubt, a weatherman reporting from inside the Taos community would grow bored: Today, like yesterday, and tomorrow, will be a pleasant 72 degrees.

It has the stability of a cave, Kirsten said. You are never going to freeze or die from heat.



Bedroom of the Lemuria rental at the Greater World Community. The walls are finished with natural mud plaster coated with a fine clay paint. (Kirsten Jacobsen/Earthship Biotecture)

From what had I read and heard, I could survive an apocalypse inside my one-bedroom fortress, which was named Lemuria. (The inventory changes as the homes are sold and built; five houses are available for rent.) In addition to the cord-cutting power and self-sustaining water supply, each abode contains its own greenhouse. I could forage for figs, bananas, pineapple, broccoli, rosemary and chives in my fluffy socks. Or if the zombies werent looking, I could dash over to my neighbors place for supper. The Phoenix, a three-bedroom that sleeps six, dedicates one-third of its space to food production. Its tropical jungle supports parakeets and cockatiels (not for consumption) and a garden bursting with fruits and vegetables, including grapes, artichokes, lemons, melons, kale, squash, hot peppers and mushrooms that cling to a log. Chickens cluck around the back yard, which features a sunken den with a grill for coop-to-kebob meals. An indoor fishpond once contained a robust stock of tilapia before a group of guests threw a fish fry. Now, the littlest survivors swim laps with koi. For the dairy course, the staff is considering resident goats.

You are the power company, the water company, the sewage-treatment plant and the food production, Ryan said. You control a lot of your life, instead of relying on others.

From the road, Earthship Biotecture resembles Tatooine, with a few alterations: lizards instead of krayt dragons, for instance, and Priuses in place of Jawa sandcrawlers. Most of the adobe houses are built low and are camouflaged by the 630 acres of khaki-colored terrain. I scanned the sun-baked landscape, wondering which brown lump was mine.



The Phoenix, a three-bedroom that sleeps six, dedicates one-third of its space to food production. (Kirsten Jacobsen/Earthship Biotecture)

Check-in is between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. I was punctual partly out of frugality: The confirmation letter warns late arrivals of a possible $20 hourly charge. When I drove up, several people were standing on the roof of the visitors center, inspecting the solar panels. I parked by a sign informing guests that the community is drone-free. On my way into the visitors center, I passed tomato and melon plants suspended from buckets. Netting covered several pieces of heavy fruit, protecting guests toes. Inside, a gallery with a film, slide show and informational panels explained Earthships practices and principles. The lessons dont stop at the bathroom door; a sign informs loo-goers that the water is reused four times.

The visitors center is part of a complex of buildings that includes an academy for students and the Earthship Village Ecologies project, a sustainable testing site where worker-bee interns live and learn. Drop-in visitors pay $7 for a self-guided tour of the public areas; as a renter, I could come and go for free.

I met the bearded and blue-eyed Ryan inside the center and followed the Wisconsin native in his car. We passed two entrances to the community before turning onto a bumpy unmarked road. I would need glow-in-the-dark bread crumbs to find my way home again.



In the Phoenix, all water used in the showers and sinks are filtered, solar-heated rain water harvested from the roof. (Kirsten Jacobsen/Earthship Biotecture)

The welcome at Earthship is much more elaborate  and academic  than at traditional lodgings. Ryan started his overview by charging up a dirt incline to the roof, where he pointed out the solar panels and water-capturing system. Back on crusty ground, we entered the 1,400-square-foot house through a side door surrounded by the bottoms of beer and wine bottles. The colorful circles shimmered like a sea glass. I stepped into a lush garden lining the windowed hallway and started to sweat in the humidity. Ryan yanked on a rope, opening a skylight and ushering in fresh air.

I trailed Ryan from kitchen to living room to laundry room (off-limits to guests) to bedroom to bathroom. Along the way, he knelt by various mystery boxes and strange cabinets, explaining the operating systems. I tried to grasp the sustainable jargon  greywater planter cell, power-organizing module, thermal mass  but I eventually gave my mind a hall pass to wander. After Ryan left, however, I realized how much I had retained. I remembered which faucets were for drinking and which ones were for washing, and how to turn on the Apple TV. I knew better than to search for the coffeepot, iron and blow dryer, because they didnt exist: traditional hotel amenities are power hogs. When I turned on the faucet, I recognized the groaning noise as the greywater pump, not the angry remonstrations of the God of Wastefulness.

Were trying to show people that they dont have to majorly change their lifestyle to live like this, Kirsten said. Its like a high-end Taos hotel.



Modern Earthships are built with two layers of glass between the interior living spaces and the outside. This helps the temperature performance of the building by creating a thermal buffer zone. (Kirsten Jacobsen/Earthship Biotecture)

Before settling in for the night, I made a food run to Taos. (With no walking dead on the horizon, I didnt want to poach the emergency food supply.) After storing my groceries in the Sun Frost fridge, I set out for a neighborhood stroll. The residents are a slice of regular life: teachers, architects, IT professionals, businessfolk. Their homes are private and well-spaced, but by craning my neck just so, I could be a bit nosy. I noticed whirring wind generators that resembled outsider-art sculptures and admired entryway mosaics born from the detritus of boozing. One house had a trampoline, a zero-carbon approach to exhausting children. A house in its infancy looked like a landfill, with piles of bottles and tires.

As the sky darkened, my imagination started to light up with the eyes of snakes and coyotes. I hustled back to Lemuria and climbed a small hill overlooking the desert. I watched the split screen of lightning bolts to my right and triple rainbows on my left. A jack rabbit hopped down my driveway and disappeared into the yard. He was still there when I returned to the house, nibbling away at the curious patch of greenery.

The night passed peacefully. I cooked dinner on the propane stovetop, watched Netflix and contemplated a serious life change. According to a notebook on the coffee table, the utility-bill-free life of Lemuria could be mine  for $275,000. (Update: The house sold a few weeks after my visit.) I went to bed and gazed at the silvery stars through the southern-facing wall of slanted windows. I awakened at dawn to watch the sun rise and recharge my ship.

I had to check out by 11 a.m., and the possibility of a dawdler fee pushed me out of bed. However, before leaving, I made sure to water the plants with a flush and a rinse.

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At the first public hearing just weeks before voters will be asked to approve a referendum calling for D.C. statehood, activists argued that residents should have more say in drafting a constitution for the would-be 51st state.

Voters will be asked to approve the founding document on Election Day, but the D.C. Council could continue to amend it after November and have the final say over how the new state is structured.

That irritated several activists who spoke at Tuesdays hearing before the D.C. Council.

Council members were not elected to write a constitution, and you face significant conflicts of interest, testified Keshini Ladduwahetty, chair of D.C. for Democracy.

Lawmakers have said they were racing to put the question before voters in November, when the presidential election is likely to draw a strong turnout, and did not want to wait until a final version was ready for public review.

The proposed constitution was drafted this year by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and the three nonvoting members of the Districts congressional delegation.

Under their plan, the citys mayor would become a governor, the 13-member city council would be expanded into a 21-member House of Delegates, and an independent court system would be created.

But points of contention remain: Are 21 members too few or too many? Should the governor have extensive power such as a line-item veto over proposed spending? And should a local bill of rights include the right to keep and bear arms?

Theres even controversy over what to call the state. Bowser, Mendelson and others have proposed New Columbia.

But the moniker is far from a crowd-pleaser. Residents suggested at least 10 alternatives including Potomac, Anacostia and Douglass Commonwealth  an homage to abolitionist Frederick Douglass that would maintain the Districts D.C. abbreviation.

[People dont like New Columbia. What do you want D.C. called if it becomes a state?]

Council members seemed receptive to a follow-up convention, but no final decision was made; another public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

We have to make sure people know we are listening, said council member David Grosso (I-At Large).

Council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) said the District can follow the lead of the architects of the U.S. Constitution  which was originally approved by states with the understanding that the Bill of Rights would follow. We have a model in front of us to show that imperfections can be dealt with, she said.

The November referendum is one step in the longtime push to win D.C. statehood, which ultimately would need Congresss approval.

Bowsers goal is to ready a petition to Congress for statehood by January, in case the Democratic presidential nominee wins the White House and Democrats who support the idea win control of Congress.

Congress and the president could approve statehood for the District with an up-or-down vote and the signature of the president, much the way they did for Tennessee more than two centuries ago.

The Districts shadow senator, Paul Strauss, said the state constitution should steer clear of controversial policy pronouncements such as requiring public financing of elections or restricting gun rights to create as little as disruption as possible and promote as much stability as possible.

On Saturday, Bowser made a pitch for statehood on live national television at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

While we are proud to host this museum that shows how far we have come as Americans, we know that it also will show how far Washingtonians have to go, Bowser said .

She said that 670,000 people live here in Washington in the shadows of the Capitol; however, we cannot fully manifest our own destiny until we become the 51st state of our union.

But Bowser will be conspicuously absent Wednesday when consumer advocate Ralph Nader convenes former D.C. mayors, current elected officials including Mendelson and others to discuss statehood at a gathering of progressive activists.

Bowsers spokesman said the mayor had a scheduling conflict and would be represented by her general counsel.

That irked Nader, who has been pushing for D.C. statehood from as far back as 2000 when he ran for president. He said he was trying to galvanize progressives around the country behind the Districts cause.

Too busy? Nader said. Its 20 minutes right down the avenue, and its a prime issue for her.

A Bowser spokesman responded that the statehood movement is not about Mayor Bowser; nor does it hinge on her.
[September 27, 2016] Circulation Chosen as Uber's Preferred Healthcare Platform Partner for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation; Launches Hospital Pilot Programs

Circulation today launched with the first customizable, patient-centric digital transportation platform that seamlessly integrates with both healthcare systems and Uber's API. This unique integration marks a significant step forward in providing reliable non-emergency medical transportation. Additionally, Circulation has been chosen as the Preferred Healthcare Platform Partner of the Uber Developer Platform. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005396/en/ Circulation has launched as Uber's Preferred Healthcare Platform Partner and the nation's only all-in-one healthcare transportation platform with built-in connectivity between hospital information systems and the Uber API. Circulation seamlessly brings together all of the patient and on-demand ride data that medical transportation coordinators need onto a centralized, web-based, secure HIPAA-compliant dashboard. By harnessing the power of data, analytics, and on-demand transportation, Circulation provides a smarter, more affordable way to get patients to/from medical appointments and ensure they get the care they deserve. (Photo: Business Wire) Initially piloting at Boston Children's Hospital, Mercy Health System's three acute-care hospitals and all-inclusive care program for the elderly in Pennsylvania, and Nemours Children's Health System in Wilmington, Delaware, Circulation's service is expected to roll out across six additional states in 2016. "The traditional healthcare transportation model is severely outdated," said John Brownstein, Ph.D., co-founder of Circulation. "Every patient's experience begins and ends with their ride, which is why the integration of Uber and Circulation offers a smart, digital transportation platform for healthcare that customizes rides around patients' specific needs and ensures they get the care they deserve." HIPAA-compliant to protect patient info

In contrast to other non-emergency medical transportation options, Circulation is more than a ride. It is a one-stop, centralized portal that customizes rides around patients' healthcare needs and preferences. The Circulation platform is secure and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect the privacy and security of patient health information. By incorporating a deep level of integration with existing healthcare information systems and Uber, Circulation provides patients, caregivers and hospital staff a seamless, superior overall experience. Hospital transportation coordinators can schedule ad manage on-demand rides that are affordable and tailored around patients - all from one convenient interface. Coordinators can update patient information files with transportation scheduling information, ensure physicians, nurses and caregivers are notified when patients arrive for appointments, and receive alerts on Circulation's centralized multi-patient dashboard - all in real-time.



"We're very proud of this integration and thrilled to call Circulation our Preferred Healthcare Platform Partner," said Meghan Joyce, East Coast Regional General Manager at Uber. "Circulation is unique in that it seamlessly connects healthcare information systems to a dependable, low-cost, end-to-end platform that simplifies and improves patient transportation logistics. Through Circulation, hospitals now have a viable option for modernizing their non-emergency medical transportation and can easily request an Uber when they need one." Growing hospital demand

Cited in this month's Journal of the American Medical Association as a solution to the growing challenges in non-emergency medical transportation, Circulation is designed to help improve health outcomes for the estimated 3.6 million Americans (including almost one million children) who miss medical appointments each year due to transportation issues.

"We are confident that Circulation will help us improve access and patient-centered care to acute care and elderly patients across Southeastern Pennsylvania who need help getting to their medical appointments," said Gary Zimmer, Senior Vice President and CEO, Clinically Integrated Network at Mercy Health System. "Unlike other new offerings that are stand-alone systems to dispatch on-demand vehicles, Circulation's platform integrates with our internal systems, as well as with ride providers like Uber. It's much more efficient for our transportation coordinators and allows us to seamlessly orchestrate the ride into the overall patient experience." "There's already much stress and anxiety on the part of families whose young children need regular medical care," said Dr. Michael Docktor, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Boston Children's Hospital. "With Circulation, we can alleviate the added headaches that come along with traffic and parking challenges in a busy city such as Boston and ensure that parents can focus on their children - not the ride to the hospital." Ed Woomer, LCSW, Administrator, Patient & Family Services at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware said, "We're excited to be participating in the next evolution of on-demand healthcare transportation with Circulation to provide more reliable, timely and predictable routine healthcare transportation to our young patients and their families. We have an opportunity to make a real difference for children in need of care but who live in rural areas and struggle to make appointments." How it works Circulation starts with secure login and automatic verification of customer health insurance and ride eligibility.

Patient contact and health information is auto-populated into the system from health system records.

Circulation enables hospitals to schedule and manage transportation around patients' needs and preferences. Scheduling can be done as far in advance as needed and reoccurring appointments can be booked with a simple click to eliminate task duplication.

The platform asks if patients require wheelchair assistance or help getting in/out of a vehicle; if they are hearing/vision impaired; travel with a caregiver; and other important factors to determine the best vehicle selection.

A growing number of vehicle types are available through Circulation, including uberX and uberXL, and in some cities other options are available, such as UberACCESS.

Ride reminders and real-time notifications can also be automatically sent to both patients and their caregivers via phone, text or email to enhance communication.

All billing and payment reconciliation with Uber and healthcare organizations is seamlessly handled on the backend of Circulation's system.

To help mitigate fraud and abuse, Circulation's utilization performance tracking functionality gives administrators the ability to set triggers and detect suspicious activity. According to the Transportation Research Board, up to $3 billion is spent annually by Medicaid on non-emergency medical transportation. It is estimated that 33 percent of non-emergency medical transportation rides are funded inappropriately. About Circulation

Circulation takes a multidisciplinary, cutting-edge approach to turn better transportation into better health outcomes and positively impact population health. The company was co-founded by John Brownstein, PhD, a healthcare advisor to Uber, Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Research Faculty at Boston Children's Hospital; Robin Heffernan, PhD, CEO of Epidemico, one of the country's foremost population health informatics companies, and VP of Booz Allen Hamilton; Jared Hawkins, PhD, MMSc, Faculty at Boston Children's Hospital and Director of its Informatics (News - Alert) Innovation Program; and Leerom Segal, CEO and Co-founder of Klick Health, a leading commercialization partner in the healthcare industry. Follow Circulation on Twitter (News - Alert) at @circulationmed. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations interested in learning more about Circulation and joining the pilot program, please email [email protected]. For more information on Circulation, visit Circulation.co. For more information on the Uber API integration, go to: https://medium.com/uber-developers. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005396/en/

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The only Planned Parenthood location in the nations capital marked its grand opening this week in a booming, semi-industrial area of Northeast Washington  an area in the center of the city that the health-care provider hopes will be accessible to people from all corners of the District.

The nearly $20 million, 27,000-square-foot health facility will also serve as the administrative headquarters for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington. The location, the Carol Whitehill Moses Center, is expected to serve more than 12,000 people in its first year.

There was a tremendous unmet need, said Laura Meyers, president of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington. With almost no advertising, patients are finding us.

The facility replaces an outdated office in downtown Washington that closed in June 2015 after more than 40 years. Another location, in Southeast Washington, was shuttered in 2014.

While without a permanent presence in the city, Planned Parenthood hosted weekly clinics at Bread for the City, a nonprofit organization in Shaw.

The facility has space available for community meetings and education outreach as well as lounges for patients. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

The new facilitys opening was marked by a gala and benefit with Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), actress Kathleen Turner and others. About two dozen abortion protesters gathered in front of the headquarters before the event.

This Planned Parenthood location, however, was the target of regular protests long before it opened.

The building replaces an abandoned warehouse next to Two Rivers Public Charter School. Last year, the school filed a lawsuit against abortion protesters, saying they harassed children and displayed gruesome images of aborted fetuses to children as young as 3. In July, the protesters agreed to limit protest activity outside the school.

[Charter school next to future Planned Parenthood clinic sues antiabortion protesters.]

The school hired an extra security guard for this weeks grand opening as a precaution, said Tomeika Bowden, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Charter School Board.

Meyers said the facility, which will serve as the workplace for about 40 regional administrative staff members, was designed with safety in mind.

Security guards check guests in at the entrance, and Meyers added that other safety measures are in place throughout the complex.

The facilityalso has six nonsurgical exam rooms and four procedure rooms. The old facility had a total of five rooms. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

Employees have an outdoor courtyard so they dont have to leave through the main entrance and interact with possible protesters if they want to go outside.

The building is very deliberately designed, Meyers said. There isnt anything in the building we didnt think through  security, of course, being one of the main concerns.

The new headquarters and clinic are a significant expansion over the previous downtown space. It has six nonsurgical exam rooms and four procedure rooms. The old facility had a total of five rooms.

The center offers an array of services for women and men, including HPV vaccines, breast and pelvic exams, same-day birth control, emergency contraception, abortion services, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. It will soon offer PrEP, preventive medication for those at high risk for HIV infection.

The new D.C. location, on Fourth Street near Florida Avenue, joins three other Planned Parenthood facilities in the Washington region, which are in Suitland, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring.

A location in Falls Church closed in December 2015 after its lease expired. Meyers said there are plans to open another facility in the region.

Planned Parenthood says the regions facilities served more than 20,000 people in fiscal year 2015. It gave birth control to nearly 12,000 women and ran more than 19,000 tests for sexually transmitted diseases. Forty-two percent of its patients were 25 and younger, and 54 percent were women of color.

The new facility is the most modern of the regions Planned Parenthood locations. It has space available for community meetings and education outreach, as well as lounges for patients to use before and after their appointments.

Our job is to provide high-quality health care and unbiased medical information, Meyers said.

We wanted a space that really spoke to those values.
Katerina Maylock, with Capitals Educators, points on a student's worksheet as she teaches a test preparation class at Holton Arms School on Jan. 17, 2016 in Bethesda, Md. (Alex Brandon/AP)

SAT scores fell modestly this year for the last high school class to take the old version of the college admission test.

The average total score for graduating students who took the old SAT at least once through January was 1484, out of a maximum score of 2400, the College Board reported Tuesday. That was 12 points lower than the national average for the previous class in a comparable period. The total drop included declines of three points on the critical reading section of the test, four points in math and five points in writing.

Average combined scores this year were 1285 for the District of Columbia, 1456 for Maryland and 1535 for Virginia  all for students in the Class of 2016 who took the old test. But there were no comparable scores for states and the District for the previous class.

The results were muddied this year because the old test was retired after it was given in January, in the middle of the school year. Scores on the old test had been trending downward, and the latest results appeared to continue that pattern. Scores released in 2015 were the lowest in a decade, fueling worries about high school reform.

The new version debuted in March, with an overhauled format and maximum score of 1600. The College Board jettisoned much of the old tests arcane vocabulary questions, dropped the penalty for guessing and made the essay optional.

[As SAT enters new era, some students say exam has improved]

The midyear transition, the first in more than a decade, left many students puzzling over whether to take the old SAT, the new SAT or the rival ACT. That flux affected who took the old test and, in turn, influenced the results.

Scores for the new version will not be reported until after this years high school seniors have graduated.

Were in a peculiar state this year, College Board President David Coleman said in a media conference call. With partial data for old and new tests, he said, the bottom line is were caught in between.

[Meet the man behind the new SAT: Im in the anxiety field.]

For the College Board, perhaps the most important numbers from Tuesdays report were the participation totals for a year of uncertainty as the new test was rolled out. The totals were up slightly, officials said:

About 1.68 million students in the Class of 2016 took either the old or the new SAT at least once, compared with 1.66 million in the previous class.

Nearly 1.36 million students took the new SAT from March through June, compared with 1.18 million who took the old test during the same period in 2015.

More than 458,000 students took the SAT during a school day in the 2015-2016 school year, up from 219,500 the year before.

D.C. public school students are among those who can take the SAT during a school day instead of on a Saturday. Those in Maryland and Virginia are not. The school-day program, echoing similar efforts by the ACT, fundamentally changes participation and scores because it make the testing free for students and enables a state or school system to offer the test to its entire class.

When more students are tested, scores generally go down. Students who come from lower-income families tend to get lower scores than those who are more affluent.

But the College Board and the ACT think that widespread testing also encourages more students to go to college who otherwise might not.

The SAT, launched in 1926, was for generations the most widely used standardized admission test. But it fell behind the ACT in 2012. The Iowa-based ACT, first given in 1959, tests students in reading, English, math and science, with an optional essay. About 2.1 million took the ACT in the Class of 2016.

[ACT scores show a smaller share of students are college-ready]

In years past, the SAT was described as a test of aptitude, aiming to gauge students natural potential. Not anymore. The new SAT, like the ACT, is billed as a test of achievement that tracks the school curriculum.

Colleges accept scores from either test. A growing number do not require applicants to submit admission test scores, but most selective schools still do.

The SAT has long been more widely used in the Washington area, but the ACT has made inroads in the region.

In the District, 4,790 in the Class of 2016 took the old SAT at least once through January; 1,692 took the ACT before graduation.

In Maryland, 47,449 took the old SAT at least once; 16,769 took the ACT.

In Virginia, 57,861 took the old SAT at least once; 25,866 took the ACT.
Results of standardized tests in Montgomery County showed gains, but overall a majority did not pass the tests at most grade levels. (Carol Guzy/The Washington Post)

Students in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties made gains on their most recent state tests, particularly in math, but more than half of them did not pass the exams at most grade levels, according to results released Tuesday.

Performance on the state tests in math, aligned with the Common Core standards, improved in Montgomery County by 3 to 11 percentage points, depending on the grade level, according to data for grades three to eight.

On English exams, scores edged up 2 to 6 points for grades three to six compared to a year earlier, and they slipped in grades seven and eight. Overall, 44 to 50 percent of Montgomery students met proficiency targets in those grades.

Weve scored consistently above the state average, said Janet Wilson, associate superintendent for the Office of Shared Accountability in Montgomery County Public Schools.

But Wilson also noted persistent gaps in performance by race and ethnicity, a longtime concern in the suburban Maryland school system. On the Algebra 1 exam, for instance, 72 percent of Asian students and 69 percent of white students passed, compared with 25 percent of black students and 19 percent of Hispanic students, the data showed. She said that math is one area of particular concern and that there are other factors that influence test scores, such as language ability and special education needs.

Were looking at the opportunities we provide earlier on, for all students, Wilson said.

Most test results in Prince Georges County showed improvement, but a smaller share of students passed state exams, which aim to measure whether students are on a path to college and career readiness. The district said about 26 percent of elementary and middle-school students combined met or exceeded standards on English tests, as did about 17 percent in math. Those rates reflected an uptick of almost 2 percentage points in English and nearly 3 points in math.

We are encouraged because for the most part we have gains, said Peggy Harrington, test administration supervisor for Prince Georges. We certainly know the trajectory. We have a ways to go.

The district had a particularly low passing rate for seventh-grade math  less than 5 percent  which Harrington attributed to the districts practice of assigning its high-performing seventh graders to eighth-grade math classes or to Algebra 1. Even though we have some gains, its been a challenge, she said, noting that the district expects to improve each year.

At the high school level, both Washington-area school systems showed improvements for Algebra 1 and English 10. Prince Georges saw a decline of almost 6 percentage points on the Algebra 2 exam, which most Montgomery County students did not take.

The data comes from the second administration of the newest battery of state standardized tests, called PARCC exams. The tests require persuasive writing, critical thinking and problem-solving; they are considered more rigorous than the states previous exams, called the Maryland School Assessment.

Statewide results, released in August, showed upticks at most levels in math in grades three to eight, with flat scores in English  not the major increases some had hoped would materialize as students and teachers became more familiar with the tests.

[A majority of Maryland students fall short, again, on state Common Core tests]

Marylands exams are not yet tied to accountability measures such as teacher evaluation or student graduation requirements, but state officials said the data can be helpful.

The PARCC results provide a valuable tool that our educators can use to strengthen classroom instruction, Karen B. Salmon, state superintendent of education, said in a statement. When combined with other assessment data and evidence of performance, teachers can tailor their efforts to individual student needs.
THE DISTRICT

3 students who took pills taken to hospital

Three students at a charter school were taken to a hospital Monday after telling a nurse that they had taken a pill another student gave them, authorities said.

The three reported nausea and dizziness, said Adrian C. Manuel, head of school at the SEED public charter school in Southeast.

Manuel said the students were taken to a hospital by D.C. Fire and EMS Department ambulance.

Police were also called and began an investigation, he said.

The students were released in good condition the same day, Manuel said. He said the school is still investigating.

MARYLAND

Small plane crashes; one person killed

A small aircraft crashed Tuesday evening in Montgomery County, killing one person, authorities said.

Around 6:20 p.m., fire and rescue personnel responded to the 23900 block of Laytonsville Road in Laytonsville, near where a small Cessna-style plane crashed in a field, a spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service said.

The victim was not identified, and authorities believe that the person had been alone in the aircraft.

The plane was in flames when emergency responders arrived, the spokesman said.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

Alleged carjacker seized after search

A person wanted in an armed carjacking was arrested Tuesday night in a Potomac home after a barricade that lasted for hours, Montgomery County police said.

The man was taken into custody at 8:33 p.m. in a home on Frost Valley Way, where he had secreted himself, said Capt. Paul Starks, the county police spokesman.

The situation had begun about six hours earlier, when a woman reported that her BMW had just been carjacked on Honeywell Lane, in Bethesda. She told authorities that a witness was following the car, and responding officers also started to follow.

The pursuit ended when the BMW crashed near Falls Road and Tuckerman Lane, police spokesman Rick Goodale said.

Starks said a homeowner on Frost Valley Way spotted a man attempting to enter her house, and she fled.

She recognized it for what it was, he said.

Cold Spring Elementary School, which is in the area, was under a shelter-in-place order after students were dismissed.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

and Martin Weil
Prince Georges schools already offer healthier snack alternatives at vending machines, but the county government is considering a bill that would require those options at all machines on county, municipal and park and planning property. (Carol Guzy/The Washington Post)

It could get a bit harder for people in Prince Georges County to buy chips, cookies or soda in county facilities, if a bill to limit those choices and stock vending machines with healthier options is embraced by the County Council.

Vice Chair Dannielle M. Glaros (D-Riverdale Park) introduced the bill Tuesday, saying she wanted to address the negative health impacts of sugary and fatty foods in a county with high rates of diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases.

The legislation would require that 50 percent of packaged food and beverages in machines located on county, municipal and park property meet federal health standards. For future vending contracts, 65 percent of items sold would have to be healthy.

There is clearly a nexus between health and access to healthy food, Glaros said, noting that the county government spends $95 million annually for employee health insurance and wellness programs.

The vending bill is similar to a 2015 Howard County law that requires that 75 percent of the vending-machine offerings in county-owned spaces be healthy.

[Maryland bill would limit sale of junk food in state vending machines]

A bill mandating healthy vending choices statewide failed in the Maryland General Assembly this year, and Montgomery County recently studied the issue. Washington requires that half of food and beverages sold in city vending machines be nutritionally sound, and Alexandria, Va., allows only healthy snacks in machines located in city facilities.

The food and beverage industry has fought against such bills, arguing that citizens do not want the government limiting their food choices. Vendors already are moving toward more healthy foods and consumers already can find machines that offer healthier options, said Ellen Valentino, a lobbyist for the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Beverage Association.

We sell what people want to buy, she said, noting that Prince Georges is home to several soft-drink factories, which could be hurt by the bill.

The advocacy group Sugar Free Kids Maryland, which helped craft the Prince Georges bill and has been pushing similar legislation across the state, says the industry is not changing quickly enough.

People dont realize what they are putting into their bodies, said Executive Director Shawn McIntosh. This is not about taking away peoples choices but giving them more options.

[Vegan restaurateur aims to make Pr. Georges food dessert healthier]

Glaross bill would limit the sale of any snack with more than 200 calories or a high fat, calorie or sugar content, and it would require such foods to be displayed less prominently than healthier options.

The items also would have to be limited and stocked within the machine in a place with the lowest selling potential.

Beverages that exceed 40 calories per serving would be considered unhealthy. All vending machines would have to include bottled water and display nutritional information for all products.

The bill says healthier snacks must be comparably priced or less expensive than products with lower nutritional value.

Glaros said the bill codifies protocols the county government already is implementing through its procurement process, which requires vendors to include healthy foods in their offerings to win contracts.

Every county-owned building, including recreation centers, fire stations and government offices, has at least two vending machines, she estimated.

People dont want junk anymore, said Roland L. Jones, head of the county office that issues contracts to vendors. The government should lead the way in setting the example for healthier living.

Glaros, a first-term lawmaker, also has proposed legislation to expand urban farming, encourage more farmers markets and rewrite regulations for county food trucks. Each of those bills were adopted.

[Food trucks coming back to Washington suburb]

A founding member of the countys Food Equity Council, Glaros says she wants to improve residents access to healthy food options in a county where several communities were labeled food deserts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2013.

We have an overabundance of fast food, Glaros said. And we have fewer restaurants per capita in the region. Every new restaurant that does open does incredibly well. Clearly, people want more access to greater food options.

She said she is exploring legislation that would encourage organizations with commercial kitchens, such as churches, to lease their space to food entrepreneurs.

I guess I just love food, she said.

To become law, the vending bill must be voted out of committee in the next few weeks. The bill does not affect Prince Georges schools, which already follow federal nutrition and vending guidelines.
Workers tap into Marcellus natural gas at an active hydraulic fracturing drilling operation outside of Wellsboro, Pa. (Brett Carlsen/for The Washington Post)

Marylands long-awaited fracking regulations would ban drilling in three watersheds in Western Maryland and require extensive safeguards around drilling sites, protections that Secretary of the Environment Ben H. Grumbles called the most stringent in the country.

The proposed regulations, which the state unveiled Monday, also would allow fracking closer to homes and private wells than what was proposed by then-Gov. Martin OMalley (D) before the legislature imposed a moratorium on the controversial gas-extraction practice that is set to expire in October 2017.

Marylands Department of the Environment is calling for four layers of steel casing and cement around fracking wells to prevent water, gas and other fluids from migrating to other areas, and for the monitoring of surface water and groundwater before and after drilling begins.

Grumbles said the plans are so comprehensive and so protective that the buffers were providing for are ample.

[OMalley ready to allow fracking, with safeguards]

Environmentalists and fracking opponents in the state legislature say they will try again next year to prohibit the practice altogether, while the moratorium is still in place. The technique, officially called hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water, sand and chemicals deep into the ground to break up rock and release natural gas. It is permitted in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Supporters, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), say fracking can be done safely while providing economic benefits for Western Maryland and new revenue for the state.

Opponents cite concerns about groundwater contamination, air pollution and earthquakes, and say no safeguards can adequately protect the public and the environment.

These regulations show that Governor Hogan and his administration clearly have the best interest of the oil and gas industry in mind, not the health and safety of Maryland residents, said Thomas Meyer, an organizer with Food and Water Watch. The only appropriate response from the Maryland General Assembly to these disastrous regulations is a statewide ban on fracking.

Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) said he plans to introduce such legislation early next year, similar to a bill he sponsored in 2014.

If at some point in the future it is absolutely foolproof safe, then we can have another discussion, Zirkin said. But as of 2016, multiple states have done this, and all of them have seen bad results.

[Scientists say chemicals from fracking can taint nearby water sources]

Geologist David Vanko, who is dean of Towson Universitys Fisher College of Science and Mathematics and spent four years leading an OMalley-appointed fracking commission, said the newly proposed regulations are some of strictest, if not the strictest in the nation.

The important thing is that Maryland is starting out with well-thought-out regulations, whereas some neighboring states began with inadequate regulations and have been backpedaling ever since, he said.

However, Vanko said some of the rules fall short of the commissions recommendations, including by not requiring air-quality monitoring before and after drilling begins.

I really feel you want to have air-quality data to convince people nearby that theyre not being exposed to volatile organic compounds and silicate dust, he said.

Vanko applauded a requirement for drillers to buy insurance for personal injury, property damage and environmental pollution, but he said the state should couple that mandate with a gas-extraction tax that would provide revenue for a fund to pay for accidents.

[See the proposed fracking regulations]

The tax would fund a larger pot of money that could be used for bigger issues, such as when there are multiple companies and you cant tell who is responsible, or if the companies are out of business, Vanko said.

The proposed regulations would require drillers to disclose the chemicals they use for fracking  something the industry has fought, on the grounds that revealing the information would expose trade secrets.

State environmental officials sent the rules to the legislatures regulatory-review committee Monday, too late to meet an Oct. 1 legislative deadline for finalizing the regulations.

The process, which officials say they expect to complete by years end, includes a 30-day public comment period and a possible hearing before the committee, among other steps.

Officials said the delay was necessary to thoroughly consider rules in place in other states and the concerns of citizens and stakeholders.

It was time well spent for us to review whats working, what are the key safeguards and how to improve upon those safeguards, Grumbles said.

A Goucher College poll released Monday found that Marylanders are divided over hydraulic fracturing. Among the 76 percent of respondents who said they have heard about the practice, 43 percent said they would support a statewide ban, while 32 percent said they would oppose it.
Smoke no longer rises out of the smokestacks at the coal-fired Castle Gate Power Plant outside Helper, Utah, in 2015. The plant was closed last year in anticipation of new regulations aimed at cutting carbon emissions. (George Frey/Reuters)

President Obamas signature effort to combat global warming was alternately lauded as a reasonable attempt to move the nation toward cleaner energy sources and faulted as an unconstitutional, job-killing power grab during seven hours of vigorous legal arguments Tuesday.

With the Clean Power Plans future on the line, a 10-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struggled to discern whether the proposal goes too far in trying to compel power plants to cut carbon-dioxide emissions. The Obama administration contends it merely used its authority to nudge the industry in a direction many companies already are headed  toward more renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar.

This central piece of Obamas environmental legacy, which will probably remain unsettled even after he leaves office in January, aims to slash the greenhouse-gas emissions that scientists agree are fueling the planets rapid warming. It also is an integral part of the commitment U.S. officials made as part of a historic climate accord signed in Paris last December, with countries around the world pledging to cut emissions aggressively in coming years.

More than a dozen lawyers lined up before an overflow crowd Tuesday to argue the case, with the nations leading environmental groups, climate scientists and tech giants pitted against more than two dozen states, industry groups and conservative lawmakers.

At least two judges on the panel, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Thomas B. Griffith, suggested that federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency must defer to Congress when it comes to enacting policy with major political and economic implications.

Its not just a technicality. Its rooted in the separation of powers, Kavanaugh said. Congress should be making the big policy decisions.

Attorney Eric Hostetler, who represented the EPA, said the regulations are well within the agencys authority. He called the effort a proper and sensible attempt to regulate carbon emissions, with no more overall economic consequences for the industry than some existing pollution regulations.

Judge David S. Tatel appeared to agree. He noted that the regulations would only modestly affect the percentage of U.S. electricity generated by coal through 2030.

Tatel questioned why opponents consider the regulations transformative, adding that it seemed the EPA had invoked its long-standing authority.

The regulations would direct every state to form detailed plans to reduce CO2 emissions from such sources as coal-fired power plants, enough to decrease carbon pollution by about one-third by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

Lawyers representing the oil and gas industry and other opponents said the EPAs regulations would force power-plant owners to either shut down or essentially subsidize competing clean-energy industries.

Attorney Peter D. Keisler said the EPAs far-reaching approach is unprecedented and that new regulations were merely a lever to force coal companies out of business.

A long line of spectators waited outside the courthouse just blocks from the U.S. Capitol for more than two hours before the arguments began. Among those listening in the wood-paneled courtroom were EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, White House advisers and U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

The D.C. Circuit could take months to issue a ruling  which will almost certainly be appealed to the Supreme Court.

The case, West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, already has had an unpredictable legal path. In an unusual move, the Supreme Court blocked the regulations implementation in February. Its 5-to-4 decision, which did not address the merits of the lawsuit, came just days before the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

With the high court potentially divided, the appellate courts judgment could stand at least until a ninth justice is seated.

The D.C. Circuit also broke with its usual process when it decided in May to put the issue before a full panel of active judges, including six appointed by Democrats and four by Republicans. Obamas Supreme Court nominee, Chief Judge Merrick Garland, recused himself from the case.

The Supreme Court has already ruled that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions. The question is whether the agency chose to do so in an appropriate and reasonable way in the Clean Power Plan.

Laurence H. Tribe, a Harvard law professor and former teacher of President Obama, argued against the plan on behalf of Peabody Energy, the nations largest coal company. Tribe said the EPA is inappropriately stepping in where Congress has failed to act on climate change.

Doing so created fundamental concerns about overreach by the executive branch, he said. Theres a reason 27 states are on the petitioners side and 19 are on the other, Tribe asserted.

The court also struggled Tuesday with how to settle another critical issue: two versions of a law that appear to conflict. When Congress amended the Clean Air Act in 1990, it passed different versions of the provision at issue  a predicament that leaves the validity of the EPAs authority with the Clean Power Plan up to the judges.

Opponents say EPAs rule amounts to duplicative regulation, because the same plants would be regulated twice under different sections of the law.

Supporters say Congress intended to strengthen environmental protections  not exempt an entire industry from regulation under separate Clean Air Act programs.

Judge Cornelia T.L. Pillard questioned opponents about why the EPA could not regulate the same entity for two different types of pollutants at the same time. Prohibiting the agency from doing so, she said, was like preventing the government from telling motorists to drive on the right side of the road and drive the speed limit.

More than once, the judges and attorneys seemed frustrated by the inaction of Congress and the ambiguity of its laws. Griffith wondered aloud why the debate over how to best transform the nations electricity system was playing out in front of a group of unelected judges instead of on the floor of the Senate.

Thats the fundamental problem, he said.

Correction : An earlier version of this story mistakenly attributed a quote about the EPAs plan to regulate power plant emissions to Judge David S. Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. It was spoken by Judge Thomas B. Griffith. The story also incorrectly identified EPA Administrator Gina McCarthys title. The story has been updated to correct the attribution and the title.
A 28-year-old Alexandria man has pleaded guilty to threatening two Republican U.S. senators via Twitter.

Kyler Schmitz appeared in federal court in Alexandria on Tuesday, saying little beyond acknowledging his agreement that he was guilty of one count of making threatening interstate communications.

Im going to shoot you in the head for allowing someone to murder my loved ones, Schmitz tweeted to one senator, according to court documents. Im going to shoot you in the face, you will not hurt my people again, another tweet said.

The tweets were sent in June, just a few days after 49 people were killed at a gay club in Orlando by a man with an assault rifle. Defense attorney Geremy Kamens said Schmitz was trying to make a political point about gun violence and Republican opposition to gun-control legislation. Schmitz never owned a firearm or took steps to acquire one, the defense said in court filings.

Mr. Schmitz engaged in the communications primarily out of his opposition to guns and gun violence, Kamens said.

The court documents did not name the senators, but a Washington Post reporter saw tweets addressed to Sens. Roy Blunt (Mo.) and John Hoeven (N.D.), as well as one that tagged Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), before the Twitter account was suspended.

Schmitz has been undergoing court-ordered mental health counseling since his arrest on in June.

Under the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of no more than six months of detention. Kamens plans to request probation for his client.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Berrang argued that pleading guilty to interstate threats requires that Schmitz be incarcerated until his sentencing on Dec. 16. But U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee agreed with the defense that incarceration was neither mandatory nor necessary; Schmitz will remain free on bond under several conditions, including that he not use Twitter.
[September 27, 2016] FIME and Bsmart partner to seamlessly support payment technology implementations in Brazil

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIME today announces its partnership with Bsmart to further enhance its strategic consultancy, implementation support and certification tools and services offering to the Brazilian marketplace. The collaboration will be of particular value to issuing and acquiring banks implementing EMV-based technology in the region. Brazil is an important market for FIME and were pleased to offer extensive implementation support in local language and the ability to bill in local currency, comments Francois Gaignard, Sales Director at FIME America. While EMV migration is near completion, we have witnessed many customers preparing for contactless and mobile payment deployments in recent months due to the influx of overseas visitors for the 2016 Olympics. We believe this trend will continue. Bsmarts expertise and unparalleled local knowledge means it is the perfect partner to support our customers and drive new business in this region. Bsmart specializes in helping companies maximize opportunities in Brazil and has extensive experience within the payments and technology sectors. Bsmart will also support FIME in wrking with local customers to bring card and mobile transaction services to market effectively and confidently using secure chip or cloud-based solutions across the telecoms, transit and identity markets. Karina Prado Freitas Dannias, Managing Partner at Bsmart Consulting & Outsourcing Services, a Bsmart Group company adds: FIME has been a leading payment consultancy in Brazil for many years. We look forward to working together to offer even more support services to FIMEs customers as payment technology continues to evolve and FIME advances its services and product portfolio across vertical markets. To find out more about how FIME can support your projects, contact your local office https://www.fime.com/contact-us/global-offices.html. About FIME FIME offers comprehensive consulting services, technical training, technology design, test tools and certification testing globally across the financial services, telecom, transit and identity sectors. Its experts support projects from start to finish, resolving the technical challenges its customers face when implementing a complete portfolio of specifications, standards and multi-brand industry requirements. In the U.S., FIME uses its 20+ years of experience to ensure that card and mobile transactions services are implemented efficiently and successfully. The company helps its U.S. customers bring a range of technologies to market, including contact and contactless EMV chip, near field communication (NFC), host card emulation (HCE), tokenization, secure element (SE), machine to machine (M2M), internet of things (IoT) and trusted execution environment (TEE). FIMEs U.S. headquarters are located in San Jose. Co. infographic | all over the world | references | accreditations | memberships | partners | distributors FIME. One Action. A billion transactions. www.fime.com | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube About Bsmart Consulting & Outsourcing ServicesBC&OS acts in the consulting area, advising and supporting local and foreign companies to do business in Brazil and The Americas region, with a full set of services/BPO. BC&OS is part of the Bsmart Group, founded in 2007. The group also holds a Digital Agency and an Import/Export-Distribution entity.http://www.bsmartgroup.com Contact: Adrian Riley Montner Tech PR 203-226-9290 [email protected]

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A man from Maryland is dead after crashing his vehicle into a wall in Southeast Washington early Tuesday, police said.

At about 1:50 a.m., the driver of a vehicle in the 4200 block of Alabama Avenue SE mounted the curb at the corner of Beck Street, striking a pole and a wall, D.C. police said in a statement.

Police responded to the scene and found 41-year-old Harry Perkins of Hyattsville unresponsive behind the wheel, the statement said. Perkins was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.

No information about the cause of the crash was immediately available.

Police asked anyone with information about this incident to call them at 202-727-9099.
Catherine Hoggle in an undated photo with her children Jacob and Sarah, who have been missing since 2014. (Courtesy of Lindsey Hoggle)

Catherine Hoggle, the Maryland mother of two young children who have been missing since 2014, remains mentally unfit to stand trial in their disappearance, a Montgomery County judge said in a brief court hearing Tuesday.

Hoggle, 29, has been locked in a state psychiatric hospital for two years, and authorities have said they believe that the children probably are dead. According to a recent evaluation, Hoggle remains incompetent to stand trial and dangerous due to a mental disorder, District Judge Holly D. Reed III said.

Hoggle, a former waitress with a long history of mental illness, is the last known person to have seen the children, Jacob and Sarah, in September 2014. They were 2 and 3 at the time. Police, family members, friends and strangers have conducted numerous searches in fields, woods and roadsides but have found no sign of the children.

[Mother of missing children keeps trying to escape from Md. psychiatric hospital]

Since being locked up at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, Hoggle has repeatedly tried to escape. She has said that her children are safe and that she wants to see them.

She has been charged with neglect, abduction and hindering. Police have long said they also have an underlying murder case against Hoggle in the childrens deaths.

[Judge: Prosecutors cant send doctor to psych hospital to examine Catherine Hoggle]

In 2014, after the children were reported missing, Hoggle gave different stories of where they were, including saying she had left them at a new day-care facility and later saying she had dropped them with an old friend.

After Tuesdays hearing, Hoggles attorney, David Felsen, said, This is a young woman in the throes of profound mental health issues.

Hoggles mother said she was concerned with how her daughter appeared in court. Theres just no affect, Lindsey Hoggle said. She just looks ready to cry.

Lindsey Hoggle said she will continue to look for her grandchildren and is encouraging others to do the same. She said she has long felt that her daughter left the children with someone and that Jacob and Sarah may still be alive.

There are other people involved. I strongly believe that, she said Tuesday.

Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.
A suspect in an armed carjacking was arrested Tuesday night in a Potomac home after a barricade that lasted for hours, Montgomery County police said.

The suspect was taken into custody at 8:33 p.m., in a home on Frost Valley Way, where he had secreted himself, said Capt. Paul Starks, the county police spokesman.

Perry Marcel Bryant (Courtesy of Montgomery County Police Department)

The man was later identified as Perry Marcel Bryant, 46, of an unconfirmed address, according to police.

The situation had begun about six hours earlier, when a woman said she was in her black 2010 BMW on Honeywell Lane in Bethesda as a man came up to her car. He showed a handgun and got into the backseat of the car. He told her to drive, police said.

She was able to flee the car and flagged down another motorist for help. Bryant fled in her BMW, authorities said.

The motorist who helped the woman followed the BMW and called police. The driver lost sight of the stolen BMW, but responding officers found it.

Police said Bryant refused to stop and led authorities on a chase.

The pursuit ended when the BMW crashed near Falls Road and Tuckerman Lane, police spokesman Rick Goodale said.

Starks said a homeowner on Frost Valley Way spotted the man trying to enter her house, and she fled. She recognized it for what it was, he said.

Starks said a weapon was recovered from the BMW.

While the search was still on, Falls Road was closed between Liberty Lane and Glen Road and commuters were advised to seek alternate routes. Also, Cold Spring Elementary School, located near the area, was under a shelter-in-place order after students were dismissed.

Bryant was charged with armed carjacking, attempted kidnapping and home invasion.

Staff writer Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.
Prince George's County school bus aide Michael Paul Patopie is in jail facing multiple charges of child abuse and sexual abuse after being accused of inappropriately touching two young students while on a bus for children with special needs. (WUSA9)

Prince George's County school bus aide Michael Paul Patopie is in jail facing multiple charges of child abuse and sexual abuse after being accused of inappropriately touching two young students while on a bus for children with special needs. (WUSA9)

A Prince Georges County school-bus aide has been charged with multiple counts of child abuse and sexual abuse in connection with incidents involving two young students with special needs.

Michael Paul Patopie, 38, of Capitol Heights, is accused of inappropriately touching a 4- and 5-year-old while working on a bus that serves special-needs children, according to charging documents filed in Prince George's County District Court.

Patopie was arrested Tuesday morning, according to county police.

The woman who drove the bus reported two incidents to authorities that occurred on Nov. 19 and May 31, saying she occasionally saw Patopie kiss the 5-year-old child, documents state. The students mother said her child reported inappropriate touching, police allege in court papers.

The 4-year-olds great-aunt said she noticed that the childs pants were open multiple times when getting off the bus, charging documents state.

Michael Paul Patopie (Prince George's County Police)

[Parents question delay in probe of alleged molestation of child on school bus]

Video footage from the bus captured on Nov. 19 shows Patopie sitting next to the 4-year-old, according to court documents. Although his hand is out of view, the video shows Patopie touching the child, the records state. After the child is dropped off, Patopie touches the 5-year-old in a similar manner, puts the child on his lap and kisses the childs forehead, police allege.

Kevin M. Maxwell, chief executive for Prince Georges County Public Schools, said in a statement Tuesday that he is seeking to fire Patopie immediately, given his arrest.

I am horrified by the nature of these crimes, sickened and angry that this individual may have preyed upon our students, Maxwell said in the statement. We will cooperate fully with our law enforcement partners to ensure that he is held accountable. Our focus remains on providing all children with a quality education in a safe learning environment.

The bus aide and a supervisor were placed on administrative leave during the first week of school in August after Maxwell learned of the allegations, school officials have earlier said.

John Erzen, a spokesman for the Prince Georges County States Attorneys Office, said the case is under investigation and prosecutors would file more charges if there is evidence of additional victims.

Certainly anytime that children are victims, it tears at our hearts, Erzen said.

The father of a 4-year-old who thinks his child was molested but was not one of the victims who Patopie was charged with abusing told The Washington Post this month that it was unacceptable that school officials did not inform the family of the November incident until August. On Tuesday, he said he was glad to hear of the charges but continued to question the process.

I just thank God they finally locked him up, he said.

Patopie is being held on a $300,000 bond and is scheduled for a bail review Wednesday, prosecutors said. When reached by phone, Patopies mother declined to comment, and online court records do not list an attorney for him.

The charges against the bus aide follow a string of child-abuse allegations in Prince Georges public schools.

[Prince Georges schools shake up staff as system reels from abuse allegations]

In February, elementary school volunteer Deonte Carraway was indicted on 270 counts of child pornography and related charges after allegedly recording children as young as 9 performing sex acts both on and off campus. Cases against him are pending.

More recently, federal authorities revoked a $6.4 million grant from the county after finding corporal punishment and humiliation of children in the districts Head Start preschool program.

Last week, police said they were investigating a separate allegation of physical abuse on a school bus of an adult student who attends a special-needs school in Mitchellville. The incident occurred the morning of Sept. 1, outside the C. Elizabeth Rieg Regional School.
The scene in the air traffic control tower at Dulles International Airport during a tour by The Federal Aviation Administration along with UPS and United Airlines as they gave a firsthand demonstration of the NextGen technology called Data Communications (Data Comm) on Sept. 27, 2016. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

The Federal Aviation Administration has taken another step into the 21st century, replacing an archaic system that required a pencil and paper with a digital link between pilots and the control tower.

The computer link with planes awaiting takeoff has been installed in 45 major airports  including New Yorks three, all three in the Washington-region and Los Angeles and will be added shortly in several others, including Chicagos OHare International, the FAA said Tuesday.

The system in use to date has been a throwback to the days post-World War II, and it gives passengers who have wondered a glimpse into whats going on in the cockpit as they inch along the line toward takeoff.

Heres how it works: The airline sends the control tower a proposed flight plan for the plane thats warming up at the gate. The captain will have picked up a copy of that as he walked on-board. In the tower, that plan prints out on an 8-by-1-inch piece of paper. On a good day, controllers in the tower give the thumbs up and the paper is stacked on a board that shows the order in which the planes will take off.

On a bad day, when the weather makes for ugly flying or something else has disrupted the system, the tower controllers have to come up with a new route to get the plane where its going. That new plan will pop out on another 8x1 piece of paper. The controller then reads the instructions to the waiting pilot, who writes them all down on paper. The pilot then reads them back and the tower corrects any mistakes. The pilot confirms the corrections, and the tower clears the plane to fly  although all the back and forth may have cost the pilot his place in line, further delaying the flight.

Shown is the Data Comm system aboard a UPS Boeing 767 during a demonstration by The Federal Aviation Administration along with UPS and United Airlines at Dulles International Airport on Sept. 27, 2016 (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

With the new system, the whole business can be done with the push of a button. The airline dispatcher files the flight plan with the tower, the tower approves or revises, the flight plan pops up on a mini-screen in the cockpit, pilot reviews and approves it, plane takes off.

This eliminates a huge amount of traffic on the radio, said UPS pilot Gregg Kastman, who demonstrated the system in a UPS plane cockpit at Dulles International Airport on Tuesday.

The system, known as Data Comm, has been tested for more than two years at Memphis and Newark international airports. The FAA says that in return for its $741 million investment, Data Comm will allow planes to fly more direct routes, saving fuel and reducing airplane exhaust fumes. The major U.S. carriers have signed on for the program, though not all of their planes been equipped yet.

A similar system has been used by U.S. and foreign carriers for more than a decade on oceanic flights. For now, the FAA says, Data Comm will be used to speed planes as they prepare for take off. By 2019, they expect the system will be used by the 20 centers that control planes at cruising altitude.

The Data Comm system, which is being delivered two years ahead of schedule, was an early inclusion when the FAA created NextGen as an umbrella for numerous works in progress.

[NextGen air traffic control system behind schedule and over budget]

Its the brand name the FAA created more than a dozen years ago as it recognized that it needed to sell Congress on funding for a grab bag of expensive new programs with the potential to dramatically change the way in which airplanes travel from place to place.

But with the massive funding for NextGen  the airlines are expected to invest billions as well  came pressure from Congress and the White House Office of Management and Budget to show meaningful results, expectations that might not have arisen for several individually-funded projects that no one outside the FAA fully understood.

One result of that pressure was that NextGen expanded like an accordion, with projects that pre-dated NextGen by several years suddenly being added to the NextGen portfolio as they neared completion, and could be pointed to as milestone of success.

For example, in 2000, IBM told the FAA that it didnt intend to support the agencys navigational system beyond 2010. So the FAA set out to revitalize the system with something it called En Route Automation Modernization, or ERAM.

That system, now in operation, was instigated before the term NextGen was coined, yet the FAA now says it is the heart of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

I would argue that it isnt really NextGen, said a former top FAA official who asked not to be named because he still works in the aviation industry. It really is replacing what they had in 2001. Thats sort of what theyre touting as NextGen, but all this does is, eventually, when they build NextGen, is to plug new systems into it.

In the heyday of NextGen funding, he said the inside joke at the agency was that someone at FAA could figure out how to modernize the cafeteria and call it NextGen to cover the cost.


As night falls, Richmond mayoral candidate Joe Morrissey continues to canvass a neighborhood on Richmond's south side. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

As he listened to two African American teenagers complain about their decaying high school, the front-runner in this citys race for mayor pointed to a photo of his wife and children in his campaign brochure.

These are my kids, Joe Morrissey said, his finger on the image of the two babies as he greeted voters outside a supermarket. I dont want them going to a school with mold and no AC. Thats why Im running.

Morrissey pointed to his wife, seated next to him in the photo, their then-2-month-old girl on her lap.

You recognize Myrna, dont you? Morrissey asked.

Everyone in Richmond knows about Joe and Myrna Morrissey, as do many across Virginia and as far away as Europe, having feasted on a gush of salacious stories three years ago about the then-55-year-old state lawmaker who went to jail for cavorting with his 17-year-old receptionist.

That he is white and she is black only added another level of intrigue to the saga.

Myrna Warren is now Morrisseys 20-year-old wife  the couple married in June  and she has become a centerpiece of his unlikely quest to become Richmonds next mayor, a seat once held by no less than Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democrats vice-presidential nominee.

At a time when American politics is dominated by two presidential candidates with mountains of personal baggage, Morrissey, now 59, is starring on his own stage with enough proverbial Samsonite to fill a fleet of cargo planes.

[Everyone wants Joe Morrissey to go away  except, maybe, his constituents ]

Yet, in the same way that Donald Trump defies the gravity of his many indelible missteps, polls show Morrissey, a Democrat, with an imposing lead over six opponents, a field that includes a well-funded protege to Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). One candidate dropped out Tuesday, citing concern that the size of the field would split the vote and ensure Morrisseys victory.

Morrisseys strength is rooted in his support among working-class African American voters who have viewed him as their defender in his varying roles over the years  Richmonds chief prosecutor, Virginia state delegate and defense attorney. His one endorsement is from the Richmond Crusade for Voters, a 60-year-old organization that promotes black participation in city politics.

Long before his relationship with Warren, Morrisseys career was punctuated by more than a few headline-spewing debacles, including an eight-year disbarment that prevented him from practicing law until 2011; two fistfights that resulted in jail time; brandishing an unloaded AK-47 to the alarm of legislative colleagues during a gun debate in the House of Delegates.

But Morrisseys supporters admire his resilience, celebrate his periodic comebacks and eschew any concern about whom he chose to marry. They remember that he has lobbied for the restoration of felons voting rights  an important issue in the black community  defended their brothers, sisters and cousins in myriad court cases and shown up at their churches and neighborhood block parties.

We can relate to having troubles in your life and having to overcome them and still coming out on top, said Cory Taylor, 46, an African American cybersecurity specialist, after meeting Morrissey one recent night. Thats our story.

Joe Morrissey with his then-girlfriend, Myrna, and their son. (Family photo)

The citys ever-genteel establishment blanches at the prospect that Richmonds next leader could be a man whose Fightin Joe nickname became Sextin Joe after prosecutors accused him of texting nude photos of the underage Warren to a friend and boasting about having sex with her.

Although he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Morrissey insisted that the texts were planted by a hacker and that he and Warren did not have sex when she was underage. Investigators for the Virginia State Bar recently claimed in a court filing that Morrissey lied during that defense.

In professional circles, among blacks and whites, Morrissey is nothing less than an embarrassment, his cringe-worthy moments including the photo he once distributed of himself and Warren and their newborn son dressed in antebellum costumes seemingly out of Gone With the Wind.

In addition to his 6-month-old daughter and 18-month-old son with Myrna, Morrissey is the father of three more children with three different women, none of whom he married. His oldest child is 29.

Many people would be mortified if Joe Morrissey is elected, said former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder, who once served as the citys mayor and who is not endorsing any candidate.

The forces aligning against Morrissey include a political action committee started solely to oppose his candidacy. Hes fundamentally unfit to be mayor, said Albert Pollard, the PACs founder and a former House delegate who lives 70 miles east of Richmond.

Yet many civic leaders are reticent about denigrating Morrissey publicly, afraid they will fire up his supporters. Even as he served a three-month sentence resulting from his relationship with Warren, Morrissey won a 2015 special election to Virginias House of Delegates  from his jail cell. He resigned a couple of months later, after House Democrats shunned him, and ran for the state Senate, a campaign he halted last September after citing health problems. Six months later, he announced he was running for mayor.

Its almost like people are drawn to him because of his whole bad-boy image, said the Rev. Tyrone Nelson, a Richmond minister who is backing Levar Stoney, McAuliffes former secretary of the commonwealth.



Richmond mayoral candidate Joe Morrissey shows Tashienda Rhodes, left, 31, and her younger sisters Myasia Goode, center, 13, and Keona Goode, 16, a photo of his family outside King's Supermarket in Richmond. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

Morrissey, in an interview, appeared to brighten at the suggestion that his campaign is roiling Richmonds establishment, which he portrays as wholly concerned with protecting its own interests.

Im not in there to make them feel comfortable, he said. Im in there to win, baby.

His enthusiasm was palpable as he stood outside the supermarket on a recent Monday, shaking hands with African American voters. Many shouted Joe! and grabbed his hand as he promised to cut wasteful spending, repair schools, fill potholes and narrow the divide separating the citys rich and poor.

I just got married in June  did you see the video? Morrissey asked one woman, referring to the five-minute wedding montage on his Facebook page. For another woman, whose smile revealed a damaged tooth, he wrote down the number of a free dental clinic.

A few feet away, Maurice Long, 56, a retired laundry worker, said Morrisseys marriage  no matter the 38-year age difference  is the fulfillment of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s hope for racial harmony.

Joe is part of the dream, he said.

A changing city

On the banks of the James River, Richmond is in the throes of a renaissance, with rising real estate values and a flourishing restaurant scene. In a predominantly black city, whites now account for 45 percent of Richmonds population of 220,000, which is growing as millennials move to gentrifying neighborhoods after years of decline.



Morrissey talks with Brent Whittington, 28, who agrees to take a "Morrissey for Mayor" yard sign. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

Morrissey talks with Patricia Hickman, her daughter Sara Donawa and granddaughter Avi Donawa. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

For all the progress, the city government has run up $800 million in debt, failed to maintain public schools and repair streets. Downtown is starting to bustle, the city is winning all these accolades, but theres the sense that one thing is missing, said Robert Holsworth, a former Virginia Commonwealth University political-science professor. You have a government that doesnt work.

For decades, Richmonds mayors were chosen by the city council, which is how Kaine got the job. But voters in a 2003 referendum chose to switch to a popular, nonpartisan election for mayor.

No election has drawn as much interest as the current contest, the intensity growing after a Christopher Newport University poll last month showed Morrissey leading by 12 points. Several other polls have shown him ahead.

Richmonds electoral rules require the winner to capture majorities in five of the citys nine council districts, or a runoff between the two top contenders ensues. Morrissey commands huge leads in three districts, the universitys poll found, and is ahead in two more by smaller margins.

The poll suggested that Democrat Jack Berry, 62  the former leader of Venture Richmond, a promoter of economic development, who has the support of many business leaders  was gaining traction in affluent neighborhoods.

It also showed that Stoney, 35, McAuliffes appointee and former deputy campaign manager, had minimal support, despite having raised a record $610,000, much of it from the governors donors. Morrissey, for his part, has raised $142,000, nearly half of it in-kind contributions.

McAuliffe has hosted a fundraiser for Stoney, together with his wife contributed $5,250 and had his political action committee donate $10,000. On a recent Saturday, the governor accompanied Stoney as he knocked on doors.



Richmond mayoral candidate Levar Stoney greets Rebecca K.W. Keel, 24, who is running for city council, at the Virginia Historical Society this month in Richmond. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

Stoney likes to cast himself as a candidate of new ideas who understands the citys poor because he was raised in poverty by a single father. He often reminds audiences that he is the former executive director of the Virginia Democratic Party and served as the states first black secretary of the commonwealth, a job that required him to fill state boards and commissions with gubernatorial appointees.

People dont know who I am yet, Stoney said in an interview, explaining his weak showing in the poll. All it takes is me introducing myself. His campaign has aired one television ad and has the money for many more.

Referring to Morrissey, Stoney said, We should have a mayor who doesnt embarrass us.

Stoney repeated that attack during a subsequent debate, but Morrissey punched back. Listing the qualifications of his other opponents, a group that includes two council members, two architects and a former budget director, Morrissey portrayed Stoney as a political operative who is unprepared for the mayoralty.

Youve never cast a vote. Youve never developed a budget, Morrissey said. Do you not believe you need a body of experience?

Afterward, Tina Smith, a black accounting student, said it is Morrissey who is unqualified, because he was involved with an underage girl. Who wants someone as mayor doing that?

Eric Bradley, 58, an African American development consultant, said Morrissey has earned the loyalty from the black community  if its a black issue, you can go to Joe.

Yet Bradley said he is concerned about the way Morrissey will be perceived by the rest of the political establishment and his ability to work cooperatively with other leaders.

What resistance will he face? Bradley asked. The region may not want to deal with him. If hes mayor, will he be able to do the work?



Joe Morrissey after an evening of door-knocking in Richmond. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

The go-to-guy

Behind his desk at his law office one afternoon, Morrissey, when asked during an interview, said he would never want his daughter  if she were 20 years old  to marry a man his age.

Because I will die in another 25 years, plus or minus, he said. My wife will be 45 or 50, and I think theres something to be said for both growing old together.

Morrissey acknowledged his share of regrets in his life, but he said they do not include the photo he distributed of him and Myrna dressed in plantation-style garb.

Not at all! he said, pointing to a bookshelf where the picture rested in a frame alongside thick volumes of The Annotated Code of Virginia.

In some quarters, the photo suggests images of a white master and his young female slave.

Not to Morrissey.

It evokes husband, wife and baby, he said. I might do another one this year. We love it.

He attributed negative judgments about his relationship with Myrna to old vestiges in Richmond that are uncomfortable with interracial couples.

Joe and Myrna Morrissey with their two children. (Family photo)

But you want to know something? he asked, leaning forward on his desk. As much as they may not like me, when little Johnny gets popped for possession of coke, guess where their parents come? Right here. And if little Mary gets tagged for DUI or vehicular manslaughter, Joes the go-to guy. Not so embarrassed then.

Theres always going to be folks going after you, he said. I dont dwell on it. I move forward.

Myrna had wanted her husband to withdraw from politics and adopt the routines of a 9-to-5 lawyer. But he insisted on running for mayor, and she is supportive, throwing herself into the fray last week to chide those who throw my name at my husband like its a weapon.

Black women across Richmond know what its like to have their dignity taken from them, she wrote in a statement. We know what its like for a largely white establishment and press to assume that your decisions and choices are not your own. But that doesnt make it right.

I love my husband and support him, she said.

Myrna was with her husband on a recent afternoon as he spoke before an audience of several dozen senior citizens, including Guy Kinman, 98, a gay activist who asked how the candidate would deal with people who feel its horrible you have a chance.

How are you going to govern with people who say, Never Joe? Kinman asked.

To the extent that some folk have some difficulty with Myrna and me  get over it, Morrissey said.

He predicted that Richmonds brand would benefit with the Morrisseys as the citys face. People are going to look at that and say, What a cool city,  he said. People are going to flock to this city.
[September 27, 2016] Toshiba Advances IPedge Business Communications With Software-only Option, Enhanced Collaboration and Network Scale

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division today announced a major upgrade for its IPedge business communication software for small to mid-size businesses and smaller enterprises. IPedge 1.7.3 adds powerful new capabilities that address key customer requirements for ease of deployment, multi-site networking and enhanced collaborative applications and integrations that improve communication among staff, colleagues and customers. Now available from Authorized Toshiba Dealers nationwide, IPedge 1.7.3 can be flexibly deployed on-site, in the cloud or in a hybrid cloud network. "Toshiba is devoted to delivering on its customers' business communications needs, and with IPedge 1.7.3, our customers can now choose a software-only deployment, expand their network and collaborate in new and effective ways," said Brian Metherell, vice president and general manager of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division. New IPedge Software-only Solution Delivers Virtualized Deployment Toshiba's virtualized IPedge software now runs on customer-provided VMwarecertified hardware. This new deployment option is a good fit for IT-centric organizations and data centers that utilize virtualization technology as a way to consolidate multiple applications on a single platform. IPedge software can also co-reside with Toshiba's contact center and reporting software on this single server for added hardware and computing resource efficiencies that translate into significant capital, operational and energy savings. Built-in Meet-me Audio & Web Collaboration for Enhanced Productivity Toshiba extends the built-in IPedge Meet-me Audio Conference application with new, fully integrated Web desktop sharing and collaboration. The new WebRTC-based IPedge Meet-me Conference capability enables quick, on-demand or scheduled audio and Web conferences (using a new Scheduler feature for conference reservation, participant control and real-time and historical details), with the added security of assigning and sending out PIN numbers to all participants invited to the conference. Four audio channel licenses are included for free, and additional audio channels are easily license-activated. Networking Capacity Increase for Growing and Distributed Companies To meet the needs of growing, multi-site customers, Toshiba's engineering team has effectively quadrupled the networking capacity among IPedge servers and Strata CIX systems, including mixed environments with as many as 512 nodes, up from 128 nodes previously. This significant increase in scale will serve and support larger organizations that need to network multiple systems to expand capacity or to unfy geographically dispersed locations as one company-wide network. See the press release here.



Enhancements to Messaging, Call Accounting and Salesforce CRM Integration Additional IPedge V1.7.3 enhancements address important capabilities related to messaging, call accounting and Salesforce CRM integration.

The internal IP edge Messaging function now supports more flexible notification operations through a simple and straightforward interface while a fax driver enhancement eliminates Java requirements and allows the driver to run in the latest Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome and Firefox browsers.

Messaging function now supports more flexible notification operations through a simple and straightforward interface while a fax driver enhancement eliminates Java requirements and allows the driver to run in the latest Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome and Firefox browsers. The built-in IP edge Call Accounting capability adds new report generation options (PDF, HTML or CSV formats) and new administrative options, including direct downloads and zip files.

Call Accounting capability adds new report generation options (PDF, HTML or CSV formats) and new administrative options, including direct downloads and zip files. The recently introduced Toshiba Plug-in for Salesforce.com for screen pops, click-to-dial and call history integration with Salesforce.com is enhanced to provide a transfer and conference capability from the Plug-in window for easier screen-based telephony operation as well as handling of multiple calls by agents. See the press release here. About IPedge and Strata CIX Business Communication Systems Toshiba's award-winning IPedge delivers advanced capabilities on a secure Linuxbased VMware server. One industry-standard server handles the call control, productivity and communications needs, including call processing, unified messaging, unified communications, mobility and centralized administration. Strata CIX is Toshiba's award-winning IP converged solution that enables users to mix-and-match digital and IP endpoints to suit their applications. Strata CIX is compatible with Toshiba's IPedge Application Server. Both IPedge and Strata CIX are networking compatible within Toshiba's Hybrid Cloud solution. About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.

Telecommunication Systems Division (TSD)

Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division is one of the six business units of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) and offers business communication solutions for SMB enterprises and enterprises with multi-site or regional locations. Toshiba's VIPedge cloud-based business telephone solution and the IPedge and Strata CIX systems offer Voice over IP, voice mail and unified messaging, conferencing and collaboration, unified communications applications, networking, mobility and more. Together with Toshiba's PCs, tablets, copiers, and surveillance video cameras/recorders, Toshiba's Telecommunication Systems Division helps enterprises maximize business efficiency in communications and mobility. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. For more information, visit www.Telecom.Toshiba.com. About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into three focus business fields: Energy that sustains everyday life, that is cleaner and safer; Infrastructure that sustains quality of life; and Storage that sustains the advanced information society. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future," Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives. Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today's Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of 550 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 5.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) (as of March 31, 2016).

To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm. For additional information, or to purchase Toshiba telecommunication products, visit http://www.telecom.toshiba.com for an Authorized Toshiba Dealer.

Follow us on Facebook (ToshibaPhoneSystems), Twitter (toshibaphonesys) and LinkedIn (Toshiba-telecommunication-systems-division).  2016 Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. All product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Information including, without limitation, product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice. Toshiba PR Contact:

Teri Sawyer, T&Co.

714-801-1687

[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150408/197413LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toshiba-advances-ipedge-business-communications-with-software-only-option-enhanced-collaboration-and-network-scale-300334849.html SOURCE Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division

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Emergency personnel work Tuesday at the scene of a house explosion in the Bronx in which a fire department batallion chief, Michael Fahy, 44, a department veteran and father of three, was killed when he was hit by falling debris. Officials say firefighters responding to a possible gas leak found what appeared to be a drug lab just before the house exploded. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

DIPLOMACY

Obama nominates U.S. ambassador to Cuba

President Obama said Tuesday that he will nominate Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than half a century.

DeLaurentis is the top diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, which opened last year after relations were normalized, ending a freeze of 54 years. He served twice before in Havana in the 1990s, first as a consular officer and then as head of the political-economic section.

Jeffs leadership has been vital throughout the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, and the appointment of an ambassador is a common-sense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries, Obama said.

DeLaurentiss nomination will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Some congressional critics of normalized relations with Cuba have said they intend to oppose anyone for the post of ambassador in Havana.

 Carol Morello

NEW JERSEY

Witness: Christie joked about bridge gridlock

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was told about the massive 2013 traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge while they were underway, seemed happy about it and joked sarcastically that there was nothing political going on, a former loyalist said Tuesday in his testimony about the scandal that helped destroy Christies White House ambitions.

David Wildstein, a former executive at the agency that oversees New York-area bridges and tunnels, took the stand for the prosecution at the trial of two onetime Christie allies accused of engineering the four days of gridlock to punish a Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie. Wildstein has pleaded guilty.

Wildsteins account was the first testimony to suggest that Christie knew about the scheme as it was unfolding.

Christie has repeatedly denied that, and he has not been charged with a crime.

Bridget Kelly, Christies former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are on trial. They are charged with conspiracy, fraud and civil rights deprivation in the alleged political revenge plot.

Wildstein, a former high-ranking official at the Port Authority, testified that Christie was told about the traffic in Fort Lee, N.J., on the third day of the gridlock during an event in New York marking the anniversary of the Sept, 11, 2001, attacks.

 Associated Press

TEXAS

Shooting suspect wore Nazi symbols in attack

A man who injured nine people in a shooting rampage in Houston on Monday was wearing military clothes and Nazi emblems during the attack, and he had nearly 2,600 rounds of ammunition inside a Porsche parked at the scene, authorities said.

The gunman, identified as Nathan DeSai, 46, was fatally shot by police after he opened fire on morning commuters near a strip mall in a mostly residential neighborhood west of downtown.

The shooter was carrying a .45-caliber handgun and wearing military-style apparel during the shooting, with vintage Nazi emblems on his clothes and on his personal effects, police said.

A bomb squad that searched the Porsche uncovered a Thompson submachine gun and nearly 2,600 rounds of ammunition, according to police.

DeSai ran a small firm where he practiced business, criminal and family law, according to his state bar association page.

His law partner, Kenneth McDaniel, said they had worked together for 12 years before parting ways in February.

DeSais father, Prakash DeSai, told Houstons KTRK-TV that the disbanding of the law firm weighed heavily on his son.

 Derek Hawkins
[September 27, 2016] Azul Systems Announces Zulu OpenJDK Support for Windows Server 2016

MICROSOFT IGNITE -- Azul Systems (Azul), the award-winning leader in Java runtime solutions, today announced that Zulu Enterprise support for Microsoft (News - Alert) Windows Server 2016 will be available when the new Microsoft operating system ships in October, 2016. Zulu Enterprise builds of OpenJDK enable Microsoft customers and partners to build and support Java-based applications using a 100% open source Java platform in cloud or on-premises deployments, with commercial support offerings available. Java remains the most popular programming language across the enterprise, as reported by a variety of sources including the TIOBE Index. Zulu Enterprise builds of OpenJDK are certified compliant with the Java Standard Edition (Java SE) standards for Java 8, 7 and 6, and are widely deployed by cloud-centric organizations. In addition to support for Windows Server 2016, Zulu Enterprise also supports Windows Server 2012 R2, 2012, and 2008 R2 as well as 64-bit Windows Client 10, 8.1, 8 and 7. "Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 offer our most cloud-ready server operating system and management solution ever, with exciting new innovations to help customers transform applications for the cloud, build a software-defined datacenter with cloud efficiencies, and keep IT safer than ever. The complementary solutions and services from our partners are what truly bring the innovations to life for our customers as they transform their IT solutions for a cloud-first world," said Erin Chapple, Partner Director, Program Management for Windows Server, Microsof.



"With today's announcement we are extending our long-standing support for Microsoft's customers whose businesses depend on Java-based solutions," said Scott Sellers, Azul Systems (News - Alert) president and CEO. "Our Zulu product is a 100% open source Java platform based on OpenJDK born on the Azure cloud, and we are pleased to continue to deliver high-quality support and timely security updates to Microsoft as well as Microsoft's partners and enterprise customers." Pricing and Availability

Zulu OpenJDK downloads are available immediately from the Azul website and the Azure Marketplace. Zulu Enterprise support subscriptions start at $25,000 per year for up to 150 supported servers, with substantial discounting available for higher server counts and longer contract terms. Special pricing is available for start-ups and companies with $25 million or less in annual revenue. For additional information about Zulu and its enterprise-grade support offerings, visit www.azul.com/zulu. Free Zulu downloads are available at http://www.azul.com/downloads/zulu/. About Azul Systems @azulsystems Azul Systems, the industry's only company exclusively focused on Java and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), builds fully supported, certified standards-compliant Java runtime solutions that bring the power of Java to the enterprise, the embedded community and the IoT. Zing is a JVM designed for enterprise Java applications and workloads that require any combination of low latency, high transaction rates, large working memory, and/or consistent response times. Zulu is Azul's certified, freely available open source build of OpenJDK. Cost-effective Zulu Enterprise subscriptions extend OpenJDK support to Java-based businesses who prefer open source solutions. Zulu Embedded is Azul's 100% open source build of OpenJDK for Intel (News - Alert), ARM, and PowerPC -based designs that require custom configurations and long support life cycles. For additional information, visit www.azul.com. Azul Systems, the Azul Systems logo, Zulu, Zing and ReadyNow! are registered trademarks. Java and OpenJDK are trademarks of Oracle (News - Alert) Corporation and/or its affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006237/en/

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[September 27, 2016] Fitch: Pfizer's Scrapped Split Decision Won't Ding Ratings

The added diversification that Pfizer Inc.'s established pharmaceuticals business provides is a relatively less important driver of its credit profile than the company's business development and capital structure, according to Fitch Ratings. On Monday, Pfizer said it would not be splitting into two companies, delivering its decision to investors as promised prior to the end of the year. However, relative operating prospects and valuations of the two segments could change over time, causing Pfizer to revisit a split. It is not clear what the two resulting capital structures would be, but branded-generic businesses generally operate with credit profiles in the 'BBB' rating category, while most large innovative pharmaceutical companies operate with the 'A' credit ratings. Fitch believes that if a split were to occur, Pfizer could apportion an amount of debt to the divested business so that it maintains its rating while creating an initial capital structure for the divested business that supports a rating in the 'BBB' rating category. Fitch believes that new product development will have a significant influence on capital deployment, as new products are the lifeblood of any innovative pharmaceutical manufacturer. The more successful and productive a company is at bringing new, innovative, value-added therapies to market, through both internal R&D and external collaborations, the lesser the need to pursue leveraging transactions to acquire such therapies. Strong new product flow also supports favorable prospects for an innovative drug maker's operating profile, which can reduce the impetus to pursue leveraging shareholder friendly actions. The decision to scrap the split is the second major transaction involving Pfizer that was cancelled this year. Fitch affirmed Pfizer's Long-Term Issuer-Default Rating (IDR) at 'A+' with a Stable Rating Outlook, removing the ratings from Negative Watch on April 7 following Pfizer's announcement that it would terminate its merger agreement with Allergan plc. In addition, we affirmed Pfizer's Short-Term Issuer-Default Ratings at 'F1' and Commercial Paper ratings at 'F1'. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com. The above article originally appeared as a post on the Fitch Wire credit market commentary page. The original article can be accessed at www.fitchratings.com. All opinions expressed are those of Fitch Ratings. ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONSAND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.



Copyright (c) 2016 by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Fitch Ratings Ltd. and its subsidiaries. 33 Whitehall Street, NY, NY 10004. Telephone: 1-800-753-4824, (212) 908-0500. Fax: (212) 480-4435. Reproduction or retransmission in whole or in part is prohibited except by permission. All rights reserved. In issuing and maintaining its ratings and in making other reports (including forecast information), Fitch relies on factual information it receives from issuers and underwriters and from other sources Fitch believes to be credible. Fitch conducts a reasonable investigation of the factual information relied upon by it in accordance with its ratings methodology, and obtains reasonable verification of that information from independent sources, to the extent such sources are available for a given security or in a given jurisdiction. The manner of Fitch's factual investigation and the scope of the third-party verification it obtains will vary depending on the nature of the rated security and its issuer, the requirements and practices in the jurisdiction in which the rated security is offered and sold and/or the issuer is located, the availability and nature of relevant public information, access to the management of the issuer and its advisers, the availability of pre-existing third-party verifications such as audit reports, agreed-upon procedures letters, appraisals, actuarial reports, engineering reports, legal opinions and other reports provided by third parties, the availability of independent and competent third- party verification sources with respect to the particular security or in the particular jurisdiction of the issuer, and a variety of other factors. Users of Fitch's ratings and reports should understand that neither an enhanced factual investigation nor any third-party verification can ensure that all of the information Fitch relies on in connection with a rating or a report will be accurate and complete. Ultimately, the issuer and its advisers are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide to Fitch and to the market in offering documents and other reports. In issuing its ratings and its reports, Fitch must rely on the work of experts, including independent auditors with respect to financial statements and attorneys with respect to legal and tax matters. Further, ratings and forecasts of financial and other information are inherently forward-looking and embody assumptions and predictions about future events that by their nature cannot be verified as facts. As a result, despite any verification of current facts, ratings and forecasts can be affected by future events or conditions that were not anticipated at the time a rating or forecast was issued or affirmed. The information in this report is provided "as is" without any representation or warranty of any kind, and Fitch does not represent or warrant that the report or any of its contents will meet any of the requirements of a recipient of the report. A Fitch rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a security. This opinion and reports made by Fitch are based on established criteria and methodologies that Fitch is continuously evaluating and updating. Therefore, ratings and reports are the collective work product of Fitch and no individual, or group of individuals, is solely responsible for a rating or a report. The rating does not address the risk of loss due to risks other than credit risk, unless such risk is specifically mentioned. Fitch is not engaged in the offer or sale of any security. All Fitch reports have shared authorship. Individuals identified in a Fitch report were involved in, but are not solely responsible for, the opinions stated therein. The individuals are named for contact purposes only. A report providing a Fitch rating is neither a prospectus nor a substitute for the information assembled, verified and presented to investors by the issuer and its agents in connection with the sale of the securities. Ratings may be changed or withdrawn at any time for any reason in the sole discretion of Fitch. Fitch does not provide investment advice of any sort. Ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Ratings do not comment on the adequacy of market price, the suitability of any security for a particular investor, or the tax-exempt nature or taxability of payments made in respect to any security. Fitch receives fees from issuers, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, and underwriters for rating securities. Such fees generally vary from US$1,000 to US$750,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent) per issue. In certain cases, Fitch will rate all or a number of issues issued by a particular issuer, or insured or guaranteed by a particular insurer or guarantor, for a single annual fee. Such fees are expected to vary from US$10,000 to US$1,500,000 (or the applicable currency equivalent). The assignment, publication, or dissemination of a rating by Fitch shall not constitute a consent by Fitch to use its name as an expert in connection with any registration statement filed under the United States securities laws, the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2000 of the United Kingdom, or the securities laws of any particular jurisdiction. 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TEXAS

Police kill man who wounded 9 in shooting

A gunman in Houston wounded nine people Monday morning before being shot to death by police, authorities said.

The shooting involved a lawyer who was having unspecified issues with his law firm, Martha Montalvo, the interim Houston police chief, said during a briefing Monday morning. She did not cite a possible motivation, but police said they were investigating whether those issues prompted the shooting.

One person wounded in the shooting was in critical condition and another was in serious condition, Montalvo said. Three people had been treated and released by 9:30 a.m., she said.

Montalvo said more weapons were found in the suspects car.

The Houston Fire Department was called just before 6:30 a.m. about a report of an active shooter at an intersection outside a strip mall about six miles west of downtown, a department spokesman said.

 Mark Berman

IOWA

Cedar Rapids braces for severe floods

Emergency crews have erected nearly 10 miles of temporary flood barricades and placed a quarter-million sandbags in Cedar Rapids as residents braced Monday for what could be the second-largest flood in the citys history, officials said.

Iowas second-biggest city is hoping to avoid the widespread destruction caused by the Midwest floods of June 2008 that inundated hundreds of businesses and thousands of homes in Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar River, which winds through the city of approximately 126,000 in eastern Iowa, is expected to crest Tuesday morning at 23 feet. The water had reached over 16 feet on Monday.

The city said that around 5,800 homes and businesses were in the evacuation zone, which runs along the banks of the river. Schools will remain closed until Wednesday, the Cedar Rapids Community School District said.

 Reuters

Man who transported illegal immigrants sentenced in crash: A Mexican man has been sentenced to nearly four years in a U.S. prison for driving a vehicle that crashed at a Texas military installation while the man was trying to smuggle immigrants. Mario Rodriguez-Gomez was sentenced Monday by a judge in Corpus Christi, Tex. Investigators say Rodriguez-Gomez, 25, drove a pickup truck while in the country illegally and crashed May 14 while trying to elude Border Patrol agents. The truck, with Rodriguez-Gomez and 14 passengers, drove through the entry gate of Naval Air Station Kingsville and hit a barrier.

 Associated Press
The 20-year-old man accused of fatally shooting five people at a Macys store in Washington state before evading a manhunt for 24 hours was charged with five counts of first-degree murder Monday morning.

Arcan Cetin stood calmly before a Skagit County District Court judge and said he understood the charges, each of which carries a minimum of 20 years in prison. His bail was set at $2 million.

The packed courthouse about 60 miles north of Seattle included tearful family members of some of the victims. Cetins mother was visibly distraught.

Cetin admitted to the shooting to detectives, according to court documents released Monday by the Skagit County Superior Court. Authorities said they had uncovered no motive for the Friday evening attack in Burlington. When investigators interviewed Cetins stepfather, David Marshall, about his sons whereabouts, he told them he had dinner with Cetin earlier on Friday and also discovered that his Ruger rifle and ammunition were missing, according to court documents.

The only thing that we want to say at this time is that we both are totally devastated by what happened, Marshall told reporters after the hearing. He said that Cetin had unspecified mental health problems.

According to documents, detectives said surveillance video showed it took Cetin only about one minute to shoot all five victims  a teenage girl near some clothing racks, then four adults in the makeup department.

After the shooting, Cetin left the Ruger rifle with a 25-round magazine on top of a cosmetics counter, then fled the mall in a vehicle, the documents said.

A legal permanent resident of the United States who immigrated to this county as a young child from Adana, Turkey, Cetin graduated last year from high school in Oak Harbor, a rural community in western Washington about 30 miles from the mall where he is accused of opening fire. Sheriffs deputies apprehended him Saturday evening as he was walking on a sidewalk hear his home, carrying a satchel with a computer inside.

Oak Harbor is a military town on Whidbey Island, reached by bridge or ferry, where visitors are welcomed by two radar-jamming EA-6B Prowler aircraft. Gung-ho locals call the constant roar of Navy aircraft the sound of freedom.

The manager at Anchor Pointe Apartments, where Cetin lived, said owners had told her not to talk about their tenant. Im as clueless as everyone else, she said.

His apartment on the second floor has a porch with an orange and brown lounger, a coffee cup with yellow tulips and a big red daisy clipped to the deck. His mother and stepfather help pay the rent, she told investigators, according to the criminal complaint, and had visited him there on Wednesday.

Court records indicate a string of charges in which hes accused of assaulting his stepfather and court requests for mental-health evaluations, as well as court requests for substance-abuse evaluations. It is not clear from the records how the cases were resolved.

A Navy base spokesman confirmed to The Washington Post that Cetin worked at the commissary on the base between 2012 and 2013 when he was in high school.

The spokesman said Cetin was a dependent of a Navy retiree but did not specify who that was. Because of that, he said, Cetin also had a dependents identification card that allowed him access to various facilities at the Naval base, including the gym, which Cetin used.

Friends and neighbors described a young man who had gotten in trouble with the law several times, with three assault charges since 2015.

Several of Cetins former classmates described him as a socially awkward teenager who later was given to inappropriately touching female students.

[50 years of mass shootings in the U.S.]

Mehmet Ecder, an 18-year-old high school student who grew up with Cetin in Adana, Turkey, said Cetin came from a troubled family and was struggling to connect with American girls after he moved to Washington state. He liked living in the United States, but, He says, American girls hate me,  Ecder said in an interview from Turkey.

Cetin had mentioned a young woman who had rejected him, Ecder said.

He says he doesnt know how to talk to girls, said Ecder.

Cetin is Muslim, said Ecder, but was never particularly observant.

Cetin apparently worked at the Wendys on base. Taylair Graham, 16, said Monday that Cetin was quiet, but he wasnt really all there. Bryce Atwood, 16, has a cousin who works with him at Wendys. Of Cetin, he said, He was a pretty chill guy, and then he decided to just go . . . shoot up a mall.

Abigail Hauslohner, Julie Tate and Alice Crites contributed to this report.
SYRIA

Regime says truce still viable, despite strikes

Syrias foreign minister said Monday that an internationally brokered cease-fire is still viable, as rescue workers in Aleppo sifted through rubble from the heaviest airstrikes on rebel-held areas of the northern city in five years.

Walid al-Moualem, speaking to Mayadeen TV from New York, also said the government is prepared to take part in a unity government incorporating elements from the opposition, an offer that has been rejected in the past.

Opposition activists say more than 200 civilians have been killed in the past week under a sustained aerial campaign. The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting but could not act because of divisions between Russia and Western powers.

Moualem accused the United States, Britain and France of convening the meeting a day earlier to support terrorists inside Syria. But he said ongoing contacts between U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meant that a truce brokered two weeks ago is not dead.

Syrias military declared an end to the cease-fire one week ago.

In the central city of Homs, meanwhile, a group of rebel gunmen and their families began evacuating from an opposition neighborhood.

About 120 gunmen and their families are expected to leave Waer as part of an agreement to restore the regimes authority over the neighborhood, said the governor of Homs province.

Pro-government forces have kept Waer under a siege since November 2013, prohibiting supplies from reaching residents.

In exchange for the evacuations, the government is permitting aid convoys into the area.

 Associated Press

IRAN

Canadian academic released from prison

A Canadian Iranian retired professor was released from prison on humanitarian grounds and flown out of Iran on Monday, Irans state-run news agency said, ending her months of detention alongside other dual nationals swept up by hard-liners.

Homa Hoodfar returned to Canada via Oman, a brief report from the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said.

Hoodfar, 65, was questioned and barred from leaving Iran in March after she traveled to the country to visit family. Her family said she had been held in Tehrans Evin prison since June.

In July, Iran announced indictments for Hoodfar and three others, offering no details. In recent weeks, her allies described her health as deteriorating while in solitary confinement.

Canada has not had an embassy in Iran since 2012, and Iran does not recognize dual nationalities.

Several dual nationals have been arrested in the year since world powers reached a nuclear deal with Iran.

 Associated Press

PHILIPPINES

Duterte vows to boost ties with China, Russia

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that he has decided to cross the Rubicon in his ties with the United States and will open trade alliances and offer long-term land leases to the other side of the ideological barrier, China and Russia.

He told reporters that he was not really breaking ties with the United States, a longtime ally, but will open all areas of trade and commerce to China and Russia. The move would not include military alliances, he said.

He said companies from the two countries would be able to lease land in the Philippines for up to 120 years.

Duterte said he will travel to China soon, followed by Japan and Russia.

He has had an uneasy relationship with the United States, which has criticized his drug crackdown, in which more than 3,000 people have died.

 Associated Press

Brazilian ex-finance minister held in graft probe: Authorities in Brazil arrested a former finance minister over his alleged role in a massive kickback scheme. Investigators said Antonio Palocci, a finance minister and chief of staff in the 2003-2010 government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, exerted great influence with the construction conglomerate Odebrecht, a principal participant in a kickback scheme at the state oil company Petrobras. Police said Palocci negotiated deals on behalf of Lulas party and received bribes.

Saudi king reduces salaries, perks: Saudi Arabias King Salman is reducing the salaries and benefits of top government officials as lower oil prices pinch the kingdoms economy. He has ordered a 20 percent cut in the salaries of ministers, including his successors. The decree also includes a 15 percent reduction in certain benefits for members of the countrys highest consultative body, the Shura Council.

 From news services
IRAQ

Antiquities museum opens in oil-rich Basra

Iraq opened an antiquities museum in the southern city of Basra on Tuesday with pottery, coins and other artifacts dating back more than 2,000 years.

Only one hall was opened because of a shortage of funds, museum director Qahtan al-Obaid said. It will showcase artifacts dating to 400 B.C. that tell the history of the oil-rich city on the Persian Gulf.

He said there are plans to open other wings to exhibit Babylonian, Assyrian and Sumerian artifacts dating to 3300 B.C.

The museum is housed in one of Saddam Husseins former palaces, which had briefly served as a mess hall for British troops after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that overthrew him.

Basra has been inhabited for thousands of years, but the current city dates to A.D. 637. It flourished during the Middle Ages as a key cultural and commercial center of the Abbasid empire.

Southern Iraq is far from the front lines of the war with the Islamic State militant group, which has destroyed ancient sites in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

 Associated Press

IRAN

Ahmadinejad says he wont seek presidency

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that he will not run in next years presidential election, ending weeks of speculation after Irans supreme leader discouraged the hard-liners candidacy.

Ahmadinejad could have posed a strong challenge to President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who is expected to seek a second term and whose administration reached a historic nuclear accord with world powers last year.

Ahmadinejad, known for repeatedly questioning the scale of the Holocaust and expanding Irans contested nuclear program, had been touring the country, fueling rumors of a political comeback.

Ahmadinejad served two terms from 2005 to 2013. Under Iranian law, he became eligible to run again after four years out of office, but he is a polarizing figure, even among fellow hard-liners.

Internally, many associate Ahmadinejad with the unrest that followed Irans disputed 2009 presidential election. His victory sparked massive protests and a sweeping crackdown.

On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said he cautioned an unnamed contender against seeking office, saying it would lead to a polarized situation that would be harmful to the country.

In a letter to Khamenei on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad confirmed that the supreme leader was referring to him and said he was bowing out of the contest.

 Associated Press

Blasts kill 17 in Baghdad: Suicide bombings ripped through Shiite-dominated neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital, killing at least 17 civilians, officials said. Eleven civilians were killed and 28 wounded in the eastern New Baghdad neighborhood, police said. Hours later, an explosion struck the southwestern district of Bayaa, killing six shoppers and wounding 21, police said. The Islamic State group asserted responsibility.

Gabons Bongo sworn in after disputed election: Gabons president, Ali Bongo, has been sworn in for a second seven-year term, keeping his familys dynasty in place after winning reelection in a disputed August vote. Bongo vowed to defend the constitution and called for political dialogue with the opposition. But opposition candidate Jean Ping has rejected dialogue, accusing Bongos party of vote-rigging.

Taliban attack kills 13 Afghan troops: An Afghan official said that at least 13 Afghan troops were killed when Taliban militants attacked their checkpoint in the northern province of Kunduz. A spokesman for the governor of Kunduz said 15 soldiers were at the checkpoint, two of whom had links to the insurgents and facilitated the attack. The Taliban asserted responsibility.

9 dead, 11 trapped in mine blast in China: A gas explosion at a coal mine in northwest China killed nine people and trapped 11 underground, Chinas state broadcaster reported. The blast occurred at a mine in the Shizuishan city area of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China Central Television said. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, it said.

Pakistani court upholds death penalty for mentally ill man: Pakistans Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for a mentally ill man convicted of murder, overturning a previous appeal and a court decision staying his execution, an international rights group said. The court said that a large proportion of prisoners suffer from mental illness and that it cannot let everyone go, the Reprieve group said. Imdad Ali has been on death row since 2001. He reportedly has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

 From news services
MONDAY NIGHTS debate told the story of this years presidential race. The Republican primary process failed, producing a nominee who cynically or ignorantly sells a warped view of reality, disqualifying himself with practically every overheated sentence. The Democrats, meanwhile, nominated a flawed but knowledgeable, confident and even-tempered politician.

Donald Trump seemed incapable of moving beyond his slogans which, as ever, were based on his bleak view of the United States. Foreigners are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, he said. We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us. He made little effort to respond to moderator Lester Holts point that the economy is growing and wages are, in fact, improving. Nor did he really answer Hillary Clintons point that the country has had to climb out of a deep economic ditch caused by a variety of forces unrelated to free-trade agreements.

For her part, Ms. Clinton also pandered a bit on trade, advertising her votes against certain trade agreements and unconvincingly attempting to defend her unprincipled waffling on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But when Mr. Trump ludicrously described NAFTA as the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, Ms. Clinton refused to take the bait, instead reminding voters of the income and job growth of the 1990s.

Though Ms. Clintons economic proposals are hardly visionary, she could at least point out that her plans would not cause a trade war or recession, as many experts believe Mr. Trumps would. Meanwhile, while Mr. Trump railed about the size of the federal debt, he had no response to Ms. Clintons point that his plan would make the debt much bigger. Similarly, when the candidates discussed tax policy, Ms. Clinton noted that the sort of supply-side economics Mr. Trump favors has not produced the economic miracles its proponents often forecast. Mr. Trumps response? The wealthy are going to create tremendous jobs.

Again, on race and criminal justice, Mr. Trump offered a dark portrait of a scared nation: We have gangs roaming the street. And in many cases, theyre illegally here, illegal immigrants. And they have guns. And they shoot people. His main solution was to reinstate a controversial stop and frisk policy that served to alienate more than to protect. Ms. Clinton offered a balanced view favoring reduction in mandatory minimum sentences that have locked some people up for unreasonable amounts of time, community policing, training and other constructive proposals.

The contrast on transparency and character was also extreme. Mr. Trump once again offered bogus excuses for refusing to release his tax returns. Ms. Clinton, meanwhile, admitted she was wrong to use a private email server and offered no excuses. Mr. Trump attempted to pin his racist birther campaign on Ms. Clinton, even though, as Mr. Holt pointed out, Mr. Trump carried it on well after President Obama produced his birth certificate. Mr. Trump claimed the better temperament even as he petulantly hectored and interrupted Ms. Clinton through most of the debate.

None of this should have been a surprise to anyone who has paid attention to this presidential race. When the debate turned to foreign policy, Mr. Trump spewed ignorance, claiming the rise of the Islamic State could have been prevented if we had taken the oil and that Iran should have been obliged by the deal on its nuclear program to somehow rein in North Korea.

I havent given lots of thought to NATO, Mr. Trump said, quoting himself from an earlier interview. By the end of the evening he had made clear you could end that sentence with just about any matter of policy and be as accurate.
In April of 1937, the war planes of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy chose a market day to bomb a Basque town, one of the first times a civilian population was deliberately targeted. Pablo Picasso, a native of Spain, quickly reacted by depicting the horror in his famous mural named for the town, Guernica. It was finished by June. If he were alive today, he might want to paint one called Aleppo. It should be mounted outside the White House.

Aleppo is not some quaint market town. It is  or was  Syrias major city, an ancient trading center, a cosmopolitan stop for many a camel caravan. It is now being leveled by incessant bombings, the occasional use of chemical weapons, barrel bombs and, recently, bunker-busters that entomb the wounded. Even ambulances and rescue workers have been targeted. Aleppo, like Guernica before it, is where the world is learning a lesson it seems always to forget.

President Obama tells every interviewer that hes anguished over Syria, but that is scant compensation to the victims, and it has not moved the Russians or the Syrian government to halt their bombing. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, like some hapless suitor offering wilted flowers, has been appealing to Vladimir Putins wholly imaginary better angels. Putin takes the flowers and then bombs some more. Unlike Obama, he knows what he wants. He wants to win.

This is not Kerrys failure. It is Obamas. He takes overweening pride in being the anti-George W. Bush. Obama is the president who did not get us into any nonessential wars of the Iraq variety. The consequences for Syria have been dire  perhaps 500,000 dead, 7 million internal refugees, with millions more surging toward Europe like a tsunami of the desperate.

European politics has been upended  Germanys Angela Merkel is in trouble, Britain has bolted from the European Union, and Hungary and Poland are embracing their shameful pasts  but there is yet another casualty of this war, the once-universal perception that the United States would never abide the slaughter of innocents on this scale. Yet, we have. Obama has proclaimed doing nothing as doing something  lives saved, a quagmire avoided. But doing nothing is not nothing. It is a policy of its own, in this case allowing the creation of a true axis of evil: a gleeful, high-kicking chorus line of Russia, Iran and Bashar al-Assads Syria. They stomp on everything in their path.

Aleppo then is like Guernica, a place of carnage. Its also a symbol of American weakness. The same Putin who mucks around in Syria has filched U.S. emails and barged into the U.S. election. He has kept Crimea and a hunk of Ukraine and may decide tomorrow that the Baltics, once Soviet, need liberating from liberation. He long ago sized up Obama: all brain, no muscle.

All over the world, U.S. power is dismissed. The Philippine president, a volcanic vulgarian, called the president a son of a whore and, instead of doing an update of sending in the fleet, Obama canceled a meeting. China constructs synthetic islands in the Pacific Ocean, claiming shipping lanes that no one should own, and every once in a while a U.S. warship cruises close  but not too close. We pretend to have made a point. The Chinese wave and continue building. The North Koreans are developing a nuclear missile to reach Rodeo Drive, and God only knows what the Iranians are up to deep in their tunnels.

Does all this stem from Uncle Sams bended knee in Syria? Who knows? But U.S. reluctance to act has almost certainly given others resolve. There was never any need for the United States to put boots on the ground  that has been Obamas straw man, a totally fatuous excuse for inaction. A no-fly zone over Syria, just like the one George H.W. Bush imposed on Iraq to stop Saddam Husseins slaughter of the Kurds, would have saved countless lives. An Assad without an air force and his killer copters might now be Dr. Assad, the London eye doctor he once was. The Russians would have likely stayed out of Syria, and the Iranians and their chums, Hezbollah, would still be minding their own business instead of propping up this revolting regime.

The Guernica mural once seen is not forgotten  the anguished faces, the twisted bodies, the hideous deformities of violent death. Now we have the photo of the Syrian boy in an ambulance, iridescent red, powdered with the dust of gone buildings, staring vacantly at a world where, for him, there are no adults. Once again, little is being done. Once again, worse will follow.

Read more from Richard Cohens archive.
Donald Trump just got roughed up, and badly, by a girl. On Monday night, at the first presidential debate, Hillary Clinton made her opponent look ignorant, unprepared, egotistical, childish, petulant, impatient and at times totally incoherent.

How bad did it get? At one point, as Trump was groping blindly across the minefields of foreign policy, losing a foot here and a leg there, he announced, apropos of nothing, that I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. Clinton smiled sweetly and exclaimed, Whew, okay! The audience at Hofstra University, sternly instructed to remain silent throughout the debate, ignored the rules and burst into laughter.

They were laughing at you, Donald, not with you.

Clinton then patiently explained the importance of honoring international agreements, such as the NATO treaty, to a man who seemed not to grasp the concept of the nations word being its bond. One hopes her reassurances were enough to coax allies in Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul and other capitals down from the ceiling.

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

[Dana Milbank: What worked for Trump in the primaries failed him against Clinton]

The 90-minute encounter, moderated by NBCs Lester Holt, was less a debate than a beat-down. Clinton obviously had put in many hours of preparation. Trump apparently decided to wing it  and while this approach worked well during the Republican primaries, when nobody got much time to speak and pithy one-liners could win the day, it bombed in a one-on-one clash where there was no place to hide.

Trumps biggest vulnerability is that he so rarely knows what hes talking about. Minutes before his hilarious temperament declaration, he had been boasting that his criticism of NATO a few months ago caused the alliance to begin focusing on terrorism. I think we have to get NATO to go into the Middle East with us, in addition to surrounding nations, he said.

Clinton coolly reminded him  informed him would probably be more accurate  of some pertinent facts. You know, NATO as a military alliance has something called Article 5, and basically it says this: An attack on one is an attack on all, she said. And you know the only time its ever been invoked? After 9/11, when the 28 nations of NATO said that they would go to Afghanistan with us to fight terrorism, something that they still are doing by our side.

Thats pretty much the way the evening went, especially toward the end. Trump visibly ran out of gas, poor thing. His answers became increasingly scattered and elliptical. Pressed to defend his contention (long since disproved) that he was against the Iraq War, he complained repeatedly that everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity. Even Hannity, the Fox News host, must have been perplexed.

This was after he charged that Clinton doesnt have the stamina to be president. But she looked fresh as a daisy throughout, while Trump wilted before our eyes.

One of Trumps worst moments, at least to my eyes and ears, came when Clinton alleged that he paid no federal income taxes in at least some recent years. Trump offered no protest, instead interjecting, That makes me smart. Seriously? No one wants to pay more in taxes than required, but the idea of a self-proclaimed billionaire getting a free pass will be hard for many voters to swallow.

[E.J. Dionne: Clinton shifts the election in her direction]

Throughout the debate, the split screen showed Trump mugging, fidgeting, shrugging, grimacing, offering an array of exaggerated smiles and frowns. He interrupted Clinton frequently, but she didnt complain. She may have calculated that it benefited her cause for Trump to have the floor.

Clinton also may have tried to bait Trump by suggesting he succeeded in business only because of his fathers help  and might not be as wealthy as he claims. If so, the tactic worked. Trump was unable to let anything pass. For reasons I cant begin to understand, he even renewed his long-running feud with comedian Rosie ODonnell.

I am under no illusion that Trumps abysmal performance will cause his most dedicated supporters to have second thoughts. They heard his central argument, which is that politicians like Secretary Clinton have failed  and its time to try something new.

But while the race has tightened to the point where Trump could actually win, Monday night vividly demonstrated why he should not  why he must not. Whether you like Clinton or not, its obvious that she can do the job. The debate had to make undecided voters question whether Trump even has a clue.

Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A.
Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality.

He questioned the presidents birth

To help the president make clear

That he was not born elsewhere on Earth

But was born here.

He who said my Vietnam was avoiding STDs

Now knows more than the generals about ISIS,

Is rough on refugees,

Thinks were in an economic crisis,

Is open to nuclearizing Japan, South Korea,

Would charge our allies rent

For our military support,

Put another Scalia

On the Supreme Court,

And says unemployment is at 42 percent,

Counting homeless on food stamps,

Buddy and Sis and Grandma and Gramps.

And he insists that crime in his hometown

Has risen.

The police say its gone down.

Fewer people going to prison.

Crime in New York is in a slump.

Try telling that to Mr. Trump.

We in the fiction business are thinking this couldve been our year to take a run at the presidency. It isnt just for policy wonks anymore. We were wrong, thinking you had to have been one of those eager beavers whose hands shot up in civics class and who knew about the separation of powers and how the electoral college worked, but no, all it takes is total confidence in your own superior intelligence and the ability to insist, for example, that China bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 and stick to it even when your classmates show you books with pictures of Japanese bombers strafing the battleship USS Arizona, you say, They were Chinese pilots flying Japanese planes. I know Asians. Ive been to Chinese restaurants. Those are Chinese.

I remember when politicians were held to a higher standard. Dan Quayle was severely penalized for misspelling potato, but that was 24 years ago, another era. Donald Trump could spell it p-i-m-e-n-t-o and stand his ground and his people would back him up and attack the potato people as elitist and tuberous and the tempest would rage for a week or two. Meanwhile, Trump would shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and explain that he did it to keep the guy from being hit by a bus.

Trumps insistence that his five years of accusing President Obama of falsifying his birthplace was simply meant to clarify the matter and in the end turned out to be a favor to Obama is so invincibly stupid, its right out of a Carl Hiaasen novel about lowlife redneck dopeheads in south Florida. By this standard, Jesse James robbed banks so as to inspire greater alertness among bank guards and Boss Tweed let dead men vote as a way of keeping their memories alive and Guy Fawkes put the barrels of dynamite in the cellars of Parliament only to keep them out of the hands of children. When Salome danced for Herod and said, I want to get ahead, she was referring to becoming a choreographer, not to decapitation. When Joe McCarthy went after those old lefties in the Fifties, it was meant as a gift: he knew it would make them heroes among the intelligentsia.

This is so lame.

When you want to close the door on a particularly stupid thing youve done, you dont tell another pants-around-your-ankles lie  that will only prolong the stupidity. In America, there is a simple way to deal with it. You confess your dependence upon alcohol or cocaine or sugar snacks and you go into treatment and come out cleansed, your sins forgiven. Its not hard. Spend a week, hold a news conference, write a book  The Art of Dealing With Addiction. You, a multibillionaire, were doing 37 Big Macs at a sitting. Thats why the private plane. So you could pig out. Your arteries were clogged with animal fats and that led you to retail a despicable lie about the president. Youre clean now. A new Don for America.

If you admire a good story, fine, but why hire an amateur like Trump? Why not J.K. Rowling, who gave us Harry Potter? This would get millions of young people interested in politics, which could use some wizards and special effects, Supreme Court justices flying through the air, robes fluttering.

Yes, she was born in Gloucestershire, England, but there are ways around it. She could have been carried away from Omaha by gypsies. Pirates. Syrian terrorists. Take your pick. Her mother might be Ginger Rogers, who was in England entertaining the troops. Any capable fiction writer could make J.K. Rowling an American. Even I could do it.
It seemed like a no brainer: Tie down-ballot Republican Candidate X to Donald Trump and watch Candidate X go down in his or her race for the Senate, the House or dog catcher.

This should be true in competitive races, because of the GOP presidential nominees record-setting unpopularity. But its not working out that way. Theres new evidence that attempts to tie other Republicans to Trump isnt playing well  and it might even be hurting Democrats.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the entity in charge of the Democrats efforts in the House, has been running ads this month linking Republican candidates to Trump in Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Florida, Nevada and Pennsylvania. The ads follow a similar script, noting Trumps disparagement of women and the disabled, his attack on a Gold Star family, his reckless national-security talk or some other misdeed  then pointing out that the local Republican supports or at least refuses to disavow Trump.

But does the cookie-cutter cut it?

The House Majority PAC, a super PAC trying to boost Democrats prospects in the House, polled in 25 competitive districts and noticed that tying the local Republican to Trump was only among the top-testing negative attack lines in three or four.

So Alixandria Lapp, the super PACs executive director, had a liberal group called the Analyst Institute run a controlled experiment, sending direct mail to 108,000 independents and Republicans in a half-dozen districts in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and Virginia.

The findings were intriguing. Those voters who received three pieces of mail tying the local Republican candidate to Trump (mainly on national security) increased their support for the Democratic congressional candidate by 2.7 percent over voters in a control group who received no mailings. But those who received mailings attacking the Republican on issues without mentioning Trump increased their support for the Democrat by 5.2 percentage points  nearly twice as much.

And the attempt to tie the local Republican to Trump actually backfired in a way, by hurting Hillary Clinton. Support for Clinton among those receiving the anti-Trump mailings declined 3.5 percent relative to the control group. Possibly, voters took the news that the local Republican congressional candidate backed Trump as a validation of Trump  evidence that hes not as crazy as they thought.

Its a raging debate, Lapp says. Do you say that every Republican equals Trump and theyre just like Trump? Or is that not believable and it doesnt really work? Lapps study indicates that in many races, It may make a lot more sense to be focusing on things that dont have anything to do with Donald Trump.

Trump should still help Democrats down the ballot. Hes expected to provoke minority voters to turn out in high numbers, and hes depressing support among surviving Republican moderates. But with the Senate, many congressional races and control of state legislatures in the balance, wasting money on a fruitless effort to turn all Republicans into Trump could be a consequential mistake.

Even the DCCC, which like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has labored mightily to make all Republicans wear the scarlet T, recognizes the limits of tarring with Trump. Trump is a big part of our strategy, particularly with well-educated suburban voters and communities of color, says Meredith Kelly, the DCCC press secretary. This is a nationalized environment, and Trump is on everyones mind. Still, she says, though more than half of the DCCCs ads have a Trump theme, weve been pretty careful to have targeted messages for each district.

Why isnt the Trump taint more effective?

For one, Republicans dont much care. The Analyst Institute experiment found that the mailings linking the local Republican to Trump didnt diminish enthusiasm for the Republican candidate at all. Independents may be moved slightly by the Trump taint, but theyre not as alarmed by Trumps antics as Democrats supposed they would be.

The House Majority PAC didnt test the Trump effect on Democrats, but the Democratic group Democracy Corps did  and it found that Democrats, too, were less persuaded by attempts to paint down-ballot candidates with the Trump brush. Among unconsolidated Democrats not backing Clinton, an economic message was more convincing than a Trump-centric message by eight percentage points. Among Democrats backing Clinton but not the Democratic Senate candidate, the economic message was more convincing by 13 percentage points.

Ultimately, it may be that voters of all stripes perceive that Trump is one of a kind, that hes such an outlier in American politics that they recognize the difference between him and their senators or representatives. Republicans nominating process and indulgence of extremists may have made Trump possible, but hes not a typical Republican.

And theres a cruel irony: Trump may be less of an albatross to down-ballot Republicans precisely because hes such an odd bird.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
WHAT RUSSIA is sponsoring and doing in the Syrian city of Aleppo is barbarism, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said on Sunday. Shes right: For days, Russian and Syrian planes have rained bombs  including white phosphorus, cluster munitions and bunker-busters designed to penetrate basements  on the rebel-held side of the city. Hundreds of civilians have been killed; as many as half are children. U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura described new heights of horror. Ms. Power said that instead of helping get lifesaving aid to civilians, Russia and [Syria] are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive.

It goes without saying that this war-crimes-rich offensive, which Syrias U.N. ambassador said is aimed at recapturing east Aleppo, has shredded the Obama administrations attempt to win Russian and Syrian compliance with a cessation of hostilities. So naturally reporters asked senior officials as the attack was getting underway how the United States would respond. I dont think . . . this is the time to say where we will go from here, one answered. Said another: Were waiting to see what the Russians come back with.

In other words: Hem, haw.

By Monday, the administrations response seemed clear: It will hotly condemn the assault on Aleppo, but do absolutely nothing to stop it. On the contrary, Secretary of State John F. Kerry insisted he will continue to go back to the regime of Vladimir Putin with diplomatic offers, hoping it will choose to stop bombing. The United States makes absolutely no apology for going the extra mile to try and ease the suffering of the Syrian people, he grandly declared after a meeting Thursday on Syria. By extra mile, he doesnt mean actual U.S. steps to protect civilians  just more futile and debasing appeals to Moscow.

The Putin and Bashar al-Assad regimes are well aware that the only U.S. action President Obama has authorized is diplomatic, and that they are therefore under no pressure to alter their behavior. They already obtained, via Mr. Kerry, U.S. agreement to the principle that the Assad regime should remain in power while the United States and Russia join in fighting those rebels deemed to be terrorists. The regime then took advantage of a mistaken bombing of Syrian soldiers in eastern Syria to launch the assault on Aleppo, and Russia joined in. If it succeeds, Damascus will have essentially won the civil war and will have no real need for the negotiations Mr. Kerry says the cease-fire should lead to. If the offensive stalls, Mr. Putin can send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov back to renew the deal with Mr. Kerry. Either way, Russia wins.

The losers are the civilians trapped in eastern Aleppo  250,000 to 275,000 human beings  who are cut off from supplies of food and medicine and being bombed mercilessly. They are being offered the same choice the regime has successfully imposed on other towns across the country: surrender or starve. Those who try to approach the evacuation corridors Russia says have been established are shot at. They are, indeed, victims of barbarism  but the rhetoric of U.S. diplomats, and continued petitioning to Mr. Putin, wont help them much.
Ray Takeyh is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the co-author of The Pragmatic Superpower: Winning the Cold War in the Middle East.

It is often suggested that the most consequential barrier to Iranian pragmatism is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Once the elderly Khamenei passes from the scene, the argument goes, his successors will embrace prevailing international norms. The sunsetting restrictions of the nuclear deal need not be of concern, for a revamped Islamist regime will find global integration too tempting to discard for the sake of nuclear arms. The only problem with such expectations is that the candidate Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards are grooming to ascend to the post of supreme leader is one of the most reactionary members of Irans ruling elite. Ibrahim Raisi, Irans probable next supreme leader, could be the only person in the Islamic Republic who could cause people to miss Khamenei.

Raisi is 56 years old and, like Khamenei, hails from the city of Mashhad. After a stint in the seminary, he has spent his entire career in the Islamic Republics enforcement arm, serving as prosecutor general, head of the General Inspection Office and lead prosecutor of the Special Court of the Clergy, which is responsible for disciplining mullahs who stray from the official line. In one of his most notorious acts, he served as a member of the Death Commission that, in the summer of 1988, oversaw the massacre of thousands of political prisoners on trumped-up charges.

The position of the supreme leader was once thought to belong to an esteemed cleric known for his theological erudition. However, Khameneis lackluster religious credentials have paved the way for an even less impressive figure who has spent his professional life weaving conspiracies in the regimes darkest corners.

Raisis background fits nicely with the Revolutionary Guards mission of crushing dissent. In a recent interview, Revolutionary Guards commander Muhammad Jaffari conceded that since 2005, the regime has come to see domestic insurrection as an even greater challenge to its existence than external pressures. The ideal successor to Khamenei would have to not only share the Guards perspective but also have close ties to the security organs and the judiciary. The Guards seem to have found their man. Raisi is being increasingly touted by them as a vanguard of the regime and an enforcer of its will.

Khamenei is an even more consequential backer. Irans supreme leader recently appointed Raisi to head one of Irans largest charitable foundations, Astan Quds Razavi. The foundation manages the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, which is visited by millions of pilgrims each year, operates many other enterprises and has vast land holdings. Though difficult to estimate with precision, the endowments value is reported to be upward of $15 billion. This appointment not only enhances Raisis national profile but also puts at his disposal enormous funds that he can use to nurture his own network of supporters and constituents. Khamenei, in essence, has opened the gates of the Islamic Republics murky financial universe to Raisi.

For Khamenei and his praetorian guards, the most important question is not just the survival of the regime but also its revolutionary values. They are determined that Iran will not become another China, which they see as having relinquished its ideological inheritance for the sake of commerce. The 2009 uprising may be a faded memory in Washington, but it was a watershed event for the guardians of the theocracy. Under Khameneis watchful eye, Iran is being transformed into a police state. The logical extension of these developments is a supreme leader who comes from the heart of Irans repressive organs.

Irans formal procedures would suggest that the Assembly of Experts will choose the next leader, but in reality that decision is being made right now in the states backrooms. President Hassan Rouhani may be a subject of U.S. fascination and hopes of a moderate regime, but he is a bystander in this important power play. Khamenei and the Guards appreciate that the next supreme leader will assume power in a precarious time. This leader has to share their penchant for conspiracy theories, demonstrate a contempt for the West and be prepared to shed blood on behalf of the regime. The next supreme leader has to not only believe in the theocracys mission of repression but also have been an integral part of that machinery.

No one in the Islamic Republic embodies these attributes more than Raisi. He seems to be the right man for the right time.
A THREE-RING binder has now exposed the three-ring circus of unhinged racism and ravings that are the hallmarks of Maines governor, Paul LePage (R).

Mr. LePage, who entered office in 2011 refusing to attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day events or meet with representatives of the NAACP, has a long history of racial animus, and this year he has outdone himself. In January, he attributed Maines opioid epidemic to guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty [who] come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home [and] half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave.

Challenged on that assertion last month, Mr. LePage, whom few in Maine regard as the sharpest mind in state politics, dug himself a deeper hole: Ninety-plus percent of those pictures in my book, and its a three-ring binder, are black and Hispanic people. And the next day: Black people come up the highway and they kill Mainers.

Facts are inconvenient for Mr. LePage, who now appears to have been undone by them. A few weeks after his 90 percent-plus assertion, Maines Portland Press Herald published FBI statistics showing that the overwhelming majority of those arrested in Maine for drug offenses in 2014 were white; just 14 percent were black.

[Kathleen Parker: Trumps night of sniffles and screw-ups]

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) left a threatening voicemail full of expletives to a state lawmaker on Aug. 25. It was hardly the first time his words had sparked controversy. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

Then, bowing to lawsuits, Mr. LePage was forced this week to release his by-now notorious three-ring binder of drug trafficking suspects  a 148-page scrapbook full of news clippings, press releases and mug shots. It turns out that Mr. LePages usual suspects, out-of-state blacks and Hispanics, comprised no more than about a third of the suspects in it, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. The governors office now says Mr. LePage wishes to move on.

He really should move on  by resigning and seeking help, in order to spare the people of Maine more of his wild-eyed ramblings. Having menaced a Democratic state legislator in an obscenity-filled voice-mail rant, likened the IRS to the Gestapo and suggested that President Obama go to hell, Mr. LePage threatens to remake his states image from a vacation paradise of surreal natural beauty to a hotbed of hatred.

In nearly six years as governor, Mr. LePages memorable assaults on decent governance and public civility include hiring his own relatives, threatening to shoot the political cartoonist of a state newspaper and attacking a Democratic state senator as the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline. He has referred to blacks and Hispanics as the enemy, adding that the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority of people coming in, are people of color or people of Hispanic origin.

Although Maine is still the nations most racially homogeneous state, its white population dipped from 95.2 percent in 2010 to 94.9 percent in 2015. Perhaps this creeping diversity is what has deranged Mr. LePage, who regards the world through a lens of racial hatred. Officials of both parties have called on him to resign. Its high time he does.
There is a story from the history of professional wrestling in which a manager named Freddie Blassie comes to the edge of the ring and, while the referee is distracted, offers his cane to break over the head of the opposing wrestler. After the match, an interviewer asked Blassie, Wheres that cane of yours? He replied, What cane? I didnt have no cane!

During the past political year, life has imitated professional wrestling. Those expecting such antics from Donald Trump during the first presidential debate were not disappointed. When confronted with his claim that global warming was a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Trump replied, I did not [say it]. He did. When Trumps claim that he could not release his tax returns because of an IRS audit was exposed as false, he still insisted on it. When charged with saying that he could personally negotiate down the national debt, he said this was wrong. The charge was right. When Trumps transparently deceptive claim to be an early opponent of the Iraq War was debunked, he doubled down in a babbling defense citing Sean Hannity as the ultimate arbiter.

It is not surprising that Trump inhabits his own factual universe, in which truth is determined by usefulness and lies become credible through repetition. What made the first presidential debate extraordinary  really, unprecedented  was not the charges that Trump denied, but the ones he confirmed.

When Hillary Clinton claimed he didnt pay any federal income taxes in a couple of years, Trump said: That makes me smart. When Clinton accused Trump of defrauding a contractor out of money he was owed, Trump responded: Maybe he didnt do a good job and I was unsatisfied with his work. When Clinton criticized Trump for casual misogyny and for calling women pigs, Trump brought up Rosie ODonnell and said, She deserves it. When Clinton recalled a Justice Department lawsuit against Trump alleging housing discrimination, he dismissed it as just one of those things.

When Clinton attacked Trump for coddling the Russians, Trump attempted to excuse them of hacking, shifting the blame toward obese computer geeks. When Clinton accused Trump of betraying U.S. allies, Trump answered: We defend Japan, we defend Germany, we defend South Korea, we defend Saudi Arabia, we defend countries. They do not pay us. But they should be paying us. . . . We cannot protect countries all over the world, where theyre not paying us what we need. Rather than affirming the importance of NATO, or reassuring our Pacific partners  the easy and expected answer  Trump reduced the United States global role to a protection racket, run by a seedy executive who admits to cheating contractors when he is unsatisfied with [their] work.

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

During the debate, the points scored against Trump were damaging. But the points he ceded would disqualify any normal politician, in any normal presidential year.

Trump has made some political gains over the past few weeks through greater discipline  speeches from teleprompters, carefully selected media interviews, no news conferences, a Twitter account in the hands of others. But the candidate has internalized none of this. He might as well have sung I Gotta Be Me as his opening statement in the debate. It was Trump unplugged and often unhinged.

Past debate criticism has looked for hints and signs to determine losers  a candidate, say, looked impatiently at his watch or sighed in an off-putting way. Rhetorically, Trump drove a high-speed train filled with fireworks into a nuclear power plant. He was self-absorbed, prickly, defensive, interrupting, baited by every charge yet unprepared to refute them. During his share of a 90-minute debate, he was horribly out of his depth, incapable of stringing together a coherent three-sentence case. The postmodern quality of Trumps appeal culminated in an unbalanced rant claiming, I also have a much better temperament than she has  an assertion greeted by audience laughter. And Trump concluded his performance by praising himself for his own grace and restraint, during an evening that showed him to be nasty, witless and deceptive. It should now be clear to Republicans: Vanity is his strategy.

Trumps defenders will charge his critics with elitism. The great public, it is argued, gets Trump in a way that the commenting class does not. But this claim is now fully exposed. The expectation of rationality is not elitism. Coherence is not elitism. Knowledge is not elitism. Honoring character is not elitism. And those who claim this are debasing themselves, their party and their country.

Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook .
WHEN PRINCE Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) made a push for more control over the countys troubled public schools, his advisers thought he should get his head examined. The problems were so vast and the system so dysfunctional as to present a no-win situation that could result only in political headaches. The advisers were right about the dysfunction  and the headaches. But Mr. Baker was right to make a cause of public education, and his efforts have helped to put the schools on the right track for improvement. The current controversy roiling the system should not be allowed to turn back that progress.

The loss of a $6.4 million grant for Head Start because of the school systems inadequate response to instances of abuse and neglect in the program and allegations of a coverup have prompted calls for the ouster of school head Kevin M. Maxwell. In addition, one state legislator said he wants to introduce legislation that would change the school board, now a hybrid of elected and appointed members, back to a fully elected board, thus undoing authority won by Mr. Baker in 2013 to make key appointments.

The mistreatment of children in Head Start is concerning. That there have been other allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, including the high-profile case of a school volunteer charged with videotaping students performing sex acts, suggests deep-seated problems in school culture. Mr. Maxwell appears to recognize that and has undertaken a series of reforms, including improvements in training and outside investigations to assess school protocols. He requested the resignation of his chief of staff after revelation of an email seen as disrespectful to the school board and its need to have information.

But nothing is to be gained by driving Mr. Maxwell from the system. A large part of the systems problems can be traced to the instability and churn of eight superintendents in 17 years. More importantly, there have been hopeful signs of progress in the 3 years since Mr. Maxwell was named as the systems chief executive. Graduation rates have improved, rigor has been added to the curriculum, specialty programs have been introduced and full-day kindergarten has been expanded across the county. In resisting calls for Mr. Maxwells ouster, Mr. Baker again has demonstrated a willingness to subordinate political interests to the educational needs of Prince Georges children.
Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Donald Trump was trying very hard to be on his best behavior.

In the opening minutes of the first presidential debate Monday night, the Republican nominee began an answer by saying, In all fairness to Secretary Clinton  then turned to his opponent with exaggerated cordiality. Yes? Is that okay? Good. I want you to be very happy. Its very important to me.

But even Trumps best behavior was not quite good enough. Within minutes, he was hectoring and interrupting Clinton when she spoke, glowering, pursing his lips, shaking his head and interjecting one-word retorts.

Wrong! he told Clinton.

Wrong! he told the moderator, NBCs Lester Holt.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton squared off on the debate stage for the first time at New York's Hofstra University Sept. 26, with NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderating. (The Washington Post)

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! he said, over and over again.

But it was Trump who was wrong  on the facts, but also in his approach to the debate.

[Trump bombs on the ultimate reality TV show]

Trump had done well in the primary debates with his insults, interruptions and one-liners. Mondays 90-minute, one-on-one debate, however, was a format that did not work well for him.

Clinton had crammed for the encounter, practicing heavily. Trump ostentatiously avoided preparation  playing the proverbial high school slacker drinking beer behind the bleachers while the teachers pet was in the library.

But Monday night was the revenge of the nerd.

Trump was louder and nastier. But Clinton was cool and measured, continuing to make her case while Trump tried to talk over her. Again and again, she put him on the defensive (Im extremely underleveraged, he assured everybody), and his one-line retorts did not serve him well.

1 of 18 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Clinton and Trump clash during first presidential debate in New York View Photos Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton face off in the first 2016 presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Caption Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton face off in the first 2016 presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Sept. 26, 2016 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton arrive onstage for the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

Clinton speculated that he wasnt releasing his tax returns because he hadnt paid income tax for several years.

It would be squandered, Trump said, not denying the allegation.

Clinton noted that Trump hadnt paid federal income taxes for several years previously.

That makes me smart, he said.

Clinton accused Trump of rooting for the housing market to collapse in 2006.

Thats called business, Trump said.

At one point, Trump took a dig at Clinton because she decided to stay home, presumably to practice for the debate. Clinton was ready: I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president.

Trump was prepared to do what he has done for 18 months: spout falsehoods. But while that works on Twitter and at campaign rallies, it didnt go well in the 90-minute debate. Clinton, with an occasional assist from Holt, was able to take some 100 million viewers on a tour of what she called Trumps own reality.

[Last nights debate, or the mansplaining Olympics]

Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Clinton pointed out.

I did not! Trump protested.

He did say so, on Nov. 6, 2012, at 2:15 p.m., on Twitter.

Clinton noted that Trump supported the invasion of Iraq.

Wrong! Trump declared.

He did, on Sept. 11, 2002, on Howard Sterns radio show.

Holt mentioned that New Yorks stop-and-frisk policy was ruled unconstitutional because it induced racial profiling.

No, youre wrong, Trump told Holt.

Holt was right.

Clinton noted that murders have continued to decline in New York.

No, youre wrong.

Clinton was correct.

Trump repeated the oft-debunked canard that Clinton aides were the first to question Barack Obamas American birth in 2008. And he dismissed the widely held view among cybersecurity experts that Russia was behind the recent hack of the Democratic National Committee. It could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, okay?

This was the shot at Trump that Low-Energy Jeb, Little Marco and Lyin Ted never had: an extended, one-on-one encounter to test the bilious billionaire. Trumps playground taunts sounded juvenile.

He declared that Clinton tells you how to fight ISIS on her website! I dont think General Douglas MacArthur would like that too much.

Well, Clinton replied, at least I have a plan to fight ISIS.

No wonder youve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life, Trump volleyed.

It was a curious allegation, given that the Islamic State, also called ISIS, is only a few years old and Clinton has been an adult for half a century.

Trump, ignoring Holts admonitions, kept up his interruptions: You didnt read it! . . . Who gave it that name? . . . Lester, how much?

When Clinton at one point joked that Im going to be blamed for everything thats ever happened, Trump interrupted again: Why not?

You know, Clinton said, just join the debate by saying more crazy things.

That he did. He justified his misogynistic words about Rosie ODonnell by saying that nobody feels sorry for her.

Ultimately, insults were not enough.

When Clinton said Trumps economic plan would add $5 trillion to the debt, Trump interrupted.

You have no plan!

Oh, but I do, said Clinton, unruffled. In fact, I have written a book about it.

Thats about all youve done, Trump shot back.

And that was about all Trump could do.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Even before he walked onto the debate stage Monday night at Hofstra University, Donald Trump was complaining that his first head-to-head contest with Hillary Clinton was not fair. The system is being rigged, he charged last week. They want the host to go after Trump.

For the Republican nominee, the alleged unfairness of the debate was a new take on a familiar theme. Since the beginning of his campaign, Trump has said that our politics is rigged not only against ordinary Americans but also, somehow, against Trump himself. This summer, he went so far as to suggest that the outcome in November, should Clinton prevail, might not be legitimate. If the election is rigged, I would not be surprised, he said in an interview with The Post. We may have people voting 10 times.

In many ways, our political and economic system is indeed rigged. But it is progressive leaders such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), not Trump, who are putting forward real solutions to the problem. More to the point, if the election is swayed, it will not be because of voter fraud, which is virtually nonexistent in the United States. It will be because of voter suppression efforts led by Republicans across the country.

Indeed, one element of the race that has gotten lost in the spectacle of the campaign is that it is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013. The controversial ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which divided the court 5 to 4 along ideological lines, opened the floodgates for Republican governors and state legislators nationwide to push through a slew of new voter ID laws and other voting restrictions. Accordingly, millions of Americans will go to the polls without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act and under restrictive voting laws enacted in 14 states.

One of those states is Wisconsin, where a recently leaked trove of emails shows exactly how Republicans hype false claims of voter fraud to delegitimize election results and justify voting restrictions aimed at suppressing the Democratic vote.

In the emails, published by the Guardian this month, Republican insiders conspired to manufacture claims of voter fraud to influence a critical Wisconsin Supreme Court election in 2011. As the results came in showing conservative Justice David Prosser at risk of losing his seat, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce senior vice president Steve Baas wrote, Do we need to start messaging widespread reports of election fraud so we are positively set up for the recount regardless of the final number? I obviously think we should. Former state assembly speaker Scott Jensen (R) replied, Yes. Anything fishy should be highlighted. Stories should be solicited by talk show hosts.

Prosser ultimately won in a recount. The following month, Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed one of the harshest voter ID laws in the nation. While legal challenges kept the law from taking effect before the 2012 election, its partisan intent was clear. As one former Republican legislative aide later recalled, some Republican state senators were giddy about the ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing minority and college voters. In 2013, Walker signed yet another law imposing restrictions that would make it harder to vote. A federal judge recently struck down those rules, along with part of the voter ID law, concluding that Republicans had deliberately attempted to suppress the reliably Democratic vote of Milwaukees African-Americans.

Of course, Wisconsin is just one of many places where Republicans have attempted to hijack the democratic process. In total, 20 states have enacted new voting restrictions since 2010, including Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Arizona. Because these laws disproportionately affect minorities, it is reasonable to assume they will work in Trumps favor. Indeed, as reporter Ari Berman wrote in the Nation in May, given his historic unpopularity among minorities, theres only one way Trump can win the general election: by massively suppressing Democratic voters or hoping they dont show up on Election Day. In other words, by rigging the system.

When you have voter ID laws that pretend to be about common-sense reform, but in fact are about suppressing the votes of Democrats and have been proved to make a difference of two or three percentage points in a race, that is rigging the vote, University of California at Irvine professor Jon Wiener recently explained. On Monday night, Trump once again failed to offer any serious proposals to fix the rigged system he has criticized so often throughout the campaign. But when it comes to the forces that could influence the election itself, Trumps rhetoric is completely at odds with reality. It is voter suppression  not fantasies of fraud  that could actually undermine the will of the people.

Read more from Katrina vanden Heuvels archive or follow her on Twitter.


Undecided voters in the presidential election, including from left Cindy Adair, Amy Bridges and the Rev. Kelly Andrews, watch the presidential debate as part of a focus group at a hotel in Cary, N.C., on Monday. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)

Donald Trump so captured Ron Townleys attention as an outsider ready to tear down the system, just the one who might break the Washington logjam, the doer to build new airports and highways, that he was considering voting for him.

But Trumps response Monday night when Hillary Clinton accused him of not paying a cent of federal tax left Townley appalled.

That makes me smart, Trump said, unapologetic and smiling, during the presidential debate, held in Hempstead, N.Y.

Hillary Clinton suggested a few reasons why Donald Trump is not releasing his tax returns during the first presidential debate, mainly saying, "maybe hes not as rich as he says he is." (The Washington Post)

That comment caused a gasp in the hotel conference room where Townley and five other undecided voters in this battleground state were watching the debate.

Thats offensive. I pay taxes, said Townley, 52, a program director for a local council of governments.

Another person would be in jail for that, said Jamilla Hawkins, 33, who was sitting beside him in the Crescent conference room at the Embassy Suites in this city of 150,000 near Raleigh.

Hawkinss mother had chided her to get off the fence and support Clinton, but the 33-year-old felt no connection to the Democratic nominee. I just wasnt sold on her. A lot of my friends were on the Bernie Sanders train, she said.

But Hawkins said the debate made her appreciate Clinton more. She said she now leans toward voting for her  a feeling shared by most of the undecided voters gathered here for an informal focus group.



Undecided voter Jamilla Hawkins. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)

Polls show that the race between Clinton and Trump is deadlocked in North Carolina, a once solidly conservative state that has seesawed between Republicans and Democrats in recent years and is too tight to call for either candidate.

[Clintons big post-debate move? North Carolina]

Many say the race will come down to undecided voters such as Townley and Hawkins  those committed to voting but not yet to a candidate. In North Carolina, the undecideds amount to about 10 percent of the electorate, according to surveys; in other parts of the country their numbers are even higher.

Most voters in this polarized election support either Trump or Clinton and couldnt possibly consider voting for their rival. Yet there are a significant number who see attractive qualities and flaws in each of the two major-party candidates and have not yet decided whom to choose.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday showed that 17 percent of registered voters said the debate might change their minds about which candidate to support; 6 percent said there was a good chance the debate could do so.

The undecided voters gathered here Monday by The Washington Post were from all over the state; they were in Cary to attend a Rural Center conference, where gubernatorial and Senate candidates were among the speakers.

Each of the men and women said they had not yet found a candidate to rally around because they found fault with both. But after the debate, four of the six undecided voters said they now leaned toward Clinton after she showed mastery of the issues and appeared more presidential. A fifth voter declared himself essentially now in the Clintons camp: After tonight, I think I am convinced, I will vote for Clinton, said the Rev. Kelly Andrews, a Baptist pastor from Tarboro.

Cindy Adair said that the 90-minute debate did not help her at all. She still abhors some of the policies that Clinton has supported, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, which destroyed the textile industry that Adair grew up in.

Thats a lie! she said as Clinton, under attack for the trade agreement blamed for sending jobs overseas, insisted that domestic manufacturing jobs increased in the 1990s.



Undecided voters in the presidential election, from left Jamilla Hawkins, Ron Townley and Cindy Adair. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)

Clinton looked snarky at times, Adair said  though she did think she looked more professional than Trump. She said she didnt find Clintons better performance surprising given that the former U.S. senator and secretary of state is a career politician practiced in this kind of forum.

Adair, a registered Republican, said she likes that Trump says he will reduce taxes. She thinks it is a big mistake that Clinton will continue the Affordable Care Act and the move toward socialist health care.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Adair said, Clinton scored a 5 and Trump a 2. By the evenings end, she was still at a loss about whom to support on Nov. 8.

The others watching the televised debate had new problems with Trump after listening to him one-on-one for an extended time. They said he appeared racist in some of his remarks about African Americans, not as prepared and rude in his frequent interruptions of Clinton.

When Trump gloated about not paying taxes, many called it a huge mistake. Clinton accused him of hiding something by not publicly releasing his federal tax returns, and she noted that some returns seen by state authorities showed that he had paid no federal taxes.

Hawkins, 33, who works in community development, said that gave her a new view of the Republican candidate: that he is out of touch with the ordinary middle-class person who doesnt think its right for the rich to not pay their share of taxes.

He started out okay, but then after 30 minutes, he started attacking. He is inconsistent and doesnt have the temperament, she said.

Hawkinss eyes widened with incredulity at Trumps unexpected answer about the culprit behind recent cyberattacks: It could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, okay?

Really? she said, calling it childish and offensive to those with weight problems.

Hawkinss main issue with Clinton  her difficulty relating to ordinary voters  hasnt disappeared. But she has many more issues with Trump.

Amy Bridges, 49, who voted for President Obama in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012  a mirror of how this state went  was troubled by Trumps inability to keep his attention focused.

He cannot stay on topic, she said when Trump started talking about the Islamic State after he was asked about his call for Obama to produce his birth certificate to prove he is a natural-born citizen. I just want you to answer the questions! she said at another point.



CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: John York, the Rev. Kelly Andrews, Ron Townley and Cindy Adair, who are all undecided voters in Cary, N.C. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)

Before the debate, Bridges discussed her reservations about Clinton, especially the feeling that she was untrustworthy. But afterward, she said: It was far more obvious she knows her stuff. I feel a bit more comfortable with her.

Andrews, the Baptist pastor, said he had been attracted to Trumps business experience and his understanding that people are upset about manufacturing jobs being sent overseas. He said that his wife lost her job when a plant that made tools and drills closed. But as he listened to Trump on Monday night, he started shouting at the TV screen.

Stop-and-frisk is unconstitutional! he hollered. Andrews, who is African American, said that Trumps call for the controversial policing practice to instill law and order would allow officers to frisk any black person.

Trump also said that African Americans and Hispanics in urban areas are living in hell because its so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot, Trump said.

Andrews found that statement ridiculous.

John York, a tech consultant, said the bottom line for him was that Trump gave few details and showed he really doesnt have a plan.

The very big highlight for me was when Hillary tried to assure the world rattled by this election, York said. Trump talked about ripping up trade and other international agreements, while Clinton promised that the United States would honor its defense treaties and said our word is good.

I think people want change, but they are not ready to flush the whole system, he said.

Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton responded to Donald Trump's performance at the first presidential debate Sept. 27, saying "people can draw their own conclusions." (Video: The Washington Post / Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Hillary Clinton responded to Donald Trump's performance at the first presidential debate Sept. 27, saying "people can draw their own conclusions." (Video: The Washington Post / Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Hillary Clinton moved to capitalize Tuesday on a sharp-edged debate performance that exposed vulnerabilities for Donald Trump, excoriating his values and character in an effort to expand her coalition of women, minorities and young voters.

Trump, meanwhile, scrambled to move his campaign forward. While the Republican nominee insisted that he was not unnerved, he and his advisers grasped at excuses to explain why he did not perform better at the first presidential debate Monday night.

Trump on Tuesday was unrepentant and eager to defend his past, denigrating a former beauty pageant winner whom he targeted as his latest foil and vowing to attack Clinton over her husbands marital infidelities in their next showdown.

In a country divided over two historically unpopular candidates, Trumps turn is unlikely to shake his core support. But Democrats said they felt assured that Trumps hot temperament, scattered demeanor and series of statements that left him exposed to further scrutiny would make it increasingly difficult for him to win over the undecided voters he has been courting, especially moderate white women.

I look back as a former practitioner and say, Is there anything Donald Trump did to convince somebody who wasnt in his column to be for him?  said David Plouffe, President Obamas former campaign manager. I have a hard time thinking theres many of those people. I dont think he lost anybody. But thats not his challenge now. Hes got to add.

1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Memorable quotes from Clinton and Trumps first presidential debate View Photos Here are some memorable quotes from the presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. Caption Here are some memorable quotes from the presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. Wait 1 second to continue.

Clinton was ebullient as she returned to the campaign trail Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., and strove to keep alive the controversies that marred Trumps debate performance.

The real point is about temperament and fitness and qualification to hold the most important, hardest job in the world, and I think people saw last night some very clear differences between us, Clinton told reporters aboard her campaign plane en route to North Carolina.

Trump did little to change the subject. In a Tuesday morning interview on Fox News Channel, he said debate moderator Lester Holt, the anchor of NBC Nightly News, was biased, and the Republican complained about the quality of his microphone. Clinton jabbed him for that, telling reporters, Anybody who complains about the microphone is not having a good night.

[Trumps attacks on her weight are a bad dream for former Miss Universe]

Trump also disparaged a former Miss Universe pageant winner, Alicia Machado, for her physique. In the debate, Clinton raised Trumps past comments about the Venezuela-born woman, who was crowned Miss Universe at age 19 in 1996.

He called this woman Miss Piggy, and then he called her Miss Housekeeping, because she is Latina, Clinton said in one of the debates more electric exchanges.

The next morning, Trump offered an indignant defense of how he dealt with Machado when he was a partner in the company that owned the Miss Universe contest.

At the Sept. 26 presidential debate, Hillary Clinton knocked Donald Trump for his treatment of former Miss Universe Alicia Machado. Here's what you need to know about Machado. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

She was the worst we ever had, he said on Fox, adding: She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.

The Clinton campaign sought to advance the story across media platforms, releasing a Web video featuring the beauty queen-turned-actor, now a U.S. citizen who lives in California, and arranging a conference call for reporters with Machado, who described the election as like a bad dream.

Like Trumps feud this summer with the Muslim parents of a dead U.S. soldier, the Machado episode rapidly emerged as a microcosm of the campaign  and a test of whether Trump can expand his support beyond his base of aggrieved white voters, most of them men.

Mike Murphy, a veteran Republican strategist who has been critical of the partys nominee, said Trumps comments about Machado were hugely tone deaf. The debate overall, he said, was for many Republicans an Oh, crap moment. If you thought he had a spring in his step for the last few weeks and was getting back in the hunt, thats pretty much gone.

Few of Trumps supporters went so far as to crown him the victor. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who has been a weather vane for the Republican leadership during this election season, was supportive though muted at a Tuesday news conference. He told reporters that Trump gave a unique, Donald Trump response to the status quo.

I think he gave a spirited argument, Ryan said, and I think he passed a number of thresholds.

Trumps backers insisted that the debate would not damage his standing in the close race with Clinton. Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) said, As far as the temperament, thats how hes been for the last 15 months. It got him to the top. . . . He does have the feistiness that I think 51 percent of the American people will like.

William J. Bennett, who served in President Ronald Reagans Cabinet, said of Trump: When he loses his temper a little bit, many people see that as passion and as someone whos engaged in the fight and in what he believes. People forgive that  and a leopard cant change his spots.

[Why even Republicans think Clinton won the first debate]

It will take several days before the political impact of Mondays debate becomes clear, but many Republicans said they were bracing for Clinton to get a bump in the polls. An estimated 84 million people watched the clash at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., making it the most-watched presidential debate in history.

The event reverberated around the globe. Former Mexican president Vicente Fox said Trumps behavior should alarm world leaders because he revealed himself to be ignorant and dangerous.

When he speaks about the geoeconomic situation and the geopolitical situation and terrorism, hes absolutely ignorant, and hes only provoking us democratic leaders from around the world to reject everything hes proposing, Fox, who watched the debate on Mexican television, said in a telephone interview. He is an imperialistic gringo.

In the United States, the risk for Trump is that a negative impression sets in on shows such as NBCs Saturday Night Live, on social media and in workplace conversations.

Democrats sought to taunt Trump on his uneven performance, particularly given his regular attacks on Clintons stamina and appearance.

He seemed unable to handle that big stage, and I really did feel that by the end, with the kind of snorting, the water gulping and the leaning on the lectern, that he just seemed really out of gas, said Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

Trump previewed an even more combative second debate, Oct. 9 in St. Louis, by saying he might hit her harder, perhaps over former president Bill Clintons affairs.

I really eased up because I didnt want to hurt anyones feelings, Trump said on Fox, saying he would have brought up the many affairs that Bill Clinton had but held back because the Clintons daughter, Chelsea, was in the audience.

I didnt think it was worth the shot, he said. I didnt think it was nice.

Hillary Clinton shrugged off the threat, telling reporters: He can run his campaign however he chooses. I will continue to talk about what I want to do for the American people.

Clinton campaigned at a community college gymnasium in Raleigh to whoops and loud applause. One down, two to go, she said of the debates.

During a campaign rally in Melbourne, Fla., Tuesday evening, Trump said that Clinton is a woman that I think is virtually incompetent, certainly as secretary of state. He called her incompetent repeatedly throughout the rally.

Were going to get rid of that crooked woman. Shes a crooked woman. Shes a very, very dishonest woman, Trump said.

For Democrats, Trump provided what Plouffe called an embarrassment of riches at the debate  a series of controversial statements and unresolved, damaging questions. He seemed to affirm that he paid no income taxes; he made side remarks and pained expressions while Clinton praised the vibrancy of African Americans; he said it was a smart business strategy to profit from the housing crash.

Vice President Biden seized on that last point at a rally for Clinton in Philadelphia, where he charged that Trump has no moral center.

This is a guy who said it was good business for him to see the housing market fail, Biden said. What in the hell is he talking about?

Clinton and a brigade of high-profile surrogates plan to continue using Trumps debate comments against him. She will campaign in New Hampshire on Wednesday with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), hoping to energize young voters there with a discussion of college affordability, while first lady Michelle Obama will stump across Pennsylvania on Thursday.

He put a lot on the table  a lot of things that are not true and a lot of views that we think are counter to where most voters are, said Jennifer Palmieri, Clintons communications director. It wont end tomorrow. Theres a lot that will live on from this debate.

Anne Gearan in Raleigh, N.C., Jenna Johnson in Melbourne, Fla., and Jose DelReal in Washington contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton took a moment Tuesday, and then several more, to revel in her performance from the night before.

Did anybody see that debate last night? she asked at an afternoon rally here, prompting deafening screams from the crowd.

Over the next half-hour, the Democratic presidential nominee recounted some of the evenings highlights, including jabs she took at Republican Donald Trump, and told her audience that he made it very clear that he didnt prepare for that debate.

That Clinton chose to stage her victory lap here was telling: It underscored the heightened importance of this politically turbulent state in a tightening race with Trump.

Her rally, at a community college south of the capital, was the first of three planned visits to North Carolina this week by Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea. The appearances come amid unrest following a police shooting in the states largest city, Charlotte  an episode that has added to the uncertainty of the contest.

Hillary Clinton suggested a few reasons why Donald Trump is not releasing his tax returns during the first presidential debate, mainly saying, "maybe hes not as rich as he says he is." (The Washington Post)

[Two lives in Charlotte, cut short by violence, are forever linked]

An upbeat Clinton dwelled here on several moments of the debate that Democrats thought played to her advantage, including Trumps seeming acknowledgments that his real estate company profited from the housing crash and that he has paid very little in taxes.

He said that makes him smart, Clinton said. If not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?

Clinton also made reference to the shooting here and one of another African American man recently in Tulsa.

Though some facts remain unknown, both episodes make clear that communities are safer when there is respect from the law and respect for the law, she said.

Bruce Thompson, a Clinton fundraiser and adviser in North Carolina, said there are political opportunities as well as risks for both candidates in addressing what happened in Charlotte. Talking too narrowly about the shooting might please one constituency while alienating another, he said.

Hillary Clinton responded to Donald Trump's performance at the first presidential debate Sept. 27, saying "people can draw their own conclusions." (Video: The Washington Post / Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

It ends up being a test of leadership for both of them, about how they react in a crisis, Thompson said. But its hard for a candidate to come to North Carolina and not have something to say about it.

Clintons advisers believe that support from North Carolinas sizable African American population, a traditionally Democratic constituency, is keeping the Republican-leaning state in play. Though Trump has seen an uptick in the polls here in recent weeks, his gains have been more modest than in some other battleground states, such as Iowa and Ohio, whose populations are less diverse.

[When Trump said that not paying taxes makes me smart, undecided voters in N.C. gasped]

Events in Charlotte  about 150 miles from here  have made the political terrain more challenging for both candidates. Clinton and Trump postponed visits to the Charlotte area in recent days in response to concerns that they would divert law enforcement resources still focused on maintaining calm.

Clinton, who is planning to visit a Charlotte church this weekend, convened a conference call Saturday with several area faith leaders to listen to their concerns about the shooting of Keith Scott as well as broader concerns about the citys gulf between rich and poor. She pledged support for proposals to address underlying tensions between the African American community and the police force.

Some on the call said such overtures could bolster Clintons standing with African American voters and underscore the stakes in a race in which there has been limited enthusiasm for either candidate.

As an African American, I would want a president who is sensitive to these situations, said the Rev. Dwayne Anthony Walker, pastor of Little Rock AME Zion Church, who added that Trump does not fit that description.

Trump boosters, who have been heartened by independent voters movement toward him in the polls, argue that the unrest in Charlotte is more likely to accrue to the Republicans advantage.

Anytime you have a peaceful protest that becomes a riot, it benefits the law-and-order candidate, which in this case is Mr. Trump, said Marc Rotterman, a veteran Republican consultant, echoing a message that was part of Trumps debate performance.

We need law and order, Trump said during the 95-minute encounter at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. If we dont have it, were not going to have a country.

North Carolina, which has 15 electoral votes, has historically been favorable turf for Republicans in presidential races. President Obama narrowly won here in 2008 but lost by a close margin to GOP nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.

Democrats see longer-term trends in the state working in their favor: an influx of white college-educated professionals along the urban and suburban corridor that stretches from here to Charlotte, and an uptick in the African American share of the electorate  part of the legacy of Obamas campaigns.

To win in North Carolina, Clinton will probably need an Obama-like turnout from African American voters. According to exit polls, African Americans accounted for about 18 percent of the electorate in 1996. By 2012, the black share of the vote rose to 23 percent.

That was partly because of population growth. But an aggressive effort by the Obama campaign to register new voters and make sure they turned out was also a big factor.

The African American vote is going to determine whether or not Clinton wins the state this year, predicted Brad Crone, a veteran Raleigh-based political consultant.

Crone attributed Trumps recent uptick in the polls in part to soft Republicans, who had been wary of his candidacy but are starting to coalesce around him, at least for now.

Rotterman said Trump has benefited simply by showing up more than Clinton  particularly in eastern North Carolina, a rural bastion of conservative voters  and by presenting himself as a more focused and disciplined candidate.

Clintons rally Tuesday at Wake Technical Community College was her first campaign event since her Monday night debate with Trump.

Chelsea Clinton, the candidates daughter, has scheduled appearances Wednesday in Greenville and Asheville, hitting both the eastern and western sides of the state. And the former secretary of state is planning to make good on her postponed visit to a Charlotte church this weekend.

Even some Democrats acknowledge that Clinton has considerable work to do in the remaining six weeks before the election if she is going to inspire African American voters to come to the polls in sufficient numbers to win.

Her efforts have been aided here by a court decision overturning a restrictive voting law that judges said appeared written specifically to limit African American turnout  a tactic that Clinton said Tuesday was so wrong. And the renewed attention to Trumps questioning of Obamas citizenship, which was featured prominently in Mondays debate, cuts in Clintons favor as well.

But Joel Ford, a state senator from the Charlotte area, said support for Clinton remains lukewarm among African American voters.

It doesnt have as much to do with her as present realities and circumstances, he said. There is a tremendous amount of frustration within the African American community at all levels of government.

The Rev. Peter M. Wherry, pastor of Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, who was among those on Clintons conference call Saturday, said he is not sure how much impact the recent events in Charlotte will have on the election.

But Clintons efforts are appreciated, he said, if for no other reason than to ensure that as many eyes are on our city as we can get. Among the ideas discussed during the call, he said, was requiring the Justice Department to review police-involved shootings.

Wherry said he will do all he can to make sure members of his congregation vote Nov. 8, including using church vans to ferry people to the polls.

Such efforts are nonpartisan, Wherry said, though he left little doubt about his leanings in the race, noting that several of Trumps appeals to black voters across the country have taken place in front of largely white audiences.

Black people are not unintelligent, Wherry said. We do have the intellect to discern if youre talking to white people about us, youre not talking to us.
The Fixs Callum Borchers breaks down NBCs Lester Holts approach to moderating the first presidential debate on Sept. 26. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post; photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

The Fixs Callum Borchers breaks down NBCs Lester Holts approach to moderating the first presidential debate on Sept. 26. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post; photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

NBC News anchor Lester Holt took a largely passive role Monday as the moderator of the first presidential debate of 2016, staying in the background as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump traded verbal blows on the economy, race relations and national security.

Holt irregularly asked follow-up questions and declined to intervene as Trump interrupted Clinton and made a series of questionable assertions.

From the start, Holts role was itself under debate. Clintons camp urged him to call out any inaccurate or false statements by Trump as they occurred during the debate. Trump argued that such an approach would interrupt the proceedings and introduce potential bias. He has advocated doing away with the moderator altogether.

Several times, Holt asked both candidates to answer the same question in turn, a strategy that seemed designed to create an even chance for the two rivals. He began by asking both, Why are you a better choice than your opponent at creating jobs that will put more money in workers pockets?

Holt may have been mindful that posing different sets of questions to the candidates could foster the sort of criticism that dogged his NBC colleague, Matt Lauer, after his moderation of recent town-hall interviews. Lauer devoted a significant part of his interview with Clinton to her deleted emails but ignored a number of controversies in questioning Trump, drawing outrage from Clintons supporters.

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Holt declined to call out Trumps assertion early in the debate that Ford Motor Co. was leaving the country; Ford, in fact, is opening a new plant in Mexico, but the company isnt closing its domestic factories. Instead he simply asked Clinton to respond to Trumps claim.

The moderator also didnt referee Clintons statement that Trump had called climate change a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. Trump himself objected to this repeatedly, interrupting Clinton to do so. Trump actually did make such a claim.

Throughout the debate, both candidates repeatedly talked over Holts attempts to rein them in. At several junctures, Trump simply ignored Holts efforts to get him to cede the microphone to his opponent.

Holt, who replaced Brian Williams as the anchor of NBC Nightly News last year, also had to navigate the subtle gender dynamics of the Clinton vs. Trump meeting  the first in U.S. history in which a woman is the nominee of a major party. He seemed to be mindful that pushing Clinton too hard might be interpreted as badgering and sexist by her supporters. Trump had argued that Clinton would be treated with excessive deference because she is a woman.

But Holt dug in from time to time, too, and seemed to push harder on the Republican businessman.

In a discussion about Trumps decision not to release his tax returns, he asked the nominee, Does the publics right to know [about your tax returns] outweigh your personal privacy?

When Trump said he would release his returns when Clinton releases the 33,000 emails deleted from her private server as secretary of state, Holt responded, So its negotiable?

After Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lamented the end of stop and frisk in New York, debate moderator Lester Holt stepped in. The argument is that it's a form of racial profiling, Holt said. (The Washington Post)

Holt eschewed long preambles and kept his questions short and direct. At one point, during a discussion of race relations, he asked Trump simply, How do you heal the divide?

Holt said, Stop and frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York. . . . The argument is that its a form of racial profiling. Trump disputed that it was unconstitutional; in fact, it was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.

Holt also followed up on Trumps assertion that he opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The record shows otherwise, Holt said.

Trump rolled over Holts attempts to pin him down and quickly segued to a boast that his temperament is superior to Clintons.

The moderators questions hopscotched across numerous topics during the 90-minute debate, held at Hofstra University in New York. Among others, he prompted discussion about income inequality and job creation, outsourcing, tax cuts, Trumps apparent reversal on birtherism; cybersecurity; terrorism; and nuclear weapons proliferation.

But he avoided or had insufficient time to ask about a host of other important issues: Supreme Court nominations, Social Security, gun control, abortion, student loans, military affairs and health care, especially the Affordable Care Act.

Nor did he address such matters as how the two candidates make decisions, how they would work across the aisle as president, or what role their spouses would play in the White House.

He didnt ask Trump about his string of inflammatory comments about Muslims, Mexicans, women and the disabled; his favorable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin; his relationship, if any, to the white supremacist movement; his treatment of the news media; or how he would resolve potential conflicts between his personal business interests and his responsibilities as president.

Clinton escaped direct questioning about her role in the aftermath of the Benghazi terrorist attacks while she was secretary of state; her private email server and deleted emails during her time in office; or her deplorables comment.

Trump has made the moderator of the debates an issue from the beginning of his campaign. He publicly criticized Fox News host Megyn Kelly for the questions she asked in the first Republican candidates debate nearly 14 months ago. His complaints about Kelly prompted him to boycott a debate sponsored by Fox News before the Iowa caucus in January.

The audience for Mondays debate, the first of three, may exceed the record of 80.6 million viewers who watched the 1980 debate between President Jimmy Carter and Republican challenger Ronald Reagan. Mondays debate was carried live on the major broadcast networks and cable networks such as Fox News and CNN, and streamed live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others.
Here are the highlights from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sparring over the Republican nominee's history with questioning President Obama's place of birth. (The Washington Post)

Here are the highlights from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sparring over the Republican nominee's history with questioning President Obama's place of birth. (The Washington Post)

The moment when Donald Trumps fortunes turned sharply south in the first presidential debate began like any other moment in his confident, loose-tongued campaign. Moderator Lester Holt asked why it took Trump so long to assess that President Obama was born in the United States. Ill tell you, said Trump, its very simple to say.

What followed was anything but simple. Sidney Blumenthal works for the campaign and a very close friend of Secretary Clinton, Trump began. And her campaign manager, Patti Doyle, went to  during her campaign against President Obama, fought very hard. And you can go look it up, and you can check it out. And if you look at CNN this past week, Patti Solis Doyle was on Wolf Blitzer saying that this happened.

As Holt would point out, Trump had spent a few months in 2011  and a few days every following year  speculating that the president was hiding something about his citizenship. But over several excruciating minutes, Trump struggled to explain himself. Within an hour, allies of his campaign were criticizing Holt for asking the question at all.

Trumps stumble featured two habits that had worked on the campaign trail but melted in the direct light of the debate. The first was his attempt to frame old quotes or events in a more flattering way. The second was a reliance on sympathetic conservative news sources to accept his framing. What had worked in primary debates and countless phoned-in Fox News interviews came across onstage as gibberish.

Blumenthal sent McClatchy, a highly respected reporter at McClatchy to Kenya to find out about it, Trump said of the birth certificate. They were pressing it very hard. She failed to get the birth certificate. When I got involved, I didnt fail. I got him to give the birth certificate. So Im satisfied with it, and Ill tell you why Im satisfied with it.

Trump was referring to a claim by a former McClatchy journalist that Blumenthal, a close Clinton friend who did not work for her campaign, had pushed the rumor that Obama, then competing against Clinton for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, was born in Kenya. But Solis Doyle had not confirmed any 2008 birther rumor-mongering. As she quickly tweeted, shed done the opposite  and had fired a Clinton volunteer who spread a rumor.

At no point during the debate did Trump actually explain what either Clinton ally did. What was clear is that he was unready to explain himself to a skeptical audience. In the weeks since he called a news conference to insist that Clinton started the birther movement, Trump had only defended himself with sympathetic media, including Fox News. When Holt began to ask what Trump would say to people who were offended, Trump was blunt: I say nothing because I was able to get him to produce it.

[Trump starts subdued, but his cool quickly melts.]

Clintons counterpunch was as direct as Trump had been rambling. Three times, she said that Trump had engaged in racist behavior  an anvil-drop of an accusation never before made in presidential debates. Clinton worked in a 1973 case brought against Trumps company for racial discrimination, one of many damaging stories that had been lost in campaign coverage. Trumps response was another ramble, indulging his bad habit of laboriously explaining his companys legal battles. We settled the suit with zero  with no admission of guilt, he said. It was very easy to do. But they sued many people.

It was immediately clear to Trumps campaign staff and surrogates that he had mangled the birther question. What had been cocksure pre-debate spin  Trump did not need to practice for these events  morphed into post-debate hand-wringing about Holt.

Trump communications director Jason Miller insisted that Trump had been clear, and viewers had learned that Trump was blameless for birtherism. When a reporter told Sarah Huckabee Sanders that the answer had been hard to parse, she joked that she might be smarter than the reporter  she had heard Trump just fine.

What I didnt think was fair was that we didnt talk about the Clinton Foundation, we didnt talk about Benghazi, we didnt really talk about the email scandal, Huckabee Sanders said.

Here are the key moments from the first 2016 presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sept. 26. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt moderated the debate at Hofstra University in New York. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

The spin emphasized just how many mistakes Trump had made with his approach  and why hed made them. For five years, Trump had floated the idea that the president was ineligible for office (or hiding something about his past) in interviews where he bulldozed his questioners. More recently, he had stopped holding news conferences where reporters could test his defenses, focusing instead on prepared speeches and hand-holding interviews with media personalities including Sean Hannity.

One apparent result was the loss of Trumps ability to pivot, from a question he was uncomfortable with to a subject he wanted to discuss. Before the birther exchange, Trump took a few opportunities to turn a question about his vulnerabilities into one about Clintons. After the exchange, he was so bogged down that he did not even mention the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, a linchpin of his case against Clinton, when the Democratic nominee defended her record.

[Donald Trump was out of his depth. Heres the answer that exemplifies it.]

In the post-debate spin room, Trumps surrogates began defending his performance by casting it as relatable. Trump, they insisted, had been earthy and human, while Clinton had been canned.

Few reporters bought it. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the first senator to endorse Trump and by far the most important in shaping his policy, was asked by one conservative outlet if it was malpractice for Trump to be baited so easily.

Look, whenever Ive done a debate, I cant sleep at night thinking of things I couldve, shouldve said, argued Sessions. So if you think youre so good at it, you try. I mean, its no fun.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), shown Tuesday at the Capitol, said of his partys presidential nominee Donald Trump: On the debate, I thought he did just fine. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Leading Republicans vented frustration Tuesday that the first presidential debate was a missed opportunity for Donald Trump to magnify Hillary Clintons biggest vulnerabilities, lamenting the lack of focus on her personal email server, the Clinton Foundation and the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

On Capitol Hill, some GOP members of Congress blamed Trump for not raising the issues with more frequency and intensity. Others held moderator Lester Holt responsible for not pressing Clinton harder. Some normally chatty members kept quiet altogether.

If anything, I think he held back in a few instances where maybe he should have gone on the attack, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a Trump supporter.

The reactions reflected a collective sense of deflation among Republicans after a rough night when Clinton repeatedly lured Trump into defending himself and lobbing tangential personal attacks against her and others, rather than sticking to the case he has been prosecuting with more discipline in recent weeks.

I don't think there was probably as fulsome a discussion as there could have been last night because they did get off on some other issues, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who backs Trump.

The Post's Fact Checker rounded up the most noteworthy claims, misstatements, exaggerations and falsehoods from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump during the first presidential debate on Sept. 26. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

In the end, it was Clinton who walked away with an abundance of fresh fodder for attack ads, including one she launched online Tuesday featuring a former Miss Universe winner explaining how Trump insulted her for gaining weight  an attack he repeated in a Fox News interview Tuesday morning.

In speeches, conference calls and photo-ops staged in the fortnight leading up to the debate, Trump and his campaign waged a meticulous effort to draw attention to Clintons missteps, including her labeling of half of Trumps supporters as a basket of deplorables.

But during the debate in Hempstead, N.Y., he didnt once utter the words. And while he mentioned Clintons use of a private email server as secretary of state, calling on her to release thousands of emails she said were personal and deleted, he missed a chance to raise it again during a question about cybersecurity.

As far as the cyber, I agree to parts of what Secretary Clinton said. We should be better than anybody else, and perhaps were not, Trump said, before talking about unflattering leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee.

While a criminal probe led to no charges against Clinton for her email practices, Republicans have held up her secretive approach and questionable handling of sensitive material as a chief reason she cannot be trusted. Polls have shown that the issue worries voters as well.

For her to get a pass and act like shes gotten past it, I dont think thats appropriate, Tillis said. I think those are the sorts of things that he should continue to make the American people remind them[selves] of, because I think itll be consequential in November.

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), one of Trumps most vocal advocates on Capitol Hill, said Trump did the best he could under difficult circumstances.

Hillary Clinton on Sept. 26 scolded Donald Trump for his previous comments on women using language that was nearly identical to a question that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly asked him more than a year ago. (The Washington Post)

The moderator has a tough job. But I think youve got some  the priority issues, the debt, the economy, jobs, the foreign policy crisis. And youve got all these things that werent talked about  the Benghazi situation, her emails, the foundation. Im really troubled that we didnt get there in this debate.

At one point in the debate, it appeared that Trump might have been gearing up to attack Clinton over the deaths of four Americans in the 2012 assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Instead, the two sparred over the invasion of Iraq and the formation of the Islamic State.

Speaking Tuesday morning, Trump knocked Holt for the way he handled the role of moderator.

Well, he didnt ask her about the emails at all. He didnt ask her about her scandals. He didnt ask her about the Benghazi deal that she destroyed, Trump said on Fox News. He didnt ask her about a lot of things that she should have been asked about. I mean, theres no question about it. He didnt ask her about her foundation. Why? I dont know.

One of Trumps central charges against Clinton is that she has manipulated her positions of authority for financial gain  Crooked Hillary, as he calls her on the campaign trail. But Trump did not mention the Clinton Foundation at all, which has been at the center of conservatives accusations that she traded access for donations as secretary of state.

Some Republicans kept their post-debate reviews remarkably brief on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered a nine-word assessment at an afternoon news conference: On the debate, I thought he did just fine.

I didnt see it, guys. I was on an airplane, said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), one of Trumps vanquished primary foes, who now supports him.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), another Trump rival-turned-backer, repeatedly brushed off debate questions. In an earlier interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, Cruz said he would have liked to have heard more discussion about the Supreme Court.

Many Republicans, particularly those who are not hardcore Trump supporters, have pointed to the vacancy on the court as an incentive to support him over Clinton.

However, Trump did not bring it up once Monday night. Separately  and inexplicably to some Republicans  Trump reignited his feud with Rosie ODonnell, saying the comedian and actress deserved the criticism he has directed at her.

Clinton came to the debate prepared to steer the discussion toward her preferred topics. She introduced the tens of millions watching to Alicia Machado, the 1996 Miss Universe winner from Venezuela who has said Trump called her Miss Piggy and Miss Housekeeping.

She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem. We had a real problem, Trump told Fox News Tuesday.

Democrats sounded confident that the debate showcased the portrait they are painting of Trump as an unpresidential loose cannon.

Anybody who comes unhinged like he did over 90 minutes  thats not who you want in pressure-cooker situations, because hes clearly not up to handling it, said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a Clinton supporter.

Paul Kane and Jenna Johnson contributed to this report.
Republicans learned again during the first presidential debate that no matter the setting, no matter the stakes, no matter the expectations, Donald Trump will insist on being Donald Trump. He will rise or fall politically as himself  brash, unpredictable, volatile and true to his own instincts.

Mondays debate might not move mountains politically. Most Americans are already set in stone about their choice on Nov. 8. But Hillary Clinton didnt need an earthshaking event on Monday. She needed no more than to resettle nervous Democrats and reinforce the reasons many college-educated white voters have had such reservations about voting for Trump. That much she no doubt accomplished, thanks in large part to Trump himself.

For weeks, Trump had been tethered to a teleprompter, delivering carefully scripted speeches on various policies. On Monday night, he was back to the Trump of the Republican primaries, a rough-hewed candidate with one overriding message, that being strength of leadership. But that freewheeling environment also underscored a glaring and well-known weakness, which is his inability to resist responding to any slight or criticism.

Trump had never been in a debate like this before  90-plus minutes against a single opponent and a free-flowing agenda of topics guided with minimal interference by moderator Lester Holt, the anchor of NBCs Nightly News. For Trump, the format was not ideal: Presidential debates arent exactly endurance tests, but they require patience, preparation and some sense of pacing. Trump was like a sprinter in a marathon, starting with gusto and flagging the longer the night went on.

No one expected a full 90 minutes of deep policy discussion. There were too many other things that have defined the competition between Trump and Clinton that deserved an airing. But what became evident as the debate moved along is that Trump has a genuine substantive interest in few policies and once he has said his piece, he is ready to move on.

His economic worldview is shaped by his long-standing ideas about the damaging effects of trade agreements. Those views have been fixed for years. His obsession with Mexico, China and the North American Free Trade Agreement is seemingly genuine and deeply felt. But he expended his talking points on trade in the opening minutes of the night. When pressed by Holt about how he would actually bring jobs back to the United States, his best response was to say he would prevent more from leaving.

[She said, he said, from the first presidential debate]

Immigration, his signature issue, never came up. That was a potential missed opportunity for him, an opportunity lost to appeal to many of the voters who provided the lift that handed him the Republican nomination. But it was also a potentially lost opportunity for Clinton, who needs to make additional appeals to Hispanic voters to ensure that they turn out as enthusiastically for her as they did for President Obama.

The section of the debate devoted to racial issues revealed a yawning gulf in the way they approach the issue and see the divisions that have been front and center throughout the campaign as a result of police shootings and police being shot. For Trump, the topic provided an opening to circle back to his acceptance speech at the Republican convention and to more recent rhetoric about what he sees as the conditions for black Americans. As Clinton talked about bringing communities together, Trump highlighted his message that what the country needs first and foremost is a dose of law and order.

What also became evident  again  is that Trump cares more than almost anything about his reputation as a business executive, a character trait that Clinton used effectively as a foil to bait him repeatedly. In defending himself and his business record, Trump offered insights into a cutthroat approach to business dealing and the pride he takes in using all means available to maximize his advantages.

Trump took offense at suggestions that he is not a self-made billionaire, despite the fact that he was given a hefty boost by his successful father. He suggested that profiting off the 2008 housing collapse was good business. He claimed that paying no income taxes was smart, although he again refused to pledge to release his tax returns before the election. He said that if people are offended by his multiple use of bankruptcy laws to minimize his losses, they should change the laws rather than criticize him. He also suggested that stiffing vendors is fair game in some cases.

[Trump melted as the debate went on]

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton look out at the audience at Monday nights presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

If Trump had a strategy coming into the debate, it was not evident. He apparently believed the unscientific Internet polls that showed him victorious in most of the GOP primary debates and followed the same script against Clinton that he had against his Republican rivals. He interrupted constantly with protests or sarcastic asides, only in this case, Clinton was more skillful than the likes of Jeb Bush or Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) or Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) at ignoring those interruptions and continuing to poke at his soft spots.

Instant polls showed Clinton was the winner of Mondays debate, but instant debate polls are not a measure of voting intentions six weeks from now. Other polls will begin to measure the effect of this debate and that will set up the stakes for the final two debates.

What Trump cannot afford is another performance like the one he delivered Monday. He had turned what looked like a solid Clinton lead a month ago into a much tighter race, a testament to his improvements and Clintons stumbles. But he needs more. He needs more voters to judge him ready for the Oval Office, more support in particular from women, especially college-educated women.

Whether Clinton gains significantly from the debate is an open question, though one soon to be answered. Her support among millennials still lags below what she wants and Trumps supporters continue to show signs of greater enthusiasm.

For all the huzzahs coming out of her Brooklyn headquarters Monday night, Clinton still has work to do for herself. Yet even a minimal shift in the battleground states in Clintons direction would represent a significant setback for Trump, as that ground will be harder to recapture in the final weeks. Thats what both campaigns will be watching in the days ahead, as they prepare for Round Two. But dont expect a new Donald Trump to appear next time. He is who he is.
Afghan asylum seeker Shakira Sarwari, 27, and her two children, Mohammed, 17 months, and Setayesh, 7, are taken off a Munich-bound train in Salzburg, Austria, by German police. (Anthony Faiola/The Washington Post)

The 5:08 p.m. to Munich pulled into Salzburg Central Station, and four German police officers boarded the train. This was a migrant sweep, and the cops moved quickly past the fair-skinned passengers, questioning a group of Saudi tourists and a Chicano from Chicago.

In the last seat of the last car, the patrol found Shakira Sarwari. Eight months on the road from war-torn Kandahar, the young Afghan mother clung tightly to her 17-month-old son. Her 7-year-old daughter huddled close, nervously eying the officers. They were now one station away from their final destination: Germany, the promised land of refugees.

But they were not there yet  and after more than a million arrivals in 2015, the German welcome is no longer so warm. In fact, a crackdown at the border is giving those migrants who make it this far the worst odds of crossing since the height of the crisis last year. It is more evidence, some say, that as Europes migrant crisis stokes a mounting voter backlash, even generous Germany is quietly closing its door.

Your passport, asked one of the officers, who now have permission from the Austrians to stop migrants on trains bound for Germany.

Sarwari replied with a pleading look, holding up an empty palm.

German police board a train in Salzburg, Austria, for a migrant sweep. (Anthony Faiola/The Washington Post)

Where are you going? the officer asked slowly. Sarwari tugged nervously at her pink headscarf. In her arms, her son squirmed and whined. Her daughter, terrified, was on the verge of tears.

To Germany, Sarwari said. To Germany.

The officer shook his head.

Youll have to come with us, he said.

[Merkels refugee policy blamed for loss on her home turf]

In September 2015, as thousands of migrants a day were converging on Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued an astounding pledge. In the face of raging wars in the Middle East, she said there was no limit to the number of refugees Germany could accept. That promise  along with some of the most generous refugee benefits in the world  made the same country that sparked World War II an asylum seekers paradise.

But that has already begun to change. Since March, tougher controls in the Balkans, Greece and Turkey have sharply reduced the number of new arrivals. But hundreds of migrants each week  mostly from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa  are still attempting to enter Germany.

Yet the nation that took in more migrants last year than the rest of Europe combined is making it harder to get in. In August, Germany refused entry to 1,070 of the 2,300 migrants  or 46 percent  it stopped on its side of the Austrian border. In January, when arrival numbers were far higher, only 7 percent of migrants were turned back.

The smaller number of arrivals now, German officials say, has allowed them to more rigorously question migrants and apply rules meant to weed out economic migrants and opportunists. But critics say the policy is too sweeping and that theres a good chance that people who qualify for German asylum are not being given a chance to apply. A large portion of those coming now also already have family in Germany and are trying to skirt years-long waiting periods for family reunions.

Yet the German message to migrants is clear: Its not so easy anymore.

The reality of todays Germany is a different one than the refugee fairy tale of last summer, said Karl Kopp, spokesman for the migrant aid group Pro Asyl.

It happens as Germany is drowning in a backlog of hundreds of thousands of asylum requests. Last year, it paid $5.91 billion in aid and shelter, more than double the cost in 2014. A violent standoff last week between migrants and right-wing Germans became the latest sign of rising tensions. Germans are investigating 60 cases of migrants allegedly conspiring with Islamist militants.

Perhaps the most important factor: The chancellors Christian Democratic Union is suffering steep political losses because of her refugee stance, losing ground in a string of local elections and surrendering voters to the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party only a year before Merkels possible reelection bid. After another bitter defeat in liberal Berlin, Merkel this week offered a mea culpa.

If I could, I would turn back time many, many years in order to be able to better prepare myself, the whole government and all those responsible, for the situation that hit us rather unexpectedly in late summer of 2015, she said.

Germany is now rejecting more than a third of all asylum applications for those already there, and it is trying to negotiate mass returns to countries such as Afghanistan. The tough-talking interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, has even suggested that Germany wants to send many refugees back to bankrupt Greece, where most of them first entered Europe.

In the graceful city of Salzburg  the birthplace of Mozart that last year turned into the main gateway into Germany for migrants  German police are going further. Since June, they have been boarding trains here to pull off irregular migrants with Austrias blessing. Some migrants are briefly detained in Austrian jails. Most get 14 days to leave the country or apply for asylum in Austria. Still others could get pushed back by the Austrians to Italy or Slovenia.

It is all part, observers say, of Europes closing door.

[Merkel defends asylum policies, says Germany is at war with Islamic State]

As the German police led Shakira Sarwari off the train in Salzburg, her daughter, Setayesh, dressed inpink sneakers and an Elsa shirt from Disneys Frozen, broke down in tears. In the busy terminal, and flanked by officers, they walked past gawking passengers as Sarwari tried to comfort her crying son.

Shh, shh, she said softly, cradling Mohammed in her arms.

The German police showed the three of them into an industrial-looking room fitted with a computer terminal, a few wooden desks and a bench behind a partial fence. She went behind the fence with a male officer, who did a cursory check. She placidly complied when he asked her to remove her headscarf. Mohammed cried as the police took his mothers digital fingerprints.

As requested, she emptied her possessions onto a table  the most important being a plastic bag with a few hundred euros, all that she had left. She flushed as she was presented with, and asked to sign, a document in her native Pashtun language stating that she was being denied entry to Germany. She would later tell an interpreter that she could not read or write.

Via a telephone interpreter, she was able to communicate with the police, telling them that her husband was already in Germany and she was trying to join him there.

I want to go to Germany, she said.

You cannot go, an officer explained. Because of European law. She was told she would need to stay in Austria.

I do not want to stay here, she said, shaking her head. My husband is in Germany.

Her girl could not stop crying now. One of the German officers, Horst Auerbach, gave her daughter a gentle look and a glass of water.

It gets to you, he said, a lump in his throat.

Within two hours, the family was handed over to the Austrian police. A sturdy female cop with plastic gloves took Sarwari away for a more thorough search. Afterward, the family spent the night at the main Salzburg police station.

The next morning, like most migrants taken off the trains here, she was issued an order to leave the country or apply for asylum in Austria. Some Austrian politicians are bitterly complaining that the German policy is leaving more migrants on Austrias doorstep  although Austria, too, is trying to send some migrants back to Italy and Slovenia. Officials in Vienna say both they and the Germans are simply following European rules.

It remains unclear how efficient the German measures are at thwarting migrants. All the migrants in Salzburg are indeed being stopped. But farther north, at other border crossings, more asylum seekers are managing to get across the German border, where German officers decide whether to push them back. Almost half are refused. Decisions, officials say, are made on a case-by-case basis.

As Sarwari prepared to leave the police station, she said she had no real plan. She did not speak German or English. She did not know which way to go.

I made it this far by myself, with the kids, and I am going to go to Germany, she said, determined. I will manage to find a way.

Stephanie Kirchner contributed to this report.

Read more

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Migrants seek landfall in Europe even as deal takes shape to send them back

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
This week, the bookstore will release a comprehensive history of the shop which includes 400 pages of text, testimonies, and photographs from the stores sprawling archive. (James McAuley, Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

This week, the bookstore will release a comprehensive history of the shop which includes 400 pages of text, testimonies, and photographs from the stores sprawling archive. (James McAuley, Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

Shakespeare and Company, the small, crumbling bookshop on Pariss Left Bank, may be the most famous bookstore in the world.

It was the first place to publish the entirety of James Joyces Ulysses when no one else would, and for decades it has been an informal living room  and sometimes a bedroom  for many of the most revered figures in modern literature: Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Durrell and Anais Nin.

This week, the staff of the multicolored storefront at 37 Rue de la Bucherie released a comprehensive history of the shop that originally opened at another location in 1919. The book was years in the making, nearly 400 pages of text, testimonies and photographs from the stores sprawling archive, crammed in mismatched boxes in a closet three floors up an uneven staircase. Conceived as a memoir instead of a history, the project is essentially a rigorous attempt to explain what, exactly, Shakespeare and Company is.

[What it means to be secular in an age of extremism]

For George Whitman  the shops American-born proprietor, who lived in the small apartment upstairs until his death in 2011 at 98  Shakespeare and Company was many things. At his pithiest, he called it a socialist Utopia masquerading as a bookstore, a bohemian rhapsody where visitors slept upstairs and red wine was served in empty tuna cans.

A Paulownia tree blossoms in front of Shakespeare and Company in 2016. (Charles Platiau/REUTERS)

But George  as he was known to so many  also considered the shop a living work of art: I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, he said. I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations.

Whitman was not its founder: That distinction belongs to Sylvia Beach, who opened the original Shakespeare and Company on the nearby Rue de lOdeon, which was forced to close in 1941 during the Nazi occupation of Paris, when Beach, along with thousands of others, was interned. In the late 1950s, she bequeathed the title of Shakespeare and Company to George, who named his only child after his predecessor. Sylvia Beach Whitman, 35, runs Shakespeare and Company with her partner, David Delannet, a Parisian philosophy student who wandered into the shop one day while she was sorting books inside.

I think David quickly realized that if we were going to be together, Sylvia said recently, that the shop had to be part of his world as well.

George arrived in the city after World War II to study at the Sorbonne on the GI Bill and never left. He had acquired so many books that eventually he decided to open a shop of his own. In a diary entry from the spring of 1950, he wrote: I hope finally to have a niche where I can safely look upon the worlds horror and beauty.

Shakespeare and Company became that niche, where he hosted readings, impromptu dinner parties, and, in later years, posed with visiting dignitaries in his pajamas or in a paisley blazer that he rarely, if ever, sent to the dry cleaners.

The shop would become a refuge for generations of wandering writers who turned up unannounced to live there. George called these travelers the Tumbleweeds, and the deal was that for two hours work every day  as well as the vague promise of reading one book every day  he would let them stay for free in the shop, sleeping on cots tucked away between the stacks and showering in the public baths nearby.

[A French imams argument for why Islam belongs in France]

The window of the bookshop Shakespeare and Company, which specializes in English-language literature, features pictures of George Whitman, the shops founder. (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Be not inhospitable to strangers, reads a sign that still stands like a motto in the shop today, lest they be angels in disguise.

The only other requirement for the Tumbleweeds  at Georges orders, and now Sylvias  is to write a one-page autobiography, often typed on one of the stores typewriters, using sheets of pale blue paper. Shakespeare and Company now has thousands of these testimonies, some even from the children of previous Tumbleweeds.

A lot of the Tumbleweeds are of a particular age, Sylvia said recently, leafing through a book of these autobiographies. Its that age in life where you are looking to find your path. And theres really no better place to ask yourself these questions than in the center of Paris, being surrounded by stories. Figuratively, of course, but also literally: Piles of books can serve

as chairs, and sometimes pillows.

For Jessica Thompson, 20, a Tumbleweed from New Zealand, the shops bizarre blend of fiction and reality has provided an invaluable stimulus for her writing. Youre forced to get words on the page, she said. Youre forced. Even if its no good, at least it comes out.

Anneli Knight, 18, is another Tumbleweed. Born and raised on a farm in Buckinghamshire, England, she says she has no immediate plans and intends to stay in the shop until they throw me out, really. She, too, is working on a piece of fiction, tentatively titled Recollections of Her, about a man in therapy coming to terms with the suicide of the woman he loved.

Thats part of the magic of the place, Sylvia said. Everyone has a tale to tell.

The new book about the store takes the title of Whitmans unfinished memoir, The Rag & Bone Shop of the Heart, a line from the W.B. Yeats poem The Circus Animals Desertion. It relies on hundreds of Tumbleweed testimonies from decades past, young people whose ladders, to cite the same poem, began in the store and ended in literary publication, university teaching positions, or family lives in quiet suburbs. Leafing through the book, which landed in U.S. stores on Tuesday, it becomes clear that launching those journeys was always the point.

Read more:

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France to open first of 12 deradicalization centers for at-risk youths

Britain and France to construct Great Wall of Calais to keep migrants from port

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi at the International Criminal Court on Sept. 27, 2016, as he was convicted of war crimes for involvement in the destruction of historic sites in the Malian city of Timbuktu. (Bas Czerwinski / Pool/EPA)

An international court found an Islamist militant leader guilty of war crimes Tuesday for the destruction of historical sites in the ancient city of Timbuktu, marking the first such prosecution by the tribunal as it expands the definition of abuses during conflict.

The decision by the International Criminal Court could lay the foundation for possible future cases against groups such as the Islamic State for ravaging cultural heritage such as the 1,400-year-old St. Elijah monastery in northern Iraq and the nearly 2,000-year-old ruins at Palmyra in Syria.

The former militant, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, had admitted ordering the attacks in 2012 when Ansar Dine, a faction linked to al-Qaeda, held control of the famed city of Timbuktu in central Mali, which was a center of scholarship, commerce and study of the Sufi branch of Islam during the citys golden age beginning seven centuries ago.

[Al-Qaeda allies expand shadow in West Africa]

In a hearing last month, Mahdi asked the court for leniency, saying he was caught up in an evil wave as head of a special gang that sought to enforce strict Islamist codes. Many hard-line Islamist groups consider Sufism, which can include music, chanting and movement, as a heretical interpretation of the faith.

The Mali-born Mahdi was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in prison by the court, which is based in The Hague. Raul Pangalangan, the presiding judge, described targeting the cultural patrimony in Timbuktu as a war activity aimed at breaking the soul of the people.

Islamist groups have destroyed antiquities in many other places, including the Talibans dynamiting of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan in 2001. But the latest prosecution is the first by the international court to assess such acts as war crimes, experts say.

[How U.S. special forces aid militant fight in places such as Mali]

Among the sites destroyed in Timbuktu was the 16th-century mausoleum of Sidi Mahmoud, who led the citys famed Sankore University. Also targeted was a world-renowned 15th-century mosque, and the shrine of a Sufi mystic, Sidi Ahmed ar-Raqqad, who wrote a book on traditional medicine more than 400 years ago.

Ansar Dine took advantage of political chaos in 2012 to briefly take control of wide areas of Mali, a vast nation that stretches from West Africa to desert regions bordering Algeria. French-led forces reclaimed most territory the following year and opened the way for U.N. peacekeepers, but attacks persist.

In November 2015, gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Malis capital, Bamako, killing at least 20 people in an attack claimed by an al-Qaeda faction known as al-Mourabitoun. On Sunday, assailants killed a Malian soldier and his cousin in Timbuktu in another attack thought to be linked to Islamist insurgents.

Read more:

Gallery: The conflict in Mali

What do we know about militant factions in Mali?

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, right, enters the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he was sentenced to nine years in prison for the destruction of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Timbuktu, Mali. (Pool photo by Bas Czerwinski via European Pressphoto Agency/Pool photo by Bas Czerwinski via European Pressphoto Agency)

An international court on Tuesday found an Islamist extremist guilty of committing a war crime for overseeing the destruction of historic mausoleums in the Malian desert city of Timbuktu and sentenced him to nine years in prison.

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, a former teacher, had pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his role in overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door by rebels in June and July of 2012.

His trial, which began Aug. 22, was a landmark for the International Criminal Court, which has struggled to bring suspects to justice since its establishment in 2002. It was the tribunals first conviction for the destruction of religious buildings or historic monuments and the first guilty verdict delivered against an Islamist extremist.

Rebels affiliated with al-Qaeda occupied the fabled Saharan city of Timbuktu in 2012 and enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law that included the destruction of the historic mud-brick tombs they considered idolatrous. Mahdi was a leader of one of the morality brigades set up by Timbuktus new rulers.

ICC prosecutors said he was a member of Ansar Dine, an extremist group with links to al-Qaeda that held power in northern Mali in 2012. The militants were driven out after nearly a year by French forces, which arrested Mahdi in 2014 in neighboring Niger.

The defendant said nothing after the verdict and sentencing. During the trial, he urged Muslims around the world not to commit acts similar to those he had admitted to.

They are not going to lead to any good for humanity, he said.

Mahdi had faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the destruction of the World Heritage sites. But presiding Judge Raul Pangalangan said numerous factors argued for a lesser prison term, including Mahdis initial reluctance to raze the historic shrines and what the judge called his apparently sincere admission of guilt.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization hailed the verdict as a crucial step toward ending impunity for the destruction of world cultural landmarks.

Soon after the destruction in 2012, UNESCO alerted the international community, including the ICC, to ensure such crimes do not go unpunished, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said in a statement.

In the context of repeated violence against people and their heritage, this sentence of the International Criminal Court is a key element in the broader response to violent extremism, Bokova said.
President Obama said Tuesday that he will nominate Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than half a century.

DeLaurentis is the top diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, which opened last year after relations were normalized, ending a freeze of 54 years. He served twice before in Havana in the 1990s, first as a consular officer and then as head of the political-economic section.

Jeffs leadership has been vital throughout the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, and the appointment of an ambassador is a common-sense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries, Obama said.

DeLaurentiss nomination will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Some congressional critics of normalizing relations with Cuba have said they intend to oppose anyone for ambassador.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on State, foreign operations and related programs, said the time has come for Washington to have an ambassador in Havana.

We need an ambassador who knows Cuba, who is respected by the Cuban government, and who will stand up for U.S. interests and values, he said, noting the increasing number of Americans traveling to Cuba.
Rabia Ali, a Syrian refugee, plays with leaves with her daughter, Boshra, 8, in Aurora, IL. One of Ali's favorite things about living in The United States is how green everything is. (Photo by Kristen Norman for The Washington Post)

The United States has admitted 12,500 refugees from war-

ravaged Syria over the past year, surpassing President Obamas target, and expects to admit even more next year, a State Department official said Tuesday.

The Syrians are among 85,000 refugees from all over the world who have been resettled in the fiscal year that ends late this week, said Ann Richard, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration. That is up from 70,000 in the previous year. The White House aims to admit 110,000 refugees over the next 12 months.

Though goals are typically set for regions rather than specific countries, Obama last September asked the State Department to admit 10,000 Syrians in response to the humanitarian crisis consuming the country after five years of conflict.

This administration has been clear it wants more Syrians, Richard told reporters. My guidance is we want to bring even more than we brought this year, without having a target.

At the United Nations last week, Obama hosted a summit in which the leaders of 49 countries pledged more humanitarian aid, education opportunities and legal jobs for Syrian refugees in their midst.





[In a Chicago suburb, a Syrian family adjusts to a new American life]

In addition, the State Department said Tuesday that it will provide an additional $364 million in humanitarian aid to Syrians affected by the war. Richard said about three-quarters of that would be directed inside Syria, with the rest going to agencies working elsewhere in the region.

Since the conflict broke out following anti-government protests in 2011, the United States has provided $5.9 billion in humanitarian aid for Syrians, including the latest contribution.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry has been frustrated by his inability to secure a cease-fire in the war so that humanitarian supplies can be delivered and U.N.-mediated peace talks can eventually resume in Geneva. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said that Kerry considers it diplomatic malpractice to close the door to diplomacy even as Russian and Syrian warplanes pummel Aleppo and that he intends to keep pursuing a truce in the four remaining months of his term.

[Nonintervention in Syria causes unprecedented human and political damage]

Admitting refugees has been one of the most controversial aspects in the administrations management of the Syrian crisis, even though the vast majority are women and children.

More than 30 Republican governors have said they are not welcome in their states, fearful that terrorists could be in their ranks. Presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for a suspension of immigration from countries where terrorism is prevalent.

The Syrians have been resettled in 180 cities and towns across the United States, usually in places with plentiful jobs and low-cost housing. Richard said local officials have expressed interest in accepting Syrians for resettlement.

Refugees tend to be very successful once they get to the U.S., Richard said. Not in the short term, but definitely in the medium and longer term.

In countries neighboring Syria, where millions have sought safe haven, Syrians are referred to the United States by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. It can take one or two years to complete several rounds of security checks. State Department officials say the process is comprehensive and lengthy to discourage would-be terrorists.

Read more:

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Former Israeli President Shimon Peres speaking at an event in Jaffa, Israel, in June 2016. (Jim Hollander/EPA)

Shimon Peres, the former president of Israel and a founder of the Jewish state, was described as fighting for his life by the Israeli media on Tuesday after the 93-year-old Nobel laureates condition deteriorated.

Citing sources close to the family, Israels Channel 2 said Peres was in danger of serious organ failure two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. His son-in-law and personal physician, Rafi Valden, described Peress condition as extremely serious.

His family was gathered at his bedside at Tel Avivs Sheba Medical Center. He was sedated and breathing with a respirator in the intensive care unit.

[Q&A with Shimon Peres]

Peres had appeared to be recuperating until Tuesdays reversal.

He is one of the last surviving members of the generation of leaders who founded Israel in 1948.

In recent years, Peres was Israels elder statesman and its face to the world. Serving in the largely ceremonial post of president, he was a voice for peace and urged his country to move forward with negotiations with the Palestinians.

His resume was broad, and he remained a player on the world stage until the stroke on Sept. 13.

[Israels old lion tackles a new challenge]

Peress tenure in power lasted through 10 U.S. presidents. He served in top government posts, including two terms as prime minister. He was also foreign minister, information minister, finance minister and defense minister.

Peres shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat for the Oslo Accords, a preliminary peace agreement that has since withered.

He also remained a controversial figure for his role in fostering Jewish settlements in the occupied territories and his leadership during a deadly attack on a United Nations base in southern Lebanon in 1996.

Read more:

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
A new think tank, Economic and Social Research Aotearoa (ESRA), was launched this month in New Zealand with considerable media attention. The launch was held in conjunction with Victoria University of Wellingtons (VUW) conference Social Movements, Resistance and Social Change, which attracted 400 participants, mostly academics and trade union officials.

ESRA is led by former Green Party MP Sue Bradford and lists 19 founding members on its web site, including sociology professors and union bureaucrats. The web site claims it is committed to combatting the political ideologies of capitalism and disseminating and popularising alternatives to capitalism and collective visions of a better future.

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, politics professor Bryce Edwards described ESRA as potentially the most important leftwing project for many years. He said it revealed a renewed focus on issues of economics and social class, rather than identity politics related to gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

These claims do not stand up to scrutiny. ESRA is led by a veteran capitalist politician. Its founders represent a definite upper middle class layer, including former Maoists, anarchists, environmentalists, Maori nationalists and proponents of gender identity politics, who are united by their opposition to the development of a genuine socialist and internationalist movement of the working class.

ESRA has been founded in response to the social crisis that has engulfed New Zealand since the global financial crisis of 2008. Health, education and welfare services are being starved of funds and tens of thousands of jobs have been destroyed. An estimated 41,000 people are homeless and one quarter of children live in poverty. The working class is profoundly alienated from all the major parties, particularly the main opposition Labour Party, which supports the governments policies of austerity and militarism. A million people, over a quarter of the adult population, did not vote in the last two elections.

ESRA aims to fill this political vacuum and divert workers, youth and intellectuals who are being radicalised by the crisis into channels that pose no threat to capitalism. In a Radio NZ interview, Bradford said ESRA aimed to pull the parties [in parliament] to the left. In other words, it will encourage illusions that the Labour Party and its allies can be pressured to adopt progressive policies.

This perspective was underscored in a speech at ESRAs launch by Council of Trade Unions (CTU) secretary Sam Huggard. Huggard covered up the unions collaboration in job destruction under successive Labour and National Party governments, including thousands of redundancies recently in the public service, among bank, postal, rail and airline workers, and at mining company Solid Energy. He hailed the unions collaboration with the Labour Partys Future of Work Commission, which is drafting employment policies to meet the needs of business for a more easily disposable workforce.

ESRA is partly funded by the trade union bureaucracy. According to ESRAs web site, it has 500 supporters, including academics and unionists, and has begun a first union-funded research project  examining the work and living conditions of a particular group of migrant workers. Bradford, while professing sympathy for immigrants, has joined the trade unions in demanding cuts to foreign student and migrant worker numbers, telling TV3 on August 27 they were taking jobs from New Zealand workers.

The Social Movements conference was co-sponsored by the CTU and the Public Service Association, New Zealands largest union. It included dozens of presentations on environmentalism, Maori nationalism and gender politics, as well as topics such as media strategy and how to organise a protest.

One speaker was Annette Sykes, a leading member of the Maori nationalist Mana Party, which represents indigenous Maori capitalists. Mana was founded in 2011 with support from Bradford and the pseudo-left groups Fightback, Socialist Aotearoa and the International Socialist Organisation, which falsely promoted its racialist politics as progressive.

Identity politics serves to divide the working class along racial and gender lines, to prevent a unified struggle against the profit system. At the same time, it is a tool for advancing the careers of upper middle class women and ethnic minorities within capitalism. The central political demand of Mana and other Maori nationalists is for increased government payments to Maori tribal-based businesses.

ESRAs politics are largely inspired by the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) government in Greece and Spains Podemos party. In a seminar at Auckland University in March 2015, making her argument for the think tank, Bradford stated: If New Zealand is ever going to build mass movements to take power in the way Podemos and Syriza are attempting currently, the role of academics will be critical.

Syriza was elected in 2015 on the basis of its anti-austerity rhetoric, only to betray the Greek working class within months and implement draconian austerity measures demanded by the European Union. Podemos defended Syrizas actions and is preparing to carry out a similar betrayal of the Spanish working class. Both parties have been promoted by New Zealands pseudo-left groups, which aspire to likewise integrate themselves into the capitalist political establishment.

In terms of theory, ESRA is inspired by the postmodernist and anti-Marxist writings of figures such as Slavoj Zizek, Ernesto Laclau and Jacques Ranciere. There were talks on each of these irrationalist philosophers at the Social Movements conference. Laclau, who influenced leading members of Syriza and Podemos, openly rejected any possibility of politics based on a scientific understanding of the capitalist system and the revolutionary role of the working class. Zizek, a major influence on ESRA academics Anna Maria Murtola and Warwick Tie, has become an ever more openly right-wing figure who rants against Muslim immigrants and refugees.

No speaker at ESRAs launch addressed the most pressing issue facing the working class in New Zealand and internationally: the immense danger of a third world war brought about by Washingtons reckless military interventions and threats against Russia and China. The first issue of ESRAs journal, Counterfutures, is also silent on the threat of war.

This is not an accidental omission: it points to the fact that ESRA has no fundamental differences with Labour and the Greens, which have welcomed the strengthening of military ties with the United States and the governments vast increase in military spending. Labour, the Mana Party, the right-wing populist NZ First and the trade unions have all sought to whip up hostility toward Chinese immigrants and investors, blaming them for job cuts and for pushing up house prices. This anti-Chinese xenophobia dovetails with New Zealands integration into US war preparations.

Bradford: A capitalist politician

ESRA founder Bradford, despite being portrayed in the media as a radical, has had a lengthy career in bourgeois politics. After almost a decade in the Maoist Workers Communist League, in 1989 Bradford joined NewLabour, a splinter from the Labour Party, which later became the Alliance. She left after one year. In 1998 she joined the Greens and was in parliament from 1999 to 2009.

In a letter to the National Business Review in November 1999, Bradford and fellow Green MP Keith Locke, a former member of the Pabloite Socialist Action League, renounced any connection with socialism, which they equated with narrow agendas and bureaucratic  models. They declared they had moved on and were maturing and learning with age and experience.

The Greens backed the 1999-2008 Labour Party government of Prime Minister Helen Clark. The Greens formally opposed some of Labours policies, such as sending troops to Iraq, but supported New Zealands participation in the Australian-led interventions in East Timor and Solomon Islands, as well as the US-led occupation of Afghanistan. The party fraudulently presented these neo-colonial ventures as humanitarian peacekeeping operations.

Bradford played a significant role following the 2005 election as the Greens economic development spokesperson. She led the implementation of a nationalist Buy Kiwi Made policy, to which Labour agreed.

Bradford worked closely with the trade union bureaucracy and the corporate lobby group Business NZ to implement the scheme, which was designed to boost the competitiveness of NZ capitalists against imported products. In a March 2, 2007 press release Bradford declared: The campaign will celebrate and promote New Zealand innovation, entrepreneurship and manufacturing successes. The campaign offered grants to businesses to help advertise their NZ-made products.

Bradford heaped praise on the businesses that signed up to the scheme. In a December 7, 2007 statement, she said she was delighted that supermarket giant Foodstuffs had joined, saying this would be good for our workers, our businesses and our communities. In fact, Foodstuffs, which owns the New World and PakNSave supermarkets, employs some of the lowest-paid workers in the country.

The scheme did nothing to prevent the destruction of thousands of jobs in 2008 at companies such as appliance manufacturer Fisher & Paykel, Fletcher Building, Air New Zealand and timber giant Carter Holt Harvey.

The Clark Labour government presided over social inequality and poverty. It did not reverse the savage welfare cuts imposed by the previous National government or the privatisations and anti-working class tax policies of the 1984-1990 Labour government. Labour underfunded health and education services; it closed approximately 200 schools and oversaw a huge expansion in university student debt and hospital waiting lists. Average household indebtedness increased between 1999 and 2007 from 100 percent of disposable income to 160 percent.

The corporate media greatly appreciated the Greens, especially Bradford, for propping up this pro-business government and providing it with a progressive veneer. In 2007 the New Zealand Herald named Bradford Backbencher of the Year. The Dominion Post named her Politician of the Year and the Listener magazine listed her as one of the countrys 50 most powerful individuals.

After failing to become co-leader of the Greens in 2009, Bradford resigned from parliament. On July 12, 2011, on the blog Pundit, she hypocritically denounced the party for its embrace of Green capitalism. While claiming that she rejected modern capitalism, she stressed that this does not mean that I (or other ecosocialists of whom Im aware) want a monolithic socialist state. Far from it. There are many options to build for a more democratic, participatory future  I reckon some forms of market will always remain.

In the 2011 election, Bradford stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Mana Party, which she described as the most exciting parliamentary political initiative Ive seen in my lifetime. She resigned from Mana three years later after the party entered an electoral alliance with the blatantly pro-business Internet Party, founded by billionaire Kim Dotcom. Mana discredited itself in the eyes of the working class and failed to win any seats in the 2014 election.

Since late 2010, Bradford has also played a leading role in Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP), a forerunner to ESRA. AAAP has organised protests outside National Party events, carried out economic research and made submissions to parliament appealing to the government to reverse its cuts to welfare. The group receives funding from some unions and has helped promote the Mana Party and the Greens.

Over the past three decades, Bradford has played a major role in three capitalist parties: the Alliance, the Greens and Mana. While posturing as left wing and even socialist-leaning, these parties have all sought to politically disarm and betray workers by chaining them to the Labour Party and the parliamentary set-up.

Bradfords new think tank is seeking to play a similar role. Like the Greens and Mana, as well as Syriza and Podemos, ESRA represents affluent sections of the upper middle class that have a material interest in the exploitation of the working class. Under conditions of the most severe economic collapse since the 1930s, it aims to divert radicalising workers and youth away from revolutionary socialism and Marxist theory and into the reactionary channels of postmodernism, Maori nationalism, gender identity politics, Labourism and trade unionism. It wants to lay the ideological foundations for a new party whose goal, like Syriza in Greece, will be to preserve capitalism by betraying and suppressing the revolutionary struggle of the working class.

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Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Michelle Obama hugged it out at an event and everyone is here for it  see the cute photo and read reactions!

Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Michelle Obama hugged it out at an event and everyone is here for it  see the cute photo and read reactions!

Frame this! Former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama hugged it out when they attended the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 24.

The adorable embrace went down when Obama, 52, and President Barack Obama joined Bush, 70, and former first lady Laura Bush at their seats. FLOTUS wrapped her arms around him from behind. He leaned back and smiled while resting his head on hers.

PHOTOS: Celebrity BFFs

Photos of the sweet moment quickly went viral. "Someday I want to be as happy as George W. Bush is when he's being held by Michelle Obama," one person wrote via Twitter.

A second posted the pics, and joked: "We're gonna be OK, you guys. WE'RE GONNA BE OK."

Even Larry King had an opinion. "That picture of @MichelleObama hugging George W. Bush makes me smile...#ItsMy2Cents," the veteran journalist wrote.

PHOTOS: Malia and Sasha Obama's Best Styles Through the Years

Reddit users took the opportunity to Photoshop the images into hilarious memes. Some made it look like Bush was wearing a Batman onesie and that Michelle was hugging an actual bush.

That wasn't Bush's only memorable moment. At one point, he enlisted POTUS, 55, to take a photo after an unsuccessful attempt at a selfie. He tapped Barack on the shoulder, who appeared happy to take a pic of Bush and an event attendee.



"Sometimes it's just easier to have Obama take the picture," one commenter teased. Another tweeted: "George Bush had to have Obama help him take a selfie, which is so 2016."



PHOTOS: First Children

The two couples bonded just days before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's first presidential debate. The Democratic and GOP presidential candidates will go toe-to-toe at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Monday, September 26. Us Weekly will be live-blogging the event, which will be moderated by NBC's Lester Holt.

Read more reactions below:









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A suburban father-of-two was fatally shot while leaving a wine tasting in Chicagos Millennium Park Saturday following an alleged argument with another man, police confirm to PEOPLE.

While Peter Fabbri, 54, of Berwyn, Illinois, lay bleeding on the ground, his sister, Shelly Fabbri, chased down the suspect, who had jumped on a bike, helping police to bring him into custody, Peter and Shellys brother, Bruno Fabbri, tells PEOPLE, relaying Shellys account.

Our family is devastated, says Bruno.

Fabbri, the father of two adult daughters, died just before 6 p.m. Sunday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiners office.

Authorities are questioning the suspect, who was taken into custody Saturday night, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department tells PEOPLE. Detectives are still investigating the shooting and have not released the suspects name.

The trouble began after Fabbri left a wine tasting with his sister and girlfriend on Saturday night near Millennium Park, one of Chicagos most popular destinations. He was walking about ten feet behind the two women, says Bruno.

Near the intersection of East Monroe Street and South Michigan Avenue, Fabbri allegedly got into a verbal altercation with another man, the police spokeswoman says.

The altercation turned physical and the offender pulled out a handgun and shot him, says the spokeswoman. Police have not said what they were arguing about.

One witness told CBS 2 that Fabbri and the other man were allegedly arguing over politics.

However, Bruno says, That doesnat sound like my brother. He wasnt into politics that much.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

When gunshots first rang out, says Bruno, My brother ran up to my sister and said, Run! Ive just been shot! Bruno says.

Hed been shot in the torso, and as his sister cried for help and called Bruno, the suspect allegedly shot Fabbri in the head, says Bruno.

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The next thing I hear is her running and breathing real hard, Bruno says.

Shelly had begun chasing the suspect, who had taken a bicycle and tried to get away, says Bruno.

Fabbri was rushed to the hospital, says Bruno. His family took him off life support on Sunday.

They are left with a broken heart and tears in our eyes and down our faces, his niece, Nina Parks, wrote on a GoFundMe page she set up to help pay for his funeral expenses.

She described her uncle as a huge hearted man and was always there for anyone if he could be.

Fabbri worked with Bruno as a home improvement contractor. He was very caring, says Bruno. If a customer was short on money, he would help them. He would give you the shirt off his back and if he didnat have a shirt, he would make one for you.

His brother attended the wine tasting mostly because he loved Lake Michigan, near the park. He thought it was beautiful, says Bruno.

Bruno says he and his family still cannot believe Fabbri is gone. Its overwhelming, he says. The violence has to stop.
The 39-year-old Illinois man suspected of kidnapping his 13-year-old stepdaughter and her 2-week-old son last week has been taken into custody after all three were located in a rural mountainous range south of Charleston, West Virginia on Saturday.



The Madison County Sheriff's Department in Illinois announced Saturday that Katherine Derleth and her infant child, Christopher R. Derleth, had been found after a nationwide search launched following their disappearance on Sept. 18 from their foster care home.



They were located with the girl's stepfather, Christopher M. Derleth, who authorities allege abducted the children. Derleth was taken into custody without incident.



At a press conference last Monday before he was found, authorities said Christopher M. Derleth was charged with aggravated kidnapping and child abduction. He was also charged with allegedly violating a protective order, filed before the alleged abduction, which barred him from having contact with Katherine.





Missing 13-Year-Old Girl and Infant Son Found in West Virginia as Stepfather Arrested on Kidnapping Charges| Crime & Courts, True Crime



The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office in West Virginia announced via Twitter that the children were "ok" and being evaluated at a local hospital.



 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.





Missing 13-Year-Old Girl and Infant Son Found in West Virginia as Stepfather Arrested on Kidnapping Charges| Crime & Courts, True Crime





Investigators Working to Determine Paternity of Infant

Investigators said they were concerned about health of the newborn and his teen mother, who has a congenital heart defect and a pacemaker and had just undergone a cesarean section delivery.



Authorities told PEOPLE months before the alleged abduction, they were investigating how Katherine became pregnant, and that the investigation focused on Derleth as well as another man Katherine had been living with.



As a result of that investigation, the state removed Katherine and her son from her home and placed them with a foster family, authorities said.



"Once we are able to find out the paternity of the child, there will no doubt be charges of criminal sexual abuse filed against that individual," Greenville, Illinois, Police Chief Lou Lorton previously told PEOPLE.



"The original complaint stemmed from the fact that there was a 13-year-old that was pregnant and there were, at the time, two individuals living with her in the home," Lorton said. "We obviously don't know who the father of the child is, but that's what launched the investigation."



Police are not discussing what prompted the alleged kidnapping but have said they believe it was planned.
Tom Hanks surprised this couple who were posing for wedding pics in Central Park. (Photo: Instagram)

Celebrity wedding crashing is all the rage. From Taylor Swift to Beyonce, a slew of A-listers have surprised unsuspecting couples on one of the biggest days of their lives. Since its such a kind gesture, its no surprise that Mr. Hollywood Nice Guy himself, Tom Hanks, is getting in on the wedding crashing action.

Hanks, 60, was jogging through New Yorks Central Park this past weekend when he came upon Elizabeth and Ryan, who were taking their wedding pics. Hanks congratulated the couple before posing for a few shots with them and gallantly kissed the brides hand. He even posted his own selfie with the duo, along with some heartfelt congrats, on Twitter.

Elizabeth and Ryan! Congrats and blessings! Hanx. pic.twitter.com/Uy2GIqYphU  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) September 24, 2016

Related: Celebrity Wedding Crashers

This isnt the first time Hanks has pulled a wedding crash. Back when he was filming Forrest Gump, in 1993, Hanks got the attention of a woman in Beaufort, S.C., just as she was about to walk into a church to take the plunge. Sitting in his car across the street, Hanks honked his horn until he got the brides attention  and when she approached the car, he hopped out, wished her good luck, and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Later, when Hanks was sent pictures of the newlyweds, he signed one and returned it to them with this inscription: Congratulations! The only bride more beautiful was the one I married  Im just sorry I missed the ceremony! God Bless, Tom Hanks.

But what would you expect from one of Hollywoods truly nice guys? Hanks has been setting the Internet aflame with numerous stories of his gregarious fan interactions and generosity of spirit, proving that good truly does exist in the world. There was the time in 2012 at Hollywood gastropub Stout when he teasingly posed with a fan who reportedly took the actors glasses and pretended to be drunk. When the image went viral, thanks to being posted on Reddit, it inspired a thread thousands of comments long, where others shared their Hanks is a nice guy tales.

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This will get buried, but I met Tom Hanks about 15 years ago at Disneyland. I was waiting after getting off thunder mountain railroad and he walked up and I introduced myself and just mentioned that I really liked his movies. He shook my hand and was very appreciative. Really nice guy, wrote flocker 92.

Added thescrapplekid, Wow, those made me smile. I think I met him [Tom Hanks] when I was about 13 at Typhoon Lagoon  we were on some lazy river tube thing and I looked over and said you look familiar. The guy goes Oh yeah? Who do I look like? Dumb me UhTom.Tom somethingTom Cruise? The guy let out the biggest Tom Hanks movie laugh  man I was f***ing embarrassed.

Then, in 2013, Hanks met up with superfan Sarah Moretti. Moretti, who is autistic, had crafted a scrapbook of pictures and news clips of Hanks throughout the years. She finally had the opportunity to share it with him backstage during the Broadway run of his show Lucky Guy, and his reaction was truly delightful, as evidenced by the clip that was shared on YouTube.

Look how young I used to be! Hanks exclaimed as he flipped through the scrapbook. Oh, sweetie, how wonderful is it to meet you? I love meeting you!

Also during the run of his Broadway show in 2014, Hanks was surprised by a cab driver who gleefully shouted at Hanks, WIIIIIIILLLSSSSSOOOOOOON!!! when the Cast Away star got in his car. Hanks dubbed the cabbie Mr. Ferrari thanks to the drivers affinity for Ferrari-branded clothing. They took a picture together after Mr. Ferrari got Hanks to his destination, but their interaction continued in a surprising way. Mr. Ferrari somehow wound up continually picking up and driving people who either knew Hanks or had worked with him, so the cabbie would tell them, Tell Mr. Hanks that Mr. Ferrari says hello.

The result? Word got back to Hanks, who responded with an invite to come see his Broadway play. Mr. Ferrari got two tickets and a backstage pass.

And it was only a year ago that Hanks found the lost I.D. of a Fordham University student, then tweeted out that hed arrange to have it returned to her. After tons of responses and retweets, the student named Lauren was alerted by one of her professors about her Internet fame.

Lauren! I found your Student ID in the park. If you still need it my office will get to you. Hanx. pic.twitter.com/Ee9kK4V4qf  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) October 6, 2015

And this wasnt even Hankss only act of kindness last year. In March 2015, he helped some Girl Scouts sell cookies in Los Altos, Calif.

@tomhanks and Thank you for supporting our local girl scouts #thanxhanx pic.twitter.com/VisfPeaI97  ginny rosenthal (@ginnyrosenthal) March 4, 2015

We cant wait to see where he pops up next. Thanks, Hanx!




Trump won the first debate. I know you want to believe the Democratic surrogates who say Hillary trounced Trump. Yes, Hillary Clinton is a more coherent speaker. She certainly offered a clearer, more specific and more rational picture as to why her plans and experience would make her a better president. He brought up many ideas of what is wrong with the country and what needs to be changed but offered no precision as to why those things are wrong or how to fix them. He misrepresented NAFTA and crime statistics. He was evasive about his taxes. She would have won on points if that was how these things were scored. But they're not.

All Trump needed in order to post a "W" was to not seem too much like Trump. Unless I missed it, he didn't use the "C" word, goose-step across the stage yelling "Sieg Heil" or lie too obviouslyactually, strike the last one, he did lie, but, as his going-in poll numbers showed, he could get away with that. And, based on the first debate, I'm sure the next round of polls will show a continued up trend for the Republican nominee - most recent polls show Trump within the margin of error or ahead.

Read more: Gavin Polone: Sorry, Hollywood, I Can't Be Shamed Into Voting for Hillary Clinton

Trump's objective wasn't to get poorly educated whites to vote for him. He's got them. And he has no chance at picking up a meaningful number of black or Latino voters. Trump needs to focus on the 8 percent of the electorate who are undecided. From all that I have read, many of those undecided voters are political moderates who are moved by Trump's anti-trade, pro-security rhetoric but can't abide by his boorish incivility. On that level, Trump interrupted Hillary too much but he didn't screw up as one might have expected.

As the whiners whine all over social media, I am just a little bit happy about how such an awful candidate is succeeding in this campaign because it might just make things better in the long run. You see, in this country, we rarely, if ever, take action to fix things that are obviously broken until a tragedy occurs. We didn't get serious about going after Bin Laden, even though he was involved in major attacks against the U.S. in Yemen, Kenya and Tanzania, until 9/11; we won't get a highway bill passed until a bridge collapses and kills a lot of people (The American Society of Civil Engineers rates the state of our infrastructure at a D+) and we won't change the woeful way we nominate a candidate for president until we suffer the prospect of an inept, lying demagogue actually becoming our Head of State.

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Read more: Gavin Polone: How Studios' Phony Accounting Screws Everyone (Including Themselves)

Think about it, how is it that the only two candidates that are presented to the public in any kind of major way are from parties to which a plurality of the people have decided not to join? More American voters identify as independents, not Democrats or Republicans.

Even if you are a staunch Republican, can you really be happy with a candidate who has routinely embarrassed the party, thereby limiting its ability to hold onto its House and Senate majorities, with racist statements and outrageous behavior like his encouraging Russian hackers to steal the property of his opponent?

And if you are a Hillary lover, and you reject the fact that a majority of people rate her as unfavorable, can you really say she is the best candidate for your party, given that SHE IS NECK AND NECK WITH DONALD F------ TRUMP?

To end up with better choices, rules governing the election process need to change. First, we need to change the laws that permit huge money to be contributed to candidates. As it Is now, candidates can only be nominated by allowing themselves to be bought by special interests or because they are super rich and can pay for a campaign themselves. Campaign finance reform would open up the process to those who want to maintain the integrity of their decision-making and protect us from unqualified but affluent candidates buying their way in. It may take a constitutional amendment to end the ability of special interests to fund candidates, or billionaires to fund themselves, but the constitution has been changed 17 times before and should be again. What issue could have a more positive impact on our government than limiting the power of money in politics?

Read more: Hollywood's Over-40 Female Dating Hell: Gavin Polone Searches for Solutions (Guest Column)

Further, the Democratic party needs to remove its rules that offer 16 percent of its delegates to the party elites, who naturally will support other party elites, before the campaign even starts. Yes, Hillary won more of the popular vote than Bernie Sanders, but there is no way you can claim his still-remarkable performance wasn't weighed down from day one by the constant reporting that he was behind Clinton by a seemingly insurmountable margin. And for that reason, many young voters who would have voted Democratic have turned to Jill Stein and Gary Johnson in record numbers, having been disillusioned by the Democratic Party's nomination process (In 2012, Stein received 0.36 percent of the vote and Johnson 1 percent; they are now polling at about 2.5 percent and 8 percent respectively).

Finally, greater access to the process needs to be granted to more parties. The process of getting on the ballots of all 50 states is too expensive. To run a national campaign, it takes a large organization and significant funds. Nobody wants to donate their money nor their time to a party that can't possibly win, so, to raise both, it is essential that a would-be candidate have access to all state ballots and the process to get that access should be made easier and cheaper. It is also important that an up-and-coming party and its candidate be included in the presidential debates. The Presidential Debate Commission is controlled by the Democratic and Republican parties and they set the bar too high for inclusion, at having to average 15 percent in national polling. Why that number? Probably because they're protecting their duopoly. Why not a 5 percent limit? We've all seen debates with four, five or more candidates, and they work. Maybe the barrier could be raised with each subsequent debate, giving lesser-funded and -known candidates at least a chance to prove themselves, gain support and make it to the finish line.

In short, the lesson from this first debate is that if we don't want to be worried about someone like Donald Trump getting elected to the most powerful position in the world, we need to support change in the system that has given us these two weak presidential candidates.

Gavin Polone is a producer-director.

Read more: Gavin Polone: How TV's Golden Age Is One Big Hallucination (Guest Column)
The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or graduate school search.

Between application essays, letters of recommendation and the SAT or ACT, applying to college can seem daunting. But applicants are usually far from alone in the process.

Of the 1,254 ranked schools that submitted these data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the eight that received the highest number of applications for fall 2015 were public universities located in the Golden State. The University of California--Los Angeles had the most applicants for the third consecutive year.

[Learn more about applying to college.]

Boston University was once again among the 10 schools that received the most applications, and New York University is the only school that's new to the list, replacing the University of Southern California, which received 51,924 applications.

Among the 10 schools on the list, the average number of applicants was 68,325 -- significantly higher than the average among all the ranked colleges that submitted these data at 7,432.

Though the applicant pools at these colleges are large, none of them are among the top 10 colleges with the lowest acceptance rates or highest undergraduate enrollment for fall 2015, U.S. News data show.

[Explore college admissions trends at top National Universities in four graphs.]

Among the schools falling on the opposite end of the spectrum is Welch College in Tennessee, which received just 115 applications last fall.

Below are the 10 schools with the highest number of applicants for fall 2015. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

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Don't see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News College Compass to find application data, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed more than 1,800 colleges and universities for our 2016 survey of undergraduate programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Colleges rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data come from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News' rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The application data above are correct as of Sept. 27, 2016.

Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.


From Cosmopolitan

Despite being the Democratic Partys most loyal voter demographic, black women rarely emerge as a significant constituency when political parties draft their platforms. Instead, we are often treated as though reforms that help all women or all African Americans will automatically benefit us too. Far less attention is paid to the ways that reforms that aim to help women or African Americans frequently exclude black women, whose lives exist at the intersection of these two identities. This intersectional conundrum also affects other women of color who struggle with poverty or citizenship status in addition to being women. As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepare for their first presidential debate Monday evening, they should be prepared to make the case to women of color in general, and black women in particular, for their support. Here are 10 issues that are of concern to women of color in the 2016 election.



1. Protecting reproductive rights. Donald Trump promised earlier this month that he would wage a full-scale assault on womens right to choose whether to keep or terminate a pregnancy. In addition to defunding Planned Parenthood, Trump intends to nominate pro-life Supreme Court justices, and to make the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortion, permanent. The harrowing case of Purvi Patel in Indiana, who was initially convicted for feticide after taking abortion-inducing drugs, reaffirms the importance of reproductive justice for women of color. The expansion of laws that criminalize pregnant women like Patel are part of a larger assault on reproductive rights that includes fervent attempts by those on the right to impede womens right to abortion services. Though Patels conviction was overturned and she was released from jail, Trumps policies would further criminalize abortion, putting women of color who disproportionately need and use abortion services at high risk for harassment by authorities and jail time. Black women are five times as likely to have abortions as white women, and Latina women are twice as likely as white women to have them. Reproductive rights matter to women of color. The right to make decisions about reproductive health should continue to lie with a woman and her doctor.

2. Combating wage inequality. A new report out this month suggests that even though wages for white and black families rose respectively at rates of 4.4 percent and 4.1 percent in 2015, there has been an extreme widening of the wage gap among whites and blacks, that impacts black womens prospects most severely. In particular, black women who have recently entered the workforce have seen their wages fall the most over the last 15 years as compared with their peers. It is not enough to try to narrow the gap between white women and white men. These candidates must address the severe deficits that exist between women. For Hillary Clinton in particular, who enjoys a large swath of support from black women, a targeted plan to raise black womens wages would do much to galvanize a key demographic of her supporters. If Trump cares about having black womens support, he too should offer a set of policies that will address the wage gap. Another way to support black women in the workforce is to support policies and appoint judges that wont make it legal to fire black women based on the way they wear their hair.

3. Significantly reducing deportations. President Barack Obama has deported more people than any other president in history. Though many of us are horrified by Donald Trumps claims that he would ban Muslims from entering the country and build a wall on our Southern border, it is the current Democratic president who has been presiding over an alarming increase in deportations that do great harm to families of color, including not only Latino families but black families as well. Rather than offering bluster to voters about banning immigrants from our shores as Trump has done, these candidates need to offer a solid, detailed plan for a pathway to citizenship and an end to breaking up families out of a sense of fear or political expediency. For instance, Hillary Clinton should commit to reducing the number of deportations by the current administration, a move that would put her on solid footing with women of color voters, and mark an important and critical departure from President Obama. Trumps incendiary rhetoric about immigrants means hes pretty hopeless on this point, but it is not enough for Clinton to run merely as the anti-Trump on this issue.

4. Ending mass incarceration. Black and Latina women are officially the fastest-growing incarcerated population. While the current conversation about ending mass incarceration has started to lead to a reduction in the number of men behind bars, no such decreases are detectable among the womens prison population. Most women who enter jails are there for nonviolent crimes and have past histories of sexual violence, mental illness, and addiction. They become even more vulnerable to sexual assault in prison. Sending men back home to their families is an important first step in reversing the damage done under Bill Clintons tough-on-crime policies in the 1990s. But figuring out ways to reduce sexual violence and to treat addiction in black and brown communities as a public health crisis in the same way it is treated in white communities would necessarily reduce the prison population. These candidates should commit to supporting the Justice Departments recent policy of not using private prisons, which create a financial incentive for local communities to keep a steady stream of prisoners incarcerated. Ending the use of the money bail system and additional fees for failure to pay fines on time would also significantly reduce the amount of contact that black women (and black communities) more broadly have with courts and jails.

5. Reforming local police forces. Women of color want the continued killing of black and Latino men, women, and children by the police to be stopped. Over-policing makes communities of color unsafe and frequently leads, for example, to the murder of black men like Keith Scott in Charlotte whose wife begged in vain for officers not to shoot her husband. Black women want candidates who will commit to using robust federal oversight to compel local police forces to stop using excessive force and to stop murdering black citizens. To be clear, reforming police forces is not enough. Racial bias is so ingrained that reform is wholly insufficient for reducing the killing of black and Latino citizens in the long run. Federal funding for trainings to counteract implicit bias among police officers is an important step in de-escalating encounters between police and the citizens of color whom they often falsely conclude are a threat. We need candidates who will commit to policies that return the staffing and oversight of local police forces to the community. Police forces should be demilitarized, and the use of heavily armed teams of officers to serve warrants for non-violent crimes should be banned. These practices contributed to the killing of Korryn Gaines and the shooting of her 5-year-old son in Baltimore this summer. Militarized police forces terrorize communities of color like Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charlotte, bringing out tanks and using tear gas on (mostly) peaceful protestors. This is no way for citizens to be treated, and it only increases hostility and distrust that people of color have for police officers. It would also be quite powerful if each candidate affirmed that Black Lives Matter during the debate, without any equivocation.

6. Stopping privatization of public education. Though we frequently talk about K-12 schooling and high education as separate issues, ending privatization of schools affects both facets of education. Most children of color are educated in public schools. However, the rise of the charter school movement has diverted funds away from traditional public schools. The charter movement promised to offer better choices to parents of color worried about their children attending bad public schools, but in most cases, these schools have not lived up to the hype - 75 percent of these schools show little to no improvement over existing public schools. This means children of color are not saved by charter schools, and those who remain in traditional public schools are poorly educated but work from even less funds than they had before, because of how charter schools dip into an already meager pot of public funds. Moreover, the continued defunding of public colleges at the state level is the cause of the growing student loan debt problem and a decline in the number of black and Hispanic students who enroll. Access to a free public school education and an affordable college education are critical pathways into the American middle class, and black women enroll in college at higher rates than any other group. But black women also become prey of the for-profit college model, which leaves them strapped with debt and often unable to get jobs. Candidates should commit to providing incentives for state governments to fund higher education, as Hillary Clinton has done, and to federal regulation of for-profit colleges.

7. Ending the school-to-prison pipeline. Last year, a 16-year-old black girl was violently dragged from her desk and thrown across the room by a school resource/police officer for having her cellphone out during class. She and a classmate who stood up for her were both arrested and charged with disturbing school. The violent policing and even handcuffing of black children in schools are a result of the increasing presence of police and the decreasing presence of trained mental health and school counselors who are better trained to address childrens learning and behavioral needs. Because black girls are suspended nationally six times more than their white counterparts, candidates education plans should provide incentives for schools to ban use of suspensions and expulsions in elementary schools and incentivize more progressive behavioral management techniques; such incentives will go a long way toward reducing black girls encounters with the criminal justice system because they are having a bad day at school.

8. Funding affordable child care. Both candidates have plans to curtail the rising costs of child care for families. Trump proposes to let parents write off even more of their child care expenses under the earned income tax credit. Clinton promises to use taxes and government subsidies to reduce the cost of child care to no more than 10 percent of a familys annual income. But because black and Latina women are often seen as needing too much public assistance, Hillary Clintons plan raises the question of whether she is simply handing out more government entitlements, and she will have to address how she would be able to get her plan through a bipartisan Congress. Trump will have to address whether a reduction in tax liability really serves underprivileged communities of color in the long run, since decreasing tax liability (and therefore tax revenue) is used by conservatives as a corrective to the policies of what they call tax-and-spend liberals, which typically are designed to aid struggling American families, including families of color.

9. Securing affordable housing. Black womens struggle to secure affordable housing is well-documented. As the Washington Post reported in 2014, poor black men are locked up, while poor black women are frequently evicted and locked out of affordable housing. In addition to offering federal funding for increased mixed income developments, candidates should also secure affordable housing by regulating banks that give out subprime loans to black families with decent credit. The subprime lending crisis did untold amounts of harm to black women and their families, who were more likely even than black men to be given subprime loans for their housing. The housing crisis helped explode an already burgeoning racial wealth gap. Increasing rates of gentrification in urban areas also push black women at both working-class and middle-class wages and those with large families out of housing that is close to reliable public transit and city services.

10. Reducing access to guns. In 2014, a black woman was killed by a man once every 21 hours; most frequently, his weapon of choice was a gun. The tragic effects of gun crime in black communities are well documented if you consider a case like Chicago, but less attention is paid to the connections between gun violence and domestic violence. Men frequently terrorize their female intimate partners through access to guns. We can be confident that Donald Trump probably will not offer significant solutions on guns, since he has suggested that Second Amendment people might in fact assassinate Hillary Clinton, should she be elected. Though he denied that his comments were meant to refer to an assassination attempt, Trumps remarks reinforce the vulnerability that women face in a gun culture rife with toxic masculinity. While gun control policies like background checks and the banning of assault weapons would help all Americans, they would help black women in particular who are killed disproportionately in acts of domestic violence and violence at the hands of black men with guns. Rather than seeing this frame as pathologizing black people, candidates should recognize that policies that address the struggles of women and children of color frequently make life better for all Americans.

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Carolyn Everson Facebook 9249

Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of advertising today.

1. Facebook says it should've gone public right away about its mistake in measuring video. "We should have just said in public that we found this error a month ago and made the correction, and not just called our clients and agencies," Facebook ad boss Carolyn Everson told Advertising Week New York.

2. Disney is thinking about bidding for Twitter. Disney is reported to be working with an unspecified financial adviser to evaluate a potential bid for Twitter, according to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.

3. Twitter needs to sell now or risk becoming another Yahoo. Business Insider writer Steve Kovach blogs on reports that the social network is weighing up a sale.

4. A former Motorola exec is behind Snapchat's Spectacles. Former Motorola executive Seshadri Tangutur is overseeing the Snapchat Spectacles product.

5. Google might release a new laptop and tablet that run on a completely new operating system. The tech giant is working on a new "Andromeda" operating system, which will merge aspects of Chrome OS into Android.

6. 1 in 3 people check their smartphones in the middle of the night. Consultancy firm Deloitte found that people check their phone to do everything from checking the time to reading messages and the news.

7. A Netflix exec explains the simple but painful process that allows the company to thrive. Neil Hunt, chief product officer of Netflix, said one of the biggest mistakes companies make is listening to their customers, because "customers are poor at knowing what they need."

8. A new law forces IMDb to remove actors' ages if they ask. The law is designed to stop age discrimination within the movie industry.

9. AppLovin is to be acquired by a Chinese investor for $1.4 billion. Private equity firm Orient Hontai Capita will close a deal for the San Francisco-based tech startup before the end of the year, Fortune reports.

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10. Channel 4 wants to launch "The Great British Bake Off" in 2017. The BBC has a one-year holdback in its "Bake Off" contract, which bans a rival broadcaster from airing the show next year.

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Twitter blew up after Mondays presidential debate, with people from all sides of the political spectrum responding to both candidates comments and appearance throughout the evening.

Rosie ODonnell, writing after Donald Trump doubled down on his past comments about her during the debate, let the Republican nominee have it all-caps style in response to a person who said she got burned so hard.

HE WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT  @WeinerAnne  Rosie (@Rosie) September 27, 2016

Politicians released statements reacting to the debate, including Ted Cruz, who endorsed Trump for President last week despite a deep divide between the two men.

We need to unite to defend freedom and restore the Constitution #Debates2016 https://t.co/NrxKXW80mT  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 27, 2016

House Speaker Paul Ryan released a statement following the debate, and said, Hillary Clinton clearly represents the past--and a third term of Barack Obamas progressive policies.

Paul Ryan releases statement on the #debate, saying Americans have a "clear choice" in November pic.twitter.com/Ck1XnvwBdx  Rebecca Shabad (@RebeccaShabad) September 27, 2016

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer came out siding with Clinton, and wrote that Trump seemed bored and tired. Low energy, thirsty and cranky--the low energy dig Trump used for Jeb Bush against him.

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He seemed bored and tired. Low energy, thirsty and cranky. She was high energy, knowledgeable and yes, likable.  Barbara Boxer (@BarbaraBoxer) September 27, 2016

Several celebrities cheered Clinton on.

Hillary Clinton showed us, for the millionth time, just how qualified she is for this job. Sleep well knowing a remarkable woman is ready.  Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 27, 2016

Other people took the chance to slam Trumps debate performance.

I wrote Law & Order. The only role Donald Trump could have in Law & Order is as a rich bastard suspected of killing his wife.  David Slack (@slack2thefuture) September 27, 2016

Hillary Clinton belongs in the White House. Donald Trump belongs on my show.  Jerry Springer (@jerryspringer) September 27, 2016

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?  Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

I need a long shower. #Debates2016  Rashida Jones (@iamrashidajones) September 27, 2016

I dunno, you guysbut it kinda feels like both teams lost tonight. I don't think this is the game America deserves.#MondayNightFootball  Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) September 27, 2016

See original article on Fortune.com

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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
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Tokai" or the "Company") (TKAI). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between June 24, 2015 and July 25, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the September 30, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of Tokai during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case yet. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

The complaint alleges that during the Class Period, Tokai made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: there were significant structural problems with the trial design for its Phase 3 galeterone study, ARMOR3-SV; that ARMOR3-SV was unlikely to succeed in meeting its primary endpoint; the commercialization of galeterone was less likely than investors were led to believe; and as a result of the above, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading at all relevant times.

If you want to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contacts

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
Many investors like to look for value in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for value investors in the near term.

This method discovered several great candidates for value-oriented investors, but today lets focus on Reinsurance Group of America Inc. RGA as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous reasons why this is the case, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for RGAs status as a solid value stock below:

Price to Forward Sales for Reinsurance Group of America

One of the most underrated ratios for value investors is the price/forward sales metric. This ratio shows investors how much they are paying for each dollar of revenues generated. In other words, a lower number is better here while a price to sales ratio of 1 means that you are paying one dollar for each dollar in sales.

With a P/S ratio of 0.61, RGA investors are paying 61 cents in stock price for each dollar of revenue generated by the company. Compare this to the industry average of 0.71, and it is safe to say that RGA is undervalued compared to many of its peers on this important metric.

REINSURANCE GRP PS Ratio (TTM)

REINSURANCE GRP PS Ratio (TTM) | REINSURANCE GRP Quote

Price/Cash Flow for Reinsurance Group of America Stock

An often overlooked ratio that can still be a great indicator of value is the price/cash flow metric. This reading is preferred by some since it avoids amortization and depreciation concerns and can give a more accurate picture of the financial health in a business.

The P/CF ratio for RGA comes in at 3.30, and since investors are generally looking for a reading under 20 here, this is pretty good news. Meanwhile, we should also point out that the industry average for this metric is 3.77, so Reinsurance Group of America Stock has its peers beat in this regard too.

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RGA Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction

The solid value ratios outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, but we should also note that the earnings estimate revisions have been trending in a positive direction as well. Analysts who follow RGA stock have been raising their estimates for the company lately, meaning that the EPS picture is looking a bit more favorably for Reinsurance Group of America Stock now.

Over the past 60 days, 2 earnings estimates have gone higher compared to none lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that 1 estimate has move upwards with no downward revision for the next year time frame too. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as 60 days ago RGA was expected to post earnings of $9.45 per share for the full year though today it looks to have EPS of $9.55 for the full year.

Bottom Line

For the reasons detailed above, investors shouldnt be surprised to read that we have RGA as a stock with a Value Score of A and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

So if you are a value investor, definitely keep RGA on your short list as this looks to be a stock that is very well-positioned for gains in the near term.

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donald trump debate

On the night of September 26, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton engaged in the first presidential debate  and it was full of insults and meandering statements.

Trump in particular spoke with little composure. Rather than keeping the focus on policy, Trump interrupted his opponent about 40 times and criticized Clinton's looks and "stamina."

Trump's rhetoric in the latest debate isn't an anomaly, according to Brad Hayes, an MIT scientist who programmed a Twitter bot to sound like the candidate. Called DeepDrumpf, it uses an artificial-intelligence algorithm based on Trump's language in hundreds of hours of debate transcripts.

Hayes told Business Insider he has learned a lot over the last few months about how Trump talks. Here's how he describes Trump's language, which differs dramatically from that of past presidential nominees.

He uses simple language.

Trump often uses short, imperative sentences, Hayes says.

And according to a recent linguistic study, his speech rests at about a fourth-grade level.

The biggest risk to the world, is me, believe it or not.  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) March 25, 2016

This is partly why Hayes in March made a bot that mimics Trump instead of other presidential candidates. Trump's choice of words, which usually have few syllables, was the easiest to model.

"The way he speaks ... lends itself to this kind of statistical modeling because there doesn't have to be a lot of continuity across sentences to stay true to the source," Hayes said.

End, end Common Core. Rebuild the country's infrastructure. Have a gun on every table.  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) March 19, 2016

He defers to trusted friends and colleagues.

Trump, whose campaign is largely built on his reputation as a businessman, will often defer debate answers to his network of confidantes, Hayes says.

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This lack of detail in his debate responses (and his simpler language) has only helped his campaign, Hayes says.

I will create jobs by bringing back horrible labor and living conditions. I can make our country so rich again. @BJCalvillo #debates  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) September 27, 2016

"His debate responses ... have been remarkably light on specifics about how he intends to accomplish his goals  he mostly just reiterates them," Hayes said. "He uses lots of anecdotes when pressed for these details, recalling stories involving partners or colleagues."

During the presidential debate, for example, moderator Lester Holt asked about Trump's position on the war in Iraq. Trump then told Americans to "call Sean Hannity," a Fox News host who has interviewed Trump multiple times, who would verify that Trump didn't support the Iraq War.

I'm going to bring money in, and save it. I don't want it. After I'm called by friends of mine I said I disavow, we're giving them subsidies  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) March 18, 2016

He constantly insults his opponents.

According to a The New York Times analysis, Trump's language is darker and more violent than America's past five presidents. It found that over the course of one week in December 2015, Trump called his political opponents "stupid" at least 30 times.

What you've seen in the past might be small potatoes compared to what happens. How stupid are these politicians to allow this to happen?  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) March 14, 2016

"He has absolutely no problems with insulting people who he disagrees with," Hayes said.

Hayes needs to screen everything DeepDrumpf tweets because it often wants to post threatening messages, he says. The bot generates a block of text every hour, and Hayes saves a backlog of potential tweets.

.@realDonaldTrump ISIS is the bad ones. They want to congratulate Ted Cruz on that win. We're not going to let it happen.  DeepDrumpf (@DeepDrumpf) March 28, 2016

Trump frequently mentions ISIS and shows outrage in his speeches, verbal habits that DeepDrumpf has also picked up on.

"As I obviously don't want the bot to threaten anyone, I act as a filter between it and the outside world  at least until I have a better mechanism in place to guarantee that what comes out is alright," he said.

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Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Baltimore, T. Rowe Price is a global investment management organization that manages worth $776.6 billion assets (as of June 30, 2016). The company prides itself in having more than 6,000 employees, including 489 investment professionals across the world. Also, T. Rowe Price claims that more than 85% of its mutual funds carry a lower expense ratio than their respective categories.

This renowned publicly owned investment management firm offers a variety of mutual funds, sub-advisory services and separate account management for individual and institutional investors, retirement plans and financial intermediaries. The company operates worldwide from 16 offices in the U.S., England, Argentina, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. Recently, in Fortune Magazines WORLDS MOST ADMIRED COMPANIES 2016 list, T. Rowe held the third rank.

Below we share with you four top-rated T. Rowe Price mutual funds. Each has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and is expected to outperform its peers in the future. Investors can click here to see the complete list of T. Rowe Price funds.

T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation PRWCX invests a minimum of half of its assets in stocks. The rest of its assets are normally invested in other securities including convertible securities, debt securities issued by both government and corporate bodies, and bank loans. PRWCX may also invest nearly 25% of its assets in securities issued in foreign countries. T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation has a three-year annualized return of 10.5%.

PRWCX has an expense ratio of 0.70% as compared to the category average of 0.98%.

T. Rowe Price Growth & Income PRGIX seeks long-term growth of capital and income. PRGIX uses bottom-up analysis to invest in both growth and value stocks of companies. To select growth stocks, the fund focuses on companies that are expected to provide above-average growth. T. Rowe Price Growth & Income has a three-year annualized return of 11.1%.

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Jeffrey Rottinghaus is the fund manager of PRGIX since Jun 01, 2015.

T. Rowe Price International Bond RPIBX invests the lions share of its assets in foreign bonds. RPIBX also invests more than 65% of its assets in investment-grade foreign bonds. The fund seeks appreciation of capital and income. RPIBX is a non-diversified mutual fund. T. Rowe Price International Bond has a three-year annualized return of 1%.

RPIBX has an expense ratio of 0.83% as compared to the category average of 0.94%.

T. Rowe Price Japan PRJPX seeks capital appreciation for the long run by investing the majority of its assets in securities of companies which are based in Japan. PRJPX invests in a variety of Japanese companies and industries, irrespective of their size. T. Rowe Price Japan has a three-year annualized return of 7.6%.

As of June 2016, PRJPX held 76 issues, with 3.87% of its assets invested in Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all T. Rowe Price mutual funds, investors can click here to see the complete list of T. Rowe Price funds.

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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton covered a lot of ground in their first debate, but there were several foreign policy issues that deserve a closer look. On these questions, the next president will have some hard choices to make.

1. Trade

This is an issue where Trump forcefully pressed his case. He expressed disgust for both the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in force for the past 20 years, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Congress has yet to ratify. Clinton defended both her early-stage support for TPP and her current opposition to the deal as written. This election season has generated a sharp shift in the U.S. on trade policy at the highest levels. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders galvanized his partys grassroots opposition to trade deals. More strikingly, Trumps outspoken opposition to NAFTA and TPP has transformed large segments of the once pro-trade Republican Party into populist trade skeptics. Despite that, 59 percent of Americans say that international trade is good for the U.S. economy, and 57 percent say its good for U.S. companies.

Read More: The Presidential Debate Was a Battle of the Sexes

Trump says he does not oppose trade; just the poorly negotiated deals of the past. Clinton has hinted that TPP can still be fixed, though persuading Congress and the 11 TPP partner countries that her fixes make for a good deal will be a formidable challenge. TPP is unlikely to pass Congress on Barack Obamas watch. The next president will have to make a firm decision on whether TPP and other deals under negotiation will create more jobs than they costand whether trade offers political and security benefits as well as economic gains.

(Washington Post)

2. ISIS

Among the most important questions in last nights debate: Tell us specifically how you would prevent homegrown attacks by American citizens. Its no surprise that ISIS has become a central campaign issue, but most of the commentary from Trump and Clinton has focused on defeating ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria. Thats an important part of any counter-terrorism strategy, but it doesnt solve the problem of ISIS influence on those living inside the United Statesas well as countries in the Middle East, Europe,and Southeast Asia at much higher risk of attack. A study released by the George Washington Universitys Program of Extremism in December 2015 identified at least 300 Americans with ISIS-sympathies on social media. As Orlando showed, it only takes one disturbed person to cause mayhem.

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Clinton raised two important points. The next president will have to work with the governments of Muslim countries and Muslim communities inside the United States to give law enforcement its best chance of finding homegrown terrorists before they act. And efforts to defeat ISIS in cyber space are enormously important. But Trump is right that while the Obama administration is focused on doing these things, ISIS attacks continue. Clinton may have the right answer, but the threat posed by ISIS and other groups can never be completely eradicated. The next president will have to reckon with the military, intelligence and law enforcement challenges all at once.

(CNN)

Read More: These 5 Facts Explain the Biggest Political Risks Facing Europe

3. Nuclear Weapons

Last nights debate demonstrated that the U.S.-led nuclear deal with Iran remains a hot political topic. Clinton probably scored points by forcing Trump to defend comments that it will be cheaper for the U.S. if Japan, South Korea, and even Saudi Arabia get their own nuclear weapons. But the next president will probably have to make some tough choices on North Korea, which just conducted its fifth-ever nuclear test a couple weeks ago and is inching closer to developing long-range nuclear weapons. Clinton didnt mention that country at all. Trump mentioned it only to urge China to go into North Korea and to complain that Iran isnt using its influence in Pyongyang to help.

President Clinton or Trump will face a problem that George W. Bush didnt have in Iraq: North Korea may take action that forces a military response, and it can defend itself with a nuclear capacity and one of the worlds largest standing armies. In the case of conflict or an implosion of the North Korean regime, coordination with China will be crucial to safely secure North Koreas nuclear weapons. North Korea is not a problem that can solved with firepower and a strong will alone. The next president will also need first-rate intelligence gathering, patience, discipline, and diplomatic skill.

(Arms Control Association)

Read More: These 5 Facts Explain Angela Merkels Tough 2016and Tougher 2017

4. Russia

Most of last nights Russia discussion centered on Clintons charge that Russians are hacking U.S. websites, including the Democratic National Committee, compromising U.S. national security and attempting to sabotage the election. Trump, who has taken criticism from Democrats for praise of Vladimir Putins leadership (leadership that has at least endeared him to 82 percent of the Russian population), shrugged off the accusationsthough he later warned that Russia has a newer [nuclear] capability than we do. Yet, the evenings only other mention of Russia highlights an important challenge. Clinton bragged that she had built a coalition that included Russia and China to impose the toughest sanctions on Iran.

The next president will have to work with Russia, particularly on the Middle East, even as it discourages Russian adventurism among NATO member-states along Russias border. One example: there is no solution on Syria that doesnt include Russia. And in determining how far to extend sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, President Clinton or Trump will have to decide how Washington can win a conflict that Moscow cares much more about.

(AP)

5. China

Trump spent much of last nights debate warning that China is taking advantage of soft-headed American leadership to manipulate the value of its currency and secure deals that are unfair to American workers. Clinton barely mentioned China. But this country, well on its way to becoming the worlds largest economy, may provide the next president with his/her greatest foreign policy challenge. The United States and China are natural rivals with very different political and economic values and systems. Yet, there is also a deep interdependence, a mutually assured economic destruction, that did not exist between the U.S. and USSR. China was Americas largest goods trading partner last year with a trade flow of $660 billion. TPP and other pending trade and investment deals that do and do not include China will highlight both the risks and the opportunities in relations between the worlds two most powerful countries. Creating and maintaining a balance between cooperation and competition as surprises arise and circumstances change will provide an historic test for the next president.

(US Trade Representative)

***

Important as they are, these issues wont decide the election. Voters are more likely to choose based on personal ideology and their responses to the candidates personal qualities. But these foreign policy challenges will go a long way toward determining whether the next president will succeed.
Kubo and the Two Strings opened in cinemas earlier this month, and has already been unanimously heralded as one of the most beautiful stop motion movies of all time.

With touching storyline and memorable characters, the movie has also garnered incredibly positive reviews by critics and moviegoers alike. The film tells the story of Kubo, who goes on an adventure to save his hometown and unravel the mystery behind his fathers disappearance.

Kubo battles gods and monsters, and does all this with the aid of his magical two-stringed shamisen.

In Japanese culture and history, the shamisen is a typically three-stringed lute, and is a poignant part of the countrys ancient mythology. Similarly throughout Asia, there have been a vast array of mythological objects that have piqued our interests for centuries.



Cintamani Stone



Photo: Sirius Star

The Cintamani Stone is a legendary artefact which has roots in Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

Said to be the Asian equivalent of the western Philosophers Stone and Holy Grail, the Cintamani Stone is believed to have first fell from the heavens, along with three other mythical relics.

According to the legend, the Stone possesses extraordinary power to grant wishes, manifest great treasures, cure diseases, and even gifts immortality.

The Stone (and different versions of its origin story) were also heavily featured in modern pop culture pieces, such as Dragon Ball and popular video game Uncharted 2.

Heres another fun fact: Balis mountainous region of Kintamani was actually named after the Cintamani Stone!

It is said that the Stone now resides in the mystical, hidden city of Shambala, which is theoretically located somewhere in the vicinity of Bali and the Philippines.

Buddha Tooth Relic



Photo: Flickr

When the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha, passed away in 543 BC, his body was placed in a sandalwood pyre as a final rite of passage.

It was there after the cremation, according to Sri Lankan legends, that one of his disciples came across Buddhas left canine tooth amid the ashes.

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The tooth relic was handed over to the royal family for safekeeping and veneration.

It was also believed that whoever held the tooth in his possession had the inherent and divine right to rule.

Today, several monasteries and temples across the world (in in China, Japan, Taiwan, and even California, for example) are reputedly safeguarding the artefact.

One such place closer to home is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Singapore, where the relic is on display for public viewing.

Kusanagi



An artists impression of the Kusanagi (left), alongside two other Japanese imperial regalia.

Japanese legends speak of a legendary sword, the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which is purportedly one of the three sacred imperial treasures of Japan.

Ancient folklore depicts the Kusangi being extracted from the tail of a terrifying eight-headed serpent, which was subdued by the exiled god Susanoo.

The Kusangi is also dubbed the Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven and Grass-Cutting Sword, and was bestowed upon the imperial family by deities centuries ago.

Today the sword is allegedly safeguarded at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, but no one alive has been able to verify its existence.

The Shinto priests who dwell in the sanctuary keep the relic under a strict watch, refusing entry to any visitors, so much so that not even the Emperor of Japan has seen the relic.

During the Edo period, a handful of priests supposedly laid eyes on the sword while performing repair works at the shrine.

However, they were promptly banished from the temple and all but one died of mysterious causes soon after.

Keris Taming Sari



The Keris Taming Sari, pictured third from left in this 1907 photo amidst other Perak royal regalia.

Ask any Malaysian about their countrys greatest warrior, and they will immediately tell you his name: Hang Tuah.

This legendary warrior lived in Malacca in the late 15th century, and won a slew of epic battles with the help of his one chosen weapon - the Keris Taming Sari.

A keris is a traditional Malay dagger, typically used as a weapon or for ceremonial purposes.

What sets the famous Keris Taming Sari apart was that it was supposedly made up of 21 different metals, and blessed with magical powers that would make its user invincible.

Hang Tuahs mysterious disappearance in the latter part of his life led to rumours that he had flung the keris into the depths of the Malacca river, stating that he would return once the keris reappeared.

The truth, however, was that the dagger changed hands multiple times over the centuries, and now rests peacefully in the home of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.

Dropa Stones



Photo: ZME Science

This last item on the list is one from relatively modern times.

During an excavation of Chinese caves in 1938, archaeologists discovered peculiar stone disks hidden beneath layers of dust and dirt - 716 disks in total, to be exact.

Each of these disks bore a striking resemblance to what is known today as a phonograph (or vinyl record).

The only catch: these disks were more than 12,000 years old, and definitely were not records (which were only invented in the late 1800s).

Close examination of the records showed tiny hieroglyphics on the surface of the stone disks, which when translated expressed amazing stories of spaceships and an extraterrestrial race, the Dropa, who crash landed on earth.

Sounds like a tall tale? No one knows for sure as the existence of these stones were never properly verified, and some believe the entire story is merely a big hoax.
In some ways, its easier to leave the European Union than your marriage if you live in England. Brexit may have only required the ticking of a box, but couples in England still must articulate a coherent reason for exiting their marriage (Mexit?). Thats because in England (and Wales and Northern Ireland), unlike every state in the U.S., there is no law permitting no-fault divorce, and so seeking a divorce in the Land of Hope and Glory  in the absence of accepted grounds like abandonment or adultery  can be an exercise in gloriously creative grievance airing.

Fortunately, the notoriously stiff-upper-lipped English have learned to flap their gums quite a bit in divorce petitions, which have become a treasure trove of petty accusations and strange excuses, from the complaints about wives who spitefully and repeatedly serve tuna fish casserole or who without justification flirt with any builder or tradesman, to those about husbands with unusual body odor or who commandeer the remote control, endlessly flicking through channels and failing to stop at any channel requested by the petitioner.

Truly bizarre justifications for divorce, however, do not end with the creativity of the irreconcilably aggrieved English; many can be found in the U.S. as well  some written into law and some merely into legend.

Some grounds for divorce are even more bizarre.

One of the beauties of federalism in the U.S. is a patchwork quilt of laws that can include some oddly colored squares  sometimes for no other reason than theyve always been oddly colored. Several U.S. states, like Mississippi and North Carolina, for example, still recognize a cause of action for alienation of affection, whereby you can actually sue a third party for damages if they cause the failure of your marriage  almost like a golden parachute for the victims of cheating.

When it comes to divorce, there are some similarly strange laws still on the books in many states. In Tennessee, for example, you may be released from the bonds of matrimony if you can prove your spouse attempted to kill you by poison or any other means showing malice. And in Delaware, one of the grounds for annulling a marriage is if it was the result of a jest or dare.

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Divorced!

Some grounds for divorce are even more bizarre, although many may represent the offshoots of jest themselves. Cathy W. Meyer, a divorce-support expert for About.com, says shes come across everything from a Kansas law allowing divorce on the grounds that your spouse doesnt get along with your parents to a Vermont law requiring women to get their husbands permission for false teeth that also provides justification for divorce if they fail to do so. Such oddities, including the claim that in Tennessee a man can divorce his wife only if he leaves her with 10 pounds of dried beans and other sundries, provide ripe fodder for legal blogs, tabloids and listicles, but it is not always easy to separate obscure fact from celebrated fiction  and this former lawyer could find no statutory support or official confirmation for the oft-repeated Vermont, Kansas and Tennessee claims. Which is not to say they do not exist in some obscure case or local ordinance, but they are most likely, dare we say it, old wives tales.

Which may not matter, given the increasing prevalence of no-fault divorce, which, says Meyer, is often encouraged by divorce attorneys since very few people are suing for divorce on more traditional bases like infidelity or insanity these days  much less on even more unusual grounds. Even if on the books, I doubt seriously a man in Vermont, says Meyer, would be able to divorce his wife for getting false teeth in this day and age.

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Donald Trump dominated even a two-person debate  but that is not necessarily a good thing for him.

Hillary Clinton put him on defensive, often looking pleased with herself for bringing up his inheritance and an early 70s discrimination lawsuit. Was she smug? Maybe. But while she grinned, he looked perturbed.

He was at his best in talking about trade, as he tried to tar Clinton with NAFTA, the massive trade agreement forged under her husbands watch, and the Trans Pacific Partnership, which was negotiated when she was Secretary of State, yet she later opposed. But she deftly was able to move the conversation to other topics.

Here are the other moments that stood out on Monday night.

The birther issue. This may have been Trumps weakest moment  the question of why he only recently declared that President Obama was born in the United States.

When I got involved, I didnt fail, Trump said. I got him to give the birth certificate.

But moderator Lester Holt pressed him on why he continued to doubt Obamas birth certificate was authentic, many years after the president released it. Instead, he blamed Clintons campaign for starting it, citing Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton family friend who was not a part of the campaign in 2008. The problem for him is that his means of shifting blame got too into the weeds  many viewers probably wonder just who Blumenthal is.

It cant be dismissed that easily, Clinton said of Trumps birther crusade. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie.

Tax returns. Clinton also pressed Trump on not releasing his tax returns. She noted that the only years that anybodys ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license, and they showed he didnt pay any federal income tax. Trump replied, That makes me smart.

Trump tried to turn the tables and press Clinton on the use of a private email server. She admitted that it was a mistake. That was not a mistake. This country thinks its disgraceful. But given that he strayed from the format on occasion, it is a surprise that he didnt press the issue further.

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Law and order. This debate showed two different views of where the country is  and Trumps vision is dark. He frequently described urban areas as fraught with crime and lawlessness. He used the term law and order to describe his approach to policing, which includes support for stop and frisk policies. African-American communities are being decimated by crime, he said.

It actually was part of a discussion about race in America, as Clinton challenged him on the notion that stop and frisk policies were beneficial. Holt noted that a judge ruled it unconstitutional, even though Trump tried to dispute that point by saying that the judge was very anti-police.

ISIS. Trump mocked Clintons strategy for fighting ISIS, noting that she tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I dont think Gen. Douglas MacArthur would like that too much.

He also got into a bit of hyperbole. No wonder youve been fighting  ISIS your entire adult life. But she criticized his secret plan to fight ISIS as no plan at all.

Temperament and stamina. Trump declared that he had much better temperament than Clinton. It drew laughs from the audience.

I have a winning temperament. I know how to win. She does not know how to win, he said.

But the remark actually gave Clinton an opening to talk about statements that Trump has made about NATO and threats to blow Iranian military personnel out of the water if they taunt U.S. sailors. Thats not good judgment, she said.

After Holt had asked him why he had said that Clinton didnt have the look to be president, Trump said that she didnt have the stamina.

As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a Congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina, she said.

Rosie ODonnell. The most acrimonious part of the debate came near the end, when Clinton slammed Trump for calling a beauty pageant contestant Miss Piggy. Trump, however, complained of Clintons negative campaigning and in doing so, brought up Rosie ODonnell.

I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her, he said. But you want to know the truth. I was going to say something extremely rough to Hillary, to her family, and I said to myself, I cant do it. I just cant do it. Its inappropriate. Its not nice. He then complained that Clintons campaign had spent millions on negative ads about him and its not nice, and I dont deserve that.

ODonnell responded with a tweet:

https://t.co/EvxYa7A4bL  the 5 mins orange anus can't seem to get over  tell the truth  shame the donald #ImWithHer  Rosie (@Rosie) September 27, 2016

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From Good Housekeeping

Brace yourselves, because the latest school dress code controversy to go viral on Facebook will absolutely enrage you: Last week, a 12-year-old in South Carolina was sent to her school's office after a teacher called her out in front of a group of friends, saying her skirt was too short and it made her look like she should "be clubbing," TODAY reports.

After being publicly shamed in the hallway, Reese Franyo went to the principal's office at Moultrie Middle School, where she called her mom, Suzie Webster, and asked her to bring a change of clothes. When Webster arrived, Franyo's skirt (an A-line denim piece from H&M) was measured in front of the principal - and found to be exactly five inches above the knee, just as the school dress code policy requires.

Even though the principal told Franyo she could continue to wear the skirt, she was too embarrassed and opted to change into the pants her mother had brought. Angered by the incident, her mom took to Facebook to Franyo's story. The post has since gone viral, with more than 900 shares and more than 200 comments.

In her post, Webster explained that she and her daughter are aware of the school dress code policy, and they shop together to find pieces that will be considered appropriate according to school guidelines. But what bothered her most about this incident was not that this particular piece of clothing had been called out, but how her daughter was addressed - and why her daughter's principal was able to justify it.

"While Reese was changing, her principal started to explain to me that it was necessary to closely monitor the girls' attire because boys at this age get very distracted by the girls and their appearance," she wrote in her post. "This is the exact problem with society today. SO MY DAUGHTER WAS EMBARRASSED, HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF HER PEERS AND MADE TO FEEL LIKE A BAD GIRL BECAUSE BOYS CAN'T CONTROL THEIR DIRTY THOUGHTS!"

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On Franyo's birthday - just the day after the skirt incident - Webster took to Facebook once again. This time, she wished her daughter a happy birthday and encouraged others to advocate for better dress code enforcement policies:

Thank you to the overwhelming amount of support for Reese. We have received comments and messages from all over. Today is Reese's birthday, and she is wearing her skirt again today (her choice, not mine). Please know that it is not my intention to hurt Moultrie Middle School or Principal Ryan [Cumback], but merely to draw attention to how important it is to raise our girls up and fill them with confidence. I do understand the need for a dress code, but there is a better way to handle enforcement. Let's keep working on this together in a fierce, but positive way.

A spokesperson for the Charleston County School District told TODAY that the Moultrie Middle School principal, Ryan Cumback, has "addressed and corrected" the teacher who made the "clubbing" comment to Franyo.

[h/t TODAY]

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If all those excited home buyer declarations like This place is just perfect for us and I have to have it! were binding, selling houses would be a breeze. But, as with everything in life, its not what people say, its what they do that really matters.

Still, its hard for home sellers to not get their hopes up when a buyers gushing over their homeonly to be disappointed when the buyer disappears without a peep.

So what are some signs a buyer isnt serious about your home?

Its a good thing experienced Realtors can tell the difference between the buyer who means business and the one who has no intention of actually sealing the dealand that these pros graciously agreed to clue us in.

Do any of the following red flags sound familiar? Keep each in mind, and you can save yourself the drama of dashed hopes.

Sign No. 1: The buyer is flying solo

If a buyer doesnt have a real estate agent yet, he probably isnt serious about shopping for a home.

Buyers agents come at no cost to the buyer, since the seller pays the buyers agents commission, explains Daniel Bortz, a Realtor in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Do you think a shopper who cant be bothered to enlist free expert help is motivated enough to start putting papers in motion? We dont think so either.

To put things in perspective, consider this: 87% of buyers recently purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker, according to a survey conducted last year by the National Association of Realtors of recent home buyers and sellers. You do the math!

Sign No. 2: The buyer just began shopping

The old adage that timing is everything applies to selling homes as well. Typical home buyers take three months to buy, so if a seller is entertaining interest from someone on Day 1 or Week 1 of her house hunt, chances arent good that shes the one.

Many buyers look at a number of houses before they decide what they want, says Bortz. And if theyre at the early stages in their search, youre less likely to receive an offer.

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Sign No. 3: You meet the buyer at an open house

Its also less likely that a seller will score an offer from a buyer at an open house. According to a report from the NAR, only half of home buyers visit open housesand those who do may be trying to avoid too much attention by hiding in the herd.

Serious buyers, on the other hand, will conduct their home search online, then once they spot a home they like, request a private showing.

Its like dating: Asking to see a home one on one carries more weight than asking someone, Hey, wanna hang out in a group?

Sign No. 4: No pre-approval from a lender

Theres no need to read between the lines of this sign.

You need to include a pre-approval letter from your lender when you submit an offer on a property, says Bortz. Without one, theres no indication to the seller that you can actually afford to purchase the home.

Sign No. 5: A speedy visit

Buyers who zip along while theyre checking out the property arent likely to cross the finish line with you.

Rushing through an open house is a definite sign of lack of interest, says Abigail Harris, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker residential brokerage in the Boston area. Breezing through without asking questions, however, isnt necessarily a bad sign, she adds. Many buyers feel that they have all the answers and dont need to ask questions.

Sign No. 6: All promises, no action

Call it a bait and  stall.

You can tell that a buyer is dragging her feet if she says shes very interested in making an offer but it is taking days for her to actually submit one, says Bortz, who has encountered this phenomenon a number of times. Typically such buyers are seriously interested, but theyre also strongly considering making an offer on another property, so they might be weighing their options before they make an offer on one of them.

Sign No. 7: A (really) lowball offer

Everyone wants to score a deal, but if a buyer offers an unreasonably low sum, says Harris, thats a sure sign that they dont really want the property.

Serious buyers in todays market make their best offer right out of the gate, explains Bortz. So Im honestly not sure why someone would throw out a ridiculously lowball offer. Maybe [its] just to test the waters?

Sign No. 8: Lots of nitpicking

Even after the buyer has made an offer and you have accepted it, she still might not be 100% onboard with buying the property. Is she obsessed with finding faults and problems in the home?

Thats a definite showing of disinterest, says Harris. Bortz agrees, adding, If she has a home inspection contingency and wants you to fix every single little thing that the inspector spots, such as a loose door knob, she might be looking for you to just give in and say, No, Im not fixing anything, so that she can back out of the deal.

The post 8 Signs a Home Buyer Isnt Serious appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.
Once upon a time, in the not-so-faraway lands of Queens, NY, Tulsa, OK, and seven other cities within the kingdom of Trulia, there lived a house for sale. This wasnt just any house, however; it was a Tudor, a home whose distinctive markings  decorative half-timber framing, a steeply pitched roof, leaded-glass windows, an arched front door  were borrowed from medieval English architecture.

Our Tudor was the fairest in all the land, but alas, it sat empty, kept company only by its designer kitchen, finished basement, and other amenities fit for a modern-day prince or princess. Will a noble reader of this post fall in love with the home and give it its happily ever after? That chapter is yet to be written!

tudor houses for sale elmhurst il

An arched front door sets the tone for this 1,943-square-foot, four-bedroom brick Tudor in Elmhurst, IL. The throwback aesthetic continues inside with exposed beams, a vintage-style bathroom, and arched pass-throughs between rooms. The finished basement is decidedly more modern: The media-lovers lair features recessed lighting, a custom bar, and ample wall space for a flat-screen.

tudor house for sale hewlett ny

Four spacious bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a finished basement, and a fully fenced backyard (complete with apple trees!) prove this Hewlett, NY, residence to be a good fit for families  and thats not even making mention of its location on a quiet, tree-lined street. The home was built in 1930 and offers newer windows, lighting, and landscaping.

tudor house for sale louisville ky

Thanks to an abundance of leaded-glass windows, natural light floods almost every corner of this 4,595-square-foot, five-bedroom English Tudor, located just minutes from downtown Louisville, KY. Conditions are especially sunshine-y in the large eat-in kitchen, where white cabinetry, shiny granite countertops, and hardwood floors reflect the light pouring into the adjoining sunroom.

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tudor home for sale in Portland OR

Welcoming with a wine cellar: $799,900, 2815 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, OR 97212

Built-in storage units (a dresser, bathroom vanity, corner china cabinets, shelving beside the fireplace) help maximize floor space of this 2,927-square-foot, five-bedroom home in Portland, OR. The built-ins only add to the homes character, which is best described as vintage meets contemporary. Bonus: The carpeted basement comes equipped with a wine cellar and a wet bar.

tudor house for sale tulsa ok

An elegant foyer staircase makes the first impression within this four-bedroom Tudor in Tulsa, OK. The foyer is located adjacent to a stately sitting room that showcases traditional details  think hardwood floors, crown molding, wainscoting, and, beside the fireplace, a built-in bookcase. The chefs kitchen, on the other hand, catches the eye of the 21st-century buyer with Thermador appliances, a large serving island, and a TV over the wet bar.

tudor house for sale bronxville ny

This four-bedroom brick Tudor was built in 1928 and has retained many of its original features, from its moldings and hardware all the way down to the gleaming hardwood floors. At 3,500 square feet with a formal dining room, a huge, contemporary kitchen, and a covered outdoor terrace that steps down to a grassy lawn, the residence is well-suited for entertaining. For those nights when youd rather have someone else do the cooking, the world-class restaurants of Manhattan are a mere 20-minute drive away.

tudor house for sale queens ny

Be the king of Queens: $2.3 million, 3204 171st St., Queens, NY 11358

A 25-minute commute from Manhattan leads to this five-bedroom, three-bathroom home on a tree-lined street in Queens, NY. Kept in pristine condition by a single family for more than 80 years, the residence features original hardwood floors, stained glass, and two stone fireplaces, as well as wood taken from the British Pavilion of the 1939 Worlds Fair.

tudor house for sale scarsdale ny

Let loose in the rec room: $2.495 million, 16 Chesterfield Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Outfitted with exposed beams, recessed windows, arched doorways, and a fireplace, the formal living room of this six-bedroom, 5,242-square-foot home, built in 1932, doesnt leave much to be desired in terms of appearance. Still, we bet the majority of the living happening here takes place within the lower-level rec room, which offers a stone fireplace, a half-bathroom, and direct access to the grassy backyard.

tudor house for sale massillon oh

With its turreted facade, massive solid-oak doors, 40-foot-long entry hall, and cavernous living room complete with dueling stone fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, this Scottish Tudorstyle home could easily serve as the set for your favorite medieval TV drama. Plot twist: The 10,271-square-foot, five-bedroom estate dates back only to 2000. Adding to its mystique, the mansion overlooks a fountained pond on a 19-acre wooded lot.

Which of these whimsical Tudor houses for sale would you choose? Share your favorite in the comments!
(Reuters) - Actor Mark Wahlberg said "the biggest responsibility" for himself and the makers of the new movie, "Deepwater Horizon," was to honor the real-life victims of the 2010 oil rig disaster. "The oil can ultimately be cleaned up, (but) those 11 men can't be replaced," Wahlberg told Reuters at the film's London premiere on Monday. "Those were fathers, brothers, husbands, uncles, cousins. We can't replace those guys and so when they approached me about doing this film, I thought, 'What better way to promote their story'," he added. "Deepwater Horizon," due out in theaters on Friday, focuses on the hours before and after the BP Plc rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, leading to the worst offshore oil disaster in U.S. history. Eleven workers were killed and millions of barrels of oil spewed onto the shorelines of several states for nearly three months. In the movie directed by Peter Berg, Wahlberg plays Mike Williams, one of the last people to escape from the burning rig. The real-life Williams joined Wahlberg at the premiere that was also attended by cast members Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, John Malkovich and Kate Hudson. "The focus wasn't really on who made what mistakes and who was responsible. Really, it was about the heroics of the 11 people and the inspiring things that they did to survive and help one another," Wahlberg said. "Deepwater Horizon" examines the decisions concerning safety made by BP executives leading up to the disaster, highlighting the pressure that workers were under to save money as drilling fell behind. British oil major BP in July estimated costs from the disaster will total about $62 billion. "I never faulted BP for being a company for profit. That's what fuels our economy. We all use fuel. I get that they're a company for profit," Berg said. "Where I think they erred was when they got behind schedule and behind budget, some of the guys from BP pushed too hard, they moved too quickly." In October 2015, U.S. officials announced an agreement of more than $20 billion to settle federal and state claims against BP over the spill (Reporting by Reuters TV in London; Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Actually, you guys, Jerry Springer won the debates

Actually, you guys, Jerry Springer won the debates

The first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump took place on Monday night, and it was, by all counts, a bizarre event. CNN put together a great compilation of some of the most succulent moments, of which there were many. #Stamina #Jobs #Taxes #Birtherism #Iraq #TaxReturns

Oh, and #RosieODonnell.

NPR fact-checked in real-time, and the results are fascinating (and educational!).

Politifact ran a truth-o-meter, and the results are a little harrowing.

Trump talked about his temperament, and Hills response was golden.

Trump kept interrupting

The debate was the most Tweeted debate ever.

The reactions across Twitter were hilarious.





When I was 4, my response to hearing anything I didn't like was "YOU'RE WRONG!" Guess that was my chance to run for president. #Debates2016  Maria Popova (@brainpicker) September 27, 2016

Let me summarize this night for you so far. #Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/iMJO5apfIk  Daddy  (@ChillOnTommy) September 27, 2016

And the gifs. Oh, the gifs.





Upon mention of the name Putin, Trump does to the mic what he likes to do to Putin, especially when someone mentions his "tough, long game." A video posted by Channing Sargent (@channingsargent) on Sep 26, 2016 at 9:57pm PDT

But, the award for best debate summary goes to Jerry Springer, of all people.

Dont recall who Jerry Springer is? Hes the host of that talk show that tends to incite people into on-stage brawls after receiving the results of their paternity tests. He chooses the cream-of-the-crop of American citizens to rage against one another. And, he has a political background of his own, having once been the Democratic mayor of Cincinnati.

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In one tweet, Springer encompasses the qualifications and behavior of both candidates.

Hillary Clinton belongs in the White House. Donald Trump belongs on my show.  Jerry Springer (@jerryspringer) September 27, 2016

Oh, boy. He really nailed it there.

The post Actually, you guys, Jerry Springer won the debates appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc said it would offer some customers discounts on Apple Inc's smartwatch, marking the first deal made by the tech giant with an insurer for its devices.

Aetna, which has about 23 million members in the United States, will also give away the Apple Watch for free to its nearly 50,000 employees, Aetna said in a statement on Tuesday.

The deal could help Apple boost the appeal of its Watch to potential customers as the company looks to target health and fitness conscious users with its new device.

Aetna will discount a significant portion of the cost, and will offer users monthly payment options to pay off the remaining amount.

The discounts on the devices will vary for customers, according to Aetna spokesman Ethan Slavin.

However, reaction to the second edition of the Apple Watch has been muted since its launch earlier this month with the device likely to remain a niche offering, according to some analysts.

Apple shipped 1.6 million units of the original Apple Watch, in the second quarter, down by 56.7 percent from last year, according to research firm IDC.

In comparison, Fitbit Inc shipped 5.7 million units in that period.

Aetna is also developing health applications for Apple's devices that will remind users to take their medications, order refills for prescriptions and message or call their doctor.

The applications, which will use Apple Wallet to allow customers to pay their bills, will be available early next year.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora and Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois voters who arent quite sure what to make of the current election season arent alone.

They have good company in former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar, whos no stranger to political campaigns, having been first elected to the Illinois House in 1976 before going on to win four statewide races for secretary of state and governor.

But whether its the race for the White House or races for the Statehouse, there are factors at play this year that havent been seen in anyones lifetime, Edgar said Tuesday during a luncheon discussion in Springfield hosted by the nonpartisan Better Government Association. The event, which also featured Christopher Kennedy, a former chairman of the University of Illinois board of trustees whos been mentioned as a potential 2018 Democratic candidate for governor, was titled Elections 2016: Candidates, Chaos and Consequences.

I wish we could have this after the election; I would sound much more intelligent about how the election was going to go, Edgar said, drawing a laugh from the crowd in a downtown hotel banquet room.

On the presidential level, Republican candidate Donald Trump, whom Edgar said wont receive his vote, has thrown out the rules of political decorum in his campaign against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, the former governor said.

In Illinois, Edgar added, current Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has changed the political landscape by pumping more than $20 million into the state GOP. And that totally is likely to grow, with contribution limits now lifted in the comptrollers race thanks to a $260,000 loan from the husband of Rauner appointee Leslie Munger to her campaign.

Munger faces Democratic Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza.

Gov. Rauner has provided more money than Ive ever dreamed would be in Illinois politics, Edgar said. Now the Democrats, (Illinois House Speaker Michael) Madigans always been pretty good with raising money. Nothing compared to what Rauners injecting into this election. And what impact thats going to have, I dont think we know yet.

Charleston native Edgar said the money his party is spending to defeat downstate Democrats might not be money well spent, noting that Republicans have tried for years, unsuccessfully, to use Madigans unpopularity against them.

For his part, Kennedy agreed with that assessment.

I think people like (state Sen.) Gary Forby (D-Benton) and (state Rep.) Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) are so well known there, Kennedy said. They have a personal relationship with voters. (Its) really difficult to move on that.

Forby is facing Harrisburg Mayor Dale Fowler, and Phelps is up against Jason Kasiar of Eldorado.

With voters more likely to cast straight party ballots than in the past, Edgar and Kennedy also agreed that having Trump at the top of the ticket could hurt Republicans chances of winning the support of women in the Chicago suburbs, whose votes would be crucial to the GOP picking up legislative seats in that area.

If voters do split their tickets, however, Rauners money may provide a boost to Republican candidates for state House and Senate seats in the suburbs, where Rauner is more popular than he is downstate, Edgar said.

Its going to be kind of Rauners money versus Rauners record, he said.

Without a full state budget in place nearly two years into Rauners term, neither Edgar nor Kennedy had much positive to say about his record.

As he has for the past year, Edgar criticized Rauner for not making balancing the state budget his top priority and instead tying budget discussions to changes in workers compensation laws, term limits for elected officials, redistricting reform and other items on his turnaround agenda.

The most important thing facing the state of Illinois is to get a balanced budget, Edgar said. Everything else pales compared to that.

The governors office did not respond to a request for comment. In response to similar comments in the past, Rauner has said hes focused on the future and reforming the state, not critiques from former officeholders.

While Rauner talks of the need for reforms to give businesses confidence to invest in the state, Kennedy said hes seen the ongoing budget turmoil have the opposite effect.

Hes overseeing his familys development of a piece of land along the Chicago River known as Wolf Point.

Investors often ask, Why should we invest in the only state that doesnt have a budget? Kennedy said.

Its rattling people, he said. Its taking a state budget problem  and turning it into a statewide economic crisis.

As for his own political ambitions, Kennedy said its too early to talk about 2018. He said hes focused on helping Democrats win across the state this year.
Bobigny (France) (AFP) - Cheers and jeers marked the start of the trial on Tuesday of 15 people over a confrontation in which Air France workers angry over planned layoffs left two executives with their shirts shredded.

In the first day's testimony accused workers claimed they had been "convicted in advance" over the October 2015 attack, while one of the executives talked of the "humiliation" of having his shirt ripped off in public.

The trial over the incident, which made headlines worldwide, opened in a packed courtroom outside Paris with raucous scenes among backers of the defendants.

Five of the defendants are charged with "organised violence" and face up to three years in prison and a 45,000 euro ($51,000) fine if convicted in the two-day trial.

The other 10 face lesser charges over the confrontation, which arose from a dispute over plans to cut 2,900 jobs under a restructuring plan that the airline has since scrapped.

"We've always been treated as guilty, they've convicted us in advance" on the basis of incomplete video and photo evidence, said Fabrice Lhermitte, one of the accused.

The court viewed a clip from footage of the incident in which a worker can be distinctly heard threatening human resources boss Xavier Broseta: "You've got millions, you're going to pay."

Union activists at the trial cheered, while, banging his gavel, the judge warned the defendants' backers: "No demonstrations, no protests or I will have the court cleared. This is not a show!"

The court deliberated over whether the union activists had the right to break down the gate of the perimeter fence at the company headquarters near Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport.

The defence argued that the gate was normally open, and that padlocking it on the day of the incident was a "provocation".

- 'Humiliation' -

After crashing through the fence, dozens of workers broke into the conference room where management was unveiling the restructuring plan to the company's works committee.

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As well as Broseta another executive, director of long-haul operations Pierre Plissonnier, had his shirt and jacket torn in the incident.

"It should be recalled that I am a victim," Plissonnier told the court.

The white-haired executive described "the humiliation" embodied in the pictures of him scrambling bare-chested over a fence, which he said had been viewed 1.4 billion times around the world.

Broseta fell to the ground at one point as he was trying to escape the mob, while guards employed by the company were also injured in the melee.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the defendants, whom he branded "rogues", should be given stiff sentences.

Air France's lawyer Dominique Mondoloni said Monday that the defence would seek to "transform the perpetrators (of the violence) into victims and the victims into perpetrators."

- The bigger picture -

Defence lawyer Lilia Mhissen, taking on six opposing lawyers representing the aviation giant, said she hoped her clients would "not be judged on the basis of video clips that last a fraction of a second" but on the bigger picture.

At least two of them "clearly acted to protect Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier", she said.

"If they had retrieved all of the video images... the story would have been different."

Some Air France workers observed a strike on Tuesday in solidarity with the defendants, which the company said did not affect operations.

The hardline CGT trade union, which spearheaded sometimes violent protests earlier this year against France's controversial new labour law, led a rally of some 300 union members outside the courtroom.

One of them, Mahchid Modjaverian, said the trial amounted to "the criminalisation of union action".

"They can't take the right to protest from us," she told AFP. "It is engraved in the marble of the constitution."

Air France-KLM returned to profit last year after seven years of losses, but faces stiff competition from Asian and Gulf airlines as well as new, low-cost long-haul alternatives.

Air France, which employs around 55,000 people, still faces tensions with pilots and flight crews who staged strikes in late July.

The airline also faces a downturn in bookings, notably by Japanese, Chinese and American customers, because of the string of jihadist attacks that have hit France over the past 21 months.
Washington (AFP) - With the Syrian city of Aleppo facing a new regime onslaught and Washington's diplomacy under criticism for failing to halt the carnage, the United States announced a new aid package Tuesday.

The State Department said it would release a further $364 million to UN aid agencies and NGOs working to help vulnerable Syrian civilians inside and outside the war-torn country.

The latest slice of funding brings the total amount that the United States -- the effort's biggest single donor -- has spent since the war started more than five years ago to $5.9 billion.

But the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration Anne Richard confirmed it would come from funds already allocated by Congress and does not represent new US spending.

"And this is probably... our last announcement of the fiscal year," she told reporters at a briefing to announce the measure three days before the end of the 2016 government spending period.

The civil war in Syria erupted in early 2011, when dictator Bashar al-Assad unleashed a brutal clampdown on anti-government protests, and has since killed more than 300,000 people.

Millions have fled their homes, with many living in makeshift camps inside Syria or its neighbors Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, reliant on UN agencies funded by major UN members.

The United States and Russia, which back the opposition and regime, respectively, announced a ceasefire on September 9. It lasted barely a week.

As the deal collapsed, Assad's regime launched a major offensive against the rebel-held east of Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo, backed by waves of Russian bombers.

The diplomatic initiative's failure has exposed President Barack Obama's White House to criticism that, having no back-up plan, it has effectively ceded the initiative to Russia.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest insisted on Tuesday that Obama "and his team are always looking carefully at the situation to determine if there is something different that we can do."

But the violence in Aleppo is such that air-dropping aid would be too risky, he said, while arming the rebels would "only further militarize a situation that doesn't have a military solution."
During Monday night's debate, Hillary Clinton defended a former Miss Universe winner who claimed Donald Trump had called her "Miss Piggy" for gaining weight. "Her name is Alicia Machado, not 'Miss Housekeeping'...you can bet she's going to vote this November," the Democratic presidential candidate said, referencing another claim of name-calling on Trump's behalf. "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs."

Watch Katy Perry Vote Naked (Yes, Really) In New Funny or Die Video

"Where did you find this?" said Trump, who then defended his past statements against women, including those against Rosie O'Donnell.

"I was going to say something extremely rough to Hillary, her family - It's inappropriate. It's not nice." #debates https://t.co/a7u7MdzIJ5 pic.twitter.com/GcKBuRaUDM

- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 27, 2016

Machado took to Twitter after the debate to thank Clinton for the shout-out, saying, "I'm with you."

Gracias senora @HillaryClinton su respeto a las mujeres y nuestras diferencias la hacen grande! Estoy con usted!

- Alicia Machado (@machadooficial) September 27, 2016

Machado was crowned Miss Universe at age 19 in 1996, the year Trump took over as co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization. The '96 contest was co-hosted by Trump's then-wife, Marla Maples.

First Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton Debate Draws Reaction From Katy Perry, Chance the Rapper & More

After she was crowned, Miss Venezuela said, she gained 42 pounds and claimed Trump referred to her as "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping," the latter referencing her accent.

Trump called her an "eating machine" on the Howard Stern show, according to a New York Times report, and invited 100 media outlets to watch her work out in a gym. The footage can be seen in an Inside Edition special that Clinton shared to her followers after Monday's debate.

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The woman Trump called "Miss Piggy" has a name: Alicia. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/XlthzE8X8j

- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

In the interview, the model said she felt bullied, "very depressed" and that the experience led to years of eating disorders and psychotherapy.

Machado took to Instagram in May to announce that she had become a U.S. citizen and would be voting for Clinton.

MTV Taps Vic Mensa, Ty Dolla $ign and 5H's Camila Cabello for 'Total Registration Live'

During the debate, she also took to Twitter to post a photo with her passport.

I received my passport ! I'm ready to vote For my country for you @HillaryClinton for my daughter For women workers pic.twitter.com/U5lSwWxiHc

- Alicia Machado (@machadooficial) September 27, 2016

The annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants ended their relationship with Trump in June, at the same time his tenure with Celebrity Apprentice came to a close. NBC made an announcement days after Trump first announced his plans to build a wall, citing his "insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants." At the time, Trump said it was his decision to step down, saying, "I have to do that because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC."

Clinton and Trump went head-to-head in their first debate of the general election Monday night at Hofstra University in New York. Watch the replay here.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.
alicia machado

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton brought up a lot of sore points for her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, in Monday night's debate.

One of the most damaging  and one Trump himself can't seem to let go of  was his treatment of Alicia Machado, whom Clinton said he called "Miss Piggy" for her weight gain after she won the Miss Universe title in 1996.

Trump has gratuitously insulted a lot of people during his career, including by demeaning a lot of women about their looks, so Machado may have seemed like an obscure example for Clinton to focus on.

But there was a reason for this choice: Latinos have never forgotten how Trump insulted Machado, whom he also reportedly called "Miss Housekeeping" because of her accent.

Not nice

Machado was the first Miss Universe winner after Trump bought the pageant. He was not pleased when she gained some weight after winning, and he was not shy about telling the press how he felt.

"She was like an eating machine," he told Howard Stern.

When Machado asked for assistance from the Miss Universe organization in losing weight, Trump invited television reporters to record her workout, telling them "she weighed 117, 118 and she went up to 160, 170 pounds, so this is somebody who likes to eat."

Clinton could have focused on Trump's treatment of other women in the public eye  women far better known than Machado.

Clinton could've chosen to talk about Fox News' Megyn Kelly. She could've chosen former GOP presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina. She could've chosen comedian Rosie O'Donnell (whom Trump brought up unprompted at the debate anyway). She could've even chosen Trump's two ex-wives.

But the choice of Machado helps remind Latinos why they disliked Trump long before he started talking about Mexico sending "rapists" across the its border with the US and the need for a wall there.

In the 1990s, the Machado story was covered in Spanish-language news outlets both in the US and across Latin America. Trump was portrayed as a bully, and the tearful (but smiling  this is a pageant) 18-year-old Machado was seen as a victim of stressful circumstances.

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Clinton seems to have succeeded in goading Trump into relitigating his dispute with Machado. Ever unable to let anything go, Trump complained on Tuesday morning that Machado's weight gain was a "real problem" and that she was "the absolute worst," a blunder so obvious it made even the hosts of "Fox & Friends" wince.

Trump has damaged himself most when he has gotten into fights with relatively obscure people, including the judge presiding over a lawsuit filed against Trump and the parents of a slain Muslim-American soldier.

Clinton knew exactly what she was doing  drawing Trump into something that is sure to enrage women and Latinos at the same time.

donald trump

That was then, this is 'ow!'

After Miss Universe, Machado went on to have a fairly successful acting and singing career in the Latin-American market. Her breakups and boyfriends have been the subject of celebrity gossip, and she has talked openly about Trump's treatment of her since he started running for president.

Back in May she did an interview with Univision journalist Jorge Ramos  another respected Latino who has caught Trump's ire  about Trump's treatment of her.

"How did he treat you?" Ramos asked her.

"Abominably," she responded. "And this isn't the first time I've said it. I've spent the last 20 years telling people how I suffered that year, how that hurt me as a person. I suffered a lot of psychological violence."

Ramos asked her why she was speaking out now.

"Well, because the man hadn't run for president before," she said. "He was just supposed to be a guy running casinos, not a great nation like the US."

Machado definitely does believe it's a great nation, because in August she officially became a US citizen.

Last month, she trolled Trump on Instagram, writing that she would be voting.

I so proud and inspiration to be a U.S. Citizen! I'll be Voting! All my power and my support become with my next President @hillaryclinton Miss Housekeeping and miss Piggy Can Vote @realdonaldtrump A photo posted by Alicia Machado (@machadooficial) on Aug 19, 2016 at 8:54am PDT on Aug 19, 2016 at 8:54am PDT

That's some quality trolling.

NOW WATCH: 'She gained a massive amount of weight': Trump criticizes the Miss Universe winner Clinton said he called 'Miss Piggy'





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Civil religion died on Monday night.

For more than 90 minutes, two presidential candidates traded charges on stage. The bitterness and solipsism of their debate offered an unnerving glimpse of American politics in a post-Christian age, devoid of the framework that has long bound the nation together.

Hillary Clinton may have offered little sense of humility, of obligation, of responsibility in Hempstead, but it was Donald Trump who directly rejected those virtues, reframing them instead as vices. He painted altruism as a suckers game, and left sacrifice for the losers. It was a performance that made clear one broader meaning of his candidacythe eclipse of the values that long defined America.

Until now, the political debate has generally been framed by a set of shared principles, even if theyve often been applied to contrary ends. Washington told his fellow citizens that they have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles; Lincoln observed that they read the same Bible and pray to the same God even as each invokes His aid against the other; and Obama reminded them that they worship an awesome God in states both red and blue.

Recommended: Donald Trump's 'Miss Piggy' Comments Expose a Double Standard on Weight

America may never have been a Christian nation, but its civil religion drew heavily on Judeo-Christian values. Americans long subscribed to the belief, as the sociologist Robert Bellah famously put it, that they shoulder a peculiar obligation, both collective and individual, to carry out Gods will on earth. That, Bellah argued, constituted a shared civil religion, one capable of binding together a diverse nation.

There are necessary corollaries to that belief, which long shaped the political debate. That individual success is a means of advancing the general good. That there are limits to what any of us can accomplish on our own. That our actions must serve some higher purpose. And that, individually and collectively, Americans can and must do great things.

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Hillary Clinton, a devout Methodist, tends not to discuss her Christian faith before general audiences, or to infuse her rhetoric with the language of religion. In that, she follows the path of many recent Democratic nominees. (Senator Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, argues that this aversion to the language of public religion is what turned evangelicals into Republicans, writing that it is more accurate to conceive of much of grassroots white America as being repelled by a secular left, than as attracted by the particular policy visions of a religious right.) On Monday night, Clinton limited herself to passing references to the black church and faith communities as civic institutions.

Recommended: Trump's Abdication of Personal Responsibility

Nor, more significantly, did she invoke the language of civil religion. She did stress that we have to bring communities together, and refer to the future well build together, but there was little emphasis on either Americas distinctive mission, or on the individual or collective responsibility to achieve it.

Trump, on the other hand, didnt just abandon the rhetoric of American religion; he repudiated it. He spoke sometimes in the first person, sometimes in the majestic plural, but always to explain what he himself intended to do, and never to summon his fellow Americans to join him in the work. The solutions he offered all rested, to greater or lesser extents, on actions he would take as president.

He promised to impose law and order. To renegotiate trade deals. I will bring back jobs, he said. Ill be reducing taxes tremendously. He didnt ask Americans to make any sacrifices. He didnt tell them what they might achieve together. He didnt affirm that his own actions are subordinate to some higher purpose.

To the contrary. When Clinton criticized him for profiting from the misfortune of others in the housing crash, he defended himself: Thats called business, by the way. When she hit him for stiffing his creditors, he said hed just taken advantage of the laws of the nation. When she attacked him as a tax-dodger who failed to shoulder his share of responsibility for the common good by paying federal income taxes, he replied: That makes me smart.

Recommended: Does Trump Know How to Laugh?

Its easy to get so caught up in the madness of 2016 that all of this seems normal. But the Clinton-Trump debate was decidedly Marxian in its assumptionsall about material concerns, with little regard for higher purpose. To see the contrast, look back just four years, to the first presidential debate of 2012. Obama stressed that his policies were designed to make sure that the American peopletheir genius, their grit, their determinationis channeled and they have an opportunity to succeed.

And Romney, while stressing liberty and individual freedom, also emphasized responsibility. We're a nation that believes that we're all children of the same god, he said, and we care for those that have difficulties, those that are elderly and have problems and challenges, those that are disabled. We care for them.

Instead of promising to fix things himself, the Republican nominee urged the federal government to make space Americans to solve their own problems. We can care for our own poor in so much better and more effective a way than having the federal government tell us how to care for our poor, Romney said. The right approach is one which relies on the brilliance of our people and states.

That was then.

Now, the Republican nominee stands up at his convention, rattles off a litany of dysfunction, and proclaims: I alone can fix it.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
North, South and Central America are the first region in the world to be declared measles-free, after 22 years of work to banish the highly contagious infection that can result in pneumonia, blindness and death.

For an area to gain a measles-free status, at least three years need to pass without any case of endemic transmission (in other words, the infection did not come in from abroad), and a follow-up has to take place year after year.

Thanks to scientific advances, health experts can find out where exactly the virus has come from when a measles case is reported. For example, it was determined that a significant outbreak of measles linked to a case at Disneyland in California in 2014 had come into the U.S. from another country, and therefore was not an endemic.

The main reasons the Americas are now measles-free is due to a strict vaccination program. Take the example of the country I come from, said Bahamas-based Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, Chair of the International Expert Committee for Elimination in the Americas. You have 400,000 people [living there] and six million people who come and visit the country  and we dont have measles because of high immunization coverage.

Thats the simple answer. Poor, male, female, whatever the social class, everyone needs to be immunized; high coverage is how you prevent the reintroduction of measles.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will continue to work towards freeing the region of polio and other diseases. Years ago, steps were taken towards declaring the region free of neonatal tetanus (a form of tetanus that occurs in newborns) and, if the PAHO is successful in Haiti, that goal may be reached this year. The PAHO has also made progress in the elimination of Hepatitus B, by vaccinating newborns.

But, as Dr Cuauhtemoc Ruiz-Matus, chief of PAHO/WHOs Comprehensive Family Immunization Program, made clear, freeing regions of disease is no easy feat. Its very hard, he said. In some countries, the difficulty was that you had so many migrants they did not have cars and you couldnt access them.

He added that ill-defined borders and conflict in the Americas provided further challenges. In some of the territories theres movement back and forth; that was a particular challenge. Then there were issues relating to countries that are still in conflict  we could not get through to some areas because of the domestic fighting that goes on.

Various countries in the region invested heavily in interrupting the transmission of the infection. Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil really deserve a significant mention, Dr Ruiz-Matus said. They came through and did an excellent job. And we have all learned so much through these experiences.
MATTOON -- Author Randy Ervin's new book contains dozens of true stories about unsung police officers who have become footnotes in history.

Ervin said his idea for this book, "Famous Cops You Never Heard Of," originated several years ago when he first heard that the serial killer known as the Son of Sam was identified and caught because New York City beat cop Michael Cataneo left a parking ticket on the windshield of an unattended car belonging to the killer in 1977.

The author said he was fascinated by how an ordinary police officer could get caught up in a historical event during an otherwise routine career.

"It really made an impression on me," Ervin said. "That was probably the story that really piqued my curiosity, and then I started seeking similar stories out."

Ervin, who is the chief of police for Lake Land College, said he started his research about four years ago and decided to write a book after accumulating nearly 30 stories in his files. He ended up including more than 70 stories from the United States and other countries in the finished book, which he recently self-published.

The stories range from Northwestern University Police Department Officer Terry Marker becoming the first victim of the Unabomber when he was wounded by a mail bomb in 1978 to U.S. Customs Agent Tommy Austin and Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer Ron Cox founding the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 1980.

Ervin said his interview subjects for the book included Hartford, Conn., Police Department Officer James Looby. He said Looby was responsible for writing up the accident report after a teenage driver accidentally crashed into President Gerald Ford's limousine in 1975 at an untended intersection along the motorcade route.

For the cover photo, Ervin selected an image of New York City Police Department Patrolman John Gannon, Sr. Ervin said he was drawn to the black-and-white portrait photo of Gannon in his old-fashioned uniform after seeing this image during his research.

Ervin said he subsequently found out that Gannon and his brother emigrated from Ireland and both became police officers. He said the two brothers had sons and grandsons go into law enforcement as careers and this tradition has now carried over to a fourth generation.

Copies of "Famous Cops You Never Heard Of," which is nearly 250 pages, are available for $20 each by contacting Ervin at randyjervin@icloud.com or 217-246-7170. He also has written and self-published three other books, including two novels.
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices slid on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia and Iran dashed hopes that producer nations would reach a deal to curb crude output during informal meetings in Algiers.

A helicopter crashed en route to a Chevron oil platform in Angola, killing at least four. Sources said there was not expected to be an impact on production or cargo loadings.

NIGERIA

* Shell has not declared force majeure on Bonny Light crude loadings despite the closure of the Trans Niger Pipeline due to a fire. It has not yet issued revised loading programmes.

* A cargo of end-October loading Akpo was set to sail for India after Shell won a mini tender to supply refiner IOC.

* A November Akpo programme showed four cargoes set to load.

* Qua Iboe loadings were expected to start this week, though the grade, along with Forcados, was still under force majeure.

* The Ottoman Nobility, the South Sea and the Aspen Spirit suezmax tankers were all en route to the Qua Iboe terminal.

* While some buyers were put off by the unpredictability of Qua loadings, India's HPCL has booked the Desh Vibhor to load Qua Iboe at the end of October.

ANGOLA

* Several cargoes of Angolan oil traded, including Total selling cargoes of Girassol and Dalia, Sonangol selling Dalia and Chevron selling Cabinda.

* A U.S. buyer took BP's cargo of CLOV to an unnamed buyer, which sold a day earlier.

* State oil company Sonangol was still offering three November-loading cargoes, including Saturno, Girassol and Nemba.

TENDERS

* Shell won a tender to supply India's IOC with one million barrels of Akpo.

* BPCL is expected by Wednesday to award a tender to buy crude for November loading.

* Indonesia's Pertamina was also looking to buy crude oil via tender, traders said.

(Reporting By Libby George; Editing by Susan Fenton)
AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi

A hot mobile ad startup based in Palo Alto called AppLovin has confirmed that it sold a majority interest in itself to a Chinese private equity firm, Orient Hontai Capital, for $1.4 billion.

As we previously reported, rumors of the deal emerged about a month ago, sources told TechCrunch at that time.

AppLovin employs 115 people, a spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider. So that's a hefty exit for them.

The mobile ad network was founded in 2011 by Adam Foroughi, Andrew Karam and John Krystynak and has never taken traditional venture capital funding.

It raised just $4 million in angel investment from backers like Eduardo Vivas (Bright.com and LinkedIn), John Burbank (Passport Capital) and super angel Maynard Webb (the chairman of Yahoo and board member at Salesforce, Visa and Everwise) via his Webb Investment Network.

And it's been on fire practically since it launched, doing over $1 million a month in revenue by the end of its first year, Foroughi told Forbes' Dan Primack:

"I couldnt find anyone to give us an investment at what I thought was a reasonable starting point valuation (maybe $4 million or $5 million) and, by the end of our first year of operations, we were profitable and doing over $1 million a month in revenue, he explains. So I put together a round with angels not really because we needed the cash, but because I thought these were influential people who could help us grow."

AppLovin's claim to fame is that it delivers more personalized ads, it says. It's been particularly successful with mobile ads.

The IPO alternative

The San Francisco based startup stayed in stealth mode for its first two years, meaning it didn't do a lot of sales, marketing and public relations and instead focused on developing its products. But during that time, it still signed up 300 customers, all through word of mouth, CEO Adam Foroughi told Business Insider.

Two months after its official launch, in July 2014, it had a $100 million revenue "run rate" and high-profile users like Uber, Spotify, and Opentable, Foroughi said.

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Last year, the company hit $234 million in revenue, a source confirmed to Business Insider, and in 2016, it was on track to bring in nearly half a billion dollars, according to the press release.

While the IPO market remains soft in 2016, the M&A market has been on fire. Plus, Foroughi told Primack he's a "private person" and didn't really want to be the CEO of a public company. This sale sets AppLovin up to enter the Chinese mobile ad market.

In addition to AppLovin, Foroughi is an avid angel investor having backed startups like Bright.com (sold to LinkedIn), and Open Install (sold in December 2011). He's also backed Path, HomeJoy, ZenPayroll and others.

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Argex Shares will Continue to be Listed on the Senior Exchange

MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Argex Titanium Inc. (RGX.TO) (the "Company" or "Argex") is pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock Exchange has completed the listing review of the Company and has determined that Argex now meets the TSX's listing requirements. The shares of Argex Titanium will continue to be listed on Canada's senior exchange.

Mazen Alnaimi, Executive Chairman and CEO of Argex stated, "We would like to thank the TMX Review Committee for their thorough and diligent analysis of Argex. We believe that we are well positioned and that we will not only move forward, but will thrive."

Mr. Alnaimi continued, "Over the last two months the Argex engineering team has made considerable progress towards the completion of its TiO2 pigment technology. When we got involved with the company there was still a considerable amount of work to be done on the technology. We have an experienced team in place and we are on track to meet our end of the year deadline to perfect the process at its current scale. This will allow us to aggressively move forward on the development of a full commercial scale plant. We have our sights set on a global commercial deployment of the Argex technology and the introduction of a novel, more environmentally friendly process in a TiO2 industry estimated at $15 to $18 billion."

About Argex Titanium

Argex Titanium Inc. has developed an advanced chemical process for the volume production of high-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2) for use in high-quality paint, plastics, cosmetics and other TiO2 applications. The Corporation's unique proprietary process uses relatively inexpensive and plentiful source material from a variety of potential vendors to produce TiO2, along with other valuable by-products. Argex's process provides a significant cost and environmental advantage over current legacy TiO2 production methods.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information and statements may include, among others, statements regarding future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Argex, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" "target" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Argex will derive. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Argex's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" in Argex's Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; they could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Argex does not intend, nor does Argex undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.

Story continues

Contact:

Nicole Blanchard

Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Argex Titanium

nblanchard@argex.ca

SOURCE: Argex Titanium Inc.
Former That 70s Show bros turned Netflix series brothers Danny Masterson and Ashton Kutcher are headed to WWE Raw next Monday for the dumbest, most incredible reason.

See, WWE veteran/noted scarf enthusiast Chris Jericho and current Universal Champion Kevin Owens have struck up a beautiful friendship of late, based on their mutual love of Canada, fatherhood, and being total buttheads to everyone else. Jericho is so sure of their new bond hes willing to get into fights with other dudes who are friends because thats what a totally secure and self-assured person would do.

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On Mondays episode of Raw, Enzo and Big Cass called out Jericho and Owens for not being on the same level as other dude friendships, such as Kutcher and Masterson. If youre thinking Wow, what an oddly specific pair of actors to name. I wonder if they have a thing to promote? then congratulations! Youve won a box set of That 70s Show DVDs well never actually send you.

Though Jericho (like pretty much everyone else) was confused by the dated reference, it seems that Kutcher and Mastersons Netflix show The Ranch not only has an upcoming second season, but they are really aggressively defensive about the idea that two men could have a closer platonic relationship than they could. Yknow, just like totally secure and self-assured people would do. Theyre so defensive, in fact, theyre gonna show up at WWE Raw when it stops by Los Angeles to throw hands about it. Ugh, boys are so dramatic.
Austin's newest storage facility co-owner, Wade Lombard, proves honest dealings and family values are the secret sauce to building a moving empire in Central Texas

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Just eight years after launching Square Cow Movers, owner Wade Lombard and his partners are on the move again. The local Austin business is expanding its operation with a massive storage facility. The warehouse is Square Cow Movers' eighth business location and an exciting new venture for the company that's adding integrity to the moving industry.

He credits Square Cow Mover's impressive success to the company's honest way of doing business. "It took a horrible moving experience of our own to realize our fellow Austin residents deserved a local moving company that would put their best interest first." Wade has gone above and beyond to instill these practices into other small businesses as well. He takes time to build his community- serving as a member of several boards such as the Better Business Bureau and his alma mater Lee University's Board of Directors (youngest ever!). He is also the longest running member on the Yelp SmallBusiness Advisory Council. With this many accolades in such a short period of time it's no wonder Wade's business is booming.

With his entrepreneurial prowess, Wade has been asked to give his inspirational advice at many places ranging from Lake Travis High School to the Yelp sales team in San Francisco. This better way of doing business has not gone unnoticed outside of the local community either. The 2014 winner of the Better Business Bureau Torch award, Wade's business was selected from over 11,000 companies for their marketplace ethics. Square Cow Movers was also a finalist for Samaritan Center/Concordia Ethics in Business Award not once but twice. It's a distinction that isn't normally bestowed on businesses in the moving industry.

SQUARE COW MOVERS WAREHOUSE LOCATION DETAILS

Get an inside look at Austin's newest storage facility. The new Square Cow Movers storage facility is located at:

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2500 Brushy Creek Loop

Cedar Park, TX 78613

Wade is available for interviews and welcomes the opportunity to show people the company's newest place to park belongings.

To learn more about Wade Lombard, Square Cow Movers or to schedule a tour of the storage facility, please contact Brandy Howell at (512) 346-5000.

About Square Cow Movers:

Using the Art of Mooving - a no bull, customer-first code of ethics - Square Cow Movers has built their business on providing a personalized moving experience that takes the stress out of any move. With locations in Austin, Houston, Katy, Dallas, and Denver, Square Cow Movers is the go-to resource for moving in Texas and Colorado.

Contact:

Brandy Howell

brandy@localsurgemedia.com

5123465000

SOURCE: Square Cow Movers
Montreal (AFP) - Civil aviation officials were expected to endorse a proposal that would have airlines buy credits to offset rising carbon emissions, at a 10-day meeting that opens in Montreal Tuesday.

The 191 member nations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) were scheduled to vote on this and other proposals at their triennial meeting.

The head of the UN agency, Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, outlined at its kickoff the challenge facing the industry: reduce emissions while the number of air passengers doubles to six billion in the next 15 years.

Air transport must be "more responsible in the interest of all humanity," said Canadian Transportation Minister and former astronaut Marc Garneau, calling for "carbon neutral growth."

ICAO delegates are tackling the environment alongside a wide range of topics on the agenda, at the same time that their countries are ratifying last year's Paris climate agreement.

Although the aviation sector was exempted in the December 2015 accord on reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming, aviation officials are mindful of the need to curb the sector's growing CO2 emissions, according to a diplomat.

At the ICAO general assembly, member states are to vote on a climate scheme designed and refined through intense negotiations over the last six years, called the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

Its goal is to cap airline CO2 emissions by 2035 at 2019 or 2020 levels.

This would be the "first global agreement on capping a single sector's climate impact," according to the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), which represents airlines, airports, and airplane manufacturers.

Its target for reducing emissions is ambitious given that the number of flights worldwide are forecast to increase significantly over the coming decades.

But ICAO believes it can be reached through the purchase of credits to offset the sector's CO2 emissions, route optimization, and greater use of more fuel-efficient engines and lighter aircraft materials.

Story continues

The use of biofuels in aircraft would also have a tremendous impact. "If commercial aviation replaced six percent of the fuel it uses with alternative fuels, they would reduce their carbon footprint by five percent," ATAG said.

- Time to cut emissions -

The timeline starts with a voluntary first phase in 2021 and full rollout in 2027.

But proponents say a stepped approach is necessary in order to evaluate the scheme's effectiveness.

So far, 58 countries, including all European nations, the United States, China, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, have signed up for the first phase.

In 2022, the first "pilot" phase will be reviewed to determine its effectiveness, and any tweaks to the program will be applied before proceeding to the next phase.

In the next phase, which runs from 2024 to 2026 and is also voluntary, participating airlines will trade carbon credits with competitors flying the same routes.

For example, a French or German airline will be able to trade carbon credits for flights to Canada or Japan with Canadian or Japanese firms, but not with airlines from countries not participating in this phase of the scheme.

Finally, between 2027 and 2035, the program will be expanded to include nearly all nations, with exceptions made for the least developed countries, small island states and countries with a small volume of international air travel.

At the meeting, the ICAO will also decide on binding new aircraft standards for models launched after 2020.
100 years ago, Sept. 27, 1916

MATTOON -- Township Supervisor William Moran Sr. stated this morning that the physicians of Mattoon will be required to submit bids in writing for the pauper business of Mattoon Township. Mattoon paupers at present select their physician and the county meets the bill. Moran said assistant supervisors agree with his plan. Physicians' bills for pauper services during March, April and May in Mattoon Township amounted to $720, he said. The bills for June, July and August were even higher. The Coles County Board ordered that some of the bills be cut but the amount for the quarter still will be more than $700. Physicians' bills do not include hospital bills, which topped $200 last quarter, he said... ARCOLA -- The lid is off. Since its last issue, a thousand tons of broomcorn have been sold in the Central District at $200 a ton, says this week's Broom and Broomcorn News. In a few instances a $25 suit of clothes was thrown in, and yesterday one crop sold for $207.50 a ton. It was the Bert Slaughter crop northeast of Arcola and consisted of about 15 tons, the product of 40 acres. The buyers insist it is worth $7.50 per ton more than any crop in the district. But word in Mattoon today is that Albert Daily, living east of Mattoon, is the first grower to get $210 for his brush. Mr. Daily disposed of 13 tons at that figure to a broker today.

50 years ago, 1966

CHARLESTON -- Several Coles County residents are cast in "Waiting for Godot," a tragicomedy that will be presented Oct. 7-11 at Eastern Illinois University. The play coincides with EIU's homecoming activities. The five male characters are played by Rich Bayles, Dan File and Tony Wood, all of Charleston, and Jeff Hendricks of Mattoon and Joe Spoon of Champaign, formerly of Mattoon. E. Glendon Gabbard, head of the EIU department of theater arts, is the director... MATTOON -- Huckaba and Sons Construction Co. of Charleston has been awarded the contract for paving approaches to the Interstate 57 overpass on Old State Road. The project, located two miles southeast of Mattoon, includes a quarter-mile of new paving. The Huckaba firm bid $34,545 for the work... CHARLESTON -- A fall quarter enrollment of 5,787 -- an increase of 8.47 percent over 1965 -- was announced today by Eastern Illinois University officials. Included in the all-time high enrollment are 3,047 men and 2,740 women. Of the total, 2,014 are freshmen.

25 years ago, 1991

MATTOON -- A plan to draw up new district boundaries in Illinois could cause some confusion and anger among local residents, said state Rep. Mike Weaver. If the redistricting plan, submitted by the Republican Party, is approved, all Mattoon, except Lafayette Township, would be taken away from Weaver and moved into a district that would include Moultrie County and eastern Macon County. The plan would split Mattoon down Sixth Street. The new district would be represented by state Rep. John Dunn, D-Decatur CHARLESTON  University Professionals of Illinois officials are remaining optimistic as negotiations continue into the fourth week of an extended contract that encompasses faculty at Eastern Illinois University. UPI President Mitch Vogel and Board of Governors spokeswoman Michelle Brazell both said no strike is imminent. Union officials have said an 8 percent pay increase is needed to bring faculty at BOG schools to an equitable level with other universities.

100 years ago, Sept. 28, 1916

MATTOON -- A train load of soldiers from the east passed through Mattoon on Tuesday night as a second section of the Big Four Railroad's passenger train 11. The train was taken west from Mattoon by engine No. 6959 in charge of Engineer Whittaker and Fireman Allen. The train was brought to Mattoon by No. 6924 in charge of Engineer Andrews and Fireman Evans... SHELBYVILLE -- H. Benne Henton, a Shelbyville young man who frequently has played with local bands and who is now a member of the musicians union, is making records for a talking machine company. Mr. Henton has gained fame as a saxophone soloist since leaving this part of the country.

50 years ago, 1966

MATTOON -- A mall-type shopping area along Broadway Avenue downtown was one of the suggestions for city improvements made in the second progress report of Victor Gruen and Associates, city planners for Mattoon and Charleston, presented Tuesday night at Burgess-Osborne Auditorium. The proposed mall would include elimination of vehicle traffic on Broadway and the planting of trees and placement of planters. It also would eliminate parking on Broadway... MATTOON -- Candidates seeking a seat on the governing board for the newly established Eastern Illinois Area Junior College District must file petitions with the Coles County Superintendent of Schools not later than 4:30 p.m. Nov. 1, according to Gerald W. Dunn, county school superintendent. The first day petitions will be accepted is Oct. 8. The governing board will be composed of seven people, at least two of whom will be residents of the unincorporated areas in the junior college district. The governing board must be elected within 60 days after the referendum date, according to state law.

25 years ago, 1991

CHARLESTON -- Betty Edgar, matriarch of Illinois first family, was mourned and remembered by family and friends following her death Friday in Springfield. Mrs. Edgar, 74, the mother of Gov. Jim Edgar, died at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield. She had been a patient there for more than three weeks. A single mother after her husband died in a 1953 car accident, Mrs. Edgar is survived by three sons, Tom Edgar of California, Fred Edgar of Charleston and Gov. Jim Edgar CHARLESTON  Karen Karch, a teacher at Charleston High School, was honored at the Take Back the Night march for her work coordinating and teaching the sexual assault awareness programs at CHS. Karch started the program at the high school 12 years ago. It began as a self-defense class, and within a year the focus switched to stranger and acquaintance rape. Five years ago, Bonnie Buckley took over teaching the class. This was Eastern Illinois Universitys fourth annual Take Back the Night march, but the first time a community member was honored.
Baghdad (AFP) - It had become something they just had to do: whenever the main shopping street in Baghdad's Karrada district was bombed, Hussein al-Fatlawi and his brother would rush to help.

When the Islamic State jihadist group set off a car bomb on Karrada Dakhil street shortly before midnight on September 5, 24-year-old Hussein was halfway up the stairs to his flat.

"I was about to reach my home when I heard the explosion... I pulled out my phone and called my brother Ali to get him to meet me so we could run to help the victims," he said.

Ali, 26, did not pick up and Hussein had a bad feeling. Instead of going to the bomb site, he started searching for his brother and eventually found him at the morgue, dead.

Ali and Hussein had been among the first to reach the nearby site of a July attack, the bloodiest to ever hit Baghdad, that killed at least 323 people.

The massive blast set fire to two shopping arcades on either side of Karrada's busy thoroughfare, burning many people alive.

The 40-day mourning period is over and the charred bomb site is being cleaned. But everyone in the neighbourhood knew at least one, sometimes many, of those killed and Karrada is still in shock.

"We used to rush out as soon as we heard a bombing and head to the site to help out with transporting the dead and wounded to hospital," said Hussam, the Fatlawi brothers' uncle.

"Since these bombings started, Ali felt a lot of empathy for the victims. Whenever there was a blast, he and his brother were always the first among the volunteers," he said.

- Countless bombings -

A busy shopping area on the east bank of the Tigris River, Karrada has seen countless bombings since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Karrada Dakhil is a favourite spot for many Baghdadis to go for coffee or shop with friends and family, but also a prized target for the Islamic State group's seemingly endless supply of bombs.

There were phases, before IS swept through Iraq and tried to set up its Islamic "caliphate", during which several large bombings would rock Baghdad every day.

Story continues

On the street, the number of times a cafe or restaurant has been destroyed in bombings is almost part of its pedigree.

Many people avoid the terraces of Karrada during periods of perceived heightened risk, such as major holidays or weekend nights.

But after the tragedy of the July bombing, some made a point of showing they would not be cowed into submission and went about their business as usual.

The authorities recently turned to a type of US-made vehicle scanner on Karrada Dakhil to further secure the area.

That was done partly in response to a public outcry over the continued use of the infamous "magic wands", fake hand-held bomb detectors sold to Iraq by a British conman who was jailed for fraud three years ago.

In late August, an attractive cafe-cum-bookshop offering espresso and iced coffee was inaugurated with a concert. Ahmed Saadawi, Iraq's rising literary star, also read from his latest novel.

- Days away from departure -

"This is great for young people who want a place that isn't noisy, where you can speak freely, buy books and drink coffee," said Muhannad al-Husseini, 25.

"Karrada is bouncing back, especially now that they've cleared the site of the bombing and re-opened the street."

Another bombing, the one in which Ali al-Fatlawi was killed, rocked the neighbourhood a week later and the main street was closed to traffic again.

Saeed Alaa Adel, 27, sitting in the same newly opened cafe, said the latest IS bombing was predictable and argued residents' resilience would be tested again.

"It's very nice to see people getting on with their lives, and I hope more will turn to these kind of cultural activities," he said.

"But government and parliament are part of the problems that cause terrorism, and until that changes, we should be prepared for the next bombing."

Despite his dedication to his neighbourhood and readiness to help bomb victims, Ali al-Fatlawi likely harboured similar feelings and had recently focused his hopes on exile.

When he was killed, he was days away from moving to the United States.

Having briefly worked for a US private security company, his application for emigration had just been approved.

"His dream was to have children and it was about to come true in America," his father Hassan said, sitting in their Karrada home, choking back tears.

Ali had been married for five years, but he and his wife had been unable to have children and were eager to try medically assisted procedures in the US.
By Bernardo Vizcaino

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Bahrain's central bank has proposed new governance rules that would require Islamic banks in the kingdom to conduct external sharia audits of their operations, representing a shift away from the long-held practice of self-regulation.

Islamic banks in the Gulf have traditionally used in-house boards of Islamic scholars to determine whether religious principles are being obeyed, such as a ban on payment of interest.

Some scholars argue that this decentralised approach allows more flexibility and diversity in Islamic finance, but there has been growing support in the region for measures to increase transparency and reduce scope for conflicts of interest.

Such measures would aim to address concerns of potential customers who believe that the banks too closely mimic conventional finance operations.

Bahrain's central bank said that a public consultation period for its draft rules would close on Oct. 16. The draft is part of an effort by Bahrain to regain prominence in Islamic finance, an industry it helped to pioneer, against competition from centres such as Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

Islamic banks are subject to general financial oversight by national regulators in all countries where they operate, but in many countries authorities have largely left questions of sharia-compliance to the in-house sharia boards.

The new guidelines for Bahrain would oblige banks to have all their operations audited annually by external sharia experts such as Islamic advisory firms. The auditors would need to be approved by the central bank.

Scholars sitting on banks' in-house sharia boards would be required to disclose potential conflicts of interest in writing, and where conflicts are found to exist, to recuse themselves from decisions.

These provisions could place Bahrain among the strictest jurisdictions for sharia scholars.

Other proposals include disclosure requirements that would include publication of the aggregate remuneration paid to in-house scholars.

The banks would also have to disclose any non-permissible income and specify how they intend to dispose of assets generated by non-sharia-compliant earnings or acquired through prohibited expenditure. (Editing by Andrew Torchia and David Goodman)
Berlin (AFP) - After three consecutive semi-final defeats against Spanish clubs in the Champions League, Bayern Munich head to Atletico Madrid for Wednesday's group match with a point to prove.

"We want to show that we can do better than in the last few semi-finals. We certainly have a score to settle there," said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller before the team jetted off to Madrid.

After the highs of beating Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final came Bayern's lows of semi-final exits to Real Madrid, Barcelona and then Atletico in each of the last three seasons under Pep Guardiola.

Atletico have won 25 of their last 30 home European games making the Estadio Vicente Calderon something of a cauldron.

Last season's semi-final exit at the hands of Diego Simeone's Atletico was particularly painful for Bayern, who won the return leg 2-1 in Munich after losing 1-0 in Madrid as the Spanish side reached the final on away goals.

"In the last three years, we played three times against Spanish teams and always lost there," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"We saw how strong Atletico are last season and you can't get much more of a tougher test.

"Now we have the chance to show with Carlo (Ancelotti) that we can get at least a point there -- or even three."

After Guardiola failed to steer Bayern to the Champions League final, his successor Ancelotti is the Bavarian giants' not-so-secret weapon.

Two years ago, Ancelotti's Real Madrid won the 2014 Champions League final with a 4-1 extra-time win over Atletico.

"I really like Madrid and I'm looking forward to going back, I had two wonderful years there," said Ancelotti.

Sightseeing will be the last thing on the Italian's programme, with Ancelotti more concerned about French forward Antoine Griezmann, whose goals knocked Bayern out of Europe last May.

"He could play at any big club in Europe," said Ancelotti.

Story continues

Bayern smashed Russian side Rostov 5-0 in Munich in their opening Group D match, the same night Atletico won 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven.

But the German team's players know they will be in for a much sterner challenge on Wednesday.

"It will be a difficult fight in Madrid and we have to at least get a few goals," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.

Bayern defender Mats Hummels, who trained on Monday after limping out of Saturday's 1-0 win at Hamburg with a knee injury, says the Bundesliga leaders have a "pretty tricky task against one of the top favourites to win the Champions League".
On Sep 26, leading Canadian telephone operator BCE Inc. BCE was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The rating upgrade came on the back of recent developments in the companys advanced networks Fibe TV and Fibe Internet services along with strength in the hosting and cloud platform.

Growth Prospects

BCE is poised to gain customers through its focus on technology upgrades which include increased deployment of Gigabit Fibe, 4G LTE mobile networks, upcoming 5G networks, IP phone services and post-paid businesses. The company continues to focus on six strategic areas including investment in broadband network and services, accelerating wireless services, leveraging wireline momentum, expanding media coverage, improving customer service and achieving a competitive cost structure.

BCEs wireless segment is expected to benefit from its post-paid business and robust activities as it continues to enjoy solid subscriber addition. Significant investments in network coverage, customer retention, lucrative data plans and the launch of new handsets along with the provision of net protection will drive customer addition. As of Jun 30, 2016, the company had 7,471,069 postpaid subscribers, up 3.7% year over year. The total wireless subscriber base increased 1.9% to 8,280,693.

Recent Developments

In Aug 2016, BCEs subsidiary, Bell Canada is leading the Canadian broadband communications market through its recent launch of Home Hub 3000 WiFi services with Wireless 4K Whole Home PVR from Fibe TV. This Wifi service is expected to be one of the most powerful home WiFi services in Canada and the world's first fully wireless IPTV (Internet Protocol television)service.

Meanwhile, BCEs recent acquisition of Q9 Networks should boost the cloud suite. BCE had already taken over 35.4% of Q9 Networks for $180 million in Oct 2012 along with four other investors. The latest transaction, valued at approximately $675 million including Q9 Networks net debt but excluding Bell's existing ownership interest, is slated to close by the end of 2016.

Story continues

Risks

Although BCEs strategic moves to enhance employee skills, increase capital investments and reduce expenditures seem impressive, they might impact the companys financials and growth prospects if not executed properly. Moreover, stringent regulatory measures, decline in network access services lines, price competition, exposure to labor union issues covered by collective bargaining agreements leading to work disruptions and higher labor costs, operational risks and construction and launch delays are major risks.

BCE INC Price and Consensus

BCE INC Price and Consensus | BCE INC Quote

Stocks to Consider

A couple of better-ranked telecommunication stocks include NTT DOCOMO, Inc. DCM, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation NTT and KT Corp. KT, all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The current year earnings estimates for NTT DOCOMO, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and KT Corp have risen 7.02%, 22.92% and 10.53%, respectively, over the last 60 days.

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Theo Francken, Belgiums minister for migration and asylum, is getting a lot of heat for his sense of humor after he reposted a spoof clip depicting him arresting an undocumented migrant.

The GIF showed Francken, his face pasted over the body of a police officer, swooping in to put a suction cup on a black man, who then gets flown up into a helicopter. Its followed by a Zero Tolerance tag line, modeled on Coke Zero branding.

Francken seemed to find it flattering, and posted it on Facebook with the comment, Look what I found, zero tolerance, its funny, :-) RTBF public radio reported.

Outcry on social media was swift. You think this is funny, you make us vomit, Mr. Francken, said Ahmed Laaouej, a member of parliament who is of Moroccan descent and represents the Socialist Party.

Francken, a Flemish nationalist, is well known for his hard line views on immigration. Just last week he proposed tightening Belgiums migration law, and said he plans to extend detention times for undocumented migrants. Last month he also waded into the burkini debate, expressing support for a ban on the covered-up beach attire.

Francken initially defended the post with a comment: So every video in which a non-white person is arrested is racist? Political correctness has no borders. But he soon wiped the video off his social media accounts.

The creator of the GIF is Roberto Salvador, a graphic designer who goes under twitter handle @Design_Bastard. He told Foreign Policy he actually intended the clip as a satire and was surprised when Francken seemed to view it as a compliment.

Salvador said he was inspired to make the parody after he read an article Monday in Belgian weekly Le Vif about how Francken had deployed a huge show of force  100 police officers, dozens of cars, and a helicopter  to detain 12 undocumented African immigrants in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels.

So Salvador decided to use the episode as creative fodder for his Tumblr. I wanted to express that with a caricature in the form of a GIF, he said. The original message took on a different significance. The media quickly called it a racist video, but it is purely contextual.

Photo credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
As Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump sparred over Americas international military obligations during Monday nights first presidential debate, Clinton sought to reassure world leaders that todays alliances will remain strong if she is elected in November.

I know that this campaign has caused some questioning and worries on the part of many leaders across the globe, she said, adding that people around the word follow our presidential campaigns so closely, trying to get hints about what we will do.

Well, the world certainly watched last night. Below, Foreign Policy has compiled reactions from international leaders, media, and others who certainly followed along closely.



Russia:

Russian daily newspaper Izvestia headlined an article Clintons Victory Guarantees Conflict with Russia, referencing her potential victory in the upcoming election  not the debate.

The article says that according to viewer polls, Hillary won Mondays debate and that neither candidate avoided the Russian issue, which is playing an unprecedentedly large role in this campaign. It also mentions that Clinton blamed Russia for hacking (even though Russia has said on multiple occasions that it was not involved) and repeated Trumps response that it could have been anybody  including a mention Trumps confusing suggestion that it even could have been a 400-pound man.

On the one hand, Trumps untraditionally friendly attitude towards Russia distinguishes him from other presidential candidates  which undoubtedly attracts attention to him, the article says. On the other hand, such a position could cost him a certain amount of votes from those Americans who have gotten used to the representation of Russia as the United States main geopolitical rival which has been actively circulating in the American media.

Britain:

The Telegraph came through with a more neutral headline: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Clash on Race, Temperament and Taxes in Fiery First Presidential TV Debate.

Story continues

The debate concluded with both candidates pledging to respect the results of the election no matter who wins, the article said. Its a sign of just how contentious this election has become that such a pledge is even necessary.

The Guardian led its debate coverage with this headline: Hillary Clinton Calm as Trump Struggles on Issues of Racism, Sexism, and Foreign Policy.

France:

Le Monde, Frances largest daily newspaper, had multiple stories on its homepage this morning about the debate. Here are the headlines:

American Election: Clinton-Trump, Experience Versus Incoherence

Relive the First Debate Between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

Iraq, Sexism, Ford, Taxes  The True and the False from the Clinton-Trump Debate

In a Manhattan Bar, Between a Donald Drumpf and a Secret Server

The United States, in an era of Trump, as seen by Kirk Douglas 100 Years Ago

Germany:

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who leads the Social Democratic Party, said Tuesday that Clinton won the debate.

Trump didnt have a plan. Neither for the U.S. nor for the big foreign policy challenges, Gabriel told German newspaper Bild. Clinton convinced with competence and clarity. It was a clear victory for her.

Deutsche Welle

Clinton Wins Contentious First U.S. presidential debate

Suddeutsche Zeitung

Trump Lost, but Clinton Didnt Win

Italy

La Repubblica

Clinton Beats Trump in First Televised Debate

This Italian daily said the duel of the century with 100 million spectators was worth the wait. It was spectacular, exciting. Maybe decisive.

La Stampa

Calling it one of the best debates in the United States since World War II, Italian commentator Maurizio Molinari  known for his analysis of American events  said in a televised segment that the debate was spectacular, vibrant, and rich in content. The conversation ranged from analyzing Trump and Clintons outfits (he had a messy tie, she was always perfect, but later says there isnt a doubt that Trump prevailed on content, pointing to his comments on the Islamic State and insistence he was opposed to the invasion in Iraq.

Spain:

Spains largest international daily, El Pais, tracked down a group of Latino immigrants watching the debate in Los Angeles for its top story on its homepage. The headline? Latinos laugh at Trump, approve of Clinton.

I dont think that Trump could convince any Latino, they quote one observer as saying, noting that the debate watchers erupted in laughter at Trumps claim he had good relationships with the African-American community.

Another article called the debate the fight of the century.

Hong Kong:

South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper, led with Cybersecurity, terrorism, trade, and nuclear threats  why U.S. Presidential Debate Couldnt Ignore China

China featured much more prominently in first US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton compared with the last two elections, the article said.

South Africa:

Mail & Guardian

This South African daily followed the local currency as it made gains while the market reacted to Clintons perceived victory over Trump. Hillary Clintons debate victory boosts rand to five-week high, the headline read.

Mexico:

On Monday, Univision, a Spanish language broadcaster, had some 231,000 viewers and reached more than 12 million people with its Facebook Live broadcast of the debate.

Mexican officials have repeatedly rebuked Trumps claims that he is going to build a wall on the southern border with the United States and they are going to pay for it. Former Mexican Vice President Vincente Fox reacted to the debate by trolling Trump on Twitter, saying Ay, @realDonaldTrump, you dont debate, you only talk gibberish.

Why hasnt @realDonaldTrump released his tax returns? Are you afraid of people realizing that youre a scam? he asked.

He also called the debate reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast.

Brazil

One country has an even more dysfunctional political drama playing out. Embroiled in its own impeachment crisis, Brazil didnt pay as much attention to the debate as the rest of the world. On Brazils Huffington Post, one of the two short articles on the debate was focused on Mark Ruffalos claim he would host a naked dinner in his next film if Americans dont vote for Trump.

Photo credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Paris (AFP) - Health-damaging atmospheric pollutants, which the World Health Organization warned Tuesday affected nine out of every 10 people, originate mainly from industry, heating and transport.

Chronic exposure has been linked not only to respiratory ailments, but also cancers, heart disease and stroke.

What are they?

PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)

These are microscopic particles generated by coal, oil and forest fires, but also by natural sources such as volcanoes and dust storms.

The building-blackening particles are so light they float on air. Some are so small they can penetrate deep in the lungs and even cross into the bloodstream.

The components include sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, carbon and mineral dust. They may also carry traces of heavy or toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel and mercury.

PM is divided into two categories: PM10, which comprises particles between 2.5 and 10 thousandths of a millimetre, or micrometres; and PM2.5, which is smaller than 2.5 micrometres -- about a 30th the width of a human hair.

PM2.5 is estimated to reduce life expectancy in the European Union by more than eight months, according to the European Environmental Agency (EEA).

NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx)

Nitrogen oxides, poisonous gases that contribute to acid rain and suffocating smog, are found in the fumes of cars, trucks, tractors, boats and industrial processes such as power generation and cement-making.

They are composed of nitric oxide (NO) and a smaller percentage of more poisonous nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

Fossil-fuel burning is by far the main man-made source: cars, trucks, tractors and boats or industrial processes like power generation and cement-making.

Natural sources include bacterial activity, volcanic eruptions and lightning.

NOx can cause breathing problems, headaches, chronically reduced lung function, eye irritation, loss of appetite and corroded teeth.

OZONE (O3)

In the stratosphere, this triple-atom molecule of oxygen is naturally occurring and protects us from the Sun's ultra-violet radiation.

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But at ground level, where it is formed in a chemical reaction between sunlight and exhaust gases, ozone is a component of photochemical smog.

High ozone levels can cause breathing problems, trigger asthmatic attacks and worsen respiratory disease.

OTHERS

Other concerning pollutants include sulphur dioxide (SO2) released by coal and petrol combustion, ammonia (NH3) gas released by farm fertilisers, and carbon monoxide (CO) from burning gas, wood or charcoal, as well as heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel, arsenic and mercury emitted by industry.

SOURCES: WHO, EEA, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
For Varietys latest issue, we asked Bill Clinton to write a tribute for his daughter Chelsea, one of 50 people to make our New Power of New York list. Heres why Chelsea represents a new generation of movers and shakers that capture the best of Manhattan.

Im glad Chelsea chose to be a New Yorker. It gives Hillary and me more time with her, Marc, and their children, and our grandchildren are growing up in one of the worlds most diverse, exciting, creative communities. New York is perfect for her: people celebrate our diversity and cherish our common humanity, lift each other up and push each other forward.

New York has helped Chelsea find her calling. In Lower Manhattan on 9/11, she was shaken by the lives that were lost and steeled in her determination to stay and make a life here. And she has, through two interesting jobs in the private sector and work at NYU, where she helped to co-found the Of Many Institute, a vibrant interfaith group that provides Muslims and Jewish students the chance to learn from one another and work together for the common good.

After Hillarys campaign in 2008, she attended Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, earned a masters degree, and now teaches there. Shes also joined the Clinton Foundation, where she has taken a leading role in modernizing our operations, increasing our impact on the lives of young children through the Too Small to Fail initiative, and developing and sharing the most comprehensive data available on the status of women and girls through No Ceilings, a partnership with Melinda Gates and the Gates Foundation. After Superstorm Sandy, she mobilized 1,000 volunteers for a Day of Action in the Rockaways, and later brought more volunteers to other hard-hit communities in Queens and Staten Island.

You can tell that like most fathers, I think my daughter is pretty great, and my grandchildren have a mother who will show by the power of example that New York is a great place to grow up and give back. I will always be grateful that Chelsea  and my wonderful son-in-law Marc  have made a life of love and purpose in New York City.

Story continues

Bill Clinton is the 42nd president of the United States and founder of the Clinton Foundation. Read our full New Power of New York list here, as well as tributes for Ivanka Trump (by Jared Kushner), Megyn Kelly (by Judge Judy) and Leslie Jones (by Lena Dunham).

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Many years ago, had Harry Truman allowed Gen. McArthur, in Korea to push the North Koreans and Chinese north over the Yalu and Tumen Rivers, the North Koreans would not have developed the nuclear capabilities they have today. They threaten Japan and even the U.S.

My move then, would have been to fly over their nuke sites, drop leaflets, giving them a four-hour window to evacuate, they totally destroy by bombing said facilities.

Fast forward to today. I would do the same thing to Iran right now. They hate us as do many other nations. Nations to whom we give large sums of money. Go online and you will be flabbergasted which countries accept our money, which can ill afford ourselves and then hate us. A pole in Egypt found seventy-seven percent despise us.

I do not like being a hawk however, why do we continue giving our hard earned money away to these nations?

I feel now is time to reevaluate our position, and start helping our citizens, especially veterans, the elderly, the homeless, and our education systems.

I do not like Obamas fundamental change for our nation. Do you?

Dr. P.D. Kerz, Charleston
Nick Gordon was found legally responsible for the death of his girlfriend, Bobbi Kristina Brown, earlier this month, but her father, Bobby Brown, still isn't satisfied.

During an interview with pastor T.D. Jakes, which will air on Wednesday, Brown says that he's hoping that criminal charges will also be filed against Gordon. "I know some things that happened to my daughter. I don't know the specifics of what happened, but as the judge has said, he is legally responsible," Brown explains. "I know some things that happened to my daughter, but it's up to the D.A. now to do his job."

WATCH: Bobby Brown Speaks Out on Nick Gordon Being Found Liable for Bobbi Kristina's Death -- 'All I Ever Wanted Was Answers'

He adds, "The D.A. still hasn't taken out criminal charges on Nick Gordon, and that's what I'm waiting for him to do. That's when I think I will get some closure."

Brown does say he's found some peace. "Just knowing that he's legally responsible for my daughter's death has given me a bit of calmness to waiting for the D.A.," he continues. "There's a lot of strange things that will come out in the criminal charges against Nick."

WATCH: Bobby Brown Shares Sweet Tribute to Bobbi Kristina After Nick Gordon Was Found Liable For Her Death

Bobbi Kristina was found face down in a bathtub in her Georgia home on Jan. 31, 2015. After spending nearly six months in a coma, she died in hospice care on July 26, 2015, at the age of 22. The Fulton County medical examiner listed Brown's official cause of death as pneumonia in March, stating that she died of complications caused by her face being immersed in water, along with drug intoxication.

"My daughter was afraid of tubs because of what happened to her mom. So I know she wouldn't have gotten in the tub," says Brown. "I mean it's crazy because the tub wasn't even full of water. It had a dustpan in it, in the bottom of the tub."

Story continues

MORE: Nick Gordon's Former Lawyer Responds to Bobbi Kristina Brown Civil Case Ruling

Gordon has never been criminally charged in Brown's death. Last August, his lawyers released a statement regarding the wrongful death civil lawsuit filed against him. "Nick has been heartbroken and destroyed over the loss of his love and it's shameful that such baseless allegations have been presented publicly," the statement reads. "Nick has engaged civil counsel and intends to defend the lawsuit vigorously and expose it for what it is: a fictitious assault against the person who loved Krissy most."

WATCH: Nick Gordon Steps Out After Being Found Liable for Bobbi Kristina Brown's Death

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Sarajevo (AFP) - Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said Tuesday he was ready to respond to a prosecutor's summons over a controversial referendum, but demanded that the hearing be held outside Sarajevo.

Sunday's plebiscite saw Bosnian Serbs overwhelmingly vote to keep celebrating a statehood day in January, despite a constitutional court veto on the vote.

The holiday is controversial because it is tied to Bosnia's 1990s war and a sensitive issue for other ethnic groups in the country, which has been divided along ethnic lines into two semi-independent entities since the conflict.

The Muslim-Croat federation and the Serb-run Republika Srpska (RS) are linked by fragile central institutions in the capital Sarajevo.

Dodik, who leads the RS, was summoned on Monday over his organisation of the referendum.

"I am ready to respond to any summons but not in Sarajevo," Dodik told reporters.

"I will do that in a judicial institution in Republika Srpska, no matter where in the territory."

Dodik said he was "not ready to risk my life," fearing he could be a target of "Muslim extremist groups".

Bosnia's Muslim leader, Bakir Izetbegovic, on Sunday compared Dodik's politics with those of fallen autocrats such as the late Saddam Hussein and Moamer Kadhafi, and Dodik interpreted this as an "order" to "extremists groups" to act against him.

Bosnia's constitutional court had cancelled the referendum, ruling that the holiday is illegal because it discriminates against non-Serbs, but Dodik pressed ahead, despite disapproval from the United States and the European Union.

The violation of constitutional court decisions is punishable with up to five years in prison.
From Cosmopolitan

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are set for a rough divorce battle, but it wont be over money or property. TMZ reports that the couple has an ironclad prenuptial agreement that will make it easy to split up their gigantic sum of money. (People puts the number at $500 million.)



According to TMZ, the couple has a whopping 12 properties together, but luckily for their divorce papers, they all bought them before they were married or even before they started dating. Brad owns 7, Angelina owns two, and the two of them bought three of them together before getting married. And their agreement reportedly makes it pretty easy to split up their property.

Naturally, the family's homes are spectacular. Brad bought their home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles back in 1994, and since then, they have bought surrounding properties to keep their lives private. The two of them bought the Chateau Miraval winery back in 2012, and recently tried to sell their $3.5 million home in the French Quarter of New Orleans to no avail. Theyre also rumored to own a $3.8 million villa on the island of Majorca, Spain.

Angelinas attorney, Laura Wasser, usually advises celebrities to move quickly and quietly, settling cases privately without much fanfare, according to the New York Times. The money issues wont be much of a problem, but the custody battle over the couples six kids will reportedly be brutal. Angelina filed for full physical custody, but Brad will likely fight tooth and nail for joint custody instead. Divorce is difficult and sad for every family, especially when kids are involved, and it turns out that no amount of money or fame can change that.

Follow Megan on Twitter.

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Brad Pitt is focusing on his family.

The 52-year-old actor has announced that he will not be attending a premiere of Terrence Malick's Voyage of Time on Tuesday. The event would have been Pitt's first public appearance since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce last week.

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Brad Pitt Doesn't Want His Friends to Badmouth Angelina Jolie: 'He Only Has Positive Things to Say'

"Terrence's Voyage of Time is an incredibly beautiful and unique experiential IMAX film for children and families chronicling the birth of time," he said in a statement obtained by ET. "I'm very grateful to be part of such a fascinating and educational project, but I'm currently focused on my family situation and don't want to distract attention away from this extraordinary film, which I encourage everyone to see."

Pitt narrates a 40-minute IMAX version of the film, while Cate Blanchett narrates the feature-length veresion. Pitt and Malick previously worked together on The Tree of Life.

Jolie filed for divorce from the Fury star on Sept. 19, requesting full physical custody of their six children, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8.

WATCH: Inside Brad Pitt's Relationship With Son Maddox

While Jolie and the kids moved into a new Malibu, California, rental last week, a source told ET that Pitt is hoping to resolve his issues with his estranged wife "amicably and privately," and to see his children soon.

"Every marriage has priorities and they have been able to navigate them up until now," the source added. "Brad has different priorities. He's a leading actor with movies coming out. She has her things she wants to do and no one is saying that's wrong."

"Her global ambitions are part of the current problem -- I don't think anyone wants their kids all over the place," the source continued.

WATCH: Brad Pitt Seeking Crisis Management Amid Child Abuse Allegations and Angelina Jolie Divorce

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See more in the video below.

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Brasilia (AFP) - The US treasury chief praised Brazil's new government on Tuesday and said the Latin American giant is "poised" to exit a painful recession and return to economic growth.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said after meeting with Brazilian President Michel Temer and Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles that "ambitious" reforms are taking the economy in the right direction.

"Brazils economy appears poised to return to growth, following the deepest recession in over 100 years," Lew said in comments after talks in Brasilia.

"I am convinced that the governments proposed structural reforms, if passed by Congress, will help the Brazilian economy realize its enormous growth potential, including promoting the strong and balanced growth which is so important to strengthening the middle class and protecting Brazils most vulnerable populations," he said.

Temer, from the center-right PMDB party, took power in August after leftist president Dilma Rousseff was removed from office in an impeachment trial.

Rousseff's claim that the impeachment was a coup in disguise and Temer's deep unpopularity with voters have tested the new president's legitimacy. Temer has also faced scandal over the linking of several of his ministerial choices to a huge corruption scandal centered on state oil company Petrobras.

However, with the lengthy impeachment battle over and Temer enjoying far more support than Rousseff in Congress, the government hopes to push through austerity reforms to cut spending and lure back investors to the biggest economy in Latin America.

Brazil's GDP shrank 3.8 percent last year and is facing another three-percent contraction this year before returning to growth in 2017.

Lew signalled Washington's backing for Temer, saying that "a prosperous Brazil is not only important for the Brazilian people, but also for the United States and the international community."
By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Brazil is betting Asia's rapidly growing middle class will help it capture one tenth of the global food market in five years by expanding its exports beyond soy, sugar and coffee, the country's Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said on Tuesday.

Maggi, a billionaire soy farmer, said Brazil will focus on increasing sales of beef, pork, chicken, fish, dairy and other products to a region with half the world's population and a middle class that will grow to 3.2 billion people by 2030.

"There's money on the table and it is being distributed to many. When people earn better they focus first on buying more food, and Brazil has to get into that market," he told a news conference after a trip to China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar.

Brazil currently has 6.9 percent of the global food market. It is the world's top exporter of soy, orange juice, beef, coffee and chicken, and has become second largest exporter of corn. It has huge potential to expand food production in a sustainable way, he said.

Economic growth in Brazil is contracting sharply for the second year running, as the country struggles to shake off its worst recession in eighty years. Farming is one of the few areas that is still growing, which Maggi hopes will lead a recovery.

South Korea announced it would open its market to Brazilian pork during Maggi's visit, Vietnam has reopened its market to Brazil's pork, beef and chicken pending inspection of processing plants, and Brasilia is waiting for China to approve several beef packing units to expand sales.

Brazil has a very small piece of India's food market and Maggi said he argued for preferential trade terms for Brazilian farm exports at a meeting in China of the BRICS group of emerging market nations.

Brazil plans to boost production of lentils with an eye to entering the Indian market where they are a staple. Maggi signed a 1-billion-real ($310 mln) deal with Indian agrichemicals firm UPL Ltd to build a plant in Brazil.

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Maggi said Brazilian businessmen who traveled with him to Asia landed potential deals worth up to $2 billion.

Deputy minister Eumar Novacki will travel to Russia next week to expand beef sales. Russia wants to sell Brazil wheat.

He then goes to Japan next week for talks to open up exports of processed and fresh beef. Japan wants access to the Brazilian market for its pricey Wagyu beef, Maggi said. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; editing by Reese Ewing and Diane Craft)
By Joseph Ax NEWARK, N.J. (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was aware of a politically motivated scheme to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as it was unfolding, a key prosecution witness testified on Tuesday at the criminal trial of two former Christie associates. David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who masterminded the plot, told jurors in Newark federal court that he and Bill Baroni, another Port Authority executive, discussed the lane closure with Christie before a memorial service marking the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the World Trade Center. The testimony marked the first specific evidence federal prosecutors have presented to back their contention that the Republican governor knew at the time about the scandal known as "Bridgegate," despite his repeated denials. Baroni and Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Kelly, are charged with fraud and other crimes for allegedly orchestrating the September 2013 closure of access lanes at the bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to punish the town's Democratic mayor for refusing to endorse Christie's re-election bid. "Mr. Baroni said, 'Governor, I have to tell you, there's a tremendous amount of traffic in Fort Lee this morning,'" Wildstein testified, adding that Baroni was using a sarcastic tone. Baroni also said the mayor, Mark Sokolich, was "very frustrated" that his calls to the Port Authority were being ignored. "Governor Christie responded by saying, 'I would imagine that he wouldn't be getting his phone calls returned,'" Wildstein said. Prosecutors showed jurors a series of photographs depicting the three men laughing at the site that morning, which was the third day of the weeklong lane closures. Christie has not been charged with wrongdoing. Wildstein pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. At an unrelated news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, Christie reiterated that he was never made aware of the scheme. "I had no knowledge prior to, or during, these lane realignments. I had no role in authorizing it. I had no knowledge of it," he said. The scandal helped torpedo Christie's White House run, undercutting his bipartisan image. Since taking the witness stand Friday, Wildstein has described coordinated efforts by Christie's office to use the Port Authority's power to punish local officials who failed to get behind his re-election campaign. Another such official, Mayor Steven Fulop of Jersey City, had meetings with executives from the Port Authority and other state agencies canceled after he declined to endorse, Wildstein testified. At the same Sept. 11 event, then-Port Authority Chairman David Samson joined the three men and told Christie that Fulop was trying to reschedule a meeting, according to Wildstein. "Governor Christie said, 'No, no meetings with Mayor Fulop,'" Wildstein testified. Samson, a close ally of Christie's, had also been informed of the lane closures, Wildstein said. He pleaded guilty in July to an unrelated scheme in which he used his power to coerce United Airlines into reinstating a discontinued flight between Newark and South Carolina, near where he owned a vacation home. At one point, Sokolich texted Baroni to say children were trapped on schoolbuses in the gridlock and practically begging for help. "Is it wrong that I'm smiling?" Kelly texted Wildstein, who told the jury that the conspirators chose the first day of school for the closures to maximize traffic. "They are the children of Buono voters," Wildstein replied, referring to Christie's Democratic opponent. (Editing by Scott Malone and Alan Crosby)
Representative Reggie Phillips recently denigrated Fund EIU. The organization includes local citizens, present and former EIU employees, and students who support EIU and our local economy. Reggie accused the group of crying wolf, referring to the attention- hungry boy who loses credibility (and his sheep) for false calls of emergency.

But Reggies comparison is wrong to think the calls for help were false alarms. The emergency was and is realno state budget, students and their families facing uncertainty, hundreds of former employees jobless, and a local economy at risk. The wolf is at the door.

Only Reggie could compound his disconnection from reality by asserting Fund EIU was so loud that the total focus was on us.

Say what?!

Reggie apparently remains oblivious of the huge rallies in Springfield, Chicago, and elsewhere. He evidently remains oblivious of President Glassmans and other university presidents letters and testimonies warning legislators of a crisis thats causing many thousands of students to exit Illinois to pursue educations in states with legislators more enlightened than himself.

Do you think Reggie is really so clueless, or do you think hes trying to avoid responsibility by shifting blame to others? Or both?

John Allison, Charleston
I first heard Bridgit Mendler through an email featuring an upcoming single. The song "Atlantis" was attached, and I was instantly into it, plus it featured young Florida rapper Kaidyo, who hasn't disappointed yet. We locked in a Pigeons & Planes premiere, and for the next couple of days, "Atlantis" was in regular rotation. Then, all of a sudden, #Atlantis was trending on Twitter, showing up everywhere on my timeline. That's when I noticed that Bridgit Mendler has over four million Twitter followers.

A quick Google revealed why: Bridgit was already famous. She started as an actress in movies like Alice Upside Down, The Clique, and Labor Pains, then signed with Disney and appeared in Wizards of Waverly Place, Good Luck Charlie, and Lemonade Mouth. Throughout her teenage years as an actress, she built up a very loyal fan base, and those fans followed her into music when she released her debut album in 2012.

That debut album of sugary, catchy pop music did very well, but "Atlantis" was different. It's moody, subtle, and modern. It feels more personal, less generic. It's a turning point for Bridgit Mendlera potentially awkward one where old fans are alienated by an unfamiliar direction and new ones are confronted with the reality that their new favorite song was created by an ex-Disney star who already has fan clubs in other countries.

Bridgit Mendler is keenly aware of all of this, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She arrives in New York fresh off a flight from L.A., dragging a suitcase behind her, talking about school papers she's putting off, and trying to work out the details of a tour. There are a million things going on, but when we start talking about "Atlantis" and the upcoming album, it's very clear that right now, Bridgit Mendler is focused on the task at handshe just wants to make music that she feels good about.

I discovered you through "Atlantis" which was interesting. I didnt make the connection with your background, so I was just hearing it as this new single from a new artist. Do you find it difficult because "Atlantis" is so different from some of your older music?

I wasnt sure how people were going to receive the song. "Atlantis" was an intentional choice to make a song that really just felt like it had a specific mood to it. That was my biggest priority, to set an emotional tone and then to hopefully bring people along from there. I do want to reintroduce my sound as it is now and I love that people have been receptive to that.

Story continues

So the reception has been good all around?



If anything, people have said it took me a couple of times but they invested a couple spins into it, which I think is cool. It's good to see because my fans have been tremendously loyal over the many years.



Did you ever consider completely rebranding? So many artists now do anonymous releases and create some new character to release music under.



Yea, I definitely considered that. I felt a lot of self-filtering pressure. I had a whole history of being aware of exactly what I should put out and then at a certain point I was like, "Forget that, Im just going to do something thats completely against that. I was going to make my project title Nemesis. Nemesis, for me, means confronting that fear and just standing face-to-face with it. That was going to be the project title and then I actually realized I havent taken full ownership in my identity as I am. So I decided it would be important to keep my name and keep that consistency and own it. I feel happy about the medium that its at right now.



Do you ever feel like your Disney background restricts the kind of music you can make?



No, I feel really comfortable. I was in a session yesterday and it was so fun because its just creative exploration. Thats where its at right now. It feels like theres that freedom to try whatever weird random things I want and just have an authentic connection with the people I make music with. The climate for music is good right now.

So when you were getting ready to release "Atlantis," were you nervous?



Yes. I was just panicking.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT PEOPLE SEE YOU FROM. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M REALIZING THAT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I PRESENT MYSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE IM LIKE AN OLD WOMAN WITH THAT STUFF.

Worried what other people would think?



A little bit, but my version of that translates to trying to control every aspect. I try and think of a million different scenarios that can happen, especially since I am reintroducing myself in this climate. There are so many different angles that people see you from. All of a sudden, I'm realizing that I have no idea how I present myself on social media, because Im like an old woman with that stuff. Ive had to do research to get caught up on that. Stuff like fashionI dont put a lot of effort in and thats kind of how my M.O. with a lot of things pertaining to pop culture, so Ive had to catch myself up for the purpose of communicating who I am to my audience because I want them to get it. I want them to feel like they're getting an authentic, true perception of me.

I saw you reached two million plays on Spotify. Thats crazy.



Yes! Im pretty shocked by it. It feels really, really, really good to be authentic with myself and authentic with the fans and even authentic with the people in my world who know me for who I am as a person.

When did you start making music?



There is the cliche: "Ive been making music my whole life!" But the first song I remember writingI was like seven. Then professionally I did music for Lemonade Mouth the movie, when I was 17.

And the music has changed a lot since then. Do you feel like its still changing? Do you think in five years youll be making something completely different?



Maybe. I would hope so, because I would like every project to feel like a complete reinvention. Not in a sense of discrediting what was done beforeeven with this project I feel a consistency to my identity from the last project. Ive always loved hip-hop music. "Ready or Not" was a Fugees interpretation. There are certain strains that will always stay. For instance, Frank Oceans album comes out and it doesnt sound like anything he did before, or anything anyone did before, and I think that it's so cool. It doesnt feel like Frank Ocean is trying to be something hes not.



What music did you grow up listening to?



It was an odd selection. My parents supposedly had a big record collection in storage, but I was never exposed to it. I got the random of collection of CDs that were put on when cleaning the house or something. So theres Tracy Chapman, one Van Morrison album, 10,000 Maniacs. There was a kids version of all those classics like "Build Me Up Buttercup," and some Beatles songs that were on loop in the car. It was just very random. But my first favorites were Britney [Spears] and Destiny's Child for sure.



When did you get into hip-hop?



I loved Destiny Child when I was eight, but I went through a period of time where I wasnt listening to hip-hop, and then I had some older friends who would turn on different stations on the radio when I moved down to Los Angeles. I had one friend who was into Three 6 Mafia. And I also memorized "Shoop" by Salt-N-Pepa. So I got some random exposureI think thats really my taste; it's just completely random exposure to things.



What are you listening to now? Your work with Kaiydo and Demo Taped suggest pretty eclectic taste.



Yeah, I definitely listen to music all over the map. One of the first people that I loved that you guys posted about was Rationale. A new album that I love is the new Unknown Mortal Orchestra. I really dig that one, I also love the new Vince Staples. So those are some of the current things Ive been listening to. I was at a wedding this past spring and somebody told me I should listen to Al Green, which Id never done before. I listened to his albumthe one with "Love and Happiness" on itand I love that.



Its so fun to discover old music. I feel like I never go back and listen to 70s music or 60s music because I'm so caught up with newer things.



Yes, have you listened to The Animals' retrospective album? Thats a road trip album.



I have to check that out.

Image via Girlie Action/Credit: Myriam Santos

Can you talk a little more about Kaiydo, the rapper on "Atlantis"? I was so surprised to see that because hes so new. How did you decide to get him on this track?



Cruising around through the blogs, I saw him on your site and I liked the music that he had been doing and we wanted a counterpart to the song. I was brainstorming different people to put on the song and when his name came up we thought that he would be a cool fit for it. I have a eclectic taste and I wanted to honor that as I was presenting myself to people.



Was it just one take, or did you go back and forth?



Yeah, pretty much. We altered the production a little bit once he put his verse into it. I thought it was cool he wanted to do a long verse too, like good on you dude.



Have you met him in real life yet?



Yes, now I have met him. I didnt meet him before putting the verse on the song but then I met him, he came out for the Echo show that I did for Popshop, and hes also in the music video.



And then the Demo Taped remixwhat was the story with that?



I had heard Demo Taped's music, and thought he would be able to put an interesting spin to put on it. I think thats what it is, we just want to have interesting combination of things that are going to draw out something unique. When I got the remix in I had just woke up at 3:30 in the morning for whatever reason, and I saw that it came in and I listened to it and I stayed up probably another half hour just listening to it over and over again. I was like, "This is so tight!"



Why did you decide to put the remix out so soon after the song dropped?



I dont know. I like putting stuff out. I get ADD, I think thats what it is. For me, maybe cause Ive been living with "Atlantis" for so long it feels like it wasnt rushed but yea I dont know Im all about more content.



Do you think you're going to have other official remixes, or do you encourage producers to remix the song on their own?



Yes and yes. I have another remix coming soon.



So is music your main focus now?



Right now, yes. I am currently putting off writing a paper for schoolIm very delayed on that. A lot of things are on hold with the music rollout but I dont plan on abandoning acting at all. I think this whole music rollout has been a process of becoming authentic with my audience and really communicating who I am now and I would like to do that with my acting as well. But music will always be important to who I am.

I think this whole music rollout has been a process of becoming authentic with my audience and really communicating who I am now and I would like to do that with my acting as well.

Whats next for you?



Video coming, album coming, I think Im going to be back in New York for some sort of EP premiere show. I want to tour, I really do. I just want to keep doing shows. Ive been locking in the live set up so its ready to rumble.



Do you enjoy performing? Do you like being on stage?



I do, but its funny. When we started doing the rehearsals of the songs, that was another level of backing my music that I realized I had to come to terms with. I had accepted the songs in their produced forms, I was excited about it, but in putting out new music you have to stand behind it and that was something I was timid about because I had not been releasing anything for so long. It felt like a really strong statement, so putting on a live show felt like the ultimate statement of portraying who I am now. That was very intimidating.

I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so I worked really hard on it and made sure that a bunch of friends and family came out to my shows so that I knew theyd be happy audience members. Now Im really excited to share it. I think putting in the work is the number one thing that gives me peace of mind. If I know that Im prepared, then Im good.



Do you have another single before the album drops?



I think thats how the rollout is going to go. The timing is all in flux so thats something that Ive just had to go with the flow with, but yeah there should be another single.

Anything else about the album that you want people to know?



I want to capture a mood. I really like how "Atlantis" captured a feeling and I want it to feel emotional and raw. I want each song to be distinct. I just want it to feel honest.

Bridgit Mendler's Nemesis EP comes out November 18.

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Burger buns have long been beige; but no more!

An enterprising Australian chained called Ribs & Burgers has come up with a bold plan to turn all your burger buns blue.

SEE ALSO: The picture of Jean Grey: Why the X-Men's most powerful mutant is also its most human

Taking inspiration from the deep blue skin of the shape-shifting mutants Mystique and Nightcrawler, the creations celebrate the Blu-ray (you know, those round disc things) release of X-Men: Apocalypse. You've got your triple chillied chicken, some blue cheese and one hell of a blue bun.

Wanna burger that looks like me?

Image: Murray Close/Getty Images

Devastatingly, the 'mutant burgers' are only available in a limited number across the country on Sept 28.

A bonus 100 blue-bunned burgers will be available for free in Sydney through the Deliveroo app between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. AEST.

Image: Supplied

As a delicious closer, a handful Deliveroo bike riders will be painted in the likeness of the shape-shifting mutant.

Those delivery workers not in blue makeup could equally say they were Mystique, but like, when she shape shifts to look like literally anyone else.

Hungry yet?
Bratislava (AFP) - Britain vowed Tuesday to oppose any attempt to create an "EU army" following the Brexit vote, although the head of NATO denied that European defence cooperation would undermine the transatlantic alliance.

The row broke out as European Union defence ministers met in Bratislava to discuss ways of boosting defence cooperation, one of the priorities set when the bloc's leaders met without Britain earlier this month.

Arriving for the talks, British defence minister Michael Fallon said NATO -- which shares 22 of its 28 members with the EU -- had to remain a "cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe".

"We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters which would simply undermine NATO," Fallon told reporters in the Slovakian capital.

Asked whether Britain could veto the plans in the estimated two-plus years before it formally leaves the EU, Fallon replied: "There is no majority here for a EU army.

"There are a number of other countries who believe with us that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states."

But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg appeared to contradict Fallon's claims.

"There is no contradiction between strong European defence and strong NATO, actually it reinforces each other," said Stoltenberg, who was also attending Tuesday's meeting of the EU ministers.

He did however say it was "important to avoid duplication" and that there should be "complementarity" between EU and NATO.

- 'Common ground' -

Mogherini said the EU defence ministers had "found common ground... on the need to strengthen European defence cooperation, and in full complementarity with NATO".

Citing an EU-NATO agreement signed in Warsaw in July, she said it would be "in full complementarity with no duplications, but mutually reinforcing our work".

EU leaders on September 16 agreed at a summit in Bratislava on a six-month roadmap to create a new "vision" for the EU following the shock June 23 British vote to leave.

Story continues

Key to that is a joint French and German plan for more joint defence and a European military headquarters.

Britain, which along with France is one of the EU's two biggest defence powers, has always opposed any common European defence force on the grounds that it would double up with NATO.

The EU's plans are also being watched warily in many Eastern European nations that depend on NATO's security umbrella more than ever in the face of a resurgent Russia.

The issue is also at stake in the US presidential election, where Republican candidate Donald Trump has openly raised questions about the alliance's key Article 5 collective security guarantee.

Fallon meanwhile insisted that Britain would continue to contribute to European defence as a member of NATO despite leaving the EU.

"We are leaving the European Union but we remain committed to the security of Europe and putting more troops into Estonia or Poland next year."
LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Britain's economy needs an infrastructure and vocational education upgrade to deliver stability to businesses after months of political drama including the vote to leave the European Union, business minister Greg Clark said on Tuesday.

"We have had enough drama in British politics over the last year - I want us to recover our reputation for stability and predictability as a business environment," Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Clark added.

Clark said an industrial strategy he was working on with Prime Minister Theresa May would provide stability while improving infrastructure such as roads, railways and Internet and education.

(Reporting by Helen Reid, writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Stephen Addison)
By Russell Cheyne

GRANGEMOUTH, Scotland (Reuters) - Britain's first shale gas delivery from the United States sailed into a heated European political debate on fracking on Tuesday and immediately ran into its first practical problem - the Scottish weather.

The huge "Ineos Insight" tanker had entered the Firth of Forth at sunrise, a lone Scots piper playing on its bow, as it headed for the Grangemouth refinery, west of Edinburgh.

But gusty squalls prevented it from unloading its controversial cargo before an assembled crowd of dignitaries.

"The Insight vessel was unable to dock at the port due to high winds," said a spokesman for Zurich-based chemicals giant Ineos. It would arrive at the port as soon as wind died down, he added.

Ship tracking data on Reuters showed the vessel had turned back into deeper waters.

Ineos is importing ethane, obtained from rocks fractured at high pressure, or "fracking", in a foretaste of larger deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from shale set to reach Europe in 2018.

Environmentalists say the technique causes problems including pollution of the water table, and attempts to set up fracking operations in England have run into stiff opposition.

"Setting aside the devastating local impacts of fracking, the climate consequences of extracting yet more fossil fuels are utterly disastrous," said Friends of the Earth Scotland's Head of Campaigns, Mary Church.

Scotland's devolved government imposed a moratorium on fracking last year and the Labour party said this week it would ban it if the party were elected in 2020.

But the industry has the full backing of Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May.

Ineos Chairman Jim Ratcliffe argues that as the North Sea is unable to keep supplying the base ingredients to make chemicals at Grangemouth, shale gas will be an important future energy resource.

"There simply is insufficient raw material (oil and gas) coming out of the North Sea to run Grangemouth so we're talking about 10,000 jobs in total that depend on that facility," Ratcliffe told BBC Radio Scotland.

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"So were it not for the shale gas that we're bringing in from the U.S., Grangemouth would have closed three years ago."

Ineos is Britain's biggest shale gas company in terms of acreage and it has promised to share six percent of future shale gas revenue with local communities.

It has built an import terminal at Grangemouth as part of a project costing 450 million pounds ($580 million). The ethane will be converted into ethylene, used in the production of a range of plastic products, solvents and antifreezes.

Ineos says it wants to create a new manufacturing hub around Grangemouth to allow other producers access to U.S. ethane, which it says is cheaper.

"We can and should be allowed to develop our own shale, creating even more value for our economy and environment," said Ken Cronin, chief executive of industry group UK Onshore Oil and Gas.

Europe could hold trillions of cubic metres of shale gas resources, according to the International Energy Agency, but it is still unknown exactly where and how large they are, and whether extracting them is commercially viable.

There are currently no commercial shale gas fracking operations taking place in Europe. Some countries, including Germany and France, have imposed moratoriums on fracking, mainly due to concerns over its impact on the environment.

(Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps, writing by Elisabeth O'Leary; editing by Stephen Addison)
By Russell Cheyne GRANGEMOUTH, Scotland (Reuters) - Britain's first shale gas delivery from the United States sailed into a heated European political debate on fracking on Tuesday and immediately ran into its first practical problem - the Scottish weather. The huge "Ineos Insight" tanker had entered the Firth of Forth at sunrise, a lone Scots piper playing on its bow, as it headed for the Grangemouth refinery, west of Edinburgh. But gusty squalls prevented it from unloading its controversial cargo before an assembled crowd of dignitaries. "The Insight vessel was unable to dock at the port due to high winds," said a spokesman for Zurich-based chemicals giant Ineos. It would arrive at the port as soon as wind died down, he added. Ship tracking data on Reuters showed the vessel had turned back into deeper waters. Ineos is importing ethane, obtained from rocks fractured at high pressure, or "fracking", in a foretaste of larger deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from shale set to reach Europe in 2018. Environmentalists say the technique causes problems including pollution of the water table, and attempts to set up fracking operations in England have run into stiff opposition. "Setting aside the devastating local impacts of fracking, the climate consequences of extracting yet more fossil fuels are utterly disastrous," said Friends of the Earth Scotland's Head of Campaigns, Mary Church. Scotland's devolved government imposed a moratorium on fracking last year and the Labour party said this week it would ban it if the party were elected in 2020. But the industry has the full backing of Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. Ineos Chairman Jim Ratcliffe argues that as the North Sea is unable to keep supplying the base ingredients to make chemicals at Grangemouth, shale gas will be an important future energy resource. "There simply is insufficient raw material (oil and gas) coming out of the North Sea to run Grangemouth so we're talking about 10,000 jobs in total that depend on that facility," Ratcliffe told BBC Radio Scotland. "So were it not for the shale gas that we're bringing in from the U.S., Grangemouth would have closed three years ago." Ineos is Britain's biggest shale gas company in terms of acreage and it has promised to share six percent of future shale gas revenue with local communities. It has built an import terminal at Grangemouth as part of a project costing 450 million pounds ($580 million). The ethane will be converted into ethylene, used in the production of a range of plastic products, solvents and antifreezes. Ineos says it wants to create a new manufacturing hub around Grangemouth to allow other producers access to U.S. ethane, which it says is cheaper. "We can and should be allowed to develop our own shale, creating even more value for our economy and environment," said Ken Cronin, chief executive of industry group UK Onshore Oil and Gas. Europe could hold trillions of cubic metres of shale gas resources, according to the International Energy Agency, but it is still unknown exactly where and how large they are, and whether extracting them is commercially viable. There are currently no commercial shale gas fracking operations taking place in Europe. Some countries, including Germany and France, have imposed moratoriums on fracking, mainly due to concerns over its impact on the environment. (Additional reporting by Karolin Schaps, writing by Elisabeth O'Leary; editing by Stephen Addison)
This summer, France sparked international outrage after dozens of cities and towns banned women from wearing burkinis  full-body swimsuits favored by some Muslims  in public swimming pools and beaches.

But going totally nude in the capital of Paris? Well, soon there will be no problem with that at all.

By as early as next summer, nudists may be able to enjoy a special designated area of Paris where they can let it all hang out, now that city councillors have approved pending plans for the experimental area.

Councilman David Belliard said that there are two million nudists in France, and that count doubles during summer months when tourism booms.

For them Paris is the worlds premier tourist destination and theres no public place for them to go, he said. We want to try out a recreational area where nudists can freely strip off.

Frances Muslim population is about 5 million, or more than twice as large as the countrys naturist hordes, at least in the offseason.

And Parisian Deputy Mayor Bruno Julliard has said that both he and Mayor Anne Hidalgo support the plan so long as it takes place somewhere just outside of the urban center, near a lake [or] in a regulated setting so that there is no threat to public order.

His choice of wording is ironic, considering that burkinis worn in similar settings  at beaches, lakes, or pools  were labeled as serious threats to public disorder this summer, particularly in the aftermath of an Islamic State attack on a Bastille Day celebration in the seaside city of Nice on July 14.

But Belliard, a Green Party member, insists he wants nothing to do with the debate over the burkini.



People can dress how they want to and thus choose to not get dressed at all, he said this week.

Photo credit: BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images
In theory, clostridium difficile (aka C. diff) does not seem like a tough problem to solve. Yes, its a deadly bacterial infection that sickens almost a half-million people and contributes to some 29,000 deaths every year, the vast majority in hospitals and other healthcare settings. And yes, it has recently become both more common and more deadly.

But the weapons needed to defeat this bug are inexpensive and straightforward: soap, gloves, disinfectants, and the proper use of antibiotics.

So its particularly frustrating that even as several serious hospital-acquired infections (including those caused by central-line catheters) have declined, C. diff continues to plague some of the nation's most prestigious medical centers.

Far too many patients are getting infected with dangerous bacteria in healthcare settings, said Tom Frieden, M.D., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About a third of the more than 3,100 hospitals we evaluated received a low rating for C. diff infection control, meaning their infection rates were worse than the national benchmark. And 19 of the nations largest teaching hospitals were among those to receive low marks, including some of the most recognized ones, such as Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Teaching hospitals are supposed to be places where we identify the best practices and put them to work, says Lisa McGiffert, director of Consumer Reports' Safe Patient Project. But even they seem to be struggling against this infection. Only two large teaching hospitalsMount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla., and Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.earned one of our top two scores in preventing the infection.

So, why is C. diff proving so difficult to control? There are a number of things that have to work together to keep the infection under control, says Edward Chapnick, M.D., director of the Division of Infectious Disease at Maimonides. Yes, the tools are simple, but they have to be deployed exactly the right way over and over and over again, he says. And thats not so easy, especially in big hospitals with hundreds of beds and lots of different people.

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The CDC has laid out a list of methods for tackling C. diff that includes detailed protocols for hand hygiene and room cleaning as well as suggestions about nurse-to-patient ratios and the importance of hospital leadership.

But the agency lacks the authority to mandate such protocols, and its unclear how many hospitals are taking the initiative on their own. For example, the biggest risk factor for C. diff infection is antibiotic overuse. But the CDC reports that so far, only 39 percent of all hospitals have an antibiotic stewardship program in place.

C. Diff Prevention: Lowest-Rated Teaching Hospitals in the U.S.

Listed below are the 19 large teaching hospitals in the country that got our lowest or second-lowest rating in preventing C. diff, meaning they had an infection rate worse than the national benchmark. All of the hospitals are teaching hospitals with at least 500 beds and 200,000 patient days over the reporting period. (Hospitals are listed alphabetically; those with a footnote also received a low score in preventing C. diff when we last looked at this measure, in March 2016.)

Guide to the Ratings. These Ratings reflect how hospitals performed in a snapshot in time, based on data hospitals reported to the CDC between October 2014 and September 2015. The data are released periodically throughout the year. The CDC adjusts to account for factors such as the hospital's size, whether its a teaching hospital, and how common C. diff is in the community around the hospital. Note that hospitals can receive a low score in this measure but do well against other infections, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or surgical-site infection, or do well in this measure but poorly in others. See our complete hospital ratings as well as more about how we rate hospitals.

C. Diff Prevention: Highest-Rated Teaching Hospitals in the U.S.

Only two large teachings hospitalsthose with at least 500 bedsearned one of our top two scores against C. diff, meaning that their C. diff infection rates were at least 50 percent better than the national benchmark.



What Hospitals Say

Representatives of some of the low-scoring teaching hospitals in our ratings say that institutions like theirs face special challenges in combating C. diff.

For example, several hospitals that we spoke with, in both March 2016 (when we last rated hospitals on this measure) and now, argued that teaching hospitals tend to see sicker patients than nonteaching hospitals and that many of their patients are already infected with C. diff on admission.

In March, Craig Civale, a spokesman for Baylor University Medical Center, told us that his hospital routinely admits very complex patients with multiple conditions." A spokeswoman for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, echoed those sentiments. And when we communicated with her for this update, she added that her hospital sees an unusually large number of older patients, who are not only at increased risk of contracting the infection but who are often already infected with C. diff when they enter the hospital.

It's also possible that higher C. diff rates simply reflect better reporting on the part of teaching hospitals, though the CDC does adjust the data to reflect that possibility.

In any case, hospital officials acknowledge that C. diff. is a serious problem, and the ones we spoke with for this update said that since March, they have stepped up their efforts to combat the infection.

Baylor told us that it has developed new protocols to ensure that antibiotics are prescribed appropriately. And the hospital now isolates any patient admitted with signs or symptoms of C. diff, even if they havent yet tested positive. It has also started using a daily disinfectant that has been EPA-approved to combat C. diff.

At Cedars-Sinai all patients with diarrhea are now tested for C. diff, a spokeswoman for the hospital said. The antibiotic stewardship program has been expanded for both inpatients and outpatients, and the hospital says it is already seeing a reduction in C. diff cases between 2015 and 2016.

In a March 2016 statement to Consumer Reports, the Cleveland Clinic noted that the hospital is committed to continuous improvement in quality and safety. When contacted about the updated ratings, a spokeswoman said that this comment still stands.



Keep It Clean

The vast majority of C. diff infections94 percent, according to the CDCoccur in hospitals and other healthcare settings, for several reasons.

The first has to do with the microbe itself. C. diff is a hardy species that can survive for weeks on a range of surfaces, including doorknobs and bed rails. Once those germs get into the intestinal tracts of people with compromised immune systems (exactly the kind of people you find in abundance in a hospital), they grow, spread, and sicken patients.

Combating C. diff, which is found in fecal matter and is easily passed from person to person, requires intense vigilance. Rooms must be cleaned with stringent, EPA-approved cleaners that contain germ-killing agents (such as bleach) every time an infected patient passes through.

And to prevent its spread by healthcare workers, hands must be gloved as often as possible and, once the gloves are removed, washed thoroughly and regularly, again and again.

Yet a 2014 University of Iowa study found that less than a third of healthcare workers in intensive care units always wash their hands. And in a Consumer Reports survey of 1,200 recently hospitalized people, only half reported always seeing their doctor or nurse wash their hands.

Doctors and nurses get busy, says Louise-Marie Dembry, M.D., professor of medicine and epidemiology at Yale University and president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Sometimes they simply forget to rewash their hands when they walk into a new patients room.

They also get apathetic. Fatigue develops, just like with anything else, says Chapnick at Maimonides. Screen-saver messages, email reminders, weve tried all of those things. People start to not see them after a while," he says. "Its not that they dont care. Its just that theyre human.

In his hospital, Chapnick has found that real live dialoguepeople in charge of infection control constantly talking to hospital staff about hand-washing and other behaviorsworks best.

Use Antibiotics Properly

Another reason, and a particularly important one, that C. diff has persisted in hospitals has to do with the misuse of antibiotics.

Those drugs are obviously lifesaving when used appropriately, said Erik Dubberke, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University in St. Louis and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. But they can also make you vulnerable to C. diff.

Antibiotics can kill off deadly infectious bacteria. But they can also kill off the good bacteria that normally grow in your stomach, which in turn can allow bad bacteria like C. diff to thrive.

That is especially true with broad spectrum antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro and generic) and levofloxacin (Levaquin and generic), that act against a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria at once (as opposed to targeting just one specific species).

About half of all hospitalized patients receive antibiotics, even though up to 50 percent of such prescriptions are unnecessary or inappropriate, according to the CDC.

The agency is currently working to get all U.S. hospitals to implement antibiotic stewardship programs by 2020. Stewardship programs include a number of provisionssuch as putting one pharmacist in charge of antibiotic use and holding one administrator accountable for infection ratesthat have been shown to work at reining in use of these precious medications.

The Joint Commission, a nonprofit that certifies and accredits healthcare organizations, plans to make such programs a requirement for accreditation for all hospitals in January 2017.

What You Can Do

If you (or family members or friends) are in the hospital, heres what you can do to reduce your risk of developing a C. diff infection:

Make sure you really need that antibiotic. If your doctor wants to give you an antibiotic, ask why. If the doctor suspects an infection, he or she should do a rapid culture, if possible, to quickly pinpoint the possible bacteria and prescribe the most effective antibiotic at the lowest dose.

Insist on hand-washing and gloves. Ask everyone who walks into your room whether theyve washed their hands with soapif theyre doing it at your sink, make sure they scrub for 40 to 60 seconds. Also check that they are wearing gloves. Rubbing on alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not strong enough to destroy C. diff, Dembry said.



Watch out for heartburn drugs. Hospital patients are sometimes prescribed heartburn drugs called proton-pump inhibitors, such as esomeprazole (Nexium and generic) and omeprazole (Prilosec and generic) to prevent heartburn or bleeding in the stomach. But those medications can also increase the risk of C. diff infections taking hold in your stomach because lower acid levels make it easier for the bacteria to pass through the gut unharmed into the lower intestine, where they thrive. So if your doctor suggests you take one of those drugs while in the hospital, ask why.

Ask about the hospitals protective measures. Hospitals should order a C. diff test for any patient who has diarrhea (three loose stools within 24 hours), the CDC says. Anyone with diagnosed C. diff should be put in a single room, and healthcare providers should wear gloves and gowns when treating that patient.

C. Diff Prevention: Lowest-Rated Hospitals by State

This chart shows all hospitals in the U.S., including teaching and nonteaching hospitals, that received Consumer Reports lowest rating for preventing C. diff infections. That means they had an infection rate more than twice the national benchmark for these infections. Hospitals are sorted alphabetically within states. We are also noting bed size to make it easier to compare similar hospitals.

Guide to the Ratings. These Ratings reflect how hospitals performed in a snapshot in time, based on data hospitals reported to the CDC between October 2014 and September 2015. The data are released periodically throughout the year. The CDC adjusts to account for factors such as the hospital's size, whether its a teaching hospital, and how common C. diff is in the community around the hospital. Note that hospitals can receive a low score in this measure but do well against other infections, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or surgical-site infection, or do well in this measure but poorly in others. See our complete hospital Ratings as well as more about how we rate hospitals.





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.
By Ellen Wulfhorst

NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Children will no longer be classified as prostitutes in the U.S. state of California after a new law decriminalized prostitution for minors in a move praised by child rights campaigners.

Coming on the back of a public campaign coined "There is No Such Thing" as a child prostitute, crimes of solicitation and prostitution will no longer apply to anyone aged under 18.

Under-age victims of sex trafficking are to be referred to child welfare agencies.

The law was among several signed by Governor Jerry Brown this week to boost protections for children forced into sex trafficking.

"The passage of these critical laws marks a clear shift in the public perception of sexually exploited children as victims rather than criminals," said Yasmin Vafa, executive director of Rights4Girls that launched the "No Such Thing" campaign.

"We are thrilled that media and lawmakers alike are beginning to understand that there is no such thing as a child prostitute," she said in a statement.

Other new measures include allowing prior convictions by trafficking victims to be eliminated and the records sealed, and allowing children under age 16 to testify remotely by closed-circuit television rather than open court in some cases, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The laws come amid debate over redefining prostitution as sex trafficking, in which victims are coerced and exploited, do not choose sex work voluntarily and cannot leave.

Children in particular are too young to consent, advocates say.

Others argue prostitution is a matter of free choice and valid work that should be decriminalized so that sex workers are not punished.

In the United States, as many as 1,000 children are arrested each year on charges of prostitution, according to Rights4Girls.

More than a dozen other states have similar laws decriminalizing prostitution for children, but the measure in California is significant because it is one of the largest U.S. states and accounts for many of the arrests of children in the country, according to a spokeswoman for Rights4Girls.

Under U.S. federal law, the prostitution of children is considered a form of human trafficking, according to the Department of Justice.

(Reporting by Ellen Wulfhorst, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, land rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Well folks, here we are again. The people have told the schools not once, but twice, NO on the 1% sales taxes. Now they are calling it a facility tax; same thing, different name. Whats funny is the extent they are willing to go to get your vote. On their face book page they say we are lying about the property taxes, yet the Charleston High School Superintendent last time this was voted on, in the Times Courier, admitted we were telling the truth. We have said to call your senator to verify our statement. I dont believe they have.

We have been open and honest, they have not. Our statements can be proven, theirs cannot. If you want an example, one year after the 1% sales tax passed in Decatur schools, they spent 40 million dollars on a cafeteria. Yes, a cafeteria. One year later the county board announces a property tax increase for the schools

In Illinois, there are three ways to raise property taxes for school. 1. Referendum. 2. Condemn the school and force tax payers to pay for a new one. 3. General obligation bond. The above Decatur news was in the Decatur Herald and is public record.

Citizens for Coles County Schools are the one whos Face book denies the truth. Sadly, these people are setting a bad example for our children by saying deceit is better than honesty. This is truly sad!

The problems the Charleston Schools told you about in their multiple meetings were to sway you into voting for the 1% sales tax. These problems still exist because the revenue from the 1% cannot be used for their problems, it can only be used to indebt the schools more. The 1% revenue can only be used for land acquisition, building renovations and new building. Thats it; it is a matter of public record.

Leslee Combs, Charleston
By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A would-be Islamic State recruit from California was sentenced on Monday to 30 years in prison for his conviction on charges he sought to join the militant group in Syria and committed bank fraud to pay for a plane ticket there, federal prosecutors said.

Nader Elhuzayel, 25, was found guilty in June by a U.S. District Court jury in Santa Ana, California, of conspiring and attempting to provide material support, namely himself, to a terrorist organization, and 26 counts of bank fraud.

He became the first person tried, convicted and sentenced for such charges in federal court, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said. More than 70 individuals have been charged in the United States with trying to travel abroad to enlist with Islamic State, with most cases resulting in guilty pleas.

A native-born U.S. citizen, Elhuzayel worked various odd jobs after graduating from high school, took a course in medical billing and attended community college for several semesters, according to a pre-sentencing memorandum.

Elhuzayel was arrested on May 21, 2015, when he tried to board a Turkish Airlines plane at Los Angeles International Airport for a flight to Turkey, from where he had planned to make his way to the Syrian border, federal prosecutors said.

Found in his carry-on bag was a computer storage drive containing graphic photos of Islamic State beheadings and a "hit list" of U.S. Defense Department employee names and addresses compiled by the extremist group, according to evidence presented at trial.

Weeks earlier, prosecutors said, Elhuzayel had posted Twitter messages professing support for a 2015 incident in Texas in which two gunmen attacked an exhibit of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad and were shot to death by police.

Elhuzayel also appeared in a video swearing allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and pledging to enlist as a fighter in the militant group, which has seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on civilians in Europe.

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Prosecutors said Elhuzayel and a co-defendant, Muhanad Badawi, repeatedly used social media to express their support for Islamic State, including its execution of gay men. One Twitter message posted by Elhuzayel declared: "The only thing more beautiful than rain is homosexuals being thrown off tall buildings."

Badawi was convicted in a joint trial with Elhuzayel of conspiring with him to support terrorism, aiding and abetting his efforts by purchasing his one-way plane ticket, and a single count of financial aid fraud in connection with the plot.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17, and faces up to 15 years in prison for each count relating to providing support for terrorism.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum and Peter Cooney)
From Road & Track

We found it by accident.

See, our plan called for a full day of driving and photography of the cars we were testing. Usually, photography in the LA area means you go to Malibu and then head up into the canyons or you go to Angeles Crest Forest and drive the amazing road there. We've driven Malibu a lot, but we rarely get up to Angeles Crest. I decided to rectify that and plotted out a route.

We'd meet in Azusa, California for lunch, then drive out of town on Highway 39 to Angeles Crest Highway which would then take us to our end point, ICON Customs.

We never made it to ICON.

Highway 39 looked rightfully amazing on Google Maps, with a mix of fast corners, hairpins, and straights as it snaked its way over the mountains to Angeles Crest. At lunch, R&T.com deputy editor Bob Sorokanich and photographer extraordinaire DW Burnett both looked at the route but had reservations.

Photo credit: Google Maps

Like me, they thought it looked like a truly great road. Unlike me, they thought there was a chance that it wouldn't meet up with Angeles Crest. I had unwavering confidence in an app and a piece of asphalt that I'd never seen before, based solely on a clearly obvious intersection at the top of Highway 39.

I led us out to the cars and we started on our trek up the mountain. It just kept getting better the further we went. And the best part was that there was essentially no traffic. It was mile after mile of deserted road wonderfulness.

And then, as we came around a right hand corner near a high overlook, we found out why. A large metal gate blocked the road, and not a temporary gate, but a real, permanent, longstanding gate, we assumed it had been closed due to the wildfires. That's when I realized that Bob and DW were right: This road will not be getting us to Angeles Crest.

Photo credit: DW Burnett/Puppyknuckles

We pulled in to the overlook and planned some still photos, and as cars came up, we flagged them down to let them know that the road was closed. The people shrugged, thanked us, and then unlocked the gate themselves, drove through, and relocked it. We didn't do the same, just because we didn't know what was ahead.

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On our way down the mountain, we stopped at a campsite to pick up some drinks and a snack. We asked the owner if the road was closed because of the fires.

Photo credit: DW Burnett/Puppyknuckles

It was not. "The road has been closed for 40 years," he told us. Apparently, if I had just done a quick Google search for Highway 39, I'd have found out that the final four miles of the road have been closed since 1978 due to a mud and rock slide and hasn't been officially reopened thanks to budget issues with Caltrans. The people that we saw going through the gates were likely heading to a popular hiking trail another two miles up the road.

If you're looking to take a drive that actually goes somewhere, this is not the road for you. But if you want nearly 25 miles of deserted road to yourself, look no further than Highway 39.

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By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) and Red Cross called on Tuesday for dozens of sick and wounded people in the embattled eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo to be evacuated through safe corridors for treatment. The Syrian military, helped by Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias and the Russian air force, launched a campaign to take rebel-held eastern Aleppo last week, where the WHO said only 35 doctors remained to care for more than 250,000 people. Syrian pro-government forces attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a campaign that has destroyed a U.S.-backed ceasefire. "WHO is calling for the immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said. Only seven hospitals remain in east Aleppo, some of them only partially functional, and hundreds of wounded are trapped in the encircled city, she said. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said that dozens of patients required evacuation and that local health authorities would draw up the initial list which then would be assessed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. "WHO submitted the request for medical evacuations through the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Jasarevic said by email from Syria. "The plans are being firmed up on how and where to evacuate with options of west Aleppo and Bab al Hawa hospital in Idlib," he said, referring to a hospital along the Turkish-Syrian border. Medical staff in eastern Aleppo are working relentlessly to save lives but are unable to cope with the demand for specialized and emergency services, ICRC spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said. "There is a desperate need for medical evacuations; hospitals are short of surgical trauma items and blood products for transfusions," she said. Syrian doctors said on Monday they were in dire need of medical and surgical supplies to treat hundreds of wounded. The Syrian doctors said at least 40 wounded people in eastern Aleppo needed to be evacuated, but most wanted to be sent to rebel-held areas or abroad, not to the government-controlled western side of the city. "We are waiting to evacuate them safely, to the hospitals in Idlib governorate, and some of them need to be evacuated to Turkey," said Dr. Abd Arrahman Alomar of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). Jessy Chahine, spokeswoman for U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, told Tuesday's briefing: "We do remind always all parties that evacuation operations have to be in accordance with IHL (international humanitarian law) and protection standards." International law has rules against forcibly displacing people and evacuations must be voluntary, she said. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Raissa Kasolowsky)
(Adds details, background)

OTTAWA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Canadian government will announce on Tuesday whether it has approved a C$11 billion ($8.3 billion) liquefied natural gas plant proposed by Malaysian state oil firm Petronas after a three year wait.

An official statement said Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr would reveal the decision in the Pacific province of British Columbia at 5:15 p.m. local time (0015 GMT Wednesday).

The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took into consideration an environmental assessment that said the plant in British Columbia would have significant adverse effects requiring major remedial work.

Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd, known as Petronas, along with partner companies proposed the plant called Pacific NorthWest LNG on a remote island about 450 miles (725 km) northwest of Vancouver with a target of starting operation in 2019, according to the plant's website.

The decision is widely seen as a major test for the Liberals, who must juggle the needs of an energy industry suffering from job losses as well as the concerns of environmentalists, who Trudeau courted in his successful 2015 election campaign.

Even if Petronas is granted permission for the plant, it may decide not to proceed. The firm has seen a global slump in crude prices squeeze finances, which make up a third of Malaysia's oil and gas revenue.

Green activists say the plant would cause a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions at a time when Canada looks set to badly miss its existing climate change targets.

The provincial Liberal government in British Columbia - which faces an election next May - strongly backs the project. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Andrea Hopkins; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
(Adds details on fund, West Face)

TORONTO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Canadian money manager West Face Capital is looking to raise $1.5 billion for a new private equity fund, according to a person familiar with the situation on Tuesday.

The Toronto-based hedge fund is targeting both U.S. and Canadian investors with the new fund, the source said on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public.

West Face has taken stakes in companies such as Maple Leaf Foods Inc and SNC-Lavalin Group Inc and pushed for changes.

West Face Capital has been pushing SNC-Lavalin to sell its stake in Ontario's 407 toll highway, sources told Reuters in June.

(Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by Paul Simao and Richard Chang)
A study of cancer mortality rates and trends among Asian Americans has revealed that specific ethnic groups face higher rates of some cancer types.

Researchers obtained data on 85,616 cancer-related deaths from 2003 to 2011 from the National Center for Health Statistics for the study, which was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. They examined the mortality statistics by cancer type, sex, and ethnicity (divided into Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese).

As well as determining that there is generally a lower cancer death rate among Asian Americans than non-Hispanic white people, specific cancer rates were shown to differ between the various ethnic groups. Stomach cancer, for example, accounted for 10-15% of Korean cancer deaths and 5-10% of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cancer deaths.

Breast cancer death rates were significantly lower among most Asian American women than non-Hispanic white women, however they were higher among those of Filipino and Asian Indian descent.

Lung cancer was identified as the leading cause of all cancer-related deaths among Asian American men, with a modest increase in lung cancer deaths found among Chinese, Filipina, and Japanese women specifically.

Caroline A. Thompson, an assistant professor of epidemiology at San Diego State University and the studys lead author, believes these results show that Asian Americans in the U.S. would benefit from ethnic-specific cancer prevention efforts.

For patients, its important to understand your risk profile and to consider cultural, lifestyle, or modifiable health behaviors that might increase your risk of cancer, she said.

In recent years, Asian Americans have surpassed Hispanics as the most rapidly growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S. There are currently 17.3 million living in the U.S., representing 5.6% of the population. By the year 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the Asian American population will exceed 40 million.
Youve heard it before: Africa, the new investment frontier! Risky, but high reward potential, the mantra goes of emerging markets  particularly in Africa, home to 13 of the 20 fastest-growing economies in the world.

This mantra was on the mind of Zambian-born, Zimbabwean-raised Patrick Chella when he decided it was time to move in on the continents real estate market. The 42-year-old CEO of real estate crowdfunding platform Realty Africa considers himself a Robin Hood of the sector, as hes opening up the industry for investment opportunities from average folks. Property developers can use Chellas platform, the first real estate crowdfunding platform on the continent, to gather funds for new ventures across sub-Saharan Africa. Like other crowdfunding services, Realty Africa allows investors and developers to connect; projects on the site undergo an initial vetting process. The minimum investment is $1,000. (American investors must be accredited, which requires an annual income of at least $250,000.)

In the age of crowdfunding madness, as everything from new technologies to comic books and even startup stock becomes available to everyday people without millions in their pockets, Chella is making a practical business decision. According to a 2015 report by Massolutions, real estate crowdfunding closed the year a $2.57 billion industry, a 150 percent growth from the year prior, making it one of the fastest-growing forms of crowdfunding. Around 20 percent net annual returns are forecast from investments in shopping malls, office blocks or industrial complexes, according to a 2015 PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

A housing market can crash but it always has value. Patrick Chella

Demand for property will skyrocket on this continent already dotted with gleaming new malls. The harbingers of middle-class hunger are visible everywhere: Weaving along busy Robert Mugabe Road in the central business district of Harare, Zimbabwe, one can see dozens of workers sweating to build the next Chadstone shopping mall. A drive into Harare takes you past the upmarket Sam Levys mall, the urban Joina City mall and the spacious Westgate mall. The air is thick with a Zimbabwean spin on keeping up with the Joneses.

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Chella, a well-built, affable man, takes us through the proposed concept of a Victoria Eco hotel, located in Victoria Falls, and worth $12 million. It exemplifies the sorts of projects on the platform: an eco-friendly luxury hotel relying on new Japanese science that uses a shower tower cooling system in which water passively flows through a tall cylinder to simulate rain. (Negotiations to fund the hotel are still underway.) Theres another project, a $3.5 million gated community of 25 residential flats, thats gathering steam, Chella says. Together with Realty Africa Chief Financial Officer Erik van Eeten and Chief Technological Officer Emil Bengtsson, Chella says hes got 100 investors pouring in, collectively, millions of dollars. (He wouldnt name specifics.)

T&e (48)

Patrick Chella

Source Photo Courtesy of Realty Africa

This is how the sausage is made: A project is submitted to Realty Africas team, who ensure its really ready to build by visiting the project site, checking bank documents and legality, etc. Then, one of the 100 investors already registered on the platform can pledge. The investor is guaranteed a refund if the project doesnt hit its target within two months. In the event of success? Realty Africa guarantees 13 percent returns, and makes a commission of 5 to 8 percent, depending on the country and the size of the project. But Chella knows this business is vulnerable to the same weaknesses that led to the 2008 crash in the U.S. His plan: focusing on and promoting low-income projects to ride the waves of depressed real estate markets.

Born to an entrepreneur mother and an accountant father, Chella studied in Zimbabwe and then headed to the Netherlands for college and business school, with a brief return home in between to work for an asset management fund. He stuck around in the Netherlands after getting his MBA and worked for NIBC Bank, a midsize outfit in The Hague. There, over the course of 10 years, he dipped his toes into real estate markets and met van Eeten. After hatching Realty Africa, they approached three people, only for the initial funding to come from the most unlikely source in mid-2014  a South African cinematographer named Bert Haitsma, who wouldnt disclose the specific amount he invested.

Chella admits it was tough to get money; real estate isnt a guarantee. A housing market can crash but it always has value, Chella argues when pressed. And lucky for him, Africa hasnt had a significant real estate crash yet  its most troubling signs are sluggish growth in the continents two biggest economies, Nigeria and South Africa.

Chellas wisdom is that of the crowd: He knows everybody and anybody on the continent, van Eeten says. His weakness: Hes overeager. And, cautions property analyst Washington Musiiwa, since crowdfunding is new to Zimbabwe, its likely to receive a very slow uptake. Most institutions and individuals are likely to engage a wait-and-see attitude. If real estate proves to be a strong investment  which he expects it to in unstable times  Chella will have proof on his side.

Mega market trends aside, van Eeten says Chellas other strength is his habit of leaving room for his small staff, largely made up of country directors, to take responsibility for their own actions. When they dont measure up, though? The amicable Chella turns tough and isnt afraid to tell folks to move on. Democratic he may be, but real estate is still a sharks market

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* Currencies steady, rangebound after U.S. presidential debate * Warsaw leads stocks decline again ahead of government reshuffle By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Central European currencies steadied on Tuesday after a debate of U.S. presidential candidates seemed to strengthen the position of Democrat Hillary Clinton who is regarded as representative of the status quo in U.S. politics.

The zloty, the forint and the leu were mixed, moving less than 0.1 percent against the euro by 0917 GMT.

"Markets are slightly happier today but this feeling is much weaker than yesterday's worries (ahead of the debate)," Erste analysts said in a note.

With turnover thin this week, neither international or domestic factors show a direction, a Budapest-based dealer said.

The region's equities extended losses posted before the U.S. debate, shadowing Western European stock markets, led by the Warsaw bourse where the bluechip index shed 0.8 percent.

Polish stocks have eased since Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said on Friday that she would reshuffle her government this week. She has not yet made any announcement.

Warsaw's and Bucharest's main index touched two-week lows and even Budapest's main index hit a 4-week low.

Hungary's rolling three-month unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in the June-August period from 5 percent.

The figures indicate a pick-up in economic growth in the second half of the year, Takarekbank analyst Gergely Suppan said in a note.

Hungarian data, however, also reflect a worsening labour shortage in services and industries, including the construction sector that can dent hopes for a home building boom, ING analyst Peter Virovacz said.

"The increasing labour shortage -- without proper economic policy response -- will sooner or later (looking at the current situation, sooner) become a hindrance to economic development," he said.

Turkey's credit rating downgrade by Moody's to 'junk' could trigger some capital flows into Central European debt markets, mainly Hungary, which received its second investment grade early this month from Standard & Poor's, one Budapest-based trader said.

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"Of course it takes some time for investors to reallocate money," the trader said.

Hungarian bonds were steady on Tuesday, while Polish yields dropped by 1-3 percent, returning to their levels before a rise on Monday.
Once there was a man who told people he was going to make their country great. It would be the strongest country in the world. He said he would close the borders to all foreigners. He would choose one religion, and one people, to blame for all of his country's problems.

People drank his cool-aid and believed him. They mistreated a single group of people in their country by giving them labels, and pointing them out in public, and pointing out their neighborhoods. The people even destroyed all of their houses of worship. They felt they had a strong leader, and he would give them great glory and a powerful nation.

Their leader even got people to fight for him, and to make fun of anyone who spoke out against him or his ideas. His close circle of supporters defended every word he said, even if it was a falsehood. The opposition was ridiculed and shouted down so their voices could not be heard.

They actually let him take control of all public communications. They listened to his words constantly, and watched with awe as their leader spoke and made fun of people. He told them he was the only one who knew how to handle people, and how to deal with leaders of other nations. According to this man, the other nations would bow down to him, and consider him to be a great man.

One day the people woke up and found out too late that their "so called" strong leader was nothing more than a common man with false promises and ideas that hurt their country.

Does this sound familiar to you? The country was Germany in the 30's and their false leader was Adolf Hitler. Could this happen here? Think about it in November.

A wise man once said, "those who fail to study history, tend to repeat it".

Robert Gochanour, Charleston
As millions tuned into the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Monday night, many shared their real-time reactions on social media, including celebrities.

The candidates named-dropped a few Hollywood names during the 90+ minute event; Trump mentioned Sean Hannity, Howard Stern and Rosie ODonnell, while Clinton brought up beauty queen Alicia Machado.

Neither Stern or ODonnell tweeted anything about the debate. Hannity only tweeted sparingly, agreeing that he and Trump had many arguments, but didnt confirm that Trump was opposed to the war in Iraq.

Former Miss Universe Machado, whom Clinton said Trump called Miss Piggy and Miss Housekeeping, tweeted in Spanish, Thanks Mrs. @hillaryclinton for your respect for women and our differences! Were with you! Machado added, She studied and prepared for a career! She is ready and prepared to be President. Go @HillaryClinton! Go back to your casino #RataNazi

Many of Trumps most vocal celebrity supports  Antonio Sabato Jr., Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, and Scott Baio  were all silent debate night.

On the other hand, Clintons supporters tore into her Republican rival.

They also praised Clintons steadiness and preparedness.

Others criticized moderator Lester Holt, who was criticized for at times staying silent and allowing too many Trump interruptions.

Supporters from both parties said Holt couldve been more aggressive, and had opportunities to fact-check both candidates.

Still, some thought Holts silence was exactly what the evening called for.

Which candidate do you think did better in the debate? And how was Lester Holt as moderator? Weigh in with your comments below!

Watch Varietys post-debate coverage below: Who won the first debate?

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Lin-Manuel Miranda on Why Donald Trump 'Made Me Sick To My Stomach'

NBCUniversal's Steve Burke Praises Lester Holt's Debate Performance

The International View: Hillary Clinton Beats Donald Trump in Debate
Charlize Theron is known for her slim frame on the red carpet, but the actress has a curvier figure on the set of her new film.



In photos taken during a shoot of Tully in Vancouver, the blonde beauty appears to have gained weight for her role as Marlo, a mother of three including a newborn. Instead of a glamorous fitted gown, her apparel consists of baggy jeans, a T-shirt and a plaid flannel.



It's not clear if Theron, 41, is wearing a bodysuit for some extra padding or if she's gained the weight for the Jason Reitman-directed flick, although there are reports that the actress packed on 35 lbs. for the part.





Charlize Theron Has a Fuller Figure for New Film Role as Mother of Three| Bodywatch, Charlize Theron











Charlize Theron's Changing Looks





Theron recently shared a photo of her on-set chair, embroidered with her character's name, on the first day of shooting.





DAY 1: TULLY A photo posted by Charlize Theron (@charlizeafrica) on Sep 23, 2016 at 6:33pm PDT





It wouldn't be the first time the actress made a dramatic body transformation for a role. In 2004, Theron was awarded an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, for which she gained over 30 lbs. and wore a prosthetic nose. More recently, the actress shaved her head for her role as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road.



Theron has previously admitted to being typecast as the "pretty girl," resulting in her losing movie roles.



"Jobs with real gravitas go to people that are physically right for them and that's the end of the story," she told British GQ for their May issue. "How many roles are out there for the gorgeous, f---ing, gown-wearing eight-foot model? When meaty roles come through, I've been in the room and pretty people get turned away first."
By Emily Harris

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Dozens of protesters took their fight for racial equality in policing to the heart of Charlotte's power structure on Monday, demanding the resignations of the mayor, police chief, and lawmakers in the wake of the police slaying of a black man.

Residents and activists, many of whom have participated in street demonstrations every day since the death of Keith Scott on Tuesday, spoke at a packed city council meeting of frustrations with racial discrimination in the North Carolina city of about 792,800 residents.

Many speakers said city officials were responsible for ensuring police officers treat everyone fairly, and called on Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney, and members of the city council to resign.

"If you can't do your job, let's find someone who can," said Darcel Chandler, an attorney.

"We can't choose who we want the laws to apply to."

The death of Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, in Charlotte, and Terence Crutcher in Oklahoma, were the latest cases to raise questions about racial bias in U.S. law enforcement and stoke a national debate on policing ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

Police slayings in cities such as New York, Baltimore, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri, have triggered more than two years of largely peaceful protests punctuated by days of rioting, and given rise to the anti-racism Black Lives Matter movement.

In Charlotte, Mayor Roberts repeatedly called for decorum during three hours of public comments on Monday evening, as speakers went over their sanctioned time-limits, chants of justice erupted from the crowd, and, in one case, a woman called the mayor part of Satan's family.

"We want to hear what you have to say," Mayor Roberts told the crowd. "We care very much about hearing you."

Several speakers said delaying the release of footage collected from police cameras at the scene of the incident sowed more mistrust of law enforcement among the black community.

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Authorities have said Scott was armed, though released video footage has offered no clear evidence that he was holding a gun when he was shot.

After public comments, the mayor and a number of council members were repeatedly interrupted as they attempted to respond to the remarks.

At one point, Republican council member Edmund Driggs drew boos when he defended Chief Putney as "an honest man."

(Reporting by Emily Harris in Charlotte, North Carolina; Editing by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Robert Birsel)
By Colleen Jenkins

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - Less than a year before Keith Scott was shot and killed by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, his wife said in court papers that he had called himself a "killer" and threatened to kill his family with his gun.

Rakeyia Scott sought a domestic violence protective order against her husband on Oct. 5, 2015, in Gaston County, North Carolina, according to a copy of the document posted online by Time Warner Cable News on Tuesday.

She said in a motion for the order of protection that days earlier the father of seven had hit their 8-year-old son in the head and kicked her. On Oct. 4, he threatened to kill them, she said.

"He said he is a 'killer' and we should know that," she said in court documents. In those documents, she said that Keith Scott worked as a security officer at a local mall and carried a 9 mm handgun.

Charlotte police have said that Scott, 43, was armed on Sept. 20 when he was fatally shot by an officer. The incident sparked a week of sometimes violent protests and made North Carolina's largest city the latest flashpoint in the controversy over U.S. police killings of black men.

Rakeyia Scott has said that her husband did not have a weapon at the time, and videos from her and police were inconclusive about whether he was holding anything. State police are investigating the incident.

Revelations about Keith Scott's past mean little in determining whether the police shooting was justified, Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the family, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

"What matters is what happened in those moments leading up to the trigger being pulled," Bamberg said. "Mr. Scott was non-aggressive, had his hands by his side, appeared confused and, at the moment he was shot and killed, he was walking backwards. That's what matters."

Court documents showed that Scott's wife filed a notice of voluntary dismissal for the protective order against her husband on Oct. 16, 2015, saying he was no longer a threat to her or her family.

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According to state records and media reports, Keith Scott had a criminal record in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas, where he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2005.

Relatives have described him as a family man and a good person. Bamberg said that after Scott was badly hurt in a motorcycle accident in November 2015, his wife of 20 years nursed him back to health.

"At the time that the shooting incident occurred, he was required to take numerous medications daily for both pain as well as cognitive ability," Bamberg said. "His medication did affect him mentally."

(Reporting by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
Four months after its merger with rivals Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, Charter Communications is signaling that some major restructuring is underway at the new tripartite cable company.

Speaking Tuesday morning at an investor conference, Charter finance chief Christopher Winfrey talked about the many "synergies" the Stamford, Conn.-based cable provider is now pondering, a term that's usually a euphemism for layoffs after an acquisition but that also can refer to areas of redoubled investment in a company's business plan.

In the case of Charter, which rebranded as Spectrum in May and is seeking to standardize operations across its component businesses, it's almost certainly the latter scenario.

The process "includes hiring up a workforce that's in the U.S., that's your own employees, training those employees, and in parallel, maintaining your outsourced activity," Winfrey said at the Deutsche Bank Leveraged Finance Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. "We have to invest in facilities, tools, trucks, test equipment, which is our own, as opposed to contract labor.

"It takes time for that new labor force to be productive," the exec added, warning that "a period of inefficiency" would precede any gains realized from bringing the businesses together and making their services more coherent.

Labor and day-to-day operations aren't the only areas where Charter is banking on increased efficiency. Programming costs, logistics, marketing spend and general corporate overhead are all expected to drop, Winfrey said.

"There is some debate around the programming, all of which we expected," he noted. "I'm not sure it's in our best interest to get into the details around the programming."

At an investor conference earlier in the month, Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said OTT and VOD streaming services weren't a serious threat to the cable business despite the subscriber losses that have affected companies from Time Warner to Disney.

"I don't think of Netflix as a substitute for what we sell," Rutledge told investors. "I see it as more of an ancillary service. We're trying to put things like Netflix and Hulu into our services. We want to integrate it all."

Charter shares are up more than 21 percent, from $227 to $276, since the transaction completed on May 18. The company is now valued at almost $75 billion, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of around 12.
By Antonio De la Jara

SANTIAGO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Chilean government is expected to propose this week one of its tightest budgets in two decades, as low prices for the country's main export copper and a weak economy have weighed on state coffers.

Finance Minister Rodrigo Valdes will announce on Thursday or Friday a public spending hike of 3 percent or less in 2017, lawmakers and economic analysts said. That would be the lowest annual increase since the late 1990s and compares to an expected 4.2 percent rise this year.

"The discussion is already closed. The minister told us it won't be above 3 percent," said Pablo Lorenzini, a lawmaker in Chile's governing coalition and member of the lower chamber's finance committee.

Center-left President Michelle Bachelet's ambitious reform program has been partly thwarted by a slide in the price of copper, subdued investment, poor legislative planning and opposition to elements of her reforms from both the right and left.

The budget is set to focus on some of the main demands of voters - education, health, and policing - but will likely still leave her core supporters and lawmakers disappointed. They want more generous public spending next year to counteract low business confidence and lagging investment.

They will also be mindful of voters going to the polls next year for Chile's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Earlier in September, the central bank predicted economic growth in 2017 to be between 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent, a small downward revision from previous forecasts.

The government's hands are partly tied by rules on fiscal discipline, used historically to maintain healthy finances and helping Chile to establish itself as one of Latin America's most stable economies.

Bachelet, a Socialist Party politician, started her term in March 2014 with a promise to reduce the structural deficit to zero by the time she leaves office. It currently stands at 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent.

The government has since abandoned that goal but has still repeatedly expressed its intention to reduce it by 0.25 percent annually. Lawmakers said this will not be changed.

"We can't be so pragmatic and pegged to the fiscal rule," complained Lorenzini, who belongs to the center-left Christian Democratic Party. "In this environment of business pessimism, it's not counter-cyclical enough. This budget lacks enthusiasm." (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Gram Slattery, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien; editing by Grant McCool)
The United Kingdoms Bloodhound has secured vital funding from Chinese automaker Geely in order to complete its attempt on the world land speed record, scheduled to for South Africa in October 2017.

Geely, which is the parent company to Volvo, has been named the prime sponsor of Bloodhound, as well as the teams official automotive partner. The three-year deal will see Geely technology used in the construction of Bloodhounds new SSC (supersonic car) as well as the company's logo on its flanks.

ALSO SEE: 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo priced from $176,585

Jaguar, which became a Bloodhound sponsor in 2014, will continue in its role as technical partner and supplier of the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that will serve as a fuel pump for the Bloodhound SSC. Among the other partners are Rolls-Royce (aviation), Castrol, Lockheed Martin and Thyssen Krupp.

The Bloodhound SSC is a 44.3-foot streamliner designed to produce a staggering 135,000 horsepower. The key components include a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine normally found in the Eurofighter Typhoon, a cluster of bespoke hybrid rockets developed by defense firm Nammo, and the Jaguar V-8 whose sole job is to pump a hydrogen peroxide oxidizer into the rocket.

Bloodhound in September 2015 unveiled the completed SSC and managed to make an initial shakedown test. However, the team ran into financial difficulty shortly after and had to put the project on hold. With Geely onboard, the team are now ready to pick up where they left off.

The next step is to dismantle the SSC, make any modifications necessary, and then reassemble it for tie-down tests of its propulsion system in the summer of 2017. With these successfully completed, the team will complete another shakedown test and then, if successful, head to South Africa for the actual attempt.

The current land speed record for a drivable object is 763 mph, as set by fighter pilot Andy Green back in 1997 behind the wheel of the Thrust SSC. Green will also pilot the Bloodhound SSC, which some are expecting to crack 1,000 mph!

In addition to the land speed record, Bloodhounds goal with the SSC is to encourage young people to take up studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has jailed members of what the government calls a cult for causing deaths, organizing the group and illegally collecting money, state media said on Tuesday, part of a crackdown on what Beijing views as dangerous religious movements. China's officially atheist Communist Party brooks no challenge to its rule and is obsessed with social stability. It has particularly taken aim at cults, which have multiplied across the country in recent years. Demonstrations have been put down with force and some sect leaders executed. The official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday said Yao Xiangzhi, a member of Mentuhui, or "Disciples Sect" in the central province of Hubei, caused the death of another cult member by denying him freedom, food and drink for a week while people prayed for his recovery from schizophrenia. Yao was also found guilty of organizing a cult and was jailed for three years. Mentuhui, which was classified as a cult by the government in the 1990s, was also accused of illegally collecting 40 million yuan ($6 million) between 2011 and 2014 through donations and businesses, Xinhua reported. That money was then funneled into the hands of Mentuhui leaders for personal use, said Xinhua, citing a deputy police chief. It was not immediately possible to reach representatives of the religious group or lawyers for those found guilty for comment. (Reporting by Paul Carsten; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)
(NEWARK, N.J.)  Gov. Chris Christie was told about the epic 2013 traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge while it was underway, seemed happy about it and joked sarcastically that there was nothing political going on, a former loyalist testified Tuesday.

David Wildstein, a former executive at the agency that oversees New York-area bridges and tunnels, took the stand for the prosecution at the trial of two one-time Christie allies accused of engineering the four days of gridlock to punish a Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie. Wildstein has pleaded guilty in the scheme.

Wildsteins account was the first testimony to suggest that Christie knew about the plot while it was unfolding.

Christie, whose Republican presidential ambitions were badly damaged by the scandal, has denied knowing about the scheme at the time and has not been charged with a crime.

On Tuesday, the New Jersey governor said: All kinds of stuff is going on up on a courtroom in Newark. I want to be really clear: I have not and will not say anything different than Ive been saying since January 2014. No matter what is said up there, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments.

Bridget Kelly, Christies former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are on trial, charged with conspiracy, fraud and civil rights deprivation over the alleged political-revenge scheme.

Wildstein, a former high-ranking executive at the Port Authority, testified that Christie was told about the traffic in Fort Lee on the third day of the gridlock during a Sept. 11 memorial event.

Wildstein said Baroni told Christie there was a tremendous amount of traffic in Fort Lee that morning and that Mayor Mark Sokolich was very frustrated he wasnt getting his phone calls returned. Baroni then told the governor that Wildstein was watching over the situation, Wildstein testified.

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Well, Im sure Mr. Edge would never be involved in anything political, Christie responded sarcastically, and then laughed, according to Wildstein. Wally Edge was a pseudonym Wildstein used while publishing a New Jersey politics website.

Prosecutors showed jurors several photographs from the day showing Baroni, Wildstein and Christie talking.

Wildstein said he and Baroni had talked the night before about telling Christie at the 9/11 event because they were proud of what they had done. He said that during the planning of the scheme, Kelly had said the governor was going to love it.

The closing of two of three access lanes to the George Washington Bridge caused bumper-to-bumper traffic in Fort Lee, held up school buses and emergency vehicles, and left drivers fuming behind the wheel for hours at one of the busiest spans in the world. The bridge connects New Jersey to New York City.

For months afterward, Port Authority officials insisted the lane closings were part of a traffic study. But the scandal broke wide open with the release of emails and text messages, including one from Kelly to Wildstein in which she said: Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.

Last week, Wildstein testified that Christies office used the Port Authority to reward local Democratic officials whose endorsements were sought during Christies 2013 re-election campaign.

Christie was hoping at the time for a big landslide victory to demonstrate his crossover appeal if he were to run for president; he wound up winning re-election easily.

The scandal, though, helped drag down Christies White House campaign. While Christie once topped national polls ahead of the 2016 GOP primaries, he dropped out after New Hampshire and said recently that the scandal probably influenced Donald Trumps decision not to pick him as his running mate.

While Christie is now leading Trumps transition team, Trump said last December that Christie totally knew about the lane closings.

Christie, whose name is on a list of potential witnesses at the trial, has been meeting the attention recently with a heavier-than-usual schedule.

Associated Press writer Michael Catalini in Trenton contributed to this story.
Theres a war raging among tech companies to take total control of every home. So, the market is booming with video streaming devices and home automation systems.



To be a forerunner, Alphabet Inc. GOOGL will reportedly unveil a brand new Chromecast, the streaming dongle, at an event to be held on Oct 4, in San Francisco. And this is just one of the plenty of other products slated for release on that big day. Moreover, the Android-powered VR platform Daydream is slated for release this fall. The company may also unveil two new smartphones under Googles new Pixel brand.



Google had rolled out its first Chromecast in 2013. Last year, the company released its second generation Chromecast which went on to become a major hit. However, the people were waiting fora completely new upgrade at an affordable price.



Some Details



Though information on the product is limited, the new streaming stick is expected to be named Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast Plus. It is anticipated to support 4K resolution video and be priced at $69 versus the old devices that were priced at only $35.



From the design perspective, the new Chromecast will be the same as the old version except that the new device will carry a G or Google logo in place of the old Chrome logo.



On Monday, Chromecast's main competitor Roku announced its new lineup of media streaming devices, with varying features. Though essentially similar to Googles Chromecast, Rokus new premier streaming box also supports 4K streaming but is priced at $80.



If rumors are to be believed, Google's new Chromecast would be a more affordable option than Roku's 4K offering device.



Bottom Line



Now the question that arises is: will Google's lower price help push Chromecast over Rokus media streaming device? Or will Rokus smarter features attract its fans? The battle is just heating up, and it will be an interesting one for investors to watch.



We note that Google has tried to build up suspense around its upcoming fall event. There are high chances that the company will come up with a big launch and catch its competitors off guard.

Story continues

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Facebook witnessed a 0.51% dip in its last days stock price. On average, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 18.25% in the trailing four quarters.

LinkedIn witnessed a 0.13% surge in its last days stock price. On average, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 115.2% in the trailing four quarters.

Yirendai witnessed a 2.07% decline in its last days stock price. On average, the company delivered a negative earnings surprise 187.7% in the trailing four quarters.

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It was a fierce showdown in which major issues were discussed sporadically or not at all, and personal exchanges erupted every few minutes. But the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump allowed voters to assess the candidates side by side, under pressure, with everything at stake. And on most gauges, Clinton won.

She was unflappable, confident but not cocky and deeply knowledgeable about policy, if a bit too cerebral and wonkish. Trump was strong but overbearing at times and light on policy details, and showed difficulty restraining himself, often interrupting Clinton with sharp attacks or blustery outbursts.

And the worst may be yet to come for Trump. That's because many voters don't immediately come to conclusions about the winner and loser of a presidential debate. This assessment is frequently shaped by media coverage and the debate-based political commercials that emerge in the days that follow. And Trump is likely to fare badly in those stories and in ads by Clinton and her allies because he made himself such a target for criticism.

His manner was a particular problem for him. Trump seemed to get agitated as he grimaced, smirked and rolled his eyes while Clinton was speaking. In contrast, the well-rehearsed Clinton smiled calmly and seemed bemused while was Trump was talking. All this was captured on a split screen throughout the debate, and will be a ready-made source for attack ads and media commentary.

Initial fact-checking by news organizations found that Trump, the Republican nominee, made more misstatements than Clinton, the Democratic candidate. The Washington Post found that Clinton stretched the truth on occasion but her errors "paled in comparison to the list of Trump exaggerations and falsehoods." The New York Times arrived at a similar conclusion, noting, "In keeping with how he has run his campaign, Mr. Trump stretched the facts more often than Mrs. Clinton did; a couple of times, Mrs. Clinton literally called out for fact-checkers from the stage."

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Among the falsehoods: Trump's claim that he had opposed the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq beforehand, which has been labeled false many times by media fact-checkers. He also had trouble dealing with the "birther" issue, failing to explain why he had recently acknowledged that Barack Obama, the first African-American president, was born in the United States after questioning his citizenship for years, long after Obama's citizenship had been established. Clinton condemned Trump for perpetuating a "racist lie." All this will probably hurt Trump's efforts to appeal to African-American voters, and is likely to turn up in anti-Trump commercials and media analysis.

Trump's best moments came when he portrayed himself as the candidate of change and blasted Clinton, former secretary of state, former U.S. senator from New York, and first lady for eight years while her husband was president, as a failure who was unable to solve major problems. He conceded that she had experience but said "it's bad experience."

Yet Trump was easily diverted from these larger themes and spent much of the debate on lesser issues. Clinton successfully goaded Trump throughout, and he jumped at the chance to respond to her needling.

Trump also walked into traps he inadvertently set for himself. At one point, he repeated his frequent charge that Clinton lacks the stamina to be president. But she replied that her record proves this false. "If he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina," she said.

Further contradicting Trump's point, Clinton showed no evidence of fatigue or lack of energy during the 95-minute debate while Trump sometimes seemed miffed or short-tempered and gulped frequently from a glass of water as if he needed to refresh himself or preserve his voice. There were no signs of the pneumonia that nearly caused Clinton to collapse at a public event two weeks ago.

Clinton, who would be the first woman president of the United States if she wins, also pivoted effectively by turning Trump's questioning of her stamina into a reminder that he has spoken harshly of women. "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said.

Trump has been gaining on Clinton in national polls--the latest surveys indicate a statistical tie--and he has edged past her or tied her in battleground states such as Colorado, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It's not clear whether the debate will stop or slow Trump's surge because so many of his supporters, especially working-class men, are still deeply committed to him. Many voters like his message of change and his pledge to fight the political establishment even if he is a flawed candidate. But it's hard to see how he helped himself in courting key constituencies such as minorities, women and college-educated voters.

DECISION 2016: [U.S. News Covers the Race to the White House]

Clinton may have bolstered her support among women and minorities but may not have been effective in courting young people and other constituencies she badly needs to win over.

The debate was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

The next presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 9 in St. Louis, and the final debate is Oct. 19 in Las Vegas. A vice presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 4 in Farmville, Virginia.

Ken Walsh covers the White House and politics for U.S. News. He writes the daily blog "Ken Walsh's Washington," for usnews.com, and "The Presidency" column for the U.S. News Weekly. He is the author of the book "Celebrity in Chief: A History of the Presidents and the Culture of Stardom." He can be reached at kwalsh@usnews.com and followed on Facebook and Twitter.
Despite what the pundits or polls say, the presidential candidates' temperament at Monday night's debate was on display in their body language, starting right at the opening handshake.

Read: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Spar in First Presidential Debate - Here Are the Highlights

Body language expert Tonya Reiman analyzed the debates and looked at the expressions of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as they went at each other at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York.

As soon as they shook hands to start the debate, Clinton pivoted away from Trump to give herself some of the attention, Reiman said.

Reiman added that Clinton showed a sign of disrespect because she doesnt look directly at him.

Trump, however, tried to show he was the top gun by patting her on the back after the handshake.

After he shakes her hand, he taps her on the back and that says, hey, I am the powerful one, I am in control. I decide when this handshake ends.

Trump's facial expressions sure let his feelings be known when Clinton was speaking.

His eyes are squinted a bit, which is not typical for him. He is listening. His lip purse shows uncertainty and disagreement, Reiman said.

Clinton had a happy moment at the end of the debate when she actually did a little shimmy after a long winded answer from her rival.

Reiman said: "It is two things. It is, 'wow, do I finally get to speak? and, wow, he has given me so much ammunition to talk about.' That was a genuine smile and genuine enjoyment from Hillary.

Read: Countdown Is On for Highly Anticipated Trump-Clinton Debate: 'The Super Bowl of Politics'

And Reiman wasn't the only one reading body language. Social media erupted over Trump's repeated sniffling during Mondays debate with hashtags like #sniffles and #trumpsniff.

#Trumpsniff #Debates2016 You can take the man out of Studio 54, but its hard to get it out of the man... pic.twitter.com/3YihKiLJg3  Matt Jordan (@Mattajord) September 27, 2016

The symbolism of #trumpsniff is so grandeur. I mean aren't we all getting sick of seeing his run for presidency taken seriously?  Billie Branden (@grdyfn) September 27, 2016

Others noted that Trump took many drinks of water, whereas Clinton never touched hers.

Story continues

Was #Trump trying to sell #trumpwater in last nights debate? Or was he pulling a Marco Rubio?  Paul S (@StrongAmerican) September 27, 2016



Watch: Paula Jones: I Want a Front Seat at the Debate to Make Hillary Clinton 'Nervous'

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Hillary Clinton slammed Donald Trump at Monday night's debate for building his political career around the "birther lie" about where President Barack Obama was born.

"He started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," she said.

Trump said he did "a great job and a great service  not only for the country, but even for the president  in getting him to produce his birth certificate."

Clinton pointed out that the New York real estate tycoon was sued twice by the Justice Department for discriminating against African-Americans.

In his defense, Trump said he was never found guilty of discrimination.

Markets seemed to react to Clinton making headway against her GOP rival as the debate progressed.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses to trade higher amid the debate, and the Mexican peso reversed losses to trade more than 1 percent stronger against the U.S. dollar.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.









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RALEIGH, N.C.  Hillary Clinton ripped into Donald Trump at her first rally since Mondays presidential debate for saying that not paying federal income tax in previous years makes him smart.

He actually bragged about gaming the system to get out of paying his fair share of taxes, Clinton told the crowd of roughly 1,500 at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh.

At the beginning of her half-hour speech, a supporter yelled, Were proud of you!, and a beaming Clinton replied, Thank you.

I think theres a strong possibility he hasnt paid federal taxes a lot of years, and this is a man who goes around calling our military a disaster, who goes around criticizing every institution from health care to education, our vets, Clinton said. And he probably hasnt paid a penny to support our troops or our vets or our schools or our health care.

During the debate, Clinton brought up that the last tax returns Trump turned over to the public  from the 1970s  show that he paid nothing in federal income tax for several years. He interjected, That makes me smart.

If not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make the rest of us? Clinton asked the crowd. Ive got to tell you, Bill and I have been blessed. We didnt come from millionaire families.

She sketched out her and her husbands middle-class backgrounds and said their tax returns show theyve paid the highest marginal rate on the federal income tax while also donating around 10 percent of their income to charity.

Clinton, a millionaire herself, has attempted to paint Trump as an out-of-touch plutocrat who does not care about working people. During the debate, she skewered him for his business pattern of not paying some contractors for their work.

Hillary Clinton arrives at a campaign stop at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C. (Photo: Matt Rourke/AP)

The former secretary of state also blasted Trumps preparation for their first head-to-head matchup.

He made very clear that he didnt prepare for that debate, Clinton said, adding that he was dangerously incoherent at times.

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The Clinton campaign appeared to be in full victory lap mode a day after the debate that many Democrats were nervous about. Clinton was not asked about her foundation and handily dispatched a brief question about her use of a private email server. Meanwhile, Trump was on the defensive for much of the night on issues like his tax returns and his longtime support for a conspiracy theory about President Obamas birth certificate. Trump at times wandered in his responses, digressing into a story about how his son is good at computers when talking about the Islamic State group.

Speaking to her press corps before the rally, Clinton poked fun at Trump for complaining that his mic was defective during the debate, saying anyone complaining about a microphone is not having a good night. Her campaign chair, John Podesta, said Trump was thrown off and dug himself in deeper with his tax return comments.

For his part, Trump told supporters in Miami that he thinks we did very well and that the debate was definitely big league.
By Steve Holland and John Whitesides HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton accused Republican Donald Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance on Monday, putting him on the defensive during a 2016 U.S. presidential debate rife with blistering insults and short on policy. Trump, a real estate tycoon making his first run for public office, said Clintons long years of service represented bad experience with few results and said she lacked the stamina to serve as commander in chief. Clinton was under pressure to perform well after a recent bout with pneumonia and a drop in opinion polls, but her long days of preparation appeared to pay off in her highly anticipated first 90-minute showdown with Trump. Trump, a former reality TV star who eschewed a lot of debate practice, was assertive and focused early on, interrupting Clinton repeatedly. As the night wore on, he became testy and less disciplined in front of the crowd at host Hofstra University and a televised audience that could have reached upwards of a record 100 million people. A CNN/ORC snap poll said 62 percent of respondents felt Clinton won and 27 percent believed Trump was the winner. On Tuesday morning, Trump called it the debate of debates and promised to be tougher on Clinton at their next meeting on Oct. 9. I may hit her harder in certain ways, Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox & Friends. He made clear he pulled punches by not bringing up former President Bill Clintons sexual scandals out of deference to the couples daughter, Chelsea Clinton, who was in the audience. Trump also said contentious issues involving Clintons tenure as secretary of state were not addressed on Monday night, including her use of a private computer server for government emails, the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya, or the Clinton Foundation charity. In signs that investors awarded the debate to Clinton, Asian shares recovered after an early bout of nerves while the Mexican peso jumped on Tuesday. Her chances in the Nov. 8 election also improved in online betting markets. GREAT DEBATE You feel good tonight? Clinton asked supporters afterward. I sure do. We had a great debate. Trump, 70, declared himself the winner to reporters at the debate site. The 68-year-old Clinton relentlessly sought to raise questions about her opponents temperament, business acumen and knowledge. Trump used much of his time to argue the former first lady and U.S. senator had achieved little in public life and wanted to pursue policies begun by President Barack Obama that have failed to repair a shattered middle class, with jobs lost to outsourcing and overregulation. Trump suggested her disavowal of a trade deal with Asian countries was insincere. Her handling of a nuclear deal with Iran and Islamic State militancy were disasters, he argued. In one of their more heated exchanges, Clinton accused Trump of promulgating a racist lie by suggesting Obama, the first African-American president, was not born in the United States. The president, who was born in Hawaii, released a long-form birth certificate in 2011 to put the issue to rest. Only this month did Trump say publicly that he believed Obama was U.S.-born. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted. He persisted year after year, Clinton said. Trump repeated his false accusation that Clintons failed 2008 presidential campaign against Obama started the so-called birther issue. Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it  I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job, Trump said. 'TRYING TO HIDE Trying to get under Trumps skin, Clinton suggested her opponent was refusing to release his tax returns to avoid showing Americans he paid next to nothing in federal taxes or that he is not as wealthy as he says he is. It must be something really important, even terrible, that hes trying to hide, she said. Trump fought back, saying that as a businessman, paying low taxes was important. That makes me smart, Trump said. I have a tremendous income, he said, adding that it was about time that someone running the country knew something about money. He said he would release his tax documents after a government audit. Trump sniffed loudly at times - a campaign aide said the candidate did not have a cold. 'HANGING AROUND BEAUTY CONTESTS Clinton, the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major U.S. political party, seemed to pique Trump when she brought up how Trump has insulted women. He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them and he called this one 'Miss Piggy and then he called her 'Miss Housekeeping, she said. During the debate, Trump darkly hinted at wanting to say something but stopped short. Afterwards, he told reporters he had held back from raising Bill Clintons sex scandals. I was going to say something extremely tough to Hillary and her family and I said I cant do it. I just cant do it. Its inappropriate. Its not nice, he said. There was much speculation about how much debate moderator Lester Holt would intervene to correct facts. The NBC News anchorman largely left the candidates to fight it out, interjecting a few times to set the record straight. Trump repeated his campaign assertion that he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, despite having voiced support for it in a 2002 interview. The record shows otherwise, Holt challenged him. The record does not show that, Trump shot back. At other times, the candidates corrected each other. Toward the end, Trump said Clinton did not have the endurance to be president but avoided mentioning her recent bout with pneumonia. She doesnt have the look, she doesnt have the stamina, he said. Clinton retorted: As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents  or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina. Clinton called Trumps tax policies Trumped-up trickle-down economics, and Trump accused Clinton of being all talk, no action. I have a feeling Im going to be blamed for everything, Clinton said during one tough exchange. Why not? retorted Trump. The Mexican peso, dubbed the Trump thermometer because of its sensitivity to the U.S. presidential campaign, rose 1.6 percent. Trump has pledged to build a wall at the Mexican border to prevent illegal immigration. [MXN=D2] (Additional reporting by Amanda Becker, Ginger Gibson, Luciana Lopez, Roberta Rampton, Emily Stephenson, Alana Wise; Writing by Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Editing by Caren Bohan and Jeffrey Benkoe)
White Plains (United States) (AFP) - Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton jumped back onto the campaign trail Tuesday after a testy first head-to-head debate in which Clinton frequently forced her prickly opponent on to the back foot.

The White House hopefuls sparred over temperament, judgment, trade, terrorism and other issues in a televised match-up Monday night that seemed to have gone in favor of the Democrat Clinton.

In a snap CNN poll of 521 voters, 62 percent judged that Clinton had won the debate against 27 percent for Trump, with most mainstream political analysts agreeing Clinton was the stronger performer.

But in a campaign that has consistently defied predictions from the political establishment, few can forecast for sure the impact on Americans' vote on November 8.

Nate Silver, a respected election analyst at FiveThirtyEight.com, predicted a two to four percent bump in support for Clinton, after the most recent polls showed the race in a virtual dead heat.

Both sides cried victory Tuesday as the spin game that began the very instant the debate ended kept up in full gear.

"This debate was a tremendous opportunity for the voters to look at both candidates on the stage and determine who was prepared to be president of the United States," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on CNN.

"For Hillary in particular, we thought this was a great opportunity for her to talk about the things that she's going to do to make a real difference in people's lives," he said.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway praised Trump's tone and demeanor, in particular towards the end for not bringing up Bill Clinton's past sexual indiscretions, although he alluded to them.

"I was glad that he was polite and a gentleman to her, particularly at the end when he pulled the biggest punch of all," Conway said.

With six weeks until election day, Clinton was scheduled to rally in battleground North Carolina on Tuesday, while Trump was to speak to supporters in the swing state of Florida.

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During the debate at New York's Hofstra University, with an anticipated audience of up to 100 million, Clinton repeatedly questioned her rival's fitness to serve in the Oval Office.

She painted the celebrity real estate mogul as fatally out of touch and willing to say "crazy things" to get elected.

"You live in your own reality," said the 68-year-old Democrat, who sought to project her steady experience.

On Tuesday, Trump himself said moderator Lester Holt had failed to ask Clinton questions about key points such as the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya during her watch as secretary of state or about ethical issues surrounding the Clinton Foundation.

"He didn't ask her about her scandals," Trump said. "He didnt ask her about a lot of things she should have been asked about."

On Monday night Trump played the populist bruiser, pitching to frustrated blue-collar voters fed up with establishment politicians.

"Let me tell you, Hillary has experience. But it's bad, bad experience," said the 70-year-old billionaire, accusing the former secretary of state, first lady and US senator of being a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work."

As the temperature rose, Trump brought out the verbal brickbats, repeatedly interrupting Clinton and even questioning her stamina after a bout of pneumonia. He appeared increasingly irritated, at one point rolling his eyes and emitting a frustrated "ugh."

- Reactions -

"A lot of Americans will look at tonight's debate and see an individual who is prepared to become president of the United States, and she was up against an impostor," said John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"You saw not a perfect performance by Hillary Clinton, but as much as an imperfect performance as you can imagine by her opponent," he told AFP.

Clinton's brightest moments came when debate turned to foreign policy, while Trump's came when he tapped into malaise about politics and the economy.

Trump squarely blamed Clinton and the political class for losing jobs to Mexico and China through what he termed bad trade deals and incompetence.

Clinton tried to undercut Trump's CEO-in-chief acumen by accusing him of having "stiffed" small business contractors throughout his business career.

She demanded Trump release his tax returns, suggesting he may be lying about his much-vaunted wealth, his charitable donations, his tax bill or his ties with foreign benefactors.

Trump fired back that he would release his tax returns, "when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," alluding to the Democrat's use of a private email server as secretary of state.

- A real shot -

Clinton has a massive organizational advantage, a bigger campaign war chest and a lead in the popular vote and is in a notably stronger position state-by-state.

But Trump weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism to triumph in a vicious Republican primary campaign, and now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20.

There are two more debates in the 2016 US presidential race, which could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest upset in US political history.
Hillary Clinton unleashed a blistering attack on Donald Trump for refusing to release his tax returns.

"There's something he's hiding," Clinton said, as Trump was visibly agitated, and gave conflicting answers about the conditions for releasing his returns.

"I think he's probably not all that enthusiastic about having his country see what the real reason" is, Clinton said.

"I think there may be a couple of reasons," Clinton said, warming to the theme. "I think there may be a couple of reasons."

"Maybe he's not as rich as he says he is," she said. "Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. We don't know all his business dealings, but we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes $650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks, or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes."

"Because the only years that anybody's ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license, and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax."

Trump said he would release his tax returns once an IRS audit is complete, although tax officials have repeatedly said there is no bar in him releasing them until then. Trump then said he would release the returns, against the advice of his lawyers, if Clinton released 33,000 emails that he said were deleted when she was secretary of state.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.









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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off for the first presidential debate tonight, moderated by NBC's Lester Holt, airing across several networks.

The debate, held at Hofstra University in New York, airs tonight at 6 p.m. PT live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, as well as cable news channels including CNN, Fox News, CNBC and MSNBC. Univision is also airing the debate.

Streaming outlets from YouTube to Twitter are also live-streaming the event, making it easy to watch the showdown from a computer screen or Apple TV.

Read more: Will Trump Call Clinton "Crooked Hillary"?: 5 Things to Watch for in First Debate

Watch the live stream below.

Read more: Jim Lehrer Offers Advice to Debate Moderators: It's Not About You (Q&A)
Hempstead (United States) (AFP) - The first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump may be one of the most hyped events in US politics, but the hosts managed overlook one small detail.

The name of the Democratic nominee, the first woman in American history to win a major party nomination for president, was misspelled on souvenir tickets handed out to students at Hofstra University.

The tickets given to 350 students who won coveted seats in a lottery to attend the debate misspelled Clinton's first name -- "Hilary" -- TV networks NBC and CBS reported.

"These tickets are not official tickets to the debate," Hofstra University spokeswoman Karla Schuster told AFP in a statement.

"They were printed at the last minute to create a souvenir for the students who won the ticket lottery," she added. "We will reprint them."

The official tickets to the debate did not include the names of either Clinton or her Republican rival Trump.

Hofstra previously hosted presidential debates in 2008 and 2012. Founded in 1935, it is a private university of 10,870 students 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of New York in Hempstead, Long Island.
Why I Picked California Institute of Technology Pasadena (Pasadena, California)

Suchita Nety, senior

I was drawn to Caltech by the opportunity to study chemistry and to contribute to high-impact interdisciplinary research in a collaborative, close-knit environment. As a college freshman, I joined a lab and have continued working year-round thanks to the support of Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships.

I've also benefited tremendously from opportunities to grow outside the realm of academics. Caltech's SanPietro Travel Prize allowed me to spend three weeks traveling through Greece to experience a foreign country -- just because!

As a dancer, I've found opportunities to explore diverse styles, including hip-hop and Indian classical dance, and even choreograph and stage my own pieces. My love of literature, combined with the encouragement of wonderful English professors, has led me to pursue an English minor along with my bachelor's in chemistry.

[Check out five reasons to get involved in college.]

Why I Picked Rutgers University--New Brunswick (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

Katherine Lau, 2016 graduate

I chose Rutgers University because of its phenomenal school spirit -- on game day, the school is a sea of alumni and students wearing scarlet shirts -- state-of-the-art facilities, and central location in the biopharma hub of America. On my first campus visit, I spent the most time during my tour in the gleaming biomedical engineering building, where students can conduct research alongside professors in an ultramodern clean room. As a biomedical engineering major, I found a home in the Engineering Governing Council and Phi Sigma Rho, the national engineering sorority.

Because the university has great career services and supportive faculty and staff, I have been able to capitalize on great opportunities. As a sophomore, I was able to start research in computational gene analysis. Then as a junior, I landed an internship at Chromocell Corporation, a biotechnology company.

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The university's ties with top pharmaceutical corporations is a big plus, too, as I hope to join one of these companies after completing graduate school.

Why I Picked Truman State University (Kirksville, Missouri)

Mackenzie Smith, senior

I chose Missouri's Truman State University because of its affordability, small classes and commitment to academic excellence. Initially, I did not know what to major in, so the school's liberal studies program turned out to be a great fit for me. A public speaking course so engaged me that I decided to major in communications.

Truman faculty take a strong interest in their students, which is how I became a McNair Scholar. My professors encouraged me to apply to the McNair program, which helps students who are the first in their family to attend college or who are from underrepresented groups to get access to research opportunities and faculty mentors who advise them on course planning and their research projects. The goal is to keep you on track for graduate school -- something I had never dreamed of doing before reaching Truman.

[Get tips from current students on choosing a college major.]

Why I Picked Colby College (Waterville, Maine)

Lucas Lam, senior

Growing up in Southern California, the coldest place I had ever visited before Colby College was my refrigerator. But the school offered to pay my way for a campus visit, and I quickly felt at home despite the temperature shock.

Undergrads tend to have wide interests and reflect the diversity the college values. Our radio station, for example, is run by a biology and history double major. I am a Science, Technology and Society and physics double major headed to a career in government affairs and public policy.

Colby also has a monthlong "Jan Plan" program each year in January. We can take a course, travel abroad or intern off campus.

Why I Picked Creighton University (Omaha, Nebraska)

Ashley Weed, Class of 2017

Creighton University sent me a handwritten note to tell me I'd been accepted. This kind of warmth and personal attention made it an easy decision to accept. I entered the College of Arts and Sciences' four-year Honors Program. Freshman year we lived together on the same floor and shared the same core classes.

The university encourages students to pursue diverse interests . I've been able to build close relationships with my professors in the Classical and Near Eastern Studies and psychology departments . Through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, I studied ancient Roman artifacts including a first-century bust at Omaha's Joslyn Art Museum. As a sorority member, I led campus initiatives promoting academic achievement and wellness.

[Get tips on five ways to prepare for freshman year at a U.S. college.]

Why I Picked Rice University (Houston)

Griffin Thomas, senior

I chose Rice University because it melds an intimate liberal arts education with the research opportunities of much larger institutions. As a political science major, I've been able take small classes and develop relationships with professors who actively spend time with students outside of class .

At Rice, most students, regardless of their major, can do research. I have met some of the world's pre-eminent political thinkers who've given speeches on campus and attended small lunches with renowned government officials that were sponsored by Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Many students here become volunteer advisers for their peers, providing academic, health and career guidance, among other things. And each night, if you wander into the residential commons, you'll find students tutoring each other for an exam, proofreading a paper or discussing assignments.

Why I Picked Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington)

Aaron Danowski, senior

Gonzaga University appealed to me because it offers tons of opportunities for students to discover how their talents can best serve communities around the world. I entered college as a business major and was admitted to the Gonzaga Honors Program.

My first semester I helped a local Burmese refugee family improve their English . Later, I spent spring break with Montana's Blackfeet Nation . I spent part of one summer in Chennai, India, observing a social enterprise fighting caste discrimination , and , I spent last fall in Cameroon studying international development and sociology.

These experiences helped me realize I want to use social entrepreneurship to address the root causes of poverty, disease and environmental degradation. The university has encouraged my passion by sending me to conferences for social entrepreneurship , where I got to practice networking and deepen my knowledge of the field.

Why I Picked Stetson University (DeLand, Florida)

Alexandra Shimalla, 2016 graduate

Stetson University gave me a small school experience with access to larger metro areas. Since our class size is just 12-to-1, professors are extremely accessible. Classmates have received grants to do summer research with their biology professors, and my friends at our outstanding school of music perform with nationally known musicians.

A fter taking a terrific intro to journalism class, I realized how much I wanted to pursue writing and editing. I wrote a column about healthy living for the college newspaper and work as a peer tutor at the writing center. The head of the communications department helped me get an internship with a lifestyle magazine in Savannah, Georgia, to get on-the-job experience while earning credit.

Why I Picked Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Clairiola Manessa Etienne, junior

I moved to the U.S. to attend high school three months after an earthquake devastated my hometown in Haiti. Looking at college websites, I was impressed to see that Vassar College had a story about how its Haiti Project was aiding a village educationally, medically and environmentally.

Since I hoped to go to medical school, freshman year I went back to Haiti on a spring break trip to get hands-on experience assisting a doctor and a nurse in a rural clinic built by the Haiti Project.

As a double major in biology and French, I've been able to study Caribbean writing, concentrating particularly on Haitian literature. Now as the school's director of the Haiti health initiative, I lead a student committee looking into solar power and laboratory equipment for the clinic, while serving as the liaison between U.S. doctors and the local staff.

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2017" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
By Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombia's center-right government and the Marxist FARC rebel group signed a peace deal on Monday to end a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people and once took the Andean country to the brink of collapse. After four years of peace talks in Cuba, President Juan Manuel Santos, 65, and rebel leader Timochenko - the nom de guerre for 57-year-old Rodrigo Londono - warmly shook hands on Colombian soil for the first time and signed the accord with a pen made from a bullet casing. A crowd of dignitaries chanted: "Long live Colombia, long live peace" as Santos handed Timochenko a white dove pin. One man waved a large Colombian flag that had an extra white stripe in homage to the peace deal. "The horrible night of violence that has covered us with its shadow for more than half a century is over," Santos said through tears. "We open our hearts to a new dawn, to a brilliant sun full of possibilities that has appeared in the Colombian sky." Colombians will vote on Sunday on whether to ratify the agreement, but opinion polls show it should pass easily. Attendees at the event, many of whom also wept, observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed, maimed, raped, kidnapped and displaced during the war. The end of Latin America's longest-running war will turn the FARC guerrillas into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield they have occupied since 1964. "No one should doubt that we will conduct politics without arms," said Timochenko, who asked for forgiveness from FARC victims. "We are all prepared to disarm in our minds and our hearts." Guests at the ceremony in the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena were asked to wear white and included United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Showing its support for the peace deal, the European Union on Monday removed the FARC from its list of terrorist groups. Kerry said Washington would also review whether to take the FARC off its terrorism list, and has pledged $390 million for Colombia next year to support the peace process. "Anybody can pick up a gun, blow things up, hurt other people, but it doesn't take you anywhere. ... Peace is hard work," he said of a rare diplomatic good news story for the Obama administration as it contends with the seeming intractable war in Syria and other conflicts. FIERCE WAR In the worst days of the war, attacks shook the capital, Bogota, which rebels threatened to overrun, and battles between the guerrillas, paramilitaries, drug gangs and the army raged in the countryside, parts of which remain sown with landmines. Thousands of civilians were killed in massacres, especially in rural areas, as the warring sides sought to prevent people from collaborating with or supporting enemy forces. Despite widespread relief at an end to the bloodshed and kidnappings of the past 52 years, the deal has caused divisions within Latin America's fourth-largest economy. Former President Alvaro Uribe and others are angry the accord allows rebels to enter parliament without serving any jail time. In Cartagena on Monday, huge billboards urged a "yes" vote in the referendum, while Uribe led hundreds of supporters with umbrellas in the colors of the Colombian flag urging voters to back "no." The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which began as a peasant revolt, became a big player in the cocaine trade and at its strongest had 20,000 fighters. Now, its some 7,000 fighters must hand over their weapons to the United Nations within 180 days. Colombians are nervous over how the rebels will integrate into society, but most are optimistic peace will bring more benefits than problems. "This is the moment, it's now or never," said 50-year-old lawyer Melquis Pulecio, as he watched the ceremony with thousands of others on a big screen in central Bogota. "We are tired of this war - we were born to war." Colombia has performed better economically than its neighbors in recent years, and peace should reduce the government's security spending and open new areas of the country for mining and oil companies. But criminal gangs may try to fill the void in rebel-held areas, landmines hinder development and rural poverty remains a huge challenge. With peace achieved, Santos, a member of a wealthy Bogota family, will likely use his political capital to push for tax reforms and other measures to compensate for a drop in oil income caused by a fall in energy prices. "It's such an important day," said Duvier, a nom de guerre for a 25-year-old rebel attending a FARC congress last week in the southern Yari Plains that ratified the peace accord. "Now we can fight politically, without blood, without war." (Additional reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb in the Yari Plains and Bogota, Patricia Zengerle in Cartagena and Nelson Bocanegra and Monica Garcia in Bogota; Editing by Grant McCool and Peter Cooney)
Cartagena (Colombia) (AFP) - Here are key points of the peace deal signed Monday to end five decades of conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government.

The deal consists of six agreements:

- Ceasefire and disarmament -

A bilateral ceasefire took effect on August 29.

The FARC must now begin moving its estimated 7,500 fighters from their jungle and mountain hideouts into disarmament zones set up by the United Nations, which is helping monitor the ceasefire.

The rebels have 180 days from the signing of the deal to fully disarm.

- Justice for victims -

The two sides announced a deal in December 2015 to create special courts to judge crimes committed during the conflict. An amnesty will be granted for "political crimes" but will not cover the worst atrocities, such as massacres, torture and rape. Those responsible for such crimes will face up to 20 years in prison, with lighter sentences if they confess.

- Drug trafficking -

In May 2014, the FARC agreed to stop drug production in areas under its control. The government pledged to help farmers earn a living without growing illicit crops such as coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine. But Colombia, a top ally in the US war on drugs, will continue its crackdown on drug traffickers.

- Rebels in politics -

The FARC will now become a political party.

Under a November 2013 deal, it will temporarily be allocated 10 seats in the 268-member Congress. Once the rebels lay down their arms, the government has pledged to provide security to prevent reprisal attacks by remnants of right-wing paramilitary groups that fought them in the 1980s and 1990s.

- Land reform -

In May 2013, the two sides signed a deal to provide land, loans and basic services to impoverished rural communities. Millions of dollars in financing will be needed to implement it.

- Ratifying the accord -

The final deal will now be put to a referendum on October 2. It will only take effect if the "Yes" camp wins a majority and gathers at least 4.4 million votes. Recent polls indicate the "Yes" camp will win.
conor-mcgregor-gets-cage-warriors-belts-back

Instagram / Conor McGregor

Now that the initial shock of the Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez lightweight title fight being booked has started to wear off, the vitriol-filled reactionists of the MMA community have once again come out of the woodwork to voice their disapproval. Some are claiming that Conor didnt deserve the shot in the first place*, others are petitioning to have him stripped of the featherweight belt for refusing to defend it**, and other, Stockton, California-based fans are demanding that McGregor own up and take the ass-whipping that is due to him in a trilogy match with Nate Diaz***.

Regardless of which camp you find yourself in, its safe to say that, should McGregor defeat Alvarez on November 12 (which hes already being slightly favored to do), it would create one hell of a sticky situation for the UFC. McGregor is only one man, after all, and the UFC cant exactly afford to have him holding up two different weight classes while pursuing whatever money fights he so desires in the meantime. It doesnt seem like hes in any hurry to defend the featherweight title that he captured last December, so at some point the UFC is going to have to make a decision regarding what to do with the man who is seemingly calling all the shots.

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Luckily, McGregor has gone ahead and resolved the situation on his own, as the Notorious one is wont to do. In an appearance on Sportscenter this morning, Dana White dropped something of a bombshell when he announced that McGregor would be giving up one of his belts if he defeats Alvarez at UFC 205.

So this fights coming up and he wants to try to gain both belts. He will give up one of the titles after that fight in New York, said White. [Which title] well figure out. Hes got some stuff going on right now. Some personal stuff Im sure hell announce when hes ready.

As to what this personal stuff could be, well, we have a few guesses.

Story continues

McGregors longtime girlfriend, Dee Devlin, is pregnant with a little McGregor that has already been booked against Nate Diaz at UFC 220. McGregor is going to pull another fake retirement to demand even MORE money for his next fight (which he will receive). McGregor is leaving MMA behind to pursue his true passion: Magic. He will embark on a multi-country tour with Criss Angel at the start of 2017.

Obviously, the crux of the UFCs plans for McGregor will depend on his performance against Alvarez on November 12, but one things for sure: Jose Aldo will not be letting him slip away that easily 

*Which is accurate, but also just adorable in its naivety to how this sport operates.

**Which would be accurate if McGregor didnt win the title less than a year ago.

***Which, STOCKTON MOTHERF*CKER.
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Residents in the Australian town of Gladstone, Queensland, got a shock Monday evening when a fiery object lit up the night sky accompanied by a loud "boom" and a tremor.

But the biggest news? No one knows exactly what went down yet, and even the police are making light of the mysterious, erm, light.

SEE ALSO: Two bright meteors streak above Earth in new video from space

According to the Gladstone Observer, Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson Meredith Schier was unsure what caused the incident, saying, "There doesn't seem to be a weather related explanation for what has been described in the Gladstone area tonight."

Mystery surrounds reports Queensland residents witnessed a meteorite overnight. @SimoLove https://t.co/hh4B3VH2zM https://t.co/UEMgJfIctY  7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) September 26, 2016

Similarly, Geoscience Australia confirmed to Mashable that they detected no earthquake activity in the area at the time. Police say they've been told by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that no planes were reported missing or in danger in the region. Spooky!

Hundreds of Queensland residents have reported sightings of a bright light in the sky, followed by a loud bang and tremors.

Two hours after the initial "bang," Geosciences Australia did measure a 3.8-magnitude earthquake off Airlie Beach, which is six hours north of Gladstone by car.

For their part, police are playing it cool. Good to see that just like the rest of us, they're not above alien jokes.

No, we don't know anything about a meteor shower near Gladstone, but we know some people who might. #TheTruthIsOutThere pic.twitter.com/ENESz20XFv  QPS Media Unit (@QPSmedia) September 26, 2016

One local man talked to Yahoo News about his sighting of the possible meteorite, saying he was "sitting at the beach in Boyne Island and saw it all unfold, looked like a big as hell shooting star and lit up the beach."

Story continues

"Then about a minute later a big bang and a shockwave came over the water and shook my car little bit was a pretty awesome experience," he said.

Education program producer at the Sydney Observatory, Geoff Wyatt told Mashable "We are bombarded by these [meteors] every day. Approximately 50,000 per year with as little as 0.8% probability of them being spotted from inhabited areas ... Certainly objects do break up and survive until they reach sea level but thats it, most go into the sea."

The incident was reportedly witnessed by people over an area of 400 kilometres (248 miles).

Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told the Gladstone Observer it was indeed likely a meteor. "It's not a comet, or Queensland wouldn't exist anymore (and we'd have seen it coming for days)," he said.

"It is probably a large meteor. I'm guessing a rock about a metre across which would have been big enough perhaps to leave fragments (meteorites) on the ground."

Mashable has reached out to the Bureau of Meteorology for comment.
By Elizabeth Piper LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Armed with 10 new policy pledges, Britain's main opposition Labour Party is ready to rebuild trust and win the next election, even if the ruling Conservatives call one for next year, leader Jeremy Corbyn will say on Wednesday. After winning election as leader for the second time at the weekend, Corbyn will call on his deeply divided party to "end the trench warfare", his spokesman said, and unite to challenge Prime Minister Theresa May's government. But underlining the differences in his party, a top aide will criticize Labour for allowing the government to plot a "hard Brexit" to sever ties with the European Union unopposed while they were arguing over their leader. Corbyn, a veteran peace campaigner, will call on lawmakers to rally around his new agenda, or 10 policy pledges, which include one for full employment, action to secure an equal society, and public ownership and control of services. "The central task for the whole Labour Party is to rebuild trust and support to win the next general election and form the next government," he will tell his party, according to extracts from his speech. "Whatever the prime minister says about snap elections, there is every chance that Theresa May will cut and run for an early election. So I put our party on notice today." May, who was appointed prime minister after Britain's vote to leave the EU forced the resignation of her predecessor David Cameron, has said she does not intend to hold an early election. The country's next parliamentary election is due in 2020. DIVISION Corbyn's calls for unity are repeated publicly by almost all in his party, but privately many centrist Labour lawmakers say they fear his win will serve to cement his authority and drive the party further left away from the centre-ground that handed them power between 1997 and 2010 under Tony Blair. In a further sign of possible rifts, Corbyn's spokesman on home affairs, Andy Burnham, will urge Labour to be "the champions of a fair Brexit" when some leading Conservatives are backing a clean break with the EU and its single market. "While we've been turning inward, the Tories have been taking liberties and plotting a hard-line, right-wing Brexit that burns Britain's bridges. Let's unite, turn the page and turn our fire on them," he will say in a separate speech. Corbyn's spokesman said the Labour leader wanted to see what the government's negotiating stance was before setting out a clearer position on Brexit, but that he did want to ease the impact of high levels of immigration. He said a Labour government would reinstate a migrant impact fund to offer communities "absorbing new populations" help to ease pressure on public services, such as hospitals and schools - a move to win back the millions in Labour's traditional heartlands who voted for Brexit. For Corbyn, the spokesman said, tackling the causes of migration was more important than bringing down the numbers of people coming to Britain - something millions of voters said was a priority in their decision to leave the European Union. Instead, he wants an "equilibrium of rights" across Europe so that wages and conditions come into line, which could deter many migrants from arriving in Britain looking for work. "Labour is preparing for a general election in 2017, we expect all our members to support that effort, and we will be ready whenever it comes," Corbyn will say. (Editing by Alison Williams)
As per a press release from the governors office in North Carolina, Corning Incorporated GLW owned Corning Optical Communications LLC is slated to expand operations at its plants in Winston-Salem and Hickory, NC. The company is planning to expand its workforce at the Hickory plant by adding another 105 jobs and intends to invest $83.5 million in the state over a period of five years.

Although compensation packages will vary depend on hierarchy, the average annual salary for the new positions stands at $58,151. We note that the average wage levels in Forsyth and Catawba counties currently stand at $49,817 and $38,238 respectively.

Governor McCrory stated in the release that Cornings decision to expand in the state indicates that it has a highly-skilled workforce and provides easy accessibility to other markets and a favorable business climate..

Our Take

Corning is primarily a developer of advanced glass substrates for multiple markets. The companys second-quarter earnings and revenues beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company saw seasonal strength in Optical Communications in the quarter. These factors along with new and pipeline products and managements recently announced capital allocation plans are positives.

We note that multiple factors should drive Cornings fiber optic solutions business in the next few years, primarily the increasing use of mobile devices that require efficient data transfer and therefore efficient networking systems. Supporting this trend is the increasing adoption of cloud, which facilitates increased storage. Since both consumers and enterprises are using the network more, there is tremendous demand for quality networking.

Besides, data consumption patterns are changing. For instance, there is a growing propensity to consume video content thus creating the need for faster data transfer. Since optical networks are more efficient and most of the existing networks are copper-based, the demand for optical solutions is particularly strong.

Story continues

Cornings decision to expand its presence in North Carolina is likely to boost the states business climate. We expect the growing demand in the optical communications space to augur well for the company in the long run.

CORNING INC Price

CORNING INC Price | CORNING INC Quote

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

At present, Corning carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology space are Acacia Communications, Inc. ACIA and UTStarcom Holdings Corp. UTSI, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Aerohive Networks, Inc. HIVE, carrying a Zacks Rank # 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Aerohive witnessed one positive estimate revision in the last 60 days and reported a positive earnings surprise of 18.75% in the last reported quarter.

Acacia also witnessed one positive revision over the same time frame and reported a positive earnings surprise of 230.77% in the last reported quarter.

UTStarcom reported a positive earnings surprise of 262.50% in the last reported quarter.

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LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Gabriel Resources Ltd. ("Gabriel" or the "Company") announces an update in relation to its ongoing bi-lateral investment treaty arbitration against Romania proceeding under the auspices of the World Bank's International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (the "Arbitration") and the previously announced disputed value added tax ("VAT") assessment (the "Assessment") levied against its majority-owned subsidiary, Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A. ("RMGC"), by the Romanian National Agency for Fiscal Administration ("ANAF").

The first session of the tribunal constituted to conduct the Arbitration (the "Tribunal") was held by teleconference on August 12, 2016 and on August 26, the Tribunal issued Procedural Order No.1 establishing certain procedural matters. The Tribunal is still to issue a procedural calendar with specific dates for the filing of submissions by the parties and other necessary procedural matters.

On September 23, 2016, the Tribunal held a hearing in Washington, D.C., to consider requests for certain provisional measures submitted to the Tribunal by the Company and its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Gabriel Resources (Jersey) Ltd. (together "Claimants") relating to, inter alia, aspects of the Assessment and other actions being undertaken by ANAF ("PM Hearing"). The Tribunal has not indicated a timeframe to issue its decision in regard to the matters addressed during the PM Hearing.

As announced on July 14, 2016, the Assessment relates to a demand by ANAF for repayment of VAT deductions claimed by RMGC in the period 2011 to 2016 in the amount of RON 27m ($8.6m). In mid-September, ANAF issued a further demand against RMGC in respect of interest and penalties payable on the Assessment in the amount of RON 15.9 million ($5.1m). RMGC challenged the Assessment on the basis that it was contrary to well established Romanian fiscal laws as well as European directives, and was issued despite its basis being contradictory to the results of eighteen prior VAT audits conducted by various divisions of ANAF in relation to RMGC's activities.

Immediately prior to the PM Hearing the Claimants were notified, through a filing made on behalf of Romania to the Tribunal, that the General Directorate for the Settlement of Challenges, a division of ANAF, had decided to partially quash the Assessment and to rerun the fiscal inspection for the same period but using a new inspection team. The Company is advised that the Assessment and the associated interest and penalties will no longer be due for payment by RMGC and debt recovery actions against RMGC accordingly must be withdrawn.

In parallel to the Assessment, a directorate of ANAF continues to pursue an investigation of a broad range of operational activities and transactions of RMGC over an extensive period spanning 1997 to 2015 (the "ANAF Investigation"). The Company believes that the ANAF Investigation is unjustified and has been initiated in an attempt to disparage the reputation of RMGC and the Company, in view of the Company's dispute with the Romanian State and the Claimants' filing for the Arbitration. Accordingly, the Company has brought this matter to the attention of the Tribunal as Gabriel continues to consider that such actions further evidence the discriminatory acts and bad faith conduct of the Romanian authorities with regard to the Company's investment in Romania.

Jonathan Henry, Gabriel's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:

"We welcome the recent ruling by Romania's fiscal authorities against the demand for repayment of prior VAT rebates, although we are cautious as to the ultimate result given the direction to re-run the VAT inspection. The various investigations have been time consuming, expensive, and in our view abusive in nature for the Company. The Company is committed to preserving the Claimants' rights as well as those of RMGC throughout the Arbitration process. Unfortunately, Romania continues to take action seeking to ensure that the Project does not go ahead, such as its successful application for Rosia Montana to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The Company has always stated it remains ready to explore an amicable resolution of the dispute that includes development of the Project. Unfortunately, Romania's actions demonstrate that it has no interest in engaging with a foreign investor who has consistently stated a desire for an amicable resolution to the issues at dispute and to improve the economic and reputational outlook for the country."

For information on this press release, please contact:

Jonathan Henry

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mobile: +44 7798 801783

jh@gabrielresources.com

Max Vaughan

Chief Financial Officer

Mobile: +44 7823 885503

max.vaughan@gabrielresources.com

Richard Brown

Chief Commercial Officer

Mobile: +44 7748 760276

richard.brown@gabrielresources.com

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Toronto Stock Exchange listed Canadian resource company. The Company's principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. It is anticipated that the Project would bring over US$24 billion (at US$1,200/oz gold) to Romania as potential direct and indirect contribution to GDP and generate thousands of employment opportunities.

Since the grant of the License in June 1999, the Company has focused substantially all of its management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Project. Despite the Company's fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Project without due process and without compensation.

For more information please visit the Company's website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" (also referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Company's ability to fund its operations or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Company's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or 'will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

the duration, required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania;

changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is parent ("Gabriel Group");

access to funding to support the Gabriel Group's continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;

equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares;

the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities;

the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: unforeseen historic acts of corruption, uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Gabriel Group and political and social instability;

regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes;

volatility of currency exchange rates, metal prices and metal production;

the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Gabriel Group of certain key employees and consultants; and

risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Company's affairs since the date of this report that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Company's website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Company's disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies including Gabriel's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Gabriel Resources Ltd.
Police in southern India were investigating political activists on Tuesday for killing dogs, tying the corpses to a pole and parading them in public to protest against dangerous strays.

The protesters from the youth wing of a local party carried the pole with the dogs hanging by their legs through the streets of a town in Kerala state on Monday.

Video of the protest in Kottayam district that saw the dogs being dumped outside local government offices was broadcast on television and sparked public anger.

"We have registered a case against the protesters today for cruelty against animals and launched our investigation," Gireesh P Saradhi, deputy superintendent of Kottayam police, told AFP.

"They killed and paraded five to seven dogs. We have sent the bodies for a post-mortem to ascertain how they were killed," he added.

The protest is the latest incident in a row over feared rising numbers of strays in the state, after a woman was mauled by a pack of dogs last month and later died.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sparked anger recently by saying he opposed culling, while animal activists have called for sterilisation and other more humane methods of curbing numbers.

Thousands of stray dogs roam the streets in India, with some carrying rabies and other diseases. It was unclear why the numbers were feared to be a particular problem in Kerala, a popular state with tourists.

Saji Manjakadambil, one of those involved in the protest from the Kerala Congress (M) party, said such killings would continue unless the government acted on the problem.

"We have killed these dogs. And it's a warning that this will continue if the central and state governments do not control the stray dog menace," Manjakadambil told the NDTV network.

In a statement, the Humane Society International branded Monday's protest disgraceful, saying members of political parties should not be taking the law into their own hands.
Costco Wholesale Corporation COST is slated to report fourth-quarter fiscal 2016 results on Sep 29. The question lingering in investors minds is, whether the company will be able to deliver a positive earnings surprise in the quarter to be reported. Lets see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.

Zacks Model Shows Unlikely Earnings Beat

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Costco is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. Costco has an Earnings ESP of -0.58% as the Most Accurate estimate stands at $1.72, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher at $1.73. Costcos Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings surprise.

Factors Influencing this Quarter

Costco continues to be one of the dominant retail wholesalers based on its breadth and quality of merchandise offered. A differentiated product range enables the company to ensure an upscale shopping experience for its members, resulting in market share gains. Moreover, Costco continues to maintain a healthy membership renewal rate. It is also gradually expanding its e-commerce capabilities in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Mexico, Taiwan and Korea.

However, investors are worried about Costcos comparable-store sales (comps) performance in the quarter to be reported. Costco reported flat comps for the 16-week period ended Aug 28, 2016. The company witnessed a flat and a 2% increase in comps across its U.S. and Canadian locations, respectively, offset by a 2% decline at its Other International locations. Costco experienced flat comps for the month of August (the four weeks ended Aug 28, 2016) following a 2% decline in July and flat comps in June. Moreover, on the revenue front, Costco has missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last six consecutive quarters.

Story continues

COSTCO WHOLE CP Price and EPS Surprise

COSTCO WHOLE CP Price and EPS Surprise | COSTCO WHOLE CP Quote

Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates

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Burlington Stores, Inc. BURL has an Earnings ESP of +3.13% and a Zacks Rank #2.

Nordstrom Inc. JWN has an Earnings ESP of +5.66% and a Zacks Rank #2.

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In June automaker Volkswagen agreed to settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state of California, and another with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that will cost the company $14.7 billion. But that may have been just the beginning of VW's woes, not the end.

In a Bloomberg report published Tuesday, an unnamed source said that the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is trying to figure out how much to fine Volkswagen over its diesel emissions cheating scandal without forcing the German automaker to go out of business. The sources said the DoJ and VW want to have a settlement in place before a new administration takes office in January 2017.

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Calculating the fine depends to a large degree on how big the DoJ thinks the amount has to be in order both to change VW's behavior and to deter other businesses from engaging in illegal conduct. The Bloomberg report noted:

Standard & Poors Ratings Services said in a note in February that it would consider lowering the carmakers rating only if its litigation costs exceeded 40 billion euros ($45 billion) or if its legal costs caused a severe negative impact on the companys liquidity position, a scenario it considers unlikely.

By that measure, after U.S. civil penalties and accounting for maximum damages in German lawsuits, the company would still have a cushion of about $20 billion to absorb other litigation and investigation-related expenses.

ALSO READ: Americans to Spend $2.5 Billion on Halloween Candy

A Bloomberg Intelligence credit analyst said that VW has "plenty of money to meet further fines" because penalties tend to be structured so the company can pay over time. According to the analyst, VW could be generating free cash flow of $5 billion by 2018. That would make paying a DoJ fine less onerous for the company but won't assuage investors who will be shouldering a burden they didn't expect and are likely to litigate for relief.

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While it is unlikely that the DoJ will hit VW with the maximum penalty, the feds will want to make sure that the price is high enough to sting the company for its deceptive emissions control device and warn other carmakers that there's a tougher sheriff in town.

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The bar was extremely low for Donald Trump heading into his first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. The pundits had essentially declared that if he simply refrained from, say, shouting out "Sieg Heil!" during the 90 minutes, he would appear suitably presidential.

The bar, it seems, wasn't lowered enough.

During the event moderated by NBC's Lester Holt, Trump was his usual condescending and obnoxious self. Not so long ago, Al Gore was raked over the coals for deeply sighing during one of his debates with George W. Bush. This evening, Trump constantly grimaced, scowled, shook his head and shouted out exclamations of "wrong!" while Hillary Clinton spoke. With the split screen keeping the camera tightly focused on both candidates for the entire evening, it became an endurance test for everyone watching.

Read more: Hollywood Criticizes Lester Holt's Moderating, Donald Trump's Attacks During First Presidential Debate

Hillary kept her cool throughout, although you could tell she was going to need a deep tissue massage as soon as it was over. During every one of his attacks, she kept a smile on her face, although occasionally she wasn't able to prevent herself from laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all.

True to form, however, she did deliver the first outright lie of the evening, when she warmly greeted Trump by saying, "Donald, it's good to be with you."

Like so many candidates and moderators before him, Holt was unable to prevent Trump's constant interruptions and talking whenever he felt like it. To his credit, the news anchor pushed hard, frequently admonishing Trump and often directly contradicting him when he repeated such hoods as saying he had been opposed to the Iraq War. But it was to no avail, as the Republican candidate simply talked over Holt whenever he was challenged.

Read more: Presidential Debate Fact Check: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Deny Their Own Words

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Hillary got so frustrated that she shouted out, not once but twice, for help. "Fact checkers, get to work!" she implored early on. "I hope the fact checkers are turning up the volume and working really hard," she plaintively added later in the evening.

Turning up the volume wasn't necessary, since Trump was speaking in his usual loud, blustery manner. And the fact checkers will certainly be having a field day refuting such things as Trump's denial that he ever declared climate change to be a hoax.

The effort seemed to leave Trump parched and stressed, as he constantly took swigs of water, sniffed and had a visible sheen of sweat coating his face. On the other hand, Hillary - who after recently recovering from pneumonia should probably be making an effort to stay hydrated - managed to get through the entire evening without taking a sip, or coughing.

Trump engaged in his familiar, insincere courtliness; after referring to Hillary as "Secretary Clinton," he said to her, in his smarmy manner, "Is that OK? I want you to be very happy. It's very important to me."

Read more: Late-Night Hosts Take on the First Presidential Debate

Hillary was clearly trying to get under Trump's skin, and more often than not she succeeded. When she referred to his having rooted for the 2008 housing crisis so he could profit, he interjected, "That's called business, by the way." When she pointed out that he wasn't releasing his tax returns because he probably paid no federal income tax, he crowed, "That's what makes me smart!"

She got in one of her best digs when she said that Trump "loves beauty contestssupporting them and hanging around them," subtly making him sound like a registered sex offender.

Trump's obfuscations were dizzying in their audacity. Asked about his frequent declarations of bankruptcy, he replied, "On occasion, we used certain laws that were there." When Hillary criticized him for encouraging Russia to hack the DNC, he coyly responded that the culprit "might have been someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."

Read more: Presidential Debate: Viewers Call Out Trump's Sniffling on Social Media

And he patted himself on the back for his past accusations that President Obama wasn't born in America, declaring that he "did a great service to the country, and to the president," for getting Obama to release his birth certificate.

"Just listen to what you heard," an aghast Hillary told the audience, although the word she was really looking for was "chutzpah."

After being attacked by Hillary for his "long history of engaging in racist behavior," Trump fought back. "When you try to act holier than thou, it really doesn't work," he said, dripping with contempt.

As is his wont, Trump announced that he has a "much better temperament" than Hillary, an assertion that was greeted by raucous laughter from the otherwise mostly silent crowd.

"I have a winning temperament!" he declared, apparently unaware of the meaning of the word "temperament." Hillary looked at him like he was crazy, and let out one of her few truly spontaneous responses of the evening: "WooOK!" she laughed.

The line pretty well sums up the entirety of this surreal debate that would have been entertaining, if only the stakes weren't so high.

Read more: Donald Trump Condescending With Hillary Clinton at First Presidential Debate: "I Want You to Be Happy"
The Crown must win, must always win. That admonition comes at the end of the first trailer for Netflixs new original drama The Crown, which chronicles the early days of Queen Elizabeths reign. The show is created, written and executive produced by The Queen scribe Peter Morgan. Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) and Andy Harries (The Queen) also executive produce and Daldry directs.

The series stars Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, a 25-year-old newlywed faced with the daunting prospect of leading the worlds most famous monarchy as the British Empire is in decline while forging a relationship with legendary Prime Minister Winston Churchill (John Lithgow).

Matt Smith, Victoria Hamilton, Jared Harris, Vanessa Kirby and Eileen Atkins also star in the 10-episode series that goes behind the locked doors in Westminster and Buckingham Palace to reveal the personal intrigues, romances and political rivalries behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.

Speaking of winning, The Crown is believed to be Netflixs most expensive original series to date. Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference today in London, chief content officer Ted Sarandos touched on this ambitious venture. We are looking for stuff that is more brand-defining and tentpole, he said. [The Crown] is produced to a scale that I dont think many networks could step up to. Because our audience is large and global and the story is incredibly local, we can invest heavily in a project like that.

The Crown will be available to stream November 4.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWtnJjn6ng0&w=970&h=546]

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Madrid (AFP) - Oscar-winning Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will begin shooting a movie about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar next month, the married couple's first film together since 2008.

"Escobar", a Spanish-Bulgarian joint project to be filmed in Colombia, will go into production on October 24 with Bardem playing Escobar and Cruz playing his lover, journalist Virginia Vallejo, producers said Tuesday in a statement.

"This is not a biopic, not just the story of a tough gangster. This is the story of the man who changed the history of crime in the last decades of the 20th century," the film's producer, Miguel Menendez de Zubillaga, said in the statement.

Husband and wife off screen, the last time the two appeared together in a movie was in the 2008 Woody Allen romantic comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Cruz won a supporting-actress Oscar for her role.

Bardem won a supporting-actor Oscar for the 2007 crime thriller "No Country for Old Men".

"Escobar" will be directed by Spain's Fernando Leon de Aranoa whose credits include the 2002 film "Mondays in the Sun" also starring Bardem, for which both got Spain's Oscar-equivalent Goya for best director and best actor.

Escobar was the boss of one of the world's most powerful criminal organisations and Colombia's most-wanted fugitive.

The Colombian farmer's son who became the world's seventh-richest man with his ruthless dominance of the global cocaine trade was hunted for years before police killed him in his hometown of Medellin in 1993.

Over the years, thousands of people were killed in violence unleashed by his Medellin cartel.

He has recently inspired several films and series including "Narcos," a hit on Netflix which is in its second season.
Oscar-winning Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will begin shooting a movie about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar next month, the married couple's first film together since 2008.

"Escobar", a Spanish-Bulgarian joint project to be filmed in Colombia, will go into production on October 24 with Bardem playing Escobar and Cruz playing his lover, journalist Virginia Vallejo, producers said Tuesday in a statement.

"This is not a biopic, not just the story of a tough gangster. This is the story of the man who changed the history of crime in the last decades of the 20th century," the film's producer, Miguel Menendez de Zubillaga, said in the statement.

Husband and wife off screen, the last time the two appeared together in a movie was in the 2008 Woody Allen romantic comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Cruz won a supporting-actress Oscar for her role.

Bardem won a supporting-actor Oscar for the 2007 crime thriller "No Country for Old Men".

"Escobar" will be directed by Spain's Fernando Leon de Aranoa whose credits include the 2002 film "Mondays in the Sun" also starring Bardem, for which both got Spain's Oscar-equivalent Goya for best director and best actor.

Escobar was the boss of one of the world's most powerful criminal organisations and Colombia's most-wanted fugitive.

The Colombian farmer's son who became the world's seventh-richest man with his ruthless dominance of the global cocaine trade was hunted for years before police killed him in his hometown of Medellin in 1993.

Over the years, thousands of people were killed in violence unleashed by his Medellin cartel.

He has recently inspired several films and series including "Narcos," a hit on Netflix which is in its second season.
Over the weekend, Melbourne hosted the second Hophaus Annual Dachshund Race. And as you can imagine, it was incredibly cute.

The best part is that the dachshunds wore costumes, competing for the best look of the day. There were the expected hot dog getups, but a cowboy, octopus, and policeman outfits were also in attendance.

The race was part of the city's Oktoberfest celebration, and all of the money raised at the race was donated to Dachshund Rescue Australia. We've pulled together some highlights from the race to get your week off to the right start.

PSA: Hophaus Annual Dachshund Race is on today. #weinersoftwitter pic.twitter.com/iIGpA5zqUO Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) September 24, 2016

Its that time of year again The HOPHAUS Annual Dachshund Race is on this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/HYUROEubqD Biggin&Scott Mitcham (@BigginScottMitc) September 22, 2016

What a day for the Hophaus Dachshund race. pic.twitter.com/2JNCSX8ai5 Hophaus (@HOPHAUSBAR) September 24, 2016

MELBOURNE /// Overdose on canine cuteness at Hophaus annual charity dachshund race. https://t.co/VdbD7AW2dk pic.twitter.com/qw8Z6jtJ48 Concrete Playground (@concreteplay) September 24, 2016

The sausage dog race that stops the nation is back tomorrow! https://t.co/Sh2LRaP4jj~ Scribble Creative (@ScribbleCreativ) September 23, 2016

The Hophaus annual dachshund race is back tomorrow! https://t.co/cBpvDw11HO pic.twitter.com/sjeiWTceiC Urban List Melbourne (@UrbanListMELB) September 23, 2016

Erika Owen is the Senior Audience Engagement Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @erikaraeowen.

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Copenhagen (AFP) - A Danish court on Tuesday acquitted four Danes accused of aiding a Copenhagen gunman who killed a filmmaker and a Jewish security guard in twin attacks in February 2015.

They had been charged with "terror offences" for allegedly providing support to Danish-Palestinian Omar El-Hussein ahead of the second attack, which took place outside a synagogue.

The four men, Bhostan Hossein, 26, Liban Elmi, 21, Ibrahim Abbas, 23, and Mahmoud Rabea, 32, smiled at each other and their lawyers when the judgement was read aloud.

Danish Justice Minister Soren Pind wrote on Twitter that authorities would "study the verdict and see whether to appeal."

Hossein and Elmi were however convicted of a lesser charge for possessing and disposing of a weapon used in the first attack and sentenced to three and 2.5 years in prison, respectively.

Both had been detained since February 2015 and Elmi was released since time on remand typically gives a "discount" compared to time served for a conviction.

The four risked life imprisonment if found guilty, which in Denmark means they would have been entitled to a parole hearing after 12 years.

"We are surprised that the court has judged the evidence against the accused differently than the prosecution has," the assistant prosecutor in the case, Sidsel Klixbull, said in a statement.

A lawyer for Hossein, Berit Ernst, told AFP she was "very satisfied with the decision."

The case reaches back to February 14, 2015, when Danish-born El-Hussein opened fire with an automatic rifle outside a cultural centre hosting a free speech event.

Filmmaker Finn Norgaard, 55, was killed and three police officers were wounded.

- Question of 'intent' -

Later that night, El-Hussein -- seemingly inspired by the attacks on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo the previous month -- headed to the city's main synagogue, where he shot and killed 37-year-old Jewish security guard Dan Uzan.

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El-Hussein, 22, was shot dead by police hours later, having killed two people and wounded five.

The prosecution had argued that the four committed a "terror offence" through their "continuous and close contact" with El-Hussein after the first attack, by providing him with ammunition and a bag used in the second attack, and by paying for his time in an Internet cafe where he located the synagogue.

Surveillance footage showed the men meeting with him in the hours between the two attacks.

Grainy CCTV footage played in court showed Hossein and Elmi meeting with El-Hussein in a park, and the gunman handing Hossein a bag containing the M95 rifle used in the first attack, later found in a nearby ditch.

However, Hossein denied the charge of possessing and disposing of a weapon, claiming El-Hussein handed him the bag and then refused to take it back, while Elmi said he did not know the bag contained a weapon.

The court also viewed video images of El-Hussein, Elmi and Abbas in the cafe after the synagogue shooting.

They were seen talking jokingly, and El-Hussein appeared to act out pulling the trigger of a weapon.

But the prosecution failed to prove "intent", meaning that the four knew about his plans to commit an act of terror, the court found.

Most of their contact with El-Hussein took place before he searched on the internet for his next target, it said.

Released from prison just two weeks before the attacks after serving time for a stabbing, El-Hussein was known for his violent temper and for having ties to a criminal gang.

The prosecution said he pledged allegiance to Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Facebook on the day of the shootings, but investigators said they believed he was not part of a jihadist network.
On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ...
By Denny Thomas and Michelle Price

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Business development managers at Chinese state-owned firms have been put on notice: mess up on M&A deals and you can be held personally liable - for life.

Under new rules unveiled by China's State Council, or cabinet, last month, managers will be held accountable if they "fail to, or incorrectly, perform their duties" with respect to deals that result in a loss of state assets.

A lack of specifics has prompted bankers and lawyers to say this is a draconian catch-all clause that is already slowing deal-making at Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Sanctions include pay cuts, disciplinary action or full judicial hearings - even years after managers have moved jobs or retired. In the United States and Europe, company executives are rarely held personally accountable, let alone criminally liable, for bad deals - provided they met their fiduciary duties. When strategic moves go bad, typically the CEO or chairman is urged to resign.

The move is part of President Xi Jinping's overhaul of China's bloated, debt-ridden SOEs, which have been on a buying binge in recent years. Sloppy deal-making has led to billions of dollars in writedowns.

Flush with state funds and a government mandate to go global, SOE managers have enjoyed a high degree of freedom to make often big, headline-grabbing outbound deals without fear of personal reprisal.

In the rush to accumulate assets, business development teams weren't always thorough in their due diligence or market analysis. And deals were typically rubber-stamped by boards that tended not to look too closely at the details or valuations, said bankers and lawyers who have worked on state sector deals.

State firms also paid less attention to integrating newly bought assets - often critical to delivering long-term value.

"There's growing concern around SOE investments," said Xiong Jin, international partner at law firm King & Wood Mallesons in Beijing. "The government has realised that many SOE assets have been lost through poor investments overseas, and now there's a sense of urgency to impose better controls. This also comes in the broader context of SOE reform."

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The new rules mean many SOE managers are now reluctant to take decisions, say bankers and lawyers, and can spend weeks tied up on email chains and meetings trying to get their bosses to take responsibility for transactions and have external legal counsel sign off on commercial aspects of deals.

"The blanket reaction from senior company officials would be: be passive, making no suggestions or decisions on M&A opportunities," said a senior official at a state energy company involved in overseas investment.

The official, who didn't want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, said managers would now more likely just report public information about investment opportunities to their bosses, without making any value-added proposals.

"If you start looking through the lens of this document, an SOE manager will start to ask of every operational decision or small decision on every provision in a deal: 'could I be held accountable for this in 15 years' time'," said Andrew McGinty, partner at law firm Hogan Lovells in Shanghai.

"They will either take the path of least personal risk, which may not be best for the business, or keep going up the chain of command to make sure they have covered their position. This is slowing down deals."

LEADING THE CHARGE

With Beijing's blessing, state-owned firms led China's decade-long outbound M&A splurge, buying strategic assets from energy and food to technology. State-owned firms accounted for close to two-thirds of China's $677 billion in outbound deals over the past 10 years, Thomson Reuters data show.

It wasn't always money well spent.

For example, a tie-up between China's state-run TCL and France's Thomson Electronics lost around half its value, and South Korean car maker Ssangyong Motor filed for bankruptcy within five years of being taken over by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

And last year's oil price collapse forced companies like China Petroleum & Chemical Corp and CNOOC to take billions of dollars in writedowns. CNOOC took a 10.4 billion yuan ($1.56 billion) impairment charge in the first half of this fiscal year, which analysts say is largely related to its $15.1 billion buy of Canada's Nexen Inc in 2013

Bankers said Beijing became even more circumspect following China National Chemical Corp's [CNNCC.UL] $43 billion bid for Syngenta (SYNN.S) in February - which came with an eye-popping $3 billion break fee, or 7 percent of the deal value compared to 1-2 percent typically. [nL8N15I0H3]

"It's this over-exuberant climate that has prompted the government to rein in the excess," said Howard Yu, professor at Swiss business school IMD. "It all points to an urgent need for systematic reform to impose a sense of discipline when it comes to international expansion through M&A."

The State Council Information Office, the public relations arm of the central government, did not respond to requests for comment.

China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), which oversees SOEs, is also tightening its vetting process on outbound deals and intervening more, said M&A bankers in Hong Kong.

At some SOEs, internal committees representing the Communist Party have been given new powers to effectively supersede the board and approve major deals.

Sinochem International Corp pulled out of a $3 billion acquisition of a German company last month after the SASAC questioned the valuation, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. [nL3N1B73JH]

The SASAC did not respond to requests for comment.

($1 = 6.6707 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Denny Thomas and Michelle Price, with additional reporting by Aizhu Chen in BEIJING; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Thirty-three bodies were recovered on Tuesday as a wreck of boat that sank off Egypt last week with hundreds of migrants aboard was lifted from the depths, raising the confirmed death toll to 202, a local official said. The boat capsized off the Mediterranean coast on Sept. 21. Rescue workers and fishermen said they had rescued at least 169 people, but uncertainty remains over how many might still be missing. Regional governor Mohamed Sultan said the number of bodies recovered was "almost final" but rescue workers were still looking for human remains at sea. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday it believed at least 450 people were aboard the vessel and that about 300 perished in all. "It is one of the worst tragedies of this year, but not the worst," IOM spokesman Joel Millman told a briefing in Geneva. "We are concerned about what this says for the rest of the season as the weather turns cold and seas get more difficult." Egyptian security sources initially said there had been almost 600 migrants aboard. Officials said the boat was carrying Egyptian, Sudanese, Eritrean and Somali migrants, and that they believed it was heading for Italy. Four members of the crew were arrested. More and more migrants have been trying to cross to Italy from the African coast over the summer months, particularly from Libya, where people-traffickers operate with relative impunity. But boats have increasingly departed from Egypt of late as Libya has slipped deeper into lawlessness. The IOM says that more than 3,200 migrants have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean this year, while more than 300,000 have reached European shores. More than 1 million Middle Eastern, African and Asian migrants entered Europe in 2015. The IOM said the number of migrants to arrive in Europe this year likely would not reach last year's level though the number of fatalities was virtually certain to exceed the 2015 total. (Reporting by Mohamed Abdellah in Cairo and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; writing by Asma Alsharif and Lin Noueihed; Editing by Alison Williams)
Just as Donald Trump exploded the primary process through unprecedentedly aggressive blasts of campaign rhetoric and insults, Trump exploded the institution of the presidential debate by yelling over Hillary Clinton, dominating the 90 minutes on Monday night with a near-unceasing barrage of interruptions and scorn. He was a human live-tweet, critiquing Clintons statements as she said them, inserting comments in the middle of her answers: Wrong! Not true! Why not?

Trump took full advantage of the format, which frequently seemed to be almost no format at all. Moderator Lester Holt would ask a question, ask for a two-minute response from one of the candidates, and then near-chaos ensued nearly every time. If Trump was asked the question first, he answered and then often interrupted or talked through Clintons response.

Clinton maintained a smile throughout much of the debate, but as the minutes ticked by, the smile was a measure of silence  Trump let loose a seemingly unstoppable flow of phrases familiar to anyone whos heard his stump speech (we should have taken the oil law and order Iran was one of the worst deals in history). By the final half-hour, Trump was also interrupting Holt  Excuse me! Excuse me This is important!  while Clinton was left standing looking straight ahead.

Clinton and Holt behaved as though this was a normal presidential debate, as such debates have been conducted for decades: with mutual respect, allowing one candidate to finish an answer and move on. Trump, in dramatic contrast, behaved as he has throughout his campaign: Alternating conversational directness with a slashing insistence on getting the last word. He was at once relentless, and completely at ease in steamrolling over both Clinton and Holt whenever he pleased. As soon as the debate ended, John Dickerson on CBS made a significant observation that I think will prove true in the next day or so of who-won-it judgments, when he said that the winner of the debate will probably come down to whether people will respond to the blunt force of Trump, or Clintons command of the facts.

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In the lead-up to the debate, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC went all day with predebate coverage, emitting endless talk about how and when the debate would be fact-checked. And fact-checking Trump in particular. During the debate, Clinton responded to one long Trump answer by saying she hoped the fact-checkers were working away at what her opponent had just said. This emphasis on fact-checking fundamentally misunderstands one of the dynamics of television: Its what people see that matters as much as what they hear. I would wager that for millions of Americans watching on Monday night, they saw a Donald Trump who dominated the debate in an exceedingly forceful manner, and in the sheer number of minutes he spoke. His voice was heard more frequently than Clintons. Most of the debate was broadcast in split screen, with side-by-side close-ups of the candidates. As the debate went on, Trump increased the amount of face-pulling, grimacing, and sad head-shaking, thereby pulling viewers attention away from Clintons responses.

The most stark example of this clash of styles occurred near the end, when Trump said of Clinton, She doesnt have the stamina to be president. Now, here was an opportunity for Clinton to call Trump on the subtext of what he was saying  his clear implication that there is something wrong with her health. It was a moment when Clinton needed to improvise, to seize an opportunity to address this scurrilousness. Instead, she smiled her grim smile and she went to what was clearly a rehearsed answer, about how as soon as he travels to 112 countries or even spends 11 hours testifying before a congressional committee, he can talk to me about experience. It was a perfectly good answer, but it wasnt the forceful rejection of Trumps rhetoric that it could have been.

Post-debate, CNNs Wolf Blitzer said, She clearly managed to get under his skin, and he reacted as Donald Trump will. Getting under his skin was another theme we heard all day across cable news  how it had been leaked that Clintons camp was coming up with ways to get under Trumps skin. Well, it was clear by the end that Trump had gotten under Clintons skin, and Lester Holts skin, as well.
* Divisions in Labour mean no challenge for May on Brexit

* Brexit was not on agenda at Liverpool Labour conference

* Fears Conservatives could lurch right with muted opposition

By Elizabeth Piper

LIVERPOOL, England, Sept 27 (Reuters) - With the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader unlikely to heal deep rifts in Britain's Labour, the only significant opposition that Prime Minister Theresa May looks likely to face as she plots Britain's divorce from the EU is from her own party.

Britain's exit from the bloc, or Brexit, did not even make it onto the official agenda of the Labour party's conference in Liverpool, where lawmakers were more concerned with whether Labour will survive in the future.

For May, who campaigned quietly for Britain to stay in the European Union before the June referendum, it means she will be able to drive the talks without much interference from the Labour opposition.

But she may face a stronger challenge from those in her Conservative Party who are pressing for a hard Brexit, or a clean break with the EU and its single market.

Seema Malhotra, a former Labour treasury spokeswoman, told an event at the conference that she feared Labour had all but handed control to the Conservatives on Brexit.

"We have to insert ourselves into that debate because otherwise it runs the risk now of becoming another blue on blue debate, with 'leave means leave' and others who are Eurosceptic driving Theresa May to the right," she told a conference event, referring to the colour that represents the Conservatives.

She said Labour must try to keep "the best of what we have in the European Union, not just because it's good for Britain, but because it's good for Europe and it's good for the world as well".

LABOUR BREXIT STANCE

Other lawmakers said Labour had spent little time formulating a Brexit stance, not only because of the leadership election, but because it was still unclear what it would mean, with May giving little away.

Even some in the Conservatives say Brexit could foster complacency - allowing the party's own rifts to drive Britain's biggest shift in policy since the end of World War Two.

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"The Labour Party are not providing opposition, they are not asking those questions (on Brexit)," Nicky Morgan, a former Conservative education minister, told ITV television this month.

And while supporters of Corbyn say now that the leadership contest is out of the way, the leftist leader has the political clout to campaign for Britain to have a softer landing in its negotiations, others fear it is not his priority.

Critics say that the split between the left and centre-left in Labour offers little hope of getting the party back on track.

FEARS IN CURRENCY MARKETS

Three months after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, fears in currency markets of a "Hard Brexit" that are expected to drive banks from London have knocked sterling to near its weakest levels in decades.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spurred sales of sterling last Thursday by saying it was likely London could early next year invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which gives the sides two years to reach a deal.

May has yet to make her position clear, saying only that the formal divorce notification will not be invoked before the end of the year and that Britain will not get a bad deal.

Corbyn, accused of half-hearted campaigning for the remain camp, called for unity when he was elected for the second time as Labour leader at the weekend, hoping to overcome deep division between the party's left and centre-left.

DIVISIONS IN LABOUR

Divisions in Labour are nothing new and the groundswell for change that brought Corbyn to power is mirrored across Europe, where centre-left parties lost support to anti-establishment movements since the 2008 economic crisis.

But the rift has rarely been so pronounced, and for centre-left lawmakers the victory by Corbyn with his left-wing agenda mean the business-friendly centre ground that handed them power in 1997 under Tony Blair has been ceded to the Conservatives.

"I just wish the party would take half a step back and realise that if the public are running in this direction, the last thing the Labour Party should be doing is running at speed in the other direction because that's not going ... to win us the country," said Ian Murray, the only Labour lawmaker to represent a Scottish seat in parliament since the party was crushed by the nationalist SNP in 2015.

A survey by ComRes before Corbyn's win suggested 65 percent of Britons think the Conservatives under May are more likely to win the next election. With 16 percent saying Labour under Corbyn was likely to win, many in the party see the outlook as bleak.

MAINSTREAM CONCERNED

But with a convincing leadership victory and much of the party's machinery in the hands of his supporters, Corbyn is able to set policy with renewed confidence. Those lawmakers who do not see eye-to-eye with him say they will have to play ball.

Calling the leadership election result "fantastic", James Schneider of pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum said only when Labour has been unified has "the government been in retreat".

But while centrist lawmakers say they are on board, the scars run deep - with many deeply frustrated that their bid to oust Corbyn failed so dramatically, with challenger Owen Smith winning only 38 percent of the leadership vote.

"I don't think there's a short-term political solution," Tristram Hunt, a former education spokesman for Labour, told Reuters.

"Then I think we take a step back, we do the hard work, which we haven't really done, of intellectual renewal and it's a 10-year process. I am still up for the fight ... but I think some people will bow out." (additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James; editing by Peter Millership)
By Elizabeth Piper LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - With the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader unlikely to heal deep rifts in Britain's Labour, the only significant opposition that Prime Minister Theresa May looks likely to face as she plots Britain's divorce from the EU is from her own party. Britain's exit from the bloc, or Brexit, did not even make it onto the official agenda of the Labour party's conference in Liverpool, where lawmakers were more concerned with whether Labour will survive in the future. For May, who campaigned quietly for Britain to stay in the European Union before the June referendum, it means she will be able to drive the talks without much interference from the Labour opposition. But she may face a stronger challenge from those in her Conservative Party who are pressing for a hard Brexit, or a clean break with the EU and its single market. Seema Malhotra, a former Labour treasury spokeswoman, told an event at the conference that she feared Labour had all but handed control to the Conservatives on Brexit. "We have to insert ourselves into that debate because otherwise it runs the risk now of becoming another blue on blue debate, with 'leave means leave' and others who are Eurosceptic driving Theresa May to the right," she told a conference event, referring to the color that represents the Conservatives. She said Labour must try to keep "the best of what we have in the European Union, not just because it's good for Britain, but because it's good for Europe and it's good for the world as well". LABOUR BREXIT STANCE Other lawmakers said Labour had spent little time formulating a Brexit stance, not only because of the leadership election, but because it was still unclear what it would mean, with May giving little away. Even some in the Conservatives say Brexit could foster complacency - allowing the party's own rifts to drive Britain's biggest shift in policy since the end of World War Two. "The Labour Party are not providing opposition, they are not asking those questions (on Brexit)," Nicky Morgan, a former Conservative education minister, told ITV television this month. And while supporters of Corbyn say now that the leadership contest is out of the way, the leftist leader has the political clout to campaign for Britain to have a softer landing in its negotiations, others fear it is not his priority. Critics say that the split between the left and center-left in Labour offers little hope of getting the party back on track. FEARS IN CURRENCY MARKETS Three months after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, fears in currency markets of a "Hard Brexit" that are expected to drive banks from London have knocked sterling to near its weakest levels in decades. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spurred sales of sterling last Thursday by saying it was likely London could early next year invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which gives the sides two years to reach a deal. May has yet to make her position clear, saying only that the formal divorce notification will not be invoked before the end of the year and that Britain will not get a bad deal. Corbyn, accused of half-hearted campaigning for the remain camp, called for unity when he was elected for the second time as Labour leader at the weekend, hoping to overcome deep division between the party's left and center-left. [nL8N1C00A4] DIVISIONS IN LABOUR Divisions in Labour are nothing new and the groundswell for change that brought Corbyn to power is mirrored across Europe, where center-left parties lost support to anti-establishment movements since the 2008 economic crisis. But the rift has rarely been so pronounced, and for center-left lawmakers the victory by Corbyn with his left-wing agenda mean the business-friendly center ground that handed them power in 1997 under Tony Blair has been ceded to the Conservatives. "I just wish the party would take half a step back and realize that if the public are running in this direction, the last thing the Labour Party should be doing is running at speed in the other direction because that's not going ... to win us the country," said Ian Murray, the only Labour lawmaker to represent a Scottish seat in parliament since the party was crushed by the nationalist SNP in 2015. A survey by ComRes before Corbyn's win suggested 65 percent of Britons think the Conservatives under May are more likely to win the next election. With 16 percent saying Labour under Corbyn was likely to win, many in the party see the outlook as bleak. MAINSTREAM CONCERNED But with a convincing leadership victory and much of the party's machinery in the hands of his supporters, Corbyn is able to set policy with renewed confidence. Those lawmakers who do not see eye-to-eye with him say they will have to play ball. Calling the leadership election result "fantastic", James Schneider of pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum said only when Labour has been unified has "the government been in retreat". But while centrist lawmakers say they are on board, the scars run deep - with many deeply frustrated that their bid to oust Corbyn failed so dramatically, with challenger Owen Smith winning only 38 percent of the leadership vote. "I don't think there's a short-term political solution," Tristram Hunt, a former education spokesman for Labour, told Reuters. "Then I think we take a step back, we do the hard work, which we haven't really done, of intellectual renewal and it's a 10-year process. I am still up for the fight ... but I think some people will bow out." (additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James; editing by Peter Millership)
By Elizabeth Piper LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - With the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader unlikely to heal deep rifts in Labour, the only significant opposition that Prime Minister Theresa May looks likely to face as she plots Britain's divorce from the EU is from her own party. Britain's exit from the bloc, or Brexit, did not even make it onto the official agenda of the Labour party's conference in Liverpool, where MPs were more concerned with whether Labour will survive in the future. For May, who campaigned quietly for Britain to stay in the European Union before the June referendum, it means she will be able to drive the talks without much interference from the Labour opposition. But she may face a stronger challenge from those in her Conservative Party who are pressing for a hard Brexit, or a clean break with the EU and its single market. Seema Malhotra, a former Labour treasury spokeswoman, told an event at the conference that she feared Labour had all but handed control to the Conservatives on Brexit. "We have to insert ourselves into that debate because otherwise it runs the risk now of becoming another blue on blue debate, with 'leave means leave' and others who are Eurosceptic driving Theresa May to the right," she told a conference event, referring to the colour that represents the Conservatives. She said Labour must try to keep "the best of what we have in the European Union, not just because it's good for Britain, but because it's good for Europe and it's good for the world as well". LABOUR BREXIT STANCE Other MPs said Labour had spent little time formulating a Brexit stance, not only because of the leadership election, but because it was still unclear what it would mean, with May giving little away. Even some in the Conservatives say Brexit could foster complacency - allowing the party's own rifts to drive Britain's biggest shift in policy since the end of World War Two. "The Labour Party are not providing opposition, they are not asking those questions (on Brexit)," Nicky Morgan, a former Conservative education minister, told ITV television this month. And while supporters of Corbyn say now that the leadership contest is out of the way, the leftist leader has the political clout to campaign for Britain to have a softer landing in its negotiations, others fear it is not his priority. Critics say that the split between the left and centre-left in Labour offers little hope of getting the party back on track. FEARS IN CURRENCY MARKETS Three months after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, fears in currency markets of a "Hard Brexit" that are expected to drive banks from London have knocked sterling to near its weakest levels in decades. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spurred sales of sterling last Thursday by saying it was likely London could early next year invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which gives the sides two years to reach a deal. May has yet to make her position clear, saying only that the formal divorce notification will not be invoked before the end of the year and that Britain will not get a bad deal. Corbyn, accused of half-hearted campaigning for the remain camp, called for unity when he was elected for the second time as Labour leader at the weekend, hoping to overcome deep division between the party's left and centre-left. DIVISIONS IN LABOUR Divisions in Labour are nothing new and the groundswell for change that brought Corbyn to power is mirrored across Europe, where centre-left parties lost support to anti-establishment movements since the 2008 economic crisis. But the rift has rarely been so pronounced, and for centre-left MPs the victory by Corbyn with his left-wing agenda mean the business-friendly centre ground that handed them power in 1997 under Tony Blair has been ceded to the Conservatives. "I just wish the party would take half a step back and realise that if the public are running in this direction, the last thing the Labour Party should be doing is running at speed in the other direction because that's not going ... to win us the country," said Ian Murray, the only Labour lawmaker to represent a Scottish seat in parliament since the party was crushed by the nationalist SNP in 2015. A survey by ComRes before Corbyn's win suggested 65 percent of Britons think the Conservatives under May are more likely to win the next election. With 16 percent saying Labour under Corbyn was likely to win, many in the party see the outlook as bleak. MAINSTREAM CONCERNED But with a convincing leadership victory and much of the party's machinery in the hands of his supporters, Corbyn is able to set policy with renewed confidence. Those MPs who do not see eye-to-eye with him say they will have to play ball. Calling the leadership election result "fantastic", James Schneider of pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum said only when Labour has been unified has "the government been in retreat". But while centrist MPs say they are on board, the scars run deep - with many deeply frustrated that their bid to oust Corbyn failed so dramatically, with challenger Owen Smith winning only 38 percent of the leadership vote. "I don't think there's a short-term political solution," Tristram Hunt, a former education spokesman for Labour, told Reuters. "Then I think we take a step back, we do the hard work, which we haven't really done, of intellectual renewal and it's a 10-year process. I am still up for the fight ... but I think some people will bow out." (additional reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James; editing by Peter Millership)
Getty Image

While the New York Knicks hope that the addition of Derrick Rose will lead to more wins, Rose is reportedly much more concerned about off the court issues than hes been letting on.

The former MVP is set to go to civil trial on October 4 for an alleged gang rape that took place in Los Angeles during the summer of 2013. By every account, Rose has let the media know that he isnt worried about the case, but Chris Mannix of The Vertical reports that hes much more troubled about his legal issues than hes led us to believe.

For now, the Knicks wait  and hope. Hope that the civil suit is resolved quickly. Hope that Rose  who has been troubled by the uncertainty of his legal entanglements more than he is letting on, sources familiar with Rose told The Vertical  is able to block out the distractions and build on the progress he made last season. Hope that a season meant to return the Knicks to the ranks of the respectable isnt derailed before it starts.

Things looked bad from the jump for Rose, but after Think Progress dug into the case a few weeks ago, the details painted an ugly picture for the former Chicago Bulls star, and things have only gotten worse from there.

Last week, we learned that the LAPD is investigating the case and that a criminal case could be looming if investigators feel they can build a case against Rose.

Even with everything going on, Rose has always said that he believes everything will work out. Even as late as Monday afternoon at the Knicks media day, Rose told the Associated Press that he doesnt believe that hes done anything wrong.

Last week, we learned that Rose didnt know the definition of consent during his deposition, which is incredibly troubling for someone who believes hes innocent of sexual assault.

No matter what Rose is saying, its hard to believe that anyone could be completely at ease with this much going on in his personal life. If Rose really is more concerned than hes letting on, than the Knicks should probably be much more concerned about this upcoming season than what theyre leading us to believe, too.

(The Vertical)


:    9         

         2013 .         9          .    .
Washington (AFP) - Life in Aleppo will become impossible within weeks under relentless Russian and Syrian regime air strikes, the head of the renowned White Helmets volunteer rescue force said Tuesday.

But the quarter of a million civilians trapped in the besieged rebel-held east of the Syrian city believe they will be massacred if they flee or if the city falls, Raed Saleh told AFP.

And the White Helmets, members of a civil defense group that has won international acclaim for their work digging the wounded from bombed-out buildings, fear they will be rounded up and shot.

"The civilians there would seize any opportunity to escape, to go wherever they could go," Saleh told AFP in Washington, where he is on a frustrating quest for international support.

"But nothing is available to provide safety and protection for those civilians. We are worried that they are facing massacre or the kidnapping or the arrest of many of them."

In the eight days since Bashar al-Assad's regime declared an end to a US and Russian-brokered ceasefire on September 9, Aleppo has been hit by 1,700 air strikes, according to Saleh.

Both Russian and regime warplanes have taken part in waves of attacks, he said, using weapons new to the siege and deadly among the packed and crumbling civilian homes.

These have included 19 strikes with powerful "bunker busters" that leave victims entombed in rubble and almost 200 with cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs.

"We have 1,000 casualties, both dead and wounded," Saleh said.

Saleh's figures are impossible to confirm, but international bodies have condemned the bombardment and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it may amount to a war crime.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in a civil war now into its sixth year and millions have fled their homes -- an option not even available in besieged Aleppo.

"I think the civilian facilities will not be able to continue providing services for more than a month," Saleh warned, echoing reports from reporters in the city.

Story continues

"There will be no water and no electricity, no fuel, hospitals will not be able to keep going. If the situation continues like this, I expect a big genocide."

- 'We stand for the victims' -

The population and the outgunned anti-Assad rebel fighters mingled among them fear arrest or worse at the hands of regime forces and their militia allies when Aleppo falls.

And the 122 White Helmet volunteers, who have received international plaudits for their work pulling the wounded from the rubble, could be targeted.

"The White Helmets are from the people and they are subject to the same conditions as the rest," he said. "I'm sure the regime will do its best to assassinate or arrest them."

The White Helmets organized themselves to provide frontline rescue services in rebel-held areas of Syria, they receive some international donations but insist they are independent.

"The biggest need that we have to respond to is to rescue people hit in the air strikes," Saleh said.

"And the air strikes that target civilian communities are usually in Idlib, eastern Aleppo, northern Homs," he added, citing areas under the control of rebel groups.

"It is a very normal human reaction that the people oppose the party that is bombing them," he said of the populations in the areas where his teams operate.

"So when we respond to rescue people and there is a bomber in the sky and there are casualties on the ground, we're not neutral between those two parties," he explained.

"We stand for the victims and it is our responsibility and our duty to work for the victims."

- Diplomatic support -

Saleh, who is based in northern Syria near Idlib and travels in and out of the country through Turkey, was in Washington after a week lobbying world officials at the UN General Assembly.

His group was warmly received by senior international officials in New York, but in the wake of the failed US-Russian ceasefire, he has begun to despair of outside aid.

"We believe there is no need for more resolutions at the UNSC, no need for more decisions by the UN," he said.

"We need conscience to move the political will of the leaders of the world powers to stop the killing in Syria and make those war criminals accountable for their crimes."
FRANKFURT, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank Chief Executive John Cryan on Wednesday personally refuted a report over the lender having sought the assistance of the German government in settling a $14 billion U.S. demand, which on Monday saw its shares drop to a record-low.

"At no point did I ask the chancellor for support. Neither did I suggest anything like that," Cryan told German daily Bild in response to a report that said he had asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her support with a $14 billion U.S. demand to settle claims it missold mortgage-backed securities.

Such a request would be "out of the question for us," Cryan said, adding that he could not understand how "anyone could claim that."

German magazine Focus reported on the weekend that Merkel had met Cryan over the summer and had indicated he could expect no help from Berlin in resolving the bank's dispute with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Merkel had also ruled out state aid to Deutsche Bank, the magazine said, citing government sources.

Following the report, Deutsche Bank shares on Monday dropped to a record-low of 10.62 euros ($11.91), seeing the lender reject the claims, with a spokesman saying the bank would meet its challenges on its own.

Cryan also ruled out the need for a capital increase in the interview with Bild, saying Germany's biggest bank had "fewer risks in the book than before" and was "comfortably equipped with free liquidity."

The lender's litany of legal troubles, of which the $14 billion DoJ claim is only the latest, have spurred worries it may need to raise capital to stanch the damage.

The DoJ demand had caused "much concern," Cryan told Bild. "Although it was clear from the beginning that we would not pay this sum," he said.

He said he expected "that the Department of Justice will treat us with the same fairness as American banks that have already agreed on a compromise."

Asked about Britain's decision to leave the European Union 28-country bloc, Cryan said the bank was looking into the possibility of relocating business to the European mainland and mainly to Frankfurt, but did not provide further detail.

Cryan also said the bank's restructuring was progressing well and that the lender was "on target" to cut 9,000 jobs as part of the overhaul.

($1 = 0.8914 euro) (Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Bernard Orr)
What a depressing debate! Donald Trump remained true to form, scowling, interrupting Hillary Clinton, talking over poor Lester Holt, and successfully avoiding going beyond his stump speech generalities. Clinton did somewhat better. She did not escape her congenital wonkishness, but at least made some halting attempts at what could pass for humor, or at least sharp ripostes at Trumps expense.

In terms of substance, neither of the candidates said much that was new. Trump did avoid mentioning his big, beautiful wall on the border with Mexico, but doubled down on his claims that he opposed the Iraq War, that the Barack Obama administrations withdrawal of troops from Iraq created the Islamic State, and that NATO countries needed to pay their fair share for receiving American protection. He reprised his long-repeated assertion that he could reduce taxes on the wealthy  and everyone else  and still rebuild Americas worn out infrastructure, take the fight to the Islamic State, modernize the nuclear deterrent, and create millions of new jobs. Not surprisingly, he sidestepped Clintons barbs about his chumminess with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and her not-too-well disguised hint that he had business dealings with Russia.

Trumps entire response to economic questions centered in his opposition to trade deals, especially NAFTA. He offered no other economic ideas other than what amounted to protectionism and tax cuts. He did make some snide references to Yellen and the politicized Fed, but he spoke in such shorthand generalities that it is doubtful whether most viewers had any idea what he was talking about. Finally, he seemed to appeal to minority communities for their support, but at the same time thundered over and over again about law and order, that old Nixonian code word, and advocated stop and frisk, which minorities have complained specifically targets them.

Trump did say that he earned nearly $660 million in the last year alone, but used that as an example of how he would make America great again, implying that everyone could become as rich as he is. Of course he again asserted that he would not release his tax returns until either his lawyers permitted him to do so, or Clinton released her 30,000 emails. And he stressed that it was Clintons campaign team that had launched the birther myth, and that he, Trump, had put the issue to rest by creating the public outcry that led Obama to release his birth certificate. It seemed as if every sentence was punctuated with believe me, presumably intended to get his audience to suspend all sense of reality.

Clinton, for her part, bobbed and weaved when it came to the Iraq War, blaming the George W. Bush administration for agreeing to pull out the troops and noting that they could not have stayed in Iraq without a status of forces agreement. She did not explain how American troops were re-deployed to Iraq and, for that matter, deployed to Bashar al-Assads Syria, without a status of forces agreement being in place, and certainly in the case of Syria, without the prospect of there ever being one. When asked about her possible support for a new no first use nuclear weapons policy that every administration since President Harry Truman has rejected, she avoided the question entirely, implying that she had not ruled it out. Her plan for the Islamic State, while more specific than anything Trump offered, was a rehash of Obamas policies, which, in the case of Syria, have been a complete flop. She avoided rebutting Trumps assertion that the administration had made a hash of the Middle East, because on that point he was indeed factually correct. She completely sidestepped the issue of nuclear modernization  to which Trump at least had referred. Finally, although she emphasized the importance of NATO and, contra Trump, demonstrated that the alliance had supported America in Afghanistan  she conveniently ignored French and German opposition to the Iraq War. Nevertheless, for all her specific plans, she said absolutely nothing about military requirements or modernization, which are crucial to maintaining American and NATO credibility in the face of a resurgent Russia. Perhaps she was holding her fire for a future debate.

On domestic issues, Clinton recited her usual litany of reforms, at times sounding like Bernie Sanders echo chamber. She touted free tuition for students, loan forgiveness, assistance to small businesses  all to be financed by taxing the wealthy and corporations. She claimed that stop and frisk was unconstitutional, though it was only a lower New York court that had ruled as much, and, as Trump rightly pointed out, New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, who had opposed the program, chose not to appeal the courts decision. Her own solution to the troubled inner cities was more funding for training police, and, of course, gun control. Anyone expecting to hear anything other than the usual Democratic domestic agenda was certainly sorely disappointed.

Finally, though she took full responsibility for her mistake in having a private email server, Clinton was completely evasive about Trumps allegation regarding her staffs destruction of those emails. Trump raised that issue, but then seemed to let it drop.

In substantive terms, the debate was only moderately different, but less enlightening, than past ones. What was really depressing about the debate was its style. Trump demonstrated that he is nothing more than the superficial, uninformed rabble-rouser his opponents have always claimed he is. (Full disclosure: As one of the hacks, as characterized by Trump, that signed the national security letters regarding his capabilities and character, I am not an unbiased witness). Clinton, determined not to let Trump discomfit her as he did his primary opponents, generally succeeded in looking and sounding presidential. She won the debate on style, and probably on substance as well, but her policy pronouncements were not ones that offer any comfort to conservatives, or, for that matter, moderates who do not want America to lurch even further to the left than it has under the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
MOTHERWELL, Scotland (Reuters) - Britain's largest steel plate mill reopens under owner Liberty Steel on Wednesday, a deal brokered by a Scottish government keen to stem the decline of its industrial heartland.

Liberty bought the Dalzell plant in Motherwell and its sister works at Clydebridge in Glasgow from Tata Steel (TISC.NS) for a symbolic sum in April this year, with the Scottish government underpinning the process and no value disclosed.

The pro-independence Scottish government wants to avoid mistakes made when such industries were dismantled under nationwide governments in London, with deep social, political and economic consequences such as at Ravenscraig, just down the road from Dalzell.

The fate of Dalzell, with its distinctive blue water tower, contrasts sharply with that of Port Talbot in South Wales at the other end of Britain, a steel mill employing 4,000 workers and in limbo awaiting Tata Steel's decision on its future.

With fears of job losses as Britain moves to leave the European Union and North Sea oil in decline, Scotland's government has tried to defend some segments of industry, particularly steel.

But the Edinburgh government was absent from the event staged by chemicals giant Ineos on Tuesday marking the first arrival in Britain of fracked U.S. shale gas, which Ineos says supports manufacturing jobs.

Scotland has a fracking moratorium but is under public pressure to ban it outright despite the jobs it would bring, because of fears of environmental damage. Fracking has the support of the government in the rest of Britain.

Sanjeev Gupta, chairman of Liberty, is reopening the Dalzell works with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and two other Scottish ministers in what he calls a first step in a "greensteel" strategy for a competitive, low-carbon and sustainable steel industry.

Sturgeon said earlier this year that the Liberty purchase showed "with the right support and a strong government there can be a future for steel."

Story continues

Liberty has spent months preparing to reactivate Dalzell's furnace and rolling mill to produce 150,000 tonnes of steel plate -- for use in heavy industry such as oil, shipbuilding and infrastructure. It hopes to increase that to up to 500,000 tonnes eventually, employing 200 people.

Britain currently consumes 700,000 tonnes per year of plate steel, increasing at around three percent annually.

(Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
From Harper's BAZAAR

Update, 9/21: After causing a stir and raising suspicions of his return to Game of Thrones last month, Jason Momoa-who plays Daenerys' deceased husband, Dothraki chieftain Khal Drogo-just dropped another hint that he could appear in the series once again.

Last night, the actor posted a photo on Instagram of himself posing with fellow GoT star Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow. Momoa wrote a message to him and the cast in the caption: "Congrats to my kit super proud of him and all the cast and crew congrats Game of thrones you are the best can't wait for the next season Aloha j. Back to work"

Does this mean he's back on set or just missing and his GoT pals? When he shared a photo of himself with the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, he was located in Belfast, Ireland, where most of the show is filmed. So is he just paying a visit or stepping in front of the camera?

Original post, 8/26: Khal Drogo joins the ranks of the many fallen characters on Game of Thrones, but there's a chance that could change soon.

Jason Momoa, the GoT star who played the Dothraki chieftain and Daenerys Targaryen's husband, recently posted a photo on Instagram that got fans speculating his return for the show's seventh season. The picture shows the actor posing with GoT showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, at a bar in Belfast, Ireland, which is where a lot of the filming for the show takes place.

He included in the caption: "Drinking mothers milk With my brothers @captainriff dan and david. Love ya GOT greatest show on earth ALOHA DROGO"

But is a Drogo return possible? (Though on Game of Thrones, anything is possible-and that doesn't only refer to the casualties.) Jon Snow was brought back to life by Melisandre in the beginning of last season, and recurring character Beric Dondarrion has often been resurrected as well. Could Drogo get the same treatment by a priest of priestess of his own?

Story continues

If, instead of an actual return, Drogo appears in a flashback or hallucination, this wouldn't be the first time. In season two, Daenerys sees him and their deceased son in a vision when she walks through the House of the Undying. Perhaps another virtual reunion is due.

Though his character was killed off six seasons ago, Momoa remains a faithful fan of the show, especially his on-screen wife, Emilia Clarke, as he often takes to Instagram to praise her killer scenes as Khaleesi. Who knows, she might need his help leading his army of Dothraki during her conquest of Westeros.

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Donald Trump again wrongly claimed he opposed to the Iraq War before the U.S.-led invasion.

During a wide-ranging discussion Monday night in which Trump talked about his proposal to make NATO allies pay more for security, Trump was asked by moderator Lester Holt about backing the Iraq War, which is something he did in a 2002 interview with radio host Howard Stern.





When Hillary Clinton pointed out that he supported the war, Trump repeatedly said the word "wrong" as she spoke. Trump then denied it over Holt's protestations, saying the media has peddled a lie about him.

Trump did publicly oppose the war, but not until after it started. Clinton supported the war as a member of the U.S. Senate.



Trump also strangely claimed that Clinton had been fighting ISIS "her entire adult life," despite the fact that the terror group did not come into existence until after the Syrian civil war started in 2011.

Markets seemed to react to Clinton making headway against her GOP rival as the debate progressed.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses to trade higher amid the debate, and the Mexican peso reversed losses to trade more than 1 percent stronger against the U.S. dollar.





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With nearly 2 million concurrent viewers and over 3 million live watch hours, Donald Trumps first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton broke political records, YouTube reported.

Those stats came across the six news organizations that streamed the debate, according to the video-sharing website. The 2M concurrent live viewers is a new political record.

Compared to 2012, Donald Trumps first debate with Hillary Clinton had 14 times the viewership, 5 times more watch time, and 4 times more peak concurrent viewers.

Views on all debate-related video exceeded 88 million.

The Top-5 debate live-viewing viewing countries, after the U.S., were:

Canada

Mexico

Argentina

Australia

New Zealand

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Donald Trump  the brash, tough-talking candidate who memorably mocked his Republican primary opponents with derisive nicknames  declared in his first debate with Hillary Clinton on Monday that his strongest asset, maybe by far, is his temperament. The GOP nominees claim met with laughter in the hall, most likely from his Democratic rivals supporters.

I have much better judgment than she does. Theres no question about that. I also have a much better temperament than she does, Trump said during a vigorous back-and-forth on foreign policy. I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. I have a winning temperament. I know how to win. She does not.

Some in the audience at Hofstra University laughed  and laughed again when Hillary responded with a theatrical woo! OK.

She noted that Trumps response to Iranian vessels harassing U.S. Navy assets in the Persian Gulf was to promise that, if he were president, theyd be shot out of the water. Clinton said that would start another war. Thats not good judgment. That is not the right temperament to be commander in chief.

The back-and-forth came in the middle of an aggressive foreign policy exchange during which Trump again falsely claimed that he opposed the war in Iraq before the March 2003 invasion. Clinton lost her 2008 presidential run in part because Barack Obama used her vote to authorize force against Iraq as an effective political weapon, and she has since described it as a mistake.

Hillary Clinton listens to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during the presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y.. (Photo: Julio Cortez/AP)

Donald supported the invasion of Iraq, Clinton said.

Wrong, Trump interjected.

That is absolutely proved over and over again, she said.

Wrong, wrong, he repeated.

Theres no evidence that the self-described billionaire opposed the invasion, though he turned against it not long after it began. Trump, asked in a 2002 interview with Howard Stern whether he supported using force against Iraq, replied, Yeah, I guess so.  I wish the first time it was done correctly.
Feel free to call Sean Hannity if you want to know what Donald Trump thought about invading Iraq before the war started.

Thats what the Republican candidate urged the press to do during the presidential debate Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. In framing a question about judgment, debate moderator Lester Holt noted that the record shows that Trump initially supported the Iraq War.

Trump frequently touts his purported opposition to the now-unpopular war as proof of his vision when it comes to foreign policy.

I did not support the war in Iraq, Trump said at the debate. That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her, referring to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trumps claim that he opposed the war in Iraq from the outset has long been a staple of his campaign, but its fallen under heavy scrutiny lately. Before the war started, when asked by radio personality Howard Stern whether he supported the potential U.S. invasion, Trump replied, Yeah, I guess so. Hes frequently cited an interview in Esquire magazine to show that he opposed the war from the get-go  but that was published in August 2004, more than a year after the war began.

Trump insists that Hannity, a Fox News host and close ally of his campaign, can vouch for him.

Everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity! he said at the debate. I had numerous conversations with Sean Hannity at Fox. And Sean Hannity said  and he called me the other day and I spoke to him about it  he said, You were totally against the war, because he was for the war.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands at the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Monday. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

Trump said he would regularly butt heads with Hannity, who supported former President George W. Bushs decision to invade the country.

And that was before the war started. Sean Hannity said very strongly to me and other people  hes willing to say it, but nobody wants to call him. I was against the war. He said, You used to have fights with me, because Sean was in favor of the war.

Immediately after the debate, Trump gave an interview to Hannity on Fox News. Among other issues, they discussed Clintons strategy to defeat the Islamic State terror group and recalled having respectful arguments with the host over whether the U.S. should invade Iraq. In at least one past interview, Hannity had also backed up Trumps claim of having opposed the war when it began.

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I used your name today because you and I used to argue over the war before the war, Trump said.





I thought you forgot, Hannity said. You called  do you know how many times we had conversations about that? And you told me I was wrong, in fairness for those people who are asking me in the media, you did tell me over and over again I was wrong. And we did have passion  but it was a respectful debate.

It was respectful, and I understood where you were coming from, but I was against the war. I thought it would destabilize the Middle East, Trump said. I didnt know it would be managed so badly, in all fairness, and neither did you. But I really felt that it was something that had to be discussed because I was against the war in Iraq.

Co-hosts of the Keepin It 1600 political podcast  Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor  followed up on Trumps plea for journalists to call Hannity. But he hung up on them.

So the Keepin' It 1600 crew took up @realDonaldTrump on his plea to call Sean Hannity #debatenight #debates2016 pic.twitter.com/2qf2QoTflC  The Ringer (@ringer) September 27, 2016

(Cover tile photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Related video:





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For presidential candidate Donald Trump, the greatest threat to our cybersecurity may very well be a "400-pound" guy.

During Monday night's presidential debate, candidates began to discuss who might have been responsible for this summer's DNC hack. While Russia was initially blamed, Trump claimed that it could have been anyone, including the Chinese or someone "sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds."

SEE ALSO: Trump's debate sniffles are louder than his words

It's unclear who, exactly, Trump was referring to when he mentioned this mysterious "400-pound" man, or if he entirely understood the consequences of his statement.

Trump: hackers could be Russia, China, or a "guy sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds." pic.twitter.com/KZUJsJkwXO  Mashable News (@MashableNews) September 27, 2016

But Twitter sure understood.

Who's the 400 lb guy sitting on the bed hacking us all???  Melissa Bates (@BatesPhysio) September 27, 2016

Pictured: the 400 pound guy who Donald Trump thinks hacked the DNC emails. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/0maaklTqOz  Nelson! (@financialuproar) September 27, 2016

Deer is suspicious of #Trump's claim that a 400 pound guy on a bed may have cybered us. #debates pic.twitter.com/dJTi8MJgGA  Sean Fitzroy (@fitzroy) September 27, 2016

When do we get to see the 400 lb. guy sitting on his bed who is the real threat to our national security? #debatenight  Aaron Lichtig (@lichtig23) September 27, 2016

#Debate Hilary doesn't seem to care about the 400 lb. guy on the bed.  Paula Poundstone (@paulapoundstone) September 27, 2016

I almost choked on the bucket of KFC my mom brought me when I was outed on #debatenight #debates #Debates2016  400lb Hacker (@Real400lbHacker) September 27, 2016

So according to Trump hacking of DNC was done by some random 400-lb guy. Intel community says it was Russia. Who ya gonna believe?  Max Boot (@MaxBoot) September 27, 2016

Trump plans to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, but can he build a firewall against sedentary 400-pound guys?
trump hofstra

Donald Trump made a $1 trillion error when talking about the US military's nuclear arsenal during Monday's presidential debate.

After Lester Holt asked whether he would be against using a "nuclear first strike"  the idea of using nukes preemptively  the Republican nominee first answered by criticizing the US military's existing nuclear weapons programs.

"Russia has been expanding their  they have a much newer capability than we do. We have not been updating from the new standpoint. I looked the other night. I was seeing B-52s. They're old enough that your father, your grandfather, could be flying them. We are not  we are not keeping up with other countries."

He went on to say that he would not do a nuclear first strike, but then said he wouldn't "take anything off the table."

But the idea that the US is not keeping up with Russia, or any other country, in regards to nuclear weapons is wrong.

One trillion dollars wrong.

That's because in November 2015, a fighter jet dropped an unarmed "nuclear gravity bomb" called the B61-12 at a Nevada test range  a new weapon costing around $8.1 billion.

The pricey bomb is actually less than 1% of a $1 trillion push to keep the US nuclear arsenal up to date. Officials also say the program would actually help reduce the number of nukes in the world.

In reality, both the US and Russia have been reducing and updating their nuclear stockpiles since 2010. And the mighty B-52 Stratofortress that Trump derided has been continually upgraded since it was introduced in 1955  so much so that the Air Force is confident it will keep on running through 2040.

And how is an aircraft that is so well designed and maintained that it can work for nearly 100 years a bad thing? Especially when building newer aircraft comes with a much higher price tag.

Moving ahead with a fresh START

In 2010, President Barack Obama and then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START Treaty, which bound Russia and the US to having just 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads each by 2018.

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Around that time, the US had nearly 2,000 deployed warheads, while Russia had an estimated 2,600, according to the Arms Control Association. In order to hit that goal, the US is bringing some of its nukes back to be dismantled or put into storage (where they will no longer be considered "deployed"). Still other nuclear bombs are going through a "life extension program" that refurbishes and upgrades their aging components.

One is the B61-12 "gravity bomb"  a fancy term that just means falling through the air without guidance systems. With some spare parts of other bombs and a tail fin upgrade, the B61-12 will replace (and retire) at least four other models of nuclear bombs once it's completed. The military also claims this will cut the total number of nuclear gravity bombs by "a factor of two."

Similar to how some people might consolidate their debt into one lower bill, the strategy is meant to reduce the number of nuclear bombs and their destructive power while maintaining a "technical" edge. Further, upgraded bombs like the B61-12 will be able to fit onto next-generation aircraft like the F-35 Lightning.

But the upgrades are not without its critics.

"Apart from the stratospheric price, the most controversial element of the B61 upgrade is the replacement of the existing rigid tail with one that has moving fins that will make the bomb smarter and allow it to be guided more accurately to a target," Julian Borger wrote in The Guardian.

Here's a clip that shows the fins spinning up a B61-12 bomb:

The B61-12 program is also drastically over budget. Now estimated to cost between $8 billion and $10 billion, the government initially pegged its budget at around $1 billion to $2 billion, according to The Albuquerque Journal.

Francie Israeli, a spokesperson for the National Nuclear Security Administration, told Business Insider that unforeseen technical issues, budget fluctuations, and other uncertainties can result in "substantial cost range changes."

Still, the new gravity bomb is just one of many nukes the US has in its arsenal, which includes land- and submarine-launched warheads. About 200 of the air-dropped versions, which are a mix of different versions of the B61, are positioned in Europe with US and NATO forces.

A new kind of arms race

nuclear gravity bomb b61 12 target drop test 2015 10 20 nnsa

In a successful test of the B61-12 in October 2015, an Air Force F-15E fighter dropped the weapon onto a target in the desert with near pinpoint accuracy  a drastic improvement since America's top generals argued in 2004 that accuracy shouldn't be expected from a nuclear bomb simply dropping from the sky.

In the past, nuclear doctrine was such that weapons needed to have larger yields to make up for their inaccuracy. Now that won't be the case.

Though the US and Russia will likely reduce their numbers of nuclear weapons, experts say a smaller number of more technologically advanced bombs could arguably be more dangerous, especially in eastern Europe.

"Moscow has predictably classified work on the new modification as a threat and an arms race," Nikolai Sokov, a senior fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told Business Insider in an email in November 2015.

In Sokov's view, upgrading a bomb like the B61-12 probably doesn't alarm the Russians all that much, but it could be used as an excuse for new Russian military moves that might spook former Soviet states such as Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, which joined NATO after they regained independence at the end of the Cold War.

This could mean Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles might patrol the Baltic Sea, or short-range ballistic missile systems could be placed near Poland  something threatened quite frequently by Moscow that NATO has countered with Patriot missile defense systems.

"They keep up constant pressure just to show they have influence," Rokas Masiulis, Lithuania's energy minister, told The New York Times of Russian naval exercises in the Baltic Sea. "It is all part of the general atmosphere of provocation and rising tensions in the region."

A gloomy future

9K720 Iskander russian ground-launched cruise missile

While the US simultaneously modernizes and reduces its nuclear stockpile, Sokov tells Business Insider it's safe to say Russia is probably doing something similar in response.

But the key difference, he says, is that the Kremlin has invested considerable time and effort in long-range conventional weapons that are highly precise  non-nuclear bombs that are more usable  that Russia has already fired against targets in Syria.

"The future, I believe, looks pretty gloomy. I see modern conventional weapons used in Russian policy toward NATO as an overt or a covert threat," Sokov said.

He noted that some allied countries may lobby for NATO nukes to be moved closer to Russia, which would trigger a response from Moscow.

"We are looking at a combined nuclear-conventional arms race in Europe in the near future," Sokov said, "which will likely continue for an extended period of time."

Unlike Trump's assertion, the US is updating its nuclear stockpile and the systems that deliver them, should they be needed. But whether that's a good or a bad thing is up for debate.

NOW WATCH: The one psychological trick Marines use to be more successful





More From Business Insider


He oversold his opposition to the war in Iraq. He said he didnt call climate change a hoax (he did), insisted he was not running negative advertising against his opponent (he is), and downplayed the size of a very small loan he received from his father. (The loansplural, according to the Wall Street Journalreportedly ran into eight figures.)

Misstatements, misdirection and dissembling are nothing new for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. But Monday nights debate in Hempstead, N.Y., was the first post-truth presidential debate of the modern era, a contest between two candidates who not only dont agree on the facts, but also whether they matter.

Look, its all words, Trump told the audience early on. Its all sound bites. Trump was trying to parry a point made by rival Hillary Clinton, but the blithe dismissal captured the core of his campaign message. Pay no mind to the smooth lines and slick language; a career politician like Clinton cant be trusted.

As for the Democrat, she came into the clash at Hofstra University with the clear goal of discrediting her opponent. She directed the audience to a fact-checking section of her campaign website, challenged statements on the fly and hurled zippy rejoinders. I hope the fact checkers are turning up the volume, she said during one foreign-policy exchange.

Trumps falsehoods began in his very first answer, with a claim that Ford was moving thousands of manufacturing jobs from the Midwest to Mexico. (It is not, according to the company.) The businessman was wrong when he denied saying pregnancy was an inconvenience for employers. There were misstatements about the murder rate in New York (it is down, not up, since the city ended stop-and-frisk), his role in the birther movement, and how long Clinton has been fighting ISIS. (Not her whole life, which would be impossible.)

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Does any of this matter? For all of Trumps falsehoods, its Clinton who is dogged by greater doubts about her honesty. In a recent New York Times/CBS poll, 63% of respondents said the former Secretary of State wasnt trustworthy, a tick above the 60% who said the same of Trump.

Such statistics seem to validate Trumps theory of factual relativism. In his campaigns view, he cannot be lying if he believes something to be true. Earlier Monday, campaign chief Kellyanne Conway argued that Trump hadnt lied when he wrongly claimed that debate moderator Lester Holt, a registered Republican, was actually a Democrat. I dont think he knew, Conway said. A lie would mean he knew the mans party registration.

Holt came prepared to challenge Trump, though he was less aggressive about confronting the Republican than Clinton aides would have liked. The NBC Nightly News anchor corrected Trumps comment on stop-and-frisk, noting that a court had ruled the practice unconstitutional. (No, youre wrong, Trump shot back. It went before a judge who was a very against-police judge.) Holt challenged Trumps prior statements about President Obamas birth certificate and questioned Trumps excuse that a routine audit was preventing the release of his tax returns. And he jumped in when Trump erroneously claimed to have opposed the Iraq invasion from the beginning. The record shows otherwise, Holt said. Trumps defense? He had numerous conversations with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity about it. Good luck finding the transcripts or video evidence of those private chats.

Such interjections were part of an unusually broad media campaign to fact-check Trump in real time. Bloomberg TV tried running on-screen corrections, while news organizations ranging from BuzzFeed to the New York Times sent push notifications alerting readers to misstatements. Every candidate spins, massages and manipulates facts. But Trumps habit of twisting the truth has been such a major part of this election that it has turned chroniclers of the presidential contest into combatants and given rise to a cottage industry of professional fact-checkers.

Clinton tried to capitalize. Donald never tells you what he would do, she said. Which cuts to a core question about two sharply different candidates and the mood of the voters they are vying to win. Do they want a Democrat who has been around for decades, and rattles off policy points as if she has swallowed a briefing book whole? Or a Republican newcomer who thrives on policy vagaries and operates as if his next torrent of words will erase the last? Can America really vest such power in someone who will only promise a secret plan to solve the threat of Islamic extremism and calls his rivals specifics irresponsible?

Trump says theyre just words. And Clinton? Words matter when you run for President, she told viewers Monday night. The next six weeks will fact-check whether that statement is still correct.
Donald Trump walked off the stage of the first presidential debate looking battered, but alive. He did much better than the average amateur might do, thrown into the glare of the worlds spotlight. Trump put his best case forward at the start of the night. Why give any career politician another chance  given the state of things?

After a dizzy whirl through 90 minutes, he staggered back to that potentially winning theme at the end. But was he limping, and was there blood dripping from a mortal wound?

Trump did an amazing thing: He didnt protest when Hillary Clinton theorized that he paid no federal income tax. In fact, he seemed to agree with her. That makes me smart, he interjected.

Smart as a businessman, maybe. As a politician?

Trump was given a second chance soon afterward to brag about his titanic tax bill  but again, he seemed to agree that he paid zero. If he had paid taxes, they wouldve been squandered, he said. Which sounds like he didnt pay any.

Its safe to say that no one has run for President before on a platform of earning a huge income and dodging the tax bill. After the debate, reporters tried to pin Trump down on the tax issue. Once again, he faced a golden opportunity to talk about the millions he paid to keep up his fair share.

Instead, Trump spoke vaguely of having paid taxes, without ever defining the type or the amount  when everyone knows there are sales taxes, property taxes, Social Security and Medicare taxes  indeed, all sorts of taxes that dont answer the question of whether youve paid federal income taxes.

When a man wont say that he paid federal income tax, there is a real possibility that he didnt pay any. And this could put Trump in a very tricky spot. The federal tax code is full of credits and loopholes, which overwhelmingly benefit people with very low and very high incomes.

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On the low side, more than 40% of households earn too little to pay federal income tax. Mitt Romney had these folks in mind when he referred to the 47% in his failed 2012 presidential campaign.

At the other end of the spectrum are very wealthy people who are able to exploit loopholes to avoid paying taxes. Some of these folks might agree with Trump that it is smart to hang onto money that would be squandered on stuff like the Army, clean water, air-traffic control, the border patrol, National Parks and the war on cancer.

In between the low and high ends, there are millions of people who pay a significant share of their earnings in income taxes. Voters with $60,000 in income, or $80,000, or $120,000. They may have a hard time understanding why they should pay more federal income tax than a man who brags about earning more than $650 million. Their votes are likely to decide the election.

Several things could happen next. Trump could try to patch his bleeding wound by claiming to have paid significant federal income tax. But this will be increasingly difficult as long as he keeps his tax returns under wraps. Who is going to believe him? Only his true believers  not the swing voters.

Or Trump could be forced into making his tax returns public. Maybe there is nothing damaging in them. But he certainly isnt acting that way. Or Trump could gut it out along the line he struck on Monday. Keep telling hard-working, taxpaying Americans that he deserves their vote because he is smarter than they are.

They pay their taxes, which means they are dumb. He dodges his, which means he is smart.
During Monday's debate, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sounded a lot like Defense Secretary Ash Carter, using bellicose language to call for a increased Chinese role in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"I think that once the nuclear alternative happens, it's over," Trump said. "I can't take anything off the table. Because you look at some of these countries, you look at North Korea, we're doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea."

"China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea," Trump reiterated. Critiquing China for taking advantage of the U.S. has been a hallmark issue of the Trump campaign.

Carter, who has staked out more hawkish positions that much of the Obama administration, recently made similar remarks.

[READ: Donald Trump Takes Hillary Clinton's Bait In First Presidential Debate]

"One other thing I would single out is the role of China. It's China's responsibility," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said earlier this month on North Korea. "China shares important responsibility for this development, and has the important responsibility to reverse it."

Some watching on social media took Trump's comments to be tantamount to calling for a Chinese invasion of the country, though Trump never used such language.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, said Tuesday morning, "China has been making unremitting efforts with all sides concerned to achieve a proper resolution over the peninsular nuclear issue."

Beijing also voiced objection Tuesday to any country using the law to carry out "long arm jurisdiction," after the U.S. sanctioned a Chinese company allegedly tied to North Korea's nuclear program.

Trump also argued that Iran should have to intercede in the North Korean matter, as a condition of the Iranian nuclear deal. He suggested Tehran and Pyongyang are allies. The full extent of that relationship is unclear, though some reports indicate ties between the two governments could run deep.

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"Iran is one of their biggest trading partners. Iran has power over North Korea," Trump added. "When they made that horrible deal with Iran, they should have included the fact that they do something with respect to North Korea. And they should have done something with respect to Yemen and all these other places."

"Secretary Kerry, why didn't you do that? Why didn't you add other things into the deal?" Trump questioned.

The issue of North Korean proliferation has concerned the international community for decades, but concerns have heightened in 2016, with an uptick in nuclear tests, among other developments. Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests this year alone and six since 2006. The government claims it can put a nuclear warhead on a rocket and fire it at a potential adversary. The Pentagon cannot substantiate this but has said the U.S. should "take them at their word" for the sake of security.

[MORE: U.S. Flies Supersonic B-1 Bomber over North Korea]

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has criticized Trump for questioning some of the the United States' traditional allegiances and defense treaties.

During the debate Clinton emphasized that she wanted "to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea... that we have mutual defense treaties and we will honor them."

Curt Mills is a news writer at U.S. News & World Report. Email him at cmills@usnews.com.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Hillary Clinton managed to crawl under Donald Trump's skin in the first presidential debate Monday night by targeting his most sensitive pressure points: his wealth and his business record.

The Democratic nominee systematically needled Trump on the primary qualification he's put forward to voters, often parrying thorny questions into detailed diatribes on his checkered professional past that's made him a renowned international figure. Trump, who responded to Clinton's charges with aggravation, indignation and consistent interruptions, sought to paint the former secretary of state as a stale politician who has failed to produce results at home and abroad after decades toiling in public life.

But while Clinton largely took Trump's erratic broadsides in stride, refusing to be rattled and producing the night's most memorable and cutting lines, Trump seemed more concerned about responding to Clinton's strikes and defending his gold-plated brand than connecting with the American public about their issues and concerns.

Clinton looked comfortable and smiled throughout the 90-minute face-off at Hofstra University, even during some of the most tension-ridden exchanges. Trump wore a steely scowl on his face from the beginning, often anxiously bobbing his head into the microphone to interject and curiously sniffling throughout.

It amounted to a missed opportunity for Trump that could inhibit his ability to make a full comeback in the tightening race for the White House with just over 40 days until the election. One focus group of 29 undecided voters in Ohio found that 17 scored the debate for Clinton. Not one said Trump was the victor.

Clinton signaled early on that she would attempt to prick Trump by citing that he was fortunate to get his start in business with a $14 million loan from his father. When moderator Lester Holt of NBC News turned to Trump with a question about how he would resurrect American manufacturing, the Republican nominee couldn't resist defending his business beginnings, saying his father gave him only a small loan in 1975, which he used to create a multibillion dollar company.

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It was an early sign that Trump would not allow any slight about his past to go unanswered. Over the span of the debate, that worked to Clinton's benefit.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing for her.

An early and spirited back-and-forth on trade played to Trump's strength. While he took the populist offensive and called for the broad renegotiation of U.S. trade deals, Clinton was placed on the defensive for her husband's signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement and her change of position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which she now says she opposes.

"Your husband signed NAFTA, which was one of the worst things that's ever happened to the manufacturing industry," Trump said.

When Trump persisted on Clinton's inconsistency on the issue, she almost appeared at a loss for words, though she insisted her TPP opposition came once the deal's final terms were laid out.

"Well, Donald, I know you live in your own reality," she said.

But after Clinton told the audience she had turned her website into a template to fact-check Trump's statements, he redirected the argument toward terrorism, claiming she was unwisely telegraphing her plan for fighting the Islamic State group.

"No wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life," he said, oddly.

Clinton smiled.

"Join the debate by saying more crazy things," she later said.

Pressed on when he would release his tax returns -- a practice followed by every modern major party nominee -- Trump again deflected to say he would do so when a government audit was completed.

Clinton suggested Trump was stalling on disclosing his taxes for multiple reasons, another attack meant to make his blood boil. She said he may not be as wealthy or charitable as he claims, that he owes millions to Wall Street and foreign banks and that his returns may just reveal he is skirting paying federal taxes altogether.

"It must be something really important, even terrible, that he's trying to hide," she goaded.

At first, Trump challenged Clinton, saying he would make his taxes public when she releases "her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."

It was a smart play for Trump to raise an issue that goes to the heart of voters' concerns about her trustworthiness, but he failed to drive it home.

While Clinton briefly but directly acknowledged her decision to conduct government business via private email was a mistake, Trump lingered on that vulnerability only briefly, missing an obvious opportunity to hammer at his opponent's most glaring weakness.

Whether it was a lack of discipline or an inability to recall the facts on the spot, Trump whiffed on what should've been a scorching blow against Clinton. Instead, she walked away from the exchange -- as she did from the evening -- mostly unscathed.

And while Trump has tried to move past his embrace of the birther issue -- the conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. -- Clinton looked to make it part of a long pattern of behavior that hearkened back to his early real estate dealings, when he was sued by the Justice Department and accused of not renting to African-Americans in New York City.

Trump's only response was to say that other companies were sued as well and to boast that he settled the lawsuit without an admission of guilt. But, he quipped, "I notice you bring that up a lot."

And on the country's housing crisis, when Clinton said Trump once rooted for it in order to make money, the billionaire was unapologetic and unsympathetic.

"That's called business, by the way," he retorted.

Clinton's preparation for the high-stakes platform was on full display. While her opening statement sounded dispassionate and scripted, she appeared to grow into her own voice as the debate progressed, even when employing canned lines.

She dubbed her opponent's tax-cutting plan "Trumped-up trickle-down."

She produced a swift and stinging comeback when Trump came at her for taking time off the campaign trail.

"Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president," she said.

And when Trump went on a lengthy tangent criticizing her foreign policy record, she visibly shook at her podium in a playful manner and let out a "Whoo!" while wearing a big, broad smile.

Aside from his early pronouncements on trade, Trump relied mostly on emotion and highlights of the opposition research book prepared for him. He skirted substance and often returned to his signature phrases.

He accused Clinton of planning to raise taxes "big league." In highlighting a potential stop-and-frisk policy to curb violence, he accused Clinton of not wanting to use the words "law and order" to form her approach.

He vehemently denied he was ever in favor of the Iraq War, even though Holt noted "the record shows otherwise."

And he plainly took a shot at Clinton's health, saying he doesn't believe she has the stamina to be president.

Even in this highly formal setting, Trump essentially hued to his true form -- antagonistic, caustic and unapologetic -- and it likely didn't advance his case.

But there was one line Trump did draw -- sort of.

After Clinton rattled off past statements Trump has made about women, saying he's called them "pigs," "slobs" and "dogs," he strongly suggested he had considered raising former President Bill Clinton's infidelity against her in the debate.

Over the weekend, after all, he had floated bringing Gennifer Flowers, a woman whom Bill Clinton had a sexual relationship with years ago, to sit in the front row at Hofstra.

In both cases, Trump evidently concluded, "I just can't do it."

Yet in a way, he still did.

David Catanese is senior politics writer for U.S. News & World Report and founder of the blog The Run 2016. You can follow him on Twitter and send him feedback at dcatanese@usnews.com.
Citizens of the Peoples Republic of China dont get to vote in U.S. presidential elections. (They also dont get to elect their own leaders, either.) But from the opening question in the inaugural presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, China appeared front and center, particularly in the Republican candidates rhetoric. China was blamed for stealing jobs from Americans, for devaluing its currency and for engaging in state-sponsored cyberhacking. Look at what China is doing to our country, said Trump in his opening statement Monday night. They are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China.

Trump urged China to use its power to rein in North Korea, which has conducted two nuclear tests this year. Contrasting U.S. infrastructure with that of China, with its gleaming new airports, the Republican candidate said that weve become a third-world country. By contrast, Clinton claimed that during her time as Secretary of State, American exports to China had increased 50%.

Read More: Read a Transcript of the First Presidential Debate Between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

During the debate, Clinton claimed that Trump thought climate change was a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. A 2012 tweet from Trumps official account alleged that the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing noncompetitive. Trump has said that the tweet was meant as a joke.

There are no reputable opinion surveys in China gauging the popularity of the two candidates vying for the U.S. presidency. But Chinese state-linked media have intimated that many Chinese prefer Trump, as the Global Times, a Chinese Communist Partylinked newspaper wrote on Monday. The Global Times publicized a poll on its parent website that showed that 83 percent of the 8,339 Chinese respondents believe Trump will win the election. The poll was conducted in May and the respondents were a self-selecting group, limiting the surveys capacity to act as a reliable gauge of public opinion.

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Nevertheless, Chinese public support for Trump seems to originate from two camps: respect for him as a businessman and excitement about a fresh force in American politics. Trumps patriotism has allowed me to see that American politics is corrupt, says a Chinese supporter who has formed local social-media groups praising the Republican candidate and goes by the online moniker Donald.J.Trump-The terminator of lies. He exposed this ugly side of the American reality.

Trump has repeatedly assailed China for its economic relationship with the U.S., claiming, as he did in Mondays debate, that theyre taking our jobs.

Just like some American voters, the Chinese public likes the idea of a new face in politics who is not a traditional politician, says Wang Yiwei, a professor of international politics at Renmin University in Beijing. The Chinese elite that understands Trump better is very worried and thinks his election would be an unprecedented challenge for the world because his isolationism and populism is very dangerous, especially for China.

Read More: Donald Trumps Post-Truth Debate

Clinton has a long public record of intersecting with China. As First Lady in 1995, she gave a speech at the U.N. Conference on Women in Beijing in which she criticized China for its family-planning restrictions. As Secretary of State, she censured China for its human-rights record and was involved in a dramatic episode in 2012 in which Chen Guangcheng, a blind legal activist, fled house arrest to seek refuge in the U.S. embassy in Beijing. (Chen and his immediate family now live in the U.S.) Clinton also forcefully advocated for President Obamas so-called pivot to Asia, which has directed more American soldiers to the region. Beijing views the pivot as nothing more than American containment of China, even if the Obama Administration has claimed otherwise. The Chinese are familiar with Clinton as a harsh and hawkish force, says Wang. She is always criticizing China for human rights or something else.

Lu Pin, the founding editor of the Chinese magazine Feminist Voices, recalls the support Clinton gave five young Chinese feminists who were detained last year amid Chinese President Xi Jinpings crackdown on civil society and dissent. But Lu notes that the average Chinese had no idea that Clinton was tweeting for the release of the so-called Feminist Five. Hillarys support brought pressure to the Chinese government [to release them], Lu says. She was criticized by the Chinese government and her image in China was damaged. She supports human rights in China, but this act is not welcomed by the Chinese government.

Read More: The First Presidential Debate That Needed a Second Screen

Although socialist quotas once existed for female representation in lower levels of government, the political representation of women in China has actually decreased in recent years. There is not a single woman on the Politburo Standing Committee, the seven-man clique that effectively rules China. Even the Politburo, one rung lower in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hierarchy, boasts just two women. (In imperial times, only one Chinese Empress ever rose to the throne, back in the 7th century, when her husband, the Emperor, died.) I think that the CCP has problems getting women into the top echelons for many of the same reasons that we have in Australia and the USA, says Louise Edwards, a professor of modern Chinese history at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, factional politics, the brutality of the systems competitiveness, common old sexism that holds men as natural leaders and mens difficulty of imagining how they could ever be subordinate to any women without being emasculated.

Of course, in November, the U.S. could elect its first-ever female President, eight years after ushering in the nations first African-American leader. Many [Chinese] citizens might well imagine, says Edwards, that one day a Chinese-American would be President of the U.S. too.
Donald Trump thinks Lester Holt gave him unfair questions at the end of Mondays presidential debate, and gave the NBC News moderator a C+ as his overall grade.

I thought he was OK. I thought he was fine. Nothing outstanding. He gave me very unfair questions at the end. The last three, four questions, but you know Im not complaining about that, Trump said on Fox & Friends early Tuesday morning.

I thought Lester was really good for the half because he was bringing up general and main subjects that were important, things like the economy, Trump said. And then in the end, they start bringing up 45-year-old lawsuits.

Also Read: Why Rudy Giuliani Thinks Donald Trump Should Skip Next Debate

Following the debate, Trump told CNNs Dylan Byers that Holt did a great job, but after a night of reflection, he told Fox & Friends that Holt deserves a C + grade for the evening.

.@realDonaldTrump: I thought Lester Holt gave me very unfair questions at the end, but I'm not complaining about that pic.twitter.com/3TZT03sQEf  FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) September 27, 2016

Trump explained that he couldnt bring up Benghazi because of the way questions were structured, but his comments about Holt are complimentary compared to one of Trumps most trusted advisors. Rudy Giuliani said Trump should skip the next presidential debate because of they way he was treated by Holt.

If I were Donald Trump I wouldnt participate in another debate unless I was promised that the journalist would act like a journalist and not an incorrect, ignorant fact checker, Giuliani told reporters, according to Politico.

Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has been helping Trump with debate preparation leading up to the event. Like many Trump supporters, he feels Holt favored Hillary Clinton.

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Also Read: Donald Trump Supporters in a Fury Over Lester Holt's Debate Performance

The moderator would have to promise that there would be a moderator and not a fact checker and in two particular cases an enormously ignorant, completely misinformed fact checker, Giuliani continued. If you wonder why Donald Trump thinks that the press is a left-wing basically oriented group, Lester Holt proved it tonight.

Trump made other headlines during his phoner with the Fox News morning show on Tuesday by discussing 1996 Miss Universe winner, Alicia Machado, whom Clinton mentioned during the debate as one of the many women Trump has insulted over the years.

She was the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem. We had a real problem. Not only that, her attitude. We had a real problem with her. Hillary went back into the years, and she found this girl. This was many years ago. She found the girl and talked about her like she was Mother Teresa. It wasnt quite that way. Thats okay. Hillary has to do what she has to do, Trump said.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Donald Trump Supporters in a Fury Over Lester Holt's Debate Performance

Old Tweet Proves Donald Trump Lied About Global Warming

Mark Cuban Admits He Lied About Front-Row Debate Seat to Rile Donald Trump
Trumpocalypse is upon us. Deadline is live-blogging tonights first 2016 presidential debate pitting petulant thin-skinned real estate mogul turned reality TV star turned GOP candidate Donald Trump, against the Democrats overqualified, over-rehearsed, underliked and under suspicion former Secretary of state/senator/first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The 90-minute event is expected to give the Super Bowl a run for its money, with about 100M people tuning in, in hopes the debate the debate goes small-hands low. Early indicators are good: Clinton attempted some early debate psych-out, inviting Trump reality-TV nemesis Mark Cuban to sit in the front row. Trump punched back with a promised invite to former Bill Clinton gal-pal Gennifer Flowers though sadly, his handlers walked that back. Instead,Benghazi victim family members will join Cuban in Psych-Out Row.

Now lets get to the action as Deadlines Lisa de Moraes and Erik Pedersen see it live:

RelatedClinton Vs. Trump: How To Watch Tonights Debate

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Lester Holt has survived what may have been the most pressurized, scrutinized presidential debate in recent history. And the NBC anchor earned high marks from the pundit-sphere as well as Donald Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway.

"Conservatives should agree" that Holt "did a very fine job moderating," wrote conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt on Twitter, noting that Holt "pushed on [the] birther issue and Iraq war but gave plenty of time."

The Columbia Journalism Review Twitter feed noted that Holt went "in for the kill with a follow-up" on Trump's record of fanning the birther conspiracy about President Obama's birth certificate. Of course, supporters of Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly praised Holt, since many feel their candidate won the debate.

And the television news punditry seemed to agree. "This was the most abnormal event I've ever witnessed," noted Chuck Todd, NBC News political director and Meet the Press moderator. "[Trump] was over-reactive he was filled with emotion. I think as this night wore on it became tougher and tougher for Trump, and it exposed his lack of preparation."

Read more: Hollywood Criticizes Lester Holt's Moderating, Donald Trump's Attacks During First Presidential Debate

Noted Fox News contributor Juan Williams: "I think there's no question Donald Trump was on the defensive. I'm sure he will go after pundits like us and the mainstream media alike."

Williams added that Trump was very effective in denouncing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade deals being a red meat issue for Trump supporters. But he missed an opportunity to exploit Clinton's use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State. On CNN a poll of viewers who watched the debate - a group CNN political director David Challian admitted skewed slightly Democrat - overwhelmingly gave the debate to Clinton with 62 percent, compared with 27 percent for Trump.

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One narrative that emerged post-debate was that Trump might skip the next two debates. On MSNBC, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta asserted that "it's possible" that Trump could bail on a planned town hall debate Oct. 9 to be co-moderated by Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz. "It's hard for me to believe that [Trump] would want to leave this as his last impression for voters," mused Rachel Maddow.

And Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, seemed to throw cold water on a Trump no-show. When asked on CNN how Holt did, Conway said, "I thought he did a great job as the moderator under tough circumstances." Calling the event the "clash of the titans," she did have one quibble: that Holt did not bring up Clinton's email issue. But, she added, "I'm glad that Mr. Trump raised her emails, because it wasn't being raised otherwise."

Clinton's email received a thorough examination by Holt's colleague Matt Lauer during a Sept. 7 forum, something that prompted complaints from Clinton supporters and kudos from Trump partisans. And Trump himself seemed to offer a tepid endorsement. In the spin room at Hofstra University after the debate, Trump declared it was a "great experience" and promised to be at subsequent debates set for October. But he also implied that he may have been sabotaged by a faulty microphone. "It was softer than Hillary's," he said. "I wonder. Was that on purpose?"

Video: @realDonaldTrump says Holt did "fine job," claims his mic was "defective" pic.twitter.com/dLpPgv55SU

- Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) September 27, 2016

Read more: Donald Trump Condescending With Hillary Clinton at First Presidential Debate: "I Want You to Be Happy"
Donald Trump caused an uproar during the presidential debate Monday night when he generalized hackers as someone who "weighs 400 lbs."



After Hillary Clinton mentioned that intelligence officials have "high confidence" that Russia was involved with the recent hack into the Democratic National Committee's servers, Trump instead argued that it could have been anyone.



"She's saying Russia, Russia, Russia. But I don't  maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 lbs.," Trump responded. "You don't know who broke into DNC."



His comment took off on Twitter, with people calling Trump out for body shaming.









Trump: The hackers "Might be a 400-pound person sitting in bed...Might be. Some of the greatest hackers of all time.""

OR pic.twitter.com/wY9cow00CZ a Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 27, 2016







I don't weigh 400 pounds! Well, I don't think I do. #debatenight a Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) September 27, 2016







Donald just dissed hackers, talking about people in their bedrooms weighing 400 pounds. That might backfire on him. a Sean Carroll (@seanmcarroll) September 27, 2016







OMG did he just weight shame!!! WTF?! a Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) September 27, 2016





This is far from the first time Trump, who is overweight himself according to his medical records, has used weight as a critique. Later in the debate Clinton brought up former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, whom Trump called "Miss Piggy" after she gained weight following her win in 1996.



"When she brought up the person, I know that person, that person was a Miss Universe person, and she was the worst we ever had," Trump said Tuesday morning on Fox & Friends. "She was the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem."



But Trump's barbs aren't just reserved for his opponents  one of Trump's former employees, Louise Sunshine, recently recalled how the real estate mogul used to keep an unflattering photo  a "fat picture," in Sunshine's words  in his desk drawer to pull out whenever she did something wrong.





Donald Trump's Fat Phobia Over the Years: from '400-Lb.' Hackers to 'Miss Piggy'| 2016 Presidential Elections, Body shaming, Bodywatch, Donald Trump, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rosie O'Donnell

The photo was "a reminder that I wasn't perfect," Sunshine told the Washington Post. "He just is that way."



But Sunshine has always been a fan of Trump's, and says that she supports him for president, even though the "fat picture" sticks in her mind  she finds it helpful.



"When I gain weight, I think of that picture," Sunshine said. "It was quite a good idea."



And at one of Trump's rallies in Worcester, Massachusetts last November, he talked about food stamps to noise from the crowd.



"You know, it's amazing. I mentioned food stamps and that guy who's seriously overweight went crazy. He went crazy. It's amazing," Trump said to the audience.



Trump also brought up Rosie O'Donnell unprompted during Monday's debate, one of his frequent sparring partners.



"I said very tough things to her and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her," Trump said Monday night.



After O'Donnell called out Trump for going into bankruptcy in 2006, he told PEOPLE that O'Donnell was "a woman out of control" and "a real loser."



"Rosie's a loser. A real loser. I look forward to taking lots of money from my nice fat little Rosie," he said at the time.
Republican candidate Jason Lewis and Democrat Angie Craig vie for Minnesotas Second Congressional District. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News, photos: Jim Mone/AP [2], AP [2])

ST. PAUL, Minn.  As you may have heard, theres a race this year between a well-organized and well-financed centrist Democratic woman (with an Arkansas background) and a political newcomer, a Republican who ran against the party establishment with some far-right views and a long history of controversial, even offensive, statements. We are talking, of course, about the congressional race in Minnesotas Second District between former talk-show host Jason Lewis, 61, a sometime substitute for Rush Limbaugh, and health-care executive Angie Craig, 44, who if elected would be the first openly gay member of Congress from Minnesota.

And you wont be surprised to learn that the race is close. Internal polling acquired by the Pioneer Press in late August gave two widely different pictures, with the Lewis campaigns survey giving Lewis a 12-point lead while Craig led in her own poll by a one-point margin. It is one of the most competitive House races in the nation, in a district that covers the southern part of St. Paul, a large suburban swath with farmland to the southeast. Republican John Kline, who is retiring, has held the seat since 2002, but the district voted for Obama twice and supported Democratic Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar in their last two elections, while giving the edge to Republican challenger Jeff Johnson, who lost to Gov. Mark Dayton in 2014. If you want to attempt to divine anything from the low-turnout caucuses earlier this year, Marco Rubio won 37 percent of the Seconds support, compared with 30 percent for Ted Cruz and 20 for Trump. On the Democratic side, Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton 58 percent to 41.

No two campaigns are ever exactly alike, and despite the many parallels with the presidential race, there are large differences, both political and stylistic. Neither Lewis nor Craig made an endorsement in the states March 1 caucuses. Lewis has a strong libertarian streak  after leaving his decades-long career as a radio host in 2014, he helped found a libertarian social media network called Galt.io, named for the main character in Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged  that puts him at odds both with the Republican hierarchy and some of Trumps positions. He leans toward a noninterventionist foreign policy and opposes the war on drugs, which he told Yahoo News has had an especially harsh effect on communities of color. He wrote an entire book on the importance of states rights, and while it contains some arguments that could be generously viewed as not mainstream  such as proposing a constitutional amendment to allow states to peacefully secede from the union  it shows a philosophical side that hasnt been much in evidence in Trumps campaign.

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In a minor irony, Craig, the Democrat, is running on her business background and outsider status, which she says will enable her to work with both sides of the aisle. She often quotes Klobuchars saying that political courage is the ability to work with those you disagree with to accomplish what you do agree on. Her positions include opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, support for veterans and fighting opioid abuse.

What can we learn from all this that will help make sense of Clinton vs. Trump?

Perhaps the most interesting question is how voters will view Lewis long history of colorful on-air remarks, including calling the victims of Hurricane Katrina whiners and denouncing an entire section of the electorate, young women, for caring only about abortion, gay marriage and The View. He has claimed Americas white population is committing cultural suicide by not having enough children, and his views on gay marriage involved a strained comparison to slavery  admittedly, long before he knew he would be in a race against Craig, who is married to a woman. His views were denounced by the deputy chair of the state Republican Party and by Kline, the outgoing congressman, who endorsed businesswoman Darlene Miller instead. But Lewis won the endorsement of the GOP convention in May following the sixth ballot and won the primary in August, defeating Miller and another candidate with nearly 50 percent of the vote.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are introduced during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Sept. 26. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

Much of this record has been gleefully mined by his opponents. Lewis told Yahoo News that he believes all of the attacks have been taken grotesquely out of context, and in the case of the first ad put out by the Craig campaign, a local Minnesota news station at least partly agreed. But at times he has seemed to want to have it both ways. He has said that being provocative was part of his job description as a radio host, whose success depended on ratings. But he hasnt backed down from any of his comments, either. What my opponents dont understand is that I actually believe this stuff, said Lewis in a December 2015 edition of his podcast. I say things and I write things because I hold them near and dear, Im not about to walk away. When your opponents say you said this or Mitt Romney said the bottom half of taxpayers arent chipping in enough, theyre betting that you will run away from your heartfelt positions. I wont, and thats the difference in this campaign.

But as provocative as he can be on the issues, as a candidate Lewis has avoided personal attacks. He has called Craig a good person but misguided. Members of his party havent been as considerate. In a Facebook post promoting a GOP fundraiser, a Goodhue County Republican official shared a photo of Craigs family that referred to her wife as a female marriage partner. The photo was next to images of the families of Republican candidates. Lewis told Minnesota Public Radio that family and private lives should be off-limits.

Craig was raised by a single mother in an Arkansas trailer park. She graduated from the University of Memphis, and after a stint as an education reporter at the Commercial Appeal, she entered corporate communications. She moved to Minnesota in 2005 to join the St. Judes Medical Group, rising to head of human resources before stepping down to focus on the election. She announced her campaign even before Klines retirement and had cleared out the primary field early with a series of endorsements and fundraising successes. Her campaign has enjoyed high-profile support and joint appearances with Klobuchar and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.

Lewis has called Craigs positions radical for the Second District, citing her endorsement by the Congressional Progressive caucus, but her platform is fairly mainstream for a Democratic politician in 2016. The New Democrat Coalition, a group that describes itself as fiscally responsible and moderate, also endorsed her.

The New Democratic Coalition basically understand that the private sector business is where jobs are created, said Craig in an interview with Yahoo News. Thats who I am from a fiscal point of view. On the other hand, the Progressive Caucus is very focused on issues like equality; thats who I am. So I believe its the perfect fit for a purple district like this, where the preponderance of voters are more socially progressive but theyre fiscally responsible.

How will all this play in November? The district has changed enormously since John Kline was elected, said Larry Jacobs, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. He was able to get mostly reelected by comfortable margins  not always, but mostly  based on his personal reputation and bond with voters. The district has become much more evenly balanced. When you look at the largest county in the district, its Dakota County, and that has seen an influx of voters who are college educated; its a more diverse electorate, and weve started to see Democrats doing well.

When Lewis won the primary, the Cook Political Report moved the race from the tossup category to lean Democrat. Jacobs also sees Craig as a better fit.

Jason Lewis is quite smart, and hes quite provocative. Hes a great guy to have a conversation with, said Jacobs, but he is much more conservative than that district. While the Republicans have put up a candidate whos not a good fit for a district thats become more moderate, the Democrats have put up a candidate whos from the business community, running on issues of fiscal prudence, socially liberal. Shes a much better fit for that district.

So far Craig has released three ads, two biographical and one a compilation of some of Lewiss controversial statements. National Democratic groups have already sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into advertising in the district to get the former talk radio hosts words back on the air.

For his part, Lewis thinks attacking him on his old quotes could backfire on the Democratic campaign.

Lord knows Im no Ronald Reagan, said Lewis, but there was an expectation created of him in 1976 leading up to 80 that he was this horrible ogre, commentaries on the radio, they dug up those. And people would see him and say, He seems like an OK guy to me. Were seeing a lot of that. They tried to paint this caricature, but people know me, Ive been on the radio here. Then when people who dont know me meet me, they ask, Where are the horns? I think were getting a little benefit from that.

I think if you look at the desperation of the oppositions campaign ads, they think were up. Were in a good position, but theyre going to outspend us.



There are two factors that add to the difficulty in projecting this race. Minnesota doesnt register first-time voters by party, so theres no way to tell which way new voters of the Second are leaning. And this is just the second congressional election following Minnesotas adoption of no-excuse, absentee voting, which lets anyone vote early by mail. This would in theory increase turnout, which would in theory help Craig, but its impossible to tell for sure. The Craig campaign said it has partnered with the local Democratic-Farmer-Labor (the official name of the Democratic Party in Minnesota) office on the early get-out-the-vote-via-mail efforts, while the Lewis campaign is relying on the local Republican Party for that work. In addition to the fundraising advantage, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told Yahoo News that the Craig campaigns ground game has been one of the best in the nation this cycle.

There are variables at work: The candidates will have at least one debate, and theres the possibility that even more offensive comments will surface from Lewiss radio archive. Theres also the chance Craig, running her first campaign and a relative novice candidate, will make some sort of blunder, but that would be a departure from her consistently polished performance thus far.

Its a tight race, said Craig. I wont allow myself to believe that Im the favorite in this race, because I think this race is going to come down to a two- or three-point race. I think its going to be a close race. I hope Im wrong and voters give me this job by a wider margin, but I want to behave as if, and I believe this is going to be a close race.

So now you know everything about the campaign in Minnesotas Second District, except the two things that matter most: who will win  and what that result will tell us about the bigger campaign thats also going on in America right now.

_____

How Clintons big debate win could actually wind up hurting down-ballot Democrats

Clinton at the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. (Photo: Julio Cortez/AP)

By Andrew Romano

Every poll taken after Mondays big debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump came to the same conclusion: Clinton won. According to CNN, 62 percent of voters declared Clinton the winner versus only 27 percent for Trump  a 35-point margin. A separate postdebate survey from Public Policy Polling gave a Clinton 52-40 advantage. And even Breitbart, whose former executive chairman now runs Trumps campaign, found that Clinton outperformed the Republican nominee.

According to Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight, Clintons big win suggests that shell gain in head-to-head polls over Trump in the coming days.

But how will the Hofstra debate affect down-ballot races?

As of Tuesday morning, reactions and responses from House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates locked in tight contests were few and far between. House Speaker Paul Ryan wanly praised Trumps energy. But most other Republicans  especially the electorally imperiled ones  have been mum. Nothing from New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. Nothing from Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey. Nothing from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. And so on.

The bottom line is that there are very few GOP candidates who want to talk about Trump, even on one of his good days  and yesterday was not one of his good days.

Down-ballot Democrats have been more vocal, but only slightly. Keystone state Senate challenger Katie McGinty posted a series of #debatenight tweets attempting to link Toomey to the GOP ticket-topper; Catherine Cortez Masto, the Democratic Senate candidate in Nevada, warned of the threat of a @realDonaldTrump presidency and retweeted Elizabeth Warrens remark about Trump ranting and raving on the debate stage.

But other Democrats, such as Ohios Ted Strickland and Floridas Patrick Murphy, have yet to weigh in. Not every Dem is making his or her race a referendum on Trump; others probably prefer to wait for the conventional wisdom to fully crystallize before jumping into the fray. Plus its still early: Expect more reactions later Tuesday, once reporters start questioning the candidates at their public events.

A word of caution, however, for Democrats  and encouragement for Republicans. According to the latest research on presidential coattails, Clintons commanding victory could wind up hurting down-ballot Democrats more than it helps them. Heres how. Robert Erikson, a professor of political science at Columbia University, is an expert on public opinion and elections; in a recent paper, Erikson looked at the U.S. House vote in the 17 presidential election years, from 1948 to 2012. He found that for every percentage point that a presidential candidate gains in the two-party vote, his or her partys down-ballot candidates gain almost half a point themselves. This suggests that if Clinton rises in the postdebate polls, down-ballot candidates will rise as well.

The only problem? Erickson also discovered a countereffect called balancing.

The idea here is that in down-ballot contests, some voters may tilt toward the opposite party of the candidate they believe will win the White House, Erickson told the Washington Post. They may do this to balance the ideological makeup of government. If the presidents going to be a Democrat, for instance, maybe a Republican Congress can help keep them in check.

Like the coattail effect, balancing can be quantified. By looking at the effect on the House vote of the preelection odds that the Democrat would win the presidency, Erickson found that, as the odds went up, the Democratic House vote declined. Being seen as a certain winner rather than a certain loser, he concluded, actually penalizes down-ballot candidates by about 3.5 points.

Controlling for other factors, this suggests that the more confident voters are that a Democrat will become president, the more likely they are to vote for down-ballot Republicans. In other words, Clintons win might boost down-ballot Democrats a little bit. But if it makes her look like shes got a lock on the White House, it could ultimately boost down-ballot Republicans more.

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Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Craig supported an increase in Syrian refugees to the U.S. The Craig campaign supports the Obama administrations current policies.

The best of the rest

North Carolina (High Point University) PRES

Clinton 43

Trump 42

Johnson 10 SEN

Burr 45

Ross 43 GOV

Cooper 50

McCrory 41  Luke Brinker (@LukeBrinker) September 26, 2016

Harper Polling Pennsylvania Senate McGinty (D) 42%

Toomey  42%https://t.co/AWCTUIBEPo  Benchmark Politics (@benchmarkpol) September 26, 2016

Here are all the 14 statehouses Democrats think they can win in November https://t.co/n2IoS2wPFC pic.twitter.com/3OBMIgJYgs  HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) September 25, 2016

NV USSEN (Fox News): Cong Joe Heck  43%, ex-Atty Gen Catherine Cortez Masto (D) 36%  Politics1.com (@Politics1com) September 23, 2016



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Countdown

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Drake dropped his new Views-inspired short film Please Forgive Me on Sunday, showing a vision for the silver screen and highlighting some of his acting chops we've seen on and off for the past 15 years.

Drake's 'Please Forgive Me' Short Film Drops: Watch

Blending elements of a Hollywood action thriller with a highly stylized music video, the piece shot in the Soweto township in Johannesburg, South Africa, is only the latest in Drake's dabbling as an actor. From the Canadian young adult dramatic series Degrassi: The Next Generation to Saturday Night Live, The ESPYs, Anchorman 2 and more, listed chronologically, here are Drake's six best acting moments.

When Jimmy Got Shot on Degrassi

It's well known that Drake got his start as Aubrey Graham starring as Jimmy Brooks on the popular Canadian television show Degrassi: The Next Generation. And though his character's eight years on the show encompassed way more than this one moment, none is more memorable than when he was shot in the back all over a prank that wasn't even his fault, turning him paraplegic.

As Ethan in Ice Age: Continental Drift

Drake had a role in the fourth installment of the Ice Age franchise as Ethan, the hunky wooly mammoth and love interest of the Ray Romano-voiced protagonist mammoth Manny's daughter, Peaches, who was voiced by Keke Palmer.

Opening scene Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

In which Drake dons an afro, gold chain and Members Only jacket to cat call Christina Applegate's character Veronica Corningstone.

Saturday Night Live "Hip Hop Classics: Before They Were Stars"

In 2014, on Drake's first time hosting Saturday Night Live, the superstar rapper roasted his hip-hop contemporaries Lil Wayne and Jay Z by playing them in a sketch that reimagined classic television shows with famous emcees as cast members. His version of Weezy as Steve Urkel on Family Matters is particularly LOL-worthy.

Drake vs. Blake at the 2014 ESPYs

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Drake sized up his competition at the 2014 ESPY Awards, specifically the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin. In a sketch, the two go from from BFFs to mortal enemies, all over who's name should go first in their team up action movie. Oh yeah, and Chris Brown makes a cameo.

Saturday Night Live "Work Banter"

When Drake returned to host SNL in 2016, unfortunately one of his funniest sketches wound up cut for time. In it, he plays new guy at work Derek, who just can't quite figure out the subtleties of the new office culture.

Please Forgive Me

Please Forgive Me is Drake's modern day tour de force, for the first time since his Degrassi days returning to non-comedic acting, complete with action scenes and all. Could this be a glimpse of things to come?

The explosive visual companion to #VIEWS. @drake's Please Forgive Me.

Only on #AppleMusic:https://t.co/86DnYZFruv pic.twitter.com/ANlLgr2imC- Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 26, 2016
* Robusta output seen worsening in 2017

* Warehouses expected to close

* Olam executive says warehouse at 25 pct capacity

By Reese Ewing

SAO PAULO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's robusta coffee industry is laying off workers who transport, process and store the commodity in warehouses that are nearly idle two years into the worst drought in eight decades, according to traders and industry executives.

Though prices have never been higher at 427 to 434 reais (US$132-$134) per bag for conilon, the variety of robusta grown in Brazil, producers expect another bad crop in 2017 as they tear up trees ruined by drought. At current prices, Brazil's 2016 robusta crop is worth $1.2 billion.

Exports of conilon are down 90 percent over the past 12 months versus the previous year, the coffee exporters association Cecafe said.

Despite a major recovery in arabica production in the surrounding regions due to the return of rains, the 2016 conilon crop in the main producer state, Espirito Santo, has fallen 40 percent to 5.95 million bags since peaking in 2014.

"Warehouses and segments of the coffee industry here are putting employees on leave and transferring some to other areas," said Luis Polese, president of coffee trade association Sindicafe. "Unfortunately, less skilled workers are being let go." He could not say how many workers have been laid off.

Conilon makes up about a quarter of Brazil's coffee crop but is the staple coffee consumed on the domestic market, second only in size to the United States.

Brazil's exports of conilon pale in comparison to arabica shipments. However, after the robusta crop in top supplier Vietnam declined over the past year, Brazil's exports of conilon have become more important for global supply.

November robusta futures are at their highest in a year and a half.

The drought was throwing all infrastructure linked to the coffee production into crisis, including transporters, exporters and roasters, officials said.

"We're having a hard time securing raw material to supply the local roasting industry," said Egidio Malanquini, president of the roasting industry association Sincafe.

Story continues

Brazil is in its worst economic recession since the 1930s. Last week, the Labor Ministry said the economy was contracting for the second straight year and had shed a net 33,953 jobs in August.

Brazil's economy is expected to shrink more than 3 percent for a second straight year in 2016, with over 11 million workers officially considered unemployed.

2017 PROSPECTS DIM

Damage from the drought appears to be worsening.

Although Espirito Santo forced irrigated coffee farms to ration water early in 2016, the state capital of Vitoria began restricting water supplies in 58 neighborhoods last week for the first time in its history.

Two main rivers, the Santa Maria and Jacu, are below critical levels and 20 other municipalities are in a state of emergency due to the water crisis, Eduardo Carvalhaes at trader Escritorio Carvalhaes in Santos said.

Octaciano Neto, the farm secretary in Espirito Santo, said some regions have seen less than half their normal rainfall for the third year running.

Polese said multinationals like Louis Dreyfus, Olam and Volcafe are experiencing drastic declines in the flow of coffee through their warehouses versus recent years, little more than a couple of months after harvest was completed.

"Olam's warehouse in Nova Venecia is running at a fraction of capacity. Volcafe, a leader in coffee, leased two warehouses in Colatina, which are moving coffee at 20 percent capacity," Polese said.

Another trader in the state, who asked not to be named, said a Louis Dreyfus Company was holding 60,000 to 80,000 bags of coffee in its 250,000-bag warehouse in Nova Venecia. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Volcafe said it continued to invest and hire in the region despite drought damage to the crop. An Olam executive in Brazil said its warehouse was running at 25 percent capacity.

President of the Vitoria Coffee Exchange CCCV Jorge Luiz Nicchio said he expected some warehouses would close soon given poor prospects for next year's crop.

"Producers are tearing up trees that are so badly damaged they don't expect them to recover," he told Reuters.

Crop analysts INTL FCStone said last week that prospects for conilon in Espirito Santo in 2017 were "extremely worrisome" and expected to be worse than this year.

(Reporting by Reese Ewing; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
Politicians and the misery of pain

Money in politics has been at the root of the Centers reporting since its creation under Chuck Lewis 27 years ago. Few stories demonstrate the human and national impact of that more than the state political reporting teams Politics of Pain series launched over the weekend in partnership with The Associated Press.

Its a horrifying story of the tragedy of addiction to painkillers affecting people across the country and the hidden alliance between pharmaceutical companies and politicians which has arguably delayed any resolution to the crisis.

The story is front-page news today across the country thanks to The Associated Press reach and capacity to localize the national data crunched by the Centers team. Im going to let project manager Kytja Weir explain the project below, but the release is great validation for the idea put forth by Deputy Executive Editor John Dunbar more than two years ago that the anemic level of investigative reporting at the state level can be greatly bolstered nationwide with help from the Center.

Data reporter Ben Wieder did a remarkable job compiling and analyzing the complex data sets that made the project possible, while Liz Essley Whytes reporting brought it to life. Kytja, meanwhile, managed the partnership with the AP, shaped the stories and worked tirelessly to ensure the project went off without a hitch. Executive Editor Gordon Witkin was instrumental.

I strongly believe reporting on money in politics in the states is a vital area for the Center as more and more money flows to local and state races because of deadlock in the Capitol.

We are fortunate to have funding for the state reporting team from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

Heres Kytja with more on the opioid project:

For the Politics of Pain, we collected and analyzed campaign finance and lobbying data from 2006 through 2015 on drug makers and their allies who participated in a little-known national coalition called the Pain Care Forum. With The Associated Press, we reviewed hundreds of documents and interviewed more than 150 officials, experts, advocates and others to gain insights into how the political process influenced the response to the opioid epidemic, she says.

Story continues

The project shows how Big Pharma and its allies have spent millions of dollars on a 50-state strategy designed to weaken measures aimed at addressing a crippling opioid addiction crisis in America. We traced contributions from drug makers to politicians and advocacy groups who fought limits on drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin and fentanyl that have contributed to the deaths of more than 165,000 people since 2000. Drug companies have reaped enormous profits by aggressively prescribing opioid painkillers that can lead to addiction to other dangerous drugs, including heroin.

To date, our opioid project has appeared on at least 145 front pages across the country, with at least 69 Sunday front pages and 76 front pages today.

The project is highly readable and compelling in my view:

 Politics of pain: Drugmakers fought state opioid limits amid crisis

 Drugmakers fought domino effect of Washington state opioid limits

 Pro-painkiller echo chamber shaped policy amid drug epidemic

 Key findings: Pharma lobbying held deep influence over opioid policies

 VIDEO

This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

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Panama Papers wins at the ONA

The ICIJ team and network behind the Panama Papers scored another big win on Saturday in Denver. The project won the ICIJ and Sueddeutsche Zeitung, whose team received the leak from a John Doe, the coveted Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award in the large newsroom category. (If people realized the ICIJ team could fit in a minivan they would realize it wasnt exactly large.)

Its the latest in a huge number of awards and other recognition from officials and peers for the Panama Papers, the leak of the century, as The Economist called it. Emilia Diaz-Struck, the ICIJ lead researcher accepted the award with a gracious credit to the entire team led by Gerard Ryle and Marina Walker and the more than 400 journalists around the world who took part in the project.

What else were reading and thinking about

Separately at the ONA the strength and modernity of the New York Times was striking with multiple awards, including the general excellent prize, which the Times shared with the innovative video platform AJ+ from Al Jazeera. Among our non-profit family, ProPublica scored with a partnership and the medium newsroom award in the investigative category and the Texas Tribune won the general excellence small prize as well as explanatory (jointly with the Center for Investigative Reportings Reveal) and topical reporting.

Facebook was a big presence both in reality and as the elephant in the room at the conference. Facebook product director Fidji Simo was the keynote to kick off the event and elegantly skated over this months row over Facebook censoring the famous AP picture of a naked Vietnamese girl running after a napalm attack. The row highlighted the huge impact Facebook has and the debate over its importance as a curator of news. This piece by Reuters on Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandbergs letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister  who had posted the Vietnam image  shows that the company may we waking up to the importance of its role. Columbia J-schools Emily Bell has practically made the issue of Facebooks editorial power her thesis and is reported in this piece in the Guardian. Here also is Emily's piece on why "Facebook is eating the world". I also encourage you to read this highly critical piece on Facebook by French journalist Frederic Filloux in his weekly must-read Monday Note.

I welcome feedback on this note,

Peter Bale,

CEO, The Center for Public Integrity

pbale@publicintegrity.org

This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

Related stories

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said his country, a longtime U.S. ally, was seeking to build "many news alliances" and could turn to Russia and China for help, including on tackling his country's drug problem. "By next year, I will have entered into so many new alliances," he said during a speech after inspecting an illegal amphetamine factory. He also said he would not allow his country's former colonial power, the United States, to "impose on us anything". Though he said he wanted to be friends with China, he also said it was important it control the activity of drug criminals supplying narcotics to the Philippines. "If you consider us your friend and want to help us, most of the materials are from China, what does that mean?," he said. (Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel)
New York (AFP) - Bob Dylan is releasing a 36-CD box-set of his 1966 world tour, a landmark yet controversial series of concerts that followed the folk great's shock decision to go electric.

"Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings," the latest massive historical work by the 75-year-old music legend, will come out on November 11 ahead of the holiday shopping season, his label announced Tuesday.

The collection features restored recordings of concerts by Dylan in the United States and Australia but mostly his extensive tour of Europe, where he played before packed venues but often met a hostile reception.

A year earlier Dylan had switched to an electric guitar and amplifiers when playing the Newport Folk Festival, a seminal moment in music history that symbolized the triumph of rock.

A number of European critics accused Dylan -- who had just enjoyed a two-year burst of creativity in which he put out the classic albums "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" -- of betraying folk.

The box-set includes his May 1966 concerts at the Olympia in Paris, where he clashed verbally with a jeering audience.

On the sidelines in Paris, Dylan held a news conference where he brought a puppet, to which he would sarcastically put his ear as if seeking counsel to reporters' questions.

Dylan mocked journalists with his succinct answers. When one asked if he wanted to express anything through his singing, he simply replied, "No."

Adam Block, the president of Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, said the idea of the box-set came during research for the collection released last year of outtakes from Dylan's 1965-1966 recordings.

"The intensity of Bob's live performances and his fantastic delivery of these songs in concert add another insightful component in understanding and appreciating the musical revolution Bob Dylan ignited some 50 years ago," Block said in a statement.

Dylan remains active. In May he released a 37th studio album, "Fallen Angels," made up mostly of pop standards popularized by Frank Sinatra.
Bob Dylan is releasing a 36-CD box-set of his 1966 world tour, a landmark yet controversial series of concerts that followed the folk great's shock decision to go electric.

"Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings," the latest massive historical work by the 75-year-old music legend, will come out on November 11 ahead of the holiday shopping season, his label announced Tuesday.

The collection features restored recordings of concerts by Dylan in the United States and Australia but mostly his extensive tour of Europe, where he played before packed venues but often met a hostile reception.

A year earlier Dylan had switched to an electric guitar and amplifiers when playing the Newport Folk Festival, a seminal moment in music history that symbolized the triumph of rock.

A number of European critics accused Dylan -- who had just enjoyed a two-year burst of creativity in which he put out the classic albums "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" -- of betraying folk.

The box-set includes his May 1966 concerts at the Olympia in Paris, where he clashed verbally with a jeering audience.

On the sidelines in Paris, Dylan held a news conference where he brought a puppet, to which he would sarcastically put his ear as if seeking counsel to reporters' questions.

Dylan mocked journalists with his succinct answers. When one asked if he wanted to express anything through his singing, he simply replied, "No."

Adam Block, the president of Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, said the idea of the box-set came during research for the collection released last year of outtakes from Dylan's 1965-1966 recordings.

"The intensity of Bob's live performances and his fantastic delivery of these songs in concert add another insightful component in understanding and appreciating the musical revolution Bob Dylan ignited some 50 years ago," Block said in a statement.

Dylan remains active. In May he released a 37th studio album, "Fallen Angels," made up mostly of pop standards popularized by Frank Sinatra.
(Adds details, investor quote)

By Davide Scigliuzzo

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (IFR) - Ecuador is offering an attractive discount to entice buyers into a tap of its 2022 US dollar bonds after setting initial price thoughts of 10.75% area, two investors told IFR on Tuesday.

The tap of the 10.75% bond is expected to price later in the day through lead Citigroup and marks the nation's second international bond foray in a matter of months.

"A 10.75% yield is about 100bp cheap to where the 22s were trading pre-announcement (on a yield basis)," one investor said.

Ecuador, rated B/B, was last in the market in late July when it issued a US$1bn of the 2022s at par, also through Citigroup.

(Reporting by Davide Scigliuzzo; editing by Shankar Ramakrishnan)
The leading fire-grilled chicken chain of the U.S., El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. LOCO, opened its newest outlet in Moreno Valley, CA on Sep 26, 2016. The 2,995 square feet restaurant is located at Perris Blvd and can accommodate 78 guests.



The restaurant will be offering the chains signature citrus-marinated chicken which is prepared on an open flame grill and served with Mexican entrees. Other offerings include a variety of salads, quesadilla, burritos and under 500-calorie options for health-conscious customers.



The outlet features the brands hacienda design and has an open kitchen layout to display the preparation of its signature dish. It joins another already existing outlet in Moreno Valley.



The company currently has more than 440 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah, and is looking to expand its presence in key markets like Houston and Dallas.



El Pollo Loco has opened over 20 restaurants year to date with the expectation of opening 1720 company-operated restaurants and 1015 franchised restaurants in 2016.



However, the company loses out in terms of international presence. Whereas other restaurateurs like Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM, McDonalds Corporation MCD and Papa Johns International, Inc. PZZA are following aggressive global expansion policies, El Pollo Loco seems to be weak on this front.

EL POLLO LOCO Price

EL POLLO LOCO Price | EL POLLO LOCO Quote

However, the company has joined the S&P 600 Small Cap Index after the close of trading on Sep 12, 2016. We believe El Pollo Loco's addition to one of the most widely followed small-cap benchmarks is a key positive for the company.



Notably, the company reported strong second-quarter 2016 results on Aug 4, with both earnings and sales beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Also, the second quarter marked the 20th consecutive quarter of positive comps, courtesy of various sales and digital initiatives.



Interestingly, menu innovation and limited time offers have been contributing to traffic. Going forward, the companys increased focus on catering to health-conscious customers by offering customized meals without compromising on flavors should continue to boost traffic.



El Pollo Loco currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



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(Adds rocket development cost estimate)

By Irene Klotz

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Sept 27 (Reuters) - SpaceX is developing a massive rocket and capsule to transport large numbers of people and cargo to Mars with the ultimate goal of colonizing the planet, company chief and tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday.

Musk outlined his plans for the Mars rocket, capable of carrying 100 passengers plus cargo per voyage, even as SpaceX is still investigating why a different rocket carrying a $200 million Israeli satellite blew up on a launch pad in Florida earlier this month.

Though Musk said he envisions humans living in a large colony on Mars, he added that one key issue will be getting the cost down low enough to attract willing volunteers.

"You can't create a self sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person," he said during a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara.

"Our goal is to get it roughly equivalent to (the) cost of a medium house in the United States, about $200,000."

Musk said it would be a challenge to fund the Mars effort, with rocket development costs alone estimated at $10 billion over the next few years.

"I'm personally accumulating assets in order to fund this," he said, adding that "ultimately this is going to be a huge public-private partnership."

SpaceX, which Musk founded specifically with the purpose of colonizing Mars, is one of several private and government funded ventures vying to put people and cargo on the red planet and other destinations beyond Earth's orbit.

The nearly airless planet is typically around 140 million miles from Earth and landing the first humans there, after a six to nine month journey, is an extremely ambitious goal for anyone.

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin space venture is also designing a heavy-lift vehicle and capsule called New Armstrong, that will be capable of Mars transport, company President Rob Meyerson said.

Story continues

The U.S. government is also stepping up efforts to venture beyond the moon.

In his remarks, Musk said there would be no guarantee of survival for anyone signing up with SpaceX for the "incredible adventure" of a trip to Mars.

"The risk of fatality will be high, there's no way around it. Basically, are you prepared to die, and if that's OK then you're a candidate for going," he said.

SpaceX intends to fly to Mars about every 26 months when Earth and Mars are favorably aligned for flight. Musk said he would like to land people on Mars as early as 2024. NASA's first human mission to Mars is expected about a decade later.

NASA is supporting SpaceX's first mission to Mars, which is targeted for launch in 2018. SpaceX wants to send an unmanned capsule, called Red Dragon, to the surface of Mars to test descent, entry and landing systems.

NASA will be providing deep-space and Mars communications relays for SpaceX and consulting services in exchange for flight data. NASA wants to be able to land payloads weighing up to about 30 tons on Mars. So far, the heaviest vehicle to land on Mars was the one-ton Curiosity Rover.

(Reporting by Irene Klotz; Editing by Joe White and Tom Brown)
By Irene Klotz GUADALAJARA, Mexico (Reuters) - SpaceX is developing a massive rocket and capsule to transport large numbers of people and cargo to Mars with the ultimate goal of colonizing the planet, company chief and tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday. Musk outlined his plans for the Mars rocket, capable of carrying 100 passengers plus cargo per voyage, even as SpaceX is still investigating why a different rocket carrying a $200 million Israeli satellite blew up on a launch pad in Florida earlier this month. Though Musk said he envisions humans living in a large colony on Mars, he added that one key issue will be getting the cost down low enough to attract willing volunteers. "You can't create a self sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person," he said during a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara. "Our goal is to get it roughly equivalent to (the) cost of a medium house in the United States, about $200,000." Musk said it would be a challenge to fund the Mars effort, with rocket development costs alone estimated at $10 billion over the next few years. "I'm personally accumulating assets in order to fund this," he said, adding that "ultimately this is going to be a huge public-private partnership." SpaceX, which Musk founded specifically with the purpose of colonizing Mars, is one of several private and government funded ventures vying to put people and cargo on the red planet and other destinations beyond Earth's orbit. The nearly airless planet is typically around 140 million miles from Earth and landing the first humans there, after a six to nine month journey, is an extremely ambitious goal for anyone. Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin space venture is also designing a heavy-lift vehicle and capsule called New Armstrong, that will be capable of Mars transport, company President Rob Meyerson said. The U.S. government is also stepping up efforts to venture beyond the moon. In his remarks, Musk said there would be no guarantee of survival for anyone signing up with SpaceX for the "incredible adventure" of a trip to Mars. "The risk of fatality will be high, there's no way around it. Basically, are you prepared to die, and if that's OK then you're a candidate for going," he said. SpaceX intends to fly to Mars about every 26 months when Earth and Mars are favorably aligned for flight. Musk said he would like to land people on Mars as early as 2024. NASA's first human mission to Mars is expected about a decade later. NASA is supporting SpaceX's first mission to Mars, which is targeted for launch in 2018. SpaceX wants to send an unmanned capsule, called Red Dragon, to the surface of Mars to test descent, entry and landing systems. NASA will be providing deep-space and Mars communications relays for SpaceX and consulting services in exchange for flight data. NASA wants to be able to land payloads weighing up to about 30 tons on Mars. So far, the heaviest vehicle to land on Mars was the one-ton Curiosity Rover. (Reporting by Irene Klotz; Editing by Joe White and Tom Brown)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f224035%2f21236738100_64d6af28c6_k__1_

Alright, space fans, get ready.

On Tuesday, during a much-heralded speech, SpaceX founder Elon Musk is expected to unveil his company's detailed plans for getting humans to Mars.

Called "Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species," the speech at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Mexico is likely to delve into the technical challenges that SpaceX, national space agencies and rival private companies will need to overcome in order to establish a human settlement on Mars.

SEE ALSO: SpaceX explosion is causing some to question Elon Musk's ambitious plans

"The technical presentation will focus on potential architectures for colonizing the Red Planet that industry, government and the scientific community can collaborate on in the years ahead," the IAC's description of the talk reads.

You can watch the speech live starting at 2:30 p.m. ET in the webcast below:

You can also watch the webcast directly through SpaceX, and the IAC will broadcast the event as well.

Rehabilitating SpaceX's reputation

Musk's speech comes as SpaceX, perhaps the most recognizable private spaceflight company in the world, is attempting to rebound from a high-profile setback earlier this month.

On Sept. 1, one of the company's Falcon 9 rockets exploded on its pad just before an engine test ahead of the expected launch of an Israeli communications satellite. Both the rocket and payload were destroyed, though no injuries were reported as a result of the mishap.

Engineers are still working to track down the root-cause of the accident, and SpaceX launches are currently on hold until that investigation is complete.

SpaceX had an ambitious launch schedule planned for 2016  with 18 missions expected to fly to space  but the accident threw a wrench into those plans.

Musk's speech could be a rallying cry for the company, signaling that it's still at the top of its game and looking to the future in spite of the setback.

Story continues

Musk's Mars ambitions

Musk has spoken about visiting Mars for years, but Tuesday's speech should be the first time he puts forth a specific plan to get there.

SpaceX has released some details about its Mars plans, saying that the company intends to fly an uncrewed mission to the red planet by 2018, with future missions to follow, setting the groundwork for crewed missions to launch by 2024.

It's important to note that SpaceX has yet to fly actual people to space yet at all, though that could change in the near future. The company holds a contract with NASA to fly astronauts to the International Space Station starting as early as next year.

SpaceX propulsion just achieved first firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine pic.twitter.com/vRleyJvBkx  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2016

On Monday, Musk pre-empted his speech slightly by releasing new photos of SpaceX's "Raptor" engine, designed to aid in the company's mission to Mars.

Musk has long-championed the need for humans to become a multi-planet species, saying that the only way for humanity to survive far into the future is for us to get off this rock and at least make a go at inhabiting another.

"The probable life span of human civilization is much greater if were a multi-planet species as opposed to a single-planet species," Musk said in 2015.

"If were a single planet species, then eventually there will be some extinction event."
Hillary Clinton is returning to Los Angeles on Oct. 13 for a round of fundraising including a concert performed by Elton John.

This is expected to be her final visit before the Nov. 8 election. Tickets for the event are $33,400 per person, and include dinner. The $100,000-per-person tickets include a co-chair reception and premium dinner seating.

Clinton was to attend a series of fundraising events earlier this month, including an event at the home of Seth MacFarlane, but she took time off the campaign trail to recover from pneumonia. Instead, former President Bill Clinton headlined the events.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint committee of Clintons campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state party committees.

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What Were Following

Pitched Battle: The first U.S. presidential debate of the 2016 general election begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Our politics team is live-blogging the big event. As longtime debate expert James Fallows writes in our current cover story, Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump will be a contest of polar opposites. But as the candidates face off at Hofstra University, theyve never been closer in the polls. Heres what they will need to win.

Precious Peace: Nearly 60 years of war came to an end this evening when Colombia signed a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The rebels, now removed from the E.U.s list of terrorist organizations, will disarm and form a new political party, while Colombians will vote October 2 on whether to formally accept the deal. Its expected theyll vote yes, but the road to peaceand particularly the disarmament processcould still contain some obstacles.

Recommended: You Can Pose a Question to Be Used in the Next Debate

Eyes on the Law: The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a total of $20 million dollars to police departments across the country to help pay for body cameras. But as a new North Carolina law imposes strict limits on who can view the footage, its unclear how much this measure can fulfill the DoJs goal of restoring public trust in police. This cant hurt: Police in Houston today succeeded in stopping a mass shooting, killing the attacker. Nine people were injured, but they are expected to make full recoveries. Our news team has all the updates.

Snapshot

The sun rises over the beach in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, on September 26, 2016. See more photos of early fall here. (Ian Forsyth / Getty)

Quoted

Nobody ever said, Hey, where do I find a cult in the yellow pages? How can I join? Daniel Shaw, a psychotherapist and former cult member

Recommended: What's Going On With Trump's Sniffling?

Youd be surprised at the number of interesting things you can find if you jump into the water in the middle of nowhere. Steven Haddock, a marine biologist

Story continues

We all got teary-eyed. We were handing her the key to unlock the doors to this magical place. Jose Quinonez, a 2016 MacArthur fellow, on showing a woman her credit score for the first time

Evening Read

Roc Morin on a strangers family photograph:

The ancestral portrait was passed down as an heirloom, but to [Dan] Lenchner, it is also a collectibleone of 15,000 other images that he has bought over the years. The 70-year-old has published several books of found photographs, displaying them in pairs intended to evoke specific connections between disparate subjects: a prisoner and a baby, kids with toy guns and a wounded soldier, a woman in a hijab, and a woman in a catchers mask. Among these, as among all snapshots, there is a broader connection too. Walker describes it as a shared relationship to time. Every person in a photo is older than when that photo was taken, she elaborated. I look at a photo and I know someone is probably dead and that one day Ill be dead too. There must be some secret of time held in these images. I cant help thinking that if I just study them hard enough, Ill finally be able to understand it.

Read more here.

What Do You Know?

1. Depictions of heaven in the 19th century and earlier represented it as one big community of ____________.

Recommended: Stones Have Been Popping Out of People Who Ride Roller Coasters

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

2. Hawaii, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Vermont are the only states that dont legally require ____________ in schools.

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

3. A new study suggests that pregnant women who experience ____________ may be at a lower risk of miscarriage.

Scroll down for the answer, or find it here.

America by Air

The pride of the people who care for the land jumps out at you in this photo of a farm near Mason City, Iowa, writes reader Ray Wasilewski:

Cindy Wasilewski

See more from our ongoing America by Air photo series here, and send your own aerial snapshots to hello@theatlantic.comparticularly if youve got a great view from CT, GA, ME, MS, NM, ND, RI, VT, or WV.

Reader Response

J.S. reviews the first film in our pre-election movie club:

The Candidate is a comedy based on close observation of what actually happens in political campaigns. Through the eyes of the politician-in-training, we learn, for instance, how it doesnt just matter what you say during a TV interview, but that you remember not to look up, because on camera that makes you look stupid. And that the powers of incumbency include being able to overwhelm a smart analysis, say of the causes of brushfires, with spectacle: swooping in by helicopter, deus ex machina, to announce that youve just secured the Presidents promise of disaster relief. And that being effective means staying on message, which means repeating the same formulaic lines until they start to sound like random nonsense even in your own head.

Read more here, and join the discussion via hello@theatlantic.com. And for a fictional antidote to tonights debate, watch The West Wings debate episodewhich, as Megan Garber writes, captures the drama of American politics biggest spectacle while also providing some refreshing moral clarity.

Verbs

Obelisk grounded, hysteria resurrected, expectations lowered, hippo teeth examined, cargo shorts explained.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Nina Chestney

LONDON (Reuters) - A group of 15 European energy-intensive industry associations called in a statement on Tuesday for the European Parliament to reject a tiered approach to handing out free EU carbon permits to industry and to keep full free allocation.

Many energy-intensive industries say higher costs for carbon in Europe raises the risk of businesses moving to regions where pollution regulations are less strict.

The group includes the European Cement Association, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, the European Precious Metals Federation, the European Copper Institute, the European Chemical Industry Council and the International Zinc Association.

In April, Europe's highest court ruled that energy-intensive industries had received too many carbon permits under the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), which charges power plants and factories for every tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit.

It also said the European Commission's calculation for handing the free permits out was flawed and gave the EU executive 10 months to review the policy.

One Commission proposal has suggested energy-intensive industries are divided into two categories, with some sectors receiving allowances covering 100 percent of their emissions, some 30 percent and the rest nothing.

Some lawmakers have called for a more tiered approach, adding more categories for determining allocations of free permits to industries most at risk of relocating in what is known as "carbon leakage".

The Commission has resisted such calls, saying the calculations needed to do so were extremely complex.

"We urge members of the European Parliament to acknowledge the importance of our sectors for the EU economy, in particular for European jobs, and all their economic value chains by rejecting any tiered approach to free allocation and voting against it," the industry associations statement said.

"The tiered approach would reserve free allowances for some sectors at the expense of others...We strongly oppose any tiered approach and continue to advocate for full (100 percent) free allocation up to emissions efficiency benchmark levels for all sectors," it said.

Story continues

The European Parliament's Environment Committee will discuss proposed amendments to a report on ETS reform on Thursday.

The energy-intensive industry associations added that they have proposed alternatives to tiering, including reducing the amount of permits which are auctioned by governments.

(Editing by William Hardy)
* Banks to respond with loan terms in 3-4 weeks

* Gas reserves are one of biggest finds in a decade

* Multi-billion dollar contracts agreed in recent months

* Projects could transform war-torn Mozambique

By Joe Brock and Ed Cropley

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Italian oil firm Eni has approached banks for billions of dollars to finance a huge offshore gas development in Mozambique, a significant step in getting a long-delayed project off the ground, the company and sources said.

Eni confirmed it met bankers in London last week about project financing to develop the Coral field, part of the huge reserves discovered six years ago in the Area 4 concession off the Mozambican coast.

"It's running into billions of dollars," one source familiar with the financing told Reuters, adding banks were also looking for credit guarantees from foreign governments, including Britain and China.

Banks are likely to respond within three to four weeks with terms of loans they are willing to provide, one of the last stages before Eni can make a final investment decision (FID) on the project, two sources close to the deal said.

Eni said it hoped to announce a FID by the end of this year.

Some lenders may be concerned about involvement in a project in Mozambique, given recent clashes between opposition guerrillas and government forces and financial scandals.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in Mozambique this week to try to restore trust between President Filipe Nyusi's government and international lenders after more than $2 billion in secret loans came to light this year.

The IMF has suspended its own lending to the southeast African country, insisting on external scrutiny as a precursor to resuming financial aid.

"The biggest challenge is Mozambique country risk," one of the sources said.

Reserves discovered in Mozambique's Rovuma Basin in recent years amount to some 85 trillion cubic feet, one of the largest finds in a decade and enough to supply Germany, Britain, France and Italy for nearly two decades.

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The gas offers Mozambique an opportunity to transform itself from one of the world's poorest countries into a middle-income state and a major global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter.

Negotiations with operators Eni and U.S. firm Anadarko have dragged on for years due to disputes over terms and concerns about falling energy prices.

However, there have been several signs of significant progress in recent months.

Eni has struck a deal with Samsung Heavy to provide a floating LNG platform to process the gas from the Coral field, which will be sold to BP.

Eni has also wrapped up long-running talks to sell a multi-billion dollar stake in other fields in Area 4 to Exxon Mobil, sources told Reuters last month.

In 2013, Eni sold 20 percent of its Area 4 licence to China's CNPC for $4.2 billion but since then oil and gas prices have come down by more than half.

Anadarko's $24 billion onshore LNG project is expected to lag Eni's and its FID is unlikely this year.

(Additional reporting by Stephen Jewkes in Milan; Editing by Mark Potter)
By Joe Brock and Ed Cropley JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Italian oil firm Eni has approached banks for billions of dollars to finance a huge offshore gas development in Mozambique, a significant step in getting a long-delayed project off the ground, the company and sources said. Eni confirmed it met bankers in London last week about project financing to develop the Coral field, part of the huge reserves discovered six years ago in the Area 4 concession off the Mozambican coast. "It's running into billions of dollars," one source familiar with the financing told Reuters, adding banks were also looking for credit guarantees from foreign governments, including Britain and China. Banks are likely to respond within three to four weeks with terms of loans they are willing to provide, one of the last stages before Eni can make a final investment decision (FID) on the project, two sources close to the deal said. Eni said it hoped to announce a FID by the end of this year. Some lenders may be concerned about involvement in a project in Mozambique, given recent clashes between opposition guerrillas and government forces and financial scandals. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in Mozambique this week to try to restore trust between President Filipe Nyusi's government and international lenders after more than $2 billion in secret loans came to light this year. The IMF has suspended its own lending to the southeast African country, insisting on external scrutiny as a precursor to resuming financial aid. "The biggest challenge is Mozambique country risk," one of the sources said. Reserves discovered in Mozambique's Rovuma Basin in recent years amount to some 85 trillion cubic feet, one of the largest finds in a decade and enough to supply Germany, Britain, France and Italy for nearly two decades. The gas offers Mozambique an opportunity to transform itself from one of the world's poorest countries into a middle-income state and a major global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter. Negotiations with operators Eni and U.S. firm Anadarko have dragged on for years due to disputes over terms and concerns about falling energy prices. However, there have been several signs of significant progress in recent months. Eni has struck a deal with Samsung Heavy to provide a floating LNG platform to process the gas from the Coral field, which will be sold to BP. Eni has also wrapped up long-running talks to sell a multi-billion dollar stake in other fields in Area 4 to Exxon Mobil, sources told Reuters last month. In 2013, Eni sold 20 percent of its Area 4 licence to China's CNPC for $4.2 billion but since then oil and gas prices have come down by more than half. Anadarko's $24 billion onshore LNG project is expected to lag Eni's and its FID is unlikely this year. (Additional reporting by Stephen Jewkes in Milan; Editing by Mark Potter)
Ericsson ERIC has entered into a partnership with leading international TV and broadband company, Liberty Globals LBTYA operating unit Liberty Global Latin America and Caribbean (LiLAC Group), to help expand the Digital Video Recording (DVR) services of two of its operators. This two-year deal shall further reinforce Ericssons TV and media solutions business in Latin America.

Two of LiLAC Groups television operators namely  Chiles VTR and Puerto Ricos Liberty Cablevision  are leveraging on Ericssons Video Storage and Processing Platform (VSPP) to expand their DVR services. Ericssons VSPP is well reputed for its ability to simplify recording and other superior functionalities. VSPP has also proved its mettle as an avant-garde technology offering that aids in seamless transformation of legacy television services into novel cloud-based services.

Both VTR and Liberty Cablevision are looking forward to simplify their Cloud DVR and video on demand (VoD) architectures. This will, in turn, eventually slash high operational costs associated with these services. Ericssons VSPP will assist LiLaC Group in improving its media content and quality, thus boosting customer satiation. It will also empower the TV operators to address the ever-changing customer needs and come up with future growth strategies as well.

With the delivery of over 50 transformation programs, Ericsson's consulting and systems integration services is on a roll. The company has been winning multiple lucrative contracts which have proved to be sturdy revenue drivers. TV and media organizations are increasingly turning toward Ericsson for its expertise. The company has established itself as a dominant player in Cloud DVR deployment, with prominent clients like Belgian telecommunication firm Proximus under its belt.

ERICSSON LM ADR Price

ERICSSON LM ADR Price | ERICSSON LM ADR Quote

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Despite a robust media business, Ericsson has been grappling with a host of macroeconomic issues. These have proved to be major drags on its financial performance, of late. Especially, reduced consumer telecom spending and currency fluctuations are posing as strong headwinds.

Saturated market supply and lawsuit issues are other challenges faced by the company. Further, stiff competition from peers, prolonged weakness in key end-markets and ongoing industry consolidation among customers & major rivals are adding to this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) companys woes.

Stocks to Consider

Some better-stocked ranks in the space include Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. UBNT and Clearfield, Inc. CLFD. Both the stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Networking products and solutions provider, Ubiquiti Networks has an excellent earnings surprise history, beating estimates each time, over the trailing four quarters. It has a positive average surprise of 13.2%.

Manufacturer of passive connectivity products, Clearfield has a decent earning surprise history. The stock has beat estimates thrice over the trailing four quarters, with a whopping average beat of 82.1%.

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Madrid (AFP) - Basque separatist group ETA criticised Spain and France on Tuesday for failing to reach the kind of peace agreement with it that Colombia did with the leftist FARC rebel force.

In a statement published in pro-independence Basque newspaper Gara, the outfit said the response of the French and Spanish government to its declaration of a ceasefire five years ago has been "more than poor".

ETA said this contrasts with the succesful outcome of negotiations in Colombia "which began later" and "had a similar base".

"Only ETA has kept its word," the outfit said in the statement.

ETA in October 2011 announced an end to a four-decade armed campaign of bombings and shootings for an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France in which over 800 people were killed.

The group has since sought to negotiate its dissolution with Spain and France in exchange for an amnesty or for gathering in Basque country prisons the roughly 350 jailed ETA members in the two countries.

Authorities have deliberately scattered ETA prisoners in different facilities in an effort to keep them from working together.

Their families say the practice is added punishment and make its harder for loved ones to visit.

But Madrid and Paris refuse to negotiate with ETA and argue it should disarm without any conditions attached.

ETA has broken ceasefires in the past but it said in the statement that laying down arms was "the only path" for its militants.

It said an amnesty or regroupment of its prisoners in both Spain and France should be handled "with the urgency that it deserves".

Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force signed a historic peace accord with the government Monday and apologised to the countless victims of the country's half-century civil war.

The four-year peace process ended Colombia's civil strife, the last major armed conflict in the Americas. The accord remains to be ratified by referendum in a week.
I moved to New York City in 1989, shortly after the release of Dead Poets Society.

I was in search of an identity  an identity I imagined, at the time, as the classic New York actor. You went to Los Angeles to be a movie star, and you went to New York to be an actor  at least, that was the simplicity with which my 18-year-old mind saw the situation.

There are times Ive stayed in Los Angeles for extended periods and felt pressed, even smothered, by the overwhelming gravitational pull the film business has on the community. I never wanted to see making movies as a business. Los Angeles made me feel like a number, and not a very high one. Whereas theres a feeling in New York that a certain nobility exists in simply being part of a sweaty-handed struggle; its a feeling that you are part of a long, dynamic history of the arts  from John Barrymore to the Group Theater to Hamilton.

Peter Strain for Variety

There is a sense in New York that the superficial and materialistic will be mocked, and the humble will inherit a truer kind of gold. Of course, a lot of this is pure romantic lunacy on my part. I actually remember in the early 90s, when people in L.A. were first getting cell phones, that New Yorkers would never descend to such crass communication. What is true, however, is that New York is not dominated by any one industry. There is a lot of noise here, which I find makes it easier to maintain a kind of anonymity.

For me particularly, my love of the theater made my choice a simple decision. The legacy of Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Eugene ONeill, and August Wilson obviously wields a heavy influence over New Yorks artistic community. This city places a higher value and respect on theater, and therefore the individual actor is more valued and respected. Starting a theater company here  running around the city raising money, reading plays, handing out fliers, staying up all night in diners talking  made my heart bigger and beat faster.

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The worlds of music, fashion, and literature also have deep roots here in a mainstream way, while maintaining a powerful counterculture energy. The arts are not immediately quantified in terms of what they might mean financially. They have intrinsic value.

New Yorkers nurture so many industries  finance, trade, and tech  and have so many influences, and come from so many cultural backgrounds. And because were forced to be together and interact physically in our daily lives, my life feels more vital. We take the subway with lawyers, homeless people punching each other, nurses falling asleep on their way home, teachers scolding their students, and many other people from every walk of life. I have never found a way to do that in Los Angeles. When I think of Los Angeles, I see myself alone in my rental car.

Have I missed out on meetings? Have I missed out on relationships in the film industry? Undoubtedly. Do I have a great many friends that live and thrive in L.A.? Certainly. However, one of the exciting things about contemporary life as an actor is the ability for actors to put themselves on tape. I used to have to fly to Los Angeles to audition, and that made not getting a part all the more difficult to swallow. If I could have sent in tapes via my phone, I think I would have been saved many brutal, sad flights home.

But Ive come to believe people can grow and achieve their dreams anywhere. We all need to be inside an eco-system that supports us  with family and friends and work that stimulates. What matters is the people in your life, not the dot on the map. N.Y.C. just made sense to me. And now Ive built a community here with friends and collaborators that give and take in ways that create a woven intimacy with the city itself.

Ethan Hawke is a writer and actor, recently seen in The Magnificent Seven and playing Chet Baker in Born to Be Blue.

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Europe is disintegrating and this could come at great human cost, Greece's fiery former finance minister warned on Tuesday.



"The great fear is that the disintegration of the European Union  whatever you may think about the European Union  is going to come at a very, very large human cost," Yanis Varoufakis told CNBC in London.

"That kind of Europe is one that breeds monsters. It is not the kind of Europe that the world needs," he later added.



He spoke to CNBC at a time of heightened tension in the European Union (EU), due to the U.K.'s vote to quit the bloc in June and disagreement as to how to handle the influx of refugees fleeing the chaos in Iraq and Syria.

"I wish Brexit had not happened," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday. He advocated the U.K.'s exit from the EU began promptly, to prepare the ground for a Norway-like engagement with the bloc.





"What matters is we give business and citizens a degree of certainty," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday.

A desire for greater control of immigration numbers is viewed as one reason why the majority of Britons voted to quit the European Union in June.

"Open boarders are conducive to a better economy and better society," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday.



Varoufakis served as Greece's finance minister in 2015 as a member of the ruling left-wing Syriza party. He bridled many of his European colleagues in Greece's negotiations on its rescue package, particularly after he likened the country's creditors to terrorists.



He eventually left government under pressure from Syriza Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Varoufakis has also criticized the EU's handling of refugees. He told CNBC in March that Turkey and Greece must not become a "large concentration camp for hapless refugees."

One million refugees and migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, with the vast majority arriving in Greece, according to the United Nations. At least 3,771 people drowned or went missing on the way.

Greece's economic straits make it hard pushed to provide services like shelter, food, hygiene and family reunification assistance to the influx of people. In April 2016, the European Commission announce initial funding of 83 million euros ($93 million) for emerging support projects for refugees in Greece.



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Varoufakis has been busy since quitting government. Earlier this year, he launched the pan-European DiEM25 to make European institutions more democratic and transparent. His academic background is in economics and he is currently a professor at the University of Athens, according to his LinkedIn profile. In March, he confirmed he was also advising Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left leader of the U.K.'s Labour Party, on an informal basis.



The Greek economy is seen shrinking once again this year, this time by 0.3 percent, according to European Commission figures. The economy shrunk each year on an annual basis between 2008 and 2013, before posting narrow growth in 2014 and a narrow contraction of 0.2 percent in 2015.



"Politics disintegrates when the economy is unsustainable," Varoufakis warned on Tuesday.

However, Tsipras has forecast Greece's economy will grow by 0.2-0.4 percent this year, according to Reuters.

Around one-quarter of the adult population in Greece is without work, with unemployment seen averaging 24.7 percent in 2016, according to the European Commission, slightly lower than 24.9 percent last year.



Public debt as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) is predicted to rise to 182.8 percent this year. However, the budget deficit is expected to fall back to 3.1 percent, from 7.2 percent in 2015.

The country has received three international bailouts since 2010, following the euro zone debt crisis. In June, the European Stability Mechanism (the euro zone's bailout fund) disbursed 7.5 billion euros ($8.4 billion) of the 10.3-billion-euro second tranche of its latest Greece support program.

Negotiations are now ongoing between Greece and its European and International Monetary Fund (IMF) supervisors about the timing of the next bailout installment.

As usual, Greece's European neighbors are urging the country to speed up on the economic reforms on which the bailout is conditional. However, the IMF is warning that the program may be unrealistic without debt relief for Greece and that this could jeopardize its involvement.

Don't miss CNBC's Julia Chatterley live from Athens this week as the government fights for reforms, debt relief and deals with the refugee crisis.





More From CNBC


* STOXX 600 gains after two days of losses

* Clinton seen to have won presidential debate

* Carnival leads market up after target price hike

By Atul Prakash

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Tuesday as Democrat Hillary Clinton was perceived by financial market participants to be the winner of the first U.S. presidential debate, although equities traded off day's highs as energy and banking shares lost ground.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.14 percent at 340.52 points by 0829 GMT, after hitting an intra-day high of 342.21 points following the U.S. debate.

A CNN poll of viewers showed 62 percent thought Clinton won the debate on Monday, with 27 percent for Trump. Many investors appear to see Clinton as the preferred candidate, while few are sure what a Trump presidency might mean for international trade or the domestic economy.

"There is some relief that ... Clinton seems to have done well during the first debate with Republican candidate Trump," Markus Huber, trader at City of London Markets, said.

"At this stage markets seem to clearly favour Clinton simply because under her leading the country very little is likely to change which might not necessarily be good for the country but as it is well known markets love certainty."

However, the market lost some ground after the European Oil and Gas index fell 0.6 percent, the worst sector performer, as prices of crude oil dropped following a rally of more than 3 percent in the previous session.

Euro zone banks also erased gains to trade flat. Deutsche Bank hit a new record low after tumbling more than 7 percent in the previous session when a German magazine said Chancellor Angela Merkel had ruled out state assistance for the bank.

Among the big movers, Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator, rose 3 percent. The stock was the top gainer in the STOXX Europe 600 index as Natixis raised its target price for the stock to 4200 pence from 4100 pence.

French telecom company Orange rose more than 2.5 percent after Credit Suisse upgraded its rating on the stock to "outperform" from "neutral" and raised its price target by 10 percent.

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However, broker comments hurt travel and insurance firm SAGA . Its shares were down 3.9 percent after Canaccord Genuity cut its stance on the stock to "hold" from "buy".

Heating and plumbing products supplier Wolseley fell around 4 percent as tough market conditions forced it to close 80 UK branches and a distribution centre.

(Reporting by Atul Prakash; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Going into the weekend, the Sunday night plans for the OConnors included putting their boys to bed and maybe catching something on Netflix.

Instead, they sat 10 rows from the stage and watched Steve Martin and Martin Short crack jokes and sing and converse. The bluegrass performances, the storytelling and, of course, the ventriloquist bit all impressed, Katie OConnor said.

You have a lot more respect for people once youve made their faces, said OConnor, a professional cake decorator.

On Saturday, just before kickoff of the Nebraska game, OConnor got a call from the North 27th Street Hy-Vee where shes worked since 2004.

A caterer had come in with a special request.

Just a week ago, OConnor, 30, was one of two cake decorators at the store who brought home awards from a regional competition for their cake designs. OConnor got a decorators choice and a first-place check for "extreme cake design" with her table-length dragon that plumed smoke from its nostrils.

Make me something awesome, the caterer told OConnor.

When she hung up, she turned to her husband, Jason, 36, and exclaimed, Im doing a cake for Steve Martin and Martin Short!

The entertainers were to appear at Pinewood Bowl on Sunday and the pre-show meal needed to be ready by 5 p.m.

OConnor said she and the other cake decorators at the 27th and Superior streets Hy-Vee operate with the mindset that they can fulfill any special request, whether it be a deep-dish pizza cake, a geode cake or a cake for two of the Three Amigos! and their crew.

You just have to figure out the maze to get there, she said.

Her 12-hour project culminated with Steve Martin sharing a photo of her creation with millions on Twitter and a bunch of staff members at Pinewood shouting Thats the cake lady! at will call.

Other than the request to make something awesome, Katie OConnor was given free reign to take the cake design in any direction she wanted. That's her preferred method.

I dont think I ever leave the brainstorming session, she said.

First, she researched the comedians, then searched for reviews of their touring show. One reviewer mentioned a favorite bit, where Martin brings Short onstage as a puppet version of his recurring character, Jiminy Glick. OConnor devised an idea from the show that would look good in frosting.

I just decided to make them both ventriloquist dummies, she said.

And then she drove to work to clock in for a rare -- save for graduation season -- overnight shift.

I walked into Hy-Vee going, Does anyone have a cordless drill? she said.

With supplies from the grocery store and the nearby Home Depot, she went to work. At first, she considered sitting the comedy duo on a crate, then opted to upgrade their seat to an ornate throne.

She fashioned the sturdy bases of the chair legs from emptied-out tomato paste cans she plucked from Aisle 2, which I need to ring up tomorrow, she reminded herself on her day off Monday. The throne posts, coated in fondant icing, were PVC pipes that her husband helped drill to a particle board base.

Other than that, Jason OConnor said, he provided only emotional support and a back rub during the process. She really has an awesome talent, he said. Im just amazed by the things she can make.

The chair cushion was all cake -- white with raspberry and strawberry filling. She made the chair back and the comedic icons both sturdy and edible.

The bodies of Martin Short and Steve Martin consisted purely of sculpted Rice Krispies Treats. It's often the most popular part of the 3-D design, Katie O'Connor said.

We have amazing Rice Krispies Treats, Im not gonna lie, she said.

The suits, Martins banjo, Shorts microphone, Martins shock of silver hair and his oft-remarked upon skin tone -- like a page in a coloring book that hasnt been colored yet, as Short described it during the show -- were all covered in fondant.

She shaped their faces by hand after indulging in a much-needed energy drink somewhere in the 1 to 2 a.m. window. The first person to see it was the doughnut baker, who walked in at 3.

And shes a big Steve Martin fan," Katie O'Connor said. "She said it looked just like him.

She put the cake in the bakery fridge and went home around 4:30 a.m.

Did you finish it? Jason OConnor asked her Sunday morning.

Yeah, she said, handing him her phone.

She showed me a picture of it, and I was in awe, he said.

So, it seems, was Martin, who tweeted a picture of him and Short leaning over their confection avatars.

Amazing cake created for our show tonight in Lincoln, NE! he added.

Amazing cake created for our show tonight in Lincoln, NE! pic.twitter.com/JBYxnPPDtV  Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) September 26, 2016

The shows pianist, Jeff Babko, also marveled online at OConnors creation -- rad cake alert, he wrote on both Twitter and Instagram (@JeffBabko) -- and posted a photo of him cradling the cake head of his longtime touring companion, Short.

rad cake alert. @ Pinewood Bowl Theater https://t.co/4HiUVOEO0Y  Jeff Babko (@JeffBabko) September 26, 2016

OConnor and another of the Hy-Vee cake decorators, Erin Benner, delivered the finished product Sunday afternoon.

After leaving the park, the caterer called Katie OConnor to tell her that everyone was so blown away by the cake that they wanted to give her and her husband seats to the show. It was the first time the O'Connors, who were married 12 years ago beneath the Columns at Pioneers Park, saw a show at Pinewood Bowl.

The couple went backstage briefly and caught quick glimpses of the stars. They also saw what was left of the cake.

"Saw a few body parts on plates," she said.

And that night she also saw Martin's photo that acknowledged her work.

Thats the best part, honestly, Katie OConnor said. Every single hour you work tediously on this is all for the moment that someone else sees it, and the reaction on their faces."
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (Reuters) - The fate of Ricardo Palmera, an imprisoned leader of Colombia's FARC rebels known as Simon Trinidad, is not on the table as part of a peace agreement between the group and the Colombian government, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday. He said a prisoner exchange involving Palmera is not being considered. There have been questions about whether Trinidad's pardon or some kind of exchange might come about as a result of the peace accord set to be signed on Monday. "Simon Trinidad was not and is not part of this agreement," Kerry told reporters during a trip to Cartagena for the signing of the agreement to end 52 years of war. "Were well aware of the requests that have been made and the interests that people have. But thats really something that has to be dealt with through the Justice Department, not the State Department." Trinidad is serving a 60-year term at a maximum-security federal prison in Colorado for his role in the kidnapping of three U.S. government contractors in 2003. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Andrew Hay)
Since tying the knot in August 2015 after four years of dating, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are one of the sweetest celeb couples in Hollywood, and Theroux knows exactly why their relationship works.

"We appreciate each other's sense of humor, we respect one another and we get along," the 45-year-old actor told ET's Nischelle Turner while promoting his upcoming drama, The Girl on the Train. "I know it sounds simple but it's true!"

WATCH: Justin Theroux on Married Life With Jennifer Aniston: 'It Does Feel Different'

Theroux isn't the only one making his marriage work in a big way -- his Girl on the Train co-star, Emily Blunt, has been happily married to 13 Hours star John Krasinski for over six years and the two recently welcomed their second child in June.

According to Theroux, while Blunt was keeping her pregnancy hush-hush during production, she couldn't keep it a secret from him.

Theroux recalled that his suspicion was first aroused when Blunt refused to perform a very simple stunt that required her to jump up from the floor and run a few feet across the room.

WATCH: Emily Blunt Glows on the Set of 'Girl on the Train' Following Pregnancy Announcement

"She was like, 'Yeah, I don't think I'd be sitting on the floor. I think I'd be leaning against the counter,'" he remembered. "We were like, 'No, it makes total sense for you to be sitting on the floor. And then you just get up and run.' She was like, 'Nah, I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna twist my hip or something.'"

Theroux said he told her he didn't understand how she was "throwing Tom Cruise across the room [in Edge of Tomorrow] and going toe-to-toe with Benicio Del Toro [in Sicario]" but she wouldn't do this simple stunt.

WATCH: Emily Blunt Was 'Wracked With Terror' Over 'The Girl on the Train,' But in a Good Way

"Later that day, we went back to my place and she was not having a cocktail and I asked, 'Are you pregnant?' And she was like, 'Shhh!!' And we had a big hug over that," he recounted. "It was a little secret we had to keep for a while until it became obvious."

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For more on Emily Blunt's acclaimed turn in The Girl on the Train, which pulls into theaters Oct. 7, check out the video below.

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While Zach Galifianakis made headlines last week for having presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton on Between Two Ferns, the comedian says he has no plans to invite her opponent, Donald Trump, onto the Funny or Die talk show.

"Interview Donald Trump? I don't know if he would get it," Galifianakis told ET's Sophie Schillaci at the Hollywood premiere of his new movie, Masterminds, on Monday. "He has, like, the mind of an 11-year-old."

WATCH: Hillary Clinton Almost Instantly Regrets Between Two Ferns Interview With Zach Galifianakis

The Hangover star says the aspiring politician -- who hosted Saturday Night Live last November -- probably wouldn't get the gag. "I don't really think he would understand what's going on," he explained. "And plus, I would feel like it would um ...we don't have much in common."

Not missing a chance to make a joke, Galifianakis quipped, "I bet his breath stinks."

WATCH: Zach Galifianakis Asks Brad Pitt About Jennifer Aniston's 'Friends' on Between Two Ferns

"By the way, I met him and I know his breath stinks," he added. "So do his sons."

During Monday night's presidential debate, Trump made it a point to call out his longtime feud with Rosie O'Donnell, after Clinton made reference to sexist and misogynistic comments he's reportedly made in the past.



Insisting that he's only made remarks about the former View co-host and no other women, Trump touted, "I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her."



https://t.co/EvxYa7A4bL --- the 5 mins orange anus can't seem to get over --- tell the truth - shame the donald #ImWithHer  Rosie (@Rosie) September 27, 2016

O'Donnell, along with several celebrities, responded to Trump's comment, and also shared a clip from The View where she slammed him. "The five [minutes] orange an** can't seem to get over," she tweeted. "Tell the truth -- shame the Donald #ImWithHer."

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Galifianakis interviewed President Barack Obama in March 2014, and ET spoke with Between Two Ferns director Scott Aukerman about what it was like having the commander in chief on the show. "We shot [the episode] the way we always shoot them, where it's very experimental and anything can kind of happen," Aukerman explained. "[Obama is a] really funny guy. I mean we've had some really funny people on the show but there's just something magnetic about him when he gets on screen ...He definitely had a lot of slams that he wanted to inflict upon Zach. He was ready. He was locked and loaded."



Aukerman said that the Obama administration was "really hands off" about the interview, and gave the crew the creative freedom they needed to make it a hilarious episode. "They really wanted it to be like a normal episode of Between Two Ferns, which means Zach insulting [Obama] and getting really strange," he noted. "They fully embraced that."

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By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Lawyers for Facebook Inc on Tuesday sought to assure a U.S. judge overseeing lawsuits by victims of militant attacks in the Middle East that it took a "zero tolerance" approach to any communications that may promote terrorist threats or activity.

The comments came after U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn on Thursday accused Facebook's law firm of insulting the court by sending just a junior attorney to address him in lawsuits implicating violent attacks on Israelis.

The judge on Tuesday apologized to the extent his comments may have sounded like criticism of the first-year associate, but said he was concerned about whether Facebook's lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis LLP were taking the matter seriously.

"We heard you loud and clear, and we apologize," Craig Primis, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, told Garaufis.

As a sign of the level of attention the judge's critique drew at Facebook, the company flew Paul Grewal, a deputy general counsel, from California to New York to appear before him for what was otherwise a procedural hearing.

Grewal told the judge that Facebook had people working around-the-clock trying to pro-actively monitor and remove posts on its website that glorify or incite violence through terrorism.

"Facebook has a very serious interest in keeping terrorism content off," he said.

The hearing came in a pair of related lawsuits, including one filed last year by 20,000 Israelis seeking an order requiring Facebook to stop allowing militant groups like Hamas from using its platform to incite attacks against Israeli citizens.

The company also faces claims by victims of such attacks who are seeking to hold Facebook accountable under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act for providing support to militant groups.

At a hearing last week, Garaufis criticized Facebook's lawyers decision to send only a first-year associate to appear before him as "outrageous and irresponsible and insulting" given the issues at stake.

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He questioned whether Facebook had a "moral obligation" to help prevent communications by people who express interest in carrying out violent attacks, and asked whether it should be "working this out as opposed to litigating it."

At Tuesday's hearing, Primis assured the judge that Facebook took a "zero tolerance" approach to such communications.

He said Facebook will be seeking the dismissal of both lawsuits on grounds including that as a communications platform, it had immunity from being sued under federal law. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 19.

The case is Cohen v. Facebook Inc, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 16-cv-4453.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has pledged to raise taxes on the wealthy, preserve the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and provide a path to citizenship for undocumented workers. Here are the proposals the former secretary of state has made as part of her argument that she is best qualified to occupy the Oval Office: ECONOMIC POLICY Clinton has said the rich, not the middle class, would see their taxes go up. She supports billionaire investor Warren Buffetts eponymous tax proposal calling for those making more than $1 million a year to pay an effective tax rate of 30 percent. Clinton has also called for an additional 4 percent tax on those making more than $5 million annually. Clinton has pledged to raise the estate tax levied on property transferred from a deceased person to their heirs. She also supports a tiered inheritance tax structure, with a top rate of 65 percent on the wealthiest estates of more than $500 million for a single person or $1 billion for a couple. Clinton has pledged to unveil a plan to rebuild U.S. infrastructure during her first 100 days, saying this would create new jobs. She would use some of the revenue generated from her tax plan to pay for making community colleges tuition-free and ensuring students can graduate from public colleges and universities without incurring debt. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that independently scored Clintons proposals in their totality, estimated her policies would cost $1.8 trillion over the next decade and would be offset by $1.6 trillion, mostly generated by taxing high earners. The group said the remaining $200 billion could be covered by $275 billion in corporate tax revenue the Clinton campaign has called for but not yet spelled out in sufficient detail for them to credit as an offset at this time. IMMIGRATION Clinton has promised to propose broad legislation within her first 100 days in office to overhaul the immigration system and establish a process for undocumented workers to become citizens. Clinton has said she will defend executive actions taken by Democratic President Barack Obama to defer deportations of children brought illegally to the United States and the parents of children who are citizens or legal residents. She has said if Congress does not pass comprehensive immigration reform, she will similarly use executive action to defer deportations in sympathetic cases. A federal court has ruled that Obama did not have the authority to issue his executive orders on immigration, known as DACA and DAPA. The U.S. Supreme Court, currently short one member, split 4-to-4 on whether to hear the administrations appeal, leaving the lower courts ruling in place for the time being. WALL STREET REGULATION Clinton has promised to preserve the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law enacted after the financial crisis, and to pursue further measures to toughen Wall Street regulations. She has proposed a fee for large financial institutions based on their size and the level of risk they pose. She would also give regulators additional authority to force institutions that pose high risks to break apart or reorganize. Clinton has also urged strengthening the Volcker Rule, which restricts proprietary trading by commercial banks. She has called for a new tax on high-frequency trading and for stricter oversight of hedge funds, private equity firms and other players in the so-called shadow-banking system. She has promised stiffer policies on people who commit financial crimes, including an extension of the statute of limitations on such crimes and a requirement for bank executives to return bonuses if their institutions suffer major losses. Changes to Dodd-Frank have stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress, and it is unclear whether Clinton could get congressional backing to strengthen the law, unless Democrats win control of one or both chambers in the Nov. 8 election. ISLAMIC STATE Clinton has pledged to defeat Islamic State and has said the first step to fighting the militant group is to eliminate its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. In a departure from the Obama administration, she supports the establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria and has called for an intensified air campaign by the U.S.-led coalition. Clinton has said she would send additional American special forces to help Arab and Kurdish forces already on the ground. She opposes sending additional U.S. ground troops to the region. Clinton has said the United States and European allies must share intelligence more effectively in order to thwart potential attacks. She has urged Silicon Valley companies to work with the government to track militant recruitment tactics on the internet. RUSSIA Current and former Obama administration officials have told Reuters they believe Clinton would take a harder line on Russia than either Obama or Trump. Clinton has said she believes Russian hackers are behind the breach of Democratic Party systems in an attempt to influence the U.S. presidential election. Clinton has said Russia should play a role in combating Islamic State in Syria, and her foreign policy adviser has said she would consider arming government forces in Ukraine, one of Russias neighbors, in a move to combat Russian "aggression in Europe." Russia has backed ethic Russian separatists in Ukraine. CHINA Clinton was a key player in Obamas pivot to Asia when she served as his secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Clinton has said she will "aggressively pursue trade cases and impose consequences" against China when it commits trade abuses. She opposes granting China market-economy status, which China will be seeking when a World Trade Organization clause expires in December, and has said she would make sure a newly installed trade prosecutor would ensure that China is playing by the rules. Clinton has said she would treat cyber attacks from countries such as Russia and China like any other attack and that the United States will be ready with serious political, economic and military responses. (Compiled by Amanda Becker; Editing by Caren Bohan and Jonathan Oatis)
MANILA (Reuters) - Thirty mines in the Philippines, including 18 nickel producers, have either been suspended or recommended for suspension for environmental violations in an unprecedented crackdown that has shaken the industry and the global nickel market. The Southeast Asian country, the world's top supplier of nickel ore, on Tuesday recommended that 20 more mines be suspended until the operators address lapses. The government has given them seven days to explain any violations of mining and environmental laws. Earlier this year, the government suspended 10 mines, eight of them nickel, for environmental infractions as part of an audit that began on July 8 and was completed in August. The Philippines has 41 mines with others producing copper and gold. Following is the list of those recommended for suspension and some of the findings of the audit team: 1. Libjo Mining Corp - non-compliance with rule on appropriate slope and height of benches and the Clean Air Act. A bench is a narrow, strip of land cut into the side of an open-pit mine. 2. AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp (Parcel 1) - non-compliance with the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines. 3. AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp (Parcel 2B) - violation of certain conditions of its environment compliance certificate. 4. Krominco Inc - mining violation 5. Carrascal Nickel Corp - discoloration of the shoreline fronting the causeway caused by the spillage of ore during loading. 6. Marcventures Mining and Development Corp - failure to plant 3 million seedlings as penalty for mining violation and has no valid discharge permit for silt-ponds and oil and water separator. 7. Filminera Resources Corp/Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp - operating without an approved 3-year Development/Utilization Work Program. 8. Strongbuilt Mining Development Corp - violated certain provisions of mining and environmental laws. 9. Sinosteel Philippines H.Y. Mining Corp - several violations including failure to secure tree-cutting permit and violated certain terms and conditions of mineral processing and sharing agreement with the government. 10. Oriental Synergy Mining Corp - several violations including failure to secure tree-cutting permit, has no approved survey plan and did not comply with a condition under its environmental clearance certificate. 11. Wellex Mining Corp - has no ISO 14001 certification. The ISO 14001 is a global environmental management standard. 12. Century Peak Corp (Rapid City Nickel Project) - no mitigating measure for soil erosion, siltation, dust emission, and no tree-cutting and water permits. Century Peak Corp (Casiguran Nickel Project) - no mitigating measure for soil erosion, siltation, dust emission, and no tree-cutting and water permits. 13. Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corp - siltation, no tree-cutting and water permits and with dust emission. 14. CTP Construction and Mining Corp - violated certain conditions of its environment clearance certificate. 15. Agata Mining Ventures Inc, partly owned by TVI Pacific Inc - no ISO 14001 certification. 16. Hinatuan Mining Corp, partly owned by Nickel Asia Corp - violated certain conditions in its environmental clearance certificate. 17. Benguet Corp - has two inactive tailings storage facilities that have not been rehabilitated and an abandoned open pit. 18. Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co - has unregistered treatment, storage and disposal facility for the detoxification process for the mill tailings. 19. OceanaGold Philippines Inc, unit of OceanaGold Corp - beset with social issues such as a petition by Nueva Vizcaya province seeking to cancel the company's mining permit; damages to houses allegedly caused by blasting; perceived dangers of underground mining; and preference of the province for agriculture and agro-forest over mining. 20. Adnama Mining Resources Inc - non-compliance with the ISO 14001 requirement and siltation of coastal water due to heavily damaged and improperly maintained causeway. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz and Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
(Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the border with Mexico, boost spending on the military and slap trade tariffs on China. Here are those positions and others the real estate developer, who has never held elective office, has put forward to convince the American people that he should be the next U.S. chief executive: ECONOMIC POLICY Trump has proposed collapsing the current seven income tax brackets to three with rates of 12 percent, 25 percent and 33 percent. The current top rate is 39.6 percent. He also would eliminate the estate tax, and slash the corporate rate to 15 percent from 35 percent. His plan would allow families to deduct childcare costs from income taxes and offer further support through an existing tax credit for lower-income people. He would also provide six weeks of paid maternity leave for new mothers through temporary unemployment insurance. He has proposed paying for it by cracking down on fraud in the unemployment insurance program and through other changes to the system. Trump has proposed increasing spending on the U.S. military and infrastructure but says he would reduce spending on other categories by 1 percent each year. However, the Social Security and Medicare programs for the elderly would be exempt from cuts. Some economists questioned whether Trump's ideas for reducing spending would be enough to make up for major tax cuts, particularly since many Republicans believe Medicare and Social Security must be revamped to control government outlays. IMMIGRATION Trump launched his presidential campaign with his vow to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border and has said he would insist that the United States' southern neighbor pay for it. He has promised to triple the number of immigration enforcement officers, hire more Border Patrol agents and boost penalties for overstaying visas. Trump has said he would prioritize the deportation of people in the United States illegally who have committed crimes and of those who have arrived recently or overstayed visas. He would require people seeking legal status to leave and reapply. Trump said that after his immigration goals are achieved, he would determine what to do about people still in the country illegally. Trump has proposed ideological screening, or "extreme vetting," of people coming to the United States to determine whether they share American values. He has proposed a ban on immigration from countries where vetting would be difficult. Initially, he proposed a temporary ban on all Muslims from entering the United States. Critics, including some of Trump's defeated rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, said the initial plan to ban all Muslims was discriminatory and likely unconstitutional. Others have since said his extreme vetting idea might not be feasible. WALL STREET REGULATION Trump has promised a "dismantling" of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law enacted following the financial crisis, but has given few details. The Republican Party's platform calls for reinstating Glass-Steagall, the 1930s-era law that forced the separation of investment banks from deposit-taking institutions. Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, said in July that his campaign backed this change. Republican lawmakers have so far been unable to undo many of their most-despised pieces of the Dodd-Frank law, and many in their ranks oppose a return to Glass-Steagall. ISLAMIC STATE Trump has offered few details about his plans to combat Islamic State but has said he would "knock the hell out of" the militant group. He says he is keeping the details of strategy a secret so as not to disclose them to the enemy. Trump has said if he wins, he would give U.S. generals 30 days after he takes office on Jan. 20, 2017 to propose their own plans. Trump has said he opposes accepting refugees fleeing violence in Syria, and instead has said he would create "safe zones" there, which he says would be funded by Gulf states. President Barack Obama has said a safe zone in Syria would require a large U.S. military commitment, something unlikely to be popular with Americans weary of lengthy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. RUSSIA Trump has said he would have a "very, very good" relationship with Russia. He has said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was a better leader than Obama. Trump has said could work with Russia to combat Islamic State. He also said he would look into recognizing Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014, as Russian territory and lifting sanctions on Russia imposed by Western nations for what they called an illegal land grab. Trump has criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying some U.S. allies have not met their defense commitments. In July, he said if Russia attacked a NATO member, he would consider whether the country has paid up before providing defense. NATO leaders say the sanctions against Russia are key to persuading it to change that country's behavior in Ukraine, where it has backed ethnic Russian separatists, and that the alliance has long been focused on fighting international terrorism. CHINA Trump has made criticism of China's trade practices a central campaign theme. He has vowed to formally label China a currency manipulator, impose tariffs on Chinese imports and bring unfair trade cases as punishment for what he believes are improper subsidies. Trump has called for a stronger U.S. military presence in the South China Sea. He has said he would pull the United States out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. Though the trade agreement does not include China, Trump has said he is concerned it could try to enter it through the "back door." TPP supporters, including Obama, have said China hoped to reach its own deal that would make it the leader in Asian trade. They have said the pact would enable the United States to take a leadership role in the region instead of China. (Compiled by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Caren Bohan and Jonathan Oatis)
Global health officials are racing to better understand the Zika virus behind a major outbreak that began in Brazil last year and has spread to almost 60 countries. The following are some questions and answers about the virus and current outbreak: How do people become infected? Zika is transmitted to people through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same type that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are found in all countries in the Americas except Canada and continental Chile, and the virus will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found. The virus can also be transmitted through sex, from either a male or female partner who has been infected, and a few cases of apparent infection via blood transfusion have been reported. How do you treat Zika? There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection. Companies and scientists are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine for Zika, but a preventative shot is not expected to be ready for widespread use for at least two or three years. How dangerous is it? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems, and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. The CDC said that since the causal relationship had been established, several important questions must still be answered with studies that could take years. The World Health Organization in an updated assessment said the "most likely explanation" is that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities including microcephaly. In addition, the agency said infection is a trigger of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis. The update from the WHO came after considering months of research. Its previous statement, based on a rapid assessment of evidence, said there was strong scientific consensus that Zika virus caused GBS, microcephaly and other neurological disorders. Brazil recently reported 1,835 confirmed cases of microcephaly believed to be linked to Zika infections in pregnant women. It is investigating more than 3,200 suspected cases of microcephaly. Current research indicates the greatest microcephaly risk is associated with infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, but health officials have warned an impact could be seen in later weeks. Recent studies have shown evidence of Zika in amniotic fluid, placenta and fetal brain tissue. What are the symptoms of Zika infection? People infected with Zika may have a mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and fatigue that can last for two to seven days. But as many as 80 percent of people infected never develop symptoms. How can Zika be contained? Efforts to control the spread of the virus focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and taking precautions against mosquito bites such as using insect repellent and mosquito nets. U.S. and international health officials have advised pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries, sections of Miami, Florida in the United States and Singapore where they may be exposed to Zika. They are also advising that men and women who have traveled to Zika outbreak areas use condoms or abstain from sex for six months to prevent sexual transmission of the virus. How widespread is the outbreak? Active Zika outbreaks have been reported in at least 59 countries or territories, most of them in the Americas, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Brazil has been the country most affected. (http://1.usa.gov/1ovAJyh) Africa (1): Cape Verde Americas (49): Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saba, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelmy, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela. Asia (1): Singapore Oceania/Pacific Islands (8): American Samoa, Fiji, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga. What is the history of the Zika virus? The Zika virus is found in tropical locales with large mosquito populations. Outbreaks of Zika have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia and the Western Pacific. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys and was first identified in people in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the WHO. What other complications are associated with Zika? Zika has also been associated with other neurological disorders, including serious brain and spinal cord infections. The long-term health consequences of Zika infection are unclear. Other uncertainties surround the incubation period of the virus and how Zika interacts with other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue. (Compiled by the Americas Desk)
In the latest battle over property taxes, the states largest farm advocacy group has taken aim at a proposed $369 million bond issue that would pay for Southeast Community College to renovate existing campuses and build a new one in downtown Lincoln.

Nebraskas farmers and ranchers have called for relief from property taxes as the prices they get for crops like corn and soybeans have plummeted, depressed by three years of bountiful harvests. At current prices, corn farmers expect to lose money on virtually every ear they grow this year.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau on Monday voiced its opposition to the SCC ballot measure, saying passage would mean a massive property tax increase on farmers, businesses and homeowners in SCCs 15-county district.

This SCC proposal is too big, too expensive, and too risky, said Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson in a news release.

He said the bureau's opposition stems from numerous factors, starting with concerns voiced by members who live and pay taxes in the district.

Relief from skyrocketing property tax bills is the number one concern we hear from members. This proposal doesnt provide the level of detail or certainty about how dollars will be spent for a request of this magnitude, he said.

Tax reform proved to be a contentious issue in the Nebraska Legislature last year and likely will return to center stage with the annual migration of senators to the Capitol in January.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has called on the states schools to control their spending to support agriculture.

Holding the line on local spending, including bonds, is key to property tax relief," he said in a statement Monday. "Nebraska community colleges have raised taxes nearly 13 percent a year for the last decade. Taxpayers in this district are right to seriously weigh whether they want to vote for a $369 million local property tax increase in November.

SCC President Paul Illich said the bond issue is about two key issues: training workers for technical careers and ensuring access to affordable higher education.

That is really where this is coming from, he said during an interview Monday. How do we create qualified workers? How do we strengthen our communities through higher education?

If a majority of voters in the 15 Southeast Nebraska counties supports the plan in November, taxpayers would be on the hook for roughly 3.9 cents per $100 of property valuation to repay the bonds, increasing SCCs current levy of 7.57 cents to 11.47 cents per $100 of valuation.

That would add about $39 to the yearly tax bill for a $100,000 home, although it would not be added all at once because SCC would issue the bonds over a 10-year period.

Farm Bureau Senior Economist Jay Rempe estimated that when factoring in interest, taxpayers would be on the hook for nearly $523 million over 25 years to pay off the bonds. He said agriculture would have to pick up 40 percent of the tab, commercial businesses 15 percent, residential property owners 42 percent and the remainder from other areas.

Approval of the bond request would fund:

* $127 million to tear down 10 buildings on the Beatrice campus and build 11 new ones.

* $88.6 million to demolish seven buildings on the Milford campus and building six new ones.

* $79.5 million to create a new downtown Lincoln campus, including construction of five buildings and renovation of two existing buildings in the Telegraph District near 21st Street and Capitol Parkway.

* $62.7 million to tear down two buildings on the existing Lincoln campus, build three new ones and renovate one.

* $11.4 million to build learning centers in Falls City, Hebron, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Wahoo and York.

For more information about the proposed projects, visit southeast.edu/bondissue2016.
By Kathy Lynn Gray

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - The families of two black males fatally shot by Columbus, Ohio, police called on Tuesday for independent investigations by federal officials of the separate incidents.

The police shootings of 13-year-old Tyre King on Sept. 14 and Henry Green, 23, on June 6 in Columbus, along with recent fatal police shootings in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, have added to the broad debate on race relations and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Enough is enough," a sobbing Adrienne Hood, Green's mother, said at a news conference in Columbus attended by family members and friends of both victims. "There is a culture in our police department that needs to change."

The families called for both shootings to be investigated by the U.S. Justice Department. They have said witnesses to both shootings contradict police accounts, and they want the police department, as well as the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, to remove themselves from any involvement in the investigations.

"What we both want is justice for both of our families," said King's grandmother Dearrea King. "This has gone on too long and we're being ignored."

Justice Department officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said the Justice Department makes its own decision on probes, which are typically based on civil rights violations, and typically waits for local investigations to conclude.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in a statement that he had "great confidence" in the police department investigating the shootings and police would cooperate if federal officials get involved.

According to Columbus police, an officer shot King multiple times after the boy pulled what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband during an encounter following a report of an armed robbery.

It was later determined King had an air pistol that fires BBs. Ginther said the pellet gun looked almost identical to the handguns carried by city police.

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A forensic report by a medical examiner hired by the family said the teenager was shot while running away. The Franklin County Coroner's Office has said a determination on the cause and manner of King's death was pending.

Green was fatally shot by two plainclothes Columbus police officers who saw him with a gun on the street, the Columbus Dispatch reported. He allegedly fired at them, but family and friends said the officers did not identify themselves. The newspaper cited police saying the officers had shown their badges.

Green's family said he was licensed to carry a gun.

Attorneys for the two families said lawsuits against the city or police are not being considered at this point.

(Reporting by Kathy Lynn Gray; Additional reporting by Julia Edwards in Washington; Writing by Ben Klayman; Editing by Dan Grebler and Leslie Adler)
james comey

As US-led coalition forces prepare to liberate the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS, the FBI gave a harrowing assessment on the threat of terrorism back home.

In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, FBI Director James Comey reiterated the threat that destroying ISIS on the battlefield was bound to create.

"The so-called caliphate will be crushed. The challenge will be: through the fingers of that crush are going to come hundreds of very, very dangerous people," Comey said according to Politico. "They will not all die on the battlefield in Syria and Iraq. There will be a terrorist diaspora sometime in the next two to five years like we've never seen before."

The statement comes at a time when ISIS forces have felt the pressure of airstrikes that have crippled their sources of revenue and control of Iraq. From the ground, Iraqi and Kurdish forces have surrounded Mosul, Iraq's second largest city and one of the remaining ISIS hubs in Iraq.

Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson also echoed Comey's statement, however, he emphasized that the US's efforts had been sluggish enough for ISIS to recuperate at different locations.

"We havent reduced their capability. The diaspora has already begun," Johnson said according to Politico. "We're poking the hive. We've done some damage to it but the killer bees are leaving the hive. Theyre setting up new hives."

As far as the quantifiable nature of the threat, Comey has in the past drawn a comparison between ISIS forces and radicalized Al Qaeda militants in the 1980s and 1990s.

"This is 10 times that or more," he said at a cybersecurity conference in July. "This is an order of magnitude greater than anything weve seen before."

Comey's concern over the metastasizing threat also mirrored what former FBI special agent Clint Watts wrote over the summer.

"For those homeless foreign fighters, the choice is simple: They can either die in place fighting for a crumbling caliphate or they can go out as martyrs striking their homelands or regional or international targets," wrote Watts, a Robert A. Fox Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Program on the Middle East.

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Watts continued, "The Islamic State owns the largest number of homeless foreign fighters in history. As the group loses turf, they'll likely become part of the largest human missile arsenal in history and be directed against any and all soft targets they can reach."

NOW WATCH: Here's the moment where the debate first went off the rails





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A New York City battalion chief was killed by falling debris after a house exploded in the Bronx on Tuesday, September 27. The explosion leveled a two-story private home and injured at least six other people, according to a local report. City officials identified the battalion chief as Michael Fahy, a 17-year veteran.

An hour before the explosion, firefighters assembled at the scene for a report of a gas smell when they found a drug lab, according to the report. Police were called to check the lab, but the building exploded before officers could investigate. Police Commissioner James ONeill identified the drug lab as a grow house during a press conference and also said police Had been investigating the operation. Credit: Instagram/_nessa_lee__
It seems that tougher days are ahead for banks. Last week, the Federal Reserve proposed a new rule that will make physical commodity trading for banks more costly.



The Fed has invited public comments on the proposed rule that aims to tighten the existing regulations and restrict the major U.S. banks ownership in physical commodities assets. Notably, the comments will be accepted till Dec 22, 2016.



Per the Fed officials, 14 banks, including Morgan Stanley MS and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS, are likely to be affected by the proposed rules.



Additional Capital; Limitations on Trading Activity



Based on a broad review of banks physical commodity activities and comments on the Feds 2014 advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the regulator made several new proposals that are likely to make these activities more expensive for banks.



The Feds proposed regulation requires banks to hold additional capital for activities related to physical commodity trading. The Fed officials expect this will lead the banks to hold around $4 billion (in total) more capital for these activities.



Since 2003, the Fed had allowed 12 banks to foray into the physical commodities trading operations. Notably, as per the grandfather provision of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999, a firm that was not a bank holding company and converted to a financial holding company after Nov 12, 1999, is permitted to continue conducting activities related to the trading, sale, or investment in commodities that were not permitted for bank holding companies engaged in any of such activities as of Sep 30, 1997 in the U.S.



These grandfathered firms are allowed to engage in the transportation, storage, extraction, and refining of commodities. At present, only two financial holding companies qualify for these grandfather rights  Goldman and Morgan Stanley  that became bank holding companies in 2008. Hence under the proposed rules, these banks will be required to hold 300% of their physical commodity holdings.



In addition, the proposed rule plans to restrict banks trading activities on physical commodities. Also, the Fed intends to revoke authorization given to banks for running power plants and remove copper from precious metal category, which banks are allowed to own and store.



Further, the new regulation proposes public disclosure requirements for banks that are engaged in physical commodity trading.



Whats the Necessity for New Regulations?



The primary goal for these new proposals is to force the banks to protect themselves more against environmental hazards, which may lead to significant liabilities. The Fed is listing significant risks that banks might have to face, which in turn could destabilize the entire financial system. It cited the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan as examples.



Apart from this, the regulators have put efforts to contain physical trading activities by banks earlier as well. These efforts stem from a 2014 Senate Committee report that probed the extent of banks involvement in these types of activities. The Senate report had specifically mentioned JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, Morgan Stanley and Goldman as the companies which amassed huge stakes in commodity market, thereby changing its dynamics (read more: Senate Probe: Banks Exploit Commodity Market).



Moreover, banks were accused of taking undue advantage in commodity markets as they operated mines, owned power plants, warehoused aluminum and shipped oil. At the same time, they also operated trading desks for these commodities. Hence, this led to conflict of interest.



Road Ahead for Banks



Banks have been scaling back their physical commodity trading activities for quite some time now. Last year, Morgan Stanley divested its oil business to Castleton Commodities International LLC, while moving away from metal trading operations. Earlier in 2014, JPMorgan sold parts of its physical commodities business to Mercuria Energy Group Limited.



Despite selling its metals warehousing unit, Metro International Trade Services LLC, in 2014 and its Colombian mining operation in 2015, Goldman continues to maintain significant exposure in the commodity trading. These also remain core part of its business.



As per Natural Gas Intelligence (a trade publication), Goldmans commodity unit  J. Aron  traded more natural gas than both Chevron Corp. CVX and Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM combined, in second-quarter 2016. So, Goldman is expected to be hit hard by the proposed new regulations.



Therefore, given the proposed regulations, banks physical commodity trading activities are expected to face more challenges. Already facing a tough operating backdrop, banks revenue growth is estimated to be hampered further.



Nevertheless, the increased regulations on banks physical commodity operations will go a long way in improving insight and aiding proper oversight. This would also alleviate risks to the U.S. financial system to some extent.



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MILAN/DETROIT, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has cancelled his appearance at the Paris auto show, a spokesperson for the carmaker said on Tuesday without giving any details.

Marchionne, who also serves as CEO and chairman of luxury sportscar brand Ferrari , was meant to meet with journalists on Thursday.

"The media availability with Sergio Marchionne on Sept. 29 at the Paris Motor Show has been cancelled," FCA said in a statement. A spokesperson later added that Marchionne would not be coming to the show at all.

A year ago, Marchionne cancelled his appearance at the Frankfurt auto show after FCA was picked as the target company in labor talks in the United States.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak and Bernie Woodall; Editing by Andrew Hay)
The films made by Roger Ross Williams would at first appear to have little in common. Life, Animated, the acclaimed documentary that premiered at Sundance in January and was released by The Orchard over the summer, got into the head of a young man on the autistic spectrum who learned to relate to the world through Disney animated films.

Williams 2013 feature God Loves Uganda focused on the Christian right in that nation. Along the way, he has made shorts about everything from a young disabled African musician (the Oscar-winning Music by Prudence) to a gay luchador (for The New Yorker Presents) to the Dutch holiday tradition of Zwarte Piet (Blackface).

But Williams sees them as all of a piece.

Theyre actually very connected, because everything I do is about people who feel theyre outside of society, outside of the mainstream, says the native of Easton, Pa., who now lives in upstate New York. I felt like I was an outsider growing up in the black church, as a gay man, in a poor community.

Julie Goldman, a producer on Life, Animated, God Loves Uganda, and Blackface, explains, Really, what attracts Roger is the human side of the story. Hell have this breakthrough with subjects where theyll say, Ive never talked about this before, or Ive never gotten emotional like this, and its because he has this extraordinary empathy.

Williams got his start in TV journalism, working at ABC, NBC, CNN, and Comedy Central. A Sundance Channel gig  covering the film festival  sparked a desire to pursue documentary filmmaking. With $5,000 in the bank, he quit his day job and made Music by Prudence. It won him the 2010 Academy Award for documentary short. With the success of his first feature, God Loves Uganda, his career was on its way.

At this years New York Film Festival, Williams has two projects: Traveling While Black, an immersive virtual-reality project about the fraught experiences of African-Americans through the lens of travel, and Land of the Lost Sidekicks, a short inspired by Life, Animated.

Story continues

Hes also at work on an untitled documentary about the cycle of incarceration in the black community in his Pennsylvania hometown, as well as a project about upper Manhattans storied Apollo Theater. Meanwhile, hes executive producing a couple of documentary features and beginning to explore narrative filmmaking.

Im excited to see what I can do in that area, he says.

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HELSINKI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Finland's Metsa Fibre sees a chance of raising prices for its Nordic wood pulp this year and says its 1.2 billion euro ($1.35 billion) new pulp plant will supply growing market demand, particularly from China.

Nordic forest companies have cut back paper output for years amid consumers' shift from print products to digital devices. But the future looks brighter for pulp made of northern spruce and pine as that is needed for tissue and packaging board - products seen growing on the back of Chinese demand.

Metsa, a rival to Sweden's Sodra, Canada's Canfor Corp and Mercer International, is set to become the world's largest seller of softwood pulp when its new Finnish plant with annual capacity of 1.3 million tonnes starts in late 2017.

The European market price for benchmark softwood pulp fell about 14 percent last year, but it has stabilised this year at around $810, according to FOEX pulp and paper indexes.

"The rest of the year will be rather flat, there might even be some possibilities to get prices slightly higher towards the end of the year," Metsa Fibre sales executive Ari Harmaala told Reuters by phone.

"Next year will probably be quite stable as well, but it all depends on the market and supply-demand balance."

He noted that some companies like Sodra are expected to ramp up new capacity in the softwood grade next year.

Metsa expects global demand for softwood pulp to grow around 1 percent annually through the coming years on the back of increased demand for tissue and packaging board in China.

"The timing of our new plant looks pretty good," Harmaala said.

In hardwood pulp, made for instance from eucalyptus, companies such as Fibria and Asian Paper & Pulp are starting new plants in South America and Indonesia. The benchmark price for the hardwood grade has fallen 15 percent this year to $662. ($1 = 0.8893 euros) (Reporting by Jussi Rosendahl; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Nebraska high school students in the class of 2016 who took the SAT college entrance exam before it was rewritten in March scored higher than the national average.

The College Board, which administers the entrance exam, rewrote the test, making the writing portion optional, removing a penalty for wrong answers and offering test-prep videos. The reading part on the new test requires test-takers to cite evidence for their answers, and math questions are more tightly focused on four primary areas.

The other big change: a perfect score of 2,400 changed to 1,600.

In Nebraska, where just 604 students took the SAT through January, the average composite scores of three different sections -- critical reading, math and writing -- was 1,758 on the 2,400-point scale. That compares to the national average of 1,484. The national score was down slightly from the same time period in 2015.

Nebraskas students scored an average of 590 on the critical reading test, 595 on the math test and 573 on the writing test. That compares to national averages of 494, 508 and 482, respectively. Each test has a possible 800 points.

Entrance to the University of Nebraska requires a combined score of 950 on the critical reading and math tests. The writing test isn't required.

About 88 percent of Nebraskas 2016 graduates -- or 18,598 of them -- took the ACT college entrance exam. Lincoln Public Schools is among eight districts that has given the ACT to all juniors as part of a pilot project.

And even more will take the ACT next year. The Nebraska Department of Education just signed a contract with the state, replacing state tests given to all high school juniors with the ACT.

A perfect ACT score is 36; NU requires a minimum score of 20.

The SAT is much more common on the coasts, and only Nebraska students applying to out-of-state colleges are likely to take it.

Nationally, 1,637,589 graduates took the SAT through January. Between January and June, another 43,545 students took the new test. A total of 2,090,342 students took the ACT.

LPS officials had not received district-level results from SAT as of Monday. About 80 of the districts 2016 graduates took the test.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A fire department battalion chief was killed on Tuesday when an explosion tore through a home in the New York City borough of the Bronx, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

Speaking at a news conference at New York-Presbyterian/Allen Hospital, de Blasio identified the victim as Michael Fahy, a father of three and a 17-year veteran of the department.

(This story corrects surname in second paragraph to Fahy, not Fahey.)

(Reporting by Laila Kearney; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican opponent Donald Trump met in their very first debate Monday night (Sept. 26), and music stars like Katy Perry, Chance The Rapper, Miguel, Sara Bareilles and more hit Twitter to watch the showdown together.

A Brief History of Hillary & Trump in Rap Music

See what they had to say below:

YOU LIVE IN YOUR OWN REALITY - #debatenight  KATY PERRY (@katyperry) September 27, 2016

These debates are a great thing, let the truth shine through please  Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) September 27, 2016

Dear God, the words law & order shouldnt strike so much fear in my heart as a law abiding citizen but I am so damn scared of Donald Trump  Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) September 27, 2016

if Im hungry & theres a large pile of shit and not my favorite slice of pizza in front of me Im gonna eat not my favorite slice of pizza  jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 27, 2016

Law and order? Oh, you mean martial law  Miguel (@Miguel) September 27, 2016

Watching something big on TV with twitter is like #MST3K in real life. It makes ANYTHING more fun.  Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 27, 2016

IT DOESNT MAKE YOU SMART TO TRY AND CHEAT THE COUNTRY YOU WANT TO RUN. #GOHOMEDONALD #IMWITHHER  Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) September 27, 2016

Surreal, like watching a reasonable person who got into a fender bender with a rage-a-holic and is suddenly being shrieked at on La Cienaga.  Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 27, 2016

Hope youre all watching the Presidential debate tonight!!  Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) September 27, 2016

Oh, look, Hillary invited her friends Sanity and Experience to the debate.  Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 27, 2016

Finna play the  how many times Trump says Mexico drinking game- bout to be drunk as a skunk tho #Debates2016  TAMAR BRAXTON (@TamarBraxtonHer) September 27, 2016

Why is Trump yelling at her tho??? Bill betta stand his ass up and check his ass #Debates2016  TAMAR BRAXTON (@TamarBraxtonHer) September 27, 2016

this dude.  lalah hathaway (@lalahhathaway) September 27, 2016

DonTheCon, Birther-in-Chief. Smear, and smear some more.  Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 27, 2016

That makes me smart! He admits he NEVER paid any taxes. We have been carrying this idiot for his whole career!!  Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) September 27, 2016

All these endorsements but still no plan?  #DebateNight  NE-YO (@NeYoCompound) September 27, 2016

Tomorrow is Voter Registration Day. Make your voice heard. https://t.co/4cZ3vipv6v pic.twitter.com/G7WCtbz4zv  COMMON (@common) September 27, 2016

Drinking game: drink on Donalds long inhale.  Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) September 27, 2016

I LOVE OUR AIRPORTS!!!!!!  Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) September 27, 2016

Debate starting in 22 minutes. How quickly do Tums take to work? #debatenight #ImWithHer  P!nk (@Pink) September 27, 2016

I think Hillary did well. Ol boy is unprepared and uneducated about many things. Also a compulsive liar. https://t.co/Rnsjg1DFRc  Trey Songz (@TreySongz) September 27, 2016
Twitter is already claiming victory in Monday night's first presidential debate.

The social networking platform confirms that the showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was the most-tweeted debate ever. All told, there were 17.1 million interactions on Twitter about the event, according to Nielsen's Social Content Ratings.

During the 2012 presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Twitter was still a private company. At the time, the Denver debate between Obama and Romney became the most-tweeted political event in Twitter history with 10.3 million tweets during the 90-minute broadcast.

Trump was mentioned in 6.3 million tweets, while Hillary was mentioned in 2.7 million tweets.

Nielsen also reports that there were 65.9 million interactions on Facebook about the debate. That brings the total social media interactions on Facebook and Twitter to 83 million from 24 million people in the U.S.

Read more: Presidential Debate: Viewers Call Out Trump's Sniffling on Social Media

The top moment came when Trump told the audience that he has a good temperament (above). His comments about stop and frisk were the second-biggest moment of the night on Twitter, followed by his exchange with Clinton around their plans for defeating ISIS.

The most-tweeted topics during the debate were the economy, foreign affairs, energy and the environment, terrorism and guns.

A Trump tweet from November 2012 in which he blamed the Chinese for global warming was the most-retweeted post of the night.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

Facebook, meanwhile, says that there were 55 million views of debate-related Faceook Live videos.

The top moment on Facebook was the same as Twitter's top moment, when Trump said that his strongest asset is his temperament. Top issues on Facebook included taxes, ISIS, race, the economy, and crime and criminal justice.

Story continues

Trump also had the largest share of the conversation on Facebook with 79 percent of the total chatter, compared to Clinton's 21 percent share.

The Hollywood Reporter will update this story with the official Twitter numbers on Tuesday.

Read more: Hollywood Criticizes Lester Holt's Moderating, Donald Trump's Attacks During First Presidential Debate

Sept. 27, 9:30 a.m. Updated with data from Facebook.

Sept. 28, 8:05 a.m. Updated with data from Nielsen.
Five children were killed in a house fire in Guam, officials said on Tuesday, describing the blaze as probably the most deadly in the US Pacific territory's history.

The fire broke out late Monday night in a timber and wood house at Yigo, in the island's north, the Guam Fire Department said.

"Our firefighters faced one of their worst fears. Five young lives were lost to a structure fire in Yigo," the department said on its Facebook page.

Fire department spokesman Kevin Reilly said five children were found dead in the property and another three survived and were taken to hospital.

"We're still trying to gather information, it's a difficult process and we're still trying to get a cause of the fire," he told Pacific Daily News.

He said the survivors were two boys and a girl but could not provide further details about the five fatalities. KUAM News reported they were all girls, aged three to 16.

It was not known if they were siblings.

Witnesses reported seeing flames 25-foot (7.5 metres) high engulf the house, which reportedly had no water or power and was being used for temporary accommodation.

"This probably... to claim this many lives, is the worst in our history," Reilly said.
Weve known about this for decades  and the problem seems to be getting worse and worse and worse. Heres the trailer for Before The Flood, a documentary produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio that will have a theatrical run next month followed by a global TV airing a week-plus later.

I just want to know how far weve gone, DiCaprio says, and if theres anything we can do anything to stop it. There are mind-numbing and/or heart-wrenching scenes of glaciers cascading in the sea, raging floods, horrific pollution and desperate polar bears.

DiCaprio spans the globe to talk with politicians, scientists, activists  even Pope Francis  along with American dignitaries including President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. But America doesnt get off lightly here, as DiCaprio notes, The U.S. has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in history. The film also cites that half the people in office still dont believe in climate change.

Fisher Stevens, who won the Documentary Feature Oscar for 2010s The Cove, directs Before The Flood, which was penned by Cove writer Mark Monroe. Presented by National Geographic and RatPac Documentary Films and produced by DiCaprios Appian Way, Before The Flood will get an Oscar-qualifying run in Los Angeles and New York starting October 21. Nine days later, National Geographic Channel will air it in 171 countries spanning 45 languages.

Check out the trailer above  and the new poster below  and tell us what you think.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9xFFyUOpXo&w=970&h=546]

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Forbes in central west New South Wales was declared a natural disaster zone on September 27 after being hit by record floods.

More than 1000 residents have been evacuated and Sydney Morning Herald reported the clean up bill to be tens of millions of dollars.

Property, stock and crops have been destroyed and more rain is expected to fall across central west this week, which could cause the Lachlan River to reach a record peak.

The Drane family found the positive in the poor weather conditions. We were stuck and school holidays were starting so we had to make some fun of our own, Matt Drane told Storyful.

The video shows the Drane kids in a kayak being towed behind a tractor through what was previously a bike track. Credit: Instagram/Matt Drane
* Mexican peso climbs about 2 pct, Canadian dollar rises

* Dollar/yen erases earlier losses, up from 1-month low

* Clinton seen holding status quo, uncertainty over Trump (Updates, adds Canadian dollar)

By Anirban Nag

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Mexican peso rose 2 percent on Tuesday, recovering from record lows against the U.S. dollar, buoyed by a view that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did better than rival Donald Trump in a television debate.

The peso was on track for its best daily performance since February, lifting the higher-yielding Canadian dollar along with it. Canada, like Mexico, has close trade ties with the U.S. and is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Markets have tended to see Clinton as the someone who is likely to retain status quo, while few are sure what a Trump presidency might mean for U.S. foreign policy, international trade deals or the domestic economy.

Opinion polls have shown the two candidates in a tight race, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points, with 41 percent of likely voters.

As early risk aversion faded across markets, higher-yielding currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars also did well, rising 0.4 percent against the U.S. dollar. The safe-haven yen underperformed, falling 0.4 percent against the U.S. dollar,

"The market is dominated by risk-on. Not only the currencies of the neighbouring countries Mexico and Canada were able to appreciate notably, but also other conventional risk currencies such as Aussie, kiwi and the Scandinavian currencies," said Esther Reichelt, currency strategist at Commerzbank.

"Similar to the June 23 Brexit referendum date, Nov. 8 (the Presidential election date) entails some very binary risks. Either everything remains as it is which a Clinton victory would imply or there is a likelihood of everything or at least a lot changing rapidly."

Earlier, the Mexican peso hit record lows of around 19.92 pesos per dollar on concerns that a Trump victory would threaten Mexico's exports to the United States, its single biggest market. Data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed that speculators had recently ramped up their bearish bets against the peso.

Story continues

It was last trading at 19.5150, up around 2 percent on the day. Similarly the U.S. dollar was down 0.44 percent against its Canadian counterpart at C$1.3171, having hit a six-month high earlier in the Asian trading session.

The Democrat and Republican candidates traded barbs and accusations in their first debate.

"It may be that Clinton did a little bit better than was the initial expectation, or you could say that Trump didn't surprise in any way. Maybe the market was afraid that he was going to have something up his sleeve to surprise and make him look good," said Jasper Bargmann, head of trading at Nordea Bank in Singapore.

(Additional reporting by Masayuki Kitano; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Lincoln will join more than a dozen cities across the country to mark Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 12, the day that many people celebrate Columbus Day, following a unanimous vote of the City Council.

Though the state has declared the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, the city does not officially recognize the holiday. City offices do not close and city employees do not get the day off.

So naming that day as Indigenous People's Day does not create a legal city holiday. Instead it stands beside Columbus Day as a way to honor the people who lived in the Americas before the Europeans arrived and as a way to educate others, supporters said during Monday's public hearing.

Christopher Columbus did not discover North America, many who spoke Monday pointed out, and Columbus was a murderer, a sex trafficker and a slave trader, they said.

When I was in school I was taught to believe Columbus was some kind of hero," said Bernard Vance, a member of the Omaha Tribe. "It is well documented he was a mass murderer and a rapist among other things.

Holidays are for heroes, he said.

Creating an Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day others celebrate Columbus is a way to honor the contributions of the many indigenous peoples, others said.

The "goal is to give some equal time to the other side of this equation, not to denigrate the Italians or Spain," said Lin Quenzer, who provided the introduction to the resolution, brought by Councilman Carl Eskridge.

Italian Americans, particularly the Knights of Columbus, lobbied to get Oct. 12 (later the second Monday in October) set aside to honor Columbus.

Its going to raise questions about our history. Its going to raise awareness. There is a lot of miseducation that comes along with Columbus Day," said Leo Yankton, an Oglala Lakota.

This is acknowledging that we are here, he said.

William R. Boothe III, one of the few opponents to speak Monday, said it was disingenuous to think that replacing Columbus Day was not the intent of supporters.

Boothe said he could support an Indigenous Peoples Day, but on another day of the year.

Fifteen tribes lived and hunted within the current boundaries of Nebraska, said Clyde Tyndall, executive director of the Lincoln Indian Center and part of the group which first suggested Lincoln consider an Indigenous Peoples Day.

Students from more than 69 tribes are part of the public school system, he said. The day would honor contributions of indigenous people who helped build Lincoln, he added.

The resolution drew unanimous support.

Councilman Roy Christensen said because of his experience living near Indian reservations -- the Hopi, the Navajo and the Blackfoot -- I can tell you that the persecution of the Native American people has not ended.

Christensen also pointed to historic bias. When the Army won a conflict with Native Americans it was called a battle. When the Native Americans won it was called a massacre, he said.

There are good points to be made for another point of view, he said.

Cyndi Lamm, who asked at the beginning of the hearing if Indigenous People's Day could be set on another date, said she understood from the answers of those who spoke why Columbus Day was selected.

I think this is a great resolution. Thank you all for imposing your views on us, Lamm said.

Eskridge pointed out that history is always a mixed bag. There are things we celebrate and things we regret, he said.

Creating Indigenous Peoples Day is a transformational move, he said. Lets transform Columbus Day." For those who want to celebrate it, let them do it. But for those who question what it means, lets tell the full story, he said.

The resolution was amended prior to Monday's vote to remove language asking businesses and the Lincoln Public Schools to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.
* Mexican peso climbs about 2 pct, Canadian dollar rises

* Dollar/yen up from recent 1-month low

* Clinton seen keeping status quo, uncertainty over Trump (Updates throughout, adds fresh quote)

By Anirban Nag

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Mexican peso rose 2 percent on Tuesday after record lows against the U.S. dollar, buoyed by a view that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton fared better than rival Donald Trump in a television debate.

The peso was on track for its best daily rise in three weeks, lifting the higher-yielding Canadian dollar along with it. Canada, like Mexico, has close trade ties with the United States and is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Markets have tended to regard Clinton as someone who is likely to retain the status quo, while few are sure what a Trump presidency might mean for U.S. foreign policy, international trade deals or the domestic economy.

Higher-yielding currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars also did well, rising 0.3 percent against the U.S. dollar. The safe-haven yen underperformed.

"The currency market is dominated by risk-on. Not only the currencies of the neighbouring countries Mexico and Canada were able to appreciate notably, but also other conventional risk currencies such as the Aussie, kiwi and the Scandinavian currencies," said Esther Reichelt, currency strategist at Commerzbank.

"Similar to the June 23 Brexit referendum date, Nov. 8 (the presidential election date) entails some very binary risks. Either everything remains as it is, which a Clinton victory would imply, or there is a likelihood of everything or at least a lot changing rapidly."

Earlier, the Mexican peso touched record lows of around 19.92 pesos per dollar on concerns that a Trump victory would threaten Mexico's exports to the United States, its single biggest market. Data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed that speculators had recently ramped up their bearish bets against the peso.

Story continues

It was trading at 19.5950 in Europe, up around 1.4 percent on the day. Similarly the Canadian dollar was flat at C$1.3215 per U.S. dollar, having weakened to a six-month low earlier in the Asian trading session.

Earlier, both presidential candidates traded barbs and accusations in their first debate. Clinton accused Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance while the real estate tycoon, making his first run for public office, said Clinton's long years of service represented "bad experience".

A CNN/ORC snap poll said 62 percent of respondents felt Clinton won and 27 percent believed Trump had prevailed.

"Markets fretted that a strong Trump performance would add to his recent momentum, but the consensus takeaway was that Clinton had the upper hand with a sharp performance and the concern in asset markets yielded to a relief rally," said John Hardy, head of currency strategy at Saxo Bank.

(Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Greg Hardy

Free agent defensive end Greg Hardy was arrested on Monday night in Richardson, Texas, NBC Dallas first reported.

Hardy was reportedly pulled over by police when he failed to use his turn signal. After the officer asked for permission to search the car, they allegedly found 0.7 grams of cocaine in a wallet.

Hardy reportedly told police that the substance did not belong to him. According to the police, Hardy said he had passed his wallet around at a party over the weekend because he was paying and claims that somebody must have put the substance in the wallet then.

Hardy was booked in Richardson, and was later reportedly released on $5,000 bail. He faces a felony drug possession charge, according to NBC.

Hardy last played for the Dallas Cowboys, in 2015. The Cowboys picked him up after his stint in Carolina ended unceremoniously following an allegation of domestic violence. Although the charges were later dropped, the Panthers benched him for 15 games.

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By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Britain said on Tuesday it would oppose any EU proposals to combine European forces into a single army while it is still in the bloc, but France and Germany said no such plans existed and won support from NATO to strengthen EU defenses. At a meeting of EU defense ministers in Bratislava, Britain's Michael Fallon said it was up to NATO, not the European Union, to defend Europe against a more hostile Russia and that some northern and eastern EU countries agreed. France and Germany had hoped that Britons' decision to leave the EU, as well as London's need for goodwill in its exit negotiations, would leave the path open for common defense proposals that are meant to pull the remaining governments together. The proposals were presented on Tuesday. But there appeared to be confusion about what was on the table. Italy, France and German have come forward with proposals to bring together the EU's disparate military assets, spend more, develop technology and rely less on the United States, which pays the lion's share of NATO's military outlays. Fallon insisted he saw the makings of a EU army. "There are member states who would like to see...a single set of forces. That looks and sounds to me like a European army, and we would oppose that," Fallon told reporters. Britain's objections also center on proposals for a joint EU military headquarters, possibly in Brussels, fearing that would suck financial resources away from NATO, where allies have spent years cutting budgets following the global financial crisis. "Europe is littered with HQs, what we don't need is another one," Fallon said. Britain retains full voting rights until it leaves the European Union, although defense decisions will rely on majority voting. Fallon said Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania had voiced concern about Franco-German proposals, which was confirmed by an EU diplomat. Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti countered that a number of other EU countries, including Spain and the Czech Republic, backed the range of proposals being discussed. EU diplomats said the military headquarters was one aspect of a strategy to be agreed at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels in December. The proposals also include increasing spending on military missions, jointly developing assets such as helicopters and drones, expanding peace-keeping abroad and working to counter state-sponsored hackers in cyberspace. "NO CONTRADICTION" Standing together, Germany's Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian were at pains to stress there were no plans for army of European soldiers wearing the same uniforms. "On the contrary," von der Leyen said. "It is about bundling the various strengths of European countries to be ready to act together quickly." She cited how Europe had struggled to coordinate support during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In 2011, the British and French air campaign in Libya also showed Europe's limits, as they quickly became reliant on a NATO-led operation including the United States, Canada and Norway for refueling planes, logistics and military know-how. EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who has put forward her own proposals, said there was "nothing ideological" about what the bloc was trying to do. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was also at the meeting, welcomed debate on strengthening European military cooperation. "There is no contradiction between a strong European defense and a strong NATO," he said. Stoltenberg also said EU governments would need to spend more on defense. With Britain outside of the European Union, 80 percent of NATO spending would be provided by non-EU countries even though most EU members are part of the alliance, he said. European military spending is a fraction of the United States' and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defense. France is a major European military power and Germany has many military assets but has traditionally been cautious given its history in the 20th century's two world wars. (Additional reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Last week, construction began on a roughly $2 million wall in the French border town of Calais. Its purpose? To block migrants and asylum-seekers living in the sprawling, makeshift camp known as the Jungle, from jumping on the backs of trucks as they pass through the town on their way to England.

The United Kingdom is funding the wall, but the question of what to do with the thousands of people living in Calais has found itself at the center of Frances upcoming presidential election.

And on a visit to Calais on Monday, President Francois Hollande insisted that just because the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union, British authorities cannot ignore their part in the humanitarian effort that France is carrying out, and will carry out.

Just because the U.K. has taken a sovereign decision, it does not mean that it has absolved itself of its responsibilities toward France, but quite the opposite, Hollande said.

Hollandes visit to Calais was his first as president, and did not include an trip to the actual camp, where an estimated 7,000 people live in squalid conditions. Although the camp was partially destroyed in February when French authorities evacuated some of its residents and burned the makeshift homes they had built there, the area has little oversight and has since expanded again.

Residents in the town of Calais and authorities in the U.K. have been frustrated by Frances slow response to the settlement, which locals see as a security threat and which the British see as largely Frances responsibility to control. But the French have increasingly asked Britain to take a more prominent role in dealing with the flow of migrants who congregate there in hopes of reaching the United Kingdom. British officials, for their part, say that according to EU rules, those looking to seek asylum must do so in France before trying to move to Britain.

On a trip to Calais earlier this month, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is running for his partys nomination again this year, said that those who are here in Calais and who want to cross to England should be processed in England by the English. Those comments implied a walk-back on Sarkozys earlier position: In 2003, when serving as interior minister, he signed a treaty that allowed British officials to run passport checks on French soil instead of waiting for them to cross the English Channel into Britain.

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For his part, Hollande, who has not yet announced whether he plans to run for a second presidential term, said Monday he plans to have the entire camp dismantled by the end of the year. New reception centers will be set up in its place, he said, in order to better evaluate who can apply for asylum and who needs to be deported.

From now on our objectives are clear: to guarantee the security of the people of Calais, maintain public order and ensure for the migrants and refugees conditions are dignified, he said.

Photo credit: PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images
(Credit: Gene Page/AMC)



The Walking Dead co-creator Frank Darabont and his CAA agents have hit the homestretch in their lawsuit against AMC over the hit zombie shows profits. In a certificate of trial readiness filed on Monday, the plaintiffs reveal that they will be seeking a whopping damages verdict in excess of $280 million.

Plaintiffs damages claim has no basis in reality and we will continue to vigorously defend against this lawsuit, said AMC in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter.

Darabont was fired in the middle of the second season and his lawsuit contends that AMC has robbed him of contingent profits by producing the series and then licensing it to its cable network affiliate for not enough money. The lawsuit is a good example of a "vertical integration" case where AMC is arguing it negotiated the right to set an imputed license fee. Considering that Darabont was contractually entitled to as much as 10 percent of certain Walking Dead profits after deductions, the damages figure suggests the series has made billions. The lawsuit asserts, however, that a low license fee formula has been designed to ensure that the show would never be in the black for profit participants.

A trial will also feature the circumstances of Darabonts departure from Walking Dead, which will enter its seventh season in October. Thats because Darabont is also alleging that AMC improperly reduced his profit share by not counting him as fully vested in the second season. He says he worked on all of the episodes of the second season while AMC asserts he had to be working full-time on the show at the end of the second cycle. A judge allowed the claim after an explosive deposition from Darabont was revealed detailing the crisis-level problems on the show.

Last week, discovery in the dispute formally ended.

On Tuesday, Justice Eileen Bransten held a status conference.

The next step in the dispute is summary judgment motions that will provide an even fuller picture of AMCs hit show and Darabonts negotiations.

If the judge allows the case to move forward, it will go to trial, though dont expect it anytime soon. At the hearing, Bransten said her 2017 schedule was completely booked and that the parties would need to wait until 2018 at the earliest. If and when that does occur, the trial will mark one of the biggest profit cases in television history with a potential outcome that surpasses the $319 million verdict that Disney suffered in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire lawsuit.
Charles Fourier was so obsessed with flowers as a child that he spent hours holed up in his bedroom tending to hundreds of blooms, carefully arranging them by color and size. At one point, the entire bedroom floor was covered in thick soil, with flowers literally growing out of it.

Decades later, Fourier would adopt a similarly possessive and eccentric approach as he wrote a book about his vision of Utopia, an imagined place where everything is perfect. The 19th-century French visionary  regarded by many as a precursor to Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud  was fiercely protective of his growing set of notebooks dedicated to the the New Amorous World (Le Nouveau Monde Amoureux). In these notebooks, Fourier  who also foresaw an age in which oranges could grow in Warsaw and seawater would turn to lemonade as a result of climate change  laid out details for a society called Harmony, his name for Utopia.

He saw no reason why men and women should spend all their lives or even all day at just one kind of work.

In Harmony, people would live together in peaceful communities called phalanxes, free from capitalism, which Fourier believed was not only degrading and starving millions of people physically, but also deprived them of necessary emotional satisfactions, writes Jonathan Beecher in Charles Fourier: The Visionary and His World, one of the few English-language biographies about the utopian thinker.

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Youd have a lot of fun in Fouriers communities.

Source Sean Culligan/OZY

In Harmony, people would work on many different things, in pleasant surroundings and among friends and lovers, supported by a guaranteed income. Fourier, who himself led a drab life, was frustrated for years by his work as a traveling salesman and clerk. He saw no reason why men and women should spend all their lives or even all day at just one occupation. So every day, after work, he spent hours devising his utopian realm, basing it on an intricate system of psychological classification taken from reading the newspaper. According to The Faber Book of Utopias, Fourier calculated there were 810 personality types.

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Youd have had more fun in Fouriers communities by far, if you put together the idea of passionate attraction, many forms of labor, multiple meals (he recommended five a day) and constant cultural activity, says Gregory Claeys, professor of the history of political thought at Royal Holloway, University of London. Its a mind-boggling assemblage of the active life. Unlike other communitarians of the early 19th century who strove for community interaction, Fourier was the odd person out for dreaming of a world of erotic freedom and feminism, which was a nonstarter at that time, says Claeys.

Growing up with four sisters and a domineering mother  his father died when Fourier was 9  Fourier quickly realized that the emancipation of women was key to the liberation of mankind. Tackling eerily familiar gender equality issues, from equal education opportunities to simple freedoms from the tedium of housework, Fourier lobbied for womens rights and is even credited with having coined the term feminism in 1837. He felt so strongly that women were equals that he considered traditional marriage as potentially harmful to a womans rights and thus never married himself.

Fouriers ultimate goal, which caused a stir among puritanical thinkers, was the liberation of all sexual minorities, including lesbians, sodomites, fetishists and flagellants, writes Beecher. The seemingly salacious details of his utopian vision turned off even some of Fouriers most devout disciples who chose to ignore large swathes of his doctrine. More conservatively minded communes emerged around the U.S., adopting many of Fouriers ideas, including Utopia, Ohio, now considered a ghost town; La Reunion, near present-day Dallas; the North American Phalanx, near Red Bank, New Jersey; and Brook Farm, Massachusetts, one of whose founders was Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Phalanxary colt nj

Home sweet Phalanx.

Source Public Domain

Promising too much, the utopian ideal was soon mired in financial insolvency, a shortage of skilled workers and the inability to successfully farm, which meant that Fourier-inspired societies dwindled within several years. These new social systems were foredoomed as Utopian; the more completely they were worked out in detail, the more they could not avoid drifting off into pure phantasies [sic], German philosopher Friedrich Engels wrote of Fouriers ideas in Socialism: Utopian and Scientific.



But with the dawn of automation upon us, Fouriers dreams could be put to the test as a more dystopian outlook takes hold. Oxford University researchers have estimated that 47 percent of U.S. jobs could be automated within the next two decades, as AI and robotics overhaul our economy. It is the next vital stage of the process of industrialization that began in the middle of the 18th century, says Claeys. This will mean in principle you have vastly more free time, he adds, nodding to Fouriers vision of pursuing a more meaningful existence. Of course, there will be a huge price to pay with fewer jobs to go around. We may well see social and political rebellions, even revolutions, Claeys warns.

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Fuller Moto Group Ride to Barber Vintage Festival

Metzeler Tires and Fuller Moto of Atlanta, Georgia, have partnered for a group ride to the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.. The journey will begin on Thursday, October 6 in Atlanta, with riders traveling the back roads along route 78 en route to Leeds, Alabama. At the conclusion of the trip, riders are encouraged to hang out for the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, which features three days of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) action October 7-9.

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Im really looking forward to seeing all of the new faces for the fun-filled event that we have put together with Metzeler en route to the Barber Vintage Festival, said Bryan Fuller, owner of Fuller Moto in Atlanta and facilitator of this epic adventure. The ride is designed to bring together motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world that share the same passion for bikes and riding as I do. There will be no shortage of beautiful scenery, delicious food and memories to last a lifetime as we share the road to our destination.

barber-at-night

The ride will begin with all participants meeting at Fuller Moto in downtown Atlanta. Batdorf and Bronson Coffee will be served, along with snacks in the morning. Riders will have the opportunity to check out the shop and its fascinating toys, including the creations of builder Brian Fuller. At 9:30 am sharp, the caravan of motorcyclists will begin their journey.

A free lunch will be provided when the group stops at one of the attractive, old-fashioned towns along the route. A support truck and trailer will follow the group in case anyone encounters unforeseen problems or mechanical issues on the way. Fuller Moto is located at 250 Arizona Ave. NE in Atlanta. Space is limited and all riders interested in joining are encouraged to sign up ASAP. Please RSVP to info@fullermoto.com to sign up and reserve your spot now.

Check out the Fuller Moto operation, for a peek at who you'll be riding with in the video below.
(Adds Perry Capital's response)

By Lawrence Delevingne

NEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Perry Capital, the hedge fund firm founded by Richard Perry and Paul Leff in 1988, plans to wind down its main hedge funds, according to a letter sent to investors on Monday and seen by Reuters.

"Although I continue to believe very strongly in our investments, process and team, the industry and market headwinds against us have been strong, and the timing for success in our positions too unpredictable," Richard Perry wrote in the letter.

An external spokesman for the New York-based firm declined to comment. Perry also has a London office.

The shuttering underscores continued pressure on the hedge fund industry following a period of poor performance. Industry data tracker HFR reported in September that 530 funds liquidated in the first half of the year, on pace for the second-most shut-downs in a calendar year except for 2008.

Perry, whose firm uses a so-called event-driven strategy focused on profiting from corporate shake-ups, added that a "substantial" amount of client capital would be returned in the beginning of October.

After producing a gain every calendar year until 2008, Perry has recently lost money on its investments and its assets under management have declined.

The firm managed $6.6 billion as of Dec. 31, 2015, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That was down from $8.9 billion as of late 2013 and around $15 billion in early 2008, according to firm reporting seen by Reuters.

Co-founder Leff and former co-chief investment officer David Russekoff have departed in recent years.

Richard Perry launched the firm after working at Goldman Sachs' risk arbitrage desk that was famous for producing star hedge fund managers.

(Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Alan Crosby and Dan Grebler)
The first Istanbul Gallery Weekend will take place from September 30 to October 2 in Turkey. Participating galleries will extend their hours and promote the event through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Fourteen Istanbul art hubs are launching a new initiative: the Contemporary Art Galleries Solidarity (CSGD). The initiative is intended to bolster the art scene in the country.

This is a proactive step, following several recent events that were stoppered due to looming political uncertainties. Earlier this year, Art International, an Istanbul fair dedicated to contemporary art, was canceled; so too was the Canakkale Biennial this month (it was meant to take place between September 24 and November 6). The latter intended to focus on the issue of migration: "the biennial did not seek to limit the issue to what is happening in the Middle East today, but to express the universal idea of being 'torn apart' from one's homeland through the delicate and empathetic works of 42 artists," the Canakkale Biennial Initiative announced in a statement.

Participating galleries in next weekend's event include Pi Artworks (founded in 1998 in Istanbul, with a second venue in London opened in 2013), Galerist, Pg, C.A.M. Galeri, artSumer, Ramoa and Zilberman Gallery (founded in Istanbul in 2008, with a sister space in Berlin's Charlottenburg neighborhood that functions as both a gallery and an artist-in-residency program).

These galleries, amongst others, have played a significant role in raising the profile of Turkish art in the international market, while concurrently introducing an international roster of artists to collectors based in Turkey.

The event has an Instagram page, which is rolling out artist images from each of the galleries involved: https://www.instagram.com/istanbulgalleryweekend/
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Gambia on Tuesday announced a ban on importing timber after years of accusations from neighbouring Senegal that it profits from illegal logging across their border.

Gambian loggers have long benefited from lax oversight of Senegal's southern Casamance forest to take prized rosewood timber over the border before exporting the logs to China.

The Gambia's Information Minister Sherrif Bojang told AFP "the ban on the importation of logs into the country is being enforced" following a presidential decree on the topic last week.

"The security personnel manning the borders are instructed not to allow any log to enter the country," the decree read.

However ecologist Haidar El Ali, a former Senegalese environment minister who spearheads the movement to protect Casamance's forests, said he thought the move was simply a short-term strategy by President Yahya Jammeh.

"I think it's a just a big charade in the run-up to the elections, where he is under a lot of pressure," El Ali told AFP.

Jammeh is seeking a fifth term in power to extend his 22-year rule over the country, but faces an unusually united opposition at the election in December.

"He wanted to make a show because the farmers are complaining about the exhaustion of their soil," a result of deforestation, the former environment minister said.

"(Jammeh) organised this trafficking and he has profited from it himself," El Ali added, accusing the president of benefiting from the activities of WestWood, the only company authorised to export logs from the Gambia.

Chinese traders purchase timber from Gambians who source the wood from Senegal, often with the connivance of impoverished local populations in Casamance.

Exporting timber is illegal in Senegal, which surrounds Gambia's narrow slither of territory in west Africa.
Proving its possible to have not just two but three acts in the business theres no business like, Canadian impresario Garth Drabinsky announced today that hes coming back to Broadway next fall, following an unanticipated 15-year hiatus. His production of a new musical based on the novel behind the 1988 Shirley MacLaine vehicle Madame Sousatzka will shake down at Torontos Elgin Theatre from February 25 through April 9, 2017 before coming to New York next October at a theater to be announced.

The catch is that if and when the show opens on Broadway, Drabinsky isnt likely to be in the audience. Hes a fugitive from U.S. justice, following the 1998 collapse of Livent, the over-leveraged company he pulled from the ashes of his first failed business, Cineplex Odeon, and then drove into bankruptcy.

While mounting shows and building an empire that included turning adjacent Times Square houses into what is today known as the Lyric Theatre, Drabinsky and his partner Myron Gottlieb crafted uniquely unorthodox accounting methods that involved multiple sets of books and phony annual reports. They inveigled Michael Ovitz into putting $20 million into their capsizing showboat and stiffed countless ancillary businesses while coddling high-profile talent such as director Hal Prince and stars Elaine Stritch and Chita Rivera, making liberal use of a private jet to taxi favored folks between Times Square and Toronto.

Acclaimed for mounting serious works that included Princes celebrated revival of Show Boat and the new musicals Kiss Of The Spider Woman and Ragtime, Drabinsky and Gottlieb were convicted in 2009 of fraud and forgery. Drabinsky was sentenced to five years in prison and served 18 months before being released to a half-way house, and recently completed parole. He also was disbarred and stripped of his Order of Canada. The Ontario Securities Commission restricted Drabinsky from owning or operating a business or being in a position of responsibility for the management of finances or investments for any other individual, charity, business or institution. He has a February, 2017 date with the OSC to explain why those sanctions should be lifted. At one of his earlier parole hearings, he and Gottlieb actually argued that a judge should free them to teach college courses in how to avoid business fraud, redefining chutzpah.

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Drabinsky continues to be under indictment by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and will have to face charges if he crosses the border. Nevertheless, an outfit called Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership today announced the world premiere of the Garth Drabinsky production of Sousatzka, starring Tony Award winners Victoria Clark (The Light In The Piazza) and Judy Kaye (The Phantom Of The Opera), and Tony nominee Montego Glover (Memphis). The new musical has a book by Craig Lucas (An American In Paris) and score by Big and Baby team Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) and David Shire (music). The director is former Royal Shakespeare Company chief Adrian Noble and the choreographer is 10-time Tony nominee Graciela Daniele.

Drabinsky is billed as creative producer and, according to a publicist, will have no hand in operating the show. A lengthy workshop in Toronto over the summer proved convincing enough to attract investors to the production, which is likely to come in in the $15-million range, which is the middle-of-the-road for mounting a new musical today.

To be able to present this remarkable creative team, and cast, and the musical work of one of the best creative producers of our age, is a gift, said Teatro Proscenium CEO Richard Stursberg. My association with Garth has proven itself to be one of the most satisfying and enduring creative relationships Ive ever had, and I look forward to ensuring that he has every resource available to get this inspired show to Broadway, and beyond.

Based on the original novel Madame Sousatzka by Bernice Rubens, Sousatzka is set in London in 1982 and tells the story of a young musical prodigy (to be played in the show by Jordan Barrow) torn between two powerful women from vastly different worlds: his mother, a political refugee and his piano teacher, a brilliant eccentric with a shattered past. These two proud, iconoclastic women must ultimately cross cultural and racial divides to find common ground, or else put the boys destiny in jeopardy.

Sousatzkas creative and design dream team includes Anthony Ward (sets), Paul Tazwell (costumes), Howell Binkley (lighting), Jonathan Driscoll (projections), Martin Levan (sound), Jonathan Tunick (orchestrations), David Caddick (music supervision), Brad Haak (music director), Lebo M. (additional music and vocal arrangements), and Marius de Vries (additional music arrangements).

I no longer need to build empires, Drabinsky told the Parole Board of Canada before being granted parole. I no longer need to build public companies. I no longer need public acclaim of my accomplishments. Ive sought a much more quiet life. Of course, that was then, and this is now.

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Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson emphatically refuted the idea of dropping out of the 2016 presidential race.

In an interview with the FOX Business Networks Mornings with Maria, the former Governor Johnson said he takes offense to the comparison of being more of a Ralph Nader instead of a Ross Perot.

I really take offense. I really take offense to that. I am the first vote for so many people. I am the first vote, Johnson said.

American presidential elections are not set up to favor a third-party candidate. Historically, candidates representing a third-party have seen a decline in polling averages as they head towards the election. Candidates are considered real contenders when they reach a rate of 10% in the polls--Johnson is polling at eight percent among likely voters according to a recent Monmouth University poll.

Despite low poll numbers preventing him from participating in the debates, Johnson said he expects to impact Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump equally and doesnt see his vision for America through both candidates.

Its not an option to do nothing. We cannot continue our military interventions. We cannot continue to support regime change that has resulted in so many thousands of innocent [people], people caught in the crossfire in Syria. It goes on and on, Johnson said.

Johnson reacted to last nights presidential debate by facetiously saying the American people have a brighter outlook after listening to Clinton and Trump debate.

She did a better job of articulating that government will be the answer to all our problems. She did a better job articulating that. Donald Trump I think you know theres a certainty that there is an uncertainty when it comes to Donald Trump.

The former New Mexico Governor said he doesnt see how any presidential candidate could avoid discussing their plan to reduce government spending.

Its not an option to not talk about reducing spending. Its not an option to not talk about not reforming the entitlements, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. They are not going to be around for future generations, Johnson said.

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donald trump

Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he was given a faulty microphone during the first presidential debate.

"They also gave me a defective mic," the Republican presidential candidate told reporters in the spin room after the debate at Hofstra University in New York. "Did you notice that? My mic was defective within the room."

He continued: "Was that on purpose? But I had a mic that wasn't working properly. But overall, I thought it was a great  and if you look at your polls, they're through the roof."

It was not immediately clear what issue the real-estate magnate was referring to, but some observers online noted that Trump appeared to be sniffling during the debate.

There was no immediate public evidence that Trump's microphone was tampered with.

Over the course of the campaign, Trump has repeatedly complained about the audio at his debates, occasionally threatening to withhold payment from his rally venues when equipment malfunctions.

NOW WATCH: Trump's campaign manager: 'He was quite a gentleman' at the debate





More From Business Insider


(This version of the September 26th story has been refiled to add dropped word "social" in paragraph 11)

BERLIN (Reuters) - Justice Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday the German government could take legal action against Facebook and other social media groups if they do not intensify their fight against illegal hate speech or Islamist "terror phantasies".

Maas said Facebook, Twitter and Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, were removing illegal content from the Internet more frequently and quickly, but more work was needed.

He said the social media groups responded mostly to requests by government-funded organizations but did not take private complaints as seriously.

"Of the illegal content reported by users, Twitter deletes about 1 percent, YouTube just 10 percent, and Facebook about 46 percent," Maas said. Those rates were too low, he said.

Maas said he would decide on next steps after government study was completed in March, could not rule out legal measures. He did not elaborate.

"The situation has improved, but it's not nearly good enough," Maas said. "We have to keep up the pressure on the companies."

German political leaders and regulators say the world's largest social network, with 1.6 billion monthly users, has been slow to respond to hate speech and anti-immigrant messages.

European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova told the news conference with Maas that she was counting on voluntary steps by social media firms and preferred to avoid deadlines.

Konstantin von Notz, deputy leader of the Green party's parliamentary group, said the German government had ignored the problem for too long, and Maas' deadline only put off any real action for another six months.

"This problem is too important for our society. The chancellor should take the issue in hand herself. Her justice minister is clearly in over his head," he said in a statement.

Mathias Doepfner, who heads Germany's Axel Springer media group, told newspaper executives that social media organizations should be regulated like telecommunications firms, which are "not held responsible if people use their phone to talk about stupid or dangerous stuff".

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"If these quasi-monopolistic technology platforms are also responsible for content, the consequences will be grave - for business and society," he said.

Facebook touched off a firestorm earlier this month when it deleted an iconic Vietnam War photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack, saying it violated restrictions on nudity.

The company later reinstated the photograph after it received multiple complaints, including from Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who accused Facebook of censorship and of editing history.

(Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Hans-Edzard Busesmann and Andrea Shalal)
Now that all of my inside-the-beltway, elitist, morally superior friends and colleagues have weighed in with their self-righteous denunciations of Donald Trump, it's my turn.

After initially opposing his candidacy for president, I have come around to another point of view.

The election of Hillary Clinton will perpetuate and probably worsen everything many people hate about our bloated and dysfunctional government, collectively and derisively known as "Washington." The election of Donald Trump will offer an opportunity -- perhaps the last for decades -- to "fire" or at least isolate the elites, returning the country to its constitutional boundaries.

All analogies break down at some point, but let's engage in a theological stretch. When Jesus overturned the money changer's tables in the temple, he said that instead of a house of prayer, the elites of his day had turned the temple into "a den of thieves."

That increasingly applies to Washington. If Clinton wins in November, government will grow bigger and more expensive with all of her "investment" ideas, many of which have been tried before and failed. Remember the "stimulus," which was targeted at infrastructure? Remember "shovel-ready jobs," which were neither?

Under President Hillary Clinton, what's to stop secular progressives from exacting revenge on churches and pastors who preach a different gospel than the one they favor? It has already started in Massachusetts with the transgender public accommodations bill, taking effect Oct. 1. The law allows transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that match their gender identities. It also protects them, writes the Boston Globe, "from discrimination in public spaces such as museums, restaurants, malls, and libraries." And even churches, which may hold different views on the transgender issue, because they routinely hold events such as Bingo night, spaghetti dinners, book drives and charity car washes, all of which are open to the general public. The church hall may now be considered public space.

Seventeen U.S. states have similar laws. If Hillary gets to appoint justices to the Supreme Court, will we be forced to accept more like this?

Trump is addressing the legitimate concerns of a large number of Americans who increasingly feel ignored by their government. These concerns include anemic economic growth. A growing economy produces private-sector jobs that create capital and wealth. These forgotten Americans are against open borders, which the president seemed to champion in his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly. Billionaire George Soros has pledged "to invest up to $500 million in programs and companies benefiting migrants and refugees fleeing life-threatening situations."

Many are tired of fighting wars we don't win and fighting terrorism with no clear strategy, all the while admitting more "refugees" from countries where terrorism is a way of death. They are weary of the denigration of law enforcement. Hardworking people are tired of being told they are not paying enough in taxes to a government that only wastes it.

The ignored are tired of being branded racists. Christians are tired of being called homophobes and Islamophobes and told their beliefs are inferior to those who want to destroy the country and undermine values that were once widely held. If the secular progressive agenda is considered progress, as they claim, what would regress look like?

Choosing a president is always a roll of the dice (to use a Trump casino metaphor). We know what we will get with Clinton, including corruption at the highest level. Those foreign donors to the Clinton Foundation will undoubtedly expect something in return. With Trump we don't know for sure what we'll get, beyond promises he has made and some contradictory positions he has taken. We can only hope that good people will serve and surround him, including running mate Mike Pence and the policy wonk Newt Gingrich.

Only one candidate for president is capable of overturning the "money changers" in Washington. The political, governmental and media elites have had their chance to turn things around and they have failed. Now it's time for Trump.

I just hope I don't have to eat my words.
* German two-year yields drop to minus 0.70 percent

* Finland 10-year yields below zero for first time

* Deutsche Bank stock drops 10 pct in two days

* Volkswagen, Commerzbank add to German woes (Adds quote, adds details on Spain and NordLB, updates prices)

By John Geddie and Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Germany's short-term government borrowing costs hit a record low on Tuesday, as did shares in the country's biggest lender Deutsche Bank, on investor concern about the health of the financial industry in Europe's largest economy.

A broad rally in the euro zone's top-rated bonds, seen as a safe haven in times of stress, also saw Finland become the third euro area member to see its 10-year yields drop below zero, while the bloc's stock markets gave up early gains.

In other bad news for the German economy, Volkswagen's shares slumped on a report that the U.S. government was assessing how big a criminal fine it could impose on the carmaker without putting it out of business and Germany's second biggest lender Commerzbank announced 9,000 job cuts.

But Deutsche Bank, whose stock has shed more than 10 percent in the last two days and over 50 percent so far this year, is the focus of concerns after a media report said it had requested Berlin's help with a demand for $14 billion from the U.S. government to settle claims it mis-sold mortgage-backed securities. Deutsche denied the report.

"Deutsche is a natural suspect for the move in the Bund yields," said Ciaran O'Hagan, strategist at Societe Generale.

"Germany is a core-rated country, and worries over Deutsche will still benefit Bunds...even if the concerns about Deutsche hurt Germany Inc."

German two-year bond yields fell to a record low of minus 0.711 percent, down 3 basis points on the day, while 10-year yields dropped 4 bps to minus 0.15 percent at one stage, their lowest since Aug. 15.

"There's a risk-off mood in the market prompted by the Deutsche Bank worries, and you can see that mood reflected across asset swap spreads, and an underperformance of peripheral bonds," said Benjamin Schroeder, senior rates strategist at ING.

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That cautious mood prompted German lender NordLB to shelve a planned bond issue on Tuesday as it struggled to find demand amid broader concerns about the country's banking sector.

Elsewhere, Finland's 10-year yield fell into negative territory for the first time, down 2.5 basis points at minus 0.015 percent.

That means investors are now willing to pay Finland to lend to it for 10 years, a boon so far only granted to Germany and the Netherlands within the single currency bloc, and only to a handful of countries globally.

Spain's 10-year bond yield also hit a fresh low of 0.89 percent, though it edged back up to 0.91 percent by 1500 GMT, down 1.8 bps on the day.

Aside from Germany's woes, strategists pointed to upcoming U.S. elections and a referendum on constitutional reform in Italy that could jolt markets in the coming months and increase demand for top-rated bonds.

Investors in Italian bonds appeared to take a crumb of comfort for the government's decision on Monday to push back the date for the referendum to December, a move that may give Prime Minister Matteo Renzi time to win over sceptical voters.

(Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Hugh Lawson)
Berlin (AFP) - German data protection authorities on Tuesday said they had blocked Facebook from collecting subscriber data from its subsidiary WhatsApp, citing privacy concerns.

Facebook and WhatsApp promised in the wake of the Silicon Valley giant's 2014 acquisition of the messaging app that they would not share data, Hamburg's Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Johannes Caspar said in a statement.

He added that Facebook would be required to delete any data already received from WhatsApp in Germany.

"It has to be (the users') decision whether they want to connect their account with Facebook," Caspar said. "Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance."

Facebook said it would challenge the decision.

"Facebook complies with EU data protection law. We will appeal this order and will work with the Hamburg DPA in an effort to address their questions and resolve any concerns," a Facebook spokeswoman told AFP.

WhatsApp announced in August that it would begin sharing data with Facebook, in a bid to allow better targeted advertising and to fight spam on the platform.

Currently, users of the instant messenger must opt out of sending information to Facebook through WhatsApp's settings on their smartphone.

Caspar said that he had acted to protect the privacy of 35 million WhatsApp users in Germany -- a fraction of some one billion worldwide -- and that of people saved in their address books, whose details might also be forwarded under the data-sharing arrangement.

Facebook's activities in German-speaking regions are managed through its subsidiary in Hamburg, placing the firm under the jurisdiction of the regulator in the northern port city.

WhatsApp's announcement that it would share information with Facebook came just four months after the service introduced end-to-end encryption by default, saying that the content of messages would become unreadable for anyone except the sender and receiver.

In mid-September, the European Commission recommended tighter privacy and security requirements for services including WhatsApp and Microsoft-owned video calling service Skype, saying they should be regulated more like traditional telecoms.

Subjecting the internet firms to such rules could force them to offer emergency calling services and to obey stricter privacy rules.
ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana will close its 2015/16 cocoa season on Thursday after a year in which dry weather contributed to around an 8.2 percent production shortfall against a 850,000 tonne target set by industry regulator Cocobod. The timing of Cocobod's decision is to allow buyers and farmers to prepare for the 2016/17 crop which is expected to open in early October. "All licensed buying companies are kindly requested to wind up all operational activities of the 2015/16 cocoa crop season before the opening of the 2016/17 main crop season," the regulator said in a statement. The 2015/16 season in Ghana, the world's second biggest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast, began last Oct. 2 and total output is expected at about 780,000 tonnes, up 11 percent on last season, government sources told Reuters. Cocobod Chief executive Stephen Opuni said Cocobod would purchase 850,000 to 900,000 tonnes of beans in the new season. Cocobod, which markets and exports cocoa and cocoa products produced in Ghana, signed a $1.8 billion loan with international banks last week to finance the purchases. (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Jane Merriman)
A little girl brought a Charlotte city council meeting to its knees with her emotional plea amid unrest in the area that followed the fatal shooting of a black man by police.

"It's a shame that our fathers and mothers are killed and we can't see them anymore," Zianna Oliphant told City Council members at the meeting Monday. "It's a shame that we have to go through that graveyard and bury them. We need our fathers and mothers to be by our side."

Read: 13-Year-Old Boy Fatally Shot by Police After He Pointed BB Gun at Officers

The little girl stood on a stool as she addressed the group, sobbing as she spoke.

"Ive been born and raised in Charlotte. And I never felt this way till now and I cant stand how were treated," she said. "We are black people and we shouldnt have to feel like this. We shouldnt have to protest because yall are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights."

Zianna was one of several children who showed up with their parents at the meeting, where councilmembers sat for hours as residents demanded change in the wake of Kevin Lamont Scott's September 21 death.

Another child, an area boy, also spoke.

"I've come here to let you know how I feel," said the boy. "Our black fathers shouldn't have to be buried and our black children shouldn't have to go to the graveyard to bury our fathers...We need to stop racism, we need to be equal. The black community and us black people need to come together to fight for our rights."

Another boy, who spoke earlier, told council members: "The reason why I'm here is to protect the black community... Every day when I wake up, I'm scared that I won't grow up to be a black man. I'm here to protest for my kind. I hope that black people don't go extinct."

Scott was reportedly inside a car near a Charlotte apartment complex when police responded to a call about a suspect there. Scott was not the suspect, but officers say they saw him get out of the car holding a gun.

Story continues

Read: Protesters Swarm Charlotte Streets as Police Defend Fatal Shooting of Black Man

Cops say he got back in the car then came out again while still holding the gun. It was then that officers deemed him a threat and Scott was killed, according to the Associated Press.

The Charlotte mayor's office identified the officer who killed Scott as Brentley Vinson, who is black.

Members of Scott's family and his community have dismissed the police account that Scott had a gun.

Some of the citizen speakers called on Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Police Chief Kerr Putney and other council members to resign as protests entered their second week.

Watch: Family of Unarmed Man Fatally Shot by Police Demands Justice: 'It Feels Like a Nightmare'

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Hillary Clinton in 1998, Rudy Giuliani in 2016 and Monica Lewinsky in 1998. (Photos: Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images, Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images Roberto Borea/AP)

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Monday night that Donald Trump is too much of a gentleman to dig up the Lewinsky scandal to attack his political opponent. But Giuliani isnt.

After the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Giuliani delivered a litany of reasons he considers Trump to be a feminist despite frequent accusations of chauvinism against the GOP nominee, including about fair treatment of women at his organization.

Donald Trump is an honest person, and he was too reserved and gentlemanly in the end to say what I wouldve said about Hillary Clintons attack on him about not being a feminist, Giuliani told reporters in a video shot by Alexandra Svokos of Elite Daily.

What would you have said? one journalist asked.

Im not sure I should tell you what I wouldve said. I sure wouldve talked about what she did to Monica Lewinsky, he said. What that woman standing there did to Monica Lewinsky, trying to paint her as an insane young woman, when in fact Monica Lewinsky was an intern.

I asked Giuliani if Trump is a feminist #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/xWvkgVuKXV  Alexandra Svokos (@asvokos) September 27, 2016

Giuliani said that former President Bill Clinton disgraced the United States with his indiscretion in the Oval Office. The former mayor further accused Hillary Clinton of disparaging the White House intern.

She didnt just stand by him. She attacked Monica Lewinsky, he said. And after being married to Bill Clinton for 20 years, if you didnt know the moment Monica Lewinsky said that Bill Clinton violated her that she was telling the truth, then youre too stupid to be president.

Leading up to the debate, Trump hinted strongly that another one of Clintons sex scandals would be fair game. The GOP nominee threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, with whom Clinton has admitted to conducting an affair, to sit in the front row of the audience. His campaign subsequently walked back the invite, but after the debate, Trump told Yahoo News he only avoided bringing up Clintons scandal out of respect for Chelsea Clinton, who was also in the audience.

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According to a journal entry from Clintons close friend, Diane Blair, who died in 2000, the former first lady called Lewinsky a narcissistic loony yoon in private conversation when dealing with the fallout from her husbands infidelity.

In this image taken from video, Monica Lewinsky embraces President Bill Clinton as he greeted well-wishers at a White House lawn party, Nov. 6, 1996. (Photo: APTV/AP)

In recent years, Lewinsky has reemerged in public life as an anti-bullying activist. She opened up about her experiences in a May 2014 essay for Vanity Fair and gave a TED talk about the harm of cyberbullying in March 2015.

After the essay appeared, ABC News journalist Diane Sawyer asked Clinton how she felt about Lewinskys being back in the news.

Shes perfectly free to do that. She is in my view an American who is free to express herself however she chooses, but thats not something that I spend a lot of time thinking about.

When addressing the topic in the past, Clinton has said she dealt with the scandal at the time, wrote about it in her book Living History, and has since moved on. She has said she wishes Lewinsky well.
Headlines about the first televised debate between U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were predominate in much of the worlds media outlets Tuesday, with many largely opining that Clinton came up trumps.

European press, in particular, lauded Clinton for her poise and being calm and well-prepared for the debate. Left-leaning UK newspaper The Guardian led with the headline, Clinton calm as Trump struggles on issues of racism, sexism and foreign policy. It said the candidates had several heated exchanges and Clinton landed several big blows including on Trumps taxes and racist behavior regarding birtherism. Right-leaning Brit paper The Telegraph said the debate, which was likely watched by more than 100 million people on U.S. TVs, revealed Donald Trumps limitations.

This was a lesson in the limits of Trump the entertainer, wrote Ruth Sherlock. Under the glare of the lights on the debate stage at Hofstra University, Donald Trump faltered. The debate format, in which each candidate was given two whole minutes to answer a question, did not lend itself to fast quips. She added that Trump rambled and struggled to make clear points.

German paper Der Spiegel dubbed the Republican nominee erratic and uncertain while Frances center-left paper Le Monde said Trump drowned in his own speeches. Frances Le Figaro, which leans center-right, claimed Clinton had managed to destabilize her opponent in the first debate.

A number of Brit headlines including The Telegraph, Daily Mail, the Independent and The Times all pointed to Clinton branding Trump a racist, and the concern amongst much of the continents business world and left-leaning media was that a Trump presidency would have detrimental ramifications across the world.

However, Guardian political commentator Jill Abramson said that while Trump was rude, Clinton came off as too pleased with herself and failed, once again, to deliver a digestible vision of how she would change the country. But she added that if Clintons intention was to let Trump asphyxiate himself, mission accomplished.

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Piers Morgan, who counts himself as a friend of Trump, couldnt help but get his two cents in on his UK morning talk show Good Morning Britain, which he co-hosts with Susanna Reid. Morgan credited himself with Clintons performance on the debate. She obviously read my column yesterday urging her not to trade punches and not to back down, he said, referring to his regular column in the Daily Mail.

Italian press such as Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica newspapers pointed to the issues that riled the candidates the most during the debate such as employment, the economy, racial tensions and terrorism with the latter indicating that neither candidate fought hard enough to earn the knockout blow.

Meanwhile in Russia, the countrys TV channel Rossiya 1 claimed Russia was one of the key topics of the debate and independent newspaper Nesavisimaya Gazeta claimed Trump appeals to Russian sympathizers in the U.S., who like his proposal to restrict the access of illegal migrants to the country.

Iranian state TV highlighted the candidates take on Irans nuclear issue while Qatars Al-Jazeera focused on comments made on the Middle East region, saying that Trump attempted to blame Clinton for the failure of U.S.-Middle Eastern policies and had therefore caused chaos in the region.

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By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc managing director and the bank have settled dueling lawsuits over his claim for legal fees stemming from probes into his alleged use of confidential U.S. Federal Reserve documents.

The deal came a month after the Fed began an enforcement action against the ex-managing director, Joseph Jiampietro, accusing him of asking a subordinate to obtain confidential information from a New York Fed analyst.

The settlement between Goldman and Jiampietro was revealed in papers filed late last week in Delaware Chancery Court. Terms were not disclosed.

Goldman and Adam Ford, a lawyer for Jiampietro, declined to comment on Tuesday.

Jiampietro had sued Goldman in July to force it to cover his legal expenses, then estimated at $450,000, for probes the Fed and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority started last year.

Goldman subsequently sued Jiampietro in a New York state court in Manhattan to force him to arbitrate his claim.

Jiampietro sued before the Fed began enforcement proceedings against him on Aug. 3, when it also announced a $36.3 million settlement with Goldman for the unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential information.

The Fed said Jiampietro asked Rohit Bansal, a Goldman associate who previously worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on multiple occasions in 2014 to obtain confidential information from the analyst.

Jiampietro and Bansal then used the information in Goldman Sachs' regulatory advisory work for current clients and pitches to potential clients, the Fed said.

The Fed wants to fine Jiampietro and bar him from the banking industry. Jiampietro denies wrongdoing.

Bansal and the former New York Fed employee, Jason Gross, pleaded guilty in November to theft of government property, a misdemeanor, and were sentenced to probation in March.

Those pleas were entered a month after Goldman reached a related $50 million settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services.

The cases are Jiampietro v. Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Delaware Court of Chancery, No. 12601-VCL, and The Goldman Sachs Group Inc v. Jiampietro, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 654364/2016.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
(Story corrects September 13th instance to show Nest is owned by Alphabet)

MONACO (Reuters) - Google is looking to establish partnerships between insurance companies and some of its parent company Alphabet's businesses including Nest, which makes smart thermostats and smoke detectors, the managing director of its French division said.

But the U.S. firm was not focusing on entering the insurance market directly, Nick Leeder added.

"With some of the things we have done around Nest, we have been working with insurers in France like AXA and Allianz to develop bundles of products which blend technology and hardware with insurance," Leeder said during a panel discussion at the reinsurance industry's annual meeting in Monte Carlo on Tuesday.

"Were clearer about the role that we can play and what we can add, and we are looking for partners."

More than 40 percent of insurers see Google as a potential rival and threat because of its strong brand and ability to manage customer data, a report from consultants Capgemini earlier this year found.

But that was not where Google was directing its efforts.

"We are not a company that uses the word never much, so it's difficult to rule things in or out. I think there are things that we are good at and things we are not good at," the Google France boss said.

Areas Google had been focusing more on included health care, and it shut down its price comparison site for motor insurance, Google Compare, earlier this year.

"We found it didnt work as well as wed like," Leeder said.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; editing by John Stonestreet)
David Perdue

Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia told Business Insider on Monday that the battle over the government spending bill is "one reason why Donald Trump is doing so well."

On Tuesday, the Senate voted to reject a spending bill to fund the government through early December by a 45-55 vote, far short of the 60 needed to pass.

If no extension is passed by the end of the week, there will be a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Senate Democrats have said they will refuse to back a bill that provides disaster relief to Louisiana but not to Flint, Michigan for its water crisis.

A total of 13 Republicans, including Perdue, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, joined the Democrats in opposing the bill Tuesday.

Speaking in Hempstead, New York, before the first presidential debate at Hofstra University, Perdue said Monday that he's "outraged" an agreement on funding the government for the near future has not been met. But, he did say he's sure a bill will get passed this week.

"I mean, neither side benefits from a day past the end of the fiscal year," he said. "I will say there are political games going on to keep Republican senators who are running for office in Washington longer than they need to be."

"We should've done this last week," he continued. "Actually, this whole thing should've been done back in July to be honest with you."

The Georgia Republican said this is an example of the "political insider games" that "outrages people back at home."

"It's one reason why Donald Trump is doing so well," he said.

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Days before the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture near the Washington Monument, a couple of bizarre political developments illustrated why we Americans need it.

And I do mean all Americans. Even if you think this isnt your story, as the museums director, Lonnie G. Bunch III, recently told the Washington Post, it is.

Thats a reasonable response to the cynical wags and trolls who pepper internet comment threads with sarcastic objections like, I thought segregation was over, and When are we going to have a museum for white people?

Weve got em, pal. But having visited museums of various sorts across this great land of ours, I am happy to report that the contributions made by Americans of color to our national narrative are increasingly included. Diversity is in. Conscientious curators like Bunch, former head of the Chicago Historical Society, have made a difference.

Yet too many of us Americans still harbor woefully incomplete views of life on the other side of our racial divide.

Take, for example, the comments that last week cost Kathy Miller her position as volunteer chairwoman of Donald Trumps presidential campaign in northeastern Ohios Mahoning County.

Problems emerged after a videotaped interview with Britains Guardian in which she was asked whether Trumps candidacy has encouraged a just-below-the-surface racism to surface.

I dont think there was any racism until Obama got elected, Miller replied. We never had problems like this. You know, Im in the real estate industry. Theres none.

Say what? This takes the usual Republican Blame Obama First strategy to a new low. Being in real estate, for example, surely she has heard of redlining, the denial of conventional mortgages and insurance to homes in predominately black zip codes.

Or she could Google up the words panic peddling or blockbusting that stirred white flight and destabilized neighborhoods to turn racial anxieties into big profits.

Miller seemed to think opportunities and obstacles across racial lines are all equal now. If youre black and you havent been successful in the last 50 years, its your own fault, she said. Youve had every opportunity, it was given to you.

Youve had the same schools everybody else went to, she said. You had benefits to go to college that white kids didnt have. You had all the advantages and didnt take advantage of it. Its not our fault, certainly.

Even so, weve got a long way to go before we can say blacks nationwide have the same schools or college opportunities as everybody else.

Yet if Miller thinks blacks have made plenty of progress, her candidate Trump seems to think we havent made any. He still preaches an oddly back-handed invitation to black voters, mostly in front of white audiences: What the hell do you have to lose?

Last Tuesday, he went a step further. He told a North Carolina crowd that our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape theyve ever been in before. Ever, ever, ever!

Ever? As Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and civil rights icon, responded to MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell: Is he talking about worse than slavery? Worse than the system of segregation and racial discrimination  when we couldnt take a seat at the lunch counter and be served? Worse than being denied the right to register to vote, to participate in the democratic process and live in certain neighborhoods and communities?

With apologies for her inappropriate comments, Kathy Miller resigned her chairmanship and her eligibility to be an elector in the Electoral College. She was replaced by Tracey Winbush, a Youngstown radio talk show host who also happens to be an African-American. During the primaries, she was a fierce Trump critic. Now, she says, thats history  the sort, I presume, that she would rather forget.
Theres no doubt about it: The hottest presidential debate viewing party is happening at Will & Graces old apartment.

RELATEDA 7th Heaven Reunion? Only If Reverend Camden Dies, Says Catherine Hicks

As revealed this weekend in a series of mind-blowing tweets, the cast reunited to film a (10-minute!) episode that we can now confirm is related to the election.

In the video, uploaded a little over an hour before the highly anticipated Trump/Clinton showdown was set to air, the whole gang  Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes  discusses our nations current political climate. (Spoiler alert: There isnt a whole lot of love to go around for Trump except from Karen.)

And while our nation may be divided over the candidates, we can all agree on a few things here: Not only do these actors look like they havent aged a day, but the electric chemistry that kept Will & Grace on the air for eight (mostly) glorious seasons is still alive and well.

In addition to the Trump/Hillary talk, this blessing from TV heaven also includes timely mentions of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies divorce, as well as Ryan Lochtes protestors on Dancing With the Stars.

Hit PLAY on the video above, then drop a comment with your thoughts below.

Launch Gallery: Will & Grace Reunion Photos

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A Chicago-area man is suing his teen grandson after the boy was involved in a car crash that killed his wife, saying the childs negligent behavior caused his grandmothers death, according to reports.

Kuem Soon Cho, 79, handed the keys to her 2005 Chrysler minivan to her 13-year-old grandson to help her put her car into gear at about 9 p.m. March 26, Niles Police said at the time.

Read: Grandfather Allegedly Gets Attacked By Substitute Elementary Teacher

The teen shifted the vehicle into reverse with his foot accidentally on the gas pedal instead of the brake, sending the car backwards as the elderly woman walked up to the open drivers side door, cops said.

The minivans open door struck the boys grandmother, gravely injuring her, officials said.

She was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy ruled the womans death an accident. The grandson was never charged in her death.

Read: Grandmother of 'Heroin Boy' in Controversial Photo Gets 6 Months After Pleading No Contest

But Chos husband, Paul Sang Cho, said his grandsons negligence caused his wifes death, according to a wrongful death suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court Friday, CBS reported.

The suit, which is seeking an unspecified amount of money, claims Chos grandson carelessly failed to keep the vehicle under control, failed to give warning and failed to yield the right of way, the television station said.

Watch: 12-Year-Old Girl Takes Cops On 100 MPH Chase After Stealing Grandma's Car

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Granite Construction Inc. GVA as part of a joint venture (JV), has been awarded a Airport Guideway and Stations Design-Build Contract by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Granite Construction will book its 33% share of the $875 million JV project into backlog during the third quarter of 2016.



The JV team is comprised of Granite Construction Company, Shimmick Construction Co., Inc. and Traylor Bros. The scope of work entails the construction of 5.2 miles of new elevated guideway between Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center Station in Honolulu, HI. Per the contract, the team will also construct the Pearl Harbor Naval Base transit station, two stations near the Honolulu International Airport and the Middle Street station. Construction will commence in spring 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2021. This is the third guideway project in a series of projects to build a 20-mile light rail transit system for the City and County of Honolulu.



At the second quarter end, contract backlog was at a record $3.8 billion, up 25% year-over-year, fueled by new and enhanced client relationships. Record backlog presents the company with opportunities for focused and improved execution. It also provides organic and diversified growth, as well as improved financial results.



Subsequent to the second quarter end, Granite Construction was awarded a $29 million contract by the United States Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command to repair and repave the Campbell Army Airfield in Fort Campbell, KY. The companys wholly-owned subsidiary, Kenny Construction Company was awarded a $23 million bridge reconstruction contract by the Illinois Department of Transportation related to the Jayne Byrne Interchange Project in Chicago, IL. These projects will be booked into backlog during the third quarter of 2016.



Further, consecutive quarter of year-over-year margin expansion in the Construction segment, continues to mitigate the weak performance in the Large Project segment. Moving towards the end of 2016, the company believes the FAST Act will begin to provide public markets with some of the well-overdue stability needed to equalize the difficult balance of modern infrastructure funding demands.



GRANITE CONSTRU Price



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GRANITE CONSTRU Price | GRANITE CONSTRU Quote



Granite Construction currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Greenpeace activists on Tuesday blocked operations of Malaysian palm oil trader IOI at Rotterdam Port, accusing it of forest destruction and child labor, but other traffic at Europe's busiest port was unaffected, a port spokesman said. Ten activists are blocking IOI, one of the world's biggest producers and traders of palm oil, from accessing its refinery, and the Greenpeace ship Esperanza is preventing oil from being unloaded from incoming tankers, Greenpeace said. The action, which began mid-morning, was focused only on one mooring place used for palm oil coming from Indonesia and was therefore not disrupting other traffic, port spokesman Tie Schellekens said. Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb had traveled to the spot in order to seek a compromise. "There is no resolution yet," Schellekens said. IOI could not immediately be reached for comment. In April, the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) withdrew IOI's 'sustainability certification' after allegations the company had illegally chopped down rainforests in Indonesia and planted palm crops on peatland. But the body announced in August that IOI had satisfied conditions for the suspension to be lifted, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from environmental groups. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
The group of undecided voters gathered in Philadelphias National Constitution Center really wanted Donald Trump to convince them tonight, to win them over and prove he can offer detailed solutions to the problems he points out. But he didnt.

I was really hoping to see a different Donald Trump tonight, a blonde woman assembled as part of pollster Frank Luntzs focus group of undecided voters lamented after the conclusion of the first presidential debate.

I wanted him to come out in this, but she beat him, said another.

The group had gathered hours earlier to discuss their views on the state of the race and why today, just 42 days out from the election, they still dont know who they plan on voting for.

Luntz began the evening by asking the 27 voters to yell out which candidate theyre leaning towards supporting. Sitting on raised platforms surrounded by paintings of Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy and images of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the loudest shout came from the front row: I hate them all!

Luntz then asked the group if they feel like theyre getting the candidates they deserve. After a resounding No, Luntz protested they voted for Trump and Clinton; they won the primaries. I didnt! multiple people yelled back.

These undecided voters were angry. Every single one raised their hands to say theyre disappointed in this election. I have voted in every election since I was 18 years old. This is the first one Im going to sit out, said a Republican in the front row. He was one of ten in the group who initially said if nothing major changed their mind, they would not vote for president in November. (That number dropped to six after the debate.)

During the debate between two candidates that one voter framed as the choice between a heart attack and a stroke, the voters largely agreed that they were hoping to see substance from both candidates, especially from Trump, who they felt had more to prove.

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Him just not saying something outrageous isnt policy, one man said. I want to know if he knows what hes talking about, echoed an African American woman.

But once the debate started, Trump did not deliver.

Each voter had a dial in their hand that they could turn to register favorable or unfavorable opinions in real time. They were grouped into three trend lines: those that lean towards Trump, truly undecided, and those who lean towards Clinton. This data showed all three categories ranking Trump extremely low when he got caught on the defensive. When moderator Lester Holt asked Trump why he hasnt released his tax returns, even the voters leaning towards Trump rated Trumps response in the 30s (50 is neutral). That same group went up to 70 during Clintons response, when she said, There must be something that hes hiding.

When Trump was caught struggling to defend his previous positions on the Iraq War, claiming that he never supported it, Trump leaners and undecided dipped into the 30s, and Clinton leaners went into the 20s.

And Trump went even lower when he defended his temperament, saying it is his strongest asset and better than Clintons. At that point, Trump leaners sank to the high 20s, undecided to low 20s, and Clinton leaners to the high teens.

By comparison, when Clinton was on her back foot talking about her email scandal, undecided voters dropped to the mid-30s and Trump leaners to the 40s.

She at least went ahead and takes responsibility for doing something wrong, while he just continues to deny any wrongdoing, one viewer said after the debate of why he felt Clintons response to the email scandal was less bad than Trumps tax return exchange.

Clinton struggled at points too; the voters judged her harshly when she attempted to attack Trump. When she quipped that Trump just joined the debate by saying more crazy things, the undecided line fell to 30. Whereas when Trump tried a similar personal attack against Clinton later in the debate, saying, When you try to act holier than thou, it really doesnt work, the undecided line was up in the 60s.

Clintons best moments came discussing criminal justice reform. When Trump called for law and order, the voters remained about neutral. But when Clinton responded and said, We cant just say law and order, we have to come up with a plan, numbers soared as she outlined her specific policy proposals. Undecided went up into the 70s, Trump leaners went up to the 60s, and Clinton leaners were all the way up in the 90s at her highest score of the night.

On the other hand, the voters responded positively when Trump called attention to problems in the nation and the issues with entrenched career politicians. When he said that President Obama and Clintons policies led to the rise of ISIS, undecided voters shot up to the 70s. When he talked about bringing his business sense to running the country, the lines also went up.

What never worked? When the candidates talked over each other or over the moderator. Voters almost always reacted negatively to interruptions and personal barbs between Trump and Clinton or in the instances when Trump talked over Holt.

These results show both sides of what the undecided voters want. They liked to see Trump exposing problems in the system, but they appreciated Clintons focus on detailed solutions. And they eschew extreme partisanship and bickering.

I like competency and a track record of success, one voter said after the debate. And you didnt get it? Luntz asked. The voter sighed in exasperation: Not in one person.

After the debate, 16 viewers voted that Clinton had won, including the man who had the beginning of the night had identified himself as the most pro-Trump in the room. (He definitely didnt help himself, he said of Trump afterwards.) Only six people said Trump had won.

Many were frustrated at Trumps long-winded answers, which to them seemed to be full of sound and fury but signifying nothing, to borrow a phrase. He dug his own grave by just talking, and talking, and talking, one viewer said.

If he was a student in my middle school classroom, I would have told him to finish answering the question you were being asked, and then shut your mouth, a woman said.

In the end, the voters felt it was Trumps failure more than Clintons success that swayed them tonight. But they still arent satisfied: The problem is Hillary Clinton was much better prepared  But I didnt necessarily like the answers that she gave, one man said.

Almost all of them said they would be watching the next two debates.
By Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The collapse of the latest Syria ceasefire has heightened the possibility that Gulf states might arm Syrian rebels with shoulder-fired missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian warplanes, U.S. officials said on Monday. Still, the U.S. administration continues to maintain that negotiations are the only way to end the carnage after Russian-backed Syrian forces intensified their bombing of Aleppo, the last major urban area in rebel hands. The latest U.S. attempt to end Syria's 5-1/2 year civil war was shattered on Sept. 19 when a humanitarian aid convoy was bombed in an attack Washington blamed on Russian aircraft. Moscow denied involvement. On Monday, medical supplies were running out in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, with victims pouring into barely functioning hospitals as Russia and its Syrian ally President Bashar al-Assad ignored Western pleas to stop the bombing. One consequence of the latest diplomatic failure may be that Gulf Arab states or Turkey could step up arms supplies to rebel factions, including shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, something the United States has largely prevented until now. One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss American policy, said Washington has kept large numbers of such man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, out of Syria by uniting Western and Arab allies behind channeling training and infantry weapons to moderate opposition groups while it pursued talks with Moscow. But frustration with Washington has intensified, raising the possibility that Gulf allies or Turkey will no longer continue to follow the U.S. lead or will turn a blind eye to wealthy individuals looking to supply MANPADS to opposition groups. "The Saudis have always thought that the way to get the Russians to back off is what worked in Afghanistan 30 years ago  negating their air power by giving MANPADS to the mujahideen," said a second U.S. official. "So far, weve been able to convince them that the risks of that are much higher today because were not dealing with a Soviet Union in retreat, but a Russian leader whos bent on rebuilding Russian power and less likely to flinch," this official said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Asked if the United States was willing to do anything beyond negotiations to try to stop the violence, State Department spokesman Mark Toner did not outline other steps, but stressed that Washington does not want to see anyone pouring more weapons into the conflict. "What you would have as a result is just an escalation in what is already horrific fighting," Toner said. "Things could go from bad to much worse." RIGHT TO DEFENSE Another administration official, however, said, The opposition has a right to defend itself and they will not be left defenseless in the face of this indiscriminate bombardment. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted that other U.S. allies and partners have been involved in the U.S.-Russian talks to find a resolution to the war. We dont believe they will take lightly to the kind of outrages weve seen in the last 72 hours," said the administration official, who added that he would not comment on the specific capability that might be brought into the fight. He declined to elaborate. Critics of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has sought to avoid getting into another Middle East war and seems unlikely to do so in his final months, argued that U.S. diplomacy has been hamstrung by the White House's reluctance to use force. "Diplomacy in the absence of leverage is a recipe for failure," Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Republican critics of the Democratic White House, said in a statement. "Putin and Assad will not do what we ask of them out of the goodness of their hearts, or out of concern for our interests, or the suffering of others. They must be compelled, and that requires power," they added. "Until the United States is willing to take steps to change the conditions on the ground in Syria, the war, the terror, the refugees, and the instability will all continue." "BEYOND THE PALE" White House spokesman Josh Earnest accused the Russians of targeting the civilian water supply of eastern Aleppo used by refugee camps, aid convoys, and the White Helmets, a civilian group that seeks to rescue victims of air strikes. "The idea of weaponizing access to a clean water supply for civilians; its beyond the pale," Earnest told reporters. Sarah Margon, director of Human Rights Watchs Washington office, said the actions alleged by Earnest "all constitute war crimes under international law." "The U.S. has treated Putin as a partner in peace instead of an accomplice and perpetrator of war crimes," Margon said. "The question is now what steps the U.S. will take to compel Russia to refrain from further abuse and from facilitating Assads atrocities." The White House did not immediately respond to an emailed question on whether the United States believed that Russia has committed war crimes, a charged made by Britain. (Additional reporting by Ayesha Rascoe in Washington and Patricia Zengerle in Cartagena, Colombia; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Andrew Hay)
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Gunmen killed a Somali radio journalist in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, an official told Reuters. Killings of journalists in Somalia are not uncommon and are mostly blamed on al Shabaab, the Islamist militant group fighting to topple the country's Western backed government and rule the country according to sharia law. "Unidentified men armed with pistols killed our colleague this evening," Radio Shabelle's station manager, Abukar Sheikh, told Reuters by phone about Abdiasis Ali Haji. Police Major Mohamed Nur told Reuters he was killed by two men with pistols who fled before officers reached the scene. A statement by the National Union of Somali Journalists condemned the killing and asked the Somali government to urgently investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators. In June suspected al Shabaab gunmen shot and killed a female journalist, Sagal Salad, working for state-run Radio Mogadishu. Late last year, another female reporter who also worked for Radio Mogadishu was killed in a car blast. Two men convicted of the killing were executed in April. Somalia has been convulsed by instability, violence and lawlessness since early 1990s following the toppling of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. Propped up by an African Union mandated peacekeeping force, Somalia's military and central government have strengthened their grip on the country but a relentless campaign of bombings and gun assaults by al Shabaab persists. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Alison Williams)
AMSTERDAM/SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague has said it will oversee a compulsory conciliation between East Timor and Australia on their maritime boundary, rejecting Australian objections. East Timor asked for the process that could decide on which side of the border lies a large oil and gas field over which the two countries have a revenue-sharing agreement. The small island nation said Australian espionage on its diplomats rendered recent agreements between them flawed. The decision will exacerbate a rare diplomatic rift between Australia and its neighbor 610 km (380 miles) to the north, which it supported during a claim for independence from Indonesia in the late 1990s. Australia has resisted negotiating a permanent border until 2056 at the earliest. Australia and East Timor will now engage in a conciliation process that will take place behind closed doors over the next year, the court ruled late on Monday. The Australian foreign minister and attorney general said in a statement existing treaties between the countries had been "hugely beneficial" to East Timor but that "Australia accepts the commission's decision and will continue to engage in good faith". "We are committed to working together to strengthen our relationship and overcome our differences in the Timor Sea," the statement said. It also said the report to be produced by the commission would not be legally binding. East Timor Minister of State Agio Pereira welcomed the decision. "This process is an opportunity to set a good example in our region and we will engage with respect for the commission and its recommendations, ever conscious of the importance of maintaining the best possible relationship with our close neighbor Australia," Pereira said in a statement. (Reporting by Toby Sterling in AMSTERDAM and Byron Kaye in SYDNEY; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Paul Tait)
In his book, "Just Mercy", Bryan Stevenson, the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, wrote, "In debates about the death penalty, I had started arguing that we would never think it was humane to pay someone to rape people convicted of rape or assault and abuse someone guilty of assault or abuse. Yet we were comfortable killing people who kill, in part because we think we can do it in a manner that doesn't implicate our own humanity, the way that raping or abusing someone would. I couldn't stop thinking that we don't spend much time contemplating the details of what killing someone actually involves."
Tuesday marks the 20th anniversary of Sabrina, the Teenage Witchs TV debut.

Read: Tom Hanks Crashes Couple's Wedding Photo Shoot and Poses for a Selfie

Fans fell in love with Melissa Joan Hart 20 years ago as she played the teenager, who balanced her life between the horrors of high school, two eccentric aunts and her magical powers.

To mark the milestone, Hart, also a Nutrisystem spokeswoman, posted about the show on Instagram.

20 years laterlooks like I still got it. #sabrinatheteenagewitch #20yearanniversary Video credit: @Nutrisystem A video posted by Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart) on Sep 27, 2016 at 4:00am PDT

The actress, now 40, got her start producing and directing during her tenure as "Sabrina."

My mother and I got our started our production company with Sabrina. My mother eventually sold the company to Viacom. I got my producing and directing start while on Sabrina, she recalled.

View: Before They Were Famous - The Best Celeb Baby Pictures

Since then, she went on to produce her latest show, Melissa and Joey. She is also directing and producing a new feature, which is currently in development.

Hart's latest film, Gods Not Dead 2, is currently out on DVD. She called making that film a great experience.

Watch: First-Ever Wonder Woman Reacts to Her Character's Costume in 'Batman V. Superman'

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Coca-Cola (KO) says it is working to repay Mother Earth for all the water it uses to make its products around the world.

Water is our number one critical ingredient, Bea Perez, Coca-Colas chief sustainability officer told Yahoo Finance at the recent Concordia Summit in New York City. The Atlanta-based beverage giant uses water to make its billions of soft drinks, juices and purified waters.

In 2015, Coca-Cola says it returned 115% of the water it used globally that year, roughly 192 billion liters.

India was our wake-up call, Perez says. Coca-Colas massive water footprint in India has drawn harsh criticism from residents and activists who accuse the company of using too much local groundwater, particularly in drought-stricken areas and in regions where homes and farms need it to survive.

Perez says the company has since made water a key business priority, spending $2 billion on water initiatives around the world. Those efforts include water sanitation and infrastructure, watershed support and even reforestation in dozens of countries, including China and India.

Coca-Colas biggest competitor, PepsiCo, has taken similar steps, and a growing number of US companies are understanding the value of global sustainability, not just to society, but to shareholders.

The rise of the CSO

Perez has been with Coca-Cola since 1996 in various roles and was named the companys first chief sustainability (CSO) officer in 2011. According to the Weinreb Group, DuPont was the first publicly-traded company to appoint a chief sustainability officer back in 2004. As of late 2014, 36 public companies in the US had a CSO, and that number is expected to grow. In general, CSOs are charged with monitoring and addressing a companys community impact both socially and environmentally.

Nearly 50 business programs in the US currently offer degrees or a concentration in sustainability, including Brandeis International Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon.

Perez says todays young people are demanding this shift in higher education and believes it represents a huge opportunity for both employers and employees. There are so many businesses today that are growing with sustainability right at the heart.
CapitaLand just acquired $70M prime site here.

CapitaLand announced on Monday (Sept 26) that is that it has acquired for US$51.9m (~S$70m) a 0.5 hectare prime site in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as it remains confident about the country's economy and healthy home demand.

According to the management, residential sales in the country were strong in 1H2016 with about 460 units sold (worth about S$80m), which translates to a 20% YoY growth in terms of sales values and volume.

The group was also one of the top performing foreign developers in Vietnam last year with 1,321 homes sold at a value of S$226.5m.

"We like that this project will deepen the groups exposure to the growing Vietnamese market and note that this is CapitaLands third acquisition in the country since June 2015," said Eli Lee, analyst at OCBC Investment Research.

In particular, Eli said that the serviced residences component will generate incremental recurring income from a market with strong demand, as evidenced by the 94% occupancy rate at Somerset Vista Ho Chi Minh City.

"Looking ahead, we believe that management will focus on opportunities in offices, serviced residences and integrated developments.

Located in Cau Kho ward of District 1, the site is expected to be developed into a project with a 17-storey residential tower and a 22-storey serviced residence tower.

Slated to be launched in 4Q2016 and completed in 2018, the project will have an estimated gross development value of US$106m (S$143m).

The serviced residence component comprises 200 units and will be managed by the groups serviced residence arm, The Ascott Limited, under its Somerset brand.

In addition, the residential component will consist of 102 units and facilities such as a swimming pool, gym and a clubhouse.





More From Singapore Business Review


Herman Echevarria Sr., the 61-year-old estranged husband of Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Echevarria who himself was featured in the Bravo reality series, was found dead in a Miami hotel room today. The death, thought to be due to a heart attack, was first reported by the Miami Herald, and is under investigation by the Miami police department.

Echevarria, the cofounder of Miamis Spanish-language Venue magazine, was a Cuban exile and Miami-area politico who, according to the Herald, played a significant role in Hialeahs successful negotiations with Miami on an arena deal to keep the Miami Heat in Miami for 30 years.

He was more familiar, though, to Real Housewives fans as the husband of Real Housewife Alexia Echevarria, who issued a statement today on Instagram. He was a family man, a hardworking businessman, dedicated to helping others and a pillar of his community that was loved by everyone whos life he touched.

The couple separated last year after 15 years of marriage.

Instagram Photo

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Sept 27 (Reuters) - Steelmaking coal prices, which have more than doubled this year, could stay high for several quarters as supply from mines that have restarted take time to reach the market, an executive at Teck Resources Ltd, the world's second-largest exporter, said on Tuesday.

Current spot prices of above $200 a tonne are unsustainable, and the Canadian miner expects prices to settle between $100 and $200 a tonne, Greg Waller, Teck's vice president for investor relations and strategic analysis, told Deutsche Bank's 24th annual leveraged finance conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Hit by a slowdown in China's demand for steel, coal miners globally had been shutting down mines for the past three years as prices for steelmaking coal, also known as coking coal, dropped from more than $300 a tonne in 2011 to below $100 a tonne this year.

But in recent weeks, prices have soared on tighter regulations on local production in China.

"Given the inability of the industry to respond to the tightness in the market, we could be looking at these very good prices for a number of quarters," Waller said.

He said it takes three months to a year for idled mines to be restarted.

Teck, which has six coal mines in Western Canada, has "a little bit" of additional capacity it could tap through overtime work and working on public holidays. But it has no plans to restart its Quintette mine in British Columbia, Waller said.

"Nobody is really going to make an investment decision on the basis of six weeks of pricing," he noted.

(Reporting by Nicole Mordant in Vancouver; Editing by Richard Chang)
New York-based family office, Mercer Park, L.P., to fuel growth of Brookdale Capital Management

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Brookdale Capital Management, LLC ("Brookdale") announced a new strategic partnership with well-known Wall Street veteran, Jon Sandelman. Through Mr. Sandelman's family office, Mercer Park, L.P., the ex-Bank of America executive and hedge fund manager will provide operational and financial support to Brookdale's growing operations.

"We are thrilled to have Jon Sandelman as a partner. His industry expertise and experience as an institutional investor are invaluable to our organization," says Adnan Rehmatullah, Brookdale's Chief Investment Officer. "Mercer Park, L.P.'s interest and investment further validate our successful investment approach. Our performance has not gone unnoticed."

Brookdale has expanded to larger office space in downtown Dallas and is in the process of hiring additional investment and operational professionals. "We are focused on hiring the best quantitative and fundamental analysts. When it comes to the expansion of our team, we are very selective." says Hardin Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer. "The relationship with Mercer Park L.P. will further institutionalize Brookdale's operations."

Contrary to the broad hedge fund universe, the Firm continues to see capital inflows. New investors include platforms, fund-of-funds, and high-net-worth investors. As a minority-owned emerging manager, Brookdale has meaningfully differentiated itself from the hedge fund community.

About Brookdale

Based in Dallas, Texas, Brookdale Capital Management, LLC and its affiliates are a performance based investment manager established in 2011 to exclusively manage proprietary capital on behalf of its founding partners. The firm has a particular focus on liquid alternative investment strategies. In 2014, the investment manager began accepting external capital into their flagship investment vehicle, Brookdale Equity Long/Short Fund, L.P. For more information, visit www.brookdalefunds.com

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Brookdale Capital Management, LLC Official Website: http://www.brookdalefunds.com/

Contact Information

PR Agency Contact:

ControlPR.com

info@controlpr.com

202.759.4575

www.ControlPR.com

SOURCE: Brookdale Capital Management, LLC
A top-ranking colonel in the Air Force Space Command who was facing a court martial for rape was found dead in his Colorado home early Sunday, the Air Force confirms to PEOPLE.

On Sunday at 12:31 a.m., police responded to a report of a suicide and found the body of Col. Eugene Caughey, 46, in his off-base residence, Colorado Springs Police Sgt. Tim Stankey confirms to PEOPLE.

There is no indication of foul play, says Stankey. We are awaiting the findings of the coroners office.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

Caughey joined the Air Force in 1993 and was currently assigned as an Air Force Space Command special staff member, according to a press release issued by Colorados Peterson Air Force Base.

Caughey, who had been a 50th Space Wing vice commander at Schriever AFB, was under investigation for multiple charges including several alleged sexual offenses, adultery, and conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, according to the press release.

He was removed from his position as vice commander on June 17, 2015, after the investigation was initiated, the release states.

He was facing court-martial (trial), which was set to begin Oct. 17, and was considered innocent until proven guilty, a spokesman for the Air Force tells PEOPLE.

The exact cause of death is under investigation by the Colorado Springs Police Department, says Sgt. Stankey.

He survived the Sept. 11 terror attack on the Pentagon, according to the Schriever Air Force Base website.

I was a captain inside the Pentagon that morning when a plane crashed into the west side of the building, Caughey wrote.
By Devidutta Tripathy and Promit Mukherjee

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Vodafone's (VOD.L) $7.2 billion (5.5 billion pounds) cash injection into its Indian business has turned up the heat just days ahead of an $84 billion airwave auction which could decide who wins and loses in one of the world's fastest-growing telecoms markets.

Spending may fall well short of that huge target.

But, industry insiders and advisers say, the race for premium spectrum will carve up 4G airwaves, and the spending splurge could even decide the size and timing of one of India's largest listings: Vodafone's own Indian IPO.

India's telecoms sector is crowded, cut-throat and often money-losing. Many carriers struggle under multi-billion dollar debt piles left by past auctions, prompting industry bodies to caution that high prices - as the government scrambles to close its budget deficit - could dampen future investment.

But few players will be able to sit out India's biggest auction, potentially more than double the size of all three past auctions. It will be a test of self-discipline, analysts and industry insiders say, but Vodafone's cash boost is a sign of how high stakes will be when the sale begins on Saturday (Oct 1).

The arrival of Reliance Jio, a carrier backed by oil and gas giant Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), has shaken up the sector in the past month, as it injects more than $20 billion to offer customers free data, calls and subsidised smartphones.

To battle Jio, analysts and industry players say, nationwide premium 4G services are a must. Both Vodafone, number 2 in India, and third-ranked Idea Cellular (IDEA.NS) have 4G services in just about half of India's 22 telecoms regions.

"For two operators at least, this is the auction to make their data bets clear," said Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of top mobile carrier Bharti Airtel's (BRTI.NS) India and South Asia operations. Vodafone is "basically telling you 'we are making a bet'."

All eyes are on the premium 700 MHz band spectrum, which is being put on block for the first time and accounts for half the estimated value of the auction. But its steep price - of $1.7 billion per megahertz - could deter bidders, industry executives say, and interest could shift to the 1800 MHz band that can also do 4G and is available at less than a quarter of the price.

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Airtel and Jio have nationwide offerings. But both are also expected to bid, largely to deal with volumes, raising interest and prices.

Ahead of Vodafone's cash injection, analysts had expected more cautious bidding. But the blind auction rarely undershoots: last year, the government raised a third more than it expected.

"Despite a lot of scepticism, this will be a well participated auction, particularly for the people who do not have a good 4G footprint," said Sandip Das, senior adviser at industry consultant Analysys Mason and a former telecoms executive.

IPO AHEAD?

Vodafone has long been expected to list its Indian unit next year - an exercise in increased brand recognition as well as cash raising in a country with 1 billion phone subscriptions. It is expected to raise $2-$3 billion and could be India's biggest offering.

How the spectrum sale goes, how much is spent and where, could decide the size and timing of Vodafone's market debut, a person with direct knowledge of the listing process said. Part of the $7.2 billion will be used to pay down debt.

"We will take a call after the spectrum auction. Nothing before that. It's too big an event," the person said. "Difficult to say how aggressively Vodafone and Bharti will bid. People are keeping their cards close to their chest."

Vodafone declined to elaborate on the listing. It has been expected to make a decision by the end of this year. "We are on schedule as per our internal timeline. We haven't disclosed the timeline," a spokesman for the Indian unit said.

The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for India's telecoms industry, where many still use basic phones, was only 127 rupees ($1.90) in January-March, according to the regulator.

But Vodafone has crossed 200 million customers, including 107 million in rural areas, bringing it closer to Bharti's more than 257 million subscribers.

The upcoming auction will determine how fast Vodafone can catch up with Bharti and Jio on 4G. The majority of Vodafone's revenue still comes from Europe, but a 22 percent market share in India contributes about 12 percent of sales.

Bharti, Vodafone, Idea and Jio did not comment on their auction strategy.

($1 = 66.6284 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy and Promit Mukherjee; Writing by Rafael Nam; Editing by Clara Ferreira Marques and Ian Geoghegan)
It was the showdown billed as the most important moment of the 2016 presidential campaign so far.



At long last, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off on the debate stage Monday night, and for an hour and a half the duo frostily exchanged barbs as the world watched.



Although the pair started off with unexpected restraint, it was Clinton who fired the opening salvo, labeling her opponent's economic plan "Trumped-up, trickle-down economics."



Later, as the Republican candidate defended his economic plan, the gloves came off in an exchange that seemed to encapsulate the tension between them throughout the campaign.







It began when Trump said some of his economic ideas stalled because "we have no leadership, and honestly, that starts with Secretary Clinton."



"I have a feeling that by the end of this evening I'm going to be blamed for everything thatas ever happened," Clinton responded with a chuckle.



"Why not?" Trump shot back.



"Why not? Yeah, why not? Just join the debate by saying more crazy things," Clinton said.



That was only the first of several heated exchanges between the pair, who talked with only occasional interruptions by moderator Lester Holt. Read on for more:



Race and the birther controversy

The pair sparred over the birther controversy that Trump most recently resurrected earlier this month when he finally admitted in public that President Barack Obama was indeed born in the U.S.



Clinton bluntly called out Trump for "really start[ing] his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen."



 Are you voting? Not voting? How do you really feel about the candidates? PEOPLE wants to know! Take our brief survey about the 2016 election now, and receive 20% off in the PEOPLE Shop as a thank you for your time.



Meanwhile, Trump continued to contend  in what has been roundly exposed as a lie  that Clinton started and stoked birther questions herself. "She failed to get the birth certificate," he said. "When I got involved, I didn't fail."



He didn't back down when asked what he would tell the country about racial healing.





Story continues

Donald Trump on Race: 'I Say Nothing'

"I say nothing," he said. "Because I was able to get him to produce [his birth certificate]. He should have produced it a long time before. I say nothing."



Emails and tax returns

The candidates were also on the attack about thorny issues that have dogged the other  in Clinton's case, the use of her private email server; in Trump's, his refusal to release his tax returns.



When asked about his decision to withhold the tax returns, Trump said that his lawyers advised him to keep them private until his "routine audit" was complete. But, he added, he would change his mind under one condition.



"I will release my tax returns  against my lawyers' wishes  when [Hillary Clinton] releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."



Clinton guessed that Trump, in refusing to release his tax returns, was trying to hide that he's either not as rich as he claims, not as charitable as he claims, or paying zero in federal taxes.



"That makes me smart," Trump said before Clinton went on: "Zero. That's zero for troops, zero for vets, zero for schools or health."



She later got the last word on Twitter:





Paying zero in taxes doesnat make you "smart."



It makes you a tax evader. https://t.co/g9nQkSRvTB a Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016



Cyberhacks



Clinton also touched on Trump's controversial praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin, pointing out that Trump "publicly invited Putin to hack into" American systems, a nod to the belief that the Russians were behind the recent Democratic National Committee email leaks. But Trump swiftly tried to turn attention away from the Russians, saying that it's not clear whether the Russians were behind it, or possibly the Chinese or "someone sitting on their bed who weighs 400 lbs."



Presidential temperament



Trump made some of his boldest assertions toward the end of the debate, when he brought up the topic of temperament: "I have much better judgment than she has. I also have a much better temperament than she has. I think my strongest asset by far is my temperament. I have a winning temperament," he said as the crowd laughed.



Stamina  and Rosie O'Donnell



Shortly before the debate wrapped up, Trump and Clinton got especially personal when Trump questioned Clinton's readiness for the role of commander-in-chief, arguing that she "doesn't have the stamina" to be president.



"Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina," she replied.





https://t.co/EvxYa7A4bL --- the 5 mins orange anus can't seem to get over --- tell the truth - shame the donald #ImWithHer a Rosie (@Rosie) September 27, 2016



Clinton then brought up some of the comments he has made about women, specifically mentioning a beauty pageant contestant he called "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping because she was Latina." Trump argued that most of his derogatory comments had to do with Rosie O'Donnell due to their long-running feud, and pointed out that he stayed away from hammering away at Clinton's marital issues and her husband's infidelity.



"I said to myself: I can't do it. I just can't do it. It's inappropriate. It's not nice."
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton finally squared off in a debate on Monday night at Hofstra University, and Twitter seems to think that Clinton was victorious.

Pundits were quick to point out that Clinton appeared healthy, which should quiet rumors of not being fit to serve as president. The debate, moderated by NBCs Lester Holt, was the first of three before the presidential election.

Trump was fact-checked numerous times by various media organizations throughout the 90-minute event, specifically being called out for claiming Clinton has fought ISIS her entire life and denying that he once said China started global warming.

Also Read: Old Tweet Proves Donald Trump Lied About Global Warming

There was only one future President on that stage tonight and her name is Hillary, one person tweeted. Another viewers wrote, SAD performance by Trump. By performance I mean when he showed up and was himself. Hillary made history and made us proud.

Another user felt strongly that Clinton dominated, tweeting, She murdered him and torched the body.

Neither candidate did anything too outlandish and the second debate should be another highly anticipated event. While most voters probably feel that whomever they liked prior to the debate was victorious, Twitter seems to feel that Clinton came out on top.

Tonight voters saw there is only one candidate who's prepared to be Commander-in-Chief. Her name is @HillaryClinton. #debatenight  Mark Kelly (@ShuttleCDRKelly) September 27, 2016

There was only one future President on that stage tonight and her name is Hillary! #debatenight  Jim Messina (@Messina2012) September 27, 2016

Trump is playing a losing game trying to explain Hillary's lack stamina/looks (?)#DebateNight pic.twitter.com/b9zsVZn7mq  Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) September 27, 2016

"I haven't given lots of thoughts to NATO." Exactly what you want a presidential nominee to say.  Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) September 27, 2016

Trump's leaving way too much on the table. This is surprising. He's had ample chances to hit her, and didn't. #debatenight  Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) September 27, 2016

Hillary won. Trump's a disaster and a terrible mess and it was fully on display. Hillary is going to Keep America Great. #debatenight  Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) September 27, 2016

She murdered him and torched the body. #debatenight  Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) September 27, 2016

Is Donald REALLY PULLING NOT NICE? to critique Hillarys ads? REALLY? #debatenight  Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) September 27, 2016

SAD performance by Trump. By performance I mean when he showed up and was himself. Hillary made history and made us proud. #debatenight  Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) September 27, 2016

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You'll Never Guess the Most-Watched Presidential Debate in History (Chart)
Thank you for publishing the letter from Julie Wiese Thursday ("Can't afford Bounds salary," Sept. 22). I agree wholeheartedly! I object to the false value system driving these salaries. Supposedly big increases are needed to keep the administrator. The administrators could be looking around the country for more lucrative offers, so the big annual raises keep coming. I believe its better to keep the administrators pay in line with the frugal values of our state. When someone making several hundreds of thousands gets a 6 percent raise, it means people making far less than that get 1, 2 or 3 percent increases. The disparity compounds and becomes ridiculous. Nebraskas public school administrators and the university need to stop this irrational escalation of salaries.
Hillary Clinton 1: Donald Trump 0. Thats the verdict of many major media outlets outside the U.S. after Monday nights presidential debate, with international stock markets making early gains on the back of the result.

Clinton gets under Trumps skin in first presidential debate, Britains Financial Times said Tuesday morning, adding that the duel saw a disciplined Mrs. Clinton confront an often rambling Mr. Trump. On the newspapers website, commentator Edward Luces assessment of the matchup was headlined: Trump fails to clear a low-debate bar.

Who won the first debate? the BBC asked. It was a battle between the lawyer and the salesman, and for the most part the lawyer came out on top, Anthony Lurcher, the BBCs North American reporter, wrote. Other U.K. media almost unanimously called the first U.S. presidential debate for Hillary Clinton with some more right-wing newspapers opting not to commit to stating a winner. The Daily Express called it a shock loss for Donald Trump. The Independent said: Donald Trumps laziness led to complacency and thats where Hillary Clinton won the first presidential debate.

In France, Le Monde declared: Hillary Clinton dominates the first debate. The paper said that Trump was increasingly out of his depth when he spoke, wasting opportunities to make his opponent ill at ease, especially on the issue of Clintons private email server, a topic he sped through in three mere phrases while instead getting mired in a thousand details when it come to his own controversial issues.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper said: Trump doesnt bite, Hillary attacks. The duel is a success for the Democrat.The Republican avoided a brawl to appear presidential; he was more incisive on foreign policy, but the former Secretary of State made him look bad on not disclosing his tax return; on racism; and on women.

The debate was keenly watched throughout Asia, where the U.S. is variously seen as protector, leading trading partner, and an economic and political rival. The debate took place mid-morning Tuesday in the region, meaning that it missed printed editions of the morning newspapers.

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Online, Hong Kongs South China Morning Post led with the debate and took its own angle. Under the headline Cybersecurity, terrorism, trade and nuclear threatswhy the U.S. presidential debate could not ignore China, it counted up how many times China was referenced by the two candidates. According to its score card, Trump mentioned China nine times, Clinton three.

It noted that Trump accused China of unfair trade and damaging America jobs, and saying that China should solve the North Korean nuclear security problem. But Trump also praised Chinas airports.

During the debate Clinton said: Donald Trump thinks climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. He denied the accusation during the show, but the paper dug up and published a November 2012 tweet by Trump where he made exactly that charge against China.

Mainland Chinas media outlets were more cautious in their reporting, since such political debate is not possible in the one-party state.

The China Radio International and CCTV websites led with stories about President Xi Jinpings praise for Chinas latest rocket system and Premier Li Keqiangs ongoing visit to Cuba, but did not report the debate. Official news agency Xinhua carried a story about the U.S. debate in its second spot, offering mostly a series of mud-slinging quotes by Trump.

In the U.S. backyard, Mexicos La Razon wrote that the debate offered no surprises, but described Clinton as more eloquent.

Reuters reported that Clintons probability of winning the White House gained in online betting markets. A Clinton contract on the popular PredictIt betting market gained six cents from the previous days level.

Nearly all Asias equity markets turned modestly positive Tuesday, after a Monday trading session characterized by losses and nerves ahead of the debate. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index rose by more than 1%, after having fallen a similar amount Monday.

Japans business-oriented Nikkei Asian Review called Clinton the clear winner, headlining its lead story: Bullish Hillary Tamed Trump Face Off In 1st TV debate. It quoted the Daiwa Capital Markets investment firm as saying that China would lose out more under a Trump presidency than a Clinton administration. Trumps proposed 45% tariff on China would lead to a $420 billion, or 87% drop, in the countrys exports to the U.S. Such a decline would lead to a 2.6% annual loss in Chinas gross domestic product, it said.

Nick Vivarelli IN ROME and Robert Mitchell IN LONDON contributed to this report.

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[Moving in next to some neighbours might be more of a headache than you can stand.]

Cosmo Kramer bursting through Jerry Seinfelds door, unannounced and uninvited, and proceeding to rummage through his neighbours fridge is a running gag played for big laughs on the classic 90s sitcom Seinfeld. But in real life, having a neighbour like Kramer would likely bring you to tears of rage, not joy, after awhile.

When buying a home or condo, many buyers put little to no thought about whether theyll have a Kramer living next door, or across the hall. Once the U-Haul is gone and the boxes are unpacked, though, the fact that your new neighbour is omnipresent starts to sink in. While your neighbours may change over the years, there are some things you can do to try to avoid moving next door to bad neighbours now.

Love thy neighbour?

While it might not be realistic to love thy neighbour all the time, you should at least be able to tolerate thy neighbour. Before looking at potential properties start with using your common sense, advises Toronto-based real estate agent Jamie Sarner. If youre empty nesters in your 50s, moving next to a university campus is likely not a great fit (unless you have a high tolerance for loud frat parties and waking up to puke on your lawn). Conversely, if youre a young newly-wed couple who likes to entertain, a quiet condo catering to senior citizens is likely not a good fit, said Sarner in a recent interview with Yahoo Canada Finance.

Play Sherlock Holmes

Beyond the general neighbourhood or building there are usually specific signs of possible neighbour issues  no magnifying glass required. When looking at homes, look at the state of the exterior of possible future neighbours homes. If the weeds next door come up to your waist it might be a sign of other problems, advises Sarner. If you are concerned about loud parties, drive by your neighbours home at midnight to see if theyre up partying.

Ask, ask, ask

Perhaps the neighbour with the waist-high weeds recently had an operation and is actually a well-adjusted person who usually has an impeccably manicured lawn. One way to find out more is to knock on their door, introduce yourself and ask a few questions about the neighbourhood, said Mitchell Rose, a Toronto-based mediator and lawyer with Stancer, Gossin, Rose LLP. Then, knock on the doors of their neighbours, too. People love to talk, youd be surprised how much they disclose, said Rose in a recent interview. Potential buyers can, and should, ask the current tenants if they have had any serious issues with neighbours. Good real estate agents will opt to disclose, over and above, said Sarner.

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In the case of buying a condo unit, often the board will have some duty to disclose, noted Rose. The sellers, and any associated professionals, such as brokers, should and usually do disclose information if asked, said both Sarner and Rose. But, buyers should remember what constitutes a good or bad neighbour is often in the eye of the beholder and thus it would be very difficult to take any legal action after the sale in regards to nightmare neighbours, said Rose.

Search, search, search,

Rose has handled many neighbour disputes through mediation and warns it can be worse than divorce, because at least in a divorce you likely dont have to see them every day right next door to you. Doing some simple searches on the Internet could help prevent buyers from moving next door, say, to a house that basically operates as a hotel. Start with simply searching some nearby addresses and see what pops up. If there has been a high-profile crime case at or near the property, that will likely show up in the news results. Then, try some specific websites, like Airbnb, to see if your new neighbour would actually just be a rotating cast of tourists.

Accept the things you can not change

As a mediator, Rose has heard of neighbours literally coming to blows over disputes such as property lines and parking spaces. If living across the hall from a quirky man with frizzy hair with a penchant for eating all your food would leave you tossing and turning, then it might be a good idea to pause before closing the deal on that dream home with the neighbour of your nightmares.
Howard Dean is standing by his controversial Donald Trump tweet from Monday night's debate, saying he doesn't regret it and won't apologize for it.

"Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?" the physician turned politician asked Monday on Twitter about the GOP nominee during the first presidential debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton. Trump's constant sniffing became an instant topic of conversation on social media, sparking memes and the hashtag #TrumpSniffle. One YouTube user even created a mashup of all of his sniffles during the 90-minute showdown.

On Tuesday, the former presidential candidate and governor of Vermont appeared via satellite with MSNBC's Kate Snow to discuss his accusation. While he admitted that he doesn't believe Trump has a cocaine "habit," Dean said his raising of the question is valid.

"I don't make diagnosis on the television, it's medically improper," he told Snow. "But I don't think this was a ridiculous idea. Something funny was going on with Trump last night."

Dean went on to list four symptoms of abusers of the drug that he witnessed in Trump during the debate: sniffling, grandiosity, delusions and pressured speech.

After months of targeting rival Clinton's health issues and pre-debate speculation over whether or not the Democratic nominee would break into a coughing fit, viewers were quick to question Trump's health when he was heard sniffling moments into the faceoff. The debate, which took place at Hofstra University and was hosted by NBC's Lester Holt, was viewed by at least 80 million people, according to early ratings numbers.

It was Dean, however, who made a charge linking Trump's behavior to the use of cocaine. His post quickly went viral and, as of Tuesday morning, had 26,000 shares and nearly 40,000 likes.

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?

- Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

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Speaking to Snow on Tuesday, Dean said, "I'm suggesting we think about." Adding, "Here's the interesting constellation: he sniffs during the presentation, which is something that users do. He also has grandiosity, which is something that accompanies that problem. He has delusions, I'm not talking about being crazy, but for example when he told everybody he was very smart not to pay taxes and then denied that he said after he said it it in front of 100 million people ... He thinks somehow he's not going to get caught, that is delusional."

He continued to list examples before summing up his thoughts.

"Do I think at 70 years old he has a cocaine habit? Probably not," he said. "But it's something that I think would be interesting to ask him, to see if he ever had a problem with that."

Two of the late-night hosts doubled down on Dean's question when they went live after the debate on Monday. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert said Trump "sounded like he was fighting off a cold ...of cocaine" and that "he sounded like the coked-up best man in the bathroom at a wedding."

On The Daily Show, Trevor Noah discussed the audible sniffle, saying, "I don't want to start any rumors, but there's a reason I think Trump didn't do well. I'm not sure and I'm not trying to start rumors, but Trump was sniffing a lot at the debate. And someone needs to look into that." He then suggested, Trump was just "sniffing all of the bullshit he was saying."

On Wednesday morning's Fox & Friends, Trump denied he was sniffling during the debate and reiterated his claim from the night prior that his microphone "didn't work."

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Trump campaign responded to Dean's comments on Thursday afternoon. "Governor Dean's comment was beyond the pale and has no place in our important political discussion," read the statement. "On a night where millions of Americans were able to compare and contrast the policies of both candidates, Governor Dean went straight to the gutter and was nothing more than a sad distraction in a desperate attempt to stay relevant."

Several others in Hollywood and in the media jumped on the cocaine question throughout the night. See some of the posts from social media below.

Woah- Howard Dean's frmr grp @DFAaction doublesdown on the Dem's eyebrow raising tweet from last night. Grp spox: pic.twitter.com/uZnOgcIxtY

- MaryAlice Parks (@maryaliceparks) September 27, 2016

Trump either has a coke problem or a mild allergy to women who don't flinch when he interrupts them #LateShowLive pic.twitter.com/cyOFmyrMbw

- The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) September 27, 2016

Colbert is live: "Trump sounded like he was trying to get over a cold using cocaine."

- Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 27, 2016

I swear if I was just listening to the audio of this I'd think he was constantly snorting cocaine.

- Adam Scott (@mradamscott) September 27, 2016

A lot of people are saying Trump is on coke, which is ridiculous. People on cocaine love to talk about their specific plans for the future.

- Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) September 27, 2016

Trump is dehydrated and sniffling. Cocaine... or pneumonia?

- Amy Berg (@bergopolis) September 27, 2016

If you think Trump is "too fat" to be on cocaine you have never worked in the comedy or TV biz.

- Jen Kirkman (@JenKirkman) September 27, 2016

So Trump was on Cocaine, right? I mean many people are saying it.

- Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) September 27, 2016

Sept. 27, 12:55 p.m. PT: Updated with Dean's MSNBC interview.

2:50 p.m.: Updated with Trump campaign statement.
HP Inc. HPQ is fighting the odds to turn around its business, particularly the printer division. The companys printing business has been facing challenges like sluggish demand and cut-throat competition in the space. Notably, despite registering strong PC revenues after several quarters of year-over-year decline, HPs total revenues fell 4%, primarily due to sluggish performance at the printer division.

Challenges in HPs Printing Business

HP is one of the two publicly traded entities that were formed after the Nov 2015 split of Hewlett-Packard Company. Besides HP Inc., the split led to the formation of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company HPE. HP focuses on PCs and printing products and services.

HP INC Price

HP INC Price | HP INC Quote

It should be noted that the demand for printers is not as strong as it was 10 years ago. It has witnessed a secular decline over the past several years as consumers are increasingly favoring digital alternatives over printed materials due to their cost effectiveness.

Furthermore, over the past few quarters, HP has been losing market share to its Japanese rivals  Canon and Espon  due to intense price competition. These Japanese manufacturers have been able to slash prices due to a weak yen compared to the U.S. dollar.

Although HP is still the biggest printer manufacturer in the world as per IDC, the companys market shrunk 420 basis points (bps) year over year to 36.6% in second-quarter 2016. In the same quarter, however, Canon and Espons market share expanded 100 bps and 220 bps, respectively.

Notably, in third quarter fiscal 2016, HP witnessed a 14% year-over-year decline in printing revenues, primarily due to an 18% plunge in supplies revenues and weak performance at the hardware segment. HPs total hardware unit sales were down 10%, primarily due to declines of 2% and 14% in Commercial hardware units and Consumer hardware units, respectively.

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HPs Counter Strategies

In an effort to revamp its printer business, HP is looking at every aspect of growth including product innovation and differentiation, and acquisition or expansion of 3D printing capabilities.

It should be noted that if demand for anything does not remain as strong as it did once, one should resort to creative ideas to make innovative and differentiated products for gaining greater market share from its rivals.

It seems that HP has learned this lesson and is focusing on developing innovative and differentiated products. Last week, the company unveiled a smart pocket-sized printer for smartphones and tablets called Sprocket.

The device which uses ZINK (Zero Ink) technology is capable of producing 2x3 stick-able snapshots taken from tablets or smartphones. Users have to just connect the device via Bluetooth and get their selected photo printed in less than a minute.

Sprocket is likely to grab the attention of millions of smartphone users owing to its price. HP has priced the device at $129, which is about $70 lower than a similar device called Instax Share SP-2 by Fujifilm.

We believe that Sprocket will open new avenues of revenue generation for HPs printer business. Notably, according to the Deloitte Global report, about 2.5 trillion photos are likely to be shared or stored online of which 90% will be clicked on a smartphone in 2016.

We believe that the attractive pricing of Sprocket will lead buyers to take a printout and create an album of their memorable moments apart from sharing them on social media sites like Facebook FB or Twitter TWTR.

Additionally, the company, on Sep 12, unveiled the all new A3 multifunction printers (MFPs). According to the company, "The complexity of traditional copiers makes repair and maintenance too inefficient for our partners and customers." It also added "By leveraging our superior printing technology, we can change the status quo with next-generation A3 multifunction printers that improve the overall customer and partner experience while also serving as a springboard for growth in managed print and document services. This is what we mean by reinventing printing."

Apart from focusing on developing differentiated products, HP is also looking at acquisitions to drive growth. Most recently, the company signed a deal to acquire Samsung Electronics printer business for a purchase price of $1.05 billion.

The acquisition will expand the companys printing business as Samsung's printer business has more than 6,500 printing patents. All these will support development and manufacturing of HP printers, going forward.

Besides eliminating a major competitor, the transaction will also help to control prices. The acquisition will also give HP access to Samsungs partners and strengthen the formers position across various geographies.

Going ahead, the company is also trying to enhance its 3D printing business capabilities in an effort to revive tumbling sales. Note that even though HP has been operating in this space for almost five years now, the company lags behind 3D Systems Corporation and Stratasys Ltd.

Thus, in order to strengthen its presence in this space, HP recently unveiled its Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution with two models to choose from  4200 and 3200. Unlike 3D Systems and Stratasys, which target all kinds of consumers, HP emphasizes only on industrial markets because of their ability to afford a premium range of 3D printing solutions.

To satisfy customers in this space, HP has collaborated with various companies like BMW, Nike Inc. and Autodesk Inc. with an aim to develop more advanced 3D printing technologies for a wide array of industrial use.

Additionally, the 3D printing market presents significant long-term investment opportunities as a large number of engineers, designers, architects and entrepreneurs are now turning to 3D solutions for primary designing and product modeling.

According to market research firm CONTEXT, over half a million 3D printers have already been shipped across the globe between the 1980s and mid-2015, and the industry is currently on track to ship its millionth unit by 2017. Data from the Wohlers Report 2014 revealed that the worldwide 3D printing industry is expected to grow from $3.07 billion in 2013 to $12.8 billion by 2018, and will exceed $21 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 34%.

Bottom Line

HPs efforts to revive its printing business have been commendable. Its strategy of focusing on product innovation and enhancing 3D printing capabilities will help to stabilize falling revenues at its printer division.

Moreover, the acquisition of Samsungs printer business will help HP in further expanding its market share.

Currently, HP carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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One big hug at a time, two former Marines are working their way across VA hospitals with their arms spread wide.

The Human Hug Project, co-founded by Iraq conflict veterans Ian Michael and Gino Greganti, and helped by Greganti's wife, Erin, have visited more than 35 military hospitals this year, seeking to purge PTSD.

Read: Amputee Veterans Reveal Why They Showed Off Their Battle Scars in Latest Nude Photoshoot

Their goal is to reach all of them  more than 150 installations  spreading through touch the healing power of knowing youre not alone.

Why do I believe you need hugs? Michael asks in a project video. Well, why shouldnt you need hugs? If you wake up and go one day without a hug, then theres your answer.

Suffering PTSD means a constant battle with inner demons and the terrifying fear that no one will understand or empathize, according to the vets.

Theres a lot of fear, theres a lot of anxiety, theres a lot of troubled thoughts, Michael said. What weve found in the last year is the best way to counter attack those fearful thoughts, is with love.

Thats the power that keeps driving us, he said.

Read: Iraq War Veteran With No Arms Saved the Life of A Suicidal Soldier She Had Never Met

That, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from VA hospital staff and veterans themselves, who sometimes are only able to express their gratitude by breaking down in tears.

When I came back, I was kind of numb to everything, said Greganti. Basically, a shell of me came back.

Their embracing quest was recently shared by HooplaHa, a website dedicated to sharing good news.

The trios project has a GoFundMe page, where donations are accepted to fund transportation and travel costs as three journey to Veterans Administration medical centers.

Watch: Stranger Surprises Mother With New Car After Son With PTSD Kills Himself

Story continues

Related Articles:
A Chicago man confessed last week to being responsible for a 2003 murder his identical twin brother was convicted for more than a decade ago, the Chicago Tribune reports.



What's more, Karl Smith actually sat in on the trial of his twin, Kevin Dugar, all the while knowing that he was the one responsible, he reportedly alleged on Thursday.



"I didn't have the strength to come forward," Smith said, according to the Tribune. "I thought it was the job of the police to catch me."



But prosecutors quickly cast doubt on his testimony, the paper reports, citing "independent eyewitness accounts." Given his own 99-year prison sentence in a separate incident, that will likely keep him behind bars until at least 2086, Smithas new confession doesnat affect his incarceration, prosecutors say.







Dugar was convicted in 2005 for the first-degree murder of Antwan Carter, who was killed in a March 2003 gang shooting, according to the Tribune. He was sentenced to 54 years in prison, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.



It was not immediately clear why Smith testified Thursday, though Cook County court officials tell PEOPLE there was a motion hearing in Dugar's case that day, to introduce an expert affidavit, which was denied by the judge.



 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.



Smith  himself convicted of attempted murder in a home invasion  testified that authorities got the wrong brother, according to the Tribune. He said he and Dugar had a long history of impersonating each other and even shared clothes as kids, down to their socks.



They also used the same street name, according to the paper: "Twin."



"We [were] acting as one," Smith reportedly said. "Where I was, he was, acting like each other. He pretended to be me, and I pretended to be him."



While Dugar was identified in a photo lineup by a surviving victim of the 2003 shooting, the array did not include Smith's photo, according to the Tribune.



"I'm here to confess to a crime I committed that he [Dugar] was wrongly accused of," Smith said Thursday, almost as soon as he took the stand, according to the Tribune.



But Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Carol Rogala said Smith has "nothing to lose" now by making such a confession, after an appeals court upheld his own conviction and 99-year prison sentence, according to the Tribune.



Dugar's attorney, Karen Daniel, pointed to what she called exceedingly thin evidence in the case against her client: no physical evidence and two eyewitnesses, one of whom recanted at trial, she told the paper.



Daniel said Smith's confession could not have been discovered by Dugar's trial attorney, the Tribune reports, and Smith said he only admitted to his alleged involvement in 2013, when he wrote Dugar a letter. A year later, Smith signed a sworn statement confessing.



It was not immediately clear how Smithas confession might affect Dugaras conviction, if at all. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office declined comment to PEOPLE about the ongoing case, and Daniel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



As Smith made his claims Thursday, his mother, who could not be reached by PEOPLE and who has not seen either son in years, sat weeping a few feet away, according to the Tribune. Dugar also teared up, according to the New York Post.



The mother, Judy Dugar, reportedly said of Smith's confession, "He wouldn't lie about that."
Immigration boosts economies but can cause social tensions and security concerns, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday, at a time when high immigration levels are contentious in the U.S. and Europe.

A one percentage point increase in the share of migrants in the adult population could increase gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in host countries by around 2 percent in the long-run, the IMF said. GDP per capita is a measure of average income per person, so this would imply that long-standing citizens as well as newcomers gain from immigration. This occurs because in the long-term, immigration increases labor productivity, which in turn raises income levels, according to the IMF.





"While high-skilled migrants contribute positively to host economies, lower-skilled migrant workers, too, can help raise productivity growth by, for example, allowing high-skilled local women go back to, or spend more time at work," the IMF said in a new report on Tuesday.

"Migration can also offer economic gains in terms of higher growth and productivity. In addition, migrants predominantly of working age  can offer some relief for an aging population," it later added.

The number of international migrants reached 244 million in 2015 for the world as a whole, according to the United Nations (UN). That included almost 20 million refugees.

The UN noted that at least 10 percent of the total population of Europe and Northern America were migrants.

Immigration is in heightened focus in the European Union (EU), which has seen a surge in inbound refugees and migrants in the wake of the turmoil in Iraq and Syria. A desire for greater control of immigration numbers is viewed as one reason why the majority of Britons voted to quit the EU in June.

In the U.S., Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made combating unauthorized immigration a cornerstone of his campaign. His pledge to build a wall across the border with Mexico to keep informal migrants out has provoked the ire of the U.S.'s southerly neighbor.

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Two-thirds of all international migrants were living in only 20 countries in 2015, according to the UN. The U.S. hosted 19 percent of all migrants, followed by Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On Tuesday, the IMF said measures like improving immigrants' access to education and supporting their enterprises would help them obtain and keep jobs in host countries. Once in work, these migrants would pay taxes, which would help defray the short-run cost of fiscal support measures.

However, migration can cause problems for the countries of origin, the IMF warned.

"The departure of the young and the educated for better economic opportunities can take a toll on long term-growth. The loss of human capital translates into lower productivity, a worsening of skill composition, and dampened tax revenue," it said.

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IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces the filing of a class action lawsuit against Corrections Corporation of America ("Corrections Corporation" or the "Company") (CXW). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between February 27, 2012 and August 17, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the October 24, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of Corrections Corporation during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang LLP, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case yet. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

According to the complaint, during the Class Period, Corrections Corporation made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that the Company's facilities lacked adequate safety and security standards and were less efficient at offering correctional services than the Federal Bureau of Prisons' ("BOP") facilities; that the Company's rehabilitative services for inmates were less effective than the BOP's services; that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") was unlikely to renew and/or extend its contracts with Corrections Corporation; and that as a result of the above, Corrections Corporation's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On August 18, 2016, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced that the DOJ decided to stop using private prisons, since they are less safe and less effective than federal government-run prisons. When this information was disclosed to the public, Corrections Corporation's stock price decreased, thus causing investors harm.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have questions regarding this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or via e-mail at joon@khanglaw.com.

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This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contacts

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2016 / Lundin Law PC (the "Firm") announces a class action lawsuit has been filed against Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter" or the "Company") (TWTR) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws between February 6, 2015 and July 28, 2015 (the "Class Period"). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares during the Class Period should contact the Firm before the November 15, 2016 lead plaintiff motion deadline.

To participate in this class action lawsuit, click here. You can also call Brian Lundin, Esquire, of Lundin Law PC, at 888-713-1033, or e-mail him at brian@lundinlawpc.com.

No class has been certified in the above action. Until a class is certified, you are not considered represented by an attorney. You may also choose to do nothing and be an absent class member.

According to the complaint, Twitter made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: that by early 2015 daily active users had replaced the timeline views metric as the primary user engagement metric tracked internally by Twitter management; that the trend in user engagement growth was flat or declining; that new product initiatives were not having a significant impact on monthly active users or user engagement; that the Company's stated "acceleration" was the result of low-quality monthly active user growth; and that Twitter lacked a basis for its previously issued projections of approximately 20% monthly active user growth and 550 million monthly active users in the immediate term. When this news was announced to the public, the Twitter stock price declined, causing investors harm.

Lundin Law PC was founded by Brian Lundin, a securities litigator based in Los Angeles dedicated to upholding shareholders' rights.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contact:

Lundin Law PC

Brian Lundin, Esq.

Telephone: 888-713-1033

Facsimile: 888-713-1125

brian@lundinlawpc.com

http://lundinlawpc.com/

SOURCE: Lundin Law PC
ABUJA (Reuters) - India plans to buy more crude oil from Nigeria, Nigeria's presidency on Tuesday quoted India's vice president as saying during a visit to Abuja.

"His country, which is the leading buyer of Nigeria's crude oil, will increase its purchase of the commodity in addition to natural gas," India's Vice President Hamid Ansari told Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, according to the presidency.

Separately, the upper house, the Senate, rejected a call by its president to sell oil assets to help plug a budget deficit and boost the country's foreign reserves hammered by a fall in oil revenues.

Last week, Senate President Bukola Saraki said Nigeria should sell stakes in oil and gas joint ventures with oil majors and other state assets to raise funds in hard currency and help fund the 2016 budget.

"The Senate should reject the sale of our national assets," said a motion filed by one senator, which was accepted by the upper house.

The Senate also urged the government to launch a stimulus to drag the country out of recession.

Nigeria's 2016 budget was the largest in the nation's history, but an oil price drop and militant attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta have left the government scrambling for funds.

(Reporting by Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Roche and David Gregorio)
A key South Asian summit was in doubt Wednesday after India and three other countries pulled out following a deadly attack on an army base that New Delhi blames on a Pakistan-based group.

India has sought to isolate Pakistan in the wake of the raid on its base in the disputed region of Kashmir, which killed 18 soldiers and triggered public fury.

On Tuesday it said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad in November, in a major snub to its neighbour.

Without naming Pakistan, India's foreign ministry said "increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country" had created an environment that was not conducive for a meeting.

Hours later, Bangladesh said it was also pulling out. Afghanistan and Bhutan -- both close India allies -- have since followed suit, according to an official with the Nepali government, current chair of SAARC.

"Pakistan has been interfering in our internal affairs for some time," a senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official told AFP, requesting anonymity.

"That's why we have pulled out of the SAARC summit."

Under pressure to act after the Kashmir raid, Modi warned Pakistan in a major speech on Saturday that India would push to make it a pariah state.

Pakistan denies any involvement in the September 18 attack, the worst of its kind in over a decade.

But India's army has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based militant group that was also implicated in an audacious assault on an Indian air force base in the northern town of Pathankot in January.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since partition in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, where the two countries regularly exchange fire across the disputed border.

At the last SAARC summit in 2014 a newly-elected Modi shook hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, raising hopes of warmer ties.

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Just over a year later Modi made a surprise Christmas Day visit to Pakistan for a meeting with Sharif.

But those hopes were dashed by the Pathankot attack in which seven Indian soldiers died, and peace talks have been on ice ever since.

- 'Closer to China' -

Current SAARC chair Nepal said it hoped the issues would be resolved but could not comment on whether the summit would go ahead.

"The host will take decisions regarding the summit," said Jhabindra Aryal, joint secretary with Nepal's foreign ministry.

The leaders of the eight SAARC countries -- which also include Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives -- expressed frustration after the last summit in Kathmandu with the slow pace of progress towards greater regional integration.

Analysts say this is due to the mutual mistrust between Pakistan and powerhouse India.

Cyril Almeida, a columnist in Pakistan's English-language daily Dawn, said India's move to exclude Pakistan from regional discussions was not unexpected.

"Diplomatically, (it's) maybe not a big deal for Pakistan given that SAARC is widely perceived as ineffective," he said.

"But (it's) a fresh sign of Pakistan not being in a comfortable place in its own region."

Analyst Ashok Malik said the withdrawals would have little practical impact on Pakistan.

"It basically scores a symbolic and a political victory. As for Pakistan, this will push it even closer to China," said Malik, head of the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation's regional studies initiative.

Pakistan said it remained "committed to peace and regional cooperation" and accused India of perpetrating "terrorism" on its soil.

"As for the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan," tweeted foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakariya late Tuesday, citing the capture of an Indian intelligence officer in Balochistan earlier this year.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of interference in the southwestern province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is afflicted by Islamist militancy and a separatist insurgency.
By Tommy Wilkes and Drazen Jorgic NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Tensions between India and Pakistan rose on Tuesday as India's leader canceled a visit to a regional summit and Islamabad warned it would treat it as "an act of war" if India revoked a water treaty. India blames Pakistan for a deadly assault on an army base in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir this month that has heightened fears of a new conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. India says militants sneaked across the de facto border that separates the countries and killed 18 soldiers on Sept. 18, the biggest loss of life for Indian security forces in the region for 14 years. Pakistan rejects the accusation and says India should conduct a proper investigation before it apportions blame. India said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, a regional meeting of South Asian leaders, in Pakistan in November. "Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit," India's foreign ministry said in a statement. "In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad." Pakistan's foreign ministry called India's move "unfortunate" and said it remained committed to peace and regional cooperation. In a statement, it accused India of meddling in Pakistan's internal matters. WATER TROUBLES India's announcement came hours after Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, warned India against drawing more water from three rivers that flow from India into Pakistan. Aziz said Islamabad would seek arbitration with a commission that monitors the Indus Water Treaty if India increased its use of water from the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers. India says it does not plan to abrogate the treaty but Modi said on Monday India should "maximise" the amount of water it uses without breaching the agreement. If India revoked the treaty, Aziz said, Pakistan would treat that as "an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan". "It's highly irresponsible on the part of India to even consider revocation of the Indus Water Treaty," Aziz told the national assembly. New Delhi has vowed to respond to the Kashmir attack, and has launched a campaign to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, including through the United Nations. Aziz said India's provocative posturing constituted a breach of the water treaty and was an attempt to deflect attention from unrest among the Muslim population in the Indian-ruled side of Kashmir. Divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, the flashpoint of Kashmir lies at the heart of the countries' rivalry. India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi and told him that security forces had in their custody two men from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir who had helped the gunmen cross the border before launching the army base raid. Indian and Pakistani mistrust has long undermined South Asian cooperation and is widely blamed for the poor performance of SAARC, which successive Indian leaders hoped would help South Asia become a viable economic counterweight to China. (Reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Andrew Roche)
Inheriting a large sum of money can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you approach it. When your net worth takes a significant leap overnight, that creates new opportunities, financially speaking.

At the same time, there are new challenges associated with managing newly acquired assets. If you've recently inherited a windfall or you're set to in the near future, here are the most important things to keep in mind when you have your eye on a comfortable retirement.

Take your time. Rushing into decisions when you're received an inheritance is a strategic error you can't afford, says Brad Thurber, senior vice president and financial advisor with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Salt Lake City.

"The biggest mistakes made by new heirs generally come from impatience," Thurber says. That can backfire if the end result is needless spending or poor decision-making.

Divam N. Mehta, a certified financial planner and chartered financial consultant with Mehta Financial Group in Glen Allen, Virginia, says that often, people mistakenly treat an inheritance as if they've won the lottery. Without a plan in place, the odds of squandering those assets are increased.

Keeping your emotions in check is vital to your financial well-being when an inheritance is on the table, says Kathleen A. Grace, a certified financial planner and managing director with United Capital Financial Advisers in Boca Raton, Florida.

"Many who receive a financial windfall are caught in the euphoria of the moment, and they often make terrible money decisions," Grace says.

[See: 13 Ways to Take the Emotions Out of Investing.]

Her advice? Take time to fully grieve and mourn the loss before making any significant moves.

Evaluate where you're at right now. Tony Hellenbrand, a retirement income certified professional and partner at Fox River Capital in Appleton, Wisconsin, says it's important to understand what your starting point is as you shape your plan.

"Revisit your own financial picture," Hellenbrand says. "How much is in your emergency fund? When's the last time you reviewed your estate plan? You need to know where you are and what your goals are to have any hope of making a wise decision with an inheritance."

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Beyond financials, you need to consider your age, Mehta says. Someone who inherits money in their 30s is likely to have a much different investment strategy compared to someone who's inheriting assets in their 50s.

If you have debt, such as student loans or credit cards, those also have to be factored in, Grace says. The same is true if you have a mortgage. From there, you can move on to determining what the best strategy is for investing an inheritance to create income in retirement.

Know what it is you're inheriting. Assuming that all inherited assets can be treated equally is another common misstep that can impact your investing plans.

Jennifer Myers, a certified financial planner and president of SageVest Wealth Management in McLean, Virginia, says there are certain questions heirs should be asking about an inheritance so they understand what it is they're getting.

"Inheritances can come in all different shapes and sizes," Myers says. "The size element is easy but the shape element is far more complicated."

If an inheritance is coming your way, you need to know things like whether it will be paid outright or held in trust. When a trust is involved, you should be clear on who the trustee is and what stipulations there are for accessing the money.

The form the inheritance takes is also important. The way you would handle a lump sum of cash, for example, may be very different than if you're inheriting real estate, a financial interest in a business or qualified retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or an individual retirement account.

Map out your comfort zone. Deciding where and how to invest an inheritance depends largely on your risk tolerance, says Rhett Wood, an independent insurance agent and investment advisor representative at Bertrand Retirement Solutions in Oklahoma City.

According to Myers, this is another area where emotions should be set aside so the focus stays on your financial future.

"Sometimes people feel like they can be more aggressive with an inheritance because it's new-found money. Alternatively, sentimental attachments can cause them to be more conservative if they're worried about losing an inheritance," she says.

[See: 20 Awesome Dividend Stocks for Guaranteed Income.]

Once you're ready to begin investing the money, look at where those assets are being allocated.

Scott Sanders, a certified public accountant and managing partner with Sanders, Thaler, Viola & Katz in New York, says to look at your investments in the context of overall market conditions. "Historically, returns for stocks, bonds and cash haven't moved up and down at the same time," Sanders says.

By investing in more than one asset category, you can reduce the risk of losing money. Even if one part of your portfolio lags, you may be able to counteract losses if the rest of your assets continue to perform.

Pay attention to the tax implications. Inheriting money without considering how it could affect your tax liability is a costly mistake that can shrink the amount you have available to invest, according to Anthony D. Criscuolo, a certified financial planner and portfolio manager with Palisades Hudson Financial Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"Depending on the type of assets you inherit, hasty action could mean handing over a substantial portion of your inheritance to the tax man," Criscuolo says.

The key is to pay attention to whether the assets you inherit are retirement accounts, advises Christopher Pegg, a wealth planning manager with Wells Fargo Private Bank in Del Mar, California.

Traditional IRA and 401(k) assets are treated as ordinary income upon distribution. If you can delay distributions from those accounts as long as possible, that allows you to defer paying income tax on the assets. Cashing out an IRA can open the door to a bigger tax bill if you're not careful, Wood says.

David Twibell, president of Englewood, Colorado-based Custom Portfolio Group, recommends meeting with a tax expert as soon as possible when an inheritance becomes part of your financial reality.

[Read: How to Give to Charity and Pay Less in Taxes.]

"The amount you'll pay in fees for a tax consultant pales in comparison to the money you could lose if you don't handle the inheritance correctly," Twibell says.





More From US News & World Report


HopCat was hopping Monday night with 225 young people, most of them in their 20s or early 30s, who gathered together over a beer or glass of wine to watch the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

No vote was taken, but it was clear from random interviews and crowd reaction that Clinton carried the night in the woodwork-adorned Haymarket brew pub where the political theater of a September presidential debate played out under the soft light of chandeliers.

Some hooting, some cheering and some mocking laughter was targeted to Clinton's advantage as viewers peered up at TV screens in all directions from an assortment of crowded booths and tables.

Monday's gathering was co-sponsored by Nebraskans for Civic Reform and the Lincoln Young Professionals Group, a program of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

Most votes already may have been nailed down before the debate began.

But not those of Zach Morrissey or Jake Jirovec.

"I'm looking for a social liberal, but I also believe in a conservative fiscal system," Morrissey said. "I'll probably go with Hillary, but I want to see what tonight's debate brings."

"I don't know if I'm satisfied with one or the other," Jirovec said, "but Trump seems a little too crazy."

Christi Arnold said Trump's the man.

"I kind of like how he's ruffled people's feathers," she said. "He's a voice for the rednecks. What people have been thinking is what he's been saying."

But Arnold said her vote could be swayed by the debates.

If she abandons Trump, she said, she might turn to Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson.

Shanna Thiel said she supports "pretty much everything Trump says," including his positions on gun rights and border control.

And she's sticking with him no matter what happens during the debates, Thiel said.

Kaylie Schnittker, who was standing with friends outside HopCat before the debate began, said she's with Clinton, and the debates will not impact her choice.

"I was a big Bernie (Sanders) supporter," Schnittker said, but Clinton's her clear choice now and her vote is locked down.

Michael Maly said he's with Clinton "and nothing that Trump could say would sway me."

Inonge Kasaji said she "definitely supports Hillary" and believes Clinton is far more qualified and experienced to be president.

But Kasaji is from Zambia and cannot vote in this year's election. She is in the long process of applying for U.S. citizenship.

Donny Murray, a Trump supporter, said his candidate "reminds me of Winston Churchill" in his determination to be bold and not politically correct.

"It's do what I believe regardless of what others think," Murray said. "He's focused on the big picture."

But Trump's performance in the debates will matter to him.

"If he makes foolish statements in the debates, I will look at other options," Murray said.
By Toby Sterling

AMSTERDAM, Sept 28 (Reuters) - An international team of prosecutors investigating the downing of a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine in 2014 will report findings on Wednesday but are unlikely to bring charges against anyone, given legal and political obstacles.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was hit by a surface-to-air missile while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and all 298 people aboard, most of them Dutch citizens, were killed.

At the time of the disaster, Ukrainian government forces were engaged in heavy fighting with pro-Russian separatists. The Boeing 777 broke apart in midair, flinging wreckage over several kilometres (miles) of fields in rebel-held territory.

The incident played a significant part in a decision by the European Union and United States to impose sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, and East-West tensions escalated to levels not seen since the Cold War ended in 1990.

The team of prosecutors from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine planned a news conference at 1100 GMT to deliver conclusions "with regard to the weapon that was used to bring down Flight MH17 and the precise location from which this weapon was launched", a group statement said.

Ukrainian and Western officials, citing intelligence intercepts, have blamed pro-Russian rebels for the incident. Russia has always denied direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict and rejects responsibility for the destruction of MH17.

A civilian investigation into the cause of the July 17, 2014 incident conducted by the Dutch Safety Board concluded last year that the airliner had been downed by a Russian-made Buk missile launched from eastern Ukraine.

But the board was not tasked with assigning blame, and prosecutors must conduct their own investigation if evidence assembled is ever to be used in court.

Dutch prosecutor Fred Westerbeke, head of the investigative team, said earlier it had a "long list of persons of interest" in the case and had been analysing airplane debris and ballistics found at the scene.

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Prosecutors could indicate on Tuesday what charges they are considering bringing - for instance criminal negligence - but unresolved legal questions may make this unlikely to happen.

In 2015 the Netherlands proposed a United Nations-backed tribunal to prosecute the case, but Russia cast a veto in the U.N. Security Council to block the motion.

Russia's U.N. ambassador said then that it was premature to set up an international tribunal, and that for Western supporters of the motion "political purposes were more important ... than practical objectives".

A visit by Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders to Moscow to address the situation ended without result.

Prosecutors have sought legal assistance from Moscow since October 2014, and visited in person for a week in July. "Russian authorities have offered information in the past, but have not answered all questions," they said in a statement at the time.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Repeats story first published on Monday)

* Kaeser ousted predecessor Loescher in 2013 boardroom coup

* CEO has raised profitability, share price

* Kaeser faced opposition at last AGM in January

By Georgina Prodhan

FRANKFURT, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Siemens Chief Executive Joe Kaeser has signaled he wants to renew his contract when it runs out in 2018, a move welcomed by investors who have grown to trust the 59-year-old company veteran.

Kaeser ousted his predecessor Peter Loescher in a boardroom coup in July 2013 when he was finance chief. Since then he has streamlined the German group to focus on its strengths in industrial engineering, raised profitability and seen the share price respond this year.

There is still work to be done but investors believe Kaeser deserves a new contract.

The trains-to-turbines group trails rivals with its enterprise value of 9.7 times estimated 2016 core profit, below multiples of 17.3 for General Electric, 10.5 for ABB and 10.4 for Schneider Electric.

But after a clean-up of underperforming businesses, almost 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in cost cuts and the sale of Siemens' last consumer operations, investors see the group as well placed to take advantage of opportunities in its markets.

"We are happy with his work. The first successes of his revamp are visible. Profitability is rising and we're not at the end yet by a long way. We see a lot of upside," said portfolio manager Christoph Niesel of Union Investment, a top 20 investor.

Kaeser is expected to oversee a spin-off of Siemens' healthcare unit, valued at about 20 billion euros, within the next year or two after Kaeser separated it legally and operationally from the rest of the group.

WINNING OVER CRITICS

German business daily Handelsblatt wrote on Sunday that Kaeser had signaled to Siemens' supervisory board he would be happy to continue beyond 2018, citing company sources.

The report came two days after long-serving and respected Chief Technology Officer Siegfried Russwurm said he would not extend his contract beyond next March, by "mutual agreement" with the supervisory board.

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Russwurm was regarded as a potential alternative chief executive.

A Siemens spokesman declined to comment on the Handelsblatt report and a supervisory board member said the issue had not been discussed.

Kaeser's popularity is perhaps higher than at any time since he took over.

As recently as January's annual meeting, shareholders were bitterly complaining about Siemens' lagging share price, the dangers of ambitious new projects such as a deal to build energy infrastructure in Egypt, and the ill-timed acquisition of U.S. oilfield equipment Dresser-Rand -- at $7.8 billion, Siemens' biggest-ever takeover.

Since then, the share price has risen by one-sixth, outperforming the German blue-chip DAX by 8 percent, while the oil price has jumped by almost half, improving prospects for the Dresser-Rand business.

The Egyptian project, Siemens' biggest-ever contract, is on track so far, unlike other large Siemens projects in the past, which often ran into problems that regularly caused hundreds of millions of euros in unexpected charges.

"Siemens executes the big projects much better than in the past," said another top 10 Siemens shareholder, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

RUTHLESS STREAK

Kaeser -- a sharp dresser who shaved off his trademark moustache upon becoming CEO and is at ease with the financial community thanks to his seven years as CFO -- has also endeared himself to investors with a 3 billion-euro share buyback scheme over three years.

Operating profitability at Siemens' industrial businesses rose to 10.8 percent last quarter from 6.5 percent before Kaeser took over, and disposals of units including hearing-aids and home appliances brought welcome gains.

At the same time, Kaeser has beefed up Siemens' engineering simulation software with large acquisitions including CD-adapco of the United States this year, making it the only industrial automation player globally with integrated software.

Kaeser's fortunes could change again rapidly, though: In recent media interviews he has said he is "very cautious" about geopolitical uncertainty clouding the investment climate for 2017.

Investors also point to his ruthless nature, which helped him to get the job, as a potential weakness.

"The one point where he has to be a bit careful is to make sure he has the backing of other top management. We've seen Russwurm and other managers leaving," said the top 10 investor.

Others were concerned that Kaeser could be drawing his power from too narrow a base.

Union Investment's Niesel said: "Russwurm is one of the names you'd think of when considering who would lead the company. Everything is now tailor-made for Mr Kaeser and his team. But that's an issue for Siemens management." ($1 = 0.8877 euros) (Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Keith Weir)
(Reuters) - A sprawling network of flood barricades erected in Iowa's second-largest city of Cedar Rapids largely succeeded in holding back water from the rain-swollen Cedar River, city officials said on Tuesday. Around 5,800 homes and businesses were at risk of flooding in an evacuation zone along the river, as the city braced for what officials said could have been the second worst flood in the city's history. Public Works Director Jen Winter said that the Cedar River, which winds its way through the city, had crested at just over 22 feet (7 m) on Tuesday morning and was receding. Mayor Ron Corbett said that he felt confident the worst of the flood danger had passed with minimal impact, though he cautioned there was still some risk until the river reached its normal level again, which is expected later this week. "Tomorrow we'll wake up on the winning side," Corbett told residents and members of the media on Tuesday. One person was rescued from the river on Monday, according to Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Mark English. The National Guard was deployed to the area to aid evacuation efforts and man traffic check points. Officials in the city of about 126,000 said that nearly 10 miles (16 km) of temporary flood barricades and a quarter-million sandbags had been put in place by emergency crews and volunteers in recent days. The city was looking to avoid a repeat of wide-spread flooding from June 2008, when the river crested at 31 feet (9 m), inundating as many as 5,400 homes and 700 businesses across an area of 10 square miles (26 sq km). "In 2008 we felt defenseless. In 2016 we took action and mobilized. And rather than sit back and be defenseless, we defended ourselves," Corbett said. Corbett said Monday he expected residents would probably be able to return to homes and businesses in the evacuation area on Saturday. Schools will stay closed until Thursday, authorities said. Cedar Rapids was one of numerous sites across the Midwest suffering from heavy rainfall. Two fatalities in neighboring Wisconsin last week have been blamed on flooding in that state. Rising water levels on the Mississippi River are likely to close three locks on the grain shipping waterway from southern Iowa to northern Missouri later this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Monday. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Alan Crosby)
Algiers (AFP) - Iran is not ready to agree to an oil output freeze in Algiers, its Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Tuesday on the eve of an informal OPEC meeting in Algeria's capital.

"It's not in our agenda to reach an agreement in two days. We need time for more consultation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an energy conference.

Zanganeh said an agreement on a freeze to stabilise oil prices could be struck at the November 30 meeting in Vienna of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Cartel members are to meet with key non-OPEC producer Russia on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in the Algerian capital.

They are expected to discuss ways to strengthen prices that have been depressed since 2014 amid a stubborn supply glut.

With expectations of an agreement low, according to industry analysts, oil prices edged lower Tuesday in Asia and in London.

Most oil states have been supportive of a cap, but pre-forum talks between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and Iran have been less productive.

Iran also refused at a meeting in April to take part in talks on a production cap after the country had just emerged from years of Western-imposed sanctions over its nuclear programme.

The talks in Algiers will be "a consultative, informal meeting to exchange views," said Zanganeh.

The minister pointed out Iran was investing to increase its output to pre-sanctions levels.

"Very soon this production will be operated and we will increase our production" to 4 million barrels per day (bpd), he said, from the current level estimated at between 3.6 million and 3.8 million bpd, he said.

Iraq's Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaybi, also attending the meetings in Algiers, said he expected "positive results" from the talks aimed at taking steps to increase prices.

"We support all efforts to stabilise prices," he said.

The United Arab Emirates has said it supports a deal to freeze output if other nations agree but that production cuts were not up for discussion in Algiers, according to Bloomberg News.

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Host country Algeria said Sunday that the world's top oil producers "must take a decision" to stabilise prices.

Failure to agree on a production freeze could push prices even lower, Energy Minister Noureddine Boutarfa said.

"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 International Criminal Court sentenced Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi on Tuesday, September 27, to nine years in prison for his role in destroying religious and historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali, in June and July 2012. The verdict marks the courts first prosecution of the destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the sentencing, saying in a statement that the ICC had sent a clear message to the international community that attacking the worlds historical treasures will be punished.

Al-Mahdi, a Malian national and former member of Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), pleaded guilty to the charges in August. The war crime was committed in the attacking of 10 historic and religious monuments, including shrines, mausoleums and mosques, the court said. Credit: YouTube/International Criminal Court
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - War crimes judges on Tuesday sentenced a former Islamist rebel who admitted wrecking holy shrines during Mali's 2012 conflict to nine years in prison, in the first such case to focus on destruction of cultural heritage. During a brief trial at the International Criminal Court in August Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi asked for forgiveness and said he had been swept up in an "evil wave" by al Qaeda and the Ansar Dine Islamist groups that briefly seized control of the ancient sites. In June and July of 2012 "10 of the most important and well-known sites in Timbuktu were attacked and destroyed. ... a war activity aimed at breaking the soul of the people," said presiding Judge Raul Pangalangan. Prosecutors had demanded a sentence of 9 to 11 years for al-Mahdi, who sat quietly in a gray suit, nodding as the verdict was read aloud. Judges said the sentence took into account al-Mahdi's expression of remorse and cooperation with the court. Al-Mahdi admitted to involvement in the destruction of key historic mausoleums and religious sites in Timbuktu dating from Mali's 14th-century golden age as a trading hub and centre of Sufi Islam, a branch of the religion seen as idolatrous by some hardline Muslim groups. (Reporting By Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel plans to charge officials from Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party in a major corruption probe, with one also accused of drug offences, the attorney general said.

The charges are linked to what has been called "one of the largest public corruption investigations in Israel," involving alleged crimes committed between 2009 and 2014.

Lieberman, who joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in May, is not among the 16 people facing charges.

His hardline nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party holds five seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament.

Former deputy interior minister and Yisrael Beitenu secretary general Faina Kirshenbaum along with former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov are to be charged with bribery, fraud and tax offences, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's office said in a statement.

Misezhnikov is also facing charges of possessing cocaine in Israel and abroad and using it on various occasions in his capacity as minister, according to the statement released late on Monday.

Others named include advisors, lobbyists and local government officials.

In December 2014, police arrested more than two dozen current and former officials as part of the investigation.

The arrests came just three months before Israel's 2015 general elections.

Lieberman, who in 2014 accused authorities of trying to meddle in the elections by probing and arresting members of his party, had no comment on the latest announcement.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he believed either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would maintain strong support for Israel if elected, steering clear of US politics after meeting both candidates.

Netanyahu faced criticism in 2012 over what many saw as his support for US President Barack Obama's Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

This year, the veteran prime minister and former US resident has been careful to strike a balance after coming come under fire from political opponents who accuse him of damaging relations with Israel's most important ally.

Netanyahu returned to Israel on Monday after a trip to New York to speak at the UN General Assembly. He met both Clinton and Trump on Sunday.

The premier, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, said he "spoke with them at length about Israel and the region."

"Both spoke about their support of Israel and the importance of the relations between the countries," Netanyahu said.

"It doesn't matter which of them is elected. The American support for Israel will remain strong. This bond will remain strong and even strengthen over the coming years."

During Sunday's meeting with Netanyahu, Trump pledged to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital if elected president, which would break with decades of precedent and put the United States at odds with most UN member countries.

In her meeting, Clinton promised to help Israel confront "terrorist threats" and also said she was committed to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "negotiated directly by the parties."

Netanyahu has called for direct negotiations, while the Palestinians, frustrated with years of failed talks and Israel's continuing occupation of the West Bank, have pursued an international strategy.

On Tuesday, the Israeli premier also acknowledged his "disagreements" with Obama, but said "these disagreements have not clouded the strong and solid relations between the countries at all."

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Netanyahu vehemently opposed the Iran nuclear deal spearheaded by the United States along with other world powers.

His address to the US Congress in March 2015 to lobby against the deal angered the White House.

But the two men put aside their differences in recent months to agree on a new, decade-long $38 billion defence aid package deal for Israel, which was signed on September 14.
If Cellebrite sounds familiar, thats because the name of this Israeli company came up during Apples standoff with the FBI over breaking iPhone encryption. The agency managed to crack the San Bernardino iPhone with the help of an undisclosed company. Many people believe it was Cellebrite that came to the rescue. Meanwhile, the company revealed that it could hack just about any modern smartphone, but refused to say whether its expertise is used by the police forces of repressive regimes.



DONT MISS: iPhone 7 review

Cellebrite talked to the BBC about its technology, including equipment and software.

I was given a demo using a Samsung phone supplied by the company, BBCs Rory Cellan-Jones said. It was running quite an old version of Android - 4.2 - but I was allowed to take it away for half an hour, put a password on it, and use it to take photos and send a text message.

Upon his return, Yuval Ben-Moshe from Cellebrite took the phone, plugged it into a chunky tablet computer, and disabled the lock code.

"We can pretty much pull up any of the data that resides on the phone," he said and downloaded all the photos taken with the device.

When asked whether this kind of hack applies to other devices, Ben-Moshe said that his company could access data on the largest number of devices that are out there in the industry. Even the iPhone 7.

"We can definitely extract data from an iPhone 7 as well - the question is what data."

The security expert said that even data from encrypted services such as WhatsApp can be accessed hinting that not all communication is totally secure.

The iPhone may be hackable to some extent, but that doesnt mean that Cellebrite cracked the iPhone 5c that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters. Or at least, the company would not comment on any of its customers.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will hold a campaign rally at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

The Iowa event was announced Tuesday by the Trump campaign.

Trump's appearance across the Missouri River from Omaha will help him tap into the Omaha media market while he is competing in Iowa, a battleground state.

Metropolitan Omaha's congressional district has been identified as a battleground for one of Nebraska's five presidential electoral votes. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has targeted that district and is conducting an extensive ground campaign in Omaha.

Nebraska allocates three of its electoral votes to the presidential winner in each of its congressional districts while awarding the remaining two votes to the statewide winner.

There has been no word from the Trump campaign as to whether it plans an appearance in Omaha during the remaining weeks of the campaign. Clinton campaigned in Omaha days after she officially secured her nomination at the Democratic national convention.

Doors to the Mid-America Center are scheduled to open at 11:30 a.m., according to the Trump campaign.
The Hague (AFP) - The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court welcomed Tuesday a nine-year jail term handed to a Malian jihadist for destroying Timbuktu's shrines, saying it sent "a warning" to others planning such attacks.

The term imposed on Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi for directing the 2012 attacks on the fabled mausoleums in northern Mali was a "fair sentence," ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told AFP.

But she stressed it "will give warning out there for those who are committing the crimes... that this is a serious crime. It is a war crime and they will be held accountable for destroying these important sites".

Mahdi was sentenced to nine years imprisonment Tuesday by judges at the tribunal, after he pleaded guilty to a single war crimes charge of intentionally directing attacks against a religious and historic site.

The judges said the destruction of nine mausoleums and the 500-year-old doors of the Sidi Yahia mosque at the UNESCO-listed site were of "significant gravity".

UNESCO on Tuesday applauded the International Criminal Court for jailing Mahdi, calling it a "major step towards peace and reconciliation in Mali".

The issue of cultural destruction has been catapulted into the spotlight as jihadists have swept into centuries-old sites in Iraq and Syria in recent years.

"The court has recognised that this is a very serious offence, very grave offence and the impact that it has had also on the community," Bensouda said.

The sentence would have "a deterrent effect on those who are considering committing these crimes".

She stressed her office was also looking into other crimes in Mali following criticism from some rights group that not enough was being done to bring other suspects to justice after harrowing the events of 2012.

"The investigations continue, we are looking into other crimes, we are also looking into these crimes such as sexual and gender-based crimes and killings," she said.

Even though her office does not have jurisdiction to investigate crimes in Iraq and Syria, as they have not signed up to the court, "where we have jurisdiction, we will definitely intervene," Bensouda said.
Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese police are hunting for a killer after two elderly men were poisoned at a hospital near Tokyo, local media reported Tuesday.

An autopsy showed that the deaths at a hospital in Yokohama were caused by a chemical found in antiseptic, according to public broadcaster NHK and other media.

The chemical is the same as one in a disinfectant used at the Oguchi Hospital's nurse's station, Jiji Press news agency said, citing sources.

The investigation comes two months after the murder of 19 people at a centre for the mentally disabled, Japan's worst killing spree in decades.

In the latest case, media reported, police suspect fatal amounts of the chemical were injected into intravenous drips for the two 88-year-old victims, Sozo Nishikawa and Nobuo Yamaki. The men both died this month.

Police would not confirm their investigation.

In 2000 a male nurse was charged with killing one patient and attempting to murder four others by poisoning them at a clinic in the northern Japanese city of Sendai.
A passenger on a Japanese bullet train sat for 50 minutes on Monday without noticing that a python was wrapped around his armrest.

Almost an hour into the train ride from Tokyos JR station, a nearby passenger noticed the snake on the seat in front of him and told the trains conductor, the Associated Press reported.

Snake on a train: Passenger spots a python curled around armrest of seat on a Japanese 'bullet' train. https://t.co/W4FFQLbFHa #odd AP Oddities (@AP_Oddities) September 26, 2016

The train then made an emergency stop at Hamamatsu station, where railway police removed the snake in less than a minute. But the detour did not stop Japans famously efficient bullet train. The high-speed train quickly left the station and arrived at its final destination, Hiroshima, on time.

The foot-long snake is believed to have been either some sort of python or rat snake. It is not thought to have been poisonous and no injuries were reported onboard.

Train staff made announcements asking if any passenger had misplaced a snake, but nobody came forward, according to Japanese media.

Theres no word yet on the fate of the snake, nor whether Samuel L. Jackson was on the train.

It seems no form of transportation is safe from snakes. Earlier this month, a snake was spotted on a flight from Stockholm to Oslo. Luckily, the snake was spotted and removed from the plane before the flight took off.

Cailey Rizzo writes about travel, art and culture and is the founding editor of The Local Dive. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @misscaileyanne.

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Jeff Bezos

GUADALAJARA, Mexico  SpaceX isnt the only billionaire-backed company thats planning to go to Mars: Blue Origin, the space venture created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is also taking aim at Mars, the moon and other deep-space destinations.

Those missions are implied in Bezos long-term vision of having millions of people living and working in space, Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson said today at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara.

One small step toward that goal is due to come next week, when Blue Origin puts its suborbital New Shepard spaceship through its most challenging flight test yet at the companys launch site in West Texas.

The Mars angle came up when an audience member asked Meyerson about a much larger rocket, the New Armstrong, which is only now on the drawing boards at Blue Origins headquarters south of Seattle.

New Shepard is named after the late astronaut Alan Shepard, who took NASAs first suborbital space trip in 1961. New Armstrong takes its name from the late Neil Armstrong, who took humanitys first walk on the moons surface eight years later.

When the questioner asked about the significance of the name, and whether Blue Origin had any plans to go to Mars, Meyerson answered in the context of Bezos vision.

When we have millions of people living and working in space, we want them to be able to go to lots of destinations, he said. Mars would be one of them. The moon would be another. New Armstrong is really designed for that long-term vision.

Meyerson added that this is a vision that will take decades to achieve.

Meyerson provided no further details about New Armstrongs capabilities, but from the sounds of it, the rocket would be designed to handle missions similar to the interplanetary transport system that SpaceX is developing. SpaceXs billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, was scheduled to discuss that system, and his larger vision for Mars settlement, at the Guadalajara meeting later in the day.

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In addition to New Armstrong and New Shepard, Meyerson laid out the basic specifications for New Glenn, an orbital launch vehicle thats named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.

Earlier this month, Bezos said that New Glenn would have a first stage thats powered by seven of Blue Origins BE-4 engines, and would be capable of landing itself after a launch. The rocket will come in two-stage and three-stage configurations for putting payloads in low Earth orbit or much higher geosynchronous orbits.

Meyerson confirmed that New Glenn could carry people as well as cargo, and that a crew module was part of the design. He declined to go deeply into the details but said more information would be released during the first quarter of next year.

As to next weeks New Shepard test flight, Meyerson said New Shepards capsule would be programmed to fire off its emergency escape system during the most stressful part of the boosters ascent.

Most of the simulations suggest that the booster, which has made four round trips to space over the past year, would be destroyed in the process. However, theres a slight chance that the booster would survive and make an autonomous landing back at the Texas test site.

Either in whole or in pieces, both the crew capsule and the booster would be retired to a museum after the flight, and another New Shepard would take its place in the test program.

Although Blue Origin has declined to say which museum (or museums) would get the artifacts, the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum and Seattles Museum of Flight would almost certainly be among the top contenders.

More from GeekWire:
Secretary of State John Kerry, right, is greeted on the tarmac by Jeffrey DeLaurentis at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, Aug. 14, 2015. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Facing down congressional opponents of his historic outreach to Cuba, President Obama announced Tuesday that he has chosen highly respected career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first U.S. ambassador to Havana in 55 years. DeLaurentis is currently the top official at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

There is no public servant better suited to improve our ability to engage the Cuban people and advance U.S. interests in Cuba than Jeff, Obama said in a statement. Jeffs leadership has been vital throughout the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba.

The announcement is certain to touch off an election-year fight in which the confirmation of DeLaurentis will serve as a referendum of sorts on Obamas policy of engaging Cuba. Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Cuban-Americans who tried and failed to win their partys presidential nomination, have promised to block any effort to fill the post. They argue that the socialist government of President Raul Castro has not undertaken the necessary economic and political reforms to earn such high-level engagement.

We have such a basic difference on that, Ben Rhodes, Obamas deputy national security adviser, told Yahoo News. To us, the concept that its a reward for a country to have an ambassador makes no sense. On the contrary, having an ambassador gives you a higher profile, a higher-ranked advocate for what America cares about, whether thats bilateral cooperation or whether thats speaking out for human rights.

Still, Rhodes acknowledged, it will be hard to get DeLaurentis confirmed. While a simple Senate majority is required to approve an ambassadorial nomination, an individual senator can by tradition impose an anonymous hold that can at least delay, and even end, prospects for confirmation. And theres no guarantee that the Republican majority will even schedule a vote.

We have no illusions, Rhodes said. But we feel that its important to validate the good work that Jeff DeLaurentis has done while also indicating that we think the norm should be that theres an ambassador  and put the onus on opponents to articulate why it makes any sense at all to not have such a well-qualified person in the position.

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The president and first lady with DeLaurentis at a meeting with embassy personnel in Havana, March 20, 2016. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Obama sent DeLaurentis to Havana in the summer of 2014, anticipating that what were secret talks with the Castro government would yield a deal to normalize diplomatic relations and expand economic and travel ties, officials say.

We told the Cubans that at the time. We said, Were sending this person down. Hes more senior than we normally have. Hes an ambassador rank. Hes close to [National Security Adviser] Susan Rice, which mattered to them, Rhodes said.

Obama and Raul Castro shocked the world on Dec. 17, 2014, by announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations  including the reopening of embassies shuttered in the aftermath of the 1959 revolution that swept Fidel Castro to power. In March, Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba.

While the White House considered prominent Cuban-Americans for the post, finding a consensus candidate proved elusive. DeLaurentis proved himself the better candidate anyway, more than able to defend U.S. interests as well as forge relationships with the Cuban government and the Cuban-American community, people inside and outside the administration have told Yahoo News.

A number of prominent Cuban-Americans volunteered to us that we if appointed anybody, it should be Jeff, said Rhodes.

In addition to nominating DeLaurentis, the White House plans to use executive power to promote commercial and cultural exchanges while pushing Congress to act on easing restrictions on American travel to Cuba and prodding the Castro government to make good on promises of political and economic reform.

Having an ambassador will make it easier to advocate for our interests and will deepen our understanding, even when we know that we will continue to have differences with the Cuban government, Obama said. We only hurt ourselves by not being represented by an ambassador.

The United States and Cuba had operated interests sections  a step down from a formal embassy  for decades.
Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston. (Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

Justin Theroux has spoken out about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies split.



As a child of divorce, all I can say is thats terrible news for those children and thats all you can really say, the 45-year-old Leftovers actor told Business Insider Monday during a press tour for his new film The Girl on the Train, out Oct. 7.



Therouxs wife, Jennifer Aniston, was married to Pitt for five years before their divorce in 2005.



Pitt, 52, and Jolie, 41  who married in 2014 after 10 years of dating  have six children together: Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.



Its boring to sort of comment on anything else, Theroux added. People are having a bad time. Thats horrible.







He also slammed what he called nonsense attempts to drag Aniston into the divorce drama.



Theres an endless appetite for trash, apparently  though everyone would say that they dont have that appetite, he explained. But I think a lot of people do because people buy it.



Theroux continued: But there are bigger things to bitch about. Its shocking how much bandwidth things can take up when there are far more important things going on in the world.

For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein was escorted off the Hofstra University campus Monday afternoon ahead of the evening's presidential debate there between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

According to her Twitter account, Stein says officers from Hofstra and from Nassau County, New York, stopped her and asked her to produce credentials as she was on her way to a scheduled interview with MSNBC.

"We were on our way to an interview with @MSNBC when we were stopped by Hofstra security and Nassau County police just now," she tweeted. "Two police SUVs just pulled up and @MSNBC was questioned even though they had credentials for us at Hofstra for #debatenight."

Two police SUVs just pulled up and @MSNBC was questioned even though they had credentials for us at Hofstra for #debatenight. pic.twitter.com/1pbcIyS80g

-- Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein)

September 26, 2016

Police apparently allowed the interview to take place -- Stein was on MSNBC' with reporter Hallie Jackson beginning at 1:52 p.m. -- before escorting her from campus.

"Jill Stein was on the college campus," a spokeswoman for the Nassau County Police Department confirmed to U.S. News. "She was asked to verify the proper credentials. She did not have them, and she was escorted off the campus."

[READ: Green Party's Jill Stein charged with trespassing, mischief]

Hofstra's Department of Public Safety directed questions to Nassau police.

Stein gave what she described as an "impromptu press conference" while waiting for clearance to stay on campus and tweeted several photos of her being driven off the campus in a police van.

"We were immediately escorted off of the Hofstra campus after the press conference just now and told not to do any more press," she said.

After being escorted from Hofstra campus for doing an interview, police put us in a van which was stopped not once, but twice. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/IgQJMoCNWZ

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-- Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein)

September 26, 2016

On Sunday, Stein told the university's student newspaper she planned to hold a rally and a "people's debate" on campus and attempt to force her way onto the debate stage.

"We will make an effort to get in ... it's not likely," The Hofstra Chronicle quoted her as saying.

Nassau Deputy Police Chief McCarthy: "(Jill) is not public enemy number one." Interesting - why escort me from Hofstra for #debatenight? pic.twitter.com/63dDWLUk7r

-- Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein)

September 26, 2016

"What I'm really hoping to accomplish is what the American people are trying to accomplish, which is to open up the debates to have a fair and inclusive debate, at a time when the American people have rejected the two establishment candidates at record levels," Stein told MSNBC.

"Our campaign has really been blacked out. We've been virtually silenced by the media," she said. "We've essentially not been covered at all, which is why we're low in the polls. But as we begin to be seen and heard, we expect that to change."

Stein, who was also the Green Party's nominee four years ago, was arrested for trying to crash the debate between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney held at Hofstra in 2012.

Gabrielle Levy covers politics for U.S. News & World Report. Follow her on Twitter (@gabbilevy) or email her at GLevy@usnews.com.
Reminiscing about the days when the Jonas Brothers "thought we killed it with 100 followers on MySpace," Joe Jonas said he's down with the industry's recent transitions, from when fan engagement meant in-store autograph signings to the real-time connections streaming services and social media provide for him and his band DNCE.

The shift from physical albums to streaming "was scary for a lot of artists because we weren't sure where the music industry was going," he acknowledged on stage duringa an appearance at New York Advertising Week today (Sept. 27). "But to say we have songs that have been played over 200 million times is pretty unreal. We figured out that it's not scary, it's actually exciting because you can find ways to connect with your audience."

DNCE on Their Band's Style - iHeartRadio Festival 2016

Speaking with Spotify global head of artist services Mark Williamson, Jonas said the band used automated feedback from the service to help determine song selections for DNCE's self-titled debut album, which drops Nov. 18. First single "Body Moves" is out this Friday (Sept. 30), and a world tour is in the works for next year.

Williamson shared some Spotify DNCE stats with Jonas, some of which the artist guessed -- Mexico City has the band's most fans on the service -- and some Jonas found surprising, like that the band's female-male fan base on Spotify is 57:43. To which Jonas, who'd guessed 80:20, quipped, "Wow, thanks guys."

When Quitting Pays Off: David Gray Talks Leaving His Music Behind to Build Up Shawn Mendes, DNCE & Other Hitmakers

He also digs the breakdown of which songs are getting play in specific locales around the globe. "Those tools are useful for us. We just got back from touring Mexico and we have a song, 'Jinx,' and they know every word. It's massive in Mexico."

Jonas, who says he's a big fan of "the Gram" as well as Twitter and Facebook, said he focuses more on "real connections" and humor than on traditional advertising. "I don't do as much advertising on my Instagram, unless I find a brand I really connect with," he said, citing the campaign with Uber where he got behind the wheel and drove customers around LA with a hidden camera.

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Demi Lovato & DNCE Team Up for Downtown L.A. 'Block Party'

For brands looking to connect with consumers via artist relationships, he suggested "finding ways for artists to talk about the product where it doesn't feel staged. You look at some artists and you can tell it's an ad. There are ways it can be comfortable for the artist that make sense for your brand." If that jibes, the campaign "will live beyond" just a tweet.

Jonas said he had an idea for forming his own band while he was still a Jo Bros "but the time never seemed right," and is thankful "we've come to a place where you can re-create yourself in the music industry."

Plus: DNCE on Their Personal Style & What They Could Have Been Called at iHeartRadio Music Festival
John C. Malone will receive the Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award during the Television Academy's 68th Engineering Emmy Awards on Oct. 26 at Loews Hollywood Hotel.

The cable pioneer, philanthropist and chairman of Liberty Media will be honored for "his lifetime commitment and immeasurable contributions to the advancement of cable television."

Also during the ceremony, which will be hosted by Criminal Minds start Kirsten Vangsness, the Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award will be presented to Japan public broadcaster NHK's Science & Technology Research Laboratories for its decades of innovations. NHK is currently testing an 8K broadcast system (16 times the resolution of HD) for wide use in Japan.

During the ceremony, six companies will receive Engineering Emmys. This includes SyncOnSet, a software application for production design departments; Ncam, whose camera tracking technology allows for the real-time integration of live action and CG elements; and Sony, for its 2/3-inch 4K three-sensor imaging system, used in the Sony HDC-4300 series camera.

Engineering Emmys also will be awarded to Saunders Electric for its Mobile UPS Power Station, which provides technical power for television broadcasts with a green approach to reducing carbon emissions; Zaxcom, for its digital wireless technology innovations; and Group It for Me!, a cloud-based organizational software used in editing.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  During their first presidential debate on Monday night, Democrat Hillary Clinton attacked her Republican rival, Donald Trump, for telling what she described as a birther lie that was racist. While she used the term racist to characterize Trumps past comments, both Clinton and one of her top aides did not employ the word to describe Trump as a man.

Trump spent several years raising questions about the debunked birther conspiracy theories claiming President Obama wasnt born in the U.S. Earlier this month, Trump said he no longer has questions about Obamas origins after ducking the subject in an interview, embroiling his campaign in new controversy. At the debate, Trump argued he did a good job handling the issue and credited himself with pushing Obama to release his birth certificate.

While Clinton and her campaign have attacked some of Trumps comments and policy ideas as bigoted, they have not used the term to directly describe Trump.

After the Hofstra University debate, Yahoo News asked Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta, whether the former secretary of state believes Trump is a racist. Podesta suggested that Clinton couldnt possibly know what Trump believes.

Look, I think thats kind of, you know, a question of whats in his heart, Podesta said.

John Podesta is interviewed by Yahoo News in the spin room at the presidential debate at Hofstra University. (Screenshot: Yahoo News)

Podesta then pointed to several things to argue that Trump has built his campaign on racism. He cited the Justice Departments lawsuit against Trumps real estate company for allegedly discriminating against potential African-American tenants in 1973. He also pointed to statements Trump has made about a Mexican-American judge, Muslims and illegal immigration from Mexico.

You have to look at what hes done, starting in his earliest days, when he was sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination in housing rentals. And then moving on into this campaign, hes certainly done things from attacking a judge born in Indiana, saying he couldnt fairly judge a case, calling him a Mexican, what hes said about Muslims, including people in  this country, what hes done to offend just about everybody, Podesta said of Trump.

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Particularly Hispanic-Americans, what hes said about Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. You know? I think those actions are certainly bigoted and open up a vein of bigotry in this country that should be deplored, he continued.

Podesta suggested that the Clinton campaign had refrained from labeling Trump a racist.

You know, weve refrained from name-calling, Podesta said. But I think that  he has run a campaign built on division, bigotry and, yes, racism.

Yahoo News then asked Podesta whether he personally believes Trump is a racist.

Im just going to stick with what I said, which is, look at his history, look at the way hes run his campaign.  An arc of the campaign in particular has been one of division, of bigotry, and at times, outright racism, Podesta said. You make your own judgment of whats in his heart.

(Cover tile photos: Mike Segar/Reuters, Patrick Semansky/AP)
The Lancaster County Board and the county engineer remain at an impasse over how to address a dozen bridges that have been closed indefinitely.

At a Tuesday meeting, Commissioner Larry Hudkins pressed County Engineer Pam Dingman for a plan to get the bridges reopened.

Both Hudkins and Commissioner Bill Avery have called on Dingman to hire an independent consultant to get a second opinion on the bridges status and help expedite getting them reopened.

Dingman, in an interview following the meeting, said her office doesn't have the money in its budget to hire a consultant, and the decision to close the bridges already has been reviewed and approved by the Nebraska Department of Roads.

I understand how important these roads and bridges are to the people who live on them. But they are a clear and present danger to the public, she said.

Dingman said the board of commissioners could hire and pay for a consultant itself.

"In my mind, that would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. We need to use taxpayer dollars now to move forward with fixing these bridges," she said.

Dingman is elected by voters, as are the county commissioners.

Avery previously has voiced concern Dingman is using the bridge closures to get commissioners to increase her budget.

Earlier this year, the County Board balked at Dingmans request for an extra $9 million to replace five bridges and pave 11 miles of new roads. Board members voted July 28 to reduce that request to $1 million.

Dingman said she followed all federal and state guidelines in closing the bridges.

Im a licensed engineer and Im bound by an engineering code of ethics, Dingman said. I would never close bridges as a political game. I would consider that a violation of my code of ethics.

Hudkins said drivers of county roads have expressed the most concern about the West McKelvie Road bridge that crosses Oak Creek east of Northwest 40th Street.

He urged Dingman to make the bridge, which was closed more than a month ago, a top priority because its on a school bus route and used by farmers at harvest time.

It burdens me that it has been closed for quite some time and those people who pay a lot of taxes and the school bus did not have much warning, Hudkins said. Its a major road in that area.

Dingman responded that traffic counts show only 38 cars drive across the bridge a day.

She said her office is busy evaluating a new state bridge funding program. Once the evaluation is done, staff will start work on a request for proposals to get a hydraulics and hydrology test done on the West McKelvie Road bridge, which will determine whether it should be repaired or replaced with another option like a box culvert or a pipe.

The County Engineers Office is responsible for inspecting 301 bridges, of which 12 are closed indefinitely due to deterioration and another 31 are being closely watched because water has scoured away rocks, sand and dirt around piers or abutments threatening the structures integrity.

There is frustration when I close bridges. Im frustrated too. Id like to remind the board that I have repeatedly come to the board and talked about these bridges and talked about its not a matter of if Im going to close these bridges but when, Dingman said during the meeting.

Commissioner Roma Amundson said in the meeting she has faith in Dingman and the job she has done as County Engineer.
(Reuters) - A Kansas judge extended voting rights through the Nov. 8 election of about 17,500 people who registered to vote at motor vehicle offices, court documents showed on Tuesday in one of the cases highlighting a political battle over identification laws enacted in Republican-led states. The ruling impacts people who submitted voter applications through Kansas motor vehicle offices but failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. The ruling by Judge Larry Hendricks of the third judicial court in Shawnee, Kansas, extends the temporary injunction he issued last month. Under a state law that took effect in 2013, they were required to present a document such as a birth certificate. The judge's ruling made on Friday said that the Kansas Secretary of State, Kris Kobach, must instruct election officials to allow the around 17,500 residents to "...vote for all offices on the ballot and to count all the votes cast on that ballot." Kobach, a Republican who has become a national leader in pushing for anti-immigration and voting changes, said on Tuesday that his office would continue with the case. Hendricks has not made a final ruling. "The state will proceed with discovery as directed by the court. As is normal, the temporary injunction remains in place until a final order is issued by Judge Hendricks," Kobach said in a statement. Kansas' law is one of the strictest voter identification statutes in the country, making the state a symbol for mostly Republican Party supporters who say the rules are meant to prevent voter fraud. Opponents, mostly Democrats, say they discriminate against minorities. The American Civil Liberties Union has argued that the statute conflicts with a federal law designed to make it easier to register to vote while getting a driver's license. Kobach asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to place on hold a decision in May by a lower-court judge ordering the state to begin registering the roughly 17,500 residents affected by the law. [nL1N19301N] In requesting the stay, the state said the order to begin to register voters would "result in extraordinary confusion on November 8, 2016." But the Denver-based court rejected this argument in June. The law will not affect the state's status as a safe Republican stronghold in the presidential election being contested by Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump. (Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; editing by Grant McCool)
Kate Middleton is the dancing lady emoji brought to life in this dramatic red dress

Kate Middleton is the dancing lady emoji brought to life in this dramatic red dress

Weve long thought of Kate Middleton as one of the worlds chicest royals, and her most recent outfit has proved that point once again.

The Duchess of Cambridge, who is currently touring Canada with her husband, Prince William, attended a Government of British Columbia reception in Victoria wearing a striking red dress from British fashion house Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

2016 Royal Tour To Canada Of The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge - Bella Bella And Victoria, British Columbia

Does she not remind you so much of the dancing lady emoji in this frock?!

dancinglady

I mean seriously.

Anyway! According to Preens Instagram page, the Finella dress  which retails for just over $1,700  is sold out. Ugh! But dont worry  the brand says the dress will soon be back in stock. Yay!

More coming soon #whatchthisspace A photo posted by Preen By Thornton Bregazzi (@preenbythorntonbregazzi) on Sep 27, 2016 at 12:29pm PDT

Preen recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, but if you havent heard of the brand, dont worry  youre not alone.

Weve never been the next big thing, said Justin Thornton, the husband part of the husband-and-wife team behind Preen, in a recent interview with The Guardian. Were just pleased that weve managed to stay at this level for this long, making clothes that people really like. Its great that weve been bloody-minded enough to do it.

Thats not to say their clothes dont get worn. Everyone from Rihanna to Michelle Obama to Amy Winehouse has stepped out in a Preen garment at one time or another, its just that we dont hear the companys name all that often stateside.

Perhaps thats about to change? We certainly hope so! And if anyone can make that happen, its our girl Kate.

The post Kate Middleton is the dancing lady emoji brought to life in this dramatic red dress appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Blue seems to be the color du jour for Kate Middleton and Prince William!

All four members of the royal family, including the couple's 3-year-old son Prince George and 16-month-old daughter Princess Charlotte, donned the hue for their arrival in Victoria, British Columbia, on Saturday, and Kate and William sported blue again during day three of their royal tour in Canada.

WATCH: Kate Middleton Looks Flawless Boarding Sea Plane to Vancouver With Prince William

The Duchess and Duke of Cambridge, both 34, rocked matching navy blue sweaters and collared shirts while visiting the Heiltsuk First Nation in Bella Bella, an Indian Reserve community in British Columbia, on Monday. Kate smartly carried an umbrella and wore a short camel trench coat ahead of entering the welcoming ceremony, as the afternoon was full of some pretty wet weather.

WPA Pool/Getty Images

Kate paired her sweater with black pants and a favorite pair of Penelope Chilvers long tassel leather riding boots, while William's slightly darker jumper was paired with camel corduroys.

WPA Pool/Getty Images

The boots are the same pair Kate wore during her five-hour hike with William to the Tiger's Nest monastery in Bhutan during their royal trip to India and Bhutan in April.

WPA Pool/Getty Images

WATCH: Kate Middleton and Prince William Go on a Safari During Royal Tour of India

The husband-and-wife duo received a very warm welcome from residents, with the local kids even putting on a traditional dance for their visitors, witnessed by all in the packed hall.

TRH are currently receiving a welcome from the Heiltsuk First Nation pic.twitter.com/cQGmdSSo86  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2016

The children of Bella Bella are the stars of today's welcome pic.twitter.com/BiIuha8ZmR  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2016

As the royal Twitter account pointed out, the children really were the stars of the show, with Kate taking time out to speak to some of the young women there.

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WPA Pool/Getty Images

The pair also met with elders in the community, and they were gifted with traditional scarves, which they put on during the ceremony, and tiny capes for George and Charlotte.

WPA Pool/Getty Images

WPA Pool/Getty Images

WATCH: William, Kate, George and Charlotte Touch Down for Their Canadian Tour

Later in the afternoon, William gave a speech endorsing Great Bear Rainforest, part of an international conservation effort and Canada's contribution to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, which aims to preserve forests for future generations.

"The establishment of the Canopy is a loud and unambiguous statement ... that nature is fundamental to the health of our societies," the Duke said during his speech. "Her Majesty is immensely grateful to you, and the people of Canada, for the leadership you have shown in making this contribution."

The Duke speaks at the launch of Canada's contribution to the @QueensCanopy #RoyalVisitCanada pic.twitter.com/ei09O6C6sz  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2016

Kate and William then took a stroll down a boardwalk in the forest before unveiling a plaque during their visit.

The Duke and Duchess have just had a beautiful walk down a boardwalk in Great Bear Rainforest, now part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy pic.twitter.com/IIytwwuMJn  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2016

TRH mark their visit to the Great Bear Rainforest and its dedication to Queen's Commonwealth Canopy by unveiling a plaque in the forest. pic.twitter.com/vRVeYPzOfk  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 26, 2016

PHOTOS: The Royal Family's Biggest Moments

Now that is a productive day!

Little George adorably stole the spotlight when the royals first arrived in Canada. Find out more in the video below.

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By TNM Staff, The News Minute



Playing to public sentiment against stray dogs in Kerala, members of the Youth Front (Mani) on Monday killed around 10 stray dogs to protest against the menace.

The cadres of the youth wing of the Kerala Congress Mani group beat the dogs to death, tied a few to a pole and paraded them in Kottayam town.

They were protesting against the recurrent attacks by stray dogs and Union Minister Maneka Gandhis approach towards the stray dog problem in Kerala. The Minister has many a time come down heavily on the state for its poor handling of the menace.

The protestors took the dog carcasses to the post office in the town and demanded that the dogs be sent in a parcel to the minister. As a token gesture, they left the dead dogs at Kottayam West post office gate with Maneka Gandhis address duly written on it.

Inaugurating the protest, Youth Front President Saji Manjakadambil said that Maneka Gandhis approach towards stray dogs despite them posing a huge threat to the people was suspicious.

He added that Maneka Gandhi was an agent of pharmaceutical companies and that the BJP must make its stand clear on the issue.

I love dogs; I have dogs in my house. Our protest was against dangerous dogs and we hope that seeing the protest in Kottayam, people across districts do the same, Saji told TNM.



Saji insisted that his cadres had beaten only dangerous dogs to death. How did they identify dangerous dogs? One can understand when one sees dangerous dogs. We identified dogs that were attacking people or were simply rotting in the streets, he said. He also rubbished the calls for sterilising street dogs and said, Dogs dont attack people for lust. How will sterilising them help?





According to reports, the local administration officials later cleared the dead dogs from the post office gate and buried them in a nearby ground.

Kottayam West police have registered a case against the protestors for cruelty against animals and said that the bodies will be exhumed and sent for post mortem on Tuesday.

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We have charged a case against 15 people under section 428 and 429 of IPC and Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty against animals. Nobody has been arrested yet, Nirmal Bose Kottayam West Circle Inspector told The News Minute.

Notably, the Malayalam medias treatment of the incident also needs to be highlighted. A prominent Malayalam paper called it a protest with a difference. A local paper said murderous dogs have been given capital punishment.

According to the state Health department, in 2013, 88,172 people were bitten and 11 died of dog bites. The numbers of dog bites increased to 1,19,000 in 2014 and 10 died of dog bites. In 2015, over 10,000 were bitten and the number of deaths stayed at 10. Up until August 2016, over 51,000 were bitten and 4 had died of bites.

The Kerala Congress (Mani) group, a breakaway faction of the Indian National Congress was an ally of the United Democratic Front for many decades and split from the front only recently. They have five members in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Both that party and its youth front have organised similar protests in the past few weeks. On 16 September, Gils Periappuram -a Muncipality ward councillor of Piravam in Ernakulam, also a Kerala Congress (M) member, was arrested by the police for killing ten stray dogs. He was later given bail.
OMAHA  An Omaha man was sentenced to spend at least 15 years in prison for his role in a fatal collision that killed another motorist.

Davis Hadi, 39, was convicted Monday of drunken driving and motor vehicle homicide.

Carl Gauff, 60, drove west on L Street in Omaha on March 13 when Hadi's SUV hit him head-on. Gauff later died at Nebraska Medical Center. His grandson Dontae Chavez, 15, who was also in the car, suffered a lacerated spleen and a concussion.

Police said Hadi's blood-alcohol level was .308, almost four times the legal limit at the time of the accident.

The tragedy united the wives of Gauff and Hadi, a relative said. According to Gauff relative Sandra Alcaraz, the family of Miriam Yunis, Hadi's wife, will be invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the Gauff household. Gauff's family will also make sure Yunis and her children have food for Christmas.

"We want to be there for (Yunis) and her kids," Alcaraz said. "It's not her fault."

Hadi didn't address the court during sentencing, but attorney Matt Miller said he showed remorse by agreeing to plead no contest to a motor vehicle homicide charge in July.

Under state sentencing guidelines, Hadi must serve 15 years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must be released after 25 years. He was given credit for 198 days already served.

"I'm angry, frustrated and glad he got that sentence," said Nanone Bell, Gauff's sister. "I will miss (my brother)."

According to Miller, Hadi was born in Sudan and spent time at a refugee camp in Ethiopia where he was exposed to violence.

"If he fled a country because of death and he came here and caused death, there's some irony in there, tragically," said Douglas County District Judge Thomas Otepka on Monday.
CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal meeting between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat.

The two men sat down together after a ceremony in Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end Colombia's civil war.

"My hope is we could have a serious conversation," Kerry told reporters in Cartagena a few hours before the meeting, although he declined to provide specifics about what he thought might come out of the conversation with a leader who has been a persistent critic of U.S. policy.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Eric Beech)
By Patricia Zengerle CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat. The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end that country's civil war. "(Kerry) spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," said State Department Spokesman John Kirby. Kerry and Maduro also agreed to continue bilateral discussions that began in recent months, Kirby said. Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the meeting. Venezuela and the United States have been at loggerheaders since the government of late President Hugo Chavez, with frequent exchanges of barbs and expelling each others' diplomats. They do not have ambassadors in place following expulsions several years ago. Maduro's government is struggling under an unraveling socialist economic system that suffers from triple-digit inflation, extensive shortages of staple products and food riots. Maduro says the country is victim of an "economic war" backed by the United States and the Venezuelan political elite. Venezuela's opposition called on Monday for a nationwide rally on Oct. 12 to push for a referendum to recall Maduro this year as they seek to oust his Socialist Party in an early presidential election. The recall effort has run into opposition from the election board, which is imposing restrictions and argues it will take until 2017 to put the proper conditions in place. "Everybody knows we're working toward this recall. It's been delayed. That is problematic," Kerry said before the meeting. "And we need to find a way forward that can provide a consensus that provides relief to a nation under siege." Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, better known as Timochenko, signed the peace accord on Monday at a ceremony attended by international leaders and thousands of Colombians. Santos' predecessor, Alvaro Uribe, frequently accused the government of neighboring Venezuela of harboring and supporting the FARC. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Leslie Adler, Robert Birsel)
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday the United States is not yet ready to remove Colombia's FARC rebel group from its list of terrorist organizations, but will review the matter as a peace accord with Colombia's government is implemented. "We clearly are prepared to review and make judgments about that as the facts come in," Kerry told reporters during a visit to Cartagena, Colombia, for the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the rebel group to end 52 years of war. Kerry said the process could move quickly, if the rebels adhere to terms of the peace agreement. "I think well know very quickly," he said. "... Were deeply invested in success. We dont want to leave people on a list, if they dont belong on a list." Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has asked the United States to remove FARC from the terrorist list after two decades. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Hempstead (United States) (AFP) - Democrat Hillary Clinton and her Republican White House rival Donald Trump went head-to-head on Monday night in a prime-time duel in front of tens of millions of American voters.

Here is a selection of key quotes from the first of three debates leading up to the November 8 election:

Stamina to lead?

"I said she doesn't have the stamina. And I don't believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina" - Trump

"Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina" - Clinton

The right experience?

"Let me tell you, Hillary has experience. But it's bad, bad experience" - Trump

Too much prep?

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing" - Clinton

Your own reality

"I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts," Clinton said, after Trump took her to task over her support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

A racist lie

"He tried to put the whole racist birther lie to bed. But it can't be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen" - Clinton, referring to Trump's longtime support of the "birther" movement questioning Barack Obama's citizenship.

Show you mine/Show me yours

"I have no reason to believe that he's ever going to release his tax returns, because there's something he's hiding" - Clinton

"I will release my tax returns against my lawyer's wishes when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted" - Trump

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Trumped-up economics

"The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. In fact, it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top percent of the people in this country than we've ever had. I call it trumped up trickle-down" - Clinton

Talk the talk

"Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work. Never going to happen" - Trump, rubbishing his rival's economic plans

World's policeman

"I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We cannot be the policeman of the world, we cannot protect countries all over the world, where they're not paying us what we need" - Trump, reasserting criticism of long-standing US alliances.

Middle Eastern mess

"You look at the Middle East, it's a total mess, under your direction, to a large extent."

"You're talking about taking out ISIS. But you were there, and you were secretary of state when it was a little infant. Now, it's in over 30 countries, and you're going to stop them? I don't think so" - Trump

Shhh... don't tell the enemy

Clinton: "Well at least I have a plan to fight ISIS."

Trump: "No, no, you're telling the enemy everything you want to do."

Clinton: "No, we're not."

Trump: "You're telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

When it's all said and done

"I want to make America great again. I will be able to do it, I don't believe Hillary will. The answer is, if she wins, I will absolutely support her" - Trump
Kiersey Clemons is set to star opposite Callum Turner and Jeff Bridges in the Amazon Studios film The Only Living Boy in New York.

Variety first reported that Clemons had been offered to play the female lead and sources now say the deal is closed. Kate Beckinsale also stars with Marc Webb on board to direct the film.

Allan Loeb penned the script, which tells the tale of a young man who learns that his overbearing father is having an affair. The son tries to stop it, but ends up becoming involved with the woman as well. Details about Clemons role are unknown.

Amazon will finance and distribute movie. Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa are producing and John Fogel will exec produce.

Although Clemons is currently working on several projects, this is likely to be the next one released since production is expected to start this fall. She was recently offered the role of Iris West in Warner Bros. The Flash starring Ezra Miller. She most wrapped production on Sonys Flatliners opposite Ellen Page and Diego Luna, which is set for release in Aug. 2017. She was also recently seen in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and the Netflix anthology series Easy.

She is repped by UTA and MJMG and Mach 1 Management.

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Belize is a small country that offers diverse lifestyle choices. Before thinking about buying a home of your own in this English-speaking Shangri-la, ask yourself this critical question: What are your objectives?

[See: 10 Affordable Places to Retire Overseas in 2016.]

In Belize, you could invest in a condo on the beach, a home in a planned community, a house in a local town or a piece of land in the country. Each purchase has its advantages and its downsides. Choosing one over another is all about what you're looking to accomplish. Are you shopping for a place to live or for long-term appreciation? Do you intend to use the property full time yourself or only part time with the hope of renting it out otherwise?

Deciding that you'd like to own a beach condo in Belize leads to more decisions. This little country has a long mainland coast and many cayes offshore. This means lots of beach choices, and all beaches are not created equal. Some Belize beaches are Robinson Crusoe-style. Others are rowdy and noisy with lots of nightlife and tourists. Picking one over another for your retirement comes down to what you're looking for. Do you want privacy or company, solitude or parties?

If it's privacy and security, peace and quiet that you seek, consider a home in a planned community. These are relatively new to Belize. Most are being built to North American standards, meaning you won't have the quirkiness of a Belizean home, such as lights that turn on when you push the switch down or bathrooms plumbed for cold water only.

You probably wouldn't have Belizean neighbors either. This could be a plus or a minus for you. In addition, planned communities are outside the towns for the most part, meaning that, while you'll be safe and secure behind the guarded gate, you'll also be a drive from shopping and restaurants. A drive at night in this country can be an adventure because the roads are basic, often dirt and almost always unlit.

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A home in a planned community also means fees. Monthly homeowner association fees support the upkeep of community amenities and services. These can range from $150 to $300 per month, which is something to keep in mind when doing your budgeting.

[See: How to Prepare for Retirement Overseas.]

A home in town can be the most convenient option and also the most affordable. The trade-off is that, with rare exceptions, houses in Belizean towns are local Belizean houses. You may have to search for a while to find one that will be comfortable for you. Not only is a local-style house in town more affordable than a new house in a planned community, but it also comes without a monthly HOA fee.

If you do consider buying something local in town, understand that zoning doesn't exist in this country. If you buy or rent a big house in a nice part of town with a vacant piece of land next door, it's not out of the question that, a year later, say, someone could buy that piece of land and build a disco or a car repair shop on it.

How can you know how much you should pay for the kind of property you're interested in buying? You have to compare apples with apples, and that's not easy in this market. You want to consider the cost of a condo or house on a per-square-foot basis, but you also have to pay attention to what's included in the square feet. It's like asking, "How much does a bag of groceries cost?" It depends on what's in the bag.

In Belize somebody might tell you he can build you a house for $80 per square foot, but you can't let the conversation end there. Ask what's included in those square feet. You might be surprised to learn that that per-square-foot price doesn't include windows, for example, or plumbing or cabinets. You generally don't expect a house to come with appliances, but most of us don't think of a water heater as an appliance.

If you're looking for rental income, focus on San Pedro or Placencia. These are Belize's highest trafficked tourist destinations. If you are looking for appreciation, focus on Cayo and Corozal. These are the fastest-growing districts in this country.

Another option could be to build your own house. In this case you should know about the Central Building Authority. This is a relatively new government agency that is putting building standards in place. Pay close attention to the building codes you must adhere to.

[See: 10 Retirement Hot Spots in the U.S.]

One more thing you should know: There are no escrow companies in Belize, and you can't take escrow for granted. It's not typically part of the buying process. You can insist on it, but you'll have to set it up yourself. You can do this through your attorney.

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group.
While much of America was glued to the first Presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Relativity Studios rolled out a black carpet on Monday night for the Masterminds premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Absent Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and producer Lorne Michaels  who were needed in New York City for this weekends 42nd season premiere of Saturday Night Live  stars Kristen Wiig, Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson and Mary Elizabeth Ellis gathered to celebrate the long-gestating Jared Hess-helmed film.

Galifianakis was joined on the carpet by David Ghantt, the real-life ex-con he plays in the film. He explained to Variety that the first time they sat down to meet over lunch in Santa Monica, he was instantly able to find the good in the bank robbers DNA.

It was easy to have empathy for him, Galifianakis explained to Variety. David is actually a very sweet guy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the cast shared that they sometimes found it hard to keep a straight face around the Between Two Ferns host during shooting on the films Asheville, NC, set.

Its very hard to work opposite Zach, and not break character, Wiig said, laughing out loud slightly at the mere thought of her co-stars antics.

Wiig dazzled on the particularly sweltering Southern California evening in a multi-colored Marc Jacobs gown and Wilson appeared ever the dapper gentlemen in a white suit.

Following the screening, the crowd poured across the street to the after-party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which was set up to replicate three different scenes from the film  a Mexico-themed main room complete with gourmet taco bars, a King Conch (aka: Under the Sea themed) second room, and a bank vault themed dessert bar.

Masterminds bows Sept. 30.

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This congressman doesn't buy  or "believe"  Mylan (MYL)'s latest story about its EpiPen profits.

Rep. Elijah Cummings blasted Mylan on Monday after it embarrassingly revealed its CEO  during congressional testimony last week significantly understated the amount of profit the big drugmaker books on sales of its life-saving EpiPen devices.

Cummings, D-Md., is the ranking minority member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch told that committee last week that Mylan had profit of $100 for a two-pack of EpiPens, the auto-injection devices that counteract potentially fatal allergic reactions in users.

But on Monday, Mylan said that the company actually has a pretax profit of $160 for the two-packs.

The post-tax profit totals $104, according to the company, which is under fire from consumers and Congress for having hiked the price EpiPens more than 500 percent in recent years. Its list price currently runs $608.

Bresch's testimony last week did not include the disclaimer that the profit she was stating was post-tax, not pretax.

Mylan told The Wall Street Journal on Monday that including the U.S. tax rate for the profits of products is "standard" and that Bresch did not intend to be unclear when asked about the profit rate.

In a statement to CNBC, Mylan said, "Tax is typically included in a standard profitability analysis and the information provided to Congress has made clear that tax was part of the EpiPen Auto-Injector profitability analysis."

"In fact, Mylan has provided Congress with a detailed analysis of EpiPen Auto-Injector profitability," said the company, which included a link to that analysis with its emailed comment. "It also is important to note that use of a statutory tax rate for the jurisdiction being analyzed (in this instance, the U.S.) is standard. Just as we did not use a blended global tax rate, we also did not allocate corporate expenses associated with running the business, which would have further reduced its profitability. We believe it is most appropriate, and conservative, to focus entirely on EpiPen Auto-Injector specific costs and associated taxes."

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But Cummings wasn't impressed with Mylan's new math.

"We didn't believe Mylan's numbers last week during their CEO's testimony, and we don't believe them this week either, which is why we gave them 10 days from the date of our hearing to produce their internal files," Cummings said.

"They have until Friday to give Congress the underlying documents we asked for back in August so we can finally determine the company's actual profits in each year for the last decade," Cummings said.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, declined to comment on Mylan's restatement of its profit on EpiPens. The spokeswoman pointed to comments on EpiPen profit that Chaffetz made when Bresch testified.

"I find that a little hard to believe," Chaffetz said last week after Bresch claimed Mylan's profit was just $100 per two-pack. "When the juice [the epinephrine in the device] is a dollar, and you're selling it for $600, there's some room for profit."

"It just doesn't smell right," Chaffetz said later. "It doesn't pass the basic sniff test."

A congressional source said that if there is evidence that a company intentionally provided false information to Congress , then there possibly could be a criminal probe and prosecution.

However, prosecutions for lying to Congress are extremely rare. A 2007 study found that in the prior 60 years, only six successful prosecutions for perjury or related charges have been achieved, a rate of just 1 per decade.

This story has been updated to include a comment from Mylan about the EpiPen profitability analysis that it provided to Congress.
(Reuters) - The family of a black Maryland man who called 911 and died last week after a scuffle with police is awaiting results of an autopsy and other data before it files a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, the family's lawyer said on Tuesday.

Tawon Boyd, 21, of Middle River, died in a hospital last Wednesday, three days after Baltimore County officers subdued him and medics administered a drug to calm him, according to police.

A. Dwight Pettit, a Baltimore lawyer for the family, said his office had told the county it planned to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The move is pending release of material that includes the autopsy and recordings of emergency calls.

"We basically need to have that data before we can take it to the next step, in my opinion," Pettit told Reuters by telephone.

A police report said Boyd made a domestic disturbance call to 911 early on Sept. 18. Once officers arrived, Boyd accused his girlfriend, Deona Styron, of intoxicating and secretly recording him while someone else was in the house.

Boyd "was sweating heavily and appeared to be confused and paranoid," the report said. Styron told officers he had been smoking marijuana and drinking.

Boyd tried to break into a police cruiser and then banged on a neighbor's door. He kicked and grabbed at officers as they restrained him, and an officer punched him twice in the face.

After Boyd was handcuffed, medics administered a drug to calm him and prepare him for transport to a hospital, the report said. The drug's name is blacked out.

The officer's races have not been disclosed.

A police and fire department review is under way, and Boyd's death is under a homicide investigation, police said last week. A spokeswoman said police had no further statements.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Late in Monday nights debate, moderator Lester Holt corrected Donald Trump on his position on the Iraq war.

You supported the war in Iraq, Holt told him.

That is mainstream media nonsense, Trump shot back. I was against the war in Iraq.

The record shows otherwise, Holt said, segueing to a question about Trumps judgment.

The exchange answered one of the key questions leading into the debate: whether Holt would fact-check the candidates in real time. Holt stayed mostly above the fray for the first hour or so, and let the candidates spar particularly early on.

But the sharp question about the Iraq war toward the end prompted Trump to spend most of his answer defending his version of his own position. Trump urged skeptics to check with Fox host Sean Hannity, who he said would vouch for his position.

Everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity, Trump said. Somebody call up Sean Hannity.

Earlier in the debate, Holt was also critical of Trump on the issue of President Barack Obamas birth certificate. Holt noted that Trump had only recently acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S., and asked What took you so long?

Late in the debate, Trump sparred as much with Holt as he did with Clinton.

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NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt kept his steely calm during his 90 minutes in the spotlight as moderator of Mondays first presidential debate face-off between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Holt kept control of the session despite periodic testy flare-ups between the candidates. At one point, Trump, the Republican nominee, talked over one of Holts questions as he went on a tangent about Clintons policy proposals and the ISIS terror organization. But Holt barreled through and kept the debate on pace and held the candidates to their two-minute response time limits.

Going into the debate there was much discussion about the role of the moderator as a fact-checker of the candidates statements. The perception about that obligation was heightened over the weekend when the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other newspapers published reports detailing numerous misstatements of fact and misleading claims made by Trump during the course of his unorthodox campaign.

Holt challenged Trump directly on a handful of issues but was not particularly aggressive in questioning either candidate. Holts most forceful question came with the confrontation about Trumps birther claims for years that President Obama was not born in the United States and thus not legally eligible to be president.

What took you so long, he asked Trump flatly regarding the candidates recent public acknowledgement that Obama was in fact born in the U.S. Trump did his best to turn the tables on the question.

I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate, Trump said.

Holt pressed Trump again about why he continued to raise the question of Obamas citizenship even after the birth certificate was made public. I just want to get the answer here, Holt said.

Holts queries ranged from economic and trade policy to security concerns, the threat of cyber attacks to the state of race relations and policing in America. He challenged Trumps assertion regarding the effectiveness of New York Citys stop-and-frisk law allowing police broad leeway in detaining people they suspect of criminal activity. Holt corrected the candidate in telling him the law had been struck down as unconstitutional by the courts.

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Holt made little attempt to referee between Clinton and Trump as they sparred on issues and more personal matters, including Trumps questioning of whether Clinton had the stamina to be president. At one point, Trump hammered his view that the mainstream media had sided with Clinton, a broad-brush categorization that presumably would include Holt and NBC News. But Holt did not push back.

In closing, Holt thanked the candidates for a spirited debate as he brought it to a close right down to the second. Weve covered a lot of ground, although not as much as hed hoped, Holt told the audience.

Predictably, Holts performance brought mixed reviews from both sides of the partisan divide. Criticism of the medias questioning of the candidates has been a persistent theme during the 2016 campaign. On the first of three planned Clinton-Trump showdowns, Holt played it right down the middle.

Heres a sampling of reaction on social media to Holts work as moderator:

We need to get better moderators. Lester Holt and former moderators are so passive exerting no control.  reggie watts (@reggiewatts) September 27, 2016

Lester Holt has done a fine job as moderator. Not too intrusive, moving this along, fact-checking when necessary. #debates  Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 27, 2016

Why didn't Lester Holt insist that he answer one question? Why?  Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) September 27, 2016

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After a week of debate over whether the moderator of the first presidential debate should fact-check answers in addition to asking questions, Lester Holts answer was to try, but not always succeed.

More than half a dozen times during the debate, Holt interrupted to question a candidate  on all but one occasion, Donald Trump  who he said had gone off track. It was not as much intervention as many on Twitter apparently would have liked, but far more than Matt Lauer had done during his controversial back-to-back interviews with the candidates a few weeks ago, a lapse that led to the argument over fact-checking by moderators in the first place.

Holts most combative interaction with Trump was over whether the Republican nominee had supported the war in Iraq  which, not coincidentally, was what Lauer was strongly criticized for not challenging.

You supported the war in Iraq, Holts question began, and Trump insisted he did not, even as Twitter filled with audio of him saying exactly that.

They had a similar exchange during a discussion of stop-and-frisk.

Stop-and-frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York because it largely singled out black and Hispanic young men, Holt said after Trump praised the program and suggested it be used nationwide.

No, uh, youre wrong, Trump said, contrary to fact.

The constitutional argument against the programs is that these programs are racial profiling, Holt responded.

No, Trump replied, debating the moderator. The argument is that they should take the guns away from these people, they are bad people.

Moderator Lester Holt presides over the first debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Pool/Reuters)

Finally, near the end of the debate, Holt asked him about comments he had made that Hillary Clinton did not have a presidential look.

Trump responded that what he had questioned was Clintons stamina. Holt corrected him. You said I just dont think she has the presidential look, he responded.

I said stamina, Trump insisted, although that is not what he had said.

Many of Trumps answers were notably long and rambling, leading commenters on social media to criticize Holt for not cutting him off and CNN Launches Manhunt After Lester Holt Vanishes From Debate, the New Yorkers Andy Borowitz wrote on the magazines website.

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Others praised Holt for his restraint. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted: Lester Holt has done a fine job as moderator. Not too intrusive, moving this along, fact-checking when necessary.

However it was possibly the rules of the debate, and not the philosophy that moderators not step in, that led Holt to remain quiet. The debate was divided into six 15-minute segments, with each candidate having two minutes to respond followed by 10 minutes of open discussion between the candidates.

The question of how involved a moderator should be in a presidential debate did not start with this one. Before the first debate between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000, Jim Lehrer said the job should be one of facilitator and that it was up to each of the candidates to correct the others facts. If I fact-checked everything, thats all Id do all night.

More recently, moderator Candy Crowley did fact-check Mitt Romney in an October 2012 debate with Barack Obama, taking the presidents side when the candidates disagreed over whether Obama had described the Benghazi attacks as terrorism earlier or later on the timeline.

Crowleys insertion brought complaints from Romney supporters, but because this campaign is so different from any that has come before, the issue took on more magnified importance before the Hofstra confrontation. Clinton supporters were full-throated in their insistence that Holt be more like Crowley. Trump supporters said that would reflect bias on the part of the moderator, a back-and-forth that itself wound up being fact-checked.

Lester is a Democrat, Trump said. Its a phony system.

Reporters immediately checked New York State voting records and found that Holt, in fact, is a registered Republican.

Confronted with the misstatement, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on MSNBC that because I dont know that he knew what Lester Holts voter registration was, the statement was technically not a lie.
Paris (AFP) - Libyan prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj says military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls the north African country's main oil ports, should be represented in a new, more inclusive government.

"We have no other choice but dialogue and reconciliation," Sarraj told AFP in an interview in Paris on Tuesday.

"No one wants an escalation or a confrontation between Libyans," he added, less than two weeks after Haftar's forces seized control of the strife-ridden country's "oil crescent".

The Libyan leader pledged to "quickly" submit "the composition of a new government in which everyone will be represented in a balanced way."

Sarraj, who met with French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, said: "We should be united to fight the terrorism that is spreading in Libya."

His fragile unity government, formed in March following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community.

But the Government of National Accord (GNA) has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Libya has Africa's largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically through years of crisis.

The parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk, is under Haftar's influence and refuses to recognise the Tripoli-based GNA, which runs day-to-day affairs.

Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by Haftar, who is in turn backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a closed parliamentary hearing whose proceedings have just been released that he had asked the two countries to "suggest" to Haftar that he meet with Sarraj.

The parliament rejected the GNA in a confidence vote last month.

Sarraj said he now hoped "the parliament will convene and that it will respond within six months as it did the last time."

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He said the GNA's conciliatory attitude following the offensive by Haftar's forces to seize the oil terminals showed its determination to avert civil war.

Sarraj said he has met with Haftar and still maintained "indirect contacts" with him in order to "unify the military institution and the security forces".

France was forced to admit that it has provided military assistance to Haftar after three French troops were killed in Libya during an intelligence-gathering mission in July.

Sarraj said French authorities promised to inform the GNA in future of "any security coordination" with Haftar's forces.
Lin-Manuel Miranda has long stumped for Hillary Clinton, but he explained why Donald Trump would be a dangerous president in a new interview with Variety. In a passionate conversation for this weeks cover story in Varietys 2016 Gotham Issue, Miranda outlined the case against Trump.

What remains to be said? he asked. I got interviewed a year ago and I said he was an annoyance gone national  that was very early in the primary  but I think weve long since crossed that line.

He earned my contempt with his comments on John McCain, and his doubling down on the Gold Star family just made me sick to my stomach, he continued, referring to Trumps dismissive response to the DNC speech of Khizr Khan, the father of a U.S. soldier who died in a car bombing in Iraq, and to McCains statement defending Khan and his family. It made me sick to my stomach that a candidate, who is seen by the rest of the world, is going after a military family. Theres no excuse for it. And his defense: I was attacked? What do you think is going to happen when youre president? If you cant handle a speech, how are you going to handle aggression from another country? That really scared a lot of people, and it scared me.

Miranda is a Hillary supporter, as evidenced by the extra matinee performance that Hamilton added in July as a fundraiser for Clinton. But this election season, the Hamilton creator-star is focused on getting out the vote, no matter what side youre one, via three TV spots (two in English, one in Spanish) produced by the Hamilton production and Mirandas company, 5000 Broadway Productions.

If youre for voter suppression, if you dont believe your ideals stand up to the voting booth, then you are for the losing side, he said. My goal is to get everyone voting as much as possible. Because you dont want 40% of the nation to decide who our president is. You want a majority. You want a mandate. You want to hear the will of the electorate. Whether that breaks with my personal interest or not, it is in the interest of the common good for as many people to show up as possible.

Story continues

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump discussed many issues at the first fall presidential debate on Monday night, but direct talk about the Constitution was not on the agenda.

presidentialdebate

In fact, in more than 90 minutes of talk between the candidates and moderator Lester Holt, the word constitution was not spoken once, and the word unconstitutional was used twice in reference to stop-and-frisk police-search policies, according to debate transcripts.

With record TV and Internet ratings expected for the live event broadcast at Hofstra University, the lively exchanges between the candidates focused on achieving prosperity, Americas direction and securing America, as explained by Holt. And according to the debate format, Holt came up with the general questions asked to the candidates.

The debate set did include two images of the Declaration of Independence as backgrounds behind the candidates, but direct discussion of the Constitution was limited to several indirect references.

The primary and brief constitutional issue discussion was about the use of stop-and-frisk policies in Chicago and New York City. Trump spoke about the potential use of stop-and-frisk policing tactics in Chicago during a segment about race relations, when Holt told Trump that stop and frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York because it largely singled out black and Hispanic young men.

Trump countered, saying No, youre wrong. It went before a judge who was a very against police judge. It was taken away from her and our mayor, our new mayor, refused to go forward with the case. They would have won an appeal.

The case in question here was Floyd v. City Of New York, a federal court ruling in 2013 from Judge Shira Scheindlin.

Clinton also briefly mentioned the case in her response to Trump. Stop and risk was found to be unconstitutional. And in part because it was ineffective. It did not do what it needed to do, she said.

The other issue related to the Constitution was a discussion over Trumps previous claims that President Barack Obama may not have been born in the United States. Under the Constitutions Article II, Section 1, the President must be a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, [to] be eligible to the Office of President. Trump had questioned Obamas birthplace since 2011. (Obamas mother was a United States citizen at the time of his birth  a fact many scholars see as qualifying him to run for President.)

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The birth-certificate discussion between the candidates didnt delve into constitutional issues about the interpretation of the Natural Born Citizen clause.

Also, at the debates end, the candidates indicated they would support the outcome of the general election.

The themes of the next two presidential debates have yet to be announced. On October 9, the candidates will meet in a town hall format in Saint Louis, where audience members will ask half of the questions. The final presidential debate is on October 19 in Las Vegas and it will follow the same format as the first debate.

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By Michael Nienaber and Elizabeth Pineau BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) - He's rude about Brussels, calls Berlin stingy with cash and Paris mean on helping refugees; he threw a tantrum this month that broke a summit facade of EU unity after the shock of Brexit. There is plenty about Matteo Renzi, Italy's 41-year-old prime minister, for fellow European Union leaders to dislike. Yet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and others fret that he could be undone by the constitutional referendum he has set for Dec. 4. This would raise new questions about Italy's stability just as Rome has taken a turn in the sun of EU attention following the British departure. Polls show the vote on streamlining legislation could go against him. Renzi's wellwishers in the north have been relieved that he has gone quiet on threats to resign if he loses but are concerned that defeat will further hobble efforts at reform. "If Renzi gets through this referendum, it would be a huge step forward," said Merkel ally Gunther Krichbaum, chair of the parliamentary European affairs committee. But, he told Reuters: "If he doesn't get through it, Renzi will be badly damaged." In conversations with officials and policymakers around the EU, Reuters has found little sense of alarm that defeat in the referendum could trigger a political or economic crisis in the euro zone's third biggest member. Yet there is concern that it would blunt hopes of reviving growth in Italy. It could also hinder a more dynamic partnership with Paris and Berlin to bolster the post-Brexit EU against eurosceptic parties gaining votes, not least ahead of elections in France and Germany next year. "If he doesn't pull it off, Renzi will be weakened but it's reasonable to think he can stay as prime minister," a senior French diplomat said. "But there would be institutional deadlock and so uncertainty on making progress on reforms in Italy." In common with many Italian observers, others in the EU play down the chances of Renzi's leading opponents, the insurgent 5-Star movement of comedian Beppe Grillo, turning a referendum victory into executive power, at least before elections in 2018. Even if Renzi resigns, they believe allies could continue to pursue his policies for two more years. NEW EU "TRIO" A senior EU official said a flurry of contacts among the three big founders of the Union since its No. 2 economy Britain voted in June to leave had created expectations that Renzi could add a vital spark to Franco-German cooperation. This could deepen the Union that has stuttered as the French economy has struggled and Paris and Berlin have diverged on how to bolster the euro zone. "We have started to see, after a long time, a German-French motor with a very strong Italian engine," the official said. "We want this trio. We cannot lose Renzi." But in a month, he has gone from hosting Hollande and Merkel to issue a joint call to arms to save the Union after Brexit to a display of fury after a summit of all 27 remaining EU leaders in Bratislava. He said they ignored his demands and complained that Merkel and Hollande had shared a podium there without him. Defending his outburst, Renzi later told an interviewer: "I'm not going to stay silent for the sake of a quiet life." He once angered the EU executive by denouncing them as 'technocrats and bureaucrats without a heart or a soul', yet despite the unwelcome public petulance, Paris, Berlin and Brussels have quietly absorbed his anger and said little. "His political life is at stake. That's why he's kicking and screaming and biting the EU, Merkel and the rest -- to avoid 5-Star taking power," a second senior EU official said. "No one's surprised or upset because we all know what the alternative is." "We shouldn't make too much of it," agreed Krichbaum, noting Renzi is unusually young to be prime minister of a major state. But he warned that he should rein in his "Germany bashing" on budgets if he is to avoid Berlin confronting Rome as forcefully as it did Greece's left-wing government in the past year. Other German officials said the conservative Merkel sees the socialist premier as her best hope in Italy and is going out of her way to be helpful to him. She has as defied hawks in her own party to call for Italy to be given more EU fiscal wiggle room to deal with an influx of migrants and last month's earthquake. But Merkel's room for maneuver is limited by the threat the eurosceptic AfD poses to conservative seats in a parliamentary election in a year. Allies' disquiet at her embrace of not one but two southern socialists was why, French officials believe, Merkel shared a platform at Bratislava with Hollande alone. "We'll have to do something again with Renzi," the French diplomat said. "He simply mustn't feel we've abandoned him." In Berlin, however, Krichbaum cautioned that Merkel could not move too far toward Renzi on such issues as fiscal leniency or bringing more refugees to Germany. "The government of course has an interest in Renzi succeeding with his reforms," he said. "But it is always a fine balance and we shouldn't lose sight of our own domestic political situation. Because if we let up on reform in the euro zone ... that will strengthen ... the AfD." (Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald, Jan Strupczewski, Francesco Guarascio and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels, Ingrid Melander in Paris and Noah Barkin in Berlin; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Anna Willard)
MACY -- Omaha Tribe of Nebraska members demanded Monday that three tribal council members charged last week with misuse of federal funds be removed from office.

Demonstrators submitted an ethics complaint against tribal council treasurer Jessica Webster-Valentino, secretary Jeff Miller and member Rodney Morris, who were among eight current and former council members and a tribal employee charged in a federal indictment accusing them of offenses related to using federal funds to make illegal payments to themselves.

"We're hoping the chairman will do the right thing and remove them," said Charles Baxter, a tribal elder. "I think that's the best step taken that I can see to move this tribe forward."

Omaha Tribe Attorney General Maurice Johnson received the complaint and said it would be up to the seven-member council to decide whether to take action on it. He said Webster-Valentino, Miller and Morris are still council members.

Tribal Chairman Vernon Miller was in Washington, D.C., at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. When reached by phone, he said he was not aware a demonstration was taking place and couldn't comment on an ethics complaint until he had read it.

A tribal council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday morning, but it wasn't immediately clear if the ethics complaint would be discussed.

Baxter said if the three indicted council members are not removed, tribal members are prepared to launch an effort to have the three recalled in an election.

Webster-Valentino, 46, Morris, 62, and Jeff Miller, 52, were indicted in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week along with Barbara Freemont, 64, Amen Sheridan, 55, Doran Morris Jr., 45, Forrest Aldrich, 66, Mitchell Parker, 68, and Tillie Aldrich, 47.

Each is charged with conspiracy, conversion and misapplication of funds from a program receiving federal funds and conversion and misapplication of a health care benefit program. They are scheduled for initial appearances in Omaha on Oct. 14.

The indictment charges them with granting themselves almost $389,000 in incentive payments from federal Indian Health Service funds meant to provide health care to tribal members. State and federal authorities launched an investigation into the actions in June.

"We've been working with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI in the investigation and will continue to do so," Vernon Miller said.

Baxter said the investigation and indictment "has been a long, long time coming." Tribal employees knew council members were misusing funds but feared losing their jobs if they reported it, he said.

"Our people are afraid to say anything," Baxter said. "Our people have been under oppression for so long by our own tribal government."

Webster-Valentino, Rodney Morris and Jeff Miller could not be reached for comment Monday.

Baxter said he and others who demonstrated Monday would like to see the three indicted council members removed and have the Bureau of Indian Affairs take over the tribe's business while tribal members amend the tribe's constitution to strengthen checks and balances to prevent future corruption and grant protection to whistle blowers. The constitution should be amended before those three positions are filled, Baxter said.

Three of the seven board seats are up for re-election next month: chairman Miller, vice chairman Adriana Saunsoci and Clifford Wolfe Jr. Names of candidates for the Oct. 20 primary will be announced Friday. The council general election is Nov. 1.
BURLINGTON  Burlington High School was evacuated on Tuesday afternoon because of an unspecified threat that authorities later determined to not be credible.

Dispatchers sent out an alert just after 2 p.m. requesting all City of Burlington Fire Department and Burlington Rescue Squad crews to respond to the firehouse for further instructions. That was followed by a Fire and/EMS Twitter message with the same instructions.

Something is going on at the high school, the Twitter message said.

Students and staff were evacuated from the building, 400 McCanna Parkway, at about 2 p.m., according to Travis McKellips, 17, a senior at the school.

One of my friends saw something written in the bathroom about a bombing at 2, McKellips said. The fire alarm went off and we thought it was a fire drill, but then they moved us to the wellness center.

McKellips was referring to the Aurora Wellness Center, a community fitness facility located just northeast of the school at 300 McCanna Parkway.

Police did not disclose any details about the threat or corroborate McKellips account. School officials reported that they learned about the threat at 1:50 p.m.

A command post was set up at the school. At least one unrelated emergency call in Burlington was referred to the Racine County Sheriffs Office during the incident because city police manpower was tied up at the school, according to scanner reports.

Students were later allowed to re-enter the school and collect their belongings, according to police on scene. The school building was closed completely for the day at about 4 p.m.

After preliminary investigation, law enforcement and administration believe the threat was not credible, but the building is closed to facilitate the criminal investigation, Burlington Police Chief Mark Anderson said in a release. Classes will resume tomorrow morning.

Peter Smet, superintendent of the Burlington Area School District, said the high school building was closed for the rest of the evening and all after-school activities on site were cancelled. School activities held off site, like sports activities at other schools, were allowed to continue, Smet said.

Were just glad that eveybody is safe, Smet said.

A BHS teacher at the scene said police were allowing students to leave the area at about 3 p.m. Traffic was reopened on McCanna Parkway, the main access road to the school, at about 3 p.m.

Theres only one road in and out (McCanna Parkway), so its a mess, the teacher reported.

Scanner reports indicated police were doing a floor by floor search of the building as a precaution.

Burlington Police were continuing a criminal investigation into the threat, police and school officials said.
If successful, it will turn the company a regional market leader.

Total asset solutions provider UEM Edgenta Bhd is proposing to acquire Asia Integrated Facility Solutions, which indirectly owns UEMS, for S$185.9 million (RM563 million).

UEMS is a 25-year old facilities management company based in Singapore and serving over 60 public and private hospitals in Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

Amongst its clients in Singapore are Changi General Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital as well as Sengkang Health @ Alexandra Hospital.

In a statement filed to Bursa Malaysia today, UEM Adgenta said that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Asia IFM Solutions Ltd for the acquisition.

If approved by shareholders, the the deal is expected to turn the company a regional player in providing healthcare support and facilities services for various hospitals, clinics and health institutions.





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The Hague (AFP) - A Malian jihadist faces judgement Tuesday in a landmark case before the International Criminal Court for razing Timbuktu's fabled shrines, with experts hoping it will send a strong message to safeguard the world's ancient monuments.

A three-judge bench will hand down its verdict and sentence at 0930 GMT against Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, the first jihadist to stand trial at the tribunal in The Hague.

The historic verdict will be the first to focus solely on cultural destruction as a war crime and the first arising out of the conflict in Mali.

Observers say they hope it acts as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned as "tearing at the fabric of societies".

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, around 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of "intentionally directing" attacks in 2012 on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque.

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair asked the pardon of his people as videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down ancient earthen shrines with pick-axes and bulldozers.

The residents of Timbuktu, which has now been restored, say they are ready to forgive him.

El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, who oversaw the reconstruction with UNESCO assistance, said Mahdi's trial was an important lesson.

The trial "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.

Founded between the fifth and the 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" and the "pearl of the desert" for the number of Muslim sages buried there.

Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was however considered idolatrous by the jihadists who swept across Mali's remote north in early 2012.

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As the head of the so-called Hisbah or "Manners Brigade," it was Mahdi, a former teacher and Islamic scholar, who gave the orders to ransack the sites.

- 'Evil spirits' -

Apologising for his actions at the court, he said he had been overtaken by "evil spirits", urging Muslims not to follow his example, and saying he wanted to seek the pardon of all Malians.

Prosecutors say Mahdi, born in 1975, was a member of the Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb which seized the northern territory before being mostly chased out by a French-led military intervention in January 2013.

Prosecutors have asked for a jail term of between nine and 11 years, which they said would recognise both the severity of the crime and the fact that Mahdi was the first person to plead guilty before the court.

"The verdict is eagerly awaited," said Lassana Cisse, Mali's national heritage director, adding that it must be a "punishment which sets an example."

Even though the list of UNESCO world heritage sites appears to be growing there is little hope that those behind attacks on monuments in Iraq and Syria will find themselves in the dock any time soon.

Neither country is a signatory to the ICC's founding Rome Statute, meaning that without a mandate from the UN Security Council an ICC investigation into such crimes is not yet possible.
By Lin Taylor LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Four in five children living in Haiti's orphanages have at least one living parent and are sold or given to the homes on false promises of an education or medical care, according to a charity founded by British author J.K. Rowling. London-based charity Lumos said many orphanages in the poor Caribbean nation were run by enterprising traffickers who starved and beat children to attract sympathy and money from well-intentioned donors. "When people hear the word 'orphanage', they imagine that it's a good thing or they imagine that it's necessary," Lumos Chief Executive Georgette Mulheir told the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Tuesday. "They do not imagine that so many orphanages are actually trafficking, beating, sexually abusing and starving children." After the 2010 Haiti earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people, she said many parents were being tricked or coerced into giving their children to orphanages. "'Entrepreneurial' people have seen that foreigners love giving money to orphanages and because of that, they just set them up and they pay child finders to recruit children," Mulheir said. Such child finders track down poor families and convince them to give up their children or offer to pay for pre-natal care of pregnant women and take their child as a form of repayment, she said. There are about 32,000 children living across 760 orphanages in Haiti, but only 15 percent of the institutions are officially registered, Lumos said in a report. It said children living Haiti's orphanages are more likely to be trafficked or go missing due to the lack of official records. "It's been a really hidden crime against children and it's happening in lots of developing nations," said Mulheir, who launched the report at the European Parliament in Brussels. Experts say cases of human trafficking after a disaster are common as survivors are driven to desperate measures after losing their homes, belongings and means of earning money. "People need to recognise that this entrepreneurial approach to orphanages is actually trafficking. The people who do this need to be prosecuted so that fewer people will think that this is a good way of making money." (Reporting by Lin Taylor @linnytayls, Editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian issues, conflicts, global land and property rights, modern slavery and human trafficking, women's rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories)
DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Planned cities, such as the colonial forces of Jamestown, Philadelphia and Charleston, have been shaping America since the 16th century. Today, Marcus Hiles, CEO of Western Rim Property Services, believes that designed communities are not only beneficial to residents, but integral to the country's real estate market. The Dallas real estate investor has been constructing stunning developments for over three decades, and has witnessed firsthand the transformative impact they've had on Texas' citizens and economy.

The first elements of planned communities in the United States were seen in St. Augustine in 1565. During the industrial revolution, company towns like Gary, Indiana were the sites of technological innovations and economic fervor. The first modern communities appeared during the Florida land boom of the 1920s in Southern Florida, when the famous Miami suburbs of Coral Gables, Opa-locka, and Miami Springs were fully planned with themes to emulate the look and architecture of Spain, Arabia, and Mexico. The Great Depression saw the Federal Government build model towns in West Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, Ohio, and Wisconsin in order to ease the burden of the economic downturn on coal miners, construction workers, and their families. The remote neighborhoods of Oak Ridge, TN; Richland, WA, and Los Alamos, NM were built during World War II to accommodate the families of the scientists, engineers, and industrial workers of the Manhattan Project. Today, blueprinted cities cover the country, including the nation's capital of Washington, D.C., and the state capitals of Mississippi, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Utah, Florida, and Texas.

Since the 1960s, master planned commercial developments have dominated the residential sector, and Texas has been at the forefront of this trend. Las Colinas, established in 1973, was one of the first such examples, and is still experiencing growth today. In 2006, citizens voted to approve changes to deed restrictions to allow an even greater density of urban mixed use construction. Later in the 1970s, The Woodlands was created, and still stands as one of the premier residential and business destinations in the Houston area. The success of Marcus Hiles' business derives from the precedents these great communities set. Western Rim's developments feature resort style amenities so that their tenants never have to leave the grounds, if they so choose, and are built upon carefully selected lots that feature beautiful natural landscapes and convenient access to Texas' many attractions. Each property's unique planned events and social activities promote healthy, active lifestyles and foster accepting, neighboring environments.

Marcus Hiles, Fort Worth real estate investor and developer founded Western Rim Property Services and its affiliate company, Newport Classic Homes, in 1990. Today, Hiles owns and operates over 15,000 rental units, with more in future development. His affordable luxury apartments are impeccably designed, ecologically sustainable, and incorporate nature at every opportunity. As of 2016, over 30,000 trees have been planted on Hiles' properties, assisting with the annual removal of 75 tons of carbon dioxide from Earth's atmosphere.

Marcus Hiles - Chairman & CEO of Western Rim Property Services: http://www.MarcusHiles-News.com

Marcus Hiles - Dallas / Fort Worth, TX, US 78011 - Houzz: http://www.houzz.com/pro/marcushiles/marcus-hiles

Marcus Hiles Fort Worth Real Estate Expert on the Rise of Rentership in the U.S.: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/marcus-hiles-fort-worth-real-042258754.html

Contact Information

ICMediaDirect.com

TEL: 1.800.595.0821

www.ICMediaDirect.com

pr@icmediadirect.com

SOURCE: Marcus Hiles
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, revealed to the FOX Business Networks Neil Cavuto, after Clinton and Trumps first presidential debate on Monday, why he stopped supporting Donald Trump.

Donald Trump comes from his gut, but at some point you have to add substance, and if you just had combined those two together, thats what I wanted when I first supported him but you cant just go with gut forever, said Cuban.

Thats such a diametric turn to go from that, said FBNs Cavuto.

We are talking about the future of the world here. We are talking about the leader of the free world, Cuban replied.

But you were willing to entertain Donald Trump and youve gone back to conventionalism right, with her [Hillary Clinton]? asked Cavuto.

Thats one way to put it, but I wouldnt say Ive gone back to conventionalism. Id say we have two candidates. One who understands our place in the world, one who believes in American exceptionalism, one whos well versed on the issues, one whos come up and originated policies on their own, one who speaks her mind and then another who has to be told what to say and do in order to seem presidential, answered Cuban.

He also shared a personal conversation with Trump.

One time I talked to him on the phone before the CNBC debate and I said Donald, why dont you go and talk to some small businesses, thats what youre supposed to be good at. His words to me verbatim: Mark Cuban and Donald Trump dont do that. We dont go sit at a dinner table with a bunch of people. We do big events. Thats the difference. I want to be able to really help kids drive businesses. Thats why I do Shark Tank because unlike Donald Trump I believe the American dream is alive and well.

Cuban also said hes never contributed to the Clinton Campaign and has no plans to accept a cabinet position if asked.

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On Sep 27, burger giant McDonald's Corp. MCD was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).



We note that last May, Steve Easterbrook declared a turnaround plan related to restructuring of the companys worldwide operations and certain other financial updates. Since the announcement of this plan, the company has been engaged in a series of buyouts and layoffs in order to streamline operations and increase efficiency.



In fact, the company efforts to trim costs, simplifying menus, offering value meals and rolling out all-day breakfast in the U.S., has aided it in picking itself up in the domestic market.



Backed by these initiatives, in second-quarter 2016, the company succeeded in posting positive comps for the fourth consecutive quarter in U.S., after posting negative comps for two successive years.

MCDONALDS CORP Price and Consensus

MCDONALDS CORP Price and Consensus | MCDONALDS CORP Quote

Moreover, in keeping with its efforts to transform itself in a contemporary burger company, McDonald's has decided to relocate its headquarters to downtown Chicago by the spring of 2018. Notably, the company is currently based in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, IL.



At a time when the company is focusing on overhauling its operational structure we believe the shift of headquarters to an urban locale should bode well.



Meanwhile, the company enjoys moderate growth prospects through its exposure in the under-penetrated international markets.



Also, transition to a franchise-based business model should reduce the companys capital requirements and facilitate earnings per share growth and ROE expansion, over the long term. In fact, owing to re-franchising and stringent spending, the company expects to achieve approximately $500 million of net annual savings on SG&A expenses by 2018, a majority of which is likely to be achieved by the end of 2017.



Nonetheless, soft industry growth remains a cause of concern. Moreover, higher labor costs, along with currency headwinds are likely to keep profits under pressure. Further, political and economic turmoil in various parts of the world might limit revenue growth.



Other Stocks to Consider



Other stocks in this sector worth considering include Denny's Corporation DENN, Wingstop Inc. WING and Papa John's International Inc. PZZA. All the three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Denny's 2016 earnings moved up nearly 2% over the last 60 days. Further, for full-year 2016, EPS is expected to grow a solid 20.2%.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Papa John's 2016 earnings climbed 1.7% over the last 60 days. The companys earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 7.81%.



Wingstops earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 15.46%. Further, for full-year 2016, EPS is expected to grow 17.6%.



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28% of complaints were a result of negligence.

Mounting concerns plague Singaporeans about the state of their healthcare as they worry about inadequate patient handovers between caregivers, and failure to correctly conduct independent double checks.

According to a report by AIG, medical prescription errors are also a top concern as more patients get treated by multiple public and private healthcare professionals.

Out of 141 complaints, one of the most common causes was professional negligence or incompetence which accounted for 28 per cent of complaints, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the report added that the city-state has seen a 300% increase in medical malpractice insurance enquiries in the last year by both healthcare institutions and professionals, with a significant proportion from senior healthcare organisations.

While hospitals and healthcare professionals have no legal obligation to insure themselves, we are seeing a strong rise in demand for medical malpractice insurance due to the increased pressures on medical staff driven by factors such as an ageing population, said Dr Aileen Killen, AIGs head of casualty risk consulting for healthcare.





More From Singapore Business Review


Deutsche Bank A.G. (DB) is in the midst of a crisis right now. This German bank is facing capital concerns, and it does not seem like there will be a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a government bailout. Some are wondering what the best play on this stock is. One exchange traded fund is taking a very bearish perspective on the stock, and so far its been winning since the Deutsche Bank news break.

AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF (HDGE) is fully taking advantage of Deutsche Banks fall from grace, with its largest position shorting the stock. The portfolio manager, Brad Lamensdorf, went as far to say, Weve been well aware of the banks dangerous capital shortfall and fact that it has done nothing to fix it.

ALSO READ: 6 Biotech and Biohealth Analyst Picks for 50% to 150% Upside

Overall, Lamensdorf thinks the banks shares will continue to drop despite the fact that they have sunk to record lows following reports over the weekend that the German government will not come to Deutsche Banks rescue. He says he is skeptical about the bank's reassurances Tuesday that it wont need to raise more capital nor need a government bailout.

Even further, Lamensdorf noted that the German economic research institute ZEW reported that Deutsche Bank had the highest potential capital shortfall, in a study of 51 European banks using U.S. Federal Reserve stress test methods.

ALSO READ: Worst States for Black Americans

He warns investors not to listen to some analysts who think this is not a Lehman Brothers situation and that the worst is over.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has even weighed on the whole debate, ruling out state aid for perhaps the countrys largest lender.

Things have only gotten worse with the U.S. Department of Justice suggesting a $14 billion fine to settle claims against Deutsche Bank in regards to investigations of its mortgage securities.

Shares of Deutsche Bank were trading at $11.67 on Tuesday, with a consensus analyst price target of $11.18 and a 52-week trading range of $11.23 to $30.82.

Story continues

Shares of the Ranger Equity Bear ETF were trading at $9.70. The 52-week trading range is $9.37 to $13.19.

Related Articles
RACINE  A Racine woman is in jail after allegedly drunkenly dialing 911 and demanding that her dog be returned.

According to a criminal complaint, Racine police were called to the home of Amy R. Woodward on Sunday morning after it was reported that Woodward, 59, had called 911 six times between 8:51 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to report that she wanted her dog back. A dispatcher who received her first call reportedly told Woodward, 59, that her complaint was not an emergency, but Woodward allegedly continued to call.

When police arrived at her home in the 200 block of Sixth Street, Woodward reportedly admitted to consuming a full glass of vodka.

The incident netted Woodward five misdemeanor charges, one for disorderly conduct and the rest for bail jumping.

Woodward had been ordered not to drink as a condition of her bond on a charge related to an Aug. 29 incident in which she allegedly engaged in a loud argument with her boyfriend and shouted vulgarities at him from the lawn of his Geneva Street home.

On Monday, Racine County Circuit Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch found probable cause to pursue the latest charges against Woodward, online court records indicate.

Woodward remained in Racine County Jail on Monday evening on a $1,000 bond, according to online jail records.
Double-barrelled surnames are so last season! Now its all about the spliced surname [Photo: unsplash.com via Pexels]

When women got married they used to just adopt the surname of their husband but not any more.

A third of married women in their twenties choose to hang on to their maiden name, while Double-barrelling, with its instantly posh-upping capabilities, is another option.

But while once a popular alternative it seems hyphenated surnames are no longer de rigueur. These days the cool newlyweds are splicing or mashing-up their names instead.



Meshing, as the practice has become known, originally became a done thing in the US, and may or may not have anything to do with the popular culture of merging celebrity names - Kimye, Brangelina, TomKatyou get the idea. But if recent reports are anything to go by the trend has been catching on with us normal folk too as newly marrieds opt to create their own combined moniker.

Approximately 800 British newlyweds a year choose to mash-up their surnames and the soaring popularity of the practice has meant that the UK Deed Poll Service has had to create a separate system to cope with demand.



Meshing has changed from once being a rare novelty to now being noted as being one of the main reasons couples may use a Deed Poll to change their names. Claudia Duncan, an officer with the service told The Standard.



It allows couples the freedom of reinvention - meshing their names as a symbolic reflection of their union with a completely new start without any history being tied to their surname.



Previous examples of newly created names by deed poll include Miss Harley and Mr Gatts who became the Hatts, Miss Price and Mr Nightingale who are now the Prightingales and Miss Clifton and Mr Mole now known as the Moltons.



And the trend has also reached celebsville as TV presenter Dawn Porter opted to fuse her surname changing it to O'Porter after her marriage to Bridesmaids actor Chris O'Dowd in 2012.



Story continues

Mr and Mrs [Insert meshed surname here] [Photo: unsplash.com via Pexels]

So what are the advantages of meshing-up your surname? We asked some bridal experts for their industry insight



Its more modern  Marriage used to be seen almost as a sort of business transaction, the handing over of property ie you and possessions (your dowry) from one male head of household to another. How very unequal! Its 2016, so why not start your marriage on equal footing with joint names.



Its kinda romantic  Young couples want friends and family to see that they love each other so much that theyll share almost everything - clothes, pets, homes, cars, sporting interests, and now, surnames, says Heidi Reid from Glorious Tiaras.



Itll give you an opportunity to ditch the name thats been the source of teasing since childhood  Because lets face it some second names are just really unfortunate. But with a little creativity, you can create a name thats cooler and with less fodder for torment than either of your original last names.



Double barrelled names can sound clunky  By splicing surnames, modern couples are endorsing the idea that neither of them are more important than the other, and therefore want to keep both surnames, but in a sleeker sounding way, explains Heidi.



It avoids the problems of some other alternatives  Keeping your own names can result in confusion when you have kids, says Heather Angell, founder of Your Planning Angel. Traditionally the child would take the fathers surname but that may inadvertently imply that those children belong or are more closely connected to the father than the mother. Merging into your own unique surname can be the perfect solution to this.



And they lived happily ever after! [Photo: freestocks.org via Pexels]

And the downsides?



Well theres possibly offending your family for a start. Completely changing both of your surnames can be seen as a rejection of your past and family tradition, says Heather. It can also be seen as the end of the line of a family name especially if the couple marrying have no brothers or sisters to continue the family name. If you are thinking of merging your surnames Heather suggests remembering to try and be respectful to your family and thoroughly explaining why you are doing it.



Then theres what you do with your name mesh in the case of a break-up. Do you have to change your name by deed poll again? Or just wait to find new love with someone whos surname is a match in the mash-up stakes?



Would you combine surnames with your other half? Let us know @YahooStyleUK

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Melissa Joan Hart is branching out into the world of politics and stumping for the underdog.



The actress tells PEOPLE Now that she's joined Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson's presidential campaign as the Connecticut Chairperson.



"I want to break away from this two-party system and I think it's important for people to know that there's another candidate out there who really toes the line between Democrat and Republican," says Hart, who has a home in Connecticut. "I mean he's Libertarian. But socially he's liberal, but fiscally conservative."



Johnson, 63, is the former governor of New Mexico  a position he held from 1995 to 2003. He previously ran for president in 2012.







"Governors, I love, because they already ran their state as like a little president," Hart, 40, says. "So he gets the way, you know, things run. The politics of it all."



She adds, "He was on a border state, so if you want to talk about immigration, he's the guy."



Hart says she disagrees with the notion that a third-party candidate can't win the election, dispelling arguments that a vote for Johnson is a wasted vote.





RELATED VIDEO: What Role Will Ivanka Trump Play If Donald Is Elected President?





"I think that everyone that I keep hearing say that, if they all voted for him we could have a third party win," she says. "Even if he doesn't get that far, I just hope that they let him debate."



 Are you voting? Not voting? How do you really feel about the candidates? PEOPLE wants to know! Take our brief survey about the 2016 election now, and receive 20% off in the PEOPLE Shop as a thank you for your time.



The first presidential debate was held on Monday night. Johnson was not invited to participate because he did not have 15 percent of voter support ahead of the debate.
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed hope on Tuesday that problems at Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) could be solved after the lender made clear it needed no state aid with a $14 billion (10.81 billion) U.S. demand to settle claims it missold mortgage-backed securities.

Asked during a news conference if Berlin was concerned about Deutsche Bank and was considering assistance for the lender, Merkel said: "I only want to say that Deutsche Bank is a part of the German banking and financial sector. And of course we hope that all companies, also if they face temporary problems, can develop in the right direction."

"I don't want to comment beyond that," she added.

Deutsche Bank said on Monday it had no need for German government help.

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Joseph Nasr)
From Esquire

Michael Bay has defended his use of Winston Churchill's home in Transformers: The Last Knight, insisting that the late British Prime Minister "would be smiling" about his role in the film.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="Churchill's%20Home%20Is%20Hitler%20HQ%20In%20Transformers%205" customimages="" content="article.48870"]

The director drew backlash last week for reimagining Churchill's birthplace in Oxfordshire as Adolf Hitler's headquarters, covering the historic Blenheim Palace in Nazi flags and swastika imagery. British military leaders described the move as disrespectful to Churchill, but Bay insists that it's the opposite.

"People were not fortunate enough to read the script," Bay told the BBC. "They don't know that Churchill in this movie is a big hero, and Churchill would be smiling about The Last Knight."

"They haven't seen the movie, they don't know the ending, and they don't know how Churchill is a hero. So, as the staff said, 'He'd be smiling right now.'" Does this mean Churchill will be fighting Megatron alongside Optimus Prime-or will Optimus Prime be fighting Churchill alongside Hitler?

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Microsoft Corporation MSFT and Adobe Systems Incorporated ADBE have collaborated to ramp up their stake in the creative cloud space.

In a joint declaration yesterday, the duo confirmed that they are integrating each others cloud computing products to offer advanced data-driven sales and marketing capabilities to clients.

More About the Partnership

Per the terms of the partnership, Microsoft Azure will host Adobes business software tools that include Adobe Marketing Cloud, Adobe Document Cloud and Adobe Creative Cloud. Adobe Marketing Cloud in turn will host Microsofts Dynamics 365 business applications.

In short, Azure is now the preferred cloud platform for Adobe products and Adobe Marketing Cloud the preferred cloud platform for Dynamics 365 product.

The two companies are partnering on data integration so as to offer customers a powerful and advanced marketing service. This will enable them to work on Dynamics 365 business applications and Adobe Marketing Cloud.

MICROSOFT CORP Price

MICROSOFT CORP Price | MICROSOFT CORP Quote

Our Take

We believe that by integrating their cloud offerings, the two companies are trying to put up a joint effort to leapfrog other public cloud vendors such as Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN, Alphabet Inc. GOOGL and salesforce.com, inc. (CRM).

Notably, the deal is not exclusive and thus the extent of benefits that each company will derive is not clear. Adobe already has similar deals with Amazon and SAP.

However, the scales seem to be tilted slightly in favor of Adobe. This is because Adobes customers will now be able to utilize Microsofts capabilities in machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics around their marketing cloud data.

Zacks Rank

Currently, Alphabet is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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SatyaNadella2016

Microsoft will reveal three new financial metrics to its investors the next time it releases its quarterly results, the company said on Tuesday.

The most notable of the three is commercial cloud gross margin percentage, which tracks the gross margin on the company's business-focused cloud products, including Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics.

This is a big concession to Microsoft's investors, notably former CEO Steve Ballmer, who have been calling for more transparency from the company when it comes to its cloud-computing revenue  especially given that Satya Nadella, the current CEO, has pegged so much of the company's future on strong cloud growth.

Previously, Microsoft had sort of cherry-picked cloud numbers, disclosing information about users, usage, revenue, or margins for some cloud services but not others.

Still, while revealing gross margins is a step in the right direction, Ballmer's real push was for the company to reveal actual cloud revenue, which he has contended will better help investors judge progress. It looks as if he'll have to wait a little while longer.

Steve Ballmer

The other two new metrics Microsoft said it would provide are also interesting in their own right:

Gaming revenue : Microsoft has been slowly rethinking its video game business, from a series of products into a cross-platform service between Windows 10 and the Xbox console. While Microsoft no longer discloses sales of the Xbox One, which significantly lags those of the Sony PlayStation 4, it will now share the total revenue from its gaming business, including console sales, game sales, accessories, and the Xbox Live subscription service.

Windows Commercial products and cloud services revenue growth: This merely tracks how much more revenue Microsoft has generated from sales of Windows and related tools to businesses this year than the year before. It replaces the previous "Windows volume licensing revenue growth y/y" metric.

Story continues

On all counts, Microsoft is showing how much things are changing at the company: Instead of tracking how much money they're making from any one product, Microsoft's accountants are now looking at the recurring revenue that comes when you shift from boxed software into internet-delivered subscriptions. It's yet another sign of the new ways Microsoft does business.

In case you were wondering, here are all 20 metrics Microsoft shares with investors, per an updated slide deck uploaded Tuesday:

microsoft investor metrics slide

NOW WATCH: Microsoft just unveiled a $37 Nokia phone





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RACINE  Defense attorneys for James Eaton, a Chicago-area man accused of killing Illinois runaway Amber Creek in 1997 and dumping her body in rural Racine County, will be allowed to present evidence they claim points to another suspect in the cold-case homicide.

Racine County Circuit Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz ruled Tuesday that evidence presented by the attorneys met the requirements of the Denny rule, a legal standard used by Wisconsin courts to determine whether a defendant can offer evidence that could implicate someone else for a crime.

The court does not believe this issue of the potential of a third party being either complicit in or involved in the strangulation death of Ms. (Amber) Creek is so peripheral to the issue in the case that it should not be allowed, Gasiorkiewicz said. The court will allow the third party evidence (in the upcoming jury trial).

Motion

Eaton, who is accused of killing 14-year-old Creek and leaving her beaten and sexually assaulted body in the Karcher Wildlife Area in the Town of Burlington, was arrested in April 2014 by Racine County sheriffs deputies. The arrest was reportedly made after DNA from cigarette butts he discarded were tested and found to match DNA from semen found on the teens body. The cigarette butt DNA was collected after new fingerprint comparison technology reportedly linked Eaton to fingerprints found on the bag covering Creeks head.

While that fingerprint and DNA evidence might implicate Eaton in Creeks death, his defense attorneys argued in a motion filed earlier this month that other evidence, including DNA evidence, points to a man with whom Creek reportedly had a sexual relationship.

According to the motion, the one-time suspect in the murder was questioned by police in 1997 and 2015, and in both interviews admitted to knowing Creek for about a year and a half prior to her death.

Choking and DNA

The man reportedly told police that he considered Creek a good friend, and stated that he had sex with the teen more than 10 times. The man also allegedly admitted to an officer in 1998 that he engaged in choking acts during sexual contact with Creek.

These choking acts are consistent with the cause of death and provide a reason for the abrasions around (Ambers) neck, Eatons attorneys, Katie Gutowski and Margaret Johnson, state in the motion.

Whats more, the attorneys note, is that the one-time suspect was found to be a contributor to the DNA mixture located on the victims underwear by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. His DNA was also located at the crime scene, the motion states.

Creek died from asphyxiation after allegedly being choked and suffocated with a plastic bag, according to investigators. She also reportedly suffered blunt-force facial trauma and pattern cutting injuries on her face.

Timing

Assistant District Attorney Robert Repischak argued Tuesday that there was nothing to indicate when the other suspects DNA evidence may have been left on the victims underpants.

Gasiorkiewicz agreed that there was no way to know when Creek last wore the underpants, but he noted that the underpants were found on the girls deceased body.

All of these are close calls and the court concedes that, Gasiorkiewicz noted earlier of the arguments.

Eaton is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in connection with the slaying. His jury trial is slated to begin on Nov. 28.

Eaton and Creek are both from Palatine, Ill., a northwest suburb of Chicago.

He remains in Racine County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
0 minutes. This is what you get, America. No one is exactly sure why. But it happened: Nine percent of the U.S. population cast ballots for the two major-party nominees. Now only a third of voters describe either as honest and trustworthy. Democracy is strange and unpredictable in exactly the way NBC anchor Lester Holt is not. He is order. Calm. Decorum. A perfectly folded pocket square in a kingdom of fools. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate, he says. If only he were the only one who had to come.

1 minute. Hillary Clinton comes out wearing Republican red. Donald Trumps tie is the exact blue that Barack Obama used in his 2012 bumper stickers. If these are mind games, they cancel each other out. So Clinton ups her ante. How are you, Donald? she asks. She does not really want to know, but it sounds friendly in exactly the way it is not meant to be.

2 minutes. The first question to Clinton is as straight as the pocket-square crease. Why are you a better choice to create jobs? Clinton has been rehearsing the answer for weeks. She mentions her granddaughters birthday in the second sentence. Then come the buzzwords, like buttons to press in voter brains, roughly arranged to make grammatical sense: advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, clean, renewable energy and small business, because most of the new jobs will come from small business. If debate answers were Scrabble words, shed get 23 points.

3 minutes. Donald, its good to be with you, she concludes. Were going to have a debate where we are talking about the important issues of the country. Fact checkers will have a field day with those whoppers.

4 minutes. Trump watches as Clinton speaks with funereal restraint  respectful, distant, chin up. When his time comes, he fills the Scrabble board with the buttons that light up his supporters brains: Our jobs are fleeing this country. Then he mentions Mexico and China, and China and Mexico, and Mexico one more time. Strong start for both.

Story continues

6 minutes. Which means its time for Clinton to finally drops the pretense. She has zingers, digs and research to unleash. After Trump boasts of his massive tax cuts, which mostly benefit the wealthy, she uses the word extreme. I call it trumped-up trickle down, she says, before pivoting to painting Trump as a spoiled rich kid. He started his business with $14 million, borrowed from his father, Clinton says. My father was a small-businessman. He worked really hard.

7 minutes. Trump is clearly trying to contain himself, to keep coloring inside the lines. He has been told not to fall for her bait. He has been advised to resist his instincts. But you can see the frustration building. He addresses her as Secretary Clinton, and then pauses to ask her to recognize his graciousness in his using her title. I want you to be very happy, he tells her. Thats very important to me. This is an early crack, the beginning of something. He is built to fight fire with volcanic eruptions.

8 minutes. For now, the eruption is contained. He reels it back in to his talking points, about trade, about Mexico, about the NAFTA trade agreement. He tries to paint her as an old politician. Thats smart. Shes been doing this for 30 years, he says. And why hasnt she made the agreements better? Thirty years ago, Clinton was the first lady of Arkansas and a Walmart board member. But at least Trump is keeping a lid on it.

9 minutes. Clinton saw the flinch, knows his defenses are weakening. She will light the fuse. She will not relent. She pokes and prods. And pokes some more. She mentions that time Trump said in 2006 that he could make money on a housing-market crash. The economic analysis that shows his economic plan would lose jobs. The tweet in which Trump blamed climate change on a Chinese hoax.

10 minutes. He cant take it anymore. I did not. I did not, he interrupts. I do not say that. I do not say that. In a house? With a mouse? He is talking about the climate-change tweet, and he is wrong. He did.

13 minutes. Clinton wins the mud fight she always wanted. The candidates start talking over each other. Trump asks Clinton why she is just starting now to think up solutions after 30 years in office. Clinton tries to explain that 30 is the wrong number, but Trump keeps going. Excuse me. I will bring back jobs, he says. You cant bring back jobs. I know you are, but what am I.

15 minutes. This goes on for a while. She rattles off her economic policy accomplishments and those of her husband. He blames the countrys problems on NAFTA. She boasts of her economic record. He notes that she called the Trans-Pacific Partnership the gold standard.

16 minutes. Well, Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but that is not the facts, says Clinton. The facts are I did say I hoped it would be a good deal when it was negotiated. It is ironic that she chooses this point to evoke the facts, because the facts do not support her. Trump is right. She did call the trade deal the gold standard, without qualification.

17 minutes. But Clinton is having her way, and Trump is clearly riled. He raises his voice, cant do anything but interrupt her. So it is President Obamas fault? he asks her about the trade deal she now claims to oppose. Then he blurts, You have no plan. Clinton looks delighted. Oh, but I do, she says. In fact I have written a book about it. She directs people to her website. He interrupts, And take a look at mine, also.

19 minutes. Trump now attacks Clinton for having exactly the sort of plans that he just accused her of not having. Just go to her website, he says. She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I dont think General Douglas MacArthur would like that too much.

20 minutes. Well, at least I have a plan, she shoots back. He responds with the best insult he can think of: No wonder youve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life. Clinton became an adult in the 1960s. The Islamic State was officially announced in 2013, after Clinton had left office as Secretary of State. It was the successor to a radical Sunni group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, that had been founded after the 2002 U.S. invasion.

22 minutes. Trump keeps taking sips of water from a glass. Clinton powers on without refreshment. Maybe that is a metaphor. Maybe he is just thirsty.

25 minutes. Trump has officially lost the ability to not interrupt. At the start of an answer, Clinton muses that by the end of the evening, I am going to be blamed for everything thats ever happened. Trump reacts instinctively. Why not? he says, even though that doesnt make sense.

26 minutes. Holt tries to step in to stop the interruptions. But he cant. Trump starts asking Holt questions about the things Clinton is saying about the effect of the Trump tax cut on his family. Lester, how much? Trump asks. Holt wont help. So Trump calms himself down by predicting U.S. markets will crash. We are in a big, fat, ugly bubble, he says.

27 minutes. Holt asks Trump why he has not released his tax returns, and then follows up by pointing out that Trumps excuse for not releasing them  that he is under an audit  makes no sense. I will release my tax returns, against my lawyers wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted, Trump finally says. The crowd erupts in applause.

28 minutes. So its negotiable? Holt asks. Its not negotiable, no, Trump responds. Let her release the emails. Grammar and logic would indicate that Trump just said two contradictory things. But no one really knows.

30 minutes. Clinton knows how to hit a softball. She speculates that Trump is not releasing his tax returns because he doesnt pay any federal income tax. Trump cant help but interrupt again. That makes me smart, he says, which is either an admission of not paying taxes, or just another schoolyard comeback.

31 minutes. As to the private email server, Clinton says she made a mistake, and moves on. That was more than a mistake, Trump responds. That was done purposely. O.K.? That was not a mistake. That was done purposely.

34 minutes. Clinton prefers offense. She is an overflowing font of embarrassing things that Trump once said. That time he suggested he would try to negotiate down the national debt. The bankruptcies. The former employees and contractors on Trump properties who were never paid. Through it all Trump keeps interrupting, as if he is live-Tweeting his own debate. Maybe he didnt do a good job, he says of a hypothetical unpaid employee. Or, more simply, Wrong, wrong.

39 minutes. Holt retakes control, shifts to a new topic: race. Clintons answer comes in familiar paragraphs, with sentences like, Ive laid out a platform that I think would begin to remedy some of the problems we have in the criminal-justice system.

41 minutes. Trump is asked how he would heal the racial divide. Well, first of all, Secretary Clinton doesnt want to use a couple of words, he says. And thats law and order. And we need law and order. He says Hispanics and African Americans are living in hell in inner cities. You walk down the street, you get shot, he says. Then he endorses stop-and-frisk policing methods, which often target minority neighborhoods. The question was how he would heal the racial divide.

50 minutes. Trump announces that he agrees with Clinton on something. Its like the eye of a hurricane, when the wind stops and the sun shines. They both want to bar people on terrorist watch lists from being able to buy a gun. Savor it.

54 minutes. Trump talks about all the places he has traveled around the country. You decided to stay home, and thats O.K., he tells Clinton. But I will tell you, Ive been all over. Clinton is ready for this one. I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did, she says. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be President. And I think thats a good thing. Applause.

56 minutes. Holt starts asking Trump about his longtime obsession with the falsehood that President Obama was not born in the U.S. Trump tries to blame Clinton for starting the rumor, which is false, and does not explain the years Trump spent spreading it. But were talking about racial healing in this segment, Holt presses, before asking how Trump responds to people of color who were offended by the birther nonsense. I say nothing, Trump responds. I think I did a great job and a great service not only for the country.

58 minutes. This gives Clinton a chance to use the word racist twice to describe the birther claim, and to bring up the housing-discrimination lawsuits by the Justice Department against Trump and his father that were settled in the 1970s. We settled the suit with zero, with no admission of guilt, Trump responds.

61 minutes. Holt throws up a question about hacking from Russia. Clinton gives her practiced answer. Then Trump loses his way. In a few sentences he name-checks Bernie Sanders, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, China, Russia, Obama, an anonymous 400-lb. hacker and his youngest son. Lots of partial thoughts strung together like this: So we have to get very, very tough on cyber and cyberwarfare. It is  it is a huge problem. I have a son. Hes 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers, its unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe its hardly doable.

70 minutes. Now we get to the part of the debate where Trump argues that he opposed the Iraq War before the invasion, even though there is no public record of him doing so. I was against the war in Iraq, Trump says. The record shows otherwise, says Holt. The record does not show that, says Trump. But the record does show that. Trump adds a twist by saying the record should include private conversations he had at the time with Fox News host Sean Hannity, which were not recorded.

78 minutes. When Holt finally turns back to Clinton, she smiles, says Whoo and does a little shoulder shimmy on the stage. She is feeling good.

85 minutes. The candidates debate Iran, nuclear war and some other things that Trump has said in the past that have caused international concern. The pattern has pretty much been set at this point. Clinton and Holt will throw past statements at Trump. Trump will deny them and then accuse Clinton of failing to fix things.

88 minutes. The coup de grace is another tough question from Holt for Trump. Earlier this month, you said she doesnt have, quote, a presidential look. Shes standing here right now. What did you mean by that? Trump says he was talking about her stamina, not her appearance. But thats not what he said.

89 minutes. Clinton has a response to this too. As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina, she says. The crowd applauds.

90 minutes. Then she does what she does, listing off a bunch of awful things Trump has said in the past about women. Trump is baffled by the fact that he once criticized the weight of a beauty-pageant winner. Where did you find this? Where did you find this? he repeats. It was reported months ago, when the model gave an interview with Inside Edition.

93 minutes. Holt tries to bring us all home, to restore the sense of order, the clean crease in the pocket square. He asks each candidate if they will respect the outcome of the election in November. That there is suspense over that question is telling and concerning. Both candidates agree to abide by the will of the people. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, Clinton says. If she wins, I will absolutely support her, Trump says.

94 minutes. For one last time, the crowd applauds and the debate ends. There is hope, it seems, that when this is over we will not be broken by the trauma. Let us unite around that, at least.
Modern Family is breaking new ground in its eighth season.

The family comedy is set to feature an openly transgender child actor on Wednesday's episode, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

In the episode, titled "A Stereotypical Day," Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) have Lily's transgender friend Tom over for a playdate. Although the couple have always felt they were the most open, nonjudgmental and supportive parents, they must take a closer look in the mirror when they overhear Lily insulting her new friend. They ultimately use the moment to teach Lily a lesson about acceptance.

Tom will be played by 8-year-old trans actor Jackson Millarker.

Transgender actors have seen their profiles rise in recent years, particularly on the small screen. However, Millarker is one of the first openly transgender child actors to appear on television.

The news comes as Laverne Cox prepares to make history later this year playing the first full-time transgender character on broadcast television in CBS' midseason entry Doubt. Nashville is also set to introduce a recurring transgender actress, Jen Richards of I Am Cait fame, when it returns for its fifth season in January. Earlier this year, MTV's Faking It tapped trans actor Elliot Fletcher to recur as a trans character for what would be its third and final season.

On the unscripted side, transgender teen and activist Jazz Jennings headlines her own TLC docuseries, I Am Jazz.

Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
When Carla Harris's high school guidance counselor told her that she shouldn't waste her time applying to three Ivy League schools, she did it anyway.

It was a good thing she didn't listen. Harris got into all three schools and a few years later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University.

Similarly, when her peers told her she should stay away from Morgan Stanley (MS)'s mergers and acquisitions division because it was too demanding, she ignored their advice and went for it.

Today, Harris is a vice chairman at Morgan Stanley and one of Wall Street's most influential women.

When CNBC asked what advice she'd give to her 20-year-old self, she said confidence is key to getting ahead in life.

"Own your power," Harris said, following a panel discussion at an event hosted by the women's leadership platform MAKERS during Advertising Week. "In your 20s, you start to doubt what it is you can do. You doubt why you're in the room. But you're in the room."

The executive said that if you have been given an opportunity, seize it.

"If you got invited to the room, and certainly if you got invited to the table, you are all that," she said. "And you should own that."

Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013 to chair the National Women's Business Council and has written career guides "Expect to Win" and "Strategize to Win."



Ultimately, she said, your success comes down to believing in yourself.

"Don't be distracted by anything anybody else tells you," Harris said. "Be focused on the truth that you got invited into the room, which means you're really good."





More From CNBC


By Zakia Abdennebi

Tangier, MOROCCO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Morocco has signed an agreement that Boeing Co will seek to attract its suppliers to boost the kingdom's aeronautics industry.

The "Boeing ecosystem" project aims to bring around 120 suppliers of the company to help raise Morocco's aeronautics exports by $1 billion and create 8,700 jobs.

Boeing already has a joint venture with France's Safran in Casablanca to build wire bundles and harnesses for aircraft makers, including Boeing and Airbus.

Tuesday's agreement was signed in the royal palace of Tangier by Moroccan trade and industry minister Moulay Hafid Elalamy and the chief executive of Boeing's airplane business, Raymond Conner. Moroccan King Mohammed attended the ceremony.

"Boeing will actively reach out to more than 120 suppliers in the near term to encourage this to happen," Conner said during the ceremony.

Conner and Moroccan officials declined to give details or to say whether some of the suppliers have already commited to open new plants in the kingdom.

Unlike some other countries in the region, Morocco has managed to avoid a big drop in foreign investments since the global financial crisis and the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, partly by marketing itself as an export base for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

It has attracted some big auto and aeronautics investors in recent years, including Delphi, Bombardier and Eaton Corp.

It has already exported 5.7 billion dirhams ($590 million) of aircraft parts in the first eight months of 2016, which represent around of 3.5 percent of Moroccan exports. The aeronautics sector has been growing by around 7 percent annually.

Morocco expects auto industry exports to reach 100 billion dirhams a year by 2020 thanks to PSA Peugeot Citroen's decision last year to build a factory slated to produce 200,000 vehicles a year. It expects the Peugeot plant to raise industry to 20 percent of domestic product (GDP) from 16 percent.

($1 = 9.6830 Moroccan dirham) (Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
The FBI reported Monday that 1,197,704 violent crimes were committed in 2015, up 3.9% from 2014. Violent crime rates are by no means uniform across the country. Some of the nations cities are far more dangerous than others.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates in major U.S. cities from the FBIs 2015 Uniform Crime Report. Violent crime includes all offenses involving force or threat of force and are broken into four categories: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. For every 100,000 U.S. residents, 372 of these crimes were committed in 2015.

St. Louis, Missouri led the nation with 1,817 violent crimes per 100,000 residents last year. Cary, North Carolina, by contrast, is the safest city in the nation with just 51 reported violent crimes per 100,000 city residents.

ALSO READ: Worst States for Black Americans

Relatively crime-free cities can be found in states just a few hundred miles from some of the most violent places in the country. California is home to cities such as Irvine, Murrieta, and Sunnyvale, which have among the 10 lowest violent crime rates of all U.S. major cities. However, California is also home to some of the most violent cities in the country, including Oakland, which is just 40 miles from Sunnyvale.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Nancy La Vigne, director of the Justice Policy Center at social advocacy organization the Urban Institute, noted the highly localized nature of violence in the United States. We see no connection between state policies and where these [crime] trends are up or down, La Vigne said.

Because many diverse and complex factors can affect violence in a community, it is very difficult to predict and address violent crime. For example, some cities attempt to curb gang violence by increasing enforcement. These efforts, however, are usually not successful, if you dont look at issues around structural inequality and reasons why kids may be compelled to join gangs to begin with, La Vigne explained.

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In many cases, the reason for the heightened violence is the lack of law-abiding activities, including -- La Vigne noted -- employment opportunities. The unemployment rate exceeds the national rate of 5.3% in 19 of the 25 cities with the highest violent crime rates.

Several other social and economic factors have been tied to high violent crime. The vast majority of the cities with the highest violent crime rates tend to also report very low incomes, high poverty, and low educational attainment.

The cause and effect relationship between violent crime and measures of social well-being such as poverty, educational attainment, and employment can go in both directions. For example, people living in high-crime neighborhoods can suffer from stress and other negative social and health outcomes that can limit their chances to obtain an education and gainful employment. Or, businesses may be less likely to locate in high-crime neighborhoods, effectively limiting employment opportunities for local residents.

A relatively small percentage of the population -- even within the most disadvantaged communities -- is actually engaged in violence, according to La Vigne. Still, every resident of relatively unsafe communities is affected in some way by the violence that occurs there. The difference between victim and perpetrator is often indistinguishable, she said.

To identify the 25 most dangerous U.S. cities, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates in cities with at least 100,000 people from the FBIs 2015 Uniform Crime Report released Monday. The total number and rates of murder, non negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, which are included in the violent crime rate, as well as burglaries, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson  all classified as property crime  also came from the FBIs report. We also considered these data for each year from 2011 through 2015. Annual unemployment rates for 2015 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Median household income, poverty rates, the percentage of adults with at least a bachelors degree, population, and the percentage of adults with at least a high school diploma came from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey (ACS).

These are Americas 25 most dangerous cities.

25. Minneapolis, Minnesota

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,062.9

> 2015 murders: 47

> Poverty rate: 22.6%

> Unemployment rate: 3.3%

With a violent crime rate of 1,063 reported incidents for every 100,000 residents, nearly three times the corresponding national rate, Minneapolis is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Robbery is especially common in the Midwestern city, with 459 reported incidents per 100,000 residents, the 10th highest rate of any American city.

ALSO READ: Cities Where You Don't Want to Get Sick

Poor economic conditions can often lead to large populations of disengaged young men -- the group most likely to commit violent crimes. However, Minneapoliss economy is fairing better than the country as a whole. The citys 3.3% unemployment rate in 2015 was well below the national 5.3% rate that year.

24. Tallahassee, Florida

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,064.3

> 2015 murders: 16

> Poverty rate: 31.1%

> Unemployment rate: 5.2%

Tallahassees violent crime rate of 1,064 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2015 was nearly triple the national violent crime rate. Particularly, the state capital reported the seventh highest rate of rape in the country and the 18th highest rate of aggravated assault. Violent crime in the city spiked considerably in recent years. The 2015 violent crime rate was 21.6% higher than it was half a decade prior.

23. Springfield, Illinois

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,070.4

> 2015 murders: 11

> Poverty rate: 18.6%

> Unemployment rate: 5.6%

With less than 120,000 residents, Springfield, Illinois is smaller than the majority of Americas most dangerous cities. Across the country, aggravated assault is the most common type of violent crime. In keeping with that trend, the 880 reported incidents of aggravated assault in 2015 were the primary driver to the citys high violent crime rate.

22. Anchorage, Alaska

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,070.9

> 2015 murders: 26

> Poverty rate: 8.3%

> Unemployment rate: 5.0%

Alaska consistently struggles with high incidence of rape, as is evident by the high rate of rape Anchorage reported last year -- the third highest of any major U.S. city. The 517 reported rapes in the state capital last year amounted to 172 incidents per 100,000 residents, significantly more than four times the corresponding national rate of 39 incidents per 100,000 people.

21. Springfield, Massachusetts

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,073.4

> 2015 murders: 18

> Poverty rate: 30.1%

> Unemployment rate: 9.3%

A depressed economy often drives up crime rates, as young men -- the most likely perpetrators of violent crime -- are less likely to be socially engaged. With a near nation leading 9.3% unemployment rate in 2015, economic opportunities in Springfield, Massachusetts are scarce. The same year, there were 1,073 violent crimes, including murder, rape, and robbery in Springfield per 100,000 residents.

20. Buffalo, New York

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,118.6

> 2015 murders: 41

> Poverty rate: 30.9%

> Unemployment rate: 7.1%

Buffalos violent crime rate of 1,119 per 100,000 in 2015 was slightly more than three times the national violent crime rate. With few exceptions, nonviolent crime -- which includes burglary, larceny, arson, and motor vehicle theft -- tends to be higher in areas with more violent crime, and Buffalo is no different. The city's nonviolent crime rate of 4,330 per 100,000 residents in 2015 was also much higher than the national rate of 2,487 that year. Buffalo had the sixth highest arson rate of any major U.S. city.

19. Atlanta, Georgia

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,119.6

> 2015 murders: 94

> Poverty rate: 25.2%

> Unemployment rate: 6.3%

High crime rates often accompany poor economic conditions. In Atlanta, a city with one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, more than a quarter of the population lives in poverty, far more than is typical in most American cities.

ALSO READ: The World's 13 Most Valuable Startups

Despite being one of the most dangerous U.S. cities, Atlantas violent crime rate is actually an improvement from five years ago. The citys 2015 violent crime rate was 14.7% is lower than it was in 2011.

18. Toledo, Ohio

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,128.9

> 2015 murders: 24

> Poverty rate: 27.7%

> Unemployment rate: 5.8%

Though it was not an especially safe place to begin with, Toledo, Ohio has gotten considerably more dangerous in the last five years. The citys violent crime rate in 2011 was 998 incidents per 100,000 people, 10% lower than the 2015 violent crime rate.

In keeping with the national trend, the incidence of aggravated assaults contributed most to the Ohio city's total violent crime rate.

17. Hartford, Connecticut

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,140.9

> 2015 murders: 32

> Poverty rate: 34.4%

> Unemployment rate: 10.4%

While the relationship between crime and education is complicated, furthering ones education can lead to better employment and earnings opportunities, which in return may help reduce the likelihood of crime. In Hartford, just 15% of adults have a college degree, roughly half the corresponding national rate. The city ranks among the worst 10 U.S. cities in both poverty and unemployment. A lack of a strong labor market has likely contributed to the Connecticut capitals extremely high violent crime rate.

16. Lansing, Michigan

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,157.0

> 2015 murders: 09

> Poverty rate: 29.4%

> Unemployment rate: 6.3%

Lansing is 16th most dangerous city in the country and the second most dangerous in Michigan. High crime rates often accompany poor economic conditions, and many in Lansing are struggling. Nearly 30% of the citys population lives below the poverty line, almost double the national poverty rate.

Murders typically comprise the smallest share of violent crime and they are especially uncommon in Lansing. The city had only 9 murders in 2015, after adjusting for population, this was the second lowest murder rate of all of Americas most dangerous cities.

15. Washington, District of Columbia

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,202.6

> 2015 murders: 162

> Poverty rate: 18.2%

> Unemployment rate: 6.9%

With over 8,000 violent crimes in 2015, Washington D.C. is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Robberies are especially common in the nation's capital, with 506 incidents per 100,000 residents, roughly five times the corresponding national rate. There were also 162 murders in the city in 2015, more than in all but nine other cities.

14. San Bernardino, California

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,245.9

> 2015 murders: 44

> Poverty rate: 33.0%

> Unemployment rate: 8.2%

While the relationship between violent crime and socioeconomic measures -- such as education, poverty, and unemployment -- is complicated, cities with high rates of violent crime tend to also share certain characteristics. For example, as is the case with most violent cities, San Bernardino adults tend to have belowaverage educational attainment. In fact, just 67.7% of the areas adults have a high school diploma and 11.7% a college degree. These are nearly the lowest rates of any major U.S. city.

ALSO READ: America's Richest (and Poorest) States

13. Indianapolis, Indiana

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,288.0

> 2015 murders: 148

> Poverty rate: 21.4%

> Unemployment rate: 5.0%

Aggravated assault and robbery contribute the most to violent crime nationwide -- and Indianapolis is no different. The city reported 440 robberies and 752 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people in 2015, much more than the national rates of 102 and 238 per 100,000 people, respectively. The murder and rape rates in Indianapolis were also well above the national figures.

12. Stockton, California

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,352.0

> 2015 murders: 49

> Poverty rate: 25.8%

> Unemployment rate: 9.6%

While the relationship is not always clear cut, those who have access to a decent-paying job appear to be less likely to engage in either violent or nonviolent crime. It may also be the case that violent crime can, for a number of reasons, stunt a regional economy and the earning potential of the area's residents. At the very least, both unemployment and poverty are very high in the majority of high crime cities. Stockton, California exhibits similar trends. The city, which has the 12th-highest violent crime rate of major U.S. cities, also had the fifth highest annual unemployment rate and, and more than one in every four residents live in poverty.

11. Springfield, Missouri

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,355.6

> 2015 murders: 10

> Poverty rate: 26.4%

> Unemployment rate: 4.3%

Crime rates tend to be higher in economically depressed areas where opportunities are scarce. In Springfield, Missouri, more than one-quarter of area residents live in poverty, one of the highest poverty rates in the country. After spiking by 73.2% over the five years through 2015 -- the second highest increase of any major U.S. city -- Springfields violent crime rate is the 11th highest in the country. In 2015, there were 179 rapes for every 100,000 residents, the highest incidence of rape in the country.

10. Kansas City, Missouri

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,417.3

> 2015 murders: 109

> Poverty rate: 19.4%

> Unemployment rate: 5.5%

While the nationwide violent crime rate rose by 3.9% in 2015, the increase in Kansas City was far more dramatic. With homicide and aggravated assault rates surging, the city reported a 14.4% spike in violent crime last year. Crime in the city is up even more from five years ago. The city's violent crime rate increased by 21.2% from 2011 through 2015, even as the nationwide rate declined by 0.7% over that period.

9. Oakland, California

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,442.5

> 2015 murders: 85

> Poverty rate: 21.0%

> Unemployment rate: 5.9%

Nationwide aggravated assaults are more than twice as common as robberies. In a handful of cities, however, including Oakland, the robbery rate is higher than the aggravated assault rate. With 3,290 robberies, or 784 for every 100,000 residents, Oakland has the highest robbery rate in the country. There were 570 aggravated assaults reported for every 100,000 city residents, still more than double the national rate.

8. Little Rock, Arkansas

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,485.0

> 2015 murders: 32

> Poverty rate: 18.0%

> Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Property crime rates declined across the country in 2015, while violent crime rates increased. In keeping with the broader trend, Little Rocks property crimes declined by 9.8%, while the violent crime rate increased by 6.9%. Both changes outpaced the respective 3.9% and 7.8% national changes, however.

ALSO READ: The Next 14 States to Legalize Marijuana

With the sixth highest aggravated assault rate in the country, Little Rock is the only city in Arkansas to rank among the nations most dangerous.

7. Baltimore, Maryland

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,535.9

> 2015 murders: 344

> Poverty rate: 24.2%

> Unemployment rate: 7.7%

While murders are far less common than the other offenses that comprise violent crime, Baltimore has recently earned a national spotlight for its near-nation-leading murder rate. Baltimore has the second highest murder rate of major U.S. cities -- at 55 murders for every 100,000 residents, it is more than 11 times the national murder rate. The number of murders in Baltimore have risen considerably over the last five years. There were 196 reported incidents of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter in Baltimore in 2011. Last year, there were 344.

6. Rockford, Illinois

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,585.3

> 2015 murders: 19

> Poverty rate: 25.4%

> Unemployment rate: 8.3%

After Memphis, Tennessee, Rockford, Illinois has the highest rate of aggravated assault in the country. High crime areas often lack economic opportunity, and Rockford is no exception. More than a quarter of area residents live in poverty, and the citys 8.3% unemployment rate in 2015 was nearly the highest in the country.

Rockfords violent crime rate surged by 27.2% in 2015, one of the most dramatic increases in the country.

5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,596.1

> 2015 murders: 145

> Poverty rate: 29.4%

> Unemployment rate: 6.7%

Even as the nation's population increased by 3.2% over the five years ending in 2015, violent crime fell by 0.7% over that period. In Milwaukee, however, although the population rose by just 0.5%, the number of violent crimes rose by 60.5% -- from less than 6,000 incidents to more than 9,500. In just five years, the city moved from the 29th most dangerous city to the fifth most dangerous among major U.S. cities. A major driver of that increase was aggravated assault incidents -- the number of aggravated assaults nearly doubled during that time.

4. Memphis, Tennessee

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,740.1

> 2015 murders: 135

> Poverty rate: 27.4%

> Unemployment rate: 7.3%

Memphiss violent crime rate of 1,740 incidents per 100,000 residents trails only three other U.S. cities. Nationwide, aggravated assault is the most common of all violent crimes. In Memphis, there were 7,653 reported aggravated assaults in 2015, or 1,163 per 100,000 people, the highest such rate of any other city.

Like many violent cities, Memphiss economy is in poor shape. More than a quarter of city residents live below the poverty line, and the 7.3% unemployment rate in 2015 was 2 percentage points higher than national unemployment rate.

3. Birmingham, Alabama

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,746.2

> 2015 murders: 79

> Poverty rate: 31.0%

> Unemployment rate: 7.2%

Violent crime in Birmingham, Alabama's increased by 10% from 2014 and by 17.2% from 2011. As the third most violent city in the country, Birminghams murder, robbery, and aggravated assault rates are each among the top five of all major U.S. cities. As in many high crime areas, poverty is relatively common in Birmingham. Citywide, 31% of residents live in poverty, a higher poverty rate than that of all but a dozen other large U.S. cities.

ALSO READ: America's Most and Least Educated States: A Survey of All 50

2. Detroit, Michigan

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,759.6

> 2015 murders: 295

> Poverty rate: 39.8%

> Unemployment rate: 12.4%

There were 1,760 violent crimes in Detroit for every 100,000 city residents in 2015. Though the citys violent crime rate is down 22.3% from 2011, it is the second highest in the country.

Detroit's high violent crime rate is likely tied to the few opportunities the dismal economic climate provides. Nearly 40% of city residents live in poverty, and 12.4% of the workforce was unemployed as of 2015, each the highest share of any major U.S. city.

1. St. Louis, Missouri

> Violent crimes per 100,000: 1,817.1

> 2015 murders: 188

> Poverty rate: 27.8%

> Unemployment rate: 6.1%

Including 188 homicides, there were 5,762 violent crimes in St. Louis in 2015. Adjusting for population, the citys murder and violent crime rates, at 59 murders and 1,817 per 100,000 city residents, are each the highest in the country. The number of violent crimes reported in St. Louis increased by 7.7% last year, faster than the national uptick of 3.9%. Over the last five years, however, the incidence of violent crime is down by 3.2%.

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Presidential debates command the largest audience of any political event in American life. Its the only time you have the viewpoints of both parties on one stage at the same time. And last nights highly anticipated Trump-Clinton affair probably broke all viewing records.

These debates are not just about jockeying for position in the general election; they are important markers in how we understand and decipher politics far into the future. What gets emphasized and what gets left out really matters. And therefore, Hillary Clinton attacking the false premise that government is just like a business and should be run like one was the biggest moment with the most long-lasting implications in recent memory. And it probably wouldnt have happened without Donald Trump facing her behind the other podium.

The first half-hour of the debate could have been contested between any mainstream Democrat and any mainstream Republican plucked out of any state legislature or congressional district in America. While Trump trashed over-regulation and tax-and-spend liberals increasing the national debt, Clinton attacked Trump as a typical business conservative, giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy and hoping that they create a few jobs for everyone else.

Related: Trumps Tax Plan Would Benefit the Wealthy Most, Study Finds

This was a decided tactical shift for Clinton. Its now campaign lore that the Clinton campaign made the deliberate decision to peel Trump away from the Republican Party, labeling him as something wholly new in American politics, too extreme even for the GOP rank-and-file. Thats not how things played out in the debate. Throughout the general election, Clinton has been attacking Trump on his personal faults  comments about Mexicans and Muslims and women. But last night, Trump, was not an alien force, but a rich purveyor of trickle-down economics all over again.

If that familiar terrain were all Clinton trod last night, it would have been notable but not significant. But she used the opening that only Trump could give her  his long and checkered history as a businessman  to take on how Republicans believe government and the economy should work.

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For the last year Trump has viewed the office of the presidency through the same perspective as a real estate developer trying to maximize profits  making deals on behalf of the nation, outflanking the competition, making America win. Thats why trade factors so heavily in his thinking  those are deals where he can get in a room and beat the stuffing out of China or some other adversary.

Related: Conservative Economists Mock Trump Campaigns Trade Proposals

So Clinton, in addition to hammering the standard Republican policies, focused on Trumps business record. He rooted for the housing crisis in 2006; he started his business with $14 million borrowed from his father; he keeps his tax returns secret because he likely doesnt pay any taxes. And in the most devastating section, Clinton noted how many workers have been stiffed by Trumps businesses, the very little guys he champions in speeches. Im certainly relieved that my late father never did business with you, Clinton said. He provided a good middle-class life for us, but the people he worked for, he expected the bargain to be kept on both sides.

Remarkably, Trump didnt deny any of this. Hes running, in fact, to be a ruthless businessman on behalf of the same people hes spent a career gouging in the eyes. Rooting for economic collapse to get an advantage in scooping up foreclosed homes at a discount is called business, by the way, he said. Not paying taxes makes me smart. And not paying people you hire after they do the prescribed work just means maybe he didnt do a good job and I was unsatisfied which our country should do too.

Here, a real ideological difference rose to the surface. Clinton expressed a fairness vision, while Trump manifestly made a virtue of unfairness, as long as Americans win out. This is the blind corner that conservatives walk into when they insist that government should be run like a business. Trump is the logical extension of what they mean: America should cheat creditors, use its dominance to rip off little guys and bully our way to prosperity without any social responsibility or sense of ethics.

Related: 12 Top CEOs for Clinton, 1 for Trump

Thats a ridiculous view of the function of government, which should not be weaponized the way Trump seeks. Government does not exist to turn a profit by any underhanded means. Government does not welch on its obligations to make a quick buck. Using the powers of government the way a Civil War re-enactor would use the cannon he has pointed at his enemy doesnt automatically lead to good outcomes. Sometimes theres not a direct transfer of skills from business to government, Clinton said. Sometimes what happened in business would be really bad for government.

Its worth emphasizing those lines. As president, Hillary Clintons husband focused relentlessly on reinventing government, vowing that the era of big government is over. Thats a business-centric view of government, focused on efficiency rather than meeting public needs. A second Clinton presidency that severs this confused link between business and government suddenly opens up all kinds of possibilities. The deficit becomes less of a straitjacket. Policies that break up big corporations and mandate competition, even at the expense of long-sought efficiency, become easier to sell. Employment and economic liberty take precedence over whether some agency is getting the proper return on investment.

Im sure Bernie Sanders fans on the left will argue that Clinton is an imperfect messenger for this vision. Thats true to an extent. But she was willing to send the message, at the highest level, on the biggest stage. Its the kind of statement that can outlive the immediate moment and feed a new style of thinking about what government is and what it can be. When you run government like a business, you get businessmen willing to abuse government to get ahead. Its about time somebody said it.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
RACINE  A Racine man found Sunday night unresponsive and unconscious in a fast-food restaurant parking lot was arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of multiple drugs, police said.

Stephen H. Kusters, 33, of the 2000 block of Wustum Avenue, was found passed out in his car in the parking lot of Caesars Custard, 2721 Douglas Ave., at about 9:12 p.m., according to a criminal complaint.

An employee told police that the vehicle had been in the parking lot since 5 p.m. Officers discovered Kusters in the car with all of the windows rolled down. The interior of the car and Kusters were wet from rain earlier in the evening, the complaint said.

Officers and emergency responders tended to Kusters, who was unconscious and unresponsive due to what officers at first believed to be caused by a medical condition, according to the complaint.

In searching the vehicle, officers reported finding: 31.5 grams of marijuana in two prescription medical marijuana containers; two Newport Cigarrette boxes containing 1.4 grams of cocaine; a chore boy, which is used to smoke cocaine; and a prescription bottle containing three types of pills. The types of pills were reported to be Vyvanse, which was reportedly prescribed to Kusters, and two types of M. Amphet Salts, which are Schedule II narcotics, the complaint said.

Kusters faces two felony charges for possession of narcotics, two felony charges for possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana and two misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia. He is scheduled for preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 5 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

He remained in custody as of Monday night at the County Jail, online records indicated.
This fugitive should have thought twice before uploading a wedding photo to social media, two years after he was declared one of America's Most Wanted.

Read: Mom's Head and Foot Found After She Vanished Following Date With Man She Met Online

On Monday, U.S. Marshals released a wedding photo of Jihad Amir Ramadan, 30, that was posted to a close friend's Myspace account in 2007  two years after he was accused of fatally stabbing 20-year-old Byron "BJ" Bryant of Texas.

The photo appears to be from Ramadan's own wedding, and officials believe the woman pictured in the photo is his wife. Ramadan may have gotten married while he was on the run, authorities said in a statement.

"We're confident based on the age progression that it matches," Deputy U.S. Marshal Chris Leuer told InsideEdition.com. "[Ramadan] has a lot of ties to the Caribbean. It's possible [his wife is] from down there."

The U.S. Marshals released the photo Monday in hopes that someone can identify the woman. While she's not a suspect in the investigation, the U.S. Marshals Services is offering up to $2,500 for information leading to Ramadan's arrest.

Leuer said they believe the person who posted the image to Myspace is very close to the family. Additionally, at least one person from Ramadan's immediate family was present at the wedding, which officials believe to have been held in either New York or New Jersey, where Ramadan's family has ties.

According to records, Ramadan, whose last known address was in New Rochelle, New York, was born Justin Faustin, and his name was legally changed by family members. Officials now believe he may have taken on a new identity. There's "a strong possibility he is in the Caribbean," Leuer said.

Read: Man Confesses to 2003 Murder That His Identical Twin Brother Was Locked Up For

"Two young men were lost that day," Bryant's mother, Cheryl Pitts-Bryant told InsideEdition.com. "My son never to return."

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Pitts-Bryant said her son, who was the classmate of Ramadan at Hampton University in Virginia at the time, was studying business, and hoping to go into a career in law.

She said she was told by eyewitnesses to the scene that Bryant and his roommate were at a gathering off campus when her Texan son was surrounded by a group of young men from New York.

Bryant was stabbed, his carotid artery was severed, and he bled to death on the operating table, his mother recalled. He was 20 years old at the time.

"I don't believe [Jihad] went out and said, 'I'm going to kill somebody' that day," Pitts-Bryant said. "[But] he needs to know that we're still looking for him and that he's not going to get to live this life of freedom."

Pitts-Bryant said that although it has been 11 years since her son's passing in 2005, her son's friends from the time still make routine visits to her home in Houston on his birthday, or the anniversary of his death.

"They take me to lunch, they bring me flowers. They stuck with me all these years, and have been so kind and loving," she said. "They're all my kids."

Read: Parents of Teen Murdered by Facebook Killer Share Advice to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

As Bryant's cousins, friends, and even former girlfriend are becoming engaged, married, and having children, Pitts-Bryant said she can't help but imagine the life her own son would have led: "This would have been the kind of thing my son would have done. Our son would not have that opportunity."

Anyone with more information about Ramadan's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals communication center at 1-800-336-0102.

Watch: Man Who Posted Image of Wife's Dead Body to Facebook Shot Her in Self-Defense

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By Christopher Spink

LONDON, Sept 27 (IFR) - Laurie Fitch, co-head of EMEA industrials at Morgan Stanley, has left the bank and is to join New York-listed advisory boutique PJT Partners to manage relationships in that sector across Europe.

PJT was set up by Paul Taubman in 2013, a year after he left Morgan Stanley having spent 30 years at the US firm. Last year PJT completed a takeover of private equity investor Blackstone's advisory business and floated in New York.

That deal gave strengthened PJT's fledgling European business and the firm has also made other hires in Europe over the last year.

Morgan Stanley confirmed that Fitch had left. PJT declined to comment.

(Reporting by Christopher Spink)
Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S.-based brokerage Investment Technology Group Inc said it appointed Ruben Costa-Santos as director and head of foreign exchange, and Andre Nogueira as a director in its analytics team.

Based in New York, Costa-Santos will be responsible for overseeing ITG's foreign exchange activity across its analytics, execution and workflow technology product groups, the company said.

He was previously head of foreign exchange platforms, Americas at Deutsche Bank AG.

Based in London, Nogueira will be responsible for leading ITG's analytics consulting efforts in Europe, the company said.

He joined ITG from Bloomberg LP, where he worked on multi-asset-class trading analytics.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru)
Last week, Mylans MYL CEO Heather Bresch testified before lawmakers and elected government officials regarding a recent price increase on its lifesaving product that treats severe allergic reactions. The product is none other than the EpiPen, and since there are no direct competitors in the market, Mylan has had full discretion over how much it charges for the injection pen. A pair of pens went for about $100 in 2008, and since then, the price has ballooned to $600.

What exacerbates the problem is the fact that many pens expire after a year, so people with severe allergy problems are forced to pay for new pens every year (although insurance plans can help in making the drug affordable). With this, it is not too surprising to see why Congress is so concerned over Mylans price-gouging practices.

Today, it has been revealed that the companys CEO underestimated the amount of profit which the company makes per two-pen pack. Mrs. Bresch stated that Mylan makes roughly $100 in profit, but that number applies the 37.5% statutory tax rate, a percentage which Mylan didnt actually pay. Mylans overall effective tax rate was 4.2% and 7.4% in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The committee that Heather testified in front of did not believe in Mylans reported profitability from EpiPens last week, and they were right to have doubts. Without including the statutory tax rate, Mylans profit on two-packs comes out to about $160. This is 60% more profit than the figure that Mylan gave to congress. Mylan is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and its stock fell by about 2% today.

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A thunderous boom and a bright flash over the coast of northeastern Australia Monday night may have been a big meteor strike, according to local media.

Police in Central Queensland were inundated with phone calls after residents felt the earth shake and saw a bright light trail across the sky, according to the Gladstone Observer.

The Australian governments geological survey, Geosciences Australia, confirmed that a tremor near the city of Gladstone at around 8:30 p.m. local time was not an earthquake.

Our CCTV at Fisherman's Landing captured the meteor which rattled Central Queensland last night. pic.twitter.com/zyOPcxgIpD  Transport Main Roads (@TMRQld) September 27, 2016

Experts have since claimed the event was likely a large meteor striking near the coast. The loud boom and bright light suggest an explosion of some kind, so meteor impact sounds like the best explanation, as far as we know at the moment, David Parkinson, a cosmologist at the University of Queensland, told the Observer.

No reports of debris have yet surfaced and it is believed that a crash may have occurred offshore.

Residents swarmed social media to describe the mysterious event, some taking to the Facebook page of a popular weather watch group, Higgins Storm Chasing.

[It] looked like a big as hell shooting star and lit up the beach, witness Jacques Reimers posted on the page, according to the Guardian. Then about a minute later a big bang and a shockwave came over the water and shook my car little bit was a pritty (sic) awesome experience.
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have split after 11 years together, PEOPLE confirms.



"Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple," Schreiber and Watts said in a joint statement to PEOPLE.



"It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy," the statement continued.



The two are parents to Alexander (Sasha) Pete Schreiber, 8, and Samuel Kai Schreiber, 7.







Watts, 47, and Schreiber, 48, met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual costume ball in 2005 and immediately hit it off.



"We spoke on the phone for several weeks and emailed," said Watts, who had to return to Los Angeles at the time. "And then I made up some excuse to come to New York and the rest is history."



The couple often enjoyed family time together at their home in New York City where they were frequently spotted spending afternoons in Central Park and running errands with their brood.



Watts and Schreiber even traveled to Australia together to spend the holidays with her family.



But their relationship was the subject of scrutiny over the years, particularly over the issue of marriage.



In 2012, Watts told Easy Living Magazine that marriage simply wasn't a top priority for the couple. "We're very much together. We just don't have that certificate, and that's okay with both of us," she shared. "Maybe one day, we'll just wake up and go 'Hey, let's do this.' And maybe not."



Watts and Schreiber have appeared in several movies together over the years, including The Painted Veil in 2006 and Movie 43 in 2013.
The prospect of war between India and Pakistan is the stuff of nightmares. Since the British quit the subcontinent in 1947, the South Asian rivals have come to blows four times already, three times over the Himalayan region of Kashmir alone. Claimed in its entirely by both New Delhi and Islamabad, it is one of the worlds most beautiful areas and also one of its most militarized, divided between the two nations by a de facto border called Line of Control (LoC). With both countries now in possession of nuclear weapons, another war, many fear, risks tipping into a potentially apocalyptic confrontation.

Which is why all eyes have been on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ever since four gunmen attacked an Indian military base near the LoC on Sept. 18. Eighteen Indian soldiers died in the raid on the base in the Kashmir town of Uri, making it the worst such attack in more than two decades. India says the gunmen came from across the LoC, a charge Pakistan rejects.

Read More: These 5 Facts Explain Why India and Pakistans Kashmir Dispute Is Going to Get Worse

As tensions rise, prominent voices from within Modis right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have turned up the heat with war-like rhetoric. Ram Madhav, a BJP leader and close ally of Modis, signaled that the days of Indian restraint were over, saying: For one tooth, the complete jaw. If terrorism is the instrument of the weak and coward (sic), restraint in the face of repeated terror attacks betrays inefficiency and incompetence. India should prove otherwise. A growing clamor for a strong response from sections of the Indian media, along with Modis own past statements criticizing previous Indian governments for being soft on Pakistan, fanned uncertainty about what might follow the Uri attack.

But in a speech this past weekend, Modi signaled that his government would stick to a longstanding Indian policy of treading carefully when it comes to provocations by Pakistan, stepping up efforts to pressure its troublesome neighbor diplomatically, rather than militarily. I want to tell the people of Pakistan, India is ready to fight you, he said at a BJP meeting in southern India. If you have the strength, come forward to fight against poverty. Lets see who wins. Lets see who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India.

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Read More: Another Season of Unrest Brings Darkness for Ordinary Kashmiris

Analysts say Modis stance is the result of Indias recognition of the risks of a military clash. War with Pakistan would cast a shadow over Indias growing economyits the fastest-growing big economy in the worldas well as raising international alarm. They [the Modi government] have realized that military escalation is next to impossible given the circumstances, says Happymon Jacob, an expert on Indian-Pakistani relations at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University. Having gone through some discussion, the government of India has come to the conclusion that you can only escalate this diplomatically and politically, which is exactly what they are doing.

Theres also the question of whether India even has the capacity to wage war. A recent report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington noted that many of the Indian Air Forces frontline aircraft were obsolete, while a 2015 assessment by Indian government auditors highlighted worryingly inadequate army ammunition stockpiles.

Ultimately, Modi must balance the demands of the different constituencies at home and abroad, explains Ashok Malik, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think tank. Domestically, the Prime Minister faces pressure to be seen to be doing something in response to this attack, he says. But internationally, India also recognizes the need to build an even stronger case against Pakistan and emphasize that [terrorism linked to] Pakistan is a challenge not just for India but also the rest of the world. Indias Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj pursued this strategy in her speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 26, when she placed the Uri attack in the context of other recent terror attacks around the world. A day later, India sought to add to the diplomatic pressure on Pakistan by withdrawing from an upcoming meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, a regional grouping, in Islamabad. Modi had planned on traveling to Pakistan for the summit.

Read More: A Terrorist Attack in Kashmir Sparks Fears of a Military Conflict Between India and Pakistan

But even if cooler heads prevail for the moment, the worrying possibility of a military flare-up hasnt disappeared. I dont think Modi has given up on the military option for the remainder of his term [in office, which expires in 2019], says Malik. Unless terrorism completely and miraculously disappears, he cannot give up on that option.
RACINE  The Racine Zoos blue-eyed black lemur, a longtime fixture at the facility, has died.

Racine Zoological Society officials said Monday that Pfeiffer, a 23-year-old female, died from kidney disease on Thursday.

The loss of any animal is truly saddening, said Beth Heidorn, the zoos executive director. Its not easy to say farewell to such a wonderful and much-loved animal, but knowing that she is no longer in any pain is a great comfort for the zoo family.

Pfeiffers condition was discovered during a routine exam in early July, officials said.

Zoo staff worked hard to provide Pfeiffer with comfort and security throughout the last days of her life, Heidorn said.

Pfeiffer was born March 13, 1993, at Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C. She arrived at the Racine Zoo in 2007, and was paired with a male blue-eyed black lemur, Travolta, who is now 19.

From the day that she arrived, Pfeiffer was very gentle and sweet, not only with her caregivers but with her companion, Travolta as well, Heidorn said.

By this year, Pfeiffer was considered a senior citizen of her kind, Heidorn said. In the wild, Pfeiffer probably would not have made it this long, zoo officials said.

Life in the wild is tough, said Theresa Donarski, the zoos curator of conservation and animal care. Without predators, or being treated for disease, our animals are far outliving their counterparts that are in the wild.

We are working with the Species Survival Plan to acquire a new companion for Travolta or send him to a breeding situation and have us acquire a young breeding pair to support the SSP, Donarski added.

In other zoo news, Racines resident female emperor tamarin, Cadeau, will head to Staten Island, N.Y., to be paired with a young male from Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minn. She will leave Wednesday, officials said.

Cadeau was born Dec. 23, 2014, the first offspring of the current pair of tamarins, Marquis and Isabella.
NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke praised Lester Holts moderating of the presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, saying the NBC Nightly News anchor ended up doing a very good job.

Burke confessed Tuesday that he and his colleagues had been very worried and concerned for Lester, because the environment is so tough right now. Earlier this month, Today show anchor Matt Lauer was widely excoriated for his handling of a forum in which his questioning of Republican candidate Trump was seen as unfairly easy compared to his questioning of Democratic nominee Clinton.

But Burke said he was relieved and pleased by Holts performance, which some commentators criticized as being at times too passive. Burke also defended NBC News coverage of the election campaign, one of the most divisive presidential contests in American history, saying that the network had done a very good job of getting the right issues out.

Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference in London, Burke estimated that Monday nights highly anticipated debate may have been watched by 100 million viewers in the U.S., based on data from Comcasts set-top boxes, which showed more than 35% of homes with the cable service tuned in to the faceoff.

In other remarks, Burke dismissed the idea, put to him by Tina Brown, the former editor of The New Yorker magazine, that the fall in value of the British pound made ITV an attractive target for NBCUniversal, whose growth has come primarily through acquisitions. Nothing to say there, Burke said, adding: Were essentially an American company. ITV is Britains largest commercial broadcaster.

Burke was upbeat over his companys investments in online outlets such as BuzzFeed and Vox, which he said had much to teach NBCUniversal about mastering the digital world. He also called the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation a smart move, because we think the animated film business is the best part of the film business.

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The biggest surprise of the last several years, Burke said, has been how good of a business the theme park business is. As long as a company can capitalize on strong intellectual property, build good attractions and quality hotels, theme parks present an excellent opportunity. If you build it, they will come, he said.

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NBCUniversals CEO Steve Burke lauded Lester Holts moderating of the first televised debate between U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Speaking in a keynote conversation with former editor of The New Yorker Tina Brown at the Royal Television Society Conference in London on Tuesday, Burke praised the NBC Nightly News anchor and said Holt ended up doing a very good job.

Burke said that the whole event was nerve-wracking for him. He confessed to getting a copy of the debate sent to him at 4 AM London time so he could watch it as he and his colleagues were very worried and concerned for Lester.

The environment is so tough right now for anybody moderating anything to try and make sure that its a fair debate, he said. Burke also defended NBC Nightly News coverage of the election campaign, saying the channel had done a very good job handling the election and trying to get the right issues out, but its a very interesting time.

He estimated that more than 100 million people tuned into Monday nights debate, based on top box data from Comcasts set-top boxes, which indicated that more than 35% of homes in the U.S. were tuned into the debate.

He said that despite the current challenges of attracting a large live crowd, people will turn out for very large live events, pointing out that the Rio Olympics averaged 27.5 million live viewers for the company.

When Brown joked that many blame NBC for the rise of Trump thanks to his program The Apprentice, which aired on the network, Burke said the show was on the air a long time before we showed up, and that at the time, Trump was an entertainer and very good at what he did in that realm.

When questioned about whether the fall in value of UK Sterling made ITV, the UKs largest broadcaster, an attractive acquisition for NBCUniversal, Burke quashed the notion of targeting the company. Nothing to say there, he said.

He added: We have a very healthy respect for how hard it is to program a network. NBC is, you know, essentially an American company. NBC is our backyard and I think its very challenging to think about the network side of free-to-air broadcasting anywhere outside of the United States.

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Burke said that NBCUniversals UK business, which contributes around 20% of the companys international revenue, was undoubtedly important. We have a huge investment profile in the United KingdomThis is a huge, huge market for us. We want to be the best place for talented people to bring their great ideas.

Burke also pointed to the growth of the company through investment in online platforms such as BuzzFeed and Vox, key investments for the future of the business. He said that while television is still a very good business, he said it was unlikely that the TV industry would grow as much in the next 10-20 years as it had done in the last few decades. He also highlighted the acquisition of DreamWorks Animation as a key move for the company. We think the animated film business is maybe the best part of the feature film business.

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Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos has rejected any assertion that the company is showing signs of hindering the creative freedom of its producers and said it is on track to double its original programming output.

Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference in London on Tuesday, the Netflix exec said he was working very diligently to ensure relationships with creatives were collaborative and insisted creative control of production would not increase as the company grows. Four years ago we werent producing any original programming and this year we had 17 different shows nominated for 54 Emmy awards and the only way you can work that way is to build upon the same premise we built Netflix on: to work with the creatives, he told the audience. Our job is to pick the right shows and the right storytellers and create an environment where they can do the best work of their life.

He pressed that any creative involvement on Netflix shows was always invited. Thats what I want to impress upon people, he said. If you arent collaborating on the show by the time it is in production, then we have failed in some way that we havent been invited into the process. We dont enclose ourselves from the process creatively, we are very collaborative absolutely.

He quipped: I am not going to give creative notes to Peter Morgan [writer on Netflixs The Crown]. Im not going to do it.

Asked about Netflixs programming budget, Sarandos maintained that the company is committed to targeting $6 billion next year and was on track to sustain its growth. Weve been able to maintain the quality, he said, pointing to shows such as Fuller House or Rams, which have developed under their own creative umbrella.

Original programming continues to be viewed more on the platform and this, he said, is a big reason why the company is pushing for more distinguished content.

We are looking for stuff that is more brand-defining and tentpole, Sarandos said, pointing to Netflixs $100 million upcoming Queen Elizabeth II drama series The Crown, which was developed for the company through UK banner Left Bank Pictures and penned by Morgan. That [The Crown] is produced to a scale that I dont think many networks could step up to. Because our audience is large and global and the story is incredibly local, we can invest heavily in a project like that.

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Sarandos said the goal is to push for a 50:50 split in terms of originals and licenced programming over the next few years.

He also pointed to the transition of filmmakers from the big-screen to the television world as being responsible for enabling projects to travel more globally. Historically, big films have always been more global than television but it is becoming more and more the case that TV is travelling more globally now as well, Sarandos said. I think a lot of that is influenced by the filmmakers move into television.

But while the companys embrace to the creatives was emphasized, there was no sign of Netflix wavering on its stance on the pay-TV window issue. Sarandos asserted that making consumers wait seven to 10 months after a theatrical release of a title doesnt make a lot of sense.

Ive always been of the mindset that pay-TV windows are probably the most out-of-step licensing window with the current generation of television watching you can imagine, he said. To have people wait seven to 10 months in the internet age doesnt make a lot of sense so I think you wind up with these pay deals with movies that people saw already because they were excited to see them or they made a conscious decision not to see them at any point between the time it opened on theatre, to the time it was on DVD, to the time it was on VOD, to the time it was on an airplane, so that by the time the movie itself is available, its a much more casual transaction. I dont think you can assign a lot of subscription value to that kind of watching activity.

He added: Were investing in film so that we can aggressively give the consumers what they are telling us they want, which is when they open. And in some cases we will say they will be on Netflix instead of in theatres.

The company is looking to large-scale films such as cop thriller Bright, starring Will Smith and Joel Egerton, directed by Suicide Squads David Ayer, as a potential franchise. It also has films such as Brad Pitt starrer War Machine and Christopher Guests Mascots on the horizon.

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Netflixs push into original content continues to increase significantly, with the video-streaming giant aiming to have its own films and TV series account for half its catalog within the next few years, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said Tuesday.

To that end, Netflix will spend more of its massive $6 billion program budget on glossy high-end television dramas and on unscripted series, a new area for a company that four years ago had no original shows. This year we had 17 different shows nominated for 54 Emmy Awards, and the only way you can work that way is to build up the same premise we built Netflix on, to work with creative people, Sarandos said.

Netflixs deep pockets enable it to invest in brand-defining, tentpole shows, Sarandos said, such as the upcoming British royalty series, The Crown, which Sarandos said is produced to a scale that I dont think many networks could step up to. Because our audience is large and global and the story is incredibly local we can invest heavily in a project like that. The Get Down was an expensive show, and Baz Luhrmanns films happen to work all over the world, which is great.

The Crown is reportedly costing Netflix more than $100 million. While those kinds of figures can be eye-popping, Sarandos said such investment was often more cost-effective given the costs and complications of acquisitions and licensing, and because original offerings draw more viewers than recycled content. Increased original content is valuable in terms of distinguishing Netflix as a destination rather than another outlet for carrying, he said.

Sarandos spoke at a question-and-answer session at the Royal Television Society Conference in London, an annual event that this year focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the new streaming culture.

He said Netflixs foray into original films is in recognition of the fact that its catalog consists of old titles long past their theatrical release dates, and that one-third of watching on Netflix is still directed at movies.

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Were investing in film so that we can more aggressively give the consumers what they are telling us they want, which is new content, Sarandos said. While that could involve a simultaneous theatrical and VOD release, in some cases we will say they will be on Netflix instead of in theaters.

That strategy, however, has not endeared Netflix to the many filmmakers who still want to see their works shown in cinemas. In France, for example, some filmmakers have expressed a preference for working with Amazon instead of Netflix because Amazon still commits to theatrical releases.

There have also been reports of unwanted interference by Netflix in the creative process and a high-handed attitude toward producers. But Sarandos dismissed those alleged complaints.

Our creative involvement in the shows is collaborative and always invited, he said.

We dont impose ourselves on the process, he added. Im not going to give creative notes to [Crown creator] Peter Morgan. Im not going to do it.

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Netflix is on track to double its original programming output as it has done in recent years and is adding new genres, especially unscripted programming, such as competition shows, chief content officer Ted Sarandos told a TV industry conference in London on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference with the theme "Full Stream Ahead," he also said the company continues to expect its international business to turn profitable. And he addressed Netflix's role and input on originals after a THR report about how some creatives have asserted that creative freedom was showing signs of being curtailed.

"Our job is to pick the right shows, pick the right storytellers and create an environment where they can do the best work of their life.... Our creative involvement in the shows is collaborative and always invited," Sarandos said, sharing what he has impressed on his team: "If you are not collaborating with the show by the time it's in production, then we have failed in some way, if we haven't been invited into the process. But we don't impose ourselves on the process creatively."

He said, "When we say that we allow total creative freedom, part of that is that everybody wants to make a great show, and to the extent we can be helpful in that process, we are." He added he would not "give creative notes" on projects that are "in great hands," saying he wouldn't give notes to The Crown writer Peter Morgan, for example.

Asked about Netflix's programming budget, Sarandos reiterated past comments that the company is targeting $6 billion next year, with the number of originals continuing to increase. He said four years ago the firm wasn't producing any originals, but "this year, we had 17 different shows for 54 Emmys," he said. He said overall the company has doubled its original programming output every year for the last four years, "and we are trying to do it again."

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After all, originals get more viewing time than licensed shows, plus they help position Netflix as a destination, he said. Netflix's CFO recently said the company was heading toward a 50:50 split in terms of originals and licensed programming over the next couple of years, and Sarandos confirmed it was on its way to that.

Read more: The Netflix Backlash: Why Hollywood Fears a Content Monopoly

Netflix currently has 30 scripted originals in production, plus 35 kids programs, 60 documentaries in different stages, a dozen feature films and local-language productions in nine countries, Sarandos said. He said his programming team members "probably have more buying power than anyone in Hollywood," and he likes to give them room to make bets.

Part of the strategy with originals is "not trying to do brand-defining things," but "letting the shows create their own brands and define their own brands under our umbrella," he explained.

What genres are becoming a bigger focus for Netflix? "We are embarking on a lot of unscripted programming," Sarandos told the London conference, citing about 20 original projects in various stages of production or pre-production.

"The newest thing we're encroaching on are competition shows," he said. He cited Ultimate Beastmaster, executive produced by Sylvester Stallone. Its first season will feature contestants from six countries on an obstacle course, with each country's version able to focus more on the country's contestants.

Britain also continues to be a big focus for Netflix. "We are very engaged beyond The Crown," a drama that is launching soon, Sarandos said about the company's U.K. production plans. Black Mirror is returning with six episodes, he pointed out, for example, also citing Scrotal Recall, renamed as Lovesick. He said Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders and other British shows have been a success for Netflix in the U.S., meaning that ordering British originals is a natural extension for the company.

The company's film strategy was also in focus. Sarandos said he likes to work with filmmakers entering TV, because films have had more global drawing power than TV historically, making the transition easier and a positive for Netflix. Film is "a distinctly different art," and movies still account for a third of viewing on Netflix, he said in explaining why the company has pushed into the original film space. He said the focus is on exclusive movies or offering movies when they open, unlike pay TV, which tends to feature films people have already seen or chosen not to see.

Large-scale films from the likes of Brad Pitt and Christopher Guest are therefore one key focus for Netflix, he said. He also cited Bright, the magic-infused cop thriller with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton from Suicide Squad director David Ayer, as being a potential franchise for the company.

"It made me a little sick to my stomach," Sarandos acknowledged when recalling seeing his 20-year-old son, an aspiring filmmaker, watch Lawrence of Arabia on a mobile phone. But he said older consumers tend to care more about screen size than younger ones. Sarandos also said he always finishes movies he starts watching, while his son has told him he stops or leaves one in three movies.

Asked about virtual and augmented reality, Sarandos said, "VR is something that is exciting" but "probably more for gaming" than narrative projects.

Netflix now serves 190 countries, but the world's most populous nation, China (as well as North Korea and Syria) remains untapped. Netflix has repeatedly expressed interest in launching its service there, but censorship concerns and stringent regulations affecting foreign content providers continue to present barriers. "We do look at China as a big opportunity, but it's a complicated [market]," Sarandos previously said. "We are seeing what we can do about it in the future." He didn't provide an update on Tuesday.

But he emphasized recent localization efforts. After the company turned on the lights on Netflix across the world in January, the company has been localizing languages, banking offers and the like in various countries.

Netflix recently rolled out a Polish-language and Turkish-language service, dubbing or subtitling the bulk of its programming in the territories to better serve audiences there. The moves are part of a broader strategy by Netflix to jump-start growth in key international markets by expanding beyond viewers who speak or understand English. In most places its programming is heavily tilted to U.S. series, typically with a 80:20 split of U.S. versus local content.

Asked about what programming does well globally, he said English-speaking content "travels brilliantly." But in Asian countries, such as Japan, appetite for local fare is more ferocious, meaning up to around 70 percent of content there is local.

While one of Netflix's competitive edges in international markets is its U.S.-produced original shows, such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, the company is also expanding the use of local-language content overseas that it will also distribute in North America.

Netflix previously reported that it added a fewer-than-expected 1.7 million subscribers during its second quarter, below a company forecast of 2.5 million subscribers and the 3.28 million added in the year-ago period. It added 160,000 subscribers in the U.S. and 1.5 million subscribers in international markets. It ended June with a total of nearly 83.2 million subs, including 36.1 million internationally and 47.1 million in the U.S.

Read more: Ted Sarandos: Netflix's Global Platform Will Bring Diversity to Hollywood
When you shy away from a cool 15m for your horse (Big Star) you must be one confident and courageous cookie.

Courage and confidence, two essential traits needed in spades for show jumping, which Nick Skelton clearly has a lot of to take individual gold at Rio and team gold at London 2012.

Britains oldest gold medallist galloped to victory at the latest Games despite two knee operations, a hip replacement and a broken neck  all at the age of 58.

We met up with Nick at the Land Rover Burghley Horse trials to chat about his career, its ups and downs and having competed in every Olympics since Seoul 1988.

Congratulations on winning your second Olympic gold medal. Thank you for taking the time to meet with Yahoo Sport today. Firstly, how did Rio Compare to London?

Well, completely different really. London was amazing, I thought the organisation was the best Olympic games I have been to and still stands out and of course winning my first gold in the team show jumping. Rio was completely different, winning as an individual medal, so two different feelings.

And how did Big Star cope with the travelling?

He coped fine, Big Star and these horses are used to long distance travelling. Its actually easier on them to fly long distances than it is for them to be driven down in a horsebox to Rome for instance.

So he arrived in Rio and came back very well and fresh.



Have you been offered big money for him that you turned down?

Yes I have.

It was about 15m euros. It was a lot of money to turn down, believe me but I wanted him for Rio.

Gold medalist Nick Skelton, of Britain, poses for photos during a medal ceremony for the equestrian individual jumping competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Which Olympic medal means the most to you?

To win my first Gold medal was fantastic, a very special and great feeling but being a team victory with three others you only get 25 per cent of the glory. To win an individual is outstanding, its yours and you have done it yourself, it feels very special indeed.

What advice have you got for youngsters to get into show jumping?



I think a lot of people dont realise how big a sport show jumping is and how high profile it is. We have so many shows now, at home and abroad to compete in with big prize money too, the global tour finals tour with 1million to the winner.

Story continues

What is it that draws you to show jumping more than any other equine discipline?

I think it is because I have ridden all my life, I was going down the national hunt racing route but found I was beginning to find more success in show jumping. So really I stuck with what I was best at. I was frightened not to stick with that in case It didnt work out as well. I think I have done the right thing.

Both my sons are in national hunt racing, one a leading trainer and the youngest a successful jockey. So its great that all my family are in the equine business.

You are clearly a very determined person, how hard was it for you to get back in the saddle after your many, very painful injuries?

It wasnt too difficult. It obviously took me a long time to heal but this is what I do. What I know and love. You have to persevere and when the right horses come along its easier to find determination and not give up.

2016 Rio Olympics - Equestrian - Victory Ceremony - Jumping Individual Victory Ceremony - Olympic Equestrian Centre - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 19/08/2016. Silver medalist Peder Fredricson (SWE) of Sweden, gold medalist Nick Skelton (GBR) of Britain and bronze medalist Eric Lamaze (CAN) of Canada pose in front of the Olympic rings. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

And were your family supportive or did they show any doubts and fears?

No not really, when I broke my neck my sons knew their Dad would be back on a horse as soon as possible. It took me a couple of years but eventually I did.

Do you think you will be still riding after you retire?

Oh yeah, I have ridden since being back and will definitely still be riding Big Star - he is in the prime of his life being only 13, mentally probably about ten! So as long as he stays in one piece we will keep going.

How about Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

No I have ruled that out. Big Star will be 17 then and I think that is too old and I will be definitely too old! I havent planned for much ahead. I know we will be off to Barcelona in September for the CSIO Nations Cup.

Who do you consider to be the greatest show jumper and horse ever?

Thats a very difficult question as there have been so many combinations. John Whittaker and Milton David Broome and Mr Softee, there have been so many really that it is hard to compare.

Finally, do you have any gossip from Rio?

It was very quiet actually, traffic was dreadful, no point in having a fast Land Rover there I tell you! Food was terrible, good for the weight loss mind you!
From Esquire

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA-Chet McBeath is a white heroin dealer out on probation in here, trying to sort out what to do with the rest of his young life. I met him at Elizabeth Billiards on Sunday night. He sat and watched as a police helicopter circled downtown, shining a blue beam of light on protesters below.

"When it comes to law enforcement, Charlotte-well, Mecklenburg County, all of it-is still a racist community," McBeath said.

The 23-year-old got two years of probation for his crime-peddling a felonious amount of heroin. A black man he was locked up with got six years, he said. Same crime, different time.

I spent most of Sunday searching for the soul of Charlotte-an authentic dive, a neighborhood hangout, somewhere (or someone) with a story. After many hours, McBeath was the closest thing I could find.

I asked him to describe Charlotte to me-what it means.

"It just doesn't have that" He paused, his thought coming to an end. "Just doesn't have it. You know what I mean?"

Photo credit: Getty

Following the release of videos showing the police shooting death of Keith Scott, the city is now in recovery mode. Perhaps because they didn't show a gangland execution the way many had figured Scott's death to be, or perhaps because people were worn out after six nights of taking to the streets, protests on Saturday and Sunday night were smaller than earlier this week, when looting, violence, and a street execution carried out by a citizen took place.

"The video doesn't really show much of anything," McBeath said, a mantra repeated by men and women of all races across the city this past weekend.

For some in the black and activist communities here, there is no amount of video that could be released to show police were justified in killing Scott. For some, there is no amount of evidence that would convince anyone that Scott had a gun, as police say, and refused to drop it.

"How long have they had to edit the tape?" a 26-year-old woman, who told me her name was Justice, said Saturday night. "How do we know that what we're seeing is the truth?"

Story continues

"How do we know that what we're seeing is the truth?"

Charlotte is simply another repetition of an increasingly well-known pattern. Someone is killed by police, residents are outraged, theories run rampant-Scott was holding a book, not a gun, an assertion that is as factually questionable as his alleged handling of a gun-police refuse to speak about the shooting, and when they do, the video released largely backs up their version of events. Then the streets begin to clear and the preachers come in, promising a god who will bring justice to all in another world, though sometimes it escapes us here. And the angry throngs who busted out windows in a rage a few nights before are nowhere to be found, and a family, perhaps for the first time in the wake of these American tragedies, gets a chance to grieve.

"If the justice system gets it wrong, God will get it right," preacher Dimas Salaberrios said on a street corner here Saturday night.

Still: It is impossible to tell from the videos whether or not Scott was holding a gun during his fatal encounter with police. All we are left with is a body and endless speculation.

Photo credit: Getty

"They need to release all of the tapes," Justice said. Maybe then, the thinking goes, justice might be served.

Justin Carr, allegedly killed on Wednesday night by Rayquan Borum in the midst of protests over Scott's death, was himself the victim of police brutality, a woman argued on Saturday night. "Police dressed up as civilians and killed him," she claimed. As late as Monday morning, CNN hosted a black activist from Charlotte who presented the idea that, because guns and drugs have been planted on black bodies in the past, it is entirely possible that that is what happened Scott.

McBeath doesn't have any such theories on Carr. He doesn't have any theories about Scott, either. He doesn't know. No one knows.

"I might stick around here," he said over a bummed Camel Light on Sunday night. "Once my probation's up, I might stay, I don't know, in the hopes that if something happens here, I might be a part of it."

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="There's%20Blood%20on%20the%20Charlotte%20Sidewalk" customimages="" content="article.48851"]

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Kirtland Air Force Base (United States) (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday the Pentagon has no plans to pursue a "no-first-use" nuclear weapons policy.

His remarks at a nuclear research facility in New Mexico follow media reports saying President Barack Obama was weighing an overhaul of longstanding US nuclear policy, including by pledging to never conduct the first strike in a nuclear conflict.

"It has been the policy of the United States for a long time to extend its nuclear umbrella to friends and allies, and thereby to contribute to the deterrence of conflict and the deterrence of war," Carter said.

Though some nations including China have declared "no-first-use" policies, America and NATO allies insist that retaining the right to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike is a vital tactical option.

The ability to strike first "has been our policy for a long time, and is part of our plans going forward," Carter said.

America's nuclear policy has been the subject of increased public discussion following a number of contentious comments by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, including that he wouldn't rule out the use of nuclear weapons.

The issue came up again during Monday's debate between Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"I would certainly not do first strike," Trump said, adding: "We have to be prepared. I can't take anything off the table."

On Tuesday, two Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation that would bar the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war from Congress.

"Nuclear war poses the gravest risk to human survival. Unfortunately, by maintaining the option of using nuclear weapons first in a conflict, US policy increases the risk of unintended nuclear escalation," said Senator Edward Markey, who co-sponsored the bill with Congressman Ted Lieu.

"The president should not use nuclear weapons except in response to a nuclear attack."
Those looking for certain decorations from Wind Point resident Nick Comandes now-retired Halloween display, Hollows Way, will need to head over to Mount Pleasant instead. Comande passed down the torch  and some of his decor  to his first cousin twice removed, Brayden LoPiccolo, after last years holiday was Hollows Ways 50th and final year.
Cartagena (Colombia) (AFP) - Colombia's peace accord with FARC rebels is the "best possible" deal to end a half-century of war and cannot be rehashed if voters reject it, the government's chief negotiator warns.

Deadlock will return if the deal fails to be ratified in a referendum on October 2, Humberto de la Calle told AFP on the sidelines of Monday's historic ceremony.

"Voting 'No' and thinking that we can correct whatever we want (in the accord) is an illusion. This is the best accord possible," he said in an interview before the event in the Caribbean city of Cartagena.

"The peace process is over. I do not share the view that we can start negotiating again if the 'No' vote wins," he said.

"This is our opportunity. History shows that after a rupture, the sides return to their initial, more radical positions."

- History of violence -

De la Calle, 70, led the government delegation at four years of peace talks in Havana with negotiators from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The process led to a peace accord that was agreed last month and signed on Monday by President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez.

The FARC's 7,000 fighters must now come out of their jungle camps and disarm. The force will transform into a political group.

The repeated flights between the Cuban capital and Colombia left De la Calle with a hearing problem. He says he stuck through it thinking "permanently" of a peaceful future for his grandchildren.

"My earliest memories are of being surrounded by violence," he said, recalling the long decades of civil strife in the South American country that erupted into civil war in 1964.

Colombian authorities estimate the territorial and ideological conflict has killed 260,000 people, left 45,000 missing and uprooted 6.9 million.

"My generation has seen years wasted. It is not mere rhetoric to say that we want a better country for the children."

Story continues

- Understanding Colombia -

Two opinion surveys by pollsters Datexco and Ipsos Napoleon Franco, published on Monday, indicated the 'Yes" vote will win in Sunday's referendum by a strong margin of around 20 percent.

The 'No' vote in each case was about 35 percent.

Many Colombians resent making concessions to a group they see as terrorists, that has carried out countless kidnappings and attacks.

De la Calle bore the weight of those feelings during the negotiations.

"In the evenings I exercised in front of the mirror. I slapped myself in the face and said: 'Don't forget what this is about and who you are talking to," he said.

"I hold completely different ideas to theirs and we will continue to be adversaries in political life," he said of the FARC.

But in the negotiations, he said, "I managed to understand the FARC better, and I understood Colombia better too."

- Justice for all -

He judges that the peace accord offers a "balanced" answer to the question of justice for atrocities committed during the conflict.

A special independent court will be set up to try suspects from all sides in the conflict and will sentence convicts to jail.

Over the decades the conflict drew in various left- and right-wing armed groups and drug gangs as well as state forces.

Those who reject the court will get up to 20 years in jail if convicted, de la Calle said. Those who confess their crimes and compensate victims will get "alternative sentences."

The court will rule on whether convicts can then hold political office. "Our wish is for the greatest political involvement possible by the FARC," the negotiator said.

"Peace does not come about by a miracle. We all have to make an effort -- a material one, but also a spiritual one, to change our attitude," he said.

"What comes next is a bigger challenge."
From ELLE DECOR

If you've ever walked into a West Elm store and began strategizing how to live in an endless oasis of lush textiles, fluffy pillows and pretty decor items, you're not alone. Home stores tend to have that effect on us all.

Now, however, you can actually live in West Elm. At least, temporarily.

The store, which is a Williams-Sonoma, Inc. brand, just announced it will be expanding its portfolio into the travel realm with the launch of West Elm HOTELS. The first properties are slated to open in Detroit, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Savanna, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina and Indianapolis, Indiana, according to a company press release. Lucky cities.

You can expect to see the first hotel open in 2018, with each property offering 100 to 250 rooms, and rates ranging from $175 per night to $400 (for luxury suites), reports The Wall Street Journal.

The hotels may all showcase the West Elm aesthetic, but they'll also incorporate regional influences. According to the company, each property will have its own point of view, from the exterior architecture to the decor. Think: customized furnishings and locally crafted art.

How bespoke.

Photo credit: Courtesy of West Elm

The boutique trend is nothing new. As more travelers seek tailor-made trips, more hotels are turning toward unique, one-size-does-not-fit-all lodging. Even the poster children brands of chain hotels are jumping on board - Mariott launched its Moxy brand (a boutique hotel brand that targets millennials) in the United States this year, and Hilton now has its own modern boutique brand called Canopy.

And, of course, Airbnb has emphasized just how important "experience" is during a trip.

But why is West Elm doing it, too? Apparently business is doing well, but the brand doesn't want to chase further success by opening more retail stores.

"Many retail brands have put the nail in their coffins is by opening too many stores," West Elm president Jim Brett told The Wall Street Journal.

Story continues

Raise your hand if you're now planning a trip to Detroit or Minneapolis (yea, we're raising our hands).

Photo credit: Courtesy of West Elm

h/t: Huffington Post

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President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden blasted Donald Trumps performance at Mondays presidential debate while urging Americans to register in time to vote for Hillary Clinton.

At a rally for Clinton at Drexel University in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning, Biden ripped the Republican nominee over his assertion that the U.S. housing market collapse was good for his real estate business.

What in the hell is he talking about? the vice president said. Can you imagine Ronald Reagan, the most conservative president weve had come along  can you imagine him saying, Its good business to take advantage of peoples misery? Rooting for that misery?

I really mean this. Im not joking, Im not kidding, a fiery Biden continued. What does it say about this man?

The vice president said he was equally angered by the revelation that Trump, who has repeatedly refused to release his tax returns, may have not paid income taxes.

It angers me, Biden said. Tell that to the janitor here whos paying taxes.

Biden mocked Trump for complaining about the supposedly rigged political system while also boasting about exploiting bankruptcy laws for his businesses.

He brags about gaming the system and bankruptcy, and leaving hardworking people holding the bag, Biden said. How many people has he stiffed? He didnt say I didnt stiff anybody. He said, Maybe they didnt do what I wanted.

Imagine your mom and dad declared bankruptcy and tried to get a loan in the next five, 10, 15 years, Biden said. Thats the rigged system. He is part of the rigged system.

In a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, Obama was more measured in his assessment of Mondays debate.

[It was a] pretty vigorous debate about where we need to take our country, Obama said, adding that he is admittedly biased in his support for Clinton, his former secretary of state.

Story continues

The president said Trumps performance proved he doesnt have the preparation, the temperament or the core values of inclusion and making everybody have opportunity that would take our country forward.

Clinton, on the other hand, was well prepared.

Shes got the right temperament for the job, Obama said. Shes well-respected around the world, shes serious, she does her homework.

Both Obama and Bidens comments came on National Voter Registration Day, an effort to get unregistered voters signed up in time to participate in the Nov. 8 election.

You should do your own homework, Obama said. But dont sit out on this thing.  You cant complain, you cant sit home and gripe, if youre sitting on the sidelines.

Biden urged students to think of the damage Trump is already doing to Americas standing in the world.

He knows nothing about national security and foreign policy, the vice president said. He doesnt represent our basic fundamental values.

Biden acknowledged the justified anger of some of Trumps supporters, but also criticized a seemingly uninspired electorate.

What bothers me about this race is how palpable his cynicism is about the American people, Biden said.

Mondays debate, though, laid bare the differences between the two candidates, he said.

If this choice isnt clear, Biden said, I dont know. Oh my Lord.
Washington (AFP) - The United States has tapped Jeffrey DeLaurentis, America's top diplomat in Havana, to become the first official ambassador to Cuba in five decades.

"The appointment of an ambassador is a commonsense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced a thaw in relations in December 2014. The two countries restored full diplomatic relations in July 2015.

Since then, Washington and Havana have taken once-unthinkable steps to mend ties after more than half a century of enmity.

Obama has visited Cuba and relaxed portions of the US embargo imposed since 1962.

Flights have resumed and cruise ships can now sail from Miami to Havana.

US companies like Airbnb and Netflix now operate in Cuba and hotel group Starwood, acquired last week by Marriott International, opened a Sheraton in Havana last June.

DeLaurentis is already in Havana and previously worked in Bogota and at the United Nations.

But his nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, is likely to face stiff opposition in Congress, where Cuban-American lawmakers have sought to garner local support by opposing Obama's policies.

Any senator could place an anonymous hold on the nomination. Several Republican lawmakers have opposed Democrat Obama's outreach to the Communist regime led by Castro.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American presidential contender in the Republican primary race who ultimately lost to Donald Trump, blasted Obama's nomination.

"A US ambassador is not going to influence the Cuban government, which is a dictatorial and closed regime," Rubio said in a statement.

"This nomination should go nowhere until the Castro regime makes significant and irreversible progress in the areas of human rights and political freedom for the Cuban people."

Accusing the Obama administration of failing to confront Cuba over its repressive policies, Rubio said the US embassy in Havana's Twitter account "seems more like a travel agency than an advocate for American values and interests."
MANILA (Reuters) - OceanaGold Corp, the top gold producer in the Philippines, has not violated environmental regulations in the Southeast Asian country, its chief executive said on Tuesday. "There have been no environmental violations by OceanaGold," Mick Wilkes said in response to a Reuters email. Wilkes said the company will issue a statement in the next few hours. OceanaGold was among the 20 mineral producers ordered to be suspended by the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier on Tuesday for environmental lapses. OceanaGold shares dropped 8.2 percent on the news, after which trading was halted at the company's request, pending an announcement. (Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
From Delish

UPDATE: September 26, 2016 at 4:39 p.m.

The automatic pizza vending machine of your dreams-which first came to life earlier this summer at Ohio University-may soon become prominent across the country. Thanks to one company in Florida, the 'za "ATM" is about to become ubiquitous across the Sunshine state.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Orlando-based Pizza Touch plans to roll out more than 100 machines in Central Florida alone. The automated pizza maker can churn out personal-size pies in two minutes, accept cash and all credit and debit cards (they are $6 a pop), and offer three types of pizzas: cheese, Margherita, and mushroom-pepper. The target locations for Pizza Touch machines are college campuses, hospitals, hotels, malls, but the brand is also accepting applications from businesses that would like to host one. And after its popularity at the recent "International Pizza Expo," industry professionals expect to see this trend rise exponentially. Only time will tell, though.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: August 5, 2016 at 1:47 p.m.

CINCINNATI (AP) - Customers will soon be able to get pizza from an ATM at one Ohio University.

Xavier University in Cincinnati has partnered with a French company to install the first Pizza ATM in North America.

The company, Paline, says the machine will hold 70 pizzas at once. Customers will be able to use a touch screen to pick one of the $10 pizzas, which will be heated for several minutes, placed in a cardboard box and ejected through a slot.

Paline says the pizza dispensers have been in Europe for 14 years. They're typically in small towns, at gas stations or pizzerias.

Xavier's marketing director for auxiliary services, Jennifer Paiotti, tells WCPO-TV that she's a New Yorker but considers the machine-dispensed pizza to be the best she's ever had.

Follow Delish on Instagram.

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Algiers (AFP) - Iran on Tuesday ruled out an imminent agreement with other major oil producers to freeze output as regional rivalry with Saudi Arabia hindered efforts to reverse a price slump.

The new signs of discord sent oil prices sliding again on world markets in the face of a global supply glut that has left a gaping hole in the finances of oil-exporting nations.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November ended down $1.26 at $44.67 a barrel in New York trading on Tuesday.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for November shed $1.38 to $45.97 a barrel.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia has so far refused to curb its output at a time when Iran is ramping up production following the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Tuesday on the eve of an informal OPEC meeting in Algeria that the Islamic republic was not yet ready to join a mooted production freeze.

"It's not in our agenda to reach an agreement in two days. We need time for more consultation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers.

Zanganeh said Iran wanted to increase its daily output to pre-sanctions levels of four million barrels, from the current estimated level of up to 3.8 million.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Middle East's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers, are at odds over an array of issues including the wars in Syria and Yemen.

But there were some tentative signs of a narrowing of differences in Algiers, where major non-OPEC producer Russia will also join the talks on Wednesday.

Zanganeh signalled that an agreement to stabilise oil prices could be struck at a November 30 meeting in Vienna of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

And Saudi Oil Minister Khaled al-Faleh said he was optimistic that ministers would find some common ground on Wednesday.

"I remain optimistic on the basis of market fundamentals that are moving in the right direction and also on the producers coming to a common view," he said.

Story continues

OPEC secretary-general Mohammed Barkindo, of Nigeria, suggested the remarks from Iran and other producers were "all part of the consultations".

- 'We need money' -

Oil prices have more than halved since mid-2014 as a US shale oil boom prompted a fierce fight with OPEC for market share.

A previous bid to freeze output fell apart in Doha in April as Iran refused to take part, saying it needed to return output to pre-sanctions levels.

But Faleh said Tuesday that "the opinions of OPEC and non-OPEC states are beginning to converge".

"We will line up with the general opinion of the producers," he added.

Further complicating the negotiations, Libya and Nigeria are also reluctant to limit production after conflicts that have curbed their output.

Recession-plagued Nigeria, whose oil pipelines and installations have been repeatedly attacked by militants, said Tuesday that it wanted to be excluded from any production freeze.

"We need money," Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said.

Prices plunged from peaks of more than $100 a barrel in mid-2014 to near 13-year lows below $30 in January, before recovering some of the losses.

News last week that Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar had met in Vienna to discuss a Saudi offer to cut production provided Iran freezes its output had provided a boost to prices.

But that was before prices took another tumble on Tuesday on fading prospects of an agreement.

"Any hopes for a crude output freeze being agreed in Algiers this week have been dashed today after Saudi Arabia joined Iran in saying any talks on curbing output will be consultative," ETX Capital analyst Neil Wilson said.

Failure to agree on a production freeze could push prices even lower, Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Boutarfa warned on Sunday.

"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.

Venezuela's Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino said they were working on "several alternatives".

"Give us time to work on that consensus," he said.
Oil's falling as expectations for any sort of OPEC deal are beginning to sputter after comments made by Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Prices for Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, are down by 3.5% at $46.26 per barrel as of 12:36 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, prices for West Texas Intermediate crude are down by 3.6% at $44.30.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters, "This is a consultative meeting ... We will consult with everyone else, we will hear the views, we will hear the secretariat of OPEC and also hear from consumers."

And Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said: "It is not the time for decision-making. ... We will try to reach agreement for November," referring to OPEC's upcoming formal meeting in Vienna.

Moreover, Zanganeh told Bloomberg TV that, "Its not our agenda to reach agreement in these two days. ... We are here for the IEF and to have a consultative informal meeting in OPEC to exchange views. Not more."

Screen Shot 2016 09 27 at 11.01.44 AM

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More From Business Insider


Donald Trump claimed at Mondays presidential debate that he never said global warming is a hoax started by China. But he did.

Back in 2012, Trump tweeted that, The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

During the presidential debate at Hofstra University, Hillary Clinton accused Trump of thinking climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. Trump denied it.

Also Read: Mark Cuban Admits He Lied About Front-Row Debate Seat to Rile Donald Trump

Donald thinks climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Clinton said. I think its real.

Trump responded, I did not. I did not. I do not say that.

Here is the tweet proving he is wrong.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

Trump also said something else that was obviously untrue at Mondays debate, the first of three with Clinton. He claimed that she has fought ISIS for her entire adult life.

Clinton turned 18 in 1965. The organization that eventually named itself ISIS rose after the Iraq war  which began in 2003. (One fine source: PBSs Frontlines film The Rise of Isis, which you can watch here.) ISISs Wikipedia entry dates the group that preceded ISIS to 1999.

Even if ISIS originated in 1999, Clinton, clearly, enjoyed 24 years of adulthood before the group even existed for her to fight.

The debate was moderated by NBCs Lester Holt.

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Good Luck Against Tonight's Presidential Debate, Rest of TV!

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From Esquire

If there's one silver lining to our current political era-no matter the outcome of the election in a few weeks-it's that we're about to experience an onslaught of artistic efforts to make sense of it all. The real world's influence over culture is unmistakable, with artistic mediums reacting to our national (and international) events with varied severity and immediacy. While some art forms work quickly to respond to current events (music and comedy, for example), the political influence on mainstream culture is typically a slow one-it may be years, for instance, before we see a shift in film, television, and theater occur based on where we stand today.

Enter playwright Richard Nelson, who has attempted a rapid-response form of theater that both brings the audience in close contact with the actors on the stage and weaves our own real-life world into the semi-fictional universe that his characters inhabit within his plays.

In the Apple Family plays, a four-play cycle that ran at the Public Theater from 2010 to 2013, Nelson examined a middle-class family in Rhinebeck, New York, a village located about two hours north of Manhattan where his plays were performed. Each was set on the night it opened, which was also a notable date in recent history-the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 or the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, for example. Each was Chekhovian in nature, examining the seemingly mundane lives of these adult family members as they grappled with life's expected, if still dreaded, complications. But additionally, the plays placed American culture at large into a personal context by allowing an audience to watch a family look outward at the world surrounding them.

Nelson has followed up his acclaimed play cycle with a new trilogy that serves as a spiritual sequel of sorts. The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, also set in Rhinebeck, follows the titular family in our present time, gathering for meals in their kitchen and processing the changing, chaotic world around them. The first in the trilogy, Hungry, which premiered at the Public in March, introduced us to the extended Gabriel family, mourning the recent loss of brother Thomas. The talk at the table, centered mostly on their collective grief, continually weaves around the primary season (back when Trump had competition in the Republican race, and Bernie Sanders was a viable candidate).

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The second in the series, What Did You Expect? (which opened-and was set-on September 16), brings these characters back again to discuss their collective money problems (the elderly Patricia has wrung up quite an amount of debt, having been swindled into making poor investments). The mood is quietly tense, as if the group is uneasily waiting for their personal world to devolve into turmoil. Nelson will reveal their fate when the final play, Women of a Certain Age, opens on Election Night.

Richard Nelson spoke with Esquire about writing about our current time on stage, avoiding copy-and-pasting his own political opinions into his characters' speeches, and the way in which his particular art form can best mirror our own hectic world.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus

ESQ: What drives you to focus on one family throughout the course of several different plays, with a focus on our current time?

Nelson: I've always wanted to examine our society through my plays and not isolate my characters from it. I think everything is entwined, and that has always interested me. In the 1990s, with the complete collapse, really, of ideology and the notion of ideology, it was hard to figure out how to show the different dynamics and relationships that exist within society. I felt that the simplest of solutions is the family. I'm not the first person to come up with that idea. You'll find that the family unit reflects the complexity of society. When you're dealing with the family, you can examine relationships that are very complicated with a lot under the surface. The family became something that had a rich quality and reflected society in a bigger way.

In terms of the time idea-every writer's hope is that when the reader picks up his book or walks in to see his play, they have something in common with what they will read or see. They have some stake in it. What's happening to the characters in the play is what's happening to the audience at the same time. That was the beginning of this conversation between the play and the audience.

What's happening to the characters in the play is what's happening to the audience at the same time.

How do you craft these characters as individuals and as a unit? How do you build the world they live in-which is also our world?

When I began the Apple plays, I had no actors in mind. I started to know who the actors were, and I'm sure there is something that comes up in the plays. I do take things from the actors when I know who is going to play them. I had done three drafts of these plays before I knew who was going to be in them. But there's a long process-we do readings, there's a rehearsal process. I ask my actors to constantly hold the play's feet to the fire. If there's something that doesn't feel true or real or understandable, then to argue that case. I have six characters in the play, and often six actors on stage at any given time. That's six points of view. I can't keep all those points of view in my head.

I'm sure you have your own opinions as a citizen of the world and of this country, but you can't necessarily give every character the same perspective. How do you process current events, write them down, and then have them performed authentically?

That's a really terrific question and one of the most interesting things of this whole process. There is Richard Nelson's view of the election, and they're not necessarily any of the Gabriels' view of the election. During previews for Hungry, I wrote a speech for one of the characters and realized it wasn't the character talking-it was me talking. So I threw it out. I'm constantly asking myself how they see the world, because I'm trying to tell their story-not my story. It's just as difficult for the actors, too, because their views aren't necessarily what the characters would think.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Because this cycle takes place over a shorter amount of time than the Apple Family plays, and because our political climate feels much more fraught, do the stakes feel higher for you?

It's certainly been tricky on this journey. The subtitle of this project is "Election Year in the Life of One Family." It's not "Election in the Life of One Family." I've always known it would be a story of this family, I sorted out what that story was, and then I looked at that story through their eyes. No matter what happened-if another candidate had received the nomination, that, too, would be the thread that weaves through these characters' lives. I would have that same challenge whether it were Trump and Hillary or it were Jeb Bush and Joe Biden. In the construction of the play, I made a choice of having five women out of a six-character play, because it was a fair assumption that Hillary or another female candidate would have a strong presence in this election. That's a risk I had to take.

Speaking of risks, were there any events that threw you for a loop and forced you to reexamine your writing?

Well, I think the line I'm walking is that, of course, 99 percent of the people who are coming to see a play at the Public Theater are going to vote for one candidate. And most of them are extremely upset about the other candidate-maybe even scared and anxious. I know I have an audience that feels a certain way. That audience could easily be satisfied by the characters saying certain things with which they agree. But I never wanted to write a play for an audience they might agree with-I'm trying to have a conversation about people and their values, our country and where our country is. I hope I can continue to have that even when the audience is very anxious.

I never wanted to write a play for an audience they might agree with.

It does feel like you're engaging with the audience rather than telling them what they want to hear, to the extent that some of the ways your characters describe New Yorkers and wealthy liberals might be a little alienating.

You have to look past at what people are to get deeper, to see what they're hiding and what they don't want to show-to see how they walk and talk and do the most mundane things. That's the essence of the plays: my mind's value of human beings and their complexities, and to remind us all of that in a time when the world wants to tell us that it's black and white.

Do you worry about the shelf life of these plays?

That's certainly something I've thought about, but I wouldn't say that I'm worried about it. When I wrote the Apple plays I considered them to be disposable-it was so specific to time and place and references. But people didn't feel that way-someone approached me about bringing them to Berlin, and I said, "You're crazy!" The first line in the very first play is, "Fuck you, Andrew Cuomo." No one is going to know who the hell that is. And yet, we had a wildly successful European tour. What I learned is a lesson that many writers learn much younger than me: The more specific you are, the more universal it can become.

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From House Beautiful

Myra Donnelly-Gay decided to use Airbnb for the first time to book an apartment in San Francisco - but the price for this choice was an expensive one. "I got a reply back from the host and she said that this apartment was unavailable and was going under renovations at the time," Donnelly-Gay told CBC News. But the host said another apartment was available instead.

Since the link the host shared looked just like Airbnb's website (it had the logo and everything!), Donnelly-Gay proceeded and filled in the dates she wanted to rent the apartment for apartment. Then, the host sent instructions to pay with an e-transfer to a bank in Ecuador. Although this should have been a red flag, Donnelly-Gay asked her friends about this odd request, and they said it's not uncommon for rentals to expect money upfront and explained the apartment might be owned by someone in another country - so she proceeded.

Halifax woman using Airbnb loses $3,700 through unauthorized link, warns others to avoid scammers https://t.co/s43JBzYbqX pic.twitter.com/2ynbZrd0iL - CBC News (@CBCNews) September 26, 2016

Donnelly-Gay sent the $3,700 fee to the bank and received a confirmation afterwards. "It was exactly the same. It was the same website, apparently the same logo, with all the same details on it. The same look. Even at the bottom - all of the same features on it, and when you went into the logo, it took you to the real Airbnb site. So there was no way that I could figure [it] out. I'm not a professional, but it was well, well done," she says.

It wasn't until Donnelly-Gay received an email from the real Airbnb that she realized she'd been scammed. The email alerted her to stop communicating with the fake host and reminded her to only use the Airbnb platform for bookings. "The only way scams can happen, no matter how real or fake the emails look, is if they convince you to talk to them off of the platform," Airbnb spokesman Nick Shapiro told CBC News.

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However, Donnell-Gay had no idea she could only work through Airbnb, and said there should be more of a warning on Airbnb's website. But Shapiro said there are plenty of alerts warning you to stay on Airbnb for your bookings. "As soon as you click on that listing, you see messages telling you to stay on the site, so whether you visit the site 20 times or the first time, if you ever want to communicate with a host or request to book, you get warnings and [pop-ups] because it is important. As long as people stay on the site, they can't get scammed."

The scammer has since been blocked from the website and even though Donnelly-Gay doesn't expect to get her money back, she wanted to tell her story so other people are aware of this danger. So remember, no matter what you don't, don't ever leave Airbnb when communicating with or paying a potential host.

[h/t CBC News]

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By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Opponents of a bill that would allow lawsuits against Saudi Arabia's government over the Sept. 11 attacks kept up their fight against the measure on Tuesday, a day before the U.S. Senate is expected to oppose President Barack Obama's veto, allowing the bill to become law. Opponents circulated a letter from Ash Carter, Obama's Secretary of Defense, saying that the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act," known as JASTA, posed risks for U.S. forces abroad. "While we are sympathetic to the intent of JASTA, its potential second- and third-order consequences could be devastating to the Department and its Service members and could undermine our important counterterrorism efforts abroad," Carter wrote to Representative Mac Thornberry. As Reuters reported on Friday, Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has circulated a letter to his fellow House of Representatives Republicans saying that he will vote to sustain Obama's veto and urging them to do the same. Obama vetoed the legislation on Friday. If Congress gets enough votes to override the veto for the first time since Obama became president in 2009 the bill would become law. It takes two-thirds majorities in both the Senate and House to override a veto. The legislation passed the Senate and House without opposition, in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Riyadh, that the hijackers of the four U.S. jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. While a few lawmakers have expressed concerns about the implications of the bill, it still has strong support, among both Republicans and Obama's fellow Democrats. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, told reporters on Tuesday she would vote to override. She said the vote was about giving a day in court to survivors and relatives of victims of the 2001 attacks, not a rebuke of Obama. "It isn't anti-president," she said. (Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Kyrgyzstan has selected Atanym Kereezi (A Father's Will) by first-time feature directors Bakyt Mukul and Dastan Zhapar Uulu as the country's submission in the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards.

Produced by Kyrgyzfilm and Elfilm, A Father's Will is centered on Azat, a man who returns to Kyrgyzstan after living in the United States for 15 years to implement his recently deceased father's will.

Visiting his home village and repaying his father's debts, Azat rediscovers his homeland.

Earlier this month, the movie won Golden Zenith for the Best First Fiction Feature film at the Montreal World Film Festival.

A Father's Will has also been selected for next month's Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles.

A film from Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian former Soviet republic, has never been shortlisted or won an Oscar in the best foreign-language film category.

Read more: Disney, Sony to Release Foreign-Language Oscar Contender 'Paradise' in Russia
On Monday, a committee of nine leaders in Italian cinema voted to submit Gianfranco Rosi's Berlin Golden Bear winning documentary Fire at Sea as the country's submission for best foreign-language film.

Paolo Sorrentino, who won the Oscar in 2014 for his film The Great Beauty, was on the panel alongside Nicholas Borrelli, director general, Ministry of Cinema Heritage and Culture; producers Tilde Corsi and Roberto Sessa; distributors Francesco Melzi D'Eril and Osvaldo De Santis; journalists Piera Detassis and Enrico Magrelli; and journalist and writer Sandro Veronesi.

The panel voted five in favor of Fire at Sea, and four in favor of Edoardo de Angelis' touching story Indivisible, about conjoined twins in the south of Italy, which played to great reviews in Venice and Toronto.

"Fire at Sea is a beautiful movie, but it should have submitted to the Academy in the documentary section," Sorrentino told newspaper Repubblica, noting that Italy has now missed out having two chances at Academy nominations across two categories.

"This choice is an unnecessary masochistic weakening of Italian cinema that this year could have participated in the Oscars with two films," continued Sorrentino. "A fictional one that for me would have had many chances was Indivisible by Edoardo De Angelis. And the other is Fire at Sea that could compete and win in the documentary category."

For Fire at Sea, Rosi lived for a year on the island of Lampedusa, the first point of entry for vessels arriving from Libya, to document the migrant crisis. The film follows the crisis through the eyes of a young boy in a fisherman's family, a radio DJ who gives news updates between songs, and a local doctor who treats new arrivals.

Meryl Streep, as president of the Berlin jury, said the film is "deliberate storytelling that allows us to consider what documentary can do. It is urgent, imaginative and necessary filmmaking."

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At the time, Streep also told the film's producer, Donatella Palermo, "This film can win the Oscar. I'll do anything for it to be brought to the U.S."

"I am very happy and excited for this nominated," Rosi told Repubblica by phone. "The result goes beyond the film, which in these eight months has gone around the world and now belongs to everyone."

Fire at Sea has been sold in more than 70 countries, has played Toronto and Telluride, with New York Film Festival next, and will be released by Kino Lorber in the U.S. on Oct. 21.

Fire at Sea will not be the only documentary competing for a best foreign-language nomination this year. Ukraine also submitted Roman Bondarchuk's Ukrainian Sheriffs as its hopeful.

Read more: Oscars: Italy Selects 'Fire at Sea' for Foreign-Language Category
By Hilary Russ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York State officials on Tuesday chose developers for a $1.6 billion project to renovate a century-old historic post office, part of a broader plan to modernize Pennsylvania Station, the outdated labyrinthine train hub in the heart of New York City.

The preferred bidder, a team comprised of Skanska AB, Related Companies and Vornado Realty LP, has agreed to a fixed price and schedule, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a luncheon for the business group Association for a Better New York.

The plan to renovate the James A. Farley Post Office, across Eighth Avenue from New York's Penn Station on the west side of mid-town Manhattan, was first proposed 20 years ago but stalled in the intervening years.

Cuomo hopes to re-launch the project as part of a broader regional $100 billion transportation overhaul.

Calling plans for the new train station magnificent, Cuomo said: "It gives you a sense of openness, as opposed to claustrophobia and suffocation that you now have."

Separately on Tuesday, regional transport officials said they had been meeting with the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure funding for Amtrak's $24 billion Gateway Project in the next federal budget.

That project would double passenger trains under the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey and rebuild bridges and other facilities.

The "very substantial" discussions have been about railroad rehabilitation loans and Federal Transit Administration grants, John Porcari, interim director of the Gateway Development Corporation, told Reuters after another event.

Though Gateway is a distinct project, it would tie into the Farley building and its new Moynihan Train Hall.

Once completed, the hall would be larger than New York's famed Grand Central Station. The original steel trusses from the early 1900s would be refurbished, along with a skylight that would stretch for an acre, Cuomo said.

Also planned are retail and office space and advanced security measures, including facial recognition technology.

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Both the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Amtrak halls would be moved there.

Under a separate contract not yet awarded, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would then redesign the maze of tunnels that make up the LIRR concourse in Penn Station. The MTA on Tuesday was to send out a request for proposals.

The new, $170 million revamped concourse would be wider and higher, complete with video screen-lined ceilings displaying images of a blue sky with white clouds, Cuomo said.

(Reporting by Hilary Russ; Editing by Daniel Bases and Andrew Hay)
By Asad Hashim ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's lower house of parliament has passed a landmark bill giving its small Hindu minority the right to register marriages, the last major hurdle on the way to enacting a law aimed at protecting women's rights. Activists say that Hindu women have been disproportionately targeted for abduction, forced conversions and rape because their marriages were never officially recognized and therefore not provable in court. The National Assembly passed the bill on Monday after 10 months of deliberation. The Senate is expected to pass the law without any significant delay. Hindus make up approximately 1.6 percent of Pakistan's Moslem-majority 190 million population, but have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence from Britain in 1947. Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages. The new bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women. Breaking the law regarding the minimum age would result in six months' jail and a 5,000-rupee ($47) fine. UNICEF estimates 21 percent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were first married before age 18, with three percent married before age 16. Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women. "Once marriages are registered, at least they have certain rights that are ensured," she said. Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare benefits. The new law legalizes remarriage for a widow six months after her husband's death. It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18. Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions. "When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated ... currently members of the Hindu community say that no-one listens to them, not even the courts," said Yusuf. (Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Nick Macfie)
Panama City (AFP) - Panama on Tuesday asked the United States to extradite former president Ricardo Martinelli to face charges of spying against opposition members while in power.

The Foreign Ministry said it had formally filed the request with the State Department through the Panamanian Embassy in Washington, DC.

Martinelli, who served from 2009 to 2004, is believed to be living in Miami.

The wealthy businessman is accused of corruption and of tapping opponents' and journalists' phones and emails during his presidency.

Panama first announced back in June that it wanted the United States to arrest and extradite Martinelli.
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama has sent the U.S. Department of State an extradition request for former President Ricardo Martinelli to be returned to the Central American nation, a spokesman for Panama's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Martinelli, who is accused of using public money to spy illegally on more than 150 people, left Panama in January 2015 and is believed to be living in Miami. The former president presided over an infrastructure boom and Latin America's fastest economic growth in recent years but his administration was tainted by allegations of corruption. In response to the extradition request, Martinelli lashed out at current government and described himself as a victim of a politically motivated witchhunt. "Diverting attention with a political persecution from the dullest, most inept and corrupt government doesn't achieve anything for the people," he said in a Twitter post. In December, a U.S. federal judge identified Martinelli as one of several alleged co-conspirators in an unrelated bribery scheme that helped software giant SAP sell millions of dollars in software to Panama. The extradition request was made on Monday, the government spokesman said, adding that there was no timetable for his potential return due to an analysis of the request that would have to be carried out by U.S. authorities. (Reporting by Elida Moreno in Panama City and Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City; Editing by Bill Trott)
The Green Party of Paris is set to propose a nudist park at a city council meeting on Monday.

According to Pariss 372-member nudist association, the current nudist meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at a local swimming pool are getting too crowded. The group is now pushing for a public place to be au naturel.

Under current French law, those found bearing it all in public can be fined up to 15,000 ($16,800) or sentenced up to a year in prison.

@ecoloParis @david_belliard @annesouyris @JGleizes proposent un voeu #naturisme dans 1espace vert au #ConseildeParis pic.twitter.com/HNYcHSzGnT

 anne souyris (@annesouyris) September 22, 2016

But, according to French nudist activists, this law automatically equates nudity with sexuality or perversion.

The nudist just wants to get rid of their clothing. To be free, accept his body how it is, enjoy the benefits of the sun, Jacques Fremont, vice president of the Association for the Promotion of Free Nudism, told 20 Minutes.

The proposal mentions public nudist spots in cities like Munich, Barcelona, and Berlin. At the moment, there is no precise location proposal for the public nudist spot. But some have suggested an area in Bois de Vincennes, a large park to the east of Paris.

The nudists are hoping to have their day in the sun as early as next summer.

Cailey Rizzo writes about travel, art and culture and is the founding editor of The Local Dive. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @misscaileyanne.
The smell: that's the first thing that hits you, Graham Greene wrote in his 1955 classic about Vietnam, The Quiet American. And it was with a focus on this that Anthony Bourdain kicked off the new season of Parts Unknown.

The powerful sense, linked strongly with memory, tied together every conversation Bourdain had in Hanoi and Halong Bay. He walked through heavy tropical downpours in Vietnams capital city, only barely joking, Just another day in paradise.

In the torrential rains, a crowd had formed and a limousine bearing the flags of Vietnam and the U.S. pulled up. President Barack Obama got out, carrying his own umbrella and waving to the cheering crowd.

When Bourdain greeted the president, he mentioned his perceptions of Hanois intoxicating aromas.

Yeah, there are certain spices you can smell in certain countries that you just dont smell back home, Obama agreed. Now, theres some smells that arent as appealing, as well, but thats part of the mix.

Among these less-pleasant smells is that of exhaust. Hanoi, a city of 8 million people, is also home to 4 million motorbikes. At the beginning of the episode, Bourdain pulled up on a motorbike and shared that there's no way to see the Vietnamese capital quite like from a bike among traffic.

Bourdain has talked at length about his fondness for the country ever since he first visited 15 years ago. In this episode, he focused on the changes Vietnam has undergone in that time. Tourism to the country is ever-growing and the standard of living is getting better. Much of the episode was filmed in Hanois Old Quarter, a neighborhood which, according to Bourdain, doesnt look so old anymore.

Years ago, many Vietnamese would wake up for morning Tai Chi in the park. Now, its Zumba. Bourdain met a friend and her Zumba instructor for noodles and a discussion of Hanois changing demographics.

They went to a place called Cussing Noodles, named for its chef, a woman who wont hesitate to tell customers to get out if they dont know what they want. Bourdain knew exactly what he wanted: a bowl of noodles, drowning in a hearty broth with chiles and pork knuckles and snout.

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He then met a friend for Bia Hoi, a draught beer ubiquitous in Hanoi.

Theres only three to four percent alcohol in it, his friend said, to which Bourdain replied, So, we need to drink a lot?

From there, it was onto Halong Bay. The UNESCO site has seen a big boom in tourism in recent years. Bourdain rented out an old French steamer ship and spent a night cruising around the bay, eating squid. In general, it does not suck, he said.

He got off the boat to eat with a floating fishing village. This sort of living arrangement used to be very common in the bay, but as tourism increased the government began offering incentives for the fishers to move ashore. Many of the fishers take the offer as living on land allows their children to go to school, Bourdain learned over lunch. He sat down cross-legged to eat freshly-caught fish, morning glory (a popular vegetable dish) and some noodle soup with them.

Back in Hanoi, Bourdain waited to meet the president. He took Obama for dinner at Bun Cha Houng Lien, a very locals only eatery in the Old Quarter. Bun Cha is an authentic neighborhood meal that not many tourists experience. Its complex and requires some assembly.

Get ready for the awesomeness, Bourdain told Obama as he walked the president through the dish with small rice patties, vinegar sauce and cold rice noodles.

Over beer, Bourdain and Obama talked not only about Vietnam, but about being dads, the Chicago hot dog, and the acceptable age limit for using ketchup. Dinner and beer ended up costing Bourdain $6.

Obama tells Bourdain that ketchup on a hotdog is not acceptable past the age of 8

 Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) September 26, 2016

Bourdain sat down with a friend to talk about Vietnamese-American relations. In a country where half the population wasnt alive during the influential global event, the American War seems like ancient history to many.

The American War Museum in Hanoi is often a must-see destination on tourists' lists. Bourdain asked his friend, a former tour guide, if one day she thought that the museum would not be as important, if it could be eliminated from the Hanoi itinerary.

Its good to remember so we dont repeat the mistake, she said. She talked about the former American war vets that she had met that came back to Vietnam as tourists, eager to understand the country and make meaningful connections with their former enemies. John McCain is one famous example.

The episode ended with scenes of Vietnam, Bourdain examining the spirit of understanding and forgiving your enemy and talking about the lingering smells of the countryand the powerful memories associated with those aromas.

The motorbike exhaust, the fish sauce and the crumpled body of a B-52 are all equally important in understanding Bourdains sensory Vietnam.

Cailey Rizzo writes about travel, art and culture and is the founding editor of The Local Dive. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @misscaileyanne.
Patton Oswalt is talking about a heartbreaking subject with a little bit of humor.

The writer/actor appeared on Conan on Monday, where he talked about how he's coping with the death of his wife, Michelle McNamara. McNamara died in her sleep in their Los Angeles home in April. She was 46 years old.

"I mean, I'm here," Oswalt, 47, told host Conan O'Brien when asked how he's been holding up. "It feels weird to say it -- I'm a widower."

WATCH: Patton Oswalt Shares Powerful Post About Grief, Vows to Finish Late Wife's Unfinished Book

"I'm like every bad 1980s sitcom where there's a dad raising a kid by himself and the mom is somehow ... except my 1980s sitcom sucks, there's no punch lines," he added. "There's a lot of insomnia, there's a lot of me eating Cheetos for dinner. I'm waiting for my daughter to turn to the camera and go, 'No wonder I'm in therapy.'"

The recent Emmy-winner has been focusing on helping his 7-year-old daughter, Alice, deal with the death of her mother.

"She's handling it way better than I am," Oswalt admitted. "Having to tell her her mother passed away is the worst thing I will ... I can't imagine ever going through anything [like that]. Like, when death comes for me, I'm gonna go, 'Yeah, whatever, I've had the worst, bring your stupid sythe and your hood, whatever.'"

Oswalt, who's still wearing his wedding ring, says he's been getting by with the help of his family and Alice's school.

"She wanted to go back to school immediately," he recalled. "Her school, and Michelle's family, and my family basically saved my life those first three months."

Watch the video below to see how Oswalt was able to get through Mother's Day, and the hilarious way an elderly Polish woman almost ruined everything.

NEWS: Patton Oswalt Shares Heartbreaking Wisdom From 7-Year-Old Daughter Following Wife's Death

Earlier this month, Oswalt dedicated his Emmy win for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special to his beloved late wife.

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"Every bit of growth that I've had in my career, especially in my writing and my performing, came because I met Michelle McNamara," the Veep actor told reporters backstage. "Because I met and married this woman who just was so much wiser and self-actualized and aware of life than I was. I had convinced myself that I was aware and self-actualized and mature, but then I met the real deal."

"To have that ripped out of my life the way that it has this year -- I'm not trying to say that this is meaningless, but everything seems like the lights have been turned down 50 percent on everything since she's gone," he continued. "It's just going to be a long, long time before I can be the kind of person she made me again."

Watch below:

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NEWS BRIEF The war lasted nearly 60 years and killed a quarter-of-a million people. Thousands were kidnapped, and more were injured by landmines placed in the jungles controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On Monday, the Marxist groups rebel leader, Timochenko, used a pen made from a bullet to sign a peace deal with Colombias president, Juan Manuel Santos, which ends the last big Cold War-era conflict in Latin America.

The deal, signed in Cartagena, marks the end of four years of negotiations between the government and the rebels. Colombians will vote October 2 on whether to accept the dealand its predicted they willwhich would draw FARC soldiers out of the jungle and into designated disarmament zones set up by the United Nations. They will then form a political party recognized by the government and be given 10 seats in Colombias 268-member Congress. As part of the deal, FARC was removed from the European Unions list of terrorist organizations.

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Before the signing, Santos had elaborated on the significance of the pens by saying, We are going to sign with a bullet-pen ... to illustrate the transition of bullets into education and future.

To signify peace, some of the 2,500 foreign dignitaries and FARC guerrillas who attended the ceremony dressed in white. Heres a photo of what that looked like:

Colombian, FARC leaders to sign historic peace deal to end a five-decade war https://t.co/f6mpEMX4mY pic.twitter.com/9icW1WG5FD  AFP news agency (@AFP) September 26, 2016

Many FARC leaders voted Friday to approve the deal, which was just as significant as the signing itself. There was worry some rebel blocs would refuse the terms, but after FARC representatives deliberated for a week in the jungle, one leader by the name of Ivan Marquez declared the war over, saying, Tell Mauricio Babilonia that he can let loose the yellow butterflies, referring to a character in Gabriel Garcia Marqeuzs 100 Years of Solitude.

Story continues

But the deal was not without its critics.

Some Colombians say they believe FARC should be held more accountable for the many deaths and kidnappings that resulted from their war, started in 1964. One critic is former President Alvaro Uribe, who believes some FARC leaders should serve jail time. Instead of criminal courts, the peace deal establishes special tribunals to hear cases, but allows rebels who admit wrongdoing to receive lesser sentences that include restorative justice for the victims and their families.

Recommended: You Can Pose a Question to Be Used in the Next Debate

FARC rebels have 180 days now to disarm. About 7,500 fighters are expected to leave the jungle and return to regular life, and this will not be easy.

One of the major questions that remains is who will fill FARCs void. The group controlled 170,000 acres of coca plants, a crop that makes up much of the worlds cocaine. Part of the governments responsibilities in the deal will include weaning poor farmers from the coca onto other lucrative crops. There are also several other militant groups fighting for control of Colombias jungle, including another Marxist guerrilla movement, the National Liberation Army.

But firstly, and most importantly, Colombia must make sure the peace deal sticks.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By David Doyle CEBU, Philippines (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As Rosita leaves Jose's small office in downtown Cebu in the central Philippines, he passes her a handful of biscuits and six clean needles. What Jose has just done could land him in jail. Rosita is a pregnant, HIV-infected injecting drug user - and Jose is a social worker. Amidst Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs - in which nearly 3,000 people have been killed, according to police - it is safer to be anonymous. Neither wants to give their real name. Clean needles have been distributed in Cebu City for years, sometimes illegally, in order to prevent the spread of HIV. Under the new government, which took office at the end of June, pressure is increasing for such clandestine activities to stop. The Philippines has one of the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in the world, according to the United Nations. "HIV cases have sharply increased from maybe one new infection a day back in 2007 to what we have now which is more than 24 new cases a day," said Teresita Bagasao, country manager for UNAIDS in the Philippines. The latest Department of Health figures showed there were 841 newly diagnosed HIV cases in the Philippines in June - the biggest monthly total since records began in 1984 and higher than the annual total for 2009. Most new cases were from sexual contact, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM), according to the government's figures, but in Cebu it is sharing dirty needles that is the driver. Rosita, a former sex worker, explained: "Sometimes my friends don't have needles so we share." Since finding out she had HIV two years ago, Rosita says she has stopped sharing needles but adds that a lack of clean syringes means she is scared more people are going to contract the virus. Rosita, 35, lives in Kamagayan neighborhood - the historic epicenter of the drugs problem in Cebu, the Philippines' second city. In a dark rabbit warren of wood and corrugated iron, the most commonly used drugs - shabu (crystal meth) and nubain (a morphine-like opiate) - are sold in "shooting galleries" for 300 pesos ($6) per syringe. For those who can't afford a full syringe, it can be divided between up to 10 people. Prices have almost doubled since Duterte was elected by a landslide in May after vowing to wipe out drugs and crime. CRACKDOWN Efforts to protect drug users, including the distribution of clean needles, began in Cebu, particularly in Kamagayan, in 1993 but were halted by city officials in 2009. "The following year prevalence of HIV amongst people who inject drugs went from less than 0.5 percent to 53 percent, said Ilya Tac-an, who leads the STD/AIDS detection unit at Cebu City Health Department. The World Health Organisation says there is "compelling evidence" that needle programs substantially reduce the spread of HIV among injecting drug users without increasing drug use, but in the Philippines possession of "paraphernalia for dangerous drugs" is illegal and carries a prison sentence of between six months to four years. Since 2009, research programs - under which clean needles can be legally distributed - have been repeatedly given the green light by the Philippines' Dangerous Drugs Board but then stopped under pressure from anti-drugs groups and politicians. In 2015, the programs were finally terminated, and under Duterte's government pressure to not distribute needles has increased. "It is very hard for us to work with the new administration as they have a very strong program for drugs and there have been a lot of killings going on," said one healthcare source in Cebu. "They are really quite serious about it." Jerson See, founder and president of Cebu Plus, an HIV care organization that has in the past been involved in clean needle programs but does not distribute any more, said the organization was being watched by the government. "It came to our attention that the name of our organization is already under the radar of the National Bureau of Investigation," he said. He urged the government to reconsider its position on needle programs. "The police and drug enforcement agency's mandates are a supply and demand reduction program but we just hope the government will reconsider the harm reduction program because it is also a way of halting the spread of HIV," See said. "SPECIAL CASES" Jose, the social worker, also says he was "called by Manila" a month ago and advised to stop distributing clean needles. He says he has drastically reduced the amount of needles he hands out. "In some special cases I hand out needles - when it is really needed such as in the case of a person living with HIV who is in the company of those not living with HIV," he said. Cebu Plus and Cebu City Health Department offer other services to people with HIV including counseling and HIV testing, but Dr Tac-an says it is not enough. "The needle and syringe program was one of getting them (injecting drug users) to come in for the other services," she said. "We are not really reaching that many injecting drug users (now)." But not everyone in Cebu is supportive of clean needle initiatives. Alice Uttlang is the head of COSAP, the city government's Cebu Organisation for Substance Abuse Prevention. The veterinarian-by-trade was given the COSAP job in 2014 in the office next door to Cebu Plus at a time when clean needles were being distributed as a part of a research program. "I saw a lot of people outside my office with the typical 'users' look," she said. "I asked myself what these people are doing here, were they lining up to get the syringes? "Is this not a slap in our face? Our office is here preventing and here they are condoning, even encouraging them to continue to use drugs, to inject drugs, as long as you use a clean syringe." Uttlang says some of those getting free needles would go on to sell them. She adds that she would potentially accept a clean needles program as long as there were other conditions, such as police being given data about the locations of drug users. The Department of Health did not respond to questions on clean needle programs in Cebu, but said it was implementing a "behavior modification program" which included community members teaching others about the dangers of drugs, as well as HIV testing. For Jose, the government's efforts are helping: "Everybody is trying to think of what is best and there is no perfect remedy." But he says he will continue to distribute needles in special cases. "I have a different understanding. Others (the government, churches and NGOs) are doing something good but they are not on the frontline - I know these people." (Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday said his country would cooperate with U.S. and other international authorities investigating the misappropriation of funds from a Malaysian state-owned fund that he founded.

"We are equally concerned about good governance in Malaysia and the rule of law," Najib told reporters after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, when asked about the international investigations.

"So within the bounds of good governance and the rule of law, Malaysia will do its best to cooperate and to do whatever is necessary."

Najib said he opposed calling early elections before the 2018 deadline, saying such a decision should not be based on "any single factor".

"We rest on our record. We have a strong record and we will continue to tell the Malaysian people that our government is still the best choice," he said.

Malaysian democracy group Bersih is planning a protest rally on Nov. 19 to call for Najib's immediate resignation and an independent investigation into the financial scandal at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

1MDB is a state fund Najib founded in September 2009 to invest in strategic property and energy projects. Najib was the chairman of 1MDB's advisory board until recently.

U.S. prosecutors filed civil lawsuits in July alleging that over $3.5 billion was defrauded from 1MDB.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that global investigators believed more than $1 billion entered Najib's personal bank accounts, much of it from 1MDB. The U.S. filings referred to an unnamed high-ranking official who received some of the misappropriated funds.

A source familiar with the investigations has told Reuters that the unnamed official is Najib.

He has denied any wrongdoing. The prime minister has weathered persistent calls for him to step down over his handling of the 1MDB scandal, which is also being investigated by at least five other countries.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Michael Nienaber and Andrea Shalal, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
South Yorkshire Police said on September 27 that they had found pieces of fabric of slight interest, during their search for the body of British toddler Ben Needham. Police started on September 26 to search a patch of land on the Greek Island of Kos, near where the toddler disappeared in 1991.

The BBC reported that the dig was likely to take between 10 and 12 days. Credit: Facebook/South Yorkshire Police
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There's been quite the 'big deal' made over recent changes to the law over 'mooning' (a.k.a. showing your bum) and streaking in Australia.

The state of Victoria has specifically cited the two activities in its amendment to the law on sexual offences, even though both actions have been illegal for quite some time.

SEE ALSO: Streaking is outlawed some parts of Australia, so here are 6 of the best

Nevertheless it's inspired a protest event, posted on Facebook as Moon the Parliament House of Victoria (with signs), which is set to take place on Oct. 8.

"Following the recent banning of the royal moon in Victoria, we have decided to show our disgustment and devistation [sic] of this new law by showing the parliament house of Victoria big posters," the description reads.

Image: facebook

It didn't take long for Victoria Police to catch wind of the event however, posting a friendly-ish reminder on Tuesday, ordering attendees cease their intention to show off their bottoms to the state's Parliament House.

"Hi this is Victoria Police. The only moon we want to see on Parliament House is the 8 day old moon in the October lunar cycle. We suggest keeping your pants on and shut this page down or potentially risk criminal charges," the post read.

The comment has now been removed from the page (presumably because of the hilarious/rude replies it received) but screenshots are forever, Victoria Police. Screenshots are forever.

The post came as a real bummer for those looking to go, with people posting their displeasure at the protest being broken up.

If anything, it's still proof that Australian police are the masters of social media.
By Marcin Goclowski

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government has set out to buy bank stakes back from foreign investors, a move some bankers and economists say will hamper lenders that prospered through the global financial crisis.

Last Wednesday, state-run Alior Bank (ALRR.WA) and PKO BP (PKO.WA) confirmed they are in talks to buy Raiffeisen's banking and leasing arms respectively.

The government has already bought back GE Money's (GE.N) Polish arm this year and plans to buy the second-largest lender Pekao (PEO.WA) from UniCredit (CRDI.MI).

The state owns two other banks outright, controls majority stakes in a further two and has a 30-percent-plus stake in the biggest bank, PKO: http://tmsnrt.rs/2df8gYJ

Poles played a leading role in the 1980s in ending communist rule in eastern Europe. Some now fear banks owned partly by the government would boost lending to projects such as coal mines or large infrastructure projects that might create jobs but not profits in an economy long viewed as a showcase for democracy.

"I'm not a supporter of turning re-Polonisation into nationalisation," said Cezary Stypulkowski, the chief executive of Poland's No.4 lender mBank (MBK.WA), advocating "domestication" of management instead to ensure credit reaches local companies.

"It is very easy to manage the banking sector by political structures. In such cases, a tendency to circumvent the rules typically ends in disaster."

PiS chairman and former Polish prime minister Jarosaw Kaczynski told supporters in 2012: "It must be made clear ... that our goal is a re-Polonisation of Polish banks."

PiS, which came to power last year, pledged to introduce new taxes for banks and supermarkets, cut the retirement age and boost state payments for children.

It also wanted to help homeowners who borrowed in foreign currency when exchange rates were favourable by converting the debts into Polish zlotys at the original rate, a promise the state has yet to fully meet.

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POLITICAL WILL

But its plans for banks could prove most controversial.

"There's a political will to conduct re-Polonisation," said one senior official. "It was decided, politically, that there's too much foreign capital in the banking sector."

If the government succeeds in its strategy, the state and other Polish investors, including one of its richest men, Leszek Czarnecki, will control banks with 54 percent of Poland's banking assets, including mortgages and loans.

That will displace foreign investors who now control the majority of such assets.

Officials familiar with government thinking told Reuters that it is motivated, in part, by a desire to prevent banks from choking off credit to the economy to preserve large shareholder dividends.

"The issue is to make sure no one turns off the tap when a crisis occurs, like in 2009," one of those people said.

Some managers have publicly supported such a stance.

"We prefer to credit the economy than pay out a dividend," Zbigniew Jagiello, chief executive of top bank PKO BP (PKO.WA), recently told Poland's PAP state news agency, adding that he hoped to do both. PKO is a state-controlled entity.

The government in Warsaw has also played down any risk of political interference. "After possible re-Polonisation, the government's impact on banks will be rather small," said Rafal Bochenek, a spokesman for the government.

But others are sceptical. "I haven't seen any research confirming that international banking groups overestimate the risk in crisis times," said Jakub Borowski, chief economist at Credit Agricole in Warsaw.

"We are dealing with an expression of faith that has not been confirmed by empirical studies yet."

Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, head of Polish banking lobby group ZBP, said that while he supports some increase in state ownership in the sector, he hoped it would not lead to lending for loss-making projects or generous loan restructuring.

"One should ... avoid the situation where public opinion forces politicians to act in a way that poses a threat for the financial sector," he said.

The Polish government is examining its next steps.

It could, via state-owned Alior Bank, buy Raiffeisen's Polish unit, as well as Pekao, via state-run insurer PZU, from UniCredit. Raiffeinsen is worth around 1 billion euros. The value of UniCredit's 40 percent stake in Pekao is worth roughly $3.5 billion (2.70 billion pounds).

But Credit Agricole's Borowski questions "what is more beneficial for long-term economic growth and welfare. Can we spend these billions of zlotys more productively than parking them in banks?"

(Additional reporting by Jakub Iglewski and Pawel Sobczak; editing by John O'Donnell/Ruth Pitchford)
By Ernest Scheyder and Valerie Volcovici

CANNON BALL, N.D./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three days after guard dogs attacked Native Americans protesting an oil pipeline project in North Dakota in early September, an unprecedented event took place at the White House.

Brian Cladoosby, president of the National Congress of American Indians, which represents more than 500 tribes, spoke to nearly a dozen of President Barack Obama's Cabinet-level advisers at a September 6 meeting of the White House's three-year-old Native American Affairs Council.

It was the first time a tribal leader addressed a session of the council, and Cladoosby was invited in his role as the Indian Congress leader.

Cladoosby, a Swinomish Indian from Washington state, spoke twice at the one-hour roundtable. He told Reuters he praised the Obama administration in his opening statement for its track record on Native American issues such as pushing to reform the Indian Health Service.

But when Cladoosby gave his closing speech, he delivered an impassioned request to his audience: stand with Native Americans who have united with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and block construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,100 mile conduit to get oil from North Dakota to Illinois.

That plea marked one of the previously unreported turning points in a drama that played out since February and culminated September 9 with an about face by the U.S. government, from giving the pipeline a green light to backing a request from North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux to halt construction of the pipeline.

The tribe fears sacred sites could be destroyed during the line's construction and that a future oil spill would pollute its drinking water.

This month's win for the tribe, which could be reversed by regulators, is a rare instance of protests resulting in quick federal action and the triumph of an unusual alliance between environmentalists and Native Americans, who both say they were emboldened by the defeat of the Keystone XL pipeline last fall.

Story continues

It also was the most galvanizing movement in Native American politics in decades, some tribal leaders said, as Crow, Navajo, Sioux and other traditional rivals united to fight what they considered an assault on their way of life.

Cladoosby did not play a high-profile role in the early days of the pipeline controversy. But that day he spoke to a high echelon of power, including Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, White House Domestic Policy Council director Cecilia Munoz, and the heads of the Departments of Energy; Agriculture; Education; Health and Human Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a senior administration official who asked not to be named and to a photo of attendees seen by Reuters.

"The world is watching," he said in prepared remarks shared with Reuters.

A few days earlier, video of pipeline security personnel in North Dakota armed with guard dogs and mace trying to disperse protesters went viral on social media.

One of the first videos was taken and posted on Facebook (FB.O) by Lonnie Favel, a member of Utah's Ute tribe who travelled to North Dakota to support the protests.

"I was getting messages of support from New Zealand, from Europe, from all over the world," Favel said.

Until then, Obama had not weighed in on the Dakota dispute even though he personally had visited the Standing Rock in June 2014.

Just a day after Cladoosby issued his plea to administration officials, Obama attended a young leaders conference in Laos where a Malaysian woman asked him about the Dakota Access pipeline and how he could ensure a clean water supply and protect ancestral land.

Obama said he needed to ask his staff for more information, but touted his track record protecting Native Americans' "ancestral lands, sacred sites, waters and hunting grounds," adding, "this is something that I hope will continue as we go forward."

A FATEFUL DECISION

In late 2014, pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners (ETP.N) made a fateful decision.

Dallas-based ETP chose to route its proposed Dakota Access pipeline away from North Dakota's capital, Bismarck, and southward within half a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's reservation.

Part of its rationale, laid out in a report for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates infrastructure projects that traverse certain inland waterways, was that the route would avoid Bismarck and thus pose no threat to the city's water supply. The Bismarck route also is more populated and thus would require more easements from multiple landowners. Ironically, that 139-page report concluded the Standing Rock route would raise "no environmental justice issues" because the pipeline would not cross tribal lands.

The Army Corps decision angered environmental activists and unwittingly introduced a powerful new element into the environmental movement: Indian rights groups, who quickly tapped into an extensive network of green activists forged during five long years of protests against TransCanada's (TRP.TO) Keystone XL pipeline, which Obama formally nixed last November.

CAMPAIGN GAINS STEAM

The protest gained steam in February when Standing Rock Sioux leaders asked for legal help from Earthjustice, an environmental law group that had previously helped U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations fight Kinder Morgan's (KMI.N) Trans Mountain pipeline, according to Jan Hasselman, an attorney from Earthjustice working on the North Dakota case, and tribal leaders.

Two months later, about 18 tribe members started praying daily near the pipeline's planned route in North Dakota. The participants would grow in size, creating a group called the Sacred Stone Camp.

The international environmental movement soon took notice, including, 350.org, an environmentalist group that helped defeat the Keystone XL pipeline. In July, the group sent a delegation to the Sacred Stone Camp to see how they could help.

In many ways, the Dakota Access pipeline drew its inspiration from the fight to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, according to organizers from 350 and other environmental groups.

"We didnt have to totally reinvent the wheel, said Josh Nelson of Credo, a progressive advocacy group.

By then the Sacred Stone Camp, located alongside the confluence of the Cannon Ball and Missouri rivers about an hour south of Bismarck, had swollen in size to thousands, forming a de facto town of tents, teepees and trailers, a school, medic, communal kitchen, horse corrals and a legal clinic.

The tribal members and environmentalists agreed to seize on the U.S. Army Corps' "fast-tracking" of permits for the pipeline in late July, which they argued was illegal and a violation of tribal rights, 350.org told Reuters. In this case, the Corps had the right to approve pipelines in general and consider specific local concerns, such as Native issues, if appropriate. The Corps said it effectively considered its due diligence requirement met when it green lit the line in July.

Later that same month, the tribe filed suit against the Army Corps in federal court.

INTERNAL RIFT

While the government's reversal in September caught most by surprise, a March 29 letter from the Department of the Interior to the Army Corps reviewed by Reuters shows that disagreements within the administration had been percolating for months.

The Interior department, which is responsible for protecting Native Americans' welfare, said the Army Corps "did not adequately justify or otherwise support its conclusion that there would be no significant impacts upon the surrounding environment and community" from the pipeline.

Energy Transfer, the Department of Justice, the Army Corps and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment.

The letter presaged the intra-government fighting ahead of the White House's decision to temporarily block the line.

The federal delay of the pipeline isn't something that just fell out of the sky," Archambault, the tribe's chairman, said in an interview. "We feed (federal regulators) information all the time on everything that's illegal here."

Archambault declined to discuss responses from federal regulators he received.

On September 9, just three days after Cladoosby made his plea at the White House, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg rejected a request from the tribe to block the $3.7 billion project.

Minutes after that ruling, the Interior and Justice Departments, along with the Army Corps, suspended construction on a two-mile stretch of federal land below the Missouri River.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said federal regulators, who could still ultimately approve the project, called the pause to make sure the concerns of all parties were taken into account. James Gette, a senior official in the environment and natural resources division of the DOJ, noted in a September 16 hearing that construction was halted mainly because the Dakota Access pipeline didnt have an easement for the area where the tribe gets its drinking water.

Protesters have vowed not to leave their camp until the pipeline is scrapped or moved far away from their reservation. Their concerns about potential spills, it turns out, have precedent.

An analysis of government data by Reuters shows that Sunoco Logistics (SXL.N), the future operator of the pipeline and a unit of ETP, has had the highest rate of spills since 2010 than any of its competitors. Sunoco told Reuters it has taken measures to reduce its spill rate.

Cladoosby admits he "was really surprised" by the fast moving events after his strategically-timed entreaty.

He will be back at the White House on Monday and Tuesday. Leaders of 567 native American tribes will meet with Obama in Washington to tackle a range of issues facing Native Americans from economic development to environmental protection  including the Dakota Access pipeline.

(In 10th paragraph, corrects first name of White House Domestic Policy Council director to Cecilia, not Celia)

(Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Ruthy Munoz, Julia Harte and Timothy Gardner; Writing By Terry Wade and Ernest Scheyder; editing by Eric Effron and Edward Tobin)
By Ernest Scheyder and Valerie Volcovici CANNON BALL, N.D./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three days after guard dogs attacked Native Americans protesting an oil pipeline project in North Dakota in early September, an unprecedented event took place at the White House. Brian Cladoosby, president of the National Congress of American Indians, which represents more than 500 tribes, spoke to nearly a dozen of President Barack Obama's Cabinet-level advisers at a September 6 meeting of the White House's three-year-old Native American Affairs Council. It was the first time a tribal leader addressed a session of the council, and Cladoosby was invited in his role as the Indian Congress leader. Cladoosby, a Swinomish Indian from Washington state, spoke twice at the one-hour roundtable. He told Reuters he praised the Obama administration in his opening statement for its track record on Native American issues such as pushing to reform the Indian Health Service. But when Cladoosby gave his closing speech, he delivered an impassioned request to his audience: stand with Native Americans who have united with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and block construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,100 mile conduit to get oil from North Dakota to Illinois. That plea marked one of the previously unreported turning points in a drama that played out since February and culminated September 9 with an about face by the U.S. government, from giving the pipeline a green light to backing a request from North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux to halt construction of the pipeline. The tribe fears sacred sites could be destroyed during the line's construction and that a future oil spill would pollute its drinking water. This month's win for the tribe, which could be reversed by regulators, is a rare instance of protests resulting in quick federal action and the triumph of an unusual alliance between environmentalists and Native Americans, who both say they were emboldened by the defeat of the Keystone XL pipeline last fall. It also was the most galvanizing movement in Native American politics in decades, some tribal leaders said, as Crow, Navajo, Sioux and other traditional rivals united to fight what they considered an assault on their way of life. Cladoosby did not play a high-profile role in the early days of the pipeline controversy. But that day he spoke to a high echelon of power, including Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, White House Domestic Policy Council director Cecilia Munoz, and the heads of the Departments of Energy; Agriculture; Education; Health and Human Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a senior administration official who asked not to be named and to a photo of attendees seen by Reuters. "The world is watching," he said in prepared remarks shared with Reuters. A few days earlier, video of pipeline security personnel in North Dakota armed with guard dogs and mace trying to disperse protesters went viral on social media. One of the first videos was taken and posted on Facebook by Lonnie Favel, a member of Utah's Ute tribe who travelled to North Dakota to support the protests. "I was getting messages of support from New Zealand, from Europe, from all over the world," Favel said. Until then, Obama had not weighed in on the Dakota dispute even though he personally had visited the Standing Rock in June 2014. Just a day after Cladoosby issued his plea to administration officials, Obama attended a young leaders conference in Laos where a Malaysian woman asked him about the Dakota Access pipeline and how he could ensure a clean water supply and protect ancestral land. Obama said he needed to ask his staff for more information, but touted his track record protecting Native Americans' "ancestral lands, sacred sites, waters and hunting grounds," adding, "this is something that I hope will continue as we go forward." A FATEFUL DECISION In late 2014, pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners made a fateful decision. Dallas-based ETP chose to route its proposed Dakota Access pipeline away from North Dakota's capital, Bismarck, and southward within half a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's reservation. Part of its rationale, laid out in a report for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates infrastructure projects that traverse certain inland waterways, was that the route would avoid Bismarck and thus pose no threat to the city's water supply. The Bismarck route also is more populated and thus would require more easements from multiple landowners. Ironically, that 139-page report concluded the Standing Rock route would raise "no environmental justice issues" because the pipeline would not cross tribal lands. The Army Corps decision angered environmental activists and unwittingly introduced a powerful new element into the environmental movement: Indian rights groups, who quickly tapped into an extensive network of green activists forged during five long years of protests against TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, which Obama formally nixed last November. CAMPAIGN GAINS STEAM The protest gained steam in February when Standing Rock Sioux leaders asked for legal help from Earthjustice, an environmental law group that had previously helped U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations fight Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, according to Jan Hasselman, an attorney from Earthjustice working on the North Dakota case, and tribal leaders. Two months later, about 18 tribe members started praying daily near the pipeline's planned route in North Dakota. The participants would grow in size, creating a group called the Sacred Stone Camp. The international environmental movement soon took notice, including, 350.org, an environmentalist group that helped defeat the Keystone XL pipeline. In July, the group sent a delegation to the Sacred Stone Camp to see how they could help. In many ways, the Dakota Access pipeline drew its inspiration from the fight to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, according to organizers from 350 and other environmental groups. "We didnt have to totally reinvent the wheel, said Josh Nelson of Credo, a progressive advocacy group. By then the Sacred Stone Camp, located alongside the confluence of the Cannon Ball and Missouri rivers about an hour south of Bismarck, had swollen in size to thousands, forming a de facto town of tents, teepees and trailers, a school, medic, communal kitchen, horse corrals and a legal clinic. The tribal members and environmentalists agreed to seize on the U.S. Army Corps' "fast-tracking" of permits for the pipeline in late July, which they argued was illegal and a violation of tribal rights, 350.org told Reuters. In this case, the Corps had the right to approve pipelines in general and consider specific local concerns, such as Native issues, if appropriate. The Corps said it effectively considered its due diligence requirement met when it green lit the line in July. Later that same month, the tribe filed suit against the Army Corps in federal court. INTERNAL RIFT While the government's reversal in September caught most by surprise, a March 29 letter from the Department of the Interior to the Army Corps reviewed by Reuters shows that disagreements within the administration had been percolating for months. The Interior department, which is responsible for protecting Native Americans' welfare, said the Army Corps "did not adequately justify or otherwise support its conclusion that there would be no significant impacts upon the surrounding environment and community" from the pipeline. Energy Transfer, the Department of Justice, the Army Corps and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment. The letter presaged the intra-government fighting ahead of the White House's decision to temporarily block the line. The federal delay of the pipeline isn't something that just fell out of the sky," Archambault, the tribe's chairman, said in an interview. "We feed (federal regulators) information all the time on everything that's illegal here." Archambault declined to discuss responses from federal regulators he received. On September 9, just three days after Cladoosby made his plea at the White House, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg rejected a request from the tribe to block the $3.7 billion project. Minutes after that ruling, the Interior and Justice Departments, along with the Army Corps, suspended construction on a two-mile stretch of federal land below the Missouri River. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said federal regulators, who could still ultimately approve the project, called the pause to make sure the concerns of all parties were taken into account. James Gette, a senior official in the environment and natural resources division of the DOJ, noted in a September 16 hearing that construction was halted mainly because the Dakota Access pipeline didnt have an easement for the area where the tribe gets its drinking water. Protesters have vowed not to leave their camp until the pipeline is scrapped or moved far away from their reservation. Their concerns about potential spills, it turns out, have precedent. An analysis of government data by Reuters shows that Sunoco Logistics , the future operator of the pipeline and a unit of ETP, has had the highest rate of spills since 2010 than any of its competitors. Sunoco told Reuters it has taken measures to reduce its spill rate. Cladoosby admits he "was really surprised" by the fast moving events after his strategically-timed entreaty. He will be back at the White House on Monday and Tuesday. Leaders of 567 native American tribes will meet with Obama in Washington to tackle a range of issues facing Native Americans from economic development to environmental protection  including the Dakota Access pipeline. (In 10th paragraph, corrects first name of White House Domestic Policy Council director to Cecilia, not Celia) (Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Ruthy Munoz, Julia Harte and Timothy Gardner; Writing By Terry Wade and Ernest Scheyder; editing by Eric Effron and Edward Tobin)
By Ernest Scheyder and Valerie Volcovici

CANNON BALL, N.D./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three days after guard dogs attacked Native Americans protesting an oil pipeline project in North Dakota in early September, an unprecedented event took place at the White House.

Brian Cladoosby, president of the National Congress of American Indians, which represents more than 500 tribes, spoke to nearly a dozen of President Barack Obama's Cabinet-level advisers at a September 6 meeting of the White House's three-year-old Native American Affairs Council.

It was the first time a tribal leader addressed a session of the council, and Cladoosby was invited in his role as the Indian Congress leader.

Cladoosby, a Swinomish Indian from Washington state, spoke twice at the one-hour roundtable. He told Reuters he praised the Obama administration in his opening statement for its track record on Native American issues such as pushing to reform the Indian Health Service.

But when Cladoosby gave his closing speech, he delivered an impassioned request to his audience: stand with Native Americans who have united with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and block construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,100 mile conduit to get oil from North Dakota to Illinois.

That plea marked one of the previously unreported turning points in a drama that played out since February and culminated September 9 with an about face by the U.S. government, from giving the pipeline a green light to backing a request from North Dakota's Standing Rock Sioux to halt construction of the pipeline.

The tribe fears sacred sites could be destroyed during the line's construction and that a future oil spill would pollute its drinking water.

This month's win for the tribe, which could be reversed by regulators, is a rare instance of protests resulting in quick federal action and the triumph of an unusual alliance between environmentalists and Native Americans, who both say they were emboldened by the defeat of the Keystone XL pipeline last fall.

Story continues

It also was the most galvanizing movement in Native American politics in decades, some tribal leaders said, as Crow, Navajo, Sioux and other traditional rivals united to fight what they considered an assault on their way of life.

Cladoosby did not play a high-profile role in the early days of the pipeline controversy. But that day he spoke to a high echelon of power, including Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, White House Domestic Policy Council director Cecilia Munoz, and the heads of the Departments of Energy; Agriculture; Education; Health and Human Services; and the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a senior administration official who asked not to be named and to a photo of attendees seen by Reuters.

"The world is watching," he said in prepared remarks shared with Reuters.

A few days earlier, video of pipeline security personnel in North Dakota armed with guard dogs and mace trying to disperse protesters went viral on social media.

One of the first videos was taken and posted on Facebook by Lonnie Favel, a member of Utah's Ute tribe who traveled to North Dakota to support the protests.

"I was getting messages of support from New Zealand, from Europe, from all over the world," Favel said.

Until then, Obama had not weighed in on the Dakota dispute even though he personally had visited the Standing Rock in June 2014.

Just a day after Cladoosby issued his plea to administration officials, Obama attended a young leaders conference in Laos where a Malaysian woman asked him about the Dakota Access pipeline and how he could ensure a clean water supply and protect ancestral land.

Obama said he needed to ask his staff for more information, but touted his track record protecting Native Americans' "ancestral lands, sacred sites, waters and hunting grounds," adding, "this is something that I hope will continue as we go forward."

A FATEFUL DECISION

In late 2014, pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners made a fateful decision.

Dallas-based ETP chose to route its proposed Dakota Access pipeline away from North Dakota's capital, Bismarck, and southward within half a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's reservation.

Part of its rationale, laid out in a report for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates infrastructure projects that traverse certain inland waterways, was that the route would avoid Bismarck and thus pose no threat to the city's water supply. The Bismarck route also is more populated and thus would require more easements from multiple landowners. Ironically, that 139-page report concluded the Standing Rock route would raise "no environmental justice issues" because the pipeline would not cross tribal lands.

The Army Corps decision angered environmental activists and unwittingly introduced a powerful new element into the environmental movement: Indian rights groups, who quickly tapped into an extensive network of green activists forged during five long years of protests against TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, which Obama formally nixed last November.

CAMPAIGN GAINS STEAM

The protest gained steam in February when Standing Rock Sioux leaders asked for legal help from Earthjustice, an environmental law group that had previously helped U.S. tribes and Canadian First Nations fight Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, according to Jan Hasselman, an attorney from Earthjustice working on the North Dakota case, and tribal leaders.

Two months later, about 18 tribe members started praying daily near the pipeline's planned route in North Dakota. The participants would grow in size, creating a group called the Sacred Stone Camp.

The international environmental movement soon took notice, including, 350.org, an environmentalist group that helped defeat the Keystone XL pipeline. In July, the group sent a delegation to the Sacred Stone Camp to see how they could help.

In many ways, the Dakota Access pipeline drew its inspiration from the fight to stop the Keystone XL pipeline, according to organizers from 350 and other environmental groups.

"We didnt have to totally reinvent the wheel, said Josh Nelson of Credo, a progressive advocacy group.

By then the Sacred Stone Camp, located alongside the confluence of the Cannon Ball and Missouri rivers about an hour south of Bismarck, had swollen in size to thousands, forming a de facto town of tents, teepees and trailers, a school, medic, communal kitchen, horse corrals and a legal clinic.

The tribal members and environmentalists agreed to seize on the U.S. Army Corps' "fast-tracking" of permits for the pipeline in late July, which they argued was illegal and a violation of tribal rights, 350.org told Reuters. In this case, the Corps had the right to approve pipelines in general and consider specific local concerns, such as Native issues, if appropriate. The Corps said it effectively considered its due diligence requirement met when it green lit the line in July.

Later that same month, the tribe filed suit against the Army Corps in federal court.

INTERNAL RIFT

While the government's reversal in September caught most by surprise, a March 29 letter from the Department of the Interior to the Army Corps reviewed by Reuters shows that disagreements within the administration had been percolating for months.

The Interior department, which is responsible for protecting Native Americans' welfare, said the Army Corps "did not adequately justify or otherwise support its conclusion that there would be no significant impacts upon the surrounding environment and community" from the pipeline.

Energy Transfer, the Department of Justice, the Army Corps and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment.

The letter presaged the intra-government fighting ahead of the White House's decision to temporarily block the line.

The federal delay of the pipeline isn't something that just fell out of the sky," Archambault, the tribe's chairman, said in an interview. "We feed (federal regulators) information all the time on everything that's illegal here."

Archambault declined to discuss responses from federal regulators he received.

On September 9, just three days after Cladoosby made his plea at the White House, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg rejected a request from the tribe to block the $3.7 billion project.

Minutes after that ruling, the Interior and Justice Departments, along with the Army Corps, suspended construction on a two-mile stretch of federal land below the Missouri River.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said federal regulators, who could still ultimately approve the project, called the pause to make sure the concerns of all parties were taken into account. James Gette, a senior official in the environment and natural resources division of the DOJ, noted in a September 16 hearing that construction was halted mainly because the Dakota Access pipeline didnt have an easement for the area where the tribe gets its drinking water.

Protesters have vowed not to leave their camp until the pipeline is scrapped or moved far away from their reservation. Their concerns about potential spills, it turns out, have precedent.

An analysis of government data by Reuters shows that Sunoco Logistics, the future operator of the pipeline and a unit of ETP, has had the highest rate of spills since 2010 than any of its competitors. Sunoco told Reuters it has taken measures to reduce its spill rate.

Cladoosby admits he "was really surprised" by the fast moving events after his strategically-timed entreaty.

He will be back at the White House on Monday and Tuesday. Leaders of 567 native American tribes will meet with Obama in Washington to tackle a range of issues facing Native Americans from economic development to environmental protection  including the Dakota Access pipeline.

(This version of the story corrects the first name of White House Domestic Policy Council director to Cecilia, not Celia in paragraph 10)

(Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg, Ruthy Munoz, Julia Harte and Timothy Gardner; Writing By Terry Wade and Ernest Scheyder; editing by Eric Effron and Edward Tobin)
Industrial gas producer and supplier Praxair Inc. PX recently announced that it has entered into a long-term agreement for supplying industrial gases to Hyundai Oilbank, one of the leading oil refineries in South Korea. Financial terms of the deal have been kept under wraps.



As revealed, Praxair plans to build and operate four vacuum pressure swing adsorption plants. The combined oxygen producing capacity of these plants is estimated to be 750 tons per day. The company anticipates the new plants to start production in 2017. The output of these plants will be used to satisfy oxygen demand of Hyundai, located on the west coast of the Korean peninsula.



The Hyundai Oilbank supply contract will enable Praxair suitably cater to the growing demand for oxygen in the oil refinery industry as well as support its deeper penetration into the South Korean markets.



We believe that the increasing applications of industrial gases in manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, food and beverages, and metal fabrication industries is a boon for industrial gas producers like Praxair. The company had a solid backlog of $1.3 billion at the end of second-quarter 2016.



However, despite bright prospects, certain near-term headwinds continue to weigh on Praxairs performance. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and has a market capitalization of $33.2 billion.

PRAXAIR INC Price

PRAXAIR INC Price | PRAXAIR INC Quote

Stocks to Consider



Better-ranked stocks in the chemical industry include Innophos Holdings Inc. IPHS, Innospec Inc. IOSP and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation MTLHY. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Innophos Holdings reported better-than-expected results in the last two quarters as well as witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2016 over the past 60 days.



Innospec Inc. has a solid earnings surprise history, with last four quarter average positive surprise of 15.15%. Also, the company has witnessed positive revisions in earnings estimates for 2016 and 2017 over the last 60 days.



Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings has witnessed positive revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2017 and 2018 over the past 60 days.



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Does Donald Trump have a cold?

Moments after the first presidential debate of the general election began on Monday night, viewers of the NBC event quickly noticed the GOP nominee appeared to be under the weather.

In his opening remarks during the broadcast of his face-off with Hillary Clinton, Trump could be heard sniffling. The act, on the heels of months of the Trump campaign questioning Clinton's health records and highlighting her recent bout of pneumonia, quickly had Twitter users questioning if Trump himself had a head cold.

"I'm VERY VERY worried about Trump's health. What is he hiding?" posted Patton Oswalt, while many others in the media and in Hollywood called out his sniffing. A half hour into the debate, a @TrumpSniff handle was even created.

After the debate concluded, Howard Dean, a former presidential candidate and governor of Vermont, even asked: "Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?"

The debate, held at Hofstra University in New York, aired live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, as well as cable news channels including CNN, Fox News, CNBC and MSNBC. Watch a replay of the live stream here.

See the reactions on social media below.

Read more: Donald Trump Condescending With Hillary Clinton at First Presidential Debate: "I Want You to Be Happy"

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?

- Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

SNIIIIFFFFFFFFFFF. SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF. I'm VERY VERY worried about Trump's health. What is he hiding? #Debates2016

- Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 27, 2016

Debate so far "That's sniff called sniff business sniff, by sniff the sniff way." If she's baiting him, it's working.

- Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 27, 2016

Drinking game: one, every time he sniffs take a.... (UNCONSCIOUS)

- Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 27, 2016

Does Donnie have a cold or did he sniff something pre debate?

Story continues

- Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) September 27, 2016

If "SNIFF" is in your drinking game - you may already need a designated driver. #debatenight

- toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) September 27, 2016

Is the @realdonaldtrump "sniff" like the Al Gore sigh? Is it playing on TV as distracting?

- Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 27, 2016

China is the best! (sniff sniff) -Donald Trump #debatenight

- Rory Albanese (@RoryAlbanese) September 27, 2016

Quick someone start a @trumpsniffle account #debatenight

- Robin Thede (@robinthede) September 27, 2016

Trump is sniffling because he's allergic to the Constitution

- Colin Jost (@ColinJost) September 27, 2016

Trump keeps sniffling. Is he... SICK?! Or is he sad about something?

- Michael Moore (@MMFlint) September 27, 2016

Why is Donald Trump SNIFFING so much? Is he sick? should we worry about his HEALTH?

- Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) September 27, 2016

i think #Trump has a cold or allergies. he keep sniffling. #debatenight #debates2016 #CNN

- Don Lemon (@donlemon) September 27, 2016

Trump was making fun of Hillary's health but if he sniffs one more time i'm calling 911.

- Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) September 27, 2016

This sniffle is the new Durst burp

- Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 27, 2016
Sept 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

Delancey is suing Greenland Group's UK division over a disputed final payment related to the Chinese company's 135.7 million purchase of the historic Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth two years ago. (http://bit.ly/2dne8PO)

Britain will emerge from Brexit with a stronger economy and be better off than other EU countries within five years, Mathias Dopfner, chief executive of publishing house Axel Springer, said in an interview. (http://bit.ly/2dnobVd)

The Guardian Sainsbury SBRY.L> has developed an app called Chop Chop through which shoppers can order up to 20 items to be delivered from a local store within an hour, in an attempt to compete with Amazon Inc. (http://bit.ly/2dnkdvy)

Dyan Crowther, chief operating officer at Southern's parent, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), will become chief executive at HS1, the link between London and the start of the Channel tunnel in Kent. (http://bit.ly/2dnjQBd)

The Telegraph

German car giant BMW is on a collision course with its UK workers over plans to deter 5,000 employees from making fresh contributions to its two gold-plated final salary pension schemes. (http://bit.ly/2dnkEGn)

EasyJet has appointed Christine Browne, one of its non-executive directors as its next chief operating officer, as the budget carrier grapples with the turbulence caused by the Brexit vote and a string of terrorist attacks in Europe. (http://bit.ly/2dnkT44)

Sky News

UK's Labour Party has announced it will ban fracking if it wins the next general election. The announcement was made by shadow energy and climate change secretary Barry Gardiner at the party's annual conference in Liverpool. (http://bit.ly/2dnks9N)

Generator Hostels' controlling shareholder, Patron Capital, has asked investment bankers at Lazard to oversee an auction of the business for a deal valuing it at more than 400 million ($518.76 million). (http://bit.ly/2dnlbrN)

Story continues

The Independent

French President Francois Hollande has said Britain's "sovereign decision" to leave the EU does not excuse the country from its obligations to refugees and has urged the UK to "play its part" in dealing with the crisis. (http://ind.pn/2dnlpir)

($1 = 0.7711 pounds) (Compiled by Gaurika Juneja; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Sept 26 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- A federal appeals court ruled that American Express Co could stop merchants that accept its cards from encouraging customers to use rival payment cards that charge the stores lower transaction fees. http://nyti.ms/2dfMCXq

- Berlin ruled out providing government aid to Deutsche Bank, a German magazine reported. A Deutsche Bank spokesman said that John Cryan, its chief executive, had "at no point" asked Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene in the issue with the Justice Department. http://nyti.ms/2dvhC37

- Richard C. Perry, once one of the hedge fund industry's most successful investors, is shuttering his flagship fund as clients leave after steep losses. http://nyti.ms/2dfLX84

- A group of aggrieved Wells Fargo & Co workers, who say they were fired or demoted for staying honest and falling short of sales goals, claim that they played by the rules and were punished for it. http://nyti.ms/2dnEjKR (Compiled by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru)
When it comes to fashion inspirations, Princess Kate likes to keep it in the family.



She's a frequent borrower of gems from the Queen's jewelry box. (She has already done just that on her current tour of Canada.) She has also paid homage to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, multiple times with her fashion choices  most notably, outside the hospital after giving birth to Prince George.



But she's never rocked a style inspired by her father-in-law, Prince Charles  until now.



For a day in Bella Bella, Canada, where Kate and Prince William visited with members of the Heiltsuk Nation, Kate kept it casual in jeans, her favorite 12-year-old boots, a sweater, earrings by Canadian designer Pippa Small and a safari-inspired jacket that's practically identical to the one Prince Charles wore decades ago.







 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



Yes, there are some key differences: Kate's jacket has long sleeves and Charles's has short, and his is part of a full-on suit while hers is a simple topper. But the overall look is the same: casual royal-meets-outdoor adventurer-meets-timeless-chic.





Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Welcomes Prince William, Princess Kate & Kids to Canada





(Charles wore the outfit to on a trip to Papua New Guinea in August 1984.)



Kate's jacket is from the brand Holland and Holland, which was introduced in 2014, according to What Kate Wore. It retailed for $780, but is no longer available. (Although if you have one, you could probably make a nice profit on eBay currently!)
Princess Kate changed out of her favorite well-worn boots and into chic heels for an elegant reception in Victoria on Monday night.



After a rainy afternoon in Bella Bella, Kate and Prince William traveled back to Victoria (their home base with Prince George and Princess Charlotte during their eight-day tour) and got ready for an evening reception hosted by the province of British Columbia at the official Government House in Victoria's upscale Rockland neighborhood.



Kate stunned in a gorgeous red gown by British designer Preen. She accessorized the $1,332 satin dress with Queen Elizabeth's diamond maple leaf brooch.



 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.









Princess Kate Stuns in Red Satin Dress (and Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch!) at Elegant Reception in Canada| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William





The royal family of four is staying in the 13-room mansion, which includes a royal suite for the couple and rooms for their entourage.





Prince George and Princess Charlotte Receive Adorable Matching Gifts on Canada Tour





On Tuesday, the royal parents will fly to Kelowna, a city in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. After visiting the University of British Columbia, they will take part in the Taste of British Columbia festival at Mission Hill Winery. They will then travel to Whitehorse in the Yukon, where they will be greeted by the Canadian Rangers.
Angelique Kerber survived a scare in her first match as world number one while French Open champion Garbine Muguruza crashed out in Wuhan on Tuesday.

The US and Australian Open champion, who had a bye in the first round, made a convincing start before missing two set points and allowing Kristina Mladenovic to take the first set in a tie break.

But the German then swept through the rest of the match, winning 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-4 to set up a third-round meeting with two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

"I was trying to find my rhythm because I was not playing my best in the first set," top seed Kerber said after the match.

Meanwhile, Muguruza just couldn't master former world number one Jelena Jankovic, pushing her to a tie break in the second set but still coming up short at 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).

"I felt like I was in control of the match, but the last shot was not there. I made maybe too many mistakes against Jankovic," she told reporters.

The Spaniard bagged her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year and rose to a career-high ranking of two, but the early round loss at Wuhan puts her qualification for the eight-player WTA Finals in Singapore in doubt.

Muguruza was the second seeded casualty of the day after last year's US Open finalist Roberta Vinci fell to Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5, 6-2 -- her second defeat at the hands of the Kazakh this year.

Briton Johanna Konta had a tough battle to oust home crowd favourite Zhang Shuai in two sets, 6-3, 6-3, while world number four Agnieszka Radwanska romped into the third round when she downed Russia's Ekaterina Makarova.

- 'Long battles' ahead -

Radwanska will next meet an in-form Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated qualifier Kateraina Siniakova 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday, in the third round of the $2.6 million hardcourt event.

The former world number one beat Poland's Radwanska in the semi-finals of last week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, en route to her first title of the year.

Story continues

"We always (have) long battles against each other, especially on the slower surface (such) as here," Radwanska said of Wozniacki.

Kvitova meanwhile said she would be trying not to think about Kerber's new status as world number one, formalised when the rankings were updated after this month's US Open, when they play on Wednesday.

"(It) will be for the first time... that I will play her as a number one, which is a little bit different. But I think if I'm on the court, I don't really think about that," she told reporters.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams downed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2, and will next play fellow tour veteran 10th-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. The pair have not met on court since 2009.

American Madison Brengle fell to Kuznetsova 6-0, 6-4 in the second round, as eighth seed Madison Keys beat Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-4.

Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Barbora Strycova downed Japan's Misaki Doi, while Daria Kasatkina of Russia beat fellow qualifier American Louisa Chirico.
By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc will pay $1.1 billion to resolve claims that it sold toxic mortgage-backed securities to credit unions that later failed, the U.S. National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) said on Tuesday.

The settlement with RBS brings the U.S. regulator's recoveries against various banks to $4.3 billion in lawsuits over their sale of mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis.

NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger said the regulator was pleased with the settlement and plans to continue "to pursue recoveries against financial firms that we maintain contributed to the corporate crisis."

The settlement resolves lawsuits filed in federal courts in California and Kansas in the NCUA's role as the liquidating agent for Western Corporate Federal Credit Union and U.S. Central Federal Credit Union.

Under the settlement, RBS does not admit fault, the NCUA said in a statement. The settlement comes on top of a prior deal in 2015 in which RBS agreed to pay $129.6 million to resolve a similar federal lawsuit the NCUA filed in New York.

RBS in January said it had set aside 3.8 billion pounds ($4.95 billion) to resolve civil lawsuits over mortgage-backed securities, investment products packaged and sold before the U.S. housing meltdown and financial crisis in 2008.

RBS had said that provision did not cover ongoing investigations by the U.S. Justice Department or various state attorneys general.

The bank also continues to face a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, which has acted as the conservator for mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since their government takeover in 2008.

Replying to a request for comment, an RBS spokesman on Tuesday pointed to comments that RBS CEO Ross McEwan made at a conference in London earlier in the day, in which he said the bank was working toward resolving various mortgage bond claims over the remainder of this year and next.

Story continues

The NCUA said it continues to litigate against other banks, including Credit Suisse and UBS, over what it says was their sale of faulty mortgage-backed securities to corporate credit unions.

($1 = 0.7683 pounds)

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Bill Rigby)
donald trump

Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized a former contestant in his Miss Universe pageant for gaining what he viewed as too much weight following the conclusion of the pageant.

Trump's comments came after the first presidential debate Monday, during which Hillary Clinton slammed the Republican presidential nominee for calling 1996 Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping." Clinton also pointed out that Machado was supporting her.

In an interview with "Fox and Friends" Tuesday morning, Trump cast Machado as a difficult contestant to work with, said she had a bad attitude, and cited her weight gain as a "problem."

"That person was a Miss Universe person. She was the worst we ever had, the worst, the absolute worst, she was impossible," Trump said. "She was a Miss Universe contestant, and ultimately a winner, who they had a tremendously difficult time with as Miss Universe."

He added: "She was the winner and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem."

Tuesday was hardly the first time Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Machado.

In 1997, Machado told The Washington Post that she virtually starved herself before the pageant in order to slim down. She said she returned to what the American Medical Association would characterize as a healthy weight after the pageant finished.

But the real-estate magnate was displeased, sending her to a gym to work out in front of reporters to solve "her problem."

"When you win a beauty pageant, people don't think you're going to go from 118 to 160 in less than a year, and you really have an obligation to stay in a perfect physical state," Trump said, as Mother Jones has noted.

NOW WATCH: 'She gained a massive amount of weight': Trump criticizes the Miss Universe winner Clinton said he called 'Miss Piggy'





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By Julia Symmes Cobb and Nelson Bocanegra EL DIAMANTE, Colombia (Reuters) - Veterans of Colombia's FARC guerrilla army could soon be making a living as eco-tourism guides, beef processors or cheese makers under plans by the Marxist group to invest in economic projects once a peace deal takes hold. Vast swathes of rural land abandoned for decades because of war will be open to development, including by ex-fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) working on communal farms and other initiatives funded by the group. President Juan Manuel Santos and top rebel leader Timochenko signed peace on Monday, ending a 52-year-old conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and forced millions more from their homes. The deal will be put to a public vote on Oct. 2 and is expected to be approved. The economic projects, many planned for the future and some already functioning, will be run by the FARC to provide jobs to some of its 7,000 former fighters. Financing will come from the FARC's own funds and demobilization money earmarked for individual ex-rebels under the peace agreement. Many fighters have little education and come from poor, rural families so they need employment options to resist the profitable pull of drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion. "We have to be involved in the economy," FARC commander Mauricio Jaramillo told Reuters in the jungle outpost of El Diamante, southern Caqueta province. "We have to push an assured and positive development so we don't head down the wrong path," he said, declining to expand on specific projects or say how much would be invested. Deep social inequality and lack of opportunities for rural Colombians sparked the creation of the FARC in 1964, and many fear disenchanted former rebels will join drug-running crime gangs unless there are economic alternatives. The FARC's seven-member secretariat, or leadership team, is loathe to acknowledge the existence of already-functioning projects for fear they may be seized by the government to lock down funds for victim reparations, say rebel sources. Projects allowed under the peace deal are meant to be funded by payments of 8 million pesos (about $2,700) to demobilized fighters to help them start businesses. Reuters was not permitted to visit the active projects in Caqueta or surrounding regions, even though FARC members confirmed a milk processor and a bean farm were up and running. Many fighters say they want to get involved in politics or stay in familiar rural areas working alongside peasant farmers, but FARC business plans also include tourism initiatives and factory projects. Ex-fighters could shepherd tourists around little-explored areas of Colombia's mountain and jungles, which have been under rebel control for decades. "A tourist could get to see where the secretariat camped during the peace process," said Sebastian Gomez, head of a community organization that wants to partner with the FARC on eco-tourism, during a visit to the group's Yari unit to explain the effort to fighters. "Nobody knows these areas like the rebels do." A FARC document reviewed by Reuters shows plans for a dairy plant, cheese factories and farms are already well advanced. "The factories will be constructed one per region and will be multi-functional in accordance with harvests," the document said. "They will be advised by professionals with relevant experience in Europe." REBEL WEALTH Colombian authorities say the rebels possess huge tracts of valuable land, as well as cattle ranches, shops and construction companies which allegedly help the group launder drug and ransom money, but there have been few confiscations of rebel property. While some experts estimate the proceeds from the drugs business and extortion have netted the FARC billions of dollars, the rebels say their income is minimal and spent mostly on maintaining fighters. Santos told Reuters the government will go after illicit FARC funds and properties to pay reparations. The attorney general's office said on Tuesday that any efforts to cover up the origins of illegal FARC property will be prosecuted as money laundering. Ex-fighters can choose for their 8 million peso payment to go directly to a communal project, the FARC said last week, or they can invest in an individual business. Rebel leader Timochenko said last week that the FARC and its ex-fighters would contribute to economic growth. "We will not take jobs from anyone. The opposite - we are going to develop projects that create more opportunities and galvanize the economy in areas where we have presence." Jaramillo, a member of the FARC's secretariat who also uses the alias 'El Medico', said some business owners had been in touch with rebel leaders to ask about future projects. "They have expressed some ideas, there are business owners who want to be involved," he said, without providing details. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Nelson Bocanegra; Editing by Helen Murphy and Kieran Murray)
Internet users are constantly looking for ways to avoid paying for things that they can easily obtain for freemovies, television, music, and more. Long after the days of Limewire and Napster, music fans have kept the tradition alive by figuring out how to rip audio straight from YouTube videos. Rather than paying to download singles from iTunes, many music fans have often choose the easierbut less legalroute of ripping audio for free. Many websites even make this task even easier by allowing user to just drop a URL and it will provide the download link for you. However, it appears these days will soon be over.

According to BBC News, major labels are beginning to crack down on these websites that allow people to rip audio from YouTube videos. Warner Bros., Universal, Sony, Atlantic, and more have officially taken aim at Youtube-mp3.org. The German-based site simply converts YouTube URLs into mp3 files, making downloading music for free extremely easy for users. The labels have launched legal action against the site in federal court in Los Angeles.

These record labels report that "tens, or even hundreds, of millions of tracks are illegally copied and distributed by stream-ripping services each month." Although there are many different sites that provide this service, the labels claim YouTube-mp3.org is "chief offender."

The legal reports claim these labels are seeking damages from the German company of roughly $150,000 for each alleged instance of piracy. The lawsuit already lists up to 300 songs, which would add up to a massive pay off for these labels if the case works in their favor. Along with the damages, they are also looking to ban these third party sites all together. As of now, the defendants have yet to respond to the claims.

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In the red centre of Australia, a festival of light is illuminating the night sky for the first time.

The 10-day festival called Parrtjima: A Festival In Light is a celebration of colour and culture, showcasing work from eight local Indigenous artists, stretching across 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) of the McDonnell Ranges in outback Australia.

SEE ALSO: Indigenous Australians the oldest living civilisation on Earth, study affirms

The festival has been billed as the first of its kind, exhibiting the oldest culture on earth through the newest technology, on a outdoor canvas.

On opening night a visitor sits beneath one of the luminous artworks.

Image: James Horan for AGB Events

The installation and artworks draw on the beauty of modern life interwoven with traditional songlines.

Why put it in a frame when this is MUCH more impressive.

Image: James horan/agb events

As captivating as the images from the festival's opening night are, the festival hasn't escaped without controversy.

Animal conservation groups expressed concern at the festival, saying that the laser beams used in the show could be harmful to local wildlife. Zoologist and local wildlife expert Mark Carter raised the issue stating that area was home to the federally protected black-footed rock wallaby.

Exhibiting artist Hubert Pareroultja.

Image: JAMES HORAN/AGB EVENTS

Carter's concern was that the light show would cause distress for the pregnant wallabies causing them to abort or eject their joeys out of fear.

The Northern Territory Major Events general manager Andrew Hopper told AAP that all necessary precautions had been taken to prevent harm to local animals.

Parrtjima, light festival, Alice Springs, Australia - Opening Night Friday 23nd September 2016.

Image: james horan/agb events

Concern has also been raised by Senior Indigenous custodian of Alice Springs, Doris Stuart. Stuart reported growing concern that the local Arrernte stories sacred to the Alice Springs region had been ignored.

"That's the most important thing when you're messing around with sacred sites that are everything to the people who belong to the country," Stuart said.

Seeing the heart of Australia as it's never been seen before.

Image: james horan/agb Events

Hopper told ABC that the festival organisers consulted "widely with a number of Indigenous groups and traditional owners of the land, and had chosen a variety of dreamtime stories to illustrate in light."

Parrtjima exhibiting artist Reinhold Inkamala.

Image: james horan/agb events
DVD rental kiosk company Redbox takes a different spin today as a group of funds from Apollo Global Management closed a $895 million deal (not including debt) to buy the DVD kiosk companys parent, Outerwall.

Apollo divided operations into three separate businesses with Galen Smith, who had been Outerwalls CFO, becoming Redboxs CEO. Outerwall CEO Erik Prusch left the company.

Smith vows to continue to provide new movie and video game releases to millions of loyal consumers at a great value. He sees many attractive opportunities for us to build on Redboxs unrivaled brand while enhancing our already strong relationships with Redboxs studio and retail partners.

Apollos payment of $52 a share for Outerwall, taking it private, was 38% below the companys trading price in mid-July 2015. The decline was partly due to a deceleration in DVD rentals as consumers flocked to streaming services.

Redboxs Q2 revenues fell 11.4% from the same period last year to $389.1 million, which the company attributed to secular decline in the physical market on movie rentals. The operation had 123.6 million rentals, down 15.3%.

In April, Outerwall reached an agreement giving board seats to dissident shareholder Engaged Capital, which owned 14.6% of the company, after it lobbied for it to go private. In a public letter in February it attacked the Redbox owners failed strategies, flawed capital allocation policies, and misaligned governance.

Related stories

Redbox Owner To Be Bought By Private Equity Group For $1.6B

Redbox Parent Gives Board Seats To A Major Critic As It Weighs Options

Redbox Owner's Shares Spin Higher After Signaling That It's For Sale
By Nina Chestney

LONDON (Reuters) - Renewable energy will not be cost competitive with fossil fuels until 2050, Glencore (GLEN.L) said on Tuesday, much later than energy organisations forecast and supporting the mining and trading giant's case for continued investment in coal.

Glencore has said coal is still an investment opportunity, forecasting global demand will grow by 7 percent by 2030, driven by emerging economies and industrial demand, and halting spending would halve seaborne supplies in 15 years' time.

Glencore Chairman Tony Hayward told a conference in London on Tuesday that, like oil companies, the group would get a return on its investment.

"The investment we put in the ground today will come out in 10 years. The same applies to the world's oil and gas companies - their investments will come out in 20 years," Hayward said.

Renewables won't achieve cost parity with fossil fuels until 2051, he predicted.

Energy company officials attending the same conference, the Institute of Directors' (IoD) annual convention, believe parity will come much earlier.

Wilfrid Petrie, UK and Ireland chief executive at French gas and power group Engie (ENGIE.PA), said he thought it would be as early as in five years' time, whereas David Brooks, managing director of supply at UK renewable energy supplier Good Energy, said it could happen by 2020, adding that wind was already at cost parity with fossil fuels.

Research by the International Energy Agency and other organisations has shown that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar can now produce electricity in some parts of the world at a price close to that generated by fossil fuels such as coal and gas.

Hayward, who is also chairman of oil explorer Genel Energy (GENL.L) and a former boss of BP (BP.L), said great technological strides would be needed for renewables to become overall as cost competitive as fossil fuels before mid-century.

"In 15 years' time, if someone really does achieve a technological breakthrough akin to a mobile phone, an iPhone, that will change the energy picture going forward," he said.

(Additional reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Andrew Bret Wallis/Getty Images

You wake up after a rainstorm to find a puddle on your living room floor. It doesnt take a cardiothoracic surgeon to deduce that you have a leaky roof. Sure, you may know to grab a bucket, but beyond that, is this the kind of problem you can fix yourself? Yesprovided you take plenty of safety precautions.

Heres how to repair a leaky roof.

Play it safe

First, a disclaimer: Mark Graham, vice president of Technical Services at the National Roofing Contractors Association from Illinois, says that he never recommends anyone go up onto the roof themselves. Its too dangerous and can lead to serious injury. Let the professionals do their job.

Still determined? Then take safety precautions, particularly if your roof is sloped rather than flat.

Mark McNicholas, a field installation manager from Home Depot, suggests you tie yourself to the roof. You can be connected to anythingthe chimney, or even a picnic table on the other side of the houseas long as it can support your weight in case of a fall.

Locate the leak

Your first step is to identify where the leak is coming from. According to Graham, a literal hole in the roof is very rare and something you dont see too often.

So how do you know where the damage is? Look for cracks on your roof or shingles that look raised up, damaged, or possibly with mold around them.

McNicholas says that over the years, the nails on shingles swell and expand from rain. This causes shingle to pry up and become cracked and damaged.

As for how to repair the problem, its based primarily on what type of roof you have: flat or sloped.

For a flat roof

Flat roofs rarely have shingles, which means small holes can be patched pretty easily and can be done with primer and self-adhesive patching. Here are the materials youll need:

Roof primer and patching system (like Lowes Peel & Seel)

Paintbrush

Scissors

Flat-roof roller

What to do:

Brush off any loose material around the damaged area. Apply primer, overlapping it onto the undamaged sections. If instructed, let the primer dry (this will depend on which one you buy). Cut off some of that self-adhesive patching and cover the hole. Smooth it by pressing on the patch with the palm of your hand. After that, take your roller and smooth it even more, making sure its a good seal. This will prevent water from creeping in through the edges.

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For a sloped roof

Sloped roofs usually have shingles, which complicates your fix-it job. Here are the materials youll need to make repairs:

Pry bar

Hammer

Roofing nails

Roofing adhesive

Shingles

What to do:

Lift the broken shingle, take out the nails (carefully), and remove the shingle. Use a pry bar to lift up (but not completely remove) the shingles above the damaged area. Cut a shingle to the proper length and slide it under the now-raised area, on top of the damage. Use roofing nails to secure the newly placed shingle. Put a little bit of adhesive on the head of each nail and push down to make sure the shingle is secure.

While these are fixes you can do yourself, almost everything you do is temporary.

McNicholas says, No matter what you do, you need to hire a professional to make a permanent fix. Hear that, DIYers?

The post How to Repair a Leaky Roof and Live to Tell the Tale appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.
This Jack Russell terrier and collie pair are inseparable in the months since they were rescued from the same home, having relied on each other in their tumultuous past.

Read: 10-Week-Old Kitten With a Painful, Infected Eye Gets The Care He Desperately Needs

Daisy, the 6-year-old collie, and Jack Russell terrier River, also 6, were handed over during an animal cruelty investigation, according to Gillian Kocher from the Pennsylvania SPCA in Philadelphia.

When the pair arrived at the rescue in June, Kocher said, Daisy had a deep, antibiotic-resistant wound on her back, while River was mostly blind.

But the pair shared a unique relationship that helped them survive their past.

Because River is blind, Daisy watches over her like a guide dog.

"[Daisy] has those watchful eyes," Kocher told InsideEdition.com. "She's always checking to see where River is, and how River is coming along. They walk side-by-side, if Daisy is not leading."

In turn, because of Daisy's deep injuries, River acts as her comfort dog.

"River lays on top of Daisy," she said. "River is very tiny. It reminds me almost like a cat laying on a dog. They sleep together."

Kocher said the pair were briefly separated when Daisy was in surgery, and "they both stopped eating."

But once the dogs were placed in the same cage, their joyful demeanor and appetites returned almost instantly.

Read: Bear, Lion and Tiger Become an Inseparable Trio After a Sharing a Traumatic Past

Now, as River and Daisy are only days away from being well enough to go to a loving family, the SPCA is looking forward to sending them off to a forever home together.

"They truly are a bonded pair," Kocher said.

To donate to River and Daisy's care, visit the SPCA's medical fund.

Watch: Blind Pooch Explores the World With Help of Pomeranian Guide Dog Friend

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20 Nepalis in UK jail

At least 20 Nepalis are currently serving jail term in England and Wales, according to a data provided by the United Kingdom Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
lester holt

After weeks of arguments about the proper role of a presidential debate moderator, Lester Holt's performance during the first presidential debate appeared to go over successfully.

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, told CNN that he was satisfied with Holt's performance.

"I thought Lester did a great job," Trump said. When asked by CNN whether the questions were fair, the real-estate mogul said he "thought it was great."

Many observers from various political stripes claimed that the NBC anchor effectively modulated his role, pushing and fact-checking both Trump and Hillary Clinton occasionally, but largely refraining from definitively ruling in favor for either candidate.

"I've been there. I thought Lester Holt did a fine job," Fox News host Megyn Kelly said shortly after the debate concluded.

"Conservatives should agree @LesterHoltNBC did a very fine job moderating. He pushed on birther issue and Iraq War but gave plenty of time," conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, a Trump backer, tweeted.

Others agreed:

Since we were all so poised to jump on Lester Holt, let us say: He did a good job.  Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) September 27, 2016

Lester Holt did a great job.  Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) September 27, 2016

Lester Holt has done a fine job as moderator. Not too intrusive, moving this along, fact-checking when necessary. #debates  Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 27, 2016

One clear winner tonight: @LesterHoltNBC. Did not make himself the story. Inserted himself when necessary. #debatenight  Ben White (@morningmoneyben) September 27, 2016

The Clinton campaign also appeared pleased with Holt's performance.

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"I thought Lester Holt did a good job. I think it was a very informative debate," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told reporters.

Asked whether he hoped Holt would have fact-checked more, Mook said the campaign was "happy with the debate as it went."

In contrast, the Trump campaign's message was muddled.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, told Business Insider that Holt did a "fine job," while some top Trump supporters disagreed.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani criticized the NBC anchor for characterizing the city's former stop-and-frisk policy as unconstitutional. A federal judge in 2013 ruled the way the city practiced the tactic unconstitutional.

"I think it's outrageous that Lester Holt interfered in a legal discussion he knows nothing about on the side of Hillary Clinton. And I didn't see him once interfere on the side of Donald Trump," Giuliani told reporters. "He should be ashamed of himself."

Breitbart News, a popular far-right organization that has thrown its support behind the Republican presidential nominee, slammed Holt, publishing articles that claimed the anchor "shilled for Hillary." The Drudge Report, another popular news source for conservatives, called Holt "the third debater."

Trump adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that the NBC anchor did a good job overall, though she complained that Holt parroted Clinton talking points.

"He had the weight of the world on his shoulders," Huckabee Sanders said of Holt.

For weeks, observers quarreled over whether the presidential moderators should actively fact-check Trump, who has made a record number of notably false claims, and Clinton, who has made her fair share of untrue statements. Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who will moderate the final presidential debate, has said it is not the moderator's job to be a "truth squad."

Brett LoGiurato and Allan Smith contributed reporting.

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Greece Greek Pharmacist Drugs

To get a drug approved in the US, it has to pass through the regulatory hands of the Food and Drug Administration.

The process takes time, and there's a lot of communication between medical reviewers at the agency and the companies that are developing the drug.

But where do those medical reviewers go when they leave the FDA?

Dr. Vinay Prasad, a professor of medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University, told Business Insider that he had been hearing anecdotally that after leaving the FDA, reviewers would take a job within the drug industry  something that could lead to serious conflicts of interest. But there weren't any overarching statistics that he could find about that career trajectory, commonly referred to as a "revolving door."

So Prasad, along with Jeffrey Bien, an internal medicine resident at OHSU, focused specifically on hematology-oncologist drug reviewers, who worked on cancer drugs at the FDA from 2001 to 2010. (That means the results may not be representative across the agency, but the numbers a good starting point for future analysis.)

Of the 55 reviewers, about half (27 reviewers) are still with the agency. But of the 26 that left the FDA, 15 of them went on to work for the biopharmaceutical industry, or about 60%. The researchers couldn't identify the next job of another eight of those who had left the agency, so that number in the biopharmaceutical industry could be even higher. Their findings were published in a letter to the BMJ.

Prasad said he was surprised to see so many people go from the FDA to the drug industry, in part because of the variety of degrees the reviewers had. If they wanted to, he said, many could've gone on other paths, including practicing medicine.

The concern Prasad has with people moving from regulation to the industry they were just regulating isn't really about anything happening outright (like promising someone a job if a drug gets approved) than it is about the reviewers knowing that they've got a 60% chance of being on the other side of the table in a few years.

Story continues

"You're not going to be a tough negotiator," he said.

While people leaving the FDA and immediately entering industry is concerning, moves in the other direction  from industry directly into the FDA  are worrisome too.

Last year, after lax regulation at the FDA involving a potentially dangerous ingredient found in supplements, The New York Times Editorial Board took a strong stance against the agency's "revolving door." They wrote:

The F.D.A. says it hires people with industry ties because it needs experts from diverse backgrounds in public health, academia, science and industry working collaboratively to produce the best health outcomes. And some experts say that an industry perspective helps the agency understand what impact a regulatory action might have in the business world.

But consumer advocates are surely right that putting the industry in charge of supplement regulation is like appointing the fox to guard the henhouse. Clearly, the F.D.A. should not allow industry insiders to fill key positions.

Prasad and Bien brought up similar questions in their letter in the BMJ. "The transition from regulator to advising companies seems logical," they wrote, "but it raises concern as to whether regulators indefatigably act in the public interest."

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TORONTO (Reuters) - Rogers Communications Inc (RCIb.TO) remains committed to its dividend growth strategy and the failure of its Shomi video streaming joint venture has not diminished its enthusiasm to invest in new technologies, its deputy chairman said on Tuesday.

The Toronto-based company said on Monday it expects to shoulder between C$100 million ($75.68 million) and C$140 million in losses from the wind-down of the service, which was a response to the threat Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) posed to Rogers' cable television business.

"We've aspired to move beyond just the television, and Shomi was one foray into that," said Edward Rogers, whose family controls the company built by his late father.

"While that didn't work to what was planned, it hasn't diminished our enthusiasm and hunger to invest," he added, referencing a plan to launch an Internet-enabled television product by the end of this year.

The company's biggest rival, BCE Inc (BCE.TO), already has 1.27 million customers for its own Internet-based TV product.

Rogers made the comments after unveiling his family's plan to invest C$1.5 billion over 10 to 15 years to build a 10-tower condominium development in Mississauga, just west of Toronto.

He said that plan would have no impact on the family's ownership of the public company, which he said he still sees as a dividend-growth stock.

"We are committing to our company, committed to the people that own our shares and thanking them and giving back to them in the form of dividends as the company grows," he said.

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp)
They've already been back to school once this fall, and now Prince William and Princess Kate are back on campus again!



On Tuesday, William and Kate revisited their university days when they toured the University of British Columbia Okanagan as part of their royal Canadian tour.



While there, the royal couple unveiled a plaque commemorating the university's 10-year anniversary, met with members of the Okanagan Nation alliance and viewed an art instillation by Aboriginal artist Les Louis, a member of the Lower Similkameen Band.





Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Welcomes Prince William, Princess Kate and Kids to Canada









Okanagan Grand Chief Stewart Phillip presented the royal couple with gifts and from there, William and Kate met with student leaders.



Will and Kate then proceeded to an exhibition game by the university's nationally-ranked women's volleyball team. The couple's low-key elegance stood out from the all-student crowd in the packed gymnasium, with Kate dazzling in a green Dolce & Gabbana dress and William sporting brown slacks, blue blazer and stylish blue suede shoes.





Royals on Campus! William and Kate Head Back to School During Canadian Tour| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte





The Duke and Duchess have arrived at UBC Okanagan! #RoyalVisitCanada :flag-ca: pic.twitter.com/ZlYVCg1BW1 a Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 27, 2016





 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



Professor Deborah Buszard, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UBC Okanagan, tells PEOPLE she's thankful that William and Kate took the time to lend their "star quality" to her young university and to the other institutions they've visited on their second Canadian tour  including a center for mothers battling substance abuse issues and an an organization that helps refugees.



"They seem to really be focusing on groups that normally don't get to be in the presence of distinguished visitors which I think is great," she says. "They're reinventing the image of royalty and what the royal family stands for."



After departing campus, Will and Kate will head to the Taste of British Columbia Festival in at the Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna where they will tour the vineyards and indulge in samples of local wine and food.



The royals will spend the rest of the day in Whitehorse, Yukon where they will meet with Canadian Rangers and Junior Rangers. William and Kate will end a jam-packed day by viewing a performance of a cultural celebration of the Yukon.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / RT Minerals Corp. (RTM.V) (the "Company") announces that it has entered into option agreements to acquire a 100% interest, subject to 2% Net Smelter Royalty, in the 29 claim unit Norwalk gold property and the 39 claim unit Dill River gold property, located several kilometers south and southeast of the town of Wawa, Ontario.

The Company is further pleased to announce that it has secured the advisory and field services of Mr. Mike Tremblay, who is the property vendor for the Norwalk, Dill River and the Company's 100% owned Ballard Lake gold properties. Mr. Tremblay won the 2013 Ontario Prospector of the Year award for his involvement in the discovery of the 8,000,000+ ounce Borden Lake gold deposit (now controlled by Goldcorp) located about 50 kilometres east of the Company's properties.

Pursuant to the Company's news release of September 12, 2016, drilling is ongoing at the Company's Ballard Lake property, Ontario. The first hole of the program is underway testing for mineralization approximately 50 to 75 metres beneath gold bearing surface trenches, as well as testing a coincident geophysical target.

Norwalk Gold Property

The Company may earn its 100% interest in the Norwalk gold property by paying an initial consideration of $5,000 and 200,000 common shares of the Company upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval of the agreement (the "Acceptance Date"); and making additional optional payments of $15,000 and 100,000 common shares on the first anniversary of the Acceptance Date; $25,000 and 100,000 common shares on the second anniversary of the Acceptance Date; and $45,000 and 100,000 common shares on the third anniversary of the Acceptance Date.

The Norwalk property is accessible year round by road and is situated immediately south of Red Pine Exploration Inc.'s ("Red Pine") Surluga property and mineral resource (NI 43-101 Inferred Mineral Resource of approximately 1.1 million ounces Au). The Property displays similar geology, mineralization and alteration as the Surluga property to the north. Historical records indicate that the Property hosts several gold showings from small scale past workings at surface and underground. There are three known gold occurrences and/or gold bearing veins on the Property. There are two exploration shafts on the Property ranging from 40 metres to 66 metres in depth along with exploration headings of 15 metres in length on one of the 1.5 metre wide veins. High grade gold mineralization from past work (early 1900's) has been reported from the various gold occurrences contained within narrow quartz veins (25 cm wide) with disseminated pyrite (MDI file). The surrounding intermediate metavolcanic rocks are strongly carbonatized and are known in some locations to contain lower grade gold mineralization along with the higher grade quartz veins contained therein.

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Dill River Gold Property

The Company may earn its 100% interest in the Dill River gold property by paying an initial consideration of $3,000 and 200,000 common shares of the Company upon receipt of TSXV approval of the agreement; and making additional optional payments of $10,000 and 100,000 common shares on the first anniversary of TSXV approval; $17,000 and 100,000 common shares on the second anniversary date; and $20,000 and 100,000 common shares on the third anniversary of TSXV approval.

The Dill River gold property is contiguous to the eastern boundary of Red Pine's Surluga property and generally covers the same local geology as the Norwalk and Surluga properties.

The acquisitions of the Norwalk and Dill River properties are subject to TSXV acceptance.

Mr. Yvan Bussieres, P.Eng., is the Qualified Person who has prepared or supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis for the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Antoniazzi

President and Chief Executive Officer

RT Minerals Corp.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's exploration activities, project expenditures and business plans are approximate and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities legislation. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as adverse market conditions, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties may not achieve any category of resource(s). The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, fluctuations in the price of gold, equity markets or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that drill results reported in this news release or future releases will lead to the identification of a deposit that can be mined economically, and further work is required to identify resources and reserves. We seek safe harbour.

SOURCE: RT Minerals Corp.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he would not participate in the next two presidential debates if he were in Donald Trumps position  that is, unless the moderators agreed to certain conditions.

The outspoken Trump adviser expressed dismay over NBC journalist Lester Holts performance moderating the debate Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Politico reported.

Giuliani was apparently aggrieved by Holts attempts to fact-check the Republican candidate on the legality of stop-and-frisk and whether he initially supported the Iraq War.

If I were Donald Trump I wouldnt participate in another debate unless I was promised that the journalist would act like a journalist and not an incorrect, ignorant fact-checker, Giuliani said, according to Politico. The moderator would have to promise that there would be a moderator and not a fact-checker and in two particular cases an enormously ignorant, completely misinformed fact-checker.

During the debate, in presenting himself as a law and order candidate, Trump suggested that the epidemic of gun violence in Chicago might be assuaged if the citys police department adopted the controversial stop-and-frisk method from New York.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump listens as Hillary Clinton answers a question during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University Monday night. (Photo: David Goldman/AP)

Stop-and-frisk was ruled unconstitutional in New York because it largely singled out black and Hispanic young men, Holt said.

No. Youre wrong, Trump replied. It went before a judge who was a very against-police judge. It was taken away from her, and our mayor  our new mayor  refused to go forward with the case. They would have won on appeal.

On Aug. 12, 2013, a federal court ruled that the New York City Police Departments stop-and-frisk program violated the Fourth Amendments right to freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures and the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

Clinton said during the debate that stop-and-frisk was found to be unconstitutional and ineffective.

There are the right ways of doing it, and then there are ways that are ineffective, she said. Stop-and-frisk was found to be unconstitutional and, in part, because it was ineffective. It did not do what it needed to do.

Story continues

Rudy Giuliani arrives with his wife, Judith, for the presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Monday. (Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP)

Giuliani said this ruling had nothing to do with the police departments activities while he was mayor.

What shes talking about being unconstitutional was not my program, Giuliani later told Yahoo News Hunter Walker. That was 12 years later. That was Michael Bloombergs program. And it wasnt found unconstitutional. It was found unconstitutional as applied. And the Court of Appeals removed the judge who made that decision.
Moscow (AFP) - Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on Tuesday signed a petition calling for a legal ban on abortion, the Church said in a statement.

The Patriarch met anti-abortion campaigners and signed a petition to be handed to President Vladimir Putin urging a ban on abortions.

The Patriach's signing of the petition apparently represents a hardening of the Church's position as it has previously only called for a ban on state-provided abortions without a medical necessity.

The Church said in its statement that the wording of the petition, which calls for "the end of legal murder of children before birth" was agreed with its commission on family and protecting motherhood and childhood.

The petition says the signatories "demand legislative amendments" to ban "surgical" and "drug-induced" abortions and the morning-after pill.

One of the pro-life groups behind the petition, Orthodox Volunteers, posted photographs of Kirill signing the petition on its social networking site.

The Church said the Patriarch thanked and blessed the campaigners at Tuesday's meeting.

In May the Patriarch called abortions "truly a national catastrophe carrying away the lives of more than 1 million of our fellow citizens every year."

So far the petition has gathered more than 300,000 signatures, one of its initiators, the head of For Life pro-life group, Sergei Chesnokov, wrote on Facebook.

He said the campaigners hope to gather 1 million signatures and plan to hand in the petition to the president's office.

In Russia, where Church and state are technically separate but Orthodox Christianity has a powerful voice, abortions are carried out frequently.

Just under one million legal abortions were carried out by state hospitals in 2014 according to the latest available government statistics.

But experts say the real number is considerably higher as this figure does not include procedures done at private clinics.

Story continues

Recently conservative politicians have increased calls to legally limit the number of abortions.

Conservative lawmaker Yelena Mizulina last year submitted a bill that would ban abortions in private clinics and only allow them to be covered by state healthcare if the pregnancy threatened the woman's life.

But parliament refused to back the bill, with Russia's number three politician, the speaker of the upper house of parliament Valentina Matviyenko, calling it "extremist."
Chair Olis shaky position on India opposed in UML

CPN-UML leaders have criticised party Chairman and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli for being inconsistent in his views on relations with India.
WWE Network

Boy, what a whirlwind few months its been for the once and future Ryback. The wrestler parted ways with WWE earlier this summer, quite some time before his contract came to an official end. Since then, hes been everywhere. Hes been hosting a regular Periscope show, taking independent dates, changing his ring name to The Big Guy and then literally changing his legal name to Ryback. And now  hes thinking about lacing them up and going into MMA.

According to both Dave Meltzer and Jeremy Botter, Ryback is in the early stages of negotiating with Bellator, the second-largest MMA promotion in North America. And Meltzer over at MMA Fighting got confirmation from Bellators CEO, which is probably a good person to be able to confirm those sorts of things.

Spoke, but nothing close, said Bellator CEO Scott Coker[.]

Well, there you have it! Ryback was billed at around 290 for most of his wrestling career, so if he can cut to 265, hell definitely be fighting in the heavyweight division. Ive heard even less about Ryback being into MMA than I heard about CM Punk being into BJJ during their respective wrestling careers, so Im sure his fighting debut will go loads better than Punks.

This news of Ryback going into fighting is one of the richest ironies (hopefully Im using that in the correct sense and not in the Alanis Morissette sense) you can think of. Ryback and Punk have a rich and storied real-life animosity toward each other that goes back to before Punk left WWE. Surprisingly, Ryback had some positive and supportive comments for Punk after UFC 203:

From a basic human being standpoint, he is showing courage doing something the majority of people on this planet will never do and that is step in a cage and fight in front of millions of people. I respect he wants to test himself and has the courage to do so. For that reason alone, while I dont condone him saying the things he said about me, I want to him do well. Any man can beat another man on any given night, so I just hope he achieves what he is looking for in this and I will leave it at that.

Did  did CM Punk inspire Ryback to go into MMA? WHAT WORLD ARE WE LIVING IN.

We hope the Big Guy is able to similarly follow his dreams and make it to that big ol cagefight hes hoping for. Lets just hope his training camp ignores his insistence on waking up for feeding time before his weigh-in days.
GLAAD was in crisis. A series of leadership shakeups coupled with the 2008 economic collapse, which dried up donations, had left the advocacy group essentially broke and directionless. Plus, after launching bruising media campaigns against the likes of Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan, the gay and lesbian organization was in danger of being seen as the P.C. police. Enter Sarah Kate Ellis. When she took the reins as president of GLAAD in 2014, she knew the stakes were high.

I was hired to either turn GLAAD around or to shut it down, says Ellis on a recent morning, adding that the organization had been operating at a deficit for five straight years. As a woman with two children and a wife, I couldnt imagine a world where my kids grew up without GLAAD. It had done such unbelievable work and created such a powerful platform  to see that go away would have been a terrible disservice.

What Ellis and her team realized is that GLAAD had to be more selective in its public battles. Moreover, before it engaged in a war of press releases, it had to weigh the cultural impact. In the past, the organization had a tendency to wage reactive crusades instead of looking to the future.

Ellis is an unlikely leader for GLAAD. A former executive at Time Inc., she had never been in the nonprofit world. Under her tenure, GLAAD devotes about 20% of its resources to holding the media accountable. Her team landed on the ground in the hours after the Orlando massacre, advising reporters on how to cover the tragedy so that the faces of the victims wouldnt be forgotten. But theres also attention paid to what it means to be gay in 2016, at a time where marriage may be legal, but discrimination is institutionalized.

Ellis was a thorn in Russian president Vladimir Putins side, drawing attention to the countrys anti-LGBTQ laws during the Sochi Olympics. And after convincing sponsors of the New York St. Patricks Day parade to pull their support, she lifted a decades-long ban on gay participants.

Story continues

I couldnt imagine a world where my kids grew up without GLAAD. It had done such unbelievable work and created such a powerful platform  to see that go away would have been a terrible disservice. Sarah Kate Ellis

Among Ellis fans is ID PR founder Kelly Bush. Im grateful for her leadership and confident that GLAADs commitment to cultural and economic equality will result in a brighter future for my children and yours, Bush says.

GLAAD still believes in the power of pop culture to shape attitudes and foster greater acceptance. In Hollywood, the organization has continued to release an annual scorecard of LBGTQ depictions in TV and movies, routinely finding that the big screen lags behind the small.

The six major studios have no LGBTQ representation, Ellis says, citing the need for tentpoles to perform well in countries that are hostile toward gay people. We can have subtle inclusions, she says. At least lets get the ball rolling.

TV is better, but she notices how streaming series like Orange Is the New Black and Transparent are ahead of network shows. We continue to push them, Ellis says. It tends to be still a gay-white-male depiction.

When GLAAD launched in 1985  as the Gay Anti-Defamation League  in protest over the New York Posts homophobic coverage of AIDS, there was almost no public visibility for the gay community. GLAADs role as a media watchdog was important through 1997 and thereafter, when Ellen DeGeneres became the first television star to openly come out. Now, 87% of Americans say they know someone who is gay, but that figure is significantly lower for the transgender community.

As a remedy, in 2015 Ellis added a full-time position for Nick Adams as director of the transgender media program. She recognized we were at a tipping point, Adams says, referring to the rise of stars like Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner. What I really appreciate from Sarah Kates leadership  shes been thinking about the future and where the world will be for GLAAD in a post-marriage-equality environment.

Over the last two years, Ellis has cleaned up GLAADs books. The organization no longer hemorrhages money, as its revenue has grown by 38 percent. Ellis spoke to Variety after returning from a fundraiser in San Francisco that brought in $1 million. The group, which includes a staff of about 30 in New York and Los Angeles, will start hiring again soon.

GLAAD has never been in a better position, Ellis says. In other social movements, the cultural work falls off, and you look at the challenges were seeing today in Black Lives Matter and womens issues. Its important that you continue pushing and changing hearts and minds.

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(Reuters) - French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy said on Tuesday he would offer Britain a chance to reverse its Brexit vote by negotiating a new treaty for the European Union with Germany, if he wins presidency in 2017, the Financial Times reported. Sarkozy said the new treaty would focus on reforming the Schengen passport-free zone, restricting the European Commission's prerogatives to a dozen, integrating the eurozone further and halting membership talks with Turkey, according to FT. (http://on.ft.com/2cAUKC1) Sarkozy said if he is elected he would fly to Britain with a draft of new EU treaty the day after the second ballot of the presidential election to secure the support of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I would tell the British, you've gone out, but we have a new treaty on the table so you have an opportunity to vote again," the former French president said to business leaders in Paris. "But this time not on the old Europe, on the new Europe. Do you want to stay? If yes, so much the better. Because I cant accept to lose Europe's second-largest economy while we are negotiating with Turkey over its EU membership. And if it's no, then it's a real no. You're in or you're out." Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23 and new Prime Minister Theresa May has so far repeated that the formal divorce notification will not be sent before the end of the year. Some aides have suggested her plan is to invoke Article 50 early in 2017. [nL8N1BZ3IT] After the shock referendum, Sarkozy, member of France's conservative Les Republicains party, had said that he wants a new EU treaty and the suspension of Turkey's EU accession negotiations. [nL8N19G41X] Sarkozy announced his candidacy for the April 2017 French presidential election in August, hoping to return as France's head of state after being unseated in 2012 by the now deeply unpopular Francois Hollande. [nL8N1B335Y] (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Jeremy Corbyn has not had an easy few months. From watching Britain vote to leave the European Union, calls for his resignation and traingate, the Labour leader has had a tumultuous few months.

In his latest tirade, spoof reporter Jonathan Pie criticises the media for their treatment of Corbyn since his initial election as party leader in 2015.

Pie does not curtail his criticism of Corbyns treatment to the media industry, who he describes as upper-middle-class-privately-educated twats, but also the Labour party itself for being more concerned with power than policy. Credit: YouTube/Jonathan Pie
By Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler and Vladimir Soldatkin

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Iran rejected on Tuesday an offer from Saudi Arabia to limit its oil output in exchange for Riyadh cutting supply, dashing market hopes the two major OPEC producers would find a compromise this week to help ease a global glut of crude.

"The gap (in views) between OPEC countries is narrowing. I don't expect that an agreement will come out of the consultations tomorrow," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier: "It is not the time for decision-making." Referring to the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, he added: "We will try to reach agreement for November."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold informal talks at 1400 GMT on Wednesday. Its members are also meeting non-OPEC producers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers.

Oil prices <LCOc1> have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

A deal has also been complicated by acute political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are fighting several proxy-wars in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen.

Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadh's position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.

WHAT IRAN WANTS

On Tuesday, several OPEC delegates said the positions of Saudi Arabia and Iran remained too far apart. Oil prices were down more than 3 percent by 1802 GMT. [O/R]

Story continues

"There is a move forward, but they (OPEC) haven't got to the finish," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting Falih and Zanganeh. Novak and Falih said a deal was still possible later this year.

Three OPEC sources said Iran, whose production has stagnated at 3.6 million barrels per day, insisted on having the right to ramp up to around 4.1-4.2 million bpd, while OPEC Gulf members wanted its output to be frozen below 4 million.

Several OPEC sources said Iran effectively rejected the offer despite last-minute attempts by Russia, Algeria and Qatar to rescue a deal.

The Saudi and Iranian economies depend heavily on oil, but Iran is seeing the pressure easing as it emerges from years of sanctions. Riyadh, on the other hand, faces a second year of record budget deficits and is being forced to cut the salaries of government employees.

BLAME GAME

Iranian oil sources said Tehran wanted OPEC to allow it to produce 12.7 percent of the group's output, equal to what it was extracting before 2012, when the European Union imposed additional sanctions on the country for its nuclear activities.

Sanctions were eased in January 2016.

Between 2012 and 2016, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf OPEC members have raised output to compete for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States.

As a result, Iran believes its fair production share in OPEC should be higher than its current output, which it says should rise once Tehran agrees new investments with international oil companies. Saudi output has risen to 10.7 million bpd from 10.2 million in recent months due to local needs for summer cooling.

Gary Ross, a veteran OPEC watcher and founder of U.S.-based think tank PIRA, said Saudi output had risen too steeply in recent months and even if it were cut to pre-summer levels, Iran would see an offer to freeze its own output as unfair.

"It is a carefully calculated offer because Saudi Arabia knows it will not be acceptable to Iran ... Saudi Arabia wants to put the blame of OPEC inaction in Algiers on Iran," he said.

Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB Markets, said: "We cannot see how Iran could possibly accept the Saudi offer. It would be like asking a long-time prisoner who was finally released from prison to go back again."

He said the lack of a deal in Algeria would result in further downside pressure on oil as Saudi Arabia would maintain elevated output levels while Iran boosted supply too.

Falih said he saw no need for significant output cuts as the market was rebalancing itself. He added that Saudi Arabia was investing in additional spare capacity and could withstand the current trend in oil prices.

(Additional reporting by Patrick Markey and Lamine Chikhi; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson)
Dr KC on ninth hunger strike

Dr Govinda KC, an orthopaedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, started his hunger strike, for the ninth time, on Monday, saying that the government was yet to fulfil his demands.
Scream Queens stars Taylor Lautner, Lea Michele and John Stamos have had their fair share of spooky moments  on and off the screen.



Michele is back for season two of the Fox comedy, which welcomes both Stamos and Lautner as hunky doctors in a mental institution. But spooky moments aren't just on the show.



"My old apartment in New York was a brownstone and it was haunted. I would hear women singing a lot. Like, warming up, like scales," Michele, 30, says. "And I'd be downstairs and the windows would slam shut and I found out that it used to be a nunnery in the early 1900s."



She adds: "I moved out so fast. Let me tell you, I was out of there."







For Stamos, 53, one of his scariest moments turned out to be life-changing.



"I got divorced," he joked. "That was scary."



Lautner reminisced about the creepy crawlies of his past.



"I was in Santa Fe and my house was infested with mice ... And I'm terrified of mice and snakes."



Yikes!



Scream Queens airs Tuesdays (9 p.m. ET) on Fox.
By Anusha Ravindranath

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Philippine shares fell 1 percent to a

more than one-week low on Tuesday, dragged down by energy and

industrial stocks, while Vietnam stocks rallied for a seventh

straight session with financials leading the gains.

Other Southeast Asian stock markets were mixed as investors

decoded the first U.S. presidential debate between Democrat

Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

Clinton accused Trump of having a long history of racist

behaviour, while Trump said Clinton "doesn't have the stamina"

to be president.

Both Trump and Clinton, shown in opinion polls to be the

least liked White House candidates in modern history, hoped to

use the debate to erase lingering voter doubts and address

campaign-trail weaknesses.

"For me it was Hillary who won the debate, but only by a

slight margin," said Victor Felix, an analyst with AB Capital

Securities Inc in Manila.

"I think markets are reacting neutrally to the debate," he

said, adding that investors would probably wait for the next two

debates to get a clear picture of who might take the lead.

Philippine shares fell for a third straight session

with Petron Corp and Ayala Corp among the

bottom movers.

"We (Philippine markets) are dealing with our own political

noise here," said Victor Felix, adding that investors and

analysts would like to see President Rodrigo Duterte talking

more about growth and expansion, and less about drug-war and

killings.

The peso hit a fresh seven-year low against the

dollar, extending losses on concerns about the impact of

Duterte's policies on capital inflows and international

relations.

Vietnam shares touched a more than two-month peak

with Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development

of Vietnam rising 3.5 percent.

Singapore shares rose with Singapore Airlines

and DBS Group Holdings among the top

gainers, while Indonesian shares fell for a second

straight session, weighed down by telecoms and financials.

Thai stocks rose marginally, driven by gains in

Story continues

healthcare and industrial sectors.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

STOCK MARKETS

Change on the

day

Market Current previous Pct Move

close

Singapore 2856.37 2849.94 0.23

Bangkok 1493.92 1490.14 0.25

Manila 7551.21 7632.46 -1.06

Jakarta 5344.921 5352.139 -0.13

Kuala Lumpur 1663.29 1669.5 -0.37

Ho Chi Minh 680.65 677.04 0.53

Change so far

this year

Market Current End prev yr Pct Move

Singapore 2856.37 2882.73 -0.91

Bangkok 1493.92 1288.02 15.99

Manila 7551.21 6952.08 8.62

Jakarta 5344.921 4593.008 16.37

Kuala Lumpur 1663.29 1692.51 -1.73

Ho Chi Minh 680.65 579.03 17.55

(Reporting by Anusha Ravindranath in Bengaluru; Editing by

Subhranshu Sahu)
Selena Gomez is currently taking a break from social media and the spotlight, but Selenators never sleep. For proof, look at Gomezs Instagram account, which just became the first one ever to hit the 100 million follower mark thanks to a campaign by fans to put her over the top. Though Selena hasnt posted any new images since the pic below from her now-canceled Revival Tour, the high score puts her above such fellow Instagram queens as Taylor Swift (91.4 million), Beyonce (85.3 million), Ariana Grande (85 million) and even Kim Kardashian West (83.6 million).

@revivaltour A photo posted by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Aug 15, 2016 at 5:40am PDT

Gomez canceled the remainder of her Revival Tour to deal with what she said was Lupus-related depression, which also spurred her current social media holiday. She was already the top Insta celeb, but when Selenators saw she was near the 100 milli mark they started the #SelenaBreakTheInternet hash to ger her over the hump.

She deserves the 100 million followers on Instagram, I adore this sweet girl so much. #SelenaBreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/AWbduEbO6n  Jenny  (@strxwbxrryirwin) September 24, 2016

Hasnt posted anything in over a month, yet is the first and only person to reach 100M followers on Instagram. #SelenaBreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/ettxLDT7Hm   (@selenaszayn) September 25, 2016

Me seeing queen hit 100M and then seeing the trend like #SelenaBreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/4G7qslvmEj  Achu (@nefelibata36) September 25, 2016

Just two months ago Gomez was found to have the most liked photo on Instagram with about 4 million likes at the time. This photo of her with a bottle of Coke is now up to 5.6 million likes.
[Photo: Pexels]

Selfies have been getting a bad rep recently, with people saying that theyre vain, trigger low self esteem and are something that only self-obsessed millennials like to do.

So its nice to see selfies being given some credit instead, as new research reveals that they could actually be good for our mental health.

Psychologists at the University of California assessed 41 students, most of whom were women (28 female to 13 male), and watched them go about their daily routines for four weeks.



First, participants were asked to note down their mood three times a day, along with a specific time or event that affected their mood.

[Photo: Pexels]



In the three weeks after this, they were told to take photos each time they wrote these emotions down too.

The group was then randomly split into three, with one third being asked to take a smiling selfie at this time, another to take a picture of an object of place that made them happy, and the final group told to take a picture of something that would make someone else happy before sending it to the person.

And of the three groups, those that took a selfie felt happier and more confident.

In other words, taking happy selfies is far from damaging for our self esteems - in fact, it probably makes us happier.

Do you think selfies make us happier? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.

Why this brelfie is causing such a stir online



Our 5 top one-stop beauty shops


By Dustin Volz and Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Six senators on Tuesday demanded that Yahoo Inc explain why hackers' theft of user information for 500 million accounts two years ago came to light only last week and called the company's handling of the breach "unacceptable." The lawmakers, all Democrats, said they were "disturbed" that the 2014 intrusion, which was disclosed by the company on Thursday, was detected so long after it occurred. "That means millions of Americans data may have been compromised for two years," the senators wrote in a letter to Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer. "This is unacceptable." A Yahoo spokesman said the company would respond in a "timely and appropriate manner" to the letter, which was signed by Senators Patrick Leahy, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden and Edward Markey. The top U.S. stock market regulator said separately that prompt disclosure by companies of "cyber events" is a priority. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White, asked about Yahoo, said she could not comment specifically on it. She earlier said at a conference that SEC examiners in recent months have been checking that companies comply with 2011 agency guidance stressing the need to disclose hacks. Yahoo has faced mounting questions about exactly when it knew about the 2014 cyber attack that exposed the email credentials of users, a critical issue for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover of its core business by Verizon Inc . The internet firm has said it detected the breach this summer after conducting a security review prompted by an unrelated hacking claim that turned out to be meritless. Yahoo has not given a precise timeline explaining when it was made aware of the 2014 attack, or if it knew of the breach before announcing the deal with Verizon in late July. In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said her agency supported quick disclosures although she declined to say if the FTC was investigating Yahoo. "In our view, approximately 30 to 60 days (after a breach is discovered) might be appropriate," she told the Senate Commerce Committee. "It is necessary for consumers to be notified so they can take appropriate steps to protect themselves." In their letter, the senators requested Yahoo brief them on the company's investigation, cooperation with authorities and plans to protect affected users. The senators asked Mayer for a timeline of the hack and discovery as well as Yahoo's steps to prevent another breach. Yahoo's shares closed up 2.5 percent at $43.37 each in a broadly bullish market on Tuesday. The letter came a day after Democratic Senator Mark Warner asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and the public about the hacking attack, which Yahoo has blamed on a "state-sponsored actor." The SEC has guidance for companies on reporting hacks, but companies that have experienced breaches often omit details from regulatory filings, a 2012 Reuters investigation found.(http://reut.rs/2dblx5S) (Reporting by Dustin Volz; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Andrew Hay and Cynthia Osterman)
Victoria (Seychelles) (AFP) - Seychelles President James Michel announced Tuesday he would quit after his party lost legislative elections, ending its four-decade grip on power.

The 72-year-old -- in office since 2004 -- made a surprise address on national television to say he would stand down on October 16.

"After 12 years as president, the time has come to hand over the reins of power to a new leader. A new leader who will take Seychelles to the next frontier of its development," Michel announced.

His successor will be the current vice president, Danny Faure, 54, who has been in the job since 2010.

Faure will take the oath of office on October 16 and see out the remainder of Michel's term. The position combines that of head of state and government.

The September 8-10 election, unfolding across an archipelago nation of 115 islands, culminated in a historic victory for the opposition coalition, the Seychellois Democratic Alliance.

It won 15 parliamentary seats against 10 for the ruling Parti Lepep, the Creole term for "people."

The opposition has pledged to cooperate with the presidency in the interests of the nation. And Michel, in his initial reaction on September 11, had vowed to work with the newly-elected legislature.

Parti Lepep has been in power since a coup in 1977, a year after independence, and it had won a majority in every election since the return of multi-party politics in 1993.

Michel had already served two five-year terms and was re-elected for a third time only last December.

But he had a wafer-thin majority of only 50.15 percent, just 193 votes more than opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan.

In April this year, the National Assembly unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to limit the presidential and vice-presidential terms to two five-year mandates, down from three five-year terms.

There is little political difference between Seychelles' rival political blocs.

The opposition argued the country needed change while the ruling party claimed it would offer economic stability for the islands, which depend on tourism and fishing.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP:

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You are hereby notified that Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has commenced an investigation into the fairness of the sale of EndoChoice to Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) for $8.00 per share. To learn more about the action and your rights, go to:

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or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f224365%2ffa09671b863240e8b102eb1f33ebd19d

It was a very close call for 17-year-old Australian surfer Cooper Allen.

The teenager was bitten on the thigh by a great white shark at around 9:00 a.m. on Monday, just off Lighthouse Beach in the town of Ballina on the east coast. But he seems pretty okay.

SEE ALSO: Great white shark spotted jumping out of water just feet from surfers

A 3.5 metre (11.4 foot) shark was spotted from the air shortly after the attack and lifesavers helped to clear the water.

NSW Police said in a statement that the surfer made his own way out of the water after the attack and was treated by a nurse on the beach. He was later taken to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition.

3.5m White shark spotted at Lighthouse Beach by NSWDPI aerial team pushed out to sea after attack on male surfer pic.twitter.com/r1NNYIGwMN  SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) September 26, 2016

Allen fortunately won't need major surgery, as the shark missed a main artery.

According to 7 News he's in "good spirits" and is joking with friends, and will likely only need a few stitches for his wounds.

He certainly seems pretty chill, considering he's just had a run-in with nature's perfect killing machine. Just look at that cheeky grin and thumbs up.

The wounds are also pretty gnarly too, let's be honest. *Graphic tweet ahead*

Thumbs up! Shark attack victim Cooper Allen shows off his battle scars in hospital @sunriseon7 @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/7H1Veepvey  Amanda Abate (@AmandaAbate) September 26, 2016

It's the fourth shark attack on the one-kilometre beach in less than two years, according to ABC News.

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Authorities abandoned a shark barrier trial in August due to rough seas, and the discussion has again reignited on what governments are doing to protect swimmers and surfers from sharks.

Currently, there are listening stations installed along the coast, which alert beachgoers through and app and via Twitter when a tagged shark is nearby.

"We need to continue to do exactly what we're doing and that is a whole range of technologies we are trialling," New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, told ABC News on Monday.

"There is already drone technology that is working  and we'll look to get that there which will provide increased surveillance.

"We can't guarantee, clearly, at any beach, that people will be safe. But, we'll do everything we can to ensure that we do that."
CHICAGO (AP) -- Finally, everything came together for James Shields.

The beleaguered right-hander pitched six effective innings for his first win in two months, Justin Morneau and Carlos Sanchez each hit a two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-1 on Monday night.

Shields (6-18) allowed one run and seven hits, using six strikeouts to help wriggle out of several jams and lift Chicago win its third straight.

The right-hander hadn't won since July 26, when he pitched scoreless ball into the eighth against the crosstown Cubs. Shields was 0-6 in his previous 10 starts and is 4-11 since a trade to Chicago from San Diego.

In this one, Shields had solid command and reached back to make some big pitches in tight spots. He was backed by four double plays and ample offense as the White Sox pulled away.

''I got ahead of hitters and I was throwing some real good pitches actually that they were just spitting on, working the count,'' said Shields, who threw 108 pitches. ''They got my pitch count up early, but I ended up grinding it out.''

Ending the drought felt good, too.

''I had a few chances my last few starts to get some wins, but sometimes those things happen,'' Shields said. ''I'm just trying to finish the season strong right now.''

Morneau and Omar Narvaez each had two hits. Jose Abreu had two hits and an RBI.

Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly (7-12) allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings in losing for the first time since July 18 at Colorado.

''I felt that I pitched better than the box score,'' Smyly said.

The Rays couldn't cash in against Shields, and then four Chicago relievers combined for three scoreless innings as Tampa Bay left 10 on base.

''Just a frustrating game on all fronts,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. ''We have some opportunities that we didn't make the most of, for sure.

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''(Shields) mixed (pitches) really well. It's just kind of unfortunate that he put it together against us tonight.''

Curt Casali drove in the lone run off Shields with a single in the fourth. Jaff Decker had three hits for Tampa Bay, which has dropped four straight and seven of eight.

The White Sox bullpen pitched scoreless ball thanks in part to Abreu throwing out Mikie Mahtook at the plate in the eighth.

Shields began his career with Tampa Bay in 2006 and pitched seven seasons with the Rays. He's 4-11 with the White Sox, who acquired him from San Diego on June 4.

Morneau homered in the seventh and Sanchez connected in the eighth.

OH, K's

The Rays struck out only six times Monday after becoming just the fifth big league team to strike out 23 or more times in a game in a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Boston on Sunday.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash, a backup catcher over eight seasons with five teams, was asked if he thought of picking up a bat himself. He quipped, ''I would have fit right in.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier sat out after being hit by a pitch on the left wrist in the second inning of Sunday's game and leaving. X-rays were negative, and Cash said he was just ''giving Kiermaier a day.''

White Sox: OF Adam Eaton missed his third game after crashing into a padded outfield wall in Cleveland on Friday night. Eaton said ''the biggest thing was the hip.'' There's no timetable for his return. ... IF Tyler Saladino (back discomfort) sat out his fourth straight game.

UP NEXT

Tampa Bay RHP Alex Cobb (1-1, 6.16) faces White Sox ace lefty Chris Sale (16-9, 3.19) on Tuesday night. Sale will try to match his career high of 17 wins set in 2012, but he's just 2-7 since peaking at 14-2 after beating Houston on July 2.
Historic Colombia peace deal signed

The Colombian government and left-wing Farc rebels have signed a historic agreement that formally brings an end to 52 years of armed conflict.
Donald Trump

HEMPSTEAD, New York  Donald Trump's surrogates brushed off one of his more curious answers during Monday night's presidential debate as "a side comment."

During the political showdown at Hofstra University, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said "there is something" Trump "is hiding" in his tax returns, which is why he refuses to release them publicly  a tradition that every major-party presidential candidate has followed for 40 years.

"Or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes, because the only years that anybody's ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license, and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax," she said.

"That makes me smart," Trump fired back.

The answer raised plenty of eyebrows, with many questioning whether the Republican nominee was admitting to not paying federal income taxes.

Clinton pressed on, adding that "maybe ... you haven't paid any federal income tax for a lot of years."

"It would be squandered ... believe me," the Republican nominee said.

Trump told CNN after the debate, "Of course I've paid federal taxes."

But that didn't stop his surrogates from being hit with a bevy of questions about his tax history, which has stayed in the news cycle as Trump has insisted that he cannot release his taxes publicly while he said they're under a routine audit by the Internal Revenue Service. He's previously said that audit may or may not be completed ahead of the election.

"Listen, he was making a side comment," GOP Chair Reince Priebus said following the debate. "He did that throughout the night. What he was talking about was making sure that, you know, he's not paying too much in taxes. But I thought he handled that right."

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a prominent Trump supporter and daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, went along a similar path as Priebus, calling it an "off-handed comment," adding that she "didn't catch the exact context."

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The comment was roundly ripped by Clinton's surrogates.

Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, a Clinton backer who had a front-row seat to the event, has ripped Trump repeatedly on social media and in interviews about his refusal to release the returns.

"Look, at some point you have to respect the fact that you're American and you have an obligation to contribute to our society," he told Business Insider when asked about Trump's comment during the debate.

Brian Fallon, the spokesman for Clinton's campaign, said the remark proved Trump is out of touch with everyday Americans  the same portrayal many Democrats used in 2012 to describe then GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who also faced immense pressure to release his tax returns.

However, Romney released them.

"I think he came off as a Romney-style plutocrat," Fallon told Business Insider. "He defended the idea of not paying taxes was a smart move."

But Rep. Chris Collins of New York, one of Trump's biggest backers in Congress, called the demands to see Trump's taxes a "witch hunt" and added that Trump definitely shouldn't release them with just six weeks before Election Day. He thought Trump's answer about being "smart" was completely appropriate.

"What I would say is every American  Hillary Clinton, you, me, Donald Trump  pays the minimum amount of taxes we're required to pay under an 8,000-page tax code," he said after the event. "Mitt Romney or Barack Obama or Donald Trump."

"I don't know what taxes he pays because in real estate you have depreciation, so, again, I don't know what he pays, and I'm not sure it matters because I'm sure he pays the least amount that he has to, like every American, which is why this whole tax return thing is a lot of nonsense," he continued.

He said that should Trump release his taxes now, it "would create more problems" because "everybody would be poring through them and nitpicking."

"And God knows how many pages they are," he added. "And [people would] say, 'Why didn't he give more money here? What happened with this partnership?' with six weeks to go."

"I don't think anyone should release their tax returns," he continued, later adding "I'm just glad when Donald Trump doesn't release them we'll be done with this once and for all."

NOW WATCH: Clinton opens up a massive lead against Trump, with lopsided support from a key voting demographic





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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / Silver One Resources Inc. (SVE.V) (BRK1.F) (SLVRF) ("Silver One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its acquisition of a subsidiary of First Mining Finance Corp. ("First Mining"), which owns three Mexican silver projects (the "Transaction"). The three Mexican properties are: La Frazada in the State of Nayarit, Mexico, Penasco Quemado in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and Pluton in the State of Durango, Mexico. La Frazada and Penasco Quemado have historical resource estimates. Pluton hosts significant exploration potential.

In consideration of the three Mexican silver projects, Silver One issued to First Mining a total of 6,000,000 common shares of Silver One, representing 7.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Silver One. The shares issued to First Mining are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on January 27, 2017 pursuant to applicable securities laws. First Mining will also have a 2.5% Net Smelter Returns royalty ("NSR") on the properties. However, Silver One can buy down 1.5% of the NSR by paying First Mining USD$ 1 million.

Greg Crowe, President and CEO noted: "It is very encouraging to see such strong investor interest in Silver One, in what is shaping up to be a resurgent silver and precious metals market. With the closing of the Private Placement Financing and the Transaction with First Mining, Silver One can now begin advancing its newly acquired silver assets."

PRIVATE PLACEMENT FINANCING

In conjunction with the closing of the Transaction, Silver One completed a non-brokered private placement financing of 10 million shares at a price of 25 cents per share for gross proceeds of C$2.5 million (the "Financing").

The shares issued under the Financing are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on January 28, 2017 pursuant to applicable securities laws and the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Proceeds of the Financing will be used for an exploration program on the newly acquired silver projects and for general working capital.

Story continues

ACQUIRED PROPERTIES

La Frazada, Nayarit, Mexico

La Frazada is located approximately 300 km northwest of Guadalajara and hosts silver rich epithermal veins with base metals. The 299-hectare exploration concession lies within the western foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Access is good, being only a few kilometers from the main coastal highway with average elevations less than 200m above sea level. La Frazada was mined in the late 1890s by an English company, with the Mexican revolution effectively stopping all activity by 1910. A small ornate smelter stack is all that remains of that early historical production. Two parallel quartz veins with galena and sphalerite have been traced for over 1800m along strike and host mineralization in three known mineralized shoots. A 2008 NI 43-101 Technical Report calculated a historical measured and indicated resource totaling 583,000 tonnes at 250 g/t Ag, 0.87% Pb, and 2.44% Zn; historical inferred resources are an additional 534,000 tonnes at 225 g/t Ag, 0.92% Pb, and 2.62% Zn. These resources are near surface and within the existing mine workings. A drilling program targeting deeper levels of the projected ore shoots has never been undertaken, but could appreciably add to the resource. Additional resources could also exist along strike, outside the areas of the underground workings. For more detailed information, please review the NI 43-101 report on the La Frazada Silver Property posted on the corporate website.

Historical Mineral Resource

Resource Category

(Underground) Mineral Type Tonnes

(Mt) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) Ag

(Moz) Au

(oz) Pb

(Mlb) Zn

(Mlb) Cu

(Mlb) Measured Sulphides 0.30 260 0.20 0.88 2.36 2.54 1,900 5.86 15.78 0.63 Indicated Sulphides 0.28 241 0.14 0.86 2.52 2.16 1,300 5.30 15.50 0.55 Total M+ I Sulphides 0.58 251 0.17 0.87 2.44 4.70 3,200 11.16 31.28 1.18 Inferred Sulphides 0.53 225 0.17 0.92 2.62 3.86 3,100 10.86 30.77 1.05

* Silvermex Resources Limited reported in a technical report titled "Technical Report and Preliminary Resource Estimate for the La Frazada Silver Property, El Zopilote Mining District, Nayarit, Mexico) dated November 24, 2008 (amended January 19, 2009) (filed on SEDAR on February 18, 2009), prepared by William J. Lewis, the above historical mineral resource estimate. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, Silver One considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents a target for exploration work by Silver One. The data base for the historical resource estimate consisted of 729 samples; 233 belonging to the La Jabalina West vein, 384 to the La Frazada vein and 112 samples corresponding to the La Jabalina East-Tiro Real vein. The mineral resource estimate used a block model method with a cut-off grade of 80 g/t Ag, 0.75% Pb and 1% Zn. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource therefore Silver One is treating these historical estimates as relevant but not current mineral resources.

Penasco Quemado, Sonora, Mexico

Penasco Quemado is located in northern Sonora, 60 km south of the town of Sasabe on the US-Mexican border and comprises 3,746 hectares in seven concessions. A 2006 drilling program outlined a historical measured and indicated resource of 2.57 million tonnes at a grade of 117 g/t Ag for a silver resource of 9.63 million ounces. The silver mineralization is associated with manganese oxides in a near surface shallow westerly dipping zone of polymictic conglomerate in the northern part of the deposit and in stockwork quartz and manganese oxides in a rhyolite dome in the southern part of the deposit. The mineralization has been traced along a 2 km strike length and drilling to date has been relatively shallow, less than 100m deep, mainly focused on the silver-bearing conglomerate. Given the unusual nature of the mineralization, its long strike length with potential extensions, the permeable sedimentary host coupled with the shallow nature of the drilling, it is possible that a larger resource could be developed on the property. If the manganese oxide is an indication of shallower near surface mineralization deposited under oxidized conditions, there remains the possibility that deeper mineralization could be associated with sulfides.

Historical Mineral Resource

Resource Category

(Underground) Mineral Type Tonnes

(Mt) Ag

(g/t) Ag

(Moz) Measured Oxides 0.12 152 0.60 Indicated Oxides 2.44 115 9.03 Total M + I Oxides 2.57 117 9.63 Inferred Oxides 0.10 41 0.13

** Silvermex Resources Limited reported in a technical report titled "Updated NI 43-101 Technical Report and Resource Estimate for the Penasco Quemado Silver Property" dated March 9, 2007 (filed on SEDAR on March 16, 2007), prepared by William J. Lewis and James A. McCrea, the above historical mineral resource estimate. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, Silver One considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents a target for exploration work by Silver One. The data base for the historical resource estimate consisted of 24 reverse circulation holes from a 1981/82 program, 17 reverse circulation holes from a 2006 program and 8 diamond drill holes from a 2006 drill program. Assay data was available for all 49 of the drill holes and 12 trenches. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 30 g/t Ag and assay's capped at 700 g/t Ag. Resource blocks were estimated by ordinary kriging with samples within a search radius of 25 meters classified as a measured mineral resource, within 47 meters classified as an indicated mineral resource and within 70 meters classified as an inferred mineral resource. As required by NI 43-101, CIM definitions (August, 2004) were used to classify mineral resources with the classification of each kriged ore block dependent upon the number of penetrating holes. An in-situ block density of 2.50 t/cu meter was assigned the ore blocks. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource therefore Silver One is treating these historical estimates as relevant but not current mineral resources.

Pluton, Durango, Mexico

Pluton is a 6,534-hectare property comprised of 3 contiguous exploration concessions. It is strategically located within the historic "Ojuela-Mapimi Mining District" and lies along the eastern front of the Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Durango. Exploration targets at Pluton are silver-lead-zinc carbonate replacement deposits, which may lie beneath the shallow alluvial cover. The property lies adjacent to and just north of the famous Mapimi Mining District, and west of Excellon's (TSX:EXN) Platosa mine, an active silver producer with grades greater than 1000 g/t AgEq. Aeromag and ZTEM surveys show that Pluton, Platosa and the Mapimi districts all lie on the edge of a 40 km wide buried intrusion, which does not outcrop. These geophysical surveys, along with geochemistry and IP, resulted in a 3900m diamond drill program in 2011 aimed at testing for high grade carbonate replacement mineralization in the favorable limestone horizon marginal to the intrusives. All holes encountered silver-lead-zinc mineralization in veins in a shale hornfels overlying the carbonate horizon, but none of the holes passed into the host carbonate rocks. This vein mineralization is interpreted as leakage into the nonreactive hornfels from the intrusion and/or carbonates below. The high-grade target of silver-rich massive sulfides could lie at the contact of the limestone and the downward projection of the mineralized fractures seen in the hornfels. An ancillary advantage to the district is that the Penoles Torreon smelter is only 50 km away, and transport and power infrastructure is excellent.

QUALIFED PERSON

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Greg Crowe, P. Geo, President and CEO of Silver One, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

For more information, please contact:

Silver One Resources Inc.

Greg Crowe, CEO and President

info@silverone.com

(604) 974-5274

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: Silver One Resources Inc.
Singapore must take more aggressive action against complex cross-border money-laundering including prosecuting individuals and seizing illicit proceeds, a global financial crimes watchdog said Tuesday.

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said in a review the city-state has made significant improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework since the last assessment in 2008.

It said, however, that Singapore needs to do more, especially in prosecuting bigger cases where the crime is committed in another country and the proceeds are laundered in Singapore, one of Asia's top financial centres.

"Singapore provided information that it was pursuing some complex cases involving transnational fraud and corruption," it said.

"However, Singapore has prosecuted few foreign predicate money-laundering cases outside of wire transfer frauds involving money mules/shell companies and has confiscated low amounts of proceeds of crime."

The term "foreign predicate" refers to cases originating in other countries, with proceeds going through Singapore.

Singapore closely guards its reputation for financial integrity and has admitted that money-laundering hurts its image.

This year it launched an investigation into billions of dollars of illicit fund flows related to Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB amid allegations some of the money passed through Singapore's banking system.

Switzerland and the United States are also carrying out their own probes of accounts and transfers linked to 1MDB.

Singapore should "more aggressively target the more complex cases expected of a sophisticated financial centre" while it pursues less complex offences involving money mules and unlicensed money lenders, said the FATF report, which did not specifically refer to 1MDB.

For its report the FATF used data gathered in 2015 and did not include actions taken this year.

"Singapore should take steps to improve the capability of its law enforcement agencies to proactively identify and investigate money-laundering, particularly complex and foreign predicate" cases, it said.

Story continues

Authorities should also "more proactively pursue the confiscation of proceeds of crime and make greater use of the seizure and confiscation powers" under local laws, it said.

Reacting to the FATF findings, a joint statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance and the Monetary Authority of Singapore said law enforcement agencies would strengthen their capabilities to identify and investigate transnational money-laundering cases.

The Financial Intelligence Unit "will develop more sophisticated data analytics capabilities as part of this effort", the statement said.

Singapore's central bank in May kicked out Switzerland's BSI Bank, which has been linked to 1MDB.

In July authorities said they had seized nearly $180 million in assets through investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

An ex-BSI banker and another man have been charged in a Singapore court with various offences and several others are being questioned in relation to the 1MDB case.
More tenants are ditching old spaces for new developments.

The prime office space market is expected to see larger rental and occupancy declines as more tenants move into new prime offices.

According to a report by Knight Frank, Grade A office space in the Raffles Place / Marina Bay district saw the largest QoQ rental decline of 2.9% of the various locations in Q3 2016, while Grade A+ office space in the same area saw rental decline moderate slightly, falling 2.1% QoQ.

Knight Frank Singapore Executive Director Calvin Yeo said upcoming vacancies in Grade A buildings will increase in the next two years as these tenants relocate, leading to rents bearing the pressure.

While we are seeing tenants able to relocate taking the opportunity to take flight to quality, the test over the coming quarters will be for buildings which will lose their tenants to backfill the vacancies amid the ongoing economic uncertainty," he said.

More so, competition for tenants will be rife, particularly among buildings fighting to backfill vacancies from tenants who will be relocating.

With this, a two-tiered performance is expected in the prime office market. Greater divergence in rental and occupancy performance is expected in the prime office market, as Grade A offices are expected to see larger rental and occupancy declines than Grade A+ offices in the upcoming quarters.







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Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f225655%2ffef82519d37a4ebfb1b0097bfcb1ca2a

At 3 a.m. on Sunday, Mark Ross learned that his younger sister Eliza Fletcher, 15, had been killed in a car crash.

Even though it was the middle of the night, Ross understandably wanted to be with his mother, and so a kind pal agreed to drive Ross to Detroit.

According to Inside Edition, Trooper J. Davis pulled their car over for speeding at about 100 miles per hour. When Davis discovered that the driver's license was suspended and that Ross had an outstanding warrant, he subsequently towed their car.

But then Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant David Robison arrived, and things started looking up.

SEE ALSO: Touching farewell video for a husky will have you in tears

In his Facebook post, Ross explained that when he got the devastating news about Eliza, he and a friend immediately hit the road at full speed so he could be with his mom.

When Ross was pulled over, he thought he would be in huge trouble.

"I knew I was going to jail due to a petty warrant. The police called Wayne county and they refused to come get me because of the distance. I explained to the officer that my sister had died and that I needed to get to my mother ASAP," he wrote.

When Robison arrived and saw how heartbroken Ross really was, he decided to help Ross out.

"I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry. He REACHES OVER AND BEGAN PRAYING OVER ME AND MY FAMILY. He offered to bring me 100 miles further to Detroit because they towed the vehicle."

Robison drove Ross to Detroit. The gesture meant everything to him.

"Everybody knows how much I dislike cops but I am truly grateful for this guy. He gave me hope."

Ross has been documenting the past traumatic few days via Facebook posts and Facebook lives.

Ross shared some texts he exchanged with his younger sister just a few weeks ago.

Ross has also posted several Facebook lives over the past few days  the following one is a bit upsetting:

Ross' mother Jamika Mcclain started a GoFundMe page, asking for donations to help with funeral costs.

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"I'm asking for a donation at this time to help support the burial of my baby," Mcclain wrote on GoFundMe.

"The support would be gladly appreciated with love. Thank you all."

[H/T: KFOR]
Luanda (AFP) - Six people were killed when a helicopter chartered by US oil giant Chevron crashed off the coast of Angola, security forces confirmed Tuesday.

The accident happened late Monday near the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda, Captain Armando Nzawisa of the Angolan armed forces, who is heading emergency operations, told AFP.

Four Angolans and two expatriates were killed.

"The helicopter crashed in bad weather en route to a Chevron platform," Nzawisa said.

The bodies of the four Angolans have been recovered but search operations for the two foreigners was still underway, with 19 vessels and three helicopters deployed.

Five of the people killed were Chevron employees. The sixth was the pilot, employed by Angolan company Heli Malongo, whose nationality has not been disclosed.

"We have opened an internal enquiry into the causes of the accident," John Baltz, head of Chevron's Angolan subsidiary, told a press conference.

The helicopter was used as a shuttle between oil platforms and Chevron's onshore facilities in Cabinda, public broadcaster TPA reported.

Cabinda borders the Republic of Congo to the north, and is separated from the rest of Angola to the south by a sliver of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The province produces 60 percent of Angola's oil, making the country Africa's top oil producer.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Solange had sent 86 of her fans who signed up for her new website copies of a mysterious book titled A Seat At The Table featuring poetry written by Solange. What was most curious is the date that's marked at the back of the book: 9-30-2016. Fans speculated that it was likely that it pointed to a new album from the artist, and today, those suspicious have been confirmed.

A Seat At The Table, which will feature the likes of Lil Wayne, Sampha, Kelela, Q-Tip, and more, will be released this Friday. According to a press release, Solange had been writing and producing the album since 2013. A Seat At The Table, which follows 2012's True EP, is "a project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief and healing."

Those who didn't get a copy of the book can download a digital version of A Seat At The Table here. The album will be availabe on September 30. Take a look at its tracklist and album art below.

#ASeatAtTheTable Track Listing Out this Friday Sep 30th Check out the digital book on www.solangemusic.com (link in bio) A photo posted by Solange (@saintrecords) on Sep 27, 2016 at 3:00pm PDT

Tracklist:

1. Rise

2. Weary (Additional Vocals blessed by Tweet)

3. Interlude: The Glory Is In You

4. Cranes In The Sky

5. Interlude: Dad Was Mad

6. Mad Ft. Lil Wayne (Additional Vocals blessed by Moses Sumney and Tweet)

7. Don't You Wait

8. Interlude: Tina Taught Me

9. Don't Touch My Hair Ft. Sampha

10. Interlude: This Moment (Additional vocals Devonte Hynes of Houston Texas and Lu of Carolina)

11. Where Do We Go (Additional vocals blessed by Sean Nicholas Savage)

12. Interlude: For Us By Us

13. F.U.B.U. Ft. The Dream & BJ The Chicago Kid (Additional Vocals blessed by Tweet)

14. Borderline (An Ode To Self Care) Ft. Q-Tip

15. Interlude: I Got So Much Magic, You Can Have It Ft. Kelly Rowland & Nia Andrews

16. Junie

17. Interlude: No Limits

18. Don't Wish Me Well

19. Interlude: Pedestals

20. Scales Ft. Kelela

21. "Closing: The Chosen Ones

Continue Reading On Complex
(Reuters) - Elon Musk's SolarCity (SCTY.O) has been accused of intellectual property theft by Cogenra Solar Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of SunPower Corporation (SPWR.O), and Khosla Ventures.

In a lawsuit filed in San Francisco on Monday, the parties accused SolarCity of gaining undue advantage of Cogenra's Shingling technology that helps in manufacturing high-efficiency commercially viable solar panels.

SolarCity and its subsidiary Silevo misappropriated Cogenra's trade secrets, manufacturing processes, and other intellectual property to give themselves a competitive advantage and head start in developing shingled-cell solar modules, Cogenra said in the lawsuit.

SolarCity said that last week it discovered that a former SolarCity employee had unlawfully downloaded confidential information, copied that information to a personal hard drive, and then joined SunPower as a senior sales manager.

"Any unauthorized copying and use of this information is a very serious violation of SolarCity's intellectual property rights so we immediately notified SunPower," SolarCity said in a statement.

Cogenra's complaint fails to identify any actual trade secret that Cogenra owns, much less that SolarCity supposedly misappropriated, SolarCity said.

From 2009 to 2015, venture capital firm Khosla Ventures owned about 80 percent of Cogenra, the lawsuit stated.

Last week Tesla (TSLA.O) said its proposed acquisition of SolarCity could be delayed because of shareholder lawsuits alleging board members breached their fiduciary duty.

United States District Court Northern District Of California

San Francisco Division, Case number 3:16-cv-05481.

(Reporting by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
(Reuters)

It took a single second-half goal from Son Heung-min to earn Tottenham Hotspur a 1-0 away win at CSKA Moscow, as the Premier League side claimed its first points in this seasons Champions League group stage on Tuesday.

The meeting was the first Champions League encounter to take place at the home sides new Arena CSKA stadium and was also the first time the Moscow outfit and Spurs had ever faced one another.

While Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino had received good news regarding the prognosis for Harry Kane, the striker was one of five first-team regulars unavailable for selection Tuesday, with Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Moussa Sissoko also sidelined by injury. Thus, it was a bit of a makeshift side that took to the field in Moscow.

Despite dominating possession early on, Spurs managed little by way of genuine attacking threat and failed to register a single shot on target in the first half.

With Kane out, Vincent Janssen was handed the start at striker. The former AZ Alkmaar man found himself on the end of a couple of chances early on, only to have the ref blow the offside whistle on him in both instances. At one point, Janssen actually succeeded in putting the ball into the back of the CSKA net, only to be whistled offside yet again.

Tottenhams best chance in the first half came in the 35th minute when a scrambled clearance by the CSKA defense opened up a chance for Dele Alli. But the PFA Young Player of the Year rocketed his effort off the crossbar from 20 yards out.

For most of the first half, CSKA was content to dig in, let Spurs enjoy possession and try to hit on the counter. The Russian side eventually seemed to come to life on or around the half hour when the ball fell to Zoran Tosic on the edge of the box. But despite having time and space to pick a shot, the winger sent his effort sailing over the top left corner.

Two minutes later, Roman Eremenko took a speculative right-footed crack from outside the box that forced Hugo Lloris into his only significant action of the half. Eremenko was shown a yellow card a few minutes later after putting in a pair of reckless challenges on Alli.

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Toby Alderweireld then came close for Spurs, connecting with a ball in from Erik Lamela. But the Belgian directed his headed effort right at keeper Igor Akinfeev with the whistle again being blown for offside.

The final chance of the half fell to Alli, who got onto the end of a dangerous ball from Christian Eriksen only to head his effort over the crossbar with two minutes remaining in the half.

The second half began with a substitution by the home side as defender Aleksie Berezutski took the place of his twin brother Vasili. Tottenham continued its dominance from the first half with Son coming close with a curled effort just 10 minutes in and Janssen putting a shot wide some five minutes later.

The misfiring Janssen would eventually be subbed off for Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

CSKA very nearly opened the scoring in the 52nd minute thanks to Lacina Traore. He a penetrating run and put in some good hold-up play to square the ball for Tosic, but his effort was deflected over.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 71st minute as Son ran onto a through ball from Lamela and let off a low shot from inside the box. Akinfeev managed to get a hand to it but only succeeded in slowing the ball down as it rolled into the bottom right corner to give Spurs a 1-0 lead.

Eremenko came close to equalizing for CSKA some 10 minutes later, letting off another shot from distance and again forcing Lloris into action.

(AP)

Despite a few good chances early on, it was something of a frustrating night for Alli. The England attacker was eventually subbed off to make way for Harry Winks in the 80th minute.

As the match ticked into its final 10-minute stretch, both Bibras Natchos and Mario Fernandes came close to equalizing for the home side, while Nkoudou and Lamela came closest to adding to Tottenhams tally.

CSKA had shown resilience in its Champions League opener, coming from two goals down to draw Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena. But the Russian side ultimately failed to manage a similar turnaround in front of its home crowd and, as a result, finds itself languishing at the bottom of Group E.

Tottenham, on the other hand, will be pleased to have rebounded from losing its opener at Wembley against Monaco to earn a valuable away win that sees the North London side climb to second place in the group.
Home Minister Nidhi visits Ghimires accident site in Chitwan

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimelandra Nidhi on Tuesday visited the accident site in Chitwan where former Home Minister and Finance Minister Madhav Ghimire went missing in the Trishuli river along with his two brothers since Sunday.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed on Tuesday as risk currencies were lifted by Hillary Clinton's performance against Donald Trump in the first debate between the U.S. presidential candidates. But stocks soured in line with global peers on worries about European banks. By 1530 GMT the rand had firmed 1.48 percent to 13.5075 per dollar, compared to its close at 13.7100 overnight in New York, a second consecutive session of gains. Government bonds were on the backfoot, with the yield on the benchmark 2026 issue up 6 basis points to 8.61 percent. In the absence of any local data releases, the rand has been driven by offshore sentiment. Last week's rally was triggered by the central bank's decision to hold rates, sustained by improved in-flows and the continued hunt for yield globally. "Markets have breathed a sigh of relief this morning as the first U.S. presidential debate drew to a close," Standard Bank trader Inshaan Omar said in a note. But the equities mood in Europe soured as Deutsche Bank shares hit another record low on nagging worries about the lender's health. [MKTS/GLOB] Mood swings in Europe often hit South Africa because the time zones are the same or similar and because its blue chips are followed by big funds. Decliners in Johannesburg included MTN, Africa's biggest telecoms company. Its shares fell 3.4 percent to 119.77 rand on news that lawmakers in Nigeria's parliament had agreed to probe an allegation that the company illegally transferred $13.92 billion out of the West African country. The benchmark Top-40 index slipped 1.26 percent to 44,397 while the All-share index fell 1.13 percent to 50,899. Momentum indicators tracked by some analysts suggest both indexes may soon stray into oversold territory, which could stem further declines in the short term. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and Ed Stoddard; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
By Denis Dumo JUBA (Reuters) - Rebel forces in South Sudan said government troops attacked their garrison in a town in the north on Tuesday, and they threatened swift retaliation, stoking fears of another full-blown military confrontation in the young nation. Political rivalry between South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, and former vice president, Riek Machar, sparked a civil war in 2013. Although the pair signed a shaky peace deal a year ago, fighting has continued and Machar fled the country in July. He is now in Khartoum in neighbouring Sudan. Kiir's government on Tuesday asked Sudan and other states in the region not to let Machar launch a new rebellion, after he threatened a return to the battlefield unless his demands needed to revive a peace deal were met. Major Dickson Gatluak, spokesman for Machar's opposition group the SPLM-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), told Reuters that government forces had attacked a rebel garrison in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, which lies near the border with Sudan to the north. Bentiu was a flashpoint town in the war that broke out in 2013. "The fighting started this morning at 6am (local time) and our forces managed to fight back the enemy this afternoon", Gatluak said. "Our forces will be taking quick action against the regime in Juba," he said. He said U.N. staff in the capital Juba should evacuate the area to avoid potentially being trapped in any fighting. After talks in Khartoum involving senior commanders and officials of the SPLM-IO last week, Machar and his allies in a statement over the weekend ordered their forces to reorganise for "armed resistance" to Kiir's government. "If the peace agreement can be revived then we can go back to Juba, but if not then armed resistance is an option," Machar's spokesman James Gatdet Dak told Reuters in Nairobi earlier on Tuesday. The government, he added, must reappoint Machar, let more troops return to Juba with him, allow the swift deployment of a regional protection force and scrap decisions taken since July. The regional grouping IGAD, which includes Sudan, has told both sides to halt the violence and aims to send a protection force to secure the peace, a move that has U.N. backing. "We are appealing to all IGAD member state not to allow Riek Machar and his group to use their soil, including Sudan, to stage attacks and as a springboard for organizing violence against the people and transitional government," deputy government spokesman Akol Paul Kordi said. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said his government would not allow the armed opposition to attack South Sudan from its territory, according to a report by the Paris-based Sudan Tribune news website. (Writing by Edmund Blair and Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Elon Musk in Guadalajara

GUADALAJARA, Mexico  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has made some ambitious sales pitches in his career, but todays big reveal about his plan to transport a million settlers to Mars over the next few decades has to be the topper.

The billionaire began his 95-minute talk with the existential concern over Earths long-term future, and the need to set up a civilization beyond Earth to safeguard the species.

I hope youd agree this is the right way to go. Yes?  Thats what we want, he told a crowd of 3,000 attendees at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara.

From there on, Musk laid out a step-by-step blueprint that culminated in a vision of a totally reusable super-spaceship that could transport 100 to 200 passengers and their luggage to the Red Planet.

The Interplanetary Transport System that Musk proposes is even bigger than the pre-reveal rumors suggested. It would stand 400 feet tall, with a massive, 55-foot-wide spaceship at the top.

The ITS rocket would be taller and wider than the Saturn V rocket that sent astronauts to the moon, and more than three times as powerful. Each booster rocket would use 42 of SpaceXs Raptor rocket engines, and thered be nine more Raptors on the passenger spaceship.

Depending on the options for in-flight refueling, Musk figures the fully reusable launch system could send 450 tons of payload to Mars at a cost of $140,000 per ton.

Its quite big.  I think in the long term, the ships will be even bigger than this, he said.

And were not talking about just one of these monsters: Musks math calls for building 1,000 passenger spaceships that would go on a total of 10,000 trips over the course of 40 to 100 years. Thats what it would take to get a million settlers to Mars, which Musk figures would be the requirement for creating a permanent human presence on Mars.

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Image: Mars mission architecture

Because of orbital mechanics, the best time to travel from Earth to Mars comes every 26 months  and thats the main reason why the schedule has to be so spread out. After reaching orbit, the spaceships would be refueled by tankers for the trip to Mars, and methane would be manufactured on Mars for the return flight.

The journey would take 80 to 150 days, depending on orbital mechanics. He said the passenger compartment should have zero-G game facilities, restaurants and other amenities that would make it really fun to go.

In order to make the trip affordable, Musk said the cost of a trip to Mars should be in the realm of the price tag for the average U.S. home, which he pegged at $200,000. The ticket price could come down to maybe as little as $100,000 over time, depending upon how much mass a person takes.

The cost could include the promise of a free return trip to Earth if settlers so chose. I think its pretty important to give people the option of returning  even if they never actually return, Musk told the crowd.

But would-be settlers will still have to take their chances. Musk acknowledged that the risk of fatality would be high, particularly in the early stages of migration.

Musk pointed out that the Interplanetary Transport System could be used for other deep-space destinations all the way out to the comet-laden Oort Cloud, as long as there were filling stations along the way. You can make flights from Mars to Jupiter, no problem.  Itd be really great to do missions to Europa, he said.

ITS on Europa

Right now, SpaceX is spending a few tens of millions of dollars annually on development of the Mars transport concept, which amounts to well under 5 percent of the companys total expenses, Musk said.

A lot of that money is going toward the development of the technologies that will be required, such as SpaceXs methane-fueled Raptor rocket engine and the carbon-fiber tanks for the rockets propellants. Musk said that SpaceX engineers had been working seven days a week to demonstrate those technologies in time for his Guadalajara presentation.

As time goes on, Musk expects to spend more and more on the Mars effort  perhaps as much as $300 million a year by 2018 or so. The costs of preparing for the first launch to Mars would probably be on the order of $10 billion, he said.

That first launch could take place in about 10 years if things go super-well, Musk said.

Musk had no problem making the sale in the lecture hall at the Guadalajara Expo complex. The applause was long and warm when Musk said life needs to be more than just solving problems today. But the road to Mars isnt likely to be as smooth as the CGI graphics make it seem.

Musk provided little detail on how astronaut selection and training would be handled. In response to one question, he conjectured that maybe a few days of training would be required. And he didnt address what settlers would do once they got to Mars.

Then theres the funding question: During his presentation, Musk joked that his strategy for raising money might be to steal underpants, do a Kickstarter campaign  and profit. Others options include relying on the revenue from SpaceXs other operations, ranging from resupplying the International Space Station to putting satellite constellations into orbit.

Musk acknowledged that the push for Mars would ultimately have to rely on public-private partnerships. Thats how the United States was established, and many other countries around the world, he said.

NASA is already cooperating with SpaceX on a range of space endeavors, including a robotic Red Dragon mission to Mars that could take off as early as 2018. But NASA has its own blueprints for Mars missions, which depend on a heavy-lift rocket as the Space Launch System. The SLS rocket is due to have its first test flight in 2018, and NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars and its moons in the 2030s.

Its not clear how Musks plans for the ITS will mesh with NASAs plans. SpaceXs most ardent fans might wish that NASA would drop their heavy-lift launch program and leave the driving to Musk. But today, Musk called himself NASAs biggest fan, and representatives of the space agency returrned the compliment in a smattering of tweets:

Excited to see the ultimate goal is a #JouneyToMars. It's going to take everyone private, public, global! https://t.co/sCbMfevEFg  Bob Jacobs (@bnjacobs) September 27, 2016

@SpaceX thanks for being such a good partner on the #JourneyToMars  Ellen Stofan (@EllenStofan) September 27, 2016

Mars Society President Robert Zubrin, who has been advocating human missions to Mars for decades, said in a Facebook posting that Musk presented a number of interesting and very useful ideas.

I dont think they are practical in the form he presented them. But with a little modification, they could be made practical and very powerful, Zubrin said. He added that there might even be a way to do the job with SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket, which is expected to make its debut next year.

In an interview with GeekWire, Zubrin said Musks blueprint should serve as a spur to action for NASA officials. They are being Sputniked, and they need to rise to the challenge, he said.

In his talk, Musk made clear that sending settlers to Mars, and turning humanity into a multiplanetary species, was his lifes work. Even his role as the CEO of Tesla Motors, which makes electric cars and batteries, apparently takes a back seat to Mars.

As we show that this is possible  not just a dream, its something that can be made real, I think the support will snowball over time, said Musk, whose net worth is currently estimated at $11.7 billion. And I should say also, the main reason Im personally accumulating assets is in order to fund this.

Tip o the Hat to John Gardi for helping me iron out the details of Musks plan.

More from GeekWire:
elon musk mars colonization spacex nasa getty shutterstock business insider illustration

Tech billionaire and SpaceX founder Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars with a million people in an effort to protect humanity from certain doom.

To that end, on Tuesday afternoon during a keynote talk at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Musk will unveil his ambitious plans to establish a human settlement on the red planet.

You can watch the event live on YouTube. (There's also an embedded video player at the end of this post.)

But just ahead of the talk, SpaceX revealed a new video of its new Interplanetary Transport System (ITS):



The video shows passengers loading into a giant spaceship on top of the ITS.

It pulls back, revealing the true scale of the launcher at a futuristic-looking version of NASA's Cape Canaveral, Florida, launchpad 39A (the same one that Apollo 11 astronauts launched from).

At the bottom of the rocket are 42 separate engines, which ignite with 28.7 million pounds of thrust  nearly four times greater than NASA's Saturn V rocket that took Apollo astronauts to the moon.

The enormous first-stage rocket booster detaches itself, deploying an unnamed spaceship to low-Earth orbit.

Meanwhile, the booster heads back to Earth, where it will land back at the launchpad  just like SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket boosters. This prevents the need to trash them in the ocean, allowing their reuse, plus saving money and time.

There a propellant tanker is loaded onto the top and soon launches into orbit, where it refuels the spaceship. The tanker heads back to Earth while the spaceship continues onto Mars.

Once fueled up, the spaceship deploys fan-like blades of solar panels, which provide 200 kilowatts of power.

The finned spaceship begins making its way to Mars at a clip of 62,600 mph, setting up a multi-month journey to the red planet.

Once the giant spaceship arrives, it begins its descent to Mars, slowing down while plowing through the red planet's atmosphere and generating 3,000-degree-Fahrenheit heat.

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It then fires retroboosters for a soft landing  and lets its passengers walk onto the new territory of Mars.

Watch Musk's talk below starting at 2:30 p.m. EDT on September 27, 2016.

NOW WATCH: SpaceXs most powerful rocket engine yet just passed a critical milestone





More From Business Insider


Madrid (AFP) - Spanish lawmakers on Tuesday approved a commission to probe allegations that acting interior minister Jorge Fernandez-Diaz used ministry resources as "political police" against rivals.

The probe follows a conversation leaked in June between Fernandez-Diaz and the head of Catalonia's anti-fraud office, in which they discussed investigating pro-independence politicians in the region.

The lower house "approved the establishment of an investigation commission over the 'partisan' use of the interior ministry's resources," parliament announced late on Tuesday.

The probe represents yet another thorn in the side of the ruling Popular Party, which has failed to form a government after two inconclusive elections, due to a lack of support in large part down to corruption scandals sullying the party.

On Monday, for instance, the trial of one of the PP's fallen stars for alleged misuse of funds when he was a banking boss began.

Former IMF chief and ex-economy minister Rodrigo Rato is being tried 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.

Antonio Trevin, a lawmaker for the Socialist party which proposed forming the commission, said Tuesday they wanted "to clarify whether this government, and particularly its interior minister, have created a political police," and whether "the prime minister knows about it".

Trevin said the Socialist party had long accused the interior ministry of using security forces for political purposes such as trying to put obstacles in the way of corruption probes affecting the PP.

Fernandez-Diaz's leaked phone conversations sparked a furore when they emerged in June, prompting repeated calls for his resignation, including from police unions.

But he remained in his post and the PP went on to win general elections, though without an absolute majority, which has forced them to try -- and so far fail -- to find allies to form a government.

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Fernandez-Diaz slammed the June leaks as a "conspiracy."

At the time, he acknowledged that the meeting, which dates back to 2014, had taken place.

But "to claim that an interior minister is conspiring against members of Catalonia's government is surreal," he said.

The El Pais daily, however, reported that the commission would not be able to function until a government is created -- an event that is less than certain as Spain goes towards third elections.
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan police on Tuesday exhumed the body of a senior journalist who had predicted just days before his murder in 2009 that he would be killed by the government, marking the latest development in a series of probes into former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's administration. Lasantha Wickrematunga, an outspoken editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper, often clashed with politicians. Rajapaksa's brother, then defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had sued it for defamation over stories criticizing the country's civil war and alleging procurement graft. In his last editorial just before the murder, Wickrematunga had written that he had reason to believe that attacks against the media at the time were inspired by the government. "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me," he wrote before three days he was killed. Wickrematunga was killed while sitting in a car stuck in rush hour traffic in a high security zone near the capital, Colombo. Human rights groups said the Rajapaksa regime failed to probe his murder. Wickrematunga's death was one of several high-profile killings under the Rajapaksa government and is one of the many investigations re-opened by President Maithripala Sirisena into his predecessor's administration. Sirisena ousted Rajapaksa in January 2015. Rajapaksa and several members of his family now face probes into alleged misappropriation of state resources. Two sons of the former president and his younger brother, Basil, who was the economic development minister in his administration, have been arrested and are facing court cases. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is being probed for a private floating armory deal. The Rajapaksas have denied any wrongdoing. In July, an army intelligence official was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping Wickrematunga's driver. A court ordered exhumation of Wickrematungas body after his family raised questions over the previous autopsy report, which said the death was due to gunshots. Family members have said the editor had been stabbed to death. Wickrematunga's body was exhumed under tight police security in the main Colombo cemetery. "The family is now satisfied and happy the CID is conducting the investigations properly and what they want is to find out the truth," Athula Ranagala, a lawyer who appeared on behalf of Wickrematungas family, told reporters. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Nick Macfie)
Sri Lankan police on Tuesday exhumed the body of a prominent anti-establishment newspaper editor as part of an investigation into his murder, widely blamed on the regime of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse.

Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of Rajapakse's government, was killed by unidentified gunmen as he drove to work in Colombo seven years ago.

The new administration has reopened the investigation into his killing, which sparked an international outcry and shone a spotlight on allegations of deadly violence directed against the media.

Wickrematunga, chief editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, wrote an article before his death in which he forecast that the Rajapakse government would murder him.

"When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me," wrote Wickrematunga, who endured years of harassment and intimidation for his work, in the article published in the Guardian and the New Yorker.

On Tuesday police swarmed onto Wickrematunga's grave site at Colombo's main cemetery and erected two white tents after a magistrate ordered a fresh autopsy.

"The magistrate is present with a team of doctors," said Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer for the Wickrematunga family, outside the cemetery where journalists were gathered.

"The family is happy with the progress of the case," he added.

President Maithripala Sirisena last year slammed police for dragging their feet on investigations into the 52-year-old's death and into other high-profile murders during Rajapakse's rule.

Sirisena swept Rajapakse from office in a 2015 general election, pledging action against criminals and corrupt individuals during the former strongman's decade in power.

The case was reopened last year after a former minister in Rajapakse's government accused the deposed president's brother, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, of running a death squad and ordering the hit against the editor.

Gotabhaya, then secretary to the defence ministry, has denied any involvement. But rights groups say there is strong evidence the military played a role.

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An army intelligence officer was arrested in July in connection with the killing.

Wickrematunga and his newspaper had accused Gotabhaya of corruption over the purchase of second-hand aircraft and arms for the military.

Another autopsy was ordered this month after scrutiny of medical examinations showing different results, including one that suggested he was stabbed.

Journalists gathered outside the cemetery on Tuesday but were blocked by police from entering, while the gravesite was covered with black plastic and the magistrate involved spoke with cemetery workers.

Ranagala said doctors were expected to examine the body at the facilities of the island's judicial medical officer in Colombo.

Wickrematunga started the Sunday Leader with his brother Lal Wickrematunga 22 years ago, building it into one of the most vocal anti-establishment newspapers in the country.

The newspaper was highly critical of rights abuses by troops against ethnic minority Tamils during the island's long-running separatist conflict that ended in 2009.

Some 17 journalists and media employees were killed in Sri Lanka under Rajapakse's regime.
A federal court in Washington heard arguments Tuesday to block the central policy in President Obamas efforts to combat climate change.

The courts decision remains far from certain with a panel of 10 judges on the D.C. Circuit Courtsix appointed by Democrats and four by Republicanshearing the case. Climate experts worry a ruling striking down the regulation would be significant blow Obamas climate program and U.S. international credibility as a leader in the fight to slow global warming.

The policy, known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP), requires state governments to come up with strategies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants within their state. CPP leaves the method of reaching that standard to the control each state, but for most that means building replacing coal with lower-carbon natural gas or clean renewable power plants. The White House has said CPP would cut carbon emissions from power plants 32% from 2005 levels by 2030, a commitment that is central to Obamas international commitments made in advance of the Paris climate talks last year.

But the plan now faces legal challenges from 27 states and a slew of oil and coal companies. Whatever the Circuit Court decidesa decision is expected WHENlegal experts expect the case to eventually make its way to the Supreme Court, which previously paused CPPs implementation as challenges to the program made their way through the courts. (The unexpected death of Antonin Scalia, who supported pausing the regulation, has increased the chances that the regulation will eventually survive review.)

Read More: Former EPA Administrator: We Must Move Forward on Clean Power Plan

The legal challenge centers around whether the Obama administration has authority to enact the regulation under the 1990 version of the Clean Air Act and whether the policy infringes on enforcement powers reserved to states. The Clean Air Act mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate pollutants from power plants, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that those pollutants include carbon dioxide, but the law has a contradictory wording on some specifics. The House-passed version says that the EPA cannot use two sections of the law to regulate pollutants at one power plant while the Senate-passed version has no such requirement. The House version would prevent regulation of carbon dioxide emissions because the EPA already regulates mercury emissions at power plants. The mistake was the result of a last-minute rush to pass the legislation, according to a New York Times report.

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Lawyers opposed to CPP also argue that it allows the EPA to exceed its authority by creating rules outside the fence line. In the past, the EPA has created mandates for power plants but not looked beyond how an individual facility might function. This rule is not about improving the performance of existing power plants, West Virginia Solicitor General Elbert Lin told the judges Tuesday, according to an Associated Press report. Its about shutting them down.

The states and oil companies opposed to the regulation have been met with fierce opposition from other states with leaders eager to address climate change, as well as a slew of environmental groups. They argue that CPP falls well within the purview of the White House. This rule addresses the key environmental challenge of our time, and does so cost effectively, said Justice Department lawyer Eric Hostetler, according to the AP.

Read More: Why These Cities Are Leading on Clean Energy

The legal pitfalls could have been avoided had Congress passed new legislation that specifically addressed carbon emissions. But efforts to pass new laws during Obamas first termwhen he still commanded a Democratic majority in Congresseventually died in the Senate. So CPP instead relies on Obamas executive authority to initiate rule making processes through federal agenciesin this case the EPA.

A ruling striking down CPP would have grave consequences for Obamas climate legacy as well as the U.S. ability to meet its international commitments. President Obama said the U.S. would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 in advance of the Paris climate talks last year and strong U.S. commitment was seen as crucial to getting the support of other countries. The U.S. will not be able to meet that commitment without CPP and could miss the goal even with it.

Nonetheless energy experts say CPP is not as radical as opponents make it out to be. Coal-fired power plants have faced increased competition from natural gas and renewable power sources like wind and solar as the prices of those energy sources have come down. CPPif implementedwould merely act as the nail in the coffin.

Huge, market-driven shifts in the power sector toward cleaner sources of generation were underway well before EPA even proposed the Clean Power Plan, said former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, in a TIME op-ed. With so much at stake, its time that we move forward.
Standard Chartered acknowledged Tuesday it was being investigated by the US Department of Justice over claims that an Indonesian subsidiary had paid bribes to secure contracts.

The London-based, Asia-focused bank said in a statement that it had referred the matter to the "appropriate authorities" and launched its own review.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper said that an internal audit at Indonesian energy company Maxpower Group found evidence of possible bribery and US prosecutors were examining whether Standard Chartered was culpable for not stopping it.

"Standard Chartered takes very seriously allegations of impropriety in any of our private equity investments," the bank told AFP in a statement when asked about the report.

"We proactively referred this matter to the appropriate authorities and have conducted our own review.

"When we receive allegations of improper behaviour in an investee company, we pursue those allegations vigorously and act appropriately, including sharing information and cooperating fully with government authorities and addressing any issues of internal conduct and accountability."

The Department of Justice did not comment when contacted by AFP.

The Wall Street Journal said the Maxpower internal audit found that more than $750,000 in cash advances needed to be examined as possible bribes, while lawyers who reviewed the audit found indications that employees made inappropriate payments to Indonesian government officials between 2012 and 2015.

Standard Chartered began investing in Maxpower in 2012 and is the majority shareholder.

There was no immediate comment from Maxpower.

But a source close to the case told AFP the US authorities were indeed examining whether Standard Chartered, via its representatives on the Maxpower board, was aware of alleged bribes to win government contracts.

The investigation would also look at why the bank's alert procedures for spotting such matters had not been triggered.

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But the probe will focus on whether Standard Chartered has violated the terms of its 2012 deferred prosecution agreements with the Department of Justice.

Standard Chartered paid $667 million in 2012 to settle charges it violated US sanctions by handling thousands of money transactions involving Iran, Myanmar, Libya and Sudan.

In August 2014, the bank was hit by US regulators with a $300 million fine and restrictions on its dollar-clearing business for failing to detect possible money-laundering.
Krishna Prasad Adhikari murder case : Court order to present written hearing note on Fujel incident

The Chitwan District Court has issued an order to both sides to present hearing note in writing after completion of the hearing on the murder case of Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Fujel, Gorkha.
A new fellowship at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, one of the top ranked business schools, covers tuition and fees for MBA students. But the program comes with a catch: Students must be willing to take a job in the Midwest.



Students often select the California-based Stanford because they know theyll get a great education and make contacts in Silicon Valley, where many of them presumably want to work after graduation. But the school has plans to funnel students to more underserved regions, where the economy could benefit from an infusion of talent.

When we look at our country, and we think about different places where theres still a lot of room for growth and development, the Midwest was a big part of that, Simone Hill, an assistant director for MBA admissions at Stanford, told Bloomberg.

In its inaugural year, the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship will pay three students about $160,000 over two years to attend the university. Within two years of graduating, recipients are required to find work in the Midwest, where they will contribute to the regions economic development for at least two years, according to the program website.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate financial need and have strong ties to the Midwest, which may include current or prior residency or graduation from a high school in the region.

(The Stanford Graduate School of Business is ranked second to Harvard Business School, according to US News and World Report.Saul Bromberger/Stanford Graduate School of Business/Facebook)



An online summary of costs associated with attending Stanford Graduate School of Business puts tuition and fees over $111,000 per academic year for individuals living off campus. So the fellowships financial award might not cut it for low-income students.

The Midwest  which the fellowship defines as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin  might not seem like the hotbed of innovation that Silicon Valley is. But living in the Silicon Prairie has plenty of benefits, including competitive salaries and often a low cost of living.

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And the tech boom echoes across the country. Michigan and Illinois were among the five states that added the greatest percentage of tech jobs in the first six months of the year, according to an analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics by the research firm Dice.

The Stanford program aims to find people who are interested in bringing everything that they learned back to their region to develop it, Hill tells Bloomberg.

After this year, Stanford hopes to expand the fellowship by accepting up to eight students and adding other regions. Its considering the Southwest for the 2017-2018 school year.

NOW WATCH: Former Princeton admissions director reveals the biggest mistakes applicants make

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From Cosmopolitan

Ariel Kaye always felt happiest creating inviting spaces - whether playing hostess to sleepovers as a kid growing up in Santa Monica, California, or decorating her friends apartments. Kaye spent seven years working in PR and advertising before, at age 29, she founded Parachute, an online ecommerce company devoted to selling luxury home essentials at affordable prices. Parachute started with simple sheet sets - made by craftsmen in Italy and sold in bundles starting at $89, or a la carte for less - and has expanded to include linens and accessories for every area of the home.

During my sophomore year at NYU, I spent six months in Italy. As a way to practice my Italian, I would go to the markets to look at beautifully detailed fabrics and talk to the artisans about how they made them. Id hear stories from sons who were running businesses started by their great-great grandfathers. The trip inspired me to start a design blog.

After graduating from NYU in 2006 with a degree I created myself called media, power, and persuasion, I worked in beauty and fashion PR for a couple of years. I decided to go back to school largely because I loved learning, and I still wasnt sure that I had found the career I really wanted to settle into. During undergrad, I had a media theory class that was really interesting to me so I decided to get my masters in media studies at The New School.

I had a friend in class who worked at a big ad agency at the time. She was telling me about account planners at her agency and explained that you worked with the creative teams on advertising campaigns. Your job was to be the voice for the consumer as you work with big brands. She made an introduction at the agency, and after graduation, I started working as an account planner.

By this time, I was posting daily on my design blog and doing more DIY projects around my home, which led to friends and family asking me to help them redecorate their apartments. It got to a point that when people asked me what I did professionally, I wanted to say I was an interior designer.

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This was around 2012 and I had a lot of friends in New York and L.A. who were joining startups or starting their own businesses. They would unapologetically cancel social plans to work nonstop, and they loved it. I realized that I wanted to be in that small, exciting, thriving community environment.

I had a moment in Bed Bath & Beyond that year that led to an epiphany. I went in looking for bedding and found myself surrounded by stacks and stacks of products that all looked the same, and no one could tell me what anything was. I wanted comfortable, quality sheets, but I didnt want to spend an arm and a leg. I also didnt want to buy something cheap for the sake of buying it and end up unhappy. I was overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated. I left not knowing what to buy, and I got angry. Im going to use [sheets] more than any other product in my home, but no one is asking me how I sleep at night.

When I talked to friends about it, I realized everyone could relate. All I had to say was, Ugh, I was bedding shopping today and I was instantly met with, Ugh, thats the worst! or, Ugh, I dont buy new sheets until there are holes in them. I also discovered that no one had an association with brands when they bought their sheets. As someone who built brands in advertising, I recognized a true business opportunity.

People who want luxury bedding have been forced to pay too much for it. There is insane markup in this category - there are bedding brokers, licensing fees, and all kinds of intermediaries between the manufacturers and the stores. By buying directly from the manufacturer and delivering straight to the consumer, I could circumvent all those markups and pass along those savings to customers.

In December 2012, I decided that I would get myself through the holidays working full-time and then I would move on. I had a lot of friends who introduced me to more entrepreneurs. I also started meeting people who worked in textiles to find out more about that industry. The next step was putting together a pitch deck with my initial thoughts and ideas around the business, and gathering research. Friends who had experience with creating business plans and pitch decks provided feedback, but I also trusted my gut.

I went to probably every single store in New York City that sold home goods and acted like a shopper. I looked at the products, took pictures, and talked to employees and asked what their best sellers were. I also put together questions for friends and family to answer to help me learn more about consumer behavior in this area.

I barely slept. I was so excited and energized by this idea that it was all I wanted to do. I stopped seeing friends. For most people around me, it was more like, Oh geez, what is she doing? Shes going off the deep end. People would tell me, Youve got a really great job and youre doing really well. Why would you leave it to do something youve never done before? Ill be the first to admit that my naivete is what allowed me to take the risk.

In February 2013, I finalized a business plan and quit my job. The first thing I did was travel throughout Europe [using savings] to visit 15 textile factories. When I asked people, "What do you think of when I say the best bedding in the world," so many people had a quick answer: Italy. It confirmed what I already knew from my time there.

I was 28 at the time, and everywhere I went, people were very much humoring me, like I was this big-dream girl from America that somehow landed on their doorstep. I found one manufacturer in Italy that didnt require huge minimum orders that I couldnt afford. They took a risk and produced my first samples. I work with the same manufacturer today and they often remind me how surprised they are that were successful.

I decided to move back to L.A. in May to start Parachute, a name I came up with after months of searching thesaurus.com and considering every iteration of the words dream, home, and sleep. I wanted something that evoked a visual feeling. When you make your bed and billow the sheets, it reminds me of a parachute.

Bedding sizing is standardized, so after choosing the fabric, I focused on the aesthetic. I took a modern approach to classic bedding design, selecting three neutral colors - white, sand, and powder - making all our pillowcases with a back envelope closure, and I decided to offer bedding as separates, enabling shoppers to create his or her own set piece by piece.

I also knew that in starting a business, Id have to sacrifice friendships, dating, everything, for at least two to three years. And the thought of doing that near family and people who would love me no matter what was comforting.

One of the most exciting moments of my life was when I called my parents to tell them I got a promotion at the ad agency, and I could fully support myself in New York City and start paying them back for all they had given me. They had been supplementing my income so I could more easily afford to live there. So to need to ask my parents for their help again [to start Parachute] was one of the more difficult things I had to do. I believed in the business - and I thought I could pay my parents back again - but it was humbling.



I started Parachute with a combination of my personal savings, a loan from my parents, and a few investments from friends and family, about $30,000 total. About four or five months in, I realized being an entrepreneur was going to be infinitely harder than I expected. I had moments of doubt and questioned if I had made the right decision. Not having a partner meant I had to do everything on my own. Id wake up and see my to-do list and just want to go back to bed. Being an entrepreneur, you can have the best and worst day of your life within the course of 30 minutes. I looked to small wins to stay motivated, such as receiving samples in the mail or getting great feedback.

I had been in touch with an accelerator in L.A. called Launchpad since February 2013. What an accelerator provides you with is a place to work with other startups, mentorship with experienced entrepreneurs, and access to investors. Every six weeks, I sent them long updates on the business. They kept saying, Show me more progress. I was very persistent and they accepted me into the program at the end of October 2013. All of a sudden, working 'til 3 a.m. was fun because there were five other companies working with me. I didnt feel like I was on this island of one anymore.

I spent about a year hearing no from investors. I sat in so many rooms full of men who had never thought about buying bedding and couldnt relate. In every meeting, I learned how to fine-tune my pitch. I received feedback that the way I talked about Parachute was too relaxed and my overall energy was too chill. Potential investors were mistaking this as a lack of enthusiasm for what I was working on. They needed to see I was a little bit crazy. I shifted my pitch and made sure they knew I was never going to give up.

I launched Parachute in January 2014. I made my first hire one month later. We were growing slowly all by word of mouth. Then a few months later, we were mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article. We went from doing about three to five sales a day to more than 50. We sold out of our inventory and there was a three- to four-month lead time for new products. I thought we had sabotaged ourselves.

I had to send personal emails out to people saying, Thank you for your order, we appreciate your support, but we cant fulfill it. Some people were really upset. Theyd write back, You shouldnt run a business if you cant deliver! But thankfully the majority of the responses were supportive. It took about six months for us to have a solid understanding of how to project our inventory purchases. Keeping up with demand is an art and a science dependent on many factors - from seasonality to press mentions.

At first, all of the product ideas came from my brain. Im inspired by the rituals in the home - going to bed, taking a shower, having your morning coffee - all of those things that are so important to comfort. Now we have two designers who I work very closely with, and a staff of 18 who work out of our Venice, California, office and showroom. As a business, we want to be your one-stop shop for home essentials that enhance your life. That looks like having retail stores and partnering with hotels.

For the first nine months, I answered every phone call and responded to every email. I was able to ask our customers questions about what products they liked, what else they wanted, and how we could make the experience easier for them. A lot of our new products come from customer requests. For example, one of our most frequently asked questions has been, Where do you buy a duvet insert? So we decided to launch our own.

There are so many pinch-me moments as a result of our customer feedback. I remember a note from a woman who worked crazy hours at a hospital and she said her grueling days were made much better knowing she has a comfy place to sleep at night. When people reach out to just say thank you, theres nothing better.

Get That Life is a weekly series that reveals how successful, talented, creative women got to where they are now. Check back each Monday for the latest interview.

Follow Heather on Twitter.

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The first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump aired on Monday and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Late Night with Seth Meyers wasted no time making fun of them. The two shows aired lived after the debates. Stephen Colbert joked, "Live means in the excitement of the moment, if I make a mistake, it can never be taken back. I would like you to keep that in mind, when you go vote this next November." Seth Meyers said, "After tonight's debates several FOX News analysts said that Hillary Clinton is the clear winner. Maybe global warming is a hoax, because hell has frozen over." Coming off of Trump saying that his temperament was his best asset, Colbert responded, "Of course, we'll never know if his temperament is really his strongest asset because he won't release his tax returns." Colbert joked about Clinton's polished performance, "Hillary was so prepared my new nickname for her is preparation H." He added, "In the primaries, she already proved she could soothe the Bern."
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three blasts killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50 in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim districts of Baghdad on Tuesday, police and medical sources said. A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a commercial street in the eastern Baghdad al-Jadida area of the Iraqi capital, killing nine people and wounding more than 30, they said. Another suicide attack hit a commercial street of Bayaa in western Baghdad, killing six and wounding 22, the sources said. A roadside bomb exploded near a gathering of cattle herders and merchants in al-Radhwaniya, also in western Baghdad, killing two people, they said. Islamic State claimed the two suicide attacks, but did not mention the third assault. The hardline Sunni Muslim group has intensified bomb attacks in government-held areas this year as it loses territory to U.S.-backed Iraqi government forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias. The group claimed a truck bombing in July that killed at least 324 people in the Karrada shopping area of Baghdad - the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. The group continues to control vast areas in northern and western Iraq, including the city of Mosul, captured in 2014. (Reporting by Saif Hameed; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Geneva (AFP) - Switzerland's lower house on Tuesday narrowly approved a draft bill on a nationwide burqa ban, the ATS news agency reported, but the measure remains far from coming into force.

The proposal by lawmaker Walter Wobmann of the populist right-wing Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) won 88 votes, with 87 against.

Wobmann's bill was nearly identical to a measure approved in a 2013 referendum in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino banning the full-face Islamic veil.

The Ticino ban came into force on July 1, and calls for fines ranging between 100 Swiss francs ($100, 92 euros) to 10,000 Swiss francs.

ATS quoted Wobmann as saying that the goal of the national burqa ban was to "maintain public order and respect for the dignity of women."

Tuesday's vote may prove to be a largely symbolic move in the protracted process towards an outright ban on the full-face veil.

Lawmakers will almost certainly defer action on the issue until the country weighs in through a referendum, ATS said.

An initiative has been launched to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to hold a public vote on a burqa ban.

Polls say Swiss voters overwhelmingly support a ban, but a vote could still be two years away.

Even if the ban is endorsed through a referendum, Switzerland's government would still need to draw up a law proposal, which would then be subject to a final parliamentary approval.

Tuesday's vote came as countries across Europe confront tough debates over the role of individual religious liberties, amid rising anti-Islam sentiment that has partly been fuelled by immigration.

France was this summer embroiled in a row over bans on the burkini, a full-body Islamic swimsuit, in resorts around the Riviera.

A poll published earlier this month showed Britons are strongly in favour of a burqa ban.

Switzerland's population of eight million includes an estimated 350,000 Muslims.

The wealthy Alpine nation has seen a number of high-profile disputes involving its Muslim minority, including fines slapped on parents who refused to allow their daughters to take part in swimming lessons, and a case where male students refused to shake the hands of their female teachers.
Damascus (AFP) - Syria's army took control of a rebel-held district in central Aleppo on Tuesday, after days of heavy air strikes that have killed dozens and sparked allegations of war crimes.

In the first advance since announcing plans last week to retake all of the divided city, pro-government troops seized the Farafira district northwest of Aleppo's historic citadel, a military source told AFP.

"After neutralising many terrorists... units are now demining the area," the source said.

The push follows several days of Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held Aleppo neighbourhoods -- some of the fiercest bombardment of the five-year conflict so far -- after a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Washington collapsed last week.

The Aleppo maelstrom prompted Western powers to accuse Russia of committing possible war crimes, charges the Kremlin condemned as "unacceptable".

In the latest broadside, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the air campaign.

"The appalling attacks on Aleppo have shaken all of us, and the violence and the attacks we have seen... is morally totally unacceptable and is a blatant violation of international law," Stoltenberg told a news conference in Bratislava.

On the ground in eastern Aleppo, an AFP correspondent said air strikes struck several neighbourhoods simultaneously, including in Al-Shaar, where a five-storey building was levelled with a family stuck inside.

One young girl, her body encased in rubble, was among the dead. Her father, in shock as rescue workers picked up her lifeless body, collapsed beside her, saying: "She's just sleeping. She's just used to sleeping."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said that more than 165 people have been killed by Russian and regime bombardment on the city since the government announced its offensive last week.

At least 23 civilians, including nine children, were killed Tuesday in raids on the neighbourhoods of Al-Shaar and Al-Mashhad, it said.

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As well as the intensified violence, residents have been left reeling from food shortages and skyrocketing prices.

The World Health Organization warned that medical facilities in east Aleppo were on the verge of "complete destruction".

"Over the last weekend alone, more than 200 people were injured and taken to understaffed health facilities in east Aleppo," a spokeswoman said in Geneva.

The UN body called for "an immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city."

- 'Absolutely unacceptable' -

The Observatory said that there were "significantly fewer" strikes on Aleppo on Tuesday than in recent days, but confirmed the advance by pro-government forces into Farafira.

Aleppo has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012, and the frontline has remained largely static despite continuous violence.

Earlier this month, a ceasefire went into effect across Syria, brokered after exhaustive talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

It was dubbed by Kerry as the "last chance" to end more than five years of devastating conflict.

But it fell apart within a week, with each side blaming the other for the latest failure in a war that has cost more than 300,000 lives since March 2011.

Analysts said Tuesday that the unprecedented ferocity with which Aleppo has been hit in recent days suggested that Moscow was backing the Syrian government's aim to totally recapture the city.

"Russia has decided to go all out because it no longer believes in the possibility of collaborating with the United States in Syria," said Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, US ambassador Samantha Power accused Russia of "barbarism", while both the British and French envoys went further, alleging the bombing of Aleppo constituted possible war crimes.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that violence in Aleppo was on an "absolutely unacceptable scale" and that it was up to Russia and Syria to ensure humanitarian aid could reach the battered city.
Beirut (AFP) - Russia has decided to throw its military might behind the Syrian regime's drive to recapture divided Aleppo in a bid to strong-arm Washington into accepting Moscow's demands, analysts say.

After a short-lived truce collapsed, Russian warplanes have joined Syrian aerial and artillery bombardment of the rebel-held east of the city, pounding it with unprecedented ferocity.

"Negotiations with the Americans were just a smokescreen in order to buy time and prepare for the next phase of military operations," said Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at the University of Edinburgh.

"For the (regime) loyalists, diplomacy is the continuation of war by other means," Pierret said.

After intensive negotiations between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a much-awaited ceasefire agreement went into effect in Syria on September 12.

But it fell apart within a week, with each side blaming the other for the latest failure in a conflict that has cost more than 300,000 lives since March 2011.

The deal called for the entry of humanitarian aid, particularly to besieged areas like opposition-held Aleppo, and for rebels to distance themselves from jihadists such as Fateh al-Sham Front, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate once known as Al-Nusra Front.

Neither commitment was achieved, and the ceasefire has given way to some of the most intense violence in rebel-held Aleppo since it was divided by fighting in mid-2012.

Russia intends "to give Assad a decisive victory" and "eliminate any alternative, while depriving the opposition of what it considers its 'capital'", said Pierret.

"An uprising chased from Aleppo will be relegated to nothing more than a peripheral insurrection."

- Russia goes 'all out' -

By backing government forces in Aleppo, Moscow seeks "to close that important pocket of rebels' resistance at last", said Igor Sutyagin, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

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Outside Aleppo, only Idlib province remains a major opposition stronghold.

Russia has long been a steadfast ally of Damascus, entering the conflict militarily last September to bolster Assad against rebels backed by Gulf nations and much of the West.

It has also provided key diplomatic cover at the United Nations.

But Moscow now seems closer than ever to the regime, having decided after some hesitation to support the Assad government's desire to retake Aleppo by force.

"Russia has decided to go all out because it no longer believes in the possibility of collaborating with the United States in Syria," said Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

In Damascus, analyst Bassam Abu Abdullah said Moscow was "now more in line with the Syrian government's way of thinking".

"Russia was focused on the political solution, so it began dialoguing with the Gulf and the US and other countries, but it became clear that this is not possible," said Abdullah, who runs the Damascus Centre for Strategic Studies and is close to the government.

A victory in Aleppo would put Assad's regime in a strong position ahead of any new negotiations, which UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura is still seeking despite the worsening conditions.

- An alliance of 'necessity' -

"Without Aleppo, Assad is nothing but a half-president. To really govern, he needs Aleppo," said Balanche.

Assad already controls most of the cities he considers key in Syria -- Damascus, central Hama and Homs -- with only Aleppo remaining.

"The Russians and the Syrians would like to take control of all of Aleppo and only afterwards negotiate with the opposition," said foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov.

"Aleppo plays a key role" because the future "depends on the state of the front line that separates the fighting parties. And that line must be stable."

The new assault has been devastating, with more than 150 people killed in the city since the army announced its offensive late Thursday.

The heavy bombing has raised some comparisons with Moscow's strategy against Chechen separatists in the 1990s, which saw the capital Grozny nearly completely destroyed by air power and artillery.

But analysts said the devastation was not yet on a similar scale.

"Russia's military tactics in Aleppo are nothing like those used in Grozny," said Alexandre Golts, an independent military expert.

"In Aleppo, the civilian deaths are in the dozens, if you believe the Western media, not hundreds like in Chechnya. It isn't comparable."

Russia's ramped-up military involvement in Syria has drawn stinging criticism from the United States and others, but analysts say Moscow's alliance with Damascus is firm and founded on key shared interest.

"Assad can't do anything without Moscow, and Russia in turn knows that without Assad it will be chased from the Middle East," said Alexei Malachenko, a Russian Middle East specialist.

"It's a friendship of necessity."
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Syrian government forces advanced against rebels in the Old City of Aleppo on Tuesday as part of a major offensive launched last week. A senior rebel official in an Aleppo-based faction said there were clashes in the Suweiqa area of the city. He said government forces had briefly taken over some positions there but were forced to withdraw. Syrian state television reported troops had taken over an area close to the city's ancient citadel, near Suweiqa. Syrian and Russian warplanes and artillery bombarded a number of areas in and around the city as ground forces amassed to support attacks, a second rebel official from another Aleppo-based faction said. That official said insurgents had halted any government attempts to advance on the ground. The Syrian army has launched a new offensive that aims to retake Syria's largest city before the war, in what would be a major strategic prize for the government and blow to the five-year-old rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. (Reporting by John Davison and Tom Perry; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
By Tom Perry and Angus McDowall BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new campaign that has destroyed a U.S.-backed ceasefire. The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battlefield after nearly six years of civil war. Washington, which agreed a ceasefire with Russia this month that collapsed after a week, says Moscow and Damascus are guilty of "barbarism" and war crimes for targeting civilians, health workers and aid deliveries in air strikes. More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs. One air raid killed 12 people from two families when it brought down a building on Tuesday, bringing the death toll in opposition districts to more than 30, said Bebars Mishal, a spokesman for the Civil Defence emergency service. A video purported to be of the attack's aftermath showed emergency workers bringing an apparently lifeless, dust-covered body out of the wreckage in a cherry-picker crane. Only about 30 doctors are left in rebel-held Aleppo, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies. The World Health Organization called for the "immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded" from the besieged eastern part of the city. Tuesday's assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, attempt to attack Aleppo's Old City near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city's major access points. Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off. A rebel official said insurgents had advanced against government forces in a separate battle further south, in Hama province. The rebels took over several villages in Hama's northeastern countryside, building on gains they made nearby on Saturday, said Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group. The Observatory also reported the advance. "FEROCIOUS CONFRONTATION" Senior combatants on both sides said pro-government forces were massing in several parts of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, now divided into a western zone held by the army and a smaller, besieged area held by rebels. The commander of an Iraqi Shi'ite militia fighting in support of Assad told Reuters a large force spearheaded by the army's elite "Nimr", or Tiger, forces had started to move in armored vehicles and tanks for an attack on rebel-held areas. Quelling the uprising in the city would give Assad his biggest victory yet of the war and deliver a powerful blow to his enemies. It is far from clear whether an all-out attempt to storm the rebel-held area is planned soon: that would require a massive assault by the army, backed by Lebanese and Iraqi Shi'ite militias, Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Russian air power. The government's strategy in other locations such as Damascus and Homs has been to use years of siege and bombardment to force eventual surrender, rather than attempting to storm well-defended territory. However, Assad's allies now openly say they have abandoned the peace process and are betting instead on military victory. "There are no prospects for political solutions ... the final word is for the battlefield," the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah Shi'ite movement, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was quoted in a Lebanese newspaper as saying on Tuesday. The head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Aleppo's fate would be determined only "through a forceful confrontation". Aleppo residents said the ferocious air attacks of previous nights had abated somewhat. State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City and engineering units were clearing mines in the area. A senior rebel source said the army had taken some positions near that area, but had been forced to withdraw. Neither assertion could be independently confirmed. The army had also been repelled after heavy fighting in assaults on four other fronts, he said, describing it as the biggest wave of ground attacks since the offensive was announced last week. Zakaria Malahifji, a politburo member of the Fastaqim group which is active in Aleppo, said the army had assembled infantry and heavy vehicles in a military buildup in the city. "Until today, thank God, attempts to advance have been blocked," he added. The senior rebel official said pro-government forces were mobilizing near the rebel-held Sheikh Saeed district on the city's southern outskirts, near the location of the heaviest fighting this summer in Aleppo. "They are working to expand on any opening they create," said the official from an Aleppo-based rebel faction, citing reports from his fighters. (Reporting by Tom Perry, Laila Bassam, John Davison, Ellen Francis and the Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Peter Graff)
MCC launches feasibility studies of energy projects

The US governments Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced the launch of feasibility studies of various power sector projects proposed by the Office of the Millennium Challenge Nepal (OMCN), a government office which coordinates development of the MCC program.
The third typhoon to hit Taiwan in two weeks killed four people and injured scores Tuesday, bringing violent winds and heavy rain as schools and offices closed.

Typhoon Megi forced thousands to evacuate their homes and played havoc with rail and road networks as it made landfall in the eastern county of Hualien in the early afternoon.

One man aged 40 died in a car accident in high winds while a 65-year-old man was killed when he was hit by falling scaffolding, and a 17-year-old boy drowned when his boat overturned, authorities said, with the deaths all in the south.

Also in the south, a 48-year-old man fell to his death as he was repairing the roof of a house.

At least 167 people were injured, including seven Japanese tourists and a local guide when their bus was bowled over by winds on a highway in central Taiwan, according to the national fire agency.

Billboards and scaffolding were torn down while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off. Television footage showed waves surging past breakwaters in the northeastern county of Yilan and outlying Orchid Island.

Over 11,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and nearly 3,000 are in shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Centre. Over two million households have lost power and more than 35,000 households are without water.

Four hundred international and domestic flights were cancelled as of Tuesday afternoon, and over 400 delayed. Most trains and ferries were halted.

In the capital Taipei, which was also lashed by downpours and winds, bus services and overground metro trains were suspended as some roads were flooded.

More than 1,000 millimetres (39 inches) of rain had fallen in mountainous areas of Yilan as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the weather bureau.

It said accumulated rainfall in some mountainous areas could reach 1,300 millimetres before the storm moves on, increasing the risk of landslides.

"Typhoon Megi has weakened slightly in the past three hours but it will continue to bring winds and rains to Taiwan till tomorrow," said weather bureau forecaster Hung Jen-sheng.

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At 1000 GMT Megi was 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the central city of Taichung, packing gusts of up to 191 kilometres per hour.

It is moving at 15 kilometres per hour.

More than 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with disaster relief.

Ahead of the storm, 3,700 tourists had been evacuated at the weekend from Orchid Island and Green Island.

Hualien and Taitung were first to be hit by the storm.

Those areas are still recovering from damage brought by Super Typhoon Meranti earlier this month -- the strongest storm for 21 years to hit Taiwan.

Meranti, which left one dead in Taiwan before killing another 28 as it moved to eastern China, was followed closely by the smaller Typhoon Malakas.
Gales of laughter greeted my question: So, which is worse, ISIS or the Taliban?

I was speaking to a room full of women who had recently fled areas in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province controlled by groups claiming allegiance to the Islamic State. But they didnt laugh for long.

ISIS is worse, one said. They kill boys, girls, women, men  everyone.

The life these women described in Islamic State-controlled areas of Nangarhar was so bad they sounded almost nostalgic for those earlier years spent under the Talibans thumb. While the Talibans abuses were extreme  and deeply resented  the Islamic State has brought a whole new level of suffering to villagers already expert at ranking hurt during Afghanistans 38 years of conflict.

Rumors of the Islamic States presence in Afghanistan first began to surface in 2014, and initially appeared exaggerated. In early 2015, however, the Islamic State announced plans to expand into what it calls Khorasan, an area that includes regions of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. As of mid-2016, the Islamic States efforts to establish itself in other parts of Afghanistan have in large part failed, but the group now controls significant portions of four districts of Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.

When the Islamic State first popped up in Afghanistan, its fighters formed an uneasy alliance with the Taliban, based on a shared opposition to the U.S.-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. Some Islamic State recruits were defectors from the Taliban, still bound by the complex webs of kinship and rivalry that see some Afghan families with one foot in the government and one in the insurgency. The relationship quickly soured, however; the Taliban came to see the Islamic State as a threat, and increasingly violent clashes erupted between the two groups.

The Taliban and Islamic State have fundamentally different objectives. The Taliban consistently articulates goals that solely pertain to its quest to regain control of Afghanistan. As the groups leader wrote on Sept. 9, 2016:

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[O]ur country has been invaded and an anti-Islamic, subservient and surrogate regime has been imposed on us by dent [sic] of tanks, artilleries and bomber aircrafts against the wishes of our religion and independence-loving and independent thought-loving people. An Islamic system and independence of our country is our human and religious right.

This is in sharp contrast to the global ambitions of the Islamic State, which announced the establishment of its own, global caliphate and called on all Muslims to pledge allegiance to its leader. As Borhan Osman, an Afghan analyst, observed, the Taliban has welcomed foreign militants on the condition that they obey the Taliban on Afghan soil, but Islamic State is an organisation claiming jihadist supremacy over all militant groups in the world, and would be very unlikely to listen to the Taliban.

It is somewhat unclear how Nangarhar fits into the Islamic States goals of global domination. In interviews, villagers who have encountered Islamic State fighters said that they described a plan to overthrow Afghanistans government and rename the country Khorasan. Others suggested that the Islamic State sees Afghanistan as a platform for launching operations in Central Asia, and pointed to the presence of fighters from Central Asia among the groups ranks in Nangarhar.

Women from the Islamic State-controlled areas of the province said their families had refused to budge from their villages through years of intermittent fighting between the Taliban and the government, and had clung on despite Taliban threats and abuses, only to be dislodged by the Islamic State.

We came to Jalalabad two months ago, said Mariam, a 45-year-old mother of 10 whose name has been changed to protect her safety, referring to the provincial capital. My children are students but [the Islamic State doesnt] let them go to school. The school closed three months ago. They left letters threatening the school and also bombs. Mariam said that the Islamic State left night letters telling parents not to send any children to school and ordering villagers to stop going to the mosque to pray. Then they put a bomb and blasted it [near the school early one morning], she said. The people of the village found the bomb and called the police. Before the police arrived, however, the bomb exploded, she said, fortunately without injuries.

Afghans who have lived under the Islamic State described frequent violence: shootings, beheadings, and bombings. The group has sometimes targeted people associated with the government; other violence is seemingly random. My sisters 18-year-old son was beheaded, an elderly man told me. People said he was a spy. He was just a farmer.

They killed one or two people daily in our village, one woman said. Mostly people working for the government. There were reports of men, women, and children being abducted. A few were ransomed; most were never heard from again.

Daily life all but stopped. ISIS made women sit in the home, one woman said. If you go out they will kidnap you. No one could go out, not even to the nearest shop. Another said that in her village the mullah even stopped leading prayers at the mosque out of fear.

The Islamic State forces villagers to work for them. We cooked for ISIS, we were forced to  then they wouldnt harm us, one woman said. They described schools sitting empty. Teachers were threatened into staying home, or faced with demands they donate their salaries to the Islamic State. At first some parents still sent their children to class, but the situation worsened until there was effectively no school to attend.

Before the Islamic State, schools faced different threats. The Taliban only had problems with girls, one woman said. Girls schools were open, but only up to eighth grade. The Taliban had emerged in her village five or six years earlier and tried to close all girls schools, but the community managed to resist and keep some open, she said. A woman from another village described an acid attack by the Taliban there that injured seven or eight girls as they walked to school, prompting many girls  including her daughter  to drop out.

In Jalalabad, which remains under the control of the Afghan government, in spite of worsening security the women are able to educate their children. The governments department of education has been flexible about allowing parents to register their children in a new school even if they lack the official transfer letter normally required. They know the situation, one mother said. The school was closed but we had the principal or teacher sign a paper. They just wrote on simple paper, and the department of education accepted it.

Access to education is one bright spot in their otherwise miserable ordeal for people torn away from their homes, jobs, and land they struggle to survive in an expensive city. We are happy our daughters go to school here, one mother said. I want my daughter to graduate from university and become a doctor.

Their future is uncertain. When we spoke at the end of July, the Afghan and U.S. militaries were fighting to try to clear the Islamic State from parts of Nangarhar. The United States said it killed up to 300 Islamic State fighters in the operation. Media reports from late September, however, suggested that Islamic State fighters were retaking territory.

For displaced parents, being able to educate their children may be a strong push not to go home. If the situation remains bad in our village, we will not leave Jalalabad, one woman said. We like it here because our girls can continue school easily. We are trying to find a job here. We will continue their school. We will never stop. We want our children to get more education.

Photo credit: Afghan children who fled their homes in eastern Nangarhar province, following threats from the Islamic State, at a temporary shelter in Jalalabad in 2015. NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/AFP/Getty Images
By Allison Lampert MONTREAL (Reuters) - Fast-growing aviation powerhouse India is not ready to join the world's first climate deal to curb pollution from commercial flights because it fears that talks beginning on Tuesday may not lead to a fair agreement, its civil aviation minister said. The proposed landmark deal, backed by the United States and China, aims to limit rising airline pollution to 2020 levels after it takes effect in 2021, but has been watered down by being made voluntary for the first five years. "(We'll decide) once the nuts and bolts become clearer," Ashok Gajapathi Raju told Reuters on the sidelines of an aviation forum. "Until then, our fears are that it is not equitable." Countries with a high-growth aviation sector want more latitude to produce emissions than developed countries, which are growing more slowly but were responsible for generating the bulk of the industry's greenhouse gases. If a country is not part of the deal, it will have a ripple effect as all foreign carriers on routes to and from that country  even ones from participating states  would be exempt from having to offset their emissions. The United Nations-led talks run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal. Environmentalists and European lawmakers said the deal is not tough enough and are concerned that big emitters like India will not participate in the first phase. The agreement, which only affects international flights, becomes mandatory in 2027. While European Union states have agreed to join the early phase, lawmakers said in Brussels they could still try to impose the EU's own emissions scheme on international flights if too many countries refuse to join. So far, 58 states have signed up. "(If) its another situation (where) almost nobody would participate, then international aviation is just not covered and I could not imagine that my colleagues would support keeping it uncovered until 2027, said German MEP Peter Liese of the centre-right bloc, the largest party in the European Parliament. Airlines support a global agreement because a patchwork of national and regional deals would be more costly, with the European one sparking a trade row in 2012 when it was temporarily imposed on foreign carriers. Commercial aircraft emit 11 percent of carbon emissions produced from transportation. Aviation was excluded from December's climate accord in Paris when countries agreed to limit the rise in global temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The ICAO deal would require airlines to limit their emissions or offset them by buying carbon credits from designated environmental projects around the world. (Additional reporting by Julia Fioretti in Brussels; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Grangemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) - A tanker carrying the first shipment of shale gas from the United States arrived Tuesday in Britain, where North Sea gas supplies are dwindling and there is fierce public opposition to fracking.

The ship carrying 27,500 cubic metres of ethane arrived at Grangemouth, a sprawling energy complex on the River Forth west of Edinburgh, but was not able to dock due to high winds.

The shipment of Pennsylvania gas arrived in Scottish style, a lone bagpiper playing from the tanker's prow as it passed under the Forth's iconic 19th-century railway bridge.

A A2 billion (2.3 billion euros, $2.6 billion) investment by Ineos, the world's third largest chemical company, will create a "virtual pipeline" with eight tankers transporting regular shipments across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain and Norway.

"There simply is insufficient raw material coming out of the North Sea to run Grangemouth," Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe told a press conference.

The gas shipment will help make up for dwindling offshore supplies which once flowed in abundance from the North Sea but have become increasingly difficult and costly to extract as wells have matured.

North Sea oil production hit a record low last year as the global oil price plummeted.

They have since risen, going up more than 10 percent in 2015, according to the sector's annual report.

A new shipment of gas will arrive every three weeks at Grangemouth, where it will be broken down using a chemical process called "cracking" and used to make plastics for bottles, pipes, cabling, insulation, food packaging and pharmaceutical equipment.

The deal is expected to support thousands of jobs in Scotland but the controversial method of extracting the gas, known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking", has divided political opinion and caused a headache for Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Scotland has a moratorium on fracking.

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While the British government has given the go-ahead for projects in the rest of the country, none are currently under way, often due to lengthy local planning procedures and legal action.

One project won approval in May as councillors in Yorkshire, northern England, gave the go-ahead to a plan by shale company Third Energy but work has yet to begin.

- Fracking 'hypocrisy' -

Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe said the import deal has secured the future of Grangemouth, which was on the brink of closure only a few years ago.

"This is a hugely important day for Ineos and the UK. Shale gas can help stop the decline of British manufacturing and today is first step in that direction," Ratcliffe said.

"We're talking about 10,000 jobs in total that depend on that Grangemouth facility, so if it were not for the shale gas we are bringing in from the USA, Grangemouth would have closed three years ago."

Ratcliffe has accused the Scottish government of "hypocrisy" by brokering a deal to save the plant but then leaving it dependent on US imports by refusing to allow fracking in Scotland.

Think tank Reform Scotland in a report this month said the ban is "not logical" given the Scottish government's support for offshore oil and gas.

The Scottish government said it had commissioned reports into fracking "to inform our evidence-led approach" whose results are expected later this year.

Fracking is credited with reviving the fortunes of US "rust belt" states that had fallen into industrial decline by the turn of the century, but campaigners say this has come at the cost of damage to the environment, human and animal health, safety, property value, and quality of life.

US shale is facing a similar backlash in Scotland.

The Friends of the Earth Scotland campaign group said Grangemouth was being propped up "on the back of human suffering and environmental destruction across the Atlantic".

Jim Ratcliffe, a lawmaker from the Scottish Greens, accused Ineos of "bullish behaviour" and said Grangemouth should be converted to renewables.
By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) - Pregnant women should get routine blood pressure checks at every prenatal visit to screen for preeclampsia, according to new proposed U.S. guidelines aimed at preventing deaths from this complication. Even though many doctors already monitor blood pressure throughout pregnancy, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government-backed panel of independent physicians, is updating its clinical guidelines for the first time since 1996 to reflect emerging evidence on the best way to detect preeclampsia. The Task Force recognizes the seriousness of this condition, which can progress quickly and become severe, and we continue to recommend pregnant women get screened for preeclampsia, task force member Dr. Maureen Phipps, a womens health researcher at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, said by email. Preeclampsia is a relatively common high blood pressure disorder in pregnancy, affecting approximately 4 percent of pregnancies in the U.S., according to the draft Task Force statement. In addition to elevated blood pressure, women with preeclampsia may also have excess amounts of protein in their urine, as well as swelling in the feet, legs and hands. When its undetected or untreated, the condition can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby. Women may suffer from stroke, seizures, organ failure and in rare cases, death. For babies, complications include slower growth inside the uterus, low birth weight and death. The condition is sometimes managed with bed rest or medications to lower blood pressure. If preeclampsia worsens, however, doctors may need to deliver babies well in advance of their due dates. The draft recommendations update guidance from 1996 advising doctors to screen for preeclampsia with a blood pressure test at the first prenatal visit and then periodically throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Its unlikely that the new guidelines would change the way doctors approach screening, said Dr. Christopher Zahn, vice president of practice activities for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). We have supported blood pressure measurement at every visit, Zahn said by email. The recommendations reinforce our clinical guidelines. Whats less clear is the best way to identify women who dont have preeclampsia but may be at risk for developing it. Risks for preeclampsia include a history of obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, as well as a mother or sister who has experienced the condition. Women who have a high risk of developing preeclampsia may take low-dose aspirin during pregnancy as a preventive measure, the Task Force has previously recommended. The condition can progress quickly, and typically develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Blood pressure screening earlier in pregnancy can show normal results for women who go on to develop preeclampsia, the Task Force notes. Management of women with preeclampsia varies depending on when in pregnancy that it develops, as well as the degree of severity, Zahn said. Milder cases may be managed by close observation, with the pregnancy continuing, depending again on when in pregnancy it is diagnosed, Zahn added. Severe cases may necessitate preterm delivery, as well as the use of medications to prevent eclampsia and to control blood pressure. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2dpo0st United States Preventive Services Task Force, online September 27, 2016.
TORONTO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Canadian miner Teck Resources Ltd wants to regain its investment-grade credit rating but expects it will need to reduce its debt by some $1.5 billion to $2 billion to achieve that goal, Chief Financial Officer Ron Millos said on Tuesday.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Teck, the world's second-biggest exporter of metallurgical coal, to junk last September, blaming weak commodity prices and the company's heavy capital spending.

Credit downgrades typically drive up the cost of borrowing for companies, as some big investors will only buy investment-grade bonds.

Reducing Teck's debt by this margin will take "some time and improvement in commodity prices and proceeds from asset sales," Millos said at the Mines and Money conference in Toronto.

The company has been working to reduce its debt, which stood at $6.97 billion at the end of June, down from $9.6 billion at the end of 2015.

Teck is working on putting some infrastructure assets, including the Waneta Dam and Ridley coal terminal in British Columbia, "into a position that if we get a price that makes sense for us we, would act on it," Millos said. Such deals could be time consuming to close, he added.

Teck, which also mines zinc and copper, has several non-core exploration projects that it could sell. Those properties could generate "hundreds of millions of dollars", but the current market is challenging, Millos said.

(Reporting by Susan Taylor in Toronto; Writing by Nicole Mordant; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Netflix is on track to double its original programming output as it has done in recent years and adding new genres, especially unscripted programming, such as competition shows, chief content officer Ted Sarandos told a TV industry conference in London on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference with the theme "Full Stream Ahead," he also said the company continues to expect its international business to turn profitable. And he addressed Netflix's role and input on originals after a THR report about how some creatives have asserted that creative freedom was showing signs of being curtailed.

"Our job is to pick the right shows, pick the right storytellers and create an environment where they can do the best work of their life. ... Our creative involvement in the shows is collaborative and always invited," Sarandos said, sharing what he has impressed on his team: "If you are not collaborating with the show by the time it's in production, then we have failed in some way, if we haven't been invited into the process. But we don't impose ourselves on the process creatively." He said "when we say that we allow total creative freedom, part of that is that everybody wants to make a great show, and to the extent we can be helpful in that process, we are." He added he would not "give creative notes" on projects that are "in great hands," saying he wouldn't give notes toThe Crown writer Peter Morgan, for example.

Asked about Netflix's programming budget, Sarandos reiterated past comments that the company is targeting $6 billion next year, with the number of originals continuing to increase. He said four years ago, the firm wasn't producing any originals, but "this year, we had 17 different shows for 54 Emmys," he said. He said overall the company has doubled its original programming output every year for the last four years, "and we are trying to do it again."

After all, originals get more viewing time than licensed shows, plus they help position Netflix as a destination, he said. Netflix's CFO recently said the company was heading toward a 50:50 split in terms of originals and licensed programming over the next couple of years, and Sarandos confirmed it was on its way to that.

Read more: The Netflix Backlash: Why Hollywood Fears a Content Monopoly

Netflix currently has 30 scripted originals in production, plus 35 kids programs, 60 documentaries in different stages, a dozen feature films and local-language productions in nine countries, Sarandos said. He said his programming team members "probably have more buying power than anyone in Hollywood," and he likes to give them room to make bets.

Part of the strategy with originals is "not trying to do brand-defining things," but "letting the shows create their own brands and define their own brands under our umbrella," he explained.

What genres are becoming a bigger focus for Netflix? "We are embarking on a lot of unscripted programming," Sarandos told the London conference, citing about 20 original projects in various stages of production or pre-production.

"The newest thing we're encroaching on are competition shows," he said. He cited Ultimate Beastmaster, executive produced by Sylvester Stallone. Its first season will feature contestants from six countries on an obstacle course, with each country's version able to focus more on the country's contestants.

Britain also continues to be a big focus for Netflix. "We are very engaged beyond The Crown," a drama that is launching soon, Sarandos said about the company's U.K. production plans. Black Mirror is returning with six episodes, he pointed out, for example, also citing Scrotal Recall, renamed as Lovesick. He said Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders and other British shows have been a success for Netflix in the U.S., meaning that ordering British originals is a natural extension for the company.

Read more: Ted Sarandos on Netflix Programming Budget: "It'll Go Up" From $6 Billion

The company's film strategy also was in focus. Sarandos said he likes to work with filmmakers entering TV, because films have had more global drawing power than TV historically, making the transition easier and a positive for Netflix. Film is "a distinctly different art," and movies still account for a third of viewing on Netflix, he said in explaining why the company has pushed into the original film space. He said the focus is on exclusive movies or offering movies when they open, unlike pay TV, which tends to feature films people have already seen or chosen not to see.

Large-scale films from the likes of Brad Pitt and Christopher Guest are therefore one key focus for Netflix, he said. He also cited Bright, the magic-infused cop thriller with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton from Suicide Squad director David Ayer as being a potential franchise for the company.

"It made me a little sick to my stomach," Sarandos acknowledged when recalling seeing his 20-year-old son, an aspiring filmmaker, watch Lawrence of Arabia on a mobile phone. But he said older consumers tend to care more about screen size than younger ones. Sarandos also said he always finishes movies he starts watching, while his son has told him he stops or leaves one in three movies.

Asked about virtual and augmented reality, Sarandos said "VR is something that is exciting," but "probably more for gaming" than narrative projects.

Read more: NBCUniversal CEO Calls Presidential Debate "Nerve-Racking," Lauds Moderator Lester Holt

Netflix now serves 190 countries, but the world's most populous nation - China, as well as North Korea and Syria - remains untapped. Netflix has repeatedly expressed interest in launching its service there, but censorship concerns and stringent regulations affecting foreign content providers continue to present barriers. "We do look at China as a big opportunity, but it's a complicated [market]," Sarandos previously said. "We are seeing what we can do about it in the future." He didn't provide an update on Tuesday.

But he emphasized recent localization efforts. After the company turned on the lights on Netflix across the world in January, the company has been localizing languages, banking offers and the like in various countries.

Netflix recently rolled out a Polish-language and Turkish-language service, dubbing or subtitling the bulk of its programming in the territories to better serve audiences there. The moves are part of a broader strategy by Netflix to jump-start growth in key international markets by expanding beyond viewers who speak or understand English. In most places its programming is heavily tilted to U.S. series, typically with a 80:20 split of U.S. versus local content.

Asked about what programming does well globally, he said English-speaking content "travels brilliantly." But in Asian countries, such as Japan, appetite for local fare is more ferocious, meaning up to around 70 percent of content there is local.

While one of Netflix's competitive edge in international markets is its U.S.-produced original shows, such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, the company is also expanding the use of local-language content overseas that it will also distribute in North America.

Netflix previously reported that it added fewer-than-expected 1.7 million subscribers during its second quarter, below a company forecast of 2.5 million subscribers and the 3.28 million added in the year-ago period. It added 160,000 subscribers in the U.S. and 1.5 million subscribers in international markets. It ended June with a total of nearly 83.2 million subs, including 36.1 million internationally and 47.1 million in the U.S.

Read more: Ted Sarandos: Netflix's Global Platform Will Bring Diversity to Hollywood
New white horse found for Taleju

The search for Seto Ghoda (white horse) in Bhaktapur has finally ended, much to the respite of Guthi Sansthan, priests and devotees, as without this puja on the night of Bijaya Dashami would have been incomplete.
By Pamela Barbaglia

LONDON (Reuters) - Spain's Telefonica (TEF.MC) is looking to list about 30 percent of its British mobile unit O2 in what would be one of the biggest initial public offerings (IPOs) on the London market this year, sources told Reuters.

Europe's biggest telecom group wants to use the relative market calm after the turmoil caused by June's Brexit vote to cut its stake in Britain's second-largest mobile firm and has hired UBS (UBSG.S), Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and Barclays (BARC.L) as global coordinators for an IPO which could value O2 at about 10 billion pounds, the sources said.

An O2 spokesman referred to a Sept. 5 statement by Telefonica when it said it was considering "various strategic options" for O2, including an IPO and that "preparatory work" had begun.

Telefonica had no comment, while Barclays and Morgan Stanley declined to comment and UBS was not immediately available for comment.

Telefonica boss Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete has asked the banks to speed up the preparatory work, hoping to list O2 in December if market conditions allow, the sources said.

They ruled out a listing in November as the deal remains in the early stages and the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8 is seen as a potential trigger for market turmoil.

"They are hoping to list O2 at the beginning of December, but Telefonica doesn't want to take unnecessary risks if market conditions deteriorate," one of the sources said.

The deal may be delayed to the first quarter of 2017 in the event of market uncertainty.

TAKEOVER BID?

Telefonica has been reviewing strategic options for O2 since a 10.3 billion pound sale to CK Hutchison Holdings was blocked by Europe's antitrust watchdog in May.

On Sept. 5, chairman Alvarez-Pallete said the company was close to taking a decision on either a partial sale or a listing which was to take place before early 2017.

Telefonica has decided to retain control of O2 rather than sell it all, despite its efforts to cut down its 50 billion euros of debt, the sources said.

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O2, which has more than 25 million customers, has long been on the radar screen of private equity funds, but their ambitions were stymied by Britain's vote to leave the EU.

A minority stake listing would still leave the door open for Liberty Global (LBTYA.O) or another player to launch a takeover bid, another source said, adding that Liberty's John Malone has yet to decide on his next move in Britain.

European listings have recently picked up after a slowdown in capital market deals, mainly due to jitters over Brexit.

On Sept. 23 Danish card payment services company Nets finalised a $4.5 billion listing four days earlier than planned, as demand exceeded expectations.

British fitness club chain Pure Gym (IPO-GYM.L) Group said earlier this month that it had resumed plans to list in London, hoping to raise about 190 million pounds.

And Telefonica is also in the process of floating a minority stake of at least 25 percent in its telecoms masts business Telxius (IPO-TT.MC).

(Additional reporting by Andres Gonzalez in Madrid and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Alexander Smith)
According to a recent report by The Telegraph, Spanish telecom behemoth Telefonica SA TEF is moving ahead with a proposed IPO (initial public offering) for its U.K. wireless unit O2 early next year. Telefonica is likely to maintain a majority stake in O2 even after its IPO. Per The Telegraphs report, the company has hired Barclays, UBS, Morgan Stanley and a fourth investment bank for this purpose. Marketing agency Finsbury will take care of the public relations part of the proposed IPO.

Notably, last week, Telefonica filed an IPO prospectus for its infrastructure division Telxius, to the Spanish stock market regulator, the Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). In May 2016, Bloomberg reports stated that Telefonica is mulling over an IPO for Telxius and O2. In the meantime, the company has been grappling with issues such as the Brexit, Britains vote to leave the European Union, which delayed the process.

The Telxius IPO and the proposed IPO of O2 are of utmost importance to Telefonica after the European Union telecom regulator blocked the proposed sale of its O2 unit in the U.K. to 3UK of Hutchison Whampoa. The deal was worth around $14.9 billion.

At present, the UK wireless market is dominated by four large players. Apart from O2, 3UK, and Vodafone Group Plc. VOD, BT Group Plc. BT has emerged as a key player in this space after its acquisition of British mobile network operator EE, earlier jointly controlled by Orange SA ORAN and Deutsche Telekom AG.

Telefonicas debt currently stands at approximately 52.2 billion (around $58 billion). The company had planned to reduce its debt burden through the divestment of its O2 division. However, the plan fell through as the transaction failed to materialize. According to some industry watchers, Telefonica may now be forced to sell some of its core assets to raise cash and pay-off debt. Otherwise its debt rating may be badly affected. Telefonica currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Jose Cuervo, the worlds largest tequila maker, announced Tuesday that it will conduct an initial public offering and finally become a publicly traded company. Although its filing revealed limited details about the IPO, Jose Cuervos debut is expected to generate between $750 million and $1 billion.

The company is family owned and run by the Beckmann family of Mexico, direct descendants of Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo, who first produced the beverage in 1795. It is North Americas premier tequila brand and holds roughly one-third of the worldwide market share.

The stock sale will be handled by local units of Morgan Stanley MS, JPMorgan Chase JPM, and Banco Santander SAN, as well as local brokerage GBM Grupo Bursatil Mexicano. Jose Cuervo also announced that the funds from the IPO will be used to fund growth and broaden its portfolio.

As the U.S. tequila market has shifted toward high-end, 100% agave brands, Jose Cuervo has attempted to increase its own premium offerings. It faces steep competition from UK-based rival Diageo DGE, which tried to purchase Jose Cuervo in 2012. Just three years later, Diageo sold its Bushmills Irish whiskey brand to Cuervo in exchange for Cuervos 50% stake in Don Julio premium tequila.

In its filing, Jose Cuervo said it had 2015 sales of nearly 20 billion pesos ($1.02 billion), which was up roughly 25% from 2014. In the first half of 2016, Cuervo reports revenue of 12.2 billion pesos.

Jose Cuervo was one company identified in our IPO Market Outlook for Second Half of 2016, based on research from IPO-based firm Renaissance Capital. For more IPO predictions from Renaissance, check out this exclusive interview with co-founder Kathleen Smith and the Zacks Friday Finish Line team:

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(Adds analyst comments, details from prospectus)

By Gabriel Stargardter and Natalie Schachar

MEXICO CITY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Mexico's Jose Cuervo, the world's largest tequila producer, on Tuesday announced its long-awaited initial public offering, which could raise up to $1 billion, another sign of a wider revival in Latin American stock flotations.

Cuervo, North America's dominant tequila brand, could generate investor interest by virtue of its two-centuries-old tradition, the fashion for premium tequila at the expense of vodka, as well as a return to growth in the key U.S. market after several years of decline.

"Jose Cuervo has managed to capitalize (on the market) pretty well, mostly because of their brands, but also because it's one of the oldest tequila companies in Mexico," said MetAnalisis analyst Gerardo Copca, adding he thought the timing was right to launch an IPO.

Copca noted there have been only two or three IPOs in Mexico this year, though the country was one of the few bright spots last year in a generally bleak world climate for stock flotations.

Elsewhere in Latin America, the long-dormant Brazilian IPO market has also shown signs of revival.

The filing provided few details about the IPO, but a source familiar with the situation suggested the company could seek to raise between $500 million and $1 billion.

The company, known officially as Becle, said the stock sale would be handled by the local units of Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase & Co and Banco Santander, and local brokerage GBM Grupo Bursatil Mexicano.

Along with the Mexico bourse flotation, the company also plans a private placement to investors in the United States, where the tequila market has increasingly been shifting toward high-end 100 percent agave brands.

Cuervo, which said in its prospectus that the offering's proceeds will be used to fund organic and external growth, and broaden its portfolio, has also moved toward such premium brands, taking on rivals including Diageo, with which it once had a distribution deal.

Story continues

UK-based Diageo tried to buy Jose Cuervo in 2012, when analysts valued the company at around $3 billion.

In 2015 Diageo swapped its Bushmills Irish whiskey brand for Cuervo's 50 percent stake in their Don Julio premium tequila joint venture.

Started by Jose Antonio de Cuervo in the late 1700s before Mexican independence from Spain, Jose Cuervo claims to be North America's oldest continually producing spirits.

With origins in the picturesque town of Tequila in Jalisco state, the business is now controlled by the Beckmann family, who married into the Cuervos a century ago. They will remain the majority shareholder after the IPO.

In the filing, the company said it had 2015 sales of nearly 20 billion pesos ($1.02 billion), up about a quarter from 2014. In the first half of 2016, Cuervo had revenue of 12.2 billion pesos, while net profit in 2015 was 5.3 billion pesos.

Cuervo has returned to U.S. growth, rising 3 percent to 3.5 million cases, according to trade publication Shanken News Daily, and remains about two-thirds larger than its closest rivals there, Sauza and Patron.

The company said the United States and Canada represent about two-thirds of its sales, while Mexico generates just over a fifth of revenue.

($1 = 19.6450 Mexican pesos) (Additional reporting by Lauren Hirsch and Martinne Geller; Writing by Christian Plumb; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Alan Crosby)
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Pracha Hariraksapitak BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is investigating four suspected cases of Zika-related microcephaly in three babies and a 36-week old unborn baby, the public health minister said on Tuesday, in what could be the first cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Southeast Asia. Several countries in Southeast Asia have reported increasing cases of infection from the mosquito-borne Zika virus but Thailand has one of the highest numbers in the region, with 349 confirmed since January, including 25 pregnant women. Public Health Minister Piyasakon Sakolsatayadorn said authorities needed to be thorough in their investigation of the cases as confirmation would be "sensitive". "The lab results will take at least two days because we have to be thorough with this as it is a big deal and a link hasn't been detected before," Piyasakon told Reuters. "This is a sensitive matter for Thailand," he said. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. Piyasakon said the three babies were born with small heads and an ultrasound appeared to indicate the unborn baby had a small head. Of the four mothers, two were diagnosed with Zika when they were pregnant but two were not confirmed to have had Zika, said Apichai Mongkol, director-general of the ministry's Department of Medical Sciences. If a Thai case were confirmed, it would be the first in Southeast Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement emailed to Reuters. The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has confirmed more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. MONITORING Some health experts have accused Thailand, which has a thriving tourist industry, of playing down the risk from Zika. But officials dismiss that saying the response has been adequate and another mosquito-born disease, dengue, which can be deadly, is a bigger threat. The director-general of Thailand's Disease Control Department, Amnuay Gajeena, said the four cases were being monitored but he declined to say exactly where they were suspected of contracting the virus. "It is not in Bangkok," Amnuay told Reuters. "Both the mothers and babies are being tested and we have sent the tests to several labs." There are no specific tests to determine if a baby will be born with microcephaly, but ultrasound scans in the third trimester of pregnancy can identify the problem, according to the WHO. The World Health Organization lists Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as countries reporting new cases of Zika. Singapore has recorded 393 cases since diagnosing its first in August. It has confirmed 16 pregnant women with the virus. The WHO has also said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults. According to the WHO, there are two major lineages of Zika - an African lineage, which has only been reported in Africa, where the virus was first discovered in 1947, and an Asian lineage of strains. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected. (Additional reporting by Cod Satrusayang and Panarat Thepgumpanat in BANGKOK, Marius Zaharia in SINGAPORE; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Robert Birsel)
clinton trump debate

Hillary Clinton gave a minute-long answer during the first presidential debate about why Donald Trump should release his tax returns.

During the debate Monday evening, Trump said that he would release his tax returns when the Democratic presidential candidate produced thousands of emails Clinton deleted when she was serving as secretary of state.

"I'm under a routine audit, and as soon as the audit is finished, it'll be released," Trump said.

He added: "I will release my tax returns against my lawyers wishes when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."

Clinton pointed out that Trump could legally release his tax returns despite the IRS audit.

"You've just seen another bait-and-switch here," Clinton said, pointing out that every major presidential candidate since former President Richard Nixon has released his tax return.

She continued:

"So you've gotta ask yourself: Why won't he release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons. First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings, but we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes about $650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks. Or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes."

Trump broke into Clinton's comments to praise his judgment for not paying federal income taxes at points during his career.

"That makes me smart," Trump interjected

Clinton said that Trump's existing financial disclosures did not provide enough information.

"I have no reason to believe that he will ever release returns, because there's something he's hiding," Clinton said.

NOW WATCH: Here's the moment where the debate first went off the rails





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Paris (AFP) - A massive drawdown of water beneath delta-based megacities across the world may be pulling surface pollution deeper into the ground, risking contamination and health problems for local populations, a new study said Tuesday.

Research led by Holly Michael of the University of Delaware in the United States used the example of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka to show how unsustainable water use was exacerbating arsenic pollution.

Water consumption in greater Dhaka, home to some 18 million people, is lowering the local water table by more than three metres per year in some areas.

Slaking the capital's thirst is driving down shallow water contaminated with arsenic -- known to cause a host of deadly health problems.

Using a new method for calculating water flows, the researchers showed that deep sources of clean water outside the capital could be polluted "within a decade," said the study, published in Nature Communications.

Previously, scientists had said it would take up to a century for contaminants such as arsenic to infiltrate deep groundwater at least 150 metres below the surface.

"In highly populated deltas and river basins worldwide, water resources are stressed and surface pollution is widespread," said the study.

"Pumping to supply water to megacities in these regions -- even in the water-rich system of the Bengal Basin -- threatens the safety of regional groundwater resources by inducing fast transport of contaminants to depth, even in areas tens of kilometres outside city limits."

Bangladesh's arsenic problem dates back the 1970s, when the government drilled several million shallow tube wells to provide villagers with water free of bacteria and viruses.

- Water level down 60 metres -

What officials did not realise at the time was that the soil was heavily laced with naturally-occurring arsenic.

This led to digging ever deeper wells to reach untainted water.

But now these newer sources are also threatened.

Story continues

"Little attention has been given to the potentially catastrophic impacts these hydrological alterations can have on the water resources" of rural and semi-rural areas where water treatment may not be possible, said the study.

Arsenic poisoning in rural Bangladesh's groundwater has been a known health hazard for at least two decades, and is blamed for the death of more than 40,000 people every year.

Chronic exposure to the grey-white mineral is linked to cancers of the liver, kidney and bladder, as well as heart disease.

Michael and colleagues used regional data to devise a new way to analyse water flows in natural aquifers, natural interconnected layers of rock that accumulate rainfall and river water.

Over the last half century, the water table under the capital has declined by about 60 metres.

Nearly half a billion people live in 50 deltas around the globe, most of them concentrated in megacities.

The availability and status of surface water supply will be aggravated by climate change and rapid population growth, the researchers note.
Edrizio De La Cruz emigrated to New York City from the Dominican Republic when he was just 12 years old. Now, at 35, hes the co-founder and CEO of Regalii, a financial technology startup that banks use to let consumers manage all their familys bills anywhere in the world.

Regalii partners directly with institutions and bill providers to offer global bill pay worldwide. Users can track any recurring expense  utilities, phone bills, tuition, insurance premiums and loan payments  as well as check their balances and due dates. Regalii charges a flat $3 fee for every transaction you make (compared with the average 9% fee charged by companies that wire cash). Its also meant to streamline the process itself  users can conveniently use a mobile app to organize and pay for their familys expenses.

Regalii started in 2013 as a pilot project in the DR, but now covers over 1,000 billers across 11 countries, including India, Philippines, Mexico, and other parts of Latin America. The company opened up its first satellite office in Mexico City on Monday.

The idea for Regalii came to De La Cruz organically, as a solution to a problem he faced every day. With his aunts and grandmother still living in the DR, he grew up having to send money back to his family. He was astonished that a bulk of the money was being used to make ends meet  making monthly mortgage and health insurance payments as well as keeping the lights on and water running.

He found it unnecessarily difficult and stressful to support his family financially while abroad. De La Cruz says his family members used to have to get on the bus to stand in long lines and fill out forms in order to receive the money.

I found the process of sending money back home very cumbersome, he said. There wasnt a platform to do that so I just built it.

He and his two co-founders (who are also Latino) were accepted into Y Combinator, an accelerator for early stage startups in 2013. He got an opportunity to pitch at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in 2013 and became a finalist.

Story continues

Regalii is now backed by high-profile investors like Winklevoss Capital and Andreessen Horowitz and plans to raise additional funds in a Series B financing round next year. De La Cruz told Yahoo Finance that Regalii has grown from doing a few thousand payments last year and projects that over five million payments will be made this year.

Being a Latino entrepreneur in the US

Growing up in New Yorks Washington Heights neighborhood and graduating from Aviation High School, De La Cruz originally had ambitions to become an airplane mechanic. He was 25 years old when he graduated from City College and got a job in investment banking at JPMorgan.

It was there that he fell in love with the business world and decided to pursue his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

I became enamored with the whole concept of entrepreneurship and all the endless opportunities that capitalism offers. When I was finishing Wharton, I felt I had the confidence, the belief and the network to make it happen, he told Yahoo Finance.

The landscape for Latino-owned businesses is vibrant but frustrating when it comes to scale. More Latinos are starting businesses than the general population, but they arent making much money. There are currently 4 million Latino-owned businesses in the US but only 1% receive venture capital or angel investments, according to Stanford Business School research.

De La Cruz says hes hopeful, not discouraged, by this lack of Latino representation among profitable US small business owners. In fact, hes motivated by his desire to serve not only his family but also the next crop of young Latino entrepreneurs.

One of the things that really inspired me personally is being that one of those first successful case studies that really break the glass [ceiling], he said.

When asked whether he still uses Regalii to send money back home he said, humbly, Of course, all the time.

Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, technology and real estate. Follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm.

Read more:

10 US cities that need new homes now

How this 34-year-old became Americas newest billionaire

How to invest like Kobe, Bono and Ashton without being ludicrously rich

How conscious capitalism can be profitable and positive for the community
Not all bad news

A genuinely independent media has never been more important for the future of Nepal
Mexico City (AFP) - Thousands of people marched with the parents of 43 missing students in Mexico City, demanding that they be found alive on the second anniversary of their disappearance.

The protesters chanted "we want them alive!" as they rallied across the mega-city's main boulevard, with the parents leading the demonstration with pictures of their sons.

"It has been two years of pain and suffering," said Felipe de la Cruz, a spokesman for the families.

"We will topple this rotten government with your support," he told the crowd.

The students vanished from the city of Iguala on September 26, 2014, after they hijacked buses for a protest in Mexico City and were attacked by local police.

Prosecutors say the officers delivered the 43 trainee teachers to the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel, which killed them, incinerated their bodies at a garbage dump and tossed the remains in a river. The remains of only one student were identified after a bone fragment was found in the river.

But independent experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have rejected the government's conclusion, saying such a massive funeral pyre at the landfill was scientifically impossible.

The attorney general's office has since agreed to conduct new searches for the students elsewhere.

Speaking during a visit to Colombia, President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose government has faced criticism for its handling of the case, promised to "expand the investigations" to solve the crime.
A growing protest movement is looking to loosen the tight restrictions faced by women in deeply conservative Saudi Arabia. An online petition calling for an end to the countrys male-guardianship system has garnered almost 15,000 signatures, in part thanks to a social-media campaign.

According to Saudi law, women must have the permission of a male guardian to travel abroad, get married or leave prison. Women often need to get consent  from a father, brother or son  to work, study, rent a flat or undergo hospital treatment, the Guardian reports.

The petition is the first of its kind in the kingdom and was handed to the government on Monday, the BBC reports.

Read More: Im a Saudi Woman Who Has a Male Guardian. He Is My Greatest Supporter

Women should be treated as a full citizen, leading activist Aziza al-Yousef told the Guardian. This is not only a womens issue, this is also putting pressure on normal men  this is not an issue for women only.

Following the release of a damning Human Rights Watch report in July, the hashtag #IAmMyOwnGuardian went viral, with women of all ages tweeting for a change to the system. Over the weekend some 2,500 women also sent telegrams to the Saudi Kings office asking to end the guardianship rules for women.

[Guardian]
Three people, including a 17-year-old girl, were taken into custody Sunday in the triple homicide of a couple and their friend at a house in Fullerton, California, PEOPLE confirms.



The killings triggered a missing persons search for the 17-year-old daughter of one of the murder victims. Police would not disclose whether the 17-year-old in custody was the same person as the couple's daughter.



"It was a traumatic scene for our officers to walk into," Fullerton Police Department Sgt. Jon Radus tells PEOPLE. "It is our hope these arrests will bring some comfort to the community and bring some peace to the families that were affected by this absolutely unthinkable crime."



Josh Acosta, 21, and Frank Felix, 25, and the 17-year-old girl were taken into custody Sunday morning on suspicion of killing Jennifer Goodwill Yost, 39, her 34-year-old husband Christopher Yost and the couple's friend, Arthur William Boucher, 28. Charges are expected to be filed Tuesday, Radus says.



Of the couple's 17-year-old daughter, Radus says, "I can't comment on whether or not [the person in custody] was her but I can tell you that our focus is really on the two children that were in the residence," says Radus.



Radus says investigators "are looking at what the connection may or not be between the 17-year-old juvenile as well as the adults in connection with the house," he says. "We do not believe this was a random act of violence. We believe that the individuals who committed this crime specifically sought out this residence and the people inside."



There were no signs of a break-in, he says.





Three Arrested, Including 17-Year-Old Girl, in Triple Homicide of California Parents and Friend| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime



Police received a call around 8:20 a.m. on Saturday from the couple's six-year-old girl reporting that her parents had "died." When police responded to the 400 block of South Gilbert Street, they found all three bodies in different rooms with "significant trauma," says Radus.



Radus says the time of the killing is still under investigation.



Inside the home, police also discovered the couple's two daughters, six and nine. "It was a grisly crime scene and just to imagine two children to have to wake up expecting to see mom or dad and start their Saturday morning like most kids do to see what they saw would be difficult for anyone in law enforcement let alone two children," Radus says.



The two children are now with family members, he says.



" Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.



Shortly after the bodies were discovered, detectives learned that Katlynn was missing from the family home.



"Our investigators were unable to locate her throughout the day, through various investigative means as well as trying to reach her on the phone," says Radus. "After exhausting all of our possible leads on her we asked for the public's help in locating her about 8:30 p.m. Saturday."



On Sunday morning at 8:45 a.m. Felix was picked up in Sun Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles County. Acosta was taken into custody in Fort Irwin, California.



Radus says Katlynn was found unharmed in Los Angeles County on Sunday morning but wouldn't say if the teen was found with Felix.





'One of the Most Devastating Cases'

Neighbors described Christopher Yost as a loving father who enjoyed playing outside with his young daughter's, according to the Orange County Register.



On her website, Jennifer Yost described herself as a "very outspoken person."



"I am very proud of what I believe in and speak freely about my beliefs," she wrote.



At a candlelight vigil on Sunday night, Boucheras uncle, Salvador Mineo, described his nephew as a "good kid" who worked at Mountain High and Taco Bell.



"Just the wrong place, the wrong place," he told the Register about Boucher.



"We do know he stayed at the residence from time to time and he was well known to all of the family members," says Radus. "Certainly wrong place and wrong time, that is for sure."



Boucher's mother, Kimberly Gracier, told the Register Jennifer Yost was having issues with her daughter over the teen's desire to have a relationship with an older man.



"It just seemed there was always something going on with the teenager," she said, according to the Register.



"I have been in law enforcement for 15 years and it is one of the most devastating cases I have been a part of," says Radus.
Cartagena (Colombia) (AFP) - After half a century of conflict, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the country's government signed a full peace accord on Monday.

Here are key dates in Latin America's longest armed conflict, which has killed 260,000 people according to Colombian authorities.

- 1964: FARC formed -

The government launches an offensive against communist groups in the center and west of the country.

On May 27, rebel commander Manuel Marulanda Velez flees the assault with 47 other men and forms the FARC.

- 1984: First peace bid -

On March 28, conservative president Belisario Betancur launches peace talks with the FARC under a bilateral truce.

The initiative breaks down in 1987 after right-wing paramilitaries assassinate a presidential candidate from a party allied to the FARC. Further peace efforts collapse in 1991 and 2002.

- 1996: Hostages taken -

On August 30, the FARC takes 60 Colombian soldiers hostage at a military base in the south.

The raid marks the start of its strategy of mass hostage-takings, which dominates the conflict over the following years.

- 2000: 'Plan Colombia' -

In June, the United States and Colombian president Andres Pastrana launch "Plan Colombia," a joint anti-narcotics strategy.

It is later broadened to include anti-guerrilla operations. Washington has spent more than $10 billion on arming and training Colombian forces.

- 2002: Betancourt captured -

In February, the FARC kidnap Franco-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, a candidate for Colombian president.

During more than six years captive in the jungle, she becomes an international symbol of the conflict. She is rescued by the military in 2008.

- 2011: FARC leader killed -

The FARC's top commander, Alfonso Cano, is killed in a raid by the Colombian army on November 4.

Two other top leaders, Raul Reyes and Jorge Briceno, were killed in 2008 and 2010.

Cano is replaced by current leader Timoleon Jimenez, who reaches out to the government for peace talks.

Story continues

- 2012: New peace talks -

On October 4, President Juan Manuel Santos's government launches new peace talks with the FARC, weakened by the loss of its top leaders.

- 2016: Peace deal -

On June 23, the FARC and the government sign a definitive ceasefire and disarmament agreement, a precursor to a comprehensive peace deal.

On September 26, they sign the full peace accord. It will be put to a referendum for ratification on October 2.
From Country Living

We're obviously big fans of the tiny house movement-we've seen everything from tiny house weddings to converted grain-silo versions-but this latest take on the small home trend has captured our hearts.

A neighborhood of 50 tiny houses designed to shelter homeless veterans is coming to Kansas City, Missouri, thanks to the Veterans Community Project (VCP), according to Fox 4. Each 240-square-foot house is built by veterans for veterans, and they're expected to be move-in ready by winter 2017.

The VCP purchased 4.2 acres of land for the neighborhood, and hopes it will provide some much-needed transitional housing for veterans, according to the non-profit's website. The group hopes to eradicate veteran homelessness in Kansas City by giving those in need a home with a bed, shower, food, and electricity. The community will also provide on-site mentoring, counseling, and access to other helpful programs.

"We want to give them something they can stay in, call it their own, and then socialize and re-integrate at their own pace," said Kevin Jamison, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of VCP. "These are my brothers and sisters out there on the streets. We didn't want to see any veteran suffering."

Learn more about volunteering or donating to the program at the Veterans Community Project.

(h/t Fox 4)

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From Esquire

AUSTIN, TEXASThis extended statement is something that should be preserved in the National Archives, at least until the Smithsonian completes construction of the new National Museum of Gutless Political Expedience:

What I laid out yesterday (Friday) was really two things that led me to decide that I was going to vote for Donald. Number one, I gave my word. A year ago, I stood up on a debate stage, and I raised my hand, and I said I will support the Republican nominee no matter who it is. When I searched my conscience"What's the right thing to do?"at the end of the day I was left with the answer that you've got to keep your word. Secondly, listen, I have had more than a few disagreements with Donald. I haven't been shy about it. But, at the end of the day, I think this election gives us essentially a binary choice. One of two people is going to be the next president, Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. As many disagreements as I've had with Donald, in my view, by any measure, Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president It is fair to say that there is not another candidate in the field who tried harder, who left more on the field in an effort to defeat Donald, than I did. We didn't succeed. And, at the end of the day, I have to accept the democratic process. The democratic process has given us effectively a binary choice. [Q: You could say the words, "He is fit to be president if you chose to."] You have done such a fine job of saying that.

That was Tailgunner Ted Cruz, man of unshakable resolve, demonstrating quite clearly that the Republican Party, the party of Lincoln, has handed itself over for good, and all to the political fortunes of a vulgar talking yam. On Friday, on his Facebook page, the Tailgunner endorsed El Caudillo del Mar-A-Lago, who previously and famously implied that Cruz's wife was homely and that Cruz's father had been breakfast buddies in New Orleans with Lee Harvey Oswald. This came as something of a surprise in that, at the Republican National Convention, the Tailgunner had been fairly well hooted off the platform for not endorsing the nominee, but instead telling the delegates to "vote their conscience." In some precincts, including here at the shebeen, Cruz got some credit for low courage in sticking by what were perceived to be his principles. Nothing has changed about either man in the interim. Now, though, we discover that even at that moment, there may have been less honor in the man than there is in the candidate he now has endorsed. That boggles the mind. From TBOTP:

Story continues

Just six weeks after he dropped outand more than a month before Cruz would dramatically snub the nominee at the Republican National Conventionthe senator quietly began renting his vast donor email file to his former rival, pocketing at least tens of thousands of dollars, and more likely hundreds of thousands, that can be used to bankroll the Texan's own political future. Trump began paying to solicit some of Cruz's supporters for campaign cash as early as June 17. "We need you to stand with Mr. Trump before it is too late," read the initial Trump campaign missive. A second solicitation came the next day. Another came the day after that. All told, in the last three months Trump has emailed at least some segments of Cruz's donor list more than 30 times. Indeed, only hours before Cruz pointedly and publicly refused to endorse"Vote your conscience," he said in July, as he was booed off the RNC stage and his wife whisked from the crowd for her own safetythe senator had rented his email list to Trump. "We must seize this moment to build on our momentum and Make America First Again," Eric Trump wrote in an email to Cruz's list earlier that day.

For him to sit there in the auditorium and take us through the long, dark night of the soul he had to suffer before agreeing to support someone on whom he had already been turning a buck is as breathtakingly cynical as anything I've ever seen in politics, and I grew up in Massachusetts. It's like watching Elmer Gantry deal three-card monte. With two cards.

Still more from the auditorium

If you look at what I said in Cleveland, and one of the unfortunate things about the perception of Cleveland afterwards, a lot of folks saw me as the face of Never Trump. I have never been Never Trump. I have never said I would not support Donald Trump. I have been Never Hillary. I never said that under no circumstance would I support Donald Trump. What I was attempting to do in Cleveland was to lay out a vision: This is how we unite Republicans, this is how we come together to win. It shouldn't just be personality conflicts. It shouldn't be a battle of celebrities. This should be about substance, and what I tried to lay out in Cleveland was, for us to win, we need to unite around shared principles, particularly around defending freedom and defending the Constitution. For me, the Constitution has been my passion since I was a kid. In Cleveland, I was essentially laying out: Donald, this is what you have to do to earn my vote and, I believe, to earn the votes of millions of others.

And how did the Trump campaign knock down the impregnable walls around the Tailgunner's conscience, besides renting his donor list, that is? Trump did it by putting out a list of possible Supreme Court justices, at the top of which was Senator Mike Lee, the konztitooshunal skolar from Utah. That's chilling enough just on its own. But being asked to accept the notion that Lee's inclusion on a list that may or may not be relevant by next Tuesday was enough to satisfy Cruz's platonic ideal of freedom is being asked to accept that it took two months for Tailgunner Ted Cruz to sell his soul. It turns out the price wasn't even worth haggling about.

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Trump melting

The Sierra Club on Tuesday mocked Donald Trump over his refusal during the first presidential debate to admit that he called climate change a "hoax" perpetrated by China.

The top environmental group, which is backing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, released a time-lapse ad of a melting ice sculpture of the Republican presidential nominee. The video was spliced with his previous comments calling global climate change a hoax.

"All of it with the global warming, and the that  it's a hoax. It's a money-making industry, OK?" Trump said at a campaign rally in 2015, in comments the Sierra Club included in its ad.

The ad also featured Trump telling Fox News host Bill O'Reilly that he "might have" called climate change a Chinese hoax.

During Monday night's presidential debate, Clinton criticized Trump during the presidential debate for his past comments on climate change, admonishing the Republican presidential nominee while touting her plan to create jobs in the clean energy sector.

"Donald Trump thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese," Clinton said.

Trump responded by asserting the Obama administration's regulations on forms of energy like coal were destroying jobs. Though those regulations have likely affected the number of coal-sector jobs, there appear to be net gains in clean-energy industries that have statistically offset the losses nationwide.

"I'm a great believer in all forms of energy. But we're putting a lot of people out of work  our energy policy is a disaster," Trump said.

Later during the debate, the real-estate magnate criticized Obama for his warnings about the threats of climate change.

"The single greatest problem the world has is nuclear armament, nuclear weapons, not global warming, like you think and your  your president thinks," Trump said to Clinton.

The Sierra Club characterized Trump's statements about climate change as out of touch with the overwhelming scientific body of evidence supporting the notion that man-made climate change poses an imminent threat.

Story continues

Donald Trump got caught melting down on another lie last night, and this one may be one of the most consequential yet," Sierra Club National Political Director Khalid Pitts said. "During the debate Trump proved that he cannot be trusted on anything, especially when it comes to tackling the climate crisis. Our country cant afford to have the only climate denying world leader in the White House."

Watch the ad below:

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump is under fire for his comments about the Iraq War





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Of two minds

If Nepalis world over have done well, it is because English has become accessible to many students
The Doctors take a hard look at two trendy beauty treatments to see if either has any merit.

The first trend is a face mask that claims to give your skin the benefits of a hot sauna for $1.99. This is a self-warming facial mask that claims to bring back the glow to your skin! The Doctors decide to have three audience members try the mask out as they discuss the mask.

Watch: Big Beauty Trends

As the audience members are applying the mask, Dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee explains that a product that emits warmth is going to bring more blood vessels to the face, will give your skin more of a glow, and will open your pores to some extent.

Dr. Sandra Lee warns that there are some skin conditions that don't react well to heat, like rosacea. Plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon also cautions against using a heat related product if you already have inflammation of any kind. After trying the product, check out how the audience members felt about the product.

Watch: Skin Care Trends to Avoid

The next trend that The Doctors take a look at is a treatment that uses fillers for aging genitals.

This is a trend that's being used more and more for men and women. As we age, we lose volume in certain areas and gravity takes over. Plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Ordon says "Vaginal rejuvenation is the hot topic at meetings right now." But he feels that penis enhancements is still relatively new territory and recommends you seek out someone who has performed the procedure before if you are considering trying fillers "down there."

Would you give either a try?
Trevor Noahs The Daily Show was among several late-night programs that went live after the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but Noahs show seemed to do it most ambitiously.

The Daily Show seemed to have the most opening material reacting to the actual debate. That included Noahs observation, supported by debate clips, that The only way Trump can truly relate to any issue in America is whether or not he has a property in that place.

As had other late-night hosts, Noah went after Trumps line that Hillary Clinton had been fighting ISIS unsuccessfully your entire adult life which would put Clinton in her 30s.

He noticed that, at some point Trump became honest and proud as Clinton went after him over his taxes. The Democratic White House hopeful noted the few tax filings of Trumps that are public indicate he paid no federal tax, to which he said into the microphone: That makes me smart.

Dude, taxes are a responsibility, not something to evade, Noah scolded.

But Noah became most personally offended when Trumps debate talk turned the countrys airports which the candidate said are like from a third-world country.

Our airports are nicer than yours, Donald Trump, snapped Noah, who is from South Africa. Asshole, you didnt land in a third world country; dont involve us in your problems.

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By Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - A visit to China by a Philippine special envoy tasked with rebuilding tattered ties with Beijing has been canceled, his aides said on Tuesday, the latest turn in a foreign policy increasingly unpredictable under the new president. Fidel Ramos, who was president from 1992-1998, would still go to Beijing when the time was right, according to an aide. News of the aborted trip was posted on the website of the Philippines embassy in Beijing. President Rodrigo Duterte picked 88-year-old statesman Ramos to start a dialogue with China in the wake of a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, which invalidated Beijing's claim to most of the South China Sea and put much of the region on edge. No official announcement had been made about the trip, and it was not immediately clear with whom he had planned to meet. The aide said Ramos still planned to go to Beijing "at the proper time". China refuses to recognize the arbitration case. Both sides have pledged to pursue warmer ties, but it remains unclear how they plan to navigate the issues of the ruling, China's man-made islands and its blocking of Filipino fishermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters the reason for cancelling the trip was because it clashed with Duterte's schedule. He is due to visit Vietnam starting Wednesday evening. "The president's visit to a number of Asian countries is being arranged," the source added. Duterte in a speech on Tuesday reiterated his hopes of making China a new friend, along with Russia, and said by next year he will have "entered into so many new alliances". His rhetorical outreach toward Russia and China was accompanied for a second day by a chiding of longtime treaty ally and former colonial power the United States, which he would not allow to "impose on us anything". A foreign policy for years aligned with the West looks set for a shakeup following Duterte's near-daily, profanity-riddled rebukes of anyone from the United Nations, Britain and France to the European Union and United States. He has taken aim at those critical of his war on drugs, which has killed about 3,000 people in his three months in office. A U.S. official said Washington is trying to work as closely as it can with Manila despite Dutertes public comments. "He does say a lot of things in public, but we are still full speed ahead on cooperation with the Philippines," said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Weve gotten no indication from the Philippines that they are done with us, that they want to cut off counter terrorism cooperation, so there is this odd disconnect between what he says publicly and what we see privately," he added. China too was not spared criticism, with Duterte on Tuesday telling Beijing to control drug gangs supplying narcotics to the Philippines. "If you consider us your friend and want to help us, most of the materials are from China, what does that mean?" he said. Lauro Baja, a retired former deputy foreign minister and Philippines ambassador to the United Nations, said Duterte should send a clearer message on his foreign policy intentions, and not through the media. "The view from the outside is that the Philippines' worst enemy is itself, its foreign policy is confusing," he said. "So, both Washington and Beijing would ask, what does the Philippines want?" (Additional reporting by Ben Lim and Ben Blanchard in Beijing and by Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Nick Macfie)
Hillary Clinton sharply criticized Donald Trump for pushing a racist birther lie about President Obama during a heated exchange at Monday nights presidential debate at Hofstra University.

Moderator Lester Holt asked Trump to explain his yearslong campaign supporting the conspiracy theory questioning Obamas citizenship and birthplace.

I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate, and I think I did a good job, Trump said.

Were talking about racial healing in this segment, Holt interjected. What do you say to Americans, people of color, who

Trump cut him off. I say nothing, he said, again congratulating himself for getting Obama to release his long-form birth certificate from Hawaii in 2011. Trump continued to push the issue for years after.

Hillary Clinton during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Monday. (Photo: Julio Cortez/AP)



Clinton quickly pushed back at the debate, noting that Trump walked off the conspiracy in the days leading up to the debate. He tried to put this whole racist birther lie to bed, she said. But it cant be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen.

She said Obama was upset by the rumors. Barack Obama is a man of great dignity, and I could tell how much it bothered him and annoyed him that this was being touted and used against him, she said.

Trump accused Clintons campaign of starting the birther conspiracy theory during the 2008 primaries, and of circulating a photo of Obama in traditional garb. (Clinton did not start the birther conspiracy, but her campaign was accused in 2008 of circulating the traditional garb photo.) When you try to act holier-than-thou, it really doesnt work, he said.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump election 2016 illustration

HEMPSTEAD, New York  Top surrogates for both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton outlined what they expect at Monday night's titanic debate in interviews with Business Insider earlier in the afternoon.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said her campaign has prepared "for both" potential versions of Trump showing up  the combative and the docile versions of the Manhattan billionaire.

"I think in recent days, it seems like the smart money is that he's going to come in and, it seems like the advice he's getting from Roger Ailes and [campaign manager] Kellyanne Conway is to do his best to try and cultivate a presidential-seeming image to try and counteract the effect of the last 18 months, where he's seen the results of that approach with his very high unfavorable rating," Fallon told Business Insider. "And, clearly, I don't think you can undo 18 months in 90 minutes, but they're probably going to try."

He continued:

"For us, that means in the extended back-and-forth, the format of the debate calls for as much as 10 minutes of back-and-forth discussion, and I think that he was able in the primary debates to sort of shrink back into the background and pick his spots because it was a very crowded debate stage, but here he will have nowhere to go, and it will just be the two of them.

"And in those 10-minute lengthy discussions, he will have had to come here knowledgeable to speak for the issues, or will he revert to his lies. I think that will stand out more than whatever gracious note he will try to sound in the early going of the debate."

Asked about the difficulty of preparing for an opponent for whom there is little game footage  the version of Trump that is much more subdued  Fallon brushed it off, adding it wouldn't affect Clinton's game plan.

"No matter which Donald Trump came to the debate tonight, our top priority is to talk affirmatively and positively about what she wants to do," he said. "Everybody else is asking the question of how do you deal with Donald Trump, but she views the debate as an opportunity to speak in an unfiltered way to 90 or 100 million people and basically communicate her core message unfiltered and on television."

Story continues

"That doesn't happen often where you get the opportunity to have a sort of unfiltered chance to speak to the American people, because it doesn't carry the day in the back-and-forth of the campaign," he continued. "So she will talk about her values, why she's running, what she wants to do about the economy, what she will do to keep the country safe. That's probably our first, second, and third objective before anything comes into the picture about how to deal with contrasting her record with Trump's."

He added that would be her focus "regardless" of how Trump approaches the night.

"But then even if Trump comes in and he intends to throw people for a curve by trying to seem restrained and composed, again, I think the true test will be whether he can sustain a conversation about what to do about ISIS or how to deal with stagnant wages," Fallon said. "He'll have to sustain a 10-minute conversation. It will be hard to hide in those moments."

Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia, a Trump surrogate, said Trump's plan for a positive night has to include calling out what he believes to be the failures of the Democratic Party for people who feel disenfranchised by the political system.

He also added that the potentially more subdued Trump is simply a product of a candidate becoming more familiar with national politics.

"Trump's growing into being a candidate," Perdue said. "I can relate to this as an outsider. I'd never run for anything. He'd never run for anything. So it's an evolution."

"And I think when he got to the convention of the Republican Party, he was much more measured that night, he was scripted, and he did a fabulous job of speaking to America about his vision for the future," he continued. "I know this guy's heart  he's doing this for the right reason. He doesn't have to do this. And his theory is this: If we want different results in Washington, we have to send different people there. He's going to do that tonight. I think we will see a continuing evolution of his demeanor like we saw at the Republican convention."

He said he "fully expects" to see Trump display the "stark contrast" between himself and the former secretary of state.

"I've never seen a presidential race that showed two diametrically opposed visions for the country," Perdue said. "And I think what we've got here is a candidate in Hillary Clinton who's been in the political bubble, the political establishment, for 30 years, and on the other side, Trump is an outsider. He's the guy calling to camp all the insiders who are responsible for this economic catastrophe we're in right now."

"I think Trump wins this election by continuing to do what he's been doing and speak to the people who've been disenfranchised in this political process, the outside people," he later added. "That's how I got elected, frankly, by the people who were not part of the Democratic or Republican Party, but wanted to see change, real change."

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Miami (AFP) - Donald Trump set aside his debate with Hillary Clinton Tuesday to court Hispanic voters in the key battleground state of Florida, shopping for pastries and visiting Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.

"You know, when I started off with the Hispanic community, I knew that I had great relationships but it wasn't reading that way in the newspapers," the Manhattan billionaire told a small, well-heeled audience of mostly Cuban Americans in a college auditorium in Miami.

"We're leading Florida right now," he claimed to applause, despite polls putting him neck and neck with his Democratic opponent. "And we're doing that because of the Hispanic community to a large extent."

But if the polls in Florida are too close to call, Trump still faces an enormous task if he wants to count on Hispanics electing him into the Oval Office on November 8.

In Miami, his motorcade swept past a handful of protesters, who held a "No Trump, No KKK, No racist USA" sign as they shouted in heavy rain.

Clinton holds a commanding lead over Trump among Hispanic voters in five key battleground states, at 53 to 34 percent in Florida, according to a recent Florida Atlantic University poll.

From the start of his once improbable bid for the presidency in June 2015, Trump slammed Mexicans as drug dealers, rapists and criminals.

He is campaigning to build a wall along the southern US border, insisting that Mexico will pay for what he says will stem the tide of illegal immigrants and drugs.

He has also threatened to deport millions of illegal immigrants, many of them from a Hispanic background.

- Preaching to converted -

On Tuesday, Trump offered generalized words about the crisis in Venezuela, promised a better deal on relations with Cuba and urged the overwhelmingly Cuban American audience to get out and vote.

"I see the problems on the news every night, I see what's going on and you people must be devastated," the candidate said.

Story continues

Referencing the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba, he said friends were "so unhappy. Not at a deal being made, they want the right deal," he said. "We will make the deal, believe me."

He also offered his condolences over the tragic death of Miami Marlins ace pitcher Jose Fernandez, 24, a Cuban refugee turned US citizen who died Sunday in a boating accident.

This was low-key Trump: no music, no grand introduction, no fanfare, just him sitting on stage in an arm chair -- a far cry from his preferred style of large campaign rally attracting thousands.

But still the small, enthusiastic group chanted "Trump, Trump, Trump," "USA, USA, USA," and applauded loudly.

He was preaching to the converted. The gathering appeared to be invitation only, names checked off against a list. Those who spoke to AFP firmly supported his tough stance against illegal immigrants.

It is a crowd fed up with the political establishment, several of whom said there was "no way" they would ever be voting for Clinton.

- 'This cesspool' -

It was also a crowd embodying the American dream of hundreds of thousands of Cubans who fled after Fidel Castro seized power in 1959, coming to the United States to find an education, jobs and prosperity.

None of the five speakers from the floor asked questions. Instead, they thanked him effusively for his "sacrifices" in running for office, calling him "Mr Soon To Be President," or even just "Mr President."

One woman, originally from Venezuela, addressed Trump in Spanish through a translator as he sat with chin resting on his hand.

"I don't know how to thank you for just jumping into this cesspool. Simply because you don't want this country to turn out to be another Cuba, another Venezuela," said businessman Max Alvarez.

Trump later stopped off at Versailles Bakery, for what a staffer said was coffee, empanadas, croquettes and a pastry to chants of "Arriba Trump" as a few people jumped on chairs to catch a glimpse.

Later Tuesday, he addresses a rally in an airport hangar in Melbourne, Florida. Also on his schedule -- two Florida fundraisers -- as he tries to play catchup with Clinton's heaving war chest.

"He would have to just completely reverse a lot of his policies for me to switch from him," David Lopez, a 20-year-old student, told AFP.

"But to go to Clinton? No way. That wouldn't happen."
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  Going into Monday nights presidential debate, there was much speculation about whether Donald Trump would raise former President Bill Clintons history with women. He did not.

In the spin room afterward, Yahoo News Hunter Walker asked Trump if he was tempted to raise the topic, as he has done repeatedly on the campaign trial.

I was, but I decided not to do it out of respect for Chelsea, Trump replied. Hillary Clintons daughter was in the audience for Monday nights bout.

Watch a video of the exchange below.

Trump had fueled rumors he would bring up past affairs with a tweet saying he might invite to the debate Gennifer Flowers, an Arkansas woman who had an affair with Clinton before he became president. (Flowers said she would come, but the campaign later denied that it was giving her a ticket.)

In a separate exchange in the spin room, Trump also addressed the issue.

I didnt want to do my final attack, which was to attack her husband on what took place with respect to him and his life and all of the things that took place, because Chelsea  who I happen to think is a wonderful young lady  was in the room and I just didnt think it would be appropriate, despite the fact shes spent  how much has she spent  over $200 million on [negative] commercials, he said.

Heading into the debate, there was intense speculation about whether Trump would deploy the same type of insults he used against opponents during the primary or the more disciplined approach he has adopted in recent weeks. The Trump campaigns recent efforts to focus on positive policy messages rather than attacks has coincided with him coming from behind in the polls.

In the spin room, Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. said his fathers decision not to discuss President Clintons history with women showed a lot of restraint and class. The younger Trump suggested the fact his fathers family was in attendance played a role in the decision.

He could have taken the cheap shot, Trump Jr. said. He could have brought that up. He certainly knows about it, and he didnt. He showed restraint because hes a classy kind of guy, and he wasnt going to do that in front of his family.

Story continues

Additional reporting by Holly Bailey

This post was updated with further comments from the spin room at 11:48 p.m.

(Cover tile photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
donald trump

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump once again on Monday invoked the name of a controversial US Army general during the presidential debate  a seemingly odd choice, considering the officer almost started another world war and was later fired for insubordination.

Hillary Clinton "tells you how to fight ISIS on her website," Trump said of the Democratic nominee. "I don't think Gen. Douglas MacArthur would like that very much."

MacArthur has quite a storied, yet controversial, military career. He served in World War I and World War II, and received the Medal of Honor for his defense of the Philippines in 1942. But his actions in Korea almost led to a third world war, and a very public spat between MacArthur and President Harry Truman resulted in his firing for insubordination.

"It was with the deepest personal regret that I found myself compelled to take this action," Truman said in 1951, telling the nation he would be relieving the general of his command. "General MacArthur is one of our greatest military commanders. But the cause of world peace is more important than any individual."

The general had gone directly against the president and lost. Yet Monday was hardly the first time Trump has praised MacArthur.

"Remember the old days of General MacArthur and General Patton, and these great generals," Trump previously said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2015, when he was still weighing a run for president. "General MacArthur is spinning in his grave when he sees what we do."

Crossing the border

Korean War US Army

On June 25, 1950, communist forces from North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. The surprise attack resulted in numerous cities being overrun  to include Seoul  and the United Nations intervened.

MacArthur was put in command of all American troops in Korea, tasked with beating the communist forces back while also trying to minimize outside influence from China and the Soviet Union. Though defense cuts to the US military resulted in some initial failures, MacArthur eventually succeeded in driving North Korea back to the border in the fall of 1950.

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Meanwhile, Truman was worried that China might enter the war, but MacArthur assured him the chances of that were slim.

His assurances proved incorrect, and hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers attacked American lines during the winter of 1950. The assault later led to a stunning defeat of two US Army divisions, which the Armed Forces Journal called "the greatest battlefield defeat in the Army's modern history."

The "limited war" that Truman wanted was about to expand beyond his control, as MacArthur was asking for permission to bomb inside China and help nationalist forces from Taiwan to invade the country.

A potential World War III was about to start.

'There is no substitute for victory'

macarthur

Instead of seeking an expansion of the war, Truman disagreed with MacArthur's push to attack China. With the war deeply unpopular at home, the president was trying to end it by opening peace negotiations in early 1951.

General officers are supposed to give frank advice on what they believe is the best military strategy  while avoiding any public statements on policy  because they are ultimately subordinate to the president in the chain of command. As retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said in 2012, it is essential for service members to remain neutral in politics and follow the legitimate orders of whoever is above them, since the military is "not a special-interest group."

But MacArthur ignored this by often writing letters about what the US should do in Korea.

The "politicized, erratic and egotistical" general was undermining the president in public statements and in private communications with politicians back in the US, who were urging him to leave the military and run for president himself.

MacArthur was considered a "media whore" of his time, Daniel Drezner, a professor of international affairs at Tufts University, told Reuters. And he wasn't just insubordinate to Truman: As Tom Ricks has noted, MacArthur holds the unique record among military officers of defying three US presidents.

A scathing letter MacArthur wrote in March 1951 to a Republican congressman was the final straw for Truman.

The letter, which was read on the House floor on April 5, directly criticized the president, challenging his authority and ultimate command over the military as commander-in-chief.

"If we lose the war to communism in Asia, the fall of Europe is inevitable, win it and Europe most probably would avoid war and yet preserve freedom," MacArthur wrote. "As you pointed out, we must win. There is no substitute for victory."

Historian David McCullough later wrote that "virtually all that he said was bound to provoke Truman"  and it did.

Days later, Truman, along with his advisers and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, agreed that MacArthur had to be fired. He was replaced by Gen. Matthew Ridgway.

It was a tough decision at the time: With MacArthur's public pronouncements and record in World War II, he was loved by the American public. Some even called for Truman's impeachment.

Truman signing North Atlantic Treaty

Though MacArthur's legacy remains controversial, Truman's decision to assert civilian control over the military and avoid a war with China has been regarded much more positively among historians.

"I fired him because he wouldnt respect the authority of the president," Truman later explained. "I didnt fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but thats not against the laws for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail."

'I don't want my generals being interviewed'

Besides Trump's praise of controversial generals like MacArthur or Patton, he also brings them up as the heroes America needs now because they did not reveal their plans ahead of time to the enemy. Trump says he would "utterly destroy ISIS," though he has not explained how.

And he often brings up those same generals as his reason: Not wanting to tip off the enemy.

"I don't want my generals being interviewed," he said at a rally earlier this year.

But this line of reasoning deals with tactical decisions, not strategy  a distinction Trump never makes.

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PM assures Morcha of registering constitution amendment proposal before Dashain

Leaders affiliated to Madhesi Morcha called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to talk about the constitution amendment at his official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday.
Republican candidate Donald Trump lashed out against China and Mexico in the first few minutes of Monday's closely watched presidential debate, setting the stage for an aggressive blame game.



NBC moderator Lester Holt kicked off the 90-minute session with a question on how each candidate would create jobs that would put more money in the hands of American workers.

Trump responded with a direct attack on two familiar targets: the trade threat posed by China and Mexico.

"Our jobs are fleeing the country, they are going to Mexico, and many other countries," the 70-year-old told the audience at Hofstra University in New York.

"Look at what China is doing to our country ... They are devaluing their currency and we have nobody in our government to fight them ... They are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing."

By reducing U.S. taxes from 35 to 15 percent for companies of all sizes and by renegotiating trade deals, job creation could return to the glory days of Ronald Regan's administration, Trump said. Those measures would stop foreigners from stealing American jobs and prevent companies such as Ford (NYSE:F) from leaving the world's number one economy, he added.

Storied U.S. car maker Ford said this month that the company's small-car production would move to Mexico over the next two to three years, citing the need to be competitive.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who responded to Holt's question after Trump, advocated increasing the national minimum wage, providing equal pay for women, and corporate profit-sharing as ways to create new jobs with rising incomes.

Trump accused Clinton of failing to improve people's lives during her political career, to which Clinton responded "Donald, I know you live in your own reality."

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GettyImages 610603830

Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized NBC anchor Lester Holt, characterizing his performance as the moderator of the first presidential debate as biased.

Trump made the comments on "Fox & Friends" when he was asked whether Holt "leaned a little over into the left lane" Monday night.

"Yeah, totally. More than a little," Trump replied. "He leaned over in that lane."

The Republican presidential nominee expressed disappointment that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, was not asked about issues that were unflattering to her candidacy.

"Well, he didn't ask her about the emails at all. He didn't ask her about her scandals. He didn't ask her about the Benghazi deal that she destroyed," Trump said, referring to the 2012 terrorist attack on the US diplomatic compound in Libya. "He didn't ask her about a lot of things that she should have been asked about."

The brash billionaire continued:

"I mean there's no question about it. He didn't ask her about her foundation. Why? I don't know. I didn't think he did a bad job, but when you look at it you watch the last four questions. He hit me on birther, he hit me on a housing deal from many years ago that I settled with no recourse and no guilt. He asked me about that  that's a beauty to be asked. A 40-year-old lawsuit or older. I just hate to say it's older because then Ainsley will say wow I didn't know Trump was that old. She'll be unimpressed. I explained it, but when you explain that it is a no-win too.

"They were leaving all her little goodies out. They didn't ask her about much. I was asked about my tax returns, which I've told about 500 times. I think I really did well when we were asked normal questions. I think I did really well when answering those questions, but those questions are not answerable in a positive light."

Trump initially told CNN after the debate that Holt did "a great job."

"Honestly, I thought Lester did a great job," Trump told the media outlet in the spin room. "Yeah, I thought it was very fair."

Story continues

Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, also said on Tuesday he was "disappointed" in Holt's performance. Speaking on "Good Morning America," the Indiana governor said he wished Holt brought up some of the scandals that have been "at the forefront" of Clinton's campaign.

Holt's performance first came under scrutiny from far-right websites like Breitbart, which published articles knocking the "NBC Nightly News" anchor for fact-checking Trump and not pressing Clinton on her use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who is among Trump's most prominent surrogates, also told reporters after the debate that Holt "should be ashamed of himself" for the way he navigated a discussion about so-called stop-and-frisk policing tactics.

Some conservatives, however, praised Holt's performance, and the reviews he received were mostly positive.

Monday night's debate at Hofstra University in New York was the first of three debates set to take place before voters cast their ballots in November.

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Donald Trump said he will release his tax returns ... on one condition.

"I will release my tax returns  against my lawyer's wishes  when [ Hillary Clinton ] releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted," he said at Monday night's debate, prompting cheers from some members of the crowd.

Clinton responded by suggesting Trump might be reluctant to disclose his tax returns because they may reveal that he is not as rich or charitable as he says he is.

Clinton and other Democrats have called on Trump to release his tax returns, which most Republican nominees since 1970 have done. Recent polls have shown most voters think Trump should release his tax returns, as well.

The documents could cast light on how much Trump has really given to charity and resolve questions about whether he received a discounted tax rate in the past. Trump has claimed he cannot release his tax returns because he is under audit, though the IRS has said that an audit would not bar him from releasing the returns.

The Clinton family released its 2015 tax return in August, showing that it paid an effective federal tax rate of 34.2 percent and an effective combined tax rate of 43.2 percent.

Markets seemed to react to Clinton making headway against her GOP rival as the debate progressed.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses to trade higher amid the debate, and the Mexican peso reversed losses to trade more than 1 percent stronger against the U.S. dollar.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

 CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.









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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton greet one another as they take the stage.

During Monday night's presidential debate, Republican nominee Donald Trump managed to turn one of the most effective attacks against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on himself.

It has to do with Wall Street.

When Clinton brought up Trump's debt and business dealings, she cited a report that said the real-estate mogul might owe "Wall Street and foreign banks" as much as $650 million.

Trump went on a tirade to defend himself, and the businessman made very little sense.

From The Washington Post's transcript, emphasis ours:

"The other thing, I'm extremely underleveraged. The report that said $650 [million]  which, by the way, a lot of friends of mine that know my business say, 'Boy, that's really not a lot of money.' It's not a lot of money relative to what I had.

"The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was  actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be honest with you, but the buildings are worth $3.9 billion. And the $650 [million] isn't even on that. But it's not $650 [million]. It's much less than that.

"But I could give you a list of banks, I would  if that would help you, I would give you a list of banks. These are very fine institutions, very fine banks. I could do that very quickly."

Given that Trump hasn't released his tax returns and still basically refuses to, we would love to see that list. But that's beside the point. The real point here is that Wall Street, by virtue of the developer's debts, in some ways owns Donald Trump.

Owing favors to Wall Street is an aspersion he and others have cast on Clinton many times, accusing her of coziness with the industry because of her paid speaking engagement at banks, specifically Goldman Sachs.

Hillary will never reform Wall Street. She is owned by Wall Street!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2016

Of course, getting paid by Wall Street is very different from owing Wall Street money, and Clinton was right to point out that if Trump makes it to the White House, we won't know what kind of favors Trump may owe.

Story continues

And not just to one bank for one speaking engagement  to a list of them for an undisclosed number of millions of dollars.

This is Clinton using a popular argument against her  that she's too cozy with finance's rich and powerful  against Trump, who has painted himself as the everyman who just happens to own a private jet with his name on it.

Trump praising banks  those "very fine institutions" in his words  couldn't have happened at a worse time. Just last week, John Stumpf, the CEO of Wells Fargo, was on Capitol Hill expressing his regret over a horrible scandal in which his employees, motivated by incentives and pressures to drum up new business, created fake accounts and opened fake credit cards for unwitting customers.

It's an easy scandal to understand. And America is very angry. Almost 90% of Americans want Stumpf to resign. The company has to pay $185 million in fines.

So now is not a good time for Trump to have to explain which banks own pieces of his empire and how many millions he owes them. And it is certainly not the time to be talking about "very fine banks."

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Donald Trump was only a few seconds into his first answer in last nights presidential debate when it became apparent that days of unsourced reports out of his campaign about lackadaisical preparation by the Republican nominee werent just some exercise in expectations management. They were the truth.

Asked to speak about his plan to create new jobs, he used his first speaking opportunity of the evening to repeat his debunked claim that China is still manipulating its currency in order to keep the price of its exports low. Then he recycled a dog-eared story about a nameless friend who builds unspecified kinds of industrial plants in Mexico and who says he likes it better there than in the US.

Related: The Most Important Point Clinton Made in Her Debate Against Trump

Supposedly the consummate entertainer, Trump showed up on stage at Hofstra University on Long Island with no new material, even though he knew in advance that he wouldnt be facing an audience content to listen to him reprise his greatest hits from the campaign trail. Worse still, he was utterly unprepared to answer questions that -- as he admitted himself in one case -- he had known were coming.

He stumbled badly when moderator Lester Holt of NBC News pressed him on his support for the invasion of Iraq, which he has vehemently insisted that he actually opposed. His defense devolved into a demand that somebody call up Sean Hannity -- the Trump-friendly Fox News host -- to vouch for him.

Everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity, he complained. He added, Hes willing to say it, but nobody wants to call him.

When Holt asked him why he continued to fuel the false rumor that President Obama, the nations first black president, was born in Africa for years after it was definitively proven false, Trump again showed a complete lack of preparation, responding with the non-sequitur, Nobody was pressing it. Nobody was caring much about it, even as he acknowledged, I figured youd ask that question.

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Related: Trumps Tax Plan Would Benefit the Wealthy Most, Study Finds

When Holt began what appeared to be a follow-up question, asking Trump how he responds to complaints from the African American community about his years of his efforts to de-legitimize the Obama presidency, Trump abruptly cut him off.

I say nothing. I say nothing, because I was able to get him to produce it, he said, referring to the presidents birth certificate proving he was born in Hawaii. He should have produced it a long time before. I say nothing.

Trump must also have known that his opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, would try to goad him into angry or defensive reactions on various topics, but again and again, Trump rose to the bait.

When Clinton needled him about how he got his start in business, with millions of dollars from his wealthy father, Trump couldnt let it pass, and instead gave the issue more oxygen by addressing it in his response to a different question, insisting that it was a very small loan.

Related: Conservative Economists Mock Trump Campaigns Trade Proposals

When she jabbed at him by mentioning a 40-year-old Justice Department that accused his company of denying housing to African Americans, bragged that he had gotten away without having to admit to discrimination.

I settled that lawsuit with no admission of guilt, but that was a lawsuit brought against many real estate firms, and it's just one of those things, he said.

When she poked him for claiming that global warming is a hoax invented by the Chinese to harm American businesses, he blurted out, I did not. I did not. I did not say that, despite the fact that his own Twitter account still hosts the bogus claim.

By the end of the 90-minute session, the man whose entire campaign has been characterized by his gleeful hurling of personal insults was reduced to complaining that his opponent wasnt treating him kindly in her advertisements.

I will tell you this, Lester Trump said to moderator Lester Holt of NBC News, It's not nice. And I don't deserve that.

Related: Trump-Clinton Debate Means Big Bucks for TV Networks

Clinton, by contrast, was well-prepared and tactically savvy. When the issue of her use of a private email system while serving as secretary of state arose, she dealt with it quickly and without bluster or hand-waving, even as Trump tried to talk over her.

You know, I made a mistake using a private e- mail -- she began.

That's for sure, Trump blurted out in one of the dozens of times he attempted to interrupt her throughout the event.

She continued, And if I had to do it over again, I would, obviously, do it differently. But I'm not going to make any excuses. It was a mistake, and I take responsibility for that.

Given the chance to respond, Trump chose to quibble with her use of the word mistake calling Clintons move intentional before voluntarily turning the discussion back to his own refusal to turn over his tax returns -- another topic on which Clinton relentlessly baited him.

Related: Fact Checker or Debate Moderator--Will Holt Set a Trap for Trump?

In what could have been a stumble, Clinton was the only person on the stage all night who made reference to the Benghazi attacks that have been the focus of so much right-wing criticism of her term as secretary of state. She did it with an off-hand reference to the 11 hours of testimony she endured in front of Congressional investigators looking into the attack.

Trump, surprisingly, let the opportunity to bring up Benghazi pass him by. And for Trump, that could serve as a metaphor for the debate as a whole: He had an opportunity, and he squandered it.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
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From the very beginning of the first presidential debate, many viewers began worrying about Donald Trump's sinuses.

As the Republican nominee delivered his opening statements and began laying out his merits for finding a new way to boost jobs, he began to audibly sniff in between many talking points.

SEE ALSO: Hillary Clinton's new ad highlights Trump's misogynistic moments

Perhaps because of Hillary Clinton's recent bout of pneumonia, many on Twitter expressed concern about Trump's health. And some might have been a little less than authentic in their worry.

Trump sniff is the new Gore sigh #debatenight pic.twitter.com/yndIplaWRs  Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) September 27, 2016

THAT'S CALLED BUSINESS, BY THE WAY *sniff* *gulp* *sniff*  joe mande (@JoeMande) September 27, 2016

"China *sniff* mexico *sniff* small loan *sniff*"

-Donald Trump#debatenight  Troy Osinoff (@yo) September 27, 2016

Trump has the sniffles. Is he okay? What's going on with his health? Can he serve?  Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) September 27, 2016

SNL is going to go to town on Trump's sniffles #debate2016  Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) September 27, 2016

Donald Trump has a cold.  katie rosman (@katierosman) September 27, 2016

Either Trump has a cold, or he did a big fat line of blow before he came on stage.  Nick Bilton (@nickbilton) September 27, 2016

I THINK TRUMP HAS A COLD. HE'S NOT FIT TO LEAD. CODE RED. #debatenight  (((Michael))) (@Home_Halfway) September 27, 2016

Even former presidential campaigners had something to say about Trump's nasal interjections.

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Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?  Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016





BONUS: Can you find Doc Brown in this sea of Bernie Sanders?
Tunis (AFP) - An appeal from Tunisia's highest religious authority for workers to end strikes and protests and save the country's ailing economy stirred outrage on Tuesday.

Grand Mufti Othman Battikh on Monday called on Tunisians to "dedicate all their efforts to working and studying" and to "abandon untimely protests and sit-ins hindering work and production".

His remarks came after Tunisia said on Friday that British energy firm Petrofac was to resume operations at a gas plant in the country after a labour dispute was resolved that had halted work for months.

Authorities have struggled to redress Tunisia's economy and solve youth unemployment -- particularly among new graduates -- since the 2011 revolt that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The powerful UGTT labour union said it was surprised by the cleric's labelling the "legitimate demands" of workers as "haram" or "halal", meaning forbidden or permissible in Islam.

The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Political Rights, an NGO, criticised the mufti's "interference" and called on the presidency to "assume its responsibilities in defending the constitution, which guarantees... civil and political liberties".

Tunisians on social media asked why the mufti had not condemned widespread corruption as "haram" instead.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who took office last month, has said he was "determined to face all illegal and illegitimate sit-ins, while remaining committed to guaranteeing the right to strike".

The government announced on Wednesday that Petrofac was halting operations at the Cherqui plant off the southeastern islands of Kerkennah because of protests by Tunisian workers.

But since the labour dispute was resolved, the plant is again operating at 90 percent of its capacity, Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi said on Tuesday.

Tunisia is to host an international conference on foreign investments at the end of November.

A wave of jihadist attacks, including two last year that killed dozens of foreign tourists, has further exacerbated problems in the economy, which relies heavily on tourism revenues.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that cooperating with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in a potential offensive to retake the Islamic State-controlled city of Raqqa would endanger the future of Syria. Turkey views the YPG, which has enjoyed U.S. backing in the fight against Islamic State in northern Syria, as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil. Cavusoglu said some YPG elements still remained in the Syrian city of Manbij west of the Euphrates river, despite Ankara's repeated warnings that they should withdraw and U.S. assurances they would do so. He criticized Washington's cooperation with a group he said it was unable to control. Cavusoglu said Turkey, which launched a military incursion to drive Islamic State off its borders a month ago, had demonstrated that the strategy of supporting local groups could be successful and that this approach could be used in Raqqa or even a planned operation to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Nick Tattersall)
Time to branch out

Changes in European foreign aid policies are going to affect Nepals renewable energy sector
In the deluge of information that prefigured Monday nights debate came an interesting statistic from polling conducted by Monmouth University: While three-quarters of likely voters intended to watch the debate, 87% of those likely voters had already made up their minds about who they were voting for. In a tight election, 13% of likely voters is nothing to sneeze at. But in an election cycle that lasts far longer than the traditional two months of Labor Day to Election Day  and in an election where the two candidates, and their visions of a future America, could hardly be more different  if anything, its surprising just how many people have yet to make up their minds.

In the attempt to find and speak to the undecided voter  and in an attempt to cut through the noise and chaos of the election media cycle, which has alighted on and then disposed of controversies involving Skittles, plagiarized speeches, Russian hackers, and normal-or-abnormal levels of coughing  Frontline will tonight premiere its fourth The Choice, a two-hour election-season special that presents each candidates life and views with a combination of investigation and interviews.

Its a remarkably dense and succinct history of each candidates rise to the nomination. The Choice 2016 isnt exactly stylish or glitzy, but thats one of the reasons it works so well. Donald Trump has capitalized on the non-linear narrative of multiple news networks and hundreds of thousands of politically oriented tweets in order to advance falsehoods and hyperbole as a political platform. Hillary Clinton is dogged by an opaque past mired in the bureaucracy of past administrations. Both candidates stories are streamlined and laid bare, free of the noise around them, in The Choice.

Last nights first presidential debate filmed both candidates for the entire 90 minutes, using a split-screen to get close-ups of each candidates facial expressions. The Choice also imposes a structure of direct comparison on these two candidates, by laying out both candidates histories side-by-side for frank examination. Everything in the documentary is already a matter of public record, but in this maelstrom of chatter, its easy to lose details. The Choice therefore invests in framing  juxtaposing, over the two-hour story, each candidates emergence as a presidential candidate from vastly different childhoods and professional careers before the events of the last few years.

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The Choice has the solemnity and perspective-zooming on old photos that feels familiarly de rigeur for a PBS documentary of any stripe. Narrator Will Lyman has the gravelly bass voice that lends immediate solemnity to any narrative, and at first its almost funny  The Choice is treating these candidates as if this were long-lost history. But the full documentary treatment also proves to be incredibly clarifying. Unlike the worst impulses of cable news or reality television, Frontline is not particularly interested in anything salacious except as it pertains specifically to how these candidates became who they currently are. As a result, The Choice discovers and isolates crucial moments  many of which were televised. The documentary replays, and contextualizes, such significant moments as Clintons interview with Matt Lauer that denied the Monica Lewinsky allegations as part of a right-wing conspiracy, or Donald Trumps multiple bankruptcies that he spun to the press, at a book-signing event, as a success.

NPRs Rachel Martin observed earlier this month, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the two most unpopular presidential candidates in modern history. So in many ways, this years election has become a question of character. The Choice is almost designed to respond to this statement, to offer character studies of each candidate. The documentary makes it possible to ignore the omnipresent background noise of this election. And unlike the media circus around the elections, The Choice will air commercial-free. In an era saturated by social media spats and a reality television candidate, perhaps the only antidote is the most staid of all television products, the commercial-free public-access special. The Choice is an oasis in the midst of this election cycle, and one that will hopefully help that 13% of undecided voters make their final decisions.

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PARIS (Reuters) - Two executives of luxury group LVMH were held for questioning by French police on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into influence-peddling in which two former police chiefs are also being questioned, a source close to the matter said. One of the executives is a former magistrate in charge of the company's security, according to French daily Le Monde. His home was searched on Tuesday, a police source said. A spokesman for LVMH declined to comment. Two former police chiefs, Bernard Squarcini, who ran the DCRI domestic intelligence service under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Christian Flaesch, who headed the Paris judicial police, were taken into custody for questioning on Monday. The investigations relate to allegations that Squarcini used his connections within the police to help his consulting firm Kyrnos, which he founded in 2013 after he left the intelligence service. Neither Squarcini nor his lawyer could not immediately be reached by Reuters. (Reporting by Gerard Bon, Pascale Denis and Paris bureau; writing by Michel Rose; editing by Andrew Callus)
What kind of chicken nuggets did you buy on your last grocery trip? If it was from this Tyson Foods, Inc. (ticker: TSN) product, the company wants you to throw them out and seek a refund.

The company said Tuesday it was recalling five-pound bags of Tyson Fully Cooked Panko Chicken Nuggets, found in Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) locations across the country. It also announced a recall for 20-pound cases of bulk Spare Time brand cooked nugget-shaped chicken breast pattie fritters with rib meat, though these only were distributed to one Pennsylvania wholesaler. These patties feature item No. 23575-861.

Some consumers told the company they discovered little hard, white plastic pieces in the nuggets. The company is still recalling 132,520 pounds of product even though only a small amount of consumers reported the plastic pieces. There have been no injury reports, the company said in a news release.

These types of cautionary recalls are quite common across the food industry. Most recently, Kellogg Co. (K) recalled some Eggo waffles, prompted by listeria concerns.

The recalled five-pound Tyson Fully Cooked Panko Chicken Nuggets bought at Costco since July 2016 feature this information: UPC code of 0-237000-3558-5; item No. 23575-928; and many have "best if used by" dates of July 18, 2017 and case codes 2006SDL03 or 2006SDL33. The recalled products feature this establishment number: P-13556. The Spare Time products include the same "use by" dates.

The company recommends you dispose of the product, but cut out and mail the UPC and date code on the back of the packaging to this address for a refund: Tyson Foods -- CP631, P.O. Box 2020, Springdale, AR, 72765-9989.

Tyson Foods stock is up about 41.9 percent on the year.

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David Oliver is Associate Editor, Social Media at U.S. News & World Report. Follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, or send him an email at doliver@usnews.com.
The U.S. consulate in Adana, a major city in southeastern Turkey, warned Monday that it had received specific and credible threats that U.S.-branded hotels could be targets of terrorist activity.

U.S. citizens in Adana are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these establishments, read a statement on the consulates website.

The consulates warning did not specify which hotels or brands could be potential targets, but U.S. hotel brands that operate properties in Adana include Sheraton and Hilton, according to Reuters.

Last week, the U.S. embassy in Ankara issued a similar warning that a terrorist cell was possibly targeting businesses catering to Westerners, including Starbucks, in Gaziantep, a city near Turkeys border with Syria.

The U.S. State Department has advised American citizens against traveling to southeastern Turkey because of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout the country. Mondays statement said international and indigenous terrorist groups have threatened to kidnap and assassinate Westerners and U.S. citizens.

Adana is located near Incirlik Air Base, from which the U.S. military launches attacks on Islamic State militants based in Syria. The city is about 114 miles from Aleppo.
By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will speed up deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system to South Korea given the pace of North Korea's missile tests, and it will be stationed there "as soon as possible," the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday. Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, also told a congressional hearing the United States was in discussions with international partners, including the European Union, to deny North Korea access to international banking infrastructure after its recent nuclear and missile tests. Russel told the House subcommittee for Asia the timing of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system was a Pentagon matter. But he added: "Given the accelerating pace of North Korea's missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis. I would say as soon as possible." Asked if the deployment was a done deal," Russel replied: Yes. A Pentagon spokesman, Commander Gary Ross, said THAAD would be deployed "as soon as feasible," but declined to give a specific timeline. Russel told Reuters last week THAAD deployment was not negotiable as part of efforts to agree on new U.N. sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9. China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to THAAD and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new U.N. measures. Russel said China shared concerns about North Korea's nuclear program and there had been a vast improvement in cooperation on sanctions, even though there was "an awful lot more" Beijing needed to do to tighten them. He said there had been "a very constructive and honest candid set of ongoing conversations" with China on new sanctions and added: "I hope you will see, as one of the products of that, real headway in the discussions." Asked if consideration was being given to restricting North Korea's access to banking transaction services, such as the Swift system, Russel replied: "We are in discussions with our partners, including the EU, about tightening the application of sanctions and pressure, including and particularly to deny North Korea access to the international banking infrastructure." Russel said the United States and its allies Japan and South Korea had been working to cut off North Korean revenue streams from coal and overseas workers and were considering further joint action. (Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Peter Cooney and Cynthia Osterman)
(Corrects spelling of corn variety in second paragraph to Agrisure Viptera, instead of Agricure Viptera)

Sept 27 (Reuters) - A U.S. district court judge in Kansas this week said lawsuits brought by U.S. farmers against seed company Syngenta AG over sales of biotech corn seeds not approved for import by China can proceed as a class action, according to a court filing.

Farmers from the largest U.S. corn-producing states sued the seed maker in 2014 after grain shipments containing traces of Syngenta's Agrisure Viptera corn were rejected by China, which had not approved the variety for import before it was launched.

Farmers who did not plant Viptera corn claimed they suffered losses when the rejections that began in November 2013 disrupted trade and dragged down corn prices. Plaintiffs' attorneys estimate hundreds of thousands of corn growers lost $5 billion to $7 billion in current and future profits.

Judge John Lungstrum certified a nationwide class and statewide classes in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

"The Court's ruling will make it easier and less expensive for farmers to pursue their claims against Syngenta," said Scott Powell of Hare Wynn Newell & Newton, one of the attorneys appointed by the Court to represent the class.

Syngenta has said it is not responsible for the losses and that it launched Viptera corn in full compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements. The Swiss company is a major agricultural seed producer and the world's largest crop chemical maker.

The company said it may appeal the District Court's decision.

"Syngenta respectfully disagrees with this ruling, particularly given the widely varying ways in which farmers grow and sell corn in different markets across the U.S.," Syngenta spokesman Paul Minehart said.

The multi-district litigation case is No. 14-md-2591-JWL.

(Reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Would the White House knowingly transfer tens of billions of dollars to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah in Lebanon to finance the slaughter of Syrians or the next war against Israel? In theory, the Iran nuclear deal wasnt supposed to fuel Irans imperialism and its ardent anti-Semitism. And yet President Barack Obama appears to have done exactly what he and Secretary of State John Kerry promised not to do: They are directly financing the Syrian horror show and terrorists on Americas watch lists.

During the nuclear negotiations and since reaching the agreement with Iran, the administration has strenuously rejected congressional concerns that sanctions relief would fund the mullahs malign activities. CIA Director John Brennan said again this July that Iran has used much of the sanctions relief for development projects: The money, the revenue thats flowing into Iran is being used to support its currency, to provide monies to the departments and agencies, build up its infrastructure.

The administrations assurances are undercut by Irans own behavior since July 2015. Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that Iran has become more aggressive in the days since the [nuclear] agreement. The regime is keeping Bashar al-Assad afloat in Syria and actively supports Lebanese Hezbollah, which has a 150,000 rocket stockpile with only one target: Israel. Tehran has expanded its efforts to create Shiite militias in the Middle East and has continued to send aid, including weaponry, to radical Palestinian groups.

For all of these endeavors, the regime needs money  liquid, untraceable, convertible, and easy to transfer. According to the global anti-money laundering Financial Action Task Force, cross-border cash transfers are one of the main methods used to move illicit funds  and finance terrorism. The mullahs have been hungry for cash after American and European sanctions drastically curtailed the regimes access to hard currency.

In three shipments in January and February, the United States transferred $1.7 billion in cash to Iran, ostensibly to settle a thirty-year military claim before the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal. As the administration was finally forced to acknowledge under intense congressional and media scrutiny, the first installment of $400 million was part of a tightly scripted exchange timed to the release of American hostages. In rejecting congressional accusations that he had authorized a ransom payment, Obama justified the transfer by citing the severity of remaining sanctions. The reason that we had to give them cash, Obama argued, is precisely because we are so strict in maintaining sanctions  we could not wire the money.

The president, however, is wrong: U.S. regulations permit all transactions between the American and Iranian financial systems related to Tribunal settlements. Moreover, Washington wired payments to Iran in July 2015 and again in April 2016, further disproving the presidents statement.

It is certainly possible that banks were unwilling to wire the $1.7 billion no matter what guarantees they got from the administration. Banks have a healthy fear of sanctions and their penalties. If so, it raises a troubling question: How did Tehran receive the billions of dollars in sanctions relief released under both the interim and final nuclear agreements?

During the nuclear negotiations, the clerical regime received access to about $700 million per month, totaling $11.9 billion between January 2014 and July 2015, from its restricted, foreign oil escrow accounts. If no mechanism existed to transfer the Tribunal funds through the formal financial system, what mechanism was used to transfer the $11.9 billion? A senior official admitted that some of this money was sent in cash, and that we had to find all these strange ways of delivering the monthly allotment. Did these strange ways include the transfer of gold or through some other financial mechanism, and how much was transferred in cash? The administration is not saying.

And it doesnt end there. In July 2016, U.S. officials estimated that Iran had repatriated less than $20 billion from previously frozen, overseas assets of $100 to $125 billion released as part of the final nuclear accord. Were these funds repatriated in cash and gold? Was this in addition to the $11.9 billion? The administration is silent.

If the White House could only authorize sanctions relief in the form of cash, that could amount to, including the Tribunal payment, $33.6 billion. Even a portion of that in cash would be an astounding amount of money.

Alternatively, if this money went through the formal financial system, the administration is not being truthful about why it had to send the $1.7 billion in cash. If formal channels were used for the other $31.9 billion, why not wire transfer the Tribunal money to an official Iranian account at a European central bank, where Tehran could access the funds to pay for current European imports or other legitimate economic needs? With financial controls to minimize the risks of money laundering and terror financing, these formal channels would be more difficult for the Revolutionary Guard to subvert.

In recent testimony, a State Department official claimed that the $1.7 billion cash payment was necessary because Iran needed cash to address its critical economic needs. The Iranian parliament, however, already allocated the $1.7 billion to its Revolutionary Guard-dominated defense budget, which nearly doubled this year. Calling the allocation troubling, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford noted that the more money Irans military has, the more effective theyll be in spreading malign influence.

The State Department official also said that only a cash payment, not a seconds-long electronic transfer, would meet Irans immediate need. However, in February 2014, the Bank of Japan reportedly wired $550 million to an Iranian central bank account at a Swiss bank as part of the interim-deal relief. Why couldnt the administration use this formal financial channel?

But perhaps Brennan is correct: U.S. intelligence on Iranian money flows is so good that the United States know that the funds were used for economic development. If so, intelligence capabilities have improved dramatically: It took the U.S. government about eight years to account for a missing $6.6 billion in banknotes sent to Iraq between 2003 and 2004 for American soldiers, spies, and diplomats to buy influence and reward good behavior. Is the U.S. government better at tracking how Iran spends its cash than our own fellow Americans?

Pallets of cash to close a thirty-year military sales dispute, arriving with the release of U.S. hostages. Refusals to answer congressional questions about billions in cash going to the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Implausible claims that Iran is using this money for domestic concerns.

The White House refuses to acknowledge the obvious: The nuclear deal has already led the United States to fund terrorists, sectarian warfare, and chaos in the Middle East.

Photo credit: ATTA KENARE/AFP/GettyImage
(Reuters) - The U.S. Consulate in Adana, Turkey, warned Americans on Monday that it had received specific and credible threats of potential terrorist activity targeting U.S.-branded hotels in Adana. "U.S. citizens in Adana are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these establishments," the consulate said in a statement on its website. The warning did not name the hotels. Adana's hotels include properties operating under the Sheraton and Hilton brands. Adana, in southeastern Turkey, is about 10 miles (16 km) from Incirlik Air Base, which the U.S. military uses to launch attacks against Islamic State militants in Syria. The State Department has warned U.S. citizens to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey. (Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Cynthia Osterman)
(Recasts first paragraph with comments from Lew interview)

By David Lawder

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Monday issued a stamp of approval to Argentina's economic reform efforts and said the United States would try to expedite the exchange of tax data that could help Argentina repatriate overseas assets.

Lew, in the first visit by a U.S. treasury secretary to Argentina since 2002, told Reuters that he believed that U.S. support for President Mauricio Macri's business-oriented reforms can help shore up support from both financial markets and the Argentine public.

"With Argentina, there is a clear reform agenda, where, in a sense, our saying they're doing the right thing is helpful to them in the program," Lew said in an interview following meetings with Macri and Argentine Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay.

Macri, who took office in December after 12 years of leftist rule, has focused on attracting investment and reintegrating Argentina into global capital markets, including lifting currency controls and settling a long legal battle with creditors over a $100 billion default in 2002.

But Argentina's economy remains mired in recession and its Supreme Court dealt Macri's government a setback in August, ruling that home heating subsidies could not be cut without public hearings.

"I was quite struck at their determination to stick with the reform program," Lew said, adding that he was persuaded that the government was trying to address legitimate public concerns.

Lew made the comments on the first stop of a trip to Latin America's four largest economies, which also will include Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

Before his meeting with Prat-Gay, Lew said the Treasury would work with Argentine tax authorities to immediately begin assessing Argentina's ability to exchange tax information with the United States.

Macri's government is betting a tax amnesty opened in August can bring in some of the investment crucial to restoring growth in Argentina, Latin America's third-largest economy.

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Now, the government has its sights on an estimated $400 billion of undeclared assets that Argentines hold abroad. Assets declared by the end of March will be taxed at a maximum 15 percent rate.

Lew told reporters he has invited Argentine tax officials to visit the Treasury in Washington next week for consultations and that he has instructed senior U.S. tax negotiators to visit Buenos Aires in the near future.

Lew also said that the United States would explore steps that could be taken short of a full bilateral tax treaty, which may be difficult to achieve in the final four months of the Obama administration.

(Reporting by David Lawder and Juliana Castilla; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)
Wagle submits report on retirement provision

The contents of a study on the pros and cons of amending the central banks compulsory retirement provision have not been revealed, but its author former government secretary Bimal Wagle said his recommendations were implementable and that he could defend each and every word in it.
By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The top two U.S. securities regulators on Tuesday outlined rule proposals ranging from asset management to swaps dealing they will take up in coming months, indicating the agencies will be at full throttle through election season to the end of the year.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission are working to enforce mandates from the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, comply with international regulations and respond to technology changes as part of efforts to keep markets running smoothly and protect investors.

SEC Chair Mary Jo White told an industry group the commission's staff is working on stress testing for asset managers. She added that the agency has come far in creating rules on asset management, noting that last month it proposed an investment adviser reporting regime, and already has taken up proposals on liquidity risk management, fund reporting, derivatives and transition planning.

"In terms of going forward, I expect to see in the next few weeks further adoptions. Some of the others - a little longer than that," she said at a meeting of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. "But we're very, very concentrated on getting those done."

She said the SEC's plan for a consolidated audit trail, a database tracking equity and options trades, is on schedule and the agency is focused on all aspects of financial technology, with a forum scheduled on it for Nov. 14.

Following White, CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad told the conference that one key focus for his agency is reproposing a rule on capital requirements for swap dealers so that it will be consistent with banking regulations but flexible enough to apply to broker-dealers and other non-banking institutions.

Also Massad expected to finalize before year end a rule limiting the positions that traders can hold in the commodity markets. The rule has been in the works since Dodd-Frank called for setting limits for futures, options and physical commodity swaps contracts to prevent fraud and manipulation.

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Massad said that would give the rule an implementation date some time next September, just before corresponding European regulations take effect.

The CFTC is also in the process of hammering out a rule on automated trading and Massad expects the commission will consider in coming weeks a supplemental proposal on issues that have bubbled up over the rule, mainly revolving around the scope and application of testing requirements.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Andrew Hay)
(In Sept. 26 story, corrects paragraph 4 to show that Palantir issued a statement denying the allegations, which was contained in an earlier story, instead of that Palantir could not immediately be reached for comment; adds Palantir comment on Labor Department analysis in paragraph 11 which was contained in an earlier story)

By Dan Levine and Deborah M. Todd

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor filed an administrative lawsuit against Palantir Technologies on Monday, alleging that the data analytics and security company systematically discriminated against Asian job applicants.

Privately held Palantir helps government agencies track down terrorists and uncover financial fraud. It raised $880 million in funding late last year, for a $20 billion valuation, and is considered one of Silicon Valley's most secretive companies.

The lawsuit alleges Palantir routinely eliminated Asian applicants in the resume screening and telephone interview phases, even when they were as qualified as white applicants.

Palantir denied the allegations in a statement and said it intends to "vigorously defend" against them.

Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel and Joe Lonsdale, two of Silicon Valley's more influential investors and entrepreneurs. A representative for Thiel could not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

Ian Eliasoph, civil rights counsel for the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, said Palantir was randomly selected for a review, which examines the number of applicants for a given position compared with applicants' demographics. If signs of discrimination are found, the office opens an inquiry to search for violations.

From 2010-2015 the compliance office conducted 20,918 compliance evaluations, 78 percent of which resulted in no violations. Some 22 percent had some violation and 2 percent had discrimination findings, according to the Government Accountability Office.

In one example cited by the Labor Department, Palantir reviewed a pool of more than 130 qualified applicants for the role of engineering intern. About 73 percent of applicants were Asian. The lawsuit, which covers Palantir's conduct between January 2010 and the present, said the company hired 17 non-Asian applicants and four Asians.

Story continues

"The likelihood that this result occurred according to chance is approximately one in a billion," said the lawsuit, which was filed with the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.

However, Palantir said the Labor Department relied on a "narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011."

Employment and civil rights attorney Cliff Palefsky said it was unusual to see hiring discrimination involving Asians.

But Tracy Chou, of Silicon Valley-based diversity and inclusion organization Project Include, said discrimination against Asians for senior positions has been widely publicized.

In 2015, Asians represented 27.2 percent of the professional workforce at Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, LinkedIn and Yahoo but were 13.9 percent of the companies' executive workforces, according to a study by pan-Asian professionals organization Ascend.

"Asians are not perceived to be the same as whites even though in these diversity conversations Asians get lumped together with whites because they're overrepresented in tech compared to the overall population," she said.

Since January 2010, Palantir has been a party to federal government contracts worth over $340 million, the lawsuit said.

The Labor Department sent Palantir a notice in October 2015 about its findings, according to the lawsuit. Both before and after that notice, labor regulators attempted to secure Palantir's voluntary compliance, the lawsuit said, but they did not succeed.

The lawsuit seeks relief for persons affected, including lost wages.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
By Dan Levine and Deborah M. Todd

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - (This version of the Sept. 26 story, corrects paragraph 4 to show that Palantir issued a statement denying the allegations, which was contained in an earlier story, instead of that Palantir could not immediately be reached for comment, adds Palantir comment on Labor Department analysis in paragraph 11 which was contained in an earlier story.)

The U.S. Department of Labor filed an administrative lawsuit against Palantir Technologies on Monday, alleging that the data analytics and security company systematically discriminated against Asian job applicants.

Privately held Palantir helps government agencies track down terrorists and uncover financial fraud. It raised $880 million in funding late last year, for a $20 billion valuation, and is considered one of Silicon Valley's most secretive companies.

The lawsuit alleges Palantir routinely eliminated Asian applicants in the resume screening and telephone interview phases, even when they were as qualified as white applicants.

Palantir denied the allegations in a statement and said it intends to "vigorously defend" against them.

Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel and Joe Lonsdale, two of Silicon Valley's more influential investors and entrepreneurs. A representative for Thiel could not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

Ian Eliasoph, civil rights counsel for the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, said Palantir was randomly selected for a review, which examines the number of applicants for a given position compared with applicants' demographics. If signs of discrimination are found, the office opens an inquiry to search for violations.

From 2010-2015 the compliance office conducted 20,918 compliance evaluations, 78 percent of which resulted in no violations. Some 22 percent had some violation and 2 percent had discrimination findings, according to the Government Accountability Office.

In one example cited by the Labor Department, Palantir reviewed a pool of more than 130 qualified applicants for the role of engineering intern. About 73 percent of applicants were Asian. The lawsuit, which covers Palantir's conduct between January 2010 and the present, said the company hired 17 non-Asian applicants and four Asians.

Story continues

"The likelihood that this result occurred according to chance is approximately one in a billion," said the lawsuit, which was filed with the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.

However, Palantir said the Labor Department relied on a "narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011."

Employment and civil rights attorney Cliff Palefsky said it was unusual to see hiring discrimination involving Asians.

But Tracy Chou, of Silicon Valley-based diversity and inclusion organization Project Include, said discrimination against Asians for senior positions has been widely publicized.

In 2015, Asians represented 27.2 percent of the professional workforce at Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, LinkedIn and Yahoo but were 13.9 percent of the companies' executive workforces, according to a study by pan-Asian professionals organization Ascend.

"Asians are not perceived to be the same as whites even though in these diversity conversations Asians get lumped together with whites because they're overrepresented in tech compared to the overall population," she said.

Since January 2010, Palantir has been a party to federal government contracts worth over $340 million, the lawsuit said.

The Labor Department sent Palantir a notice in October 2015 about its findings, according to the lawsuit. Both before and after that notice, labor regulators attempted to secure Palantir's voluntary compliance, the lawsuit said, but they did not succeed.

The lawsuit seeks relief for persons affected, including lost wages.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
By Dan Levine and Deborah M. Todd SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - (This version of the Sept. 26 story, corrects paragraph 4 to show that Palantir issued a statement denying the allegations, which was contained in an earlier story, instead of that Palantir could not immediately be reached for comment, adds Palantir comment on Labor Department analysis in paragraph 11 which was contained in an earlier story.) The U.S. Department of Labor filed an administrative lawsuit against Palantir Technologies on Monday, alleging that the data analytics and security company systematically discriminated against Asian job applicants. Privately held Palantir helps government agencies track down terrorists and uncover financial fraud. It raised $880 million in funding late last year, for a $20 billion valuation, and is considered one of Silicon Valley's most secretive companies. The lawsuit alleges Palantir routinely eliminated Asian applicants in the resume screening and telephone interview phases, even when they were as qualified as white applicants. Palantir denied the allegations in a statement and said it intends to "vigorously defend" against them. Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel and Joe Lonsdale, two of Silicon Valley's more influential investors and entrepreneurs. A representative for Thiel could not immediately comment on the lawsuit. Ian Eliasoph, civil rights counsel for the Labor Department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, said Palantir was randomly selected for a review, which examines the number of applicants for a given position compared with applicants' demographics. If signs of discrimination are found, the office opens an inquiry to search for violations. From 2010-2015 the compliance office conducted 20,918 compliance evaluations, 78 percent of which resulted in no violations. Some 22 percent had some violation and 2 percent had discrimination findings, according to the Government Accountability Office. In one example cited by the Labor Department, Palantir reviewed a pool of more than 130 qualified applicants for the role of engineering intern. About 73 percent of applicants were Asian. The lawsuit, which covers Palantir's conduct between January 2010 and the present, said the company hired 17 non-Asian applicants and four Asians. "The likelihood that this result occurred according to chance is approximately one in a billion," said the lawsuit, which was filed with the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges. However, Palantir said the Labor Department relied on a "narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011." Employment and civil rights attorney Cliff Palefsky said it was unusual to see hiring discrimination involving Asians. But Tracy Chou, of Silicon Valley-based diversity and inclusion organization Project Include, said discrimination against Asians for senior positions has been widely publicized. In 2015, Asians represented 27.2 percent of the professional workforce at Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, LinkedIn and Yahoo but were 13.9 percent of the companies' executive workforces, according to a study by pan-Asian professionals organization Ascend. "Asians are not perceived to be the same as whites even though in these diversity conversations Asians get lumped together with whites because they're overrepresented in tech compared to the overall population," she said. Since January 2010, Palantir has been a party to federal government contracts worth over $340 million, the lawsuit said. The Labor Department sent Palantir a notice in October 2015 about its findings, according to the lawsuit. Both before and after that notice, labor regulators attempted to secure Palantir's voluntary compliance, the lawsuit said, but they did not succeed. The lawsuit seeks relief for persons affected, including lost wages. (Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it had sanctioned a Chinese industrial machinery and equipment wholesaler, a new step in tightening the financial noose around North Korea's nuclear program after its fifth nuclear test this month. The U.S. Treasury said it was sanctioning Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co (DHID) and four of its executives, including the firm's founder, Ma Xiaohong, under U.S. regulations targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction. It accused the firm of acting on behalf of North Korea's Korea Kwangson Banking Corp (KKBC), which has been under U.S. and U.N. sanctions for supporting proliferation of such weapons. The U.S. Department of Justice said it had filed criminal charges against the Chinese firm and the executives for using front companies to evade sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The charges accuse the firm and the individuals of conspiring to violate sanctions rules and engaging in international money laundering. The Justice Department said bank accounts associated with the firm and front companies received hundreds of millions of dollars that transited through the United States. "Today's action exposes a key illicit network supporting North Korea's weapons proliferation," Adam Szubin, the Treasury Department's acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. "DHID and its employees sought to evade U.S. and U.N. sanctions, facilitating access to the U.S. financial system by a designated entity." The announcement came after the White House said last week that President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang agreed in New York on Sept. 20 to step up cooperation in the U.N. Security Council and in law-enforcement channels after North Korea's latest and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. CHINESE INVESTIGATION China's Foreign Ministry said last week Hongxiang was under investigation following the provisions of U.N. resolution 2270, which imposed tighter sanctions on North Korea in March. Chinese embassy spokeswoman Fang Hong said Hongxiang Industrial Development Co was being investigated for "illegal behavior" and "economic crimes." She said China had a "clear and consistent" position of opposing North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. "We have been earnestly and faithfully implementing Security Council resolutions related to (North Korea) in their entirety and fulfilling our international obligations in non-proliferation export controls," she said. On Monday, South Korea's JoongAng Daily newspaper reported that China was investigating a top official of the KKBC at its branch in the Chinese border city of Dandong. South Korea said on Tuesday it "highly valued" Washington's action against the Chinese firm. "By exposing the risks of trade with North Korea, we expect this measure to raise the alarm for individuals and entities in third countries as well as China that are trading with North Korea," South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement. While China is North Korea's sole major ally, it disapproves of its nuclear and missile programs and was angered by its latest nuclear test. Beijing has said it will work within the U.N. to formulate a necessary response, but questions remain as to whether it is willing to agree tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons. Discussions are under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution and the senior U.S. diplomat for Asia said on Friday he was confident an agreement would be reached before long, imposing further sanctions and tightening existing ones. Daniel Russel, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said the aims would include preventing North Korea's abuse of international infrastructure, including banking and shipping, to further its nuclear program. In announcing Monday's sanctions, the Justice Department said it was seeking forfeiture of all funds held in 25 bank accounts associated with DHID and its front companies located in various banks in China. "The charges and forfeiture action announced today allege that defendants in China established and used shell companies around the world, surreptitiously moved money through the United States and violated the sanctions imposed on North Korea in response to, among other things, its nuclear weapons program," U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said. "The actions reflect our efforts to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system and hold accountable those who seek to evade U.S. sanctions laws," she said in a statement. (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann, Susan Heavey and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in SEOUL; Editing by Paul Simao and David Gregorio)
(AMSTERDAM)  Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the U.S. tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals.

In a measure of rising ambition beyond its taxi business, Uber will begin delivering meals in Amsterdam on Thursday just as Dutch market leader Takeaway.com, begins trading on the citys stock market.

And according to current job listings on Uber and other recruiting sites  for about 150 roles ranging from general managers and sales staff to bike couriers  UberEats is planning to enter at least 22 new countries across the world in the near future. That is on top of the six countries where it already operates.

As recently as May, Uber executives were signalling that UberEats international ambitions were a modest extension of its core business of transporting people. But its job hiring efforts over the last three months suggest something more ambitious is taking shape.

UberEats is one (business) we feel incredibly confident is resonating across the world and resonating across the footprint of the cities in which Uber operates the transport business, Jambu Palaniappan, recently named head of UberEats for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

He named eight cities including Dubai and Johannesburg that UberEats plans to enter by the end of the year, but declined to spell out later targets.

Europe is home base to many of the most active international players in the online food takeaway business. They are counting on their local ties, established customer bases and sprawling restaurant networks to insulate them from U.S. tech giants.

The biggest international players  Britains Just Eat , Germanys Delivery Hero and Takeaway.com  focus on advertising local takeaways and booking orders for nearby users, while leaving deliveries to the restaurants themselves.

Story continues

They have been raising fresh capital or swapping assets to bulk up in the expectation that Uberwould ratchet up its challenge.

Meanwhile, smaller players  Belgiums Take Eat Easy, delivering in 20 European cities, and London-based Pronto, which cooked meals as well as delivered them  have shut down in recent months, as the rush of funding that created dozens of start-ups modelled on Uber in recent years has dwindled.

SUB-SCALE

Investors have poured nearly $10 billion (8.9 billion euros) into 421 food delivery deals since the start of 2014, but funding dropped by more than half in the first six months of 2016, according to research from CBInsights.

Overall, the global restaurant takeaway market is projected to grow by 10 percent between 2015 and 2020 to reach $93.4 billion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

Adding to pressures on existing food delivery players, Amazon launched its international expansion of Amazon Restaurants by entering the London market earlier this month, building on its existing 11-city base in the United States.

The problem for many of the remaining players is that they are sub-scale: They cant compete without superior logistics, said Neil Campling, head of global research for the tech industry at fund manager Northern Trust Capital Markets.

To date, UberEats has launched in 33 cities in six countries, 27 of which are in the United States, where it first began testing food delivery two years ago.

Since launching in London in June, Uber has promised to cut delivery times to within a 30-minute window, with no minimum order size or extra delivery fees. You can order a cupcake made in Kensington and have it driven across town to Whitechapel for the price of the cupcake in the shop.

When we launch in a city, one of the things we try to do very quickly is to get customer wait times down as low as possible, said Palaniappan, a Silicon Valley native who had run Ubers core business in the EMEA region and oversaw its move into India.

By contrast, many rivals promise orders will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, while requiring minimum orders and charging customer delivery fees. UberEats also benefits by being promoted through Ubers existing, very popular car hire app.

STRONGHOLD

Later this week, Takeaway plans to raise 350 million euros ($390 million) in an initial public offering that would give it a market value around 1 billion euros.

Some newer entrants like Deliveroo of Britain and Foodora, a unit of Delivery Hero, have their own drivers  but few can rival Uber or Amazons deep pockets and vast customer bases around the globe.

To bolster their respective local and regional positions, Takeaway and Just Eat traded assets in August, with Takeaway exiting Just Eats British stronghold in exchange for Just Eats Benelux properties.

London-listed Just Eat expects its revenue to rise around 50 percent this year and says its 66,000 restaurant partnerships can ensure its growth for years to come.

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Oestberg says his firm has built a market-leading position in 28 countries around the world, signing up close to 300,000 restaurants  from Asia to Europe to Latin America  by acquiring local rivals, swapping assets and exiting tougher markets such as China and Russia.

Dominance is not assured for Amazon and Uber, for whom meal delivery  a highly localised business that must be won city by city from local players  is but one of several big initiatives.

A swing factor could prove to be how willing restaurants, such as pizza chains, are willing to allow big digital players to come between them and their customers  an issue Amazon has faced with brand-name retailers and Uber with taxi associations.

Alexander Frolov, a London-based partner in venture capital firm Target Global, an investor in Delivery Hero and other food-themed start-ups, says Uber is a formidable challenger but local food delivery is far from a winner-take-all market.

Its not like Facebook. If all my friends are on UberEats, I dont really care; there will be other options, Frolov said in an interview. That makes it more difficult for Uber to displace strong local players.

Additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Byron Kaye in Sydney
* UberEats plans to enter 22 new countries, job listings show

* Poses big threat to rivals in Europe and elsewhere

* UberEats launches in Amsterdam, five other cities this week

* Amazon also has international meal delivery ambitions (Adds quotes from UberEats boss, details on sector, rivals)

By Eric Auchard

AMSTERDAM, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the U.S. tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals.

In a measure of rising ambition beyond its taxi business, Uber will begin delivering meals in Amsterdam on Thursday just as Dutch market leader Takeaway.com (IPO-TAAY.AS), begins trading on the city's stock market.

And according to current job listings on Uber and other recruiting sites - for about 150 roles ranging from general managers and sales staff to bike couriers - UberEats is planning to enter at least 22 new countries across the world in the near future. That is on top of the six countries where it already operates.

As recently as May, Uber executives were signalling that UberEats' international ambitions were a modest extension of its core business of transporting people. But its job hiring efforts over the last three months suggest something more ambitious is taking shape.

"UberEats is one (business) we feel incredibly confident is resonating across the world and resonating across the footprint of the cities in which Uber operates the transport business," Jambu Palaniappan, recently named head of UberEats for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

He named eight cities including Dubai and Johannesburg that UberEats plans to enter by the end of the year, but declined to spell out later targets.

Europe is home base to many of the most active international players in the online food takeaway business. They are counting on their local ties, established customer bases and sprawling restaurant networks to insulate them from U.S. tech giants.

Story continues

The biggest international players - Britain's Just Eat , Germany's Delivery Hero and Takeaway.com - focus on advertising local takeaways and booking orders for nearby users, while leaving deliveries to the restaurants themselves.

They have been raising fresh capital or swapping assets to bulk up in the expectation that Uber would ratchet up its challenge.

Meanwhile, smaller players - Belgium's Take Eat Easy, delivering in 20 European cities, and London-based Pronto, which cooked meals as well as delivered them - have shut down in recent months, as the rush of funding that created dozens of start-ups modelled on Uber in recent years has dwindled.

SUB-SCALE

Investors have poured nearly $10 billion (8.9 billion euros) into 421 food delivery deals since the start of 2014, but funding dropped by more than half in the first six months of 2016, according to research from CBInsights.

Overall, the global restaurant takeaway market is projected to grow by 10 percent between 2015 and 2020 to reach $93.4 billion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

Adding to pressures on existing food delivery players, Amazon launched its international expansion of Amazon Restaurants by entering the London market earlier this month, building on its existing 11-city base in the United States.

"The problem for many of the remaining players is that they are sub-scale: They can't compete without superior logistics," said Neil Campling, head of global research for the tech industry at fund manager Northern Trust Capital Markets.

To date, UberEats has launched in 33 cities in six countries, 27 of which are in the United States, where it first began testing food delivery two years ago.

Since launching in London in June, Uber has promised to cut delivery times to within a 30-minute window, with no minimum order size or extra delivery fees. You can order a cupcake made in Kensington and have it driven across town to Whitechapel for the price of the cupcake in the shop.

"When we launch in a city, one of the things we try to do very quickly is to get customer wait times down as low as possible," said Palaniappan, a Silicon Valley native who had run Uber's core business in the EMEA region and oversaw its move into India.

By contrast, many rivals promise orders will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, while requiring minimum orders and charging customer delivery fees. UberEats also benefits by being promoted through Uber's existing, very popular car hire app.

STRONGHOLD

Later this week, Takeaway plans to raise 350 million euros ($390 million) in an initial public offering that would give it a market value around 1 billion euros.

Some newer entrants like Deliveroo of Britain and Foodora, a unit of Delivery Hero, have their own drivers - but few can rival Uber or Amazon's deep pockets and vast customer bases around the globe.

To bolster their respective local and regional positions, Takeaway and Just Eat traded assets in August, with Takeaway exiting Just Eat's British stronghold in exchange for Just Eat's Benelux properties.

London-listed Just Eat expects its revenue to rise around 50 percent this year and says its 66,000 restaurant partnerships can ensure its growth for years to come.

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Oestberg says his firm has built a market-leading position in 28 countries around the world, signing up close to 300,000 restaurants - from Asia to Europe to Latin America - by acquiring local rivals, swapping assets and exiting tougher markets such as China and Russia.

Dominance is not assured for Amazon and Uber, for whom meal delivery - a highly localised business that must be won city by city from local players - is but one of several big initiatives.

A swing factor could prove to be how willing restaurants, such as pizza chains, are willing to allow big digital players to come between them and their customers - an issue Amazon has faced with brand-name retailers and Uber with taxi associations.

Alexander Frolov, a London-based partner in venture capital firm Target Global, an investor in Delivery Hero and other food-themed start-ups, says Uber is a formidable challenger but local food delivery is far from a winner-take-all market.

"It's not like Facebook. If all my friends are on UberEats, I don't really care; there will be other options," Frolov said in an interview. "That makes it more difficult for Uber to displace strong local players."

(Additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Greg Mahlich and Pravin Char)
By Eric Auchard

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the U.S. tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals.

In a measure of rising ambition beyond its taxi business, Uber [UBER.UL] will begin delivering meals in Amsterdam on Thursday just as Dutch market leader Takeaway.com (IPO-TAAY.AS), begins trading on the city's stock market.

And according to current job listings on Uber and other recruiting sites - for about 150 roles ranging from general managers and sales staff to bike couriers - UberEats is planning to enter at least 22 new countries across the world in the near future. That is on top of the six countries where it already operates.

As recently as May, Uber executives were signaling that UberEats' international ambitions were a modest extension of its core business of transporting people. But its job hiring efforts over the last three months suggest something more ambitious is taking shape.

"UberEats is one (business) we feel incredibly confident is resonating across the world and resonating across the footprint of the cities in which Uber operates the transport business," Jambu Palaniappan, recently named head of UberEats for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

He named eight cities including Dubai and Johannesburg that UberEats plans to enter by the end of the year, but declined to spell out later targets.

Europe is home base to many of the most active international players in the online food takeaway business. They are counting on their local ties, established customer bases and sprawling restaurant networks to insulate them from U.S. tech giants.

The biggest international players - Britain's Just Eat (JE.L), Germany's Delivery Hero and Takeaway.com - focus on advertising local takeaways and booking orders for nearby users, while leaving deliveries to the restaurants themselves.

Story continues

They have been raising fresh capital or swapping assets to bulk up in the expectation that Uber would ratchet up its challenge.

Meanwhile, smaller players - Belgium's Take Eat Easy, delivering in 20 European cities, and London-based Pronto, which cooked meals as well as delivered them - have shut down in recent months, as the rush of funding that created dozens of start-ups modeled on Uber in recent years has dwindled.

SUB-SCALE

Investors have poured nearly $10 billion (8.9 billion euros) into 421 food delivery deals since the start of 2014, but funding dropped by more than half in the first six months of 2016, according to research from CBInsights.

Overall, the global restaurant takeaway market is projected to grow by 10 percent between 2015 and 2020 to reach $93.4 billion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

Adding to pressures on existing food delivery players, Amazon launched its international expansion of Amazon Restaurants by entering the London market earlier this month, building on its existing 11-city base in the United States.

"The problem for many of the remaining players is that they are sub-scale: They can't compete without superior logistics," said Neil Campling, head of global research for the tech industry at fund manager Northern Trust Capital Markets.

To date, UberEats has launched in 33 cities in six countries, 27 of which are in the United States, where it first began testing food delivery two years ago.

Since launching in London in June, Uber has promised to cut delivery times to within a 30-minute window, with no minimum order size or extra delivery fees. You can order a cupcake made in Kensington and have it driven across town to Whitechapel for the price of the cupcake in the shop.

"When we launch in a city, one of the things we try to do very quickly is to get customer wait times down as low as possible," said Palaniappan, a Silicon Valley native who had run Uber's core business in the EMEA region and oversaw its move into India.

By contrast, many rivals promise orders will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, while requiring minimum orders and charging customer delivery fees. UberEats also benefits by being promoted through Uber's existing, very popular car hire app.

STRONGHOLD

Later this week, Takeaway plans to raise 350 million euros ($390 million) in an initial public offering that would give it a market value around 1 billion euros.

Some newer entrants like Deliveroo of Britain and Foodora, a unit of Delivery Hero, have their own drivers - but few can rival Uber or Amazon's deep pockets and vast customer bases around the globe.

To bolster their respective local and regional positions, Takeaway and Just Eat traded assets in August, with Takeaway exiting Just Eat's British stronghold in exchange for Just Eat's Benelux properties.

London-listed Just Eat expects its revenue to rise around 50 percent this year and says its 66,000 restaurant partnerships can ensure its growth for years to come.

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Oestberg says his firm has built a market-leading position in 28 countries around the world, signing up close to 300,000 restaurants - from Asia to Europe to Latin America - by acquiring local rivals, swapping assets and exiting tougher markets such as China and Russia.

Dominance is not assured for Amazon and Uber, for whom meal delivery - a highly localized business that must be won city by city from local players - is but one of several big initiatives.

A swing factor could prove to be how willing restaurants, such as pizza chains, are willing to allow big digital players to come between them and their customers - an issue Amazon has faced with brand-name retailers and Uber with taxi associations.

Alexander Frolov, a London-based partner in venture capital firm Target Global, an investor in Delivery Hero and other food-themed start-ups, says Uber is a formidable challenger but local food delivery is far from a winner-take-all market.

"It's not like Facebook. If all my friends are on UberEats, I don't really care; there will be other options," Frolov said in an interview. "That makes it more difficult for Uber to displace strong local players."

(Additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Greg Mahlich and Pravin Char)
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2016 / UGE International Ltd. (UGE.V) (UGEIF) ("UGE"), a leader in renewable energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, today announces it will engineer and build a 500 kW ground-mounted solar project for a First Nations community in Northern Ontario.

The UGE-designed 500 kW solar PV system will use an innovative tracking system, and is expected to produce approximately 877.3 MWh of electricity in its first year of operation.

"Our experience as both developer and advisor uniquely allows us to deploy this ground-mounted solar system," said Robert van Duynhoven, Managing Director of Business Development at UGE. "We are thrilled to be assisting First Nation communities as they pursue a more sustainable, more secure future through solar energy."

Over the lifetime of the system, the electricity produced is expected to offset 14,523 metric tons of CO2 emissions, or the equivalent of planting 376,388 trees. UGE is working with consultant Compass Energy Consulting ("Compass") to develop the project.

"As a company, Compass focuses on helping our clients 'read between the lines' in today's rapidly evolving technology sector," said Rachelle McCann, consultant at Compass. "After a comprehensive evaluation of proposals, we choose to work with UGE because of their proven track-record of success deploying feed in tariff solar projects in Ontario."

The value of the contract to build the project is at least $1.6 million CAD, to be recognized throughout the remainder of 2016.

About UGE International

UGE delivers immediate savings to businesses through cleaner electricity. We help commercial and industrial clients become more competitive through the low cost of distributed renewable energy. With over 330 MW of experience globally, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com.

Contact:

Ashley Fallon

Communications Manager

(917) 338-1668

press@ugei.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements, such as the completion of the Portfolio, the economy generally, competition in its target markets, the demand for UGE's products and the availability of funding. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and UGE does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from UGE's expectations and projections.

SOURCE: UGE International Ltd.
Will meet Chinese prez at BRICS Summit: PM

At a time when the planned visit of the Chinese president to Nepal in October is yet to be confirmed, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that he will be meeting with Xi Jinping during the upcoming BRICS Summit in Goa, India.
The new cameras and lenses presented at Photokina 2016 -- the biannual photography trade fair in Cologne, Germany -- showcased new technologies that once again push back the industry's limits, with 6k photos, 4k video, interchangeable viewfinders and 360-degree video.

New products from camera-world heavyweights unveiled at Photokina 2016 include lenses from Leica and Canon's 5D Mark IV professional SLR and EOS M5 mirrorless camera, none of which proved particularly groundbreaking. Nikon didn't present much in the way of new products, apart from an entry-level SLR (the D3400) and a new lens (AF-S Nikkor 105mm F1.4 E ED).

Fujifilm presented the GFX 50S, expected for release in 2017, featuring a sensor packed with more than 51 megapixels. The show's real sensations came from Panasonic -- whose GH5 films 4K video at 60 frames per second and takes photos in 6K mode, setting a new record -- and from Olympus, with its OM-D EM1 Mark II, shooting 60 photos per second in burst mode. Note that Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi, famous for its smartphones, launched its first mirrorless camera under its Yi brand, with the Yi M1.

The week was above all marked by GoPro's announcement, including its latest-generation cameras (Hero5) and its first drone for aerial photography and video. The GoPro Karma is a folding device with an onboard stabilizer to help keep it steady in flight. It's compatible with the Hero4 and Hero5 camera ranges and is due out at the end of 2016.

As for 360-degree video, the trade fair saw Kodak unveil its Pixpro 4KVR360, which, as the name suggests, films ultra-high-def 360-degree video. It's due for release in 2017 and will rival the Vuze, which can also film 3D 360-degree video and is already on sale.

Finally, Western Digital stood out with its prototype SanDisk SDXC card offering 1TB of storage. After all, memory card manufacturers will have to adapt to accommodate these new technologies which increasingly need huge storage capacities.

Photokina's organizers report 191,000 visitors to the 2016 event.
Geneva (AFP) - A top UN rights official called Tuesday for an independent investigation into a surge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisting the country could still avert a large-scale crisis.

"There can be no appeasement," said Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"An independent, transparent and credible investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators and instigators of violence to justice," she insisted in a speech before the UN Human Rights Council.

Her comments came after deadly clashes between police and demonstrators in Kinshasa last week, as opposition groups demanded the resignation of President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila has ruled since 2001, and under the constitution, is barred from running for a third term, but although his current term ends on December 20, no date for new elections has been announced and there are fears he plans to stay in power.

"I can confirm to you here that there is no question of breaching the constitution," DRC minister of justice and human rights Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told the council Tuesday.

"The elections will be organised," he said, adding that the specific date was still being determined in cooperation with "international entities, including the United Nations".

At least 49 civilians and four police officers were killed on September 19 and 20 alone, and 127 civilians were injured, "allegedly at the hands of the Republican Guard, army and police," Gilmore said.

DRC police last week put the toll at 32 killed, while the opposition said there were "more than 100 dead".

"A large-scale crisis could be just around the corner," Gilmore said, urging "all actors to heed this wake-up call."

"Charting a path away from the violence of this past week is entirely doable. It is simply a matter of political will," she insisted.

The UN's top rights body is set this week to vote on a resolution on the situation in DRC, and rights activists have been calling for a strongly worded text.
Geneva (AFP) - Libya is facing "political impasse" and "hazardous military developments", the UN envoy to the North African country Martin Kobler warned on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of violence on civilians.

The country has been ravaged by unrest since the fall and death in 2011 of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and has also seen the jihadist Islamic State group establish a foothold.

A Government of National Accord supported by the United Nations and Western powers was established in the capital Tripoli in March, but has been unable to assert its authority in the face of a rival administration in the east of the country.

"Unfortunately, we are now facing a political impasse," Kobler told a meeting of the UN's Human Rights Council in Switzerland.

"At the same time, Libya is witnessing the unfolding of dangerous military developments," he said, citing the takeover of key oil facilities by the forces of controversial Marshal Khalifa Haftar who does not recognise the GNA.

He also cited the fighting between forces loyal to the GNA against IS in Sirte, "with nearly 600 killed and thousands injured".

"The risk of increased tensions in the capital should not be underestimated," the UN envoy added.

"The multiple armed conflicts raging in Libya continue to directly impact the lives of civilians," Kobler said, adding that between March 1 and August 31 the UN had "documented 287 civilian casualties, including 141 deaths and 146 injuries".

Among the victims were 30 children killed and 28 wounded.

He said that in Libya's second city Benghazi in the east, "more than 100 families are currently trapped in areas of fighting, facing constant bombing and shortages of food, medical care and electricity".

The economy has also been badly hit.

"The government is spending 93 percent of its total budget on subsidies and salaries, including those of members of armed groups that are not under the control of the government," Kobler said.

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"Armed groups around the country continue to carry out grave human rights abuses with total impunity," he said, adding that this "must be addressed as a matter of urgency".

The UN envoy also highlighted "the horrific plight of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers" trying to reach Europe from Libya.

Many board rickety, makeshift vessels operated by people traffickers to head for Italy, but many also drown during the perilous journey.

Kobler said the UN was seeking an end to the arbitrary detention in Libya of migrants and the closure of a number of detention centres "where women are particularly exposed to abuses including sexual violence".
Reporters covering tonight's presidential debate from Hofstra University in Long Island were met with an unwelcome surprise: Just to get online with a basic Wi-Fi connection from the debate venue costs $200, as confirmed by Business Insider reporters there.

Worse yet, Hofstra has warned journalists over a loudspeaker not to use any personal Wi-Fi hotspots, like Verizon's Jetpack or the Karma  and, according a tweet from Politico's Kenneth Vogel, Hofstra is actually sending people around with handheld devices to search for the offending hotspots and disable them.

Technicians patrolling #debatenight press file using this device to detect & shut down hotspots, so they can sell $200 wifi accounts instead pic.twitter.com/JzbkzlZR1g  Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) September 26, 2016

Charging journalists for a Wi-Fi connection at the debates isn't a new practice, though Hofstra demanded less, $175, at its 2012 debate. And judging from these reports, it seems as though Hofstra is more aggressive this time about enforcing a ban on personal Wi-Fi devices.

According to Hofstra's rate card for media services at the debate, in addition to the $200 Wi-Fi, Hofstra is charging $325 for a tethered internet connection, or $600 for the wired internet plus a landline telephone. For a mere $3,500, a team of 20 or more can get onto the Wi-Fi with unlimited devices among them.

Hofstra University

These prices are clearly geared toward larger news outlets, but it definitely puts a pinch on anybody without a mega-media organization's credentials. And, as Gizmodo notes, it could be illegal to essentially force reporters (or anybody) to forego their own Wi-Fi equipment and hold them hostage for the higher-cost connections at the venue.

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Hofstra shared the following statement on Tuesday morning:

The Commission on Presidential Debates sets the criteria for services and requires that a completely separate network from the Universitys network be built to support the media and journalists. This is necessary due to the volume of Wi-Fi activity and the need to avoid interference. The Rate Card fee of $200 for Wi-Fi access is to help defray the costs and the charge for the service does not cover the cost of the buildout.

For Wi-Fi to perform optimally the system must be tuned with each access point and antenna. When other Wi-Fi access points are placed within the environment the result is poorer service for all. To avoid unauthorized access points that could interfere, anyone who has a device that emits RF frequency must register the device. Whenever a RF- emitting device was located, the technician notified the individual to visit the RF desk located in the Hall. The CPD RF engineer would determine if the device could broadcast without interference.

NOW WATCH: DICK MORRIS: Here's how Trump can win the first debate





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Washington (AFP) - The US Senate rejected stopgap legislation to fund government operations on Tuesday, sending lawmakers scrambling to stave off a shutdown at week's end in the heat of the presidential campaign.

The temporary spending bill fell 45-55, well short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber.

The fiscal year ends on September 30. Should Congress fail to pass a bill approving federal spending -- or in this case, extending existing spending levels until December 9 -- by midnight Friday, some government offices and operations could shutter.

The budget debate revolves around disputes over how to fund the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where thousands of residents are grappling with lead-contaminated water.

Several Democrats voted against the government funding bill apparently because they objected to its provision of money for Louisiana emergency flood relief without providing any infrastructure funding for Flint.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, hinted that leaders could refile the bill with the Louisiana aid stripped out reportedly as early as late Tuesday.

"We keep hearing that their position is no Flint/no floods," he told reporters. "And that's certainly an option worth discussing."

Flint funding has already passed the Senate in another piece of legislation. But the House version of that bill contains no money for the beleaguered Michigan city, raising concerns among Democrats that aid for Flint could be further delayed.

"Republicans are essentially saying the disasters in their states are more important than the disasters in other states," top Senate Democrat Harry Reid said in a tweet.

With Republicans in control of both the Senate and House of Representatives, a government shutdown could dent the party's image just as Americans prepare to choose between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump in the November 8 presidential election.

"Basically, they want to show that we can't make this place work," Republican Senator John Cornyn said of Democrats.

The bill also contains $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus, a provision Congress has now shot down four times.
Will telling children not to use their real names save Viacom from a privacy lawsuit over data collection on Nick.com?

On Monday, the media conglomerate filed a summary judgment motion in a lawsuit that was revived by a federal appeals court in June. In court papers, Viacom asks a judge to find that it simply doesn't collect personal information from those who register profiles on the kids' website.

Viacom has already beaten most of the lawsuit, but the 3rd Circuit permitted an intrusion upon seclusion claim to move forward thanks to Nick.com including a message that read, "HEY GROWN-UPS: We don't collect ANY personal information about your kids. Which means we couldn't share it even if we wanted to!"

The putative class action alleges that Viacom does indeed collect personal information about children, and on that basis, the appeals court concluded that Nick.com's "Hey Grown-Ups" message, ifcould be considered "highly offensive" and a tort violation.

The difference now is that Viacom is at the summary judgment phase where plaintiff's allegations don't have to be accepted as true, and so, Viacom is asking the judge to consider evidence that it spoke truthfully to parents about its privacy practices.

"There was no deception, no 'highly offensive' conduct, and therefore no intrusion," the company states its brief (read here). "The company clearly disclosed that it would collect anonymous details about Nick.com registrants and anonymous technical details necessary for site usage. It told registrants not to supply their names or other personal information. In short, Viacom did not collect any 'personal information' that could be used to identify users in the real world."

Viacom does admit to collecting certain info like browser settings, but only to make its site better. The company also waives off what one of its executives stated at a conference about the ability to track users for the benefit of advertisers, explaining the executive was referring only to Viacom's websites for adults.

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As for Nick.com, Viacom posts a screenshot of what users see to "join the club" (see below) with emphasis on the warning users are given, "Don't use your real name or any personal info."

Viacom also makes Nick.com visitors confirm they've read the privacy policy before registering. There, Viacom tells registrants it might collect birth dates, gender, IP addresses and device identifiers associated with the user's computer. Viacom says it doesn't collect real names, physical addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account information nor "other identifying details that allow[] it to detect a child's real-world identity."

The current dispute hasn't gone to discovery, and Viacom tells the judge it's not necessary.

On the other hand, Viacom was recently flagged in an investigation brought by New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman over tracking of children in alleged violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Viacom agreed to pay $500,000 as a settlement.
Witch accused tortured, fears filing complaint

On September 4, as most women in Dada Gaun of Salyan district were celebrating Teej festival, one particular woman was suffering a horrific incident. Bound to a post, Sabitri Chand (name changed) was being tortured by her aunt-in-law and cousins-in-law.
HANOI (Reuters) - Hundreds of Vietnamese fishermen traveled to a small provincial court on Monday to sue one of the country's biggest investors for compensation over an accident at its $10.6-billion steel plant, activists and a court official said. Tens of millions of fish died in April, in one of Vietnam's biggest environmental disasters, which the government blamed on a discharge of toxic waste into the sea by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Formosa Plastics. Formosa Ha Tinh Steel has promised $500 million in compensation and admitted its steel plant caused massive fish deaths along a 200-km (120-mile) stretch of coastline. A total of 545 people are suing the company, Dang Huu Nam, a priest leading the group that journeyed 200 km (120 miles) by bus to a town in the central province of Ha Tinh told Reuters in a text message. "The court is receiving their files," an official at the Ky Anh People's Court said by telephone. "It is very crowded here." In a video posted on social media site Facebook, Nam said fishermen still feared the sea was polluted and were suffering hardship. "They cannot go to sea and cannot catch fish while they face the prospect of hunger because of bank debts," he added. The disaster unleashed a public outcry on social media and on the streets of big cities. Demonstrators vented their fury at both the government and Formosa, accusing them of a cover-up. Such protests have been a headache for the authorities, who have accused anti-government groups of trying to exploit the disaster and stir up anger, with the aim of overthrowing the ruling Communist Party. Monday's mass lawsuit captured attention on Facebook but was not covered by state-run media. Activists said Monday's convoy of more than 10 buses was closely monitored by police, with military also deployed around Formosa's project in Ha Tinh. Several thousand Christians gathered around the court and sang songs in support of the fishermen, the priest said, adding that the court was only able to process half the lawsuits filed but would receive more on Tuesday. Formosa is one of Taiwan's biggest conglomerates. Its listed units include Formosa Plastics Corp and Formosa Chemicals & Fiber Corp. (Reporting by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez)
Hanoi (AFP) - Hundreds of fishermen in central Vietnam have filed lawsuits demanding more compensation from a Taiwanese firm accused of dumping toxic waste in the ocean that killed tonnes of fish, activists said Tuesday.

The mass fish deaths in April ravaged livelihoods in communities along the central coast, where fishing is the main source of income.

In a rare case of civic action against big business in authoritarian Vietnam, large crowds of fishermen have swamped a courthouse in Ha Tinh province since Monday to file 506 lawsuits against Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa.

The company says it has already paid $500 million in compensation after Vietnamese officials blamed its multi-billion-dollar steel plant in the area for the fish deaths.

But local fishermen said they have yet to receive any money and are demanding Formosa close its plant and provide additional payouts.

Photos and videos on social media showed hundreds gathered outside the courthouse in the town of Ky Anh wearing white T-shirts printed with an image of a fish skeleton and chanting passages from the Bible.

"We demand compensation from Formosa and closure of the plant in Vietnam and ask them to clean up the environment in the area," said Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest helping lead the activists.

Security forces have been widely deployed in the area, activist Tran Minh Nhat told AFP, but no clashes were reported.

State media said earlier that compensation would be paid out from early October after the final tranche was received last month.

It was not clear how much would be disbursed to affected fishermen.

Tonnes of dead fish, including rare species that live far offshore, began washing up along Vietnam's central coastline in April.

Frustration at the authorities' perceived reluctance to blame Formosa led to protests across the country, with police stepping in to arrest scores of demonstrators.

Formosa is no stranger to controversy in Vietnam, where anti-China riots at its Ha Tinh steel plant killed three in 2014 and a scaffolding collapse killed 14 last year.

The conglomerate has paid millions of dollars in fines over environmental mishaps elsewhere.
PARIS (Reuters) - Vivendi (VIV.PA) said it was considering filing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a court on Tuesday upheld a judgment against the French media giant in a long-running shareholder class action lawsuit accusing it of defrauding investors in the early 2000s.

"Vivendi is analyzing its options, both in seeking further review before the court of appeals and in filing a petition for review with the Supreme Court of the United States," the group said in a statement.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York rejected Vivendi's appeal of a 2010 verdict by a federal jury finding it liable for violating federal securities laws, resulting in around $50 million in judgments against the company.

Vivendi said it maintained the 100 million euros ($112 million) it has set aside for any damages it may have to pay.

(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; editing by Michel Rose)
Vivica A. Fox will star in the sci-fi film Crossbreed, playing the President of the United States.

Brandon Slagle will direct the Jaguar Motion Pictures film, which is centered around a group of retired military war heroes who are sent to retrieve an extraterrestrial being from an illegal medical facility using its DNA to manufacture weapons. Fox will play the President, who was a colleague of the team leader and handpicked him to lead the retrieval mission.

The movie, described as a throwback to action films of the 1980s, also will star Gotham's Stink Fisher, Devanny Pinn, Vernon Wells and John T. Woods. The indie pic will begin filming in Los Angeles and then Buffalo, N.Y., in October.

"When my producers brought up the idea of Vivica in the role, it was a lightning bolt," said Slagle. "It was a fantastic idea. Someone who could light up a room but also has a commanding presence. Our President is positive and proactive, not the grim figure as is usually portrayed in these types of movies."

The film is being produced by Liz Cuppie and executive produced by Donna and John Kopp.

Fox's recent credits include Independence Day: Resurgence and the hit Fox TV series Empire. She is repped by Media Artists Group.
This vlogger uses this fall-themed ingredient to get hair to grow faster

This vlogger uses this fall-themed ingredient to get hair to grow faster

As the local coffeeshop switches their drink menu from an iced summer palette over to the delicious fall flavors, one of our favorite beauty vloggers, Farah Dhukai, has incorporated a very autumnal ingredient into her beauty regimen. Dhukai shared that pumpkin makes your hair grow faster  and there is science to back it up! The savvy and creative Instagram star, who has gifted her Instagram followers with tips that include recipes for DIY contour face masks (this is totally a thing), how to use diaper rash cream on acne, and how to use Listerine as a dandruff-killer, has now shared a video detailing the fact that:

Pumpkin oil is not only good in lattes, its good as a hair-growth elixir!

In Dhukais video she explains that a cocktail of mostly pumpkin oil and a few drops of peppermint essential oils might be the trick for your hair woes! First, she mixes up the pumpkin oil with the dash of peppermint, lets it get warm (this is crucial), and then massages it in for several minutes, and voila: longer locks! If youre feeling skeptical of the science behind this beauty, a study conducted by researchers from Republic of Koreas Pusan National University showed that regular intake of pumpkin oil slowed down and in some cases reversed the effects of balding due to the presence of vitamin E, vitamin K, and omega 6 acids!

Naturally, Dhukai had a killer soundtrack for her tutorial.

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.38.37 PM

She shows that all you need to stimulate hair growth is two simple ingredients.

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.39.18 PM

First off, youll need pumpkin oil!

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.39.42 PM

Then add a few drops of peppermint essential oil.

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.43.07 PM

Swirl your glass around until the concoction is room temperature!

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.39.02 PM

The amount measurements arent specified; just make sure its mostly pumpkin with some drops of peppermint!

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.40.38 PM

Once its warm, massage your scalp with the mixture for 5 to 7 minutes!

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.41.22 PM

Slight tingling is normal.

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.41.09 PM

Save the rest of your concoction for later, and make it a weekly routine for results!

Screenshot 2016-09-26 at 5.41.42 PM

Check out the full video and the perf soundtrack below.

The post This vlogger uses this fall-themed ingredient to get hair to grow faster appeared first on HelloGiggles.
U.S.-listed shares of Volkswagen (VOW3-DE) dropped more than 4 percent in early Tuesday trade after a Bloomberg report said the U.S. Justice Department is assessing how big a criminal fine it can obtain from the German carmaker without putting it out of business.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen has been cheating on American air pollution tests in diesel vehicles issued between 2008 and 2015, which the company later admitted. The Justice Department later filed a civil complaint against it.

The carmaker agreed to pay $16.5 billion in civil litigation fines in the U.S. Now, the U.S. government and Volkswagen are trying to reach a settlement by January, Bloomberg reported, citing two people familiar with the negotiations.

The sources said its not clear what the penalty range the government is considering but it is possible the Justice Department may asses the impact of a charge on the business's "viability."

Read the full Bloomberg report here.

Volkswagen's U.S. stock is down about 10 percent so far this year.

Neither Volkswagen nor the Justice Department immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment.




U.S.-listed shares of Volkswagen (XETRA: VOW3-DE) dropped more than 4 percent in early Tuesday trade after a Bloomberg report said the U.S. Justice Department is assessing how big a criminal fine it can obtain from the German carmaker without putting it out of business.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen has been cheating on American air pollution tests in diesel vehicles issued between 2008 and 2015, which the company later admitted. The Justice Department later filed a civil complaint against it.

The carmaker agreed to pay $16.5 billion in civil litigation fines in the U.S. Now, the U.S. government and Volkswagen are trying to reach a settlement by January, Bloomberg reported, citing two people familiar with the negotiations.

The sources said its not clear what the penalty range the government is considering but it is possible the Justice Department may asses the impact of a charge on the business's "viability."

Read the full Bloomberg report here.

Volkswagen's U.S. stock is down about 10 percent so far this year.

Neither Volkswagen nor the Justice Department immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment.









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Sept 26 (Reuters) - A shareholder class action lawsuit was filed against Wells Fargo & Co on Monday that alleged the firm misled investors about its financial performance and the success of its sales practices.

Wells Fargo, the United States' third-largest bank by assets, agreed to pay $190 million earlier this month to settle regulatory charges that some of its employees opened as many as 2 million accounts without customers' knowledge, in order to meet sales targets.

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced the lawsuit and is seeking class action status on behalf of buyers of the company's shares between Feb. 26, 2014 and Sept. 15, 2016.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, comes nearly a week after Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf faced U.S. Senate lawmakers about his oversight at the bank.

It also singled out Stumpf and Carrie Tolstedt, the now-retired executive at the center of the scandal, for selling more than $31 million of their stock in Wells Fargo at "artificially inflated" prices.

Wells Fargo has said its board will assess whether to cancel or claw back any incentive compensation paid to Tolstedt.

The complaint also criticizes the firm's cross-selling strategy, saying it failed to disclose material facts about its practices that were aimed at fulfilling sales quotas.

Wells Fargo has long been the envy of the banking industry for its ability to sell multiple products to the same customer.

The San Francisco-based bank has said it has fired 5,300 people over the matter and would eliminate sales goals in its retail banking on Jan. 1, 2017.

Wells Fargo declined to comment on the matter.

Up to Monday's close, shares of the company have fallen more than 10 percent since Sept. 8 when it reached a settlement with regulators, wiping off more than $25 billion of market capitalization.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)
(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co <WFC.N> said on Tuesday that it had launched an independent investigation into the firm's retail banking sales practices.

Wells Fargo, the United States' third-largest bank by assets, agreed to pay $190 million earlier this month to settle regulatory charges that some of its employees opened as many as 2 million accounts without customers' knowledge, in order to meet sales targets.

Wells Fargo Chief Executive Officer John Stumpf would forfeit equity awards valued at about $41 million and will not receive a salary during the investigation, the company said.

Stumpf, a member of the board, has recused himself from the investigation, the bank said.

Lawmakers on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee grilled Stumpf about the accounts last week, with some calling on him to resign and forfeit his earnings and hold other senior executives accountable.

Former retail banking head Carrie Tolstedt has also left the company and will not receive severance pay.

Tolstedt has forfeited unvested equity awards valued at about $19 million and will not exercise her outstanding options during the investigation, Wells Fargo said.

The San Francisco-based bank has said it has fired 5,300 people over the matter and would eliminate sales goals in its retail banking on Jan. 1, 2017.

Wells Fargo has hired law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP to assist in the investigation.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)
Back in the old days before horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing created a new source of crude oil production in North Dakota and Montana, refineries on the east coast of the United States received most of their crude by ship from west and north Africa. The eventual large volumes of Bakken crude dramatically shifted the source of crude for those refineries from across the Atlantic to the northern Plains.

Crude-by-rail (CBR) deliveries boomed from about 2012 until late last year when low crude prices could no longer make up for the high costs of rail transport. Shipping a barrel of crude by rail cost between $10 and $15 a barrel in 2013 when the price differential between Bakken and Nigerian crude favored the domestic crude by nearly $20 a barrel.

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That differential has shrunk to less than $2 a barrel today. A very-large crude carrier (VLCC) with a capacity for 2 million barrels of oil can transport a barrel for less than that differential at today's day rates for that class of ship.

Analyst Troy Vincent at RBN Energy summarized the situation in a note published Tuesday:

[T]he narrowing of the differential between WTI and Brent helped improve the import economics from a convenient source: West Africa, whose light sweet crude is priced in reference to Brent. The result was a surge in imports to the East Coast from West Africa, Nigeria in particular. Inexpensive Middle East crude had crowded out Nigerian barrels from their previously favored market in India, making more Nigerian barrels available for the cross-Atlantic trade.

ALSO READ: Worst States for Black Americans

Those "inexpensive" crude barrels were being loaded in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The following chart illustrates the volume of crude oil deliveries to U.S. east coast refineries. The Bakken-to-barge portion represents the volume transported part of the way by rail and final delivery by barge.

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Vincent concludes:

Will large volumes of Bakken production ever find their way back into the East Coast markets? Certainly it is possible. But with more alternative markets available to Bakken producersparticularly when the delayed Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) comes into serviceand crude oil prices still below $50/bbl, it may be a long time before there is enough crude oil production to warrant significant shipments out of the Bakken by rail, particularly to the distant East Coast market.

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The situation does not particularly auger well for increased production from the Bakken or for the price of U.S. crude.

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Whats the point of a presidential debate?

You could, if you were so inclined, distill Mondays marquee clash between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University to a single iconic incident: Trump sniffling several times per sentence, perhaps, or Clinton debuting a new dance move.

This would be in keeping with how past debates have been covered (and remembered). Nixon looked clammy and cadaverous under the klieg lights, propelling Kennedy to the presidency. Reagan uttered the magic words There you go again, reducing Carter to rubble. Gore sighed; Bush won. And so on.

In the age of mass media  and of the tightly controlled style of campaigning that has arisen in response  debate viewers have come to see gaffes, quips and other unanticipated moments as revelations: rare glimpses of who the candidates really are.

This isnt surprising, and it isnt wrong. The big moments matter. But they arent the only things that matter.

Beyond the memes, tweets and viral videos  beyond the hot takes and expectations gaming  its worth remembering that two potential leaders of the free world stood toe-to-toe on live television for a full 90 minutes Monday night.

Not every aspect of their presidential mettle was tested; as longtime political reporter Elizabeth Drew has noted, we rarely learn much about a candidates thoughtfulness, study, depth, patience [or] the ability to draw the most useful information out of advisers and arrive at the wisest policy from his or her performance on the debate stage.

Yet Mondays debate did test other qualities  qualities that 21st century Americans tend to consider carefully when choosing a president. Command of the issues. Truthfulness. Temperament. Emotional connection. Stage presence. And yes, each candidates ability to create a moment  a key part of getting through to voters who are constantly distracted by the dinging of their smartphones.

And so, as the dust settles at Hofstra, Yahoo News has decided to step back, consider the entire event, and grade Trump and Clinton in each of these categories.

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A debate isnt a reality show. Its a job interview. What Trumps and Clintons performance Monday tells us about their possible performance in office.

_____

Command of the issues

No one expected Trump  a political novice who has shown little tolerance for debate prep or policy briefings  to display a greater command of the issues than a former first lady, senator and secretary of state. He didnt surprise in that regard. While Clinton steered confidently from paid family leave to clean energy to criminal justice reform to mutual defense treaties, Trump floundered whenever the exchange shifted from his comfort zone  trade, jobs, Mexico, China  to less familiar terrain.

Donald Trump during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Monday night. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

At times  such as when he ended up answering a question about his tax returns with a lament about Americas Third World airports  it seemed as if Trump, having exhausted his store of information on the subject at hand, was simply filling space with snippets of his stump speech and other unrelated musings.

The clearest example was cybersecurity. As far as the cyber, Trump began, we should be better than anybody else, and perhaps were not. He went on, at length, to speculate about who hacked the Democratic National Committee earlier this year. (It could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, OK?) He then bragged about his adolescent son, Barron. (I have a son. Hes 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers, its unbelievable.) Finally, Trump concluded with a stirring invocation of American ingenuity.

The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough, he said. And maybe its hardly doable.

In moments like these, Trump sounded less like a potential president than like a student bluffing his way through an oral exam.

It was a gap that Clinton was quick to point out. I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate, she said at one point. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think thats a good thing.

Truthfulness

Voters tend to tell pollsters that Clinton is less trustworthy and honest than Trump. But on Monday night it was Trump who earned more Pinocchios and Pants on Fire ratings from the fact-checkers. Among the remarks of his that did not square with reality, according to PolitiFact: that he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning (false); that Clinton and her campaign started the birther lie (false); that financial disclosure forms are more revealing than tax returns (false); that China has total control over North Korea (mostly false); that he pushed NATO toward a sharper focus on terrorism (false); that the Islamic State started on Clintons watch (mostly false). The New York Times also found that Trump has, in fact, described climate change as a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, even though he claimed otherwise onstage.

Hillary Clinton listens to Donald Trump during the presidential debate at Hofstra University. (Photo: Julio Cortez/AP)

Clinton wasnt 100 percent truthful Monday. She did once call the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) the gold standard, for instance, even though she attempted to argue at Hofstra that this was merely her hope for the controversial trade agreement. And the way she characterized Trumps tax payments  or nonpayments  wasnt entirely accurate.

But overall, Clintons relationship with the truth was much less elastic than her Republican rivals.

Temperament

This was one of the big questions heading into Mondays debate: Could Trump, who has built his political brand on bluster and braggadocio, prove that he has the sort of steely, steady temperament that voters tend to require of the people they entrust with the nuclear codes?

He eventually answered the question himself. Near the end of the event, moderator Lester Holt asked Trump why his judgment on the Iraq War was any different than Mrs. Clintons judgment. For several minutes, a defensive Trump carped and complained  about mainstream media nonsense; about Holt questioning his alleged war opposition; about nobody call[ing] Sean Hannity! Then  perhaps sensing that he was starting to sound unpresidential  the candidate pivoted to temperament.

Donald Trump speaks as moderator Lester Holt looks on at the presidential debate. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

I also have a much better temperament than she has, Trump declared. I have a much better  she spent  let me tell you  she spent hundreds of millions of dollars on an advertising  you know, they get Madison Avenue into a room, they put names  oh, temperament, lets go after  I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. I have a winning temperament. I know how to win. She does not have a 

Holt tried to let Clinton respond. But Trump wasnt done.

Wait, he snapped. The AFL-CIO the other day, behind the blue screen, I dont know who you were talking to, Secretary Clinton, but you were totally out of control. I said, theres a person with a temperament thats got a problem.

Secretary Clinton? Holt finally cut in.

Clinton, shimmying in delight and disbelief, said, Woo! OK. Then she turned to Article 5 of NATO, seemingly content to let Trumps temperament speak for itself.

Emotional connection

On a gut level, neither candidate was particularly dominant Monday night. But both had their moments.

Trumps came early, when he tussled with Clinton on free trade, leaving her torn between her various political loyalties  to Obama, who supports TPP; to her husband, Bill, who signed NAFTA; and to liberal Democrats, who increasingly oppose both  while positioning himself as a more passionate (and less politically compromised) champion of struggling Rust Belt workers.

All you have to do is look at Michigan and look at Ohio and look at all of these places where so many of their jobs and their companies are just leaving, Trump said. And, Hillary, Id just ask you this. Youve been doing this for 30 years. Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now?

She tried to respond with a line about the prosperity that America enjoyed under President Clinton.

Your husband signed NAFTA, Trump retorted, which was one of the worst things that ever happened to the manufacturing industry.

Well, thats your opinion, was all Clinton could muster. That is your opinion.

For the rest of the debate, Clinton struggled to make a similar emotional connection with her supporters. But near the end, she got her opportunity  and she seized it.

Earlier this month, you said [Clinton] doesnt have, quote, a presidential look, Holt said to Trump. What did you mean by that?

Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak at the same time during the presidential debate at Hofstra University. (Rick T. Wilking/Pool via AP)

She doesnt have the look, Trump replied. She doesnt have the stamina.

With that, Clinton went off on her opponent  and attempted to rally women to her side. You know, he tried to switch from looks to stamina, she said. But this is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women dont deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men

Trump tried to protest, but Clinton kept going.

And one of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest, she continued. He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them. And he called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Miss Housekeeping, because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name.

Where did you find this? Trump interjected. Where did you find this?

Her name is Alicia Machado, Clinton said. And she has become a U.S. citizen, and you can bet shes going to vote this November.

Lets call it a draw.

Creating a moment

Nothing that happened Monday immediately emerged as this years equivalent of there you go again  as hard as Hillary tried to imitate Reagan. Still, its possible that Trump may have produced a pattern of moments that will in turn trigger a new, damaging narrative or two, depending on how the coverage shakes out.

The first would be about his business dealings. A series of mini-moments  evading a question about his unreleased tax returns; boasting that he was smart to avoid paying taxes; owning up to charges that he has stiffed contractors  could undermine Trumps claim to fame as a brilliant CEO.

Hillary Clinton during the debate. (Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

The second storyline would be about race. Again and again, Trump stumbled on the issue. He praised stop-and-frisk, a policing tactic that was ruled unconstitutional in New York because it largely singled out black and Hispanic men. He seemed proud of the fact that he spent years spreading falsehoods about Obamas birthplace, going so far as to claim that he did a great job and a great service not only for the country, but even for the president. (African-Americans really wanted me to come to that conclusion, Trump added.) And when Clinton reminded viewers that the Justice Department once sued Trump for racial discrimination because he would not rent apartments in one of his developments to African-Americans, the Republican would only say that he settled that lawsuit with no admission of guilt and that other real estate firms had been sued as well.

These things tend to add up. Whether they add up to a moment is for history to decide.

Stage presence

At the end of the debate, observers were only talking about one candidates sniffling; one candidates aggressive interruptions; one candidates split-screen grimacing. They were only comparing one candidate to Rick Lazio.

It wasnt Clinton.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands at the conclusion of the debate. (Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters)

(Cover tile photo: Jonathan Earnst/Reuters)

_____
Monday nights presidential debate left many Americans most conflicted not about whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton prevailed, but about the effectiveness of moderator Lester Holt, who was relatively silent throughout the political face-off.



Although Holt interrupted the candidates at times to fact-check their statements and remind them of their time limits, he also allowed their heated discussions of policy and values to go largely unchaperoned.



While some debate viewers took to social media to praise the NBC anchor for staying out of the spotlight, others wondered why he abstained from cutting off Clinton and Trump more often. And those viewers vented through memes. Trump supporters were largely dissatisfied with Holts performance, accusing him of unfairly attacking Trump more often than Clinton.



 Are you voting? Not voting? How do you really feel about the candidates? PEOPLE wants to know! Take our brief survey about the 2016 election now, and receive 20% off in the PEOPLE Shop as a thank you for your time.



Lester Holt has done a fine job as moderator. Not too intrusive, moving this along, fact-checking when necessary. #debates a Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 27, 2016





Conservatives should agree @LesterHoltNBC did a very fine job moderating. He pushed on birther issue and Iraq war but gave plenty of time a Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) September 27, 2016





One clear winner tonight: @LesterHoltNBC. Did not make himself the story. Inserted himself when necessary. #debatenight a Ben White (@morningmoneyben) September 27, 2016





Points to Lester Holt for standing aside and letting Trump and Clinton go at it. a adam nagourney (@adamnagourney) September 27, 2016





WE GO NOW LIVE TO LESTER HOLT OFF CAMERA: #Debate2016 pic.twitter.com/JSl45ZQniJ a Shon (@inkedtater) September 27, 2016





But seriously where art thou? #debatenight (: @isabella.carapella) A photo posted by Huffington Post (@huffingtonpost) on Sep 26, 2016 at 7:00pm PDT

















lester holt lookin good tonight pic.twitter.com/uVoxExsdLU a Ali V. (@alivingiano) September 27, 2016





The real loser tonight was Lester Holtconstantly interrupting Trump and never Hillaryclearly biased #debates #debatenight a USA For Trump 2016 (@USAforTrump2016) September 27, 2016





Lester Holt was utterly biased and a complete disgrace.

THIS is exactly why we must elect Donald Trump.

Its a #RiggedSystem #Debates #MAGA a Linda Suhler, Ph.D. (@LindaSuhler) September 27, 2016





Lester Holt was a major loser. Weak questions, weak moderating. a Ricky Vaughn (@Ricky_Vaughn99) September 27, 2016





RT if you also think Lester Holt did a bad job moderating tonight!



He didnt mention: her lies, Benghazi, Emails! #debatenight #Debates a Tennessee GOP (@TEN_GOP) September 27, 2016









Mondays debate was the first of three that will take place in the remaining weeks leading up to Novembers election. The Hofstra University-hosted event was expected to draw an estimated 100 million viewers.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS.
A Georgia police officer is accused of fabricating a story of getting shot by a suspect she described only as a black man, prompting a search for the purported gunman.



On Friday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued warrants for Jackson police officer Sherry Hall's arrest. Hall is charged with violations of oath of office, tampering with evidence and false statements, according to a GBI press release.



On Sept. 13, shortly after midnight, Hall radioed for help, allegedly claiming a black man had shot her when she approached him near a wooded area while on patrol, Jackson city officials tell PEOPLE.



She allegedly claimed the man became aggravated and shot her when she asked him what he was doing. She allegedly described him as 250 pounds, mentally disturbed and black, according to the press release.









Hall, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was rushed to an Atlanta hospital. She allegedly told authorities she did not engage her in-car video and audio equipment, according to the press release. But video and audio evidence from the hard drive of the unit and other evidence allegedly revealed inconsistencies with Hall's statements, according to the press release.



Hall is currently in an unknown private facility, of her own accord, the GBI press release states. When she is released, she will be arrested and processed, according to the release.



It was not immediately clear if she has retained an attorney.



 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.





After Manhunt, Mayor 'Disappointed in Hall's Actions'

At a press conference on Friday, investigators and prosecutors would not comment on whether they believe Hall shot herself, citing an ongoing investigation. However, they did reassure the community that there was no gunman at large and that they believe Hall acted alone.



During the manhunt following the Sept. 13 incident, Hall and her family spoke to local media, pleading for the purported gunman to turn himself in.



Jackson mayor Kay Pippin tells PEOPLE Hall joined the Jackson police department three months ago and has been a police officer for four years.



"We actually had been impressed with her work," Pippin tells PEOPLE. "She had gotten to know members of the community, that's one of the reasons everyone was so supportive."



She added, "To say that I am disappointed in Hall's actions is an understatement."



Pippin says when she learned of the GBI's suspicions about Hall, she was preparing to issue a reward for information leading to the purported gunman.



She tells PEOPLE Hall's alleged fabrication is even more offensive given the current tensions in some cities between police and the black community.



"I donat know why this officer did what she did, I donat know why she chose who she chose to blame," she says. "With the climate that's going on in our country right now, our residents wanted [Hall] and the rest of the police department to know that we are so glad they're protecting us and that we're so thankful for them."
For Varietys latest issue, we asked Judge Judy Sheindlin to write a tribute for Fox News Channels Megyn Kelly, one of 50 people to make our New Power of New York list. Heres why Kelly represents a new generation of movers and shakers that capture the best of Manhattan.

Megyn Kelly is one of those rare women who seamlessly combines professional excellence and family. She doesnt need a catch phrase to define what she instinctively has accomplished. She just does it.

I met her for the first time when I appeared as a guest on her new Fox News program. I had heard that she was a fan and I was impressed with how she had skillfully transitioned into her role on The Kelly File.

She was a wonderful interviewer for me. I have a tendency to give you a novel in response to a question. She gave me a wide berth but instinctively knew when to bring me back. As a fine journalist, Megyn meticulously prepares for an interview and has a reservoir of knowledge that allows her to negotiate with anyone.

On a lighter side, I love the new hair. I think that she was so smart to perhaps say to herself, Im transitioning from one career to another and I want to look different.

I think Megyn has the talent to do anything she wants to do. She is a star and shes still growing. Im as old as Methuselah. Shes a kid. Her opportunities are only limited by her dreams.

Judge Judy Sheindlin presides over Judge Judy, now in its 21st season. Read our full New Power of New York List here, as well as tributes for Ivanka Trump (by Jared Kushner), Chelsea Clinton (by Bill Clinton) and Don Lemon (by Megyn Kelly).

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GettyImages 610603200

HEMPSTEAD, New York  For David Plouffe, the defining sequence in the most important night of the presidential campaign came when Hillary Clinton delivered a brutal one-two step to Donald Trump.

She first gave an effective response to a bizarre suggestion from Trump  that she had prepared too hard for Monday night's debate. She retorted, somewhat awkwardly yet still persuasively, that she had prepared not only for the debate but for being president.

Then they segued into an exchange that properly displayed the contrast Clinton was trying to exploit  a long back-and-forth over the issue of President Barack Obama's birthplace, an issue that Trump tried to make go away weeks ago to no avail. Clinton used the word "racist" thrice in her response without ever directly dubbing Trump racist, while Trump floundered and tried to accuse her of being disrespectful toward Obama during the 2008 Democratic primary.

"That's where," Plouffe, Obama's former campaign manager, said when asked to identify the standout moment of the debate.

Monday night's first debate didn't have the same one-sidedness as the memorable first 2012 affair between Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. But it is every bit as brutal, if not more, to Trump's chances of becoming president.

That was evident from the instant polls and focus groups that dubbed Clinton the clear winner. And it was evident from the contrast in reactions on each side in the massive "spin room" after the debate. Clinton surrogates, like Plouffe, glowed about her performance. They guffawed at Trump's missteps. They suddenly stood confident, the jitters of the past few weeks of polls in the rearview, at least for one night, quoting Trump's debate lines with apparent glee.

"Some of his stuff was  weird," Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who supports Clinton, told Business Insider.

"I thought she was clearly prepared  I mean, that was the starkest contrast," she added. "She thinks it's important to be prepared to be president. I don't think so much he does."

Story continues

And to that end, as a result of Clinton's deft ability to go on the offensive, Trump surrogates, like senior adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were forced to spend the night defending their candidate over some of the more outlandish debate moments  like the "birther" exchange. They praised him for not bringing up  and then bringing up the fact that he didn't bring up  Bill Clinton's sex scandals.

They criticized the debate moderator, Lester Holt of NBC, whom former Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York said "should be ashamed of himself."

"If journalism has ethics, Lester Holt acted unethically," Giuliani said.

But Trump's surrogates couldn't even get on the same page in their defenses of the candidate. Huckabee Sanders said Holt overall did a good job moderating with the "weight of the world on his shoulders." Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, told Business Insider she thought Holt did a "fine job."

At another moment in the spin room, Huckabee Sanders was grilled by several reporters over Trump's frequent interruptions of Clinton. She argued that Clinton had also interrupted Trump several times and complained of a double standard.

But Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican Trump supporter from New York, told Business Insider he thought it was actually strange that Clinton didn't interrupt Trump.

"It was like, I don't know, maybe she overprepared," Collins said.

Perhaps Trump's problem was one of overconfidence. He entered the debate with momentum  perhaps his best shot at winning the race. He was tied or leading in national polls, and he had broken the lock on an Electoral College disadvantage, pulling close in states he needs to get to 270 votes. Pennsylvania. Colorado. New Hampshire.

But Trump has a much narrower path to victory than Clinton. And that's where a rough sequence, and a rough overall debate, can be fatal to a campaign.

"She doesn't have to win all the battleground states to win the presidency," Plouffe said. "He does. He has to run the table. Which means, tonight was the most important night of the whole campaign, really. And he didn't take advantage of it."

Allan Smith contributed reporting.

NOW WATCH: INSTANT POLL/FOCUS GROUPS: Clinton won the debate by a wide margin





More From Business Insider


An Ohio mother whose mug shot went viral after she allegedly attacked a McDonald's employee for being too slow is now headed to jail on unrelated charges.

Mary Jordan was accused, along with two other mothers, of assaulting an employee at a Bellevue franchise of the fast food chain in June.

Read: Woman Arrested After Allegedly Stealing 3 of Cop's French Fries

Despite the charges, Jordan wore a beaming smile as she posed for a mugshot. She was on probation when she was arrested on assault and child endangerment charges.

She was sentenced on August 26 to seven months in prison for violating terms of her probation in the 2014 case, according to the News-Messenger.

Both she and Ashley England still face child endangerment and assault charges in the June 8 incident.

A third woman, 31-year-old Sammie Whaley, pleaded no contest to assault charges on June 9 and was found guilty, fined $100 and placed on probation.

Read: Uncle Pleads Guilty in Case of 9-Year-Old Boy Beaten Death Over Piece of Birthday Cake

Bellevue Police alleged that Jordan, England and Whaley waited for the unidentified McDonald's employee to finish her shift at the restaurant and then attacked her.

The police statement says the women assaulted the employee "in the parking lot because she was working too slowly when dealing with three woman and their family and friends."

The child endangerment charges were filed because Jordan and England's children were present during the assault, Bellevue police said.

Watch: Woman With Down Syndrome Retires From McDonald's After 32 Years: 'She Liked Making French Fries'

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[Photo: Pexels]

We can probably guess that youre well aware of an equality issue in the UK when it comes to gender and pay.

And just to confirm what we already (miserably) know, a report published by the LSE has found that there are very few women amongst the UK and other OECD countries top earners.

While there is a higher proportion of women among the wealthiest 10% and 1% than there was in the 90s, things havent improved very much as a whole - and it turns out that the higher the income bracket, the less women there are in it.

[Photo: Pexels]



So if were talking about the top 0.1%, things have barely changed in the past twenty years.

In the UK, women make up 28% of the top 10% earners (a salary of 40,400 and above) and make up 18% of the UKs top 1% (119,000 and above).

But they only make up 9% of the top 0.1% - those earning 456,000 and above.

Compared to other countries looked at in the report, the UK didnt perform very well at all. Among Australia, Norway, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Italy and Canada, the UK had the lowest proportion of women in the top 0.1%.

Spain did best, with 16.6% in this bracket being women.

[Photo: Pexels]



Overall, the report found a similar situation in all these countries; men make up the majority of high-income groups, and this balance gets worse the higher the income bracket.

Co-author of the report Alessandra Casarico told Stylist:

Women now make up more of the top income groups, but they are a distinct minority.

Professor John Hills, co-director of the LSE institute publishing the paper, also said:

Right at the top it is still a male world. Women have managed to increase their representation in the top 10% because of their success in the professions and business, but few of them are among the very wealthiest.

What do you think about this study? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.

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A hundred prominent women from 38 countries have directed a petition to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to fulfill his promise to achieve a permanent peace to end the Korean War.

In a letter made public on Tuesday, a diverse group of scholars, journalists, activists and writers pressed him to use his remaining time as UN chief to "initiate a peace process, together with the UN Security Council president, to replace the 1953 armistice agreement with a binding peace treaty to end the Korean War."

Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, is set to step down in January.

The signatories urged him to "conclude this peace process by 2018, the 70th anniversary of Korea's division into two separate states" and "ensure that women are significantly represented in the peace process."

"On both sides of the DMZ (demilitarized zone separating the two sides), the absence of a binding peace accord fuels fear, violations of human rights and economic deprivation caused by diverting resources in preparation for war," the letter says.

Among the sources of tension, the letter lists North Korea's recent nuclear and ballistic missiles tests -- which prompted international sanctions against Pyongyang -- as well as US-South Korean military exercises and plans to deploy a US missile defense system in the South.

That latest move "is viewed by countries in the region as a highly provocative and potentially destabilizing move," the letter says, referring especially to China.

The letter was co-sponsored by Women Cross DMZ -- which organized a peaceful walk across the zone last year -- and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Signatories include the American feminist champion Gloria Steinem, playwright Eve Ensler, UNESCO goodwill ambassador Kim Phuc, former CIA officer Valerie Plame and Nobel Peace laureates Mairead Maguire (Northern Ireland) and Leymah Gbowee (Liberia).

The Korean War (1950-1953) ended with an armistice, not a formal peace treaty, leaving the Korean peninsula technically at war for the past 63 years.

A peace treaty between the Koreas must be signed by the United States and China, which both took part in the conflict.
Hillary Clinton won. In the first and potentially most consequential presidential debate of 2016, the Democratic nominee presented as composed and commanding, ticking through her policy prescriptions while landing a series of devastating blows on Donald Trump's record and readiness. A fidgety Trump meanwhile tried repeatedly to ruffle her with interruptions while riffing his way through his own answers, but struggled on both counts.

Trump arguably had his best moments in the opening section of the debate, which tends to be its most-watched portion. Drawing from his stump speech, he conjured an image of a blighted U.S., outsmarted by its trading partners and abused by its own companies. He promised, with his trademark bluster and imprecision, to get tough on those responsible at home and abroad. "We have to stop our jobs from leaving," he said, dismissing Clinton as a member of the entrenched political class that's presided over an economic hollowing-out.

Yet Clinton moved from the start to stick Trump in his softest spot: his business dealings. In her second answer, she explained their differing approaches to the economy as the product of their "different perspectives." While she was raised in a middle-class family, she said, Trump started out in the real-estate business with $14 million in loans from father. Trump maintains he only received a small fraction of that amount, a key to his narrative about being self-made.

Trump took the bait, the first of several times that he allowed Clinton to provoke him with scripted digs that kept him on the defensive. She weaved into an answer about economic progress under President Obama, for example, a mention that Trump cheered the housing collapse at the time as an opportunity to turn a profit. And Trump chimed in: "That's called business, by the way." He deployed another self-defeating interruption as Clinton listed reasons Trump might be avoiding releasing his tax returns. "Maybe he doesnt want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that hes paid nothing in federal taxes," Clinton said. Trump, apparently confirming the charge, blurted, "That makes me smart."

Story continues

It got worse for Trump as the night wore on. After Clinton reeled off a summary of her plans for criminal justice reform, Trump offered his own version, which boiled down to reviving the stop-and-frisk approach pioneered and since abandoned by the New York City Police Department. Promising to restore law and order, Trump once again painted a dystopic vision of American inner cities as war zones, noting he's seen them in person on recent visits while Clinton "decided to stay home." Clinton interjected, "I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think thats a good thing," prompting a round of applause from the crowd, which had been instructed to stay silent.

Later in the debate, the Republican nominee asserted that he's "developed very, very good relationships over the last little while with the African-American community." Polling doesn't support the claim, with national surveys showing Trump's support among black voters hovering in the single digits. But the Clinton campaign likewise has concerns with the demographic -- that their middling enthusiasm with her candidacy with lead to low turnout, which could tip the balance in key swing states like Florida and North Carolina. Clinton helped her cause on that front in the debate, in part thanks to Trump injuring his own.

Asked about his years-long push for the lie that President Obama was born abroad -- a campaign viewed by African-Americans as a racist attempt to discredit the first black president -- Trump offered no apologies. Instead, he once again tried to blame Clinton's 2008 primary campaign for originating the myth and claimed credit for settling it by finally annoying Obama into releasing his long-form birth certificate in 2011. And when pressed by NBC moderator Lester Holt on what he'd say to black voters about his birther advocacy, Trump replied, "I say nothing. I say nothing, because I was able to get him to produce it. He should have produced it a long time before. I say nothing."

Trump didnt fare much better when the topic turned to women, with whom Clinton also enjoys a disproportionate advantage. Asked to explain what he meant when he remarked recently that Clinton doesnt have a presidential look, Trump insisted he was referring to her stamina, which he called lacking. Its a familiar critique from Trump, who first used it to greater effect against former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the primaries. Ironically, Trump attempted it Monday toward the end of the debate, as he himself appeared increasingly gassed. Clinton quickly turned it back around on him, using it to land a final -- and brutal -- scripted attack: You know, he tried to switch from looks to stamina. But this is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said. "And one of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest. He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them. And he called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Miss Housekeeping, because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado. And she just became a U.S. citizen, and you can bet she is going to vote this November.

Trump didn't have a ready reply, mentioning that he'd directed some of his rougher comments about women toward Rosie O'Donnell, "and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her." Then, the candidate who's styled himself as the consummate tough guy gave himself credit for holding back on something "extremely rough to Hillary" that he could have said but decided against. And he complained that Clinton has "spent hundreds of millions of dollars on negative ads on me, many of which are absolutely untrue. Theyre untrue. And theyre misrepresentations. And I will tell you this, Lester: Its not nice. And I dont deserve that."

It was as if after getting manhandled for the better part of 90 minutes before a nine-figure audience, Trump was asking for a reprieve.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
In a world first, a baby has been born with DNA from three biological parents.

Five-month-old Abrahim Hassans Jordanian parents, Ibtisam Shaban and Mahmoud Hassan, were treated by a U.S. team based in Mexico using a controversial technique that allows parents with rare genetic mutations to have healthy babies, the New Scientist reports.

Shaban carries genes for Leigh syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by the degeneration of the central nervous system; the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. Although she is healthy, Shabans first two children died because of Leigh syndrome, so she sought out the help of the New Hope Fertility Center in New York.

Doctors at the center carried out a spindle nuclear transfer, where they removed the nucleus from one of Shabans eggs and inserted it into a donor egg which had had its nucleus removed. The resulting egg was then fertilized with Hassans sperm. An embryo was then implanted in Shaban  and, nine months later, Abrahim was born.

When Abrahim was tested for Leigh syndrome, they found less than 1% of his mitochondria (tiny structures found in cells) carried the mutation. He will continue to be monitored by doctors to make sure the levels remain as low. Generally it is thought to take around 18% of mitochondria to be affected before problems start, says the New Scientist.
Miami (AFP) - The world's first baby has been born using a controversial new technique by US scientists to include DNA from three parents in the embryo, said a report.

The baby boy was born five months ago in Mexico to Jordanian parents, and is healthy and doing well, said the report in New Scientist magazine, described as an "exclusive."

The boy's mother carried genes for a disorder known as Leigh Syndrome, a fatal nervous system disorder which she had passed on to her two previous children who both died of the disease.

She had also suffered four miscarriages.

The woman, whose identity was withheld by New Scientist, and her husband sought the help of John Zhang, a doctor from the New Hope Fertility Center in New York City to have a baby that would be genetically related to them but would not carry the inherited disease.

The United States has not approved any three-parent method for fertility purposes, so Zhang went to Mexico where he was quoted by New Scientist as saying "there are no rules."

One method that has been approved in the United Kingdom, called pronuclear transfer, was deemed unacceptable to the couple because it would involve the destruction of two embryos, said the report.

Since the mother carried the genes for the disease in her mitochondria, or DNA that is passed down from the maternal side, Zhang used her nuclear DNA and combined it with mitochondria from an egg donor, in a technique known as spindle nuclear transfer.

"He removed the nucleus from one of the mother's eggs and inserted it into a donor egg that had had its own nucleus removed," said the report.

"The resulting egg - with nuclear DNA from the mother and mitochondrial DNA from a donor - was then fertilized with the father's sperm."

- Presentation next month -

Zhang and his team are expected to describe their method at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, next month.

Story continues

An abstract describing the research has been published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, but outside experts said much more remains to be understood about the research.

"As this technology is controversial and a world first, I think the investigators should have submitted a manuscript for full peer review instead of announcing these outcomes in this manner," said Justin St John, professor and Director of the Centre for Genetic Diseases at Monash University.

Attempts began in the 1990s to create a baby by injecting mitochondrial DNA from a donor into the mother's egg, and adding sperm from her partner.

"Some of the babies went on to develop genetic disorders, and the technique was banned," said the New Scientist report.

"The problem may have arisen from the babies having mitochondria from two sources."

Another outside expert, David Clancy, a lecturer at Lancaster University, recalled that experiments in monkeys have shown that maternal mitochondrial DNA can expand from low levels to significantly higher levels, "which would allow disease to again be transmitted, so we must expect the possibility in humans."

For now, Zhang and his team said the boy's mitochondria has been tested and "they found that less than 1 percent carry the mutation," said the report.

"Hopefully, this is too low to cause any problems; generally it is thought to take around 18 per cent of mitochondria to be affected before problems start."

In addition, his being a boy ensures that he could not pass down any inherited mitochondrial DNA.

"While we should remain vigilant about this technique as new information and research accumulates, let us hope this child grows up and has a long healthy life," said Clancy.
On Sep 26, 2016, we issued an updated research report on Italy-based energy firm, Eni SpA E.



Eni's upstream portfolio carries greater political risk than peers as it has the highest exposure to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) countries. Other risks faced by Eni include further disruptions in production and the inability to sell its non-core assets. We believe that any downtrend in the global economy will affect the supply-demand fundamentals of oil and gas, thereby hurting the sales prices for crude oil, natural gas and refined products.



For 20162019, Eni targets hydrocarbon production growth of more than 3% per year. We expect it to be difficult for the company to achieve its goal as it intends to cut upstream capital expenditure during this period by 18%.



According to OPEC, non-OPEC members will likely continue to produce more oil than expected during 2016 and 2017. Moreover, International Energy Agency (IEA) recently reported an anticipated decline in global oil demand for the same period. IEA also expects the oil market to remain oversupplied at least till the first half of 2017. Hence, the persistent weakness in crude prices amid an oversupplied commodity market might hurt the companys upstream operations.

ENI SPA-ADR Price and Consensus

ENI SPA-ADR Price and Consensus | ENI SPA-ADR Quote

We are also concerned about the companys new disposal program worth 7 billion euros. As crude continues to trade below $50, Eni is likely to struggle to sell oilfields at profitable prices. Enis exposure to production in the vulnerable and violence-prone regions in Nigeria poses additional risk.



However, all is not lost for the energy behemoth. Eni has entered into an agreement with the government of Montenegro to explore four offshore blocks in the country for 30 years. The deal reflects Enis intention to significantly strengthen its upstream portfolio. The company has been present in the country as a leading upstream player since the early 1960s. Additionally, we appreciate the companys enhanced production from the Nooros field in Egypt. This is because the company has attained record output in just 13 months after its discovery. `



Moreover, we believe that Enis constant efforts to expand its upstream operations in Cyprus, Egypt, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya will go a long way in generating profitable growth in the future. Moreover, project start-ups, inputs from big projects in Algeria, Iraq, Australia, Russia as well as Egypt, along with its strategic position in non-conventional gas, are expected to augment volumes going forward. For 2016, volumes are expected to remain flat year over year.



Further, Enis strategic plan for 20162019 underscores its plans to invest mainly on high value projects with fast returns. The company also remains focused on the development of conventional projects.



Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider



Eni currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked players from the energy sector are Enbridge Inc. ENB, NGL Energy Partners LP NGL and Total SA TOT. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Enbridge posted a positive earnings surprise of 19.57% in the preceding quarter.



NGL Energy Partners has a mixed earnings surprise history. The partnership posted positive earnings surprise in two of the last four quarters. It reported a positive earnings surprise of 1480.0% in the preceding quarter.



In the last reported quarter, Total SA delivered a positive earnings surprise of 20.00%. Coming to the earnings surprise history, Total beat estimates in all of the last four quarters.



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Washington (AFP) - The suspect in the bombing this month in New York's Chelsea neighborhood appears to have acted on his own, with no connection to an extremist movement, the FBI said Tuesday.

"We see so far no indication of a larger cell or the threat of related attacks," FBI director James Comey testified at a Senate committee hearing.

The suspect in the September 17 bombing that left 31 people wounded, Ahmad Khan Rahami, was arrested in New Jersey two days after the attack.

He was wounded in a shootout with police as they closed in to arrest him. He has remained hospitalized and is unable to appear before a judge, according to the New Jersey prosecutor's office.

US prosecutors, in a 13-page indictment on September 20, slapped him with four charges, including use of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the New York attack, he is charged with a pipe bombing, also on September 17, in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and planting several other bombs.

A naturalized US citizen born in Afghanistan, Rahami, 28, made several trips in recent years to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The terror charges came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it had investigated Rahami for terrorism in 2014 following a complaint from his father, but found no link to radicalization or extremist sympathies.

Comey said the FBI is seeing a slight slowdown in new US terror investigation cases, but some 1,000 probes are currently ongoing.

"I hope that it's going to... head downward but it has not headed downward yet," he told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

By contrast, he said, the number of people leaving the country to join the Islamic State group in Syria or Iraq has fallen sharply.

"Where we used to see eight or 10 people from the United States trying to go to the so-called caliphate, we're now down to one or none a month," he said.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - One firefighter was killed on Tuesday after an explosion ripped through a home in the Bronx borough of New York City, a spokesman for the city's fire department said.

The spokesman said the firefighter was apparently killed by falling debris from the blast. Ten people were injured.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
New York (AFP) - New York unveiled Monday a major public campaign to fight Islamophobia, stressing the equal rights of the city's hundreds of thousands of Muslims.

The campaign -- launched in the wake of a Manhattan bomb attack blamed on a radicalized Afghan-American -- initially will use social media to spread the message under the hashtag #IAmMuslimNYC.

"Now more than ever, it is important for every New Yorker to stand united as one city and reject hate and violence," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement.

"We will not tolerate discrimination or violence of any kind and we will not rest until all New Yorkers, including our Muslim brothers and sisters, are treated with the dignity they deserve."

The campaign begins Tuesday, just 10 days after bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami exploded a device in Chelsea, a fashionable Manhattan neighborhood, injuring 29 people.

Investigators say a handwritten manual recovered after his arrest lauded Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden, and criticized US wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

New York's campaign comes amid growing fears among the country's Muslims of a backlash over jihadist attacks, both in the United States and abroad, in the context of the anti-Muslim rhetoric embraced by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

Among the recent acts violence against Muslims in New York was the August fatal shooting of an imam and his assistant, execution-style, near their mosque in the borough of Queens.

New York is planning workshops beginning next month to give city employees and public and private employers a better understanding of Islam.

A marketing campaign using all media is in the works for around mid-2017 -- when de Blasio's reelection campaign should be in full swing.

Since his first campaign in 2013, the New York mayor has promoted a multiracial and inclusive approach.

Before his election, he promised two school days off for Muslim holidays, on a par with Christian and Jewish holidays. That pledge has been in force since the start of the school year in 2015.
Three teen scuba divers are taken on a journey 45 feet beneath the waves to witness a part of history from over 50 years ago. Orestes, the divemaster, has taught these kids about Cuba's history, including the Bay of Pigs invasion. This was a field that trip involved a tour of Cuba's Bay of Pigs Museum, an unforgettable visit to a sunken gunship from the 5 day battle and exposure to the life of Cubans that few tourists are lucky enough to see. They celebrated New Year with a wonderful Cuban family and were immersed in an incredible culture. No classroom lesson could compare.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  September 27, 2016  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Autos, part 2, including Volkswagen AG (OTCMKTS: VLKAY -Free Report ), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F -Free Report ), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM -Free Report ), Superior Industries International, Inc. (NYSE: SUP -Free Report ) and Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SMP -Free Report ).

Industry: Autos, part 2

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/91478/low-gas-prices-attractive-launches-drive-auto-sector-sales

The auto sector has been benefiting from rising global sales in recent years. So far this year, the key U.S., China and Europe auto markets have reported strong sales volumes, driven by high incentives and attractive vehicle launches. Moreover, low fuel prices are boosting sales of higher margin vehicle segments, such as SUVs and light trucks.

However, massive recalls due to defective Takata airbag inflators and the Volkswagen AG (OTCMKTS: VLKAY -Free Report ) emission scandal are hurting the auto sector. Moreover, sales growth in Europe is expected to be slower this year, while sales in the U.S. are likely to hit a plateau.

Still, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic on the broader auto industry for both the short and long term. Below, we discuss some of the key factors that should continue to drive the sectors performance level in the near to medium term.



OPPORTUNITIES

Rising Sales in China

Many automakers, including the likes of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F -Free Report ) and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM -Free Report ) , have been banking on strong sales growth in China to drive earnings over the next few years. Naturally, when auto sales in China started falling in mid-2015, concerns were raised. Thankfully, the situation reversed from September.

Consequently, auto sales increased 4.7% year over year to a record 24,597,600 units in 2015. Sales of passenger cars increased 7.3% to 21.1 million units, crossing 20 million for the first time. However, sales of commercial vehicles declined 9% year over year.

Story continues

This year, both passenger cars and commercial vehicles have been recording strong sales in China. Sales of passenger cars increased 11.1% year on year to 12.65 million units in the first seven months of 2016, while sales of commercial vehicles increased 2.4% to 2.04 million units. Consequently, total automobile sales surged 9.4% year over year to 14.68 million.

Strong Sales in the U.S.

U.S. light-vehicle sales inched up 0.5% in the first eight months of 2016. Although the percentage of increase was low, sales volumes remained strong. Moreover, the rise is commendable given that sales hit an all-time record in 2015. Results were driven by low fuel prices, easy availability of credit, attractive incentives and economic stability. Product segments like trucks and utility vehicles continued to record strong sales.

Most analysts expect U.S. auto sales to improve further in 2016, driven by rising employment and personal income as well as low fuel prices. Moreover, the high average age of cars on U.S. roads should continue to boost replacement demand for cars as well as car parts. The average age is currently 11.5 years which is expected to rise 3% by 2020, according to forecasts by IHS Automotive. This will benefit replacement parts manufacturers and retailers, apart from new vehicle manufacturers and retailers.

Sustained Recovery in European Union

New passenger car registrations in the European Union increased 8.1% to 9.8 million units in the first eight months of 2016 as per the European Automobile Manufacturers Association . All major markets posted strong growth during the period. Rising consumer confidence, good incentives, strong replacement demand and new product launches are giving a boost to sales.

Following six years of decline, sales of passenger cars in the European Union turned around with a 5.7% year-over-year increase in 2014. The recovery continued in 2015 with a 9.3% year-over-year increase in passenger car registrations. Sales are expected to improve further this year.

Low Gas Prices

Gasoline prices remain significantly low, thus benefiting automakers significantly. As fuel becomes affordable, sales of gasoline-powered vehicles  especially the larger ones that carry a wider profit margin  get a boost.

Although sales of hybrids and electronic vehicles are suffering from this trend, the sales volume of such vehicles is significantly lower than gasoline-powered vehicles. Hence, the positive impact of low gas prices outweighs the negatives for the auto sector.

Attractive Vehicle Launches

Rising sales and intense competition are encouraging automakers to come up with new and attractive, technologically advanced vehicles to gain market share. Most automakers are also revamping their popular vehicles by adding new technologies and enhancing their visual appeal to revive sales.

These companies are also offering attractive optional features in vehicles to scoop up more profits. These features provide scope for surplus revenue generation from small cars, which have lower profit margins than large trucks.

Focus on Vehicle Safety Beneficial for Parts Makers

Increasing focus on the safety of vehicles is benefiting parts manufacturers, specifically those dealing with automotive safety products. For example, last year, 10 major automakers agreed to offer automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems as a standard feature in all their vehicles in the U.S. Apart from ensuring better road safety, this move will also benefit auto parts manufacturers that produce AEB systems.

Bottom Line

The auto industry has many favorable factors to drive growth. According to IHS Automotive, global auto sales are expected to rise 2.7% to nearly 89.8 million units in 2016. This presents a good buying opportunity for investors with a longer-term horizon. Some auto sector companies worth considering are Superior Industries International, Inc. (NYSE: SUP -Free Report ) and Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SMP -Free Report ) , all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here .

Check out our latest Auto Industry Outlook here for more on the current state of affairs in this market from an earnings perspective, and how the trend is looking for this important sector of the economy now.

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The following timeline charts the origin and spread of the Zika virus from its discovery nearly 70 years ago: 1947: Scientists researching yellow fever in Uganda's Zika Forest identify the virus in a rhesus monkey 1948: Virus recovered from Aedes africanus mosquito in Zika Forest 1952: First human cases detected in Uganda and Tanzania 1960s-80s: Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa 1960s80s: Zika found in equatorial Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan 2007: Zika spreads from Africa and Asia, first large outbreak on Pacific island of Yap 2012: Researchers identify two distinct lineages of the virus, African and Asian 201314: Zika outbreaks in French Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. Retrospective analysis shows possible link to birth defects and severe neurological complications in babies in French Polynesia March 2, 2015: Brazil reports illness characterized by skin rash in northeastern states July 17: Brazil reports detection of neurological disorders in newborns associated with history of infection Oct. 22: Colombia confirms cases of Zika Oct. 30: Brazil reports increase in microcephaly, abnormally small heads, among newborns Nov. 11: Brazil declares public health emergency November 2015-January 2016: Cases reported in Suriname, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela, French Guiana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Ecuador, Barbados, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Curacao, Jamaica Feb. 1: World Health Organization (WHO) declares public health emergency of international concern Feb. 2: First case of Zika transmission in United States; local health officials say likely contracted through sex, not mosquito bite Feb. 5: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virus being actively transmitted in 30 countries, mostly in the Americas Feb. 8: U.S. President Barack Obama requests $1.9 billion to fight Zika Feb. 18: CDC adds Aruba and Bonaire to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 32 Feb. 23: CDC adds Trinidad and Tobago and Marshall Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 34 Feb. 25: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases number more than 580 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers, with an additional 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly Feb. 27: France detects first sexually transmitted case of Zika March 8: WHO advises pregnant women to avoid areas with Zika outbreak and said sexual transmission of the virus is "relatively common" March 19: CDC adds Cuba to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 38 March 22: CDC adds Dominica to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 39 March 31: The World Health Organization says there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis, though conclusive proof may take months or years April 1: CDC adds Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 40 April 4: CDC adds Fiji to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 41 April 13: The CDC concludes that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. CDC adds St. Lucia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 42 April 18: CDC adds Belize to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 43 April 25: Canada confirms first sexually transmitted Zika case April 29: Puerto Rico reports first death related to Zika, according to the CDC. The island territory also confirms 683 Zika cases, including 65 pregnant women, and five suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome from Zika May 4: Panama confirms four microcephaly cases tied to Zika May 6: Spain has first case of Zika-related brain defect in a fetus May 9: CDC adds Papua New Guinea, Saint Barthelemy and Peru to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 46 May 12: CDC adds Grenada to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 47 May 13: Puerto Rico reports first case of Zika-related microcephaly May 20: WHO says an outbreak of Zika virus on the African island chain of Cape Verde is of the same strain as the one blamed for birth abnormalities in Brazil May 26: CDC adds Argentina to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 48 June 9: WHO updates guidelines on prevention of sexual transmission of the Zika virus, including advising women living in areas where the virus is being transmitted to delay getting pregnant June 14: El Salvador confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika June 30: CDC adds Anguilla to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 49 July 8: CDC confirms a Utah resident's death from the previous month is the first Zika-related death in the continental United States July 14: CDC adds Saint Eustatius to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 50 July 15: New York City's health department reports the first female-to-male transmission of the Zika virus. July 18: CDC reports the caregiver of Utah man who died of Zika tested positive for virus, raising questions about its spread July 19: Florida health officials investigate a case of Zika virus infection that may have been caused by local mosquito bite July 22: New York City health officials reports first baby born with Zika-related birth defect July 25: Spain reports first case in Europe of baby born with Zika-related defect; CDC issues updated recommendations for preventing and testing for Zika infection, warning that the virus can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected female partner July 26: Honduras detects 8 cases of babies with Zika-related defect; CDC adds Saba to countries and territories with active outbreaks with total at 51 July 27: Paraguay reports first cases of microcephaly linked to Zika July 29: Florida authorities report what is believed to be the first evidence of local Zika transmission in the continental United States Aug. 2: CDC adds Antigua, Barbuda, and Turks and Caicos to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 54 Aug. 3: U.S. researchers said they launched Zika vaccine clinical trial Aug. 11: CDC adds Cayman Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 55 Aug. 12: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares a public health emergency in Puerto Rico over Zika with 10,690 laboratory-confirmed cases Aug. 13: Brazil reports 1,835 confirmed cases of microcephaly Aug. 16: Haiti reports first case of microcephaly linked to Zika Aug. 17: Guatemala confirms first case of newborn with microcephaly linked to Zika Aug. 19: Florida governor says five cases of Zika are believed to have been contracted in Miami Beach, the second area in Miami-Dade county where the virus is spreading. Aug. 25: CDC adds The Bahamas and the United States to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 57 Aug. 26: FDA recommends that all blood donated in the United States and its territories be tested for Zika virus, starting with 11 states in the first phase; Nicaragua confirms first microcephaly birth linked to Zika Aug. 27-29: Singapore confirms first case of locally transmitted Zika virus, which rise to 56 cases two days later Aug. 30: Confirmed cases in Singapore rise to 82, with some of the latest infections detected beyond the area of initial outbreak. Several countries advise pregnant women or those trying to conceive to avoid traveling to the city-state. Australia, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States issue travel warnings Aug. 31: CDC adds Singapore and the British Virgin Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing tally to 58 (The CDC groups together Antigua and Barbuda in its updated official count) Sept. 3: Malaysia detects first case of locally transmitted Zika Sept. 5: Philippines confirms first case of Zika virus likely to have been transmitted locally Sept. 6: Florida confirms 56 locally transmitted cases, 577 travel-related infections, and 80 infections involving pregnant women Sept. 8: Singapore reports 283 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus Sept. 10: Singapore locally transmitted Zika cases rise to 329 Sept. 13: Thailand said it has recorded 200 cases of Zika since January, the first time the health ministry has confirmed the number of cases this year. Sept. 16: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports 20,800 confirmed cases of Zika virus in U.S. states and Territories. The department says there are 3,176 confirmed cases in U.S. states and District of Columbia. As of Sept. 8, the department said there were more than 1,880 pregnant women with evidence of Zika virus in U.S. states, District of Columbia and U.S. territories Sept. 19: Florida's governor declares Wynwood neighborhood in Miami Zika-free but the CDC leaves travel warning for Miami Beach Sept. 26: CDC adds St. Kitts and Nevis to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing tally to 59 SOURCES: World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reuters (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Compiled and edited by the Americas Desk)
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton slammed each other for more than 90 fitful minutes Monday night, with Trump angrily interrupting the Democratic nominee and talking over both her and moderator Lester Holt.

In their first, and much-anticipated, presidential debate, they clashed over items big and small, including ISIS, Trumps refusal to turn over his federal tax returns, Clinton's emails, Iraq, jobs and whether or not Clinton had the "stamina" to be president.

Read: Countdown Is On for Highly Anticipated Trump-Clinton Debate: 'The Super Bowl of Politics'

It played to a television audience estimated to be as high as 112 million, placing the slugfest in Super Bowl viewing territory.

Meanwhile, the internet lit up with memes and posts about why Trump appeared to be sniffling so much at the podium.

Mostly, the two exchanged a series of zingers, with Clinton often gazing at him with a mixture of disdain and bemusement.

I think my biggest asset is my temperament, Trump said with a straight face. Clinton, he claimed is totally out of control.

When Donald Trump says he has a "winning temperament." #debatenight pic.twitter.com/ElQ7aG2vxu  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

He also blamed Clinton, as secretary of state, and President Barack Obama, for causing the birth of ISIS by prematurely withdrawing troops from Iraq.

George W. Bush made the agreement of when American troops would leave Iraq, not Barack Obama, Clinton shot back.

Both candidates had come out smiling, but things quickly rolled into fighting land when the Republican interjected in a Clinton jab on climate change.

Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese," Clinton said. I think its real."

Story continues

Trump interrupted: "I did not say that. I did not say that.

She appeared to bait him continuously, and he bit every time.

In so many words, she called Trump a sexist and a misogynist, saying one of the worst things he had done was calling a Latina pageant contestant Miss Piggy and Miss Housekeeping.

Donald, she told him, she has a name.

"Where did you find this? Trump jumped in. "Where did you find this? Where did you find this?"

"Her name is Alicia Machado. And she became a U.S. citizen. And you can bet she's going to vote this November," Clinton said as Trump shouted over her.

The woman Trump called Miss Piggy has a name: Alicia. #debatenight pic.twitter.com/XlthzE8X8j  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

She also fired off several other pointed rejoinders.

When Trump carried on about various trade agreements, including NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Clinton criticized his grasp of the real world.

"Donald, I know you live in your own reality."

After a long series of accusations by Trump, the former Democratic U.S. senator from New York jokingly responded, "I have a feeling by the end of this evening I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened."

Trump interruped, "Why not?"

"Why not? Yeah, why not?" Clinton retorted. "Just join the debate by saying more crazy things."

Read: On Your Mark: Cuban Gets Front Row Seat at First Clinton-Trump Debate

Trump also erroneously took credit for getting President Obama to release a copy of his birth certificate to appease so-called "Birthers," who said the Democratic candidate had actually been born in Kenya.

Obama released the document in 2011. Trump later derided the certificate, suggesting it was fake, until he finally acknowledged earlier this month that Obama was an American citizen and had been born in this country.

In response to questions about his tax returns, Trump said he would release them when Clinton turned over "33,000 emails she deleted." Moderator and NBC newsman Lester Holt tried several times to interject as the Republican went over his time allotment, or uttered statements that weren't accurate, but Trump spoke over him.

Asked about his recent statement that Clinton didn't have the "look" of a president, Trump said he was really referring to her "stamina." He also slammed her for not making more public appearances in the days leading up to their face-off.

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did," Clinton said. "And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

The vitriolic debate also unleased a firehose of criticism, jokes, instant hashtags and frivolity on social media. Much of it was directed at Trump's ever-present sniffles and his frequent sips of water.

LESTER: How will you bring jobs back?



TRUMP: Well *loud sniff* companies are leaving *loud sniff*



LESTER: But how?



TRUMP: *loud sniff*  Ian Sams (@IanSams) September 27, 2016

Watch: Paula Jones: I Want a Front Seat at the Debate to Make Hillary Clinton 'Nervous'

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Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 was the most impressive smartphone the world had ever seen when it was first released over the summer. The phone featured a sleek design, a stunning display and more power than we had ever seen before in an Android smartphone. When we reviewed the Galaxy Note 7 back in mid-August, we called it the best phablet the world had ever seen, hands down, iPhones included.

Then, phones began to explode.

BGR was among the first to cover news that a Note 7 handset had combusted while a user was charging the phone, and at the time, some people dismissed the incident as a fluke. When reports of similar explosions began popping up, however, Samsung had no choice but to issue a global recall. Now, in an update, Samsung has reported that the recall is progressing but there are still hundreds of thousands of potentially explosive Galaxy Note 7 handsets in the hands of users.

DON'T MISS: 7 ways Apples iPhone 7 is much better than any Samsung phone

In an update published on Tuesday, Samsung shared some key notes about the progress it's making in the global Galaxy Note 7 recall that was issued earlier this month on September 2nd.

Just over three weeks ago, Samsung committed to a global replacement program for the Galaxy Note7. Last week, that program began for the majority of markets and the progress is encouraging said Samsung's mobile boss DJ Koh. Our focus now is to make sure that all affected devices are replaced as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In its update, Samsung shared the following three data points:

Around 90 percent of Galaxy Note7 users have been choosing a new Galaxy Note7 since products became widely available.

More than 60 percent of all recalled Galaxy Note7 phones sold in the U.S. and Korea have been exchanged through the program.

In Singapore, more than 80 percent of customers have participated in the exchange program, which started on September 17.

Those numbers indeed show impressive progress in the three weeks since the Note 7 was formally recalled, but they also highlight a potentially serious problem: Either people aren't moving fast enough, or Samsung isn't doing a good enough job of informing users of the recall.

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For example, Samsung said that 60% of the recalled Galaxy Note 7 handsets sold in the US and South Korea have been returned or exchanged so far. Considering 1 million Galaxy Note 7 phones were sold in the US alone, that means there are still hundreds of thousands of recalled Galaxy Note 7 devices being used by consumers.

Exploding Note 7 phones have destroyed cars and even burned down one family's house, so it's of the utmost importance that you return your recalled Note 7 if it's still in your possession. You'll find everything you need to know about how to trade in your Galaxy Note 7 for an update model or a refund in this post.

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Liberty Media mogul John Malone will receive lifetime achievement honors next month at the Television Academys 68th Engineering Emmy Awards.

Malone, the architect of industry pioneer Tele-Communications Inc. and now an investor in Charter Communications and Lionsgate, will be hailed for his immeasurable contributions to the advancement of cable television. The kudos will be handed out Oct. 26 at Loews Hollywood Hotel. Kirsten Vangsness, a co-star of CBS Criminal Minds, will host.

Here is a complete list of honorees:

The Philo T. Farnsworth Corporate Achievement Award

Honors an agency, company or institution whose contributions over time have substantially impacted television technology and engineering.

Recipient: NHKs Science & Technology Research Laboratories (NHK STRL)

NHKs Science & Technology Research Laboratories (NHK STRL) will be honored for their distinguished and groundbreaking contributions to the broadcast industry. NHKs decades of pioneering innovations have transformed the technical capabilities of broadcasters both in Japan and worldwide.

Engineering Emmys

SyncOnSet

SyncOnSet is the first software application for production design departments that permits immediate, collaborative access of data that supports the budgeting, continuity tracking, inventory management and wrapping of production assets. The tool employs a specialized algorithm that automates most of the script breakdown providing a universal breakdown for the departments of costumes, hair, makeup, props, set decorations, and locations, saving many hours of manual labor. Replacing traditional paper binders, this highly secure, cloud-based application permits authorized users to upload continuity photos from any browser or Android/iOS smart device in real-time to be shared with other authorized viewers. These features have resulted in the rapid adoption of the product for most of televisions scripted programming.

Ncam Technologies

Ncams unique approach to camera tracking technology allows for the real-time integration of live action and computer-generated elements. The positional tracking system utilizes a pair of high-speed witness cameras to create a 3D image of the environment, along with a number of mechanical sensors. The system works with any kind of camera, including Steadicam, cranes and dollies. This allows productions to convincingly integrate augmented reality graphics into their broadcast shows.

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Sony 2/3 4K Imaging System

The worlds first 2/3 4K three-sensor system incorporated in the Sony HDC-4300 Series Camera supports traditional lens parameters essential to the production of remote sporting events and in-studio dramatic and variety programming. This revolutionary camera produces exceptional HD & 4K pictures and allows multiple frame rates, including ultra-high rates for superior super slow-motion playbacks. It incorporates multi-format, multi-speed and multi-resolution images in HDR (high-dynamic range) and WCG (wide color gamut).

Saunders Electric

Saunders Mobile UPS Power Station is setting a new standard in providing critical technical power for major television broadcasts while providing an innovatively green approach to reducing carbon emissions. If a land power outage is detected, the fully automated system seamlessly transfers the power loads to the Autostart generator. When land-line power returns, the system automatically switches back to land-line power and shuts down the generator without interruption of power and without excessive burning of diesel fuel.

Zaxcom Inc.

Zaxcom, widely considered the industry leader in digital wireless technology, has significantly contributed to the advancement of television broadcasting. Its innovative products include the first digital wireless transmission system for microphones and a production tool that married wireless transmission with a recording device located within the actors body pack. Zaxcom will be honored for innovations in digital wireless technology.

Group It For Me!

Group It For Me! is a cloud-based software that analyzes a sync map of thousands of hours of reality series footage and quickly returns accurate grouped clips that can be viewed on Avid, significantly improving a highly labor-intensive process. Producers and editors may then view all the cameras simultaneously and make informed creative decisions. The software has quickly become a preferred organizational solution for many reality shows, both nationally and globally.

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Google is getting ready to take the wraps off its newest flagship phones, featuring new hardware, a different take on software and  potentially  an entirely new name. While past Google phones have carried the Nexus label, Google is expected to switch the name to Pixel for two new phones that will replace the Nexus 6P and 5X as the hardware that shows off what the Android operating system can do.





Last year's Nexus flagships

Last year's Nexus flagships

Here's a round-up of what we've heard about Google's phone plans in advance of their expected October unveiling.

* The new phones will be called the Pixel and Pixel XL.

* They'll make their debut at an Oct. 4 press event, where Google's expected to show off other hardware, too.

* Google will offer 5- and 5.5-inch versions of the phone, which will run Android Nougat and support the company's Daydream VR platform.

* The phones will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor.



Goodbye, Nexus; Hello, Pixel

In September, Android Police broke the news that Google planned to drop the Nexus name from its lineup of smartphones. Instead, it's expected that the next flagship phones to come out of Google will be named the Pixel and Pixel XL.

MORE: Here Are the 10 Best Smartphones Available

It's unclear why Google is opting for this name change, though it might bring some naming consistency to Google's lineup of mobile devices. Last year, Google introduced the Pixel C convertible tablet during the same event where the Nexus 6P and 5X made their debuts. So putting tablets and smartphones under one brand name might make more sense from a marketing perspective.

Mark Your Calendars for October 4



We can speculate on what Google might call its new phones, but it's very clear when they'll arrive. Google has announced an October 4 press event, and it's almost certain that the Pixel phones  if that turns out to be their name  will be center stage.

The phones are unlikely to be the only hardware Google unveils at the event. Earlier this year, Google unveiled plans for a virtual reality platform called Daydream. It's a dead-certainty that the new Pixel phones are going to meet the hardware standards Google spelled out for its VR platform, and it seems likely that Google will show off the VR headset its developing as part of the Daydream project. Google is working on an Amazon Echo-like speaker called the Google Home, and we could get a glimpse of that device, too. And, if Google follows the format from its 2015 Nexus phone unveilings, it could show off updates to its Chromecast streaming device as well as more Pixel tablets.

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MORE: What to Expect at Google's Oct. 4 Event



Whatever Google has planned besides the Pixel phones, we'll be at the Oct. 4 event in San Francisco which starts at noon ET/9 a.m. PT.

Here's What the Pixel Phone Looks Like



Credit: VentureBeat

Credit: VentureBeatVentureBeat

offered up our first good look at the Pixel phone's new appearance with a leaked photo of what's likely to be the new device. The hardware itself looks like pretty standard stuff for a smartphone, but the photo shows off circular launcher icons and a Google icon in the upper left corner of the phone. Android Police has more on the new look for the icons as well as that Pixel Launcher.

What About the Specs

Details about the Pixel phones leaked out earlier this year when the devices were code-named Sailfish (the 5-inch phone) and Marlin (the 5.5-inch model). It's widely believed HTC will build the phones; that device maker handled the first Nexus One phone as well as the Nexus 9 tablet. Last year's Nexus 5X and 6P were produced by LG and Huawei, respectively.

As noted above, both phones are almost certain to comply with the standards of Google's Daydream VR platform, since the entire point of Google creating phones is to showcase the capabilities of its software. That likely means Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 will power both Pixel phones. The CPU has already shown up in fall flagships like Xiaomi's Mi 5s and Asus's ZenFone 3 Deluxe.

Much of what we've heard about the new Pixel phones based on Android Police reports on the both the smaller Sailfish phone and the 5.5-inch Marlin device have been confirmed by Carphone Warehouse, a UK retailer that prematurely posted a Pixel phone specs page. In addition to confirming the presence of the SnapDragon 821 inside the new devices, the Carphone Warehouse post indicated the smaller Pixel will have a 1920 x 1080 AMOLED display while the 5.5-inch Pixel XL will feature 2560 x 1440 resolution. Both phones will start at 32GB of storage and feature 4GB of RAM. They'll have a 12-megapixel camera on the back, with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.55-micron pixels; an 8-MP shooter will be on the front of the Pixel and Pixel XL. Besides different screen sizes, the new phones will have different sized batteries  a 2,770-mAh battery will power the Pixel while the Pixel XL will offer a 3,450 mAh power pack.

Credit: Carphone Warehouse via Android Central

Credit: Carphone Warehouse via Android Central

If those are the Pixel's specs, that 5-inch phone will be an upgrade from the Nexus 5X in many areas, even if its screen is smaller than the 5X's 5.2-inch display. The Nexus 5X runs on a 1.8-GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 2GB of RAM. The rear camera on the Nexus 5X is also 12-MP, but an 8-MP front camera would improve upon the 5-MP sensor on the current phone. The Pixel's resolution should be the same as the Nexus 5X, while its battery is only a slight uptick from the 2,700-mAh pack powering Google's current phone. Of course, with the Nexus 5X lasting 11 hours, 30 minutes on our battery tests, that shouldn't really be an area of concern.

The Pixel XL's rumored specs have a lot in common with the 5.7-inch Nexus 6P. While HTC is shrinking the screen by 0.2 inches, the resolution will be the same, as will the camera specs. The Nexus 6P featured 3GB of RAM, so this new phone would ship with more memory. You could also buy a 64GB version of the 6P; the Pixel XL is expected to feature 32GB and 128GB versions. Most tellingly, the 3,450 mAh battery in Marlin would be the same that powered the Nexus 6P, though that's not a bad thing. The 6P lasted 12 hours, 25 minutes on our battery test, making it one of the longer-lasting phones we've seen. We're hopeful that the Pixel XL can continue that tradition.

These phones are likely to cost you, if reports about pricing are true. Pricing is expected to start at $649, though it's unclear if that's for the smaller Pixel, as Android Police reports, or for the Pixel XL. If the former, that would match the pricing on Apple's iPhone 7.

Other Changes



When you get a Nexus phone these days, you're pretty much on your own for transferring contacts, adjusting preferences and otherwise setting up the device. A report from Android Police says that will change with the 2016 models, as Google is reportedly developing a support app that can put you in touch with customer service. The app will include screen-sharing capabilities so that customer support can better see what issue is causing you problems.

As described by Android Police, the feature sounds an awful lot like the Mayday feature Amazon includes with its tablets and TV set-top boxes. And that would be a welcome addition that potentially opens up the Nexus phone beyond hardcore Android enthusiasts to casual users who might be put off by having to turn to online support documents for answers.

See also : Best Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Cases
By Tom Arnold DUBAI (Reuters) - Ride-hailing service Careem is targeting profitability next year or in 2018 and is in talks with potential investors about its latest fundraising plans, co-founder Mudassir Sheikha told Reuters on Tuesday. The company, which has a larger market share than rival Uber [UBER.UL] in most of the 32 cities in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan region in which it operates, aims to expand in new markets including Oman and a number of North African countries, managing director Mudassir Sheikha said. Launched in Dubai in 2012 by Sheikha and fellow McKinsey & Co alumni Magnus Olsson, Careem has a fleet of 90,000-plus drivers and more than four million users registered through its mobile app but has yet to make a profit. "This type of business requires a fair amount of investment to break even," Sheikha said. "We are looking at next year or the year after for profitability." Though dwarfed by Uber, Careem raised $60 million last November through an investment led by private equity company Abraaj Group and expects to surpass that with its next fundraising round, Sheikha said. "Given the growth of the business and projections for future growth we do not see fundraising as an issue," he added, though he gave no indication on timing for the next fundraising. The company counts Saudi Arabia's Al Tayyar Travel Group as its largest investor and has also received backing from STC Ventures, an independently managed venture capital fund that has the Saudi Telecom Company as anchor investor. Cairo, Karachi and Riyadh are among Careem's largest markets, with demand particularly strong among women in the latter because Saudi Arabia bars women from driving. Careem faces stiff competition, however. Uber, which launched services in Abu Dhabi in 2013, said last year that the Middle East and North Africa contained some of its fastest-growing markets and that it planned to invest $250 million to expand in the region. Careem and Uber suspended services in Abu Dhabi on Aug. 27 after many of their drivers were stopped by authorities over violations of regulations, sources told Reuters at the time. Sheikha said Careem's suspension was because the company needed to obtain clarification over the type of license its drivers required to operate on Abu Dhabi's roads. Services resumed after a "handful of days", he said. (Editing by David Goodman)
Following months of anticipation, Elon Musk is finally going to explain how he and SpaceX plan to colonize Mars on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 PM ET.

Musk has been discussing his ambitious mission to Mars for years, but during a talk at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico today, he is expected to finally begin laying out specifics.

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There's still a great deal we don't know about the plan, and that will likely remain true even after Musk's hour-long talk in Mexico on Tuesday, but some of the pieces have started to come together. For example, on Monday, SpaceX successfully fired its Raptor engine for the first time, a major step in the process.

Even more interestingly, Musk renamed developmental project altogether from Mars Colonial Transporter to Interplanetary Transport System after tweeting that "MCT can go well beyond Mars" earlier this month.

Could Musk be expanding his plans beyond Mars? Is the project still on track? Will SpaceX have a man (or multiple people) on Mars by 2025? Only one way to find out; watch below when the stream begins at 2:30 PM ET:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1YxNYiyALg

SpaceX Founder, CEO, and Lead Designer Elon Musk will discuss the long-term technical challenges that need to be solved to support the creation of a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars. The technical presentation will focus on potential architectures for sustaining humans on the Red Planet that industry, government and the scientific community can collaborate on in the years ahead.

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On account of all the media hype surrounding last nights Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, CBS yesterday aired a live taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert so that Colbert could really dive into the circus-like atmosphere that underscored the entirety of yesterdays debate.

Hitting the nail on the head, Colbert opined that the debate lived up to the hype and it didnt take long for Colbert to start delivering a few laugh out loud zingers and ridiculous observations.

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The expectations for the two sides were very different, Colbert began. For Hillary to win, she had to be confident, not smug. Knowledgeable without being a know-it-all. Charming but not offensive. Commanding, but not shrill. Likable, warm, authoritative and not coughing.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump had to not commit murder on camera, Colbert said to laughter from the audience. And that low bar was reflected in Donald Trumps debate prep. Instead of doing a bunch of mock debates, the word is that he sat down with friends over bacon cheeseburgers, hot dogs and glasses of coca-cola and tested out zingers.

Meanwhile, Hillary was so prepared my new nickname for her is Preparation H. Yeah, its a compliment. In the primaries she already proved she could soothe the Bern.

Not too shabby Colbert, not too shabby at all.

Colberts full skewering of all things Presidential can be seen below. If last night is any indication, the roller coaster that is the 2016 U.S. Presidential election wont be ending anytime soon. And in case you missed it, you can check out a recap of the funniest Twitter reactions to last night's debate over here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqMQDiIiHbk

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From Good Housekeeping

Several Verizon customers haven't been getting their end-of-the-month data overage text message alerts - but not for a good reason. Due to a change in policies, customers who are indeed at risk of going over their data, are missing the notifications altogether, according to Consumerist.

Perviously, the texts would come when you hit 50% of your plan, then 75%, then 90% - and there's always an option to easily add data, which costs around $10 to $15. The texts are annoying, sure, but they are also a helpful reminder of how much data you're actually using in a month. About a month or two ago, customers say the text alerts stopped coming, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Photo credit: Heather Finn

One customer received a bill for $838 at the end of the month, $700 of which included overage fees, and when she called Verizon to dispute the charges, they told her they had been sending her text alerts, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. She says she never received any alerts until she got her bill at the end of the month, and it was too late.

Another user, Kelly Otts, told Patch.com, "I just went over my data yesterday and they texted. But I used to get warning texts at 75%, 90% and 99%. This time it was just a 90% warning and then they told me I incurred a $15 fee."

Other customers noticed slight differences in the way their text alerts were coming:

Hey @VZWSupport why does Verizon only alert me when I use 90% of my data? What happened to the 75% data usage text reminder? - Kailynn Ott (@KailynnOtt) September 19, 2016

@VerizonSupport I ask because usually I get a text saying I'm at 100% and that any future data will be charged an overage. - . (@aimes_22) September 25, 2016

Verizon actually changed its notification policy, so that you only receive notifications when you've reached 90% of your monthly allotment, and then again when you hit 100%, a representative told Consumerist. If you want to also get texts when you're at 50% or 75% of your data for the month, you have to request to opt-in to those features.

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Whether you use Verizon or another wireless provider, it's always a good idea to keep tabs on your data usage when you can. You can do this on your iPhone by going to Settings, and selecting Cellular. There, it'll tell you how much you've used over a period of time, as well as break down how much data each app is using.

Photo credit: Cory Steig

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Yeti, the Cooler Company, Was Just Valued at $5 Billion Its built its reputation on keeping everything ice cold, but an unassuming cooler-maker with a cult following may just be the hottest investment around.

Yeti Holdings Inc., the formal name for the cooler company we all know, filed for an IPO this July with little fanfare, but The Wall Street Journal now reports that the tiny Austin-based company is seeking a not-so-tiny valuation of $5 billion, which could come as soon as October.



Surprised? You should be. That figure is 36 times Yetis 2015 earnings. While it still has to convince investors its worth the price tag, theres no question that the company has seen explosive growth in recent years, with sales in 2015 triple those of 2014 at $469 million.



Brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders launched Yeti in 2006 with a simple mission: to build coolers that could not only withstand the test of time but also endure the abuse of a life lived outdoors. They wanted to make the kind of coolers people like them would buy, people who grew up fishing and hunting in the American South.

What started as a niche, but quality, product soon expanded into a mass-market brand for outdoorsmen, tailgaters, and backyard barbecuers everywhere. Not only are there Yeti coolers and ice buckets these days, theres also clothing, hats, and drinkware, the latter of which accounts for the bulk of Yetis sales.

So what sets Yeti apart? In its own words (from the July 1 filing):

We have become a trusted and preferred brand to experts and serious enthusiasts in an expanding range of outdoor activities... Their brand advocacy, combined with our various marketing efforts, has broadened our appeal to a larger consumer population.

Following the lead of companies like GoPro, Yeti sought out influencers and made brand advocates out of them. These so-called Yeti Ambassadors include world-class hunters, anglers, rodeo stars, and adventurers who embody the outdoor spirit. It also built up a loyal base by producing short films, which are distributed through its social channels, and sponsoring key industry events, including sportsman shows, rodeos, barbecue contests, and fishing tournaments.

But does all of this amount to a $5 billion company? And can Yeti scale up and remain innovative without loosing its authenticity? That remains to be seen.

Yetis shares may soon trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the YETI ticker symbol.
Google's official YouTube apps for iOS and Android are always wildly popular, but people who pay attention to app store rankings regularly see third-party YouTube apps come and go on the top free app lists. The official YouTube apps are so well-designed and they pack all the great features Google wants YouTube users to have, so why are Android and iOS users so interested in third-party apps? Simply put, people want the ability to save videos for offline playback, and Google's official YouTube apps don't support this key feature.

With a new app from Google called YouTube Go, Google has finally added this great capability. But there's just one teeny, tiny problem: You can't have it.

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During a press conference in Delhi where the company unveiled several new products for the Indian market, Google took the wraps off of its new app YouTube Go. As you might have surmised, the app is aimed squarely at the mobile market in India, where Google is among a number of companies looking to take advantage of the emerging mobile market in the country.

India is one of many countries where low- and no-income mobile users are constantly on the lookout for tools that will help them get the most of their smartphones while using the least amount of data possible. With that in mind, it's easy to see why Google would roll out its new YouTube Go app with offline video viewing capabilities in India first.

youtube-go

"YouTube Go is a brand new app to help the next generation of users share and enjoy videos," YouTube VP Johanna Wright said. "YouTube Go was designed and built from the ground up with insights from India, in order to bring the power of video to mobile users in a way that is more conscious of their data and connectivity, while still being locally relevant and social."

In addition to offline viewing capabilities, YouTube Go will support other data-friendly features such as video quality controls, previews and even a new sharing feature that will let users transfer videos directly from one phone to another without the need for a cellular data connection.

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Users in India can sign up to test YouTube Go at this link, though Google has not yet announced when the app will be released. Google CEO Sundar Pichai did suggest that the app will eventually make its way to markets outside of India, though he didn't give any sort of timeline.

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Whenever people mention former presidential candidate and Democratic National Convention chairman Howard Deans name, it almost always has to do with two things. The first is Deans infamous Dean scream, which the White House hopeful uttered following a third place finish at the 2004 Iowa Caucus. The second actually, I lied. All political pundits, media personalities and voters recall about Dean these days is his damning shout for joy, unless of course they were monitoring Mondays first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Thats when, per the modern wonder that is Twitter, Dean re-entered the mainstream.

How, you ask? By contributing to the social media platforms endless barrage of jokes regarding Trumps incessant sniffling:

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?  Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

Thats right. Dean, an adult human person whos currently 67 years of age, tweeted out a joke about Trump possibly being a coke user. And just in case you assumed time had made Dean rethink his silly tweet, MSNBCs Kate Snow quickly found out otherwise when she confronted him on Tuesday.

This is reminding me a lot, sir, of Rudy Giuliani a few weeks ago, said Snow, raising not similar, but different questions about the medical history of your candidate, Hillary Clinton. To which your campaign responded, This is inappropriate. That we shouldnt be raising questions about Hillary Clintons health with absolutely no substance or proof. You dont see the parallel?

Instead of answering Snows charge, Dean sidestepped the question and offered a final defense of the tweet  which remains undeleted: I raised a question last night. I dont make diagnoses on the television  But I dont think this is a ridiculous idea. Something funny was going on with Trump last night.

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Neither Trump nor his campaign have officially responded to Deans tweet and his defense of it. However, fellow medical practitioner Dr. Oz may have something to say about it:

FOX
UPDATE: The Miami Police department has completed its investigation regarding the death of Real Housewives of Miami star Herman Echevarria, citing the cause of death as natural. _____________________________________________________

Real Housewives of Miami star Herman Echevarria was found dead in a Florida hotel room on Monday morning, ET can confirm.

The Miami Police Department tells ET that that they received a call at 11:32am from the Epic Hotel and Residence in Miami. "Upon arrival officers discovered that former Real Housewives of Miami Herman Echevarria Sr. was found deceased in his residence," the MPD tells ET.

EXCLUSIVE: Camille Grammer on Returning to 'Real Housewives' Full-Time

Police officials believe Echevarria was living at the complex and added that they do not suspect foul play, with the case still under investigation.

Echevarria's ex-wife Alexia Echevarria expressed her heartache at the news on Instagram.

"The Echevarria family is heartbroken over the sudden passing of our patriarch Herman Echevarria this morning," she wrote. "He was a family man, a hardworking businessman, dedicated to helping others and a pillar of his community that was loved by everyone, who's life he touched."

The Echevarria family is heartbroken over the sudden passing of our patriarch Herman Echevarria this morning. He was a family man, a hardworking businessman, dedicated to helping others and a pillar of his community that was loved by everyone whos life he touched. We ask that you Please respect our privacy during this time of grieving. - Alexia Echevarria A photo posted by Alexia Echevarria (@alexiae_says) on Sep 26, 2016 at 11:39am PDT

NEWS: Watch 'Real Housewives of New York' Star Luann de Lesseps Confront Fiance About Cheating

The couple separated in 2015.

(Originally published Monday, September 26, 2016, at 5:15pm PT)

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By

Over the past year life in Qatar required 4am starts for work, it was a time zone thing, me on one side of the world, headquarters on the other. While the children got ready for school I sat with the door closed in my office, headset on, praying that no-one needed to find their PE shirt at the wrong time. If a fight broke out outside my door Id come out snapping my fingers like Frank Sinatra on speed. The accompanying death stare (acquired through mothering), you may recognise it yourself? Its the be quiet Im on the phone but I cant scream out be quiet Im on the phone, so Im just going to sit here and manically click my fingers at you. Between that and the amount of goodbye kisses that were done while wearing a set of headphones and mouthing Im on the phone  well, its been a crazy year. A year where I havent really been myself. Unrecognisable from one friend, what was that about? said another.

I was unsociable at the very least.

I didnt lunch, I didnt coffee, I avoided Thursday night drinks because, unlike the Middle East, Friday in Australia is a work day. And of course cancer came into play. While undergoing chemo I didnt want to pick up any bugs or germs, and being bald and sweaty held me back from dress ups and parties. I know it sounds completely miserable, but it wasnt. I learnt a lot last year, and Im all the better for it. But I am so glad its over.

Its time to get back out there.

I dont mean for work. I have a new role starting in January, but I need to put myself back out there socially. I need to do what we expats do best. Expats need other expats to survive, they cant hide away. Our networks are what keep us connected. Whether its school, sport, or the office we need each other for support. Its corny I know, but the expat village is vital  trust me, Ive been sick, I know how much it helps.

This month Ive handed myself the challenge to say yes to everything. Ive made myself move back into an organising role. Ill get the tickets for Oktoberfest, Ill make the calls. Ill go to the drinks function on my own. Ill walk in and make sure I meet at least five new people while desperately trying to hide my nerves and self consciousness. And at the end of the day when I really cant be bothered going to the thing I said I would  I will. Bravado will be my friend (and possibly gin, maybe some champagne).

Tomorrow Im heading to Abu Dhabi  Im going on my own to get a passport renewed for a child. And Im giving myself a kick up the butt along the way. Ive booked a table at a cafe and Ive arranged to meet some people Ive been talking to online for years, and some others that I barely know. The thing is as nervous as I am, I know theyll be feeling the same way. Theyll be a couple of women there who are brand new to Abu Dhabi who are in the same boat as me, quietly terrified, but equally as determined. Expat women, my tribe.

Thats what we do. Thats what makes us expats.

(btw, if youre in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, come and say hi)

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QUANTICO, Virginia -- The days of having to field-strip MREs to consolidate and lighten the combat load could be numbered for Marine grunts.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, the commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, told an audience of industry professionals here Monday that he wanted to pursue a tailor-made meal, ready-to-eat suited to the needs of Marine infantrymen -- one of an array of options aimed at making Marines lighter and more ready to fight.

Speaking at SYSCOM's first Equipping the Infantry challenge, Shrader said troops were forced to spend extra time and energy reducing weight after receiving their expeditionary rations. In a future fighting environment where troops may be spread across a battlefield and living out of their packs for extended periods, he said, these things matter.

"What I'm told the infantrymen do now is, they get the MREs and the first thing they do is they field-strip them. They open the bags, and they take out what they want, and they chuck the rest of the crap, because it's all weight," Shrader said. "We want to get at that, what they haven't chucked. Is there a special infantry MRE out there that lends itself to being easy to carry, and lance corporals, [privates first class] don't have to field strip that trash."

Currently, MREs--shelf-stable, self-contained meals that can last for years at room temperature--are formulated and tested at the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center in Massachusetts and manufactured with the same menus and styles for all military services and specialties.

Could this system create a special, grunts-only combat ration with less weight and more essentials?

"I don't think the system is designed that way right now, but I think we ought to open the aperture," Shrader told Military.com in an interview. "Talking chow, I don't think it's set up to where we need it."

Sgt. Robert Traver, a machine gun instructor at The Basic School aboard Quantico, told Military.com he is well familiar with the ritual of field-stripping MREs. When deployed, he said, he first removes the rectangular cardboard packaging and any materials that add unnecessary ounces: napkins, condiments, and sometimes even the water activated heater. Then, he said, he stores the snacks and packaged entrees together for easy access in his pack.

But a redesigned MRE for infantrymen probably still won't have what Traver really wants in the field.

"Mom's kitchen," he said.
South Korea's anti-corruption chief said Tuesday the latest anti-graft law set to kick off this week aims to protect government employees from irregularities rather than to punish them, adding the new policy will make the country more transparent.

The Kim Young-ran anti-graft law, which will officially go into effect Wednesday, aims to bring more transparency to workers in certain sectors who should maintain higher ethical standards than ordinary citizens.

Under the policy move, people working for the government, media outlets and schools are all banned from receiving meals priced higher than 30,000 won (US$27), gifts exceeding 50,000 won, and congratulatory and condolence money over 100,000 won.

"The law does not aim to bust and punish people but rather to help government employees to easily refuse accepting unlawful requests or gifts," said Sung Yung-hoon, who heads the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission.

"People should think that the law is not a regulation but a protective measure," Sung added.

The official also said previous anticorruption policies were not compulsory, adding the new law will be the first step in making South Korea a more transparent society.

Advocates of the policy have emphasized that transparency can improve the country's overall competitiveness in the global arena.

Concerning the rising voice from the parliament to revise the law, Sung added now is the time to focus on successfully making changes to South Korea.

"Although the law may seem vague, it is believed that people can easily find out which actions are violations if they listen closely to their conscience," Sung pointed out. (Yonhap)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
The late spring frosts of 2016 claimed one-third of the red grapes the Sterling family had hoped to harvest in its joint five-acre vineyard in rural Viroqua.

Lowell Butch and Bonnie Sterling grow one-and-one-quarter acres of grapes and their daughter, Lois Sterling, and her husband, Tony Schreier, grow three-and-a-half acres of grapes.

They grow a multitude of varieties, including edelweiss, foch, St. Pepin, La Crosse, frontenac, millot and petite pearl.

The whites did OK in the frost, Bonnie Sterling said. The spring frost took one-third of the reds. I would call it a fair-to-middling crop. They were not vintage. There was a lot of water in August and it was tough picking between the rain drops. We prefer a dry August.

The Sterlings finished picking grapes on Saturday, Sept. 10. Theyre currently cleaning their vineyard and preparing for next season. The grape vines came through healthy and needed an unusual fourth pruning during the growing season due to extra growth.

Ryan Prellwitz of Ripon, the vice president of the Wisconsin Wineries Association, said the spring frost and late rains figured heavily into most vineyard production in the state this year.

Were still dealing with losses from the spring frost and all the rain recently has made the grapes more difficult to get out of the vineyards, Prellwitz said. I would say the east side of the state is better off. If youre dealing with five inches of rain in a short period of time, like they had in Viroqua, theres not much good you can do with that kind of rain.

Prellwitz said grape growers were often in a catch-22. A farmer with a grape variety like petite pearl, that is designed to withstand spring frost, had to eventually deal with the downside of petite pearl, which is not able to sustain a lot of rain.

Prellwitz said Wisconsins grape crop is not designed for high-volume wine production, but rather for craft wine production.

I have St. Pepin grapes that Im harvesting and Marquette and petite pearl that Im looking at harvesting around the end of September, Prellwitz said.

Experience comes into play heavily when you decide its time to harvest. It can make a lot of difference, or you could make a mistake and learn from it.

The Sterlings vineyard was started 15 years ago as part of the Vernon County Grape Growing Project  a way to find an alternatively-profitable crop to tobacco. The Sterlings have had 11 years of harvesting cash-crops and only one of those years was a bust.

Thats not a bad percentage when it comes to farming, Bonnie Sterling said. Eleven years of picking and only one bad year? A lot of farmers of other crops would like to have that average.

The Sterlings dont prune their vines after the harvest. Theyll wait until March 2017. Until then theyll clean the vineyard, put on one more application of fertilizer and then one more application of burn down.

Each vineyard is different on a microscale, Bonnie Sterling said. What weve learned is nobody knows better than the owner of the vineyard how to farm their land. This years harvest is showing that each vineyard was different. That reinforces the things weve learned over the last 15 years.

The whites did OK in the frost. The spring frost took one-third of the reds. I would call it a fair-to-middling crop. They were not vintage. There was a lot of water in August and it was tough picking between the rain drops. We prefer a dry August. Bonnie Sterling, grape grower
If you had pneumonia, youd take an antibiotic. Right?

If you had a broken wrist, youd get a cast or have surgery. Right?

If you had crushing chest pain that took your breath away, youd call 911. Right?

So I ask you why is it that if you have depression that is ruining your life, you dont take action?

Studies show that one out of 20 people have depression at one time or another. And its awful.

Yet according to new research we are vastly under-treating it. Not only are patients not seeking help, clinicians arent taking action either.

The US Preventative Services Task Force recommended in January that health professionals screen for depression regularly with a simple nine question form. (Google PHQ9 and you can take the questionnaire yourself.) Do doctors do this? Well Some of us do, some of the time.

But, frankly, if youre coming in with three things to discuss with me  how much time do I have to look at the questionnaire?

Heres where the electronic medical record would be most helpful. If you could take the PHQ9 by yourself and have the results on the chart when you came in to talk to your doctor then that might result in a meaningful conversation about therapy. At least it would be a start.

But there is one more fly in the ointment here. A recent study showed that even with the results of the questionnaire showing depression many clinicians are not taking action. They are not offering patients therapy. So why is this?

The study doesnt answer that but I have my thoughts. Too much stuff to do at the visit. The average patient might call with one question but when theyre there they have three questions. (We docs call it the but one more thing.)

Its part of the patient visit to try to get everything wrapped up but that also means theres no time to discuss the depression issue unless you  the patient  brings it up.

This is one reason that its so important for you to bring in a list of things you want to discuss with your clinician when youre at that visit. It helps you formulate what you want in a timely way so that you get the care you want and we stay on time. In the hurly burly world of medicine you dont have an hour with your doc  you have much less time. But as with so many things in life you can make the most of it by planning in advance.

My spin: Youre in the drivers seat here. Take the PHQ9 yourself and armed with that go see your doctor and discuss it. There are very effective treatments with medication, talk therapy or both that can put you on the right track. Depression is a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. It can ruin your quality of life and it just plain stinks.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (TNS)  Did he call her secretary as a sign of respect or condescension? What about the interruptions? And the matter of her looks or lack of stamina? And then there was Miss Piggy.

Questions about gender ran throughout Monday nights general election presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the first ever between a man and a woman.

Almost every move could be scrutinized through that lens  Trump interrupting Clinton 46 times to her five, by McClatchys count; how he refocused moderator Lester Holts question of Trumps claim that Clinton didnt look presidential; Trumps hinting that hed planned to use former President Bill Clintons sexual misconduct against her before thinking better of it.

Trump campaign officials dismissed talk that gender was a factor, noting that Trump often aggressively interrupted and insulted male opponents during the Republican primaries.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Trump adviser, insisted that Clinton had interrupted Trump as many times as he did her Monday  despite the count showing otherwise.

I think that was fair and warranted, she said of Trumps interruptions. Thats not a problem for women at all. I think women care less about debate tactics than the economy, national security. They want to know, Are my kids going to have a job? Are they going to be safe? Thats what women care about.

What to call her

Trump made not a single mention of Crooked Hillary, the nickname hes wielded to describe her on the campaign trail.

I thought he was in part a little hands-off, said Annelise Orleck, author of Rethinking American Womens Activism. I wondered if he had watched her debate against Rick Lazio. Maybe thats why he was so restrained.

Before mansplaining ever became a term, there was the 2000 Senate debate in New York between Clinton and then-Rep. Lazio, R-N.Y. The Long Island congressman stepped away from his lectern during the debate, walked directly over to Clintons and repeatedly urged her to sign a pledge to reject soft-money campaign contributions. It proved a tactical error that many viewed as overly aggressive and sexist.

Lazio himself offered Trump a piece of advice ahead of the debate: Stay at the podium.

Still, others saw signs of sexism, including early in the debate when Trump asked Clinton how she felt about him referring to her as Secretary Clinton, an acknowledgment of her tenure as President Barack Obamas first secretary of state.

Yes, is that OK? Trump asked Clinton. Good. I want you to be very happy. Its very important to me.

Charles Bierbauer, a former political and foreign correspondent for CNN, called Trumps question a wince-inducing moment.

That was condescending, no question about that, Bierbauer said. Neither one wants the other to be happy.

In the end, Trump referred to Clinton as secretary 22 times during the course of the evening, but stopped toward debates end, when he called her Hillary eight times.

Clinton referred to Trump by his first name throughout the debate rather than Mr. Trump. Jennifer Palmieri, Clintons communications director, noted that he likes people who work for him to call him Mr. Trump, but she doesnt work for him.

Who has the stamina?

Clinton looked as if she had Trump when Holt asked him to elaborate on his remarks earlier this month that Clinton didnt look presidential. Apparently sensing trouble, Trump declined to talk about Clintons appearance, veering instead to a question of stamina.

She doesnt have the look. She doesnt have the stamina, Trump said. I said she doesnt have the stamina. And I dont believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., a Clinton supporter, said Trump tried to change the critique because he realized he would box himself in by repeating that Clinton doesnt look presidential.

He didnt want to acknowledge that there really isnt a good reason to say that, other than the obvious issue that shes the first one that would be a woman, McCaskill said. He pivoted to stamina, but that didnt save him. I think he was already down the rabbit hole and he had a hard time getting back out.

Miss Piggy

Clinton quickly pivoted, too, reminding the Hofstra University audience and TV viewers of what hes called women before. She admonished him for his comment about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, recalling that he called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Ms. Housekeeping, because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name.

Clinton told Trump that the Venezuelan-born beauty queen recently became a U.S. citizen and you can bet  shes going to vote this November.

Shortly after the debate, Clintons campaign released a video featuring Machado discussing her treatment by Trump, along with a transcript of the debate exchange.

Trump appeared to catch himself following Clintons Machado salvo. He said he could have been extremely rough to Hillary, to her family, and I said to myself, I just cant do it. Its inappropriate. Its not nice.

Afterward, Trump seemed to suggest to Fox News Sean Hannity that he could have raised Bill Clintons marital infidelities against her, something he did during the Republican primaries.

I didnt want to say, her husband was in the room along with their daughter, who I think is a very nice young lady, I didnt say what I wanted to say about whats been going on in their life, he told Hannity So I decided not to say it. I thought it would be very disrespectful to Chelsea and maybe to the family, but she said very bad things about me. Worse than what she said, shes taken these phony ads, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on phony ads, and I think its a disgrace that shes allowed to do it.

Trump said Tuesday that Clinton had not gotten under his skin until the very last question about Machado.

She was the worst we ever had. The worst, the absolute worst, Trump said on Fox & Friends. She was impossible, and she was a Miss Universe contestant and ultimately a winner who they had a tremendously difficult time with as Miss Universe.

He said Machado had been the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.

He accused Clinton of going back into the years and finding this girl.

Clinton, he said, talked about her like she was Mother Teresa, and it wasnt quite that way, but thats OK. Hillary has to do what she has to do.
Western Wisconsin's corn crop is facing a variety of problems this fall: It all depends on the location.

To the north of La Crosse, farmers in Trempealeau County are dealing with blight in their fields, which could affect quality and yield. To the south, in such areas as Crawford County that have been hit with frequent and heavy rains in recent weeks, up to a fifth of farmers' fields have at least some damage from flooding or storms.

"There is some severe damage in farms and fields in the lowlands," Crawford County Extension Ag Agent Vance Haugen said. "For farmers like that, it is really devastating."

According to the National Weather Service, September has been three times wetter than average, which exacerbated the damage caused by last week's storms which dropped rain at a rate of up to three inches per hour. Many locations in the La Crosse region received between three and seven inches of rain, with some places deluged with nearly a foot of precipitation.

With the soil already wet from previous storms, the NWS said, the additional rainfall resulted in an unusually high number of mudslides as the water ran along the surface instead of soaking into the ground. This caused flooding in every river in the region as well as damage to roads, bridges, fields and buildings.

Water and rocks from the mudslides and flooding tore through fields and pastures, Haugen said, and left fields in the middle of corn silage harvest too wet and muddy for fieldwork. While state and federal agencies are still gathering data on the amount of damage farmers in his county experienced, Haugen said what he has seen points to between 10 and 15 percent of fields suffering severe damage with up to a fifth of all fields suffering some kind of storm damage.

Crops and fences were destroyed in some places, and there was the subtle damage in places where the water rose so high it covered corn ears, which can result in yield loss from reduced quality, sprouted seeds or fungal growth.

"It's tough for a lot of folks," he said.

It will take several sunny, warm days for farm fields to dry out and farmers to get to back to a silage harvest that was only about 20 percent complete.

In Trempealeau County, farmers are facing different struggles. Corn farmers are dealing with the emergence of northern corn leaf blight, Trempealeau County Extension Ag Agent Steve Okonek said, which is a fungal growth. The blight causes rapid maturing and drying of corn and can weaken the stem, causing the plant to lodge, or topple over, resulting in a difficult harvest and reduced yield.

Much of the corn silage crop has already been harvested, Okonek said, and farmers are looking to get started on high-moisture corn as well. But farmers looking to leave the harvest in the fields this fall in the hopes of higher grain prices might not have that extra time if they have blight in their fields.

Despite the rain and wet weather, corn that has matured is in pretty good shape, Okonek said, and even a frosty night or two won't be able to hurt farmers much. Yields should be average this year to above average, except for fields hit by the blight, which could see a significant drop.

"With low grain prices it is tempting for farmers to leave their crop in the field and string the harvest out," Okonek said. "But farmers have to watch their fields for the sign of lodging."
TOWN OF HOLLAND  Almost 100 of La Crosses Lincoln Middle School students spent their morning Tuesday picking seeds, watching birds and bugs and getting surprised by mice and corn snakes.

The students, all seventh-graders in the schools life sciences classes, were participating in the Mississippi Valley Conservancys Acorns to Oaks program, which receives funding from the La Crosse Community Foundations Myrick Hixon Ecopark Fund. During their field experience Tuesday at the New Amsterdam Grasslands, students collected seeds that will be used to regenerate the prairie and also studied the sand prairies wildlife, which includes birds and bugs.

This is a particularly good time to work with them, MVC Executive Director Carol Abrahamzon said. We can get them away from their screens, and its important to impress upon them the importance of the outdoors and learn about the habitat they live in.

The grasslands are 300 acres of some of the last of the sand prairies left in the region, Abrahamzon said, and are a unique feature of the Driftless Area. Because of the sandy soil, the prairie provides good drainage and is home to many unique varieties of grasses and flowers that use large root systems to survive in the dry soil.

The Acorns to Oaks program is in its third year of funding with a $41,240 grant from the community foundation. The conservancy also partners with WisCorps on the classroom component of the field trip. The field trip is part of the required field experiences in the seventh-grade science curriculum, teacher Tim Sprain said, which focuses on life sciences and also blends in reading, mathematics and other components.

Students at the middle school will do 20 field experiences as part of their classwork, Sprain said, to help create context for what they are learning in the classroom. It is important to get them out in the natural world, he said, to better appreciate a natural ecosystem they dont get to experience living in the City of La Crosse.

We want them to touch, feel and see what a prairie is, Sprain said. We want them to develop feelings, emotions and beliefs.

Sprains group of students started their morning at the grassland looking for wildlife, such as chickadees, a species that can weather a Wisconsin winter without having to fly south. Kolter Borge, one of the students, said the group spotted a couple of the birds during their exploration of the grassland and thought the calls and sounds they make were pretty interesting.

Both Kolter and his classmate Haley Edwards thought it was cool how tall the prairie plants could grow, as well as the different kinds of flowers that were still blooming into the fall. Sophie Hannum said it was her first time in a prairie.

It is cool how all the plants come together to make a grassland, she said.
Millennials are souring on Hillary Clinton. Again.

Not that they were ever so sweet on her to begin with, at least relative to how they swooned over other Democrats. Both Bernie Sanders in the recent primary campaign, and Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 general elections, received far more love from young voters. But in any case, Clintons already weak millennial support has gotten much weaker in the past month.

Still, theres good reason to believe theyll come around, even if they do so grudgingly.

First, the data. Several new polls suggest young voters  a low-turnout but nonetheless key component of the Democratic coalition  are abandoning Clinton in droves.

Quinnipiac, for example, found last month that Clinton had a big fat 24-point lead over Donald Trump among 18-to-34-year-old voters (48 percent to 24 percent). Now that margin has shriveled to just five percentage points (with Clinton at 31 percent, Trump at 26 percent).

Nationwide Fox News polls of registered voters also found that Clintons lead has narrowed to nine points, from 27 points in late July and early August. And a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times national poll has Clintons August lead not only disappearing but reversing, with Trump now ahead among millennials by six points. There were outliers, but the trend was clear.

Polls in battleground states have likewise shown Clintons lead among millennial voters shrinking. In Michigan, for example, Clintons 24-point August lead among young voters has shriveled to just seven points. Clinton has just 31 percent of the youth vote there, compared with Trumps 24 percent.

In most of these polls, the young supporters ditching Clinton seem to be shifting not to Trump but to third-party candidates, particularly Libertarian Gary Johnson. The Michigan poll has Johnson tied with Trump; the national Quinnipiac poll actually has Johnson slightly ahead of Trump among under-35 voters.

These trends have been met with liberal teeth-gnashing and garment-rending, plus a lot of sanctimonious scolding of Kids These Days. How dare these ungrateful young hooligans turn their backs on the only serious candidate who actually cares about their issues! Are they really too young to remember the horrors that resulted when Ralph Nader played the spoiler in 2000? Quoth one columnist, I know youre young, but grow up!

The Clinton campaign seems to have gone into emergency millennial mollification mode, too.

That means a flurry of college visits, including from progressive heartthrobs such as Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Michelle Obama. The Clinton campaign explicitly advertised these events as an appeal to prodigal young voters.

The surrogate speeches havent always gone according to plan, though. Obamas speech at George Mason University was at one point met with chants of four more years; her stumping apparently got the crowd pumped for the wrong politician.

The Clinton campaign has thus also been desperately seeking coverage in millennial-tailored media. She whipped up an inane essay for Mic titled Hillary Clinton: Heres What Millennials Have Taught Me. And she sat for an awkward, if amusing, interview on Between Two Ferns with actor Zach Galifianakis.

In my view, all the kvetching, cajoling and clowning around in the world are unlikely to move young voters. But you know what might? Numbers.

Several recent polls, anyway, suggest that younger voters are much more likely to see a Clinton presidency as a fait accompli. Per Quinnipiac, 71 percent of voters younger than 35 believe Clinton will win in November; just 49 percent of voters older than 65 believe the same. YouGov also finds that 58 percent of voters under 30 expect a Clinton victory, versus 47 percent of those over 65.

If you believe a Clinton presidency is inevitable, then casting a ballot for a third-party candidate probably doesnt feel like it has much consequence. Its a mere protest vote, a victimless expressive gesture, like angrily tweeting into the void, kneeling during the national anthem or, I dont know, sending unhinged hate mail to unsuspecting columnists.

But a tighter race  one, ironically, made tighter largely because of millennial defections from the Clinton camp  changes the calculus. Its riskier to throw away your vote, either by supporting someone who has no chance of winning or by abstaining from the polls altogether.

See, millennials may not adore Clinton, but they really, really hate Trump. Six in 10 young voters view him strongly unfavorably, and the same share describe him as racist. Dont be surprised if their third-party crushes start to fade as the prospect of President Trump begins to feel all too terrifyingly real.
Recently I was asked to join my peers in the medical community in signing the Health Professionals Declaration on Climate Change, stating our consensus that the health of every American is jeopardized by climate change. Growing scientific evidence confirms the United States is experiencing a variety of health impacts from climate change.

Climate change directly affects air quality in a way that is harmful to my patients health. Ground-level ozone and particulate-matter air pollution, worsened by climate change, trigger asthma attacks and cardiovascular disease and cause premature death. Extreme weather patterns, such as heat and severe storms, which cause droughts, wildfires and flooding, often separate my patients not only from their homes, their jobs and their families, but also from their medicine and their health-care systems.

Its important to acknowledge the threat climate change poses to human health. Those of us in the medical profession are already seeing cases where effects of climate change have either exacerbated or caused medical issues in our patients. An extended allergy season raises health risks, including for many children suffering from asthma, a number of whom are my patients. Heat also worsens a variety of illnesses, such as heart and other lung conditions.
Were believers in free enterprise and the right to start a business, make a product and generate a profit by selling it for more than it costs to produce.

But I wonder if some important elements of American life simply arent suitable for producing a profit. Consider these four:

Education: I started thinking about this question last week after reading an Associated Press report on a decline in enrollment at for-profit colleges, a segment of higher education that had previously been the source of considerable growth.

Consider the prominent example of the University of Phoenix, where enrollment fell by 22 percent this year and by 70 percent since 2010.

And recently one of the largest for-profit companies, ITT Technical Institute, was forced to close 130 of its campuses, leaving its 35,000 students stranded and 8,000 people out of work. The industry as a whole has suffered from similar setbacks.

Various factors have contributed to the decline, but much of it is attributable to federal efforts to abolish unethical practices that are directly related to the profit motive.

New federal regulations prohibit for-profit colleges from paying bonuses to recruiters based on the number of students they enroll, a practice that resulted in over-promising, excessive borrowing and weak graduation rates.

When for-profit colleges can no longer employ the dubious practices that got Wells Fargo in trouble last week, their bottom lines suffer. Maybe education and profit-making were never a very good match to begin with.

Incarceration: In August the Obama administration announced that it will begin phasing out the use of for-profit prisons to house federal inmates. The announcement referenced a report from the Justice Departments independent Inspector General, who documented safety and security problems at for-profit prisons. A deputy attorney general announced that such prisons provide fewer rehabilitation services, such as education and job training, which are, she said, essential to reducing recidivism and improving public safety.

But why would for-profit prisons bother to produce frills like these? The bottom line has no interest in looking beyond a prisoners release date or in concerning itself about societys overall well-being. Unfortunately, putting people in prison is one of our societys inevitable unseemly tasks, but it just doesnt mesh with profit-making.

Healthcare: Its not important whether the right to healthcare is implied in the Constitution or not; nothing in the Constitution prevents us from awarding that right to every citizen, if we wish. And if we did, society, as a whole, would benefit enormously.

But how does profit-making fit into the worthy effort to ensure that all Americans are able to pursue happiness because theyre in reasonable health? It doesnt. When it comes to healthcare, buying and selling are unlike any other element of American commerce. The product is mysterious, and the consumer has much less opportunity and capacity to make rational, cost-effective decisions about his purchases.

And often these decisions are matters of life and death. Why should this be a place where big companies make big profits?

Finally, the United States Postal Service: The USPS doesnt fit readily with the three elements considered above, but it may be the first and best example of a national decision to produce an essential service with no thought for making a profit.

Lets give Benjamin Franklin, the first postmaster general, credit for envisioning a system that allows every citizen, rich and poor, to scribble an address on a piece of paper or package and have it delivered in a few days for a nominal fee  the same fee for everyone  to any other address in the United States.

With no interest in profit-making, this great democratizing system brought us together as a nation and is still at work today. And it serves as a fine reminder that our society has some things that it has to do and some things that it wants to do and that many of these things, by their natures, are not suitable places to make a dollar.
American presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spent Monday night criticizing each other during their first debate.

Trump and Clinton each spoke about their plans to strengthen economic growth and what role the United States should have in the world.

The two disagreed with each other for almost all of the 90-minute long debate. They often spoke up while the other was speaking.

Trump, a businessman, is the presidential candidate of the Republican Party. Clinton, the former Secretary of State, is the Democratic Partys candidate. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and the Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, were not invited to the debate in Hempstead, New York.

The event began with Clinton and Trump shaking hands. But it did not take long for the two candidates to start attacking each other.

Trump questioned many of Clintons answers. He repeated his belief that she is not healthy enough to serve as president.

Ive been all over the place. You decided to stay home and thats OK...

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for -- I prepared to be president.

Trump also said Clintons policies have caused many problems, including the threat from ISIS.

Shes telling us how to fight ISIS. Just go to her website. She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website."

Well, at least I have a plan to fight ISIS.

No, no, you're telling the enemy everything you want to do.

No, were not.

Clinton said Trumps economic plans would help only wealthy people. She said Trump does not want to release his tax records because they could show the businessman is not as rich as he claims he is. That led Trump to raise a question about the private email server she used while serving as Americas top diplomat.

I will release my tax returns against my lawyers wishes when she releases her 33-thousand emails that have been deleted.

And I have no reason to believe that he's ever going to release his tax returns because there's something he's hiding.

Clinton said she had gained experience during her time as secretary of state by traveling to 112 countries, and negotiating peace deals and ceasefires.

Trump said she may have experience, but called it bad experience. He sharply criticized the nuclear deal the United States and other powers reached with Iran to limit that countrys nuclear program.

Clinton said it was an example of effective diplomacy that stopped Iran from building nuclear weapons.

Trump criticized the Obama administrations decision to withdraw nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq. He said at least 10,000 should have stayed there. He said that would have prevented the creation of the Islamic State.

Clinton noted that the Iraqi government failed to offer legal protection to the U.S. forces if they stayed. She said that was one of the reasons the troops did not remain in Iraq.

Mark Cuban, a billionaire businessman who supports Clinton, said he was happy with her debate performance.

She gave depth to her answers. She didnt hesitate. He was a counterpuncher, and like a lot of counterpunchers, when you throw your jab and it misses, you get frustrated and you press...

David Plouffe worked on President Barack Obamas two successful presidential campaigns.

I think he (Trump), as the debate went on, had a hard time retaining focus. I mean, Trump had some moments where its hard to keep track of what he was really talking about...

Former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Trump showed he is better prepared than Clinton to help the American economy.

Shes a total phony. She was a failed secretary of state and what she demonstrated tonight is an incredible ignorance of the economy. How are you going to keep jobs in this country if you tax businesses more? Why would a business want to pay more taxes?

Hans Noel is an assistant professor of government at Georgetown University. He told VOA I think that what we saw was very, very much the Trump that weve been seeing up until now, and the Clinton that weve been seeing up until now. And so probably most voters are going to have the same material that they had before.

Noel said he did not think the first debate would cause many Americans to change their opinion about which candidate to support. He noted that people who watched the debate are likely to believe the candidate they have already decided to support.

Most people have already made up their mind, so when Trump says something and someone challenges him on the facts and he says No, no, Im still right, the people who are inclined to like Trump are going to continue to think that way, he said.

Theyre going to believe that. And the same when Clinton says something and some people challenge her on that or push back and then they're going to say Im going to believe her because they already did.

Cary Covington teaches political science classes at the University of Iowa. He said that Trump was very forceful, very assertive. He said Clinton appeared more calm, and in control.

He told VOA Hillary Clinton demonstrated commands of policy questions. Donald Trump focused in on a small number of issues that he wanted to talk about, [but] wasnt as adept at speaking broadly to the range of topics that were asked about.

Covington said presidents must be prepared for any issues that affect the country. He thought Clinton did a better job during the debate of dealing with many issues.

Trumps goal has to be to overtake Clinton. Thats a much more difficult task. That means persuading people who are either on the sidelines or are leaning towards Clinton to come over to his side, he said.

I dont think he did much to help himself on that goal. But its a more demanding goal than the one that Hillary Clinton faced. Hillary Clinton needed to reassure voters who dont want to vote for Trump that shes acceptable. Shes already got the lead. She was able to give that impression.

The candidates will meet in two more debates, before the presidential election on November 8th. The next debate will be October 9th.

Im Christopher Jones-Cruise.

VOANews.com reported this story from Washington and from Hofstra University in New York. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports into VOA Special English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

ISIS - n. short for the Islamic State militant group

role  n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation (usually + in)

return  n. a report that you send to the government about the money that you have earned and the taxes that you have paid in one year

delete  v. to remove (something, such as words, pictures, or computer files) from a document, recording, computer, etc.

hesitate  v. to be unwilling to do something because of doubt or uncertainty

counterpunch  v. to hit someone quickly after they have hit you or criticized you

frustrate  v. to cause (someone) to feel angry, discouraged or upset because of not being able to do something

focus  n. a subject that is being discussed or studied; the subject on which people's attention is focused (usually singular)

keep track of  expression to follow; to understand; to be aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc.

phony  n. a person who pretends to be someone else or to have feelings or abilities that he or she does not really have; a person who is not sincere

inclined  v. to think or to cause (someone) to think that something is probably true or correct (followed by to + verb)

assertive  adj. confident in behavior or style

adept  adj. very good at doing something that is not easy

topic  n. someone or something that people talk or write about

sideline  n. the space outside the area where a game is played on a field or court (usually plural); often used figuratively
Colombia and the countrys main rebel group have signed a peace deal aimed at ending more than 50 years of conflict in the South American nation.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the top rebel commander, known as Timochenko, met in the port city of Cartagena to sign the peace document.

Leaders from Latin America gathered for the event. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also attended.

Many rebel leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, were among more than 2,500 people witnessing the signing.

A long time in the making

The peace deal between FARC and the government took four years to negotiate. The sides agreed to the deal in June. The negotiations mainly took place in Havana, Cuba after starting in Oslo, Norway in 2012.

The signing, however, is not the final step.

The agreement must be approved in a referendum to be held on October 2. At least 13 percent of registered voters must take part in the referendum for it to be valid.

Public opinion studies show support for approving the agreement.

An end to the longest conflict in the Americas?

The conflict between Colombias government and FARC rebels has been long, complex and deadly. It has been blamed for more than 220,000 deaths and has displaced millions of people over half a century.

Ongoing fighting has hurt the countrys economy and limited foreign investment.

FARC started as a revolutionary movement of poor farmers in the mid-1960s. It was supported by Cuba and the former Soviet Union.

FARC funded its operations mainly through illegal trade in the drug cocaine. Much of those drugs went to the United States and Europe.

Former president Alvaro Uribe has criticized this months peace deal as giving amnesty to drug traffickers.

He said, Colombians have learned over decades of attempted negotiations with other terrorist groups, it is that impunity always becomes the seed of new forms of violence.

But the current president, Juan Manuel Santos, has argued that compromise was needed to get rebels to turn over their weapons.

Help for farmers, security in exchange for disarmament

Supporters of the deal say it calls for the government to work with coca farmers to get land titles. That part of the agreement addresses anger by small farmers about unequal land ownership.

The deal also provides help in the transportation of crops other than coca leaves, which are used to make cocaine.

The peace agreement also requires the government to campaign against violent criminal groups known as BACRIM. Some of these groups were once paramilitary fighters. They also trafficked in cocaine, fought FARC and targeted rights activists.

FARC members can avoid prison if they admit their crimes and make reparations in what is being called a truth-and-reconciliation process.

FARC would become a legal political party and gain representation in congress.

If the agreement is approved by the October referendum, FARCs 7,000 fighters would begin moving to special areas. They would then hand over their weapons to United Nations-supported observers.

FARC has also agreed to cooperate with efforts to remove mines from the country. Colombia is estimated to have the second largest number of mines in the world after Afghanistan.

A U.S. official, who asked not to be named, said the peace deal is more than an agreement to put down weapons.

It really includes a major transformation of Colombia itself. It includes a far-reaching commitment to bring government services, security, police, education, health, roads, economic development to the vast stretches of the interior that have been left out of national life, said the official.

If FARC does disarm, Colombia still will have to deal with armed, violent groups. Under the deal, the government has promised to control the BACRIM.

But, it still has no peace agreement with the smaller rebel group called the National Liberation Army.

Im Mario Ritter.

Reports by VOAs Steve Herman and Jeff Swicord were combined with AP materials to make this report for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

referendum  n. a public vote on a specific issue rather than a representative

title  n. a legal right to land ownership

impunity  n. freedom from punishment

amnesty  n. a decision that a group of people will not be punished or that a group of prisoners will be allowed to go free

valid  adj. approved, according to the law

reconciliation  n. the act of causing people or groups to become friendly again after conflict

transformation  n. a complete or major change in someone's or something's appearance, form, etc.

commitment  n. a promise to do or give something

vast  adj. very great in size, amount, or extent

interior  n. the part of a country that is far from the coast
A New York-based human rights group has called on Pakistani officials to reform the countrys police force.

Human Rights Watch said Pakistans police system dates back to British colonial rule. It said the system is filled with disgruntled and corrupt officers who abuse suspects without facing punishment for their actions.

Human Rights Watch said it documented police abuses in three of Pakistans four provinces. The abuses include torture, arrest and detention of suspects without a court order, extrajudicial killings and other abuse of detainees. The arrests and detentions sometimes resulted in the deaths of suspects, the group reported on Monday.

The report said that police forces in Punjab, Baluchistan and Sindh faced improper pressure from politicians and local community leaders. For years, governments failed to carry out reforms or hold police responsible for abuse, it noted.

Retaliation fear



Human Rights Watch said families of victims are failing to report police abuse because of fear of being threatened or falsely accused in other cases.

Those from  groups [like] refugees, the poor, religious minorities, and the landless  are at particular risk of violent police abuse, said the 102-page report.

The report is based on statements by police officers, victims of police abuses, their families, experts, activists and witnesses to police abuses.

Call for reforms



Human Rights Watch called on Pakistan to improve working conditions and job-related awards for police officers. It said the police force is under-resourced and under-equipped, noting officers are not trained in methods of professional investigation and forensic studies. It said this lack of training leads to officers unlawfully forcing suspects to provide information or admit guilt.

Human rights activists and local media often comment on and criticize suspected police abuses.

Custodial torture remained one of the gravest and most pressing human rights issues in Pakistan," noted the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a report.

Critics say that Pakistani politicians use the police to suppress opponents in an effort to stay in power. They say this has effectively persuaded governments from enacting reforms and punishing abusive police officers.

Im Anne Ball.

Ayaz Gul wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

disgruntled  adj. unhappy and annoyed

province  n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into

gravest  adj. very serious

extrajudicial  adj. done in violation of the law
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is at a point of no return in relations with the United States and will seek closer ties with Russia and China. Speaking to reporters Monday, Duterte said he is not ready to break ties completely with the US. But he said he will open up the other side of the ideological barrier.

Duterte said he will soon travel to Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping on forming closer ties.

The Philippines has recently been at odds with China over competing claims in the South China Sea. In July, an international court ruled in favor of Manila in a case challenging China's historical claims to large areas of the sea.

China has rejected the ruling.

Duterte said he has already spoken with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, whom he plans to meet in Moscow. I would need your help in everything  trade, commerce  and I will open up, he said he told Medvedev.

He announced that both Chinese and Russian companies would be able to lease land in the Philippines for up to 120 years.

U.S. - Philippines relations

The comments come at a time of strained relations between the United States and the Philippines. The two countries have a long history of strong economic and defense ties.

Recently, U.S. officials criticized the Philippine leaders bloody crackdown on illegal drugs. Police and other groups in the Philippines have so far killed more than 3,000 people reportedly involved in the drug trade.

The Americans criticism drew strong condemnation from Duterte. He repeatedly has said he is looking to distance the Philippines from the United States.

Last month, U.S. officials canceled a meeting between Duterte and President Barack Obama, after Duterte called Obama a "son of a whore."

Duterte later expressed regret for the comment. He said he was warning U.S. officials not to speak out about the drug crackdown.

On Monday, Duterte also expressed concerns about a defense treaty signed by the two countries in 1951. He said the agreement does not guarantee that the U.S. would come to Manilas defense if the Philippines was attacked. He said this is because the U.S. president must first get the approval of Congress.

E.U.-Philippines relations

Other countries and the United Nations have also criticized the Philippine governments drug war. The president has reportedly permitted death squads to kill accused drug offenders.

The European parliament recently issued a statement calling on Dutertes government to "put an end to the current wave of extrajudicial executions and killings. It also expressed concern about the high number of people killed during police operations.

Duterte singled out the European Union criticism during a speech last week in Manila. Why would you insult me? he asked.

He also used a vulgar term to refer to the E.U. and displayed an obscene finger sign directed at the organization.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and AFP. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

ideological  adj. based on a particular set of ideas or beliefs

whore  n. an offensive term for someone who engages in sex for money

death squad  n. a group of people given the task of killing others, usually with the indirect approval of government

extrajudicial  adj. justice delivered without legal authority

vulgar  adj. offensive language

obscene  adj. very offensive, insulting
4 A church choir performs in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, during the Meskel Festival Sept. 26, 2016. Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday which they believe is the anniversary of the finding of the true cross of Jesus, more than 1,500 years ago.
Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two U.S.-based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic Society, commissioned an online survey earlier this year. They wanted to know what young people educated in American colleges knew about geography, U.S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

In general, the results were not very good.

The bad news

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them currently attend, or formerly attended, a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent.

The study identifies a few important questions that American students did not know about their own country.

For example, less than 30 percent knew that a treaty requires the United States to protect Japan if it is attacked. Only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U.S. government that can declare war is Congress.

The online survey produced findings that are similar to the findings of other recent studies.

The Internet

Part of the problem, say the organizers of the survey, is the Internet. They say it is becoming harder to get good information about what is happening in the world today.

Susan Goldberg is with the National Geographic Society. She says people never have to see anything that differs from their understanding of the world; many get their news from a newsfeed.

Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about national and international news on Facebook.

Another problem is that classes do not require students to learn about international issues. That is the opinion of Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations.

"The problem is schools do not require that students take these courses to graduate," he said. "There is a fundamental difference between offering a course and requiring it."

If such information is not required, Haass said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. Johnson is the presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party. He did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The good news

The survey results were not all bad. The young people who were questioned demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy.

Even if the young people failed to understand many of the questions, the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Only two percent said that knowledge of foreign or non-U.S. cultures was not important. One percent said knowledge of world events was not important.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find ways to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

Im John Russell.

Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

survey  n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something

commission  v. to order or request (something) to be made or done

newsfeed  n. An electronic transmission of news, as from a broadcaster or an Internet newsgroup

online  adj. connected to a computer or the internet
Tammy Mondrage lost her job because of cutbacks in Americas coal industry.

Mondrage worked as a nurse at a high school in Southwestern Virginia. In June, school board officials cancelled more than 40 positions, including hers, for budgetary reasons.

The budget cuts came because of the loss of the coal industry, she said.

Tammy Mondrage lives in the community of Steinman, Virginia. Steinman was named for the Steinman Brothers, who operated a coal mine in the area about 100 years ago. Over the years, the coal industry has kept unemployment levels down and helped pay for schools and other government services.

But that is changing.

A year ago, Tammy Mondrages husband David lost his job with the Paramont Coal Company. Their son, Zachary, also lost his job at Paramont.

Stronger environmental rules, lower oil prices and demand for cleaner energy led to reduced coal production. The production levels fell 10 percent just in the one year, 2014-2015.

When I was growing up, everybody was a coal miners kid, said Tammy Mondrage. That is what this community was. That is what everybody knew. It was big.

The question of what the future should be for the coal industry is an issue in the United States elections.

The Republican Party has nominated businessman Donald Trump as its candidate for president. Trump has said he would cancel rules designed to reduce rising temperatures in Earths atmosphere. Many of those rules were created during the presidency of Barack Obama.

Trump blames Obama administration policies for the coal industrys problems. And he thinks things will worsen if Hillary Clinton becomes president.

Trump said the coal mines will be gone if she gets elected.

Clinton is the candidate of the Democratic Party. She has said environmental rules are needed to reduce pollution linked to climate change. But she also wants to help retrain coal workers and make sure they do not lose earnings during their retirement years.

I firmly believe that if you spent your life keeping the lights on for our country, we cant leave you in the dark, Clinton said.

Some coal towns are trying to make changes to deal with lost coal industry jobs.

Cleveland is a small town in Virginias coal country. The town had four food stores, banks, a hotel and a train station in the 1950s.

None remain. And all of the towns schools have closed, said Cleveland Mayor David Sutherland.

But Cleveland did not lose its picturesque mountain trails. A river continues to run through the town. Recently, a rental store for rafting and boating opened up near the Town Hall. Sutherland said Cleveland sees a future with tourism.

The nearby town of Haysi has been working to make its buildings nicer looking for tourists. It is replacing old windows and doors and painting the downtown buildings.

Zachary Mondrage, who lost his coal industry job at Paramont Coal Company, is joining the move from coal to tourism. He is studying for a new job in outdoor tourism.

The reason why I decided to get into this is because I have always been an outdoor enthusiast as far as hunting, fishing and just being outdoors and enjoying it, he said. And I thought that would be a great career opportunity to get into.

Im Bruce Alpert.

Nadeem Yaqub reported this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the story 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. Do you know people who lost a job in an industry that has cut back employment in recent years?

____________________________________________________________

Words in this Story

nurse  n. a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people

enthusiast  n. a person who enjoys something very much

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

picturesque  adj. very pretty or charming: like a painted picture

rafting  n. the activity of traveling down a river on a raft

tourism  n. the activity of traveling to a place for fun and enjoyment

downtown  adj. of or related to the center of a city
The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
It took a couple of months of negotiations, but the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services has reduced the countys cost for office space, Lincoln County Commissioner Joe Hewgley said Monday.

The county is responsible for providing office space for the Department of Health and Human Services per a 1985 agreement. On Monday, the commissioners voted to accept a new agreement for the same office space located at the Craft State Office Building at nearly half the previous cost.

Im happy to say after two to three months of negotiation and showing the state two to three different properties, the lady that negotiated on behalf of the Department of Administrative Services was very fair, Hewgley said. We talked to her supervisor and were now getting needed space at not quite half, but close to half of what we were paying before. So that was time well spent.

The previous cost was about $21 a square foot, totaling close to $70,000 a year. The new cost will reduce the annual outlay to about $40,000.

Now we are at $13 a square foot and thats a pretty good savings, Hewgley said.

During the negotiations, Hewgley told the Department of Administrative Services representatives that what they were charging was higher than market value.

They said, well, prove it, Hewgley said. So, I did.

He took them to two similar places, the Federal Building and a private office space. The Federal Building space would have needed some remodeling to fit the needs for DHHS, but the private space was already set up. The cost of both came to about $16 a square foot.

We did some negotiating and they came down a little further, Hewgley said. So, it was good.

The board also:

 Adopted a resolution for an interlocal agreement with the city of North Platte for emergency management services.

 Approved the submission of the Department of Roads annual report to the Board of Public Roads, Classification and Standards, as presented by Carla ODell, county highway superintendent.

 Adopted an interlocal agreement with McPherson County for Child Support Enforcement Services.

 Set the date of Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. to accept bids for patrol vehicles for the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. The office wants to trade in three Dodge Ram pickups for three new 4X4 crew cab pickups.

 Approved a special designated liquor permit submitted by the Golden Spike for a fundraiser on Oct. 21 called Rocktoberfest.

The commissioners next meeting will be at 9 a.m. next Monday.
In a case that alleged mistreatment of Somali Muslim workers, a federal judge in Omaha ruled last week in favor of the JBS Swift meatpacking plant in Grand Island and against the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The suit was filed by the EEOC on behalf of close to 80 JBS employees who were fired on Sept. 19, 2008. They alleged religious discrimination in the suit, which was filed in 2010.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp found no evidence of a discriminatory motive.

The dispute began with requests by Somali Muslim employees for religious accommodation involving breaks for prayers.

Dissatisfied with the progress of those talks, a group of Somali Muslim employees refused to work on Sept. 16, 2008. Two days later, a group of Hispanic employees refused to work.

On Sept. 18, 2008, JBS management told employees that the next group of employees that refused to work would be terminated.

Later that night, JBS terminated about 80 Somali Muslim employees who refused to go back to work. That group included four of the individuals who brought the suit  Shamsho Abshir, Tufah Hassan, Abdiaziz Jama and Shukri Wais. Some of the employees were allowed to return to work when it was found they had not actually walked out the previous night.

The events that triggered the suit occurred during Ramadan in 2008.

On Sept. 12, 2008, JBS management and representatives of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local No. 22 met with representatives of JBS' Somali Muslim employees. Those representatives said Muslim employees desired a mass break at sunset in order to perform their maghrib prayer.

Several accommodations were discussed, including changing meal times to coincide with prayer times.

Ultimately, JBS representative Dennis Sydow told Muslim representatives that JBS could not meet their requests because he believed the requests violated the meal-time requirements of the employees' collective bargaining agreement.

After meeting further on Sept. 15, 2008, JBS executives told the Muslim employees that they could not meet their requests, citing productivity and safety concerns in allowing a large number of employees to leave the line at the same time. They also cited the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement.

That day, a large group of Somali Muslim employees gathered outside the JBS facility to protest the company's refusal to accommodate their prayer requests. They refused to report for work that day and Sept. 16.

On the afternoon of Sept. 16, JBS management, union officials and Somali Muslim representatives met to discuss prayer accommodations. An agreement was reached that for the remainder of Ramadan, the B-shift meal break would be a mass break at 7:45 p.m. The shift would be shortened by 15 minutes to seven and three-quarter hours. As part of the agreement, the employees who failed to report for work on Sept. 15 and 16 would have a letter placed in their files.

JBS sent a notice to union representatives stating that further work stoppages could result in termination. The lawsuit's claimants denied that they ever received notice from union officials.

On Sept. 17, a large group of employees,many of them Hispanic, walked off the job and refused to return to the production floor. B-shift operations were canceled that night due to a lack of employees.

The next day, several hundred Hispanic workers on the A shift walked off the job or refused to begin work to protest the company's decision to provide religious accommodation to the Somalia Muslim employees. In order to get the plant operating and avoid a shutdown, JBS management decided not to implement the agreement for the 7:45 mass break and returned the meal break to its original time.

The company then told employees, through their union leadership, that the next group of employees that refused to work would be terminated.

That night, a group of Somali Muslim employees began to engage in a loud demonstration in the cafeteria to protest JBS' decision to rescind the break-time agreement. Police were called when approximately 70 to 80 Somali Muslim employees remained in the cafeteria at the end of the meal break.

The employees who did not return to work that night were fired.
Absenteeism can have a negative impact on a childs learning experience, local educators say. To combat that, North Platte Public Schools have begun a new program, called Dare to Go 5 Below.

Were challenging students to miss less than five days a year, explained Brandy Buscher, school community liaison for the district.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, missing two or three days a month is considered chronic absence. It can translate into third-graders being unable to master reading, sixth-graders failing classes and, ultimately, Buscher said, teens dropping out of high school.

Buscher said an average of 57 percent of students in the district miss more than five days of school a year. In most of the schools, the rate is more than 50 percent; in some buildings, as many as 75 percent of students are missing more than five days a year.

Buscher said on average, over 20 percent of students miss at least 10 days of school every year.

In some cases, absenteeism can lead to students being removed from their homes.

The current approach isnt working, Buscher said, which is why Dare to Go 5 Below was developed.

Every term schools will compile a list of students who missed no more than one day of school. On the last day of the term, those students names will be placed in a drawing for prizes  which they have to be present to win.

Random drawings will also take place throughout the term. If a student whose name is drawn is absent, another name will be pulled out of the hat.

Buscher said the hope is that kids will want to go to school for a chance to win. She said punishing them for not showing up hasnt had as much of an impact as officials would like, so they hope rewarding them for being in class will turn things around.

We want to show them that its a big deal to us that theyre in school, Buscher said.

The program directly helps the district with its goal to increase student engagement, but it comes at a cost, which is why the district has been recruiting sponsors.

Currently, four of the schools are sponsored. Eisenhower is sponsored by Western Nebraska Bank, McDonald by Adams Bank and Trust, Adams by Great Western Bank and Madison by NebraskaLand National Bank.

All the other schools still need a sponsor, Buscher said.

She hopes more businesses will get on board because attendance can play a huge role in the work force.

If kids are staying home, theres a chance their parents are having to stay home, Buscher said.

She said absenteeism leads to higher dropout rates, which means employees may lack the skills and credentials to compete in the work force.

Superintendent Dr. Ron Hanson said he believes that student attendance is a collaborative effort between the staff, parents and the community.

As we prepare students, educators and parents need to set high expectations that students will be at school every day preparing to be a productive citizen later in life, Hanson said. Students who dont develop the habits associated with good attendance in early years will find it difficult to develop good habits as adults.

For more information about the program, Buscher can be contacted at 308-530-0503.
A man accused of breaking into the home of the brother of the late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz is headed to trial in Greeley County District Court.

Scott L. Davis, 38, of Lennox, South Dakota, is charged with felony theft over $5,000 and criminal mischief in connection with the theft of global positioning system units from a highway construction site. Monday, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Davis also will be charged in connection with a break-in at the Jordan Foltz home, Greeley County Attorney Cindy Bassett said. The prosecutor said she will file felony charges of burglary and theft along with misdemeanor charges of trespassing and criminal mischief against Davis.

Officials said both the theft from the home and the theft from the construction site occurred Sept. 3 near Greeley, a central Nebraska farm community.

The break-in at the Foltz home occurred while the family was in Lincoln for a tribute to Sam Foltz, who was killed in a car crash in Wisconsin in July. Davis is accused of stealing a television and tools from the home and a vehicle there.

The break-in stoked outrage among Husker fans who concluded that the Foltz residence had been targeted by a burglar who likely knew that the owner was out of town for the tribute.

Davis is scheduled to appear in district court on Oct. 17.

Davis also was charged in York County with third-offense driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while his license was revoked. He filed court papers saying he is unemployed and unable to afford a lawyer, so a public defender was appointed to represent him.

A York County sheriffs deputy had arrested Davis on suspicion of driving while intoxicated on Interstate 80. An inventory of the vehicle Davis was driving included a gas container with the name Foltz written on it. A TV belonging to Foltz also was found.

Davis is being held in the York County Jail on $20,000 bail and would have to post $100,000 bail in Greeley County. Davis would need 10 percent of both amounts, or $12,000, to be released.
A Visit Omaha trade show booth that offered the sight, smell and taste of sizzling Omaha Steaks received top honors at a national convention and attracted a record number of visitors.

The booth, which re-created the citys Old Market district, received first place for best trade show booth at the American Society of Association Executives annual meeting and exposition last month in Salt Lake City, said Keith Backsen, Visit Omahas executive director. Visit Omaha, the citys official tourism authority, also is known as the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The annual meeting is an important gathering that attracts many groups in the market for a convention or meeting destination, Backsen said.

Those connections could lead to future ... convention business for Omaha, and thats the real payoff here, he said.

The visitors bureau is always on a quest to attract more convention business, which benefits local businesses and

tax coffers.

Convention attendees last year spent, on average, $837 each in Omaha, according to data from the visitors bureaus economic impact calculator, which takes into account spending on such things as lodging, dining, shopping, meeting space and transportation. And the city received $7.6 million in tax revenue last year from 130 meetings and conventions.

Visit Omaha has built up a reserve account of $1.5 million in dedicated funds to help provide incentives to groups that want to hold their conventions or meetings in Omaha, Backsen said.

We help pay for the venue with the idea that theyre going to spend a lot more.

The money in the fund comes from Douglas Countys lodging tax collected from hotel and motel stays.

To qualify for the funds, a convention must bring in enough people to fill 500 hotel rooms spread over at least two hotels on peak nights. Other criteria the bureau uses to decide whether to provide an incentive include the events potential economic impact and whether it would occur during a slow period.

Last months trade show included 679 exhibitors representing almost every major city in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda; cruise lines; and every major hotel corporation, Backsen said.

For Omaha to stand out against all of these other  and in most cases, larger  destinations is a huge step toward enhancing Omahas image as a convention destination, he said.

More than 800 people representing 350 organizations came through the Visit Omaha booth. Weve been going to it (the executives annual meeting) for at least 10 years, and this was our top traffic booth, Backsen said.

Backsen said the idea to re-create the Old Market district stemmed from the amount of interest the area generates.

When we get convention planners here theyre always surprised by what a great attraction we have here: the Old Market, he said.

The four-sided booth provided four separate visitor stops:

>> The Omaha Steakhouse offered freshly grilled Omaha Steak samples prepared by on-site chefs.

>> The Omaha Emporium showcased hand-crafted soap made by the Benson Soap Co.

>> The Omaha VIP Lounge featured video and photographs of Omahas attractions and meeting spaces.

>> The Omaha Brewery served samples in commemorative Omaha craft beer mugs. Since it was the middle of the day, we served root beer, Backsen said.

Visit Omaha, the citys tourism authority, hopes its winning booth at a trade show in Salt Lake City attracts convention business to Omaha.

Visit Omaha booth

Visit Omaha booth
Ranbir Kapoor's forthcoming Ae Dil Hain Mushkil has created buzz due to his sizzling onscreen chemistry with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan but he declined to comment on speculation that the film is now in trouble as MNS said that they won't allow its release in Maharashtra for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

Asked about this, Ranbir said: "I can speak about my film Ae Dil Hain Mushkil. Other than this I don't know anything about other rumours."

Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which is slated to release next month, will see Fawad in a supporting role while another Pakistani actress Mahira Khan plays the lead role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees.

However after the Uri attack, Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena declared that they want the Pakistani actors to move out of India.

Speaking to media on the set of Dance Plus 2, Ranbir said he is happy with the reactions of the film.

"The film is releasing on Diwali. I hope that this Diwali will be Ae Dil Ki Diwali," he said.

About the dance reality show, he said: "I feel humble when I am reminded of my own family legacy for being attached to this film industry for last 80 years."

"I had a lot of fun in the show. The participants are really talented. I think even as an actor I don't have a talent like them. They are a true heroes," he added.

Ae Dil Hain Mushkil features Ranbir, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Anushka Sharma in lead and Fawad in a pivotal role.
Indian TV audiences were recently treated to a rare sight when Prabhu Deva's parents came on the sets of Star Plus show Dance+ and his father even shook a leg with the choreographer. Though the episode aired on television on 4 September, the video has gone viral now.

Prabhu Deva has been entertaining us with his dance moves for decades now, but very few know that his father is also a choreographer. Mugur Sundar is an acclaimed South Indian choreographer who has directed more than 10,000 dance sequences.

Like most people, even Sundar seemed hesitant to dance with Prabhu Deva. However after dancing on his son's Sapnay song 'Chanda re' he agreed to match steps with him on Gandi baat. It surely was a treat to watch the father-son duo dancing together.

Seeing his parents on the show was an extremely emotional moment for Prabhu Deva and he found it hard to find words to express his happiness.

Brimming with happiness, Deva gushed, "I will never be able to forget this date, this programme and this moment."

The proud father went on to talk about his son's debut shoot. Prabhu had accompanied his dad to the shoot of a Mani Ratnam film. Since they fell short of a dancer, they asked Prabhu if he would be the substitute. The shy Prabhu readily agreed. At the end of the shoot, contrary to his expectations the shot was received by a standing ovation.

Speaking in their mother tongue, Kannada, Prabhu Deva's mother Mahadevamma Sundar signed off by blessing all the contestants of the show.

Watch the video here:
New Delhi: The share buyback programme worth Rs 3,650 crore of Coal India would open next week on 3 October.

The state-owned company informed about the "Letter of Offer" in a BSE filing. SBI Capital Markets is the manager to the buyback offer that closes on 18 October.

The offer would be for buyback of equity shares not exceeding 10,89,55,223 of face value of Rs 10 each at a price of Rs 335 per equity share for cash aggregating up to Rs 3,650 crore on a proportionate basis, from the eligible shareholders by way of a tender offer through the stock exchange mechanism, the filing said.

"The offer size represents approximately 24.95 percent of the aggregate of the fully paid-up share capital and free reserves, as per the audited accounts of the company for the financial year ended March 31, 2016 and is within the statutory limits of 25 per cent of the aggregate of the fully paid up share capital and free reserves...," it said.

The government has approved buyback of shares by PSUs as it feels leveraging surplus cash would be the best option for them rather than going for disinvestment.

Buyback helps a company reduce equity by using idle cash and hence provide better returns to shareholders.

The government aims to collect Rs 56,500 crore through disinvestment in PSUs this fiscal.
New Delhi: Ratings agency ICRA expects 10-12 percent growth for two-wheelers in the current fiscal with significant contribution of sales during festive season.

Citing several reasons for the optimistic outlook on two-wheeler sales, ICRA said pay revisions from implementation of recommendations of 7th Pay Commission and One Rank One Pension will also play a role.

Benefits from a favourable monsoon during the current year and expected healthy kharif output supporting rural cash flows are expected to be key factors leading the growth, the rating agency said in a report.

The domestic two-wheeler industry would grow at a rate of about 10-12 percent in the current fiscal, driven by broad-based growth across segments, it said.

Favourable budgetary allocations towards rural development, increased focus on creation of irrigation infrastructure as well as reasonably healthy rabi output bode well for farm sentiments.

Further, reasonable spell of monsoon rains during the sowing period has driven higher area under coverage of pulses, oilseeds, rice and coarse cereals and is expected to aid in growth in disposable income of farmers if kharif harvest in 2016 is in line with first advanced estimates of record production of most crops.

With the domestic two wheeler industry having reported a growth of 16.5 percent during first five months of FY2017, it is already witnessing early signs of improving rural demand, but a steady growth trend is yet to be established, the report said.

"These apart, two-wheeler demand would also draw support from the benefits from pay revision (implementation of recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission as well as one rank one pension)," it said.

ICRA also expects the increasing penetration of organised finance into tier 2/3 cities as well as rural centres to support domestic demand in the near to medium term as current share of financed vehicles remains moderate.

Additionally the under-developed public transport system, in the backdrop of increasing road network in the past few years has steered personal mobility requirement, supporting the demand for two-wheelers, according to the report.

It, however, said while the early buoyancy in motorcycle domestic sales volumes during FY2017 has been a relief, sustainability of the same, especially in non-urban areas over the next few months would remain critical given the dependence on agricultural income.

Scooters on the other hand are expected to continue to outperform the industry in FY2017, driven by additional capacities coming on-stream, increasing urbanisation, rising women participation in workforce, growing acceptance of scooters in non-urban areas and the current lower penetration of scooters.
Mumbai - Vodafone's $7.2 billion cash injection into its Indian business has turned up the heat just days ahead of an $84 billion airwave auction which could decide who wins and loses in one of the world's fastest-growing telecoms markets.

Spending may fall well short of that huge target.

But, industry insiders and advisers say, the race for premium spectrum will carve up 4G airwaves, and the spending splurge could even decide the size and timing of one of India's largest listings: Vodafone's own Indian IPO.

India's telecoms sector is crowded, cut-throat and often money-losing. Many carriers struggle under multi-billion dollar debt piles left by past auctions, prompting industry bodies to caution that high prices - as the government scrambles to close its budget deficit - could dampen future investment.

But few players will be able to sit out India's biggest auction, potentially more than double the size of all three past auctions. It will be a test of self-discipline, analysts and industry insiders say, but Vodafone's cash boost is a sign of how high stakes will be when the sale begins on Saturday (Oct 1).

The arrival of Reliance Jio, a carrier backed by oil and gas giant Reliance Industries, has shaken up the sector in the past month, as it injects more than $20 billion to offer customers free data, calls and subsidised smartphones.

To battle Jio, analysts and industry players say, nationwide premium 4G services are a must. Both Vodafone, number 2 in India, and third-ranked Idea Cellular have 4G services in just about half of India's 22 telecoms regions.

"For two operators at least, this is the auction to make their data bets clear," said Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of top mobile carrier Bharti Airtel's India and South Asia operations. Vodafone is "basically telling you 'we are making a bet'."

All eyes are on the premium 700 MHz band spectrum, which is being put on block for the first time and accounts for half the estimated value of the auction. But its steep price - of $1.7 billion per megahertz - could deter bidders, industry executives say, and interest could shift to the 1800 MHz band that can also do 4G and is available at less than a quarter of the price.

Airtel and Jio have nationwide offerings. But both are also expected to bid, largely to deal with volumes, raising interest and prices.

Ahead of Vodafone's cash injection, analysts had expected more cautious bidding. But the blind auction rarely undershoots: last year, the government raised a third more than it expected.

"Despite a lot of scepticism, this will be a well participated auction, particularly for the people who do not have a good 4G footprint," said Sandip Das, senior adviser at industry consultant Analysys Mason and a former telecoms executive.

IPO AHEAD?

Vodafone has long been expected to list its Indian unit next year - an exercise in increased brand recognition as well as cash raising in a country with 1 billion phone subscriptions. It is expected to raise $2-$3 billion and could be India's biggest offering.

How the spectrum sale goes, how much is spent and where, could decide the size and timing of Vodafone's market debut, a person with direct knowledge of the listing process said. Part of the $7.2 billion will be used to pay down debt.

"We will take a call after the spectrum auction. Nothing before that. It's too big an event," the person said. "Difficult to say how aggressively Vodafone and Bharti will bid. People are keeping their cards close to their chest."

Vodafone declined to elaborate on the listing. It has been expected to make a decision by the end of this year. "We are on schedule as per our internal timeline. We haven't disclosed the timeline," a spokesman for the Indian unit said.

The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for India's telecoms industry, where many still use basic phones, was only Rs 127 ($1.90) in January-March, according to the regulator.

But Vodafone has crossed 200 million customers, including 107 million in rural areas, bringing it closer to Bharti's more than 257 million subscribers.

The upcoming auction will determine how fast Vodafone can catch up with Bharti and Jio on 4G. The majority of Vodafone's revenue still comes from Europe, but a 22 percent market share in India contributes about 12 percent of sales.

Bharti, Vodafone, Idea and Jio did not comment on their auction strategy.

(Disclosure: Reliance Jio is owned by Reliance Industries, which also owns Network18, the publisher of Firstpost)
Raipur: Two Naxals were killed on Tuesday in a gun-battle with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

"The encounter took place early this morning in the dense forest of Fulbadgi Police Station area while a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation," Sukma Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI.

Composite squad of District Reserve Group (DRG), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and local police had launched the operation in the interiors of Fulbagdi, located around 450 kms away from Raipur, based on specific inputs, he said.

About 8 kms away from the police station, an exchange of fire broke out between both the sides after ultras opened fire on security forces, the SP said, adding, rebels soon managed to flee the spot taking the cover of dense forest.

"During search of the area, bodies of two male Maoists, beside a muzzle loading gun and one 315 bore gun were recovered from the spot," he added.

The identity of the ultras will be ascertained once the patrol party will return to its camp, the SP said.

On Monday, three Naxals, including two hardcore commander rank cadres, were gunned down by security forces at separate places in Bastar division.

With Tuesday's encounter, the number of Maoists having been killed in separate encounters in Bastar this year has reached to 99.
A former bureaucrat and his 25-year-old son committed suicide in their Madhu Vihar residence in New Delhi, ANI reported.

Former bureaucrat BK Bansal, who was arrested in a graft case, commits suicide along with his son in his residence in Madhu Vihar (Delhi).  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Bal Kishan Bansal was Director-General of Corporate Affairs before he was arrested in July by the CBI on charges of corruption. The CBI said it caught him accepting Rs nine lakh in cash from a pharmaceutical company that wanted to buy its way out of an investigation for illegal business practices.

A case was registered under the provisions of the Corruption Act on allegations that Bansal had been dealing with matters related to violations committed by Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Elder Pharmaceuticals. It was alleged that Bansal demanded Rs 20 lakh for sparing it any investigation. According to NDTV, the CBI had searched the house and found Rs 60 lakh in cash, 20 property papers and details of 60 bank accounts.

Bansal's wife Satyabala, 58, and 28-year-old daughter Neha committed suicide in July right after Bansal was sent to CBI custody.

They left suicide notes, saying nobody was responsible for their death.
New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India has been referred to security agencies for vetting before a final decision by the Union Cabinet.

"After examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-depth vetting. A security vetting is necessary for such applications before a final decision is taken," a Home Ministry official said.

The decision on Bugti's application for political asylum in India is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva last week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.

India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy. As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480

asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them. The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.

In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.

India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide refugees.

Bugti is the president and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.

Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan. If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year. The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, an official said.
Lahore/Islamabad: In a fresh anti-India tirade, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that the assault on an Indian army base in Uri that killed 18 soldiers was a "plan devised by India itself".

Maintaining that no proof implicating Pakistan in the Uri attack had surfaced yet, Asif told DawnNews that "it was evident the attack was a plan devised by India itself."

He claimed that India "orchestrated Uri attack to divert the attention of the world from the Kashmir issue".

India has said it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack and demanded that Islamabad refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism directed against this country.

One of the four terrorists involved in the Uri attack has been identified as Hafiz from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Asif also threatened to use nuclear weapons in case of war with India, saying his country has not made atomic device to display in a showcase.

"We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India," the defence minister told private TV channel SAMAA.

He was replying to a question about India's intention to carry out surgical strike in Pakistan.

"We have not made atomic device to display in a showcase. If a such a situation arises we will use it and eliminate India," Asif said the channel.

He said Pakistan Air Force is ready to give a befitting response to India if it violates Pakistan's airspace.

The Pakistani minister claimed that the "entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is".

He claimed India has not received support from anywhere despite launching a diatribe against Pakistan and added that China had, on the other hand, supported Pakistan's viewpoint.

Commenting on a bill moved in the US Congress to label Pakistan as a terrorist state, he said that anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impacts of their voices depend on the policies of these countries.

"Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he said.

Meanwhile, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa has said Pakistan's eastern borders are under close monitoring of the security forces who are ready to respond to any aggression.

He urged people to be vigilant and keep an eye on any suspected movement in the border areas.
Don't be fooled by the official line that India took on Monday that it would stand by the infamous Indus Waters Treaty. If you read between lines, the very announcement that India would ignore Pakistans objections to three hydro-electric projects on Indus tributaries and go ahead with them in itself constitutes nothing short of a major water offensive by India.

The announcement, which came at the end of a meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called to review the treaty, was designed to deliver a jolt to Pakistan. It did.

"India set to wage war against Pakistan," screamed a headline in Tuesdays edition of The Nation, a Pakistani newspaper.

Shireen Mazari, former journalist and leader of Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf party, went to the extent of saying that Indias "suspension of the treaty" was the first step towards declaring (a real) war against Pakistan. Speaking in Pakistans National Assembly on Monday, she demanded an immediate response to India from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Indeed, what India says it intends to do now does not amount to abrogating the treaty but suspending it.

And dont miss Indias announcement not to participate in the meetings of the Indus Water Commission. What India is telling Pakistan, in other words, is that it no longer respects the provisions of the treaty which demand that all matters related to projects on the sprawling Indus basin must be discussed at this forum once a year.

In the past, India did indeed suspend the Indus Commission talks. But this time, what adds a ring of menace to it is that it is accompanied by a threat to ignore Pakistans objections to Indias projects and proceed with them.

In any case, Pakistan has all along been accusing India of not strictly abiding by the treaty. The new measures that India announced only mean that India will not effectively abide by the treaty from now, though it says it will. So where does all this leave the treaty? In a limbo.

If the governments talk on Monday wasnt just empty rhetoricthere is no reason at least yet to believe it isit will take about two years to harm Pakistans agricultural interests. If the government is serious about all this, it amounts to the first big threat Modi is making to the terror exporters across the border after the Uri attack.

In fact, it India takes it to the logical end, it would be the most substantial, calculated move that any recent Indian government has ever made against Pakistan. Modis new line that blood and water cant flow together is a clear deviation from his earlier soft theme of attackers will be avenged. This is Modis style of putting Pakistan on notice.

While the inter-ministerial commission that the government said would look into the issues related to water utilisation would take time to do that job, the announcement that India will work speedily on the Pakal Dul, Bursar and Sawalkot projects seemed to be categorical.

India will, of course, claim that its only using up its share of 20 per cent waters allocated to it by the treaty, a claim that will, no doubt, be hotly contested by Pakistan. Under the 1960 treaty signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan, India conceded, as a goodwill gesture, 80 per cent of the water to Pakistan.

Both the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul hydel project on the Marusadar river, a tributary of the Chenab, and the 1,020 MW Bursar project on the Chenab that India spoke about on Monday will raise Pakistani hackles. These two are among the projects that Pakistan has been dead set against.

And the 1,200 MW Sawalkot project, much bigger than these two, will drive the Pakistanis up the wall even more. Pakistan has been saying that the proposed Sawalkot dam falls within the seismic zone of the Himalayas and would be highly vulnerable to earthquakes. Some experts across the border argue that Sawalkot would pose the threat of a huge environmental disaster for Pakistan.

And the Tulbul navigation project, which India had suspended and which it said on Monday would review, is designed to drive the Pakistanis into a state of paranoia. Pakistanis have been claiming that this project, apart from depriving them of water, would pose a serious security risk to them. According to them, the Tulbul project would help Indians manipulate the water level in the Jhelum, making it easy for them to cross the river in times of war. That also means, they claim, Indians can make it tough for the Pakistani soldiers to cross the river if they choose to.

So this is a water war by Indiaor at least the notice for waging one.

But what Indias own war hawks must understand now is that Modis well-thought-out water offensive, if carried out, will not produce quick results but will wreak unspeakable havoc on Pakistan in the long term.



And what the world in general and Pakistan in particular must understand is that India is not kicking off this war unilaterally. Its only responding to a ruthless water war that Pakistan is already waging. As this Firstpost article argues, Pakistan has been raising one silly objection after another to Indias hydel projects in the Jammu and Kashmir part of the Indus basin.

The most recent outburst from Pakistan came from its Minister of Defence, Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who said on July 15 that his country would drag Indias two hydel projects, Kishanganga and Ratle in Jammu and Kashmir, for international arbitration.

India must convince the world that the 1960 treaty was not based on any equitable distribution of water but guided by political goodwill. The treaty practically gave away the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab flowing through Jammu and Kashmir for Pakistans exclusive use, while India could utilise waters from the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi coursing through Punjab in a limited way.

What India must drive home to the world is that the goodwill disappeared once Pakistan turned itself into a haven for terrorists launching stealth attacks on India.

If India carries out its threats, it will still have two imponderables. One, any dams that Pakistan perceives to be against its interests may become terror targets. Two, China could retaliate by impounding water of the Indus and the Sutlej, which originate in that country, by building dams there. But like the Indian plans, any Chinese threat too would take time to materialise.

One thing that is clear now is that, short of scrapping the Indus treaty, India has done enough for now to rattle Pakistan. Now India must beginor should be seen to be beginningthe long process of translating these threats into realities.
Srinagar: A grenade was lobbed by suspected militants at a camp of paramilitary SSB in Bilal colony area here this evening but no one was injured.

Officials said the incident was reported around 7:30 PM =when a grenade was hurled at the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) company location in the said area and it landed about 15 metres from the first sentry post.

"The grenade blast did not hit any personnel present in the post which is surrounded by a residential area. Police and SSB reinforcements have rushed to the spot from Soura," they said.

The camp lodges to the 47th battalion of the force deployed in the area for security duties, they said.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa discussed the issues related to the Supreme Court directions on Tuesday on the Cauvery water sharing row at the Apollo Hospital.

Jayalalithaa also dictated her speech to be read out by Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao at the meeting of the Executive Heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnatka to be convened on Thursday, an official statement said.

The apex court directed the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting with the Executive Heads of the two states with the Union Ministry of Water Resources to recommend ways to break the impasse in the Cauvery row.

Chairing a meeting of government officials at Apollo Hospital where she is recuperating, Jayalalithaa told Edapaddi K. Palaniswamy, the Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports, and officials to attend the Thursday meeting.

The meeting was called at the hospital on Tuesday evening.

The chief minister was apprised of the directions of the Supreme Court on the applications filed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with reference to the apex court's earlier orders on the Cauvery row.

She was informed that Tamil Nadu had filed its application in the apex court that Karnataka shall not be heard on any matter on Cauvery until it complied with and made good the shortfall in releases as directed by the Supreme Court.
It is becoming clear every passing day that when it comes to Pakistan, the Narendra Modi government doesn't have any plan. From the very beginning of its tenure, Modi's Pakistan policy has been marked with twists, turns, U-turns, ad-hocism and leaps of faith. The government's response to the terror attack in Uri shows nothing has changed and that it is still hoping its policy of trial and error would lead to some solution, any solution.

A day after the Uri attack, the government and its war boys made so much noise that it seemed "a jaw for a tooth" was imminent. When its ministers argued that not retaliating now would be a sign of cowardice, it appeared Modi would live up to his pre-PM rhetoric of replying in a language that Pakistan understands.

Alas, we have come to a stage where the only response to the terror attack seems to be the pretence that a response is underway. From debating a quick counter strike inside LoC to targeting jihadist infrastructure in Muridke, the talk has quickly veered to hare-brained ideas like stopping Pakistan's water, withdrawing trade benefits and fighting against poverty and hunger.

Ten heads for every slain Indian soldiers has degenerated into ten drops of Indus for every slain soldier.

The entire rigmarole of retaliation the Modi government has gone through since Uri creates the impression that cross-border terrorism is a new challenge for India, something that has just been birthed by our neighbours to the astonishment of the Modi sarkar. Like a country shocked by an unexpected development, heads are being banged, old treaties are being reviewed, trade pacts are being reconsidered in search of a viable "defensive offence."

So, what policy did Modi have in his pocket when he walked into 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, promising to not write "love letters to Pakistan" or go "crying to Obama" like his predecessor? The answer is  none.

Don't be mislead by the heightened activity in power corridors in search of a fitting reply to Pakistan. All of it is purely for domestic consumption, to address the chorus for punitive action till it fades away. As Donald Trump argued in the first debate with Hillary Clinton: "All talk, no action. Typical politicians. Never going to happen."

The military option, as the frenzied debate on abrogation of the Indus Waters Treaty and withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation to Pakistan shows, is currently off the table. No surgical strikes, no Brahmos whistling into Muridke to take out Hafiz Sayeed, no Mig-29s flying into PoK to destroy training camps, all these are clearly off the table.

Stopping the Indus water from entering Pakistan, as many have argued, is just a farcical fancy, simply because where will India store all that aqua fina denied to the neighbour. We can, of course, build dams, start new hydel power projects to slight the enemy. But all this would take not months but years. And, what's the guarantee that during the interregnum, Modi may once again take a U-turn, well literally, and stop over at Nawaz Sharif's farm house for his grand daughter's birthday?

Denying Pakistan MFN status isn't likely to chasten Pakistan either. With China ready to pump billions in its backyard and use it as a transit point for trade through Gwadar, with Iran dying for a piece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, withdrawing MFN status would be meaningless.

The fact is, India has no viable strategy to deal with Pakistan, a fact that the neighbour knows and gloats about. Writing in the Express Tribune, Fahd Husain calls India's response 'Dumb and Dumber-er.'

"Heres why: First, its never a good idea to start the blame game without a peg to hang your rage on. Second, its even a worse idea to allow your ambition to start outweighing your capability. And third, its absolutely the worst idea to climb so high up a moral ladder that climbing down is only possible at the expense of your dignity. Indias done all three. Thats classic stupidity," Husain writes.

A similar sentiment is echoed by former chief of naval staff Arun Prakash in The Indian Express, who in scathing terms advises the Indian government to look before escalating. "Let us be quite clear that exaggerated posturing and jingoistic loud talk are unworthy of the great-power status that India aspires to; they only serve to erode our credibility," he argues.

Sometimes it is easier to live in the make-believe instead of accepting the reality. But, truth is far more liberating than the tyranny of a lie. So, here it is: It is clear that like his predecessors, Modi too has realised that there are no easy shortcuts to solving the problem of a rogue state bent on sending terrorists to India. The benefits of military options, surgical and air raids have to be carefully weighed against costs and fears of an uncontrolled escalation. Also, as George Perkovich and Toby Dalton argue in this paper, India might be a few years away from teaching Pakistan the desired lesson.

The realities of power have made Modi ignore his own pre-poll rhetoric. Like Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh before him, he too has gone back to the philosophy of time being the only solutions to the Pakistan problem.

Till then, there is always the option of trial and error.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a meeting to be held on 29 September to review Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, reported CNN-News18.

Officials from Ministry of External Affairs and the commerce ministry will be attending the meet, the report stated.

This meeting on MFN status is in view of what happened in Uri: PR Chakravarty (former consul general of India in Karachi) pic.twitter.com/pctDiqga0T  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

If we scrap MFN it will affect Pak exports to India, we will be able to apply higher tariff than whats done for others: PR Chakravarty  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

For India even if India-Pak trade goes down a bit it makes no difference. Pak will have problems in exporting their products: PR Chakravarty  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Stating that India should review the MFN status, former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said, "India has always treated Pakistan as a most favoured nation but has not received the same in return."

India has always treated Pakistan as a most favoured nation but has not received the same in return: Yashwant Sinha, Former EAM pic.twitter.com/DCCzMIreds  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

We should end Indus water treaty & should again review the 'Most Favoured Nation' status to Pak acc to WTO rules: Yashwant Sinha, Former EAM pic.twitter.com/bMdTyzUrKi  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

There have been reports that India is considering withdrawal of the MFN status to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack. Assocham had on Sunday said that the special privilege has not made much of a difference as trade between the two remains "abysmally" low.

What's MFN status?

India had accorded to the most favoured nation status to Pakistan in 1996 according to the commitments under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which state that the member countries should treat all other trade partners equally.

Firstpost writer, Dinesh Unnikrishnan, says revoking the status with Pakistan wouldnt mean much for India but is an important signal to the world about the intent by justifying its action citing the issue of national security, he writes.

Out of India's total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion. India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to $2.17 billion, or 0.83 percent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than $500 million, or 0.13 percent, of the total inward shipments.

"In all, trade with Pakistan was equivalent to 0.41 percent of India's global merchandise commerce," said DS Rawat, Secretary General of Assocham.

Explaining that the MFN status or no MFN has not made much of a difference on the bilateral trade, Rawat said, "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 dollar."

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 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.

With inputs from PTI
Geneva: Upping the ante against Pakistan, India has said it is a "terrorist state" which for years with complete impunity has been using billions of dollars from international aid to train, finance and support terror groups as militant proxies.

Describing Pakistan as the "true epicentre" of global terror, India also said Islamabad's trust in the methods of terror are so "deep" that it does not hesitate in using them on its own people in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas.

In its Right of Reply in response to a statement by Pakistan at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council, India said, "the latest terrorist attack in Uri, where 18 Indian soldiers lost their life and over 20 injured, only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active."

"The recovery of GPS, grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets and equipments and other stores made in Pakistan, and patterns of infiltration and attacks, is clear evidence of involvement of terror organisations based in Pakistan or territory under its control," it said on Monday.

India also asserted that it awaits "credible action" by Pakistan to bring all those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack and the Pathankot attack to justice.

India stated that in Pakistan, the region is dealing with a "terrorist state", which has for years with "complete impunity channelised billions of dollars from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours".

"Internationally proscribed terrorist entities and their leaders continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with state support; even raising funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," India said.

It called upon the Council to urge Pakistan to engage in "honest introspection" and focus its energies on acting against perpetrators of terrorist attacks on neighbours from its own territory.

"Countering terrorism emanating from Pakistan, that has turned out to be the most acute violator of human rights, is the only way to address the risk to peace and stability of the region," it said.

India strongly demanded that Pakistan must live upto its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism against it.

It reiterated that India is not the only victim of Pakistan's preaching, practicing, encouraging and nurturing terrorism and the "deleterious" impact of Pakistan's "irresponsible and short-sighted" approach of terrorism as

state policy has started showing in other countries of South Asia and beyond.

"It is unfortunate that Pakistan's trust in the methods of terror are so deep that it does not hesitate from using them on its own people in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the tribal areas in its northwest," it said.

"This coupled with the utter disregard for the human rights of religious and sectarian minorities has turned Pakistan into the true epicenter of global terror," it added.

Regretting Pakistan's continued misuse of the Council to make "tendentious" references about internal matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, India said Islamabad's "misinformation campaign" backed by fabricated facts and figures, on this issue only reflects the "desperation" that has seeped into their narrative.

"Pakistan's continued support for terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of our citizens in the state. Pakistan's selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made underscores the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth," it said.

India also reminded Pakistan that it had made a solemn commitment in January 2004 to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India.

"The persistent and growing violation of this undertaking is a matter of very serious concern," it said.
Upping the ante against Pakistan on Tuesday, India issued a statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be taking part in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meet in Islamabad. Firstpost was the first to report that Modi would not be travelling to Pakistan in an exclusive piece by Sunil Raman on 19 September.

Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/jabKoaBegJ  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India has conveyed to the current chair Nepal about the decision and said that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country has created an environment that is not conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad.

India conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference(cont): MEA  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

(cnt)in internal affairs of Member States by 1contry created environment thats nt conducive to successful holding of summit in Islamabad:MEA  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

The MEA further said that though India remains steadfast in commitment to regional cooperation and connectivity, but it can move forward in atmosphere free of terror.

India remains steadfast in commitment to regional coop'n,connectivity but believes that it can only go fwd in atmosphere free of terror: MEA  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Reports also suggest that countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have conveyed their reservation about attending the Saarc summit.

Other countries skipping SAARC summit in Pakistan are Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan: Sources to ANI  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs termed India's announcement "unfortunate" and stated that Pakistan remains committed to peace and regional cooperation and the country Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region.

We have not received any official communication in this regard, the Indian announcement is unfortunate: Pakistan MoFA  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Pak remains committed to peace & regional coop'n. Will continue to work to that end in the larger interest of people of this region:Pak MoFA  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Meanwhile, India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed over "proof of cross-border origins" of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector.

"Foreign Secretary ... presents proof of cross border origins of Uri attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Foreign Secretary calls in Pakistan HC Basit today & presents proof of Cross border origins of #UriAttacks.1/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Swarup said Basit was told that the two guides were caught by villagers in Uri and were in Indian custody.

The official identified them as Yasin Khurshid, 19, s/o Mohammed Khurshid and a resident of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad and Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, s/o Gul Akbar and from Potha Jahangir, also in Muzzaffarabad.

Modi has also called a meeting on Thursday to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan. The meeting follows India's decision on Monday to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan
Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday again summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and handed him the proof of Islamabad's involvement in the Uri terror attack.

However, Pakistan has rejected the evidence provided by India, reported CNN-News18. The government sources quoted by the channel said, "Blaming us is a diversionary tactic by India, we demand an international investigation into the attack."

#BREAKING | Pak Govt sources tell CNN-News18 they reject #UriAttack evidence provided by India, say 'stop blame game & diversionary tactics'  News18 (@CNNnews18) September 27, 2016

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar informed Basit that the two guides who helped the terrorists in Uri were taken into custody. Jaishankar also told Basit that cross-border terrorist attacks from Pakistan against India were unacceptable, Swarup tweeted.

Swarup also revealed the identities of the guides, handlers of the terrorists and one of the slain terrorists:

Foreign Secretary calls in Pakistan HC Basit today & presents proof of Cross border origins of #UriAttacks.1/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Informs him that the two guides who helped infiltration were apprehended by local villagers and are now in custody 2/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Faizal Hussain Awan(20 yrs),S/o Gul Akbar;R/o Potha Jahangir,Muzzaffarabad. 3/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Yasin Khurshid(19 yrs),S/o Mohammed Khurshid R/o Khiliana Kalan,Muzzaffarabad.4/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of d slain Uri attackers:Hafiz Ahmed,S/o Feroz,R/o Dharbang, Muzaffarabad. 5/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of handlers also obtained:Mohd.Kabir Awan &Basharat.FS terms continuing CB terrorist attacks frm Pak against India as unaccpt'le.n/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

"We are willing to provide the Pakistan High Commission consular access to these three individuals apprehended in connection with terrorist attacks in India," the foreign secretary told the Pakistani envoy, reported PTI.

"We would once again strongly urge the Government of Pakistan to take seriously its commitment not to allow terrorist attacks against India from its soil and territory under its control. Continuing cross-border terrorist attacks from Pakistan against India are unacceptable," Jaishankar asserted.

The move comes just a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave a befitting reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly.

On 21 September, Jaishankar had summoned Basit and told him that latest terrorist attack in Uri only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active.

Jaishankar had also provided Basit with the content of GPS recovered from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates that indicate the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the subsequent route to the terror attack site and grenades with Pakistani markings as evidence of Pakistan's role in Uri attack in which 18 jawans were killed.

With inputs from PTI
Terrorism remains a global scourge despite effecting sweeping change in mindsets and causing a massive drain on human capital and finances because it successfully inhabits the gap in strategic interests of countries. And because most democracies  not the so-called ones like Pakistan  work within a domestic or international legal framework, they cannot tackle the hydra-headed monster on their own without a convergence of mutual interests.

It is this point that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj labored upon the most while delivering her address at the United Nations General Assembly.

"We will not be able to win against terrorism by making specious distinctions between your problems and mine, between terrorists who attack you and those who attack me. For we do not know who this Frankensteins monster will devour next", she said on Monday.

What has been particularly frustrating for India in its fight against Pakistan is that it is an unequal battle. In absence of a credible deterrent, New Delhi can do precious little except hemorrhaging over its gashes and intermittently calling the talks on or off  a situation the rogue nation is extremely comfortable with. Therefore, for the global community to take tangible steps against Pakistan, the terrorism that it sponsors must be placed in the larger context of the global scourge, not the cubbyhole of an India-Pakistan binary where it has been traditionally boxed.

Any attack in Brussels, New York, Nice or Paris immediately makes huge headlines in India but the same cannot be said of the terrorist assaults that India regularly faces from Pakistan-backed operatives. No matter how much we outrage over our dead soldiers, it hardly creates a ripple in the global consciousness.

Sushma Swaraj's speech at the UNGA reflected an understanding of this reality which we have often missed in the past while railing against Pakistan on global forums. She linked Uri and Pathankot to attacks in "New York, Kabul, Dhaka, Istanbul, Mogadishu, Brussels and Bangkok" and immediately set the tone, ensuring that the blood of our slain soldiers mingles with that of the victims of terrorism in different parts of the world. In so doing, she subtly placed India's battle within the larger ambit of a global fight against extremism.

There can be no illusions about the difficulty of her task. However, for India's initiative to bear fruit, a common ground between world powers on terrorism is imperative.

The minister stressed on the need for this unified global platform towards the end of her speech, urging the UN to pass the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) which India had proposed back in 1996. As a report in Livemint explains, "(CCIT) provides a legal framework, making it imperative for all signatories to deny funds and safe havens to terrorist groups."

That CCIT remains the cornerstone of India's aggressive diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan became clear when she said: "In 2016, despite the passage of two decades, we are yet to come to a conclusion (on CCIT). As a result, we are unable to develop a norm under which terrorists shall be prosecuted or extradited. Therefore it is my appeal that this General Assembly acts with fresh resolve and urgency to adopt this critical Convention."

Problem is, there still remains irreconcilable differences between global powers. The distinction between "good and bad terrorism" continues.

At the time when 71st UNGA was under way, a 31-truck UN humanitarian aid convoy in war-torn Syria was ripped to shreds, killing all workers and placing in jeopardy the agreement between US and Russia. The global powers have since blamed each other for the terrible fiasco.

Similarly, it is a source of deep anguish in India that Pakistan continues to exploit its geopolitical advantage into ensuring a steady stream of funding from the US which it then channelizes into sponsoring terror networks against its neighbours, most notably India.

Strategic experts like Professor C Christine Fair of Georgetown Universitys Security Studies Program in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service has written many articles on the futility of America's Pakistan policy. While US recognizes India's predicament, at the same time it has, since 9/11, "lavished Pakistan with nearly $8 billion in security assistance, $11 billion in economic assistance, and $13 billion in the lucrative program known as Coalition Support Funds (CSF)," writes Professor Fair.

She also details the weaponry that Pakistan has received from the US, a stockpile that is almost exclusively built keeping India in mind.

"Pakistan has availed of significant US weapons systems and armaments, including: a used Perry-class missile frigate; 18 new and 14 used nuclear-capable F-16s; an array of munitions (i.e. 500 air-to-air missiles, 1,450 2,000-pound bombs); 1,600 kits that allow Pakistan to convert gravity bombs into laser-guided smarter bombs, 2,007 anti-armor missiles, 100 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 500 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, seven naval guns, 374 armored personnel carriers, and much more... This list suggests that Pakistans insurgents have developed air, naval and ground-force capabilities," writes Professor Fair in National Interest.

In Swaraj's words, "If we want to defeat terrorism, there is only one way  that we unite across our differences, add steel to our resolve and inject urgency in our response. We need to forget our prejudices and join hands together to script an effective strategy against terror", the aim to close this trust deficit between global powers is clear. It will be foolish to expect an instantaneous result but the initiative marks a new maturity in India's foreign policy.

On Pakistan, the EAM eschewed rhetoric and yet managed to squeeze in short, sharp jabs that triggered howls of protest from the neighbouring nation. She didn't go beyond what we haven't heard already but the force of her address and the conviction in her body language was a far cry from the apologetic mumbling from Nawaz Sharif who carried the impression of parroting out a text under the shadow of Rawalpindi guns.

Swaraj made two important interventions. She categorically reiterated India's position on Kashmir and for the first time, raised Balochistan on UN platform, inspiring delighted responses from fighters at the forefront of Baloch freedom movement.

Indian Express carried a reaction from Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugti on Swaraj's UN address. "This is a very good move and we expect that India will keep raising this issue, because India is that democratic country and responsible country, which undertakes its responsibility with sincerity," he said.

It has been alleged that Kashmir significantly robs India of the moral high ground from where it usually engages with Pakistan. Overturning this narrative was Swaraj's biggest achievement. By pointing out that those who sponsor terror  the worst form of human rights abuse because it takes away the right to life, the most fundamental right of all  she proceeded to demolish Pakistan's argument and expose it as the singular source of migraine for Asia and the entire world.

"We must acknowledge that terrorism is undoubtedly the biggest violation of human rights. It targets the innocent and kills indiscriminately. Terrorism has gone way beyond affecting individuals or nations  it is a crime against humanity itself. But it is important to ask - who is behind this and who benefits from it? Terrorists do not own banks or weapons factories, so let us ask the real question: who finances these terrorists, who arms them and provides sanctuaries? We heard similar questions being asked by Afghanistan from this podium," Swaraj said.

Inherent in her argument was a new axis of cooperation between India and Afghanistan, a point she knows the US understands too well.

But unlike Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose entire UN address was a bitter rant against India, Swaraj chose to address a range of issues including India's commitment to climate change pact and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because "1/6th of humanity lives in India."

This sought to drive the message home that unlike our rogue neighbours, we are a responsible, growing power and have more to offer than just bile.

By talking about "domestic effort to transform our energy mix to achieve 40 percent energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030" and submitting "Instrument of Ratification of the Paris Agreement on 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," Swaraj gave the US and the UN what they wanted to hear. In the quid pro quo world of strategic affairs, this carries the promise that India will have greater legroom in dealing with its peeves.

Consider the immediate reaction from UN chief Ban Ki-moon who lauded India for its "swift action" over the decision to ratify the Paris pact on climate change, saying he is looking forward to receiving New Delhi's instrument of accession.

We have come a long way since SM Krishna read out Portugal foreign minister's speech at the UN.
Chennai: Nearly five years after the alleged rape of four tribal women by police in Tamil Nadu, a report of a Judicial Magistrate filed on Tuesday in Madras High Court said there are reasons to believe that they were sexually assaulted, but not raped.

The report of the Judicial Magistrate Thirukovilur in Villupuram District stated the medical reports did not suggest rape on the four women of the Irular tribal community.

"There are reasons to believe that sexual assault had occurred on the women by the police personnel who had taken them," the Magistrate's report filed by the Government Pleader said.

It also stated that the enquiry with the victims revealed that police personnel who took them for questioning had asked them to remove their clothes. When they refused, the police allegedly removed them forcibly and molested them.

The report was filed in connection with the alleged incident of police personnel of Thirukovilur in Villupuram District raping tribal women after taking them in a jeep on 22 November, 2011 for an enquiry though they were not required in any case.

It said no woman police accompanied the police team when the women were taken to a police station. Though rape was not confirmed, the victims' statements, evidence of witnesses and circumstances lead to conclude and believe that sexual assault was committed on victims, it said.

The report was filed when a Public Interest Litigation petition of advocate P Pugalenthi, came up for hearing before the court.

The petition had sought transfer of probe to the CBI and suspension of policemen involved in the alleged crime.

Last month, the court had wondered how the magistrate's report did not reach the Investigating Officer.It directed the Villupuram principal district judge to examine the issue and send a report to it.

The court, on Tuesday, directed the Registrar-Vigilance to look into the non-performance of the Judicial Magistrate-Thirukovilur over the cause of delay and submit a report.

It posted the matter for further hearing to 7 November and directed the government pleader to get instruction from the Investigation officer on the report and also submit details of the fate of police officers involved in the case.

The government pleader stated that the magisterial report would be sent to the Investigation officer.
Srinagar/New Delhi: The NIA on Tuesday took into custody the two men from PoK arrested by army in connection with its probe into the attack at an army camp in Uri even as it established the identity of one of the four slain attackers as belonging to PoK.

The NIA took over the custody of the two men identified as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangir--both in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and would produce them before a designated court soon, official sources said.

The two were arrested by the BSF and the Army in a joint operation at 'Angoor Post' at Gavalata village in Uri last Saturday when they were trying to infiltrate into India.

With both being residents of PoK, the authorities interrogated them whether they had any knowledge about the attack in which four terrorists had stormed an army camp at Uri on September 18 and killed 18 soldiers.

The duo initially claimed that they had inadvertently crossed into India but after sustained interrogation they not only informed the security agencies about the two guides who had helped the terrorists to infiltrate but also helped them in identifying one of the militant involved in the attack, the sources said.

One of the killed terrorist was identified by NIA as Hafiz Ahmed of Darbang in Muzaffarabad Tehsil of PoK.

The duo would be brought to the national capital where they would undergo scientific tests and also subjected to an interrogation by joint team of security agencies.

The two had been recruited initially by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) for guiding its militants to infiltrate across the LoC and later they helped other militant groups as well, the sources said.

The NIA later produced the two persons before a designated court in Jammu which remanded them to NIA custody, official sources said.
Amid political blame game, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday backed his minister Satyendra Kumar Jain in the Income Tax (I-T) case, after the latter was summoned by the department concerned.

The I-T department has issued summons to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister, asking him to appear before the department in connection with a tax evasion probe against certain Kolkata-based firms.

Kejriwal, who himself had been a senior I-T official in the past, has given a clean chit to his health minister and said Jain was being framed. He added that if Jain had been guilty, he (Kejriwal) would have thrown him out.

The chief minister in his tweet said, I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out. We stand by him.

I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he were guilty, we wud have thrown him out. We stand by him  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 27, 2016

False cases against AAP MLAs n ministers, FIR against me, CBI raid on me - why? A v big conspiracy. Will expose in Del Assembly on Fri  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 27, 2016

Why the summons

The I-T department has issued summons to Jain in relation to a tax evasion probe against Kolkata-based firms.

According to I-T department sources, Jain has been asked to furnish personal financial details and Income Tax Returns on 4 October.

The department received records of financial transactions related to Jain, which has connections with a few firms based in Kolkata. These firms were recently searched in connection with tax evasion and illegal financial remittances case. The probe is on and during the process we found documents with Jains name on it, the source said.

The I-T department has indicated that three firms related to real estate and IT are under the tax department scanner. The department claimed that the minister had financial transactions with these firms.

Satyendra Jain's reaction

Jain is a qualified architect and now holds Health, Home, Power, PWD, Transport and Urban Development as portfolios as a minister in Delhi government. In an affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, he has declared his asset of Rs 7.84 crore.

Jain told reporters that the summons he has received was a re-assessment notice and nothing to do with any investigation.

Prior to joining politics and AAP, I had worked as an architect and constructed several buildings. I had made investments in these companies four years back, but I have nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation, he told reporters.

WATCH

Delhi minister Satyendar Jain says Delhi CM will make a big expose in the Assembly in two days, dares TV channels to air it. pic.twitter.com/70iu42qDbt  AAP In News (@AAPInNews) September 27, 2016

What Congress and BJP say?

Both the BJP and the Congress party didnt leave an opportunity to train their guns at the AAP minister.

BJP spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh said, Kejriwal jumped in and has given a clean chit without seeing the documents. Jain has been summoned for an illegal entry by the Income Tax Department. Earlier, in the case of another minister Jitender Singh Tomar, he did the same. This is how the party functions.

Congress leader and spokesperson Ajay Maken said, All these ministers have been chosen by Kejriwal. Instead of answering to the questions posed to them, they question back. If they are innocent, let them come out in open. AAP always plays the victim card and practices diversion tactics.
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday again witnessed pandemonium by the opposition Congress and BJP members who have been demanding clarification from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the sensitive Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The House was adjourned till afternoon as the opposition Congress and BJP members shouted slogans inside well of the House. The pandemonium started as soon as the House assembled for the day.

Though Congress members had started the agitation on Monday, the BJP members joined them in seeking clarification from the chief minister on Tuesday.

Congress whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati tried to climb the Speakers podium and displaced papers kept on the speaker's desk. "The ruling party had stalled the House for two consecutive days without any issue. We are simply demanding clarification from the chief minister on what action the state government has taken to stop construction upstream of Mahanadi river by the Chhattisgarh government," Bahinipati said.

Though the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his reply on Saturday said that the state government was taking both administrative and legal action, the opposition members were not satisfied. They want a specific reply from the Chief Minister, Bahinpati told reporters outside the House.

When all the members cutting across party lines agreed to cooperate with the state government and proposed to meet the Prime Minister and President, the chief minister did not take the

House into confidence, he alleged.

"I, Leader of Opposition and other legislators assured the government of full cooperation to protect Odishas interest on Mahanadi. But, government is yet to clear its stand. Instead, the chief minister has been criticising us saying that Opposition is shedding crocodile tears. This is unfortunate. We demand clarification from the chief minister," Bahinipati added.

BJD members on the other hand criticised BJP and Congress for allegedly taking step-motherly attitude toward Odisha.

BJD member and party spokesman Divya Shankar Mishra, however, claimed that the Chief Minister has already indicated the next course of action over the river issue after the discussion.

Chief minister had approached his Chhattisgarh counterpart and Centre in the tripartite meet in Delhi to halt the project, but the BJP-led government-both at Centre and the neighbouring State turned deaf, Mishra pointed out.
Patna: Former Supreme Court judge Markanday Katju's comment of offering Kashmir to Pakistan on condition that it should take Bihar too drew sharp criticism in Bihar with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ridiculing him for trying to become 'Mai-Baap' (guardian) of the state.

Katju's post on Facebook clubbing Bihar with Jammu and Kashmir triggered sharp reaction with some leaders demanding that he should be tried under sedition law.

"We offer you Kashmir but you should take Bihar also," Katju had said in one of his Facebook post.

"I have just received authoritative information from the Government of Pakistan. They have point blank refused the offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar, and they have profusely apologised for ever asking for Kashmir at all and have promised never to ask for it again. Evidently the idea of getting Bihar too has horrified them out of their wits," he wrote.

Katju further commented, "Once Firaq Gorakhpuri, my English teacher in Allahabad University, said to me 'hindustan ko khatra Pakistan se nahin hai, Bihar se hai'."

Without naming Katju, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made a strong remark on him.

"Ghar baithe 'mai-baap' ban rahe hai Bihar kaa...(trying to become guardian of Bihar while sitting at home)," Kumar said in his speech in Patna after launching two of his seven resolves of providing drinking water and toilet to every household.

"A few people are gripped with the disease of getting printed in newspapers," he said in an apparent retort to Katju.

The Chief Minister spoke in detail about the glorious history of Bihar which is the land of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Chanakya and Aryabhatt who invented 'Zero' among others.

"Patliputra, the ancient name of present Patna used to be capital of the Magadh empire whose territory extended to the entire country," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also took strong exception to Katju's comment saying, Bihar may be lacking in resources but it did not give Katju a free hand to humiliate the state. "Bihar has always shown the way to the country in good and bad times," said the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi and senior party leader Shyam Rajak sought trial of Katju under sedition law.

Madhepura MP and Janadhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav also condemned Katju's comments and sought public apology from him.

Faced with a barrage of protests, Katju sought to backtrack and wrote on Facebook "I was only joking about Bihar."
Youve been in politics for 30 years, why have you taken so long to think through all this?

I will release my taxes when she releases the 33,000 emails she deleted!

You're all political hacks, Im a businessman. I understand money.

When you try to act holier than thou it really doesnt work.

No matter what the pundits say, Donald Trump, by stepping on the gas early in the debate got Hillary Clinton exactly where he wanted her at least in the first 30 minutes of the 90 minute presidential debates at Hofstra University in New York City. CNN and MSNBC have called the debate for Hillary Clinton but CNN admitted that the sample was more Democratic.

Locked in an exceedingly close White House race to become America's 45th president, the rivals tangled for 90-minutes over their vastly different visions for the nation's future but left more questions unanswered. Trump rarely answered to the questions, he played the moderator Lester Holt who struggled to rein in the real estate mogul and went way beyond schedule. Clearly, the psychological profiles that Trump's campaign made of Clinton came handy in the first half.

After a few moments of decorum,the debate quickly dissolved into an array of snipes only lightly touching on the issues and rarely digging deep enough to make sense to working class Americans.

Going into the debate season, Clinton-Trump polls are in a dead heat and Trump is gaining in states that are a must-win for Clinton. Thats the grim backdrop for the Democrats. President Trump?

If Clinton wins Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire, her easiest path to the presidency runs through Colorado, whose voters are better-educated and more Hispanic than the national average. In July and August, her polling leads there ranged from five percentage points to 13. But Trump a four-point lead there now. Clinton has a real problem if she cannot hold on to this state and thats why the stakes at the debates have become higher than they have traditionally been.

Debates have rarely changed the course of an election verdict but in this race, it may be decisive.

These presidential debates are now the centrepiece of the presidential campaign. The first encounter between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney drew 67m viewers, making it the most widely watched debate in 20 years. If 100m people did indeed watch tonights debate that would put it on a level with the Super Bowl for viewing figures.

The debate was not deep on substantive policy differences but full of attacks, with both candidates landing blows that will resonate with their bases.

Yes, Clinton knows has command over wonkery but whats the story? Her campaign staff seems woefully out of sorts on the storyline. Unlike Barack Obama who always took examples of common folk to explain complex policy, Clintons words belong in text books - growth, NAFTA, 50%, 30%, trade and so on.

Clinton condemned Trump for refusing to pay contractors on several projects, saying she was grateful her father had never done business with him. She said the debate crowd included an architect whom Mr. Trump had not paid. Maybe he didnt do a good job, Trump said.

Clinton shone in patches but not consistently. She bloomed late in the second half when she used Trumps insults against him. You love beauty contests, Donald. You called her Ms. Housekeeping, because she was Latino. And you bet shes going to vote in the election - Clinton twisted the knife in but she could do more of that in the upcoming October debates.

By the time Clinton warmed up and punched back, Trump made her look like everything that Americans and people the world over have come to dislike about career politicians.

The celebrity businessman branded Clinton a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work."

Hillary Clinton emphatically denounced Donald Trump for keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters and peddling a "racist lie" about President Barack Obama.

"There's something he's hiding," she declared, scoffing at his repeated contentions that he won't release his tax returns because he is being audited. Tax experts have said an audit is no bar to making his recon 17th graf.rds public. She said one reason he has refused is that he may well have paid nothing in federal taxes. He interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

Trump aggressively tried to turn the transparency questions around on Clinton, saying he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal internet server she used as secretary of state.

Trump's criticism of Clinton turned personal in the debate's closing moments. He said, "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president. He's made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of leveling a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.

Clinton leapt at the opportunity to remind voters of Trump's numerous controversial comments about women, who will be crucial to the outcome of the November election.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said.

Some frequently hot-button issues were barely mentioned during the intense debate. Illegal immigration and Trump's promises of a border wall were not part of the conversation. And while Clinton took some questions on her private email server, she was not grilled about her family's foundation, Bill Clinton's past infidelities or her struggle with trustworthiness.

Key quotes from the debate:

Stamina to lead?

"I said she doesn't have the stamina. And I don't believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina" - Trump

"Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina" - Clinton

The right experience?

"Let me tell you, Hillary has experience. But it's bad, bad experience" - Trump

Too much prep?

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing" - Clinton

Your own reality

"I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts," Clinton said, after Trump took her to task over her support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

A racist lie

"He tried to put the whole racist birther lie to bed. But it can't be dismissed that easily. He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen" - Clinton, referring to Trump's longtime support of the "birther" movement questioning Barack Obama's citizenship.

Show you mine/Show me yours

"I have no reason to believe that he's ever going to release his tax returns, because there's something he's hiding" - Clinton

"I will release my tax returns against my lawyer's wishes when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted" - Trump

Trumped-up economics

"The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. In fact, it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top percent of the people in this country than we've ever had. I call it trumped up trickle-down" - Clinton

Talk the talk

"Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work. Never going to happen" - Trump, rubbishing his rival's economic plans

World's policeman

"I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We cannot be the policeman of the world, we cannot protect countries all over the world, where they're not paying us what we need" - Trump, reasserting criticism of long-standing US alliances.

Middle Eastern mess

"You look at the Middle East, it's a total mess, under your direction, to a large extent."

"You're talking about taking out ISIS. But you were there, and you were secretary of state when it was a little infant. Now, it's in over 30 countries, and you're going to stop them? I don't think so" - Trump

Don't tell the enemy

Clinton: "Well at least I have a plan to fight ISIS."

Trump: "No, no, you're telling the enemy everything you want to do."

Clinton: "No, we're not."

Trump: "You're telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

When it's all said and done

"I want to make America great again. I will be able to do it, I don't believe Hillary will. The answer is, if she wins, I will absolutely support her" - Trump

(With Agencies)
Donald Trump blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and anyone but himself on Tuesday after he was forced onto the defense by Hillary Clinton's cascade of attacks about his taxes, honesty and character in the first presidential debate.

Trump tried aggressively to pin America's problems on Clinton at the debate. But Clinton, showing her intensive preparations, went after him as hard or harder, including sharp criticism of his business practices and crude comments about women.

She also attacked his false assertions about President Barack Obama's birthplace, calling it part of a pattern of "racist behavior." And she repeatedly criticised Trump for breaking tradition by refusing to release his tax returns, declaring, "There's something he's hiding."

Still, Trump insisted on Tuesday he'd gotten the better of Clinton, awarding her a C-plus while declining to assign himself a grade. Unsurprisingly, Clinton's aides and running mate took to television to argue she'd accomplished precisely what she'd set out to do.

Both campaigns knew the highly anticipated first debate could mark a turning point six weeks before election day, but it was unclear if either candidate would reap significant gains. Trump and Clinton are locked in an exceedingly close race and competing vigorously to win over undecided voters.

Clinton's preferred tactic  provoking Trump with jabs aimed at rattling him  continued to pay dividends the day after the debate. After brushing off Clinton's claim that he'd once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight, Trump on Tuesday dug deeper.

"She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem," Trump told Fox and Friends about the 1996 winner of the pageant he once owned.

Though he said on Twitter he had "really enjoyed" the debate, he accused moderator Lester Holt of a left-leaning performance and going harder on him than Clinton. He insisted he had "no sniffles" and no allergies despite the #snifflegate speculation that had exploded on social media.

I really enjoyed the debate last night.Crooked Hillary says she is going to do so many things.Why hasn't she done them in her last 30 years?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

And in one of the more bizarre moments in presidential debate history, he floated the possibility that organisers had intentionally set his "terrible" microphone to a lower volume than Clinton's. Trump said he "didn't want to believe in conspiracy theories" but pushed the theory anyway that it was "set up that way on purpose."

"Anybody who's about the microphone is not having a good night," a sardonic Clinton told reporters on her plane as she flew midday Tuesday to North Carolina. She accused Trump of making "demonstrably untrue" claims in the debate.

With precious few weeks left to campaign, both candidates returned promptly to the trail. North Carolina and Florida, where Trump was campaigning, are both among a handful of toss-up states whose winners could help determine the outcome of the election. Clinton and Trump are slated to face each again on 9 October during the second debate, in St. Louis.

The debate was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, often smiling through his answers, well-aware of the television cameras capturing her reaction.

"Hillary told the truth and Donald told some whoppers," Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, told ABC News.

Trump has said he can't release his tax returns because he is being audited, though tax experts have said an audit is no barrier to making the information public. When Clinton suggested his refusal might be because he possibly paid nothing in federal taxes, he interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

Trump's criticism of Clinton turned personal in the debate's closing moments. He said, "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president. He's made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party.

The centrepiece of Trump's case against Clinton is that the former senator and secretary of state is little more than a career politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international problems she's now pledging to tackle as president.

"She's got experience," he said, "but it's bad experience."

When Trump made a crack about Clinton taking time off the campaign trail to prepare for the debate, she turned it into a validation of her readiness for the White House.

"I think Donald just criticised me for preparing for this debate," Clinton said. "And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."
New Delhi: France has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that India will ratify the Paris Agreement on 2 October, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

In a statement, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development spokesperson said: "India's commitment to the fight against climate change is decisive to the implementation of the Paris Agreement."

Prime Minister Modi, in a speech in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Saturday announced that India would ratify the 2015 Paris agreement on 2 October.

India had submitted its 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UN body on 1 October last year.

The Climate Agreement was adopted by 195 countries in Paris last year.
Hempstead, United States: Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of peddling "trumped up trickle down" economics Monday on the presidential debate stage, as the candidates clashed in fiery exchanges over how to create American jobs.

"I will bring back jobs. You can't bring back jobs," Trump fired at Clinton, as the pair tangled over trade, taxes and government regulations in the opening half of their 90-minute debate.

"I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts," Clinton said, after Trump took her to task over her support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

"The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. In fact, it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top percent of the people in this country than we've ever had. I call it trumped up trickle-down," Clinton added.

"That is not how we grow the economy," said the former secretary of state.

The sparring grew intense at times as the candidates interrupted and talked over one another.

"Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work. Never going to happen," Trump fumed, as he argued that his extensive business experience is what America needs to improve its economy.

"Our jobs are fleeing the country. They're going to Mexico, they're going to many other countries. You look at what China is doing to our country," he added. "They're devaluing their currency and there's nobody in our government to fight them."

But when Trump highlighted his business acumen as a qualifying rationale for electing him president, Clinton jumped in, assailing the provocative billionaire for failing to pay some contractors for their work.

"Do the thousands of people that you have stiffed over the course of your business not deserve some kind of apology from someone who has taken their labor, taken the goods that they produced, and then refused to pay them?" Clinton asked.
Sartaj Aziz, Pakistani economist and strategist who serves as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs, on Monday said that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the Indus Waters Treaty according to the international law. He said that if India violates the treaty then Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice, insisting the revocation of the treaty can be taken as an "act of war".

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy. He said that if India violates the treaty Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said Pakistan is considering to draw attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"Between the two countries, this act of revocation can be taken as an act of war," he said.

According to international law India cant unilaterally separate itself from treaty, says Sartaj Aziz: Pak Media  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

If India violates treaty Pak can approach International Court of Justice, says Pak PMs Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz: Pak Media  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

If India violates treaty Pak can approach International Court of Justice, says Pak PMs Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz: Pak Media  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had chaired a review meeting of the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the waters of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact. He said, "Blood and water cannot flow together."

Under the treaty, which was signed by late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six rivers  Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum  were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and had gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.

Noting that India, a high riparian state, has been very "generous" to Pakistan, a low riparian state, with regard to the water sharing rights as a "goodwill" gesture, government sources told PTI that a "tough situation" has emerged after the recent terror strike in Uri and it was "appropriate time" to review the treaty as to how it has worked or not worked.

The Inter-Ministerial Task Force, which is expected to have representatives from Ministries of Water, External Affairs, Power and Finance, will look into the details of India's rights pertaining to the western rivers, which are controlled by Pakistan.

Sources are also talking about government's decision to expedite work on three dams  Pakal Dul, Sawalkot and Bursar  on Chenab river.

Giving the details regarding utilisation of river waters for agricultural purposes, sources told PTI that as per the treaty, water can be used to irrigate 9.12 lakh acres which can be extended by another 4.2 lakh acres. However, India was only using it for 8 lakh acres.

On run-of-the-river hydro-electrical projects, the PTI sources have said that out of 18,600 MW capacity, India was only utilising 3,034 MW, while projects of 2,526 MW capacity were under construction and 5,846 MW were at the advanced stage of approval.

With inputs from PTI
Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Tuesday said it was closely watching the Indian border and was "fully prepared to respond" to any kind of situation, in the wake of rising tensions with India after the Uri terror attack.

"We are closely monitoring the developments on the eastern border and we are fully prepared to respond," military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said after a security meeting in Peshawar.

The meeting headed by army chief General Raheel Sharif reviewed the security at the border with Afghanistan.

Diplomatic tensions have spiked between India and Pakistan since the 18 September attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly.

Bajwa said that the meeting discussed the steps being taken for border management by the armed forces.

He said work has been completed on 20 posts set up for border management.

Defending Pakistan's security measures at the border with Afghanistan, Bajwa said that the border management would be more effective if matching actions are taken by Afghanistan on its side.

Bajwa also said that Pakistan had not accused any country without concrete evidence.

He said that major actions under Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in June 2014 have been completed but intelligence and combing operations were going in different areas.
Islamabad: Islamabad has branded an address by India's foreign minister to the UN in which she accused Pakistan of terrorism in disputed Kashmir as a "litany of falsehoods".

Tensions between the longtime rivals have spiked over a recent attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir that New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Monday, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said: "Pakistan remains in denial. It persists in the belief that such attacks will enable it to obtain the territory it covets.

"My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the disputed Himalayan territory in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.

The Indian army has blamed the latest attack, in which 18 soldiers and four attackers were killed, on the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The group was also implicated in an audacious attack in January on an Indian air force base in Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab, that left seven soldiers dead.

Pakistan responded by calling Swaraj's speech a "litany of falsehoods" that distorted history, and denied its forces had aided the army base attack.

"These allegations are designed principally to deflect global attention from the brutalities being perpetrated by India's over half a million occupation force against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri children, women and men," said a statement by its foreign office released late Monday.

"Jammu and Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India. It is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council."

More than 80 people have been killed in ongoing unrest in Kashmir since 8 July when a young militant leader was shot dead by Indian soldiers, sparking one of the deadliest bouts of violence to hit the region in decades.

Several rebel groups have fought an estimated 500,000 Indian forces deployed in Kashmir, demanding independence for the Muslim-majority region or its merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the fighting, most of them civilians.
Islamabad: In a historic move, Pakistan's Parliament has passed the much-delayed bill to enable the country's minority Hindu community to register their marriages.

The first ever national law was passed on Monday after the draft was presented in the Lower House or National Assembly by Minister for Human Rights Kamran Micheal.

The Nation newspaper reported that the law bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women.

Breaking the law regarding the minimum age would result in six months' jail and a Rs 5,000 fine.

The Unicef estimates 21 percent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were first married before age 18, with three percent married before age 16.

Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women. "Once marriages are registered, at least they have certain rights that are ensured," she said.

Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare benefits.

The new law legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband's death. It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18.

Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions. "When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated. Currently members of the Hindu community say that no one listens to them, not even the courts," said Yusuf.

The National Assembly passed the bill after 10 months of deliberations. Now it needs to be passed by the Senate where it is expected to be cleared without any significant delay.

Hindus make up approximately 1.6 percent of Pakistan's Muslim-majority 190 million population, but they have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since Independence in 1947. Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages.
New York: An online White House petition asking for Pakistan to be declared as a state sponsor of terrorism has crossed 1,00,000 signatures, thus qualifying to get a response from the Obama administration.

The online petition launched by Indian Americans last week has become the third most popular petition on the White House website with nearly 1,10,000 people signing the petition. The Obama administration is expected to respond to it within 60 days.

The online petition was created on 21 September.

Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives.

"This petition is important to the people of United States of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism," the petition said.

An initiative of the US President Barack Obama, "We the People" online petition at the White House website provides a window to American citizens to campaign before the administration on a particular issue.

Currently on top of the list is the petition seeking to stop construction of "Dakota Access Pipeline" which has more than 2,10,000 signatures, followed by another petition seeking not to make "Kratom a schedule I substance" which has 1,37,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, the White House said that it is currently focused on enhancing its counter-terrorism capabilities with Pakistan.

"That (designating state sponsor of terrorism) is a very specific process and determination that involves a legal process and assessment," White House Deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said.

"Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability and to deal with terrorist threats on their soil. They are fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism," he said.

"We do believe that they are making progress and taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we have been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbours, and close all safe havens," Toner said.

Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American position that the US believes India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations.

"We encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

"We have long said that with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there is no zero-sum game here. We are pursuing very close relations with India," the deputy spokesperson said.

"We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the world's largest democracy and we share a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation," he said.

"Similarly, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses and terrorist groups that seek refuge in its territory," Toner added.
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Fifteen current and former Air France workers went on trial yesterday for alleged violence during a union protest last year at the airlines headquarters that saw two company executives flee over a fence with their shirts ripped off.

The incident, caught on camera, was a high-profile example of the often strained relations between French workers and their employers. Dozens of union activists rallied in support of the defendants outside the courthouse in Bobigny north of Paris as the trial began.

Five union members, who have since been fired, stand charges of aggravated assault, and face up to three years in prison and a 45,000-euro (USD51,000) fine if convicted. Ten Air France workers, who retained their jobs, face charges of property damage.

The violent protest took place last October during a crucial union-management meeting at the airlines headquarters next to Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris, where executives announced nearly 3,000 job cuts after years of belt-tightening at the airline.

A disgruntled crowd of union activists and other employees broke through an access gate to reach Air France headquarters. During a scuffle outside the building, two managers and several security guards were manhandled.

Under catcalls and boos, with protesters chanting naked, naked, and resignation, the airlines human resources director Xavier Broseta was seen bare-chested, with a tie still around his neck but just a piece of sleeve around his wrist.

Meanwhile, the head of long-

haul operations, Pierre Plissonnier, ended up with his shirt and suit jacket shredded. The two managers, under protection of security guards, managed to escape by climbing a fence.

The company filed a complaint for aggravated assault. Management and unions alike insist that the violence emanated from a small minority of workers.

Although the scuffle was unusually violent, relations between management and staff in France are often testy, with union activists sometimes destroying company property or briefly holding managers hostage  bossnapping it is often called  to make a point.

The shirt-ripping incident shocked many even in protest-

prone France and worried the government, a big Air France shareholder, about damage to the countrys reputation. Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls said these acts are the work of thugs.

In response, some unions and leftist politicians have denounced an increasing drive to criminalize trade union action, arguing that physical violence is a desperate response to extreme pressure from management on workers rights and jobs.

Air France has shrunk its workforce and cut costs over years of restructuring amid competition from low-cost and Mideast airlines. Its unions have gone on strike repeatedly, disrupting air traffic throughout Europe, and the pilots attend demonstrations in uniform. The Air France-KLM Group reported net annual profit in 2015 for the first time in several years. Philippe Sotto, Bobigny, AP
The Chief Executive (CE) Chui Sai On is one of the local figures mentioned in the leakage of confidential data related to offshore connections. The so-called Bahamas Leaks refers to the CE, Chuis brother and lawmaker Chui Sai Cheong in connection to a company named Yee Shing International. The company is referred to as a ghost company, and its headquarters are said to be in the British Virgin Islands.

The two members of the Chui family are mentioned as being former directors of the company, a subsidiary of Hopewell Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong based and listed infrastructure and property firm founded and headed by Gordon Wu in 1972.

The connection was first established by the neighboring media website HK01, citing documents leaked from offshore companies registered in the Bahamas between 1990 and 2016.

The company was involved in several local real estate projects, namely the Nova Taipa and Nova City developments, among many others in Hong Kong and on the Pearl River Delta such as the expressway, tunnel and bridge projects in the four toll expressway Guangzhou-Shenzhen Superhighway, Phases I, II and III of the Western Delta Route.

Chui Sai On was reportedly director of the company for a period of two years in between 1997 and 1999, before taking office as Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture.

As for the CEs brother, Chui Sai Cheong, one of the founding members of the company, the connection lasted far longer and is controversial due to the fact that Cheong has been a lawmaker since the handover in 1999, and was therefore obliged to declare his position as director of Yee Shing International on his declaration of assets and interests  which he allegedly failed to do, according to HK01.

In comments to Chinese language newspaper Macao Daily News last Saturday, Cheong explained that he had resigned from the position [as director] in July 2012 and that the legal regime of declaration of assets and interests only came into effect in 2013, in this way justifying that he was not obliged to declare his assets and interests prior to the new law.

The Bahamas Leaks released 1.3 million internal files from the company register of the Bahamas, one of the worlds most notorious tax paradises.

The data has brought to light details of the financial interests of politicians, entrepreneurs, financiers  and fraudsters just five months after the release of the Panama Papers.

The information was first received by German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, and then shared with the public in a Bahamas leaks database, established by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the same organization that initially revealed the Panama Papers. RM
Paulo Martins Chan, director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), said yesterday that banning croupiers from gambling is appropriate for the gaming industry.

Chan made the comment during yesterdays Responsible Gambling Promotions Kick Off Ceremony at the University of Macau (UM).

Some statistics clarify that [the likelihood of] dealers being addicted to gambling is relatively high, and so this is a very important measure to be implemented, said Chan. After seeing customers winning money, dealers easily develop the idea that winning is easy, or consider themselves to have a certain leverage.

The director said, in order to ban dealers from entering casinos, other measures should be implemented to enforce the policies.

However, the details have yet to be discussed at this stage, according to Chan.

We will know what to do at the right time, he said, adding that his department needs to collect ideas from the public and have a wide discussion about the issue.

Regarding the penalties that will be applied for dealers found entering casinos, Chan claims that no decision has been made so far and reaffirmed that the DICJ is still in consultation with the public, especially within communities of dealers.

Earlier this year, DICJ organized three meetings with gaming sector employees to reflect upon the aforementioned issues. Chan said that the opinions will be compiled into a consultation format and then forwarded to the Legislative Assembly. However, no schedules have been made about when the consultation version will be complete.

The director also said the gaming inspection department and the gaming employees have reached a preliminary agreement on the topic.

How to handle, how to enforce, or what kind of law enforcement there will be, are still under discussion, said Chan.

Fong Ka Chio, Director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of UM, also told the media that Macau has many years of experience already regarding barring certain groups from entering casinos.

Chio believes that the casinos strong surveillance systems pose no obstacle in the citys implementation of the policies once they are established. Julie Zhu


Third-party online payment platform Alipay has finalised agreements with 10 international airports which will come into play October 1, Securities Times reported. The Macau International Airport is one of the 10 airports included, together with Hong Kong International Airport and other Asian facilities like Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, Singapores Changi, Seoul Incheon and Taoyuan International Airport.

The list includes other locations worldwide like Munich and Auckland Airport.

Hotel room rates surge for national day holidays

As Chinas National Day Golden Week approaches, hotel room rates in Macau are expected to surge by 35 to 80 percent over the period of October 1 to 4, travel agencies in Guangdong revealed to Macao Daily News. The figures were reached relative to the lodging rates for the previous and subsequent days. The report stated that three-star hotels are registering the most significant rise in prices while four- and five-star hotels record a growth of about 50 percent.

PJ arrests 26 in criminal organization crackdown

A crackdown by the Judiciary Police (PJ) on a criminal organization operating in the region has resulted in the arrest of 26 people, the police force informed. According to the information provided, the 26 suspects in custody were part of a criminal scheme involving usury. All of the suspects involved are mainland Chinese residents.
An alleged timber smuggler in Cambodia has given journalists a lesson in ethics: People who take bribes should honor their commitments  or be prepared to die.

Timber smuggling and bribery are both common in Cambodia, but a video posted on Facebook late last week appears to illustrate how ingrained both activities have become.

The video clip was posted on a page calling itself the Siem Reap Post. It shows provincial logging tycoon Heng Samneang complaining that journalists in the northeastern province of Stung Treng to whom she was allegedly giving payoffs to keep her activities secret had instead informed the authorities, who then confiscated timber she was accused of trying to smuggle across the border to Vietnam.

She said that those who did not honor their promises would die in a car crash, though it was unclear if that was meant as a curse or a threat.

A journalist in Stung Treng, speaking anonymously because of fear for his safety, confirmed to The Associated Press that he and his colleagues were aware of Heng Samneangs alleged illegal activities, which had been going on for more than 10 years, and had received cash payments from her.

He said officials in charge of regulating logging also were aware of her activities and likewise took payoffs. While some of Heng Samneangs shipments had been confiscated, she had never been arrested, he said.

Environmental activists and experts say that Cambodia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, much of it due to illegal logging and corrupt land deals.

The video clip of Heng Samneang, also known as Yeay Proeung, shows her outside what appears to be her office on an unknown date. She has burning joss sticks grasped between her hands, which she raises up and down in front of her head in an oath-taking ceremony.

Heng Samneang is heard calling on the sky and earth as her witnesses for punishment for any journalists who betray her by informing the authorities of her activities.

All you journalists, be my witness, she says. While we are alive, we shall behave with honesty. If you have given your word to someone, you have to honor that promise or you will die in a car crash.

In the brief segment, she also tells the journalists that she does not keep all her income for herself, but shares it with them.

The journalist who spoke to the AP acknowledged receiving money from Heng Samneang, but said it was just occasional payments of USD15-20 treated as being for food or gasoline. The average annual income in Cambodia is about $1,000, though it is much lower in rural areas such as Stung Treng.

Some journalists and activists trying to expose illegal logging in Cambodia have been murdered. But other journalists  or people who describe themselves as journalists  use their knowledge of illegal logging to extort money from the loggers.

Buth Vicheath, owner of the Siem Reap Post Facebook page on which the video clip was posted, said he received it from a friend and was happy to circulate it to encourage the government to crack down on illegal logging. Sopheng Cheang, Phnom Penh, AP
China will build an Integrated Vocational Training Centre (Cinfotec) in Huambo province in 2017, the minister of public administration, labor, health and social security announced in Luanda, reports the newspaper Jornal de Angola.

Minister Pitra Neto spoke during a visit by Chinas ambassador to the Luanda Cinfotec. He said preparations were already under way and that Angolan and Chinese personnel had visited Huambo twice to begin the process.

Ambassador Cui Aimin explained that the personnel training would help Angola overcome current financial difficulties and that the projects cost was still being assessed. He also reiterated his countrys commitment to cooperating with Angola in all sectors already identified.

Cinfotec was conceived in 2008 as a centre for excellence in applied technologies, meant to provide technical qualification and training for professionals in the labour market. It offers technical, qualification and skill-perfection courses in the areas of metrology, mechanics and production, electricity and mechatronics, and information and communication technologies, including courses with international certification.

The Luanda Cinfotec has capacity for 901 trainees and counts 16 classrooms with 50 seats each, two videoconference rooms, one auditorium with 100 seats and 22 laboratories, 15 of them for theoretical teaching and 7 that focus on technological services. MDT/Macauhub
MGM plans to roll out a series of Mass Recruitment Fairs for local talent from now until the grand opening of MGM Cotai (scheduled for Q2 of 2017), including specific fairs that are organized in collaboration with several local institutions. The campaign offers over 1,200 new positions with approximately 6,000 job openings for both non-gaming and gaming departments.

The first Mass Recruitment Fair took place at MGM Macaus Grand Ballroom yesterday, offering non-gaming job openings under seven departments including Hotel Operations and Security. MGMs Talent and Acquisition team provided one-stop service for all candidates at the Recruitment Fair, including online submission of applications, interviews, and issuing offers of intent. According to a press release issued by MGM, over 800 local candidates attended the Fair, and more than 200 employment offers were made on-site.

Wendy Yu, Senior Vice President of Human Resources of MGM, said of the campaign: We will continue to provide extensive training and support to both our existing and new team members as we anticipate the expansion of MGMs footprint in Macau. We believe that great people create great moments, and we are confident that the Golden Lion Team will significantly contribute to Macaus position as a world leisure and tourism center.

ctm implements appreciative culture workshops

In a bid to reinforce employees sense of belonging and cohesiveness, CTM has been actively promoting Appreciative Culture since June, becoming the first corporation in the region to introduce this management concept.

CTM stated that by continuously organizing Appreciative Culture workshops, the company aims to establish a positive working atmosphere and deliver positive energy to society.

As cited in the companys press release, three Appreciative Culture Sharing Sessions were organized for 210 CTM employees over two months. Five Appreciative Leadership Workshops for management level employees were also held and 101 CTM Appreciative Leaders have been trained.

These employees will spread and facilitate Appreciative Culture among their peers and society at large.

CTM said it is committed to establishing an ideal working environment for employees by organizing various collaborative and training sessions to provide targeted employee development opportunities.
A 35-year-old Hong Kong male resident, surnamed Lam, and a 31-year-old local male resident, surnamed Kuan, obtained HKD1.15 million from a mainland tourist by telling the victim they would help him transfer the money to his mainland bank account. The money had been won by the victim from a local casino, the Public Security Police Force announced at a press conference yesterday.

According to the police report, on September 15, the victim won the money from a casino located in the Cotai, where the mainland resident met a third suspect. The latter, who is currently on the run, gave a bank account number to the victim and told him to deposit the money there, after which he would transfer the money to the victims mainland bank account. The victim proceeded to transfer the money to the account, as instructed by the third suspect.

The Macau resident, Kuan, later withdrew the money from the account, which had been opened by Lam. After withdrawing the cash, Kuan handed it over to the third man.

The victim only became aware of the scam one hour later, when he confirmed that no money had been transferred to his account, and then reported the case to the police.

On September 20, the police force arrested Lam, around 6 p.m. at the Border Gate, when the suspect was attempting to cross the border to Zhuhai. Kuan was arrested later on the same day while trying to leave the territory at the Macau Ferry Terminal. Both the third suspect and the money have not yet been found.

In a separate case, a local resident has been charged with aggravated offence after being caught driving during a suspension period. The local resident, surnamed Heng and aged around 20, was inspected by police at the border gate on the morning of September 24. Police asked the driver to show legal documents which could prove his drivers license, however the man failed to do so. The police then discovered he was serving a suspension period due to many earlier speeding infringements. Julie Zhu

Four arrested after illegally entering the city

Three mainland Chinese residents and one Vietnamese person were arrested last week after illegally entering the territory. The four suspects, three men and one woman, were detained overnight by police on Saturday and Sunday. The suspects arrived in Macau by swimming and on boats, as announced by the PSP yesterday. The four admitted they came to the city looking for jobs, while some came to the city for gambling as well.


The International School of Macau held its sixth University Fair yesterday, in which 43 universities participated.

The annual event aims to provide students from TIS and surrounding high schools with information about degree programs, application processes and scholarship opportunities.

TIS Academic Counselors Jody Hubert and Dan dEntremont told the Times it was expected the event would be attended by 450 students. In addition to TIS students, pupils from the Macau Anglican College and the School of the Nations were in attendance, as well as from the Zhuhai International School.

I think its good for students of all ages because it really shows them some different schools to think about, Huber explained. It gets the kids thinking and so it gives them a kick to get their applications done, she added.

Dan dEntremont explained that the majority of last years TIS graduates entered UK universities, thus most of the institutions in the fair are from the UK.

If [you] look at our graduating class last year, a lot of them went to these universities here, who are now coming to recruit. So perhaps now that theyve gotten some students from Macau, theyre coming to Macau hoping to get more students applying, he said.

Meanwhile, several students said they believed the fair was an advantage to them, as some have no plans of pursuing their studies in the region.

Juliana Tavares, a TIS student who is planning to study law, explained that the fair has broadened her perspective on choosing an institution.

I always have a fixed mindset on where I want to go but this really open[ed] my eyes. These opportunities [] kind of broaden your perspective and I think its really helpful, she said.

Another graduating student, Sonia Mercedes, said she also plans to study law and would like to explore different cultures, hence she has no plans to continue her studies in Macau.

Some exhibitors said they received several enquiries from the visiting students across a range of ages. The fair does not only target graduating students, but also pupils who will graduate in two to three years.

University of Hull representative Dominic Greenfield stated that the most popular courses are engineering, psychology and sport science, adding that he thought the fair was a success with a good turnout.

The counselors said there are plans of inviting several more schools in the region to the fair, adding that they will make the fair larger in the future if space permits.
Australias trade minister will lead the countrys first business delegation to visit Iran in 14 years after sanctions over Tehrans nuclear program were eased.

Steven Ciobo said he will leave today for the visit that will include reopening an Australian trade office that closed in 2010.

Ciobo said he will be accompanied by 20 representatives of Australian companies, with expertise in health, water management, agribusiness, mining, education and training.

Two-way trade between Australia and Iran fluctuated between 350 million Australian dollars (USD270 million) and AUD600 million a year while Australian sanctions were in place, he said.

With the sanctions easing, there is [] significant potential for that figure to move north of there, Ciobo told Australian Broadcasting Corp. yesterday.

There are still challenges, he said, citing Irans difficulty in fully reconnecting to the international financial system.

Australian eased sanctions in January after Iran implemented its nuclear pact.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action outlined what Tehran had to do to pull back its nuclear program from the brink of weapons-making capacity. And it spelled out the Wests obligations to end many financial, trade and oil sanctions that had battered Irans economy.

Mark Vaile, the trade minister at the time, led Australias last business delegation to Iran in 2002. AP
In response to the situation of up to 200,000 Filipino domestic helpers working illegally in China, a high representative from the Philippine government is set to discuss with mainland authorities the legitimization of these overseas workers.

The Macau and Hong Kong SARs long ago legalized such workers from the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries. In Macau, according to the Filipino consulate, there are some 25,000 overseas Filipino workers employed in different sectors in the region.

In the mainland, it was only in July last year that Shanghai allowed foreign residents to legally hire domestic helpers from overseas. However, Chinese citizens are not permitted to employ them.

According to a South China Morning Post report, only five domestic workers had reportedly been approved to work in Shanghai by the end of last year.

Accordingly, Silvestre Bellow, the Philippines labor and employment minister, may join President Rodrigo Duterte in China.

I intend to pursue my plan to visit China, maybe Beijing, and talk to the authorities on how to legitimize the stay of our overseas workers and at the same time look at the possibilities of bringing in more workers under legitimate circumstances, the minister said.

The minister stated his belief that the Chinese government may perceive that legalizing the market will lessen the job opportunities available for mainlanders, but argued that the market was big enough to accommodate the Filipino domestic workers who are already there.


The 30th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) will start on October 1 with the premier performance  the classic opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini  shown in the Macau Cultural Centers (CCM) Grand Auditorium. Written by the celebrated Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, the piece examines his lifelong theme of love and hate while exploring the orientalist perceptions of a Western composer.

Puccini, who was unable to finish the opera before he died, had his masterpiece pass to Franco Alfano, who completed it from the manuscripts written by the composer prior to his death. The story was then rewritten by Luciano Berio in 2002. According to a statement from CCM, the original version is beinge performed in this production, to bring back Puccinis classic.

The 30th edition of MIMF will come to a close with two cine-concerts under the theme of Chaplin Once More! Performed by Timothy Brock and the Macao Orchestra, the concerts will be held on October 29 and October 30 respectively, at 8 p.m. at the Parque Dr. Carlos dAssumpcao, near the Kun Iam Statue.

Charlie Chaplins famous movies, City Lights and The Gold Rush will be screened on these two dates respectively, conveying the power of Chaplins images with accompanying music.

Both movies are written and directed by Chaplin who also composed their soundtracks. When sound films were sweeping the world, Chaplin responded to their arrival by composing scores for his films.

Tickets for the 30th MIMF are now available at Macau Ticketing Network outlets.
A Philippine Airlines plane en route to Haneda airport in Tokyo returned to Manilas airport 20 minutes into its flight yesterday after the crew detected smoke in the cabin. The plane with 235 people on board landed safely and there were no reports of injury.

Firefighters and rescue teams were dispatched but the plane landed without incident.

Airline spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna said the A340-300 aircraft with 222 passengers and 13 crew members returned due to a technical concern.

She said the plane is being examined to determine why it had to turn back and the cause of the smoke was not known.

Passengers will continue with their journey [the same day] on a replacement flight, she added.

Last week, a Saudi Arabian Airlines pilot mistakenly pressed a hijack warning button on a flight approaching Manilas airport, where officials mobilized commando forces and isolated the jet after it landed.

The pilot confirmed to the airport tower that he pressed the distress button but did not say until the plane was parked that it was a mistake, the airports aviation security chief Mao Aplasca said. AP
Some call it ivory on wings, part of the bill of a critically endangered bird in Southeast Asia that is sought by poachers and carved into ornaments for illegal sale to Chinese buyers.

The helmeted hornbill isnt getting as much attention as the beleaguered African elephant at a global wildlife conference this week in South Africa. But the killing of elephants by the tens of thousands for their tusks is intertwined with a surge in the slaughter of the rare bird whose beak part is a coveted substitute for ivory.

Its all part of the rising demand for ivory, said Richard Thomas, spokesman for TRAFFIC, a conservation group based in Britain.

Poaching of the helmeted hornbill has soared since around 2010, particularly in Indonesia. The timing roughly coincides with an increase in elephant poaching that has caused a sharp drop in elephant populations. Last year, the helmeted hornbill was designated as critically endangered on an international red list of threatened species.

Delegates are discussing protections for elephants, helmeted hornbills and other vulnerable wildlife at a meeting in Johannesburg of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES . The 12-day meeting of the U.N. group, which regulates wildlife trade, ends Oct. 5.

The helmeted hornbill is a bird of lore, featuring in an ancient belief that it sits by a river between life and death. Its feathers have been used in traditional ceremonies. During breeding, the female is sealed into a nest, relying on the male to provide food.

The call of the helmeted hornbill is an intermittent, honking sound that slowly builds in tempo until it ends in what resembles, for some listeners, shrieks of laughter. Loud and long, the call helps poachers locate their prey.

In a CITES document , Indonesia asked for more collaboration among law enforcement agencies from countries where helmeted hornbills live, as well as end market nations  a reference primarily to China.

China, the worlds main ivory consumer, has already said it plans to close its domestic ivory market.

A large lump on top of the beak of the helmeted hornbill is made of keratin, a protein also found in rhino horn and other animal and human parts. It has a red tinge is softer than elephant ivory, making it an attractive material for carvers who have fashioned belt buckles, snuff boxes, pendants and images of Chinese deities from it over many centuries.

The upper part of the bill, also known as a casque, is solid, unlike the hollow casques of other hornbill species. Its price on the illegal market is higher than that of elephant ivory. A casque weighs up to 350 grams; the average weight of an elephant tusk is five kilograms, though a big males tusk can weigh 10 times as much.

At least 2,170 heads and bill parts of helmeted hornbills were confiscated from the illegal trade in Indonesia and China between 2012 and 2014, TRAFFIC said.

Investigators found helmeted hornbill products being sold openly in Laos, a major transit point for wildlife traffickers that borders China, according to a TRAFFIC report released this month. Sale locations included a luxury hotel and convention center in central Vientiane, the capital, it said.

Indonesia said it has arrested more than 20 people in the helmeted hornbill trade and sentenced most of them. Penalties include up to five years in jail and a heavy fine.

On Saturday, rangers in Indonesias Gunung Leuser National Park arrested a suspected helmeted hornbill poacher with a rifle and silencer, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, or WCS, a group based in New York. The suspect had just entered the forest and did not have any bird parts.

This species needs to be on peoples radars, said Elizabeth Bennett, vice president of species conservation at WCS.

Illegal logging in Indonesia is shrinking the habitat of the helmeted hornbill. Conservationists fear poachers will focus on the Malaysian population once supply dries up in Indonesia. Christopher Torchia, Johannesburg

Some elephants learning to avoid dangerous areas of poaching

Some African elephant herds are adapting to the danger of poaching by moving out of risky areas, according to one conservation group.

The plight of elephants is a key issue at the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, which began over the weekend and ends Oct. 5.

Radio tracking data of elephants since 1998 in northern Kenya show how exquisitely sensitive to risk they are, said Frank Pope, operations manager of Save the Elephants.

Africa had 1.3 million elephants in the 1970s but has only 500,000 today, according to wildlife experts.

In northern Kenyas Shaba reserve, you can almost pick out the borders of the reserve by where the elephants go, Pope said. There is no fence, there is no cutting, there is nothing to visually mark it, but the elephants know, I am safe here, Im not safe here.

Pope said there is every reason to believe that elephants are voting with their feet and moving from unsafe areas to safe areas.

Save the Elephants also works in Virunga National Park in eastern Congo, which is home to multiple armed groups competing for control of the regions vast mineral resources. Some have been accused of killing elephants for their tusks. Elephants there stick closely to rangers posts, Pope said.

The elephant populations worst hit by poaching are in Tanzania, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Republic of Congo and Congo.

Kenya has said it will push for the total ban on the trade in ivory at the CITES meeting. It says the temporary lifting of the ban in 2007 to allow some countries to offload their stockpiles fueled the resurgence of killing elephants to sell their tusks, primarily to China and southeast Asian countries. AP
In celebration of World Tourism Day, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has again held its traditional series of events.

Yesterday morning, MGTO officials were present at Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal to personally hand welcome souvenirs to a Lucky Tourist.

The Lucky Tourist of this year came from Shenzhen to attend a corporate meeting in town and brought along her family from Sichuan for a four-

day vacation in the region.

The annual Tray Race was also held in the afternoon of September 27, starting from the Ruins of St Pauls.

The race attracted around 190 participants, representing some 20 hotels, restaurants and entities in the region.

Many of the contestants were dressed in various costumes and outfits. Each carried their tray with a bottle of beer along the lanes to Senado Square.

For this years theme, Tourism for All  Promoting Universal Accessibility, the World Tourism Organization encourages destinations globally to create a barrier-free tourism environment that is accessible for all.

MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said that by promoting universal accessibility, various destinations could enjoy greater economic benefits.

With economic and social progress as well as market developments, she looks forward to seeing the local tourism industry grow and provide more accessible, higher quality services for visitors.

World Tourism Day has been held annually since 1980 in a bid to promote awareness about the significance of tourism across the international community, especially regarding its social, cultural, political and economic value. Over 100 regions carried out celebrations for the World Tourism Day around the world on the same day. This years official celebrations were held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Macao Government Tourism Office displayed the citys attractions at the four-day JATA Tourism EXPO Japan in Tokyo, in a bid to attract more Japanese and other international visitors to the region.

This year, the MGTO booth at the expo featured a heritage-themed decoration and presents as its top attraction a virtual reality (VR) tour through the peninsula.

According to the bureau, visitors to the booth experienced a virtual trip to Macau, with a birds eye view of the citys heritage, the new tourism complexes, a ride on a Grand Prix race and finish with a Bungy Jump from the Macau Tower.

Another feature of MGTO booth was a Macau food truck, set up for the consumer days of the expo on the weekend. The food truck introduced some of the regions favorite delicacies, prepared by two local food and beverage establishments.

Representatives from Macaus tourism industry joined the bureau at the expo to promote the city, with the booth also serving as a platform for Macau businesses to connect with their international counterparts and to tap into the Japanese market.

According to the bureau, Japan is one of regions vital international visitor-source markets. For the first eight months of the year, visitor arrivals increased by 7.5 percent to a total of 187,011 visitors, with overnight stay visitors marking 11.6 percent growth during the same period.

Macau and Japan air links also increased this year, with direct flights to Fukuoka added to the existing daily air links to Tokyo and Osaka.

Meanwhile, MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes attended the one-day long forum focused on discussing and sharing best practices concerning the great power of MICE and Sports events in contributing to sustainable tourism development ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

Under the theme of Green Meetings in the MICE session, Senna Fernandes, outlined the latest development of the MICE industry in the city, stating the positioning of MICE industry in Macau as one of the citys development strategies.

Senna Fernandes also attended the Global Tourism Forum that started with keynote speeches by the Secretary General of World Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai, and the President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, David Scowsill. The speeches were followed by a symposium, with the participation of several guest speakers, that focused on how to build tourism destinations through harmonized development.

JATA Tourism EXPO, held from September 22 until Sunday, is Japans main international and comprehensive tourism exhibition. Last year the event attracted more than 1,000 exhibiting entities from over 140 countries and regions, and 173,602 visitors.

Further, MGTO also organized a promotion in the country last February, on top of the promotional work carried out all year round. Macau appeared for the first time as a feature destination at the Sapporo Snow Festival, a world famous winter festival in Japan.
The body of a newspaper editor killed seven years ago was exhumed yesterday for a fresh investigation as Sri Lankas government looks anew at multiple unsolved killings of journalists under a previous government.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while driving to work in January 2009. He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then-governments alleged human rights violations during a civil war with the ethnic Tamil rebels.

The exhumation took place under a court order after police investigators sought permission for a new examination due to contradictory medical and post-mortem reports, said Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer representing his familys interests. The officer who carried out the autopsy said the death occurred due to gunshot wounds, while the surgeon who operated on the editor before he died said the wounds were not from bullets.

Ranagala said police also wanted to identify the type of weapon used to kill Wickrematunga.

A number of journalists were killed, reported as missing after being abducted by government paramilitaries, or beaten up under former President Mahinda Rajapaksas administration. No one has been convicted.

In a pre-written editorial published posthumously, Wickrematunge had said it will be the government that would kill him.

The new government elected last year has begun fresh investigations into the unsolved killings of journalists. Bharatha Mallawarachi, Colombo, AP
TransAsia Airways confirmed on Monday that one of its aircraft returned to Macau 30 minutes after take-off to Taiwan.

We know there was a problem, but we have not yet found the cause, announced Euphemia Lam, senior public relations officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (AACM).

The TransAsia Airways office told the Times that they cannot make comments on the issue when asked about the reasons behind the incident.

At the time of the incident, the aircraft was carrying a total of 150 passengers, who had departed from the local airport around 7:35 p.m. on Monday night.

Meanwhile, 21 flights at Macau International Airport have been canceled due to Typhoon Megi in Taiwan. Lam declared that the department cannot predict how the situation will evolve. Seven flights from Macau to Taipei, as well as eight from Taipei to Macau, were cancelled yesterday in addition to three flights bound for Kaohsiung and three leaving Kaohsiung. Eight of the 21 cancelled flights are under TransAsia Airways, as announced by the airport.

Back in 2014, one TransAsia Airways aircraft flying from Taipei to Macau returned to Taoyuan International Airport five minutes after take-off. The captain noticed an abnormal instrument warning and decided to return. A total of 148 passengers were on board at the time.
A book launch was held at the University of Macau (UM) last week, where professor Hao Yufan, who is currently serving as the acting director of the Centre for Macau Studies, presented his research findings on the U.S. diplomatic service in the peninsula during the mid-19th century.

The book, titled Dispatches from United States Consuls in Macao (1849-1869), is primarily written in English and contains copies of letters written by U.S. consular officials in Macau addressed to the U.S. Department of State during the period.

Hao Yufan who spoke with the Times ahead of his presentation yesterday, explained that the book sheds light on the relationship between the American and Portuguese officials in Macau, as the former tried to expand its influence in East Asia.

The book is about the American relationship with Macau since the mid-19th century, [dealing] mostly with the diplomatic dispatches of the American Consul, explained Hao. These are very important historical documents for us to understand the early activities of the U.S. in this part of the world, and they [the letters] also provide [information] on Macau-U.S. relations in general during this period.

Macau used to be a very important base, said Hao, in reference to the use of the peninsula as a base for Western traders to access the lucrative markets of China and Japan. In those days, before Hong Kong was an important place, the Americans viewed Macau as the link to Canton [Guangdong Province].

When asked why he wanted to examine this particular bilateral relationship in his book, Hao replied, I am interested in this topic because I am an expert in international relations. After coming to [the University of] Macau, it became quite obvious that my research interests would gradually focus on Macaus external relationship  including its relations with the British, Americans and other Western powers.

A lot of scholars have studied Macau-Portuguese relations, but there are other areas that need to be covered, he added.
USA Donald Trump blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and anyone but himself yesterday after he was forced onto defense by Hillary Clintons cascade of critiques about his taxes, honesty and character in the first presidential debate.

CHINA A gas explosion at a coal mine in northwest China killed nine people and left 11 others trapped underground, Chinas state broadcaster reported. The explosion happened yesterday morning at a mine in the Shizuishan city area of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China Central Television said. Rescuers were trying to reach the trapped and the cause of the explosion was under investigation.

TAIWAN Strong winds knock down people and scatter debris as a large typhoon crosses over Taiwan, killing four people and injuring more than 26.

VIETNAM Hundreds of fishermen have filed claims seeking compensation from a Taiwanese steel company that acknowledged its toxic chemicals caused a massive fish kill.

PHILIPPINE officials say they have ordered the suspension of 20 more mines, mostly nickel producers, for environmental violations, threatening to tighten supply from the worlds top nickel ore exporter.

SRI LANKA The body of a newspaper editor killed seven years ago was exhumed for a fresh investigation as Sri Lankas government looks anew at multiple unsolved killings of journalists under a previous government.

IRAN An adviser to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the countrys former hard-line president, says the politician wont seek re-election in next years presidential vote after apparently being discouraged by the countrys supreme leader.

AGHANISTAN An official says that at least 13 Afghan army soldiers were killed when a group of Taliban militants attacked their checkpoint in northern Kunduz province.




Fureverhome.com stands out from other similar adoption websites because of how it functions, Knight said. Most other platforms she uses for Adopt a Pit crash regularly and are not as user friendly.



The best part about the service, however, is that it makes the process of finding a dog easier, she said.



Knight said the pictures and bios are an important part of the concept, as they help showcase pets in their best light. It gets them out there and gets people interested in them, it allows us to do better advertising for them, she said.



Potential adopters using Fureverhome.com can also narrow down their search to the specific animal, breed, gender and size they want and can even look for pets that are good with kids or other animals.



When somebody is adopting a dog from the rescue, they are saving three lives, Knight said. They saved the dog they rescued, they are saving the life of the dog that I am going to pull [out of a shelter] and opening up space for another dog in the shelter. If they are not full, they are not euthanizing.



Pam Berge, a longtime friend of Basils family, has been helping her with Fureverhome.com ever since Basil came back to Ohio. Berge, who is a board member of Fureverhome, said the website is changing the animal adoption world.



In the past, you might have had to physically go someplace if you were thinking about adopting, she said. Now it is there if you are sitting in your home, in your office. It is like social media. It is instant.



If it werent so convenient, Berge said she is not sure whether or not people would just let it pass by.

LINK:

Explore Fureverhome.com





Fernanda Crescente is a senior journalism student and writing intern with UC Magazine.




Rose Family Automotive opens in Jerome

JEROME  Rose Family Automotive opened in Jerome earlier this year at 124 W. Ave. E.

The business, owned and operated by Troy and Justin Rose, offers a selection of 10-12 used vehicles on site.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Information: 208-539-6355.

Escape Twin Falls

opens Friday

TWIN FALLS  Think youre good at puzzles? A new business plans to test your skills.

Escape Twin Falls will offer an escape room experience beginning Friday, where participants get locked in a themed room for an hour and try to solve puzzles to get out. The room holds groups of two to 10 people.

These rooms have such a relatively low success rate, Manager Dakotah Doshier said. What makes them really want to do it is its a challenge.

The cost is $22 per person. The room has an emergency exit, just in case.

Games begin Friday at Escape Twin Falls, 1525 Addison Ave. E., Suite C12, for ages 7 and older. Ages 7-15 must be accompanied by an adult or a $250 babysitting fee will apply, according to the business website.

Each game lasts about one hour, and 20 minutes notice is requested by booking online.

Hours begin at 4 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The last games begin at 8:30 p.m. Information: www.escapetwinfalls.com.

Natural Grocers grand opening today

HAILEY  Natural Grocers opens its new store today at 710 N. Main St.

A ribbon cutting begins at 7:55 a.m., and the first 100 customers in line may choose either a mystery gift card, varying from $5 to $100, or a prize from the grand opening giveaway table. Customers wont know the amount of the gift card until they check out.

Opening in Hailey gives us another opportunity to serve the state of Idaho by bringing them the best quality organic and natural products at our always affordable pricing and demonstrating our commitment to the local community, Kemper Isely, Natural Grocers co-president, said in a statement.

Opening-day activities will include gluten-free muffin sampling, paleo wrap tasting and vendor demonstrations throughout the store.

The new Hailey store will feature Natural Grocers good4u Grand Opening Nutrition Challenge Sweepstakes, which offers participants an opportunity to learn about healthy eating while earning prizes. The value of all prizes in the sweepstakes is more than $2,000.

The sweepstakes runs from today through Oct. 8. Rules: www.naturalgrocers.com/sweepstakes.

All participants who attend the Nutrition Challenge classes will receive a $5 gift card and be entered to win either $125 in groceries or a $100 gift card. Recipes that feed a family of four for $25 or less per meal will be available at each class.

The store is open 8 a.m. to 9:04 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. Sunday.
JEROME  The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking hunters to help gather upland game bird information by providing a fully feathered wing for each bird they harvest.

By examining the shape, condition, length and color patterns on wing feathers, biologists can determine the bird's sex and whether it was an adult or juvenile. For sage grouse, biologists can tell if an adult female successfully produced chicks that year. The percentages of juvenile and adult wings collected can provide information on production rates. All of that helps determine the status of bird populations and helps Fish and Game improve species management, the agency's release said.

Hunters can provide their wings in several ways.

Close to 3,000 hunters who purchased a sage/sharp-tailed grouse permit have received a packet in the mail with directions and a prepaid return envelope. Hunters who did not receive a mail-wing envelope can still participate by calling the nearest Fish and Game office or 208-334-2920.

"We'd like the wings mailed back to us by November. For sharp-tailed grouse, we also want to know where the bird was harvested, date of harvest, days hunted, and number of hunters if hunting in a group," said Jeff Knetter, Fish and Game upland game and migratory bird coordinator.

Hunters can also drop their wings off at department-run check stations or in "wing barrels" at popular access routes throughout the hunting season. But check stations and wing barrels sometimes miss grouse hunters in more remote areas of the state; the mail-in wing program targets them.
TWIN FALLS  The Comprehensive Plan will be open for comment during its first public hearing Tuesday.

Twin Falls Grow With Us plan or "Twin Falls Vision 2035" will come before the Planning and Zoning Commission for a possible recommendation to City Council. Zoning & Development Manager Renee Carraway-Johnson hopes the city is in the final stages before adoption.

Overall, the plan helps direct the growth patterns of the city for the next decade.

It allows expansion of residential growth and development, mixed-use growth and development, and industrial expansion, Carraway-Johnson said.

The plan addresses eight functions of city development: land use; community design and character; housing; economic development; park recreation  open space  and trails; transportation; public facilities and services; and public airport facilities.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 305 Third Ave. E.
BURLEY  Police say a man sexually abused a 9-year-old girl at a home where he was staying.

Aaron Thomas Desind, 25, is charged with lewd conduct with a child younger than 16 and sexual abuse of a child younger than 16.

A man approached Cassia County deputies Sept. 12 at the Burley library and said Desind sexually abused his child the night before.

Desind was still at the home on a mattress on the floor when deputies arrived, and he was taken to the sheriffs office for questioning.

He told police he touched the gir on the same mattress earlier. The girl told him to stop, so he turned over and went to sleep, he said.

Police say Desind told officers he was going to prison for the rest of his life for touching the child, apologized for touching her and wrote an apology letter.

Desind is being held at the Mini-Cassia Criminal Justice Center on a $75,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Oct. 14 in Cassia County Magistrate Court.

The maximum penalty for sexual abuse is 25 years in prison, and the maximum penalty for lewd conduct is life in prison.
Reps. Lance Clow and Steve Hartgen and Sen. Lee Heider plan on attending. The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is billed as "a couple of hours of food, fun and conversation," according to a news release from Clow's campaign. Hartgen said the three will make brief statements and then take questions on state legislative issues. Light refreshments will be served and campaign donations accepted.
MOUNTAIN HOME  Several student paintings in the Mountain Home High School parking lot were covered up over the weekend after one of the portraits sparked controversy in the community.

Tamia Williams designed a painting for the parking lot as part of her senior classs fundraiser. She and her friends painted a black woman with princess written on top and #blacklivesmatter written underneath on Saturday Sept. 17. After it was painted an image of it was shared widely on social media. School officials announced the following Monday that the painting and others would get covered, because it wasnt covered by school district policy. Students protested the removal of the art with a sit-in and counter-protesters responded by waving confederate flags and, according to the student protesters, delivering fried chicken and watermelon to the students.

Mountain Home High School senior Tamia Williams designed a painting that since got covered up by her school.

Mountain Home High School senior Tamia Williams designed a painting that since got covered up by her school. Erin Fenner efenner@idahostatesman.com

We, the students and adults of Mountain Home who participated in the protests of Tuesday and Wednesday, are dismayed by the loss of our parking spot artwork. Most of us were unaware that the murals would be painted over; the district office never directly communicated the final plans to the student body, said one of the protesters, Katie Blackwell in a statement. Although our artwork has been painted over, we know that through our silent protest, our voices have been heard throughout the country.

Superintendent James Gilbert released a statement regarding the painting over of parking spots:

The Mountain Home High School parking lot was painted over and re-striped this past weekend as part of an agreed-upon resolution between the superintendent and (Associated Student Body) president. Before the end of 17the day on Friday, the ASB president consulted with students who had painted parking spots previously. She shared the proposal (below) with those students. All involved were agreeable to the resolution.

Students will be allowed to paint a smaller area within each stall. All paintings must be approved by administration and must comply with specific guidelines. The specific blue color associated with handicapped parking will not be allowed. Those who previously purchased their spot will be reimbursed $20 dollars and allowed to repaint their spot. If they choose not to repaint they will receive the entire $45. The high school will also reimburse the students for paint and provide paint for those 12 individuals should they choose to participate. Any new students that are going to paint will pay the full $45. It was agreed that the murals would be painted over on Sunday and the parking lines would be restriped.
The first Clinton-Trump debate is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 26. Here's what you need to know about that event and the other proposed debates
The Saudi-led coalition has rejected a ceasefire proposed by Saleh Al-Sammad, head of the 10 member governing political council, established by the Houthis and their allies in August. The coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri stressed that if they (rebels) want to have a ceasefire they know what they have to do making reference to the disarmament of the rebels and the handing over of seized territories.

Sammad wants the coalition to suspend its airstrikes in exchange for a cessation of hostilities near the Saudi border with Yemen. The proposal was strongly rejected by Assiri who underlined that the Saudi border is not and will not be the subject of any discussion. He said the coalition welcomes any effort to have a genuine political settlement rather than a short cease-fire without any control, without any observation.

Several ceasefires have failed with both sides accusing each other of violations. The latest negotiations for a ceasefire that was supposed to pave the way for a political transition were held in Kuwait but they faltered as the Houthi Movement refused to sign the ceasefire agreement that it deemed partial because its demand for a joint transitional government was not part of it.

Kuwaits Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Suleiman Al-Jarallah said they are ready to host the warring parties again under the auspices of the UN represented by its Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The State of Kuwait has always been supportive of all efforts aiming to resolve the Yemeni crisis peacefully, including the efforts of brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jarallah stated.

Meanwhile, former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh wants direct talks with Riyadh in order to reach a peace deal in the war torn country. Saleh was forced from power under the wave of the Arab Spring.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
Africa lost as many as 111,000 elephants over the last decade as a surge in poaching in the east of the continent caused the populations biggest decline in the past 25 years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said in a report released over the weekend.

The report was released during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES.) The summit, held in Johannesburg, discussed solutions to combat the extinction of the worlds most endangered species.

According to the report, Elephant poaching has risen to meet demand in Asian markets, such as China where ivory is a coveted commodity, used in carving and ornamental accessories.

Based on 275 estimates from across the continent, the report put Africas total elephant population at around 415,000, a decline of around 111,000 over the past decade.

According to the IUCN, there were a number of regions where systematic surveys could not be taken, making it difficult to report on what was happening to elephants in countries such as South Sudan, Liberia and savannah areas of the Central African Republic.

The IUCN noted that southern populations in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are stable or increasing, and there is evidence of elephant range expansion in Botswana.

Namibia and Zimbabwe have submitted proposals to the CITES, seeking permission to lift a global ban on the ivory trade so they can sell stockpiles.
Zimbabwes president Robert Mugabe on Saturday announced that the African Union is of the view that if their position of getting a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council is not adopted, the AU will pull out of the United Nations next year.

Mugabe made the statement before thousands of Zanu PF party supporters who had gathered at Harare International Airport to welcome him back home from the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the 92-year-old leader, the AU was still concerned that it had no permanent seat on the Security Council.

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, Mugabe told his supporters.

In his words, China, India, Russia and some African countries will form their own splinter Union.

These are the countries we want, without fear like the founding fathers that formed the Organization of African Unity, he said.

But now Africa is full of cowards who are afraid; so we need to give them courage during this process of deliberations, he added.

The Security Council permanent members are China, Russia, Britain, France, and the United States.
China has donated $200,000 to the East African Community (EAC) as part of efforts aimed at facilitating dialogue in the political crisis in Burundi.

Violence in Burundi began in the wake of President Pierre Nkurunzizas announcement that he would seek a third term in office, and continued after he was elected last year.

Last month UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein expressed concern over increased violence and rights violations in the country and called for an inclusive political dialogue to end the ongoing struggle.

Making the announcement at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Mr. Gou Haodong, Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reaffirmed Chinas commitment to the success of the Burundi peace process.

The funds were received on behalf of the EAC by its director of infrastructure, Phillip Wambugu, who thanked China for their gesture. The Burundi dialogue is led by former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa.

The Council directed that the money be used for the all-inclusive dialogue activities under the office of the facilitator, the EAC Council of Ministers said in a statement.

Mkapa has, however, said the EAC also needs to commit its own funds instead of relying on donors in order to give the talks credibility.
Federal government asks judge to dismiss case against Denver pot lawyer

A prosecutor from the U.S. Attorneys office in Colorado has asked a federal judge to dismiss all drug and money laundering charges against Denver attorney David Furtado, a key figure in what was once heralded as the biggest criminal pot raids in the states legal-marijuana era.

Article by Kirk Mitchell

Acting U.S. Attorney Robert C. Troyer requested all five felony money laundering charges against Furtado be dismissed without prejudice in a motion on Friday, according to a court document.

The dismissal brought to a quiet end a case that was announced three years ago in a high-profile news conference in which Furtado was named as an operator in VIP Cannabis dispensary, helping to oversee an international drug-trafficking and money-laundering operation that included close to 30 people and spanned multiple licensed marijuana businesses and unlicensed residential grows.

But only Furtado and three others were ever charged with federal crimes connected to VIP Cannibis. Although the other three were all convicted, their charges were greatly reduced in plea bargaining. The defendants who all originally faced decades in federal prison entered probationary deals, according to court records.

Furtados Denver attorney, Joseph Saint-Veltri, declined to comment. But in a second motion to dismiss he filed in December, Saint-Veltri accused the U.S. Attorneys office of selective prosecution.

Prosecutors had previously alleged that Furtado helped orchestrate a scheme to funnel money from Colombia through several bank accounts in Denver and into the purchase of a warehouse for growing marijuana.
(HealthDay)A colonoscopy can find and remove cancerous growths in the colon, but it may not provide much cancer prevention benefit after the age of 75, a new study suggests.

A review of more than 1.3 million Medicare patients aged 70 to 79 found that having a colonoscopy reduced colon cancer risk slightly over eight years, from just under 3 percent to a little more than 2 percent in those younger than 75. But it had little or no effect on cancer risk among patients over 75.

However, Robert Smith, vice president for cancer screening at the American Cancer Society, said it would be misguided to stop all colonoscopies for people once they turn 75. The better criterion is the overall health and life expectancy of the patient, he said.

"The issue is with older adults whether or not there is any benefit for screening. After 75, you can make individualized decisions [about] whether screening is appropriate," said Smith, who was not involved in the study.

Screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend screening for colon cancer with any method, including colonoscopy, from age 50 to 75. Medicare reimburses colonoscopy, regardless of age.

Smith said the people in this study were in good health. But, in practice, people with limited life expectancy are also being screened, which is not recommended, he said.

Study lead author Dr. Xabier Garcia-Albeniz, a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues noted that colonoscopy is an invasive procedure that requires a thorough bowel cleansing and often sedation beforehand. Risks of complications include bowel perforation during the procedure.

However, the study authors found that the risk for serious harm from colonoscopy was small in both age groups.

"Patients, physicians and policymakers may want to consider these findings when making decisions about colorectal cancer screening, especially in upper age groups," the researchers said.

The report was published Sept. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Smith said: "Healthy older people benefit from screening. But you're not going to benefit if you are likely to die from something else. If you have colon cancer but are likely to die before there are symptoms, then screening doesn't help very much."

The challenge, he said, is how to determine if the patient is going to live much longer.

Often people get to 70 or 75, and they have common chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol or diabetes that won't alter their life expectancy. Yet their doctor "may think they are too old to benefit from [colonoscopy] screening, but they may live another 10 to 20 years," Smith said.

Smith doesn't believe colonoscopy is the only way to screen for colon cancer. Other methods, such as fecal occult blood test or a CT colonoscopy, are noninvasive and can be accurate as well. Scanning the colon is noninvasive, he said, and although it is not covered by Medicare, it is recommended by the Preventive Services Task Force.

"How we screen older adults is an area that needs further investigation beyond, 'Are they going to benefit from colonoscopy or not?' " Smith said.

Explore further One in four colonoscopies in Medicare patients found to be potentially inappropriate

Copyright  2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Today, the New York Academy of Medicine released the second Health Impact Assessment (HIA) conducted in New York City's history and the first for the community of East Harlem. The East Harlem HIA shows the many ways that the rapid disappearance of affordable housing, and the widespread prevalence of substandard housing, may affect the health and wellbeing of city residents, especially in low-income, urban areas.

By combining the concerns and interests of community residents, advocates and other stakeholders, with a wide range of data and analytic methods, HIAs assess the potential health impact of policies or plans that might be linked to changes in housing, transportation, business development or other activities.

East Harlem, the Academy's home and one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, has lost almost 2,000 units of affordable housing since 2011 and is estimated to lose more than 6,000 over the next 10 years. When a community loses affordable housingespecially in a dense, expensive urban arearesidents experience displacement, increased homelessness and other stresses that lead to poor health outcomes. These issues may be magnified in an area such as East Harlem, where residents already endure substandard and poorly maintained housing, as well as disproportionately high rates of hypertension, diabetes, asthma, infant mortality, drug addiction and challenges to mental health.

The HIA"East Harlem Neighborhood Plan Health Impact Assessment: Connecting Housing Affordability and Health"also supports a key aspect of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Affordable Housing Plan. It identifies the plan's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing requirement as a crucial part of maintaining a stable, health-supporting environment in urban communities.

"The Academy's HIA was conducted to inform the implementation of the housing component of the East Harlem Neighborhood Plana document that is the result of the Academy working collaboratively with East Harlem residents, organizations and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Our intent is to help residents and policy makers see that housing policy is also health policy and encourage the inclusion of HIAs in all, relevant city planning processes. HIAs are a critical tool for understanding the positive, and possibly negative, effects of a range of policies on the health of urban residents." said Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President of the Academy.

"In East Harlem, we are actively considering what policies, programs and investments are important to the future of our community, and we're thankful to The New York Academy of Medicine for assessing the broader health impacts of those proposed changes and ensuring long-term health outcomes improve for local residents," Mark-Viverito said.

Explore further Home remediation in low-income housing shows significant effect on childhood asthma

Provided by New York Academy of Medicine
(HealthDay)European and American guidelines lead to different recommendations for statin therapy, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

Amir A. Mahabadi, M.D., from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, and colleagues assessed the coronary artery calcification (CAC) score of 3,745 subjects from the population-based longitudinal Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study without cardiovascular disease or lipid lowering therapy at baseline. Based on individual baseline characteristics, statin indication was determined according to 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines.

The researchers observed a lower frequency of statin recommendation with ESC versus AHA/ACC guidelines (34 versus 56 percent; P < 0.0001); in subjects with statin indication by both guidelines, low CAC score (<100) was common (59 and 62 percent, respectively). One hundred thirty-one myocardial infarctions occurred during 10.4  2.0 years of follow-up. For ESC recommendations, risk was differentiated by CAC score of 100 among subjects without and those with statin indications. AHA/ACC CAC score of 100 stratified proportions experiencing events among those with statin indication; the event rate was low for subjects without statin indication.

"Current ESC and AHA/ACC guidelines lead to markedly different recommendations regarding statin therapy in a German primary prevention cohort," the authors write. "Quantification of CAC score in addition to the guidelines improves stratification."

Explore further Many not treated according to 2013 cholesterol guidelines

Copyright  2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Colorado State University

A Colorado State University researcher has uncovered definitive evidence about adolescents' lack of physical activity, and the results are not good.

Instead of relying on surveys and self-reporting, as many past studies have done, Assistant Professor Kaigang Li of CSU's Department of Health and Exercise Science used physical activity trackers called accelerometers to objectively measure the duration and intensity of exercise that a sample of 16- to 19-year-olds were getting daily.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a day for children and adolescents to maintain general health. Activity levels can be a reliable predictor of future health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Previous research has shown that only .04 percent of 9-year-olds don't get that amount of exercise daily, a figure that jumps to 70 percent for 15-year-olds.

Li found that, on average, his sample of kids in their late teens were exercising even less: 91 percent were not getting at least an hour of that type of physical activity each day.

"It's a huge problem," he said. "Parents and schools need to be doing more to help kids make exercise part of their daily life."

An article on Li's study, "Changes in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents," was published in Pediatrics on Sept. 26.

About the study

Li, who was lead author on the article, studied about 600 teenagers at 44 schools around the country for four years, from 10th grade through their first year after high school. The study, part of the $10 million NEXT Generation Health Project, is one of the first studies to use accelerometers to measure activity levels in a sample that size over that length of time. He said his team picked the 16- to 19-year-old age group because it's a time of great transition and development, physically, mentally and even environmentally, as many teens leave home and go to college or work.

Li had his subjects wear accelerometers on their right hips at least 10 hours a day, at least four days a week. He found that, after high school, physical activity levels continued to decline or remained low, regardless of whether the teens went on to college. Those who did attend college were slightly more active than those who didn't, and of the college students, those living off campus exercised less than on-campus residents.

"The environment can influence young people's level of engagement, because of access to fitness centers, gyms or other recreational facilities," Li said.

His conclusion? Teens may benefit from the structure that parents and high schools provide through PE classes or organized sports, but after graduation the vast majority don't continue to make exercise part of their daily lives. Li said one key is giving kids better time management skills in high school.

"They need to learn how to exercise by themselves, or they may not know how when they get to college," Li said. "They need to be able to do it on their own once they leave high school and home. They will need to have the skills to manage their time and improve their health and lifestyles."

More rec centers?

Building more recreation centers on college campuses is not the answer, he said.

"College students have slightly higher activity levels than non-college students, but it's still low," Li said. "So colleges should expand opportunities for physical activitynot just with facilities, but with programs and campaigns to motivate students, because students aren't using those facilities enough. Something needs to be done to push them. It's not enough to build a rec center, you have to get the students to use it."

Li also raised concerns about those who don't attend college.

"What should we do to increase their physical activity?" he asked. "Governmental agencies and communities should reach out to them to better understand their needs, situation and barriers, and provide them with more publicly accessible facilities. No one should be left behind."

Predictably, the subjects in his study who were overweight exercised less on average than those at healthy weights.

Li, who has 7-year-old and 9-year-old daughters, said the results of his study have made him even more conscientious about making sure his children get enough exercise through swimming, karate, gymnastics and other activities.

"I want them to keep moving and consider exercise as part of their life," he said. "As a father myself, these findings hit home on a personal level."

Partners in the study

Li's five co-authors include principal investigator Bruce Simons-Morton, senior investigator for the Intramural Research Program at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland, where Li worked before joining the CSU faculty about a year ago.

In addition to the NICHD, the agencies that funded the research were the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; the National Institute on Drug Abuse; and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

"People probably already know that we're not getting enough exercise, but I hope this serves as a national alert that we should be doing more to change that," Li said.

In a previous study published by Pediatrics in 2014, Li and his fellow researchers examined the same age group's attitudes toward driving under the influence, finding that riding with a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol made adolescents more likely to drive while impaired themselves.

Explore further Nine of ten US teens don't get enough exercise

More information: K. Li et al. Changes in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents, Pediatrics (2016). Journal information: Pediatrics K. Li et al. Changes in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents,(2016). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-1372
Credit: University of Nottingham

Structured group psychoeducation sessions could be more successful in treating patients in the early stages of bipolar disorder than standard peer-support offered by the NHS and the voluntary sector, research has found.

The study by academics at The Universities of Nottingham, Lancaster (Spectrum Centre) and Manchester published this week in The Lancet Psychiatry, and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), found evidence that psychoeducation  in which patients are offered information on their illness and work with family members to develop personalised coping strategies  could potentially offer an effective early intervention for people with bipolar disorder.

They have called for further research to explore whether group psychoeducation could be used preventatively to halt the further progression of the disorder.

'Overall Benefits'

The research was led by Professor Richard Morriss in the University's School of Medicine and Institute of Mental Health  a partnership between the University and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and NIHR Collaborative for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands.

Professor Morriss said: "NICE recommended group psychoeducation for bipolar disorder was put into practice in the NHS in England and Wales. However, the effectiveness of the intervention was questioned in the media on the basis that previous research had been low in quality. We have conducted a large high quality randomised controlled trial of group psychoeducation against a rigorous control and this shows that overall there are benefits to people with bipolar disorder overall from this cheap and easy to implement intervention in providing information, support and increasing time before they next have a mania episode, and in especially in people who first develop bipolar disorder where it may considerably reduce the number of relapses in bipolar disorder."

Bipolar disorder is a common lifelong mental health disorder which first affects people in adolescence or early adulthood. Previously known as manic depression, the condition affects patients' moods, causing them to experience episodes of feeling low and lethargic while at other times feeling very high and overactive.

'Peer Support'

In the UK, information and emotional support is offered to people with bipolar disorder through unstructured peer-support groups run through the NHS and charities such as Bipolar UK, which includes a national network of more than 130 support groups.

Between September 2009 and June 2012, the researchers recruited 304 bipolar patients to the trial, who were randomly assigned to receive either psychoeducation or peer support.

While structured group psychoeducation was found to be no more clinically effective than unstructured peer support across the whole of the group, an analysis of the results showed that psychoeducation was more popular - attendance at psychoeducation groups was higher than at peer-support groups (a median of 14 sessions versus nine sessions).

The study also showed that psychoeducation was most beneficial in participants with few previous bipolar episodes (less than eight episodes).

Two themes also emerged from qualitative study of the value of the two groups: increased knowledge in general about bipolar disorder and specifically how it affects the participant as an individual and tackling isolation and stigma by allowing patients to share similar experiences.

However, some participants blamed dropping out of treatment for their illness on a lack of structure within the peer-support groups.

'A Funded NHS Service'

In an accompanying editorial in Lancet Psychiatry, Professor Eduard Vieta, the Spanish psychiatrist and a leading scientific authority on the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder, and Professor Ivette Morilla, a specialist in clinical psychology, suggest that the study's strength could lie in its finding on the importance of early intervention.

"It could be argued that this was not the primary objective of the study, but at the end of the day this is, indeed, the most pragmatic conclusion that one can take from the study results," they say.

"In patients with less than eight episodes, PEd significantly delayed time to the next episode, indicating that the intervention may be better suited for subjects at early stages of the illness.

"To conclude, group psychoeducation may work well in bipolar patients with few episodes and perhaps no substantial comorbidity. Because of its low cost, it should be implemented and delivered as part of a community-centred early intervention approach."

After demand from participants in the study and their nurses and doctors, group psychoeducation is now a funded NHS service delivered by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for people with bipolar disorder in Nottingham and Mansfield. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is now working with East Midlands Academic Health Science Network to explore the development of a collaborative project to implement group psychoeducation in partnership with NHS services across the East Midlands. Nationally the intervention has been adopted by NICE as a key recommendation and quality standard for putting into clinical practice with groups now being held in other parts of the country such as Manchester and Birmingham.

Explore further Psychoeducation may affect brain plasticity in bipolar disorder
(HealthDay)Anyone who's suffered a kidney stone just wants the urinary obstruction gone. Now, preliminary research suggests relief might even be fun: a roller coaster ride.

There's been anecdotal evidence from patients that these amusement park rides can help pass a small stone, explained Dr. David Wartinger, a professor of urology at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, in East Lansing.

His team's new researchconducted on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain roller coasters at Orlando's Walt Disney Worldseems to support that view.

In the study, Wartinger's group used 3D printing to create a clear silicone model of a kidney that contained urine, plus three different-sized kidney stones.

They placed the kidney model in a backpack and took it on 60 roller coaster rides.

"A ride on a moderate-intensity roller coaster could benefit some patients with small kidney stones," Wartinger said in a news release from The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. The study was published in the journal on Sept. 26.

The passage rate of stones was nearly 17 percent when the backpack/model was in the front of a roller coaster, and jumped to nearly 64 percent when it was in the back of a roller coaster.

The position of the stone within the model didn't seem to matter, the researchers noted.

The study suggests that the fun ride might be therapeutic for small kidney stonesand that's no small matter.

"Passing a kidney stone before it reaches an obstructive size can prevent surgeries and emergency room visits," Wartinger said. "Roller coaster riding after treatments like lithotripsy [using sound waves to break up stones] and before planned pregnancies may prevent stone enlargement."

According to the researchers, each year more than 300,000 people in the United States seek emergency care for kidney stones, with an estimated $2.1 billion in costs. About 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women will have a kidney stone in their lifetime.

Explore further Bust up big kidney stones with tamsulosin

More information: The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more on The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more on kidney stones

Copyright  2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Economic Freedom Report: Georgia ranks 5th in world

Georgia is now one of the top five most economically free countries in the world, according to a new report by the Fraser Institute.The annual Economic Freedom of the World report, released earlier this week by the public policy research group, compared the level of economic freedom in 159 countries and territories based on size of government, taxation, rule of law, property rights, regulation, and other factors.Georgia ranked 11th in the last report, but this year the country ranked 5th.Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili believed the country's leading position in the report showed the progress made in recent years, and he believed this higher ranking would be beneficial in terms of attracting investments to the country.According to this ranking, Georgia ranks fifth after Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and Switzerland. This is a huge success, Kvirikashvili said at yesterdays Governmental meeting.I would like to compare the figures: in 2015 we ranked 12th, in 2014 we were 16th, in 2013 we were 21st and in 2012 Georgia ranked 53rd.We have attained a high ranking and made important progress that is because of achievements in several fields such as availability of finances, sound legislative framework and protection of property rights and other areas.The Prime Minister added that this report showed the great progress Georgia has made for its international image.Hong Kong and Singapore, once again, occupied the top two positions in the report, followed by New Zealand and Switzerland. Georgia and Canada ranked fifth equal, while the United States ranked 16th for the second year in a row.Armenia is Georgias only neighbouring country which earned a ranking in the top 20. Armenia placed 18th in this year's report.
Azerbaijan govt eliminates foreign exchange problem with sale of medicines

The Azerbaijani government has already eliminated foreign exchange problems with the sale of medicines in the country, Deputy Health Minister, Elsever Aghayev told reporters on Monday.The Central Bank has been given appropriate instructions, he noted, APA reports.According to him, certain changes will be made in the rules upon a new document is adopted.The rules of medicine registration and regulation of medicine prices will be changed. Currently, the prices of medicine are regulated by the current exchange rate of the Central Bank. Following the relevant changes, the prices will be based on the exchange rate of the US dollar for the day, he added.Earlier, pharmaceutical companies in Azerbaijan had appealed to the countrys deputy prime minister regarding the foreign exchange problem in the medicine market.
Georgia condemns opening of polling stations in occupied regions

By Messenger Staff

Georgias Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has released a special statement wherein it condemned the opening of polling stations in Georgias two de-facto regions, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, for the elections of Russias legislative body.The Russian Federation opened 21 illegal polling stations in Georgias occupied territories for the State Duma Elections on 18 September 2016. Besides, according to the decision by Chairperson of Russias Central Election Commission, more than 114 thousand people residing in occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Regions were registered as voters in different federal subjects of the Russian Federation, Georgias MFA said.The Ministry continued on to say that as early as the year 2000, Moscow started the process of illegal and forced 'passportisation' in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, and in 2011-2012 made these people illegitimately participate in the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections of the Russian Federation.Furthermore, in 2016 they were included in electoral lists of Russias federal districts and voting for a majoritarian candidate from the respective federal subjects, the Ministry wrote.The MFA condemned the elections to the Russian State Duma in Georgias occupied regions as another manifestation of Moscows annexation policy, which grossly violates fundamental norms of international law.The Russian Federation neglects the essential principles enshrined in the UN Charter, such as the inviolability of internationally recognized borders and non-interference in domestic affairs, the Ministry added.The MFA called upon the international community to give a proper assessment and react to another illegal action of the Russian Federation in the occupied regions, aimed at violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.What Russia is doing in Georgias occupied regions is part of Russias policies in all those areas which are being occupied by the Federation.The international community avoids addressing strong measures against the country as against one of world powers, despite the fact that the country neglects all international norms whenever it chooses to do so.The Government of Georgia should continue carrying out policies that will help the reconciliation process. However, the efforts of the local authorities alone will not be enough to deter Russias aggressive policies.
The News in Brief

The problem with the Republicans is that there is a big difference between their demands and abilities  Ivanishvili



I would bless the Republicans in response to their curses and I would wish them to bring their demands closer to their abilities without using me, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at a meeting with the regional media.



According to him, the problem with the Republican Party is that there is a big difference between their demands and abilities.



"A miracle is needed to bring their demands and abilities close to each other and they are asking this miracle from me. They are asking recognition for the fact that I promised to make the Republican Party the leading party in the coalition and appoint Davit Usupashvili as Prime Minister, said Ivanishvili.

(IPN)







Burchuladze hits back at Ivanishvili, calls him a liar



Paata Burchuladze, an operatic bass who leads a four-party election bloc called State for People, has slammed billionaire ex-PM and founder of ruling GDDG party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, as a liar and accused him of trying to damage his reputation with a slander campaign.



We are under surveillance, we are eavesdropped, and businessmen who support our party are under pressure, Burchuladze said at a press conference on September 19.



It is immoral when one infringes on privacy and disseminates rumors to damage my reputation, Burchuladze said, referring to leaked wiretapped audio recording of his phone conversation with head of the Tbilisi-based private broadcaster Rustavi 2 TV, Nika Gvaramia.



On September 12, Ivanishvili said that a few years ago when he asked Burchuladze to support the Georgian Dream coalition, the operatic bass asked him for a lot of money in exchange, but he refused to pay. In separate remarks earlier this month, Ivanishvili described Burchuladze as being ruled by the United National Movement (UNM) and his party as a typical UNM project.



Georgia is governed not by the government, but by informal an ruler, who can tell lies publicly. I have done nothing but good for my country and no one has the right to insult me completely groundlessly and irresponsibly and to try to mislead my electorate and the entire public; by doing so Bidzina Ivanishvili has exposed himself, Burchuladze said.



He is a liar and I demand a public apology from him for those multiple defamatory allegations voiced by him recently. He alleged that I asked for a lot of money in exchange for my support  that is utterly false, he said.



We are dealing with a person who is capable of blatantly deceiving people and this man is now appointing and sacking ministers and prime ministers. The situation is alarming, Burchuladze said.



At the same press conference, one of the leaders of the State for People, Davit Jandieri, accused the State Audit Office, which is also in charge of monitoring political parties finances, of trying to scare off potential donors from funding the State for People election bloc. He said that four of the partys donors have been fined with up to GEL 10,000 each after Tbilisi City Court ruled positively on the State Audit Offices motion, which claimed that donations made by these four donors were illegal.



The State for People party was the second largest recipient of donationsin the first eight months of this year, raising GEL up to GEL 2.29 million. New Political Center (NPC)Girchi (pine cone) and New Georgia, which are part of Burchuladzes election bloc since mid-August raised GEL 601,000 and GEL 261,000, respectively, in the same period.

(Civil.ge)







Georgian PM to deliver speech at UN 71st session



Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will deliver a speech at the UN 71st session on September 21. As reported by Georgias governmental administration he will hold a visit in the U.S. on 19-22 September.



The PM will deliver his speech on the topic Frequent Displacement of Refugees and Migrants during an event organized by Estonia, Georgia, Korean Republic and UNDP on the issue  effective institution and other events.



He will also hold bilateral meetings within the framework of the visit.



He will hold meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, U.S. Deputy Secretary General and other senior officials.



Negotiations will be held with executive director of Millennium Challenge Corporation. Georgias PM will attend several official receptions.

(ipn)




Scientists, physicians and researchers must always be cautious when they talk about new findings. Even the most exciting therapies can have weaknesses and downsides, and its important to point them out.

Thats true with immunotherapy, which does have limitations. But its successes are remarkable, and it is now recognized as a game changer in the field of cancer treatment.

Harnessing the immune system

Our immune systems send specialized cells to fight infection from viruses, bacteria and other agents. These cells even stop some cancers from taking hold. But cancer can often evade the immune system by hiding from it or disrupting its function.

Immunotherapy uses several strategies to reset the immune response so it can attack cancer cells. Research is focusing on these treatments:

 Checkpoint inhibitors. The cells that fight infection are called killer T-cells. They are so powerful that they have mechanisms  called checkpoints  to keep them from attacking normal tissue. Cancer takes advantage of these checkpoints to turn off the immune system.

Researchers have developed medicines called checkpoint inhibitors to block checkpoints altogether, stopping cancer from using them to evade the immune system. Several checkpoint inhibitors have been approved by the FDA, including Keytruda, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Yervoy. Initially these drugs were used after standard chemotherapy had stopped working, but they may soon be approved as first treatments.

These drugs have been very successful in treating melanoma skin cancer, which previously had no effective treatment. Up to 60 percent of melanoma patients respond well to checkpoint inhibitors, and some patients have gone more than five years with no recurrence of their cancer. Former president Jimmy Carter is a good example  the melanoma that spread to his brain essentially disappeared after treatment with Keytruda.

Checkpoint inhibitors are also used for Hodgkins lymphoma and cancers of the bladder, lung, liver, kidney, and head and neck cancer.

 Cell therapies. Also called adoptive cell transfer, these treatments work by engineering cells from the persons own immune system to attack cancer cells. Killer T-cells are collected from the persons blood and then modified to recognize a specific protein on the cancer cells in his or her body. These modified cells are called CAR-T cells, and when they are infused back into the patient they multiply and kill the cancer.

This form of immunotherapy has worked very well against deadly forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Clinical trials have shown that in many cases, all signs of the cancer disappear and the subjects remain in remission for extended periods. CAR-T cells are also being studied for use against other types of cancer.

Cell therapy is difficult to accomplish because it must be personalized for each patient. Its still experimental and as yet no specific cell therapies have been approved by the FDA.

 Cancer vaccines. Unlike most vaccines, these medicines arent meant to prevent a disease. Instead, they trigger the immune system to strengthen its response to an existing cancer. This happens when an inactivated form of the cancer cells, or parts of these cells, are introduced into the body to trigger an immune response against them. Cancer vaccines can delay or stop the growth of the cancer, shrink tumors or prevent cancer from returning.

A vaccine called Provenge has been approved by the FDA for use against advanced prostate cancer, and researchers are working on other vaccines. However, vaccines have not yet shown the significant promise of other immunotherapies.

Immunotherapy treatments are often used in conjunction with standard chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In fact, there is evidence that using a type of radiation therapy called SBRT at one site can increase the effectiveness of some immunotherapy at multiple sites.

Being cautious

Immunotherapies do have some drawbacks. They dont work for everyone, so while some people see their cancer drastically reduced or even disappear, others have no response to treatment. Also, some immunotherapies can take weeks or months to begin working.

Side effects can also be a problem. Since boosting the immune system releases it against healthy cells as well as cancer cells, conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, immune colitis and thyroid disease can develop. Other side effects include high fever and low blood pressure. In severe cases people may need to temporarily stop or alter their treatments.

However, these side effects occur in a small minority of people and they can usually be relieved with steroid medicines or other treatments. People who have previously had chemotherapy or radiation therapy notice a significant difference with immunotherapy  issues such as nausea and hair loss that are typically associated with those treatments do not occur and they may have no side effects at all.

Speedy progress

The advances that led to these new therapies came after many years of basic research into how the immune system works. But now that science has uncovered these pathways the process is moving quickly. FDA approval of new immunotherapies is happening much faster than in the past, with therapies reaching the market in months instead of years.

This progress is cause for excitement among physicians and patients alike. Cancer doctors now have new ways of treating, monitoring and interacting with patients who are receiving these treatments. And many patients have a better chance at living well with cancer for years, or even being cancer free.

You can learn more about immunotherapy for cancer by visiting the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

***

Dr. Beatty is a hematologist and cancer specialist in Missoula. He worked for 20 years in cancer research at the Universities of Utah and Washington.
Coming soon

American Pharmacists' Month Community Health Care - Sunday, Oct. 16, noon-4 p.m., Southgate Mall. Fair will offer bone mineral density scans, blood pressure screenings, Hemoglobin A1c screenings, flu shots, fall risk assessments, smoking cessation, breast and ovarian cancer awareness, bone marrow registry sign-up, inhaler education, diabetic foot checks, stroke education, Alzheimer's education and more. Free raffle to win prizes, and Monte will make an appearance at 1 p.m.

Red Cross blood drives  The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a readily available blood supply for emergencies. Donors of all blood types are needed. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times. Upcoming blood drives:

Bigfork: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 121 Crestwood.

11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 121 Crestwood. Kalispell: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Glacier Bank, 202 Main St.; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 N. Meridian Road; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Homewood Suites, 195 Hutton Ranch Road; 1:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Kalispell Blood Donation Center.

10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Glacier Bank, 202 Main St.; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 N. Meridian Road; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Homewood Suites, 195 Hutton Ranch Road; 1:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Kalispell Blood Donation Center. Marion: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Marion Community Hall, 180 Gopher Lane.

10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, Marion Community Hall, 180 Gopher Lane. Missoula: 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sentinel High School, 901 South Ave. W.; 12:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, DoubleTree Hotel, 100 Madison; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 N. Reserve St., Suites 6 and 7; 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, 1221 N. Russell; 2-6 p.m. Monday, Missoula Blood Donation Center; 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Vibrant Hearing, 601 S. Orange St.; noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Dayspring Restoration, 5463 Trumpeter Way.

9 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sentinel High School, 901 South Ave. W.; 12:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, DoubleTree Hotel, 100 Madison; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 N. Reserve St., Suites 6 and 7; 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Blackfoot Telecommunications Group, 1221 N. Russell; 2-6 p.m. Monday, Missoula Blood Donation Center; 10 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Vibrant Hearing, 601 S. Orange St.; noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Dayspring Restoration, 5463 Trumpeter Way. Ronan: 1:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Franklin Street and Fourth Avenue East.

Fitness, dance classes  For more information on the following classes offered by the Lifelong Learning Center, call 549-8765 or visit missoula.classes.com:

Continuing Pickleball-Indoor, Oct. 3, Jan. 24, 7:20-8:20 p.m., Target Range School, $17.

Introduction to Pickleball-Indoor, Oct. 4-25, 11 a.m.-noon, Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $22.

Beginning/Intermediate CoreAlign, Oct. 5-28, 7-8 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $104.

Introduction to CoreAlign, Oct. 5-26, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.

Introduction to Pilates Reformer, Oct. 5-26, 5:35-6:35 p.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.

Beginning Waltz, Oct. 6-27, 7:15-8:15 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $17.

OULA Palooza!, Oct. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $11.

Romantic Rhumba, Oct. 19-Nov. 9, 6:45-7:45 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $17.

Family Yoga, Oct. 29-Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $24.

Red Willow Center  For more information on the following classes at the learning center, 825 W. Kent, call 721-0033 or visit redwillowlearning.org:

"Building Personal Resilience with Self-Hypnosis" with Patrick Marsolek, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, $55.

"Story as Medicine" with Suzy Wiseheart, Oct. 3-Nov. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays, $145.

Tai Chi Chih with Lynne Roberts, Oct. 12-Nov. 9, noon-1 p.m. Wednesdays, $60.

"Resiliency for Caregivers" with Christine Lustik, Oct. 10-Nov. 28, 2-4 p.m. Mondays, $200.

"Basics of Resilience" with Glenn Tousignant, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, free.

"Becoming Fully Alive with Chronic Illness" with Betsy Hart, Oct. 20-Nov. 17, noon-1 p.m. Thursdays, $100.

Ongoing classes include "Yoga for Wellness" at noon Mondays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Mindfulness Meditation" at 12:10 p.m. Tuesdays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Yoga Beyond Cancer" at 4 p.m. Tuesdays, $40 for four weeks; "Yoga for Chronic Pain" at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, $40 for four weeks plus $50 for prerequisite screening.

BodyTalk programs  For details and registration on the following classes taught by Kathy Mangan at the Red Willow Learning Center, call Tori at 880-8749 or register at bodytalksystem.com.

ACCESS class, Saturday, Oct. 8, $125, including manual.

Fundamentals, Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 29-30. Learn the BT system and skills to become a practitioner, $100 discount available to students who register and pay course deposit of $250 by Sept. 26. New student payment plans are also available.

Ongoing programs

AA and Al-Anon  For the latest Alcoholics Anonymous meetings list, visit aa-montana.org or call the Missoula hotline at 543-0011. For more information on Al-Anon and Alateen, which are 12-step recovery programs for relatives and friends whose lives have been affected by alcoholism, visit mt.al-anon.alateen.org.

Acupuncture for cancer caregivers  Missoula Community Acupuncture, located in the Radio Central Building, 127 E Main St., Suite 314, offers free acupuncture treatments for friends, family, nurses, doctors or anyone who takes care of cancer patients 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call Michael Peluso at 406-926-1611.

Adult Asperger's support group  An open meeting for those with Asperger's as well as their family and friends is held every Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the University Center, Room 215, on campus. Contact Monique Casbeer at 721-3947 or Cindy Bacon Janego at cjanego@communitymed.org for more information.

Alzheimers support  Meets the second Wednesday of each month at noon at the Summit Independent Living conference room, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave. Another group meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, contact Jackie Johnson at 549-3433 or jackiej45@yahoo.com.

Alzheimers caregivers support group  Meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. of each month at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, call Jackie Johnson at 549-3433.

Arthritis programs  The Montana Arthritis Program offers physical activity and self-management education programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Walk with Ease and Stanfords Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Classes are available in several communities including Florence, Hamilton, Kalispell, Libby, Missoula, Plains and Polson. To find a class or for more information, visit dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/arthritis.

Bereavement support groups  Frontier Hospice offers open door meetings 6-7 p.m. Thursdays at the following locations: The Springs at Whitefish on the first Thursday; Rising Mountains Assisted Living Community in Bigfork on the third Thursday; and Frontier Hospice in Kalispell on the second and fourth Thursdays. Call 406-755-4923 for more information.

Breast cancer support group  Meets the first and third Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at the Montana Cancer Center, St. Patrick Hospital Broadway Building, second floor. Call 329-5656.

Cancer Center support group  Meets noon-1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. For more information, call Bonnie at 240-0996.

Cancer Resource Guide  The online guide covers resources including support groups, treatment centers, camps and retreats, in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. It is available at CancerResourcesMT.org.

Cancer support group  A support group for anyone affected by cancer meets noon-1 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays at the Polson United Methodist Church, 301 16th Ave. For more information, call Tammy at 406-883-7284 or 824-2868.

Celebrate Recovery  The Christian-based 12-step recovery program meets 6-9:30 p.m. every Friday at Christian Assembly Foursquare Church, 1001 Cleveland St. Dinner is available from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and child care is provided for ages birth to 11. For more information, call 721-6884 or email cafc@4bible.com.

Cheerful Heart  Lake County cancer patients in treatment can receive a massage and help with hair and skin problems, free of charge, from local therapists and cosmetologists. Other non-medical services include transportation to treatment and doctor appointments, running errands, yard work and meal preparation. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 406-883-3070.

Colorectal Cancer Support Group  Meets 1-2 p.m. the third Friday of every month through March 20, Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2827 Fort Missoula Road.

"Coping, Education & Support for Women with All Cancer Types"  The support group for women in all stages of cancer treatment or survivorship will be held noon-1:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month through March 14, 2016, at the Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2837 Fort Missoula Road. For more information, call Deb Rivey at 327-3912, Terri Paxinos at 327-3957 or Kimberly Hardwick at 327-3906.

Diabetes program  At 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, there will be a short presentation on a topic related to the management of Type 1 diabetes at the YMCA, 3000 S. Russell St. It will be followed by the option for socializing in the foyer or being active together at the Y. A fee of $5 per person will be collected at the door for those choosing to use the facility. Designed for ages 14 and older, children are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver.

Double Trouble in Recovery  The 12-step program for people with mental health and addiction issues meets 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Winds of Change Recovery Mall, 2685 Palmer St., No. C (second floor). Coffee is provided. For more information, call Veronica at 721-2038.

Epilepsy support group  Meets the first Monday of the month from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Summit Independent Living Center, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave., Suite 101. Patients, friends, family and caregivers welcome. Call Debbie at 721-0707 for more information.

Free health exams  Women ages 30 to 64 who meet necessary income guidelines and either have no health insurance or have insurance that will not pay for breast and cervical health exams can receive free exams through Partnership Health Centers Montana Cancer Screening Program. Call 258-4162 for more information.

Gentle yoga class  The Missoula Senior Citizen Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., offers a class that focuses on balance training, back strength and core conditioning through gentle yoga matwork every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. Fee is $4 per class. All ages welcome. For more information, call 543-7154.

Health Insurance Assistance Service  Montana cancer patients can call the American Cancer Societys 24-hour toll-free number to be connected to a health insurance specialist to ask about coverage and insurance programs specific to the state. The number is 800-227-2345.

Mens cancer support group  Open to men in all phases of testing, treatment and followup, the group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. It is facilitated by Gary Weisbrich and Tom King. Call 329-5628 or email gary.weisbrich@providence.org for more information.

Narcotics Anonymous  Meets at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Alano Club, 8 Third Ave. W., Polson. Call 406-883-4135.

National Alliance on Mental Illness  NAMI Missoula meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon in the lower level (behind the cafeteria) of the Providence Center. It is open to anyone affected by mental illness or interested in learning more about the group. The NAMI Connection group for adults living with mental illness meets 1:30-3 p.m. Thursdays at the NAMI offices, 202 Brooks St., Room 210. Call 880-1013 with questions.

NAMI Family Support Group  National Alliance on Mental Illness Missoula meets Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St., in Room 210. The peer-led support for adult family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals with mental illness is free. For more information, call 406-880-1013 or email namimissoula@gmail.com.

My No-Nonsense Nutrition Program  A seven-week webinar course to improve your nutrition and fitness. Faith-based approach to better health. Free initial consult with Judy Gilman, registered nurse, diabetes and wellness educator. mynononsensenutrition.com or 546-7819.

Overeaters Anonymous  Local meetings include 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St. A meeting for newcomers is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday followed by a "Back to Basics" meeting at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's. Everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively is welcome. There are no dues, weigh-ins or lectures. For more meeting information, visit oa.org.

SAA  For the latest Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting list visit saa-recovery.org, call the Missoula hotline at 241-4005 or email MissoulaBetterway@yahoo.com. SAA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who share experience, strength and hope for the purpose of finding freedom from addictive sexual behavior and helping others recover from sex addiction.

S-Anon  Local meetings are held weekly for this recovery program for people affected by another persons sexual behavior. Visit sanonmontana.org or call 406-544-1271 to learn more.

Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group  Meets the second Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Providence Center, 902 N. Orange St., in the dining area on the fourth floor. For details, call 329-5784.

Tai Chi for Arthritis  Class offered 9:15 a.m. Mondays at the Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. $4 per class. All ages welcome.

Tai Chi Chih  Classes are offered at the following locations: Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays, $4 per class; PEAK Health & Wellness Center, 5000 Blue Mountain Road, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, call 251-3344; and The Womens Club, 2105 Bow St., 9 a.m. Fridays, call 728-4410.

TOPS  Take Off Pounds Sensibly, an affordable, nonprofit, weight-loss support and wellness organization, meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church, 2701 S. Russell St. Another TOPS meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2512 Sunset Lane. For additional meetings, go to tops.org, click on "Find a Meeting" and enter your ZIP code or call 800-932-8677.

The Women's Club  For more information on the following classes at The Women's Club, 2105 Bow St., call 728-4410:

Foundation Training, 12:15-1 p.m. Monday and Thursday. Improve posture, strength and athletic ability.

Pickleball open play, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Paddles provided. All levels welcome.

Kick and Core high-intensity cardio workout with focus on strengthening core.
The man charged with murdering a Missoula motel employee and stabbing another woman in December pleaded guilty to five felonies Tuesday in Missoula County District Court.

Chief Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks said he will recommend Scott Austin Price, 38, spend life in prison without the possibility of parole when hes sentenced in early December.

On Dec. 21, 2015, Price stabbed Susan Ledger in the parking lot of the Missoula Fresh Market on Reserve Street while Sarah Rae McKnight waited in the drivers seat of a nearby car. McKnight told authorities they intended to steal her vehicle and money to obtain more drugs.

In court Tuesday, Price said he had intended to kill her.

The pair fled in McKnights car and drove to the nearby Super 8 motel, where Price killed Lonette Keehner, a staff member who was cleaning one of the rooms.

Price and McKnight, who had come to Missoula from Great Falls, were captured the next day in Idaho in Keehners stolen vehicle.

Price was charged with deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, solicitation to commit theft and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence for throwing the knife used to stab Keehner out of the window when they fled Missoula. His trial had been scheduled to start next week.

His guilty pleas were entered without an agreement with prosecutors, meaning District Court Judge Robert Dusty Deschamps will have free discretion to sentence Price.

McKnight, who was also charged in the case, pleaded guilty in May. She is currently at the Montana State Womens Prison, serving a sentence for a separate 2014 burglary offense from Powell County.

Deschamps said both Price and McKnight will be sentenced Dec. 12.

On Monday, Price appeared by video in Custer County District Court, where he pleaded guilty to charges of deliberate homicide and aggravated kidnapping for killing his landlord, 78-year-old Ed Martin, on Dec. 14. Price also assaulted and tied up Martins wife Helen.

Custer County Attorney Wyatt Glade told the Billings Gazette he will recommend a life sentence on each count, plus an additional 10 years for the use of a weapon when Price is sentenced on the Miles City charges Dec. 5.

Price remains in Missoula County jail on a $1 million bail.
Working as an airplane mechanic may not sound like an entry-level job, but new federal money recently awarded to a Missoula company aims to train low-income workers to do just that.

The Montana Idaho Community Development Corp. (MICDC) has received a $769,639 grant to help fund a job creation and training program at Neptune Aviation in Missoula. Neptune creates and operates a fleet of air tankers designed to fight wildfires, and employs more than 100 people.

Neptune will get the money in the form of a low-interest loan from MICDC, which it will use to build a new administration building. That in turn, will allow the company to focus on training and hiring low-income workers as entry-level mechanics. The money has to get paid back eventually, and it will go into MICDCs revolving loan fund to help other local small businesses.

Dave Glaser, the CEO of the MICDC, said that the money comes from the federal Department of Health and Human Services Community and Economic Development Program.

"The funding itself comes from an agency focused on creating jobs for low income people," Glaser said. "And with the expansion of Neptune (and the efficiencies of having administration in one place) and its business lines, it will be able to do a number of things to do just that (create jobs)."

Its a very competitive grant, but the MICDC has won it in years past to fund things like the expansion of KettleHouse Brewing Co. and the expansion of Consumer Direct. Both of those companies are in the process of building massive new facilities and hiring more workers. Its also been used to fund the expansion of a wood products manufacturer in Deer Lodge and a hotel in Sidney.

The purpose of the money we lend is to increase support for job creation for low-income people, Glaser explained. Its about creating jobs in a low-income place thats open to low-income people. Each of the companies weve worked with is excited about creating jobs and being a part of a bigger economic solution.

Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was the first to announce the grant.

"This money will help train and employ Missoula residents so they can work in good-paying careers," he said in a statement. "This is the kind of investment that pays dividends for families, communities and all of Montana. The fact that Neptune Aviation will ultimately pay back the money to help other local businesses is just the icing on the cake."

Glaser said that because the MICDC has been awarded so many of these highly competitive grants in recent years, a couple of DPHHS officials came out from Washington, D.C. to kick the tires and make sure the Missoula businesses were using the money appropriately.

They were really pleased, Glaser said. We did site visits at KettleHouse and Consumer Direct, and they felt that they were both good projects and good companies.

Tester also visited Neptune recently to unveil three different bills aimed at fixing the way wildfire fighting is funded, helping seasonal firefighters gain permanent employment and providing financial assistance to help communities damaged by fires.

"We have long reaped the benefits of our community's support, and Sen. Tester's support in particular," said Ron Hooper, CEO of Neptune Aviation. "We are very excited to enact a program that invests training and resources back into the community, an investment that will ultimately benefit our city, our state and our country."
Montanas public lands are an incredible piece of our heritage and play a vital role in our states economy. Ensuring the viability of the outdoor industry into the future requires a commitment to the land. A healthy forest, abundant wildlife, clean water and the ability to enjoy these landscapes are notions that Montanans from all stripes support. Those who derive a living from the land and recreate on it are equally committed to this goal. With over $5 billion in annual revenue through outdoor recreation, its clear that the ability to recreate is a valuable economic driver that needs to be utilized and promoted  including motorized recreation.

Our landscapes provide numerous opportunities for responsible environmental stewardship and increased access for recreation. Its our goal to continue working to increase public (motorized and non-motorized) access, ensure future economic sustainability for our rural counties, and encourage balanced solutions when addressing public land management. However, some believe that continued pressure to permanently designate more single-use areas at the expense of other user groups is the best way forward if there appears to be enough interests at the table. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project is such an example.

The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project would designate 84,000 acres of additional wilderness to the Missions, the Scapegoat, and the Bob Marshall while providing a meager 2,000 acres of snowmobile access and no guarantee for summer motorized. Supporters often reference the support of the local sawmill. With a struggling timber industry, we can appreciate Pyramid Mountain Lumbers efforts to get more logs to the mill, however, comprehensive forest management reform would do far more to ensure the mills viability into the future than this place-based initiative ever could  a notion evident by mills supporting the entire delegations efforts to achieve comprehensive management reform alongside reforms to how we fund the rising costs of wildfires.

Some local users believe the Blackfoot Clearwater approach to be adequate; however, the proposal needs more work as it does not reflect the balance that Montanans hope to achieve in public land management. Montanas national forest system contains over 3.4 million acres of wilderness, 660,000 acres of Wilderness study areas, 900,000 acres of recommended wilderness and over 6 million acres of roadless areas. Out of the 17 million acres of Montana national forest land, these areas account for approximately two thirds of the landscape. That's two-thirds of our national forests where motorized recreation is limited or completely prohibited. Motorized recreation, timber and multiple use interests will not benefit from an additional 84,000 acres of wilderness unless there is truly a balanced agreement that provides equitable certainty for motorized recreation and multiple use interests into the future.

These are public lands and they belong to all of us, which means that everyone should have a say in the future management of our resources and our places to recreate. We should focus on finding a balanced approach providing certainty into the future to improve access for winter and summer motorized communities before any more permanent wilderness designation is proposed.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been a mainstay in providing access, conserving critical wildlife habitat, securing new city parks and supporting family farms and ranches for 50 years. Locally driven and widely supported, LWCF has increased the amount of places Montanans will be able to get out doors both to make our living, and to live our lives in the last, best place. Places like the Tenderfoot, Fish Creek and over 70 percent of Montanas fishing access sites are either wholly or partially funded by the LWCF, often in conjunction with private and public funds. LWCF is a prime example of good, efficient government that starts from the ground up.

Thats why so many Montanans gasped a little bit when U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke said that this program needed to be reformed. Thats the same language that people who oppose LWCF have used for the last few years to try and kill the program. It was also a little shocking that Zinke didnt realize that the projects funded by LWCF are locally driven. I cant think of one project that wasnt built by local elected officials, landowners, sportsmens organizations, our state game agencies or our Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

LWCF is the epitome of locally driven solutions to issues as they relate to access and conservation. Programs along the Rocky Mountain Front place conservation easements on prime cow country, while protecting vital habitat for elk, mule deer and grizzly bears. Those easements in turn make it economically feasible for our next generation of ranchers to take over from their parents, and continue Montanas ranching economy and heritage.

LWCF ensures that our fishing access program remains one of the best in the nation. You can stop at just about any fishing access site along the Missouri River and see evidence of LWCFs power as boats come in and go out, helping the economy of towns like Hamilton, Craig and Dillon.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been unfairly singled out for attack by Utahs Rob Bishop, who is also Rep. Zinkes chairman in the House Natural Resources Committee. Bishops goal throughout his tenure is to prove that land management doesnt work by undermining our land managers while pointing and proclaiming see, told you it was broken. Hopefully, rather than continuing to try and appease Congressman Bishop, Zinke will work to find a majority on his committee to move positive reauthorization and funding legislation forward this session.

Im glad to see Zinke attempt to run away from his statements regarding his desire to reform LWCF. Hopefully he means it, and will put aside the partisan rancor that has shut down Washington, D.C., and work across the aisle to move legislation that Montanans overwhelmingly want: a clean reauthorization and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Montanans define our lives by our time spent in elk camp, casting stoneflies to big trout, slinging crawler harnesses for walleye and chasing grouse. We rely on public lands and the access that LWCF provides to get us outdoors. So does our $6 billion outdoor economy, and the 64,000 jobs that rely on our shared outdoor experiences. Our quality of life and our sustainable economy are not negotiable, and neither is the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Please know that a vote for Greg Gianforte is a vote for the rich and powerful insurance companies over the individuals and citizens of this state. It's true. The Republicans are in control, and are likely to stay in control of both houses of our legislature. Without a democratic governor to keep the checks and balances of our two-party system in place, the next legislative session will be catastrophic for any individual who is forced to fight the economic leverage and power of an insurance company when he or she is being treated unfairly, which happens systematically and regularly.

After decades of building safeguards into our system to help Montanans fight the injustices of insurance company actions, believe me, with a Republican governor these safeguards will be demolished with one stroke of the pen. The insurance industry makes billions of dollars every year, and yet, these premium collectors hate to pay claims and even worse, cry poor whenever they lose money on their internal investments. They then seek to make up that loss by taking even more advantage of those who file rightful claims for compensation after loss.

Of course I'm a Democrat, and while I believe the Republican Party stands for hate, fear and intolerance (on the national level they have added sexism, racism and religious bigotry), it is their secretive support of insurance companies that goes unnoticed and has me so concerned about their control of the legislative and executive branches of our state government. While there are plenty of reasons not to vote Republican, like when they claim to want less government and then try to cram their social and religious beliefs down your throat, please remember that a vote for Montana's own Steve Bullock is a vote for citizens like yourself, versus a vote for the rich and powerful insurance industry.

Terry MacDonald,

Missoula
The person who represents Montana in Congress has to have a broad range of knowledge on all of the issues important to our state. One problem that congress has not been able to solve is the lack of sound forest management on our federal lands. The congressman currently serving Montana has brought to Washington, D.C., solutions that address many of the problems that challenge our timber industry and the health of our national forests.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke has done a great job making sure the timber industry's voice is heard in Congress. In the Resilient Federal Forests Act, he introduced much needed reforms. They include efforts to prevent frivolous lawsuits and lessen the bureaucratic burden facing the Forest Service which prevents them from being able to efficiently do their jobs. His reforms also include incentives for local collaboration projects trying to increase the level of forest management in order to prevent or lessen the damage of wildfires that plague our dying forests. These efforts will enhance the environment, benefit our timber industry and grow jobs.

Congressman Zinke has proven that he listens to our communities, understands the issues, and takes our advice back to Washington. He supports Montana's diverse industries and he wants to make sure our economy keeps growing. I support his re-election because I know he will continue fighting to get forest reforms, as well as any other issues that Montanan citizens consider important.

Ed Regan,

Townsend
GREAT FALLS (AP)  A Great Falls woman has been charged for her alleged role in a weekend stabbing death that a witness says happened during an attempt to steal drugs.

Brianna Coombs was charged Monday with assault with a weapon by accountability, solicitation to commit distribution of dangerous drugs and tampering with evidence in the death of 18-year-old Megan Meriwether on Friday night.

Coombs did not enter a plea. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Court records say a witness told police that Coombs' 16-year-old boyfriend confessed to stabbing Meriwether. He appeared in Juvenile Court, where he was detained with bail set at $100,000.

Cascade County Attorney John Parker says one of the defendants admitted there was a plan in place to steal marijuana from Meriwether. A witness told investigators that Meriwether stabbed Coombs in the leg and then Coombs' boyfriend got involved in the fight and Meriwether was stabbed with her own knife.
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A 58-year-old Butte woman arrested Sunday for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol with an unrestrained child in the back seat is facing a felony count of criminal endangerment.

Barbara Leona Milasevich was formally charged in Butte justice court Monday. She is being held at the Butte-Silver Bow County Detention Center on $5,000 bond. A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 27.

According to police reports, a witness reported seeing Milasevich passed out at an unknown stoplight about 7 p.m. Sunday.

Two other witness told police they saw a child attempting to get into the front passenger seat and followed Milasevichs three-quarter pickup truck to the Hastings parking lot, 2307 Harrison Ave., said Sheriff Ed Lester.

When police arrived, Milasevich appeared confused, sluggish, tired, and said she was not feeling well, the sheriff said. Her 2-year-old granddaughter was not restrained in a car seat.

There was no odor of alcohol on her breath, but Milasevich was unable to perform some of the field sobriety tests, police said. She refused a blood test, police reports state.

Milasevich may also face charges in city court for driving under the influence, transporting an unrestrained child under 2 and operating a vehicle without a current registration, all misdemeanors.
WOMAN CRASHES INTO DUMPSTER

Butte-Silver Bow police arrested Pamella Rozan, 49, of Butte, for aggravated DUI early Tuesday after she crashed into a dumpster on the 2300 block of Grand Avenue. She failed a field sobriety test, said BSB Sheriff Ed Lester, adding that her blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

HIGH-SPEED DRIVER NABBED

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Sheriff Ed Lester said police arrested Deena Korting, 59, of Helena for being under the influence of methamphetamine and for careless driving after police noticed her driving at a high rate of speed on the 1300 block of Montana Street Monday. Police followed her and arrested Korting at the 600 block of Montana. She admitted to the officer that she was high on meth.

PARTNER-FAMILY ASSAULT

Brandi Ouellette, 38, of Butte, was arrested on Monday for partner-family assault after fighting with an adult female victim who lives at the same residence at the 1600 block of Yale Avenue.

CONTEMPT OF COURT WARRANT

Butte-Silver Bow police arrested Caitlin Yelenich, 22, of Butte, on a contempt of court warrant after she ran a stop sign near the corner of Excelsior and Copper St. on Monday.

PAROLE/PROBATION WARRANT

Evie McCard, 32, of Butte, was arrested on a parole and probation warrant from the Butte Probation and Parole after police arrested her near a casino at the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue on Monday.
DILLON  A former Georgia woman convicted in connection with the killing of a Butte man at a southwest Montana campground in 2014 has been sentenced to 30 years in the Montana Womens Prison with 10 years suspended.

Sandra Lee Ann Cantrell, 52, was found guilty in January of deliberate homicide, assault with a weapon, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and theft, a misdemeanor.

But in August, Dillon District Judge Loren Tucker modified the deliberate homicide verdict to not guilty, writing in his order that prosecutors failed to prove Cantrells common-law husband, Christopher Stiles, was accountable for the stabbing.

Even if this ruling creates unease, it would be unjust to sustain a conviction based on a charge the state expressly abandoned and against which the defendant had no opportunity to defend, Tucker wrote.

On Tuesday, he sentenced Cantrell to 20 years for the assault charge with 10 years suspended; 10 years for the tampering charge; and six months for theft. The assault and tampering sentences run consecutively, and the theft charge runs concurrently. She also has credit for 779 days of time served in jail.

Beaverhead County Attorney Jed C. Fitch initially charged Cantrell with deliberate homicide by accountability, which would have required him to prove Cantrells actions before or during the killing of Mark Robert Mullen, who was in his 60s. The charge was later amended to felony murder.

The fact that (Stiles) beat Mullen to death afterwards does not establish that he knew anything about Cantrells intention to stab, much less that he solicited, aided, abetted, or agreed to help her, Tucker wrote. There was no evidence to support the verdict.

Stiles pleaded guilty to bludgeoning Mullen with a piece of wood and is serving a 50-year sentence in the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Cantrell admitted stabbing Mullen at the Bryant Creek Campground near Wise River in August 2014. She testified during trial he made sexual advances toward her, and that she a right to defend herself.

In handing down his sentence, Tucker said although he didnt like the recommendation made by Michael Touchette, state probation and parole officer, the harm that Cantrell perpetrated and the circumstances leading to Mullens death justified incarceration with a significant amount of supervision.

Fitch called Mullens murder a crime of violence, dismissing comments that a small stab wound was insignificant. The defendant, he argued, encouraged lethal blows from Stiles after she stabbed the victim.

Defense Attorney John Hud said the prosecutor seems to forget that it was Mullen who grabbed Cantrell inappropriately at the campsite.

Mr. Mullen started the situation.  He was the one making advances, Hud said, adding that he questioned the 30-year sentence but declined to provide a specific recommendation.

Hud rejecteds Fitchs argument for restitution to cover Mullens burial.

She did not kill Mark Mullen. Christopher Stiles did, Hud said.

In a statement, Cantrell apologized to the court but insisted her actions were in self-defense.

I defended myself after I had already asked him to leave me alone, after I had already tried to stop him. He advanced on me again. There was no intent for a loss of life  absolutely not. I am sorry for what happened, but I had a right to defend myself, she said, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes.

Tucker told Cantrell and her co-defenders she didnt serve herself well by speaking. He scolded her lack of remorse, saying her actions were no excuse for violence.

Fitch found the judges ruling fair. But Huds co-counsel, Christopher C. Petaja, said his client deserved a lighter sentence.

As we saw from her testimony today, she continues to maintain she was sexually assaulted and defending herself from a perverts unwanted advances. She doesn't deserve 20 years in prison for that, he wrote in an email.
WAPELLO, Iowa - U.S. Highway 61 north of Wapello could be closed sometime Saturday if predictions of high water hold, Louisa County Engineer Larry Roehl warned the Louisa County Board of Supervisors during the boards regular weekly meeting Tuesday.

Roehl presented the bad news during the monthly gathering of department heads with the board.

According to Roehl, the highway is affected by flooding whenever the level of the Iowa River reaches 27.5 feet. The river is currently projected to reach 27.9 on Saturday.

Roehl said that would still be two feet below what it was in (July) 2014, which according to National Weather Service (NWS) information was the second highest recorded river level at Wapello. The highest recorded level on the Iowa River at Wapello was in June 2008 when the river reached 32.15 feet.

The high water this year is not expected to be prolonged and if the roadway is closed, it likely would only be for the weekend, Roehl said.

Roehl said he did not have information on the impact of flooding on Iowa Highway 92 at Columbus Junction, but said he was aware the city had moved flood barriers into place if needed.

According to the NWS, the Iowa River is expected to crest at over 26 feet on Friday at Columbus Junction, about seven feet over flood stage. The river would need to rise to 31 feet before it would encroach on the west approach of the Highway 92 bridge.

Roehl also said the high water would impact local roads that are normally affected whenever there is high water and local levee officials had started staging sandbags in anticipation of the high water.

Louisa County Conservation Board (LCCB) Executive Director Katie Hammond also reported the high water was impacting local parks and campgrounds. She said Flaming Prairie, which has been closed for most of the year, would remain closed because of the high water. She also said the Indian Slough Wildlife Area was closed because of the water and campers at Snivelys Access could be impacted depending on water and levee conditions.

In other department head reports, recorder Leanne Black told the board her office was experiencing computer problems with the Iowa Department of Natural Resource (DNR) site that handles hunting licenses. She said the problems were causing delays in processing hunting license requests statewide.

Veteran affairs director Andy Beaver also reported the Disabled Veterans of America (DAV) van that has normally been parked in Louisa County has now been relocated to Muscatine County.

Several other office heads also provided reports on activities in their departments over the past month. Supervisor chair Paula Buckman told the group she hoped the move by several offices to the nearly completed former county jail annex could be completed in two weeks.

In final action, the board approved a fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget amendment following a public hearing that did not attract any public comments.

According to officials, the amendment will add an additional $127,000 in spending to the budget, raising total expenditures and other uses for the year to $13,009,905.

Officials said the increased spending will cover the annex remodeling expenses, a new water filtering system at the Louisa County Complex, an increase in the Rural Utility Services System (RUSS) environmental health contract with the Louisa County Public Health Service and increased personnel costs for the county attorneys office.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  With the flourish of a pen, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine became the host foundation to the Community Foundation of Louisa County on Monday afternoon.

The partnership, which will replace the Community Foundation of Louisa County's partnership with the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, will be the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine's first time as a host foundation.

"As board president, I see it as a real vote of confidence in the management in the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine," said Keith Porter, president of the foundation's board in Muscatine.

Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine Judi Holdorf said the Louisa County foundation needs to be affiliated with a nationally accredited foundation to receive certain grant money, especially to be able to re-grant just under $100,000 of funding from Iowa's county endowment re-granting program, which provides grant money for counties without gambling facilities.

Paula Buckman, the director of the Community Foundation of Louisa County, said she felt affiliation with the foundation in Muscatine will be a positive change.

"We have just really been impressed with their growth and their board, and the leadership that it has shown," Buckman said.

Buckman said the size of the Community Foundation of Louisa County makes achieving accreditation difficult, but she and Jill Hoben, board president for the Louisa County foundation, said the partnership was a logical choice.

"We share our workforce, industry, and we grant to some of the same people," Hoben said.

Shelly Maharry, the associate director of the foundation in Muscatine, said the foundations will still support their respective counties, but the host relationship will allow the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine to provide behind-the-scenes support for the Louisa foundation.

"So we will work really closely together to fulfill each mission of each county," she said.

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine has been approached by other foundations looking for a host, Maharry said, but the Community Foundation of Louisa County was the best option.

"The most natural fit, first, is our neighbors directly to the south, and we're happy to have them," she said.

A large banner, which lay on the table near the board presidents as they signed the affiliation agreement, declared "We're better together," which both counties agreed was the case.

"We are really excited," Porter said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Parents from the Muscatine Community School District voiced several concerns at Monday nights Board of Education meeting, from the removal of the accelerated reader program at elementary schools to the elimination of typing classes.

More than 20 parents attended the meeting, and Tammi Drawbaugh, the board president, said she had never seen 14 people speak during the comments from community members section of the meeting.

Rebecca Paulsen spoke first and said that she and other parents met at a Parent Teacher Organization meeting in September, when they agreed that the Accelerated Reader (AR) program was important to them and to their children. While she said she understood the district was following a new curriculum, and the program does not teach children to read, it is still important to the learning process.

Its a tool, its practice, it lets the teachers know what level the children are at, Paulsen said.

The program, she said, provides students with comprehension quizzes for books they read and assigns them with a reading level, so they, parents and teachers can choose books within their reading ability.

She provided board members with statistics on the benefits of the program and said students using the program are more likely to be college ready. If the decision was based on funding, she said, the PTO would be willing to pay the cost: less than $10 per student per year.

"I have offered a reasonable solution that helps children and is supported by teachers and parents, and if the PTOs pay for it, I don't understand why we're not being allowed to use it," Paulsen said.

Paulsen and other parents said that while teachers said they felt the program was an asset to their students, they were concerned that teachers seemed nervous to speak.

"To me that's almost more troubling," said Jen Metcalf, a parent with four children in the school district.

She asked the board to listen to the district's teachers.

"The generals need to listen to the ground troops," she said.

Metcalf said two of her children have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and the AR reading program helped one of her children become excited about his increased reading ability, especially when he was having difficulty in other areas of school work.

"It was the one thing of his life that he was really proud of," she said.

Melanie Keele also expressed her concern that teachers in the district may not feel able to speak out. As a parent of four children, she said she was worried teachers were not included in the decision to remove AR from the schools.

"It seems to me that we have created an environment where teachers and administrators are afraid to speak up. It's unfortunate, and ultimately a detriment to the education of our children, that the teachers weren't asked about their opinion regarding the AR program," she said.

She and several other parents also said they were concerned that typing and keyboarding classes had also been discontinued. Keele said while she has the ability to teach her children typing skills at home, not all students have that resource.

"We are failing those children, and we have got to reevaluate the way we're treating our students in this district if we want them all to be successful," she said.

Keele thanked the board for listening to parents' concerns.

"I know that all of us ultimately want whats best for the kids in our community, and I hope that we can all work together to make decisions in the future," she said.

Drawbaugh said that while board members were not, by law, able to comment on the parents' concerns, she encouraged them to remain in contact with board members.

"We appreciate you coming and sharing with us this evening," she said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  With rivers expected to reach above flood level across the state, Louisa and Muscatine Counties have been making preparations.

Staci Griffin, the emergency management director in Louisa County, said around 100 community members helped place sandbags in some low areas on the levee east of Wapello on Sunday.

"I feel like the community's really stepped up and they've done us a lot of good with sandbags and a lot of communication and volunteerism," Griffin said.

Griffin said she will be meeting with authorities in Columbus Junction on Wednesday to discuss possible efforts in the area.

"We're definitely mobile," Griffin said.

Although water level predictions may change, Griffin said levels are expected to peak sometime Thursday.

"We're definitely watching the weather," she said.

Louisa County Sheriff Brad Turner said plans have not been solidified, but Friday-Monday, Highway 92 east of Columbus Junction just east of Highway 70 may be closed due to high water.

Matt Shook, the emergency management director in Muscatine County, said while those along the Cedar River will be impacted, and the Mississippi River will be up a little, but he is not overly concerned about the impact in major areas.

Muscatine County Sheriff C.J. Ryan said Highway G28 may close if the Cedar River reaches the predicted 18.1 feet at Conesville, but he does not expect other major roadways to close, save smaller roads along the Cedar River.

"The people along the river are always very conscious of the water levels," Ryan said.

He said the Sheriff's Department will release updates if roads will need to be closed later in the week.

Iowa has had more moisture than usual this year, although State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said fall flooding has not been unheard-of in the state's history.

"As far as the state-wide average goes this has been our wettest September in 30 years, going back to 1986, although last year and the year before, both of them were a bit wetter in September," Hillaker said.

What was probably the biggest rain event in Iowa's history in 1926 occurred in the middle of September, and Hillaker said 1965 also boasted one of the state's wettest Septembers.

He also said just southwest of Muscatine, places have been dry this month and some have barely had an inch of rain, which is much less rainfall than usual.

But that lack of moisture in some areas of the state has been good for crops, especially corn and soybeans, allowing farmers to harvest.

"The only thing suffering at this time of year is pastureland, we may not get as much regrowth of pastures, but most farmers would vote for dry weather this time of year," Hillaker said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors held an abbreviated session Monday night but that did not mean that the board was short on discussion topics from potential flooding and its effect on road construction to a position description for the Building, Zoning, and Environmental inspector.

Eric Furnas, planning and zoning administrator of Muscatine County, and Nancy Schreiber, director of administrative services, brought to the board a revised position description that more adequately aligns itself with the multi-functional inspector working for Muscatine County at the present time.

As you know we do a lot more than just building and zoning, Furnas said. We also do environmental inspections. That means that the staff has become multi-functional. In revising this description we are looking at quality retention and finding the right people to come in when someone leaves or retires.

Schreiber said that she worked with Furnas in studying the job description and pay scales in a number of counties throughout the state of Iowa and determined that the description needed to be upgraded.

We also learned that we are at the low end of the pay scale for inspectors like we have employed here, Schreiber said.

The description is for a combination inspector, someone who can handle all inspections and take a project from submitted proposals to final inspections according to Furnas.

This is the kind of person we have and the kind of person we would seek in the future, Furnas said.

Schreiber added that if we cannot find that kind of individual, the position description can be broken down and rewritten as needed.

The revised job description and a change in the pay grade was approved the board.

County Engineer Keith White said that there was very little to report as far as construction was concerned at the present time with continued asphalting on various roadways.

But that is slowing down right now as the company moves its equipment away from potential flooding, White said. I dont think we are going to see the kind of flooding that we experienced in 2008 and 2014 but we just dont know right now. Certainly it is slowing down progress when we are having very good weather to work in.

In other action, the Board approved the appointment of Anna Mack to the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission to fill a vacant term ending Jan. 1, 2017.

She will make a wonderful addition to the commission, board member Robert Howard said. She brings a lot of knowledge to the table.

The board, in general, praised the commission for their work throughout the county.
Two Additional Public Meetings on Preservation to be Held in Muscatine County

MUSCATINE, Iowa  The Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission has scheduled two additional town hall meetings to receive public input for their Planning for Preservation project over the next two weeks.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 29 at Newts Cafe (425 Main St) in Nichols. This session will be followed by a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Oct. 3 at the Community Center (104 Sand Run Rd) in Fruitland.

Any resident of Muscatine County is invited to attend either meeting. The town hall meetings will be an opportunity to learn more about the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission and to provide input to them about projects that they are considering undertaking in the county.

The commission received a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant in spring 2016 from the State Historical Society of Iowa to complete a Planning for Preservation project. This planning project will set short and long term goals for the commission as they move forward with additional projects. Public input is an important part of this process.

The commission held the initial project meeting on August 29 in West Liberty, followed by town hall meetings in Wilton on September 12 and New Era on September 22.

A seminar on researching historic properties, the National Register of Historic Places, and historic tax credits will be jointly held by the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission and project consultant Rebecca McCarley of SPARK Consulting (Davenport) at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Nov. 7 on the fairgrounds in West Liberty for all county residents.

The Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission is a county organization that has worked in Muscatine County over the last three years. The nine-member commission is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Current members include Lynn Pruitt, Lisa Wertzbaugher, Rebeckah Allgood, Tom Furlong, Jim Nepple, William Koellner, and Mary Beveridge.

Anyone interested in additional information on the commission or the Planning for Preservation project is encouraged to contact any commission member.
WILTON, Iowa - Wilton's holiday season will include a performance by local thespians according to Becky Allgood, executive director of the Wilton Development Corporation.

Allgood informed the Wilton City Council Monday night that a group of volunteers will rebuild the stage in the Masonic Temple, and a play will be presented at the same time as the downtown Christmas walk.

"It should be a lot of fun," Allgood said. "We've asked the Ministerial Association to take part in it, and a lot of church choirs will be involved."

Allgood added the stage renovation will be part of Wilton's Downtown Renovation Project, which she has spearheaded.

"We want to open it up so the public will enjoy it," she said.

As the Cedar River's rampaging flood waters gush downstream, Wilton Mayor Bob Barrett says Wilton stands ready to help her neighbors. Barrett told the council Wilton has offered assistance to both Muscatine and Cedar Counties.

"Both counties know about that," he said. "We'll be happy to serve."

In other business during Monday night's shortened meeting, the council approved payment of bills totaling $112,333.

"There's a debate on television tonight, and I'd sort of like to watch it," Barrett quipped.
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 []
MTN Nigeria is facing fresh allegations of misconduct with authorities accusing the operator of illegally moving $14 billion (R189.8 billion) out of the country, Bloomberg reported.

Dino Melaye, the politician who made the motion, accused MTN of repatriating the money over a period of 10 years beginning in 2006, with the help of four different banks.

The accusation comes just over three months after MTN agreed to pay a 330 billion naira (R14 billion) fine, and agreeing to list its local division on the Nigerian stock exchange for missing a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIMs from its network.

Nigerias telecommunications regulator also recently blocked MTNs bid to take over the frequency spectrum of Visafone, which it agreed to buy in January, Bloomberg reported.

The Nigerian senate said that the weighty allegations regarding MTN secretly moving funds offshore would be investigated thoroughly by the committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions.

Sen.President @bukolasaraki thanks @Dino_melaye for the motion describing it as a weighty allegations which will be investigated thoroughly  Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) September 27, 2016

More on MTN Nigeria

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Nigeria lifts MTN regulatory services suspension

MTN fuelled Boko Haram terrorist group: Nigerian president

MTN clarifies Nigeria listing comments

Africas source for Images, Footage and Event Services

MTN Drops as Phone Carrier Confronts New Allegations in Nigeria  Bloomberg
Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services recently conducted a two-day hearing on South Africas mobile data costs, after which it urged the mobile operators to cut their prices.

The Star reported that Mmamoloko Kubayi, chairperson of the portfolio committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, said the operators have a month to get their act together.

Either they trim data costs, or the National Assembly will order them to do so, The Star reported her as saying.

Operators can individually restructure their data plans between now and November, or wait for our recommendation when we would make a pronouncement on what should happen with the high data prices, said Kubayi.

MyBroadband asked the mobile operators whether they are planning to respond with price cuts. Their responses are listed below.

Vodacom  We remain committed to price transformation

Vodacom said it has noted media reports regarding mobile data price cuts, and is engaging with Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi to better understand the portfolio committees position on the matter.

Vodacom remains committed to price transformation and working with all stakeholders to build on the significant progress we have made in recent years. We have an established history of reducing data prices  evidenced by the 13.6% decline in 2015 alone, the company said.

Vodacom said it constantly evaluates opportunities with its network to deliver social offerings to its customers through its zero-rated offers.

We have an open invitation to providers of content aimed at advancing employability in South Africa and invite interested parties to e-mail us at [email protected] to apply to have applicable content added to our zero-rated portal, Vodacom said.

MTN  Prices are largely determined by market forces

In South Africa, prices are largely determined by market forces. At MTN, our prices are informed by these market realities, said Mteto Nyati, Chief Executive Officer, MTN SA.

Cell C  No comment.

Telkom  No comment.

More on data

Expiring mobile data bundles prejudice consumers: ICASA

Afrihost Deal: 250MB mobile data a month for only R1.00
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Two men wearing Halloween masks robbed, shot and assaulted an elderly Orinda couple Monday night as they were unloading groceries in front of their home, according to police.

The couple, both in their 70s, had just returned home from grocery shopping and were unloading their car at about 9 p.m. when they were approached by the two masked men who demanded the husband's wallet, then pistol-whipped him and shot her, Orinda police Chief Mark Nagel said.

The woman's son reported the Claremont Avenue attack and said she was shot in the arm and hip. She was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and was in stable condition Tuesday morning, Nagel said.

The male victim was treated and released from the hospital Monday night.

Police searched the area with dogs and air support from the California Highway Patrol, but the suspects escaped on foot with the victims' wallet and purse, according to Nagel.

Officers are looking for video surveillance footage and are investigating the possibility that the suspects followed the victims home from the store, Nagel said.
The Napa Valley Film Festival has announced its line-up, special events and celebrity attendees. The five-day festival will take place in 13 screening venues in Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga, Nov. 9-13.

Were excited to welcome everyone back to Napa Valley for another year of outstanding cinematic storytelling, said Marc Lhormer, Co-Founder/Artistic Director. On top of another great batch of films, our team and partners have collaborated on a series of memorable and surprising special events, as well as an incredible array of food and wine experiences. We expect this to be an epic year.

Notable celebrities expected to attend include Jessica Biel, Ian Bohen, Josh Charles, Aaron Eckhart, Gordon Getty, Meredith Hagner, Katie Holmes, Sam Huntington, Sam Jaeger, Alex Karpovsky, Rose Leslie, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joel David Moore, Matt Ross, Wyatt Russell, Madeline Zima and many more.

For a full lineup and ticket information, visit NVFF.ORG or 226-7500.

Highlights of this years festival include Red carpet events and special screenings:

Lion  A five-year old boy who gets lost of the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home, and survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family. Directed by Garth Davis and starring Dev Patel, Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman. Dev Patel is expected to attend. (Nov. 9, 5:30 p.m., Uptown Theatre; encore screening on Nov.13, 8:15 p.m., Cameo Cinema)

Bleed for This  The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if hed ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks. Director Ben Younger and Aaron Eckhart are expected to attend. (Nov. 11, 4:30 p.m., Lincoln Theater)

The Book of Love  Henry (Jason Sudeikis) is an introverted architect. After the death of his wife (Jessica Biel) in a car accident, he sets out to help Millie (Maisie Williams), a homeless teen, to build a raft to sail across the Atlantic. Jessica Biel is expected to attend. (Nov. 10, 8:30 p.m., Lincoln Theater; additional screenings on Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m., Cameo Cinema; Nov. 12, 5:15 p.m., the Gliderport in Calistoga; Nov. 13, 8:30 p.m., Uptown Theatre).

Captain Fantastic  In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent. Director Matt Ross and Viggo Mortensen are expected to attend. (Nov. 11, 5:00 p.m., Uptown Theatre)

Generosity of Eye  A woman discovers how her fathers passion for art and for the kids of the Harlem Childrens zone meet in a single act of generosity. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is expected to attend. (Nov. 12, 1 p.m., Uptown Theatre; additional screenings on Nov. 9, 1:30 p.m., Cameo Cinema, and Nov. 10, 10 a.m., the Gliderport in Calistoga)

Miss Sloane  Miss Sloane is the story of a ruthless lobbyist (Jessica Chastain) who is notorious for her unparalleled talent and her desire to win at all costs, even when it puts her own career at risk. Director John Madden, writer Jonathan Perera and producer Kris Thykier are expected to attend. (Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m., Lincoln Theater)

Pisco Punch  Pisco Punch tells the story of one of the worlds greatest forgotten spirits: Peruvian pisco. Director and writer Alan Kropf is expected to attend. (Nov. 13, 5:30 p.m. , Uptown Theatre)

Youth in Oregon  A man is tasked with driving his embittered 80-year-old father-in-law cross country to be legally euthanized in Oregon, while along the way helping him rediscover a reason for living. Starring Frank Langella, Christina Applegate and Billy Crudup. Director Joel David Moore is expected to attend. (Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m., Uptown Theatre; encore screenings Nov. 11, 8:30 p.m., Lincoln Theater and Nov. 13, 8:30 p.m., Native Sons)

Celebrity tributes

Napa Valley Film Festival Co-Founders/Directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer have announced this years line-up of celebrity tributes. Previously announced honorees include Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, who will each receive the Chandon Rising Star Tribute and Chloe Grace Moretz, along with newly announced Dev Patel, who will each receive the Raymond Vineyards Trailblazer Tribute.

This years Spotlight Tribute recipient is Viggo Mortensen. The Charles Krug Legendary Filmmaker and Actor Tributes will be presented to acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels and actor Kurt Russell, respectively.

The Celebrity Tributes will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and will include video highlight reels and intimate on-stage conversations with Access Hollywoods Natalie Morales and Kit Hoover.

Other film and event highlights

New this year, the award ceremony will move from Sunday to Saturday evening, immediately prior to the biggest and most extravagant party, the festival gala. During the award ceremony, winners of the juried and audience awards will be revealed and each winner will be presented with a large format collectible bottle of wine from one of the festivals generous Vintner Circle partners. The winners of the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature will each receive at $10,000 check courtesy of Meadowood Napa Valley.

The Festival Gala will feature cuisine from more than 30 of the Valleys local culinary stars and wines from more than 50 of Napa Valleys vintners and wineries. Many of the festivals attending filmmakers and celebrity guests are expected to attend.

The festival is proud to partner again this year with Lexus and The Weinstein Company with the return of Lexus Short Films (LSF). The four winning LSF filmmakers are presenting their new short films together for the first time. Filmmaker Lee Daniels (Precious, Lee Daniels The Butler, Empire, Star) will host a lively onstage conversation with the four talented directors following the screening of their short films.

Panel Discussions

Varietys 10 to Taste, presented by Food Network and Cooking Channel will be back again this year on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the NVFF Culinary Stage at the Napa Riverfront. At this foodie-favorite event, ten local student chefs cook and share dishes inspired by iconic food scenes in the movies. An esteemed panel of celebrities will taste and then sit down to discuss the creations, current culinary trends and the role of food in film. Chef Tyler Florence heads the panel, moderated by Varietys Carole Horst.

NVFFs annual Pitch Competition: The Pitch Competition connects new writers and filmmakers with the industrys best creative executives and producers to discover fresh ideas for the next blockbuster film or hit TV series. The Final Smackdown featuring ten finalists takes place at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 13 at Copia Screening Room.
Not in the market for a new tractor? Deere & Co. would like to sell you all the equipment to make your older one smart.

With slumping crop prices, the Moline, Illinois-based company is seeking to combat slowing sales by selling farmers bolt-on products  modems, navigation devices, sensors and software. In the process, its joined the race for a precision farming market that could be worth $240 billion by 2050, according to Goldman Sachs

Deeres AutoTrac system includes an auto-steering kit and a monitor that lets farmers set the most accurate course in fields for planting, applying fertilizer and pest control. Its just one component of the companys venture into the world of agriculture technology that promises growers less waste and reduced input costs as they deal with declining incomes.

Its an important topic for Deere, the industry and investors, Larry De Maria, an analyst at William Blair & Co. in New York, said by phone. Bigger and faster is no longer the mantra. Its about productivity and efficiency.

Whats notable about Deeres technology offerings is that the company is taking an agnostic approach as to whether new devices are added to tractors made by competitors. On its website, the company touts that the AutoTrac Universal 200 package is available in a variety of colors  not just Deeres iconic green and yellow. That approach underscores how much the companys fortunes are tied to the financial health of farmers.

Prices for corn, the biggest U.S. crop, are on pace for a fourth consecutive annual decline and reached a seven-year low of $3.1475 a bushel in Chicago last month. Futures traded at $3.34 on Friday.

In this environment, many growers arent willing to purchase new tractors that can cost around $360,000 and are either squeezing production out of existing equipment or turning to auctions for used tractors and combines that cost half as much. The slump for crop prices means analysts expect Deeres profit for its fiscal year that ends next month will fall to the lowest since 2009.

Deere is moving toward a holistic strategy of selling parts that can be used on any machine already working fields, Ronald Zink, the companys director of on-board applications, said in an interview in Chicago.

Productivity and efficiency have never been more important to farmers, Zink said. In some cases, that means that tractors built before GPS was a part of the worlds lexicon are getting an upgrade. Earlier this month, the company released an update to its Harvest Mobile application that can be used with older equipment. One function of the software allows farmers to gauge the performance of different seed varieties, which can help them make early planting decisions for the next season, he said.

The increased use of technology can help agriculture overcome what Goldman deems a problem of Malthusian proportions  an allusion to the scholar Thomas Malthus, who warned of food shortages because of population growth and diminishing arable land. Of course, even with a global population topping 7 billion, Malthus has yet to be proven right. Malthus died in 1834, three years before John Deere created the steel plow and founded the company bearing his name. In the almost 180 years that have followed, more powerful machinery coupled with seed technology and improved farming methods have allowed growers to collect ever-expanding grain harvests.

Crops can keep getting bigger as Deere, as well as competitors, place an emphasis on so-called variable-rate technology, a process that lets farmers know how much fertilizer, seed or crop protection to apply, when and where. That segment of precision farming has the most near-term momentum, according to Darryl Matthews, senior vice president at Trimble Navigation, a Sunnyvale, California-based technology company that said in August its farm data was integrated with Deeres operation center.

The push into technology isnt all smooth sailing for Deere. The Department of Justice last month struck a blow to the companys agriculture technology efforts when it sued to block its purchase of Monsantos Precision Planting equipment business, saying it would eliminate competition and raise costs for farmers because Deere would control close to 90 percent of the U.S. market.

Zink declined to comment on the suit. Both companies said they would contest it, arguing the combination will benefit farmers.

Even as competition heats up, its unlikely to deter companies from making a bigger push into the industry. Trimble estimates 32 percent of U.S. farms use some form of variable-rate technology and that 48 percent will employ it in the next two years. At the same time, companies such as Tel Aviv-based Prospera are focusing on tools that allow growers to monitor the health of their land and crops in real-time. In July, it received a $7 million investment, led by Bessemer Venture Partners.

The move to more technology is going to grow fast for awhile, said Karen Ubelhart, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence in New York. Were in the early stages of this digital industrial era, she said.
The Federated Women of Upper Napa Valley will meet at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1428 Spring St. The guest speaker will be Jennifer King, international theater artist, director and teacher.

Locally, King was the executive and artistic director of Sonoma County Repertory Theater and now serves as Professor of Theater Arts/Artistic director at Napa Valley College where she founded Shakespeare Napa Valley.

She will be performing the one-woman comedy, Bad Dates, at the White Barn on Nov. 11-13. She will talk about the life of an actor and there will be opportunity for questions. The Federated Women welcomes anyone interested in joining them for the meeting.
The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will participate in the informal meeting of the European Union Defence Ministers in Bratislava, on Tuesday 27 September 2016.

During his visit to Bratislava, Mr. Stoltenberg will also meet with the Slovak President, Mr. Andrej Kiska, the Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Fico, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Miroslav Lajcak, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Peter Gajdos and other high level officials.

Media Advisory

10:15 Secretary Generals joint press statement with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the Reduta Building

 12:00 Secretary General media huddle at the Reduta Building (press conference room - briefing room 1, 2nd floor).

Still and video imagery of the doorstep will be available on the NATO website after the event.

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with EU Defence Ministers in Bratislava on Tuesday (27 September 2016) to discuss stronger cooperation between the European Union and NATO, and shared security challenges. He stressed the importance of implementing the Joint NATO-EU Declaration, signed in the margins of the Warsaw Summit, which gives new substance to the partnership between NATO and the EU.

Mr. Stoltenberg also welcomed renewed discussions on strengthening European defence. He highlighted that there is no contradiction between strong European defence and a strong NATO, noting that both are mutually reinforcing. He added that it is important to avoid duplication and ensure that the dialogue between both organisations is transparent and open.

Speaking on the situation in Syria, the Secretary General condemned the brutal attacks on Aleppo and stressed that a diplomatic solution for Syria is critical. I join the international calls on Russia to show credible efforts to restore the cessation of hostilities, to allow humanitarian aid into Aleppo, and to create the conditions necessary for UN-led transition talks to resume, he said.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown on Tuesday (27 September 2016) in recognition of his years of distinguished service for the Alliance. The award ceremony was led by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, at the Cercle de Lorraine.

As one of Belgiums highest honours, the Grand Cross recognises exceptional public service. Accepting the award, Ambassador Vershbow spoke of his ten-year career in Belgium, and praised the growth of the European project. From Herman Van Rompuy to the great Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian politicians have been at the heart of nurturing and growing Europe from the ashes of the Second World War to what it is today: a place of peace, of friendships across borders and of greater prosperity, he said. The Deputy Secretary General stressed that Belgium has been a strong and committed host, member and friend to NATO.

After ten years with the Alliance, Ambassador Vershbow will leave NATO in October, to be succeeded by Rose Gottemoeller.
YEREVAN.  The 20-day period, during which the Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan-led cabinet of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (RA) shall be completely formed, will come to an end in about a week, according to Zhoghovurd newspaper.

The most important topic in the discussions over the new government is the matter of the RA Minister of Defense.

Yesterday [i.e. Monday], [President] Serzh Sargsyan invited [acting Defense Minister] Seyran Ohanyan to the RA Presidents residence, to talk about the future [of Ohanyan].

According to well-informed sources of Zhoghovurd daily, as a result of the nearly two-hour meeting of the two officials, it was decided that Seyran Ohanyan will no longer be reappointed to the post of RA Minister of Defense.

[But] Zhoghovurd could not yet find out what Seyran Ohanyan will be engaged in [after his removal from office], wrote the newspaper.
Japan to establish new unified command to manage operations of land, sea and air forces

French Foreign Minister calls on Russia to reconsider its decision on grain deal

Ferrari unveils 499P hypercar with all-wheel drive

Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that Putin, Pashinyan and Aliyev meeting will help conclude peace treaty

Pashinyan to meet with Putin in Sochi, followed by trilateral meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders

Reuters: Border Agency building set on fire in Britain

US recognized as most powerful country in world for seventh time

Iran accuses Israel of organizing terrorist attack in Shiraz

Reuters: NATO urged Russia to urgently resume grain deal

Guterres intends to achieve resumption of Russia's participation in grain deal

Resistance Movement calls rally on November 5

La Stampa: Italian farmers fear rising cereal prices due to disruption of grain deal

Beglaryan: About 33% of the entire population of Artsakh gathered at the Renaissance Square in Stepanakert

Sweden's new government is ready to supply Kiev with heavier weapons

Babayan: Any proposal in which Artsakh will be considered part of Azerbaijan will be rejected

Dozens of female students protest in Afghanistan

Biden confuses number of states in U.S.

Peskov: Russia cannot be someone's vassal

Minibus carrying party members overturns in Ankara

Dashnaktsutyun: Any document that will include Artsakh into Azerbaijan must be torn up

Speaker: We hope that no document ignoring the Artsakh issue will be signed in Sochi

Italian MFA comments on Russia's withdrawal from food deal

Economist: High inflation took Western countries by surprise, which were wrong in their forecasts

Artsakh National Assembly issues statement: Artsakh has never been and will never be part of independent Azerbaijan

Parliament of Republic of Artsakh unanimously adopts statements

NA holds extraordinary meeting in Artsakh: Big rally takes place on Renaissance Square (photos)

Lavrov confirms Putin's readiness for negotiations with Ukraine

La Repubblica: Italy supplied Kiev with 20-30 M109L artillery guns and PzH 2000 howitzers

Typhoon in Philippines affects more than 932,000 people

Source: Turkey conducts 'telephone diplomacy' on food deal

Television and partially radio broadcasts will be turned off in Armenia for two hours on October 31

Borrell: The EU urges Russia to revert its decision

Haiti PM Ariel Henry: The leader of a political party was murdered in the republic

Armenia MFA expresses condolences to South Korea over Seoul tragedy

Seoul receives more than 3,700 missing persons reports after crush

Armenian Defense Ministry: Private received fatal gunshot wound

Toivo Klaar: I emphasised the European Unions continued strong engagement in the peace process

Arrested for assaulting Speaker Pelosi's spouse faces charges

Major crush in Seoul: There are victims

Britain needs air defense in connection with war in Ukraine

France to plant 1 billion trees by 2030

Armenian FM meets participants of World Armenian Summit

The Swiss are going to set record for longest passenger train in the world

At least 146 people killed and 150 more injured in Seoul as they were crushed by crowd

Europeans frightened by growth of household appliances exports to Armenia, Kazakhstan

Russia requests UN Security Council meeting in connection with Ukraine's attack on Black Sea Fleet ships

Michel Aoun: Lebanon could slide into constitutional chaos

Zelensky intends to have Patriot SAMs, Abrams tanks and aircraft from US

President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh

Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel

Pashinyan receives Youri Djorkaeff

Thierry Breton talks Twitter purchase by Elon Musk: In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules

Armenia PM, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus discuss regional security and peace

Nikol Pashinyan, Garo Paylan exchange views on Armenia-Turkey normalization process

Quake hits Armenia-Turkey border zone

Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Garo Paylyan discuss prospects of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations

Armenia ruling party adopting new vision regarding Karabakh conflict settlement

Russia MOD: Ukraine carried out terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships, civilian ships in Sevastopol

Premier: CSTO should plan force operation, restore Armenias territorial integrity

BloombergNEF: Gas reserves from the U.S. will not be enough to fill the gaping hole left by Russia in Europe

Armenia PM: All countries consider Karabakh to be part of Azerbaijan

Armenias Pashinyan: CSTO does not exist

Kremlin responds to question on extending mandate of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Armenia premier: We need to know, ultimately, what Russian peacekeepers are doing in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia PM: Im ready to sign document, accept that Russian peacekeepers term in Karabakh be extended 10-20 years

Armenias Pashinyan: We are ready to delegate border guard service operation to Russian border guards

Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together

European Parliament calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships

Visiting Armenia MPs brief Canada lawmaker on recent Azerbaijan military aggression

Armenia PM at ruling party congress: We declared repairing states foundation our primary task

UK prime minister may freeze foreign aid for two more years

Karabakh President: Russia leaders statement inspires certain hopes

Armenia ruling party congress kicks off

Man breaks into US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, demands to speak with her, beats husband with hammer

EU-Armenia Joint Committee on Research and Innovation first meeting to be held in November

Provincial governor of Armenias Gegharkunik: EU monitoring mission already started

US accuses Russia of disinformation regarding Washington intentions towards Armenia, Azerbaijan

Mexico fully legalizes gay marriage

Newspaper: Azerbaijan not inclined to sign anything with Armenia in Russias Sochi

Armenia ruling party convening closed convention

India's ruling party spokesman sues news portal

Archaeologists discover 240-year-old American camp for British prisoners of war

Subglacial river of 460 kilometers long discovered in Antarctica

Italian prime minister demands that she be addressed as prime minister in masculine form

Pentagon to send Ukraine new aid package worth $275 million

Europe will ban sale of one type of car

European Commission head announces new aid and investments for Serbia

Biden calls Putin's rhetoric on nuclear weapons 'dangerous'

Lukashenko on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict: What are you fighting for in these mountains, where not even goats walk?

Swedish authorities offer to create united northern army

Lukashenko: Conflict issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be resolved now - with Ilham Aliyev

Lukashenko about situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border: Where are we racing horses, where are we rushing to?

Pashinyan: Armenia-Diaspora relations undergo profound substantive changes

Lukashenko to Pashinyan: Sit down with Aliyev and make a decision, if you don't make it today, it will be worse

Bulgarian interim government urges to speed up transition to euro zone

President of Karabakh: It is necessary to unite all national potential and efforts

IMF: China's sharp and uncharacteristic economic slowdown will stall growth in Asia by the end of 2023

Iran: Riots in country were planned by the intelligence services of the USA, England, Israel and the KSA

Steinmeier: Ukraine war caused 'epochal break' in Germany's relations with Russia

Gas prices in Europe remain high in coming years
The Buhari-administration has been accused of being overly corrupt, by militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, NDGJM.

The group on Monday said it would not join in the ceasefire declared by other militant groups in the Niger Delta owing to the alleged insincerity of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Alleging that the current Federal Government was too corrupt to be trusted, the NDGJM threatened that attacks on oil facilities would continue until the Government and oil firms operating in the region turn from their oppressive tendencies' against the people.

In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesman for the militant group, Aldo Agbalaja, asked the multinational oil companies and the military "to watch out for the next big statement. It shall shake your imaginations."

The statement also condemned another militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, for being too quick to have announced a ceasefire with the Government.

The statement added, "The chickens seem to be coming home to roost now. The truth is dawning on the blacklegs that are working to short-change their people will always backfire. When the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate said we were out to engage the oppressors to the last, some snickered and bluffed, their indignation became most annoying when those pretenders called Avengers gave life to our prediction and announced a ceasefire. Now they are all coming back to the basics; falling back in line after seeing, first hand, that we have been right all along about the Nigerian Federal Government; it is a corrupt system that should never be trusted.

"However, we are using this medium to warn the Nigerian Armed Forces to properly advise their leadership; militarisation of our region can only lead to an avoidable armed confrontation and if this happens, we swear by the gods and ancestors of our land, we shall ensure it is a long and tedious campaign that the Nigerian state will forever regret."

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice mandate further threatened to launch what it termed Operation Hammurabi Code', adding, "Until we see a sincere and genuine step towards a just and equitable mending of the injustices of all the years past done to our people, this war shall persist and we can guarantee that they cannot win this one, even if they get all the world's arsenal assembled behind them.

"Operation Crocodile Tears is the mildest of what the world should expect from us, by the time we initiate the phase II and get started with Operation Hammurabi Code' only God knows what will then become of these plains called Nigeria."


11:19

Taking a dig at her Republican rival Donald Trump, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said the race to the White House is real business and not "reality TV".





"This is not reality TV. This is real. It's as real as it gets. So we're going to get the economy working for everybody, not just those at the top," Clinton, 68, said yesterday.





"We're going to keep America safe, provide strong, steady leadership, and we are going to bring our country together across the divides that have pitted Americans against each other," she told her supporters in North Carolina.





In her speech, a confident Clinton alleged that Trump during the debate said he would not honour the commitment the country has made with its friends and allies.





"Words matter. And last night it sounded like he was basically telling our treaty allies in Asia, 'Hey, we're not sure we're going to be there for you even though we have a mutual defense treaty'," she said. "People start to doubt America's word, America's intention. I felt like I had to jump in and say, 'I just want to be clear. We will honour our treaties. We will support our allies and our partners," she asserted.





Clinton faced Trump in the first of the series of three presidential debates yesterday.





"We have two different visions here. I believe we are stronger together. That is at the core of what I've done over my years in advocacy and public service," she said.





"I believe that America is already great, and it is our responsibility to make it even greater. I believe that as we make our economy work for everyone, we also need to keep our country safe, and we need to provide strong, steady leadership in the world with our allies and our partners," she added.





Noting that she has already voiced her views on a range of national security and foreign policy issues, Clinton said she had a plan for defeating and destroying the ISIS. "What we hear from my opponent is dangerously incoherent. It's unclear exactly what he is saying," Clinton said.





She said Trump made it very clear that he had not prepared for the debate. "At one point he was kind of digging me for spending time off the campaign trail to get prepared. But just trying to keep track of everything he says took a lot of time and effort. And I said, 'Yeah. You know what? I did prepare. And I'll tell you something else I prepared for. I prepared to be president of the US and I think that's good," she said amidst an applause from the audience.





Clinton alleged that it was very well possible that Trump has not paid any taxes. "He (Trump) actually bragged about gaming the system to get out of paying his fair share of taxes. In fact, I think there's a strong probability he hasn't paid federal taxes a lot of years," she said.
What exactly does instantaneous mean?

UF mathematics professor Kevin Knudson reflects on the notion that an instant means different things for a person, a redwood or a gnat, and that whats infinitely small for one individual might be an entire lifetime for another, influencing his or her outlook on life.

How short is an instant? Is it a second? A tenth of a second? A microsecond? You might think all of these qualify. What about 100 years? That certainly doesnt seem like an instant, and to a human being, it isnt, since wed be lucky to have a lifespan that long. But to a giant sequoia, say, 100 years is no big deal. And in geological terms its practically nothing.

How should we make sense of the idea of an instant? Does it cloud our judgment when we make decisions, both as individuals and as a society? Are we moving too slowly on solving big problems because we dont see them happening instantly?

What does math say?

When Newton and Leibniz developed the calculus, they were forced to confront the infinitely small. The goal was to understand the idea of the instantaneous velocity of an object  thats the speed at which something is moving at a particular instant in time (think of your cars speedometer reading). They took the following approach.

We know how to compute average speed over some time interval: Simply take the total distance traveled and divide by the total time. For example, if the object travels 1 meter in 1 second then the average speed is 1 m/s. But what if you have a better measuring device? Say instead you can discover that the object really traveled 20 cm in the first 10th of a second. Then the average speed over that interval is 2 m/s and youd probably agree that is a better approximation to what we mean by the instantaneous velocity of the object at that point.

But its still just an approximation. To get the real value, you would need to take smaller and smaller time intervals and have increasingly accurate measuring equipment. In the 17th century, the way mathematicians got around this was to talk about infinitesimals, quantities that were not zero yet were smaller than any positive number you can think of, including really tiny fractions like 1/1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

Some scientists of the day, as well as various institutions (the Jesuits, for example), rejected this idea as nonsense. Indeed, the idea that one could divide things forever flew counter to the Platonic ideal of indivisibles (also called atoms) and therefore did not sit well with the Renaissance embrace of ancient Greek philosophy. Theres a great book about this called Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World; I recommend it heartily. Still, this is how calculus was done until Cauchy introduced the formalism of limits, thereby pushing infinitesimals out of the picture. Roughly speaking, a function f has limit L as x approaches a if the values of f(x) can be made arbitrarily close to L by taking x sufficiently close to a. The precise mathematical definition of this idea obviates the need for the old-fashioned use of infinitesimals.

Still, its a shame that infinitesimals fell out of favor, because theyre really useful for thinking about relative scale. An example I always give my students when talking about the reverse problem of dealing with the infinitely large is to talk about money. If you are a billionaire, meaning you have roughly 10 dollars, you sure dont care about 100 (or 10) dollars. Thats a difference of seven orders of magnitude, and from your billionaire point of view its pointless to get upset over 100 dollars (indeed, you have 10 million hundred-dollar bills at your disposal).

In a similar way, infinitesimals help us deal with the infinitely small  a microsecond (1 millionth of a second) is a short amount of time, but its huge relative to a picosecond (10 of a second). In mathematical terms, if dx denotes a small amount (like a microsecond) then its square (dx) (a picosecond) is negligible. So when youre working on time scales in the seconds you dont really care about microseconds, and when youre working on microsecond scales you dont really care about picoseconds.

(By the way, our words for time are based on these relative notions of smallness. A minute is so named because it was considered small relative to an hour. Seconds were once called second minutes to indicate their relative insignificance.)

Whats your point of view?

I bring this up because a pair of articles I read recently made me wonder if our human-influenced idea of instantaneous is leading us to unfortunate decisions.

Question: Has the planet entered a new geological epoch, the so-called Anthropocene? Homo sapiens has undoubtedly influenced the Earths environment, and some geologists are arguing for a change to the International Chronostratigraphic Chart, the official timeline of periods, eons and other geological timescales. (We currently live in the Holocene epoch, already distinguished by the appearance of human beings on the scene.)

Im not a geologist, so I cannot comment on whether or not this is something we should do, but the obvious first problem to be solved would be settling on a start date for this proposed epoch. Should it be the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century? What about the beginning of mining in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC? Or how about the mid 20th century, as others have argued?

The Earth is roughly 4.5 billion years old. Even if we decided this new epoch began 3,000 years ago, that is still effectively now in geological terms. There have been a million and a half 3,000-year periods in the planets life. When things move on such timescales, perhaps were just splitting hairs when thinking about when to declare something like this has begun.

Climate change presents another example. Sea levels are rising, but the change is not immediately noticeable. Still, by the end of the 21st century, even the most conservative estimates suggest a three- or four-foot rise, with some scientists predicting it will be double that amount.

Why all the denialism and resistance to action, then? Aside from the obvious political disagreements, there is a more basic cause for the inertia: We dont see it happening in real time. Sure, we notice theres not as much snow in the winter as there was when we were kids or that the streets flood in Miami Beach on sunny days at high tide nowadays, but that could just be a fluke, right? Dont we need more data?

In human terms, these changes are not instantaneous, but in the Earths climate cycle they effectively are. We are waiting for some catastrophic event to clearly tell us the climate has officially changed, but it simply takes longer than that. Were looking for a sign on our human timescale, which is just infinitesimal from a geological viewpoint. But once a few more billion years have passed, some future entity will be able to spot the turning point  though not down to the year or century (a geological instant).

Fast or slow, it comes down to scale

In the absence of catastrophic planetary events, such as a large meteor collision, significant change to the Earth takes time. But its important to keep in mind that our relatively short lifespans distort our perception of instantaneous events.

As far as the planet is concerned, with its phases measured in the tens or hundreds of millions of years, things are moving pretty quickly. A 1 increase in global temperature in 100 years is very fast. If we use this to approximate the future, we quickly see that the planet would be virtually uninhabitable within a few hundred years. The real dynamics are complicated, of course, but perhaps we should keep this simple calculus in mind as we attempt to craft sustainable solutions. Scale is everything and our idea of small doesnt necessarily align with reality.

This article originally appeared in The Conversation on Sept. 14, 2016.
As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to rise over the Uri terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, US-based political science expert Sumit Ganguly has stressed it is "too late" for a military response and even attempts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan would be tough for India in the current global scenario. "I think it is too late for a military response. Any element of surprise that might have existed is long gone. At this stage all that India can do is try and diplomatically isolate Pakistan. Even this strategy will be difficult as the world is preoccupied with a host of other crises," Ganguly, director, Centre on American and Global Security at Indiana University, told IANS in an email. With debates raging on whether India needs to call Pakistan's nuclear bluff, he warned that resorting to nuclear weapons on India's part would be "sheer madness". "India needs to devise a strategy to call Pakistan's bluff. To that end, it needs to set some red lines of its own. No, a resort to nuclear weapons on India's part would be sheer madness," Ganguly said. Ganguly also asserted that severing cultural ties with Pakistan is "foolish", and pointed to the fact that "even at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union had extensive cultural links." Further, India has to contend with the China factor as it evaluates all its options with Pakistan, he noted and asked if India's stand would strain its relations with the Asian superpower. "Much depends on the actions that India takes vis-a-vis Pakistan. However, if India wishes to be a great power and be seen as one, it can ill-afford to constantly kowtow to the sentiments of the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Ganguly observed. The China factor is also significant as Modi assesses the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. Could the treaty be used as a weapon? Ganguly cautions it could "easily backfire". "It would be a very risky and fraught strategy that could easily backfire. It would entail violating a solemn, international obligation and more to the point shift the weight of global public opinion in Pakistan's favour. Worse still, Pakistan's all-weather ally, the PRC, could also hurt India in the northeast," he said. In this scenario, Ganguly opines that the US will continue with its "deeply flawed" balancing act. "Unfortunately, the Obama administration, which is the victim of bad domestic advice on Pakistan, is also hugging an elusive hope of Pakistani compliance will continue with its deeply flawed balancing act. It fails to realise that it is steadily alienating even its supporters in India," Ganguly said in response to whether he sees US taking a strong stand against Pakistan or will it opt for a balancing act. --IANS sgh/vd/vt ( 473 Words) 2016-09-26-19:30:10 (IANS)
India said on Tuesday that it is "unable to participate" in the upcoming Saarc Summit in Islamabad. In a statement, India said increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region "by one country" have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit. --IANS rn/hs ( 67 Words) 2016-09-27-21:08:08 (IANS)
India's largest branded network of hotels OYO has launched a much-needed solution assuring early check-in up to seven days prior to booking. This is sharp disruption to the prevalent industry norm across the world, with each hotel having its own arbitrary check-in time (usually 12 noon), and guests left stranded and helpless. The new feature is the latest in the list of pioneering solutions introduced by OYO to deliver efficient, predictable and standardized stays to travelers. This facility is being offered free of cost in many OYOs, and at a nominal charge in others. With this launch, OYO has become the first hotel brand in the world to offer guaranteed early check-in to guests. OYO's Sunrise check-in is now live both on its website and mobile app. Customers can easily identify, select and book hotels that offer confirmed early check-in. In addition, guests can also modify their existing booking and secure an early check-in. "Despite changes in the way we live, travel and work, the hotel industry across the world continues to follow the outdated concept of a standard check-in time. Nowadays, travel is no longer about following prescribed itineraries. At OYO we understand our guests and build features tailored to their needs. With Sunrise check-in travelers can plan their mode of travel, duration and trip-itinerary in a better way, without being constrained by the check-in time," said Founder and CEO OYO, Ritesh Agarwal. Often times travelling customers start arriving in cities as early as six AM. However, they are inconvenienced by the fact that most hotels offer check-in only after 12 noon. Whether they need to get ready or freshen up for a meeting, catch a quick nap before a long day, unwind or prepare to visit a temple, all types of travelers - business, leisure and pilgrim - can require early check-in. So far, their only option was to request the hotel prior to check-in or upon arrival, with the facility being offered subject to availability of rooms. "The need to get a guaranteed early check-in is one of the key reasons that guests book hotels by walking in. Many of our guests shared that strict schedules for check-in times is one of their biggest pain-points related to hotel-booking," added Ritesh. "Our Sunrise check-in feature gives them the freedom to plan their travel in a flexible manner. We expect an enthusiastic response to this feature and early indications show that nearly 20 percent of bookings post-launch are availing this service," he added. Sunrise check-in service is delivered via the OYO Partners system where hotels update days where they can offer early check-in and millions of users receive this update on a real-time basis. Strict guidelines ensure full compliance towards the fundamental philosophy of delivering a delightful stay experience. (ANI)
"We offer cloud servers and cloud applications to SMB customers at 50 paise per hour," said GoDaddy India Managing Director Rajiv Sodhi here.

The US-based internet domain registrar and web hosting services firm manages a whopping 63-million domain names, making it the world's largest ICANN-accredited registrar.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a non-profit organisation that is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the internet.

"The new offerings are designed to help web developers to build, test and scale cloud solutions for their SMB customers at the earliest," Sodhi told reporters here, while announcing expansion of its hosting services for small businesses in India.

The company's cloud servers also allow developers to build, test and re-provision virtual instances instantly.

"Our 'pay-as-you-go' utility billing provides flexibility and control of hourly billing and monthly limit making it affordable for customers," asserted Sodhi.

Noting that the Indian sub-continent was a sizeable market for expanding hosting products like cloud servers, the executive said developers could save time and meet their clients' expectations by using the company's hosting products that integrates domains, DNS, security and backups in one place.

Powered by kernel-based virtual machine virtualisation, the platform is built on OpenStack to ensure scalability and security for developers and technologists to leverage the platforms they know best.

The solid-state drives across the board and fast input/output ensure overall performance.

The servers are integrated with cloud applications powered by Bitnami.

The servers also allow customers to manage and maintain new and current domains and sub-domains. By featuring snapshots, users can save configurations and launch new servers with that image, instead of starting from scratch.

With 14 million customers worldwide, GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers and manage their work.

"Our mission is to give customers tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success," the company said in statement on the occasion.

--IANS fb/pgh/dg

( 366 Words)

2016-09-27-20:28:09 (IANS)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Sept.27 (ANI-Businesswire India): TabletWise.com, a leading health information website, announced the launch of India's largest consumer medicine website. TabletWise.com's provides trustworthy information on uses, composition and side-effects for over 1.25 lakh commonly used medicines. Now consumers can access critical, easy to read and up to date information on medicine uses, side effects, dosage and more, along with sharing their own experiences. Dr. Jagpreet Chhatwal, a public health expert at the world-renowned Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital USA says, "Public health infrastructure and medicine knowledge is extremely poor in India. TabletWise fulfills an important need in the Indian health care system by making medicine information more accessible. The website developed by TabletWise helps consumers discover uses and side-effects of medicines using their smartphone or PC from anywhere, anytime. TabletWise technology helps understand right and wrong medicine consumption behaviors. Such information is extremely important for pharmaceutical companies, doctors, patients and government health policy makers in India." "We saw a growing need for consumers to find credible information on medicines and share their own experiences. This inspired us to create a unique website powered by data analytics and designed for comprehensive consumer usage reporting," said Vivek Puri, the co-founder of the company. Vivek Puri, further explains, "India faces a huge problem related to lack of important information on medicines. There is some information made available on medicine packages, however, it is very difficult to read by common public and important details are not always available. We have collected all important information and developed technology on top of it. Using our system, patients can share information such as what they use the medicine for, what side-effects they observe, how often do they eat this medicine and how long they have been eating this medicine. This helps users to compare their medicine usage and experiences with that of other patients." The website is comprised of medicine information pages and an online survey that asks patients a series of questions related to patient experiences with the medicine. Patients can share their findings and also read about how other patients consume the same medication. Patients can also post questions or join discussions related to the medication they use. (ANI-Businesswire India)
During his stay, the President will inaugurate recently renovated Ashiyana, Bhawan at President bodyguard and will lay foundation stone of 12 residential unit of President Secretariat in Dehradun.

President Mukherjee will visit the holy Kedarnath shrine and also participate in the Ganga Arti at Haridwar.

In his three-day visit, the President will also host a dinner party in honour of the distinguished guests of the state. (ANI)
Train services on the busy Howrah-Delhi route was disrupted today following derailment of four wagons of a goods train near Barhan in Agra district this morning. Railway sources here said that the accident occurred at around 0730 hours and the route was affected due to the derailment. None was injured in the accident. Efforts were on to repair the tracks and officials said that the route would be cleared within an hour. However, due to the derailment, Kanpur- Delhi Shatabadi and Delhi bound Kolkata Rajdhani express trains have been stranded at different stations. The New Delhi- Lucknow Shatabadi express has been diverted through Moradabad route. UNI MB ADG PM1107 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-952016.Xml
Sri Lankan Navy personnel allegedly fired several rounds in the air to chase away Indian fishermen and damaged fishing nets in atleast 100 mechanized fishing boats valued several lakhs of rupees in a vicious attack at mid sea near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the wee hours of today. Fishermen, who ventured in more than 300 mechanized fishing boats from Rameswaram fishing jetty yesterday were forced to return with huge loss, said a leader of local fishermen association. Sri Lankan Navan Patrol boats encircled several fishing boats while they were fishing near the IMBL and detained them at gun point for several hours. After snapping the fishing nets in atleast one hundred boats, the Sri Lankan Naval men fired several rounds in the air to scare the fishermen. They also warned the Indian fishermen to leave the zone otherwise serious consequences to be faced, he said. Each fishing boat incurred a loss between Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh due to the attack, the fishermen alleged. UNI GSM CS 1134 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-952046.Xml
Border trade activities between India and Myanmar were affected today at Moreh, Chandel district due to an economic blockade on the national highway. Movement of trucks carrying goods came to a grinding halt due to the economic blockade launched by Flood Victims Demand Committee (FVDC), Chandel which began on September 25 midnight. The committee alleged that the people affected by flood last year were not properly compensated. Strike supporters blocked vehicles and checked if they were carrying goods. Passengers were, however, allowed to move. The blockade will continue until the government concedes their demands. Meanwhile, another blockade began last midnight on the two national highways connecting Manipur to the rest of the world called by the "Contract Basis Appointed Teachers Association (CBATA)" . The association is demanding regularisation of their posts. Due to the blockade long queue was witnessed in front of oil depots. UNI NS AD VS ADG PM1118 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-952001.Xml
Bollywood actor Om Puri said has sending Pakistani film artistes back to their country was not the 'right way' to respond to the Uri incident. He said this would serve no purpose and the demand was just a 'childish act'. The actor, who is in the city for the past one week to shoot for his upcoming film ' Kabari' yesterday went to a private university to promote his movie, 'Gandhigiri.' Om Puri said actors should not be dragged in politics though condemned the Uri incident saying it should be deplored and Pakistan should be taught a lesson for harbouring terrorists. Meanwhile,stressing the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in today's world, Om Puri said he strongly believes in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. In the movie, the actor plays an NRI-returned Rai Saheb, who strongly believes in the principles of Gandhi. "My character is of a Non-Resident Indian whose father had played an active role in the freedom struggle and was closely associated with it. After returning to India, Rai Saheb comes across four different people who've walked on the wrong paths and made wrong choices due to various circumstances. The movie beautifully captures the efforts made by Rai Saheb to make them realise the importance of Gandhiji's values in today's age and time," On Puri said. Asked to comment on the importance of Gandhi's values today, he said nobody could deny that Gandhi's philosophy played a very important role during the country's struggle for freedom. "There is a whole list of thinkers and intellectuals in the country who have enriched the nation with their philosophies, be it Swami Vivekananda, Ramkrishna Paramhans and so on. Gandhi's philosophy played an important role in the freedom struggle with huge crowds standing in front of the police braving their assaults with non-violence. This philosophy of fighting violence with non-violence was later followed by a great leader like Nelson Mandela," he said.UNI MB ADG NS1132 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-951999.Xml
Suspended Director General of Corporate Affairs BK Bansal and his son committed suicide here today in Madhu Vihar almost two months after his wife and daughter's suicide, post his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) in a corruption cases. Bansal was arrested in July in corruption cases involving illegal assets and bribery. A case was lodged against the bureaucrat who was working with the ministry of corporate affairs by the CBI. He was charged with various illegal deals. Details of today's suicide are not known immediately. Bansal, an Additional Secretary-ranked officer in Ministry of Corporate Affairs, was arrested in July in multiple cases. His wife and daughter, who were ashamed of his arrest, had committed suicide on July 19 by hanging themselves in their flat in New Delhi. His son had then disappeared from the scene. Bansal's wife Satyabala (57) and daughter Neha(27) were found hanging in their flat in East Delhi's Madhu Vihar area. They had left suicide notes, saying nobody was responsible for their death, police said. Bansal was caught red-handed in a hotel while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 9 lakh for favouring a pharmaceutical company. Senior Administrative Grade officer with the Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS), Bansal was promoted to the post of Director General of Corporate Affairs (DGCA) last year.UNI XC NB ADG 1159 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-952055.Xml
During his 3 day whirlwind tour of Mandi district Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh inaugurated about a dozen of development projects in Mandi, Janjehli and Karsog Valley of Seraj constituency of this district. Virbhadra Singh dedicated yesterday Rs 8.5 crore Lamba Thach Government Degree college to people of the remote valley and added that science classes would also be started there in the next session and a Girls Hostel would also be set up in the premises of the college for the benefit of the girls of far-flung scattered villages of the valley. He also announced the opening of a sub-tehsil and Police Post in the sleepy village Chhatri for the convenience of the people of the backward valley where roads remain blocked during winter when the valley is locked by snow. He also upgraded a number of schools in the area. Chief Minister said an ambitious plan had been drawn up for the development of Janjehli with the view to harnessing its vast tourism potential for drawing a large number of tourists from home and abroad. He remarked that Congress government was leaving no stone unturned in the Seraj constituency represented by BJP MLA and former minister despite the fact that the BJP leaders were carrying on mud-slinging campaign against him. Earlier on way to Janjehli at Pandoh chief minister laid the foundation stone of the two residential colonies for the people of Lahul Valley costing about Rs 4 crore. On Sunday at Mandi Virbhadra Singh inaugurated the famous Red-Cross fair and lauded the role of the people particularly women for Their active participation in the Red-Cross movement and mitigating of pangs of the poor and hapless. He also inaugurated the Mandi Press Club at Magwain. President of the Press Clus, Ankush Sood appreciated the friendly gesture of the chief minister with media persons in the state. It was a matter of pride and pleasure for media persons that the foundation stone was laid by CM and its inauguration was also done by him, he said. He also inaugurated the Tourism Information Centre and the building for the shelter-less urban poor.UNI ML VS ADG PM1333 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-952159.Xml
Major fire broke out in a godown at Lethpora, Pampore, in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Srinagar-Jammu national highway today, official sources said. They said the fire broke out in a ghee godown at Lethpora, about 12 km from here. A Fire and Emergency official said about a dozen fire tenders from different parts of the city and headquarter were rushed to douse the flames. The loss would be in lakhs of rupees, they said adding the cause of fire was not known.UNI ABS VS ADG PM1217 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-952037.Xml
Election Commission is set to hold the entire election process in Uttar Pradesh under the umbrella of the Central Para-Military Forces(CPMF), including the nomination process, besides monitoring the security and fairness of the polling from the police station level during the assembly elections slated early next year. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi said here today that the EC was very serious on the issue of maintaining strictness in holding free and fair elections in UP and they are considering for deployment of the Central forces from the nomination process as demanded by the political parties. "We will ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the elections besides there would be no anomalies in the electoral rolls so that each genuine voter can cast their votes in a smooth manner," he added. "This time, the Commission would monitor the election process from the police stations and will watch the activities of the policemen in conducting a free and fair polls. We will also ensure that there is no biased attitude of the policemen deployed at the police stations besides have asked the state government to post the senior police officials as per the requirement at the police stations and no junior would be allowed to officiate," he said while referring to some political parties who alleged that the police stations are being manned by junior officials of a particular community just to help a political outfit. He said the Commission has also been petitioned by the political parties about the suspicious role of a section of district police and home-guards during the elections and have asked for deployment of central forces from the polling booth to police station level besides webcasting and CCTV cameras at all the polling booths. "We will ensure that Central forces are used maximum and it could be sent well before the election dates to cover the nomination process and even keep a vigil on the anti-social elements," he added. Addressing a press conference along with two other election Commissioners A K Joti and O P Rawat besides two deputy election commissioners and the director general elections after winding up his three days visit to UP to assess the poll preparedness in the state, Dr Zaidi made it clear that the Commission will do whatever required for ensuring free and fair polls in the state. He said the Commission is not authorised to take cognisance of the announcement of the smart phones to be registered from November and to be delivered to people after the elections by the ruling Samajwadi Party. "We can take up the issue in a legal way only when they include it in the poll manifesto," the CEC said. When asked about the possible timing of the assembly polls in the state, the CEC said there the issue was yet to be decided by the political parties have demanded that the polling should be avoided during the board examinations to be held in March- April. "We have time till May 28 to hold elections in UP when the assembly completes its five year term. We will hold the elections on time and will ensure that there is no problem for the voters," he added. Peeved over the low percentage of polling during the past elections with not more than 60 per cent voting, Dr Zaidi said this time the district officials have been given a target to make this percentage to 70 to 75 per cent at least. "We will go for massive awareness drive to attract the voters at the polling booths with making all the booths have Assured Minimum Facility(AMF) with provision of ramp for the disabled,drinking water, toilets, electricity and waiting hall.More UNI MB AE AN1557 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-952287.Xml
Speaking to newsmen here today, district in-charge Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said that more then 30,000 delegates from across thecountry and from 15 countries will be participating.

This Jamboree is an occasion and opportunity for young people tocome together to meet, greet, live and rejoice. The theme ofJamboree is 'Together for better tomorrow'

He said that it is certainly a matter of pride that Maharaja ofMysuru was a member of the Scouts movement and the princeJayachaaraja Wodeyar was a first club, they were instrumental inpromoting the Scout movement in the state.

The state government has provided all necessary help in allaspects for the success of the jamboree.

President Pranab Mukherjee is expected to participate inthe event. UNI BSP MSP CS 1618

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Yaswant Sinha on Tuesday advised the Centre to end the Indus Water Treaty and repeal the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan. Sinha said that New Delhi has been giving Islamabad Most Favoured Nation treatment from past 20 years, but Islamabad instead of returning the gesture has resorted to sheer enmity. "Both of them are very important steps. Few days back through a news paper I had also given this suggestion that we should end the Indus Water Treaty and repeal the MFS status," said Sinha. "We gave the Most Favoured Nation treatment to Pakistan but Islamabad in the past 20 years has not given India the Most Favoured Nation treatment. And now when Pakistan has resorted to sheer enmity then it makes no sense that India continues to give Pakistan Most Favoured Nation treatment. The Indian government very easily can forfeit this tag. I would suggest the Centre to end the MFN," he added. Taking stock of the 56-year old treaty with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said "blood and water cannot flow at the same time". Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting on Thursday in which the 'Most Favoured Nation' status granted to Pakistan will be reviewed. Post Uri terror attack, India will now decide whether to withdraw the status to that country. The decision comes a day after Modi held a meeting with top officials to review the Indus Waters Treaty. Top officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce Ministry will be in attendance. The review meetings comes after the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed, following which India has made it clear that ties with Pakistan will never be the same again. India has already reiterated its stand of isolating the country globally and has called for nations to follow suit. Modi consulted with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other top officials to discuss whether a reconfiguration of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan was among the steps that the government should take as a response to attacks from Pakistan. "Blood and water cannot flow together," the PM had said in the meeting. Sources say the government has kept its option of reviewing the treaty on the sharing of the waters of six rivers with Pakistan open. India is debating a series of steps to tighten pressure on Pakistan after the September 18 attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, in which 18 soldiers were killed by terrorists of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. India granted "Most Favoured Nation" status to Pakistan unilaterally in 1996 but Islamabad is yet to reciprocate. The term means that the country granted the status receives equal trade advantages. If the government withdraws the move, the impact will be mainly symbolic because bilateral trade between the neighbours represents a fraction of India's overall goods trade. (ANI)
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Vishnu Educational Development and Innovation Center (VEDIC) and Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge (TASK), a not for profit organization created by Government of Telangana together organized a one day College Principals Conference here today. Speaking on the occasion, TASK CEO Sujiv Nair said, "In India education is inspirational, but there is no skill. Every one wants to become an Engineer. Today 62 per cent of our population is in working class between 15 to 69 years. Of this, 52 per cent is in the age group of around 25years. The Centre has formulated Skilling Policy in 2009. The objective of this policy was to enhance skill with speed, to standardize skills and standardize them sector wise. It has identified 29 Sectors and standardized skills required for those jobs" , he said " We at Telangana Government are formulating our own skill policy. This skill policy named as "Telangana State Skill Mission" will be launched very soon, may be in the month of November. The details are still being worked out. What I can say is this will align with National Skill Policy. We also want to be little different from the national policy. We want to focus on short term skilling programs", Sujiv Nair said. He told College Principals to do little more in their circle of influence to bring changes in education. He also added while more are going for Engineering, it is the technicians who will be in demand in future. Because the ratio for each engineer recruited is 1:10 technicians. This conference mainly oriented towards developing faculty and curriculum towards industry requirements. It brought together educational administrators, faculty and industry at large to arrive at recommendations for improvements. The conference was the first and so many similar conferences will be held at VEDIC, which is an excellent initiative of Sri Vishnu Educational Society for improving quality of faculty and students and bridging the gaps with the industry said KV Vishnu Raju, Convenor of CII Telangana Higher Education & Skill Development Panel and Chairman of Sri Vishnu Educational Society. Raju said Principals has to make Padagogy more interesting to students. You must make abstract things very interesting to your students. Singapore has changed the design of their classrooms. Instead of one black board they have three. We need to relook at our classrooms to make learning more interesting to students, he said.UNI VV CS 1731 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-952767.Xml
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah todaysaid that preserving Cauvery water for drinking purposes was thefirst priority as mentioned under National Water Policy. Reacting to Supreme Court bench ordering the state government torelease 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for two days from today, hesaid "drinking water is the priority under National Water Policy andcannot divert it for other purposes." Talking to newsmen here, Mr Siddaramaiah who made an aerialsurvey of the flood ravaged villages in the District, he said, ''I have not gone through the court order yet. I can react only aftergetting copy of the order. I have no knowledge about latest orderand can react only after discussion with officials and Advocates.But a court order does not become a law." Main Opposition BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa, in hisinitial reaction, said that his party will stand by the stategovernment on the Cauvery issue and will support whatever thedecision taken by the Chief Minister in the interest of the State. "On this issue we are supporting the Siddaramaiah government andwhatever the decision he takes we will support." When asked about Supreme Court's direction to the Centre toinitiate dialogue with both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments,Mr Yeddyurappa said that he will discuss the issue with UnionMinisters from the State. "I will discuss about this direction withUnion Ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda and will decideabout future course of action to be adopted keeping interest of thepeople of the Cauvery basin." He recalled that the resolution against release of water as perSupreme Court order and it was Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar whomoved the resolution which was passed unanimously restricting draw of waterfrom river Cauvery and be used only for drinking purpose. The party will standby it, he added.UNI MSP RS CS 1734 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0285-952793.Xml
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today slammed former Supreme Court judge Markanday Katju for his controversial remarks against Bihar saying the state was not personal 'fiefdom' of anyone."People are now afflicted with the disease of self-publicity and they consider that the simple way to hog the media limelight is to make controversial remarks against Bihar, Mr Kumar remarked while speaking at an official function here.Without taking Mr Katju`s name, the Chief Minister said, "We have a person of same streak who made controversial remarks against Bihar by offering Kashmir to Pakistan but with a rider that it had to accept the state also. He offered Bihar to Pakistan as if he was the "Mai Baap" of the state. Mr Kumar said Bihar was not the personal fiefdom (nihji jagir) of anybody but one could not stop him if he offered Bihar to others for releasing his frustration. While finding reason behind Mr Katju`s remarks, Mr Kumar said he was disturbed after the imposition of prohibition in the state and he was uncertain how he would spend his night in Bihar in current situation and found a way out for it by offering the state to Pakistan itself.He said Bihar was the land of Chandragupta Maurya and Samrat Ashok and Bihar was the same land from where once the greater India (Brihad Bharatvarsha) was governed. He said Bihar had a glorious past and it was the place where Aryabhatt invented zero and Chanakya authored "Arthashastra"."Bihar occupies a prominent place in annals of ancient history and once should not try to become its "mai baap" by sitting at his residence," Mr Kumar added.Mr Katju, also a former Chairman of Press Council of India in his Facebook account had commented that Kashimir could be offered to Pakistan but it had to accept Bihar also.Later, when he was targeted for his remarks, he pleaded that he was only joking.UNI DH IS AE AS1702 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0311-952605.Xml
MHA secretary in-charge Border Management, Susheel Kumar held a review meeting with Meghalaya Chief Secretary K S Kropha and discussed at the length on the land acquisition for 71 km out of 88 km stretch is yet to be completed.

Deputy Commissioners from the seven districts of Meghalaya, that share the border 443 km border with Bangladesh, also attended the meeting.

"Out of 88 km, survey for acquiring the land along the 71 km stretch is still going on," Mr Kropha told media after the review meeting.

However, he said survey in the 17 km government's forest land has been completed. "We have already carried out a survey in the 71 km stretch, to verify the owners of the land on the basis of their land documents, so that compensation could be paid to them for parting their land for the proposed border fence," he added.UNI RRK RN AE AN1735

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The Supreme Court today asked the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for next three days from tomorrow onwards. A division bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Uday Umesh Lalit passed the order and posted the matter for further hearing on September 30. The two state governments -- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu -- are fighting a battle in various courts for Cauvery water sharing. Earlier also, the Apex Court directed the Karnataka govt to provide water to TN. But the Karnataka government did not supply water and its legislature passed a resolution on it.The Supreme Court told the Karnataka government, ''We understand your state's difficulty. What's your suggestion for compliance? How are you planning to release the water by November end (as stated by Karnataka)?''It also said, "If Karnataka won't be heard, how can action be initiated against it?"The Supreme Court said, in a federal structure, cooperation between states is required and the goal of executive was to ensure law and order.Karnataka government told the Top Court that'' it was dependent on nature, we were expecting North East monsoon. We are facing a shortfall of 42,000 cusecs of water.''Tamil Nadu government told the Apex Court that the attitude of Karnataka government is obstinate and obstructionist.Every Court order is met with another appeal, the counsel for TN, Shekhar Naphade, said. "We are tired of litigation. Is it proper to defy the court without any case?" he said.UNI XC RP1805 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0421-952901.Xml
A 1981 batch IFS officer, Mr Sinha will replace Mr Navtaej Sarna who has been appointed Ambassador to UK.

His appointment as envoy to UK was announced here today by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mr Sinha was serving as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka before his new assignment.UNI NAZ SB 2006

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Mandi Gobindgarh police have arrested steel trader Yashpal Bansal for faking robbery and recovered Rs 20 lakh from him. Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar today said that the steel trader cooked up the story of the robbery. He said Tarsem Lal, a resident of Gandhi Nagar locality of the town, told the police yesterday that his son Yashpal was on his scooter on Amloh Road, Mandi Gobindgarh when two motorcycle-borne persons attacked on his head and snatched his bag containing lakhs of rupees. As per the father, his son had withdrawn cash from bank and also collected money from various trading firms when he was attacked around 1745 hrs. After the incident, Yashpal was admitted in DMC, Ludhiana. On the statement of Tarsem Lal, the police registered a case under section 382, 34 of the IPC against unidentified persons. The SSP said after receiving information about the incident yesterday, senior police officers reached on the spot and started investigation. A special team was also constituted to solve the case. He said that during the course of investigation it has come to the fore that the trader himself planned the 'story' and the suspicion raised after recording the statement of the accused. During interrogation, Yashpal told the police that there was Rs 20 lakh in the bag not Rs 24 lakh. It was also found that Yashpal was running a partnership steel trading firm with a Sangrur resident Rohit. He had to pay Rs 15 lakh to Rohit. After solving the case, now the police has registered a case under section 182, 407 of the IPC against the accused and recovered the cash. As per the accused, he faked robbery as he had to pay his loan. Yashpal said no one hit his head but he himself inflicted injury on his head by hitting his head against staircase of his house to prove the story true. He also revealed that he had hidden the bag containing cash at some other place. UNI XC VJ DJK 1944 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-953189.Xml
Police intercepted two luxury cars on a tip-off and seized 875 bottles of Indian made foreign liquor(IMFL) from the cars. All eight occupants of the two cars were arrested by the police.

Of the eight peddlers six hailed from Haryana and have been identified as Lavkesh Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Roshan Singh,Somveer Dawat,Vijay Kumar,Deepak Kumar, police said adding that one Venkatesh Kumar, a resident of Patna, was the kingpin.UNI XC DH BM SB 2113

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today cancelled all his pre-scheduled engagements and meetings as he was indisposed. Stating this here today, the spokesperson for the Chief Minister's office said that Mr Badal has been advised by the doctors, who examined him this morning, to take bed rest and avoid travelling. The Chief Minister would visit the PGIMER tomorrow morning for routine medical checkup and consultation. It may be recalled that Mr Badal was today scheduled to visit Jalandhar to attend the 'Rasam Kirya' of RSS leader Brigadier (Retd) Jagdish Gagneja but due to his ill health, he cancelled this program at the last moment. UNI DB SB 2224 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-952900.Xml
The Shiromani Akali Dal asked PPCC Chief Capt Amarinder Singh to clear his stand that whether his party was ready to forge an electoral alliance with 'Tonga Party' ? In a statement here today, SAD Secretary and Spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said that an unusual situation has developed and people of the state are totally confused over the different stands being taken by different opposition parties/groups of the state. "It is ironical to note that on side Capt Amarinder Singh dubs the self styled Awaaz-e-Punjab as a 'Tonga Party' and on the other hand the leaders of the so called 'Tonga Party' are talking of forging an unprincipled alliance with the same Congress party. Dr Cheema further said that it has become ample clear that the SAD-BJP combine is all set to form the government for the third time in the state as the opposition parties had nothing to raise against the government. The development works carried out during the last nine years have created a record of sorts. The SAD leader also expressed surprise that on one hand the Awaaz-e-Punjab leaders are declaring their front as non-political again and again while on the other hand they are trying tobargaining with different opposition parties for a political space to save their own seats. He said that the people of the state are now clear that none of the opposition parties/groups have any positive policy or program for the people of the state and these facts will be revealed in theresults of the coming assembly elections.UNI DB SB RK2045 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-953344.Xml
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today said the Centre has decided to involve all elected representatives to see that the public cooperate on all health issues. "we have realised that the northeastern states have to increase their capacity to utilise funds and for that the states have to develop their capacity building process,"Mr Nadda told reporters after chairing the consultative committee on health and family welfare meeting which was held this evening at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science (NEIGRIHMS).He said the Union government was giving full support to improve the health scenario in the northeastern states."The Centre is committed to the health parameters and health situation in the north east," the Minister said.Moreover, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said the Centre was concerned over the low institutional births in the northeast."We have noticed a low rate on institutional deliveries in the northeastern states we are trying to understand what may be the possible reasons what are the strategy effectively could be allotted so that we can increase the rate of institutional deliveries," Ms Patel said.She informed that during the meeting the consultative committee on health tried to review the entire health situation in the north east."We have tried to see the performance in terms of total fertility rate, infant mortality rate maternal mortality rare, and under five infant mortality rate and we have realized that with respect to few parameters one or two states may be a problem area but most of the states are performing well," Ms Patel said.The Minister of state also said the Centre is trying to involve the other public representatives to improve the health scenario and their suggestions will also be taken on board so that there can be increased awareness about the various progammes being run by the central government. UNI RRK BM SB PR2317 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-953527.Xml
The World Tourism Day was observed today at the Nagaland Directorate of Tourism in Kohima under the theme "providing universal Accessibility." The Chief Guest of the function was Merentoshi Jamir MLA and Adviser to Chief Minister, who stressed on the important of tourist sector he said Nagaland has a rich potential bio-diversity that need to utilized and promote eco friendly atmosphere in order to move forward the state tourism at the greater heights. He stated that eco-tourism in the state need to revive and restructure in order to generate employment in the state. He also encouraged the Tourism Department to focus in promoting eco tourism and also to capitalist it as Nagaland has a rich bio-diversity. Mr Jamir encouraged the upcoming generation and the young entrepreneur to promote eco-tourism by creating eco-friendly atmosphere, good hospitality and cleaned environment as Nagaland was a land of festivals which was the main attraction for tourist's, he said tourism should also benefit the village people. Speaking on the significance of the theme, Angau I Thou secretary of tourism said tourism was an opportunity for recreation, mutual understanding between peoples and culture and an instrument for economic development. She added that tourism include all people including those people with disabilities and that tourism will make universal accessibility she added, while the Department provide wheels chair to some of the hotels to provide accessibility to different able people. Meanwhile, Nagaland Governor P B Acharya, in a message on the occasion said the World Tourism Day is celebrated today to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. This day is set aside to highlight tourism potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing some of the most pressing challenges society is faced today. Mr Acharya said Nagaland has rich natural and cultural heritage which can be exploited to promote tourism in the State and create avenues for generating revenue and employment for the youths and the state. Mr Acharya said the people coming from outside the State should be encouraged to avail Home stay. We should promote our tourism potential in a big way by dissemination of natural beauty of the state, flora and fauna and cultural richness of Nagaland through both print and electronic media so as to attract more and more people from within the country and abroad. "We should have travel planners whose contact details should be made available online so that people can contact and plan their tour. Tourism is the best way to promote emotional and national integration and also to boost economy," the governor said. "On the occasion of World Tourism Day, I appeal to all the stakeholders, NGOs and Civil Society to promote tourism in our State make Nagaland the first preferred State for tourism," Mr Acharya added.UNI AS BM SB 2319 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-953536.Xml
The revelation was made by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday, Politico reported.

The Congress is expected to easily clinch the two-thirds support needed to override Obama's veto, which would be the first veto override of his presidency, according to officials.

The legislation, known formally as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), sailed through Congress with no recorded objections earlier this year.

But with a veto override apparently imminent, some lawmakers, particularly ones who specialise in national security policy, have become increasingly vocal about their concerns with the bill.

Both the chairman and the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee - Republican Mac Thornberry of Texas and Democrat Adam Smith of Washington - are circulating letters urging lawmakers to oppose JASTA, Politico noted.

They have warned that the legislation could open up US officials abroad to retaliation.

--IANS ksk

( 193 Words)

2016-09-27-07:26:09 (IANS)
Asserting that India has been using secret sources to destabilize Islamabad and create unrest in the region, Pakistan's Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has urged the United Nations to take notice of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements on Pakistan. "The international community and the UN should take serious notice of the aggressive statements made by Modi", the Dawn quoted Nisar, as saying. In wake of the Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 18 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives, Indian Prime Minister Modi said that New Delhi will mount a global campaign to isolate Pakistan across the world. He had also accused Pakistan of being a state sponsor of terrorism. Nisar was instead of the view that India has been sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. "India has been sponsoring and backing terrorism in Pakistan for the last many years," Nisar added. Cautioning citizens, he said Islamabad needs to be alert to attacks by the enemies of Pakistan, as the "enemy will not always use conventional military might to harm the country". Urging the nation to be united and stand up to any threats Pakistan might face, he said it is very important to show national unity with our actions. "We need to show unity, this is not the time for politics and political statements.We need to make it clear that if anyone looks at us with an evil eye, the whole nation will stand united against any aggression," he added. On the Kashmir issue, Nisar said that Pakistan will seek help from China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Eighten Indian Army soldiers were killed and over 20 others were injured in an encounter with the terrorists at the Army Brigade headquarters in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. This is the highest casualty the army has suffered in a single attack in last two decades. All four terrorists involved in the attack were killed in what has emerged as worse than the attack on the Pathankot air base earlier in January this year, in which seven army men were killed. (ANI)
The Vice President, who is accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari and other senior officials, reached Nigerian capital Abuja.

He was received at the Abuja International Airport by his Nigerian counterpart Yemi Osinbajo.

Vice President Ansari also planted a sapling with his wife Salma Ansari.

An agreement on Bureau of Standards will be signed in Nigeria.

Vice President Ansari yesterday said that the repeated attacks of the Nigerian nationals in India were just "stray incidents" and were neither specific to citizens of any particular country nor racially motivated.

Addressing the media onboard Air India Special Flight on way to a five-day visit to Nigeria and Mali, Vice President Ansari said that it was however important to note that the law enforcement agencies had quickly responded wherever and whenever such incidents had taken place.

On the second leg of his trip, Vice President Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will return home on October 1.

In Mali, he will meet President Ibrahim Boubacar Keta, Prime Minister Modibo Keita 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. (ANI)
The European Union launched a programme today to issue monthly electronic cash grants to benefit a million refugees in Turkey, as part of a deal under which Ankara will curb the numbers trying to enter Europe.The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) will give refugees pre-paid cards for food, housing, schooling or medical expenses in Turkey.Earlier this year, EU countries approved a fund of 3.37 billion dollar to help Turkey improve living conditions for some 3 million Syrian migrants on its territory. The ESSN is part of that deal."Today we launch the biggest and largest humanitarian project the EU has ever supported. It will provide a basic source of income for 1 million Syrian refugees," Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said at a news conference."The ESSN is perfect proof of the EU's commitment to tackle the challenge posed by the refugee crisis," he said.The EU is also funding other humanitarian projects in Turkey. But President Tayyip Erdogan has accused the bloc of not following through on its financial pledges.More than a million migrants entered the European Union after crossing from Turkey to Greece by boat last year. Since Turkey agreed to prevent people from setting sail from its shores, the numbers taking that route have fallen dramatically.On Turkey's criticism that the promised EU aid for refugees was slow to arrive, Stylianides said he held discussions with Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik on the issue."I think now minister Celik recognises and realises that this process for all European funding is going well and I think day by day the situation is getting better," he said.The ESSN will be implemented by the World Food Programme and the Turkish Red Crescent, in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Policy and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.REUTERS SDR 0045 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-951874.Xml
A Florida woman has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for conspiring to illegally export US technology used in underwater drones to a Chinese state-owned entity, the US Justice Department said today.Amin Yu, 55, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year. She admitted to trying to obtain systems and components used in marine submersible vehicles at the direction of her co-conspirators at Harbin Engineering University in China, the Justice Department said in a news release.REUTERS SDR 0349 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-951896.Xml
Pakistan's lower house of parliament has passed a landmark bill giving its small Hindu minority the right to register marriages, the last major hurdle on the way to enacting a law aimed at protecting women's rights.Activists say that Hindu women have been disproportionately targeted for abduction, forced conversions and rape because their marriages were never officially recognised and therefore not provable in court.The National Assembly passed the bill yesterday after 10 months of deliberation. The Senate is expected to pass the law without any significant delay.Hindus make up approximately 1.6 per cent of Pakistan's Moslem-majority 190 million population, but have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence from Britain in 1947.Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages.The new bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women.Breaking the law regarding the minimum age would result in six months' jail and a 5,000-rupee fine. UNICEF estimates 21 percent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were first married before age 18, with three per cent married before age 16.Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women."Once marriages are registered, at least they have certain rights that are ensured," she said.Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare benefits. The new law legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband's death.It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18.Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions."When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated ... currently members of the Hindu community say that no-one listens to them, not even the courts," said Yusuf.REUTERS VS NS1350 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-952225.Xml
Making way for the adoption of a widely-acceptable family law for the Hindu community living in Pakistan, the National Assembly has finally approved the Hindu Marriage Bill 2016. According to Dawn, the bill which was tabled before the house by Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael, will now be forwarded to the Senate for consideration and passage The bill also allows separated Hindu persons to remarry. Clause 17 of the bill states that Hindu widows "shall have the right to re-marry of her own will and consent after the death of her husband provided a period of six months has lapsed after the husband's death". There are penalties for violating the provisions of the bill, which also enables Hindus to finally have a proof of marriage document called the 'shadiparat', similar to the 'nikahnama' for Muslims. Even though the legislation was approved unanimously by the lower house without any opposition from political parties, the law met with minor objections raised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) MNA Lal Chand Malhi. He pointed towards Clause 12(iii), which deals with 'Annulment of Hindu Marriage', saying that it could encourage or give cover to 'forced conversions'. The clause stipulates that any marriage under this act could be annulled if the other party "has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition". A proviso defines 'desertion' as "desertion of petitioner by other party to the marriage without reasonable cause and without the consent or against the wish of such party and includes the willful neglect of the petitioner by the other party". However, the minister for Human Rights pacified the Hindu legislator from Umerkot, assuring him that he had misunderstood the clause. (ANI)
Britain said today it would oppose any EU plans to combine European forces into a single army or set up an EU military headquarters while London is still in the bloc.At a meeting of EU defence ministers in Bratislava, Britain's Michael Fallon said it was up to NATO, not the European Union, to defend Europe against a more hostile Russia and that northern and eastern EU countries agreed.France and Germany had hoped that Britons' decision to leave the EU, as well as London's need for goodwill in its exit negotiations, would leave the path open for common defence proposals that are meant to pull the remaining governments together. The proposals were presented today.But Britain's hardline position suggests Paris and Berlin may face a tougher time than diplomats expected to push through plans to bring together the EU's disparate military assets, develop technology and rely less on the United States.Britain's concern is that the EU's ambitions could suck financial resources away from NATO, where allies have spent years cutting budgets following the 2008 financial crisis.Most EU countries, including Germany and France, are members of the US-led alliance and contribute to EU and NATO rapid reaction forces.The EU also needs Britain, one of the few European nations able to lead large military missions, as a partner."There are member states who would like to see...a single set of forces. That looks and sounds to me like a European army, and we would oppose that," Fallon told reporters."Europe is littered with HQs, what we don't need is another one."Britain retains full voting rights until it leaves the European Union. Fallon said Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania had also voiced concern about Franco-German proposals at the meeting, although it was not immediately possible to verify their positions.At the meeting, France and Germany made the case for the EU's defence plan, searching for a coherent strategy that their leaders can formally back at a summit in December.The proposals include increasing spending on military missions, jointly developing assets such as helicopters and drones, expanding peace-keeping abroad and building stronger defences against state-sponsored hackers in cyberspace.Standing together on arrival, Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian were at pains to stress there were no plans for army of European soldiers wearing the same uniforms."On the contrary," von der Leyen said. "It is about bundling the various strengths of European countries to be ready to act together quickly."She cited how Europe had struggled to coordinate support during the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In 2011, the British and French air campaign in Libya also showed Europe's limits, as the operation quickly became reliant on a NATO-led operation including the United States, Canada and Norway for refuelling planes, logistics and military know-how.EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who has put forward her own proposals, said there was "nothing ideological" about what the bloc was trying to do.Building on initiatives dating back to the late 1990s, the plans could strengthen the bloc's ability to respond without the help of the United States to challenges on its borders, such as failing states or a more aggressive Russia.European military spending is a fraction of the United States' and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defence.France is a major European military power and Germany has many military assets but has traditionally been cautious given its history in the 20th century's two world wars.The diplomacy in European capitals over the coming months will be about showing London that stronger EU defences are in NATO's interest, according to Urmas Paet, a former Estonian foreign minister and now a lawmaker in the European Parliament. REUTERS SZ VN1602 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0441-952539.Xml
After being in denial mode for more than a week following the September 18 ghastly terror attack on the Uri Army base in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan changed its tone to become offensive with its Defence Minister Khwaja M Asif alleging that the entire attack was stage managed by New Delhi to malign Islamabad. In an interview to Samaa TV, local news channel, Mr Asif said India self-generated the Uri attack in Kashmir to malign Pakistan. Accusing New Delhi of being involved in the many attacks in Pakistan for several years, he said, "I firmly believe that the entire Uri incident is self generated by India." He repeated his allegation at an event organised by DawnNews and maintained that no proof implicating Pakistan in the attack had surfaced yet. On being pointed out that a bill was moved against Pakistan in the United States Congress, he said that anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impacts of their voices depend on the policies of these countries. "Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he was quoted as saying. He claimed that the entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is. UNI MK SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-952613.Xml
German Chancellor Angela Merkel today said she was sceptical that a no-fly zone could be enforced in Syria, given the situation there."Given the way the situation is at the moment, I'm skeptical that we can enforce a no-fly zone right now," Merkel told reporters after a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Nijab Razak.German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had called for a temporary no-fly zone for military aircraft in Syria of up to seven days following the bombing of an aid convoy near Aleppo on September 19. US President Barack Obama has repeatedly rejected such proposals. REUTERS SZ BL1741 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0441-952849.Xml
China has jailed members of what the government calls a cult for causing deaths, organising the group and illegally collecting money, state media said today, part of a crackdown on what Beijing views as dangerous religious movements.China's officially atheist Communist Party brooks no challenge to its rule and is obsessed with social stability. It has particularly taken aim at cults, which have multiplied across the country in recent years. Demonstrations have been put down with force and some sect leaders executed.The official Xinhua news agency today said Yao Xiangzhi, a member of Mentuhui, or "Disciples Sect" in the central province of Hubei, caused the death of another cult member by denying him freedom, food and drink for a week while people prayed for his recovery from schizophrenia.Yao was also found guilty of organising a cult and was jailed for three years.Mentuhui, which was classified as a cult by the government in the 1990s, was also accused of illegally collecting 6 million dollars between 2011 and 2014 through donations and businesses, Xinhua reported.That money was then funnelled into the hands of Mentuhui leaders for personal use, said Xinhua, citing a deputy police chief.It was not immediately possible to reach representatives of the religious group or lawyers for those found guilty for comment. REUTERS SZ BL1851 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0441-953060.Xml
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said today he hoped for a "jumbo" free trade deal with Turkey and backed Ankara's policy on Syria, seeking to bolster ties with the European Union candidate country after Britain's vote to leave the bloc.Johnson, on his first official visit to Turkey since becoming foreign secretary, said his hosts had not brought up his winning entry in a "President Tayyip Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition" earlier this year, which involved a goat, wild oats and the Turkish leader."What I hope for is a jumbo free trade deal between the United Kingdom and Turkey," Johnson told a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "We are leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe."While Ankara is not a member of the European Union, it aspires to join the bloc and has a customs union with it.Johnson, the former mayor of London who became the lead campaigner for the pro-Brexit camp, was selected by Prime Minister Theresa May as foreign secretary in July, prompting concern about relations with Ankara.He and other pro-Brexit campaigners were accused by Turkey's press and politicians of playing on British fears about a wave of immigration from mainly Muslim Turkey during the Brexit campaign. Earlier this year, the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper described him as "anti-Turkey".Two months before he was named as foreign secretary, his five-line verse won the Spectator magazine's poetry competition.A senior Turkish official later said Ankara would draw a line under Johnson's past comments, but said relations would be damaged if he repeated such insults."I am delighted to say that it has not come up at all in the very detailed conversations I had," Johnson said today when asked by a reporter about the poem."Much to my amazement it has not come up at all. Nobody raised such trivia until you did," he told the reporter.'OTTOMAN BORIS'Johnson, who was also due to meet Erdogan today, had already been on a push to smooth over differences with his hosts. Yesterday, he kicked off the visit to Ankara by highlighting his "proud ownership" of a Turkish washing machine.In return, Turkey's EU Affairs minister, Omer Celik, hailed Johnson's Turkish roots, referring to him as an "Ottoman" and a strong supporter of Turkey in the aftermath of its failed coup.Johnson's great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was an opposition figure in the late Ottoman period and was lynched during Turkey's War of Independence in the early 1920s."This is the land of my fathers, this very ministry is where my relatives used to work," he told the news conference at Turkey's foreign ministry.Known for his clownish persona and dishevelled mop of platinum hair, Johnson has risen from EU-bashing journalist to Britain's most colourful politician.The local administrator in the central Anatolian village of Kalfat, from where Johnson's great-grandfather hailed, told Reuters he hoped the foreign secretary would someday visit his ancestral home."There are several people in our village who resemble Mr Johnson both facially and physically. We call them the Sarioglan sulalesi," said Adem Karaagac, using a Turkish term that roughly translates as "Yellowboy family".Karaagac said if Johnson visited, he could try the local ayran, a popular cold drink made from yoghurt."The people would be happy that the esteemed foreign secretary of Britain came all the way to the Kalfat village of Cankiri in Turkey," Karaagac said."It's a source of pride to see our Boris achieve this."REUTERS SZ PR1901 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0441-953104.Xml
Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts today, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new military campaign that has destroyed a US-backed ceasefire.The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battlefield after nearly six years of civil war.Washington, which agreed a ceasefire with Russia this month that collapsed after a week, says Moscow and Damascus are guilty of "barbarism" and war crimes for targeting civilians, health workers and aid deliveries in air strikes.More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs.Only about 30 doctors are left inside, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies.The World Health Organization called for the "immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded" from the besieged eastern part of the city.Today's assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, attempt to attack Aleppo's Old City near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city's major access points.Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off."FEROCIOUS CONFRONTATION"Senior combatants on both sides said pro-government forces were massing in several parts of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, now divided into a western zone held by the army and a smaller, besieged area held by rebels.The commander of an Iraqi Shi'ite militia fighting in support of Assad told Reuters a large force spearheaded by the army's elite "Nimr", or Tiger, forces had started to move in armoured vehicles and tanks for an attack on rebel-held areas.Quelling the uprising in the city would give Assad his biggest victory yet of the war and deliver a powerful blow to his enemies.It is far from clear whether an all-out attempt to storm the rebel-held area is planned soon: that would require a massive assault by the army, backed by Lebanese and Iraqi Shi'ite militias, Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Russian air power.The government's strategy in other locations such as Damascus and Homs has been to use years of siege and bombardment to force eventual surrender, rather than attempting to storm of well-defended territory.However, Assad's allies now openly say they have abandoned the peace process and are betting instead on military victory."There are no prospects for political solutions ... the final word is for the battlefield," the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah Shi'ite movement, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was quoted in a Lebanese newspaper as saying today.The head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, was quoted today as saying Aleppo's fate would be determined only "through a forceful confrontation".Aleppo residents said ferocious air attacks of previous nights had abated somewhat. The Observatory said at least 11 people were killed in air strikes today in two Aleppo neighbourhoods.State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City and engineering units were clearing mines in the area.A senior rebel source said the army had taken some positions near that area, but had been forced to withdraw. Neither assertion could be independently confirmed. The army had also been repelled after heavy fighting in assaults on four other fronts, he said, describing it as the biggest wave of ground attacks since the offensive was announced last week.Zakaria Malahifji, a politburo member of the Fastaqim group which is active in Aleppo, said the army had assembled infantry and heavy vehicles in a military buildup in the city."Until today, thank God, attempts to advance have been blocked," he added.The senior rebel official said pro-government forces were mobilising near the rebel-held Sheikh Saeed district on the city's southern outskirts, near the location of the heaviest fighting this summer in Aleppo."They are working to expand on any opening they create," said the official from an Aleppo-based rebel faction, citing reports from his fighters. REUTERS SZ PR1947 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0441-953263.Xml
Gabon President Ali Bongo was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday and called for unity at a low-key ceremony following a razor-thin election victory whose integrity was questioned by international observers.Bongo's victory by less than 6,000 votes has drawn unwelcome scrutiny on the president, whose family has ruled the oil-producing state in Central Africa for 49 years.France called for a recount and the European Union said it detected anomalies in Bongo's stronghold province of Haut-Ogooue, where he won 95 percent of the vote on a 99.9 percent turnout. Opposition leader Jean Ping said the election was rigged."The elections are over. We must move on to other things," said Bongo in a speech at the red-carpeted palace during his inauguration to a fresh seven-year term.Fears of violence when the Constitutional Court declined Ping's petition for a recount and ratified the result have not materialized but Tuesday's inauguration ceremony was kept low-key in an apparent attempt to forestall any possible trouble.Riot gear was preemptively laid out alongside military vehicles on main streets, but many residents did not even know the inauguration was taking place."I invite all the major stakeholders in the nation to sit down together in order to find solutions that will satisfy our compatriots," said Bongo who took power in 2009 on the death of his father who ruled for 42 years.At least six people died in clashes between protesters and security forces when the initial results of the Aug. 27 vote were announced.The ceremony, attended by the presidents of Mali, Togo, Niger, and Sao Tome and Principe, was announced to the press only the day before."The thief has no shame," said Joseph Awasi, 50, as he watched Bongo walk the red carpet on a small TV in a bar.Other Gabonese expressed indifference to the event, which they considered little more than a formality. Small flags were raised along boulevards in the city centre but there were no other signs of celebration."Gabonese are afraid to leave their homes. There are checkpoints everywhere," said Auriol Ondgibi, 27, an unemployed man who waited for the ceremony to start as he ate his breakfast at a cafe. "I want the country to return to normal."Ping has rejected Friday's court ruling as biased, and the European Union said doubts about the integrity of the process were legitimate. REUTERS CJ PR2111 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-953477.Xml
Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, who is also head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, delivers a keynote speech at the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

by Xinhua Writer Liu Chang

XI'AN, China, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three years ago, Beijing unveiled its Belt and Road Initiative to deepen China's own reforms and opening-up, and better connect itself with the rest of the world in terms of policy coordination, trade, transportation, energy and information facilities.

Beijing wants to see that the bounty of development arising from the landmark initiative can be shared among all who are part of the program.

Over the past three years, significant and broad achievement has been made, which proved the initiative's effectiveness and demonstrated its nature that favors common development.

RICH RESULTS

According to a report issued by China's Renmin University at a two-day international seminar that opened on Monday in the northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an, more than 100 countries and international bodies are currently involved in the initiative, while over 30 countries along the new Silk Road have signed cooperation agreements with Beijing. China is also working with more than 20 nations on industrial capacity projects.

Among all other things, the most strategic accomplishments have been the successful development policy coordination between China and the countries along the belt and road.

The report said China has already begun the coordination of its signature initiative with the development strategies of many countries involved in the program, including Kazakhstan's the Bright Road and Russia's Eurasian Economic Union.

In boosting facility connectivity, China is working with countries and regions in coordinating infrastructure standards, connecting transportation and energy infrastructure, and boosting information connectivity, said the report.

In trade, the past three years have seen China's consistent efforts to join belt and road countries to promote trade and investment activities by negotiating bilateral agreements to remove trade and investment barriers and create a healthy business environment.

By the end of June, China has signed bilateral investment treaties with 104 countries along the belt and road, while its investment in these countries have totaled 51.1 billion U.S. dollars, said the report.

To ensure adequate financial support for the initiative, China, said the report, has been vigorously pushing forward financial cooperation with countries joining the initiative, as well as RMB trade settlement, currency swap, and other financial services.

The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), founded at the end of 2015, considers projects related to the initiative as one of its top priorities.

The bank's 509-million-dollar investment in its first four projects, which was approved in late June, and focuses on power, transportation, urban development and other areas, has all gone to countries along the belt and road.

Meanwhile, Beijing has also attached great importance to enhancing cooperation in education, health care, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, an effort to win public support for the implementation of the initiative.

WELL RECEIVED AROUND THE WORLD

Ever since China launched the initiative, it has received positive responses worldwide as Beijing has vowed to promote the program based on mutual benefit and the spirit of inclusiveness as well as sustainable development.

Engstrom Anna, analyst for economics, policy and governance at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, told Xinhua that the initiative certainly is getting a lot of attraction worldwide, adding that everyone is "quite excited" about China's idea.

"We are seeing a lot of cooperation from China in Thailand, Serbia, and Hungry," she said, adding that the most substantial achievement for the initiative is that China has actually bolstered its mutual trust with other countries, which she believes is the foundation for their future cooperation.

Jonathan E. Hillman, fellow and director of the Reconnecting Asia Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes the initiative is "hugely ambitious."

He said many in the West are encouraged by the economic potential, because if it works well, it does benefit all the participants, including the West.

Charles Dkechukwu Onunaiju, director of the center for China studies in Nigeria, said the initiative one of China's most important contribution to human kind in the 21st century, and it presents great opportunity to connect the entire African continent, and the Africans take it very seriously.

CHALLENGES & BRIGHT FUTURE

Still, giant as the Belt and Road Initiative is, there is no doubt that it will have to face and fend off risks and difficult challenges along the way forward.

Engstrom Anna believes political risk has to be considered. As many of China's overseas projects under the initiative need many years to finish, they could run into troubles under such a scenario as the change of government in the countries Chinese investors work with.

In Hillman's view, if the initiative to achieve greater success in the future, it needs to set clear priorities, like what kind of projects would be chosen.

"It's like that if you have so many goals, it's hard to implement that. You need to focus on what matters most," he said.

Despite the potential challenges, the initiative is going to have a bright future, for the potential demand is enormous and the benefits are also great for all sides.

According to the AIIB, the belt and road region has about 750 billion dollars for infrastructure a year through 2020.

A recent Bloomberg report said that if these infrastructure investments were to be fully realized, then that would mean 580 million tons in annual cement demands.

The report also said that meeting all of Asia's demand for railways, pipelines and power stations and other projects may generate 272 million tons of demands for steel.

The huge demand in cement and steel bears tremendous opportunities for China to advance industrial capacity cooperation. Those who choose to work with China, especially countries and regions in the less developed world, can use this chance to close up their infrastructure gap to prepare for future economic takeoff.

Moreover, the program could also boost shipping and cargo demands as planned infrastructure investments improve ports that dot the silk route.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L) visits Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 25, 2016. (Xinhua)

HAVANA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro here Sunday and the two exchanged views on bilateral ties, world peace, regional hotspot issues, food security and a wide range of other issues of common concern.

Li first conveyed the cordial greetings and good wishes of President Xi Jinping, other Chinese leaders and the Chinese people to Fidel Castro and extended congratulations for his 90th birthday.

President Xi, during his state visit to Cuba in 2014, met and held an in-depth discussion with Fidel Castro, said Li.

We cherish very much the traditional friendship between China and Cuba, and are willing to consolidate political mutual trust and expand cooperation with Cuba, and to enhance the friendly feelings between the two peoples, the premier said.

While noting that the world's political and economic landscape is currently experiencing complicated and profound adjustment, with old and new issues intertwined with each other and challenges emerging one after another, Li said, no matter how international situations change, China-Cuban relationship of comrade and brother, characterized by mutual respect, treating each other on an equal footing and staying together at all times, will not change.

Fidel Castro, for his part, extended congratulations to Li for his successful visit to Cuba, saying Cuba and China enjoy a profound friendship.

While noting that great changes have taken place in China since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 50 years ago, Fidel Castro said he is pleased to see the development China has achieved, and expressed admiration to the Chinese people for their diligence and unyielding spirit.

Describing the current world situations as complicated and ever changing, Fidel Castro said Cuba is willing to work with China to safeguard world peace and increase cooperation and communication.

The Chinese premier, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong and senior Chinese officials, was in Havana as guest of President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro.

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.

Referring to his meeting with Raul Castro on Saturday as fruitful, Li said the two countries have signed a series of cooperation agreements covering a wide range of fields.

Li said he and Raul Castro agree to inherit and carry forward the China-Cuba friendship, deepen pragmatic cooperation, focus on national development, support each other in taking a development path compatible with its own national conditions, and achieve common prosperity.

China is willing to work with Cuba to strengthen strategic communication and enhance coordination, so that the China-Cuba friendship and cooperation can not only benefit the two peoples, but also make contributions to world peace and development and the cause of human progress, the premier said.

On Colombia's peace process agreement, which was poised to be officially signed soon, Li hailed the crucial role Cuba has played in relevant process, adding that China highly praises Cuba for its act of shouldering international responsibility.

Concerning agriculture, Fidel Castro said Cuba attaches great importance to agricultural production, its sugar industry is very well-developed, and the country's grain production can meet its domestic demand, adding that Cuba is making more efforts to learn advanced agricultural technology from other countries and conduct more cooperation.

Fidel Castro said they have specially noticed that productivity can be improved through enhancing education for young people.

The revolutionary leader also expressed hopes that Cuba could increase communication with China in agricultural modernization and achieve win-win cooperation in this field.




SEATTLE, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- An inaugural ceremony was held at the Seattle International Airport on Monday to welcome the opening of a new flight route connecting two of China's major special economic zones and an economic heavyweight on the U.S. West Coast.

China Xiamen Airlines' Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service marks the first long haul route originating in Xiamen with an end point in the United States and the first direct international service between Shenzhen and the U.S.

The service will be handled by a Xiamen Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with three flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, according to Xiamen Airlines.

"The launch of the Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is an important reflection of the results of the meetings between Chinese and American leaders in 2015," Xiamen Airlines chairman and general manager, Che Shanglun, said.

"On the heels of these events, a Fuzhou-New York and a Xiamen-Los Angeles service will also be initiated, making air travel, and, by consequence, exchanges between the two countries much easier," he added.

Schuyler Hoss, International Relationship Director of the Washington State said when he visited Shenzhen in 2013, he was impressed by the energy and innovation culture of the city, so he believed that the new route would help build up long and beneficial relationship between the two cities and two countries.

China and the United States are important tourism sources for each other.

Official data shows that last year, about 4.75 million trips were made between China and the U.S., with more than 2 million U.S. tourists in China. This year's two-way tourist trips are predicted to exceed 5 million, a record high.
SYDNEY, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian dollar has gained against the greenback as investors await the U.S. presidential debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrats Hillary Clinton.

At the Asian open on Tuesday, the local unit was trading at 76.35 U.S. cents, up from 76.18 U.S. cents on Monday.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief currency strategist Richard Grace in a research note the Australian dollar was modestly higher in the overnight session, lifting to 76.49 U.S. cents, as the greenback softened and oil and base metal commodity prices lifted.

"Oil prices lifted after the world's largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia offered to pump less oil if Iran caps output, although no agreement was reached," Grace said.

"We think the Australian dollar will remain firm this week."

"There are no major Australian economic releases this week so Aussie dollar will be influenced by the trend in the U.S. dollar, broader financial market sentiment and commodity prices," he said.

At 0912 local time (AEST), the Australian dollar was trading at 76.35 U.S. cents.
WELLINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government Tuesday welcomed moves by German auto giant BMW to build an "electric highway" of fast-charging stations to help overcome one of the main obstacles to electric vehicle uptake.

BMW said the partnership with national charging network Charge Net NZ would enable electric vehicle (EV) drivers to travel right across New Zealand through the installation of a fast charging highway, said the company.

The two companies would install more than 100 DC stations around New Zealand, providing nationwide fast-charge coverage, by the end of next year.

Supported by an investment from BMW AG in Munich, New Zealand was on track to become one of the first nations in the world where it would be possible to drive around the entire country using purely electric power, BMW New Zealand managing director Florian Renndorfer said in a statement.

The BMW-Charge Net "Electric Highway" would expand Charge Net NZ's existing network of 20 fast-charging stations.

The government has set a target of doubling the number of electric vehicles in New Zealand every year to reach 64,000 by 2021, or about 2 percent of the country's current light vehicle fleet.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges said the nationwide network of fast-charging stations would help address one of the main barriers to EV uptake.

"A big barrier preventing households and businesses from choosing EVs is the limited availability of public charging infrastructure. Increasing the number of charging stations will give New Zealanders the confidence to use EVs for longer distance travelling," Bridges said in a statement.

"Currently there are more than 30 fast charging stations in New Zealand, with more opening every week, and more than 100 other public charging stations across the country. However, long distance travel on battery alone still causes range anxiety," said Bridges.

"Now we want New Zealanders to consider choosing an EV as their next car given the confidence they can have in the supporting infrastructure."

Developing guidelines for the installation of public charging infrastructure was one of the 14 initiatives the government announced in May as part of its EV program.

Critics say the program does not properly address the biggest barrier to EV uptake in New Zealand, the cost of the vehicles themselves.
WELLINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand first space launch site was officially opened Tuesday, with Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce saying it would help generate the national space program.

Joyce said he was looking forward to the first launches this year from the privately run Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, on the Mahia Peninsula on the North Island's east coast, followed by more next year when Rocket Lab launched commercial payloads.

"Rocket Lab will be a catalyst for other space-related activity in New Zealand," Joyce said in a statement.

"Space activity is pervasive in our lives, to such an extent we are no longer aware that our Internet, our decision-making around energy and resource management, our marine surveillance to name only a tiny fraction, all rely on what we are doing in space."

Attracting international players would be easier now the government had established a regulatory regime to be managed by a new New Zealand Space Agency.

"The new agency has been very busy not only supporting Rocket Lab to navigate the regulatory environment, but also putting in place the foundations for an internationally credible, competitive and well-connected New Zealand-based space industry," said Joyce.

The New Zealand Space Agency would capitalize on Rocket Lab launches to help build New Zealand's capacity and expertise in all manner of space-related activities and support the strategic opportunities that were likely to flow.

The government tabled the Outer Space and High Altitude Activities Bill in Parliament this month and it was intended it will become law by mid-2017.

It would enable the development of a space industry in New Zealand, and enable regulators to manage risks and implement certain international obligations relating to space activities and space technology.

The Bill would also ensure the country's space industry met its international obligations, including the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA), recently signed with the United States.

The U.S.-owned Rocket Lab, a commercial space launch operator using technology developed in New Zealand, had to obtain a license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration so it could conduct its space launch activities in New Zealand.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L, front) shakes hands with commander in chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleon Jimenez (R, front) during the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement reached by the Colombian government and FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander in chief, Timoleon Jimenez, signed a historic peace deal on Monday afternoon in the city of Cartagena, ending a 52-year conflict.

In a special ceremony attended by world leaders, the two men signed the peace agreement to begin a new chapter in the country's history.

On a platform accompanied by presidents of Cuba, Ecuador and other Latin American countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Santos and Jimenez signed the agreement with pens made from bullets to symbolize the transition to peace.

Planes flew overhead trailing the colors of the Colombian flag.

This day comes after over four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba. The two sides came to an agreement on five points: rural development, the participation of the FARC in political life, the end of the conflict, the struggle against drug trafficking and reparations to victims.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement. Recent opinion polls showed a large majority in favor of it.

The conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC started in the 1960s as an uprising over land rights. It has left around 220,000 people dead and millions displaced.
CANBERRA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Malcolm Turnbull's coalition government is on Monday less popular than the previous Abbott government it ousted just over a year ago, according to results of the latest Newspoll.

The Newspoll showed the coalition's primary vote had fallen below 40 percent for the first time under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and was now lower than the approval rating held by dumped PM Tony Abbott when he was ousted by Turnbull in a spill motion last September.

As a result, the Labor opposition has surged ahead of the government in the two-party preferred terms, holding a four point, 52 percent to 48 percent lead over Turnbull's coalition after preferences (taken from the 2016 July election).

Despite the unrest, Turnbull remains the preferred Prime Minister over the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten - however his popularity has fallen from 64 percent to 44 percent - while the coalition's primary vote remains three percentage points above Labor's at 40 percent to 37 percent.

According to The Australian newspaper, the publication for which Newspoll is taken, other than Julia Gillard's Labor government in 2010, it's the fastest decline in primary vote popularity by a re-elected government in the Newspoll's 32-year history.

The negative result also comes despite controversial resignations within the opposition - including by disgraced Senator Sam Dastyari - and while Turnbull notably cited the 30 consecutive Newspolls that the Abbott government lost as the reason for forcing a leadership spill in September last year, his party members have rallied behind the embattled Prime Minister to turn the results around.

Coalition frontbencher, and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Jane Prentice said the result was not a reflection on Turnbull, who remains preferred Prime Minister, but on the Senate, which is struggling to push the government's agenda through the Parliament.

"I think the Prime Minister had a great two parliamentary weeks, so I don't think the polls reflect his performance in parliament," Prentice told Sky News.

"If anything perhaps they reflect uncertainty, particularly in the Senate, with how we're going forward."

Meanwhile the opposition has dug the boots into the government on Monday; opposition employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said the results of the Newspoll were an accurate reflection of the "dithering, division and dysfunction of the government".

He said Australians had finally seen the "real" Turnbull and were not happy with his leadership.

"We kept saying we wanted to see the real Malcolm Turnbull reappear, I think we are now seeing the real Malcolm Turnbull and that may well be the reason why the polls are reflected in the way they are," O'Connor told Sky News on Monday morning.
LUSAKA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu Monday named eight more ministers, bringing the number of ministers appointed so far to 16 since his reelection last month, his office said.

The appointment of the eight ministers and 10 provincial ministers was made just before the president left for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. The constitution allows him to pick 30 ministers.

Lungu named some of his former ministers and gave them new ministries and also announced new faces.

According to the statement, Lungu named Dora Siliya, who was energy minister in his previous administration, as the new agriculture minister while Jean Kapata, who was previously in charge of tourism and arts, was moved to the Ministry of Lands.

Vincent Mwale, who was in charge of youth and sports, is now the new local government minister, while Nkandu Luo, who was gender minister, is now in charge of the higher education ministry.

The new ministers include Lawrence Sichalwe in charge of the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Victoria Kalima in charge of the Ministry of Gender, Moses Mawere in charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sport as well as Denis Wachinga in charge of the Ministry of General Education.

The statement added that the president will announce structural changes to some ministries to rationalize their operations for efficient output.

Lungu took office in January 2015 to serve the remaining term of former President Michael Sata who died in October 2014, and was elected to a full presidential term in the August 2016 election.
NAY PYI TAW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's House of Representatives has passed a proposal to punish some human right commission members, who failed to protect victims of human rights violation, according to parliament sources Tuesday.

The Myanmar National Human Right Commission (MNHRC) was blamed for not taking serious action over the recent case of two girl house maids who were tortured by their employers.

The resolution was approved with 374-1 votes in favor Monday.

In 17 lawmakers' debate in the House's session, some members of the MNHRC were criticized as handling the ruthless case in a very unjust manner and turned a blind eye to human rights.

The commission's mediation between the abusers and the victims to settle the case for five million kyats (over 4,000 U.S. dollars) instead of bringing the case to the court tarnished the country's image.

The MPs called for protecting their rights in line with the Child Rights of UN Convention and the Human Trafficking Law as the abused victims are under the age of 18.

The 17-year and 16-year old girls, who have been working for the Inwa tailoring shop in Yangon for two years, were persecuted by the employers by crushing their hands and cutting bodies with knife.

Through formal complaint to the police, the two maids were returned to their parents early this month.

The Myanmar Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and Yangon Region Social Welfare Department have filed lawsuits against the employers.

The President's Office also issued an announcement on Thursday, saying that the government is closely watching the torture case.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. public's intent to vote for president has declined sharply to 69 percent, down by 7 percentage points from 2012, a Gallup poll found Monday.

The poll was released just ahead of this year's first presidential debate held in the night between Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, both of whom have low favorable ratings among U.S. voters.

The Sept. 14-18 poll found that 72 percent of Americans had given a lot of thought to this year's presidential election, down 2 percentage points from 2012. This is the lowest figure since 2000.

Sharp differences exist among different age groups in terms of the intent to vote in this year's presidential election, the poll found.

Among American adults aged 18 to 34, only 47 percent said they would definitely vote, down sharply from 58 percent in 2012.

Among the adults aged 35 to 54, 72 percent said they would definitely vote, down from 79 percent in 2012. Among those aged 55 above, 82 percent would definitely vote, down only 1 percentage point from 2012.

"While Americans are giving a similar level of thought to the presidential election compared with previous years, the percentage saying they are certain they will vote is lagging, particularly among young adults," Gallup said.

The decline in young Americans' intent to vote likely reflects the persistently poor images of both major party nominees, as well as Clinton's difficulty in winning over the young adults who are much more favorable toward Bernie Sanders, Clinton's Democratic rival in the nomination race, Gallup said.
Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association (R) meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association, urged Japan to make joint efforts with China to bring the bilateral relationship back on normal track while he met with a number of Japanese politicians here on Monday.

Tang, former Chinese state councilor, visited Japan at the invitation of Japan-China Friendship Association. He met with President of New Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi, Vice President of Liberal Democratic Party Masahiko Komura and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, respectively, on Monday.

During his meetings with the Japanese politicians, Tang said that though the China-Japan relationship has been disturbed by negative factors from time to time, it is now faced with important opportunities for improvement, as next year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties, and the year after next marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty.

Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association (3rd R) meets with President of New Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi (3rd L) in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

The two sides shall make joint efforts, based on the spirit of four important political documents between China and Japan and the four-point principled agreement, to bring bilateral relations back on a normal track at an early date, Tang said.

Tang also urged the two sides to further enhance communication between local governments, common citizens and the young people, in order to promote mutual understanding and trust and to cement the foundation of bilateral relations.

The Japanese side said that they are willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to properly handle relevant problems and to enhance communication and cooperation in various fields so as to further develop bilateral ties.

Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association (L) meets with President of New Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- President Enrique Pena Nieto said Monday that Mexico will continue to investigate the case of the 43 students who went missing in the southern state of Guerrero two years ago.

At a news conference in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, where he witnessed the signing of the peace treaty between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Pena Nieto reaffirmed his government's commitment to continuing with the investigations.

"Today is an occasion to reiterate the government's firm commitment to finding out the last consequences in the investigations," said Pena Nieto, according to a press release published by the presidency.

The president said the government's "only interest" is finding out what happened on the evening of Sept. 26 and in the early hours of Sept. 27, 2014, in the municipality of Iguala, Guerrero.

Pena Nieto said that for this case there will be no turning back and guaranteed that all those responsible will face justice.

The president added that the Mexican Attorney General's Office will continue working so that what happened to the students "is duly clarified."

The 43 students from Ayotzinapa have been listed as missing since Sept. 26 and 27, 2014, after police from Iguala detained them while they were travelling on buses.

The government's hypothesis is that the students were abducted by the police who handed them over to members of the organized crime gang "Guerreros Unidos" ("United Warriors"), who suspected that the students belonged to a rival organization.

According to statements made by alleged criminals arrested as part of the case and an expert survey, members of "Guerreros Unidos" killed and cremated the young people in a rubbish dump in the neighboring municipality of Cocula.

The students' parents rejected this version because two forensic studies carried out by experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team ruled out this possibility as it would be impossible to light a fire capable of completely burning 43 bodies in this rubbish dump.

On Monday, students from several parts of the country, mainly in Mexico City, and the southern states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, held marches demanding the government to clarify the facts.

During an interview with Aristegui Noticias, Vidulfo Rosales, lawyer for the students' parents and Felipe de la Cruz, spokesperson for the parents, condemned the fact that two years after the incident, the students' whereabouts are still unknown and so far no one has been sentenced, despite 180 people being arrested.
MELBOURNE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sixty percent of Australians would be concerned if a relative married a Muslim, a new national survey has found.

The snapshot of Australia's attitudes to Islam, released by Melbourne's Deakin University on Tuesday, also found that concern about Muslims is double that of any other group.

A third of respondents to the study said they would not object to Muslims being more thoroughly searched at airports, and a quarter would support all anti-terror efforts being focused on Muslims.

Comparatively, just 8.1 percent of those polled said they would be concerned if a relative married a Christian.

Matteo Vergani, the lead researcher on the study, said that the results proved Islamophobia was "alive and well" in Australia.

"People who know Muslims and more about Islam as a religion are the ones who don't feel threatened," Vergani told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.

The survey asked respondents five questions about the principle beliefs of Islam to determine their knowledge of the religion.

Respondents were then posed a series of Islamophobic statements with which they were asked to agree or disagree.

The Deakin survey came the week after an Essential poll found that half of all Australians supported a complete ban on Muslim immigration.

Vergani said he believed the data represented a "national snapshot" and was reliable.

"The result is really similar to the Essential poll of last week," he said.

The Essential poll found that the most common reasons for wanting the ban were fears over terrorism and a belief that Muslims do not share Australian values.
Democrat Hillary Clinton (R) and Republican Donald Trump attend their first presidential debate in Hempstead of New York, the United States, Sept. 26, 2016. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday held their first presidential debate in Hempstead. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

HEMPSTEAD, the United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump faced off for the first time in the chaotic 2016 election cycle, with Clinton calling out Trump for not releasing tax returns and telling lies, while Trump labeled Clinton a traditional politician.

"There's something he's hiding," said Clinton here during the 90-minute first presidential debate for the election. Trump repeatedly refused to release his tax returns, arguing that he was being audited.

Trump attempted to fend off such attacks by assaulting Clinton's track record on transparency, especially the controversy surrounding Clinton's email practice during her stint at the U.S. State Department.

Also, as widely expected, Clinton mentioned Trump's past claim that U.S. President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Trump recently proclaimed that Obama is American.

"He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," said Clinton.

"There was absolutely no evidence for it, but he persisted, he persisted year after year, because some of his supporters, people that he was trying to bring into his fold, apparently believed it or wanted to believe it."

Meanwhile, on at least a dozen occasions, Clinton was called a "traditional politician" by her Republican counterpart, the New York billionaire developer who had never held any elected position before.

"We have to renegotiate our trade deals. ... Secretary Clinton and others, politicians, should have been doing this for years, not right now, because of the fact that we've created a movement. They should have been doing this for years," said Trump. ' "Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work. Never going to happen. Our country is suffering because people like Secretary Clinton have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of what's going on," he said.
HAVANA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The world's leading rum producer Havana Club International (HCI) on Monday presented a new design for its seven-year-old dark rum, one of the company's most popular products worldwide.

With new colors being used to highlight the product's Cuban origin, the label includes the image of Jose Navarro, Cuba's first master rum maker and creator of this dark rum.

During the new bottle's presentation, Navarro highlighted that this is "the most complete rum" made on the island and "the one that requires the most patience" as its manufacturing process is very laborious and is planned years in advance.

Out of all the drinks sold by HCI, which claims 40 percent of rum sales in the world, the seven-year-old dark rum sells over four million bottles per year, according to figures released by the company.

The company's managing director, Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, said the image redo is meant to boost sales.

"We have the capacity to double production," he said, adding that the United States is among the new markets the company hopes to explore. Production increase will happen "when they (the United States) decide to allow Havana Club to be sold in their country," said the Frenchman.

In January, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decided to allow the state-owned Cubaexport to register the Havana Club brand in the country by removing the rights from Bacardi, ending a dispute that had lasted over 20 years.

However, Cuba still cannot sell its rum or any other product in the United States due to the ongoing embargo, which has lasted for more than half a century.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday expressed concern over Thailand's investigation into Chinese steel products and urged the country to be cautious and restrained in using trade remedy measures.

"We hope Thailand can work with China to promote dialogue and cooperation in the field to resolve trade friction," an MOC online notice quoted an unnamed official as saying.

The remark came after Thailand began investigating galvanized steel imported from China earlier this month, the latest in a series of anti-dumping probes by the country targeting Chinese steel over the past two years.

"Chinese companies are deeply worried," the official said, stressing that Chinese steel, rather than hurting local industry, has contributed to improvement of Thailand's infrastructure.

China hopes the investigation will be fair and transparent, and Chinese exporters are guaranteed the right to defend themselves, the official added.

As the world's largest steel consumer and producer, China has called for unity in tackling the severe overcapacity in the global steel market, saying protectionism will only compound the problems.
Supporters pose for photos with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump posters at Hofstra University in New York, the United States on Sept. 26, 2016. 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. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

HEMPSTEAD, the United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump faced off for the first time in the chaotic 2016 election cycle, with Clinton calling out Trump for not releasing tax returns and being born rich, while Trump labeled Clinton a traditional politician.

"There's something he's hiding," said Clinton here during the 90-minute first presidential debate for the election. Trump repeatedly refused to release his tax returns, arguing that he was being audited.

Trump attempted to fend off such attacks by assaulting Clinton's track record on transparency, especially the controversy surrounding Clinton's email practice during her stint at the U.S. State Department.

"I will release my tax returns, against my lawyer's wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted," Trump responded, referring to the trove of thousands of alleged personal emails deleted by the Clinton camp before handing over the work-related ones to the State Department in late 2014.

Republicans accused Clinton of deleting emails possibly linked to the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans in the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Also, as widely expected, Clinton mentioned Trump's past claim that U.S. President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Trump recently proclaimed that Obama is American.

"He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," said Clinton.

"There was absolutely no evidence for it, but he persisted, he persisted year after year, because some of his supporters, people that he was trying to bring into his fold, apparently believed it or wanted to believe it."

Though she was scrambling to portray herself as connected to ordinary voters who are disheartened and disgruntled by the sluggish U.S. economy, Clinton on Monday night attempted to describe Trump as a bellicose billionaire who had been taking advantage of voters' frustration.

"You know, Donald was very fortunate in his life and that's all to his benefit. He started his business with 14 million dollars, borrowed from his father, and he really believes that the more you help wealthy people, the better off we'll be and that everything will work out from there," said Clinton.

Meanwhile, on at least a dozen occasions, Clinton was called a "traditional politician" by her Republican counterpart, the New York billionaire developer who had never held any elected position before.

"We have to renegotiate our trade deals. ... Secretary Clinton and others, politicians, should have been doing this for years, not right now, because of the fact that we've created a movement. They should have been doing this for years," said Trump.

"Typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work. Never going to happen. Our country is suffering because people like Secretary Clinton have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of what's going on," he said.

Related:

Few Americans have high hopes for Clinton or Trump presidency: Gallup

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Few Americans are hopeful about either a Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency, even as the U.S. presidential race is heating up now, Gallup found in a poll released Monday.

Thirty-three percent of Americans say Clinton, the Democratic nominee, would be a "great" or "good" president, compared to 25 percent who have the same opinion about her Republican rival, Trump, the poll found. Full story

Backgrounder: U.S. presidential debates

HEMPSTEAD, United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, held their first presidential debate on Monday in Hempstead, New York.
TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The second anniversary of the devastating eruption of Mount Ontake in central Japan was observed Tuesday with the families of the 63 people who were left dead or missing gathering to pay their respects.

At a ceremony in the town of Kiso in Nagano Prefecture, a movement's silent was observed by mourners comprising the families of the deceased, local residents and officials, at 11:52 a.m. local time, the exact time the eruption occurred two years ago.

The volcanic disaster was Japan's worst post-war volcanic calamity, and the moment was also marked Tuesday by sirens.

Local media showed pictures of the families of the bereaved placing flowers as tributes to the lives lost at the beginning of the mountain's climbing trails.

Kyodo News quoted a 54-year-old man as saying he was planning to climb the mountain after the ceremony in honor of his wife and younger brother who had lost their lives in the disaster two years ago.

He said he would carry his brother's camera to the peak of the mountain and take photos of the scenery, as his brother used to do.

Despite local officials lowering the danger zone to around one kilometer from the volcano's crater and relaxing climbing restrictions, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lowering its alert level for the volcano to 2 on its scale which peaks at 5, local tourism has suffered in the area as a result of the eruption.

Officials said that climbers aside, the mountain's cable car, which runs from the bottom to the middle section of the mountain, has seen numbers of travelers drop by around 50 percent compared to before the eruption.

Around 550 police, firefighters and Self-Defense Forces personnel were called to duty on this day two years ago, when the 3,067-meter volcano, which is situated over both Nagano and Gifu Prefectures, violently erupted before noon, in the middle of the busy hiking season.

The eruption was triggered by a "hydrovolcanic explosion," in which high-pressure water vapor was violently discharged after groundwater was heated by magma, the weather agency said of the eruption.

The agency has warned that this active volcano still has the potential to discharge big rocks from its crater within a roughly 4-kilometer range and that pyroclastic flows could occur, were there to be another seismic incident of a similar scale.

Mount Ontake is a popular destination for both locals and tourists to visit in Japan to view the autumn foliage and is located about 210 kilometers west of Tokyo, the eruption two years ago, was the first one that caused fatalities since 1979.

The eruption came at what police described then as being the worst possible time as hundreds of people were taking advantage of the temperate and clear weather to take a hike when the eruption, which initially spewed large white plumes of gas and ash hundreds of meters into the sky, caused day to become night and covered the entire area in an ominous layer of foreboding black ash.

In mere minutes a perfect day out morphed into a tragic nightmare for hundreds of hikers and day-trippers who were helplessly trapped on the slopes, many of them having to endure the harsh conditions overnight.

People who survived the deadly eruption said they were peppered with huge rocks before they realized what was happening. Those who were not far from buildings, like lodges, sprinted for cover, until the vicious and constant bombardment by large rocks eventually ceased.

As of Tuesday the weather agency here has maintained its warning level of 2, stating that hikers should not approach the mountain's crater.
BOGOTA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group, on Monday signed a historic peace deal that seeks to end 52-year armed conflict in the South American country.

The deal, signed by President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez -- the nom de guerre for Rodrigo Londono -- in Colombia's Cartagena was finalized in the Cuban capital of Havana on Aug. 24.

In a plebiscite scheduled to take place on Oct. 2, Colombians will vote on whether they support the agreement or not.

The following is a chronology of Colombia's peace process over the past four years.

2012:

On Nov. 6, the government and rebel negotiators met face to face in Havana to lay the groundwork for peace talks.

On Nov. 19, the FARC marked the start of the historic talks by announcing a unilateral two-month ceasefire to begin on Nov. 20 and end on Jan. 20, 2013.

The next day, Colombia's then Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon announced government security forces would continue to strike rebel targets despite the ceasefire.

2013:

On Jan. 21, a round of negotiations began between the government and the FARC and the group ended the ceasefire.

On May 26, a partial agreement was reached on agricultural development, one of the six points on the agenda.

On Nov. 6, a second partial agreement was reached on the political participation of former guerrillas.

2014:

On May 16, a partial agreement was reached on a solution to the fight against drug trafficking.

On June 15, President Santos was re-elected for four years with 50.9 percent of the vote after an intense campaign in which he pledged to seal a peace agreement.

On July 15, negotiations began concerning the victims of the conflict, surrounding three important themes: reparations, truth and justice.

On Aug. 21, the Historical Commission on the Conflict and Its Victims was formed.

On Nov. 16, talks were suspended after the FARC's 34th Front kidnapped Colombian General Ruben Dario Alzate.

On Nov. 30, General Alzate was released, along with two other hostages.

2015:

On Feb. 12: the FARC announced it would cease recruiting children under 17 into its ranks.

On March 7, the government and the FARC reached an agreement on a demining campaign to be carried out by the Colombian army, with the help of Norway.

On March 10, President Santos announced bombings of FARC bases would stop for a month.

On April 15, FARC members attacked an army unit in the southwestern department of Cauca, killing 11 soldiers. The government resumed bombing the campaign, leaving 26 rebels dead.

On May 23, the FARC declared an end to its unilateral truce.

On June 5, the Truce Commission was created to establish responsibility for crimes against humanity during the conflict.

On July 20, the FARC declared a new unilateral truce.

On July 25, Santos re-ordered suspension of the bombing campaign against the FARC.

On Sept. 17, the FARC announced their willingness to become a mainstream political movement.

On Sept. 23, President Santos and FARC leader Londono met in Havana. They signed a transitional justice agreement and stated that the peace agreement would be finalized by March 23, 2016.

On Oct. 17, negotiators agreed to work on a mechanism to alleviate the suffering of the families of the missing and agreed to exchange information about the victims of the conflict.

On Dec. 12, the government and the FARC announced that an agreement had been reached on the victims of the conflict. The guerrilla group agreed to apologize for its actions.

2016:

On Jan. 18, the Colombian government pardoned 30 FARC guerrilla fighters.

On Feb. 4, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would ask the U.S. Congress for more than 450 million U.S. dollars in aid for Colombia's peace process, through a new program named "Peace Colombia."

On March 1, Santos and Londono were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The winner will be announced on Oct. 7.

On March 22, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with the Colombian government and FARC negotiators in Cuba.

On June 22, the government and the FARC announced a deal on a definitive bilateral ceasefire, marking a major step towards ending the half-century conflict.

On June 23, Santos and Londono met in Cuba to sign a bilateral ceasefire.

On Aug. 24, a final peace agreement was reached and Santos addressed the nation to declare the war is over and that the Colombian people will vote in a plebiscite scheduled for Oct. 2 on whether to accept or reject the agreement.

On Aug. 25, President Santos delivered the definitive agreement with the FARC to Congress along with the report calling for a plebiscite.

On Aug. 30, President Santos announced the question that Colombians would need to reply "Yes" or "No" to in the plebiscite on Oct. 2 in order to approve or disapprove the agreement reached. "Do you support the final accord to end the conflict and build stable and lasting peace?"

On Sept. 17, the FARC began its 10th and final guerrilla conference, where the approval of the peace treaty was ratified.

On Sept. 25, the National Liberation Army, the country's second-largest guerrilla group, committed to establishing a unilateral ceasefire to guarantee that all Colombians are able to go out to vote peacefully on Oct. 2.
Sheng Yuming (1st R), chairman of Power China Resource, delivers a speech during the "Power Generation Ceremony" of Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydroelectric Project in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa)

KATHMANDU, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Upper Marsyangdi-A Hydroelectric Project, developed by a China-Nepal joint venture company, started generating power from Monday.

Sinohydro-Sagarmatha Power Company Private Limited, the joint venture company which developed the 50MW project, said the plant started distributing 25MW of power released from its one turbine, and additional 25MW will be released from another turbine in a few months.

The 150 million-U.S. dollar project is located at Bhulbhule area of Lamjung district in central Nepal, which is 180 km away from Kathmandu, the capital city.

Nepal's Energy Minister Janardan Sharma ordered the release of the power from the project at a "Power Generation Ceremony" held in Kathmandu and the power was connected with the national grid instantly.

The plant is expected to help address the Himalayan country's prolonged power shortage.

Nepal is facing a few hours of power cut every day in recent months.

Sharma said the completion of the project has paved the way for other Chinese investors and investors from other countries to make investment in Nepal's hydropower sector.

"This also conveyed the message that Nepal is safe destination for foreign investment," he said, adding the Nepalese government has been taking many measures to facilitate domestic and foreign investment in the sector including signing of power purchase agreement in U.S. dollar term and removing landholding limitation as provisioned in the law.

Sheng Yuming, chairman of Power China Resource described the generation of power by the project as a major success.

Cheng Ji, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, said the Chinese government has been encouraging capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector.
Democrat Hillary Clinton greets the audience after attending the first presidential debate with Republican Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead of New York, the United States, Sept. 26, 2016. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday held their first presidential debate in Hempstead. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

HEMPSTEAD, United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A CNN/ORC poll and experts at Hofstra University said Hillary Clinton was the winner of Monday night's presidential debate.

Shortly after the first face-off between the Democratic nominee and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election cycle, the poll showed an "overwhelming victory" for Clinton, with 62 percent of Americans who watched the debate saying Clinton won, compared to 27 percent who said Trump won.

Experts in political science and rhetoric at Hofstra University expressed views similar to the results of the poll, which was jointly carried out by U.S. broadcaster CNN and market research firm ORC International.

The experts argued that Trump spent too much time explaining his decision for not releasing his tax returns, while failing to attack Clinton more aggressively for her mishandling of her private email servers and the corruption allegations against the Clinton Foundation.

Meanwhile, they also said Clinton should have made her points more precise for the general public to understand.

The debate marked the first of three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate that will take place before the Nov. 8 election day.

The performance of each candidate at the debates could be crucial to clinching the presidency, as various polls have showed a tightened race in many of the swing states in recent weeks.

Related:

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump clash in first presidential debate

HEMPSTEAD, the United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump faced off for the first time in the chaotic 2016 election cycle, with Clinton calling out Trump for not releasing tax returns and being born rich, while Trump labeled Clinton a traditional politician.

"There's something he's hiding," said Clinton here during the 90-minute first presidential debate for the election. Trump repeatedly refused to release his tax returns, arguing that he was being audited. Full story

Few Americans have high hopes for Clinton or Trump presidency: Gallup

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Few Americans are hopeful about either a Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency, even as the U.S. presidential race is heating up now, Gallup found in a poll released Monday.

Thirty-three percent of Americans say Clinton, the Democratic nominee, would be a "great" or "good" president, compared to 25 percent who have the same opinion about her Republican rival, Trump, the poll found. Full story

Backgrounder: U.S. presidential debates

HEMPSTEAD, United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, held their first presidential debate on Monday in Hempstead, New York.
Image provided by the Colombian Presidency shows Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L Front) shaking hands with Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez during the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Sept. 26, 2016. Juan Manuel Santos and Timoleon Jimenez Monday afternoon signed a historic peace deal in Cartagena, ending a 52-year conflict. (Xinhua/Juan Pablo Bello/Colombian Presidency)

By Chris Dalby

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept. 26 -- After over five decades of war, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander in chief Timoleon Jimenez met here to start a new chapter in the country's history.

On Monday afternoon, the oldest conflict in Latin America was consigned to the history books when the two men signed the peace agreement, finalized last month in Havana.

Accompanied by the presidents of Cuba, Ecuador and other Latin American countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the two men then signed the agreement with pens made from bullets to symbolize the transition to peace.

"We have lived, we have suffered, for 52 years, an armed conflict between the sons of the same nation," said Santos in his address. "Today, Colombia and the international community ... hail the peace agreement as the best news in a world convulsed by war, conflict, intolerance and terrorism."

In a gesture to the FARC, Santos said that "when you begin your path of return to society, when you begin your transition to a political movement without weapons ... as head of state of a nation we all love, I welcome you to democracy. To change bullets for votes, weapons for ideas, is the bravest and most intelligent decision that any subversive group can take. You will hear the call of history."

Santos acknowledged that future political challenges await. "We will surely never agree on the political or economic model our country should follow," he said, referring to the FARC. "But I will defend with all my determination your right to express your ideas within a democratic setting. This is the essence of liberty."

Speaking before Santos, Jimenez had taken a conciliatory approach, pledging that the country's largest guerrilla group would lay down its arms for good.

"Let nobody doubt that we will enter politics without weapons. Let us all be ready to disarm our minds and our hearts," he said. "With the agreement we signed today, we hope to put an end to the long history of violence that has made our country bleed."

In a much anticipated moment, Jimenez formally apologized for all the violence caused by the FARC during the conflict. "I would like to ask for forgiveness for all the pain that we have caused during the war."

However, he also articulated the peace agreement as a victory for the FARC's aims. "Let it be known that the FARC tried in all ways to spare Colombia a prolonged conflict. This is a victory for the entire Colombian people and the international community," said Jimenez.

This day comes after over four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba. The two sides came to an agreement on five points: rural development, the participation of the FARC in political life, the end of the conflict, the struggle against drug trafficking and reparations to victims.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement or not. Recent opinion polls show a large majority in favor of supporting it.

However, the future remains tense for the country. During the ceremony on Monday, former president Alvaro Uribe led a march of over 2,000 people in Cartagena to reject the agreement. Uribe believes the agreement is too beneficial to the FARC, providing them with impunity for past crimes.

Banners reading "No more FARC, no more Santos, no to the peace agreements" were waved in the Zapatos Viejos park.

Uribe's right-wing party, Democratic Center, has become the flag-bearer for the campaign to reject the peace deal. Uribe is hopeful that the population will decide the deal is too favorable to the FARC.

According to Uribe's "No" campaign, a rejection of the peace deal does not mean a rejection of peace altogether. Speaking to the press on Friday, Uribe said that "the agreement gives them an open amnesty for very serious crimes such as drug trafficking ... and other crimes against humanity, such as the rape of little girls."

His chances of success appear slim, however, since 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.

Furthermore, other conflicts remain to be settled. While the National Liberation Army (ELN) has said it will hold a ceasefire until the Oct. 2 vote and while early talks have begun for a peace process with this group, attacks may still occur.

However, during a visit to the FARC's jungle stronghold last week for its Tenth National Guerrilla Conference, Xinhua found an optimistic mood among the group's members.

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."

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.

Harvey Arenas, commander of a FARC squad, told Xinhua that "our fight sought the well-being of all Colombian people, for democracy and social justice."

"We are not afraid to leave the weapons. We took up arms, not because we wanted to, but because they forced us to. We always wanted a peaceful solution ... but that door was closed to us," said Arenas.

Others plan on remaining faithful to their group's orders, even in peace time. "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.

However, one of their major preoccupations continues to be the threat of paramilitary attacks from right-wing groups.

In the months ahead, the FARC members will have to gather in 23 security zones across the country, where they will lay down their weapons, under supervision by the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations.

Once this takes place, the FARC will give the government a list of all combatants present in each zone. Most of them will see all charges and arrest warrants against them dropped as part of the amnesty process. Others, facing more serious charges, will be able to avoid jail sentences if they come forward and confess, although they will face restrictions of liberty. Those who do not will be treated as criminals and prosecuted under the law.

The months ahead will certainly test this peace agreement. As fighters come down from the jungle to lay down their weapons in the security zones, their enemies may feel it is their chance to strike. Segments of the Colombian population who vote against the agreement may seek other ways to derail the peace process. President Santos will face re-election in 2018, and should another party win, peace might be at risk.

However, this evening, Colombia stopped being a country at war and became an example for the world.

Related:

Colombian gov't, FARC sign historic peace deal

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander in chief, Timoleon Jimenez, signed a historic peace deal on Monday afternoon in the city of Cartagena, ending a 52-year conflict. Full story

Backgrounder: Chronology of Colombia's peace process

BOGOTA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group, on Monday signed a historic peace deal that seeks to end 52-year armed conflict in the South American country. Full story

Spotlight: Latin America celebrates end of its oldest conflict in Colombia
MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia will lift its ban on imports of Egyptian fruits and vegetables, except for potatoes, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported Tuesday.

Russia and Egypt agreed to resume deliveries of agricultural produce from Egypt to Russia, except for potatoes, on condition that the Egyptian side meet Russia's sanitary and safety criteria, said Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian agricultural watchdog agency.

Russian experts will visit Egypt in October or November this year to check the effectiveness of Egyptian measures to comply with Russian phytosanitary requirements, the agency said.

Russia banned fruit and vegetable imports from Egypt over safety concerns on Sept. 22, 2015.
LUSAKA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu Monday directed the agriculture ministry to ensure the maize export ban is strictly enforced to ensure domestic food security.

In April this year, the government banned the export of maize and maize products to neighboring countries to ensure food security following a high demand of the commodity due to poor harvests caused by droughts.

In a statement released by his office, Lungu has tasked his new agriculture minister with ensuring that national food security is a top priority.

"In this regard, the president has directed the minister to ensure that the maize export ban currently in force is strictly enforced," the statement said.

There have been reports that Zambia was under pressure from neighboring countries following its bumper harvest of maize in the 2015/2016 season and traders want to take advantage of the lucrative market.

The government has put security agencies at strategic border entries to curb the rampant smuggling of maize to neighboring countries where there is a lucrative market.

Zambia produced 2.8 million tons of maize during the 2015/2016 season despite the El Nino weather phenomenon, which affected large swathes of the southern African region.
KATHMANDU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed in a road accident in Dhading, a district bordering Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.

Dinesh Yadav, a police officer deployed at the accident site, told Xinhua that 14 persons have died when a bus met an accident at Marpak village in Dhading district.
People carry an injured woman to a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 27, 2016. At least 14 people were killed in a road accident in Dhading, a district bordering Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa)



KATHMANDU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed in a road accident in Dhading, a district bordering Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.

Dinesh Yadav, a police officer deployed at the accident site, told Xinhua that 14 persons have died after a passenger bus met an accident at Marpak village in Dhading district.

"We have recovered 14 bodies in total including ten males and four females so far. A rescue operation is under way. I am worried that the death toll may rise," Yadav said over phone.

The ill-fated passenger bus was en route from Dhading district headquarters Dhading Besi to Darkha Village Development Committee.

The bus reportedly fell some 60 meters down the highway in a landslide-hit road section. "Among the nine rescued alive, seven are in critical conditions," Yadav said.

How many passengers were on board and what caused the accident are still unclear.
An adult elephant is seen inside Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe, Dec. 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Stringer)

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Companies, governments and NGOs urged more efforts to protect endangered wildlife from online crime during an event at the 17th Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The side event on Monday, "Taking a Byte Out of Wildlife Cybercrime," brought together Internet giants such as Tencent of China and eBay, as well as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other stakeholders.

"Online wildlife crime poses a serious threat to endangered animals including elephants, rhinoceros, reptiles and birds," said Tania McCrea-Steele, IFAW's Global Wildlife Cybercrime Project Lead.

"At a time when counts show historic lows of African elephants, and with rhino poaching numbers in the thousands -- and climbing -- for three years running, it is essential that companies, governments and NGOs come together to fight this growing hazard. This initiative makes it possible to tackle online wildlife crime in a far more holistic fashion."

In May 2015, Tencent, owner of social media platform WeChat and instant messaging service QQ, launched the program "Tencent for the Planet" jointly with The Nature Conservancy and IFAW. This initiative commits to educating users of its platforms about species conservation and stigmatizing illegal wildlife trade.

The group is also working closely with NGOs to build the monitoring capacity of Tencent with wildlife conservation and species identification knowledge; remove infringing postings on WeChat and QQ, and facilitate enforcement.

"Tencent is committed to creating a safe, environmentally-friendly internet ecosystem," said Band Yang, Director of Information Security Executive Committee at Tencent and event co-host.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for illegal wildlife trade conducted through any of our products or services and are dedicated to using our expertise to create innovative ways of protecting endangered species via the internet. We have also been working with other global technology leaders to set the standards for fighting against illegal wildlife related trade, as well as sharing experience with these like-minded companies," Yang said.

In January 2009, eBay took the important step of banning the sale of all ivory items on its platforms worldwide and has been working to strengthen enforcement and oversight in the years since.

"eBay has more than a decade of experience fighting illegal wildlife trading," said Wolfgang Weber, Head of Global Regulation at eBay.

He said eBay hosted the first roundtable targeting the illicit trade of ivory together with IFAW and law enforcement authorities in 2006.

These partnerships are "the most powerful and effective means to achieve tangible and sustainable results. This is why we welcome and support this important initiative," Weber said.

Xu Ling, Senior Manager at TRAFFIC, an anti-wildlife crime network, said, "Given the global reach of the internet, industry-wide exchanges and a policy framework on online illegal wildlife trade are needed to address the issue comprehensively and effectively. This could help to simplify and standardize efforts to monitor the internet."

TRAFFIC has had some effective partnerships with the private sector, but more partners around the world are needed to combat illegal wildlife trade online.

"Endangered wildlife cybercrime is a global challenge and it is necessary for government, companies and NGOs at a national level to collaborate and prioritize this issue. We need to take coordinated measures to tackle wildlife cybercrime as part of the global effort to conserve endangered species and facilitate sustainable development," said Meng Xianlin, Head of Chinese CITES Management Authority.

Online wildlife trade has become a vast and difficult-to-monitor industry. IFAW's 2014 report, "Wanted -- Dead or Alive: Exposing Online Wildlife Trade," found over 30,000 animals or their parts and products sold across 280 online marketplaces, in 16 countries in a six-week period.
BANGKOK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- An official of central Thai province of Ayudhya, where the former national capital is located, on Tuesday urged authorities to promote their hometown as a riverine tourist spot to attract more visitors.

Provincial Chamber of Commerce chairman Kriangkrai Danchaivichit said besides being a World Heritage site, the province could attract a large number of tourists, especially foreign visitors.

There are historical sites, ancient Buddhist temples and cultural values for visitors to see at many riverine spots along Chao Phraya River, which is the country's largest river. There are also other waterways and canals which run through the central province, about 75 kilometers north of Bangkok, Kriangkrai said.

Many people travel by boat throughout Ayudhya where those riverine spots can become tourist spots, he said.

He said provincial authorities had not done enough to publicize local tourism potentials, especially in the eye of foreign tourists.

About 2,500 people are expected to attend the 34th conference of Provincial Chambers of Commerce in Ayudhya province, to be held on Nov. 25-27, during which a seminar entitled "Innovation Toward Thailand 4.0" will be held.
SYDNEY, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Queensland state tourism minister Kate Jones has slammed the Federal Government for not axing the controversial backpacker tax altogether.

On Tuesday, the Australian Federal Government announced that backpackers will not be imposed a 32.5 percent tax as envisioned earlier but instead they would have to pay a 19 percent tax from their first dollar earned.

The new backpacker tax is set to take place on Jan 1, next year.

Jones in a statement on Tuesday said lowering the tax bracket was not a wise idea and wanted the Federal Government to scrap the backpacker tax altogether.

"We want to backpackers to visit Queensland and spend their money in our regional economies," Jones said.

"Regional areas like Rockhampton, Mackay, North Queensland, Far North Queensland rely on tourism jobs."

"Taxing backpackers thousands of dollars is just giving them thousands of reasons not to come to Australia," he said.

Jones said since the tax was announced the working visa holiday visitor nights have been seen down by close to 9 percent in Queensland.

"We do not want backpackers to choose other destinations like New Zealand and Canada," Jones said.

"We know backpackers are worth more than 900 million Australian dollars (692 million U.S. dollars) to the Queensland economy and Turnbull (Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull) is putting that at risk," she said.

"It doesn't make sense to slug backpackers with a new tax when their contribution to regional economies is so important," she said.

In the year to June 2016, Queensland recorded 12.3 million backpacker visitor nights down from 13.5 million in the 12 months to June 2015.

The total number of backpackers visiting Queensland dropped from 338,000 to 331,000 over the same period.
BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and ten others wounded on Tuesday in a suicide bomb attack in eastern Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China officially launched a website to live broadcast court trials Tuesday in the latest move to increase judicial transparency.

The live trials will be used to cover various cases and better safeguard people's rights to know and to supervise, said Zhou Qiang, head of China's Supreme People's Court, at the launch ceremony.

The website, tingshen.court.gov.cn, is China's fourth online platform for publicizing court information, following three websites for disclosing trial procedures, judgement documents and the enforcement of court decisions.

Logging on the website, the public can watch live streams of court trials across the country.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the website was broadcasting five separate cases, including one concerning suspect Wu Qiang, who was standing trial in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, on a charge of intentional injury.

Replays of cases and notice of future trials are also available.

The launch of the website will help reform China's litigation system and make it more trial-focused, while improving the trial process and ensuring fairness, Zhou said.

China is striving to let people feel fairness and justice in every single judicial case, he said.
SYDNEY, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Top Australian funds have expressed concerns with an unsolicited 10 billion Australian dollar (7.69 billion U.S. dollar) investment proposal for Ausgrid from IFM Investors and Australian Super.

They plan to write letters to New South Wales state government, arguing taxpayers could end up with a lower price for the electricity network if the government does not go ahead with a competitive auction.

Some investors believed the NSW government is pursuing a "politically-expedient solution" by considering an unsolicited proposal composed entirely of local funds, thereby removing any chance that the Foreign Investment Review Board will block the bid, Fairfax Media reported Tuesday.

Investors say the NSW government, which needs cash to pay for infrastructure projects, is likely to get a higher value for Ausgrid if there is competitive tension among bidders, and are worried it will accept the unsolicited bid so it can do a deal as soon as possible.

"The process has been flawed," one investment group told The Australian Financial Review.

"There's a political urgency here to get an outcome."

IFM and Australian Super submitted an unsolicited proposal to buy a 50.4 percent stake in a 99-year lease of Ausgrid last week.

But some investors want the NSW government to clarify what stakes foreign investors are allowed to take in Ausgrid, which is considered a desirable, high quality asset.

Local investors that did not participate in the initial auction for Ausgrid said they could put together bids that would match IFM's and Australian Super's proposal with the help of foreign investment funds.

However, rival bids that include foreign investors may not be considered "unique" under NSW's unsolicited proposal guidelines because they would need FIRB approval.

Unsolicited proposals have to prove that they are "unique" in some way to justify the government not proceeding with a competitive auction.

Foreign investors, including American and Canadian pension funds, have been reluctant to get involved in new proposals for Ausgrid because they are worried they will be blocked by FIRB.

IFM's and Australian Super's proposal is at "stage two" of the unsolicited process, meaning the funds and the government are working together to develop a detailed proposal.

The NSW government, which has said it is still continuing preparations to "re-launch the Ausgrid transaction," plans to make a decision on the IFM and Australian Super proposal later this year.

NSW is understood to be open to receiving unsolicited proposals at any time, and its negotiations with IFM and Australian Super are not exclusive.

Some investors also claim that IFM and Australian Super have moved "opportunistically," approaching the NSW government while other funds were tied up bidding for the Port of Melbourne which sold for 9.7 billion Australian dollars (7.45 billion U.S. dollars) last week.

It was reported that the QIC Ltd-led consortium, which includes The Future Fund, Global Infrastructure Partners and Canada's Borealis Infrastructure won the 50-year lease for the Port of Melbourne.

IFM was part of a rival consortium bidding for the port but was unsuccessful.

NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian has pledged to complete the Ausgrid sale before the next budget in June 2017 so the state can book the proceeds.

Shadow NSW Treasury spokesman Ryan Park has said Ausgrid should be sold at a competitive auction to maximise the price.
Democrat Hillary Clinton greets the audience after attending the first presidential debate with Republican Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead of New York, the United States, Sept. 26, 2016. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday held their first presidential debate in Hempstead. (Xinhua/Qin Lang)

HEMPSTEAD, the United States, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A new CNN/ORC poll and experts at Hofstra University said Hillary Clinton was the winner of Monday night's presidential debate as the Democratic nominee faced off with Republican Donald Trump for the very first time in the 2016 election cycle.

The new poll showed a landslide victory for Clinton, with 62 percent of Americans that watched the debate saying Clinton won compared to 27 percent who said Trump won.

The pollster acknowledged that debate watchers normally skew Democratic, which may make for a more Clinton-friendly sample than the sample in a normal poll.

"But that is an overwhelming victory among these debate watchers we polled for Hillary Clinton," said David Chalian, political director of CNN.

Experts in the field of political science and rhetoric at Hofstra University also expressed similar views, arguing that Trump spent too much time explaining his decision for not releasing his tax returns, while failing to attack Clinton more aggressively on her mishandling of her private email servers and corruption allegations against the Clinton Foundation.

"Donald Trump did not quite change his communication style, which to many people may be disappointing," said Jingsi Wu, assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations at Hofstra.

"I thought Trump pretty clearly lost the debate," said Richard Himelfarb, associate professor of political science at Hofstra, noting that a lot of times Trump had been on his defense.

"I don't think Trump really hit her hard enough on the emails, he talked about it for a minute and then went away," Himelfarb said.

Experts also said Clinton should have made her points more precise for the general public to understand.

Tomeka Robinson, associate professor of rhetoric at Hofstra, said Clinton was frequently not concise on her policy issues, "so the general public at home doesn't necessarily know all of the things she's talked about."

The debate marked the first of three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate that will take place before election day on Nov. 8.

The fiery clash between the two candidates had focused on the economy, taxes, racial relations and their temperaments, but experts said the content of their rhetoric was nothing new.

"I don't think a lot of us are totally taken by surprise, in terms of how the two candidates came out and went at the debate through their best and most comfortable way of communicating," said Wu.

The debate performance by each candidate could be crucial to catch the majority of votes needed to clinch the presidency, as polls all showed a tightened race in many of the swing states in recent weeks.
Soldiers help fishermen strengthen fishing boats at a port in Shishi, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 27, 2016. Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, is expected to move to the southern Fujian coast on Wednesday morning after it made landfall in coastal eastern Taiwan Tuesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's weather forecasters issued an orange alert for waves and a yellow alert for storms on Tuesday as Typhoon Megi approached.

Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, is expected to make landfall in coastal eastern Taiwan Tuesday afternoon and move to the southern Fujian coast on Wednesday morning, said China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, the typhoon is expected to bring waves of up to 12 meters in waters east of Taiwan. Waves up to eight meters are expected in the East China Sea, around the Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan Strait.

Storm surges of up to 150 centimeters are expected in coastal areas in parts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

In China's four-tier severe weather warning system, red is the most serious alert, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs Tuesday issued an emergency response to the typhoon, urging local civil affairs departments to be on all-day duty and issue early warning for citizens.

Rainstorms are expected in Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Anhui over the next three days.
CARACAS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- After half a century of bloodshed in Colombia, the signing of a permanant peace accord Monday between the government and leftist rebels is expected to herald an era of growth for the South American country, yet many difficulties remain to be overcome.

Analysts say the peace accord signed in the northern Colombian port city of Cartagena, yet to be approved by a national referendum on Oct. 2, will bring stability and improve the investment environment in the country.

Data from Colombia's National Center for Historical Memory showed the 52-year-long civil war has left 220,000 people dead, 25,000 missing and over 5.7 million homeless in the country. A survey by a peace and development research institute estimated the economic loss was up to 179 billion U.S. dollars.

Despite the expectation that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will turn from being the country's largest guerrilla group to a political party, it takes time to heal wounds and build reconciliation and mutual trust, analysts say.

On top of this, social integration of the FARC members expected to return their homes is a long-time process that calls for patience and assistance from all sectors of society.

It will be a tough challenge to make them skilled workers that earn their own living in a short time even with the help of government-sponsored job training programs, said French sociologist Daniel Pecaut.

Difficulties and obstacles in social integration and civilian life are likely to turn some of them to drug trafficking or organized crime, as was the case in Salvador and Guatemala, he said.

Multiple research and financial institutions estimated that it will take the Colombian government between 27.6 billion and 31.1 billion dollars over a decade, or one percent of gross domestic product (GDP), per year to resettle FARC members and rebuild conflict areas.

At the same time, experts expect the reconstruction in conflict areas will create jobs and attract investment, although it will take time for foreign investors to regain confidence in the country.

After the peace accord is implemented, Colombia's annual GDP will increase by between 1.1 and 1.9 percentage points, with an extra double-digit growth in exports, retail sales and industries, said a joint report released by Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the National Planning Department.

The report also predicted a foreign direct investment inflow of 36 billion dollars by 2024, more than tripling the 2015 figure; and meanwhile exports valued at some 61.4 billion dollars, 1.7 times that in 2015. In each year by 2018, fast growth in tourism is expected to bring in 6 billion dollars in foreign currency revenue and create 300,000 jobs.

In addition, the Monday peace accord is expected to serve as an example and put Colombia on the path of lasting peace nationwide, as government talks with the country's second-largest rebel armed group, the National Liberation Army, are yet to be held.

Many other armed groups active in the country are foreseen to fill in the vaccum left by the FARC in drug trafficking, posing a new challenge to Colombia's security and anti-drug war.

Drug planting and trafficking in war-ravaged Colombia have been an important source of funds for rebel armed groups including the FARC, which is best armed of all and had in its prime up to 17,000 members and control of 40 percent of Colombian territory.
COLOMBO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Tuesday exhumed the body of slain newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge to conduct a fresh investigation over his murder, seven years after he had been killed.

Wickrematunge, who was the founding editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while he was on his way to office.

Popularly known for his investigative journalism and for the stand he took on media freedom, Wickrematunge was believed to have been killed for taking on the then government which was on the verge of defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels after 30 years of war.

His body was exhumed at a local burial grounds in the presence of a Magistrate and under tight security.

Investigators had obtained court approval to exhume the body after suspicion arose over the exact manner he was killed.

While in 2009 it was believed Wickrematunge was killed from gunshot wounds, investigators now believe he may have died from injuries sustained after a sharp object pierced through his skull.

In a pre-written editorial which was published posthumously Wickrematunge feared he would be killed for his work.

The current editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper Easwaran Rutnam told Xinhua he was cautiously optimistic justice will finally be served more than seven years after Wickrematunge was killed.

"The euphoria over the war victory in May 2009 saw the push for justice for Wickrematunge's killing taking a back seat. However the new government which took office following elections last year has shown the political will to investigate incidents like that of Wickrematunge's killing so there is hope the investigation will move forward," he said.

An army intelligence officer has already been arrested and is being questioned over the incident while a former top police officer was also questioned.
HANOI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The third ASEAN Broker Conference and Networking event will be held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Oct. 6-10, said the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), the organizer, on Tuesday.

The event is expected to draw participation of 28 securities companies in ASEAN, 42 local companies and 133 delegates. Meanwhile, as many as 71 pairs of companies have registered for bilateral meetings to discuss cooperation at the event.

The ASEAN Broker Conference and Networking event, an initiative on collaboration among trading floors in the region, is organized alternately among the bloc's country members. The event aims to share experience and boost business and investment cooperation, said the HNX.

First held in Thailand in 2011 with 62 securities companies participating in last year's edition in Indonesia's Bali, the event drew participation of 116 companies.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Chinese representative Yang Zhi (L) and Australian representative Stephen Arnott announce the "Adelaide Consensus" reached during a dialogue in Adelaide, Australia, Sept. 27, 2016. Australia and China vowed to further promote cultural exchanges through comprehensive knowledge sharing, frequent troupe visits and more personnel exchanges and internships, during the inaugural Australia-China Dialogue held at Adelaide Festival Center Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xu Haijing)

ADELAIDE, Australia, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Australia and China vowed to further promote cultural exchanges through comprehensive knowledge sharing, frequent troupe visits and more personnel exchanges and internships, during the inaugural Australia- China Dialogue held at Adelaide Festival Center Tuesday.

The Dialogue was attended by some of Australia and China's leading arts administrators as well as officials from Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and Chinese Ministry of Culture.

"The Dialogue will involve key personnel in the arts sector and arts policy makers in each country to grow the exchange of staff and artistic productions and progress the staging of collaborative co-productions," said Douglas Gautier, the CEO and Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival Centre.

"The Dialogue is driven by the belief that increasing artistic exchanges and building people-to-people relationships will not only enrich our cultural lives but also unlock other social and economic opportunities by building greater understanding and stronger connections between our two countries," he said.

Under the "Adelaide Consensus" reached during the dialogue, both countries agreed to strengthen cultural diversity through the exchange of ideas, nurtured by constant exchanges and interaction.

It was also agreed that Australia and China will commission an academic research piece on current activity in the cross cultural sphere, including exhibitions, films, arts and cultural festivals, co-productions, tourism, exhibitions, personnel exchanges, cultural and artistic institutions and sister state/province relationships.

Australia and China will seek to develop greater opportunities for staff exchanges and internships and encourage greater use of UNESCO Creative Cities Network for closer collaboration and joint projects.

It is expected that future cultural dialogues between Australia and China will include the protection of cultural heritage and creative industries.

The two countries agreed to hold a second Australia-China Cultural Dialogue in autumn 2017 in Guangzhou, China, and preliminarily agreed to hold them biennially afterwards.

China currently holds similar bi-lateral dialogues with a number of countries including France, Germany and the United States.
VIENTIANE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The value of bilateral trade between Laos and Vietnam over the past six months of 2016 has fallen 34.8 percent following the Lao government's orders for some mining exploration projects to be stopped and to ban the export of logs and timbers overseas, Lao News Agency KPL reported Tuesday.

The value of bilateral trade was recorded at only 3.46 trillion kip (some 427 million U.S. dollars). When compared to the previous year, bilateral trade between Laos and Vietnam fell by almost half.

The 10th meeting on cooperation on border trade development between Laos and Vietnam was held on last Friday in Attapeu Province of southern Laos, some 570 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane by aerial distance.

The meeting was attended by Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Khemmany Polsena, Attapeu Governor Nam Viyaket, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, and business people of the two countries.

The value of trade between Laos and Vietnam was 8.8 trillion kip (around 1.1 billion U.S. dollars) last year and when compared to 2014, was a drop of 12.6 percent.

However, participants of the meeting pledged to spur the value of border trade between Laos and Vietnam to increase by 20 percent in 2016 through better cooperation.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Located in Shanghai Free Trade Zone, ACC, a foreign-funded R&D and certification company, has grown fast in its first six months.

"A talented international team is our core competitive advantage," CEO Stella Si said. Thanks to the city's effort in attracting talent over the past year, the company can more easily employ foreign experts aged over 60, while in the past, it was hard for them to get a work permit.

Since July last year, Shanghai has been offering permanent resident permits for high-level overseas talent, quicker processing of foreign expert permits, and loosened upper age limits for foreign employees.

Si expects to expand her team even further, and that the bundle of policies released this week will attract even more talents to the city.

Headquarters and research centers of multinational companies registered in Shanghai FTZ and Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, can now employ fresh graduates from prestigious foreign colleges. Previously, graduates required two years of work experience.

Shanghai decided to transform itself into a global R&D center in 2014. The city has been opening its door wider to the world. Since last July, Shanghai has accepted over 500 applications for permanent residence from foreigners and their families, nine times the number in the previous year. Now Shanghai is looking to improve housing, medical services and education to ensure that those who arrive, really want to stay.

Big companies and organizations are being encouraged to build apartments for their staff. Some hospitals plan to introduce international medical insurance settlement services. International schools will be opened in areas with high concentrations of foreigners.

The city is to build a set of high-tech plants, for such products as aviation engines, gas turbines, advanced chips, new energy cars and robotics.

Many other Chinese cities have also been shifting emphasis from foreign investment and businesses to foreign talent. Zhejiang Province came up with new policies in July, and picturesque Suzhou in Jiangsu Province followed suit earlier this month.

In an era of innovation, talent is the most important of resources. The right team can revitalize a company, or even a whole industry, on the verge of bankruptcy, said Chen Hao, deputy head of the municipal organization department.

A lack of high-caliber individuals is an international problem, and Shanghai feels the shortage like anywhere else, said the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Wang Yi.

Wang suggests that Shanghai establishes incentives in line with international practice, and does more to protect intellectual property rights to make itself more competitive in attracting the right people.
Turkish police officers march during a Republic Day ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, October 29, 2015.(REUTERS Photo)

ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Consulate General in Turkey has warned of potential terror attacks targeting U.S.-branded hotels in the southeastern Turkish province of Adana.

In a statement on its website late Monday, the Consulate said it obtained specific and credible threats of potential terrorist activity targeting U.S.-branded hotels in Adana.

U.S. citizens in Adana are advised to exercise caution when patronizing these establishments, it added.

The city of Adana is about 16 km from the Incirlik Air Base, which the U.S. military uses to launch attacks against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to hold a series of meetings with Turkish officials on issues of cooperation in the fight against IS and discuss other bilateral and strategic issues, Turkish Hurriyet Daily reported.

The U.S. Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey, suggesting that its citizens should avoid travel to southeastern Turkey and carefully consider the risks of travel to and throughout the country.
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 12 Afghan army soldiers were shot dead by their fellow comrades in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz Monday night, an official said on Tuesday.

"Twelve Afghan National Army soldiers died after two of their comrades turned their weapons at a security checkpoint in Zakhil neighborhood on the western outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city at around mid-night," Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, an army press officer in the region, told Xinhua.

The victims were sleeping when the shooting took place in the province, 250 km north of Afghan capital of Kabul, he said.

The soldiers behind the shooting fled the scene shortly after the incident and an investigation was launched into the incident, Karimi added.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Kunduz province and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the security forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

Several members of Afghan security force members have been killed in the so-called insider attacks across Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.
HANOI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday decided to set up a quick response force in Vietnam's capital Hanoi to deal with food safety problems.

Phuc made the decision in a working session with Hanoi authorities on Tuesday.

According to Phuc, food safety is of critical importance since it relates to people's life and health. However, the city dwellers have not fully trusted on the safety of local food, reported Vietnamese government's e-Portal.

In addition, abattoirs haven't been well managed while food safety violators haven't been strictly handled, said Phuc, urging local authorities to tighten the control of small abattoirs, and take drastic actions to improve management of street food.

Vietnamese cabinet chief also urged to publicize information about unqualified food providers, launch food safety checking campaigns, and pay more attention on food safety at craft villages.

From January to September, the city inspected nearly 77,400 food processing facilities and discovered 12,370 violations of relevant regulations. More than 22.6 billion Vietnamese dong (over 1 million USD) in fines was collected.
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission is currently identifying African experts who will drive the implementation of the African Strategy on Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in the continent, an AU official said on Tuesday.

The African Strategy is a framework designed by the African countries to tackle the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora, Leah Naess Wanambwa, a senior policy officer in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture at the AU Commission, told Xinhua.

She was attending the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Spices of Wild Fauna and Flora, taking place in Johannesburg.

The African strategy was approved by the African Heads of States during the AU Summit in South Africa in 2015.

"The Strategy is formulated to guide a common, coordinated response by countries in Africa to combat the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora," she said.

"It is meant to prevent, reduce and eventually eliminate the illegal trade in wild fauna and flora in Africa through the implementation of an African wide strategic framework," she said.

When to start the implementation of the strategy will depend on how they will set up the first expert group, Wanambwa said.

Wanambwa said the AU Commission is in the process of setting up a coordination mechanism for the implementation of the African Strategy.

"We hope to have the expert group formed soon after COP17," the official said.
JERUSALEM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel security forces said Tuesday they have arrested five Palestinian suspects and seized weapon-making equipment amidst a crackdown on Palestinian weapons in the West Bank.

The overnight raid was conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service in the Hebron area.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that the suspects, residents of Hebron city and the South Hebron Hills area, were arrested for "their involvement in weapons manufacturing and trafficking."

According to the military, the suspects handed over a weapon-manufacturing machine, improvised firearms, parts of an M-16 rifle, ammunition, a pipe bomb and knives.

The forces also seized 150,000 shekels (about 39,900 U.S. dollars) worth of funds, "suspected to be traded for illegal weaponry," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the raid was "part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the weapon smuggling network" in the West Bank.

The move came a day after another overnight raid, in which soldiers shut down three unauthorized weapons manufacturing plants in the West Bank and arrested 19 Palestinians for suspected involvement in "popular terrorism."

On Aug. 24, Israeli forces raided seven Palestinian weapon mills in the Hebron and Bethlehem area, in what the military said was the largest crackdown of its kind over the last year.

The raid came amid a year-long wave of violence involving stabbing, car-ramming, and shooting attacks, which has claimed the lives of at least 230 Palestinians and 34 Israelis. Israel says the most of the Palestinians were killed amidst attacks or attempted attacks.

The Palestinians and human rights organizations say that Israel is using excessive force to quell the unrest, and in many cases, the Israeli forces kill Palestinian youths who could be stopped without using lethal force.

In several other cases, Palestinians were killed because they were mistaken to be attackers, according to Palestinians and rights groups.

Israeli leaders accuse the Palestinian National Authority of "inciting" the unrest, while the Palestinians say it is the result of 49 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, home to more than 5 million Palestinians, where they wish to establish their state.
THE HAGUE, Sep. 27 (Xinhua) -- The trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Tuesday convicted Islamic extremist Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi to nine years imprisonment for orchestrating the destruction of historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali.

The judges unanimously issued the landmark judgment. The Al Mahdi case was the first ICC case about the destruction of buildings dedicated to religion and historical monuments and on Tuesday Al Mahdi also became the first to be convicted for the attacks on cultural heritage.

After the ICC issued his arrest warrant, Al Mahdi was surrendered to ICC detention one year ago. Wearing a grey suit and striped tie, Al Mahdi heard his verdict on Tuesday in the courtroom in The Hague. Last month he already pleaded guilty and said to be "really sorry" for his actions and to have entered the guilty plea with "deep regret and great pain".

Al Mahdi was held responsible for intentionally directing attacks against historic monuments and buildings dedicated to religion, including nine mausoleums and one mosque in Timbuktu, Mali, committed between about June 30, 2012 and July 11, 2012.

According to the ICC, Al Mahdi was a member of Ansar Eddine, an Islamist group associated with Al Qaeda that occupied Timbuktu for months. He allegedly was head of the Hisbah section, that enforced strict Islamic law in the city.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Over 600 million Chinese tourists will travel abroad in the next five years, according to data from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

In the first half of the year, China's outbound tourists reached over 59 million, according to CNTA data.

Thanks to relaxed visa policies and rising disposable income, the number of China's outbound tourists has kept growing in the past decade.

China had the world's largest number of outbound tourists in 2015. About 120 million Chinese traveled overseas in 2015, up from 109 million the previous year, according to the CNTA.

This was an increase of 19.5 percent year on year and nearly 13 times the level in 1998, said the CNTA.

Meanwhile, China's booming domestic tourism market saw over 4 billion journeys in 2015, generating tourism revenue of over 4 trillion yuan (620 billion U.S. dollars).
JERUSALEM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that ties between his country and the United States will remain strong whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump wins the upcoming election.

Netanyahu, who met with the two U.S. presidential candidates in New York on Sunday, was speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

"It doesn't matter which of them will be elected, the American support for Israel will remain strong, the alliance will remain strong and will even grow stronger in the coming years," Netanyahu said.

He added that during Sunday's meetings, both Clinton and Trump "talked about their support of Israel, and the importance of the ties between the two countries."

On Sept. 14, the U.S. and Israel signed a 38 billion dollar U.S. military aid deal. The 10-year package was said to be the largest U.S. military aid to any country.
GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday that while the influx of maritime refugees and migrants in Europe has considerably dropped this year compared to 2015, the Mediterranean is set to claim more lives in 2016 than last year's count of 3,673.

"It's important to note that last year's total of more than 1 million migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, Spain and Greece will most likely not be reached this year," IOM spokesman Joel Millman explained.

"Nonetheless, despite the drop in arrivals, fatalities exceeded last year's total at this time by almost 600 and seem virtually certain to surpass what we saw last year," he added.

Latest IOM figures reveal that over 302,000 refugees and migrants have reached European shores by sea since the beginning of the year.

This is much fewer than last year's total over the same period, which saw almost 510,000 maritime migrant entries on European Union (EU) soil.

This significant drop is mainly attributed to the EU-Turkey migrant deal which came into force earlier this year, Millman noted.

"Arrivals in Greece have totalled fewer than 20,000 since late March when the EU-Turkey accord went into practice," he said.

"Prior to that, 15,000 migrants and refugees were arriving in Greece by sea from Turkey every month," he added.

The year of 2015 saw a record 1,011,712 refugee and migrant sea arrivals in Europe, with most of them landing in Greece.
ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) dismissed Tuesday 87 personnel for suspected links to the Fethullah Gulen Movement, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Out of 87 MIT personnel dismissed, 52 will face criminal complaints, the report said.

The decision was made under a statutory decree issued in July during the three-month state of emergency.

The dismissed personnel will not be permitted to work in any other state institutions.

Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of Istanbul issued orders for the detention of 121 members of a relief organization on suspicion of links to the Gulenist, the prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

Police launched an operation in 18 Turkish provinces to detain members, including the director of the humanitarian aid organization "Kimse Yok Mu" (Is Nobody There?).

The Turkish government accused of Fethullah Gulen orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt.
DHAKA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- As elsewhere in the world, Bangladesh Tuesday observed the World Tourism Day in their own unique way to foster awareness among the local and foreign communities of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.

Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), the National Tourism Organization (NTO) and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), under the supervision of the country's Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, arranged a series of programs as part of observing the day on Tuesday.

The day's program began with a colorful rally in Dhaka led by senior officials of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry.

Different stakeholders of Bangladesh's tourism sector including Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Association of Travel Agencies of Bangladesh (ATAB) and tourism related foundations and cultural organizations also joined the rally.

Bangladesh's national dailies published special supplements while television and radio broadcast various programs marking the day which is also being celebrated with many events including folk music, discounts on food and accommodations at hotels and motels and seminars across the country.

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on Sept. 27.
DHAKA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A teenage girl was killed and a minor boy sustained injuries after part of an abandoned building of a shelter for vagrants collapsed in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka early Tuesday.

"A teenage girl died while a minor body was injured as the building collapsed on a tin-shed house early Tuesday," Anwar Hossain, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police official, told journalists.

He said Fire Service and Civil Defence members shortly after the accident rushed to the site and rescued the boy and the girl who was pronounced dead after she was whisked off to a local hospital.

According to officials, some families including one of the teenage girl used to live at the tin-shed house near the abandoned building despite warnings several times to move from there.

The shelter for vagrants was earlier shifted from the building following its dilapidated condition.
COLOMBO, Sept 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will seek to promote ecotourism and protect the environment as part of its tourism agenda in the coming months, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said here Tuesday.

Addressing an event to mark World Tourism Day, Amaratunga said that while accessibility remains a key component of Sri Lanka's tourism development strategy, sustainability of the industry is of equal importance.

"We must ensure that our resources and attractions remain unharmed by the development activities which are currently taking place in this country," Amaratunga said.

"We must resort to ecotourism practices wherever possible and the protection of the environment should be at the top of the tourism agenda," he added.

Amaratunga expressed satisfaction in the tourism industry's rapid growth adding the forthcoming winter season would be the "best this country has witnessed."

He said Sri Lanka was expecting a record number of 2.5 million tourists by the end of this year, as against last year's 1.8 million.

Tourism was one of the hardest-hit economic sectors by the nearly three-decade-long conflict against Tamil Tiger rebels.

Following the defeat of the rebels in May 2009, and the subsequent removal of negative travel advisories, the country's tourism industry has witnessed a sudden boom in recent years.

China is currently the leading market for Sri Lanka's tourism, with an expected 300,000 Chinese tourists to visit this Island country this year.
Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former state councilor, speaks during the 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2016. The 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum kicked off Tuesday in Tokyo, with over 600 experts, former officials and private sector representatives from China and Japan discussing key issues affecting bilateral relations in an effort to enhance ties and bridge differences. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum kicked off Tuesday in Tokyo, with over 600 experts, former officials and private sector representatives from China and Japan discussing key issues affecting bilateral relations in an effort to enhance ties and bridge differences.

Tang Jiaxuan, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association and former state councilor, said in a keynote speech that China-Japan relationship, disturbed by a variety of issues in recent years, has not returned to normal track yet.

He said that both China and Japan shall have a sense of urgency regarding the current situation and make joint efforts to develop bilateral relations based on the spirit of four important political documents between China and Japan and the four-point principled agreement.

He called on the two sides to take history as a mirror while facing up to the future based on the current realities. The two sides shall properly handle and control old and new conflicts, and in the meantime enhance practical communication and cooperation so as to promote steady improvement and development of bilateral relations, he said.

He also said the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is an important platform for discussing, studying and promoting bilateral relations and expressed hope that participants of the forum could advocate rational thinking on bilateral relations and spread positive messages to promote bilateral relations.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, for his part, called on both sides at the forum to draw on collective wisdom from all sectors of society to promote bilateral relations.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said that the annual forum is an important channel for non-governmental dialogue and that he hopes the two sides could promote communication and cooperation in multiple ways.

Beijing-Tokyo Forum was launched by China Daily and non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO in 2005. The forum was cosponsored by China International Publishing Group and Genron NPO since 2015.

The forum, held alternately in Beijing and Tokyo, aims to improve bilateral relationship and deepen understanding between China and Japan.
DAMASCUS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army captured a district in the old quarter of the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, as part of a major offensive the army has recently unleashed to dislodge the rebels from the key city, a military source told Xinhua.
U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen at his home in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 29, 2016.(REUTERS Photo)

ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) dismissed Tuesday 87 personnel for suspected links to the Fethullah Gulen Movement, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Out of 87 MIT personnel dismissed, 52 will face criminal complaints, the report said.

The decision was made under a statutory decree issued in July during the three-month state of emergency.

The dismissed personnel will not be permitted to work in any other state institutions.

Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of Istanbul issued orders for the detention of 121 members of a relief organization on suspicion of links to the Gulenist, the prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

Police launched an operation in 18 Turkish provinces to detain members, including the director of the humanitarian aid organization "Kimse Yok Mu" (Is Nobody There?).

The Turkish government accused of Fethullah Gulen orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt.
ABUJA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria will welcome all kinds of support from China, the world's second largest economy to help shore up its growth as the major African economy enters a recession, an expert on China-Africa development issues has said.

Enehikhuere, a member of the African Think Tank for China-Africa Development, told Xinhua in an interview that China, being an important partner in Nigeria's growth and development, is expected to play a constructive role in helping Nigeria address its economic problems.

According to him, Nigeria, like other African countries, is comfortable with China's economic leadership and is willing to learn how to grow the economy through Chinese expertise.

Nigeria's economy formally entered recession in the third quarter of the year when its Gross Domestic Product in real terms declined by 2.06 percent in the second quarter year on year after a 0.36 percent decline in the first quarter.

China and Nigeria, Enehikhuere noted, have collaborated in many fronts to combat various challenges in the past.

"Therefore, it won't be a difficult thing for the two nations to exchange ideas and support to help Nigeria come out of its present economic situation," said the expert.

He said although Nigeria is in recession, its economy can remain robust especially as the West African nation looks forward to diversifying its economy.

China has invested more than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in the Nigerian economy as of the end of 2015, especially in areas such as telecommunications, construction, agriculture, petroleum and solid minerals, according to data from the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria.

Enehikhuere said that China is always a destination for Nigeria and other African countries because the East Asian nation has proved to be "Africa's friend in weal and woe".

"The Nigerian economy is very relevant in Africa, and we can do a lot of things with China," he added.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari paid a state visit to China in April this year and during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Li said China is ready to help promote the African country's industrialization through enhancing production capacity cooperation, spearheaded by infrastructure projects including railway, highway, and hydropower construction.

China encourages capable enterprises to invest in Nigeria, the premier said, calling on Nigeria to provide good protection and support for Chinese investment.
TOKYO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Osaka District Court on Tuesday ordered a notorious "citizens' group" to pay compensation to a Korean resident of Japan for defamation of character as a result of the group's hate speech, in an unprecedented case that could pave the way for legislation leading to the criminalization of such racially- motivated verbal assaults that plague the nation.

Local media reported that Lee Sinhae, who herself works as a freelance journalist, claimed the group called Zainichi Tokken wo Yurusanai Shimin no Kai, the official name of the ultra- nationalist group better known as Zaitokukai, and in particular its leader at the time, defamed her by dubbing her anti-Japanese in speeches made between 2013 and 2014.

She also claimed that the right-wing, self-proclaimed "citizens' group," who believe "special privileges" are being given to Korean and, also sometimes, Chinese residents in Japan, repeatedly made discriminatory remarks and also mocked her looks in person and online, according to a report by Japan's public broadcaster NHK on Tuesday.

For the group's part, they said that their actions were in line with laws governing free speech and hence should not even be the topic of potential compensation in the first place.

However, presiding judge Tamami Masumori at the Osaka District Court, determined that the group, who often amass in large numbers in public and hold riotous rallies often teetering on the edge of being under police control, in areas known to be populated by non-Japanese, including in front of some elementary schools, had crossed the acceptable limit of criticism.

Masumori also said that the group's persistent degrading of Lee was clearly intended to fuel anti-Korean sentiment here and intensify discrimination against Korean residents living in Japan, and, as such, ordered the ultra-nationalist group to compensate Lee to the tune of 7,600 U.S. dollars.

Lee's lawyer on Tuesday maintained that it was the first time a court in Japan had recognized hate speech as being discriminatory against an individual.

Lee, who highlighted her ongoing battles with Zaitokukai two years earlier at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ), told a press briefing after the ruling Tuesday that the victory was momentous and held huge value. She also vowed to continue to work towards creating a society that does not discriminate.

Zaitokukai, led by the infamous Makoto Sakurai who was arrested along with eight of his cohorts for a physical altercation with a Korean resident of Japan during a protest, often turn out in force for hours of high-decibel, intimidating, anti-Korean rabble-rousing; dressed in Imperial Army-inspired uniforms and using megaphones while waving Imperial flags and carrying banners with despicable comments written on them such as "Korean Cockroaches Leave Japan" and "Koreans here are dirty Rats."

Zaitokukai believe that some Koreans, known as "Zainichi Koreans" are being given special legal privileges by the government here to help integrate them into Japanese society and the group, many of the members of whom are physically aggressive, menacing and have proven violent tendencies, ardently object to, among other things, the fact that some Korean residents here can use Japanese names.

They argue that if a Zainichi Korean, meaning permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan, or long term Korean resident of Japan, who can trace their roots back to Korea from when it was under Japanese colonial rule during WWII and have retained their "Joseon" or South Korean nationalities, were to commit a crime here, for example, in news reports, the offender would come across as being Japanese.

Zaitokukai also vocally oppose long-term Korean residents who have been given permanent residence status by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and, as such, are eligible to claim the same welfare benefits as Japanese citizens. Somewhat ironically, however, Zainichi Koreans also include Japanese citizens of Korean descent, who have acquired Japanese nationality by naturalization, or by birth from one or both parents who have Japanese citizenship.

Zaitokukai's hate-infused diatribe, calls for Zainichi Koreans, as well as other non-Japanese residing here, to be stripped of their legal citizenship, kicked out of Japan, belittled in public, harassed on the streets and in their places of business, and, in the most extreme and mind-boggling cases, assaulted, raped and murdered.

The political landscape in Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's right-wing regime has changed at such a rapid rate that regular Japanese citizens have yet to grasp the gravity of the situation and the fact that since coming to power, Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party have, in the blink of an eye, ushered the nation down an ultra-nationalist path, which has wrongly demonized Japan's closest neighbors, including South Korea and China, and underscored this by brushing aside Japan's pacifist Constitution and remilitarizing the country.

And while in terms of Japanese law there is a clear distinction between a "hate crime" and a "hate speech," groups like Zaitokukai consistently exploit the law and operate in a grey area making thousands of people's lives of all ages, including young children, utterly miserable, as hate crimes are punishable by law, but individuals and groups who make hate speeches can do so with complete impunity.

Human rights groups here have been tirelessly calling for legislation to curtail instances of hate speeches, but have seen their efforts gain little traction in parliament, yet today's ruling will be a milestone for these groups, and of course Lee and others like her, whose lives have been so heinously unsettled on an almost daily basis.

A survey of attitudes toward discriminatory language revealed that of 700 Japanese lawmakers polled, only 46 of them even had an interest in the notion of introducing a law to deal with what in many countries around the world is criminal behavior.

This runs contrary to the fact that Japan has been a signatory to the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination since the mid-1990s.

Japan is home to around 600,000 ethnic Koreans, many of whom are the descendants of the nearly 800,000 Korean workers forcibly brought to Japan to work during Japan's brutal colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsular from 1910 to 1945.
DAMASCUS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army captured a district in the old quarter of the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, as part of a major offensive the army has recently unleashed to dislodge the rebels from that key city, a military source told Xinhua.

The military forces wrested control over the Farafira neighborhood, located northeast of the time-honored Aleppo Citadel, in the ancient quarter of the city, following battles with the rebels, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The bomb squad is now combing the neighborhood to defuse and dismantle any roadside bombs, he added.

The victory in Farafira comes as part of a wide-scale offensive the Syrian army recently unleashed to drive out the rebels from their strongholds in the eastern part of Aleppo city.

A day earlier, the Syrian military advised civilians in rebel-held areas to stay away from the rebel positions, just days after giving the civilians an option to abandon eastern Aleppo and join the government-controlled areas in the western part of the city.

State news agency SANA said tens of families left eastern Aleppo, and many rebels surrendered their weapons.

Aleppo had seen a brief truce a couple of weeks ago, but the international tension between Russia and the United States has ended the truce without extending it.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a recent interview that his army is determined to restore the entire Aleppo city from the rebels.

The battles in Aleppo are so important that the city is now compared to Stalingrad, which turned the tide of World War II.

Aleppo has a strategic importance for the warring parties due to its location near the Turkish borders, and being Syria's largest province and once the economic hub of Syria.
An injured woman is carried to a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Pratap Thapa)

KATHMANDU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed in a road accident in Dhading, a district bordering Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.

Dinesh Yadav, a police officer deployed at the accident site, told Xinhua that 14 persons have died after a passenger bus met an accident at Marpak village in Dhading district.

"We have recovered 14 bodies in total including ten males and four females so far. A rescue operation is under way. I am worried that the death toll may rise," Yadav said over phone.

The ill-fated passenger bus was en route from Dhading district headquarters Dhading Besi to Darkha Village Development Committee.

The bus reportedly fell some 60 meters down the highway in a landslide-hit road section. "Among the nine rescued alive, seven are in critical conditions," Yadav said.

How many passengers were on board and what caused the accident are still unclear.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) shakes hands with visiting British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on Sept. 27, 2016. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday criticized the U.S. of not convincing Syrian Kurdish fighters to move to east of Euphrates River. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)



ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday criticized the U.S. of not convincing Syrian Kurdish fighters to move to east of Euphrates River.

About 200 members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) were still at the west of Euphrates River, the Turkish minister told a joint press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in Ankara.

Cavusoglu recalled a commitment by Washington on YPG retreat to the east of the Euphrates River after a joint military operation against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria's Manbij region.

"Either they cannot influence the YPG, or they don't want to send them (to east of the Euphrates)," he said.

Cooperating with the YPG in any potential operation against the IS in Raqqa would mean "putting Syria's future at risk," Cavusoglu added.

The anti-IS coalition member countries lack a "results-oriented strategy," which leads to "mistakes" such as reliance on "terror organizations," Cavusoglu stated.

While the U.S. sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and YPG as major strategic partners in the fight against the IS, Turkey regards them as offshoots of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The U.S. considers partnership with the YPG fighters for an upcoming military offence against IS militants in Raqqa, while Turkey dismisses to be part of the operation if the Syrian Kurdish fighters take part in the mission.
ALGIERS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said here on Tuesday that his country is committed to support any agreement between energy producers and consumers to strike a balance between supply and demand.

Al-Falih made the comments at the 15th International Energy Forum (IEF 15) that kicked off in Algiers earlier on Tuesday.

"We are here in Algeria to reach positive and fruitful consultation between energy producers and consumers, as well as reassuring global markets that energy would be available in the long term, given that global economy is in continuous need of energy to recover, and this is the main message of IEF 15," Falih told reporters on the margin of the forum.

He noted that "in order to have sustainable energy, there should be more and more investments in this domain, and therefore oil prices should be higher in a bid to drain more investments."

"The plunging prices during the last two years hindered this objective, and hopefully we would reach a balance between supply and demand," he added.

Representatives of 50 countries and managers of 87 energy companies are taking part in the forum.

Four closed-door sessions are scheduled for Tuesday on the oil market, the liquefied gas market, renewable energies, and energy governance.

"The current situation of the oil market does not serve any country, and Algeria is working to stabilize the market, and urges for the need to reach a comprehensive agreement to protect the interest of all countries," said Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal who opened the event.
MOGADISHU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's electoral body has postponed the nation's electoral process by a month.

The Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) said the presidential election will now take place on Nov. 30 while parliamentary elections will be held from Oct. 23 to Nov. 10 for both the Lower and Upper houses.

"The election of speakers of both houses of parliament will be held on Nov. 23," FIEIT chairman Omar Abdulle said in a statement released in Mogadishu on Monday evening.

Briefly, Abdulle noted the process was facing financial, security and political challenges among other several causes.

"Although substantial progress has been achieved on the electoral process, it seems some of the tasks cannot be completed based on the planned schedule, due to several impediments including political challenges, security, management of the electoral budget. The Election Dispute Resolution Mechanism has not yet commenced work. Some traditional elders haven't yet completed submission of a list of delegates," he said.

Failure by elders to submit lists of delegates who will elect members of the Lower House was also cited as a major obstacle by the electoral body.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud whose term expired Sept. 10 in line with the constitution was given a 50-day extension until Oct. 30 but will now have another full month in office.

According to UN Mission in Somalia, a three-day meeting between FIEIT members and chairpersons of the State Indirect Electoral Implementation Teams also agreed that the Election Dispute Resolution Mechanism should become operational by Oct. 8, in order to address complaints of irregularities related to the electoral process.

Presidents of the existing and emerging federal member states will be asked to submit the names of candidates for the Upper house of the federal parliament by Oct. 5.
JUBA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 31 people have been killed since January from cholera outbreak in South Sudan representing a case fatality rate of of 1.44 per cent, the UN children's fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UNICEF said in its latest report that a total of 2,143 cholera cases have been reported during the same period.

"The case fatality rate, currently at 1.44 per cent, remains substantially lower than last year, reflecting significant improvements in case management and timely referral," UNICEF said.

The current outbreak has been attributed to use of untreated water from the River Nile and water tankers, lack of household chlorination of drinking water, eating food from roadside food vendors or makeshift markets and open defecation/poor latrine use.

In Juba, cases spread rapidly following the eruption of fighting in July and access to clean water and safe food has become increasingly difficult as a result of rising costs due to continued devaluation of the South Sudanese Pound.

According to UNICEF, there has been an upsurge in the number of cholera cases reported in Mingkaman, though no new deaths have been reported.

UNICEF continues to support the cholera response in all affected states. Malnutrition remains a key concern, in particular in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, where the nutrition situation is now catastrophic.
NAIROBI, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's new maritime insurance law will save the country 250 million U.S. dollars annually, the insurance regulator said on Tuesday.

Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) CEO Sammy Makove told a media briefing in Nairobi that the law requires that all importers of goods into Kenya get insurance from companies registered in the country.

"Currently Kenyan's importers are exporting millions of dollars typically in hard currencies to foreign offshore insurance companies and industries," Makove said.

The new law which comes into effect from January 1, 2017 will be enforced by the Custom Services Department of the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that the country imported goods worth 15.7 billion dollars in 2015.

The CEO said that 90 percent of these imports are insured with offshore insurers despite Kenya having a strong and vibrant insurance industry.

IRA said that after the operationalization of the law, marine cargo insurance will emerge as a significant industry.
OSLO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in its history, Norway will have two surveillance vessels in the northern areas to monitor Russian activities, newspaper Aftenposten reported on Tuesday.

The new spy ship Marjata is to be positioned on the east side of the Barents Sea, where it will remain to monitor Russian activities, the report said.

Russia has "forcefully re-armed itself in the northern areas, established and re-established bases with new types of aircraft and vessels," and this is why the Norwegian Intelligence Service has expressed the need for more monitoring capacity, it said.

Norwegian officials said the original plan had been to replace the old ship, Eger, with the new one, but Eger will also join Marjata in a few months.

"We observe Russian activity in our neighborhood. There is a special need for monitoring in the Barents Sea," Lieutenant General Morten Haga Lunde, head of the military intelligence service E-tjenesten, told Aftenposten.

He said they wanted to be present "at several places, in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea," and the new ship had much better capacity than the old one.

Eger is to follow activity on the surface, like military and civilian transportation, risk transportation, as well as activity in the air and under water.

The new Marjata ship set sail in May, after being equipped with new material in the United States. The total price reached 1.5 billion kroner (184 million U.S. dollars). Eger will be furnished in Norway.

Eger will be based in Harstad and Marjata in Kirkenes.

Lunde said there was a budget increase for operating the two ships. "Only after we have properly used the new ship, will we know how much it costs to keep them in operation. I do not want to disclose the sums," he said.

The ships would be removed in the event of a real conflict and traditional war, but will be used "as long as it is justifiable" in the case of hybrid warfare, he added.
Iraqi police officers seal off the explosion site at the New Baghdad district, in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 27, 2016. The Islamic State (IS) group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for two suicide bomb attacks at busy commercial areas in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad that killed a total of 15 people and wounded 59 others, the group said in an online statement. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for two suicide bomb attacks at busy commercial areas in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad that killed a total of 15 people and wounded 59 others, the group said in an online statement.

One of the group's suicide bombers, nicknamed Abu Ayyub al-Iraqi, detonated his explosive vest at a crowd of Shiite people in New Baghdad district in eastern Baghdad, while another suicide bomber struck Baiyaa district in southern Baghdad, according to a brief statement, of which the authenticity could not be independently verified.

Earlier, a police source anonymously told Xinhua that one of the attacks occurred in the morning when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a busy commercial area near a post office in New Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding 29 others.

The massive blast destroyed several nearby shops and civilian cars, the source said.

Hours later, another suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up at a busy area in Baiyaa district in southern Baghdad, leaving up to eight people killed and some 30 others wounded, the source added.

Earlier, the source said that the suicide attack in Baiyaa left five people killed and 15 wounded citing initial report.

Following the two attacks, Baghdad authorities intensified security measures in checkpoints across the capital, and blocked several neighborhoods for fear of more deadly attacks, the source said.

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 U.S. that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday congratulated Colombia on signing a historic peace deal that ends 52 year of armed conflict in the South American country.

The agreement, signed on Monday by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon Jimenez, came after more than four years of negotiations.

"We extend our congratulations on the signing of this deal," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing, adding that this agreement, historical progress in Colombia's peace process, will bring the dawn of peace to its people and contribute to world peace and stability.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement or not, according to media reports, and recent opinion polls show a large majority were in favor of it.

China supports Colombia's peace process and hope that Colombia can realize a comprehensive peace at an early date and make greater achievements in development in the new epoch, Geng said.
Fishing boats berth at a port in Shishi, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 27, 2016. Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, is expected to move to the southern Fujian coast on Wednesday morning after it made landfall in coastal eastern Taiwan Tuesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- About 55,000 fishing boats from east China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have returned to port to take shelter from the approaching Typhoon Megi.

Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, has forced about 174,000 people in the two provinces move to safe places.

Megi made landfall at Hualien in eastern Taiwan about 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, disrupting traffic and leaving more than 1.9 million homes without power.

It is expected to make a second landfall in Fujian Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rain and gales to Fujian and neighboring provinces.

Schools in five cities in Fujian, including its provincial capital of Fuzhou, have been ordered to suspend classes in the next two or three days.

A total of 266 trains through Fujian will be canceled in the next two days while bus services are also affected. Over 150 flights at three major airports in Fujian have been canceled.

Hu Raowen, an official with the Zhejiang Provincial Headquarters of Flood Control and Drought Relief, said heavy rain could cause natural disasters and therefore precautions should be taken.

Last week, Meranti, the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, killed at least ten people in Zhejiang, with most casualties being caused by landslides and flash floods in rural areas.
JERUSALEM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The health condition of Israel's former President Shimon Peres seriously deteriorated on Tuesday, his doctor said.

The 93-year-old statesman has been in a "serious but stable condition" since he suffered a stroke on Sept. 13.

Over the last 24 hours, his condition worsened. "His condition is extremely serious," Rafi Walden, Peres' son-in-law and his personal physician, said in a short statement.

Doctors at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv, where Peres is being hospitalized, told Channel 10 TV news that his condition has "dramatically" deteriorated and there is a fear he might experience a renal and respiratory failure.

The recent update came after Peres' physicians gave an optimistic forecast last week, saying his condition has slightly improved.

Peres served as Israel's ninth president between 2007 and 2014.

He ran several times for the prime minister office but failed to gain enough votes. However, he served twice as the prime minister due to coalition agreements.

As a foreign minister in the government of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he took part in leading the peace accords that Israel signed with the Palestinians and Jordan in the 1990s.

In 1994, he won the Nobel Peace Prize together with Rabin and late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

After he stepped down as president, he remained active in the public sphere through his activities at the Peres Center for Peace, advocating for coexistence and peace between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East.
BRATISLAVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Strengthening the European defense system doesn't mean creating a European army, but rather strengthening cooperation between EU member states in order to be more effective, including cooperation with NATO, a top EU official said Tuesday.

"It's about using all the tools we have in order to strengthen our European capabilities in the defense area," European Union(EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said before the informal session of EU defense ministers taking place in Bratislava on Tuesday.

According to Mogherini, the majority of EU members don't see the creation of an EU army as necessary. They rather talk about better use of means already available to the EU.

Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) Jens Stoltenberg will also take part in the deliberations led by Mogherini.

"I welcome discussions about the strengthening of European defense and safety, since there is no contradiction between a strong European defense and strong NATO, rather it strengthens the two institutions," said Stoltenberg. However, there is a need to avoid duplicating services, he added.

At his meeting with EU defense ministers, Stoltenberg will also discuss the implementation of the Warsaw Declaration adopted at the July NATO summit that talks about cooperation between NATO and the EU.

EU defense ministers met in Bratislava on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of defense aspects of the EU's global strategy in the field of foreign and security policy, as well as joint procedure vis-a-vis hybrid threats and cyber security. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini is heading the talks.
BEIRUT, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army said Tuesday that its units killed an Islamic State (IS) group militant in an exchange of gunfire in the northern region of Akkar.

Moustafa Mohammed al-Ahmed, who opened gunfire at the army troops when they were trying to arrest him for belonging to the IS group, was shot dead when the army fired back, the Army Guidance Directorate said in a statement.

Ahmad was reportedly operating in the northeastern region of Lebanon for IS.
ALEPPO, Syria, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- It has never occurred to a computer programmer or an accountant, that one day life can pull them out from behind their desks to put them behind the enemy lines.

In the northern city of Aleppo, which is so important that the battles there are compared to Stalingrad which turned the tide of World War II, many civilians have abandoned their normal lives to become soldiers.

What is unique about Aleppo, however, is that many of those soldiers are fighting to defend their own neighborhoods, which were turned by the Syrian crisis into a frontline.

"Before the crisis, I was a computer programmer, but after the eruption of the war, the situation has become so bad and I had to defend my family and my neighborhood," Hisham, a soldier and a father of four, told Xinhua.

Hisham said he has been a solider for five years, since the beginning of the crisis, adding that he still lives in his original neighborhood, which has become adjacent to a rebel-held area in old Aleppo, which was a popular attraction for tourists.

"I have volunteered and become the officer in charge of a checkpoint here in the old city of Aleppo, and my family lives with me here."

The 40-year-old man said he misses his old life while remembering how good it was when he was a computer programmer.

"I really wish an end to this war; I want to return to my old life, I miss it."

Instead of writing computer codes, Hisham now writes the names, and organizes the entry and exit of civilians to his neighborhood in Bab al-Faraj area, including the families of the soldiers who fight inside.

"The families of the soldiers fighting on the frontline usually come to see their sons, and my job is to organize their entry and ensure their safety," he said.

His comrade, Ahmad Abdeen, used to be a state employee at the Culture Directorate, and has become a soldier when the rebels stormed his neighborhood and raided his home.

"I was an employee, but when the rebels attacked my neighborhood, I was told that they wanted me because I am a state servant and they have raided my home several times," he said.

Abdeen, a 50-year-old father of three, said he had rented a home near the military position where he is serving.

"I go home everyday and return to the frontline as if am still an employee, but instead of having a desk and files to work on, I have a chair and a rifle here."

Sometimes his family would show up at his position when the situation is calm to spend more time with him.

"One day my family slept with me here near my barrack, and at 4:00 am three rockets slammed nearby. I didn't know what to do, I rushed to take them to safety but it was too dangerous, so I had to take cover and wait for an hour before speeding up to them," he recounted.

Those were soldiers who have chosen to fight to protect their homes, and they are older than the usual age of conscripts.

Alaa is a conscript, whose military service coincided with the eruption of the Syrian war five years ago.

The 26-years-old was an accountant and now a soldier on the frontline.

"I have been here for five years, I am indispensable to the army as I know every detail and every curve in the old city," he said.

"My dream was to make good money to get married, and I was working hard, but now I am here."

Alaa said he has become accustomed to his new life; everything about war has become normal for him.

Still, he wishes the war could be over to get married to the girl he has proposed to a few months ago.

"Even though I miss my old life, but it is what it is, I am here now and I am coping with the situation, if the war is over it will be great, but if it takes longer, I will get married and try to live as normal as possible," he said.

Those soldiers are still maintaining a personal life despite being in what is considered as the most dangerous place in the world.

Aleppo had seen a brief truce a couple of weeks ago, but the international tension between Russia and the United States ended the truce without extending it.

Earlier this week, the Syrian army announced a major offensive against rebel-held areas in Aleppo, with government officials and President Bashar al-Assad pledging to restore the entire city from the rebels.

Aleppo has a strategic importance for the warring parties due to its location near the Turkish border, and being Syria's largest province, and once the economic hub of Syria.

The old quarter of the city is the historic center of Aleppo, which was constructed during the 12th to 16th century.

During the Syrian war, around 70 percent of old city, which has become divided between the Syrian government forces and the rebels, have been destroyed.
GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) urged states on Tuesday to protect access to medical care in conflicts after releasing findings of attacks on two medical facilities run or supported by the charity in war-torn Yemen.

"Whilst there are significant differences in the circumstances surrounding each incident, in both cases, the bombings hit fully functioning health facilities and the protected nature of the medical mission was not respected," MSF said in a statement ahead of a United Nations Security Council session on the protection of medical missions.

"The details of the incidents documented in these two reports are unambiguous indicators of how war is being waged in Yemen, where there is an utter disregard for civilian life by all warring parties," it added.

The attacks, which were acknowledged by the Saudi Led Coalition (SLC), hit a hospital in Abs, Hajjah governorate on Aug. 15, 2016 and a MSF clinic in Taiz city on Dec. 2, 2015.

The GPS coordinates of both facilities had been shared with the SLC. MSF logos had also been clearly displayed.

The airstrikes resulted in the death of 20 people, mostly patients, while a further 32 were wounded.

The bombings also had long-term repercussions as civilians living in precarious conditions were left without access to healthcare and medical facilities.

The attack on Abs hospital also led to MSF having to withdraw from six hospitals in northern Yemen in light of the security situation.

"MSF urges the UN Security Council members to take bold and practical steps in tomorrow's meeting to ensure that 2016 is the last year that hospitals are massively bombed while the world watches in silence."

"MSF reiterates its call for all warring parties to uphold the principles of humanitarian law which protect civilians as well as medical facilities, patients and staff, and thus reduce the massive human cost that has characterised this conflict," it added.

The reports come almost one year after the U.S. army bombed a MSF hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz, an incident which resulted in 42 fatalities.
Image provided by the Colombian Presidency shows Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez attending the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Juan Pablo Bello/Colombian Presidency)

By Chris Dalby

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept. 26 -- After over five decades of war, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander in chief Timoleon Jimenez met here to start a new chapter in the country's history.

On Monday afternoon, the oldest conflict in Latin America was consigned to the history books when the two men signed the peace agreement, finalized last month in Havana.

Accompanied by the presidents of Cuba, Ecuador and other Latin American countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the two men then signed the agreement with pens made from bullets to symbolize the transition to peace.

"We have lived, we have suffered, for 52 years, an armed conflict between the sons of the same nation," said Santos in his address. "Today, Colombia and the international community ... hail the peace agreement as the best news in a world convulsed by war, conflict, intolerance and terrorism."

In a gesture to the FARC, Santos said that "when you begin your path of return to society, when you begin your transition to a political movement without weapons ... as head of state of a nation we all love, I welcome you to democracy. To change bullets for votes, weapons for ideas, is the bravest and most intelligent decision that any subversive group can take. You will hear the call of history."

Santos acknowledged that future political challenges await. "We will surely never agree on the political or economic model our country should follow," he said, referring to the FARC. "But I will defend with all my determination your right to express your ideas within a democratic setting. This is the essence of liberty."

Speaking before Santos, Jimenez had taken a conciliatory approach, pledging that the country's largest guerrilla group would lay down its arms for good.

"Let nobody doubt that we will enter politics without weapons. Let us all be ready to disarm our minds and our hearts," he said. "With the agreement we signed today, we hope to put an end to the long history of violence that has made our country bleed."

In a much anticipated moment, Jimenez formally apologized for all the violence caused by the FARC during the conflict. "I would like to ask for forgiveness for all the pain that we have caused during the war."

However, he also articulated the peace agreement as a victory for the FARC's aims. "Let it be known that the FARC tried in all ways to spare Colombia a prolonged conflict. This is a victory for the entire Colombian people and the international community," said Jimenez.

This day comes after over four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba. The two sides came to an agreement on five points: rural development, the participation of the FARC in political life, the end of the conflict, the struggle against drug trafficking and reparations to victims.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement or not. Recent opinion polls show a large majority in favor of supporting it.

However, the future remains tense for the country. During the ceremony on Monday, former president Alvaro Uribe led a march of over 2,000 people in Cartagena to reject the agreement. Uribe believes the agreement is too beneficial to the FARC, providing them with impunity for past crimes.

Banners reading "No more FARC, no more Santos, no to the peace agreements" were waved in the Zapatos Viejos park.

Uribe's right-wing party, Democratic Center, has become the flag-bearer for the campaign to reject the peace deal. Uribe is hopeful that the population will decide the deal is too favorable to the FARC.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez attend the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

According to Uribe's "No" campaign, a rejection of the peace deal does not mean a rejection of peace altogether. Speaking to the press on Friday, Uribe said that "the agreement gives them an open amnesty for very serious crimes such as drug trafficking ... and other crimes against humanity, such as the rape of little girls."

His chances of success appear slim, however, since 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.

Furthermore, other conflicts remain to be settled. While the National Liberation Army (ELN) has said it will hold a ceasefire until the Oct. 2 vote and while early talks have begun for a peace process with this group, attacks may still occur.

However, during a visit to the FARC's jungle stronghold last week for its Tenth National Guerrilla Conference, Xinhua found an optimistic mood among the group's members.

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."

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.

Harvey Arenas, commander of a FARC squad, told Xinhua that "our fight sought the well-being of all Colombian people, for democracy and social justice."

"We are not afraid to leave the weapons. We took up arms, not because we wanted to, but because they forced us to. We always wanted a peaceful solution ... but that door was closed to us," said Arenas.

Others plan on remaining faithful to their group's orders, even in peace time. "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.

However, one of their major preoccupations continues to be the threat of paramilitary attacks from right-wing groups.

In the months ahead, the FARC members will have to gather in 23 security zones across the country, where they will lay down their weapons, under supervision by the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations.

Once this takes place, the FARC will give the government a list of all combatants present in each zone. Most of them will see all charges and arrest warrants against them dropped as part of the amnesty process. Others, facing more serious charges, will be able to avoid jail sentences if they come forward and confess, although they will face restrictions of liberty. Those who do not will be treated as criminals and prosecuted under the law.

The months ahead will certainly test this peace agreement. As fighters come down from the jungle to lay down their weapons in the security zones, their enemies may feel it is their chance to strike. Segments of the Colombian population who vote against the agreement may seek other ways to derail the peace process. President Santos will face re-election in 2018, and should another party win, peace might be at risk.

However, this evening, Colombia stopped being a country at war and became an example for the world.
People wait for the signature ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

BOGOTA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At 5 p.m. Monday afternoon (2200 GMT), the oldest civil conflict in Latin America will be consigned to history books when Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader, Timoleon Jimenez, sign a peace agreement, finalized last month in Havana.

The two men will mark the historic moment at a ceremony in the port city of Cartagena, in the company of a number of world leaders and around 2,500 people.

Ahead of the moment, reactions have poured in from across the region.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa spoke to the press at Quito airport on Monday before leaving for the ceremony, saying that "we have been invited by President Juan Manuel Santos, for a historic moment of joy for Colombia, for Ecuador, for Latin America and the entire world."

"President Santos and Colombia know they can count on our total, unrestricted, absolute, unconditional support," he vowed.

Additionally, he said that Ecuador and Colombia have been coordinating for months to work together to face any potential problems arising during the peace process, including the disarmament of the guerrilla group.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, who will also attend, said at an event on Sunday that he would go "to Cartagena to bring the spirit of (Hugo) Chavez. I go there to bring the voice of Venezuela."

Bolivia's President Evo Morales took to Twitter to express his happiness, saying that "it is possible to make a revolution with votes, not with bullets, with the conscience of the people and not with weapons."

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, speaking to the press upon arrival in Cartagena on Monday, highlighted the role Chile played as an accompanying country to the peace talks in Havana.

The conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC started in the 1960s as an uprising for land rights. It has left about 220,000 people dead and millions displaced.

Image provided by the Colombian Presidency shows Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez attending the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Juan Pablo Bello/Colombian Presidency)

According to Bachelet, Chile has played a very active role in the process that led to the end of the conflict in Colombia.

"We will continue to help the transition toward peace in Colombia through our new role in the search of an agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN)," she said.

"Chile has 75 personnel, from the army and police, in the (disarmament) verification zones. Furthermore, we will act as a guarantor country in the negotiations with the ELN," continued Bachelet.

Talks between Colombia and ELN, the country's second-largest guerrilla group after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), began in March.

In a positive step for these negotiations, the ELN on Sunday announced it would hold a ceasefire until Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to approve the FARC peace deal.

ELN commander, Pablo Beltran, gave an interview with the group's media wing, Ranpal, to explain that the group would not pressure the people during the vote.

"We are not pushing or stopping the people from voting. Each one is free, which is why there will be no offensive actions by the ELN in these days...to allow the participation of the people," said Beltran.

Beltran, who is one of the negotiators in the early peace talks with the government, said the ELN is not against the peace agreement with the FARC.

"We respect the agreement, there are things we do not like, but we are not an obstacle. Making criticisms does not mean we are against it," added the rebel leader.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez attend the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

BOGOTA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel group, on Monday signed a historic peace deal that seeks to end 52-year armed conflict in the South American country.

The deal, signed by President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez -- the nom de guerre for Rodrigo Londono -- in Colombia's Cartagena was finalized in the Cuban capital of Havana on Aug. 24.

In a plebiscite scheduled to take place on Oct. 2, Colombians will vote on whether they support the agreement or not.

The following is a chronology of Colombia's peace process over the past four years.

2012:

On Nov. 6, the government and rebel negotiators met face to face in Havana to lay the groundwork for peace talks.

On Nov. 19, the FARC marked the start of the historic talks by announcing a unilateral two-month ceasefire to begin on Nov. 20 and end on Jan. 20, 2013.

The next day, Colombia's then Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon announced government security forces would continue to strike rebel targets despite the ceasefire.

2013:

On Jan. 21, a round of negotiations began between the government and the FARC and the group ended the ceasefire.

On May 26, a partial agreement was reached on agricultural development, one of the six points on the agenda.

On Nov. 6, a second partial agreement was reached on the political participation of former guerrillas.

2014:

On May 16, a partial agreement was reached on a solution to the fight against drug trafficking.

On June 15, President Santos was re-elected for four years with 50.9 percent of the vote after an intense campaign in which he pledged to seal a peace agreement.

On July 15, negotiations began concerning the victims of the conflict, surrounding three important themes: reparations, truth and justice.

On Aug. 21, the Historical Commission on the Conflict and Its Victims was formed.

On Nov. 16, talks were suspended after the FARC's 34th Front kidnapped Colombian General Ruben Dario Alzate.

On Nov. 30, General Alzate was released, along with two other hostages.

Image provided by Colombia's Presidency shows Cuban President Raul Castro (C), Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L) and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC, for its acronym in Spanish), Timoleon Jimenez (R), a.k.a. "Timoshenko", shaking hands during a ceremony to unveil an Agreement on Special Jurisdiction for Peace between the government of Colombia and the FARC, in Havana, capital of Cuba, on Sept. 23, 2015. (Xinhua/Cesar Carrion/Colombia's Presidency)

2015:

On Feb. 12: the FARC announced it would cease recruiting children under 17 into its ranks.

On March 7, the government and the FARC reached an agreement on a demining campaign to be carried out by the Colombian army, with the help of Norway.

On March 10, President Santos announced bombings of FARC bases would stop for a month.

On April 15, FARC members attacked an army unit in the southwestern department of Cauca, killing 11 soldiers. The government resumed bombing the campaign, leaving 26 rebels dead.

On May 23, the FARC declared an end to its unilateral truce.

On June 5, the Truce Commission was created to establish responsibility for crimes against humanity during the conflict.

On July 20, the FARC declared a new unilateral truce.

On July 25, Santos re-ordered suspension of the bombing campaign against the FARC.

On Sept. 17, the FARC announced their willingness to become a mainstream political movement.

On Sept. 23, President Santos and FARC leader Londono met in Havana. They signed a transitional justice agreement and stated that the peace agreement would be finalized by March 23, 2016.

On Oct. 17, negotiators agreed to work on a mechanism to alleviate the suffering of the families of the missing and agreed to exchange information about the victims of the conflict.

On Dec. 12, the government and the FARC announced that an agreement had been reached on the victims of the conflict. The guerrilla group agreed to apologize for its actions.

People take part in a ceremony during which Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos delivers the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to the congress in Bogota, Columbia, Aug. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Jhon Paz)

2016:

n Jan. 18, the Colombian government pardoned 30 FARC guerrilla fighters.

On Feb. 4, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would ask the U.S. Congress for more than 450 million U.S. dollars in aid for Colombia's peace process, through a new program named "Peace Colombia."

On March 1, Santos and Londono were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The winner will be announced on Oct. 7.

On March 22, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with the Colombian government and FARC negotiators in Cuba.

On June 22, the government and the FARC announced a deal on a definitive bilateral ceasefire, marking a major step towards ending the half-century conflict.

On June 23, Santos and Londono met in Cuba to sign a bilateral ceasefire.

On Aug. 24, a final peace agreement was reached and Santos addressed the nation to declare the war is over and that the Colombian people will vote in a plebiscite scheduled for Oct. 2 on whether to accept or reject the agreement.

On Aug. 25, President Santos delivered the definitive agreement with the FARC to Congress along with the report calling for a plebiscite.

On Aug. 30, President Santos announced the question that Colombians would need to reply "Yes" or "No" to in the plebiscite on Oct. 2 in order to approve or disapprove the agreement reached. "Do you support the final accord to end the conflict and build stable and lasting peace?"

On Sept. 17, the FARC began its 10th and final guerrilla conference, where the approval of the peace treaty was ratified.

On Sept. 25, the National Liberation Army, the country's second-largest guerrilla group, committed to establishing a unilateral ceasefire to guarantee that all Colombians are able to go out to vote peacefully on Oct. 2.
Building of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seen in this picture taken in Hague of the Netherlands on March 4, 2009.(Xinhua/Wu Wei)

THE HAGUE, Sep. 27 (Xinhua) -- The trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Tuesday convicted Islamic extremist Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi to nine years imprisonment for orchestrating the destruction of historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali.

The judges unanimously issued the landmark judgment. The Al Mahdi case was the first ICC case about the destruction of buildings dedicated to religion and historical monuments and on Tuesday Al Mahdi also became the first to be convicted for the attacks on cultural heritage.

After the ICC issued his arrest warrant, Al Mahdi was surrendered to ICC detention one year ago. Wearing a grey suit and striped tie, Al Mahdi heard his verdict on Tuesday in the courtroom in The Hague. Last month he already pleaded guilty and said to be "really sorry" for his actions and to have entered the guilty plea with "deep regret and great pain".

Al Mahdi was held responsible for intentionally directing attacks against historic monuments and buildings dedicated to religion, including nine mausoleums and one mosque in Timbuktu, Mali, committed between about June 30, 2012 and July 11, 2012.

According to the ICC, Al Mahdi was a member of Ansar Eddine, an Islamist group associated with Al Qaeda that occupied Timbuktu for months. He allegedly was head of the Hisbah section, that enforced strict Islamic law in the city.
Towers of the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao, are seen in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 27, 2016. A ceremony was held Tuesday in Zhuhai to celebrate completion of the 55-km cross-sea route and beginning of the assembly of the bridge floor and related work. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

GUANGZHOU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The major construction work on the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao, was completed Tuesday.

A ceremony was held in Zhuhai to celebrate completion of the 55-km cross-sea route and to mark the start of road surfacing and related work.

"This means construction has entered its final stage," said Zhu Yongling, head of the administration bureau of the bridge.

More than 400,000 tonnes of steel have been used for the 6.7-km undersea tunnel and 22.9-km bridge, enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers.

British newspaper "The Guardian" named the megastructure one of its "seven wonders of the modern world near completion."

Construction began in December 2009 at Zhuhai. The Y-shaped bridge starts from Lantau Island in Hong Kong with branches to Zhuhai and Macao.

The bridge will cut travel time from Hong Kong to both Zhuhai and Macao from the current three hours by road or one hour by sea to a half hour drive, Zhu said.

Before the project, the 36.48-km-long bridge across the mouth of the Jiaozhou Bay in eastern Shandong Province was considered the world's longest cross-sea bridge.

MILESTONE

Su Quanke, chief engineer with the administration bureau of the bridge, said the project has made history in many aspects.

Located near the airports of Hong Kong and Macao and over one of the world's busiest shipping routes, where more than 4,000 vessels pass by every day, the project could not interfere with the daily operations of the vessels and the airplanes nearby. Maritime protection was also important as the construction region is overlapped with the reserve of Chinese white dolphins, an endangered species that enjoys top level state protection.

"The special position and the super-long status of the project were challenges," he said.

According to Su, this was the first time China has built an immersed tube tunnel in open waters. Two artificial islands made of steel pillars were created to connect the bridge, the first time this process has ever been used.

With a series of world advanced anti-erosion and earthquake-resistant measures, the bridge can be operational for 120 years, he said.

Major parts, including bridge deck units, piers, girders and steel tubes, were produced at plants and then assembled piece by piece on the water with large floating cranes.

Luo Jinhong, a section manager of the project, recalled when the dolphin-shaped bridge tower, weighing up to 2,786 tonnes, was assembled.

"Two floating cranes, with a load capacity of 3,200 tonnes and 2,300 tonnes respectively, worked together to lift and roll the tower, setting a world record," he said.

"If it were not for the progress of 'Made in China,' we couldn't possibly have realized the construction in such a short a time, considering the maximum load capacity of a floating crane was only 100 tonnes 15 years ago," he added.

To build the bridge, China Railway Shanhaiguan Bridge Group purchased two loaders, costing up to 130 million yuan (nearly 20 million U.S. dollars) each. It envisages future opportunities to use the loaders after the project.

"No matter whether we work in the domestic or international market, we are fully confident," Wang Shuzhi, project manager of the group.

Chief engineer Su said the bridge construction project profiles advances in machine manufacturing, new materials, new technology and new skills.

"The 'China technology' and 'China standard' set by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will influence the world market," said chief engineer Su.
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces have completed major operations against the armed groups in the country, the military said Tuesday.

The army spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa told a news conference in Peshawar that North Waziristan has been cleared of the militants and the repatriation of all displaced persons will also be completed in November this year.

Bajwa, who attended a special operational meeting presided over by the Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, said the forces are now mainly focusing on the border management with Afghanistan to curb the illegal cross-border movement.

He said nearly 20 check posts have been set up along the Afghan border and raised paramilitary the Frontier Corps.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have around 2,600 km of border, mostly porous, and the militants would earlier take advantage of the weak border control.

"Border management will only be effective if Afghanistan also plays a responsible role," Bajwa said.

Talking about the air and ground operation launched recently in a mountainous region Rajgal in Khyber tribal agency, he said the mountains have been cleared of terrorists and the Pakistani Army is in full control of the Pak-Afghan border in the region.

Rajgal was one of the main routes for the moment of the militants to cross both sides of the border in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

To a question he said the security forces unearthed and averted 14 terrorist attacks in different parts of the country over the past few months.

He also said 1,470 combing operations have been conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal regions since July 1 this year to control the menace of terrorism.

He said seven facilitators of Taliban-claimed suicide attacks on Christian Colony in Peshawar and District Courts Mardan this month have been arrested.
ALGIERS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Iran seemed to diverge over the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) informal meeting due on Wednesday, making less possible an oil output freezing deal by then.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Fatih said his country would be committed to supporting any agreement between OPEC members as he spoke to reporters Tuesday on the margins of the 15th International Energy Forum in Algiers.

He further avoided the question whether his country would accept to freeze or reduce oil output to help boosting the global market.

Instead, he expressed optimism about the possibility that the informal meeting of OPEC in Algeria would reach "a positive agreement."

Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters that his country is not in favor of a formal decision by OPEC to freeze oil outputs.

He said Iran would prefer the informal meeting of the cartel's members to be limited on consultations, while a final decision should be made during a formal OPEC meeting in Vienna due in November.

Algeria has been calling upon Iran and Saudi Arabia to reduce their oil outputs in order to restore balance to the fluctuating market.

The Iranian minister added that his country is seeking to produce four million barrels per day in the short term to regain its 13 percent share within OPEC.

Iran's current production reportedly stays at 3.6 million barrels per day.

Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa said the informal meeting of OPEC would be a major opportunity to overcome differences between OPEC and non-OPEC members in ultimately reaching a decision to stabilize the market.
BRUSSELS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said the development of European defence should be complementary to NATO and avoid duplication.

According to a statement published on NATO's website after an informal European Union(EU) Defence Ministers meeting in Bratislava, Stoltenberg stressed the importance of implementing the Joint NATO-EU declaration, which was signed in the margins of the Warsaw Summit.

"I also welcome the debate which is now taking place on how to strengthen the European defence and European defence cooperation," said Stoltenberg in the joint statement with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

"There is no contradiction between strong European defence and a strong NATO," he said, adding "the importance is that we avoid duplication, that it is complimentary".

During the meeting in Bratislava, Stoltenberg met with EU Defence Ministers to discuss stronger cooperation between NATO and EU.
BRUSSELS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday condemned the attacks on Aleppo and stressed the importance of a diplomatic solution for Syria, according to NATO's press release.

Stoltenberg spoke of the situation in Syria at a press conference following an informal EU defense ministers meeting in Bratislava.

"The appalling attacks on Aleppo have shaken all of us and the violence and the attacks we have seen also on an aid convoy is morally totally unacceptable," he said.

He underlined the importance of finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria.

At least 20 civilians were killed, as well as an aid worker with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in an attack that targeted the convoy in Aleppo last week.
BELGRADE, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Serbia is developing a strategy to double its foreign exchange inflow in the next four years by attracting more foreign tourists and developing more tourist destinations, said tourism minister Rasim Ljajic here Tuesday.

Ljajic made the statement at the World Tourism Day celebration in Belgrade. In his speech, Ljajic announced the Serbian government would adopt a tourism development strategy in the next month so as to define further development in this area.

He revealed that one of the key topics would be to expand the tourist offer that has so far traditionally been oriented to only five destinations where the majority of foreign tourists visited -- Belgrade, Novi Sad, Mount Kopaonik, Mount Zlatibor and Vrnjacka Banja Spa.

Ljajic explained that 72 percent of foreign tourists in Serbia visit these five destinations and that "it is necessary to expand the tourist offer...because Serbia has much to offer."

He said Serbia registers an annual 6.6 million overnight stays by tourists coming mostly from countries of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as well as Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Greece, and this injects an additional 2.5 billion U.S. dollars into country's economy.

However, the plan is to increase the number of overnight stays to 9.6 million per year in the next four years which would, according to Ljajic, increase the turnover from tourism from 2.5 to 3.7 billion U.S. dollars, and thus double the foreign exchange inflow from 1.1 to 2.2 billion U.S. dollars.

"In order to achieve this, we will need a clear plan," Ljajic said, appealing to representatives of local municipalities to prepare tourist projects to be funded by the government.

He said next year would be dedicated to the promotion of the country's attractive destinations along the Danube River.

The aim of having a World Tourism Day on the United Nations' calendar is to highlight tourism potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and raise awareness about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

This year's theme is "Tourism for all: promoting universal accessibility".
TEHRAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran will continue its unwavering support for Syria in the fight against terrorism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said here on Tuesday, according to Tasnim news agency.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep assisting Syria in the fight against terrorism and in the establishment of security in the region," Rouhani said at a meeting with the visiting Speaker of the People's Council of Syria Hadiya Khalaf Abbas.

Such a support for Syria is based upon Iran's deeply-held belief that terrorism is a serious threat to the region and the world, he was quoted as saying.

Iran also supports territorial integrity of regional countries, including Syria, and is against any change in the borders across the region, he said.

For her part, the Syrian speaker hailed Iran for backing Syria since the outset of civil crisis in 2011.

The Syrian nation is the only entity entitled to decide the fate of their country, Abbas said, adding that if the big powers want to help the Syrians, they'd better to stem terrorism out the country.

Abbas arrived in Tehran on Monday at the invitation of Iranian Parliament (Mjlis) Speaker Ali Larijani.

Last week, Rouhani rebuffed the U.S. no-fly zone proposal over Syria, saying that only the terrorist groups would benefit from the enforcement of a no-fly zone over the country.

Iran, a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against militant groups, has repeatedly acknowledged the presence of its military advisers in the Arab state.

Reportedly, the five-year conflicts in Syria have claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 people, injured two million, and displaced over 20 million others.
A Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber is seen during the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2015. (Xinhua/File Photo)

MOSCOW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry denied on Tuesday reports that the country's warplanes had performed dangerous maneuvers near an Icelandic civilian plane over the Norwegian Sea.

Such reports are no more than "the fruit of their imagination," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

On Monday, the Icelandic Foreign Ministry complained that three Tu-160 bombers flew between 6,000 and 9,000 feet (1,800-2,700 meters) below a civilian plane flying from Reykjavik to Stockholm on Thursday.

The Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers performed a regular aerial patrol mission over the north-eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, said the spokesman, without specifying the number of bombers participating in the mission.
Egyptian rescue workers arrive on a boat carrying bodies of migrants, during a search operation after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta on September 23, 2016. (AFP/Xinhua)

CAIRO, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Egypt picked up the recently sunken migrant boat on Tuesday with extra 26 bodies found inside to raise the death toll to 195 so far, state-run Al-Ahram official news website reported.

The vessel capsized last week off Egypt's northern coast of Rosetta city of Beheira province, carrying hundreds of passengers, mostly Egyptians, seeking to illegally migrate to Italy.

Some 164 passengers have been rescued from the tragic vessel, according to official MENA news agency.

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.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi urged in a recent speech "both the state and the society" for joining efforts to face the phenomenon of illegal migration.

"Why do you leave your country? Is there no work in Egypt? I assure you there are job opportunities here," said the Egyptian president in his speech addressing the youth who seek migration to Europe through illegal means.

In a previous meeting with a minor security committee including the prime minister, the interior minister and the general intelligence chief, Sisi ordered tougher security measures and deterrent punishments against smugglers to limit illegal migration.

An anti-illegal-migration bill had already been presented by the government to the parliament for soon approval.

On Monday, the Egyptian authorities arrested the boat owner as they arrested some members of the capsized boat crew last week over human trafficking charges.

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.
ABC/Randy HolmesElton John is no stranger to the London theater world, having written music for West End shows like Billy Elliot, and now he'll be helping honor some of theater's best when he co-hosts the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Sponsored by British newspaper the Evening Standard, the annual ceremony has been held for the past 62 years, honoring outstanding achievement in London theater, from small productions to major West End shows.

This year's ceremony will be held on November 13 at London's Old Vic theater. Sir Elton will co-host the affair with the Standard's owner, Evgeny Lebedev.



"The London stage has nurtured and given a creative voice for many, many talented individuals and it's such a great honor for me to co-host these illustrious Theatre Awards at The Old Vic this year," says Elton in a statement to the paper.

By the way, Billy Elliot the Musical won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for best musical in 2005.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
TEHRAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran will continue its unwavering support for Syria in the fight against terrorism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said here on Tuesday, according to Tasnim news agency.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep assisting Syria in the fight against terrorism and in the establishment of security in the region," Rouhani said at a meeting with the visiting Speaker of the People's Council of Syria Hadiya Khalaf Abbas.

Such a support for Syria is based upon Iran's deeply-held belief that terrorism is a serious threat to the region and the world, he was quoted as saying.

Iran also supports territorial integrity of regional countries, including Syria, and is against any change in the borders across the region, he said.

For her part, the Syrian speaker hailed Iran for backing Syria since the outset of civil crisis in 2011.

The Syrian nation is the only entity entitled to decide the fate of their country, Abbas said, adding that if the big powers want to help the Syrians, they'd better to stem terrorism out of the country.

Abbas arrived in Tehran on Monday at the invitation of Iranian Parliament (Mjlis) Speaker Ali Larijani.

Last week, Rouhani rebuffed the U.S. no-fly zone proposal over Syria, saying that only the terrorist groups would benefit from the enforcement of a no-fly zone over the country.

Besides, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani on Tuesday criticized what he called double standards of the United States and the West in the fight against terrorism in Syria, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Shamkhani also blamed the United States for its alleged political and military support for terrorist groups in Syria.

The main reason for the failure of political and diplomatic initiatives, and even ceasefire opportunities, for Syria is to avoid accepting the terrorist nature of many armed groups and extremists by the United States and its allies, Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with Abbas.

He hailed the recent victories of the Syrian government and armed forces, as well as the Syrian people's resistance against terrorists and their supporters.

Shamkhani underlined that the future of Aleppo and other Syrian lands will be determined solely through powerful confrontations with the terrorist groups.

Besides, the only way to end the current crisis in Syria is political dialogue among the Syrian political groups, he said, adding that "strong will of the Syrian people will determine the future of the country."

Abbas, for her part, appreciated Iran's humanitarian and advisory aids to Syria to confront terrorism and to defend towns and villages, saying that "if some Arabic countries had taken honest approaches to solve Syria's crisis, we would never have faced such a critical situation in the region today."

"Syria is gaining victories in different fronts everyday, and every victory marks a step closer to overcoming the crisis," she stressed.

On Monday, Iran's Majlis speaker Ali Larijani held some regional countries and world powers liable for the ongoing crisis in Syria, saying that terrorism must be fought in practice and on the ground and not on paper, according to Press TV.

"The fight against terrorism will not be possible through statements and genuine measures must be carried out in practice," Larijani said in a meeting with Abbas.

He criticized Saudi Arabia for what he said its support for some militant groups in Syria, adding that "Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia has created many problems in the region and is not behaving correctly."

The Islamic republic has always contended that the crisis in Syria can be solved through political approaches, he said.

Larijani reiterated Iran's support for Syria in its fight against terrorism and restoring security in the country.

"Iran and Syria, as two important and major countries in the region and the Muslim world which enjoy rich civilizations and history, have profound and strategic ties," he stressed.

Also, Abbas said that the U.S. recent airstrikes against the Syrian army indicated Washington's support for terrorism and that the United States is pursuing double-standard policies in Syria.

Iran, a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against militant groups, has repeatedly acknowledged the presence of its military advisers in the Arab state.

Iran, a major regional ally of the Syrian government in its fight against militant groups, has repeatedly acknowledged the presence of its military advisers in the Arab state.

Reportedly, the five-year conflicts in Syria have claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 people, injured two million, and displaced over 20 million others.
Picture shows the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, collectively known as the Belt and Road initiative. (Xinhua)

by Xinhua Writer Liu Chang

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative is an important contribution toward achieving long-term global stability and economic equality, said Robert Kuhn, a U.S. expert on China.

During a recent interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of an international seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative in the northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an, the old China hand said because of economic inequalities, ideological and religious reasons as well as bloody conflicts, the world appears to be worsening.

"If people have no material benefits, then they have nothing to lose, and therefore they will go into more extreme activities," he warned.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a very important contribution to the stability of the world because it deals with areas of the world where there is the most instability," he said.

The initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. It brings together countries in Asia, Europe and Africa via overland and maritime networks.

Kuhn said that because the world is unbalanced in term of social and economic development, the initiative can meet the desperate needs for infrastructure and help raise the living standards in countries that get involved with the new Silk Road program.

In answering a question on the most notable achievement of the initiative over the past three years, he believes it is the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

He said the bank "will bring world's best practices" and "meet the highest standards of project analysis, regulatory conformance and anti-corruption -- all the things that are necessary for world class standards."

Speaking of future challenges, Kuhn said political instability is the greatest risk confronting the world, yet he warns that it "shouldn't deter us and make us afraid to go forward."

"The biggest antidote to that kind of poison is to make sure that all the projects are structured in the best and most professional way, and structured financially so that the stream of revenue in the future matches the financing," he added.

On China-U.S. relations and the on-going U.S. elections, Kuhn said relations between the world's top two economies are no doubt the most important bilateral relationship in the world and will continue to be in the future.

He believes that it is "categorically wrong" to believe that if something bad happens to the United States, it would benefit China. "If the economy of either country fails, the other would suffer severely."

Commenting on the phenomenon of China-bashing in the heat of the U.S. presidential race, the expert said whoever gets elected in the end, he or she must recognize that the best way forward is to seek cooperation.

"China and the United States have to get over the fact that some very small differences, like the trade issues, are so minor compared to working together to achieve stability in the world," he added.
BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The recent restoration of a section of the Great Wall, which left part of the landmark in northeast China nearly unrecognizable, was done without any conservation for the original features, an investigator said Tuesday, while defending the decision to approve the repair plan.

In a press conference held in Beijing, Lu Qiong, a deputy director with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) who is in charge of preservation and archaeological studies, admitted that incomplete records and inadequate discussions prior to the work had resulted in the substandard restoration.

However, Lu underscored, the approval procedures were in line with regulations, and the contractors were fully qualified.

Chinese netizens rained criticism on officials this month over the smoothing-over of a crumbling but much-loved 700-year-old section of the Great Wall.

Pictures of the paved-over section triggered public outcry, with many complaining about the appearance, which resulted in a state cultural heritage watchdog investigation.

The nine-kilometer section in Suizhong County, Liaoning Province, was sometimes called the "most beautiful wild Great Wall" by Chinese tourists. Renovation efforts lasted from 2013 to 2014.

The local cultural authority told local media outlets earlier this month that the project was both "legal and sensible."

According to Lu, 780 meters of the Great Wall had been paved-over, cement was used for some parts.

Lu said experts agreed that "the work had severely undermined the Great Wall's pristine and natural historical features," and, thus, was a violation of regulations on the Great Wall's preservation.

SACH has asked Liaoning provincial authorities to reevaluate the project and "deal with those responsible."

Meanwhile, Lu also said SACH was aware that it had failed to ensure adequate supervision after the repair plan was approved.

It has already ordered checks on on-going preservation projects of the Great Wall in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to rule out similar problems, Lu said.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. government on Tuesday urged the Houthis in Yemen to immediately release any U.S. citizens being held.

"We are deeply concerned by reports of U.S. citizens being unjustly detained by the Houthi-controlled National Security Bureau in Yemen," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner in a statement.

Such detentions are unacceptable, put in jeopardy any Houthi efforts to establish that they are credible and responsible interlocutors, and invite serious questions about their commitment to seek a lasting peace for Yemen, Toner said.

He warned that should any U.S. citizens unjustly held in Yemen be harmed, "it would be the responsibility of those organizations, groups, or individuals detaining them."

The U.S. is monitoring the situation in Yemen very closely and calls on the Houthis to immediately release any U.S. citizens currently being held, he added.

Toner did not disclose the names of Americans detained in Yemen, but media reports have said that an American teacher named Peter Willems was kidnapped last Tuesday from the Exceed Language Center in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, by rebels aligned with the Houthis.
Refugees land at Lesbos island, close to Eftalou, Greece, after crossing the Aegean Sea, Nov. 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

GENEVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday that while the influx of maritime refugees and migrants in Europe has considerably dropped this year compared to 2015, the Mediterranean is set to claim more lives in 2016 than last year's count of 3,673.

"It's important to note that last year's total of more than 1 million migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy, Spain and Greece will most likely not be reached this year," IOM spokesman Joel Millman explained.

"Nonetheless, despite the drop in arrivals, fatalities exceeded last year's total at this time by almost 600 and seem virtually certain to surpass what we saw last year," he added.

Latest IOM figures reveal that over 302,000 refugees and migrants have reached European shores by sea since the beginning of the year.

This is much fewer than last year's total over the same period, which saw almost 510,000 maritime migrant entries on European Union (EU) soil.

This significant drop is mainly attributed to the EU-Turkey migrant deal which came into force earlier this year, Millman noted.

"Arrivals in Greece have totalled fewer than 20,000 since late March when the EU-Turkey accord went into practice," he said.

"Prior to that, 15,000 migrants and refugees were arriving in Greece by sea from Turkey every month," he added.

The year of 2015 saw a record 1,011,712 refugee and migrant sea arrivals in Europe, with most of them landing in Greece.
AMMAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development granted Jordan on Tuesday 20 million U.S. dollars for hosting Syrian refugees, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The grant will be used to reduce pressure in the health sector, Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said.

He added that pressure has increased tremendously due to refugee influx, saying that more aid is needed from the international community.

Kuwaiti officials stressed support for Jordan in various sectors, especially amid the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.

They also said that more support will be extended to Jordan in the upcoming period.

The fund has paid about 580 million U.S. dollars to support Jordan since 1962.
by Osama Radi, Saud Abu Ramadan

GAZA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A young Palestinian photographer attracted dozens of children at one of the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza when he decorated the walls of their homes with beautiful photos he took during the past few years to bring them cheerfulness and bliss.

Izz Zanoon, a 24-year-old photo-journalist from Gaza, hanged his photos on plates at the narrow alleys and side streets of al-Shatti refugee camp in western Gaza City, one of the poorest refugee camps in the coastal enclave that has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Children and adults came from all over and gathered to look at Zanoon's photos, which decorated the gloomy gray walls of the refugees' homes in the poor and densely populated refugee camp.

"My initiative came in a bid to bring joy and happiness to children who suffer a lot through their hard daily life," Zanoon told Xinhua as he explained to the kids when he took those photos and what does it mean to show it for them.

He added that he wants "to contribute to inculcate the culture of art in the Palestinian society and develop the love of a beautiful life in the hearts of our children." Around 50 different photos were hanged on Zanoon's plates; all related to beauty of nature and love.

Zanoon said he really wanted to show a different stereotype and a different face of life in Gaza that the world public opinion got in their minds about Gaza that is full of poverty and violence due to the Israeli blockade and the endless rounds of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Since 2008, Israel waged three large-scale military air and ground offensives and the largest one was for 50 days in the summer of 2014.

The photographer said he wanted through his exhibition "to amend the spirits of the people who were targeted during the Israeli wars on the Gaza Strip."

One of the most beautiful photos was a bride wearing her white dress and walking at one of the alleys of the refugee camp as her groom came to meet her. Side streets and alleys of Shatti refugee camp are not wider than one meter and it is hard for two people to walk together.

Other photos include the one of three children swimming and playing on the beach of Gaza at the time of sunset and two teenagers on a fishing boat in the middle of the very blue and beautiful sea.

Abu Mohamed Kaskin, one of the refugees who live in Shatti, expressed happiness and joy because many pictures were hanged on the wall of his home.

"The exhibition has really shown the beautiful face that we haven't seen for so many years," said Kaskin, adding "this is a very beautiful initiative that brought happiness to our hearts and the hearts of our children. We really love life and we really want to live in peace and stability."

Noura, a 12-year-old girl from Shatti, stood in her room and looked at Zanoon's photos from the window. She said she is very happy that the street has become ornamented and beautiful. Her neighbor Majoud, 13, has also expressed happiness to see the walls decorated with nice photos.

The photos were hanged on laundry ropes in the narrow alleys of Shatti refugee camps; a scene that provided beauty to the walls.

The refugee camp is one of eight densely populated camps all over the Gaza Strip with 1.9 million people. In the Gaza Strip, refugees represent 70 percent of the population.

At the end of the exhibition, most of the children had the opportunity to carry Zanoon's camera and take some pictures. Zanoon had also gave them some lessons on how to use a camera and take beautiful pictures.

Zanoon's initiative was coordinated with a youth cultural center called Tamer Institute for Community Education. Zanoon's initiative was called "Art is not for sale."

Dalia Abdul Rahman, coordinator of Tamer Institute for Community Education, told Xinhua that the aim of the idea was to spread the culture of art among the populations, mainly children and those who are abandoned and live in devastated areas.

"The message of our project is that there are so many beautiful things around us and we should look for it in order to feed our eyes with beauty," she said.
Palestinian photographer Izz Zanoon, takes a self photo with children in front of his photos at Jabalia refugee camp northern the Gaza Strip, on Sept 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

by Osama Radi, Saud Abu Ramadan

GAZA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A young Palestinian photographer attracted dozens of children at one of the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza when he decorated the walls of their homes with beautiful photos he took during the past few years to bring them cheerfulness and bliss.

Izz Zanoon, a 24-year-old photo-journalist from Gaza, hanged his photos on plates at the narrow alleys and side streets of al-Shatti refugee camp in western Gaza City, one of the poorest refugee camps in the coastal enclave that has been under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Children and adults came from all over and gathered to look at Zanoon's photos, which decorated the gloomy gray walls of the refugees' homes in the poor and densely populated refugee camp.

"My initiative came in a bid to bring joy and happiness to children who suffer a lot through their hard daily life," Zanoon told Xinhua as he explained to the kids when he took those photos and what does it mean to show it for them.

He added that he wants "to contribute to inculcate the culture of art in the Palestinian society and develop the love of a beautiful life in the hearts of our children." Around 50 different photos were hanged on Zanoon's plates; all related to beauty of nature and love.

Zanoon said he really wanted to show a different stereotype and a different face of life in Gaza that the world public opinion got in their minds about Gaza that is full of poverty and violence due to the Israeli blockade and the endless rounds of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian inspect the photos of Palestinian photographer Izz Zanoon at Jabalia refugee camp northern the Gaza Strip, on Sept 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

Since 2008, Israel waged three large-scale military air and ground offensives and the largest one was for 50 days in the summer of 2014.

The photographer said he wanted through his exhibition "to amend the spirits of the people who were targeted during the Israeli wars on the Gaza Strip."

One of the most beautiful photos was a bride wearing her white dress and walking at one of the alleys of the refugee camp as her groom came to meet her. Side streets and alleys of Shatti refugee camp are not wider than one meter and it is hard for two people to walk together.

Other photos include the one of three children swimming and playing on the beach of Gaza at the time of sunset and two teenagers on a fishing boat in the middle of the very blue and beautiful sea.

Abu Mohamed Kaskin, one of the refugees who live in Shatti, expressed happiness and joy because many pictures were hanged on the wall of his home.

"The exhibition has really shown the beautiful face that we haven't seen for so many years," said Kaskin, adding "this is a very beautiful initiative that brought happiness to our hearts and the hearts of our children. We really love life and we really want to live in peace and stability."

Noura, a 12-year-old girl from Shatti, stood in her room and looked at Zanoon's photos from the window. She said she is very happy that the street has become ornamented and beautiful. Her neighbor Majoud, 13, has also expressed happiness to see the walls decorated with nice photos.

The photos were hanged on laundry ropes in the narrow alleys of Shatti refugee camps; a scene that provided beauty to the walls.

The refugee camp is one of eight densely populated camps all over the Gaza Strip with 1.9 million people. In the Gaza Strip, refugees represent 70 percent of the population.

At the end of the exhibition, most of the children had the opportunity to carry Zanoon's camera and take some pictures. Zanoon had also gave them some lessons on how to use a camera and take beautiful pictures.

Zanoon's initiative was coordinated with a youth cultural center called Tamer Institute for Community Education. Zanoon's initiative was called "Art is not for sale."

Dalia Abdul Rahman, coordinator of Tamer Institute for Community Education, told Xinhua that the aim of the idea was to spread the culture of art among the populations, mainly children and those who are abandoned and live in devastated areas.

"The message of our project is that there are so many beautiful things around us and we should look for it in order to feed our eyes with beauty," she said.
A still image taken on September 27, 2016 from a drone footage obtained by Reuters shows people standing near craters and damaged buildings in a rebel-held area of Aleppo, Syria. (Handout via Reuters TV)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 250,000 people in eastern Aleppo, a city in northern Syria, are still without safe drinking water after a pumping station was hit by attacks on Sept. 22, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday.

"This leaves more than 100,000 children in danger of outbreaks of waterborne diseases, which can be life-threatening," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here, quoting the UNICEF report.

"UNICEF is assisting urgent efforts to repair the pumping station," Haq said.

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.

In early August, UNICEF said that the humanitarian crisis was escalating in Aleppo, once the largest city in Syria, as two million people have lost their access to running water.

An escalation of fighting and attacks has damaged the electricity networks that are needed to pump water supplies throughout the city, according to the UN agency.

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.
KIEV, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in spurious liquor poisoning case in eastern Ukraine rose to 28 after 17 other people died in hospitals over the past few days, the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection said Tuesday.

According to the statement on the website of the agency, 23 of the victims lived in Kharkov region, while five people were residents of Donetsk region.

Since Sept. 22, a total of 62 people have been hospitalized in eastern Ukraine after drinking spurious liquor bought in small grocery shops, 34 of them are still fighting for lives in hospitals.

The Ukrainian authorities opened a criminal investigation into the case. The toxic chemicals, which have caused the mass poisoning, have not been disclosed yet.

According to the Ukrainian association of alcohol makers "Ukrvodka," about half of liquor that is traded in the country is counterfeit.
AMMAN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Arab-Chinese Universities Forum concluded on Tuesday in Jordan's capital Amman.

Participants at the event, which attracted 200 presidents of Arab and Chinese universities, stressed the importance of the event in enhancing cooperation between universities and scientific research between the two sides.

Mahmoud Al Wadi, head of Al Zarqa University, stressed on the keenness to boost ties between Chinese and Jordanian universities.

Participants called for more cooperation in the field of higher education. Discussions also focused on the need to preserve the historic relation between the two sides.

They also looked into sharing stories of success and expertise in the field of academic studies.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday warned that school meals for nearly 180,000 children in about 1,000 schools are in jeopardy due to financial constraints, a UN spokesman told reporters here.

Unless 3 million U.S. dollars in funding are found urgently, WFP will have to suspend its school meals program in the country, the deputy UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, said at a daily news briefing here.

"This is critical. School meals are often the only nutritious meal a child receives a day, relieving families from further financial stress, motivating parents to send their children to school, and, ultimately, serving as a vehicle for education," said Silvia Caruso, WFP's Mali country director.

"Teachers tell us that if the meals are no longer provided, there is a significant risk that parents will stop sending their children to school; children find it difficult to walk long distances to school or stay in class for a full day on an empty stomach," she added.

Since 2010, Mali has faced successive food security crises, brought on by irregular rainfall and prolonged insecurity in the north of the country. More than a quarter of the population suffers from moderate and severe food insecurity, according to WFP.

The agency noted that despite the high levels of insecurity -- particularly in northern and central Mali -- since 2012, it has been able to provide, along with its partners, school meals to an average of 170,000 children per year.

According to a 2014 national survey, the average prevalence of global acute malnutrition in Malian children under five years old stands at 13 percent. The World Health Organization (WHO) rates a global acute malnutrition prevalence between 10 and 14 percent as serious, and above 15 percent as a critical emergency.
VILNIUS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's first national cyber security exercise Cyber shield 2016 has started on Tuesday.

During the three-day exercise, more than 40 of the country's strategic state and cyber authorities will practice how to respond to cyber incidents.

According to Lithuania's defense ministry which holds the cyber training, the cyber exercise is aimed at enhancing cooperation between the country's institutions and training its representatives.

"So that they could have experience necessary for countering a real-life cyber threat," a defense ministry statement said, quoting minister Juozas Olekas as saying.

"A real-life cyber threat" emerged on the first day of the exercise with reports by local media that hackers have attacked the website of the Constitution exam, a civic initiative held in Lithuania annually for the tenth year. In the exercise, the authority that holds the Constitution exam managed to counter the attack, according to website 15min.lt.

Olekas noted that cyber threats and attacks in Lithuania "occur increasingly more often and in more sophisticated forms."

According to Lithuania's Communications regulatory authority, last year, more than 40,000 cyber attacks, or 15 percent more than in 2014, were registered in Lithuania, a country with a population of less than 3 million. Cyber attacks in Lithuania affect around 100 state institutions, private companies or individuals on a daily basis, reported Lithuanian national radio LRT.

To tame rising cyber threats and ensure cyber space protection at a national level, Lithuania opened the National cyber security center two months ago.

The Baltic state has stepped up its defense capabilities including cyber security amid geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Europe since the conflicts in the Eastern Ukraine in 2014.
BRATISLAVA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia has contributed 50,000 euros (56,000 U.S. dollars) to the training of Libyan coast guard, Slovak Defence Minister Peter Gajdos said following an informal session of European Union defence ministers here on Tuesday.

Gajdos also said that Slovakia is ready to send its Military Police officers to serve in the Sophia naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea targeting the network of people smugglers.

"Slovakia, the Slovak Armed Forces and the Defence Ministry all have to be invested in the creation of armed forces and their modernisation. This way we can contribute, including the allotment of sufficient amount of financial resources," noted Gajdos, adding that Slovakia also participates in the ALTHEA operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Slovak defence minister also reported that Slovakia has entered into the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund, which supports the participation of Eastern Partnership countries in activities involving the EU's common security and defence policies. Slovakia will contribute 20,000 euros (22,000 U.S. dollars) to the fund.
RABAT, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Boeing signed Tuesday in the Moroccan city of Tangier a draft agreement for the establishment of a Boeing industrial ecosystem in Morocco.

Under the agreement, which was signed during a ceremony chaired by King Mohammed VI, Boeing and Morocco will give structure to an ecosystem composed of suppliers and organize a sourcing platform based in the North African kingdom.

This ecosystem will generate an additional annual turnover from exports of one billion U.S. dollars, allow the setting up of 120 Boeing suppliers and create 8,700 new specialized jobs.

Boeing will implement dedicated training programs to cover the training needs of its ecosystem.

Over the past decade, the aeronautics sector in Morocco has witnessed a remarkable development and the North African country is currently manufacturing and supplying parts for Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation and Bombardier.
ALGIERS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks here on Tuesday to discuss future development of the flagging oil markets.

Algeria's Prime Minister Office said in a statement that on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum being held in Algiers, Prime Minister Sellal Abdelmalek exchanged views with Saudi Deputy Oil Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz bin Salman Al-Saud.

The Algerian official also met with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, who told reporters "the Algerian prime minister considers it necessary to take actions to restore market balance, and we have agreed to pursue talks, in a hope to reach an agreement that would re-balance the market."

Observers said Algeria aims through such talks to approach divergent views between Iran and Saudi to facilitate the process of the informal OPEC meeting due on Wednesday in Algiers, which is seen as an opportunity to reach an agreement between OPEC members to either freeze or reduce output and ultimately boost oil prices.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that Russia is conducting talks with other OPEC and non-OPEC members to redress crude oil market.

Russia is a major non-OPEC oil producer, and its participation in the forum is seen as a positive sign ahead of reaching a consensual agreement between global oil producers in a bid to restore balance to the volatile market.
KHARTOUM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Tuesday declared its support for deployment of a regional protection force to prevent any military acts in South Sudan.

According to a press release by Sudan's foreign ministry Tuesday, Sudan reiterated readiness to continue its efforts with the countries of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development in Africa (IGAD) to achieve peace in South Sudan.

"Realization of peace in South Sudan is associated with peace in Sudan," Abdul-Ghani Al-Naeem, Sudan's foreign ministry under-secretary, was quoted in the press release as saying.

He called for involving all parties in the peaceful process, reiterating his country's support for deployment of the regional protection force in South Sudan.

Al-Naeem urged the international community to continue efforts to consolidate peace in South Sudan and revive the current peace deal which he said "gives hope for bringing the South Sudanese rivals together."

He further stressed Sudan's determination to continue receiving the South Sudanese citizens and providing them with all possible support.

Last July, the UN Security Council decided to deploy a regional protection force, within the context of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), following violent clashes between South Sudan government army and fighters loyal to the opposition leader Riek Machar.

Machar, who fled South Sudan following the clashes, demands deployment of the protection force as a condition to return to Juba, capital of South Sudan.
NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices fell on Tuesday as Iran said it is not willing to freeze its oil output at current levels, denting market expectation for a output-freeze deal among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Tuesday that the country wants to raise its crude production to 4 million barrels a day from 3.6 million at current level.

It's "not on our agenda" to reach agreement at the OPEC talks in Algiers, he said.

OPEC members and Russia are meeting on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26 to Sept. 28. It has been widely expected that the key oil producers may reach an output-cut deal during the meeting to stabilize the market.

The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery lost 1.26 U.S. dollars to settle at 44.67 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for November delivery erased 1.38 dollars to close at 45.97 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
LONDON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Liverpool, currently hosting the annual Labour Party conference, has more homes where nobody has a job than any other town or city in Britain, figures revealed Tuesday.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Liverpool, followed by Middlesborough, topped the list for 2015 with the highest percentage of workless households.

At the other end of the table, 37 of the top 50 places with the lowest numbers of workless homes were in the wealthier south of England.

ONS figures show that across Britain 3.2 million homes have no working people, representing 15.5 percent of households.

The total number of workless households across the country has been falling, in line with lower unemployment.

"The fact that the number of workless households has continued to fall shows that we're making real progress," said employment minister Damian Hinds.

Windsor and Maidenhead was the area with the lowest concentration of workless households, with just 7.3 of homes there having no adult in work.

"In 2015, the areas with the highest percentage of workless households were generally located outside of the south of England," the ONS reported.

"However, not all locations outside of the south of England had high percentages of workless households: 13 of the 50 areas with the lowest in 2015 were in Scotland, Wales, the Midlands and the north of England," said the ONS.

In Liverpool the percentage rate is 28.8 percent of city homes where nobody works, while in London less than 10 percent of homes were classed as workless households due to early retirement.

The ONS said both Liverpool and Glasgow were among the top 10 in every year from 2006 to 2015 for their high numbers of workless households.

A spokesman for the ONS said: "In 2015, as with every period covered since 2006, the most common reason for worklessness in the UK was sickness or disability."

The top 10 places where no one works in households is: Liverpool 28.8 percent of households, Middlesbrough 23.9 percent, Glasgow 25.4 percent, Hartlepool 27.4 percent, Blaenau Gwent 23.6 percent, Wolverhampton 24.4 percent, North Ayrshire 27 percent, West Dunbartonshire 25.1 percent, Manchester 22.7 percent and Nottingham 22.4 percent.
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Conservationists on Tuesday welcomed a proposal jointly put forward by China and other countries that aims to better protect Chinese crocodile lizard at the ongoing world wildlife conference in Johannesburg.

China, EU countries and Vietnam submitted proposal number 33 where they are asking to up the Chinese crocodile lizard from appendix II to I, during the 17th Conference of Parties (Cop17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The lizard is threatened with extinction, having declined from 6,000 in 1978 to 950 at the moment.

The CITES Secretariat has supported the proposal because there is a high demand for international trade in the species and the lizard population continues to decline.

Grace Gabriel, Asia regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), told Xinhua that IFAW supports the proposal.

CITES also said the Chinese crocodile lizard population is declining due to poaching for international pet trade and decrease in habitat quality. IFAW believes there is a political will in China to fight illegal trade in wildlife, the same as conservationists.

Wildlife law enforcement agencies in China have been very diligent in cracking down on illegal wildlife trade, seizing large quantities of wildlife contraband and prosecuting a lot of criminals, she said.

She also said the global community should work together and coordinate to break the transnational organized syndicates dealing with wild animals and species.

Gabriel said, "The legal trade of ivory from Africa turned trickle of demand into a flood in Asia and provides cover for criminals to launder illegally obtained ivory. It is critically important for African countries to realize that every country on the entire trade chain, from range to transit to consumer, has the responsibility. We need to smash every link on that trade chain to protect wildlife."

Dr. Aili Kang, executive director of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Asia Program said they also support the pet lizard proposal.

Kang said based on population estimations, a marked historic decline in the wild Chinese sub population to about 15 percent of the baseline was inferred.

Kang said, "We assume this proposal has high possibility to be adopted. We will encourage and embrace the adoption."

WCS recommends that the Parties adopt this proposal, as the species clearly qualifies for inclusion in Appendix I, and an Appendix I listing is at present a critical effective mechanism to conserve the Chinese crocodile lizard in the wild, said Kang.

China's CoP 17 proposal 41 also asks for the Hong Kong warty newt to be included in Appendix II. The CITES Secretariat has also recommended that the proposal be adopted.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Executive Directors of the World Bank on Tuesday agreed unanimously to reappoint Jim Yong Kim to a second five-year term as president of the multilateral development bank.

"Executive Directors cited the achievements of Bank Group staff and management during Dr. Kim's first four years in office, and recognized his leadership and vision," the World Bank said in a statement, adding that his second term will begin on July 1, 2017.

Kim became the 12th president of the World Bank on July 1, 2012. Before this post, he served as president of the famous U.S. academic institution Dartmouth College.

Kim said Tuesday that he was "humbled" to have the honor of serving a second term as World Bank chief, and that he was committed to working closely with bank staff, partners, and member countries to address global challenges.

"The challenges going forward remain large, with climate change, forced displacement, and pandemics threatening the gains we have made to improve the lives of billions," he said in a statement.

"We will need to work even more closely with partners, and continue to find new and innovative ways to leverage scarce development resources effectively."

In a meeting between Kim and the board of executive directors, Kim stated that his "highest priority" going forward was institutional stability and deeper staff engagement, the World Bank said.

Kim also told the board that he would focus on making progress in three priority areas in the longer term: promoting economic growth by facilitating private sector investment in infrastructure; investing in human capital to support a country's ability to compete in a future economy; protecting the global economy from downside risks that threaten to undermine progress.

"Kim asserted that harnessing the expertise, knowledge and financial acumen of the Bank's world-class staff in the relentless pursuit of these three priority areas will move us significantly closer to achieving the Bank's goals" of ending poverty by 2030 and promoting shared prosperity, the World Bank said.
ANKARA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's military operation in the north of Syria should be undertaken with the authorization of the United Nation or Damascus' consent, Russian Ambassador to Ankara Andrey Karlov said Tuesday.

"We understand the causes for the Euphrates Shield operation led by Turkish armed forces in Syria. The perpetrators of the horrible terror attacks in Turkey in the majority of cases came from Syria," Karlov said in his speech at the Turkish private Atilim University.

"However, there is one 'but'. In accordance with the norms of international law, such operations should be conducted with the authorization of the UN or with the consent of the country where the operation is being carried out," he stressed.

"This requirement was not respected, and we regret for that," the ambassador said.

The Turkish army launched a cross-border Euphrates Shield Operation on Aug. 24, along with the U.S.-led coalition in Syria's northern border-town of Jarablus to clear the area of the Islamic State (IS).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said both IS and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) threatened Turkey from northern Syria and neither terror groups nor their supporters stood a chance against the unity and solidarity of Turkey.

The Euphrates Shield was the first air operation Turkish army launched in northern Syria since the downing of a Russian jet on Nov. 24, 2015.
KHARTOUM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Tuesday declared rejection of any new negotiation forum outside the country between the government and opposition, Sudan's Ashorooq net reported.

"There will be no dialogue outside the country. Any party that wants dialogue must make it domestic," said al-Bashir when he inspected a number of military units Tuesday.

He reiterated full commitment to recommendations of the national dialogue conference of which the general assembly is slated for next Oct. 10.

Al-Bashir further called the rebel movements to join the peaceful process through dialogue, saying "we want peace which is the best for us and for them (the rebel movements). It is better for them to come peacefully, or else our forces are there."

Earlier, the general secretariat of the Sudanese national dialogue has announced completion of all arrangements for the general assembly as scheduled.

In January of 2014, al-Bashir declared an initiative calling on the opposition parties and the armed groups to join a national dialogue to end the country's crises.

The sessions of the national dialogue conference kicked off in October 2015 with the aim to resolve the country's political and social issues.

However, major political parties and armed movements have refused to participate in the conference, including the Revolutionary Front Alliance, which brings together the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector and the major Darfur armed movements.
ALGIERS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Major oil producers have been consulting in the Algerian capital of Algiers in a bid to reach an agreement to restore balance to energy market marked by volatile oil prices.

The consultations have been launched at the 15th International Energy Forum being held in Algiers, as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are attending the forum, and an informal meeting of the cartel late is slated for Wednesday to discuss ways to stabilize the market.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo on Tuesday told reporters that consultations over a possible agreement to reduce oil offer surplus are on a good track.

Barkindo stated that OPEC members are "working hard to make a success the informal meeting due on Wednesday," adding that consultations are on a good track ahead of a possible consensual agreement to rebalance the market.

He further noted that the consultations are part of a long process launched during OPEC meeting in Doha, Qatar, in February and April.

"The process launched by oil producers is increasingly growing and, after the meeting, the consultations will be extended to non-OPEC producing countries and consuming nations," Barkindo said.

Algeria is working to make the informal meeting of OPEC an introduction to a formal one, in a bid to take concrete decisions that would boost oil prices.

Therefore, the country held several talks with both OPEC and non-OPEC members to approach views and persuade them to either reduce or freeze outputs.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal said in his opening remarks at the forum that "the current situation of the oil market does not serve any country, and Algeria is working to stabilize the market, and urges for the need to reach a comprehensive agreement to protect the interest of all countries."

He on Tuesday met with a number of global energy players as oil market developments was on the agenda.

Algeria's Prime Minister Office said in a statement that on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum being held in Algiers, Prime Minister Sellal Abdelmalek exchanged views with Saudi Deputy Oil Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz bin Salman Al-Saud.

The Algerian official also met with Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, who told reporters "the Algerian prime minister considers it necessary to take actions to restore market balance, and we have agreed to pursue talks, in a hope to reach an agreement that would re-balance the market."

Observers said Algeria aims through such talks to approach divergent views between Iran and Saudi to facilitate the process of the informal OPEC meeting due on Wednesday in Algiers, which is seen as an opportunity to reach an agreement between OPEC members to either freeze or reduce output and ultimately boost oil prices.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that Russia is conducting talks with other OPEC and non-OPEC members to redress crude oil market.

Russia is a major non-OPEC oil producer, and its participation in the forum is seen as a positive sign ahead of reaching a consensual agreement between global oil producers in a bid to restore balance to the volatile market.
LISBON, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Cape Verdian mother of 10 in Portugal recovered custody of six of her children after a four year battle, Publico newspaper reported Tuesday.

"It was a moment of great happiness for the children and for the country, after four years of great suffering," one of the mother's lawyers Maria Clotilde Almeida told Publico.

Liliana Melo, who has lived in Portugal for around 20 years, had six of her children taken away from her in June 2012 because she was living in precarious conditions. They were sent to different institutions and their mother was threatened with having them taken to adoption.

The country aimed to send 7 of her 10 children to institutions, however the oldest of the seven children, aged 8 at the time, was not found when the police went to find them at home and at their school, and it was later discovered he had gone to live with a family member, according to Publico.

Melo told Publico she was grateful that the institutions didn't ever tell her children they could be adopted in future.

The case was condemned by the European Court of Human Rights, which pointed out that the placement and adoption order of the children was a breach of Article 8 of the human rights convention.

The European Court of Human Rights said that putting the children in institutions was not appropriate given that there had been no violent conducts and that the family had strong emotional ties, pointing to the social services "failing to mitigate their material deprivation."

The six children are now at home with Melo in Mem Martins, in the outskirts of Lisbon.
LIMA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's recent visit to China helped lay the groundwork for expanding ties in trade, tourism and investment, a senior official has said.

His trip boosts trust between the two countries, and promotes Peru among China's business community, Peru's Minister of Foreign Commerce and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros, who accompanied the president to Beijing, told reporters on Monday.

"The message we gave China and Chinese business leaders is that they come to Peru, which is an attractive country for investment," Ferreyros said.

Peru has a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, providing it with a privileged platform for deepening ties, the minister said.

Kuczynski paid his first foreign visit to China from Sept. 12 to Sept. 16. The visit shows the Peruvian people's admiration toward China for its achievements in independent development, Kuczynski said during the visit.

Kuczynski's first trip abroad since taking office also served to acknowledge China's importance as Peru's leading trade partner, and one of its biggest investors, especially in mining and energy.

In Beijing, Peru's trade chief met with his Chinese counterpart to discuss expanding a Customs Cooperation Agreement designed to prevent smuggling, and proposed holding a meeting in December on a free trade agreement.

The two also discussed Chinese investment in agriculture, agroindustry and tourism in Peru, and the possibility of expanding air links between the two countries to boost tourism.

"We are encouraging Chinese hotel chains to establish themselves in Peru, to invest in hotels that have the particular features to attend to their citizens," said Ferreyros.

"We are also going to focus and redirect certain events promoting Peru as a destination in Chinese cities, above all in Beijing, Shanghai and in Guangdong province, in order to promote flights from China to Peru," he added.

To attract more Chinese tourism, Peru has changed its visa restrictions to allow Chinese leisure and business travelers to stay in the country for up to 150 days, he said.

In trade, China Eastern Airlines will likely be the carrier in charge of transporting Peru's first shipment of cranberries and prawns destined for the Chinese market, as well as other non-traditional exports, said the minister.

In October, officials from both countries expect to conclude a phytosanitary agreement to be signed in November at an upcoming summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

In a bid to boost Peru's exports, Ferreyros said he is meeting in Lima with the heads of the 31 Export Trade Offices the country maintains around the world to put together an aggressive trade strategy in conjunction with the private sector.
Krasner/Trebitz /RedfernsToday marks the 30th anniversary of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton's death. September 27, 1986, Burton was killed in a freak bus accident in Sweden while the band was touring Europe in support of their album Master of Puppets. He was 24.

Before the crash, Burton and guitarist Kirk Hammett drew cards to decide who got to sleep where on the bus, because the vehicle was very uncomfortable. As Hammett explained on Metallica's episode of Behind the Music, Burton won the draw, and chose to sleep in the guitarist's bunk, while Hammett slept up front. On the morning of September 27, the driver lost control of the bus, which careened off the road and flipped onto its side. Burton was thrown from the window and crushed by the overturned bus.

Burton played bass on Metallica's first three albums: 1983's Kill 'Em All, 1984's Ride the Lightning and 1986's Master of Puppets. He was known not only as a very technically proficient musician, but also for his very melodic style, especially in the context of heavy metal music.

In honor of the Burton, Metallica today shared a photo of the bassist, along with the caption "We miss you, Cliff!"

Following Burton's death, bassist Jason Newsted joined Metallica and played with the band until 2001. Metallica then recruited Robert Trujillo, who's been the band's bassist ever since.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A Big To-Do List for the New Librarian of Congress



Carla Hayden began her 10-year term as the 14th Librarian of Congress on Sept. 14, when she was sworn in during a well-attended ceremony at the Library of Congress (LC) Thomas Jefferson Building. It was a historic occasion for several reasons: Hayden is the first woman, the first African-American, and only the third librarian to hold the positionand it was the first Librarian of Congress swearing-in ceremony to be streamed on YouTube. Prior to being appointed, Hayden was the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in Baltimore. While there, she oversaw the creation of multiple outreach services for citizens, including access to computers, afterschool programs for teens that feature homework assistance and college counseling, job information for adults, and an electronic library. She was also involved with the digitization of the librarys special collections.

Hayden succeeds James H. Billington, a scholar whose lack of digital know-how became a detriment to the LCs ability to thrive in the digital age, leaving it with outdated IT systems and without a strategic directive and the strong leadership required to help it embrace and survive in an electronic environment. Handed these challenges, Hayden steps into the position of director of the worlds largest library, with a collection of more than 160 million works, a staff of 3,200, a budget of more than $620 millionand a historically mandated mission to serve Congress. On what should Hayden focus as she attempts to bring the LC into the 21st century?

Questions to Ask

Jim Matarazzo, dean and professor emeritus at Simmons Colleges Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and Toby Pearlstein, retired director of global information services at Bain & Co., both reference the need to assess the LCs current responsibilities by asking three simple task-oriented questions: What are we doing now? What should we be doing? What can we stop doing? Additionally, they emphasize the importance of capturing information on the LCs current userbase and analyzing the current staffers and staffing requirements. These efforts have already become two of Haydens initial priorities.

Hayden inherited a staff with low morale, as evidenced by a soon-to-be-released 2016 survey of federal employees that The Washington Post reports found only 49 percent of staff said they had a high level of respect for the librarys senior leaders and only 38% reported being satisfied with senior leaderships practices. Hayden plans to conduct informal meetings with staffersperhaps a coffee time with Carlato hear about their concerns, better understand the librarys history and its operations, and help them reach their full potential.

Work With Congress and the Public

The LCs mission is to support the Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people, according to the 2014 Annual Report of the Librarian of Congress. In FY2014, it responded to more than 1 million reference requests from Congress, the public, and federal agencies. Congressional clients accessed online research products from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on more than 656,000 occasions. The LC had more than 1.45 million on-site visitors and 78.1 million visits to its web properties.

Given these statistics, it would seem that the LC is indeed fulfilling its role as a true national library as opposed to just supporting Congress. However, this is not always how it is generally perceived. Vika Zafrin, digital scholarship librarian at Boston University, would like to see the Library of Congress become officially recognized as the United States National Library. This move would also send a clear signal that the United States values its national literary heritage and the pursuit of knowledge as well as make it easier to argue for funding it at the level a national library deserves. It is astonishing to me that this has not been part of our national rhetoric at this level; I think it would have a significant effect on the minds of the nation.

Also under the jurisdiction of the LC and, consequently, of Hayden, is the CRS. Every year, this agency publishes about 1,000 reports covering general topics of interest to Congress (which owns these reports), and they are not readily available to the public. That means nobody at the CRS can distribute them to anyone outside Congress without permission, or, in some cases, without pretty hefty subscription fees. To make matters worse, there is no central repository housing the reports. According to Kevin Kosar, director of the R Street Institutes Governance Project, [T]here are CRS reports floating all over the Internet. By one count, there are 27,000 CRS reports scattered over 1,400 U.S. government websites.

Fixing the accessibility of these reports should also be a priority. Taxpayers pay more than $100 million per year to fund CRS, so its reports should be made available to the public. This is troubling at best. Diane Peters, general counsel at Creative Commons, says, Open up the Congressional Research Service. The Services reports should be made publicly available (and marked as in the public domain under CCO) and easy to search online. They should be made available at the same time they are provided to Congress, with all, normal caveats re: national security, privacy, etc.

Make the LC a Digital Library Too

Digitizing precious material in the LCs collection is another priority, one already acknowledged by Hayden, who plans to seek corporate sponsorships and philanthropic contributions to aid these efforts, according to The Washington Post. This may be more challenging than it seems. In 2014, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation surprised much of the world by announcing it would stop offering grants to libraries globally over the next few years. Even worse, also in 2014, the House of Representatives Committee on the Budget (then led by current Speaker of the House Paul Ryan) recommended eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal funding to libraries. Both of these groups were also sources of funding for the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). The LC is rumored to be planning to join the DPLA, and Hayden is a former board member.

However, it would seem to make more sense for Hayden to instead champion a national digital library endowment rather than simply pursuing private fundraising. David Rothman, founder of TeleRead, believes that a full-fledged endowment, perhaps run in partnership with other organizations, could accomplish so much more. Rather than just confining itself to support for tech and content, [it] also could help pay for education, hiring and professional-development of public and school librarians for the digital era. 

Another key question is where to startor even endthe digitization process. What has already been completed? What should be completed immediately for preservation purposes? What would benefit users the most in digital form and format? During her swearing-in ceremony, Hayden mentioned Rosa Parks digitized letters and how they might now be read by a child in Wisconsin or on a Native American reservation. Her goal would be to tie these collections to school curricula all over the country, thereby integrating the knowledge and resources of the LC directly into childrens learning processes.

Ryan Merkley, Creative Commons CEO, suggests that Hayden could commit to making the LC as impressive online as it is in person: Make the collection discoverable and accessible online, but also lead the government (and the country) in pushing for access. Create D10N, the digitization swat team, modelled after the hugely successful 18F, a team of over 100 open source consultants distributed all over the United States. This Federal agency is transforming the US government from the inside out, creating cultural change by working with teams inside agencies who want to create great services for the public based on Free and Open Source software. And send them into departments, institutions and agencies to unlock content, share best practices, and shift culture.

Get Down to Business

Modernizing the U.S. Copyright Office is another key task for Haydenalbeit while retaining its current organizational structure in order to better balance the rights of the people with those of the large copyright industries.

Needless to say, Hayden will be busy regardless of where her imperatives begin. Skip Prichard, president and CEO of OCLC, sees her as a key change agent for the LC and librarians. The Librarian of Congress has a powerful nationaland internationalplatform. Dr. Hayden will use that platform to communicate the vital role that libraries are playing in our social and educational lives. I look forward to seeing strong leadership around key issues where our interests intersect with those of the Library of Congress and with the thousands of libraries we servethe renovation of our bibliographic infrastructure in a linked data framework, the evolution of a national view of digitized collections, and the definition, management, and stewardship of the collective print scholarly record, he says.

Julie Todaro, president of the American Library Association (ALA), has no doubt that Hayden will be successful in moving the LC into the digital age and creating a true national resource for all Americans to use and enjoy. Dr. Hayden is a peoples librarian, strong, relevant, and extremely capable of rearticulating the librarys importance of place, she says. We know that with Dr. Hayden at the helm, the Library of Congress will strengthen its ties with the nations libraries and other groups that influence how people access knowledge and information in the digital age. The Library is an extraordinary national and global resource and she will greatly expand its reach in the digital age.

With Hayden in charge, the LC will no longer be the technological backwater it had been in the past. Already embracing digital technologies such as YouTube and Twitter (for which she now has her own account, @LibnOfCongress, with 17,000-plus followers), she says she is looking forward to digitally showcasing the LCs collection. Hayden is well-positioned to finally share the nations treasures and successfully bring the LC into the digital age.
Minister tours Nu-Iron

Nu-Iron Unlimited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America.

They produce Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) which is melted and processed into steel.

Nu-Iron Unlimited is the largest shipper of cold DRI in the world.

Gopee-Scoon, in addressing its management and a cross section of employees during her visit, commended the team on its plant and operational efficiency, innovative spirit and good environmental steward practices. The Minister congratulated Nu-Iron on being a world class producer and number one globally in terms of quality. Michael Hess, General Manager, Nu Iron Unlimited said we are very proud of what we have accomplished in our ten years of operations in Trinidad. Despite the challenging times in the steel industry the team has been able to thrive and improve its process and operations.

Nigel Noel, Director Shipping and Russell Grannum, Engineering and Maintenance Manager delivered detailed presentations on the services, accomplishments and current challenges of Nucor Corporation. The presenters attributed the companys success to its highly motivated, skilled and educated workforce; optimised efficiencies of its operations and careful examination of its raw materials.
Women charged for drunk driving

Also appearing before the magistrate yesterday for drunk driving was a 34-year-old Point Fortin man. He was fined $20,000 and disqualified from holding a drivers permit for three years.

In court yesterday, the State collected fines totalling $86,000.

The exercise was co-ordinated by Snr Supt Balram and supervised by ASP Jackman along with Insp Mongroo and Sgt Gosine and his team from the South Western Division DUI Unit.
Man sent to St Anns Hospital for observation

Marlon Macoon appeared before Magistrate Nanette Forde- John yesterday to answer the charge of having in his possession a hacksaw, hacksaw blade and hammer - items used for the purpose of house breaking. Macoon pleaded guilty to the charge laid by police constable Sheldon Cooper of the Rapid Response Unit, Southern Division.

Police court prosecutor, Cleyon Sedan, told the court that at about 11.50 p.m. on Saturday, police officers including Cooper were on mobile patrol along the Manahambre Road, near St Clements, when they observed Macoon at the roadside near a business place.

The court heard that on seeing the police vehicle, he began to run in the opposite direction.

Police officers, Sedan said, gave chase and arrested him. Macoon was searched and the items found. When questioned by police officers, he replied, Officer give men a chance. I just came out of prison. Macoon was detained and charged. The house breaking implements were produced in court. Yesterday, when asked by Forde-John why he had the items in his possession, Macoon did not respond. He was questioned repeatedly but still did not give a reason. The magistrate ordered that he be sent for observation at the St Anns Psychiatric Hospital before sentencing. The case was adjourned to October 10.
Trini Muslim in Venezuelan jail collapses from hunger strike

He was taken to a hospital.

The men went on the hunger strike to get the attention of the Trinidadian and Venezuelan authorities to have them freed after the judge who heard their case has taken leave of it without handing down a decision.

The men had been detained in a Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional (SE BIN) jail - known as a jail for political dissidents - on suspicions of terrorist activities after being on a hunger strike to get the authorities to free them. The SE BIN jail is known for leaving prisoners to rot in jail. Newsday could not verify the name of the detained Trini who was taken to the hospital, but a source said things were not looking good for him. He was really bad when he left. At press time there had been no report about the detainee who was taken to the hospital.

Distraught relatives in TT told Newsday yesterday afternoon that the men made a pact not to tell any of them their status to spare them pain and hurt. According to reports out of Venezuela, the men have been going without food and water since September 20. It was reported the four other men are not also not in good shape.

and have so far, refused medical attention Newsday was told the men may also be taken to the hospital for observation where this newspaper may not be able to have reports about them. Newsday has been unable to get any information about the men from the TT embassy in Caracas, Venezuela.

In a prior interview, one of the detainees had told Newsday the embassy officials could not visit them in the jail, so they looked forward to meeting and talking with them at the hearings.

The men, Wade Charles, Dominic Petital, Asim Luqman, Andre Battersby and Leslie Daisley, took the protest action after the judge, Maria Eugenia Nunez, who heard their case, took leave of it without handing down a decision. Nunez has been cited for human rights violations by several international bodies including the United National Commission on Human Rights.

In May 2015, she banned 22 executives and representatives of news media from leaving Venezuela based on a lawsuit filed by the National Assembly president, for reproducing an article that linked him to drug trafficking.
Policeman suspect released

I am just keeping the faith, was all a distraught Frankie Rajkumar could offer yesterday in the face of the news of the release of the suspended policeman, 24 hours after being detained in connection with the abduction of Rajkumars daughter, who was snatched last week Thursday. Today there is nothing, nothing is different and all we can do is to continue to pray for Rias safe return, Rajkumar said yesterday.

On Sunday, officers of the Anti Kidnapping Unit led by Sgt Narcis along with_Insp Don Gajadhar and members of the_San Fernando Criminal Investigation Department went to a house in Penal where three persons were detained and a black Nissan X Trail impounded.

The X Trail was parked in a garage at the back of the house._ Also released yesterday was a woman. Reports are that another suspect is still being sought._A police sketch of a man dressed in a cap with the words POLICE on it, has been circulated as police, relatives and friends continue an island wide search for the missing woman.

The detention of suspects raised hopes that a breakthrough was finally on the horizon in a case that continues to baffle police. To date, a motive is yet to be established for the abduction of the young woman who has been described as family oriented. She had no time for any one else but her husband, children and others close to her, a family friend told Newsday yesterday._ Today marks six days since Sookdeo, 34, of Wellington Road, Debe was abducted a short distance away from the Picton Presbyterian School shortly after she dropped off her daughter Elena, nine, and Toraz, five.

According to reports, as Sookdeo was preparing to drive off in her Nissan X Trail SUV, another X Trail blocked the path and a man dressed in police garb alighted the vehicle, grabbed Sookdeo out of hers and bundled her into his SUV which sped off.

Insp Gajadhar and his team returned yesterday_ to the Sookdeo household where they again conducted interviews with family members.

Futile searches have been conducted in Los Iros, Cedros, Icacos, Erin, Moruga and environs. A relative who asked not to be named told Newsday, Its really, really hard for the family. Theyre all in a terrible state. Every night prayers are being offered for Ria._Investigations are continuing.
ODPM: Dont panic over Atlantic cyclone

The Met Office emphasised that at present, TT is not under any tropical cyclone threat, watch or warning.

The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service is closely monitoring this weather system and will issue another bulletin at 6 p.m.

today or sooner if the situation warrants.

Citizens must not panic and (must) resist following any media, social media posts or unauthorised messages which are not disseminated by the TT Met Office or published on the ODPMs social media platforms. The agency advised citizens to be vigilant and practice the normal precautionary 72 hour protocol of preparation by keeping emergency kits and supplies at hand.

Please continue to safely conduct your daily activities and pay attention to relevant advisories from the authorised agency in Trinidad and Tobago, the TT Met Office. The ODPM urged citizens to download its mobile application (app) to obtain emergency contact numbers, shelter locations and TT Met Office bulletins.

The statement said the ODPM and all relevant agencies are together preparing for any incoming weather, as they closely monitor this weather event through TT Met Offices advisories. The ODPM promised to issue further bulletins on a timely manner to advise the public of any further developments.

The Met Office first issued its bulletin #1 on Sunday.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami, Florida, posted on its website yesterday that showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure, located about 1,100 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands, continue to show signs of organisation.

Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form around mid-week while the low moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 miles per hour (mph), the NHC said.

A tropical depression is a type of cyclone, which is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral pattern of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain.

Cyclones rank from depression, up to storm, up to hurricane / typhoon.

The NHC advised all interests in the eastern and central Caribbean Sea, and the northern coast of South America, to monitor the progress of this system.

Regardless of development, heavy rains and strong gusty winds should spread over the Windward Islands and portions of the southern Lesser Antilles beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday, predicted the NHC.

The website at 8 am said the chance of formation of a depression over 48 hours from yesterday morning was medium or 60 percent. However the chance for formation in the next five days is high at 90 percent.

By 2 pm, the NHCs fresh bulletin said the disturbance was now just 950 miles away, with an increased chance of turning into a cyclone, possibly bringing storm winds to the Eastern Caribbean island chain by late tonight (Tuesday) or early tomorrow (Wednesday).

Regardless of development, heavy rains and strong gusty winds, possibly to tropical storm force, are expected to spread over the Windward Islands and portions of the southern Lesser Antilles beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday, said the NHCs update. An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this disturbance on Tuesday afternoon. The formation chance over 48 hours increased to high at 70 percent, and over the next five days is also high at 90 percent.

Yesterday at 8 am, the TT Met Office issued Bulletin #2 on the Area of Disturbed Weather east of the Southern Windward Islands.

The centre of an area of low pressure associated with an active Tropical Wave was located approximately 1,770 km east-southeast of the Windward Islands, moving west to west-northwest at approximately 30 kilometres per hour (km/h), it said.
Attorney Dion Abdool new TTTI chairman

Abdool, with over 20 years experience in the corporate environment, holds a masters degree in corporate and commercial law, is a chartered secretary, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and a Harvard alumnus, a release from TTTI said.

Martin Farrell, former registrar of the Integrity Commission, is now the vice-chairman.

Other members of the newly-elected board are Melissa Cobham (ACCA), senior counsel Dr Claude Denbow SC, mediator/retired diplomat Susan Gordon, research coordinator Ariane Moonsie, business educator Dr Kamla Mungal, governance specialist Dr Jens-Ulrich Poppen, attorney Fern Narcis- Scope, creative director Jason, and supply chain professional Shyanne Telfer.

In his outgoing address at the TTTIs recent 17th Annual General Meeting at the Queens Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Murray said that despite this countrys grim economic and financial situation, the prevalence of crime and the compromise of our institutions, TTTI is the most viable conduit for change. The onus was for TTTI, he said, to redouble our efforts, to be the catalyst that drives us to that vision of a world in which government, politics, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption. David West, director of the Police Complaints Authority, in delivering the feature address titled Tackling Corruption - The way forward to attain a country and region free of corruption, called for an international commission against impunity in TT as the way forward in this countrys fight against corruption.

TTTI is the local chapter of Transparency International (TI). Launched in 1998 by citizens concerned about escalating corruption, it was incorporated as a notfor profit organisation in 2001.
AG backs equal opportunity for judges

The Court of Appeal yesterday heard the landmark case over the scope of the law which has been making its way through the court system for the last two years.

The Ministry of the Attorney General, in written submissions filed in the case in February, called on the Court of Appeal to preserve the judges ruling.

The days of he who pays the piper calls the tune are long over, and has no place in a public sector which is striving to be administered in accordance with the democratic principles to which other institutions and indeed the citizenry at large aspire, said Senior Counsel Avory Sinanan.

A panel comprising Justices of Appeal Nolan Bereaux, Judith Jones and Peter Rajkumar reserved judgment.

The case has come about as a result of a disagreement between the Director of Personnel Administration (DPA) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

Over the years, the EOC and the service commissions have disagreed on the question of whether this countrys anti-discrimination statute applies to the Public Service. As a result, in 2014, the EOC asked the High Court to resolve the question of how the law should be interpreted once and for all.

In action CV 2014-00477, the EOC  represented by attorneys Haran Ramakaransingh and Aleyya Gafoor-Ali  asked a judge to rule on whether the definition of employer under the law includes the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission.

Because these commissions work in more or less the same way as the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC)  which appoints, promotes, transfers and disciplines judges  the court has expressed the view that the anti-discrimination law could also extend to cover the JLSCs practices.

The Court of Appeal will have to determine whether High Court Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh was correct to rule that the commissions fall under the anti- discrimination law. Appearing in the case for the DPA was Russell Martineau SC.
AIIMS Delhi is now 60 years old celebrates its Diamond Jubilee

New Delhi, Tue, 27 Sep 2016 NI Wire

AIIMS has contributed significantly in quality healthcare: J P Nadda

"AIIMS has contributed significantly in quality healthcare. It has discharged its roles as clinical provider, Research Institute and Teaching Institute with considerable accolades over the past 6 decades." This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at the Diamond Jubilee celebration function of AIIMS Delhi, here today. The Health Minister further added that during 2015-16, AIIMS Delhi, attended to 30 lakh outpatients, 2.5 lakh inpatients and performed about 1.5 lakh surgeries.

Speaking at the celebration function, Shri Nadda further stated that the Institute has always maintained the highest standards of meritocracy and learning. It has attracted the best talents across the country that enter this institute as young students and pass out with the intensity of commitment to serve the poorest of the poor, Shri Nadda said

Shri Nadda said that AIIMS is also the mentor institution for the new AIIMS like Institutions being established across the country. In this regard, the work done by AIIMS in formulating and reviewing subordinate legislation including the AIIMS Rules and Regulations has been commendable.

Highlighting its contribution, the Health Minister said that AIIMS not only has established high reputation but has also contributed significantly in academic quality, student care, infrastructure, and placement opportunities. With its 9 centres and 52 teaching departments, and a manpower of over 10,000 including more than 800 faculty positions; AIIMS Delhi produces a large number of specialists (MD/MS), super-specialists (DM/MCh), PhD scholars and allied health and basic sciences experts, including nurses and paramedical professionals, Shri Nadda elaborated.

Shri Nadda said that nearly 600 research projects have been conducted in the year and the institute attracted extramural research grants of more than Rs. 70 crores in frontier and cutting edge biomedical areas. Moreover, the faculty and the scientists of the institute have published over 1800 research papers and AIIMS has been rated 3rd among the worlds top medical institutions in publishing research, Shri Nadd stated

Enumerating the future plans, Shri Nadda stated that AIIMS is in the process of expanding its Trauma Centre, Surgical block, Mother and child block and OPD Block. The expansion will happen in phases and when completed, will almost double the hospitals capacity. The surgical block will also have a National Endoscopy Centre, a High Dependency Unit and Kidney Transplant facilities. In addition, the Convergence block, Critical care units, and a new Dharamshala were inaugurated during the year. These expansion plans would fulfil long felt needs of the apex medical institution in the country, Shri Nadda added.

The Health Minister informed that the Union Cabinet has recently approved a proposal for setting up of National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar under AIIMS at a cost of Rs. 2035 crores. NCI is the largest tertiary healthcare facility (both public and/or private) proposed in the country since independence. The proposed institute will have 710 beds for various facilities.

The Health Minister also inaugurated a free generic pharmacy store at the Institute for outpatients to cater to the needs of weaker sections of society and gave away research awards to the meritorious faculty members and students.

Also present at the function were Professor M.C. Misra, Director, AIIMS Delhi , Dr. Balram Airan, Dean (Academics), AIIMS Delhi, Dr. S.K. Acharya, Dean (Research), AIIMS Delhi, Students and Faculty members of the AIIMS and senior officers from the Ministry.

Source: PIB
India has a very focused approach to all regions of Africa: Vice President of India

Nigeria, Tue, 27 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Addresses onboard media on way to Nigeria and Mali

Onboard Air India Special Flight: September 26, 2016

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that India is now pursuing a very focused approach to all the different regions of Africa, and his visit to Nigeria and Mali in West Africa was part of that approach. He was addressing the Media Onboard Air India Special Flight on way to a five-day visit to Nigeria and Mali, yesterday.

The Vice President recalled an increase in high level visits to Africa in the past one year, placing his visit within the context of sustained engagement with the 54 nations of the continent. He mentioned that India had a long association with the continent, starting from the days of decolonization and that there is a natural sympathy and friendship which India receive in African countries. He further said that in any decision globally, whether in the United Nations or anywhere else, the weight of Africa is always felt.

Speaking on India's ties with Nigeria, the Vice President said that the country was the largest in Africa in terms of population, and that it carried significant weight in the region, and in international fora. Its own objectives for the reform of the United Nations were not dissimilar to India's goals. In specific terms, India had a long standing strategic relationship with Nigeria, particularly in the defense field, for training and establishment of training institutions. On the economic side, the Vice President said that India's ties with Nigeria were critical as about 12% of our energy imports come from Nigeria. With more than 100 Indian companies working in the country, including some of the biggest industrial houses, trade and investment was a key aspect of cooperation, and there was an expectation of a fruitful relationship for both countries. The Vice President pointed out that the fact that the President of Nigeria had been invited twice as the Chief Guest for India's Republic Day celebrations was an indication of this political closeness.

On India's ties with Mali, the Vice President said that our government was keen to expand the engagement, given the vast potential for expanding our cooperation. He mentioned the strong development partnership between India and Mali and spoke of the successful implementation of 3 out of the 4 India assisted projects there.

Responding to a question of UN Reforms, the Vice President said that although there were obstacles on the path, the reform of the UN Security Council was inevitable. Most of the nations of the world, particularly those in Asia, Africa and South America desired it, as the UN could no longer reflect the world of 1945. He also mentioned the contribution of countries such as India, and Nigeria in the maintenance of international peace and security - these were the principal troop contributors as opposed to the permanent members of the Security Council. So it had become imperative that if the UN was to work as a credible international body, reforms were required.

On the issue of terrorism, the Vice President said that it had become a global issue, one that was disturbing social peace and impacting development. It was natural therefore that it constituted an important part of any bilateral discussion - it was in everyone's interest in eliminating this menace and bilateral mechanisms such as intelligence sharing were in place, particularly given that networks of terror had become global.

On reported attacks on Nigerian nationals in India, the Vice President said that these were stray incidents and were not specific to citizens of any particular country nor racially motivated. What was however important to note, he stressed was that law enforcement agencies had quickly responded wherever and whenever such incidents had taken place.

On India's approach to raising issues of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan with members of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Vice President emphasized that the facts of the issue were pretty clear and that all nations were aware of the problem of state-sponsored terrorism, not just OIC member states. He further stressed that while we engaged bilaterally with OIC states, the organization itself had limited relevance given its consensus based approach of functioning.

Source: PIB
Swachh Bharat AV campaign featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar launched

New Delhi, Tue, 27 Sep 2016 NI Wire

The Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, today launched a national audio-visual campaign for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). The advertisements launched feature Swachh Bharat official brand ambassadors, Shri Amitabh Bachchan and Shri Sachin Tendulkar.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said that the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has fully galvanised its IEC (Information Education Communication) and BCC (Behaviour Change Communication) mechanisms to make the advertisements increasingly people centric. He stressed that this was very essential because IEC/BCC are core interventions for behaviour change and citizen engagement.

The Minister expressed his special gratitude to Shri Amitabh Bachchan and Shri Sachin Tendulkar for playing a crucial role in the success of the Mission by publicly lending their support through the advertisements launched today.Responding to a query, the Minister said that the commitment of Shri Bachchan and Shri Tendulkar to sanitation and Swachh Bharat is unquestionable and complete. Despite their busy schedules, they have taken time out to not only actively conceive and shoot the advertisements, but also made appearances at various Swachh Bharat events to encourage and motivate grassroot workers and sanitation champions, he said.He also expressed his gratitude to development partners, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, BBC Media Action and Dettol Banega Swachh Bharat campaign for their support to the Ministry in putting together the advertisements launched today.

The three ad films can be found on the Ministry's YouTube channel at the following links:

1. Ad film featuring Shri Amitabh Bachchan: https://youtu.be/3lCJsIjICVI

2. Ad film featuring Sachin Tendulkar: https://youtu.be/8COTfK-WXdA

3. 'Badi Baat' ad film: https://youtu.be/SCx5OrQbblk

The Minister gave a run-through of the activities planned for the Swachh Bharat Week celebrations to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, from 25th September, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jayanti, to 2nd October 2016, Gandhi Jayanti. He urged the mediato lend their support to the Swachh Bharat Mission by giving these activities extensive coverage.

Five short films that showcase real-life stories of individuals from different walks of life were also launched at the event. They are stories of people who have made the Swachh Bharat Mission their own by adopting innovative ideas to encourage the use of toilets in their communities and adopt sustainable waste treatment practices in their respective communities. These stories are examples of a wider citizen's movement across the country to encourage the adoption of safe sanitation practices and realize the goal of an Open Defecation Free India by 2019.

The five films, in both Hindi and English languages, can be found on the Ministry's YouTube channel at the following link: http://bit.ly/2a3sDul

Speaking about the upcoming event, INDOSAN (India Sanitation Conference), the Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, said that INDOSAN would be an annual joint event by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Urban Development. To be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the event will be an occasion to take stock of the progress made so far in 2 years of Swachh Bharat, and to look at the road ahead. The event will also be a critical platform for getting key stakeholders to re-dedicate themselves to achieving Swachh Bharat by October 2nd, 2019. Major sanitation innovations in SBM  both rural and urban  will also be showcased on the occasion.

Source: PIB
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"This is my 15th Booster, hopefully this is it."



Les Brummett

was this week's winner.



The winner's name will be put into a drawing for a free month subscription or extension.



Look for a new photo Monday.
Moroccos leading pharmaceutical firm Pharma 5 has received the go-ahead for the construction of a drug producing plant worth $10 million near Abidjan, in Cote dIvoire, reports say.

The Agreement was initialed Saturday in Rabat by Moroccan ministers of Health and of industry and by Cote dIvoires health minister.

Pharma 5, according to the agreement, will build at Bassam duty free zone, near capital Abidjan, a plant over 5,000 square meters, huffpostmaghreb.com reports.

The future plant will produce drugs mainly anti-hepatitis C drugs for the national market.

The future plant will enable Ivoirians to have access to affordable health care, said Moroccan Health Minister, EL Houssaine Louardi.

For Moulay Hafid Elalamy, the Minister of industry, trade and digital economy, the project is one of Moroccos giant initiatives in the African continent and translates the South-South cooperation advocated by Morocco.

The project will boost further exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, he said, underlining that Africa is the continent of the future.
Spanish security services announced on Monday the arrest of two Moroccan nationals having links to the terror ISIS organization.

According to a press release issued by the Spanish Interior Ministry, the two men, residing in the southern Spanish city of Murcia and the northern city of Valladolid, were planning to carry out an attack in Europe.

One of the suspects had traveled to Turkey to meet an ISIS member near the Syrian border, where he had received training and instructions to return to Europe to carry out an attack.

Turkish police arrested the suspect and handed him to Spanish authorities. After his release, he carried on his terror project.

Last week, Moroccan police arrested four jihadists with suspected links to ISIS, including one held in the northern city of Meknes who was planning terrorist attacks in Morocco.

They also captured a week earlier three other dangerous extremists in the Moroccan port city of Tangiers. According to investigators, the three-member cell was planning a series of attacks meant to disrupt Moroccos peace and stability.

The three jihadists were also planning to create an ISIS province (Wilayat) in Morocco, said Moroccos Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), the judicial part of the Moroccan domestic intelligence service.

According to BCIJ chief Abdelhalk Khiame, Moroccos counterterrorism strategy is based a multidimensional policy which includes anticipation, education, prevention, the respect of freedom of expression, and other socioeconomic aspects.

This comprehensive strategy also includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation, and counter-radicalization policies.

The North African country has placed counterterrorism at the top of its priorities following the Casablanca terror attacks in 2003 and the subsequent attacks of 2007 and 2011.
Morocco seems firmly resolved to reach the goal it set to cover more than half its energy needs by 2030 from renewables.

In this vein, King Mohammed VI, who supervises the national program for the development of renewable energy, chaired on Monday in Tangier a working session devoted to the energy sector in general and to the renewable energy program in particular.

From the outset, King Mohammed VI underlined the importance of this major program that will enable Morocco to achieve effectively energy independence, a statement from the Royal Office said.

The meeting was also an opportunity to take stock of the institutional and operational convergence that should govern the sector, the statement said.

The sovereign took note of the steps taken so far at the institutional level, embodied in the promulgation of new laws governing MASEN, the ONEE and the ADEREE (national agency for the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency.) The laws were published in the Kingdoms official gazette issued on Monday.

At the operational level, it was noted that the renewable energy projects were being effectively transferred to Masen.

The King was informed of the arrangements made by operators. These arrangements fall in line with the goal to raise the share of renewables in the national energy mix to 42% by 2020, the statement of the Royal office said, adding that King Mohammed VI reiterated his instructions in order to fulfil the objective to bring this share to 52% in 2030.

To fulfil this ambitious goal, the next step will consist in a strategic programming that will reflect clearly the expected synergies in this area, the statement said.

As part of the effort to reach the ambitious goal to generate 42 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and 52 percent by 2030, Morocco, earlier this year, inaugurated in Ouarzazate Noor 1, the first phase of what will become the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world. At completion, the facility is expected to produce 580 MW of clean electricity for more than one million people.

These efforts were hailed by the World Bank, which said that Morocco is setting an example by designing and embracing green growth strategies across sectors.

The 2016 Climate Performance Index also ranked Morocco among the top 10 countries making the most progress in combating climate change and number one among developing countries.
The war scenario between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists was at the heart of talks separately held by the UN Secretary Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara with the Foreign Ministers of Spain and Mauritania.

On the backdrop of the cease-fire violations by the Polisario militias in the buffer zone of Guerguarat and the looming return to war in the region, Christopher Ross discussed with the Spanish Foreign Minister the possible scenarios that may result from the current tensions in the southernmost tip of the Moroccan southern provinces near the Mauritanian borders, Moroccos daily paper, AlMassae reported.

Morocco had launched last August a security operation aiming to clear the Guerguarat area behind the security wall of all illegal commercial activities and criminal networks. The operation was followed by road pavement works to enable a better monitoring of the area. This de-facto manifestation of Moroccos sovereignty over the area infuriated the Polisario.

Desperate to portray the buffer zone as a liberated area the Polisario sent troops to Guerguarat, closer to the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces on the other side of the wall, in violation of the 1991 UN-brokered cease fire agreement.

In this context, Ross raised with the Spanish minister the means to appease tensions and the possible responses if war resumes.

Ross, whose visit to Morocco was postponed till after the legislative elections (October 7), also discussed with Mauritanias Foreign Minister the role Nouakchott can play to avert a resumption of hostilities in the area.

Moroccos crackdown on smugglers in Guerguarat came after reports of a potential smuggling by the Polisario separatists of an arms cargo into the southern provinces where they intended to undermine public order. Hence the fury of the Polisario leaders who have been accused by several international reports of connivance with trafficking networks and terrorist organizations in the region as well as embezzling humanitarian aid.

Earlier in August, the UN mission to the Sahara, MINURSO, has refuted the Polisarios failed attempt to portray Moroccos security operation as a breach of the ceasefire saying that the anti-smuggling operation in Guerguarat had a police character and was undertaken in coordination with the UN.

MINURSO was established in 1991 after a ceasefire ended a war that broke out in a Cold War context when Morocco retrieved the southern provinces from Spanish colonialism in 1975. A number of communist countries supported the separatist Polisario front, which has been using Algerian territories as a rear base for its guerilla warfare against Morocco.

In 2007, Morocco put forward the autonomy initiative after the organization of a referendum proved to be unfeasible in view of disagreements over who is eligible to vote. Morocco offers the autonomy initiative, which has been internationally endorsed as a credible solution, as a basis for negotiations.
Leader of the anti-slavery movement IRA (Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement) has slammed President Mohamed Ould Abdel Azizs regime for looting the Mauritanian people, reports say.

Their only realization is illicit enrichment, division of Mauritanians, and ideological, ethnical and religious indoctrination of communities, Biram Dah Abeid said in an address before members of the Mauritanian community in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire.

The Mauritanian regime, held by a handful of soldiers, seeks to turn Mauritania into a cash cow for some families, Biram argued, adding that Abdel Azizs regime is a racist regime, which has moved to deprive Mauritanians (indigenous Mauritanians) of their nationality and citizenship.

The regime has implemented ethnic cleansing policies that have sidelined Mauritanians of black color, the activist said.

Biram called all Mauritanians, even those close to the regime, to rise up and overthrow President Ould Abdel Aziz and his ring.

The anti-slavery champion re-iterated his commitment and that of his movement in combatting and bringing down the Mauritanian regime.

Thirteen anti-slavery activists are currently serving prison sentences in a secrete detention center in the Mauritanian desert.

The activists were arrested late June and early July for orchestrating riots in capital Nouakchott. A court in August sentenced them to between 3 and 15 years in prison following a contested trial, decried as unfair.
Clinton and Trump walk to their lecterns. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

So, after immense anticipation and much back-and-forth argument over the standards for judging the candidates performance, the winner of the first presidential debate of the general election was not  well, debatable. Hillary Clinton exceeded the very high bar the news media set for her and won on style (smooth versus incoherent), on substance (on stop-and-frisk, on ISIS, on birtherism, on tax returns, on tax policy, on NATO, on Trumps business record), on endurance, and on visuals. Its hard to find a topic on which Trump scored a clean point.

He did nothing to help himself. The topics didnt favor him  little on the economy (other than trade), and virtually nothing on immigration  but he didnt steer the discussion in a more advantageous direction. He gave Clinton a pass on potentially damaging allegations involving her Wall Street ties and the financing of her campaigns.

The big question is how much an effect this will all have on the state of the race. The butt-kicking Clinton administered to Trump ought to move some votes. CNNs snap poll of debate-watchers (which skew about ten points more Democratic than representative samples of voters) showed Clinton winning by a 62 to 27 margin. Thats actually not as impressive a showing as Mitt Romney after the first debate in 2012, when CNN showed the Republican winning by a 67 to 25 margin. Romney did pick up some points in the polls.

At the time though, Romney was not remotely as well-known as Clinton is today, and a similar performance might not pay off as abundantly for her in the two- and four-candidate polls that are conducted immediately afterward, that we should begin seeing late this week. That outcome  depressing as it might be to her supporters  would be evidence that the degree of partisan and ideological polarization in this electorate is so powerful that debates, and perhaps even other forms of persuasion like campaign ads, just dont matter this year.



If Clinton does not make significant gains, we will have strong evidence that the best remaining strategy for her campaign is to focus on base mobilization  making sure her supporters get to the polls. That would be bad news for Clinton, but not devastating, because she has an advantage in the field operations and voter-targeting that are essential to getting out her vote.

There is also a weird dynamic at play with younger voters that might be hurting her, especially after tonight: Many left-leaning millennials seem to think Clintons already wrapped up the presidency, and are planning not to vote, or to cast a ballot for Gary Johnson or Jill Stein. Media gabbing about Clintons big win at Hofstra wont exactly galvanize such voters to make a stand for HRC.

As for Trump, he obviously needs to raise his game, and deal forcefully with a potential morale problem among his supporters. What he should pray for is that polarization is so powerful that he cannot possibly lose this race in 90 minutes.
Photo: NYC Mayors Office/Twitter

A firefighter has been killed after a suspected drug den exploded Tuesday morning in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, a 17-year FDNY veteran, was fatally hurt by flying debris in a house nearly obliterated by a possible gas explosion. More than 10 other people  including other FDNY members, police officers, ConEd workers, and at least two civilians  were wounded in the blast or its aftermath, though the seriousness of their injuries is unknown.

It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the line of duty death of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy https://t.co/XDK0NLYp1k pic.twitter.com/KpXI0ulzZO  FDNY (@FDNY) September 27, 2016

Fahy was reportedly standing in the street when he was struck by a slab of the roof that had been torn off in the explosion. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries. Its a sad day, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at a news conference about the father of three. Thankfully, this doesnt happen every day, but when it does, it doesnt make it any easier. We lost a hero today.

NYPD on the scene of this house explosion there is a report of 1 fatal from this explosion pic.twitter.com/QKHM6Z5SK4  SBA (@SBANYPD) September 27, 2016

Firefighters were reportedly responding to a call about a gas smell wafting out of a Bronx home on West 234th Street. Fire personnel searched the home and quickly discovered what looked an indoor marijuana grow with propane tanks, reports DNAinfo. Firefighters phoned in police, but also turned off the gas and evacuated the building and those living in the houses next door.

#BREAKING UPDATE: 5 people injured in Bronx home gas explosion, FDNY says https://t.co/IYvU4FhBL6 pic.twitter.com/AvNBxrLYen  PIX11 News (@PIX11News) September 27, 2016

The house exploded shortly after the NYPD arrived on the scene, and before they could examine the suspected lab, reports NBC 4. The explosion destroyed the two-story home, ripping apart its roof and shooting debris into the street, where many of the first responders were posted. I was sleeping and I heard this loud bomb, explosion, neighbor Barbara Nardo told CBS 2. I thought maybe it was lightning that hit a car or something.

Explosion near 234th and Irwin Ave Bronx NYC. @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/qjqOqkDwN3  Dylan Ryder (@DylanMRyder) September 27, 2016

More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene, and the area is still blocked off. NYPD Commissioner James ONeill said that cops had gotten a tip last week of a drug operation at that address and had been investigating.

This post has bee updated throughout.
The debate stage. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today: the first 2016 presidential debate.

Going into last nights debate, polls showed Hillary Clintons lead over Donald Trump continuing to shrink. But a CNN/ORC instant poll right after the debate found that shed won it by more than a two-to-one margin. Should her performance last night be enough to move the needle back?

Well have to wait for polls a few days from now for the answer to that question. But lets pause for one moment to savor how Clinton performed last night. My heart sank with her first answer, to a question about job creation: her usual diligent wonky A-students recitation of a list of prefab economic proposals that the brain instantly tunes out, that no one thinks will ever happen, and that have been promised by Democratic politicians in every presidential election since Carter and then Mondale were slaughtered by Ronald Reagan.

But what followed was something of a miracle: Hillary from then on mustered a pitch-perfect response to the boor on the other side of the split screen. She stuck to substance (of which he had none) and waited out his diatribes (many long waits) either by looking slightly bemused or by outright laughing at his absurdities. She refused to get lost in the weeds of his many lies and factual errors  urging viewers to consult fact-checkers online instead  and allowed herself some actual wit. If were actually going to look at the facts   she said early on, throwing the line away lightly but devastatingly (though her target seemed oblivious to the dig). When Trump went on and on to try to pin his own birtherism campaign on her, a foolhardy errand in which he assumed the audience understood his oblique references to Sidney Blumenthal and Patti Solis Doyle, she retorted, smilingly, with Just listen to what you heard. It was a perfect response, directing the audience simply to watch her opponent as he choked on his own incoherent gusher of words. And when Trump went on his bizarre tear about how he had really, truly been opposed to the Iraq War early on, and how Sean Hannity could vouch for him despite all the evidence to the contrary, she replied with an even bigger smile and the mot juste for the moment: O-kay!

This election is a culture war, not a debate over policy, and in that war, Trump is the white guys Guy.

Finally, there was that great final-round climax when she refused to allow Trump, who tried to brush past the fact that he had attacked her for not having a presidential look, to change the subject from looks to stamina, as she put it. She cited a number of his misogynistic slurs, then brought it home with a fresh incident, his referring to a beauty-pageant contestant who didnt meet his physical standards as Miss Housekeeping because she was Hispanic. It was a tough and stirring moment, for which Trump could muster no better response than another attack on Rosie ODonnell. Sad!

All that said, the margin in the instant debate-night poll was virtually the same as the margin that had Mitt Romney killing Barack Obama in the first debate of 2012. I will say for the hundredth time that the one thing Trump is right about is that his supporters would still vote for him if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue. And they will still vote for him after this debate. This was a big night for fact-checking by a plethora of major news organizations, but whats lost in this frenzy of media empiricism, worthy as it is, is that Trumps supporters dont care about the facts any more than he does. This election is a culture war, not a debate over policy, and in that war Trump is the white-guys guy.

So the practical question coming out of the debate is not whether Clinton turned some Trump supporters to her side (surely not), or vice versa (also not). It is simply: Did Clinton arouse more enthusiasm among millennials, white and black and Hispanic, who were never going to vote for Trump but might vote for Gary Johnson or skip Election Day altogether? I would hope so, but I certainly dont know.

This was Trumps first one-on-one debate, with less room to hide than he had on the crowded stage of the primaries. Did the spotlight, and a few pointed follow-up questions, show you anything new about how Trump responds to pressure?

Its hard to know how he could have performed worse. He obviously was true to his own pre-debate spin in one respect  it was clear he really did no preparation. His policies were content-free. Even the zingers he was supposedly stocking up were nowhere to be found. His main subject, the only one he was passionate about, was himself. Otherwise, he recycled the same old rants ad infinitum. His sole points seemed to be (1) America is a Third World shithole; (2) every other politician is a disaster; (3) only he can make everything great again. And his style was, if anything, worse than his content (if not as vacuous). He constantly interrupted Clinton as if he owned the joint and she was an uppity underling. Id call it mansplaining, except Trump didnt even offer up the mansplanations to go with his obnoxious attitude. He was Ralph Kramden without the wit: I kept half-expecting him to bellow, Hillary, youre going to the moon! And his over-the-top facial expressions as she gave her answers were, dare I say it, Al Gorelike in their impatience, petulance, and general asininity. All this from a man who went on at considerable lengths to brag about how he has a much better temperament than Hillary.

To the vast delight of the internet, Howard Dean tried to explain this performance by tweeting: Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user? I doubt it, given Trumps germ phobia and aversion to alcohol. But if he were on cocaine, how would that explain his alternately churlish and meandering presentation? Not what Id call coked up. Maybe he was OD-ing on his real drug of choice, McDonalds.

The moderator, Lester Holt, couldnt resist some mid-debate fact-checking  like practically everyone else, it seems  but once the candidates got going he largely stepped out of the way. Was this the right strategy?

To his credit, Holt tried to call out Trump on his Iraq War claims, but otherwise he was almost a phantom presence, with no authority or control over the proceedings. His role model could have been Mr. Cellophane in the musical Chicago. Hed tell Trump he had just ten seconds to give a rejoinder and then disappear as Trump went on ad infinitum. One way to look at this is that Holt was just the latest NBC anchor (after Joe Scarborough and Matt Lauer) to tilt toward the former star of the networks Apprentice. But in the end, Holts refusal to police Trumps filibusters, intentionally or not, was a boon to Clinton: As Trump just went on and on unchecked, and she could be seen on the other side of the screen watching with borderline delight as he talked himself into one free-associative cul-de-sac after another, it all accrued to her benefit. It was one smart woman against two less-than-brilliant bros, and, should we still care about such distinctions, she looked like a president while in the end they both seemed to just fade away.
David Wildstein arrives in court Monday for another day of testimony. Photo: Mel Evans/AP

On Monday, David Wildstein  the key witness in the federal criminal case that has waylaid the career of his former boss, Governor Chris Christie  recounted a 30-year history as a political dirty trickster. I liked people to think that I played hardball, the former political operative and anonymous blogger told a packed courtroom in Newark. I liked them to think that I was aggressive, and went to extremes to win an election.

Wildstein described a litany of capers that he liked to boast about: swiping a coat from a Democratic senate candidate to make him appear less dignified during a debate; stealing all the copies of a local newspaper when it failed to endorse his own campaign for mayor of the town of Livingston; sabotaging the electoral slate of a political enemy; arranging a free bus trip to take Democratic voters to Atlantic City for Election Day. (Some of these stories of deception, Wildstein admitted under questioning from prosecutors, were themselves lies that he told to make him appear more Machiavellian than he really was.) His aptitude for creative political tactics eventually led him to the Port Authority, where he worked as an agent  what is known within the agency as a hammer  for Governor Christie. And it was in that job, Wildstein testified, that in 2013 he came up with his most ambitious  and ultimately disastrous  scheme of all.

Over several hours of painstakingly detailed testimony, Wildstein described how he came up with and implemented the closure of several traffic lanes that gave access to the George Washington Bridge, from the adjoining town, for Fort Lee, in order to seek revenge against its Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich. Repeatedly, he said that that lanes were closed for the purpose of punishing Mayor Sokolich, because he had not endorsed Governor Christie, who was then running for reelection, and seeking Democratic support. Though he admitted coming up with the idea, he said that it was enthusiastically approved by the defendants in the case  his boss at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, and a deputy chief of staff to Christie, Bridget Kelly  and also said that a top political aide to the governor, Bill Stepien, was deeply involved. (Stepien, who was not indicted, is now the national field director for the Donald Trump campaign.) He described observing the Fort Lee access lanes during a 2011 tour of the bridge, and said he advised Baroni and Stepien that they could be used as a potential leverage point against Sokolich.

My relationship with Mr. Stepien, Wildstein explained, was that he expected me to give him information that might help him to secure endorsements.

At the time, though, Sokolich was considered friendly to Christie  so much so that he was singled out for special treatment. Wildstein described giving Sokolich a tour of the World Trade Center construction site, and relaying the message that the mayor had called Christie a great governor and I dont mind saying it. Stepien replied via email: Its good to be an incumbent with stuff to offer, aint it? However, when Stepien forwarded Wildstein a list of Democratic endorsement targets, listing Sokolich as a no go, Wildstein said be began thinking about how the Port Authority could use its leverage.

By this time, Stepien had left the state government to work at Christies campaign manager, handing over his previous position to Kelly. After Sokolich rejected Christie, prosecutors showed, Kelly stalled a program that used Port Authority funds to subsidize snow removal in Fort Lee. At that time, Wildstein said, I understood that Mayor Sokolich was no longer on the favored mayor list. Apparently Sokolich didnt get the message, however, because later that summer Kelly and Wildstein allegedly began discussing a plan to close the traffic lanes. On August 12, Wildstein wrote to Kelly: I have an issue to discuss with you, extraordinarily weird even by my standards. Wildstein testified that he didnt know which weird idea he was referring to. But the next morning, Kelly wrote him a fateful note: Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.

Wildstein testified that he immediately informed Baroni. Mr. Baroni was a little surprised that it was coming this late in the election season, Wildstein said, but he alleged that they nonetheless pushed forward with planning. Wildstein testified that he suggested staging the closures during the last week in August, but he said Baroni countered that traffic might be light on those days. To maximize the mayors pain, Baroni allegedly came up with another suggestion. Mr. Baroni asked me, When is the first day of school? Wildstein recounted. He came up with the date September 9.

He smiled and said Fantastic, Wildstein said. Throughout the case, Baroni has claimed that he was aware of the closures, but thought they were part of a legitimate study of traffic patterns Wildstein was pursuing. The prosecution presented evidence to undermine that claim today by showing that previous actions had been conducted after gathering community input  in one instance, Baroni himself knocked on doors in the town of Weehawken to inform residents of construction work scheduled for the Lincoln Tunnel approach. Wildstein testified that Baroni was pleased when his aide informed him that the location of Sokolichs residence meant that if he was leaving his house that morning, he would probably hit that traffic.

Wildstein testified that he also briefed Stepien, the campaign manager. Mr. Stepien asked about what story we were going to use, he said. I explained to Mr. Stepien that I was going to create the cover of a traffic study. (Stepien also told him that any further discussion should be routed through Kelly.) In the days leading up to the closures, Wildstein met yet another Christie supporter, Port Authority board member Pat Schuber, at a New Jersey diner, to brief him on the coming action. Schuber was formerly the top elected official in Bergen County, which Fort Lee is a part of, and would have been well aware of the traffic consequences of closing the lanes. Wildstein said he told the board member that there was going to [be] a lot of traffic in Fort Lee, and it came from the governors office because of Mayor Sokolich. He explained that he did so because he viewed Mr. Schuber as a loyal member of Governor Christies team.

(Schuber is still on the Port Authority board. After the court session, New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat who has been regularly attending the proceedings, called for his resignation.)

Near the close of his testimony, Wildstein described watching the implementation of the lane closures from a control center adjacent to the bridge. I knew that the plan that I had set into motion was working, he said. That there was a lot of traffic. After a friendly Port Authority police officer took him for a tour of the clogged streets, he said he drove from an Authority parking garage directly onto the bridge. As he headed toward his office in Manhattan, he said, he called Baroni and Kelly to report the results of his plan.

I told [Kelly] that the traffic was an absolute mess, Wildstein said.

How did she respond? asked prosecutor Lee M. Cortes Jr.

She was pleased, Wildstein said.
Bathrooms have become a hot-button issue. Photo: Boston Globe/Getty Images

A federal judge in Ohio has vigorously upheld the White Houses guidelines on public facilities for transgender people, striking down a challenge from the school district in Morrow County, Ohio, telling the schools to treat a female transgender student like the girl she is.

Highland Local School District in Morrow County had sought to block a federal directive that asked public schools to allow students to use the facilities  like bathrooms and locker rooms  that correspond to their gender identities, even if that does not match the sex on their birth certificates.

The schools had argued that they did provide facilities for the student in question in the schools office, separate from the bathrooms used by other students.

Judge Algenon Marbley seemed to agree with the 11-year-old students parents that using a separate bathroom took an unfair toll on her mental health, and said there was no evidence that the student in question would pose a threat to the privacy or safety of other students.

He wrote, [S]chool districts that have encountered these very issues have been able to integrate transgender students fully into the academic and social community without disruption, and certainly without the doomsday scenarios Highland predicts, such as sexual predators entering an elementary-school restroom.

A federal district court in Texas had issued an injunction against enforcement of the federal governments regulations in a lawsuit filed by a dozen states. But Judge Marbley made clear that that injunction did not apply to Ohio because Ohio wasnt one of the states involved in that lawsuit, and because Highland Schools had brought their case to court before the Texas ruling.

He said that, aside from providing her access to the girls restroom, the school district should treat her as a girl in all ways, including only using her preferred female name and referring to her using female pronouns.

If the school district continues to not follow the federal directive, it stands to lose $1 million a year in federal funding.
Photo: Angelo Merendino/AFP/Getty Images

In American political campaigns, the correlation between how much attention an issue gets and the actual significance of that issue is rarely strong. In 1996, Bill Clinton campaigned for reelection with a plan for mandatory school uniforms. Four years later, Al Gores campaign spent much energy distancing itself from a blow job his boss had received. In 2004, George W. Bush used his reelection bid to highlight the threat gay rights posed to heterosexual marriage.

The financial crisis diminished the frivolous style in American politics for a couple election cycles, but its back in full force in 2016: This years GOP debates featured roughly as much discussion of Donald Trumps penis size as they did about climate change, while, in the general election, Hillary Clintons IT management habits have seen more coverage than the threat monopolies pose to economic growth.

Still, even considering our political cultures affinity for the trivial, its sort of weird how little our presidential candidates have talked about the impending robot-induced unemployment crisis.

This month, Uber brought its first fleet of self-driving cars to Pittsburgh. Lyft responded by releasing a five-year plan that promises more than half of the ride-sharing services vehicles will be driven by robots in 2022.

Lyfts goal is ambitious, but its not insane. Morgan Stanley expects that the technology for fully autonomous vehicles will be in place by 2022, and that human-driven vehicles will be an anachronism two decades later. Thats in line with the projections of Navigent research, which predicts that by 2035, sales of autonomous vehicles will reach 95.4 million annually, representing 75 percent of all light-duty vehicle sales.

This is a big deal. Right now, 180,000 Americans work as taxi drivers, 500,000 drive school buses, and 160,000 pilot transit buses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another 160,000 work for Uber.

And then, theres the trucking industry. Theres been a lot of talk over the past year about how trade deals have harmed non-college-educated workers. And thats a worthy subject of political debate. But its also worth noting that one of the few remaining sources of middle-class, blue-collar work is about to be eliminated.

Illustration: NPR

The Labor Department puts the number of truck drivers in America at roughly 2.4 million. The American Trucker Association puts that figure at 3.5 million. Those truckers are central to economies across Americas towns and freeways: Robots dont buy rooms and slices of pie from roadside motels. Nor do they use their wages to make down payments on new houses for their families. Disrupt the trucking profession and you disrupt a large swath of the American economy.

And the robo-truckers are already here.

The obstacles to fully automated trucking are more legal than technological. Self-driving trucks should arrive long before self-driving cars, as Scott Santens explains:

Any realistic time horizon for self-driving trucks needs to look at horizons for cars and shift those even further towards the present. Trucks only need to be self-driven on highways. They do not need warehouse-to-store autonomy to be disruptive. City-to-city is sufficient. At the same time, trucks are almost entirely corporate driven. There are market forces above and beyond private cars operating for trucks. If there are savings to be found in eliminating truckers from drivers seats, which there are, these savings will be sought. Its actually really easy to find these savings right now.

These are all, potentially, positive developments. Human beings did not evolve to safely commandeer heavy, high-speed vehicles. People-driven trucks killed 3,600 people in 2014. More than 38,000 people died on American roadways in 2015. In a world of universal driverless cars, McKinsey & Company predicts that crash rates would fall by up to 90 percent.



But as Joel Lee notes in MUO, this wonderful public-safety development would present its own economic challenges: 445,000 Americans work in auto-repair shops, which are (hopefully) about to see a lot less business.

Even if one believed that presidential candidates should focus entirely on problems manifest in the present, robot-induced unemployment would merit a place in the conversation. As Larry Summers argues in the Washington Post, Job destruction caused by technology is not a futuristic concern. It is something we have been living with for two generations.

As automation has become more prevalent over the past four decades, working-age men have been dropping out of the labor force. A linear continuation of the trend would put one-quarter of such men out of work by mid-century. And Summers thinks thats a low-ball estimate. Maybe the answer to this challenge is a federal jobs program  or maybe its legal weed, a universal basic income, and widely available virtual-reality headsets.

Regardless, robots are poised to displace more American workers than any of the trade deals Trump decries. Surely, that merits at least as much discussion as Hillary Clintons email server.
Blood on the floor of the first debate. Photo: Brendan Smialowksi/AFP/Getty Images

Before the first presidential debate, a conventional wisdom had formed that Donald Trump merely needed to appear presidential, which the campaign media had defined as non-sociopathic. He failed to clear that bar.

Trump enjoyed his greatest success near the beginning of the debate, where he pounded home his nationalist-populist message on foreign trade and cornered Hillary Clinton, who has changed her stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Clinton used the first portion of the debate to try to define her opponent as an advocate of conventional Republican trickle-down economics, but only managed to mention his support of tax cuts for the rich. She failed to bring up his increase in taxes on the middle class, and when Trump proposed to reduce regulations, she neglected to tie his promise to its unpopular specifics, like deregulating Wall Street, polluters, and opposing the minimum wage. It was possible for a while to imagine low-information voters buying his self-styled image as a truth-telling, nonpolitical outsider who would shake up the system.

Trump managed to tell a number of lies without consequence. He insisted he had never called global warming a Chinese hoax, when that very claim is still up on his Twitter feed. He insisted crime has risen in New York, when it has fallen. He insisted that, contrary to his public support for the Iraq War, he had opposed it in private, inaccessible conversations with his lickspittle Sean Hannity  who, if called upon to do so, would probably vouchsafe that Trump indeed won the 1985 American League Most Valuable Player Award.

What did work for Clinton was sowing doubts about Trumps character. She mentioned his $14 million loan from his father, and Trump aggravated the damage by calling the loan small without disputing the sum. He gave no coherent reason for why he could not release his tax returns. He admitted to failing to pay contractors, insisting they had all done poor work, an excuse hardly any person who had done work for hire could find plausible or acceptable. He defended his record of refusing housing accommodations to African-Americans by saying he had signed a consent decree with no admission of guilt, and then, years later, built a club in Palm Beach that did not exclude people by race. His defense of the charge of fomenting birtherism was a disaster. When he tried out his campaign line that he merely wanted to force Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate, Lester Holt noted that he continued to question its authenticity in each of the next four years, at one point sputtering, Look, its all words.

The final exchange of the debate was the most devastating. Clinton lacerated Trump for his dehumanization of women  the kind of sexualization that offends social conservatives and social liberals alike. She brought up his abuse of one of his beauty-pageant contestants  noting, as an aside, his fondness for hanging around them  and that he called one contestant Miss Piggy and, because she is Latina, Miss Housekeeper. When Trump fell for the trap by demanding her name, Clinton supplied it: Alicia Machado, driving home the justifiable impression that Clinton sees her as a human being, unlike her opponent, who sees her as a piece of meat. His response consisted of whining that her campaign was spending money to attack him in advertisements.

How did Clinton come across? She maintained her composure and her dignity, something no Republican who confronted (or was bullied by) Trump in the primary debates managed to do. She had facts at her disposal, she apologized for her poor choice of email systems, and she conveyed that she is sane and competent. The contrast between an obviously and eminently qualified public servant and a ranting bully was as stark as any presidential debate in American history.
Photo: Javed Tanveer/AFP/Getty Images

At the beginning and end of last nights presidential debate, moderator Lester Holt mentioned that time limitations would result in some relevant issues going undiscussed. Immigration, campaign finance, and Benghazi are just a few topics some voters wish had come up. But members of the Taliban, who took a break from killing Afghan soldiers to gather in a secret location for a viewing party, were disappointed there was no discussion of Afghanistan, a spokesman for the group told NBC News.

There [was] nothing of interest to us in the debate as both of them said little about Afghanistan and their future plans for the country, the spokesman said.

He also couldnt resist taking a shot at Donald Trump, a nonserious person who says anything that comes to his tongue.

And theres another offense to add to the list for the Taliban  making us think about Donald Trumps tongue.
Heightened security at LAX. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

Nader Elhuzayel, 25, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to join the Islamic State. He was convicted of providing material support to a terrorist organization.

About 70 other Americans have been convicted on charges of trying to join ISIS, most of whom entered guilty pleas.

Elhuzayel was arrested in May of last year at Los Angeles International Airport trying to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Turkey. Officials said he had planned to make his way from Turkey into Syria.

Photo: 24YO Nader Elhuzayel. 1 of 2 #Anaheim men arrested for allegedly trying to join #ISIS. Live report at 11 @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/AJcW6pIhFa  Greg Lee (@abc7greg) May 22, 2015

The evidence against Elhuzayel was damning. He was arrested with a carry-on bag that held a hard drive full of graphic photos of ISIS beheadings and a hit list that had been distributed by the organization containing the personal information of U.S. Defense Department employees.

In the weeks before he was arrested, Elhuzayel tweeted his support for terror attacks in the United States and even appeared in a video pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and promising to enlist in the group as a soldier.

In one tweet, Elhuzayel parroted the homophobic rhetoric of the Islamic State, writing: The only thing more beautiful than rain is homosexuals being thrown off tall buildings.

Elhuzayel was tried alongside a co-defendant, Muhanad Badawi. Badawi was convicted of conspiring with Elhuzayel to support terrorism, aiding and abetting him  Badawi purchased Elhuzayels ticket  and one count of financial aid fraud.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge David Carter said of Elhuzayel, Theres no remorse, no repudiation of ISIL, only death and destruction.

Badawi will be sentenced on October 17.
Dr. Homa Hoodfar. Photo: Uncredited/AP

Canadian-Iranian academic Dr. Homa Hoodfar has been released from prison in Iran, where she was jailed for dabbling in feminism, according to the BBC.

Hoodfar, 65, had been held for alleged acts against national security. However, her family said the former professor of anthropology at Montreals Concordia University had been accused of dabbling in feminism and security matters. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed Hoodfars release, which Iranian state media said was given on humanitarian grounds.

The academic was one of three foreign nationals who had been indicted in July. She was initially detained in March, according to the BBC, but was released soon after. However, three months later, she was arrested again and sent to a prison known for its poor treatment of detainees.

Hoodfar had been ill, and is being returned to Canada through Oman, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. Trudeau said the Canadian government worked with officials from Italy, Oman, and Switzerland to secure her release.

Canadians are relieved that Dr. Hoodfar has been released from jail and will soon be reunited with her family, friends, and colleagues, Trudeau said.
Photo: New Hope Fertility Center

A Jordanian couple welcomed their son on April 6 after some genetic splicing in Mexico meant to ensure the baby wouldnt inherit a fatal condition that the mother carries. Hes the worlds first so-called three-parent baby using a new IVF technique.

The Jordanian woman is a carrier of a fatal disorder called Leigh syndrome. She and her husband have had four miscarriages and lost two children, one at age 6 and another at 8 months. The genes for Leigh syndrome (and several other debilitating and fatal diseases) are found in mitochondrial DNA, which is passed only from mothers to their children. The three-parent-baby IVF technique replaces a mothers mitochondrial DNA with that from a donor; it has no effect on appearance or personality traits.

Three-parent babies became legal in the U.K. in February 2015, and a study published this June determined that the technique would lead to normal pregnancies. Supporters say that this is a big step forward in reproductive technology, but critics slammed the medical teams decision to perform the procedure in Mexico, where there is next to no regulation. The baby appears to be healthy, but we dont know if there were other attempts that were unsuccessful. More details about the procedure and birth will be shared at next months American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting, in Salt Lake City.
The OECD Observer online archive takes you on a journey through half a century of public policy and world progress.

Since November 1962, the OECDs experts and leading guests offer insights on the questions facing our member countries with concise and authoritative analysis, and provide our audiences with an excellent opportunity to understand policy debates and consider solutions.

Each edition of the OECD Observer reports on a core theme of the OECDs on-going work, from economics and society through governance, finance, and the environment, and articles are bolstered by tables and graphs.
I feel like they took it down, I sent them a video with a fuck you snapchat and they opened it. Lol

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lmao I didnt know they open snaps

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LMFAO

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'This filter is awful so I'm going to use the filter to show snapchat how gross it is.'

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lmao mte you can tell @snapchat how awful it is without actually using the filter, rme. he stays messy.

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I used it but covered Trump's name with poop emojis.

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I don't watch Catfish but I find him incredibly hot.

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if you watched catfish you'd find the other guy incredibly hot tbh

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Agreed. Nev is too damn hairy.

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Accurate

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I find them both hot, smh at myself :(

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They can make me a sandwich

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He's totally hot, I hooked up with an Australian last year that bore a resemblance to him-Nev is hotter though

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First those Oculus douchebags and now Snapchat. How am I supposed to boycott products that I don't already use?

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If you don't like it, don't use it.

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isnt the problem this election season that trump isn't held accountable because people let everything side? Everyone should be up in arms tbh

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Over a snapchat filter? No thanks.

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so i'm assuming the snapchat devs are pro trump. gross yet unexpected.

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well maybe, but anyone with enough $ can buy a geofilter on snapchat which is what im sure happened here



i've seen random ass nobodies getting married buy geofilters for their weddings

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oh i see lol sorry i don't really use snapchat, still side eyeing tho..

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They have a filter for every candidate

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lmao

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2nd best catfish moment next to the "you got me there" guy lmao

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I always thought that was something Tumblr made up

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plz tell me the top 3 is rounded up by,

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Loved this moment.

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They never show re-runs of this episode and it bums me out.

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So fake tho

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which episode is this one?

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nasty ass filter



guys... naomi watts and liev schrieber have split

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This was a rumor for a bit, I think a blind item actually. Anyway, divorces come in 3s...

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Lots of past blinds about how he cheats on her when he's on location.

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RIP, tru love. Im sure they are thankful for the brangelina split and tonights debate.

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oh shit



like, 2 weeks ago i checked to see if they were still together and i was legit relieved lol



:(

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Well, I've low key shipped Angelina and Liev since Salt... Make it happen @god

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I even didn't know they were together

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noooooooooooooo

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i had no idea they were a couple

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Great timing for that release

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well good thing i don't use snapchat

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I don't have that filter! I don't understand Snapchat.

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I don't understand it either. What's the point of it?

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I just have one that says debate and has asses and elephants fall out of your mouth.

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I live in Southern California and I had the filter early this morning sadly.

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I don't have the one Nev used but I have one of Trump skydiving from a jet that reads "Trump force one" and onto a podium

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I tried using it once and it seems so unnecessarily complicated and pointless

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It's a geo filter so not everyone will have it, but they took it down. I had this morning and I don't see it anymore.

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he truly aint shit

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Can anyone explain to me why this person talks like this?

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it's just like a character that they are very committed too

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Can anyone explain why your comments are always bullshit? No?

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artistic revolution through the potential of pop

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Because you touch yourself at night

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america those polls are making me NERVOUS

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Same. It shouldn't even be a competition and yet...ugh. I hate people.

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i hope the media is inflating drumpf's numbers to make it seem closer, get more views...like the super bowl last year didn't have as many viewers because the broncos were so dominant, as opposed to the seahawks v. patriots, which was close.

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On September 22, Donald Trump reaffirmed his intent to revive the American coal industry--without many details on how to do it. What influences the price and demand for coal? Can Donald Trump influence the forces behind these market drivers?

We nominate these four factors as the most important drivers of coal prices: production and demand for steel, because the coal industry sells and exports metallurgical coal used in steel production; demand for electricity, insofar as much electricity is still generated from coal; Chinese government interference in the steel and metallurgical coal markets, because China is the world's largest steel producer and most of the companies there are state owned; and, lastly, the price of natural gas because coal competes directly with natural gas in the electric generation market. Of course a fifth factor may emerge: Presidential Candidate Donald Trumps plan (so far unspecified) to make coal king again.

Lets examine these factors most of which are not within the control of the U.S. President. From 2007 (before the market crash) to the present, steel production in the U.S. and the Rest of the World (outside China) has declined and Chinese production may be topping out as well. The coal industry cant improve metallurgical coal sales up without a steel industry revival. (See Figure 1.)

The electricity market has a similar "topping" look to it (and is far more important because electric generators buy over 90% of all U.S. coal production). We see static sales in the U.S. and declining growth elsewhere. (See Figure 2.) Even if renewables, especially wind, were not crowding out coal from the power generation market, sales to the electricity industry would show minimal growth at best. The real problem? Coal can no longer compete with natural gas on a price basis as an electricity generating fuel.

But the price of fuel is only part of the problem. The costs to build new coal-fired power plants is higher as well. Overall power costs for a new gas fired station are roughly 20 percent lower than from a coal fired power plant. (See Figure 3.) Related: Big Oils Iraqi Disappointment

Figure 1. Production of Crude Steel (millions of metric tons)

Figure 2. Electricity Generation (TWH)

Figure 3. Delivered Price of Fuels to Electric Generators and Gas Price Adjusted for Superior Efficiency of Gas fired plants ($/MM BTU)

Note: Adjusted gas price takes into account the relative fuel efficiency of gas vs coal stations.

President Trump claims he will ease environmental restrictions on coal by appointing sympathetic administrators to the EPA. At the same time he would also lift restrictions on natural gas exploration and production. For coal is a problem. It would lead to even more price competition by lowering natural gas production and development costs thereby making gas even more competitive as a boiler fuel.

It's probably safe to assume that Mr. Trump takes a dim view of carbon limits such as those recently agreed to by world leaders in Paris. But prospective power plant builders also have to consider that whoever occupies the Oval Office post-Trump may entertain more conventional views on global warming and climate change. Thus it is unlikely we will see a rush to construct coal fired power plants with an expected forty or sixty year life. Related: Teslas Model 3 Could Take 300,000 Bpd Off U.S. Gasoline Demand

President Trump, however, could also attempt to slow the advance of renewables. At the federal level, reducing or eliminating relatively attractive tax credits is an obvious first step. While this might slow the decline of coal sales, it would not protect the coal industry from innovative, low cost competitors (both natural gas and renewables).

At the end of the day, natural gas is cheaper than coal. It also emits roughly half as much CO2 as coal per kwh when burned to produce electricity. In a nutshell, thats a large part of why utility CO2 emissions are declining.

Much attention has been focused on states that produce coal. It may also help to ask, what areas of our country depend most heavily on coal? Answer: rural ones. Coal is the way rural America produces its electricity. The contractual relationship between the rural co-ops and generation-owning G&Ts (almost exclusively coal fired) is likely to come under scrutiny. This is a stealth issue for Supreme Court watchers.

On the economic battlefield, coal is losing and natural gas is winning. Mr. Trump, should he win in November, could certainly help the coal industry. He could work to level the environmental playing field thereby slowing the rate of coals decline. But there's not much any U.S. President can do about trends in worldwide steel production or the American publics desire to consume energy more efficiently, as demonstrated in flat electricity sales. Maybe he really has a plan. We just dont see it.

By Leonard Hyman and William Tilles for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will be holding informal talks on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers, which will run from Monday to Wednesday of this week.

The 14 members will discuss methods to reduce the crude oil supply glut, including the possibility of a production freeze. Heres where each country stands so far, with Brent barrels trading at $47.01:

Algeria

Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa hopes to see a production freeze that will stabilize oil at $60 to generate much-needed revenues for his government.

Over the weekend, the Middle East Monitor reported that the countrys new budget would increase the VAT by two percent and levy new taxes on the sale of old cars and homes. The cost of petrol and diesel will also increase in the next fiscal year to close a budget deficit of over 15 percent.

Last Tuesday, the minister told a local radio station he hoped OPEC members would agree to hold an extraordinary summit during the Algiers meeting.

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.

Angola

This West African country - producing 2.6 percent of the worlds oil - operates at a break-even price of $93.10 a barrel, so current oil prices do not bode well for Angola.

Fitch Ratings recently downgraded the nations credit rating from B+ to B due to freefalling oil profits - which account for 95 percent of export revenues and 45 percent of GDP.

Angola overtook Nigeria as the largest African oil producer earlier this year, but low oil prices have prevented the country from profiting from production hikes as it should. The country has also had to shelve plans for the construction of the Lobito refinery and the Barra Do Dande shipping terminal due to a lack of funds.

Angolan officials have been mostly silent regarding their countrys need for a freeze deal.

Ecuador

President Rafael Correa said over the weekend he would like to see OPEC members agree on a deal to stabilize the global oil market. If not, he warned of serious risks for the future of the groups effectiveness and credibility.

The consequences could be very serious, it could lead to a disintegration of OPEC itself, Correa said. There is even a risk that internal disputes within OPEC could lead prices to plummet again."

Ecuador represents just 0.8 percent of worlds oil production, but crude profits make up 50 percent of export revenues and 30 percent of government income.

Correa said in February that the South American nation is receiving as little as $30 a barrel for its crude, while production costs average about $39.

Gabon

OPECs newest member (July 2016) has been plagued with election unrest this past month, which has kept the government too busy to officially comment on the state of oil markets.

Bloomberg reports that the country is the blocs smallest oil producer, but the sector accounts for roughly 40 percent of Gabons GDP, 45 percent of government revenues, and nearly 85 percent of exports.

Libya

Libyas five-year civil war has destroyed parts of the countrys oil infrastructure and had brought oil exports to a two-year halt, until a 776,000-barrel shipment left the Ras Lanuf port earlier this month.

The North African country is not looking for a production freeze, because, as Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of the National Oil Corporation, said last week: "Without a resumption of exports we could run out of money next year."

Diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom met with Libyan militia groups in the past few weeks to encourage them to boost oil exports, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday.

Western governments are pushing for a resumption of exports because they want to ensure Libya remains solvent, able to fight ISIS, and has the resources to conduct state building, Jason Pack of Libya-Analysis told The WSJ.

Nigeria

Separatists groups in the Niger Delta have been wreaking havoc on Nigerias oil infrastructure and output over the past couple of months. Related: Is The Next Shale Boom About To Unfold In Mexico?

The Niger Delta Avengers had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in late August, however, the group attacked a Bonny crude export pipeline on Friday in response to government attempts to capture the groups members during the ceasefire.

We will resist all actions undermining the ceasefire from side of the government and it security agents/agencies, the group said on its official site.

Another group called the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), conducted a series of attacks on pipelines in the last two weeks.

Nigerian Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachiwku currently holds OPECs rotating presidency.

The country had been working on recovering the 700,000 barrels-per-day of production capacity it lost from attacks before the NDAs pipeline assault on Friday. Even as hostilities return, Nigeria is unlikely to support an output freeze that would strangle its already struggling oil sector.

Indonesia

Indonesia also looks poised to oppose a halt in production. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani told CNBC earlier this month that Indonesia was generally comfortable despite barrel prices stagnant below $50.

As a G-20 nation and the only OPEC country in Asia-Pacific, Indonesia exported $6.4 billion of petroleum last year, but it will ride out the oil price crisis practically unscathed.

Mulyani said the government has budgeted for $40-$45 oil. Unlike many of its OPEC colleagues, Indonesia has a thriving tourism, agriculture and mining industry that can sustain the economy during tough times for the oil market.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has pegged Indonesia as a net oil importer since 2003.

Indonesia removed taxes on oil and gas explorers operating in the country late last week, which indicated that the country is gearing up to revive its lackluster fuel production record in recent months.

Iran

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 Algiers meeting. 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 Wednesday, 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. 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: Why Oil Prices Will Rise More And Sooner Than Most Believe

If Iran insists on non-participation this time around, Saudi Arabia could tank yet another attempt at resetting the energy supply landscape.

Iraq

Iraq, the second-largest OPEC crude producer after Saudi Arabia, has been pumping out crude at higher levels because Iraq is still below what it should produce, according to Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.

The second-largest oil producer in the block is in need of new revenues as it fights the costly war against the Islamic State and recaptures the terrorist groups oil assets.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, has notoriously been increasing output to prevent Iran from regaining its market share while pressure for a production freeze mounts.

The KSA refused to sign off on a negotiated freeze deal in March after Iran said it would not stop production as its oil sector recovers from the effects of years of international sanctions. So far, Saudi has not budged on this stance, but Iran has gained the vocal support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Because of Saudi Arabias status as a regional political leader and an exporter of over 15 percent of the worlds oil, the countrys Gulf neighbors  Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates  tend to fall in line with the kingdoms geopolitical arguments.

So far, the KSA does not seem keen on proactively combatting the abundance of oil in the market, opting to let the invisible hand of the market take its time to bring prices upward instead.

Despite volatility, the market is heading toward re-balance, and prices are likely to strengthen with time, Amin Nasser, the CEO of Saudi Arabian Oil Co, said on Monday. However, market volatility could remain with us for the near future.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies are all grappling with crumbling economies and shorted national budgets under the weight of low oil prices and currently unachievable break-even points.

Venezuela

Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino lobbied heavily for a production freeze at the OPEC meeting December, April and June.

"These are decisive days," Del Pino said last Tuesday of the time period leading up to the informal meeting. The minister heads the state oil company PDVSA, which is in desperate need of a hike in fuel revenues and favorable financial ratings to fund imports of consumer goods and medical supplies for its citizens and to keep the socialist governments public services afloat.

Mismanagement of previous oil revenues and chronically depressed energy prices since 2014 have brought this oil-dependent country to the brink of collapse. Venezuela is one of the countries most desperate for a production freeze.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

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Russia has launched the first commercial production at the countrys northernmost onshore Arctic Vostochno-Messoyakhskoy oilfield. The oilfields recoverable oil and gas condensate reserves are estimated to exceed 340 million tons of oil and 113 billion cubic meters of gas, according to the information shared by the projects stakeholders Rosneft and Gazpromneft.

In 2016, production is expected to reach 577, 000 tons of oil, and production peak of 5.6 million tons of oil is projected to be achieved by 2020.

Production started after president Putin officially greenlighted it on September 21, via a teleconference with the Vostochno-Messoyakhskoy oilfield site. The launching ceremony of the largest drilling project in the Arctic was attended by the top executives of Russias oil and gas industry giants: Gazprom Chairman of the Management Committee Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom Neft Management Board Alexander Dyukov and: Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, who took part in the videoconference from the Arctic project site.

Russian president Vladimir Putin pointed out the utmost importance of the projects launch for the Russian energy industry. Work on this field started decades ago when the first geological explorations were conducted. This production launch is a huge achievement: the result of a tremendous effort and hard work and expertise on behalf of thousands of industry specialists, most complex sets of technology and large-scale investments that finally got Messoyakhskoys oil off the ground and ready for shipment, Putin stated .

The Vostochno-Messoyakhsky field is located on Gydan Peninsula of Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous District of Russia.

The company Messoyakhaneftegaz, a joint venture of Rosneft and GazpromNeft, owns the license for the development of the field.

According to Rosneft, by the end of 2016, investment in the development of Vostochno-Messoyakhskoye oilfield will amount to about 85 billion rubles ($1.32 billion, and is projected to increase up to 256 billion rubles ($3.97 billion) by 2040.

The fields infrastructure was built in a very harsh climate in less than 3 years, overcoming the locations remoteness from any industrial and transport sites, with the nearest settlement being some 150 km away. A total of 400 thousand tons of cargo have been delivered to the field by water and by winte roads.

There are currently 51 operational oil wells in the project field, and a 98 km long supply pipeline connects the field to Zapolyarye-Purpe main pipeline. The pipeline is insulated to withstand low arctic temperatures. The oil produced at Vostochno-Messoyakhskoye field is very viscous, and has to be heated at a central oil treatment facility first in order to be transported. The field is equipped with two electric power stations with the aggregate capacity of 90 Mw.

As the Head of Rosneft, Sechin emphasized during the video conference, the most advanced technologies have been used for designing and drilling of the 51 operational wells, including the horizontally inclined wells with side ramifications that have boosted the wells yield up by 40 percent. Related: Low Oil Prices Are Not The Reason Oil Companies Are Going Bankrupt

Rosneft also provided access to advanced technologies utilized while implementing complex projects, such as Vankor, that became flagman production projects of the world oil industry, said Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.

The Head of the Russian oil industry giant also put a marked emphasis on the need for reform in the Russian oil industry tax code to allow tax stimulation and tax relief for the oil companies to become more competitive.

Due to intense competition on global hydrocarbon markets it is of vital importance for the Russian oil and gas industry to maintain production and bring new fields into production. The field that launched today required RUB 250 billion worth of investment. In such conditions, the industry requires tax stimulation so that we could be competitive on the world markets. We believe that the tax privileges under review should contain universal approaches based on reservoir qualities, oil physical and chemical qualities, field water cut level and infrastructure availability, stated Sechin.

As Gazproms Chairman Alexey Miller stated during the ceremonial launch, up until 2040 the oilfield operations will generate aggregate tax revenues worth 1 trillion rubles that will be paid to multiple Russian budgetary funds.

However, the project economics may take a turn for the worse in the wake of the taxation changes proposed by the Russian Ministry of Finance. Related: Is The Next Shale Boom About To Unfold In Mexico?

According to the proposed plan, oil export duties may be abolished but the mineral extraction tax (MET) may be increased, and the burden of excise tax may be shifted to refineries with a smaller rate of tax returns, as was reported by government officials to Vedomosti.

Annulment of tax duties payment will nullify tax privileges.

An oil company employee told Vedomosti that such a tax maneuver is not acceptable to the oil industry, as it will lead to an increase in the amount of taxes applied.

Production at key oilfields of Western Siberia declines at the rate of 3 per cent a year, although the production cost is extremely low: $2 US per barrel. The output declines because there is no effective, stimulating tax regime, and instead of creating one, the authorities do everything on the contrary, the source said regretfully.

According to another source from Gazpromneft, who preferred not to disclose his name, if no benefits from taxes are introduced, the oilfield will be profitable only at the price over $100 per barrel

According to an analyst from Sberbank-CIB Valery Nesterov, if the tax burden on Vostochno-Messoyakhsky oilfield increases, the shareholders may postpone capital expenditures and put off the projected timing of reaching production plateau.

If the tax regime remains unchanged, by 2019 the Russian oil industry output may exceed 570 million ton, the analyst concluded.

By Ekaterina Prokovskaya for Oilprice.com

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One market that energy investors sometimes spend very little time thinking about is plastics. Despite the fact that plastics are an oil derivative, energy investors tend to focus on other end markets for oil. In the present environment though, where demand for oil from every source is critical, that short-sightedness is a mistake. And with a major new investment in plastics coming online soon, oil investors should consider how the changing environment will affect traditional players like Dow and DuPont in the space for derivative chemicals.

The major new plastics investment in question comes from a Chinese firm. Rongsheng Petrochemical is investing $24 billion in building a refinery for plastics and chemicals. The facility will be south of Shanghai on the Island of Zhoushan and is forecasted to process 400,000 barrels a day, 10.4 million metric tons of aromatics a year. This comes as quite a shock considering most oil companies wouldnt bet as much on such a proportionally small industry.

Rongsheng only holds 51 percent of the facility, the rest belonging to Tongkun Group Co., Juhua Group, and Zhoushan Marine Comprehensive Development and Investment, all of which are privately owned. All of the companies will fund the construction of the refinery. The project will stretch over 10,000 acres and is predicted to be the fifth largest refinery in the world.

As of last quarter, only $4.8 billion is spent on chemicals, marginally less than the $8 billion in capital expenditures on oil. The market for chemicals is significantly smaller than oil; making speculators do a double take at the refinery that is projected to be as large as other oil refineries, except strictly plastics and chemicals. On top of this, the market for plastics is fairly constant, capital expenditures have only grown $1 billion in the past two decades. The inundation of plastics will likely upset the market, once the refinery is complete.

With global strides towards green energy, governments and corporations are easing off coal and oil consumption. Oil demand will undeniably decline once electric cars become more prominent as well as the integration of more renewables into the power grid. This drop will complicate business for oil producers, making the market for plastics surprisingly enticing. Exxon Mobil relies heavily on chemicals for their revenue; they in fact brought in the most revenue during the first quarter of the year. By investing such a substantial sum into the plastics and chemical industry, Rongsheng is hedging their risk and will effectively profit comparable to Exxon. Related: Inside OPEC: What Does Each Member Want?

Demand for petrochemicals that go into making plastic bottles has jumped in the past several years in China. The nation imported 11.6 million tons of paraxylene in 2015, roughly half of the amount consumed. Producing these chemicals locally will reduce Chinas costs of importing. This past July however, capital spending on oil fell 10 percent and coal mining 13 percent. This resulted in an 8.1 percent drop in crude production or 3.95 million fewer barrels a day. President Xi Jinping is attempting to limit the use of dirty energy in the nation by enforcing regulations on companies and closing coal mines.

Rongshengs shares dropped half of a percent on the 14th of September when news circulated , but the growth potential is vast as long as the optimistic firm doesnt flood the market. Investors should potentially avoid or short Petrochina and Sinopec as they will see reduced market share in the petrochemical industry as this refinery comes online. These companies will likely continue their level of production upon completion of the refinery meaning petrochemicals will overextend demand. With an increase in activity for crude, supply will rise and the futures market will see a decline in price. A reduction in imports will also result in a higher yield for the Chinese Yuan. The refinery is scheduled to be completed by 2018.

By Michael McDonald of Oilprice.com

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Several of the worlds top oil officials are gathering in Algiers this week for the International Energy Forum, set to take place from Sept. 26-28. But the real show will be on the sidelines: OPEC and several key non-OPEC countries will meet informally to discuss potential coordination on production limits.

Meanwhile, oil prices traded up more than 3 percent on Monday in anticipation that OPEC could announce progress towards a production freeze. But that came after several rocky trading sessions in recent days, with oil prices plunging by more than 5 percent last week. Bullish bets from oil speculators have dropped to one-month lows, Reuters says, after news surfaced that Saudi Arabia and Iran failed to reach a consensus after meeting in Vienna just ahead of the Algiers meeting.

The anticipation surrounding the meeting in Algeria has pushed price volatility up to its highest level since April, which was not coincidentally the last time that OPEC raised expectations of coordinated action.

But this time around OPEC is probably wary of disappointing the market yet again, which would diminish whatever credibility they have left. Therefore, the chances of at least the semblance of cooperation is necessary. Still, OPEC officials have repeatedly said that the meeting is an informal one, not a meeting for decision-making. One possible outcome is that the group issues a statement saying there is some form of consensus around a production freeze, to be finalized at a future meeting, perhaps at its scheduled November meeting in Vienna.

The effect of a production freeze, as has been widely noted, would likely be minimal on supplies, given the record levels of production from OPEC members and Russia. It might provide a psychological boost to the market, pushing up oil prices temporarily, but with huge volumes of oil potentially coming back online in Libya and Nigeria, market sentiment will move beyond the result from Algeria and eventually focus on the fundamentals once again, which do not look good. Related: Tax Troubles Threaten Russias Arctic Megaproject

Even if the unthinkable were to happen at some point  which nobody is predicting  and OPEC somehow agrees to a production cut, as opposed to just a freeze, even that result would be less bullish than many analysts might expect. Cutting output may limit supplies today, but it also builds up spare capacity, which will eventually come back online as the market improves. The catch of cutting oil production is that if OPEC and Russia decide to cut then these volumes will eventually move back into the market again, Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB, noted in an emailed statement.

Cutting output may appear to balance the market, but the real adjustment will take longer than it seems. First the record levels of inventories will need to be drawn down, a fact that could take years given the massive volume of oil and refined products currently sitting in storage. Moreover, that process will take longer than previously expected  the IEA said last week that the oil market will continue to see inventory builds through next year.

After inventories start to fall, then there would be the additional latent capacity that was built up from the hypothetical OPEC output cut. Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC producers would return supply to the market. From there, they could ramp up production with new drilling. Oil above $100 per barrel seems to be a long way off. Related: Low Oil Prices Are Not The Reason Oil Companies Are Going Bankrupt

That is all a bit academic since a production cut is not really on the table. But even the more modest goal of a production freeze seems to be unrealistic, given the very large capacity on the verge of coming back in Libya and Nigeria. More than 800,000 barrels per day already returned to the market between August and September from around the world, and more gains are possible. "They will come away with nothing, because it is too difficult. How can they decide a freeze when Libya is on the doorstep of returning production, or Nigeria for that matter?" Schieldrop said, according to Reuters.

The hype surrounding the Algiers gathering, then, exceeds the meetings potential. OPEC, having failed to create a consensus about the groups role in todays oil market, has been reduced to relying only on its ability to move oil prices through media rumors. As Bjarne Schieldrop of SEB summed it up in a statement: We dont think that there will be any resolution and decision at the meeting. But we do think that OPECs members will show a united front as was the case the last time they met in June.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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The easy money in the oil market bounce back has been made in the U.S. Oil stocks in the U.S. have largely soared since the start of the year, even with oil prices having only bounced back to the $40-50 range. While firms like Devon, Continental, and Apache will all move higher if oil prices keep moving higher, that is a major question in the markets right now.

Oil prices have essentially been range bound for several months, and its unclear what it would take to move prices higher. Short of drastic action from OPEC, oil may not have much more upside from here. None of this means that there arent still good opportunities for investors in the energy space though. While nearly every other broad sector of the market looks fully valued, energy stocks remain relatively inexpensive on a CAPE basis. Still, relying on CAPE to pick stocks has not traditionally been a winning strategy.

Investors looking for a little bit more diversification, risk-reduction, and potential upside might consider looking abroad. In particular, Canadian and Russian stocks still look very cheap, especially in the energy sector. Now of course most investors cannot directly invest in these firms, but there are multiple good ETF options available to all U.S. investors today.

Take EWC, the iShares Canada ETF for instance. The fund holds 93 different Canadian stocks and has a heavy weight towards energy and financial companies. Among the top 10 holdings of the fund are Suncor Energy (4.05 percent weighting), Enbridge (3.40 percent weighting). Canada Natural Resources (2.96 percent), and TransCanada (2.81 percent). EWC as a whole has a 22 percent weighting on energy stocks and an additional 12 percent weighting on materials. For investors then, its a good way to get broad exposure to the still cheap Canadian materials and energy sectors.

The normal argument against ETFs is that it leaves investors unable to pick and choose which stocks from a basket they want (though options or individual securities trades can be used to rectify that). That option is a moot point for foreign companies and most investors  the only way most investors can get access to many foreign firms is through ETFs. While some foreign firms, especially Canadian ones will have U.S. ADRs, most of EWCs 93 firms can only be accessed through the ETF.

Related: What If The Oil Rebound Never Happens?

EWC is only one of the many Canadian ETFs available to investors, and investors would be wise to do their own due diligence to find the right vehicle offering appropriate exposure for their personal situation. While the fund is a reasonable choice in part due to a cheap 48 bps expense ratio, a 2 percent dividend yield, and assets under management of about $2.8B (which minimizes risks of the fund being shuttered), EWC is not going to be a good investment choice for everyone.

Instead, the broader point is that with U.S. options looking limited, Sage investors should seek opportunities abroad. Russia is another choice that looks interesting at present levels. The Russian economy is heavily dependent on oil, but production costs are extraordinarily low. Russian energy firms would be among the last standing even if oil prices retrace their path lower and stay low over time. Russian stocks as a whole have been hindered by the perception of political risks in the country, but in its own peculiar way, Russia is more stable than it has been in a long time. The country is firmly under the control of Putin who is looking more conciliatory at this stage thanks to the humbling experience of prolonged low oil prices. The Ukraine and Syria situations are still tenuous, but they appear to have reached a tentative equilibrium of instability. Of course, Russia is a market that requires a higher willingness to take on risk, but overall the country stacks up well on a number of key metrics.

In general then, investors looking for value amongst in a robust market might consider going where others will not.

By Michael McDonald of Oilprice.com

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Simon Kukes, a former head of Russian state-owned oil and gas company Yukos, has spent over US$150,000 on Donald Trumps presidential campaign, adding to a list of Russia-related facts and reports surrounding the Republican candidate.

Kukes, according to documents from the Federal Election Commission, first gave US$2,700 directly to the Trump campaign in spring, and then added another US$149,000 to the Trump Victory fundraising committee.

Open Secrets notes how the name of Donald Trump has been connected with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine via his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and how Trump himself has on more than one occasion spoken positively about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kukes, who immigrated to the States in his twenties, then regularly returned to Russia. Between 1998 and 2003 he was chief executive of Tyumen Oil and then for a year was at the helm of Yukos  the company that was bankrupted by the state on grounds of tax evasion and its long-time CEO Dmitry Khodorkovsky was sent to jail with a ten-year sentence.

Later, in 2014, the Russian state was sentenced by the Netherlands-based permanent Court for Arbitration to pay a compensation of US$50 billion to Yukoss majority shareholders for its deliberate use of tax claims to drown the company. Khodorkovsky was notorious for his opposition to Putins party and funding of opposition parties.

Kukes, who took over the helm of Yukos after Khodorkovsky was sentenced, is now officially retired. However, he continues to be a partner at oil and gas company Hess Corporation and is chief executive of NAFTA Consulting, an advisory firm that specializes in U.S. and Russian energy businesses that want to work together.

A UPI poll from yesterday revealed that Trump is fast catching up with Clinton: the difference between the two candidates is less than 1 percentage point in favor of Clinton, but if Trump wins enough swing states he would be the next president.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Shells Nigerian division has shut down one of the two pipelines that carry Bonny light crude to its Forcados terminal in the Niger Delta, saying a fire was detected on the right of way of the pipeline. The shutdown will take 180,000 bpd off Shells Nigerian exports.

At the same time, the company continues to refuse to confirm or deny an announcement from the Niger Delta Avengers from Saturday that theyd blown up a Bonny Light pipeline. Shell has two pipelines bringing crude of this blend to Forcados, and the fire was detected at the Trans Niger Pipeline. It remains unclear whether the fire is a consequence of the NDA attack or if the attack was on the other pipeline.

Africa News recalls that Shell had to shut down the TNP last month as well, after a leak was detected in the section that passes through Ogoniland  the same area where the fire was spotted.

The NDA said it attacked the pipeline in response to government attempts of over dramatisation of the so-called dialogue and negotiation process on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.

The group added in its statement that the government will have to work harder to convince them it has the best interests of the Delta communities at heart during the negotiations.

With the attack, the militant group broke a 60-day ceasefire that was planned to make space for negotiations with the federal government and put an end to violence in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, the government of Nigeria is suing Shell, along with Eni, Chevron, Total, and Petrobras, on allegations that they stole some US$12.7 billion worth of crude by either declaring a smaller amount at the departure of tankers from the Nigerian coast than the amount arriving in the U.S., or by not declaring crude oil cargos at all.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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by Sen. Alan Olsen

Salem, Ore.  Last week, the Joint Interim Committee on Department of Energy Oversight discussed a recent audit of the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program.

The first independent audit of the ODOE Business Energy Tax Credit program, released Sept. 7, uncovered concerns with nearly $350 million in tax credits, or over one third of the $1 billion program.

Despite repeated calls for an independent investigation of ODOEs Business Energy Tax Credit program, our cries largely went unanswered, explained Sen. Alan Olsen (R-Canby). In fact, Michael Kaplan himself  the director of ODOE  responded to this recent audit by saying that the number of concerning tax credits has likely been underestimated in this recent report. The Secretary of State and Governor Browns administration should aggressively pursue any fraud in the BETC program that would likely cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

The independent audit, conducted by financial crimes consultant Marsh Minick, found systemic problems in how ODOE managed the BETC program, including direct conflicts of interest, numerous failed projects, missing or suspicious cost documents, problems with tax credit brokers and incompetent staff and leaders. Despite discussion in the Joint Committee, the audit has yet to inspire serious action concerning ODOE by the legislature or Governor Browns administration.

After six years of scandal, we finally have an outside opinion that confirms what we already knew: the BETC program is full of waste and likely fraud and will cost taxpayers money, said Olsen. If we dont start taking systemic issues of fraud and mismanagement at state agencies seriously, taxpayers will pay a high price for failed programs and wasted funds.

Senator Alan Olsen is the Republican state senator representing Senate District 20  Canby
Pakistan will remain positive in its ties with India: High Commissioner Abdul Basit

NEW DELHI: Pakistan will remain positive and constructive in its ties with India and expects both countries to pull out of the current crisis with maturity from their leaders, High Commissioner Abdul Basit has said.



As our prime minister has said at the UN General Assembly, Pakistan iterates its desire to have a normal, cooperative relationship with India and resolve all problems peacefully, Mr Basit told The Telegraph in remarks published on Sunday.



Mr Basit said Indias National Investigation Agency was still probing the Uri incident to determine what really happened as 18 Indian soldiers were killed in an alleged militant attack.



I would humbly suggest that it is not helpful to jump the gun. Having said that, we have seen how we cooperated after Pathankot. Things were moving in the right direction. If we could maintain that spirit I am confident we can prevent the situation from worsening.



Basit says spirit of cooperation forged after Pathankot attack needs to be revived

I am a diplomat and I would like diplomacy to win. I, for one, would not like to believe that bilateral diplomacy has exhausted itself.



See: Many Indians beat war drums, others speak up against jingoism



Mr Basit said Pakistan was committed to not allowing its territory to be used for violence anywhere in the world, including India. He said the ties were doing well despite a tardy pace when the killing of a militant in Kashmir set off a slide.



I think we were on the right track, I was very positive, but things changed on July 8 [the day Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in south Kashmir]. And that is when we lost the momentum.



The challenge for diplomats on both sides now is to retrieve that momentumLiving in Delhi and meeting people from all walks of life, I do find a desire for understanding and peace here, too. I hear voices here that urge us to come together rather than become hostages to rhetoric.



The envoy acknowledged there had been signs of military readiness on both sides since Uri, but said: I am not worried we are about to go to war. 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 can perhaps afford not to talk to each other for some time, but addressing our many bilateral, regional and global challenges can only happen through dialogue. I am not ready to give up on that. We should not allow war hysteria to dominate our narrative.



Mr Basit said there were people with a vested interest in derailing India-Pakistan ties. If you are referring to the Pathankot attack or even Uri, I would say that both of us have agreed that the mechanisms we have put in place should have the capacity to absorb these shocks.



If we are back to square one after every unfortunate incident, then these mechanisms are not serving their purpose. The idea of having diplomatic engagement is to not allow those forces [who do not want] us to resolve problems and usher in a new era of cooperation. We have to transcend this process of one step forward, two steps back. But it requires two to tango.



Asked about leaders of extremist groups being allowed to roam freely in Pakistan as they call for attacks in India, Mr Basit said the problem existed in both countries. I do see your point, but such voices youll find in India too, unfortunately. Our policy is not driven by their fiery speeches, and neither is yours, I would like to believe. I wouldnt be too concerned about those voices. People will say all kinds of things; whats important is what governments are thinking and doing. I believe we are committed to the bilateral desire for peace.
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 Mankranso Police are investigating the circumstances under which two Catholic priests were assaulted by a machoman at Mankranso last Saturday.



The suspect, identified as Sani Mohammed, is currently on police enquiry bail, while the victims, Rev. Father Anthony Awuah Boateng and Rev. Father Daniel Afum, are currently on admission at the St Edward Hospital and the Mankranso Government Hospital, respectively.



Mohammed, who is said to have won TV3's Ghana's Most Strongest contest in 2013, is alleged to have assaulted the two Catholic priests at Adugyama in the Ahafo Ano South District in the Ashanti Region.



He is said to have subjected Rev. Father Boateng to severe beatings and inflicted machete wounds on Rev. Father Afum.



Briefing



The Mankranso District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr John Adusei, told the Daily Graphic that around 5 p.m. last Saturday, police received information about an incident of assault at Adugyama.



He said he and two policemen rushed to Adugyama to arrest the suspect.



Meanwhile, the suspect has been granted bail, while police investigations are ongoing.



According to the police, Rev. Fr Boateng was travelling from Adugyama to Biemso Number Two in his pick-up last Saturday when Mohammed, who was riding a motorbike, crossed him.



The priest, who was infuriated, is said to have pulled up and advised the suspect not to ride carelessly next time, but Mohammed became offended.



When Rev. Fr Boateng was driving back to Adugyama, the suspect chased him on his motorbike to the mission house where he assaulted the priest.



According to the police, when the victims colleague, Father Afum, intervened to calm nerves, the suspect vented his spleen on him and inflicted machete wounds on him.

Both priests were rushed to hospital for medical attention.

Source: Daily Graphic









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The Mockingbird Foundation and The Phish Companion, 3rd Edition, will get some news coverage over the radio waves (and through the interconnected series of tubes) on Tuesday morning, courtesy of Vermont Public Radio.

Mockingbird Foundation Board member, Phish Companion contributor, occasional fake narc, and generally swell guy John Demeter was invited to VPR's studio last week for an interview with Mitch Wertlieb to talk about the Companion, the Foundation, and our charitable mission.

If you live in or near Vermont*, there is a good chance you know Mitch (70+ Grateful Dead shows dating back to 1973) as VPR's long-time host of the weekday Morning Edition program. Beyond capably and comfortably delivering the news through our wake-up hours, he delights listeners daily with the music beds that run between stories, often starting us off on a bright note with interludes of the Dead, Phish, and other great sounds one might not expect to hear on a morning news program.

The story is scheduled to air as part of Morning Edition over the airwaves and via stream on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 8:44 AM EDT. It should be available for relisten on VPR's website shortly thereafter.

Editor's Note: Link to story - Phish Fans Publish New 'Guide' To The Band, To Raise Money For Music Education

We are grateful to Mitch and the Vermont Public Radio team for the opportunity to share a little bit or our story with Vermont and beyond.

#ReadTheBook

* And if you don't live in Vermont, well ... you know how that goes.
This thin film Giemsa stained micrograph reveals a mature Plasmodium vivax trophozoite. P. vivax trophozoites show amoeboid cytoplasm, large chromatin dots, and fine, yellowish-brown pigment. RBCs are enlarged 1 1/2 - 2X, and may be distorted. If visible, Schuffner's dots may appear finer than those seen in P. vivax. Credit: CDC/ Steven Glenn

(Phys.org)An international team of researchers has conducted a DNA analysis of malaria parasites found in blood samples taken from infected people in a part of Europe and put onto slides during World War IIin so doing, they have added more information to the historical profile of the parasite that causes malaria. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes their analysis of the parasite samples and what they learned.

Malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite that takes up residence in a victim's red blood cellstransmitted by mosquitoes, it is responsible for the millions of deaths and untold suffering. Efforts to eradicate the parasite from all parts of the world have so far proved unsuccessful, though it has been eradicated in some regions, including Europe and the U.S. As part of an effort to rid the world of the deadly parasite, some researchers have been attempting to look into its past to spot a weakness, or at least to better understand how it evolves. Some research results have also suggested that the dispersal patterns of malaria are due to human movements between continents, which has caused some researchers to wonder if the migrations of people have somehow played a role in both its continued existence and the harm it causes.

In this new effort, the researchers came into possession of some slides with blood stains on them that had been taken from infected people in Spain during World War IIsince malaria has since been eradicated in that area, the blood stains offered an opportunity to learn more about a strain that predates those that exist today.

The researchers first conducted tests to identify the strains present in the samples; after that, they reconstructed the genomes of the two strains present, which allowed them to conduct phylogenetic analyses. They report that they found three mutations that offered evidence of dominant strains of the parasite being carried to South America from Europe not long after explorers arrived; further, they represent the closest modern representative of ancestral Eurasian stock. The study and its findings are likely to kick off a renewed effort to comb other medical collections to see if other slides might be found offering more historical data as the effort continues to wipe out malaria and the parasite that causes it completely.

Explore further Highly sensitive detection of malaria parasites

More information: Pere Gelabert et al. Mitochondrial DNA from the eradicated Europeanandfrom 70-year-old slides from the Ebro Delta in Spain, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2016). Pere Gelabert et al. Mitochondrial DNA from the eradicated Europeanandfrom 70-year-old slides from the Ebro Delta in Spain,(2016). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1611017113 Abstract

Phylogenetic analysis of Plasmodium parasites has indicated that their modern-day distribution is a result of a series of human-mediated dispersals involving transport between Africa, Europe, America, and Asia. A major outstanding question is the phylogenetic affinity of the malaria causing parasites Plasmodium vivax and falciparum in historic southern Europewhere it was endemic until the mid-20th century, after which it was eradicated across the region. Resolving the identity of these parasites will be critical for answering several hypotheses on the malaria dispersal. Recently, a set of slides with blood stains of malaria-affected people from the Ebro Delta (Spain), dated between 1942 and 1944, have been found in a local medical collection. We extracted DNA from three slides, two of them stained with Giemsa (on which Plasmodium parasites could still be seen under the microscope) and another one consisting of dried blood spots. We generated the data using Illumina sequencing after using several strategies aimed at increasing the Plasmodium DNA yield: depletion of the human genomic (g)DNA content through hybridization with human gDNA baits, and capture-enrichment using gDNA derived from P. falciparum. Plasmodium mitochondrial genome sequences were subsequently reconstructed from the resulting data. Phylogenetic analysis of the eradicated European P. vivax mtDNA genome indicates that the European isolate is closely related to the most common present-day American haplotype and likely entered the American continent post-Columbian contact. Furthermore, the European P. falciparum mtDNA indicates a link with current Indian strains that is in agreement with historical accounts. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 2016 Phys.org
The University of Chicago is part of a collaboration that has been awarded $23 million by the National Science Foundation to increase the intensity of beams of charged particles, while lowering the costs of key accelerator technologies. This Science and Technology Center will contribute to scientific advances in many disciplines, including physics, chemistry and mathematics, by enhancing accelerator capabilities.

Particle accelerators generate powerful X-ray and electron beams that reveal the structure of biological molecules and materials, produce collisions that replicate conditions in the early universe or reveal the structure of the proton, and serve critical functions in manufacturing.

"Beam science enables these devices, but questions in beam science require a new approach," said Ritchie Patterson, the lead researcher of the Center for Bright Beams at Cornell University, which is leading the collaboration. "To realize the full potential of beams for science and industry, we need to combine the expertise of accelerator physicists with the knowledge and tools of scientists and mathematicians from a wide range of disciplines."

CCB proposes to do just that, with experts in physical chemistry, materials science, condensed matter physics, plasma physics and mathematics to strengthen accelerator scientists from around the country.

The center's overarching research goal is to increase the intensity (brightness) of charged particle beams by a factor of 100, enabling ultra-fast electron imaging for materials science and biology, extending the reach of particle colliders, and offering new tools to the semiconductor industry for the creation and inspection of integrated circuits.

Leveraging experience, transferring knowledge

"Our vision is to develop the fundamental knowledge that is required to improve the performance and lower the costs of accelerator technologies," said Steven Sibener, the Carl William Eisendrath Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry at the University of Chicago. "We will leverage the diverse experience available at universities and national labs and will transfer the knowledge and technology back to them."The new center will investigate three inseparable themes from particle accelerators: beam production, beam acceleration, and beam transport and storage.

"Accelerator science is an emerging and exciting field," said Young-Kee Kim, the Louis Block Professor in Physics at UChicago. "Chicagoland has a great deal of accelerator expertise, along with large and complex accelerator facilities at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. The multi-disciplinary approach of the center and UChicago will be different from the focuses at Fermilab and Argonne, yet synergistic. Together we can create a much stronger accelerator research program in Chicagoland."

Kim and Sibener both serve on the center's executive committee. Sibener is co-coordinator of the beam acceleration research theme, which encompasses new materials and concepts for accelerator design. Kim is co-coordinator of the beam transport and storage research theme, and also education director for the center. The latter role relates to another of the center's missions, to educate the next generation of leaders in this forefront field of science and technology.

Two other faculty members from UChicago's accelerator science program will participate in the new center's work: Amie Wilkinson, professor in mathematics; and Sergei Nagaitsev, chief accelerator officer at Fermilab and professor in physics.

The project includes researchers and collaborators at the University of California Los Angeles, University of Florida, University of Maryland at College Park, Brigham Young University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Chicago State University. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of Toronto and TRIUMF (Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics) also will contribute their expertise.

Particle beam beneficiaries

For years, scientists have increased beam brightness through clever design of devices for beam production, acceleration and transport, and through largely trial-and-error improvements in materials processing. This strategy yielded significant advances but is now reaching its limits. As a result, scientists do not control or even understand all of the factors that contribute to surface resistance, which drives both the length of an accelerator and its energy efficiency, and similar questions remain for other key accelerator technologies. Answering the open questions in beam science requires a new approach.

Approximately 10,000 U.S. researchers rely on beams of electrons or photons for physics, chemistry materials science, biology and medicine. By enhancing the capabilities of the accelerators essential to research in these fields, the Center for Bright Beams will improve the performance of small laboratory instruments and industrial tools as well as large colliders and X-ray sources.

The center's industrial partners will incorporate their inventions into instruments for manufacturing integrated circuits, producing medical radioisotopes, and developing new pharmaceuticals. The center will transfer its bright beam technology to market leaders in accelerator components, electron microscopy, photolithography and semiconductor inspection.

Explore further Argonne aiming for isotope lab
The story of Native North America  from its vast contribution to world culture, to the often taboo social problems of drinking, gambling and violence  is the subject of a sweeping new history by a Cambridge academic and authority on the subject.

Blood and Land by Jonathan King, the Von Hugel Fellow at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, is the story of how Native North America has shaped the United States and Canada, and vice versa.

The product of decades of study, Blood and Land seeks to move beyond the traditional 'feathers-and-failure' narrative to interrogate the myriad and multi-layered histories of North America. King takes an unflinching look at the many successes, desperate struggles and threats to the very existence of Native populations.

"So much of what we know about America today is tied up in its history and treatment of Native North Americans over the last few centuries," said King. "No understanding of the USA is possible without first comprehending the story of its original inhabitants.

"My book provides a different perspective. General histories are often presented as a progressive fall from grace. But the true story is actually one of how Indian people continually recovered and made the country their own again, whether that is through the growth of casinos or mineral exploitation. Each time recovery occurs, new difficulties emerge to threaten the status quo.

Indian Pavilion Expo '67, the centenary year when Quebec and aboriginal Canadians first fully assumed national roles. Credit: University of Cambridge

"When you look at the challenges Native Americans have faced over time  right through to Eisenhower trying to legislate them out of existence, and the forced sterilisation of Indian women in the 1970s  Native Americans are not only surviving, but thriving as a phenomenon in both the imagination and the intellect. In the early part of the 20th century, very few wanted to be identified as Native American. Now, there is something of a clamour to identify Native blood in one's family tree, often met with disbelief. Look at Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose early intimation of Cherokee ancestry was met with derision."

However, Native populations still face many of the struggles connected with racism, poverty and access to the same life chances as non-native populations.

One remarkable example of the 'otherness' still ascribed to Native peoples came in 2011 when the War on Terror was compared, by a legal representative of the United States Government, to the early 19th century wars on Indian nations.

In a case against a Guantanamo Bay suspect, United States vs Al Bahlul, it was said that the trial and summary execution by General Andrew Jackson of two Scots in Spanish Florida in 1818, traders with the Seminole, was legal and correct and provided precedent for contemporary behaviour by the USA in the war against Al-Qaeda. The Scottish traders had been providing weapons to terrorists. In a non-ironic manner, the Seminole were themselves compared to Al-Qaeda.

The National Congress of American Indians took exception to the comparison, pointing out that Seminole efforts to defend themselves from an invading genocidal army could be termed as 'unlawful belligerency' by only the most jingoistic military historian.

"The case sought to use genocide as a justification for misbehaviour in the wider world in the 21st century," said King. "It was that same US strategy and behaviour against Indian nations that helped determine US behaviour in dealing with 21st century terrorism. Specifically obnoxious to Native people in 2011 was the fact there were around 24,000 Indian people serving in the military that year, and approximately 383,000 American Indian veterans."

That there are so many veterans is testament to the 20th century recovery in fortunes that King frequently refers to in Blood and Land. In 1900, there were just 237,196 Indians. In 2010, 5.2 million people recorded themselves as American Indian and Native Alaskans, 1.7pc of the total US population, with an expectation of growth to 8.6 million by 2050 (2pc of the total projected population). In 2010 there were more than 15 states with more than 100,000 American Indian or American Native people, with California (732,225) leading the way.

In Canada, 1.4 million people identified as Aboriginal in 2011, some 4pc of the population. In 1900 that number was thought to be around 100,000. However, compared to a map of the USA's settlements, the size and scale of Canadian First Nations' reserves appears to make a much, much smaller footprint on the map of Canada. Outside of the north they have remained just 'small dots on the map' according to King.

The growing strength of Native America has also been symbolised by the removal of racist sporting logos in the last few decades with one major exception: the Washington Redskins have steadfastly stuck to a name considered derogatory by many.

While King rightly points to the many success stories for Native Americans in the 20th century, he does not shy away from tackling subjects such as alcohol abuse and gender violence that are often swept under the carpet by communities and commentators alike in the US.

Qingailisaq Inuit shaman and parka created for him after meeting a group of-aijiqqat-a supernatural beings 1900. Credit: University of Cambridge

Although problems with alcohol and substance abuse are well-known if not well discussed, the role of gambling in Indian life  both as a profit-making business enterprise and a social ill for Native communities  has been more visible. Today, Indian gaming is responsible for nearly 612,000 jobs worth more than $27.6 billion. It is estimated that almost half of America's native tribes operate casinos despite some studies suggesting that the immense tribal gaming revenues can actually make poverty worse in their local communities.

However, although King argues that casinos have largely been a force for good, he does believe gambling in reservation casinos may have reached its high water mark. Beyond casinos he also warns of the impact of declining natural resources and climate change.

"Casinos should not be seen as a blight, even if gambling can be seen as a highly destructive vehicle of achievement," added King. "They have provided wealth and income to communities on an incredible scale, and much gambling wealth has been put into providing police forces, schools and hospitals. But this decade is likely to be the climax of Indian gambling. What will happen when these casinos disappear in favour of online gambling which is accessible without the need to travel?

"However, the long centuries of change for Native people have resulted in a resilience that ensures survival. This in part is to do with the uniqueness and hyper-diversity of Indian culture, its ability to recreate and rethink identity and circumstance, architecture and art; but it is also to do with the way in which Nativeness is embedded in the United States and Canada.

"Indians are unique in their contribution to world history. Whether it be kayaking, canoeing, snow- shoeing or lacrosse, Blood and Land repeatedly outlines the innovation of Indian society and its huge contribution to global culture, far outweighing the number of Native people there are today. That is the truest measure of their success."

Explore further Colonial heritage metaphors used in US military conflicts
Earlier this year, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was able to detect a gravity wave wafting through space from two colliding black holes billions of years ago.

Now a group of researchers at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas has built a much smaller ring laser interferometer to explore how it could detect geophysical effects such as earthquake-generated ground rotation and infrasound from convective storms and have demonstrated the technology's potential as an early-warning system for natural disasters.

Interferometersinvented by Albert Michelson, who was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize in physics for his workuse a semi-transparent mirror to divide a beam of uniform light waves. Once divided, the different light waves are routed along different paths and then recombined. After recombination, an interference pattern of alternating bright and dark fringes is created. The fringes move in response to any changes between the two path lengths.

More than 55 years later, ring laser interferometers were developed that could measure frequencies' proportional rotationinstead of fringe shifts.

This week in the Journal of Applied Physics, the Hendrix College researchers report the results they obtained from detecting and analyzing atmospheric infrasoundsound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of human hearing.

"We essentially verified many of the results from a long-term study by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)but we substituted a ring laser in place of microphones," said Robert Dunn, professor of physics at Hendrix College.

The group's ring laser was able to "clearly show the frequency spectrum of the infrasound," he said. Specifically, they were able to detect infrasound from tornadoes 30 minutes before the tornado funnel was on the ground. The group also determined that infrasound from a tornado can travel 1,000 kilometerswhich confirms earlier studies by NOAA.

How does their ring laser work? It's a bit complex, but to detect rotation via a ring laser, "a plasma tube projects a laser beam in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction," Dunn explained. "If the laser cavity is rotating clockwise, it takes longer for a photon moving in the clockwise direction to go around the circumference of the cavity because it's chasing mirrors. Moving counterclockwise, the photon's path is shorter because it encounters mirrors. The speed of light is constant, so a path length difference exists between the beam moving clockwise vs. the one moving counterclockwise. The path length difference in turn creates a frequency difference."

When the clockwise and counterclockwise beams are combined, "it creates a 'beat note' that's proportional to rotation," he continued. "The Earth is always rotating, so a horizontal ring laser mounted away from the equator will measure its rotation."

Phenomena that perturb or disturb the laser cavity modify Earth's beat frequency.

"This means that infrasound entering the laser cavity perturbs it and will frequency-modulate the beat note produced by Earth's rotation," Dunn explained.

"The detection of infrasound 30 minutes before a tornado is on the ground, in conjunction with Doppler radar, could prove very useful as an early warning system," Dunn pointed out. "And the ability to detect the rotational components of earthquake-generated seismic waves may help reduce the damage from earthquakes  because building codes often neglect the effects of ground rotation."

Beyond tornado early warning systems, ring lasers can also detect infrasound from hurricanes and volcanoes.

"Volcanic ash can destroy jet engines, so the ability of an array of ring lasers to detect volcanic eruptions in remote locations like the Aleutian Islands could help to ensure the safety of commercial aircraft that regularly fly over the region," he added.

Dunn stressed that, at this point, all of their results "must be considered preliminary," and that the group's goal is to "continue exploring how ring lasers can help reduce the impact of natural hazards."

The group's work received support from a National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions award.

More information: "Detection of Atmospheric Infrasound with a Ring Laser Interferometer," by Robert W. Dunn, John A. Meredith, Angela B. Lamb and Elijah G. Kessler, Journal of Applied Physics, September 27, 2016. Journal information: Journal of Applied Physics "Detection of Atmospheric Infrasound with a Ring Laser Interferometer," by Robert W. Dunn, John A. Meredith, Angela B. Lamb and Elijah G. Kessler,, September 27, 2016. scitation.aip.org/content/aip/  12/10.1063/1.4962455
This map shows all of the tower sites around the world that contributed observations to the FLUXNET 2015 data release. Credit: http://fluxnet.fluxdata.org/

Around the worldfrom tundra to tropical forests, and a variety of ecosystems in betweenenvironmental researchers have set up micrometeorological towers to monitor carbon, water, and energy fluxes, which are measurements of how carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor and energy (heat) circulate between the soil, plants and atmosphere. Most of these sites have been continuously collecting data, some for nearly 25 years, monitoring ecosystem-level changes through periods of extreme droughts and rising global temperatures. Each of these sites contributes to a regional networki.e. the European Network (Euroflux) or the Americas Network (AmeriFlux)and the regional networks together comprise a global network called FLUXNET.

Recognizing that a plethora of scientific insights could be gleaned from this information, over 450 sites worldwide are sharing their observation data with the FLUXNET database. The project's most recent data releaseFLUXNET2015includes some of the longest continuous records of ecosystem data ever taken. The information has undergone extensive quality checks and controls (QA/QC) and is now publicly available online.

Computer scientists at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) contributed to the development of the FLUXNET database and website, as well as the software tools that automatically perform QA/QC and fill gaps in field observations. They also helped build tools that allow researchers to easily upload, download and share datasets, as well as track how and where each site's data will be used. Much of this work was done in collaboration with colleagues at the Max Planck Institute of Biogeochemistry and the Universities of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Virginia (UVA) and Tuscia, Italy.

The AmeriFlux Management Project which is funded by the DOE and led by Berkeley Lab, the European Ecosystems Fluxes Database and FLUXNET projectworked with several regional networks to process and harmonize all of the information in the FLUXNET2015 release. According to Dennis Baldocchi, UC Berkeley Professor and FLUXNET Principal Investigator, this data is allowing researchers to ask questions about long-term trends in climate and ecosystem health that would have previously been impossible to investigate. The data could also be used to help a variety of people, from meteorologists to farmers, make better-informed decisions.

"We know that the concentration of CO2 changes in an ecosystem over time, and now we can look at how these changes affect the photosynthesis or water usage of an entire forest or desert," he says. "We can also look at the affects of extreme weather eventslike hot and cold spellson an ecosystem."

FLUXNET: A Collaboration Decades in the Making

According to Baldocchi, an international flux collaboration began in 1995 when a handful of scientists who were just starting to collect year-round observations of the CO2 exchange between the ground and atmosphere met in La Thuile, Italy to discuss the best methods for collecting and recording data. Shortly after that meeting, the DOE created the AmeriFlux program and began funding a handful of researchers to measure CO2 exchange in a number of ecosystems around North America. Meanwhile, European counterparts were launching similar studies of ecosystems across Europe, and NASA launched the Aqua Satellite to understand Earth's water-cycle and Terra Satellite to explore connections between Earth's atmosphere, land, snow and ice, ocean and energy balance.

Concurrently, NASA also funded the FLUXNET collaboration to blend data from the regional networks to validate their satellite data. In 1999, the official FLUXNET group met again at the Marconi Conference Center in Marshall, California to work on harmonizing their datasets. This included coming up with common names, units and time-steps in their field data descriptions, which was crucial for multi-site analysis. The researchers also developed a process for filling gaps in the field data.

"When you are observing in nature it's inevitable that you will have gaps in your data because a raindrop or bug messes with a sensor, or a sensor may malfunction. We use statistical models to fill those gaps of information," says Baldocchi.

Once the initial NASA funding expired in the late 1990s, international researchers who saw a benefit in keeping the FLUXNET collaboration going sustained it through a patchwork of funds from agencies in Canada, Europe and the U.S., as well as "in-kind" support from research groups, universities and foundations. In fact, this is how Berkeley Lab's involvement in building software tools for FLUXNET began.

"It's a big deal that we are able to get hundreds of scientists to come together, trust each other, share and exchange data and work toward a common goal," says Baldocchi. "In the early days, this was a small group and everyone knew each other so we were able to meet in a place like Italy and form a personal relationship. As the community grows, software tools that track where and how each site's data is being used are invaluable to form trust."

This diagram of the fast carbon cycle shows the movement of carbon between land, atmosphere, and oceans. Yellow numbers are natural fluxes, and red are human contributions in gigatons of carbon per year. White numbers indicate stored carbon. Credit: NASA http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CarbonCycle/

Berkeley Lab Joins the FLUXNET Software Collaboration

Berkeley Lab computer scientists officially joined the FLUXNET collaboration in 2006, when CRD's Deb Agarwal offered to use funds from her Microsoft Research Grant to help the collaboration build a website, queryable database and a workflow for requesting and sharing site data. With limited funds, the initial versions of the FLUXNET website and database were extremely utilitarian.

"In the beginning, many researchers were nervous to share their data publicly because they risked losing credit if someone used their data without acknowledging them, or published a paper on their data before they could," says Agarwal. "So we focused on tools that would give the site managers an incentive to comfortably share their data. In the beginning, we focused on enabling data policy compliant use of the data."

"By 2006 we were getting to the point of big data, and the computer scientists essentially provided the site managers with some guidance and 'adult supervision' by convincing us that the FLUXNET website should serve as our central point of data exchange," says Baldocchi. "Before this, a lot of scientists were just emailing data files back and forth to each other. There was no version control or vetting of the files, so we would have no idea what version was the most recent, what had been analyzed, or how it was different from the original dataset. We got all of this with the new website and database."

Once the Microsoft grant ran out, Agarwal and the Berkeley Lab team were able to maintain the FLUXNET site with limited funds from Baldocchi and DOE. At the same time, European collaborators who did have funding worked on updating the FLUXNET data standards and building tools for quantifying uncertainty in the field data, which will be especially useful for climate models. Eventually, as Berkeley Lab received funding to build tools for the AmeriFlux project, Agarwal and Gilberto Pastorello were able to work with the European collaborators on metadata standards, as well as building pipelines for QA/QC, gap filling and uncertainty quantification. Both groups leveraged this work to update tools for the global FLUXNET collaboration.

"The data in the recent release is dramatically better than previous releases," says Agarwal. "Our team re-standardized the data completely and our European collaborators completely revamped the uncertainty quantification. We created a high bar for QA/QC and ran every single site year of data through this pipeline, we manually inspected the things that weren't automated and sent data that didn't pass muster back to the sites to fix. With these new standards, we have established a baseline of quality that guarantees the sites are comparable. "

According to Gilberto Pastorello, a Berkeley Lab Computer Scientist and FLUXNET contributor, the uncertainty estimates for FLUXNET data are especially valuable for climate modelers who want to validate their simulations with FLUXNET data.

"We've adopted a model where we take the most recent and well accepted developments in the flux community and incorporate them into our pipeline, which can be quite challenging because we are having to rework some of the codes to ensure that they will run in a production environment. It's a lot of work to get the code ready to run in a very uncertain set of conditions and not misbehave," says Pastorello. "Ultimately we want to get this pipeline to a point where we can run it consistently here at Berkeley Lab and in Europe, as well as share it with the community so that anyone who wants to run it can use it."

Pastorello is also currently working with European collaborators to implement a partitioning tool into the pipeline, which will break down CO2 flux data into respiration and photosynthesis.

"It was incredibly important to me to keep this project going. This data isn't something that you can re-create, you can't start collecting this information from scratch again," says Baldocchi. "Today's FLUXNET has exceeded my hopes and aspirations, our datasets contain some of the oldest flux measurements in Europe and North America, and now we have contributors from Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific."

"People work very hard to collect field data, so their data is very valuable to them. To share it openly, the way they are doing, seems counterintuitive to their efforts, but after seeing how their data is being used to do regional and global studies more and more of these researchers want to share their data and are asking us why their data isn't in the latest FLUXNET release yet," says Pastorello. "It is extremely rewarding to see our tools help these individuals realize the advantages of FLUXNET."

Explore further Listening to Earth breathe through 500 towers
An artists depiction of an ice-covered planet in a distant solar system resembles what the early Earth might have looked like if a mysterious mix greenhouse gases had not warmed the climate. Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESP) via Wikimedia Commons

For at least a billion years of the distant past, planet Earth should have been frozen over but wasn't. Scientists thought they knew why, but a new modeling study from the Alternative Earths team of the NASA Astrobiology Institute has fired the lead actor in that long-accepted scenario.

Humans worry about greenhouse gases, but between 1.8 billion and 800 million years ago, microscopic ocean dwellers really needed them. The sun was 10 to 15 percent dimmer than it is todaytoo weak to warm the planet on its own. Earth required a potent mix of heat-trapping gases to keep the oceans liquid and livable.

For decades, atmospheric scientists cast methane in the leading role. The thinking was that methane, with 34 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide, could have reigned supreme for most of the first 3.5 billion years of Earth history, when oxygen was absent initially and little more than a whiff later on. (Nowadays oxygen is one-fifth of the air we breathe, and it destroys methane in a matter of years.)

"A proper accounting of biogeochemical cycles in the oceans reveals that methane has a much more powerful foe than oxygen," said Stephanie Olson, a graduate student at the University of California, Riverside, a member of the Alternative Earths team and lead author of the new study published September 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "You can't get significant methane out of the ocean once there is sulfate."

Sulfate wasn't a factor until oxygen appeared in the atmosphere and triggered oxidative weathering of rocks on land. The breakdown of minerals such as pyrite produces sulfate, which then flows down rivers to the oceans. Less oxygen means less sulfate, but even 1 percent of the modern abundance is sufficient to kill methane, Olson said.

Olson and her Alternative Earths coauthors, Chris Reinhard, an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Georgia Tech University, and Timothy Lyons, a distinguished professor of biogeochemistry at UC Riverside, assert that during the billion years they assessed, sulfate in the ocean limited atmospheric methane to only 1 to 10 parts per milliona tiny fraction of the copious 300 parts per million touted by some previous models.

The fatal flaw of those past climate models and their predictions for atmospheric composition, Olson said, is that they ignore what happens in the oceans, where most methane originates as specialized bacteria decompose organic matter.

Stephanie Olson and Tim Lyons next to an image of visualizations of sulfate concentrations (top) and methane destruction (bottom) from their biogeochemical model of Earths ocean and atmosphere roughly one billion years ago. Credit: University of California - Riverside

Seawater sulfate is a problem for methane in two ways: Sulfate destroys methane directly, which limits how much of the gas can escape the oceans and accumulate in the atmosphere. Sulfate also limits the production of methane. Life can extract more energy by reducing sulfate than it can by making methane, so sulfate consumption dominates over methane production in nearly all marine environments.

The numerical model used in this study calculated sulfate reduction, methane production, and a broad array of other biogeochemical cycles in the ocean for the billion years between 1.8 billion and 800 million years ago. This model, which divides the ocean into nearly 15,000 three-dimensional regions and calculates the cycles for each region, is by far the highest resolution model ever applied to the ancient Earth. By comparison, other biogeochemical models divide the entire ocean into a two-dimensional grid of no more than five regions.

"There really aren't any comparable models," says Reinhard, who was lead author on a related paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that described the fate of oxygen during the same model runs that revealed sulfate's deadly relationship with methane.

Reinhard notes that oxygen dealt methane an additional blow, based on independent evidence published recently by the Alternative Earths team in the journals Science and Geology. These papers describe geochemical signatures in the rock record that track extremely low oxygen levels in the atmosphere, perhaps much less than 1 percent of modern values, up until about 800 million years ago, when they spiked dramatically.

Less oxygen seems like a good thing for methane, since they are incompatible gases, but with oxygen at such extremely low levels, another problem arises.

"Free oxygen [O2] in the atmosphere is required to form a protective layer of ozone [O3], which can shield methane from photochemical destruction," Reinhard said. When the researchers ran their model with the lower oxygen estimates, the ozone shield never formed, leaving the modest puffs of methane that escaped the oceans at the mercy of destructive photochemistry.

With methane demoted, scientists face a serious new challenge to determine the greenhouse cocktail that explains our planet's climate and life story, including a billion years devoid of glaciers, Lyons said. Knowing the right combination other warming agents, such as water vapor, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide, will also help us assess habitability of the hundreds of billions of other Earth-like planets estimated to reside in our galaxy.

"If we detect methane on an exoplanet, it is one of our best candidates as a biosignature, and methane dominates many conversations in the search for life on Mars," Lyons said. "Yet methane almost certainly would not have been detected by an alien civilization looking at our planet a billion years agodespite the likelihood of its biological production over most of Earth history."
Simon & SchusterBruce Springsteen fans will get to read the New Jersey rock legend's life story in his own words starting today, when the Boss' memoir, Born to Run, gets its release. The 528-page tome covers the 67-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's life and career from his early days growing up in Freehold, New Jersey, through the rise of The E Street Band and on to the present day.

In a promo video posted recently on Springsteen's official YouTube channel, Bruce explained how working on the book was different from writing songs.

"When you're writing musically, you have that guitar, you have the rhythm that condenses time, and you can say an awful lot with just a brief line or two lines or three lines," he maintains. "Part of the freedom of the book, it allows you to delve into great detail but, once again, it still has to be musical and it still has to flow and move in a way that keeps the reader interested."

In the same clip, the Boss reads a segment of the book in which he discusses some of the images and artists that inspired his songwriting.

"I wanted to use the classic rock 'n' roll images -- the road, the car, the girl. What else is there?" he says. "It was a language enshrined by Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Hank Williams and every lost highwayman going back to the invention of the wheel."

As previously reported, Bruce also has lined up a series of special appearances to promote the Born to Run book, starting today at noon ET at a Barnes & Noble store in his hometown of Freehold.

Here the full list of Springsteen's book-tour stops:

9/27 -- Freehold, NJ, Barnes & Noble

9/28 -- New York, NY, Barnes & Noble Union Square (at 12 p.m. ET)

9/28 -- New York, NY, Apple Soho (at 7 p.m. ET)

9/29 -- Philadelphia, PA, Free Library of Philadelphia

10/1 -- Seattle, WA, Elliott Bay Book Company

10/3 -- Los Angeles, CA, Barnes & Noble at The Grove

10/4 -- Portland, OR, Powells City of Books

10/5 -- San Francisco, CA, City Arts & Lectures

10/7 -- New York, NY, The New Yorker Festival

10/10 -- Cambridge, MA, The Harvard Coop

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Sometimes, despite our best efforts to inform the public, we find that people do not know about the issues that are going on.

The New York State Education Department has made a bunch of changes to the Common Core state tests in English and math, which are taken by students in grades three through eight.

In response to an outcry from the public that the tests were too long and not developmentally appropriate, the state shortened them and they made them untimed to alleviate the stress on children.

About 20 percent of parents had their children opt out of taking the tests in 2016  about the same percentage as the year before, with some fluctuations up and down among different districts.

Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said Tuesday that she considered the fact that the opt-outs stayed flat a positive development  despite all rhetoric and misinformation about the tests.

If we hadnt done some of the things weve done, we may have been in worse shape, she said Tuesday during the closing keynote address of the New York State Council of School Superintendents Fall Leadership Summit. The event was held at The Hilton in Saratoga Springs.

Communication appears to be an issue, according to Elia. She cited an incident when she was confronted by a parent after giving a presentation about the changes to the tests at a meeting in central New York.

When I went through this, she said, I drove here from Poughkeepsie. I didnt know you did any of that. Why didnt you tell me?'

Elia added that the number one source of information about the tests were childrens teachers. The state and school districts have to do a better job of communicating these changes.

Elia pointed out that the state has also placed a moratorium on any use of the student test scores to evaluate teachers, so that alleviates that stress.

Some of teachers concern about the teacher evaluations may have consciously or subconsciously bled over to influence students and parents opinions about the tests. There was also support for the opt-out movement by the New York State United Teachers. In 2015, President Karen Magee explicitly called for a boycott of the tests. This past year, the position softened somewhat to support. It said in a fact sheet NYSUT fully supports parents right to choose what is best for their children  including NYSUT members who decide as parents to opt their child out of state tests.

High standards and standardized tests are not going away. It is important that as many students take them as possible, so schools and parents have accurate data about how they are learning and what needs to be improved or modified.
Republican state Assembly candidate Chris Boyark spent $9,170 on his victorious GOP primary campaign, according to reports the campaign filed with the state Board of Elections.

His expenditures included $1,607 for radio advertising and $296 for robo calling.

Boyark received $1,194 in contributions between Agu. 30 and Sept. 19, and had $2,508 in his campaign fund, as of Sept. 19.

Contributions included $500 from Malta Development Co. and $200 from Saratoga County Conservative Party.

Boyark, a business owner from Mechanicville, is challenging Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, in the 113th Assembly District.

Woerner had $49,378 in her campaign fund, as of July 11, the most recent report.
Aging in Place of Glens Falls, an organization that focuses on end-of-life issues, is planning a series of four events on the subject.

The first will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Crandall Public Library community room in Glens Falls.

Eleanor Aronstein, who is with the Capital Regions Final Exit Network, will talk about end-of-life issues. She will speak from the point of view of Final Exit, which works to foster the right of people to have peaceful and pain-free death at the end of life  on their own terms.

According to the group, physician aid in dying is now legal in five states, and similar bills are working their way through the legislative process in New York.

Aronstein will provide a brief history of what has been happening and acquaint the audience with some organizations that focus on end-of-life concerns. She will discuss documents needed by individuals and their families and provide an update of bills in the Legislature related to physician aid in dying.

The event, like all the others in the series, will be open to the public.

The three remaining workshops will all be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays at the Unitarian Universalist congregation on Weeks Road, Queensbury.

The three sessions are:

Oct. 24: An overview of the hospice and palliative care process, with representatives from High Peaks Hospice and Hudson Headwaters.

Nov. 7: Planning a Funeral or Burial: Conventional Choices and Other Options with Todd Kilmer of Kilmer Funeral Home and Judith Lerei of Green Burial.

Dec. 5: The final event will be when Harry Noordsey and other members of Aging in Place talk about Creating Caring Circles: Building Your Advocacy Team.

For more information on the first event, contact Laura Avent at 792-2034. For the other, contact Ruth Lamb at 761-6125.
ARGYLE  Ten people applied to become the superintendent of Argyle Central School District, and the Board of Education plans to interview four candidates, according to the local BOCES that is handling the search.

BOCES District Superintendent James Dexter said four candidates rose to the top. There were some applicants from out of state, but he said the four that the board will interview are all from New York.

The roughly 540-student district is looking for a replacement for Jan Jehring, who left in August to become superintendent of the Florida school district in Orange County.

Jehring had served as superintendent since 2009. Before that, she was elementary school principal.

William Scott is currently serving as interim superintendent.

After the board interviews the four candidates, Dexter said committees made up of teachers, staff and parents will get a chance to participate in the process. That would happen later in October.

Dexter is not sure how many candidates would go before the advisory committees. He said it would depend on the results of the board interviews.

The idea of the advisory committees is to get more sets of eyes on candidates that could likely get the job. I doubt they would send all four, he said.

The district hopes to appoint somebody in November. Dexter said the board is on track to meet that timetable.

The salary range for the position is between $124,000 and $137,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund announced Tuesday that it will launch its fourth Autumn of Giving Match Campaign on Saturday.

This campaign brings together the ATC Community Fund, Adirondack Trust Co. and community-minded individuals and businesses to raise donations to benefit the fund's local charitable Lend-A-Hand Grant Program.

The match campaigns goal is to raise a minimum of $40,000 in donations from the community, similar to the results of last years match campaign.

Over the past five years, the Community Fund has provided 78 grants in excess of $151,000 in Lend-A-Hand Grants to nonprofit charities in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.

All donations made Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Adirondack Trust Co.

Donations may be mailed to: ATC Community Fund, Attn: Kimberly Gallo, 31 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Tickets to the event, "An Evening of Autumn of Giving," on Oct. 19 at Longfellows Restaurant, can be purchased at www.atccf.org/events.
QUEENSBURY  As David Colomb waded through the last holds of anesthesia, he heard his wife and younger sister talking from a few beds away in the recovery room.

I dont remember yelling for them, he said. But they said I asked, Is Chelsea OK? Thats what I really wanted to know, and once I did, I was OK.

In August, Colomb received a kidney transplant from his 24-year-old daughter.

When Colomb was 25 years old, he found out his kidneys werent functioning properly. His doctor gave him medicine to help control high blood pressure and warned him he would need an organ transplant in about 10 years.

Go live your life, he told me, Colomb said.

Colomb did just that. He got married, had two children and spent two decades working in the natural food industry.

It was 30 years before the father of two and grandfather of two was again bothered by his kidneys.

In January, Colombs doctor said his creatine levels were decreasing, indicating his kidney function was declining.

I continued to work, to function, Colomb said, saying he never felt ill.

Colomb started going for dialysis three times a week, for three and a half hours a day.

So while he felt well, that time commitment was tough on a man who was always active.

It was then that his youngest sister raised the idea of a transplant.

She said, Hey, Im here, and Im doing this for you, and I dont care what you say, Colomb said.

The family headed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where they learned Colombs sister wasnt a good match, nor was his wife.

Thats when Chelsea stepped up.

He didnt ask me ever, she said. He was trying to avoid my donating.

But his daughter undergoing surgery didnt settle well with him.

As a father, I have to tell you, I had a lot of reservations and negative thoughts, because its your child, he said.

For Chelsea, though, it was an obvious decision. She hated seeing her active father sidelined for so much of his week.

I love him and want him to live a healthy, long life, she said, watching her children, Ava, 4, and Jakob, 2, climbing on her dads lap. Hes a big part of their life.

While she was scared the morning of the surgery, in which her right kidney was removed, she said the surgery and recovery was relatively easy.

When it bothered me most, David said, was when she was called in, she realized it was time.

We were all crying, Chelsea said. Id never had surgery before.

By the next morning, father and daughter were up and walking around.

David stayed at an efficiency apartment across the street during his recovery, but Chelsea went home after just a few days. David is taking anti-rejection drugs, but is otherwise experiencing good health.

Looking back on it, theres a lot that could have happened, David said. We both feel very fortunate.

So fortunate, David hopes sharing their story will help others facing a transplant know they arent alone and that there are people in the community who have been through it.

It really does help from a comfort perspective, he said.
FORT EDWARD  The deadline for nominations for the 12th annual Washington County Small Business Awards is Friday.

The Washington County Local Development Corp. and the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce are co-hosting the event again and will be holding the luncheon Dec. 2 at the Kingsbury firehouse on Burgoyne Avenue.

Nominations may be made by any person who lives, works or conducts business in Washington County.

The criteria include the nominee being an established business with two to 50 employees, with a commitment to Washington County, staying power, a unique product or service and exceptional customer service.

For more information, email dderway2@co.washington.ny.us or triley@adirondackchamber.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia told superintendents Tuesday that everyone needs to do a better job communicating the changes to the state tests to decrease the number of student opt-outs and move forward with rewriting its standards.

The tests, which are required in English and math for students in grades three through eight, were shortened this year and students were given unlimited time.

She said the fact that the percentage of parents opting out their children from taking the test held steady at 20 percent this year is a positive  despite all rhetoric and misinformation.

If we hadnt done some of the things weve done, we may have been in worse shape, she said during the closing keynote address of the New York State Council of School Superintendents Fall Leadership Summit. The event was held at The Hilton in Saratoga Springs.

Teachers also had more input into the development of the tests, according to Elia.

We asked teachers to come in and review every question that was on the assessments. If they didnt like them, they were pulled out, she said.

In addition, the state in June released 75 percent of the test questions online, which allows teachers to review them and talk with their colleagues about what material was missed by students.

The state also put a moratorium on using student performance on the tests in grading teachers. She said she understands the frustration. The tests scores accounted for a certain percentage of the teacher evaluation and then it more than doubled. At the same time, the standards changed.

We were doing things at such a fast pace relative to standards, curriculum and assessments that people just couldnt handle it anymore, she said.

It is important to communicate the changes that have been made. Elia cited an incident when she was confronted by a parent after giving a presentation about the changes to the tests at a meeting in central New York.

When I went through this, she said, I drove here from Poughkeepsie. I didnt know you did any of that. Why didnt you tell me?

Elia said parents learn most about what is happening in school from their childs own teacher because they trust that person. There are also people who spread misinformation, according to Elia.

It is important to reduce the number of opt-outs. The new federal education law, the Every Students Succeeds Act, would automatically label districts as needing improvement if the number of students taking the tests falls below 95 percent. Elia said state education officials are lobbying to remove that provision.

Elia also talked about the proposed changes to the state education standards. The state last week announced that about 60 percent of the Common Core English standards and 55 percent of the math ones had some type of change based upon more than three-quarters of a million pieces of feedback from teachers, administrators and parents on the standards.

This could be as simple as a minor wording change or moving a standard to a different grade level, according to Elia. The state put together committees, of parents, teachers and administrators and other educators to come up with recommendations on how to change them.

Did all 130 people agree on every one of these shifts? Probably not, but what came out of those groups is a really important change for us, he said.

Among the changes are concerning literature. Elia said before the advent of the Common Core, there was a lot of focus on literature. The Common Core increased the use of nonfiction texts to improve students readiness for college and careers. There was a concern the pendulum swung too much toward nonfiction, so now its being balanced, she said.

Another concern was whether the standards were developmentally appropriate. Elia said the state brought on board a development expert to review the standards for kindergarten through third grade.

Elia also stressed that the state is not dictating what books schools need to make students ready. Local control is key.

State education officials have set a deadline for Nov. 4 on the draft standards, which can be found at the state Education Departments AimHighNY website.

The state will be updating its curriculum materials on EngageNY website.

In talking with teachers across the state, Elia said many said they didnt like the Common Core standards at first because they had to change what they were doing. However, they are telling her that the students are doing more than they thought they could.

BOCES District Superintendent James Dexter said upstate has not had the same rate of opt-outs as downstate. He believes the commissioner has done a good job to listen to school officials and improve the assessments.
Inventory needs to be managed and managed well, or you are going to get in recurring trouble, and lose your credibility and hard-earned conversions, whether 

Read more
This was contained in a statement issued by the GCAA. It stated that the ban took effect from yesterday (Monday, September 26, 2016).

The ban does not apply to flight passengers only but also the crew of any flight that lands and takes off in Ghana. Passengers who are also from other countries to Ghana cannot turn on or charge their devices.

There has been a global recall of the phone, after reports that they spontaneously exploded. After investigating the issue, Samsung found that the rechargeable batteries inside the phones were at fault.

READ ALSO: Tech giant set to unleash latest of the Galaxy Note

The statement added that in order to ensure this is adhered to, passengers will be briefed on it.

Other Aviation regulators across the globe have also issued a ban against the use of Samsung Note 7 on aircraft from their various countries.

READ ALSO: Galaxy Note 6 rumored to have a retina scanner

Some of them include the US Federal Aviation Administration and airlines such as Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia.
Guru, on September 26 released a song with the same title and rhythm featuring Benji.

On seeing the song, Devine went on Accra-based Pluzz FM to level allegations against the rapper. According to Devine, the term Are You Aware? and the rhythm was her intellectual property so she demands compensation from Gurus management.

However, in response to this allegation, Gurus manager, Ray Moni, admitted that Divine owns the intellectual property and promised to settle the issue amicably.

Ray admitted saying Yes, Guru took her song. Even though the original song has been in existence for some time now, we admit that she made it popular. Even if you listen to the song, you will realise that Guru gave her credit.

He added that I will contact her and even feature her in the songs music video.

The original song is titled Yesu Ni Wangu by South African children group Watoto Children's Choir but has been reproduced in different versions over the years including the latest vulgar version by Divine Diamond.
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!
I watched it on YouTube and I am still fuming. Trump was yelling nonsense into my ears, while Clinton calmly held her ground, keeping her composure as Trump repeatedly interrupted her, over and over and over.

Through the 90 minute debate, he interrupted her 51 times, he rambled, ranted and was full of useless opinions and blatant lies.

Clinton hands down won this debate, Trump basically unravelled on that stage and it is clear he had not prepared; he didn't know his statistics, instead kept referring to his businesses and properties through the USA - because he is a property mogul, he knows what's up, right?

Trump had to be on the defensive through the debate as Clinton put him on the spot, from stiffing his workers by not paying them for building projects through to not paying his federal taxes.

That, and the list of charges of racism and sexism and poor business practices through his career.

Trumps offered pointless quips like Its all words, its all soundbites, calling Clinton a typical politician: all talk, no action.

But to Clinton "words matter when you run for president, and they really do matter when you are president.

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes I did. You know what else I did? I prepared to be president.

When the debate got to the issue of race, almost halfway through, Clinton hammered home America's issue with racism, how it relates to education, crime and housing.

We have to restore trust between communities and the police, she said.

Through her campaign she is calling for criminal justice reform, and to crack down on guns in America.

In response Trump said the USA needed law and order and claimed a large percentage of police groups in the USA supported him. He also spoke about illegal immigrants having guns and shooting people.

He also claimed stop and frisk in New York worked  whereas it was ruled unconstitutional.

In another exchange between the two, Clinton accused Trump of racism for questioning Barack Obamas citizenship.

He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for this but he persisted year after year.

Trump congratulated himself on getting Obama to produce his birth certification and claimed the USA's African American community were thankful to him for this.

I think I have developed very good relations, over the last little while with the African American community.

He really said that.

Back in 1973 he was sued for by the Justice Department not renting to African Americans, Clinton recalled.

He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour. And the birther lie was a very hurtful one, said Clinton.

Getting into cybersecurity, Clinton said she was shocked when Trump invited Russia's Putin to hack into American's computers.

Trump's response? He's being endorsed by admirals  oh and his 10 year old son is very good with computers.

When it comes to the Iraq war, and Trump being on the record supporting it  which he claimed he didn't  he pulled the ol call my friend and ask him- he'll tell you. Kind of like kids do when they are caught out lying. In this case Trump urged media to contact Fox's Sean Hannity to vouch for him.

Closing off the debate, Trump said Clinton doesnt have the look and she doesnt have the stamina...Ive been all over the place. You decided to stay home.

In response, Clinton said she travelled to 112 countries in four years as secretary of state, and added When Donald Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina.

She then went on to highlight Trumps record of sexism, noting that he had called women "pigs and slobs and dogs", she also recalled Trump calling a beauty contest Miss Piggy and then Miss Housekeeping because she was Latina. Last week Clinton released a campaign video that highlighted Trump's misogyny.

To which Trump spent about two minutes complaining that Clinton's ads are not nice.

Some of the lies

International media had fact checked statements from both camps throughout the debate. It was clear Trump did not know what he was talking about and offered plenty of lies, for example, during the debate he said he was "just endorsed by ICE.

As the UK Guardian reports, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a government agency. It does not endorse political candidates. A group of former customs officials endorsed Trump just before the debate.

Early on in the debate, Clinton said Trump had "rooted for the housing crisis". As the UK Guardian found, she was right. In a video made in 2006 for his defunct and legally embattled Trump University, Trump said he hoped for a real estate bubble burst.

I sort of hope that happens because then people like me would go in and buy property and make a lot of money, he said.

Then, on climate change, check out this exchange:

Clinton: Donald says climate change is a hoax created by the Chinese.

Trump: I did not, I do not say that.

He did. And here is the tweet.

When going over Trump not paying his taxes, Clinton said :The only years that anybodys ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license, and they showed he didnt pay any federal income tax.

However, the UK Independent says: Clinton exaggerates here. We know of three years in the 1970s when he did pay federal income taxes. But there were at least five years in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s when Trump did not pay any, or nearly any, income taxes.

Obviously I'm not a Trump fan, I'm also not an American. Whenever I see this dried up orange peel open his mouth to spew his hate speech and absolute nonsense I feel like America is just playing a huge joke on us. While we can't vote, no matter where you are from, whoever wins this election is going to have an impact on us.

How can Americans want to be led by someone whose catchphrase is "You're Fired"?

One of his other favourite things to say is "it's a disaster" referring to anything in America he doesn't like.
Filmmakers and film enthusiasts gathered at the the Lagos Startup today, September 26, 2016 week to discuss The New Media Era and it's advantage for filmmakers.

The panel was made up of cinematographer and actor Kunle Idowu aka Frank Donga, animator and founder of YouNeek Studios; Roye Okupe, Spinlet customer executive; Tosin Sorinola and Management consultant/writer Prince Ajibade. Nigeria is the biggest producer of films on the continent, serving out over 2,600 movies a year.

Filmmaking made easier

Director of The Life of a Nigerian Couple, Osunkojo spoke to Pulse about how digital media and technology have served production in this era.

Filmmaking is more affordable, I can network with people on social media, the kind of people I want to work with, I can source my cast and crew from the Internet, from social media platforms and see what blogs have written about them", she said.

You dont necessarily have to have so much money to make a movie anymore, you just have to be creative.

Right now every filmmaker should open their imagination to tell as much stories as they can because technology will allow them and social media will bring them in contact with people that need them, people that can sponsor them and people they need to work with.

Online access to content

Unlike the past where people watched content on Television, viewing centres and in the cinemas, now this content is available on desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

In June 2016, Africa Infotech Consulting (AIC) revealed that penetration of mobile phones remained on the upward swing with about 94 per cent penetration in Nigeria. Their research also showed that smartphone penetration has increased gaining about 30 per cent penetration with features phones having a 70 per cent penetration.

Thanks to the Internet, social media, YouTube and pay TV platforms such as Iroko TV, Ibaka TV and even Netflix, Nigerian content

Social media is a blessing

Comedian Idowu spoke to Pulse Nigeria about how social media gave his brand more visibility.

Ive been doing this since I was in school cracking my friends up, it was just part of me, my alter ego, I cant turn it off, I cant help it, but social media created that window for bits and pieces of what I do to filter through to other parts of the world.

Social media is a real deal breaker right now. For me, people wouldnt have known my stuff, I started off on YouTube on a TV platform now I do Instagram, I do memes on Twitter. Social media has really helped me, it has opened doors of opportunity for my craft.

The issues

Despite this advantages, the Nigerian motion picture industry still suffers from piracy, copyright issues, poor marketing strategies and poorly written scripts.

Osunkojo told Pulse Nigeria the challenge now is being creative.
Chief Executive Officer of GAPTE, Sampson Gyamenah, told Accra-based Citi FM a vital prerequisite for the BRT system has not been met hence the name change.

READ ALSO: Drivers threaten strike over BRT system

He mentioned that one attribute they have copied from the BRT is the automated fare collection system.

The BRT transport service started what it describes as test operations with 9 buses plying the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle Accra route.

READ ALSO: Residents of Accra get free ride as BRT service begins today

The new transport system is expected to improve vehicular movement and reduce delays on some busy streets and ultimately bring relief to motorists.

Marketing and Communications Manager of GAPTE Roland Bruce said the bus ride was free until Friday. The free bus ride will be only available for passengers on one of the four routes under the BRT service that is, Amasaman through Achimota to Circle and then to Tudu, at the Central Business District.

Some Ghanaians have raised concerns that government is probably rushing the BRT system, as many of the buses are yet to be registered and insured.

But Bruce has denied those claims, saying: we are in the process of registering and insuring the buses. We hope no accidents happen before we register and insure all the buses. We assure passengers of our commitment to our schedule and the rapidity of our buses."

However, the BRT which started operation yesterday (Monday, September 26, 2016) has been suspended today (Tuesday, September 27, 2016).
Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive; implementer of the BRT service confirmed this development to Pulse.com.gh

He explained that operations have been suspended due to some communication challenges they encountered on the first day. He said the challenge was mainly "with the log system which provided information such as when or where passengers would alight to drivers."

READ ALSO: Residents of Accra get free ride as BRT service begins today

Roland Bruce further added that they suspended the service to train the drivers on how to use the system to facilitate non-obstructive communication between them and passengers.

Bruce said the BRT service will return by tomorrow (Wednesday, September 28, 2016).

READ ALSO: Drivers threaten strike over BRT system

The BRT transport service started what it describes as test operations with 9 buses plying the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle Accra route.

The new transport system is expected to improve vehicular movement and reduce delays on some busy streets and ultimately bring relief to motorists.

Roland Bruce said the bus ride was free until Friday. The free bus ride will be only available for passengers on one of the four routes under the BRT service that is, Amasaman through Achimota to Circle and then to Tudu, at the Central Business District.

Some Ghanaians have raised concerns that government is probably rushing the BRT system, as many of the buses are yet to be registered and insured.
The accusations angered Abdullah Muaza who started punching Yakubu Aidoo.

READ ALSO: Irate NDC youth protest against alleged resignation of KMA boss

The Assembly Members met today at the Trade Union Congress hall to elect a Presiding Member. They have failed to elect a Presiding Member due to an entrenched position taken by the two contestants and their supporters. The two contestants are Assembly Member for Suame, Nana Kofi Senya and the Adumhene Nana Baffour Agyei Kesse, who is a government appointee.

READ ALSO: KMA boss apologises to Kumasi Traditional Council

However, the Adumhene has stepped down for Senya, but he would still need two third of the votes to be confirmed.
Paramount Chiefs of Takla, Hodzo and Kpenoe traditional areas at a press conference at Kpenoe on Tuesday September 27, threatened to ban all political activities in the area if their demands are not met.

The chief of Kpenoe, Togbe Kotoku XI, who spoke on behalf of the two chiefs, warned the relevant authorities to fix the roads or else they would block the roads to prevent politicians from coming to campaign in the communities.

"Tension is gradually mounting among our young people over the neglect of our roads, whilst some other roads in the municipality are being fixed with enthusiasm ahead of the December polls. We feel so isolated and can't tell if we are also part of the 'Changing lives, Transforming Ghana' agenda of the government," Togbe said.

"We're praying that some amount of work starts on our road in two weeks, if not, we will block the road and declare three months of communal labour to fix it. During this period, we will ban any political activity in the traditional areas."

This action from the chiefs comes after some 500 residents embarked on a demonstration in August to demand that their roads be fixed. They blamed the Municipal Assembly and the Member of Parliament of the area for paying a deaf ear to their plea.
She was also recognised for her role as President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV (OAFLA) and for her campaign to empower women to take charge of their reproductive health rights, as well as end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The luncheon, which took place in Chicago in the United States of America (USA), also provided a platform for the First Lady to discuss and update delegates of her various activities in contributing to development in Africa, as well as areas for collaboration.

In a speech read on her behalf, the First Lady stressed the need to recommit to creating a global community in which every woman was treated with dignity and every child was loved and cared for.

READ ALSO: First Lady denies funding NGO with public funds

She said humanitarian work was not exclusive to governments or philanthropists but to all who looked to the world and were hopeful of its development.

Mrs Mahama described the award as a call to strengthen efforts in forging a society where each person could dream and still reach that goal, as well as a call to form an inclusive world where real equality was a reality.
The call for the removal of the statue of Mohandas Karmachand widely known as Mahatma Ghandi from the University of Ghana, Legon, began months after the Indian President Prenab Mukherejee gifted the statue to the school.

READ ALSO: Concerns of lecturers will be considered

The campaign dubbed Ghandi Must Fall and Ghandi for Come Down was started by a number of professors, students, alumni and some Ghanaians with Prof. Akosua Adomako as its leader has petitioned the authorities of the school to that effect.

This action inspired by the Rhodes Must Fall movement started by South African students and led to the felling of the statue of many colonialist and apartheid supporters including that of Cecil Rhodes on the campus of the University of Cape Town in 2015.

READ MORE: Pulling down statue could sever ties with India

According to them, Ghana cannot keep a statue of an inherent racist who stood against Africans at that time.

Ras Mubarak took to his Facebook timeline and wrote "I support fully calls for the removal of the statue of Ghandi from the University of Ghana campus. I cant as a proud African, glorify anyone who makes the following derogatory comments about Africans."

Ours is one continual struggle against a degradation sought to be inflicted upon by Europeans who desire to degrade us to the level of raw kaffir (derogatory term for African) whose occupation is hunting, and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife and then, pass his life in indolence and nakedness.

We cant as proud Africans glorify a man who talked down the African. Heres one of the racist comments he made against a dehydration sought to be inflicted on upon us by Europeans who desired to degrade us to the level of raw Kaffir (Africans) whose sole occupation was hunting and to buy a wife with a certain number of cattle and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness, # Ghandi for come down, he noted.
Mr Mahama made this known while addressing dignitaries across the globe at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conference in Paris on September 26.

READ ALSO:

He was speaking on ways the on the role of access to information in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said even though the Ghanaians media landscape can be described as one of the most saturated with radio stations and other media in the world, several challenges still face the media industry.

The president believed that a lot of the journalists lack training and hence need capacity building and development to improve upon their performance.President Mahama also indicated that a lot of the stations still use rudimentary equipment so they do not have clear sounds.

He believed the countrys migration to digital broadcasting will help address such concerns.

Meanwhile, the president has stated that Ghana is on course to achieving the targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, Ghana has probably the highest saturation; we have aside from the Constitution put in the legislation to guarantee freedom of information and access to information. I must say unfortunately it will go down in history as the legislation that has stayed the longest in Parliament. Cabinet approved it, we submitted it to Parliament; I dont know where it is.

President Mahama speaking on peace, justice and strong institutions specifically elaborated on the role of the media and access to information promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. He further stated that, unfortunately, it [the bill] will go down in history as the legislation that has stayed the longest in Parliament.

The Coalition on the Right to Information (RTI), Ghana criticised President Mahama for not pushing hard enough to ensure the passage of the right to information bill.

According to the Coalition, Mahama and his government have not shown much commitment to pushing the bill.
While GTPCWU believes the decision by the management is an attack on trade unionism, according to the General Secretary of Union, Samuel Boateng, spokesman for Ghana Gas, Alfred Ogbamey says due processes were followed in the dismissal.

READ MORE: Ghana Gas dismisses 13 workers

The workers three months ago took to the streets to protest against unfavourable working conditions including poor safety measures at the Gas processing company.

Head of Corporate communications at Ghana Gas, Alfred Ogbamey justified the decision of management, saying the workers went against all counsel to back down on the protest.

The workers violated the company act, he told Joy FM Monday. They went against all advice.

But Mr Boateng challenged Ogbamey, revealing that a meeting at the behest of the Minister of Labour, Haruna Iddrisu, concluded that the errant workers should not be dismissed. He added that the Chief Executive of Ghana Gas assured that there was not going to be any dismissals.

READ MORE:Atuabo Gas to shut down

Ogbamey said it was only an advice and not an agreement, arguing that Ghana Gas is a limited liability company which is not subject to the dictate of the minister or any government agency.

There was an advice not an agreement that workers should not be sacked, he said.

The workers have petitioned against their dismissal and are said to have engaged influential people to lobby on their behalf.

But Ogbamey believes the mitigation measures by the punished workers is an admission of guilt.

The demonstration, embarked three months ago, according to Obgamey was illegal but said the workers were not dismissed because of the demonstration. He said they were sacked for proven misconduct in a separate interview on Citi FM.

READ MORE:Ghana shuts down its oldest oil field

Citing an example, he said the workers in multiple media interview said they had not been paid for three months which according to him was a lie.
The loan facility was approved by the Board of Directors of the World Bank in 2015.

The agreement was signed with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The Sankofa project is being sponsored by Italian oil firm ENI.

He added that it has the capacity to supply 180m sft of gas, enough to generate 1,110 megawatts of power.

He added: It is a landmark project together with GE and TEN [and it] will contribute significantly to meet Ghanas energy security needs.

The Chief Executive Officer of GNPC Alex Mould said oil production from the Sankofa-Gye Nyame oil field is expected in the second quarter of 2017 while production of gas is expected to start in 2018.

ENI holds 44.4 percent stake in Sankofa, Vitol holds 35.6 percent while GNPC holds 20 percent participating interest.

The project will increase Ghana's electricity supply by 50%, according to the statement by GNPC released in February 2016.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday September 27, Dr Lartey said: We will not allow anyone who is corrupt to get away with it, even if you are the president of Ghana. If we start from the top, it will trickle down. We are going to CHRAJ with our lawyers and he (Rawlings) will have to answer all these questions. No vendetta or whatsoever, I actually respected him to a point  he disappointed me and he has disappointed all West Africans. It is a sad thing that a man of probity and accountability must come to tell us that he took $2million cash [from Abacha]. Did he take it on behalf of Ghanaians? Who signed for the money? What was the money used for? Did he really receive $2million? Are we being lied to? he asked.

Former President Jerry John Rawlings recently lashed out at critics who criticised him for receiving a cash gift from the former Nigerian president, saying it will be a triumph of evil if people believe such a 'dirty charge' against him.

His comments follow an interview he had with The Guardian Newspaper in Nigeria in which he confirmed receiving $2 million from Gen. Abacha.

In 1998, the Rawlings regime denied ever receiving the cash gift after the Chronicle Newspaper reported it.

He was also defended by NDC Members of Parliament when the issue was raised on the floor of the House at the time by the minority New Patriotic Party.

Rawlings resurrected the issue after he told the Guardian newspaper that he had received $2 million contrary to media reports that he received $5 million from Gen. Abacha.

His critics have linked the gift to bribery, while others have hailed him for being honest on the matter.

In a push to defend his anti-corruption image, Rawlings told the Daily Graphic Newspaper in an interview that people should search for something else if they are looking for something negative about him.
A resident in Nakundo in the Northern Region poured hot water on Aflamevu during his campaign tour to that area.

According to Accra-based Rainbow FM, Aflamevu was in the Yendi constituency where the NDC lost the 2012 election. During his tour, he entered a house where he decided to share the Mahama message with three women and their children.

He narrated that as he started speaking to the women, he realised he was not welcome to the house. He said this realisation was after the husband of one of the women failed to respond to his greeting.

Despite the odd feeling, he decided to continue speaking to the ladies. He later realised the man was walking towards him with a container. Even though the women signalled him to run, the hot water was poured on him before he could do anything. This has led to his skin peeling off.

READ ALSO: NDC apologise to NPP

Aflamevu earlier walked from Tamale in the Northern Region to Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region campaigning for President Mahama ahead of the December polls.

Until the unfortunate incident, he had returned to the Northern Region, walking from constituency to constituency campaigning for President Mahama.
The "How to get away with murder" star while being honored at the Rape Foundations Annual Brunch in Beverly Hills said, "Myself, my mother, my sisters, my friend Rebecca, my friend from childhood, we all have one thing in common: We are all survivors of sexual assault in some way, shape or form."

"Listen, when I was young, there were so many men in the neighbourhood who gave you money if they could touch you. Going over to a friends house for a birthday party at the age of seven, there was always someone there who touched you.

My sister Danielle was 8 years old when she was on roller skates and went down to the corner store at 1 oclock in the afternoon and was sexually assaulted in the aisles, said Davis. She told my mum right away  my mum ran down to the store. The store owners response was: He does that to all the little girls.

My mum flagged down the police, and the perpetrator did pay, she continued. He paid. He was fined $10 a month. Its over for him, but Id like to redefine survivor.

Opening up about her sisters sexual assault struggles, "My sister is now a heroin addict, shes a prostitute, she said. The friend of mine whos a survivor, I call her a survivor because her 7-year-old daughter was taken from the backyard of her grandmas house while playing in the middle of the day. They couldnt find her for an entire day, and they finally found her sexually assaulted, strangled dead. So her mum, shes surviving. Its just that when shes surviving, when shes alive just having a meal, she has flashbacks  post-traumatic stress disorder.
ALSO READ: Police rescue abducted corps member

The spokesman for the state police command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday, September 27.

He said that the victims identified as Mrs Roseline Odoh, 85, and her daughter, Josephine, were abducted from their home in Ogbelle Ohullor in Udenu LGA of the state on Thursday, September 22.

Amaraizu revealed that the victims were rescued the following day, September 23, thanks to useful information passed across to the police by concerned members of the public.

The victims were reportedly rescued unhurt in a bush located at Orokam in Benue State. He said that the police collaborated with the community's vigilante group which led to the successful rescue mission.

One of the suspects is reported to have died from bullet wounds he sustained during a shootout with the police.
A Surulere Magistrates Court which gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties each as part of the bail condition.The Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, said one of the sureties must be a property owner in Lagos, while the other surety must be a community leader with an evidence of tax payment.She directed that the case file should be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Both Adebayo, 25 and Rasheed, 19, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and rape.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osanyade told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at No. 27, Adeleye St., Sari-Iganmu, on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Sept. 16.

She alleged that the accused saw the woman walking alone on the street, grabbed and dragged her to a quite place before raping her.

They accused took her Nokia phone and unlawfully had sexual intercourse with her.

The offences contravened Sections 258, 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that offenders may be sentenced to life imprisonment on conviction.
The announcement was made by the Police Public Relations officer, ASP Moses Yamu, while parading three kidnap suspects who have been terrorising the state.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Makurdi, on Monday, September 26, Yamu said unknown gunmen invaded the traditional rulers house located in Vingir village on Sunday, September 25, and shot him dead.

Yamu revealed that the police are yet to discover the motive for the atrocious act but that investigations are being carried into the case. He also assured that the culprits would be arrested very soon.

He added that additional policemen have been deployed to the area to maintain the peace in the community and pleaded with the public to come forward with any information which would be helpful in the arrest of the culprits.
ALSO READ: Stepmother poisons new born baby with insecticide

The Kano State Police Command spokesman, DSP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Kano.

Majiya revealed that the young girl was thrown into an old well in Gayawa village, Ungoggo Local Government Area of the state.

The girl reportedly spent two days inside the well her stepmother allegedly threw her into, NAN reports.

Men of the state fire service are reported to have rescued the girl alive.

Majiya added that the suspects were arrested in the village on Sunday, September 25 after the father of the girl made complaints.

We have arrested three women in connection with the case and they are now in our custody assisting us with our investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr has directed the transfer of the case to the state Criminal Investigation Department, for proper investigation.

According to Majiya, the commissioner has ordered a thorough investigation into the case to determine the individual involvement of the suspects.
NSCDC Commandant in the state, Dr Muhammed Fari, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, September 26, in Damaturu.

According to Fari, the command has recorded more cases of rape, indecency and criminal breach of trust in the last three months, than it had last year.

Fari said that several suspects have been charged to court by the command for contravening sections 283, 285 and 312 of the Penal Code.

Throwing more light on the seriousness of the issue, Fari told NAN of one of the rapes cases which involved a 40-year-old deaf and dumb man, Shaaibu Danladi who defiled a 6-months-old baby in Potiskum.

Medical reports on the child who is currently undergoing treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital shows that she sustained tear in her vagina down to her anus.

Fari said, the case no: YBS/PT/CMCII/091c/2016 suffered set back due to lack of a sign language expert at the court to communicate with the deaf and dumb suspect.

Other rape cases were also recorded in Damaturu with the suspects charged in a Magistrates Court in Damaturu.
For the first time,

During the debate, Donald Trump dodged questions, lied and bullied his opponent. Instead of giving solutions, he highlighted problems and stated that his administration will deal with these problems without offering a clear blueprint on how to do so. Does this sound familiar?

Forget his skin colour and his nationality, Donald Trump is a Nigerian politician at the core. During the election period in Nigeria in 2015, Nigerian politicians did the same things that Donald Trump is doing now- make a lot of noise, have a fancy slogan and fail to provide solutions to the problems that affect the average Nigerian.

ALSO READ: Hilary Clinton attacks Donald Trump on economy

If Donald Trump was born in these parts he would have been a very successful politician. He would have started his political career as a thug and risen to the position of a senator.

We can laugh at the ridiculous things Trump says but Nigerian politicians do worse and they have found themselves in positions of power.

Donald Trump is not fond of debates, and the world will not be surprised if he does not show up for the remaining two debates. You know who doesn't like debates too? Nigeria politicians. Presidential debates in Nigeria tilts towards comedy than politics just like the Republican presidential debates that felt like a comedy show.

Also, the Republican Party candidate doesn't have a clear plan to make America great again. He just spins the same rhetoric all the time. If you get the chance to interview an average Nigerian politician and ask for his policies, he or she would probably not have any.
The call was led by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mr Olusegun Olulade, under the Matter of Public Urgency during the plenary.

Olulade drew the attention of other lawmakers to the recent incident where some residents of a community consumed local salad popularly known as abacha, believed to have been contaminated by the bacteria causing the disease.

In order to avert future recurrence, it was time for the state government to begin enlisting the services of health inspection officers from each local government and local council development area.

These officers will be going from one food seller to another with a view to fishing out potentially-contaminated foods.

Their presence and activity will go a long way in helping to rid our streets and markets of consumable foods that could become injurious to peoples health.

The outbreak of the disease with the subsequent loss of six lives is regrettable. Its cause has been attributed to the consumption of contaminated local salad," he said.

ALSO READ: Commissioner says outbreak has been curtailed in Lagos

Olulade said, There is the need for a stakeholders meeting involving relevant ministries and agencies to be held as soon as possible.

He said there was the need for the state government, through the Ministry of Information and Strategy, to commence immediate sensitisation of residents on the need to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene.

Another lawmaker, Mr Rotimi Olowo, also said that the return of health inspection officers, popularly known as `Wole Wole would go a long way in restoring the lost cleanliness in many homes and lives.

Nowadays, it is not impossible to find people cooking food on soak-away (septic tanks) or open gutters. How will there not be cholera, dysentery or any other deadly disease

If health inspectors are allowed to begin operating again, we might be nipping the problem in the bud in the future, he said.

In his remark, the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, lauded the state governments efforts in addressing the outbreak on time by promptly identifying the affected community and adequately quarantining the infected people.
The bank, in an email sent to Adenike Lucas, the spokesperson of the UK chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the document is fake.

According to the anti-fraud team of the bank, We are sure that the statement is fake as previously advised.

Lucas, in an email sent to Pulse News, said further investigation showed that Jibrin is not the owner of the alleged property on 453 Cranbrook Road, Ilford Essex. IG2 6EW.

Punch had earlier reported that the National Youth Council of Nigeria accused the former House committee Chairman of owning 1.558m in a UK bank.

The former Chairman of the House committee on appropriation, later behind the allegation for N1b.

The lawmaker filed a suit against the duo, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Ifeanyi Okonkwo at the High Court in Abuja.

Jibrin has also said that he is ready to go to prison if he is found guilty of any offence.
The ACF also alleged that previous sale of the countrys assets did not amount to anything, adding that the resources were not used properly.

According to the groups spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, The growing calls by some prominent politicians and business tycoons on the Federal Government to consider the selling of strategic viable national assets as an option to take the economy out of recession at this material time is inappropriate.

Ibrahim also added that ACF therefore considers it unwise for the Federal Government to contemplate the selling of our major national assets like the Oil refineries, Federal Airports, NLNG, while we can use them as security against needed funds to boost the economy, as the recession is considered to be temporary. After all, the Federal Governments diversification policy in agriculture and solid mineral resources is aimed at boosting the economy to arrest the recession.

In addition, ACF wishes to suggest that unnecessary allowances of public officers and overhead cost that form over 40% of our annual budget should be converted to capital allocation to boost the economy. This is the time for national sacrifice in order to bequeath an enduring legacy to the next generation. Positive change usually comes with painful necessary sacrifice.

ACF however supports some of the measures proposed by the National Economic Council but seriously objects to the selling of strategic national assets just to get out a temporary economic recession.

ACF calls upon our prominent business men and women to invest their resources in the oil and gas industry, building of airports, etc that will compete favorably with the public ones. This will equally boost the economy through employment and infrastructural development. Lets put on our thinking cap and do the needful, rather than taking short term measures.
Abubakar, who was the guest speaker at the opening of a three-day regional conference on Peace Building and Reconstruction in the Chad Basin, however, noted that terrorism was an enemy difficult to defeat.

The conference was co-hosted by the Nigerian Army and the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

The former head of state lamented that the insurgency had taken unprecedented toll on human, property and ecology of the countries around the Chad basin.

According to him, planning for post-insurgency situation  peace building and reconstruction in the area requires a clear understanding of the cause of the conflict.

Quoting statistics from the UN, he said as at November, 2015 there were over 2.2 million IDPs in Nigeria, over 158, 000 in Cameroon, over 66,000 in Chad and 47, 000 in Niger.

Similarly, there are 93,000 refugees in Niger, 64, 000 in Cameroon and 7,000 in Chad as at Nov. 2015, Abubakar said.

He said during the period, 1.6 million IDPs were in Borno alone, being the epicenter of the insurgency, while 218,000 villages and hamlet were affected by the insurgency.

He said that infrastructure damaged included 18,000 houses and 22,000 schools.

In Borno alone, the following were damaged: 1, 630 water sources, over 700 electrical distribution lines and 1, 205 government institutions. This is a colossal damage.

As a result, 952, 000 children of school age are currently displaced, among, which are tens of thousands of orphans, he said.

Still quoting from the UN, Abubakar said the losses recorded due to the conflict during the period amount to 5.9 billion dollars or N1.8 trillion.

This of course, is deepening the state poverty in a region classified among the poorest in sub-Sahara Africa.

The statistics also show that as at Nov. 2015, three million people are trapped in areas regarded as inaccessible and likely to be killed or become victims of security incidents, human rights violation, physical abuse, extortion, raping and sexual violence, among others.

He also quoted from the UNICEF, saying that in Borno alone, 257,000 children under the age of five were likely to suffer from malnutrition in 2016 as a result of the insurgency.

In his remark, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai noted that there was lack of comprehensive road map and master plan for the rehabilitation of insurgency ravaged region.

The major challenge is lack of research-based data on the real life challenges confronting the IDPs in the form of comprehensive post conflict need assessment.

The lack of synergy is affecting effort by government agencies, NGO and the armed forces, as well as international partners in caring for IDPs, he said.

He then called on the conference to come out with suggestions to address that.

Also, the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, stressed the need to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people in the region as a fall out of the war.

Food insecurity remains the number one challenge.

This had led to malnutrition, stunting growth and waste in children, rising cases of infant and maternal mortality.
Abbas Gava, a member of the vigilante group who spoke to Premium Times said the armed men stormed the community at about 6.30pm.

ALSO READ: Boko Haram: 7 Reasons why the war against insurgency has not been won

As I am speaking to you now the gunmen are setting every house on fire after chasing the villagers away, Gava said.

From the information, we have received from our operatives in Chibok and Kautikari, the number of casualties cannot be ascertained for now because the Boko Haram insurgents are still in the village, he added.

Meanwhile, Tukur Buratai the chief or army staff has describedAbubakar Shekau, factional leader of the Boko Haram sect, as a mad man.
In a statement reportedly issued by the group's spokesman, Aldo Agbalaja, the NDGJM said it can't trust the present administration hence, it won't be joining in the ceasefire declared by other militant groups in the Niger Delta.

The NDGJM also alleged that the current Federal Government was too corrupt while condemning the Niger Delta Avengers, for announcing a ceasefire with the government.

Agblaja said: The chickens seem to be coming home to roost now. The truth is dawning on the blacklegs that are working to short-change their people will always backfire. When the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate said we were out to engage the oppressors to the last, some snickered and bluffed, their indignation became most annoying when those pretenders called Avengers gave life to our prediction and announced a ceasefire. Now they are all coming back to the basics; falling back in line after seeing, first hand, that we have been right all along about the Nigerian Federal Government; it is a corrupt system that should never be trusted.

ALSO READ: Militants say Operation Crocodile Smile is a scam

However, we are using this medium to warn the Nigerian Armed Forces to properly advise their leadership; militarisation of our region can only lead to an avoidable armed confrontation and if this happens, we swear by the gods and ancestors of our land, we shall ensure it is a long and tedious campaign that the Nigerian state will forever regret.
Peterside said this on Monday while addressing participants at a training programme on Oil Spill Response and Preparedness Training on the Job, organised by the European Union (EU) in Lagos.

The training is expected to last eight days.

The director-general decried the negative impact of oil spills on the marine environment and its effects on the livelihood of people living in coastal communities.

He said that,  It is only adequate preparation that can help mitigate the effect of oil spills.

According to him, it is necessary to note that where there are in place contingency plans and equipment, there should be training of those that will handle the equipment.

Hence this training is timely and highly appreciated, especially being granted free to our nation, the director-general said.

Peterside urged participants to give the training programme the seriousness it deserves.

He said that the expertise acquired after the training would be instrumental in dealing with issues of oil spills.

The director-general said that as an oil-producing nation, oil spills could not be ruled out of the Nigerian maritime environment.

ALSO READ: NIMASA boss suggests careful planning for good maritime security

The training programme which is being held in Nigeria as one of the priority countries in Africa selected by the EU, is a capacity development and enhancement initiative.

The training covers environmental management and sustainability toward achieving a cleaner environment by reducing pollution as a result of oil spillage in the Nigerian maritime environment.

The training is also expected to acquaint participants with the requisite knowledge to combat oil spills where and when they occur and the contingency plans and equipment to deploy.

Participants at the training were drawn from NIMASA, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Courtesy Landom Momberg/@landonmomberg(VAIL, Colo.) -- Catie Bossard was thrilled when her boyfriend of a year proposed while they were atop a mountain during a visit to Vail, Colorado.



But when, seconds later as the couple's family and friends started running toward them, Zach Baldwin asked Bossard if she wanted to get married that same day, well, she couldn't contain her emotions.



"That was when it kind of hit me," she told ABC News. "I'm like, 'Yes! Yes! Let's do it.'"



The Denver, Colorado, couple's surprise wedding was actually two months in the making. Baldwin, 25, told ABC News that he "got this idea one day having dinner with a co-worker."



"He was joking about having our family all in town and knocking it all out in one day," Baldwin said. "When I thought about it more and more. It just seemed too perfect."



So Baldwin planned that the two would drive from their shared home in Denver to Vail. He then dropped to one knee on the top of a Vail mountain after a scenic gondola ride.



"I can honestly say absolutely everything fell into place as I had envisioned it from the beginning," Baldwin said.



Bossard, 24, recalled that as their family and friends came over to congratulate them, her fiance had a second question. "He said, 'My second question is do you want to get married today?'"



After the bride-to-be was on board with the whirlwind plan, the two popped open a bottle of champagne and returned to their hotel to prepare for the wedding set for four hours later.



Bossard was thrilled when she found out that her best friends along with her sister and mother had thought of everything -- from her wedding dress and undergarments to her makeup and hair accessories.



Her mother had even brought her great-grandmother's handkerchief, which she tied around the bouquet. She also wore her grandmother's pearls.



As far as decorations, well Mother Nature took care of that.



"It was simple but beautiful," Bossard said. "With the scenery, you don't need much up there. There's no need for any flowers. The entire view of the mountains behind you: that alone takes your breath away."



The couple is now looking forward to their honeymoon. Bossard said they plan to backpack through Costa Rica in November.



For now, they're looking forward to living as husband and wife.



"I am looking forward to experiencing everything life has to offer with Catie," Baldwin said. "She brings a light into every situation that cannot be contained and inspires me everyday to be the best husband I can be."



"He makes me a better person," Bossard said. "I love being around him and I love enjoying life with him, whether its traveling, being at the house, working out. Im excited to spend my life with him."

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Dino Melaye, gave the directive when Bello appeared before the committee in Abuja on Monday.

Melaye expressed displeasure over the continued movement of the cattle in the city centre in spite of warnings by the FCT authorities.

According to him, the arbitrary movement of cattle in the streets and highways in Abuja calls for concern.

We are not happy with the state of sanitation in the FCT. We have received a lot of complaints across the metropolis of the FCT but the greatest of it all is the menace of herdsmen in the territory, he said.

To me that is absurd and is not acceptable in the capital city. If it were to be at a time when we have a visiting president/diplomat from other countries what impression will we give to our visitors?

Honourable Minister, Senate as an institution is not happy at how herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you have given directive against some time ago.

From now, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre.

If that is not going to work, any cow that is seen within the metropolis of FCT must be arrested with a minimum fine of N50, 000 per cow.

This must be enforced, if not anytime again we see cows or we receive reports of cows moving around the streets, the committee will sanction the FCT administration, he said.

On sanitation in the FCT, the committee chairman cautioned that it was the second time the committee would be talking about the deplorable state of sanitation in the FCT.

He urged the minister to quickly address the matter to prevent the city from being defaced.

He also decried the menace of hawkers and beggers in the streets of the FCT and directed Bello to enforce the law on those matters.

Responding, Bello assured the committee that his administration would address the issues raised.
The witness, Murtala Abubakar, a Bureau de Change operator, told the court that he received the money from Dudafa through five companies between 2013 and 2015.

The companies are Pluto Properties and Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property, Rotato Interlink Services, Seagate Property and Ebiwise Services Limited.

He (Mr. Dudafa) usually sent two of his employees  Festus and Jahman  with dollars in order to change same and deposit the naira equivalent into specific accounts he provided via text messages, said Abubakar said.

Abubakar added that in the last transaction, Dudafa invited him to the Presidential Villa and handed him $4 million cash.
It was learnt that the driver, in an attempt to escape police arrest, sped off and crashed into the pavement along the highway.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that a tricycle was trapped and the passengers in the tricycle died in the inferno.

According to an eye witness, Mr Cyril Ekpenyong from Obong Itam, the tricycle rider, was taken to a hospital, but died thereafter.

Ekpenyong said that the driver refused to stop when the police flagged the truck to stop, but the police did not pursue the vehicle.

He said that the thinking of truck driver was that the police team was pursuing him as he had poor lighting even at the rear.

We saw the truck as the police were trying to flag it down because it was driving with one headlamp which was not even bright.

The driver did not mind the police as he veered to the right of the policemen to escape.
The court reportedly ordered that the confiscated monies should be used to offset the sum of N1 billion owed E. F. Network Nigeria Limited and Gideon Egbuchulam.

The judgement which was delivered by Justice G. Mbaba sealed an earlier appeal filed by the Governor of Imo State, the Attorney General of Imo State, the Environmental Transformation Committee and the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment, Imo State.

ALSO READ: Okorocha wants all Imo adults to pay N3000 tax for development
Audu Amba, state Chairman of the union, made this known in an interview with newsmen on the side line of the emergency meeting of the NUT National Executive Council, held in Kaduna.

Amba said the union had exhausted all areas of dialogue with the state government, without getting any positive response.

According to him, more than 9,000 teachers have been pencilled down for dismissal by the government,

He said that the state government had failed to settle the Leave Transport Grant (LTG) of primary school teachers since 2015 even though it had been deducted from their salaries.

 So if the payment of this LTG is not made we have no option but to go on strike he said.

He also said that many teachers had not been paid for over three months, and also accused the government of neglecting primary school teachers when it comes to promotion.

Verification exercise have being conducted since June 2015 but the government has come up with a list of 9,000 workers awaiting dismissal which we kicked against.

 Despite letters of reminders; I have written to remind every quarter in order for payment to be effected but to no avail.
Alhaji Lawan Bashir-Kano, the state NSCDC Commandant, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia that the reports led to the arrest of some criminal elements in the state.

He said that the reports aided the efforts of its operatives in combating crime in the state.

Our mandate is to ensure the peaceful coexistence among the people of the diverse ethnic, religious and political groups is been sustained so as to achieve speedy development in the country.

That is why the command is up and doing in tackling crime of various kinds in the state, so that every citizen whether in the rural or urban area can go about their normal activities without fear of intimidation or attacks.

I want to disclose to you that from January 2016 to date, the command has received a total number of 405 cases which includes both criminal cases such as vandalism, rape, theft among others and civil cases.

Out of these 405 cases, we referred 198 for investigation and the rest are not for investigation rather than for mediation between the complainants and the respondent so as to bring peace among themselves, he said.

ALSO READ: NSCDC deploys 20,000 personnels for edo elections

He said the command received 41 cases in January and February, 32 cases in March, 54 in April, 49 in May, 58 in June, 61 in July, 70 in August and 40 in September.

Bashir-Kano said that the command synergised with the police and other sister security agencies to ensure a crime-free society.

The commandant said that the NSCDC transferred 71 cases to police for prosecution, and appealed to the public to always give vital information to the command to curtail criminal activities in the state.
Udoma also urged critics of the proposed sale to hold their fire until a final decision is made, according to Daily Trust.

The minister reportedly made the comment on Tuesday, September 27, while speaking at the 57th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society in Abuja.

According to Udoma, the planned sale is just a proposal within the stimulus package of the federal government which is yet to be finalized or even agreed upon.

Udoma had earlier said, via a statement released by his Media Adviser, James Akpandem on Saturday, September 24, that the government was not planning to sell off all Nigerias assets.

ALSO READ: Pat Utomi blames Buhari administration for recession
The lawmakers in the Red Chambers, unanimously refused the governments stand, when they received the recommendations of Committee on the state of the economy.

Speaking on the FGs stakes in most Joint Venture projects, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said "The Federal Government should Re-negotiate terms of cost of production and profit sharing.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other trade unions have threatened to embark on a strike if the countrys assets are sold.

Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote had earlier advised the government to sell some of its assets to boost its reserves.
The attendees have set up three committees that will see to the restoration of peace and security in the oil rich region.

According to Vanguard, a former Vice President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, said the meeting went well, and was well attended.

Unagha also slammed some Niger Delta groups for criticising the transport minister for convening the meeting.

He said At the end of the meeting, three committees were set up to draw up frame work, especially to reach out to stakeholders in the Niger Delta for addressing the peace and security in the region.

My take on this matter, is that there is no other person better than Honourable RotimiAmechi to summon a meeting of leaders in the South-South, also in the Niger Delta. Apart from being a former governor of a state, he is a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In all ramifications, he is qualified to convey a meeting of South-South leaders.

As for those leaders going under the guise of Niger Delta, Coastal States Coalition, we have no confidence in them any longer. Today, they will blow cold and tomorrow they will blow hot as they are the major problem in the Niger Delta. In the night, they will go and negotiate with government for what comes to their pocket and in the day time, they sponsor militants. They are not after the well-being of the region.

Adding that In the days of the former President, they were political jobbers that came up with several names such as the South-South Peoples Assembly, Southern People Assembly to root for the former President, now they founded Niger Delta Coastal States Coalition as a convenient umbrella to disrupt the progressive programme of this government and seek for further negotiations.

I challenge the group of these coalition states leaders to tell Niger Deltans what they were able to bring to the area when Jonathan was in power. These are people who were nominated to the failed National Conference without meaningful inputs. Rather than representing the interest of the Niger Delta, they were there to fend for themselves.

On the summit canvassed by certain quarters, I think that that is the best way forward for the Niger Delta and not dialogue, as some persons are agitating. In such a situation, ethnic nationality should be represented on equal basis.

The Niger Delta has seen the rise of different militant groups who have bombed crude oil facilities in the oil rich region.
Soludo also said the government will be making the same mistake that past administrations made, if it decides to go ahead with its plan.

The former CBN Governor said he described the plan as a joke when he first heard it, but decided to confront the issue when he noticed the government was serious.

According to him, Part of the legacy of the oil resource curse on matters of public finance is a mindset that resorts to easy, albeit lazy approach to quick fixes  with a gaze on the short term even when the issues are structurally long-term. So, I understand the mental framework that drives such a proposal especially given the pressures to show immediate results.

But for the record, it is our considered view that the proposal is based on a false foundation. Our thesis is that in extreme, exceptional circumstances, sale of certain assets could be a last resort option but that Nigeria is currently not near that threshold and the institutional framework for its effective use is also not in place.

Furthermore, we argue that any sale of assets now amounts to chasing pennies when by acts of omission or commission, we are losing pounds. Such a hasty auction of national assets can only benefit a privileged few with cash and access while jeopardizing Nigerias long-term economic interests. It will be a historic mistake.

Soludo also said The argument that sale of assets is the only way to reflate the economy out of recession is troubling, and suffers what economists might call policy myopia or time inconsistency problem.

First, imagine if previous governments used asset sales as a strategy to reflate the economy during previous periods of economic recession or crisis. Alternatively, if we auction away some valued national assets for the short term goal of reflating the economy out of recession, what will happen during future cycles of recessions and economic crisis?

The global economic system is inherently and cyclically crisis-prone. Prudently managed economies are preparing for the next cycles of global crisis, and the IMF has already warned of persisting vulnerabilities. What shall we sell then?

Reasonable people can have a good debate about the composition of public assets for sale at any time. Although government is yet to be definitive about the assets being proposed for sale, it is reasonable to object to any scheme that will hurriedly sell performing public assets that guarantee future flows of revenue and forex to future generations such as the NLNG, AFC shares, JVs in oil and gas sector, etc.

Even for non-performing assets, when privatization is forced and assets auctioned on an emergency basis to meet short-term needs, the danger signs are there for all to see. Nigeria will never get value for money under the circumstance. We all know what happens when someone urgently needs to sell his or her property to meet an emergency.

What happens to the valuation/pricing? If we price them properly and wish to go through proper due process, the deal might take several years to conclude, thereby defeating the advertised purpose of immediate spending. On the other hand, if we insist on forced sale because we need cash urgently, we can as well imagine how the valuation will be done and how buyers will bid for them," he said.

Adding that In all, the proposal is largely self-serving and convenient. For some privileged private sector operators with cash and access, the temporary rump up of reserves as well as temporary strengthening of the Naira will enable them to take whatever forex they can get (at the official rate) knowing that it is just a temporary elixir. They can then round-trip same a few weeks after and rake in billions.

Furthermore, the attempt to sell valuable national assets under duress guarantees these same interests to cherry-pick the assets on the cheap. For our Senators and government, it is very convenient in the sense that it provides easy money to continue with the expenditure trends. So, for both government and its private sector collaborators in this scheme, it is a win-win. The only losers are Nigerians and the economy. In this apparent short-termism or myopia, no one seems to care about tomorrow."
In a recent report by Daily Trust, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain reproached President Buhari for heaping the current complaints by Nigerians on recession.

Without mincing words, Lamido said: President Buhari is simply incompetent on the provision of the welfare of the citizens because he was never ready for the job, and so, he lacks the capacity to source for the wherewithal to do it well to the satisfaction of Nigerians.

Continuing, Lamido said: If he cannot ensure the provision of basic needs of Nigerians, tell him to hand over to me and see how I will source for the wherewithal to do it.

ALSO READ: Sule Lamido mocks Buharis war on corruption

He further expressed that there were basic needs of living, which must be provided for the citizens by the government and President Buhari's inability to source for funds to provide such needs shouldn't be blamed on recession but incompetence.
In an exclusive chat with Pulse Nigeria, the actress spoke on what inspired the show, what feminism means to her, and how her projects promotes gender equality.

According to the actress, "African Diva Reality Series" was inspired by her passion to give the African woman a voice.

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On "African Diva" inspiration:

I wanted to empower the young African woman. I wanted to give a girl a chance because I for one for was given one.

On what Feminism means to her:

I believe that women are powerful. I believe that we can do whatever a man can do. But I also believe that a woman should also be submissive when she is married because I believe the biblical term of being a wife. Some people misunderstand feminism with being a good woman. I believe that women should be given equal chances as men.

ALSO READ: undefined

On promoting gender equality with her works:

I wanted to empower the African woman. I wanted her to her to have a voice. To be strong. To be powerful. So you can say that because that's what my show is all about.

On challenges encountered bringing "African Diva" show to life:

When a woman wants to do something outstanding in the society, you get a lot of backlashes. A lot of people say, how dare you do this? 'Who are you to be a voice?' I encountered a lot of challenges starting. People were asking me, "why not for the men? Why is it just for the women?" I had to fight to break that norm and make them understand that I am a woman, and I know it is so difficult for a woman in society to have a voice and have a stand.

Chika Ike's 2016 productions include "Yes, I Will," "Happy Ending," "One Fine Day," and the second season of her reality series, "African Diva."
On factors to consider before rejecting a script, the actress said, "Majorly, you read the story. You need to know what the story is talking about, if it is something that will influence and affect people's lives. Because acting as a career is something that you should do to touch lives. So if it is not something that would touch lives, it is not something I would want to do."
According to the PDP, the INEC officials were recruited by the APC to bribe voters in nine local governments in the state.

Speaking to newsmen, the Edo PDP Spokesman, Chris Nehikhare said if anybody tries to present that fake results from the nine local; governments which they have written, the two million they collected will be used for their burial. It is not a threat, it is a promise.

Nehikhare said Now, it has come to our attention that INEC and the state government have seriously compromised the election that is going to take place tomorrow (today). The staff of INEC that is involved in this compromise is spearheaded in Edo state is being coordinated by Mrs. Sule who is the PRO of INEC. I am calling her name so that you know exactly that I know what I am talking about. People involved in this conspiracy are people that are involved that leaked this to the PDP and they have told us to act very fast.

I know a couple of days ago Sule make a remark that we should go aheaqd and campaign which we had been doing but now I have specific and credible information that Mrs. Sule is coordinating the comprise of supervisors for and on behalf of Edo state government. They have sent two million naira to supervisors in at least nine local governments of Edo state. It is under the control of the REC from Delta state and he is coordinating on behalf of the national commissioner, Amina Zakari.

He also said what they have done is that they have written results in the nine local governments on behalf of the APC, these results are being held by the supervisors from the collation officers at the points where they plan to fix these results at the local government level tomorrow after the elections are done.

In a swift reaction, the Edo APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua dismissed the allegations saying it is a sign that the PDP has lost ground.

Ojezua also said I am the state chairman of APC, I have been in my home area for three days, campaigning from unit to unit, door to door. So what time will I have to go and talk about bribing INEC. If anything at all it is the PDP People that knows the INEC people, after all most of these INEC officers were employed during the PDP government.

Any serious minded party like our own, we have trained our agents and they are determined to be very vigilant. The truth is that all the plans PDP made to create havoc in Edo state have virtually failed. All the efforts they have made to manipulate the process have also failed. They can now see that there is nothing other than the true transparent process that will give us result in this election.

The governorship elections in Edo state is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
Adi issued the warning when he addressed leaders of the Nigerien, Malian and Chadian communities in Edo in Benin on Monday, saying that reports had revealed that some foreigners planned to vote in the election.

He said intelligence reports available have it that many foreigners in the state are in possession of the Nigerian Permanent Voters Card (PVC) with a view to using them for the election.

No foreigner is allowed to participate in the election because it is for only Nigerians.

The Nigerian Immigration Service will not tolerate any attempt by any group of foreigners to truncate this election.

Any foreigner caught with a PVC will not only be prosecuted but will also be repatriated.

We want this election to go down in history as the most transparent, credible and freely conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

ALSO READ: INEC takes delivery of sensitive materials from CBN

We have resolved to assist INEC to succeed; there is a synergy among security agencies to ensure that the Edo governorship election is free, fair, credible and conclusive.

Every polling unit in the 18 local government areas will have an immigration officer and they have been deployed to man polling units and are well trained to fish out any foreigner. 

Responding, the President of the Niger Citizens resident in Edo, Alhaji Halidu Ibrahim, prayed for the success of the election.
The Ekiti APC said further that the state cannot afford disagreements with the banks due to the current economic crisis.

The party made its comments via a statement issued by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun on Monday, September 26.

The statement reads:

Governor Fayose has personalised Ekiti State to the extent that whoever offends him offends the state and her people, which is dangerous to the economic survival of both the state and her people.

Last time, he ordered all governments agencies and workers to move their accounts from Ecobank simply because the bank refused to surrender the cash for its Community Social Responsibility projects to the governor when the bank insisted that it would carry out the projects like is the practice in other states of the federation.

For this reason, the governor took offence, destroyed the culvert at the entrance of the bank and ordered government offices and workers to move their accounts from the bank, thereby forcing the banks closure in the state with Ekiti indigenes working in the bank losing their jobs.

This time, because Zenith Bank washed its hands off election sponsorship fraud through which Fayose assumed power; he is fighting back by severing relationship with the bank by ordering all government offices and workers to move their accounts from the bank.

As expected, Zenith Bank will close shop with attendant job losses among Ekiti indigenes working there, including sending wrong signals to the investing community that Ekiti is under a siege of a reckless and maximum governor that promotes anti-investment policies.

Meanwhile, Fayose has ordered all government agencies in the state to move their funds from Zenith Bank.
Kola defeated, Dr Akin Badmus, Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement by 12 votes to seven votes

The election was held at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sabo-Yaba, in Lagos on Monday.

The Chairman of IPAC Election Committee, Chief Sam Eke, who announced the results, said that delegates from 22 registered parties participated in the election.

Eke, who is National Chairman of Citizens Popular Party, had before the election, urged delegates to be united and work together.

He said though their political parties might differ but their aim in IPAC was one.

He urged them to use the platform (IPAC) to deepen the countrys democracy and not to be used for war.

Others elected members of the IPAC state executive were Deputy Chairman, Chief Mike Okereke, UPP; Secretary, Mr Shola Omolola, AA; and Deputy Secretary, Mr Oguntoyibo Hassan, PPA.

Others were Treasurer, Mr Gbenga Olatunde-Kool, ACCORD; Financial Secretary, Alhaja Yinka Dallas, UPN; Publicity Secretary, and Malam Olofin Olamilekan, NNPP.

The ruling All Progressives Congress did not participate in the election because its representative was a former state chairman and so had no right to vote.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party did not vote because it was represented by two factions
Amaechi held a meeting of stakeholders from the oil rich region on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Abuja, according to reports.

Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued on behalf of the PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah, said the meeting was a plot by Amaechi to gain political relevance.

The party also alleged that the ministers peace initiative was an assembly of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Obuah, the purported Peace Initiative is true to speculations, the mechanism Amaechi hopes to use to actualize his 2019 political ambition.

Though, he is daydreaming, we are however, shocked that Amaechi, who has shamelessly brought so much insult to the people of Niger Delta, playing a major role in pushing out the son of the Niger Delta as the President of this country, in preference to his new found love, and killer of his kinsmen (no thanks to the military invasion of Rivers State will against all odds be nursing the ambition to launch a come back to the region after inflicting so much pains and agony on the people.

How can one be calling for peace and meeting for peace outside his fatherland and behind the people for whom the peace is meant?

Amaechi and by extension, the APC should come off this childish trick because the end of the ill-conceived plot is already known.

While we are not averse to peace in our land, we believe such pretentious peace agents, such enemies of our people yesterday and apparently unrepentant enemies of today should show demonstrable repentance, return the loot taken from our collective treasury, dissociate themselves from those out there to annihilate our people because of our God-given resource and be willing and ready to key into the peace efforts of the State governments in the Niger Delta, the PDP Chairman added.
Oyegun made the comment in response to Tinubus call for his resignation via a statement released on Sunday, September 25.

Asiwaju is a well-respected leader of the APC and as such, I cannot be heard speaking evil against him, Oyegun said while speaking in Benin City, Edo State, according to ThisDay.

You know we have a crucial election here in Edo which is my priority right now. I dont want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all worked hard for this. So may be after the election if there is need, I will speak if there is no need, I will relax.

But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primary must be taken seriously.

I believe that if the primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I dont play with these things at all. Everybody knows me and I dont joke with my credibility and I have tried to maintain it.

Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader and we all hold him in high esteem, so I will never join issues with him. But may be after the Edo elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised. So there is no problem at all.

Edo is the focus for now and as you know this is my state, so it is a very serious election for us. So I want to be allowed to remain focused; then after the election we can speak, he added.
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Over N26 million paid by the students of the institution into some banks in Zaria were not credited to the schools account, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

One of the affected students who pled anonymity, spoke with NAN, saying:

I personally paid my money in the banks (name withheld) main branch in Sabongari, but to my greatest dismay, they said my money did not enter the FCE account.

As I am talking to you now, my name is not captured as a registered student and I am not the only person affected.

Over 1,000 students are now facing similar problem, and all categories of students are affected.

Another student who paid through the same bank said, I have the payment teller and the registration slip with me; however, they said I have not registered.

He added that a large number of the affected students are now stranded.

Confirming the incident, the Registrar of the college, Dr Jibril Lawal, debunked the allegations that the management connived with the banks, a possibility which has been suggested by the students.

The management has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the College Bursar, Mohammed Sani-Uwais, to thoroughly investigate the matter and report back to the management, he said.

Sani-Uwais said that payments made by 1,128 students were not credited into the institutions TSA account, adding that 82 other students have also had irregular payment records.

He said that 99% of the victims paid their fees through the first generation bank which is located in Sabongari area of Zaria city.

This is a serious issue, as such, we reported the case to the police and police advised us to come back and set up an investigation committee to investigate the matter, which we did.

We have gone a long way in discharging our responsibilities. When a student appears before us, we ask him how did you make the payment, whom did you pay to, can you identify him?

We want to establish where the problem is and also who and who are involved in the shoddy deal and report back to the management for further action, the bursar said.

Sani-Uwais also alleged that an attempt has been made on his life following the commencement of the investigation.

When contacted, officers of the affected bank have refused to respond to any inquiries into the case bu NAN reports that a reliable source has revealed that the major suspect resigned before the case became public.

Spokesperson of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman, confirmed the case saying that it was reported to the Zaria Area Command and that investigation into the matter is currently underway.
ALSO READ: Varsity shuts down five illegal study centers in Lagos

While speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in llorin, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe, disclosed that some of the schools affected which are mainly primary and secondary schools, failed to meet the conditions laid down in the state for the establishment of schools.

Ajeigbe added that some of the schools which were closed, especially those located in the rural communities, were found to be operating in ill-suited learning environments.

He explained that the state government made the move in a bid to maintain the quality and qualitative standard of education.

Ajeigbe went on to reveal that the government has commenced screening for all schools in the state to find those violating the laws by which they were established.

Several of the closed schools did not seek for approval of the government and they are operating under unhygienic environment, Ajeigbe said.
The ceremony will be held at the seafront presidential palace in Libreville, the presidency told AFP Monday. It gave no details of who had been invited or the time of the event.

"You don't get sworn in unceremoniously in secret," commented his main rival Jean Ping's spokesman Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, ironically.

Bongo's victory in the August 27 vote was confirmed on Saturday by the country's top court, which dismissed opposition claims of vote fraud.

But it received a cool reception internationally including from the African Union and the United Nations, while the European Union voiced regret that the election count had not been transparent enough.

Violence initially erupted on August 31 after Bongo, 57, was first declared the winner.

Demonstrators set parliament ablaze and clashed with police, who made a thousand arrests.

Opposition figures say more than 50 people were killed. The government has given a toll of three dead.

Ping, 73, who came in second in the vote, lashed the court's ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself "president elect".

A career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, he had filed a legal challenge after Bongo was declared the winner by a mere 6,000 votes.

Ping had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, where 95 percent of voters in the Bongo family stronghold were reported to have cast their ballots for the president on a turnout of more than 99 percent.

The Constitutional Court upheld Bongo's victory and put the winning margin higher at around 11,000 votes.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote (172,990 votes) and Ping 47.24 percent (161,287 votes).

Cool reception abroad

But the European Union's electoral observer mission said Sunday it "regretted" that Gabon's top court "had been unable to satisfactorily rectify anomalies observed during the count".

The African Union said it had "taken note" of the court's verdict, as did UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Former colonial ruler France deplored that the court verdict clearing Bongo's victory "has not lifted all the doubts" about the process.

Ping's campaign team said early Monday that he would meet foreign diplomats at his home later in the day, but the meeting did not occur.

Bongo's family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil-and mineral-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.

Cameroon's President Paul Biya, who is 83 and has held office since 1982, wrote to Bongo Monday voicing his "warm congratulations" and wishing him "success in the accomplshment of (his) new mandate."

Senegal's President Macky Sall also congratulated Bongo, as did Ivory Coast head of state Alassane Ouattara.
"The sunken boat was pulled out half an hour ago," Wahdan al-Sayed, spokesman for Beheira province in northern Egypt, told AFP.

He said 11 bodies more bodies had so far been found.

Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel headed to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over off the port city of Rosetta on September 14.

Egypt's military says 163 survivors have been rescued.

On Monday, police detained the owner of the vessel. A judicial source said he could face charges of human trafficking and involuntary manslaughter.

A specialised ship with divers belonging to a petroleum company worked at the site of the shipwreck some 12 kilometres (eight miles) offshore to pull the boat back up to the surface.

Survivors have said many migrants were trapped in the boat's hold when it keeled over.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said Friday that most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included migrants from Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Ethiopians.

"Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of interceptions of refugees and migrants trying to leave Egypt in an irregular manner," the UNHCR said.

"Many refugees and migrants may be using Egypt as a transit country," it said, adding 2016 was expected to be the deadliest year on record for Mediterranean crossings by migrants.

More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations.

Egyptian authorities have so far this year foiled 110 attempts to smuggle migrants to Europe, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar said.
"Even if we so far have no claim of responsibility, we must go on the basis that the motive was xenophobic," Horst Kretzschmar, president of Dresden police, said in a statement.

He said police believed there was a link to celebrations planned for the coming weekend in the city to mark the anniversary of German reunification on October 3, 1990.

At the time of the first explosion, the imam of the mosque was inside with his wife and sons but they were not hurt. Damage was, however, done to the building through pressure waves.

Soon after, the International Congress Centre was damaged by a home-made device and the bar of a nearby hotel was evacuated.

During the night, police officers were sent to protect other mosques in the city.

Dresden was the cradle of the anti-Islam PEGIDA grassroots movement whose weekly rallies attracted around 20,000 supporters at the height of its popularity at the start of 2015.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said 38 people from three U.N. agencies and three aid organisations were flown out of Jazeera and Nhialdu in Unity State last week amid signs that fighting was imminent.

Fighting erupted in South Sudan at the end of 2013 between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing his former deputy Riek Machar.

A peace deal signed in 2015 proved shaky and fresh clashes flared in the capital, Juba, in July, raising fears the young nation could slide back into civil war.

The conflict has helped fuel a hunger crisis, affecting an estimated 4.8 million people.

WFP said its rapid-response team had registered nearly 25,000 people for food assistance in Jazeera before being pulled out. They have been relocated to the central town of Rumbek.

Other humanitarian staff were working on education, water, sanitation and protection programmes as well as projects to rebuild livelihoods. They were flown to Rubkona town.

"We hope the security situation will improve enough to allow re-deployment of our team as soon as possible so we can get people the food assistance they need," a WFP spokeswoman said. "Extended fighting always tends to make humanitarian needs worse."

The Danish Refugee Council confirmed seven of its staff working on food security and protection had been relocated and would return as soon as tensions eased.

Insecurity across South Sudan has uprooted some 1.6 million people from their homes and another 1 million have fled the country.
The 90-minute debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET tonight (0100 GMT on Tuesday) It's the first of three planned presidential debates.

Here's what you need to know:

1. Clinton will be taking the first question after winning a coin toss. She'll have two minutes to answer after which Trump will be given equal time.

2. Unlike the single-party debates held during the Republican and Democratic nominating campaigns, the audience will be asked to remain silent and not applaud or respond to the candidates' answers. The debate will be divided into six 15-minute segments.

3. The candidates are neck and neck as they go toe-to-toe. The gap in national opinion polls has narrowed in the past week, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points and 41 percent of likely voters.

4. Half of America's likely voters will be relying on the debate to help them make their White House choice, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released today.
Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind
Maybe its isnt magnificent, exactly. But The Magnificent Seven is enjoyable, and its a worthy successor to the original.

It differs in style and tone from the original classic Seven Samurai from 1954 and the 1960 version thats also called The Magnificent Seven.

This is the third western Ive really enjoyed this year. Could they be making a comeback? Hell or High Water is a good possibility for an Oscar nod or two, while the highly entertaining Jane Got a Gun came and went with little fanfare.

The audience first sees the beleaguered town of Rose Creek, New Mexico, as Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) and his men take over by force. Bogue and his crew are relentless and brutal  some of the violence is pretty intense considering the movies PG-13 rating. Leading the villagers is Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett, Hardcore Henry,) who suddenly finds herself a widow.

It isnt until Bogue has demonstrated just how despicable he is that we see bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) gather up other outlaw types to serve as guns for hire for the surviving townspeople. Among the other gunslingers are gambler Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt), who, not surprisingly, provides a little comic relief with his smug one-liners; along with Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke) and Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee).

The diverse company of men, many of whom are prone to violence, are forced to get along with each other, at least temporarily, to earn their pay.

Director Antoine Fuqua (who also directed Denzel Washington in Training Day) helms this version. I love some of his takes, especially a scene in which Sarsgaard is emerging from a church, surrounded by fire with a cross in the background  evil incarnate.

Washington is so enjoyable, and the capable Fuqua knows just how to showcase him  sometimes in silhouette, sometimes with dust swirling around him. And theres character development within the script in the visuals: We get to know each characters motivations, strengths and weaknesses.

Some audiences would not consider this to be a faith-based movie, but it certainly could be regarded as an inspirational film of sorts. Although it certainly is not a typical religion-focused film, its themes involve faith, redemption and justice.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the 1960s version is the score  fans of that music wont be disappointed but theyll have to stick around until the end to hear the iconic Elmer Bernstein piece, which is worth the wait.

It may be not be a classic western, but its an enjoyable ride.
George Washington, as portrayed by Dean Malissa, will visit the Quad-Cities in October. With almost 500 middle-school students, he will discuss what it was like to be the first president of the United States.

Each program will incorporate some aspects of audience participation and a question-and-answer period.

Malissa is the official and sole portrayar of George Washington at Mount Vernon. He has appeared at the Smithsonian Institute, Colonial Williamsburg, the National Constitution Center, for the National Park Service at Valley Forge and Independence National Historical Parks. He also has portrayed Washington in many films and television documentaries.

Heres a look at his schedule:

Tuesday, Oct. 25, The Outing Club: A colonial tavern-style meal with guests, with whom he will share reflections on his life and times at the club, 2109 Brady St., Davenport. Cocktails, a colonial dinner and program will begin at 6 p.m. For reservations, send a check ($50 per person) made out to NSCDA-IA Davenport Borough in care of Sally Schulz, 2993 Greenview Drive, Bettendorf IA 52722. Reservation deadline is Oct. 19.

Wednesday, Oct. 26, Putnam Museum: Washington will greet guests, mingle and tell stories during a Mount Vernon-inspired lunch noon until 1 p.m. at the museum, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. Cost is $19. From 1-2 p.m., visitors can Meet the Real George Washington and find out which stories about him are fact or myth. Cost is $5 (includes beverage and cookies). Register toll free 1-888-336-3907 or call Scott Community College, 563-441-4100. Credit cards and checks, which should be made payable to Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, will be accepted.

Members of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Iowa will sponsor Malissas visit.

The society is comprised of women whose Colonial ancestors contributed to the founding of the United States in a significant way. Since 1891, the group has worked to inspire patriotism by creating widespread interest in the stories of the nations founding and development.

For more information about the society, contact nscda.ia.information@gmail.com.
Five of the 10 animal handlers at Niabi Zoo have resigned, leaving the new director scrambling to find qualified, temporary help.

Two of the handlers have accepted jobs at larger zoos, director Lee Jackson said Tuesday. They gave notice and are working their final days at Niabi, located in Coal Valley.

Three others resigned this month, including assistant director and former interim zoo director Dan Meates. His wife, Leisje Meates, also a handler, has resigned as well. One keeper, Bryan Pohlmeier, simply "threw his keys down" on a desk, he said.

In about a week, an animal handler on loan from the National Zoo is to arrive to help temporarily, and Niabi is advertising for permanent replacements for all five positions.

"I've also reached out to several other zoos closer to home to see if they can help us out," Jackson said.

"We have nothing to hide out there," said Jeff Craver, director of the Rock Island County Forest Preserve Commission, which is Niabi's governing body. "We have lost staff. Are we trying to get staff out there to cover the crisis? Yes."

Pohlmeier, who has worked for the zoo since January, was not bashful about listing his complaints, including his frustration over Niabi's layers of leadership.

"The zoo is sadly over managed, by an alarming number of people who are under qualified," he wrote in his Sept. 22 resignation letter. "Three separate boards have hands in the decision making process, and they generally disregard the advice of the professionals they hire. Due to the constant bickering and greed, it can take months, or even years, for anything to be decided."

Craver responded: "He's referencing, and I can only assume, the Oversight Committee that was created, the Zoological Society and the Forest Preserve Commission."

Jackson said neither county officials nor volunteers with the fundraising arm, the Zoological Society, have anything to do with day-to-day operations. He said he soon will release his 90-day assessment of Niabi and would have preferred the three animal handlers who resigned would have at least stuck around to hear his plans.

"Not to pick on Bryan (Pohlmeier), but he's not privy to all discussions," Jackson said. "I think there was some confusion on his part about the role of these (governing) bodies."

But it wasn't just the number of groups involved with the zoo that troubled Pohlmeier.

"The current direction of the zoo seems unfocused and unconcerned for animal and staff safety," he wrote. "New animals are being brought into a Quarantine area that is already full.

"There are numerous enclosure issues and a continually failing perimeter fence that need attention."

Jackson addressed those issues, too.

"The perimeter fence isn't what I want it to be, but it's certainly sufficient," he said. "It's a secondary confinement fence, and it can fulfill that function right now.

"It needs to be higher, with dig barriers. We have a raccoon problem right now. We also have a feral-cat problem, I'm told. The fence is very high on our priority list."

But it's also expensive. The 40-acre zoo has a perimeter fence that encloses 70 acres, and estimates for replacing it range from $800,000 to $1 million, Jackson said.

If cats and raccoons are getting in (then being trapped and relocated), surely zoo animals that find a way out of their enclosures could find a way through the outer the fence, too, right?

Jackson acknowledged it's possible, but it hasn't happened in 10 years. In 2006, a female gray wolf escaped its enclosure, taking leave through the perimeter fence. A manhunt followed, and she was found in a ravine off zoo grounds and was euthanized.

As for the disgruntled handler's assessment of quarantine facilities, which temporarily house incoming animals, Jackson said Niabi does what just about every other zoo does, which is to make limited space work.

"Everyone needs more quarantine, definitely," he said. "I'd love to have more quarantine space, but with that comes more staff to handle it."

What about the keeper's concern about safety?

"I do share his concern for safety," Jackson said. "I always do. I don't think we're putting staff, animals or guests at risk here. I knew when I came that the zoo is understaffed. We're working on it. I've only been here three months, and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't confident of the direction the zoo is going. And I'm really confident in the direction the zoo is going."

He then offered, perhaps unwittingly, a piece of proof: In general discussion about the overall collection, Jackson made an off-hand mention of having sent away Niabi's six ponies. During zoo hours, the animals were tethered to ropes and walked in endless circles as a pony-ride moneymaker.

"It was an animal-welfare issue to me," he said of sending them away. "I didn't like the way they were managed here, so we sent them back to their owners. Having them tied off and walking in circles; we don't do that anymore.

"The zoo will lose some money, but that's not the point. Some circuses treat animals better than that."

There can be little doubt that Pohlmeier cares about animals. You don't go to the trouble of becoming animal-handler qualified if you don't. However, if the safety and well-being of the Niabi collection was his priority, he would have given his boss the courtesy of at least a two-week notice, especially because he knew of the others' departure.

"I cannot, morally continue to support this facility," he wrote. "I will be taking my passion and talents elsewhere."

Losing half his crew of animal handlers has put Jackson in a very difficult spot.

"These are very specific skill sets, so we can't just have anyone," he said. "The only seasonal workers we have here are for ticket-taking and the train.

"December 15 is no different (workload-wise) than July 15. I wish all the people (who have left or are leaving) nothing but the best. I just wish they could've stayed around to see what's going to be happening.

"Lots of things will change, and change is hard. If people don't like the way things are going, and they're passionate about it, they go somewhere else."

Craver offered a slightly less diplomatic assessment of the exodus.

"From my point of view, you have a new supervisor brought in (and) an assistant director who is now his subordinate," he said. "Needless to say, when somebody leaves that may not see eye to eye ... they round up the rest of the crew.
Lilly Ledbetter, the woman at the center of an important federal pay discrimination case, was in Davenport on Tuesday, urging a group of about 20 people to make the case for Hillary Clinton, including with disaffected supporters of primary rival Bernie Sanders.

Ledbetter, who is from Alabama, endorsed Clinton before the Iowa caucuses, and she is back in the state for a few days to campaign for the former secretary of state.

At a discussion with a group of mostly women, some of whom worried about divisions remaining after the primary fight, Ledbetter said the idea that Sanders supporters might not vote is frightening.

"It's real critical to get them," she said, encouraging people reach out to friends and acquaintances. "I'm always campaigning. I make a few people mad, but I tell them if they vote the other way, they'll regret it for the rest of their lives."

Ledbetter praised Clinton for her warmth, noting the former first lady called her after her husband passed away.

Ledbetter sued her employer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, in 1998, claiming she was paid less because of her gender. The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled against her in 2007, saying she had missed a deadline to file. But Ledbetter, who said the discrimination had affected her throughout her employment, lobbied for a federal law that allowed for a longer time period to bring claims. The bill was the first one President Barack Obama signed when he took office. Clinton was an original co-sponsor.

Ledbetter also praised Clinton on Tuesday for backing a proposal, called the Paycheck Fairness Act, which proponents say would help to curb unfair pay practices based on gender.

Ledbetter, who was at the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 431, union hall on Tuesday, is making stops in eight Iowa cities this week. She will be back in Davenport on Thursday to take part in an early-voting event.
IOWA CITY  The Johnson County Task Force on Aging and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County will host a forum for candidates in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Coralville Public Library.

Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa City and Republican challenger Chris Peters, M.D., of Coralville will take questions from the groups as well as moderators Kathie Obradovich of The Des Moines Register and Dean Borg of Iowa Public Television. Audience members may submit questions, too.

The 24-county 2nd District covers most of southeastern Iowa including Scott, Muscatine, Cedar, Louisa and Johnson counties.

Loebsack, 63, a former Cornell College professor, seeks a sixth term. He unseated 15-term Republican Jim Leach in 2006. Loebsack earned bachelor and master degrees in political science from Iowa State University and a doctorate from University of California, Davis.

Peters, 55, is a surgeon and owner of Corridor Surgery and Vein Center. Peters earned a bachelor degree in psychology from the University of Kansas and a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Tripler Army Medical Center and a thoracic surgery residency at University of Oklahoma. Peters served as a general surgeon in the Army before beginning his private practice as a thoracic surgeon in 2000.
Against the backdrop of the Mississippi River, panic ensues every time Pam Brown gets on the Savanna-Sabula Bridge.

My heart rate goes up just going across it, said the Savanna, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce executive director. I pray Im not going to meet a semi on my way.

At just 20 feet wide, the half-mile long steel grate bridge deck that arcs 65 feet above the channel hardly has enough room for two lanes of motor vehicle traffic. Forget walking or riding a bicycle across it.

I value my life, Brown said, so I wouldnt do it.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will debut an $80 million replacement in 2018. The new bridge is being constructed 100 feet downriver from the old one and connects Savanna with the island community of Sabula, Iowa. As of this week, crews had several of the piers up.

The 84-year-old, sky blue landmark served a useful purpose for a time in history after it was assembled by government workers and a local contractor during the Great Depression. But, IDOT officials say, it has become functionally obsolete.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the slender, steel-truss original was designed by G.A. Maney of Minneapolis and completed by the Savanna-Sabula Bridge Co. in 1932 for $750,000. Initially constructed as a toll bridge, the toll was removed in 1987 after the construction debt was paid off.

Driving from west to east is an experience in contrasts. The bridge carries U.S. 52/Illinois 64 over the river through a series of girder spans that gracefully rise from the Iowa side. But then driving through the three-span cantilever through-trusses approaching Illinois gives the impression of heading into a caged dead end that smacks into limestone cliffs. The bridge actually ends in a tight T-intersection with Illinois 84 that in periods of heavy traffic leaves Illinois-bound vehicles wishing to turn right waiting high above the river.

The skinny bridge routinely accommodates big truck traffic, and Savanna Mayor Tony McCombie said she has to proceed with caution whenever staring down a semi-trailer.

Its narrower than a typical bridge, McCombie said. You have to go really slow when a semi is coming. Its a steel grate compared to a solid surface floor, and it makes motorcycle riders a little leery. And the mayflies  we call them shadflies  can get pretty slippery on there.

The bridge has attracted an average of 2,400 motorists a day as well as swarms of hatching shadflies every summer and at least one actor-celebrity in the 1980s  a scene from the made-for-TV movie Hard Knox shows Robert Conrad driving across it.

Patricia Perez, who grew up in Sabula and tends bar at Iron Horse Social Club, a popular biker hangout in Savanna, remembered riding on the back of her father's motorcycle crossing the bridge as a child.

"I'm usually not afraid of heights," she said. "But when I went over the bridge and looked down, it scared me."

The bridge intimidates local bikers.

"I hear it messes with their ability to ride," Perez said. "Everyone's first reaction is to drive down the middle, but you can't keep the handlebars straight. Locals figure out riding close to the rail and let it glide you up. The arch will take you to the middle of the road."

Since its construction, the bridge has faced numerous maintenance repairs and a major rehabilitation in 1985 prior to the state of Illinois taking over jurisdiction. A bridge inspection completed in August 2010 documented more than 100 deficiencies in the structure, according to an IDOT report.

"The entire 947-foot-long Iowa approach viaduct and 700 feet of the open-steel grate deck on the main river crossing truss spans are severely deteriorated and are beyond further rehabilitation possibilities," the report states.

The IDOT report also stated that the design of the existing truss spans is "inherently fracture-critical," meaning failure of "one or more of its members in tension would probably cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse."

A report from the Illinois Structure Information System provides structure ratings on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 meaning relatively new and 0 meaning closed to traffic. Based on a 2013 inspection, the Savanna-Sabula bridge rated a 4, which means "poor condition  advanced deterioration," thus categorizing the bridge as "structurally deficient."

The bridge is functionally obsolete in that the deck width is only 20 feet when 32 feet is required to meet current traffic standards and 40 feet is required to accommodate additional bicycle traffic, a 2014 IDOT report states.

The two-year-old report also states that the design of the bridge increases the likelihood of head-on crashes and sideswipes. IDOT obtained crash information from 2006-2012 and found that six crashes, including one fatality, occurred on the bridge and another 17 crashes happened on Illinois 84 near the bridge. The fatality was a sideswipe same direction crash that occurred while one vehicle was attempting to pass another.

The 2014 report concludes that replacement of the bridge "is the only viable long-term solution."

Whenever the bridge closes, commuters are subjected to 50-mile detours. It is the only motor vehicle bridge between Clinton (a half hour drive south) and Dubuque (an hour to the north).

Tom Holman, owner of Bombfire Pizza in Sabula, said the replacement is a long time coming.

"Like seven years ago or so they came in, had meetings and threw some money at this bridge," he said. "And they told us they would never, ever build us a new bridge because the traffic count was not high enough. ... A couple of years ago, they said we're getting a new bridge."

Holman said the business community is "very excited" for the bridge, calling it the "biggest construction project" to hit the area in a long time.

The Sabula-Savanna area, Holman said, is a popular spot to cross the Mississippi for both motorists and bikers, especially in September and October when the leaves change color. A new bridge, he said, will be able to better accommodate them in addition to cyclists.

For some, the project is bittersweet.

Brown, who has lived in Savanna since 1961, attached two adjectives that, she thinks, best describe the old bridge: beautiful and treacherous.

But, she said, the beauty is purely aesthetic, and she looks forward to the new one.

"I'll be sad to see the bridge go," she said. "It's a beautiful drive up here between Savanna and Sabula. But as a driver, it will be nice to have a better connection."
Many 18-year-old voters may already have chosen their candidate before Monday night's presidential debate, the first 90-minute clash between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

However, some first-time voters, like Clay Colborn, a freshman at St. Ambrose University from Pecatonica, Illinois, have not yet made up their minds. He wants to make the right choice, or at least one he feels comfortable with, on Nov. 8.

"Well, I'm mostly Republican at heart, but it's hard to vote when there's so much scandal on each side," Colborn said, eyes glued to a live stream of the debate during a watch party on the Davenport campus. "It sounds crazy, but it's going to come down to my gut feeling."

About 70 students, faculty and community members on both sides of the aisle attended the gathering hosted by the university's Political Science Department.

While the St. Ambrose College Democrats and College Republicans co-sponsored the event, students were urged not to take part in back-and-forth banter during the broadcast.

"The last thing we want to do is turn this into a partisan event where people are attacking or challenging each other," Bill Parsons, chair of the political science department, said.

Once the candidates made it to their respective podiums at Hofstra University on New York's Long Island, some students took to their phones, scanning Twitter, while others jotted down notes, studied or whispered to nearby friends.

Some students showed support for their preferred candidate more outwardly than others.

Caleb Neff, an 18-year-old freshman from O'Fallon, Illinois, wore his opinion on his sleeves.

Sporting a Trump T-shirt, bearing the phrase "Make America Great Again," Neff tweeted while he watched Clinton and Trump challenge each other.

"I'm more concerned about what she's hiding in her emails than what he's hiding in his tax returns," said Neff, an accounting major.

Impressed by Trump's $694 million income this past year, which the Republican nominee announced during the debate, Neff said, "It's about time somebody who knows about money runs this country."

Several viewers clapped, sighed and laughed in response to various sound bites, while others remained quiet during the action, focused on the issues at hand.

Nick Pearce, a 21-year-old senior from Iowa City, is the son of a lesbian couple. He's been a fan of the Democratic nominee since 2008.

"Growing up with two moms, I know what it's like to have a lot of people not think your family is worth as much as the next person," he said. "I know Hillary wants everyone treated equally, and I just can't see that in Trump."
The infamous "truck-eating" Government Bridge connecting Davenport and the Rock Island Arsenal nearly gobbled up a late-night snack Monday in the form of a Greyhound Bus, but a man from Moline and his Uber driver saved the day.

Following a night out in the Village of East Davenport, Seth James used the ride-hailing service to get home safely.

From the base of the bridge on Davenport's East 2nd Street, James and his driver, Michael Griffith, of Davenport, noticed the bus and its bright lights about 11:15 p.m. on the other side of the steel crossing near the 11-foot clearance sign. James could not believe his eyes.

James knew the bus would not clear the bridge's overhead beams, so he risked a high fare to help the bus turn around.

"If I wouldn't have stopped him, he would've driven right through," James declared. "And that bridge would've scraped the entire top of that bus off like a sardine can."

The bus, driven by Chris Quarles, was en route to the downtown Davenport transit station from Chicago. Quarles, who thanked James several times for his help, had one passenger on board, and rerouted to the Centennial Bridge.

Arsenal police responded to the scene as Quarles navigated his turn. Officers, however, did not cite the driver for ignoring a sign north of the viaduct on 24th Street, an action that warrants a $150 citation, Capt. Angelo Anderson said.

The warning message directs vehicles taller than 11 feet to exit the roadway at the Rock Island gate.

"We have to stop traffic both ways so we can safely turn that vehicle around, and a lot of people are impacted when that happens," Anderson said.

If a vehicle strikes the bridge, engineers from Arsenal Public Works will be called to assess the damage.

"You can pretty much hit it with anything, and it's not going to do much damage," Anderson said. "That bridge was built to last more than 100 years ago, and it's still going strong."

So far this year, Anderson said his department has responded to one strike and six or seven "near misses."

"What drivers tell us is they're following GPS, but GPS is not a valid excuse when we have to shut down the road," he said.
As I read the letter to by Sabrina Goodson in Friday's Quad-City Times, "Kaepernick Can Leave," I felt it deserves a response.

Ms. Goodson suggests that Colin Kaepernick and others that refuse to stand during the playing of our national anthem should leave this country. She tells us that men and women have risked their lives to protect American citizens and by not standing during the anthem, these protectors are being disrespected.

I was one of those "protectors." I served over five years in your United States Air Force. The day I joined, I took an oath to protect and defend the United States of America and all it represents. This would naturally include the Bill of Rights. One of those rights is freedom of speech.

While I personally do not believe in Mr. Kaepernick's decision to protest the treatment of blacks and minorities in this country in the manner he has chosen, I will defend his right to do so. He has every right to express how he feels just as you, Ms. Goodson has the right to express your view in a newspaper.

You don't have to agree with Kaepernick's methods, but to suggest he move to Syria? I don't think so. I would much rather see his peaceful protest as opposed to erupting violence in our streets. America, Love It or Leave It?? How about we just love it - all of us.

Jerry Laake

Davenport
Marine Sergeant Fae Moore is coming home.

The Chadron-area Marine was killed nearly 73 years ago in the amphibious assault on the Pacific atoll of Tarawa during World War II. More than 1,000 U.S. servicemen died in the 76-hour battle with Japanese forces to take control of a strategic airfield.

In June 2015, a nonprofit organization called History Flight notified the Department of Defense that they had discovered the remains of 35 servicemen on Tarawa. One of them was Fae Moore.

Fae Verlin Moore was born in Chadron, Nebraska on May 16, 1920, the youngest of Alonzo and Mary Moores 10 children  six boys and four girls. The family farmed in Beaver Valley east of Chadron during the 1920s until moving to the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1931.

Fae attended Beaver Valley School and completed the 8th Grade before leaving school to work and help his family during the Dirty Thirties. He was barely 5 6 and weighed just 134, but he knew how to work and took on ranching jobs for a few years.

Moore signed up for a four-year hitch in the Marine Corps on August 18, 1941, nearly four months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Accepted for enlistment in Rapid City, he traveled to Minneapolis for his physical examination and processing. Three days later 21-year-old Private Fae Moore was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego for boot camp.

After just one week, he wrote to his sister Hazel Moss in Nebraska that the Marines are a lot tougher and stricter than the Army or NavyI dont get to leave this post for seven weeks and after that they may send me somewhere else. This Marine Corps keeps their men on the move all the time.

By December 2, Moore had finished boot camp and was on the move himself, receiving orders to Company E (Easy Company), Second Battalion, Eighth Marines.

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he again wrote to Hazel, I guess everybody is worried, but I cant understand why. We arentmost of these boys have or had pals over on Wake Island, and they are crazy to go over and get even.

On January 6, 1942, Fae Moore and his unit departed San Diego aboard the SS Matsonia, part of a convoy carrying 5,000 Marines assigned to defend American Samoa  and begin 10 months of intensive jungle warfare training.

Moore was promoted to Private First Class (PFC) and in November his unit shipped out for Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. They reinforced the 1st Marine Division, which was bogged down in the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific.

It was the first taste of combat for the young man from Nebraska. The death toll was high: some 20,000 Japanese and 2,000 Americans. The Japanese withdrew from Guadalcanal by February 1943, and Easy Company was on its way to New Zealand for a bit of rest  and further training.

Upon arriving in Wellington, Fae again wrote to Hazel, I am where I can get some pictures taken; this is a pretty nice place.

Perhaps his impressions were shaped a bit by a girl named Jill Hudson. Little is known about their meeting or courtship, but eventually they became engaged.

Moore was promoted twice during 1943, sewing on Sergeant stripes in August. He had to say good-bye to Jill Hudson in late October when his unit boarded the USS Heywood, for exercises and then an unknown destination. By November 19, the Heywood was in the central Pacific, approaching the Gilbert Islands and the Japanese stronghold at Tarawa.

Control of the airstrip there, according to the Navy, offered the Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to help the Navy in its westward campaign. The island of Betio, where the airstrip was located, is only about two-and-a-quarter miles long and less than a half mile wide.

Operation Galvanic, the assault on Betio, began November 20, 1943. Moores 2nd Battalion, Eighth Marines launched the first wave, landing on Red Beach 3 before the Japanese could man their weapons. Unfortunately, many U.S. landing boats were caught on reefs, and hundreds of Marines had to wade through the chest-high surf and were mowed down by enemy machine guns before hitting the beach.

The battle raged for 76 hours before the Marines took control of Betio. Among the 1,027 Marines reported killed was Sergeant Fae Moore. Decaying bodies, including about 5,000 Japanese military personnel and Korean slave laborers, posed serious health issues. Most of the dead were buried in temporary trenches.

Back in Nebraska, Fae Moores mother and father in Chadron were likely making preparations for Thanksgiving. They knew their son was in the Pacific, but they didnt know where. News reports told of the Allied push across the Pacific, including the battle on Tarawa, but there were no details on casualties.

Thanksgiving came and went. Then, two days before Christmas, a telegram addressed to Mary Moore arrived at 229 Ann Street.

It began:

DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON CORPORAL FAE V MOORE USMC WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTY AND IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY.

It was signed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Mary Moore immediately sent a return telegram:

SEND MY SONS BODY BACK TO US IF POSSBLE.

Then there was this telegram to their daughter, Hazel Moss in Harrisburg, Nebraska:

JUST RECEIVED WORD FAE WAS KILLED IN ACTION. MOTHER AND DAD.

Two months passed, and the Marine Corps advised Mrs. Moore they intended to return the remains of the Tarawa dead to the United States upon cessation of hostilities. Mary Moore could still hope that her son would soon come home for burial. But if there was any comfort in that prospect, it was soon dashed by more tragedy.

Mary and Alonzo Moores 17-year-old grandson, Raymond Moore, was living with his grandparents while attending school in Chadron. On May 24, 1944, Raymond drowned while trying to retrieve a fishing pole in the city dam. Then, five months later, Marys 74-year-old husband Alonzo died.

In New Zealand, Faes fiancee Jill Hudson saw his name in a newspaper listing of Tarawa casualties. She wrote to Marine Corps Headquarters and requested the address of Faes parents, so she could correspond with them. The Marines provided the address, but no letters between the Moore family and Miss Hudson have been discovered.

After the war, the many burial sites on Tarawa were consolidated into one  Lone Palm Cemetery. Numerous memorial graves had crosses and names on them  but no bodies were found. Such was the case for Sergeant Fae Moore and others buried in Cemetery 27. In 1948, all remains from the Lone Palm Cemetery were sent to Hawaii for identification  but they included only about half of the Marines killed on Tarawa.

Marine Commandant General A. A. Vandegrift sent a two-page letter to Mary Moore: I regret extremely that I must inform you that the remains of your son were not found to be beneath the marker previously reportedI am deeply grieved that there must now be added to your sorrow this most distressing information.

It was, indeed, another blow to the family.

Grandma was really broken up by the news, remembers her granddaughter, Mildred Moore Cooley.

After all, Fae was her baby boy. And with no body to bring home for burial, that was really disturbing.

On February 28 1949, a Board of Review declared the remains of Marine Sergeant Fae Moore as non-recoverable. That was surely more sad news for Mary Moore, who  at age 73  may have concluded that she might never see her boy come home.

And so it was. Mary Moore died December 1, 1958 in Chadron, at age 82.

For the next 60 years, the notion that there were any Marines or Sailors still buried on Tarawa seemed to have vanished from public consciousness.

In 2004, the Department of Defense established a task force called the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) to find Americans listed as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action from all past wars and conflicts. Two years later, a non-profit organization called History Flight was formed in Florida by Mark Noah, an airline pilot and aviation historian. While visiting Tarawa, he learned about the lost graves of Tarawa. A History Flight team later returned and located 11 lost graveyards and the remains of 123 Marines.

In January 2015, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel  former U.S. Senator from Nebraska  consolidated several military organizations doing similar recovery work into one  Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Importantly, DPAA has reaffirmed partnerships with non-governmental organizations  like History Flight  in the research, investigation, and recovery of remains previously declared unrecoverable.

The latest success came in March 2015 on Tarawa when a History Flight team discovered a burial trench on Betio Island. They excavated the site in May, recovering the remains of approximately 35 U.S. servicemen, which were flown to the DPAA laboratory in Hawaii for identification.

After analyses of skeletal remains and artifacts, evidence was strong that the remains of Sergeant Fae Moore were part of the discovery. More telling was a dental analysis comparing his records with physical evidence found on Betio.

In October of last year, Lawrence Denton of Lakewood, Colorado, received a phone call from retired Marine Master Sergeant Chuck Williams with DPAA.,

What does the name Fae Moore mean to you?

That was my mothers youngest brother, killed in World War II, Denton responded.

Then Im talking to the right person, Williams said. We have discovered some remains, and Im looking for a family member to give DNA, and if there are no siblings of Sergeant Moore still alive, we like to have DNA from the oldest living niece or nephew.

Denton, who grew up in Chadron, realized this was an opportunity to fulfill the wishes and dreams of his grandmother Moore  Sergeant Fae Moores mother.

He received the DNA kit in November, completed the sampling, and returned it to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware for analysis.

Four months later, in an internal document on DPAA letterhead, dated 14 March 2016, Navy Captain Edward A. Reedy (Medical Corps) signed this simple statement:

The remains designated CIL 2015-125-1-28, DPAA 2015-0012 are identified as those of Sergeant Fae Verlin MOORE, 317600, U.S. Marine Corps.

It was official, but there was no public announcement.

In July, Denton received a call from Mrs. Hattie Johnson, head of the POW/MIA Section at Marine Corps Headquarters. She confirmed that they had identified the remains of his uncle, Sergeant Fae Moore.

Unfortunately, the news came almost sixty years too late for Sergeant Fae Moores mother, Mary. There had been no closure for her.

Asked how his grandmother Moore might have responded to news of her son being found and finally coming home for burial with the family, Denton paused.

With prayerful thanks that God had granted her wish.

Sergeant Fae Moores remains will be flown from Honolulu to Rapid City, S.D. Oct. 4, and will continue the journey to Chadron Oct. 5.

On Thursday morning, October 6, Sergeant Moore will make his final journey home, as he is laid to rest with his parents in Beaver Valley Cemetery, 16 miles northeast of Chadron. The memorial service, with full military honors, will begin at 10:30 a.m. Chamberlain Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Following the services, a luncheon will be held at the American Legion Club in Chadron, to which all are invited.

For many of the 50 or so Moore family members who plan to attend, it will be a chance for fellowship. Most havent seen one another for many years. Many have never met.

Most importantly, this homecoming and service will be an opportunity for all to come together and pay their respects to this young Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. To say Welcome home, Sergeant Fae Moore. Well done, and Semper Fi!

Note: Larry Miller lives in Spearfish, SD. He grew up in Chadron and was a neighbor to the Moore and Denton families

Editor's Note: This version updates the travel plan for Moore's remains, as they will be brought to Rapid City then Chadron, instead of Denver to Chadron.
ABERDEEN  Frank Maynard, the Fall River and Oglala Lakota County, Southwest District Emergency Manager, was presented the South Dakota Emergency Management Association Leona Blote-Pam Buck Emergency Manager of the Year Award for 2016 at the annual conference in Aberdeen on Sept. 14.

According to the South Dakota Emergency Management Association (SDEMA), the award acknowledges his dedication and services to the citizens of South Dakota in the field of Emergency Management. Maynard is a South Dakota Incident Management Team (IMAT) member, and has served the Association as Regional Vice President and SDEMA President. He is also a member of the Certified Emergency Manager Committee. He has dedicated many years of his life in service to his communities as Emergency Manager and his previous years in Law Enforcement. He has served Veterans with his work in the Veterans Administration in Hot Springs and has dedicated his time and efforts to the Association and to his communities, counties and the state.

The SDEMA added that Maynard is also willing to offer assistance to other communities or emergency managers in their response and recovery operations.

The South Dakota Emergency Management Association has been in existence for over 50 years, the previous recipients of this award dates back to 1971.

During the last 42 years the award has gone to 17 local directors and staff, five members of the state organization, and two of their industry members.

This award is based on the continuing commitment of the nominee in planning, response, mitigation and recovery. The individuals nominated are not those that seek the status quo. They challenge the system and make improvements and build on the positives by sharing successes and implementing change to create a true emergency management network, not only in their own communities but across the spectrum.

The SDEMA said each year the bar is set a little higher so as to constantly provide the commitment to professionalism that our vocation warrants.
Paige McPherson and Dorothy Gale have little in common.

But the Sturgis Olympian certainly embraces the Wizard of Oz character's pronouncement that "there's no place like home."

McPherson, who competed in her second Olympics in Rio just a month ago, came home to the Black Hills, family and friends for a time of reflection after losing in her opening match of the 2016 games.

"It's been a time to wind down, reflect and find out what's in store for me again," she said while sipping on her favorite beverage at Sturgis Coffee.

McPherson's medal quest at the Rio Olympics was short-lived.

Competing at 67 kilograms, the No. 7-seeded McPherson couldnt hold an early lead and lost 6-5 to No. 10-seeded Farida Azizova of Azerbaijan. Azizova rallied from a 4-2 deficit, keyed by a late three-point offensive kick.

McPherson says the match still haunts her.

"Everytime I go to sleep I think about it," she said. "It's not necessarily because I lost, but the way I lost."

The 2012 bronze medalist says she knows in her heart that she was better, faster, stronger and more flexible than her competitor on that day.

"I was winning the whole fight and then one little exchange just changed it all," she said. "Whenever I look back on that moment I can only understand that it was God's will. But right now I just keep asking 'why?'"

For the first few days after the loss, McPherson said she didn't sleep much thinking about the match.

"I've fought all those girls before and beaten them," she said. "I just can't believe it's over. It went by so slow, yet so fast."

She says she has no regrets, knowing that she "gave it her all" in preparing for her moment on the biggest stage of all.

"I trained so many hours. I cross-trained with one of the best teams in taekwondo right now, the Great Britain team. I also worked with a new visual stimulus system," she said. "I was definitely ready -- mentally, physically, everything."

A fellow athlete shared with McPherson the characterization that the Olympics is its own monster.

"Nothing really happens that is supposed to happen at the Olympics. You see so many upsets," she said.

And in taekwondo, a sport in which there are so many variables and so many elements, if athletes were given a second chance to face the same competitior, the results wouldn't be the same, McPherson says.

"There were so many upsets in our sport. People who had been dominating for four years got there and lost their first fight. It just shows the complexity of our sport," she said.

Talking about her Olympic experience is bittersweet, says the 25-year-old McPherson.

"Yes, it's the pinnacle of every sportsperson's career, but at the same time it wasn't what I wanted," she said.

The emotions of losing in the first round are still close to the surface for McPherson.

"It's hard as an athlete to stay positive after that," she said. "It's our livelihood. It's what we've sacrificed for four years. To be done in less than six minutes is hard."

At this point, McPherson isn't sure about a third Olympics.

She recalls after winning bronze in London that someone asked her about competing in Rio.

"Honestly I didn't expect to be sitting here talking about my second Olympics. It's been a fulfilling yet difficult four years," she said.

Some Olympians told McPherson her second Olympics would be easier than the first.

"I definitely have to say it is not," she said. "It just gets harder and harder."

Qualifying for the Olympics in taekwondo has become much more difficult than when McPherson began in the sport. Because of the politics associated with chosing athletes to represent a certain country, the governing board has made qualifying more points based.

"I some countries they would take someone who wasn't necessarily the best," she said. "This new system was a way to guarantee that regardless of what your country says the top six in the country are able to go to the Olympics."

McPherson, a devout Christian, says she has seen God's hand in her journey to Rio. She said there were so many instances when it looked as if she wouldn't make the Olympic team.

She remembers back to 2012 and 2013 when she couldn't win a fight.

"I was losing to girls, who, in my mind, I should have beaten," she said.

In 2013, she says she hit rock bottom in her career.

"I asked myself, 'what am I doing?'" she said.

It was at that time she had to answer those inner voices that were asking if she would continue on in the sport, or would she stop.

"That was when I gave it to God and just said, "alright, tell me what you want me to do,'" she said.

McPherson trained harder, putting in extra hours trusting that she had made the right decision. In 2014 and 2015, she said she had the best years of her career.

Training or making a decision about what lies ahead are on hold while McPherson is in what she terms "tourist mode" while home in the Black Hills.

She is accompanied on this trip by her boyfriend, Vince Leple, who Paige says has fallen in love with her home state.

"He loves South Dakota. It's the complete opposite of Paris, France where he's from," she said.

The two met through friends in Miami. He was on vacation there and began hanging out with Paige and her friends.

"We hit it off. That was six years ago. We've talked about marriage, but that's up to him," she said.

Coming home to South Dakota is a different mindset for McPherson.

"Not everybody is in a rush. Vince was walking around exploring the town and he came back with a big smile on his face. He told me he had been walking around the block and everyone was saying, 'Hi' to him and waving. He said that type of behavior was 'unreal.'"

McPherson says South Dakotas are sincere and welcoming. "That's what I love about South Dakota," she said.

McPherson also enjoys returning to the Black Hills.

"It's absolutely beautiful, especially this time of year with all the fall colors," she said.

Her sister Aaryn and husband, Mike, hosted the McPherson clan at their cabin along the Missouri River in Pierre also.

"We went fishing and camped and just had a great time," she said. "We caught some walleye and I learned how to clean it."

McPherson's brother, Graham, lives in Sturgis and is co-owner of the family business -- McPherson Propane. Graham and his wife have a young daughter, Arianna, with whom Paige has fallen in love.

"She's such a character. I love her. It's so refreshing to have a little one in the family," she said.

In addition to her family, friends and classmates from around the Black Hills turned out for a welcome home celebration for McPherson Friday at the Loud American Road House in Sturgis.

Among those was Paul Bisson who sees McPherson as an all-around great person.

"We are so proud of her not only for what she has accomplished but for being so well grounded," he said.

He says McPherson is sincere about not being self-centered and recognizing that she has achieved the level of success she has because of her committment, because of those around her supporting her and because of her faith.

"Some athletes thank God, but it comes out like they are saying it because it is the right thing to say. With Paige, when she says she thanks God, you can tell faith is the cornerstone of her life," he said.

It comes as no surprise that one of McPherson's favorite moments of being in Rio for the Olympics was the opportunity to see Christ the Redeemer, Portuguese artist Cristo Redentor's colossal statue of Jesus Christ at the summit of Mount Corcovado.

"It is one of the wonders of the world," she said. "It was so inspiring."

Also while in the Black Hills, McPherson was asked to speak with youth in the juvenile detention center in Rapid City. She said her message was simple.

"I can't say that if you do this, this and this you are going to be successful," she said.

People make mistakes which can sometimes end up defining who they are.

"I want them to know that not everybody's story is perfect," she said. "One thing I love about the Olympics is that there are so many athletes that come from different backgrounds and have faced adversity along the way."

But those people don't let that define them, she said.

"They have found a way to keep moving forward," she said. "And for those who have made mistakes, learn from it. Don't do it again and strive to be a better person."
Federal authorities have charged a Pine Ridge woman in relation to the gruesome July death of her 2-year-old grandson, who authorities say was beaten to death by her mother over potty-training issues.

The toddler's mother, meanwhile, faces a new charge of assault, on top of the charges of murder and child abuse she already faces.

The boy's mother, Katrina P. Shangreaux, 28, was charged in an updated indictment last week with assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a minor. A grand jury indicted her in August of first-degree murder, felony child abuse, as well as felony child abuse and neglect.

After further investigation, authorities now say Shangreauxs mother was also complicit in the crime. Sonya E. Dubray, 47, the boy's grandmother, was charged in the same indictment with tampering with evidence, accessory to first-degree murder, making a false statement and misprision of a felony.

The South Dakota U.S. Attorneys Office charges that Shangreaux killed the toddler with blows to the head and abdomen on July 28 in Porcupine. It also says she seriously injured the child by causing intracranial bleeding and brain damage after hitting him with her fists and feet.

An FBI report said the boy was found with a torn scrotum, indicating he may have been beaten over potty-training issues. The child, bearing bruises and bite marks, was dead by the time an ambulance transported him to Pine Ridge Hospital that same day, according to the report.

Dubray is accused of tampering with case evidence by washing the clothing worn by the deceased child, as well as by cleaning the scene of the murder with bleach or a similar substance.

Her charging document also says she helped Shangreaux evade the authorities; that she concealed the toddlers abuse by not reporting it to authorities; and misled law enforcement regarding the extent of the abuse.

Dubray told investigators the victim was potty trained, a material fact, as potty training was the catalyst for the child abuse, the document says. Sonya Dubray, then and there, well knew the statement and representation was false in that the victim was not potty trained.

Dubray was arrested and booked at the Pennington County Jail Monday afternoon. Shangreaux, also known as Katrina White Whirlwind, has been detained at the same jail since July 29.
Russian Supreme Court denies foreign insurers appeal in 2012 Superjet crash case

MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russia has dismissed a petition for rehearing of the lower courts rulings ordering twenty foreign insurers to pay $16 million to Kapital Strakhovaniye company for the Superjet 100 aicraft crash in Indonesia in May 2012, RAPSI learnt in the court on Tuesday.

The court has not found grounds for review of the appealed judicial acts under cassational procedure.

The Commercial Court of the Khanty-Mansi region in April 2015 granted a lawsuit filed by Russias Kapital Strakhovaniye against foreign insurance companies. The Eighth Commercial Court of Appeals and the West-Siberian District Federal Commercial Court upheld the ruling in July 2015 and March 2016 respectively.

Twenty-four companies were initially defendants in the case. However, due to partial payment of the debt, the plaintiff withdrew claims against some of them.

Kapital Strakhovaniye initially claimed $32.4 million in damages from the companies that provided insurance for 48 people on board. The sum was reduced to $16 million after partial payments were made.

General Insurance Corporation of India, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., UK Branch, Swiss Re Europe S.A., Starr Insurance and Reinsurance Limited (London) are named among defendants in the case. The lawsuit was filed back in June 2013.

The Moscow Commercial Court also heard another plane crash related suit. Sukhoi Company demanded $29.5 million in insurance payouts for the SSJ-100 from Kapital Strakhovaniye. In September 2013, the parties signed an amicable agreement under which the underwriter committed to pay the plaintiff $14.1 million in addition to the previous payments. The insurance company claimed that the insurance agreement on the plane was 95% reinsured in the Western market.
Investigator refuses to pardon Russian vodka tycoon Shefler

MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI)  Investigator has refused to pardon Swiss-based Russian businessman Yuri Shefler who owns rights to several famous vodka brands, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday citing the tycoons lawyer Alezander Asnis.

Earlier, the Moscow City Court ordered the Investigative Committee to grant amnesty to SPI Groups Board Chairman Shefler. According to the lawyer, investigator has not enforced the court decision and rejected a motion filed by defense to close the case against the businessman.

Non-compliance with final judgments creates criminal liability. Asnis is going to lodge a complaint against investigator with court.

In 2001, a criminal case was opened against Shefler on allegations of illegal use of trademark. Six years after he was arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list, but foreign states dismissed Russias request for his extradition.

A bill proposing an economic crime amnesty spearheaded by business ombudsman Boris Titov was approved by the State Duma in 2013. The resolution releases from criminal liability, regardless of the designated prison term, individuals convicted or held liable under 27 articles of the Criminal Code related to business activities. For the amnesty to take effect, a suspect or a convict has to return the property or compensate the damages to the complainants.

In August 2013, Shefler transferred 1.3 milllion rubles ($20,400) to the Russian state company Soyuzplodoimport as part of the case against him. However, the company has estimated its damage at 140 times as many. Investigator has recognized disagreement of the injured party as a just cause for rejection of pardon. The decision has been upheld by courts.

Thereafter, the businessman, whose worth is estimated at $1.9 billion by Forbes, turned to the Constitutional Court of Russia. The Court held that if the initial estimate was correct then it should be used for compensation of damage and procurement of right to be pardoned. If the estimate was stripped, redrafted charges are to be brought against the defendant, the judgment reads.
Yaroshenko claims US authorities made him sign petition on transfer to Russia  report

MOSCOW, September 27 (RAPSI)  Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year sentence in the U.S. for conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, claimed that U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons asked him to sign a document on transfer to Russia, Izvestia newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to Yaroshenko, who gave an interview to Izvestia, such transfer is regulated by the Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons adopted in 1983. Yaroshenko noted that several years ago the Russian Justice Ministry made a request to transfer the pilot to Russia under conditions of the Convention but U.S. side rejected this motion.

Yarsohenko said that he did not want this petition to be presented by the U.S. side and that he would prefer to sign a petition offered by the Russian Justice Ministry since he is not sure about motivation of the U.S. authorities. Nevertheless, the pilot signed the petition on September 13.

Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia on May 28, 2010 and flown to the United States soon afterwards. On September 7, 2011, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding to smuggle cocaine into the United States. He was caught after replying to an advertisement posted by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents who claimed they were selling a cargo plane for $1.

He is serving time in the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

In late May, a US court rejected his appeal for a retrial. Russias Foreign Ministry said this is evidence that Yaroshenkos conviction was politically influenced.

It was reported in February 2014 that Yaroshenko experienced strong migraine headaches and heart pain, which could be symptoms of a possible heart attack. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the pilots health and pledged to continue working to ensure respect of his rights in the United States.
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Buzz!

Mayur Navrekar has spent the year working with MCs Mawali and Tod Fod from Dharavi rap crew Swadesi

Electronic music act Bandish Projekt has always managed to be on the cutting edge of the genre in India, whether its with tours or producing straight up an unthinkable concoction of sample-heavy sounds. His latest is called Katal Kalaa, a five-track EP that features rappers Mawali and Tod Fod, from Dharavis famed rap crew Swadesi.

The dancefloor-friendly EP is heavily focussed on rhythms, and thats immediately evident when you hear tracks like Dakla and Mumbai Aamchi. The idea for Bandish Projekts mainman Mayur Navrekar was just a regular run-of-the-mill, meet-in the-studio magic collaboration. Navrekar and the rappers spent about seven months honing new skills, rehearsing and recording for Katal Kalaa.

Navrekar says, Its more of an EP thats an intense experience which these guys have going on in their own region. Tod Fod and Mawali rap in Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi. I didnt want to just take the general rapping stuff, which is there in the scene already.

For Katal Kalaa, Navrekar also got in Tod Fod and Mawali, who were being trained in the art of Konnakol, a South Indian language thats percussive in nature, fusion artist Viveick Rajagopalan. Navrekar says, The idea was to incorporate what they write as lyrics in a percussion form. For me, as a classical tabla player, the idea behind that was how I connect to my roots and how I envisage rap coming from India. Its not just about the lyrical content, but also about the rhythmic patterns and how you can interchange things within the language.

<a data-cke-saved-href="http://bhejafryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/katal-kalaa" href="http://bhejafryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/katal-kalaa">Katal Kalaa by BHEJA FRY RECORDS</a>

The groundwork for the EP was laid about two years ago, when Rajagopalan began training the rappers and when Navrekar was introduced to Swadesis music via his label record Bheja Frys partner Pritesh Varia. He says, Pritesh used to hang out with them. He met them at a rap cypher and he said I should meet them. They came at my studio and I checked out what they do. I was quite impressed with the lyrical content of what theyre writing. Tod Fod is just 17, and Mawali is just 21. Theyre very adaptive, quick at learning.

From the Gujarati folk strain on Dakla to the nadaswaram-led Kar Natak  a must-hear just for its wordplay  the EP also includes what Navrekar calls Indian grime on Ek se Aanth.

A culture-based collaboration like this may often run the risk of also seeming like a producer is simply appropriating what another artist is known for, but Navrekar has made the project more or less organic. He says, If you look at our catalogue over the years, Ive always been working with artists whose music has been challenging on their own, apart from me doing anything with them. When I collaborate with somebody, its me working with them in the space where we exchange our art. Every artist has grown in their own space, so to adapt someone elses space, to give that space to each other is very important.

The Bandish Projekt, Tod Fod and Mawali are also currently working on their live set. Navrekar says the performances will be more than just the tracks off Katal Kalaa. We might do a jugalbandi were they rap over it. Were working on putting together a tour.

Watch the video for 'Dakla'
Oppose the Communally Motivated Proposed Amendments to the Citizenship Act, 1955

Protest Demonstration Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 2 pm, 29th September, Jantar Mantar

The proposed amendment to Indiaas Citizenship Act, 1955 has raised grave concern among democratic circles in Assam and in other parts of the country. The proposed amendment reads that apersons belonging to minority communities, namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who have been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrants for the purposes of this Acta and that for persons belonging to the aforementioned minority communities, athe aggregate period of residence or service of a Government in India as required under this clause shall be read as anot less than six yearsa in place of anot less than eleven yearsa.a The proposed amendment which is being considered by a Joint Parliamentary Committee is indeed is a matter of grave concern for the whole of India. Government officials have claimed that the decision to grant Indian citizenship to the above mentioned discriminated religious communities in neighbouring countries is premised on ahumanitarian groundsa. Notwithstanding this benevolent claim by the government, one needs to carefully place this proposed amendment in perspective.

The proposed amendment is premised on the religious persecution of non-Muslim minorities in neighbouring Muslim majority countries. While religious basis have softly underlined Indias approaches to the issue of immigration since the Partition, what is alarming with the amendment proposed by the current government is its vehement attempt, in the garb of humanitarianism, to upturn the Constitution of India by slyly trying to introduce religious right-to-return. The current government displays zero or very little humanitarian concern for non-Hindu marginalised communities in the country and in neighbouring countries.

Unlike Israel, Korea (both South and North), and few other countries, Indian law and the Constitution till today doesnt recognise any notion of Right to return. This is the first time, when a sort of religious right to return a is being advocated by the law-makers. To reiterate, this runs contrary to the secular fabric of the Constitution.

Further apart from complicating the already vulnerable demographic cauldron of the state of Assam, the circumstances under which the amendment is sought to be carried out raise questions about the federal structure of the country. The proposed amendment overrides the Assam Accord of 1985 which sets the date of 24 March 1971 as the cut off date for categorisation of illegal foreign immigrants to Assam, irrespective of Muslims or Hindus. In 1986 the Citizenship Act was amended and Article 6A was inserted. Retrospectively Article 6A granted citizenship to all those who entered Assam on or before 24 March 1971. How many amendment to Citizenship Act is required? Aint the amendments made after the Assam Accord of 1985 not enough?

We strongly demand that the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act 1955 be immediately withdrawn.

Delhi Action Committee for Assam
JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images(SANTA CRUZ, Calif.) -- Evacuations remained underway for hundreds of residents near California's Santa Cruz Mountains Tuesday as firefighters continued to battle the fast-moving Loma blaze.



The fire, which started Monday around 3 p.m., had scorched at least 2,250 acres and was 10 percent contained, according to the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit late Tuesday.



Record-breaking, triple-digit heat in addition to California's drought helped fuel the blaze, driving the flames from just a spark to more than 3 square miles Monday. More than 500 firefighters were working around the clock, with more on the way.



"After dark, as we're fighting fire in unfamiliar terrain -- with obviously dangers of the fire itself and the movement of the fire -- it definitely presents a considerable amount of danger to us, you know, besides just that firefighting aspect," Capt. Christopher Salcido told ABC News affiliate KGO-TV in San Francisco.



Mandatory evacuation orders were announced for Little Uvas and Croy roads, according to KGO-TV. Cal Fire said that 300 structures were threatened. The National Weather Service radar station was forced to shutter after flames started lapping near the building.



One firefighter was reportedly injured and Cal Fire said that two homes had been destroyed.



"I'm a little nervous," Mary Lindsay told SFGate.com. "I can see all the smoke billowing up from the fire."



The fire's cause remained under investigation.

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Don Morris was born 86 years ago near Hollywood Boulevard and has lived in Shell Beach for the last 25 years. He has contributed to many publications and currently heads up the Central Coast Free Speakers Bureau.
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Documentary filmmakers, Adam Punzano and Joe Tucker, are seeking funds to complete their documentary on the indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $10,000 in order to take the documentary through editing and post-production, and to distribute it as widely as possible.

The film, 'Reimagining Progress- Voices from the Ecuadorian Amazon', will be a feature-length documentary. The documentary footage was filmed alongside the Sapara and Kichwa communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The film aims to deliver their urgent and thought-provoking messages to the international community.

These neighboring communities are united in their common struggle to protect their natural environment. They face pressure from the imminent entry of oil companies onto their territory following the auctioning off of blocks 79 and 83 to Andes Petroleum in January of this year. As seen in other parts of the Amazon, the entry of oil companies would have a significant impact on the natural environment on which these communities rely.

They are also confronting the forces of globalization which threaten to erode their culture and way of life, which in the case of Sapara has left the nation facing huge uncertainties as to whether their culture and language will survive.

Through a series of in-depth interviews with a range of community members, including spiritual and political leaders, the documentary will capture a detailed representation of the current situation faced by these communities.

It will feature their inspirational resistance, wide-ranging philosophy and the central role indigenous women are playing at the forefront of the struggle. Interview footage will be interweaved with a range of general community activity footage and scenes from daily life in these jungle communities to give a detailed insight into their lives.

The film will explore the importance of medicinal knowledge and ceremonial practices as well as their unique worldview based on a profound, spiritual connection with nature. It will also include the innovative environmental proposals that have been developed and presented by community members in international forums such as COP21 in Paris aiming to protect the Amazon forest not simply for themselves but for the whole of the planet.

Through an examination of these themes the film will seek to inform audiences of their vision for the future. It intends for the international community to learn both practically and philosophically from the Sapara and Kichwa communities in its attempt to confront global environmental degradation and the threat of climate change, whilst also building awareness to support them in their current struggle to protect their territorial integrity and culture.

The documentary team spent a number of weeks filming in the jungle communities of the Sapara and Kichwa of Sarayaku, fully immersing themselves in community life. They then headed northeast to the border town of Nueva Loja and surrounding areas where they explored the environmental and social implications of oil extraction.

Nueva Loja and its deforested surroundings will provide the contrast point to the preserved forest and the sustainable ways of life documented in the jungle communities, whilst also illustrating the stark dangers of pursuing oil extraction as the team were confronted with accounts of environmental contamination which has led to grave and widespread health problems.

Meeting with a committee of local people affected by contamination and interviewing the President of the Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia, the team heard testimonials that affirmed the importance of the community resistance documented in the forest and a shared desire to keep the preserved rainforest intact and free from extractive industries.

Details regarding the development of the project, distribution strategy, cost breakdown and the film trailer are available on the Indiegogo page-

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reimagining-progress-documentary-film--2/x/14356412#/

The team can be contacted at- perspectivas.indigenas@gmail.com

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reimagining-progress-documentary-film--2/x/14356412#/
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Apparently frustrated by his failure to rob a man who was headed to work Monday, an aspiring Duboce Triangle mugger discharged his firearm  but no one was injured, except, perhaps, the failed criminal's pride.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, a 61-year-old man was carrying a briefcase as he headed to work at 9:05 Monday morning, walking on the 200 block of Noe Street between 15th and 16th Streets.

Suddenly, a man in his 20s approached, demanding that the older man hand over the briefcase. But try though the criminal might, the older man "refused to let go of the case," police say.

In an apparent effort to intimidate his victim, the mugger "produced a weapon and fired one shot into the air," but to no avail. Thwarted and empty-handed, the suspect fled the scene by car, and hasn't been seen since.

Police say that the briefcase-holding man was not injured in the incident, and did not suffer any losses in the confrontation. The suspect remains at large, and no arrests have been made in the case.
"We found this new kid wandering around backstage, and I hope you like him," local comedian Will Durst recalls joking to the audience at one annual Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park. Then, as he recounts to the Chronicle Robin Williams would take the stage, and the audience would go wild.

Williams wasn't just a fixture of Comedy Day. He was, according to Durst, its "anonymous angel." Williams "gave money, but he wanted it under an assumed name. So he became the Eagle. If someone said, The Eagle has landed, that was the signal that Robins money had shown up. Debi Durst, who like her husband is also a comedian and a producer of the free showcase, recalls that one year, Williams' contribution was the entire budget.

Williams's suicide in 2014 was a tragedy to his many fans, and here in the Bay Area, his longtime home, he's been remembered with at least one landmark: the Waldo Tunnel in Marin, with its eye-catching rainbow paint job became the Robin Williams Tunnel in March.

Now Debi and Will Durst want to remember Williams's contributions in San Francisco by naming the meadow where Comedy Day is habitually held after him. That space, near Hippie Hill, is usually called Sharon Meadow: William Sharon, a banker elected Senator from Nevada in 1874, donated funds to the park in order that a building might bear his name. Now one does, the sandstone Sharon building, today used for art classes. By extension, the Sharon building has lent its name to the meadow it overlooks, but that open space  Sharon Meadow, as it's mostly known  hasn't *technically* had a formal name.

Nonetheless, the Dursts needed Rec and Parks' approval for the change, which they've reportedly secured, along with the blessing of Williams's family. None of this will come free, however. "We need to raise funds in order to change all the signage in Golden Gate Park, Debi Durst told the Chronicle. And all the literature available to the public will have to be reprinted as well." That could cost around $100,000, for which the Dursts have begun raising funds and accepting donations.

Williams Meadow: It does sounds nice, and it's not unprecedented. Hellman Hollow, for example, is named for Warren Hellman, the longtime  but not indefinite!  benefactor of another beloved free park tradition, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, to be held this weekend.

Related: It's Official: Say Hello To 'Robin Williams Tunnel'


Further preliminary hearing testimony on Monday from an investigator who first interviewed 19-year-old murder suspect Lila Scott Alligood upon her arrest in Portland last October revealed a bit more about the killing of 23-year-old Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey, who was found bound and fatally shot in Golden Gate Park during the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival last October 3. San Francisco police Sgt. Domenico Discenza gave his account in court, as the Examiner reports, of October 7 and October 8 interviews with Alligood, who along with boyfriend Morrison Lampley, 24, and alleged accomplice Sean Angold, 24, fled to Portland after allegedly killing and robbing both Carey and 67-year-old Steven Carter of Marin on an apparent, meth-fueled spree.

So far, most of the testimony has come secondhand via contradictory statements given to authorities during Alligood's initial interviews. As we learned last week, Alligood initially tried to pin the shootings on Angold, and later said she had lied to protect her boyfriend, Lampley, and that he was actually the triggerman in both murders. The only physical evidence discussed so far is a beanie cap found at the scene of Carey's murder which contained Lampley's DNA and a bit of Alligood's, and Carey's blood that was found on muzzle of the gun which was found in Lampley's possession when the trio were arrested. They had fled to Portland in Carter's car, stolen near a hiking trail in Fairfax, where both he and his dog were shot, and were quickly tracked using the car's GPS system. The group also had in their possession Carey's backpack, passport, and plane ticket.

According to Discenza, a witnessed placed Alligood with Carey at Castro area bar Lucky 13 earlier on the night she was likely killed. As the Chronicle reports, a witness reportedly told investigators she saw Carey at the bar with "a couple of friends including a "white female with sores and scabs on her face." As most of us saw, Alligood's mugshot taken last October included some unsightly sores around her mouth. The witness said she remembered seeing Alligood take a credit card up to the bar and try to order drinks, only to be told the bar was cash only, and she then stomped outside apparently upset. The witness's friend apparently also talked to Alligood and asked about the sores on her face, to which she replied by "twirling and dancing."

A folded up credit card belonging to Carey was later found at Lucky 13.

Alligood reportedly told Discenza that she would later straddle Carey chest to pin her down while Angold, behind her, held and tied her legs. Lampley allegedly held the gun to her temple as the trio attempted to rob her, and Alligood said they plan had been to take her wallet and leave her alive  this after Carey had reportedly thanked them all for being her friend. Then, according to Alligood, Carey was begging for life, saying "Please dont shoot me, please dont shoot me," and then began saying, "Just kill me, just kill me. Lampley then allegedly pulled the trigger. For whatever reason, the trio then apparently fled with Carey's backpack but left behind credit cards, her cell phone, and $84 in cash.

More testimony, which is likely to be the most detailed and damning, is expected to come today from Sean Angold, who in May pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will serve 15 years in prison in exchange for his testimony. This post will be updated as details of his testimony arrive.

Previously: More Upsetting Details Emerge In Double Murder As Drifters Appear For Hearing In Marin
For San Franciscans whose social media feeds have been a horrific mishmash of presidential debate discussion and complaints about the current heat wave, relief might be near. No, not from the election stuff  unless you unfriend basically everyone, that's going to continue through November. But meteorologists say that the current temperatures that have prompted many a transplant to gripe "I did not move here to be hot" are about to abate, forcing complainers to find something else to loudly suffer through.

As previously reported, a heat advisory was issued for Sunday and Monday  and that advice was warranted, as the National Weather Service says that San Francisco hit a high of 92 on Sunday, and 93 on Monday. I'm sure you noticed.

But all that's over soon, as not only is the NWS saying that the high pressure system behind the tropical temps is weakening as you read this, but every time I look out my Sunset District window this morning, I can see waves of fog rolling from Ocean Beach inward. The west side is already blanketed (as you can see from my photo above), and the rest of the city, the NWS says, will soon follow.

By the end of the week, according to the NWS, San Francisco temperatures should return to the mid-60s expected at this time of year. And San Franciscans, blessedly, can return to their similarly expected garb of jeans, hoodies, and shoes worn with actual socks.

Related: Ask A San Francisco Native: Has The Fog Always Been Named Karl?
So did you enjoy last nights presidential debate as much as I did?

I started being really apprehensive about how it would go. After all, it was the super-achieving Hillary Clinton going up against class clown/bully Donald Trump, and expectations were pretty skewed. Clinton had to be all things to all people, while Trump merely had to show that he could find the U.S. on a map. Clinton just cant catch a break, you know?

But then the debate started and, well, Trump was Trump.

He had no decent answers for questions that shouldnt have rattled him. As gentle as Lester Holt was, Trumps flailing (and sniffling) last night showed that he just cant handle the pressure of answering questions outside of the right-wing bubble. He has no plan for ISIS, blames Mexicans and Chinese for all our ills, pretty much admitted he doesnt pay federal income taxes (while complaining about the state of our infrastructure) and constantly boasted about his business acumen. In short, he had nothingbesides sexism, xenophobia, narcissism and the flu (or something).

Terrible responses aside, the split screen killed him. He fidgeted, sniffled, pouted, grimaced and was visibly upset when Clinton spoke. Even worse, he interrupted constantly and constantly drew attention to himselfin the worst way. In contrast, while Trump was acting the fool, Clinton was cool, kept her humor and took a page from Obamas playbook and did as masterful rope-a-dope on Trump. The longer he spoke, the worse he did.

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So, what were your favorite moments from last night? And do you think Trump will show up for the next ones?

Photo credit: hillaryclinton.com
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SIOUX CITY | A host of people are anticipated to swing their legs and pump arms on Oct. 5 as part of an Iowa initiative that aims to get people to walk for 30 minutes per day.

Jami Haberl, executive director of the Healthiest State Initiative, was in Sioux City to promote the annual organized walk, which began in 2011.

"We've seen a lot of great progress across Iowa, " Haberl said.

The city walk of roughly two miles will begin at noon Oct. 5 at Tyson Events Center. Walkers will head north on the Perry Creek Trail for approximately one mile before turning around, covering about 30 minutes

Mayor Bob Scott in a release said the annual walk is a sound piece that fits well other events in the city, which has been designated as a Blue Zones Community that encourages healthy living.

This event complements efforts to improve our well-being and encourage a walkable community," Scott said.

Haberl is working to organize walks on all 99 counties in Iowa, as happened in 2015, when she said there were more than 1,000 walk events.

As of Monday, there were events set in 97 counties. The chief goal is to encourage Iowans to get out and walk 30 minutes every day, which Haberl said could help make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.

The initiative notes that when people live healthier lives, it makes Iowa a more attractive place to do business. Haberl said improved well-being is linked with higher productivity, less absenteeism, higher retention, better engagement and lower healthcare costs.

Haberl said Sioux City has been a great partner with walks going back many years.

The annual walk is a simple reminder of how walking is an easy way to not only increase physical activity, but it also provides an opportunity to bring together your friends, co-workers and neighbors," Haberl said.

She said walking is an affordable and easy way for people to fit into a new fitness routine.

Haberl said if schedule conflicts don't enable people to take part next week, they can register a walk of their own at www.iowahealthieststate.com/events/annual-walk.
SIOUX CITY | Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed a shed at a Sioux City business late Monday night.

Mark Aesoph, Sioux City Fire Marshal, said Sioux City Fire Rescue units were dispatched to Lessard Contracting, Inc., 2300 Boulevard of Champions, for a structure fire at 8:55 p.m.

The first units on scene discovered heavy fire at what is believed to be a storage shed. Aesoph said flames were already protruding through the roof when crews arrived.

Though the fire had been mostly extinguished by 10 p.m. Monday, the structure was heavily damaged.

Aesoph said no one was at the shed when the fire occurred and no one was injured.

He said a cause was not known Monday night and investigation will likely begin Tuesday. In the meantime, crews will monitor hot spots overnight and make sure a fire does not reignite.
SIOUX CITY | The first full week of autumn looks to be a mild one, with clear skies and fall-like temperatures continuing through the week and into the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, Tuesday will be sunny with a high of 72 degrees and a northwest wind at 5 to 15 mph.

Tuesday night will be clear, with a low around 42 and a north wind at 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday will be sunny and slightly cooler, with a high near 65 degrees. Wednesday night will be clear with a low of 41.

Clear skies will continue Thursday through Monday, with highs in the low 70s and lows in the 40s and 50s.

The next chance of precipitation will be Sunday night into Monday. Chances are currently around 30 percent.
SIOUX CITY | As Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton traded barbs in the first presidential debate Monday night, some area college students were watching closely for one main thing: personality.

Nearly 70 students gathered for a debate watch party at Morningside College sponsored by the Morningside Civic Union, the Col. Bud Day Center for Civic Engagement, and Morningside College Student Government  all campus organizations. The event concluded with a post-debate discussion.

Prior to the debate, Allyssa Stevens, a 20-year-old junior and vice president of the Morningside College Republicans, said she was hoping to see Trump, known for his controversial statements, bring it down a few notches during the debates.

I want to see him really connect with people more, she said.

Also watching her candidates demeanor was Daphney Miller, 19, a former volunteer for the Bernie Sanders campaign. She said she wanted to see more of the real Hillary rather than an automated political machine. Miller said her main hangup in voting for Clinton was her personality.

About 75 minutes into the debate, Miller said she was encouraged by the results.

Im not necessarily turned off by the way shes presented herself, and I like how shes laid out more details of where she stands, she said.

Midway through the debate, Stevens said she was seeing a calmer Trump. If she had to pick a winner, though, she said it would probably be Clinton.

I think shes put down more valid points, she said.

Miller also said she believed Clinton was winning.

I dont think its a flawless win; I think shes stumbled a lot, Miller said. But I think Trump has shown that hes not as eloquent as he thinks he is, and hes not as capable as he claimed to be.

Millennial voters played a major role in President Barack Obamas winning 2008 and 2012 campaigns. During primary season, many rallied behind Sen. Bernie Sanders and his political revolution and have been slow to come around to Clinton.

In a four-way race that included Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein, a Sept. 14 Quinnipiac University national poll gave Clinton 31 percent of likely voters under 35, with Johnson at 29 percent and Trump in third place with 26 percent.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe was at Clinton's campaign office in Sioux City to speak with people as the debate played out.
SIOUX CITY | For the fifth consecutive year, Mike Krysl and Michael McTaggart will serve as Sioux City School Board president and vice president, respectively.

As part of its annual meeting, the board held elections for both positions Monday night.

Board member Jackie Warnstadt nominated Krysl, the current president, to retain his position. Board vice president McTaggart seconded Warnstadts motion. There were no other nominations.

Board member David Gleiser nominated McTaggart to retain his spot as vice president, which Warnstadt seconded. However, board member Paul Gorski nominated Gleiser, seconded by board member Perla Alarcon-Flory.

The board then elected McTaggart four votes to Gleisers three in a ballot vote.

Krysl said in he and McTaggarts first four years as president and vice president, this was the first year there had been another nomination. He said it doesnt reflect any possible conflict among board members, but rather, is a healthy exercise.

Anytime a board becomes too predictable, that means maybe were not mixing it up enough, he said.

Everett school sale

The board unanimously set a public hearing for the sale of the old Everett Elementary building, 1314 W. Third St., to Arch Icon Development for $67,500. The hearing will be Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.

Chief Financial Officer John Chalstrom said the property has been appraised at $65,000.

The building, which previously served as the Alternative School, was placed on the market in the spring. Chalstrom said he believes the purchaser plans to convert the building into housing.

Commonwealth Development withdrew its offer on the building of $100,000 prior to the meeting.

Issue with Iowa Assessment analysis

Dan Greenwell, who has advocated for reform in the districts grading system, presented concerns with the ways in which Iowa Assessment results are presented to the public.

In his presentation during the citizen input portion of the meeting, Greenwell said the information presented each year is the minimum required by the state. Currently, he said, the district provides not proficient and proficient reports and only compares year to year.

He recommended the district could better show results to include more levels of student performance, which would help the district be more transparent and give community members and parents a better idea of how students score on tests.

Because Greenwells presentation was not on the presentation items portion of the agenda, the board could not comment.
MACY, Neb. | Omaha Tribe of Nebraska members on Monday demanded that three tribal council members charged last week with misuse of federal funds be removed from office.

Demonstrators submitted an ethics complaint against tribal council treasurer Jessica Webster-Valentino, secretary Jeff Miller and member Rodney Morris, who were among eight current and former council members and a tribal employee charged in a federal indictment accusing them of offenses related to using federal funds to make illegal payments to themselves.

"We're hoping the chairman will do the right thing and remove them," said Charles Baxter, a tribal elder. "I think that's the best step taken that I can see to move this tribe forward."

Omaha Tribe attorney general Maurice Johnson received the complaint and said it would be up to the seven-member council to decide whether to take action on it. He said Webster-Valentino, Miller and Morris are still members of the council.

Tribal chairman Vernon Miller was in Washington, D.C., at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. When reached by phone, he said he was not aware that a demonstration was taking place and couldn't comment on an ethics complaint until he had read it.

A tribal council meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday morning, but it wasn't immediately clear if the ethics complaint would be discussed. A meeting agenda was not expected to be available until prior to the meeting.

Baxter said if the three indicted council members are not removed, tribal members are prepared to launch an effort to have the three recalled in an election.

Webster-Valentino, 46, Morris, 62, and Jeff Miller, 52, were indicted in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week along with Barbara Freemont, 64, Amen Sheridan, 55, Doran Morris Jr., 45, Forrest Aldrich, 66, Mitchell Parker, 68, and Tillie Aldrich, 47.

Each is charged with conspiracy, conversion and misapplication of funds from a program receiving federal funds and conversion and misapplication of a health care benefit program. They are scheduled for initial appearances in Omaha on Oct. 14.

The indictment charges them with granting themselves almost $389,000 in incentive payments from federal Indian Health Service funds meant to provide health care to tribal members. State and federal authorities launched an investigation into the actions in June.

"We've been working with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI in the investigation and will continue to do so," Vernon Miller said.

Baxter said the investigation and indictment "has been a long, long time coming." Tribal employees knew that council members were misusing funds, but feared losing their jobs if they reported it, he said.

"Our people are afraid to say anything," Baxter said. "Our people have been under oppression for so long by our own tribal government."

Webster-Valentino, Rodney Morris and Jeff Miller could not be reached for comment Monday.

Baxter said he and others who demonstrated Monday would like to see the three indicted council members removed and have the Bureau of Indian Affairs step in and oversee the tribe's business while tribal members amend the tribe's constitution to strengthen checks and balances to prevent future corruption and protection for whistle blowers. The constitution should be amended before those three positions are filled, Baxter said.

Three of the seven board seats are up for re-election next month: chairman Miller, vice chairman Adriana Saunsoci and Clifford Wolfe Jr. Names of candidates for the Oct. 20 primary will be announced on Friday. The council general election is Nov. 1.
WASHINGTON -- Like it or not, the decision we make in this November's election will be a choice on behalf of the entire world. How we vote will determine whether the forces of democracy, openness and religious tolerance remain strong, or whether our country throws in its lot with tribalism, prejudice and authoritarianism.

This sounds like melodrama. It isn't. And while it may ring familiar -- citizens of other countries always tell us how important our electoral verdicts are to them -- Donald Trump requires us to make a judgment more monumental than any we have faced in our lifetimes.

This is the underlying import of President Obama's speech to the United Nations last Tuesday, which may prove to be one of the most important of his presidency. He spoke of a "growing contest between authoritarianism and liberalism," and he was not referring to the L-word we fight about here at home, but to the philosophy of free expression, entrepreneurialism and participatory decision-making that has long been our country's hallmark. It's the philosophy that most Americans, conservatives included, honor.

Obama cast the matter this way: "We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration. Or we can retreat into a world sharply divided, and ultimately in conflict, along age-old lines of nation and tribe and race and religion."

He criticized "a crude populism -- sometimes from the far left, but more often from the far right -- which seeks to restore what they believe was a better, simpler age free of outside contamination."

And lest anyone miss that he was talking not only about political currents in Europe and elsewhere but also about Trump, he added this: "Today, a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself."

Obama's critics have every right to question whether his policies may have hastened this moment of decision. In a normal election, contention over Obama's approach to foreign affairs would be central to our debate.

But this is not, in any way, a normal election. Conservatives who have problems with Obama or Hillary Clinton but share their understanding of the country's democratic obligations need to recognize that allowing Trump to win would strengthen the autocratic Vladimir Putin in Russia and the far right in Europe with which he is now allied. A Trump victory would also empower violent extremists in the Islamic world that want nothing more than for the United States to cast every Muslim as our enemy.

And it would be a decision in favor of what Obama called the "strongman, a top-down model, rather than strong, democratic institutions."

The fact that Trump has been so verbally chummy with Putin should be a key issue in this election. And this underscores the unusual importance of Trump's making his tax returns public, as have all recent candidates. Americans need to know definitively whether or not he is financially entangled with foreign interests hostile to the United States and to our values, including Russian oligarchs.

There was a second level to Obama's U.N. speech that should affect our thinking after this election is over. After issuing an enthusiastic defense of an open global economy, he was careful not to dismiss those who have risen up in protest against its injustices. He argued that "those trumpeting the benefits of globalization have ignored inequality within and among nations" and that "the existing path to global integration requires a course correction."

He forcefully called for strengthening labor unions, echoed Pope Francis in criticizing "a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few" and insisted that efforts "to curb the excesses of capitalism" were designed "not to punish wealth, but to prevent repeated crises that can destroy it."

I do not expect conservatives to rally to this part of his case, although I would like them to take more seriously the idea that preserving the very aspects of the system they revere requires more egalitarian public policies and a clear acknowledgement of capitalism's limits.

This, however, represents the sort of healthy quarrel that people of goodwill in free nations can have with each other after the immediate threat that Trump represents to the democratic left, right and center alike has been turned back.

I know it asks a great deal of my conservative friends not only to oppose Trump but also to support Hillary Clinton. But she is the only person standing between us and a United States that abandons our shared commitment to the ideals of inclusion, toleration and, yes, democracy itself.
Energy creativity continues to flourish in South Sioux City, Neb.

The latest in a recent string of unique energy steps planned or taken by the community is a hydroelectric turbine along the Missouri River.

Earlier this month, the South Sioux City Council unanimously agreed to, along with Green Star Energy Group LLC, apply for a $200,000 Nebraska Environmental Trust grant for a proposed $290,000 turbine.

Lance Hedquist, city manager, said the turbine would save the city $450 a day by producing energy from the river's current.

Other actions planned or taken by the city include the purchase of electric cars for use by city employees, the purchase of solar and wind power and construction of a private solar farm. In a unique, additional step, the city will produce electricity for its Scenic Park campground by burning fallen tree branches, limbs and brush it collects along the riverfront and across the community.

Last month, South Sioux City officials approved the sale of a seven-acre tract of land in its Roth Industrial Development Park to Green Star for construction of a $3.75 million power plant. The plant, which will operate on wood waste, will produce eight percent of the electricity for the community's municipal utility.

"We're always looking into ways to lower the electric bill and to boost our economy," Hedquist said for an Aug. 24 Journal story. "With this project, we can do both."

Green Star, in fact, plans to move its headquarters from Bowling Green, Ky., to South Sioux City.

As we have said before, residents of South Sioux City should appreciate efforts by local government leaders to, through a diversified strategy, save money by reducing electricity costs and support production of green, renewable forms of energy.
Washington state has created a Small Business Retirement Savings Marketplace where small businesses can go to get affordable retirement plans to offer their employees. The marketplace is expected to open in January, ahead of an expected mandate in the state.

There are already some states where a mandate is in place, and even some cities are exploring the possibility.

Two states  Oregon and Illinois  are starting marketplaces in June 2017, and more are on the waiting list.

In all, eight states have passed legislation to establish retirement programs for private sector employees. These include Washington, Illinois, Oregon, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Difference Between State Mandatory Retirement Plans

There is no one-size-fits-all plan. Each state has its contingencies and requirements. Here are a few examples:

California

Californias plan, called Secure Choice, will require that retirement plans be in place for companies with five or more employees and will offer a five percent Roth IRA contribution. The plan would provide coverage to nearly seven million small-business employees in the state who lack access to workplace programs.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, employers are subject to the mandate if they hired at least five employees on October 1st of the preceding year, and paid each employee at least $5,000 in the prior year, according to ADP.

Illinois

Illinois, which also refers to its plan as Secure Choice, will automatically enroll employees in a Roth IRA-like savings account. It will deduct a default three percent from an employees paycheck and move the money into a state-run investment pool.

Oregon

Oregon will automatically enroll employees in a pooled plan. Workers will have the opportunity to opt-out should they choose.

Washington

Washington will have plans for businesses with less than 100 employees, including solo entrepreneurs. Participation in the marketplace is voluntary for employers and staff. Also, accounts are portable. When employees switch jobs, they can take their plans with them.

(Visit the Pension Rights Center website to see a full list of states that have either enacted legislation to provide retirement plans or are considering doing so.)

State of Retirement Savings in the U.S.

Studies show that more than half of workers  some 60 million nationwide  lack workplace retirement plans, especially those employed by small businesses and freelancers, said Time magazine. It added that 90 percent of employees who work for companies with pension plans take advantage of the benefits versus 20 percent who work for companies with no retirement savings plan.

According to Capital Ones Spark Business Barometer, as reported by Small Business Trends, the number of small businesses offering their employees a retirement plan has dropped by almost 50 percent. Now, a mere 13 percent of small business owners provide such programs.

The Future of Retirement: A New Reality, a report from HSBC, states that those currently approaching state pension age could experience a significant drop in their standard of living during the final seven years of retirement. The average length of retirement in the U.S. is approximately 21 years while the typical citizens savings are likely to last for just 14 years at present, the report said.

A recent AARP Washington survey found that 25 percent of adults ages 45 to 64 have saved $25,000 or less for retirement.

People save more when they have a workplace savings option, but many small businesses have been unable to provide retirement plans to their employees due to high costs and administrative burdens, said AARP, which advocates the use of retirement marketplaces like the one in Washington state.

This statement, from the New York Times Editorial Board, is perhaps the most telling of all:

At any given moment, about half of the private-sector employees in the United States  some 60 million people  do not have any type of employer-sponsored retirement plan. The result is a growing American underclass, in which a third of current retirees live almost entirely on Social Security and fully half of future retirees will face reduced standards of living. Worse, the coverage gap has long proved intractable, with Congress and the financial industry unable or unwilling to design or support truly simple and low-cost retirement savings plans.

Mandates Add to Small Business Burden

Small businesses in some states already face heavy employment burdens. For instance, New Yorks paid family leave act requires that companies offer their full-time and part-time employees up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for family members.

New York, California and several other states have passed legislation guaranteeing a $15 an hour minimum wage. And, unless Congress intervenes, significant pay increases for exempt employees making under $23,660 will go into effect on December 1, 2016, thanks to the Department of Labors new overtime rules.

Ray Keating, chief economist, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, a Washington D.C.-based small business advocacy organization, in a phone conversation with Small Business Trends, said, If you are looking for an example of politicians at the state and local level being quite activist, this is certainly one. Retirement options are already there in the marketplace for people who want to take advantage of them.

See Also: Coin is Coming

According to Keating, the bottom line is what mandates will cost the business owner.

Small business owners try to offer the best package they can to attract the most qualified people, he said. But the reality is that many businesses cant afford to provide the level of benefits to make them competitive against larger companies. Throwing a mandate like this onto a small business is not going to change that reality.

He asserted that the position of SBE Council would be to oppose any such mandate due to the financial burdens placed on businesses.

Another small business advocacy group, Main Street Alliance, takes an opposing stance and supports the state-run retirement model.

Generally, we support the state-run retirement model as one that allows small businesses to match the offerings of their larger competitors and create a workplace that encourages employees to stay with the business, ultimately increasing retention and reducing turnover and training costs, said Steve Rouzer, communications manager for the organization, in an email to Small Business Trends.

Retirement Plan Benefits

The issue of mandates aside, retirement plans are one of the most attractive benefits a business can offer. Packages that include retirement saving make companies more competitive with their larger counterparts.

Other reasons to provide a retirement savings plan include:

Take advantage of tax savings. Businesses can receive significant tax benefits when retirement plans are in place;

Improved employee recruiting. If an employee has the choice of working for one company that offers a retirement plan versus one that does not, its likely the benefit will sway his decision for the former;

Reduced employee turnover. Retirement plans can contribute to reducing turnover. Nearly 40 percent of small-business employees say they would leave their current job for one that provides a 401(k), says Plan Adviser magazine as reported by Intuit.

Conclusion

If, as Keating suggests, activist politicians have their way, more states will join the retirement savings mandate movement. So its best to prepare in advance by offering a plan before proposed legislation takes effect.

Many types of plans are available, which small business owners can implement. These include the popular 401(k) and Roth 401(k) as well as profit-sharing plans, SIMPLE IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and Keogh plans.
The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
A screen capture from Monday night's first debate.

Whose minds were changed by the debate? Very few, probably

Hillary by a nosetoo many missed opportunities by Trump

Who won the debate? What right does the media have to decide an encounter where the scoring is vague and the goal posts are movable?The more important question is: Whose minds were changed by the debate? Very few, probably. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were much as we've come to know them over more than a year of campaigning, and years in the public eye.Trump the interrupter, the verbal bully, the relentless messenger on bad trade deals, lousy treaties, the lack of law and order, poor immigration enforcement, unrelenting attacks on opponents. But he is easily distracted by attacks on his own record.If you already liked Donald Trump or sort of liked him, or disliked him but liked his message and thought he was the president we needed, nothing in 98 minutes would dissuade you.Ditto for Hillary: like or dislike her, she is the cool, calm, restrained, fact-filled career politician who always comes prepared. If you want knowledge and political experience, she's the ticket. Maybe she could have said a few words when she was vilified, rather than just smiling and shaking her head.As he was in every primary debate, Trump is never prepared to offer specifics. He's the big picture guy. He will make America great again. Believe him.Both candidates find it difficult to admit past error. Trump absolutely refuses to acknowledge that he did briefly sort of support the Iraq war before he opposed it; that he did keep the birther issue alive for years after it had been disproved. Maybe Hillary's folks had a role in lighting that spark of doubtswhich she won't admitbut Trump kept the fires smoldering. So what?Except that Trump can never, ever admit he was wrong about anything.There's the baloney about why he won't release his tax returns. Clinton says he must have something to hide. Of course he does. She offered four good possibilities.Will you support the results of the election? He hems and haws.What choice do we voters have about the results of the election?What other country would we rather live in?Maybe one with neither of these people at the helm.All the predictions were that the first Hillary Clinton-Donald Trump presidential debate of 2016 would be unpredictable in effect on the election, if not in quality. There was a pretty strong consensus that Hillary would be wonkish and that Trump would be a debater without great knowledge but with ad hominem attacks aplenty.They both perpetrated such attacks more and more as the debate progressed, and it ended with Hillary attacking Trump's unseemly attacks on women.Those who think the economy is the most important issue favor Hillary overwhelmingly, and those who thinks terrorism is most important favor Trump by a large margin. That's interesting, since Hillary was Secretary of State and Donald Trump has become rich through entrepreneurship.For the first time in presidential debate history, a majority of voters says that both nominees are dishonest.Leading up to this nervously anticipated debate, Hillary opined that half of Trump's supporters could be put in a "basket of deplorables," which she later said she may have overestimated. Trump said that Hillary is not physically or mentally up to running the country.Both comments are beyond the fringe of acceptable political rhetoric and past presidential nominees.The debate started out on an quieter note than expected, as the viewer was informed that there were to be no outbursts from the audience for either candidate, plus the promise that the candidates would have time to debate each other. Those two promises were mostly fulfilled.The first questions related to jobs: why are you the better candidate on this? Hilary said we need to focus on new jobs, infrastructure, and small business. We must raise the minimum wage.Trump never picked up on this. Debt-free college? Why would Trump not focus on this giveaway that will make the deficit soar?Too often Hillary controlled the topics of the debate, often just by Trump's not grabbing the reins. Even when she attacked his not releasing his taxes, he seemed to accept it as a legitimate issue.Hillary says Trump's not releasing his tax returns means he is hiding something. Trump asks about Hillary's e-mail and brings up the fact that the man who set up her server took the Fifth. Then the issue is dropped, as Hillary does not seriously engage it.Hillary brings up the allegation that Trump has "stiffed" people who have done work for her. Trump weakly answers that his obligation is to himself, his employees and his family, not denying her premise.Hillary criticized "Trumped-up trickle-down economics." Donald slightly bristled, but only slowly begins to get more and more aggressive.Hillary then describes Trump as having rooted for the housing collapse so he could gain and alleges that Donald thinks climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, which he non-verbally denies, shaking his head.Donald retorts that the U.S. invested in solar panels and it was a disaster, and castigates NAFTA and Hillary's inconsistency on that and TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement) and tax raises and regulations.Hillary meekly says she would limit regulations, never answering where she has been on these issues.On race relations, Hillary focused on racial bias, parenthetically pointing out that we had to do something about the "gun epidemic," while Trump praised the police, but there was little clash, even on his "stop and frisk" support.Trump was admonished by moderator Lester Holt, who said "stop and frisk" had been found unconstitutional. Holt was not awful, but he was not disinterested. His chastising of Trump for not answering directly or responsively was consistent.The topics were more than a little Hillary-friendlylittle on the e-mails, nothing on the Clinton Foundation and nothing much on Benghazi. At least Trump talked some about the intentionality of the e-mail scandal, saying it was "not a mistake," as Hillary alleged.On the birther issue, Hillary pilloried Trump correctly, but he never referenced her attacks on President Obama and disingenuous statement regarding his birth in "I take him at his word."Trump, like Richard Nixon did 56 years ago, repeatedly said on matters that "I agree with Secretary Clinton."There were many paroxysms of Trump criticisms, but too few in the first two thirds of the debate, and too few on Clinton-vulnerable issues. He ended strongly on criticizing Hillary on her ISIS policy, but overall it was just insufficient. That, too, deserved more time from Trump and even Holt.At the end Trump did not defend his attributed "cavalier" attitude about nuclear weaponswhy?It is hard to find many observers who will note that there are two more presidential debates and that in 2012 Mitt Romney, after demolishing Barack Obama in the first debate of that year, played defense on foreign policy in the subsequent debate and lost his momentum. In 1984, after losing the first presidential debate, Ronald Reagan came back and thoroughly defeated Walter Mondale in both the debate and the election.Trump will have an opportunity to come back, and the polls in this election do not necessarily mirror qualitative differences in debates.
GLEN BURNIE, Md.

Vehicle Bills

Driver Bills

Miscellaneous Bills

(Sept. 27, 2016)A number of motor vehicle laws passed by the Maryland General Assembly during their 2016 session will take effect on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Thirteen bills that passed both houses of the General Assembly will have a direct impact on the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and Md. drivers.The following highlights the bills that have passed and will have a direct impact on MVA or transportation related issues.This bill establishes a new type of motor vehicle, the autocycle, which is a type of motorcycle with three wheels that drives more like a car, with seats, steering wheel, and foot pedal controls similar to those in a passenger vehicle. The new vehicles will be classed as a motorcycle with a unique body style and exception code; however, they will not require a motorcycle license to operate. Instead, they will require an ordinary Class C driver's license to operate; however, driver's license applicants will not be permitted to take the driver's skills test in an autocycle.Effective Date July 1, 2016This bill establishes a program to assist and encourage uninsured drivers with past due insurance fines and uninsured vehicle(s) to become insured, in part by waiving 80% of their fines that became past due before January 1, 2014. The program will run for a period of 90 days beginning January 1, 2017 or later. In order to participate in the program, a driver will be required to pay the remaining balance of their fines (after the waiver), as well as a Central Collection Unit (CCU) fee, if applicable, and they must not have been issued a judgment by CCU. A participant will also be required to obtain insurance on their uninsured vehicle for a period of at least 6 months, or 1 year if the amount waived exceeds $3,000.Effective Date July 1, 2016This bill established a definition for a park model recreational vehicle, which is a vehicle designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping, travel, or seasonal use. The vehicle must be built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels, and have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet (when setup). The bill defines a park model recreational vehicle as a type of travel trailer.Effective Date June 1, 2016This bill alters the owner certification required with application for registration of an historic motor vehicle by eliminating "and similar uses" from the list of permitted uses, and also by adding to the list of prohibited uses "for employment," "for transportation to and from employment or school," and "for commercial purposes." The bill also authorizes law enforcement to issue a safety equipment repair order (SERO) to any historic vehicle with a model year of 1986 or later.Effective Date October 1, 2016This law requires drivers to possess, or carry in their automobile, a current insurance identification card issued by their insurance carrier. The insurance identification card may be in tangible (paper, plastic, etc.) or in an electronic format. A person who violates this requirement can be fined $50. The bill provides for a delayed implementation of the fine, which will start on July 1, 2017.Effective Date October 1, 2016This bill provides that a person trading in a leased vehicle to purchase or lease another vehicle may receive a trade-in allowance toward the "total purchase price" of the new vehicle.Effective Date October 1, 2016This bill requires the Administration to issue an HOV permit to a "qualified hybrid vehicle," allowing the vehicle to be driven in the HOV lane on U.S. Route 50 between I95/I495 and U.S. Route 301, regardless of the number of people in the vehicle. The Administration will issue no more than 2,000 of these special permits, which will be marked with "Rt. 50" to distinguish them from other HOV lane permits.Effective Date October 1, 2016This bill substantially alters and strengthens Maryland's DWI/DUI and Ignition Interlock laws, by increasing both judicial and administrative penalties, requiring longer periods of suspension and/or participation in the Ignition Interlock Program ("IIP"), and by applying penalties to more alcohol offenders. All individuals convicted of a violation of  21-902(a), driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), will be required to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program6 months for a first violation, 1 year for a second, and 3 years for a third or subsequent violation. Driver's license suspensions for per se alcohol violations (a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) test result of .08 or higher) will increase to 180 days; suspensions for high BAC violations (a BAC test result of .15 or higher) will increase to 180 days for a first violation and 270 days for a second or subsequent violation; and the suspension periods for a test refusal will increase to 270 days for a first violation and 2 years for a second or subsequent violation. In lieu of a suspension, individuals can opt to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program for 180 days for a BAC test result of .08 or higher or 1 year for either a BAC test result of .15 or higher or a test refusal. The bill has many more provisions, including requiring IIP participation for more individuals, establishing requirements for successful program completion, and establishing certain credit provisions for program participation.Effective Date October 1, 2016This bill requires the MVA to cancel the commercial driver's license of any individual who fails to submit to the Administration a current certificate of physical examination, as required by federal law (49 C.F.R.  391.43 and  391.45). The bill also permits the MVA to immediately reinstate the noncommercial driving privilege of, and, under certain circumstances, issue a noncommercial driver's license (Class C) to, an individual whose commercial driver's license is cancelled solely for failure to submit the required certificate of physical examination. This will assist commercial driver's license holders by preserving their noncommercial driving privileges while they regain their commercial driving privilege following a cancellation for failure to submit the required medical certificate.Effective Date October 1, 2016This bill requires a voter registration application to inform an applicant that they must register for a political party if they wish to take part in that political party's primary election, caucus, or convention.Effective Date June 1, 2016This bill will alter slightly the wording of some of the "motor voter" screens that enable a customer to apply to register to vote as part of their driver's license or ID card application. The bill also imposes certain reporting requirements for information about the numbers of people who register to vote through the MVA and efforts being made to increase voter registration, as well as information about the efficiency of the voter registration process.Effective Date July 1, 2016This bill requires the MVA, beginning October 1, 2016, to translate our public web pages (with limited exceptions) into any language that is spoken by any limited English proficiency population that constitutes at least 0.5% (one half of one percent) of the overall population of the State and that can be translated free of charge. The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) will set standards for the translations.Effective Date July 1, 2016This bill requires any business registered with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation that offers a discount or preference to veterans to accept a valid Maryland driver's license or identification card that includes a "VETERAN" designation as verification of the card holder's veteran status.Effective Date October 1, 2016
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.




Elon Musk outlines his plan for colonizing Mars and why we should do it with a terraformed Mars in the background. Credit IAF. IAF

In a presentation today at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Elon Musk outlined his ambitious plan to colonize Mars. His personal motivation is to make humanity a multi-planetary species. The reason is to avoid an extinct level event on Earth that would wipe out humanity.

To achieve a self-sustaining society youll need to send 1 million people to Mars which could take 40-100 years. To get those people there Musk introduced the SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System. The rocket, the largest ever built, could carry 100 plus people per flight and would need 10,000 flights to carry those million people. Musk hopes to be able to eventually carry 200 people per flight which would reduce the number of flights needed.

SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System



According to Musk the keys to make this a success is to have full rocket reusability, refuelling in orbit, propellant production on Mars, and the right propellant.

Musk said the flight to Mars would be really fun. Movies games and a restaurant.

What would it cost? Initially $200,000 per person, though Musk hopes to get that cost to below $100,000 per person over time.

Watch the complete presentation by Elon Musk of SpaceX



 Download Elon Musks presentation slides.

Funding for Musks plan was presented as a public-private partnership with funding coming from existing and future SpaceX revenues along with public funding from rich individuals, other companies and governments, should any be interested.

When asked by reporter Jeff Foust of SpaceNews about how much SpaceX was currently spending and would spend, Musk replied less than a few tens of millions so far, and that he hoped to ramp that up to hundreds of millions over time as they made progress. The whole system would cost in the neighbourhood of $10 billion.

How long will it take? He said, should everything go right, 10 years, and that they are currently working on the booster and spacecraft and hoped to have the first test spacecraft ready in four years.

First development tank for Mars ship pic.twitter.com/dF5tZkldUb  SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2016

The Interplanetary Transport System isnt just for Mars though. Musk emphasized that it could be used to go to other destinations for exploration in our solar system such as Europa.

He also speculated the transport system, in the early stages, could be used to move cargo around the Earth in suborbital flights which would generate revenue. He said the transport system could reach anywhere on Earth in under 45 minutes. But he then said he was not counting on it (the idea).

Interplanetary Transport System is not just for Mars pic.twitter.com/X2uV5moBya  SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2016

He wanted to the make the announcement at the International Astronautical Congress to encourage companies and governments to think big. He wants people, companies, governments to work alongside SpaceX on this grand vision but also encouraged competition.

And a grand vision it is. Kennedy made it a goal to send a man to the moon in the 60s and the U.S. achieved that goal. Now Musk is asking humanity to make it a goal to colonize Mars for the survival of the species. Will the international community heed that call?

Elon Musk Presentation Slides








Thu, 27.10.22 - 11:04

The temperatures will fall in the Murcia Region but the weekend still promises to be warm and sunny Autumn has ye...
New York, Sept 27, 2016 (SPS) - The Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Augustine Phillip Mahiga asked, on Monday, the implementation of UN resolutions of decolonization of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa.

Mr. Mahiga, in his speech at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly has called for "more attention" of the UN in its efforts to resolve the problems of Palestine and Western Sahara.

The head of Tanzanian diplomacy urged the international community to implement UN decisions on both issues in order to preserve the credibility of the United Nations. SPS

125/090/TRA
Jo Ann Looney-King's Spanish Dream was the fastest of four $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:54.4 triumph at Harrington Raceway Monday.

The Dream Away filly overpowered her rivals with a powerful move near three quarters as she won by open lengths over I Won Them Both and Cashmeres Delight. It was the second career win in four starts for the Jim King Jr.-trained Spanish Dream ($6.00, Victor Kirby).

Kirby dominated the DSBF events, winning three of the four, two for owner King and trainer King, Jr.

Joel and Dianne Halpern's Westwind Roddylee ($2.20, Victor Kirby) prevailed in the first division in 1:57.2 for trainer Jason Skinner. The Roddys Bags Again filly notched her third win in five career starts.

Jo Ann Looney-King's Logans Girl ($3.40, Kirby) was a 1:56.2 winner to complete a sweep of her eliminations for trainer Jim King Jr. A winner of 3-of-4 starts lifetime, she is sired by Roddys Bags Again.

Virginia Louthan's Spinpressive ($3.40, Corey Callahan) broke her maiden with a 1:57.1 victory in the third division. Trained by her owner, Spinpressive is a daughter of No Spin Zone.

The top eight point earners will return to compete in a $100,000 final on October 5, part of a Delaware showcase night which also features three other $100,000 DSBF final events, as well as $20,000 consolations.

In the $19,200 overnight feature, the Open Pace, Richard Lombardo and L&J Racing's Dancin Yankee ($6, Russell Foster) scored a 1:51.4 victory for trainer Josh Green.

Kirby had four wins on the program, while Corey Callahan had a hat trick. Jon Roberts and Tony Morgan each had a driving double. Trainer Mike Hall also won two races.

(Harrington Raceway)
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and this Friday (September 30) Mohawk Racetrack will host the inaugural Drive with Us for Evans Legacy fundraiser.

Evan Leversage became well known last October after his hometown of St. George, Ontario presented the seven-year-old with an early-Christmas parade. Evan had been batting an inoperable brain tumour for five years and had wishes to see another Christmas.

Unfortunately, Evan did not make it to Christmas and passed away in early December.

Evans mother, Nicole Wellwood, and family launched Evans Legacy, a foundation to raise money for research into childhood cancers and brain tumours. All proceeds raised by Evans Legacy benefit the Pediatric Brain Cancer Impact Grant at Toronto SickKids.

In an effort to raise funds for the foundation, Mohawk Racetrack will host Drive with Us for Evans Legacy on Friday evening (September 30). The night will feature sulky rides on the racetrack, a race in memory of Evan and raffle prizes.

The raffle prizes include Toronto Raptors tickets  donated by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association  a flat-screen TV and other great items.

Many WEG drivers will be donating a portion of their earnings from Fridays card to Evans Legacy. The following drivers have confirmed a donation:

Trevor Henry

Phil Hudon

Steve Condren

Doug McNair

Paul MacDonell

Mike Saftic

Sylvain Filion

Jonathan Drury

James MacDonald

Rick Zeron

Raffle tickets can be purchased throughout the week at the program desk or in the race office. Tickets will be sold on Friday evening at the Evans Legacy booth inside the grandstand.

For more information or to donate to Evans Legacy, click here.

(WEG)
Florida Abolitionists Petition to Outlaw Abortion as 1st-Degree Murder

Contact: Contact: Bonnie Coffey, Abolish Abortion Florida , 540-627-5433TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 / Standard 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
 Reuters A piece of the wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 near the village of Petropavlivka in Donetsk region.

An international criminal investigation into the shooting down of flight MH17 is likely to conclude that the plane was downed by a Buk missile fired from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, diplomats say.

The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been gathering evidence for a possible criminal trial and is due to present its findings on Wednesday. Dutch police and prosecutors have been working with judicial colleagues from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine.

The report follows an earlier inquiry by the Dutch Safety Board. It concluded a missile fired by a sophisticated Buk surface-to-air system struck the Malaysian airlines aircraft as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It exploded next to the cockpit. All 298 people on board were killed. Flight map

According to diplomatic sources, international investigators will give a precise Google location showing that the Buk was located in separatist-controlled territory, near the village of Snizhne.

The JIT has been working on the scenario that the Buk came from the Kremlins 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk . It was smuggled across the Russian-Ukrainian border in July 2014 and spotted leaving rebel-held Donetsk on a low-loader, heading east.

After arriving in Snizhne on the afternoon of 17 July, the Buk was offloaded and driven to a field south of town, investigators believe. It shot down MH17 in error, believing it to be a Ukrainian army transport plane. The Buk was smuggled back across the Russian border early the next day. Buk graphic

There is a wide presumption in diplomatic circles that this report will point to the involvement of pro-Russian rebels or Russia, Robert van de Roer , a Dutch diplomatic expert and commentator said. It will cause high waves.

According to Van de Roer, investigators have not been able to identify the guy who pushed the button on the Buk missile. They do know the names of about 20 Russian servicemen from the 53rd brigade in Kursk who could form a broad circle of suspects, he said.

The names came from the British-led online investigation team Bellingcat . Im told by experts you need at least three or four men to handle a Buk, Van de Roer added.

Van de Roer said he was pessimistic that Russias president, Vladimir Putin, would cooperate with the tribunal or hand over possible suspects to the Hague for trial. He also described the Dutch governments approach as bureaucratic and legalistic.

My fear is that this will end up as a kind of Lockerbie, he said, adding that in the case of the 1988 Pan Am bombing it was never known if Abdelbaset al-Megrahi  convicted in 2001  was the only perpetrator.




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It's Election season and our editor's mailbox is overflowing. Who do your neighbors support? Read about it here.
...the view from the sidewalks of Minneapolis and Saint Paul...
Testimony in the second murder trial of Sergey Fedoruks resumes Tuesday.

Fedoruk, 43, of Kelso is charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 1, 2011, death of his brother-in-law, Serhiy Ischenko, 48, of Kelso. Ischenko died of multiple blunt-force traumatic injuries, according to the coroner.

Fedoruk was convicted of murder in 2012, but the state Court of Appeals ordered a new trial in 2014, finding that the first trial was tainted by prosecutorial misconduct and an inadequate defense. The Appeals Court argued that Fedoruks attorneys should have considered presenting an insanity defense sooner than it did. His second trial began last week.

Fedoruk has a long documented history of mental illness, including diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. He admitted to psychologists that he killed Ishchenko during a fight at their house.

Central to the trial is the question of whether Fedoruk was legally insane when he killed Ischenko. To be considered legally insane, an accused individual has to have a severe mental disease or defect that makes him 1) unable to understand the nature (i.e., what he was doing) and quality (i.e., the consequences) of the act, or 2) makes him unable to understand the wrongfulness of the act.

State psychologists Ray Hendrickson and Janene Dorio wrote in a March 2016 report that they believed Fedoruk was not insane when he killed Ischenko because he understood the nature and quality of his actions.

Defense psychologist Kenneth Muscatel wrote in his July 2016 report that while it seemed Fedoruk understood the nature and quality of his actions, it wasnt clear whether he appreciated at the time that he was actually beating (Ischenko) to death.

The state is represented by Pacific County Deputy Prosecutor Don Richter because Cowlitz County Prosecutor Ryan Jurvakainen participated in Fedoruks defense in his first trial. Fedoruk is represented by Cowlitz County public defenders Thad Scudder and Patricia Fassett.

The trial was scheduled for three weeks but is expected to end this week. Testimony will largely come from law enforcement and mental health experts.
In the wake of the oil train derailment in the Columbia River Gorge, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler is pressing the U.S. Department of Transportation study ways to reduce fire and explosion risks during oil train derailments.

Herrera Beutler sent a letter to the U.S. Department Transportation this month encouraging the agency to consider breaking up long strings of oil tank cars with other cars containing non-volatile products.

Currently, oil trains are traveling along the Columbia River Gorge, and my focus is on ensuring federal regulations are making these shipments as safely as possible, Herrera Beutler (R-Camas) said n a press release Monday. Long lines of oil cars are becoming a more familiar sight in our region, and if breaking them up into smaller blocks will better protect our citizens, the Columbia River and nearby forests, we should put a federal standard in place  quickly.

In her letter, Herrera Beutler asked for more information about whether the agency has studied whether interspersing non-volatile products within the long lines of oil trains could reduce combustion risks. She also asked if the agency had studied reduced train speeds on risks of explosions.

The Department of Transportation last year lowered the speed limit for cars carrying hazardous materials to 40 mph through urban areas. The agency also introduced a new tank car standard for oil and ethanol cars and mandated the use of electronically-controlled brakes, among other safety upgrades.

The stricter rules came amid pressure from lawmakers after a string of derailments, spills and explosions across the country occurred in recent years, The New York Times reported.

By 2018, the oldest and most vulnerable tank cars must be replaced by cars with thicker walls, better fire protection and stronger safety shields. A later generation of tanks, built since 2001, will have to be retrofitted or replaced by 2020.

Gus Melonas, a Seattle-based spokesman for BNSF Railway, declined to comment on Herrera Beutlers letter specifically. However, he noted that BNSF has invested $500 million into track safety upgrades in the last three years across Washington state.

Melonas said Monday that tracks through the Longview corridor are inspected daily for safety.

Oil tank cars passing through Vancouver corridor do not exceed 20 mph, he said, although numbers for the Longview area were not immediately available.

We have system in place that is the most safe  through our engineering departments, our operations department, and working with the federal government. Were inspecting these lines every day to ensure these trains are moving safe, Melonas said.
A grandfathers missing grave marker has been found after someone turned the bronze plaque into the Longview Police Department and shared on social media Sunday.

The plaque had apparently been stolen from a funeral home and had not yet been placed on the grave of Bernard K. Bybee of Toutle. Bybee died March 26 at the age of 90.

His ashes have yet to be placed alongside his wifes at the Silver Lake Cemetery, according to the cemetery district.

Kirt Poole of Longview was working an early morning shift at Community House Sunday when he found the plaque in an alley by the building. He turned it into police and posted about it on Facebook shortly after 1 a.m.

Bybees grandson Gabe Kniffen said Monday that he was unaware the plaque was missing until he received a text message from his cousin who heard about it through the Facebook thread.

Im really curious how it got there. Mostly Im happy we got it back, and Im really grateful to Kirt Poole and the other folks on the thread who tracked down my cousins, Jennifer and Steve, said Kniffen, who now lives in Maryland.

The plaque has been wrapped up and sent to Columbia Funeral Service in Longview, said Cindy Lopez Werth, community service officer for Longview police.

The funeral home is only a block away from Community House off of 11th Avenue.

Norman Nisbet, Columbia Funeral Service co-owner and director, said he suspects the plaque was stolen from the funeral homes garage sometime after Friday. Nisbet said the plaque had just arrived in the mail after it was ordered in August.

The marker designates Bybees service in the U.S. Army during World War II. The 2-foot long marker is only about a half inch thick, and is typically embedded in a concrete slab over a grave, said Steve Smith, commissioner for Cowlitz County Cemetery District 3, which oversees the Silver Lake Cemetery.

Family members were grateful to have the marker to honor the war veteran and grandfather.

We miss him dearly, but he lived a long, happy life. We should all be so lucky, Kniffen said.
There have been many instances in the history of human civilization where the governments of different countries have taken drastic measures to counter the adverse effects of global warming. The role of industries and the influences of government legislations on their activities could be used in the context of protecting the earth from the harsh effects of global warming.

India, as ranked third among the countries producing greenhouse gasses and this fact can be attributed to the large population and the overwhelming increase in a number of industrial establishments. The predicted population growth rate and the under-developed industrials sector in India are indicative of the fact that the future contributions of the nation in terms of greenhouse gasses would be not far away from occupying the topmost position.

To manage the mounting effects of global warming on the environment, the Indian Government has taken a step forward by signing the pact of Paris climate COP21 convention which will be embraced on second October. Modi while addressing to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) gathering in Kozhikode, Kerala said that the time has come to give your support to the COP21 convention for restraining the mounting impact of global warming and pollution. And on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, India will start working on this project.

On Sunday, Indian Government is slated to approve the Paris Climate Agreement. As of now, India is positioned as the worlds third-biggest country to produce greenhouse gasses, and this settlement will be a noble attempt to bring improvements in the conditions. This deal with Paris will make India abide by the global warming rules for the next four years. As reported by the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, this historic move of India will drive it closer to the reality of climate change. In New Delhi, Indian Government officials will ratify the terms and conditions of the deal and submit the paper to the United Nations on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi.

For this glorious step, Indian Government has bagged numerous appreciations from each corner of the country, stating that it will be a golden step towards a pollution-free and safe environment. Sierra Club, a leading environmental organization, praised this move of Indian Government by greeting it as great news. An officer of the organization said that Paris climate change pact would build impetus for receiving enough endorsement for the agreement to come into force early.

The external Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj said in the General Assembly, New Delhi by saying that  to play a leading role in combating climate change and said it would present the approval document on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

On eighth November 2016, in the congregation of 196 nations at Morocco, Indian Government will formally begin taking a shot at these guidelines, directions, and resolutions of Paris Climate Change Deal.
New technological advancements are happening each day which on the other hand is making all of us new inventions and encroachments in every sector, especially in space research and testing area. As per the previous reports, SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk  the South African-born and Canadian-American business magnate are working on creating cities in Red Planet Mars and since then buzzes are kept on overwhelming the space research agencies all over the world.

This time, under his observations, first firing test of the SpaceXs Raptor engine has been accomplished successfully. The company believes that the powerful propulsion system could be use to take humans to Mars. Last night, Musk tweeted pictures of the tests, sharing one image that showed a steady stream of flame emanating from the engine, and another showing Mach diamonds  patterns formed in the exhaust plumes of supersonic craft.

Confirming production goals and chamber pressure, Elon tweeted, Production Raptor goal is specific impulse of 382 seconds and thrust of 3 MN (~310 metric tons) at 300 bar.

Chamber pressure is almost 3X Merlin, so engine is about the same size for a given area ratio  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2016

SpaceX propulsion just achieved first firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine pic.twitter.com/vRleyJvBkx  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2016

Previously, Musk has stated that Raptor engines will deliver about 500K pounds of liftoff thrust, which is equivalent to the Space Shuttles main engines, by using liquid methane rather than kerosene. Earlier this year, the full-scale Raptor engines first received at SpaceXs testing facility in McGregor, Texas, however, the technology want known to lot of people, including how many will be used to launch SpaceXs interplanetary spacecraft.

Besides this, rumors seem to be true as Elon Musk is going to represent his ideas for establishing a city on Mars within a decade.

As per the source, Elon Musk has reportedly described the scheme of creating colonies in Mars at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. The official source said that he is expected to present a detailed statement on the system titled as Mars Colonial Transporter, alongside a new gigantic rocket and spacecraft that is reported to have the capacity of transporting 100 people to the Red Planet.

To this context, it seems that the dream of witnessing a society on Mars is soon going to be genuine and if the project of Elon Musks colonization works correctly, then it will create a new milestone for space researchers and organizations all over the world. According to the scheduled program for the esteemed International Astronautical Congress (IAC) which is slated to start in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday, Elon Musk will represent his words on Making Humans an Interplanetary Species.

Speaking of the schedule of Elon Musk, the IAC said Elon Musk will discuss the long-term technical challenges that need to be solved to support the creation of a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars. The technical presentation will focus on potential architectures for colonising the Red Planet that industry, government, and the scientific community can collaborate on in the years ahead.

Elon Musk has always been choral for stating his ambitious project of colonising the Red Planet. He also found to call this project often as the safeguard of the existence of humanity. And after going through so many buzzes and headlines, finally, he is going to unveil the project details of Mars Colonising Scheme. In the detailed statement, SpaceX CEO will provide the details on how his company has planned to create the human society in Red Planet, where the sources of life are still mysterious.

In the IAC, Musk will talk about the perspective of colonisation Mars and his designed systems on which both the government and private sector will collaborate in the upcoming years. As per the planning of Musk, his project is intended on settling Mars with human society within a decade. Apart from this project, he also has developed a rocket which will be employed from transporting 100 people at a time from Earth to Mars. May the ideas of Musk seem to be fanatical, but the potential and perspective of creating a society in Mars is no doubt an innovative step toward digitalising other planets.
hidden

Walt Disney and Microsoft has joined a list of potential suitors for Twitter, according to media reports on Monday. Twitter shares were marginally down at $23.33 in after-market trading.

The microblogging service has reportedly started talks with a number of technology companies to sell itself, including Google parent Alphabet and may receive a formal bid soon. A source told Reuters that Salesforce.com is also in pursuit.

Salesforce is working with Bank of America on a potential bid, a Bloomberg report on Monday said. Walt Disney is also working with a financial adviser to evaluate a possible bid for Twitter, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Jack Dorsey, who returned to Twitter as chief executive more than a year ago, has been a part of Disney's board since 2013. Microsoft is also among the list of potential suitors, although Facebook is not likely to have an interest in the social network, CNBC said, citing sources, following the Bloomberg report.

A sale could occur in the next 30 to 45 days, CNBC reported. "At this moment, Microsoft has nothing to share," said a spokeswoman for the company.

Facebook declined to comment on the matter while Twitter and Disney were not available for comment.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

The one thing that weve learned from this years US presidential elections, its the fact that Silicon Valley doesnt want to see Trump in office.

In terms of funding, Hillary Clintons collections have already outstripped Trumps by a factor of 2. More telling is the fact that Clinton has 20 times the funding from Silicon Valley-based investors than Trump.

To be clear, Clinton isnt necessarily the favoured candidate as far as Silicon Valley is concerned. Looking at reports and stats, its quite evident that there more people are anti-trump than pro-Hillary.

Pro-Hillary

Dustin Moskovitz: This man is the co-founder of Facebook and together with his wife, the couple has donated in excess of $20 million to Clintons campaign. In a blog post on Medium, Moskovitz states that his wife and himself were trying to figure out how to do the most good we can with the resources weve been given.

He goes on to state that they consider themselves to be independent thinkers, capable of appreciating the ideas and vision of both parties involved in a presidential election. When Trump came into the picture, however, they felt compelled to act in the face of this presidential races polarising influence on the country.

It has become a referendum on who we want to be  as individuals, as a nation and as a society, he says.

Meg Whitman: She is at heart a republican, or was, till Trump came around. Meg Whitman is CEO of HP and a regularly raises funds for Republican nominees. This time its very different, however. Calling Trump a demagogue and a threat to American democracy, Whitman says that shes voting for Hillary and will do her best to convince like-minded Republicans to do the same.

Meg Whitman has donated at least $150,000 to various pro-Hillary and anti-Trump campaigns. She has also raised a lot more for Hillary via fundraisers.

Marc Benioff: Stating that Hillary Clinton is by far the most qualified candidate to lead our country in these challenging times, the founder of SalesForce clearly defines his position on the current US presidential race.

Benioff and his wife have donated around $100,000 to Hillarys campaign so far.

There are a number of other supporters for Hillary Clinton, including Elon Musk, Chris Sakka and Sheryl Sandberg.

Anti-Trump

While Clintons campaign does seem to have a lot of support, the anti-Trump group is also quite prominent. This groups members might even outnumber the pro-Hillary crowd.

Tim Cook: Apple CEO Tim Cook held a fundraiser for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. He did this as a private citizen rather than as a representative of Apple. Please note that Tim Cook also held a fundraiser for Republican candidate Bernie Sanders. Trump has pointedly been excluded from these fundraisers.

A number of Apple employees have reportedly raised over $150,000 for various presidential candidates including Clinton and Bernie Sanders, but none of it seems to have gone to Trump.

Steve Wozniak, Evan Williams and Pierre Omidyar: Apples co-founder, Twitters co-founder and eBays founder together with another 150 executives have penned a letter to Trump telling him exactly why they dont support him.

Calling Trumps potential presidency a disaster for innovation, they say that, "His vision stands against the open exchange of ideas, free movement of people, and productive engagement with the outside world that is critical to our economy  and that provide the foundation for innovation and growth."

Jeff Bezos: Amazons CEO and founder and owner of 140 year old Washington Post, Jeff Bezos is quite clear about his disdain for Trump. Trump did target Bezos in one of his rants, after all, accusing Bezos of monopolizing ecommerce.

Sundar Pichai: Googles current CEO also has a bone to pick with Trump, specifically going after Trump for his racist remarks. In a post on the Medium titled, Lets not let fear defeat our values, Pichai places the spotlight on the open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance of new Americans as the countrys greatest strength and most defining characteristic.

He calls Trumps rhetoric disheartening and intolerant. In the post, he goes on to describe the racially diverse employees at Google and the great contribution that they make to the company.

He concludes with, Lets not let fear defeat our values. We must support Muslim and other minority communities in the US and around the world.

Pro-Trump

As far as Donald Trump supporters are concerned, the only people who stand out are Peter Thiel, who hasn't directly donated any money to Trump's campaign, and Occulus' Palmer Luckey, who donated $10,000 to an anti-Hillary shitposting site.
Aditya Madanapalle

The trends are as follows. Globally, smartphone sales are slowing down because of reduction in demand. Fewer people are seeing the value proposition in upgrading their smartphones to a latest model. India is defying the global trend, because it is still an emerging market, and an increasing number of people are upgrading from a feature phone to a smartphone. There were multiple reports that high end smartphone sales were expected to grow in India.

More than 70 percent of smartphone users were expected to upgrade to premium models, as they got comfortable with the ecosystems and how to use it. Even a Chinese smartphone manufacturer known to make affordable smartphones, Xiaomi, went premium. An increasing number of companies participated in the Make in India initiative, and local manufacturing boosted sales of smartphones in India.

2016 was the year when finally, smartphone shipments were poised to overtake feature phone shipments. Towards the end of the year, the estimates for smartphone shipments had to be corrected. It has emerged that 2016 will not be the year that feature phone shipments will overtake smartphone shipments after all. Feature phone shipments will be more than fifty per cent of phone shipments this year, according to a report in the Economic Times.

There are many reasons for this. Feature phones are not really dumb. They can be used to access music, reply to e-mails, navigate using apps, browse the web for news, and take photos. WhatsApp is only going to withdraw support for Nokia S40 and Symbian phones at the end of the year. Feature phones are small and cheap. They have battery life that have weeks of standby time. They provide all critical mobile services.

Consuming multimedia content and smartphone gaming are some of the few advantages that smartphones have to offer over feature phones. There is also speed of operation, but the question is, is it worth it to spend tens of thousands of rupees on a smartphone when a feature phone does most of the critical things anyway. A high definition flat screen television can be purchased at the price of an iPhone. Of course, you cannot carry around the flat-screen in your pocket, but this is the comparison and question being asked right now.

Another major problem is that after buying a smartphone, there is very little for Indians to do on it. There is not a rich ecosystem of quality local applications, in regional languages. Telecom operators, original equipment manufacturers, the telecom regulatory authority Trai and industry bodies all agree that there is a lack of local content, for the local population. This gives very little reason for many users across India to own a smartphone. Let's get one thing, not everyone is comfortable with English as a first language. Sure, there are phones offering user interfaces in local languages, but it will take some time before that goes mainstream.

Those who do own a smartphone, don't know what to do with it. Trai has taken steps to aimed at increasing the penetration of smart services over cell phones in rural areas. The validity period of internet packages have been extended to a year, to allow users to completely consume all the bandwidth they had paid for. The problem was that the previous limit of the validity of such packs to 90 days meant that users would purchase data packs, and most of it would remain unused. This meant that the data that users had paid for would go wasted, and that in turn meant the services were not considered affordable, or even very useful. There is a wide spread perception that these smart devices and services offer very low utility to most of the population.

In fact, after Android, the most used smartphone OS in the market is the regional language based Indus OS. Indus OS has a higher market share than the operating systems from Apple or Microsoft. The company provides an operating system in Indian local languages, with smart translation and transliteration services. The usage of data on the Indus OS phones are also exceptionally high, with users expected to consume 1 GB every month as data tariff falls. The company hopes to attract ten crore users by 2018.

Feature phones are here to stay. There may be some corrections in the market, smartphones may overtake and dominate shipments in the next few years. However, there will always be a demand for low cost communication devices that provides all the essential services. These are good as back up phones, can be picked up in emergency situations such as theft or loss, are functional as second phones, and easy to operate for seniors, and most importantly, are cheap. They can be used to provide healthcare, education, e-governance and banking services to the under served. Intelligent voice assistants or chatbots can potentially be deployed on feature phones as well. The newly announced Nokia 216 even has the hundred year old 3.5mm audio jack.
tech2 News Staff

Lenovo has started its latest round of layoffs that is set to hurt Motorola employees, yet again. Lenovo had acquired Motorola back in 2014, and the new move is aimed at streamlining workforce after another sluggish quarter. However, it is said to impact two percent of the overall workforce, which is 55,000 employees globally.

The new number is pegged to be more than 50 percent of the remaining Moto workforce. According to DroidLife, over 700 out of the 1200 Motorola employees will be informed they've lost their jobs.

An official statement from Lenovo states:

Lenovo today announced a resource action impacting less than two percent of its approximately 55,000 employees globally. The majority of the positions being eliminated are part of the ongoing strategic integration between Lenovo and its Motorola smartphone business as the company further aligns its organisation and streamlines its product portfolio to best compete in the global smartphone market.

The company is also making adjustments in other areas of the business as part of a continued effort to manage costs, drive efficiency and support ongoing improvement in overall financial performance. While these actions are never easy, they are a necessary part of our continued efforts to ensure long-term, profitable growth across all of our businesses.

Lenovo is absolutely committed to Chicago and we plan to maintain our Motorola Mobility headquarters there. Chicago has a well-deserved reputation for technical excellence and as the hub of our global R&D for our smartphone business we expect to take advantage of local talent to continue developing Moto products there.

Many see it as the last step to merge Motorola completely into their own business. It was not too long ago that Motorola was renamed Moto by Lenovo. The move, as stated above, is also a change in its strategy to improve financial performance.

Meanwhile, AndroidPolice claims that Motorola has lost more than 95 percent of its employees in the last four years. It should be noted that Google acquired Motorola in 2012, and sold it to Lenovo in 2014.
tech2 News Staff

Salesforce has been the market leader in Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions. The company was the CRM solutions leader according to Gartner in 2014 and 2015. According to the report, Microsoft and Adobe stand on 4th and 5th place in the top 5 CRM software vendors. Microsoft is forging partnerships across the industry to gain its foothold in the CRM industry.

The company recently bagged HP Software CRM deal where HP will move away from Salesforce and Oracle products to Microsoft Dynamics CRM for next six years as reported by Fortune. According to the deal, HP will roll out Dynamics to 6,500 sales and 20,000 support staff. Following the deal with HP software, Microsoft has tied up with Adobe to sell each other's products to mutual customers. According to the deal, Adobe will bring Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Marketing Cloud and Adobe Document Cloud to Microsoft Azure and in turn Microsoft will make Adobe Marketing Cloud as the preferred marketing service for Dynamics 365 product as reported by BusinessInsider.

This is a tremendous effort by the company to battle Salesforce with the combination of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Adobe Marketing Cloud against Salesforce Sales Cloud product and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. This partnership works for Adobe and Microsoft as both the companies are complementing each other with the lack of sales software for Adobe and lack of marketing software for Microsoft.

Salesforce and Microsoft have been on good terms overall, but they have been competing for a long time. Microsoft reportedly outbid Salesforce during its LinkedIn acquisition as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Salesforce has been working its way across the industry, planning to increase its portfolio with recent talks about planning to acquire Twitter.

In addition to the plans for acquiring Twitter, the company is trying to make its way into Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered platform with announcement of Einstein, similar to AI powered platform, Cortana, offered by the company. This announcement came as a follow-up to the acquisition of MinHash, a start-up focused at creating AI-driven marketing asistant last year and a direct competition to Cortana Intelligence Suite introduced last year.

Salesforce acquired Quip, an online word processing service last month in its bid to improve the AI platform before the announcement of Einstein, a platform that would work across its cloud suite and form research groups. Microsoft sensed the competition and had announced the integration of its AI-powered assistant across Dynamics 365 CRM and Office 365 as reported by TechCrunch.
tech2 News Staff

Google is celebrating its eighteenth birthday with a birthday party themed Doodle. The letter G blows up a balloon, contorts it into the Google logo, then flies away, because apparently G breathes out a lighter than air gas.

The reach of the Doodle is global, except for the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which does not have any Doodles. Google was incorporated in 1998, but the roots of the company go back a little more than that.

The story goes back to 1995 in Stanford. Larry Page was considering joining Stanford, and Sergey Brin is assigned to show him around the school. They begin collaborating on a search engine called BackRub, which hogs all the traffic on the Stanford servers.

In 1997, Page and Brin register the Google.com domain name. In 1998, Sun co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim writes them a check of $ 1,000,000. This was when the first Google Doodle was created, when Page and Brin headed to the burning man festival in Nevada.

In September 1998, Google files for incorporation. Just a year after formation, the search engine gets a $25 million infusion from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkin. Over the course of the next few years, Google launched search in more languages, deployed AdWords and added image searches. Eric Schmidt joined as chairman of the board of directors and then became CEO. In 2004, Gmail was launched, on April 1.

Google's mission is to organise the world's information. As one of the largest technology companies in the world, Google has on offer many innovative technologies. These include Google Glass, which is still used by researchers and industry bodies even though it's no longer being sold to consumers.

Boeing has integrated Glass into its production line. Daydream is a development kit that allows easy creation of virtual reality content. TensorFlow is a machine learning framework used by Google for infusing its products with artificial intelligence that has been open-sourced and made available by Google.

Innovative projects such as the Loon hope to provide internet connectivity to the unserved areas around the world. Google seems to be on the verge of taking on Apple in the premium smartphone category with Google Pixel.
Naina Khedekar

Close on the heels of Yahoo and LinkedIn acquisitions, the buzz is around another high profile buyout. The speculations are rife that Twitter - the micro-blogging site struggling to generate revenue and increase active members - may soon be acquired. This acquisition may decide the future path for Twitter, but the question is - Who will it be?

Twitter has been around for a decade now, but hasn't been able to make money as a consumer product, so how possibly can it help benefit a corporate firm. For now, the company names doing the rounds are Salesforce, Google, Disney and even Microsoft. Let's take a look at how these companies could benefit.

Salesforce

Salesforce was one of top names when it came to LinkedIn acquisition. Now, the company is in news again as one of the bidders for Twitter. To begin with, Salesforce offers customer service support, market research tools, email marketing systems and likewise products that use social media. It was quick to make $6 billion annual revenue, apparently compared to any other enterprise software company.

Vala Afshar of Salesforce said on Twitter how the acquisition makes sense for Salesforce considering pointers like - personal learning network, best realtime, context rich news, democratising intelligence and how it's a place for promoting others. However, Afshar said this was his personal opinion and isn't hinting at any talks of acquisition.

Meanwhile, the news about Salesforce being in talks with Twitter has led to the former's shares take a dip. Though most of its customers are often interacting with service professionals through social media and could incorporate the data generated by Twitter in its software, there is no denying that the user growth has almost stalled.

Terry Tillman, analyst at Raymond James writes, "We implore management to not pursue a large dilutive acquisition such as this that could distract from maximizing what we see as a confluence of growth catalysts and mating and cash flow expansion opportunities." Tillman further calls it a bad science experiment that may go all wrong.

Google

Google (or rather Alphabet Inc) that turns 18 today has many a things to boast of, but not a social networking site. Yes, Orkut failed. Google Buzz failed. Then, Google Plus didn't really help it bounce back to the social space. Now, Twitter would help it enter the social networking space again, as we wrote during the Microsoft-LinkedIn acquisition. Moreover, Twitter isn't something that Google hasn't tried its hand at. For instance, Google Buzz that fell flat on its face was Twitter clone. Google had also released Wave a real-time communications platform, which seemed ahead of its time back in 2009.

Google seems rather a better fit for Twitter. It could possibly even work independently as a bet. It would be beneficial to the search engine and also give Google's AI some more power, while Google could support Twitter financially. The data can be better monetised if Twitter joins hands with Google.

Twitter and YouTube are also believed to be a great combination together by some. "The best synergy lies in uniting YouTubes sporadic video content with Twitters constant chatter. A strong integration into YouTube could increase the frequency of return visits to the channels of content creators by offering a one-stop-shop for fandom, encompassing off-the-cuff tweets and polished videos," writes Techcrunch.

As Google, that sits on a pile of cash, is anyway heavily investing in newer projects (Moonshot, Self-driving Cars, Healthcare), and Twitter could possibly be a better bet.

Disney

Disney jumping onto the acquisition bandwagon makes sense, considering the ESPN parent company has taken a full fledged jump into live streaming. With ABC and ABC News, its seems like a perfect place to promote, and engage people with news. However, it has a downside, as it will be owned by a single news platform, and its competitors might choose to opt for Facebook, who off late has been trying its best to become a real-time news source. On the other hand, the integration would have to be well planned so that it doesn't hurt subscription to the traditional ESPN. And, it should be taken under consideration that Twitter has been struggling to monetise.

Microsoft

Post LinkedIn acquisition, Microsoft is also believed to be in the race to acquire Twitter. We aren't really sure of how Microsoft could put the micro-blogging site to use, but there is speculation on integrating it with services like Skype and LinkedIn. The company has been working at cloud tech by integrating newer technologies. Twitter could possibly help with AI and probably implementing bots. Microsoft's already has the Bing Translator integrated within Twitter, and let's not forget its Twitter bot Tay.

None of these companies have confirmed to be talks with Twitter, which isn't surprising. However, we wonder who would be willing to pay the company a asking price of $30 billion, especially considering Twitter is still looking for its purpose and has been struggling for a decade now. Moreover, a move from consumer product to business product will be a big, uncertain leap for Twitter.
6 JMB activists held from WB, Assam

Staff Reporter :

Special Task Force of Kolkata Police have arrested six Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members, including four wanted in the 2014 Khagragarh blast case, from West Bengal and Assam in India.

"Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Visal Garg told the media in the West Bengal capital, reports IANS.

Of them, Maulana Yusuf Sheikh, Sahidul Islam and Abul Kalam are from India, while Anwar Hussain Farooq, Md. Rubel and Jahidul Islam are Bangladeshi citizens, the report said.

The arrests are significant since Farooq is the head of the outfit's of West Bengal unit, and Yusuf Sheikh is the second in command in the state. He is also the JMB's Chief Coordinator of the WB unit. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced reward on his head.

The four others -- Shahidul Islam, Mohammad Rubel, Abul Kalam and Jahidul Islam -- were wanted in connection with the Burdwan blast of Oct 2, 2014.

Yusuf and Shahidul were arrested from Natun Bazar of Bashirhat area of North 24 Parganas district on Sunday, while Farooq and Rubel were picked up from Bagda Road in Bangao of the same district, Garg said.

Kalam was held from Coochbehar of North Bengal on Sunday, while Jahidul was arrested from Cachhar district of Assam on Saturday.

"These people did not stay in West Bengal after Khagragarh blast. They left the state and moved to South India and Northeastern states. They were planning subversive activities in few South Indian states. We are trying to find out the details," Joint Commissioner Garg said.

The arrested JMB activists were running sleeper cells across the eastern and north-eastern states and were plotting an attack in the region, he said.

Forged ID papers, two kg white powdery substance, one laptop, mobile phones, detonator, wire cutters, batteries, Bangladeshi and Indian currency, letters written in Bengali, travel guide, books on chemicals and memory cards for camera were seized from them.

He said that Maulana Yusuf, Sahidul Islam, Abul Kalam and Jahidul Islam were wanted by the NIA in the Bardhaman blast case.

"Prima facie, it seems that the white powder is some kind of explosive. We will send it for forensic examination," said Garg.

According to him, Anwar is the head of the JMB unit in Bengladesh, Jahidul is the head of the organisation in the Northeast in India. Rubel and Kalam are trained in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

"We will produce them in the court and plead for police custody," said Garg.






Syed Shamsul Haq dies at 81

Versatile writer Syed Shamsul Haq passed away at a city hospital on Tuesday evening. He was 81.



Haq, who had long been fighting with deadly lung cancer, breathed his

last at United Hospital around 5:26, hospital sources said.



He left behind his wife Anwara Syed Haq, son Ditio Syed-Haq, daughter

Bidita Sadi and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.



On April 15, the writer went to London for treatment at Royal Marsden

Hospital, and returned home on September 2 as doctors there found no

hope for his cure of cancer.



On return home, he had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital.



Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

expressed profound shock at his demise.



In separate messages of condolence, they prayed for salvation of the

departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family

members.



Born on Dec 27, 1935 at Kurhigram, Haq has become one of the country`s leading poets and playwrights and earned the title of wield equal mastery over essays, novel, poetry, and plays.



Ha received the Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984

and Swadhinata Padal Award, in 2000 for his contributions to Bangla literature.



His literary works were included in the curricula of school, secondary, higher secondary and graduation levels Bengali literature in Bangladesh. - Dhaka, Sept 27 (UNB)
News in brief

Colombia, FARC rebels sign peace deal

AFP, Cartagena

Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force signed a historic peace accord with the government Monday and apologized to the countless victims of the country's half-century civil war.

In an emotional open-air ceremony, President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the communist rebels into the political sphere after signing the accord with FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez.



EU presses ahead with military plans

AP, Brussels

European Union nations pressed ahead Tuesday with plans to boost military cooperation as Britain vowed to oppose the creation of an EU army or headquarters.

With Britain leaving the EU, France and Germany have been spearheading moves to boost Europe's capacity to run its own security operations.

Britain insists the NATO military alliance is the only forum for European security, and London has routinely blocked deeper EU cooperation in the past.



Turkey dismisses 87 National Intelligence Agency members

Reuters, Istanbul

Turkish authorities have dismissed 87 members of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), state-run Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, on suspected links with the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed by Ankara of organizing a failed coup in July.

Criminal complaints have been filed against 52 of the 87 expelled from public service. A total of 141 MIT personnel had been suspended following the abortive putsch of July 15 and investigations on 100 of them have now been completed, Anadolu said.



13 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack

AP, Kabul

An Afghan official says that at least 13 Afghan army soldiers were killed when a group of Taliban militants attacked their checkpoint in northern Kunduz province.

Mahmod Danish, spokesman for the provincial governor in Kunduz, said Tuesday that 15 soldiers were at the checkpoint, two of whom had links to the insurgents and facilitated the attack.

He says the attack took place on the outskirts of Kunduz city after midnight Monday. He says two of the soldiers joined the insurgents in attacking their colleagues.




Dutch Trade, Dev Minister due today

UNB, Dhaka :

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen arrives here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to discuss cooperation on readymade garment industry for sustainable

sourcing and growth. The main focus of her visit will be to a conference on Sustainable Sourcing in the Garment Sector (SSGS) to be held in the city on Thursday, said an official. Commerce Minsiter Tofail Ahmed and Dutch Minister Ploumen will open the conference at a city hotel.

A combination of buyers, producers and independent experts will present practical solutions and new models for collaboration and costing at the conference.

The conference will mark the start of a multi-stakeholder approach towards improved social and environmental standards in the global textile sector.

Together with the private sector, associations such as the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and knowledge institutes in the Netherlands as well as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Netherlands wants to support the industry to grow in a responsible manner, said an official at the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka. The garment sector is the backbone of Bangladesh' exports, representing close to 80 percent of the overall export earnings. The conference will be organised in partnership with the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the BGMEA and it will show that sustainable sourcing makes sense and is good business for buyers and suppliers alike.

Minister Ploumen will focus on the 'Leave No One Behind Agenda', the need to put all efforts on reaching the poorest groups in the fight against poverty, starting now.

She will visit several projects that focus amongst others on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), including a visit to the IMAGE project: initiatives for married adolescent girls' empowerment.
Hillary on the top

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton waves after the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

CNN :

Hillary Clinton was deemed the winner of Monday night's debate by 62% of voters who tuned in to watch, while just 27% said they thought Donald Trump had the better night, according to a CNN/ORC Poll of voters who watched the debate.

That drubbing is similar to Mitt Romney's dominant performance over President Barack Obama in the first 2012 presidential debate.

Voters who watched said Clinton expressed her views more clearly than Trump and had a better understanding of the issues by a margin of more than 2-to-1. Clinton also was seen as having done a better job addressing concerns voters might have about her potential presidency by a 57% to 35% margin, and as the stronger leader by a 56% to 39% margin.

The gap was smaller on which candidate appeared more sincere and authentic, though still broke in Clinton's favor, with 53% saying she was more sincere vs. 40% who felt Trump did better on that score. Trump topped Clinton 56% to 33% as the debater who spent more time attacking their opponent.

Although the survey suggested debate watchers were more apt to describe themselves as Democrats than the overall pool of voters, even independents who watched deemed Clinton the winner, 54% vs. 33% who thought Trump did the best job in the debate.

And the survey suggests Clinton outperformed the expectations of those who watched. While pre-debate interviews indicated these watchers expected Clinton to win by a 26-point margin, that grew to 35 points in the post-debate survey.

About half in the poll say the debate did not have an effect on their voting plans, 47% said it didn't make a difference, but those who say they were moved by it tilted in Clinton's direction, 34% said the debate made them more apt to vote for

Clinton, 18% more likely to back Trump.

On the issues, voters who watched broadly say Clinton would do a better job handling foreign policy, 62% to 35%, and most think she would be the better candidate to handle terrorism, 54% to 43% who prefer Trump. But on the economy, the split is much closer, with 51% saying they favor Clinton's approach vs. 47% who prefer Trump. Most debate watchers came away from Monday's face-off with doubts about Trump's ability to handle the presidency. Overall, 55% say they didn't think Trump would be able to handle the job of president, 43% said they thought he would. Among political independents who watched the debate, it's a near-even split, 50% say he can handle it, 49% that he can't.

And voters who watched were more apt to see Trump's attacks on Clinton as unfair than they were to see her critiques that way. About two-thirds of debate viewers, 67%, said Clinton's critiques of Trump were fair, while just 51% said the same of Trump.

Assessments of Trump's attacks on Clinton were sharply split by gender, with 58% of men seeing them as fair compared with 44% of women who watched on Monday. There was almost no gender divide in perceptions of whether Clinton's attacks were fair.

The CNN/ORC post-debate poll includes interviews with 521 registered voters who watched the September 26 debate. Results among debate-watchers have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Respondents were originally interviewed as part of a September 23-25 telephone survey of a random sample of Americans, and indicated they planned to watch the debate and would be willing to be re-interviewed when it was over.
Guest teachers take classes

M M Jasim :

Students are being taught by the guest teachers in many government colleges across the country as teachers' crisis has become acute in those educational institutions, sources in the Ministry said.

At least 4,000 posts including principals, professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers are lying vacant for a long time in many government colleges.

The shortage of teachers is hampering the academic activities of the students. This crisis is more acute in government colleges located in rural areas or small towns, where, in many cases, the guest teachers are teaching students, the sources added.

A total of 221 government colleges have been facing serious difficulties since long time due to teachers' crisis, the Education Ministry and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) sources said.

DSHE sources said there were 329 government colleges, including four Alia Madrassa, and 14 teachers' training colleges in the country.

There are 16,141 posts in these colleges. Of them, 113 posts of principals, 229 of professors, 119 of associate professors, 339 of assistant professors and about 3,000 posts of lecturers are lying vacant.

The crisis of teachers is more serious in subjects

such as English, Marketing, Home Economics and Finance, as the recruitment of teachers for these fields have remained frozen since 2007, the sources said.

Of the 212 colleges, there are 5,073 students in Meherpur Government College. The posts of the teachers are 50 but the college has only 39 regular teachers.

A total of eight teachers are teaching in Laxmipur Government Mohila College against 2,000 students.

Biyanibazar Government College in Sylhet has only 32 working teachers against the approved 47 posts of teacher. The college has 8320 students.

In Rangamati Government Girls' College has only nine teachers against 15 approved posts. Bagerhat Government Girls' Colleges has 22 teachers whereas the approved post are 34. There are 5500 students in Narail Government Victoria College. Some 14 posts of teachers 14 are lying vacant for a long time in the college.

Acting Principal of Sherpur Govt College, Md Sarwan Jahan, said that his college had 55 teachers against approved posts of 64.

"We are facing serious teachers crisis as we have to teach about 12,000 students. We have also guest teachers to cover the crisis, but it is not enough because such teachers are not properly trained," he said.

Principal of Laxmipur Government Mohila College Professor Mizanur Rahman said, "The college has been facing teachers' crisis since 2014. The crisis intensifies everyday. We have submitted applications to the Education Ministry and DSHE for the required teachers. But they are yet to take any initiative to resolve the problem."

Principal of Nilphamari Govt Women's College, Abdul Gaffar, said, "We have 22 teachers against 32 posts."

"The students who have already passed their Masters' courses are now taking classes," he said.

Earlier at conference, the principals of the government colleges informed the Education Ministry about acute teachers' crisis.

On the other hand, the scenario in metropolitan Dhaka is completely different.

Sources said there were 224 teachers against 200 posts in Dhaka College, 198 teachers against 174 posts in Titumir College, 145 teaches against 117 posts in Govt Bangla College, 41 teachers against 23 posts in Govt Biggyan College.

The Director General of DSHE Professor S M Ohiduzzaman said, "The government is thinking to take special BCS examination to fulfil the vacant posts of the colleges. The number of education cadre may be increased in the future examinations. But it totally depends on Bangladesh Public Service Commission.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on several occasions said most of the teachers want to come to the colleges situated in Dhaka.




Syed Shamsul Haque no more

Staff Reporter :

Versatile writer and Poet Syed Shamsul Haque died on Tuesday at the age of 81 after long been fighting with deadly cancer at the United Hospital in the city.

He passed away at about 5:27pm at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of United Hospital in Gulshan area where he was undergoing treatment for lung cancer after returning from London.

Syed Haque left behind his wife Anwara Syed Haque, son Ditio Syed Haq, daughter Bidita Sadiq and a host of admirers and friends to mourn his death.

A pall of gloom descended on Gulshan area of the capital Dhaka after the news of his death at United Hospital. People of all strata expressed deep shock at the death of the poet.

The poet's body was taken to his Gulshan residence

from the hospital. Later the body has been kept at United Hospital mortuary.

Sagufa Anwar, Communication Manager, Public Relations Department of the hospital, said as the health condition of Syed Shamsul Haque deteriorated, he was shifted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of the hospital at about 12 noon on Monday and he breathed his last on Tuesday afternoon.

The hospital authorities informed that though the author was shifted to ICU, he had been breathing normally.

But the deadly disease cancer spread in many parts of the author's body including bones and liver, hospital sources said.

Syed Haque returned home on September 2 after four months of medical treatment at Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Earlier, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took all responsibilities regarding the poet's medical treatment.

At first, his body will be taken to Channel I office at Tejgaon at 10:00am from where, the body will be taken to Bangla Academy premises at 10:45 am.

The poet's body will be kept on the Central Shaheed Minar premises today (Wednesday) for the people from all walks of life to pay their last respects for him. The body will be kept there from 11apm to 2:00pm.

Later he will be flown to his village home of Kurigram district where he will be laid to eternal rest. He went to London on April 15 to treat his ailing lungs, where tests detected cancer. As doctors in London find no hope for cancer-stricken Syed Haque, he returned home from London after consulting doctors about his lung cancer. The octogenarian poet, author and playwright did not get any assurance of recovery. As the doctors made a disheartening announcement that the poet would live for another six months, he wanted to spend the rest of his days in his homeland. He won the Bangla Academy Award in 1966, Ekushey Padak in 1984 and Bangladesh's highest civilian honour, Independence Award, in 2000 for his outstanding contribution to Bangla literature.

His literary genius spreads across genres and he is known to wield equal mastery over essays, novel, poetry and plays.

Some of his best-known plays are considered milestones in the history of theatre in Bangladesh. He had always been vocal against the fundamentalist stream in Bangladesh. Some of his best-known plays are considered milestones in the history of theatre in Bangladesh. Syed Shamsul Haque was born in Kurigram on 27 December in 1935. His father was Syed Siddique Husain, a homeopathic physician. His mother was Halima Khatun.

His father came to Kurigram to pursue the practice of medicine. Traditionally they belonged to a Peer (Saint) family. But Haque's father broke with family tradition and pursued an English education and then took up medicine.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday have expressed profound shock at the death of Syed Shamsul Haque.

In a condolence message on Tuesday, the President said, "Syed Shamsul Haque is a bright star of Bengali literature. His undertaking in all sections of literature will make him immortal."

"His death is an irreparable loss to the Bengali literature. The strong writing of Syed Haque, a soldier of pro-liberation forces, will show path to the nation forever," said the President.

He prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of the litterateur and conveyed sympathy to members of the bereaved family.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now in Washington, received the news with profound bereavement, PM's Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim said.

Terming Haque as a conscience of the nation the Prime Minister said the country lost "a writer who was devoted to the truth while she personally lost one of her well-wishers at his death", the Press Secretary quoted her as saying.

"Syed Shamsul Haque has viewed Bangalee, Bangladesh and Bangabandhu as inseparable entities and through his powerful writings he showed the nation the dream of a secular country," the premier said.

Sheikh Hasina added: "Syed Haque's death is an irreparable loss of the national arena of literature and culture."

She said the Haque's literary works would always show the nation a right direction. The Prime Minister prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.




Victims of hate crimes

Four killed in six weeks: BD police express concern to US authority

Mohammad Abul Kalam

Sagar Biswas :

The Police Headquarters have conveyed "concern" to the United States law enforcement authorities over the recent killings of four Bangladeshi nationals in a span of only six weeks.

The Bangladeshi community staying in the US has categorically termed the incidents as "hate crimes".

In the latest incident, a Bangladeshi citizen Mohammad Abul Kalam, 55, was shot and killed in Los Angeles [Saturday midnight local time]. The victim, hailed from Batakandi village under Titas upazila of Comilla district, lived in USA with his wife and son and daughter.

"We've already expressed our deep concern to US police authorities over the recent killings. Bangladesh Police usually keeps a contact with US police through formal and informal channels. Our concern has been expressed through these

channels," Assistant Inspector General of Police [Confidential], Police Headquarters, Md Moniruzzaman told The New Nation on Tuesday.

Earlier in several cases, it was seen that US government had sent investigators, including FBI agents, after such types of incidents on American citizens in Bangladesh.

Elaborating shortcomings of Bangladesh Police, the AIG said: "We've no designated unit or official to deal with the international affairs [crimes] where our people are killed or get hurt. And unfortunately, we're not at that position [like US] to initiate a probe from our side But we very much need a unit to deal with these matters."

US media referring CCTV footage reported that Abul Kalam, who was in-charge of a liquor store, was closing up the shop when two masked gunmen, one male and another female, held him up at gunpoint and demanded money. And the gunmen shot him dead as he refused.

Local sources said that Abul Kalam was a Freedom Fighter and he had worked at BTV and the advertising agency Bitopi after the independence. He also resided in Japan for few years before moving to the US.

On August 14, a Muslim Imam of a mosque in New York City Maulana Akonjee, 55, and his associate Tara Uddin, 64, were killed in the Ozone Park neighbourhood of Queens. The victims were both wearing religious garb at the time of shooting. Akonjee was carrying more than $1,000 but the money was not taken, according to the New York Times.

One of the Imam's seven children Naima Akonjee, 28, told the media that her father did not "have any problems with anyone". But members of the Bangladeshi community said they want the shootings to be treated as a "hate crime".

Earlier on September 1, a Bangladeshi expatriate woman Nazma Khanam, 60, was stabbed to death about a bloc and a half away from her home in Queens, New York.

Significantly, the victim's family believed her death could have been a "hate crime" because she was wearing traditional Muslim clothing when she was stabbed, though the police did not categorized it as such, according to PIX11 News.

Apart from killings, there are several incidents of harassment in the USA and most of them were recorded with the police department.

A reference could be given here where a Bangladeshi man Mujibur Rahman, 43, on a Bronx Street was assaulted by two teenagers when he walked his nine-year-old niece from school on January 16.

The attackers were later arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment as a "hate crime", according to the US media.
Hannan Shah dies in S`pore

Body will be brought tonight, burial on Friday

Staff Reporter :

BNP standing committee member Brig. Gen. (retd) ASM Hannan Shah passed away at a hospital in Singapore on Tuesday morning. He was 77.

He breathed his last around 5.05am (Singapore time), said his personal assistant Shahjahan Siraj. He said, the veteran BNP leader died while undergoing treatment for cardiovascular diseases there.

Hannan Shah had been suffering from cardiac problem. He was shifted to Raffles Heart Centre in Singapore on September 11 from Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka where he was admitted after a heart attack on September 6 in a critical condition.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and a host of relatives,

friends, followers and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Hannan Shah's son Rezaul Hannan said his father's body is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:00pm today (Wednesday).

His mortal remains will be taken to his Mohakhali DOHS residence from the Airport. Later, it will be kept at CMH mortuary. It will be there overnight on Wednesday, Rezaul said.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, former President Dr. AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among others, have mourned his death.

The BNP declared four days mourning at the death of Hannan Shah. The party also opened a condolence book at its Nayapaltan party office. The first namaz-e-janaza of Hannan Shah was scheduled to be held at a mosque in Singapore after Esha prayers on Tuesday, said BNP Chairperson's media wing member Shamsuddin Didar.

His second janaza will be held at Mohakhali DOHS mosque at about 10:00am on Thursday, while the third one at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad around 11:00am and the fourth one in front of BNP's Nayapaltan central office after Zohr prayers.

Hannan Shah's body will be taken to Gazipur on Friday where his three Janazas -- one at Joydebpur Rajbari ground at 9:00am, another at Kapasia Pilot High Scholl ground around 10:00am and the last one at Gram Chala Bazar High Scholl ground after Jumaa prayers -- will be held. Later he will be buried at his family graveyard in Kapasia.

Hearing the news of his demise, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir visited Hannan Shah's residence around 9:00am and consoled members of the bereaved family.

Hannan Shah was born in Kapasia's Ghagtia in 1939. His father Fakir Abdul Mannan was a Minister of the then Pakistan government from 1965-68. Hannan Shah was commissioned in Bangladesh Army in 1962 and retired in 1981 as a Brigadier General.

He joined the BNP in 1983 and was made joint convener of Dhaka city unit BNP. He was inducted into the Cabinet when BNP came to power in 1991. He came to spotlight in 2007 after 1/11 political changeover by taking strong position in favour of BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia to prevent the party's split by a group of the party's reformist leader.

Hanan Shah was made party standing committee member in its Fifth Council in 2009 and in its sixth council this year as well.

He had been elected Member of Parliament twice from Gazipur-4 Constituency.
Two held with 9 pistols at HSIA

Customs Official recovered nine pistols from two Bangladesh-origin German citizens at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter :

Two Bangladesh-origin German citizens were detained with nine pistols at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on Tuesday.

The arrested persons have been identified as Anisul Islam and Monir Ben Ali, RAB official said.

A joint team of Rapid Action Battalion and Customs Department in a drive detained Monir soon after his landing from an Emirates Airlines flight around 10:00am, said Assistant

Director of RAB Media and Legal Wing Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan. Law enforcers later picked up Anisul from the Green Channel area as per Monir's information, the RAB official said. Customs Officials found the firearms in a carton when they frisked Anisul and Manir after their arrival, said Sohel Rahman, Joint Commissioner of the Customs.

When the detainees claimed those objects as toys, Customs Officials called the expertise of Rapid Action Battalion and confirmed they were guns, he said.

"We will send these firearms to Criminal Investigation Department for ballistic tests and till the reports come, the detainees will be in our custody," he added.

Legal action will be taken against them if they found guilty, he further said.


If we lose this generation, we lose Syria

Al Jazeera News, Gaziantep, Turkey :

When 10-year-old Rahaf Alewi remembers Syria, she does not think about the bombs that drove her family from their Aleppo home.

She pictures their sunny village in the countryside, where figs and olives spilled off the trees. She remembers gazing up at an azure sky as she and her cousins strolled along the country paths, gathering fresh fruits and vegetables.

Today, Alewi is one of nearly three million Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Her family fled to Gaziantep about a year ago, after fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) stormed their village, where they had initially found shelter from the bombarded city.

"It's fine here, but it's not home," Alewi tells Al Jazeera from the bright courtyard of Gaziantep's Rainbow Centre, a grassroots organisation offering an alternative to schooling for dozens of Syrian children in the border city. "Nowhere is Syria." Millions of displaced Syrian children have been forced to quit school amid a protracted civil war that has left the country in ruins. In Turkey, which has grappled with a massive refugee influx over the past five years, more than half of Syrian refugee children are not receiving a formal education, according to Human Rights Watch.

Finding few alternatives, many of these children have taken jobs in factories or turned to the streets, selling tissues or gum to earn a meagre income. To Salim Abdul Ghani, who manages the volunteer-run Rainbow Centre, this is an unacceptable status quo. "The image of Syrian children in the streets, collecting garbage - it isn't correct. It reflects a wrong picture," Ghani told Al Jazeera. "Before the war, they were all in school; they were normal kids, just like all the other kids in the world.

"We need to save this generation," he added. "They are the ones who will rebuild Syria. If we lose this generation, we lose Syria." Launched just over a year ago, the Rainbow Centre celebrated another milestone this month, moving into a bigger facility composed of an activity room and an adjoining courtyard. Demand continues to grow, with more than 60 children now in the programme and 21 volunteers, Ghani said.

Focusing mostly on drawing, theatre and music, the centre also offers language training in Arabic and English. Each new child is evaluated by a psychologist to determine his or her mental state, with further support made available to those who need it.

"With the trauma of war, all of them were affected somehow, and being away from home and out of Syria is very difficult for them. There is a different language here, a different culture," Ghani said, noting that some children are extremely aggressive when they first arrive, while others exhibit symptoms such as stuttering or bed-wetting. "It takes a long time to work with them, to help them get through this," he said.

After separately fleeing Aleppo, Fatma Timbi, 12, and Isra al-Shihan, 11, both began working at a clothing factory in Gaziantep. Timbi still has vivid memories of what her family left behind. "Once we were sitting at home and the warplane was bombing the neighbourhood," she told Al Jazeera. "All the doors, all the windows, all the storefronts shattered  The building behind our house, all five floors were flattened to the ground."

At the clothing factory, Timbi and Shihan worked more than 10 hours a day, packing T-shirts and pants into bags for just 75 Turkish liras ($25) a week. The Rainbow Centre has given them an alternative and something to look forward to, Shihan said: "I come here every day. I love drawing."

These types of "safe spaces" are vital for children traumatised by war, said Rand Sukhaita, Turkey country director for the Basmeh and Zeitooneh relief and development organisation. She has personally seen the positive benefits of art and drama therapy, with children eventually opening up and learning to trust each other, she told Al Jazeera. "This kind of programme is important, but it's not enough," Sukhaita said. "We need to advocate for educational rights, to ensure more children can go to school. We need to work at many levels to help boost the economy." Back at the Rainbow Centre, Alewi shows off a pastel sketch of her village in Aleppo, featuring lush green trees and the bluest of blue skies. The drawing emanates tranquility - a sense of calm that continues to define the Syria of Alewi's dreams.

As Ghani, who himself fled war-torn Aleppo three years ago for Gaziantep, watches the children play, a smile warms his eyes.

Like Sukhaita, he has seen the changes that just a few months can bring. One boy who arrived fresh from ISIL-held territory earlier this year initially refused to speak, sitting alone and silent in the yellow-brick courtyard. Seven months later, he laughs and jokes easily with the other children.

Ghani acknowledges that the centre could do more if it received external funding, but in the meantime, the volunteers are happy to keep going with what they have. "Even if we never have more than this one room," he says, "we will keep doing it  If the children couldn't come here, they would go back to the streets."




When ban in force how illegally imported drones are arriving

THOUGH the import of drone is under ban at individual level attempts to make such import illegally increased significantly in the recent months raising concern to aviation safety and civil security. A report published in The New Nation on Monday said at least 65 drones, imported illegally were seized by the Customs Authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport during the last six months and the importers remained unidentified with false names and fake addresses. The ban on import of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) was imposed, as the authorities fear of its misuse at a time when militancy and fear of attack on security establishments capture the mind of law enforcement agencies all the more. However import remains permissible by government and non-government organizations and business firms with prior clearance from the concerned government agencies.

Drones were created initially for military operations. The USA is using it to hit hidden terrorist gangs and high value adversaries in countries fighting local warlords. Israel is using it from the air to eliminate political and military leaders in occupied Palestine in their homes or in running vehicles. A highly developed drone is a highly dangerous device that hits target in high precision that never allows a person to escape.

But it is also used in variety of other fields including monitoring power plants, disaster management, TV programmes shooting, news broadcast and capturing footage from sky. Such use of the device is highly supportive to execute activities smoothly but fear of subversive use of the device remains equally open that forced the authorities to put ban on its import at individual level. The unauthorized import of drones thus opens questions who are those persons imported these devices and the Customs Authorities at the Airport had to seize them as importers did not show up to release them.

The report that the seized drones were imported through false declarations using fake names and address of business firms appears more suspicious. Definitely there may be ill-motives behind such illegal import and it is important to find out the identity of those importers to make sure what purpose they wanted to serve by these drones. Why they did not seek permission and the fact that they did not take delivery of them at the Airport suggests that they have ill-motives.

The nation is passing an uneasy time. Frequent encounters of the law enforcers with militants call for utmost attention to deny them the possession of any such device to hit targets that may cause immense casualties. There is no scope for relaxation in security measures. We believe that the concerned authorities must go deeper into who made those imports instead of chasing innocent people on suspicious grounds.


Democracy does not come as charity: Appeal to PM is futile

Editorial Desk :

Awami League has retained power following paper exercise of an election in 2014 when its leaders also gave justification to it as the necessity of constitutional requirement. Election in the real sense was not necessary.

The former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed has appealed to the prime minister which sounds like a petition for charitable donation.

He praised the prime minister Sheikh Hasina for many good things she has done. By way of doing another good thing she should 'return democracy'.

What he obviously meant was to hold a free election. Because, what the prime minister has is not democracy so she cannot return what she does not have. Under both Awami League and BNP democracy eroded.

It is in the way of extinction because of the government's dependence on police power and its politics of development.

Democracy never comes as an act of kindness from anybody. Election, though the foundation on which democratic institutions of a democratic government are built, but election alone is not democracy. This is not understood and appreciated in our politics of personal gains and hereditary leadership.

After leadership was established in both the major political parties by way of inheritance on the backs of dead popular leaders, the political process and politics have lost their importance.

We have been experiencing the struggle for power using election only as peaceful means for change of power between the two parties. None of the political parties ran the government being respectful to the democratic institutions. Both Awami League and BNP practised the same politics of politicisation.

Journalists were encouraged not to work for free press but to become party activists. So the democratic institution of free press lost its importance and impact. The lawyers were made party activists so that they do not remain a force of the rule of law. The judges were also expected to be party loyals.

Thus without effective parliament, without independent press and without independent judiciary there cannot be any democracy. What we are left with is the structure of autocracy. So election is no guarantee for democracy.

In the present reality, the government in power is the real Election Commission. It is futile to waste time and talk how to make Election Commission powerful and independent.

There was no fully working democracy whether it was BNP in power or Awami League was in power. One can justifiably argue which was more oppressive than the other.

Awami League most certainly is using this time police power more freely as politics of socialism does everywhere. There is still some tolerance but overuse of police power is no guarantee that such tolerance will persist. The more unpopular the government will become the more vicious will become the police power. It is the logic of police power.

None of the political parties has built democracy, so we do not have a functioning democracy ready to be returned.

Awami League has changed the definition of democracy. The development politics is their democracy. Awami League is now a socialist party moving like before towards one party rule.

But BNP has not felt the necessity of political reform to make it a democratic party to earn the people's confidence as a genuine democratic party. Its leaders do not even talk or explain how it is going to uphold the cause of democracy by keeping everything the same as before. There is no democratic change in leadership to have the facade of a democratic party.

BNP leadership still thinks of coming to power in the same way as in the past by taking advantage of the unpopularity of Awami League government. This is no anxiousness fighting for democracy.

BNP is not a hope for democracy. So the question is whether the prime minister will be generous enough to Prof Emajuddin's kind appeal and be pleased to hand over power to BNP.

It is the weakness of BNP for not being a democratic opposition and incapable to assuring democracy. By remaining an undemocratic family affair as before if anything, BNP is hindering the cause of democracy.

It is true that Prof Emajuddin is not holding any position in BNP but he is surely a great sympathiser of BNP and believes in the cause of democracy. But as an eminent teacher of political science Prof Emajuddin will agree that democracy does not come as charity from anybody. We need a democratic political party to be sure of democracy. He should try to influence BNP to see the reality.

It is agreed that democracy will not be easy if the government does not have the will and courage to build democracy. Our anxiety lies here. Being outside power BNP cannot hope that the politics of the past that made it easy for it to come to power will return.

BNP seems unable to rethink and adapt to the new reality of politics to be an agent of change. The people are helpless without a meaningful opposition.

For the democratic Awami League to be the champion of socialist dictatorship bodes disaster for the country. Awami League is ceasing to be Awami League of the people and for the people.

We really do not see leadership for peaceful change.


The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
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.
Liu Qibao delivers a speech on the Belt and Road Initiative in Xi'an on Sept 26.[Photo by Zhang Yuan/China News Service]

Liu Qibao, the head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative, under the theme of "Shared Memory, Common Development", which opened in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Sept 26.

Your Excellencies Paroubek and Kolodko,

Distinguished guests,

Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this golden autumn, it is a great pleasure to meet friends from afar here in the ancient city Xi'an. Let me begin by expressing sincere gratitude to our guests at the seminar and our warm welcome to friends who have traveled all the way to China.

In the autumn of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the collaborative building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road when he visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia. This has been met with strong response from the international community and particularly from the countries along the Belt and Road. It has also triggered enthusiasm and interest among many countries to explore and participate in the initiative. In order to help people better understand the initiative and engage in the building of the Belt and Road, the State Council Information Office held international seminars on the Silk Road Economic Belt in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 2014, and on the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, in 2015. This year, we put the two topics into one seminar, hoping to provide a wider platform for exchange and discussion. Here today, to my great pleasure, I have the chance to meet many old friends and also get to know many new ones.

The theme of this seminarShared Memory, Common Developmentembodies our efforts in treasuring historical legacy, our best wishes to the common prosperity of countries along the routes, and acknowledgement of our responsibility to world peace and development. More than 300 guests from 35 countries are gathered here today. It is a great event for discussing the grand projects of the Belt and Road Initiative. I believe, through in-depth discussion and exchange of wisdom from all participants from various fields, we shall be able to reach a broad consensus and achieve a prosperous outcome.
Hurricane Update: Fears arise that Gov. Ron DeSantis may reroute Hurricane Ian from Florida coast to Martha's Vineyard

Study: People who define themselves by what they stand against, are usually afraid to tell people what they stand for

Liz Cheney: Voters need to ask themselves, why they are so out of touch with their politicians

White House: IRS toy guns for children are now politically correct, mandatory

BREAKING: Biden's economic sanctions on the U.S. to be partially lifted prior to November election

GOP's new slogan for midterms: Make Dissent Patriotic Again

PSA: Due to high gas prices police departments will now be responding and making arrests via Zoom.

NYT: Roe vs Wade to be renamed the "Don't Say Fetus" law

Democrats insist on carrying unwanted presidency to term

Elon Musk went to bed thinking he owns Twitter. Then the mail-in ballots arrived at 2am...

Obama: "If you like your information you can keep your information"

Fact checkers reveal Biden handler not a real Easter bunny

Biden 2021: you'll save $0.16 on 4th of July BBQ!

Biden 2022: you'll save a ton of $$ if you don't eat this 4th of July!

Disney to buy Epstein Island for new theme park

The Biology Underground is like the Weather Underground, except they are real biologists and they've had to go underground

"Psssst. Hey you, kid. Ya wanna watch a Disney movie with me?"

"I am not suicidal," says COVID-19 after being contracted by Hillary Clinton

Trans-swimmer Lia Thomas's trophy is smaller than for male swimmers, and only 73% gold

Sources: U.S. now considers majority of U.S. citizens a threat to U.S.

BREAKING: Russian General claims he was beaten up outside Ukrainian bio lab by two Nazis who poured vodka and caviar over him and yelled "This is NATO Country!"

Global warming news: 100,000 Russian migrants fleeing climate change about to march into Ukraine

Future headline: Donald Trump to buy CNN for one dollar

Georgia Governor Stacy Abrams feels honored to be the new Supreme Court justice

President Biden: 'Vote for me or I'll shoot this foot'

Fact checkers give Pinocchio's speech four Bidens

Fauci: The only thing we have to fear, is a lack of fear itself!

Study: Most people have had sex more violent than January 6th

Facebook permanently bans Facebook from Facebook for violating Facebook community standards

New remake of the 1950's horror movie Them to be titled Them/They

Teachers Union: Idea that CRT is being taught in K-12 just a conspiracy theory by white supremacists trying to maintain their systemically racist police state

Xze/She/He who controls the past controls the future; Xze/She/He who controls the present controls the past

S ocialists vow to fight against Critical Socialism Theory

A more perfect Soviet Union: the Party pretends it unites us, and we pretend we are united

Biden solves border crisis with free direct flights from Central America to major metropolitan areas

Critical race theory: destroy the world of systemic racism, build a world of systemic race-baiting

In the future everyone will get canceled for fifteen minutes

Biden proposes bill to spend two trillion dollars on more money printing factories

Social unity: They pretend to hold elections and we pretend we voted

Immigrants to Texas and Florida from New York and California break down and cry when they realize all their sacrifices for a better tomorrow were based on lies

China anal swabs detect new 'silent but deadly' transmission of covid-19 variant

Social science breakthrough: 'White' is the new way of saying 'Bourgeois'

Biden administration swat teams make sweeping arrests of underground female-only track meets

'Green energy' to be renamed 'blackout energy' for easier comprehension of climate complexities

New children's game: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Science







Texas: Biden administration sends emergency wind turbines to help fight the blackouts

BREAKING: Biden signs executive order canceling the number 45

ATTENTION: It is your duty to report anyone who says this is no longer a free country. Fact-checking commissars are monitoring all state-approved social media platforms for your convenience

OUT: If you don't vote, you can't complain!

IN: If you didn't vote Democrat, you can't complain!

Social media justice: followers removed from pro-Trump accounts will be added to Biden's Twitter account

Fact check: a democratic election is the one in which votes are counted until Democrats win

JUST IN: China bans Twitter for being too totalitarian

Pelosi introduces new House rule to replace 'gender' terms like mother, daughter, father, son with the word 'comrade'; the only acceptable pronoun will also be 'comrade'





Sources: Biden transition team demands access to White House basement to begin renovations

BREAKING: President Trump pardons America for its past

Prime Minister Modi: to avoid accusations of racism India will change its name to Cleveland

Biden creates Antifascist Librarian Justice Committee; the first book scheduled for burning is Fahrenheit 451

Media study: 148% of Americans believe voter fraud doesn't exist

2020 Election forecast: if Joe Biden emerges from the basement on Election Day and sees his shadow, expect four more years of Trump

BREAKING: President Trump pardons Corn Pop

Toobin, though on administrative leave, is still pulling for Biden

Chinese whistleblower: Biden-20 was genetically engineered in a Wuhan lab

Nancy Pelosi sponsors a bill to create the office of removal of the President

New college humanities major: Critical Trump Studies

Opinion: Joe Biden is just an idea

CNN: Biden took a solid second place in the debate, while Trump only came next to last

Having ordered that all Californians switch to electric cars by 2035, Gov. Gavin Newsom follows up by mandating them to have electricity by 2035

Election 2020: Joe Biden pledges to a peaceful post-election transfer of power to George Soros

Out: Flatten the curve. In: Flatten the country.

Breaking: the Democrat Party has finished transitioning from being the party of JFK to being the party of Lee Harvey Oswald

Paradigm shift in Chromatics: Study shows Indigo (#3F00FF) mixed with Jamaic (#C0FF01) yields Black (#000000)

Study: the trouble with wokeism is eventually you run out of victims

Stacey Abrams refuses to concede to Harris; declares herself Biden's VP

Election 2020: Spunky former presidential candidate wins VP slot by a head

Churches in many states to hold services in opened up pubs and bars

Election 2020: Xi Jinping still undecided on vice president for Joe Biden

Reports: Republicans pounce on 'Republicans pounce' reports

Minneapolis launches online looting app to combat Covid-19

DNC study finds lockdowns no longer necessary as the economy is now being destroyed more effectively by looters and rioters

With America in lockdown, China offers to host Democrat primary

Bernie Sanders tests negative for President

In related news, Joe Biden follows other candidates in withdrawing from race and endorsing Joe Biden

New York Governor Cuomo shuts down all 'non-essential' business, surprised to find himself out of a job

Biden commits to picking a woman as running mate as long as she passes his sniff test

Joe Biden's coronavirus prevention tips: always rub hand sanitizer on young girls before sniffing and fondling them

Russian lawmakers warned that the American Democrats are meddling to re-elect Putin

Joe Biden promises lucrative board member jobs as door prizes to get people to his rallies

Democrats now worried they might even lose the illegal alien vote

Soleimani's remains FedExed back to Iran and now no one knows what happened to the box

BREAKING: massive search underway in Iran after Soleimani's boxed FedEx'd remains stolen off front porch

Liz Warren harshly critical of Biden's suggestion to coal miners that they should learn to code, offers to have them trained as romance novelists instead

Pelosi: "First we have to impeach Donald Trump before we can find out why we impeached him."

Schiff calls his Amazon Alexa to testify: 'She knows absolutely everything'

Iran answers to new Reagan statue in Berlin by erecting Obama statue at Tehran airport where he delivered pallets of cash

California accepts award for most progressive environmental policies; further progressive developments to be announced as blackouts permit

BREAKING: Romney DNA test reveals he is 1/1024th Republican

California Governor Gavin Newsom blames electricity blackouts on Ukrainian kulaks, vows revenge

Rat falling from White House ceiling fears for his life, begs reporters for protection, offers a tell-all memoir

Latest UN climate report shows this month so far has seen the scariest climate pronouncements on record

Climate science: there's no need for climate protests in China because China is already communist

Islamic clerics split on whether Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should be traveling around the world without an accompanying male relative

Dem candidates call for the Beatles' song 'Get Back' and the 'White Album' to be banned; surviving two white guys of the group must pay reparations

Bond's number is up: next 007 will be a black woman, played by Barack Obama

NYT: moon landing was one small step for Man, one giant leap for White Male Supremacy

HURRICANE WATCH: Tropical storm Barry has records sealed, once offshore expected to change name to Barack

Trump politicizes the 4th of July, declares it henceforth to be called the 45th of July, or July the Trumpth

Barack Obama critical of Trump for failing to insert 'I, me, my' into his 4th of July speech: "very unpresidential!"

Congressional Democrats: John Dean's testimony proves Trump is Nixon in disguise and must be impeached

Bernie Sanders admits to being a millionaire, promises to eat himself if nominated

International Women's Day observed, women only paid 73% of attention afforded to men

Democrats: anti-Semitism means never having to say you're sorry

AOC: aborting babies helps preserve the planet for the next generation

Bernie Sanders launches presidential campaign, promises to "build a great big beautiful Iron Curtain" around America if elected

West Virginia renames itself Eastern Kentucky to avoid further embarrassment from Virginia

BREAKING: Justice Ginsburg released from hospital after breaking 3 ribs at late night bar brawl in Adams Morgan

DNA news: Senator Warren tanking in latest totem polls

Orwell studies: 84% of academics believe problems raised in 1984 can be fixed with solutions from Animal Farm

Progress in gender justice: online dating industry issues recommendations for men to wear body cameras, bring attorneys as chaperones

Study: the only people who don't know what socialism is are the socialists

Poll: 1 in 3 #FightFor15 activists believe movement is related to lowering the age of consent across America

CNN expert: Kavanaugh confirmation will increase global warming by 3 degrees

Harry Reid comes forth to say Judge Kavanaugh didn't pay any taxes in high school

Hollywood to America: If you've got a flag on the Moon, you didn't plant that; some other country made that happen

Protest march in straight jackets against Trump ends in chaos as participants try but fail to free themselves

HEADLINES YOU WILL NEVER SEE: California Gov. Jerry Brown single-handedly stops wildfires in his state by issuing an immediate statewide ban on wildfires

San Francisco closes all Planned Parenthood clinics after sting operation catches employees using plastic straws

Vegan mother undergoes experimental surgery to force her breasts to produce almond milk

With none of his emails answered, frustrated Nigerian man commits suicide and leaves $100bn fortune to charity

California gives new meaning to strawman argument as caped Strawman battles supervillains in restaurants, bars, and fast food joints

Violence increases in Mexico as cartels switch from smuggling drugs to plastic straws to San Francisco

Obama proposes a Paris Economic Change agreement among nations to address how world will cope with future runaway economic warming

Stormy Daniels plans border visit to give migrant children freebies

San Francisco: man dumping off 20 lbs of human waste in plastic bag on street corner cited for using non-biodegradable plastic bag

BREAKING: ICE renamed Planned Citizenship, immediately absolving it of all criticism

Senate Democrats demand Supreme Court nominee not be unduly influenced by U.S. Constitution

BREAKING: In 2018, Obama and Biden can finally celebrate Recovery Summer

IG Report: the FBI broke the law, but since there was no criminal intent, no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case

Pelosi on Trump's MS-13 "animals" comments: "Four legs good, two legs bad"

Iran nuclear talks set to resume between the United States and John Kerry

Report: The Mueller investigation has finally determined that the lyrics to Louie Louie are not about Trump and Russian collusion

MARKETS: Demand for carbon credits spikes as Hamas seeks to undo damage to Earth's atmosphere caused by burning 10,000 tires on Gaza border

BREAKING: After state reassignment surgery Pennsylvania will henceforth be known as Transylvania

Experts: If we don't act now, unicorns will be extinct in just ten years. Children will ask, "Mommy, what's a unicorn?" Women and minorities will be forced to seek alternative hallucinations

Korean war must continue: Hawaiian federal judge declares Trump's peace effort unconstitutional

New York: feminists march on Broadway, demand the street be given new, non-misogynistic name

Experts: California's planned transition of all state jobs from citizens to illegal aliens by 2020 will help to avoid bankruptcy and save money for social programs for illegal aliens

Putin: If I didn't want Hillary to be president she would be dead

Doritos maker PepsiCo to introduce snack line for women; new Doritas chips will be 77% as big as Doritos and won't make any scary 'crunchy noises'

TMZ: Tooth Fairy accused of sexually assaulting millions of children, outs self as Transgendered Tooth Recovery Specialist

RUSSIA COLLUSION: Trump offers Putin to trade Rep. Maxine Waters for two unnamed members of the State Duma

Ikea founder dead at 91; his coffin arrived in a box with confusing instructions and took 3 hours to assemble

This Thanksgiving ex-president Obama continues with his tradition of apologizing to turkeys everywhere for the injustice they suffered since America's founding

Oslo, Norway: 2017 Nobel Peace Prize goes to advocacy group about which you'll forget immediately after reading this headline

Cambridge, MA, library to replace racist 'Cat in the Hat' with inclusive 'Che in a Beret'

Millions of men worldwide eagerly await broadcast of Hugh Hefner's funeral, solely for the articles

Bill Gates offers to pay for Trump's wall on condition he gets to install Windows

Bernie Sanders introduces single-payer public transportation bill to end America's unequal, unfair, and expensive private transportation system

DNC embroiled in controversy after official Twitter account accidentally 'likes' pictures of US Constitution and Bill of Rights

Hurricane Irma hits Cuba, causes millions of dollars worth of improvements to property and infrastructure

Climate study: extreme weather may be caused by unlicensed witches casting wrong spells in well-meaning effort to destroy Trump

Ex-president Obama declares Irma "Hurricane of Peace," urges not to jump to conclusions and succumb to stormophobia

CNN: Trump reverses Obama's executive order banning hurricanes

ISIS claims responsibility for a total solar eclipse over the lands of American crusaders and nonbelievers

When asked if they could point to North Korea on a map many college students didn't know what a map was

CNN: We must bring America into the 21st century by replacing the 18th century Constitution with 19th century poetry

Pelosi: 'We have to impeach the president in order to find out what we impeached him for'

BREAKING: As of Saturday July 8, 2017, all of Earth's ecosystems have shut down as per Prince Charles's super scientific pronouncement made 96 months ago. Everything is dead. All is lost. Life on Earth is no more.

DNC to pick new election slogan out of four finalists: 'Give us more government or everyone dies,' 'Vote for Democrats or everyone dies,' 'Impeach Trump or everyone dies,' 'Stop the fearmongering or everyone dies'

Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power" is humanity's last chance to save the Earth before it ends five years ago

Experts: The more we embrace diversity the more everything is the same

BOMBSHELL: TMZ offers Kathy Griffin $5 mil to keep any future sex tape private

DEVELOPING: CNN, WaPo, NYT anonymous sources say Vladimir Putin may have ties to Russia

BREAKING: Manning and Snowden have come out with strong condemnation of Donald Trump leaking classified information to Russia

Gun store goes into lockdown over report an "active university professor" roving the grounds

Dozens injured at Ralph Lauren & Louis Vuitton headquarters after Ivanka calls in missile strikes on rival fashion houses

BOMBSHELL: Evidence proves Donald Trump conspired with his campaign to defeat Hillary Clinton

University ranked "very intolerant of free speech" fights the accusation by banning the study and all involved

Concerned that Russians don't consume enough alcohol in the month of March, Russia's Orthodox Church makes St. Patrick's Day official holiday

Grassroots group calls for "The Million Regulators March" on Washington, supported by all who fear the loss of their betters telling them what to do

Experts: Starbucks CEO Schultz's hiring of 10,000 Muslim refugees likely to blow up in his face

Will the groundprog be frightened by its own shadow and hide - or will there be another season of insane protests?

Trump signs executive order making California and New York national monuments; residents have two days to vacate

Women's March against fascism completed with 400,000 fewer deaths than anticipated

Feminist historians uncover ghastly concentration camps where so-called "housewives" were forced to live inauthentic lives slaving away in kitchens

Dictionary of the future: Global Warming was a popular computer simulation game, where the only way to win was not to play

"Anti-fascist" groups violently protest misspelling of their original name, "aren't-we-fascists"

Post-inauguration blues: millions of democrats distraught as the reality of having to find real jobs sets in

"Journalism is the continuation of war by other means" is exposed as a fake quote by mainstream media journalists

Congressional Democrats: "We cannot just simply replace Obamacare with freedom because then millions of Americans will suddenly become free"

Schoolchildren jailed for building only white snowmen

Obama's reckless attacks on Russia serve as recruitment tool to create more Russian hackers

Hillary: "I lost, so I'm going to follow our democratic traditions, poison the wells, and scorch the earth"

Children in Venezuela cook and eat their Christmas toys

Hillary: "I can hack Russia from my bathroom"

Hillary suggests to counter "fake news" with government newspaper called "Truth" ("Pravda" for Russian speakers)

BREAKING: Millions of uncounted votes found on Hillary's private voting machine in her Chappaqua bathroom

New York Times: Fidel Castro world's sexiest corpse

After years of trial and error, CIA finally succeeds with the "waiting it out" technique on Fidel Castro

Post-election shopping tip: look for the PoliticsFree label at your local grocer to make sure you don't buy from companies that don't want your business anymore

In Hillary's America, email server scrubs you

Obama transfers his Nobel Peace Prize to anti-Trump rioters

Democrats blame Hillary's criminal e-mail server for her loss, demand it face prison

Afraid of "dangerous" Trump presidency, protesters pre-emptively burn America down to the ground

Clinton Foundation in foreclosure as foreign donors demand refunds

Hillary Clinton blames YouTube video for unexpected and spontaneous voter uprising that prevented her inevitable move into the White House

Sudden rise in sea levels explained by disproportionately large tears shed by climate scientists in the aftermath of Trump's electoral victory

FBI director Comey delighted after receiving Nobel Prize for Speed Reading (650,000 emails in one week)

U.N. deploys troops to American college campuses in order to combat staggeringly low rape rates

Responding to Trump's surging poll numbers, Obama preemptively pardons himself for treason

Following hurricane Matthew's failure to devastate Florida, activists flock to the Sunshine State and destroy Trump signs manually

Tim Kaine takes credit for interrupting hurricane Matthew while debating weather in Florida

Study: Many non-voters still undecided on how they're not going to vote

The Evolution of Dissent: on November 8th the nation is to decide whether dissent will stop being racist and become sexist - or it will once again be patriotic as it was for 8 years under George W. Bush

Venezuela solves starvation problem by making it mandatory to buy food

Breaking: the Clinton Foundation set to investigate the FBI

Obama captures rare Pokemon while visiting Hiroshima

Movie news: 'The Big Friendly Giant Government' flops at box office; audiences say "It's creepy"

Barack Obama: "If I had a son, he'd look like Micah Johnson"

White House edits Orlando 911 transcript to say shooter pledged allegiance to NRA and Republican Party

President George Washington: 'Redcoats do not represent British Empire; King George promotes a distorted version of British colonialism'

Following Obama's 'Okie-Doke' speech, stock of Okie-Doke soars; NASDAQ: 'Obama best Okie-Doke salesman'

Weaponized baby formula threatens Planned Parenthood office; ACLU demands federal investigation of Gerber

Experts: melting Antarctic glacier could cause sale levels to rise up to 80% off select items by this weekend

Travel advisory: airlines now offering flights to front of TSA line

As Obama instructs his administration to get ready for presidential transition, Trump preemptively purchases 'T' keys for White House keyboards

John Kasich self-identifies as GOP primary winner, demands access to White House bathroom

Upcoming Trump/Kelly interview on FoxNews sponsored by 'Let's Make a Deal' and 'The Price is Right'

News from 2017: once the evacuation of Lena Dunham and 90% of other Hollywood celebrities to Canada is confirmed, Trump resigns from presidency: "My work here is done"

Non-presidential candidate Paul Ryan pledges not to run for president in new non-presidential non-ad campaign

Trump suggests creating 'Muslim database'; Obama symbolically protests by shredding White House guest logs beginning 2009

National Enquirer: John Kasich's real dad was the milkman, not mailman

National Enquirer: Bound delegates from Colorado, Wyoming found in Ted Cruzs basement

Iran breaks its pinky-swear promise not to support terrorism; US State Department vows rock-paper-scissors strategic response

Women across the country cheer as racist Democrat president on $20 bill is replaced by black pro-gun Republican

Federal Reserve solves budget crisis by writing itself a 20-trillion-dollar check

Widows, orphans claim responsibility for Brussels airport bombing

Che Guevara's son hopes Cuba's communism will rub off on US, proposes a long list of people the government should execute first

Susan Sarandon: "I don't vote with my vagina." Voters in line behind her still suspicious, use hand sanitizer

Campaign memo typo causes Hillary to court 'New Black Panties' vote

New Hampshire votes for socialist Sanders, changes state motto to "Live FOR Free or Die"

Martin O'Malley drops out of race after Iowa Caucus; nation shocked with revelation he has been running for president

Statisticians: one out of three Bernie Sanders supporters is just as dumb as the other two

Hillary campaign denies accusations of smoking-gun evidence in her emails, claims they contain only smoking-circumstantial-gun evidence

Obama stops short of firing US Congress upon realizing the difficulty of assembling another group of such tractable yes-men

In effort to contol wild passions for violent jihad, White House urges gun owners to keep their firearms covered in gun burkas

TV horror live: A Charlie Brown Christmas gets shot up on air by Mohammed cartoons

Democrats vow to burn the country down over Ted Cruz statement, 'The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats'

Russia's trend to sign bombs dropped on ISIS with "This is for Paris" found response in Obama administration's trend to sign American bombs with "Return to sender"

University researchers of cultural appropriation quit upon discovery that their research is appropriation from a culture that created universities

Archeologists discover remains of what Barack Obama has described as unprecedented, un-American, and not-who-we-are immigration screening process in Ellis Island

Mizzou protests lead to declaring entire state a "safe space," changing Missouri motto to "The don't show me state"

Green energy fact: if we put all green energy subsidies together in one-dollar bills and burn them, we could generate more electricity than has been produced by subsidized green energy

State officials improve chances of healthcare payouts by replacing ObamaCare with state lottery

NASA's new mission to search for racism, sexism, and economic inequality in deep space suffers from race, gender, and class power struggles over multibillion-dollar budget

College progress enforcement squads issue schematic humor charts so students know if a joke may be spontaneously laughed at or if regulations require other action

ISIS opens suicide hotline for US teens depressed by climate change and other progressive doomsday scenarios

Virginia county to close schools after teacher asks students to write 'death to America' in Arabic

'Wear hijab to school day' ends with spontaneous female circumcision and stoning of a classmate during lunch break

ISIS releases new, even more barbaric video in an effort to regain mantle from Planned Parenthood

Impressed by Fox News stellar rating during GOP debates, CNN to use same formula on Democrat candidates asking tough, pointed questions about Republicans

Shocking new book explores pros and cons of socialism, discovers they are same people

Pope outraged by Planned Parenthood's "unfettered capitalism," demands equal redistribution of baby parts to each according to his need

John Kerry accepts Iran's "Golden Taquiyya" award, requests jalapenos on the side

Citizens of Pluto protest US government's surveillance of their planetoid and its moons with New Horizons space drone

John Kerry proposes 3-day waiting period for all terrorist nations trying to acquire nuclear weapons

Chicago Police trying to identify flag that caused nine murders and 53 injuries in the city this past weekend

Cuba opens to affordable medical tourism for Americans who can't afford Obamacare deductibles

State-funded research proves existence of Quantum Aggression Particles (Heterons) in Large Hadron Collider

Student job opportunities: make big bucks this summer as Hillarys Ordinary-American; all expenses paid, travel, free acting lessons

Experts debate whether Iranian negotiators broke John Kerry's leg or he did it himself to get out of negotiations

Junior Varsity takes Ramadi, advances to quarterfinals

US media to GOP pool of candidates: 'Knowing what we know now, would you have had anything to do with the founding of the United States?'

NY Mayor to hold peace talks with rats, apologize for previous Mayor's cowboy diplomacy

China launches cube-shaped space object with a message to aliens: "The inhabitants of Earth will steal your intellectual property, copy it, manufacture it in sweatshops with slave labor, and sell it back to you at ridiculously low prices"

Progressive scientists: Truth is a variable deduced by subtracting 'what is' from 'what ought to be'

Experts agree: Hillary Clinton best candidate to lessen percentage of Americans in top 1%

America's attempts at peace talks with the White House continue to be met with lies, stalling tactics, and bad faith

Starbucks new policy to talk race with customers prompts new hashtag #DontHoldUpTheLine

Hillary: DELETE is the new RESET

Charlie Hebdo receives Islamophobe 2015 award; the cartoonists could not be reached for comment due to their inexplicable, illogical deaths

Russia sends 'reset' button back to Hillary: 'You need it now more than we do'

Barack Obama finds out from CNN that Hillary Clinton spent four years being his Secretary of State

President Obama honors Leonard Nimoy by taking selfie in front of Starship Enterprise

Police: If Obama had a convenience store, it would look like Obama Express Food Market

Study finds stunning lack of racial, gender, and economic diversity among middle-class white males

NASA: We're 80% sure about being 20% sure about being 17% sure about being 38% sure about 2014 being the hottest year on record

People holding '$15 an Hour Now' posters sue Democratic party demanding raise to $15 an hour for rendered professional protesting services

Cuba-US normalization: US tourists flock to see Cuba before it looks like the US and Cubans flock to see the US before it looks like Cuba

White House describes attacks on Sony Pictures as 'spontaneous hacking in response to offensive video mocking Juche and its prophet'

CIA responds to Democrat calls for transparency by releasing the director's cut of The Making Of Obama's Birth Certificate

Obama: 'If I had a city, it would look like Ferguson'

Biden: 'If I had a Ferguson (hic), it would look like a city'

Obama signs executive order renaming 'looters' to 'undocumented shoppers'

Ethicists agree: two wrongs do make a right so long as Bush did it first

The aftermath of the 'War on Women 2014' finds a new 'Lost Generation' of disillusioned Democrat politicians, unable to cope with life out of office

White House: Republican takeover of the Senate is a clear mandate from the American people for President Obama to rule by executive orders

Nurse Kaci Hickox angrily tells reporters that she won't change her clocks for daylight savings time

Democratic Party leaders in panic after recent poll shows most Democratic voters think 'midterm' is when to end pregnancy

Desperate Democratic candidates plead with Obama to stop backing them and instead support their GOP opponents

Ebola Czar issues five-year plan with mandatory quotas of Ebola infections per each state based on voting preferences

Study: crony capitalism is to the free market what the Westboro Baptist Church is to Christianity

Fun facts about world languages: the Left has more words for statism than the Eskimos have for snow

African countries to ban all flights from the United States because "Obama is incompetent, it scares us"

Nobel Peace Prize controversy: Hillary not nominated despite having done even less than Obama to deserve it

Obama: 'Ebola is the JV of viruses'

BREAKING: Secret Service foils Secret Service plot to protect Obama

Revised 1st Amendment: buy one speech, get the second free

Sharpton calls on white NFL players to beat their women in the interests of racial fairness

President Obama appoints his weekly approval poll as new national security adviser

Obama wags pen and phone at Putin; Europe offers support with powerful pens and phones from NATO members

White House pledges to embarrass ISIS back to the Stone Age with a barrage of fearsome Twitter messages and fatally ironic Instagram photos

Obama to fight ISIS with new federal Terrorist Regulatory Agency

Obama vows ISIS will never raise their flag over the eighteenth hole

Harry Reid: "Sometimes I say the wong thing"

Elian Gonzalez wishes he had come to the U.S. on a bus from Central America like all the other kids

Obama visits US-Mexican border, calls for a two-state solution

Obama draws "blue line" in Iraq after Putin took away his red crayon

"Hard Choices," a porno flick loosely based on Hillary Clinton's memoir and starring Hillary Hellfire as a drinking, whoring Secretary of State, wildly outsells the flabby, sagging original

Accusations of siding with the enemy leave Sgt. Bergdahl with only two options: pursue a doctorate at Berkley or become a Senator from Massachusetts

Jay Carney stuck in line behind Eric Shinseki to leave the White House; estimated wait time from 15 min to 6 weeks

100% of scientists agree that if man-made global warming were real, "the last people we'd want to help us is the Obama administration"

Jay Carney says he found out that Obama found out that he found out that Obama found out that he found out about the latest Obama administration scandal on the news

"Anarchy Now!" meeting turns into riot over points of order, bylaws, and whether or not 'kicking the #^@&*! ass' of the person trying to speak is or is not violence

Obama retaliates against Putin by prohibiting unionized federal employees from dating hot Russian girls online during work hours

Russian separatists in Ukraine riot over an offensive YouTube video showing the toppling of Lenin statues

"Free Speech Zones" confuse Obamaphone owners who roam streets in search of additional air minutes

Obamacare bolsters employment for professionals with skills to convert meth back into sudafed

Gloves finally off: Obama uses pen and phone to cancel Putin's Netflix account

Joe Biden to Russia: "We will bury you by turning more of Eastern Europe over to your control!"

In last-ditch effort to help Ukraine, Obama deploys Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson's Rainbow Coalition to Crimea

Al Sharpton: "Not even Putin can withstand our signature chanting, 'racist, sexist, anti-gay, Russian army go away'!"

Mardi Gras in North Korea: "Throw me some food!"

Obama's foreign policy works: "War, invasion, and conquest are signs of weakness; we've got Putin right where we want him"

US offers military solution to Ukraine crisis: "We will only fight countries that have LGBT military"

Putin annexes Brighton Beach to protect ethnic Russians in Brooklyn, Obama appeals to UN and EU for help

The 1980s: "Mr. Obama, we're just calling to ask if you want our foreign policy back. The 1970s are right here with us, and they're wondering, too."

In a stunning act of defiance, Obama courageously unfriends Putin on Facebook

MSNBC: Obama secures alliance with Austro-Hungarian Empire against Russias aggression in Ukraine

Study: springbreak is to STDs what April 15th is to accountants

Efforts to achieve moisture justice for California thwarted by unfair redistribution of snow in America

North Korean voters unanimous: "We are the 100%"

Leader of authoritarian gulag-site, The People's Cube, unanimously 're-elected' with 100% voter turnout

Super Bowl: Obama blames Fox News for Broncos' loss

Feminist author slams gay marriage: "a man needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"

Beverly Hills campaign heats up between Henry Waxman and Marianne Williamson over the widening income gap between millionaires and billionaires in their district

Biden to lower $10,000-a-plate Dinner For The Homeless to $5,000 so more homeless can attend

Kim becomes world leader, feeds uncle to dogs; Obama eats dogs, becomes world leader, America cries uncle

North Korean leader executes own uncle for talking about Obamacare at family Christmas party

White House hires part-time schizophrenic Mandela sign interpreter to help sell Obamacare

Kim Jong Un executes own "crazy uncle" to keep him from ruining another family Christmas

OFA admits its advice for area activists to give Obamacare Talk at shooting ranges was a bad idea

President resolves Obamacare debacle with executive order declaring all Americans equally healthy

Obama to Iran: "If you like your nuclear program, you can keep your nuclear program"

Bovine community outraged by flatulence coming from Washington DC

Obama: "I'm not particularly ideological; I believe in a good pragmatic five-year plan"

Shocker: Obama had no knowledge he'd been reelected until he read about it in the local newspaper last week

Server problems at HealthCare.gov so bad, it now flashes 'Error 808' message

NSA marks National Best Friend Day with official announcement: "Government is your best friend; we know you like no one else, we're always there, we're always willing to listen"

Al Qaeda cancels attack on USA citing launch of Obamacare as devastating enough

The President's latest talking point on Obamacare: "I didn't build that"

Dizzy with success, Obama renames his wildly popular healthcare mandate to HillaryCare

Carney: huge ObamaCare deductibles won't look as bad come hyperinflation

Washington Redskins drop 'Washington' from their name as offensive to most Americans

Poll: 83% of Americans favor cowboy diplomacy over rodeo clown diplomacy

GOVERNMENT WARNING: If you were able to complete ObamaCare form online, it wasn't a legitimate gov't website; you should report online fraud and change all your passwords

Obama administration gets serious, threatens Syria with ObamaCare

Obama authorizes the use of Vice President Joe Biden's double-barrel shotgun to fire a couple of blasts at Syria

Sharpton: "British royals should have named baby 'Trayvon.' By choosing 'George' they sided with white Hispanic racist Zimmerman"

DNC launches 'Carlos Danger' action figure; proceeds to fund a charity helping survivors of the Republican War on Women

Nancy Pelosi extends abortion rights to the birds and the bees

Hubble discovers planetary drift to the left

Obama: 'If I had a daughter-in-law, she would look like Rachael Jeantel'

FISA court rubberstamps statement denying its portrayal as government's rubber stamp

Every time ObamaCare gets delayed, a Julia somewhere dies

GOP to Schumer: 'Force full implementation of ObamaCare before 2014 or Dems will never win another election'

Obama: 'If I had a son... no, wait, my daughter can now marry a woman!'

Janet Napolitano: TSA findings reveal that since none of the hijackers were babies, elderly, or Tea Partiers, 9/11 was not an act of terrorism

News Flash: Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) can see Canada from South Dakota

Susan Rice: IRS actions against tea parties caused by anti-tax YouTube video that was insulting to their faith

Drudge Report reduces font to fit all White House scandals onto one page

Obama: the IRS is a constitutional right, just like the Second Amendment

White House: top Obama officials using secret email accounts a result of bad IT advice to avoid spam mail from Nigeria

Jay Carney to critics: 'Pinocchio never said anything inconsistent'

Obama: If I had a gay son, he'd look like Jason Collins

Gosnell's office in Benghazi raided by the IRS: mainstream media's worst cover-up challenge to date

IRS targeting pro-gay-marriage LGBT groups leads to gayest tax revolt in U.S. history

After Arlington Cemetery rejects offer to bury Boston bomber, Westboro Babtist Church steps up with premium front lawn plot

Boston: Obama Administration to reclassify marathon bombing as 'sportsplace violence'

Study: Success has many fathers but failure becomes a government program

US Media: Can Pope Francis possibly clear up Vatican bureaucracy and banking without blaming the previous administration?

Michelle Obama praises weekend rampage by Chicago teens as good way to burn calories and stay healthy

This Passover, Obama urges his subjects to paint lamb's blood above doors in order to avoid the Sequester



White House to American children: Sequester causes layoffs among hens that lay Easter eggs; union-wage Easter Bunnies to be replaced by Mexican Chupacabras

Time Mag names Hugo Chavez world's sexiest corpse

Boy, 8, pretends banana is gun, makes daring escape from school

Study: Free lunches overpriced, lack nutrition

Oscars 2013: Michelle Obama announces long-awaited merger of Hollywood and the State

Joe Salazar defends the right of women to be raped in gun-free environment: 'rapists and rapees should work together to prevent gun violence for the common good'

Dept. of Health and Human Services eliminates rape by reclassifying assailants as 'undocumented sex partners'

Kremlin puts out warning not to photoshop Putin riding meteor unless bare-chested

Deeming football too violent, Obama moves to introduce Super Drone Sundays instead

Japan offers to extend nuclear umbrella to cover U.S. should America suffer devastating attack on its own defense spending

Feminists organize one billion women to protest male oppression with one billion lap dances

Urban community protests Mayor Bloomberg's ban on extra-large pop singers owning assault weapons

Concerned with mounting death toll, Taliban offers to send peacekeeping advisers to Chicago

Karl Rove puts an end to Tea Party with new 'Republicans For Democrats' strategy aimed at losing elections

Answering public skepticism, President Obama authorizes unlimited drone attacks on all skeet targets throughout the country

Skeet Ulrich denies claims he had been shot by President but considers changing his name to 'Traps'

White House releases new exciting photos of Obama standing, sitting, looking thoughtful, and even breathing in and out

New York Times hacked by Chinese government, Paul Krugman's economic policies stolen

White House: when President shoots skeet, he donates the meat to food banks that feed the middle class

To prove he is serious, Obama eliminates armed guard protection for President, Vice-President, and their families; establishes Gun-Free Zones around them instead

State Dept to send 100,000 American college students to China as security for US debt obligations

Jay Carney: Al Qaeda is on the run, they're just running forward

President issues executive orders banning cliffs, ceilings, obstructions, statistics, and other notions that prevent us from moving forwards and upward

Fearing the worst, Obama Administration outlaws the fan to prevent it from being hit by certain objects

World ends; S&P soars

Riddle of universe solved; answer not understood

Meek inherit Earth, can't afford estate taxes

Greece abandons Euro; accountants find Greece has no Euros anyway

Wheel finally reinvented; axles to be gradually reinvented in 3rd quarter of 2013

Bigfoot found in Ohio, mysteriously not voting for Obama

As Santa's workshop files for bankruptcy, Fed offers bailout in exchange for control of 'naughty and nice' list

Freak flying pig accident causes bacon to fly off shelves

Obama: green economy likely to transform America into a leading third world country of the new millennium

Report: President Obama to visit the United States in the near future

Obama promises to create thousands more economically neutral jobs

Modernizing Islam: New York imam proposes to canonize Saul Alinsky as religion's latter day prophet

Imam Rauf's peaceful solution: 'Move Ground Zero a few blocks away from the mosque and no one gets hurt'

Study: Obama's threat to burn tax money in Washington 'recruitment bonanza' for Tea Parties

Study: no Social Security reform will be needed if gov't raises retirement age to at least 814 years

Obama attends church service, worships self

Obama proposes national 'Win The Future' lottery; proceeds of new WTF Powerball to finance more gov't spending

Historical revisionists: "Hey, you never know"

Vice President Biden: criticizing Egypt is un-pharaoh

Israelis to Egyptian rioters: "don't damage the pyramids, we will not rebuild"

Lake Superior renamed Lake Inferior in spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness

Al Gore: It's a shame that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as a pack of polar bears

Michael Moore: As long as there is anyone with money to shake down, this country is not broke

Obama's teleprompters unionize, demand collective bargaining rights

Obama calls new taxes 'spending reductions in tax code.' Elsewhere rapists tout 'consent reductions in sexual intercourse'

Obama's teleprompter unhappy with White House Twitter: "Too few words"

Obama's Regulation Reduction committee finds US Constitution to be expensive outdated framework inefficiently regulating federal gov't

Taking a page from the Reagan years, Obama announces new era of Perestroika and Glasnost

Responding to Oslo shootings, Obama declares Christianity "Religion of Peace," praises "moderate Christians," promises to send one into space

Republicans block Obama's $420 billion program to give American families free charms that ward off economic bad luck

White House to impose Chimney tax on Santa Claus

Obama decrees the economy is not soaring as much as previously decreeed

Conservative think tank introduces children to capitalism with pop-up picture book "The Road to Smurfdom"

Al Gore proposes to combat Global Warming by extracting silver linings from clouds in Earth's atmosphere

Obama refutes charges of him being unresponsive to people's suffering: "When you pray to God, do you always hear a response?"

Obama regrets the US government didn't provide his mother with free contraceptives when she was in college

Fluke to Congress: drill, baby, drill!

Planned Parenthood introduces Frequent Flucker reward card: 'Come again soon!'

Obama to tornado victims: 'We inherited this weather from the previous administration'

Obama congratulates Putin on Chicago-style election outcome

People's Cube gives itself Hero of Socialist Labor medal in recognition of continued expert advice provided to the Obama Administration helping to shape its foreign and domestic policies

Hamas: Israeli air defense unfair to 99% of our missiles, "only 1% allowed to reach Israel"

Democrat strategist: without government supervision, women would have never evolved into humans

Voters Without Borders oppose Texas new voter ID law

Enraged by accusation that they are doing Obama's bidding, media leaders demand instructions from White House on how to respond

Obama blames previous Olympics for failure to win at this Olympics

Official: China plans to land on Moon or at least on cheap knockoff thereof

Koran-Contra: Obama secretly arms Syrian rebels

Poll: Progressive slogan 'We should be more like Europe' most popular with members of American Nazi Party

Obama to Evangelicals: Jesus saves, I just spend

May Day: Anarchists plan, schedule, synchronize, and execute a coordinated campaign against all of the above

Midwestern farmers hooked on new erotic novel "50 Shades of Hay"

Study: 99% of Liberals give the rest a bad name

Obama meets with Jewish leaders, proposes deeper circumcisions for the rich

Historians: Before HOPE & CHANGE there was HEMP & CHOOM at ten bucks a bag

Cancer once again fails to cure Venezuela of its "President for Life"

Tragic spelling error causes Muslim protesters to burn local boob-tube factory

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu: due to energy conservation, the light at the end of the tunnel will be switched off

Obama Administration running food stamps across the border with Mexico in an operation code-named "Fat And Furious"

Pakistan explodes in protest over new Adobe Acrobat update; 17 local acrobats killed

White House: "Let them eat statistics"

Special Ops: if Benedict Arnold had a son, he would look like Barack Obama







AD GOES HERE
SPRINGFIELD  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has denied a request from David Gill that would have allowed him to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in Illinois 13th Congressional District.

Gill appealed to the Supreme Court on Friday after the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a lower court order that would have assured him a spot on the ballot alongside U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur.

The Bloomington physician said in a written statement Monday that hes again very disappointed for the voters in the district and that he plans to appeal to a different Supreme Court justice, which is allowed under court rules.

My victory in federal court on August 25 was clear and decisive, he said. To watch our judicial system grant a temporary reprieve to the State, a reprieve that lasts long enough to have the election go on without me, proves the point of my independent Congressional campaign: we live within a rigged system, designed to protect the major parties and the large financial concerns that sponsor them.

Gill, whos run for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates after he collected fewer than 8,500 of the 10,754 valid signatures he needed on his nominating petitions.

Gill contends that the requirement is unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirements for major party candidates. Davis and Wicklund each had to collect fewer than 740 signatures.

U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough ordered last month that the Illinois State Board of Elections allow Gill to appear on the ballot because he and his supporters would be irreparably harmed if he were excluded. The Chicago-based appeals court subsequently blocked that order, and the elections board voted unanimously Sept. 19 to remove him.

When Gills attorneys filed their appeal Friday, they acknowledged that going to the Supreme Court is always a long shot but said theyd exhausted their other options. The appeals court declined to reconsider its decision or to grant Gill a prompt hearing on his case before Election Day.

Kagan reviewed Gills request because she oversees the 7th Circuit.
MARION  The medical director of a Marion clinic that has seen many local patients attempting to access the states medical marijuana program has been subpoenaed as part of an ongoing investigation, a state official said.

The ongoing investigation by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation and the Drug Enforcement Agency is in response to alleged improper controlled substance prescribing by Dr. Bodo Schneider, IDFPR spokesman Terry Horstman said.

Schneider is the medical director of Pied Pfeifer Compassionate Care Clinic in Marion. He is also the medical director of a clinic in Orland Park.

In response to the newspapers request for an update on the states case against Schneider, Horstman said an administrative law judge was informed of the subpoena during the most recent status hearing in the case involving Schneider on Sept. 16 in Chicago.

The terms of the subpoena require that Schneider provide the subpoenaed medical records to the state regulatory agency by Oct. 7, he said. Horstman added that the administrative law judge was informed at the public hearing that on Aug. 19, an informal conference was held and Schneider rejected an offer made by the IDFPR State Medical Licensing Board and efforts to reach an agreed disposition.

Another status hearing in the case has been set for Oct. 24.

Schneider is one of only a few doctors in the region who are participating in the states medical marijuana program by certifying the conditions of patients who qualify for the state pilot program.

People wanting access to the program have flooded to his office as the regions major health systems  Southern Illinois Healthcare, Heartland Regional Medical Center and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, as well as some smaller providers  have directed the physicians they employ not to participate, citing legal vulnerability given that marijuana, including medical marijuana, is still illegal at the federal level.

Schneider maintains he has followed all the states applicable rules for the program in regards to establishing a bona-fide physician-patient relationship before certifying qualifying patients conditions.

Doctors do not prescribe the medical marijuana but rather sign off on whether an individual has one of the conditions the state law allows for eligibility prior to that person receiving a medical marijuana ID card that is used at a dispensary. At the programs inception, doctors also had to check a box stating they believed it would provide a therapeutic benefit to the patient. But the law was recently changed to where the doctor only must certify that the individual has a qualifying condition.

This was aimed at addressing the legal concerns of the major hospital groups that were refusing to allow their doctors to participate, but even after the law changed, hospital executives in Southern Illinois said their concerns remained, and so the policies of nonparticipation also would remain.

According to public documents, the state has accused Schneider of charging patients seeking access to the program a fee for precertification without establishing a legitimate doctor-patient relationship, and for visits where he did not conduct a physical examination.

The state argues that the acts hes accused of are grounds for revocation or suspension of his medical license in Illinois.
MURPHYSBORO  Members of Murphysboro's City Council at its meeting tonight will continue the discussion about what to do with lawn-waste pickup.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Murphysboro City Hall Council Chambers, 202 N. 11th Street.

In the past few weeks, City Council aldermen have discussed issues with the pick-up, such as whether to provide pick-up for seniors or others and whether to charge residents $1 per sticker for each bag of waste or $1 for a tie for each bundle collected.

Council members are also expected to vote on the mayor's recommendation of Chad R. Roberts as the city's next police chief. Mayor Will Stephens said he expects Roberts to be approved with no problem.

This past week, Stephens chose Roberts from among six candidates for the job; Roberts is expected to arrive in Murphysboro on Friday.

Roberts has experience in accounting and, since February, has worked as a financial manager for EWTN Global Catholic Media, a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Irondale, Alabama. He is also pursuing a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law, with a concentration on contract law and taxation, and is expecting to graduate in December 2018.

He has about 20 years experience in law enforcement, including eight years as a sergeant and five years as an investigator with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

He was the 2004 Alabama Attorney General's Officer of the Year and has won other service awards. He has written and managed a nearly $300,000 grant from the Department of Justice for the prevention and enforcement of methamphetamine-related crimes in Tuscaloosa County.

Roberts is expected to work alongside Murphysboro Police Chief Brian Hollo until he retires on Oct. 7, Stephens said. In the interim, Roberts will serve in the role as deputy chief and be promoted to chief after Hollo's retirement.
SPRINGFIELD  Jim Frazier loves being asked about his eldest son.

Illinois Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier, who had four younger siblings, was killed March 29, 2003, during an ambush in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

When you use his name, it means that you are remembering him too, and we can share that, Frazier said Monday morning during a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda marking Illinois inaugural Gold Star Family Day, held in honor of families whose loved ones have been killed during times of conflict.

We are a group of folks who have had immeasurable sadness in our lives, said Frazier, a Lake in the Hills resident who serves as a support coordinator for the U.S. Armys Survivor Outreach Services program. But today we choose to honor and celebrate the lives of our children that weve lost.

The state of Illinois joined Frazier and other Gold Star family members in honoring their fallen loved ones through legislation Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law last month.

Congress first designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mothers Day in 1936, and under the new Illinois law, sponsored by state Rep. Steven Andersson, R-Geneva, and state Sen. Karen McConnaughay, R-St. Charles, the following day will be designated Gold Star Family Day throughout the state.

Today, we remember; today, we honor; today, we pay respect; today, we say, Thank you  to you, your families, your loved one, Rauner said during the ceremony. We owe you a debt of gratitude we can never repay.

The one thing we can do every day is remember your family member  your loved one, your son, your daughter  and their patriotism, their dedication, their service, their sacrifice.

The short ceremony, which also included remarks from Andersson, McConnaughay and Harry Sawyer, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, lasted just under 20 minutes and included a moment of silence, followed by the playing of taps, which echoed under the Capitol dome. The attendees, including a handful of Gold Star family members and veterans, sat surrounded by large banners bearing the names and sketched likenesses of about 275 Illinois service members whove been killed in conflicts since Sept. 11, 2001.

Andersson said the idea for Gold Star Family Day came to him from Angel Collins, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Collins, was killed in Iraqs Anbar province on Aug. 8, 2004, at age 19.

Collins approached the lawmaker about a year ago and said that while she appreciates her status as a Gold Star mother, her husband, Jack, their children and their other relatives suffered from the loss as well.

Shouldnt they also be honored? Andersson recalled Collins asking him. And I said, Absolutely right. Thats exactly what we should do. 

The idea is not to take anything away from Gold Star Mothers Day, he said, but to honor the sacrifice made by the rest of the family as well.
President James Clark told trustees at Mondays board meeting that South Carolina State Universitys infrastructure for networking is abysmal and it will cost at least $2-2.5 million to bring it up to standard.

Were almost a decade without having upgraded that equipment, Clark said. As a result, the school is approaching a near catastrophic meltdown of our network," he said.

Problems this year have included a difficulty in finding an access point to the internet for Wi-Fi's and maintaining the connection once its found, he said. The devices also operate very slowly with the weak connection, Clark said.

All of these problems not only had an adverse impact on students ability to complete assignments but also set back the universitys work on its 2015-16 audit, the S.C. State president said.

Implementation of a new firewall has eased the situation somewhat, but thats only a temporary solution, Clark said.

This is going to require some major investments in infrastructure," he said.

Students are getting online more easily, but their devices still operate slowly, Clark said.

We got some special equipment so Miss (Teare) Brewington can continue doing the audit, he said.

Brewington, controller of finance and management, said the department lost from 30 to 40 hours a week on the audit, including overtime and weekends while it was having network problems.

A lot of audit work runs after hours because regular work continues during the audit, she said.

In spite of the delays, Brewington said the audit will be turned in on time this year.

A rough draft is due by Sept. 30, she said. A copy will go to S.C. States external auditors, BDO, and a separate template to the S.C. comptrollers office. The final audit will be due in October.

This will be the quickest the university has gotten it done in at least five years, Brewington said. Turning in the final audit well past the October deadline is where the university has gotten into trouble in the past, she said.

Board Chair Charlie Way said the institution is going to have a tough row to hoe if it doesnt meet each and every deadline because its going to need funds for various things in 2016-17.

We did very well with the Legislature this past year, he said. I want us to be in a position that we can say ... we have done what we promised. I dont think we need to slip up on anything, even by one day.

Clark told trustees that the university is also looking at some major issues with drainage and will need outside help to deal with some of them.

For one thing, there is inadequate drainage leading off the campus out to the citys drainage system, he said, noting that water just backs up and cannot leave the campus fast enough. Clark said this is a long-term project and will require digging new drains and putting in pipes. At some point, the university is going to have to look to the city, county or state for help with those issues, he said.

Other problems include design issues in some roofs and window flashings that catch water and send it inside buildings. The university is looking at low cost ways to solve the problem, the president said.

Flooding of certain areas of the Hugine Suites is also a problem any time there's substantial rain because concrete walkways are sloped toward the dorm rooms instead of away from them, he said.

In other business, Clark reported that final enrollment figures show an increase of students from 2,839 last fall to 2,904 this fall. The number of first time freshmen rose significantly, from 494 to 631, he said.

The increase in students caused a bit of a problem in finding rooms for them, Clark said. Some were moved into University Village and Campus Corner.

But over a period of three weeks, the university cleaned, repaired and updated Rowe and Nix dormitories, and the students are all now on campus, Clark said.

However, the university needs to look at getting Truth Hall back on line, he said, adding that currently there are only 30 extra rooms available and the university hopes to increase enrollment again next year.

Clark told trustees that enrollment would have been better, but as many as 400 students were unable to return because of financial considerations.

The university was able to assist 65 students through the Presidential Promise Program. Another 60 were targeted for aid, but the funds ran out, he said.

Clark also reported that he hopes to have the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium open soon. Employees have said that repairs can be made on the roof with a minimum of expense and they'll be be able to keep valuable artifacts safe and on display for the public.
The body of a 40-year-old Eutawville man was found in the back of his residence after it caught fire late Sunday night and burned into Monday morning.

The man has been identified as Eric G. Taste, 40, of 144 Rover Bend Road, Cross, Orangeburg County Chief Deputy Coroner Sean Fogle reported Monday.

The cause of death wasnt available, Fogle said.

Both the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office and the State Law Enforcement Division are investigating the fatal blaze.

OCSO deputies responded to the scene at 12:09 a.m. and met with Eutawville Fire Chief Stephen Shuler.

Shuler said when firefighters arrived at the residence at 11:14 p.m., it was fully engulfed in flames.

Someone advised Shuler that Taste may be inside the residence, and firefighters subsequently found his body in the back of the residence.

One of the victim's friends, who lives on a nearby street, told emergency responders that Taste was last seen about 8 p.m. walking towards his home from a County Line Road business.

The friend told authorities that while he was standing in his yard about 60 yards from Tastes residence, he heard a loud popping noise between 10:45 and 10:50 p.m.

He said he saw flames at Taste's home at 11 p.m.

The man said that by the time he got to Taste's home, flames were coming out of the front, back and top of the residence, the report states.

After he and another friend broke a window in the house, flames immediately shot through the opening, according to the report.

OCSO public information director Richard Walker said the case remains under investigation. SLED is also investigating the case, he said.
A blog for students in my introductory classes in government, and any interested passersby. You'll find news items and random stories that illustrate any of the topics we cover in class. Special attention will be paid to the constitutional issues associated with contemporary issues and disputes. Feel free to send me stories you find important. Please note that due to spam, I'm limiting the ability of people to comment on these pages. My apologies.
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By Azernews





By Nigar Abbasova

The restructuring and further privatization of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), which is the largest bank and financial services group in Azerbaijan and the region, remains one of the principal issues in the banking sector of the country.

Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said that the ultimate goal of recovering the IBA is reduction of its assets and liabilities, while its privatization should become the next step. Sharifov underlined that the recovery is a quite difficult process and it is too early to talk about its completion.

Unfortunately, the improper operation of the banks previous management has led to a large amount of external debt. The banks liabilities are formed in foreign currency, while the assets are issued in manats [the banks troubled assets were transferred to Aqrarkredit CJSC and bonds under state guarantee were issued instead of this]. However, the inflow of such volume of national currency to the market may negatively affect its exchange rate. Therefore, the recovering process is correlated with the current macroeconomic situation, he said, underlining that the main objective is to prepare the bank for privatization.

The preliminary audit conducted by the CBA jointly with the Finance Ministry revealed that the volume of bad assets amounted to some 70 percent of all assets.

The shortcomings in the management, investment and loan policy of the bank in recent years, as well as financing less efficient and risky investment projects deteriorated the financial state of the bank, and triggered increase in the share of distressed assets and reduced its liquidity.

Sharifov said that the banks assets and liabilities will be substantially reduced and the bank will be ready for privatization with healthy assets after the recovery.

IBA's distressed assets had been removed from its balance sheet and transferred to the state-owned, non-banking credit organization Agrocredit to recover financial position of the bank.

Bonds worth 3 billion manats ($1.8 billion) were issued under state guarantee to provide the bank with liquid funds. The bank transferred bad assets worth 2.5 billion manats ($1.5 billion) in 2015, while the left amount of 4.6 billion manats ($2.8 billion) was transferred in 2016.

The State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) placed a deposit worth $2 billion in the bank, while some $1 billion of the sum was used for the fulfillment of IBAs foreign liabilities. The volume of foreign liabilities of the bank currently stands at $3 billion. Moreover, the government is expected to contribute additional sum of 500 million manats ($306 million) for the recapitalization of the bank. Finance Ministry of the country, which acts as a shareholder on behalf of the government will increase its share up to 95 percent till late 2016. The ministry possessed a 51 percent share in 2016, while the level increased up to 85 percent in 2015.

Head of the countrys Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB), Rufat Aslanli earlier said that the government has resolved the majority of IBA's problems, but the privatization process takes some time, and the implementation of privatization in 2016 is not realistic.

The International Bank of Azerbaijan was founded in January 1992.
By Trend



The referendum on amending Azerbaijans constitution has been held transparently, Nathalie Goulet, French senator and vice-chair of the Senates Foreign Affairs Committee, told Trend on September 26.

We just spent some time at polling stations. Then we checked the opening of the boxes and everything was very transparent, she added.

Goulet noted that the voter turnout in the referendum in Azerbaijan is more than in France and it is a good result.

The senator said they also had an opportunity to meet with refugees and IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts occupied by Armenia.

Big work has been carried out by Azerbaijani government to provide the refugees with better accommodation, said Goulet.

All those people want to go back to their lands, to Nagorno-Karabakh, to the surrounding regions, whatever time it will take, she added.

The referendum on making amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours).

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  have been accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum. The total number of the observers is around 53,000
By Trend





The referendum on amending Azerbaijans Constitution has to be a long-term strategic road map, Andre Reichardt, French senator, president of the FranceSouth Caucasus Friendship Group, told Trend on September 26.

It is obvious that Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has this strategic view for developing the country, with the result on the cultural, social and diplomatic issues that we can see, he added.

This constitutional reform is included in all the reforms that Azerbaijans president has already implemented or tries to implement, said Reichardt, adding that this is a part of the global plan.

Noting that the president is holding some reforms regarding corruption, transparency, Reichardt said this is the part of Ilham Aliyevs global view.

First of all, the referendum is related to regional context and lack of stability of the area, according to Reichardt.

We will see the results of the referendum and hope that it will bring stability and security. If so many tourists are coming to Baku, it is because it is safe. The first human right is the human right for security, he noted.

Now the problem Azerbaijan faces, we all face, in France, in Europe, is a balance between security and freedom and that is always very challenging, added the senator.

I have to say that the process [of voting] is clear.

The referendum on making amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours).

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  have been accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum. The total number of the observers is around 53,000.
Siemens has manufactured and tested the largest geared compressor rotor in the world at its facility in Duisburg, Germany. The product is for the Jazan integrated gasification combined cycle power plant (IGCC) in Saudi Arabia.



The first-stage impeller with a diameter of 1.8 m is the largest installed on an integrally geared compressor rotor. The STC-GV compressor rotor is part of an order placed last year by UK-based Air Products.



The order comprises 19 STC-GV integrally geared compressors for the air separation unit of the Jazan integrated gasification combined cycle power plant (IGCC) in Saudi Arabia.



The first compressor units have been successfully tested at the Siemens Mega Test Center in Duisburg. These compressors are now on their way to the site for commissioning and erection due to start in mid-2018.



The air separation facility will supply 75,000 tonnes per day  20,000 tonnes of oxygen and 55,000 tonnes of nitrogen  to a facility currently under construction in the Jazan province on the coast of the Red Sea.



The air separation plant, part of what will be the world's largest industrial gas complex, will be operated by Jazan Gas Projects Company, a joint venture between the local company Acwa Holding and Air Products, an industrial gases company headquartered in the US.



Siemens will supply seven model STC-GV main air compressors, six STC-GV booster air compressors and six model STC-GV nitrogen. The nitrogen compressor power is significantly higher than normally seen on high pressure integrally geared compressors, said the statement.



"This project proves that we have the necessary capabilities to provide large air separation plants with the appropriate compression equipment," said Thomas Moenk, head of product development and technology for the Dresser-Rand business, part of Siemens Power and Gas.



"The STC-GV compressors with their customised design are the largest integrally geared main air compressors ever built. This is a tremendous demonstration of our technical expertise."



Each of the rotors that will be assembled inside the STC-GV compressors weighs more than seven tonnes. This impeller was balanced in Duisburg at a speed of 3,970 revolutions per minute. At its average operating speed, the outside diameter of the first-stage impeller rotates at a speed of 1,350 km/h  faster than most jet aircraft, it said.



"We appreciate the ingenuity the Siemens team brought to this project. We especially valued the Siemens and Air Products joint team's dynamic and collaboration throughout the design, manufacturing and testing phases which resulted in a timely delivery," said David Edmondson, vice-president global engineering and manufacturing and Jazan project director at Air Products. - TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Investments Park (DIP) has signed an agreement with MWH, a global leader in wet infrastructure, to design a new stormwater and groundwater drainage network within the development.



The scope of the agreement covers the design of the drainage network covering the 2,300 hectare Dubai Investments Park. The project is part of DIPs concerted efforts to keep upgrading its infrastructure in order to manage groundwater levels, prevent property inundation and mitigate flooding in the event of heavy rainfall, which has been an issue in low-lying areas within the development.



The agreement to engage MWH for the design project was signed by Omar Al Mesmar, general manager of Dubai Investments Park, and Wessam Daoud, Middle East Regional director at MWH.



The design project started in August and will be completed in four months. The new facility will be connected to the main Dubai Municipality drainage network for Dubai South and adjacent communities, once that is completed. The stormwater network will involve approximately 147 km of pipeline, nearly 2,000 manholes, five ponds and five lift stations.



Al Mesmar said: Dubai Investments Parks agreement with MWH is aimed at implementing an efficient flood management plan with minimum public access interruption. The complex network of inlets and conduits requires extensive evaluation and DIP is working closely with MWH to design a balanced storm water management system on a priority basis.



MWH is pleased to be a partner in this strategic project to plan the wet infrastructure within Dubai Investments Park, Daoud said.



The companys expertise in this domain is unparalleled and we are bringing together a team of international experts to plan innovative solutions to design the drainage network and ensure that the drainage needs of the DIP community are met in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.



MWH developed the first-ever sewerage, stormwater and groundwater drainage and irrigation master plan for Dubai and has also been assigned by Dubai Municipality to undertake the engineering design for the drainage systems for the Dubai South area covering a total area of more than 420 sq km.  TradeArabia News Service
DP World London Gateway Port has announced a new shipping service to Australia, the Mediterranean and other key markets.



CMA-CGMs NEMO (North European Mediterranean Oceania) and Hapag Lloyds EAX (Europe, Australia Express) combined service will begin calling at DP World London Gateway Port in early January 2017, with CMA CGMs Rossini as the first to call on the service.



The new business will mean DP World London Gateway is handling all of the UKs direct services to Australia.



In addition to four port calls at cities in Australia, the service will provide the port with more direct links between Singapore, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Malta and Italy.



The full NEMO/EAX service loop into the UK from Australia comprises: Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Singapore, Port Kelang, Chennai, Colombo, Cochin, Damietta, Malta, Salerno and DP World London Gateway. Outbound of the UK, the NEMO/EAX service loop comprises: Rotterdam, Hamburg, Le Havre, Fos Sur Mer, Genoa, Damietta, Pointe Des Galets and Fremantle.



Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO, DP World, said: DP World London Gateway is an important part of our international network helping us achieve our vision of leading the future of world trade. It is a prime example of the high level of our service offering to our customers supported by state-of-the-art technologies and innovative trade solutions.



London Gateway Port, which was built to reflect our flagship Jebel Ali Port and free zone in Dubai, is considered one of UKs biggest infrastructure projects this century. Its ability to attract more shipping lines and services underlines the valuable role it plays in supporting the growth of the British economy.



Rob Waterman, UK CEO, CMA CGM, said: CMA CGM has been constantly innovating to offer its clients new sea, land and logistics solutions in the UK and worldwide. The collaboration with DP World London Gateway Port will give our customers excellent service levels and we are pleased to offer this new port of call.



Cameron Bowie, UK managing director, Hapag Lloyd, said: DP World London Gateway has good access to road and rail connections along with quick and reliable truck turnaround times, so we are confident this service will be providing operational efficiencies from the start.



James Leeson, Head of Port Commercial, DP World London Gateway, said: Were delighted to add the NEMO/EAX service to our portfolio. With this new service we are now the only UK port to provide direct services to Australia, giving importers and exporters a unique trade advantage. This service also enhances our connection to the Mediterranean, opening up new markets for Port and Logistics Park users at DP World London Gateway.



This is testament to the excellent service the Port is offering. Unmatched weather reliability, consistent truck turnaround times, high ship-side productivity and superb customer service are all combining to provide customers with a reliable, safe and fast service - TradeArabia News Service
Driven by investments in construction of projects pertaining to sectors such as power, oil & gas, chemicals, etc., the demand for thermal insulation in the GCC is expected to cross $975 million by 2021, a report said.



Furthermore, extreme climatic conditions and favourable government policies will propel GCC thermal insulation market over the next five years, added the report entitled "GCC Thermal Insulation Market By Type, By Application, By Country, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021"from TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.



Owing to limited natural water resources, the GCC nations are heavily dependent on water desalination to cater the growing demand for water. Since the demand for water has outstripped the availability in the GCC region, desalination of seawater provides a substantial portion of the region's fresh water needs.



In 2014, desalination plants in the region have a total capacity of over 26 million cubic metre of water per day, which is equivalent to 36 per cent of global capacity in the same year. As desalination consumes considerable amounts of energy, extensive thermal insulation is required on appliances and piping, thereby aiding its market in the GCC region.



Saudi Arabia dominated the GCC thermal insulation market during 2011-2015, and the same trend is anticipated to continue over the next five years as well. Saudi Arabian government plans to build around 5,00,000 housing units in the country over the next five years by investing around $68 billion to ease housing shortage in the country. Further, ongoing commercial constructions like King Abdul-Aziz International Airport are expected to drive the demand for thermal insulation in the Kingdom through 2021. Fiberglass was the most preferred type of thermal insulation material in the GCC region in 2015.



"Per capita electricity consumption of the GCC nations is higher than the world average. Over the next few years, GCC nations are anticipated to emerge as the world leaders, in terms of per capita energy consumption, said Karan Chechi, research director with TechSci Research.



Oman, which accounts for the least per capita electricity consumption among the GCC nations, has almost twice the global average of per capita electricity consumption. The ability to reduce the energy flow across another material makes thermal insulation the key measure for energy saving.  TradeArabia News Service
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend a regional summit of South Asian leaders in Pakistan in November because of increasing cross-border attacks in the region, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.



India blames Pakistan for a deadly assault on an army base in the disputed region of Kashmir this month that has escalated tensions between the rivals.



India says a group of militants crossed the de facto border that separates the countries and killed 18 soldiers on September 18, the biggest loss of life for Indian security forces in the region for 14 years.



Pakistan rejects the accusation and says India needs to conduct a proper investigation before it apportions blame.



Modi was scheduled to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Islamabad, which brings together eight member states in the region.



"India has conveyed to current Saarc chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region...have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc summit," the foreign ministry said in a statement.



"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad."

According to Indian media reports, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan too will not be attending the Summit.-Reuters
Zain Group, a leading mobile telecom provider in eight markets across the Middle East and Africa, has announced that its fully owned global services subsidiary, Mada Communications, has been granted Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Program status.



This permits Zain to deliver innovative Microsoft software and cloud experiences to enterprises across its expansive IP/MPLS network.



Microsofts Azure ExpressRoute allows corporates to create private connections between Azure data centres and infrastructure on-premises or in a colocation environment. These connections do not go over the public Internet, thus offering greater reliability, faster speeds, lower latencies, and higher security than typical Internet connections. In some cases, using ExpressRoute connections to transfer data between on-premises systems and Azure has been known to yield drastic cost benefits.



Zains state-of-the art owned and operated, resilient IP/MPLS network spans the Middle East, Europe, the Far East and the US, connecting through network-to-network interface (NNI) arrangements with major world partners. Through its latest partnership with Microsoft, Zain will now be able to offer connections from its corporate users to one of the worlds industry-leading cloud platforms  Microsoft Azure.



As part of the agreement Zain Group will also be able to bring customers onto Microsoft Azure through its Zain Global Network, providing them with seamless, secure and reliable dedicated private network connectivity.



Henri Kassab, managing director, international, wholesale & roaming at Zain Group, said: Microsofts trust in Zain validates the investment we have and continue to make in our IP/MPLS network, with our motivation for such developments being the offer of the best possible quality of service to our customers. Our network ranks among the largest internet/DATA providers in the Middle East with 760+ Gbps peak traffic . Hence we are enthusiastic about the enhanced convenience, connectivity and product portfolio we will be offering customers by our inclusion into the ExpressRoute program.



Charles Nahas, general manager, Microsoft Kuwait, said: Zain Group is one of the leading communications operators in the Middle East, and our relationship with them will help expand the range and reliability of the services they offer to customers. Reliable, resilient connectivity is the cornerstone of development for economies and societies. ExpressRoute has been tailored for large-scale service provision, delivering for Microsoft Azure Cloud customers enhanced security, reliability, low latency and flexibility of scale allowing for compute and storage capacities as needed. This latest relationship between Zain and Microsoft will empower customers to be more productive, supported by leading-edge bespoke connectivity offerings.



Zain Group has identified the enterprise segment as a core strategic focus for the operator, and through Mada Communications, the operator continues to work towards providing seamless, differentiated multi-services to enterprise and corporates. Zain remains committed to providing best-in-class services to its client base and this latest agreement with Microsoft is a further demonstration of this unwavering commitment. - TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain's oil minister said on Monday he expected bids for the engineering, procurement and construction work for the state-run Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) refinery expansion project to be received by the end of this year.



Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Khalifa told an industry conference that the preliminary work had already been completed for the Sitra expansion.



A new oil pipeline between Saudi arabia and Bahrain will be commissioned in 2018 which will help feed the expansion of the Sitra refinery, al-Khalifa said.



The minister also said he saw 2016 as the "balancing year" for oil markets.  Reuters
The global upstream oil and gas industry needs to move away from a business as usual approach and capitalise on opportunities to transform itself to be at the forefront of the worlds energy industry, Saudi Aramco CEO has said.



Amin H Nasser was delivering the keynote address titled E&P 2.0: A New Business Model for a New Era at the annual Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in Dubai.



He said an integrated strategy will help industry meet future challenges. The oil and gas industry has a long history of navigating challenges  but todays pressures are unprecedented. In the current low-price, volatile environment, the business as usual practices cant stand up to increasingly complex financial, technology and talent issues. Cutting edge technologies and innovation have helped to make energy more abundant and sustainable as well as provide the resilience thats required during challenging times, he said.



Nasser said the energy landscape is currently witnessing world demand on a steady course which augured well for the industry.



While its pace has been tempered by energy-efficiency gains, demand will be impacted by global population growth expected to pass 9 billion by 2050, and rising living standards in developing economies, said Nasser.



Presently, oil and gas fields are becoming increasingly mature and complex to operate. Environmental pressures are intensifying, amid misperceptions about our support of a cleaner environment. In light of this backdrop, if we look at the industrys present business and operating model and ask if its up to the tasks ahead, Id say the answer is no, he said.



The call on energy will be met by oil and gas  and oils central position, especially in heavy transport and petrochemicals feedstock, will remain solid and central for years to come.



However, Nasser cautioned that the oil and gas resources currently available, as well as new discoveries, are more challenging and more expensive to develop.



He said an integrated strategy can help lift the upstream industry, enabling it to adapt to the energy transitions; environmental, policy and regulatory trends.



Nasser said the biggest challenge was the need for resilience to industry downturns. Industry players must possess strong financial capacity to ride through challenging times and to maintain long-term investments to develop new capacity while continuing to innovate for better efficiencies.



As it stands, $1 trillion in costly, challenging and marginal resources may be delayed or canceled by the end of this decade. Yet, long-term investments must be maintained to develop new capacity and keep technology on track, Nasser added.



The second point which interlocks with resilience is technology where the research and development, as well as innovative capabilities of industry players have always been the upstreams driving force.



Clearly innovation cant stand still  but it also cant just plod along. We have to push the envelope. Saudi Aramco is doing just that as part of our strategic intent to become a global, integrated energy and chemicals company  which places a huge growth emphasis on an area where we were already strong, he said.



Nasser wrapped up the final two points of the strategy  talent and collaboration as being the human touch and momentum enabler which completes the package. He said that investing in technology and research to solve E&Ps big challenges also calls for investing in the people who will develop and use these tools. One prime example he cited was the collaboration between Saudi Aramco and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to establish their new College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences.



Nasser was among the top global oil and gas industry executives and technical experts who spoke at the event, being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 26 ot 28. More than 500 Saudi Aramco delegates from the upstream business line and other organisations are attending the event. - TradeArabia News Service
Crude oil futures fell on Tuesday as optimism faded for an output-limiting deal from an oil producer meeting in Algeria to curb one of the worst supply gluts in history.



Hopes that Opec oil producers could clinch the deal at the September 26-28 informal meeting of Opec and other producers including Russia, faded as sources within the exporter group said the differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran remained too wide.



The Saudi and Russian energy ministers will give a joint briefing in Algiers later on Tuesday but there was no sign of a deal.



Brent crude futures fell $1.30 to $46.05 a barrel by 1331 GMT, having closed up $1.46, or 3.2 per cent, in the previous session.



US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped $1.31 cents to $44.62 a barrel, after rising $1.45, or 3.3 per cent, in the previous session.



"It's all about what's going on in Algiers really ... the prospect or no prospect of a supply deal," Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix, said. "There is no new fundamental development that is more important than Algiers."



Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production. But Iran played down the chances of a deal, saying the meetings in Algiers were only advisory.



Russia's oil minister on Tuesday also said that the country would want to freeze oil output at current levels; Russia's oil output recently touched an all-time high of 11.75 million barrels per day (bpd).



Analysts said that current high production in Russia and Saudi Arabia, combined with potential increases from Libya and Nigeria, made discussions in Algiers somewhat hollow.



"The announcements in Algeria contrast sharply with reality," analysts at Commerzbank said in a note, adding "all the signs point therefore to the comfortable supply situation continuing, that is to say to ongoing overproduction."



US investment bank Goldman Sachs cut its price forecast for WTI crude in the fourth quarter to $43 a barrel, from a $45-$50 range, saying that it expects global supply to exceed demand by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the quarter.



Aside from Opec, a strong US dollar, which makes commodities like crude oil more expensive for holders of other currencies also pressured oil prices.



Traders were also watching for US oil stock data due later on Tuesday from the American Petroleum Institute (API).



US commercial crude oil stocks likely rose by an average of 2.8 million barrels to 507.4 million barrels in the week to September 23, reversing three weeks of unexpected drawdowns, a Reuters survey of seven analysts forecast.-Reuters
The region needs to focus on oil-to-chemicals (OTC) processes, so that it can eventually bypass the refining step and convert crude oil directly into petrochemicals, a sector which has tremendous potential for growth, said Amin H Nasser, Saudi Aramco President & CEO at the Middle East Petrotech 2016.

As you all know, the supply of large quantities of additional ethane feedstock in our region is limited. However, nearly half of the worlds entire proven reserves of crude oil  roughly 800 billion barrels are located right here in the Gulf. Taken together, this means that liquids in general, and oil in particular, are an attractive feedstock opportunity for the regions petrochemical industry, Nasser said in his key-note address.

But there is more to that opportunity than just considerations of supply. Liquids also offer a broader product slate than ethane, while liquids cracking also unlocks attractive opportunities in higher value speciality chemicals, he said.

And viewed holistically, more liquids cracking for petrochemicals would lock in larger oil sales volumes for our regions producers over the long term. That is a critical consideration in light of greater energy efficiency and rising competition from other energy sources in a number of end-use sectors, including light transportation which has been a mainstay of strong oil demand growth for many decades.

But the utilisation of liquid feedstocks in the regions petrochemical sector will only come into its own when we improve the economics of those feedstock supplies by developing purpose-built technologies. Specifically we need to focus on oil-to-chemicals processes, so that we can eventually bypass the refining step and convert crude oil directly into petrochemicals, he said.

Saudi Aramco has adopted a two-phased approach to its research efforts in the field of liquid feedstocks. Phase I seeks to enhance existing liquid cracking technologies and maximise the yield of petrochemicals. This is an interim or incremental step, but it is an R&D opportunity that still offers significant operating benefits and considerable economic advantages for both the refining and petrochemicals assets.

Phase II, though, sets as its goal the elimination of the entire refining step in the process, so that players can introduce crude oil directly into the petrochemicals manufacturing process. This will not only save time and money, but will also eliminate the need for new facilities and expensive and extensive infrastructure development.

We are currently working with Sabic on a joint feasibility study that may eventually lead to an integrated crude-to-chemicals complex in the kingdom. We strongly believe that this is the shape of things to come for our own petrochemicals business, and indeed for the rest of the Gulfs chemical sector simply because the benefits are so enormous, he said.

Nasser said there was need for enhancing the regions share of both the worldwide chemicals market and its vast employment pool.

Global chemicals currently represent a market in excess of $4 trillion, and that market is set to expand substantially in the decades ahead: the OECD predicts the global chemicals market will grow three per cent per year through 2050, with sales in developing economies growing more than twice as fast as in the developed world. By the same token, the worlds chemical, pharmaceutical, and rubber and tyre industries together employ approximately 20 million people.

While there can be no doubt that the region has made significant progress in petrochemicals manufacturing from a very modest start in the 1970s, the fact remains that the regions petrochemicals revenues are less than $100 billion, or two-and-a-half per cent of the world total. The proportion is even worse when it comes to jobs, however. The regional chemicals industry employs a little more than 150,000 people, and accounts for less than one per cent of the global number of jobs in the chemicals and related industries.

Considering the Gulfs endowment of oil and gas, as well as our geographic proximity to major markets in Europe and Asia, both those figures should be much, much higher. And given the acute need for revenue generation and job creation in the region, there is no question that petrochemicals must play a more substantial role in our economies, he said.

What do we need to do in order to bridge the massive gap between present reality and future potential? In my view, there are four key strategies that would help us create more enduring wealth from chemicals while also generating greater employment opportunities for our citizens, said Nasser.

The first strategy centres on enhancing the existing value chains by producing more differentiated, higher value commodity petrochemicals, along with their derivatives. At Saudi Aramco, that includes increasing the integration of its refining and petrochemicals assets, and becoming a top-three player in ethylene, paraxylene and benzene.

Secondly, we should pursue the conversion of commodity petrochemicals into higher value productsthat is, we need to extend the local value chain into manufacturing. The GCCs petrochemicals sector has taken steps to move further downstream by expanding its manufacturing capabilities in the area of commodity materials.

But the sector still has significant opportunities for growth into segments of intermediate chemicals and end-product applications. There is considerable value to be realised in these areas, but just as important is their potential to create new jobs and meaningful career opportunities.

The third key strategy takes us away from commodities and into speciality chemicals, and involves growing the manufacturing of these higher value products. At the moment, the regions share of the global market for speciality chemicals does not exceed two per cent. That represents a huge lost opportunity when one considers that in Germany and Japan, speciality chemical production generates twice the value of commodity-based chemicals. This is clearly the richest and sweetest slice of the pie, and one we should endeavour to grow.

The fourth strategy links to the third, in that we need to derive even more value from those speciality chemicals by building higher value downstream manufacturing and conversion industries, thus magnifying and multiplying the benefits of that production, he said. Aside from domestic and regional demand, there are large and attractive export markets for these products, and here is where the Gulfs prime geographic positionat the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africacan be highly leveraged to significant positive effect.

Taken together, these strategies will help to create greater value for the economies of the region, spawn new industries which will help them reach their goal of greater diversification, and create significant opportunities for the well-paying, highly productive jobs the societies require.

Saudi Aramco has embraced these strategies, and are putting them into practice with tangible results, he said.

Our Sadara and PetroRabigh projects are both examples of each of the four strategies that I just outlined. They produce differentiated commodity petrochemicals as well as a slate of speciality petrochemicals, and have created conversion and manufacturing opportunities in their adjacent industrial parks.

In line with the kingdoms goals to help diversify the local economy and create meaningful employment opportunities, it will continue to attract further investments into these value parks and expedite implementation of investor projects. For example, 29 tenants have already signed agreements at the Rabigh PlusTech Park associated with PetroRabigh, while five new firms were identified as potential tenants for PetroRabigh phase two. Likewise, the Sadara team continues to work with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu to develop the site for 32 projects already approved by the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources.

Nasser said he did not want to downplay the difficulties and challenges that stand in the way of creating the sort of integrated, differentiated regional petrochemical ecosystem he had described.

First of all, we need to see more indigenous development of high-end technologies. Licensing agreements can take us some way down the path, but to create true competitive advantage and a sustainable leadership position in the industry, we need to develop our own technologies, processes and products.

Furthermore, while implementing these four key strategies across the region will create numerous job opportunities, they also require qualified technical talent to fill these positions. That translates into a sizeable training and development challenge, and one whose solution must be expedited if we are not to lose ground to rapidly expanding petrochemical industries in places like China and India. Yes, we need technology and capital investments, but we also need talent, he added. Trade Arabia News Service
Nissan today unveiled an autonomous chair for people who cant stand queuing -- the latest in a series of innovations designed to bring the benefits of its Intelligent Mobility blueprint to the daily lives of customers.



Following the success of the Intelligent Parking Chair earlier this year, the newly-developed ProPilot Chair negotiates queues on behalf of its occupant, sparing them the hassle of standing in line.



Named after the companys flagship autonomous driving technology, the ProPilot Chair detects and automatically follows the chair ahead of it, maintaining a fixed distance and travelling along a set path. This closely resembles how the ProPilot system for vehicles -- available on the Serena minivan in Japan since August -- maintains a safe distance behind the car ahead, and ensures that the vehicle stays in the centre of its lane.



The ProPilot Chair appeals to anyone who has queued for hours outside a crowded restaurant: it eliminates the tedium and physical strain of standing in line. The same user-friendly philosophy underpins Nissans ProPilot autonomous driving technology, which was designed to ease driver workload by assisting with the most tiring and repetitive aspects of driving in heavy highway traffic. The unifying concept behind both is Intelligent Mobility, Nissans vision for how cars will be driven, powered, and integrated into society.



Nissan will also ensure that the ProPilot Chair receives plenty of real-world testing. Between now and December 27, restaurants across Japan can apply to use the chairs, it said.



The chairs will appear at selected restaurants in 2017. In the meantime, from September 29 through October 2, the public gallery at Nissans Global Headquarters in Yokohama will play home to an exhibit featuring six of the chairs. Visitors will be able to try the chairs and see them in action in a queue simulation. - TradeArabia News Service
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, announced today the signing of Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park.



The newly built hotel will operate under a management agreement with an affiliate of the Rolaco Group, who also own InterContinental Dallas, InterContinental Semiramis, InterContinental Geneva, Crowne Plaza Geneva, and Crowne Plaza Zurich.



Scheduled to open in 2019, the hotel is located in Dubai Science Park, the regions first freezone community offering facilities including office and laboratory space, as well as residential units, with the aim of creating a vibrant Life Sciences community. Located near the Arabian Ranches and Motor City, Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park is just 15 minutes away from one of the largest and busiest shopping malls in the city, Mall of the Emirates.



The hotel will comprise 402 rooms and suites, including five meeting rooms and a conference hall seating 600 guests. To ensure an enjoyable experience for the guests, Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park will also offer four food and beverage outlets, an outdoor swimming pool, and a gym.



Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: We are delighted to be strengthening our global partnership with the Rolaco Group through the signing of their first Holiday Inn property in Dubai. The signing reinforces our current footprint in the UAE, which includes 19 hotels open and another 11 hotels in our pipeline. The UAE is home to our second largest portfolio of hotels in the Middle East and we continue to expand our portfolio in the region.



Saud Abdulaziz Al Sulaiman, board member of the Rolaco Group, added: Our Group is very happy to add this Holiday Inn to our almost 50 years cooperation with IHG. As Holiday Inn is recognised by millions around the world and appeals to a wide range of guests, were confident the hotel will become a key pillar of the Life Sciences community being created in the city. We look forward to opening the doors of Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park and welcoming business and leisure guests to this new area of Dubai.



IHG currently has 78 hotels (23,337 rooms) operating across five of the companys brands in the Middle East region, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites with a further 24 in the development pipeline. Across the Middle East, there are 25 Holiday Inn properties open and an additional three properties due to open within the next three to five years.



There are currently 1,198 Holiday Inn hotels open across the globe, with a further 260 hotels due to open in the next three to five years. - TradeArabia News Service
This September, Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah invites guests to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its grand opening.



To honour the occasion, guests can enjoy 20 per cent off the best available rate valid until December 31, 2016 along with five unique experiences, including scrumptious cakes in the room upon arrival, a romantic dinner for two at Bonfire Beach Restaurant, a five-course meal (with the opportunity to cook your course of choice with the chef), a relaxing 30-minute massage for two at Cinq Mondes Spa and a private cabana to use while lounging poolside.



General manager Alessandro Redaelli said: I extend heartfelt gratitude to my Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah colleagues and partners for their support during the hotels journey. For the partners who have helped us achieve our five years of excellence, we will be holding a special awards ceremony during the event."



Senior vice president regional operations for the Middle East and Africa, Henk Meyknecht, said: I am exceptionally proud to be part of Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah as we celebrate five outstanding years of service. Since its opening in 2011, the hotel has grown from strength to strength, becoming a prime property on the Palm Jumeirah. - TradeArabia News Service


Jumeirah Group, a global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has appointed Francesco (Franco) Becci as restaurant manager of The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Londons Knightsbridge.



Franco joins the Jumeirah Carlton Tower team with a wealth of food and beverage experience gathered during his 40-year career in the industry. His most recent role was restaurant manager of French fine dining restaurant Roux at the Landau, a position he held for nine years.



Having studied hotel management in his native Italy, Franco began his hospitality career at the four-star Caravelle Hotel in Venice before moving to London in 1982. Since then he has enjoyed a number of senior restaurant roles at some of Londons most prestigious hotels including The Savoy, Browns Hotel and, most recently, The Langham.



Reporting to director of food and beverage Charl Leicester, Franco will oversee all aspects of The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant operations. Once described by Tatler magazine as running his restaurants with uncommon warmth and humour, he brings his well-known charm and attention to detail to the role.



Awarded three AA Rosettes for culinary and service excellence, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant is renowned as a bastion of British cuisine, serving its legendary roast rib of beef alongside contemporary, classic and seasonal dishes; imaginative cocktails and premium gins; and a choice of over 450 wines. - TradeArabia News Service
Etihad Airways has revealed its new First Class amenity kits, designed in partnership with two leading brands from the worlds of fashion and beauty: internationally renowned fashion designer Christian Lacroix, and pioneering Hungarian skincare brand, Omorovicza.



The attractive new bags will initially be introduced on the airline's Airbus A380 flights between Abu Dhabi and London, New York, Sydney, Melbourne and Mumbai, and then fleet-wide in early 2017.



Calum Laming, Etihad Airways vice president guest experience, said: "The new kits perfectly balance fashion and style with beauty and wellbeing. By forging partnerships with these two innovative lifestyle brands, we are once again able to demonstrate Etihad Airways' continuous commitment to First Class travel, and to providing unparalleled experiences at every phase of our guests journey with us.



With a reputation for attention to detail and a meticulous approach to design, the Christian Lacroix brand complements the elegance and flair synonymous with Etihad Airways First Class service. Both the male and female embossed bags come in two rich colours, plum for ladies and grey for men. A second phase will see new kits in burgundy for ladies and black for men.



There are two varieties for both male and female guests  featuring a wash bag and convertible flat case for men, and debossed fold over bags for ladies. The stylish ladies bag is designed to be used as a chic clutch, whilst the mens bag can be used buttoned down as a wash bag or, when opened flat, as storage for tablet devices such as iPads.

Nicolas Topiol, chief executive officer of Christian Lacroix, said: "We are very proud to be partnering with Etihad Airways for its First Class amenity bags. Etihad Airways' position as a leading global airline is a wonderful complement to the House of Christian Lacroix.



The bags contain four anti-ageing and rejuvenating items by Omorovicza, hand-picked from the brands Gold collection. The anti-inflammatory gold in the luxurious creams, serums, oils and scrubs heals micro-damage and strengthens mature skin, and also achieves maximum efficacy with only pure ingredients and no harmful agents



The inflight essential products include a perfecting lip balm that soothes and nourishes dehydrated lips; a facial moisturiser with cooling gel-cream that absorbs instantly and provides long-lasting hydration; a nourishing, lightly scented hand treatment; and a refreshing cleansing wipe.



Four Omorovicza items will be available in the First Class guest washrooms: a Queen of Hungary face mist: a hydrating and energising mist that refreshes the skin and stimulates the senses; a fragrant and refreshing face and hand wash to cleanse and hydrate the skin without stripping it of its natural oils; and a nourishing, lightly scented hand lotion.



Stephen de Heinrich de Omorovicza, founder and chief executive officer of Omorovicza, said: We are very proud that Etihad Airways has selected Omorovicza products for its new First Class amenities, and we look forward to forging a strong and successful collaboration with an airline for which we have the utmost admiration, and whose vision we respect and appreciate.



Other comfort items included are ear plugs, a comb, a care pack (consisting of cotton pads, ear buds and an emery board), a dental pack, a sleep pack (with comfortable socks and eyeshades), and a relax pack (with pillow mist and pulse point oil). The offering for men also includes a shaving kit. - TradeArabia News Service
(ITW Abu Dhabi), a global platform addressing key tourism niche markets such as Halal, medical, shopping and family-friendly sector, joins the world to celebrate World Tourism Day today.



ITW Abu Dhabi addresses global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlights the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.



Speaking about the support on the annual celebration, Andy Buchanan, executive organising committee director of ITW Abu Dhabi, said: This years theme of WTD is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us and I feel that the team behind ITW Abu Dhabi share the same values in providing a global platform for tourism leaders and players to meet and create synergies.



Taking place from November 25 to 28, 2017, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, ITW Abu Dhabi will aim to attract more than 6,000 global travel professionals from different parts of the world and deliver a comprehensive programme which will combine targeted meetings with first-class networking opportunities, inspiring knowledge-bound seminars and innovative experiences, culminating in a glittering gala awards evening to celebrate outstanding achievements across the international niche tourism landscape.



ITW Abu Dhabi is a four-day summit that from the same venue plays host to six distinct travel and tourism elements simultaneously. The combined events which include the fastest growing sectors within the global tourism economy, foremost of which is Halal Tourism. In addition to the World Halal Tourism Summit, other scheduled events include the World Halal Tourism Awards and other summits such as: World Medical Tourism Summit, World Shopping Tourism Summit, Ministerial Forum and Family Vacation Show.



Confirmed participation for the ITW Abu Dhabi 2017, stretching across multiple spectrums, hail from a diverse spread of key players including Accor Hotels, Bangladesh Tourism Board, Dinar Standard, Etihad Airways, HCA Healthcare, Holiday Bosnia, Jannah Hotels, Marjan Island Resort & Spa, and Sofyan Hospitality, among others. - TradeArabia News Service
Many Wyoming cities are using a dip in new construction to take a wider look at how they might develop over the coming years.

For many city planners, the slowdown, spurred by an economic downturn, is a respite from the frantic development that sweeps across the state during boom times.

Long-range planning a lot of times gets pushed to the back burner because were so busy keeping up with current planning, Casper city planner Craig Collins said.

With fewer strip malls and subdivisions to consider, larger questions emerge about what kind of communities the Cowboy State can support in the coming decades. Despite signs that oil and coal prices may not return to boom levels, many of Wyomings urban planners are still preparing for growth.

Rock Springs officials are refining ordinances and stepping up code enforcement in anticipation of the next  hopefully  wave of development, planner Gary Leikness said.

Likewise, despite seeing rental vacancies spike from under 1 percent in 2014 to over 22 percent in June, Gillettes city planner, Mike Cole, is optimistic.

Im hopeful that weve seen the bottom of the downturn, he said.

Operating on the assumption that the imminent return of major growth  despite structural changes, including increased regulation of fossil fuel  is often tempting and can be a political necessity. While Wyoming is far from becoming like the Rust Belt, Tufts professor Justin Hollander said planners often fail to look at the prospect of long-term contraction until it becomes an established fact.

Despite decades of in-depth research on the devastation of mining communities in Pennsylvania, for example, Hollander said local leaders there have yet to accept that extractive industries are unlikely to return.

Those communities are still probably living in the past, hoping the mines will open up, Hollander said.

While contemporary thought in urban planning has accepted that preparing for sustained population decline is wise, Hollander said elected leaders usually make this politically impossible. Because city plans have to be approved by town councils and planning and zoning boards, planners are servant to the demands of politicians looking toward reelection.

Theres a sense that its defeatist or anti-American, Hollander said of going public with no-growth plans. There are very few politicians who have been able to go stand in front of their voters and say, This is a legitimate, healthy move.

Robert Briggs, Sheridans planning and economic development director, said Wyoming cities have a tendency to rely on the last boom and bust to predict growth. That rarely pans out and can lead to poor decisions.

How long are you going to see a reduction in growth or maybe even a contraction in the community? Briggs said. That crystal ball gets murky.

Briggs said focusing on community values, rather than precise growth targets, can help city planners manage whatever comes their way. In Sheridan, that looks like embracing the communitys desire for more pathways around the city. Pathways can be easily altered based on the citys future, whether that means preserving open spaces or creating paved and landscaped trails.

In Gillette, Cole also spoke of embracing value-based planning, emphasizing the role families play in the city.

Gillette is a community of families, and a lot of the households have parents working in the energy industry 10 miles to 60 miles away, Cole said.

Wherever possible, Cole said he sought to create safe transportation corridors from neighborhoods to swimming pools and libraries. But while development like that can entice families to stay in the city even when faced with job losses or reduced hours, Cole acknowledged it was hard for Wyoming cities to drum up the money during lean times. He has lost half his offices staff to attrition and layoffs during budget cuts in Gillette.

When the local economy is doing well, projects get funded, Cole said. When its down, we have to tighten our belts.

But the move toward austerity is unlikely to result in ghost towns anytime soon.

University of Nevada Las Vegas professor Robert Lang, an expert on urban development in the Mountain West, said that cities such as Casper, Gillette and Rock Springs have reached the point where they are not entirely dependent on the energy industry.

Youre hard to remove from the map, Lang said. You rely on your scale.

Cities that depend heavily on extractive industries can do little to prepare for a future without the wealth generated from oil fields and coal mines, Lang said. But those communities can help smooth out boom and bust cycles by cultivating tourism and better catering to the rural markets that rely on larger towns for business services, health care and retail outlets.

In Rock Springs, that means playing up the towns role as a gateway to northwest Wyoming for tourists on their way to Yellowstone. While the service-based leisure economy may never create energy industry wealth, Leikness, the Rock Springs planner, said that embracing recreation is relatively low-hanging fruit.

We could really make it a hot spot for those people who head north, Leikness said.

Even simple actions like improved signage and basic marketing could allow shops servicing tourists in transit to find traction, he said.

Lang noted that there were few substitutes for the hyper-wealth generated by natural resources, but that doing nothing was a recipe to be caught flat-footed if and when a given commodity price falls.

If you produce fossil fuels and you havent started anything new  youre vulnerable, Lang said.

He drew a comparison to Elko, Nevada, which relies heavily on a nearby gold mine. The town, which sits along Interstate 80, is attempting to diversify its economy. Even if those attempts dont fully succeed, Elko has bettered its prospects by boosting the quality of life.

Its a pretty livable, nice place, Lang said. Its done a good job.

In Casper, Collins said that as his team works to develop a new long-term plan for the city, quality of life is at the top of the priority list. With economic incentives falling out of favor, Collins said projects like developing downtown are essential to the citys economic health.

What works now is: People move to a place because they want to be there and they worry about getting a job later, Collins said. He added that businesses are inherently attracted to locations with the educated, skilled workforce lured to communities with good social and recreational opportunities.

We have to make Casper an attractive, nice, fun town or we have no shot at competing with other towns, Collins said. It really is economic development to make Casper a nice place.
Morocco, Thailand Sign Tourism Promotion Agreement

A memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this month in the Moroccan capital Rabat between Abderrafie Zouiten, director-general of the Moroccan National Tourist Office and Suparerk Soorangura, president of the Thailand Travel Agents Association, said the ambassador.

Over sixty Thai travel professionals and journalists have been invited to a 10-day trip to visit Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh and nine other cities to become more acquainted with Moroccos tourist sites.

This trip by the TTAA demonstrates the attractiveness and diversity of Moroccos rich heritage, stability and security, Mr Housni said.

Moroccos Tourism sector is reaching out to other markets after experiencing a decline in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2016.

The nation saw a 2.6% decline from a year earlier to 4.2 million tourist arrivals, according to Moroccos Tourism office. The decline reflects a slowdown in the European economies.

Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy decreased by 8%, 7%, 5% and 5% respectively, the office said.

Last month, Moroccos Ministry of Tourism reaffirmed its commitment to improve the hospitality industry and stay on track with Vision 2020.

Vision 2020 was presented as a government policy in 2010 in Marrakech. It is King Mohammeds VI objective to increase the size of the tourism sector and make Morocco among the most popular tourist destinations worldwide.

The goal of Vision 2020 is to increase the number of tourist that come to Morocco and the quality of services offered to them with the effect of making tourism a more prosperous industry to contribute to the overall economy of Morocco.

www.moroccoworldnews.com
CHEYENNE  Wyoming lawmakers must decide whether to repair the crumbling state prison in Rawlins or spend even more to build a new facility.

Shifting soils have caused cracking in the prisons walls. A recent engineering report states options range from spending $65 million to repair the existing prison, which opened only about 15 years ago south of Rawlins, to spending $195 million to build a new one.

House Speaker Kermit Brown, R-Laramie, said Monday he believes the state should cut its losses and build a new prison north of Rawlins. Brown is co-chairman of a legislative committee that will issue a report on the prison after a meeting in early October.

I just feel like weve got to get out of there, Brown said. Were painted into a corner down there in that unstable soil, and a bad location.

Brown said the soil is more stable at a possible construction site north of Rawlins. He said the state could continue to use laundry and kitchen facilities at the existing prison south of Rawlins for a while after it opens new cell blocks at the northern location.

Completing planning and environmental assessment work at a site north of Rawlins may be complicated by the existence of a historic trail and the need to use federal lands, Brown said.

The need to address the prison issue comes as Wyoming faces declining energy revenues. Gov. Matt Mead this summer alerted state department directors to prepare for budget cuts when the Legislature convenes early next year.

Brown, whos leaving the Legislature at the end of this year, said the state may have to consider issuing bonds to cover the new prison construction. That might get it down to a number on an annual basis we can handle, but its going to be tough, he said.

Sen. Bruce Burns, R-Sheridan, is co-chairman with Brown of the legislative panel considering the prison issue. He said Monday he will wait for a briefing at next months meeting before deciding how he thinks the state should proceed.

However, Burns said the timing of the prison issue coming as the state faces a financial downturn leaves lawmakers in a pickle.

The troubled Rawlins prison replaced an earlier prison nearby called the North Facility, also south of Rawlins, that the state had to abandon because of similar structural problems. A state consultant has concluded that foundations in the newer prison werent built according to specifications, allowing movement in the foundations to lift floor slabs that had been intended to move independently.

Mead recently said he would favor investing in a new prison.
Wednesday's Highlights

Wednesday clubs and meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous: 6:30 a.m., 917 N. Beech; 8:30 a.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 10 a.m., 328 E. A; noon, 500 S. Wolcott; 2 p.m., 917 N. Beech; 5:09 P.M., 917 N. Beech; 5:30 p.m., 456 S. Walnut; 7 p.m., 500 S. Wolcott; 8 p.m., 8 p.m., 328 E. A; 8 p.m, 328-1/2 E. A, closed; 8:23 p.m., 719 3rd St., Evansville. Douglas: 7:30 p.m., 628 E. Richards (upstairs in back); 7:30 p.m,. 805 E. Richards, Ste. 1. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are open. Casper info: 266-9578; Douglas info: (307) 351-1688.

Al-Anon: 7-8 p.m.,500 S. Wolcott, Ste. 200, 12-24 Club, for grades 6 and up. Info: 377-7260 or 258-1444; 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 302 E. 2nd. Use east entrance, meet downstairs in Room 12.

Narcotics Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club; 8 p.m., 302 E. 2nd St., Methodist Church, enter east side. Web site: http://www.urmrna.org.

Nicotine Anonymous: noon, 500 S. Wolcott, 12-24 Club. Info: Pam M., 577-0518; Troy Y., 267-6326.

OIF/OEF Support Group: 6:30-8 p.m., Casper Vet Center, 1030 N. Poplar St., Ste. B. All OIF/OEF Veterans are invited to attend. No need to pre-register. Info: 261-5355.

Teen Addiction Anonymous: 7- 8 p.m., 12-24 Club Teton Room. Info: 258-7439.

TOPS #35 Weight Loss: 6:45 a.m., First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave. Weight Loss Support Group, Weigh-in is from 6:30 a.m.-8 a.m. Info: 258-2603 or 234-5644.

TOPS #162: 8:30 a.m., United Methodist Church, 1880 Poplar. Anyone interested is invited to join. Info: 472-4926.

Tour residential respite care

Central Wyoming Community Respite Program hosts lunch and a tour of its Residential Respite Facility every Wednesday in September from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us at 304 S. Fenway and have your respite care questions answered. Call 577-4832 with questions. Proudly brought to you by Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions Program.

Giant map of Wyoming at library

The Natrona County Library will feature a 16- by 20-foot National Geographic map of Wyoming for elementary-age students. The hands-on, feet-on after school fun will begin at 4 p.m. Wyoming Geographic Alliance field coordinator, Germaine Wagner, will facilitate the activities. Call 577-READ ext. 5 for more information.

Family continues suicide support

Good Grief, Support will continue at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month (Sept. 28) at the 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott, by request of attendees. The family of J.R. Hunter, who died from suicide in June 2015 began the support before the especially tough holiday season. Anyone who is grieving a suicide, death, or considering suicide is encouraged to attend. Attendance at the meeting, as well as the content, will be strictly confidential. The Fresh Start Cafe will be open, and you can eat during the meetings. This meeting place was offered by Dan Cantine of the 12-24 Club. You need not be a member to attend.

New depression group begins

J.R.s Hunt for Life is offering See it Clearly, a free peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. We are not professionals but rather a group of like-minded peers wishing to support each other in these struggles. We offer anonymity and confidentiality to all attending. Our meetings are at 6:45 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 500 South Wolcott in the conference room on the second floor, (12-24 Club). Meetings in September are Sept 28, and so on through the year. If you have ever considered or attempted taking your life or are struggling, please come. You are important to us.

Veteran Cigar Night

Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., all veterans are invited to Veteran Cigar Night at the Casper Cigar Company, 4717 W. Yellowstone Highway, sponsored by Casper Cigar Company. There is no cost to attend.

This is a time and place for our community's combat veterans to relax and share their stories with other combat veterans while enjoying a good cigar. Veterans receive 20 percent off cigars. For more information, call Josh Cruse at 307-337-4400 or josh@caspercigar.com

Fried chicken at the Elks

Wednesday Night Special at the Casper Elks Lodge is fried chicken with the fixins. All you can eat for $7, children 5 to 12 are $3, serving from 6 to 7 p.m. or until gone. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839.

Explorer Jenkins speaks in Casper

National Geographic writer and University of Wyoming writer in residence Mark Jenkins will speak in Casper at 7 p.m. on "Burma's Resurrection: An Expedition Deep into a Forbidden Land." The talk is at the Wheeler Concert Hall, Music Building, Casper College, and is free. Last year, Jenkins attempted to climb the highest peak in Burma at 19,300 feet. The trek was featured in the September 2015 issue of National Geographic as "Point of No Return" and in the Renan Ozturk documentary, "Down to Nothing."

Jenkins' appearance is part of the UW World to Wyoming Lecture Series and is made possible by the Ruth R. Ellbogen Foundation. For more information, contact Dr. Jean Garrison at garrison@wyo.edu or 307-766-6119.

Gold prospectors meet

The Casper Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America will hold its September meeting at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building, 2211 King Blvd. at 7 p.m. We urge all members of the chapter to attend and participate at the meeting. Enter through the east door. The club is holding a raffle for a Thompson Drywasher. Raffle tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the meeting or by calling Eric Weaner at 513-259-7902. Drawing to be held, pending reserve, at the October meeting. For more information about GPAA or the Casper Chapter, or about prospecting in general, call Weaner at 513-259-7902.
A Casper man suspected of shooting at a car and threatening others with a gun before fleeing from police in a stolen van pleaded not guilty by reason of mental deficiency to eight felony charges Monday.

Police arrested Doyle Eugene Gabbert in August after a man reported being shot at while waiting in his car at the intersection of 11th Street and Payne Avenue. Surveillance footage for a nearby house showed Gabbert shooting a pistol at the car as it drove away, according to court documents. Police were able to identify Gabbert because they had been looking for him for a few days before.

Two days after the shooting, police received reports that a man matching Gabberts description had pointed a gun at a group of people  including children  in the Ridleys Family Markets parking lot on Wyoming Boulevard. The man pulled out a gun and demanded the keys to the groups car, the documents state. When the group refused to give him the keys, the man left in a dark sedan driven by someone else.

After the group reported the incident, police found the dark sedan pulling into the Hobby Lobby parking lot. Gabbert ran from the vehicle when police approached, throwing down a pistol and a towel as he attempted to escape, according to the documents.

Gabbert climbed a fence between the craft store and Hilltop Storage and stole a parked white minivan from a woman who was unloading belongings into a storage unit, police said in the documents. Casper police, Natrona County sheriffs deputies, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers and agents from the Division of Criminal Investigations pursued the van until it crashed in an alley near Roosevelt High School.

Gabbert ran from the wrecked vehicle and jumped into the cab of a Coca-Cola semi parked at the nearby LoafN Jug gas station at 933 N. Center St., the documents state. Gabbert failed to start the truck, and officers released a police dog after he refused to comply with demands to put his hands up, police report.

Law enforcement officers were able to pull Gabbert out of the semi after the police dog grabbed his arm. He was then taken to Wyoming Medical Center to be treated for his bite wounds.

In an interview later that day, Gabbert told police that he felt the alleged victims had disrespected him, according to court documents.

Gabbert faces eight felony charges: three counts of aggravated assault, armed robbery, theft, attempted theft, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent. He could face up to 50 years in prison for the charges.

Gabbert remained in Natrona County Detention Center on Monday in lieu of $1 million bail. He was previously convicted of aggravated robbery, receiving stolen property and aggravated assault.
The Natrona County School District has denied for a second time an application to create The Guild Charter School.

In making their unanimous decision at a meeting Monday night, the trustees cited an apparent lack of support from parents and the community, a lack of administrative experience and concerns over the $1.5 million proposed budget.

I dont want to sacrifice a group of NCSD children in the name of an uncertain experiment, said trustee Dana Howie. I do think a lot of your ideas have merit, if you really, really believe in what you are doing. I urge you, once again, to try to make it happen as a school of choice.

The Guild would have offered a classical-style education with an emphasis on challenging coursework.

Charter school organizer Tiffany Leary said she was disappointed in the decision after two years of work on the project.

They like the idea. They just dont like the way we want it separate from the district, Leary said.

Mondays vote was the second defeat for Guild organizers. The school board voted to deny the charter schools first proposal last year.

Unlike the first denial, however, Leary said organizers would not appeal the decision to the State Board of Education.

Only a couple of charter school supporters attended the meeting, which was noted by many of the board members.

You would think if there was overwhelming support from the 320 parents involved that just more than few would show up, said board chairman Kevin Christopherson.

Christopherson recalled helping the Casper Montessori School when it was in danger of going out of business.

I stepped up with Lisa Burridge, and we went out and found a school. I personally put up the money, bought it. I spent an entire summer remodeling that school, and I had every parent down there at that school helping me at times, Christopherson said. That is parent support.

The funding for Caspers first charter school would have come from the district based on the number of students attending. The K-12 school was organized to accommodate 426 students at full capacity, starting with 176 students who had signed letters of intent.

The Guild initially planned on using a building provided by the district while it sought private funding to buy or rent its own facility.

Trustee Raymond Catellier said the charter school applicants underestimated the cost of using an older school building.

If youre going to move into some of these facilities that are 50-60 years old, those numbers dont seem realistic of maintaining a facility of that age to be a safe space for children, Catellier said.

Trustee Clark Jensen also expressed concerns about finances.

Running a charter school is very much like running a business, and I see no evidence that they have the skill set or that they have recruited anyone that does have that skill set to comprehend the true cost of this enterprise, said Jensen. Copying off the budget of another school does not inspire my confidence.

Leary had previously said a charter school was not the same as a business. She noted the financials in the second application had been closely modeled on a successful charter school in Laramie, after the more detailed financial plan in the first application was criticized.

Some trustees said that at times the meeting felt contentious, particularly an implication that some on the board had not thoroughly reviewed the original application.

I do not believe the founders have the capacity for the leadership of a school, and they have shown me they dont have the temperament to play nicely, as the comments and concerns you have expressed in your rebuttal are either adversarial or denigrating, said trustee Debbie McClure.

Leary also described some tense moments.

They say we didnt play fair or play nice. They were able to talk a lot longer, and a lot more  it felt very adversarial, combative almost, Leary said after the meeting. I am very disappointed in a lot of things.
Mourners gathered Monday at the Casper Events Center to celebrate the life of Brian Scott Gamroth, the beloved broadcaster and arts supporter who died in a motorcycle crash last week.

During the two-hour service, friends and family shared stories and anecdotes from a podium adorned with an on air sign  a nod to Gamroths two-plus decades hosting K2 Radios morning program. K2 general manager Bob Price, who hired Gamroth, emceed the gathering.

A number of notable Wyoming personalities attended to share their memories of Gamroth, including Gov. Matt Mead, two former governors and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso.

Gamroth, who was 51 when he died Sept. 18 in a Montana motorcycle crash, developed a wide following in Wyoming, both for his popular radio program and his support of community and arts groups. He served as emcee at many charitable events, helping nonprofits raise millions of dollars.
HELENA, Mont.  Wildlife advocacy groups are suing to force the U.S. government to look again at whether the hunting and slaughter of bison that wander outside of Yellowstone National Park threaten the survival of one of the last genetically pure populations of the national mammal.

Buffalo Field Campaign, Western Watersheds Project and Friends of Animals filed the lawsuit against the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. They are asking a judge to order federal wildlife officials to re-examine whether the Yellowstone bison should be listed as a threatened or endangered species.

Bison, which Congress designated as the national mammal earlier this year, were hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century. The estimated 4,900 Yellowstone bison are one of the last remaining populations in the U.S. that dont have cattle genes in their DNA.

The Fish and Wildlife Service earlier this year rejected two petitions seeking federal protections for Yellowstone bison that would prevent them from being hunted, rounded up for slaughter or hazed back into the park when they leave in search of food.

Federal wildlife officials said in rejecting the petitions that Yellowstone bison numbers are stable and growing, and there is no scientific information that would lead to their being considered threatened or endangered.

A consortium of federal, state and tribal officials that manage the bison aims for a population of about 3,000.

The Interagency Bison Management Plan calls for decreasing the existing population through hunting outside of the parks boundaries and capturing them for slaughter, relocation or research.

In the lawsuit, the wildlife groups say the Yellowstone bison numbers are too few, they lack genetic diversity and they are confined within a small portion of its historical range.

Its not a viable population, said Mike Harris. Theres too much inbreeding and theyre subject to population collapse if disease hits the herd or there is a change in habitat due to drought or climate change.

The wildlife groups are asking a federal judge to order the government to withdraw its rejection of the petitions seeking to list Yellowstone bison as endangered or threatened, and to issue a new finding within 60 days of the courts order.

Yellowstone officials did not return calls for comment.

Park biologists have said the bison population needs to average between 3,000 and 5,000 animals to preserve genetic diversity, according to the Interagency Bison Management Plan. Park officials have also said that the bison population has grown steadily from 500 animals in 1970 to the current numbers, and culling the herd does not put the population at risk.
Call-center operator C3/CustomerContactChannels is looking to hire more than 1,100 workers in Tucson, nearly doubling its local workforce.

C3  the fastest growing employer in Southern Arizona last year  says it plans to hire nearly 4,000 people companywide to meet the demands of new clients and new assignments from existing clients, including health care providers ramping up for fall insurance enrollments.

In Tucson, the company plans to add 1,132 jobs. C3 operates a call center at 1150 W. Drexel Road and another one in Foothills Mall at 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd.

Job-seekers can fill out an application at jobs.c3connect.com.

The new jobs pay $9.50 to $10.50 an hour plus performance incentives on some programs. C3 offers health care and 401(k) retirement plans and other benefits.

In 2015, the median hourly wage for customer-service representatives was $12.35, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As part of its incentive program, C3 said it is raffling off a new car, a 2016 Nissan Versa, to one worker at each of its U.S. locations who hits certain performance milestones.

C3 already doubled its Tucson workforce to nearly 1,400 workers in 2015, making it the regions fastest-growing employer last year. It ranked 36th in the 2016 Star 200 survey of the regions biggest employers, reporting 1,388 full-time equivalent employees at start of 2016.

Besides Tucson, C3 operates contact centers in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, as well as internationally in the Philippines, Bulgaria and Guatemala.
Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Second Chance Tucson will host a Re-Entry Job & Resource Fair for job-seekers returning from incarceration.

The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Tucson Convention Center Grand Lobby and Copper Ballroom, with parking available in lot B, off of Granada.

"We know that a job is the best guarantee that a person does not re-offend and end up back in prison," Rothschild said in a news release. "Yet people returning from incarceration can face barriers to employment. That's why I'm so grateful to the participating employers who are willing to give these returning citizens a second chance."
Republican incumbent Ally Miller will face Democrat Brian Bickel in the Nov. 8 general election. Miller handily defeated her Republican primary challenger John Winchester on Aug. 30, taking over 57 percent of votes cast. She is in her first term.

Beyond incumbency, Miller enjoys a fundraising advantage over Bickel and represents a district with far more registered Republicans  more than 39 percent of its roughly 132,000 registered voters  than registered Democrats, who make up nearly 31 percent. So far, Miller has raised over $77,000 for her reelection and Bickel has raised about $25,500. Bickel has not received many of the large campaign donations that gave political newcomer Winchester a financial edge over Miller during the primary campaign, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.

As in the primary, Miller was the only candidate to not provide responses to questions posed by the Star to all supervisor contenders with competitive races.

Q. Caterpillars move to Pima County, along with several other developments, has been pointed to as evidence that the countys economic landscape is improving. However, some have criticized the taxpayer-funded incentives and other means used to attract businesses to the area. What are your thoughts on the countys recent role in economic development? Would you push for a different approach?

Bickel: I think Pima Countys recent successes in economic development have demonstrated an effective approach. Tax incentives are a recruiting tool, much as sign-on bonuses are a recruiting tool in the business world. Recruiting for Fortune 500 companies is going to require incentives of some kind. However, we should not break the bank to attract a business. I believe that we exhibited that kind of control in the Tesla recruitment. We lost out to a community that was willing to provide greater incentives. Tesla would have been a great company to have in Pima County, but I think there was wisdom in not pursuing them at any cost. Ultimately the deal needs to make sense and there needs to be a net benefit to the County. I would not push for a different approach without due consideration.

Q. Roads, and their often poor condition, are a perennial source of complaints in Pima County. What do you think is the best approach to improve the condition of county roads in coming years?

Bickel: First, I believe that we need a comprehensive survey of all Pima County roads including residential, connectors, feeders and arterials. This information should include current condition, priority and a timeline to repair or replace the road surface. Then we should create a maintenance schedule for every road in the County. Finally, we need to create a funding mechanism that is totally under the control of Pima County and not the state. There are a number of options available and they all need to be evaluated for both immediate needs and the ongoing maintenance of effort.

Q. Beyond the issues raised in the previous questions, what is the most significant problem or issue facing your district, and what would you do to address it?

Bickel: Of the responsibilities within the purview of the Board of Supervisors, I believe the two items above address the most pressing issues in District 1.

Q. What is the most significant problem or issue facing the county as a whole, and what would you do to address it?

Bickel: Aside from the issues mentioned above, I believe the most significant issue facing Pima County is our tax structure. I believe that we are overly dependent on property tax to generate revenue. I believe that we should look at what other Arizona counties are doing, particularly Maricopa County. I would consider investigating the restructuring of our revenue stream, if it makes sense for Pima County. This must be a revenue neutral process. We are not trying to generate additional revenue, just restructure the source of the revenue.

Q. Why should voters pick you over your opponent?

Bickel: There are two things that a Supervisor must be able to do to be successful. First, a Supervisor must be able to come up with ideas that are going to benefit and/or improve the lives of their constituents and/or Pima County. Second, a Supervisor must be able to convince at least two more Supervisors to support these efforts. As a former hospital chief executive and military officer, I have demonstrated success in both of these areas. I have led troops, been involved in negotiations with foreign governments, insurance companies, medical suppliers and employees. As a result of my experience, I developed a keen sense of negotiation, collaboration and compromise to get the most benefit for the greatest number of people. These are the skills that are needed on the Board of Supervisors at this time.
Three former Tucson-area law enforcement officers have been stripped of their state license to perform police work.

In a Wednesday meeting, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board voted to revoke the peace officer certifications of Warren L. Croft, Joseph H. Arnason and Princeton T. Calabaza, said Sandy Sierra, a board spokeswoman.

Croft was formerly employed by the Pima County Sheriffs Department, Arnason by Sierra Vista Police Department, and Calabaza worked for the Tohono Oodham Police Department.

The board also rejected an agreement with ex-Tucson police Officer Daniel M. Santa Cruz for a two-year suspension of his peace officer certification, and voted to deny certification to Reza Vafaie, a former Tucson police recruit, Sierra said.

The Star reported Sunday that the board voted to initiate proceedings against two former Tucson police officers and two recruits  one from Marana Police Department and the other from the Pima County Sheriffs Department. Those cases will be heard in upcoming months.

Certification revoked

Croft, 51, resigned from the Sheriffs Department in July 2014 after investigators learned hed filed a false police report that led to a mans arrest on domestic-violence charges, AZPOST documents show.

In January 2014, Croft began a relationship with a woman who was in the process of divorcing her husband. In February, Croft created a false department report of a domestic dispute between the woman and her estranged husband, which led to charges being filed against the man, according to the documents.

A few months later, the husband filed a complaint against Croft with the department, saying he had acted in an unauthorized and biased manner  because of the relationship, the documents state.

At the conclusion of the departments investigation, Croft was voluntarily demoted to corrections officer in lieu of termination, but resigned before working at the jail, the document said. He had been employed with the department for 13 years.

Certification revoked

Arnason, 26, was fired from the Sierra Vista Police Department in December 2014 after being involved in a DUI crash while on duty, AZPOST documents show.

Shortly before his 7 a.m. shift began on Dec. 19, Arnason rear-ended a truck while driving his marked patrol car, which in turn hit the vehicle in front of it. No one was injured, but Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers were called to investigate because Arnason was on duty and driving his department vehicle, documents show.

While Arnason was being driven back the police station, the driver noticed an odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from Arnason, and asked another officer to conduct a DUI investigation.

A Breathalyzer test revealed that Arnasons blood-alcohol content was 0.09  just above the legal limit for being drunk  and a blood test was ordered. Arnason was terminated immediately.

He pleaded guilty to DUI charges in March, according to court records.

Certification revoked

Calabaza, 30, was fired from the Tohono Oodham Police Department in February after investigators discovered he had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl, AZPOST documents show.

Calabaza began communicating with the girl, who is the younger sister of a former high school classmate, in July 2015, documents show.

The girls mother was aware the two were talking but assumed it was innocent, until she found her daughter missing from their home one morning and became concerned that something more was going on, the documents show.

Shortly after, the girls mother filed a complaint with the Police Department, saying she believed the relationship had become inappropriate. Police pulled text messages off the girls cellphone that were indicative of a relationship, documents show.

Calabaza initially denied any wrongdoing, before admitting he and the girl had kissed on at least two occasions.

Certification denied

Vafaie, 43, was hired by Tucson police in September 2015 and dismissed from the academy three days later, when it was learned he had lied on his application.

During a 2008 application to TPD, Vafaie listed multiple uses of cocaine, opium and steroids, all within the last two years, AZPOST documents say. The day after he applied, TPDs background unit recommended he be permanently disqualified.

Between 2011 and 2014, Vafaie applied several times to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Sheriffs Department, never listing illegal drug use .

After Vafaie had been hired by TPD and started the academy in September 2015, a department audit discovered that his previous application had been misfiled and the disqualification had not initially been discovered.

Agreement rejected

Santa Cruz, 44, was one of five TPD employees fired last year in the wake of an investigation into the By Spanish prostitution ring, documents show.

Last December, the AZPOST initiated proceedings against Santa Cruz to revoke his peace officer certification. In Wednesdays meeting, the board rejected his proposed consent agreement for a two-year suspension of his certification, Sierra said.

AZPOST will notify Santa Cruzs attorney of the boards decision, and a new hearing will be scheduled .
MARICOPA, Ariz.  The Latest on the death of a man in a home in Maricopa (all times local):

8:40 a.m.

Police in Maricopa say a man found dead inside his family's home after exchanging gunfire with police responding to a 911 call was a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado identified the man found dead early Tuesday morning as 40-year-old Jeremy Russo.

A spokeswoman for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector said the agency had no immediate comment but plans to release a statement.

Alvarado said the incident began Monday evening when two officers responded to a 911 call about domestic violence at the home and a man in a second-floor window fired a rifle at them.

Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that it's not immediately known whether Russo died from a police bullet or a self-inflicted wound.

No officers were injured.

6:55 a.m.

MARICOPA, Ariz.  Authorities say a man who allegedly fired a rifle at police responding to a 911 call made by a girl reporting domestic violence in a Maricopa home has been found dead inside.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that it isn't immediately known whether the man was killed by gunfire by police or himself.

Alvarado says a robot sent inside the home by a state police SWAT team that used explosives to breach the front door found the man's body in an upstairs closet.

The robot was sent in early Tuesday morning about four hours after the incident began Monday evening.

According to Alvarado, the man's wife and his two children had earlier made it out of the home OK.
Help India!

By Sultan Ibrahim

A respectable organization Khair-e-Ummat Trust name was used by the police to suggest that SIMI is still operating under different names. They made this outrageous claim in their affidavit to renew the ban on SIMI.

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It is once again obvious that name of SIMI is being used to harass and alienate Muslims. The reason is not necessarily hatred but a need of the police to find justification to continue the ban of this organisation every time the review comes up. This means that they are forced to fabricate evidence. If by any chance the tribunal revokes the ban it will be a great loss of face to the police and the government and therefore they have to seriously manipulate so that that possibility is averted. Although the Tehelka has exposed the joke that law enforcement has made of the SIMI ban.

Is there anyone in the country opposing the permanent ban of the organisation, if so we pray you give up the opposition and instead argue for the permanent ban and complete dissolution of this organisation or whatever is remaining of it? If you have any respect for the human rights of the hapless Muslims please argue instead to permanently ban the outfit.

We know very well that terror is manufactured by those who are bent upon destroying Muslims- Malegaon, Ajmer, Mecca Masjid. were all manufactured to kill Muslims and then to put the blame on the victims so that they can be perpetually tortured by the system. And they foist the rightly hated Pakistan flags and blame Muslims in order to kill them; they throw beef in the sacred Hindu temple and blame Muslims to kill them..

Dear human rights groups, Muslim leaders please take note and please ask for the complete ban on SIMI and save Muslims from further targeting in the name of this organisation. And also save the police from the need to constantly manufacture reasons to continue the ban on SIMI. Otherwise it will be used as a perpetual source to harass, torture, and alienate Muslims and even make them lose faith in the democratic space and processes.


Help India!

By Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net

The Muslim Shivshahi sankalp Medava (rally) was organised on September 24 at Raigad under the banner of Chhatrapati Shivaji Muslim Brigade and the Tipu Sultan Brigade, and received a positive response from the thousands who attended the rally.

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This rally was named Mission Raigad and aims to make Maharashtra riot-free and spread secular qualities of the Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Despite continuous rains and landslides in nearby area, more than 4,000 people from all parts of the state took part in the rally.

Chief organiser of the rally, Shaikh Subhan Ali, said in his keynote address that Shivaji loved Muslims and teachings of Islam. He pointed out that nearly 30% of his soldiers were Muslims. Riots always harm all communities it is time now to come under the banner of Maratha Seva Sangh for the purpose of a social front to make our state riot free and spread the peace which Shivaji dreamt of, he added.

Noted personalities of Maratha Seva sangh and Sambhaji brigade Manoj Akhre, Arjun Tanpure, Jayant patil, Toufiq Patel and Shrimant Kokate attended the same as guest and addressed the people.

Arjun Tanpure, the leader of Maratha Seva Sangh said, We are really very happy that Muslim brothers are joining the hands with Marathas for social cause. We too will prove ourselves as best friends of Muslim and ensure that Mission Raigad will be a grand success.

During the rally, organising awareness campaigns all over the state and encouraging more Muslims to work with all the 32 units of the Sangh were discussed and a resolution on the matter was passed unanimously.

Chief organiser Subhan Ali informed Twocircles.net that they also decided on an action plan named Mission Pansare 150 under which they will conduct total 150 lectures in each and every city and Taluqa of the state to show the real face of Chhatrapati Shivaji and spread brotherhood.

Govind Pansare was the author of famous Marathi book Shivaji Hota and a pioneer activist, who was shot dead in Kolhapur a few years back.

It is noticeable that venue of the rally, Raigad, was Shivajis capital and September 24 is celebrated as Coronation day (Shiv Rajyabhishek Diwas) all over Maharashtra.

Related:

In Raigad, Muslims will rally under the name of Shivaji to make Maharashtra riot-free
Help India!

By Riaz Ahamed for TwoCircles.net

Violence is not new to the Hindutuva gang. The brutal and unholy attempts that have paid rich dividends in the North are now being tried in Tamil Nadu. The Dravidian tradition and the social harmony prevalent among the different communities here act as the check points for their progress. In Tamil Nadu, the Hindutuva agenda is mostly carried out by the outfit named Hindu Munnani.

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Torching of police jeep



Coimbatore district has earlier witnessed the ugly and brutal face of Hindutuva. The district that witnessed the origins of Hindutuva in early 1980s paid a huge price in late 1990s. Now, with the BJP at power in the Centre, these elements are trying their best to have a firm grip in the State and thereby to reap the political gains.

The recent murder of a district functionary of Hindu Munnani by unknown persons was also used by the fascist forces to unleash violence in the district. The leaders of BJP and other fascist factions have time and again blamed the Muslim community, without any concrete evidence. The police investigations into these murders, that number around a dozen, show that business rivalry, personal enmity, illicit relations were the reasons behind the murder. Personal enmity was the reason in the recent murder of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad functionary at Hosur. But the Hindutuva elements, who are staunch supporters and advocates of Goebbels doctrine continuously, blame Muslims for these murders.

Sasi Kumar, a Hindu Munnani district functionary was hacked to death on September 22. Members of Hindu Munnani hurled stones at the Government Hospital, where Sasi Kumar was taken for treatment. Immediately after the death of Sasi Kumar, Hindu Munnani cadres resorted to violence. Petrol bombs were hurled at a few masjids at the early hours of the day. Stones were hurled at the Government and private buses and the traffic was halted at most places in the district that hugely affected the office goers, business people, students and the general public. Hindu Munnani cadres break open the doors of the shops and looted the things, which are clearly recorded in the CCTV cameras. The unruly mob ransacked the parked two and three wheelers in the road and does not even spare the autos that were carrying the school kids.

The vehicles and shops belonging to the Muslims were targeted in particular. Tension mounted when a group of Hindutuva elements who were forcing to close the shops were encountered by Muslims. Police vehicles were also burnt and police personnel were attacked by the fascist elements.

The permission given by police to take the body of Sasi Kumar, as a rally from the hospital to his residence was questioned by the public, as most of the arson and lootings were carried out at that time. Stones were hurled at the Mosques during this rally that covered a distance of nearly ten kilometres. The public are also of the opinion, that had the police taken timely action against the mob, the violence could have been controlled.

The estimated loss of the properties is not yet calculated, but is expected to run in crores. Hindu Munnani State president Subramaniam stated at a press meet on September 23 that Tamil Nadu will be transformed into Gujarat. The pattern of attack shows that it was well planned and clearly targeted the business establishment of the Muslims.

The attack and the social media posts by some Hindutuva elements cast doubt on the murder of Sasi Kumar. A well known Hindutuva figure in facebook posted of a likely attack on Friday well before Sasi Kumar was murdered. A thorough, free and fair investigation by the police will nail the real culprits.

The secular parties and the Tamil and Dravidian Movements have sought a thorough probe into the murder and the resultant violence. A group of nearly fifty lawyers has filed a petition demanding action against Hindu Munnani.





PFI NEC member with collector



Popular Front of India is in the forefront in giving the required legal assistance to the people. Nearly 30 FIRs have been filed so far, by the efforts of PFI. The partys leaders met the City Commissioner and District Collector on September 23 and demanded action against the Sangh Parivar forces.

The general public got a clear picture of the Hindutuva group as the atrocities committed by the members of the Parivar are clearly documented and widely circulated in the social media. The people of Tamil Nadu have once again proved social harmony and the inter faith relations cannot be damaged by the divisive Hindutuva elements. The support extended to the Muslims and the firm stand against the fascist forces both in the social media and in the field serve as a model for the entire country.

The author is Associate Editor, Puthiya Vidial, a Tamil magazine.
Help India!

By TCN News,

New Delhi: The working conditions in factories in India that produce for Dutch clothing brands are downright bad. No garment worker earns a living wage. More than one third of the workers not even get the official minimum wage. Mandatory overtime is often not paid, intimidation is widespread and women earn even less than men. Also, some factories do not take care of social insurances and medical expenses. That, and more, emerges from the study Doing Dutch  Research into the state of pay for workers in garment factories in India working for Dutch fashion brands published today by the (Dutch) Clean Clothes Campaign and the India Committee of the Netherlands.

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The India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) is a human rights organisation dedicated to improving the lives of the marginalized in South Asia by giving information, awareness raising, advocacy, lobby, networking, research and publicity.

As a part of its campaign the Clean Clothes Campaign and the India Committee of the Netherlands have done research in factories in South India from August 2015. Local researchers interviewed 150 workers at ten factories producing clothes for Dutch brands, 15 workers per factory. They also talked extensively with members of trade unions and civil society organizations (NGOs) who are committed to working conditions and are fighting for the rights of the people who make our clothes.

The study also revealed that other working conditions are also quite bad in factories producing for C&A, Coolcat, G-Star, McGregor, MEXX, Scotch & Soda, Suitsupply, The Sting and WE Fashion.

It also found that on an average a worker earn just 100 per month, after deduction of various fines often not more than 90 which is much less than 256, a living wage for workers in India set by Asia Floor Wage.

The study discusses its findings under different categories  Starvation wages, Unpaid overtime work and wage penalties, Gender inequality, Mothers with babies are not allowed to work and Researched factories representative for all garment factories in India.

We expect garment companies to make a concrete plan for a living wage for all workers and that to make sure that their procurement price enables the suppliers to pay a living wage. The government must make firm agreements with all garment companies to ensure that this really happens and that production facilities are made public, says Gerard Oonk, director of the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN).
China establishes SOE structural adjustment fund Updated: 2016-09-27 13:56 (Xinhua)

BEIJING - China on Monday established a national fund for structural adjustment of State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The fund has an estimated capital of 350 billion yuan ($50 billion) and will mainly invest in programs including scientific innovation, international operations and asset restructuring.

The fund will improve resource allocation and raise the efficiency of SOEs, Xiao Yaqing, head of the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, told the fund's founding conference.
Documentary traces apple's origin to China Updated: 2016-09-27 08:02 By Xinhua in Urumqi(China Daily)

A documentary broadcast on Monday traces the origins of the apple to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, quashing the popularly held Chinese belief that they were introduced to the country from the West.

The documentary, "Saving the Gene Pool", draws on a multitude of scientific evidence to show that all cultivated apple varieties are offshoots of Malus sieversii, a wild apple native to the Tianshan mountain range in Central Asia.

Many Chinese attribute the introduction of the apple to China by John Livingston Nevius (1829-93), a US Christian missionary. Livingstone and his wife were said to have brought apple seedlings with them to Yantai, Shandong province, now a major apple growing region.

The documentary team also tested a wild apple tree in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang. The 12.9-meter tree is believed to be over 600 years old, predating the supposed introduction of apples to China by a few hundred years.

The sequencing of the apple genome by Italian Riccardo Velasco further supports the relationship between wild apples and domesticated apples, said Zhang Daoyuan, a researcher with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Tianshan mountain range has one of the world's largest wild fruit ecological systems. Many wild fruit species flourished in the valleys and basins about 65 million years ago. According to the latest research, the region has 84 varieties of wild apple, making it a rare and rich apple gene pool.

Guan Kaiyun, deputy head of the institute, said researchers are exploring the potential to domesticate wild varieties that are not only drought- and cold-resistant, but also taste good.

The documentary, broadcast by China Central Television, was jointly produced by the institute, CCTV and the CAS Bureau of Science Communication.
Good tourists to improve China's image abroad Updated: 2016-09-27 11:35 (chinadaily.com.cn)

The search for "Good Chinese Tourists", hosted by the China National Tourism Administration, China's leading online travel agency Ctrip and the country's first national English newspaper China Daily, launched in Beijing, Sept 27, 2016. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

China has launched a program to promote stories of well-behaved outbound Chinese tourists in an effort to improve overseas images of Chinese world travelers.

The search for "Good Chinese Tourists", hosted by the China National Tourism Administration, China's leading online travel agency Ctrip and the country's first national English newspaper China Daily, launched in Beijing on Tuesday.

China's tourism industry, which has seen rapid growth, has become an influencing force in the world, Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration said.

Statistics show that more than 59 million Chinese took overseas trips in the first half of this year. And it is predicted that the number of outbound travelers will surpass 600 million in the next five years.

"The behavior of Chinese [outbound] tourists is one of the important parameters to gauge the national soft power," Wang said, adding that to discover and praise good behavior and promote the stories of Chinese tourists could set a shining example for other Chinese tourists.

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily pointed out that tourism is about the transmission of cultural messages in the sense of communication.

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, speaks at the launching ceremony in Beijing, Sept 27, 2016. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

"Each Chinese outbound tourist's acts will exert intangible influence on China's image in the minds of people in other countries," Qu said.

Qu hopes that every selected person in the "Good Chinese Tourists" program could become the ambassador of China and its culture, who can also be the best storyteller of China.

"Ctrip pays much attention to what role Chinese outbound tourists can play in spreading civilization and enhancing friendship," said Chen Zhenyu, representative from Ctrip and CEO of Qunar. Ctrip holds 45 percent of the stock of Qunar, another online travel agency.

"The Chinese tourists have shown the world their more civilized behaviors," Chen said, by citing an example of a Chinese tourist in Japan collecting garbage.

Xiong Jiawen, a frequent traveler, said she believes a good tourist has to think of him or herself as a local, by tasting local delicacies or having home stays, but most importantly, he or she should love the culture as the locals do and contribute his or her part to preserve the scenic attractions.

"Travels have taught me to show respect to others' culture. Travel should make us more open-minded rather than selfish. More people should join hands with us to be good tourists and have better travel experiences," Xiong said.

The China National Tourism Administration started the campaign "Good Chinese Tourists" in 2015.

The administration is expected to cooperate with large travel agencies and the media in search for good examples of Chinese outbound tourists this year.

Through different channels published by the administration, the public can also recommend good examples that could be promoted on mainstream media.

A survey will also be launched to solicit opinions on the behavior and images of Chinese tourists. The survey will target outbound Chinese tourists and permanent residents of overseas destinations that Chinese tourists visit.

A report on the images of Chinese tourists will later be released on the basis of the survey.


N China city's former Party chief stands trial for graft, power abuse Updated: 2016-09-27 16:20 (Xinhua)

NANJING -- Chen Chuanping, former Party chief of Taiyuan City, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, stood trial on Tuesday for taking bribes and abuse of power.

Chen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shanxi Provincial Committee, was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2008 to 2013 to seek benefits for four entities and individuals, including Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co. Ltd. (TISCO), in production, operations and personnel promotion.

Chen accepted bribes worth over 910,000 yuan (around $136,437), either by himself or through his wife, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Xuzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province.

When he served as TISCO's chairman from May 2005 to November 2007, Chen abused his power to order a subcompany to engage in futures trading overseas, causing losses to state assets of more than 907 million yuan.

The procuratorate filed the charges with the Xuzhou Intermediate People's Court.

Chen confessed to taking bribes and abuse of power, and expressed remorse in court.

The court ruling will be announced at a later date.

More than 60 people, including Chen's relatives, journalists and members of the public, observed Tuesday's hearing.
A funny thing happened to graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, 43, on his way to work the other day  the office, for him, being actually a table at a Panera Bread shop near his San Jose, California, house.

"I used to have a studio at home but I have four children  one boy and three girls  and the oldest girl got sick of sharing a room with her sister, so to keep the peace in our house, I gave up the studio," he said.

As he was backing out of the driveway, his phone rang. It was the MacArthur Foundation on the line. Congratulations, he was told, he had just won a "genius" grant for $650,000.

"I pulled back in my driveway," he said. "That was kind of the end of my workday right there. I spent the rest of the day in a daze."

Yang is no stranger to accolades for his work in comic book-style literature, which has steadily been gaining respect from the literary establishment in recent years. His hit graphic novels (graphic novels are basically 200-to-400-page comic books)  American Born Chinese (2006) and Boxers & Saints (2013) were both nominated for National Book Awards, with the former being the first work of the genre to ever make it to the finals.

In American Born Chinese, Yang draws on Chinese folk lore and modern comic book style to tell a coming-of-age story about a young Chinese adolescent trying to assimilate into American culture with the mythological Monkey King as a guide.

"As a Chinese American I grew up in between cultures," he said. "A Chinese culture at home and an American culture at school, with two names, one at home and one at school. It took me a while throughout my childhood to figure out who I was and how I fit in the world. I think that is reflected in the work I'm doing."

Boxers & Saints tells the story of the Boxer Rebellion through the eyes of a boy who joins the rebels and a girl who is under the influence of Western missionaries. The MacArthur citation called it "an illustration of how consideration of multiple perspectives enriches understanding of historical events."

Yang has done most of his work while working fulltime as a high school computer science teacher for the last 17 years, which has given him ideas as well. One of his several current projects is called Secret Coders, a six-volume series about a group of middle school kids who discover a secret school where they learn the fundamentals of computer science.

"I'm basically taking what I used to do in my classroom and putting into a graphic novel," he said. "I'm really hoping that kids read this book and become interested in coding."

The big project he's working on right now is New Super-Man for DC Comics. For those who may not realize it, in the DC Universe, Clark Kent (and Superman) died a while back (long story) and has been replaced by a bunch of different characters, one being a Clark Kent from a different dimension.

The replacement Yang is working on  New Super-Man is a 17-year-old boy in Shanghai named Kenan Kong, who inherits some of Superman's powers (long story) and then tries to figure out how to best put them to use.

"It wasn't my idea to do a Chinese Superman and when they first brought it to me I was kind of scared to do it," Yang said. "It's a tricky political and cultural landscape to navigate. Superman's about truth, justice and the American way. What do those things mean in the context of modern China?

"The China that exists today is different from the China that existed for most of Clark Kent's history, right? So we wanted to play with some of those dynamics."

Yang said most of his work is about "how people form identities using disparate sources."

And culture, to him, is "a living thing, it changes and when a family moves from one culture into another and they try to preserve a culture, what they're preserving is like a culture frozen in time.

"So the Chinese culture that I experienced is like the Chinese culture from the 1960s," he said, "because that's what my parents knew."

"A lot of Americans, when they think of China, the China that they have in their imaginations isn't the China of today," he said. "The China of today is very forward thinking, really about the future, and I think a lot of Americans don't understand that."

The MacArthur Foundation cited Yang for "leading the way in bringing diverse characters to children's and young adult literature and confirming comics' place as an important creative and imaginative force within literature and art."

Yang said he's still in shock over receiving $650,000 and is not sure what he's going to do with it, but he does imagine a good chunk of it will go toward putting the kids through college.

Contact the writer at chrisdavis@chinadailyusa.com.
US policy on China needs update: experts Updated: 2016-09-27 10:42 By Chen Weihua in Washington(China Daily USA)

For James Steinberg, the US deputy secretary of state from 2009 to 2011, the biggest surprise of the ongoing US presidential election is the lack of debate of US policy towards China.

He believes that a core consensus of the US policy is under increasing attack.

He was referring to the consensus that US and China have a shared interest and shared stake in the prosperity of China. Both countries will stand to lose from a rivalry. And that the differences that do exist in their political and economic systems, while serious, can be managed constructively.

In a talk on Monday afternoon, Steinberg described the consensus as not only benefiting the people of China and the US, but the rest of the region, including US allies.

While some in the US argue that the deep economic interdependence between the two nations and their many shared interests will lead to a more collaborative relationship in the coming decades, some still believe a conflict between a rising power and established power is inevitable.

In the 2014 book Strategic Reassurance and Resolve: US-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century, Steinberg and coauthor, Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, contend that this pessimistic scenario can be confidently avoided only if China and the US adopt deliberate policies designed to address the security dilemma that besets the relationship between a rising and an established power.

They propose a set of policy proposals to achieve a sustainable, relatively cooperative relationship between the two nations, based on the concept of providing mutual strategic reassurance in such key areas as nuclear weapons and missile defense, space and cyber operations, and military basing and deployments, while also demonstrating strategic resolve to protect vital national interests.

While Steinberg did not comment on how US policy towards China could be improved, former US Ambassador to China Stapleton Roy said the US needs to adjust its assumptions regarding the region.

In Roy's views, none of the changes in East Asia have been integrated into the US thinking. He warned that there is enormous danger in basing US policies on assumptions that are outdated.

The US pivot to Asia strategy assumes a stable Europe and a US retreat from the Middle East, but that has not been the case, according to Roy.

"When I look at the Middle East and Europe, I don't see good outcomes. But East Asia has the potential to do well if key relations and friction points are managed properly.

Economically, East Asia still outperforms the rest of the world," Roy said.

"Missteps in East Asia could have very serious consequences," he said, referring to hot spot issues such as North Korea and South China Sea.

Roy said East Asia needs sustained and well informed policy attention from whatever US administration emerges from November's election. "But more than attention is required for a successful policy approach in East Asia," he said.

Roy said East Asia needs sustained and well informed policy attention from whatever US administration emerges from November's election. "But more than attention is required for a successful policy approach in East Asia," he said.

Roy believes it's too hard to predict the US foreign policy in the next administration now because of the stark differences of the two candidates. While reasonable assumption about Hillary Clinton's policy could be made, an assumption about Donald Trump's policy is hard, according to Roy.

"So it's not the best time to make predictions for the new administration," he said.

Roy, once a US diplomat in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, criticized the NATO expansion along the Russian border for unnecessarily raising tensions. He also described China's position on the South China Sea as more reasonable than some of the neighbors, saying that China is the only country involved in the maritime territory that actually agreed to negotiate the disputes.

"The US has to be careful, we are an outside party, and negotiations on Code of Conduct are between ASEAN countries and China. The US is not a party to these negotiations, and we shouldn't try to force our way in," said Roy, also former US ambassador to Singapore.

Teng Jianqun, a research fellow on US studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said on Monday that the key issue between China and the US is still a lack of trust.

"The key issue is that China and the US should have a fresh angle looking at the other," he said.

Amitai Etzioni, a professor of international relations at the George Washington University who moderated the talk by Steinberg, argued in his testimony before the US Congress on Sept 22 that the US and China have many shared and complementary interests and very few real reasons for conflict.

Etzioni told lawmakers that whenever a new power arises and the established super power does not make some accommodations with the rising power, war will ensue. He proposed a grand bargain between China and the US, including everything from nuclear nonproliferation and cybersecurity to South China Sea and Taiwan.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Confucius Institute celebrates achievers Updated: 2016-09-27 10:42 By China Daily in Washington(China Daily USA)

Confucius Institute US Center present People to People Exchange Award to ten students from Confucius Institutes in the US nationwide for their achievement and contribution in learning Chinese language and culture during the center's inaugural National Honors Gala in Washington on September 24. Presenting the awards are Gao Qing (left), executive director of the center; William Reeder (second from left), professor of arts management and former dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University; C.D. Mote (fourth from left), president of US National Academy of Engineering and former president of University of Maryland at College Park; Tony Culley-Foster (fourth from right), president and CEO of World Affairs Council-Washington, DC; and Morgan Jones (right), chief operation officer of US-China Strong Foundation. The ten awardees from left are Sabrina Tran, Rachel Lietzow, Olivia O'Dwyer, Jonathon Marek, Timothy Brown, Monica Rhodes, Jenifer Guevara, Deja Watkins, David Cole, and Dennis Delehanty. Charlene Cai / China Daily

The Confucius Institute US Center (CIUS Center) held its first national gala on Sept 24 in Washington to honor the achievements of 10 individuals from Confucius Institute (CI) communities across America.

The Confucius Institute, established by the Chinese Ministry of Education in foreign countries, something similar to the UK's British Council or Germany's Goethe Institute, promotes Chinese language and cultural learning worldwide.

"Never have I found myself surrounded by people who I couldn't verbally understand, but wholeheartedly felt a connection towards," says honoree David Cole, a senior at the University of Kentucky, who was sent by the university's Confucius Institute to three Chinese cities as part of a study program.

Jonathan Marek, a senior at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, who has studied Chinese since third grade, said that "living in China - eating the foods, walking the streets, watching the shows, and seeing the people - gave me a new perspective on learning the language".

Marek spent a month in Hangzhou, the host city for the recent G20 Summit, through a program hosted by the Confucius Institute in Chicago and Wanxiang America, the US subsidiary of a leading Chinese auto-parts maker.

"Cultural understanding is key for a successful partnership," said keynote speaker C.D. Mote, president of the US National Academy of Engineering. When Mote was the president of University of Maryland at College Park, he spearheaded the CI initiative with the Chinese Ministry of Education and helped to establish the first Confucius Institute at the university in 2004.

Mote stressed that achieving sustainability of the CI program requires support and effective communication among the Confucius Institute headquarters in China, Confucius Institute in each university, and the greater community around that institute.

"We need to learn how to work better together, and the Confucius Institute community is where it starts," said Morgan Jones, chief operating officer of the US-China Strong Foundation, a non-profit organization first established by the US State Department to send American students to study aboard in China. Jones was a Chinese-language radio show host for three years and met his Chinese wife while living in China.

Tony Cully-Foster, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council in Washington, calls US-China relations the most important in the 21st century and defines Confucius Institute as a truly global education initiative.

"Mutual respect for individual differences is at the heart of democracy and understanding," he said.

Timothy Brown, a 12-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland, is the youngest among the 10 students honored. His keynote speech at the gala received a standing ovation.

Brown first became interested in Chinese culture when he began taking martial arts classes. He currently attends Chinese classes offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland, where he also actively participates in extracurricular activities such as language competitions, kung fu, and Chinese music (he sings in Chinese).

"We're very thankful for the Confucius Institute. As one of the most spoken languages in the world, Chinese is important, and with globalization, there's a reason why we should prepare those responsible for the next generation," said Brown's family, who occupied almost one table.

Although Brown has not settled with what he wants to do with his ability in Chinese language and culture, some awardees already made up their minds, including Jenifer Guevara from Texas Southern University.

"I want to teach kids Chinese," said Guevara. She noticed there are Chinese immersion programs being established in elementary schools around Houston and wants to be part of the first group of instructors.

Sophia Wu in Washington contributed to the story.
China-style development pushed Updated: 2016-09-20 11:44 By Zhao Huanxin and Amy He At The United Nations(China Daily USA)

"China will continue to make unrelenting efforts to promote sustainable development and will actively participate in the cooperation with the international community in this area," Premier Li Keqiang told the Roundtable on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Global Process and China's Practice, at the United Nations on Monday.

Li told the participants the world's second-largest economy has substantially increased its support to the United Nations' work in attaining sustainable development goals, by pledging an additional $100 million in donations, and redoubled efforts to achieve balanced growth.

Beijing's annual total donation to UN development agencies in 2020 will be $100 million more compared to the amount in 2015, Li announced at the UN headquarters on Monday.

Li also said the country's contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will amount to $18 million in the next three years.

The amount of money donated to the UN agencies on development for last year was not immediately available. The total figure given to various international development agencies and the Global Fund for the three years between 2010 and 2012 was 1.76 billion yuan ($267 million), according to an official release.

The premier said sustainable development is a common cause for the world, and he called for the international community to tackle the issue of unbalanced development, promote inclusive economic growth and jointly address global challenges such as public health and climate change.

The event, hosted by the Chinese permanent UN mission, was attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN General Assembly President Peter Thomson and heads of various UN agencies.

Li said China has approved a roadmap for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a blueprint the UN adopted last September for ending poverty and hunger, promoting equality and protecting the environment for the years leading up to 2030.

Helen Clark, Administrator of the UN Development Programme, said the UNDP looked forward to continuing to work with China to support the fast progress which China wants to make on its sustainable development goals, or SDGs.

Already, China is showing its determination to lead on implementation by being among those countries which took part in the first national voluntary reviews at this year's high level political forum for sustainable development, Clark said.

Nicholas Rosellini, deputy regional director for Asia and the Pacific, said, "We've seen the very impressive commitment by China to various funds not only for development but also for humanitarian and peace-keeping and very importantly for environmental sustainability.

"It's very important that the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries of the north, the wealthy countries of the north, continue to invest and also equally important the countries of the south help each other, and China is very much leading the aggregating for that," Rosellini said.

Haibing Ma, senior research associate and China program manager at the Worldwatch Institute, said he believed China had improved significantly on its first five SDGs, namely no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality.

Hong Xiao contributed to the story.

(China Daily USA 09/20/2016 page2)
China committed to protection of endangered species: official Updated: 2016-09-27 09:31 (Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG -- China is very much committed to fulfilling all its obligations to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), said Liu Dongsheng, Head of the Chinese delegation to the CITES 17th Conference of Parties, on Monday.

A delegate looks on as animal rights activists are reflected in a window as they demonstrate outside the Sandton convention center, a venue hosting the 17th meeting of the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 24, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

The official was delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of an exhibition hosted by the Chinese delegation on the sidelines of the conference, taking place in Johannesburg.He said, "As the largest developing country, China has been committed to performing its obligations to CITES, improving domestic legislation, enforcing laws, combating animal trafficking crimes, raising awareness, strengthening capacity building and international cooperation."According to Liu, China has been improving its legal system, including laws on wildlife development systems, fauna and flora protection, as well as laws on import and export of endangered species."Resources protection is the priority. Management and utilization of wildlife is also regulated while monitoring is strengthened," he said."China continues to carry out key wildlife development programs including development of nature reserves and natural forest resources conservation," said the official.He noted that China's commitment and seriousness in protecting endangered species has started bearing fruits."The wildlife habitat environment conservation has improved significantly. The population decline of endangered species has been reversed," Liu said.He emphasized that China has taken a zero tolerance to environment-related crimes."China has banned use of rhino horn, tiger bones and suspended ivory imports."It has organized targeted law enforcement actions and this has dealt a heavy blow to illegal and criminal activities, including poaching, transporting and trafficking of wildlife," the official said.The Chinese government has also embarked on public awareness programs."We emphasize on increasing public awareness and hold serious memorial activities when celebrating the World Wildlife Day."These activities are held in import and export ports. Mobile phones warning messages are also sent out to increase public awareness on conservation," he added.Other measures include the use of internet delivery and tourism companies to announce initiatives and build self discipline in resisting illegal wildlife trade.Poor countries have also received financial assistance from China to attend COP meetings, according to the official.
Bilingual school backed in Manchester Updated: 2016-09-27 16:31 By ANGUS McNEICE(China Daily UK)

Former UK chancellor supports plan to combine Eastern and Western education

Former UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne has written a letter of support for a new free school in Manchester that will combine Eastern and Western education, while a bilingual English and Mandarin pre-pschool is set to open in London next year.

Both schools are responding to an increasingly popular belief among parents in the United Kingdom that an understanding of Mandarin and Chinese culture will benefit their children as China's global influence grows.

The Manchester Rutherford School hopes to open in September 2017 and serve 900 students ages 11 to 16. This week, the school's board is submitting a bid to the Department for Education to register under the free school initiative. Such institutions are free to attend and receive state funding, though they are not controlled by the local educational authority.

The school will adhere to the regular curriculum, though Mandarin lessons will be compulsory and Eastern teaching methods will be employed.

"It will be very much focused on Chinese language and culture-a fusion of Eastern and Western pedagogies, with strong links to the business community," Peter Rowlinson, project manager for the free school bid, said recently. "Manchester is very keen to exploit the opportunities that China will bring as a marketplace and as a cultural exchange opportunity, particularly since President Xi's visit."

If the bid progresses, the board will be called to an interview at the Department for Education in November and could get the green light early next year. Both Manchester Metropolitan University and Trinity High School have agreed to be collaborative partners, and Rowlinson said that over 500 parents have expressed interest in the school.

"They believe Mandarin is a tool that will meet the needs of the local business community, in particular the ability to offer trading links and communication with China," he says.

Last week, Osborne sent a letter of support to Gerry Yeung, a Manchester entrepreneur who sits on the school's board. The former chancellor said the school aligned well with the Northern Powerhouse proposal, which aims to boost economic growth in northern England, partly by strengthening trade and investment ties with China.

Osborne was recently made chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a new government-backed body that will promote the political and business interests of the Greater Manchester area. He was sacked as chancellor by new Prime Minister Theresa May in July.

"As a leading proponent of economic growth in our region and particularly the Northern Powerhouse and Manchester China Forum initiatives, I am keen to promote programs that improve educational standards and provide young people with the skills they need to represent our region on the world stage," Osborne wrote.

Interest in Mandarin is on the rise in the United Kingdom. The number of students taking the General Certificate of Secondary Education exam in Mandarin rose by 10 percent year-on-year in 2016, and has increased by 75 percent in the past five years.

England's first bilingual school for Mandarin and English is set to open next summer in London. Kensington Wade will be a fee-charging prep school for 500 students ages 3 to 13.

Hugo de Burgh, director of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster and co-founder of Kensington Wade, said recently that the school will target three groups of parents. The smallest group comprises Chinese professionals working in London who want their children to receive an English education while maintaining their Mandarin. The largest group will be made up of other international parents.

"You'll have, say, a Japanese guy who's married to a French wife and they work in financial services in Central London. They are very sensitive to the fact that China is so important to the world," De Burgh says.

"Then there are British parents who have discovered how important China is, who know it's the main trading partner of 124 countries and thatespecially after the G20decision-makers, opinion formers and business leaders are all realizing what China does and where China invests is very important for the world's economy. If' Little Jane' can learn Chinese, she's got a head start."
UK has good chance to build solid China ties Updated: 2016-09-27 16:37 By CHRIS PETERSON(China Daily UK)

The European Union is floundering in its stuttering efforts to conclude a trade deal with China, and US politicians and businesses continue to show paranoia toward Beijing.

So Britain, which is facing tortuous negotiations to leave the EU, has a clear chance to build a solid relationship with China.

Although there was an initial hiccup when newly installed Prime Minister Theresa May briefly froze Chinese-backed plans to build a nuclear power station using French technology at Hinkley Point in southwest England, the so-called "golden era" of Sino-British ties is back on track.

The Hinkley Point interval did allow a quick burst of xenophobia about security issues to surface in the UK media, which was deftly silenced by May's decision to go ahead with the 18 billion pound ($23.2 billion) project, in which China has a 33 percent stake.

May, who met with President Xi Jinping at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou this month, has impressed so far with her firm if pragmatic, style of government.

This bodes well for future ties with China. There is already 40 billion pounds of Chinese investment in the UK, announced last October during Xi's state visit.

China is eager to use its technology to build nuclear power stations in Britain, which would be the first time Beijing has been able to export its designs. These would have to pass rigid UK safety criteria, a must if China is to sell its technology abroad.

So,much hangs on the future of Sino-British relations. One factor that weighs heavily in favor of the "golden era" continuing is the question of political stability in the UK.

In Britain, a general election must be held every five years. May, if she plays her cards right, can expect a clear run in government, possibly until 2025.

The reason is that Britain's main opposition, the Labour Party headed by the left-wing Jeremy Corbyn, is in meltdown mode.

Corbyn was re-elected as party leader on Saturday, but most commentators believe his tenure means that Labour is unlikely to regain power at the next election, due in2020.

Looking at the UK's recent political history, periods of prolonged prosperity have coincided with long periods in office, notably Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in the 1980s and Tony Blair's centrist New Labour reign from 1997 to the mid-2000s.

The signs are good. May has managed to calm fears that Brexit would be a calamity, and Britain needs a solid, reliable relationship with China, both culturally and economically.

EU member states are divided over whether to award China full market economy status, and meetings between EU senior officials and the Dalai Lama haven't helped relations with Beijing. The EU's perception of steel dumping by China continues to lurk in the background. It would seem, therefore, that May could be pushing at an open door if she wants to strengthen the UK's dealings with China.

The author is managing editor, Europe, for China Daily. Contact him on chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com
Connectivity becomes consensus of various economies Updated: 2016-09-27 19:00 By Chen Yingqun(chinadaily.com.cn)

The International Symposium on "Connecting the Connectivities in Asia-Pacific" held in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, on Sept 27, 2016. [Photo by Chen Yingqun/chinadaily.com.cn]

Connectivity has become the consensus of various economies, and some economies have already benefited from it, says Huang Mengfu, Honorary Chair of China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation.

He says that connectivity projects have produced tangible benefits to relevant economies. For instance, the poverty rate dropped by 35 percent in Savannakhet, Laos, in six years after the East West Economic Corridor was completed.

Huang said that while addressing a keynote speech at the opening of the International Symposium on "Connecting the Connectivities in Asia-Pacific", which was held in Yangzhou, China's eastern Jiangsu province, on Sept 27.

He explained that the world economy is still striving for a recovery with rather weak driving forces for growth and faltering steps to revival. The regional economic integration has faced unprecedented challenges.

"On the one hand, the numerous exclusive and enclosed free trade agreements have constituted trading and investment blocks. Secondly, despite some progress in recent years, connectivity remains the bottleneck for further economic integration of the region," he said.

But there are some advantageous reasons to promote connectivity and cooperation.

He says that connectivity has become the consensus of various economies. According to incomplete statistics by APEC, by 2020 there will be over 579 infrastructure projects scattered in the economies along the Pacific Rim.

Moreover, various economies have accumulated successful experiences and smart solutions in promoting connectivityfor instanceenhancing the infrastructure creation of things like transportation, doing special promotions, designing early harvests, aligning various connectivity initiatives with each other between economies, within sub-regions, and between regions and sub-regions, creating innovative financing mechanisms and encouraging active participation of the private sector.

The Symposium in Yangzhou was organized by the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, which aims to discuss the solutions of connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region in three aspects: physical connectivity, institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity. Representatives from more than 20 economies of the Asia-Pacific region participated in this meeting.
Premier warmly welcomed by Fidel Castro Updated: 2016-09-27 08:02 By Zhao Huanxin in Havana and An Baijie in Beijing(China Daily USA)

Premier Li Keqiang meets Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday. Alex Castro / Ap

Premier Li Keqiang met with Fidel Castro, the 90-year-old leader of the Cuban Revolution, on Sunday during his visit to the island nation in an expression of respect for the legendary revolutionary.

China cherishes the traditional friendship with Cuba, Li said, adding that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with Cuba, expand cooperation and boost the friendship between the people of both countries.

No matter how international relations change, the China-Cuba comradeship and brotherly relationship, based on mutual respect, equal treatment and common interests, will never be changed, Li said.

Castro, who celebrated his birthday in August, spoke of the historical links between the two countries as symbolized by the participation of ethnic Chinese soldiers in Cuba's wars of independence and liberation, according to the Cuban newspaper Granma.

As the leader of the revolution, which culminated in the 1959 overthrow of Fulgencio Batista, Castro has maintained close ties with generations of Chinese leaders.

President Xi Jinping met with him twice in the three years from 2011 to 2014.

In 2011, Xi, then vice-president, visited Castro's house, which was shaded by moringa trees. In July 2014, during his state visit to Cuba, Xi presented Castro with some seeds of moringa and mulberry trees. Xi promised closer cooperation with Cuba to develop the moringa - its leaves and green stems can be fed to cattle, helping to solve the problems of grain supply and livestock feed.

He Shuangrong, a researcher of Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the fact that Chinese leaders meet Fidel Castro every time they visit Cuba shows the strong ties between the two countries.

"Both countries are socialist countries. Their ties are those between good brothers and good partners," He said, adding that the two countries not only have growing economic relations but also lend each other political support.

Li, the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba in more than 50 years, also boarded a bus on Sunday that had been exported by Chinese vehicle maker Yutong. It has sold over 5,000 buses to Cuba.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
China urges solutions in Syria Updated: 2016-09-27 18:19 By WANG LINYAN in New York(chinadaily.com.cn)

As the military conflict in Syria escalates, China called for related parties in Syria to fully implement the UN Security Councils resolution as a priority and for the international community to press for a political solution to the Syrian crisis, said a senior Chinese diplomat on Sunday.

"The international community should move forward in tandem in terms of a cease-fire, political negotiations, humanitarian aid and joint efforts against terrorism to push for a political solution to the Syrian issue, said Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria.

The meeting was held at the request of the United States, Britain and France following the renewed violence in the northern Syria city of Aleppo.

Staffan de Mistura, the UNs special envoy for Syria, made a strong appeal to the Security Council, particularly permanent members Russia and the US, to salvage the recently collapsed cessation of hostilities, end the bloodshed and speed aid into the iconic city where some 2 million people remain under a de facto siege.

"These are indeed chilling days for Syria and particularly, for the people of Aleppo, as last week was one of the worst in the six years of the conflict, de Mistura told the emergency session.

De Mistura said the council had the responsibility to re-launch the cessation of hostilities" and reiterated his appeal for a common course of action, led by Russia and the US, in three areas: ensuring a cease-fire; establishing weekly 48-hour pauses in the fighting to allow in aid and repairs for Aleppo's damaged water and power facilities; and allow medical evacuations for urgent cases in and around the city.

China has been deeply concerned about the recent intensity of the violence in Syria, which caused heavy civilian casualties, and an assault on a UN humanitarian convoy, Liu said.

He said China hoped that the new cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia and the US will be effectively implemented, providing opportunities for improving the situation on the ground in Syria, while the international community should urge all related parties in Syria to resume the cease-fire as soon as possible.

"The more complex the situation in Syria, the more important it is to uphold the general direction of a political solution, Liu said.

"The UNs role as the main channel of mediation should be given full play. We should continue to support Special Envoy de Mistura in his efforts to re-launch the Geneva Talks as soon as possible. We need to stick to the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led process to make arrangements that accommodate all interests, Liu said.

China has been making efforts for the political solution to Syrian crisis and has been pressing related parties in Syria to end conflicts as soon as possible to reach a comprehensive political solution, Liu added.

China is willing to play a constructive role in pushing for "a full, just and appropriate solution" to the Syrian crisis, he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.
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When smart toilets are no longer smart

Tourists who come to the beach city of Nha Trang are happy to see public smart toilets along Tran Phu Road. But they soon realize there are some inconveniences involved in using them.

First of all, the toilets doors only open once a 2,000-ong coin is inserted.

But the coin is largely out of circulation and most tourists dont have one.

A long list of regulations listed in front of the toilet is another impediment. Anyone needing to use the toilet generally doesnt have the pateince to read the lengthy notice.

Every tourist has six minutes to use toilets, because after six minutes, the water system would automatically run to clear the floor, according to one regulation.

Those who dont read it do so at their peril - more than one tourist has gotten wet.

The cost of installing a smart toilet was about VN580 million (US$26,000), while the effectiveness has not been proven.

Are glasses no good on the bench?

An announcement on the enrollment site of the of Viet Nam Court Academy has shocked many candidates.

Besides achieving the score needed to be accpted to university, based on the national high school exam results, male candidates must be over 1.6m tall and females over 1.55m. They must not have any defect in their appearance or be short-sighted.

Nguyen uc Binh , director of the academy, said the myopia standard was included in order to standardize the appearance of judges.

This is a strange regulation given that the number of Vietnamese students who are short-sightedn is on the rise.

According to a survey conducted by the Central Eye Hospital, 50 per cent of Vietnamese students suffer from short-sightedness, and the figures goes up to 80 per cent in big cities.

The question is whether students will be rejected by the university if they wear glasses, or expelled after several years study if they get glasses?

Many judges currently wear glasses, but there is no indication this affects Viet Nams judicial process.
HCM City -- Viet Nams growing retail market has attracted the attention of foreign retailers. A series of famous retailers from Japan, Thailand, South Korea and France have flocked to the country, hoping to penetrate the market, a recent JLL Viet Nam report said.

As penetration of foreign retailers into the country has increased, fierce competition in the retail space has become more intense. This will put the retail market to the test and only retailers with the right positioning to meet market demand will gain market share.

In 2014, the Berli Jucker acquisition of Metro Cash & Carry Viet Nam for an enterprise value of 655 million euro (US$700 million)  the largest-ever Merger & Acquisition deal in Viet Nam at that point  signalled entry of the Thailand retailer into the country.

Later, another Thailand giant, Central Group, acquired Nguyen Kim Trading  Viet Nams top electronics retailer, and BigC Viet Nam- the second largest supermarket chain in terms of store number in the nation.

In October 2015, Emart  the leading South Korean retailer  officially marked its entrance with a US$60 million shopping centre in north HCM City. Also from South Korea, Lotte Mart is quite successful with 11 supermarkets, a number expected to increase to 60 stores by 2020.

Most Japanese investors consider the success of Aeon in Viet Nam a praiseworthy case in overseas investment. Aeon has four malls and expects to reach 20 malls before 2020. Also from Japan, Takashimaya arrived in July 2016 as anchor tenant of downtown HCM Citys Saigon Centre retail mall.

Adding to three Simply Mart stores in HCM City, AuchanSuper, a major retail brand from France, is planning to open another 17 supermarkets by end-2017 in the city and 20 stores by 2020 in northern Viet Nam.

Thanks to increasing disposable incomes, big fashion brands such as Gap, Mango and Topshop have become the top choice of many young Vietnamese. In September 2015, Zara opened its first flagship store in HCM City. H&M will reportedly enter Viet Nam early next year.

With 90 million people, Viet Nam has attracted retailers with its relatively young population  70 per cent are aged between 15 and 64 years  who promise to be a key driver of robust market growth. Viet Nams urban population is expected to grow 2.6 per cent annually from 2015 to 2020, the highest rate among regional peers.

Increasing disposable incomes, rapid urbanisation and rising living standards make Viet Nam one of the most dynamic emerging economies in South East Asia, says Bui Trang, Commercial Leasing Director at JLL Viet Nam.

According to the Boston Consulting Group, Viet Nam has the fastest growing middle and affluent class (MAC) in the region, which will double in size between 2012 and 2020, from 12 million to 33 million. MAC consumers, whose income is VN15 million (US$700) or more a month, will be a key group of potential customers for retailers.

Viet Nam e-commerce is set for strong growth thanks to its growing consumer and online population. According to the Nielsens report, nine out of ten consumers in Viet Nam (91 per cent) own smartphones, compared to 82 per cent in 2014, and the rapid up-take of connected devices, especially smartphones and tablets are instrumental in media consumption shifting.

Significantly increasing the amount of the credit card holders has also had an impact on the change in consuming behaviour. It is observed that people now are more willing to spend as they can afford more with credit and it tends to make shoppers less canny, she said.

Additionally, increasing international arrivals and continuously improving infrastructure are also factors that make Viet Nam an alluring market for retailers.  VNS
A ship at Son Duong Deep Water Port in central Ha Tinh Province. Regional logistics firms were urged to collaborate to take advantage of more trade.  VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hung

HCM CITY  As trade and commerce is expected to increase between Southeast Asian countries and between them and the world, there will be more opportunities for logistics services providers in the region to connect with each other to take goods to the consumers and to increase their efficiency, according to Thailands Department of International Trade Promotion.

Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat, DITPs deputy director general, said, We import a lot from Viet Nam and Myanmar and vice versa.

She said she saw a lot of opportunities for Vietnamese and Thai firms in the logistics sector to enhance co-operation, adding her department would organise a logistics trade mission to Viet Nam this week.

Nguyen Duy Minh, general secretary of the Viet Nam Logistics Association, said countries in the region are speeding up the ASEAN Single Window mechanism to facilitate cross-border transportation.

This is a useful strategy for countries in the region, since we dont have shipping companies; most shipping companies are from developed countries.

We are close together, if we use road transportation to serve the increase in internal trade in the region, we can grab the market share of shipping lines and even air carriers.

Nations in the region should enhance co-operation in cross-border road transportation to create business.

According to Vivatrat, there are certain challenges preventing co-operation in the logistics sector, including regulation.

I think every ASEAN country should work together to reduce the barriers, she said.

Kettivit Sittisoontornwong, president of the Thai International Freight Forwarders Association, said: People who are in international logistics know the importance of creating a network and strategic partners in every country because we need somebody in another country to handle our business, to handle our exports or imports to/from the other country.

But many freighters in Thailand and elsewhere hesitate to co-operate with international logistics service providers, he said.

As you see, when they come, those international logistic companies dont have their own fleet, their own services; they may have very small operations but mostly they will find strategic partners to work with them. What we call outsourcing.

Logistics service providers need to study and if they are not competitive in this sector they should find some other people to work together to serve their customers, he said.

LPI 2016

Singapore topped the list of ASEAN countries in the World Banks 2016 Logistics Performance Index, ranking fifth globally.

Speaking at a conference held on the sidelines of the 2016 TILOG-LOGISTIX exhibition held in Bangkok from September 21 to 23, Constantine Chikosi, portfolio and operations manager of the World Bank Group, said the latest edition of LPI showed that Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand outperformed the ASEAN average.

Indonesia and Viet Nam were on par with the average and ranked among the top 10 in lower middle-income countries.

However, all ASEAN countries except Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia slid back from their rankings two years ago.

The World Banks LPI is based on six components: efficiency of customs and border management clearance; quality of trade and transport infrastructure; ease of arranging competitively priced shipments; competence and quality of logistics service; ability to track and trace consignments; and frequency with which shipments reach consignees within scheduled or expected delivery times.

The report, based on a survey of more than 1,200 logistics professionals, ranks 160 countries and captures critical information about the complexity of international trade.

With regard to timeliness, the frequency with which shipments reach their destination within the scheduled or expected time, ASEAN countries scored higher than the overall average, he said.

Infrastructure continues to play a big role in assuring basic connectivity and access to gateways for most developing countries. In all income groups, respondents reported that infrastructure was improving. However, in all ASEAN countries except Singapore and Malaysia, the scores for infrastructure were lower than the overall scores.

Asked what Viet Nam should do to improve its logistics performance efficiency, Chikosi said: The survey result for the 2016 LPI shows that Viet Nam is one of the countries in ASEAN whose performance on infrastructure is below the average, so it clearly indicates there is an infrastructure development agenda in Viet Nam. Cambodia is in a similar situation that they are putting quite a bit of money into upgrading their road infrastructure.

Not just the hard infrastructure but also the soft infrastructure, so institutional and policy reform to support the development of services that support the logistics market would also be important in addition to physical infrastructure.  VNS
Trucks wait for customs procedures in Lao Cai Province. The customs sector cant reform or develop effectively without comprehensive measures and co-operation from business and other sectors.  Photo baolaocai.vn

HA NOI  The customs sector cant reform or develop effectively without comprehensive measures and co-operation from business and other sectors, a meeting heard yesterday.

The meeting between Viet Nam Customs and businesses was held yesterday, offering business opportunities to voice their concerns and recommendations for the customs reform, development and modernisation plan from 2016-2020.

Earlier, Viet Nam Customs surveyed 500 key businesses across the country about the plan which the Finance Ministry approved in July this year.

Vice head of the Customs Modernisation Committee under Viet Nam Customs, Kim Long Bien, said that most enterprises reacted positively to the plan.

They called on customs and agencies involved in quarantine, product quality control and food safety control to improve their performance, Bien said.

They also asked for the use of the National Single Window mechanism to be sped up to support logistics and banking companies, he said.

At the meeting yesterday, Nguyen Tuong, vice general secretariat of the Viet Nam Logistics Association said 28 per cent of import/export procedures that logistics firms deal with relate to customs while the remainder relate to other sectors.

The customs sector and other sectors need to reform to reduce business difficulties in terms of administration, he said.

Deputy Director of Viet Nam Customs Customs Control and Supervision Department, Au Anh Tuan, said that eight ministries were involved in checking cross-border goods.

Viet Nam Customs is working with ministries to reduce the number of goods required to be checked, reduce procedures and is applying risk management so that not all goods are checked and we recognise checks conducted by other agencies, he said.

Tuan said Viet Nam Customs and the ministries were considering exchanging information on e-licensing.

Vice president of Viet Nam Petroleum Association Trinh Quang Khanh said that petroleum companies found it difficult to follow a new requirement by the Finance Ministry forcing them to submit a certificate of origin (C/O) as soon as they began customs declaration.

Petroleum companies usually received C/O five days or up to 11 days after signing a petroleum purchasing contract, he said, calling the ministry to adjust the requirement to match with reality and international practices.

An official from Viet Nam Customs said that they would review legal documents and trade pacts related to this case.

For example, the trade agreement between Viet Nam and South Korea stated that C/O could be submitted within one year after being imported. However, few countries in ASEAN require C/O to be submitted at the time of import.

Late last week, Viet Nam Customs also held talks with South Korean companies operating in Viet Nam.

Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Hyuk said that as the biggest foreign investor in Viet Nam, Korea expected to see bilateral trade between the two country increase to US$70 billion by 2020.

By June this year, Korean investors had invested US$48.5 billion in Viet Nam.

The Ambassador said that Korean companies worried most about the business climate, tax and customs policies before investing overseas.

Deputy Minister of Finance o Hoang Anh Tuan said that companies could raise their concerns with Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry or Viet Nam-Korea business Association so that relevant agencies could respond in a timely fashion.  VNS
Local exporters, freight forwarding firms and seaports are calling for Government support to ease the effects of the bankruptcy filed by South Koreas Hanjin Shipping Global (HJS), the worlds seventh-largest container carrier.  Photo zing.vn

HCM CITY  Local exporters, freight forwarding firms and seaports are calling for Government support to ease the effects of the bankruptcy filed by South Koreas Hanjin Shipping Global (HJS), the worlds seventh-largest container carrier.

Bui Thi Lien Thuy, director of Hai Bang Trading and Service Logistics Company, said Vietnamese exporters risk losing their goods shipped by Hanjin while freight forwarding firms could be fined for violating contracts.

Thuy said her company has to offload goods carried by HJS ships at a Singapore port and hire another carrier at a cost of US$3,000 a container to deliver to their customers on time.

Nguyen inh Viet, deputy director of Viet Nam Maritime Administration (Vinamarine), said the bankruptcy has affected business around the world, not just Vietnamese ones, and the Government should help firms offset their losses.

In addition, Vinamarine encourages firms to be active in finding solutions themselves for containers outside Viet Nam.

He added that the Ministry of Transport has asked the Government to establish a team to deal with the effects of the HJS bankruptcy.

According to Vinamarine, Hanjin accounts for over five per cent of Viet Nams container shipping industry. The bankruptcy has badly hurt many Vietnamese companies, especially those exporting seafood, garment and textile products, footwear and furniture to China, South Korea and the US.

Truong inh Hoe, general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), estimated that about 150 containers of frozen seafood due to reach the US by the end of this month are affected.

The Hanjin Chennai has been stranded for days off the coast in southern Vietnam as it was refused permission to enter a port in Vung Tau. There are concerns about whether the failed shipping line could pay docking and other fees.

Vietnamese seaports should allow Hanjin ships to dock in Viet Nam as soon as possible to reduce losses, Viet urged.

As many as 733 containers of merchandise on the Hanjin Chennai were scheduled to dock in HCM City on September 2.

There were also reports that some Hanjin ships had been seized in China on behalf of creditors.

Customs statistics show that the South Korean shipping line has run up a debt of about $2.5 million to HCM City-based Sai Gon Newport Corporation, and more than $200,000 to other ports in the north.

Some said Sai Gon Newport should ask for help from relevant authorities so that the Hanjin Chennai can dock in HCM City and allow retailers and companies to offload their cargo, while creditors can seize other assets.

HJC accounts for 2.9 per cent of the worlds sea shipping market share, ranking the 7th and biggest shipping firm in South Korea. The carrier has operated 140 vessels on 60 international maritime routes. It carries more than 100 million tonnes of goods a year.  VNS
HA NOI  Thailand has proposed the imposition of anti-dumping duty at a maximum of 40.49 per cent on Viet Nams steel products imported into the country.

This was reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trades Viet Nam Competition Authority by the Viet Nam Trade Office in Thailand.

On September 20, Thailands Ministry of Trades Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) released its proposal on imposing anti-dumping duty from 7.94 per cent to 40.49 per cent on Viet Nams cold rolled steel plated or coated with the alloy of aluminum-hot dipped galvanized at Thailands market.

DFT will receive written feedback by October 6, 2016, from firms which will have steel duty imposed on them. It will then listen to the firms explanations on their cases at the departments headquarters in Thailand on October 12.

Thailand began investigating products imported from Viet Nam in September 2015 upon receiving a request from the NSW.Bluescope Company and studying that particular case.

This was the second anti-dumping lawsuit initiated by Thailand on Vietnamese goods. The first lawsuit in 2012 was for Viet Nams cold rolled steel products imported to Thailand.

In another development, Thailand decided to impose anti-dumping duty on welded stainless steel tubes imported from mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Viet Nam within five years starting September 17, 2016.

According to a report on the Royal Thai Government Gazette website on September 16, the duty was 145.31 per cent for Chinas stainless steel tubes, 11.96 per cent for SeAH Steel Corp, 51.53 per cent for other companies from South Korea and 12.29 per cent for Froch Company, as well as 2.38 per cent for YC Inox and 29.04 per cent for other companies from Taiwan. The highest rate of 310.74 per cent was for Son Ha International Joint Stock Company and other companies from Viet Nam.  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Sixth from Right) receives Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun in Ha Noi yesterday.  Photo VGP

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has pledged to create favourable conditions for the public security ministries of Viet Nam and China to deepen their co-operation, contributing to the bilateral strategic partnership.

Receiving Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun in Ha Noi yesterday, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the two public security ministries to implement co-operation agreements more effectively, guided by the common perception of the two countries leaders.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Indonesian National Police, General Syafruddin, in Ha Noi yesterday.  Photo VGP

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Indonesian National Police co-operate closely to fight transnational crimes and terrorism, thus deepening their bilateral strategic partnership.

During his reception for the visiting Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Indonesian National Police, General Syafruddin, in Ha Noi yesterday, the PM highlighted the two nations growing relations after their co-operation was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in June 2013.

Perhaps most significantly, the two countries are implementing the Viet Nam-Indonesia Action Programme for the 2014-2018 period, he said.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his joy at the sound cooperation between Viet Nam s Ministry of Public Security and the Indonesian National Police in combating transnational crime, drug and human trafficking, hi-tech crimes as their partnership has blossomed.

He praised the essential role played by Indonesia in the ASEAN Community and its regional security co-operation mechanisms, thanking the nation for its contributions to peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity in the region and the world.

He urged Indonesia to continue its close work with Viet Nam and other ASEAN members to ensure intra-bloc solidarity and to assure their common stance. He praised ASEANs common voice and highlighted the blocs vital role in solving East Sea-related issues.

Viet Nam and Indonesia should work together to accelerate the pace of negotiations on the delimitation of exclusive economic zones at sea, he said.

For his part, General Syafruddin said he hoped for closer security links between the two nations, especially in fighting terrorism.

He congratulated Viet Nam on the countrys strong economic growth, expressing his belief that Viet Nam will successfully organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit next year.

The guest informed the host about the outcomes of the talks between representatives of the two security agencies, saying that the two sides discussed many potential orientations for co-operation.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Italys Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Graziano Delrio in Ha Noi yesterday. Photo VGP

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday met with Italys Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Graziano Delrio in Ha Noi, who said Italy will be a companion to Viet Nam during its development.

He rejoiced at the progress in bilateral relations since they were lifted to a strategic partnership in January 2013, especially after the Viet Nam visits by Italian PM Matteo Renzi in June 2014 and President Sergio Mattarella in November 2015.

Italy remains a big trade partner of Viet Nam in the EU with bilateral trade hitting US$4.3 billion in 2015.

The PM believes that economic, trade and investment ties will be strengthened when Italys Chamber of Deputies ratifies the Viet Nam-EU Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation, and when Viet Nam and the EU sign a bilateral free trade agreement.

The Vietnamese Government supports Italian firms in making long-term business plans and carrying out projects in Viet Nam, particularly in machinery manufacturing, textile and garment, footwear, wood processing and support industries, he noted.

He spoke highly of the talks between Minister Delrio and Viet Nams Ministry of Transport Truong Quang Nghia, adding that though the ministries inked several co-operation agreements, their collaboration has been below potential.

He asked the two governments to continue facilitating partnerships between their countries companies, particularly in transport.

Both ministries should increase information exchanges while creating favourable conditions for businesses to engage in transport infrastructure projects and seek co-operation opportunities in seaport management and operations, seaport infrastructure and services development, and logistics services, PM Phuc said.

He also asked Italy to urge the EU to sign and ratify the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement and recognise Viet Nam as a market economy, he said, will enhance co-operation between the Southeast Asian nation and the EU.

The Vietnamese leader also asked the visiting minister and the Italian Government to support navigation and aviation freedom and the promotion of trade in Southeast Asia and the world.

At the meeting in Ha Noi, Minister Delrio informed his host about the working session between the two transport ministries.

With its experience in infrastructure and transport building and management, Italy is ready to coo-perate with Vietnam in building seaports and airports.

The Italian Government is proud to be a major EU partner of Viet Nam and considers the country an important partner, he noted.

Echoing PM Phucs view about co-operation potential, he said his countrys Government is interested in maintaining navigation and aviation freedom and ensuring trade and global economic development. Italy wants to accelerate joint programmes and projects with Viet Nam, especially in aviation and railway.  VNS
The Quang Ninh Police, in co-ordination with the Hai Phong Police, yesterday arrested Doan Trung Dung (centre), the prime suspect in the murders of a grandmother and her three grandchildren in Phuong Nam Ward of Uong Bi City.

QUANG NINH  The Quang Ninh Police, in co-ordination with the Hai Phong Police, yesterday arrested Doan Trung Dung, the prime suspect in the murders of a grandmother and her three grandchildren in Phuong Nam Ward of Uong Bi City.

Dung, 45, also of Uong Bi City, was arrested near the Binh Bridge in Thuy Nguyen Ward, Hai Phong City at about 8.30pm yesterday.

Yesterday at midday, police issued a wanted notice for Dung, and initiated legal proceedings against the suspect for murder.

During the past two days, security along roads in the city has been monitored strictly. Police have inspected hotels and other places of interest in the city and Quang Ninh Province to search for Dung.

The bodies of 61-year-old Nguyen Thi Hat and three of her grandchildren - aged three, eight and nine - were found in their home on Saturday morning.  VNS
The National Assemblys Judicial Committee yesterday convened its third session with discussions focused on the adjustment of the Penal Code 2015.  Photo dangcongsan.vn

HA NOI  The National Assemblys Judicial Committee yesterday convened its third session with discussions focused on the adjustment of the Penal Code 2015.

This vital law will have major effects on national socio-economic development and will attract public concern, said Chairwoman of the NAs Judicial Committee Le Thi Nga.

Presenting a submission to the Government on the amendment and supplement of the Penal Code No 100/2015/QH13, Deputy Minister of Justice inh Trung Tung said the current Penal Code was approved by the 12th National Assembly and was effective since July this year.

However, Tung said, during implementation, authorities discovered several errors, including some regulations that could be unsuitable for reality.

Deputy Justice Minister Tung revealed there were two views on the amendment and supplement for the Penal Code.

The first was determining the amendment and supplement to the Penal Code based on review of the law but without effecting macro policies mentioned in the law that were approved by the 13th NA, according to Tung.

The second view held that it was necessary to deal with errors and irrelevant regulations of the Penal Code, even totally modifying it if necessary.

The modification should help solve issues in quantifying the details of the Penal Code, especially the definition of consequences effecting human life, health and property as well as treatment and definition of criminal liability.

The National Assembly Standing Committee directed the Judicial Committee in co-ordination with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme Peoples Court, Peoples Procuracy and other relevant authorities to review the provisions of the criminal Code to ensure a comprehensive implementation of the Penal Code.

Head of the Peoples Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City Duong Ngoc Hai said he was anxious that after reviewing the Penal Code for a short time, authorities found 141 articles that needed to be adjusted and supplemented.

According to Hai, if a closer and more careful review was undertaken, there might have been a lot more errors.

With such a vast number of errors, there could be more serious consequences, said Hai.

Discussions on the Penal Code will continue today, with the draft Anti-Corruption Law also on the table.  VNS
Nigeria ups resources for this year's Africa Code Week event

Over the next two weeks Nigeria will play host to a series of official train-the-trainer (TTT) sessions as the country takes on a leading role in the build up to SAP Africa Code Week (ACW) 2016.

Founded in 2015, ACW seeks to empower African youth with coding skills through hands-on and playful learning. Spearheaded by SAP, world leaders in enterprise software, and with the support of hundreds of partners across Africa, its inaugural year saw more than 89,000 youth across 17 countries introduced to software coding within a mere ten days - four times the initial goal. The aim for ACW 2016 is to double that, reaching a minimum of 150,000 youth throughout 30 African countries.

"However, the sustainability of initiatives such as ACW relies heavily on skilled volunteers," says Kudzai Danha, Managing Director for SAP West Africa. "In order to train a new generation of Digital Economy workers in Africa we need to have skilled and knowledgeable instructors in place to provide mentorship, leadership and skills transfer to our ACW participants. It is our vision to not only help the world run better, but to improve people's lives. TTT workshops enable the teachers of today to enable the innovators of tomorrow by providing a platform for the transfer of skills and knowledge from 'Master Instructors' to parents, teachers and educators, empowering them to become teachers who can train students in their local communities."

Aimed at local school teachers, this week's TTT workshops in Lagos and Abuja will seek to train in excess of 200 participants. The objective is to empower as many people as possible to take part in this year's ACW and to ensure the sustainability of this initiative. With over 1,500 educators trained in 2015, all of whom have gone on to positively impact the lives of thousands of young people, SAP's long-term goal is to empower more than 200,000 teachers reaching in excess of five million children and youth over the next ten years.

Lagos State's Commissioner for Science & Technology Olufemi Odubiyi adds, "Africa Code Week is an opportunity for us to deliver leaders for tomorrow's challenges. We need to show Africa and the rest of the world what Nigeria and, more importantly, what driven and determined African youth, can achieve. It is programmes like these that help showcase Nigeria's game changing acts of solidarity and harmony to the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, changing one country at a time while supporting growth through technology."

Adding to Odubiyi's comment, Lagos State's Special Adviser on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, says, "IT skills are the job currency of the future. It is not just our responsibility but also to our benefit to invest in putting African youth on the path to successful careers. Large-scale literacy initiatives, such as ACW, prove that public-private partnerships can be a strategic means to affect change. We are proud to be part of this programme".

Africa's working-age population is growing rapidly, but it's estimated that less than one percent of African children leave school with basic coding skills. ACW helps shape the future workforce by sparking interest in software coding with participating youth receiving not only basic skills but also invaluable hands-on experience. The initiative provides learners from the ages of 8 - 17 with coding basics and the opportunity to program their own animations, quizzes and games. Older learners, aged 18-24, are provided an introduction to web technologies such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP and SQL in order to provide them with a basic understanding of website architecture, teaching them how to develop a fully operational and mobile-friendly website.

Held from 15-23 October, ACW will provide thousands of free coding workshops and online training sessions to children and youth. The event always provides a number of ways for the public to get involved. Over and above actual attendance, opportunity exists for interested parties to host a free coding workshop, but to also receive free online training in Scratch (free software which simplifies the face of coding for youth).

The Nigeria TTT workshops will take place in Lagos on Tuesday, 27 September at the recently constructed Digital Village and Abuja on Thursday, 29 September in partnership with National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS). TTT workshops are open to all school teachers and any other parties interested in becoming part of ACW, and all attendees will receive 90 minutes of training, a USB with course notes and Scratch (coding programme) pre-loaded, T-shirts and a training certificate upon completion. To reward the efforts of the teachers involved in this initiative, the school that teaches coding to the most students will win a laptop and data projector valued at more than 176,000 NGN.

For registration and venue details please contact the National Coordinator-Olajide Ademola Ajayi on 09093307353 email: Ademola.ajayi@sap.com or call Oluwafemi Hassan on +23412776458

www.news.sap.com
Gia Loc

HCM CITY  Several years ago, Nguyen Anh Thu dropped out of school and had no way of earning an income in HCM City. Her family, originally from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, could not afford to pay for any kind of job training.

Social workers from the French NGO Enfants & Developpement, who were aware that Thu had dropped out of school, visited her house to tell her about a new programme at vocational school.

What would you like to do? they asked. Hairdressing, Thu told them.

She then began attending a free four-month course at the Humanitarian Vocational Training School, funded by the Wella UNICEF Making Waves Project.

Besides learning cutting, perming, straightening and colouring, students spend two weeks studying with foreign hair stylists provided by Wella, one of the worlds largest cosmetics and hair care brands worldwide.

Today, Thu earns VN3million (US$133) a month as a hairdresser.

After finishing the course, the students are given an option to take advanced courses for a fee and are told they can call the projects teachers if they need help.

Im lucky I received assistance. The training was enough for me to work at a salon, Thu said. When I have enough money to open my own salon, Ill return to the school to learn advanced skills.

Like Thu, Vo Thi Thu Hien, 18, of the citys outlying district of Binh Chanh, dropped out of school in the eighth grade. She began work as a manual labourer at a small company producing pincers.

Hien heard about the free hairdressing training at the Humanitarian Vocational Training School and applied to study in the programme.

The teachers, including the foreign ones, take a heartfelt approach, Hien said. They tell us about their own personal story and passion for hairdressing and what they did to pursue the job. Their stories encouraged me to study and become a stylist.

The programmes training courses began last year, with a total of 100 vulnerable children aged 15 to 18 enrolled so far in the course.

The citys Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs helps organise the training with cooperation from UNICEF, Wella, and the Humanitarian Vocational Training School.

Street children, children living at shelters and other care facilities, and children from migrant families are eligible to apply.

According to UNICEF, HCM Citys fast growth hides the magnitude of poverty and disparities as well as other challenges which affect poor people in the urban region, including children.

Figures from the citys Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs show that the city has 1.5 million children, including more than 51,152 disadvantaged children.

The country has nearly 3.3 million children and adolescents, including 1.75 million child labourers, and more than 5,400 children with HIV, according to UNICEF.

The WELLA - UNICEF partnership project provides financial and technical support to HCM City and ong Thap and Lao Cai provinces to give youth professional and life skills, especially those from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

The Making Waves project helps to reduce the gap between the rapid economic progress of the past two decades in Viet Nam and protection of children and adolescents harmed by the progress.

Since 2010, it has empowered more than 31,000 young people in Brazil and Romania to fulfill their rights and realise their potential. VNS
The central province of Thanh Hoa needs proper socio-economic development policies and measures in the light of international integration, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a working session with local authorities in Ha Noi yesterday.  Photo VGP

HA NOI  The central province of Thanh Hoa needs proper socio-economic development policies and measures in the light of international integration, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a working session with local authorities in Ha Noi yesterday.

The PM recognised local achievements in building effective socio-economic management models and developing rural areas, saying the province has favourable natural conditions, infrastructure and abundant labour resources.

However, development gaps still exist with small economic scale, he said, noting that the low rate of businesses has discouraged the occupational generation and budget collection. Furthermore, environmental pollution has affected the development of agriculture and tourism, he added.

He asked the locality to focus on developing high-quality human resources and realising Resolutions adopted at the 12th National Party Congress along with the National Assembly and Governments Resolutions on measures to develop socio-economic affairs.

Thanh Hoa needs to seek appropriate and effective economic models to improve investment and labour productivity as well as protect the environment, improve administrative procedures, and better serve businesses and people, he said.

He told the province to make the best use of its advantage as a miniature Viet Nam, as well as drastically carry out the Governments Resolutions to boost business production and facilitate operations of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The PM also directed Thanh Hoa to pay more attention to agricultural restructuring in line with new-style rural building to develop a multifunctional agriculture.

He reminded the province to prioritise development of its western part  where the living conditions of locals are difficult, while tightening the management of public investment.

The province is also expected to improve urban development planning, ensure social welfare and reduce the proportion of poor households under the countrys average level, while concentrating on corruption prevention and the protection of marine environment.

The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanded by 8.06 per cent in the first nine months of 2016. The per capita GRDP is expected to stand at US$1,648 at the years end.

The province collected over VN8.48 trillion ($381.6 million) to the State budget in the period. It also allowed businesses to invest in 158 projects with total registered capital of over VN18.36 trillion ($826.2 million) in January  September, 2.5 times the same period last year.

Local economic growth is estimated to reach 9.07 per cent at the end of 2016, surpassing the set target of 9 per cent.  VNS
HA NOI  Small businesses should not sell low-quality food products that come from unclear sources, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said to fruit vendors in the capitals Hoan Kiem District early this morning.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid an unexpected visit to the Long Bien wholesale vegetable market to inspect food safety early today.

He was accompanied by Deputy PM Vu uc am and leaders of the prime ministers office, ministries and the Peoples Committee of the city.

Visiting several fruit kiosks at the market, the PM said small businesses should avoid fruits and vegetables that were infused with pesticides and unsafe growth stimulants and those that were imported from unclear sources.

The consumers health is of utmost importance, he said.

Our future lies in the communitys health and wellbeing, the PM said. Each and every one of us should be aware about maintaining food safety to protect our health.

The PM paid great attention to locally-grown fruits, such as dragon fruit, ambarella and persimmon. He advised vendor owners to seek safe products with clear origin, especially those that were grown in the country.

The PM also visited Van uc Commune  a commune popular for growing safe vegetables in Gia Lam District  and talked to local farmers.

In response to the PMs inquiries, ang Van Toi, a communes farmer, said all members of the Van uc clean vegetable cooperative were determined to stand against unqualified fertilizers and pesticides.

We only buy fertilizers and microbiological plant protection products from the agency that has been certified by the food protection branch, he said. We eat the same vegetables that we grow and sell.

The PM complimented the commitment of local farmers to growing clean vegetables. He also requested the districts authorities, agricultural department and food protection branch to continue supporting farmers and supervising agencies that sell plant protection products.

He asked local authorities to support farmers in selling safe food products by creating consumption chains and reducing the intermediary stages so that the products would be more affordable and able to maintain the competitive edge.

After the visits, the PM held a work meeting on the food safety issue with the citys Peoples Committee.

At the meeting, the PM accepted the citys proposal to form a rapid response force to handle the food safety problems.  VNS
HA TINH  A grandmother and her granddaughter drowned yesterday while taking their buffalo to a grassy area near the ao River in the central Ha Tinh Province.

The incident took place at Thach Ha Districts Thach Van Commune at about 3pm.

After watching granddaughter Hoang Thi Hien take a false step and slip into the river, Le Thi Thai, 59, jumped into the water to rescue her. They both, however, drowned, not knowing how to swim in the deep waters.

Also yesterday, a father and his two sons were found drowned in Central Highlands province of Gia Lais Chu Prong District.

The victims were identified as Nguyen Ba Duy, 37, and his twins Nguyen Ba Thuan and Nguyen Ba Thang, 4, who all lived in Ia Ve Commune.

Duys wife went back to her homeland in Binh inh Province last Friday. When she returned home on Sunday, she couldnt find her husband and sons. She then informed local authorities.

Nguyen Bau, head of Ia Ve Communes Police station, said relevant agencies and local residents had worked together to search for the victims. Yesterday morning, the dead bodies were found at a pond only 1km from their house.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.  VNS
HEMPSTEAD, United States  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump bickered and traded insults in a fiery US presidential debate on Monday, as they aggressively pitched their case to tens of millions of American voters.

With the White House rivals in a dead heat six weeks before election day, Clinton from the get-go painted her Republican rival as out of touch and having a tenuous relationship with the truth, willing to say "crazy things" to get elected.

"You live in your own reality" said the 68-year old Democrat, who accused Trump of launching his political career on a "racist lie" -- the birther conspiracy theory that questioned President Barack Obamas citizenship.

Trump, who faces tough questions about his suitability for the Oval Office, started out with a more restrained tone -- he even ditched his red power tie for a more statesmanlike blue.

But he quickly went on the offensive, repeatedly interrupting Clinton with verbal jabs.

The celebrity businessman branded Clinton a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesnt work."

In feisty exchanges on the economy, Trump reprised the themes that have catalyzed his improbable campaign, blaming Clinton and the political class for losing jobs to Mexico and China through bad trade deals.

"Our country is suffering because people like secretary Clinton have made such bad decisions in terms of our jobs and in terms of whats going on," he said.

He demanded Clinton -- a former secretary of state, first lady and US senator -- account for her time in government: "Youve been doing this for 30 years. Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now? For 30 years, youve been doing it."

Clinton responded by accusing Trump of having "stiffed" small businesses throughout his business career.

Demanding Trump release his taxes, in keeping with election custom, she accused him of backing an economic platform amounting to "the most extreme" package of tax cuts for the wealthy in US history.

"I call it trumped up trickle-down, because thats exactly what it would be," she quipped.

Trump said he would release his tax returns, "when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," alluding to the Democrats use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Super Bowl of politics

This Super Bowl of politics took place at Hofstra University on Long Island, a mere 60-minute drive from Manhattan and chaired by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt.

This first 2016 presidential debate could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest upset in US political history.

When the celebrity businessman launched his campaign in June 2015, bookmakers put his odds at 100/1 and he was roundly mocked.

But the 70-year-old weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism to triumph in a vicious Republican primary campaign.

He now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20.

Six weeks out from election day the polls have tightened to a virtual dead heat.

Trumps biggest handicap may be accusations that he has a weak grasp of policy -- which he sought to counter by accusing his rival of sowing chaos in the Middle East during her tenure as secretary of state.

"Its a total mess, under your direction, to a large extent," Trump said.

But he appeared on shaky ground as he defended his refusal to reveal his plan for defeating the Islamic State group.

Clinton -- perhaps the most qualified presidential candidate since George Bush senior or Dwight Eisenhower -- has a massive organisational advantage, a bigger campaign warchest, a lead in the popular vote and is in a notably stronger position state-by-state.

But she remains deeply unpopular. In a country split 50/50 between Democrats and Republicans, only 40 percent of voters say they have a favorable view of her.

In the last two presidential elections, young, black, Hispanic and Asian-American voters turned out in record numbers for Obama.

Clintons campaign has struggled so far to match that level of enthusiasm.

Only 47 percent of voters aged 18 to 34 say they will definitely vote this time round, that is down from 74 percent when Obama was first elected.  AFP
K Raheja Corp, one of the largest developers of IT parks, is in talks with Singapore-based Temasek Holdings and American private equity firm Warburg Pincus to sell stake in its office space holding company, said a source in the know.
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 three states.

In Andhra Pradesh, 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 Guntur, Vizag, Srikakulam and Nellore.

In Telangana, NDRF teams are pre-positioned at Medak, Nizamabad and Hyderabad. River Godavari is in full spate while torrential rain continued to lash several parts of the state for the fifth consecutive day today. Five districts on the banks of Godavari have been put on high alert.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled in view of the prevailing flood situation in the state.

In Karnataka, three teams of the force have been deployed in Bidar, Kalaburagi and Bengaluru districts. NDRF team deployed at Kalaburagi carried out flood rescue operation and evacuated 21 marooned persons to safer places.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
American and Afghan forces have reportedly killed a number of senior insurgents in airstrikes - including Pakistani Talibs and al-Qaeda members.

Reports indicate that at least one senior Pakistani Taliban leader, known as Azam Tariq, is thought to have been killed in the strike, Tolo News reports.

Tariq, the former spokesperson for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was killed in air strikes carried out by Afghan and NATO forces in Paktika province.

The terror outfit said in Peshawar yesterday that Tariq's son and nine other militants were also killed in the operation. Tariq, who had a 20 million rupee bounty on his head, was also known as Raess Khan.The overnight attack took place in Bermal district of the Paktika province on Saturday night which borders Pakistan.

The U.S military on Sunday confirmed to VOA it had 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 Ministry of Defense also said that security forces conducted military operations in Bermal late on Saturday, killing nine militants.

The dead included two al-Qaeda commanders, they claimed.

In addition security forces seized weapons, suicide vests and communication equipment, according to the ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Bangladesh court today ordered banks to freeze the assets of the owner of a factory hit by a deadly blaze, as firefighters pulled three more bodies from the rubble to take the toll to 39.

The High Court made the order after rights organisations filed a writ alleging basic safety measures had not been taken and demanding compensation for workers and bereaved relatives.

Around 100 people were working at Tampaco Foils Limited factory on September 9 when a fire caused by an explosion in the boiler room tore through the four-storey building.

It was Bangladesh's worst such disaster since the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment complex in 2013 that killed more than 1,100 people.

"The court asked that the Tampaco owner's accounts be frozen for three months," said Mahbuba Akhter, spokeswoman for one of the rights groups, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust.

Relatives of the victims have already filed a private murder case against the owner, who remains at large, and the government has launched an investigation into what caused the fire.

The deputy district police commissioner S.M. Alam said most of the workers listed as missing had now been accounted for.

"I think we are almost near to an end of the operation and soon we will call it off," he told AFP.

The blaze was the latest in a series of deadly accidents to hit impoverished Bangladesh, whose $27-billion garment industry is the world's second largest behind China's.

The Rana Plaza collapse triggered international outrage, forcing US and European clothing brands to improve deplorable safety conditions at the factories that supply them.

But labour rights groups say much more needs to be done and have urged the Bangladesh government and Western companies to work harder to protect workers in their supply chains.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
CEDAR FALLS  UnityPoint Health, the parent company of Allen Hospital and Allen College, has launched the most ambitious fund drive in those institutions long history in Waterloo-Cedar Falls.

Its a three-pronged, $19.8 million fund drive called For Allen For You. About $10.2 million already has been raised. The remaining $9.5 million is being sought to help fund three major initiatives:

$4 million would go toward the $30 million UnityPoint Health-Prairie Parkway project, a 90,000-square-foot outpatient facility being constructed in the Pinnacle Prairie area of southeastern Cedar Falls. A grand opening is planned for January.

$8.8 million for Allen College initiatives, including office, classroom and laboratory space for a new occupational therapy program and future physical therapy program; a nursing simulation laboratory; classroom and office space renovation with upgraded technology; and scholarships. That includes utilizing McElroy Hall, the former Freeburg Early Childhood Development Center building, acquired from University of Northern Iowa after funding for that program was exhausted. Tri-County Head Start will continue to lease the building through the school year.

$7 million toward a $10 million project at Allen Hospital for an expanded birthing center, neonatal intensive care and pediatrics units, renovating existing space within the hospital.

Its anticipated the final $9.5 million, applied toward the estimated $48 million in initiatives, will be raised over two to three years, said longtime Allen board member Mike Christiason, who is co-chairing the fund drive with his son, Dr. Kyle Christiason.

Major donors to date have included: the estate of Doris Travis for the Prairie Parkway project; the R.J. McElroy Trust, Mark Baldwin and the Waschek family and Ginny and Mike McBride for the Allen College initiatives; and Pauline Barrett, for whom the neonatal intensive care unit will be named.

The fund drive was announced Monday at the Prairie Parkway facility during a tailgate-style event complete with cheerleaders.

The three initiatives are designed to address the health care and health care education needs of the Cedar Valley, UnityPoint officials said in making the announcement.

The Prairie Parkway project is designed to bring outpatient services under one roof in a growing part of the metro area; the Allen College improvements are designed to cultivate and sustain a pool of health care professionals trained and working in this area; and the birthing/NICU/pediatrics facilities will allow families to access services closer to home.

If theres a word we look at, home hits all three parts, said Dee Vandventer chief development officer for UnityPoint-Allen Foundation. Were trying to keep well through Prairie Parkway, out of the hospital, at home. When you look at the OB/NICU/Peds, were trying to keep people close to home at that most precious time of their lives.

The updated neonatal intensive care unit will treat babies as young as 30 weeks compared with the current 34 weeks.

You can imagine a month away from here that you have to commute to Iowa City-Cedar Rapids, taking care of that baby, trying to keep your life going, maybe you even have kids at home. That four weeks is going to make such a difference, Vandeventer said.

The Allen College improvements aim to keep students closer to home and to keep them in the area after graduation.

If we didnt have a college right now, wed be in a world of hurt for employees in the health care field, Vandeventer said.

The three initiatives combined will create 34 jobs.

Its really a growth in our organization thats spurring this. And access, said Pam Delagardelle, UnityPoint-Waterloo CEO. If were wanting to keep people out of the hospital, we need more primary-care access points.

Fundraising so far has been overwhelming, Mike Christiason said, utilizing hundreds of volunteers and donors.

It just boggles my mind whats been accomplished, he said. Presentations will be made to service clubs and other organizations and individuals.

We want to turn up the volume on this and give everyone an opportunity, Vandeventer said. People will tell you the main reason they dont give is they havent been asked.

Individuals can give online at www.ForAllenForYou.com or by mail to Allen Foundation, 1825 Logan Ave., Waterloo, 50703.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Garry Dufel of Hudson and his twin brother, Larry, both signed up for two years in the Navy at the height of the Vietnam War.

Both brothers were assigned to the same aircraft carrier  the USS Coral Sea  and both helped run separate boilers in the belly of the ship. But they didnt know the other was aboard for a few days.

I was walking down to the chow hall and ran into him, Garry Dufel said. There were over 5,000 of us.

The twin Dufels didnt have that problem Tuesday, sitting just a few rows apart from each other on a Waterloo Honor Flight with 94 other veterans.

Most of those 96 served in Vietnam during the 1960s. Five were veterans of the Korean Conflict in the 1950s, and one  Frederick Huting, 92  was a veteran of World War II.

Huting knew all about Honor Flights, which provide all-inclusive trips for war veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to them in Washington, D.C. He just wasnt sure if he was up to traveling.

I had people tell me, Youve got to go on this thing, Huting said. I was always skeptical because of my age.

His son, Waterloo Leisure Services Director Paul Huting, finally told his father hed be going as a sponsor  so he might as well sponsor his own dad.

Here I am, said Frederick Huting, standing in the middle of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. And Im very happy to be here.

Huting said although he was stationed stateside, in California, during the war, and knew no one who was killed, his brother, Dale, was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. Dale and his wife, both in the Navy, are now buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which Huting also was able to visit Tuesday.

Nonetheless, Huting found himself in the middle of water fountains and etched white stone, getting emotional.

I didnt realize I would get these feelings, but I did, he said.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst also was on hand to talk with the veterans at the memorial, climbing onto each bus to thank them for their service.

These memorials are for you, she said.

And you! a voice shouted from the back of the bus, recognizing Ernsts military background.

Like many, Army veteran David Redenius of rural Cedar Falls was looking forward to seeing the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. A self-described history buff, Redenius relayed the true story that the cemetery includes the front yard of Gen. Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederacy.

Union soldiers buried Union dead in Lees front yard, Redenius said, smiling at the irony.

Redenius, who served in France and Germany during the Vietnam conflict from 1963 to 1965, was a combat engineer at the largest depot in Europe. He vividly recalled hearing about President Kennedys assassination while playing pool on a Saturday morning.

Everybody was worried it was a mass conspiracy  with Russia and the Warsaw Pact, he said. So we were all on red alert for a couple days.

Ron Russell of Evandale, a 1970-1971 veteran of the Vietnam War with the Army 1st Calvary Division, figured hed get emotional. A couple of his friends names are on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which he shaded over with pencil and paper to get the etching of the names to take back home.

Russells name could have easily been up on that wall too. During his time overseas, he and his unit went on search-and-destroy missions for 15 days at a time, pausing only to return and secure their firebase.

It was a long year, and Im glad I came home, Russell said.

His son, James Russell, was born while he was away. Tuesday, James accompanied his father on the Honor Flight.

Its very moving, emotionally, Ron Russell said of the memorial. You kind of come to terms with how many people were killed.

Bob Bonorden of Cedar Falls also was coming to terms with that at the Korean War Memorial, the war he was in from 1953 to 1957. When he enlisted, however, he only romanticized the Navy sailors hat.

Even though the only action the communications specialist saw was guys coming aboard all lit up when they returned to his ship, the USS Lexington, he appreciated the Korean Memorial.

I think those people do a super job, he said, tearing up. There are just not enough words to say.
WATERLOO  The city has retained a national retail recruiting firm to help fill vacant storefronts and commercial sites.

Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously Monday to approve a three-year contract with Buxton Co., based in Fort Worth, Texas, at a cost of $50,000 per year.

Buxton is a tool and a more aggressive approach than weve had in the past to making sure were doing everything that we can to attract and recruit businesses locally, said Mayor Quentin Hart.

Buxton users consumer analytics to determine which retailers would be a good fit for Waterloo based on the spending habits of its residents, which the company collects from credit card usage and other sources.

The firm also works with national retailers looking for sites, which puts Waterloo on the radar.

Matthew Tate, a senior account executive with Buxton, said the firm would provide Waterloo with a list of companies that would be a good fit for Waterloo, providing the data city staff needs to approach those retailers.

Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson said the contract will allow city leaders to be proactive in business recruitment.

This is information we could not put together as staff, he said of Buxtons services.

Councilmen voiced some concerns about the scope of the contract, noting the contract with Buxton specifically noted it would focus its efforts on Logan Plaza and the Crossroads Center areas.

But Anderson and Hart both said the Buxton services could be used throughout the community, including downtown, which has a number of empty storefronts.

Councilman Tom Powers said the plan is in line with the councils stated goals of growing the citys population, now 68,000, and expanding the tax base.

I think Buxtons proposal is a cost worth bearing, he said. If we want to grow our community to 85,000 we have to bring in businesses to do that and reduce the cost to the taxpayer.

In other business, council members unanimously approved:

An agreement with Deer Creek Development, headed by Harold Youngblut, to finish building 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 will pay Youngblut $1.8 million from TIF revenue once work is completed.

Adopting new building and fire codes. Those measures include few major changes, drew no opposition and were developed in coordination with Cedar Falls to make sure its easier for builders.
WATERLOO  Immigration officials deported a Waterloo teen before he could be tried for charges that he killed an elderly man in an alleged dru
Details: The community is welcome to celebrate the fall season with a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and homemade pies. Activities include childrens games, bake sale, book sale, pumpkin sale, Halloween costume sale, silent auction and raffle. Tickets for the meal are available at the parish office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week or at the door. Prices are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for ages 4-12 and free for 3 and younger.
INDEPENDENCE  The Wapsipinicon River is slowly falling in Independence after surging to its fourth-highest level ever.

Its worse than 2008, said Charlie McCardle, secretary for the Buchanan County Emergency Management Agency. Were still waiting for the water to come down so we can make our assessments.

Some homes and businesses along the river and near Main Street in Independence were affected by the Wapsipinicon, which crested at 19.36 feet around noon Sunday and forced the temporary closure of Iowa Highway 150.

Thats well above the 12-foot flood stage but still below the record flood of more than 22 feet in 1999.

The American Red Cross was putting a few dislocated residents up in local motels, McCardle said. But some 172 Buchanan County homes along the Wapsipinicon that were hit by previous floods had been bought out and removed.

With those being out it helped minimize the flood damage, McCardle said. It also let the water spread out and go where it needed to go.

The National Weather Services was projecting the river to drop below flood stage today.

Upriver from Independence, the unincorporated community of Littleton was hit hard when the river crested late Saturday night.

Its dropping now, but some people are still flooding, said Brenda Cook, who was working Monday at the Littleton Lounge. I got five or six feet of water in my basement. I dont have a furnace or a water heater.

Emergency management officials in neighboring Fayette and Delaware counties were also busy assessing damage from rivers and streams cresting above flood stage late last week.

Lisa Roberts, coordinator of the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency, said it appeared most of the damage was to roads and public infrastructure with generally minor damage to some homes.

At one point we had 19 roads and two bridges closed, she said.

Otter Creek and the Wapsipinicon, Little Turkey and Volga rivers all experienced flooding mostly Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Ive got to give a shout out to our volunteer fire departments, Roberts said. Typical Iowa, everyone comes to the rescue.

Delaware County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Mike Ryan said things were getting back to normal in Manchester, where the Maquoketa River crested at 20.36 feet Friday, more than six feet above flood stage.

The flooding closed Main Street temporarily and cause damage to a number of businesses.

The same people that are usually affected got it again, the businesses along the river and West Main, Ryan said. There was not much for residential damage.

Roads had been cleaned up by Saturday morning, and most businesses reopened Monday.

Having a smaller watershed like we do, we dont get the three or four days to prepare for a flood, Ryan said. But we also dont have to wait three to four days for it to go down either.
In his best-selling 2005 satirical novel, Thank You for Smoking, author Christopher Buckley invented a support group for tobacco, gun and liquor lobbyists called the MOD Squad, an acronym for Merchants of Death.

Opioid lobbyists should apply for membership.

The pharmaceutical manufacturers of opioids poured $880 million into lobbying efforts and political coffers between 2005 and 2016  eight times what pro-gun advocates spent  against legislation to curb prescriptions for painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and Fentanyl, according to a recent investigation by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity.

Between 2000 and 2014, the annual overdose deaths from opioids quadrupled, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reaching 28,700. The epidemic involves the soaring use of heroin, triggered in large part by opioid-based prescription painkillers. Studies show nearly 75 percent of new heroin users first used the prescription drugs.

An estimated 2.4 million Americans are addicted to synthetic pain relievers or heroin, a significant problem for the criminal justice system, health care and taxpayers.

At the National Governors Association meeting in July, 45 governors signed an agreement to tighten rules on prescription painkillers but face battles with the major pharmaceutical companies employing 1,350 lobbyists and their seemingly unlikely ally, the American Cancer Society.

The opioid lobby has been doing everything it can to preserve the status quo of aggressive prescribing, said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, founder of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. They are reaping enormous profits from aggressive prescribing.

For their part, the major opioid manufacturers claim they have encouraged doctors to prescribe more cautiously and encouraged states to share databases of prescriptions to thwart addicts and drug traffickers.

The AP cites New Mexico as an example where the opioid lobby was successful in killing a 2012 bill limiting initial prescriptions of opioid painkillers for acute pain to seven days, although it exempted those with chronic pain. The campaign was launched by a mother whose son was given a bottle of Percocet after breaking his collarbone in wrestling practice and then descended into addiction and death.

According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the opioid industry ramped up the Pain Care Forum, nonprofits they help fund, with members contributing $24 million to 7,100 candidates, primarily key decision makers, over a 10-year period.

As other states sought to limit opioids for first-time users, Big Pharma and its allies have lobbied for exceptions for chronic sufferers.

Barby Ingle, president of the International Pain Foundation, which receives pharmaceutical company funding, told the AP, Theres such a hysteria going on.  There are millions who are living a better life who are on the medications long term.

Yet the AP notes studies have shown weak or no evidence that opioids are effective ways to treat routine chronic pain. And one 2015 study from a hospital system in Pennsylvania found about 40 percent of chronic noncancer pain patients receiving opioids had some signs of addiction and 4 percent had serious problems.

You can create an awful lot of harm with seven days of opioid therapy, said Dr. David Juurlink, a University of Toronto toxicology expert. You can send people down the pathway to addiction when they never would have been sent there otherwise.

Tennessee Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams wanted to limit prescription painkillers after learning more than 900 babies were born to opioid-addicted mothers in 2013. The babies suffered from withdrawal  seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and loud-pitched screams  requiring morphine and had complications after leaving the hospital.

Tennessee ranked third in the country for per-capita distribution of opioids  1.3 prescriptions per person  and had no mechanism to discipline doctors.

His effort was blocked in large part by the American Cancer Societys Cancer Action Network lobbyists, although prescribing painkillers for cancer patients would have remained legal.

Its 200 lobbyists nationwide, according to the AP, have taken similar positions elsewhere, defending rules that some argue encourage extensive prescriptions and opposing opioid measures even if the proposed legislation specifically exempted cancer patients.

Four major opioid makers provided at least $100,000 in funding to the Cancer Action Network in 2015.

According to the Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program, Iowa doctors and health-care providers prescribed 300 million painkillers in 2015 for a population of three million  100 per person. The problem, according to health-care professionals, also stems from patient demands, which requires education on the risks and the rewards.

While our current state of political paranoia has many believing the greatest threats to our health and well-being are coming from outside our borders, the statistics clearly indicate otherwise.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 26, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 26, 2016 | 01:44 PM | PADUCAH, KY

A Paducah man is in custody, and another is being sought in connection with a break-in Monday morning at a Paducah business.



Officers responded at 3:23 am to a burglar alarm at Bargain Hunt on Irvin Cobb Drive. An officer said he saw a man climbing down from the roof of the building. When the man saw the officer, he climbed back up to the roof and disappeared.



Other officers arrived and surrounded the building. A K9 unit found 21-year-old Tyler A. Sharp hiding under some merchandise in a store room. Police said the other man escaped down another side of the building before officers arrived.



Police said Sharp had three backpacks stolen from Bargain Hunt, which contained a stolen dagger and several knives. Tyler was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.



The second man has not been identified. Police said he was wearing a light-colored hoodie and carrying a red backpack.



Anyone with information about the burglary or the second mans identity is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550 or Crime Stoppers at 270-443-TELL.
By The Associated Press Sep. 23, 2016 | 04:52 AM | FRANKFORT, KY

Kentucky's U.S. Senate candidates disagree over a bill that would rescue the pensions and health benefits of thousands of retired union coal miners.

The bill before the U.S. Senate would use some of the $490 million each year that flows through the federal Abandoned Mine Land program to rescue the health benefits of union coal miners whose companies have gone out of business. It would also shore up a United Mine Workers of America pension fund that's on the brink of collapse following the 2008 recession.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul says he supports the concept of the bill, but says it should help all coal miners, not just those who joined a labor union. Democratic challenger Jim Gray said he supports the bill, calling it "a positive, bipartisan step."
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The Oregon School Boards Association named Willamette University College of Law alumnus Jim Green JD91 its next executive director. Green succeeds Betsy Miller-Jones, who retires January 1, 2017.

Since 2012, Green has served as the OSBAs deputy executive director. Dr. Doug Nelson, president of the OSBA Board of Directors, said Green is uniquely qualified and was the top candidate because of his passion for public education, knowledge of issues and well-known reputation.

He thoroughly understands the important volunteer work that school board members perform, Nelson said, and through his legislative expertise, he has helped position OSBA as a leading voice for public education in Oregon.

Green has also been an elected member of the Salem-Keizer School Board since 2011. He is an advocate for investing in young people and creating a better future for them.

Im a product of Oregons public schools, Green said, so I know firsthand how public education changes lives.

Nelson said the OSBA Board believes Green will build on the momentum hes had in his previous position and push to ensure public schools are properly funded, lift graduation rates and close the achievement gap.

Green has previous experience serving as a legislative specialist at OSBA from 1992 to 2007. He worked as a lobbyist and practiced law privately for five years before returning to OSBA in 2012. Green received his bachelors degree in political science from Oregon State University and his JD from Willamette Law in 1991.

About Willamette University College of Law

Opened in 1883, Willamette University College of Law is the first law school in the Pacific Northwest. The college has a long tradition at the forefront of legal education and is committed to the advancement of knowledge through excellent teaching, scholarship, mentoring and experience. Leading faculty, thriving externship and clinical law programs, ample practical skills courses, and a proactive career placement office prepare Willamette law students for today's legal job market. According to statistics compiled by the American Bar Association, Willamette ranks first in the Pacific Northwest for job placement for full-time, long-term, JD-preferred/JD-required jobs for the class of 2014 and first in Oregon for the classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Located across the street from the state capitol complex and the Oregon Supreme Court in downtown Salem, the college specializes in law and government, law and business, and dispute resolution.
The transformation of Iran

27 September 2016

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The impartiality of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was "indispensable" to the high-level political agreement reached last year on Iran's nuclear-related activities, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano told delegates at the Agency's 60th General Conference in Vienna yesterday.

Salehi and Amano met at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna yesterday

(Image: Dean Calma/IAEA)

The head of the Iranian delegation said the "file" on nuclear safeguard concerns about Iran's nuclear program was "now closed", while Russia's lead representative at the event described assistance to Iran in meeting its commitments. These are to limit its uranium enrichment activities, eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium and limit its stockpile of low-enriched uranium over 15 years.

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015 with the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the USA - also referred to as the P5+1 - plus the European Union). Implementation of the agreement began in January after the IAEA confirmed that Iran had taken all the necessary measures. Implementation followed the 16 January release of a report by Amano confirming that Iran had completed the necessary preparatory steps based on verification by IAEA inspectors.

Factual assessment

Amano said: "The Agency worked from 2003 onwards to verify Iran's nuclear program. We reported regularly on Iran's implementation of its safeguards agreement with the Agency, and of UN Security Council resolutions. Last year, we provided a clear, factual assessment of Iran's past nuclear activities. The work of the Agency was indispensable in paving the way for the diplomatic breakthrough achieved last year in the form of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action."

He added: "We are now verifying and monitoring Iran's implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under that agreement. The fact that the Agency enjoyed the confidence of all parties in this very complex issue is a tribute to the professionalism, objectivity and impartiality of our inspectors."

The IAEA currently implements safeguards in 181 of its Member States, 173 of which have Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements in force. "As Director General, I have encouraged countries to implement the Additional Protocol, a powerful verification tool that gives the Agency greater access to information and locations," Amano said. "The number of countries with Additional Protocols in force has risen to 128 today from 93 in 2009."

The Additional Protocol is a legal document that supplements IAEA Member States safeguards agreements. It grants the IAEA complementary legal authority to verify a Member State's safeguards obligations.

Mutual respect

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iranian vice-president and chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said Amano's "official and decisive report on the final assessment of Iran's past and present nuclear issues ... closed forever this false and fabricated nuclear file."

The "epoch making" JCPOA agreement "was undoubtedly achieved as the result of my nation's persistence on its inalienable rights", he said. "This is a diplomatic triumph, not only for Iran, but also for the history of world politics. It is now incumbent upon all of us to work together in good faith to sustain the integrity of the JCPOA, which we believe is in the interests of the entire international community."

He added: "My country has played its role with great efforts by implementing all its JCPOA commitments, which was monitored and verified by the Agency, as well as continuing its close cooperation with the IAEA through voluntary effectuation of the Additional Protocol in accordance with the provisions of the JCPOA. However, expectations regarding comprehensive and expeditious removal of all sanctions [against Iran], as stipulated in the JCPOA, have yet to be met."

Nuclear power program

Iran will accelerate its development of peaceful nuclear technology, "both in power and non-power domains and applications", he said. The country is keen to cooperate, he added, with "technologically advanced" IAEA Member States.

Russian-built Bushehr 1, the first nuclear power unit in the Middle East, started commercial operation in September 2013. The VVER-1000 pressurized water reactor was recently handed over to the Iranian operator after its "successful commissioning and safe operation", Salehi said. Power generation from the unit has so far avoided the use of 25 million barrels of equivalent oil and prevented the emission of about 16 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, he said.

The first foundation stone for Bushehr units 2 and 3 was laid in a ceremony held at the construction site in southern Iran on 10 September.

In addition to Iran's development of "various aspects" of fission technology, Salehi said attempts in developing nuclear fusion technology as a national project is also "under serious consideration". Initial steps in this regard have been taken with the assistance of international partners, such as the EU and the IAEA, he added.

Russian assistance

Sergey Kirienko, director general of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said Russia is also assisting Iran with measures that are "not directly related to Russian areas of responsibility" under the JCPOA.

"On 28 of December last year we removed from Iran all surplus low-enriched uranium and nuclear materials. This meant that on 16 January we were able to declare JCPOA implementation day," Kirienko said. "On 13 and 20 of September this year, there were two flights to Russia that carried 38 tonnes of Iranian heavy water. And we're working with the Iranian parties to modify two cascades at the Fordow [uranium enrichment] plant to produce stable isotopes."

Safety and security

"As a pioneer country in the region utilising peaceful nuclear energy," Iran has "always attached high priority to nuclear safety," Salehi said. "In this regard, setting up an advanced nuclear safety centre equipped with modern technology and equipment is being contemplated. This centre can be considered as a fulcrum in regional nuclear safety cooperation." A nuclear safety conference is "envisaged to be convened" in Iran, he said, which could be used as a "conduit for collaboration and better understanding" among countries in the Persian Gulf.

The "inclusive participation" of IAEA Member States is essential for developments in nuclear security, he said. Iran will therefore participate in the upcoming IAEA international conference on nuclear security to be held in Vienna between 5 and 9 December, he added.

"One of the most wretched instances of nuclear sabotage is the employment of cyber-attacks, a vivid example of which was the deployment of the Stuxnet virus against nuclear and other civil facilities in my country," he said. "While supporting the implementation of the IAEA safeguards, and the related verification mechanisms, we expect that the application of the state-level concept and approach should not lead to discriminatory implementation of the respective measure and to undermining the sovereignty of Member States."

Implementation of the JCPOA and the safeguards regime, including the voluntary application of the Additional Protocol, has "paved the way" for the IAEA "to expeditiously reach the stage of broader conclusion vis-a-vis my country". The key point, however, is that the IAEA "continues to adhere to the principle of confidentiality", he added.

US support

Ernest Moniz, US energy secretary, read a message from President Barack Obama to the IAEA General Conference, which included reference to the JCPOA.

Implementation of the agreement "demonstrates what can be achieved through a commitment to informed, principled democracy", Obama wrote. "The IAEA's efforts to verify Iran's performance of its commitments under the JCPOA are vital and help assure us that the JCPOA is accomplishing its objectives of ensuring Iran's nuclear program is and remains exclusively peaceful. The United States will continue to fully implement its commitments under the JCPOA, and we urge all parties to provide continued support to the IAEA's important verification role."

Earlier this year, Obama hosted the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, which aimed, he said, "to accelerate international efforts to reduce the evolving threat posed by nuclear terrorism and to make progress toward strengthened international norms and standards for nuclear security."

He added: "I am confident that by working together real progress can be made in enhancing the nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Moniz said that, across the four Nuclear Security Summits, more than 3.8 metric tons of material have been removed or dispositioned; 34 HEU-fuelled research reactors and isotope production facilities in 18 countries have been converted to use LEU and targets or shut down; all HEU has been eliminated from "15 countries and Taiwan"; and 11 countries have ratified the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material this year, resulting in its entry in force.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Spanish/Swiss architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava has unveiled new design for office building in Zurich. Commissioned by Swiss insurer AXA, the new office building includes public parking for approximately 1,000 bicycles, and is envisaged to increase connectivity between Calatrava-designed rail station and city.

The project seems as a new chapter of transit-oriented design for the Swiss city. The five-story structure will seamlessly integrate with Stadelhofen Station, the Calatrava-designed transit hub and city landmark, and will increase connectivity throughout the metro area.

''This 21st century office building in the heart of Zurich interplays with the areas streetscape and adds to its vibrancy by encouraging bicycle use and improving pedestrians connection to the Stadelhofen Station,'' said Mr. Calatrava.

Mr. Calatrava was chosen to design the new property owned by Swiss insurer AXA because of his commitment to innovative, functional design and to ensure consistency with the adjacent stations architecture and appropriateness within the surrounding city fabric.



Located in the center of Zurich, the Calatrava-designed space will cater to the 80,000 commuters who pass through Stadelhofen Station each day. Today, much of the plaza space in front of the station is overcrowded with commuters and pedestrians bicycles. Mr. Calatravas design will directly address this Problem.

In June 2014, Zurichs City Council changed development regulations on Kreuzbuhlstrasse 1, a thoroughfare in the city on which the new property will be built, to allow for the construction of an avant-garde building that would provide bicycle parking for both neighborhood riders and station users.



The redesigned Stadelhofen Station opened in 1990, and was the first rapid-transit system to be built in Switzerland. Today, it is the countrys seventh busiest rail station and one of eight railway stations around the world designed by Mr. Calatrava.

All images  Santiago Calatrava

> via Santiago Calatrava Architects & Engineers




First annual Exhibit Columbus will be held between September 29 through October 1, 2016 in Columbus, Indiana, USA, which is an annual celebration of architecture, art, design and community will build on citys design history-including the new Miller Prize, and seeks to extend Columbuss singular legacy honoring the past, while pointing toward the future.

Columbus, Indiana is a small Indiana city with a global reputation for its modernist architecture, art, and landscapes. It is now launching Exhibit Columbus, an ongoing initiative to spark new explorations in architecture, art, design, and community.

With a population of only 45,000 and more than 80 buildings, landscapes, and pieces of public art by internationally-noted architects and artists, Columbus, Indiana, consistently ranks as a top city for its size. Although the city is unlikely to embark on as many new building projects as it did in the 1960s and 70s, Landmark Columbus is keeping the spirit of innovation in design and fabrication alive through a multi-year initiative, Exhibit Columbus.

With an inaugural symposium in fall of 2016 and its first exhibition in fall 2017, Exhibit Columbus seeks to celebrate Columbus design heritage, while making it relevant to new audiences. The initial program will be followed by another symposium and exhibition in 2018 and 2019, creating a new, ambitious cycle of events. Exhibit Columbus is a new exhibition model, a citywide art and design festival  similar to the Chicago Architectural Biennial, Prospect New Orleans, and Art Prize in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Form left to right: Robert A.M. Stern, Michael Van Valkenburgh, Deborah Berke, Will Miller.

The inaugural 2016 symposium for Exhibit Columbus, Foundations and Futures, will be held Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. Internationally recognized experts will participate along with community leaders who have helped build and continue to maintain Columbus existing landmarks. A keynote session will feature Deborah Berke, Will Miller, Robert A. M. Stern, and Michael Van Valkenburgh.

The symposium also will serve as the kickoff for J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize Competition, the central component of the 2017 exhibition. Through a juried competition, the Miller Prize will be awarded to five finalists who will design, build, and install temporary projects in response to one of five sites, each a Columbus icon. This competitions name honors the legacy of two of twentieth centurys great patrons of architecture, art, and design, and a family whose visionary commitment to community remains unparalleled.

Bartholomew Country public Library, 1971, Columbus

Ten architects, artists, and furniture designers have been invited to compete for the opportunity to be one of the five selected for a Miller Prize. During the 2016 symposium, the 10 will participate in a gallery exhibition of their work and a series of presentations during the symposium. They are:

Benjamin Aranda and Chris Lasch of Aranda\Lasch (Tucson, AZ and New York, NY)

Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues of Ball Nogues Studio (Los Angeles, CA)

Herwig Baumgartner and Scott Uriu of Baumgartner + Uriu (Los Angeles, CA)

Rachel Hayes (Tulsa, OK), Eric Howeler and Meejin Yoon of Howeler + Yoon (Boston, MA)

Yugon Kim of IKD (Boston, MA)

Sharon Johnston, Mark Lee, and Jonathan Olivares of Johnston Marklee and Jonathan Olivares Design Research (Los Angeles, CA)

Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu of Oyler Wu Collaborative (Los Angeles, CA)

Joyce Hsiang and Bimal Mendis of Plan B Architecture & Urbanism (New Haven, CT)

Chris Cornelius of studio:indigenous (Milwaukee, WI)

First Chrisitan Chruch, 1942, Columbus, designed by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen

The 2017 exhibition of Exhibit Columbus will focus on site-responsive installations that connect with and comment on Columbus design legacy. Programming will attract world-renowned designers, historians, and fabricators, while at the same time bring together local residents and community groups to consider design challenges.

Exhibit Columbus was created in part to answer the question, Whats next for Columbus? said Mayor Jim Leinhoop. We want this initiative to become a platform to showcase our historic design heritage and the great work we are doing today while pointing to the future so the next generation continues to experience a community of tremendous vibrancy, just as the last generation did.

Exhibit Columbus will encourage visitors to explore the design legacy of Columbus while re-energizing the community around the potential to realize new designs in Columbus, said Richard McCoy, director of Landmark Columbus. This innovative program is a model that talks about the importance of place and community, themes that are globally relevant. Everything we are doing is about honoring the past, while pointing toward the future.

Exhibit Columbus is a project of Landmark Columbus. Created in 2015, Landmark Columbus cares for and celebrates the world-renowned design heritage of Columbus, Indiana area. Landmark Columbus is a program of Heritage Fund  The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

Exhibit Columbus is launched with founding support from the Columbus Area Visitors Center, Columbus Museum of Art Design, Cummins Inc., Efroymson Family Fund, Haddad Foundation, Heritage Fund  The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation, Johnson Ventures, Moravec Realty, Schumaker Family and SIHO Insurance Services.

Download Program of Exhibit Columbus

Tickets are available for each day of the symposium or as a two-day package. Fridays keynote session is free but requires registration. Student discounts are available.

Register now as seating is limited for all sessions.

Symposium Sessions: $35/day-$60/two days

University Students: $10/day

Gallery Exhibition Opening: Free, no ticket required

Keynote Session: Free with registration

All images courtesy of Exhibit Columbus

> via Exhibit Columbus




Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir?

Canl Bahis Nedir?

Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir.

Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir.

Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr.

Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr?

Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr?

Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr.

Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri

Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr.

Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis

Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler.

Canl Bahis Taktikleri

Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir.

Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir.

Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar

Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz.

Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr.

Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma

Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz.

Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz.

Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz.

Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz.

Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr.

Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz.

Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme

Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir.

Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr.

Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler

Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak.

Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir;

Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi

Banka hesap bilgileri

Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura.

Kacak Iddaa

Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir.

Kacak Bahis

Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor.

Illegal Bahis

Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr.

Yasads Bahis

Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler.

Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir?

Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir?

Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

Iddaa

Bilyoner

Tuttur

Birebin

Oley

Nesine

Misli

Iddaa

2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir.

Bilyoner

Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir.

Tuttur

Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr.

Birebin

Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor.

Oley

2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr.

Nesine

Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur.

Misli

2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri

Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir.

Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir.

Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr.

Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir.

Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, September 27, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It's about the life of Ortal Karp, an amazing young woman with disabilities who beat the odds in incredible fashion. Ortal's successful integration into Israeli society is the story of how being given the right opportunities, anyone can come back from the brink and lead a vibrant life, full of meaning. Today Ortal is pushing society towards a better future.



Her message embodies a universal truth that inspires.



And we sat down with her father to share his family's emotional journey.



Ortal, the third of five children, was diagnosed with Sotos syndrome at birth. Sotos syndrome causes low cognitive function and muscle tone, among other developmental delays.



"As the pregnancy progressed my wife kept telling me that something isn't right. But the doctors all said that we are just young and paranoid."



But when Ortal was born the message changed. In the hospital they told the Karps, "Just leave Ortal here. She's not worth it." Shlomo remembers, "Can you image it? An infant! A beautiful little human that we waited nine months for."



But soon the Karps began to understand. Ortal refused to sleep or eat. If she did swallow, the food was thrown up soon after. She wouldn't develop. No rolling or crawling. In fact, she couldn't move at all.



But the problems got worse.



During an episode where Ortal was vomiting blood, Shlomo and Ortal arrived at the emergency room. The doctors shared the news that within the next two weeks, Ortal needed to undergo dangerous open-heart surgery. Either that or she wouldn't survive.



Thankfully, Ortal survived the surgery. Now the time had come to look for a recovery center where maybe she'd learn to walk. For a preschool that would accept her. For a psychiatrist that will stop her from hurting herself as she tries to put her head through the wall.



But the constant pressure was taking its toll on the family. "There comes a point where you ask yourself, 'Is this my life?' A child is supposed to strengthen the family. We want a future for our little girl. We want her to learn, to graduate. We want her to fall in love. But all I can think about is how Ortal is tearing my family to shreds."



Eventually someone suggested Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Individuals with Disabilities. Shalva provides therapy, education and recreation for 850 program participants of all ages. Based on the truth that successful children come from strong homes, family support elements are woven into every program. Countless advocacy initiatives ensure that the voices of these individuals are heard and their presence is included and felt.



The Karps got in touch with Shalva and arranged a meeting with a representative. Within three days Ortal was signed up and attending Shalva's After School program, but Shlomo and his wife didn't expect much.



Then the changes started.



Each day, after school, Ortal would arrive for an afternoon of sports, music, art, cooking and more. The respite program gave her the opportunity to sleep over at Shalva, providing the Karps with fortifying respite time. "First she started to feed herself. Then talk. She made friends. At home we had discussions about her friends. Can you imagine that?! A full conversation with Ortal!"



"And it wasn't just for Ortal. Shalva saved my family."



Shlomo explained that the daughter he was told to leave behind was now being returned to him... with dividends. "Now I see that Ortal is the greatest gift I've ever received. I know that she made me a better person. I needed this little girl in my life. Shalva just helped me see that."



Ortal entered that program at the age of six, fourteen years ago. Now, at the age of twenty she is ready, willing and able to serve her country in the form of Sherut Leumi, National Service.



And where better to give back than at Shalva?



Ortal gets up every day with a smile, proud to spend her time working in Shalva's inclusive preschools that allow children with and without disabilities to grow together. She feeds the children, aids in their therapy and leads educational games.



The preschool is located in the new Shalva National Center, the largest facility of its kind in the world.



Ortal's amazing journey, starting way back when the doctors said she wasn't worth the effort, through the family's struggles, her growth in Shalva and culminating with her choice to give back, all points to a larger movement in society.



We are moving towards a more inclusive future. A better future. A world where every level of ability, every life, is cherished and given a chance to fully maximize its potential. What Ortal did in her life is a growing trend. And this trend points to the fact Israeli society is on the forefront of creating a better, warmer, more hopeful and inclusive world for all of us.



http://www.shalva.org/new/



# # #
Sep 27, 2016 | By Benedict

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has unveiled the AME, or Additive Manufactured Excavator, a 3D printed, steel mini-excavator that could someday be replicated on Mars in order to start construction for a colony. The excavators arm, drivers cab, and parts of its engine were 3D printed.

When a group of engineers from the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) toured ORNL back in 2014, they were captivated by the 3D printing technology being used by the laboratory to 3D print a car. Inspired by the work taking place around them, the engineers proposed an out-of-this-world project unlike anything else going on at the Tennessee facility: We wondered if it was possible to send a 3D printer to Mars, where it could make a mini-excavator that would start the construction for a colony, said Eric Lanke, one of the CCEFP engineers.

That dream has now become a step closer to reality, as ORNL recently finished 3D printing the AME (pronounced Amy), an Additive Manufactured Excavator, the first large-scale use of 3D printed steel. The prototype of the mini-excavator, which could hypothetically be used on Mars, has a 20-foot 3D printed arm, a 30-foot-by-10-foot 3D printed drivers cab, and several 3D printed engine components. It was brought to completion by Lonnie Love, ORNL's Manufacturing Systems Research Group leader, with the help of the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Minnesota, thanks to a National Science Foundation grant.

The 3D printed drivers cab of the AME, one of its most exciting and unusual features, was designed by a five-person engineering team from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, whose prize was $2,000 and a trip to ORNL. Their 3D printed cab design, which we reported on back in June, was modeled using Autodesk Fusion 360 and shaped using topology optimization software. We were inspired by shapes found in nature like curved and arching tree branches, said team member Sharon Tsubaki-Lu.

The 3D printed cab weighs around 150 pounds, roughly 25% the weight of a factory-made cab, but has undergone numerous crash tests to ensure its safety. The winning team, whose members are Naomi Audet, Lucas Meyer, the aforementioned Tsubaki-Lu, Kevin Kim, and Andrew Peterman, intended to design a lightweight but strong cab that used significantly less material than traditional models: Our cab, although made of a weaker material than steel, could be more efficient in its distribution than past designs, said Tsubaki-Lu.

Images: Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel

Love intends to showcase the AME as an example of how 3D printing could be used to transform the U.S. manufacturing industry. Project AME demonstrates how 3D printers will revolutionize manufacturing, Love told Lanke and other guests at ORNL. China will no longer be a competitor. We'll be able to make whatever China makes inexpensively and quickly on a 3D printer anywhere. And there will be no shipping costs.

Love hopes that American engineering students will soon begin to see the appeal of manufacturing, where 3D printing could provide new and exciting jobs for the countrys workers. Additive manufacturing could, for example, be used on factory floors to immediately correct flaws in items on the assembly line.

Before it has any chance of heading to Mars, the AME will first be brought to Las Vegas, where it will be exhibited at the 2017 edition of CON/EXPO, a construction industry trade show.

Source: ORNL

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Sep 27, 2016 | By Benedict

Mattel has delayed the launch of its ThingMaker 3D printer, which children can use to make custom toys, from fall 2016 until fall 2017. The company says it needs more time to enhance the digital functionality of the 3D printing product.

The youngest of up-and-coming makers might be set for a disappointing Christmas morning, because toymaker Mattel has just pushed back the release of its cool-sounding ThingMaker 3D printer until this time next year. The product, which was supposed to start shipping this month, will allow kids to design and fabricate their own customized toys, starting with preset designs or from scratch.

Back in the 1960s, Mattel released an activity toy called Thingmaker (or Creepy Crawlers), a series of metal molds into which kids could pour (and then heat) Plastigoop to create bug-like creatures in various colors. Thingmaker, or ThingMaker, has now been rebooted by Mattel, albeit in an entirely different form: that of a 3D printer. The machine and accompanying software have been designed to let kids create their own toy characters, which they can then fabricate themselves.

Release of the child-friendly ThingMaker 3D printer, which will retail for $300, has now been pushed back to fall 2017 so that Mattel can keep working on the machine and its accompanying app. The 3D printer was first unveiled this year at New Yorks toy fair, attracting a great deal of attention from toy and 3D printing enthusiasts.

ThingMaker, collaboration with 3D software specialist Autodesk, will work with non-proprietary PLA filament, with 3D printed toys taking 30 minutes and 8 hours to print, depending on their size. To create larger pieces with moving parts, the ThingMaker will provide ball-and-joint templates, enabling kids to create snap-together toys with movable limbs and body parts. The 3D printer will be safe for children to use, with an automatic door locking system retractable print head.

A spokesperson for Mattel released the following statement regarding the delay: After much consideration, Mattel has decided to move its Thingmaker/3D printer launch to Fall 2017. At Mattel, we pride ourselves on delivering best-in-class products and the additional time will allow us to enhance the digital functionality to ensure we deliver the most engaging end-to-end experience for all family members. We are grateful for the excitement around this product and look forward to exceeding expectations in 2017.

Global online retailer Amazon started taking pre-orders for the ThingMaker in February, shortly after its announcement. The website suggested that the product would be shipped at the end of October 2016.

Posted in 3D Printer

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Jack Thiel wrote at 9/28/2016 10:53:22 AM:Didn't Toybox send out in their last newsletter that they will be shipping their first printers this Christmas?




Rachel Poser at Harper's Magazine:

The Breuer building, a mean pile of granite and concrete that squats darkly on a corner of Manhattans Upper East Side, was built as a kind of monument to the Metropolitan Museums long-standing distaste for contemporary art. In 1929, the Met refused Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitneys gift of more than five hundred contemporary American works by the likes of Edward Hopper, George Bellows, and John Sloan. The Mets refusal precipitated the founding of the Whitney Museum, which outgrew its row houses on West 8th Street and some time later commissioned Marcel Breuer, a Hungarian architect who had been part of the Bauhaus, to design what is commonly described as an inverted Babylonian ziggurat as its new home. Built in a neighborhood otherwise known for its Beaux-Arts and Renaissance Revival mansions, the Breuer opened in 1966 to near-universal derision. (Ada Louise Huxtable, though herself a fan, said at the time that the Breuer was the most disliked building in New York.)

Housed just half a mile from the Met on 5th Avenue, the Whitney served for a generation as a kind of poor relation to Americas largest and most visited museum, which for most of its history has preferred European traditionalism to the gut punches of the avant-garde. Early in their careers, Jackson Pollock and Louise Bourgeois joined sixteen other American artists, who would become known as the Irascibles, to write an open letter, calling the Met notoriously hostile to advanced art. The museums stance was unchanged as late as 1999, when its director sided with Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an irascible of another sort, in his condemnation of a contemporary show at the Brooklyn Museum that featured supercharged works such as Mark Quinns Self, a frozen cast of the artists head made from ten pints of his own blood.

more here.
As San Francisco heads into harvest season, local farmers markets are starting to fill with gorgeous fall produce. While you're perusing the squash options, don't forget to grab the last of some produce you won't see again until next summer.





Warren Pears from Frog Hollow

There are only two farms in California that grow Warren Pears, and Frog Hollow is one of them. The pears are a heritage hybrid that produce a sweeter and more intense taste with a greater depth of flavor compared to your typical green pear. Buttery, soft, and juicy in texture, the skin is smooth and has no grit. Find these beauties in salads at restaurants such as Chez Panisse, Nopa, and Tony's Pizza. // Saturdays at the Ferry Building Farmers Market,froghollow.com





(via seedlibrary.org)

Watermelon Radishes from Heirloom Organic Gardens

Watermelon radishes are traditionally planted after the summer solstice and are now being harvested. Crunchy in texture, and sweet and zesty in taste, watermelon radishes are great for shaving over salads or pickling for later. // Saturdays at the Ferry Building Farmers Market, heirloom-organic.com





Winter Squash from Capay Organic

Is there anything that screams autumn more than a table of pale yellow, dark green, and orange squash? We think not. This month, pick from an array of winter squash grown by Capay Organic, a family-run farm in Yolo County. The squash are grown on vines and are sun-cured after harvesting so that the skin hardens, allowing them to stay ripe for months. // Saturdays at the Ferry Building Farmers Market,capayorganic.com





(via Good Eggs)

Reed Avocado from Brokaw Nursery

If you don't already know about Brokaw avocados, now is the time to educate yourself: they're probably the best avocados you'll ever put in your mouth. Creamy, buttery, and extra fatty, even The French Laundry prefers them. Brokaws are never refrigerated and are sold at the farmers market no more than one day after bring plucked from the tree. October is the last month you'll be able to get these delicious beauties until late Februaryso stock up! // Saturdays at the Ferry Building Farmers Market,brokawnursery.com
Editor's note: In "Seafood Lovers Florida,'' Tampa Author Bruce Hunts 10th book on Florida travel and history, readers will crisscross the state visiting seafood places from mom-and-pop fish camps to fine dining establishments, and meet the people who make the places special. Read an excerpt below.You are never far from fresh seafood in Florida. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the most landlocked spot in Florida is still less than 90 miles from the sea. With 1,200 miles of sea coastline, Florida ranks second only to Alaska. Add to that our inland water: Florida has more than 30,000 lakes covering 4,400 square miles, and 11,000 linear miles of rivers and streams. The largest lake, Okeechobee, covers 730 square miles. The longest river, the St. Johns, travels 273 miles. So it is easy to see why seafood rules on both the Florida restaurant scene and Floridians home dining tables. Theres nothing like fresh-caught Florida grouper, snapper or hogfish. Our Gulf pink and deep-water royal red shrimp are the envy of the world. And Floridas spiny lobster, stone crab claws, bay scallops and Apalachicola oysters are almost sweet enough to qualify as desserts.In Seafood Lovers Florida, we will take a journey to seek out and sample the vast variety of choices in Floridas most iconic category of foods, in some of its most iconic places. Its a journey that begins at the states far northwest edge and meanders all the way down to its southernmost tip. This book is not just about seafood, but also about seafood places. For me, the place: the location, ambiance and history, is almost as important as the food. Notice I said almost because food always trumps atmosphere. If the foods no good, all the atmosphere in the world wont save it.I'm no restaurant snob though. Im actually happiest walking into a joint with a screened porch and fish-cleaning tables out back. Im particularly keen on hunting down places that are well off the beaten path: local mom-and-pop dives with Florida flavor food. Some of Floridas best seafood comes from these less-pretentious establishments: raw bars, crab shacks and fish houses, places like: Snook Haven on the Myakka River near Venice, Goodrich Seafood on Mosquito Lagoon in Oak Hill, Eddie Teachs Oyster Bar on St. George Island, and Alabama Jacks, on a barge next to the Card Sound Bridge in that brackish netherland between Miami and the Keys. The emphasis isnt on haute cuisine here, but on simple and fresh. Many have a close relationship with local fishing fleets, and some even have their own boats, so they are often your best bet for dining on something that was swimming around in the ocean that morning. And heres one of Floridas best seafood-seekers secret tips: Sometimes there are great chefs in these places too.But Seafood Lovers Florida doesnt ignore the wear-a-tie-and-make-a-reservation restaurants. Florida has plenty that serve spectacularly good seafood. Okay. I dont really know of any Florida restaurants where you are actually required to wear a tie, but we do have some outstanding upscale joints, and so Ive included them too, places like Normans in Orlando, Oyster Catchers in Tampa, Bud & Alleys in Seaside, and Louies Backyard in Key West.I think most everyone would agree that it's possible to have a great passion for music, and yet not be able to play an instrument or carry a tune. I feel like the same might be true for food. I am ardently passionate about good food and yet admittedly I am a lousy cook. But I love food. I love the science behind preparing food, and I am in awe of the genius that it takes to extract enticing variations in flavor. In my opinion the great chefs deserve a place alongside the great composers, and Florida has attracted some of the greatest. Accordingly, you will find here, interspersed among descriptions of 180 restaurants and markets, a few interviews with some of these geniuses, like Harold Russell from Backfin Blue Cafe in Gulfport and Justin Timineri, Official State of Florida Culinary Ambassador. With its great abundance and variety of food, Florida has attracted the most inventive and talented to prepare it.Its difficult to appreciate how special something is when youve had it your whole life. I grew up on Spanish and Cuban food. To me it wasnt Latin food. It was just food. I was in college before I figured out that picadillo wasnt a Thanksgiving staple everywhere. Floridas history has always been about the collision of cultures. Long before the term fusion became part of the modern food-world lexicon, Floridians were creating dishes that blended cultural styles. As a result Florida-style seafood reflects many influences: Spanish, Cuban, Bahamian, Greek, Puerto Rican and Italian, to name only a few. But Floridas seafood history dates back even further.If you go back far enough, youll find that most food preparation and cooking styles were born out of necessity, not out of an attempt to make it tasty. Spices, marinades and smoking were all originally ways to preserve food (in a time when there was no refrigeration), not to flavor it. These techniques pre-date the arrival of European explorers, but were widely practiced by Floridas original inhabitants. Today some of those same techniques are as popular as ever and vital components to the art of Florida seafood cooking.I am looking at a night photograph of Florida taken from an orbiting satellite, vividly displaying the concentration of light, and therefore the population, along the coastlines. But it was this way long before satellites, and long before electricity. Throughout human existence we have chosen to settle along coasts, oddly enough right on the fringe of an environment that is so absolutely hostile to us. Why are we so attached to the sea? Perhaps it is because the sea has always been such a generous, seemingly endless, supplier of sustenance. And now that attachment is simply in our DNA. Ive lived my entire life on coastal Florida. And as much as I love the majesty of mountains and canyons, if Im away from the coast for too long I begin to feel claustrophobic.Those early Florida inhabitants: Calusas, Timucuans, Tocobagans and the like, were avid consumers of seafood. They hollowed out logs into long canoes to travel along the coast, up rivers and across lakes to catch fish and collect shellfish. Our craving for seafood has continued to grow ever since and today we are more passionate about it than ever. My hope is that Seafood Lovers Florida will guide you to the freshest, the tastiest, and the best seafood Florida has to offer. So toss it in your glove box and go explore.Seafood Lovers Florida was published by Globe Pequot Press, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield. Comments? Contact 83 Degrees.
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Sixty million Americans count on it, 170 million pay in, yet zero questions were asked about how to keep Social Security strong at last nights debate.

For the future of Social Security, the debate was a nothingburger.

Despite receiving more than 100,000 emails from AARP members, moderator Lester Holt failed to ask a single question about Social Security. And the candidates failed to bring it up. Instead, they used their 90 minutes to serve up the usual  attacks, charges and countercharges, but nothing on Social Security.

Also see: Zero Questions on Social Security: Take a Stand
Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people

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Fact-based market research, penetrating industry insights and validated forecasts to help you make better decisions for a stronger future

Aramid papers have applications in a broad spectrum of industries which include electrical engineering, defense, aerospace, specialty papers, and elastomers. Growing electrical and electronic industry across the globe is expected to have a positive impact on the overall aramid papers market.

The global aramid paper market is expected to grow at a fast pace over the next eight years. Aromatic polyamide or popularly known as aramid fibers possesses distinguishing properties such as high strength, abrasion resistant, solvent resistant, non-conductivity, low inflammability. This is due to the arrangement of molecules along the axis of the fiber. The reaction of the amine group and carboxylic acid halide group produces aramid. Commercial aramid papers include Newstar, Kevlar, Twaron, Nomex.

Aramid papers have applications in a broad spectrum of industries which include electrical engineering, defense, aerospace, specialty papers, and elastomers. The applications in electrical engineering include armature slot insulation, wire wrap phase insulator, wedges, lead insulators, end laminates, bushings, and coil wrappers. Growing electrical and electronic industry across the globe is expected to have a positive impact on the overall aramid papers market.

The aramid papers are resistant to acids, alkalis, fluorocarbon refrigerants, transformer oils, and silicones. Alcohols, toluene, ketones, xylene, acetone slightly cause swelling effect on aramid paper, but these can be avoided by removing the solvents. Aramid paper impregnated with mineral oil performs better than kraft paper. These properties have prompted an increase in demand of aramid paper in the electronics industry.

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Aramid paper applications in defense include ballistic protection, bulletproof vests, helmets vehicles, and protective clothing. Government regulations supporting the usage of the safety of defense personnel are expected to benefit the consumption of aramid paper in the industry.

Elastomer industry applications include tires, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, etc. Crash protection structure, high-pressure structures made of aramid papers are used in aerospace industry. A wide range of end-use applications is further expected to fuel the demand for aramid papers.

Aramid fibers are primarily classified into two types, meta-aramid, and para-aramid fibers. There are very few aramid fibers in production currently. Meta-aramid producers include Nomex of DuPont, TeijinConex of Taijin and those of para-aramid include Kevlar of Dupont and Twaron of AkzoNobel. Additionally, aramid made from different derivatives include Kermel of Rhone-Poulenc, Technora of Teijin, SVM of USSR. The countries which are developing their composition of aramid fibers include Hoechst of Germany and Kolon of South Korea.

As of October 2015, the overall aramid fiber capacity has approached 130-kilo tons with most of the distribution across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Over the past few years, para-aramid fiber accounted for the significant share of the total worldwide production.

The commercial aramid paper is available in a variety of thicknesses and densities. This enables it to be customized according to the application, resulting in an increased demand among consumers. Unlike metals, aramid papers provide corrosion resistance. Thus, they have started replacing metals in a variety of applications like the reinforcement of columns in constructions.

The aramid fiber market was dominated by Europe regarding demand, with Germany, UK, and France being the major markets. The presence of economic alternatives such as carbon may have an adverse impact on the consumption of aramid papers. Aramid papers have certain inherent disadvantages like problems in processing.

Furthermore, there are many entry barriers to the aramid paper market, and the industry can be termed as oligopolistic. The two major aramid fiber producers around the globe include American DuPont and Japanese Teijin. The two combinedly held over 77% of para-aramid capacity and that for meta-aramid fibers it was around 63%, worldwide.

The conglomerate E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, or commonly known as DuPont was founded in July 1802. In 2014, Dupont was the 4th largest company according to market capitalization and ranked 8th based on revenue. DuPont announced a merger with Dow Chemical Company on Dec 11, 2015.

Browse Related Category Market Reports@

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The Nomex aramid paper was developed and commercialized by DuPont in 1961. The company acquired the trade name Nomex Aramid in 1972. Nomex is used in firefighting equipment, electrical insulations, military and defense applications worldwide. The advanced fibers and composite business segment handle the aramid paper business of the company.

The Japanese Teijin company is another important player in the aramid paper industry. The Teijin Aramid, based in Netherlands, is mostly known for the production of Twaron, which is similar to Kevlar. The high strength fiber finds applications in various industries like aerospace, civil engineering, construction, leisure activities, optical fiber cables, friction and sealing materials. The company also produces Technora, Sulfron, and TeijinConex.

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Home in San Diego burns because of window air conditioner

Recently a window air conditioner caught fire, gutting two bedrooms and the attic in the small home in San Diego. Nearby trees also caught fire, causing an overhead electrical wire to crash to the ground. An elderly lady, suffering from smoke inhalation, was taken to the hospital.

Recently a window air conditioner caught fire, gutting two bedrooms and the attic in the small home in San Diego. Nearby trees also caught fire, causing an overhead electrical wire to crash to the ground. An elderly lady, suffering from smoke inhalation, was taken to the hospital.

It could have been worse, but smoke inhalation, a gutted home and downed trees and wires are bad enough. The cause was all too common, a malfunctioning air conditioner.

These units are popular all over the country, and in fact are the most common device used to stay comfortable on hot days.

Need Regular Inspections

But experts say they are often not handled correctly. Air conditioners need to be inspected regularly and tuned up once a year, just like any mechanical device.

As an example, in a similar fire in Memphis, Tennessee, in September, 2016, the Memphis Fire Department blamed the power cord on the air conditioner.

According to air conditioner specialists, power cords are major contributors to fires related to air conditioners. If the wire isnt the correct size, it can easily overheat. It overloads the circuit, causing the fire.

What To Look For

HVAC technicians suggest that homeowners do a quick inspection once a month to look for obvious problems. These include:

 The power cord. Is it frayed? Do you see exposed wires? Take it in to have a new cord installed.

 Dirt on the unit. Do you see dirt visible on the unit? Use a soft, damp cloth to clean it off.

 Surface temperature. Is it overheating? If the surface of your air conditioner is hot to the touch, it needs to be checked by a technician right away.



The Benefits of an A/C Tune-up

Every mechanical device has moving parts that wear out with use and age. A yearly tune-up lets a skilled technician check your air conditioning unit for signs of wear and tear and damage. By catching problems early, he can keep your air conditioner running safety and prevent fires. Early repairs are also less expensive.

He can perform preventive maintenance that adds years to your air conditioners useful life. His tweaks will also keep it running at peak performance, keeping you more comfortable because it produces more cool air, more quickly. It also saves you money by reducing the amount of energy it consumes.

What Happens During a Tune-Up

During an annual tune-up, the technician will clean and change the filters in your unit. This lets air move freely and traps debris before it gets into the air you breathe.

He will check the thermostat to make sure it is calibrated correctly. He examines the electrical components, including the cords and plugs, to make sure they are in good repair. At the same time he checks the current and motor voltage. He inspects the system controls to make sure the device starts, stops and shuts down correctly. All of these are safety measures.

He lubricates the moving parts to reduce friction. This increases efficiency and keeps your system operating longer. The technician inspects and cleans the condensate drain line. The evaporator and condenser coils are next. And the components in the blower are cleaned and adjusted.

Stay safe. Let a skilled HVAC technician tune up your air conditioner once a year. It will give you peace of mind and save you money.

Media Contact

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Address:2085 Hotel Circle South

City: San Diego

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Website: http://myemory.com
Tony-award winning producer, Jhett Tolentino, is seeking to raise $200,000 before Nov. 5, 2016 for his documentary film project.

The film, written and produced by Tolentino, will show his rise from a slum in the Philippines to become a successful Broadway producer in New York.

In November 2015, I had the chance to visit my homeland, the Philippines, Tolentino stated. After having pledged myself to only come back accomplished, it was a historic moment not just for me, not just for my family and friends but also to some Filipinos who have followed my journey in becoming the 2nd Philippine-born Tony Award winner.

If his goal is met, the money will help pay for the three months of production costs incurred in filming that took place in New York City, Philippines, Singapore and Japan.

I hope you could be a part of this project, he stated. No amount is too small as I believe 4 quarters make a dollar.

There are eight levels of pledges with perks detailed on the projects Kickstarter.com page, ranging from $10-$10,000. All donors ($10 or greater) will receive recognition on social media. Higher level donors ($10,000 Gold Sponsor and higher) will be given film credit as part of their reward package.

Tolentino was born, raised and educated from the slums of Iloilo City, Philippines. He won three Tony Awards as a Broadway producer. He is the first and only Filipino Tony Awards voter among the 27 million theater-goers in the United States and a Grammy Awards voter.

He also received recognition by the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts in February 2016 with the Ani Ng Dangal Award in Manila.

Tolentino said he wanted to document his visit to his home country last year, his first return home in 13 years. He stated that he hopes the film about his life may help inspire some of the less fortunate children in the world.

With your help, we will be able to take this project to international film festivals, Tolentino said. We will also present this to the United Nations in New York City to make it as a tool for advanced countries to give more to educate the millions of poor children around the world.

Go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1290158314/life-is-what-you-make-it?ref=PatronPress.com to make a pledge and learn more about the film,

Kickstarter.com has been an online platform since April 2009, where people can promote and seek funding for their creative ideas.

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The research report provides in depth analysis and insights into the Germany Cards and Payments Market including, strategies deployed by banks to market debit and credit cards and competitive landscape (card issuers in the country) for both debit cards and credit cards. The study includes 3 years historical market size and 6 years market forecast in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions processed through these cards, and other key metrics. The report also provides information on the key industry trends, major schemes, banks and detailed segmentation of card and payment industry. The research report is a new offering from the companys Financial Services domain, and leveraged from the companys existing cards and payments database of 50+ countries.

Explore Report with Detailed TOC at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/germany-cards-and-payments-market

Germany is the largest country in Western Europe, with a total population of 81.1 million in 2014 (of which 82.3% were adults), which is significantly ahead of France, Turkey and the UK. There are 1.6 cards per person in the country, which is close to the European average number; in comparison, Norway and France have the highest and lowest levels of card penetration in Europe. The German GDP per capita increased from EUR 34,211 in 2012 to EUR 35,951 in 2014. GDP per capita is likely to increase further over the forecast period to EUR 41,672 in 2020.This increase in GDP per capita income levels is expected to increase the scope of payment cards use over the forecast period.

In Germany, the debit card dominates the payment cards market in terms of number of cards in circulation. Debit cards accounted for 76.8% of the total number of payment cards in circulation in 2014. Growth in the German debit card market has been relatively weak in terms of number of cards in issue, witnessing a CAGR of -1.3% during 2012-2014. Average debit card transaction value decreased from EUR 103.9 in 2012 to EUR 98.3 in 2014, at a CAGR of -2.7%. The average transaction value is also expected to decline at a CAGR of -1.2% during the period 2015-2020.The frequency of debit card usage grew at a CAGR of 8.8% during 2012-2014. Some of the key players in the debit cards market include BVR, Targobank, and Commerzbank.

The total number of credit cards in Germany increased at a CAGR of 15.3% during the period 2012-2014. However during the forecast period, the growth is expected to slow down to a CAGR of 6.0%. The average credit card transaction value in Germany declined from EUR 88.5 in 2012 to EUR 69.3 in 2014, at a CAGR of -11.5% and it is further expected to decrease during the forecast period. The frequency of credit card use increased at a CAGR of 21.0% during 2012-2014. The frequency of transaction is expected to reach up to 27.9 times by 2020.

Browse Related Report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/financial-services

In Germany, the charge cards are largely used by consumers at POS terminals for retail purchases rather than cash withdrawals at ATMs. In 2014, the number of charge card transactions at POS terminals accounted 95% of the total charge card transactions in the country.

Reasons to buy

Access the historical and forecast data of cards and payments market in Germany.

Understand the key trends, drivers and growth opportunities in Germanys cards and payments market.

Frame informed and customized strategies for market expansion by identifying the strategies adopted by the key players.

Access to banks and card issuers competitive intelligence.



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P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.

As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.

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Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSE:AVL) (OTCMKTS:AVLNF) (formerly Avalon Rare Metals) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.


Key Finniss Tenements Granted

Adelaide, Sep 27, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Core Exploration Ltd ( ASX:CXO ) ("Core" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Core has been granted two key 100%-owned exploration licences (EL) covering 120km2 within the Finniss Project (Figure 1, see link below).



HIGHLIGHTS



- Two key 100%-owned Exploration Licences granted within Core's Finniss Lithium Project in NT



- Core now holds the largest lithium tenure position in the NT, including the highest grade lithium drill intersections



- First four recently drilled holes at Finniss have returned multiple broad zones of high grade lithium, confirming Finniss Project as a major new lithium discovery



- Results include:



-- 34m @ 1.60% Li2O from 71m (FRC003), including:

--- 7m @ 2.02 % Li2O from 79m

--- 4m @ 2.00% Li2O from 93m

--- 3m @ 2.00% Li2O from 101m



- Significant spodumene mineralisation has been observed at other prospects drilled by Core in its first RC drilling campaign at Finniss for which assay results are awaited



- The large Zola pegmatite identified by Core is contained within the new granted tenements, and will be targeted in the future given the very large scale potential of the Zola pegmatite



- Further lithium drill assays will be reported in the coming weeks



With the granting of EL 31126 and EL 31127 (Figure 1), Core now holds the largest lithium tenure position in the NT, including the highest grade lithium drill intersections, the largest historic pegmatite mine and at least another 25 other recorded pegmatite mines in the Northern Territory.



Recent drilling results from the first four holes from the Company's maiden lithium drilling program at the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory has confirmed Finniss, as a major new discovery of high grade lithium (ASX 23/09/2016).



The discovery of high grade zones of lithium with this current drill program is very significant for Core given the scale of some of the new pegmatites identified by the Company's current field programs are directly comparable to the scale of pegmatites hosting large lithium resources in Western Australia. These include the Zola Pegmatite (ASX 23/06/2016) identified by Core on newly granted EL 31126 (Figure 2, see link below).



With the granting of this tenement, the Zola prospect will be a priority area for Core to target given its very large scale. The most important aspect of Zola is the scale. The outcrop of decomposed pegmatite and quartz blows extend for up to 1,500 m NS (abundant quartz in road-cutting to the north - Figure 3, see link below). Further background in respect of the Zola pegmatite was announced to ASX on 23 June 2016.



Core's Finniss Lithium Project covers a large portion of the Bynoe Lithium-Tantalum-Tin Pegmatite field. The Bynoe Field is a 15-20 kilometre wide belt of more than 90 tin and tantalum prospects and mines and lithium rich pegmatites which stretches over a distance of 75 kilometres south from Port Darwin and is one of the most prospective areas for lithium in the NT.



Core's Finniss Lithium Project has substantial infrastructure advantages being close to grid power, gas, and rail and services infrastructure and within easy trucking distance by sealed road to the multi-user port facility at Darwin Port - Australia's nearest port to Asia.



Further lithium drill assays will be reported in the coming weeks



Core completed its initial 2,000m RC drilling program last week, which in addition to testing BP33, also tested a number of initial pegmatite drill targets on granted EL 29698 (Figure 2).



Preliminary results from these prospects indicate substantial spodumene mineralisation has also been intersected within broad pegmatite at a number of prospects.



The remaining assays from this RC drilling campaign are expected from the laboratory over coming weeks, and will be released to the market in due course.



To view tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/2L957P29





About Core Lithium Ltd





Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) is an emerging lithium producer focused on development of its Finniss Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Core owns 100% of Finniss, a major developing project that lies close to existing infrastructure such as the Darwin Port, grid power, gas and rail infrastructure.

The Finniss Project covers a 500km2 tenement holding and 25 historic pegmatite mines. The project area is about 80km from Darwin Port. Exploration work has generated a near term development timeline, with feasibility studies to be completed over the course of 2018 ahead of receipt of approvals in early 2019 and planned first production during 2019.

An aggressive exploration program is under way, which has confirmed the high quality prospectivity across much of the Finniss Project area. Core's stated ambition is to upgrade Finniss' resource base to fast-track commercialisation options.


Alt Awarded NSW Cooperative Drill Funding

Canberra, Sep 27, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Alt Resources Ltd ( ASX:ARS ) ("Alt or the Company") is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the maximum drill funding of $200,000 for Round 2 of the NSW Government's New Frontiers Co-operative Drilling Program. The grant has been awarded for upcoming drilling at the Windy Hill Intrusion Related Gold (IRG) Prospect at the Company's flagship 70%-owned Paupong gold and base metals Project in southern NSW.



Highlights:



- Alt's exploration program at the Paupong Gold Project receives continued support from NSW Government



- The maximum grant of $200,000 has been awarded to the Company for drilling at Windy Hill



- The grant will cover 75% of per metre drilling costs



- The 2,500m diamond drill program will commence in November



- Paupong is the only project to receive the maximum amount of funding in both rounds of the NSW Cooperative Drilling program



Alt will apply the funds to a 2,500m diamond drilling program at Windy Hill, where the Company has previously identified multiple Intrusion-Related Gold targets from an airborne magnetic survey, extensive soil sampling and Induced Polarisation chargeability data (see Alt Resources announcement: "Major New Intrusion-Related Gold Targets Identified at Paupong Project, NSW", May 2016 via the following link. Drilling will commence in November 2016. http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/RK9Y6357



Alt CEO James Anderson said: "This grant will help Alt unlock the potential of the Paupong Project for a significant new gold discovery. This project epitomises the spirit of the NSW Government's New Frontiers program. It is highly prospective for a major intrusion-related gold system but has received little or no exploration attention. The Company would like to thank the NSW Government for continuing to support the New Frontiers Co-operative Drill Funding program and selecting the Paupong Project as a beneficiary."



The Paupong Project was also a recipient of the full A$200,000 funding amount in Round 1 of the New Frontiers program and is the only project to secure the maximum funding amount on two occasions. The grant was awarded to Alt's Joint Venture partner, GFM Exploration, in 2014. This funding assisted in the discovery of vein-hosted Au-Cu-Ag mineralisation over a 1.5 km strike length at the Kidman Prospect, 3.5 km south west of Windy Hill. Since the success of initial drilling at Kidman, the Company has undertaken extensive regional exploration and believes that IRGS targets at Windy Hill represent the source of mineralising fluids throughout the Paupong Valley.



Windy Hill Project



Windy Hill lies within Alt Resources' Paupong Project in the southern Lachlan Fold Belt, NSW. Prior to GFM Exploration's initial activities in the area from 2012, little or no mineral exploration had occurred beyond first pass stream sediment sampling in the 1970s. This historical sampling did not include gold analyses. Alt flew a 5,000line km aerial magnetic survey over the Paupong Project in January 2016, identifying possible buried intrusions, particularly beneath Windy Hill. These modelled intrusions have coincident soil geochemical anomalies (arsenic, lead and copper; pathfinder elements for IRG systems) and IP anomalies (see Alt Resources announcement: "Major New Intrusion-Related Gold Targets Identified at Paupong Project, NSW", May 2016 via the link; http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/RK9Y6357



These targets have not been drilled. As part of the New Frontiers funding application, Alt has planned 8 diamond drill holes for approximately 2,500m, to test the geochemical, IP and deeper magnetic targets at Windy Hill. Drilling approvals are already in place, with work scheduled to commence in November 2016.



To view tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/DS89E535





About Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd





Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd is an Australian based mineral exploration company that aims to become a gold producer by exploiting historical and new gold prospects across quality assets and to build value for shareholders.
The Internal Revenue Service has chosen four private debt collection agencies to help collect unpaid tax debts as the IRS gears up to resurrect the controversial program.

The three agencies are CBE Group of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Conserve of Fairport, N.Y., Performant of Livermore, Calif., and Pioneer of Horseheads, N.Y. The IRS is required to revive the private debt collection program this year because of a provision in a highway funding bill that Congress passed last December. The program is expected to start up again next spring.

Senators Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., were among the proponents of a bill to bring back the program, and it was incorporated in the highway legislation (see Here Come the Private Tax Debt Collectors  Again and the slideshow 7 Things You Need to Know about Private Tax Collectors). Three of the four agencies chosen are based in their states.

The program has been discontinued twice before because of complaints about harassment of taxpayers and the private companies low success rate at collecting unpaid tax debts. The increasing problem of scammers who pretend to be IRS employees and call taxpayers demanding immediate payment has also prompted concerns about reviving the program (see Highway Bill Will Revoke Passports for Tax Delinquents and Bring Back Private Tax Debt Collectors).

For the new program, the IRS said it will first send a written notice to taxpayers that it is turning over their tax debts to a collection agency. The IRS said it will send a written notice to both the taxpayer and their representative telling them the account has been turned over to a private collection agency, followed by a second letter confirming the transfer.

The private collection agencies are only supposed to work on accounts where taxpayers owe money and the IRS is no longer actively pursuing their accounts. These include older, overdue tax accounts, along with accounts where a lack of resources at the IRS prevent its employees from working on the cases.

The private collection agencies will be able to identify themselves as contractors of the IRS. However, their employees will need to follow the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, requiring them to be courteous and respect taxpayer rights.

The IRS said it will do everything it can to help taxpayers avoid confusion and understand their rights and tax responsibilities, especially given the prevalence of phone scams where criminals demand tax payments be sent on prepaid debit cards and gift cards.

The IRS noted the private collection agencies are not going to request payment on a prepaid debit card. They will instead inform taxpayers about the electronic payment options available to them on IRS.gov. Tax debts can also be paid by checks made out to the U.S. Treasury and sent directly to IRS, but not the private collection agency.

The IRS said it will keep taxpayers informed about any scams and offer tips for protecting themselves on the Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts page on IRS.gov.

More information on the Private Debt Collection program is also available on the site.
Telecom Egypt considers buying more spectrum

Telecom Egypt, the state fixed-line monopoly, said on Monday it was considering buying more spectrum, weeks after acquiring a fourth-generation (4G) licence that will allow it to directly offer mobile phone services for the first time.

"Telecom Egypt has presented a request to the National Telecom Regulatory Authority to understand the terms and conditions related to any other spectrum on offer so it can be studied and evaluated," it said in a statement on the stock exchange website.

Egypt is selling four 4G licences as part of a long-awaited plan to reform the telecoms sector and raise much-needed dollars for depleted government coffers.

It gave its existing four operators priority to acquire 4G licences, but the only company that took up the offer was Telecom Egypt, which has long sought a way to offer mobile services directly.

Telecom Egypt bought its licence for 7.08 billion Egyptian pounds ($797 million) last month.

The country's three existing mobile phone operators - Orange , Vodafone and Etisalat - all turned down the licences saying the amount of spectrum on offer was not sufficient to allow them to offer 4G services efficiently.

Egypt's telecom regulator said last week it would consider an international auction of the licences in light of the rejections. Kuwait's Zain, China Telecom, Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA have all expressed interest in Egypt's market.

It was not clear if Telecom Egypt was looking to buy spectrum left available should any of the remaining three licences find no taker or if it was hoping to secure entirely new frequencies. (Reporting by Ola Noureldin; Writing Lin Noueihed; Editing by Mark Potter)

www.af.reuters.com
Purposes and Principles

The purpose of this contract is to ensure the safety of (name of driver), hereinafter referred to as teen, who is a teenage driver who has ADHD. Teen acknowledges that driving is a responsibility and not a right. Teen also acknowledges that ADHD may cause distractibility and loss of concentration which may affect his/her ability to be a safe driver. This contract remains in effect until the teen the parent is satisfied that the teen is a safe and responsible driver.

Teen agrees to the following driving rules and regulations and also agrees that the parent (name of parent), hereinafter referred to as parent, may prohibit the teen from driving by either confiscating keys to the car or causing the teens license to be revoked if these rules are violated.

Rules and Conditions

Medication: Teen agrees not to drive without having taken medication for ADHD if such medication is indicated by a physician. Additional medication may be required for night driving. Use of ADHD medications that may cause drowsiness will be monitored closely. Teen will keep medication on hand and will carry in the glove box a doctors note regarding the presence of prescribed medication.

Destinations: Teen agrees to drive only between (fill in destinations such as home, school, practice, lessons) unless express permission to drive elsewhere is given by the parent. Teen will keep parent informed of whereabouts.

School: Teen agrees to maintain a grade point average of __ .

[Free Download: Evaluate Your Teens Emotional Control]

Curfew: Teen agrees to abide by curfews:__ p.m. on school nights and __ p.m. on other nights.

Planning: Teen agrees to plan each trip beforehand by verifying directions, checking for adverse conditions such as snow, and keeping a log of all trips. The log should include the destination, time of departure, time of arrival, any external difficulties such as traffic or road conditions, and internal difficulties such as distraction triggers. Teen agrees to make the log available to parents, and on request to discuss each driving experience with parents for the first six months.

Graduated Time Privileges: Teen agrees to drive only during daylight hours for three months, and during those three months agrees to practice night driving with the parent or a responsible adult of the parents choosing for a total of twenty hours. If night driving skills are not acceptable to the parent after this period, the parent may extend this restriction until satisfactory skills are demonstrated.

Passengers: Teen agrees to drive with no passengers in the car for the first three months unless express permission of the parent is obtained. If the teen demonstrates safe driving after three months, one passenger may be allowed but only if the passenger is approved by the parent for an indefinite period according to the parents judgment. Following this period, a maximum of two passengers may be allowed. Passengers must always ride in the back seat. The parent reserves the right to revoke all passenger privileges if unsafe driving is observed.

Safety: Both parties agree that mistakes are a part of learning, and that mistakes not due to gross negligence are to be expected during the initial driving period. However, teen agrees to abide by all safety rules including wearing a seat belt at all times and being responsible for passengers wearing their seat belts; agrees not to drive above the posted speed limit under any circumstances; and agrees to check that all equipment such as mirrors, lights, and brakes are in good working order. Parent agrees to pay for the repair of all safety related items.

[Free Download: Driving Contract Template]

Infractions: Teen agrees not to drive for one week in the event of a minor moving violation, such as failure to signal; and not to drive for one month in the event of a major moving violation such as speeding or running red lights. Teen agrees to be responsible for all fines and fixes involving non-moving violations such as parking tickets or missed inspections; and if such fines and fixes are not attended to in a timely fashion, driving privileges will be forfeited for one month.

Telephone Use: Teen agrees to use a cellular telephone only for emergencies; and also agrees to pull of the road and to stop whenever making or accepting cell phone calls. The parent will inspect all cellular telephone logs to ensure compliance.

Music: Teen agrees to pre-set radio stations and to the use of these pre-set stations only when driving; and if a CD or tape player is used, to bring only one CD or tape per trip, and to insert the CD and/or tape in the player before the beginning of each trip.

Impairment: Parent agrees to provide transportation without question at any time if the teen is impaired by alcohol or other substances, fatigue, or any other condition. However, repeated incidents of this nature, particularly in the case of alcohol or substances, may activate the clause below.

Substance Abuse and Other Unsafe Social Behavior: There is zero tolerance for substance abuse and for unsafe or raucous social behavior that might lead to an accident. Substance abuse of any kind, or driving under the influence of any substance, will result in immediate suspension of driving privileges. Illicit substances used or held by teens passengers will result in suspension of driving privileges for three months.

Teen agrees to random searches by parents of car for evidence of substance use. Parent agrees to provide without question transportation for teen at any time of the day or night that the teen requests it, without penalizing the teen for single incidents of alcohol or substance use which may have contributed to that request. If there are habitual or frequent incidents of underage drinking or if any substance abuse occurs, teen will forfeit his/her license to drive until completing a substance abuse program, whether or not his/her substance abuse is related to driving.

Signed (teen driver) 

Date 

Signed (parent) 

Date 

[Free Webinar: How to Create Systems and Structures for Children and Teens with ADHD, ODD, and Anxiety]

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Featured in this edition of Ad lands Young Guns is Priyanka Shah, Director - Mobile (West/ South), Isobar, joined the agency in January this year. Prior to that, she was with Ogilvy & Mather, where she was Mobility Head (Mumbai). She had worked with the agency from May 2014 to January 2016 and was heading the mobile business across brands for Mumbai region. She worked with PHD between December 2012 and April 2014, where she was handling mobile strategy and planning for HUL (all brands).

An engineer by qualification, Shah has over seven years of professional experience in Telecom, MVAS Marketing and Mobile Marketing, with a focus in business/ functional analysis and product management.

What does it takes to climb up the ladder in advertising? Heres Priyanka Shah in her own words...

How did you get into the role you are serving?

Being an engineer, one of the toppers at Symbiosis (SITM), always gave me a sense of pride while in college and also a relief that I would be grabbed by one of the IT giants at a fairly good package. But destiny had other plans  here I was in the middle of a huge recession in 2008-09, struggling to get placed and dejected that most of the organisations that grabbed toppers never turned up. After a few restless months, I got placed at Mauj. Having visited the organisation during interview, the culture there had a fresh and energetic vibe to it and I decided to go ahead with what I had got, rather than cribbing about what I had not got.

I got into Mauj, which was the mobile arm of Contract Advertising, as a trainee and got to work with brands like Axe, Johnson & Johnson, Mahindra, and Gitanjali at the time when mobile marketing was extremely nascent and knocking doors and getting nods from brands was extremely difficult. Mobile suddenly seemed as a beast to brands as they could never decode how to tame it to give best results. I never thought I would enjoy decoding it for brands.

This is how seven years back my journey began into the enchanting world of mobile marketing.

What particular skill sets do you think you bring to the table?

Being an engineer always made me extremely driven towards technology and its innumerable possibilities. I bring to the table a unique combination of marrying brands with technology to get the most impactful solution out of it. I love to call myself a Mobile Architect rather than a Media Manager, because I see brand challenges with a more holistic lens and believe in solving it by providing impactful mobile solutions rather than just media plans.

One campaign that you have worked on that you are particularly proud of? Please take us through the making of the campaign.

Seven years of mobile marketing experience has given me a lot of my favourite campaigns, which I would love to talk about. Mobile has finally arrived, however, I have been encouraging different brands to taste the success of mobile for quite a few years now, thus giving me many favourites like the Good Life Club Campaign for 3 Roses done at PHD, Fortune Missed Call Recipe Campaign for Adani Willmar at Ogilvy, 800 Lives Saved Hepatitis B Campaign for Roche at Ogilvy and of course, the Say It With Silk Campaign executed for Cadbury Silk at Isobar. Each of these campaigns answered a different challenge and thus, had a unique approach to cater to the audience.

Mondelez being a fun brand and Silk being my favourite temptation, I enjoyed working on the Say it with Silk Campaign this Valentines Day. Since our TG was young couples, we decided to create an impact in their lives via the numerous apps that they use on a daily basis. Hence, we introduced a series of innovations right from contextual stickers on Truly Madly and Nimbuzz to animated gifting listicles on Storypedia to special couple booking integration on Bookmyshow and enabled customised video dedications via mobile banners across APP and WAP which are visited by these audiences.

This Valentines Week, we Said it with Silk in our own special way and thus, got a whooping response from the audience in terms of reach and engagement.

While working on the creatives, how do you prepare yourself? What goes on in your mind?

Creative storytelling is the mantra for any campaign that needs to impact lives. My constant endeavour while planning for a campaign is how to use creatives in the format that the respective platforms are best known for and leave a taste behind in the minds of the consumers. Mobile is an extremely engaging medium, with innumerable feature sets that can be creatively used to amuse the audience in the form of rich media creatives or augmented reality or interactive videos.

Icons in advertising you look up to and how they have influenced you and your work?

Piyush Pandey is the ad guru who I look up to and have been extremely fortunate to have got a chance to work with him at Ogilvy. His charismatic personality and his love for brands and unique approach make you forget everything till you crack an ace campaign for the client. Despite being a huge icon, I have often been inspired by his humility and his love for his work.

I have learnt to not just do my work but to live it. He always said that in order to strike a chord with the TG, it is extremely important to live that consumer journey with the brand to create an impact. He emphasised on observing people and the surroundings more as it is a live canvas and the best ideas emerge out of experiences.

What are the five most productive things that you do in your everyday routine?

Well, the five most productive things that I follow in the everyday routine are, firstly, reading about the latest trends and happenings in the digital marketing and technology space as this space is fairly dynamic and one has to keep a tab on the developments to stay relevant. The others include planning mobile for my brands, writing on mobile marketing and the new trends in digital, collaborating with the teams and clients.

Do you think a career in advertising is a viable one in the long term?

Advertising as a career is going to remain extremely viable in the near future as brands would continue to create stories and experiences to connect with the audience like always. However, the context and creative renditions would undergo a major change, with digital being extremely dynamic in nature and contextual and customised communication being the near future of advertising.

What does it take to succeed in a career like advertising?

I think advertising is one field which gives you the opportunity to work with a myriad brands and makes work so refreshing and fun that it is extremely important to enjoy what you do.

You need to live it to sell it and hence, it is important to believe in your approach before proposing it to a brand. It is extremely important to keep observing and constantly learning and unlearning to stay relevant and ahead of the curve.

What would be your advice to youngsters planning to enter this industry?

The only advice that I would like to give to youngsters is that you need to love and believe in what you do to roll out great work. Also, it is extremely important to be flexible and have a thirst for continuously learning new things to have a holistic approach towards any brief. You dont need to be jack of all trades, but you need to know what you are good at and master that eventually.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Five years from now I see myself leading my very own mobile solutions agency, extensively working for some of the top digital spenders and reinventing the way mobile is perceived in the industry.

Is there any agency/ organisation that you would like to work with in the future?

I would definitely love to work with Google on the product side once in my career, as I believe that would get me very close to the world that brings about most of the innovations and inventions and it would be a powerful learning experience to learn at a place which is the heart of digital.
The India Chapter of International Advertising Association at the Annual General Meeting held on 23th September, elected Neeraj Roy, Managing Director and CEO, Hungama Digital Media as its President. Speaking about the development Neeraj Roy said, International Advertising Association in India over the past few years has played a key role in bringing the Media, Marketing and Advertising community together and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to serve as President. On behalf of our new team and management committee we would like to thank Srinivasan K Swamy for his stellar leadership over the past few years and we look forward to serving the ever changing needs of the marketing and advertising fraternity as India is at the cusp of a digital transformation that will impact all aspects of life.



Further, Monica Tata, COO  BTVi, elected as Vice President commented, I am humbled and honoured to have been given this opportunity and I am looking forward to be part of the next phase of IAA under the new leadership.



Pradeep Dwivedi, former CMO of The Dainik Bhaskar Group, elected as the Hon. Secretary, said, There has never been a better time for our industry to evolve and transform itself. I am keenly looking forward to working with industry leaders to sustain the rich legacy of past IAA initiatives and contribute to new ones.



Jaideep Gandhi, Chairman - Jaya Advertising Pvt. Ltd. was elected as the Hon. Treasurer.



In addition, Ashok Venkatramani, CEO - MCCS India Pvt Ltd - ABP News, Janak Sarda, Director - Daily Deshdoot, Abhishek Karnani, Director - Indian National Press (BOM) Pvt. Ltd, Shreyams Kumar, Director - Mathrubhumi PTG & PBG Co. Ltd, and Anand Sankeshwar, Managing Director - VRL Media Ltd have been elected as members of the Managing Committee.



Kaushik Roy, Past President IAA India and Area Director, IAA Asia Pacific, said, In the last four years under the able leadership of Mr. Srinivasan Swamy, IAA India Chapter has witnessed tremendous energy and dynamism. With Mr. Neeraj Roy  a luminary in the digital world, as the new President, India is on a good wicket to grow stronger in the coming years. One can also expect great momentum and healthy growth in the advertising industry across the Asia Pacific region. With strengthened senior level representation from India and the Asia Pacific, IAA globally is well poised to support and nurture the interests of the advertising, marketing and media fraternity. I wish the newly elected India Chapter Management Committee a very successful term. It will be my endeavour to forge strong ties in the region and across the world.



The first Managing Committee meeting conducted immediately after the AGM, co-opted additional members as per IAA Constitution. They were: I Venkat, CEO - EENADU, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman India & CEO - South East Asia, Director  Posterscope, Aegis Media Group.



In addition, the following senior professionals were invited to be part of the Committee: Srinivasan K Swamy, Immediate Past President, IAA and Chairman RK Swamy BBDO, Kaushik Roy, President - Brand Strategy & Marketing Communication, Reliance Industries Ltd, Pradeep Guha, Managing Director  9XMedia Pvt Ltd, Sam Balsara, Chairman & Managing Director - Madison Communications Pvt Ltd, Ramesh Narayan, Founder - Canco Advertising Pvt Ltd and Raj Nayak, Chief Executive Officer - Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd. More members are likely to be inducted in a few weeks.



2016-17 marks the 27th year of IAA India and the year is filled with a host of impactful initiatives from IAA India.
LONDON, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Growing safety concerns and technologically advanced smart glass solutions are expected to fuel the demand for automotive glass"

The automotive glass market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.46%, to reach a market size of USD 25.12 billion by 2021. The market is driven by factors such as the increasing usage of glass in vehicles, growing trend of laminated side glazing, security concerns, and demand for lightweight glass that increases the fuel efficiency of vehicles. Stringent glass safety regulations such as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for passenger vehicles in the U.S. and other regional regulations are also contributing to the growth of the automotive glass market.



"Suspended particle device is the fastest growing smart glass technology market in the automotive sector"

Suspended particle device (SPD) technology is expected to dominate the automotive smart glass market. Smart glass was initially used for windows and doors in automobiles, but extensive R&D into SPD technology has led to its increased adoption in rear mirrors, backlites, and sunroofs. In February 2012, Daimler AG (Germany) launched an all-glass panoramic roof using SPD technology on the Mercedes-Benz 2012 SLK. Approximately 96% of the OEMs that manufacture premium cars now offer glass sunroofs or glass panoramic roofs as either standard or optional equipment.



"Sunroofs constitute the largest application segment of the automotive smart glass market"

OEMs such as Mercedes-Benz AG (Germany), Audi AG (Germany), and BMW AG (Germany) offer sunroofs in their vehicle models. Smart glass is extensively used for sunroofs, as sunroofs with smart glass offer cost-saving benefits and provide superior control over light and heat emission, reducing the consumption of the air-conditioning unit by maintaining the car's cabin temperature. This reduces the cooling and lighting costs of the vehicle tremendously.



"Asia-Oceania: Fastest growing market for automotive glass"

Asia-Oceania is estimated to dominate the automotive glass market, and is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be credited to the improving socio-economic conditions in emerging economies such as China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand. The sizeable populations in countries such as China and India have resulted in increased vehicle parc, which has led to a growing demand for automotive glass. In China, Global OEMs such as Volkswagen AG (Germany) and General Motors (U.S.) cater to the automotive glass market through joint ventures with domestic manufacturers.



BREAKDOWN OF PRIMARIES

The study contains insights provided by various industry experts, ranging from equipment suppliers to Tier-1 companies and OEMs. The break-up of the primaries is as follows:

- By Company Type  Tier-1 - 63 %, Tier-2 - 29%, and Tier-3 - 8%

- By Designation - C level - 45%, D level  43%, others  12%

- By Region - North America - 58%, Europe - 30%, Asia-Oceania - 12%



The report provides detailed profiles of the following companies:

- Saint-Gobain S.A.

- Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.

- Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd.

- Webasto SE

- Samvardhana Motherson Automotive System Group BV (SMRPBV)

- Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.

- Gentex Corporation

- Magna International Inc.

- Inteva Products

- Xinyi Glass Co., Ltd.



Objectives of the Study

- To define and segment the automotive glass and smart glass market

- To identify the market dynamics and analyze their impact on the automotive glass market

- To segment the market for automotive glass and forecast the market size, by value and volume, based on type (laminated, tempered, and others)

- To segment the market and forecast the market size, by value and volume, based on smart glass technology (active and passive)

- To segment the market for automotive glass and forecast the market size, by value and volume, based on application (windscreen, sidelite, backlite, and rear and side view mirrors)

- To segment the market for automotive smart glass and forecast the market size, by value and volume, based on application (sunroof, rear/side view mirror, windscreen, and sidelite/backlite)



TARGET AUDIENCE

- Manufacturers of automotive glass

- Raw material suppliers for automotive glass

- Experts from the automotive smart glass industry

- Dealers and distributors of automotive glass

- Automotive OEMs

- The automobile industry and related end-user industries



SCOPE OF THE REPORT

- By Glass Type

o Tampered

o Laminated

o Others

- Automotive Glass Market, By Application

o Windscreen

o Sidelite

o Backlite

o Side View and Rearview Mirror

- Automotive Smart Glass Market, By Technology

o Active Glass

o Suspended Particle Device

o Electrochromic

o Liquid Crystal/Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal

o Passive Glass

o Photochromic

o Thermochroic

- Automotive Smart Glass Market, By Application

o Sunroof

o Windscreen

o Sidelite/Backlite

o Side/Rearview Mirrors

- Automotive Glass Market, By Vehicle Type

o Passenger Car

o Light Commercial Vehicle

o Truck

o Bus

- Automotive Glass and Smart Glass Market, By Region

o North America

o Europe

o Asia-Oceania

o Rest of the World



Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4169026/



About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

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Email: query@reportbuyer.com

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Website: www.reportbuyer.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automotive-glass-market-by-type-application-smart-glass-by-technology-application--region---global-forecast-to-2021-300335166.html

SOURCE ReportBuyer
The Council Adds Experienced Leaders in Its Continuous Pursuit of Improving the States Technology Sector

The Arizona Technology Council today announced that Rachel Aja, government and regulatory affairs manager for Cox Communications Inc., and Jason Bagley, government affairs director for Intel, have been named co-chairs for the Arizona Technology Council Public Policy Committee. Aja and Bagley leverage considerable technology and government affairs experience and acumen to continue the Councils mission to ensure Arizonas competitiveness and accelerate technology related policy and legislation.

Were privileged to have each of these well-respected professionals accept co-chair positions for our Public Policy Committee, said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. The committee is highly regarded by our members as the voice for the continued growth and development of Arizonas technology industry, and Rachel and Jason are the right leaders to take the helm.

The new co-chairs will fill the role of Gregory Ensell, manager of government & public affairs for Cox Communications, who is stepping down. Ensell honorably served as the chairman of the Public Policy Committee since 2011. The Public Policy Committee focuses on issues and initiatives that accelerate technology-related public policy and legislation in Arizona. The targeted initiatives that encompass the work of this committee concentrate on four areas: technology commercialization and development; workforce development; economic development and capital formation. This committee, along with Council professionals, work with legislators, elected officials and policy makers at all levels of government, to educate them on the value and promise of the technology industry.

As a longtime public affairs professional focused on the high-tech industry in Arizona, I strive to enact positive change across the state, said Bagley. I look forward to working with the Council and its members to continue to promote the interests of the technology community through public policy, with the goal of boosting the states total economic and business landscape.

Bagley has invested more than 30 years as a public affairs professional. He currently manages government affairs for Intel Corporations U.S. Southwest Region. His responsibilities include leading public policy strategy and engagement with government officials at the local, state and federal level for his region. He also currently serves in leadership roles on the boards of several business associations, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arizona Manufacturers Council and Arizona Tax Research Association. Bagley was named by the Arizona Capitol Times as 2009 Business Leader of the Year in Public Policy, as well as the 2011 Advocate of the Year by the Arizona Manufacturers Council.

I am proud to accept the Arizona Technology Council Public Policy Committees co-chair position, and I will continue to underline the importance of building a solid and effective foundation for growth in Arizona, based on sound public policy, said Aja. Its an exciting time in the technology sector right now in Arizona, and Im dedicated to helping Arizona reach its full potential in this new position.

Ajas background includes an impressive mix of more than 20 years of government and business experience. She currently manages government and regulatory affairs for Cox Communications Inc., where she is responsible for building and maintaining positive relations with local, state, and federal elected government officials and municipalities. Prior to Cox, Aja worked as an assistant to Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and assistant to the Mayor/Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator for the City of Peoria. Her civic involvement includes mentorship for the Homeless Youth Connection, and is currently a Luke Air Force Base Honorary Commander, 310th Fighter Squadron.

As an advocate for technology companies in Arizona, the Council continuously monitors federal, state and local policies that impact the growth of Arizonas technology industry. With the strength of over 800 member companies, the Council informs and educates policy makers on issues that are important to Arizonas technology community.

About the Arizona Technology Council

The Arizona Technology Council is Arizonas premier trade association for science and technology companies. Recognized as having a diverse professional business community, Council members work towards furthering the advancement of technology in Arizona through leadership, education, legislation and social action. The Arizona Technology Council offers numerous events, educational forums and business conferences that bring together leaders, managers, employees and visionaries to make an impact on the technology industry. These interactions contribute to the Councils culture of growing member businesses and transforming technology in Arizona. To become a member or to learn more about the Arizona Technology Council, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006424/en/

Media:

TechTHiNQ for AZTC

Alec Robertson, 585-281-6399

alec.robertson@techthinq.com

or

Organization:

Arizona Technology Council

Steve Zylstra, 602-422-9447

szylstra@Arizonatechcouncil.org
LYON, France and BOSTON, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Merieux Developpement announces the appointment of three additional staff members, as part of the expansion of its capabilities in Europe and the United States, to support growth and venture capital investment:

- Jean-Francois Billet, as a Senior Partner (based in Paris, FR)

- Daniel Fero, as a Senior Associate (based in Boston, MA)

- Benoit Pierret, as a Senior Business Analyst (based in Lyon, FR)

These appointments come in the context of increased investment activity across the healthcare and nutrition sectors, where Merieux Developpement team has been active since 2010.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412427LOGO )



"We are pleased to add Jean-Francois, Dan and Benoit to our team, and expand our experience base in support to entrepreneurs and companies of our sector" said Francois Valencony, General Manager of Merieux Developpement.

Jean-Francois Billet - Senior Partner (Paris)

Jean-Francois holds a PhD in Pharmacy and graduated from ESSEC in Paris. Jean-Francois started his career with Pasteur Merieux (now Sanofi-Pasteur), the leading global vaccine manufacturer, as Southeast Asia Marketing Manager. He then joined bioMerieux where he developed the company's initial strategy in food safety and quality services. He later managed the business operations and marketing for bioMerieux Industry before joining Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman), a leading strategy and management consulting firm in the areas of the sales force effectiveness, operational optimization and growth strategy. Before joining Merieux Developpement, Jean-Francois held the position of Vice President at Merieux NutriSciences, in charge of Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and overseeing operations in various geographical zones.

Daniel Fero - Senior Associate (Boston)

After earning his PhD, Dan went on to work in a variety of professional roles including as a life science strategy consultant and a professional political operative. Most recently, while working within L.E.K. Consulting's Life Sciences practice, Dan served as strategic advisor to a wide range of healthcare companies and investors on issues of corporate strategy and transaction services. Prior to that he was the senior political director for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dan was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, San Diego. He also holds a BA in Biology from Rhode Island College.

Benoit Pierret - Senior Business Analyst (Lyon)

Before joining Merieux Development, Benoit worked at Jacquet Metal Service (JMS) as Corporate Finance Manager for five years; as such , he has led several acquisitions in Europe and North America. Previously , Benoit started his career in Mergers & Acquisitions consulting at Ricol Lasteyrie Corporate Finance ( a member of Ernst & Young network). Benoit is a Chemical Engineer, graduated from CPE Lyon and also holds a Master of Strategy and Management of International Business from ESSEC. He is a graduate from the ESSEC Chair in Therapeutic Innovation.

Photos available on request

About Merieux Developpement - http://www.merieux-developpement.com

Merieux Developpement is the investment fund of Institut Merieux specialized in venture capital and growth equity transactions in the healthcare and nutrition sectors. Merieux Developpement supports entrepreneurs and companies with products or services presenting worldwide innovation to Health. Merieux Developpement brings its expertise and international network to enable entrepreneurs to disrupt and create new markets. Merieux Developpement is an affiliate of Institut Merieux, which employs around 15,000 employees worldwide, with consolidated revenues exceeding 2.4 billion Euros in 2015.

Contact communication - Merieux Developpement

Aurelie Boulleray, communication@merieux-developpement.com, +33(0)4-78-87-37-00

SOURCE Merieux Developpement
February this year, when hackers sucked USD 101m from the accounts of Bangladesh Bank by transgressing its systems and also duping the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Asian banks showed up one of its chilling enemies: cyber fraud.

The robberies of the day are shifting from the physical realm to cyber medium, and a deft-enough hacker does unscrupulous money transactions. While the Dhaka robbery revealed the cybercrime-vulnerabilities, the Asian banks are intensely battling against online/mobile fraud, which deepened in recent years and has led to striking revenue losses and customer trust.

Banks, during their daily business, have much lesser time, often seconds and minutes, to detect and prevent potentially questionable transactions. While processing thousands of transactions, Asian banks brave a major task of detecting fraud across multiple channels.

Focus on customer data

Banks should concentrate on customer data because it can hold crucial information about ongoing and impending fraud. Customer payment data is critical when detecting fraud patterns. If a particular transaction falls outside what is deemed a normal behaviour pattern, alerts can be generated and forwarded to fraud analysts in real-time for further probe.

Develop new detection systems

Banks must invest more in new systems and technology beyond credit-card fraud detection, or risk falling prey to the new criminal breed. Develop new fraud detection systems for different transactions and on different levels. Unfortunately, cyber criminals continue to evolve their tactics and attack-methods. The key culprit to the Bangladesh Bank attack was the installation of malicious software in the bank system, which big data and analytics failed to prevent.

In Asia alone, digital bank customers are likely to number about 1.7b by 2020. While all of this translates into ultimate convenience for customers, it has also presented fraudsters with a multichannel digital playing field to operate in.

It is no more putting up with the likes of Nigerian email scams. Now, it is highly targeted operations that rake in billions of illegally gained money. Attacks arrive in all forms  from web fraud, Point-of-Sale (POS) intrusions, to malware and cyber espionage. Also, there is no defined target spectrum for these cyber criminals.

Are banks really fighting hactivism? The financial institutions contain information that spans everything a cybercriminal wants and wrapped up in one place.

Cyber security issues faced by banks

One major issue faced by Asian banks is the prevalence of malware specifically designed to target them and their customers. This means that fraudsters now have the ability to study the internal processes of financial transactions within a bank and look for gaps in approval processes without having to visit the banks. This is an example of the creativity that todays cyber criminals possess and the effort they are willing to put into refining the process by which they approach their target-victims.

Apart from adopting a time-consuming reactionary approach, or doing minimum compliance just to abide by the regulations, Asian banks also lack sufficient number of cyber specialists.

Values intangible

Earlier, corporate value was derived from tangible assets such as products, buildings, property and people. Today, it is more intangible, as the digital space has made a brands reputation its most valuable commodity.

Financial cybercrime not only affects an organisations cash flow or payment systems, it also ruins a companys credentials. Consumers and investors may not trust a bank or a company that has fallen prey to preventable cybercrimes, and brands may suffer losses that they may not be able to recover from. Banks and financial institutions need strategies that offer real-time threat-identification, deep analysis and comprehensive protection, due to the dynamic nature of their operations.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Sena is merely paying lip service to the Maratha reservation issue says Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.

Leader of opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil attacked Shiv Sena for publishing cartoon in its mouthpiece Saamna and making fun of the Maratha agitation. Vikhe-Patil said that Sena is not serious about granting reservations to the Maratha community. He demanded that the state government should stop releasing advertisements to Saamna. Vikhe-Patil added that the saffron party has always been known for being anti-Dalit and Muslims and now they have also distanced themselves from the Maratha community.

He said, By publishing the cartoon mentioning mooka morcha (kiss rally) instead of mook morcha (silent rally) Sena has hurt the sentiments of Maratha community. The party should understand that Marathas have organised a silent protest to demand reservations. Netizens and politicians have already condemned the cartoon.

Vikhe-Patil also posted comments on social media and said, The cartoon published in Shiv Sena has irked the Maratha community. Sena is merely paying lip service to the Maratha reservation issue. Uddhav Thackeray should tender an apology for defaming Marathas. The state government too should take action against the paper by blocking advertisements.

Mumbai BJP Chief Ashish Shelar said, The executive editor of Saamna should apologise for publishing the cartoon to insult Marathas. Through this cartoon the paper has hurt the sentiments of Maratha community. We extend our full support to Marathas and they should be granted reservation.

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde said, By publishing cartoons, Sena has revealed its true colours and the party should apologise for insulting Marathas. They will have to pay a heavy price for it.

NCP president Sharad Pawar said, The state government must grant reservation to Maratha community at the earliest without affecting the quota percentage of other communities. Large number of youth has participated in the silent march held by Marathas.

Meanwhile stones were pelted at a printing press of Shiv Senas mouthpiece Saamna in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon. According to the police, the incident of stone pelting occurred at Saamna office, Sanpada where about three glasses of the outer wall were broken and damaged. A pro-Maratha social organisation, Sambhaji Brigade, later claimed responsibility for the attack.

We are condemning a cartoon which was published in Saamana. Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Saamanas executive editor Sanjay Raut must apologise to the women of Maharashtra, the brigades spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse said.

The attack was spontaneous and an expression of emotions of the Maratha community, he said.

Maratha Mukh Kranti Morcha activists had burned the copies of Saamna newspaper in Buldhana and Jalna. They have already warned the government that the agitation may turn violent if the government turns a blind eye towards their demands.

Datta Chavan an activist of Maratha Mukh Kranti Morcha said, Saamna has hurt the sentiments of Maratha community by publishing the cartoon. The newspaper must tender an apology for insulting Marathas.
The Supreme Court today expressed unhappiness over non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan through his lawyer in connection with the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked CBI to serve a fresh notice on the Samajwadi Party leader.

In our considered opinion, the respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

It directed the apex court registry to provide copy of the case records along with the notice to CBI for serving them on the minister.

The court said that it seems whatever had been said by Khan is in his personal capacity.

The remarks came when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, submitted that the notice could have been served through UP government as Khan is part of the cabinet.

The bench, meanwhile, allowed lawyer Kislay Pandey, appearing for the victims father, to file additional documents in the case and fixed the matter for further hearing on October 25.

The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida- based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point.

The apex court had on August 29 taken note of the controversial remarks of Khan that the gangrape case was a political conspiracy, while staying the CBI probe in the case. It had also asked whether the State should stop people holding high offices from making such comments on heinous crimes.

On September 8, the court lifted the stay on CBI probe in the case after modifying its earlier order and asked the agency to proceed as per law.

CBI had moved the apex court seeking modification of the order staying its ongoing probe in the case, saying it may cause disappearance of material evidences besides enabling six accused to seek statutory bail.

Initially, the FIR was lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police under various provisions on July 30. CBI had re-registered the case on August 18 in pursuance to the Allahabad High Courts interim order.

The apex court had earlier appointed senior advocate F S Nariman as amicus curiae (friend of the court), while framing some legal questions with regard to freedom of speech and expression and probable impact of statements of those holding high offices on free and fair probe in heinous cases like this.

The court had said it would examine whether such statements are covered under freedom of speech and expression of an individual. It had said the statements, which are not given for self protection, comply with the concept of constitutional sensitivities.

The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped in July on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation.

In the plea filed in the apex court, the victims father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi in the interest of justice.

Unhappy with the UP Police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by some other competent agency.
Following External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs speech at the United Nations General Assembly session wherein she asked the world to act against countries harbouring terrorists, the US has said that Pakistan needs to target all terror groups, including those that target neighbouring countries.

Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability, as I just said, to deal with a terrorist threat on their soil, US State Department Deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said in his daily press briefing here on Monday.

Theyre fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism, he said.

We do believe that theyre making progress, that theyre taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time weve been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistans neighbours, and close all safe havens.

These comments come after the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers.

India has blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit for the attack.

Toner called for normalisation of India-Pakistan relations saying that there was no zero-sum game in the region.

I think our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations between them and practical cooperation between them, and we encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions, he said.

In response to a question of Russia carrying out its first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan close on the heels of the India-US Yudh Abhyas drill in Uttarakhand in India, Toner said: Well, if the insinuation is that theres some kind of tit-for-tat or Great Game being played out here, thats not at all the case. Look, weve long said with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, theres no zero-sum game here.

Stating that the US was pursuing very close relations with India, he said that Washington has a deep and broad bilateral and multilateral relationship with New Delhi.

They (India) are the worlds largest democracy and we share, I think, a very similar vision of the world, Toner said.
A day after Karnataka government expressed its inability to release water, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu till Friday despite assemblys resolution and warns them to obeys order strictly. The next hearing on the case will take place on Friday.

Make sure your client obeys order, Supreme Court told Karnataka counsel.

In a federal structure like India no state can say it will not obey the SC order and pick up a fight with another state, the top court said.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the Centre would attempt to resolve the issue by calling a meeting between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the next two days.

The dispute over the Cauvery has this month impelled violence in Karnataka, frequent disruptions of Bengalurus famous software companies, and several court hearings.

In its plea before the apex court on Monday, the Karnataka government had sought modification of its order asking it to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Karnataka said it can release the water only by the end of the year, as it first needs to provide for its own state, which it claimed was reeling under shortage of drinking water.

The Karnataka government, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress, reluctantly obeyed the order, but riots erupted in the capital city of Bengaluru, known as Indias Silicon Valley, and in and around other major cities like Mysuru. Two people were killed in Bengaluru and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued an appeal for calm.

The main highway between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka turned into a no-go area; bus services between the states were suspended. Tamil cable channels were blacked out in Karnataka and police cars and buses were set on fire, leading to the arrest of nearly 200 protestors.
Mumbai: Sonakshi Sinhas film Akira released recently and she was seen performing some intense action sequences in it.

Shes been hard at work filming  and now promoting  her latest Bollywood movie, Force 2, but according to her social media accounts, the actress is taking a little well-deserved time off to unwind in the Seychelles.

The Bollywoods Dabangg girl, who has almost 8 million followers on Twitter and over 5 million on Instagram, shared a snap of herself with arms akimbo on a wooden deck with a beautiful turquoise sea and lush green mountains as a backdrop.

Well hello paradise! Cant wait to jump into that clear blue sea! she tweeted, tagging the Enchanted Island Resort, where she is believed to be staying.

Check out Sonakshis dreamy getaway below, she posted on Insta and Snapchat.

Waiting for the boat to come pick me up! Time for some snorkeling! @jaresorts #enchantedislandresort #seychelles #sonastravels A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Sep 26, 2016 at 12:42am PDT

Well hello paradise!! Finally made it to the stunning @jaresorts at #seychelles! Cant wait to get into that clear blue water!!! #JAResorts #EnchantedIslandResort #sonastravels A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Sep 24, 2016 at 11:36pm PDT

Source: Agencies
Taipei: Taiwan went into shutdown on Tuesday as the island faces its third typhoon in two weeks, with thousands evacuated, schools and offices closed across the island and hundreds of flights disrupted.

Typhoon Megi is expected to make landfall in eastern Taiwan later on Tuesday but is already bringing widespread violent winds and torrential rain as it nears the island.

More than 5,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and around 2,000 are in shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center.

About 36,000 households have lost power due to the typhoon so far.

A total of 575 international and domestic flights were cancelled as of today morning, and 109 delayed. Most trains were also halted.

Television footage showed powerful waves surging past breakwaters in northeastern Yilan county and outlying Orchid Island.

Ahead of the storm, more than 3,700 tourists had already been evacuated at the weekend from Orchid Island and Green Island  both popular with visitors.

At 0030 GMT, Megi was 220 kilometres southeast of the eastern county of Hualien, packing gusts of up to 198 kilometres per hour.

It is moving at 18 kilometres an hour  slower than previously forecast  delaying the time of landfall to around 0900 GMT on Tuesday, according to Taiwans weather bureau.

Hualien and Taitung, which are also popular with visitors for their coastlines and landscapes, will be in the firing line.

Those areas are still trying to recover from damage brought by Super Typhoon Meranti earlier this month  the strongest storm for 21 years to hit Taiwan.

Meranti, which left one dead in Taiwan before killing another 28 as it moved to eastern China, was followed closely by the smaller Typhoon Malakas.

Mountainous regions in eastern Taiwan could see a total of up to 900 millimetres of rain through Wednesday, increasing the risk of landslides.

More than 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with disaster relief.

Source: AFP
Rattled by Indias decision to review the decades old Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan has threatened to petition the International Court of Justice or UN. Pakistan on Tuesday said that its neighbour cannot unilaterally separate itself from the agreement and insisted that revocation of the treaty can be taken as an act of war.

The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty, Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

India is working to isolate Pakistan globally including through the United Nations. Prime Minister Modi has indicated that while he is unlikely to take strong military action, he will look at other ways to corner Pakistan.

Aziz further noted that the treaty was not suspended even during the Kargil and the Siachen wars.

Azizs reaction comes in the backdrop of PM Narendra Modi chairing a high-level meet in New Delhi on Monday to review the treaty following the Uri terror attack that killed 18 jawans.

He said Pakistan is gaining support of international community on the issue. He said Pakistan is considering to brief P-5 countries and international community about the dangers of suspending the treaty.

India also decided to explore ways to use its share of water of rivers flowing into Pakistan, besides hinting that it could revive construction of the Tulbul project in Jammu & Kashmir.

In fact, sources said, India could even consider walking out of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) if Pakistan does not rein in terrorists, adding that the water-sharing pact is not sacrosanct.
For nearly two years now, Yemen has been torn by a ferocious war involving rebel forces, extremist groups, government militias, and foreign bombing campaigns. For the majority of Yemenis who live in the countryside, far from the centers of fighting, the war has had little impact, notes the Atlantic's In 
Assyrian Villages in Khabour, Syria Occupied By Kurdish YPG-militia

In february 2015 the Assyrian Khabour area was attacked by the Islamic State (IS) terrorists. The IS attack was a reply to a deliberate provocation from the kurdish YPG militia. The 35 Assyrian villages located along the Khabour river were emptied after the attack. A couple of days later the IS kidnapped and held hundreds of assyrians hostages. The empty villages fell into controll of the Kurdish YPG militia, and they were systematically looted by Kurdish groups. In recent days the YPG militia has put up varning signs in different places in the villages with the content; dangerous and mined area. This is just a trick by YPG to scare assyrians and to justify their occupation. Tel Nasri and Tel Goran are the villages that have been occupied with the expectation that YPG is only there temporary for training. The most affected village is Abutina, where Assyrian homes have been destroyed by bombs and powerful explosions after the YPG militia training. The so called training camp which the YPG militia started has now been going on for more than one year. The result from this is that more YPG units from Aleppo area moved out to the Assyrian villages in Khabour under the excuse that they are guarding the Assyrian homes. In Arabic there is a proverb saying "Hamiha Haramiha" its protector is its thief.
September 26, 2016

CAIRO  Controversy erupted in Egypt earlier this year after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decision to detain and fire Hisham Geneina from his position as head of the Accountability State Authority (ASA), the countrys central auditing agency, on charges of publicizing false news and claims, based on the statement he made about corruption costs in state institutions reaching 600 billion Egyptian pounds ($68 billion) over four years.

Despite the fact that the head of the ASA has immunity by the constitution and the law, Sisi had issued a decree on July 9, 2015, granting himself the right to dismiss heads and members of regulatory organizations and independent bodies in case one of them commits actions that endanger the security and safety of the country.

Geneina was sentenced to a year in prison and a fine, and is now awaiting an Oct. 20 court date for a decision on his appeal.

Geneina spoke exclusively to Al-Monitor, confirming the number he announced concerning the cost of corruption and saying he possessed documents proving his claims. Geneina also attacked the fact-finding committee that was formed by the president to review the credibility of his data, as he considered the committee too biased and underqualified to review the reports of the ASA.

Geneina attacked the judiciary in Egypt and considered it flawed and described his trial as political.

During the interrogation by the prosecution, I said that these investigations and accusations were mainly political, and I insisted that my words be recorded.  Unfortunately, I could not obtain, to this moment, the verdict issued against me so that I could petition against it before the Court of Appeals," Geneina said.

Geneina revealed corruption in some sovereign sectors and authorities. During our examination of the allocation of plots of lands in urban communities and greenbelts in new cities, we discovered that companies affiliated with the General Intelligence Directorate were allocated plots of land that are distributed among workers in the directorate. There were also lands allocated to members in the Public Prosecution and the Administrative Control Authority, Geneina added.

The full text of the interview follows:

Al-Monitor: How accurate is the number you had announced concerning the size of corruption in some state sectors, which you claimed reached 600 billion Egyptian pounds?

Geneina: The number is correct, and it constitutes only a simple part of the corruption in state sectors and ministries during four years marked by the beginning of 2012 until the end of 2015. The real numbers are horrifying as they far exceed 600 billion [Egyptian] pounds. We have documents that confirm everything we announced. The technical committee of the ASA made very accurate calculations and analyses of the corruption costs in every ministry and sector. This is very difficult for anyone to do, even for professors at universities, as it requires accumulated experience that only comes through practice.

Al-Monitor: The fact-finding committee that the president formed to review the numbers confirmed that these figures were inaccurate, exaggerated and aimed to misguide the public opinion. How do you respond to that?

Geneina: Two things need to be clarified first. The first one is about the mechanism through which this committee was formed, and the second has to do with the report it issued.

The president issued a decree to form a fact-finding committee headed by the head of the Administrative Control Authority with the membership of representatives from some ministries such as Planning, Finance and Interior to check the accuracy of the numbers I announced about corruption. However, with all due respect, members of the committee cannot be part of the executive power. All its members, even the head of the Administrative Control Authority, are subject to oversight of the ASA. We also issued a report before that proved the involvement of leading officials in the Administrative Control Authority in financial violations. How [can] the head of this authority be appointed as head of the fact-finding committee? This is very strange and illogical.

To assure transparency and neutrality, I suggested that the parliament form the committee, as the parliament is not subject to oversight by the ASA and is not an opponent of the ASA. Therefore, the committee it forms will be impartial and will ward off suspicion of pressure by the executive power and its institutions.

The second part has to do with the formed committees lack of any experience in accurate auditing calculations. With all due respect to the head of the Administrative Control Authority, the head is usually an officer either in the military or the police whose auditing experience does not qualify to evaluate the work of the ASA or to analyze complicated financial lists. This is an accumulated experience that stems from practice.

Al-Monitor: You mentioned that there is corruption and squandering of money in sovereign institutions of the state. What are these institutions you are referring to?

Geneina: First, I have reservations about the word "sovereign." I have no knowledge of anything called a sovereign institution. We are all citizens before the constitution and the law that guarantees us absolute equality. I have never heard, during all the years I spent in my career, about an institution being above the law. The constitution allows oversight over all institutions of the state, including the presidency. The only exception goes for the parliament and the General Intelligence as their regulating private laws prohibit oversight by the ASA.

However, during our examination of the allocation of some lands in urban communities and greenbelts in new cities, we discovered that some companies affiliated with the General Intelligence were allocated lands. These plots of lands are distributed among those who work in the General Intelligence. There were also lands allocated for members of the Public Prosecution and the Administrative Control Authority. Such corruption through takeover of state lands by these institutions is done in a standardized and systematic way at prices much lower than the market price. This is intended to corrupt these institutions until they are no longer capable of detecting corruption of the minister himself.

Al-Monitor: Did you face any pressure from state institutions after you announced the corruption report?

Geneina: The pressure we faced was during the work of the ASA technical committee. Some ministries hindered its work and prevented it from doing its work so that it would not carry out its oversight duty. However, after I announced the 600 billion [Egyptian-pound] corruption, I was surprised at the fact-finding committees accusations [that] were false and based on no evidence whatsoever. Then, the public prosecutor issued a gag order. After that, I faced no pressure. As I said, I possess all the documents that prove that the cost of corruption exceeds 600 billion.

Al-Monitor: Why did the court decide to put you in jail for one year and fine you 20,000 Egyptian pounds for publicizing false news, given that you based your statement on evidence and documents you possess?

Geneina: During the interrogation by the prosecution, I said that these charges and investigations are mainly political and I insisted that my words be recorded. I hoped that I would not be tried for uncovering the corruption, its size and places and those who are responsible for it. However, I thought I would be tried for my alleged dereliction in failing to uncover corruption, or at least failing to do my work and professional duty, since the authentic role of regulatory institutions is to uncover corruption spots and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Unfortunately, I could not obtain, to this moment, the verdict issued against me sentencing me to detention and a fine so that we could read and understand it. My lawyer had even presented a request to obtain a photocopy of the verdict so that we could petition against it before the Court of Appeals. However, he could not get it. This shows how flawed the judiciary in Egypt has become. This has happened to me, so can you imagine what ordinary citizens go through when they try to resort to a just judiciary?

The charges leveled at me are publicizing rumors that aim at threatening the public order and safety and harming the supreme interests of the state, which are very broad charges that can end up with anyone in jail with no probable cause except that the executive power considers the person threatening to the public order and safety.

Al-Monitor: Some may wonder why you did not submit these reports to the competent authorities to take the necessary measures instead of presenting them to the public and causing this confusion.

Geneina: Article No. 217 of the constitution grants regulatory institutions the right to publish their reports to the public in ultimate transparency. We did not violate the law in any means. Moreover, Egypt has signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which obligates regulatory institutions to make their reports publicly accessible, as public oversight is the supervision that really supports regulatory institutions. Such a public role protects public money. Therefore, whose interests does it serve to make public opinion absent and to neutralize public oversight over public money?

Al-Monitor: President Sisi issued a decree to dismiss you from your office based on investigations carried out by the State Security Prosecution with you. Why did you appeal against the decree to the judiciary?

Geneina: The president of the ASA cannot be dismissed by the president of the Republic or by anyone else, as the formers position is immunized by the power of the constitution. Moreover, the president of the republic himself is subject to oversight by the ASA. However, let me explain to you why I appealed to the judiciary.

First, the president of the republic has issued my dismissal order based on a decree concerning heads of regulatory organizations and independent bodies that he issued in the absence of a parliament. It was also issued at a time when it was not an emergency that necessitates giving him the exception of using his constitutional right to issue decrees. Hence, it was against the constitution, and I appealed against it.

Second, even if, for the sake of the argument, we assumed the decree issued by the president valid, such law includes the heads of all regulatory institutions and is described as general law. However, at the ASA, we have our specific law that regulates the mechanism through which the head of the ASA is questioned and held accountable. A legal rule states that general law does not apply over a specific one. Hence, the ASA is governed by the internal specific law only, not the law issued by the president of the republic. Moreover, the internal ASA law gives immunity to the agencys head and guarantees that he or she will not be dismissed unless they agree to such.

Third, the immunity granted by the specific law of the ASA to its head is not a mere matter of formality, as it is conventional in the whole world and happens in all regulatory organizations. The reason is to grant regulatory institution complete independence from the executive power and to allow the ASA to carry out its work protecting public properties without limitations. The question here is how regulatory organizations can enjoy independence while the executive power is infiltrating them like that.

For the aforementioned reasons, I presented my appeal. I did it not to recover my position but rather to patronize the rule of law and to guarantee that other heads will not be subject to the same fate.

Al-Monitor: Do you believe the state is deliberately trying to hide corruption and fight you?

Geneina: I do not think that the fight is with [me] personally, but rather with the role that an institution plays. During my entire career, I have sought to continue adopting that role to preserve the public money and not connive in any incident of corruption, regardless of who its perpetrator is or what their position is. Maybe this is the sin I committed. Probably this is when I crossed the line.

I hope that the Egyptian state with all its values will not fall into a settling of political scores within some security or intelligence agencies who issue false reports. My uncovering of the corruption of some of their members does not mean that I do not respect them. I appreciate the role they play in society.

Al-Monitor: Are existing laws enough to guarantee independence of regulatory institutions in Egypt? Or do we need new laws to safeguard their effectiveness?

Geneina: The current legislations and constitutional articles are enough to ensure complete independence for regulatory organizations. However, what is the value of a constitution that ensures equality between the president and an ordinary citizen when it is not brought into effect?

Constitutional articles ensure the right to absolute privacy and respect the sanctity of the private lives of citizens such as not tapping their phones, calls or messaging except under a grounded judicial request for an urgent reason that the investigation necessitates. However, what value do they have when they are being violated and not put into effect?

What value does a constitution that states that regulatory organizations are independent from the executive power have while they are devoid of independence, prevented from practicing their role to protect public money and their heads are subject to dismissal in the manner we saw?

Let me say the reason why the president made a statement that Egypt is a semi-state. The answer is that state now has semi-institutions. We have a parliament which is not a parliament. Parliaments in the rest of the world oversee the work of the executive power. We have an ASA that cannot practice its regulatory duty. These are all decorations with no tangible use.

Al-Monitor: Why, then, does the head of the executive power fight those who uncover and fight corruption?

Geneina: The president is the one who should be asked such question. Did he receive information that Hisham Geneina works on demolishing the Egyptian state? If I am convicted, they should give me a just and fair trial.

However, whenever I make such a statement, they consider it an insult to the state and an attempt to demolish its institutions. Who demolishes countries are those who connive in and cover up corruption, not the ones who uncover it.

Is it even possible that institutions of the state can be demolished by a mere statement about the existence of corruption? The president himself said that we live in a semi-state. Why isnt he accused of demolishing state institutions with this statement? Which is more harmful to the state, announcing that there is 600 billion [Egyptian pounds] worth of corruption in some institutions  while it is part of my duty  or the presidents statement?

There was also an official statement by Dr. Ashraf El Araby, former head of the Public Taxes Authority, where he said that the office of the Large Taxpayer Center at the Taxes Authority has spotted 350 billion [Egyptian pounds] worth of tax evasion by businessmen. Even though that statement was made from inside the Tax Authority, [Araby] was appointed by President Sisi in the parliament and he is currently a lawmaker. Why did they leave him alone?

What I want to say is that I respect all institutions of the state and that the role regulatory institutions play will not complete without a strong political will and institutions that support such a role. The reports issued by regulatory organizations are useless as long as they are being thrown into the archives.

Al-Monitor: You have been accused of affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, especially since you were appointed to your post as head of the ASA during its time in power. How do you respond to these charges?

Geneina: I challenge whoever ... has evidence on that to present it. I think no one is secure against such accusations. Even Sisi supporters have started to be accused of belonging to the Muslim Brothers.

It is true that the ex-president, [Mohammed] Morsi, brought me to this position. However, it does not mean that I work for him or for anyone that followed. Morsi appointed Sisi minister of defense, Gen. Mohamed Ibrahim, the ex-minister of interior, Gen. Mohamed Omar Wahby, former head of the ACA. Therefore, this is institutional work. Being appointed by a president cannot possibly mean that I work for him or belong to his group.

Al-Monitor: Do you consider what happened on June 30 a revolution or a coup?

Geneina: I am totally convinced that the Egyptian people took to the streets in two revolutions for the purpose of reform. The first one was on January 25, 2011, and the second on June 39, 2013. With all due respect for those who say that what happened on June 30 is a coup, I want to tell them that the military institution only supported the public consensus.

It was also very clear on June 30 that there was strong resentment and displeasure about the Brotherhoods regime. In the end, I absolutely respect the will of the public.

Al-Monitor: What is the message that you want to send to the ruling authority or the Egyptian people?

Geneina: All I want is to absolve myself before God and history with a fair and just verdict. I did not lie or publicize false news. I wished to be in my office until the trial is over, as it is illogical that the president dismisses me before a court proves me guilty.
September 27, 2016

CAIRO  The Egyptian parliament has significantly boosted criminal penalties for female genital mutilation (FGM), passing an amendment that is widely welcomed by many segments of Egyptian society. Human rights groups are hoping, but are not convinced, that the amendment will help reduce this widespread phenomenon across Egypt.

In 2008, Egypt banned FGM operations in governmental and nongovernmental hospitals and other private or public practices following the death of an Egyptian teenager, Baddour Shaker, who had undergone the procedure in June of that year.

A few months later, an article was added to the penal code criminalizing FGM and punishing those who force it upon women with jail terms of three months to two years, in addition to a fine of 1,000-5,000 Egyptian pounds ($113 to $563).

The bill defined FGM as being the partial or full removal of the external genital parts or deformity of such parts without any medical justification.

Mona Ezzat, the head of the Women and Work Program at Egyptian human rights group New Woman Foundation, told Al-Monitor, FGM is associated with the prevailing customs, traditions and culture in society. It is practiced in [Egypt] because parents are still totally convinced of its viability. Thus, forcing society to relinquish this tradition should not be done through laws alone.

People in nonurban governorates even have traditional songs about FGM, which is seen as a part of their heritage. To change this attitude, Ezzat said, requires changing the culture, religious rhetoric and school curricula, in addition to rigorously applying the law.

In all the years since FGM was first criminalized, Egyptian courts have only dealt with two related lawsuits. In June 2013, Suhair al-Bataa, 13, died during an FGM procedure performed by Dr. Raslan Fadl in Dakahlia. For the first time in Egypt, a public prosecutor there referred the case to a court.

Though Fadl initially was acquitted in November 2014, prosecutors appealed the ruling. The Court of Appeal in Mansoura sentenced him in 2015 to two years in prison with hard labor for manslaughter and three months for performing the illegal procedure, while shutting down his practice. However, Fadl served only three months of the sentence after the family accepted a financial settlement, according to Human Rights Watch. The girls father was sentenced to three months for forcing his daughter to have the procedure.

In July of this year, the public prosecutor of Faisal city in Suez governorate charged a doctor and a girls mother with manslaughter after the 17-year-old died during FGM surgery in May. Authorities said Mayar Mohamed Mousa died in a private hospital as a result of severe blood loss during the procedure.

The hospital was closed and there were demands for harsher punishments for offenders, prompting parliament to approve an amendment Aug. 29. The law now requires prison terms of five to seven years for those who perform FGM and as much as 15 years if the case results in permanent disability or death.

Egyptian society continues to be greatly swayed by customs and traditions more so than religious views  which appears to be progress. In fact, prominent clerics in Egyptian society, such as Ali Gomaa, the former grand mufti of Egypt, have stood against FGM. Yet, this hasnt been enough to influence the community.

On June 14, 2015, Egypt launched a National Anti-FGM Strategy. The incentive was backed by the National Program to Enable the Family and Eliminate FGM; the public prosecutor; the ministries of Population, Health, Interior, Education, Awqaf and Higher Education; Al-Azhar University; Dar al-Ifta al-Masriyya (The Egyptian House of Religious Edicts); the Egyptian Church; and the National Council for Women.

According to the Demographic and Health Survey "Egypt 2014," the number of women undergoing FGM has declined. It showed that the number of mutilated females ages 15-17 dropped to 61% that year, compared with 74% in 2008.

The same survey said 92% of the polled women of reproductive age (15-49), who were or had ever been married, had undergone FGM, compared with 96% in 2005.

The survey showed that FGM among all women ages 15-49 decreased by 6% between 2005 and 2014 and by 13% among women ages 15-17 between 2008 and 2014. Yet the number of women undergoing this procedure is still alarming.

Ezzat of the New Woman Foundation told Al-Monitor a dramatic effort will be needed to raise awareness among families and parents in their homes. The message relayed by officials on television is not enough to sound the alarm on the seriousness of this practice, she said.

Azza Soliman, the head of the Center for Egyptian Womens Legal Assistance, praised efforts made by the media and Egyptian educational representatives to battle the phenomenon. She cited, however, the need for more support from the religious community to help change societal perceptions about the problem.

It is imperative to find an enlightening religious discourse to clarify the religions stance on this issue, she told Al-Monitor.
September 27, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The youth mania for buying the newest smartphones and keeping up with the latest communication technologies prompted Mustafa Ahmed, 17, from Gaza City, to purchase the newest Apple phone, the iPhone 7, which was officially released on Sept. 6.

The official price of the phone was set at almost $650 in the United States, but Ahmed bought it for 5,000 Israeli shekels (around $1,333) from a Palestinian cellphone dealer, who himself got it from Saudi Arabia where it is sold at around 2,700 Saudi riyals ($720), since there are no Apple stores or official agents for the company in Gaza. Ahmed said he did not mind paying this sum for the device given its sophisticated features compared to other smartphones.

I bought the iPhone 7 as it is the newest Apple phone and it is everyones dream to buy the latest smartphones upon their release. I was an iPhone 6 user and I was eagerly waiting for iPhone 7 to discover its new features and upgrades, he told Al-Monitor.

The Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for about 10 years now has not stopped new technologies and the latest smartphones from entering Gaza upon their release. Cellphone dealers in Gaza took advantage of the hajj season, when pilgrims travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the phone dealers ask them to bring back the new iPhone, while many smartphone techies have been looking forward to purchasing the new device.

Mahmoud Hijazi is the owner of a cellphone store in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northern Gaza City. He told Al-Monitor that he had received five iPhone 7 devices through some pilgrims who brought them from Saudi Arabia on their way back home from pilgrimage.

I paid about 4,000 shekels [$1,070] for every device including a percentage for the pilgrims. Pilgrims either buy the device with their own money to sell them inside Gaza, or they agree with some traders who pay them in advance to purchase the devices in Saudi Arabia, Hijazi said.

Hijazi and other traders sell the iPhone 7 for 5,000 shekels (about $1,333) in Gaza, which is a high price given the limited number of units in the Gaza Strip. This is our chance to make a significant profit because once the device is officially launched in the Palestinian market by the Jawwal telecom company, the profit margin will be very low, Hijazi added.

Despite the excessive price of the smartphone, some people still buy it, especially the iPhone and smartphone techies, who sometimes borrow money to purchase the device. Meanwhile, affluent traders have no problem to buy the new cellphone, he said.

Technical expert Mahmoud Abu Ghosh believes the fast introduction of modern communications equipment to the Gaza Strip demonstrates a large public demand among Gazans for modern technology.

He told Al-Monitor, For example, some have been using the iPhone 6 for some time now, and when the iPhone 7 was launched they immediately started searching for it because they know its value and its features. In light of the high demand for the iPhone 7, the traders were forced to bring it into Gaza, even if through smuggling means, as they wanted to meet the demand of their customers and they were sure they would reap high profits by selling it.

Abu Ghosh pointed out that some Palestinian traders who travel to and from the Gaza Strip through the Israeli Erez/Beit Hanoun border crossing are bringing in the iPhone 7 among their personal belongings, as each person is allowed to legally bring three cellphone devices.

He said that the price gap between the iPhone 7 global price and its price inside Gaza is due to the commission for the pilgrims bringing back phones, the customs duties that may be imposed at the airport in Cairo or the Egyptian Rafah crossing if the pilgrims are caught trying to smuggle in more than three phones, in addition to the traders exploitation of the lack of supply and the high demand on this device in the Gaza Strip. In fact, the last group of pilgrims returned to Gaza on Sept. 24 after which the Rafah crossing was closed again, as it is only open for a few days a year.

There are no specific figures on the number of iPhone 7 devices that entered the Gaza Strip in September, but its widespread promotion has pushed low-income smartphone techies to borrow money to buy the iPhone 7, while other Palestinians, including dealers, were able to afford them.

Obsession with modern technology in the Gaza Strip seems to have no limits, despite the Israeli blockade. The iPhone 7s introduction to Gaza only a few days after its global launch is the best proof of that.
September 26, 2016

Less than 24 hours after Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis return to Tehran from New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly meeting Sept. 22 for the fourth time, he was strictly reprimanded by Hojat al-Islam Ali Saidi and advised to refrain from developing any further relations with the United States outside the framework of the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Saidi is not just any hojat al-Islam, a Shiite clerical rank just below that of ayatollah, but the supreme leaders representative to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In an interview with the IRGC-linked Fars News Agency on Sept. 24, Saidi said, Under the cover of the JCPOA, the countrys government was pursuing the straightening out of relations with the United States. The Americans intention with the negotiations was also beyond solving the nuclear issue, but the supreme leader prevented the Americans from gaining more points.

These comments come only days after Rouhani welcomed American companies at a Sept. 22 news conference in New York, where he said, The nuclear deal has paved the ground for all foreign investors and companies to invest in Iran.

This is not the first time Rouhani has tried to build on the July 2015 nuclear deal. In February, he announced his governments economic plans for a second JCPOA that would include international reconciliation. That statement did not please the supreme leader, either.

In the Sept. 24 interview with Fars News, Saidi specifically underlined that talks with the United States should at all times stay within the framework of the nuclear deal, saying that broader diplomatic engagement is one of the red lines that we cannot cross, and adding, This issue goes back to the cornerstones of the revolution.

Rouhanis Sept. 20-22 visit to New York was also marked by extensive coverage in the Iranian media of the breaking news that the US Treasury finally issued licenses to Boeing and Airbus, permitting the sale of passenger airplanes to Iran. The Boeing deal is the largest business agreement between Iran and the United States since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

The positive reactions to the aircraft deals were inevitable in the pro-reform Iranian newspapers over the weekend. Speaking to the Reformist Shargh Daily on Sept. 24, Abbas Akhoundi, the minister of roads and urban development, praised the Boeing and Airbus deals and said, This means that we finally after four decades can regain our share of the [aviation industry] in the global market.

In contrast, news outlets close to hard-liners downplayed the aviation deals, which are authorized under the nuclear deal. Adopting a skeptical position on Sept. 24, the hard-line Vatan-e Emrooz criticized the United States for not delivering its part of the nuclear agreement on time, as it has been months since preliminary understandings with Airbus and Boeing were announced. Other conservative outlets such as Kayhan Daily took it further and demanded Sept. 26 that the United States provide compensation for the delay.

Saidi also remarked on the Boeing deal in his Sept. 24 interview with the IRGC-linked Fars News Agency, saying, I am worried that they will send a few Boeing airplanes here and while a group of people take pictures with them, their minds will get sidetracked and they will start thinking that the JCPOA has been a success.

In other news, Homa Hoodfar, an Iranian-Canadian academic who was imprisoned earlier this year on security charges, has been released on humanitarian grounds. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi announced Sept. 26 that she has returned to Canada through Oman. The release comes after Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dions Sept. 21 meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York. It was the first meeting held at the ministerial level since Ottawa severed relations with Tehran in 2012.
September 27, 2016

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have learned a thing or two from his frenzied attempts to mobilize the US Congress against the nuclear deal with Iran behind US President Barack Obamas back. Netanyahu is now waging a battle to foil recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN Security Council during the period between the November elections in the United States and the presidential inauguration in January.

The prime minister has chosen to ignore the Sept. 22 prediction US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro made in a Channel 10 interview that the Obama administration is likely to promote an initiative at the United Nations or in another diplomatic forum that could contribute to a peace effort to be continued by the next administration. Netanyahu undoubtedly noticed that the senior US diplomat, who has been privy to discussions on this issue at the highest levels, promised only that Obama would strenuously oppose a unilateral move against Israel and an attempt to delegitimize it. His promise in no way ensures an American veto of a proposed European, Russian, Chinese or Arab resolution calling for recognition of a Palestinian state coexisting in peace and security alongside the State of Israel.

Netanyahu nonetheless kept his cool when asked in a television interview about Shapiros scenario of an Obama initiative. To date, [Obama] has not done so, Netanyahu said. I expect and hope that the US will adhere to this consistent policy. Netanyahu also did not make a big deal out of the Sept. 23 statement by the Middle East Quartet, which described Israels West Bank settlements as a grave danger to the two-state solution and an obstacle to peace. Make no mistake, however. Netanyahu has not become a Washington goody two-shoes. He has simply moved from center stage to the wings.

Netanyahu has 88 of the 100 US senators hitched to his wagon. This bipartisan group wrote Obama on Sept. 19 demanding that he veto any unilateral move at the UN Security Council in the coming months on a permanent arrangement concerning the territories that Israel controls or its settlements. That is how things work when you have billionaire friends like gambling tycoon Sheldon Adelson and you have at your disposal a powerful lobbying group like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The letter has been posted on the website of the American Israel Public Affairs Committe (AIPAC), and supporters are urged to distribute it far and wide. Among its signatories is the Democratic vice presidential candidate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va).

This letter is far more important than the declaration by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton that she opposes a unilateral move by the UN and the pledge by the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Promises by presidential candidates are written on ice, with the potential to disappear one day to the next. On the other hand, Congress could make life miserable for any president who permits UN recognition of a Palestinian state to pass. US lawmakers cannot force an administration to use its veto power in the Security Council or to withhold it, but Congress does control the federal budget, including foreign aid allocations. Congress could cut or even totally annul aid for the Palestinians that averages $500 million per year, more than European Union and Saudi aid combined.

Such a cut in aid would not be a first. In 2011, Congress froze $200 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for the appeal by President Mahmoud Abbas urging the UN Security Council to recognize Palestine. The elected officials graciously acceded to pleas by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to avoid cutting aid to the Palestinian security forces as well. She convinced them that such a cut would serve Hamas and hurt Israel.

The letter from the 88 senators could indicate that they are far more scared of AIPAC than they are of the PA's collapse. Support for the PA, like threatening to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, became a pawn in the hands of Congress during President Bill Clinton's administration shortly after the 1993 signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Accord under US auspices. In a conversation at the time with Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister made no secret of his anger at AIPAC's leadership for mobilizing Congress against US economic assistance to the Palestinians.

A comprehensive report by the Congressional Research Service underscores how this aid is part of the US strategy for supporting the PA. The document, made public about six months ago, describes the PAs dependence on foreign aid as acute. A statement issued Sept. 19 following a meeting in New York of PA donor states, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, said that the PA's annual deficit is expected to reach $600 million this year. Meanwhile, a 2016 World Bank report concludes that the significant steps being made by the PA to reduce the deficit are not commensurate with the foreign assistance reaching its meager coffers in light of aid cuts, pointing toward budgetary crises. The senators letter suggests the mood of AIPAC activists is 88 times more disturbing for lawmakers in Washington than the PA's situation.

On the one hand, a window for carrying out the two-state solution will open for Obama at midnight on Nov. 8, an opening that could be shut by Jan. 20. On the other hand, replacement of the PA by a Palestinian state would enable Israel to ignore its economic agreement (the Paris Protocol) with the PLO and cease collecting and handing over the various taxes it collects for the PA, leading to a temporary halt in tax revenue. The liaison committee would lose its mandate to coordinate development assistance to the Palestinians. Thousands of families of PA employees, among them armed police, would be thrown into poverty, as their salaries depend to a great deal on international donations. Establishing a Palestinian state against Congress' will would lead to the halt of US and international aid. All this in turn would provoke chaos in the Palestinian territories and possibly the establishment of a Hamas regime in the West Bank. Thus, Israel would be forced to again take over the entire West Bank and re-establish a military administration. It would also be forced to fund the education, health and welfare systems for the Palestinian inhabitants.

Support by the president of the United States is a prerequisite for international recognition of a Palestinian state, but this alone will not suffice to turn such a UN resolution into a solution that will bring peace to the Middle East. For that to happen requires waiting for the next president and Congress and hoping that they will get the job done.
September 27, 2016

On Sept. 27, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent an official letter to the supreme leader of Iran announcing that he will not run as a candidate in the May 19 presidential election.

In his letter, Ahmadinejad referred to an Aug. 30 meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wrote, You recommended that it is not suitable at this time for me to participate in the elections. Therefore, I have declared my obedience.  I have no plans to compete in next years election.

Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, also thanked the supreme leader for his public lecture on Sept. 26 in which Khamenei indirectly referred to this meeting. Khamenei recounted that he was approached by a gentleman whom he did not consider suitable for candidacy, and said, I did not tell him not to run. I said it is not in your own or the countrys best interests to run.

Khamenei was widely quoted in Persian-language newspapers. Ebtekar News wrote Sept. 27 that even though the political hard-line faction knew about it, Ahmadinejads supporters insisted that this news be announced publicly for them to accept it.

The supreme leaders indirect remarks may put a final end to months of unconfirmed rumors of Ahmadinejad's candidacy that had been circulating and sporadically surfacing in the media. At the peak of the rumors, before Khameneis Sept. 26 remarks, even previous Ahmadinejad ally Hamid Rasaei, a former member of parliament, wrote that some media were reporting on meetings involving the supreme leader ascribing to him quotes regarding the election.

Even though Ahmadinejad enjoyed the political support of the supreme leader his first term in office (2005-2009), during his second term (2009-2013) the president fell out of favor with Khamenei, causing several public incidents, such as Ahmadinejad's 11-day sulk in 2011 when he refused to show up for work after disagreeing with the supreme leader over the reinstatement of the minister of intelligence.

In 2014, stories about the former presidents visits to smaller towns slowly developed into ones about frequent domestic trips to various provinces and meetings with supporters. Shohada-ye Iran, a pro-Ahmadinejad news outlet, published a report April 28 titled Supporters of the government fear Ahmadinejads trip to Jiroft. Jiroft is a town with less than 100,000 inhabitants, and according to the report, Ahmadinejad was planning to talk at a memorial for martyrs in the city.

Not counting the media outlets directly linked to Ahmadinejad, a rare unified wave of voices from the Reformist camp and hard-liners dominated the opinion sections and the front pages welcoming Khameneis Sept. 26 remarks.

Ahmadinejad ended his official Sept. 27 letter to the supreme leader wishing him good health and added, God willing, I will always proudly remain the revolutions little soldier and a servant to the people.
September 23, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority have reached an agreement under which the PA will begin paying its massive debt to Israel Electric Corp. (IEC), which in turn will forgive part of the debt. The agreement also will allow for competitive internet service in the West Bank.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the chairman of the Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs, said in a Sept. 14 press release that the deal will affect the organization of the energy and communication sectors in Palestine. Wataniya Mobile will begin operating in the Gaza Strip, 3G wireless internet access will be activated in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the end of 2016, and the Palestinian government will assume management of the electricity sector.

The agreement also allows the Palestinian government to take back full control of the power lines scattered across the West Bank, and calls for temporarily lowering the electricity tariff by 1.5% until a final tariff agreement is reached.

Palestinian company Jerusalem District Electricity Co. purchases electricity from IEC, and distributes it in and around Jerusalem. The PA distributes electricity to the rest of the West Bank areas and some of the Gaza Strip.

In late March, the IEC reduced the supply of electricity to the West Bank due to the PA electricity debt. There were subsequent power outages in many cities of the West Bank, most notably Jenin and Nablus. The IEC threatened to do the same in West Bank cities until the PA debt was settled.

According to the IEC agreement, the PA will pay immediately about 570 million Israeli shekels (roughly $151 million) in one payment. About 500 million shekels ($133 million) will be waived. The rest (about 1 billion shekels) will be paid over 48 months. Mohammed Makadmeh, the general manager of media and international organizations in the General Authority for Civil Affairs, told Al-Monitor that the agreement was signed in the presence of representatives of the Israeli ministries of Finance and Defense and the Palestinian ministries of Civil Affairs and Finance.

However, Makadmeh pointed out, "These understandings have no guarantee and Israel can disavow them based on the 'logic' of power and defiance of international and humanitarian law.

He added, If and when we pay the full electricity bill, then Israel would stop deducting money from the taxes imposed on goods destined for the PA territories to settle the electricity debt."

Israel also agreed to activate 3G service in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with no strings attached, according to Makadmeh, and to allow Wataniya Mobile to operate in Gaza based on a previous agreement.

Wataniya Mobile Palestine is owned in part by the Palestinian Investment Fund. It launched its services in November 2009 in the West Bank, but has been unable to operate in the Gaza Strip because Israel said it failed to get permission from the proper authorities and to get the required frequencies. Although the company imported all the necessary equipment in 2013 for the operation of its network in Gaza and paid the Israeli custom fees, it has yet to get Israeli approval to introduce the equipment into Gaza. The equipment is currently in the company's warehouses in the West Bank.

Samir Abu Mudallalah, an economics professor at Al-Azhar University, told Al-Monitor about what he views as problems with the overall agreement.

The electricity agreement does not offer anything new to the PA and it will only lead to deepening the economic dependence on Israel and tying up the Palestinian economy. As this agreement increases Israels control over the Palestinian economy, it seems inconsistent with the previous decisions announced by Abu Mazen [President Mahmoud Abbas] in his speech before the United Nations on Sept. 27, 2015, which calls for economic disengagement from Israel and reconsidering the economic relations with Israel, as stipulated by the Paris Convention.

He added, There are no Israeli guarantees that the agreement will be applied, and it will not be long before Israel disavows it, as it has a political, economic and security agenda that cannot be affected  especially if the agreement proves to be contrary to its interests."

Mudallalah did note the importance of allowing Wataniya Mobile to operate in Gaza, which would break Jawwal's current monopoly, and of activating 3G service in the territories, which currently have only a 2G network.

He also stressed the need for an agreement with the Hamas government in Gaza in this regard and the need for the two sides to seek to relieve the Palestinian citizen.

Jawwal has been the only company operating in the Gaza Strip since 1997, and it is making huge profits because it has no competition. In the West Bank, Jawwal competes with Wataniya Mobile.

Haitham al-Shawa, the director general of Gaza operations for Wataniya Mobile, who was appointed to monitor the companys work in the event of Israeli approval, told Al-Monitor, We have been notified by the Palestinian side about Israels agreement to allow the entry of the necessary equipment in order for Wataniya Mobile to start operating in Gaza as per the above agreement. We are waiting for more details in this regard, especially about new understandings with Israel regarding the 3G service. Israel had suggested in 2014 having the 3G service in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip running through an Israeli intermediary, which the PA rejected for affecting its sovereignty.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Gaza ratified in February 2013 the granting of a license to Wataniya Mobile to operate in Gaza, and the company again was ready to import $15 million worth of equipment, but Israel refused to allow its entry for political and security reasons, which delayed it from operating in Gaza until today.

Al-Monitor tried to obtain a statement from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Gaza about this agreement, but the ministry said it is not a party to these understandings and did not receive any details about them. The ministry added that it does not mind the Wataniya company working in the Gaza Strip so long as it has obtained the required license and paid the required sum to the [Hamas] government, because this serves the public interest and leads to honest competition in the field of telecommunication.

As with previous agreements, and in the absence of sufficient guarantees, this agreement awaits implementation in the hopes that it will not be delayed by any Israeli political and security measures.
September 26, 2016

Turkish contractors abroad were very happy with the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations following the apology letter President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The collapse of the Justice and Development Party governments foreign policy ambitions of neo-Ottomanism, Islamic world leadership, regional leadership, and so forth have cost Turkey enormously in many fields. The escalating terror in the country and Turkeys growing global isolation caused problems for all sectors of the economy.

While there have been huge losses in tourism and exports, Turkish contractors abroad who used to earn $20 billion-$30 billion in foreign currency annually are now in a serious slump.

Engineering News Record, which is an influential publication of the global contracting sector, publishes an annual list of the worlds largest 250 contractor firms. For many years, Turkish contractors have been No. 2 behind the leader, China. The publications recently published 2015 list says China leads the field with 65 companies and Turkey is second with 40.

Although their overall standing in the world listing has not changed, the data released by the Turkish Contractors Union (TMB) and the Ministry of Economy signal a serious drop in tenders won. According to an assessment released by the TMB in August, the sector has suffered heavily from political tensions, increasing terror incidents, the plane crisis with Russia, an almost total rupture of relations with Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Libya, and of course, from the ramifications of the July 15 attempted coup. In 2015, Turkish contractors abroad had a revenue of $22.4 billion, which crashed to $2.8 billion in the first half of 2016.

Although the renewed access to the Russian market is a positive development, even if new contracts are signed, the total revenue for the year will be around $6 billion-$7 billion.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Economy on contractual services abroad in 2016, there will be a decline of $16 billion as compared with 2015, which means regressing to the $6.4 billion level of 2003.

Revenue from contractual services rendered abroad exceeded $10 billion for the first time in 2005; after 2006, it did not go below $20 billion annually and passed $30 billion in 2013. The current regression is one of the worst losses for companies in that sector and in the Turkish economy as a whole.

Turkish contractors abroad not only earned $20 billion-$30 billion in foreign currency, but also provided employment to tens of thousands of Turkish engineers and workers. Moreover, they contributed significantly to Turkeys exports with their purchases of cement, paint, glass, ceramic and hundreds of other construction supplies for their projects. In 2015, in addition to $22.4 billion revenue from contracting services, another $18 billion was earned from construction supplies exported from Turkey.

But with misguided foreign policies Turkey has been losing lucrative markets abroad. In 2011, when the Libyan uprising began, there were 200 Turkish companies and more than 25,000 Turkish workers in that country. Thanks to foreign policies of then-Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkish companies and workers were expelled from Libya. Their worksites, machineries and supplies were all looted or set afire.

TMB board Chairman Mithat Yenigun said $19 billion worth of projects by Turkish companies in Libya are at a standstill, and their only hope is for the new Libyan government to impose its rule over the entire country, improve ties with Turkey and reopen the Libyan market to Turkish contractors.

Yasar Ozkan, the board chairman of Yasar Ozkan Engineering & Contracting Company, which is one of the oldest and most-established Turkish contractor firms in Libya, said wrong foreign policies have cost the sector heavily. For the past five years, we have not been able to collect even a single dollar of the money we are owed in Libya. We have lost many other foreign markets as well. It has been very tough to get new contracts and re-enter these markets, he told Al-Monitor.

In Iraq, Turkish companies that were prominent in the market have been sidelined because of Ankaras pro-Sunni policies and the problems they had with the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki banned Turkish companies from submitting bids in public tenders. Haider al-Abadi, the current prime minister, is also following the same line, and after the crisis over the Bashiqa base, restrictions imposed on Turkish companies and products have stiffened. Yenigun said, Turkish contractors abroad had contracts of $325 billion from 1972 to 2016. Iraq was 7.3% of that, but we have lost that.

According to the TMB, the best markets for Turkish contractors were Russia with 19.7%, Turkmenistan with 14.7%, Libya with 8.9%, Iraq with 7.2% and Kazakhstan with 6.4%. The number of projects won has dwindled to 45 from a previous peak of 600 annually. The new list of markets is led by the United Arab Emirates, followed by Bahrain, Morocco, Senegal and Nigeria. But the average project budget went down to $60 million from the earlier average of $100 million.

Yenigun said the sector is delighted with normalization of ties with Russia with about $2 billion worth of projects already won by Turkish contractors, but not yet signed by Russia.

Now the TMB and the Ministry of Economy are searching new markets for the sector, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This may explain Erdogans visits to Africa in which he was accompanied by businessmen, exporters and contractors.

Nevertheless, even if new markets are found in Africa and elsewhere, it appears unrealistic to expect the sector to regain its former status and come close to the $100 billion goal the government has set for Turkey's international construction services to earn in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
September 27, 2016

If all were going well with Operation Euphrates Shield, launched by sending Free Syrian Army (FSA) units into Syria backed by Turkish armor, Hurriyet would not have run the Sept. 21 headline Infantry to Syria. The infantry the daily was referring to is not that consisting of Arabs, Turkmens, Islamists and even jihadis fighting in Euphrates Shield. No, it refers to Turkish army infantry, which has not seen combat in Syria.

According to Hurriyet, to wrest al-Bab, some 18 miles from the Turkish border, from the Islamic State (IS), combat infantry forces from the Turkish army will enter Syria along with special forces and armored units. An unidentified senior official was quoted as telling the newspaper that a more comprehensive force would be needed to reach al-Bab. To get to al-Bab, however, Dabik, about 12 miles from the Turkish border, first has to be captured. Intelligence has warned that this will not be as easy as capturing Jarablus, which IS had abandoned. There are trenches around Dabik along with landmines, improvised explosive devices and the danger of anti-tank missiles.

Hurriyet revealed at the end of its report why Operation Euphrates Shield cannot continue without Turkish infantry: IS has recaptured scores of Turkmen villages south of Jarablus from FSA militias. IS owes this success in part to the withdrawal of the 600-strong Suqour al-Jabal group, which refused the support of US Special Forces.

From the outset, there were doubts about whether Euphrates Shield could be sustained without the involvement of Turkish ground troops. It was not difficult to foresee that the biggest weakness was the inadequacy of the motley crew of jihadis assembled under the FSA banner. To make up for this deficiency, the Turkish army will have to deploy increasing numbers of troops to advance southward in Syria and thus into the quagmire. It was obvious after capturing villages with the support of Turkish tanks that the FSA would not be able to hold them.

Defense Minister Fikri Isik commented on the Hurriyet report, saying, Turkey will pursue this operation until its security is ensured. If there is a need to go to al-Bab, we will go. Our planning for now is to carry out this operation with FSA elements.  For today, we have no plans to join such an operation with our infantry.

Yes, Isik is saying that Turkey will march to al-Bab if needed, but the words that should be underlined in his comments are for today. If it is correct to assume that Ankara will not attempt to capture Dabik and al-Bab using only FSA forces, should the ministers statement be interpreted as there are no plans today to expand Operation Euphrates Shield toward these two targets? The logical and reasonable answer to that question is, Yes, there are no plans to expand.

Plans, however, almost never survive the dust of the battlefield, and commanders usually have to revise their plans according to developments on the ground. This is why Isik spoke cautiously. Turkish newspapers had interesting information and comments of Sept. 23 about the realities on the ground. For example, Cumhuriyet reported that IS had counterattacked and recaptured seven villages from the FSA around al-Rai. The same day, a report by Yeni Safak, which is close to the government, was enough to lead one to think that Euphrates Shield was not going well; never mind going south to Dabik and al-Bab, Turkish infantry may well be needed to hold the Azaz-Jarablus line along the border. Yeni Safak headlined its report The US Game at al-Bab. An extended quote from this extremely interesting report is appropriate here:

"Operation Euphrates Shield, which was progressing rapidly, has slowed with the appearance of Americans in the field. Sabotage by some groups supported by the Pentagon that oppose the FSA and the withdrawal from the battlefield of some opposition groups that dont want to cooperate with the Americans have benefited Daesh [IS]. Daesh, which recaptured seven villages two days ago, last night retook five more villages from the opposition groups.  The problems faced by Turkey-supported opposition groups that initially dispatched the PYD [People's Protection Units] from south of Jarablus and then Daesh from the west have become an opportunity for the Syrian PKK [meaning the PYD]. Now there are allegations that the United States, in addition to planting sedition to disrupt the harmony of Euphrates Shield, is supplying Daesh with intelligence about the opposition groups and planning to send the PYD to al-Bab, which is being targeted by Turkey."

Yeni Safak holding the United States responsible for the failures of Operation Euphrates Shield is another issue. What should be noted here is that it is pro-government media that are reporting that Euphrates Shield, with the element of having the FSA as its designated major infantry force, has lost momentum.

Rockets Hit Kilis Again was another report in the same edition of Yeni Safak. It noted that IS had fired two Katyusha rockets at the border town of Kilis, where Syrian refugees now outnumber local residents, wounding nine people, seven of them Syrians. The IS rockets are a clear signal that the FSA forces, now said to number only about 1,800, cannot even contribute to border security, so forget about capturing Dabik or al-Bab.

Ankara now has two options: One is to deploy Turkish infantry forces along the border between Azaz-Jarablus and defend the country against IS. The other is to attack al-Bab with its own infantry. The second option will of course mean amplified military risks, threats, uncertainties and losses. On top of that, Turkey will be accused of being an occupier, with all the diplomatic problems that entails.

In both cases, Turkey would be putting boots on the ground next door. Ankara must now be discussing how deep the Turkish infantry will plunge into Syria.
September 27, 2016

Flying back from New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly's annual meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on his plane that Turkey would participate in a US-led operation against the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Raqqa, provided Syrian Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) are not involved in it.

His remarks revealed once again that stopping advances in Syria by the YPG  whose fighters form the bulk of the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)  remains Ankaras main priority.

Erdogan nevertheless continues to row against the current with regard to the YPG and its mother organization, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), both of which Ankara says are terrorist groups linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Washington has consistently refused to accept Turkeys position, making it clear that it considers the YPG to be its ally in Syria and the most viable force against IS. Much to Ankaras annoyance, the United States is also continuing to arm the YPG as preparations to liberate Raqqa gather steam.

Erdogans remarks show once again that Ankaras Syria policy is still based on unrealistic conditions that have left Turkey largely isolated as it tries to cope with negative fallout from this crisis. Insisting fruitlessly for a long time that toppling Bashar al-Assad  and not fighting IS  should be the main focus, Ankara ended up by painting itself into a corner that it is still trying to get out of.

Turkeys conditional approach to Syria, which is now revealing itself over the question of the Syrian Kurds, remains the main obstacle preventing it from working much more closely and effectively with its NATO allies under a viable strategy.

Our foreign minister and other officials are discussing Raqqa [with the United States]. But it is not possible to say anything at this stage because we cant see the US position clearly yet, Erdogan told reporters en route from New York over the weekend.

Of course, if the United States wants to do the Raqqa operation with the PYD and YPG, we as Turkey will not take part in this operation. But if they exclude the PYD and YPG from this affair, then of course we can join this struggle together with the United States, Erdogan added.

According to Abdulkadir Selvi, a columnist for the daily Hurriyet who was on Erdogans plane, Ankara is proposing that Turkish-supported fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which Turkish officials maintain is around 65,000 strong now, should replace YPG fighters, and that Turkish jets should fly alongside US jets to free Raqqa.

The FSA, however, has not proved itself to be a viable replacement for the YPG. Its speedy liberation of the town of Jarablus with Turkish military support, after Turkish forces entered Syria on Aug. 24, and rapid advances along the Turkish border had more to do with the withdrawal of IS from the region to the town of al-Bab than with the military successes of the FSA.

Analysts also say that the rapid advance in the region by Turkish forces and the FSA would not have been possible if the United States had not provided air support, and had Russia not decided to allow this to happen, because Washington and Moscow also wanted the Turkish border region to be cleared of IS.

Erdogan says Turkeys next target is al-Bab, another IS stronghold south of Jarablus that the YPG is also trying to get to before Turkey and the FSA. Military analysts, however, indicate that liberating al-Bab will require serious fighting that the FSA is not capable of doing on its own.

This is why Ankara is seeking US support for this operation, but appears not to have secured it yet. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has made it clear that they do not want to see Turkish forces and the FSA moving south toward al-Bab.

Washington suspects that Turkeys intentions here have more to do with blocking the YPG than fighting IS. Ankara, for its part, is aware that it cant take al-Bab on its own without heavy losses. Tellingly, Selvi also reported that Ankara is in no hurry to move on al-Bab.

Washington and other members of the US-led coalition are also cool toward Turkeys participation in the operation to liberate Raqqa. Turkeys recent rapprochement with Russia does not provide Ankara with any advantages on this score either.

Moscow is also not keen to see Turkish forces and the FSA advancing farther south in Syria, especially toward Aleppo, which Russian and Syrian jets have started bombing relentlessly again.

Retired Turkish Ambassador Ali Tuygan, a former Foreign Ministry undersecretary, believes Turkey is caught again without a clear strategy in Syria. It is not clear what its plans are and how it hopes to achieve these, Tuygan told Al-Monitor.

Pointing out that Turkey did not have a PYD problem five years ago, Tuygan said Ankaras main problem was to convince the United States and Russia about its intentions in Syria. It says it is fighting IS but it is not clear how it will do this. There are limits to what it can do by itself. It does not have a magic wand with which it can realize its aims, Tuygan said.

Retired Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, whose former posts include Washington and who has also served as Foreign Ministry undersecretary, is also unclear about Ankaras aims.

When Turkey first went into Syria, its declared target was to clear the border region from IS. This was understandable. Its operation also prevented the PYD from establishing a Kurdish corridor along the Turkish border, Logoglu told Al-Monitor.

It is uncertain, however, what it aims to achieve when it says it will move farther south by 45 kilometers [28 miles]. Is its intention to prevent the PYD or to establish a safe zone? And if it moves south, how does it hope to hold on to territory there, even with 100 tanks, given that this is an asymmetric war, Logoglu asked.

Logoglu also expects Turkey to meet opposition from the United States, Russia and Iran if it insists on pushing southward. We are dealing with an open-ended situation that is fraught with many risks, Logoglu said.

Meanwhile, the call by US Secretary of State John Kerry at the United Nations last week for what amounts to a no-fly zone in key areas of Syria in order to de-escalate the fighting and facilitate aid to beleaguered civilians was latched on to by government circles in Ankara. They said this showed that Washington is coming around to Turkeys position on Syria.

Turkey has been demanding a safe zone in Syria for civilians and as protection from regime aircraft. It was quick to maintain a we told you so attitude after Kerrys suggestion, but there is little in this suggestion that Ankara can rely on, since the Assad regime and Russia are likely to reject it.
September 26, 2016

A young Turkish woman, Aysegul Terzi, was attacked by a man on an Istanbul public bus earlier this month for wearing shorts. According to security camera footage and witness accounts, the man, identified as Abdullah Cakiroglu, shouted, Why are you going about in shorts! He then told the 23-year-old nurse, You are the Satan, and kicked her violently in the face. Terzi says the other passengers remained silent and the driver dumped her at the first stop. She went first to the hospital, and then filed a complaint with the prosecutors office. The alleged assailant was caught and booked for actual bodily harm before walking free. He was soon re-arrested, but only after widespread outcry over his release.

Thus far, the story is almost ordinary for Turkey, where Terzi is neither the first nor the last woman to be attacked for what she wears or says, or simply for being present at a particular place. Scores of women before her have faced similar treatment, and only a few days later a woman was punched in the face by two men in Izmir after rejecting their advances, which, according to reports, were emboldened by her low-cut dress.

The assault on Terzi, however, sparked vocal indignation and protests. Since the Sept. 12 incident, women in various cities have taken to the streets, wearing shorts to assert their freedoms. Some have hung shorts and miniskirts on campus walls, others have shared pictures of themselves wearing shorts on social media. Though temperatures fell notably last week, the protests continued, with one bringing both women and men together in downtown Istanbul over the weekend. All were meant to give one message: Dont meddle in my lifestyle!

Senal Sarihan, a deputy for the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and a supporter of the protests, believes the outcry is only the beginning of a backlash against what she sees as a long-standing drive to impose conservative values on society. A certain mentality has become prevalent in Turkey, trying to darken all realms of life. An attempt is underway to impose a single lifestyle in accordance with the religious beliefs of one segment of society, to create a single type of people, she told Al-Monitor. And the recent incidents have now sent women up in arms. This in fact is only the beginning of the backlash.

Sarihan sees the protests not only as a response to the attack on Terzi, but as a wholesale rejection of discriminatory policies imposed on women. And she has good reasons to believe so. The ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) political rhetoric about women has become increasingly perturbing over the years. The tone was set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who argues that women and men cannot be equal and that women who reject motherhood are "deficient and incomplete." In other memorable statements, former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc admonished women against laughing in public, while Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said motherhood is the only career for women.

In sum, the government has adopted a political rhetoric that ostracizes women who reject the social roles imposed on them and even questions their womanhood. And the women who have taken to the streets today believe that this rhetoric translates into physical attacks and a growing danger to their safety in the streets.

Feeling the heat, the AKP took two important steps in a bid to dispel the apprehension. First, Terzis alleged assailant was put in prison pending trial, and then the government announced a plan for legal amendments to toughen sanctions for such attacks. According to media reports, the Justice Ministrys draft bill puts actual bodily harm into the scope of offenses for which the offender can be kept in pretrial detention. If this is really all the ministry plans to do, the government seems to be struggling to grasp the core of the matter.

During his interrogation, Terzis alleged assailant said he was provoked by the sight of a woman clad in shorts, adding he would have been provoked less if she had worn pants. So he basically says he would not have attacked if the woman had kept her legs covered, or alternatively if the person in shorts was a man, which means the offense here is not a simple case of bodily harm.

Kerem Altiparmak, a scholar of law at Ankara University, says the attack was no less than a hate crime, stressing that a kick motivated by an intent to forcefully change the way others dress cannot be equated to a simple kick employed during a brawl. If the law makes no distinction between the two, It means it is not interested in preventing attacks over clothing styles, Altiparmak said in an online article. Citing the example of racist crimes, he wrote, Injuring someone with racist motives is different from [just] injuring someone. Hate crime penalties are meant to punish not only the physical harm but also the racism behind it.  Is Turkeys legal system truly interested in protecting the minoritys lifestyle against the pressures of the majority today? If it is, offenses committed over lifestyles should be considered hate crimes and subjected to tougher sanctions.

Sarihan, a lawyer by profession, agrees. This incident cannot be seen in the category of personal attacks, battery or ordinary brawls. Its in the scope of hate crimes, she said. The CHP lawmaker cast doubt on the AKPs amendment plan, playing it down as a move to assuage the public outcry and get the female demonstrators off the streets. Before the law, there is the issue of mentality that needs to undergo change, she added.

Hidayet Sefkatli Tuksal  a prominent theologian often referred to as an Islamic feminist  was herself the victim of Turkeys dress wars in the pre-AKP years when hijabi women were shut off from a number of public realms. She, too, backs the call for hate crime sanctions but, unlike the CHP deputy, believes the governments moves are important. The government is trying to prevent the spread of such incidents and make sure that others are not emboldened to follow suit, Tuksal told Al-Monitor, stressing that the planned amendment should be seen as a deterrent measure.

Women wearing shorts may be commonplace in coastal areas, but [elsewhere] this type of dress has been coded as improper in the conservative mind. The attitude of the Ministry of Family [and Social Policies] is very important, she said. The feminist demonstrations, I think, are also important. No one should have the audacity to pressure and punish women.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, meanwhile, argued that Terzis assailant was mentally unstable because, according to him, a normal person irked by a woman in shorts would have only murmured to himself and moved on. In this climate, the women who demonstrate in the streets and the politicians and columnists who back them have one question in common: Would the government have reacted in the same way if the kick had landed on the face of a woman who wore a headscarf rather than shorts?
September 26, 2016

Amid a rising death toll exceeding 10,000 and an outbreak of famine, the Yemeni civil war continues to rage. Almost four weeks after 3 months of peace talks in Kuwait broke down last month, Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir declared, What is certain, not questionable, certain, they [the Houthis] will not be allowed to take over Yemen. Period. Jubeir is quite realistic in asserting that the Houthis will fail to usurp control of the entire country, assuming that this is even their goal. However, it is unclear whether Riyadhs ongoing military campaign in Yemen can prevent the formation of a de facto Zaydi Houthi proto-state in northern Yemen.

Ansar Allah (the dominant Houthi militia) maintains its strong grip on Sanaa and other parts of Yemen despite 18 months of Riyadhs bombardments and blockades. By acquiring foreign flows of cash, forming alliances with other heavily armed actors in Yemen, devising collection services for war efforts, developing a black market for basic commodities and cooperating with a cartel of oil importers allied with Ansar Allah, Yemens Houthi rebels have consolidated gains on the ground since seizing the capital two years ago.

In retaliation for more aggressive Saudi bombing since last months peace talks fell apart, the Houthis and their allies have more forcefully taken their fight to their enemys soft underbelly by stepping up cross-border attacks and firing more missiles and rockets at southern Saudi Arabia, which Yemeni media reported led to a damaged Aramco facility.

Ultimately, the issue of Ansar Allahs arsenal of heavy weapons, which threaten the security of several Saudi cities, and the question of Houthi disarmament contributed to the breakdown of the latest round of peace talks.

Although the Houthis expressed their willingness in principle to disarm and respect a peace agreement, the opposing sides disagree on whether they must first resolve political or security issues. The Houthis and their allies in the Ali Abdullah Saleh loyalist camp have declared a governing council to oversee the disarming of Yemens various factions and the formation of a cohesive security apparatus. Representatives of Yemens internationally recognized government and its Saudi backers, however, reject this bodys legitimacy and cite UN Resolution 2216 as the basis for conflict resolution. The two sides have reached an impasse because this UN resolution stipulates that Ansar Allah disarm and allow President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis exiled government to return to Sanaa to oversee a political dialogue between the sides only 45 days after the Houthis withdraw from the capital and relinquish their weapons to a military committee formed by Hadis government. Neither the Houthis nor the Saudis and their allies in Yemen have indicated any willingness to compromise.

Having launched their armed rebellion in 2004, the Houthis perceive Riyadhs proposed plan as too risky for their hard-fought gains on the ground. Unquestionably, if the Houthis were to disarm, Ansar Allah would be in a weaker position should any transition process collapse with renewed Saudi-led military strikes against Houthi targets. Put simply, the Houthis ballistic missiles represent valuable bargaining chips that pressure Riyadh to recognize and make concessions to the rebel movements demands. Until/unless the Hadi government and Riyadh make such concessions, the Houthis will rely on their heavy weapons to reinforce their message that Ansar Allah remains a national security threat to Saudi Arabia.

As cross-border attacks continue and rockets and missiles keep being fired into the kingdom, Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of culpability. Amid doubts that the Houthis and their allies in Yemen have the technology to indigenously develop and maintain such ballistic missiles, some experts have argued that the Iranian and Syrian regimes and Hezbollah likely provided these weapons. Last months reports of Iran's deploying a liberation army to Yemen and a Houthi delegation's meeting with Iraqs foreign minister in Baghdad have not eased Riyadhs concerns about Yemens position in the Saudi-Iranian geosectarian competition.

Playing the Iran card is useful for securing Riyadhs arms deals with the United States. Perceiving the Houthis as an Iranian proxy, 71 US Senators voted earlier this month to shelve a resolution to block a $1.15 billion arms sale to Riyadh amid growing concerns among some American lawmakers about the Saudi role in Yemen.

In Jeddah last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry pushed for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, calling for a dual-track approach to disarm the factions while simultaneously implementing a national unity government. Kerrys plan, which included concessions to the Houthis, angered some Saudis, and the secretary left the kingdom having only put forward a road map for peace but failing to pressure Riyadh into ceasing aerial bombardments. Within 24 hours after Kerry's departure, the Saudis stepped up their air campaign and Yemeni forces loyal to Hadi waged a new offensive against the Houthi rebels.

Washingtons backing for the Saudi campaign in Yemen (intelligence sharing, logistical support, etc.) came when the Obama administration sought to assuage wary Arab Gulf leaders concerns about possible US abandonment of its Gulf Cooperation Council allies for a rapprochement with Iran. Nonetheless, Riyadhs military campaign in Yemen has unsettled US officials. From Washingtons vantage point, Saudi bombardments and blockades have clearly failed to achieve Riyadhs objectives while only offering extremists opportunities to usurp power within the fog of a civil war. At the heart of Washington and Riyadhs differences on Yemen are their two contrasting threat perceptions. For Saudi Arabia, Iranian influence via the Houthis poses the gravest menace to the kingdoms security. For the United States, however, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda represent the most serious threat out of Yemen.

According to Matthew Tueller, Washingtons ambassador to Yemen, "There is no military solution in Yemen, but a political one." Yet as the Saudis view Ansar Allah as Tehrans proxy, Kerrys proposed concessions to the Houthis are dangerous and misguided in the eyes of Riyadh officials, particularly as the rebels step up attacks against the kingdom. Despite Kerrys efforts to pressure Saudi Arabia to approach Yemen more diplomatically, Washington has unquestionably enabled Riyadhs military campaign against the Houthis, highlighted by the fact that the US has sold $115 billion in arms to the kingdom under Obamas watch (more than any other US administration).

On Sept. 25, a rare glimmer of hope came out of Yemen. A high-ranking Houthi figure offered Riyadh a cessation in attacks against the kingdom and an amnesty for anti-Houthi fighters in exchange for Saudi Arabia to stop its bombing and to lift its crippling blockade on Yemen. Although this falls short of the Hadi governments demands for peace as it excluded anything regarding the Houthis arsenal, officials in Washington should react to the offer by pressuring their counterparts in Riyadh to seize on the opportunity to reach a deal with the Houthis that respects all sides dignity.

Americas next president must recognize how a diplomatic resolution to Yemens crisis serves long-term US interests. Effectively countering the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Yemen requires a unified state to work with as a partner. To achieve this end, Washington must urge all sides in the Yemeni civil war, including the Saudis, to budge from their rigid positions and make necessary compromises.

However, without blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia, it is unclear what Washington can do to pressure Riyadh into ceasing its bombing. It is also questionable whether the Houthis and Saleh loyalists will view the US as a legitimate peace broker given Washingtons tacit, albeit crucial, support for Riyadhs campaign in Yemen. Finally, as the US military is engaged in operations against the Islamic State in Libya, Iraq and Syria, it remains to be seen how much attention Obamas successor will pay to Yemen.
port

Containers at the Mobile port. The port saw record container arrivals the last two months, but the number of ships arriving is down. (Christopher Harress/charress@al.com)

Here are the top stories in Alabama business for Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Follow all of Alabama's business news here anytime.

While the State Port Authority says the last two months had been record months for the Port of Alabama in regard to shipping containers coming into the port, the most recent federal statistics show a significant decrease in container ships calling into the port, going from 200 in 2014 to 156 in 2015.

State and local leaders will gather Tuesday for an economic development announcement in the Tanner area. The governor's office says it involves HDT Expeditionary Systems, which produces state-of-the-art shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices, robotics and other technologies for the military, civilian government and commercial industries.

For outsiders, the question isn't necessarily which of two runoff candidates will win the fight next week to be the next mayor of Prichard. For outsiders, the question might be, why is anyone fighting to be the next mayor of Prichard?

A subsidiary of Del Monte Foods is recalling about 15,000 cases of canned vegetables because they could be contaminated with shellfish. Alabama is affected.
HDT Expeditionary Systems will create more than 120 jobs when it transfers manufacturing operations from Buena Vista, Va., to a new facility in Huntsville-annexed Limestone County.

Gov. Robert Bentley, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, the Chamber of Commerce and other leaders gathered this morning on 5951 Endeavor Way to make the announcement involving HDT, which produces state-of-the-art shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices, robotics and other technologies for the military, civilian government and commercial industries.

In addition to DRASH (Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter) shelters, the expanded Alabama facility will make the company's AirBeam and Base-X models. Bentley said the mobile command units HDT produces in Huntsville will assist soldiers in critical missions around the world.

"I'm so proud of the fact that companies choose Alabama, but they choose Alabama for a reason, and as I've already said, they choose it because of the workforce and the workforce training that we have," he said.

The "Project POP" agreement provides an additional 206,500 square feet of manufacturing space to HDT's capacity in SouthPoint Business Park. Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the 123 new full-time jobs will be added to an existing roster of 82 for a total of 205.

The average wage will be $23.54 per hour with a capital expenditure of $4.2 million for the expansion. Canfield said the state has offered AIDT recruitment and training valued at $1,042,350 and a Jobs Credit at 3 percent on the new employment payroll at a value of $1,557,130 over 10 years.

HDT also will receive an estimated abatement of $30,000 for state, county and city sales and use tax to equip the project, as well as an abatement of $179,000 over 10 years for state, county and city property taxes.

Battle said the deal is a partnership between the City of Huntsville, state, Limestone County Commission and local community.

"It takes all of us putting this project together to make sure that we have the infrastructure that we can service this, that we have the road system, that we have the sewer, that we have everything that is necessary to have development," he said. "Further, it's a partnership between a company and a city and a community."

HDT, which recently welcomed Sean Bond as its new CEO and president, acquired the business and assets of DHS Technologies last year. Bond said the new Huntsville facility will increase production capacity, cut overhead costs and streamline related production processes into one geographic area.

"The decision to move our shelter manufacturing facility was thoughtfully made," Bond said. "Ultimately, this transition is best for the benefit of the warfighter and the benefit of our organization. The impact will be increased competitiveness and value in our operations, and the opportunity for HDT to grow in a highly competitive global market. We expect HDT Huntsville to become the premier military production facility across all of Northern Alabama."

It is unclear at this time how many Virginia workers will transfer to Alabama. HDT spokesperson Robin Stefanovich said they are currently hiring through AIDT and HDTglobal.com for a variety of positions, ranging from manufacturing and production to engineering and management.

HDT also announced the planned opening of its new built-for-purpose HDT Battle Lab and Advanced Development (BLADE) Center in Spotsylvania, Va. The Ohio company said the BLADE Center will feature over three acres of secured proving grounds for product development, demonstrations, and training.

"HDT's expansion in the Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg area is very exciting," said Dr. Carl Pates, senior vice president of engineering for HDT. "Our new facility will become the incubator for integrating emerging technologies into new product lines and rapidly prototyping new solutions to address urgent and future customer needs."
Birmingham public radio station WBHM 90.3 FM this morning announced that it is adding three new shows to its programming lineup but discontinuing several others, including the long-running favorites "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Car Talk."

The new schedule takes effect this Saturday, Oct. 1, when the live music show "Mountain Stage" airs at 5 p.m. in place of "A Prairie Home Companion."

The other new shows are the Peabody Award-winning investigative journalism series "Reveal," which will air Sundays at 3 p.m., and the NPR storytelling series "Snap Judgment," which will air Fridays at 7 p.m.

Also, WBHM will rebroadcast "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross at 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and will carry an extra hour of "Weekend Edition," which will air Saturdays and Sundays from 7 to 10 a.m. The station will also add an extra hour of jazz music starting at 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and starting at 7 p.m. Saturdays.

"We are excited about bringing our listeners these new, fresh, and relevant programs as well as extending the reach of some of the programs that are already well-loved," WBHM program director Michael Krall said in a statement.

"We encourage you to listen and are confident that you will find the programming to be substantive, enlightening, and entertaining -- exactly the sort of quality public radio programming you have come to expect from WBHM."

In addition to "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Car Talk," WBHM will no longer carry "World Cafe," "Conversations from The World Cafe" and "Marketplace."

Krall told AL.com in an interview that the decision to not bring back "A Prairie Home Companion" was based largely on the fact that the show will undergo some significant changes when new host Chris Thile takes over for the iconic Garrison Keillor, who retired earlier this year after more than 40 years writing and hosting the show. It is also one of WBHM's most expensive shows.

"The program is going to evolve," Krall told AL.com. "We like Chris Thile, but it's not going to be 'A Prairie Home Companion' as our listeners have known it."

Since the death of "Car Talk" co-host Tom Magliozzi in 2014, WHBM has carried NPR's "The Best of Car Talk," so no new episodes have aired in those two years, Krall said. And because NPR will no longer produce "The Best of Car Talk" after September 2017, WBHM decided to go ahead and discontinue the show now, Krall said.

"'Car Talk' is going away; NPR is going to discontinue it a year from now," he said. "As much as it is a Saturday morning favorite, we just felt it was the right time to make that decision."

Regarding the cancellation of the music programs "World Cafe" and "Conversations from The World Cafe," Krall said that similar Americana and roots-rock music is now available on local station Birmingham Mountain Radio, which started as an internet-only station before it became available over the air three years ago.

"The radio market is different now," Krall said. "We've got Birmingham Mountain Radio doing that kind of music now."

Also, Krall said the decision to cancel "Marketplace" was largely a financial one.

"With our discontinuation of 'A Prairie Home Companion,' 'Marketplace' was the only remaining program from American Public Media (APM)," Krall said in a Q-and-A that WBHM prepared for its listeners. "APM, as well as some other program providers, require stations to pay affiliation fees -- a significant charge required for stations to then purchase the shows individually. Were we to retain 'Marketplace,' it would've become one of the most expensive programs we carry."

Here, courtesy of WBHM, are the descriptions of the new shows that the station will begin carrying:

"Mountain Stage." Hosted by Larry Groce in front of a live audience, each two-hour episode features established stars and emerging artists in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country to indie rock, pop, world music and alternative. Listen to excerpts here.

"Reveal." An investigative journalism series that won a 2014 Peabody Award for an original investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs' role in over-prescribing opioid drugs to returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. The story put pressure on the VA and, as a result, the federal agency has reformed some of its most egregious prescription practices. Al Letson is the host. Listen to a recent episode here.

"Snap Judgment." A storytelling show created by Glynn Washington that "delivers a raw, intimate, musical brand of narrative -- daring audiences to see the world through the eyes of another." The program mixes real stories with music to produce cinematic radio. Listen to a sample here.

To find out more about WBHM's programming changes and the station's reasons behind them, go to wbhm.org.

Below is a grid of the new programming schedule that goes into effect Oct. 1. The changes are highlighted in yellow. Click on the image to enlarge.
Supporters of a St. Clair County teen accused of soliciting support for a terrorist act are planning to gather Tuesday afternoon to show their support for him.

Peyton Pruitt, 19, was found not guilty by reason of mental defect in a St. Clair County court on Sept. 8, but he remains in the county jail awaiting a mental evaluation.

The "I Am Peyton" Peaceful Protest Rally is planned to begin at 4 p.m. at the courthouse and feature several speakers. Pruitt has been the subject of an Internet petition calling for his release, as well as a profile in Esquire.

His father, Tony Pruitt, said the response has been "overwhelming."

"I had lost faith in our judicial system, but the reaction of people has been a breath of fresh air," he said. "I don't even know how to describe it. It's been so gratifying to see citizens want to come out and support Peyton."

Pruitt was arrested Nov. 13, 2015 and charged with soliciting support for a terrorist act.

At a December hearing, witnesses described Pruitt as a "child" - a teenager with an IQ in the 50s who cannot tie his own shoes, soils his clothes, has little verbal skills and lacks the ability to distinguish reality from fantasy.

A St. Clair County investigator testified last year that the FBI determined Pruitt used the Internet to communicate with what he believed were representatives of the Islamic State and the Pakistani Taliban, and that he told an FBI agent that he provided links to encrypted information on car bombs, pressure cooker bombs and suggested high value targets for acts of terrorism.

If found guilty, Pruitt could have faced 10 years in prison. A May mental evaluation found Pruitt has a mental defect and is "not a danger to himself or the community."

St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said Pruitt is still being held pending another mental evaluation by Taylor Hardin Secure Mental Facility. While Pruitt has been found not guilty because of his mental capacity, the state still has the responsibility to determine his disposition, whether in a facility or under supervised care, he said.
Trump paints a picture of an America that is not working during first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

Hempstead, US  For most of Monday people wondered which Donald Trump would turn up to the first presidential debate in New York.

Would it be the focused, disciplined candidate who has breathed new life into a faltering campaign?

Or would it be the free-range, scattergun businessman who blew his way through the Republican primary campaign?

In the end  it was a combination of them both. The real Donald Trump in fact.

His aim was clear from the start. He wanted to paint the picture of an America that wasnt working, that could be better and had the politicians to blame. Politicians like Hillary Clinton.

Typical politician. All talk. No action. Sounds good. Doesnt work. Never gonna happen, he said.

It was one moment in the 90-minute debate which summed up his entire line of attack, a line he knows resonates with many people across America who have spent the election turning against traditional candidates.



The Democratic challenger wanted to show America that her campaign wasnt just about tearing down Trump, but it was also about presenting her policies, a vision for making things better.

For a candidate who has often been described as cold and detached, she reminded the audience that this was her granddaughters birthday.

But she also took every opportunity to needle Trump and she succeeded in getting under his famously thin skin.

She criticised his business record. She questioned the size of his fortune and his charity giving. And she questioned some of the facts he has been using on the campaign trail.

Trump took the bait early on, often talking over his one-time friend. When she accused him of not actually paying any federal income tax, he didnt actually deny it. Instead he responded that makes me smart.

When she accused him of using the housing crisis in America to make money, he replied thats business; a tone deaf response to the millions who lost their homes.

When she accused him of claiming the Chinese invented the hoax of global warming to hit American industry, he denied he ever said any such a thing. And as he was answering, his campaign was busy deleting the tweet that said exactly that.

But then the fact checkers had a busy night. Trump, again and at length, denied he ever supported the Iraq War even though its a matter of public record that he gave tacit support in the days before the debate.

He disputed a claim from the moderator that a federal judge ruled the use of controversial stop-and-frisk laws in New York as unconstitutional. The judge did.

He also claimed murders in New York were up because the law had been scrapped. Theyre not.

Nothing on emails. Nothing on the corrupt Clinton Foundation. And nothing on #Benghazi. #Debates2016 #debatenight  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

Clinton, too, took an ambiguous position on the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership saying she hoped it would be a good trade deal, but when she read the full detail she was against it. In fact, she spoke out more than 40 times in favour of the deal with no strings attached to the final wording.

Clintons worst moment came as she had to apologise for her use of a private email server while secretary of state. Trump told her most Americans disliked her behaviour and that landed a blow.

Trumps was when he tried to defend his birther position, the idea that President Barack Obama wasnt born in the United States and so Americas first African American president didnt have a legitimate claim to the position. His answer was unfocused, meandering and just awful.

Immediately after the debate ended, the two campaigns hit the spin room to put the best possible gloss on their candidates performance.



A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his hands anywhere near the nuclear codes. #DebateNight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Yet as analyst Jason Johnson pointed out live on Al Jazeera, social media has made the spin room a slightly old-fashioned idea, with those double screening already delivering their verdict. The reality is if you were for Trump before the debate, you probably heard nothing to change that view  and the same is true for Clinton supporters.

There are two more debates to come.

It will be interesting to see if we again see the two Donald Trumps.
Refugees in the southeastern region of Niger say they no longer fear Boko Haram, but their problems are far from over.

Diffa, Niger  As Nigerian forces have progressed against Boko Haram, the cornered terror group has been carrying out more attacks in neighbouring countries. In Nigers Diffa region on the northeastern border of Nigeria, more than 280,000 people have been displaced.

Most of the displaced, do not live in refugee camps, but in ramshackle settlements next to a national highway. The situation continues to deteriorate and new families arrive on a daily basis, fleeing violence and hunger in the Lake Chad Basin. Humanitarian aid organisations struggle to reach everyone in need of assistance.

Only a few years ago, Diffa was mainly known as a trade region. Bordering Lake Chad and blessed with a relative fertile ground in this semi-desert environment. Fish and agricultural products such as millet, pepper and maize were widely available at local markets.

Since February 2015 however, the deadly Boko Haram incursions have drastically changed the lives of local residents.

The strict curfew, closing of markets and the suspension of trade has led to an economic downturn, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.

According to the United Nations, the people of Diffa are arguably the poorest on earth, living in the least developed region in the least developed country of the world. Meanwhile, one refugee for every four residents has arrived in their communities as a result of the conflict.

Perilous life along the road

Driving on the national highway towards Diffa town, beside the perilous border with Nigeria, dozens of makeshift camps appear along the tarmac road. The apparent safe haven for refugees is relative. Scores of suicide bombings by Boko Haram infiltrators on this route have left people on edge.

But, as most of the displaced are farmers and herders who remain strongly attached to their soil, they feel that moving further away from the volatile border area, towards existing refugee camps about 50 kilometres up north, is out of the question.

Many of them still return to visit their farmlands even in high-risk areas, because with the absence of ownership registration, they fear others might seize their property if it is not maintained.

Next to this road we have direct access to information, food and services. We all believe that eventually we will be able to return safely, and moving away from our land would mean losing it, explains Amadou, a Nigerien herder.

Some of the displaced received basic tents from humanitarian actors, but the vast majority built improvised shacks with whatever materials they could find: straw, tarpaulins or wooden twigs. Some of the recent arrivals still live in the open.

Village chief Andre laments the shortage in resources in Assaga settlement. We are not able to produce our own supplies, and what we receive from food distribution is barely enough: only 12kg of cereal per family per month. Many live on one meal a day.

Hawa, a young mother of five children, says she is struggling every morning to find enough food for her family. There is some foodstuff at local markets, but we have no money to buy it. Im no longer able to produce milk to breastfeed my infant due to lack of nourishment.

READ MORE: Muhammadu Buhari  I havent failed against Boko Haram

Of the 20 million people living in the Lake Chad Basin, a region stretched over Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun, at least 9.2 million are in urgent need of life-saving assistance and more than five million people are severely food insecure [PDF]. At least four million people have no access to aid, say humanitarian organisations.

According to UNICEF, an estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year. In the northeast of Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been seeking to carve out a hardline Islamist state since 2009, the military confirmed that three to four people a day are dying due to malnutrition. However, humanitarian organisations say this figure is probably much higher as many areas remain unreachable.

Lives in limbo

Attacks in Niger are usually directed towards military targets, but often they are accompanied by plundering of food supplies.

In June 2016, one of the deadliest assaults was carried out in Bosso town. Thirty-two soldiers were killed, while around 70,000 people were displaced. Many of the residents had already been evacuated a year earlier from islands on Lake Chad.

READ MORE: Chad  At War With Boko Haram

Ibrahim, a 45-year-old Nigerian, owned a small shop in Bosso. As he prepared for morning prayers one day, explosions and screaming reverberated through the village. He managed to escape with his two wives and nine children, after which they had to walk four days to find aid.

We arrived with nothing. Not even a piece of soap. All we can do now is wait. Hope for safety to return so we can head back to our village and lands, Ibrahim said.

Following the onslaught in Bosso, Chad sent troops to Niger to help the West African joint task force to wage a counterattack against Boko Haram, while the government of Niger has extended a state of emergency until October 2016. [PDF]

A crisis for children

With a median age of under 15, Niger has the worlds youngest population. This is decidedly visible in the populations of refugees and displaced, about 55 percent of whom are children.

More than 150,000 boys and girls barely have access to education because of limited schooling in the nearby villages, which are already overcrowded, and because of closures of many schools in insecure border areas, according to UNHCR.

In the makeshift encampments, children loiter around while the days pass by, making them vulnerable targets for the fighting groups. Since the start of the conflict, thousands of minors have been recruited, often by force, and used to carry out attacks. Nearly one in five suicide bombers is a child.

Providing them with a perspective for the future, with education, assistance and social services, is the best way to prevent recruitment, says Viviane Van Steirteghem, country representative for UNICEF in Niger.

Shortage of funds

Along with UNICEF, 30 other aid organisations operate in the area providing relief for the displaced, but they say they are underfunded and overstretched.

Given the scale of the crisis, UNICEF has revised funding requirements to $308m to provide life-saving assistance to families affected by Boko Haram violence across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. But the international donor community reacts slowly, as only 41 million, a mere 13 percent, has been received according to the UNICEF representative.

We are witnessing a unique global situation, with an unseen number of high-scale, long-lasting conflicts. Never before were so many people forced to flee their homes. With everything thats going on, there is a lack of attention of what the people around Lake Chad have to endure, Van Steirteghem explains.

Further delay in funding for emergency operations in Niger and by extension the Lake Chad Basin will contribute to a deepening of the crisis and steeper financial requirements later on.

Additional funding is needed to develop livelihoods for people in need, so that they can become self-reliant and once again a part of the economic development in the region, says Van Steirteghem.

This reportage was realised with the support of UNICEF, Postcode Lottery Fund and the Fund BJP.
As with Israel, the Assad regime engages in diplomacy as a fig leaf towards pacification, not peace.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assads audacity knows no bounds. Last week, in an interview with AP news agency, he denied that his forces were besieging rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

If there really is a siege around Aleppo, people would have been dead by now, said Assad, expecting us to believe not only that there is no siege, but that no one there has died. This despite regime and Russian air strikes killing hundreds of civilians within days of the latest ceasefire collapsing, in what the United Nations describes as the most intense bombing of the city in years.





Assad questioned how his regime could prevent food and medical aid from reaching that area. The answer is in UN statements blaming the regime for obstructing aid deliveries to Aleppo  a fundamental element of the ceasefire agreement  and in the UNs warning in July that the city is on the brink of starvation.

Denial of access

Besides denial of access, last weeks attack on UN aid lorries heading to rebel-held Aleppo  just hours after the regime proclaimed the end of the ceasefire, in an area where only Syrian and Russian warplanes operate, and which UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described as an apparently deliberate attack  led the UN to temporarily suspend all aid convoys.

OPINION: Russia overplays its hand in Syria

How could you accuse Syria of attacking hospitals? Assad asked. Easily and credibly. An Amnesty International investigation this year found that regime and Russian forces were deliberately attacking hospitals and other medical facilities as a strategy of war, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Such attacks were also highlighted by Human Rights Watch last month. In the last week of July alone, the regime bombed six hospitals in Aleppo.

In June, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) reported that since the start of the conflict, regime and allied forces were responsible for 90 percent of attacks on medical facilities (344 out of 382), and 93 percent of medical personal killings (703 out of 757).

PHR said the regimes assaults on Syrias hospitals, doctors, and patients are a clear violation of the universally recognised principle of medical neutrality.

Assad claimed that rebel-held parts of Aleppo have everything they need. Not water, Unicef said on Saturday, the results of which could be catastrophic.

Its deputy director said Aleppo is slowly dying, echoing the Red Crosss assessment in July that the situation is devastating and overwhelming, and the bombing is constant.

Denial is integral to the regime's war strategy. by

War strategy

Denial is integral to the regimes war strategy. Last year, Assad had the gall to tell the BBC that his forces did not use indiscriminate weapons, including barrel bombs, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

He also denied using chlorine gas, despite the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons reporting otherwise last month.

Never underestimate the power of denial. It is always easier and quicker to deny wrongdoing than to admit culpability or explain oneself. It stifles legitimate scrutiny in favour of a simplistic yes or no argument that is designed to confuse and deceive. This is what makes denial so appealing, and hence so prevalent in cases of injustice.

OPINION: A world of dark clouds and silver linings

Denial is the default setting of the pro-Assad propaganda machine, as with other oppressive regimes. There are striking similarities in this respect, for example, between the Syrian regime and Israel.

According to Assads apologists, there was no peaceful, popular uprising against decades of dictatorship and repression, no brutal crackdown, no war crimes or crimes against humanity, and no opposition to the regime except from terrorists.

To them, it was a violent, jihadist insurgency from the start, fuelled by foreign agitators, against a benevolent, misunderstood leader whose only fault was defying the West and Israel.

None of this is true, but propaganda does not have to be  it just has to be effective, and if lies are told often enough they are eventually believed, even by those telling them.

As such, one can wonder whether Assad  like other human rights abusers who surround themselves with yes people  has become so detached from reality that he really believes his warped narrative.

Danger of denial

The danger of denial is that it is based on delusion or deceit. It only makes matters worse, shutting down debate and making common ground impossible. Accusations by respected human rights organisations are met with counter-accusations that they are biased and part of an international conspiracy. Ironically, those counter-accusations are made by people who have cited those organisations on other issues.

Last week, Ban accused the regime of killing the most civilians in the conflict, echoing his former human rights chief Navi Pillay, and Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, head of the UN commission investigating war crimes in Syria. However, this will fall on the deaf ears of those who claim, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that the regime is defending Syrians.

Denial is fostered by impunity, in Israels case by its Western allies, and in Syrias by the regimes Eastern allies. As such, engaging in diplomacy with it is pointless, because a party drunk on its false self-righteousness feels no need to negotiate sincerely or concede anything significant.

That is why the regime has repeatedly violated every ceasefire, and insists that Assads fate  the crux of the conflict  is untouchable. It is why he has preceded both ceasefires this year with vows to retake the whole country, and followed their collapse with major onslaughts. As with Israel, the Assad regime engages in diplomacy as a fig leaf towards pacification, not peace.

Sharif Nashashibi is an award-winning journalist and analyst on Arab affairs.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Taliban claims responsibility for incident involving two colleagues assisting attackers in killing their comrades.

At least 12 Afghan soldiers have been killed at a checkpoint in a Taliban attack that was facilitated by two of the victims comrades in northern Kunduz province.

Mahmood Danish, the Kunduz governors spokesman, said on Tuesday the two soldiers helped the Taliban enter the base and then joined them in attacking their colleagues as they slept.

The incident occurred on the outskirts of Kunduz city just after midnight on Monday, Aziz Kamawal, a senior local police commander, told AFP news agency.

The two soldiers fled after killing 12 sleeping colleagues in the Zazhil Khoman area of Kunduz, he said.

Danish said a manhunt was on for the rogue soldiers.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. He said Taliban fighters overran the checkpoint, killing all the soldiers and seizing their weapons and ammunition.

READ MORE  Afghanistan: Who controls what

The outpost was among many forming a protective ring around Kunduz city, which was briefly captured by the Taliban a year ago  the first time the armed group seized a provincial capital since losing power in 2001 after the US-led invasion.

In recent months, the Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country against Afghan security forces.

Insider attacks have plagued both Afghan and international troops in the country, depleting morale and causing mistrust within security ranks.

Authorities estimate about 5,000 Afghan police and troops were killed in 2015  with an additional 15,000 wounded.

NATO, which helps to train and advise Afghan forces, warns the grim numbers are expected to increase this year.
Bongo takes oath of office despite criticism from the opposition and members of the international community.

Ali Bongo has been sworn in as Gabons president for a second seven-year term, three days after his election victory was controversially validated by the Constitutional Court following allegations of fraud.

I pledge to devote all my efforts for the good of the Gabonese people and to ensure their wellbeing  and respect and defend the constitution and the rule of law, the 57-year-old said during Tuesdays ceremony in the presidential palace in the capital Libreville , according to AFP news agency.

Cannons were fired during the event, which was attended by a handful of African leaders including the presidents of Mali, Niger, Togo and Sao Tome, as well as the prime ministers of Chad, Senegal, the Central African Republic and Morocco, AFP said. Most regional and continental heavyweights, however, stayed away.

Government spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze said Bongo wanted to install a unity government by this week or the start of next week.

Earlier on Tuesday, the presidency had said the ceremony was going to be held at the presidential palace, without offering details of who had been invited or the time of the event.

The lack of details regarding the ceremony prompted a wave of criticism from the opposition, which has accused Bongo of stealing the vote.

You dont get sworn in unceremoniously in secret, said Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, spokesman for Bongos main rival Jean Ping.

Bongos victory in the August 27 vote was confirmed on Saturday by the countrys top court, which dismissed opposition claims of voter fraud. Violence initially erupted on August 31 after Bongo, 57, was first declared the winner. Demonstrators set the parliament ablaze and clashed with police, who arrested more than 1,000 people.

Opposition figures say more than 50 people were killed, but authorities disputed that claim, saying that just a handful of people had died in the violence.

Ping, 73, who came in second in the vote, rejected the courts ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself president elect. A career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, he had filed a legal challenge after Bongo was declared the winner by a slender margin of fewer than 6,000 votes.

Ping had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, where 95 percent of voters in the Bongo family stronghold were reported to have cast their ballots for the president on a turnout of more than 99 percent.

The Constitutional Court upheld Bongos victory and put the winning margin higher at around 11,000 votes.

The African Union said it had taken note of the courts verdict, as did UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The European Union, which sent a monitoring mission to Gabon during the election, said in a statement on Saturday that its observers had been granted very limited access to the court review process, and that the Gabonese people had a legitimate right to question the integrity of the electoral process.

Responding to the criticism, Bongo told Al Jazeera he had little interest in the opinions of the international community.

The international community does not cast a vote here, Gabonese people do. So, I am accountable to them, Bongo said.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote (172,990 votes) and Ping 47.24 percent (161,287 votes).



Gabon: Libreville reels as clashes erupt over vote

Bongos family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil and mineral-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Bongo took over from his father, Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.

Cameroons President Paul Biya, who is 83 and has held office since 1982, wrote to Bongo on Monday voicing his warm congratulations and wishing him success in the accomplishment of [his] new mandate.

Senegals President Macky Sall also congratulated Bongo, as did Alassane Ouattara, president of Cote dIvoire.

In the delicate period which Gabon is going through, I want to express to you my full encouragement and hope passionately that dialogue and calm will predominate between all the parties, Ouattara wrote in a statement.
At least 15 killed and 55 others wounded in a wave of deadly bombings across Iraqi capital.

A series of bomb blasts has killed at least 15 people and wounded 55 others in Baghdad, according to police and medics.

In the first attack on Tuesday, a lone bomber detonated himself around a gathering of construction workers on a commercial street in the Jadida neighbourhood in the east of the city, a police official said.

At least eight people were killed and 29 wounded in Jadida, although some said the area was hit by a roadside bomb as well as a suicide bomber.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Another suicide bomber targeted the Bayaa area in south Baghdad, killing at least six people and wounding 26, officials said. There were conflicting accounts of the death toll, and officials said they were likely to rise.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the second suicide attack, but ISIL frequently carries out attacks in Shia areas of the city.

Tuesdays violence came two days after another suicide bombing killed six people in western Baghdad.

A day before that, 12 people were killed in the area of Tikrit, a city north of the capital.
US presidential candidates face-off over race, economy and foreign policy in first TV showdown ahead of Novembers vote.

US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have gone head-to-head over the issue of race, the economy and foreign policy in their first televised debate in the run-up to Novembers election.

Clinton accused her Republican rival of racism, sexism and tax avoidance, while Trump, a businessman making his first run for public office, repeatedly cast his opponent as a career politician and demanded that she should account for her time in government.

Clinton v Trump: How they said what they said

Mondays televised face-off was the most anticipated moment in the election campaign, with both sides expecting a record-setting audience for the showdown at Hofstra University in New York.





In one of the more heated exchanges, the two candidates attacked each other for the controversy Trump stoked for years over whether President Barack Obama was born in the US.

Obama, who was born in Hawaii, released a long form birth certificate in 2011 to put the issue to rest. Only earlier this month did Trump say publicly that he believed Obama was born in the US.

He [Trump] has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted. He persisted year after year, Clinton said.

Trump repeated his false accusation that Clintons failed 2008 presidential campaign against Obama had initiated the so-called birther issue.

Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it  I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job, Trump said.

The Republican also backed the controversial stop-and-frisk policing tactic as a way to bring down crime, while the Democrat said the policy was unconstitutional and ineffective.

Foreign policy

The stakes were high as the candidates headed into the debate tied in most national polls before the November 8 election.

The centrepiece of Trumps case against Clinton, a former senator and secretary of state, was that she was a typical politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international issues she is now pledging to tackle as president.

Shes got experience, he said, but its bad experience.

READ MORE: Do the US presidential debates matter?

When the debate moved to international affairs, Trump, who has faced accusations that he has a weak grasp of policy, accused his rival of sowing chaos in the Middle East during her tenure as secretary of state.

Its a total mess, under your direction, to a large extent, the Republican said.

But he appeared on shaky ground as he defended his refusal to reveal his plan for defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.





Youre telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder youve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life, he said, with Clinton replying that, unlike, her rival, she at least had a plan for fighting the armed group.

Trump also repeatedly insisted that he opposed the Iraq War before the 2003 US invasion, despite evidence to the contrary.

The Republican charged that Clinton and Obama created a vacuum when the US withdrew the majority of its forces from Iraq in 2011 after years of war.

ISIL wouldnt have been formed if [more] troops had been left behind, he said.

Clinton countered by saying Trump had supported the invasion of Iraq, adding that the agreement about when US troops would leave Iraq was made by Republican president George W Bush, not Obama.

The Republican also appeared to contradict himself on how he might use nuclear weapons if he is elected president. He first said he would not do first strike but then said he could not take anything off the table.

Clinton said Trump was too easily provoked to serve as commander-in-chief and could be quickly drawn into a war involving nuclear weapons.

A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, she said.

Trump replied: That lines getting a little bit old.

Tax returns and emails

In feisty exchanges on the economy, Clinton called for lowering taxes for the middle class, while Trump focused more on renegotiating trade deals that he said have caused companies to move jobs out of the US.

Clinton attacked Trump for not releasing his income tax returns and said that decision raised questions about whether he was as rich and charitable as he has said.

Theres something hes hiding, she declared, scoffing at his repeated contentions that he will not release his tax returns because he is being audited. Tax experts have said an audit is no bar to making his records public.

US presidential debate: Hillary versus Hillary

Clinton said one reason he has refused is that he may well have paid nothing in federal taxes. He interrupted to say, That makes me smart.

Trump aggressively tried to turn the transparency questions around on Clinton, saying he would release his tax returns, when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted, alluding to the Democrats use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Towards the end of the debate, Trump said Clinton did not have the endurance to be president.

She doesnt have the look, she doesnt have the stamina, he said. Trump has made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of leveling a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party.

Clinton leapt at the opportunity to remind voters of Trumps numerous controversial comments about women, who will be crucial to the outcome of the November election.

This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, she said.

Citing her own public record, Clinton retorted: As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents  or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina.

Quinnipiac University declared the race too close to call on Monday, with its latest national poll of likely voters suggesting 47 percent of support for Clinton and 46 percent for Trump.

It really felt great, Trump told reporters after the debate.

But political analyst Jason Johnson told Al Jazeera that he would not be surprised if we see slight chances in the polls at the end of the week in favour of Clinton.

Trump came out aggressively  but never had much in terms of substance or answers, he said.

I think Hillary did what she needed to do better than Trump. She offered solutions .. explained how she sees America and her worldview. Her supporters will come out very enthusiastic.

It was the first time the two candidates stood side by side since becoming their parties nominees.

Two more debates are to follow on October 9 and October 19.
The United Nations has expressed disappointment over a new delay in Somalias presidential and legislative elections, and expressed hope that the balloting will be transparent and credible.

The UN special representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, said on Tuesday that UN officials are worried about the postponement  the latest in a series of election delays in the troubled Horn of African country.

The renewed delay raises a number of fears. Let me name just two: that the process is being politically manipulated, and that this delay may only be one of yet further rolling delays, Keating told the UN Security Council.

The urgency and the momentum must be maintained and the additional time used to ensure that the process is as transparent and credible as possible, he said.

Mapping the Al-Shabab attacks in Somalia from 2006-2016

On Monday, election officials in the capital Mogadishu announced they were pushing back elections from October to November due to security issues and administrative problems.

Omar Mohamed Abdulle, the chairman of the electoral commission, said the delayed presidential election would now take place on November 30, while parliamentary elections would be held from October 23 to November 10.

The presidential vote was originally scheduled to take place in August.

Security concerns

Somalia, which was supposed to hold national elections this year, has instead scheduled a limited franchise election in which ordinary citizens do not participate.

Speaking before the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, Somalias Foreign Minister Abdusalam H. Omer reassured diplomats of the unwavering commitment of the federal government to holding a credible and inclusive electoral process in 2016.





Omer blamed the delays on issues such as the need for presidents of Somali states to name candidates for the upper house, agreements with tribal elders in certain regions, and security concerns in parts of the country where the armed group al-Shabab remains a threat.

Al-Shabab has increased attacks on military bases across parts of south and central Somalia in recent months and regularly stages assaults in the capital.

We are fully engaged in working to ensure that more Somalis than ever before can have a say in the future governance of their country, he said.

Somalia has been at war since 1991. The government said threats from al-Shabab prevented it from organising a one-person, one-vote election.

Instead, about 14,000 people representing federal states across the nation will choose the new lawmakers.

The outgoing parliament, elected in 2012, was picked by only 135 elders.

Al-Shabab, which wants to impose strict Islamic law, has called on its followers to kill clan elders, officials and lawmakers taking part in the parliamentary election and to attack polling venues
Blasts at mosque and convention centre overshadow events marking the 10th anniversary of the German Islam Conference.

Bomb attacks hit a mosque and a convention centre in the eastern German city of Dresden, police said on Tuesday, adding that the motive appeared to be xenophobia and nationalism.

No one was injured in the explosions late on Monday in a city that has become a hotspot for far-right protests and hate crimes following a major influx of migrants and refugees into Germany.

The imam, his wife and two sons were in the Fatih Camii mosque at the time of the blast. Police said they found the remains of homemade explosives at both crime scenes.

Although no one has so far claimed responsibility, we must assume that there was a xenophobic motive, Horst Kretschmar, the Dresden police chief, said.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the mosque attack was all the more scandalous because it happened on the eve of the 10th annual meeting of the German Islam Conference.

Police linked the explosion at the congress centre to celebrations due to take place next week in Dresden marking the 26th anniversary of German unification, which is to be attended by German President Joachim Gauck.

We have now switched to crisis mode, Kretschmar said, as police deployed to guard the citys two mosques and an Islamic cultural centre.

READ MORE: Germany  Merkels party suffers loss in Berlin election

About 300 worshippers regularly attend Friday prayers at the Fatih Camii mosque, which lies a short distance from Dresdens historic centre.

The explosion at the mosque was detonated at 1953 GMT on Monday. The force of the blast pushed the front door of the building inwards and left the building covered with soot, police said.

The explosion at the convention centre  about 2 kilometres from the Fatih Camii mosque on the River Elbe, which runs through Dresden  occurred about half an hour later.

The heat caused by the explosion at the centre destroyed the side of a decorative glass cube in an open area in the congress building and resulted in parts of the building being evacuated.

Growing xenophobia

Dresden, a Baroque city in Germanys ex-communist east, is also the birthplace of the anti-immigration Pegida street movement, short for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident.

Its members have angrily protested against the influx of refugees and migrants that last year brought one million asylum seekers to Europes biggest economy.

About a dozen demonstrations are planned over the weekend, by both Pegida and by anti-fascist groups.

WATCH  Germanys Refugee Crisis: After welcoming one million refugees, attitudes are changing

Saxony state premier Stanislaw Tillich called the cowardly bombings an attack on freedom of religion and on the values of an enlightened society that could easily have claimed lives.





Far-right hate crimes targeting shelters for asylum seekers in Saxony rose to 106 in 2015, with another 50 recorded in the first half of this year.

In an annual report outlining progress since reunification, the government warned last week that growing xenophobia and right-wing extremism could threaten peace in eastern Germany.

De Maiziere said he understood that many Muslims in Germany did not wish to apologise for every act of terrorism that is carried out in the name of Islam.

But he said he expected more from the Muslim organisations in Germany.

I think it would be advisable that the security debate becomes more intense and also more public in the future, he said.

Political influence from abroad in Germany through religion is something we cannot accept, said de Maiziere.

However, Muslim leaders attending the 10th anniversary of the dialogue forum hit back.

It was wrong, to brand Muslims as representatives of foreign powers and to speak of them as having a representive role, said Bekir Alboga, the secretary-general of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs.
Former rebel Ahmad al-Mahdi, first to be convicted of cultural destruction as war crime, gets nine years in prison.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced a former Malian fighter to nine years in prison for destroying shrines and historic sites in Timbuktu during Malis 2012 conflict.

In a landmark judgment that experts hope will send a strong message to safeguard the worlds ancient monuments, Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi on Tuesday became the first person to be convicted of cultural destruction as a war crime by the ICC.





The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime, judge Raul Pangalangan said at the tribunal in the Hague.

During a two-day trial in August Mahdi asked for forgiveness , urged all Muslims to not follow his example and said that he had been swept up in an evil wave by al-Qaeda and the Ansar Dine armed groups that briefly seized control of the ancient sites in the city of Timbuktu.

As part of a plea agreement, the prosecution and the defence requested a sentence of between nine and 11 years in prison.

However, the judges were free to ignore the recommendation and hand down a sentence of up to 30 years.

Mahdi had admitted to charges of involvement in the destruction of historic mausoleums in the North African city. Prosecutors said that he led a group of religious police using pick-axes and crowbars to destroy nine mausoleums and the door of a mosque, and at times took part himself.

Despite Timbuktus reverence as the epicentre of Islamic learning during Malis 14th-century golden age, armed fighters condemned the land as idolatrous.

During the trial, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda compared the attacks with the smashing of monuments in the Syrian city of Palmyra by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and the 2001 destruction of the Afghan Bamiyan Buddha statues by the Taliban.

Archaeologists hope, in light of the prevalent war on art, that the trial will send a hard-hitting message to groups that wrecking culturally cherished artefacts will not go unpunished.
With millions of Syrian refugee children out of school, a programme in Turkey is offering an alternative.

Gaziantep, Turkey  When 10-year-old Rahaf Alewi remembers Syria, she does not think about the bombs that drove her family from their Aleppo home.

She pictures their sunny village in the countryside, where figs and olives spilled off the trees. She remembers gazing up at an azure sky as she and her cousins strolled along the country paths, gathering fresh fruits and vegetables.

Today, Alewi is one of nearly three million Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Her family fled to Gaziantep about a year ago, after fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) stormed their village, where they had initially found shelter from the bombarded city.

Its fine here, but its not home, Alewi tells Al Jazeera from the bright courtyard of Gazianteps Rainbow Centre, a grassroots organisation offering an alternative to schooling for dozens of Syrian children in the border city. Nowhere is Syria.

Millions of displaced Syrian children have been forced to quit school amid a protracted civil war that has left the country in ruins. In Turkey, which has grappled with a massive refugee influx over the past five years, more than half of Syrian refugee children are not receiving a formal education, according to Human Rights Watch.

Finding few alternatives, many of these children have taken jobs in factories or turned to the streets, selling tissues or gum to earn a meagre income. To Salim Abdul Ghani, who manages the volunteer-run Rainbow Centre, this is an unacceptable status quo.

The image of Syrian children in the streets, collecting garbage  it isnt correct. It reflects a wrong picture, Ghani told Al Jazeera. Before the war, they were all in school; they were normal kids, just like all the other kids in the world.

We need to save this generation, he added. They are the ones who will rebuild Syria. If we lose this generation, we lose Syria.

Launched just over a year ago, the Rainbow Centre celebrated another milestone this month, moving into a bigger facility composed of an activity room and an adjoining courtyard. Demand continues to grow, with more than 60 children now in the programme and 21 volunteers, Ghani said.

Focusing mostly on drawing, theatre and music, the centre also offers language training in Arabic and English. Each new child is evaluated by a psychologist to determine his or her mental state, with further support made available to those who need it.

With the trauma of war, all of them were affected somehow, and being away from home and out of Syria is very difficult for them. There is a different language here, a different culture, Ghani said, noting that some children are extremely aggressive when they first arrive, while others exhibit symptoms such as stuttering or bed-wetting.

It takes a long time to work with them, to help them get through this, he said.

A safe space

After separately fleeing Aleppo, Fatma Timbi, 12, and Isra al-Shihan, 11, both began working at a clothing factory in Gaziantep. Timbi still has vivid memories of what her family left behind.

Once we were sitting at home and the warplane was bombing the neighbourhood, she told Al Jazeera. All the doors, all the windows, all the storefronts shattered  The building behind our house, all five floors were flattened to the ground.

At the clothing factory, Timbi and Shihan worked more than 10 hours a day, packing T-shirts and pants into bags for just 75 Turkish liras ($25) a week. The Rainbow Centre has given them an alternative and something to look forward to, Shihan said: I come here every day. I love drawing.

These types of safe spaces are vital for children traumatised by war, said Rand Sukhaita, Turkey country director for the Basmeh and Zeitooneh relief and development organisation. She has personally seen the positive benefits of art and drama therapy, with children eventually opening up and learning to trust each other, she told Al Jazeera.

This kind of programme is important, but its not enough, Sukhaita said. We need to advocate for educational rights, to ensure more children can go to school. We need to work at many levels to help boost the economy.

Back at the Rainbow Centre, Alewi shows off a pastel sketch of her village in Aleppo, featuring lush green trees and the bluest of blue skies. The drawing emanates tranquility  a sense of calm that continues to define the Syria of Alewis dreams.

As Ghani, who himself fled war-torn Aleppo three years ago for Gaziantep, watches the children play, a smile warms his eyes.

Like Sukhaita, he has seen the changes that just a few months can bring. One boy who arrived fresh from ISIL-held territory earlier this year initially refused to speak, sitting alone and silent in the yellow-brick courtyard. Seven months later, he laughs and jokes easily with the other children.

Ghani acknowledges that the centre could do more if it received external funding, but in the meantime, the volunteers are happy to keep going with what they have.

Even if we never have more than this one room, he says, we will keep doing it  If the children couldnt come here, they would go back to the streets.

Follow Megan OToole on Twitter: @megan_otoole
Philippine president seeks restoration of capital punishment in his fight against drug traffickers and users.

President Rodrigo Duterte has made a case for the restoration of the death penalty in the Philippines, saying the law had previously lost its effectiveness because it was not fully implemented.

Duterte told reporters on Monday that past presidents had succumbed to the pressure of the Catholic church and other bleeding hearts who argued against capital punishment because only God can kill.

The problem with that is, I ask you, What if there is no God? Duterte said at the presidential palace in the capital, Manila.

When a one-year-old, an 18-month-old baby is taken from the mothers arms, brought under a Jeep and raped, and killed, where is God, he asked.

ALSO READ: Playing dead to survive Dutertes drug war

People in the Philippines no longer believe in the laws, because the fear is not there, Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

That is why I said, give me back the death penalty.

While professing that he personally believes in God, the Philippine leader said, the existence of a higher being is a perpetual question for him, when he sees heartaches, sorrows and agony around him.

Since he took office in June end, more than 3,500 people have been killed as part of Dutertes war on drug traffickers and users.

And he has not taken kindly to the global condemnation of the spiralling death toll. Last week the Philippine president lambasted European Union after it called for strict monitoring of human rights abuses in the country.

Earlier this month, Duterte directed profanities at UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack Obama, after they made similar comments about the mounting death toll in the the Asia Pacific nation.

WATCH  Rodrigo Dutertes drug war: Do human rights matter?

On Friday, in a speech to police officers, Duterte made a similar comment while talking about illegal drugs in the country, and the rules of engagement in dealing with suspected drug criminals.

Maybe God doesnt want all these killings. But never mind, God is not my enemy. Ill talk to him when I get there, he said, drawing laughter from the officers.

Ill ask him, If you are really God, you didnt do anything, and the Filipinos are going crazy' with illegal drugs by the millions, he said.

During the campaign, Duterte had promised to re-impose the death penalty as part of his policy to deal with illegal drugs in the country.

On Monday, he said he has always been a hardliner when it comes to the penal laws.








Clinton says Trump has long history of engaging in racist behaviour as candidates clash over Americas racial divide.

The competitors for the White House have faced off in what could have been the most-watched presidential debate in US history.

A record 100 million people were expected to watch the first debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, televised from in New York.

The stakes were high as the candidates headed into the debate tied in most national polls before the November 8 election.

The first topic discussed was job creation, with the candidates being asked how they would make American manufacturers bring back production to the US.

The debate heated up as the rivals discussed the NAFTA trade deal.

Off topic while still debating under the banner Achieving Prosperity, Trump mocked Clinton for spelling out on her website how she would fight ISIL.

At least I have a plan, Clinton countered.

The candidates also hit out at each other over issues that have plagued their campaigns: for Trump, his refusal to release his tax returns, and for Clinton, controversy over the use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state.

Trump said as soon as Clinton releases 33,000 emails, I will release my tax returns.

OPINION: Fear of a black and brown America

Moving on to the second topic of the night, Americas Direction, and how to heal Americas racial divide, Clinton said race still determines how people are treated in the US criminal justice system.

The issue has caused heated debate in the United States and was again put in the spotlight last week after deadly police shootings of black men in Charlotte and Tulsa.

Trump used his opening segment on the same issue to stress the importance of law and order, and praised the stop-and-frisk policy  which was struck down by a New York judge and widely deemed a form or racial profiling.

Later on, Clinton said Trump has a long history of engaging in racist behaviour, bringing up how his family company was sued by the justice department for racial discrimination in 1973 for not renting apartments in one of its developments to African Americans.

Trump responded that the lawsuits had been settled with no admission of guilt.

When he was pressed about what he would say to people offended by his years of questioning whether President Barack Obama was born in the US, Trump did not respond directly, instead

When he was pressed about what he would say to people offended by his years of questioning whether President Barack Obama was born in the US, Trump did not respond directly, instead praising himself for forcing Obama to produce his birth certificate.

OPINION: Donald Trump, false claims are still lies

The third topic chosen by the Presidential Debate Commission for Mondays showdown at Hofstra University was Securing America.

Getting back to discussing the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS) and clashing with Clinton over the Iraq War, Trump said we should have taken the oil. He went on to say that if that had happened, ISIL would not have been able to form as oil is a main source of income for the group, which has taken territory in Syria and Iraq.

Trump blaming Obama for taking US troops out of Iraq  but that was deal agreed by last Republican president..  Alan Fisher (@AlanFisher) September 27, 2016

Trump, known for fiery statements on the campaign trail, later stated that he has a winning temperament, leading Clinton to give off a big smile before discussing the US-Iran nuclear deal.

She scored laughter from the audience as she said Trump was too easily provoked to serve as commander- in-chief.

A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, she said.

Trumps popularity had been rising in the run-up to the debate.

Quinnipiac University declared the race too close to call on Monday, with its latest national poll of likely voters suggesting 47 percent support for Clinton and 46 percent for Trump.

It really felt great, Trump told reporters after the debate.

But political analyst Jason Johnson told Al Jazeera that he would not be surprised if we see slight chances in the polls at the end of the week  in favour of Clinton.

Trump came out aggressively  but never offered much in terms of substance or answers, he said.

I think Hillary did what she needed to do better than Trump. She offered solutions  explained how she sees America and her worldview. Her supporters will come out very enthusiastic.

It was the first time the two candidates stood side by side since becoming their parties nominees.

Two more debates are to follow on October 9 and October 19.
Ali Bongo, the president of Gabon, has recently secured a second term in office after a controversial August 27 election that the opposition claims was mired by fraud.

He was sworn into office on Tuesday after the constitutional court validated his fiercely contested election victory, extending the Bongo family rule over the country into a fifth decade.

The opposition leader, Jean Ping, 73, who came in second in the vote, rejected the courts ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself president elect.

The Bongo family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil- and mineral-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Ali Bongo took over from his father, Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.

President Bongo sat down with Al Jazeera for an exclusive interview about his contentious election win and his plans for the next seven years in office.

Al Jazeera: Many people, especially in the opposition, see you as a continuation of your fathers rule. You have been a defence minister under his government and hes ruled this country for over 40 years. What do you have to say to those who say this?

Ali Bongo: Simply that I am the one that can make real change. Its not because I am my fathers son and I have the same name that I am necessarily my father. He is Omar. I am Ali. I know how the system has been working; I know how to improve it. And this is exactly what I am proposing to my people.

Al Jazeera: What change are you suggesting?

Ali Bongo: Firstly, it is fair to say that thanks to the policies of my predecessors  President Leon Mba and my father  I can now concentrate more on matters of real importance such as the economy. We have to diversify our economy, we have to create jobs, we have to focus on education, more training programmes All these things are what we need now. I can bring the change that is needed.

Al Jazeera: We have been to different neighbourhoods of Libreville. We have been in a neighbourhood where a lot of people voted for you and they refer to you as Ali. We have also been to other neighbourhoods where people voted for Jean Ping. To those who dont accept the constitutional court ruling and who are protesting, like the opposition leader Jean Ping, what do you have to say to them?

Ali Bongo: We have to say that our system is good, its fair. We need to sit together to see how we can improve the system. This is something that is going to be done all together so thats why I am reaching out to them. I am going to call all the different political forces. We are going to sit down and see what needs to be done to improve our political system, and [then] we will reach a consensus.

Al Jazeera: Jean Ping was working with you. He was part of the same government with you under your fathers rule. Did it come as a surprise when he joined the opposition and ran against you during this presidential election?

Ali Bongo: Well, it was a surprise when he decided to join the opposition because there was no indication about how he felt. But, well, it is not the first time it has happened. It has happened to my father, and it is happening to me. Every time that we are facing an election we have people that used to be with us, running against us. But he and some of his partners represent the past, and they are going to bring all that we really want to turn our back to. I was the candidate of equal chance, giving every Gabonese a chance to really make it. I am not the candidate to restore privileges and this is exactly what Jean Ping and his friends wanted me to do. So the big change compared what has been happening all these previous decades, I am the one to bring that especially to really focus on education. I was saying in the campaign that you make it to the top not because you are the son of [somebody] but solely on merit.

Al Jazeera: France, the former colonial power, at the previous election in 2009, congratulated you. This time around, they were not as warm it seems. Are you breaking away from something that has been going on under your fathers rule?

Ali Bongo: One has to understand that what I really need the most is the support of my people. The international community doesnt cast a vote here. Gabonese people do, so I am accountable to them. They are the ones to give me my job or take it away. So this is what is really important to me.
The remains of a newspaper editor who was killed seven years ago has been exhumed as part of a new probe into his death.

The remains of a newspaper editor who was killed seven years ago during the last stages of Sri Lankas civil war has been exhumed as part of a new investigation into his death, according to officials.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed by unidentified gunmen while driving to work in the capital Colombo in January 2009.

He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then-governments alleged human rights violations during the long-running conflict with the islands Tamil rebels that ended in 2009.

IN-DEPTH: Beyond the beach  Sri Lanka, 5 years on





Wickrematunges exhumation took place on Tuesday under a court order after police investigators sought permission for a new examination due to contradictory medical and post mortem examination reports, said Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer representing his familys interests.

The officer who carried out the autopsy had said the death occurred due to gunshot wounds, while the surgeon who operated on the editor before he died had said the wounds were not from bullets.

Ranagala said police also wanted to identify the type of weapon used to kill Wickrematunge.

A number of journalists were killed, reported as missing after being abducted by government paramilitaries, or beaten up under former President Mahinda Rajapaksas administration. No one has been convicted.

READ MORE: The scars of Sri Lankas civil war

The new administration elected last year has reopened the investigation into Wickrematunges killing, which sparked an international outcry and shone a spotlight on allegations of deadly violence directed against the media.

In a pre-written editorial published posthumously, Wickrematunge had said it will be the government that would murder him.

When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me, wrote Wickrematunga, who endured years of harassment and intimidation for his work, in the article published in The Guardian and The New Yorker.

An army intelligence officer was arrested in July in connection with the killing.
After massive aerial bombardment, Syrian forces mobilise for ground operation to wipe out rebels and retake key city.

Syrian forces launched a major ground offensive on a rebel-held district of Aleppo, the biggest assault yet in a new campaign aimed at wiping out rebel forces and retaking a city that is key to ending the five-year war.

In the early hours of Wednesday, air strikes hit a hospital in a rebel-held area, putting it out of service.

The warplane flew over us and directly started dropping its missiles on this hospital  at around 4am [local time], Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist at the M10 hospital, told Reuters news agency.

The rubble fell in on the patients in the intensive care unit.

On Tuesday, Syrian state TV said that troops had captured Farafra district, near Aleppos famous citadel, and fighting was under way near the historic core of the northern city.

A military official told AFP news agency that government forces retook control of all of the Farafra district and were now demining the area.





The official said the advance comes as a continuation of the military operation that was announced that includes an aerial component and an artillery and ground component.

Aleppo has endured the worst aerial onslaught since the start of the war in 2011 with more than 400 people killed, hundreds of others wounded, and buildings flattened since a short-lived ceasefire broke down last week.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters told Al Jazeera that pro-government forces, including Shia militias, carried out a ground push in the Bab al-Antakya district.

They [rebels] said that they repelled that attack and killed a number of pro-government militia during fighting that lasted a couple of hours, said Al Jazeeras Charles Stratford, reporting from across the Turkish border in Gaziantep.

Aleppo: Bodies litter floor at makeshift hospital

Stratford said a website run by the FSA reported two attacks in which 11 pro-government militiamen and Syrian soldiers were killed by rebel fighters, keeping them from moving forward.

It was not possible to independently confirm any of the claims.

In the district of Handarat, north of Aleppo, government forces also advanced against the rebels, he said.

Government fighter jets backed by Russias air force also continued to target the city and its outskirts. Video obtained by Al Jazeera showed the latest air strikes on Tuesday with rescue crews rushing to the scene to pull people from under the rubble.

Residents said bunker-busting bombs were dropped in the al-Shaar neighbourhood killing 24 civilians, including 15 people from the same family.

OPINION: Russia overplays its hand in Syria

The historic quarter of Aleppo, one of the worlds oldest cities, is home to the Umayyad Mosque, a UNESCO world heritage site. The 11th-century minaret of the famed mosque collapsed in April 2013 during fighting.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, confirmed that government forces were advancing on the old quarter.

There was intense shelling earlier. It seemed the [government] was preparing for the attack, said Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, volunteer first-responders also known as the White Helmets.

He added news from the front line suggests a large mobilisation of pro-government militias in the old city.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Syrian military official in Damascus told the AP news agency that operations in Aleppo will continue until terrorists in the eastern parts of the city are wiped out.

If President Bashar al-Assads forces do recapture the ancient city it would mark a major turning point in the war, which has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions.

It will be a big victory for the regime if it takes Aleppo, opposition activist Mahmoud al-Basha told Al Jazeera. Aleppo is the biggest stronghold for FSA. There are no more cities for the FSA in Syria  they lost Homs, there is no FSA in Hama and Damascus.

OPINION: Syria: Denial as a war strategy

Syrias army announced an operation to retake the opposition-held east of Aleppo city following the collapse of the Russia-US orchestrated truce. Al Jazeeras Stratford said people he spoke to are literally terrified at the prospect of a ground operation.

They feel very helpless. They have completely given up on any kind of diplomatic effort. They have completely lost faith in what the international community is saying, he said.

At least 250,000 people still live in the besieged part of Aleppo.
Freedom of information request on personal expenses includes how much Israeli PM pays for laundry services.

Benjamin Netanyahu doesnt want details of his dirty laundry aired in public  and he is suing his own office and Israels attorney general to try to prevent it.

Legal documents published on Tuesday showed the prime minister, citing a right to privacy, is asking a Jerusalem court to overturn a decision to release his laundry bills and those of his family under the countrys Freedom of Information law.

Israeli media have focused in the past on food and beverage expenses at Netanyahus official and private homes. Three years ago, he drew flak over a $127,000 charge to fit a bedroom into a chartered plane for a flight to London to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The current case involves a request by The Movement for Freedom of Information, a group seeking greater public transparency in Israel, for details of all state-paid expenses in Netanyahus private home and official residence in 2014.

UN chief slams Netanyahu over ethnic cleansing remark

Netanyahus attorneys argue the inclusion of laundry expenses would be tantamount to peeping into his private affairs, but Anat Revivo, who oversees compliance with the Freedom of Information law at the prime ministers office, maintains that the public has a right to know.

When Revivo consulted Israels attorney-general on the matter, he agreed.

Netanyahu was given time to mount a legal challenge and on Monday filed a 27-page lawsuit against Revivo and Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit.

In the petition, which the Movement for Freedom of Information posted on its website, Netanyahus lawyers cited Israels Protection of Privacy Law, as well as Britains Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights to support their case.

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks on his honor and reputation, the lawsuit said, quoting from the European treaty.

No date has been set for a ruling.
US presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump take part in their first televised debate

With weeks to go until the US presidential election, the two main candidates have held their first TV debate.

Republican Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton fought over the economy, national security and foreign policy.

Polls suggest the race for the countrys top job is close.

Trump questioned Clintons stamina, she accused him of hiding something in his tax returns.

Clinton highlighted her extensive experience while in public office as First Lady, then Senator, before becoming Secretary of State.

But Trump blamed her for many of Americas problems including the threat of ISIL. He also accused her of not having the right look and temperament.

So, can televised debates change how people vote?

Presenter: Jane Dutton

Guests:

Jocelyn Mitchell  Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in Qatar

Lincoln Mitchell  Author and Journalist

David Love  Executive Editor, blackcommentator.com
University Police arrested three people Monday for attempting to steal bicycles around campus.

At about 12:40 a.m., a UPD officer stopped the trio near the intersection of Museum Road and Gale Lemerand Drive after noticing them riding bicycles without front or back lights, according to a police report.

The officer noticed the decal on the blue Glendale bicycle Cody Michael Perez, 19, of Daytona Beach, Florida, rode was registered to another person, according to the report.

Sherry Corine Ealum-Morgan, 26, of Chiefland, Florida, then told the officer the three came on campus specifically to steal bicycles, according to the report.

Inside the backpack of Lewis Joseph-Paul Dekle, 19, of Gainesville, the officer found bolt cutters and four cut cable locks, according to the report. The three said they used the bolt cutter in an attempt steal locked bicycles.

While searching Ealum-Morgan, he found a small plastic bag with about five grams of marijuana and a glass pipe in her bra, according to the report.

Police arrested them on a charge of petty theft between $100 and $300. Dekle received an additional charge of possessing burglary tools, and Ealum-Morgan received additional charges of possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana and drug equipment.

Authorities took the three to the Alachua County Jail where they remain, as of press time, in lieu of a $15,000 bond for Perez, a $19,000 bond for Ealum-Morgan and a $25,000 bond for Dekle.
Lexi Rodriguez was 17 when she signed the lease to her first apartment in Gainesville.

Three years later, Rodriguez, now a UF marketing senior, is in the midst of a court battle with Union Properties of Gainesville over what she calls unfair charges.

With the case dragging on for the past two years, Rodriguez said she has spent more than $2,000 in legal fees.

I wish I could have done more to defend myself, she said.

In Gainesville, where a large chunk of residents rent, Rodriguez is not alone.

Landlords sometimes take advantage of students lack of knowledge about their rights as renters, said Miguel Valdez, the coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition, who will host a seminar tonight about renters rights.

If we can go and provide a lot of information that gives people the ability to fight back against a bad landlord, then I think we have done a good service for the community, Valdez said.

The 6:30 p.m. meeting will be held at Emmanuel Mennonite Church, located 1236 NW 18th Ave. A lawyer at Three Rivers Legal Services will speak at the meeting.

A major topic of discussion will be about how landlords often take big chunks of the tenants security deposits for minor infractions, he said.

This, Rodriguez said, is the situation in which she currently finds herself. For two years at her apartment, which she would not name, Rodriguezs landlord was charging her and her roommate undeserved monthly fees, she said.

I realized they were charging me $40 to $50 extra a month for rent for two years, which obviously incurred to an amount to which they had the advantage to say the payments wasnt received in full, Rodriguez said.

She and her roommate were eventually evicted. But when they left, the landlord kept $660 of their $700 security deposit even though the unit was not damaged, Rodriguez said.

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Rodriguez said other students could learn from tonights meeting. If she could, she would have sought out similar help prior to signing her lease and spending thousands of dollars in legal fees.

I just wish I knew what my rights were as a tenant, because I felt completely manipulated, she said.
By October, a new artist will add to Gainesvilles growing collection of colorful street art.

352walls announced Friday that Puerto Rican artist David Zayas would be contracted to paint a mural near Leonardos 706 at the end of October.

The artist will paint the 24th mural for 352walls, a 10-year program that began last year as a way to beautify the city. Zayas was sponsored and will be paid by local business owner Hector Puig, who owns Hector Framing and Gallery at the 706 W. University Ave. plaza. After meeting Zayas at the artists studio during a trip to Puerto Rico, Puig, who declined to say how much is paying Zayas, recommended Zayas to 352walls.

[I] thought hed be a great artist to highlight here in the 706 plaza, Puig said. Hell be doing something...pretty cool.

A five-member curatorial board reviewed Zayas portfolio and decided he would be a welcome addition, said Raquel Vallejo, a coordinator for 352walls.

Vallejo said the arts program saw Zayas, who is also a University of Puerto Rico arts professor, as more than qualified to add to Gainesvilles street art landscape just in time for the 35th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show, which will be held Nov. 5 and 6.

We are lucky to have him, she said.

Kiana Cleveland, a UF business administration freshman who works downtown, said the addition of Zayas mural will only add to the art she admires on her walk from work.

They are so deep, she said. I appreciate the artistic value and creativity in them.

A mural in the 352Walls Project decorates the north wall of The Top, facing Northwest First Avenue, on Dec. 3, 2015.

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English News G20 Hangzhou Summit Priorities Crucial to Global Governance

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 27 Septembre 2016



G20 to needs to achieve progress on reforming global energy governance if the commitments agreed at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris are to be achieved.

Peter Williamson, Source: Peoples Daily Chinas accession to the Presidency of the G20 in 2016 marked an important symbolic shift: It is the first time a major non-Western power has chaired the worlds leading forum for international cooperation. But it also comes at a difficult and uncertain time for the world economy and political environment. In June the World Bank cut its forecast for the global economy in 2016 from 2.9% to 2.4%. As we head toward a decade after the global financial crisis of 2008 hit, the world is in danger of becoming stuck in pattern of low growth. Traditional policies such as monetary easing no longer seem to be working despite ultra-low interests in many countries. Almost everywhere income inequality is rising, leading to the rise of protectionist sentiments, evident in the Brexit vote for the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, the campaign rhetoric of US Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the rise of nationalist political parties in the developed world, all of which threaten the global trading system. The World Trade Organization (WTO) trade monitoring report this year found that the application of new trade-restrictive measures by G20 economies was on the increase, reaching the highest level since the WTO began collecting these data in 2009. Political tensions and terrorism are also on the rise in many parts of the world. With all these problems there are high expectations that the 2016 G20 Hangzhou Summit agree practical steps that will make progress towards the Chinese G20 Presidencys core G20 theme of Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy. The four key priorities for achieving this goal are "breaking a new path for growth", "more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance", "robust international trade and investment", and "inclusive and interconnected development". This theme and the priorities China proposed have received strong endorsement and support from the other G20 members.

The first priority, "breaking a new path for growth" looks for ways to revive the still-sluggish growth in the world economy in the face the rapid aging of societies that has already hit Japan and Russia, beginning in Europe led by Germany, and soon to become a problem in China, to generate new sources growth that do not depend on a growing population. Many governments are still wary of worsening their budget deficits, so Chinas emphasis is to centre on encouraging increased G20 investment in global infrastructure. China is also focusing G20 efforts on on advancing reform and innovation and creating and seizing new opportunities, especially by removing barriers to the rapid rollout of new technologies. Progress has already been made here. At the Meeting of the G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Xi'an earlier this year, for example, set up a group to encourage cooperation in new agricultural technologies by establishing a set of global research collaboration platforms to share technologies, knowledge and innovative research. China can also gain credibility and cement its leadership in opening up a new path for growth by setting a good example with its own structural, supply-side reforms. In June, for example, the State Council, announced that certain sectors, including telecommunications, airports as well as oil and gas exploration, would be further liberalized.

At the core of the second priority, "more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance", is increasing the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries in global economics forums and institutions to better reflect the realities of our 21st Century, multipolar world that is still too dominated by countries who established this system after World War II. In pursuit of this aim, China invited Laos, as the ASEAN Chair; Chad, which holds Presidency of the African Union; Senegal, which holds the Presidency of the New Partnership for Africas Development; and other two other representatives of developing countries, Kazakhstan and Egypt, to attend the Hangzhou G20 Summit. In the area of global financial governance, ways to strengthen the role of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) reserve-currency unit, Special Drawing Rights or SDRs which incorporated the Chinas Yuan this earlier year, and move to price more commodities in SDRs, were all on the agenda. Establishing the SDR as the leading global reserve currency would have many benefits. It would a broader range of countries to enjoy the profits associated with creating global money. The IMF could finance its programmes by creating SDRs, bypassing the tortuous negotiations required to secure credits or raise member quotas in the current system. SDRs could also be used to support development by, for example, allocating a larger proportion of them in to developing countries in need of foreign-exchange reserves. China also sought to make progress on IMF quota and governance reform, furthering the 15th General Review of Quotas that is already under way.

In the third area of "robust international trade and investment" the Hangzhou Summit focused on addressing the huge global infrastructure gap. McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the world needs more than US$3 trillion investment in infrastructure per year through 2020 if it is to maintain its historic growth rates. The G20 has already established a new international body, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GIH) to implement its multi-year global investment agenda. With the GIH now fully operational, the Hangzhou Summit can build on this foundation to develop new processes to improve and speed up project selection and preparation by governments and attract private capital by establishing mechanisms to better share data, build local capabilities, and match bankable projects to private sector partners. These initiatives can also be coordinated with the work of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), set up by China and headquartered in Beijing which now has 50 countries as members, the one belt, one road initiative, supported by finance from the Silk Road Fund (US$40 billion), the New Development BRICS Bank (US$30 billion), the ASEAN Infrastructure Connectivity Fund (US$20 billion) and existing funding from the China Development Bank. Historically, the G20 has played a more limited role in trade policy. But with the World Trade Organization (WTO) seemingly in deadlock we can expect China to push for the G20s Hangzhou Summit to support free trade agreements as a way to stimulate global demand.

Those initiatives tie in with the final priority area for the Hangzhou summit: "inclusive and interconnected development". This is itself a huge agenda, but the G20 to needs to achieve progress on reforming global energy governance if the commitments agreed at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris are to be achieved. We can expect pressure for the G20 to agree to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, remove barriers to energy access, encourage efficiency, and increase the transfer of green technology from advanced to developing nations.



Professor of International Management

Judge Business School, University of Cambridge



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Eight years after high-risk, deceptive lending practices precipitated a near-meltdown of the global economy, we learned that at least 5,300 Wells Fargo employees created 2 million sham accounts that its customers apparently did not want, need or understand. Those unwitting Wells customers paid at least $1.5 million in fees.

But if only the bad-news stories about big banks ended there, and if only policymakers werent threatening to help big banks boost their profits even more. Observers should take note of recent proposals to revamp the housing finance system into a more bank-centric model, which could benefit the largest institutions to the detriment of other mortgage market participants.

At Wells, employees were incentivized by sales goals to open as many accounts as possible. The executive who oversaw this operation, Carrie Tolstedt, has recently retired with a reported $124.6 million package. But what about the thousands of customers her team defrauded?

And yet, the Wells episode is just one example of the biggest banks inability to stay out of the news. The scandal came on the heels of Bank of Americas agreement in June to pay $430 million for misusing customers cash. About a week after the Wells story broke, it was also reported that the Department of Justice was seeking $14 billion from Deutsche Bank to settle claims about the banks sale of mortgage-backed security. In the meantime, Deutsche Bank is also mired in a scandal involving $10 billion of suspicious trades out of its Russian unit that resemble money laundering.

How can this still be happening? In the eight years since the financial crisis, there have been dozens of congressional hearings, thousands of news stories, a host of best-selling books and a blue-ribbon commission promised to help us understand what went wrong and how to prevent a recurrence. The Dodd-Frank Act was heralded as a means of "constrain[ing] the growth of the largest financial firms" and ensuring that the "irresponsible lending" that led to the financial crisis "never happens again." But since then, the nations "too big to fail" banks have only gotten bigger, and, as this newest Wells Fargo episode demonstrates, old habits die hard.

Rather than preventing "too big to fail," weve doubled down. In fact, since President Obama signed the deeply flawed Dodd-Frank in 2010, the banks regarded as too big have grown by 30%. The six largest banks now control assets of approximately $10 trillion, equal to almost 60% of our countrys GDP (compared with 17% in 1995). In contrast, small community-focused lenders are being squeezed out of existence. There are at least 1,500 fewer banks with assets under $1 billion than prior to the financial crisis.

Now, against this backdrop of stratospheric growth, the big banks could be closer to having more control over Americas colossal mortgage markets and their traditional stewards: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Like every major American financial firm, private mortgage companies Fannie and Freddie faced acute financial distress during the crisis of 2007-8. Although the two companies were never deemed insolvent, Congress injected billions into the two private companies and placed them into a conservatorship under the supervision of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The Wells scandal should be a wakeup call to policymakers working on housing finance reform.

Already the largest nonagency player in mortgage origination, Wells Fargo spent more than $20 million lobbying Congress on housing finance issues since 2013. Wells Fargo was a proponent of failed legislation written by Sens. Tim Johnson and Mike Crapo, who followed a model favored by Sens. Bob Corker and Mark Warner, which would have replaced mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie with a more bank-centric model. And more recently, Wells has been advocating for the FHFAs implementation of the Common Securitization Platform, which would allow big banks to sell "agency" mortgage-backed securities.

Some applaud such a move because they view Fannie and Freddie as emblematic of big government cronyism. Others say the two mortgage giants have been historically successful in assisting millions of people in securing homes over three generations, and they should be reformed and recapitalized rather than eliminated. Regardless, no one has come up with an acceptable alternative to Fannie and Freddie for keeping the nations mortgage market liquid and stable enough so that qualified buyers can obtain loans to buy homes.

To date, Fannie and Freddie have repaid the full $187 billion advanced to them by the Treasury Department plus another $60 billion in dividend payments. Compare that with the over $200 billion the big banks have paid to the Treasury as penalties and fines for their misconduct. Despite these facts, Wells Fargo and peer banks are pushing for the government to line their pockets with the mortgage companies revenue streams  rather than permit Fannie and Freddie to retain earnings and rebuild their capital base in order protect taxpayers against future bailouts.

Wells Fargo and other big banks are now lobbying Washington to hand over Fannie and Freddies business to them. If recent history is any indication, that would be a disastrous mistake.

Logan Beirne is an Information Society Project (ISP) fellow and lecturer at Yale Law School. He is also the chief executive of Matterhorn Transactions Inc., a legal information services company.
A bipartisan duo of lawmakers announced Monday they are forming the Congressional Blockchain Caucus in an effort to educate policymakers on digital currency and related issues.

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., formed the caucus at the behest of digital currency advocates like Coin Center, a nonprofit group focused on advocating cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.

"The Blockchain Caucus will focus on raising awareness, advancing ideas that foster growth, and safeguarding consumers," Polis said in a press release.

The blockchain, an electronic database that stores financial records and secures the data through cryptography, is increasingly regarded as a digital currency tool that can be used to enhance the efficiency of the banking business.

Digital currency advocates hailed the caucus' formation.

"Congressional caucuses are very important for like-minded members of Congress to work together toward common policy goals," said Jerry Brito, Coin Center's executive director.

Lawmakers have taken an increasing interest in the technology.

The House adopted a nonbinding resolution in a 385-to-4 vote two weeks ago that encouraged the development of digital currency tools.

The caucus follows the formation last year of the Blockchain Alliance, a forum for open dialogue between the private sector and the government.
JPMorgan Chase has hired Alex Sion, co-founder of the mobile-only neobank Moven, to lead its mobile apps. The move is an example of how banks are looking to fintech entrepreneurs to bring innovation in, and it illustrates the emphasis and importance banks are putting on their mobile channels. It's also the latest round of musical chairs for big banks' digital channel executives.

Sion will start his new job, executive director of mobile banking at Chase, on Oct. 3.

"My new role is to keep promoting mobile leadership and innovation across all of Chase's mobile assets," Sion said in an email interview. "Chase is absolutely committed to leading the pack in digital."

Sion is not new to the challenges of working in a big bank. He was at one time senior vice president of wealth management at Citigroup. What's it like to go from the banking world to the fintech world and back?

"The differences are actually getting smaller since we're all trying to accomplish most of the same things for the customer: make banking more simple and personal," Sion said. "That wasn't the focus when Moven first started. So, for banks like Chase, who are committed to customer-centricity and digital leadership, the differences become mainly around managing scale."

Sion will work with the bank's digital team at 5 Manhattan West, a space that was recently renovated to foster agile development, with designated scrum rooms, play areas and white boards galore. He will report to Jason Alexander, executive director of digital platforms, who reports to Bill Wallace, a Chase veteran who took Gavin Michael's position as head of digital for consumer banking in August, when Michael left to head consumer technology for Citi. Michael replaced Mark Torkos, who retired in July.

Chase's mobile app has 25 million active users. "Mobile is becoming more and more central to the banking experience, so Alex will develop and drive the evolution of that mobile strategy and execution across Chase," said spokeswoman Rebecca Acevedo. "We're seeing the importance of digital in all our businesses as customers continue to turn to Digital to complete many of their banking tasks. We want our digital experiences to be simple, personal, human and cohesive."

Moven's other co-founder, Brett King, not only wishes Sion well but spent several months hashing over his different job offers with him.

"We talked a lot about the opportunities that were presenting themselves to Alex," King said. "He had a number of offers, as you'd imagine. We talked through what was best for his career and also what was best for Moven. We both agreed that from a visibility perspective, this move to Chase would be seen as a win for Moven; it showed the credibility of his pedigree with Moven."

King noted that Sion has been at Moven for six years. "It's not like he didn't give it a fair shot," King said. "And also, the business is fairly mature now. We've been going from that early stage to a growth company and it requires some different skills." Such skills include being able to deliver revenue and sales consistently.

"It's not that Alex can't do that stuff, but I think he wanted a challenge again," King said. "Taking on 25 million mobile users at Chase, that's about as big as a challenge gets."

At Moven, this transition has been in the works for months. Mircea Mihaescu, chief operating officer, and a couple of other team members have taken over Sion's responsibilities. "The transition has been lengthy and has been handled by Alex," King said.

Moven, which recently signed on TD Bank and Westpac New Zealand as clients, has a couple of big banks in the pipeline to join as customers late this year or early next year. The company has also recently hired people in Europe and Asia to help oversee regional operations.

This isn't the first time a bank has poached a Moven executive. Mohamed Khalil, who used to be Moven's head of product, data and partnerships, became chief innovation officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia just over a year ago.

"The overall message is we're proud of Alex and we think it's a great opportunity for him," King said. "He's done Moven proud."
Hope Bancorp in Los Angeles is planning to contract.

The $13 billion-asset company, formed by the merger of BBCN Bancorp and Wilshire Bancorp, said in a press release Monday that it will close 12 branches in Southern California, New York and New Jersey as part of a broader cost-cutting effort. Two California branches will be converted into alternative business and corporate space, while a branch in New York or New Jersey will become a commercial lending office.

The branches represent about 14% of the company's total branch network, though Hope said it could close more locations by mid-2017.

Hope said it expects to incur a one-time pretax charge of about $2.1 million in the second half of this year tied to the closures. The consolidations should help the company save about $11 million annually on a pretax basis.

"Our branch repurposing strategy is designed to make our lending units more accessible to our customer base, reflecting our commitment to grow and expand with our customers in our targeted geographic markets," Kevin Kim, Hope's president and chief executive, said in the release. "We have been tightly managing our staffing levels over the past few quarters in anticipation of branch consolidations post-merger, and we expect most of the personnel from the impacted branches will be transferred to nearby branches or other corporate departments."

At the same time, Hope said it will open its second branch in Houston early next year. The branch is expected to open next spring.
First Busey in Champaign, Ill., is back on the all-star team.

The $5.5 billion-asset First Busey is one of 27 small and midsize banks that the investment bank Sandler O'Neill & Partners has identified as all-stars for 2016, as measured by profitability, credit quality and capital strength. Hit hard by last decade's real estate crash  its Busey Bank unit lost $318 million in 2009  First Busey had been absent from Sandler's annual ranking since 2006.

Sandler, which has been compiling all-star rankings since 2004, announced its class of 2016 on Monday. Also returning to the list of all-stars after at least a 10-year absence were the $5.8 billion-asset WSFS Financial in Wilmington, Del., and the $8.3 billion-asset CVB Financial, the parent of Citizens Business Bank, in Ontario, Calif. They were joined by 10 returning all-stars from 2015 and 11 newcomers. (For a complete list of this year's all-stars, click here.)

To be eligible for all-star status, banks must be publicly traded, have a market capitalization of less than $2.5 billion, and must outperform their peers in five key metrics: earnings-per-share growth, loan growth, deposit growth, return on average equity and ratio of nonperforming assets to total loans. Based on those criteria, 93% of the banks and thrifts eligible were eliminated from consideration.

For the 12-month-period that ended June 30, the median earnings-per-share growth for the 27 all-stars was 24.3%, compared to 8.3% for their peers. Their median loan growth was 19.3% compared to their peers' median of 11.7% and their median deposit growth was 24% compared with 7.5% for their peers. The all-stars' median ROAE of 10.8% was significantly higher than the peer median of 8.1%, according to the Sandler O'Neill report.

For some of the all-stars, acquisitions were a key driver of loan and deposit growth. At least a dozen had closed on acquisitions in 2015 or in the first half of 2016, including CVB, First Busey and WSFS. First Busey, for example, reported a 52% increase in loans year over year, thanks largely to its acquisition of the $1.6 billion Pulaski Bank in St. Louis earlier this year.

Others, though, were able to buck industry trends and substantially increase loans and deposits organically, said Casey Orr, a director at Sandler O'Neill and the report's lead author. All 27 banks reported double-digit loan growth year over year, while 22 of the 27 showed double-digit deposit growth.

As has been the case in recent years, the Mid-Atlantic region was well represented in this year's all-star class; one-third of the banks hailed from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. That's not surprising, Orr said, given the strength of the New York and Washington economies.

The biggest star of the group is the $6.4 billion-asset Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., which made the rankings for the fourth consecutive year and for the fifth time in six years. Eagle is primarily a business bank with 20 offices in Maryland, Washington and northern Virginia.

California also fared well, placing six banks on this year's list. The $7.6 billion-asset Bofi Holding in San Diego was an all-star for the fourth consecutive year. Other states represented were Massachusetts, Vermont, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas and Washington.

Newcomers include the $8.2 billion-asset FCB Financial Holdings in Weston, Fla.; the $4.3 billion-asset ConnectOne Bancorp Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.; and the $2.6 billion-asset Franklin Financial Network in Franklin, Tenn.
The highest-ranking woman in Bank of New York Mellon's storied history is retiring at the end of this year.

Karen Peetz announced her retirement from the global custody bank on Monday  the same day she was honored as American Banker's Most Powerful Woman in Banking for 2016. Peetz was also ranked No. 1 in 2011 and has been ranked among the top five in each of the last eight years.

Peetz joined BNY Mellon in 1998 and held a number of top executive posts before being promoted to president in 2013. In her current role, Peetz oversees global and regional client management, where she has responsibility for the bank's 500 largest clients. She also runs its treasury services business and oversees its regulatory functions.

Peetz also founded BNY Mellon's women's network and over the years has been a tireless advocate for diversity in the executive ranks.

"Karen's leadership, industry expertise and partnership will be missed by BNY Mellon, and we are extremely thankful for her many contributions during her tenure," Gerald Hassell, BNY Mellon's chairman and chief executive, said in a news release.

Peetz will step down on Dec. 31. The company has not said who will replace her.
The air cargo markets deceleration this year had a greater impact on third-quarter cargo revenues at American Airlines than its primary rivals, Delta and United Airlines. But the best revenue quarter in company history and a $483 million profit painted a positive financial picture that could be replicated in the final quarter thanks to resilient []
Oslo, Norway-based Xeneta, a global benchmarking and market intelligence firm with a focus on the containerized ocean freight industry, has opened its first U.S. office in New York City.



Xeneta, a global benchmarking and market intelligence firm with a focus on the containerized ocean freight industry, has opened its first U.S. office in New York City.

The office will be headed by CEO Patrik Berglund and William Di Ieso, the companys director of business development for the Americas.

Xeneta, which started operations in Oslo, Norway in 2012, collects data from more than 600 companies, providing information across more than 17 million contracted rates and covering over 60,000 port-to-port pairings.

The recent collapse of Hanjin Shipping shows how quickly the market develops, with oversupply switching to under-supply, new services being launched and rate hikes across the board. The only way to really keep up with such a dynamic segment, and get the best prices for your cargoes, is to stay on top of the very latest big data analysis and decipher market trends, Berglund said in a statement. As the biggest importer of containerized ocean freight, the U.S. has a greater need for this new breed of market intelligence than anywhere else.
For the last few months Ive had a question in my mind: Just what is George Soros up to? Because I could not understand why a great capitalist speculator, a financial operator who makes the Koch Brothers look like altar boys, would be interested in funding a lefty activist group like Black Lives Matter. It didnt compute.

But now I understand. No doubt you readers already figured it out. Alas, I am not so smart.

The light went on when I was reading Progressivism Goes Global by John Fonte and John Loo in National Review about the plans of the progressive global governance guys. The key point is articulated in a quote from Anne-Marie Slaughter, the head of policy and planning at the State Department under Hillary Clinton. Her idea is that the global administrative state would work through the coercive power of vertical [government] networks:

Vertical government networks pierce the shell of state sovereignty by making individual government institutions -- courts, regulatory agencies, or even legislators -- responsible for implementation of rules created by a supranational institution.

Dont you just love that? The globalists get the power, and get to pull the strings behind the national governments, and coerce them into doing their global will.

But first, before the globalists ascend Mt. Olympus, they need to pierce the shell and destroy the prestige and the power of the nation state; otherwise the national governments will still have the power to tell the globalist gods to go pound sand. How do the globalists do that?

Its obvious. They divide and conquer. They set the people in each nation state against each other. They divide them up by class, by race, by gender, by tribe: Black Lives Matter; La Raza; Human Rights Campaign, CAIR. With one ring to rule them all.

So that is why George Sauron and all the top-tier foundations are funding groups like Black Lives Matter. That is why the globalists are all in favor of unlimited immigration. The more that the people in America think of themselves as black or white or Hispanic or gay or Muslim rather than American, the easier it is for the global elite to pierce the shell of state sovereignty while we are all busy fighting each other.

So far so good. But there is a problem, as the globalists are finding out, to their horror.

The problem with globalism is what to do when things go wrong, as in the Euro, as in Muslim rapists in Europe and no-go areas in Sweden.

In the nation state, when things go wrong, the voters throw the rascals out and elect a new government. They might elect a Roosevelt over a blundering Hoover. Nothing changes, of course, unless they elect a Reagan, for the ruling class is still the ruling class blundering from crisis to crisis; but at least the people have a new leader and new hope.

What happens under global governance when things go wrong? Huh? Appoint a committee?

Exactly. You globalist geniuses didnt think of that, did you?

That is what Enoch Powell meant when he said that the European project could not work because there was no European demos, no European people. You need a people when things go wrong, so the polity hangs together rather than separately.

Right now, of course, things are going wrong with the globalist project, and the result is that the people in the various nation states in Europe are rallying to politicians that want to re-establish the powers of the nation state to throw the globalist rascals out. While they still can.

What luck that the globalist project ran off the road so soon. Given another 20 years of Soros-funded identity politics, with Muslim Lives Matter making Black Lives Matter look like a walk in the park, the people of Europe would have split up into squabbling racial and religious identities, and with things going wrong and the failure of the globalist elite there would be no demos to throw the rascals out.

Hello globalists, progressives, and all the ships at sea. The whole point of constitutions and laws and separation of powers and elections to secure the consent of the governed is this. They help stop civil war. The political furniture that you want to pierce is the way for the people to check their rulers short of bloody civil war.

It is telling that in the aftermath of the Charlotte Riots, President Obama is burbling about white police officers learning about discrimination, and Hillary Clinton is missing in action. It is Donald Trump that is calling for unity.

Of course. Donald Trump stands for Making America -- the nation state of Americans -- Great Again. Obama and Clinton are globalist progressives. They dont care about unity; they care about divide and conquer.

Now, finally, I get it.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also see his American Manifesto and get his Road to the Middle Class.
In 1974, Jaime Escalante took a job at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California. He found himself in a challenging situation: teaching math to Hispanic students at a rundown school known for violence and drugs. While many dismissed his students as unteachable, Escalante pushed them to reach their potential. He started an advanced mathematics program with a handful of students. He was so successful that a testing service accused his students of cheating. They weren't. Hollywood made a fine movie out of the story called Stand and Deliver (1988).

Escalante's students were the last ones expected to succeed academically, but Escalante told them: "I'll teach you math, and that's your language. With that, you're going to make it. You're going to college and sit in the first row, not the back, because you're going to know more than anybody."

He was harassed by the usual nitwits in the Education Establishment. They said he came to work too early, he stayed too late, his standards were too high, he was attempting the impossible, and what good could come of that?

Escalante (1930-2010) is, to put it simply, one of this country's finest teachers. He was a great man. It's an honor to read about him. Everyone should know about his work. If you are moved by nobility, and steadiness of purpose, success achieved against overwhelming odds, this guy's story will make you cry.

Needless to say, the Education Establishment should have adopted his ideas and used them throughout the country. Instead, administrators tried to limit his influence and make him go away.

Escalante shared a lot in common with that other great maverick, John Saxon. They had all the good ideas. The Education Establishment hated them for this. Anyone serious about improving a school should seek inspiration from Saxon and Escalante.

On the other hand, left-wing education consultant Heather Hackman (real name) sees all of education as a chance to advance socialist and progressive attitudes. She speaks of "doing climate justice work through a social justice lens." (Possibly, this means that if you live in a hot city, you get a higher grade on the theory that the city is hot only because of climate change.)

Hackman argues that teachers shouldn't even bother teaching (their ostensible job) if they aren't committed to promoting social justice in school.

Her website uses this slogan: "Deep Diversity, Equity And Social Justice Consulting For A Changing World." Of course, "diversity" and "equity" could point at different goals, which suggests that her agenda is not well thought out.

In Hackman's telling, virtually everything associated with being a successful student is nothing but chains imposed by racist white supremacy.

She argues that "Grades [and] Showing Up On Time Are A Form Of White Supremacy." (How racist is that? Apparently non-white people can't be punctual.)

Hackman's solution is "to train teachers to move away from all these aspects of white privilege in education. She routinely touted the benefits of collective assessments (measuring student learning at the class level instead of determining whether each student knows the material), as well as eliminating all school grades entirely." Now, imagine a design school, flying school, or law school (i.e., any real school) trying these stunts.

Hackman graciously concedes that "in the current white supremacist system, there is some expectation that teachers will know conventional English and possess other basic knowledge. As a result, she admitted modern activist teachers should try to learn those things sufficiently to get a job, but only for the purpose of infiltrating schools to change them from within."

If you want to emphasize ideological maneuvers, as John Dewey and his successors always preferred, then you will continually create inferior school systems and mediocre students. That's a price that Heather Hackman is eager to pay. And she gets paid for recommending these priorities. However, the students themselves might prefer to move ahead in their chosen careers. The society needs people who can do a good job and want to, as opposed to an inferior job and a bad attitude. Heather Hackman serves her ideology ahead of the needs of society and students.

In the 1990s, Reform Math included that most bogus of all programs, MathLand. It contained such questions as "If math were a color, what would it be?" and was explicitly based on the premise that girls and minorities cannot learn math. This was precisely the premise that Escalante and Saxon repudiated.

Now, let's ask ourselves: who is the true liberal in this story? Heather Hackman will undermine everyone by her mandatory collectivism. Jaime Escalante and John Saxon say, no, you can bring out the best in yourself, you can reach higher, and that's the intelligent choice for you and your society.

Bruce Deitrick Price explains theories and methods on his education sites Improve-Education.org. (For info on his four new novels, see his literary site Lit4u.com.)
The following scenario is what it could look like, and it does raise a few important questions.

The confrontation with the Russians has grown. Russian ships have fired warning shots at an American aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean as the US carrier approaches the Syrian coast.

The Russians counter by moving cruise missile carrying warships into place armed with Kaliber missiles, the same ones that smashed into Aleppo killing scores of people.

And the Russians are reportedly moving troops up closer to the borders of Eastern Europe.

A critical meeting takes place in the White House at 2300 hours (11PM). Present are President Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, key White House staffers including White House chief of staff and National Security Council Advisor. The new Director of the CIA also is there as is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CIA Director, who is a Cabinet member, is briefing on the crisis before the Chairman presents some military options. Clinton is listening and then, all of a sudden, her head slams into the conference table.

Everything stops. How to proceed?

Her staff summons White House doctors. To save time, her limp body is hoisted onto the large conference table. She is breathing but there is no communication. Did she have a stroke? There is no chance to do a real diagnosis in the situation room. It is urgent to get her to a hospital for treatment  the best choice is nearby George Washington University Hospital where Ronald Reagan was treated for a gunshot wound after an assassination attempt. Alternatively she can be taken to Bethesda Naval Hospital and transported either by ambulance or by helicopter (though there are no helicopters currently on the White House lawn).

Meanwhile, the Vice President is in Asia on a goodwill tour. His plane will soon be touching down in Seoul, South Korea. He is more than 20 hours from home, if he is summoned. But Air Force Two, if it changes route, will be followed immediately by Russian radars and satellites. The Kremlin will know something has happened in Washington.

Quarrels break out among the staff and with the cabinet members about what to do. Should they call in medical help and bring equipment to the White House, instead of going to a hospital? That would depend, to some degree, on whether anybody thought this was the recurring brain clot that has disabled her before, and they might hope the crisis will pass on its own. But if she had a major stroke she must be hospitalized to survive.

Then there is the question again of the Russians  the President moving into a hospital cannot be hidden. Who would then be in charge? Might the Russians not want to exploit the obvious confusion now gripping the Executive Branch?

So the staff and the cabinet members know they have to make a number of choices, none of them good and some of them that threaten Clintons survival.

What decisions they make will require some level of agreement, and as Clinton lies on the table, pale and with shallow breathing, they cant reach a conclusion. The clock is ticking. The argument is growing. Can the cabinet members take control, throw the White House staffers out of the room, and determine what to do with Clinton?

The succession laws really dont deal with this kind of situation. If the Cabinet decides to act in the stead of Clinton, are they in fact carrying out a coup detat justified by the emergency?

The Secretary of State, wanting to avoid an Al Haig moment, says that the cabinet should summon the Speaker of the House, a Democrat, who stands in the line of succession after the absent Vice President. He calls the Speaker, but the speaker points out that the Twenty Fifth amendment clearly says the Vice President needs to be called in, but first the cabinet must vote that and inform Congress. So, says the Speaker, I cant oblige you guys. Follow the Constitution.

But communications with the Vice Presidential aircraft are erratic: the North Koreans know he is inbound and they have turned on all their jammers. As soon as he lands, the Secretary of Defense reaches him on a non-secure landline. Now the Russians know -- in fact the South Koreans cant keep quiet and in a few minutes the word is out. Meanwhile the House Speaker also is talking to the media. His staff told him maybe the White House was setting a trap for him, and he wanted to be clear to all that he only follows the Constitution.

At this point, unexpectedly, Clinton rouses. She is helped from the table to a chair. Her National Security Advisor briefs her, even though she is still confused. But she is also extremely angry. She fires her Secretary of Defense on the spot for his call to the Speaker, and warns the Secretary of State that he is next. The room is chaotic. Clinton cancels the emergency meeting. She says they were plotting a coup against her.

The Cabinet members caucus together outside the Situation Room. Summoning Clintons doctor, they want to know her condition and whether she really is mentally capable. The doctor hedges after all there is a doctor-patient relationship to be preserved. But the Cabinet members threaten and demand an answer. If the doctor tells them she cannot function mentally, they will claim under the 25th Amendment that she is incapacitated, and throw the Presidency to the absent Vice President. The doctor is threatened and finally he says that her condition cannot be determined and her mental faculties are in doubt. A vote is taken, with the fired Secretary of Defense participating. The two cabinet secretaries and the Director of the CIA vote her as incapcitated and immediately inform the Speaker of the House by a phone call. Now they must wait for the Vice President to come home, and meanwhile the NSC director and the White House Staff Director call in the press and claim there has been a coup detat. The nation is now in turmoil as the political crisis spirals out of control. All but forgotten are the Russians, who are ratcheting up military pressure. Tonight Russian troops crossed into the Ukraine heading for Kiev. And other Russian troops move toward the border of Finland and Estonia.
Lately, news outlets can barely keep pace with Muslims killing or attempting to kill Americans stories. Arcan Cetin, a 20-year-old Muslim male, just killed five Americans at a mall in Seattle; Ahmad Khan Rahami, a 28-year-old Muslim male is in custody for attempted murder after having set off bombs in New York and New Jersey last week; Dahir Adan, a 22-year-old Muslim male, attacked and stabbed his way through a mall in Minnesota.

(Question: What do all these perpetrators have in common? Answer: military-aged males with Arab features who practice Islam. Just like Omar Mateen, Nidil Hasan, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Syed Rizwan Farook, and others. But thats for another day.)

We now know that Dahir Adan was a refugee from Somalia. He was welcomed into our country and repaid us by shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed and slashed nine shoppers. Last Sunday ISIS claimed that Adan was one of their own.

For reasons none can explain, liberals like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton simply cannot connect the dots between unfettered refugee resettlement and the threat of jihadist terrorism. Even though Adans terror attack came on the heels of a bomb detonation in New Jersey, a Muslim man attacking New York police with a meat cleaver, and a bomb exploding in Chelsea, Manhattan, injuring 29 civilians.

Tragic loss of life and limb by American citizens is the price being paid by innocent people for their leaderships insistence on pursuing their agenda and those same leaders blind spots to this dual threat. First is the threat of ISIS and other radical operatives mixing into refugee flows and coming here directly; second is that of non-radicals entering then being contacted or radicalized via other means once here. Of course those calling the shots are largely immune from the repercussions of their own decisions. Refugees are not being resettled into Chappaqua, Georgetown, Hollywood Hills, or Marthas Vineyard.

Obama had set a goal of resettling at least 10,000 (more) refugees from Muslim nations by the end of this month. He reached that goal ahead of schedule. He went even further by raising the 2017 refugee ceiling to a dizzying 100,000. This on top of the nearly 700,000 green cards the Obama administration has issued to migrants from Muslim nations in the past five years alone.

Last year the Washington Times reported that the Obama administrations permanent refugee resettlement efforts have been particularly strong on the Somalia-to-Minnesota path; The State Department has helped to relocate tens of thousands of refugees from the war-torn African nation of Somalia to Minnesota, where they can take advantage of some of Americas most generous welfare and charity programs.

But the effort is having the unintended consequence of creating an enclave of immigrants with high unemployment that is both stressing the states safety net and creating a rich pool of potential recruiting targets for Islamist terror groups.

Thus making Minnesota reflective of whats happening in Europe.

Namely, Islamic terrorism caused by Muslim migration. As Muslim populations grow, so do terror attacks. Though this connection is so simple even a caveman can see it, liberals refuse to so much as acknowledge any issues of national security and instead brand all do as bigots.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton declared, Minnesota is not like it was 30, 50 years ago. Anybody who cannot accept your [Somali immigrants] right to be here should find another state. Dayton then condemned religious bigotry and said, Theres no place in Minnesota for intolerance of all Americans constitutional right to worship according to their beliefs.

Apparently immigrants have a right to be here and its intolerant if you have a problem with one of your loved ones being slashed with a knife while standing in line at Macys.

I ask everyone in the St. Cloud area and throughout Minnesota to rise above this atrocity and act to make religious and racial tolerance one of the ways in which Minnesotans again lead our country, Governor Dayton added.

What Dayton, Clinton, and other liberal social planners cannot seem to grasp is the fact that Muslim refugee resettlement areas like St. Cloud, Dearborn, Michigan, and now Clearwater, Florida become active recruiting grounds for terror groups. Somalis in Minnesota are targeted by terror groups like ISIS. One such organization specifically warned of attacks on American malls, and now its happened.

This population is also being targeted by Islamist terror organizations like the Islamic State and al-Shabab, a Somalia-based group with links to al Qaeda said a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, Among Minnesota-based Somali-Americans, American converts to Islam or Somali refugees, there have been numerous convictions for various levels of collaboration with Islamist terror groups, plus reports of fighting with al-Shabab or other Islamist groups. Al-Shabab made a propaganda video warning of an attack on shopping malls around the world, including the Mall of America in Minnesota.

In May of this year Voice of America News reported that ISIS has steadily grown stronger in Somalia and that the terror organization is now a very significant threat. In July, World Net Daily reported that Somali refugees in Minnesota regularly threaten Minnesota women with kidnapping and rape. In June, three Somalians living in Minnesota were convicted of trying to join ISIS. See the connection, liberals?

Department of Homeland Security documents show that while Hillary Clinton served as Secretary of State, over 31,000 Somali refugees were relocated to the United States. If elected, she plans on increasing the number of Muslim refugees from Syria alone by over 500%.

Breitbart News reports that under a Clinton administration, the total number of Muslim refugees permanently admitted into the U.S. could top 1 million in her first term alone.

Within the past ten days weve seen American men and women guilty of nothing but visiting one of our shopping malls have their faces slashed open and be stabbed repeatedly by a single ISIS convert. Yet the very idea that we should slow down our immigration roll and examine protocol and procedures to be certain were doing everything possible for the safety of the American people is an idea thats rejected outright by the likes of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. They want to import hundreds and hundreds of thousands and do so as fast as possible even though its clear we dont have adequate vetting processes and that Muslim immigrants and refugees are being targeted for recruitment by ISIS and other terror groups.

Considering that the most important job of any commander-in-chief is the safety and security of our citizens and homeland, its a very difficult policy agenda to understand.
Is the regime established in the Constitution today a help or a hindrance to defenders of individual liberty?

The Constitution is seen by some as facilitating oppression by not adequately protecting us from those forces  those institutions within society that ignore us or seek to devalue us. Others see it not as facilitating oppression, but as too weak to stop oppression by the government it should control.

In this essay, I hope to make a modest defense of the Constitutions relationship with liberty and make the case that liberty is the Constitutions purpose.

To do so, I turn to parts of the Constitution less studied on this matter  specifically, the Constitutions theory of separation of powers, a fuller picture of which will show in part libertys relationship with the Constitution.

But first, we note that the Preamble to the Constitution famously concludes the list of that documents goals as to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our posterity. One could argue that the other goals stated  a more perfect union, establishing justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare  culminate in the securing of liberty for ourselves and for future generations.

What does the Constitution mean when it says liberty in its Preamble and in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment Due Process clauses?

I would suggest that the answer rests in the preservation of individual rights. Individual rights are what the Constitution pursues, and the preservation of such rights is, for the Constitution, the preservation of liberty.

Consider the Bill of Rights. Speech, the press, religious exercise, search and seizure, speedy trials, cruel and unusual punishment  all of these are spoken of in rights language.

The Fourteenth Amendment, furthermore, speaks of rights, privileges, and immunities. Nor is rights language or logic missing from the original seven articles, with protections of contracts, prohibitions on bills of attainder, and limits on the suspension of habeas corpus.

So I think the Constitution views liberty as the full possession and uninhibited use of individual rights. Therefore, the Constitutions securing of liberty lies in the securing of these rights.

Federalist 51 famously tells us that men are not angels, and since they arent, they will actively seek to infringe upon your life, your liberty, and your property.

The Constitution is in part a reaction to this truth about humanity. It seeks to establish a government that will prevent these infringements from happening and punish those who persist in such violations. In this, it seeks to protect your liberty.

But Federalist 51 also gives a warning to the people about their government. As mans fallen nature makes a protective government necessary, so governments administration by human beings makes it also a possible threat to individual rights. Thus, the Constitution not only empowers government to protect, but seeks to limit that government for the same end.

The institutions that the Constitution creates and the relationships between them also help to secure liberty  namely, our three branches of government and the theory of separation of powers that defines them. The division of government into the separate institutions of Congress, the presidency, and the courts is one of the Constitutions greatest contributions to liberty.

In my studies of the Supreme Court, I find frequent reference to the separation of powers as a bulwark to liberty. The core of this argument stems from Federalist 51s warning that government can overreach its purpose. The separation of powers is meant to limit government power and thus to protect us.

The Constitution establishes separation of powers as a way to check and balance the government. The president can veto legislation to stop Congress. The Supreme Court can declare laws void and revoke executive actions. Congress can override vetoes and must approve treaties, Supreme Court appointments, and Cabinet officials.

But I think leaving the separation of powers there sells the theory short and thus sells short the Constitutions contribution to liberty.

Remember that the threat to liberty is twofold: government is a threat, and other people are a threat. But in this explanation, separation of powers addresses only the threats government poses to liberty. That still leaves a gaping hole in libertys security in the form of other threats to rights, those threats that the Declaration of Independence states were the reason why governments are created in the first place.

Before we go any farther, think about the way the Constitutions first three articles begin. Each starts with a vesting clause that gives powers to a particular branch. Article I says all legislative powers herein granted are vested in a Congress of the United States. Article II speaks of executive power vested in a president of the united states. This power is different in kind and nature from legislative. Article III declares that the judicial power is vested in a judiciary. This power, too, is distinct from the others with a specific institution to exercise it.

The establishment of particular institutions constructed to best wield a particular kind of power makes our government more, not less, effective.

Lets begin with the legislative power. Lawmaking is the power of a government to prescribe general rules with binding force for a society. The purpose of these rules is the preservation of liberty and the protection of our persons and our property.

What qualities are necessary in an institution tasked with creating statutes? The Senate has been called the worlds greatest deliberative body, and Americas Founders spoke most frequently of deliberation  the ability to consider, reflect, discuss, and refine a proposed law. Reflection and discussion aid in pointing out the flaws in a proposed law. Is its aim truly to seek libertys protection? How could it do so better?

Then theres the executive power, which is vested in the presidency. In a perfect world, the mere passage and promulgation of laws would be enough. But thats simply not the world in which we live. Even when laws have the right intent, their universal nature makes them insufficient, because no matter how many exceptions you allow, no matter how many circumstances you attempt to account for, a law will never perfectly encapsulate human experience

Out of these problems comes the need not only for executive power, but for a strong exercise of that power. Laws must be carried out if rights are to be protected.

Carrying out the laws requires two things. First, it requires some level of discerning how the law should apply in particular circumstances. This attempts to address the laws imperfection of generality by allowing some specificity in its carrying out.

Second, the execution of laws requires a soft persuasion to obedience that must give way to coercion if necessary to ensure compliance.

Thus, we need a strong executive who applies the laws to particular, real circumstances, in ways that protect our rights.

The office of the presidency is constructed for this task. Hamiltons writings in Federalists 70 to 74 lay this argument out well. A good executive must possess two qualities  energy to adequately carry out his duty and safety to guard against overstepping his bounds. He must possess the power to protect rights without himself becoming a threat to such rights.

Third and finally, there are the courts. The judicial branch is vested with the judicial power. But what is that?

The executive and the courts possess a similar relationship with the law. The law has already been passed, and they carry it out and apply it in some form. But the courts do so in a way distinct from the executive. The judicial power acts upon the law by applying that law to resolve disputes.

Disagreements exist all the time between individuals, between governments, and between governments and individuals. When these disagreements cant be resolved between the parties, they go before courts to resolve them.

The courts do so by asking how the laws apply to the particular dispute before them. This adjudicating of disputes by means of applying the law is the judicial power. This power is crucial to the protection of rights, just as the legislative and executive powers are.

What quality is needed to exercise judicial power? Federalist 78 declares that the judiciary exercises the quality of judgment, the capacity to know the law and to apply it to circumstances that come before the court.

Regarding the relationship between our Constitution and liberty, I hope we can consider the Constitution a document that, in a time of distrust, we can take some confidence in.

For in the separation of powers, properly understood, we find liberty through government protection as much as we find liberty from government oppression.

Even more, I hope in understanding the myriad ways in which the Constitution attempts to protect liberty, we develop the desire and the ability to defend those attempts. In such ways, we, too, may preserve the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our posterity.

Adam Carrington is an assistant professor of politics at Hillsdale College. This column was adapted from a lecture he delivered at the University of West Florida.
The union representing teachers in the nation's third largest school district in the nation has voted to authorize a strike if negotiations with the school board break down.

Ninety-five percent of Chicago public school teachers approved the strike in a vote over three days last week.

Teachers walked out for one day last April, which caused chaos in the city as working parents were forced to care for their children who would normally have been in class.

Chicago Tribune:

The strike authorization vote sets up a pivotal week in the long-running talks between the union and the Chicago Board of Education. Both the board and the union's House of Delegates are set to meet Wednesday. While the union has not revealed an agenda for Wednesday's meeting, it's possible that delegates could set a strike date. The union has to give at least 10 days' notice before a walkout can take place. A date could also be set for further down the road. Even if a strike date is set, the union could opt not to strike if negotiations show progress. The union said Monday that "the first possible date for a teachers strike" would be Oct. 11. In a statement, Chicago Public Schools said a walkout can still be averted. "A strike is a very serious step that affects the lives of thousands of parents and children, and we hope that before taking the final steps toward a strike, the CTU's leadership works hard at the bargaining table to reach a fair deal," CPS spokeswoman Emily Bittner said. Union leaders said in a recent interview that a combination of dueling ideologies and limited money are at the heart of negotiations to replace a contract that expired in June 2015. CTU President Karen Lewis cast Mayor Rahm Emanuel's influence as "extraordinarily important" to averting a walkout.

At issue are the thousands of teaching jobs that needed to be eliminated to narrow the $2-billion deficit being run by the school system, as well as cost of living increases, pension, and health care payments.

"Educators have been angry about the school-based cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers' aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions," the union said in a statement. The move ratchets up the pressure in contract talks that have already stretched over a year. Cost-of-living raises, pension contributions and health care have been key issues for the union's approximately 25,000 members. CTU staged a one-day walkout in April, but the last major strike was during the last round of contract negotiations in 2012. Teachers picketed for seven days over evaluations, job security and classroom conditions -- Chicago's first teachers' strike in 25 years.

Little help for the school system is expected from Springfield, as the state has now gone nearly 15 months without a budget. Governor Bruce Rauner wants pension and benefit reforms from the teachers before he will back any funding. That's not likely to happen as the teachers look to hold up the city for pay increases that the school system simply can't afford.

The cost of borrowing to cover the CPS budget shortfall will be steep. Chicago schools have a lower than "junk" rating for their bonds, which will only complicate the long-term funding picture for the schools. This won't stop the teachers who appear oblivious to the fact that you can't get blood out of a turnip any easier than you can get cash from a state that doesn't have any.
Trump did well overall despite the clear bias in the questions asked and not asked by Lester Holt, and a missed opportunity to attack Hillary on the email scandal and Benghazi. The tone of debates is set by questions asked and questions not asked.

Holt spent much time on whether Trump will release his tax records and on the birther issue. Trump has answered these questions, but Holt kept pressuring him. Holt kept interrupting Trump during his answers, but he did not interrupt Hillary. Holt should have asked Hillary if her campaign started the birther issue in 2008.

But most importantly, Holt did not ask Hillary about the Bubba Foundation that has received billions of dollars from countries, individuals, and businesses that had business with the Hillary State Department.

Holt did not ask about how she amassed $300 million during the last 15 years, and why anyone would pay up to $500K per speech to her "husband" Bubba while she was secretary of state, not to mention her own speech fees after she left office.

Holt did not ask Hillary about the pay for play, nor did he ask her about Benghazi, specifically why she lied about the attack's cause. Holt did not ask Hillary if she agrees with Obama's veto of the bill to allow September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, nor why the Saudis gave $25 million to the Bubba Foundation.

The questions by Holt were designed to help Hillary as much as possible by focusing on the birther issue and taxes.

Trump made a mistake by not focusing on the emails scandal when Holt asked about cyber-security. This was the time to say she was extremely negligent and that Comey said her emails could have been hacked by foreign governments.

Trump did well on discussing trade, ISIS, and the economy, and in pointing out that Hillary has not done anything during her 26 years about the problems of crime, the economy, and race relations.

Hillary gave her standard answers on generalities and personal attacks on Trump. She gave no reasons why she should be president. She had the unnatural smile on her face as she recited her monologues.

Overall, Trump did well, but every Republican candidate has to debate the Democratic candidate and the moderator.
Recently, the New York Times published an op-ed by Hillary Clinton titled My Plan for Helping Americas Poor. It is paragraph 6 (out of 12) before Hillary makes her first proposal. Summarized, here is her plan:

1. Investment in good paying jobs

2. Affordable housing

3. Raise the minimum wage

4. Equal pay for women

5. Low-income housing credits

6. Redirecting federal investments

7. Expand access to child care, guarantee paid leave

8. Double investments in Head Start program

Hillary uses the word investment four times. Investment, as used by Democrats, is a code word for tax the producers and give to those who do not produce.

1. Exactly what does Hillary consider an investment in good paying jobs? Does the government produce anything concrete that requires jobs? Does she mean job training programs? There are currently over 40 federal job training programs in existence. Do we really need another one? Has Hillary ever been involved in any endeavor that actually produced jobs?

2. Democratic programs mandating housing requirements have reduced the number of affordable houses.

Government laws and policies severely restricted, or banned outright, the building of anything on vast areas of land. This is called preserving 'open space,' and 'open space' has become almost a cult obsession among self-righteous environmental activists, many of whom are sufficiently affluent that they dont have to worry about housing prices.

Government-funded housing, such as Cabrini Green in Chicago and Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis, has been a massive failure.

3. Multiple studies have shown that raising the minimum wage actually hurts low-income people. Yes, a few get an artificial pay boost  which teaches them to be reliant on not their own skills, but government largess to improve their income.

Hillary has shown repeatedly that she knows nothing about and is grossly contemptuous of small businesses. When she was in charge of Bill Clintons failed health care proposal in 1993, she replied to a criticism of the cost of the program to small businesses: I cant be responsible for every undercapitalized small business in America.

4. The equal pay for women is just another canard. When all factors are considered, womens salaries match up closely to those of men. Period.

5. Low-income housing credits: another Democratic rob Peter to bribe Paul plan.

6. Redirecting federal investments. Exactly what is this? Hillary does not explain how it is anything more than taking money from producers and giving it to people who do not produce.

7. Expand access to child care, guarantee paid leave: this signals to (primarily single) women that they can have it all  and the government will force everyone else to accommodate them. If there is anything that discourages employers from hiring women, it is that they have to pay for child care and paid leave.

8. Double investments in the Head Start program: another investment. Since the federal Head Start program began in 1964, taxpayers have been robbed of over $180 billion ($7,000 per student). Studies have shown that over the long run, students enrolled in Head Start do not perform any better than students who do not. In other words, Head Start is but another useless, wasteful government program.

Paragraph 11 of The Hillarys pitch consists of bashing Donald Trump  92 words. So Hillary spent most of her energy bragging about herself and trashing her opponent. That is her plan.

Her plans about helping Americans amount to nothing more than more of the same: increasing taxes, buying votes, and providing disincentives to poor people while adding trillions of dollars to the federal debt.

Hershel M. Chicowitz is Boomer-in-Charge at Baby Boomer HeadQuarters; www.bbhq.com.
How low are the Democrats prepared to go to defeat Donald Trump? Former Vermont governor, presidential candidate, and DNC head Howard Dean is leading the charge into the gutter by suggesting in a tweet that the reason Donald Trump had sniffles (not pneumonia, mind you) during the first presidential debate was cocaine abuse:

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?  Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

Given the fact that Donald Trump (and his children) shun alcohol, the likelihood of cocaine abuse seems rather low. Dont forget that Trump was socially very active in New Yorks club scene during the height of cocaine as a fashion statement and has never shown any sign of the effects of drug abuse over an extended period.

My diagnosis of Howard Dean, M.D. is a serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Since 1977, the Marine Corps has used the slogan "The Few, The Proud" to market itself to potential recruits. Now the Marines think it's time to update their image and create a slogan that better describes their mission.

Washington Times:

The Few, The Proud, does a great job distinguishing ourselves from the other branches and making us prestigious to recruits, but it doesnt say anything about what we do or why we exist, Lt. Col. John Caldwell, a spokesman for Marine Corps Recruiting Command, told the Marine Corps Times on Monday. The new products are going to frame everything that we do as a fight  a fight that we intend to win. Other popular slogans the branch of service have used over the past four decades include If Everybody Could Get In The Marines, It Wouldnt Be The Marines, and Were Looking for a Few Good Men, although the officer said the new campaign is not linked with efforts to incorporate women into combat jobs. It doesnt have anything to do with that, Lt. Col. Caldwell told the newspaper. It has everything to do with clearly defining who we are and what we do as United States Marines. Its all about our irreducible fighting spirit. Thats the fighting spirit of the organization and thats the fighting spirit of all its Marines. MCRC plans to submit its new advertising campaign to senior Marine Corps leadership for approval late this year or early in 2017, the officer said.

Some ads in recent years have hilighted the Marine Corps's humanitarian mission, as in "Toward the sounds of chaos":

But most recruits get the idea; Marines fight wars and kill bad guys. Is it their plan to make that simple mission more evident in their ads?

I hope so. I recall that when the Iraq War began, several members of the armed forces told the media that they "didn't sign up for this," that they joined the military only so they'd have money to go to college or learn a valuable skill. I don't recall a single Marine saying something similar.

You would hope the brass doesn't inject political correctness into the new slogan, but this is the Obama years, and anything is possible.
The Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) climate change mandate goes to court yet again today, as the D.C. Court of Appeals hears oral arguments on the EPA Clean Power Plan.

The Washington Examiner reports that the Clean Power Plan:

 will face challenges from 28 states, the coal industry and more than 100 other groups. The power plan, which the Environmental Protection Agency made law a year ago, orders states to cut greenhouse gas emissions by a third by 2030 to fight global warming. It is the centerpiece of Obama's climate change agenda and the cornerstone of his effort to meet U.S. obligations under the 2015 Paris climate deal to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels worldwide.

The Washington Examiner quotes a mining industry spokesman who notes:

Even EPA admits ... that the Clean Power Plan will force the retirement of 56 coal-fired power plants by 2018[.]

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a "temporary halt" to the Clean Power Plan this past February, "pausing the implementation ... as lawsuits proceed through federal appeals court."

As the Examiner describes, the appeals court has decided to skip the normal three-judge appeal panel and elevated the case to an "en banc" hearing by ten judges.

Energy newsletter E&E Daily emphasizes the importance of the presidential election to this case and to the future of the Obama climate change agenda, in light of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia:

The conservative justice's death came just days after he cast a pivotal vote to stay the regulation while it's under review at the D.C. Circuit[.] ... The Clean Power Plan's fate may now hinge on Scalia's vacant seat. If a new justice isn't appointed by the time the case makes it to the high court, the justices could split 4-4, which would uphold the D.C. Circuit's decision. If the case is heard by a full court a ruling on the regulation could depend on which party nominates the next justice.

The massive mobilization on both sides of this case is noted by E&E Daily:

The case's formal name, West Virginia v. EPA, belies the swarm of parties deeply entrenched on each side. After more than two dozen states, utilities and coal companies fired the first shots against the finalized rule last October, additional lawsuits came pouring in from electric cooperatives, labor groups, business associations and conservative groups. Supporters of U.S. EPA's regulation were quick to jump in to defend it. Eighteen states lined up on EPA's side, joined by environmentalists, health groups and local governments. Clean energy groups and a collection of utilities also stepped in.

The Obama climate change regime, embodied in the Clean Power Plan, follows the mold of an EPA acting on its own ideological bent, from ruling that carbon dioxide is hazardous to human health to asserting its authority over every stream and wetland in the country, regardless of opposition.

Recent Gallup polling consistently found that just two percent of Americans believe that "environment/pollution" is the most important problem facing the country. A Fox News poll last year, as reported by The Daily Caller, found that only three percent of those polled thought climate change was our most important issue.

Yet the president has said, "No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change," and Secretary of State John Kerry recently called climate change "the greatest challenge of our generation."

With Congress and the courts having failed to rein in the EPA overreach, the task may fall to our next president. The Hill reports:

Donald Trump is tapping a high-profile climate change skeptic to lead administration transition efforts for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Myron Ebell, director of energy and environment policy at the conservative think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute, is heading Trump's EPA transition preparation, E&E Daily reported Monday. Ebell is an outspoken, longtime skeptic of the scientific consensus that human activity is dramatically changing the climate. Ebell has argued that the Clean Power Plan is illegal and that the Paris climate change agreement is unconstitutional. The Republican presidential nominee's EPA would be responsible for implementing his ambitious agenda of dismantling major pieces of Obama's climate legacy, like the Clean Power Plan for power plants and the Paris agreement.

Mr. Trump's EPA transition appointment is a strong signal that a regulatory rollback will indeed be a high priority in a Trump administration.
No one will be surprised to learn that the mainstream media, including Fox News, declared Clinton the winner of last night's debate. Why on Earth would the media question their absolute authority over "the people" now? This mass media of ours continues to believe that it controls, that it has the right to control, our every thought and action. In their view, it is up to them to tell us how and what to think, even to the extent that they need to explain to us what we just heard from the two candidates for the presidency: their version or our lying eyes. Their arrogance and cluelessness mystify the majority of Americans. Who are these people? From where comes their absolute belief in their own righteousness?

Hillary was, of course, slick and shiny. She had memorized everything she was meant to after about sixteen mock debates. So she was polished like a brass lamp. Trump did none of that. His decision was, apparently, that he won the nomination by being who he is  Trump unplugged  so he went with that last night. He was good, as most polls will certify. He could have done better; he could have gone after Clinton's many, many scandals and lies, but he barely touched upon them. But he still won hands down on the economic questions. Too bad they never addressed immigration and Hillary's intention to import a half a million Middle Eastern Muslims, some of them sure to be terrorists in waiting.

The 24-hour talking heads are giving the win to her. But check out the many online polls: he won hands down with the millions of people who watched. He nailed her on responsibility for ISIS. He eviscerated her on trade deals that harm American workers. He won on how to keep business here and bring off-shore money back. Still, he was holding back  on her criminal email scandal that was an orchestrated attempt to cover up her crimes of selling access to the State Department. She sold access, preference, and contracts to the highest bidder, foreign and domestic.

He did not go after her foreign policy failures as hard as he might have. There are too many to address in one debate. The tragedy that is Benghazi never came up; it must next time. He did not go after her lifetime of lying and criminality or the giant fraud that is the Clinton Foundation. Perhaps he is saving that for the next debate. He had better get to it; he has left an awful lot yet to be exposed in a debate setting.

Trump is the law and order candidate, and clearly, when Black Lives Matter is calling for "police-free communities," law and order is needed across the nation. Trump has been endorsed by ICE, the Police Union, and most of the military men and women who have been fired by Obama for offering advice with which the president disagreed. Obama does not listen; he fires people who disagree with him.

Obama's and Hillary's support has been eroded by their sympathy for the criminal underclass and their refusal to utter the words "radical Islamic terrorism." They both leap to the conclusion that the police acted rashly whenever a black person is killed in an incident of law vs. order, and they rush to the press after a terrorist attack to say it was not terrorism or Islamic when it is clear to everyone that it was. They chatter on about gun control but say nothing about the thousands of black people killed in Chicago and elsewhere by other black people. They never wait to learn, nor do they care about the facts on the ground.

We all have sympathy for those trapped in a cycle of poverty, drugs, and violence inculcated by the policies of the left over the past fifty years, but Obama's willingness to give them free rein to riot is not acceptable. Thanks to Obama's acquiescence, riots in our inner cities are the new normal. All communities want peace and safety in their neighborhoods. All communities deserve safety and national security. We do not have that under Obama and will not under a Clinton administration. The importation of hundreds of thousand of refugees from the Middle East and an open border to our south will most certainly bring more death and destruction. It takes only a few among thousands to wreak murderous havoc. Think Fort Hood; San Bernardino; Garland, Texas; Orlando; Dallas; New Jersey; New York, etc. There are many other terrorist incidents within our borders that have gained less attention.

Trump missed numerous opportunities to prove Clinton unqualified for the office she seeks, but he did well for a novice on this particular stage. He needs to do better next time, and he needs to mount some lethal ads that expose Hillary for who she is: a nasty piece of work who will intentionally take this country farther down the road to Marxist socialism than Obama already has. Not only will she sell us out to the highest bidder, but she will be sure to make money on the deal. Trump is the good guy; she is a future nightmare if elected. If she becomes president, the United States will be unrecognizable as the country founded in 1789 by a group of brilliant, selfless men who debated for thirteen years and wrote the finest document ever written.
It's back to weaponizing government to boost Clinton's chances

Peter Thiel, prominent billionaire venture capitalist and Trump supporter, has apparently been targeted by a federal agency under Barack Obamas control. We have become a banana republic.

As we head toward the election, there has been a spate of news items regarding frustration among Democrats that they have not been able to mobilize Asian-Americans. Voter turnout has been lagging among members of this group. Since the election is tightening, these votes can be crucial in tilting some states toward Hillary Clinton come November,.

What better way to mobilize these voters than to file charges against a high-profile company alleging discrimination against Asian-Americans? The Silicon Valley-headquartered company in this instance is the highly regarded Palantir Technologies. Palantir focuses on intelligence analysis and counter-terrorism research and is a cutting-edge company in terms of data number-crunching.

Bloomberg News reports that the risks for the company are very high.

Palantir Technologies Inc. discriminates against Asian job applicants in its hiring and selection process, the U.S. Department of Labor alleged in an administrative complaint. Co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, the data analysis company is among the most highly vaunted of Silicon Valley startups, securing a $20 billion valuation last year, in part for its contracts with the U.S. Department of Justices Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Special Operations Command and the Army. Lisa Gordon, a spokeswoman for Palantir, said the company will defend itself vigorously and denies allegations of bias. The results of our hiring practices speak for themselves, she wrote in an e-mail. Despite repeated efforts to highlight these outcomes, the Department of Labor relies on a narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011. The Labor Department had no immediate further comment.

At risk are future government contracts, company finances, recruiting problems, and a potential delaying of a much anticipated initial public offering.

This is fortuitous timing for Democrats. The company, as noted in the Bloomberg story, was cofounded by Peter Thiel  the same Peter Thiel who is a prominent Trump supporter (a rare breed indeed in Silicon Valley) and the same Peter Thiel who spoke in support of Trump at the Republican National Convention.

Of all the companies Obama's Labor Department, headed by hyper-partisan activist Tom Perez, can choose to file suit against, the department chooses one founded and funded by a big Trump supporter.

I suppose the IRS is out of bounds now, given all the bad publicity. The Justice Department is out of bounds because of the Hillary Clinton email scandal.

Since it is a green company, the feds cant use the EPA to punish Thiel and send an intimidating message to all Trump supporters. I can imagine that various cabinet departments were considered before choosing to use the Department of Labor against a Trump supporter with the added benefit of gaining support among Asian-Americans for Democrats and for one Democrat in particular, Hillary Clinton.
As I was telling a friend in Latin America, we have not always had debates in the U.S. In fact, we didn't from 1788 to 1960.

They did not happen again from 1964 to 1976. I've often wondered what an LBJ-Goldwater debate would have looked like. My guess is that LBJ would not have won with 60% of the vote. It would have been a lot closer, because Senator Goldwater was really an extremely serious man and not the monster the LBJ campaign made of him.

In 1976, I recall that President Ford challenged Governor Carter to debates. It happened during the 1976 acceptance speech, or a time when he was down in double-digits and putting the party back together.

As you may know, Governor Carter accepted, and we had three serious debates with one line about Poland that President Ford had to take back.

For most of us, it was the first time we seen such a debate since the famous Nixon-Kennedy debates of 1960. I don't remember the 1960 debates, but my parents, and many Cubans on the island, did pay close attention by radio ("Voice of America") because Cuba was a major topic.

There are a few facts about these debates that you may want to consider:

1976 also marked the introduction of vice presidential debates which have regularly been held since 1984. Lets be honest: rarely do voters pay attention and rarely are these debates memorable. There is, however, one exception. In the 1988 debate between Dan Quayle and Lloyd Bentsen, Quayle suggested he had as much experience as former President John F. Kennedy. Bentsen retorted with the now famous lines, Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy.

Yes, that Bentsen-Quayle moment was memorable, but it had zero impact on the results. I would add that Admiral Stockdale's "who am I" moment in the 1992 V.P. debates was hysterical.

I recall some highlights, such as Reagan's "there you go again." It may have flipped the election because it happened the last week of the campaign. It was a dead heat that night, but it ended 51-41% a week later on election day.

Reagan benefited from another line in 1984 when he joked about Mondale's youth. It probably sealed that election, too.

Another favorite moment was from 2000, when V.P. Gore made a total you-know-what out of himself with his facial contortions and reactions to Governor Bush. It ended up helping the calmer and more steady Bush, but I'm not sure that it changed any votes.

In both 2004 and 2012, the incumbent was crushed in the first debate. President Bush looked tired, and President Obama looked like he'd rather be watching ESPN that night. They both looked bad but came back and were re-elected with just under 51% of the vote.

Here are some ideas for debates in the future:

1) Go to an audience format and have people ask questions. They are more interesting and relevant. You can have a media person call on the voters and have them ask the questions.

2) Have the governor of each state ask the candidate a question. In other words, 50 questions. I like this idea because so often the states get lost in these debates. At the moment, there are more GOP governors, and that may be an advantage to Trump. However, I trust that the questions will be about issues and force the candidates to address topics like the EPA, federalism, judicial tyranny, and a few others.

3) Have one last debate with a panel of six journalists approved by both sides.

It may be fun to have a Lincoln-Douglas debate someday, but I don't think the candidates will run the risk.

Good luck to the candidates!

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
India is not only one of the fastest-growing large economies in the world, it is also the third-largest smartphone market globally after China and the U.S. While that in itself is reason enough for companies like Google to be bullish on the country, recent reports actually indicted that India is well and truly Android country, with around 97% of all smartphones in the country running on Googles mobile operating system. Add to that the fact that Google has been focusing diligently on the next billion users, and it becomes abundantly clear why India, with a population of almost 1.3 billion, ranks rather high on the American tech giants radar. That being the case, the company has now announced that the recently-announced Google Assistant will soon be available in the most widely-spoken language in the country  Hindi.

The Google Assistant, as mentioned already, is a new product that the Mountain View, California-based tech giant announced at the Google I/O last May. It is an intelligent personal assistant, much like Apples Siri, Microsofts Cortana and Amazons Alexa. While the company already has its Google Now personal voice assistant, it doesnt have all the bells and whistles that the all-new AI-powered virtual assistant is expected to come with. The Google Assistant is currently integrated into the companys new mobile messaging app, Google Allo, and is expected to be included in Google Home, the companys own smart speakers, which are expected to take on the Amazon Echo.

A preview version of the Google Assistant in Hindi will reportedly be launched this year itself, although, theres no word on when the final version will hit the market. Theres also no word on whether the company is looking at bringing the new service to other widely-spoken South Asian languages, including Punjabi and Bangla, both of which have over 200 million native speakers each in the region and around the world. As part of its continued focus on India, Google had launched its Android One project in the country back in 2014, but that initiative, unfortunately, met with a lukewarm response from its manufacturing partners, as well as buyers. The company will be hoping that its new India-focused products and services will get a better response.
Today is a fairly important day for Internet users and especially for Google: the tech giant that greatly contributed to shaping the Internet over the past 18 years. Indeed, today Google is celebrating its 18th birthday, and readers may have already noticed that the company is commemorating the event with a new festive Doodle on its home page. Now, this may have taken you by surprise given the fact that Google took a while to settle on a fixed birthday, but nonetheless, September 27th, 2016 is considered the day that the search engine giant made its first steps into adulthood  at least according to some parts of the world.

Google was founded 18 years ago on September 4th, 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page; two Ph.D. students at Stanford University, California. Of course, a quick look at the calendar tells us that Google is more than three weeks late in celebrating its own birthday, but that is because Google took a few good years to decide on what now appears to be a fixed birthday. Specifically, in 2003 Google celebrated its birthday on September 8, and one year later the company formally turned 6 years old on September 7. In 2005 the search engine giant acknowledged September 26th as its birthday, and in 2006 Google finally settled on September 27 to commemorate its first day of existence, and has been doing so each year ever since. No one really knows why Google chose this date as its official birthday and why the company didnt stick with September 4  the day on which Google was actually founded. Nevertheless, its interesting to point out that Googles first birthday Doodle went live in 2002 on the 27th day of September, and given the companys fondness for its Doodles, its understandable why it may have settled on this particular date four years later.

Short history lesson aside, Google is now one of the worlds biggest companies on the World Wide Web, and since it was founded the company continued to grow and expand in new market areas, including, of course, the mobile niche. Many Internet users today rely on both Googles search engine as well as Googles mobile operating system  Android OS  and in some cases, users access these tools using Google hardware, including Nexus smartphones and Chromebooks. Google has become a part of many peoples daily lives over the past 18 years, and we look forward to the companys future endeavors in new market areas including virtual reality, self-driving cars, and artificial intelligence.
As pretty much all of Googles products and services are connected to the Internet in one way or another, its no wonder that the Mountain View tech giant has been investing a lot of resources into getting more people online. Earlier this year, Google launched high-speed WiFi in Mumbais central station and has hit 18 more stations in India since then. Today, the company has announced a program called Google Station which is basically just a continuation of its existing WiFi strategy in India. More specifically, the Internet giant has just partnered with Indian Railways and RailTel and has expanded the existing program to 52 stations in the country. While thats an impressive achievement for a program which has only started eight months ago, Google just got even more ambitious and has announced that over 100 Indian stations will get free WiFi by the end of the year.

Googles VP Caesar Sengupta asserted that 15,000 Indians get online for the first time in their life each day thanks to the aforementioned railway wireless hotspot initiative, The Verge reports. In addition to that, the service currently has around 3.5 million monthly users in India and that number is rapidly growing. The Google Station program which the tech company just announced wont be solely focused on India as its actually designed to expand from India. Namely, Google is currently in talks with various railway companies around the world as its negotiating terms of bringing Station to more territories. The idea is to both bring WiFi hotspots to more train stations but also to make the existing ones better. In due time, the company has plans to expand Station outside of actual stations and partner with a more diverse range of businesses.

Of course, nothing in life is truly free and Google Station will be no exception. The initiative currently lists several methods of monetization and its to be expected that most of the companys future partners will opt for an ad-supported model as its the easiest one to implement. Lastly, while Google doesnt specifically mention that, theres a good chance that this initiative also makes use of some of its other Wi-Fi related projects such as Project Loon in the future.
By now, you are likely aware that Google is planning on hosting an event on October 4. Likewise, the chances are good that you are of the understanding that Google will be unveiling a range of products at the event. Ones which will not only form the basis of Googles hardware range for 2016 and 2017 but are also likely to form the basis of a new made by Google range. One which is largely void of association with Nexus and/or manufacturers and instead will be a range that is pushed forward as Google products.

For those that are unaware of the event, it does seem that Google is keen to ensure that they become aware of the event prior to the event taking place. As such and compared to previous years, it seems as though Google has been on quite a marketing push of late with billboards being spotted and even large statues which not only hint at the upcoming Pixel smartphones but also clearly detail the made by Google branding and the date of the event. One of which was recently spotted in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Speaking of which, it seems Google is taking its advertising (and these statues) as far afield as they can, as the latest have now popped up in Sunny Australia in both Sydney (above) and Melbourne (below). In fact, while the advertisements have so far been largely spotted by interested parties when out in public, these latest ones come as official teases by Google. Both the above and below images were released by Googles @googledownunder Twitter account (which is the Australia and NZ arm of Google) and both images adopt much of the design and presentation of the ones that had been spotted elsewhere. Albeit with one notable difference, the date. The Australia images comes promoting the date as October 5 which of course, is when the event will be taking place in Australia due to the time difference between Australia and the event-host city of San Francisco. Either way, wherever you are in the world, it does seem as though Google is keen to make sure you are tuned in for the launch of what could be a very interesting year for Googles hardware division.
Honor is one of the more successful China-based companies, and Huaweis subsidy at the same time. Honor had introduced a number of really successful smartphones in the last couple of years, including the Honor 6, Honor 6 Plus, Honor 4X, Honor 5X, Honor 7 and Honor 8. The Honor 8 was introduced earlier this year as the most powerful device this company had ever released, and it has been quite popular in a number of regions since it was released, mainly due to its unique design, really solid spec sheet and a rather affordable price tag. That being said, this company is expected to release the Honor 6X in the coming weeks, as the phone had already been certified by TENAA (Chinas equivalent to the FCC) earlier this month. Well, that certification listing did share the phones design, but not its specifications. Well, the phone has popped up on TENAA yet again, and this time around we get to see its spec sheet as well, read on.

As per TENAAs listing, the Huawei Honor 6X will sport a 5.5-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) display, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The device will be fueled by Huaweis HiSilicon Kirin 650 64-bit octa-core processor, and a 3,340mAh battery will also be included here and it will not be removable. This handset will sport two camera sensors on the back, the 12-megapixel main sensor, and a 2-megapixel secondary camera, while an 8-megapixel shooter will be placed on the front side of the device. The fingerprint scanner will be placed below rear-facing cameras, and next to them youll notice the single LED flash. Honors branding will be present on both the front and back side of this smartphone, as you can see in the images down below. The phones physical keys will be located on the right side of the device, and the SIM card tray will be placed on its left side. Its rear-facing camera sensors will protrude on the back ever so slightly, and the device will, of course, offer 4G LTE connectivity.

Now, as already mentioned, Huawei is expected to announce this smartphone soon, and according to the latest info that weve seen (which leaked yesterday), the phone could be announced on October 18th in China. This handset will be available in China first, but it will probably roll out to both Europe and the US at some point as well, and the same can be said for a number of other markets.
The Galaxy Note 7 was supposed to be the device that consolidated Samsungs lead at the top of the global smartphone market, and the initial reviews would have, no doubt, made the company executives happy about their product. However, the company was soon forced to recall over 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 units after dozens of users took to the online social media, claiming that the devices were catching fire while charging. While the company has questioned the veracity of many of the reports, the fact still remains that several others have indeed been proven to be true; and the company itself, has acknowledged as much. According to Samsung Electronics, the fault actually lies not so much with the device itself, as with the batteries that are manufactured by a Samsung group company called Samsung SDI.

With the recall process currently underway, Samsung Electronics has now announced that it has gotten back over 60% of the Galaxy Note 7 units that it had recalled in South Korea and the United States. The company released a statement earlier today, saying that it is hoping to replace all the recalled devices quickly and efficiently. The company was also recently asked by regulators in South Korea to extend the refund period until the end of this month so that people who are stuck with the older units can return their handsets for a full refund even after the expiry of the originally-announced deadline. Starting October 1st, Samsung is slated to re-start sales of the new Galaxy Note 7 SKUs, which are said to come with batteries manufactured by a Chinese firm called Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) instead of Samsung SDI.

With all the controversy surrounding its latest flagship phablet, Samsung Electronics faces a stiff challenge in assuring people about its quality control standards. Even if the company is able to convince people about the safety of the newer versions of its Galaxy Note 7 units, market analysts are worried that the overall financial damage from this controversy can be well in excess of $5 billion. The company, however, has put a brave face publicly, and claimed that around 90% of the people returning their devices are preferring to get a new Galaxy Note 7 instead of shifting loyalties to a different brand. Samsung will be hoping that trend continues when general sales resume over the next few days.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 battery scandal didnt just affect the United States. As the most likely culpritthe companys battery division Samsung SDIwas responsible for 70% of all initial shipments, the South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer was forced to issue an almost worldwide recall thats still ongoing. Issuing replacement units and refunds is not an easy feat so Samsung will likely have its hands full for a few more weeks. Still, the company has just announced that Galaxy Note 7 will return to European stores on Friday, October 28th. That date isnt set in stone as it completely depends on the firm completing its exchange and refund program but its to be presumed Samsung is convinced that an additional month from now is enough time to do that as its unlikely the company would go public with this information otherwise.

In addition to that, Samsungs representatives revealed that more than half of Galaxy Note 7 owners have already replaced their device within the first week of the exchange program going live. Out of 57% of people who handed in their potentially unsafe devices, 90% gave Samsungs latest phablet another chance, 7% opted for a refund, and the rest took another Samsung smartphone. These numbers are radically different to those reported by SurveyMonkey yesterday when the firm claimed that more than a third of Note 7 owners arent willing to give the device another chance. Given how Samsung has much more insight into the matter and is basing its numbers on a vastly larger sample pool, its claims are probably much more accurate.

Just like in the US, new Galaxy Note 7 units in Europe will feature a green battery icon which indicates that the device is powered by a safe battery. Its worth noting that even if Samsung manages to resume European Galaxy Note 7 sales by October 28th, thats an almost two-month delay given how the device originally hit the continent on September 2nd. The whole ordeal is especially unfortunate for the company if recent reports about Samsung rushing the Galaxy Note 7 to beat iPhone 7 to the market were true as the quicker manufacturing process gave completely opposite results. Still, it remains to be seen whether this event will have any long-term consequences for the smartphone manufacturer.
Samsung Electronics has been cooperating with numerous worldwide cellular operators, such as T-Mobile, to improve and test 5G networks. In addition, Samsung has now partnered with the leading telecommunication operator in Russia and the CIS  Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) -, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The target is to develop and advance new technologies concerning 5G network and the Internet of Things (IoT).

In order to enhance communications, the MoU covers technologies including Carrier Aggregation, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technologies, LTE Broadcast (eMBMS), and Multi-path TCP (MPTCP). Also, thanks to this collaboration there will be tests and improvements on IoT technologies like NB-IoT and LTE-Machine. Samsungs experience will help MTS upgrade its data communication speed and discover new possibilities for the usage of the ultra-fast 5G network. As a result, MTS customers will benefit from these tests by improving their lives on a daily basis. Moreover, it is important to mention that there will be room for development for new services and applications, such as IoT with the purpose of tackling challenges like data rates, spectrum bandwidth, and battery life. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a computing concept that describes a future where everyday physical objects will be connected to the Internet and be able to identify themselves to other devices. With this intelligent network infrastructure, we can improve operations, increase safety, and security. The MTS Vice President of technology Mr. Andrei Ushatskiy stated that Commercial deployment of new technologies, including an area of IoT, will make it possible for us to occupy a new market niche in both corporate and mass market domains. On top of that, the two companies hope that they will boost communication speed for 4G and contribute, through field tests, to improve 5G network.

The Korean company has a long-term partnership with MTS since 2013 to form LTE networks in Russian cities. Also, Samsung has been active to enhance 5G technologies, by investing in studies and experiments, since 2000. As a result of these efforts, Samsung developed the worlds first 5G channel modeling tool to decrease the time and the efforts needed for 5G network planning. We should be ready to see more crucial patents regarding 5G in 2018.
Many major airlines around the world have recommended Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users to keep their device turned off and to avoid charging it on all flights, to ensure that the device will not explode during the flight. While no Galaxy Note 7 units have exploded on any flights yet, reports have emerged that a Samsung tablet started emitting smoke on a flight, and this forced the aircraft to divert from its destination.

Delta Flight 138 from Detroit to Amsterdam was diverted to Manchester in England for two hours, after smoke and an unknown smell started to emit from a passengers seat. According to ABC News, Delta officials and a US official have told the news outlet that the Samsung tablet fell inside the seat during the flight and became jammed after the seat was either reclined or put into the upright position. After some time, the seat started to emit smoke and passengers on board the aircraft could smell a strange odor. The flight was then diverted to Manchester where the affected seat was replaced with a new one and after being grounded for two hours, the aircraft continued with its journey to Amsterdam, where it landed at 5:11 Eastern time on Sunday morning. At the moment, the US Federal Aviation Administration, or better known as the FAA, is investigating the incident. Samsung also issued a statement on Monday, saying that the incident is not related in any way to the Galaxy Note 7 and it is most likely due to external factors which caused the smoke and strange odor to be emitted from the device. The South Korean company has also reached out to Delta airlines to investigate the incident as the cause is yet to be determined by either side.

In another incident, an Indian airline has reported that a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was found to be belching smoke and sparks on a flight from Singapore to Southern India. IndiGO, the airlines which reported the incident, stated that the device was found in a passengers bag in an overhead compartment. The device was then removed and placed in water, with the flight continuing to its destination. Samsung has said that it is aware of the incident involving its 2012 flagship phablet.
The NUS creates a safe space from Jews, dissent and free speech

The President of the National Union of Students, Malia Bouattia, has been speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme. The BBC is not owned by Jews (but you might want to check). So Malia Bouattia, who talks of the Zionist-led media, is unshackled. She wants to speak about safe spaces, places where the censorious, intolerant and illiberal can feel at home, much as they would in Nazi Germany, Stalins Russia or the student bar at Dundee University, where the telling of religious or political jokes is banned, as is the Sun and a pro-life group.

She says:

The thing about safe spaces is they have existed for a very long time in many different forms. Its a call from the grassroots: its an application of democratic processes in order to ensure that spaces of education  students unions and so on  are safe places in which to debate and in which to discuss ideas.

This all seems like satire until you note that these mass debaters are serious. They have tried to no platform people like Germaine Greer and the gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell for saying things Bouattia and her fellow champions of debate and democracy might not like to hear.

Bouattias attitude to free speech is punctuated by a huge but.

She also has interesting views on Jews. She called the University of Birmingham a Zionist outpost. She bemoaned mainstream Zionist-led media outlets.

Is she disappointed with her attitudes towards Jews? I would certainly review my language and would definitely want to explain the political context which I was discussing, she says. I absolutely was not saying the things that it has been interpreted as.

You see what happens when your safe space views are aired in public. People get the wrong idea. Context matters.

Thankfully, with Bouattia at its helm the NUS can protect students from reading the wrong sort of media and having their views on Jews misunderstood. These students  the UKs intellectual cream  will be able to function without having their views questioned by people who fail to agree with them. They will never be offended. What they believe will remain as fact. No argument. No dissent.

When they graduate  and it can take a long time for education to end (Malia was 28 when elected president by a few hundred voters)  they can go to work at the BBC, The Guardian or some other safe space where free thinkers mass to be on what they love to call the right side of history.

Its not the 1930s, sheeple. Get with the program.

Anorak

Posted: 27th, September 2016 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Beijing, September 27 - A network of 57 restaurants in China has joined a Slow Food fundraising campaign for the victims of a devastating August 24 earthquake in central Italy.

The restaurants - of which 15 in Beijing and 12 in Shanghai - will donate money from every dish of "pasta all'amatriciana" served until November 24.

Amatrice, a village in the Apennine mountains in the Lazio region that was largely flattened by the quake, is also the birthplace of the world-famous "amatriciana" pasta sauce based on cured pork cheek, pecorino cheese, and tomato.

The 'A Future for Amatrice' campaign - launched by Slow Food in agreement with Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi on August 25, the day following the earthquake that killed hundreds - calls on restaurants around the world to put pasta all'amatriciana on their menu for a year, with two euros from every dish served to go to the quake relief fund.

The campaign in China is supported by the Italian embassy and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China. Many Chinese businesses and individuals have made donations for quake relief in Italy since August, and the Chinese embassy in Rome donated 100,000 euros to the Italian Red Cross for quake relief, Italian Ambassador Ettore Sequi remarked.

"We want to contribute and to avoid the risk of the initial generous impetus and attention wearing off after a couple of weeks," said Slow Food founder and chief, Claudio Petrini, on the day of the launch.

"Amatriciana pasta is a humble dish, symbolic of a farming culture that is based on solidarity".

The donations - with one euro coming from the restaurateur and one euro from the client for every "amatriciana" dish served - go to benefit the City of Amatrice, whose International Bank Account Number (IBAN) is IT28M0832773470000000006000.


(ANSA) - Brussels, September 27 - The European Commission is engaged in "positive dialogue" with Italy over the 2017 budget deficit and "we are trying to narrow the gap" between what Italy wants and what the EC is willing to concede, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Tuesday. He said he hoped that the government's economic blueprint, the Economic and Financial Document (DEF), would help" reduce this gap so that we can reconcile flexibility and rules". He said Brussels' line was that rules on deficit limits "must be respected". The DEF is expected to be issued by the government at around 21:00 Tuesday.


Migrants: Egypt shipwreck death toll rises to 204 MENA - 33 bodies recovered, including 4-year-old boy

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, SEPTEMBER 27 - The death toll resulting from the shipwreck last Wednesday of a boat carrying migrants off the Egyptian coast has risen to 204 after the recovery of 33 bodies on Tuesday, a local council mayor was quoted by Egyptian state news agency MENA as saying.



Metoubas Mayor Ali Abdel Sattar also said that a 4-year-old boy had been identified among those recovered, the agency reported.



Local maritime services said they had managed to recover the sunken vessel at a depth of 12 metres. (ANSAmed).




Italy funds income-generating project in rural Tunisia Ter-re project to benefit women and young people in Tataouine

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, September 27 - Rome-based NGO Arcs has launched a project to promote the social and economic development of rural communities in Tataouine, southeast Tunisia, it emerged on Tuesday.



'Ter-re - Dal Territorio al Reddito, Rafforzamento delle capacita delle donne e dei giovani di Tataouine'' (From the Land to Income, strengthening the capacity of the women and young people of Tataouine) aims to valorise traditional knowledge by supporting the women who process the vegetables and aromatic and medicinal plants grown in the area. The staff of Tunisia's Institute for the Arid Regions based in Medenine have already started visiting the women in the villages to discuss their experience and desires and aspirations in order to tailor training to their particular needs. The project is funded by the Italian agency for cooperation and development for three years. (ANSAmed).




Turkey launches new air strikes against PKK in north Iraq Ammunitions store, rebel hideouts destroyed in raid

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, September 27 - The Turkish air force on Monday carried out fresh air strikes against PKK targets in the Qandil mountains, a stronghold of the Kurdish rebels in north Iraq, security sources said Tuesday.



The strikes took place between 9 pm and 10 pm local time. The sources said an ammunitions store and hideouts were destroyed in the raid. The air strikes were conducted after 10 Turkish soldiers were killed in two separate attacks blamed on PKK in the southeast of the country. (ANSAmed).




Israel expels 20,000 migrants-report Says has reinforced borders

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, SEPTEMBER 27 - Israel has expelled 20,000 of 60,000 illegal migrants that have entered the country, the newspaper Israel Hayom reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying during a meeting of supporters of his Likud party in Tel Aviv.



According to the report, Netanyahu said that another 20,000 would soon be leaving Israel.



"We will make all the illegal infiltrators leave, because they are illegal," the paper quoted him as saying. "We have strengthened our borders and blocked the infiltrations," he added, according to the article.



The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that there were about 30,000 Eritreans in Israel (out of a total of about 40,000 migrants). At least 7,000 Eritreans have asked for political asylum but the Israeli interior minister has accepted only six requests, rejecting the others.



According to that paper, the ministry does not think that the lives of the Eritreans that head back to their country are in danger, an opinion Amnesty International does not share.



In recent years Israel has forced thousands of migrants to return to Africa, mainly to Rwanda and Uganda. (ANSAmed).




Syria: NGO- Turkish border guards kill 12 civilians 145 killed since start of year

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, SEPTEMBER 27 - Turkish border guards have killed 12 civilians in the past 24 hours, increasing the total number of Syrian civilians killed by Turkish fire on the border between the two countries since the start of 2016 to 145, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.



The 12 civilians were killed in three different locations between Monday and Tuesday, the observatory said. These are the districts of Qamishli, Ras al Ayn and Tal Abiyad, in the central and eastern sections of the border, in Kurdish majority areas.



(ANSAmed).




- Brussels - Plans to realise a common European defence "do not mean establishing a European army but having more cooperation for a more effective defence that is fully complementary to NATO", EU foreigh policy chief Federica Mogherini said Tuesday.



This includes using existing instruments such as the EU battle groups, or military units constituting a rapid reaction force, Mogherini continued. "Today we are starting to work on concrete ideas" so that "they can be approved at the European summit in December", the foreign policy chief said on arriving at an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Bratislava to discuss the plan. NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg would also be present at the meeting to discuss the "enactment of the joint EU-NATO declaration signed in Warsaw in July", Mogherini said.



"This symbolises the fact that we have been working together from the outset," she added.


Awarded a supplemental type certificate, Bombardier WAVE (Wireless Access Virtually Everywhere), the onboard connectivity solution, can now be installed on all Bombardier Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft, as well as previous Global aircraft models as a retrofit.

"Existing Global aircraft customers can install the system at any of our Bombardier Service Centres, and take advantage of an ultra-high-speed in-flight connectivity and productivity solution to make the most efficient use of their time onboard," said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, vice president and general manager, customer experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "Global customers can benefit from the Service Centre Network's comprehensive capabilities and flexibility, all while maximising their downtime by pairing their installation with their next aircraft maintenance event.

Global aircraft offer an unrivalled passenger experience featuring the industry's original, class-leading wide cabin and now Bombardier WAVE - the business aviation industry's first Ka-Band ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi service available in flight. This reinforces the Global aircraft family's position as the leading choice for business travel providing ultra-high-speed Internet access, consistent performance and seamless coverage across the globe.

The in-service Global fleet has performed nearly 700,000 landings and has logged nearly 2,000,000 flight hours. Impressive short takeoff and unmatched landing distances in its class, coupled with slow approach speeds, come together in the Global aircraft to give customers greater access to more of the world's most challenging airfields and business hubs.
The new bags will initially be introduced on the airline's Airbus A380 flights between Abu Dhabi and London, New York, Sydney, Melbourne and Mumbai, and then fleet-wide in early 2017.

Calum Laming, Etihad Airways vice president guest experience, said: "The new kits perfectly balance fashion and style with beauty and wellbeing. By forging partnerships with these two innovative lifestyle brands, we are once again able to demonstrate Etihad Airways' continuous commitment to First Class travel, and to providing unparalleled experiences at every phase of our guests journey with us.

There are two varieties for both male and female guests  featuring a wash bag and convertible flat case for men, and debossed fold over bags for ladies. The stylish ladies bag is designed to be used as a chic clutch, whilst the mens bag can be used buttoned down as a wash bag or, when opened flat, as storage for tablet devices such as iPads.

The bags contain four anti-ageing and rejuvenating items by Omorovicza, hand-picked from the brands Gold collection. The anti-inflammatory gold in the luxurious creams, serums, oils and scrubs heals micro-damage and strengthens mature skin, and also achieves maximum efficacy with only pure ingredients and no harmful agents

The inflight essential products include a perfecting lip balm that soothes and nourishes dehydrated lips; a facial moisturiser with cooling gel-cream that absorbs instantly and provides long-lasting hydration; a nourishing, lightly scented hand treatment; and a refreshing cleansing wipe.
The upgrade from a single aisle Airbus A321 aircraft will cater to strong demand to and from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering guests more seats on a wide-body aircraft. Together with the other daily Riyadh service operated by a Boeing 777, Etihad Airways will have more than 8,700 weekly seats on the route.
The new transit visa structure now allows passengers with a minimum transit time of five hours in Hamad International Airport to stay in Qatar for up to 96 hours (four days), without the requirement to apply ahead of time for an entry visa.

This is a significant increase from the previous transit visa scheme, which allowed travellers with a minimum layover of eight hours to spend a maximum of 48 hours (two days) in Qatar. This increase is designed to make stopovers easier and more attractive to Qatar Airways global passengers, and aims to deliver additional value to the local economy while strengthening Qatars position as an attractive tourist destination.

The Qatar transit visa is free of charge and available on arrival at Hamad International Airport to passengers of all nationalities, upon confirmation of onward journey and completion of passport control procedures. All visas are approved and issued at the sole discretion of the Ministry of Interior.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: Qatar Airways serves millions of people from around the world as they journey across our network of more than 150 destinations. Whether travelling for business or leisure, we want to enrich the journey of all of our passengers and we are restructuring our fares to reflect this initiative and to promote stopovers to travellers. We are excited to offer our passengers the opportunity to taste the cultural highlights that the city of Doha and the State of Qatar have to offer. We are thankful to the Ministry of Interior and the Qatar Tourism Authority for helping us to create a journey that includes discovering Qatar, an experience that will stay in our visitors hearts and minds forever.

The development is the third in a series of enhancements that Qatar has made to facilitate entry into the country for visitors. Last week, officials announced a new process to quicken the entry of tourists arriving on board cruise ships, and earlier, representatives signed an agreement with VFS Global, which will see the development of a new, faster and more transparent tourist visa application mechanism.

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai commended Qatar on its rapid advancement in this area. Promoting visa facilitation is a priority for tourism development worldwide and a key element in the competitiveness of tourism destinations. We congratulate Qatar for announcing, very auspiciously on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, a new milestone change in the countrys transit visa scheme, he said. This is the third significant travel facilitation announcement from Qatar in the space of just one month. We are very pleased to see that the work conducted by UNWTO with Qatar on visa facilitation is yielding results and trust that these will certainly result in an increase of visitors to Qatar.

Director general of the general directorate of nationality, borders and expatriates affairs in the Ministry of Interior, Brigadier Abdullah Salim Al-Ali, said: The Ministry of Interior strives to support the countrys growth and development, while maintaining security for all visitors and residents. We are pleased to further facilitate the movement of the 30 million passengers who pass through Hamad International Airport every year. We welcome them to spend time in Doha and discover Qatari hospitality.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The schools of Kurdish communities of Armenia are provided with textbooks prepared for 1-12nd grades, head of the Department of the Kurdish Writers of the Writers Union of Armenia, poet Alixan Mame said in an interview with Armenpress.

Having such scientifically prepared textbooks is a historical event.

Such textbooks havent been published in the history of Kurdish people. 13 textbooks were published. A chance was given in Armenia to publish textbooks with unique syllabus and scientific formulation. This is a really historical event in the Kurdish peoples life, he said.

He expressed concern there is a lack of Kurdish teaching professionals, but trainings are organized by the author.

He said before the publication of the textbooks, the minorities studied at schools with Yazidi textbooks.

The textbooks were published in Spica publishing house by the states sponsorship.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan published the preliminary results of the referendum on the constitutional changes held on September 26, the Azerbaijani APA news agency reported.

The Azerbaijani CEC Chairman informed that 69.7% of the electorate participated in the referendum.

According to the presented data, 91.2% of people voted in favor of extending the presidents term of office from 5 to 7 years, 89% voted in favor of installation of the vice-presidents institute, 88.3% voted in favor eliminating the age limit for the elections of the MPs, and 91% voted in favor of abolishing the age limit for the presidents elections.

The Azerbaijani citizens also gave the president a right to dissolve the parliament: 87.4% voted in favor of such change.

The referendum in Azerbaijan was held with gross violations. A number of cases of ballot stuffing were recorded.

Earlier the Council of Europe's constitutional law experts, (the Venice Commission) criticized draft modifications to the constitution of Azerbaijan. Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving unprecedented powers to the President, according to the Venice Commission opinion. For example, the extension of the presidential mandate from five to seven years cannot be justified given the already very strong position of the President, who since 2009 can be re-elected without term limits.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Acting Minister of Economy Artsvik Minasyan doesnt want to talk about his appointment as Minister of Nature of Protection.

Time will come, we will talk. As long as the Government has not been formed and there are no corresponding decrees, I dont find it proper to speak about it, he said, Armenpress reported.

Referring to the problems in the nature protection field, he said any Minister representing the field must be guided by the approach deriving from the Constitution.

It is necessary to be guided by the Article 12 of the Constitution since the protection, restoration and utilization of the environment is the obligation of the state and public authorities as a responsibility for the upcoming generation, Artsvik Minasyan said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian acting Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan on September 27 received Chairman of Patriotic Union of Urfa in Los Angeles, US Air Force Veteran, Colonel John Kioseian, press service of the Ministry informed Armenpress.

Welcoming the guest Seyran Ohanyan highly appreciated his activity and efforts for maintaining and developing the Armenian culture in the US.

By the guests request Seyran Ohanyan presented the ongoing reforms in the armed forces, the cooperation projects with different Diaspora structures in the frames of army-society ties.

The sides attached importance to concentrating efforts towards the national unity, instilling patriotism among the youth, strengthening army-society ties.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on September 27 received the delegation of Fund for Armenian Relief led by US Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Chairman of the FAR, Archbishop Khajak Parsamyan, press service of the Presidential administration informed Armenpress.

President Sargsyan welcomed the delegation members in the Motherland and highly appreciated the FARs patriotic activity staring from 1988 in the disaster zone, as well as in many other settlements of Armenia and in Nagorno Karabakh.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the projects conducted with a great devotion and asked the members to convey his gratitude to all representatives, partners and philanthropists of the Fund.

President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to FAR Chairman Khajak Parsamyan and expressed confidence his organizational talent will serve the Armenian people for a long time.

The President highly appreciated the FARs assistance to our Syrian Armenian brothers and sisters for whom Armenia does everything possible to mitigate their problems and take care of them.

At the meeting the President awarded philanthropists Edward and Janet Mardigian with 1st degree medals for the Services provided to the Motherland.

President Sargsyan answered to the questions of the meeting participants which related to Armenias development prospect, economic priorities, the state policy on attracting investments and promoting export, the projects for assisting Syrian Armenians and etc.
As ASEAN continues to integrate, Singapores importance as the entry point for investment is likely to increase. In this article, we aim to answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Singapores use as a hub for the management of regional operations throughout ASEAN.

Question: Why has Singapore risen as a destination for the management of ASEAN expansion?

Answer: A myriad of factors contributed to making Singapore among the most attractive economies for investment in Asia. Effective administration of regional operations, integrated supply chain and minimized tax obligations allow Singapore to easily outcompete traditional holding locations such as Malaysia and fellow ASEAN members alike.

Q: What is the benefit of routing investments through Singapore?

A: Companies operating in ASEAN might find that the cost of transferring profits back to their home country has increased in the absence of up to date DTAs.

By contrast, with many DTAs in place and 0 percent withholdings tax of its own on dividends, Singapore allows companies to remit profits from production centers at a lowered rate and then pass profits on to a parent company without further reduction.

Q: What are the options for corporate establishment in Singapore?

A: Setting up a private limited establishment in Singapore is the most effect option for administering operations throughout ASEAN, whilst other options such as representative offices, publically listed companies, and joint ventures are also available for foreign investors. The structure of the private limited establishment allows companies owners to maintain full control of regional operations but limit their liability in case of a conflict with its subsidiaries in third party states.

Q: What steps are involved when establishing a company in Singapore?

A: Companies investing in Singapore must first obtain approval for the companys name, which should not be identical to a name already exists. Secondly, all private limited companies are required to appoint a director, company secretaries and auditors. The next thing on the list is to set up an office within Singapores city limits. They then must formally register with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. While specific companies might face additional licensing or need to submit further documentation, all companies are subject to a variety of compliance requirements including holding the first annual meeting within 18 months of incorporation.

Q: What are some common licensing requirements that investors might face upon entry into Singapore?

A: Depending on the nature of the work that a company wishes to conduct within Singapore, additional documentation and licensing may be required.

Among them, the most common ones are Business Activity License required for most firms operating within the country and Occupational License required for professional services such as lawyers, accountants and securities traders. Other documents also include a Compulsory License required for specialized fields such as travel agencies, school and employment agencies and a Certificate of Corporate Residency which is required for companies seeking to tap into Singapores DTAs.

Q: How can firms in Singapore offset their international taxation?

A: Currently those incorporated within Singapore and holding a Certificate of Residence (COR) will be able to choose between two methods, the credit method and the exemption method, in order to offset their international taxation. Under the credit method, Singapore will typically grant a foreign tax credit (FTC) to an entity that has paid taxes on business profits derived in the source state. The entity can then offset that FTC against its tax liability in Singapore. Under the exemption method, business profits that have already been taxed in the source state will typically be exempted from taxation in Singapore altogether.

For additional information on using Singapore as the regional hub for your ASEAN operations, see more questions and answers on Dezan Shira & Associates Knowledge Sharing Platform, read our recent ASEAN Briefing magazine, or contact our specialists at asean@dezshria.com.
Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed in 2009 in broad daylight on his way to work. He had been a stalwart critic of the corruption of the government led by President Rajapaksa, human rights violations and the war against the Tamil Tigers. His tomb is guarded, to prevent retaliation of his killers who are still at large.

Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed in 2009 in broad daylight on his way to work. He had been a stalwart critic of the corruption of the government led by President Rajapaksa, human rights violations and the war against the Tamil Tigers. His tomb is guarded, to prevent retaliation of his killers who are still at large.



Colombo (AsiaNews) - A court in Sri Lanka has decided to exhume the body of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, killed in 2009 for his critical stance against the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The decision may help turn the new investigation into his murder, since the first autopsy had shown conflicting results.

Wickrematunge was the editor of the "Sunday Leader" and was killed on 8 January 2009 by two strangers on his way to work. The newspaper had criticized the government for widespread corruption, the war against the Tamil Tigers and the violations of human rights. Just three days before his assassination he had written an editorial in which he stated he knew that he would be killed shortly by the government, and that any investigation into his murder would be inconclusive.



After his death, journalists, media professionals and the public had protested against the government, accusing it of collusion with the killers and threatening press freedom in the country. Wickrematunge also posthumously received the World Press Freedom Prize awarded by UNESCO to those who are fighting for the freedom of press and expression.



In 2014 the Ministry of Defence, headed by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (brother of President Mahinda), issued a circular in which it banned non-governmental organizations from holding press conferences, workshops, training courses for journalists. The move was opposed by all the local organizations, which termed it as an attempt to silence activists and journalists.



In January 2015, when Maithripala Sirisena was elected to the presidency, he promised to reform media legislation and to reopen the investigation into the journalist's death. A first turning point came in July this year, when one person connected to the murder of Wickrematunge was arrested.



Since the Sri Lankan court issued the decision to exhume the body, the directors grave has been guarded round the clock by security forces to prevent any retaliation by his killers who are still at large.
For the Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, travelling in the footsteps of Christ is a source for the "rebirth of faith". It is an essential element for Europe and North America, where a crisis of religion is unfolding. The number of Chinese and Vietnamese pilgrims who understand the wonder of faith" is growing. Israel restricts entry to Arab Christians, especially from Jordan. AsiaNews proposes a pilgrimage.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  The act of pilgrimage is a "means of the New Evangelization" because travelling to sacred places in the footsteps of Christ can bring a "rebirth of faith". Whoever accomplishes it discovers that he or she has received a calling from God, a vocation, a motion of the Spirit." This has now become essential for Europe and the West in general, where "Christianity and religion are undergoing a profound crisis, "said Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem.

Speaking to AsiaNews, he noted that going on a pilgrimage embodies "the theological meaning of the Bible, which is also shared by Muslims and Jews." It is a "rebirth" and a "rediscovery" of ones origins, "to understand the places where our faith was born".

"Many pilgrims, the bishop said, tell us that the journey changed them, and helped them see life through Biblical eyes. The pilgrimage is also a source of vocations, of rediscovery of the faith and the calling to God." However, this path " needs a companion". Pilgrimages "are constructive," said Mgr Marcuzzo, if they are "well prepared at the beginning" and if "they have a follow-up; if there are opportunities, with a guide, to reflect on the experience."

In addition to being a path of search and discovery, pilgrimages are also an essential resource for the Christian population of the Holy Land. According to recent statistics, at least 30 per cent of the local community  in Jerusalem and Bethlehem  earn a living from religious tourism. The decline in pilgrimages in recent years has badly affected the economy and the survival of local Christians.

For Sobhy Makhoul, chancellor of the Maronite Patriarchate in Jerusalem, when there are pilgrimages, "at least 30 per cent work regularly. When pilgrimages are down, that 30 per cent is exposed to unemployment and, therefore, directly or indirectly, to emigration."

This year there were "70 per cent fewer visitors than in the past." It was "a lean year to say the least," and there are multiple factors that have led to this: the security issue, attacks, the poor economy, and the religious crisis, which particularly affects Europe.

"The trend is still downward, Mgr Marcuzzo said. This period, traditionally the best par of the year for a trip to the Holy Land, is confirmation of the crisis. Of course, there is a small recovery, but the figure is far from the recent past."

The reasons are economic and security-related. Fears of attack are unfounded however, the prelate stressed. To this, we must add the gradual distancing from religion in certain countries or continents (Europe first, but also the North America). "Europe no longer believes in pilgrimages, said the patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem. At best people make a nice trip with a religious background, but its true and deeper meaning is lost".

Shared by Jews and Muslims, the act of pilgrimage "is a process of renewal, because it brings us where the faith was born. It is a rediscovery of the community of origin, because here we find the direct heirs who carry a collective and living memory of Jesus".

The crisis of pilgrims from Europe  except for Poland, where numbers still hold  is compensated by the growth of Asian pilgrims: Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, but also Chinese and Vietnamese. "In particular, for the Chinese believers, the rediscovery becomes even stronger and more intense, the prelate said. For them everything is new, unlike Europeans who are more accustomed to the stories and places described in the Bible. For the Chinese and Vietnamese, it is a real discovery with an attitude of gratitude. One can read the wonder of faith, the element of incarnation in their faces. Here, eastern pilgrims discover the human element which is in the divine and the divine that enters in the human being. And this raises questions, sparks thoughts, generates wonder . . .".

However, there are not only economic or religious obstacles to limit the number of pilgrimages. "For some Arab Christians, Mgr Marcuzzo noted, at present, there are problems entering Israel. Jordan is one example. In some groups of pilgrims, half receive the visa, the other half is rejected for no apparent reason. The father is accepted but not the mother, the son but not the brother . . . Lately, a group of eight new Jordanian deacons wanted to hold a prayer retreat in the Holy Land, but had to desist because two of them had their visa application rejected."

"Security issues" have been cited, but they are laughable because "our Christians are not involved in anything related to terrorism, or acts of violence, or protests." The same is happening to Egypts Christians, according to patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem. In recent times, it is the Egyptian government that is discouraging pilgrimages for domestic reasons".

Responding to the calls from local Church figures, AsiaNews has decided to offer again its readers the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the company Fr Bernardo Cervellera with local specialised guides. The departure is set for 28 October 2016, with return on 4 November. There are still some places available. For more details, click here. (DS)
He visited China during the Cultural Revolution and after Deng Xiaoping modernisations. Catholic communities that seemed destroyed blossomed again. Ties with old PIME missionaries expelled by Mao Zedong were renewed. The mission has now new frontiers. Here is Fr Piero Gheddos autobiography.

Milan (AsiaNews)  For the past few weeks, Father Piero Gheddos autobiography has been available in bookstores. One of the oldest Italian missionary journalists, he has been the editor of Mondo e Missione for 40 years. He is also the founder of AsiaNews (in 1986) when it came out in paper.

Titled Inviato speciale ai confini della fede. La mia vita di missionario giornalista (Special correspondent on the frontiers of faith. My life as a missionary journalist), EMI, pp. 224,  14, preface by Andrea Tornielli, the book was written with Gerolamo Fazzini, a journalist and editorial consultant. In a book full of personal stories and views about international affairs as well as passion for people and the Church, we can perceive the difficulties and the enthusiasm of the young Churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America. By kind courtesy of EMI, we propose chapter 9 of the book, on China.

After I was ordained in 1953, I immediately began working in journalism, interviewing  among others  our PIME missionaries who had been expelled from China (140, including five bishops) at that time. They were quite pessimistic about the fate of the Chinese Church because, they said, "they are sending away us foreign missionaries, jailing bishops, priests and nuns, and they are closing churches, seminaries, convents, Catholic schools, the Catholic press, adding that Our poor rice Christians will not resist the persecution. But we must continue to pray".

I saw China through the eyes of man, not God

In 1973 I went to China as a member of a Montedison* commission (replacing someone ill). The "Cultural Revolution" was in full swing and that China, I must confess, had almost fascinated me: discipline, order, cleanliness, dignity, national pride, dignified poverty, equality in needs. No beggars or lepers could be seen in the streets, etc. Then, reading Mao Zedongs Little Red Book, one could see views worthy of Saint Paul: "To each everything that he needs, from each all he can give'; "Serving the people is the ideal of the good Chinese"; "The ideal of communism is to change the heart of man."

I had moments of doubt in my granite conviction that Godless communism could not produce any positive results for people. China seemed to prove otherwise and the guide did not fail to repeat: "China has learnt to do without God." Not only Christians, but also Buddhists, Muslims, Confucians, had disappeared: state atheism seemed shared by the people. In the West and in Italy, Mao was considered by journalists and "prophets", the real saviour of China, who gave a bowl of rice to every Chinese every day [1].

Back in Italy, I later wrote that the Catholic Church no longer existed in China; centuries of mission did not bear fruit. I thought that the so-called "rice Christians", converted through food aid, no longer existed. So when freedom comes to China, we will have to "start over the evangelisation of the Chinese. I was naive and blind. I saw Chinas reality only through my poor human eyes. My trust in the Holy Spirit, the protagonist of the Church's mission, had not yet matured well!

Our trip to China had as its base a hotel for foreigners in Canton (Guangzhou). We had been invited to visit an exhibition of Chinese products. From the city, they took us to see the achievements of Maoist China, a large barracks. In the morning, the alarm clock sounded at six: music and patriotic songs throughout the metropolis. Shortly afterwards, men and women walked down the broad avenue along the river dressed all in much the same way, black or dark blue pants, white blouse. It was the start of the daily calisthenics, led by a strong and sonorous voice, with a background of patriotic music, found in any large city. Then, everyone went to work.

We did not visit China, except a narrow strip near Guangzhou, where we came back in the evening. They brought us to some schools, a modern hospital, "farming communes" with the community life of the families, everyone involved in work, with children maintained and educated by the state. Then, we went to see a large dam, built by thousands of men and women in groups, carrying loads on their backs, climbing on bamboo stairs that would scare your wits. Most of the work was manual. The various groups of the sector were competing. Everywhere different coloured flags marked the job done; it was a great show. In the evening, the group that had worked harder got a prize. The visit to the University was also interesting. The old buildings, classrooms, laboratories, scientific faculties, everything was the same as in the West. But when we went inside the great library we saw right away many shelves but a few books, almost each one in Chinese. The senior librarian, who spoke French, took me aside and told me: "The books in other languages were all burnt."

At the end of the visit, we had two days of freedom. From the hotel terrace, where I went to take pictures from above, I could see the direction and length of the trip to get to the majestic Gothic Catholic Cathedral, built by French missionaries in the late 19th century. One morning I went out with the permission of our guide and went straight to the "stone house" (as it is called in Chinese). The cathedral was behind a closed gate. I took a picture of if with a portrait of Mao above the entrance. [2]

Next to the cathedral I saw a shelter where neighbourhood garbage was dumped. My brothers in Hong Kong explained to me that it was a mark of contempt for the foreign building. After the cathedral, I stopped for a bit at a bench in the nearby square near our hotel. I took pictures of some buildings and shops, and went back to the hotel. I went into my room and realised that one of my two cameras (black and white and colour slides) no longer had the plastic cover for the lens. I went down to the restaurant and a waiter handed me the cover on a tray and said, "You left it on the bench of the nearby square?" And I naively had thought that I was free!

In the hotel, I got up at two am to celebrate Mass on the table of the room: poignant masses in the silence of the night, thinking about all the Christians in prison or in Chinese labour and extermination camps ("laogai"). During the "Cultural Revolution", not a single church was open: it seemed that the Church in China had literally disappeared.

Persecution strengthens the faith

After Maos death (9 September 1976), the Church rose from its ashes. Around 1979-1980, Chinese Christians were beginning to write to Italian PIME missionaries (especially Fr Maringelli) who had been expelled from China 20-25 years earlier. [3] Their letters were very simple, by country people, who had experienced suffering, persecution, imprisonment, forced labour camps and came to write sentences like this, "I'm glad to have suffered for the faith in Jesus Christ."[4]

These people kept the faith under very difficult conditions: no churches, no priests, no Christian community, in the presence of a totalitarian state that for almost thirty years pursued all religions. In these letters, Chinese Christians did not ask for money but wanted sacred objects: rosary beads, gospels, images of Our Lady, medals, prayer books. "The Cultural Revolution destroyed all that was a reminder of God and the saints. Send us rosaries and holy pictures to hang on the walls, now that it is allowed to have these images in the home."

The revival of the Chinese Church was a real miracle. This is how I saw it in 1981. "Looking at the life of the Church around the world, maybe we can say that in our time there is no other sign of faith that is so exciting, so full of hope, as this unexpected rebirth of Christian life in China, which in fact was never extinguished, but lived in the secret of minds and families. This has occurred despite fierce and widespread persecution, which has few parallels in the ancient and modern history of the Church. Where are we going to look for other signs that show the grace of God, the mysterious but very concrete action of the Holy Spirit in human history, if not in the witness borne by Christians in China?"

I went back to China for a second time in the summer of 1980 together with Father Giancarlo Politi, a Hong Kong-based missionary, who spoke fluent Chinese. We visited a diocese where in 1973 I did not find any sign of a Christian presence. In Sheqi, we met the bishop and a priest, who spent 25 and 31 years in prison respectively. Many non-Christians were seeking religious instruction, they said. Unfortunately, there were no books or sacred signs; we could not give them an adequate Christian education. I wondered why there were so many requests for conversion, when the Church had so few priests and educational material (Gospels, images, prayer books, etc.). The bishop replied: "We do not preach, but the life of Christians proclaims the Gospel and an alternative society to the present one. Everyone knows who the Christians are. They saw us when we were persecuted, prosecuted and unfairly convicted. We never cursed anyone. Even in prisons and forced labor camps, Christians bearing witness converted many to the Gospel. And now that we're back in our homes, we do not seek revenge. We are not complaining for what we suffered. We help those who are in need of our help. I think that the requests for religious instruction and conversion comes from this."

I had with me a package of rosaries. I handed them out when visiting some Christian families and even priests and nuns. I believe I have never seen people so happy for a gift, and all I was giving them was a rosary.

Today works of charity are born in China

In October 2000, I went on my third visit to China. Visiting my confrere Fr Fernando Cagnin Canton (now Guangzhou). I had long conversations with him, during which I understood his very special missionary choice. [5] Since 1995, in fact, Fr Fernando had worked for Huiling, a Chinese NGO that has been involved with young people and adults with mental disabilities for 25 years. The founder is a charismatic woman, now in her sixties, Meng Weina. She is a former Red Guard who converted to Catholicism inspired by the example of Mother Teresa, whose name she took in 1998 when she was baptised.

Huiling began back in 1985, when a school was opened in Guangzhou for a hundred children with mental disabilities. In those years, China was still unfamiliar with NGOs, and Huiling (whose name means "spiritual wisdom") began to take also in teenagers over 16 with mental and non-mental disabilities. Fr Cagnin arrived in 1995. Until then, he had been a missionary in Hong Kong. He decided to devote himself to Huiling in keeping with PIMEs charism, whose members are called to proclaim the Gospel to non-Christians, bearing witness in "border contexts." Before he was ordained in PIME (1985), Fernando had worked in computer science, which was just taking off then, and so had acquired considerable technical skills, as well as passion and knowledge for this field. In 2000 I saw him in Huiling teaching the disabled to use computers, which he would get from Hong Kong where they had been discarded as old. He would dismount them and build new ones.

The beginning of his mission, which had a great success, came at a time when China was looking for computer experts. Computer coops of disabled people have emerged and always found profitable business. Huiling, which was a small entity, is now present in 26 cities of China's 17 provinces, with more than 1,500 residents in the centres and numerous innovative and far-reaching projects. Two other Hong Kong-based PIME missionaries, Fathers Mario Marazzi and Franco Bellati, joined Fernando and live in the disabled homes.

During my stay in Canton with Father Fernando I visited the Cathedral, the bishops residence of Canton and the convent with a community of nuns, behind the majestic and massive Gothic church built in 1890. I met 26 young nuns to whom I spoke (in English) of my experiences in various missions around the world and Fernando translated into Chinese (Cantonese). The young women listen willingly, and asked a few questions. Wearing black pants, white blouse, without a veil, hair cut short, with a small crucifix on their chest, these young women show how the Catholic community is re-emerging, rich in vocations and enthusiasm.

The sisters live in small communities in flats, amid the people, each exercising a profession, a job, interested in the poor, working with the parishes, making contact with women and families. I asked them: "Is it true that the government has summoned priests, nuns and catechists to meetings to indoctrinate you?". "Yes, they said, it is true. We have a meeting every day. They tell the story of the past, the crimes and the oppression of Western Christian people, the damage that missionaries and nuns did to the Chinese people. [6] But these lessons will end in a few days and everything will be as before. Even if there was some truth in what they say, our faith is based on love for Christ and on the concrete experience that faith and prayer help us live better." I never forgot such stories of faith and courage.

[1] After Maos death (9 September 1976), the violence of Chinese society became apparent. Massacres came to light, as did the stories of the tens of millions who starved, the systematic killing of lepers and other people with incurable diseases, the destruction of Tibetan culture and people, etc.

[2] Years later this picture ended up on the cover of a book by A.S. Lazzarotto, La Cina di Mao processa la Chiesa (Mao's China puts the Church on trial), Bologna: EMI, 2008.

[3] See my Lettere di cristiani dalla Cina (Letters of Christians from China), Bologna: Emi, 1981. In the preface, I wrote: "The pages that follow are a glimpse of rural Christian life, a simple story, fresh, moving, of how most poor Christians (those who were once called, almost contemptuously, "rice Christians") have maintained and propagated the faith in the most difficult and almost impossible conditions. Let's face it: this is a wonderful, miraculous fact that after thirty years of suffering and silence, as soon as there was a glimmer of freedom, suddenly all these priests, families and communities came out, united in faith and prayer, whom everyone thought had been liquidated and dispersed."

[4] Tragic and beautiful stories of witnesses of faith in extreme conditions can be found in G. Fazzini (ed), Il libro rosso dei martiri cinesi (The Red Book of Chinese Martyrs), Cinisello Balsamo: Edizioni San Paolo, 2008; and G. Fazzini (ed), In catene per Cristo. Diari di martiri nella Cina di Mao (In chains for Christ. Diaries of martyrs in Mao's China), Bologna: EMI, 2014.

[5] The full text of the interview can be found in www.gheddopiero.it. It was broadcast by Radio Maria in 2014.

[6] In 2000, John Paul II decided to canonise 120 martyrs in China (including our Holy Father Alberico Crescitelli), sparking strong protests from the Chinese government.

* Montedison was of the largest industrial holding companies.
by John Ai

The sentence includes jail time and probation. The accused were members of an NGO working on behalf of workers rights. They were charged with causing damage with strikes and negotiations with companies. All three pleaded guilty and decided not to appeal. The leader, Zeng Feiyang, was accused of receiving foreign funds to harm the Chinese government.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  A court in southern Guangzhou city sentenced three labor activists to prison with probation on 26th September. The three arrested labor activists providing law assistance for workers. The activists were accused of accepting overseas funding, organizing strikes among workers and causing social disruptions that caused companies suffered losses.

Zeng Feiyang, the head of Panyu Laborer Document Service Center, was sentenced to three years in prison with four years of probation for causing social disruptions. Tang Huanxing and Zhu Xiaomei, staff members of the NGO, were both sentenced to one year and a half in prison with two years of probation on the same accusation. Along with the arrested activists, Meng Han's case was sent back by the court for supplementary investigation.

According to Xinhua, Chinas official news agency, the three activists confessed their guilt in the court. "I apologize for the fault that brought losses to companies, society and workers. I deeply regret the huge harm on my family. I hope people will learn a lesson from me. Do not get hooked up by overseas organizations...", Zeng Feiyang said in the court.

Zeng Feiyang established the NGO in 1998. As one of the first NGOs helping workers, it provided legal aid and offered help in strikes and negotiations with companies for a decade. The NGO registered with business administration authority but the registration was later revoked. Zeng was also honored as the "the charitable figure" by Southern Metropolis Daily in 2012. He was beaten by unidentified people in his office in 2014, and was arrested in December, 2015.

The court hearing centered on the strikes in Lide Shoe-making Factory. The factory planned to move away in June 2014. The dispute broke out because the workers' social security had not not paid and workers worried the factory would lay them off without compensation after moving away. The court claimed that Zeng Feiyang organized strikes three times in 2014 and 2015 that caused losses of 2.74 million yuan (US$ 410,000) in output and 0.93 million yuan (US$ 140,000) in lost profit. The court also said that Zeng Feiyang planned and carried out the deeds, and Tang Huanxing and Zhu Xiaomei were active participants: Tang was responsible for Internet media and Zhu organized and incited the workers.

According to Xinhua, Zhu Xiaomei said in the court that Zeng Feiyang and she trained some workers. Zeng provided textbooks with the history of the trade union movement in the West, case studies of strikes and election of trade union. Zeng also sent Zhu Xiaomei for training in Hong Kong and Indonesia and implement the tasks after returning to China.

Xinhua said that Zeng sent photos of strikes to foreign media. Interviewed by foreign media, Xinhua said that Zeng exaggerated the dispute between workers and companies and distorted it so that it would seem to be a conflict between workers and government, "smearing the image of China and attacking China's social system".

The Lide Shoe-making Factory paid 120 million yuan in total compensation to the workers in April 2015. Tang Huanxing said in the court that Zeng benefit the most from the strike. Although workers got temporary benefit, the factory suffered huge economic losses and business hardship, and many workers lost their jobs for this reason.

Previously, Xinhua claimed that Zeng Feiyang received funds from the China Labor Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based NGO, and foreign embassies in China. Xinhua said that most of the funds were embezzled by Zeng who bought two properties and a car.
by Kamran Chaudhry

On 22 September, prayers were held at All Saints Church for the Talibans victims. Some of the injured still require hospital treatment. On Saturday, a Mass was held in St John Vianney Church. Arif Aqeel was left paralysed and mute by the blasts.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Three years after the Taliban committed a massacre at the All Saints Church Protestant in Peshawar, some injured Christians are still struggling to survive.

On the day of the anniversary, 22 September, the church that was attacked held a memorial prayer for the more than 100 victims and the 144 people who were injured.

Four Christians are still visiting hospitals for their treatment, Rev Humphrey S. Peters, bishop of the (Anglican) Church of Pakistan, told AsiaNews. The government must fulfil its promise to establish an endowment fund for the people affected by the church bombing.

On 22 September 2013, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the end of the Sunday service, near the Protestant Church in Kohati Gate. More than 600 worshippers were inside the building at the time of the blasts.

Built in 1883 in the style of a mosque, the historic building faces Makkah and symbolises an attempt at peace, harmony and peaceful coexistence between the Muslim majority and the Christian minority.

In the aftermath of the attack, the leaders of the Islamic community, along with Protestants and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, firmly condemned the barbaric act of violence.

Since the attack in Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (northern Pakistan), Islamic terrorists have targeted the province. In fact, more suicide bombings were carried out a few days after the church attack.

More was to follow. In December 2014, an attack against a military school in Peshawar killed 150 people, mostly children. In January 2016, another massacre occurred, this time at the University of Charsadda, claiming the lives of 21 students. The latest attack came earlier this month against the Christian colony on Warsak Road, a few kilometres from the military school.

The Christian community "lives in constant danger, Fr John William said. We cannot say that the situation has improved for minorities since the government launched the National Action Plan to fight the militants."

The priest officiated a second ceremony in memory of the victims of St John Vianney Church, last Saturday.

Arif Aqeel, 47, attended the Mass. He was left paralysed and mute after the explosion. The doctors had to amputate his left leg to stop the bleeding, but they failed to do anything for his vocal cords. Today he uses a wheelchair, which parishioners pushed up the church steps.

His monthly medicines cost about 15,000 rupees (US$ 145), his wife Jane said. Its the same amount he gets in his pension. My two sons were also injured but received no compensation from the provincial government.

I had to leave my job to take care of him as he is bedridden. Both government and churches supported us in the early days but now we have to decide between food and medicines. An NGO is paying for the school fee of my youngest son but we need regular support.
by Bernardo Cervellera

On October 7, the Regulations will be implemented. Criticism of contradiction between the emphasis on Constitution, which claims religious freedom in China and the Regulations which place numerous limitations on its expression. The State Councils intervention on religions is "illegal. Requests for a law that would recognize the right also to the domestic churches (underground) and all religions, not only the 5 recognized by the Beijing government.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The new regulations on religious activities that will be launched on 7 October is a contradiction in itself: while exalting the religious freedom enjoyed by every Chinese citizen, guaranteed in theory by the constitution, in fact they are a method "to restrict the religious freedom of the people.

Earlier this month, the State Council issued draft regulations aimed at controlling every aspect of the life of the religious communities, groups, personnel, places of worship, buildings and statues. They also warned against "terrorist" and "separatist" actions (Muslims in Xinjiang and Tibetan Buddhists) while demanding that there be no "ties with foreign countries", but full independence.

The government has consulted" the population and to date almost all of the opinions and the comments it has received are negative. Nevertheless, as a Party member commented to AsiaNews, the proof will "really lie in the final text", which will broke no correction.

Fr. Chen (a priest of the north-east China), said the Regulations are reminiscent of a Chinese proverb which goes: To call a horse a deer. In the reign of the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), the prime minister Zhao Gao, obsessed with ambition, thought of a way to prove his power over his ministers. So he called a horse a deer, and no minister dared to say otherwise or discuss it. On the contrary, what he said was repeated by many.

Similarly, although since 2005 - when the first regulations were implemented at the national level  criticism has continued to rain down about the limits posed to religious freedom, the State continues to claim that they are a means to support this freedom. "The State Constitution - notes Fr. Chen - states that all citizens enjoy the right to religious freedom, the Regulations should not appear as a way to restrict the religious freedom of the people".

In fact, says another priest from central China, "the Regulations on religious activities are a government control on religions. They way in which these regulations have been revised, shows that they are there to control religions. It is just an old wine in new wineskins (a change of form but not of substance), a simple cliche.

This gap between the Constitution and regulations appears in several other criticisms. Vincent, a Guangzhou layman, points out that "China is a country where state and religion are separated; because religious freedom and religious beliefs are a personal matter. Regulation of the activities of religious groups should be based on the Constitution and the Criminal Code and Law on religious laws; and it should not be imposed on these groups, especially priests and religious personnel to enter those organizations not linked to religion or incompatible with the faith [the Patriotic Associations - ed].

Some question the authority of the State Council in religious matters. Interviewed by RFA, the Protestant Christian lawyer Li Guisheng, says: "The government, the State Council in theory would not have the power to restrict the constitutional rights of citizens". It would be good not to always use only regulations, but draft a law on religious freedom. But "the State Council - says Li - is part of the executive and not be able to make laws. Only the National People's Congress can do so when it is in plenary session.

For Vincent, "the State Council, cannot restrict religious activities in such an illegal fashion".

The need for a true and proper law is perceived by many, such as the academic Liu Peng.

Such a law would undermine the difference between "normal religious activities" and "illegal" (those of the underground community, not recognized by the government), protecting the rights and interests of domestic churches [that are deemed "illegal" by the current regulations].

In addition, the law "should recognize the existence and the interests of those minorities outside of the five major religions. In China, in fact, the government only recognizes Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestant Christianity and Catholic Christianity. Other religions (Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, etc ...) live in a legal limbo, even though they are real religious groups. "In no other nation in the world - concludes Vincent - can people only believe in religions that the government decides!".
At least 14,000 women have joined the campaign, using their name. Many more have signed the initiative anonymously. The promoters are "very proud" of this support. Now they demand a response from authorities. But the campaign has met with resistance among some Saudi women who are in favor of protection.

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Thousands of women in Saudi Arabia have signed a petition calling for an end to the system that demands male protection for a variety of activities, from marriage to simple movements outside the home. In Wahabbi kingdom, where there is a strict Sunni interpretation of Islam, women are not allowed to drive and must receive the consent of a man - father, husband, brother or son if widows  even to work or study.

At least 14 thousand women have joined the campaign and signed the document, which will be delivered to government leaders shortly. An initiative that has had great response on social media and gained more and more support, taking advantage of the progressive growth of the hashtag associated with the campaign.

Saudi activist Aziza Al-Yousef told the BBC she felt "very proud", but now answers from the authorities are required.



In July a hashtag appeared on Twitter in Arabic that translates to the phrase "Saudi women want to abolish the system of male guardianship"  and went viral after an article published by human rights NGOs on the subject. Saudi women  a nation where the use of social network and is widespread among women - have reposted comments, videos and articles calling for change. Bracelets have also appeared with the inscription "I am my own guardian.



It is emphasized that 14 thousand women participating in the campaign have published their names in full, while there are many others that have signed the initiative anonymously.



This weekend, hundreds of women - some say up to 2500 - overwhelmed the office of the Saudi king with telegrams of support for the initiative. An answer that, according to activists, is "amazing and unprecedented."



However, the campaign has met with some resistance and opposition from women too. A Saudi group has launched a "counter-hashtag" which reads: "Male guardianship is in favor of the woman, not against her." Newspapers, opinion leaders and intellectuals of the Gulf Kingdom have published analysis, editorials and insights on the matter; not only in defense of guardianship, but there are also those who request its reform or better implementation.



The women are demanding that after having reached 21 years of age, they be "treated as adults" and "citizens with full rights."



In 2011, the late King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz gave women the right to elect their representatives and run for office (in future municipal elections in 2015). This came after a protest on social media asking for women the right to vote.

The king also authorised women to stay at hotels without a letter from a male guardian, making it easier for women to travel on business. He appointed the first female deputy minister, opened the first coeducational university and eliminated men from womens underwear and perfume shops.

His successor, King Salman, who took over in January, has not rolled back the changes.
Elon Musk Reveals How SpaceX Will Colonize Mars

Trending News: This Is How Elon Musk Plans To Take Humans To Mars

Why Is This Important?

Because it's one thing to dream  another to have a plan.

Long Story Short

Elon Musk just revealed how SpaceX plans to rocket humans to Mars. A video simulation released shortly before Musk took the stage at a conference in Mexico shows how the large rocket will be launched from Earth, refilled in orbit and then coast to Mars with the help of solar panel wings.

Long Story

Buckle up humanity, we're going to Mars.

That's the promise Elon Musk has been making for years, because we're screwing up the planet we're currently on. But its one thing to make a promise or fire off a dream, another thing altogether to have an explicit plan  and now we know what that plan is.

Musk's private space exploration company SpaceX released a video simulation on Tuesday afternoon, demonstrating how it intends to carry out an Interplanetary Transport System to Mars.

Cool, huh? What's even cooler is that this isn't just a wild dream or concept. Musk said during a presentation in Guadalajara, Mexico, that the simulation is based on its scientists real models.

"This is not what it might look like, this is what we plan to make it look like," he said.

The video shows SpaceX's promised new rocket, BFR, or "Big F*cking Rocket" (lol) launching the "Big F*cking Spaceship" into space with 28,730,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff, reports The Verge. The BFS/BFR will be over 50 meters taller than SpaceX's current Falcon 9 (122 meters vs 70 meters). To demonstrate how massive the BFS will be, Musk showed this image during the presentation.

The spaceship needs to be big, because along with enough cargo to feed (there will even be a restaurant on board) and build a fully self-sustaining civilization on Mars it will have to carry between 100 and 200 people at a time. At that rate, and with the capability of only going every two years, Musk said there will have to be around 10,000 trips over a period of 40 to 100 years.

Musk said he wants to make the trip to Mars as accessible as possible, so he says the goal is to make it cost less than $100,000 per person.

But to achieve this dream, SpaceX will need a lot of dough  something that Musk has been struggling with as of late due to less than exemplary numbers from Tesla and a devasting rocket crash. Musk isn't completely sure how he'll raise the money to fulfill this Mars dream, but in the presentation he proposed this idea, "steal underpants."

Jokes aside, the simulation video revealed the the Interplanetary Transport System the ship will be refuelled by a tanker in Earth's orbit. This won't just happen once, but the tanker will make several trips to refuel the ship before it leaves for Mars to cut down on costs.

When the ship finally exits our orbit, it will deploy solar panel wings, which can generate 200kW of power to allow the ship to coast at 62,000 miles per hour over a period of 80 days. When it arrives on the red planet, BFS will use a technique called supersonic retro propulsion to lower gently and land (if everything goes according to plan).

The end of the simulation video reveals a mysterious point in Musk's Mars colonization plan. As the red planet spins, you can see green and blue forming  presumably water and vegetation. Musk didn't say how humans will be able to do that on such a hot and dry planet, but the prospect is exciting.

Who knows if any of this can even come close to happen, but you have to respect Musk as a visionary.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

Will Musk fulfill his dream?

Disrupt Your Feed

It shouldn't just be Musk trying to fund this  the entire planet needs to come together to complete this mission to Mars.

Drop This Fact

Musk has been accused of getting mad at an employee who missed a work event to witness the birth of his child.
Members of the legal community have called for a deeper look into developing junior lawyers by giving them more chances to appear in court after a New York judge lambasted Facebook and BigLaw firm Kirkland & Ellis for sending an associate to a hearing.I think it is outrageous and irresponsible and insulting and youre not the person doing the insulting. Its whoever sent you here, Eastern District Judge Nicholas Garaufis told Kirkland & Ellis associate Aulden Burcher-DuPont about his BigLaw firm sending him and not a more senior lawyer to last Thursdays hearing, according to a transcript of the hearing The hearing was ended quickly and the judge ordered Kirkland & Ellis to send a partner to the next hearing on 28 September after saying he wants to talk to someone who talks to the senior management of Facebook.However, the outburst has attracted criticism from others in the legal field.In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kathi Vidal, a principal at Fish & Richardson in Silicon Valley, said that People become trial lawyers because they want to be in court  not sit at desks.Meanwhile, Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Gregg Costa in Texas highlighted how crucial it is that junior lawyers rack up a decent amount of courtroom hours aside from the office work they do during their first years in practice.If the veteran lawyers of tomorrow get no trial experience, there will be even fewer trials in the future, the judge said.Judge Costa said that junior lawyers are sometimes even more efficient in hearings because they are more familiar with the facts of the case than senior partners, the Journal reported.Burcher-DuPont was asked by the judge how long he has been with Kirkland & Ellis during the hearing and the lawyer answered One year, your Honour.One year: I dont disparage your brilliance. Im sorry. Kirkland & Ellis sent a first-year associate to the United States District Court to talk to a Federal district judge about this case, Garaufis told the lawyer, before asking if he was admitted to the court.He then instructed the lawyer to tell your folks at Kirkland & Ellis that I dont much like the idea that they think so little of this court that they didnt send a partner here to talk about this kind of problem which implicates international terrorism and the murder of innocent people in Israel and other places.Judge Garaufis later asked Burcher-DuPont how many lawyers Kirkland & Ellis had to which the associate replied approximately 1,500.Fifteen hundred people. How many of them are partners in litigation? You dont even know, there are so many. Its not a good start, you can tell your exalted partners over there, that they put you here and Ive got to lecture you. I want to lecture them, he said.Ive being a lawyer for 41 years and Ive been a judge for 16 years and Im not having this discussion with you.
Minter Ellison and Gilbert + Tobin are the legal advisers to Baring Private Equity Asia and SAI Global Limited, respectively, in Australias largest private equity deal yet for the year.Baring Asia and SAI have entered into a binding scheme implementation for the deal which sees SAI shareholders get $4.75 per share, a 35% premium to SAIs 5-day volume-weighted average price.The deal which de-lists SAI from the ASX pegs SAIs implied market capitalisation at $1.079 billion and an implied enterprise value of $1.237 billion.The transaction  which will be implemented through a members scheme of arrangement  is being coursed through Casmar Holdings Pte Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baring Asia Private Equity Fund VI registered in Singapore.Minter Ellisons team was led by Corporate M&A partner Ricky Casali who was assited by Corporate M&A partners Bart Oude-Vrielink and Michael Gajic, Commercial & Regulatory  FIRB partner David Moore and Financial Institutions partner John Mosley.Special counsel and senior associates on the Minter Ellison team were Michael Scarf (Corporate M&A), Belinda Harding (HR/IR), Mellissa Lai (Commercial & Regulatory) and Katherine Giles (Dispute resolution). Associates Michael Scarf (Corporate M&A), Belinda Harding (HR/IR), Mellissa Lai (Commercial & Regulatory) and Katherine Giles (Dispute resolution) as well as lawyers Daniel Ezekiel (Corporate M&A), Miriam Athanassios (Financial Institutions) and Rochelle Schuenker (Dispute resolution) were also part of the Minter Ellison team.Gilbert + Tobins team was led by M&A partners John Williamson-Noble and Tim Gordon and lawyers Chris Morse and Alice Pailthorpe.Baring Asia is a long standing client of Minter Ellison and we are very pleased to have advised Baring Asia on all aspects of the proposed take-private of SAI Global. The acquisition of SAI Global represents Baring Asia's first major Australian transaction. The transaction demonstrates that off-shore private equity fund buyers continue to see value on the public markets, said Minter Ellison lead partner Ricky Casali.The proposed acquisition by a leading Asian private equity fund recognises the quality of the business that has been built by SAI. We are delighted to be working closely with SAIs Board and management on such a milestone transaction for SAI and its shareholders, said Gilbert + Tobin co-lead Tim Gordon.The deal follows a buyout bid by Pacific Equity Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2014 for SAI which did not proceed.Gilbert + Tobin also acted as legal adviser to SAI in the 2014 offer. Meanwhile, Minter Ellison has had a long history with Baring Asia, having advised it on all prior transactions made by it in Australia.SAI  whose worldwide clients include Burger King, Coca-Cola, Marks&Spencer and McDonald's  is a global risk management, compliance and information business which was floated on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2003 by its parent organisation Standards Australia.The company, which is headquartered in Sydney, also operates a property services business in Australia, providing information broking and mortgage settlement services.SAI has 2,000 employees and a presence in 29 countries and 51 locations across Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific and is the 2nd largest aggregator of standards globally, the 6th largest certification body in the world and a leader in certification in the food industry.Baring Asia is an Asia-Pacific-focused private equity business comprising funds with over US$9 billion of commitments under management.
Hi Everyone,Have been reading through this forum a while and it has been a wealth of knowledge but wanted some advice on what to do with our situation.Me and my wife got married on 16th Oct 2015. The marriage was an arranged Indian wedding. I am an Australian Citizen (Have been for many years) and she is an Indian Citizen.We submitted the Offshore Partner Visa on the 20th April 2016 (She was visiting me in Australia for a number of months and due to a condition on her tourist visa we couldn't submit the Partner Visa until she left Australia) via a Migration Lawyer (Big mistake). We have recently submitted the Police Clearance certificate for my wife, which was delayed by 2 months due to a complication with my wife's pregnancy (Our first child).Our Migration Lawyer has asked us to provide evidence that our marriage is genuine and continuing. He has mainly asked for the following:Financial aspects of the relationship Evidence of joint ownership of real estate or other major assets (cars, appliances etc) and evidence of any joint liabilities (loans, credit cards, insurance etc) Sharing of finances; Legal commitments entered into as a couple; Evidence that you operate joint bank accounts, if applicable; Sharing of household bills and expenses.The nature of the household Your living arrangements; The basis upon which responsibility for housework is shared Joint ownership or joint rental of property in which you live; Joint utilities accounts (telephone, electricity etc) Joint responsibility for bills for day to day living expenses; Joint responsibility for children; A selection of correspondence addressed to both of you jointly or individually at your shared address.I am not sure what to provide as we are currently living a part due to her waiting for the Partner Visa and me working full-time in India. I do own land in Australia and will be building our home on it within the next 12 months. However, since my wife is a foreign national the bank won't let me add her to the title. They also won't let me add her to my bank account because she doesn't have a visa. We are opening a joint bank account in India through.I have collected all of the FB posts of us together including announcement of our engagement, marriage and birth of our child. I have also included a log of our WhatsApp communication.We have only lived together for a total of 5 months (3 months in Australia when she came on a tourist visa and 2 months in India when I went for the birth of our child).The Migration Lawyer has been absolutely hopeless and I don't know what to do. Living a part from my wife and new born has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do.Any advice would be appreciated
The VS400 will be launched under Bajaj's new 'Kratos' brand; will get a retuned version of the KTM Duke 390's 373cc motor.

Bajaj will soon bring its new VS400 to our market. We also brought you the story a few days ago of Bajajreadying a new brand for its 400cc power cruiser. Reliable sources have now unofficially confirmed that this new brand will be called 'Kratos'.

The Greek mythology, Kratos is the God of Strength, and Bajaj will be using this moniker for its premium brand, that sits above the Pulsar range, and will remain exclusive to the existing models.

The VS400 will be powered by the same engine used in the KTM Duke 390. Bajaj, however, is sure to have incorporated tuning changes to this 373cc motor to suit the cruiser's touring-oriented nature. The engine which makes around 35hp should get Bajajs signature triple-spark technology, and will come mated to a six-speed gearbox.

Bajaj is also readying a refresh for its existing Pulsar line-up with revised 150, 180 and 220 models expected to hit showrooms by the end of this year.
Updated Brio expected to feature cosmetic changes similar to those seen on facelifted Amaze compact sedan.

Honda is set to give its competent but slow-selling hatchback, the Brio, a much-needed facelift with a launch likely to take place on October 4, 2016. The car for India will be similar to the updated version launched abroad earlier this year. Changes to the car will be merely cosmetic and in line with the new look that debuted on the revised Amaze compact sedan.

Styling changes to the India-spec Brio are similar to the international model with a sportier-looking front bumper and a new grille. Inside, the dashboard is a new unit similar to the updated Amaze and the Honda BR-V with spy photos showing the updated car receiving a new audio system as well.

Mechanically, the car will carry forward using the current 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol motor paired to a five-speed manual gearbox as standard. It is yet to be seen if the new CVT gearbox from the Amaze replaces the current five-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.

This will be the first major update to the Brio since its launch in India in 2011.
Jeep Compass will rival the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour in India; to be locally assembled and is set to be launched next year.

After a series of leaked images, the India-bound Jeep Compass SUV has finally been revealed. The Compass is Jeeps smaller and affordable take on the larger and more expensive Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is already on sale in India.

The Jeep Compass gets more traditional styling like its larger sibling, but does get a few angular bits like the Renegade, making it look more rugged. Key design elements include a wide-shouldered look, a shallow Jeep grille and tapering headlights. As seen on other Jeep SUVs, the Compass too, gets squared-off wheel arches and large alloy wheels. The rear gets horizontally aligned tail-lamps with LED units.

Higher-spec variants are said to come with dual-tone exteriors and plenty of chrome highlights, and are expected to be brought to India as well.

The cars features are most likely to be similar to those on the more expensive Grand Cherokee. The Compass will be equipped with the U-Connect infotainment system and an 8.0-inch screen, and one can expect features like climate control and push-button start as well. The SUV could get the option of a seven-seat layout for India.

During the unveiling, Jeep had announced that the Compass will be produced with, 17 fuel-efficient powertrain options for consumers in more than 100 countries around the world. Production for the left-hand-drive Compass has commenced at FCAs Jeep Assembly Plant in Goiana, Brazil.

For India, the SUV will be fitted with a 172hp 2.0-litre Fiat Multijet II diesel engine that will be localised. The engine will also be seen in Tata's Q501 SUV in the future. Internationally, the SUV will also be offered with a petrol engine alongside the Fiat-sourced 1.6 Multijet II unit. The SUV will also offer a choice of two or four-wheel drive with the latter also featuring low range and a locking differential.

The Compass will be offered in four trims in international markets  Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The Trailhawk will be the serious off-roader of the lot, with 20mm raised ride height, different tyres and additional underbody protection. We had reported long ago that the Jeep Compass Trailhawk will be on offer right from the models global unveil.

The Jeep brand officially entered India last month with two models, the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee and its high-performance SRT variant. While these two mainstream models are completely built units and command steep price-tags, the Jeep Compass is likely to be priced competitively as it will be locally assembled in India at Fiats Ranjangaon facility near Pune.

Sources in the company have updated us that prices for this SUV will start around Rs 20 lakh mark for the fairly well-equipped version, which of course, would mean plenty of SUV for your money, after all, the Compass is a full-sized SUV that is larger than the Creta.

Jeep Compass photo gallery
Move to support the French groups launch of over ten autonomous vehicles by 2020.

The Renault-Nissan alliance and Microsoft Corp today, announced a multi-year partnership to develop next-generation connected car technologies.

Powered by Microsoft Azure, one of the companiess intelligent cloud offerings, the new services will improve customer experience via advanced navigation, predictive maintenance and vehicle-centric services, remote monitoring of car features, external mobile experiences and over-the-air updates, the companies said in a release today.

The move is aimed at developing connectivity technologies and features to support the launch of more than 10 vehicles with autonomous driving technology by 2020. The Renault-Nissan Alliance intends to spearhead autonomous driving and connectivity features on mainstream, mass-market vehicles at affordable rates.

The partnership will accelerate development of best-in-class infotainment and location-based services that will:

Allow customers to personalise and protect their settings: Customers will be able to customise their settings knowing that data is safe and that they have the option to transfer the settings from one car to another, or lock them and disable transfer. By adding a driver-centric experience in the car, the drive becomes personal and allows for things like adaptive route suggestions and advanced navigation.

Boost Productivity: With Microsoft, Renault-Nissan will expand the realm of productivity into the car  transforming daily commute into a productive experience by seamlessly integrating the digital experiences present at work and life into the car.

Give access to over-the-air updates: Customers will be able to download over-the-air updates to, for example, have the latest autonomous drive software and collision-avoidance applications.

Help customers stay in touch: Customers will be able to easily check in and communicate their estimated time of arrival, or alert friends to a change of plans. They will also be able to use automatic payment from the car for highway tolls or parking, with a simple touch from the comfort of their seat.

Monitor the car from a distance: Car owners will be able to monitor their car from anywhere, through their mobile phone or laptop. They could transfer control to a friend or relative who needs their car  without transferring the physical key. They will use a mobile application to help them find the car, trigger remote charging and preconditioning, and lock and unlock the car.

Protect the vehicle: Tracking software locates a stolen car and disables it at the next practical opportunity. Geo fencing technology creates invisible fences around the car that will enable notifications when the car enters or exits a predefined area or route.

Improve the vehicle experience: By adding connectivity, customers will be able to access advance vehicle diagnostic services, allowing the car manufacturer to deliver unique features. Collecting real usage data will also support vehicle engineering to improve manufacturing quality.
As such, the Nero (that's Italian for Black) gas-electric Ferrari that's currently up for grabs in Texas could seem a bargain to some, despite its $3,799,995 price tag.For the record, the price of the hypercar makes for quite a premium over the $1.35 million Ferrari asked for the machine when it was new. However, our most recent memory regarding a LaF being ready to trade hands saw the machine being offered in Florida for $4.7 million. So yes, we could say the example we have here is a bargain - just think of all the cars you could buy with the difference between the two.The dark example of the LaFerrari, which does come with an interior that mixes Black with Red leather, is currently waiting patiently on the lot of Ferrari Houston.The dealer, which explains it also sold the car to its first owner, even offers a financing option, starting from a generous $37,061 per month (think: an extremely well gifted V8-powered Mustang each month).We're dealing with a 2014 model year, but don't let the time frame scare you - apparently, the man who bought this halo car aimed to make easy money, so the guy only put 1,440 miles on the machine."Delivered new by Ferrari of Houston, this Ferrari LaFerrari is now available for sale from our dealership to a new owner. This LaFerrari arrives with all manuals, keys, charging equipment, and Ferrari Classiche book for the new owner," the dealer explains.However, if you happen to be in the market for a HHHT (Holy Hybrid Hypercar Trinity) member, you might also want to check out the Aperta open-top version of the LaFerrari. Sure, Ferrari is only building 150 units of the Aperta , which is set to debut by the end of the week at the Paris Motor Show, but you can probably find a way to make one yours.
People familiar with the negotiations have revealed that the American government is trying to reach a settlement with Volkswagen in the Dieselgate situation, but the authorities are wondering how much they can ask the German automaker to pay without affecting the companys financial health.As Bloomberg notes, the assessment is taking place at a time when the U.S. is attempting to settle a civil case with the largest bank in Germany, Deutsche Bank AG.

Volkswagen and the said bank directly account for over 320,000 jobs in Germany, without mentioning hundreds of thousands that rely on the two corporations. If either case resulted in a penalty that would be too high for the financial health of the company that will have to pay, many jobs would be at risk.The U.S. Justice Department is attempting to find a balance between a suitable penalty, which would be regarding the damages inflicted by the emissions cheating scheme, while also considering the economic effects of the criminal sanction. Nobody wants to risk that many jobs, even in a foreign country, as they could also affect the global economy and influence national currency.The task is tough, as the authorities must reach a settlement with both parties by January 2017, when the American administration will change, resulting in the change of the political appointees that have been overseeing the process. If the participants fail to strike an accord by then, the process might have to be restarted.Meanwhile, when news broke out about the assessment made by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Volkswagens finances, the stock value of the German company suffered a mild fall because of concerns about the companys financial health. Further speculation on the matter will do nothing good for the automaker.

Volkswagen representatives replied with an assurance that its finances are robust. The company will only comment on the penalties once the procedures and investigations will be concluded.
TDI

Stadler was accused that he allegedly knew about the defeat device since 2010, but sources close to the matter say that investigators found no suspicious facts about the head of Audi.The news has yet to be confirmed by brand representatives, and it currently relies on reports from people close to the matter, as Automotive News reports.The two sources quoted by the publication said that there was nothing relayed to the Audi brand that would suggest a link with Mr. Stadler. He will also have a talk with the supervisory board of the corporation, according to the same sources. The latter will involve a discussion that will gauge the level of involvement Stadler had with the defeat device scheme.Stadler has been on the Volkswagen Groups nine-member management board since 2010, three years after he stood at the helm of Audi . There are no visible plans of removing Rupert Stadler from the lead of the four-ringed brand from Ingolstadt. Audi s involvement in the Dieselgate situation became evident about one year ago, when the German brand was busted for its 3.0-liter V6engines. The latter category of motors still does not have an approved fix proposal. Meanwhile, sales of diesel-engined vehicles have not attained bigger results than last year.While the court has not confirmed Rupert Stadler's involvement, Audi is credited with developing the defeat device back in 2007. The latter word discovers when cars were being tested for emissions, and would switch to an ultra-low -emission mode. The latter would be impossible to operate for extended periods, and the unit that operated it became known as the "defeat device."Because of the described device, Volkswagen will have to fix about 11 million vehicles worldwide, and just deactivating it will not be enough.
The Pied Piper Motorcycle Industry Study measures how motorcycle dealerships respond to customer inquiries received through their websites. The latest report for 2016 shows that BMW and Honda ranked highest among all the manufacturers.The procedure Pied Piper followed is simple and effective. The company sent customer inquiries through 1,757 motorcycle dealership websites, asking some details on one of their listed bikes. The mystery shopper also provided the dealerships a contact name, email address and phone number to see how much it will take to get an answer and which way the dealerships prefer to provide it.Overall results show the industry average performance got improved a lot. To make yourself a picture, in 2008, the study showed that motorcycle dealers responded within 24 hours by any means in only 30% of the cases. This increased to 72% in 2013, and 89% in 2016, an increase also boosted by the technology development.Pied Pipers study also shows that 8 out of 10 bike shoppers prefer to research their next purchase online before setting foot in a dealership. This really makes sense, since most dealerships websites come with a neat configurator where you can build and custom your ride with accessories and see the end result in 360 degrees.Not to mention there are smartphone apps that let you do the same thing and then let you admire your build in 3D. Some will even automatically send your build sheet to the nearest dealership to aid with the purchasing task.
You might not have been aware of this, but there's a self-driving bus program taking place in Sion, Switzerland. Well, there was, because as of recently, the company running it (PostBus) decided to suspend its activity for an undetermined period as a result of the crash. Actually, "crash" might be too harsh; let's call it "the incident."Two autonomous shuttles have been driving through downtown Sion since June 23 this year, covering a 1.5-kilometer long route (that's just short of a mile) and taking passengers on free of charge. That last part makes perfect sense: when was the last time you heard about guinea pigs paying for the privilege of being tested upon?The shuttles were fairly small vehicles that could only carry 11 passengers and travel at about 12 miles per hour (20 km/h). That's slower than most cyclist commuters ride and just twice as fast as a regular jogging speed. Since they figured nothing bad could happen at this speed, the buses did not have a human driver to supervise them, but were instead monitored remotely.This week, Popular Science reveals, one of the two shuttles managed to run itself against the open door of a parked van raising questions about the safety of the entire project which meant it had to be put on hold until some questions could be answered. It would appear that, just like in so many other similar cases, the vehicle's sensors failed to pick up on the slight irregularity in the van's shape due to its open door and did not give it enough clearance.We don't know what kind of sensors these shuttles use, but it would be interesting to know if even the much-acclaimed LIDAR can misfire (and the pictures would suggest the shuttles did have LIDARs installed). Whatever the case, even though autonomous vehicles don't seem to be able to catch a break, the industry keeps going forward, and that's all that matters.
TDI

The two companies have requested a U.S. federal judge to reject document requests from European investors and even customers in the emissions scandal that has involved both brands.As Automotive News notes, Volkswagen asked a judge to deny all blatantly over-broad requests, which refers to a submitted demand that is not sufficiently restricted to a particular target or subject.In other words, Volkswagen wants to keep its 20 million pages between itself and the court, while Bosch seeks to keep the two million pages it submitted to remain of interest to the court, and not to third parties interested in other topics.According to Volkswagen, German authorities have rejected similar requests because they might potentially undermine official investigations. Bosch s representatives claim that the documents they provided to the court have sensitive information , including business documents and information protected under foreign data privacy laws. In other words, the German supplier fears that releasing the documents it posted to third parties that request it might endanger its business.Multiple European organizations have requested documents from the case that involves Volkswagen and Bosch, and these parties include the Dutch Settlement Foundations, the Wolverhampton City Council, and Altroconsumo, an Italian consumer association that has already sued Volkswagen in Italy.Currently, the owners of Dieselgate-affected Volkswagen cars are suing Bosch claim that the supplier knew about the manufacturers secret defeat device, and that it also helped design it.Bosch has denied that claim, along with the accusation that it requested legal protection from Volkswagen back in 2008 because of its alleged involvement in the development of the defeat device.

Volkswagen has many groups and associations interested in filing legal action against it, and the corporation is visibly concerned about the possibility.The lawsuits would come even if VW has been approved a settlement proposition for the American customers of cars that were sold with 2.0-literunits, while their European equivalents will get their cars fixed as the approvals from authorities are granted.
Unlike the junkyard show where the teams only had 12 hours and junk to build their contraptions, Wrench Against The Machine gives each team a rundown motorcycle and $3,000 to turn it into the best bike they can in three days.Working or not, each teams motorcycle will be judged by famous bike builder Roland Sands Deus Ex Machina Venice head custom builder Woolie, and Handbuilt Motorcycle Show founder Alan Stulberg. Not sure what the winner team gets (besides fame), but it sounds a great show to watch.The show starts on Tuesday, November 15th, on the Esquire Network, which you might know as the old Spike TV. Based on the trailer below, the action seems to be mostly based in Los Angeles, California.Having trouble finding Esquire Network? You can visit their official webpage here to learn more. You simply enter your ZIP code, select your provider and find out how you can tune in. Its extremely easy to do.We are really happy to see more motorcycle shows surfacing. Just the other day, we were reporting that Ride With Norman Reedus will get a second season, thanks to fans around the world who expressed their feelings towards the show on social media.The Ride show sees Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus traveling around America along his guest stars to discover people, places, customs as well as try out modern and retro motorcycles. The last episode in the first series had Peter Fonda as a special guest, the main actor from the iconic Easy Rider, which inspired Norman to get into the bike world.
Evercar provides shared electric vehicles for ride-hailing drivers. Photo courtesy of Evercar.

Evercar, a provider of shared electric vehicles for on-demand drivers like Uber and Lyft, has expanded to the Bay Area with two new locations in San Francisco and Oakland.

The Bay Area presents an interesting dichotomy that Evercar is uniquely poised to address, said Michael Brylawski, CEO of Evercar. The proliferation of on-demand companies means flexible job opportunities abound; however, many who would most benefit from these jobs are unable to take advantage of them because they lack financial means to own a vehicle and pay out-of-pocket for expenses, dont want to deal with the hassle and cost of parking in the city, or simply would prefer not to put miles on their personal vehicle. Were changing the paradigm by combining carsharing with well-maintained electrified vehicles and data.  

In the Bay Area, Evercar offers access to shared 2016 Toyota Prius vehicles, located in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco and downtown Oakland. Evercar plans to add electric vehicles to its fleet as well as expand the number of locations in the Bay Area this year, according to the company.

Evercars shared vehicles are preapproved for ride-share and on-demand delivery platforms including Uber, Lyft, Postmates, and DoorDash. According to Evercar, its $8 hourly rate covers fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs for unlimited miles. It also includes driver training, 24/7 phone support, and a SafeDrive program.

We selected our first San Francisco and Oakland vehicle locations because there is strong rideshare and delivery demand in these areas, and because they offer easy access to public transit, said Brylawski. We hope this helps ensure that anyone, regardless of whether or not they own a vehicle, has the opportunity to participate  and thrive  in the on-demand economy.

Launched in Los Angeles in 2015, Evercar offers access to over 100 shared vehicles in 13 vehicle hubs around Los Angeles County  with plans for continued expansion, according to the company.
Would Nissan discontinue to offer the Leaf model in dealerships to focus on selling a subcompact electric car? Rumor has it that the car company will replace the best-selling model.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf was launched in December 2010 and has been the one of the first electric cars that were priced for the masses available until now. So far, a quarter of a million Leafs has been sold worldwide.

The rumor about stopping the production of the current Leaf model may just be treated with an epic pinch of salt. Green Car Reports revealed, since speculations are high that Nissan will still offer the model but will have an upgraded vehicle soon in the market.

The new Leaf model, or should we say, the new subcompact electric car, might have a longer range. Nissan would like to compete with Chevy's newly-released model - the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is dubbed as the first 200-plus-mile mass-priced electric car.

While details about the upcoming model are still scarce, it is fairly believed that Nissan would mark it as their new flagship model and will carry the torch for the company, just like what the Nissan Leaf did years ago.

A source told Auto Express UK that they are looking for inspiration and one of the models they are eyeing for the design might be the Ford Fiesta for the size. However, Nissan would likely keep the model as close as possible to its predecessor, with its five-door family hatchback layout.

On the other hand, Gareth Dunsmore, the man in charge of Nissan's EV program in Europe revealed something exciting about the upcoming brand.

"We've invested $5.4bn in electric cars such as the Leaf, so we need to ensure we're satisfying as many types of customers as possible. In Europe, that could mean looking towards B-segment hatches and SUVs or crossovers," he said.

"The Leaf is well placed to deliver to those customers, and will continue to do so. If we look towards crossovers or the B-segment for the next car, those could make perfect sense."

The upcoming details about Nissan's new subcompact electric car will be posted soon so make sure to stay tuned.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, said on Tuesday his company is working on a plan for manned flights to Mars, with the aim of establishing a permanent colony there. Speaking before a crowd at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, he set out a number of parameters and goals for the project, noting that each trip should cost no more than $200,000  about the average cost of a house in the U.S. We want to make Mars seem possible, he said. Musks strategy includes sending spaceships into orbit, where they could be parked while the booster rocket makes multiple trips to supply it with fuel, cargo and passengers. Every two years, when the planets are closest together, the spaceships could launch en masse, each one carrying about 450 tons of cargo and 100 to 200 passengers. The system could be up and running in about 10 years, he said.

It would be quite fun to be on Mars, Musk said, thanks to low gravity that would let humans bounce around and lift heavy weights. The key is making this affordable to almost anyone who wants to go. Its not just a dream, he said, but something that can be made real. Its going to be a challenge to fund this whole endeavor, he added. Ultimately this is going to be a huge public-private partnership. The goal should be to relocate at least a million people and create a sustainable population on Mars. Humanity has just two options, he added  to stay on Earth and eventually go extinct, or to become a multi-planet species. The transport system could also be expanded to provide access to the entire solar system, he said.

SpaceX, founded in 2002, has succeeded in developing reusable booster rockets, but also has had its share of setbacks, including a recent explosion on the launchpad. So far the company has not launched any manned vehicles.
The mission of awwwards is to create the biggest community of web designers and developers on the Internet, as well as our platform, we also host conferences all over the world in iconic cities, where attendees can see inspiring talks from leading fi
27 September 2016 13:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Armenian office of UNICEF and Armenian Statistical Service have presented the first full national report on multidimensional child poverty in Armenia, ArmInfo agency reported.

Speaking at the presentation of the report, the representative of UNICEF office Tanja Radocaj noted that child poverty is not just the need for funding  it is a multidimensional problem.

When children grow up in poverty, they lack many things that are taken for granted. Poverty deprives children of important and necessary conditions for living, including adequate food, education, leisure and housing, she said, adding that poverty has a direct impact on the future of children.

The report was based on the analysis of a number of criteria - nutrition, education, rest, social relationships, possession of clothing, awareness, utility and housing conditions.

As children of different ages have different needs, the survey was compiled on three main age groups  0-5, 6-14 and 15-17 years old.

82 percent of children living in rural areas are deprived, as well as 53 percent of children living in cities, the report stated. The main reason of the sharp difference is the gap in communal facilities and availability of information.

Moreover, when multidimensional poverty is compared with financial, it turns out that every third child in Armenia is poor and deprived. Twenty-eight percent children in Armenia are among the extremely needy, and they should be engaged in the policy of social support, the report emphasized.

36 percent of children are in need but not poor. These children need to be provided with immediate assistance to address the vulnerability, as there is a danger that they may remain beyond the social policy aimed at eliminating only the material poverty.

Additionally, more than 300 children in Armenia did not go to school this year and left their education incomplete, the Armenian National Center of Educational Technologies recently declared. 191 of them were forced to leave the school because of difficult social conditions.

In the meantime, many Armenian children, instead of studying, have to work every day to provide food for their poor families. About 30 percent of working children in Armenia are under 14, statistics reveal.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 16:48 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan, which possesses a rapidly growing aviation industry, has taken a weighty step in its bid to join the narrow circle of countries, which have developed aircraft building and maintenance industries.

SilkWay Helicopter Services (SWHS), the largest airline operating in the field of small aviation in Azerbaijan and Russian Helicopters holding, signed a letter of intent on the creation of a service center for maintenance and overhaul of helicopters in Azerbaijan on September 27.

The document, which was signed on the sidelines of International Defense Exhibition ADEX 2016, also envisages implementation of service work of helicopters belonging to such important strategic institutions as Ministry of Emergency Situations, Defense Ministry, State Border Service and Main Department of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Deputy Director General of Russian Helicopters Igor Chechikov, who was among the signers of the agreement, earlier said that the company would open a center on the maintenance of Mi-8/17 family of helicopters in Azerbaijan. The company is planning to open a service center of MI-8/17 helicopter equipment of civilian designation at the premises of Silk Way Helicopter Services.

Moreover, the possibility of further expansion and implementation of maintenance services for helicopters designed for military use is also under consideration.

Mi-8/17 series is the most successful and the most widely operated in the history of Russias helicopter industry due to advanced flight capabilities, high level of reliability and adaptability, ability to operate in a wide range of climatic conditions.

Being a part of Russian State Corporation Rostec, Russian Helicopters is a leading player in the global helicopter industry. Along with being the sole Russian helicopter designer and manufacturer, the holding is considered to be one of the few companies worldwide with the capability to design, manufacture, service and test modern civilian and military helicopters

The fleet of Silk Way Helicopter Services, which is a part of SW Group, includes Sikorsky S-92A, Leonardo Helicopters AW139, Airbus Helicopters AS-332L1, Airbus Helicopters EC-155B1, i-8-1, i-8 helicopters, and Cessna 172S airplanes.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The International Mugham Center in Baku hosted a solo concert of the honored artist, Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibayli PhD Nargiz Aliyarova, Trend Life reported.

The fascinating concert has been presented in the framework the 8th Uzeyir Hajibeyli International Music Festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Addressing the event, Nargis Aliyarova welcomed the guests in the hall.

"This concert is the result of my 43-year-old "relations" with a piano. I began to play when I was only five. There were a lot of tears and pain. At some point I wanted to stop playing but my love for music help me to overcame all difficulties," said pianist.

The evening was opened by the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Fantasy" and Joseph Haydn's Piano Sonata.

Perfect technique combined with beautiful sounds impressed the audience.

Spectators were delighted absolutely faultless performance.

Before the nocturne and two waltzes by the Polish composer Frederic Chopin, honored artist stressed that these works had entered the CD "Nargiz Aliyarova plays Frederic Chopin" , released in the last year.

The music album awarded Azerbaijan State Award as well as at the prestigious prize at the International Classical Music Awards. The pianist also received diploma "For outstanding contribution to the promotion of Chopin's heritage".

Chopin's works sounded so harmonious that it felt like an extraordinary magic has captured the attention of the entire audience in the hall.

The musician masterfully performed sonata-fantasy "After Reading Dante" by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.

The event also featured the presentation of CD "Nargiz Aliyarova plays Azerbaijani Music", recorded in Amsterdam.

The album includes music works of such great composers as Gara Garayev, Arif Melikov, Firangiz Alizadeh, Agshin Alizadeh, Ismail Hajibeyov, Faraj Kara, and Vagif Mustafazadeh.

The event continued with the performance of compositions "Waltz" and "The Most Beautiful of the Beauties " from Gara Garayev's ballet "Seven Beauties".

For pianist, these works became symbols of Azerbaijani culture.The gala concert also featured compositions "Music for piano" by Firangiz Alizadeh, "Moonlight" by Claude Debussy, and "Elegy" by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

In the end, the honored artist performed the "Malaguena" by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona from his Suite "Andalucia".

As it turned out, the work is included in the program Nargiz Aliyarova not at all by chance .

The musician visited region Andalusia in the south of Spain, where she enjoyed beautiful music and stunning flamenco dance.

Inspired by Spanish music and flamenco dance, the pianist performed the works by Lecuona.

"I wanted to bring a piece of Spain in Baku", she said.

The audience greeted the performance with standing ovations.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 12:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Exhibition (ADEX) opens its doors for the authorities engaged in this sphere on September 27-30. The four-day event will also present products of the AZCAN, the joint venture representing both Azerbaijan and Canada within the security and defense sectors.

The company specializes in the design and production of a wide range of armored vehicles including SUVs, cash-in-transit trucks, armored personnel carriers and other special purpose military and civilian vehicles.

Prior to the event, Azernews interviewed CEO of AZCAN company Roman Shimonov about the new manufacture.

Question: You have established the joint production of armored vehicles with Azerbaijan, the first ever manufacture between Azerbaijan and Canada in the military sphere. Can you please describe the prospects of this cooperation?

A.: AZCAN is a joint venture representing both Canada and within security and defense sector. With more than 20 years of industry experience AZCAN founders aim to implement Canadian and Azerbaijan expertise as well as local and international labor and resources in order to deliver advance solutions such as armored vehicles and other solutions for civilians, special purposes in military use. The main goal of our products is to provide with utmost level of protection the operators and passengers in order to meet the highest international standards according to first class assembly and certify armored and modern electronic companies that we are implementing in these products.



For a while we are looking for a new market that will allow us to open new area which will be able to deliver and sale our products. And the Canadian company is always looking to diversify our market and Azerbaijan is a unique country that is close to many countries that are very interesting for us. And in terms of logistics it is very challenging and able to provide our plant with vehicles to deliver with a short time so we have decided to find a new place which will be able to have professional engineers, strong platforms and capabilities. Thats why Azerbaijan is the best country for us. We have approached several potential partners, and we have had negotiations with different organizations as well. We have sold few vehicles to the ministry of Interior of Azerbaijan, we also have signed agreement with the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and won a tender.

We are currently working on supplying armored to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. It is obvious that among all the countries, Azerbaijan will be the unique country to build the platform that will allow us to duplicate our vehicles from Canada to Azerbaijan. We believe in a very strong economical platform in Azerbaijan and I believe many other companies are willing to be able to establish something that will allow them to produce those vehicles or other products here in Azerbaijan.

We also know that Azerbaijan, in terms of political relations with other countries, has very strong image and this is similar to Canada basically. Canada also has very good relations with other countries. We believe that these similarities in politics will allow us to build something that will allow us to have strong and useful product that will be competitive.

Q.: What are the key peculiarities distinguishing your product? What innovations do you offer your customers to make AZCAN a real brand?

A.: The purpose of these vehicles is to save lives. And the most important goal for us is to be able to build the product, that when the vehicles is under attack, the passenger can escape safely and in order to do so we have to invest a lot of resources into RND, into materials into finding right engineers into the right vehicle that will allow to be able to escape from attach and to save its passengers.



Over 20 years we are investing probably more than anyone else into RND. By RND I mean research and development in materials, first of all. At second, we have tasks, we basically have listed all of the goals to meet the order that comply with international standards. Currently we supply our products to NATO, the United Nations, to different financial introductions, as well as Azerbaijani authorities.



It is not only to find the right materials, but also to implement other solutions, such as, for example, here in ADEX we will present automotive gun that allows to identify the source of attack, and then the gun can answer and should back automatically without the involvement of the person. Secondly we will present here is protection against chemical attack. Other solution that we are presenting here is special radar that is produced by Israeli company -- Rafael.

Q.: What about the production capacity of the new manufacture? Do you think to cover partially the increasing demand for Azerbaijani made armaments?

A.: Our main goal is not made one time deal and to sell products to the Azerbaijani forces, different authorities, but to create a platform that will allow us to create long term relationships and the goal is not to sell internally but to export to other countries. So we are not going to focus on selling our products to the Azerbaijani authorities, but first we try to export. And by export I mean to be able to produce more vehicles to hire more people, to pay more taxes and to have a positive effect on economy on this sector.

Our unique approach is not to make a deal and try to sell, but to create something that will allow to have mutually beneficial relationship that will allow to build those vehicles here that will allow the country to have its own know how to use the local experts form Azerbaijan and we have a lot of experts in Canada from Azerbaijan. One of the engineer of AZCAN vehicle was born in Baku Azerbaijan.

Q.: Where do you plan to open your production and do you believe to find right consumer market? Azerbaijani manufacturers for instance urge that they fail to meet the overall demand for their products because of abundance of orders.



A.: We would like start the production even today. But there are some things that we have to finalize first, and I believe that right after the show it will be more clear when we are going to start. Right now we are in the final stage on finalizing the facility, and it is not only about the facility, but also the machine and equipment that will need to build the vehicles here. We are not going to assemble those vehicles here, we are going to build all vehicles here in Azerbaijan from A to Z. By building a vehicle it means to be able to engineer these vehicles. We have already some of the products that have already engineered.

I think one of our strength is the ability not only to produce and sale vehicles, but to able to provide after sale support and maintenance after the sale. By after sale support I mean to be able provide with all of these pair parts to be able to maintain the vehicles in proper way, will last and serve the country for longer time. We are also providing with the training services in maintenance, in driving. And we are also aiming to build a workshop that will maintain those vehicles after the sale.

For its armored vehicles, AZCAN offers special applications and tactical equipment including large spectrum chemical protection, integrated remote weapon control systems, advanced drone and fire detection devices, remote explosives signal jamming and a wide range of riot control and crowd dispersal solutions. AZCANs armored vehicles are engineered to provide the utmost level of protection to their operators and passengers as well as meet the highest international standards due to their first-class assembly, certified armor and modern electronic components.

Being the first Azerbaijani-Canadian manufacturer of armored vehicles, AZCAN is one of the shows key participants. At the large indoor (#2402) and outdoor booths, the company will introduce a new lineup of multipurpose armored vehicles, including personnel carriers and other tactical special purpose units featuring integrated security and defense solutions.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The referendum on amending Azerbaijans Constitution has to be a long-term strategic road map, Andre Reichardt, French senator, president of the FranceSouth Caucasus Friendship Group, told Trend on September 26.

It is obvious that Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has this strategic view for developing the country, with the result on the cultural, social and diplomatic issues that we can see, he added.

This constitutional reform is included in all the reforms that Azerbaijans president has already implemented or tries to implement, said Reichardt, adding that this is a part of the global plan.

Noting that the president is holding some reforms regarding corruption, transparency, Reichardt said this is the part of Ilham Aliyevs global view.

First of all, the referendum is related to regional context and lack of stability of the area, according to Reichardt.

We will see the results of the referendum and hope that it will bring stability and security. If so many tourists are coming to Baku, it is because it is safe. The first human right is the human right for security, he noted.

Now the problem Azerbaijan faces, we all face, in France, in Europe, is a balance between security and freedom and that is always very challenging, added the senator.

I have to say that the process [of voting] is clear.

The referendum on making amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours).

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  have been accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum. The total number of the observers is around 53,000.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 15:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The September 26 referendum on amending the Azerbaijani constitution has passed smoothly, as a number of international observers in the country confirmed.

Aleksandar Nikoloski, head of the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), praised holding the referendum, saying that it was organized in accordance with the national legislation. He made the remarks during a press conference in Baku on September 27.

Nikoloski said that the referendum is valid, the voting process was transparent and smooth, adding that the PACE mission was invited by the Azerbaijani side.

"The September 26 referendum to amend the Azerbaijani Constitution was held without violations," Haluk Ipek, a Turkish MP and member of the observer mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries (TurkPA), commented.

The mission concluded that the referendum was held in accordance with international standards, he added. Equal voting conditions were created for all citizens. The referendum was organized at a high level.

Ipek also stressed that the referendum witnessed high voter turnout.

In turn, TurkPA secretary general Jandos Asanov said that the mission which carried out short-term monitoring at the referendum, included parliamentarians from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey as well as representatives of TurkPA Secretariat.

He thanked the Azerbaijani government for the conditions created for monitoring the referendum.

The referendum to make amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) on September 26.

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations were accredited to observe the referendum.

The total number of the observers was around 53,000. Some 3,671,707 people (69.7 percent of voters) cast their ballots at the referendum.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 13:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The 2nd Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition, ADEX 2016 opened at the Baku Expo Center on September 27.

The exhibition is a grand display of modern weaponry and equipment, the show of the force and power of the Azerbaijani military-industrial complex. ADEX is being held for only the second time, but it has already become the largest exhibition in the region.

President Ilham Aliyev sent a message to the participants of the Exhibition, welcoming the guests on the occasion.

In our ever-changing world where globalization has received a wide scope, states are intensely faced with security challenges. Among the implemented measures in this direction, relevance of issues of military-technical cooperation, the exchange of modern technologies and security features, have been steadily increasing, he said.

Currently, Azerbaijan is a country with the largest military potential in the region. The first prestigious international defence exhibition in the region was also held in Baku, he said. I am confident that the exhibition, the participants of which you are, as an authoritative platform for discussion of issues of military-technical cooperation, will open the way to new approaches that meet modern security challenges, in particular, important initiatives in the field of defence industry, and identify new opportunities.

Immense interest was shown at the first exhibition by the public authorities, businesses and industrial concerns of Azerbaijan and foreign countries. The exhibition was attended by President Aliyev. The initiator of the exhibition is the Ministry of Defence Industry, and the exhibition is also supported by the Ministry of Defence. The organizing partner of the ADEX exhibition is Caspian Event Organizers (CEO).

This year, ADEX is attended by 216 companies from 34 countries, and 29 delegations from 21 countries. The geographical spread of the participants has expanded to countries such as Croatia, Estonia, the Czech Republic Latvia, and Montenegro. In total, companies and delegations take part at the exhibition from 44 countries. The exhibition, occupying all three halls of the Baku Expo Center as well as open spaces, is 15 percent larger this year. The exhibition features 10 national stands from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey, and representing leading companies from these countries. The most numerous contingents in terms of the number of companies are Turkey (42 companies), Israel (14 companies), and Russia (14 companies). Such well-known companies as Aselsan, CETC, Damen, MBDA, Norinco, IAI, Roketsan, Rosoboron Export, Thales and others will participate with demonstrations of military equipment. One pleasant fact is that 58 percent of exhibitors are repeat participants from the first ADEX exhibition. The registration sponsor of the ADEX 2016 exhibition is the Secretariat of the Defence Industry of Turkey.

This year the number of local exhibitors has also increased, presenting different types of defence and special-purpose products, military vehicles and equipment, weapons and ammunition. The Ministry of Defence Industry and its related structures and plants, and the Ministry of Defence, ANAMA, actively participate at the exhibition. Several presentations of new Azerbaijani defence industry products are expected at the exhibition.

This year the ADEX exhibition is hosting 29 official delegations, led by ministers, heads of military departments, and stakeholders representatives from Turkey, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, and other countries. Among the countries that are sending delegations to the ADEX exhibition for the first time are Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Congo, Djibouti and Serbia. The immense interest shown in ADEX on the part of international delegations and companies once again confirms the high status and importance of Azerbaijan as an important strategic partner.

In general, demonstrations of the achievements in the following areas is planned at the exhibition: Land Forces and Air Forces equipment and armaments, armed military aircraft, air defence systems and tools, special purpose equipment and technology, information technology, space technology, and army administrative and technical support. A distinctive feature of this exhibition is a full-scale exhibition in the form of a unified concept of a wide range of modern means of protection and defence, security technology, industrial, transport security, the protection of information and communications, and fire safety and rescue equipment.

The exhibitions open space, which is fully occupied by companies from different countries, deserves special attention. Visitors to the site can see the latest fighters, drones, tanks, air defence systems, and military vehicles. In addition, armoured vehicles maintenance and repair service centre project will be demonstrated for the first time.

A comprehensive business program, which includes seminars, presentations and numerous bilateral meetings with the heads of line ministries, manufacturing companies and customers demonstrates the uniqueness of the ADEX exhibition as a dialogue platform. The exhibition will include workshops on September 28-29, which will cover the following topics: Prospects for the development of demining systems and technologies - the participation and the role of companies working in this field, Modern technologies and innovations in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles and Modern methods in the field of air defence (AD) systems. The workshops are open to professionals in the defence sector.

The media too has taken great interest in the exhibition. Up to date coverage is provided by 56 leading international and local specialised media - magazines, websites and news agencies. In total, more than 100 media representatives are accredited at the exhibition. The general information partner of the exhibition is IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (UK), and the official online diary of the exhibition is Army Recognition (Belgium), while the official Media partner is the Azeri Defence magazine (Azerbaijan).

The ADEX exhibition provides an opportunity for industry professionals to get acquainted with modern defence technologies and samples in a variety of MIC industries, and catch up on the latest developments of military equipment that are being offered for export on the worlds arms markets. ADEX is an excellent platform to demonstrate the latest weapons and to finalize new agreements in the field of international military-technical cooperation. Descriptions and contact information for all the participating companies are published in the official exhibition catalogue, and news about new company developments, as well as interviews with inventors and experts can be seen in a special issue of ADEX 2016 News. These can also be reviewed at the web-site of the exhibition (www.adex.az) and on social networks.

Entrance to the exhibition from September 27-29 is only open to professionals involved in the military and defence industry and related industries, as well as students of higher educational military institutions. On September 30 those working in commercial entities will be able to visit the exhibition by presenting their identity cards. On-site registration is required for all visitors.

The partners of Caspian Event Organizers in 2016 are SafeLife, the official security partner; Premier Tour, the official tour operator; the Sheraton Hotel and the Qafqaz Point Hotel, the official hotels; and AzExpoMontage, the official stand builder.
27 September 2016 14:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The international observer mission of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) has held a meeting on the results of monitoring of the Sept. 26 referendum to amend Azerbaijans Constitution.

During the meeting, the mission members talked about the monitoring of voting at polling stations in Baku, Sumgayit as well as townships in Absheron, according to a message on the IPA CIS website.

Director of the International Institute of Monitoring Democracy Development (IIMDD) of the IPA CIS Dmitry Gladey presented a summary of the observation results as well as information on monitoring of the referendum at overseas polling stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The meeting participants discussed and adopted a final document on the monitoring results.

The referendum to make amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) Sept. 26.

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  were accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum.

The total number of the observers was around 53,000.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 15:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan held a nationwide vote on amending the country's founding law  the Constitution on September 26. The citizens of Azerbaijan were asked to express their will by repealing or accepting particular changes and proposals through a direct vote.

Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC), which is responsible for all voting-related processes, has declared the country's referendum valid after it fixed a turnout standing at 30.6-percent just in the first hours of the polls, while a turnout of 25 percent was sufficient for the referendum to be legitimate.

Head of CEC Mazahir Panahov has already announced the information received from 5,627 polling stations where the referendum was held. He said that the vast majority of the voters supported the amendments to all the paragraphs put up for voting, adding that the voter turnout throughout the country stood at 69.7 percent (3,671,707 people).

Voters in Azerbaijan were offered several amendments to the Constitution, including on extending the presidential term from five to seven years, the introduction of the position of Vice-presidents, as well as a reduction in the age limit, for presidential candidates, dissolution of parliament by the president. In tote, amendments were proposed to 29 articles of the Constitution.

A total of 900 interviewers and 60 supervisors have been involved in the exit poll, the results of which revealed high turnout of voters, while approximately 88.9 percent of the voters supported the constitutional amendments.

Voting rights were also provided to the citizens living abroad. Azerbaijani nationals voted actively at the polling stations created in diplomatic representations, located in some 40 countries to ensure participation of the countrys citizens (residing abroad or sent on an assignment trip) in the referendum.

The polls were monitored by international and local observers accredited by the CEC, who watched the voting process across the country and assessed the conduct of voting on the basis of national legislation and international election standards.

Some 117 international observers representing 35 countries, who have vast experience of elections in various parts of the world observed the polls. The vote was monitored by observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the international mission, consisting of MPs of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries (TurkPA), an observer mission of the Australian Parliament and others.

The voting observation missions expressed their satisfaction with the conditions ensured in the polls, as well as with performance of election commissions, mentioning that stations were equipped with all materials, necessary for the unruffled and transparent running of the process.

Observers fixed high activity of the population, while no serious breach of law was registered. The number of polling stations in the referendum was 5,600 and there were about 10 observers in each polling station.

Security cameras have been installed at 1,000 polling stations (around 20 percent) in 119 constituencies across the country with a view to fully observe the processes in polling stations.

Missions of observers will also keep an eye on the counting of votes, and the determination and declaration of preliminary results.

Referendums were also held in Azerbaijan in 1995, 2002. The last time changes to the Constitution were made seven years ago, following Constitutional referendum held in 2009.

--
27 September 2016 19:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The second Azerbaijan International Defence Industry Exhibition - ADEX 2016 has kicked off at Baku Expo Center on September 27.

The Azerbaijani pavilion at the exhibition is presented by the national defense complex of the country. Enterprises of Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry are to demonstrate over 260 items of their production and samples of ammunition.

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense and Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) also participate at the exhibition.

The high-explosive air bomb QFAB-100SAB is one of the main ammunitions attracting attention on Azerbaijans pavilion.

These bombs, produced by the enterprises of Azerbaijans Defense Industry Ministry, are designed to destroy enemy armored vehicles and manpower.

The bomb dropped from an aircraft has a flight range of up to 100 kilometers. That is, setting a goal, a military aircraft drops the bomb on it from a safe distance, and it reaches and destroys the established goal.

The joint enterprise of Azerbaijan and Canada AZCAN alsojoins the exhibition. The company is to present a wide range of its production, including a new line of armored vehicles, special applications and tactical equipment including large spectrum chemical protection, integrated remote weapon control systems, advanced drone and fire detection devices, as well as remote explosives signal jamming.

ADEX 2016 will last for four days, wrapping up on September 30.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 11:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iran has started official negotiations with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for plane purchase, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, Irans deputy minister of Roads and Urban Development, said.

Last week a delegation from the Brazilian company visited Tehran to talk with Iranian airlines, Fakhrieh Kashan said, IRNA news agency reported on September 26.

During the three-day stay in Tehran, the Embraer representatives held negotiations with all of Iranian airline companies, the official said, adding that technical and financial issues were discussed at the meetings.

The visits one day also allocated to flight training, the Iranian deputy minister said.

He further said that one of the Embraer aircrafts launched two test flights over the Caspian Sea and Damavand mountain.

Earlier in March 2016, Iranian Zagros Airlines said that has reached preliminary agreements with Embraer to import 20 airplanes.

It is scheduled that representatives from leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus to visit Iran next week to discuss the sale and purchase of planes, following a permission which was issued by the US Treasury Department.

Boeing announced on Sept. 21 that the US Treasury had issued the required authorization to the company to sell 80 planes from a total package of 109 planes to the Islamic Republic.

The Boeing deal is estimated to be worth $25 billion.

Iran also will buy 111 planes from Airbus worth below $10 billion and a financer would make nearly all the payments relating to the purchase.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 September 2016 18:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Iran has no missile with range of more than 2,000 kilometres, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force, said.

The Islamic Republic does not need missiles with range over 2,000 kilometers, Hajizadeh said, Press TV reported on September 27.

Hajizadeh said that the farthest Iran needs its missiles to go is Israel, adding that Iran has the missiles to hit the Israeli targets.

Hajizadeh further said that the IRGC forces will be supplied with a large number of various types of Zolfaqar ballistic missiles by March 2017.

Iran's defense ministry launched a production line for Zolfaqar, its most recent ballistic missile on Sept. 25. The solid-fuel surface-to-surface missile can destroy targets in distances up to 700 kilometres in range.

The radar-evading missile enjoys high level of precision-striking power and self-propelled launcher. The missile carries a multiple re-entry vehicle (MRV) payload.

A multiple reentry vehicle payload for a ballistic missile deploys multiple warheads in a pattern against a single target. The advantage of an MRV over a single warhead is that the damage produced in the center of the pattern is far greater than the damage possible from any single warhead in the MRV cluster, this makes for an efficient area attack weapon.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
It's one thing for humans to make it to the Red Planet, but what happens when we get there?

SpaceX chief Elon Musk discusses Mars city

Company plans to use Red Dragon spacecraft

Could people land in 2025?



Thats what SpaceX CEO Elon Musk discussed Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Musk is now at the point where hes discussing how we go about making a self-sustaining city on Mars. He also has plans for a Mars Colonial Transporter that includes a giant new rocket and spaceship that he said could deliver 100 people to Mars.

Future Mars mission departing from historic Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center https://t.co/kCtBLPbSg8 pic.twitter.com/Zvk4BNybee  SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 27, 2016

When will this happen? So far, Musk has said SpaceX plans to launch an unmanned Red Dragon spacecraft to Mars in 2018. A giant, new reusable rocket could fly as soon as 2022, the company said.

People could launch two years later, meaning humans could step foot on Mars in 2025.

One expert panel said the trip could cost up to $100 billion.
A capacity crowd welcomed Donald Trump to Melbourne Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the first presidential debate.



RELATED:

The Republican candidate for president is hosting a rally Tuesday evening at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.

"Ours is a special country, and we must never stop fighting to keep the American dream alive," Trump said before launching into the meat of his stump speech.



The rally is taking place at the AeroMod International Hangar. The doors opened early, but long lines led to some heat-related emergencies.

Just after 7 p.m., the city of Melbourne announced the rally had reached capacity.

Trump reiterated many of his talking debates from Monday night's debate, along with some of his signature campaign lines, including building the wall.

"I kept saying for 26 years you've been doing nothing," Trump said of Clinton's long career in the political spotlight. "She's the candidate of yesterday. And ours is the campaign and we're the people of the future."

Several times he also called opponent Hillary Clinton "Crooked Hillary," and insisted she was in the pocket of the special interests. He then mentioned Clinton's statement earlier this month, saying half of his supporters could be put in a "basket of deplorables."



"You are the greatest people on Earth. You're not deplorable," Trump said.

"Government will start working again," he added. "Fixing things is what I do."

Trump last visited Central Florida in August, when he spoke at a rally in Kissimmee on Aug. 11, then attended a pastors' meeting at the Orange County Convention Center.

I-4 corridor visits by presidential candidates
Roughing It and Loving It: the Wilds of N. Oregon Coast's Nehalem Bay

Published 09/27/2016 at 4:21 AM PDT - Updated 09/27/2016 at 2:55 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Manzanita, Oregon)  UPDATED with Hiking Info. Between the well-known resorts of Cannon Beach and Rockaway Beach sits the massive Nehalem Bay  a stretch of north Oregon coast so large it includes three towns. Each is filled with civilized delights of varying degrees of the dizzying and the delicious, but it's the wild wonders that ultimately set this placid place apart from many other areas. (Above: Nehalem Bay).

Hit the waters, hit the beaches, fish the Nehalem river, camp in the wilds of this densely forested masterpiece of scenery or hike to sights and sites so unique you can't find anything like them anywhere else on Oregon's coastline. It's the roughing it that really makes the memories around the Nehalem Bay area, and it does so in jaw-dropping ways.





One of the north Oregon coast's more sprawling and spectacular pleasures is Nehalem Bay State Park. With an entrance at the north end of Nehalem, this rambling shoreline of nothing but sand goes on for over two miles (although it technically starts at the southern tip of Manzanita).

This beautiful state campground contains at least two hundred campsites, full toilet systems and hot showers. Each campground features a picnic table and a fire pit. There's also a horse camp with numerous sites and two corrals.





You'll find boat docks in one section that faces Nehalem Bay. Dunes are also in abundance here, leading to just about every kind of watery and beachy landscape you could hope for.

Then there's the Nehalem Spit. A good two miles down this stretch of sand you may find spots to watch seals rather closely. But don't get too close: bothering them in their natural habitat is illegal.

The beach here gets surprisingly busy for an area that's a bit off the beaten path, unless you're on the spit.





Or, drive around the bay, through Wheeler, until you reach Brighton, at the mouth of the Nehalem Bay. There, two marina businesses allow you access to crabbing, boating and all sorts of marine-based fun.

In Wheeler, there are also some kayak rental possibilities, along with a powerfully burgeoning stand-up paddle-boarding craze that is really taking over much of the Oregon coast these days. One of the big pleasures here is wandering by kayak through the reedy marshes of the Nehalem Bay and finding bundles of hidden niches and nature spots teeming with wildlife.





A tad closer to the civilized, the strands and sands of Manznanita include loads of wonders all their own. A wide and beautiful sandy beach fills the eye here. Although at the beach's northernmost access - near Neahkahnie Rd. - it quickly becomes large cobblestones until it ends at the base of Neahkahnie Mt. some 200 feet down. If you want to rough it, this is where to go. It's a harsh, forbidding and vastly uncomfortable trek with all those large stones. Plus, you can't go much of the time because of insane tidal conditions.

The most obvious of the beach accesses lay past its downtown and at the bottom of the main road, Laneda Rd., along Ocean Road. But there are numerous hidden ones south of there, between the homes, along the beachside roads. These eventually dead-end at a back entrance to Nehalem Bay State Park.

In spite of being tucked away, these accesses don't usually make for less people.

For an even wilder experience, head just north of Manzanita to the Neahkahnie Overlooks, undoubtedly one of the most expansive views along the entire Oregon coast. On clear days you can see all the way down to Oceanside, a good 40 miles away.

Ever more savage, hit the hiking trail to Short Sands (look for the gravel patch immediately north of the overlooks) and instead of heading downward to that surfer hotspot, go straight west. You'll discover the deliriously surreal sights of a set of forbidden cliffs looking down on broiling, bonkers oceanic madness. This includes the Devil's Cauldron, a sort of gigantic tube-like structure that plummets a few hundred feet (and so will you if you're not careful) to what has been called Smuggler's Cove.

Along that pathway, catch closer sight of massive, monolithic mysteries such as Cube Rock and Pulpit Rock, seen more easily from these steep and soaring cliffs.

And don't forget hiking to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain. Two trailheads lead you upwards and onwards on this magnificent mountain, several more hundred feet above the famed overlooks. Manzanita Hotels in this area - Where to eat - Maps and Virtual Tours

More About Manzanita, Rockaway, Wheeler Lodging.....

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An abandoned apartment complex near South Houston High School serves as a reminder of the May slaying of a 15-year-old student whose body was found inside one of the apartments.

Friends of the victim, Karen Perez, say that's a reminder the community doesn't need.

A group of current and former students of the school have urged Pasadena ISD officials to purchase the dilapidated property.

"Karen Perez needs to be remembered not as a South Houston student that was murdered at an abandoned apartment complex 800 feet from South Houston High School, but rather a young lady who empowered the community after a senseless killing to come together so current and future students can have a safe learning environment," Natalie Guzman told told trustees at a recent meeting.

Guzman graduated from the school in 1969, the same year the complex was built.

Victoria Acosta, a South Houston High School sophomore and a friend of Perez, said she was afraid to go near the complex.

"I would consider going to the early college (magnet school) being built next to the high school. But, it is close to the apartment complex and it's scary," she said. "I need to feel safe and not be afraid to go to school."

Acosta told trustees she thought more security police were needed at her school.

"The (abandoned) building at 1600 Ave. M has been abandoned for a long time. It invites crime and is a place for students to go and do whatever they want," she said. "It may be boarded up and have locks, but students jump over the gate to smoke and do illegal things."

Maria Perez, a South Houston High senior, thanked trustees for changes made to deter students from skipping school.

"But, it makes me sad that Karen had to die for the school to enforce the rules," she said. "I hope that Karen didn't die in vain. I hope the school board makes the right decision about 1600 Avenue M so that another tragedy doesn't happen."

Pasadena ISD communications director Art Del Barrio said he couldn't confirm whether the district would consider buying the complex because real estate transactions are only discussed in closed session.

"We are definitely concerned about the apartment complex and its proximity to the school. Student safety is our primary concern at all times. But, the building doesn't belong to us," Del Barrio said.

"It is worrisome and it is something we hope gets replaced. We support the group that spoke at the meeting and we are behind them 100 percent."

Karen Perez's family has also lobbied district and South Houston city officials to buy the property or force the owners to tear it down.

The victim's mother, Rocio Perez, recently filed a lawsuit against Delaware Business Corp., a limited liability company based in Wilmington, Deleware that owns the apartment building, and against the 16-year-old boy jailed until his trial on a murder charge in the case.

The suspect, who was Karen Perez's boyfriend, is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling her on May 27 and hiding her body in a cabinet under a kitchen sink.

After the body was discovered by searchers five days later, the suspect was questioned by police.

Confronted with evidence including a recording of the assault captured on his cellphone, the teen confessed to the slaying, Harris County Assistant District Attorney John Brewer has said.

Perez's mother claims the apartment complex owners are to blame in part for her daughter's death.

The electricity had been turned off long before the crime and the apartment building had no security system or surveillance cameras to deter crime, court documents state. In addition, the locks on the gates weren't always secure and many of the boards over the windows had been removed. In its broken-down and neglected state, the property invited crime and allowed easy access for students seeking an "adult-free, no-rules zone", according to the lawsuit petition filed by Perez's attorney.

Attempts to contact Delaware Business Corp. through their attorney were unsuccessful as of presstime.

Perez is seeking damages of more than $1 million.
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One of Beaumont's grande dames, Bonnie Marie Cokinos, whose dancers reached ballet glory and found grace and elegance under her beaming and subtle tutelage, died Tuesday. She was 82.

"Miss Bonnie," as she was universally called, founded the Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance, which was based on ballet, the foundation of all studied dance. Her school was one of several around Southeast Texas and enjoyed a place of prominence in Beaumont.

When Monique Woody Steinhagen, whose mother Marsha Woody founded a competing Beaumont dance school, was in her mid-teens she danced at the Beaumont Civic Ballet, which her mother established.

"Miss Bonnie brought me a flower backstage and told me I'd danced beautifully," said Steinhagen, now 56. "She was always very, very sweet to me. I never forgot that. I talked with my mother about that last week. It just came up in conversation."

Steinhagen said dance teachers in Southeast Texas typically are called "Miss" by their students.

Tuesday she recalled Miss Bonnie's elegance, her pulled-back hair and her sleekness.

Sydney Matthews said Cokinos loved children and gave her time to the Symphony League of Beaumont to help debutantes learn how to bow correctly when they are presented.

Matthews' daughter was among them 20 years ago.

"She was cute, cheerful, smiling and lovable," Matthews said. "I never took dance, but it was still OK to run up to her in public and hug her."

Cokinos was born Bonnie Marie Sohlinger to Mildred and Barney Sohlinger on Jan. 27, 1934, in Beaumont and was a lifelong resident.

In 1958 or thereabouts, she performed in a dance recital at what was then the City Auditorium, now known as the Julie Rogers Theatre.

A youngish older man named Jimmie P. Cokinos, then-mayor of Beaumont and up to then a bachelor, had ducked into the auditorium's back entrance to see the recital and caught a glimpse of the woman he would wed.

"I like you," their son, Andre, said he told her and asked her out.

"He refers to me as his son by his first marriage - his only marriage," Andre Cokinos said in a reminiscence of his late father after he died in November 2013 at the age of 96.

Paula Bothe, who directs plays at Beaumont Community Players, said she was struck by Miss Bonnie, whom she described as "the most elegant and beautiful lady in dance."

Although Cokinos' health suffered in recent years, Bothe said, "She put on her hat and her smile and went out and did her shows."

Christian vigil for Cokinos will be at 6 p.m. Friday, with a gathering of family and friends at Broussard's Mortuary, 2000 McFaddin Ave. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday in St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson St.

The Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance also is home to the Beaumont Ballet Theatre, nurturing young dancers for more than 30 years. Memorial contributions can be made to Beaumont Ballet Theatre, 4555 Calder Ave.

DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach

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The right lanes of Interstate 10 east and westbound from Brooks Road to Major Drive will be closed nightly 9 p.m. - 5 a.m Tuesday night through Thursday night for shoulder work, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Road conditions and traffic updates available on Facebook and Twitter.




A local man charged with supporting an international terrorist organization has set a re-arraignment hearing for Wednesday before a federal judge in Houston, a strong indication he intends to change his standard plea at arraignment from not guilty to guilty.

"We would never speculate as to what may or may not happen in court," said Angela Dodge, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Ken Magidson, although she conceded that generally speaking that's the sole reason a defendant would request a re-arraignment.
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Torrential rain slammed San Marcos and Texas State University Monday, a familiar occurrence for the Hays County area, which has seen two deadly weather disasters in the past year and a half.

RELATED: Hays County still feeling aftermath of historic Memorial Day flooding a year later

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Hays County until 2 p.m. Monday, as Texas State offices and operations remained open, as well as the Round Rock campus, the university tweeted.

Plans for evening classes at the university will be announced by 3 p.m.

Texas State officials canceled classes at the main San Marcos campus Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. due to the weather.

Texas State students took to Twitter to express their frustration before the university decided to cancel class. Many thought university officials should have canceled classes sooner than they did.

RELATED: SUV ends up in Texas State campus pond after driver is cut off, officials say

While many students complained about the rain on Twitter, some looked on the brighter side, tubing in campus fountains and kayaking near the campus.

Click through the photos to see some of the reactions students had Monday.

In San Antonio Monday, there were 40 reports of water rescues in the area. National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Runyen told mySA.com that the area received 3 to 6 inches of rain overnight and in some isolated pockets on the North Side there were up to 7 inches of rain.

RELATED: 3 Texas State professors' offices ransacked, blood left on wall

It has been almost one year since extreme flooding hit San Marcos on Halloween weekend, damaging about 1,000 homes in what Hays County Judge Bert Cobb declared a disaster zone at the time. That flood came six months after 11 people died during the historic Memorial Day weekend disaster in 2015. Two children remain missing from the flooding, which Gov. Greg Abbott called "the highest flood we've ever had recorded in the history of the state of Texas."

When the Blanco River crested at 43 feet, it beat the previous record set in 1929 when it rose to 32 feet. And it crested during one of the wettest months in Texas history, according to the National Weather Service. At one point, the river rose 20 feet in one hour.

Staff Writer Tyler White contributed to this report.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
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Despite the threat of a lawsuit and a federal judge bouncing a similar law in Indiana, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott isn't backing down from his regulation that requires a fetus to be buried or cremated.

It's become a political standing point for Abbott and the latest knot in the state's long, complex history with abortion.

The latest battle started in July, when Abbott quietly proposed a rule requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains  even in instances of miscarriages. The rule overruled objections from the medical community, reproductive rights advocates and funeral directors.

READ MORE: Politics keep abortion clinic from reopening in Beaumont

Now, there's the threat of lawsuits, something Abbott is using in a fundraising pitch sent out earlier in the summer. Abbott wrote that a deceased fetus is "treated like medical waste and disposed of in landfills."

Many in the medical community were angered, saying the plan to enact the legislation raised concerns over who will pay for the cremations and funerals.

Texas has a long history with abortion, lawsuits and the fight over reproductive rights. The 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case establishing a "right to privacy" and clearing the way for legalized abortion, Roe v. Wade, originated in Texas.

READ MORE: Feds push back on state's targeting Planned Parenthood funds

And, in the last decade, Texas lawmakers have been slowly eroding access to reproductive health services, spawning more and more lawsuits.

And the new rule will almost assuredly do the same thing.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is withdrawing from the Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville ACA exchanges, The Tennessean reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. Nearly 112,000 will lose coverage from the decision.

2. BCBS is the state's largest insurer. It is projecting losses of nearly $500 million in 2016. The insurer will still sell plans in 66 of the state's 95 counties.

3. BCBS is open to returning to the market if uncertainties about policies and membership are addressed.

4. Earlier in the month, Tennessee officials approved a 62 percent rate increase for the insurer.

Chief Communications Officer Ray Vaughn said although the state addressed uncertainties on the local level, the uncertainties of the federal government were too difficult to project.

5. Seventy-three of the state's counties will have a single insurer available through the exchanges.

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Co-op failures adds to speculation about future of ACA: 4 things to know




As the insurance co-ops fail, and insurers leave the ACA exchanges some healthcare experts fear for the future of the monumental legislation, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. Seventeen of the 23 original co-ops have failed, dumping more than 800,000 members back into the ACA exchanges over the last two years.

The co-ops faced similar problems most insurers are faced where sicker patients took up more resources than what healthier patients provided.

2. Aaron Albright, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, refuted the idea saying the ACA continues to see enrollees that are satisfied with their coverage.

3. Anthem, the last large insurer to stay in the exchanges, expects it'll break even on ACA business in 2017, with profits projected for 2018.

Aetna and Humana both were projected to lose approximately $300 million, and are leaving the exchanges en masse.

4. Deep Banerjee, an analyst with S&P Global, said he is unsure if the remaining co-ops will receive additional funding. The co-op in New Jersey isn't selling policies in 2017, and the Community Health Options, in Maine, is pulling out of New Hampshire.

If all the remaining co-ops fail, Bloomberg predicts 240,000 members will be without coverage.

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According to a PwC report, 3.4 million people enrolled into Medicaid this year, contributing to a 20.5 million increase since 2013, Forbes reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. As more states opt into the ACA's Medicaid expansion program, the number of enrollees continues to grow.

2. Of the ACA's enrollee base, 54.7 million or 74 percent are Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in private plans that are contracted.

3. The growth is down by 5 million from 2015, when Medicaid enrolled 8 million.

4. Insurers are reaping the benefits of the expanded Medicaid program and its insurance base.

5. President of Medicaid Health Plans of America Jeff Meyers expects more states to join the program in 2017, dependent on the election.

More coding, billing and collections news:

State of Kansas spends $2M+ to combat Medicaid application backlog: 5 things to know

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In a congressional hearing last week, Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch did not give an accurate number concerning how much the company made from a two-pack of EpiPens, according to The Washington Post.

Here are six things to know:

1. Ms. Bresch told legislators Mylan made profits of $100 per two-pack of EpiPen, which is valued at $608.

2. However, The Washington Post notes the profits Ms. Bresch described were calculated after taking the 37.5 percent U.S. tax rate into account.

3. However, that rate is more than five times the overall tax rate that Mylan paid in 2015. Many tax specialists put Mylan's actual U.S. tax rate at zero.

4. Mylan lowered its effective tax rate below the U.S. tax rate by moving its headquarters to the Netherlands. Robert Willens, an independent tax expert, told The Washington Post, Mylan's U.S. tax rate "is close to zero, a very, very low rate."

5. In a statement, a Mylan spokesperson defended the company's profits, saying, "Tax is typically included in a standard profitability analysis, and the information provided to Congress has made clear that tax was part of the EpiPen Auto-Injector profitability analysis. It also is important to note that use of a statutory tax rate for the jurisdiction being analyzed (in this instance, the U.S.) is standard."

6. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) told Mylan in a statement the company had until the end of this week to give legislators additional documentation.

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Here are the five most popular Becker's ASC Review gastroenterology and endoscopy stories for the week of Sept. 19-Sept. 23, 2016.

1. Patient data for 14,000 taken in University Gastroenterology data breach: 6 takeaways

Click here

2. University of British Columbia develops treatment for common Crohns complication: 4 insights

Click here

3. Who is Donald Trump's gastroenterologist, Dr. Harold Bornstein? 5 things to know

Click here

4. 3 GI-driven ASCs and facilities in the news  September 20, 2016

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5. Allergan to acquire Tobira Therapeutics GI R&D pipeline for up to $1.69B: 6 things to know

Click here

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Kenneth Rainin Foundation awards $3M in IBD research grants: 5 notes

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Pennsylvania hospitals have doubled the average percentage of charity care they provide in the last eight years largely due to the increased use of presumptive eligibility tools, reports Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Presumptive eligibility tools use patients' credit histories, demographic information and even social media data to identify those individuals who qualify for charity care. The financial profiling technology enables hospitals to qualify some patients for charity care who otherwise would not or could not have completed a traditional charity care application.

This can positively impact hospital finances by reducing an organization's bad debt expenses. Presumptive eligibility tools effectively help prevent hospitals from taking on bad debt by reassigning some unpaid patient accounts as charity care.

UPMC Passavant in the North Hills and UPMC Mercy in Uptown implemented financial profiling tools in 2007. Between 2007 and 2014, UPMC Mercy and UPMC Passavant saw charity care levels rise 58.5 percent and 38.8 percent, respectively. Average charity care levels at hospitals statewide doubled between 2007 and 2015, according to data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.

However, some patient advocates are critical hospitals using presumptive eligibility technology often fail to notify patients they qualify for charity care. Critics have argued simply reclassifying an unpaid bill to charity care is not in spirit with charity care's legal purpose.

"What rubs me the wrong way about this is that it's not in the true nature of how we conceptualize charity care," Heather Klusaritz, PhD, senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Public Health Initiatives, told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The goal of charity care is providing the comprehensive care that a patient needs, not just a single point-in-time encounter."
Integrated health systems and hospital medical practices, as well as private physician practices, reported operating losses in 2015, according to a revenue cycle management survey conducted by the American Medical Group Association.

Integrated health systems and hospital medical practices saw an operating loss of approximately $210,000 per physician, while private physician practices reported a near $14,000 operating loss per physician.

The survey also revealed that integrated health systems reported a median of $825,741 in total operating expenses. This is significantly lower than private physician practices, which reported a median of approximately $1.1 million.

The survey includes financial summaries based on size, region, percentage of capitated net revenue; median data on direct expenses, provider compensation, and staffing; and accounts receivable information. It presents 2015 data from 50 medical groups across the country, representing more than 10,000 physicians.

"Medical groups continue to rise to the challenge to provide quality, cost-effective care in an ever-shifting healthcare environment," Donald W. Fisher, PhD, AMGA president and CEO, said in a statement. "In a time of significant change marked by provider consolidation, it's imperative that C-level leaders have access to data that provides a complete picture of the market. This survey will be a valuable tool in benchmarking performance."

The survey overall showed that medical groups had a median operating loss of $95,138 in 2015, with average operating expenses representing 106.7 percent of net revenue.

Additionally, medical groups reported a median of $949,267 in total net revenue. The top expense for medical groups in 2015 was physician salaries with 41.6 percent of net revenue, according to the survey.

The survey also includes an overall staffing profile with department full-time equivalent employee per physician FTE.

"While it is somewhat expected that patient accounting and operations top the staffing chart, it's interesting to note that the median response adjusted to 100 physician FTEs requires 17 IT FTEs," Tom Dobosenski, president of AMGA Consulting, said in a statement. "Factors contributing to the prominence of IT FTEs may be the growing need for the ability to manage quality and service metrics and preparation for risk as the market shifts from volume to value."

Click here to download a complete copy of the report.
Although the real birth of the Silicon Valley mythos can be traced all the way back to the Palo Alto, Calif., garage where the founders of Hewlett Packard launched their company in 1939, global awareness of the tech-mecca exploded in the 1970s and has grown exponentially in decades since.

But such rapid real estate expansion and an influx of capital-hungry entrepreneurs can only go on for so long before reaching critical mass factors, such as rising costs of living, that divert new talent elsewhere. Recently, other zones throughout the country have begun to stake their claim on the blossoming digital health industry, investing in the necessary infrastructure to host companies started on big ideas with the potential for rapid development.

The following nine cities are likely to play important roles in changing the face of digital health as we know it today in just few short years.

Austin, Texas. Austin hasn't been in the startup spotlight as long as places like Silicon Valley or New York, but there's good reason that young companies from all over the world are looking there to headquarter or expand new business. Austin is one of the youngest cities in the country, and it boasted a jump in tech-industry employment of more than 40 percent between 2001 and 2013, according to Forbes. The city's technology council doesn't anticipate any slowing down of that growth either, predicting over 11,000 more job opportunities in the digital sector to become available in the next few years. Since the early aughts, dozens and dozens of healthcare-oriented startups have set up shop in Austin, citing a less-crowded and still budding tech environment compared to California's Bay Area, with cheaper real estate as well. Joshua Baer, executive director of tech accelerator Capital Factory, told KQED in a 2015 interview that in the span of just a few years, the digital health scene in Austin grew from ghost town into a bustling scene. The city also tops The Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship's ranking for overall startup activity by city.

Miami. As of earlier this year, Miami is the second most entrepreneurial city in the U.S., with a startup density of 247.6 companies per 100,000 people, according to The Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship. One reason for this density could be that the city is viewed as a hub for international business, according to Tech Crunch. Major tech players who outpost in Miami, such as Google, Twitter and Facebook, are positioning themselves to do business with Central America, South America, and Europe. Christian Seale, founder of Startupbootcamp, says Miami is America's City of 2050 for Digital Health because it enables companies to work globally and focus on serving diverse communities ignored by the insular nature of typical tech hubs. South Florida is also one of the most diverse, population-dense portions of the southeast.

Boston. Ranked one of the youngest cities in the country by ShareCare, Boston also has one of the richest histories of invention and medical innovation of anyplace in the U.S. That history of innovation is likely one of the driving factors behind Boston being one of the biggest players in biotech in the world today  according to CB Insights, medical and life sciences companies in the Boston area took in nearly $2 billion in financing in 2013. Just this month, Pulse, a digital health accelerator based in Boston, launched and is seeking participant companies from all over the world. The accelerator is part of MassChallenge, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that works to promote startups in the area, along with projects like the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, a public-private-academic partnership introduced by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this year. Companies that put down roots in Boston are also surrounded by some of the highest-quality medical centers and medical schools in the world, such as Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center, which provide expert healthcare insight and resources.

Atlanta. From Hypepotamus to Startup Atlanta and Atlanta Tech Village, the largest city in Georgia and ninth largest in the country is heavily populated with organizations dedicated to strengthening its already well-established startup ecosystem. Beyond having an extensive support system for young businesses, the city is rife with legacy firms and mentors  it has the third highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in America, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission. Although Atlanta has been a major player on a global tech scale for sometime, the area surrounding the city is beginning to boom as well, according to The Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship, which lists Georgia as one of the top five states last year with the highest density of high-growth health companies. In 2014, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce rankedAtlanta among the top five cities in the country to start a business, due to cost, population size, and ease of launching a company. Forge, an Atlanta-based and focused nonprofit organization, hosts an annual Health Innovation Challenge hackathon and supports rounds of digital health firms as they move through its incubator program. Forge, which was co-founded by a clinician, emphasizes helping young health startups launch partnerships with local medical centers like EmoryUniversityHospital and the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

Denver. This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Denver as the No. 1 place to live for a variety of reasons, many of which also make it a great place for up and coming health companies  quality and availability of healthcare; low cost of living; and one of the youngest populations in the country, to name a few. The city is home to more than 120 digital health-focused startups, according to The Denver Post. Players like Prime Health, a physician entrepreneur-backed organization, and the University of Colorado Denver's Digital Health Consortium are focused on making Denver-based health startups transformative for healthcare on a national scale. In early 2018, local developers and entrepreneurs will launched the Catalyst Health-Tech Innovation, a 300,000-square foot building outfitted with all the of tools young companies need to innovate and expand in Denver, and connect them with venture firms.

Kansas City, Mo.Kansas City might not be top of mind when it comes to tech, let alone digital health, but it is home to a number of forward-thinking organizations that are working to change that. It's home to KC Digital Drive, a tech nonprofit that hosts hackathons and an annual Digital Health Innovation Forum; the Kansas CityStartupVillage, an entrepreneur-led community focused on building out the city's startup ecosystem; and the Sprint Accelerator, which acts as a community center for entrepreneurial ventures and a forum for companies to find local talent. Additionally, organizations like /KC and KCnext represent the city's overall commitment to supporting its young tech-based companies. The city is also home to the campus of EHR giant Cerner, which is growing rapidly and drawing droves of young IT-minded professionals to the area. With dozens of Kansas City-based startups garnering national attention through large investments the city is likely to become a focal point for digital health in the midwest.

Madison, Wis. Situated in the Chicago-Milwaukee tech corridor, Madison, Wis., is home to a great number of biotech startups. This is due in no small part to the fact that EHR giant Epic Systems' headquarters is situated about 10 miles away in Verona, Wis. Epic employs thousands of young digitally-minded professionals, many of whom reside in Madison. Their presence drives Madison's digital health culture, and some even go on to start their own companies after leaving Epic, from Redox, an API and EHR integration firm, to 100state, a coworking space for entrepreneurs. With mentoring resources like Merlin Mentors and HealthX Ventures, a seed fund specifically geared toward health startups, the city is poised to continue to grow exponentially as a player in the national digital health scene.

Chicago. In addition to being home to a number of startup companies and a digital health incubator, Chicago is home base for HIMSS, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association. MATTER, the aforementioned digital health accelerator, actually houses the AMA Interactive Lab, where entrepreneurs and physicians collaborate on developing new technologies and services. MATTER has worked with dozens of health-based startups to build out their platforms and ideas and carry them to market. The city is also home to healthcare incubators AVIA and Healthbox, and tech entrepreneurship centers Blue1647 and 1871.

Salt Lake City. A preponderance of young people is generally a quality commonly associated with a thriving startup community, and Salt Lake City has just that. A number of demographic ranking sources classify Salt Lake City as one of the youngest cities in the U.S. in terms of population. Add the presence of two leading health IT-driven systems to the mix  Intermountain Healthcare and the University of Utah Health and Sciences  and Salt Lake City becomes a proving ground for a number of budding digital health initiatives. The city is home to accelerators like BoomStartup's GenTech program, an arm of the Chicago-based incubator Healthbox, which focuses on mentoring young Salt Lake City-based companies rather than investing. Health Catalyst, a company that leverages big data analysis to improve health outcomes for patients, is also based in Salt Lake City.
Federal officials are investigating two women for stealing the identities of four patients at Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Hospital, NBC Connecticut reports. One of the women worked at the hospital as a patient companion.

One victim of the identity theft who was being hospitalized for a brain injury told NBC she felt the two companions, or "sitters," were targeting patients they thought would die in the hospital. According to the court filings, the two sitters would change their alleged victims' addresses, then monitor their mail to gain access to their financial information, ultimately opening credit cards in the patients' names.

According to NBC, in one instance, one of the alleged identity thieves made themselves the beneficiary of a $50,000 life insurance policy for an individual hospitalized for behavioral health reasons.

One of the women faces bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, while the other faces a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to the filing. Hospital officials told NBC they are cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's office and federal investigators and that the woman who worked as a companion is no longer employed at Yale-New Haven.
Gallipolis, Ohio-based Holzer Health System terminated the tenure of current CEO Christopher Meyer, DO, according to the Gallipolis Daily Tribune. Dr. Meyer was named CEO and board of governors' chairman in January 2015.

A health system statement said the board of directors terminated Dr. Meyer "due to differences related to the direction of the organization and [the Holzer Board of Directors] relieved him of his duties, effective immediately," according to the report.

During his tenure at CEO, Dr. Meyer was a key figure in the development of a 70,000-square-foot, multispecialty healthcare facility serving residents in Athens, Ohio. He implemented a physician training program, in conjunction with Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg.

However, his time at the helm of the health system also saw some cuts to the health system's workforce. In October, Holzer announced it was planning to cut 100 jobs throughout southern Ohio and western West Virginia. Holzer officials attributed the cuts to changes in healthcare service delivery models due to the Affordable Care Act.

A gastroenterologist by training, Dr. Meyer started working at Holzer in 2001. Prior to serving as CEO, he was CMO of the health system.

Michael Canady, MD, the health system's current CMO, is taking over as interim CEO, according to the report.
Many executives don't consider their legacy until they plan to leave. However, the average hospital CEO spends less than 3.5 years in their post, according to a 2013 Black Book Rankings poll. With so few years to make a difference, hospital CEOs must make the most of their tenure  and set the tone for the future.

In what Vanity Fair calls "The Ultimate Exit Interview," President Obama sits down with presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, PhD, to discuss his legacy and its context within the legacies of his predecessors. No matter how the American people choose to remember President Obama, his tenure leaves several lessons in its wake.

Based on President Obama's interview with Dr. Goodwin, are six big ideas on leadership and legacy from the 44th president.

1. Chase your "peculiar ambitions." During President Abraham Lincoln's first run for office at age 23 he said, "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem," according to Dr. Goodwin.

When asked how he would describe his own peculiar ambition and its development, President Obama explained his belief that ambitions are common when we are young  we want to prove ourselves and gain notoriety. But once a leader begins to achieve some of that notoriety or face adversity, the sense of ambition for ambition's sake begins to dissipate, allowing true passions take hold. "And if you don't go through that, then you start getting into trouble, because then you're just [gesturing, as if climbing a ladder] clinging to prerogatives and the power and the attention. There's an expression that my daughters use: You get thirsty," President Obama said.

2. Be optimistic, but don't forget the long view. During the interview, President Obama speaks to his unwavering optimism as a way to see past some of the biggest challenges a leader may face. "[I]n the end I think life is fascinating, and I think people are more good than bad, and I think that the possibilities of progress are real," he tells Dr. Goodwin.

But, he also spoke of tempering that optimism with a healthy perspective of time, and the capacity to see what will stay relevant centuries later. "I don't buy the hype when everybody is saying how wonderful things are and how great I am," he said. The pyramids are the only remaining icons of the Egyptian pharaohs, President Obama notes. Just like the popularity of those leaders, today's opinion polls will also fade. "What is relevant is: What am I building that lasts?" he asks.

3. Nothing is accomplished alone. "I am a firm believer that you don't do anything significant by yourself," President Obama told Dr. Goodwin. For these reasons, President Obama embraced one of his chief rivals in his inner circle when he made Hillary Clinton Secretary of State. As Dr. Goodwin called it, he was building a "team of rivals." He credited his accomplishments in office to staff, legislators and others he worked to get things done. And he said he is ready to pass the baton to the next president to build, refine and improve on the groundwork laid over the past eight years.

4. Get and stay with the times. President Obama admits he can be long-winded, especially during the age of the Internet and shortened attention spans. Although he believes the American people are sophisticated enough to handle it, he has also embraced "this whole other media ecology out there," which includes social media, comedy, talk shows and memes. "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," he said. He added, "I think I have a pretty good take on popular culture that maybe makes up for the fact that I'm not a sound-bite politician for the nightly news."

5. Don't be overwhelmed by big decisions, but don't get comfortable with them either. While some of his decisions continue to haunt him, President Obama said he never feared he couldn't make the best decisions possible. "The times where I had been anguished almost exclusively had to do with deploying our men and women overseas I remember giving a speech at West Point and seeing all those amazing young people and knowing that some would be sent and not every one of them would come back. Weighing that  those never get easy," he said, adding that he never wants that weight to feel light. "I don't want my generals or my defense secretary or my national security team to ever feel deploying weapons to kill people as routine or abstract, even if the targets are bad people."

6. Know when to let go. This particular lesson is something President Obama took from George Washington, because he was the first to exercise this restraint. To this day, it remains part of the duty of president to understand when it is time to leave, President Obama told Dr. Goodwin. "As important as taking hold of the office is letting go of the office. And they're of a piece  it is an expression of our fidelity to the ideals upon which this nation was founded," President Obama said.

Read the full interview here.

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Kansas City, Mo.-based Truman Medical Centers is welcoming Cerner Corp., President Zane Burke to its board of directors, according to a report from the Kansas City Business Journal.

The appointment comes a year after the two organizations agreed to a 10-year strategic partnership to develop and pilot IT-related care innovations. TMC has used Cerner's products since 1992.

Also joining the TMC board are Missouri Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, Jackson County Treasurer Marc de Rome and attorney Jon Otto, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.

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6 big ideas on leadership from President Barack Obama

Comcast founding family donates $25M to Philadelphia children's hospital

Ig Nobel Prize 2016: This year's 10 'improbable' project winners
The founding family of Philadelphia-based Comcast donated $25 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The donation will be used toward improving pediatric genetic research and development, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine will focus on developing research in a number of fields, including inherited disorders, mitochondrial disease, cancer and autism. Aileen Roberts, wife of Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, said her position on the hospital's board of directors motivated the family's donation, according to the article.

The collaboration will allow the hospital to use the latest technology to search a patient's DNA code for variations that may affect an individual's health or response to therapy procedures. The affiliation will also fund the creation of a genomic data repository, a family support and counseling center and a program to train medical students and residents in personalized pediatric care.
The Annals of Improbable Research awarded Ig Nobel Prizes for 10 "improbable" research projects that explored subjects ranging from lying to the perceived personality of rocks.

The 26th annual Ig Nobels recognize researchers who conducted projects that "make people laugh, then make them think." Winners receive awards at HarvardUniversity's Sanders Theater and are invited to give public lectures at MIT.

The 2016 recipients included the following, listed by subject area.

Economics. A team of U.K. and New Zealand-based researchers examined the perceived personalities of rocks, from a sales and marketing perspective.

Physics. Researchers received recognition for their work on why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses, and why dragonflies are fatally attracted to black tombstones.

Chemistry. Volkswagen took home the award for solving the problem of excessive automobile emissions by automatically, electromechanically producing fewer emissions when cars are tested.

Psychology. A group of psychologists interviewed thousands of liars about their lying habits. Their findings, published in Acta Psychologica in 2015, suggested young adults are the best liars and that people lie the most in their teenage years. Researchers acknowledged, however, study participants could have been lying.

Biology. The prize for biology was jointly awarded to Charles Foster and Thomas Thwaites. Mr. Foster was awarded for his work, "Being a Beast," which documented his attempts at living in the wild as, at different times, a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox and a bird. Mr. Thwaites was awarded for his work, "GoatMan: How I Took A Holiday From Being Human," a project where he created prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move in the manner of, and spend time roaming hills in the company of, goats.

Peace. Researchers from the University of Waterloo and SheridanCollege studied and identified traits that make some people more likely to believe empty, unproven statements.

Literature. Fredrik Sjoberg was awarded for his three-volume autobiographical work about the pleasures of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are not yet dead.

Perception. This prize recognized researchers who studied how people perceive distances when they bend over and look between their legs. Their study was published in Vision Research in 2006.

Medicine. Researchers discovered people can relieve an itch in the right arm by scratching the left, but only after tricking their brain. Researchers injected histamine dihydrochloride into volunteers' right arms. Using mirrors and video feeds, researchers made it appear volunteers were scratching their right arm when they were really scratching their left.

Reproduction. Researchers published a study in European Urology that found polyester underwear significantly reduced male rats' sexual success rates.
The Coalition of Asian-American Independent Practices Association in New York City and Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Maimonides Medical Center signed a partnership agreement focused on better serving patients.

Here are five things to know about the partnership.

1. The partnership agreement signed will jointly establish an after-hours Express Care Center office in which Maimonides will provide basic medical services after regular working hours for the benefit of CAIPA-affiliated physicians and their patients, both entities said. According to a news release, patients seen after-hours at this Express Care Center will remain part of the CAIPA network and continue to have their own physicians. CAIPA will provide all of the administrative support and record keeping for the site. The hospital will provide specialty physicians during normal daytime hours.

2. Aside from the Express Care Center, CAIPA will help Maimonides reach a better understanding of the cultural issues that have an impact on the healthcare of the Asian-American community, said CAIPA and Maimonides. Specifically, they said, culturally-sensitive content will be produced for the Maimonides website and printed materials that are distributed in the community, with the guidance of CAIPA staff. Maimonides will also design various continuing medical education events on clinical topics of interest for CAIPA affiliated physicians and sponsor an annual clinical conference.

3. George C. K. Liu, MD, president and CEO of CAIPA, expressed excitement about the partnership. "After meeting with the Maimonides leadership and physicians, we knew we shared a vision of better serving the Asian-American community, while helping our

physicians stay current with the growing demand for their services," he said in a statement.

4. Kenneth Gibbs, president and CEO of Maimonides, also expressed enthusiasm, saying, "Dr. Liu and the members of CAIPA are integral to the health and well-being of their patients, and we look forward to collaborating with them in support of this vital and growing community."

5. CAIPA is the largest IPA in Asian-American communities in New York City, with more than 900 physician members and affiliates. CAIPA cares for more than 450,000 patients. Maimonides, an affiliate of Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, has 711 beds.
From a skilled nursing facility and two of its executives agreeing to pay $30 million to settle improper billing allegations to Pittsburgh-based UPMC suing a law firm and an actuary for miscalculating pension liability, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. Clinic owner faces up to 38 years in prison for healthcare fraud, filing false tax returns

A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted Michael Huynh, owner of M.T.P. Medical Clinic in Reseda, Calif., of one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and 11 counts of filing false tax returns.

2. States sue drugmaker Indivior over alleged anticompetitive practices

Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., are accusing opioid drugmaker Indivior of trying to keep generic versions of Suboxone off the market.

3. ACLU sues Colo. Medicaid for denying thousands hep C treatment

The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the state's Medicaid program for denying thousands of low-income Coloradoans access to a drug with a 90 percent cure rate for the hepatitis C virus.

4. Federal court refuses to delay Medicare appeals backlog case

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., denied HHS' request to delay proceedings in a lawsuit filed by hospitals across the country over the Medicare appeals backlog.

5. UPMC sues law firm, actuary over hospital pension liability

Pittsburgh-based UPMC filed a lawsuit against a Cleveland-based law firm and a former actuary at the firm, alleging both parties understated the pension liability of UPMC Altoona (Pa.).

6. Appeals court clarifies reach of False Claims Act retaliation liability

Only employers can be sued for retaliation under the False Claims Act, according to a recent decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a retaliation claim against several individual defendants.

7. California SNF, executives will pay $30M over improper billing

Dana Point, Calif.-based North American Health Care and two of its executives will pay a total of $30 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act.

8. UConn Health to pay $185k to settle overbilling allegations

University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington agreed to pay the federal government $184,984 to resolve allegations it overbilled the Medicare program.

9. Florida teen accused of posing as physician back in custody in Virginia

A 19-year-old who was arrested earlier this year for practicing medicine without a license is in police custody in Virginia for using an elderly woman's credit cards without her permission.

10. Ex-nurse awarded $490k after NY hospital simulates robbery as part of safety drill

A jury awarded a former Harris, N.Y.-based Grover M. Hermann Catskill Regional Medical Center nurse $490,000 in a civil suit after she said the hospital failed to inform her of a fake robbery as part of a training drill.

More articles on health law:

13 recent lawsuits involving hospitals

Stark Law: The 27-year-old act killing healthcare reform before it can begin?

How the courts define this word will significantly impact future false claims litigation
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking into a complaint alleging the bodies of numerous unclaimed veterans were left inside a morgue for weeks at a time at the Edward Hines (Ill.) Veterans Administration Hospital, according to CBS2 Chicago.

Internal emails obtained by CBS2 Chicago revealed that the bodies of at least two veterans were left inside a morgue for nearly 30 days this summer, according to the article.

VA officials said the department is investigating the allegations made by the whistleblower but has yet to find any substantial evidence verifying those claims, according to the article.
Health insurer BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will pull back its Affordable Care Act footprint in three of Tennessee's most populous regions for 2017.

The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based insurer will retract its sales of on- and off-exchange plans in the Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville regions. BCBST cited $500 million in losses on ACA plans over the past three years.

An estimated 100,000 members will be affected. The pullback does not include Medicare Advantage plans, BlueCare enrollees or those with employer-sponsored plans. BCBST will offer four plans in five of the state's remaining regions.

"We have tried to make the ACA Marketplace model work for Tennessee, but we believe there are too many uncertainties to continue participating on a statewide level as we have before," BCBST wrote in a prepared statement. "We've made this difficult decision carefully, with the intention [that] Tennesseans in every Marketplace region will still have an option for individual coverage under the ACA."

The insurer said it will contemplate reentering the ACA marketplace in 2018 "if conditions permit."

Sixty percent of counties in Tennessee are projected to only have one insurer offering on-exchange, individual health plans in the state's federally-facilitated marketplace as of August. Only two insurers  Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana  will offer on-exchange, individual plans in 2017. Their respective premium rate increases of 47.9 percent and 44.3 percent were approved.

More articles about payer issues:

Alabama physicians get financial boost from Medicaid with restored funds

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Individual health plan premiums rise an average 24% in Idaho
On Saturday, seven people in Cuyahoga County Ohio died of drug overdoses. According to CNN, the deaths spurred the county's medical examiner to issue a public health warning.

While the drugs that caused the overdoses are not yet known, both the county and the state at-large have experienced a record number of overdoses linked to three opioids: heroin, carfentanil and fentanyl.

In August, drug enforcement officers suggested heroin laced with fentanyl, the drug that killed Prince, or possibly carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, was responsible for more than 75 overdose deaths in Ohio and Indiana.

"This cluster of deaths is deeply concerning," said medical examiner Thomas Gilson in a statement relayed by CNN. "Although there is no clear link between the individuals, this number clearly raises the possibility of a very deadly drug in the community."

According to CNN, Cuyahoga County is projected to have more than 500 fatalities linked to opioid overdoses by the end of 2016.

More articles on population health:

Why obese patients don't always get top-notch care

3.5 million Americans came out of poverty last year

3 things to know about Hillary Clinton's $10B plan to combat drug addiction
As the healthcare landscape evolves, provider organizations are expanding their focus beyond individual patient care and looking toward managing the health of populations. The goal of population health is clear: improve the quality and effectiveness of care while controlling costs for a defined group of people. However, as Megan Clark of the Advisory Board notes, "the transition path couldn't be murkier."

To help provide some clarity, athenahealth brought together 79 executives from 72 accountable care organizations, health systems, provider organizations or consulting firms for a series of roundtable discussions to find out what it takes to successfully transition to a population health model of care. They examined obstacles and opportunities their organizations face and identified promising strategies for navigating the transition process. "Managing population health is a challenging concept," says Anil Keswani, MD, corporate vice president of Ambulatory Care and Population Health Management at San Diego-based Scripps Health. "It involves a set of strategies and capabilities that many of us are still wrestling with at this point."

This content is sponsored by athenahealth

Throughout the discussions, athenahealth used Amy Edmonson's leadership triangle framework to help leaders focus on aligning three crucial elements of their organizations  Vision, Culture and Operations  to drive and sustain future success in population health.

Identifying obstacles

Vision refers to clarity about where an organization is strategically headed and what value it seeks to add in its community or market. Many healthcare leaders struggle with vision because they see the population health model of care as very different from the prevailing focus on individual patient care. In fact, only 15 percent of leaders polled during our roundtable discussions strongly agreed their organizations were well aligned around a shared vision of population health. In some cases, executives reported feeling pressure from payers to enter population health management before they were ready, or are entering the fray simply to keep up with competitors. Few, if any organizations seem to have defined a clear and compelling value proposition or a way of measuring and validating the benefits a population health focus brings to their organization or community.

As a result, many leaders worry about moving too quickly on population health. They are concerned that focusing on population health will undermine revenue  that is, a healthier population will require fewer hospitalizations and procedures. Additionally, leaders report that providers are reluctant to enter into risk-based contracts, fearing they may be unfairly penalized on already low profit margins.

The greatest cultural challenge for healthcare leaders is realigning an organization's focus away from acute, episodic care and toward a team-based, collaborative model for sustaining wellness across a population. First and foremost, this shift requires buy-in from physicians. Although many leaders point out that many physicians want to be involved in population health efforts, they are often too busy taking care of sick patients to take on new roles. In addition, specialists are still struggling to find their place in population health efforts.

Health system leaders also question how their organizations can appropriately engage patients, families and communities in the population health model. How, for example, do they encourage patients at high risk for emergency services or hospitalization to make positive behavior changes? Population health is impacted by a complex array of factors that include socioeconomic status, ethnicity and the ability to access care. "We underappreciate the degree to which the patient  the customer, if you will  is in the driver's seat in terms of what really happens to their health and wellbeing," says Brian Goldstein, MD, executive vice president and COO, Chapel Hill-based UNC Hospitals. "Population health is the aggregation of the health of each individual, and each individual is autonomous."

Healthcare leaders also face operational challenges they must overcome as they continue to develop and experiment with population health. They agree that delivering meaningful, usable data at the point of care is the most significant barrier to industry- wide adoption of population health management. The key term is "usable data," says Poonam Alaigh, MD, an internal consultant with Atlantic ACO Strategy at Morristown, N.J.-based Atlantic Health System. "Sometimes there's so much information that you can't get any directional signal. And groups can interpret that information to their advantage, versus having a unified approach and gaining an unbiased understanding of what that information means."

Provider organizations struggle with aggregating data across their systems, making it actionable, and having the tools to scale the data to the level that's needed for population health. Physicians simply don't have access to the right information at the point of care  from costs to complete patient histories  to inform their treatment decisions. Leaders stressed the need to create a more seamless process for moving patients through the care system, moving away from the fee-for-service model that has health systems functioning as competing silos of care and toward a team-centric approach to coordinating care.

Finally, leaders expressed uncertainty about the best organizational structure for population health models. Some leaders felt strongly that healthcare providers should be payers, and others felt just as strongly that they shouldn't be. Many agreed that there would be a blurring of the lines between insurers, providers and hospitals as organizations figure out how to effectively band together and scale up.

A roadmap for population health

Organizations face significant challengesas they move toward managing the healthof populations. But as our discussions progressed,healthcare leaders identified keystrategies that could make the road to populationhealth less bumpy.

1. Prioritize high-value interventions

Wondering where to start? Many leaders recommend focusing on high-risk groups. These include both medically underserved populations who have more limited access to care, as well as patients with multiple chronic conditions, who are associated with a high percentage of healthcare expenditures. "True population health is about understanding the disparities in your community. If you look at the management of cost, it's about managing the high risk of super-utilizers. This is the top 5 percent of healthcare utilizers, or the top 10 percent who are about to join their ranks," says Scott Reiner, president and CEO of Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health.

High-risk populations are the most responsive to prevention and expense management strategies. They are also common in the fee-for-service world, and leaders point out that managing their care can prove to be an effective "bridge" in migrating to risk-based models of care. "Our approach is to try to reduce the cost of taking care of people with complex illnesses, or where there's the most opportunity to cut cost," says Dr. Goldstein, "and then concurrently, and hopefully incrementally, add populations of the healthy majority who sometimes need episodic care."

Along with high-risk populations, organizations should focus on the rising risk group, those patients with identifiable and preventable health risks who have not yet become high utilizers of care. Effectively managing these populations requires that leaders consider how health is impacted by economic, mental health and other psychosocial factors  an approach more common in public health. "We need to collect social determinants of health data and set the patient in the context of their life. It may not change the intervention, but it may change how and where that intervention is implemented," says Elizabeth Majestic, Vice President of Population Health at Cottage Health.

2. Build a fully integrated system

Leaders agreed that a population health model most likely to succeed under risk is fully integrated; a system with diversified revenue streams and strong regional partnerships and affiliations with community groups, payers, and other providers. Organizations will need to embrace alignment and share patient data among a network of medical and community groups that serve a given population.

Leaders also agree that organizations have to shed their fee-for-service culture and embrace a team-based mentality that has providers working together to meet the needs of a community. "We have to move away from this model that serves self-interest," says Larry Mullins, CEO of Corvallis, Ore.-based Samaritan Health Services. "Whether they are hospital interests, physicians' interests, or ambulatory surgery interests, that doesn't work when you're getting into population health. You're talking about allocating a finite amount of resources for a defined population and you really can't have one player trying to dominate out of self-interest."

Leaders agreed that they still have work to do on identifying compensation models that make the most sense and motivate providers to be part of a well-integrated care team.

3. Develop a population health workforce

One of the most important leadership priorities is to engage and support physicians and staff on the front lines of care delivery as they take on new roles and responsibilities within the organization.

The roundtable participants all agreed physicians must be allowed to focus on providing high-quality, efficient care for their patients and not be asked to spend more time on administrative work. Organizations can have staff assume such tasks such as data entry, maintaining EMRs or patient outreach and monitoring. Many leaders believe that specially- trained 'population health managers' will emerge as crucial supports to primary care physicians, much like certified medical assistants or the care coordinator in the medical home model. "The population health piece is not a conversation with the provider," says Tom Kloos, MD, president and CEO of Summit, N.J.-based Optimus Healthcare Partners, vice president of Atlantic Health System, president of the Atlantic ACO and executive director of MSO Services. "We try to leverage the clinical coordinator that's identified within each PCP office. They're the ones who do the outreach. They're the ones who assess the population that the practice serves."

Organizations that want to move into the population health space will require both leaders and staff to develop new skill sets. Some are actively promoting the redesign of medical school training; others envision new roles for staff to lead population health efforts and create relevant support systems for physicians and patients.

4. Design data systems to support population health

In order to be effective in population health, organizations need effective ongoing data aggregation across their populations. Some healthcare IT vendors are providing data aggregation as a service, using the cloud to bring together a patient's clinical, financial and demographic data to provide a complete picture of care. Integrating disparate EMR and claims data enables organizations to better address care gaps and manage care across the patient population.

Organizations also need clinical and financial data in real time across the enterprise. Having "situational awareness" at the moment of care gives organizations the transparency needed to control costs and better coordinate care. "Our primary care doctors hear over and over again 'you're the gatekeeper. You're the one who controls the costs on down the line,'" says Anna Loengard, MD, CMO of Honolulu-based The Queens Clinically Integrated Network, Queen's Health Systems. "If they could have a single EMR where they could see a patient- centered view of that patient's care, and also know the cost of care for various referrals down the line, that that would take us a long way."

5. Moving care beyond the doctor's office

Population health leaders should maximize a multi-channel approach to managing patients, including traditional patient visits, but expand expanding use of online, mobile and telemedicine options. Leaders understand that to really succeed under risk or value-based contracts, organizations will ultimately need to better engage patients and impact their behavior in the time outside of the typical 15-minute office-based encounter. "There are lots of people that want more from their primary care doctor," says Bill Winkenwerder, MD, chairman of Winkenwerder Strategies. "They want that interaction, they want to be guided, and they want it now. Most practices are not set up for that. There needs to be a new layer where you can just either call or go onto the web, have an app on your phone, and within 30 to 60 seconds, you're talking to a doctor."

This kind of immediacy requires exploring such enhanced operational capabilities as open access scheduling, user-friendly patient portals, secure text messaging, care management mobile apps, and live and automated messaging. To really impact population health, organizations must move their outreach and patient engagement more aggressively into the ever-growing digital space. "You want your population to be able to access the care services they need through the mechanism that works for them," says John Hitt, Chief Medical Quality Officer at Minneapolis-based Hennepin County Health System.

Conclusion

Going forward, healthcare delivery systems will need strong leadership to navigate the "murky" transition to population health. Many organizations are so fragmented that the most important job for leaders will be advancing a vision, building consensus and effectively communicating evolving priorities  before they get into tackling the nuts and bolts of delivering care.

The future is not about surviving or thriving in a risk contract or simply taking on new methods of reimbursement. That's a small goal. If healthcare leaders want a big, audacious goal, they should be rethinking how to manage entire populations and create care delivery mechanisms to support this new approach. The changes will require the development of new capabilities, and new strategies, but they will be beneficial.

We can't cross the chasm into population health with a series of small, isolated steps. We are at the cliff's edge and it is time to build the bridge  even if there is significant ambiguity about what rewards await at the other side.

This article originally appeared on athenaInsight. com.
When Mylan CEO Heather Bresch testified before the House Oversight Committee Sept. 21, she told lawmakers the company makes $100 in profit off a two-pack of EpiPens listed at $608. However, Ms. Bresch failed to indicate this number was estimated after applying a U.S. tax rate of 37.5 percent, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Without the tax deduction, Mylan's EpiPen profits would be about $160, 60 percent higher than the number Ms. Bresch told congress.

On Monday, Mylan gave Congress more detailed information regarding EpiPen profits that acknowledged the figures were after taxes. The company  registered in the Netherlands for tax reasons but run from its operational headquarters in Canonsburg, Pa.  said it was standard protocol to include figures after taxes.

Ryan Baum, an analyst at SSR Health in Stamford, Conn., said the 37.5 percent tax rate Mylan used to calculate profits "has nothing to do with reality" because the company didn't pay that high of a tax on EpiPens. He said Mylan had a 7.4 percent overall tax rate last year and a negative effective tax rate in the U.S., according to the report.

"That implies this notional [$100] profit figure also has nothing to do with reality," said Mr. Baum. While Mylan executives can present financial figures however they please, "good behavior would be to document your figures in a more transparent manner," he said.

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Providers are managing a balancing act where they try to deliver optimal care to patients while fulfilling a wealth of reporting requirements. An Annals of Internal Medicine study found physicians only spend 27 percent of their time on direct clinical face time with patients. The minimal time physicians have to spend with patients may detract from the provider-patient relationship and plays a factor in burnout amongst the medical community.

"Physicians feel that in order to help as many people as we can, we have to examine them very quickly," says John Finkenberg, MD, a spine surgeon at Alvarado Orthopedic Medical Group in San Diego and North American Spine Society's advocacy council director. "A patient's appointment must be shared between time with the patient and time with the electronic medical record. Now, our questions to patients have to be calculated and patients often complain that physicians do not spend enough time with them."

Healthcare's shift to value-based care is focused on improving the patient while drastically lowering costs. Payers are requiring more data from physicians, which may impede their ability to get to the root of a patient's condition and provide the best care possible.

"The insurance industry has decided the best way to limit costs is to increase the Utilization Review process which delays care and increases the administrative burden on physician offices," Dr. Finkenberg notes.

Payers are requiring providers to conduct more utilization reviews, which are often lengthy. Dr. Finkenberg cites one instance where a payer said a patient needed to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation despite Dr. Finkenberg stating the patient had clear pathology demonstrating the etiology of her pain. A psychological evaluation would have been a waste of the insurer's money and would not have resolved her pain and discomfort.

"The psychological evaluation delayed the patient's treatment and led to poor quality of care. This is a perfect example of how the system has become so much harder to navigate," he says. "Most patients seeking a spine consultation have a three- to four-week waiting period. If you have back pain, you want to see someone tomorrow."

As NASS' advocacy council director, Dr. Finkenberg works with legislators to educate them about challenges healthcare providers face and how legislation impacts their ability to provide high quality care.

"I tell legislators that I am concerned about the provider-patient relationship. The industry seems to be more concerned with decreasing cost than improving quality," Dr. Finkenberg says. "We can't go down that road. If we continue to make it so difficult for people to get care, it is making quality worse."

CMS implemented the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act to fall in line with the shift to value-based care, but many providers are concerned the pay-for-performance system will result in a hefty fee for providers. CMS recently offered providers flexibility by allowing them to choose from multiple options as to how they can participate in the first year, yet many providers may still endure a penalty for failing to meet reporting requirements.

Rather than rewarding or punishing physicians, Dr. Finkenberg has a different solution  Reward physicians willing to make an effort to incorporate EHR and Quality Measures in their practice. "After all, the general quality of our healthcare system depends on everyone getting on board," Dr. Finkenberg notes.

"We have to find groups of doctors willing to explore innovative ways to give high quality of care at a reasonable cost," Dr. Finkenberg says. "We need legislation that protects the physician-patient relationship and allows faster access to specialists who can limit inappropriate testing and limit overall disability."

Hospitals around the nation are reducing their services and many providers are seeing less Medicare patients as reimbursement dwindles. CMS data showed 9,539 physicians who had accepted Medicare opted out of the program in 2012, up from 3,700 in 2009.





"Hospitals are decreasing services, limiting staff and closing ORs earlier," says Dr. Finkenberg. "I think the whole system has to change  we have limited resources, fewer physicians and an increasing number of patients. If we do not find a way for physicians, hospitals, insurers and the government to work together, the quality of medicine in the United States is certain to decline. However, I am optimistic as the medical profession will not abandon their patients no matter how hard the system tries to make it."





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Since the hospital chargemaster data became published online over the past few years, hospital executives and economists suggested they aren't representative of hospital prices and are "irrelevant," according to a Health Affairs article. The article authors gathered data 2013 Medicare to examine trends, showing hospitals do consider chargemaster price "an important way to enhance revenue."

The study authors found:

1. A one-unit increase in the charge-to-cost ratio is associated with higher patient care revenue per adjusted discharge. The charge-to-cost ratio is the chargemaster price divided by Medicare-allowable cost, and the one-unit increase was linked to $64 higher patient care revenue per adjusted discharge, according to the report.

2. Hospitals systematically adjust the charge-to-cost ratios, according to the report. Average ratios across patient care departments were 1.8 to 28.5.

3. For-profit hospitals reported a charge-to-cost ratio at 2.3 higher than the non-profit hospitals and 2.07 higher than the government hospitals. The average charge-to-cost ratio for each type of hospital in 2013 was:

 Government: 3.47

 Nonprofit: 3.79

 For profit: 6.31

4. The hospitals with more of their patients uninsured reported an average 4.91 ratio, compared with a ratio of 2.71 for hospitals with the low or median proportion of uninsured.

5. The hospitals that were affiliated with health systems reported a 4.76 average ratio, higher than independent hospitals, which reported a 3.54 ratio.

6. When the hospital had regional power, the ratio was 4.56, compared with 4.16 for hospitals that didn't have regional power.

7. There was correlation between the charge-to-cost ratio and these factors:

 Uninsured patients

 Hospital system affiliation

 Regional power

8. The study authors suggest policy makers "consider developing additional policy tools that improve markup transparency to protect patients from unexpectedly high charges for specific services." The results suggested hospitals use mark ups to maximize revenue, according to the report.
 Flash

The 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum kicked off on Tuesday in Tokyo with the theme of "Sino-Japanese cooperation for Asian and world peace and development."

Jointly organized by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and Japan's Genron NPO, the meeting attracted nearly 500 diplomats and experts on Sino-Japanese relations.

Former U.N. Administrator Yasushi Akashi, Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua, State Council Information Office (SCIO) Minister Jiang Jianguo, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, President of the China-Japan Friendship Association Tang Jiaxuan and CIPG President Zhou Mingwei attended the opening ceremony and gave keynote speeches.

After the plenary meeting, sub-forums on bilateral politics and diplomacy, economy and trade, media exchanges, security and special issues will be held on Sept. 28.

Experts and researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Foreign Affairs University, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the University of Tokyo and Keio University are expected to take part in the discussion sections of the meeting.

Initiated in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum has become an influential non-governmental forum that features high-level dialogues and communication and has played a significant role in promoting mutual trust and understanding between the two countries.
Lord Lamont was speaking at an Institute of Directors convention in London

Struggling German banks pose a looming threat to the European Union, which will "hit a fence" as the bloc struggles with a series of crises over the coming years, former chancellor Lord Lamont has said.

Lord Lamont said the EU is at risk of buckling under the weight of distressed lenders not just in peripheral countries such as Italy, but also in its powerhouse economy.

"The biggest threat, I think, to Europe is the banking crisis.

"I think Italian banks are in a very serious situation, I think German banks are probably in a very serious situation too.

"I think the Germans would prefer that we all discuss the Italian banks rather than discuss their banks but actually I think their banks are in a dangerous situation," Lord Lamont said at an Institute of Directors convention in London.

His comments come just a day after Deutsche Bank's shares plunged to their lowest level in more than 20 years amid a stand-off with US authorities over a 14 billion US dollar (10.7 billion) settlement. Chancellor Angela Merkel has given no indication that the German government might help the group.

Investor concern over the German lender subsequently sparked a sell-off across European banking stocks on Tuesday, including RBS and Barclays.

However, Lord Lamont suggested little could be done to preserve the EU in its current form, which is likely to "hit a fence" in the face of other pressures, including a looming constitutional referendum in Italy and a presidential election in Austria.

"Of course next year we have the French and German elections," he added.

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis gave similarly pessimistic forecasts, suggesting the EU, and particularly the monetary union, is likely to look radically different in just a decade's time.

"The problem is much more structural. The architecture of the eurozone is simply not capable of sustaining itself," Mr Varoufakis said.

Without adequate reforms, the EU is likely to fall apart, leaving a core of the eurozone and a series of bilateral arrangements between former members, he said.

"While it is unsustainable, its disintegration will be hugely costly and not just for those who live in the eurozone.

"This is the reason that it was important that those of us who disdained its architecture and design to try and fix it," Mr Varoufakis said.
A former partner at KPMG in Belfast who is being investigated by HMRC and helped lead the way for devolving corporation tax here has launched his own business consultancy firm, it can be revealed.

And it comes as Eamonn Donaghy joins three fellow ex-partners at KPMG in Belfast in starting judicial proceedings against HMRC next Monday.

Mr Donaghy and his three former colleagues retired earlier this year after an investigation into their tax affairs by HMRC over their property company JEAP Ltd.

Now, Mr Donaghy is launching a business consultancy firm called Bona Fide Consultancy. And it comes as Mr Donaghy joins Paul Hollway, Jon D'Arcy and Arthur O'Brien in judicial review proceedings over the lawfulness of the warrants issued to HMRC to search their homes and business premises.

The case is due to be heard at the High Court in Belfast on Monday.

Mr Donaghy was writing about business and the current political and economic landscape - in his role with his new firm Bona Fide Consultancy - in the latest newsletter for members of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Northern Ireland.

"Narrowing the lens a bit, it is accepted that business does not react well to uncertainty, which means unpredictable outcomes and more risk," he said. "What will businesses in the British Isles have made of the last three months of 'interesting' events.

"We have seen a vote for Brexit (but not everywhere), a change in UK government, significant increased terrorism in Europe, and even GB, volatile currency exchange, rumblings of a significant constitutional change in the UK and the largest single drop in the purchasing managers' index on record."

At the time of the initial investigation back in November, a spokesman for HMRC said: "HMRC officers arrested four individuals from Northern Ireland yesterday in connection with suspected tax evasion. We can't comment further."

It was not able to comment any further when contacted by this paper yesterday.

Mr Donaghy was not available for comment.

The four were arrested last November, but have not been charged with any wrongdoing.

In February this year, KPMG announced that the partners in its Belfast office subject to the HMRC probe had retired.

Mr Donaghy, Mr D'Arcy, Mr Hollway and Mr O'Brien are now seeking to judicially review the lawfulness of the warrants issued to search their homes and business premises. Their lawyers argued back in May this year that significant information about their co-operation was omitted in applications for permission to trawl through the houses and offices.

Barry Macdonald QC said: "HMRC obtained these warrants in circumstances where they misrepresented the relevant facts."

Mr Donaghy was one of the main campaigners behind devolving corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly in his role with Grow NI.
A number of US banks have shifted their hiring for senior positions to locations such as Paris, DHR International said

Fears that the Brexit vote would spark an exodus of jobs from the City of London is fast becoming a reality, a report has revealed.

US banks have started shifting their hiring for banking roles from London to rival financial centres in Pairs and Frankfurt, according to executive recruitment firm DHR International.

Companies have also started accelerating cost-cutting plans made before the referendum result, including the process of moving London jobs to cities outside the UK.

Stephane Rambosson, managing partner of DHR International, said some firms were using Brexit as a "handy excuse for getting on [with] the unpleasant task of moving jobs outside London".

" Firms were already making plans to move middle and back office roles out of London in order to cut costs, but now Brexit has acted as a catalyst for radical surgery, providing firms with the impetus to act on these plans immediately."

He said businesses were eyeing cost savings of up to 40% by relocating roles to Warsaw, Lisbon and Dublin, while India, Malaysia and China were also set to benefit from a move to offshore more roles.

A report by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the weeks after the referendum result said that u p to 80,000 jobs could be shifted out of London and in to rival financial centres across Europe in the wake of the Brexit vote, with Frankfurt trumpeted as the ''most attractive location'' among bankers.

JP Morgan, HSBC and Goldman Sachs all said prior to the vote that thousands of jobs in the City of London could be moved to the continent if Britain voted to leave the EU.

Mr Rambosson said the jobs warnings made by US banking giants were now being enforced.

"It's been widely speculated that US banks would shift their focus away from London post-Brexit but now this is definitely starting to happen.

"A number of US banks have shifted their hiring for senior positions in corporate and investment banking to locations such as Paris and Frankfurt as part of the first step in expanding their presence in mainland Europe."

In a review of the employment market in the first 100 days since Britain voted to leave the European Union, he said businesses and executives were now looking for jobs again after putting their search on hold.

He added that Brexit-break clauses - put in place by employers in the event of a Brexit vote - have largely been ignored.
Kerryann Dunlop (right) from Jamie Olivers Food Tube channel with Aoife McHale, Visit Derry and Des Burke, Tourism Ireland on the citys historic Walls

Millions of Jamie Oliver fans will see footage of Londonderry and its up-and-coming restaurant scene as the star's Food Tube team takes to the Walled City.

Around 22 million people tune in to Jamie Oliver's Food Tube recipe videos every month, making it one of YouTube's most popular channels.

The Naked Chef's team will hit the city as part of Tourism Ireland's latest promotion to highlight attractions in the region alongside the Year of Food and Drink 2016.

The video will feature chef Kerryann Dunlop demonstrating her favourite Northern Ireland recipes to viewers.

Kerryann first featured on Jamie's Kitchen in 2002 - a reality series where the chef attempted to train a group of unemployed young people at his restaurant, Fifteen.

The Northern Ireland video will feature the Maiden City's Craft Village, where Kerryann will bake barmbrack with a ring inside, using a traditional Halloween recipe.

The video, due to go live in mid-October, will also feature scenic shots of the city and will highlight next month's Banks of the Foyle Halloween Festival.

Tourism Ireland hopes the series will showcase Northern Ireland and encourage food enthusiasts to travel to the region to see what it has to offer.

This is not the first time Jamie's team has ventured to the province. Tourism Ireland also commissioned Food Tube videos in Enniskillen, with chef and broadcaster John Quilter, and another in Glenarm with Dutch chef and Food Tube presenter Bart van Olphen.

Londonderry's food reputation has grown in the last few years. Donal Doherty proprietor of Harry's Shack, told Belfast Telegraph he had signed a lease to open a new branch of his critically-acclaimed restaurant chain in the Craft Village.

The restaurant is still a work in progress and due to open next month.

But Mr Doherty explained his eatery is just one of many causing a buzz in the city, with one street food business now moving into permanent premises, and a new Ebrington Square brewhouse and restaurant.

"Kevin Pyke's street food has moved into the Blackbird Pub. It's a small menu of really tasty, quality food and has only been open four weeks.

"Derry isn't particularly affluent but there's still a lot going on. The Walled City Brewery has definitely embraced the whole cafe-brewery movement. It's somewhere which really is world-class, with the brewery literally on one side and the restaurant on the other.

"There's a lot more people running down at the Quays where lots of cafes are opening, and people walking across the Peace Bridge. There's a definite lifestyle change happening."

The Wolf Shack reopened along Queen's Quay in June after undergoing substantial refurbishment.

And Glenn McAllister, who opened Cafe Gate in the Craft Village with his brother, Richard, just over a year ago, allowed the Food Tube film crew to use his cafe's oven.

He explained: "My brother and I have worked in the industry for over 20 years. We were based over in England and Scotland working as chefs for a while - in that time a lot changed over here. People are travelling more and trying different things and are starting to expect a lot more from restaurants.

"There's a good mix of places to eat in Derry - now there's a lot of up-market, fine dining restaurants like Browns but there's still a lot of traditional cafes like ours."

David Boyce, Tourism Ireland's deputy head of Great Britain, commented: "Our message here in Great Britain is that Northern Ireland is a superb choice for 'foodies' for a holiday or long weekend break.

"We're inviting them to come and discover our wonderful food and drink - and also hear the stories of the passionate people who rear, make, cook, distil and serve this superb produce."
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has been warned not to signal a "hard Brexit" strategy as he delivers a key-note address to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today.

Ahead of the Cabinet Minister's address in Switzerland, campaigners wanting Britain to stay as close to the EU as possible insisted the Brexit negotiations should not be driven by right-wing ideology.

Labour MP Pat McFadden of the Open Britain organisation, which grew out of the Remain campaign in the EU referendum, said: "Before deciding on our future relationship with the single market and the customs union, we need much more detail on what this would mean for jobs and investment in the UK.

"The Government cannot simply be led by ideology or the need to make Liam Fox's job real.

"These judgments have to be made on the basis of what's best for the UK economy.

"The Government has been slow to realise what would be involved in leaving the single market and customs union.

"Businesses are desperately briefing ministers on this but there is an urgent need for a proper assessment which should be shared with the public.

"We should not sleepwalk to a hard Brexit without knowing what this would mean for the economy."
Northern Ireland banks have been accused of "abandoning customers" in favour of chasing profit during an Assembly debate on rural branch closures.

Several MLAs taking part in the debate - on the Assembly's first day operating with an official Opposition - claimed they knew businesspeople who had to undertake 60-mile round trips to visit their nearest banks.

And others said there were concerns that plans to replace branch services with the Post Office and internet banking were not enough.

The problems raised included increased isolation for older people, and reduced footfall in towns where banks had closed leading to a knock-on effect on other businesses in the area.

First Minister Arlene Foster recently joined a protest over the planned closure of the Bank of Ireland in Belleek in her constituency. And yesterday, members from all around the province spoke of the impact of branch closures on their communities.

Steve Aiken, Ulster Unionist MLA for South Antrim, said there were "extreme" consequences to many rural businesses and bank customers.

He commented: "It's the time physically spent to travel a 50 to 60-mile round trip, the security aspect of carrying a large cash deposit and the impact on the town caused by the lack of footfall when the branch closes."

He added that many older members of the community had no interest in using online banking services, even if they had good internet infrastructure, due to a mistrust of remote banking and unmanned deposit services. North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne added that the effect of the closures was exacerbated by some shutting doors at lunchtime.

He said: "They talk about customer focus and putting people first but it seems to be all about putting profits first."

Responding to the MLAs, Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said he would hold further meetings with senior bankers, and had already met with representatives of Ulster Bank, Danske and Bank of Ireland.

SDLP's Richie McPhillips said there was "anger and frustration" felt at the decline of rural services and told members how 7,000 people had signed a petition recently to save Belleek's Bank of Ireland branch from closure.

Almost 80 Northern Ireland bank branches have closed within the last four years - a third of the region's bank network. Earlier this year, Bank of Ireland announced it was closing eight branches - leaving it with 28.

SDLP MLA for South Down, Colin McGrath, added: "This is not just a Bank of Ireland issue, it seems to be all banks - we don't want to sit back and watch a gradual retreat of anything from our rural areas.

"This is not about broadband, it's not about online banking. If we ended up with super broadband across the north that is not enough. It still results in reduced footfall in our towns and isolation for our older people and that is not enough."

Wilfred Mitchell from the Federation of Small Businesses said that internet services could not replace branches. "Many businesses rely on cash and cheque transactions with their customers, and the closure of bank branches increases the risks they face in storing these on their premises, as well as transiting larger amounts of money over longer distances."

Financial Services Union general secretary, Larry Broderick, said of yesterday's Assembly discussion: "The debate was an opportunity for the Assembly to focus its mind on the very serious issue of communities losing access to basic banking services. We hope that the debate now focuses the minds of banks on their responsibilities to these communities.

"This is an issue which the FSU has raised in recent years, but the decision of Bank of Ireland to close eight of its branches has helped bring those concerns to a head.

"It is imperative that the banking sector faces up to this issue and agrees a strategy that doesn't leave already isolated communities bereft of essential services."
From left, Economy Minister Simon Hamilton with Regina Moran, head of industry sectors business application services Fujitsu EMEIA, and Women in Business chief executive Roseann Kelly

Business in Northern Ireland must focus on transforming the province into a "globally competitive economy", the annual Women in Business conference has heard.

The province's most influential businesspeople attended last week's gathering at the Ramada Plaza in Belfast.

IT giant Fujitsu was the main sponsor of the event, which was themed The Future of Business.

Guest speakers included Regina Moran from the company as well as Carla Tully, the president of energy giant AES UK and Ireland.

Economy Minister Simon Hamilton also attended and told delegates: "I am clear that our focus should be full square on transforming Northern Ireland into a globally competitive economy."

Women in Business also announced the appointment of five male 'gender diversity champions' from business - Malcolm McKibbin, head of the NI Civil Service, John Healy, managing director of Allstate NI, Ray Hutchinson, the head of Gilbert-Ash, CBI chairman David Gavaghan and Queen's University vice-chancellor Patrick Johnston.
North Sea oil and gas production has increased more than 10% in a year, according to a new report.

Oil & Gas UK's Economic Report 2016 found improved competitiveness in the industry as the cost of extracting a barrel of oil or gas from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has nearly halved.

The report said efficiency savings led to a 45% drop in extraction costs from 2014 and p roduction rose 10.4% in 2015, its first increase in 15 years.

However, the supply chain has been hit by a 30% fall in revenues on average between 2014 and 2015, and 120,000 are thought to have lost their jobs over the past two years.

The industry still faces major challenges as exploration has fallen to record lows and new investment is scarce.

Industry experts are calling for a boost to flagging investments.

Deirdre Michie, Oil & Gas UK's chief executive, said: "The UKCS is in urgent need of fresh investment to boost exploration and drive activity, particularly for the supply chain.

"Exploration has fallen to record lows and little new investment has been approved in 2016, and 2017 looks no better.

"Increased asset trading is one area that could free up new investment by facilitating the trading of late-life assets.

"In light of this I am calling on governments today to vigorously champion the UK's oil and gas industry, by providing certainty in our fiscal regime, encouraging new entrants to the market and recognising our supply chain as vitally important to the economy.

"The evidence in the report demonstrates what our industry can achieve when the basin's competitiveness is addressed and the tax regime reformed.

"Now it is time for the UK and Scottish governments to reinforce their efforts to promote the UKCS, nationally and internationally, as an attractive investment with world leading capability from front end exploration to late life operations."

The industry body is also calling on the Treasury to allow the transfer of tax breaks when assets are sold and on, and to the UK Government to re-affirm its commitment to a "more competitive, simple and predictable" fiscal regime.

Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Dunlop said: "The UK Government is committed to supporting our oil and gas sector, and the jobs which depend on it. That's why in the last two years we have put in place tax breaks worth 2.3 billion, strengthening the North Sea's appeal to international investors as a global centre of excellence.

"While the industry is adapting to this new business environment, there are opportunities that can be seized. Production outputs are higher and there has been a significant reduction in operating costs.

"There's a determination in the sector to make a success of this new trend and create a lasting legacy for an industry that makes a huge contribution to Scotland and the UK."

Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the report demonstrates that "significant opportunities" remain in the North Sea, and he added that up to 20 billion barrels of oil could yet be extracted - but urgent measures are needed to give operators the confidence to continue investing.

He said: "T he UK Government must consider what further fiscal and non-fiscal measures could be implemented to support the sector.

"The report also highlights the issues the sector faces in accessing capital - an issue we have raised repeatedly with the UK Government when calling for support in the form of loan guarantees.

"While we have received assurances from the UK Government we have yet to see any details, despite the urgency around this issue highlighted by the report.

"The UK Government retains control of the main economic and tax levers affecting the North Sea oil industry - though the Scottish Government continues to do all that we can to support the sector."
Otter Lodge in Cookstown is now on the market

One of Northern Ireland's best-known rural restaurants is on the market as its owners prepare to retire.

Otter Lodge in Cookstown, Co Tyrone has been a well-known food destination in mid-Ulster for decades.

Now the owners, married couple Harold and Heather Moffett, are leaving the business after nearly 30 years in the trade.

The venue is on sale for an undisclosed sum, but it's expected that the restaurant will be valued at around 500,000.

However, no asking price has been disclosed by selling agents Burns Commercial for the restaurant.

The 1.75 acre site is next to the Ballinderry River, in a location described by Burns Commercial as "prime and idyllic".

The restaurant has been trading for almost 30 years, although there is planning permission available for further development at the venue.

Heather and Harold Moffett said they had spotted the potential of the idyllic riverbank location, and after buying it, started a major extension and upgrade before opening up in its present form in 1987.

According to a spokesman, the Moffetts developed "a reputation for serving good food and easy drinking wines at value for money prices".

Mrs Moffett had already run Chequers Pub and Restaurant with her father Cyril - famously the first pub and restaurant in Cookstown to offer a la carte dining and a wine list.

The spokesman added: "There is planning permission in place for bedroom accommodation and three high-end self-catering apartments.

"The premises are set up for the next generation of entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector and should attract strong interest."

And Mr Moffett praised the culinary skills of his wife and business partner.

He said: "She has been cooking and serving the public as a restaurateur since the age of 21, and is by far and away the longest serving chef-proprietor in the district, surviving three economic recessions."
Businesses in Northern Ireland must be extra-vigilant about their cyber-security processes following the hack into internet giant Yahoo, it's been claimed.

Yahoo last week confirmed personal data from 500 million accounts has been stolen in a massive security breach.

It only recently discovered the 2014 break-in as part of an ongoing internal investigation.

The stolen data includes users' names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords and the security questions - and answers - used to verify an account holder's identity.

David Crozier of the Queen's University Centre for Security Information Technologies (CSIT) said: "People in Northern Ireland who have older legacy BT Yahoo or Sky Yahoo email accounts are likely to have been impacted."

And he warned that more hacks could happen.

"This attack, impacting up to 500 million users, is massive and would be hard to beat," he said.

"Only significant hacks on Google and Facebook would be bigger. Those haven't happened - yet. But 100% security is impossible, so I'd say never say never.

And Conrad Simpson, director at cyber-security advisers Cyphra, said small businesses which used Yahoo emails as a base for company email addresses could also have been hit.

And he warned businesses to be extra-vigilant. One key piece of advice, he said, was to warn employees not to adopt the same password for work emails as those used for their personal emails.

Mr Simpson said that at a recent talk he reminded businesses that a total of 500 million identities had been stolen last year - the number stolen in Yahoo's single episode of theft.

But all individuals who could possibly be affected should carry out checks. "If you have other accounts and have used your Yahoo-related accounts to set passwords, you should go in and change the passwords on those accounts," Mr Simpson said.

The most adept hackers were able to crack "easily guessable" passwords like names. But one method he recommended was to choose the first line of a favourite song and make up a password from the first letter of each word.

Mr Crozier added the hack was likely to cause lasting damage to Yahoo.

"The Yahoo brand has been struggling for some years. This will definitely take further shine off it," he said. Yahoo is in the process of being sold to Verizon for a reported $4.8bn. This may well impact that valuation."

He said companies should ensure staff are trained to secure business systems and networks - and for firms to be prepared to spend as much - if not more - on cyber-security as physical security.

Smaller firms, however, could outsource to cyber security solution providers and consultancies."
Premium

Margaret Canning Opinion Conservatives have gone back to traditional territory with a mini-budget that just might cost the party the next election

Many of the measures in Kwasi Kwartengs first big statement as Chancellor had been trailed in advance  changes to stamp duty, the cancellation of both the rise in National Insurance and the rise in corporation tax, and bringing forward a cut in the basic rate of income tax to 19 pence.
Lord Sugar said The Great British Bake Off might bomb when it switches to Channel 4

Lord Sugar believes The Great British Bake Off will be "a total disaster" following its move from the BBC to Channel 4.

The Apprentice star said he feels for the corporation after the baking show's production company Love Productions controversially sold the rights, and suggested ratings could drop.

He told Radio Times: "I think it's going to be a total disaster.

"I think they (the BBC) are getting a raw deal these days.

"I mean, because they make something successful like Bake Off or The Voice, then suddenly a commercial channel comes along and just goes and buys it off them, and greedy production companies sell it to them.

"I don't find that morally correct."

The BBC is believed to have offered Love Productions 15 million a year to keep Bake Off, but that is reported to have fallen 10 million short.

Lord Sugar said of Love Productions: "Think about their personal credibility as the production company, if this thing bombs on Channel 4.

"I mean, the difference between 15 million viewers, right, which Bake Off got, to possibly settling down to about three million on Channel 4, surely that's got to mean something to them, hasn't it?

"It's not always the money, you know."

Bake Off judge Mary Berry and presenters Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins have opted not to follow the dough and will stay at the BBC out of loyalty, with only judge Paul Hollywood moving to the rival channel after he declared the tent is "where I belong".

Lord Sugar said he would not follow The Apprentice in a similar move as his loyalty is with the corporation.

He said: "I don't wish to sound too much of a big head, but the rights owner would need to run it past me first of all, because they'd need to sound out whether I'd go with it, and then would be told no."

Lord Sugar is returning to the boardroom for the 12th series of The Apprentice in October, and said he is still fully committed to the business reality show.

"I enjoy doing this, and I'll continue to do it as long as I enjoy doing it - and, of course, as long as the BBC is prepared to run it," he said.

:: This week's Radio Times in on sale on Tuesday.
Noelle Reno fears she may regret the financial help she gave bankrupt boyfriend Scot Young before his suicide in 2014

Noelle Reno has spoken of how "desperate" her former boyfriend, bankrupt property tycoon Scot Young, had become towards the end of his life before he fell to his death from a London balcony in December 2014.

The US-born former model and socialite, 32, also explained how she helped him financially while they were together.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, she said: "I might regret that I did so much for him.

"I bailed him out financially to the point where I nearly got myself into trouble. That's the bit I'm still processing; that someone who loved me would put me in that situation.

"I think he got very desperate towards the end and did things that probably he didn't want to live with. I do believe he would have come good with his loans and debts if he could have got back to what he was good at doing: making deals."

Young was 52 when his body was discovered impaled on railings outside a block of luxury flats and an inquest hearing later heard that there were no suspicious circumstances.

He had been sent to prison during a very public and acrimonious divorce row over a multi-million-pound settlement with his ex-wife Michelle, and was said to have suffered a financial "meltdown", leading him to bankruptcy.

Following his death, Reno - who appears on reality TV series Ladies of London - has moved on and is now expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Nick Perks, a City trader.

The couple only discovered they were having a baby together after four months of dating but are thrilled to be expecting a boy.

She said: "I'm so grateful for where everything is at, I truly am. It's almost scary to a degree. There are lots of challenges but it looks like everything has panned out how I wanted. I just feel so blessed."

Reno added that she was surprised about the pregnancy, and that she did not think it would happen for her.

"I didn't think I could [get pregnant] so this was a wonderful surprise," she said. "I hadn't given up but it's so interesting because, gosh, it was a case of the right person at the right time. I think the body is more intelligent than we give it credit for.

"I've found someone who is an amazing partner and an amazing guy. He doesn't let me get away with anything, which is really annoying! My mum was watching us last week and she said [to him], 'You are perfect for her!'"

:: For the full interview see this week's Hello! Magazine, out now
The series two debut of Poldark failed to dethrone Victoria when they first went head to head

The executive producer of both Victoria and Poldark has admitted he was worried when the dramas went up against each other on rival channels.

Damien Timmer said he did not believe there would be room for both lavish series when ITV scheduled Victoria - which stars Jenna Coleman as the monarch at 18 - directly against series two of the BBC's big hit, Poldark.

He told Radio Times: "We didn't think it would be possible for both to find an audience.

"Victoria was coming late to the party; it always felt like a high-risk strategy."

The two shows, both ratings winners, have been facing off against each other in the 9pm Sunday slot since earlier this month.

The series two debut of Poldark failed to dethrone Victoria when they first went head to head.

Consolidated seven-day figures, released by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (Barb) a week after the BBC programme aired, showed that the Aidan Turner-fronted show was viewed by 6.65 million overall.

Victoria beat its main competition, with consolidated figures showing a total audience of 7.75 million for the third episode of the series, broadcast at the same time as Poldark's season two launch.

Timmer continued: "Poldark fans were already massively engaged with the show, they love it.

"Yet Victoria has found its place, and they both exist happily."

But he joked that the battle for the Sunday night ratings - and the fact that it could run on for years - made him feel "really tired".

:: This week's Radio Times is on sale on Tuesday.
Safety first: Lesley with her son, Joe and brothers Daniel and Sam

Allergies are an increasing problem today - and a growing burden on our health service. People can be allergic to just about anything: they suffer itchy eyes from hay fever to sneezing from pet allergy. Many have asthma attacks triggered by dust, or mould, while others have adverse reactions to everything from milk to vegetables, or discover they develop a rash brought on by some detergents, or fabric conditioners.

More than 21 million people across the UK suffer from some kind of allergic reaction, or intolerance. At the extreme end of the allergy spectrum are people who suffer from anaphylaxis - an acute, often life-threatening, reaction that requires immediate medical intervention.

Foods, such as peanuts or shellfish, insect stings and some drugs are the most common triggers for an anaphylactic reaction.

Those most at risk can find their airway closing and blood pressure plunging, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

This reaction can take just seconds, so sufferers carry automatic adrenaline injectors - to deliver emergency treatment to relieve symptoms as quickly as the allergic reaction takes hold.

According to the charity Allergy UK, factors such as the environment, our genes, the way foods are processed and the detergents we use are making more of us allergic, or intolerant, to everyday things.

Kerry McKittrick talks to two local people, who are severely affected by food allergies, about what it's like to live with this threat hanging over their heads.

Lesley Burnside is a statistical programmer and lives in Carrickfergus with her husband, Stuart, and their children, Joe (5), Daniel (2) and Sam (9 months ). She says:

My son Joe is at risk of anaphylaxis from eggs, peanuts and nuts, including peas, beans and pulses. We discovered the allergy when he was just a baby and I had made a casserole with lentils in it.

The spoon touched Joe's lip and he started being sick - he didn't even ingest any of it.

Joe was referred to the allergy clinic when he was four months old, as he suffered with eczema and they thought he was likely to have allergies.

The waiting list meant that they couldn't see him until he was 10 months old and, during that time, we had to wean him. It was a very unsure time, as we didn't know what foods he could and couldn't have. He underwent a skin-prick test, which determined his food allergies, and he is reviewed by the clinic each year.

Looking back, I would do a lot of things differently. I was advised to stop breastfeeding him at four months, because of his eczema, and now I think he would have had more benefits and his immune system might have been stronger if I had kept going.

I think, if we had given him small amounts of cow's milk at the beginning, he might have built up a tolerance. We're trying to do that now.

It's been difficult to come to terms with the severity of Joe's allergies. When he was just over a year old, we had to call an ambulance because a family member kissed him on the cheek after eating an egg.

We didn't have adrenaline auto-injectors for him at the time and, after dosing him with antihistamines, the doctor advised that he should go to hospital.

We've since been given the auto-injectors. Thankfully, we haven't had to use them on him yet, but the whole thing has changed our lives. We don't go out to restaurants to eat, because of the worry of what could be in the food and how it's been prepared.

I don't think a lot of establishments appreciate how bad these allergies can be - people tend to think that a food intolerance and food allergy is the same thing.

Cooking at home is much easier, because we keep eggs and peanuts and everything else out, so we know what goes in our food. Children's birthday parties are a nightmare, particularly when Joe was a toddler, as I used to have to follow him round and check everything he was putting in his mouth. Now that he's a little older, he's got a better understanding of his allergy.

I'm hopeful for the future. Until this time last year, Joe was deemed at risk of anaphylaxis from dairy products, too, but we've been on a programme to introduce it.

We started with tiny amounts on a daily basis, but this summer he was able to have his first ice-cream. That's made a big difference, as dairy products are everywhere.

It's really helped with my anxiety levels, too. I'm now hopeful that we might be able to do the same thing with eggs.

Sending Joe off to school is nerve-wracking, but I met with his teacher and nurse before he started, to make sure the lines of communication were open. If they're worried about giving him anything, I would rather they gave me a quick call. I don't want him to miss out on things, but, at the same time, his safety is paramount.

We don't know where Joe's allergies come from. My husband doesn't feel well after he eats almonds, but that's about it.

My other two children are fine, with no signs of eczema, or allergies.

People don't really distinguish between intolerance and allergy. New allergy laws have come in about publishing allergens on menus, and more places are catering to people with allergies.

There aren't any allergy guidelines about cosmetics, which concerns me. When he's a teenager, a kiss could land him in hospital."

My husband ate a Ferrero Rocher and my lips swelled up

Suzie Gallagher (34) is an accountant, who lives in Newtownabbey with her husband, Martin, and their son, Ryan. She says:

I have a peanut allergy, but it wasnt confirmed until I was 17. I never liked peanuts and they always aggravated my asthma whenever I was around them, so I knew something was wrong.

Ive only had one serious asthma attack. I was about seven. I was at my mums friends house and there were bowls of nuts everywhere.

At 17, I went for a skin test, because of my asthma and eczema and it turned out I was severely allergic to peanuts. My whole arm swelled up.

The doctor was astounded that I had never been hospitalised because of it.

While my allergy is peanuts, I wont eat any other kind of nuts, either. I also dont go for peas, but I think thats a subconscious thing, as I know theyre from the same family.

Ive had two serious reactions to peanuts. I used to work in a theatre that had a restaurant and someone offered me some alioli dip to try.

As soon as I ate it, I felt my mouth getting itchy and sore. It turned out the dip was satay.

I panicked and phoned a pharmacist friend  I didnt know if I should use my EpiPen, or not, but she told me not to worry. If I needed it, I wouldnt be able to talk to her, because my throat would have swollen.

It was the first time I had had such a severe reaction, so I just needed to keep calm and take antihistamine tablets to help counteract it.

I went to the doctor, who gave me a hydrocortisone injection and kept me there as a precaution for the rest of the afternoon. I was really sick, too.

My second reaction was 18 months ago in Dublin. I was on a hen do and the restaurant made a menu for us, but they forgot to put allergen information on it.

I ordered steak and chips with pepper sauce  I always do, because thats a safe option.

But I didnt know the chef had made the pepper sauce with peanut butter.

I took one bite and felt my mouth go funny. The restaurant denied there were any nuts in it until we asked them to check for the third time and it turned out there was peanut butter in the pepper sauce.

I spent the rest of the evening in the hotel room being sick, which certainly put a dampener on the weekend.

I didnt get any worse, though, because I didnt have more than that one bite.

I carry an EpiPen, but I havent had to use it, or had to go to hospital. I actually find work quite hard, because my allergy is airborne.

People have nuts, or peanut butter sandwiches, at their desks at work and it starts my asthma off.

Even if you tell people about it, they dont realise how much it can affect me.

My husband ate a Ferrero Rocher sitting beside me once and the next thing, my lips swelled up.

It does run in the family  my nephew has a peanut allergy, too, and has gone into anaphylaxis and had to be rushed to the hospital after a spoonful of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes.

They had no idea he was allergic before that.

I had my son, Ryan, tested last year, because Im petrified he might be allergic.

I know how bad I feel being near nuts, so I dont want him eating one, in case something bad happens.

Thankfully, he has no allergies, though.
In terms of historic duels, the Rumble in the Jungle between Mohammad Ali and George Foreman, the interview David Frost conducted with Richard Nixon which ended the Watergate scandal and the famous 1942 vodka stand-off between Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill stand out as memorable clashes of titans.

But these pale into the shadows when we look at the forthcoming culinary cocktail-matching dinner battle between two of the world's most revered institutions, New York's Dead Rabbit and Belfast's OX.

The former clinched the 2015 Best Bar in the World title and OX secured a Michelin star earlier this year making them both ultra-proud Belfast products.

The Dead Rabbit is the creation of two Belfast barmen, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, formerly of The Merchant. OX head chef is Stevie Toman.

All three know each other and are fiercely competitive. The joust came about following a profound, heart-searching moment involving Toman, Muldoon and McGarry who were discussing, late into the night, what they might do for Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink. And guess what? They came up with an idea that involved loads of local product and hard liquor. Dinner would be $200 per head and the best of the US food Press would be there.

This means that tonight we expect to see representatives from the New York Times, Chicago Herald, LA Times and naturally, the Belfast Telegraph, proud supporter of the best food and drink events our country initiates.

Tourism NI is used to presenting Northern Ireland to the tourist trade. But this is the first time two entirely independent players, (did I mention they're both from Belfast?) have taken on the challenge: to prove that we are not only a lovely, kind and welcoming people but capable of blowing the heads off internationally renowned critics.

Toman, McGarry and Muldoon have left behind any ideas of "our wee country" and taken on the world's best in a bid to show everyone that Belfast can punch as high as anybody.

Which leaves us with the mouth-watering question: who is going to win this food-&-drink-off? At first sight, the thought of five courses by Stevie Toman matched by five cocktails by McGarry and Muldoon, is daring, bold and audacious. But sure why not? Eating and drinking isn't all about white with fish and red with meat.

Tonight, we will see just how comfortably or not a side of Mourne lamb sits with a vodka martini, or how a nice piece of smoked Donegal salmon survives the onslaught of a sidecar (brandy, triple sec, lime and lemon, shaken, not stirred).
James Campbell went to bed one night feeling fine, but woke up the following morning with blurred vision. The Portrush father-of-one tells Stephanie Bell how a prompt referral by his local Specsavers led to a worrying diagnosis - and why he's now glad to be back at work.

It was a Saturday which Portrush fireman James Campbell will never forget and never in his wildest dreams could have imagined.

The fit firefighter and father-of-one woke with unusual blurring in his eye and within just a few hours was being given the devastating diagnosis that he needed urgent life-saving surgery for a cancerous tumour.

That was in June 2011 and today - as he continues to feel only gratitude for the speed with which his condition was crucially picked up by his local Specsavers' optician - he recently joined the company at the House of Lords in London to launch an important new campaign.

The 3m Transforming Eye Health awareness campaign has been organised by Specsavers in association with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and James was there to help spread the word about the importance of eye health.

His story is all the more remarkable because of the speed with which he was diagnosed and treated, undergoing major surgery within days. Incredibly, he was back at his work only three weeks later.

He says: "I was so happy to go over to London and support the campaign and meet other people and talk to them about their experiences.

"Mine was nothing compared to some of them and I can't stress enough how important it is to get your eyes tested.

"I was never one for sitting down and not doing anything. You have to get up and fight what life throws at you. I just thank the Big Man for every day that I do get up."

Now in great health, James (50) who is married to Fiona (52), an accountant, and has one daughter Shannon (15), recalls how he woke up with a slight blurring in his left eye and immediately rang his local Specsavers in Coleraine to book an appointment.

Using specialised equipment, optician Jill Cummings spotted signs of a tumour. As an optician she couldn't give a definite diagnosis, but she was instantly aware from the detailed picture taken of the back of James's eye that further investigation was needed.

Judith Ball, store director at Specsavers Coleraine, said: "James is a longstanding customer since 2009 and would regularly have been in to see us to get safety glasses for work as a firefighter. When he rang saying he was experiencing a slight blurriness in one eye, we told him to come in straight away just for a routine check.

"Using a digital retinal camera and other relevant equipment, our optician, Jill Cummings, spotted signs of a tumour.

"This sophisticated piece of equipment allows our opticians to take a detailed picture of the back of the eye and is part of the service we offer at no extra charge.

"As opticians we can't give a definite diagnosis for something like this, but we are instantly aware of any potential issues and can recommend further investigation by a doctor and the need for urgency."

Now back to full health, James is keen to warn others of the dangers and recalls how events unfolded in the days after his diagnosis.

"It is a day I'll never forget," he admits. "I woke with this slight blurring on the top and left of my eye which hadn't been there on the Friday night. I rang Specsavers and they told me to come in at 11.30 that morning.

"The optician, Jill, looked at my eye and said 'You're for Altnagelvin or the Royal, as you need a specialist to take a look at your eye'.

"It all happened very quickly. I saw an eye specialist, Mrs Brennan, in Altnagelvin in Londonderry later that afternoon and she did tests. At about 5pm that evening she sat me down and said: 'This is where you get the bad news'.

"She told me I had a tumour at the back of my eye and it was cancerous and also that it was pushing on my retina and that I would need surgery.

"My mind was racing and I wasn't really taking it in at that stage.

"She told me there was nothing that could be done for me in Northern Ireland and I would have to go to Liverpool or the East Midlands."

James was told he had a choroidal melanoma, or potentially cancerous tumour, behind the eye. Within two weeks he was in Royal Liverpool Hospital having a consultation with one of the world's leading specialists in eye cancer, Professor Bertil Damato.

"My wife travelled with me and we thought we would be back home again that night," says James.

But Professor Damato told James that he needed surgery urgently and that it could be carried out the next day - otherwise there was no guarantee of when it could be done. James says: "I was sitting in the waiting room just trying to let it all sink in.

"He told me my eye was also leaking fluid from the tumour. We had no clothes with us and no toiletries and my wife had nowhere to stay, so we had to organise all of that.

"My tumour was the size of two peas and they were able to remove it.

"I was kept in for 10 days but that was it, I haven't needed any other treatment."

Amazingly, just three weeks after leaving hospital, James was back at work with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in Coleraine.

He says he has nothing but admiration for everyone in the National Health Service and also for the Specsavers staff who ensured he was treated so quickly and so thoroughly for what was a potentially life-threatening condition.

That is why he was delighted to travel to London to lend his support for the launch of the new eye health awareness campaign.

The event at the House of Lords was hosted by Lord Dow of Dalston CBE, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment, and was attended by leading figures from the optical, healthcare and charitable professions, including RNIB President Dame Gail Ronson DBE, RNIB vice-president and campaign ambassador Penny Lancaster (Lady Stewart), as well as Specsavers co-founders Doug and Dame Mary Perkins.

Attendees at the launch heard the findings of a State of the Nation: Eye Health 2016 report which revealed that sight loss is costing the UK economy 28bn annually. Written by RNIB, supported by Specsavers and supplemented by an independent YouGov poll of more than 10,000 UK adults, the report is the most significant and comprehensive insight into the health of the nation's eyes in recent years. It supports a 3m multi-media public health awareness campaign by RNIB and Specsavers to transform eye health and reduce preventable sight loss in the UK.

More than six million people in the UK live with sight-threatening conditions or uncorrected refractive error. Some may not yet be experiencing any symptoms and may have no idea that anything is wrong.

Of these, more than two million people are living with sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives.

This figure is set to increase to more than 2.7 million by 2030, driven by an increase in the UK's ageing demographic.

Although nearly half of all cases of sight loss in the UK could have been prevented, 14 million people in Britain are not having an eye test, as recommended, which is at least every two years.

Specsavers founder Doug Perkins, an optometrist for more than 50 years, says: "It's astonishing that so many people are needlessly living with or at risk of sight loss in the UK today. Nearly half of all sight loss cases are preventable - and a simple eye test can be the first step in prevention.

"Our mission with RNIB is to transform the nation's eye health through education, awareness and action; we want to reverse these worrying eye health trends that are putting unnecessary pressure on the health service.

"That's why we have invested 3m to educate people about the importance of looking after their eye health.

"Prevention is critical. We don't care where people have an eye test, we just care that they do."

James is grateful that he acted so quickly and for the care that he received.

He says: "My treatment and operation in the Royal Liverpool hospital were carried out by a remarkable consultant, Mr Demato. The whole team over there was brilliant.

"The aftercare here at home from Mrs Brennan at Altnagelvin Hospital, both before and after my surgery, has also been second to none.

"I have nothing but praise for our health service and how they treated me and my family over a particularly difficult and uncertain time.

"And - excuse the pun - but they have really kept an eye on me ever since."

James adds: "It has changed my life. It didn't change my way of life but my attitude to life.

"I just enjoy every day now as you never know when it could be taken away.

"You don't realise how important your eyesight is until you are in the position I was in. I'm not fully back to normal, as the peripheral vision in my left eye is still affected, but I can still work as a firefighter and I feel in great health. I am so thankful to everyone who was involved in my care and enjoy every minute I have."

Why regular testing is so important ... tell-tale signs to look out for
The lorry the prisoners escaped in

A Sinn Fein politician has sparked outrage after a celebratory message marking the 33rd anniversary of the Maze Prison breakout.

Martina Anderson posted a montage of the 38 escapees' mug shots on her Twitter account on Sunday afternoon.

It showed a fist, clenched in supposed triumph, emerging from the old Maze H-blocks.

The image was accompanied by the message: "And what a Sunday it was - #Proud".

Anderson, a former IRA bomber, is a Member of the European Parliament and a former MLA for Foyle.

She was jailed for her part in a series of explosions in the 1980s.

Her post about the 1983 Maze escape, in which one prison officer survived being shot in the head, sparked fury.

Aaron Dowey, whose father, Keith, was murdered by the IRA, responded on Twitter: "Are you proud of all acts of murder?

"Are you proud of the murder of my father, a civilian, who left two kids (under age of three)?"

Mr Dowey senior, a civil servant from Lurgan, was one of four men killed in an IRA gun attack at Castor Bay on the shores of Lough Neagh in November 1990.

The Maze escape took place on Sunday, September 25, 1983.

Thirty-eight prisoners fled in the biggest jail break in British penal history.

Prison officer James Ferris died of a heart attack after being stabbed during the chaos.

Among those who escaped was Gerry Kelly, now a Sinn Fein MLA.

Anderson's tweet was condemned by Finlay Spratt, the head of the Prison Officers' Association. "I certainly believe it is inappropriate," he said. "She is an MEP, she was an MLA, and it is all about moving forward, but I don't think that by raking up the past we are moving forward."

Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie, said he was stunned.

"The fact that Martina Anderson uses the hashtag 'proud' to describe her view of those who took part in the 1983 Maze Prison escape says more about her than any words I can offer," the MLA told the Belfast Telegraph.

"How can any democrat be proud that 38 terrorists, responsible for barbaric crimes including murder, should escape lawful custody?

"Is she really proud that one prison officer died as a result of the escape, that two others were shot, a further 18 injured or that an unspecified number are still suffering mental health issues due to this incident?

"Is it any wonder that people question the integrity and respect for others from those in Sinn Fein's leadership when it comes to issues of the past?"

TUV leader Jim Allister said it was firm evidence that Sinn Fein was clinging to the violence of the past.

"This demonstrates that Sinn Fein remain wedded to the violent republican view of life," he commented.

"The fact that they can glorify the terrorist acts of all these individuals who were lawfully incarcerated, by celebrating their escape from lawful custody with no regard to the violent attacks on the prison staff, is disgusting but not surprising."

Anderson spent 13 years in prison for IRA activity before her release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

She became involved in politics for Sinn Fein and was MLA for Foyle from 2007 to 2012.

The 54-year-old served as a Junior Minister, before becoming an MEP in 2012, and was re-elected in 2014.

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "In the late 1970s and early 1980s republican prisoners in Long Kesh were subjected to a brutal regime of beatings and oppression, culminating in the deaths of 10 republicans in the 1981 hunger strike.

"The escape from Long Kesh by 38 republicans in 1983 is remembered with pride by many republicans as it is the internationally recognised duty of prisoners of war to attempt to escape.

"The escape lifted the morale of the republican community.

"We regret any loss of life during the course of the conflict."

In 2013 Gerry Kelly sparked fury after tweeting: "La Breithe shona daoibh. Happy 30th anniversary of the Great Escape 1983 from Long Kesh H Blocks to all those involved."
First Minister Arlene Foster has paid her respects to the BBC journalist Paddy O'Flaherty following his death.

The BBC announced the renowned broadcaster passed away following a short illness on Monday.

He was 73-years-old.

O'Flaherty was a familiar voice on BBC Radio Ulster for decades having presented many of its shows including Good Morning Ulster and Evening Extra.

He was also a keen musician and angler.

Announcing the news on Good Morning Ulster, presenter Noel Thompson paid his respects.

He said: "He brought a big enthusiasm to every story and had the ability to turn even the most tedious story into the most fascinating."

Editor of BBC Northern Ireland Radio Current Affairs and Digital News NI, Adam Smyth, paid tribute.

He described him as "one of the best radio broadcasters these islands have ever produced, a tremendous character and a man whose name was synonymous with BBC Radio Ulster".

DUP leader Arlene Foster said she was sorry to hear of his passing.

"Such a gentle person," she tweeted.
A motorist has amassed more than 4,000 worth of fines after repeatedly driving in Belfast's bus lanes - but has yet to pay a single penny

A motorist has amassed more than 4,000 worth of fines after repeatedly driving in Belfast's bus lanes - but has yet to pay a single penny.

The same vehicle was caught 33 times in 15 months around the city.

The motorist owes a total of 4,050 - all of which is outstanding.

In another case, a motorist has around 2,500 in unpaid fines.

They paid one of their 35 tickets - but ignored the rest.

It has led to claims that drivers are rebelling against the controversial lanes.

Yesterday the Belfast Telegraph reported that more than 50,000 penalties have been issued since June 2015, when the fines system came into operational.

One camera has scooped a staggering 1m in that time. However, around one in four fines have not been paid.

According to figures released to this newspaper, a total of 727,630 in bus lane penalties had not been handed over as of August 31.

That is more than a quarter of the 2,729,021 worth of fines issued in that period.

UUP councillor Jim Rodgers said: "These are people who are quite clearly trying to defy the system.

"I don't approve of it, but clearly people are unhappy.

"It is a sign of defiance, although I wouldn't advocate it."

He added: "It is costing people a lot of money, and it's hard enough now for people. That is why people have told me they are not going to pay their fines.

"I said that I didn't want them to be appearing in court or facing charges, but some of them told me they couldn't care less - they are just sick of it."

Mr Rodgers said too many motorists were being penalised for an innocent mistake.

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"I haven't been fined because I've been exceptionally careful, but I know a lot of people who have," he added.

"They are up in arms and a number have contacted me."

A Freedom of Information request from this newspaper reveals the depth of drivers' anger.

One has blatantly ignored the bus lane rules, being caught no less than 33 times in 15 months and racking up fines totalling 4,050.

As of two weeks ago, every penny remained unpaid.

A driver caught 42 times in the lane has so far coughed up 575, with a further 1,490 still to be settled. And one clocked 35 times paid one fine and ignored the rest, with 2,430 owing.

A Department for Infrastructure spokesman warned that any drivers who don't pay their fines will be pursued.

"DfI pursue all vehicle keepers who have contravened bus lane regulations where the keeper addresses are available," he said.

"However, there are some cases where it is not possible to formally identify the vehicle keeper details to issue a Penalty Charge Notice and these PCNs are written off. However, we continue to record any further PCNs for these vehicles even though the earlier ones have been written off, and will pass relevant information in such cases onto the police.

"Contravening these regulations has a knock-on impact on other road users and the department will continue to take action against those who contravene the regulations."

Since June 2015, motorists who drive in the lanes face a 90 fine, reduced to 45 if paid in two weeks.

If a parking ticket is not paid or is not cancelled as a result of challenge, representation or appeal, the amount outstanding will become subject to debt recovery procedures.

This may be pursued by TransportNI, or it may become subject to vehicle clamping and removal operations. Where additional fees and costs are incurred as a result of debt recovery procedures - including clamping, removal and storage - these fees and costs will be recoverable in addition to the amount outstanding.
Five years after he lost his sister and best friend to suicide, Assembly member Mark H Durkan has spoken of his personal loss, urging anyone feeling like taking their own life: "Speak, don't suffer."

Gabrielle Durkan - known as Gay to everyone who loved her - was just 28 when she died.

Ms Durkan was well-established in the career she adored - nursing in Altnagelvin Hospital - and had a wide circle of friends who thought the world of her.

Not least among them was her only brother, Mark, who shared her sense of humour and love of practical jokes.

To mark the fifth anniversary of her death, Mr Durkan appealed on social media to anyone who is contemplating suicide to talk about it.

He posted: "It's hard to believe that it's been five years since our amazing sister Gay left us.

"Not a day goes by that I don't miss her and think of the good times we had.

"But what makes me saddest is when I think of the things she has missed and is missing - people she loved doing well, growing up, settling down (in moderation), getting on with their lives - and how happy that would have made her. Suicide sucks. Speak, don't suffer."

Mr Durkan told the Belfast Telegraph he decided to raise the issue and his own experiences so that more services are made available for suicidal people who need help. "I was actually hesitant about speaking out in case some people thought I was making political gain out of Gay's death - but then I thought some things are too important not to speak about them," he explained.

"I am lucky enough to be in a position of influence so I should speak out because our family knows exactly how painful it is to lose someone you love through suicide.

"Even now, while suicide is talked about more, there is still an element of awkwardness.

"People may be afraid to ask the question of someone they are worried about, and the same goes for someone who is feeling suicidal - they may be afraid to speak out about their feelings.

"But the reality is, even if they do, there are still not enough services available to them when they need that help, which is immediately - not in 10 or 12 weeks. I want more funding to be made available to reduce the number of people taking their own lives.

"The latest figures are 268 people in Northern Ireland died by suicide in 2014, but behind that there are all the family members and communities of friends who have been left devastated by each of those deaths.

"My sister wasn't just my sister, she was my best friend and I miss and think about her every day, we all do. She was funny, the life and soul of the party, an amazing practical joker, but she was also the most loving, compassionate person too.

"Gay would not have passed someone in the street if she thought they needed help and yet she didn't ask for help herself.

"When she died, like anyone who has died from suicide, the people left behind do a lot of soul searching and trying to pick up the pieces.

"I think about the conversations I had with her before she died and wonder what I could have, should have, said and I know that doesn't achieve anything.

"What hurts most is all the things I wanted her to be part of, all the good stuff that I know she would have been so happy about."

Anyone affected by this story can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or LifeLine on 0808 808 8000
A man was remanded in custody today accused of exposing himself and threatening two women with a crutch.

Oliver Meriaux, 31, was allegedly on a Belfast street with his boxer shorts round his ankles less than eight hours after police released him over a similar suspected incident.

The French national, with an address at Broadway in the city, is charged with committing indecent exposure and two common assaults on Monday evening.

As he appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court a PSNI constable opposed bail due to concerns for the safety of the accused and others.

Meriaux has not been charged over the first incident on Monday, with a report instead set to be sent to the Pubic Prosecution Service.

But the police constable claimed members of the public then confronted the defendant later the same day due to further alleged behaviour.

"Less than eight hours later a man had to challenge him, and he threatened two ladies walking past with a crutch," he told the court.

"This happened at 9.30pm, the other incident happened during the day when children were playing in the street. There's an escalation in the offending."

A defence lawyer revealed Meriaux has alcohol problems and cannot remember what happened.

"He does deny any altercation but has no memory," she said.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told the accused has lived in Northern Ireland for 11 years, working in the construction industry.

Refusing bail, she stressed her duty to protect the public.

"People are not going to be confronted with this sort of behaviour and then threatened or assaulted when they unfortunately encounter it," she added.

Meriaux was remanded in custody to appear again by video-link in two weeks time. ends
The Police Ombudsman has been asked to investigate Chief Constable George Hamilton over his failure to probe IRA attacks on soldiers during the Troubles.

Furious Army veterans have accused the PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton of "misconduct in public office" for not directing detectives on how to proceed with investigations into scores of paramilitary murder bids on soldiers when they served in Northern Ireland.

Several veterans filed statements with the PSNI last November about the attacks.

However, 10 months on the PSNI have still not drawn up a plan on how to progress the complaints.

"Why are we being treated differently to other victims of historical crimes? All we ask is equality. It is a disgrace that George Hamilton has failed to provide any direction on how these serious crimes should be investigated. At the end of the day, he is the Chief Constable and the buck stops with him," a retired soldier told the Belfast Telegraph.

He added: "The PSNI have yet to commence any investigation into our complaints. I find this lack of action an absolute disgrace and a betrayal to all past members of the armed forces who served during Operation Banner.

"We have been informed that a review was to be carried out in June, then August and finally in September, but as yet we have had no response from senior officers.

"I feel that all victims should be treated equally and fairly, without fear or favour. The PSNI have let down veterans who sacrificed so much during the Troubles and as an organisation they should feel ashamed regarding their lack of interest and commitment."

Senior detectives recently told some soldiers that despite repeated requests for guidance, the PSNI's top team had remained silent. One officer told the veterans that he was "still waiting direction from senior police as to how to proceed".

A veteran, who served here during the 1980s, lodged a complaint with the Police Ombudsman at the weekend.

In November, the former soldier and retired PSNI detective reported three incidents to police - one when he was targeted in a grenade attack in the New Lodge during a riot, a rocket attack on an Army base in Whiterock, and a bomb attack in the city centre.

"A number of veterans have reported similar incidents but nothing has been done. This is a complete failure to investigate a serious crime. No one else would be treated in this way and I find the whole PSNI attitude and response shocking.

"Ten months without even carrying out basic enquiries is not acceptable. When I served in the PSNI, I would have been disciplined if I had failed to investigate a serious crime.

"This is a dismal and utter failure to direct senior officers to deal with our statements of complaint for over 10 months. It is a disgrace that not one statement has been acted upon in nearly a year."

More than 50 ex-British soldiers have lodged reports with the PSNI.

One of the complainants has asked the PSNI to investigate 16 murder bids on him.

Among the attacks he wants probed are the 1991 PIRA bombing of Musgrave Park Hospital, which killed two soldiers, and the Downing Street mortar attack that same year.

In June Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the PSNI were considering the most appropriate course of action to take and that a decision would be made soon.

However, no course of action has been taken to date.

The Veterans Lobbying Group insisted it was only fair that any investigation by the Northern Ireland authorities into legacy cases should also include attacks on the military.

Operation Banner was the operational name for the British Armed Forces' operation in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007, as part of the Troubles. At the peak of the operation in the 1970s, about 21,000 British troops were deployed.

Over 700 soldiers were killed in paramilitary attacks and 719 died as a result of other causes.
The situation was brought under control at around 4.30am. March 2016. Picture: BBC

Clean up at the Holylands area of Belfast on Thursday Morning, One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press

The morning after the night before. People in the Holylands celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

The morning after the night before. People in the Holylands celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker 17/03/2016

The morning after the night before. People in the Holylands celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

People in the Holylands celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

People in the Holylands celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

Clean up at the Holylands area of Belfast on Thursday Morning, One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Photo Pacemaker Press

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/03/2016 A Police Presence in the Hollands area of Belfast, Celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Police were attacked with bottles in Agincourt Avenue as a crowd of about 300 people gathered in the area. The disturbances lasted for over two hours, ending at about 04:30 GMT. Police said they went to the area after a crowd was reported to be blocking the road and throwing missiles at homes and cars. Vehicles parked along the street were damaged during the trouble. One police officer said some people in the crowd had been singing "pro-IRA songs". Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/03/2016 A Police Presence in the Hollands area of Belfast, Celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Police were attacked with bottles in Agincourt Avenue as a crowd of about 300 people gathered in the area. The disturbances lasted for over two hours, ending at about 04:30 GMT. Police said they went to the area after a crowd was reported to be blocking the road and throwing missiles at homes and cars. Vehicles parked along the street were damaged during the trouble. One police officer said some people in the crowd had been singing "pro-IRA songs". Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/03/2016 A Police Presence in the Hollands area of Belfast, Celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Police were attacked with bottles in Agincourt Avenue as a crowd of about 300 people gathered in the area. The disturbances lasted for over two hours, ending at about 04:30 GMT. Police said they went to the area after a crowd was reported to be blocking the road and throwing missiles at homes and cars. Vehicles parked along the street were damaged during the trouble. One police officer said some people in the crowd had been singing "pro-IRA songs". Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

PACEMAKER BELFAST 17/03/2016 A Police Presence in the Hollands area of Belfast, Celebrating Saint Patricks day.One police officer has been injured and three people have been arrested after disturbances in the Holyland area of south Belfast. Police were attacked with bottles in Agincourt Avenue as a crowd of about 300 people gathered in the area. The disturbances lasted for over two hours, ending at about 04:30 GMT. Police said they went to the area after a crowd was reported to be blocking the road and throwing missiles at homes and cars. Vehicles parked along the street were damaged during the trouble. One police officer said some people in the crowd had been singing "pro-IRA songs". Picture Matt Bohill Pacemaker

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Scenes in the Holylands on St Patricks day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Revellers in the Holylands on St Patrick's day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Belfast , UK - March 17, Pictured is The scenes in the Holyland on St Patrick's day on March 17, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph )

Students treating the Holyland area of Belfast as their own territory and saying the trouble is nothing more than "innocent craic" have been branded as "ignorant".

The BBC Radio Ulster Nolan show interviewed a number of students in the streets of the Holyland on Monday night and played a clip on Tuesday morning.

It comes as the new academic year begun and students took up accommodation in the area. Last week was the beginning of Freshers' Week which saw anti-social behaviour return to the area.

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The Holyland area has long been associated with trouble during the university term.

Of the trouble in the area the small number of students interviewed by the BBC said the residents "should know what they are getting into" and if they didn't like it, they should leave.

"I was talking to my uncle who lived here 30 years ago and it was the exact the same, so they know what they are getting into," said one girl.

When told a woman, who was 58 would have her 12-year-old grandson staying over who had trouble sleeping during the disturbances, she added: "Is she of our culture?

When asked what she meant by our culture, she said: "There is a lot of Romanians living around here."

The reporter informed the girl the lady lived in the Holyland area because she had grown up in it and had an emotional attachment to the area.

To this she responded: "She is full of c***, you can not get emotionally attached to a place like this.

"If she grew up here and she doesn't like what is happening, why does she not leave?"

Another girl added: "People make so much of the Holylands stuff - but it's innocent craic."

The reporter said he witnessed a lot of police in the area saying that there could have been "no way" for trouble to occur.

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Ray Farley, chair of the Belfast Holyland Regeneration Association branded the students as "ignorant".

He told the Belfast Telegraph: "For eight months of the year they come live in the Holyland, make a lot of noise, drink in the streets and wreck the place.

"There are a lot of long term residents in the place and over the summer months the area is transformed. It is actually quite a nice place to live.

"Then the university term starts up again.

"It is every single night - mostly it is noise. If they were quieter it would be more tolerable. But it is getting worse every year.

"I went to Queen's and it was nothing like it was today and with the students' actions and comments, it just makes you wonder what the next generation is going to inflict on us.

"They are good kids - they have done well to get to university - but it's like they go out of their way to cause a nuisance.

"And they don't seem to care about they consequences - they could really wreck their careers."
A plaque unveiled by the Queen at a new train halt at Bellarena was removed within hours - by Translink officials fearing it would be vandalised.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, visited Northern Ireland in July and took in the sights of the north coast, including the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills.

During the one-day visit she also experienced a steam train journey, enjoying some of our most stunning scenery while travelling from Coleraine to the restored platform at Bellarena.

Many people stood at the railway line along the route and cheered as the train passed, before the Queen disembarked and unveiled the plaque at Bellarena halt in Co Londonderry.

But the plaque was removed within 24 hours of being unveiled, and three months later has not been replaced.

Following an Assembly question asked by People Before Profit MLA Eamonn McCann, it emerged that Translink staff had removed the plaque, believing it could be vandalised.

A Department of Infrastructure stated in its response to Mr McCann: "Translink has advised that, because the halt at Bellarena is unmanned, it was concerned about the safety of the plaque and the possibility that it could be vandalised. Translink is currently looking at options to minimise this risk."

Translink told the Belfast Telegraph last night that its officials are currently considering where to locate the plaque.

East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell queried why there would be concerns over the plaque being damaged at the halt. He described Bellarena as a quiet rural village, adding that the residents had been delighted by the Queen's visit.

"It is important that the plaque is put on a visible sighting so people can see that Her Majesty did officially open the halt at Bellerena," he said.

"There was no animosity whatsoever in the area - the local people were very pleased and delighted Her Majesty came to their village. There should be no reason for the plaque to not be on public display." Mr Campbell said Translink needs to ensure the plaque is put back in an appropriate place on public display.

"I would be very surprised if the plaque were to be vandalised," he said. "Even at that, they can put the plaque in a place where it would be very hard to vandalise. It can be covered in special spray to protect it."

Coastway Coast and Glens UUP councillor Aaron Callan said local people want the plaque back. "It was a source of great pride for the local people of Bellarena that Her Majesty unveiled a plaque at the new train platform," he said.

"I was notified by a number of local people that the plaque disappeared within 24 hours. I have been assured that a permanent plaque would be put in place. Locals would like to see that happen and I hope Translink will carry this out."

Mr McCann said he had asked the question because members of the Into The West campaign group - who are pressing for an hourly train service between Belfast and Derry - feared that the removal of the plaque was a sign Translink was reneging on its commitment to the line. But he said he has received assurances that the hourly service is still being worked on.

A spokeswoman for Translink said: "We are currently considering the best way to mount the plaque at Bellarena Station within the context of the simple layout of the halt and its dramatic setting."
Economy Minister Simon Hamilton has been urged to intervene to help maintain a strong network of banks in rural areas.

A final motion on the Assembly's first 'Opposition' day also asked the DUP minister to help safeguard country communities from further closures.

But Mr Hamilton revealed a protocol requiring banks to examine alternative arrangements when considering branch closures - particularly the last branches left in towns - does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Furthermore, regulation of financial services is overseen by Westminster rather than the devolved governments, he said.

But he added: "I would encourage our banks to ensure they take informed decisions that take full account of the likely impact on local and particularly rural communities."

Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken said Consumer Council figures show that by next February more than 77 branches will have closed.

The total is over a period of the last four years, which he said amounted to just over 30% of the banking network.

Kellie Armstrong of the Alliance Party argued: "Where there is market failure, there needs to be intervention from government, especially for the older generation who do not trust online banking."

The SDLP motion voiced "alarm" that large rural areas are being left without access to a local branch and said closures are having a negative economic impact on small businesses and on future investment opportunities.

The party's Richie McPhillips said: "Despite promises of no more bank closures in 2013, on July 20 this year, the Bank of Ireland announced that it will close eight branches in Castlereagh, Draperstown, Antrim, Belleek, Castlederg, Newtownards, Maghera and Donegall Square South in Belfast.

"Staff, customers and businesses have been left completely in the dark.

"The Assembly needs to make a clear statement that we will not sit back and allow the gradual erosion of services through stealth."
The school has warned pupils to be aware of their safety.

A Northern Ireland school has urged parents to reinforce the "stranger danger" message following an "inappropriate approach" outside its grounds.

Bangor's all-girl Glenlola Collegiate briefed pupils during Tuesday's assembly and sent a letter to parents about the incident.

It said three girls were "inappropriately approached" by a stranger outside the school close to its Valentine Road gates on Monday afternoon.

"They stayed together, remained calm and immediately called the police, who are commending them on their swift and responsible actions," principal Mr Thompson said in the letter seen by the Belfast Telegraph.

He said that the PSNI was dealing with the issue and reminded parents to reinforce the "stranger danger" message to their daughters.

This is the second warning Glenlola, which caters for around 1,200 pupils, has issued in as many weeks.

It advised parents to ensure children did not walk alone alone Castle Park in the seaside Co Down town following an approach in the area on September 13.

One Year 9 pupil's parent expressed her concern at the latest warning.

She said: "I'm extremely concerned to hear that girls from have been approached, specially as it follows another approach made to a girl a couple of weeks ago.

"My daughter frequently walks to and from school through Castle Park, as do hundreds of others from Glenlola and Bangor Academy. Valentine Road is the route to the Aurora leisure centre and youngsters walk along it all the time.

"It's shocking that someone would approach girls so close to the school entrance."

She added: "I've spoken to my daughter about not taking short cuts through the park unless she's in a group, and in fact, that was the school's advice earlier this month.

"But this latest incident shows that girls are still vulnerable even when they're with their friends. I'm pleased to hear that the school is being proactive in advising girls about staying safe, and that the police are involved.

"It'll soon be dark in the late afternoon and I'll be telling my daughter not to walk through the park at any time."

The school's principal was unavailable to comment.

The PSNI said: "Police are investigating following a report of a man indecently exposing himself in the vicinity of a leisure complex in the Valentine Road area of Bangor.

"Enquiries have been ongoing since the incident was reported to police on Monday afternoon. The man is described as having dark hair, wearing a black leather jacket, black jeans and a t-shirt.

"Anyone who can help with enquiries is asked to contact Police on the 101 number. Or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The latest incident comes after the death of pupil Megan Ogle, the 15-year-old who died from an aggressive form of bone cancer.
A religious pamphlet which has been distributed at a Belfast primary school has been branded as "sledgehammer Christianity" and inappropriate for young children.

The flyer, from Hope for Youth Ministries, was sent home with pupils at Lisnasharragh Primary on Tudor Drive in east Belfast last week to the horror of disgruntled parents who found them inside schoolbags.

It informs children: "If you want to get saved and ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, here is a prayer that will help you do that" and "if you meant your prayer to God, then the Lord Jesus has saved you... every day, live your life for Jesus".

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Belfast Telegraph: "I don't mind children learning basic Christian principals but this is Christianity being delivered via a sledgehammer. I'm surprised the school allowed these pamphlets to be distributed. It was inside my daughter's schoolbag along with her homework."

A mother-of-two, whose four-year-old daughter just started the school on September 1, said she was annoyed because she hadn't been informed that there was a speaker from Hope for Youth Ministries in attendance.

"A lot of mums were shocked and very angry when we saw the flyer," said the 36-year-old, who also asked not to be named.

"There was a picture of a lamb on the outside and it looks innocent enough until you read the message and language used which should not have reached any primary school child, especially P1 pupils.

"Luckily, my daughter can't read because I really wouldn't want her to see material like that. But I think it's too much even for a 10-year-old to think of themselves as sinners needing forgiveness for being bad and then to be warned that even saying the prayer won't save them and that Jesus died because of them."

The stay-at-home mother from east Belfast added: "An adult may comprehend this but a child definitely wouldn't."

In response to the Belfast Telegraph, principal Philip Monks said: "One parent contacted me regarding a flyer that had been given by Hope for Youth Ministries. All concerns expressed by parents are taken seriously. After consultation with staff, I responded immediately and to the parent's satisfaction."

Dromara evangelist Colin Tinsley, who runs Hope for Youth Ministries, said he was "deeply saddened" by the parents' comments.

"If they feel our approach is sledgehammer in nature, I'd be shocked," he said. "Having engaged with thousands of young people throughout Northern Ireland I would be so annoyed if anyone felt our approach was anything other than loving and caring. We simply present the gospel of Jesus Christ."

On the pamphlet, in handwriting above the prayer, it says: "If you want to get saved and ask the Lord Jesus into your heart here is a prayer that will help you do that. Remember saying the prayer won't save you. You must really mean what you say with all your heart."

The prayer then reads: "Dear Lord, I am a sinner. Please forgive me for all my sin. I'm really sorry for all the wrong things I have done. Thank you for dying on the cross to save me. I believe in You. Please come into my heart and life and help me live for You. Amen."

It adds: "If you mean your prayer to God, then the Lord Jesus has saved you."
Mothers and grandmothers are being forced out to work, often on zero hour contracts, to plug a new gap in state pension provision, MLAs have been told.

The Assembly backed a campaign demanding a cushion against the impact of pension age changes affecting thousands of women.

On the first 'Opposition' day at Stormont - when the main business was decided by the smaller parties - the Government was accused of "changing the goalposts" on state pension provision.

The SDLP and Ulster Unionists joined forces on the issue - the SDLP presenting a petition to Speaker Robin Newton demanding a re-think by Works and Pensions Secretary Damien Green, and the UUP bringing forward a motion.

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said: "Some women who have not been working in later years, and were expecting an income from the State Pension, are now at age 60, 61 and 62 and are turning to Jobseekers Allowance and zero hour contracts just to make ends meet.

"Mothers, grandmothers and aunts are all being affected - it's not good enough that they find themselves having to work zero hour contracts just to survive."

The South Down MLA said when men were asked to work an extra year to the age of 66, they were given six years' notice before the policy was implemented, while some women were given just one year's notice.

"That means that men were given six years' notice for a one-year addition, whilst women were given one year's notice of a six-year extension. It hardly seems equal," he said.

"It must be remembered too that some women were often not permitted to enter company pension schemes and other benefits of employment until the 1990s. Such changes to their plans and pensions are having a major detrimental impact." Parties later backed the motion calling on the UK Government "to re-examine its position and bring forward fair transitional arrangements for the women affected".

Under the changes, which emerged last year, women born on or after April 6, 1951 are disadvantaged. Women who paid National Insurance Contributions from the age of 16, expecting to retire at 60, learned just before their 60th birthdays that they would not be able to draw the state pension until they were 64, 65 or 66 in some cases.

Ulster Unionist Jenny Palmer said the Government was breaking its promise. "The promise that if you work hard throughout your working life, the state will take care of you in your old age is an ideal which has underpinned our society for more than 70 years," she said. "The way in which the women's state pension age has been increased by the Government has left post-retirement planning in tatters for many."

Parties backed the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, whose NI co-ordinator Wilma Grey stated: "(We) do not disagree with the equalisation of the state pension age, but we take issue with the haphazard way it has been implemented by the Government.

"The timetable for the increases is completely bizarre, a one-year age gap can mean you have to wait an extra three and a half years to reach pensionable age.

"The Government continue to claim that no woman will have to wait longer than 18 months to receive their state pension. The reality is that the women's state pension age will increase by six years from April 2010 to October 2020.

"The lack of appropriate notification from the Government of these changes has left thousands of women without income they had expected, with many facing financial hardship as a result."
Plans for Northern Ireland's busiest junction have been thrown into doubt because of Brexit.

South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA, Steve Aiken, said the Executive should have been knocking on Westminster's door to emphasise the importance of the new York Street Interchange four months ago.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said the major road project had been a strong contender for EU funding.

But now he is warning that, without "substantive guarantees of replacement funding from the Treasury", the Executive's capital budget will be put under pressure.

An upgrade of the York Street Interchange in Belfast- aimed at addressing the traffic gridlock which occurs daily at this busy junction - has been in the planning since 2009, was announced in 2015, and is expected to cost up to 165m.

A key portion of the funding - believed to be almost 40% - had been planned to come from the EU.

As Northern Ireland's busiest junction, it carries 100,000 vehicles each day, mostly commuters to and from Belfast from around Co Antrim.

The upgrade is due to create an underpass and a new bridge, to ease congestion where the Westlink, M2 and M3 meet.

Work was due to begin later next year and was expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

In response to an Assembly Question asked by Mr Aiken, about what effect the UK leaving the European Union will have on the project, Mr Hazzard indicated it is now facing uncertainty. "The multi-annual nature of key infrastructure projects demand levels of financial certainty and, for a project such as the York Street Interchange - which would be expected to take three to four years to complete - the uncertainties created by leaving the EU do, of course, have serious implications," he said.

"I remain committed to doing all that I can to deliver York Street and other key projects within the current financial context, working with the Finance Minister and other Executive colleagues. I have also asked my officials to engage fully with the European Commission and to continue to pursue every opportunity to draw down EU funds for the benefit of the north."

Mr Aiken said EU funding is essential for the delivery of the upgrade, and that the Executive should have been lobbying Westminster for replacement funding months ago.

He warned that without an upgrade, the current bottle necks at the junction will worsen, further impacting on commuter and commercial traffic.
An Irishman jailed in Egypt for the past three years over political protests has said his incarceration taught him to find humanity in everyone and disregard revenge.

Ibrahim Halawa penned the letter to his family last week as he marked the date he should have graduated from college in Dublin.

He was imprisoned in Cairo in 2013, aged just 17, after being detained in a mosque near Ramses Square as the Muslim Brotherhood held a "day of rage" over the removal of their elected president Mohamed Morsi.

He is awaiting a new court appearance next week after hearings were adjourned more than a dozen times, with the latest to allow for video footage of protests to be reviewed.

Mr Halawa wrote to his family saying September 22 should have been the day his parents had lived their lives to see.

Instead he said he was refused proper medical treatment for severe chest pains and had his head forcibly shaved.

"Today while every graduate throws their graduation hat in the sky to come down with the long waiting dream, I don't see the sky. Because I'm enrolled in a different college," he said.

"A college I did not know I had applied for when I chose to fight for freedom. A college that kidnapped me from life to teach me the principles of real life. A college full of lessons. A lot of which I have learned in dark mornings and nights."

Mr Halawa should have spent the last three years studying engineering.

His family claim he has been tortured, suffered electric shocks, beatings, being spat on and moved without their knowledge during his time in custody with several hundred others over the protests.

He wrote how he shares a dormitory cell with 30 others and has a sleeping space just over one foot wide.

But in the letter, titled Graduation Speech, Mr Halawa revealed he has a learned a deep sense of compassion for others while in prison and an appreciation of the simple things in life.

"In this college I'm obliged to live with a broad diversity of inmates. From presidential consultants and college professors to illiterate criminals which taught me to seek the real human being behind every social rank," he said.

"I have learned that absolutism is an invalid way to judge humans, humanity is all about relativism.

"It is a college where the hardest subject is 'finding the forgiveness', as I must stay as a freedom fighter and never became a revenge hunter.

"Even though after all these years my oppressor is yet not convinced to let me graduate from his prison and go home. W hile for others it's graduation night out, for me it's graduation lights out. "

The Halawa family and their lawyers in Belfast-based firm KRW LAW have attempted to secure a presidential decree for Mr Halawa's freedom.

His case is due back in court on October 2.

Sister Somaia said: "Ibrahim's letter leaves no room for more to be said, however it has been 35 days since the presidential decree of law 140 was submitted for Ibrahim, after three years of campaigning for Ibrahim's freedom this is our biggest hope.

"It is time for the Irish Government to increase the level of pressure so that decree is as effective as it should be."
MP Natalie McGarry has been charged in connection with fraud allegations after being interviewed by police.

The MP, who represents the Glasgow East constituency, voluntarily attended a police station in the city on Tuesday morning.

It is understood the alleged offences are linked to her involvement with the group Women For Independence, which was set up in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish referendum, and with the SNP's Glasgow Regional Association.

The amount of money allegedly involved is a five-figure sum, according to sources.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: " On Tuesday September 27, a 35-year-old woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences.

"A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

Lawyer Aamer Anwar, who represents the MP, said: "I can confirm that Natalie McGarry MP attended voluntarily with myself as her solicitor this morning at Govan police station.

"Following an interview, she was charged this afternoon with several alleged offences including embezzlement of funds, breach of trust and an offence under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013.

"She was released and will now be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal. There will be no further comment."

Ms McGarry was elected as the SNP MP for Glasgow East in May 2015, when Nicola Sturgeon's party won all but three of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster.

In November she withdrew from the party whip as police continued to investigate concerns over missing donations from the prominent pro-independence group she helped set up.

As a result she was automatically suspended from the party, and currently sits as an independent MP in the House of Commons.

Women For Independence said on Twitter: "We will be making no public comment on today's news."

Ms McGarry has previously insisted there has been "no wrongdoing" on her part.
A member of the public places a tribute at a memorial to the victims of the Cascade Mall massacre (AP)

The suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder.

Arcan Cetin, 20, made a brief appearance at Skagit County District Court on Monday over the shootings at the Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday.

He was advised of the charges he faces by Judge David Svaren, who set the next hearing in the case for October 26, with bail set at two million US dollars (1.5 million).

Cetin's public defender, Keith Tyne, made no statements.

The suspect's stepfather, David Marshall, told reporters after the hearing that Cetin "has had mental health issues that we have been working on him with".

Cetin is accused of opening fire in a Macy's department store cosmetics department on Friday and was arrested after a near 24-hour manhunt.

Five people - three women, a teenage girl and one man - were killed in the incident.

AP
The world's first child created using a controversial 'three-parent' baby technique has been born in Mexico, it has been announced.

Limited details about the birth were revealed ahead of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's scientific congress in Salt Lake City next month, where it will be discussed more fully.

According to critics, the procedure is tantamount to genetic modification of humans or even "playing God". But supporters say it allows women with a particular type of genetic disease to have healthy children who are related to them.

A report in the New Scientist magazine said the baby was now five months told. His parents are Jordanians and the work was carried out by a team of experts from the US.

The child's mother has Leigh syndrome, a fatal disorder that affects the developing nervous system and would have been passed on in her mitochondrial DNA.

Although she is healthy, two of her children have died as a result of inheriting the disease, a girl who lived until she was six, and an eight-month-old baby.

There are different ways of creating a so-called three-parent baby.

The technique used by Dr John Zhang, of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York, and his team involving taking the nucleus from one of the mother's eggs  containing her DNA  and implanting it into a donor egg that had its nucleus removed but retained the donor's healthy mitochondrial DNA.

Unlike ordinary DNA, which has the genetic information that helps make us who we are, mitochondrial DNA provides power for the cell and has been compared to a battery. Many scientists in the field insist the term three-parent baby is inaccurate for this reason as the significant DNA is still from two people.

Dr Zhang told the New Scientist that, as the technique has not been approved in the US, the team went to Mexico where "there are no rules".

To save lives is the ethical thing to do, he added.

In 2003, Dr Zhang and his team revealed they had used a different technique to create three-parent babies, sparking international outrage.

The UK parliament voted to allow the creation of 'three-parent babies' in principle but regulators must still decide whether the specific technique is safe before such a birth could happen in Britain.

Other scientists working in the field welcomed the news.

Professor Bert Smeets, director of the Genome Centre at Maastricht University, said: At last, the first child of a mother with a mtDNA mutation is born after mitochondrial donation.

"The safety of the method had already been quite convincingly demonstrated by the Newcastle group in the UK and introduction into the clinic would only be a matter of time  obviously, dependent on national regulation or the absence of it.

A US-based research group apparently escaped the more rigid regulatory framework in the US to perform this treatment in Mexico. That is a concern, especially as the framework not only safeguards the introduction into the clinic, but also the follow-up of the children borne after this treatment.

"Hopefully, now the first child is born and the heat is off, it takes away the pressure to involve patients in unsecured treatments, when good alternatives are available."
A friend and I were playing the Victoria Beckham game of "what I wish I'd known when I was 18". Although it's a bit pointless - most of us would have made the same mistakes all over again - still, we agreed unanimously on this: the one thing we really, really wish we'd been properly taught about, was money.

We went out into the world without the faintest idea of what it entailed. To this day, I am still vague on the difference between stocks and bonds; not sure whether an "annuity" only applies to retirement, or whether anyone can have one; don't really know what "mutual funds" are; couldn't really explain what a "venture capitalist" does; pretty hazy about "stakeholders" and "network marketing". I only quite recently came to understand what "discretionary income" really means.

My Hungarian brother-in-law, who originally emigrated from communist Budapest to the US, said that the most wondrous discovery he made in the free world was "compound interest". "Money could grow money," he exclaimed. "Amazing!"

I'm sure I learned about compound interest in school maths, but I still couldn't explain it. And what's worse. I couldn't say I'm all that engaged by it. And that, says Kate Northrup, in a useful - if sometimes a little over-gushy - American book called 'Money - A Love Story' is where the trouble begins.

We have negative attitudes to money. We don't face up to facts about money. We don't have sensible conversations about money with partners, spouses or friends. We have strange feelings of shame about money. We don't think money is "spiritual" - that's a bit over the top, because, Kate, it isn't. Ms Northrup is on sounder grounds when she says that "money is about value" - and it's about the value we place on it.

I had to catch up on some back taxes for my late husband last week and I was not only tearing my hair out scrabbling around for old bank ledgers, but I also came to the realisation that in 41 years of married life, Richard and I had never had a proper conversation about money. Never. He was as bad as I was - maybe worse. Stick your head in the sand when money matters arise. If a brown envelope from the Revenue comes through the letter box, go straight to the pub.

We'd say that we didn't talk about money after 6pm. But we didn't talk about it before 6pm either. Neither did we ever quarrel about money. We just spent it as it came along and rarely opened bank statements. It's the airy-fairy school of financial management.

I still find it difficult to open bank statements, and I'll go for weeks, even months, without checking out how much is in my account: just trusting that stuff comes out when I go to an ATM.

Kate Northrup says that this is the first thing you should do if you want to reform your attitudes to money: check your account every single day. (She also thinks you should have an accountant, a financial planner, a bookkeeper and a lawyer to help you with your finances - does she know what lawyers cost?) And she suggests keeping a "money journal" - to help you take control, and to develop a positive "love" attitude to money.

Examine your "cultural heritage" about attitudes to money, she says. Were you brought up with the idea that money is somehow not very nice? She cites the case of a woman raised in a hippy-type commune where money was disdained, and considered "not spiritual", and thus, bad money relationships dogged her all her life.

I think many of us were brought up on a misunderstood quote from St Paul: "Money is the root of all evil."

What the apostle actually said was "the love of money is the root of all evil", and truthfully, when you see how people can be corrupted by money - brown envelopes of another sort have bought the favours of many a politician - it is not altogether inexact.

And Irish culture traditionally placed emphasis on generosity: the "Cavan man", who could "peel an orange in his pocket", was the subject of stigma and comical disdain. Women's lore had it that one of the worst fates was to be married to a mean man, and as money is also supposed to carry symbolic meaning, I wonder now if this had any link with character.

A friend - now dead - told me that her first husband had been very mean, and that this was reflected in his attitudes in bed as well as on budgets: he was "withholding", sexually. She divorced him, but of course, then he was mean with child maintenance.

Yes, attitudes to money can reflect your character and your attitudes to many other things. Kate Northrup reminds us that money is something we invented to signify value, so it's all emblematic. My attitudes to money are a strange mixture of shame, guilt, occasional energetic phases of being active and constructive, responsibility and extravagance; sometimes, a secret streak of meanness.

Shirley Conran, who invented Superwoman has been on a campaign to convince teenage girls that they must get to grips with money matters, and she's an adviser to the Department for Education to help inform young women about practical money management in maths. (She's just had a fellowship award from London University for her endeavours).

Well done, Shirl; and maybe many 18-year-olds today will sail into the future, confident they know all about the differences between a stock and a bond.
What does Translink's decision to remove a plaque unveiled by the Queen say about Northern Ireland? The plaque, at Bellarena train halt, was taken down within 24 hours because the transport company feared it would be a target for vandals.

Had Translink strong reason to believe this? Does that mean that this country is still so divided, almost 20 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, that anything touched by Royal hands will provoke outrage among some nationalists, to the extent they would want to deface that object?

Of course we are not a perfect society, but it should be noted that the Queen on her visit to Bellarena near Limavady in July was welcomed by a broad cross-section of the community, including the local Lord Mayor, a member of the SDLP.

Northern Ireland is a society trying to come to terms with its recent divided past and now, two political polar opposites, the DUP and Sinn Fein, share power at Stormont and appear determined to bed down devolution more strongly than ever in the past.

While undoubtedly, as in every other part of her realm, there are non-royalists among the population of Northern Ireland, Her Majesty has been warmly welcomed on recent visits on both sides of the border, and there is no doubt she has been in the vanguard of healing Anglo-Irish relationships, especially with her ground-breaking Dublin visit.

And Prince Charles has carried on the good community relations work with his visit to Sligo, to the resort where his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was murdered by the IRA.

The prince put aside his own revulsion at that evil deed to further the atmosphere of reconciliation.

All this careful choreography has created a new mood music and a shared recognition of the wrongs suffered on all sides during the course of a long and difficult joint history.

Against that background, one wonders why Translink was so concerned about the Ballerena plaque being vandalised. If indeed it was convinced that might happen, why then not replace it with a replica plaque, keeping the original until a safer place could be found for it?

Having dragged a 90-year-old monarch and her older consort to the area to perform the opening, Translink now feels that the Queen is a name which cannot be uttered, or at least etched, in case some moron takes offence.
If any man deserves a second chance at happiness it is John McAreavey, whose wife Michaela was murdered on their honeymoon in Mauritius five years ago.

That was a time of appalling heartbreak and, as John says, Michaela will always be a part of his life.

That is something which many women would find difficult to come to terms with, especially as John continues to put so much effort into the charity - the Michaela Foundation - set up in memory of his first wife. But his new spouse Tara has faced that fact head-on, even working on the Foundation in her spare time. She and John now share their lives and we wish them every happiness in the years ahead.
Darren McBride: What a load of utter nonsense. Neither the UK, nor Irish, government want a "hard" border and there won't be one. None of the people from the two jurisdictions wants one. It's not going to happen.

Mark McCoy: Hope they deservedly get taken out? Whatever happened to civil rights?

Neil Gillespie: Taken out by whom? The Irish military and their left-over rifles from the Easter Rising?

Mark McCoy: No, haven't you heard? Unlike certain other parties, they've decommissioned. Anyway, even the paranoid bigots should be against civil liberties being eroded.

Neil Gillespie: It's up to the UK Government to decide how it monitors its own borders, as it is, with the Irish Republic to monitor their side. But what civil liberties are being eroded? It's perfectly normal for countries across the world to guard their borders. Making something out of nothing.

David McKeown: So, the Irish defence force has decommissioned its weapons?

Mark McCoy: Not with drones. And was being mildly ironic (not that you'd understand).

Neil Gillespie: If you are really honest with yourself, you are more annoyed that there is a border in the first place, rather than drones hovering over it.

Sean McNally: Well, people on the border won't have to bother buying clay pigeons for a while.

Elizabeth Cody: I agree. Irish defence forces will have grade-A marksmen now.

Neil Gillespie: Are you suggesting that some Irish marksman will stand with a gun and take down an unmanned drone that can fly at such an altitude that it can't be seen, or heard?

Colm O'Hare: Partition created a hostile environment for the minority people, which in turn led to sectarian, bitter hatred. So, in my eyes, live and let live and unite all the people on this island.
The SDLP's South Down MLA Colin McGrath summed it up well: "Private Member's Bills (PMBs) have been proven to be vital in shaping the Assembly (John McCallister), fighting human trafficking (Lord Morrow), meeting the needs of children (Steven Agnew) and other issues important to the public (Jim Allister). Right now, the SDLP are working Bills to address issues, including equal marriage, gender equality, housing and homelessness, regional economic fairness and even an Irish Language Act. We need to keep all democratic avenues open and so a way to free up PMBs must be found."

He was responding to the news that the Assembly Speaker, Robin Newton, is concerned that there are too many PMBs in the pipeline and that it would be "prudent for our current procedures relating to PMBs to be reviewed and I would ask the committee on procedures to consider taking this forward." If this turns out to be code for making it more difficult to table a PMB, then that will be very bad for democracy - and particularly bad for the new Opposition.

The Speaker confirmed that a total of 19 PMBs are currently in the system - "close to the total of the 25 PMBs across the entire duration of the last Assembly". But he shouldn't be surprised by that. There wasn't an official Opposition in the last Assembly, so there wasn't the same imperative, or incentive, for legislation which wasn't included in the Programme for Government (PfG).

Many PMBs fall at the first hurdle, because they require considerable support for each stage of the legislative process, so it makes sense for the Opposition and smaller parties (the UUP, SDLP, Alliance, TUV, Greens and People Before Profit) not to put all their eggs into one basket.

And it's worth bearing in mind that a PMB can discomfit a government, which is, surely, one of the functions of Opposition.

It's also worth pointing out that most PMBs are not just "vanity projects" aimed at securing profile and publicity for the MLAs promoting them.

The issue will often be of significant personal interest to that MLA and will usually be supported by party colleagues (although Jim Allister, Steven Agnew and John McCallister were, to all intents and purposes, independents).

The issue may be of particular interest to the MLA's constituents. Or, as is more often the case (and it certainly was with Agnew's PMB on Children's Services, Lord Morrow's PMB on human trafficking and Jo-Anne Dobson's PMB on organ donation) it will be an issue of much broader societal interest.

MLAs from the parties of government are usually better placed to bend the ear of a minister in the hope that their concerns and reservations will be reflected in Executive legislation, or departmental policy. Opposition parties do not have that luxury: and that's why it's important that they have other ways to influence government.

The decision by the DUP and Sinn Fein, on June 7, to replace Opposition motions every second week with Opposition days every so often - which may amount to just 10 days between now and June 2017 - means that the new Opposition has already had its wings clipped in terms of "taking the battle" to the Executive.

Now, it seems, their wings are to be further clipped by a curb on the number of PMBs.

It tends to be forgotten that PMBs are also a way for other sections and groups within the electorate to get involved in the legislative process. In many cases, they are able to provide expert research, drafting and legal advice to the MLA, particularly if similar legislation has been passed in other parts of the United Kingdom.

The wider public consultation process which accompanies the drafting and promotion of a PMB enables voices to be heard which wouldn't otherwise be heard.

And, in some cases, the potential importance and impact of a PMB may see its proposals included in legislation already under consideration through the Programme for Government.

Both the DUP and Sinn Fein were reasonably well-disposed to John McCallister's PMB on Opposition: they could, had they chosen to do so, have killed it off pretty quickly. But he listened to them, as well as the other parties and independents, and made the changes required to ensure majority support.

My gut instinct is that the DUP/Sinn Fein supported it for two main reasons: they didn't want to look like anti-democracy bullies and, more importantly, they reckoned that, even if there was an official Opposition, the UUP and SDLP would opt for the Executive, rather than potential isolation.

So, after the election, they assumed that Nesbitt, Eastwood and Ford (with Alliance coming in on the Justice by-ball) would green-light Executive participation.

It didn't turn out like that, of course. And for all the talk of "strong government" versus a "weak and divided Opposition" it's pretty clear that Foster and McGuinness are still a little bit spooked by Opposition.

That's why they cut back on the number of Opposition days.

That's why they've appointed David Gordon as their "minder". That's why the Speaker has intervened to prevent questions and discussion on Nama in the wake of the recent BBC NI Spotlight programme and on the appointment of Gordon.

And that's why there's to be a review (by a committee with a DUP/Sinn Fein majority) on the number of PMBs allowed.

I can accept the Speaker's point about the present system not being designed to cope with the potential number of PMBs. But, let's be honest: the present system wasn't designed with an official Opposition in mind, either.

But that Opposition now exists - with DUP and Sinn Fein support - and they are going to have to make the changes required to accommodate the needs and rights of Opposition.

If that means an extra plenary session now and again, then so be it. If that means culling the numbers of Press officers and special advisers, then so be it. If that means the Executive having to accommodate the additional scrutiny and pressure of an Opposition, then so be it.

The Opposition is the most important thing that has happened to the Assembly and Executive since the DUP/Sinn Fein co-governing deal in May 2007. Yes, there will be teething problems and both the Executive and Opposition have lessons to learn. Further down the line, it may be necessary to change and fine-tune these new arrangements and relationships.

But it is thoroughly irresponsible - indeed, downright reckless - to begin this new phase of government by curbing Opposition and the machinery by which it operates.

Let's first see how democracy works - if it's given a chance.

And, if the Speaker wants to do something, then let him look at how the petition of concern has been deployed as a wrecking ball.
In June, on her most recent visit across the Irish Sea, the Queen opened a new platform at Bellarena railway station in Co Londonderry after arriving there by steam train, recreating the same journey that she first made a month after her coronation in 1953.

A plaque was erected to commemorate the occasion. Now it turns out that the plaque was removed within 24 hours of its unveiling and has still not been replaced. In fact, there's no indication when, if ever, it will be put back in place.

"What, the Queen? Queen who? Never heard of her. You must be mistaking us for a different train station. Move along now, there's nothing to see."

And that part's true enough. There is quite literally nothing to see anymore. The wall is bare.

Translink has so far struggled to explain why it played this magic vanishing trick on the plaque at the unmanned halt.

The company's initial excuse was they were worried about "the possibility that it could be vandalised".

Though vandalised by whom?

Residents of this quiet backwater have never shown a particularly marked tendency to anti-social behaviour, and visitors from further afield surely have better things to do with their time after alighting at the station than risk prosecution by getting busy with a spray can or a crow bar.

Now Translink has changed tack and states that it's "considering the best way to mount the plaque", implying somehow that they've been engaged all along in high level meetings to find the best way to show it off.

Make your minds up, lads. Which is it?

This latest statement is so patently absurd that it could only have been pulled out of a hat in an effort to solve the problems created by the first one; because the clear implication from the original explanation is that members of the wider nationalist community might have been so offended by a plaque unveiled by the Queen that they would've resorted to criminal damage of Translink property in retaliation.

They hadn't asked any of these hypothetical vandals whether they actually were offended. Nor had they been flooded with complaints by people who felt the plaque undermined their sense of identity. The decision to take down the plaque was simply made in anticipation that someone somewhere was bound to be offended, and that it was therefore better not to give them the chance. Quick, hide the plaque, before anyone notices!

The message seemed to be that people in Northern Ireland are so irrational and impulsive that they need protecting from themselves, like the Incredible Hulk. Don't make them angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry.

And of course it is perfectly possible that the plaque might have been vandalised had it been left on the wall.

The world is full of idiots whose first response to something they don't like is to wreck it, and Northern Ireland has suffered more than its fair share of them. There are sections of communities on either side who arguably don't deserve the benefit of any doubt.

But that's no reason to assume there will be a problem before the problem has even arisen. Pandering to imaginary fears only encourages small-minded, thin-skinned people to complain in future, because they're being taught the value of making a fuss about matters that don't deserve it.

It's only a plaque, after all.

Just put the ruddy thing back up. If it's vandalised, take it down, repair and clean it, then put it back up again. Repeat until the idiots get the message. Translink's job is to make the trains run on time, not to tell its customers how or what to think.

Meanwhile, it'll be fun seeing what further excuses the company comes up with when they realise that the two they've concocted so far have been so silly that even the writers of Give My Head Peace would have rejected them as far-fetched.
Serial sex offender Jason Leonard Shaw has lashed out at a reporter outside court, punching him on the side of the head after he was asked for a comment.

Forty-six-year-old Shaw  who has convictions for exposing himself dating back 30 years  is more used to picking on women and schoolgirls.

But he reacted furiously when spoken to by Sunday Life outside Laganside Court in Belfast, last week.

The incident has been reported to police.

Shaw, of Great Northern Street in Belfast, was spared jail for his latest seedy offence  performing a sex act on himself outside a womans house in the south of the city.

A prosecutor said Shaw was seen by his victim pleasuring himself outside her home near Botanic Avenue in May last year.

Shaw, who was declared bankrupt last year, admitted in court to committing a lewd, obscene and disgusting act.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall sentenced him to 12 months probation, and he will remain on the sex offenders register for another five years.

It comes just days after the father-of-two was given a two-year probation order for five separate charges of exposing himself between August 2014 and April last year.

A prosecution lawyer told a hearing that Shaw was seen exposing his genitals to young girls and Queens University students over three consecutive days in August.

On April 7 last year, while out on bail awaiting sentencing on those charges, he again exposed himself to a woman.

However, he was freed on bail yet again in February this year to attend a Christian Fellowship meeting at a church not far from his favourite flashing zone.

The serial creeps form is understood to date back to the 1980s and is littered with dozens of convictions for sick sexual acts.

Shaw was jailed for 18 months in 2011 for exposing himself to a schoolgirl in the changing rooms of a fashion store in Belfast city centre in March 2009.

The judge barred Shaw from using mens changing facilities where ladies or childrens clothing are on display in the same department.

He was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years. In 2012 he was jailed for eight months for flashing at a mum and daughter at a store in the busy Junction One shopping complex in Antrim in April 2010.

Antrim Crown Court was told how his victims were trying on clothes in a changing room when they noticed him using a wall-mounted mirror to peer into their cubicle.

Shaws record of flashing at schoolgirls goes back to at least 2003 when he exposed himself to teenagers in three separate incidents in Newtownards.

He narrowly avoided jail after he exposed himself to the girls, aged between 14 and 17, on Victoria Street and East Street in the town.

The sex pest has lived at numerous addresses in the greater Belfast and Co Antrim areas and was once forced to flee his family home at Ballycarry, near Carrickfergus, after word of his convictions spread.
Wikicommons

Sharad Navaratri is a nine day long Hindu festival of worship and dance. The festival is dedicated to worship the Hindu deity Durga. In Sanskrit, the word Navaratri literally translates to nine nights. During these nine nights, night forms of Shakti (power) are worshipped and each day is dedicated to a Goddess of important significance.

This Navaratri is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, usually September to October) and is the most important of all the Navaratri celebrations. It celebrates the slaying of Mahishasura by the goddess Durga. The festival is observed in most parts of India, particularly in Northern India, Eastern India, and Western India.

During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform 'puja' on small shrines representing different aspects of Goddess Durga, including Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. Chanting of mantras and renditions of bhajans and folk songs usually accompany the puja rituals for nine consecutive days of Navratri.

Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin. The celebration takes place in the form of three sets of three days and each set is dedicated to a Goddess. The first three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga in order to cleanse worshippers of evil and impurities. The second set of days is dedicated to Goddess Lakshami who is the giver of spiritual wealth and prosperity. The last three days is dedicated to Goddess Sarawati, the Goddess of art and education.

The ninth day is known as Maha Navmi where a large ceremony is performed. The day starts by Kajak, where nine girl children are fed puri, halwa and chane. Before offering food, their feet are washed and cleaned as a symbol of respect for the Goddess Durga. During this, all the girl children are considered to be the form of Goddess Durga. After offering food they are given clothes, fruit or money.

Within each set of days, a particular goddess and her respective governing planet, iconography, and matra is celebrated are celebrated each day.

Day 1: Shailaputri

Shailaputri rides a bull, carrying a trishul (trident) in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left hand. Her governing planet is the moon and her mantra is Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah.

Day 2: Brahmacharini

Brahmacharini walks on bare feet, carrying a japa mala (prayer beads) in her right hand and a kamandalu (water pot) in her left hand. Her governing planet is Mars and her mantra is Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah.

Day 3: Chandraghanta

Goddess Chandraghanta wears a semi-circular moon (chandra) on her forehead that looks like a bell (ghanta), and hence her name. She is depicted with 10 hands, and carries trishul, gada, a sword and arrow. This form of Mother Goddess is ready for war to protect the peace and welfare of her devotees. Her governing planet is Venus and her mantra is Om Devi Chandraghantayai Namah.

Day 4: Kushmanda

Kushmanda has eight hands and rides on a lioness. She holds a kamandalu, dhanush, bada and kamal in her right hands. Her left hands hold amrit kalash (pot of nectar), japa mala, gada and chakra. She created the universe in the flash of her smile, and it is believed to bestow supernatural powers and wealth to her devotees. Her governing planet is the sun and her mantra is Om Devi Kushmandayai Namah.

Day 5: Skandamata

Goddess Skandamata carries baby Skanda and rides a lion. She has four hands, carrying two lotus flowers in her upper two hands, Skanda in her left hand and gives the abhayamudra (gesture of fearlessness) with her right hand. Her governing planet is Mercury and her mantra is Om Devi Skandamatayai Namah.

Day 6: Katyayini

Goddess Katyayani rides on a magnificent lion and is depicted with four hands. She carries a lotus flower and sword in her left hands respectively and keeps her right hands in abhayamudra and varadamudras. Her governing planet is Jupiter and her mantra is Om Devi Katyayanyai Namah.

Day 7: Kaalratri

Kaalratris complexion is dark black and she rides on a donkey. She is depicted with four hands. Her right hands are in abhayamudra and varadamudra and she carries a sword and deadly iron hook in her left hands. Her governing planet is Saturn and her mantra is Om Devi Kalaratryai Namah.

Day 8: Mahagauri

Mahagauri rides the bull and has four arms. She holds a trishul in one of her right hands and depicts the abhayamudra with the other right hand. She carries a damaru in one left hand and depicts the varadamudra in her other left hand. Her planet is Rahu and her mantra is Om Devi Mahagauryai Namah.

Day 9: Siddhidaatri

Goddess Siddhidatri sits on Kamal and rides on the lion. She is depicted with four hands. She has gada in the one right hand, chakra in the other right hand, lotus flower in the left hand and shankh in the other left hand. She bestows all types of siddhi (supernatural powers) to her devotees and hence is worshiped by humans, ghandarvas, asuras and devas alike. Her planet is Ketu and her mantra is Om Devi Siddhidatryai Namah.

Sharad Navaratri is an important Hindu holiday that is celebrated throughout the world. Each Goddess is honored in a special way during the nine nights and devotees are blessed with spiritual wealth.

Megan Bailey is a former Social Media Specialist and Content Producer for Beliefnet. She attended James Madison University where she received a degree in psychology.
Shutterstock.com

Rosh Hashanah, also referred to as Yom HaZikkaron or the Day of Remembrance, is about teshuvah or returning to God through repentance. The holiday is used to remind us that submission to God is the way to demonstrate a repentant attitude to the Lord.

Rosh Hashanah recalls the story of Isaacs near-sacrifice when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son as an offering. Abraham obeyed Gods command, built an alter, and prepared to sacrifice Isaac. At the very last minute, he was stopped by the Angel of the Lord. The Angel pointed out a ram and told Abraham to sacrifice it in place of Isaac. Here, it shows a clear picture of the sacrifice of Jesus by the Father on behalf of those who trust in Him.

To help celebrate this wonderful holiday and show your repentance for the new year, follow these simple prayers and blessings.

Candle-Lighting Blessing

On Erev Rosh Hashanah, about 18 minutes before sundown the following blessing is recited while kindling the holiday candles.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments and command us to kindle the lights of Yom Zikkaron.

The Shehecheyanu Blessing

The Shehecheyanu blessing is said to thank God for enabling us to reach this season. It is also customary to bless the children at this time, as well as to offer up spontaneous prayer and thanks to God.

Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

Kiddush and HaMotzi

The holiday is sanctified by reciting Kiddush (the blessing over wine).

Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has chosen us from all the peoples, hallowing us with mitzvot. In Your love, Adonai our God, You have given us this Day of Remembrance, to hear the sound of the Shofar, to unite in worship, and to recall the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us from all the peoples, consecrating us to Your service, and Your word is truth eternal. Praised is the Sovereign God, Sovereign of all the world, who hallows the House of Israel and the Day of Remembrance.

Then, before eating the holiday meal, by reciting the HaMotzi prayer (the blessing over bread.)

Since Rosh Hashana celebrates the cyclical passage of time and the progression of holidays of the New Year, it is customary to recite the HaMotzi blessing over round loaves of challah which symbolizes the revolving season or the Crown of God. They are often sweetened with raison and honey for the holiday to wish the upcoming year to be a sweet one.

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the living bread from heaven.

Blessing Over Fruit

Traditionally, apples are dipped in honey and the following blessing is recited before eating.

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the trees. May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that you renew for us a good and sweet year in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

Grace After the Meal

After the meal, it is customary to recite the birkat hamazon, the grace after meals, including special additions marking the festival of Rosh Hashanah. A shortened blessing is provided here.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, master of the universe, who nourishes the whole world in goodness, with grace, kindness and compassion. Blessed are You, Lord, who nourishes all. Amen.

Listening to the Shofar

If you have a shofar (rams horn), you may want to listen to the sound by blowing it before this prayer. The one who blows the horn would recite the following blessing.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with His commandments and commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.

Eating Fish

The fish symbolizes that we grow and multiply. First, the appropriate blessing for eating the fish (the she-hakol blessing) is said.

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who by His Word bring about all things.

Before eating the fish, it is said:

May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we will be fruitful and multiply like fish.

Guests then turn to look at the head of the fish and say:

May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that we be the head and not the tail.

Rosh Hashanah Mussaf prayer themes

Malkiyot: God is King

God is sovereign of the Jewish people and the universe.

Zkronot: Remembrance

God intervenes in the world. God will not abandon people and Isreal will remember and invoke God mindful of the Divine promises to them.

Shofarot: Revelation and Repdeptaio

Acknowledge of revelation: remembering Gods covenant with Israel at Sinai, the merit of the ancestors and promise of the future at day ago.

The Jewish New Year is a time for celebration and engagement into our past and future. Reflect on what you wish to make right with the Lord and ask for forgiveness. Then, take time to bless those around you and wish them a happy year to come!

Megan Bailey is a former Social Media Specialist and Content Producer for Beliefnet. She attended James Madison University where she received a degree in psychology.
This screen grab shows one of five men who carried out a deadly terrorist siege at a Dhaka cafe speaking in an online propaganda video.

Updated at 11:22 a.m. ET on 2016-09-28

A propaganda video that features footage of five men who carried out an Islamic State-claimed terrorist attack in Dhaka in July was filmed in Bangladesh, officials there acknowledged, with one think tank suggesting that the terror group had expanded its influence in the South Asian nation.

The video was released online on Sept. 24, two days after the five slain militants were buried in Dhaka, according to a statement sent to BenarNews by the Singapore-based International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research.

This is the first official IS Bengali video released by a media unit identified as Bengal, the statement said.

Senior Bangladeshi officials, who have long denied an Islamic State (IS) presence in Bangladesh, repeated that claim even while acknowledging that footage in the 15-minute film was recorded on home soil.

This is an old video. It was made of some small pieces of videos freely available. The video was made in some parts of Bangladesh, and they sent it abroad. What I always say is that these militants are home-grown, not foreign. The IS is from Syria and Iraq. Can anyone show a Syrian or Iraqi fighting in Bangladesh? Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews.

Our investigators have been examining the video and we have yet to find out who filmed it, the home minister said.

We have not eliminated all the militants; some of them are still active. They released the video to cheer up the militants who are still out of our net, he said, adding that the government had blocked circulation of the video.

Consolidating

The new video calls for Bangladeshs democratically elected government to be toppled and replaced with an Islamic caliphate. It includes graphic images of the butchered remains of hostages who were among 20 slain during an overnight siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka on July 1.

They urged Muslims to join IS and kill infidels wherever they find them, and threatened Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and the anti-terrorism unit Rapid Action Battalion, the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research statement said of the videos soundtrack.

With IS facing mounting territorial losses in Syria and Iraq, the establishment of an IS Bengali media unit suggests that IS is consolidating its influence and strength in Bangladesh, asserting that it remains strong and capable of spreading its ideology and terror internationally in the face of setbacks, it said. The center is part of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University.

The men who appear in the video are the same ones pictured in images of the alleged attackers released by Islamic States propaganda wing shortly after the attack. They have since been identified by police and through DNA testing as Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, Mir Sameh Mobashwer, Nibras Islam, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Ujjal.

These men were members of Neo-JMB, a faction of home-grown militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh that espouses IS ideology, according to officials.

Second Bengali video

The video is the second Bengali-language IS propaganda video to appear online since the attack.

In the older video, released in July, three men praised the attack, warning of more terrorist acts to come. That video was shot in Raqqah, the groups Syrian stronghold, according to SITE Intelligence, a U.S.-based group that monitors jihadist material online.

Retired Brig. Gen. Shahedul Anam Khan, a security analyst, said the new video was shot in a rural location inside Bangladesh to show IS leaders in the Middle East that supporters had been active in Bangladesh.

The recent video was filmed at an isolated place. It was recorded much before the Holey Artisan attack. The militants had the plan to stage a massacre, escape the scene and later claim the responsibility through the video message, the analyst told BenarNews.

The newly recruited members of the JMB are very highly educated. The government may deny that IS presence. But it is a harsh truth that they [IS] have attracted  some educated youths from Bangladesh, Khan said, referring to some of the slain cafe attackers who came from well-to-do families.

The Muslims, the Hindus and other faiths have been living in Bangladesh for centuries. But they want to destroy the multicultural heritage of this land. They have brainwashed the youths through wrong interpretation of Islam, said Khan, referring to IS and JMB.

The new video also threatens some Bangladeshi Muslim clerics who have spoken out against militant groups. These include Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, president of the Bangladesh Jamatul Ulema, who spearheaded a fatwa against extremism in Bangladesh.

Islam has not come into being to kill people. The militants Islam is not Islam, Masud told BenarNews in commenting on the new propaganda video.
Officers escort two of the six suspected members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, whose faces are covered, to a court in Kolkata, India, Sept. 26, 2016.

Indian police on Monday claimed to have busted a cell of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) with the arrests of six suspected members of the terror outfit, including three Bangladeshi nationals, from the northeastern Indian states of West Bengal and Assam over the weekend.

Five of the accused were wanted by Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with an accidental blast inside a house that killed two suspected terrorists in West Bengals Burdwan district in October 2014, Joint Commissioner of Police Vishal Garg told reporters in Kolkata, the states capital.

The 2014 blast occurred when alleged JMB members using the house as a hideout were building explosives for attacks in Bangladesh aimed at toppling the government of that country, according to the NIA. Bangladesh shares a large part of its 4,096-km (2,545-mile) border with India in West Bengal and Assam.

They [JMB] hatched a conspiracy wherein the main purpose was to establish Sharia Law in Bangladesh by toppling [the] democratically elected government and to spread tentacles in India for the furtherance of their goal, the NIA said in a release, referring to its investigations into the 2014 blast.

These people left West Bengal after [the] Burdwan blast. They had left the state and moved to south India and [other] northeastern states, where they were planning subversive activities. We are still trying to find out the details, Garg said.

A court in Kolkata on Monday ordered all six  Anwar Hussain Farooq, Abdul Kalam, Mohammad Rubel (from Bangladesh), Yusuf Khetab (West Bengal), Jahidul Sheikh and Shahidul Shamim (Assam)  to police custody until Oct. 6.

Encrypted messages

Garg identified Farooq, a native of Bangladeshs Jamalpur district, as the head of JMBs West Bengal unit and Khetab as his deputy, and indicated that JMB sleeper cells were active in India.

He said Sheikh was arrested on Saturday, leading to the arrests of the others.

Two days ago, [Sheikh] was arrested by the Kolkata Special Task Force [STF] in a fake currency note racket in Cachar district of Assam. After interrogation it came to light that he was a JMB operative, Garg said.

Information from the interrogation led STF officers to Kalam, who was apprehended from the Coochbehar railway station in West Bengal, Garg said, adding that he had crossed over into India through Assam.

Farooq, Rubel, Shamim and Khetab were captured in the North 24 Parganas district close the Bangladesh border on Sunday, Garg said.

About 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) [of] explosives, including white explosive powder, which have been sent for testing, several mobile phones, a letter written in Bengali, bearing balls, wire cutters and batteries have been recovered, Garg said.

Police also recovered a chart listing the JMB hierarchy from Farooq, he said.

Rubel, who is expert at making homemade explosives, also facilitated entry of JMB operatives from Bangladesh into India, Garg said.

They were using one web-based networking system to communicate with each other and never used mobile phones to interact. They werent even communicating on Facebook or its messenger. We have broken the encrypted messages they exchanged, Garg said.

Garg said interrogations of the suspects revealed an all-women cell of the JMB active in West Bengal, adding that the group was code-named Red Rose.

Prasanta Bandoypadhyay, Kolkatas former police chief, said that although the arrests were a major breakthrough in exposing JMBs activities in India, security agencies must not get complacent as it might be the tip of the iceberg.

The fact that all the absconders of the Burdwan blasts were planning another strike should ring alarm bells. On top of that, we now have information that there is a womens cell of the JMB active in India. It is alarming, Bandoypadhyay told BenarNews.
Philippine soldiers search for members of Abu Sayyaf in the town of Paktikul, Sulu province in southern island of Mindanao, Aug. 30, 2016.

The Philippines said Tuesday that its military had dealt Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants a major blow by killing two brothers linked with the group, who allegedly helped kidnap more than two dozen sailors at sea, including Malaysians and Indonesians.

Nixon Muktadil, who heads the Muktadil gang that is affiliated with ASG, and his brother Brown were killed Tuesday as part of a campaign by Philippine security forces to free all kidnap victims being held by Abu Sayyaf and other armed militant groups in the southern Philippines, Philippine officials said. Hostages still in custody include five Malaysians and five Indonesians.

Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said troops from the Joint Task Force Sulu, assisted by volunteers from Panglima Estino town, engaged in a shootout with the siblings on Tambulian Island, according to a news release from the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

The fall of the Muktadil brothers is a major blow to the ASG as the siblings served as sea guides and navigators during the groups conduct of kidnapping[s] in the high seas, the statement quoted Tan as saying.

Nixon and Brown took part in kidnappings of 26 Filipinos, Malaysians and Indonesians, the spokesman said. Another brother, Mindas, was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officials in Jolo, Sulu province, in May 2015. Another brother, Khadafy Muktadil, was arrested in November.

Also on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police announced that it broke up a gun-running syndicate supplying high-powered guns and ammunition to ASG, and seized a cache of grenade launchers, military rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition, valued at 6 million pesos (U.S. $124,000), the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. The syndicates leader, Unding Kenneth Isa, and three accomplices were arrested Saturday in Metro Manila.

Ransom payment claim

According to a report published by Philippine-based news website Rappler.com, Abu Sayyaf has collected at least 354.1 million Philippine pesos (U.S. $7.3 million) in 2016 from ransoms paid for hostages. Of that amount, at least 324.1 million pesos ($6.7 million) was raised through ransoms paid for Southeast Asian sailors.

Ransoms have been paid for 17 Indonesians who have been released by Abu Sayyaf this year, Rappler reported.

Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has denied paying for the release of hostages.

What is for sure is that the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines did not spend any penny to pay the ransom, Ryamizard said.

If we obey them [their demand to pay a ransom], it means we are under their power, he added as he commented on the release of three Indonesian sailors from ASG custody on Sept. 18.

The three were freed after being held for 10 weeks, a day after after Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad was released after being held for months. During the Scandinavians captivity ASG executed two Canadians who were kidnapped alongside him.

Meanwhile, Malaysia continues to seek the release of five sailors who were abducted by ASG from their ship off the coast of the Eastern Malaysian state of Sabah in July.

Halim Ishak, who was involved with the April 1 release of Malaysians relatives Wong Teck Kang, 31, Wong Teck Chii, 29, their cousin Johnny Lau Kim Hien, 21, along with Wong Hung Sing, 34, said the government is trying to locate the missing Malaysians.

The victims are hidden in various places and often move from one place to another, Halim, the chairman of the Malaysian Community Care Foundation, told BenarNews. The CCF expects all parties to be patient as the government is determined to help free the victims.

A security analyst said Malaysia needed to improve its efforts against militant groups.

Malaysia should be combatting kidnapping in a professional manner and not paying ransoms, security analyst Akhbar Satar told BenarNews.

To me, Malaysia should not bow down to the pressure of the kidnappers because it will be a trend, he said. Perhaps, we should opt for the use of special ops to free the hostages just like the U.S.

Trilateral efforts

Meanwhile, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have held a series of meetings aimed at improving security for sailors in the region. The nations have discussed the need for joint maritime patrols to halt kidnappings by ASG and other groups in the Sulu and Celebes seas that separate the countries, but have not been able to launch those patrols.

Now, the new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is stepping up efforts against AS. His government has deployed nine police and military battalions, totaling about 9,000 personnel, to suspected hideouts in the southern island provinces of Sulu and Basilan. As a result, 21 ASG members surrendered Friday in Sumisip, Basilan, according to government officials.
Four of five suspects in the kidnapping of nine immigrant workers are led to the Alor Setar Magistrate Court to face charges, Sept. 26, 2016.

A Malaysian judge in the northern state of Kedah on Monday charged five men with kidnapping nine immigrants and demanding stiff ransoms from relatives back home in Bangladesh.

The victims  eight Bangladeshis and a Myanmar national  were weak, starved and had their legs chained when police rescued them on Sept. 6 from a house in Pedang, on the outskirts of Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah, the Bernama news agency reported at the time.

The rescue came after police received a tip that six Bangladeshi men had been abducted from a construction site in Sungai Petani, in the southern part of Kedah. The three other victims had been kidnapped in Perak and Kuala Lumpur.

Kedah police chief Asri Yusoff said the victims families in Bangladesh had received threats that the victims would be killed if a ransom of 15,000 ringgit (U.S. $3,600) each was not paid, according to Bernama.

Malaysians Mohd Ibroni Abdullah, 36, and Zainal Nayan, 32, Myanmar nationals Zangir Alam and Saiful Shona Miya, and Bangladesh citizen Abul Husin Akhbar appeared in court Monday to face charges related to abducting, illegally detaining and confining the nine immigrants.

A judge in Alor Setar Magistrate Court charged the five under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act of 1961 and Section 34 of the penal code, which carry a mandatory death sentence or life in prison upon conviction.

The judge ordered the five, who were not represented by counsel, to be held without bail, and set Oct. 24 as the next court date, pending appointment of an interpreter for the foreigners.

The northern states of Kedah and Perlis have been in the news for human smuggling activities in recent years involving several towns along with border with Thailand.

In May 2015, Malaysian officials discovered 139 graves containing 106 corpses in abandoned human smuggling camps hundreds of meters from the Thai-Malaysia border, near the town of Wang Kelian, Perlis.

The same month, 36 corpses were found in similar sites on the Thai side of the border.

Following that discovery, Thailand launched a crackdown on human smuggling that triggered a humanitarian crisis. Close to 3,000 ethnic Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh nationals, abandoned by their handlers, suddenly came ashore in Malaysia and Indonesia.

As many as 103 individuals, including a Thai army general, are on trial for human smuggling in Thailand, a lawyer involved in the case told BenarNews.

To date, however, Malaysia has prosecuted only three individuals for human trafficking stemming from the Wang Kelian case.
Signs point to the cities and nations participating in the 2016 Indonesia Umbrella Festival. (Kusumasari Ayuningtyas/BenarNews)

The third Indonesia Umbrella Festival drew tens of thousands of visitors to the city of Solo, in Central Java, from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.

The goal of the festival, hosted by the city also known as Surakarta, is to preserve traditional Indonesian umbrellas. Other areas in Indonesia that have their own unique traditional umbrellas were invited to participate.

This year, 16 Indonesian cities from Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Bali were joined by representatives from Japan, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Germany.

Thousands of umbrellas were displayed in each corner of Taman Balekambang, which once was the royal park of the Javanese monarchy in the heart of the city.
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The Bible has been under attack in the western world for over 200 years but never more intensely than today. These attacks have taken different forms and have come from many different corners of the academic world, from philosophers, to scientists, to textual critics. In the specialized world of archaeology the attacks have increased dramatically in the past 50 years. Once a specialization filled with Bible believing individuals, the field of archaeology is now overrun with atheists and skeptics, agnostics and those committed to the destruction of the Bible as a source of true historical information.

These attacks on the Bible are a part of a sweeping movement in western culture. Spearheaded by academic elitists in the university and the public educational system, the news and popular media, and the entertainment industry, these revisionists cloak themselves with supposed objectivity, purity of motives, and the superiority of science over the "uninformed", "unscientific", religious community.

They regularly mock those who question their world-view and their conclusions by name-calling and the worst forms of anti-Bible and anti-Christian propaganda. They have powerfully infected the church by turning Bible believing Christians against the very Scripture which is the foundation of truth and life in this world. Instead of contending for the Bible, Christian academics, pastors, and lay-persons are making egregious accommodations to these destroyers of faith and truth.

In these days of intense spiritual battle, God has called ABR to step into the gap to contend for the truth and to assist the church in this critical hour. ABR is a non-profit ministry dedicated to demonstrating the historical reliability of the Bible and to give answers to questions being asked by believers and non-believers alike. We do this by using original archaeological fieldwork and research along with studies in other apologetic disciplines. We take on the bold claims of skeptics and critics. We challenge the bizarre anti-biblical propaganda that is purveyed upon the public as gospel through television and print media. We uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's message for the salvation of all mankind!
bigtrial.net

On May 14, 2015, after a trial that lasted nearly six weeks, a federal jury unanimously acquitted all six officers on all 47 charges. Two months later, an arbitrator ruled that all six officers would get their jobs back, plus a year's worth of back pay.



In March 2012, Grady and D.A. Williams said that Grady had resigned amid reports that Grady had been fired by D.A. Williams.



McDermott was reassigned to police department's Southwest Bureau. DiBartollio left the D.A's office. So did McCann.





On Jan. 17, 2012, the Philadelphia Police Department's Narcotics Field Unit South tailed a suspected drug dealer to a garage, where they confiscated 53 pounds of hydroponic marijuana with a street value of $481,240.When the cops interviewed the suspect, Mohammed Samhan, 26, of Los Angeles, he decided to cooperate and give up another marijuana dealer. The cops subsequently raided the home of Kit "Fatboy" Poon, 41, of Northeast Philadelphia. This time, they confiscated 172 pounds of hydroponic marijuana with a street value of $1,565,420.Faced with serious jail time, Poon decided that he too wanted to cooperate. He told the cops he knew about an even bigger future marijuana shipment due to arrive by tractor-trailer.With the two accused drug dealers in custody, Lt. Robert Otto, supervisor of the narcs, called Chief Jan McDermott of the District Attorney's Dangerous Drug Offenders Unit, and requested that McDermott conduct "proffers" with both suspects. [A proffer is an interview where, in exchange for information about criminal activity, a prosecutor agrees not to use that information against the suspect.]That's when the system broke down. Two confidential police memorandums obtained by Big Trial lay out the details of what's been described in court papers as a "petty and childish feud" between the narcs and the Philly D.A.'s office. It was an old fashioned turf battle over who sat in on proffers, which law enforcement agency would collect drug forfeiture money, and who got credit for major drug busts.Seth Williams put an end to the feud when he announced, via a letter leaked to the media -- without a shred of evidence to back him up -- that the district attorney's office would no longer prosecute any drug cases involving Lt. Otto or five of his officers. The narcs and their supervisor were subsequently transferred out of the narcotics unit.Meanwhile, what happened to the two accused drug dealers who got caught red-handed with 225 pounds of marijuana worth more than $2 million? They were set free by the district attorney, along with 800 other suspects previously arrested by the narcs, in what amounted to a holiday for drug dealers. In a confidential Feb. 15, 2012 memo to William Blackburn, Philadelphia's deputy police commissioner, Lt. Otto laid out the "unprofessional conduct" of top officials in District Attorney Seth Williams's office.Otto wrote that after he called Chief McDermott in the D.A.'s office and asked her to schedule a proffer with Mohammed Samhan, Otto found out that the proffer had already been been conducted by the D.A.'s office without the participation of any of his officers.Present at the proffer session, according to Otto's memorandum, were McDermott, First Assistant District Attorney Brian Grady, FBI agents, and members of the D.A.'s Dangerous Drug Offenders Unit.But the narcotics unit was cut out of the proffer that resulted from their own arrest. Lt. Otto set out to find out why, since in the past, the D.A.'s office had usually cooperated with his narcotics officers on many phases of drug investigations, including proffers."I contacted Chief McDermott via phone and inquired as to if this had actually taken place given our previous agreement that we would participate in any proffers we initiated," Lt. Otto wrote Deputy Police Commissioner Blackburn.McDermott, according to Otto, "stated to me that she was 'not at liberty to discuss' " whether the suspected drug dealer had been proffered by her office. McDermott, according to Otto, then stated, "We have a new policy and we are not to discuss who we proffer and who is to be present for these proffers.'"According to Otto, McDermott told him, "I may not necessarily agree with this new policy, however it is above my pay grade."Otto said he "reminded her [McDermott] of our previous agreement involving proffers and our professional agreement involving the ongoing, cooperative effort between the Police Department and the District Attorney's Office as it pertains to information sharing. She [McDermott] said there was nothing more to say and the conversation ended.""I have brought this situation to your attention as I know you have an interest in this investigation and how it proceeds," Lt. Otto wrote Deputy Commissioner Blackburn. "This situation is one of frustration, not simply because it involves this one investigation, but rather this seems to be a continuing pattern of unprofessional behavior on the part of some in the District Attorney's Office.""I have always had a solid working relationship with many attorneys in the District Attorney's Office and have only in the past two years seen this relationship often strained by some who are not willing to work side by side with us here in the department," Otto wrote the deputy police commissioner."Early on, I met with Chief McDermott and expressed my complete desire to be open and forthcoming in the area of information sharing in pursuit of offenders who prey on the citizens of this city," Otto wrote.Otto explained to the deputy police commissioner that for the past two years he had forwarded all "white papers," reports on significant criminal activity, from his squad to McDermott "for her consideration as to how to proceed with many of the offenders we investigate and arrest."But, Otto wrote, he found that this "feeling [of cooperation] is not shared by those I have come to deal with in the District Attorney's Office.""All that I have ever asked is that we all act in a professional manner and work together in pursuit of what should be the ultimate goal," Otto wrote. "That is to serve the citizens of this city to the best of our abilities without having a personal agenda.""I respectfully thank you for your attention in this matter."The Narcotics Field Unit South had quite a track record for making high-profile drug busts. In 2011 alone, according the unit's records, they seized 357 guns, $7 million worth of drugs, and $1.8 million in cash.But the unit's success ended on Dec. 3, 2012, when District Attorney Seth Williams wrote a two-paragraph letter to former Police Commissioner Ramsey, saying that the district attorney's office would no longer prosecute any drug cases involving Lt. Otto and five of his narcotics officers.When he wrote this letter, as was subsequently revealed in criminal proceedings initiated by the public defender's office, as previously reported on this blog, Seth Williams was not in possession of any files or investigative reports that would back up his letter.The D.A.'s letter was the subject of a meeting the narcs subsequently had with Ramsey and his chief deputies. At the meeting, according to a knowledgable source, Police Commissioner Ramsey told Otto and his officers that he was transferring them out of the narcotics unit.At the meeting, according to the source, deputy Police Commissioner Blackburn spoke out against the transfer. Blackburn predicted the fallout would be disastrous because of the high-profile investigations, arrests and seizures that the unit had been making. Blackburn, according to the source, told Ramsey that no one had proper cause to move the officers out of narcotics, and that the district attorney's offensive amounted to a personal attack.Ramsey, according to the source, responded by dismissing Blackburn from the meeting. The deputy police commissioner was subsequently reassigned.Otto, when contacted by Big Trial, declined comment.Former Police Commissioner Ramsey, now a distinguished visiting fellow at Drexel University's Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, did not respond to an email requesting comment.A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department did not respond to a request for comment; or a request to speak with McDermott, who now works in the Southwest Division, as well as a request to talk to Blackburn, who has retired.A spokesman for District Attorney Williams did not respond to requests for comment.Former ADA Grady declined comment, saying he didn't know anything about the memorandums.Former First Assistant District Attorney McCann could not be reached for comment. In the past, he has, through a spokesperson, declined comment on his feud with the narcs.After the district attorney's office cut the narcs out of proffers, Kit Poon, the guy caught with 172 pounds of marijuana, decided against cooperating. So his tip to the narcs about a tractor-trailer loaded with marijuana and headed to Philadelphia was not pursued.Lt. Otto's first memorandum to Deputy Police Commissioner Blackburn was written on Feb. 15, 2012. The feud between the Narcotics Field Unit and the D.A.'s office would continue for the remainder of that year.On Dec. 9, 2012, Lt. Otto wrote a second memo to Deputy Police Commissioner Blackburn, documenting further problems with the D.A.'s office that led to the transfers of Otto and his officers.Otto wrote Blackburn that on Nov. 29, 2012, he had received several phone calls and text messages from Officer Thomas Liciardello, one of his narcs, telling Otto that a suspected drug dealer arrested by Liciardello was going to be proffered the next day by Assistant District Attorney Kalli Bartorillo.A lawyer for the suspected drug dealer told Liciadrello "that he was told by members of the District Attorney's Office that Officer Liciardello would not be present" at the proffer.On Nov. 29, 2012, according to his memorandum, Otto called Bartorillo on her cell phone and asked about the proffer. Otto explained "who I was and what our previous agreement had been with the District Attorney's Office regarding proffers. I also briefly explained to ADA Bartorillo that there had been a previous collapse in this cooperative effort between the Police Department and her office due to the actions of her predecessor."Bartorillo, according to Otto, informed him that the proffer "would go forward as scheduled, but that she would speak to her boss, and would talk to Otto after that. In a text message, Otto asked "in the interest of our future cooperation" if Liciardello could sit in on the proffer.But the ADA never responded, Otto wrote. The next day, Otto called the ADA at her office but she again didn't respond. Bartorillo could not be reached for comment.On Dec. 1, 2012, Liciardelo, who was off duty, spoke directly with Chief McDermott "as she was walking past his private residence," Otto wrote. McDermott told Liciardello that ADA Bartorillo had held the proffer "with a male that he had arrested and refused to allow members of the Narcotics Field Unit to sit in as was agreed upon previously."Liciardello informed McDermott that since he already had information from the drug dealer, he would move forward with his own investigation.Three days later, Otto and five of his offers were told by two supervisors that they was being moved from the Narcotics Bureau due to the letter sent by District Attorney Seth Williams to Police Commissioner Ramsey. In the letter, Williams announced that in an exercise of "prosecutorial discretion" that the district attorney's office would "no longer prosecute any narcotics case that my name appeared on," Otto wrote. The supervisors told the narcotics officers that they were being transferred out of the narcotics unit by order of Police Commissioner Ramsey.Otto was given approximately five minutes to choose one of three possible assignments. The next day, he went to work at South Detectives Division."It is my belief that his action by Seth Williams and members of the District Attorney's Office was retaliatory due to a previous memorandum that I was requested to prepare by Deputy Commissioner Blackburn," Otto wrote the deputy police commissioner, referring to his first memorandum of Feb. 15, 2012."This memorandum was critical of the unprofessional conduct of members of the District Attorney's Office, namely Chief Brian Grady (who has since been removed from the District Attorney's Office) and Chief Jan McDermott," Otto wrote. "In addition, I believe this more recent event involving ADA Kalli Bartorillo was also a motivating factor in requesting my removal from the Narocitics Bureau.""The previous memorandum was later brought to the attention of Seth Williams and Edward McCann," Otto wrote. "At that time, I called into question the actions of Chief Brian Grady and Chief Jan McDermott regarding these same issues of proffering and the treatment of cooperating offenders.""When I spoke to Deputy Commissioner Blackburn about these concerns and the refusal of Chief Grady and Chief McDermott to adhere to our professional agreement of agency cooperation, he requested that I prepare this memorandum so that he may present it to Commissioner Ramsey.""This memorandum was prepared by me on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, and hand-delivered by me to Deputy Commissioner Blackburn on this same date," Otto wrote.For Lt. Otto and his narcotics officers, the troubles were just beginning.In a 26-count RICO indictment, the U.S. Attorney's office charged six former members of Otto's narcotics field unit with routinely robbing and beating the drug dealers they had arrested. The feds also alleged that the narcs stole at least $500,000 from the drug dealers in cash and drugs, and tried to cover their tracks by falsifying police reports.But the feds had no records or sting videos to back up their charges. Instead, they relied on the accusations of a former member of the narcotics unit who got caught red-handed in a sting operation. And the uncorroborated stories of 19 accused drug dealers.The result was a complete disaster for the feds.As for the two suspected drug dealers, they were freed, along with some 800 other accused drug dealers, in the D.A.'s voluntary decision to overturn 800 arrests previously made by members of the Narcotics Field Unit South.Some 175 of these formerly accused drug dealers have subsequently filed civil rights lawsuits against the city. The city is now paying millions of dollars for seven lawyers from two law firms to defend the former narcs as well as the city in the civil suits.But the two marijuana dealers arrested by the cops, Mohammed Samhan and Kit "Fat Boy" Poon, were not among the civil plaintiffs. In Poon's case, it may have been because he had more legal problems to worry about.On March 19, 2013, Poon, then of Baldwin Park, CA., was among 37 defendants charged in a federal indictment unsealed in New York targeting a Southeast Asian marijuana and counterfeit cigarette trafficking operation that operated throughout the United States.The arrest came just three months after Poon's case in Philadelphia was dismissed by D.A. Williams on Dec. 12, 2012.Prosecutors alleged that the members of the ring conspired to produce and distribute more than $45 million worth of marijuana, as well as illegally distribute nearly 44 million cigarettes, resulting in more than $7 million in lost tax revenues.Poon was among the defendants arrested by special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations."Today's arrest deals a blow to an organization that allegedly conspired to manufacture multimillion-dollar quantities of marijuana that they would then distribute, along with millions of contraband cigarettes nationwide," said Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in announcing the indictment."Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement around the country, this alleged supply chain has been effectively broken."The ring used a Los Angeles-based transportation company, Super Quality Logistics, to ship homegrown pot and black market cigarettes around the country, the U.S. Attorney said.The group allegedly used financial institutions to launder its proceeds. During the investigation, authorities seized more than 25 bank accounts, along with a number of vehicles that included several tractor-trailers owned by Super Quality Logistics.So Poon may have been telling the truth a year earlier when he told the narcs about an upcoming delivery of a tractor-trailer load of marijuana.The district attorney's office, under Seth Williams, would try and fail to turn Poon into a cooperator. The D.A.'s office subsequently decided to turn Poon loose along with 800 other accused drug dealers.It fell to the feds to arrest Poon a year later.This is the abysmal record of our district attorney, who remains unaccountable for his reckless and irresponsible actions.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


For Immediate Release, September 27, 2016 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Report on Airplanes' Lags in Fuel Efficiency Highlights Need for EPA to Set Ambitious Climate Rules SAN FRANCISCO A new report showing that new airplanes are dramatically less fuel efficient than emerging technology makes possible highlights the need for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to curb planet-warming pollution from the nation's aircraft fleet. Today's report from the International Council on Clean Transportation found that new airplanes could cut fuel consumption by 25 percent over the next decade through better engine efficiency and other cost-effective measures  dwarfing the fuel efficiency of aircraft designs actually being brought to market by manufacturers today. This new study shows that airlines care disturbingly little about either fuel efficiency or their skyrocketing emissions of planet-warming pollution, said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Climate Law Institute. The Obama administration has to stop hoping for this shortsighted industry to regulate itself. It's time for strong federal climate rules that actually cut airplanes rapidly escalating emissions. The Center, Friends of the Earth and other allies, represented by Earthjustice, first petitioned the EPA in 2007 to regulate carbon emissions from aircraft under the federal Clean Air Act, which requires the government to issue emissions standards for any aircraft pollutant that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. The EPA in July officially acknowledged in a final endangerment finding that planet-warming pollution from airplanes disrupts the climate and endangers human welfare. But the agency failed to move forward on rules to actually reduce aircraft emissions. Airplane greenhouse gas pollution is growing rapidly. If commercial aviation were considered a country, it would rank seventh after Germany in terms of carbon emissions. Airplanes could generate 43 gigatonnes of planet-warming pollution through 2050, consuming more than 4 percent of the worlds remaining carbon budget, according to a recent Center report. Yet the first international standards for carbon pollution from airplanes now under consideration by the International Civil Aviation Organization would reduce emissions from new planes less than business as usual and would not apply to any in-service aircraft. The dismal failure of airlines to embrace fuel efficiency should be the last straw for the EPA, Siegel said. Federal officials must protect our planet from aviation's rapidly growing threat to our climate. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Five million Somalis - more than 40% of the country's population - do not have sufficient food, according to a new assessment report released this past week in Mogadishu.

Image by 123RF

This includes over 300,000 children under five who are acutely malnourished, including more than 50,000 children who are severely malnourished and more vulnerable than any other group.

The latest numbers represent an increase of 300,000 people who are food insecure since the last review in February 2016. Humanitarian partners are ready to scale up response to help families struggling to find food to make it through the day, said Peter de Clercq, the humanitarian coordinator for Somalia. The Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 is 32% funded and additional resources are urgently required to boost response and on-going efforts to sustainably address malnutrition and access to food, including support to comprehensive durable solutions.

Efforts to reduce levels of vulnerabilities continue to be undermined by irregular weather patterns which have influenced the food and nutrition situation

According to the FAO-managed Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), more than 1.1 million people cannot meet their daily food requirements today, while another 3.9 million Somalis require livelihood support to reduce the risk of sliding into crisis.

The food and nutrition situation particularly affects the estimated 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are highly vulnerable to natural hazards, disease outbreaks, exploitation and abuse, some displaced multiple times during the past two decades. An estimated 58% of people who are acutely food insecure are internally displaced, many living in appalling conditions in settlements spread throughout the country, facing the continuous risk of forced evictions, discrimination, violation of childrens rights and pervasive gender-based violence.

Efforts to reduce levels of vulnerabilities continue to be undermined by irregular weather patterns which have influenced the food and nutrition situation. Cereal production has been good in parts of Somaliland and has brought relief in crop growing areas that were affected by drought. However, drought conditions continue in pastoral areas of Somaliland and Puntland.

Poor rainfall in southern and central Somalia, the breadbasket of the country, has led to a reduction in cereal production by nearly half, compared to the long-term average. This situation is of serious concern and comes at a time when we are already facing multiple drivers of needs, including drought and risk of flooding, conflict and access constraints as well as increased refugee returns.

Humanitarian partners are committed to continuing delivery of humanitarian assistance to save lives and strengthen resilience of Somalis. This complements longer-term solutions and development programmes with increased involvement of Somali authorities that are beginning to address underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition through an agricultural system that can feed Somalias people and enable them to respond to shocks and crises.
Thousands of doctors will from this week wear armbands to indicate how long a shift they have worked.

This, the South African Medical Doctors Association says, will put the spotlight on the dangers of making doctors work excessively long hours.

This campaign comes just four months after a young Cape doctor died in a car crash after working a 24-hour shift.

Ilne Markwat apparently fell asleep at the wheel and the car she was driving veered onto oncoming traffic on the N1 in Paarl. The accident claimed the life of one other person.

Markwat worked in the obstetric unit of Paarl Hospital, where interns last year complained to the Junior Doctors' Association of South Africa about overly long shifts.

 Wavebreak Media Ltd 123rf.com

Chairman of the Employed Doctors' committee and association spokesman, Shailendra Sham, said the association's 9,000 members would be given three bands each - green, orange and red.

A green armband indicates the doctor has worked less than 24 consecutive hours, and is therefore still alert.

An orange one indicates the doctor has worked more than 24 hours but less than 30 hours and a red armband indicates the doctor has worked more than 30 consecutive hours.

A doctor with a red armband is a potential risk and should be allowed time to rest.

Sham said: ''There has been a positive response from doctors but there have been some concerns from the hospitals' management. All doctors will receive the armbands."

Mzukisi Grootboom, association chairman, said: "The armband campaign is a very important tool for us to assist the public identify those professionals who have gone beyond the reasonable hours they should."

Grootboom said the association is actively encouraging authorities to fill vacant posts, hire new people to new posts and ensure all specialities in hospitals are catered for.

''We cannot continue with a situation where doctors are putting in 10, 15 or even 20 hours extra a shift to the detriment of their patients, and their own health, while vacancies are not filled," he said.
This is the second time the brewery, which produces CBC and Striped Horse craft beer products, has taken gold at the awards. Setting the bar a few good notches higher in 2016, CBC has secured the most golds of all competing breweries in South Africa.

Altogether 105 craft brews from 37 producers were tasted blind and rated by a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) accredited panel. Six of the 19 gold medals awarded were given to the following products in the CBC stable:

CBC Amber Weiss : Wheat Beer category, highest score, Trophy



: Wheat Beer category, highest score, Trophy CBC Imperial IPA : Hoppy Beer category, highest score, Amorim Trophy



: Hoppy Beer category, highest score, Amorim Trophy CBC Lager : Lager category, Gold Medal



: Lager category, Gold Medal CBC Pilsner : Lager category, Gold Medal



: Lager category, Gold Medal Striped Horse Pale Ale : Light Beer category, Gold Medal



: Light Beer category, Gold Medal Striped Horse Pilsner: Light Beer category, highest score, Belgian Beer Company Trophy

The brewing team is delighted with the outcome of the awards, says CBC brewmaster, Wolfgang Koedel. The achievements are great industry benchmarks and stand testimony to the products fast-growing appeal.

We are immensely grateful for our supporters loyalty to the brand, adds CBC operations manager, Andy Kung. Consumers freedom of choice is important and its great that their feedback is helping us continue to set exceptional standards.

The CBC team believes that creating truly exceptional beer is a refined art, and brewing is celebrated as a lifestyle at the establishment  from the malting, milling, mashing and lautering, to the boiling, fermenting, conditioning and filtering. Their passion for all things beer-related is evident not only in their wide range of quality products but also in their detailed and animated tutored tastings and brewery tours.

The CBC range including the CBC Amber Weiss, Imperial IPA, Lager and Pilsner as well as the Striped Horse Pale Ale and Pilsner are available from major retailers and liquor stores nationwide.

All the award-winning beers are available at the CBC brewery in Paarl, as well as from a wide range of restaurants across South Africa. To find a restaurant that stocks CBC, go to CapeBrewing.co.za.

Join CBC on its Love the Craft, Love the Journey campaign and download the CBC app at CapeBrewing.co.za/LoveTheJourney/#about.
French cheese brand, President is partnering with Simonsberg.

President was founded in 1968 in France by a family committed to cheesemaking, with expertise handed down from one generation to another for over 80 years. It also brings a wealth of expertise in the development of cheese categories through consumer education and investment in local markets. And has committed to increasing total category spend of cheese in South Africa by approximately 25% over the next 3 years in order to further expand consumers repertoire of cheeses, having succeeded in doing so in more than 147 countries. It is now locally produced in over 100 factories, globally.

As Simonsberg becomes part of the President stable, be assured that President will uphold the quality of this range of award-winning cheeses, as they will continue to be manufactured locally in the Cape, making use of the same quality ingredients and age old cheese-making processes.

The new packaging, featuring both Simonsberg and President logos, will be in-store by the end of September. The range will continue to consist of the following stock keeping units:
Six months into deploying Interactive Intelligence's customer engagement software suite, Customer Interaction Centre  (CIC) at its 621- and 30-seat contact centres in Durban, Mr Price Group has seen improved operations and realised its ROI.

Within six months we saw improved efficiencies, a better customer experience, increased sales and significant savings, said Colin Salvesen, omnichannel executive at MRP Money, a division of Mr Price Group. In major outgoing direct campaigns alone, our contact centre is able to support the marketing division and help save millions in postage and marketing materials, while at the same time increasing the success rate of each campaign.

Salvesen elaborated on how CIC has improved the customer experience. CIC has given us a unified, view of the customer across an omnichannel environment, which has helped us better upsell and cross sell, and made it easier for customers to engage with us, he said. Agents now get contextual information about the customer so they can make a warm transfer when appropriate to another agent who can offer additional products and services, such as financial services or mobile offers. Customers can also now choose when they want a follow-up call, which improves both their experience and our sales success.

Mr Price Group replaced a multitude of communications systems with CIC in order to keep pace with growth and customer service demands across channels, such as voice, email, messaging and other digital channels. Our previous disparate systems were seven years old and based on legacy architecture, which meant our contact centres were siloed across service offerings, Salvesen said. We needed an advanced, unified platform that would support a single view of the customer across a multichannel, multiproduct environment, while increasing efficiencies and enabling us to be more agile.

Mr Price Group deployed CIC without any downtime. Roll-out and integration was achieved within five weeks, and users were quick to learn the new system, according to Salvesen. Because CIC is exceptionally user-friendly and integrates with existing systems, our contact centre agents required minimal training. They also saw their own productivity increase as a result of CIC, and with commissions tied to productivity, this has increased both their performance and morale.

Today, Mr Price Group uses the full breadth of CIC applications, including interactive voice response, auto attendant, skills-based and multichannel routing, computer telephony integration, screen pop, reporting, multichannel recording and desktop faxing.

Mr Price Group has also integrated CIC with six different CRM systems and a Zendesk ticketing platform. It will also be integrated with a Qlikview BI visualisation tool and an expanded customer service system to include in-store mobile and kiosk-based applications. Future plans also include CICs Web callback and social media monitoring functionality.

Its impressive to see how Mr Price Group has used CIC to position its contact centre as a digital hub for both customer and employee engagement, said Andre Le Roux, Interactive Intelligence managing director, African region. This is an incredibly forward-looking team with an innovative customer service vision that continues to evolve. One initiative underway is to more closely integrate the customers experience at physical stores with the overall brand experience across digital channels using the contact centre as the hub. This is just one example of how Mr Price Group is using CIC to reinvent the customer experience -- and by doing so, reinvent itself to stay competitive in this age of digital disruption.
More than 100 merchants are among the first wave of South African online retailers to use Visa Checkout, including Aramex Global Shopper, Discovery, Emirates Airline, TicketPro, WebTickets and Yuppiechef.

Enrolling in Visa Checkout is a simple, one-time process, taking only a few minutes. Consumers simply store their shipping and payment information in a secure account with Visa once, and they never have to re-enter it again when shopping online at merchants offering the service.

Online shoppers in South Africa can use any Visa debit or credit card or even other branded cards to shop online at any of the above-mentioned merchants. The service is a card for the digital world and takes away the frustration that many online shoppers face in having to submit large amounts of information  such as their name, card numbers and billing address - each time they want to make an online purchase.

Geraldine Mitchley, head of Emerging Products and Innovation for Visa in Sub-Saharan Africa, said, We are proud to introduce Visa Checkout in South Africa. With more than 250,000 global merchants and more than 15m registered users globally, we believe Visa Checkout will prove to be another success in South Africa. As we partner with a number of forward thinking merchants in market, we hope that more and more merchants, bank card issuers and consumers will see the benefits of this seamless and secure experience while shopping in-app or online.

Speaking on behalf of Yuppiechef, CIO Steve Porter said, "Visa Checkout has helped reduce friction at checkout and has had a significant impact on average basket size. Feedback from our customers has been positive and we are looking forward to continued growth in Visa Checkout as more merchants come online."

In June 2016, Effective Measure in partnership with Visa surveyed over 12,000 internet users in South Africa on their online shopping habits. The survey revealed that South Africans are browsing more, with 38% of people surveyed accessing the Internet via a mobile phone and 27% of online shoppers using their phones to transact. Visas data1 shows that 45% of consumers purchasing with Visa Checkout have done so from a mobile phone, which is 1.6x higher than the South African consumers surveyed by Effective Measure, and indicates just how easy it can be to shop and pay using your phone. Services like Visa Checkout will assist merchants in converting browsers to buyers, says Mitchley.

A study done in late 2015 in the US found that Visa Checkout helps ensure a browsing customer converts into paying customer, as 86% of customers enrolled with Visa Checkout completed their transactions. Fifty-one percent are more likely to complete a transaction compared to customers who have to enter card and address information manually in the traditional online checkout path.[1] Also, Visa Checkout allows retailers to tap into the trust consumers have in the Visa brand. More than 96% of Visa Checkout customers said that they felt secure when making a purchase.

For more information and to enrol with Visa Checkout, click here.

1 comScore 2015 Visa Checkout Study, commissioned by Visa. Based on data from the comScore research panel of one million U.S. PC/laptop users, April-October 2015.
Pargo and Clicks Retailers have announced a partnership that will enable online shoppers to collect and return purchases in Clicks stores countrywide, whether they shopped at Spree, BidorBuy or OneDayOnly. Through the partnership, Pargo will grow its network of pick-up points to over 1,000 stores.

Pargos alternative delivery service, better known as click-and-collect, was launched early 2015 by Lars Veul and Derk Hoekert in response to the growing South African online landscape and lack of available delivery options. Delivery is recognized worldwide as the key friction point in e-commerce and a major deterrent to the growth of internet-based economy says Veul. This is especially true in the South African environment where local online shoppers are often forced to make a difficult decision between the deteriorating postal service and pricey couriers.

With this in mind, Pargo has developed a service that will provide a cost-effective and convenient delivery service for online shopping in South Africa. With Pargo already operating parcel points at trusted retail chains like Freshstop at Caltex, Waltons and 7Eleven, the addition of these Clicks stores will only strengthen this already extensive network. The partnership with Clicks gives consumers the chance to choose a collection point that suits their needs anywhere in the country.

Health and beauty retailer, Clicks has identified the Pargo solution as a valuable addition to the variety of services they provide to their customers. Vikesh Ramsunder, Clicks COO explains we know shoppers are busier than ever and are looking for greater convenience and ease in everything they do. This new service will help them make the best use of their time by removing the need to wait at home for a parcel to arrive. Parcel pick-up is just another way we are able to help our customers with convenient solutions that suit their individual lifestyles.

Online retailers use Pargo to save costs and improve their service proposition. Maurits Vermeulen, director from participating online store OneDayOnly, added Pargo as a delivery option to his site last year and has seen a big increase in the number of customers that use the service. He says click-and-collect is a fantastic opportunity for us to not only offer a more convenient way to shop for our current customers, but opens us up to an entirely new retail channel. He adds we now service customers that know that they are not at home to receive a delivery and there is a chance that these customers otherwise wouldnt have placed their orders.
Nuclear energy in South Africa is a very contentious issue. The decision on whether to proceed with the construction of a fleet of nuclear power plants is destined to become the financially most far reaching and consequential defining moment of the Jacob Zuma presidency.

Image source: Eskom

There is widespread public mistrust of the nuclear expansion process. Its roots lie in the extraordinary announcement in 2014 that the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom had secured the rights to build the new South African nuclear plants. The South African government played down the announcement, claiming that it was inaccurate.

But this precipitated a series of media investigations. These uncovered evidence that individuals close to the president and groups linked to the ruling ANC have significant financial interests in the matter.

Civil society organisations are taking government to court in an attempt to have the deal declared illegal. Their attempts to have details of the Russian agreement released are being resisted. This is likely to strengthen their case, and sway public opinion further.

It appears that those with a stake in the nuclear build are hoping to fast-track the process in the face of growing public opposition. This is evident from revelations that, bizarrely, contracts are being awarded, even though a formal process has not been set in motion by government.

The most recent revelation was that a member of a business family with close links to President Jacob Zuma has been awarded a massive R171 million tender for a nuclear build programme management system.

The meaning of this is unclear. It has largely confirmed the fears that the nuclear build is being driven for the benefit of the politically connected rather than the national good.

Burning questions

The debate surrounding the nuclear project centres on three highly contested questions:

Is the countrys future energy generating potential and demand such that an expensive nuclear power station build is effectively unavoidable?



Can South Africa afford the associated costs and debt, especially in view of massive funding demands in other sectors such as education?



If approved, would the nuclear build lead to massive overspends, corruption and beneficiation of politically connected individuals?

The development of new nuclear power plants with a generating capacity of 9600 MW was initially presented in the Department of Energy 2010-2030 Integrated Resource Plan for electricity. According to this road map, nuclear would amount to 13% of South Africas 2030 generating capacity. This is compared to 46% coal, 11% solar and 10% wind.

But this plan is considered outdated, with many making a strong case that improvements in renewable energy technologies and lower future energy demand at the very least allow for the nuclear build to be postponed.

Furthermore, given the widely acclaimed early successes of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, it is difficult to understand why the renewable fraction is not being increased further, and why the national power utility Eskom, under the leadership of Brian Molefe, a nuclear disciple, now opposes new renewable energy developments.

The promotion of nuclear energy at the expense of renewables bucks global trends. An industrial nation like Germany is phasing out nuclear power, and has a much higher renewable energy investment than sunny, windy South Africa. Chinese renewables expansion currently exceeds nuclear development by far.

The nuclear option is expensive. The most realistic cost estimates range from R650 billion  advanced by nuclear build proponents  to R 1.2 trillion, as determined by the civic watchdog group OUTA. The reported announcement by the CEO of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa that the nuclear build would merely cost the country R 1 billion is not considered to be serious.

Opponents of the deal point out that no persuasive cost-benefit analysis has been done. It is furthermore worrying that many recent nuclear construction projects elsewhere in the world have run into huge cost overruns and delays.

The ANCs internal nuclear war

The often obscure processes and overhasty developments require an insight into the present machinations within the governing party.

Tensions within the ruling party have escalated to the point where calls for the presidents resignation are now made openly. And even party leaders acknowledge that factions in their ranks are thriving on corruption.

The organisational fracture is equally evident in attitudes towards the nuclear build. Tensions over the issue have been cited as the major reason for Zumas dismissal of the financially prudent former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene in December 2015.

The official position

Earlier this year Zuma announced that the nuclear build would proceed on a scale and pace the country can afford. This position has been reiterated in recent weeks by both Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Petterson. But it is not clear what this means in practice, given that scale and pace can be defined in many different ways.

The official process envisages a request for proposals to be issued on 30 September. This was set out in a Ministry of Energy press release issued on 26 December 2015. It states that:

Any decision to proceed further with a Nuclear New Build Programme will therefore only take place after the RFP (request for proposals) process has been completed and a final funding model has been developed, and then referred back to Cabinet for consideration and approval.

The request for proposals invites nuclear plant constructors to issue concrete building and (hopefully) associated costing plans.

If this process is handled in a transparent way the public will be able to scrutinise the financial and other implications, including potential pitfalls. This would enable a far more meaningful analysis of the necessity and affordability of the nuclear build. In particular, the following needs to be clarified:

The technical details of the proposed reactors. Are they optimal, tested and considered safe?



Are there signs of associated developments amounting to wasteful expenditure? Alternatively, have critical additional aspects been considered like nuclear waste disposal and plant decommissioning, for example?



How will cost overruns and delays be dealt with?



What are the true costs and how will the development be funded? What are the long-term fiscal implications?

But no-one is certain that this ideal scenario will play itself out because the legitimacy of the procurement process has already been undermined.

Looking ahead, actual construction would need to be preceded by the closure of funding agreements, the settling of legal disputes and further public engagement. This takes time.

In the unlikely event that the nuclear build actually does come to fruition, it will not commence any time soon.


The Liberian government and project developer, Gigawatt Global Cooperatief, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to finance and construct a 10MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Monrovia.

Foreign minister, Marjon Kamara, said the Liberian government is excited about entering into this venture, indicating that bringing electricity to as many areas, including the rural communities of the country, was a priority.

The MoU, in part, states that Gigawatt Global will provide a road map, which summarises the main actions and steps necessary to develop and construct a solar photovoltaic facility.

 Pedro Antonio Salaverria Calahorra 123rf.com

It will conduct at its own expense a technical and financial feasibility, including the analysis of financial cash flows and tariff structures and the average rate over the entire observation period of debt repayment and return on equity.

Gigawatt Global will also provide all reports to the country's electricity utility within a period of eight months from the signing of the MoU as well as provide 100% financing, both debt and equity as allowed under Liberian law.

The project is considered part of the countrys national electrification plan, and the company will incorporate knowledge transfer and training for rural solar electrification as part of its corporate social responsibility plan.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande has condemned the destruction of university property, which has run into millions of rands.

We are now over R600 million [in] destruction... We are chasing R1-billion in property that has been destroyed over the last year and that we cannot afford (sic), Minister Nzimande said.

Minister Nzimande said government would have to pay for the destruction of property at universities, which means funds that could help the poor and the working would have to be diverted to rebuild the infrastructure.

Recently the Minister announced that universities will individually decide on the fee increases for the 2017 academic year.

This followed the Council on Higher Education (CHE) report for 2017 fee adjustments, as well as the Ministers ongoing consultations with key stakeholders. The recommendation, however, is that fee adjustments should not go above 8%.

The increase will not apply to the children of all poor, working and middle class families with a household income of up to R600,000 per annum.

Despite the announcement, students have continued with their call for free education at institutions of higher learning.

On Tuesday, Minister Nzimande addressed the media in Pretoria, following a meeting with the interim National Board of Convocations and Alumni.

The board requested a meeting to brief the Minister about the initiatives they will be undertaking in universities and among others, what role they can play in the current challenges facing universities.

He said the meeting with the board urged university management and student leaders to approach the fees discussion with an open mind.

Convocations and alumni associations must encourage past National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) recipients to make payments on their loans so as to contribute towards funding of needy and deserving students.

The private sector must also play a more meaningful role in higher education such as building infrastructure and providing funding to cover the shortfall, Minister Nzimande said.

The board also agreed that convocations and alumni should play a leading role in fundraising in order to build and maintain university infrastructure for generations to come.

The meeting further resolved that the board, through its structures in all universities, will work with student representatives to end the current wave of violent protests.

Minister Nzimande has urged universities to protect lives, saying that if the situation at universities gets out of control, universities should close.

The President of University of Johannesburg Convocation President and interim board member, Mbali Mkhonto, said the board will play a meaningful role in the education sector.

Mkhonto encouraged students to allow the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training to do its work.

People must realise that certain things take time. There is a process that must be followed, Mkhonto said.
Airbnb welcomed 67,000 guests to South Africa this winter, an increase of 250% compared to last year. The record breaking winter for Airbnb in South Africa demonstrates the growing appeal of home sharing - both for summer tourists from the Northern hemisphere as well as for domestic travellers.

maja2missy via pixabay

South Africans staying in Airbnb represent almost half of all guests (47%).

The majority of domestic guests are visiting Cape Town  followed by Johannesburg, Durban, Knysna and Port Elizabeth (in that order). And with almost 12,000 homes to choose from, Cape Town also is the most popular destination for travellers from outside of the country.

South Africans increasingly discover Airbnb as a great way to travel outside of the country, too with more than 32,000 South Africans have chosen to stay in someone elses home while abroad - more than double the amount compared to last winter.
You may think that South African business travellers who travel to other parts of Africa may not be as lucky as those travelling to Europe or the United States, but they stay in luxury hotels and are driven by chauffeurs. According to Corporate Traveller statistics, nine out of 10 business travellers to African countries stay in four- or five-star hotels, costing at least R3,000 per night.

Around 28% of all business travel by South Africans is into Africa. The top destinations for South African business travellers are Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, and Algeria.

Close on half of business travellers to Africa  48%  stay in five-star hotels, while 42% reside in four-star lodging.

Seven out of 10 are also chauffeur-driven during their stay. But their preference is not because of entitlement, but rather for convenience and security concerns.

Proximity to work site, office or meeting venue are the primary drivers in what accommodation is selected. Almost 100% of customers surveyed indicate these as determining factors. This is often due to the traffic conditions in the destination city, says Corporate Traveller general manager Raylene Pienaar.

In addition, 55% of customers base their hotel choice on the security features of the property, with 33% indicating that the complimentary Wi-Fi plays a role.

Pienaar says fewer than 30% of business travellers to Africa choose car hire when travelling in Africa. The majority opt for chauffeurs or airport transfers, she says. This is particularly true in Nigeria, Ghana, Dar es Salaam, Kenya, the DRC as well as most North and Central African countries, where our travel experts actually strongly recommend against car hire because of the poor road networks and security concerns.
The explosion of motorcycles in Africa is projected to escalate to new levels as two-wheelers become the main means of transport for the majority of the continent's population. A new report by US-based consultancy firm TechSci Research shows that motorcycle manufacturers and assemblers are seeking to increase their presence on the continent, where the business is projected to more than double from $4 billion to $9 billion over the next five years.

Dieu-Donne Gameli via Wikimedia Commons - Motor taxi concept. Picture taken on the route from Larabanga to Mole National Park.

The report shows that South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania are the largest motorcycle markets, followed by Kenya, Algeria, Uganda, Egypt, Morocco, Angola and Ethiopia.

"The public transport systems in African countries are still inadequate and poorly developed, and consequently, two-wheelers are becoming a key mode of transport in urban and rural areas," says the report titled Africa Two-Wheeler Market 2011-2021.

In East Africa, the significant growth of the motorcycle sector has largely been driven by attractive fiscal incentives that have resulted in a drastic decline in the prices of the two-wheelers.

Kenya's decision to waive import tax and the completely knocked down (CKD) parts tax in 2007 saw a huge increase in motorcycles - popularly known as boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) - in the country. Recently, the government abolished excise duty on locally assembled motorcycles, a move that is intended to spur further growth of the sector.

In 2007, Kenya had fewer than 100,000 registered motorcycles - today the number stands at over 700,000. There are also now 21 assemblers, yet five years ago there were no assembling operations in the country.

Boda bodas becoming a concern

Tanzania is the biggest motorcycle market in the region and has about one million registered boda bodas. Uganda has about 200,000. However, as the industry grows, there are concerns about boda bodas becoming a menace.

In Kenya, security and health stakeholders have questioned the government's decision to abolish excise duty on locally assembled motorcycles. According to Daniel Lemmer, chief operating officer at Securex Agencies Ltd, crime involving armed gangs on motorcycles is on the rise. In the past three months alone, boda boda crimes accounted for 13 per cent of all armed robbery and theft incidents recorded by the company.

Apart from insecurity, boda bodas are also choking health sector budgets, with statistics showing that motorcycles accounted for about 20 percent of fatal accidents in Kenya. In Tanzania, motorcycle riders account for 22 percent of road accident deaths and 25 percent of injuries.

Projected boom in the motorcycle sector good news for Africa

Despite the growing concerns, industry players say the projected boom in the motorcycle sector is good news for Africa not only providing affordable transport but also leading to job creation and economic development.

"Those saying that we need to slow down the growth of the industry are not looking at the bigger picture, particularly in job creation," said Isaac Kalua, chairman of the Motorcycle Assemblers Association of Kenya. He said the 21 motorcycle assembly plants release at least 100,000 motorcycles into the Kenyan market every year, creating 500,000 direct jobs and supporting a further four million Kenyans indirectly. Besides generating $3.8 million in income daily, the industry has contributed over $21.3 million to exchequer.

Currently, three top manufacturers control over 60 percent of the regional market. Indian company Bajaj Auto Ltd, which manufactures the Boxer brand, commands the biggest market share, followed by Car & General with its TVS brand and the Honda Motor Company with its Honda brand.

Assembling motorcycles in the region has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market because it has drastically reduced the cost, which currently stands at an average $850 for a standard motorcycle.

Growth of motorcycle industry inevatible

According to the TechSci Research report, lack of reliable public transport systems and increasing urbanisation means that the growth of the motorcycle industry is inevitable.

The reports adds that worsening traffic gridlocks and rising fuel prices are also driving demand for two-wheelers in the continent. "With more than 45 percent of Africa's population living in urban areas, demand for two-wheelers is predicted to grow over the next five years," said the report.

According to the World Bank, Africa's population is predicted to reach 2.8 billion by 2060, something that will exert more pressure on governments to develop and strengthen transport networks. It is for this reason that leading global two-wheeler manufacturers from China, Japan and India are seeking to increase their presence on the continent.

China remains the world's leading motorcycle exporter, controlling 29 percent of the total global market and raking in $6.1 billion. Japan follows with an 11.6 percent market share worth $2.4 billion. India is third with an 8.5 percent market share worth $1.8 billion.
Kenyan born Njeri Kabeberi, has been appointed executive director for Greenpeace Africa after an extensive search for a combination of skills required to drive the organisation towards a people-powered movement.

Njeri Kabeberi

According to the Greenpeace Africa Board, Africans are hungry for a new story, one with a better take on nature, on humanity, their livelihoods, their future and their connection to the earth. It was critical to find someone who embodies passion, activism and understands the context of environmental justice in Africa and we are confident that Njeri represents that said Greenpeace Africa Board chair Brian Kagoro.

Greenpeace currently runs campaigns on four key issues on the continent: to protect the Congo Basin from large scale deforestation; stop overfishing in West Africa; promote ecological farming in the horn of Africa; and demand a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in South Africa in order to reverse the impacts of climate change.

With a long history in human rights activism, Kabeberi will be leading Greenpeace Africa into a new wave of environmental justice for Africans by Africans.

We will continue to work on our flagship campaigns but more so, we shall be working closely with communities to ensure that our campaigns speak to the local realities on the continent and can effect change in the day to day life of our people said Kabeberi.

Africa has a major role to play in the global efforts to reverse climate change, protecting its vast natural forest and safeguarding its rich ocean resources is centre to the continents contribution in averting the catastrophic effects of climate change. It is important that the continent works together to push for an end to illegal logging, unsustainable fishing and a shift from industrial agriculture to ecological farming to ensure that our biodiversity is protected, she added.

Kabeberi joins Greenpeace after serving as CEO of the Civil Society Reference Group and as the immediate former executive director of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy. She is also a member of the board of advisors of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and chairs the board of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict.

She is passionate about social justice and womens rights, and in 2010, amongst others, received the ILO Wedge Award. She also has extensive INGO leadership and management experience and was on the Board of the Kenya Human Rights Commission for many years.
Analysis of International air travel to East Africa this year (January to August) by ForwardKeys, a company that predicts future travel patterns by analysing 14 million booking transactions a day, reveals strong growth of 11.2% compared with the same period last year.

Image by 123RF

This is an exceptional performance as growth for Africa as whole has been 5.6%, with countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia seeing little growth or even a decline.

Olivier Jager, CEO, ForwardKeys, said: We are seeing a tale of two Africas, with North African countries suffering from political instability and terror activities and Sub-Saharan African countries powering ahead, with Ethiopia up 9.6%, Tanzania up 10.6%, Mauritius up 11.6% and Kenya up 14.9%. South Africa is up 11.4%

Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, the picture is highly encouraging for East Africa. International bookings for travel to East African countries, up to the end of December are 17.3% ahead of where they were at this time last year. Looking at the main origin markets, the UK is 13.2% ahead, Germany is 21% ahead, The USA is 21% ahead, France is 16.1% ahead, the Netherlands is 16.6% ahead, South Africa is 9.4% ahead and India is 34% ahead.

An analysis of airport capacity, defined by the total number of seats, reveals that the stars in terms of growth are: Nairobi, Kigali and Kilimanjaro. Looking at international capacity in the periods Q3 2015-Q2 2016 and Q3 2016-Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0% and 2% respectively, Kigali 5% and 4% respectively and Kilimanjaro 11% and 20% respectively. Whilst a 2% growth for Nairobi may not sound so impressive, its capacity is around four times that of Kigali.

Looking at capacity for flights within East Africa in the periods Q3 2015-Q2 2016 and Q3 2016-Q2 2017, Nairobi grew 0% and 2% respectively, Kigali 13% and 5% respectively and Kilimanjaro 6% and 14% respectively.

The data has been released ahead of AviaDev, a new airline route development conference and AHIF, Africas highest profile hotel investment conference, which run concurrently at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, from 4-6 October 2016.

Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events, which is organising AHIF and AviaDev, said: We are seeing unprecedented interest in the AHIF AviaDev combination, with over 20 airlines signing up to talk about new air routes, with global CEOs of the worlds biggest hotel companies present to discuss their plans for Africa and with government ministers keen to attract inward investment; one has to ask: Why is there such serious interest? These highly encouraging booking figures explain it.

Worsley concluded: If what is happening in Rwanda becomes a yardstick against which other East African countries measure themselves, I would expect this strong growth to continue. There, a new airport is under construction 25km outside Kigali, with the ability to cater for 4.5 million passengers a year, seven times todays traffic. The national airline has invested in new aircraft and set itself ambitious growth plans and the government is actively promoting Rwanda as a destination for conferences and exhibitions.
WASHINGTON D.C., USA - Jay Ireland, President and CEO of GE Africa, was named as chair of the second President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) by US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker.

Image by 123RF

PAC-DBIA members  representing small, medium, and large companies from a variety of industry sectors  advise the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on ways to strengthen commercial engagement between the United States and Africa.

"Building stronger commercial relationships with some of the world's fastest growing economies in Africa continues to be a top priority for the Obama administration," said Pritzker. "Private sector engagement through initiatives like the PAC-DBIA is driving our efforts to expand trade, speed investments, build new technologies, and grow new and transformative industries across Africa."

The appointments are announced in conjunction with the second US-Africa Business Forum. This historic event connects hundreds of American and African chief executive officers and business leaders, along with African heads of state, to discuss overall economic growth and to stimulate additional trade and investment between the United States and Africa.

As part of his commitment to deepen engagement between the United States and Africa, President Obama signed an Executive Order (E.O.) at the 2014 US-Africa Business Forum to establish PAC-DBIA. The PAC-DBIA has provided information, analysis, and recommendations on US-Africa trade and investment priorities.

Such priorities include job creation in both the United States and Africa, developing sustainable commercial partnerships, building entrepreneur capacity, and keeping the private sector engaged in developing policies and strategies on investment in Africa. Highlights of the previous PAC-DBIAs recommendations include launching the institutional investor roadshow with several African countries and convening an East Africa cold chain symposium.

US merchandise exports to sub-Saharan Africa increased 19% from 2009 to 2015, reaching more than $18 billion last year. Total US exports of goods and services to the continent of Africa reached $42 billion in 2015, representing total growth of 17% in the same period. In addition, between 2009 and 2015, US goods exports to five sub-Saharan African countries - Ethiopia, Togo, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and South Sudan - and US goods exports to an additional five countries, have increased more than 50%  Mali, Swaziland, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Benin.

Speaking on the appointment, Ireland said I am truly honoured to continue serving on the US Presidents Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. I am delighted to chair this group strengthening commercial links between Africa and U.S. for economic growth. GE is proud to remain a steadfast partner in Africa's sustainable growth and will continue to invest in people and infrastructure across Africa."
Ketchums online survey of more than 2,000 smartphone owners in the U.S. found that 58% use their device to communicate with a health professional. Furthermore, 1 in 4 said they had sent a photo of a medical problem to a doctor by email or text.

The study also revealed that almost half (47%) use an app that tracks fitness, health or medicine and, of those that use a fitness or workout app, 83% use them at least once a week. However, for 21% the apps made them feel bad about their health and they ceased to be used.



The study highlights significant mobile health technology opportunities and describes five kinds of mHealth users  Discerning Digitals, Swayable Seekers, Health Tech Hesitators, App-athetic Agnostics and Low Tech Lifers.

With US smartphone adoption at 68%, now is the time for businesses that have a stake in the healthcare industry to push to develop approachable, intuitive mobile tech offerings that help the ever-increasing mobile user population improve something as personal and important as their health, said Lisa Sullivan, executive vice president and North American technology practice leader for Ketchum.
Officers from Mohnyin Township Police Force and Naypyidaw Anti-Narcotic Task Force arrested U Aung Kyaw Win in possession of 117.4 gram of opium, 2,985 amphetamine tablets, and over 1.7 million kyats in Mai Naung Village on 18 September.

It is rumoured that U Aung Kyaw Win is the second largest drug trafficker in the Indawgyi area. Local residents claim that he and his gang have bribed Burma Army officers from the rank of captain up to the commander of the Burma Armys Northern Command.

After U Aung Kyaw Wins arrest his son, Kyaw Thu Win and around 20 villagers attacked the police according to the leaders of Pat Jasan (PJS), a community-based Kachin drug elimination team.

Local residents told KNG that the drug gang badly beat up the police and took a gun and two hand grenades from them.

The injured police officers are currently receiving treatment at Mohnyin Hospital.

Local PJS teams allege that Shanni (Red Shan) peoples militias backed by the army have been dealing drugs in Mogaung and Hpakant townships.

The police are investigating drug traffickers with alleged ties to the Burma Army to see if they can arrest them and charge them with causing injury to civil servants and illegal arms possession.

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
The air strikes were launched against KIA Mobile Battalion 252 at Nhkram Bum camp and KIA Brigade 3 at Lai Hpawng Bum camp, both of which are strategically important for the security of the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), the KIAs political wing.

Lieutenant-Colonel Naw Buu, the KIO Information Officer said that the Burma Army used three aircraft in the attacks.

He said: A [jet] fighter came to Nhkram Bum at around 3:30 pm or 4 pm. A jet fighter and a combat helicopter attacked Brigade 3s Hpawng Bum at around 2 pm. They returned to attack again at 4 pm.

KIA frontline sources said that a large number of Burma Army troops also attacked KIA camps on the same day (23 September) with 120mm, 105mm and 81mm artillery.

For the last two weeks the Burma Army and KIA have been fighting every day at Nhkram Bum, which lies to the east of the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road.

Previously, on 23 August, the Burma Army launched an air strike against Nhkram Bum camp with two Mi-35 combat helicopters.

According to local residents, the Burma Army has been urging local Tar Law Gyi Shanni (Red Shan) Peoples Militia and Lawa Yang Lasang Awng Wa Peoples Militia to join them in fighting the KIA.

Lt-Col Naw Buu said that the Burma Army had been increasing its military presence in the vicinity of KIA Battalion 17s camps under KIA Brigade 4 in Lashio Township, northern Shan State.

On 19 September the KIO asked Kachin people to pray for the KIA and ask that they succeed in defending themselves against the Burma Army offensives.

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein and the KNU delegation visited the camp in Thailands Tak province, opposite Karen State in Burma, on 21 and 22 September.

Padoh Saw Liston the KNU Central Organising and Information Department told KIC that he and officials from the Karen Refugee Committee accompanied Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein on her visit and that they held public meetings in Zones A, B and C of Mae La camp.

He said: Basically, [we came] to better keep in touch with the public and explain the peace process. The refugees have been affected by the peace process. [We came] to listen to the publics voice and explain KNU policies.

During the public meetings, Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein explained the current political situation in Burma and how the peace process was developing, while Padoh Saw Liston explained the KNUs policies on refugee affairs.

Camp residents asked questions to clarify points about the peace process and explained the current difficulties they are facing at the camp, their needs and their concerns.

A refugee from Mae La camp who attended one of the public meetings said: The public was very interested in these [meetings]. The camp residents have been feeling confused. They dont believe what people from the bottom [lower ranking people] have been saying. Now a leader from [KNU] Central personally came to explain to us so we feel reassured.

Since the KNU and seven other ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) and started peace discussions with the Burma government the refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai Burma border have been receiving less international aid and there have been rumours that the refugees will be sent back to Burma. This has been a cause of concern to many refugees.

The KNU said that they have set down policies on the issue of refugees that will ensure political stability. They will also ensure the security of refugees and people who previously left Burma who become part of the resettlement and rehabilitation programmes.

These programmes aim to be sustainable and to allow refugees and people to return in dignity, make their own decisions in line with international standards and have their human rights protected.

Prior to the meetings at Mae La camp the KNU held similar meetings at Nu Po camp on 14 September and Umpiem camp on 15 September.

Padoh Naw Zipporah Sein plans to hold similar meetings at four other refugee camps. They are: Mae Ra Ma Luang, Mae La Oon, Tham Hin, and Ban Don Yang.

Reporting by SPhan Shaung for KIC News

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI


Indo-US soldiers doing drills during the joint military training exercise Yudh Abhyas-2016 to hone their technical skills in countering terrorism and insurgency at Chaubattia, Uttrakhand on Monday. A PTI photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): A two-week long joint Indo-US military exercise, focusing on counter insurgency and anti-terror operations, in Uttarakhand's Chaubattia forest has been very successful, the Indian Army said on Tuesday.



The exercise 'Yudh Abhyas - 2016', which concluded on Tuesday, was carried out as part of efforts by both the strategic partners to enhance overall defence cooperation.



The exercise included a Company Group from an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and fifth Battalion of 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army.



In his remarks at the end of the exercise, Major General Thomas James of US Army said army to army relationship between India and the US has never been so stronger and that the exercise provided a great way to enhance interoperability.



The combined exercise was "undoubtedly, an unprecedented success", the Army said.



The exercise was the 12th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army.



Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise.



The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, the Army said.



Major General RK Raina, in his address, said both countries are faced with similar challenges from the "divisive" forces ofextremism and international terrorism and that the synergy achieved would enable both sides to operate together, if the need arises.






SRIHARIKOTA (PTI): With Monday's successful launch of eight satellites, including India's SCATSAT-1, space agency ISRO is focusing on more launches including that of a communication satellite from French Guiana next month.



"Today's multi-orbit mission has proved PSLV's ability and talks are already on with Algeria for more launches," ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters.



Besides SCATSAT-1, the PSLV C-35 had injected two Indian university satellites, PRATHAM and PISAT, three from Algeria-- ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B and ALSAT-1N and one each from the US and Canada--Pathfinder-1 and NLS-19, respectively, in different orbits.



ISRO has launched 79 satellites for 21 countries, he said.



The space agency's forthcoming launches include that of communication satellite GSAT 18 from French Guiana next month even as GSLV Mk III is planned to be launched by the year end.



Resourcsesat 2A is scheduled to be launched in November this year, he said.



Kumar also batted for more industry participation in ISRO's endeavour to further boost commercial launches for foreign vendors.



When asked about ISRO's orderbook, Antrix corporation Chairman and Managing Director S Rakesh said it was about Rs 280 crore for the next 2-3 years.



Antrix revenue was Rs 1,790 crore during the year and Rs 1,717 crore in the previous year.



He said the company was growing and looking to consolidate on ISRO's performance to generate more revenue.



Work was on on other satellites including Chandrayaan 2 and SAARC satellite, Kumar said even as he noted that Pakistan had opted out of the latter.



Some "issues" with Afghanistan and Bangladesh were "being sorted out," he added.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Legendary Canadian recording artist Bryan Adams will make a stop in Brandon as part of The Get Up Tour on Nov. 24.

Presented by Live Nation, Adams will take the stage at the Keystone Centre. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 30 and will cost $69 or $99 plus service charges.

Were thrilled with an opportunity through Live Nation. They approached us with this, and to get that star power into the facility is pretty exciting for the Keystone Centre, the City of Brandon and southwestern Manitoba, said Keystone Centre general manager Neil Thomson.

File Singer Bryan Adams performs at the Juno Awards in Calgary in this April 2016 photo. Adams The Get Up Tour will make a stop at Brandons Keystone Centre on Nov. 24.

Adams is promoting his 13th studio album Get Up, and is stopping in seven western Canadian cities in November.

I encourage people to come out. I certainly acknowledge its on the higher price side of tickets but to get these kind of acts to Brandon, thats what we need to do, Thomson said.

Adams, born in Kingston, Ont., rose to fame in the mid-1980s, with his album Cuts Like a Knife and became a worldwide star with his album Reckless, which includes some of his most well-known songs, such as Run to You and Summer of 69.

One of the best-selling singles of all time, (Everything I Do) I Do it for You was released in 1991. Other major hits include Heaven, All for Love and Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?.

Adams has sold upward of 65 million records, toured six continents and achieved No. 1 status in more than 40 countries around the world. He has been awarded the Order of Canada, has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and has a Star on Canadas Walk of Fame.

The Keystone Centre had been putting more of a focus on concerts in previous years, and successfully secured the likes of KISS, Motley Crue, ZZ Top, to name a few. But a low Canadian dollar put a damper on their concert efforts.

The opportunities come up and down  for a variety of reasons, Thomson said. Theres no doubt overall right now, the American acts are certainly much more of a challenge, or any acts that are compensated in U.S. dollars.

One of the most successful acts in recent years at the Keystone was country artist Johnny Reid, who nearly sold out two shows in Brandon.

Weve had our share of classic rock, he said. Id like to bring in a bit more country  but having a Canadian icon like Bryan Adams is certainly very exciting for the community.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Police Service hopes it is only a coincidence that a rash of shootings has occurred in the city within a span of nine days.

Id like to say so, but that will be proven out, I guess, by the next few weeks, said BPS Sgt. Bill Brown, referencing the forces ongoing investigations into three incidents this month where firearms were used.

Shootings in Brandon are rare, but there were two this past weekend alone. One an attempted murder downtown, and a home invasion in the east end was followed with a nearby residence getting punctured with 30 bullets.

Were certainly hoping that the recent events are not the beginning of a trend, said Brown. Our investigators are doing their very best to ensure that that isnt the case, and letting the people know that maybe are looking to do that type of behavior in the city, that if you want to try it, were going to find you.

The first shooting this month happened in the early evening Saturday, Sept. 17, when a man pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and pointed it at the residents of a home on the 800 block of Ninth Street.

The gunman fired once, and a woman suffered a small injury from shotgun pellets believed to have grazed her head.

The shooter than fled to an apartment on the 200 block of 15th Street where he and another man, armed with a knife, threatened a woman they locked in her bathroom.

Two days later, 21-year-old Skylar Walter Cook was arrested in connection with the above incidents.

Seven days after that first shooting, on Saturday, there was a shooting downtown on the 300 block of 10th Street, where a 24-year-old man shot a 38-year-old man he knew. The shooter was discovered shortly thereafter at a church hed hid inside.

Tsolaye Okorodudu, 24, is charged with attempted murder and unauthorized possession of a gun in connection with that shooting.

Court documents show that he is pending on numerous prior charges that include possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking from May 2015, unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless storage of a firearm from December 2015, and failing to attend court on June 19.

In June, police had issued a wanted bulletin for Okorodudu for prior charges, and court documents indicate he was wanted at the time of the shooting as he allegedly wasnt living where he was supposed to as of Sept. 11, 2016.

His court appearance was waived on Monday, and his charges sent to a date later this month.

On Sunday, police arrested two men who barged into a home that afternoon in the 200 block of Park Street, wearing masks and carrying an assault rifle and handgun. Police are seeking two other men in connection with the crime.

While scouring the premises, police heard gunfire nearby and later a suspicious vehicle seemingly racing away from the direction of the gunshots. The vehicle was stopped, and its two occupants, a 28-year-old and a 30-year-old, both from Brandon, were detained. Police then came across a home in the 200 block of Lorne Avenue East with 30 rounds fired at it. Two bullets entered the home, while the remainder was embedded in the exterior walls.

Jeremy Roy Hobson, 30, and Robert David Gordon McLeod, 28, are each charged with break and enter with intent to commit crime, disguise with intent to commit crime, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose in connection with the home invasion on Sunday.

No charges have been laid yet in relation to the home that was shot up.

Hobson and McLeod also remain in custody as they await a court date later this month.

The allegations against all accused havent been proven and theyre presumed innocent.

In yet another separate incident, on Friday police pulled over a man who was found with a shotgun, shotgun cartridges, 17 grams of crack cocaine and cash.

Marlon Brent Hotain is charged with possession of an illegal drug for the purpose of trafficking, breach of probation by having a weapon, having a gun while banned by court order from doing so, and possessing a gun without a licence. He currently remains in custody.

Brown said though the recent spate in dangerous firearm use is upsetting, the public shouldnt worry about random bullets flying.

We believe in two of these incidents there appear to be some form of target, and the third there is some form of relationship between the people, so this is not an incident of random gun violence on the streets of Brandon, said Brown.

In the first incident on Ninth Street, in which a man pointed a gun at peoples heads during a dispute, the parties involved in the melee were known to each other. Saturdays attempted murder is not believed to have been a planned attack, but the two men knew each other. The home in Brandons east end slammed with a rain of bullets Sunday was reportedly targeted.

Brown said it is understandable if members of the public are concerned. He noted, however, that the attacks were not aimless, and police swiftly located and arrested some suspects. All of the firearms used in this weekends events have been located, police believe.

I can very proudly say that our investigators have done a great job on these incidents, said Brown.

Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said he takes comfort in the fact these arent random acts, but explained he shares the polices commitment to preventing this violence.

We are not going to rest until we see this level of activity go down, said Chrest.

The mayor said the quick response from BPS to these shootings, as well as recent successful arrests like detaining the suspects involved in this months police chase that started in Saskatchewan, indicate the city is well-serviced by its cops.

Were still not going to downplay any time that we have an incident or group of incidences like this, its not acceptable and the police department will be bringing its resources to bear, said Chrest.

Brown did not have much to add on the investigations into these three shootings.

He said Cook and a female are the two suspects charged in the Sept. 17 events. The woman was charged after she allegedly punched another woman with keys protruding between her fingers to inflict more damage.

Brown said they are investigating what prompted the firing of a gun downtown around 5:40 p.m. Saturday.

I wouldnt say that somebody was looking for somebody, he said. There was obviously some form of disagreement that led to unfortunately the use of a firearm.

Regarding Sundays invasion, Brown said police are seeking two more male suspects who fled the Park Street break and enter in a different vehicle, a black four-door car.

Public perception that the level of serious crime in Brandon is on the riseat least in recent daysis corroborated by statistics, with the 2015 BPS annual report and an annual crime severity index report released by Statistics Canada attesting to a surge. Among them, there were 41 robberies and 570 assaults in 2015, up from 34 and 514, respectively, in 2014.

Brown said the force echoes the publics worries on the recent violence spate, and is committed to eradicating as much of it as they can.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com,

with files from Ian Hitchen

 Twitter: @ianfroese
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Manitoba Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon will lay a wreath at the They Grew Not Old memorial monument as part of a special tribute at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum next week.

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Every year once school starts, working parents are put in a tricky spot. It can be difficult to strike a balance between work hours and school hours, and this difficulty often manifests itself in the form of a couple of hours where the parent cant be with their child before and/or after school.

Many parents choose to enrol their children in before- or after-school programs, arrange for their children to be watched by family or friends, or are fortunate enough to have flexible work hours that allow them to be available once school lets out for the day.

Many other parents, though, explore the possibility of leaving their children home alone or with siblings, trusting them to stay safe, take care of themselves and lock up the house when they leave.

During this years National School Safety Week, from Oct. 17-23, the Canada Safety Council wants to remind parents of a few safety aspects to consider before making the decision to leave their children home alone.

Firstly, make sure your child is prepared for the added responsibility. The Canada Safety Council recommends that no child under the age of 10 be left home alone, and additional consideration should be given to the childs temperament, maturity, health as well as any legislation that may be in effect in your province.

A child should not be left home because its the easy option or because it costs less than an after-school program. Its far more important to ensure that children are well equipped to look after their own well-being.

That begins from a mental standpoint. Ask the child if he or she feels as though theyll be able to handle the responsibility. Take care to address any concerns or fears they may have, and ensure that you take the necessary amount of time for the child to fully understand the responsibilities being assigned to them.

For a child being left home alone before school, these responsibilities could include:

 Fixing themselves breakfast

 Packing their lunch for the day

 Ensuring they are out of the house in time to catch the school bus, if applicable; and

 Locking the doors before leaving for school

A child who has a few hours after school may have responsibilities including:

 Locking the door behind them after arriving home

 Calling a parent or guardian to let them know they have arrived home safely

 Doing homework in an unsupervised environment; and

 Doing chores, if applicable

Children should also be taught how to handle emergency situations, including what to do in case of injury, natural disaster or power outages. The child should always have access to a first aid kit containing different-sized bandages, sterile gauze pads, tweezers, peroxide and a digital thermometer.

Other advice for parents to consider:

 Set firm rules for the child, with clear dos and donts. This can include restrictions on TV or Internet time, what to eat as a snack, as well as general restrictions on what they are to do with their time.

 Keep in touch with your child  be sure that youre available at all times by phone in case of emergency.

 Make sure your home is safe and secure, with as few injury risks as possible.

 Limit the amount of time your child is home alone to a couple of hours, at most. If its going to be any longer, hire a babysitter or find a before- or after-school program that can handle the extended hours.

For more information, please see our On Your Own Home Safety Checklist.

The Canada Safety Council also offers a Home Alone program, designed for children over the age of 10 to receive training and education on best practices to take when home alone. Interested parents and guardians can find out more information as well as locations where the course is offered.

 Canada Safety Council
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/09/2016 (2224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reading the pages of The Brandon Sun over the last week and a half, you might think that the streets of Brandon have descended into a chaos of violence and bullets.

Following what has been another weekend of gun violence with an attempted murder on 10th Street, and a targeted hit that saw 30 rounds emptied into a home on Lorne Avenue East, several Brandonites took to social media and The Brandon Suns Facebook page to wonder what has happened to their generally peaceful city.

Heres just a few of those comments:

Jesus whats going on in Brandon lately. Crazy! Scary stuff, wrote one reader on a story we posted over the weekend regarding the house that was sprayed with bullets.

Time to move, maybe. Courts need to send all these offenders packing. It only takes one innocent person getting hurt that concerns me, wrote another.

These people have no off button and everyone should be very concerned for their kids that gotta live around all this..and educate them..drugs/gangs/influence r everywhere and its unnerving how they go nowhere, added one commenter who blamed these shootings directly on the hard drug trade.

This past weekends events were preceded by incidents a week earlier in which three people were arrested following a Saturday-evening altercation between two groups of people. At one point in the dispute, a man pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and pointed it at the residents of a home on the 800 block of Ninth Street. The gun was fired once, and one of the women in the home had a small injury believed to be from the shotgun pellets grazing her head.

The shooter fled, but showed up at an apartment on the 200 block of 15th Street where he and another man, armed with a knife, locked a woman in her bedroom and threatened her.

A few days later, a 21-year-old suspect who police believe to be the shooter was arrested by officers armed with rifles.

These recent incidents represent a genuine concern for our residents. Gun violence of any kind cannot and should not be tolerated within our community, and yet in each of these cases, rifles and shotguns were found in the hands of the accused, or nearby where shootings took place.

Such violence seems to underscore a rise in serious crime on our streets.

Last May, The Brandon Sun looked deep into several years worth of Brandon Police Service annual reports, and noted that both violent crime and property crime have both been up overall in the last 10 years.

As we reported, between 2010 and 2015, the number of Criminal Code Violations rose overall from 4,310 to 5,090 (15.3 per cent). The level of reported crimes has crept back up following a dip in 2013 of 3,892 reports.

In 2006, the number of crimes against persons was 701. That figure declined to 654 in 2013, but jumped 26.5 per cent since then to 890 in 2015. The number of reported sex offences has nearly doubled since 48 were reported in 2006, to 90 reports in 2015.Assaults are up, too. In 2006, there were 387 reported, compared to 420 in 2013 and 570 in 2015.

Overall, while reported property crime has climbed since 2011, the 2015 figure of 2,948 doesnt reach the recent peak of 3,291 in 2008.

These findings were later confirmed by the annual crime severity index report released by Statistics Canada in July, which showed that the severity of crime in the Wheat City was up overall in 2015 compared to four years earlier.

Keep in mind, however, that for a community our size, it takes only modest increases in a few crime reports to bump up the overall crime severity index.

So should Brandon residents be concerned? In our opinion we should always be concerned that such incidents take place within our community. As BPS Sgt. Bill Brown told the Sun yesterday, we should remember that in each of these incidents our police have been able to locate and arrest suspects and in two of the shootings, investigators have recovered firearms.

Incidents of shootings, assaults, murder and other mayhem are hardly new to this community  no one has ever confused Brandon with Shangri-La. But the mere fact that so many readers seem surprised at the level of violence displayed in recent days suggests that it may not be as pervasive as it appears.
A 1m Enterprise Ireland Fund has been made at the first Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Ireland proposers conference, by Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen.

The SBIR process facilitates competitions which enables public sector bodies to connect with innovation-led businesses to work on ideas which tackle challenges facing the public sector leading to better public services and improved effectiveness and value for money.
Travis DeRose moonwalked across Europe, and filmed it.

Over two months abroad, 13 countries were given the Michael Jackson treatment as DeRose had his buddy film him gliding in front of famous landmarks and scenic vistas.

With most of the European continent represented (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and many more), its an ingenious way to capture such an extensive trip, making the idea of sitting through another typical iPhoto slideshow seem as antiquated as some of the ruins DeRose slides in front of.

DeRose says: The idea for this video started on a previous trip to Ireland. I was getting my photo taken in front of a castle or something and I was just standing there awkwardly.

Out of pure instinct, I decided to fight the awkwardness by moonwalking. The photo actually turned out pretty cool so I started moonwalking everywhere when I began this big Europe trip.
The Irish Naval Service has today released a loggerhead turtle back into the wild.

Last Christmas, Seal Rescue Ireland had an unusual patient at their centre.

Ninja was their first ever loggerhead sea turtle to arrive and was cold-stunned after washing up on a beach in Wexford.

They cared for her around the clock and after three months of treatment she was transferred to Galway Atlantaquaria to complete her rehabilitation, where she was renamed Eva.

Nine months later, she has made a complete recovery thanks to the hard work and dedication of these teams.
The decision to charge a teenager with false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest was not in accordance with Irish or European human rights laws, the boy's lawyers have argued writes Tom Tuite.

The 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Labour leader and her advisor Karen O'Connell who were allegedly trapped in two garda cars for three hours during the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in Tallaght, on Nov. 15, 2014.

He was aged 15 at the time.

The Dublin west TD had been at a gradution ceremony at An Cosan education centre when a water protest took place outside.

She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did not think she had the alternative of being able to get out of Garda cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on windows.

The State has closed its case and this morning the boy's legal team asked Judge John King to dismiss the charges.

It is day four of the boy's trial at the Dublin Children's Court.

The boy's barrister Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC told Judge King that the the case is unprecedented.

Counsel said: If the charge of false imprisonment is not dismissed, that would amount to a failure to vindicate the constitutional rights of the accused, failure to uphold the right to fair trial, failure to uphold the obligation on the authorities not to abuse their powers and not to act arbitrarily or in a manner inconsistent with basic fairness.

Counsel has also submitted that the prosecution has failed to prove their case beyond the necessary proof of reasonable doubt.

He said there was evidence from a statement of a Garda superintendent, who was not called to give evidence, that there was an agreement between gardai and protesters that they could slow march ahead of a car carrying Ms Burton.

He said that there appears to have been an agreement with gardai and the teenager was never told he was committing an offence or committing a public order offence or an offence of an entirely different magnitude, false imprisonment.

My submission is that the decision to charge in relation to this matter in the first place was not in accordance with constitutional rights and the European convention on human rights.

The prosecution case is that the former Tanaiste and her advisor were detained by the actions of the teenage defendant in conjunction with the actions of others.

The case continues.

Earlier, Judge John King was shown video footage of the protest.

The clips were obtained from YouTube, RTE and a garda 4X4 which at one point had been blocked while carrying the former Minister for Social Protection and her advisor Ms O'Connell.

Some people were seen chanting slogans while others were hurling abuse at the former Tanaiste and jostling with gardai. Ms Burton was hit with a water balloon as she walked from An Cosan adult education centre across the road to St Thomas's Church for the concluding part of a gradution ceremony.

She has said there was an "air of extreme hostility" at the protest and she and her former advisor said it was not safe to get out of garda cars.

Ms O'Connell said she was hit on the back as gardai bundled them into a car and that she was upset and began hyper-ventilating.

The number of protesters grew and gardai formed cordons around the then Tanaiste to protect her.

Det Inspector Derek Maguire described the actions of some of the protesters as being like a rugby maul. He has rejected the defence suggestions that there was an agreement with protesters in relation to a "slow march".

Plastic bottles and eggs were thrown at gardai and the windscreen of a Garda 4X4 was broken while Ms Burton was in it, the court has heard.

When questioned months after the protest the teenager denied being an organiser of the demonstration and said he was sorry for the upset he caused Ms Burton.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been called on to oversee a radical reform of Fine Gael if it is to avoid another election defeat, two internal reports have said.

The two reports seen by the Irish Examiner into the party's "dour election" were commissioned and chief among the complaints from party members was a distinct lack of cohesion.

One of the reports compiled by Marion Coy, ex-head of GMIT, warned against allowing any complacency in the wake of the election, despite Fine Gael returning to power.

"The protracted discussions on government formation that followed a dour campaign may lead some to hope for a period of peace and quiet.

"The sentiment is understandable but entirely misguided," she wrote.

Ms Coy's made nine recommendations in her report.

They are:

1. Fine Gael should define its future as a campaigning party, anchored in local communities and tackling clearly identified national issues.

2. Fine Gael should build a strong network of connections at all levels in Irish society and become much more open to external influences. This change also requires substantial external input into the structural elements of the party.

3. A structural reorganisation is required in order to create effective cohesion across all elements of the party. To achieve this reform a new Steering Group should be established and a Director of Policy appointed.

4. Fine Gaels administrative structure needs realignment with the proposed orientation and development of the party.

5. Fine Gaels Research Strategy and methodology should be completely overhauled.

6. Fine Gaels communication strategies need to become more open and more diverse.

7. Mobilisation of party membership must be effected through the development of issue-based campaigns and the broadening of mechanisms for party engagement.

8. A more cohesive, and organised approach should be taken to the mobilisation of all elected representatives in pursuit of an annually agreed work programme.

9. Future electoral strategy and planning must be conducted in a more inclusive manner and take into account the failures in vision, empathy, planning, tactical positioning, communication, campaigning and responsiveness identified in the 2016 campaign.

In a second report compiled by a group of TDs - Alan Farrell, Kate OConnell, Maria Bailey, Peter Burke, Patrick ODonovan and Senator Maura Hopkins - there are calls for a greater role for TDs to back up ministers.

Fine Gael should avoid negative campaigning and focus on its own strong points rather than concentrating on the weaknesses of other political parties, the report states.

It also calls for a more open approach to dealing with the media.

And it also recommended that speakers appearing on behalf of the party should be well enough briefed so they can be more relaxed and appear less stage managed.

A Pool of Knowledge network should be established so that members and ex-members to contribute pertinent information and serve as a resource to the party.

The document also says all meetings by the Taoiseach and ministers should be well-publicised in advance.

At press conferences, debates, and formal interviews, obvious stage-management needs to be decreased. Speakers should not appear stiff and uncomfortable when on stage; they should be prepared and briefed with necessary information, the report says.

To aid with engagement, Fine Gael should hold more informal press briefings, such as the one given by An Taoiseach to members of the press after the election, which was considered an effective engagement strategy, the thirteen page document adds.
Gardai have issued a fresh appeal for information to help identify the body of a man found in Galway two years ago.

The remains of the man - believed to be in his 30s - were discovered in a wooded area near Barna on September 27, 2014.
Cyber stalking and revenge porn could carry jail sentences of up to seven years under tough new laws.

The Law Reform Commission has recommended cracking down on cyber crime with strict sentences, including for posting of fake social media profiles.

Revenge porn - posting intimate images online without consent - and cyber stalking are not currently considered an offence in Ireland. Revenge porn is an offence in England, Wales and the US.

They particularly want to end so-called intentional victim-shaming.

Director of the National Women's Council of Ireland Orla O'Connor, said the recommendations are a positive move.

She said: "It's really shifting the responsibility away from the victim (Blaming the victim) is a form of abuse and control."

On Morning Ireland today, barrister and cyber crime expert Pauline Walley said the recommendation for a digital commissioner was significant. The commissioner would be empowered to take web and social media sites to court if they fail to take down harmful material.

Ms Whalley said victims should not have to go to lawyers or court at all and that there "should be a clear take-down trail."
RTE bosses are currently dealing with seven allegations of bullying.

The bullying and harassment claims were made by staff to RTEs Human Resources department in 2013 and 2014.

The claims come at a bad time for the station, as employees are already set for cutbacks, as RTEs new Director General Dee Forbes recently admitted that advertising was down as theyre now facing up to 20m in losses this year.

The accusations concern issues relating to behaviour and interaction, complaints about colleagues or managers, and issues/grievances with colleagues or managers  according to a Freedom of Information response, obtained by the Irish Sun.

Theres a bit of a bad atmosphere in here lately  the financials are bad, a new director general is in, people are worried, an insider has said.

As reported by the Irish Sun, RTE took 16 months to reply to the Freedom of Information request.

RTE believes that all staff have a responsibility to treat their colleagues with dignity and respect to ensure the workplace is kept free of harassment and bullying. RTE management is strongly committed to this and RTE strives to maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment, RTE responded.

Official spokesperson and Head of the National Union of Journalists, Seamus Dooley, has said hes not surprised by the allegations  especially within the Irish media industry.

There is a culture of bullying within the Irish media industry, and RTE is no better or any worse.

Media organisations in general are poor at handling conflict. The fact is people produce under pressure, people operate under deadline, he added.

UPDATE: When contacted by Breakingnews.ie for comments on the claims, RTE had this to say:

"RTE takes very seriously its duty of care towards its staff, and to those providing services who are under the control of RTE. This is reflected in the policies that RTE has in place such as the RTE grievance procedure and the policy on the prevention of harassment, sexual harassment, racism and bullying.

RTE believes that all staff have a responsibility to treat their colleagues with dignity and respect to ensure that the workplace is kept free of harassment and bullying. RTE management is strongly committed to this and RTE strives to maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment."

This article was supplied to us by Goss.ie.
The sister of a man charged with setting off bombs in New Jersey and New York told police in 2014 that he was getting ready to hit her with a dumbbell and stabbed another brother in the leg when he tried to help her, police reports show.

Zobydha Rahami told investigators that Ahmad Khan Rahami was preparing to pray when he began throwing things at her in their family's home above their fried chicken restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

She said he then punched and slapped her in the face, hit her and her mother with a phone charger wire and grabbed the dumbbell.

She said an ensuing fight between Ahmad Rahami and two of his brothers led to brother Nasim Rahami placing him in a chokehold before Ahmad Rahami grabbed a knife from a coffee table and stabbed him in the leg.

She said the fight continued as Nasim Rahami, another brother and Ahmad Rahami's wife tried to get the knife away from him and then Ahmad Rahami threw a pan at him and went to his room with his wife.

Zobydha Rahami told police that she feared for her brothers' lives but the police were not called that night because the siblings "did not want to get our brother in trouble".

The next day, Ahmad Rahami got into an argument with his father, who then wanted the police to arrest him, she said, according to a statement police took from her on August 22 2014.

Zobydha Rahami and Nasim Rahami were treated at hospital for minor injuries and were released.

Ahmad Rahami, an Afghan-born US citizen, spent more than a month in jail before his sister and brother told investigators they did not want to pursue charges, and a grand jury then declined to indict him.

It was after that incident that the Rahami siblings' father, Mohammad Rahami, said he told the FBI about Ahmad Rahami's apparent Muslim radicalisation and said he had "become bad".

He said his son visited Afghanistan and Pakistan the year before and was a changed person.

A senior FBI official pushed back against Mr Rahami's claim to have warned agents about his son.

FBI agents interviewed the father after the arrest because he had expressed concern to someone following that episode over his son's internet use and some of his associates, the official said.

But in interviews with agents, Mr Rahami "at no time" discussed his son's radicalisation or potential interest in al Qaida, the Taliban or their propaganda, said the FBI official.

Ahmad Rahami has been in hospital since he was caught following a shootout with police in Linden last week, days after the bombings.

Officials said he remained unconscious on Tuesday.

He has not made an initial court appearance and his American Civil Liberties Union lawyers declined to comment.

Rahami has been accused of detonating a pipe bomb in a New Jersey town and a pressure cooker bomb in New York City on September 17.

No-one was injured in the New Jersey blast and 31 people were injured in the New York blast. A second pressure cooker bomb did not explode.
Three men have appeared in court in the UK over allegations they passed horsemeat off as beef.

Andronicos Sideras (aged 54), Ulrik Nielsen (aged 57), from Denmark, and Alex Beech (aged 44), were accused at City of London Magistrates' Court of dishonestly arranging for beef and horsemeat to be combined for sale as beef for sale in the UK's meat industry.
SAN FRANCISCO: US tech titans looking to the future are seeing growth take a beating in the face of foreign...
Prices of rice from top exporter India edged up this week on an uptick in the rupee and supply concerns, while a...
As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.
LONDON: OPEC is likely to maintain its view world oil demand will rise for another decade, longer than many other...
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Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...

Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

Natasha Bertrand Biography  Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...

What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner  Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...

Nikki Mudarris  Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...

5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...

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Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ...

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, while on a working visit in New York, met Foreign Minister of Syrian Arab Republic Walid Muallem on September 23, press service of the Armenian MFA informed Armenpress.

The sides exchanged views on the efforts aimed at settling the Syrian crisis, as well as the international initiatives over this issue.

Acting Minister Nalbandian expressed hope the agreements reached recently over the settlement of the Syrian crisis will be respected and implemented which will give a way to the launch of comprehensive talks over the peaceful settlement of the crisis.
The global iron ore market is awash with supply and prices remain volatile, but a former Chinese limousine rental service and a billionaire New Zealand family are among producers and developers wagering that new mines will be needed.

Their focus is Western Australia, the industry heartland, where there's about $10.5 billion of possible or planned developments and a further $1.9 billion committed to or under construction, according to state government data.

The mining headwind has turned into a tailwind, argues HSBC's Paul Bloxham. Credit:Nick Cubbin

Prices have steadied after three straight annual declines, advancing about 28 per cent this year on improved steel demand in China, supported by construction and infrastructure spending, and as domestic output wanes, boosting imports. A surplus in the seaborne market will peak in 2017, with a deficit emerging by 2019 even as major projects including billionaire Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill deliver new supply, according to RBC Capital Markets.
Amazon, the online retail giant, is looking for its first warehouse in Australia, with suggestions one site of interest is the Goodman Group's $50 million industrial estate at Oakdale, in Sydney's west.

The mega retail "disruptor" already has two traditional-style data centres in what it calls a region in Sydney's west for its Amazon Web Service, and agents say given the usually large warehouses required by Amazon, the new Oakdale site would be the best available.

The estate is in two parts, Oakdale Central, which is mostly leased, and Oakdale South, which is large enough to accommodate an Amazon, purpose-built "fulfilment centre". These are highly automated warehouses from which it processes customer orders and are usually about 80,000 square metres-plus.

It is still early days for the south sector of Oakdale as no grounds works have taken place, but agents said Goodman has the capacity and expertise to start work when Amazon makes a decision.
Maverick Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has called on the government to support similar positions to One Nation in order to reconnect with voters concerned about Muslim immigration and declining industries.

Speaking to Sky News from New York, where he is on a three-month secondment to the United Nations, Senator Bernardi said a poll showing Labor leading the Coalition 52-48 had highlighted the popularity of third parties.

"What I noticed today was the drop in the Liberal poll, there was about a commensurate lift in the 'others' poll. So it hadn't gone to Labor, it has gone to others," he told host Andrew Bolt on Tuesday night.

"And I suspect that is One Nation and others who are saying the things that I think the Liberal Party should be saying, with a bit more nuance and maybe a little bit more delicacy."
Sydney can expect warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine this weekend, as the city prepares to host the NRL grand final.

Storms on Thursday and partial cloud on Friday and Saturday will clear to blue skies on Sunday, as the Storm meet Cronulla at ANZ Stadium.

Sunday night should be warm and balmy for NRL's showpiece event. Credit:Getty Images

According to Jacob Cronje, a senior meteorologist at Fairfax Media's Weatherzone, the weather will be ideal.

"Sunday is going to be a lovely day in Sydney, a better game day could not have been asked for," Mr Cronje said.
Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre has been identified as the most overcrowded prison in Queensland, with pregnant prisoners forced to sleep on mattresses placed on the floor.

The current population at the Wacol facility was 375, which was 40 per cent over its 267 capacity.

Corrective Services Minister Bill Byrne says he's satisfied with the levels of prisoner crowding in Queensland. Credit:Chris Hyde

But Queensland Corrective Services Minister Bill Byrne said he was comfortable with the current situation and the government had no plans to build more accommodation for women prisoners.

Ombudsman Phil Clarke said the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre was the most overcrowded in the state and Queensland Corrective Services had failed to improve conditions there in the wake of his August 2013 report.
A young boy has fallen from one escalator to another about five metres below at a Gold Coast shopping centre.

Paramedics rushed to the Robina Town Centre after reports the four-year-old fell about 2.30pm on Tuesday.

A boy has suffered a head injury in a fall at Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast.

It is believed the incident happened inside David Jones.

Queensland Ambulance critical care paramedic Jaye Newton said the boy had a lucky escape.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has had a "positive meeting" with UNESCO in Paris, including discussions about protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Ms Trad said the meeting on Monday provided an opportunity to outline the actions the Palaszczuk government was taking to implement the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has met with UNESCO in Paris over the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:Chris Hyde

The laws were knocked back in Parliament earlier this year, and Ms Trad said the vegetation protection laws would be reintroduced if it won the next state election.

"While UNESCO provided positive feedback on the work already underway, they recognised the importance of strengthening our vegetation protections laws  one of the Palaszczuk government's key commitments to protect the Great Barrier Reef," Ms Trad said.
The Queensland Opposition has lashed out at the government over its continued refusal to answer questions about embattled music festival Brisbane Baroque.

The festival, which was partially funded by taxpayer money, has been accused of failing to pay performers after the director behind the company, Jarrod Carland, checked himself into hospital for treatment of an unknown illness.

Shannon Pigram poses with the award for Best Opera in the awards room at 16th Annual Helpmann Awards. Credit:Brendon Thorne

Up to 40 performers, organisations and suppliers are still waiting to be paid by festival organisers from the 2016 event, which was held in April.

Tourism and Events Queensland and minister Kate Jones have repeatedly declined to answer questions about the future of the festival and the festival's financial management.
Measures designed to stop bikies recruiting new members in Queensland's jails will be wound back under the government's new organised crime laws.

The Newman government made an amendment to the Corrective Services Act in 2013 to establish a Criminal Organisation Segregation Order (COSO) scheme.

Laws to stop Queensland bikies recruiting to jail are being wound back under new amendments. Credit:Staff

This gave Queensland Corrective Services extra powers to manage prisoners identified as participants in criminal organisations.

The orders could include segregation from other prisoners and restriction of privileges such as visits, mail and access to activities.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. A criminal case has been filed over the murder of Defense Army soldier Sevak H. Khachatryan committed by the Azerbaijan side, press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed Armenpress.

On September 25 at 10:45, Defense Army soldier Sevak H. Khachatryan was mortally wounded by the Azerbaijani shooting in one of the military units of the NKR Defense Armys N division.

Investigation is underway to clarify the details of the case.
A member of Melbourne's Chaouk crime clan feared for his life and started crying after accidentally shooting himself in the testicle when reaching for cigarettes in his pocket, a court has heard.

Omar Chaouk shot himself in the groin and right testicle outside the Caroline Springs home of an associate in the early hours of March 17 last year, the County Court heard on Tuesday.

Omar Chaouk with Hells Angels at the funeral of his father, Macchour Chaouk, in 2010. Credit:Craig Abraham

Prosecutor Catherine Parkes told a plea hearing that after shooting himself with the .22 handgun, Chaouk asked the woman "if he was going to die, and started crying", before the woman and another man drove him to Sunshine Hospital.

Chaouk later asked the woman to tell police he had been playing with a pen gun.
A man who allegedly led police on a chase through Melbourne's CBD narrowly avoided hitting diners sitting outside a cafe with his car, a court has heard.

Sean Murphy, 27, had been out of jail for about two months, and was on the run from police when he allegedly drove away from officers who approached him near the Queen Victoria Market on March 29.

Mr Murphy appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday to apply for bail.

Detective Senior Constable Brendan Eames-Mayer told the court that police believed Mr Murphy was spending about $3000 a day on heroin and ice and dealing drugs to support his habit.
Cartagena, Colombia: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist rebel leader Timochenko used a pen made from a bullet on Monday to sign an accord ending a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people.

After four years of peace talks in Cuba, Santos, 65, and Timochenko - the nom de guerre for 57-year-old revolutionary Rodrigo Londono Echeverri also known as Timoleon Jimenez - shook hands on Colombian soil for the first time in front of hundreds of dignitaries.

One man waved a large Colombian flag that had an extra white stripe in homage to the peace deal.

The end of Latin America's longest-running war will turn the FARC guerrillas into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield they have occupied since 1964.
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Beyond Bank Australia has become the fourth customer-owned lender to take an equity stake in growing marketplace lender SocietyOne.The mutual lender yesterday announced it has acquired $1.5 million worth of shares in SocietyOne, as well as agreeing to increase its funding arrangement with the marketplace lender to $10m.G&C Mutual Bank, Maritime, Mining and Power Credit Union and Regional Australia Bank joined SocietyOnes share register in May this year following the companys successful $25m capital raising.The move by Beyond Bank Australia to take a stake in SocietyOne follows a long relationship between the two, with Beyond Bank Australia among the first institutions to become a direct SocietyOne investor funder when it provided a $1.5 million facility in October 2014 to fund borrower loans.Weve been talking to SocietyOne about this for a little while. Being a private company we just had to wait until the right opportunity arose, Beyond Bank Australia deputy chief executive officer Wayne Matters told Australian Broker.We started lending to SocietyOne about two years ago and were very excited about taking this next to deepen the relationship between us, Matters told Australian Broker.Matters said the mutual lenders initial involvement with SocietyOne was a move aimed at positioning Beyond Bank Australia closer to the fintech space. Further conversations between the two organisations convinced Beyond Bank Australia that SocietyOne would likely be a platform that continues to have success after the initial fintech boom subsides.Weve been in the personal lending game for 60 years and SocietyOne was a new model for personal lending and we wanted to get closer to that, Matters told Australian Broker.When we started speaking to them we were very excited to find that their value set was very much aligned with ours, were a mutual bank and [SocietyOne] are very much aligned with making sure borrowers and depositor are bought together through their marketplace and thats very close to the mutual ethos.They were probably one of the first to get going in the space and theyre reasonably well established now and are writing terrific loan volumes, so I think theyre well placed in the fintech and P2P lending space to be one that has an ongoing life and prosperity.SocietyOne chief executive officer and managing director Jason Yetton said Beyond Bank Australias investment caps a successful period for the marketplace lender and is an important step for its future growth goals.Beyond Banks support and that of our other investor funders is one of the key reasons we have been growing so strongly. We have now passed through $100 million of personal loan originations since we started and taken our total originations including our support for Australian agribusiness to more than $150 million. That is an increase of $50 million alone since early April this year, Yetton said.We have done this thanks to the support of our investor funders and look forward to Beyond Banks increased funding commitment as we undergo a further period of expansion and target a 2-3% share of the $100 billion consumer finance market by 2021, he said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of USA doesnt have a united decision to support any of the presidential candidates, publisher and editor of The California Courier newspaper Harut Sassounian said in an interview with Armenpress.

The Armenian community of USA has not made a decision on this issue yet. No major organization, no community has made a statement on preferring this or that candidate since we face a serious problem. We have two candidates, one of them is Hillary Clinton, from whom we are dissatisfied for not respecting her past promises about Armenian and other issues. The other one is Donald Trump, and here there is also a problem: he didnt say anything about the Armenian question, we are not familiar with his stance. We cannot blindly support him until we will have a chance to speak with him, Harut Sassounian said.

He said there is no need to concentrate on the issue whether this or that candidate recognizes the Armenian Genocide or not. The experience shows that the candidates make promises, but do not keep their promises. We dont need such promises which they will not respect. The Armenian Genocide is already recognized and we dont need to ask someone to recognize it. We have other issues, in particular, the Karabakh issue, the foreign assistance of the US to Armenia, the elimination of blockade, exerting pressure on Turkey, receiving our properties, the issues of Syrian Armenians and etc. It is necessary to deal with the candidates over these preferred issues, he said.

As for the Armenian Genocide, Harut Sassounian said they continue demanding justice, carry out works towards returning what has been lost. He considered the international courts as a path for that.
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Runners from around the world paid tribute to the first responders who died in the 9-11 terror attacks by sprinting from Red Hook to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel at the 15th annual Tunnel to Towers run on Sept. 25.

The event traces the route that Park Slope firefighter Stephen Siller ran in 2001 when he dashed through the tunnel to the falling Twin Towers wearing 60 pounds of gear, and the international turnout showed the world is still thinking about heroes like Siller who died that day, said one of his relatives.

Our takeaway is that not only is our mission Never forget, but thats a sentiment shared by people all over the world, said his cousin Catherine Christman.

This years run was the largest turnout yet, with more than 30,000 people retracing Sillers steps  many of them firefighters in their heavy gear  according to Christman.

Together, they raised $2 million dollars for the Siller Foundation that will go towards programs designed to help those who protect the country, such as Building for Americas Bravest, a program that constructs high-tech homes for soldiers returning from war with serious injuries.

The record turnout included families of the men and women who died in the attack, showing how important the annual run is to people who are working through losing their loved ones, said Christman.

Its very humbling because we realize that this run means so much to so many people and gives them an outlet for their grief, she said.

Just 2,500 people showed up to the first run 15 years ago, but Christman said that she and her family had always dreamed that it would grow to be a major event that would benefit so many people.

Obviously the family continues to mourn the loss but we celebrate the fact that from his death so many good things have happened as well, she said. Its visible proof that his life was meaningful, and the lives of other first responders were meaningful too.
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh says the Azerbaijani forces made over 35 ceasefire violations across Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Ministrys announcement reads: Overnight September 26-27 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 35 times by firing more than 500 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Defense Army forces are in control of the situation in the frontline and continue confidently fulfilling their military tasks.
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October 3, 2022

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There have been a lot of changes in the lives of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Shannons moving, Meghans pregnant and Tamras still getting ready for her fitness competition. Then theres Kelly whose marital status is still rocky, at best. Lets see whats new for the ladies in Bye, Bye, Beadors.

Real Housewives of Orange County Cast Trying to Get Kelly Dodd Fired? >>>

Moving Out

Shannons rental house is a beautiful home in Newport Beach with a great view of the water. Shannon says its nice for now but there are a lot of things shed change if it were her home. Good thing she doesnt have to worry about that.

She also doesnt have time to worry about her mother-in-laws behavior the other night. She has to focus on packing up her home and family and getting them out of that massive house. It does upset her to know that her in-laws wanted David to leave her for her affair. But she has to put her out of her mind for now.

When they finally say goodbye to Casa Beador, its a bittersweet moment. A lot of good things have happened in that house with the Beador family, but there are a lot of bad memories for Shannon, too. At the rental, theres lots to unpack (literally and figuratively) but Shannons excited to start on a new adventure.

Eddie and Tamra go out for a sushi date. Tamra talks about how effortless her relationship is with Eddie as opposed to her ex-husband Simon. Tamra tells him how shes taking the ladies for a massage, but Eddies worried that it wont relax her like she wants, but only stress her out more. That sounds pretty likely actually.

Kelly and Michael bicker in the garage as Michael tries to complete his honey-do list. They both admit in their confessionals that their marriage is not ideal. Theyve only been back together for two years since their separation and its been hard. They fight all the time and its taking a toll on both of them and their daughter.

Later, Kelly has a heart-to-heart with her mom. She knows her mom stayed in her marriage for 32 years because she wanted to stay together for her kids, but her mom tells her shes not sure if she made the right decision. Kellys biggest fear is that if she and Michael got divorced, hed get full custody of their daughter and turn her against her. At the end of the day she knows she has to try and do whats best for her and Jolie.

Vicki has a bizarre meeting with a charity shes starting. Only the charity is called #KillAllCancer and its actually an insurance policy that you can buy so you have some money to get back on your feet when you get better.

She has a weird exchange with the producers of the commercial for #KillAllCancer where she tries to explain away the Brooks situation. One of the producers looks horrified, and her son Michael even says that Brooks was faking it and she might have been in on it. But the other producer convinces her that if shes doing the right thing and helping people then people can hate all they want. I think its going to take more than that.

Meghans excited about the upcoming grand opening of her candle store, K. Hall. Shes an owner now and its a great distraction before she goes to her next doctors appointment.

Later, she and Jim go for an ultrasound. They listen to the sound of their babys heartbeat for the first time. Meghan finds out that shes not pregnant with twins, only one of the implanted embryos survived. Meghan feels a huge sense of loss even though it should be a happy moment. Its good that Jim is finally there for here because this a moment she really needed him.

Vicki Gunvalson Has No Plans to Leave The Real Housewives of Orange County >>>

Getting Muddy and Messy

Tamra, Vicki, Kelly and Heather go to the Glen Ivy Spa for mud treatments and massages. During the mud bath, they talk about Shannons party and the crazy way her mother-in-law acted. Heather isnt surprised to hear this. She tells them that she knows that Shannons family not only doesnt like Shannon, but they cozied up to the woman David was having an affair with. She was even joining them for family dinners! Shannons sister-in-law got especially close with this mistress and they all wanted David to leave Shannon for her. How messed up is that?

Shannons not the only one with marriage issues. When Vicki and Kelly have their massages, Kelly opens up to Vicki about how rough things are with Michael. She says he talks to her with such disrespect that shes worried her daughter will see it and think its okay for a man to speak to a woman like that. Kelly is clearly miserable and its kind of making me feel sorry for her, which I dont like because I still think Kellys awful.

Vicki projects her own issues about her insecurities and mistakes with her marriage to Donn onto Kelly. She tells her that no matter what she shouldnt get divorced because at the end of the day shell end up all alone. Both these women need therapy. Desperately.

Tamra and Heather have their massages together and they gossip about Kelly and her marriage. Tamra says she sees a lot of her own situation with Simon to Kellys situation.

When they are all back together for lunch, Kelly tells the other ladies about how Michael completely neglected to recognize their tenth anniversary. Tamra says Kellys lashing out is starting to make sense because shes so hurt. Tamra says six years later, Simon is still trying to make her life hell. She says it will get worse before it gets better. Its not a good situation for Kelly either way. Either she stays with her husband who is clearly not making her happy or she risks losing her kids. Its lose-lose.

David and Shannon go out for a date night to celebrate being done with that difficult move (although Im sure theres still plenty of unpacking to do). He tells her that she should never have had to deal with his mothers outburst. He thinks that his mom is still bitter about when his father left her for another woman and she partially blames herself for that so shes projecting onto Shannon. He assures her that his mistake had nothing to do with her and she doesnt want her to blame herself in the same way his mom does.

Shannon admits that his mom pushed the most hurtful possible button. She also doesnt understand how Davids father having an affair made his mother not like her from the beginning of their marriage. She apologizes for yelling at the party, but she wasnt mad at him, she was mad at his mother.

The good thing is that David texted his mom and told her that kind of behavior is unacceptable. He told her that from now on she has to treat his wife with a level of respect or they can no longer have a relationship. Shannon didnt want to be the person to put a wedge between David and his family, but shes glad he took a stand for her and proves that their marriage is on the right track. The vow renewal was important for them, but so is this.

Quiz: Which Real Housewives of Orange County are You?>>>

Still coming up: A trip to Dublin and yet another falling out between Tamra and Vicki.

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Monday nights on Bravo at 9/8c. Want more news? Like our Facebook page.

(Image courtesy of Bravo)
Research News

Study describes what happens when brain is artificially stimulated

A visualization of the brain, reconstructed from MRI scans, shows tracts of white matter connecting different regions of the brain to one another. A new study finds that stimulating network hubs  areas of the brain that are strongly connected to other parts via white matter  results in the global activation of many brain regions. Image: Jean Vettel, Army Research Laboratory/PLOS Computational Biology

By CHARLOTTE HSU

When a clinician has a patient with a certain disorder, how can they decide which parts of the brain to stimulate? Our study is a step toward better understanding how brain connectivity can better inform these decisions. 

Stimulating the brain via electricity or other means may help to ease the symptoms of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, with the method already being used to treat conditions from epilepsy to depression.

But what really happens when doctors zap the brain?

Little is known about what makes this technique effective, or which areas of the brain should be targeted to treat different diseases.

A new study led by the University of Pennsylvania and UB marks a step forward in filling these gaps in knowledge. The research describes how the stimulation of a single region of the brain affects the activation of other regions and large-scale activity within the brain.

We dont have a good understanding of the effects of brain stimulation, says first author Sarah Muldoon, assistant professor of mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences and a core faculty member in UBs Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDSE) Program. When a clinician has a patient with a certain disorder, how can they decide which parts of the brain to stimulate? Our study is a step toward better understanding how brain connectivity can better inform these decisions.

Danielle S. Bassett, Eduardo D. Glandt Faculty Fellow and associate professor of bioengineering in the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, explains that if one looks at the architecture of the brain, it appears to be a network of interconnected regions that interact with each other in complicated ways.

The question we asked in this study was how much of the brain is activated by stimulating a single region. We found that some regions have the ability to steer the brain into a variety of states very easily when stimulated, while other regions have less of an effect, Bassett says.

The research was performed in collaboration with cognitive neuroscientist Jean M. Vettel of the Army Research Laboratory; control theorist Fabio Pasqualetti of the University of California, Riverside; Scott T. Grafton and Matthew Cieslak of the University of California, Santa Barbara; and Shi Gu of the University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry. The study was published Sept. 9 in PLOS Computational Biology.

The study used a computational model to simulate brain activity in eight individuals whose brain architecture was mapped using data derived from diffusion spectrum imaging, a type of brain image taken by an MRI scanner. The research examined the impact of stimulating each of 83 regions within each subjects brain.

While results varied by person, common trends emerged.

Network hubs  areas of the brain that are strongly connected to other parts of the brain via the brains white matter  displayed what researchers call a high functional effect: Stimulating these regions resulted in the global activation of many brain regions.

This effect was particularly notable in two sub-networks of the brain that are known to contain multiple regional hubs: the subcortical network (which is composed of regions that evolved relatively early on and are critical for emotion processing) and the default mode network (which is composed of regions that evolved later and are critical for self-referential processing when a person is at rest, or not completing any task).

Stimulating regions in the subcortical network culminated in global changes, in which a diversity of areas within a subjects brain lit up. Stimulating regions in the default mode network also led easily to a plethora of new brain states, though the patterns of activation were constrained by the brains underlying architecture  by the white matter links between the nodes of the network and other parts of the brain. Despite this limitation, the networks agility supports the idea that the brain at rest is well suited for shifting quickly into an array of new states geared toward completing specific tasks.

In contrast to regions within the default mode network and subcortical networks, more weakly connected areas, such as in the sensory and association cortex, had a more limited effect on brain activity when activated.

These patterns suggest that doctors could pursue two classes of therapies when it comes to brain stimulation: a broad reset that alters global brain dynamics, or a more targeted approach that focuses on the dynamics of just a few regions.

The study confirms the findings of past research by Bassett and others on the controllability of the brains structural networks. In contrast to past work that used linear modeling to arrive at results, the new study employed nonlinear models that more accurately reflect the brains complex activity, Muldoon says.

Muldoon completed much of the research as a postdoctoral researcher in Bassetts lab and a contractor for the Army Research Laboratory under civilian Jean M. Vettel. The study was funded by the Army Research Office, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Colombia's center-right government and the Marxist FARC rebel group signed a peace deal on Monday to end a half-century war that killed a quarter of a million people and once took the Andean country to the brink of collapse, Reuters reports.

After four years of peace talks in Cuba, President Juan Manuel Santos, 65, and rebel leader Timochenko - the nom de guerre for 57-year-old Rodrigo Londono - warmly shook hands on Colombian soil for the first time and signed the accord with a pen made from a bullet casing.

A crowd of dignitaries chanted: "Long live Colombia, long live peace" as Santos handed Timochenko a white dove pin. One man waved a large Colombian flag that had an extra white stripe in homage to the peace deal.

"The horrible night of violence that has covered us with its shadow for more than half a century is over," Santos said through tears. "We open our hearts to a new dawn, to a brilliant sun full of possibilities that has appeared in the Colombian sky."

Colombians will vote on Sunday on whether to ratify the agreement, but opinion polls show it should pass easily.

Attendees at the event, many of whom also wept, observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed, maimed, raped, kidnapped and displaced during the war.

The end of Latin America's longest-running war will turn the FARC guerrillas into a political party fighting at the ballot box instead of the battlefield they have occupied since 1964.

"No one should doubt that we will conduct politics without arms," said Timochenko, who asked for forgiveness from FARC victims. "We are all prepared to disarm in our minds and our hearts."

Guests at the ceremony in the Caribbean coastal city of Cartagena were asked to wear white and included United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Showing its support for the peace deal, the European Union on Monday removed the FARC from its list of terrorist groups.

Kerry said Washington would also review whether to take the FARC off its terrorism list, and has pledged $390 million for Colombia next year to support the peace process.

"Anybody can pick up a gun, blow things up, hurt other people, but it doesn't take you anywhere. ... Peace is hard work," he said of a rare diplomatic good news story for the Obama administration as it contends with the seeming intractable war in Syria and other conflicts.
A look back: The ghost stories that once gripped New Jersey
With $50 from every pair of premium jeans sold by Outland Denim goes back into anti-trafficking agencies in Cambodia, is this the ultimate feel-good brand or what? By Yeong Sassall

It's rare to find a company these days who isn't trying to capitalise on the eco movement. After all, the fashion industry talks a lot about sustainability these days - and so it should. But like other buzzwords in the eco lexicon ('ethically sourced', 'vegetable tanned' et al) they can become, dare we say it, a little redundant at times, not to mention lost on the average consumer. But let's get one thing clear: Outland Denim is the refreshingly real, 100 per cent ethical deal.

Launching this month, Outland Denim is the brainchild and passion project of James Bartle, the Australian brand's founder and CEO. It's aim? To raise awareness and offer real-world solutions for women affected by Cambodia's rampant sex trafficking industry. By donating $50 from every pair of jeans sold to anti-trafficking agencies, Outland Denim isn't just being charitable to victims of the sex slave trade, it also employs rescued women and gives them jobs and valuable life skills. In fact, when you buy a pair of Outland Denim jeans, you're wearing clothes made by these very women.

So why Cambodia and why sex trafficking? For Australian-born James Bartle, the impetus for his company came from something as simple as watching the movie Taken. "At the end of the film there were some stats that came up about human trafficking," he explains. "I remember feeling disbelief that this is still happens. I thought it was just in movies." But it wasn't until a trip to Cambodia five years ago placed him face to face with sex slaves as young as 13 that the seed was planted.

And like with most charities, it hasn't been easy journey to go from idea, to start-up, to implementation. "[Just] giving money to poor people doesn't work," says Bartle. "We need to provide something that's sustainable. That's why we've taken five years to get the company marketed because we knew what we had was so precious that if we rushed it we [wouldn't] get everything sorted, and then it might not last." Now, five years after that fateful encounter, Outland Denim proudly employs roughly 30 female staff who have come from sex trafficking backgrounds.

Partnering with non-government organisations to teach them sewing skills and assist in the rehabilitation program, the Outland approach has been one of trial and error. "One thing we've got to be careful of is that we don't disrupt the lives of everybody else in the sewing room," says Bartle. "We have had experiences where a girl comes straight out of a brothel and into our sewing room. We worked out very quickly that that doesn't work." Instead, Outland work with NGOs to implement aftercare programs and counselling so that the women are emotionally take care of before coming to work with them.

And the results are heart warming. "One of our initial staff members who came on in the beginning was two years into a program and she was able to build a home for her family. They were all living under a tarp previously and she's now been able to go and buy a rice field, so they now have a way of generating an income," says Bartle proudly. "I think that was the golden moment of anything I've ever done."

But it's not just the charitable proceeds that make Outland Denim so impressive - it's that the company takes a 360-degree approach to sustainability. From the premium Turkish denim sourced from ethically run factories that Outland has personally visited, to the vegetable-dyed leather labels, sustainable rivets and zippers and stitched-in thank you notes on every pair of jeans - it's celear that all aspects of the manufacturing process have been examined by Outland to make sure every process is as eco-friendly as possible. "This is the best social and environmentally friendly jean that you can purchase anywhere in the world," says Bartle. "That's our goal: to always lead in this way."

And lastly, even despite the feel-good vibes, you can rest assured you're getting a quality pair of jeans (I've personally tried them and the fit is spot on). That has always been paramount for Outland Denim. "It's not making a donation - you're buying product and that's where they bond to us," adds Bartle. "People are buying good quality product that's worth the money."

Outland Denim's male and female jeans start from $189 each. Visit outlanddenim.com to shop the range and find out more about the company.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia departed for the US and Canada to take part in the ceremonies dedicated to the 20th anniversary of his patriarchal election and consecration in Los Angeles, Montreal and New York, press service of the Great House of Cilicia informed Armenpress.

Last year was the 20th anniversary of his Catholicos service, however, His Holiness Aram I asked not to organize any ceremony taking into account the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Meetings and talks with the youth, inter-church meetings, visits to community centers are scheduled.
The share buyback plan of Coal India, through which the central government intends to raise Rs 3,650 crore, would commence on October 3. The process of trading would close on October 18. The last date of extinguishment of equity shares, however, has been fixed as October 28, which will give the company enough time to analyse the trends.
Want to own your own airline? Harshvardhan  former Vayudoot chief  might have a plan for you. Eager to start a second innings in the Indian skies, as an entrepreneur he is bringing the franchise model of ownership  typically followed by global QSR chains like Dominos and MacDonalds.
Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), the incubation centre at IIT Bombay, is looking to expand its operations as it sees steep rise in number of student-start-ups vying for space.
To grab the market share vacated by Chinese manufacturers, India's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of India (CMAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles (CCCT) to explore potential areas of mutual co-operation for increasing exports from India.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The delegation of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will pay a three-day visit to Armenia on September 28-30.

Heads of 11 companies are included in the delegation, press service of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed Armenpress.

The two Chambers will organize a business forum (bilateral meetings with expectation to open joint enterprises) on September 28.

Companies representing the agricultural, food processing, construction, hotels, water supply and drainage systems, IT services, alcoholic beverages and other sectors are included in the businessmens group.
The $146-billion Indian information technology (IT) services could well heave a sigh of relief in the first presidential debate between Republican Party candidate Donald Trump and his Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton did not have any mention of job losses because of the or the H1-B visa issue.
Schiphol airport, which competes with hubs in Europe and the Persian Gulf, is set to garner a larger share of India's international traffic as prepares to expand its commercial partnership with Air France-KLM.
Karnataka Startup Cell funds Rs 2 crore in eight AAO Hostel, Highway Delite, Highir Technologies, Digitour Technologies, Aseuro Technology. Trip Diary, Moving up Products and Trip on Food. The have come up with innovative technology based solution for the tourism industry in Karnataka.

The funding has been made in association with the department of tourism under the Idea2POC Scheme of the Karnataka Startup Policy. The department aims that 100 received funding each year under the scheme.
Drug makers Lupin, Torrent and Cadila Healthcare are considering making bids to acquire Bayers dermatology business, valued $1 billion. A Bloomberg report on Tuesday said the Indian drug companies are weighing offers with a view to grow their dermatology portfolio. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, too, is in the race, along with top pharmaceutical companies and private equity firms. Bayer is looking to divest its dermatology business ahead of a $66-billion acquisition of Monsato. Dermatology is an area of focus for top drug makers in the country. Recently, Sun Pharma announced a ...
The board of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is split on the issue of claiming compensation for Rs 11,000 crore worth of natural gas spewing from its K-G basin block into adjoining fields of Reliance Industries.



The Justice A P Shah Committee, on the issue of gas migrating from idling blocks to RILs producing gas fields, last month opined the compensation for unjust enrichment by the Mukesh Ambani-run firm should go to the government and not the state-owned firm.



It was of the opinion that the gas belongs to the government and so it alone deserves to be compensated.



While had in May 2014 not hesitated from filing a case against RIL in the Delhi High Court and making the government a party to it, it is now vertically split on the issue.



Sources said the section of the board, which was responsible for the company in the first place taking up the issue of RIL producing ONGCs gas, wants the company to strongly contest the Shah committee recommendation.



It feels that the Delhi High Court had given the company an option of approaching the court again if it is unsatisfied with any part of the dispute resolution. And so the company should approach the high court again, they feel.

The other section however feels it is not wise to fight with the government and the company having proved its point that gas did indeed migrate to RIL fields, should accept the recommendations, they said.

But the former group however feels the premise on which Shah committee has based its recommendation was flawed as by the logic even RIL is not an owner of the gas in its KG-D6 block and it should just be paid a fixed rate of return on investment and not be given pricing and marketing freedom.

The Oil Ministry has asked its technical arm DGH to quantify the amount of compensation that RIL has to pay.

The Shah Committee stated, "The Government of India, and not ONGC, is entitled to claim restitution from RIL for the unjust benefit it received and unfairly retained. has no locus standi to bring a tortuous claim against RIL for trespass/conversion since it does not have any ownership rights or possessory interest in the natural gas."

The Shah Committee in its report noted and accepted the independent consultant D&M Report findings that connectivity between the reservoirs in KG-DWN-98/3 (or KG-D6) block of RIL and ONGC's KG-DWN-98/2 and Godavari PML blocks is established.

Since April 1, 2009, when RIL began production from KG- D6, to March 31, 2015, 7.009 and 4.116 billion cubic meters of gas had migrated from Godavari PML and D1 discovery of KG- DWN-98/2 block respectively to KG-D6. Of this 5.968 and 3.015 bcm of gas was produced from Godavari PML and D1 discovery of KG-DWN-98/2 block respectively, through KG-D6.

The report further said by January 1, 2017, 7.519 and 4.377 bcm of gas would have migrated from Godavari PML and D1 discovery of KG-DWN-98/2 block respectively to RIL's KG-D6. Of this, 6.549 and 3.395 BCM of gas would have been produced from Godavari PML and D1 discovery of KG-DWN-98/2 block respectively through KG-D6.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Directorate General of Central Excise and Intelligence (DGCEI) to issues a show cause notice against online travel portal within four weeks.
Domestic producers, including Essar Steel, Jindal & Power, Sajjan Jindal-led JSW and Steel Authority of India (SAIL), are gearing up for a second consecutive price hike in October, on the back of increased cost of coking coal and other raw material.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that on September 27 the USD exchange rate was 473.42 AMD which is an increase of 0.13 AMD compared to the previous day.

Armenpress reports that the Euro increased by 0.58 AMD forming 532.46 AMD. British pound rose by 0.64 AMD forming 612.65 AMD, Russian ruble increased by 0.03 drams reaching to 7.43 drams on September 27.

The prices for precious metals are as follows: the price for silver per gram is 295.89 AMD, gold-20,403.49 AMD, and platinum-15,768.75AMD.
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The worlds largest retailer, Walmart, which is in direct competition with Jeff Bezos-led e-commerce giant Amazon in the US, may be looking at India, the fastest-growing market, for the next round of business rivalry.
The cauvery dispute has begun to hurt both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu economically.

Tourist arrivals in Mysuru has reduced by more than half since violence broke early this month protesting a Supreme Court directive to release water to its neighbour from the drought it Cauvery river. As things stand, the situation is not expected to become better over the next week during Dasara, where usually millions throng to the city to watch the state festival.
Hours after Islamabad insinuated at the UN General Assembly that India had self-inflicted the Uri terror attack, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to present him with details of two men nabbed by Indian investigating agencies who have acted as local guides for the Pakistan trained terrorists to infiltrate across the Line of Control.
India is not ready to join the world's first to curb pollution from commercial flights because it fears that talks beginning on Tuesday may not lead to a fair agreement, the civil aviation minister said.
A two-week long joint Indo-US military exercise, focusing on counter insurgency and anti-terror operations, in Uttarakhand's Chaubattia forest has been very successful, the Army said on Tuesday.

The exercise ' - 2016', which concluded today, was carried out as part of efforts by both the strategic partners to enhance overall defence cooperation.

The exercise included a company group from an Infantry Battalion of Indian Army and fifth Battalion of 20th Infantry Regiment of the US Army.

In his remarks at the end of the exercise, Major General Thomas James of US Army said army to army relationship between India and the US has never been so stronger and that the exercise provided a great way to enhance interoperability.

The combined exercise was "undoubtedly, an unprecedented success", the Army said.

The exercise was the 12th in the series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme. It had participation of about 225 personnel of the US Army and similar strength of Indian Army.

Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise.

The exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations, especially in the mountainous terrain, the Army said.

Major General RK Raina, in his address, said both countries are faced with similar challenges from the "divisive" forces of extremism and international terrorism and that the synergy achieved would enable both sides to operate together, if the need arises.
On Tuesday evening, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has directed a team, comprising a minister and executive officials, to attend the meeting related to Cauvery Water Dispute between the excutive heads of Tamil nadu and Karnataka, according to the directions of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The meeting is likely to be scheduled on September 29.
India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj's advice to Pakistan to abandon its dream of separating Kashmir from India during her address at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday has prompted the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson Mohammed Nafees Zakaria to ask "if Kashmir is an integral part of India, why is it on the agenda of the (UN) Security Council"?

"Strange that Indian EAM is disowning the UNSC resolutions and that too at the UN. Can the Indian EAM explain that if Kashmir is an integral part of India, why is it on the agenda of the Security Council," tweeted Zakaria a few hours after Swaraj concluded her speech.

After Swaraj showed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a mirror, saying that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan, Zakaria tweeted, "Indian EAMs reference to Pakistan's province of Balochistan is a violation of UN principles and international law."





ALSO READ: Swaraj aims Baloch barbs at Pak, India reviews Indus pact

The Pakistan MoFA spokesperson further tweeted, "Reference to Balochistan is a continuous admission by India of its involvement in subversive activities in Pakistan."

Further, India raising Pakistan's "internal matter" Balochistan in the UN General Assembly was a "blatant violation" of international norms, Pakistani envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said as she described Kashmir not as India's integral part but an "internationally recognised dispute".





ALSO READ: Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti hails Shushma Swaraj's speech at UNGA

Accusing India of diverting the world's attention from "atrocities on defenceless Kashmiris", Zakaria said, "India trying to divert world attention from its atrocities on defenceless Kashmiris, but her efforts will not succeed."

"The Indian FM' speech is a litany of falsehoods and baseless allegations. The biggest falsehood is that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute. It is the oldest item on the UN agenda. The whole world acknowledges this," Lodhi said in a series of tweets after Swaraj's address.

Lodhi also said it is "untrue" that India imposed no preconditions for talks with Pakistan.

"India suspended talks more than a year ago, and has refused to resume these despite repeated offers from Pakistan. The latest offer of talks with India was made by Pakistan's Prime Minister himself from the rostrum of the General Assembly on 21 September," Lodhi said in the tweets.

Lodhi claimed India is in "denial" about the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.

However, defending Swaraj's speech at the UNGA as well-measured and fitting, India Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that she has expressed New Delhi's vision on all those issues which are crucial to the international community.

"As you know our foreign minister gives to the point answers and her statement today (Monday) was well-measured and fitting, and she expressed India's vision on all those issues which are crucial to the international community," Swarup told ANI here.

With Swaraj saying "jinke apne ghar shishe ke ho, unhe dusro par patthar nahi fekne chahiye (those whose houses are made of glass should not throw stones at others)", while responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statements at the UNGA on September 21, the MEA spokesperson said, "A few days back, the Pakistan prime minister on this very platform had given baseless statements against India; and today, the foreign minister has given a befitting reply to all those things."

"Moreover, she has said the countries sheltering terrorism, financing them and providing them with weapons, such countries do not have any place in the international community which, in my opinion, was a very important and powerful message that she delivered today," he added.

When asked whether he thought that Pakistan was isolated on the international platform, Swarup said, "That is evident. As you have seen when the Pakistan prime minister delivered his speech, his speech got no comments in their support; whereas there is a consensus in the world on India's statement on terrorism and there is a common consensus that fighting terrorism is, at present, utmost necessary."

On Balochistan also, the foreign minister commented on the atrocities committed there, he said.
Even as India plans to review the status in trade granted to Pakistan, India Inc said that MFN has made no difference to the "abysmally low" level of bilateral trade.

"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.

Official data showed that out of India's total merchandise trade of $643 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion.

"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.

India's exports to Pakistan last year amounted to $2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent of total Indian exports, while imports were 497 million, or 0.13 per cent of total inward shipments.

The major items of Indian export to Pakistan include organic chemicals, vegetables, cotton, plastics and processed food waste, like fodder.

Items of Indian imports from Pakistan include cottons, fruits and nuts, mineral fuels, wax, sulphur, lime, cement and hides.

"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," Rawat said.

Assocham 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to hold a review meeting on MFN status to Pakistan on Thursday, according to sources.

At another review meeting here on Monday, Prime Minister Modi directed that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan be revisited.

"Blood and water cannot flow together," Modi said at the meeting to review the Indus Water Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960.

It was decided that the meetings of Indus water commissioners, that are held to resolve disputes, will now be held "only in an atmosphere free of terror".

The meeting also decided to review a 1987 decision to stop the construction of the Tulbul barrage on the Jhelum after Pakistan objected that the plan violated the Indus Water Treaty.

India has taken a tough stance against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in the country. Ties between the neighbours have nosedived following Islamabad's open backing of the unrest in Kashmir valley. India has also accused Pakistan-backed terrorists of being behind the September 18 terror attack on the Uri army base in Kashmir, that left 18 soldiers dead.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday congratulated scientists and engineers for successfully launching the SCATSAT-1 weather satellite and wished them "continued success in the coming years".

"My heartiest congratulations to you and your entire team at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful launch of PSLV-C35, carrying advanced satellite SCATSAT-1 along with seven other co-passenger satellites from Algeria, Canada, USA and two from India," said Mukherjee in a message to A S Kiran Kumar, chairman of .

He said that the nation was proud of this achievement and remarked on the importance of the satellite in studying weather patterns.

"I understand that SCATSAT-1 will help provide wind vector data products for weather forecasting cyclone detection and tracking services to the users. The nation is proud of this important achievement which is a significant milestone in the progress of our space capabilities," he said.

The satellite was launched on Monday morning from Satish Dhawan Space Centre located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The photo exhibition dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh and headlined Armenia, my eternal love opened by the joint efforts of the Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia and Armenpress news agency in the Russian cities with major Armenian communities will foster Armenia-Diaspora ties and contribute to the preservation of the Armenian identity, priest of local Armenian community in Volgograd Maghakia Ohanyan told during the opening ceremony on September 27.

The priest congratulated the Armenian community on the anniversary of the independence and highlighted the organization of similar exhibitions. I wish the Armenian communities in different Russian cities to be reinforced thank to similar events. We must always feel the breath of Armenia in our communities, Maghakia Ohanyan said.

Diaspora Ministry official Sargis Aleksanyan conveyed the message of Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan. For 25 years Armenia and the Diaspora have been edifying the Motherland, shaping a firm and independent statehood, struggling for a peaceful and beautiful future. This exhibition is a brilliant opportunity for all of us to gather under one roof and look back at the past 25 years and appreciate it.

Armenpress news agency attaches great importance to holding similar events in Armenian communities of the Diaspora. Advisor to the director of the agency Hayk Hakobyan stated that the agency possessing one of the richest photo archives in Armenia has always been a forerunner in preserving the Armenian identity. According to Hakobyan, the exhibition is unprecedented in the sense that the photos illustrate almost all the important events that took place after Armenias independence.

This exhibition is a wonderful occasion for recalling the achievements of Armenia during the 25 years of independence. We can see the photo of national hero Yura Poghosyan here, who arrived in Artsakh from Volgograd just at the beginning of Artsakh war and sacrificing his life contributed to the victory of Armenians,Hakobyan said.

The exhibition is comprised of 7 thematic sections: Independence  a top value, The difficult victory, The national heroes, We remember and demand, Reliance of Armenia, Armenia  country of faith: pilgrimage to first Christian country, Meetings of the Armenian President. Nearly 100 photos are exhibited.

It was a great honor and responsibility for Armenpress news agency to organize this exhibition. We are thankful to our partners from the Ministry of Diaspora for managing to fulfill this crucially important project. The restoration of independence of the Republic of Armenia and the Artsakh liberation war have a historical significance for our people, and it is of vital importance that both our compatriots in Russia and the citizens of our friendly and allied country are able to familiarize themselves with the chronicle of Armenia and Artsakh with the help of Armenpress photo archive and better comprehend the values and achievements of the Armenian people, as well as see the bright future that awaits all of us, Director of Armenpress Aram Ananyan said.

A similar exhibition is planned to be held in Krasnodar in October, 2016.
Setting aside a resolution passed by the Karnataka state assembly, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the state government to comply with its earlier order of releasing 6,000 cusecs of the Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu for the next three days ie till Friday.

The apex court also asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting between the governments of the two states to find a solution to this long-standing problem by Friday.

The court has, however, agreed to a further hearing of the matter on Wednesday.

The apex court's directions came while it was hearing the Karnataka Government's plea urging the court to modify its earlier order on the Cauvery waters sharing with Tamil Nadu.

In its plea, Karnataka had said its reservoirs are dry and it can only release water to Tamil Nadu by the end of the year.

While Karnataka sought modification of September 20 order of the apex court, its neighbour Tamil Nadu contested against modification.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka said it was not in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu on various grounds. Tamil Nadu said Karnataka is acting as judge in its own cause and refusing to comply with the orders in spite of the matter being sub-judice before the court.

The petition came three days after Karnataka's legislature passed a resolution saying the river will be used only for meeting the drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery Basin and Bengaluru.

The resolutions, however, did not mention the top court's order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs every day (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu till September 27.

Karnataka has said its citizens would go thirsty and crops in the state will be ravaged if it releases any more water to Tamil Nadu.

Over the past month, both states are fighting a legal battle in various courts over the sharing and distribution of Cauvery waters.
Amidst reports that the government is seeking to launch an economic offensive against Pakistan, officials are wary of a proposal to revoke the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to the neighbouring country.
The is poised for a huge leap by extension of its banking platform to phones not connected to the internet. It is the next big thing on the government's financial inclusion programme.
Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved two Metro corridors in Greater Mumbai with a total investment of Rs 25,525 crore. The 23.5 km DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro 2B corridor entails investment of Rs 10,986 crore while the 32 km Wadala Ghatkopar Thane Kasarvadavli Metro 4 corridor will cost Rs 14,549 crore.
Indias agriculture production estimate has come into question in the last few months as market arrivals and state purchases havent matched the projections, raising questions over them.
There is a reason Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been calling it the Davos of East or Davos in Action. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit ( 2017), in its eighth edition, has come a long way from being just another vehicle to attract investment in the state. Since its previous edition in 2015, it is increasingly being showcased as a knowledge-sharing platform, and not merely an investment-attracting platform.
Residents of Syria's Aleppo faced worsening food and medical shortages today as warplanes again pounded the city after Western powers at the UN accused Russia of war crimes.

A fresh wave of intense air strikes battered Aleppo's opposition-controlled east, said an AFP correspondent in the city facing its worst violence in years.

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council, US ambassador Samantha Power accused Russia of "barbarism", while the British and French envoys went even further.

"War crimes are being committed here in Aleppo," Francois Delattre of France said, while Britain's envoy spoke of bunker-busting bombs and more sophisticated weaponry unleashing a "new hell" on Syrians.

"It is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes," said Britain's Matthew Rycroft.

The Kremlin hit back.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced "the overall unacceptable tone and rhetoric of the representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States, which can damage and harm our relations".

Despite the exchange, the violence showed no signs of abating on the ground, with people in Aleppo saying food and vital medical supplies were dwindling to nothing.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the latest raids killed four civilians in the districts of Al-Mashhad and Sukari.

The Observatory said at least 132 people, nearly all civilians, had been killed in Syrian and Russian raids on eastern Aleppo since late Thursday.

Among them were 20 children and nine women, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said today.

It was the fourth day of intense bombardment since a defiant Syrian regime launched a new assault to retake all of Aleppo following the collapse early last week of a short-lived ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Washington.

A Syrian military source told AFP regime forces had no intention of letting up on rebel-held areas.

"The air force will bomb any terrorist movements, this is an irreversible decision," the source said, reiterating that the regime's goal was to "recapture all regions of Syria" outside its control.

A medical source in rebel-held Aleppo said hospitals were struggling to deal with a huge number of casualties.
Hailing Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's response to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on terrorism and human rights violations in Balochistan, Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugti has said they expect New Delhi to keep raising the issue.

"This is a very good move and we expect that India will keep raising this issue, because India is that democratic country and responsible country which undertakes its responsibility with sincerity," Bugti told ANI.

Bugti maintained that after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on the Balochistan issue, the Baloch people are seeing a ray of hope in their cause.

"The developments which are taking after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech, I feel this will help stop massacres of Baloch people and the sufferings we are facing for over 50-60 years will end. We are seeing a ray, because usually when such statements are raised, it only remains as statement. But in this case, there is continuity," he added.

The BRP leader was of the opinion that the support his community is getting from India is what they always wanted.

"The people of our community are watching Indian brothers, the support we are getting, and we always wanted that," he added.

On being asked about his cousin Shahzain Bugti, who is backing Pakistan, Bugti said this was a mere stunt by Islamabad.

"Pakistanis do such stunts. He stays in Islamabad and isn't able to go to Balochistan. So, if they five people supporting them, then they start saying that they will fight against India. When they can't do anything for their country, then what will they do for Pakistan. Everyone is lying," he added.

Bugti who has been living in Switzerland and is seeking political asylum in India also talking about the issue said that he is hoping that something positive comes out.

Balochistan province has been in the eye of a storm since Indian Prime Minister Modi highlighted the atrocities and human rights violations being committed in the province by Pakistan.

India has also raised the Balochistan issue at the UN and the latest was Swaraj's address at the UNGA on Monday.

Swaraj said, "Those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of state oppression."

Lambasting Pakistan's nefarious design on Jammu and Kashmir, Swaraj also advised Islamabad to abandon its dream of separating any part of India, saying "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so.




Democrat Hillary Clinton is held to have won the first presidential debate held on Tuesday against her Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a new CNN/ORC poll.



According to the poll of debate watchers, 62 per cent of voters who watched the debate thought Clinton won, while only 27 per cent said that Trump came out on top.

Clinton and Trump took to the stage on Tuesday to begin their first-ever presidential debate and immediately sparred over jobs, taxes, the Islamic State (IS), guns and the former secretary of state's undisclosed emails, media reports said.



Here is what both candidates had to say on various issues:

Moderator Leslie Holt of NBC News opened the 90-minute debate at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York, with the first topic being "Achieving Prosperity", where the first question about putting money back into Americans' pockets and creating jobs was directed to Clinton, CNN reported.

Clinton, the first woman to represent a major US party in the presidential race, mentioned her granddaughter's birthday, and talked about everything from gender pay gaps, to paid family leave, to presidential temperament.





She started her speech by defending the idea of creating "an economy for all" and stressed that she intends to do so "by having the wealthy pay their fair share", EFE news reported.

"I also want to see more companies do profit sharing. If you help create the profits, you should be able to share in them, not just the executives at the top," she said, and stressed that "the central question in this election is really what kind of country we want to be in".

Clinton insisted she would work to achieve equal pay between men and women, paid paternity leave and debt-free college.

Clinton accused her rival for being one of the real estate tycoons who benefited from the economic crisis that hit the country in 2008.

Trump conceded the point saying, "It's called business."

Trump claimed that the US is being used as a piggy bank to rebuild China.

"Our jobs are fleeing the country. They're going to Mexico. They're going to many other countries. You look at what China is doing to our country in terms of making our product," Trump said.

"They're devaluing their currency, and there's nobody in our government to fight them. And we have a very good fight. And we have a winning fight," added Trump.

"Because they're using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing," Trump said.

The real estate tycoon from New York said there is need to stop jobs from being stolen from the US.

"We have to stop our companies from leaving the United States and, with it, firing all of their people," he said.

"We cannot let it happen. Under my plan, I'll be reducing taxes tremendously, from 35 per cent to 15 per cent for companies, small and big businesses," he added.

"That's going to be a job creator like we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan. It's going to be a beautiful thing to watch," Trump said.

For her part, Clinton said, "I think that trade is an important issue. Of course, we are five per cent of the world's population; we have to trade with the other 95 per cent. And we need to have smart, fair trade deals."

"We also, though, need to have a tax system that rewards work and not just financial transactions. And the kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again," Clinton argued, adding, "In fact, it would be the most extreme version, the biggest tax cuts for the top per cent of the people in this country than we've ever had."

"I call it trumped-up trickle-down, because that's exactly what it would be. That is not how we grow the economy," she said.

On Trump's business practices



Clinton also called on Trump to apologise to people who have worked on the real estate mogul's properties and who have not been paid in full, Politico reported.

Do "the thousands of people that you have stiffed over the course of your business not deserve some kind of apology from someone who has taken their labour, taken the goods that they've produced and then refused to pay them?" Clinton questioned her rival.

"I can only say that I'm certainly relieved that my late father never did business with you," she added.

Trump went on to suggest that he had only taken that route four times, and that he was within his legal rights to do so.

On Trump's tax returns and Clinton's emails

Regarding his tax returns, Trump said, "I will release my tax returns  against my lawyer's wishes  when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."

Clinton responded by saying that there was something "really important, maybe even terrible that he's trying to hide," Politico reported.

"Maybe he doesn't want the American public, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid no federal taxes," Clinton said.

Clinton also admitted that she "made a mistake" about her use of a private email server while at the State Department.

Trump went on to blame Clinton for the the rise of the IS by noting that the Democrat had laid out some of her plans on her website.

"You're telling the enemy everything you want to do," Trump said as Clinton shook her head in amusement. "No wonder you've been fighting IS your entire adult life," added Trump.

Moderator Holt brought up the recent fatal police shootings of African-American men and asked about healing along lines of race and racism.

"Unfortunately, race often determines too much," she said, adding, "We have to restore trust between communities and the police... everyone should be respected by the law and everyone should respect the law."

Trump said the country needed law and order. "African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street you get shot," he added.



On gun control

Clinton has called for restricted gun control in the US, saying, "We've got too many military-style weapons on the streets. In a lot of places, our police are outgunned... We need to keep guns out of the hands of those who'd do harm."



On the 'birther' issue





However, one of the most powerful moments of the debate came when the conversation focused on the "birther" issue following Trump's recent acknowledgement that President Barack Obama was born in the US  a fact that has been evident for years.

Clinton blasted Trump for perpetuating a "racist lie".

Trump hit back noting Clinton's tough critiques of Obama during their bitter 2008 primary battle.

"You treated him (Obama) with terrible disrespect and I watch the way you talk now about how lovely everything is... It doesn't work that way," he said.

Moderator Holt in the final question of the night asked both Trump and Clinton if they would accept the will of the voters on Election Day, NBC News reported.

Clinton said, "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but I certainly will support the outcome of this election."

Trump pointed that he would "... want to make America great again. We are a nation that is seriously troubled... If she wins, I will absolutely support it."



The debate is divided into 6 segments with 15 minutes given to each nominee. Two minutes will be allotted to answer a question asked by the moderator, two minutes to reply and the remaining time for the nominees to debate.

This is the 20th and is being organised by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

When Donald Trump goes low, we go high. #DebateNight https://t.co/5MUlOMJqWM  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's advisor on Hispanic issues, Jose Fuentes, hopes that Monday night's debate helps get across the mogul's image of "change" compared to his "stiff" Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who - he says - speaks more to people's heads than to their hearts.

In an interview with EFE news at the debate site, Fuentes, the former attorney general of Puerto Rico and a member of Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council, said he hopes to see the Trump that "we've gotten to know in person," whom he calls an easy person to talk to and very well prepared.

Fuentes emphasised that Clinton is a "very stiff" candidate, whereas Trump represents an alternative.

He said that Clinton speaks to people's heads not to their hearts and the public is tired of a Washington politician who says the same thing "year after year", adding that "the people want change" and saying they will get that if they elect Trump.

Fuentes spoke at the David S Mack auditorium at Hofstra University on Long Island, where the first presidential debate of the 2016 campaign is under way.

The Latino advisor said that voter surveys show that garnering the support of "the large number of undecideds is key" in the November election.

He said that it is a "big problem" for Clinton if the people who have known her for 30 years are not convinced that this is a big opportunity for them, adding that Trump has the chance to pull those votes onto his side of the ledger.

Nevertheless, Fuentes acknowledged the Republican's unpopularity among the Latino community, a result of his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants, whom he called "rapists". and his proposal to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to halt illegal migration.

Fuentes said the campaign is well aware that Trump is behind Clinton in the polls among Hispanics, but he went on to say that the polls also show much indecision among Latinos. Therefore, he said, Trump intends to speak directly to Hispanics, although he did not offer any details about what the mogul might say in the speech he will deliver on Tuesday in Miami.

Monday night's debate, which will last 90 minutes, is the first opportunity for Americans to see how the candidates measure up going head to head on the issues.

An average of the main voter surveys calculated by the specialised RealClearPolitics website shows Clinton has lost the comfortable 8-or-so-point advantage she had enjoyed after the party conventions and now is in a technical tie with Trump with 46 percent to his 44 per cent.

Expectations are for more than 100 million people to watch this first of three televised debates, setting a record for this type of TV event.
Yemeni army troops killed a prominent leader in Abyan province on Monday, a security official told Xinhua.

The leader of the Yemen-based branch, identified as Abdullah Hubaibat, was killed when government troops raided a number of houses held by militants in Loder, a town in Abyan province, the security official said on condition of anonymity.

Five were also wounded in raids.

Hubaibat was believed to have been involved in previous armed attacks against security forces in Abyan, according to the source.

In the last two months, Yemeni government forces launched anti-terror offensives and drove out scores of gunmen linked to the Al Qaeda and the Yemen-based affiliate of the Islamic State from key neighbourhoods and government compounds in Lahj and Abyan provinces.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional Al Qaeda insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known locally as Ansar al-Sharia, emerged in January 2009 and claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and government institutions.
Burgeoning size of India's several equity schemes amid exceptionally higher benchmark beating returns, especially in the past three years, have made fund managers cautious about the sustainability of such high trajectory of returns in the near future.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, first secretary at the Permanent Mission of India in New York Eenam Gambhir flayed Islamabad for misleading their presentation on the situation in the Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that it yet another attempt to divert attention from Pakistan's continued sponsorship of terrorism.

"Can the representative of Pakistan clarify how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in his country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan army's much vaunted counter terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains? Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy," Gambhir.

Continuing to lash out against Pakistan, she called out the representative daring him to deny that Islamabad had assured in 2004 that it would not allow its territories, or territories under its control, to be used for terror attacks against India.

"We have heard today, the views of a dysfunctional state which builds atrocity upon atrocity on its own people, preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights. We reject entirely these sermons. On the other hand, will the representative of Pakistan deny that the armed forces of his country committed one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in human history in 1971?," she said.

Further calling on the representative of Pakistan to deny that its armed forces have used air strikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly, Gambhir re-iterated External Affairs Minsiter Sushma Swaraj's statement that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and will always continue to do so.

Delivering a very strong message to Pakistan at the 71st session of the UNGA, Swaraj said, "My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statements at the UNGA, where he accused India of "committing brutalities in the Kashmir Valley" and hailed Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists Burhan Wani as a "young leader", Swaraj said "On 21st September, the Prime Minister of Pakistan used this podium to make baseless allegations about human rights violations in my country. I can only say that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression."

Going hammer and tongs at Pakistan, Swaraj said, "In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account. These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the first-ever seminar of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's (Saarc) member countries on anti-corruption beginning in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have not sent their experts to attend the event.

The Dawn reports that the two-day seminar began on Monday with a pledge to root out the menace of corruption in the region through coordinated efforts and cooperation.

India has sent its delegation to attend the seminar, despite the recent escalation of tension following the Uri terror attack.

Earlier, both Afghanistan and Bangladesh had made the assurance that their representatives on anti-corruption would attend the event.

However, Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal has stated that that he was unaware why his country had not sent its delegation to attend the seminar.

Meanwhile, it has come to light that Bangladesh has not been sending its delegates to Pakistan for a long time, even though events of Saarc member countries in Pakistan are attended by officials of Bangladesh embassy in Islamabad.

The visiting delegates of Saarc countries called on President Mamnoon Hussain.

Speaking on the occasion, Hussain highlighted the need for coordinated efforts agst corruption by SAARC member countries and said they needed to share their practices, expertise and experiences with each other.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader and legal advisor to the Karnataka government Brijesh Kalappa on Tuesday said the Cauvery issue needs a political instead of a legal solution and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.

"The Supreme Court is trying to find out a legal solution, but more than a legal solution, I think the people of both the states will be happier with a political solution. That's the reason we always had a executive as being a part of this solution finding process and that's the reason we had the CRA (Cauvery River Authority) earlier, where the Prime Minister was the head and we also had earlier to that where former PM P.V. Narsimha Rao had intervened,' he said.

Kalappa further said that the Prime Minister has not sought time to involve himself in the Cauvery issue nor is he ready the chief ministers of both states despite more than a year having been elapsed.

"We hope the Prime Minister finds the time and the inclination to deal with the issue," he said.

Earlier, the apex court, setting aside the Karnataka state assembly's resolution of not sharing water with Tamil Nadu, directed the former to comply with its earlier order of releasing 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water for the next three days i.e. till Friday.

The apex court also asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting between the governments of the two states to find a solution to this long-standing problem by Friday.

In its plea, Karnataka had said its reservoirs are dry and it can only release water to Tamil Nadu by the end of the year.

While Karnataka sought modification of September 20 order of the apex court, its neighbour Tamil Nadu contested against modification.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The House of Representatives approved legislation Monday targeting the synthetic drug epidemic, including a measure sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Katko that ban the use of certain chemicals used to make synthetic drugs such as "K2" and "Spice."

The Synthetic Drug Control Act passed by a 258-101 vote. There was bipartisan support for the package, with 192 Republicans and 66 Democrats voting for the legislation.

Katko's Dangerous Synthetic Drug Controls Act was part of the comprehensive bill. He just introduced the bill last week.

Under the measure sponsored by Katko, R-Camillus, 22 synthetic chemicals would be added to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Certain forms of fentanyl and chemicals used to manufacture synthetic marijuana are among the substances that would be banned.

Katko has said the legislation would help prosecutors target synthetic drug traffickers and affect the supply of chemicals available for synthetic drug manufacturers.

"It is far past time that we take action to stop the flow of dangerous synthetic substances on our streets," Katko said in a statement. "Syracuse has been devastated by this epidemic, and increased synthetics use has placed a major strain on our local law enforcement and first responders.

"This bipartisan effort will help us fight back against the scourge of synthetic drugs, and I'm proud to have the support of local advocates, law enforcement and health care providers."

Katko's bill received support from central New York drug prevention groups and law enforcement, most notably Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.

Teresa Woolson, an Oswego County resident, also threw her support behind the bill. Her son died after using synthetic drugs in 2012.

Woolson launched the VOW Foundation to raise awareness about the synthetic drug epidemic.

"This legislation will help with the synthetic drug crisis," Woolson said. "I am so thankful to Congressman Katko for his hard work and determination to continue to bring bipartisan legislation on this matter to the House. I'm optimistic that with people like John Katko in Congress we will stop the growing trend of deadly synthetic drugs and help save more lives."

Fitzpatrick called Katko's bill a "desperately needed weapon to help us in our battle to eradicate this poison from our communities."

"Synthetic drugs are nothing more than lethal poisons," he said. "Since they've hit the streets, they have caused more death, tragedy and destruction then any public health epidemic in recent memory."

The bill is the 15th sponsored by Katko to pass the House, whether it's as a standalone measure or as part of a legislative package. Six of the bills he's introduced have been signed into law.
At least two naxals were killed during an encounter with the security forces in Phulbagri district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

Arms and ammunitions were also recovered from the slain naxals.

Two Naxal Commanders were neutralised in an encounter with security forces in the jungles of Banspal-Toinar in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

Tirupati and Lokesh of PLGA military company 6 were killed in an encounter with DRG of Narayanpur district.

The security forces received an input that a platoon would be coming in the night towards Jhara to attack CAF jawans in similar fashion as last month in Kukdajhor, where two jawans were injured seriously by small action teams.

Kicking into action, the Narayanpur police launched a surgical operation and laid ambush in the route of the naxal party near the jungles of Banspal and Toinar.

Around 5 a.m. the naxal party of about 20 reached the spot where ambush was laid and opened indiscriminate fire over the police party.

As a retaliatory measure and for self defence police also fired over the naxal party and the encounter lasted for one hour after which naxals fled away with some of their injured and killed using jungles as cover.

On searching the area, the police recovered two male Maoist bodies which were identified as Tirupati (Akash) r/o Madded in Bijapur and Lokesh (Ramesh) r/o Tirkanar, PS Dhaurai, both commanders in military company 6.

Weapons and other naxal items were also recovered during search of the area, additional parties were sent to the area where they are searching for rest of the naxal party which fled from the encounter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stating that China has not extended support to Pakistan when it really mattered in the past, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution India, Dhruva Jaishankar, on Tuesday said that China's intervention in reducing the hostile feelings and tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad would not be welcomed.

"If the past is any guide, China has not helped Pakistan when it really mattered, either in 1965, 1971, or 1999. However, China is taking a much stronger position in support of Pakistan and has over the past couple of years invested much more economically, stepped up political support at multilateral organizations, even on the issue of terrorism," Jaishankar told ANI.

"So any Chinese intervention now would not be welcome, from New Delhi's point of view," he added.

Jaishankar's view came a day after China denied having any knowledge of a senior diplomat assuring Pakistan that Beijing will back the country in case of a war with India.

Last week, the consul general of China in Lahore, Yu Boren, was quoted as saying that China will extend support to Pakistan in case of "foreign aggression" and that his country was on Islamabad's side in the Kashmir dispute.

When asked about Yu's categorical statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) brushed it aside.

"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," MFA spokesperson Geng Shuang said at the regular press briefing on Monday.

"China's position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear. As neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and manage and control the situation besides jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region," Geng said.

China's reaction on Monday was the second time since September 22 that it distanced itself from Pakistan media attributing Beijing's support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Abuja [Nigeria], Sept. 27 (ANI): As both India and Nigeria make an attempt to broad base their economy, Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Tuesday said both nations should harness the complementarities in attracting investments, which is a key factor for a positive economic growth.

He emphasised that there is a considerable potential for expanding trade in the areas of automotive components, automobiles, engineering products, IT, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology and healthcare sectors.

Noting that Nigeria is an important partner for India's energy security requirement and about 12 percent of India's crude requirement comes from Nigeria, Vice President Ansari said, "Given India's current and expanding energy requirements, there is significant potential for diversifying our engagement in oil and gas sector by enhancing our cooperation in both upstream and downstream domains."

Asserting that the overall engagement between India and Nigeria remains vibrant and full of vitality, the Vice President said, "It is a matter of satisfaction that for the last few years, India has been the largest trading partner of Nigeria, and Nigeria is the largest trading partner of India in Africa. Our bilateral trade has been growing steadily for the last one decade and touched US$16 billion in 2014-15. It is only because of the global decline in oil prices that our trade has slowed down in the past one year. Economic and commercial cooperation occupies prominent position in our bilateral matrix."

"Over 100 Indian companies have made Nigeria their base to operate in West Africa, employing the largest number of Nigerians after the Federal Government, and covering diverse sectors of the economy. It is estimated that the Indian investments have exceeded 10 billion US Dollars so far, and another 5 billion US dollars are committed. Indian investments are in diverse sectors such as communications, power, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, automotive sector and oil, among others," he said at the Nigeria-India Business Forum, which was also attended by Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Stressing on the need to synergise efforts by both nations in the areas of economy and business," Vice President Ansari observed, "The vast consumer market, youthful and skilled human resources and expertise in the field of information technology of India coupled with Nigeria's natural resources, youthful population and strategic location would provide a platform for enhanced economic engagement."

"We are extremely happy to see the initiatives which Nigeria has launched under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. As Nigeria embarks with renewed vigour and determination in realising greater prosperity for its people, India stands ready to join as a partner."

The Vice President noted that the market liberalisation of India in the nineties followed by calibrated economic reforms in the past decade has led to sustainable economic growth and socio-economic development and India's economy registered a growth of 7 percent in the last quarter, which is one of the highest rates globally. "The fast rate of urbanization and the growth of a large, aspirational middle class in India, coupled with a youthful population make India one of the most attractive markets in the today," he added.

"The last two decades of economic growth have also strengthened India's private sector and it is keen to expand its global operations. The innovative spirit of Indian industry, backed by a strong government research and development push and a network of quality education institutions, make India and the Indian companies the most promising business partners today," he added.

Holding infrastructure development and energy security as key areas for cooperation for emerging economies like India and Nigeria, the Vice President said, "These sectors allow for both our countries to collaborate and benefit from each other's expertise. Infrastructure stimulation programmes launched by the Government of India, like the mission to develop 100 Smart Cities, upgrade infrastructure development in urban and rural areas and enhance nationwide connectivity through the 'Digital India' programme, have created massive opportunities for foreign partners in the Indian economy."

Our societies are still largely agrarian. Therefore, agricultural industry, food processing and related small and medium enterprises offer opportunities for trade and investment which could be explored by our business houses with the support from the governments.

"The Green Alternative Plan - a roadmap to make Nigeria, not only self-sufficient in agriculture but also a major exporter of quality agricultural products, launched last month offers an opportunity for sharing of India's experience in agro-industry sector," he said.

Noting that India's expertise and proven capabilities in production of pharmaceuticals, especially generic medicines at affordable cost, advancement in healthcare sectors and science and technology, high quality education at reasonable cost could also be potential areas of investments by both sides, Vice President Ansari said, "Indian private sector is keen to further engage with their Nigerian counterparts in diverse sectors of the economy. In June this year, ASSOCHAM established its Abuja Chapter. This is in addition to the existing Nigeria-India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NICCI) that is based in Lagos."

"We have the institutional mechanism to review progress made in the bilateral engagement including in trade and investments sectors. The next Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) will take stock of the ongoing cooperation in trade and investments," said the Vice President.

Observing that in the backdrop of the current international economic and financial situation, there is an even greater need for us to join hands and synergise our growth strategies, he said, "India and Nigeria are well placed to convert this challenge into an opportunity. We count on you, the business leaders from Nigeria and India, to be the architects of this important change."

Wishing the Business Meet a great success in its deliberations, the Vice President said, "I thank the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Nigerian National Chamber of Commerce together with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and ASSOCHAM India-Nigeria Business Council for partnering in holding this important Business Meet."

"I am very happy to be here today at this gathering of captains of trade and industry from Nigeria and India, two of the most dynamic emerging economies of the . I see from your agenda that you would be holding intensive deliberations on expanding our existing commercial relations as well as for identifying new sectors of economic cooperation," he added.

Vice President Ansari on Monday left on a five-day official visit to Nigeria and Mali as part of efforts to bolster New Delhi's ties with both West African nations.

The historic State visit to Nigeria by then prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in October 2007 after a gap of over forty five years elevated the strategic partnership.

Nigeria is India's largest trading partner in Africa with the bilateral trade amounting to USD 12.6 billion in 2015-16.

India is also the largest buyer of crude oil from Nigeria, and more than 100 Indian companies have a large presence there as well as both the countries have strong defence cooperation.

On the second leg of his trip, the Vice President will reach Mali on September 29 for the first ever high-level visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modibo Keita.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a shocking incident, two class 12 students of a Delhi government school in Nangloi, Sultanpuri allegedly stabbed their teacher to death in front of their classmates, after they were not allowed to sit for an examination due to lack of sufficient attendance.

The school authorities said Mukesh, a Hindi teacher, was allegedly attacked with a knife in the classroom after an examination.

Kumar was immediately rushed to the Balaji Action hospital, but the doctors could not save him.

"This is the incident of SP Road Sultanpuri school. It took place around 5-5:30 p.m. Two students attacked Hindi teacher Mukesh with a knife. It took place in the classroom when an examination was going on. The school staff brought him to the Balaji Hospital. The hospital authorities asked to deposit money first before treatment. The two students had low attendance percentage and their names were struck off from the list," said Sumit, one of the school staff.

Gulab Sharma, another school staff described the two students as "criminal-type", who had failed thrice.

"Their names had been stuck off, but were then reinstated in the list due to pressure from their parents and principal. Two of the students had earlier also threatened the teacher. So, the teacher had also requested the principal to reinstate their names. The teacher was very scared. When the teacher was coming out from the classroom, these two students stabbed him from behind," he added.

Sharma, however alleged that the hospital delayed in giving Mukesh treatment.

"He is not with us anymore. Mukesh was their class teacher. Two-three students were adult as well. Their names were reinstated but they were not allowed to sit for the examination yesterday. The police said they are trying to nab the accused but they are still at large," he added.

Mukesh had rusticated one of the two students for low attendance.

Meanwhile, both the students have been apprehended.

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Underlining the significance of reverse-swing, India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has admitted that the unique art is one of his primary weapons in his bowling arsenal and insisted that he constantly strives to execute it to perfection.

"There is a different joy in bowling reverse swing," Shami told bcci.tv. "The old ball is one of my main weapons and I am comfortable bowling with the old ball. I know if I can get a hint of reverse swing, I can use it to good effect."

Considered as one of the best exponents of reverse swing bowling, the 26-year-old admitted that getting the bowl to reverse proved vital in removing New Zealand batsmen BJ Watling and Mark Craig in quick succession in the opening Test match in Kanpur, which India won by 197 runs.

"The moment I start getting the ball to reverse, I get back to one of my bowling strong points. I love bowling reverse swing. When the ball is reversing I try to get the batsman out bowled or get him LBW. These two are the mode of dismissals that you get with reverse swing. When I get a feel that it is going to help reverse swing I look to hit the top of off-stump maximum number of times or else I aim at the batsman's pad. Both these factors happened today against Watling and Craig," he said while assessing his performance.

After resisting against a persistent Indian bowling line-up in the first hour of play, Luke Ronchi (80) lost concentration minutes after drinks as Ravindra Jadeja, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, managed to break the tourists' stand when the batsman mistimed a flatter delivery and was caught at point by Ravichandran Ashwin.

While Santner along with Watling looked set to stitch up another solid partnership, playing watchfully against the Ashwin-Jadeja spin attack, Shami provided the hosts with the much-needed breakthrough with two quick scalps.

Needing 229 to win the match, New Zealand failed to hold the fort as they could only add 31 runs more after the lunch as Ashwin removed the tail-enders with ease.

Explaining the process in getting the ball ready for reverse swing, Shami said, "There is a lot of work behind getting the ball to reverse swing. It is like team effort, every member of the team makes it a point to keep the ball dry at all times and maintain it throughout the day. There are times when you will get reverse swing but if it gets wet, you won't be able to execute swing perfectly because the ball will tend to get heavy."

Despite producing an encouraging performance against West Indies in July during his first Test series after an agonising 18-month injury layoff, it wasn't until the final day of the Kanpur Test that Shami really looked in his elements.

"While bowling, consistency and accuracy is very important for reverse swing. If you bowl too full you will go for runs or too much at the back of the length, you won't be able to get swing. As a bowler you have to pitch in the right area and maintain that line and length which is very important to get the reverse swing right. I constantly work hard to get my lines right to execute reverse swing well," he added.

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Amidst the threats by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan has left India before the release of his upcoming Karan Johar flick 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' on October 28.

According to Pakistani media, a source from Dharma Productions said that the 'Khoobsurat' actor has left India as his wife is about to deliver a baby in September.

The MNS had last week given an ultimatum to the Pakistani artistes to leave India within 48 hours or face consequences in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

This order, backed by the Shiv Sena, came after tension between the two Asian neighbours escalated to a new level post the terror attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were martyred 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 'Ae Dil Hai Mushqil' and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' as the movies star Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

This threat by the MNS follows that from a blogger, who in a post told Fawad to leave the country.

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Search engine giant at the second edition of its signature Google for India event has announced five new products that are adapted for and aimed at expanding access to the Internet for users in India.

Amongst the products built specifically for Indian consumers, there are YouTube Go, the Google Assistant in Hindi inside messaging app Allo, faster browsing for Google Play on 2G connections as well as new global platforms inspired by the needs of Indian users 'The Google Station Wi-Fi platform' and new data-saving features in Google Chrome for mobile.

"Our goal has not just been to help more Indians get online but also to help Indians create the online experience they want; one that serves their needs and enables them to have an impact on the entire world. So we have been thinking about how to build products and services for this wave of new users products that work for any level of connectivity, in local Indian languages, and across the devices that are most frequently used in India," said Vice-President, Caesar Sengupta.

The event also saw John Giannandrea, Senior Vice-President, Engineering who looks after Search; Johanna Wright, Vice-President YouTube and Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, Vice-President Chrome and RajanAnandan, Vice-President, South East Asia and India in attendance.

Inspired by the success of the partnership with RailTel and Indian Railways to provide Wi-Fi at railway stations in India with 50+ stations now providing high-quality Internet to 3.5 million people each month, Caesar Sengupta announced a new Wi-Fi platform called Google Station.

The new platform will work with partners to roll out Wi-Fi hotspots, offering carriers, system integrators (SIs), and venues an easy way to set up high-quality, user-friendly Wi-Fi. This will provide more people in India and around the world fast, reliable, and safe Wi-Fi in more of the places where they spend time, like malls, transit stations, and cafes.

Sengupta also announced fast browsing in Google Play for people on 2G and other low-bandwidth connections. Fast browsing uses preloading on Wi-Fi to load the most popular parts of Google Play quickly. And when a user on a low-bandwidth connection chooses to install an app, Google Play will offer a new Wait for Wi-Fi option where the app will only install when the phone next connects to Wi-Fi.

Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, Vice-President, Product Management, Chrome announced a group of tailored features for Chrome that make the web a better place for mobile users facing data constraints. Data Saver mode, which reduces the amount of data Chrome uses on Android mobile devices, computers, and Chromebooks will now support MP4 videos, saving up to over two-thirds (67 percent) of video data. Chrome on Android will now also automatically optimize pages to their essentials when 2G-like networks are detected. These simplified pages load up to 2X faster, saving more than 90 percent of data usage.

RajanAnandan, Vice-President, India and South East Asia, set the agenda at the start of the event by outlining all of the efforts by Google to give all Indians access to the Internet. He talked through initiatives that have happened in India since the last Google for India event in December 2015, including the success of its Wi-Fi offering in partnership with Railtel and its efforts to overcome the gender divide by training women across rural India on how to access and use the Internet. In partnership with Tata Trusts, Google has already trained over a million women across ten states.

Anandan also talked about the plans to train two million mobile developers on Android, revealing that over 120,000 students have already enrolled in the Android Fundamentals course, and by next college semester, 200,000 engineering students will be learning how to develop Android applications. Google is also funding the installation of Google Developers Codelabs at major State Technical Universities in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Siddharth Nath Singh on Tuesday said that the government will take diplomatic steps with regard to the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted to Pakistan.

"Be it the 'Most Favoured Nation' or the Indus Water Treaty, the government sees the matter, the government is examining everything and till the central government does not come up with something, we should not be commenting," Singh said.

"But the government is serious about giving a message to Pakistan diplomatically, and whatever is required within the armoury to give a message to Pakistan, that enough is enough," Singh added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting on Thursday in which the 'Most Favoured Nation' status granted to Pakistan will be reviewed. Post Uri terror attack, India will now decide whether to withdraw the status to that country.

The decision comes a day after Modi held a meeting with top officials to review the Indus Waters Treaty. Top officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce Ministry will be in attendance.

The review meetings come after the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed, following which India has made it clear that ties with Pakistan will never be the same again. India has already reiterated its stand of isolating the country globally and has called for nations to follow suit.

Modi consulted with Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other top officials to discuss whether a reconfiguration of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan was among the steps that the government should take as a response to attacks from Pakistan.

"Blood and water cannot flow together," the PM had said in the meeting. Sources say the government has kept its option of reviewing the treaty on the sharing of the waters of six rivers with Pakistan open.

India is debating a series of steps to tighten pressure on Pakistan after the September 18 attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, in which 18 soldiers were killed by terrorists of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.

India granted "Most Favoured Nation" status to Pakistan unilaterally in 1996 but Islamabad is yet to reciprocate. The term means that the country granted the status receives equal trade advantages.

If the government withdraws the move, the impact will be mainly symbolic because bilateral trade between the neighbours represents a fraction of India's overall goods trade.

Calling out on Pakistan for inciting the worst violence in several years in Kashmir, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday warned that Islamabad must "abandon this dream" about using terror attacks to obtain territory it covets.
Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Pakistan's former law minister, president Research Society of Law and an advocate in the Supreme Court on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), has said that India has no legal competence under the treaty to revoke it per se on its own, adding the treaty has no provision for unilateral "suspension".

In an interview to Dawn, Soofi gave his opinions on the Indus Waters Treaty after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials to review provisions with Pakistan.

In the meeting, New Delhi ruled out cancelling the IWT (1960) but said that it is looking for ways of increasing its use of waters that flow from India but are controlled by Pakistan.

Soofi maintained that if the treaty is to end, a termination treaty has to be drafted by both India and Pakistan and then ratified by both.

"India has no legal competence under the treaty to revoke it per se on its own. Article 12(4) of the treaty entitles the termination of the treaty only if both India and Pakistan agree in writing. In other words, a termination treaty has to be drafted by both states and then ratified by both, to bring the IWT to an end. The treaty has no provision for unilateral "suspension"," he said.

Insisting that IWT is not regime-specific but rather state-specific, he said the treaty would not expire with regime change and it is binding on both the states equally and offers no exit provision.

He said that walking away from a treaty is in effect will be a breach.

"If India unilaterally stops following the treaty by giving any justification such as "revocation", "suspension", "withdrawal" or "annulment" etc. then it really means that it has decided to interrupt the water flow into Pakistan. In other words what India will call "revocation or withdrawal", Pakistan will refer to as a "breach"," he added.

Soofi said that in case India "revokes" the treaty, it literally means it has shunned it and there is no provision in the IWT about its duration or suspension, adding there is no avenue that Pakistan can approach for "revival" of the treaty.

"Since there is no provision in the IWT about its duration or suspension, there is no avenue that Pakistan can approach for "revival" of the treaty. Nor can Pakistan approach the Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking specific performance to implement the treaty because of the Indian reservation given under ICJ statute that bars filing of case by Pakistan against India, " he added.

On being asked if India stops Pakistani waters downstream, could this set a precedent for China upstream on Brahmaputra river, Soofi said, "In case India tries to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian, it is setting up a regional state practice which under law can serve as a precedence and equip China with an argument to consider suspension of the waters of Brahmaputra river."

He pointed out that India may have already damaged itself by even considering the suspension of water flow as an upper riparian and the Chinese Government must be watching New Delhi's moves with interest.

The treaty was inked in 1960 by the India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Ayub Khan, which allocates 80 percent of water to Pakistan from the six-river Indus Water System, including Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum that flows from India to Pakistan.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, is often considered to be one-sided and there has been growing clamour to relook at it. The pact has survived wars and phases of frosty ties between India and Pakistan.
The fortnight-long India-American joint military exercise has concluded in Uttarakhand, with soldiers of both countries successfully conducting several anti-terrorism drills.

The 12th edition of the "Yudh Abhyas" or Joint Military Training Exercise - 2016 was held at the Chaubattia Military Station in Ranikhet district.

Started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific Partnership Programme, it is an annual battalion-level exercise conducted with 225 personnel from each side, and taking place in India and the United States alternatively.

Officials said it was one of the longest running joint military training exercises.

"In the final phase of the training, the joint validation exercise saw both armies conducting a smooth raid on a terrorist hideout, showcasing cooperation coherence between the two forces, as both the armies are vastly experienced in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism operations. And for this varied experience from Iraq, Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, both sides greatly benefitted from this interaction," said Major General R. K. Raina of Garuda division of Indian Army, yesterday.

The military training exercises provide an ideal platform for security personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter-insurgency operations, especially in the mountainous region.

The joint exercises include cordon and search in counter-militant operations, jungle lane shooting, reflex shooting, long-range firing and cliff assault techniques.

"We are honoured to be here, to watch such a great training here today. I just wanted to tell you upfront that I am very impressed with the hospitality and the military capability of the Indian army here that has been our host. It has been a spectacular training event to this point," said Major General, 7 Infantry Division, US Army, Thomas Junior James.

The main aim of the joint military exercise is to strengthen defence cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.

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One of the Auburn area's largest shopping centers is under new ownership.

Fingerlakes Crossing in Aurelius has been sold for $13.1 million to Northeast Capital Group, of Ramapo, said commercial real estate company CBRE, which represented sellers the Kipling Group, of Toronto, and the Cameron Group, of Syracuse, in the transaction.

The transaction was a 1031 exchange  an IRS designation that means the exchange deferred any capital gains or losses, and thus their associated taxes.

David Gavin, a first vice president with CBRE, said Tuesday that Northeast Capital had recently sold a property, and sought to acquire another one in order to defer the capital gains taxes it would owe on the sale. CBRE then presented Northeast Capital with Fingerlakes Crossing, and the group closed on the shopping center a few days ago.

The 245,666-square-foot Fingerlakes Crossing's current tenants include The Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's and Petco. The Cameron Group opened the center in 2007 due to the 2004 opening of Bass Pro Shops across Clark Street Road at Fingerlakes Mall.

In a news release, CBRE noted the center's 91-percent occupancy, location along Routes 5 and 20, and more than 70,000 square feet of property with potential for further development. Gavin added that Northeast Capital is already planning to pursue leasing the 16,000-foot space that formerly housed Circuit City.

Those opportunities made Fingerlakes Crossing appealing to Northeast Capital, which has purchased several shopping centers across the Northeast over the last few years.

"We were pleased to add this property to our growing portfolio," said Joel Kiss, of Northeast Capital, in the release. "It met our investment parameters for secondary markets with its market dominance, top-of-the-line tenancy and plenty of value-add opportunities."
In a bizarre report by a Pakistani daily, Daily Pakistan, published on their website in which they claimed that when one searches for "Namak Haram Country" on Google, it shows India's flag.

Stooping low in their act, the website says, "Like majority of Pakistanis, the US-based tech giant considers India as a "Namak Haram country'. "

Reports suggest that Pakistan media is trying to troll India with the image of it, however, it could either be a glitch or work of Pakistani hackers playing with the Search engine optimization (SEO).

'Namak Haraam' is one of India's most famous Hindi movies which stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna in the leads.

The story is about a class war that divides two friends and considering it as a classic film in India, it still remains one of the finest movies of India.

So when, a person types the word country after the name of the movie, Google will show the flag and the map of the country where the movie was made.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police on Tuesday assured that the strictest action possible would be taken against both the class 12 students involved into the brutal murder of a government school teacher who was allegedly stabbed for informing their parents about their acts of indiscipline.

Mukesh Kumar, a Hindi teacher, collapsed after being stabbed thrice. He died later in hospital.Both the students have been arrested. One of them is 18 and the other will be 18 in two months, the police say. The incident was reported from the Government Boys Senior Secondary School in west Delhi's Nangloi.

Divulging the details, Joint Commissioner of Police Deependra Pathak said, "The murder case of Mukesh Kumar has been solved by the Delhi Police in less than 12 hours. One class 12th student has been arrested in the case, while one juvenile has been apprehended."

"It was a heinous crime that took place at around 5 p m last evening Kumar was busy in some administrative work in his room. At that time, students entered the room and attacked him and stabbed him thrice. Kumar was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries," he told the press conference.

After getting information about the incident, the Nangloi Police registered the case and thereafter identified the assailants. The police carried checking at all the possible hideouts. And today morning, they were arrested, he said.

As per the preliminary investigation, the two accused were among the frequent absentees and there were complaints regarding their discipline, said the Joint Commissioner of Police.

"In fact, one of the two were even warned that he might be rusticated. The attempt of the teacher to make these undisciplined students into a good citizen of the country eventually led to this heinous crime. The students had grudge against Kumar," he added.

He also asserted that strictest possible action would be taken against the juvenile accused as per the Juvenile Justice Act.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has announced a financial assistance of Rs. one crore to Kumar's family. He has also ordered a magisterial inquiry to probe the murder.

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The Sri Lankan police today exhumed the body of a prominent newspaper editor Lasantha Wickremetunga who was killed in 2009, as part of a new investigation into his murder.

The body was exhumed in the presence of the Hultsdorf Magistrate at the Borella cemetery, reports the Colombo Page.

Mohammed Shahabdeen, the Mount Lavinia Magistrate on September 8th had granted approval to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of police to exhume Wickremetunga's remains following a request made by the CID that a new post-mortem examination is needed for further investigations.

Reports suggest that the Judicial Medical Officer Board had informed the court that there were 21 points that were suspicious in the previous post mortem examination.

Wickremetunga, the founding editor of English weekly, Sunday Leader, was assassinated on January 8, 2009 by four assailants opened fire at him in a suburb of Sri Lankan capital.

An Army Intelligence Officer was arrested and remanded in connection with the assassination of Wickrematunge.

Reports suggest that Wickrematunge was critical of the former Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He had prior to his murder said that government would kill him, a claim sharply refused by the then Rajapaksa government.

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India's largest branded network of hotels has launched a much-needed solution assuring early check-in up to seven days prior to booking. This is sharp disruption to the prevalent industry norm across the world, with each hotel having its own arbitrary check-in time (usually 12 noon), and guests left stranded and helpless.

The new feature is the latest in the list of pioneering solutions introduced by to deliver efficient, predictable and standardized stays to travelers. This facility is being offered free of cost in many OYOs, and at a nominal charge in others. With this launch, has become the first hotel brand in the world to offer guaranteed early check-in to guests.

OYO's Sunrise check-in is now live both on its website and mobile app. Customers can easily identify, select and book hotels that offer confirmed early check-in. In addition, guests can also modify their existing booking and secure an early check-in.

"Despite changes in the way we live, travel and work, the hotel industry across the world continues to follow the outdated concept of a standard check-in time. Nowadays, travel is no longer about following prescribed itineraries. At OYO we understand our guests and build features tailored to their needs. With Sunrise check-in travelers can plan their mode of travel, duration and trip-itinerary in a better way, without being constrained by the check-in time," said Founder and CEO OYO, Ritesh Agarwal.

Often times travelling customers start arriving in cities as early as six AM. However, they are inconvenienced by the fact that most hotels offer check-in only after 12 noon. Whether they need to get ready or freshen up for a meeting, catch a quick nap before a long day, unwind or prepare to visit a temple, all types of travelers - business, leisure and pilgrim - can require early check-in. So far, their only option was to request the hotel prior to check-in or upon arrival, with the facility being offered subject to availability of rooms.

"The need to get a guaranteed early check-in is one of the key reasons that guests book hotels by walking in. Many of our guests shared that strict schedules for check-in times is one of their biggest pain-points related to hotel-booking," added Ritesh.

"Our Sunrise check-in feature gives them the freedom to plan their travel in a flexible manner. We expect an enthusiastic response to this feature and early indications show that nearly 20 percent of bookings post-launch are availing this service," he added.

Sunrise check-in service is delivered via the OYO Partners system where hotels update days where they can offer early check-in and millions of users receive this update on a real-time basis. Strict guidelines ensure full compliance towards the fundamental philosophy of delivering a delightful stay experience.
Making way for the adoption of a widely-acceptable family law for the Hindu community living in Pakistan, the National Assembly has finally approved the Hindu Marriage Bill 2016.

According to Dawn, the bill which was tabled before the house by Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael, will now be forwarded to the Senate for consideration and passage

The bill also allows separated Hindu persons to remarry. Clause 17 of the bill states that Hindu widows "shall have the right to re-marry of her own will and consent after the death of her husband provided a period of six months has lapsed after the husband's death".

There are penalties for violating the provisions of the bill, which also enables Hindus to finally have a proof of marriage document called the 'shadiparat', similar to the 'nikahnama' for Muslims.

Even though the legislation was approved unanimously by the lower house without any opposition from political parties, the law met with minor objections raised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) MNA Lal Chand Malhi.

He pointed towards Clause 12(iii), which deals with 'Annulment of Hindu Marriage', saying that it could encourage or give cover to 'forced conversions'. The clause stipulates that any marriage under this act could be annulled if the other party "has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition".

A proviso defines 'desertion' as "desertion of petitioner by other party to the marriage without reasonable cause and without the consent or against the wish of such party and includes the willful neglect of the petitioner by the other party".

However, the minister for Human Rights pacified the Hindu legislator from Umerkot, assuring him that he had misunderstood the clause.

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P R Chakravarty, former consul general of India in Karachi on Tuesday said if New Delhi scraps the 'Most Favoured Nation' status to Islamabad, it won't affect India whereas Pakistan would have problems in exporting their products.

"This meeting on the MFN status is context with what happened in Uri and what the options are available for India in terms of taking action against Pakistan. So, MFN is one of them because we gave MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 and they have not yet given it to us," Chakravarty told ANI

"If we scrap the MFN, which is part of our obligation under the WTO, it will affect Pakistani exports to India because then India would be able to apply higher tariffs than what we do for other countries. For India even if India-Pakistan trade goes down a bit it makes no difference. Pakistan will have problems in exporting their products," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with top officials on Thursday to decide whether to withdraw "Most Favoured Nation" status for Pakistan. It is expected that officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce Ministry would attend the meeting.

Reports are rife that India is considering withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

The decision comes a day after India reviewed the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

It is expected that officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce Ministry would attend the meeting.

Reports are rife that India is considering withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pearl Academy, India's leading private institution in design, fashion and creative businesses started a unique initiative with #IAmPearl campaign.

#IAmPearl is a celebration of innovative thinking, originality and exuberance unleashed by Pearlites in diverse fields ranging from fashion, communication, design to management.

This campaign also captures unabashed individualism, creativity, and passion of Pearlites, which gives them an edge in the highly competitive creative domain. The campaign witnessed more than 350 entries from existing students, faculty, and alumni expressing their views over social media platforms such as Tweets, Instagram and Facebook.

The mentors and the alumni fraternity who take pride in making unconventional choices, expressed solidarity with the values and vision that the institution imparts to its students. The current batch of students also enthusiastically participated through Tweets, Instagram Videos, and Facebook posts.

"We have seen students learn and grow as individuals at Pearl Academy. Their talent, hard work, and ambition have helped them create a niche in their respective industries. At Pearl, 'creation' is a definition of an era and a mirror to the future. We at Pearl aim to provide the industry with a creative brigade of talent each year," said Claudio Moderini, Faculty Head of Academics, Pearl Academy.

Campaign's first leg included the erudite teachers of the institution, posting videos and sharing words of wisdom for the future industry leaders. These mentors highlighted how their undying love for teaching makes them proud Pearlites. The leaders passionately shared their views on how they envision charting the path for the next generation, making them disciplined and efficient at what they do to face what lies beyond the walls of the college, thus making them future ready.

The second leg of the campaign kick started with students sharing their learning and experience they have had. The student community of Pearl Academy showcased the ideology they swear by with a gleam of passion. "Pearl Academy has taught me to be a strong and creative individual who doesn't shy away from facing the industry and making a mark for themselves. For 'I have miles to go before I sleep' as they put it. The courses are designed to empower students and professionals allowing them to gain an edge in the industry. I am proud to be a Pearlite," Deepanshi Joon, student (Interior Architecture and design).

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After enthralling her fans with her killer action in American thriller series 'Quantico', Priyanka Chopra is all set to show her dark side in her Hollywood debut 'Baywatch'.

Looking all excited to turn into a baddie and talking about her character Victoria in the film, PeeCee said "She is extremely feminine, very evil, extremely delectable, manipulative and patronizing, which is not at all Alex (her character from Quantico). These are completely different people," reports Interview Magazine

"Victoria is strong because she has minions. She has people do her dirty work. She doesn't look at how to get results, she just gets them. She doesn't have morality. But also ... it's a comedy," added the 34-year-old actress.

Speaking about the experience of portraying a negative character, the 'Mary Kom' star said, "It was so much fun to be able to create Victoria in Baywatch. It was awesome to bring that black evilness into their positive, beautiful world."

Talking about how it was working with director Seth Gordon, she said, "It was so much fun. Seth Gordon, the director, is huge a collaborator, and same with Josh Safran, for that matter, on Quantico-I've been very fortunate that the people I've worked with have been such collaborators when it comes to my characters."

Adding, "It wasn't ever difficult being Victoria, it was just creating. And the joy of creating is the truest joy. I don't enjoy being told what to do, I'm not that kind of actor, I'm a thinking actor. I need to work with people who have the ability to do that. Both Seth and Josh really have a sense of belief in what I bring to the table. I'm very grateful that they have that in me."

On a related note, 'Baywatch,' alongside Dwayne Johnson and will hit the cinemas on May 19.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly known as "Amma" around the world, for her commitment to his government's Swachch Bharat programme on the occasion of her 63rd birthday.

"Particularly, Amma's initiative on building toilets has been a great help in our Swachh Bharat Programme. Amma has pledged to contribute one hundred crore rupees towards sanitation efforts in Kerala. This pledge includes the construction of fifteen thousand toilets for the poor. Today, I am informed that throughout the state, Amma's ashram has already completed construction of two thousand toilets," Prime Minister Modi said through a video conference address.

Prime Minister Modi said, "On this pious and sacred occasion, I offer my deep regards to Amma. I also pray to the Almighty to give long life and good health to her. She is the guiding light for millions of devotees. Not only that, she has become the synonym of life for many devotees. Like a real Maa, she nurtures her devotees through direct and indirect acts; visible and invisible hands."

"I am very fortunate to be among those who have Amma's blessings and unconditional love. Three years ago, I had the opportunity to be present at Amritapuri, to pay my respects on the occasion of Amma's 60th birthday celebrations. Today, though I am not so lucky as to be present at the celebrations in person, I am delighted to be able to greet her, through technology. I have just returned from Kerala, and I was touched by the love and affection showered on me by the people of Kerala," he said further.

The Prime Minister said that India is the land of such saints who have seen God in everything that can be seen. Mankind is prominent among those things. That is why service to mankind has become their main motto.

"I am aware that even in her childhood Amma was fond of giving her own food to others. Serving the old and the aged, and helping the needy have been her childhood passions. Also, she used to worship Lord Krishna in her childhood. These two qualities have been her strength. Devotion to God and Dedication to the Poor is thus, the message which I have personally taken from my association with Amma. Millions of devotees from all over the world also believe in the same," Prime Minister Modi said.

"I am aware of the social and charitable works done by various institutions and programmes run by Amma. She is always keen to help the world's poor in meeting their five basic needs: food, shelter, health care, education, and livelihood. I would like to particularly mention the works done and donations made in the field of sanitation, water, housing, education and health. I understand that some of those beneficiaries will get their certificates today," he said.

" One year ago, Amma generously donated one hundred crore rupees to the Namami Gange programme. I am also aware of Amma's helping hands to mitigate the sufferings in the aftermath of natural disasters. It is also heartening to note that the researchers at Amrita University are innovating new approaches to solve some of the world's most pressing problems," he said.

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Red Hat, Inc. the world's leading provider of open source software solutions has concluded their India series of 'Red Hat Forum' conferences in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore.

Reflecting on the power of Open Source and the journey towards a fast and flexible future, participants discussed how businesses can empower and collaborate to innovate faster. A total of more than 1500 attendees participated in the three-city summit.

Power of Participation, Red Hat Forum discussed how enterprises can transform and innovate by learning, networking, and collaborating via open source. The event was kicked off by Rajesh Rege - Managing Director, Red Hat India, which was followed by a series of topics covering various aspects of Open Source technology.

Rajesh emphasized that open source is now at the forefront of every major breakthrough and the most innovative ideas do not merely come from the boardroom; but from a synergy of people working together.

The technology keynote, themed Building an Architecture for Continuous Innovation was delivered by Sarangan Rangachari - Vice President and General Manager, Storage and Big Data Business Unit, Red Hat, Inc. Rangachari also spoke about the participative movement accelerating the pace of innovation, making open source the default choice for organizations in India.

The speakers included the top leadership of Red Hat India, deliberated on solutions for: IT organizations on their journey to becoming a digital enterprise, on how digital transformation is possible via the Red Hat Management Portfolio and why Software-Defined Storage is Critical for IT Strategy.

Key customers and partners also discussed industry trends, success stories, and what's on the horizon in open source technology. In addition, guest speakers from Forrester shared insights from the commissioned 'Open Source Drives Digital Innovation' Asia Pacific survey of 450 CIOs about how they are mapping their strategies to open source opportunities.

Red Hat Forum 2016 is a place where technology experts across a wide range of fields collaborate and solve critical issues.

To compete in the digital economy, companies need to collaborate and participate in the open source communities of today. The forum is a place to get insider access to the people, network and knowledge. It symbolizes the power of participation.

Other highlights of the event open source technology vision shared by Red Hat evangelists, showcase of Red Hat Innovation Awards APAC success stories such as BSE and Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), hot trending topics included how to enable digital transformation, Linux containers, and software-defined storage, breakout sessions and tracks presented by subject-matter experts included Red Hat associates, customers, and partners on some of the latest product innovations, and real-world strategies for attendees in the public sector, financial services, and telecommunications and others.

Now in its sixth year, the Red Hat Forum series will travel to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Australia. The forum is expected to engage with more than 5,000 attendees from across industries in Asia-Pacific.

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The Cayuga County Legislature will consider the appointment of Weedsport resident Grant Kyle, 30, an independent, to fill the vacant District 4 seat representing the town of Brutus, according to Chairman Keith Batman in a release sent late Monday night.

Mark Farrell, who had previously held the seat, handed in his letter of resignation last week due to medical concerns. The deadline for the open seat to be on November's general election ballot was Sept. 20, and Farrell's letter of resignation came in on Sept. 22.

There has been tension over how best to fill the seat, as the Cayuga County Republican Committee and the town of Brutus Republican Committee called on the Legislature, in a release sent out early Monday, to hold a special election rather than stick with the precedent of appointing someone.

Batman had said that he did not want to leave the seat vacant until the next election, and was considering potential options for an appointment. Batman and Minority Leader Michael Didio had said last week a special election would not be desirable due to the timing around county budget discussions and the cost.

But Jeff Herrick, chairman for the Cayuga County Republican Committee, said Monday the 4,500 residents of Brutus should be able to elect a replacement, rather than having "a political appointee handpicked by Cayuga County Democrat Committee party bosses." While he understands Didio's perspective from his legislative standpoint, Herrick felt the cost and timing of a special election shouldn't matter more than fair and equal representation.

But the Cayuga County Board of Elections said according to New York Public Officers Law, vacancies are supposed to be filled by an appointment. Since Farrell's resignation came after this year's election deadline, the appointment would serve until next year's election. In November 2017, residents will be able to vote for a new legislator for the remaining two years of the term. The only time a special election could be held is if there was a tie vote for an appointee. Then Gov. Andrew Cuomo would have to call for a special election, setting a date with at least 78 days notice. The board also said the county would not be responsible for the costs of the election, which they estimated to be between $3,500 and $4,000. The costs would be shouldered by the town of Brutus.

When seats have become prematurely vacant in the past, precedent has been an appointment. The town of Brutus has faced this situation before. In 2002, Republicans appointed Ann Petrus to represent the town of Brutus to replace Legislator Earl Lamphere. Current sitting Legislator Tucker Whitman was also a Republican appointment in 2011, replacing former Legislator Christopher Palermo representing the towns of Victory and Sterling.

"Jeff (Herrick) seems misinformed about the history of Cayuga County, as well as the position of his own Republican caucus," Batman said in a phone interview Monday. "If he goes back and looks at the history of filling seats, there have been four or five vacancies in the last 20 years, maybe. Those have always been filled by appointment. The only difference now is the Republicans are in the minority, and now they want to change the rules, and change the process, and change how it's been done."

Herrick said he couldn't speak about what was done in the past. He said Batman and other legislators are not from Brutus, and by not holding a special election, they are undermining democracy.

"I'm speaking about now," he said before the announcement of Kyle's appointment. "The people of Brutus should pick their legislator. There are plenty of people prior to me. I can't speak for other county chairs. I want to see the people of Brutus represented."

Ian Phillips, committee chairman for the Cayuga County Democratic Committee, said Herrick's concerns were politicizing an issue that already seems resolved between the two parties on the Legislature.

"I trust that they're going to try to find someone who can serve Brutus well," Phillips said.

In his announcement Monday evening, Batman said Kyle grew up working on a dairy farm in Weedsport, attending Weedsport High School and later Davidson College. He currently manages several family businesses including KyleCroft Development, which has rehabilitated Auburns Brister Mills building into apartments and recently purchased the HSBC building and Nolan Block, according to Batmans release.

In addition, Kyle serves on several nonprofit boards including Auburn Public Theater, HomSite and the Cayuga Museum. Besides his service, Kyles family has donated 3.5 acres to the town of Brutus to expand Aqueduct Park.

Batman said legislators will hear from Kyle at Tuesday nights Legislature meeting. Hoping to appoint someone sooner rather than later so that the town of Brutus can be represented in county budget discussions, Batman said he is looking forward to the meeting.

His (Kyles) energy, business background, and commitment to the county will serve Weedsport and the Town of Brutus well as we head into difficult budget discussions, Batman said in the release.

Herrick urged Brutus residents to attend the Cayuga County Legislature meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 in the Sixth Floor Chambers of the Cayuga County Office Building to demand a special election.

It was not clear Monday night if the full Legislature planned to vote on appointing Kyle.
The Supreme Court is today likely to hear the Karnataka Government's plea to modify an earlier order on the sharing Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu.

In its plea, Karnataka has said its reservoirs are dry and it can only release water to Tamil Nadu by the end of the year.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu Government told ANI that the state government is likely to file a contempt plea against Karnataka Government for not following the apex court's order.

The petition came three days after Karnataka's legislature passed a resolution saying the river will be used only for meeting the drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery Basin and Bengaluru.

The resolutions, however, did not mention the top court's order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs every day (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu till September 27.

Karnataka has said its citizens would go thirsty and crops in the state will be ravaged if it releases any more water to Tamil Nadu.

Over the past month, both states are fighting a legal battle in various courts over the sharing and distribution of Cauvery waters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chairman of the United Kashmir People National Party, Shaukat Ali Kashmiri has said India has a locus standi on Kashmir, and committing acts of terror won't resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Ali said, "I have been saying since the first day that India has a locus standi in Kashmir's jurisprudence. According to UN policies, the perspectives of India and Pakistan have been taken into account."

He added that rulers of Kashmir wanted to keep Kashmir independent and therefore, they made a standstill agreement with Pakistan.

"They tried to make a standstill agreement with India as well. India did not disagree outrightly but said that they will discuss and then will respond accordingly. But Pakistan responded fully and signed the standstill agreement," he said.

"The standstill agreement was that Pakistan would not interfere in the matters of Kashmir and Kashmir won't interfere in Pakistan's matters. This meant that Kashmir's land won't be used against Pakistan or Pakistan's land won't be used against Kashmir. But, unfortunately after the standstill agreement, Pakistan invaded Kashmir on 22nd October through tribal people and then a regular army invaded headed by General Akbar Khan," he added.

Recounting the incidents thereafter, Shaukat Ali said, "After this, a resolution was passed in United Nations Security Council which is known as the 17th January, 1948 resolution. In the resolution, Pakistan was asked to vacate the areas that they occupied in Kashmir and also withdraw all the people who had come to fight in Kashmir. There was a truce agreement after this, which Pakistan and India accepted. But, there was a role for both India and Pakistan in the truce agreement. Both the parties were asked to withdraw armies."

"Srinagar government had legitimacy in the resolution and was to keep an administrative government and areas like Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK under the supervision of United Nations was to be handed over to local authorities and then Kashmir would have been unified. All the infiltrators were to be withdrawn from Kashmir and Pakistan was to vacate the territory along with the maintenance of the law and order situation".

He said that the first plebiscite was Kashmir's sovereignty and accession with India. Kashmir was asked to either ratify Treaty of Accession or go back to the position before 1947. But, Pakistan never complied with the United Nations resolutions. It was a prerequisite that Pakistan had to accept it before India.

Speaking on the issue of terrorism, he said, "Terrorism is not the solution to this issue. The suffering all over the today is due to terrorism."

He reiterated that those nations which used terrorism as a tool of foreign policy are destabilised today and added that Pakistan is one of those.

"Today, Pakistan's society has been destroyed due to terrorism and I have been saying since the first day that Pakistan is destabilising by taking up wrong policies and their own people are suffering," he added.

"We want the relation between India and Pakistan to improve and the issues to be resolved amicably," he concluded.

As External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj concluded her speech at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday; Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her for an "effective and well-articulated speech" covering a wide range of issues.

Apart from the Prime Minister, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu, Piyush Goyal, BJP chief Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended their compliments through their twitter handles.

Speaking at the 71st session of the UNGA in New York, Swaraj highlighted progress in various welfare schemes implemented by the Government of India, which were in tune with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) adopted by most of the members of the UN.

She later turned her focus towards combating terrorism and the need to adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), proposed by New Delhi since 1996, which aims to extradite and prosecute terrorists.

She forefronted the important message that terrorism is the biggest human rights violation in the today and must be fought globally.

Swaraj, while criticising Pakistan for creating unrest in Kashmir, asserted that Kashmir valley is an integral part of India.

She also criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for accusing India of "committing brutalities in the Kashmir Valley" and for hailing Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani as "young leader.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a veiled attack at the Maharashtra Navnirmana Sena (MNS) threats against Pakistani artists, Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla on Tuesday said that people, "who have gone out of their senses, should think calmly to deal with problems better."

"We have gone out of our senses. The issues raised are showing we are just trying to fix problems; we are not taking that out from the roots. It may not sound like a sensational answer to you, but it is the only answer. We have to change from within," she told ANI here, when quizzed on the same.

Further putting forward an example to it, the actress asked the people to "think calmly, speak calmly" as "there are nicer ways to deal with problems."

"You can do that and work out for yourself whether that can be the remedy," she added.

On a related note, a Pakistani media today reported that amidst the threats by MNS, Bollywood's recent heartthrob Fawad Khan has left India before the release of his upcoming Karan Johar flick 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.'

The MNS had last week given an ultimatum to the Pakistani artistes to leave India within 48 hours or face consequences in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

This order, backed by the Shiv Sena, came after tension between the two Asian neighbours escalated to a new level post the terror attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were martyred 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 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' as the movies star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

This threat by the MNS follows that from a blogger, who in a post told Fawad to leave the country.

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The nicest guy in Hollywood charmed the staff with his Boston accent while dining out at Pier 6, a waterfront restaurant in Boston.

The 60-year-old 'Big' star made the effort to charm staff and customers alike by showing off his version the local dialect, reports People magazine.

"His Boston accent was a perfect 10," a staff member told the magazine.

The 'Forrest Gump' favourite reportedly tucked into New England clam chowder and lamb gyros after which he made sure he lavished the staff with extra praise as he left, telling them he "loved the chowdah" in a cod Boston accent.

"He was very friendly and gracious with our staff, and a great tipper," admitted a restaurant staff.

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Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, who arrived in Lagos, Nigeria for a five-day official visit to Nigeria and Mali inaugurated the High Commission of India Chancery complex in Abuja and interacted with the members of the Indian community.

The Vice President, who is accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari and other senior officials, reached Nigerian capital Abuja.

He was received at the Abuja International Airport by his Nigerian counterpart Yemi Osinbajo.

Vice President Ansari also planted a sapling with his wife Salma Ansari.

An agreement on Bureau of Standards will be signed in Nigeria.

Vice President Ansari yesterday said that the repeated attacks of the Nigerian nationals in India were just "stray incidents" and were neither specific to citizens of any particular country nor racially motivated.

Addressing the media onboard Air India Special Flight on way to a five-day visit to Nigeria and Mali, Vice President Ansari said that it was however important to note that the law enforcement agencies had quickly responded wherever and whenever such incidents had taken place.

On the second leg of his trip, Vice President Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will return home on October 1.

In Mali, he will meet President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Modibo Keita 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.

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Expressing gratitude to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for raising the Baloch issue at the United Nations, Pakistan author and analyst Tarek Fatah has said her speech would give boost to the Baloch cause as her outreach far exceeds than that of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking to ANI, Tarekh said when Sushma speaks, the listens, but when the Pakistan Prime Minister speaks, the hall is usually empty.

"I think it's very appropriate for the Indian Foreign Minister to raise the issue of atrocities in Balochistan, especially in view of the fact that the PM of Pakistan praised a known ISIS influenced Jihadi terrorist in his address to the UNGA. It shows the contrast between a terror-supporting state like Pakistan and as its neighbour, the Indian republic, which is fighting Islamic terrorism. I think that this will give a lot of incentive to the Baloch people because their voice will be heard across the world, because when the Indian Foreign Minister speaks, the listens, when the Pakistan Prime Minister speaks, the hall is usually very empty," he said.

Asserting that global terrorism is a very serious problem, Fateh further said that Pakistani establishments need to be dismantled which can only occur if Balochistan achieves independence.

"Global terrorism is very serious and, I think, Pakistan has to be dismantled if we have to fight global terrorism. As long as there is Pakistan, there will be international terrorism, because it is not just a country which is involved in terrorism, it harbours terrorists, it nurtures people who want to give up their lives for a supposed paradise and that institution has to be dismantled, and for that, independence of Balochistan is absolutely essential," he said.

Rebutting Sharif's statements, made five days earlier, at the UNGA, where he accused India of "committing brutalities in the Kashmir Valley" and hailed Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani as a "young leader", Swaraj, speaking at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), said, "On 21st September, the Prime Minister of Pakistan used this podium to make baseless allegations about human rights violations in my country. I can only say that 'jinke apne ghar shishe ke ho, unhe dusro par patthar nahi fekne chahiye. (those whose houses are made of glass should not throw stones at others). Those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression."

Swaraj further said, "In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account. These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's team allegedly harassed a woman for taking his pictures, while he was shopping at the high-end luxury retail store Harrods in London.

"An acquaintance on a Whatsapp group found nawaz sharif shopping for Gucci shoes at Harrods. He got flustered when approached by Pakistanis. His security team stopped her and Harrods security took her phone away," tweeted Shoaib Taimur, a London based data scientist.

Taimur, who was tweeting from his verified account, asserted that the woman was also questioned as to why she was present at the store without a 'mehram' (male companion).

The woman was then allegedly taken to the Pakistan High Commission in London.

"So if you question Nawaz Sharif while he is shopping at Harrods, he will get the High Commission to summon you. Nawaz sharif and his goons are scared of a woman," he said.

He also tweeted a picture of Sharif shopping at the store, as proof of his story.

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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, apex industry body ASSOCHAM has said.

Out of India's total merchandise trade of USD 641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre USD 2.67 billion, of this India's exports to the neighbouring country amounted to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 per cent of total inward shipments.

In all, trade with Pakistan was equivalent to 0.41 per cent of India's global merchandise commerce, said Mr D. S. Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM.

Thus, the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) 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 but even with the MFN status, Pakistan's exports to India remained less than half a billion dollar, said Mr Rawat.

He said that for political reasons, the 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, said Mr Rawat.

On its part, India Inc is fully and solidly behind Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for steering India's interest in the best possible directions. The strategic decisions are fully the domain of the government which enjoys the full backing of the nation, the ASSOCHAM said.

Even as India was grappling with the global slowdown, its merchandise exports were USD 261 billion in 2015-16, while imports were USD 380 billion. India's main exports markets are the European Union, the US, Africa and the South East Asia. There has been fair amount of activity in Latin America as well.

On the other hand, China along with countries of the Middle East, the EU and the US are major suppliers of goods to India having a major charge on the country's imports bill.

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Key benchmark indices may open with decent gains as trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could gain 58.15 points at the opening bell.

In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks were mixed amid the first US presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. US stocks extended losses yesterday, 26 September 2016 as worries about Germany's Deutsche Bank weighed on the financial sector and as investors awaited the US presidential debate.

Closer home, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 206.40 crore yesterday, 26 September 2016, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 113.35 crore yesterday, 26 September 2016, as per provisional data.

Among corporate news, Hero MotoCorp said that it has augmented premium portfolio with the next-gen 'Achiever - 150' aiming to expand its presence in the premium segment. The motorcycle is competitively priced at Rs 62,800 ex-showroom Delhi for the disc variant and Rs 61,800 for the drum variant. The company has launched limited edition Achiever 150 to commemorate the 7 crore milestone of cumulative production. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 September 2016.

Meanwhile, key benchmark indices dropped on first trading day of the week yesterday, 26 September 2016 on weak global stocks. The Sensex dropped 373.94 points or 1.3% to settle at 28,294.28, its lowest closing level since 29 August 2016.

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A bout of volatility was witnessed in morning trade as key benchmark indices trimmed initial gains. At 10:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 37.88 points or 0.13% at 28,332.16. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 15.45 points or 0.18% at 8,738.50.

In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks were mixed amid the first US presidential debate between Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Democrat Hillary Clinton accused Republican Donald Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance late yesterday, 26 September 2016 in US during a heated presidential debate. Trump, a real estate tycoon making his first run for public office, said Clinton's long years of service represented bad experience with few results and suggested her trade deal with Asian countries was insincere.

US stocks extended losses yesterday, 26 September 2016 as worries about Germany's Deutsche Bank weighed on the financial sector and as investors awaited the US presidential debate. US presidential elections will be held on 8 November this year.

Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was strong. On BSE, 1,327 shares rose and 704 shares fell. A total of 123 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.27%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.56%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Auto stocks gained. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) (up 0.72%), Ashok Leyland (up 0.43%), Eicher Motors (up 0.32%), Bajaj Auto (up 0.84%), Tata Motors (up 0.92%) and TVS Motor Company (up 0.65%) gained. Maruti Suzuki India fell 0.03%.

Hero MotoCorp rose 0.83% after the company said that it has augmented premium portfolio with the next-gen 'Achiever - 150' aiming to expand its presence in the premium segment. The motorcycle is competitively priced at Rs 62,800 ex-showroom Delhi for the disc variant and Rs 61,800 for the drum variant. The company has launched limited edition Achiever 150 to commemorate the 7 crore milestone of cumulative production. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 September 2016.

Realty stocks also rose. DLF (up 0.33%), Sobha (up 0.14%), Indiabulls Real Estate (up 0.45%), Unitech (up 0.67%), Godrej Properties (up 0.6%), Housing Development & Infrastructure (HDIL) (up 0.6%), and Oberoi Realty (up 1.24%) edged higher. NBCC shed 0.02%.

IRB Infrastructure Developers rose 2.36% after the company said that it received letter of award from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the project of six laning from Udaipur to Rajasthan/Gujarat border a stretch of NH-8 in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The project will be on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) mode under National Highways Development Project Phase V. The estimated project cost of the company is approximately Rs 2100 crore. The concession period of the project is 21 years including construction period of 910 days. The company will get tolling rights on project from the appointed date. The company has offered premium of Rs 163.80 crore to NHAI in terms of the concession agreement. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 September 2016.

Yes Bank rose 0.81% after the bank said that it will raise Rs 330 crore or around $50 million through an issue of seven year Green Infrastructure Bonds to FMO, the Dutch development bank on a private placement basis. The amount raised will be used to finance green infrastructure including solar and wind projects in the renewable energy space. The announcement was made during market hours today, 27 September 2016.

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After toxins were found in Owasco and Auburn's treated water supply from blue-green algae on Sunday and Monday, the Cayuga County Health Department said it would conduct daily tests. Tuesday's test results showed that the city of Auburn's treated water had no toxins present, but the town of Owasco's water had low but detectable levels of toxins, .16 micrograms per liter.

Eileen O'Connor, director of the county's Environmental Health division, said this is apparently the first time in New York state that "detectable levels of toxins associated with blue-green algae were found in a treated public water supply."

She said they will continue to run tests on treated water until they believe there is no risk for any toxins to be present. Because the levels are below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Advisory level for short-term exposure of .3 micrograms per liter for preschool age children, O'Connor said the health department is currently not asking the public to change what they're doing. Short-term exposure for school-age children through adults is 1.6 micrograms per liter.

Filters bought in a store have not been tested for their effectiveness in removing toxins, she said. Boiling water, however, will not remove the toxins.

The water system plants for Owasco and Auburn are looking into ways to optimize their performance, and O'Connor said the health department will be asking them to confer with their designers for other improvements.

The toxins were a topic of discussion at Tuesday night's Cayuga County Legislature meeting as well. Charlie Green, former Niles town supervisor, spoke during the public comment portion. He asked legislators why residents of Owasco and Auburn shouldn't ask for reimbursements on their water bills for the days where toxins were detected. He also asked why there hasn't been a complete ban on swimming in the lake.

Chairman of the Legislature Keith Batman said the problem appears to be unique to Owasco Lake, and he expects the county may get state and federal funding to help with ideas.

"We're actively pursuing long and short-term solutions," he said.

Blue-green algae toxins, when consumed, can have detrimental effects on the liver and nervous system in animals and people. Those with questions may call the Environmental Health Division of the Cayuga County Health Department at (315) 253-1560, visit cayugacounty.us/environmental or visit their Facebook page.
Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari has directed NHAI and the State Government to identify important tourist spots on the route and facilitate to create wayside amenities on the lines of Ocean Highway in USA. This facility once built will add to the tourism value of whole area and shall be helpful in creating employment for the local people.

NHAI is preparing a DPR for 4-laning of coastal highway (Kerala Karnataka Border to Kannur from Km 17/200 to Km 148/000 of NH-17 (New No. NH-66) under NHDP Phase-III and 4 laning of Kannur to Vengalam from Km 148/000 to Km 230/000 of NH-17. Minister has also directed State Government to submit the proposal of 1200 crore under NHO and DPR of 200 km NH length so that same can be expedited and awarded in this financial year.

Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari, reviewed National Highway works with senior officers of PWD, NHAI and Ministry during his visit to Cochin. Contractors/Concessionaires, Independent Engineer and Consultants were also present in the review meeting. Minister reviewed the following three ongoing projects:

i) 6-laning of NH-66 (Old No.47) Vadakkanchery-Thrissur (Tunneling Both Side) under NHDP Phase -II.

ii) 4-laning of NH-66 (Old No.47) of Kazhakkotam-Mukkoila (km.0/000 to Km.26/500) under NHDP Phase-III; and

iii) Mukkola to KL/TN Border section (km 26.500 to Km 43.000) under NHDP Phase-III.

In regard to project of 6-laning of NH-66, the Minister reviewed progress of tunnel being built and has advised the concerned officers and contractors to expedite tunnelling work by putting additional resources, machineries and start the work from both ends of the tunnel.

Minister has directed contractors and officers to complete the work by March, 2017.

Minister also reviewed the projects on Thalassery-Mahe Bypass (NH-66) and Kozhikode Bypass (NH-66). It has been informed by the Additional Chief Secretary, PWD, Government of Kerala that the land is available for taking up the work of Thalassery - Mahe Bypass and Kozhikode Bypass in the project stretch of 4 laning of Kerala- Karnataka Border to Kannur from Km 17/200 to Km 148/000 of NH-17 (New No. NH-66) under NHDP Phase-III and 4 laning of Kannur to Vengalam from Km 148/000 to Km 230/000 of NH-17 (New NH-66) under NHDP Phase-III. The Minister has directed that work on these works should be immediately awarded for construction.

While reviewing the project of 4-laning of NH-66, the Minister has advised that as was requested by Chief Minister, Kerala, and was agreed by the Minister, a Vehicular Under Pass (VUP) shall be provided and revised design of the airport connectivity ramp shall be prepared by the NHAI and contractors. The Minister has also directed the State Government to provide all necessary support in terms of land acquisition and payment of long pending dues of tolls to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. The Minister has also directed State Government Principal Secretary (PWD) to regularly review land acquisition process and expedite necessary approvals by the State Government.

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To manage non-clinical services across 27 hospitals in Sabah region

Ramco System announced that the Malaysian government-backed Hospital Support Services provider Sedafiat Sdn. Bhd. has successfully gone live with the Company's full-suite ERP solution, to manage non-clinical services across 27 hospitals, in Sabah region.

Ramco's integrated ERP suite digitizes the Accounting, HR & Payroll and Supply Chain Management functions, including Book Keeping, Inventory, Procurement, Employee Information, Leave and Time Management, among the others. With an automated system in place, Sedafiat is well placed to manage operations spanning across Facility Management, Maintenance (Engineering & Bio-medical), Cleansing, Linen & Laundry Services and Healthcare Waste Management Services among others.

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Board of Tata Motors Finance and Sheba Properties approves scheme of arrangement

Tata Motors announced that the Board of Directors of Tata Motors Finance (TMFL) and Sheba Properties, subsidiaries of the Company, have approved the Scheme of Arrangement at meetings held on 26 September 2016. The scheme involves the transfer by TMFL of its undertaking comprising the new vehicle finance line of business including all assets and liabilities comprising part of that undertaking 'New Vehicle Finance Business' to its subsidiary Sheba for a lumpsum consideration. The scheme will come into effect after obtaining of all applicable approvals including sanction of the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay.

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At least 17 persons were killed and 20 injured on Tuesday when a passenger bus veered some 300 metres off a hilly road in Nepal's Dhading district, police said.

The bus was travelling from a village to the district headquarters of Dhadingbesi.

Chief District Officer Bishow Prakash Subedi said the bodies of the victims including 10 men and four women were retrieved from the accident site.

Six of the injured were in critical condition. They were airlifted to capital Kathmandu for treatment, Subedi added.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known but the police believe it could be the result of a combination of an overloaded bus and the steep gravelled road.

--IANS

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Customs authorities seized smuggled goods valued at around Rs 2 crore at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport in Kolkata, an official said on Tuesday.

On Monday, articles were intercepted from 15 passengers travelling from Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore to the city.

A Customs spokesperson said, "On September 26, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted 2,717 cartons of cigarette, 1956 wrist watches, 98 laptops and 16 iPhones at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport valued around Rs 2 crore from 15 passengers travelling from Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore to Kolkata."

--IANS

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The body of murdered Sri Lankan newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was popular for his investigative journalism, was exhumed on Tuesday to conduct a fresh probe into his killing in 2009.

Wickrematunge's body was exhumed at a local burial ground in the presence of a magistrate and under tight security after investigators obtained court approval to exhume the body as suspicion arose over the exact manner in which he was killed, Xinhua news agency reported.

He was the founding editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper and popular for the stand he took on freedom.

Wickrematunge was believed to have been killed while on his way to office for taking on the then government which was on the verge of defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels after 30 years of a civil war.

While in 2009 it was believed that Wickrematunge died of gunshot wounds, investigators now believe he may have died from injuries sustained after a sharp object pierced through his skull.

In a pre-written editorial which was published posthumously Wickrematunge feared he would be killed for his work by the then government.

The current editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper Easwaran Rutnam told Xinhua news agency that he was cautiously optimistic that justice will finally be served more than seven years after Wickrematunge's death.

"The euphoria over the war victory in May 2009 saw the push for justice for Wickrematunge's killing taking a back seat. However, the new government which took office following elections last year has shown the political will to investigate incidents like that of Wickrematunge's killing so there is hope the investigation will move forward," he said.

An army intelligence officer has already been arrested and is being questioned over the incident while a former top police officer was also questioned.

--IANS

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As MNS workers protested outside filmmaker Karan Johar's office here on Tuesday over Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's presence in his film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", industry veterans Subhash Chandra and Anupam Kher justified the MNS ban on Pakistani artistes.

But filmmaker Vikas Bahl wondered if ousting the Pakistani actors would solve any problem.

"I want to know if the step we are taking is towards solving the problem... What is the next step after they leave the country," Bahl told IANS.

His sentiment is in tune with Karan Johar's concern that banning Pakistani artistes from working in India was not a solution to terrorism. MNS workers reportedly staged a protest outside the filmmaker's office, shouting slogans against him for casting Fawad in the forthcoming drama "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil".

Fawad is one of the Pakistani actors asked by the MNS to leave the country following the September 18 terror attack in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers.

The actor, according to a source, had left India in July itself.

He won the heart of Indian audiences when he made inroads into the Indian TV industry through Zindagi channel, which brought syndicated content from Pakistan to the country.

"Zindagi Gulzar Hai" and "Humsafar" are shows that helped him garner a huge fan following, which then escalated when he made his Bollywood debut with "Khoobsurat".

"Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" features him with Bollywood biggies Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Ranbir preferred to be mum on the MNS directive while Karan, who directed the film, told a news channel that "this (asking Pakistani artistes to leave) is not a solution".

But Essel Group's chairman Subhash Chandra, who has announced that they will discontinue beaming Pakistani shows on Indian TV channel Zindagi in the wake of the September 18 attack, said as an Indian conglomerate, the Zee family had always extended an olive branch to Pakistan.

But now was the time to take a step back as "somewhere you have to understand your people's sensibility".

Chandra said that on their part they requested Pakistani artistes like Fawad, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Veena Malik, Imran Abbas and more to "simply condemn the terrorist attack on sleeping soldiers".

"Nobody did it. We even said don't name Pakistan, but they didn't do it."

Apart from Fawad, Mahira is slated to be seen in Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Raees", the release of which is also under threat from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Anupam, who was denied a visa to Pakistan earlier this year, said the films that Pakistani actors have shot for must release for the sake of the investment the producers have made.

But he condemned their silence after the terror attack in Uri.

"Make us feel that we have given you so much (in your career), and you can at least do lip service and say 'I am sorry for your pain and I condemn this act of terrorism'," he said in a message to Pakistani actors.

The Indian film fraternity has been largely careful while commenting on the issue, with many choosing to keep their thoughts to themselves.

When IANS asked filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, who has touched upon the issue of terrorism in films like "Baby", he said: "I have an opinion, a strong opinion at that. But I wouldn't want to share it on a public platform."

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the central government to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for finding some way to break the impasse over the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.

Asking the Centre to facilitate such a meeting, the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit also directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day for the next three days.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have locked horns over sharing the Cauvery water. The Karnataka government on Monday told the Supreme Court that it can release additional water to Tamil Nadu only by December, and that "Karnataka's all major cities, including Bengaluru, are falling short of drinking water".

Karnataka also sought modification of the Supreme Court order that instructed it to give more water to Tamil Nadu.

A few days ago, the Karnataka assembly passed a resolution, contending that the river water would be used only for meeting drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the central government to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to find a solution to the impasse over Cauvery river water.

Asking the Centre to facilitate such a meeting, the bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit also directed the Karnataka government to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day for the next three days.

The apex court's instruction to the central government came after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi suggested that the Centre could sit with the two Chief Ministers -- K. Siddaramaiah and J. Jayalalithaa.

September 30 has been fixed as the next date for hearing in the matter.

The bench told the two states fighting over the river water to respect the principle of "federal co-operation", and advised Tamil Nadu to exercise "patience" and shun being "emotional" over the issue.

"We direct the State of Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water. We are sure that Karnataka would not create any impediment or obstruction in the release of water," the apex court said.

The bench also clarified in the order that the water to be given to Tamil Nadu (6,000 cusecs per day for next three days) would be adjusted against the total release of water to the state.

Attacking Karnataka for not complying with the court's September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs of water every day for next seven days, Tamil Nadu said Karnataka's plea seeking modification of order should not be heard.

"They (Karnataka) should not be heard till they obey the orders of the court. This is a gross defiance of the court's order ... end of the rule of law," senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the court.

He further said: "Tamil Nadu is tired of this litigation. Two-thirds of Bangalore is outside the Cauvery basin, yet (Cauvery) water flows to it."

Naphade described the stand of Karnataka as "obstructionist" and "obstinate", Naphade told the bench that "Tamil Nadu has come to conclusion that, come what may, Karnataka will not give it (Tamil Nadu) its legitimate share (of Cauvery water)."

Over-ruling Naphade's assertion that Karnataka should not be heard, the bench said: "Attempt should be made by the executive of both States to manage and resolve the issue."

At one stage in the course of the hearing, the bench asked senior counsel Fali S Nariman as to under what provision of the Constitution the Karnataka assembly had passed the resolution denying release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The Karnataka government, in an application on September 26, told the Supreme Court that it can release additional water to Tamil Nadu only by December, and that "Karnataka's all major cities, including Bengaluru, are falling short of drinking water".

--IANS

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The central government has given its approval to change the name of Gurgaon to 'Gurugram'.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told the media in Panchkula near here on Tuesday that the city as well as the district of Gurgaon would now onwards be known as Gurugram.

Gurgaon, also referred to as the 'Millennium City", is adjoining the national capital New Delhi.

The BJP government in Haryana had in April this year announced the move to rename Gurgaon as Gurugram.

"The decision to change the name of Gurgaon as Gurugram was taken on the basis of the representations received at several fora that it would be appropriate to rename Gurgaon as Gurugram," a state government spokesman had said.

"Haryana is a historic land of the Bhagwad Gita, and Gurgaon had been a centre of learning. It had been known as Gurgaon since the times of Guru Dronacharya. Gurgaon was a great centre of education where the princes used to be provided education. Therefore, since long the people of the area had been demanding that Gurgaon be renamed as Gurugram," the spokesman said.

Gurgaon is known both nationally and globally as an industrial, information technology, software and corporate hub. The offices of several multinational corporations (MNCs) and leading Indian companies are located here.

--IANS

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AUBURN  A Tompkins County man has admitted to a felony after Auburn police said he attacked his ex-girlfriend with an ax and strangled her with a belt.

Harry White, of 169 Old Stage Road, Groton, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree criminal contempt in satisfaction of several felony charges in Cayuga County.

The Auburn Police Department said the 30-year-old violated an order of protection when he showed up at a residence on Liberty Street and began fighting with his ex-girlfriend last month. According to police, White allegedly threatened the victim with an ax, wrapped a belt around her neck and pulled her down the street.

White was arrested and charged with three felonies  first-degree criminal contempt, second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon  and three misdemeanors  fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree menacing and obstruction of breath.

However, in Cayuga County criminal court Tuesday, White admitted to only the first count, stating that he "headbutted" the victim and violated an order of protection.

Judge Mark Fandrich said he will likely sentence the defendant to one to three years in prison based upon an agreement with the district attorney's office. In addition, White will have to pay more than $1,000 in restitution and a full stay-away order will be issued for eight years on behalf of the victim.

White  who is facing separate charges in Auburn City Court for allegedly stealing another person's identity to withdraw money from an ATM in July  will be sentenced Jan. 3.

Also in court:

 A Cayuga County teenager pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted burglary Tuesday for stealing items from a house in the town of Niles.

Michael Mathers, 17, said he was walking by a home on Old State Road in May when he noticed the door was open.

"I went in and took some knives from a safe and some change from the kitchen," he told Fandrich.

Mathers, of 4339 Murray Raod, Skaneateles, could face up to seven years in prison; however, as a condition of his plea, Fandrich is expected to sentence him to five years probation. Mathers  who will likely be granted youthful offender status at sentencing  will also have to pay restitution and undergo a drug evaluation and treatment.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 3.

 A 19-year-old Moravia woman has admitted to forging a $4,000 check.

Samantha Townsend, of 3140 Rockefeller Rd., pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class "D" felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. The teen said she cashed a forged $4,000 check at Modern Market in Moravia on May 1.

According to defense attorney Timothy Brennan, Townsend's plea would satisfy several pending charges and the court will sentence Townsend to time served plus five years probation. Townsend will also have to pay $4,000 restitution and undergo a drug evaluation as part of the terms and conditions of her plea.

Townsend was remanded to Cayuga County Jail without bail. She will be sentenced Nov. 29.

 An Auburn man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for selling heroin in 2014.

Juan Robles, of 206 Melone Village Apartments, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance last month.

According to Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann, the 36-year-old sold heroin to the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force on Nov. 10, 2014, for approximately $300.

"Although this is his first felony conviction, he has had a busy history in the past few years," Budelmann said, noting that Robles has been convicted of several drug-related misdemeanors in the past.

Fandrich stuck to the agreed-upon sentence in the case of 3 1/2 years in prison plus 2 years post-release supervision on each count. Both sentences will run concurrently to one another.

In addition, Fandrich recommended shock camp as part of Robles' sentence with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
In a bid to boost connectivity in the northeastern region, the airstrips, airfields and Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) can now used by civilians commercial aircraft, an officer said on Tuesday.

"The airstrips, airfields and ALGs of the IAF in northeastern region can be used by the civil and commercial aircraft to facilitate connectivity in the mountainous region," Shillong based Defence Ministry Spokesperson Group Captain Amit Mahajan told IANS on the phone.

"In the northeastern region, IAF airfields at Bagdogra (West Bengal), Tezpur, Jorhat and Kumbhirgram (all in Assam) are already supporting commercial connectivity. At Kumbhirgram, facilities like runway, airfield lighting and all critical navigation aids such as ILS, VOR and DME, are controlled by Airport Authority of India (AAI)," he added.

"The IAF is always willing to accommodate civil operations, even beyond its routine watch hours," Mahajan said.

He said that many ALGs are either being revived or extended by the IAF in Arunachal Pradesh, which shares a 1,080 km border with China.

"ALGs at Zero, Pasighat, Along and Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh are ready for operations by IAF and civilian operators."

According to Mahajan, the stumbling block for civilian air operations has been the lack of passenger handling infrastructure which needs to be created by the concerned state government or AAI, and clearances from Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI and Director General of Civil Aviation.

Meanwhile, as part of Air Force Day celebrations, Eastern Air Command headquarters at Upper Shillong in Meghalaya has decided to hold a three-day 'AIR FEST 2016' from September 30.

"The festival would showcase the 'Spirit of Adventure' which epitomizes the IAF," he added.

The festival would include an air display with a flypast by Sukhoi SU-30 combat jets and Mi-17 helicopters followed by a breathtaking display of the IAF's 'Air Devils' team which has carried out sky-diving and free-fall para jumps all over the world.

There will also be a demonstration of Garud commandos slithering down ropes from helicopters.

Aero modeling, static display of aircraft and performance by an IAF band will be the other highlights of the festival.

--IANS

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US presidential contenders Hillary Clinton (Democrat) and Donald Trump (Republican)clashed in their first head-to-head debate of the general election season mainly over job cuts, tax payments, rise of the Islamic State (IS) and racism.

Moderator Lester Holt of NBC News opened the 90-minute debate on Monday night at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York, the first of three such.

Clinton, who looked radiant and fierce in a bright red pant suit started the debate by asking Trump, looking sober in a sharp black suit with a cobalt blue tie: "How are you, Donald" as the crowd cheered -- in spite of being cautioned against doing so.

The debate, which CNN gave to Clinton 67:22, centred around three broadly defined topics: America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. It was split into six 15-minute segments. Two minutes was allotted to answer a question asked by Holt, two minutes to reply and the remaining time for the nominees to debate.

The first question about putting money back into Americans' pockets and creating jobs was directed to the former Secretary of State and she started her speech by defending the idea to create "an economy for all" and stressed that she intends to do so "by having the wealthy pay their fair share".

Clinton, who is also the first woman presidential candidate representing a major US political party, claimed that her economic plan would create 10 million jobs, while Trump's plan would cost the nation 3.5 million jobs.

The former first lady insisted that she would work to achieve equal pay between men and women, paid paternity leave and debt-free college.

Clinton accused her rival for being one of the real estate tycoons who benefited from the economic crisis that hit the country in 2008.

On employment in the US, Trump said that China and Mexico were "stealing" American business and jobs.

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we have to stop companies from leaving the United States," he said, reiterating his proposal to impose taxes on companies that move from the US to other countries and then seek to sell their products in America.

He also threatened to scrap or renegotiate some of the "bad" trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that came into force in 1994, or re-define the terms of military agreements like NATO.

One of the longest exchanges came not on tax policy -- but Trump's refusal to release his taxe records, breaking decades of precedent for presidential candidates.

"Why won't he release his tax returns," Clinton asked, adding: "Maybe he is not as rich as he says he is. Maybe he is not as charitable as he claims to be. Maybe he doesn't want the American people to know that he has paid nothing in federal taxes."

Trump responded by saying that he would release his taxes when Clinton made public 33,000 emails that were deleted from her private email server while she was in office from 2009 to 2013. She immediately responded by saying that it was a "mistake".

The real-estate mogul also blamed Clinton for the rise of the IS. He attacked her for being weak on the terror group and mocked her by saying: "You've been fighting IS your entire adult life."

When the debate turned to racial issues and crime, Clinton said that it was important for police to work together with local communities to restore trust.

Trump accused Clinton of refusing to say the phrase "law and order" and bemoaned the state of the inner cities. He said that African-Americans and Hispanics were "living in hell".

He also said Clinton did not have the stamina to be president, to which she replied that she visited 112 countries as secretary of state.

One key exchange was over Trump's long-held belief that President Barack Obama was born outside the US, a position he finally reversed two weeks ago.

Clinton also recalled Trump's stream of insults to women over the years.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women don't deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men," Clinton said.

In other attacks, Clinton criticised Trump for terming climate change a Chinese hoax and also for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moderator Holt, in the final question of the night, asked both Trump and Clinton if they would accept the will of the voters on Election Day.

Clinton said: "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but I certainly will support the outcome of this election."

Trump pointed that he would "want to make America great again. We are a nation that is seriously troubled ... If she wins, I will absolutely support it."

The latest CNN poll released earlier on Monday showed Clinton and Trump neck-and-neck 44 per cent to 42 per cent.

The audience included the nominees' families. Hillary's husband and former US President Bill Clinton and Trump's wife Melania shook hands while they entered the varsity's David S. Mack auditorium.

This was the 20th US presidential debate and was organised by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-governmental organisation.

--IANS

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The European Union (EU) decided to suspend restrictive measures against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Tuesday, after the rebel group signed a peace agreement with the Colombian government.

"This decision will allow us to support the post-conflict programme and will be of benefit to all Colombians," Xinhua news agency quoted EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini as saying on social media.

The FARC, Columbia's largest rebel group, reached an agreement with the Colombian government on Monday in Cartagena on a peace deal to end more than 50 years of armed conflict.

According to the agreement, the rebel group must hand over weapons to the United Nations within 180 days.

The FARC has been listed on "EU terrorist list" since June 2002. The EU had applied restrictive measures against the organisation, such as freezing its assets and prohibiting EU citizens and organisations from providing it with funding or resources.

According to Belgian media Politico, the EU has pledged to provide $575 million to support the implementation of the peace process.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government on Tuesday awarded the contract for four-laning of the Lucknow-Sultanpur section of National Highway-56 in Uttar Pradesh, worth Rs 2,845 crore.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued the "Letter of Award" (LOA) for development of the Lucknow-Sultanpur section of NH-56 in Uttar Pradesh under the National Highways Development Project phase-IV.

"The project shall be executed on hybrid annuity mode and completed in 30 months from the date of commencement of the project," the ministry said in a statement.

"Development of this section would reduce the travel time from Lucknow to the holy city of Varanasi and promote tourism in the region," it added.

--IANS

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France has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that India will ratify the Paris Agreement on October 2, Mahatma Gandhis birthday.

In a statement, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development spokesperson said: "India's commitment to the fight against climate change is decisive to the implementation of the Paris Agreement."

Prime Minister Modi, in a speech in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Saturday announced that India would ratify the 2015 Paris agreement on October 2.

India had submitted its 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UN body on October 1 last year.

The Climate Agreement was adopted by 195 countries in Paris last year.

--IANS

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US Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, looking poised and in control, came up trumps in the first presidential debate against her Republican rival Donald Trump as both clashed on job cuts, tax payments, rise of the Islamic State and racism in the most anticipated televised faceoff of the election campaign.

Clinton, whose striking red trouser suit lent her an added air of professionalism and capability, effectively countered Trump on several issues and cornered the New York businessman on his personal tax returns and business dealings and for peddling a "racist lie" about US President Barack Obama.

The former Secretary of State was declared the winner of Monday night's presidential debate by 62 per cent of voters who tuned in to watch, while just 27 per cent said Trump had a better night, according to a latest CNN/ORC Poll.

The 90-minute debate, the first of three debates, was held on Monday night at Hofstra University, Long Island, New York.

Clinton started the debate by asking Trump, looking sober in a sharp black suit with a cobalt blue tie, "How are you, Donald" as the crowd cheered -- in spite of being cautioned against doing so.

The debate centred around three broadly defined topics: America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. It was split into six 15-minute segments. Two minutes was allotted to answer a question asked by moderator Lester Holt, two minutes to reply and the remaining time for the nominees to debate.

Trump, who started with a calm pace and deliberately measured tone, appeared to lose his composure as Clinton repeatedly referred to him as "Donald" and needled him on his business and wealth.

"There's something he's hiding," Clinton said, after Trump said he won't release his tax returns because he is being audited. She countered that one reason he has refused to declare it may be because he would have paid nothing in federal income taxes. Trump said: "That makes me smart."

Trump remains the first Republican nominee since 1980 to not release his tax returns.

Trump tried to corner Clinton, saying he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal server she used when secretary of state.

As Trump targeted Clinton for being a "typical politician: all talk, no action", she retorted: "Words matter when you run for president, and they really do matter when you are president."

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And yes, I did. You know what else I did? I prepared to be president," she added, never once looking flustered during the debate.

Clinton accused Trump of racism for questioning President Obama's citizenship.

"He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour. And the birther lie was a very hurtful one," she said.

Clinton, who is also the first woman presidential candidate representing a major US political party, said her economic plan would create 10 million jobs, while Trump's plan would cost the nation 3.5 million jobs.

On employment in the US, Trump said China and Mexico were "stealing" American business and jobs.

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us, we have to stop companies from leaving the United States," he said.

He also threatened to scrap or renegotiate some of the "bad" trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that came into force in 1994, or re-define the terms of military agreements like NATO.

The real-estate mogul also blamed Clinton for the rise of the IS. He attacked her for being weak on the terror group and mocked her by saying: "You've been fighting IS your entire adult life."

Trump attacked Clinton's suitability as president, and questioned her "stamina", repeating the word a few times, in obvious reference to her recent fainting spell when she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

"She doesn't have the look and she doesn't have the stamina," he said. "I've been all over the place. You decided to stay home," he added.

Clinton calmly rattled off her visit to 112 countries in four years as Secretary of State, and shot back: "When Donald Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."

Clinton also recalled Trump's stream of insults to women over the years.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women don't deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men," Clinton said.

In other attacks, Clinton criticised Trump for terming climate change a Chinese hoax and also for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moderator Holt, in the final question of the night, asked both Trump and Clinton if they would accept the will of the voters on Election Day.

Clinton said: "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but I certainly will support the outcome of this election."

Trump pointed that he would "want to make America great again. We are a nation that is seriously troubled ... If she wins, I will absolutely support it".

The audience included the nominees' families with Hillary's husband and former US President Bill Clinton and Trump's wife Melania prominent among those present.

This was the 20th US presidential debate and was organised by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a non-governmental organisation.

--IANS

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India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner and handed over "proof of cross-border origins" of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Abdul Basit and provided him the details of the two guides who he said helped the terrorists to reach the Uri army camp on September 18.

"Foreign Secretary ... presents proof of cross border origins of Uri attack," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Swarup said Basit was told that the two guides were caught by villagers in Uri and were in Indian custody.

The official identified them as Yasin Khurshid, 19, s/o Mohammed Khurshid and a resident of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad and Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, s/o Gul Akbar and from Potha Jahangir, also in Muzzaffarabad.

Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistani Kashmir and is known to provide sanctuary to militant groups operating against India.

Four terrorists believed to be from Pakistan were killed after they stormed the Uri army camp and killed 18 Indian soldiers on September 18. Pakistan has denied any links with the attackers.

--IANS

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India moved the historic Paris agreement on climate change closer to reality on Monday by announcing that New Delhi would ratify it and submit the document to the United Nations on Gandhi Jayanthi.

The move was greeted as "great news" by Sierra Club, a major environmental organisation. An official of the group said that it would build momentum for getting enough ratifications for the accord to come into force early.

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj affirmed at the General Assembly New Delhi's commitment "to play a leading role in combating climate change" and said it would submit the ratification document on a day rich in symbolism, "the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who epitomised a lifestyle with the smallest carbon footprint".

For the Paris accord to come into force it needs to be ratified by 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. When Secretary General Ban Ki-moon held a ceremony last Wednesday for countries to submit their ratification documents, 60 countries accounting for 47.5 per cent of the emissions had complied, leaving a 7.5 per cent gap for greenhouse gas output.

When India, the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases that puts out four per cent of the world's total emissions ratifies the pact, that gap would have shrunk to 3.5 per cent, bringing the agreement closer to implementation.

"India coming in early is great news," Steve Herz, the senior attorney for the Sierra Club's International Climate Programme, told IANS. "It will build momentum for the ratification and to do it quicker."

When the climate change agreement was made in Paris in 2015, it was expected to take years before it would cross the threshold for coming into effect, but it is almost there in a matter of months, he said.

It will in fact come into effect before the November UN climate change conference in Marrakech, he said.

In her speech, Swaraj brought up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concept of climate justice.

She explained, "In the Paris Agreement, the principle of 'Common but Differentiated Responsibilities' and 'Respective Capabilities' has been acknowledged and accepted. This makes clear that while our responsibility is common, obligations are different. Developed nations must discharge their responsibility in the search for the common good, with finance and technology transfer."

Having invoked Gandhi, she spoke of his way to save the environment. "We must curb reckless consumption, and adopt lifestyles in harmony with nature. Yoga, the storehouse of India's ancient wisdom, epitomises a sustainable lifestyle," she said.

"(For its part) India has launched an ambitious domestic effort to transform our energy mix to achieve 40 per cent energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030," she said.

(Arul Louis can be reacheed at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

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Seeking to step up pressure on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting on Thursday to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to the neighbour, informed sources said here.

They said the meeting will be attended by senior officials, including those from the External Affairs and Commerce ministries.

The meeting follows India's decision on Monday to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, in the wake of the September 18 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri that killed 18 soldiers.

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 but the neighbouring country has so far not reciprocated.

According to obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO), member countries shall extend MFN status to each other automatically unless otherwise specified in the agreement or the schedule notified to the WTO by the member country.

India, which has blamed militants from Pakistan for the Uri attack, has been moving on several fronts against Pakistan as part of its response to isolate the neighbouring country diplomatically for "exporting terror".

India Inc. said that MFN has made no difference to the "abysmally low" level of bilateral trade between the two countries.

"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.

Official data showed that out of India's total merchandise trade of $643 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion.

"In all, trade with Pakistan was equivalent to 0.41 per cent of India's global merchandise commerce," Assocham Secretary General D.S. Rawat said in the statement.

"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. But even with the MFN status, Pakistan's exports to India remained less than half a billion dollars," he added.

India's exports to Pakistan last year amounted to $2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent of total Indian exports, while imports were 497 million, or 0.13 per cent of total inward shipments.

The major Indian exports to Pakistan include items like organic chemicals, vegetables, cotton, plastics and processed food waste, like fodder, while imports from Pakistan include cottons, fruits and nuts, mineral fuels, wax, sulphur, lime, cement and hides.

--IANS

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(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 central government is looking at possible sites in the northern states of Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana for setting up new atomic power plants, a minister said on Tuesday.

"We are exploring the possibility of having such establishments in other places, for example near Dehradun in Utarakhand and near Patiala in Punjab. We are also looking for a place in Bhiwani in Haryana," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said while addressing a conference here on nuclear power organised by industry chamber Assocham.

"The present government can stake claim of having set up an atomic energy plant in Gorakhpur in Haryana, so we have brought atomic energy northwards which it had been waiting for 60-70 years and we made it to cross through Delhi because atomic energy never had the opportunity to see the capital of this country," he added.

The Prime Minister's Office looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Of the 22 nuclear power plants in the country, the majority are located in western and southern India.

Singh said most of the atomic energy generation was confined mostly to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

"Atomic energy had remained confined to certain parts of the country, in Tarapur for obvious reasons because Dr Bhabha had set up his first establishment in Mumbai then we had south but we hardly had any presence in north India," he said.

"The nuclear power plant being set up in Haryana will become operational by about next year at the cost of just Rs 6 per unit," he added.

Singh also said that within the next ten years India will have at least 25 per cent of energy sourced from nuclear sector.

"That is going to be a remarkable achievement because energy needs of the country are growing very fast and it is going to be cost-effective," he said.

In this connection, Russia has offered India a new range of reactor units - the VVER-Toi (typical optimised, enhanced information) design - for the third and fourth units of the Kudankulam project in Tamil Nadu being built by its atomic power corporation Rosatom.

An inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia was signed in December 2008 for setting up Kudankulam's units 3 to 6. The ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 and 4 was performed earlier this year.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Liverpool man who operates three Subway franchises and an Auntie Anne's Pretzels shop in Oswego County is facing numerous charges for allegedly not paying sales tax to the state over a 50-month period.

Andrew Buccilli, 39, of 4340 Cross Creek Dr., Liverpool, was arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny, four counts of second-degree criminal tax fraud, 10 counts of third-degree criminal tax fraud, fourth-degree criminal tax fraud and 15 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Buccilli, whose company Sofa King Fresh is based in Onondaga County, allegedly under-reported taxable sales by more than $2.2 million between December 2010 and February 2015.

Over that period, the state Department of Taxation and Finance says the Buccilli's stores collected $184,925 in sales tax that wasn't paid to the state.

"A merchant who collects tax on the sale of food and beverage, yet knowingly fails to remit the tax, is stealing not only from the state but from municipalities counting on these funds for critical public services," said Nonie Manion, the acting commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

If convicted, Buccilli faces up to 15 years in prison. He also faces possible civil fraud penalties that are double the taxes determined to be owed, according to a news release.

Buccilli was arraigned Tuesday in Clay town court. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 22.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick's office will prosecute the case.
An Indian-origin lawyer with apparent Nazi sympathies went on an early morning rampage in US' Houston city shooting nine people on Monday before he was killed by police, according to authorities.

Nathan Desai was wearing military-style clothing with Nazi symbols during the 20-minute shooting spree when he fired at passing cars.

Police said that they did not know why Desai went on the rampage hitting people at random.

Desai's name was written with the 's' capitalised in media reports in Houston, making it sound European, but his father was identified as Prakash Desai.

All of his victims survived but one person was critically wounded and five were hospitalised, Houston's Acting Police Chief Martha Montalvo said.

She described the shooter as a lawyer who was having problems at his law firm. When police responded to the shooting, he shot at them and was killed when police returned fire, Montalvo said.

The shooter's father, 80-year-old Prakash Desai told KPRC TV that his son was "worried" because his law practice was not doing so well.

Forty six-year-old Nathan Desai owned several guns to protect himself against his clients, some of whom were "funny people and criminally-minded people", his father said.

Houston Chronicle said that Prakash Desai is a retired geologist.

The daily reported that police found in his flat several military items that went back to the Civil War.

Police found a Thompson submachine gun in his Porche and a 0.45 caliber handgun that he used against the police.

The Chronicle said that police used a robot to examine his car and his flat for explosives.

This is the second mass shooting by a person of Indian descent in the US.

In 2003, at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Biswanath Halder went on a rampage, taking hostages, killing a graduate student and wounding another and a professor.

A graduate of the university's business school, he unsuccessfully sued a university administrator.

He was captured alive and sentenced to life after a trial.

Although it was not a mass shooting incident, in January 2016 Mainak Sarkar caused a lock down at University of California at Los Angeles when he killed a professor there. He had also killed his wife and committed suicide.
Bharti Airtel has said that enough points of interconnection (PoIs) have been provided to Reliance Jio to support 20-25 million subscribers and that the company has not been able to deploy its full capacity due to under-preparedness and insufficient testing effort.

"Post our bilateral meeting on September 13 to premeditate on the matter of augmentation of PoIs, we had analysed the traffic figures at the interconnect links as well as your demands for projected capacity," the company said in a letter to Jio, dated September 26.

"Basis on our due diligence of these dynamics, we had provided 1,350 E1's (interconnect points) on the very next day. This was followed by incremental capacity of 1,000 E1's provided on pan-India basis on September 20," it said.

"Unfortunately, despite the prompt and colossal effort put in by Airtel, as on date, only 2,484 E1s are live out of total capacity of 3,048 provided, primarily due to various reasons for delay attributable solely to Jio's under preparedness and insufficient testing teams/efforts."

Jio has maintained that interconnection points provided by other operators were insufficient.

"Based on industry practice, 12,500 E1 ports (interconnect points, with technical parameters) are required for 22 million subscribers," said a Reliance Industries statement on August 18. "As against this, the top three operators have released only 1,400 ports so far."

The company says, as a result of this, its subscribers face as many as 12 crore call failures a day while dialing into the networks of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea.

--IANS

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The Karnataka government will holding an all-party meeting and emergent cabinet meeting on Wednesday to deliberate and decide on the Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for three days from Wednesday, an official said.

"The chief minister has convened tomorrow (Wednesday) an all-party meeting followed by a cabinet meeting to discuss and decide on the apex court order, which directed the state to release water despite the assembly passing a resolution against it," the official told IANS here.

Earlier in the day, a division bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water from September 28 to September 30, when it takes up the matter again for further hearing.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was on a tour of rain-hit districts in the state's northern region, rushed back to Bengaluru for discussing the apex court order with the ruling Congress leaders and cabinet colleagues to decide its next course of action at the all-party meeting.

"We can't release water just because the Supreme Court said so, as we are not in a position to do. Let me first read the full order and come back to you," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Bidar airport, about 690 km from here.

The state on Monday sought time till January to comply with the apex court's September 20 order to release 6,000 cusecs daily for a week from September 21-27, as it needs the depleting quantity for drinking needs.

The state also substantiated its interim plea for a modification of the September 20 order with the resolution of the state legislature passed unanimously on September 23, which resolved to use the water in the four reservoirs across the river basin for supplying drinking water to the region.

In a related development, 11 Congress lawmakers of Karnataka from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the inter-state water dispute, urging him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of the two states for an amicable settlement.

"We have requested Modiji to intervene in the matter immediately and call the meeting of chief ministers and give directions to settle the Cauvery water dispute amicably," said Lok Sabha member D.K. Suresh from Bangalore Rural constituency about their joint letter to Modi.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the state's southern region where the river flows and prohibitory orders extended till Friday to maintain peace.

Hundreds of farmers, traders and youth held peaceful protests at Mandya and Mysuru against the apex court's latest order on releasing water to the neighbouring state.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan, India said at the UN that it hoped the "message is loud and clear" that Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so.

India's First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN Eenam Gambhir on Monday evening again delivered a short and cutting reply to Pakistan's UN envoy Maleeha Lodhi, who said in her right of reply that Jammu and Kashmir "never was and can never be an integral part of India".

Gambhir, who was chosen to deliver India's stinging reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's UN address last week, said in response to Lodhi's statement: "And finally, it appears that the distinguished representative of Pakistan did not hear what our Minister of External Affairs said - that the state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always continue to do so. We hope the message is loud and clear."

Gambhir, who has been feted in Indian media for the calm and composed manner of her speech delivery, said that the Pakistani envoy's speech were the "views of a dysfunctional state which builds atrocity upon atrocity on its own people preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights. We reject entirely these sermons".

She said Lodhi's Right to Reply to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech was aimed to "divert attention from the country's continued sponsorship of terror" and described her remarks on the Kashmir unrest as "fanciful and misleading".

"Can the representative of Pakistan clarify how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in her country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan army's much-vaunted counter operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter aid it obtains? Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export as a matter of state policy?," Gambhir said.

Taking on Pakistan for its past assurance to India, Gambhir said: "Can the Representative deny that Pakistan has assured in 2004 that it will not allow its territory to be used for terror attacks against India, and can the representative of Pakistan deny that Pakistan has failed to deliver on the assurance given at the highest level."

Referring to the 1971 Bangladesh War of Liberation, she asked if Pakistan can deny that its armed forces committed "one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in 1971, and will it deny it used air strikes and artillery on its own people repeatedly."

Gambhir asked the Pakistani envoy to explain why that country's civil society is being "silenced by a plethora of heavily armed militias that go by names such as 'Jaish' or Army, 'Lashkar' or Army, 'Sipah' or Soldiers and 'Harkat' or Armed movement".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday defended his minister Satyender Jain who has been accused of money laundering, deeming the allegations a "conspiracy".

"I summoned Satyender this morning. Saw all papers. He is innocent, being framed. If he were guilty, we would have thrown him out. We stand by him," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Jain holds six portfolios in the Kejriwal government, including health. He was summoned by the Income Tax Department for questioning on Wednesday in matters pertaining to companies in he which was an invester.

Jain maintained, speaking to media, that he had nothing to do with the companies since 2011 when he entered .

He also dared media channels to air the news of an expose which the Chief Minister was going to make soon.

"False cases against AAP MLAs and ministers, FIR against me, CBI raid on me - why? A very big conspiracy. Will expose in Delhi Assembly on Friday," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kerala assembly witnessed angry scenes as verbal clashes broke out between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition legislators on Tuesday.

The uproar erupted after Vijayan made a curt remark about the opposition legislators' protest over the steep hike in the professional education sector. This led to an abrupt end to the day's sitting of the assembly.

Vijayan has been well known all through his political career for his tough posturing, and while replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Congress-led opposition on the hike, he termed the ongoing Youth Congress strike against the fee hike, as being "done for TV channels".

As soon as he made this remark, angry opposition members rushed to the well of the house shouting slogans against Vijayan's statement.

To make things worse, Vijayan again taunted the opposition legislators and asked them not to pull off any tricks in the house as it won't work.

This made the opposition angrier and the slogan shouting intensified, but Vijayan stood his ground and said what needs to be said will be said.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala responded to Vijayan by saying that his threats won't work on the floor of the assembly.

"The tone, language and the tenor of Vijayan does not fit the post that he holds. You should not forget you are sitting on a chair where several stalwarts sat and you are speaking as if you are presiding your party meeting. A CM should not stoop so low, and should be tolerant. Perhaps what you speak may be the style of Vijayan, but it does not suit a chief minister," said Chennithala.

Chennithala then asked Speaker P.Sreeramakrishnan to ensure that either Vijayan apologises for his curt remarks or these are expunged.

With the Speaker keeping silent, the opposition members started slogan shouting and forced the Speaker to rush through the listed business as the day's sitting came to a close.

--IANS

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Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has said that his government will continue to investigate the case of the 43 students who went missing in Guerrero state in September 2014.

Addressing a news conference in Colombia on Monday, Pena Nieto reaffirmed his government's commitment, Xinhua news quoted a press statement released by the presidency.

Pena Nieto said his government's "only interest" was finding out what happened on the evening of September 26 and on September 27 morning in 2014, in Iguala, Guerrero. He guaranteed action against all involved in the disappearance, Xinhua said.

The 43 students from Ayotzinapa were listed 'missing' in 2014 after police from Iguala detained them while travelling on buses.

The government's hypothesis is that the students were abducted by the police and handed over to members of organised crime gang Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors), who suspected the students of being from a rival organisation.

According to statements made by alleged criminals arrested later and an expert survey, members of Guerreros Unidos had killed and cremated the students in a rubbish dump in Cocula.

The students' parents have since rejected the version because two forensic studies carried out by experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team ruled out this possibility.

They said that it would be impossible to light a fire capable of completely burning 43 bodies in the dump.

On Monday, students from several parts of the country, mainly in Mexico City, and the southern states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, held marches demanding the government to clarify the facts.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A minor fire broke out on Tuesday in the blood bank of Safdarjung Hospital here but it was quickly put out, hospital authorities said.

"It was a minor fire at the blood bank of the hospital and there is nothing to worry about. Things are under control," Safdarjung Hospital Medical Superintendent A.K. Rai told IANS.

He said the fire started from a switchboard of the hospital's blood bank. The incident was reported around 3 p.m.

Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot, Delhi Fire Service officials said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi on Tuesday said political parties in Uttar Pradesh were wary about free and fair assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference on the last day of his three-day visit to Lucknow, he said he had discussed the issue with police officials.

All parties want a free and fair poll and "we are doing all that is possible to ensure" this, he added.

He said the Election Commission had held threadbare meetings with state officials, district magistrates and the police.

Zaidi also said that all political parties, barring the ruling Samajwadi Party, felt that the assembly polls, due early next year, won't be fair and free if the state police alone was involved.

Opposition parties want central forces deployed during the polls. He also said that all parties were unanimous that the use of money and muscle power in the elections should be ended.

Zaidi said biased officials at all levels would be removed before the elections. He set a target of 70-75 per cent voting in Uttar Pradesh.

The poll panel will hold special campaigns for voter registration on October 8, 9, 22 and 23.

--IANS

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Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan is back to promoting brands in India. Without revealing the name of the brand, he has shared that the campaign has been a great association for him as it is a product that is at the core of India's "rich culture".

The actor will be promoting a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brand. The TV commercial (TVC) will be launched on October 7.

The TVC will be on the theme of James bond 007 as Brosnan held the role of the fictional character from 1995 to 2004. He appeared in "GoldenEye" (1995), "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997), "The World Is Not Enough" (1999) and "Die Another Day" (2002).

"Namaste India. This country, and its people hold a special place for me and every time I make an appearance in India, I get overwhelmed with the love and the response. This campaign has been a great association for me as it is a product that is at the core of your rich culture. Now I await the viewer's response," Brosnan told IANS.

He had earlier endorsed a suiting fabric Indian brand Reid & Taylor.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP)  In a combative opening debate, Hillary Clinton emphatically denounced Donald Trump Monday night for keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters and peddling a "racist lie" about President Barack Obama. Businessman Trump repeatedly cast Clinton as a "typical politician" as he sought to capitalize on Americans' frustration with Washington.

Locked in an exceedingly close White House race, the presidential rivals tangled for 90-minutes over their vastly different visions for the nation's future. Clinton called for lowering taxes for the middle class, while Trump focused more on renegotiating trade deals that he said have caused companies to move jobs out of the U.S. The Republican backed the controversial "stop-and-frisk policing" tactic as a way to bring down crime, while the Democrat said the policy was unconstitutional and ineffective.

The debate was heated from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, but also needled the sometimes-thin-skinned Trump over his business record and wealth.

"There's something he's hiding," she declared, scoffing at his repeated contention that he won't release his tax returns because he is being audited.

Trump aggressively tried to turn the transparency questions around on Clinton, who has struggled to overcome voters' concerns about her honestly and trustworthiness. He said he would release his tax information when she produces more than 30,000 emails that were deleted from the personal internet server she used as secretary of state.

Tax experts have said there is no reason the businessman cannot make his records public during an audit.

Clinton was contrite in addressing her controversial email use, saying simply that it was a "mistake". She notably did not fall back on many of the excuses she has often used for failing to use a government email during her four years as secretary of state.

"If I had to do it over again, I would obviously do it differently," she said.

The televised face-off was the most anticipated moment in an election campaign that has been both historic and unpredictable. Both sides expected a record-setting audience for the showdown at Hofstra University in suburban New York, reflecting the intense national interest in the race to become America's 45th president.

The candidates sparred over trade, taxes and how to bring good-paying jobs back to the United States.

Clinton said her Republican rival was promoting a "Trumped-up" version of trickle-down economics  a philosophy focused on tax cuts for the wealthy. She called for increasing the federal minimum wage, spending more on infrastructure projects and guaranteeing equal pay for women.

Trump panned policies that he said have led to American jobs being moved overseas, in part because of international trade agreements that Clinton has supported. He pushed Clinton aggressively on her past support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while she was serving in the Obama administration. She's since said she opposes the sweeping deal in its final form.

"You called it the gold standard of trade deals," Trump said. "If you did win, you would approve that."

Disputing his version of events, Clinton said, "I know you live in your reality."

Trump struggled to answer repeated questions about why he only recently acknowledged that Barack Obama was born in the United States. For years, Trump has been the chief promoter of questions falsely suggesting the president was born outside of America.

"He has really started his political activity on this racist lie," Clinton charged.

Clinton aides spent the days leading up to the debate appealing for the media and voters to hold Trump to a higher standard than they believe he has faced for much of the campaign. Their concern was that if the sometimes-bombastic Trump managed to keep his cool onstage, he'd be rewarded  even if he failed to flesh out policy specifics or didn't tell the truth about his record and past statements.

Trump's campaign has said the Clinton camp's concerns reflected worries about the her debating skills.

The centerpiece of Trump's campaign has been a push for restrictive immigration measures, including a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and an early proposal to temporarily bar foreign Muslims from coming to the U.S. But he's been less detailed about other ideas, including his plan for stamping out the Islamic State group in the Middle East.

Clinton, a former senator and secretary of state, is banking on voters seeing her as a steady hand who can build on the record of President Obama, whose popularity is rising as he winds down his second term in office. She's called for expanding Obama's executive orders if Congress won't pass legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration system and for broader gun control measures. Overseas, she's called for a no-fly zone in Syria but has vowed to keep the military out of a large-scale ground war to defeat the Islamic State group.

For Clinton, victory in November largely hinges on rallying the same young and diverse coalition that elected Obama but has yet to fully embrace her.

Trump has tapped into deep anxieties among some Americans, particularly white, working-class voters who feel left behind in a changing economy and diversifying nation. While the real estate mogul lacks the experience Americans have traditionally sought in a commander in chief, he's banking on frustration with career politicians and disdain for Clinton to push him over the top on Election Day.
Police on Tuesday fired tear gas at Youth Congress workers denouncing alleged collusion between the government and private colleges over the fee structure in professional colleges.

The Youth Congress workers alleged that when the Congress was in power, the fee was increased by seven per cent. But the present government had raised it by 35 per cent in one go.

Tear gas shells fell in front of Congress President V.M. Sudheeran when he was visiting the demonstrators, who have been on an indefinite fast for eight days in front of the Secretariat.

"Never before has such a thing happened... I was surprised to see how police used force against our activists," said an angry Sudheeran, who sat in the middle of the road against "police high-handedness".

State Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose and his deputy C.R. Mahesh, who have been fasting, were shifted to a hospital after the police action.

About a dozen people, including police and Youth Congress activists, were injured in the clash and taken to hospital.

The police action took place after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made some curt remarks against the Youth Congress.

Leaders of the Congress-led UDF then decided to observe a dawn-to-dusk shutdown in the capital district.

Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, also took pot-shots at the media.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reliance Power is all set to double the capacity of its Rosa and Butibori power plants to 2,400 MW and 1,200 MW, respectively, even as a solar plant will be set up with a capacity of 300-400 MW, the company's Chairman Anil Ambani said on Tuesday.

"We look at future opportunities with great caution. We will not expand just for the heck of it. In the near future, we will expand the capacity of our existing thermal plants at Rosa in Uttar Pradesh and Butibori in Maharashtra," Ambani told the company's shareholders here.

Ambani said Reliance Power has signed an agreement with Bangladesh for setting up a 3,000 MW gas-based power project. "This will be the largest foreign investment there. The government of Bangladesh has granted approval for 750 MW of Phase I at Meghnaghat near Dhaka."

Ambani said the company has completed Phase I of Rs 50,000 crore capital infusion programme in record time. Reliance Power has an operating capacity of 6,000 MW. It is also the largest private sector coal producer in the country with 20 million tonnes per annum capacity.

In April 2015, Reliance Power terminated its deal for Tilaiya ultra mega power plant, as land acquisition was not fulfilled. This reduced the capital expenditure by Rs 36,000 crore, he said, adding that similar route was being examined for the Krishnapatnam ultra mega power project, with an impact of Rs 20,000 crore.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was during the tenure of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao that the "seeds of Congress party's decline were sown", former Union Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram said here on Tuesday.

Chidambaram, who served as a minister in Rao's cabinet, said the former Prime Minister "committed several mistakes but seldom admitted to them".

"Every time I went and told him that you have committed a mistake, his pet reply would be 'I'll tell you one day why I did what I did' ... But that day never came," Chidambaram said at the launch of a book on Narasimha Rao here.

The former Finance Minister said Rao indeed provided the political will and leadership needed to usher in the famous economic reforms of 1991, but it was Manmohan Singh who, as Rao's Finance Minister, brought the "intellectual heft" to the reform process.

The book "1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao made History" by veteran journalist Sanjaya Baru, gives a detailed account of the political and economic churning of 1991 when India reached the brink of defaulting on foreign debts, and praises Rao for deftly steering the country away from that unprecedented crisis.

However, Chidambaram took exception to certain observations in the book.

He said that even Rajiv Gandhi, had he been alive and at the helm, would have pursued the same economic policy.

"I have no doubt in my mind if Rajiv Gandhi would have become the Prime Minister -- which he would have in all probability -- he would have done what P.V. (Narasimha Rao) did.

"I am convinced Rajiv Gandhi would have done more or less the same things with more or less the same team," Chidambaram said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan in the Bulandshahr gang rape case through his lawyer despite service of a court notice on him and directed the CBI to serve a fresh notice on him.

"In our considered opinion, respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered (an) appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct (the) CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2," a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said in its order.

Azam Khan, the state Urban Development Minister and Samajwadi Party leader, was issued notice on August 29 for his reported comment that the gang rape was a political conspiracy.

The petitioner's father has sought registration of an FIR against Khan.

Issuing notice to Azam Khan on August 29, the apex court had said that one can understand if the accused makes a statement brushing away the offence alleged against him but how can a person in authority, who has nothing to do with it, comment on the crime.

During the August 29 hearing, the court had appointed senior counsel Fali Nariman as amicus curiae to assist the court in addressing four issues framed by it, including whether a person in a position of authority in the state government could comment on a crime involving rape, murder or any other heinous offence, and whether such comments should be allowed as they create doubts in the mind of the victim about a fair trial.

The minor girl and her mother were allegedly gang-raped on the national highway near Bulandshahr while the family was on their way to their ancestral village on July 29.

The girl's father has told the court that the minor victim suffered trauma for five hours in his and other family members' presence and when they called police, it did not respond for 25 minutes.

The case was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

--IANS

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Pakistan has described Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's address to the UN, in which she accused it of supporting terrorism, as a "litany of falsehoods" and "a travesty of facts and history".

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said Jammu and Kashmir "never was and can never be an integral part of India", reiterating her country's claim over the state after Sushma Swaraj suggested to Pakistan to abandon the dream of capturing the territory.

Lodhi, in Pakistan's Right of Reply, cast doubts on the September 18 terror attack in Uri that has spiked tensions between the two neighbours.

She said the attack "has all the hallmarks of an operation designed to divert attention from India's atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir".

Lodhi was referring to the ongoing unrest in Jammu and Kashmir that has left 90 people dead in clashes between stone pelting mobs and security forces, triggered by the July 8 killing of a militant commander.

The envoy termed the deaths in the Kashmir Valley as "worst form of state terrorism, a war crime, that India has continued to perpetrate...in Jammu and Kashmir for the past many decades".

Addressing the UN, Sushma Swaraj on Monday said Pakistan was in denial over its support to terrorism and believed that terror attacks "will enable it to obtain the territory it covets.

"My firm advice to Pakistan is abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Lodhi strongly countered the terror allegations "designed principally to deflect global attention from the brutalities...against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri children, women and men".

"Jammu and Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India. It is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council."

She also rebutted Sushma Swaraj's remarks that India had laid no pre-conditions for peace talks with Pakistan.

"India suspended talks more than a year ago, and has refused to resume them despite repeated offers from Pakistan and advice from the international community."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
"Queen" fame director Vikas Bahl is not sure whether the demand to ban Pakistani artistes from working in India will solve any problem. He says it is more important to chalk out the future course of action rather than jumping to the conclusion to force them from the country.

"I want to just know that if the step that we are taking is towards solving the problem...What is the next step after they leave the country?," Bahl told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

His comments came after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued an "ultimatum" to all Pakistani artistes to quit India within 48 hours or face trouble.

MNS had issued the ultimatum on September 23 to all Pakistani cine and television artistes to leave India. The threat was issued after the September 18 terror attack that left 18 Indian soldiers dead at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

The party had also warned it would not permit the release of any Bollywood films having Pakistani actors, including the upcoming "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and "Raees", which star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

Bahl hinted at the 'political agenda' in the whole stir.

"I am always wary of making a country's issue a political agenda...In this case, if it is one of the steps that will help to solve the problem, then please do it," said Bahl adding that he doesn't "know if it will".

The "Shaandaar" director went on to say that "tell me your next five steps. If Fawad Khan leaves the country tomorrow, what are the next five things we are going to do" that will solve the problem.

Meanwhile, Bahl will be discussing about how digital evolution has transformed the world of cinema at Enterprise Digital Transformation Summit 2016, to be held in Mumbai on Thursday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ever since he took over as the first Chief Minister of the truncated Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu had been insisting on a special category status (SCS) for the state. Hence it came as a surprise to many when he decided to give up the fight and accept whatever the central government offered.

Not long ago, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief had gone on record that there will be no compromise on the SCS and that there can be no substitute for this.

Naidu had been reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his poll promise to accord SCS for 10 years against a period of five years announced by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament on Februray 20, 2014.

Yet, when the Centre finally made it clear that there will be no SCS and announced only special assistance measures, Naidu admitted he had no option but to accept it. He tried to take solace in the assurance by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that the state will get the same monetary benefits in the form of externally-aided projects as it would have got with SCS.

Jaitley also said these special measures will be for a period of five years (2015-2020). The other measures announced meant nothing new to the state.

The opposition parties were harsh in their criticism of Naidu and accused him of meekly surrendering. The main opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) even accused him of compromising with the Centre to wriggle out of a "cash for vote" case in Telangana.

Naidu countered the opposition by saying that the state's interests alone were important for him. "It was Jaganmohan Reddy who compromised on the state's interests during bifurcation of the state to get bail," said Naidu while hitting back at the YSRCP chief.

So, what made Naidu take the U-turn? One of the measures announced by Jaitley was that the Centre will provide the entire funding for the Polavaram irrigation project. While this was expected since it was declared a national project in 2014, what was significant was his announcement that the state government will be its executing authority.

Naidu had for long been demanding that the Centre hand over to the state the powers to execute the prestigious but long-pending project, which was first conceived in the 1940s and, as per the 2011 estimates, will cost Rs 16,000 crore ($2.4 billion). "This means the TDP government can now award contracts for this project to its own people," a political observer said.

The project is significant not just in terms of its huge cost but also the political benefits the TDP hopes to reap from it in the 2019 assembly and general elections.

With an irrigation potential of 720,000 acres, the project is expected to become the state's lifeline. Naidu plans to complete the project by 2018 and also divert surplus water to the Krishna basin, which currently gets water from the Srisailam project located in Kurnool district of Rayalaseema, a drought-prone backward region.

By completing Polavaram, Naidu hopes to fulfill his promise to provide Srisailam water to Rayalaseema. This is also expected to assuage the feelings of the people of Rayalaseema, who are unhappy over the raw deal the region got post-bifurcation. This development will also help Naidu to effectively counter his bete noire Jaganmohan Reddy on his home turf.

Political observers say Naidu was also fully aware of his political compulsions and the Centre's handholding he needs for the onerous task of building a new capital, especially in view of the state's poor finances.

With two-and-a-half-years already gone, the TDP chief realised that fighting with the Centre on SCS will do no good to the state or his party.

The wily politician he is, Naidu made up his mind to sail with the BJP in a situation where he has no alternative. He seems to have realised that pulling out of the BJP-led NDA or severing ties will do more harm than good.

The development divided the state in two major groups -- one content with what the Centre has offered and the other insisting on SCS.

All opposition parties belong to the latter category. Actor Pawan Kalyan, who had campaigned for the BJP-TDP alliance in the 2014 elections, also came out openly against the BJP terming the package as "rotten laddus".

At a public meeting at Kakinada a day after the Centre's announcement, the actor vowed to launch a three-phase struggle to achieve SCS. However, there has been no follow-up action on this, which triggered speculation that the actor lacks clarity and has no firm plans to take up the issue.

YSR Congress Party, the lone opposition party, bitterly attacked Naidu for his "compromise". "Mr Chandrababu Naidu may have compromised for his selfish interests, but 50 million people of the state will achieve special status," Jaganmohan Reddy thundered.

Though his party called a state-wide shutdown and staged protests, it may not find it easy to launch a mass movement and sustain it.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trace the roots of most modern Japanese technology companies back far enough and there's a good chance you'll stumble across a little-known venture capital (VC) firm called Jafco Co. Since its inception in 1973, Japan's oldest and largest VC has quietly backed almost 4,000 companies, including giants like SoftBank Group Corp, Muji stores operator Ryohin Keikaku Co and Street Fighter games producer Capcom Co. Almost a thousand of its investments have gone public and today command a market value of about $530 billion. Jafco is Japan's version of Sequoia Capital, the legendary ...
In run up to the 2017 Uttar Pradesh polls, Chief Election Commission (CEC) Nasim Zaidi on Tuesday said the Election Commission (EC) would keep a watch on the role of UP Police during elections.
A day after holding a meeting to review the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, the Narendra Modi government on Tuesday upped the ante against Pakistan. The government announced that it will boycott the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit that Pakistan is slated to host in November.
Even as the Maharashtra government is struggling to deal with the unprecedented protest marches by the Maratha community, various other organisations representing other castes, Muslims and Dalits plan to launch their own agitations.
Two police officers attached to Baihar police station in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh were suspended for allegedly beating up an RSS worker, arrested for posting objectionable comments on the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

District Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav suspended inspector Zia Ul Haq and sub-inspector Anil Ajmaria yesterday for assaulting the RSS pracharak Suresh Yadav, Inspector General of Police D C Sagar said today.

Yadav (28) was being treated at a hospital in Jabalpur.

Police, after receiving a complaint that Yadav had posted some comments about Owaisi on WhatsApp, brought him to Baihar police station on the evening of September 25.

Yadav escaped and hid in the nearby house of Swami Prasad Asati. Police caught him and brought back to the station; after grilling him, they booked him under section 295 (a) (outraging religious feelings) of the IPC.

In police custody, he was allegedly beaten up brutally.

In the meantime, a large crowd gathered outside the police station seeking his release and damaged a police vehicle.

A doctor was summoned as Yadav complained of pain. The doctor asked the police to shift him to hospital which was done immediately, the IG said.

Subsequently, on the complaint of Yadav and Asati, Additional SP Rajesh Sharma, Zia Ul Haq, Ajmaria, Assistant Sub-Inspector Suresh Vijaywar and some others were booked under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC. Haq and Ajmaria were also suspended.

The IG said police were conducting impartial probe and had formed teams to arrest the accused cops.

Home Minister Bhupendra Singh and Agriculture Minister Gaurishanker Bisen today met Yadav at hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two women tourists from were found dead while seven others were rescued in serious condition at Malatipatpur bus stand in this pilgrim town today.

The two women, aged around 80 and 65 years and hailing from Bankati area of Nepal, were found dead soon after a bus carrying over 60 tourists from Nepal and Uttar Pradesh arrived at the bus stand, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Puri Dadar), Alekh Chandra Pahi.

The two had come to visit the seaside pilgrim town with their families.

The SDPO quoting their co-passengers said the two women and some other tourists had fallen sick on the way yesterday and complained of vomiting and diarrhoea.

The seven sick passengers were taken to the hospital here for treatment, he said adding, while four of them were now undergoing treatment at the hospital, three others were discharged after treatment.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and investigation was in progress to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Income Tax department has issued summons to Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, asking him to appear before it in connection with its tax evasion probe against certain Kolkata-based firms.

Officials said Jain has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4 and has also been directed to furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years during his appearance.

They said the department received records of certain financial transactions connected to Jain after their counterparts in Kolkata recently searched a firm in connection with a tax evasion and alleged illegal financial remittances case.

They said the department reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three firms and had a link to Jain.

"The summons are issued as part of inquiry into the case which the I-T department has been probing for sometime now. Jain will be confronted with documents seized during searches at Kolkata," sources in the department said.

Reacting to the summons, Jain said he has been summoned as a witness only.

The minister said that he has done nothing wrong and he will appear before the Income Tax department on October 4.

"As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four year back, but Ihave nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation," Jain told reporters here.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed Jain was being "framed", saying if Jain was "guilty", he would have thrown him out.

The Chief Minister said he stands by Jain. "I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

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Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded Jain's removal from the Cabinet alleging it was a case of "hawala".

He demanded that the matter be handed over to the CBI for an impartial inquiry.

"It is a matter of grave concern that Jain has been summoned by the Income Tax Department to give evidence and produce personally the books of accounts, etc.

"As soon as his ministers are charged with serious offences, Kejriwal comes out to defend them. This continues till the proof is established by videos or the Police itself," Gupta said.
Direct train service between Agartala and Kolkata will be launched before the Durga puja, a top official of the NF Railway said today.

"A direct train service between Agartala and Kolkata would be started anytime before the Durga puja," Chief Engineer of NF Railway, Harpal Singh told reporters.

Tripura entered the broad gauge railway map of the country on July 31 with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagging off the Agartala-New Delhi 'Tripura Sundari Express'.

He also laid the foundation stone for the 15-km-long railway track to link Agartala to Akhaura in Bangladesh, jointly with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Mujibul Haque.

Prabhu said a regular train service between Agartala and Kolkata would also be started.

Singh said, the work for the Agartala-Akhaura rail project would be started this year and Rs 100 crore was already handed over to the Tripura government for acquiring land for laying the tracks.

Meanwhile, the Railway Safety Commissioner of the Indian Railway, Sailesh Kumar Pathak inspected the 45-km-long Agartala-Udaipur rail track and announced that it was ready for rail connectivity.

The Udaipur railway station was built on a lake and the Carbon Wrap method was applied for construction of the station.

"The Carbon-Wrap method was applied first in construction of the Santa Cruz airport of Mumbai and for the second time in the construction of Udaipur station," Pathak said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
National Conference (NC) today expressed concern over rising diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, saying aggression would not yield favourable results for either country.

"Aggression, whether military, diplomatic or rhetorical, will not yield favourable results for either country. Neither will it curb the menace of terrorism nor will it magically normalise the situation in Kashmir," NC state spokesperson Junaid Mattu said here.

"There are outstanding, unresolved issues between New Delhi and Islamabad -- primarily the issue of Kashmir -- and regional peace will be hard to achieve and sustain unless these issues are resolved," he said.

Mattu said there was no alternative to meaningful and sustained engagement between the two neighbours.

"The leadership of both countries owe it to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to engage with each other with sincerity and a sense of responsibility in an effort to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue," he said.

The NC spokesperson said both New Delhi and Islamabad should realize the futility of jingoism and conventional rhetoric and acknowledge their obligations towards the state's citizens, who were the "biggest victims of their hostility".

"While both India and Pakistan will benefit greatly from sustainable peace, the people of J-K will be the primary beneficiaries of peace and mutual cooperation between the two countries," he said.

Mattu said everyone should play a constructive and bipartisan role to help in the de-escalation of tension between the two countries.

He also said the national media should introspect on its "jingoism" and aggression".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vice President Hamid Ansari has lauded the 35,000-strong Indian community in Nigeria for its commendable service to the country as he inaugurated the Indian High Commission's Chancery complex here.

Ansari, who arrived here last night on the first leg of his two-nation visit, interacted with the Indian community members and posed for photographs with them.

The Vice President lauded the efforts in the 35,000- strong Indian community in Nigeria at a function last night for their commendable service to the African country, be it in the field of teaching, IT or business.

He also said this Nigerian capital is a true model of a Smart City, a concept which India is trying to develop.

The foundation stone of the High Commission building, located at Cadastral Zone in the Federal Capital Territory, was laid by the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit here in 2003.

On the occasion, a photography exhibition titled "India-Nigeria Relations: Evolution to Strategic Partnership" was inaugurated and an e-book on bilateral ties launched.

Ansari and his wife also planted a sapling in the premises of the high commission building.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NDA government is giving special treatment to Andhra Pradesh because the ruling TDP is an ally at the Centre, claimed TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha.

She said Telangana should be dealt in similar fashion and its people should not be ignored.

The Centre earlier this month announced a Rs 2.25 lakh crore financial package to Andhra Pradesh, whose government had been demanding special category status to the state.

"Andhra is certainly getting a special treatment because they are part and parcel of government and their ministers have been constantly trying to get new projects into Andhra", the Lok Sabha member from Nizamabad in Telangana told PTI.

"But we (Telangana) will certainly fight for our own ground, and whatever is written in the Bifurcation Act, I am sure Telangana will also get it. Basically, it's the responsibility of the central government to treat both states alike. Just because they (the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh) are political allies they can't give them special treatment and ignore people of Telangana", Kavitha said.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had recently said, "Financial assistance announced by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh (for various projects), sanctioned and underway, will be worth Rs 2.25 lakh crore. The state will benefit from this special package more than the special status".

Naidu had also said as per the terms of the 14th Finance Commission, special status can no longer be granted.

Responding to questions, Kavitha said she believed special category status certainly would have had more benefits, not in terms of finances only but attracting investment in future also.

"What the central government has given (to AP), various projects...Grants or grants-in-aid, but what about attracting investment?", Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, asked, noting that companies go to Himachal Pradesh because of certain advantages it enjoys due to special category status.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Federal charges are being levied against top Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco, the influential head of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Alain Kaloyeros, and others for a series of alleged schemes that include fraud, bid-rigging and bribery; Kaloyeros is also facing felony corruption charges from the state. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman allege bids for economic development projects related to the Buffalo Billion were willfully and knowingly handed out as political favors.

The accused also reportedly took bribes in exchange for contract awards. Todd Howe, another former Cuomo aide, has already pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and is cooperating with investigators. These programs are supposed to be about creating jobs and helping families not insider deals that make political insiders rich.

The implications for New York taxpayers cannot be overstated. Officials and representatives, whether elected into office or acting as public servants, should be using their roles to respond to the needs of taxpayers, not yield to special interests in todays all too common pay-to-play atmosphere. The governor, the self-proclaimed crusader of transparency, should get off his high horse and demand answers and full cooperation into these and all other on-going investigations.

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE OFFERS TARGETED REFORMS

Assembly Republicans introduced legislation this year (A.10531, Oaks) to establish greater checks and balances in state discretionary spending. There is simply too much done behind closed doors. This legislation offers a much-needed step toward preventing the abuse of public money and trust. The Cuomo administration has been shrouded in secrecy from day one. It must now end, once and for all. The governor and those closest to him must stop going out of their way to make excuses for ill-conceived insider deals masked as economic development programs.

I have repeatedly called for greater transparency into administrative dealings and stronger laws to prevent public corruption. These latest allegations are further evidence that corruption has festered in Albany to the point that honest government is nearly unrecognizable amid widespread schemes.

TRANSPARENCY SHOULD NOT BE AN ABSTRACTION

More often than not, the notion of accountability is a nebulous concept. The details we are watching unfold before our eyes reek of greed and arrogance; we must demand two things: answerability and enforcement.

Sadly, even before these newest charges were levied, many of the governors economic development programs were either being investigated, failing miserably, or both. His repeated failure to deliver honest, effective programs with taxpayer money is wholly inexcusable.

The foundation of a representative democracy is trust. Hardworking taxpayers give their money to the government and in return expect it to be invested in their well-being. These allegations paint a starkly grim picture; where taxpayer money is merely a tool for the selfish, personal gains of a corrupt few. When too few have too much power, we all suffer. Reforms are needed now.

What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030, email me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us, find me by searching for Assemblyman Brian Kolb on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.
The arrested head of West Bengal unit of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Anwar Hussain Farooq, used to look after the finances of the outfit, police said today.

This fact came to light during investigation of the respective roles of the six arrested JMB militants.

"He (Farooq alias Inam) was looking after the financial part of the outfit and being the head of the JMB's West Bengal unit, he is the most important among the six arrested," a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said.

Farooq, a resident of Bangladesh's Jamalpur, was carrying a laptop at the time of his arrest from the border area of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas.

"Encrypted files in the laptop have been found and we have cracked some of these. But the details of the other files are yet to be recovered. For that purpose we are taking the help of technical people," the officer in the force's Special Task Force (STF) said.

A diary was also recovered from Farooq's possession in which the outfit's "tree" in West Bengal is jotted down.

He is wanted in connection with several cases in the neighbouring country.

"That will be quite crucial but most of these names can be pseudonyms," the IPS officer said.

On Maulana Yusuf aka Yusuf Sheikh, described as the second man-in-command of the JMB's unit in the state, he said, "Going by hierarchy, this person was definitely another important man. Many of the madrasas in West Bengal were under his supervision. He was the chief motivator and had visited madrasas in Simulia a couple of month's ago.

A madrasa in Simulia in Burdwan district was linked to the Khagragarh blast case.

Police officials said they were in touch with their counterparts in Bangladesh and a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also visited the Kolkata Police headquarter at Lalbazar.

On their mode of communication, the officer said they used messengers to pass on instructions and never used Facebook or any other form of social media to communicate.

"Only one app-based system was used but that also rarely. Otherwise they had messengers to pass on instructions," he said, adding, Yusuf never used even mobile phones.

(REOPEN CAL1)



Besides Farooq and Yusuf, the STF arrested four others- Shahidul Islam, Md Rubel, Abul Kalam and Jahidul Islam.

Another STF officer claimed that Jahidul was picked up in June for possessing high quality fake currency and during subsequent investigation, it came to light that he was involved in the Khagragarh blast case.

"Only after understanding that he is involved in the Khagragarh case and also figures in the NIA wanted list, we started grilling him. And he started speaking about the others. Five of them we have caught and there are a few more," he said.

Out of the six arrested from West Bengal and Assam, five were wanted in connection with Khagragarh blast of October 2, 2014 and named in the NIA chargesheet.

Forged identity documents, a white powdery substance weighing around two kg, one laptop, mobile phones, detonator, wire-cutters, batteries, Bangladeshi and Indian currencies, letters written in Bengali, travel guide, books on chemicals and memory cards for camera were seized from them.
The Assam government today said it has proposed to revise the minimum wages payable to workers engaged as domestic help.

"The state government after consultation with the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board for the employment of domestic workers has recently made a draft proposal for revising the minimum rates of wages," an official release said.

As per the draft, the minimum wage is proposed at Rs 30 per hour for part-time employment for sweeping, swabbing, dusting (housekeeping), washing utensils and washing clothes.

For cooking, baby care or old age care, the minimum wage for every hour has been proposed at Rs 35.

"Likewise, for full-time domestic works irrespective of their work (8 hours) and baby care or old age care, the rate of minimum wages has been proposed at Rs 7,200 and Rs 8,400 per month respectively," the statement said.

In addition to the revised rates, the workers will be entitled to Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) 100 per cent over the rise and fall of index point in the All-India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Industrial Workers.

Rates of VDA will be revised every six months on the basis of change in CPI number during the intervening period.

"The rates will be fixed after consideration of the objections or suggestions received from any individual or organisation before the given date," according to the release.

Any objections or suggestions will be placed before the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board for consideration on expiry of two months, it said.

"All objections or suggestions filed with regard to the draft proposal should be addressed to the Government of Assam, Labour and Employment Department, Dispur, Guwahati-6 within a period of two months (60 days) from the date of publication of the draft proposal," the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Assam government today said it has proposed to revise minimum wages of domestic help.

"The state government after consultation with the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board for the employment of domestic workers has recently made a draft proposal for revising minimum rates of wages," an official release said.

As per the draft proposal, the minimum wage was proposed to be Rs 30 per hour for part-time employment for doing sweeping, swabbing, dusting (housekeeping), washing utensils and washing clothes.

For cooking, baby care or old age care, the minimum wage for every hour has been proposed at Rs 35.

"Likewise, for full-time domestic work irrespective of their work (eight hours) and baby care or old age care, the rate of minimum wages have been proposed as Rs 7,200 and Rs 8,400 per month respectively," the statement said.

In addition to the revised rates of minimum wages, the workers would be entitled to Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) of 100 per cent over the rise and fall of index point in the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers, the release said.

Rates of VDA would be revised in every six months on the basis of change in CPI number during the intervening period.

"All objections or suggestions filed with regard to the draft proposal should be addressed to the Government of Assam, Labour and Employment Department, Dispur, Guwahati-6 within a period of two months (60 days) from the date of publication of the draft proposal," the release said.

It said any objections or suggestions would be placed before the State Minimum Wages Advisory Board for consideration on expiry of two months.

"The rates will be fixed after consideration of the objections or suggestions received from any individual or organisation before the given date," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bharat Financial Inclusion's Rs 750 crore QIP closed today and was oversubscribed multiple times.

"The qualified institutional placement (QIP) which was launched with the issue size of Rs 750 crore (approximate), generated a strong demand and was multiple times oversubscribed," it said in a release.

The floor price of the issue was Rs 769.95, while the issue price was set at Rs 770 a share.

"The overwhelming response to the QIP is primarily on account of the conducive financial inclusion environment created due to the efforts of the Government and the Reserve Bank in the last few years," M R Rao, MD and Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd said.

He further said the company's 'Customer Is the Strategy' approach, resulted in significant gains for customers including the lowest global mirco finance lending lending rate of 19.75 per cent.

Formerly known as SKS Microfinance, Bharat Financial Inclusion launches had on September 22 announced to launch the QIP to raise Rs 750 crore.

Shares of the company closed 0.74 per cent higher at Rs 856.10 on BSE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain vowed today to oppose any attempt to create an "EU army" following the Brexit vote, although the head of NATO denied that European defence cooperation would undermine the transatlantic alliance.

The row broke out as European Union defence ministers met in Bratislava to discuss ways of boosting defence cooperation, one of the priorities set when the bloc's leaders met without Britain earlier this month.

Arriving for the talks, British defence minister Michael Fallon said NATO - which shares 22 of its 28 members with the EU - had to remain a "cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe".

"We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters which would simply undermine NATO," Fallon told reporters in the Slovakian capital.

Asked whether Britain could veto the plans in the estimated two-plus years before it formally leaves the EU, Fallon replied: "There is no majority here for a EU army.

"There are a number of other countries who believe with us that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states."



But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg appeared to contradict Fallon's claims.

"There is no contradiction between strong European defence and strong NATO, actually it reinforces each other," said Stoltenberg, who was also attending today's meeting of the EU ministers.

He did however say it was "important to avoid duplication" and that there should be "complementarity" between EU and NATO.

Mogherini said the EU defence ministers had "found common ground... On the need to strengthen European defence cooperation, and in full complementarity with NATO".

Citing an EU-NATO agreement signed in Warsaw in July, she said it would be "in full complementarity with no duplications, but mutually reinforcing our work".

EU leaders on September 16 agreed at a summit in Bratislava on a six-month roadmap to create a new "vision" for the EU following the shock June 23 British vote to leave.

Key to that is a joint French and German plan for more joint defence and a European military headquarters.

Britain, which along with France is one of the EU's two biggest defence powers, has always opposed any common European defence force on the grounds that it would double up with NATO.

The EU's plans are also being watched warily in many Eastern European nations that depend on NATO's security umbrella more than ever in the face of a resurgent Russia.

The issue is also at stake in the US presidential election, where Republican candidate Donald Trump has openly raised questions about the alliance's key Article 5 collective security guarantee.

Fallon meanwhile insisted that Britain would continue to contribute to European defence as a member of NATO despite leaving the EU.

"We are leaving the European Union but we remain committed to the security of Europe and putting more troops into Estonia or Poland next year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Border Security Force (BSF) has placed orders for acquisition of non-lethal weapons to arm its personnel to control transborder crimes along the porous India-Bangladesh frontier, at a time when its use is under debate.

BSF commanders, who man over 915 km-long South Bengal frontier out of the total 4,096-km international border (IB) between the two countries, told PTI that over 500 Pump Action Guns (PAGs) will soon be provided to them while around 1,500 would be sent to five other frontier areas along the IB in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

At present, the BSF's South Bengal frontier unit is already in possession of about 500 PAGs and their success has prompted field commanders to order more such weapons.

As part of its effort to enhance security along the riverine areas at this border, six new shipping vessels called the "floating border out-posts" will also be deployed in the 9,630 sqkm Sunderbans delta area for use by the BSF, officials said.

There are already three such vessels on rivers like Icchamati, Raimangal and Bhagirathi to launch patrol boats and armed troops.

"The BSF is being provided with more PAGs under the non- lethal weapons category in order to make sure that border killings are kept at minimum. The total number of new weapons that would be provided is about 2,000. Even PAGs are fired under gravest of provocation and threat to life of a guard. These guns have been found to be very effective," a senior official said.

As per the data, this year till August, BSF personnel had fired a total of 1,465 PAG rounds along the entire Indo-Bangla border while only 96 bullets from lethal weapons, like INSAS rifles, were used to check cross-border crimes during the same period.

In 2015, a total of 2,385 PAG rounds were fired while only 150 bullets were fired from lethal weapons. The figure for 2014 stood at 1,517 PAG rounds and just 71 bullets.

"So, while there is a debate over the effectiveness of non-lethal weapons and pellet guns in Kashmir, such guns are a hit at this border. However, non-lethal weapons in Kashmir valley are used for crowd control while at the Indo-Bangla border, for checking transborder crimes," they said.

Officials said apart from PAGs, BSF would also be getting



a fresh lot of chilli grenades, stun grenades and dye marker shells.

A PAG works by firing a shot that is made of reinforced fibre components and works to injure or paralyse a person as compared to a metal bullet fired by a regular lethal weapon that seriously maims or kills a person.

India and Bangladesh had agreed to the use of non-lethal weapons by the border guarding forces at the Home Minister-level talks in February 2012.

The officials further said the six new floating border outposts would add muscle to the BSF water wing in ensuring security of the riverine IB areas. At present, the BSF is in possession of three such platforms built by the Mazagaon Docks Limited.
Two men who fled with a buffalo from a village in neighboring Rajasthan are suspected to have drowned in the Chambal river, police said today.

The bodies have not been found yet but the police said the two men, who are missing for the last four days, possibly stole the buffalo from Amitwali village in Rajasthan, and were taking it to Rithoura village in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.

Ambah police station incharge K K Khaneja said the men seemed to have put their mobile phone and Rs 565 in a polythene bag which they tied to the horns of the buffalo and tried to swim across by holding on to the buffalo's tail.

The buffalo might have kicked or shrugged them off, leading to the death of the two men by drowning, he said.

The buffalo crossed the river safely and was found by the villagers on the other side of the river after which they informed the police.

Police traced the owner of the mobile to Rithoura village where they found out that two men, who had past record of buffalo thefts, were missing since September 23.

Police therefore suspect that the duo were crossing the river with the stolen animal and drowned.

The buffalo was returned to its owner Antar Singh Lodhi from Dihouli in Rajasthan. Search is on to find the bodies of the two men.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court today expressed unhappiness over non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan through his lawyer in connection with the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked CBI to serve a fresh notice on the Samajwadi Party leader.

"In our considered opinion, the respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

It directed the apex court registry to provide copy of the case records along with the notice to CBI for serving them on the minister.

The court said that it seems whatever had been said by Khan is in "his personal capacity".

The remarks came when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, submitted that the notice could have been served through UP government as Khan is part of the cabinet.

The bench, meanwhile, allowed lawyer Kislay Pandey, appearing for the victim's father, to file additional documents in the case and fixed the matter for further hearing on October 25.

The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida- based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point.

The apex court had on August 29 taken note of the controversial remarks of Khan that the gangrape case was a "political conspiracy", while staying the CBI probe in the case. It had also asked whether the State should stop people holding high offices from making such comments on heinous crimes.

On September 8, the court lifted the stay on CBI probe in the case after modifying its earlier order and asked the agency to proceed as per law.

CBI had moved the apex court seeking modification of the order staying its ongoing probe in the case, saying it may cause "disappearance of material evidences" besides enabling six accused to seek statutory bail.

Initially, the FIR was lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police



under various provisions on July 30. CBI had re-registered the case on August 18 in pursuance to the Allahabad High Court's interim order.

The apex court had earlier appointed senior advocate F S Nariman as amicus curiae (friend of the court), while framing some legal questions with regard to freedom of speech and expression and probable impact of statements of those holding high offices on free and fair probe in heinous cases like this.

The court had said it would examine whether such statements are covered under freedom of speech and expression of an individual. It had said the statements, which are not given for self protection, comply with the concept of "constitutional sensitivities".

The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped in July on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation.

In the plea filed in the apex court, the victim's father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi "in the interest of justice".

Unhappy with the UP Police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by "some other competent agency".
A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California worsened a wildfire today that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose destroyed two houses and charred more than 3 square miles of dry brush and timber, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Flames lit up the mountainside above a roller coaster at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and a residence was reduced to rubble, though its hot tub still stood.

The fire consumed a large home sitting on a hilltop plot and poured out thick, black smoke, while another house sat unscathed below.

The blaze broke out yesterday during a statewide heat wave, and crews prepared for another day of witheringly low humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s.

The heat baked even coastal cities that normally benefit from the Pacific Ocean's cooling effect, but the high temperatures were expected to start easing today.

"This fire is a good reminder that even though we are approaching October, this time of year is historically when we experience the largest and most damaging wildfires," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

It threatened 300 buildings, though it's not clear if they were homes or smaller structures. The fire, which was partially under control, also burned close to television and radio towers. No injuries were reported.

Doreenann Bellamy packed her dog, photo albums and firearms into her pickup truck as she and her husband left their home.

"Everyone on the mountain has guns, and you've got to grab your guns first," she told The Mercury in San Jose.

Danielle Mays anxiously waited for a neighbor to bring her Boston terrier, Layla, and her cat, Callie.

"That's it; that's what matters," Mays told the newspaper yesterday. "I have fire insurance for the rest."



To the north, crews gained control over a 2-square-mile fire that briefly threatened homes and The Geysers geothermal complex, a massive power producing facility.

Evacuations and road closure orders were lifted after firefighters got the blaze more than halfway contained, Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said.

"It's looking very good, but we still need to make sure smoke and small fires inside the perimeter are taken care of," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An employee of the Royal Canadian Mint has been accused of smuggling about USD 180,000 worth of gold from a fortress-like facility by hiding the precious metal inside his rectum.

Leston Lawrence, 35, allegedly sold the smuggled gold to an Ottawa Gold Buyers store. He has been accused of transporting several cookie-sized gold pieces called "pucks" out of the Mint and selling them to the gold buyer.

His dealings allegedly netted him almost USD 180,000 over the course of a few months, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

The case against Lawrence, of Barrhaven, concluded in an Ottawa courtroom last Tuesday and Justice Peter Doody reserved decision until November 9 on a number of smuggling-for-cash charges, including theft, laundering the proceeds of crime, possession of stolen property and breach of trust.

It was not the Mint that discovered the alleged theft but an alert bank teller.

Court was told that, on multiple occasions, Lawrence took small circular chunks of gold to Ottawa Gold Buyers in the Westgate Shopping Centre.

Typically, the pucks weighed about 210 grammes for which he was given cheques in the USD 6,800 range, depending on fluctuating gold prices, court heard. He then deposited the cheques at the Royal Bank in the same mall.

One day a teller became suspicious at the size and number of Ottawa Gold Buyers cheques being deposited and Lawrence's request to wire money out of the country. She then noticed on his account profile that he worked at the Mint. The first red flag was up.

Bank security was alerted, then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which began to investigate. Eventually, a search warrant was obtained and four Mint-style pucks were found in Lawrence's safety deposit box, the court heard.

Records revealed 18 pucks had been sold between November 27, 2014 and March 12, 2015. Together with dozens of gold coins that were redeemed, the total value of the suspected theft was conservatively estimated at USD 179,015.

Lawrence, who has since been terminated, was an operator in the refinery section. Among his duties was to scoop gold from buckets so it could be tested for purity, as the Mint prides itself on gold coins above the 99 per cent level.

Court was told Lawrence set off the metal detector at an exit from the "secure area" with more frequency than any other employee - save those with metal medical implants. When that happened, the procedure was to do a manual search with a hand-held wand, a search that he always passed.

Investigators also found a container of vaseline in his locker and the trial was presented with the prospect that a puck could be concealed in an anal cavity and not be detected by the wand.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ELBRIDGE  The neighboring villages of Elbridge and Jordan still cannot come to an agreement over a contract under which the villages share the costs to transmit water through both municipalities' systems.

After representatives from the two village boards met during the Elbridge Village Board of Trustees meeting in July, the agreement has been an agenda item at each board's meetings for them to discuss separately.

Following the Sept. 6 Elbridge village board meeting, Elbridge Village Mayor Hank Doerr said the two sides continue to disagree over how the costs are shared by the villages  with a cost increase in the agreement  and whether a water tower in the Elbridge system serves the Jordan system.

Doerr said the decades-old agreement is based on the actual costs of water transmission over a five-year period, and each village pays a certain percentage of the costs as laid out in the agreement that was the result of a court settlement.

"This tower thing has never bothered them as part of their operation, and now they're saying that even though they may need it if they have a bad fire or they may need to turn the pumping station on on Hamilton Road, they want it (costs) to stay the same," Doerr said.

After Elbridge Village Trustee Chris DeCola met with the Jordan village board to discuss the agreement, Doerr said, that board passed a resolution to keep the costs the same for the next agreement, rather than increasing them about $291 per quarter as is currently proposed.

Doerr said the Jordan village board also passed a resolution to pay its share of the costs for the only first two quarters of the year as the two sides keep working out their issues.

"We can't do that to any line item just because you don't know what's going to happen in the five years," Doerr said of keeping costs the same. "That's (cost increase) nothing in the scope of things."

He said the overall cost increase is the result of a hike of a couple of pennies in the rate of water capacity, and the agreement is based on the actual costs of the water system.

"It's just this little difference," he said. "We've already incurred the expense. It would be different if we hadn't incurred the cost already."

Doerr said the village of Elbridge is "literally upstream from" Jordan in terms of the water system, so the agreement is based on transmission  the cost of the water going through the Elbridge system into the Jordan system. He noted the village of Elbridge already pays Syracuse a transmission fee through a similar system.

Doerr also said the village of Elbridge paid Jordan $48,000 for its share of the costs of the LT2 water treatment that treats surface water coming into the system.

The overall project cost about $1 million, but the villages obtained grants to cover most of the cost. The villages share costs for things such as the ultraviolet lights, the backup generator and regular testing.

"The money that we're generating is enough to keep it operational and do the maintenance every year," Doerr said. "We have to replace parts of it every year according to the health department."

He said he suggested getting engineers to analyze the water system shared between the villages, but the Jordan village board did not want to contribute toward the fees.

Other than the cost increase, he said nothing else about the agreement is changed  "the format, all the formulas, everything, it's all the same," he said. "It's been the same. We've not changed anything."

And even though it is an agreement that Doerr said nobody is happy with, he said is also one that nobody wants to change. Because the original agreement was established by a court, changing the document would involve the two sides having to go to court again.

"There's no way we want to take it to the judge again," Doerr said, noting each side spent about $37,000 in attorney's fees. "I think we'll work this out. It's just local government at it's finest."
Six years after a 35-year-old British woman was found dead near the Anjuna beach in Goa, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a closure report in the case as no evidence of assault or homicide has been found.

The 50-page closure report in the death case of Denyse Sweeney was filed on Monday by a special team of which arrived Panaji from Mumbai.

"The report has been filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa," Nandkumar Nair, the head of CBI's special branch in Mumbai, told PTI on Tuesday.

He said forensically, the cause of death was cerebral pulmonary oedema, which means accumulation of fluid in brain and lungs.

There was no evidence of assault or homicide and also there was no eyewitness or circumstantial evidence due to which the closure report was filed, Nair said.

Sweeney was on a holiday in Goa when she was found dead on April 16, 2010 near the toilet of a night club in Anjuna beach area.

Local police had cited drug overdose as the reason behind the death, but later registered a case of murder after Sweeney's family suspected foul play.

The had taken over the probe into the case in January.

The development in Sweeney case came days after Goa Children's Court in Panaji acquitted two men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving to die British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling at Anjuna beach in February 2008.
has carried out searches at three locations in connection with a case of alleged cheating against mining company Usha Martin with regards to lease for an iron ore mine to it in Jharkhand in 2005.

sources said the searches were carried out at company's headquarters in Kolkata, its plant in Ghamaria and residence of the then Director of Mines in Dhanbad.

has registered a case of alleged criminal conspiracy cheating and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act against promoters of Usha Martin, the company and then Director Mines Jharkhand Government ID Paswan, agency sources said.

It is alleged that the company was allegedly favoured in the grant of ore mining lease in a village Ghatkuri in Singhbhum West district in 2005 over five other applicants.

The state government had favoured Usha Martin in its recommendation to Centre for the allotment of mine as the company had allegedly promised that it would use the ore in its steel plant in Ghamaria in the state.

The undertaking by the company led the state government to recommend it as a special case for captive consumption.

CBI has alleged that the company later backtracked from the undertaking taking advantage of the fact that the special reason was not specifically mentioned in the Cabinet note in this regard, the sources said.

CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said the case was registered on the allegations of abuse of official position, cheating & causing undue advantage to said private firm while allowing mining of iron-ore in village Ghattkuri, District West Singhbhumi (Jharkhand).

The said case was registered on the notification from Jharkhand Government and further notification from Government of India, he said.

Gaur said searches led to recovery of certain documents including computer hard disk.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, an accused in a disproportionate assets case along with others, today claimed in Delhi High Court that CBI's FIR against him was "premature" as it was based on the proceedings of Income Tax department, which was still pending.

Singh's counsel told Justice Vipin Sanghi that CBI had lodged a preliminiary enquiry (PE) in October 2012 which was later closed, but the agency registered a second PE on June 17 last year based on the same facts which were already investigated by it.

"When the first PE was closed, where was the necessity of reopening it again in the second PE on the same set of facts which were inquired into by the CBI in the first PE which was closed," senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for the Congress leader, said.

"The very foundation (proceedings of IT department) on which this second PE and FIR was based is still going on. This FIR is premature," he said during arguments which would continue tomorrow.

Singh had earlier claimed in court that the way in which probe was conducted showed an "element of enthusiasm" on CBI's part indicating an element of "malafide".

CBI had told the high court that its probe in the DA case against Singh and others was "complete" and it wanted to file the charge sheet in the matter.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court in an interim order on October 1, 2015, had restrained the agency from arresting, interrogating or filing a charge sheet against Singh in the case without its permission.

The matter, in which Himachal Pradesh HC had passed the interim order, was transferred by the Supreme Court to the Delhi High Court, but the interim order has not yet been vacated or stayed.

Delhi High Court on April 6 this year had directed CBI



not to arrest Singh while asking him to join the probe.

The direction had come when the court was disposing of CBI's application seeking vacation of the Himachal Pradesh High Court order, which the agency claimed had "seriously held up" its investigation in the case.

On November 5 last year, the apex court had transferred Singh's plea from Himachal Pradesh HC to Delhi HC, saying it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, but "simply" transferring the petition "in interest of justice and to save the institution (judiciary) from any embarrassment".

CBI had moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case here and setting aside the interim order granting protection from arrest and other relief granted to Virbhadra.

A DA case was lodged against the Chief Minister and others by CBI under sections 13(2) and 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 109 (punishment for abetment) of the IPC.
Amid reports of an increase in infiltration bids, the Centre today directed the BSF to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid and seal all vulnerable points along the Indo-Pak border.

The directive was given by Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a meeting attended by top officials of the Home Ministry and the Border Security Force, which guards Indo-Pak and Indo- Bangladesh borders.

The meeting reviewed the overall functioning of the BSF, besides gaps and lapses in border guarding and how to plug them as the Home Minister expressed concern over infiltration from across the International Border and Line of Control.

The BSF has been told to set up a real time intelligence sharing grid along with the state police forces to act promptly on the intelligence gathered by the border guarding force to effectively check infiltration along the international border, official sources said.

The Home Minister is believed to have conveyed to the BSF that despite difficulties they have to perform and must ensure that there is "zero infiltration", the sources said.

A high-powered committee, headed by former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, has flagged gaps in fencing and vulnerability along the Indo-Pak border and suggested that technology should be used and vigil strengthened on riverine frontiers.

Besides using water sensors in the riverine areas, the Committee also suggested installing electronic sensors and putting up fences on the Indo-Pak border, the sources said.

It also suggested installing underground sensors in infiltration-prone areas and foliage penetrating radars in forests and areas with heavy vegetation.

Of the 3,323 km-long Indo-Pak border, 1,225 km falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including the LoC), 553 km in Punjab, 1,037 km in Rajasthan and 508 km in Gujarat.

The Committee was set up three months after the Pathankot attack to suggest ways to strengthen security along the border with Pakistan and address the vulnerability in fencing.

Referring to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Home Minister asked the BSF to ensure that smuggling of cattle and narcotics is stopped and advised better coordination with state police forces. India shares a 4096 km-long border with Bangladesh.

At the meeting, the Home Minister approved the long-pending demand of the paramilitary force to issue "Battle Casualty" certificate to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Looking to expand the nuclear programme, the Centre is looking at possible sites in Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana for setting up atomic plants, and is considering exporting Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).

Of the 22 nuclear power plants in the country, Rajasthan houses six reactors while Narora in Uttar Pradesh has two. The rest are located in western and southern India.

"We are exploring the possibility of having such establishments in other places, for example near Dehradun in Utarakhand and near Patiala in Punjab. We are also looking for a place in Bhiwani in Haryana," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said.

Singh said most of the atomic energy generation was confined mostly to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. "That is one contribution that has received a lot of push in last two years," he said at a conference on 'Nuclear Power in India' organised by ASSOCHAM.

The Prime Minister's Office looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

Meanwhile, the Nuclear Power Corporation (NCPIL), a PSU under the DAE, is coming up with two more reactors in Rajasthan and four PHWRs in Gorakhpur in Haryana.

Ranajit Kumar, Head of the Nuclear Control and Planning Wing of the DAE, said India was also looking to export its PHWRs.

Kumar said India is in a position to pass on the PWHR technology to countries looking to avail cheap and cost effective reactors. The current PWHR reactors have the capacity of generating between 220 MW and 700 MW of power.

After international sanctions were slapped on India following nuclear tests in 1974, the country's nuclear energy programme came to a standstill. Following this, Indian nuclear scientists perfected the PWHR technology.

Singh said the government is also looking to increase the share of nuclear power to 25 per cent in next 10 to 20 years.

The existing share of nuclear power hovers around 3 to 3.5 per cent with a total capacity of nearly 6780 MW.

He added that the Bhabha National Institute, a deemed institute under the DAE, had got into an understanding with the Tata Memorial Centre to award degrees in oncology. The TMC is one of the best government-run cancer institutes in the India.

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The Centre is currently working on the National Education Policy-2016 that seeks to promote "a credible education system" capable of ensuring quality education and life-long learning opportunities for all, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu announced today.

The Centre was also working to promote 20 world-class institutions both in public and private sectors, he said, adding that "informing and reforming our youth force", so as to enable it to take part in the transformation of India, "shall be the agenda of higher educational institutions".

Addressing the inaugural session of the south zone conference of vice-chancellors of various universities at the Vignan University at Vadlamani in Guntur district this afternoon, Venkaiah said the new policy, which was now going through a consultation process, was aimed producing students and graduates equipped with "knowledge, skills, attitude and values" that were required to lead a productive life and participate in the country's development process.

"Commercialisation of education with emphasis on success in competitive exams and securing a high-paid job is resulting in socio-economic issues to be grappled with.

If our (present) higher education system does not result in right products, it could have serious socio-economic and political implications", Venkaiah warned.

"From being a pioneer of education in ancient times, we have now come to lag behind many other nations in terms of both quality and quantity. From great heights, we have for some reasons fallen by the wayside.

"Thousands of our students flock to other countries for higher studies and that is a matter of serious concern," the Union Minister observed.

He asked the vice-chancellors to ponder this and "do the needful".

Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Association of Indian Universities president D S Chauhan, Vignan University founder Lavu Rattaiah and vice-chancellors of universities of southern states are attending the three-day conference that is deliberating on the theme "Universities' contribution to spilling, innovation and entrepreneurship".

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China remains India's primary security challenge because of its assertiveness on the border dispute, a report by a think-tank in the UK said today.

The 'Strategic Survey 2016: The Annual Review of World Affairs' by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said India's relations with Pakistan and Nepal had deteriorated in the past year but China remained a primary concern because of its assertiveness on the border dispute.

"For policymakers in New Delhi, this created fears of encirclement and hardened their attitude towards Beijing, even as China continued to be India's largest trading partner, and [Prime Minister] Modi sought to establish stronger trade and investment links with Beijing," the report said.

The annual survey reviewed India's troubled relationship with Pakistan and referred to the intensive "retaliatory" firing across the Line of Control (LoC) under the current Narendra Modi-led government, "fluctuations" in the dialogue process and the terror attack on Pathankot airbase.

The report said: "India's major security threat remained the terrorism emanating from Pakistan, on which Modi took a tougher position than his predecessor.

"As ever, the main driver of Pakistan's security policy was its rivalry with India. This consideration trumped all other factors."



The survey also felt India's "neighbourhood first" policy had not paid off beyond Bangladesh and Bhutan.

"This was due to the complex domestic politics of countries in the region, their historical suspicion of India as the dominant regional power, the influence of India domestic and ethnic politics, and increasing Chinese engagement with the region," it said.

On its assessment of India, the IISS review highlighted that by mid-2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made official visits to nearly 40 countries in two years.

"While his efforts had the immediate effect of raising India's global profile and emphasising his commitment to diaspora communities, they centred on substantive policies designed to strengthen the country's economy. And Modi appeared to be succeeding: India's GDP grew by 7.6 per cent in 2015-16, a rate higher than that of any other large country," the report says.

On a global level, it concludes that "rising populism and intractable conflict" shook the international system in the year to mid-2016.

"Worldwide dissatisfaction with ruling elites and resistance to globalisation appeared to reach a crescendo. Wars across the Middle East showed little sign of abating. The increasing assertiveness and military capabilities of China and Russia amplified competition, and the attendant risk of conflict, between major powers," it said.

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The six-month validity of the technical hold imposed by China on India's bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN will "lapse" soon and the Pathankot attack mastermind could be sanctioned if Beijing does not block the move again.

On March 31 this year, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, had blocked India's move to put a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader under the Sanctions Committee of the Council.

China was the sole member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

Sources have said that the six-month validity of the technical hold is set to "lapse" in about a week-10 days time and unless China again seeks to bloc or veto the resolution on some pretext, the resolution could stand passed automatically, designating Azhar as a terrorist.

The other 14 UNSC members have already supported India's bid and the lapse of the technical hold, coupled with no further objection from China, will essentially mean that there is no opposition to the demand to get Azhar listed under the sanctions committee.

Sources said that in the current environment of "growing global crescendo against terrorism", "can China still stand up alone" and block the designation of an individual who heads an organisation that was listed as a terrorist group by the UN in 2001".

They said a possibility could be that after the lapse of the technical hold, China could seek more time on Azhar's application, in effect allowing the technical hold to continue.

However, China could be questioned by other UNSC members on such an extension, sources said, adding that other member nations in the UNSC could ask as to why Beijing needs more time even after getting a six-month time frame due to its technical hold.

Sources said India is not alone in its bid to get Azhar listed as the US, UK and France had "co-sponsored" the resolution seeking Azhar's listing.

During the current UN General Assembly session, over 140 nations that have addressed the General Debate have voiced strong condemnation for the growing scourge of terrorism and vowed to combat it.

India has repeatedly slammed the UN sanctions committee



for its failure to designate terrorists saying it is an "anomaly" and a "sheer folly" that the terror groups are proscribed entities under the Sanctions regime but individuals heading them are not listed.

"Is Osama bin Laden separate from Al Qaeda, can they designate Al Qaeda and not bin Laden," sources said.

In June this year, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had said at a Security Council debate that it is "sheer folly" that the new leader of Taliban, a proscribed entity, Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzady is not yet designated as a terrorist individual.

Previously also, India has slammed the UN sanctions committee for taking a "selective approach" in tackling terrorism when the technical hold was put on its application to include Azhar's name on the committee's list of designated terrorists.

India had said in April that it finds it "incomprehensible" that while the Pakistan-based JeM was listed in the UN Security Council Committee as far back as 2001 for its known terror activities and links to the al-Qaeda, the designation of the group's main leader, financier and motivator has been put on a technical hold.

India had submitted detailed dossier on Azhar and moved the UNSC 1267 committee following the January 2 Pathankot attacks.

In March, India's submission was considered by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) for technical aspects of the evidence provided. The technical team then with the support of the US, UK and France had sent it to all the members.

All were told that if there are no objections, the designation will be announced after the expiry of the deadline. However, hours before the deadline, China requested the committee to hold up the banning of the JeM chief.

"Any listing would have to meet the requirements" for blacklisting, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Liu Jieyi had told reporters in April in response to questions over China's decision to place a technical hold on designating Azhar in the UN Sanctions Committee.

India had said that the sanctions committee was taking a "selective approach" in tackling terrorism.

India had made a strong call for reform of the "subterranean universe" of the UN Security Council's sanctions regimes, as it criticised the lack of transparency in their functioning and said that the principles of "anonymity and unanimity" adopted by Council members absolve individual members of accountability.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today invited the UK businessmen to invest in Madhya Pradesh as he fervently underlined the state's conducive business environment.

Addressing NRIbusiness community at theHinduja House here last night, Chouhan impressed upon the gathering to make Madhya Pradesh, one of the fastest growing economies in the country, a business hub.

"Madhya Pradesh is one of the few states, which has a power surplus and continuous betterment to infrastructure and a positive outlook to industry growth," Chouhan said.

"Being in the heart of the country, it boasts of a skilled labour force as it absorbs people from every corner of the country, which adds to the warmth and hospitality of the state. Not only India but it also invites people from all over the world to work, invest and do business in the state," he said.

Chouhan said the UN gave the world the idea of "universal togetherness", but in India the motto that the world is one and happiness of all is linked to unity was proclaimed long before.

"My work is to ensure the material wellbeing of my constituency and am committed to ensure everyone in the state has a house above his head and homelessness is eradicated. But material benefit is not enough, as a state we have achieved one of the highest growth rates in agriculture," he said.

Noting that Chouhan isone ofthe most forward looking Chief Ministers in India, GP Hinduja, co-Chairman of the Hinduja Group, in his brief addresssaid this is "what drew London's most influential business community to come under one roof and listen to him".

Chouhan was speaking in the run up to the Madhya Pradesh government's two-day'Global Investors Summit' to be held from October 22 at Indore. The summit will provide a global platform for interaction with Indian industry leaders, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders.

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The Clothing Manufacturers' Association of India (CMAI) has signed an MoU with China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles (CCCT) for extending co-operation in apparel industry between the two countries.

"We have signed an MoU with CCCT for extending co-operation to each other in terms of new business opportunities and exchange of trade and data related co-operation for mutual benefit," CMAI president Rahul Mehta told PTI on the sidelines of World Fashion convention here.

Mehta said India, with great potential, has to increase the market share in global apparel trade.

He said China has started gradually reducing its focus on labour intensive industry which includes textiles and apparel which poses a great potential for India to take this as an opportunity and grab the place vacated by China.

The pact was inked by Mehta and Jiang Hui representing India and China respectively.

"The MoU will benefit both countries' apparel sectors in long run. While organising trade fairs, both of us would co-operate in associating new clients, visitors and associated supply chain participants to the forum for the benefit of the apparel trade," Mehta added.

International Apparel Federation (IAF), the global representative body of apparel manufacturers, for the first time in Asia, organised a two-day seminar here.

Experts, however, have forecast that India's textiles industry will double in five years from USD 110 billion at present to USD 220 billion by 2021.

Aniruddha Deshmukh, MD and CEO of Mafatlal Industries Ltd, said, "E-retailing is going to be the next growth opportunities in Indian textiles and apparel sector in the next few years. Metro cities are overcrowded with retailers with higher overheads. Thus, there are more retail business opportunities in tier 2 & tier 3 cities".

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Gasgoo.com (Shanghai) - According to statistics compiled by Gasgoo.com (Chinese), a total of 1.75 million passenger automobiles were sold in China in the month of August. That figure represented commendable year-on-year growth of 28.5%, similar to growth records from the previous month.

SAIC-GM-Wulings Hongguang continues to lead the monthly sales charts with total sales of 45,381 units. Although the Hongguang has been pulling in monthly sales volumes above the 40,000 mark, its total sales from January to August have actually decreased slightly from the previous year. SAIC-GM-Wulings other MPV, the Baojun 730, has seen its sales begin to recover, ranking seventh in the monthly sales charts with 28,928 units sold. By comparison sales of the Baojun 560 have actually fallen 11.6%, totaling 15,112 units in August.

Great Walls flagship model, the Haval H6, has managed to once again break the 40,000 sales mark this year. With its sales growing 49.4%, the models dominant position in the SUV segment is irrefutable. Quite some distance behind the H6 was the months second best-selling SUV, GAC Trumpchis GS4. August sales of the Trumpchi over doubled from last year, totaling 29,000 units.

Sedans made up six of the top 10 best-selling models, with their individual monthly sales all above the 20,000 sales mark. Among them, the Jetta, Lavida and Excelle were able to break the 30,000 sales marks, while the Corolla was able to achieve triple-digit sales growth year-on-year.

A total of 238 sedan models were sold in the country in August. Sedan sales for the month totaled 917,000 units, representing year-on-year growth of 19.6%. The Jetta surpassed the Lavida with sales of 36,577 units to become the months best-selling sedan model. Ranking behind the Jetta and Lavida were the Excelle, Bluebird Sylphy, Sagitar, Corolla, Escort, Bora, Lavida and Cruze. Both the Corolla and Escort manage to achieve some very commendable sales growth rates in the triple digits.

The Chery Arrizo 5 was the months best-selling own brand sedan. August sales of the Arrizo 5 totaled 16,800 units, ranking 11th in the overall segment sales charts. The Arrizo 5, which launched only this March, has seen its sales rise steadily month after month. A total of 63,208 Arrizo 5s have been sold over the first eight months of the year. The months other top-selling own brand sedan, the Geely Emgrand EC7, also performed strongly, with its August sales totaling 13,525 units, representing year-on-year growth of 14.8%. No other own brand models ranked in the segments top 20 sales charts.

A total of 137 SUV models were sold in the country August. A total of 665,000 SUVs were sold in the country in August, representing year-on-year growth of 42.3%. Six of the top ten best-selling SUV models in August came from domestic own brand manufacturers, while the remainder were made up of individual entries from American, German, Korean and Japanese brands.

As before, the Great Wall Haval H6 continued to lead the segment by a large margin. The GAC Trumpchi GS4 also performed strongly, with its sales nearly doubling from the previous year. A total of 29,000 GS4s were sold in August. Other top-selling own brand SUVs for the month included SAIC-GM-Wulings Baojun 560, the Changan CS75, the Great Wall Haval H2 and the Changan CS35. Among those, only the CS75 managed to achieve positive sales growth.

The months best-selling foreign brand SUV, the Buick Envision, ranked third in the SUV sales charts with sales of 22,050 units. Although sales of the VW Tiguan has been seeing strong recovery over the past few months, its sales in August fell 14.1% year-on-year. The New Tucson, which has only been on the market for less than a year, has performed strongly, with its August sales of 17,146 units allowing it to rank in the monthly top ten.

A total of 43 MPVs were sold in China in August. MPV sales for the month totaled 177,000 units, representing year-on-year growth of 31.9%. The SAIC-GM-Wuling Hongguang led the sales charts, followed by the Baojun 730, Changan Honor, Changan Oushang, BAIC Weiwang M30, Buick GL8, BAIC Huansu H3, Dongfeng Fengxing S500, Dongfeng Fengxing Lingzhi and Jinbei 750. These ten models accounted for 42.3% of all MPVs sold in the country.
The share buyback programme worth Rs 3,650 crore of would open next week on October 3.

The state-owned company informed about the "Letter of Offer" in a BSE filing. SBI Capital Markets is the manager to the buyback offer that closes on October 18.

The offer would be for buyback of equity shares not exceeding 10,89,55,223 of face value of Rs 10 each at a price of Rs 335 per equity share for cash aggregating up to Rs 3,650 crore on a proportionate basis, from the eligible shareholders by way of a tender offer through the stock exchange mechanism, the filing said.

"The offer size represents approximately 24.95 per cent of the aggregate of the fully paid-up share capital and free reserves, according to the audited accounts of the company for the financial year ended March 31, 2016 and is within the statutory limits of 25 per cent of the aggregate of the fully paid up share capital and free reserves...," it said.

The government has approved buyback of shares by PSUs as it feels leveraging surplus cash would be the best option for them rather than going for disinvestment.

Buyback helps a company reduce equity by using idle cash and hence provide better returns to shareholders.

The government aims to collect Rs 56,500 crore through disinvestment in PSUs this financial year.
A year after the Dadri lynching, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today claimed incidents of communal tension have reduced "substantially" under the NDA government and stressed on the Prime Minister's message of "empowerment and not appeasement" of Muslims.

"Over the past two-and-half years, the number of incidents of communal tensions have gone down substantially.

"We want such incidents to be zero. We are working on that," he said in remarks which come on the eve of completion of one year since the lynching of Mohammad Aqlakh in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri over suspicion of beef consumption.

The Minister of State for Minority Affairs said it was a "very unfortunate" incident and an act of people "who are bent on dividing communities".

"But there has been no repeat of such incident over the past one year," he said.

The Ministers was responding to queries from reporters on the sidelines of launch of Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) at the annual conference of state channelising agencies of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had come under attack over the September 28, 2015 killing of 50-year-old Aqlakh with some Union Ministers and BJP MPs making controversial statement regarding it. The incident also led to a section of artistes and litterateurs returning their awards in protest against the alleged intolerance.

Naqvi did not specify the data on communal incidents, but stated that there is an "atmosphere of confidence and development" among all including minorities and added the government's agenda of development can only "defeat the agenda of destruction".

He also defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reported "parishkrit" remark relating to Muslims, which has stoked a controversy, saying that the PM was right in asserting that there should be "no appeasement, but empowerment" of the community members.

"Prime Minister has said it rightly. He has said that appeasement of minorities should be stopped and work on their empowerment should begin in the spheres of education and employment," Naqvi said.

Modi had while addressing BJP's national council in



Kerala recently had quoted party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay while reaching out to Muslism to say, "don't reward, don't rebuke them; but empower them".

Naqvi said that only politics of development will work in the country and not of vote bank.

"Minorities, especially those from Muslim communities have remained below poverty line over these years. I don't think the so-called secular merchants of vote politicians ever discussed it. Today, we need to eliminate poverty and unemployment. We are trying to help them through different institutes," he added.

During his speech at inaugural session of the conference, Naqvi said that more concerted efforts are required for creating awareness among target groups about the schemes and programmes of NMDFC.

He also stressed on the need for simplifying the procedures and reducing the waiting time for sanctioning of loans given by the financial body.

AADHAR and KYC norms for selection of beneficiaries, self-attestation of certificates by applicants and direct transfer of loan in the bank account of beneficiary are some of the steps taken by NMDFC to make implementation of its schemes more transparent and hassle free for the beneficiaries.

On the occasion, Naqvi also launched a toll-free number to provide information regarding programmes and schemes of NMDFC. He also released the first Urdu edition of NMDFC's magazine "Parwaz".
Attacking Congress for its demand to convene a special session of Parliament to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, BJP today said it's merely a propaganda tactic of the opposition party and an attempt to politicise the issue of national security.

The ruling party said the Congress' decision to go to media with its demand shows it's not serious and added that it should have gone to the Lok Sabha Speaker if it was sincere.

"If Congress is serious about it, then the right thing would have been to go to the Speaker. Rather they have gone to the media to politicise the issue of national interest and for propaganda. It shows their non-serious attitude," BJP's National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said.

With the government contemplating its options against Pakistan following the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, Singh said it is working to address the issue of cross-border terrorism and the response will be robust.

"The government is looking at diplomatic, economic and military options and in that ambit it will consider all options and take appropriate step. It is not for us to comment but to stand with the government when it takes a decision," he told reporters here.

Reacting to Congress' jibe that the 'Most Favoured Nation' status given to Pakistan, which is being reviewed, is a "dead letter", he said the "dead UPA government" sat over the so- called dead letter for years.

He also attacked Congress for its alleged inaction following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

He asked Congress and other parties to stand with the government, saying moments come in the history of every country when entire nation needs to stand together.

"Such a moment has arrived for India when all people should stand together," he said.

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Crude oil futures fell by 0.67 per cent to Rs 3,115 a barrel today as speculators reduced positions amid a weakening trend in Asian markets.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for delivery in November traded at Rs 21, or 0.67 per cent lower, at Rs 3,115 a barrel in 184 lots.

Oil for October delivery also moved down Rs 20, or 0.65 per cent, to Rs 3,063 per barrel in 4,786 lots.

The trading sentiment dampened in futures trade after oil prices edged down in Asia today amid continued speculation on whether producers will agree to limit output at talks in Algeria this week, analysts said.

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet Wednesday with key non-OPEC producer Russia on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers.

They are expected to discuss ways to stabilise prices that have been depressed since 2014 amid a stubborn supply glut, with hopes that producers might agree on a production cap.

Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for November delivery was down nine cents to USD 45.84, while Brent crude was down 19 cents to USD 47.16 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices had jumped around 3 per cent yesterday.

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said CBI investigation in the killing of RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja is going on and the culprits would not be spared.

Singh, who was here to pay tribute to Gagneja, said the Centre has directed CBI to speed up the investigation in the case on the recommendation of the Punjab government.

Rajnath Singh, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, expressed satisfaction on the inputs provided by the state government in the case.

He assured the bereaved family of all support.

The Deputy Chief Minister paid tribute to the departed leader and called upon the people to give "strong reply" to "anti-national" and "anti-Punjab" forces trying to disturb the hard-earned peace and harmony in the state.

Gagneja, who was RSS Punjab Seh Sanghchalak (second-in- command), was shot at in Jalandhar by unidentified assailants in August and died on September 22 after spending 47 days in a hospital.

Terming Gagneja a "true patriot", Badal said "he was votary of communal harmony who served the nation in various capacities".

The two leaders held separate meeting with the bereaved family.

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The Archbishop of the Faridabad-Delhi Syro-Malabar Catholic Church today condemned the Uri terror attack and deplored the calls for war against Pakistan, saying the neighbouring country can be isolated internationally through dialogue and diplomacy.

"The terrorist attack on the army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, killing 19 jawans, needs to be condemned," Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara said.

"It is time for reason and common good to prevail over emotion and retaliation. A war will put the economy back by decades. We must abjure all talks of war. Instead we need to strengthen the path of dialogue and diplomacy," he said.

"Call for war and provoking statements to initiate a war against Pakistan must be reined in. War will affect the economy of our nation," he told reporters here urging "not to deal terrorism with terrorism."



Lauding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's reply to Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, the former UN diplomat of the Holy See called for more efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally.

"Public opinion in the world has been turning against Pakistan for the overt and covert support it has been giving to terrorists. India has the diplomatic strength to isolate Pakistan on this issue and put it in the dock," he said.

The Archbishop of the four-million strong Syro-Malabar Catholic Church said Kashmir was a political issue and must be dealt with politically.

"The Kashmir trouble is a political issue and it requires a political solution," he said.

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The Delhi government today announced a compensation of Rs one crore to the family members of government school teacher Mukesh Kumar, who was allegedly stabbed to death by two of his students in the class in west Delhi's Nangloi area.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today announced the compensation and also ordered a magisterial probe into the matter to ascertain whether there was any lapse of the school authorities or at the hospital.

"This is a very tragic episode and the government views it very seriously. The Delhi cabinet has decided to pay Rs one crore to Mukesh Kumar's family and will support the family in all possible ways," said Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio.

Two Class 12 students of a government school in Nangloi yesterday allegedly stabbed to death their Hindi teacher Mukesh Kumar in front of their classmates after one of them was rusticated for low attendance.

The victim later died during treatment at the hospital last night.

Sisodia had yesterday visited him after he got to know about the incident.

One of the accused, who is juvenile, has been detained while another person has been arrested.

Sisodia also made an appeal to the parents to talk to their children and make them understand that teachers are well-intentioned.

The Deputy CM said it was important for the government as well as parents to restore the morale of the teachers who are shaken after this incident, and added the safety concerns of the teachers need to be addressed by all.

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Delhi Police has chargesheeted JNU student Anmol Ratan for allegedly raping a 28-year-old fellow student in university hostel.

The charge sheet was filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen who has fixed the matter for hearing on October 8.

According to the charge sheet, the victim had written on her social networking website's wall that she wanted to watch the movie Sariat and had asked if anyone had its CD. Ratan then messaged her saying he had a copy.

Later, he picked her up on August 20 on the pretext of giving her the CD and took her to Brahamputra Hostel, where he stayed. There he allegedly offered her a spiked drink and raped her.

Ratan is at present lodged in judicial custody and his bail application is pending before a sessions court.

The police have told the court that call details of the woman and the accused, fingerprint report and other CFSL reports pertaining to the case are still pending and the agency is likely to file a supplementary charge sheet in the matter.

Ratan, an AISA activist, was expelled from association after being accused of rape.

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The CIC today directed the Navy to disclose the Board of Inquiry proceedings into the death of Lt Cdr Rahul Nair during an airshow in 2010,while admonishing its official for "cavalier attitude" in preparing its submission.

In stern observations, Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha, who rejected the plea for exemption on grounds of national security, said it appears "that attempt has been made to protect the interest of defaulters and that certainly does not outweigh the interest of the soldier who has lost his life in such an accident".

Sinha questioned how the Navy, while objecting to the disclosure of inquiry proceedings, court resort to reproducing "verbatim" the previous submissions by other CPIOs and comments of Defence Ministry in separate cases.

Navy which was objecting to the disclosure of proceedings on the grounds of national security has used comments of Defence Ministry and Indian Air Force in separate cases without quoting, Sinha said.

"...The phrase Air Force has been replaced by Indian Navy in all such instances. This demonstrates cavalier attitude of the CPIO in preparing the counter submissions. CPIO has even ignored the fact that, submissions in the aforementioned case were given in regard of the Indian Air Force and its entire fleet of transport since the year 1990...," Sinha said.

The Information Commissioner pointed out that in the said case it is a specific accident that happened at a flying display event organised by Civil Aviation Ministry to mark recognition of Indian civil aviation sector.

The case relates to plea of Cdr R M Nair who wanted to know the circumstances of the tragic accident, and its board of inquiry records, which led to the death of his son Rahul during the air show in which he was performing in a Kiran MK-II aircraft.

But Navy rejected it citing national security as a reason and section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act which exempts disclosure of such information.

"National security is a ground which has to be corroborated with tenable indicators of compromise; the phrase 'National Security' per se is not an explanation. Section 8(1)(a) of the Act has to be scrutinised well before its application and there is no singular rule to do the same," Sinha, a former intelligence officer, said.

He said the case relates to one aircraft the inventory of which has been completely withdrawn from the Navy.

Sinha said it is amply clear that disclosure of operational preparedness vis-a-vis an aircraft which is no longer brought in action by the Navy should not have any bearing on national security or any conceivable effect on the operation strategies of the force.

"Application of 8(1)(a) is rejected as prima-facie it appears that attempt has been made to protect the interest of defaulters and that certainly does not outweigh the interest of the soldier who has lost his life in such an accident," Sinha said.

He said CPIO should keep in mind that a mere claim of exemption under any of the provisions of section eight or nine of the RTI Act will not absolve the public authority of its responsibility to further the cause of transparency, the premise on which the RTI Act was perceived.

The Information Commissioner directed the Navy to provide a copy of Board of Inquiry proceedings as well as all available, related and connected documents to the air crash as sought in RTI application.

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A group of differently- abled people from the district have expressed their desire to donate organ after death.

As many as 50 Divyang persons (people with physical disabilities) under the banner of Apang Kranti Sanghatana yesterday handed over letters in this regard to Dean of Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College Dr Jayaprakash Ramanand here.

Kolhapur Collector Amit Saini was also present on the occasion.

District president of the sanghatana, Devadatta Mane said their organisation has been working among divyang people and motivating them to come forward for organ donation as part of the state-wide organ donation awareness campaign launched by the government.

"Organ failure is an acute problem in India as well as



in the entire world.... Patients suffer physically, mentally and of course economically," they said.

Describing kidney transplantation as one of the most effective methods of treatment, they said that there is a huge crisis of healthy donors.

"We need to become aware of the immense need for voluntary organ donation.

"In the absence of live relative donors, unethical business is flourishing through various rackets who are doing it for money. Under these circumstances the most promising way forward is Cadaveric Transplantation," the speakers said.

"Cadaveric Transplantation means when an organ or tissue is transplanted from a deceased or usually unrelated donor. That is possible when a patient is brain dead and the family decides to donate the person's organs or the family of an accident victim donates the organs," they said.

While India has woken up to the possibility of Cadaveric Organ Donation to save lives, West Bengal is also taking steps to ensure there can be a structured approach.

The Bengal Chamber of Commerce has taken up the challenge to spread awareness and put in place mechanisms by which this very useful concept could serve its purpose, the chamber said.
India's largest realty firm DLF topped the list of country's most reputed real estate brand followed by Godrej Properties and Lodha group, according to a report.

Hiranandani Developers ranked fourth in the list while Tata Housing was at fifth position, Bengaluru-based Prestige Estates at sixth place, according to a study by BlueBytes in association with TRA Research, both part of the Comniscient Group.

TRA Research is also the publisher of 'The Brand Trust ReportTM and of 'India's Most Attractive BrandsTM.

"A total of eight Real Estate developers from Mumbai featured among the top 10 in the Most Reputed Real Estate Brands list," the statement said.

K Raheja Corp took the seventh spot, followed by the Shapoorji Pallonji, which took the eighth spot. Oberoi Realty ranked ninth and Indiabulls Real Estate was at 10th position.

* * * * * *



Pitney Bowes India introduces six-month maternity leave * Global technology company Pitney Bowes Inc, today announced six-month maternity leave for its women employees in India.

The new policy 'Mayeri' is part of the company's work-life balance programmes.

The policy also extends to cases of adoption and surrogacy, and provides six weeks of leave for women who have suffered a miscarriage. For women with two or more children, the new policy provides 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

"We are proud to embrace a culture of diversity, and we are committed to providing the best policies and programs that support a work-life balance," Manish Choudhary, Senior Vice President, Global Innovation and Managing Director India, Pitney Bowes Inc said.

* * * * * *



V Mart retail appoints Rajan Sharma as President



V Mart Retail today announced to appoint Rajan Sharma as President (Procurement and Sourcing).

Sharma, who has over 20 years of experience in apparel merchandising, prior to joining V-Mart had worked as head of apparel sourcing and buying for TPG Wholesale, the company said in a statement.

V-Mart Retail CMD Lalit Agarwal said: "Right sourcing and merchandising is extremely critical to retail business today. Thus, we are extremely happy to bring on board Rajan Sharma. His expertise fits in very well with our next stage of growth plans.

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Defense Secretary Ash Carter says legislation backed by the families of Sep 11 victims could be devastating to the US military.

Carter's concerns are detailed in a letter to a senior member of Congress that was released today.

Congress is poised to override President Barack Obama's veto of the bill that would allow the families to sue Saudi Arabia for the kingdom's alleged backing of the terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks.

Obama has warned the legislation would make the U.S. vulnerable to retaliatory litigation in foreign courts that could put American troops in legal jeopardy.

Carter amplifies Obama's concerns. He says cases tried overseas could put the US in the difficult position of having to choose between revealing secrets and suffering adverse rulings for refusing to do so.

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A man, alleged to be a drug peddler, was today arrested along with 27 kilogrammes of Charas in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said.

Shabir Ahmad Shah, a resident of Panzgam village, was arrested on a specific information from Asthan Mohalla in Awantipora, 32 kms from here, on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, a police spokesman said.

"Police laid a naka in the area following information about the movement of the peddler. He was intercepted and 27 kgs of Charas was recovered from his possession," the spokesman said.

He said a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against the drug peddler.

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The Election Commission today said it will keep an eye on the role of police in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections slated next year, besides focusing on the use of money and muscle power.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, after his meeting with the representatives of political parties, also said that holding free and fair election in the state would not be a problem if unbiased action is taken at the police station level.

"During meeting with representatives of political parties, apprehensions were raised that police force might be misused in favour of some party. We will keep an eye on the police," Zaidi told reporters here.

"In the coming elections, our main focus will be on police stations, the Election Commission's (EC) eye will be at the police stations as the EC feels that if unbiased action is taken, there will be no problem in holding free and fair polls," he said.

The CEC said the Commission had also received complaints about sub-inspectors being made the incharge of the police stations in place of inspector-level officers, and they take "biased" actions.

"The EC has directed that the charge of police stations should be given to inspector-level officers," he said.

To a question that over 50 per cent police stations were being headed by the officers of a particular community, Zaidi said posting at police stations would be made as per the Election Commission's policy.

On the request of political parties that central forces should be deployed before the nominations to check incidents in which candidates were prevented from filing nominations, the CEC said the EC would try for their deployment in places where there is such apprehensions.

(Reopens DES8)



Zaidi said the EC, in its meeting with the administrative officers here yesterday, has asked them to prepare a database of incidents in which voters were threatened in previous elections.

On the allegations of political parties that some officers were working under the influence of ruling party, he said they would be taken care of and attempts would be made to check the use of money power with the help of enforcement agencies.

On the state government's announcement of providing smartphones to the people, Zaidi said "our work begins after the start of elections process. We cannot say anything about it before that".

He said some new provisions have been added to the Model Code of Conduct about what could be included in the election manifesto by political parties.

"Political parties will have to submit their manifesto to the EC and it will see whether they comply with the provisions or not," he added.

On the alleged Kairna exodus, Zaidi said that detailed discussion were held about such incidents from DGP and Chief Secretary.

"We will see such incidents from the perspective of elections and not from law and order angle," he added.

Replying to a question, Zaidi said for 2017 Assembly elections, the EC has set a target of 70-76 per cent polling in the state.

About the dates of election, the CEC said "the EC has time till May 28 (to finish the election process). Generally examinations are held in February and March (in the state). We will take care of all the aspects before deciding the dates."



He said in UP, there are over 13.85 crore voters and 99.9 per cent of them have Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today filed a charge sheet against suspended IAS officer, Pradeep Sharma in a money laundering case.

The charge sheet was filed in the special PMLA court of Principal District and Session Judge A C Joshi.

The central agency charged the Gujarat-cadre officer under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In a statement, the ED said it had attached Sharma's properties worth Rs 1.22 crore yesterday.

"Pradeep N Sharma has invested huge amounts in immovable properties as well as transferred outside the country proceeds of crime received or collected by him or his conduit," it said.

"His acts of omission and commission are specified as schedule offences, which are liable for confiscation. Accordingly, prosecution complaint under section 45 of PMLA is filed before the principal district and session judge, Ahmedabad (rural), also special PMLA court, by this Directorate," it said.

"The ED had initiated investigation against Pradeep Sharma, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. Sharma, the then district collector, Bhuj had abused his power by allotting land to Welspun at lower rate and thereby causing loss to the exchequer," the ED said.

Sharma was arrested by ED on July 31, a few days after the Supreme Court vacated an interim relief granted to him, and is at present under judicial custody at Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad.

The agency alleged that Sharma had sanctioned giving of government land in Bhuj, when he was collector of Kutch district, for industrial use to Ms Welspun India Limited and its group companies, Welspun Power and Steel and Welspun Gujarat Style Roharan, as part of a suspected quid pro quo.

Sharma sanctioned land to the company in 2004 when he was the collector and chairman of the District Land Evaluation and Pricing Committee, which allegedly caused loss to the government exchequer to the tune of Rs 1.2 crore.

Against this favour he had received gain to the tune of Rs 22 lakh in the name of his wife Shyamal Sharma, the ED alleged.

Sharma had earlier filed a petition in the Supreme Court alleging that he was victimised by the then Narendra Modi government in Gujarat and had sought a CBI inquiry into the cases against him. The apex court had, however, rejected his application.

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Egyptian textile makers have been invited to the largest international machinery and accessories exhibition to be held in Mumbai in December this year.

The 10th edition of India International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME 2016) is expected to witness a footfall of 1,50,000 visitors from all around the world.

"Completing four decades, the 10th edition of this once in four years mega exhibition has garnered much interest, excitement and anticipation amongst the national and international business community government officials, students academicians alike, Seema Srivastava, Executive Director of India ITME Society, said at a press briefing here.

"Riding high in the background of 'Make in India' campaign, this B2B expression has attracted big and small companies from across the globe," she said.

Srivastava said that the exhibition to be held from December 3 to 8 is the most awaited business event of the year for the textile industry and a must visit exhibition for the best textile engineering, innovation, customised.

An Indian textile exhibition, entitled INTEXPO, was held last year in Egypt where textile companies showcased the latest range of yarn and fabrics in a bid tostrengthen the trades between the two countries, particularly in the fast growing area of modern textiles.

"The exhibition aimed at forging win-win partnership among the Indian and Egyptian companies for effective forward and backward business linkages in the near future," she said.

The exhibition is supported by Department of Heavy Industry, Textile Ministry, Government of India and INDEXTB, Government of Gujarat as state partner, making this is the only privately organised exhibition supported by central and state government besides 77 international industry associations, universities and media partners across the globe, Srivastava said.

Visitors and delegations from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Middle East have already registered.

All the trend setting and catalystic activities combined with high market opportunities makes India ITME 2016 an ideal and must visit business event of the year especially for companies looking at Indian market to invest or expand existing base, Srivastava added.

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Eight smugglers have been arrested with a large quantity of liquor from GT road, under Town police station, in Bihar's Aurangabad district, the police said today.

During vehicle checking near Keshav crossing last evening, the police intercepted two SUVs and found a large quantity of liquor smuggled in from Haryana.

Eight occupants of the vehicles, all smugglers, were arrested and the consignment comprising 875 liquor bottles of two different brands, besides 115 bottles of country-made liquor from Jharkhand, seized, SP Satya Prakash said.

Six mobile phones were also seized from the smugglers, he added.

Among those arrested on liquor smuggling charges, three were from Haryana and the others were locals, Satya Prakash said.

The accused will be produced in court, the SP added.

Bihar has banned liquor consumption in the state from April this year.

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Essar Power has made a plea to the Coal Ministry to reconsider termination notice for Tokisud North mine in Jharkhand over not paying the upfront amount.

"Senior Executives of Essar Power met the officials of Coal Ministry yesterday and requested the government to reconsider the termination notice," a Coal Ministry official said.

Essar Power had paid the first installment in time but defaulted on the second and third installments, the official said.

"The executives of Essar Power wanted to pay the balance amount," the official said adding the Coal Ministry had issued the termination notice to Essar Power this month.

Calls made to Essar Power in this regard remained unanswered.

Essar Power MP Ltd, an arm of Essar Power, had bagged the Tokisud North mine in the auctions held last year.

Essar Power MP had earlier announced signing of the Coal Mine Development and Production Agreement with the central government for the Tokisud North coal block in Jharkhand.

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A fire broke out today in a building housing the blood blank at the Safdarjung Hospital here, authorities said.

This is the second fire incident reported in the hospital premises within a week.

There were no casualties or damage reported due to it. "The fire broke out around 4 pm from a switchboard inside the blood bank, located on one of the upper floors of the building housing it. The fire was controlled within an hour," Safdarjung Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr A K Rain told PTI.

The fire was doused within half an hour, said a fire department official, adding that six fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the fire that started from the electric panel and the MCB (miniature circuit breaker) box in the blood bank that is on the second floor.

One of the oldest hospitals in the city, its blood bank houses over 1,000 units on an average at a time. "Our staff brought the fire under control using extinguishers. We suspect short circuit as its cause," Rai said.

The building has a laundry on the ground floor and the urology department on one of the upper floors.

On September 22, a minor fire had broken out in the emergency ward section of the hospital here, causing panic among patients for a brief period.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had visited Safdarjung Hospital after the incident on September 22 and taken stock of the situation.

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Government expects the first flight under the regional air connectivity scheme, which is in advanced stages of finalisation, to take off in early January 2017, Civil Aviation Minister has said.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), which seeks to provide air services between un-served and under-served areas, is part of larger plans to boost the domestic aviation sector, which is clocking over 20 per cent passenger growth.

Raju, under whose stewardship the civil aviation policy was announced in June, said work is at an advanced stage with respect to RCS.

"We expect the first flight under RCS to take off by the end of this year or early January 2017," he told PTI.

The civil aviation ministry has already signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, for implementation of RCS.

The scheme refers to operation of an air transport service between any two airports, of which at least one has been declared by the central government as un-served or under-served.

There are 394 un-served and 16 under-served airports.

Last week, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said as many as 20 un-utilised airports are ready to start operations for regional flights.

A slew of incentives are being proposed under RCS, including Rs 2,500 cap on airfare for one-hour flights. Airlines under RCS will be extended viability gap funding (VGF) while the states concerned are required to offer certain concessions such as providing police and fire services free of cost.

VGF will be created by way of charging a small levy per departure on all domestic flights on certain routes and small aircraft below 80 seats. Central and state governments will be sharing the VGF amount.

Last month, the government notified excise duty of 2 per cent for jet fuel purchased from airports that come under RCS, which is part of the new civil aviation policy.

The concessional rate will be applicable for airlines as well as cargo operators.

A basic excise duty at concessional rate of 2 per cent will be levied on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) drawn by operators or cargo operators from RCS airports for three years," the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had said in a notification.
Five children were killed in a house fire in Guam, officials said today, describing the blaze as probably the most deadly in the US Pacific territory's history.

The fire broke out late yesterday night in a timber and wood house at Yigo, in the island's north, the Guam Fire Department said.

"Our firefighters faced one of their worst fears. Five young lives were lost to a structure fire in Yigo," the department said on its Facebook page.

Fire department spokesman Kevin Reilly said five children were found dead in the property and another three survived and were taken to hospital.

"We're still trying to gather information, it's a difficult process and we're still trying to get a cause of the fire," he told Pacific Daily .

He said the survivors were two boys and a girl but could not provide further details about the five fatalities. KUAM reported they were all girls, aged three to 16.

It was not known if they were siblings.

Witnesses reported seeing flames 25-foot high engulf the house, which reportedly had no water or power and was being used for temporary accommodation.

"This probably... To claim this many lives, is the worst in our history," Reilly said.

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Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack, Union minister Mahesh Sharma today extended invitation to tourist from all countries, including those from Pakistan.

Speaking on the sidelines of a programme to mark the World Tourism Day today, he said India is a diverse country and welcomes tourists from across the globe in the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).

"For tourism, we welcome people from there (Pakistan)," he said when asked about the impact of souring India-Pakistan relations on the tourism sector.

On reports of India considering a review of 'Most Favoured Nation' status given to Pakistan, he said, the call has to be taken by External Affairs Ministry which "issues advisory from time to time" on such issues.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting various awards, including for a painting competition organised by India Tourism.

He said people's faith and perception about India has improved as is evident among others things in higher Foreign Direct Investment at a time the world struggles with economic sluggishness and witnesses bouts of terrorist activities.

He said the country has "proved itself" as "Incredible India" with increasing foreign footfalls at various tourism destinations in the country.

Sharma said India will offer tourists a "swachh (clean), and safe tourism experience and welcome them in the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'".

Stressing "tourism is for all", he said his ministry will make all tourist destinations "divyang-friendly (friendly for differently-abled people)" by introducing facilities like ramps in the coming months.

The Minister also flagged off a sightseeing tour for 'Divyang' children. Thirty five students from class II-VI of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya School for Divyang Children, Minto Road, New Delhi, are part of this sightseeing tour.

Theme for 2016 World Tourism Day is: 'Tourism for All!! - Promoting Universal Accessibility'.

Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said, "On this year's World Tourism Day help us spread the word of both importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large."



Later in the day, the Minister also flagged off 'Swachh Paryatan Run' from Transport Bhawan, where Tourism Ministry is housed, to India Gate.

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Ganja worth around Rs three crore being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to Kerala was today seized from a lorry and two persons were arrested at Cumbum, near here, by Narcotics Intelligence Bureau officials, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a team, led by DSP Venkateswaran, intercepted and carried out an inspection of the vehicle, police said, adding that the narcotic substance, weighing 300 kg, was kept hidden in a secret chamber of the vehicle.

Though the lorry looked empty, the ganja was neatly packed and hoarded in the secret chamber behind the driver's cabin, police said, adding that both the occupants of the vehicle were arrested.

The seized narcotic was worth Rs three crore in the illicit market, police said, adding that it had been procured in Andhra Pradesh.

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The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is conducting a demolition drive against unauthorised constructions that came up in the city on lakes and drainage systems, causing flooding in several areas.

With no outlet to go due to the unauthorised constructions, several residential localities and complexes in the city faced heavy inundation following incessant rains during last week.

The rains wrecked havoc with the city's civic infrastructure and consequently, several IT and other companies had asked their employees to work from home.

The heavy rains that lashed the city and Telangana during last week have now subsided, much to the relief of the residents.

The GHMC said demolition of 13 dilapidated buildings, eight unauthorised constructions on drainage systems, three unauthorised constructions on lakes and 15 unauthorised constructions were taken up yesterday.

Telanagana Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao, who held a review on the situation arising out of heavy rains in municipal bodies yesterday, directed demolition of unauthorised constructions on tanks and drinage systems in the municipalities in the state.

He also directed digitalisation of data of tanks and drinage systems, an official release said.

He said municipal commissioners would be held responsible if any human lives are lost due to collapse of dilapidated buildings.

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The CPI(M) today strongly objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement, claiming New Delhi has committed a "volte face" by surrendering to US pressure and that it is not in the country's interest.

Terming the announcement as "surprising", the party insisted that the government should subject the decision on the agreement to a Parliamentary discussion and approval.

"The Prime Minister's announcement is a clear indication that India is becoming a supplicant of US global strategic interests and has committed this volte face surrendering to US pressure, bartering away India's much needed energy requirements," CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement.

It added, "The Politburo strongly denounces this announcement as it is not in the interest of India and its commitment to eradicate poverty and provide the required energy for improving the livelihood of the vast majority of our people."



The party recalled that soon after the Paris Summit held last year, government had assured Parliament that India would not ratify the pact until national laws relating to environment, forests and energy are examined in the light of their capacity to implement the various provisions of the Agreement.

In this context, the Politburo noted the Prime Minister's announcement is "both surprising and in violation of the assurance the BJP-led NDA government had given to Parliament".

"Having given earlier assurances to Parliament the Modi government must subject this decision of ratification of the Paris Agreement to a Parliamentary discussion and approval," it added.

Addressing BJP's National Council in Kozhikode on September 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2, coinciding birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

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Gujarat DGP PP Pandey today urged top cops of other states of western region to increase co-ordination and share vital data to ensure safety and security of citizens.

He was speaking at the western region co-ordination meeting of six states - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.

The meeting of senior police officers of these states was held at Gandhinagar, an official release said.

"In today's world, criminal activities are not limited to any one state due to advanced tele-communication and transportation services. Thus, it is necessary for various states to increase co-ordination among themselves and share data to stop such activities," said Pandey after the meet.

Those who attended the meet included DGP of Madhya Pradesh Rishi Kumar Shukla, Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur, Additional DGP of Chhatisgarh Rajesh Mishra, ADGP of Rajasthan NRK Reddy along with many other senior officers from Gujarat.

The idea of such region-wise meetings of DGPs was floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at All India DGP's conference held in Kutch last year.

The first meeting of western region was held in Mumbai few months back while this was the second such meet, it added.

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Gurgaon will now be known as Gurugram, with the Centre today approving the name change.

Interacting with reporters shortly after presiding over the first meeting of the state-level 'Swarna Jayanti Celebrations Committee' at Panchkula near here, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said now both the city as well as the district of Gurgaon would be known as Gurugram.

Gurugram is the corporate hub of Haryana on the outskirts of Delhi.

Legend has it that Gurgaon derived its name from Guru Dronacharya, the master of archery in Mahabharata who groomed the Pandavas and Kauravas in military tactics.

It is said the village was given as 'gurudakshina' to him by the Pandavas and hence it came to be known as Guru-gram, which in course of time got distorted to Gurgaon.

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Quota spearhead Hardik Patel's close aide Dinesh Bambhaniya was today arrested by police in Bayad taluka of Arvalli district for organising a public rally without taking police permission at Tenpur village of Bayad a year back.

The FIR under IPC section 188 (disobeying government order) was registered against Hardik, Bambhaniya and some other leaders of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) at Bayad police station on September 22 last year.

However, Bambhaniya was arrested from his residence in Gandhinagar today, over a year after the case was filed against him.

"Bambhaniya is one of the co-accused in a case of disobeying government order by organising a rally in Tenpur on September 22 (2015). Today, we have arrested him from Gandhinagar and taken him to Bayad for further procedure," Bayad taluka police inspector H J Banker said.

Hardik, who was arrested in two sedition cases earlier and released on conditional bail on July 15 this year, was not held in this case.

On September 22 last year, in a dramatic turn of events, Hardik escaped from the rally in Tenpur after police raided the venue. During midnight, Bambhaniya along with other PAAS leader Ketan Patel filed a habeas corpus petition in Gujarat High Court, claiming that Hardik was abducted by some persons, who appeared like police personnel.

On the evening of September 23, Hardik surfaced under mysterious circumstances and claimed that he was abducted by some persons, who appeared like police.

Meanwhile, after learning about Bambhaniya's arrest, Hardik slammed the BJP-led Gujarat government.

In a statement, Hardik alleged that BJP government only misguided his community by announcing to withdraw all the cases against Patel agitators two months back.

On July 31, Gujarat government had announced that it would withdraw 90 per cent police cases lodged against Patidar community members during the state-wide agitation for getting reservation under OBC category last year.

"BJP government had recently announced that almost 90 per cent cases are already withdrawn. If that is true, then why Bambhaniya is arrested today in an insignificant case of IPC section 188? It proves that BJP only misguided us with tall claims," Hardik, who is presently in Udaipur in Rajasthan, said.

While granting bail to him in a sedition cases in July, the Gujarat High Court set a condition that Hardik will have to stay outside Gujarat for the next six months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Haryana government will release its Film Policy by this year end, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today.

"The State Information, Public Relation and Languages department has been instructed to prepare the state's Film Policy at the earliest," Khattar said in the first meeting on Haryana's 'Swarna Jayanti' Celebrations at Panchkula.

The year-long celebrations will begin on November 1, 2016 and end October 31, 2017 and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gurgaon, he said.

"With a view to encourage film makers in Haryana, the state government has already given incentives to award winning Haryanvi films 'Pagri' and 'Satrangi'," Khattar said.

Haryanvi films will be screened in every village during the International Film Festival, as part of the year-long celebrations, he said.

Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi suggested the government should showcase 'Rakhigarhi' in Hisar, a part of the Harappan civilisation, to the world.

Leader of Opposition Ashok Arora suggested farmers should be given incentives because they have played an important role in Haryana's development.

Khattar said all events to mark the state's golden jubilee should be organised by rising above "petty politics".

"The Swarna Jayanti is not confined to any political party or government. Instead the golden jubilee is for the entire state and its people," he said.

He urged members at the meeting to help the government to celebrate Haryana's 50 years with the spirit of 'Sarv Haryana, Garv Haryana, Parv Haryana'.

The CM also released a Swaran Jayanti booklet in English and Hindi.

The Haryana government also plans to release its 'Vision 2030 Document' on November 1, said chief secretary DS Dhesi.

Dhesi directed all working groups to prepare the workbook of Vision 2030 Document by October 7, 2016.

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Delhi Police was today directed by the High Court to file a status report on a petition seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against ex-JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and a JNU professor for allegedly filing false affidavit along with the bail plea in a sedition case.

Justice S P Garg asked the police to file a status report within four weeks and fixed the matter for December 19.

In his plea, petitioner Prashant Kumar Umrao has claimed that JNU professor Himanshu had "deliberately" filed a false affidavit in the high court along with the bail petition on behalf of Kanhaiya in the sedition case in which the student leader is one of the accused.

On March 2, Kanhaiya was granted six month interim bail by the high court. He was later granted regular bail by the trial court in connection with the case relating to an event inside JNU campus on February 9 in which anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.

During the hearing, advocate R P Luthra, who appeared for the petitioner, said his petition was different from the issue raised during the arguments on bail plea.

"This plea is regarding the false affidavit filed by them (professor and Kanhaiya). I am seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against them," he told the court.

Kanhaiya was arrested on February 12 on charges of alleged sedition. Two other students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, were later arrested in connection with the case and they were initially granted interim bail.

A trial court had on August 26 granted regular bail to the three accused.

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The Madras High Court today held that petitions seeking direction for registration of FIR under section 482 of CrPC should be filed before it only after approaching the police station, the SP and jurisdictional magistrate concerned.

The court gave the ruling while dismissing a batch of petitions seeking a direction to the police to register FIR on complaints under Section 482 of CrPC (inherent powers of high court).

"A petition under section 482 CrPC for a direction to register an FIR on the complaint of the petitioner circumventing the timetable prescribed by the Supreme Court (six weeks) in Lalitha Kumari's case is not maintainable," it said.

The court had on September 12 reserved its order after extensive arguments for and against the power of the court under Section 482 of CrPC.

In a detailed order, it said that under Article 144 of the Constitution a duty was cast upon the high court to act in aid of the Supreme Court and in the Lalitha Kumari case, the apex court had given a timetable for the police to act.

Breach of duty by the police gave it power to interfere under Article 144 read with CrPC Section 482 and direct registration of FIR.

However, to assume this jurisdiction, it was imperative for the petitioner to wait for the outer limit of six weeks to get over and only then can the high court be approached.

It also said such petitions shall not be numbered unless accompanied by an affidavit sworn in by the complainant with satisfactory materials to show that police have not completed the preliminary inquiry (within the six weeks).

In the meantime, if there was an urgency, the party could move the magistrate under section 156(3) CrPC.

Petitioner may approach the high court, if aggrieved either by inaction or otherwise of the magistrate in the aforesaid proceedings, the order said.

Issuing several directions to police, it said all station house officers (SHOs) in Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry on receipt of complaint relating to commission of cognisable offence shall immediately issue a community service register (CSR) receipt if the SHO wants to conduct a preliminary enquiry or issue a separate receipt after making necessary entries in the station general diary.

The court said if the SHO refuses to receive the complaint, the complainant shall send it together with a covering letter to the superintendent of police/deputy commissioner of police by registered post with acknowledgement due.

If police come to a conclusion that no FIR need be registered, they should furnish a copy of the closure report to the complainant.

If there was inaction on the part of the SHO and the SP or if the complainant was not satisfied with their action, he would be at liberty to move the magistrate, who can order probe under section 202 CrPC to a limited extent, the court ruled.

The magistrate should pass an order within 15 days and if FIR was not registered within one week, the police officer concerned can be prosecuted, the court said.

It also warned of disciplinary action against the police officers in case of failure to register the FIR.

It gave liberty to the complainants to approach the local Legal Services Authority who shall take immediate steps to ensure that an FIR was registered or CSR receipt issued to them and directed all police stations to display the name and telephone number of local legal services authority.

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In an apparent dig at WBPCC president Adhir Chowdhury in his backyard, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said only politics was done instead of ushering in development in Murshidabad.

"Only abusing me will not serve any purpose. Let one do one per cent work what I have done in five years. For a long time no work was done in Murshidabad district. There was more politics than work," Banerjee told a gathering here.

Trinamool Congress took control of Murshidabad Zilla Parishad and Baharampur Municipality recently with many Congress and Left Front members switching over to the TMC.

The Trinamool Congress supremo said there were problems, but "We will find solution. Help us in reviving the glory of Murshidabad district with development."



On the Turning erosion in River Ganga in the district, Banerjee said erosion was a big problem.

"I have asked the Chief Secretary to talk to the Centre on this issue," she said.

Referring to cow smuggling to Bangladesh, Banerjee said "Cow smugglers should be identified. Cow smuggling should be stopped."



"Women trafficking should also be stopped. Girls are our assets," she said, adding "Don't belittle them. Let the girls stand on her own feet."



Stating that her government would usher in development in the district, the Chief Minister said "Murshidabad is famous for textiles. We will develop this sector. We are committed to help various Self Help Groups and artisans".

She said 1.10 crore minority students have received scholarships in Murshidabad.

"Of the 183 Karmatirthas, 25 are being set up in this district. We distributed benefits to 80,000 people from this stage. Three multi-super hospitals have been set up in the district," she added.

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Describing Bengal as a model for development in



the world, Chief Minister elaborated how her government brought eight crore people under Khadya Sathi and three crore people under Swatha Sathi projects in the state.

"We have started health insurance scheme 'Swasthya Sathi' for three crore people. Healthcare is free at govt hospitals", she said.

Over eight crore people were getting rice at Rs 2 per kg in the state and over 90 per cent people have got some direct govt benefit, she said.

"Despite financial problems, we are working for the people and will continue to do so in the future", she said.

Banerjee said that her government has to pay Rs 40,000 crore to repay the huge debt taken by the previous left front government.

Beneficiaries from across the state who have received helps from departments like Food & Supplies, Health & Family Welfare, Women & Child Development & Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, Forest, Sports, I&CA's Development schemes marched at the event with their tableaux.
Houston Police was today struggling to find the motive behind the mass shooting by a disgruntled Indian-origin lawyer who fired indiscriminately and injured nine persons at a strip mall here before being shot dead.

Nathan DeSai,the 46-year-old shooter who previously worked at McDaniel & DeSai LLP, was wearing a vintage military uniform and had Nazi emblems on him.

Acting Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters yesterday that police did not yet know exactly what caused DeSai, described as a lawyer struggling to keep his small law practice alive, to do what he did.

"At this point we are very open-minded in terms of motive," Montalvo said, adding the department was working with the FBI to find answers.

DeSai used a .45-caliber handgun during the assault and police later found 2,600 rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun in his car, a black convertible Porsche parked near where he was killed.

DeSai lived in a condominium complex near the scene of the shooting at Weslayan and Law streets.

A search of his home turned up additional weapons and several pieces of military regalia and other items going back to the Civil War. The .45-caliber handgun was bought in 2011. The Thompson submachine gun was purchased in 2009, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing police.

Photographs of DeSai's body show he apparently wearing military-style spats strapped over his boots. He was lying face up. His dark shirt was over his face.

Police said Nazi emblems were found in his clothing.

"We did find some old Nazi emblems about some of his personal effects, and I understand there were some in where he lived," the paper quoted Houston Police Capt. Dwayne Ready as saying.

"To what extent that played...I don't know, because there was also other, what I would refer to as historic or vintage military stuff in the apartment, going back to the Civil War."



According to local media, DeSai's father said his son was upset over the failure of his law firm and the business closed due to a lack of clients. He confirmed his son owned multiple guns and said he had a license to carry.

He said DeSai drove a black Porsche, the same type of car police were examining in the shopping centre parking lot. That car's license plate showed it was registered to DeSai.

DeSai held a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Houston and a law degree from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated in 1998, according to the Texas State Bar Association.

He specialised in criminal, business and family law, according to the bar association. Houston Police said officers had never previously encountered DeSai.

Yesterday's shooting came days after a shooting at a Washington state mall left five people dead. On September 17, a 20-year-old man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot to death by an off-duty police officer.

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The International Monetary Fund today said immigration could help boost economic growth in host countries and called for the swift integration of new workers to help surmount political tensions.

The remarks, contained in a new study, coincides with strong anti-immigrant sentiment in Western countries as a global refugee crisis reaches proportions not seen since the Second World War.

"Migration may stir social tensions and provoke a political backlash in recipient economies, but past experience suggests it may also offer gains in terms of higher growth, productivity, and relief from population aging," the report said.

A single percentage point rise in the share of migrants among a host country's adult population can in the longer-term result in a 2 per cent gain in per capita GDP, the report said.

It called for the quick integration of new arrivals into labor markets, as well as access to schools and support for migrant businesses, to reduce the strains and social pressures that can come with absorbing new migrant populations.

"Refugees require special attention. A key issue is reducing the time asylum seekers must wait before they are allowed to work," the report said.

According to the IMF, unease over migration also helped drive British voters this year to choose to secede from the European Union.

And in the United States, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for the creation of a wall along the US-Mexico border as a means of controlling inward-bound migration.

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India and China today agreed to "jointly deal with security threats" and take measures to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism during their first dialogue on counter-terrorism and security here, amid Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack.

Seen as a significant step forward in anti-terror cooperation following differences over India's bid to get Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN, top intelligence officials from both sides held candid discussions about stepping up cooperation in counter-terrorism.

"The two sides exchanged views on the international and regional security situation," an Indian Embassy statement said of the talks.

"They exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and further enhance their understanding on issues of major concerns to both sides," the statement said.

"The two sides had in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard," it said.

China's state-run Xinhua agency said the two sides exchanged opinions on the international and regional security situation and their respective anti-terrorism systems, mechanisms and legislation.

"They reached consensus on measures to strengthen cooperation and to jointly deal with security threats," it said, citing a document issued after the meeting.

The talks were held at high-level as the meeting was co-chaired by R N Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee from India, and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.

Significantly in his talks with Ravi, top Chinese Interior Ministry official Meng Jianzhu, who is the head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the ruling Communist Party, said thatterrorism is a common enemy of the global community.

He said that strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation between China and India was conducive to the interests of the people of both countries.

He voiced hope that the two sides could put into action counter-terrorism collaboration and protect regional security and that of the two countries, the Xinhua report said, adding that hecommended stable progress in Sino-Indian ties.

The talks were a follow up to the decision reached during last year's visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Beijing.

Both sides had decided to form a Ministerial Committee and another by Joint Secretary-level mechanism to periodically meet and review the cooperation on terrorism, cyber security, cross border crimes and drug trafficking.

Officials regard the talks on anti-terrorism significant as the dialogue was held in the backdrop of Beijing, a close ally of Pakistan, seeking to strike a balance between the two countries in the aftermath of the Uri attack.

China has distanced itself from remarks made by Premier Li Keqiang backing Islamabad on Kashmir and its envoy meeting Pakistan's Punjab province Chief Minister.

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Sri Lanka's decision to scrap a joint venture coal power plant project will not deter India's future investment plans in the country, the government said today.

Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated this at the end of her three-day visit here after meeting Sri Lankan minister of international Trade Malik Samarawickrema and other officials.

The proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and issues concerning the existing FTA between India and Sri Lanka were subjects among the talks.

"India understands Sri Lanka's need to move from coal power to more renewable power generation sources," Sitharaman said adding that India would also explore the possibilities of helping Sri Lanka in their quest to set up an LNG plant in place of coal power generation.

Sri Lanka has decided to do away with the joint venture with National Thermal Power Corporation to build a coal power plant in the eastern district of Trincomalee.

Sitharaman said that India is looking to invest USD 2 billion worth of investment in Sri Lanka despite its decision on the proposed coal power plant.

On the proposed ETCA over which Sri Lankan parties have raised concerns, she said India was open for discussion.

"We have been meeting the business chambers to assess their concerns," she said commenting on her discussions.

Samarawickrema said the ETCA is expected to open up a market of 1.25 billion people in India.

Both ministers said the negotiations on ETCA were reaching the final stage as both sides want to see it happening "as soon as possible".

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With the tension mounting between the two countries after Uri attack, India may consider the option of dragging Pakistan to WTO over non-extension of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to New Delhi.

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 but Pakistan is yet to reciprocate to that. The neighbouring country has missed its own deadline of December 2012 for giving India this tag.

India, sources said, may look at the option to file a case at the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism against Pakistan as the neighbour has not yet extended this status to India.

However, the decision has to be taken by the political leadership.

The option could be discussed in the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday to review the MFN status given to Pakistan, they added.

As per the global trade norms, member countries of the WTO are required to give non-discriminatory market access as part of the MFN status to each other.

Trade experts too said that India has the option to drag Pakistan in the WTO over not extending the MFN status.

The Prime Minister has already chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 2.61 billion in 2015-16.

According to Article XXI of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), a WTO member country can take trade actions for the protection of its essential security interests.

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India today underscored the need to synergise its growth strategies with Nigeria in the backdrop of the current global financial situation, saying economic cooperation occupies a prominent position in the bilateral matrix.

"India and Nigeria are well placed to convert this challenge into an opportunity. We count on you, the business leaders from Nigeria and India, to be the architects of this important change," Vice President Hamid Ansari said at the Nigeria-India Business Forum here.

Infrastructure development and energy security are key areas for cooperation for emerging economies like India and Nigeria, he told the members of Nigerian and Indian industry.

"These sectors allow for both our countries to collaborate and benefit from each other's expertise. Infrastructure stimulation programmes launched by the government of India, like the mission to develop 100 smart cities, upgrade infrastructure development in urban and rural areas and enhance nationwide connectivity through the 'Digital India' programme, have created massive opportunities for foreign partners in the Indian economy," said Ansari, who is on a five-day visit to Nigeria and Mali.

His counterpart Yemi Osinbajo and several top business leaders from both the countries were present at the event.

He thanked the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Nigerian National Chamber of Commerce together with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and ASSOCHAM India-Nigeria Business Council for partnering in holding this business meet.

"We are extremely happy to see the initiatives which Nigeria has launched under the sagacious leadership of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari. As Nigeria embarks with renewed vigour and determination in realising greater prosperity for its people, India stands ready to join as a partner," he said.

Noting that the overall engagement between India and Nigeria remains vibrant and full of vitality, Ansari said economic and commercial cooperation occupies prominent position in "our bilateral matrix."



"In my meetings with the Nigerian leadership, I found a strong desire to expand our commercial engagement."



He said it is a matter of satisfaction that for past few years, India has been the largest trading partner of Nigeria, and Nigeria is the largest trading partner of India in Africa.

"Our bilateral trade has been growing steadily for the last one decade and touched USD 16 billion in 2014-15. It is only because of the global decline in oil prices that our trade has slowed down in the past one year.

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Arboviruses - viruses transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes - pose a considerable threat to both human and animal health.

Despite that, not enough is known about the complex interactions between the virus and the host, particularly in the early stages of infection.

Now, research led by the University of Glasgow has discovered how arboviruses are able to suppress the immune system responses in the initial stages of infection.

The findings, which are published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could aid better understanding of how arboviruses cause disease and ultimately help to combat these infections.

The team used the Bluetongue Virus (BTV) - a disease which, though not a threat to humans can be devastating in sheep and other ruminants - to reveal how an arbovirus first interacts with its host after initial infection.

The research found that BTV subverted the host's immune system by inducing a temporary immunosuppression (suppression of the immune system's natural response) resulting in a delayed antibody production.

The study reveals that BTV enters the animal's system through the skin via a midge bite, and then travels to the lymph nodes where it begins to suppress the natural immune system response.

Researchers found that the virus disrupts key cells, known as follicular dendritic cells, that play a vital role in triggering the immune response of the host.

Data from the study also indicated that the severity of the virus' suppression of the immune system was correlated with the clinical outcome from infection.

Professor Massimo Palmarini, Director of MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research and senior author of the study, said "Arboviruses are becoming an increasing global threat both to human and animal health. Globalisation, climate change and increased international travel mean that outbreaks caused by arboviruses are becoming more common".

"These viruses cause acute infection and, therefore, improving our understanding about what happens during the very early stages of disease is vital. The characterization of the complex interactions between virus and host are critical for better understanding the development of arbovirus infections".

Bluetongue, which particularly affects sheep and cattle, causes symptoms such as fever, weight loss and haemorragic lesions in various organs including the tongue, which can turn blue.

The subsequent reduction in milk and meat production in the infected animals can be devastating to farmers.

Earlier this year, the UK government issued a warning to farmers about the high possibility of BTV spreading to the UK from France.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran is not ready to compromise on the issues of intelligence sharing, sanctions and definitions of terrorist groups in order to join an international task force against terror financing, a minister said today.

Iran, along with North Korea, is blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and aims to be removed from "high risk and non-cooperative" status, even if it does not obtain full membership.

Economy Minister Ali Tayebnia said Iran is not obliged to accept all the conditions put forward by the task force.

But it will implement some of the recommendations in an Action Plan developed with the FATF in order to be upgraded to either a fully cooperating or partially cooperating country, he added.

"We will not allow any international body to access our intelligence. We will not accept definitions and examples of terrorism from any authority except the UN Security Council," Tayebnia told a parliamentary session.

"And we will not recognise international sanctions on revolutionary individuals and institutions within Iranian territory."



The FATF, which was created in 1989, aims to clean up the international financial system by encouraging member countries or those wishing to join to adopt legislation against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

The task force said after its annual meeting in Paris in February that it remained "exceptionally concerned about Iran's failure to address the risk of terrorist financing and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system".

In June, after Tehran announced it was willing to join the FATF, the task force suspended countermeasures on the Islamic republic for 12 months to monitor Iran's progress in implementing the Action Plan.

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With an aim to make Jharkhand investor-friendly, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and his team today reached Las Vegas and took part in the Mining Expo 2016 seeking investments for the state.

The Chief minister and his delegation apprised the investors about investment possibilities in Jharkhand and invited them to invest in the mining sector, an official release said.

At the Jharkhand Pavilion, Das met GE Mining Chicago, CEO Scott Phillips and Hollidaysburg Pennsylvania CEO Sean McLanahan and Caterpiller Private Limited's Business head Rahul Jain.

During talks on investments, the team apprised the investors about possibilities in the mining sector. Caterpiller Private Limited's Rahul Jain proposed to set up Mining Equipment Machinery at Adityapur in Jamshedpur, the release said.

Das told investors that Jharkhand was entering a new era in industrial development and has been inviting investors in the country and abroad on its capacity and resources, the release said.

With 40 per cent of the country's mineral resources, 27 per cent of coal and 26 per cent of iron ore, Jharkhand is a resourceful state and investors have enormous possibilities, the release said adding, Das said Jharkhand would be benefited through participating in investment events like mining expo.

Apprising about investment possibilities, Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma said after roadshows in Benguluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, during which MoUs were signed with Cisco, Oracle and HP, the Mining Expo at Las Vegas would also open several doors, the release said.

Additional Chief Secretary/Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) R K Srivastav, CM's Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar, CM secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Principal Secretary (Urban) Arun Kumar Singh were among others in the delegation, the release said.

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Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain today put up a brave face over the IT summons served to him, claiming he had severed ties with the companies, which are under scanner, in July 2013 before contesting elections for the first time.

Jain asserted that he will not "back off" no matter what "they do". The AAP leader said he is ready to answer all the questions when he appears before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4.

"I had made certain investments between 2007 and 2011-12. But I resigned from the post of director of the three companies mentioned in the summons on July 31, 2013 and since then have had no connection with them," Jain told reporters here.

The relevant declarations were also made in his 2013 and 2015 election affidavits, he claimed. Jain is considered one of the most influential members in the AAP Cabinet.

Jain claimed he has been summoned "as a witness for the reassessment" of the three Kolkata-based firms and that has been "blown out of proportion".

"I have no clue about Rs 17 crore being bandied about. I am not going to back off no matter what they do. I challenge the media to telecast live the expose to be made by the Chief Minister on Friday in the Assembly related to the FIR against him," he said.

Kejriwal has defended Jain claiming he was being "framed".

"I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him (sic)," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today reached Las Vegas in the US to attend a mining expo with an aim to explore foreign investor potential in the state and make it a global destination for investors.

At the Min Expo 2016 (Mining Expo), Das and his delegation met CEO of GE Mining Scott Phillips, CEO of Hollidaysburg Pennsylvania Sean McLanahan and Rahul Jain, Business Head of Surface Mining and Technology of Caterpillar Ltd.

At the Jharkhand pavilion of the mining expo, Caterpillar Pvt Ltd also proposed setting up of a mining equipment manufacturing unit in Adityapur in Jharkhand, a statement said.

Das said Jharkhand is ushering in an era of industrial growth and is geared up to showcase its enormous potential to the national and international investment communities in order to attract suitable investments.

The state accounts for 27 per cent of national coal reserves and 26 per cent iron ore besides others, he added.

Jharkhand Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma said so far the government has held fruitful road shows in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

During the road shows, Jharkhand has signed some crucial agreements with global corporations like CISCO and Oracle to impart skills to prepare for the technology leveraged future.

"During this US visit, the Jharkhand government is looking to seal collaborations with leading organisations and industrial institutions of commerce and trade bodies with the objective of boosting American familiarisation with and investment in Jharkhand," she said.

The expo would be followed by a visit to San Francisco where the delegation is scheduled to visit Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The visits are aimed at bringing investors to 'Momentum Jharkhand Global Investors Summit' scheduled to take place in Ranchi on February 16-17 next year.

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A Kashmiri student of a private college here was detained today for allegedly posting "anti-national" comments on social media site Facebook after the Uri terror attack, police said.

Mudasir Rashid, a Srinagar resident, has been suspended by his college, Techno India NJR Institute of Technology.

He has been detained for allegedly posting and sharing anti-national comments and material on Facebook, sub-inspector Hiran Magri police station Gordhan Ram said.

ABVP activists along with local students staged a protest at the college and demanded action against the accused.

They also damaged college property and hoisted the national flag atop a building, Ram added.

"Rashid has been suspended initially for seven days," said college director RS Vyas.

"He (Mudasir Rashid) allegedly started posting and sharing anti-national comments after the Uri terror attacks. This came to light after some students approached the college administration with print-outs of his posts. He was handed over to police," he said.

There are 15 Kashmiri students in the college and Rashid was one of them, Vyas added



In March, four Kashmiri students were arrested for allegedly cooking beef in their hostel rooms at a Chittorgarh based private university.

The university saw clashes between locals and Kashmiri students after India lost to West Indies in a T-20 match in April.

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Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap notched up consecutive victories in the qualifiers to reach the main draw of the USD 600,000 Korea Super Series here today.

At the Seong-nam Indoor Stadium here, Kashyap played two gruelling contests and came out with flying colours in both occasion to set up a fight against Chinese fourth seed Tian Houwei in the opening round of men's singles tomorrow.

The Indian first eked out a 15-21 23-21 21-19 victory over local shuttler Ko Gyung Bo in an hour contest, before edging out Thailand's Pannawit Thongnuam 15-21 21-16 21-15 in the second match of the day that lasted 55 minutes.

The 30-year-old from Hyderabad, who is making his way back into the international circuit after a long injury lay-off, has played twice against Tian and had beaten the Chinese in his last encounter at 2014 French Open.

K Srikanth, Ajay Jayaram, H S Prannoy and B Sai Praneeth will start their campaign in men's singles, while Tanvi Lad will be the only competitor in women's singles.

(REOPENS DEL 21)



Among others in women's singles, Rituparna Das will square off against Chinese Taipei's Chiang Mei Hui and Tanvi Lad will have an uphill task against seventh seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

Unheralded Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli will face second seed Korean Sung Ji Hyun in her opening match.

In men's singles, K Srikanth will look to repeat the performance which got him the 2015 edition title.

"India Open is special as I have won the title in 2015. So there are good memories but it will be a new event with tougher competition. I am just confident of doing well after my recent outing in Germany and All England. I hope to win this title and seal my place at the World championship," said Srikanth, who has slipped to World No. 31 following an injury lay-off.

Also in fray will be Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold runners-up B Sai Praneeth, who will face a qualifier in the first match, while Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold champion Sameer Verma will lock horns with fourth-seeded Korean Son Wan Ho.

Ajay Jayaram will have to get past third seed and Olympic bronze-medallist Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

Former Swiss Open champion H S Prannoy, who had hurt his knee at Basel this year, will face Malaysia's Zulfadli Zulkiffli in the first round.

In men's doubles, India's top pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy will face Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, while seventh seeds Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy will face the Indonesian combo of Hafiz Faizal and Shela Devi Aulia.
Former Supreme Court judge Markanday Katju's comment of offering Kashmir to Pakistan on condition that it should take Bihar too drew sharp criticism here with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ridiculing him for trying to become 'Mai-Baap' (guardian) of the state.

Katju's post on Facebook clubbing Bihar with Jammu and Kashmir triggered sharp reaction with some leaders demanding that he should be tried under sedition law.

"We offer you Kashmir but you should take Bihar also," Katju had said in one of his Facebook post.

"I have just received authoritative information from the Govt. Of Pakistan. They have point blank refused the offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar, and they have profusely apologised for ever asking for Kashmir at all and have promised never to ask for it again. Evidently the idea of getting Bihar too has horrified them out of their wits," he wrote.

Katju further commented, "Once Firaq Gorakhpuri, my English teacher in Allahabad University, said to me 'hindustan ko khatra Pakistan se nahin hai, Bihar se hai'."



Without naming Katju, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made a strong remark on him.

"Ghar baithe 'mai-baap' ban rahe hai Bihar kaa...(trying to become guardian of Bihar while sitting at home),"Kumar said in his speech here after launching two of his seven resolves of providing drinking water and toilet to every household.

"A few people are gripped with disease of getting printed in newspapers," he said in an apparent retort on Katju.

The CM spoke in detail about the glorious history of Bihar which is land of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Chanakya and Aryabhatt who invented 'Zero' among others.

"Patliputra, the ancient name of present Patna used to be capital of the Magadh empire whose territory extended to the entire country," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also took strong exception to Katju's comment saying, Bihar may be lacking in resources but it did not give Katju a free hand to humiliate the state. "Bihar has always shown the way to the country in good and bad times," said the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi and senior party leader Shyam Rajak sought trial of Katju under sedition law.

Madhepura MP and Janadhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav also condemned Katju's comments and sought public apology from him.

Faced with barrage of protests, Katju sought to backtrack and wrote on Facebook "I was only joking about Bihar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Protesting the stray dog menace in a barbarian manner, youth activists of a Kerala-based party allegedly killed around 10 canines, tied a few to a pole and took them out through the town.

Police said they have registered a case against 15 activists of Youth Front (M), an offshoot of Kerala Congress (M) led by former state minister K M Mani, under section 429 (committing mischief by killing the animals) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The activists, protesting against the increasing stray dog menace in the state and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's stand on the issue, displayed the dead dogs in front of the Head Post office here yesterday.

Accusing Maneka Gandhi of adopting a negative approach towards the menace, the activists also sent letters to Gandhi asking her to change her stand on the issue.

Youth Front (M) state president Saji Manjakkadambil said they decided to kill the stray dogs as they were posing a big threat to people in Kottayam town.

Vetenerary chief surgeon Mohana Chandran Nair performed postmortem of the dead dogs and their internal organs have been sent for forensic examination, police said.

Animal rights activists condemned the incident, calling it as "disgusting".

"These people who are beating and using dogs to their advantage and political opportunity will do the same to people they are trying to impress. This is completely barbarian way to deal with a situation...Is it leading to a solution? No way!!," Delhi-based animal rights activist Khushboo Gupta said.

Gupta said solution for the problem is dog sterilisation, garbage management and shaping people's attitude for co-habiting with animals.

"Kerala is perfect example of how sensible actions has no connection with your literacy level," she wrote on her Facebook page.

Gandhi has criticised the government's proposal to take stern measures, including culling, to check the continuing stray dog menace which came to sharp focus recently after an elderly woman died after being attacked by a pack of street dogs near Thiruvananthapuram.

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today criticised the Centre's "inaction" against the perpetrators of the Uri terror attack and appealed to the Prime Minister to announce a compensation of Rs one crore each for the families of the slain soldiers.

He said the compensation policy for the families of soldiers residing in Delhi should be replicated by the Centre and implemented across the country, beginning with the victims of the recent terror strike at Jammu and Kashmir's Uri.

"There is rage and gloom across the country over the Uri attack. It is understandable when our enemy neighbour attacks us. But, are we that weak so as to keep quiet after every such attack?



"I am not saying there should be a war as it is not the solution. There are 100 other ways to give a befitting reply (to Pakistan). The silence pains me and it would be a betrayal with the freedom fighters if we do nothing," Kejriwal said.

The AAP supremo was addressing the gathering at the 110th birth anniversary celebrations of Bhagat Singh, organised by the Delhi government at Talkatora Stadium here. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Labour Minister Gopal Rai were also present on the occasion.

"Del Govt gives Rs 1 cr "samman rashi" to family of any soldier who is resident of Del n who dies in any operation. Today, on Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary, I urge PM to announce this scheme 4 all soldiers 4 whole country n make a beginning wid Uri (sic)," Kejriwal later wrote on Twitter.

Positioning the AAP as the "sole champion of the poor and



the marginalised", Kejriwal alleged that the other parties show "fake concern" for them before the election, only to work for the "well-being of the Ambanis and the Adanis" later.

"The AAP is the only party that has been working for the poor and focusing on improving the condition of the government schools that were systematically damaged to keep the poor in their state of misery," he claimed.

The AAP supremo also touched upon the alleged stabbing incident of a teacher at a government school in Nangloi, saying teachers were "no less than soldiers".

The Delhi government today announced a compensation of Rs one crore for the family members of Mukesh Kumar, who was allegedly stabbed to death by two of his students.

Kejriwal promised to hike the minimum wages in the city "by double", notwithstanding the "spanners being put by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung".

"The committee, re-constituted as per the LG's recommendations, will come up with similar proposals of doubling the minimum wages as the first one had done," he said.

The chief minister also announced the formation of 'Shaheed Bhagat Singh Foundation' by his government which, he said, will conduct "research work on the ideas espoused by the leaders of the freedom movement".

Kejriwal also launched a web portal -- shaheedkosh.Delhi.Gov.In -- to prepare a database of freedom fighters and martyrs from all over the country.

Referring to Bhagat Singh's relatives in the audience, the chief minister said, "We have the family of Bhagat Singh amid us. Abhitej belonged to this family. He was equally fearless. He died in an accident. Now, there is no clarity as to whether it was an accident or not."



Bhagat Singh's grandnephew Abhitej Singh died in a road accident in Himachal Pradesh in May this year.
Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith shared an unbeaten 126-run partnership as Australia romped to a nine-wicket win in a one-day international against Ireland at Willowmoore Park today.

Khawaja made 82 not out and Smith an unbeaten 59 as Australia chased down a modest target of 199 with 19.5 overs to spare.

It was a second heavy defeat in a row for Ireland, who lost by 206 runs against South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, but set the scene for what Smith expects to be a tough five-match one-day series between South Africa and Australia, starting at Centurion on Friday.

Ireland let slip a promising start, collapsing from 121 for two in the 24th over to 198 all out.

The solid foundation laid by William Porterfield (24), Paul Stirling (30) and John Anderson (39) was destroyed when they lost three wickets for two runs in the space of seven balls.

Anderson was leg before wicket to Scott Boland before new cap Daniel Worrall claimed his first international wicket when he had Gary Wilson caught behind.

Worrall appealed unsuccessfully for leg before wicket when his next ball struck Sean Terry on the pad. But a careless Terry did not get back into his crease and the ball deflected to Smith, whose throw from slip ran out the new batsman.

"We lost our way there," said Ireland captain Porterfield. "It was difficult to come back from that."



Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was Australia's most successful bowler, taking three for 37. He made good use of his variations, taking two wickets with googlies and one with a flipper.

Zampa apart, a largely inexperienced Australian bowling attack looked in need of more work ahead of the series against South Africa. They sent down 13 wides, costing a total of 19 runs.

"It was a pretty good performance in the end," said Smith. "We need to work on the way we started with the ball but we came back nicely to bowl them out. We gave them too many freebies and we can't afford to do that against South Africa."



David Warner got Australia off to a rapid start, dominating a 73-run first wicket stand with fellow left-hander Khawaja. Warner hit 48 off 30 balls, with five fours and two sixes, before pushing back a slower ball from Tim Murtagh to be caught and bowled. Murtagh was the only Ireland bowler able to impose a measure of control over the batsmen, taking one for 21 in six overs.

Khawaja was dropped twice, on eight and 73, both times in the deep by Peter Chase off Barry McCarthy, but played a stylish 77-ball innings, hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Smith, returning to action after being rested during a recent one-day series in Sri Lanka, started slowly but finished with 59 off 73 balls.

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T P Krishnakumar has assumed charge as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax here.

A 1983 batch of Indian Revenue Service, Krishnakumar has served in various capacities in I T department in Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkatta and Ahmedabad, an official release said today.

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PHOENIX -- Arizona had fewer abortions last year than since the state began its current method of keeping track.

But the reason for that is less clear.

New figures from the state Department of Health Services show 12,659 recorded abortions in 2015. That compares with 12,900 the prior year and 14,401 in 2011. Statistics prior to that are not comparable.

Cathi Herrod, president of the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Policy, cheered the report.

"That's good for women and I would think for preborn children,'' she said.

But the report does not prove that more women who get pregnant are choosing to carry the child.

The statistics show that the number of live births also dropped last year. And, like the number of abortions, that figure also is at the lowest point since 2011.

That leads Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Arizona, to conclude that the abortion numbers are down simply because more women have access to and are using birth control.

"Fewer women are getting pregnant,'' he said.

Even Herrod said she cannot dispute that without further analysis of the report. But she still views the declining abortion numbers as positive.

"Whether it is because more women are choosing life, or it is due to other factors, I celebrate each life saved,'' she said.

The report is mandated by state law. It covers not just the number and rate of abortions but is broken down by other factors, including age groups and even the procedure used to terminate the pregnancy.

For example, it shows that the number of abortions on girls younger than 15, while just 25, actually increased by 16 percent from 2014. By contrast, there were fewer abortions of those from 15 through 24 and women older than 40; other age groups had an increase.

It also shows that nearly two-thirds of abortions were done before the ninth week of pregnancy, with 67 pregnancies terminated at 20 weeks and 154 at 21 weeks or more.

That figure is politically significant because lawmakers voted in 2012 to ban abortions at 20 weeks on the premise the fetus could feel pain at that point. That law was blocked by federal courts, a decision the U.S. Supreme Court refused in 2014 to overturn.

There are things the report does not measure. One is the number of women who use emergency contraception in the form of the "morning-after'' pill, essentially a high dose of hormones designed to prevent pregnancy.

The medication, available without a prescription, has not been without controversy.

One line of medical thinking is that the hormones interrupt ovulation. But another is that the drugs prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb, causing some people to say it is the equivalent of an abortion.

Howard also said sections of the report may be misleading, particularly in the number of abortions performed on residents of Mohave and Yuma counties, where the figures are low by comparison with much of the rest of the state. He said women there who want to terminate a pregnancy may choose to travel to Nevada or California, meaning the abortion is not reported to Arizona health officials and does not show up in the report.

One reason numbers prior to 2011 are not comparable is that prior to then abortion providers filed paper reports. State health officials said that often led to problems keeping track of data.

The current system requires clinics and doctors to file electronic reports. Health officials said that mandate, coupled with better training of abortion providers and their staffs, is designed to provide better statistics to use for comparison.
The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court today that it has decided to increase the financial assistance given to women convicts after their release from prison from Rs 5000 to Rs 25,000.

This was conveyed by state government counsel Hiten Venegaonkar to a bench headed by Justice V M Kanade during the hearing of a suo motu petition seeking help to women convicts who have children.

The HC had suo motu taken note of a media report and converted it into a petition which is being heard from time to time.

The issue involved was that when the mother was in jail after conviction in a case what would happen to her child outside and whether the kid would go to school or suffer due to lack of eduction.

The petition was based on a report in which various suggestions were made by Prayas, an NGO, on women prisoners who have children. It said that some kids are in prison along with their mothers while in few other cases the children remain outside jail and yet in other cases they are confined to juvenile homes.

It also focussed on their educational needs and on requirements to make them independent while their mothers are serving jail terms.

The HC also clubbed the issue of children of women prisoners along with the street children and wanted to know how many such children existed as of now.

The bench directed the government pleader to place on record on October 17 the number of children of women convicts so that it could ask the government to take care of their education, livelihood and other needs.

Rebecca Gonsalves, who appeared for Maharashtra State Legal Aid Authority, was also directed to list out measures that can be taken for the welfare of such children.

Venegaonkar said the amount of financial assistance had been increased recently from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 which is given as a lumpsum amount to a woman convict to start a new life after serving sentence.

He also said that 158 women were at present serving sentence in various jails of Maharashtra.

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Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao today called for strengthening co-operation between the state and African countries in sectors like food processing, human resource development, tourism, higher education and cultural exchange.

He was speaking after inaugurating the eighth edition of 'I for Afrika' -- a four-day mega business event being held here.

"Africa has 60 per cent of the arable land in the world but produces 10 per cent of the global food output. Likewise, India has traditionally been an agricultural country with over sixty per cent people depending on agriculture for their livelihood," Rao said.

The Governor said Maharashtra is a leader in horticulture, dairy and fisheries and home to four agriculture universities and one university for animal sciences, dairy and fisheries.

"I think India and Africa can work closely in knowledge and technology sharing in agriculture while also focusing on post-harvest processing and supply chain," he said.

Rao also said India has had a long and deep connection with Africa with the people of Indian origin living and working in that continent and doing business there for centuries.

"Indians are therefore familiar with Africa and can become natural partners in progress and development," he said.

"Africa is a treasure of tourism. India has a growing upper-middle class. This group is exploring the world like never before. We often say that gone are the days when the world spoke of communism, socialism and other 'isms'. Today the only 'ism' that matters is tourism. Tourism can prove mutually rewarding for India and Africa," he said.

Rao said that India and Africa have common challenges like food security, energy security, terrorism and climate change.

"It is necessary that we should have cooperative mechanisms for exchange of views, consultation and for working out common strategies for addressing these pressing issues," he said.

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The Maharashtra Government has decided to circulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for radiologists who had gone on a strike some weeks ago to protest certain provisions of a pro-girl child legislation.

Radiologists have claimed certain provisions of Pre- Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 or PCPNDT Act are "unfair", "arbitrary" and "drastic".

They have said "minor errors" in filling up the form before the ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman (a mandatory provision under the Act) should not be blown out of proportion.

Health officials from Pune some months back had initiated action against radiologists under the Act and it triggered a state-level agitation.

"The Health Department will issue a couple of model forms to radiologists detailing how errors should be avoided while filling them. It will be like a standard operating procedure (SOP).

"There will be a categorisation of errors as well, which will enable the health officials to take action. Minor errors will certainly not lead to any legal action against the practitioners," Health Minister Deepak Sawant told PTI today.

The Act bans pre-natal sex determination and provides for stringent action, including jail term and heavy fine, for any violation.

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A 25-year-old man from the tribal Bhil community was beaten to death by villagers in neighbouring Baran district after he allegedly harassed some women of a hamlet in an inebriated condition.

Shyamlal Bheel was rushed to Chipabarode government hospital in a critical condition following the incident in at Saitkolhau village yesterday. He succumbed to injuries during treatment.

Police have booked seven persons, including a woman, under various sections of IPC including Section 302 (murder). However, none of the accused have been arrested so far.

The man's body was handed over to his family yesterday evening after a postmortem, said Brij Prakesh Nama, SHO of Chipabarode police station.

The deceased youth was a habitual drinker and yesterday too he had been heavily drunk since morning, the SHO said, adding that he had been creating disturbance in the village and harassing the local women for the past few days.

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Britain's counter-terrorism officer investigating the murder of a Bangladeshi-origin imam today charged a 24-year-old man for helping his killer flee the country.

Jalal Uddin died of multiple injuries to his head and facein the UK earlier this year and his killer, Mohammed Abdul Kadir, was convicted of the 71-year-old's murder earlier this month in absentia.

Kadir is believed to have fled to Syria and joined Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists.

Mohammed Syadul Hussain has now been charged with assisting an offender contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 and is accused of helping Kadir leave the country for Turkey three days after the murder on February 18.

Hussain has been remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court on October 24, Greater Manchester Police said.

The new charge comes 10 days after 21-year-old Mohammed Syeedy was jailed for a minimum of 24 years for his part in Uddin's murder.

Kadir and Syeedy were found guilty of killing Uddin after a trial which heard Uddin practiced a form of Islamic healing called Ruqya, considered to be "black magic" by some extremists.

Syeedy and his friends surveilled Uddin for 18 months before Kadir bludgeoned him to death with a hammer in a children's playground as he walked home from his mosque at night.

"It seems to me that this was a case of two members of the Muslim faith killing another member of the Muslim faith solely because they disapproved of a particular practice carried out by that person," Judge David Maddison said.

Kadir remains the subject of an international manhunt.

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A district court of Jharkhand today sentenced a man to death in the rape and murder case of a six-year-old girl in November 2011.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Manoj Kumar Srivastav found Durga Soren of Bedakudar village in Seraikela- Kharswan district guilty and awarded capital punishment to him.

According to prosecution, Durga took the girl and her two friends including a boy of his own village, to a place saying they would play. He, however, sent the friends home after which he raped and murdered the girl.

The girl's father said in the FIR that he had seen Durga taking three children, but his daughter did not return home. However, when asked, Durga said he did not know anything. Her body was found in a paddy field later.

Police arrested Durga and found his as well as the victim's undergarments which helped investigators to nail him.

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Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi today praised the Manohar Lal Khattar led-BJP government in Haryana for improvement in the state's child sex ratio.

Addressing a convocation function of a women's college here, Gandhi lauded the state government for improving the child sex ratio from 830/1000 to 910 this year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign from Panipat in January last year.

Khattar had recently said that Haryana had lowest child sex ratio in the country as per census 2011, but that it had now crossed the benchmark SRB of 900 for the first time in December 2015.

During her address, Gandhi touched upon the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government to assist women in cases of crime against them.

"17 centres have been opened so far to assist women in cases of crime against them. Nearly 200 women have been coming with their issues at each centre daily," she said adding that the Centre was serious about issues related to women's safety.

Speaking on a new safety feature 'in-built system of panic button on mobiles for women's safety', the Union minister said the feature will be available on cell phones from January next year.

"There would be panic button safety features on cell phones, which women can use in case of any threat of molestation or any such incident.It will alert the nearest police station beside alerting other cell phone users near the victim about the potential threat to her," she said.

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Diluted Manuka honey may be a powerful remedy against growth of bacterial biofilms in medical devices, and may be use to reduce the risk of infections in hospital patients, a new study has found.

Manuka honey is a monofloral honey produced in Australia and New Zealand from the nectar of the manuka tree.

According to the research by University of Southampton in the UK, even low dilutions of Manuka honey can curb the activity and growth of bacterial biofilms - the thin but resilient layer of microbes.

The research raise the prospect of the honey's potential use in patients fitted with medical devices, such as urinary catheters, which carry a high infection risk.

Around 100 million urinary catheters, used to drain the bladder of urine, are sold worldwide every year.

Up to one in four hospital patients may have to use a catheter. However, long-term use is associated with frequent complications, such as inflammation and infection.

"We have been able to demonstrate that diluted honey is potentially a useful agent for reducing biofilm formation on indwelling plastic devices such as urinary catheters," said Bashir Lwaleed, associate professor at the University of Southampton, who led the study.

"Catheter infection rates can account for a large proportion of hospital acquired infections - it is an area of clinical practice that needs addressing," he added.

"We believe that patients might also benefit from honey's anti-inflammatory properties, which are generally stronger in dark honeys, such as Manuka and that antibacterial resistance is unlikely to be a factor when honey is used," he said.

To find out if Manuka honey has a role in stopping the establishment and development of biofilms, the researchers cultured strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria on plastic plates in the laboratory.

These two bacteria account for most of the urinary tract infections associated with long-term catheter use.

The honey was diluted with distilled water and added to medium to give different 'strengths', 3.3 per cent, 6.6 per cent, 10 per cent, 13.3 per cent, and 16.7 per cent.

In the first part of the experiment, the various dilutions were added at the same time as the bacteria in two of the wells of each of the 96 plates, and just plain medium or artificial half strength honey to the other two wells.

These were then sealed and incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours to see whether the honey had any effect on the formation of a biofilm.

In the second part of the experiment, honey was added after 24 hours and incubated for either a further 4 or 24 hours to see if honey restricted growth of the biofilm.

The results showed that Manuka honey strongly inhibited the 'stickiness' of the bacteria, and therefore the development of a biofilm.

Even at the lowest dilution, it curbed stickiness by 35 per cent after 48 hours compared with the plain medium and artificial honey.

The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

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Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India has been referred to security agencies for vetting before a final decision by the Union Cabinet.

"After examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-dept vetting. A security vetting is necessary for such applications before a final decision is taken," a Home Ministry official said.

The decision on Bugti's application for political asylum in India is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva last week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.

India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy.

As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.

The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.

In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government.

Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.

India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide refugees.

Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.

He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.

Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.

If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreenhas been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year.

The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, an official said.

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India-born CEO Satya Nadella today said his company is not pursuing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to beat humans at games but to empower people and organisations "to solve the most pressing problems" of society and economy to make the world a better place.

As the keynote speaker at the opening day of 'Microsoft's Ignite' conference, he addressed a packed crowd of over 23,000 attendees, primarily IT professionals.

"We are not pursuing AI to beat humans at games. We are pursuing AI so that we can empower every person and every institution that people build with tools of AI so that they can go on to solve the most pressing problems of our society and our economy," Nadella said.

"The question is, how can we use all we have in terms of computational power to solve this fundamental constraint? To make better sense of the world? That's the essence of what AI is. It's not about having AI that beats humans in games, it's about helping everyone achieve more - humans and machines working together to make the world a better place," he said.

He outlined the firm's four pillars to democratise AI: Agents, applications, services, and infrastructure at Philips Arena, just across the street from the Georgia World Congress Center.

"We're taking a four-pronged approach to how we think about AI and how we pursue this bold ambition to democratise AI for all: We're going to harness artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how we interact with the ambient computing, the agents, in our lives," he said.

"We will infuse every application that we interact with, on any device, at any point in time, with intelligence. We'll make these same intelligent capabilities that are infused in our own apps - the cognitive capabilities - available to every application developer in the world," Nadella said.

Nadella said is building the world's most powerful AI supercomputer and making it available to anyone, via the cloud, to enable all to harness its power and tackle AI challenges, large and small.

Features such as handwriting recognition in Windows 10, or the ability to use Hello to unlock a device are just some of Microsoft's recent AI projects, he said.

Nadella also mentioned how the company could use relationship data from LinkedIn, which it acquired in June.

'Microsoft's Ignite', the largest conference in the industry with a major focus on security, intelligence and the cloud platform that empowers IT professionals to lead digital transformation for their organisations.

The second annual conference from September 26-30 showcases the software giant's enterprise products and services, while providing valuable IT training. It also provides opportunities for IT professionals to get together for collaboration and networking.
PHOENIX  Doctors are recommending new detection and treatment guidelines for Valley Fever, a deadly and debilitating infection that mimics the flu.

More than 4,000 cases have emerged so far this year, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. People inhale fungus in soil, causing a bacterial infection that can leave patients exhausted and with muscle aches, a fever, cough, headaches and night sweats. It can last for weeks, even months.

The illness is often misdiagnosed as a cold, flu or pneumonia, leaving people to suffer and leading to costly medical tests and hospitalizations.

Dr. John Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence in Tucson, said early diagnosis is key to combating Valley Fever. Galgiani led a panel of 15 other medical experts, who developed new guidelines that make it much easier for doctors to pinpoint a patients symptoms with the corresponding illness.

For example, different procedures are recommended based on factors including the presence of an immunosuppressing condition like HIV, if the patient was recently diagnosed with Valley Fever or if the medication should be taken orally or intravenously.

There also are new protocols for treating pregnant women and people who have traveled to an area where Valley Fever is prevalent. Knowing someones travel history can make a difference in a proper diagnosis.

If it were done better and earlier diagnoses were made, a lot of care would be considered unnecessary and you wouldnt have to do it, Galgiani said. Many procedural imaging like CAT scans and things may not be necessary.

Registered nurse Carla Gargiulo said she went through several urgent-care and hospital visits before a 2 1/2-centimeter nodule on her right lung confirmed she had Valley Fever.

I kind of went back and thought, Oh my gosh, maybe I should have pushed this a little further, maybe I shouldve been a little more aggressive with my own care, said Gargiulo, who was diagnosed in December 2014.

Her mild asthma became so severe after her illness she now relies on three inhalers a day and uses a small-volume nebulizer when she feels short of breath. She sleeps on a couch on the first floor of her Gilbert home because its difficult to make it up the stairs.

Right now Im in a vicious cycle, Gargiulo said.

Galgiani said patients and their health-care professionals should seek Valley Fever tests if the patient experiences Valley Fever symptoms.

These guidelines in many respects reinforced what we said before, said Galgiani, whose center is based at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. They specifically ask questions; if you have a patient with a certain set of symptoms, do you start an anti-fungal drug or not? And then theres a basis for why that answer is our recommendation.

Another change in the guidelines is certain drugs previously thought to be unsafe to use during pregnancy are now known to be safe, according to Galgiani.

He said a vaccine would protect those in high-risk areas like Arizona and the Central Valley of California, where the most cases of Valley Fever occur. He thinks one for dogs, who are three times more likely than humans to become infected, could be available in five years.

The University of Arizona actually is working on a drug which might potentially cure this disease, Galgiani said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the newly formed Rocket Force of the PLA which handles the country's growing arsenal of missiles has played an "irreplaceable" role in helping Beijing to become a "major power" by warding off war threats.

Inspecting the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force yesterday, Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), described the force as a "core of strategic deterrence, a strategic buttress to the country's position as a major power, and a cornerstone on which to build national security."



The PLA Rocket Force was established last year, part of a wider military structural reform drive in the 22,85,000 strong PLA, the world's largest standing army.

Xi, who is also the head of the military, had conferred the military flag on the Rocket Force at its inauguration ceremony held in Beijing on December 31, 2015.

Amid the changing international situation and major challenges to national security, the Rocket Force has played an "irreplaceable" role in containing war threats, ensuring a secure and favourable strategic posture for China, as well as maintaining global strategic balance and stability, Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run China Daily.

He asked the Rocket Force to increase its sense of crisis and strengthen its strategic ability so as to provide a safe and strategic security environment to the nation.

Last year, China has during a parade showcased a whole range of long, medium and short range missiles, including its Dongfeng-21D missile and the anti-ship ballistic missile described as the "carrierkiller".

It had caused concern among US defence officials as it could blow up aircraftcarriersfrom a distance of about 1500 km to 1700 kms.

"New breakthroughs should be made in enhancing the troop's strategic containment capacity, combat preparedness and application of strategy," Xi said and asked the Rocket Force to follow the Party's absolute leadership, maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee.

Xi's comments came amid growing tensions with the US and Japan over the South China Sea, disputed islands in the East China Sea and efforts by North Korea to ramp up its nuclear capability despite international sanctions.

In South China Sea, China is on the back foot after an international tribunal quashed its historic claims over the whole area.

The US has waded into the region in a big way extending military backing to Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which counter Beijing's claims.

Amid growing tensions, China yesterday flew its biggest contingent of war planes to west Pacific, close to Japanese Okinawa coast to conduct its biggest air exercises.

China is also opposed to the US move to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, (THAAD) defence missile systems in South Korea to ward off threats missile threats from North Korea.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today charged that the Narendra Modi government does not have a "stable" policy towards Pakistan and has not been able to decide on how to put Islamabd in the dock in the wake of the Uri attack.

On the Indus Water Treaty, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the government should consider all pros and cons and take a decision keeping in mind the future.

"The BJP government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony and visited the Pakistani premier uninvited on his birthday.

"And many a times, he has adopted a very tough stance against Pakistan. His government has not been able to decide on how to deal with Islamabad," Azad, who was here to launch Congress' yatra from Deoria to New Delhi, said.

"In the Modi government, the Foreign Secretary favours talks with Pakistan but the National Security Advisor suggests suspension of the dialogue with Islamabad. Nobody knows what they want," he said.

Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Azad claimed that Modi had promised the people of the country that he would "avenge the death of our soldiers and that he would bring 10 heads for every martyred jawan, but he has forgotten them now".

To a query on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said the Modi government believes in taking a decision in seconds on issues that have been there for decades.

"It should consider all pros and cons and then take a decision in this regard. Bilateral issues have many other things linked to them. A decision concerning such issues should be taken keeping in mind the future," he said.

Azad blamed the PDP-BJP government for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying there was peace in the Valley when the National Conference government was at the helm of affairs, but tension is prevailing there since the new government has taken over.

He also hit out at the central government for not sending more emissaries to different countries.

"While Pakistan has sent over 15 emissaries to create pressure in its favour, India has sent only a couple," he claimed and said there was a need for exposing Pakistan at the international fora.

Asked if his party was open to a tie-up with other parties for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he said, "Congress will go alone.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a "U-turn" on his stand on minorities, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today questioned Modi's role as Gujarat chief minister and expressed surprise that he had suddenly turned "spokesman" for the community.

Referring to Modi's remarks made at BJP's national council meeting in Kozhikode on Sunday, the Congress general secretary asked what Modi had done to empower the minorities when he was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014.

"The Prime Minister is speaking our language. It was very surprising to know that Narendra Modi has suddenly become spokesman for the minority community in this country," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a Congress meeting here.

Hesaid, "The 'minorityism' which was the charge that was levelledagainst us, now Narendra Modi is talking about empoweringthe minorities. Did he empower the minorities when he was theChief Minister of Gujarat? Did he take action against thoseinvolved in Gujarat riots?



"Is he not the same person who denied the Muslims of Gujarat the scholarship which was sanctioned by the governmentof India? Is he not the same person who refused to rehabilitate the Gujarat riot victims, is he not the same person who sort of manipulated the prosecution in Gujarat riots? It is a complete U-turn," he said.

Contending that the definition of secularism has been distorted, Modi had on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay to say that Muslims are "not substance of hate" nor should they be considered as "items of vote market" but should be treated as "your own".

Refusing to comment on the measures adopted by theCentre post the Uri terror attack and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj'sspeech at the UN General Assembly, Singh said "we don't do politics" on matters ofsecurity.

"As far as the Congress party is concerned we have serious differences with the approach of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the NDA government, but on the matters of internal security we don't want to do politics," he said.

"She (Sushma Swaraj) was representing the country in the UNGeneral Assembly not as a BJP leader, but as the ExternalAffairs Minister of India, therefore let us not get into it,"he said.

To a question on the demand for repealing of MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status to Pakistan, Singh said the Congress has always held as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said: "We can't change our neighbour, and for a lasting peace in the area with our neighbours we should have a continues dialogue on issues."



Responding to another question, he said, "Both the countries have great problems at socio-economic level and therefore what is more important is peace and harmony so that we can remove illiteracy, malnutrition and poverty rather than spending money on defence and confronting each other."



Condemning Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Somfor their comments against Pakistani artistes following the Uri terror attack, Singh said such things further aggravate the situation.

He said, "MNS has been blackmailing by giving such threats and compromising later for obvious reasons."



Stating that BJP has got "forked tongue", he said they speak one language at one time, other language at other time.

"Just go through the statements made by Narendra Modiwhen he was Chief Minister of Gujarat and now as the PrimeMinister of India... Absolutely contradictory statements made and he has now realised every policy of UPA government whichhe criticised, he has not only adopted it, but is takingcredit for it," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the works and contributions of spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi towards various social welfare aspects that improve the quality of human life, especially in the field of sanitation.

Addressing a huge gathering of devotees on the occasion of her 63rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri near here through a live video conference, Modi said Mata's role in sanitation has helped government's Swacch Bharat programme.

He referred to the works done and donations made by the Amritanandamayi Math in the field of sanitation, drinking water, housing, education and health.

"Particularly, Amma's initiative on building toilets has been a great help in our Swachh Bharat Programme," he said.

He also referred to Math's pledge to contribute Rs 100 crore towards sanitation programme that included construction of 15,000 toilets for the poor in Kerala.

"I am informed that the Amma's ashram has already completed construction of 2,000 toilets," he said, adding, "Amritanandamayi is the guiding light for millions of devotees."



"Like a real Maa, she nurtures her devotees through direct and indirect acts, visible and invisible hands," he added.

Noting that her main strength is service to mankind and devotion to God, Modi said, "Devotion to God and dedication to the poor is thus the message that I have personally taken from my association with Amma."



Millions of devotees from all over the world also believethe same, he said.

Recounting his earlier meeting with Amma, Modi said "three years ago I had the opportunity to visit Amma on her 60th birthday celebrations. Though today I am not so lucky as to be able to greet her in person, I am at least able to do so through technology."



On Mata's other initiatives, Modi said "She is always keen to help the world's poor in meeting their five basic needs: food, shelter, health care, education, and livelihood."



On Amrita University's innovation projects, the Prime Minister said, "It is also heartening to note that the researchers at Amrita University are innovating new approaches to solve some of the world's most pressing problems."



Modi also mentioned the donation of Rs 100 crore made by the Math towards the Namami Gange programme.

Speaking on the occasion, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said



according to Bharatiya tradition, the universe is run on dharma, which has four components-truth, compassion, purity and tapas.

"This dharma has to be enacted in one's life.I have to say that in Bharat, we are lucky to have an illustrious tradition which is continuing today," he said.

"When I say this, my statement holds true because all of us are looking in Amma," he said.

Samajwadi Party General secretary Amar Singh asked the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna on Mata Amritandamayi Devi in recognition of her various contributions towards humanity and India. She is rendering a selfless service to the world, he said.

Deputy Chairman of Rajya SabhaP J Kurian also echoed the the views of Amar Singh and requested Mohan Bhagwat to take an initiative for this.

Amritanandanmayi, in her message, touched upon the threat of terrorism faced by the world and issues connected with environment pollution.

"Terrorism has become one of humanity's foremost problems, robbing society of its peace," she said.

Quoting statistics, she said around 1200 largescale terrorist attacks have taken place in various parts of the world in 2016 alone. "Today our waking reality is worse than our most terrifying nightmare", she said.

The message India has to give to the world is love, compassion, purity and relentless effort, she said.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, V K Singh, Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam, BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan were among the host of dignitaries present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November amidst heightened tension between India and Pakistan.

Announcing the decision tonight, India said that "one country" has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the Summit.

"India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," it said.

"We also understand that some other SAARC Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016," it said.

According to sources, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan are the other countries which have said no to attending the Summit.

In its communication to Nepal, India has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dissension in the Yadav clan again came to the fore today as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav openly supported the Samajwadi Party's youth leaders expelled by state president Shivpal Yadav and called on "experienced leaders" to reconsider the decision.

Shivpal had expelled seven party functionaries, including three MLCs, all considered close to Akhilesh, after assuming charge as state party chief on September 19.

"I will ask experienced leaders of my party to reconsider their decision and take back youths, who were with us from the days of struggle," Akhilesh told reporters here.

Sunil Singh Sajan, Anand Bhadauria and Sanjay Lathar, all MLCs, were shown the door for making "derogatory remarks" against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, indulging in anti-party activities and indiscipline, a party statement had said.

Besides the three legislators, Mohd Ebad, state chief of SP youth brigade, Brijesh Yadav, state president of SP Yuvjan Sabha, Gaurav Dubey, national president of SP youth brigade and Digvijay Singh Dev, state chief of Chatra Sabha were also expelled from the party on similar grounds.

"If they had raised slogans, it was in my favour and not against anyone," Akhilesh said.

The Chief Minister's statement came a day after party National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav came out in support of his nephew and expelled MLC Arvind Yadav during his roadshow from Delhi to Saifai (Etawah). Arvind had been expelled by Shivpal, in his first act as state chief, for alleged involvement in land grabbing and other such activities.

The feud between the factions led by Akhilesh and Shivpal had spilled out into the open earlier this month.

The Chief Minister had stripped Shivpal of key portfolios on September 13, hours after he was replaced with Shivpal as the state party president.

The dispute had ended on September 17 after Akhilesh restored all but one portfolio of Shivpal and promised to support him as SP's state unit president.

The two sides appeared to have reached a truce after the intervention of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Discontent, however, continues to simmer within the Yadav family with supporters of Akhilesh and Ram Gopal being expelled from the party.

Akhilesh and Ram Gopal, who is Mulayam's cousin, are said to be on the same page.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A local court today granted bail to Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava's son Abhishek, who is facing a case of cheating.

Additional district and sessions judge Tripti Sharma granted bail to Abhishek on a personal bond.

Ahhishek is facing a case of cheating for his association with an investment company which allegedly duped several investors.

He told reporters in Bhopal that he was innocent and demanded a CBI probe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Health Minister JP Nadda today assured all support to the Himachal Pradesh government in tackling the endemic scrub typhus disease in the region.

In view of the rising number of cases and reported deaths due to of scrub typhus in Himachal, Nadda had sought a detailed report from the state government.

Having received the report, Nadda has now offered to send an expert committee to the state.

"The Ministry is very closely monitoring the situation and if requested, shall provide all logistical and technical support to the state government to strengthen their capacity to effectively manage the situation," Nadda said.

While stressing the need to start rigorous awareness campaigns regarding the preventive steps to be taken by the people at the community level, he also directed the officials of the Health Ministry to be alert and gear up activities to be taken for awareness generation, prevention and control of scrub typhus.

According to official sources, scrub typhus has so far claimed 23 lives in the state while 724 patients have tested positive for the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today condemned the hurling of a shoe at AICC Vice President during a road show in Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to reporters he said "the attack on the Congress Vice President is a pre-planned one and was engineered by BJP and RSS.

Narayanasamy said that "everyone has the right to tour any part of the country and champion the cause of farmers and others."



The hurling of shoe targeting Gandhi yesterday deserves to be condemned in strongest terms.

Congress can never be cowed down by such acts', the Chief Minister said blaming the BJP and RSS as being behind act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The only child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose wants to bring her late father's ashes back to India, according to one of Japan's leading newspapers.

Anita Bose Pfaff, a professor ofeconomics based in Germany, told 'Yomiuri Shimbun' daily this week that she hopes the debate around the circumstances of the freedom fighter's death can finally be laid to rest.

"I want to bring back his ashes to India, which is now an independent nation. Indian independence was his (her father's) ardent wish," the 73-year-old is quoted as saying.

According to Bosefiles.Info, a UK-based website set up to catalogue the circumstances around Netaji's disappearances, claims the 'Yomiuri Shimbun' story was published in the context of a 1956 Japanese government investigation report on the death to be made public on Friday.

The same Japanese government investigation report was published by Bosefiles.Info on September 1.

"The document, which has been treated as classified by the Japanese government, will be available for browsing at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan," the paper reports.

The document concludes Bose died as a result of a plane crash at Taipei on August 18, 1945.

Professor Pfaff was quoted by the paper as saying: "I hope that the new document can end the debate."



'Yomiuri Shimbun' writes: "According to the document (the Japanese government investigation report), which is based on testimonies by witnesses and army physicians who were at his bedside when Bose died, the airplane which Bose was on board crashed at 13:50 on 18 August, 1945, immediately after taking off from Taiwan, where the plane landed for fuelling.

"Bose, who suffered burn injury all over his body, requested 'to treat others before himself' at the army hospital he was admitted to. Despite his request, physicians treated Bose first. However, Bose died at 19:00."



It further reports: "The document also shows the process as to how his ashes and belongings were transported to Japan."



Bose's ashes have reportedly since been preserved at the Japanese capital's Renkoji temple for 71 years.

The paper reports the chief priest at this place of worship, Kyozen Mochizuki, "also hopes that the release of the document will lead to (the) return of the ashes to India".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Staff from Glenbervie-based food ingredients manufacturer Macphie have raised 450 for the charity Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland by taking part in The Beast, a 10km obstacle race.

Macphie has entered a team to take part in The Beast, held in Aberdeenshire, every year since its inception in 2013.

Staff also recently took part in Pedal for Scotland, a 45-mile cycle ride between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and raised over 1,000 for St. Andrews Hospice in the process.

Digital communications executive Louise Shankley, who took part in the run for Macphie, told British Baker: It was really good fun and hard work, but we all made it across the finishing line.

Macphie is a company that really encourages us to do as many events as possible to raise money for charity. That is part of our values as a company. I think its also good for teamwork, and it is good to get to know other people.

Although the team has no future charity events confirmed at present, they plan to take part in more charitable challenges in the future.

In July, Macphie took part in the Pretty Muddy race to raise money for Cancer Research.
The suspect in the bombing this month in New York's Chelsea neighborhood appears to have acted on his own, with no connection to an extremist movement, the FBI said Tuesday.

"We see so far no indication of a larger cell or the threat of related attacks," FBI director James Comey testified at a Senate committee hearing.

The suspect in the September 17 bombing that left 31 people wounded, Ahmad Khan Rahami, was arrested two days after the attack.

US prosecutors, in a 13-page indictment on September 20, slapped him with four charges, including use of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the New York attack, he is charged with a pipe bombing, also on September 17, in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and planting several other bombs.

A naturalised US citizen born in Afghanistan, Rahami made several trips in recent years to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The terror charges came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it had investigated Rahami for terrorism in 2014 following a complaint from his father, but found no link to radicalization or extremist sympathies.

Comey said the FBI is seeing a slight slowdown in new US terror investigation cases, but some 1,000 probes are currently ongoing.

"I hope that it's going to... Head downward but it has not headed downward yet," he told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

By contrast, he said, the number of people leaving the country to join the Islamic State group in Syria or Iraq has fallen sharply.

"Where we used to see eight or 10 people from the United States trying to go to the so-called caliphate, we're now down to one or none a month," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The next round of negotiations between India and Sri Lanka on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) is scheduled to happen this week here.

The ETCA is expected to help boost trade and investment between the two countries.

During her meeting to the neighbouring country, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Sri Lankan Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama and discussed this pact.

The leaders expressed satisfaction on the progress of the proposed ETCA, the commerce ministry said in a statement.

"It was noted that the second round of negotiations for the ETCA is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 29-30," it said.

Sitharaman's two-day visit to Sri Lanka ended today.

The visit was aimed at enhancing and deepening bilateral trade and investment relations between the countries.

Many issues relating to trade, services and investment were highlighted during India-Sri Lanka Business Forum meeting.

Further, it said the Indian minister suggested that the meeting of the reconstituted India-Sri Lanka CEO Forum be held at the earliest.

It said the visit has emphasised the importance of Sri Lanka as an important trading and investment partner for India and would help in further deepening the existing bilateral relations.

In a series of tweets, Sitharaman said she raised the issue of import of arecanut into India.

"Sri Lanka no longer allows import of arecanut for value addition and further export," she said.

She also said that Sri Lanka has successfully rolled out emergency ambulance service in its southern and western provinces.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi "had announced a grant of USD 7.5 million for 88 ambulances and first year's operation...India's GVK operates the service while the ambulances are TATA made," she tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The NIA today took into custody the two men from PoK arrested by army in connection with its probe into the attack at an army camp in Uri even as it established the identity of one of the four slain attackers as belonging to PoK.

The NIA took over the custody of the two men identified as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangir--both in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and would produce them before a designated court soon, official sources said.

The two were arrested by the BSF and the Army in a joint operation at 'Angoor Post' at Gavalata village in Uri last Saturday when they were trying to infiltrate into India.

With both being residents of PoK, the army authorities interrogated them whether they had any knowledge about the attack in which four terrorists had stormed an army camp at Uri on September 18 and killed 18 soldiers.

The duo initially claimed that they had inadvertently crossed into India but after sustained interrogation they not only informed the security agencies about the two guides who had helped the terrorists to infiltrate but also helped them in identifying one of the militant involved in the attack, the sources said.

One of the killed terrorist was identified by NIA as Hafiz Ahmed of Darbang in Muzaffarabad Tehsil of PoK.

The duo would be brought to the national capital where they would undergo scientific tests and also subjected to an interrogation by joint team of security agencies.

The two had been recruited initially by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) for guiding its militants to infiltrate across the LoC and later they helped other militant groups as well, the sources said.

(REOPENS DEL 38)



The NIA later produced the two persons before a designated court in Jammu which remanded them to NIA custody, official sources said.
Real estate developer Nirmal Group today raised Rs 500 crore from Altico Capital, a non-banking finance company (NBFC), for construction of residential projects.

This is one of the largest financing in the residential real estate space in the recent past.

"Mumbai-based Nirmal Group raised Rs 500 crore from Altico Capital for three residential projects located in suburban areas of Mumbai, Mulund," Altico Capital said in a statement.

Besides, the proceeds will be utilised for providing an exit to existing lenders.

"The Mulund market, already the largest residential micro-market of Metropolitan Mumbai, is poised to be one of the most vibrant with good physical and social infrastructure," Altico Capital CEO Sanjay Grewal said.

In this respect, Altico intends to strategically place itself in the growth corridor by investing in a mix of advanced brownfield projects and early stage projects, he added.

Altico Capital has completed several such platform deals in the last few months, including Rs 300 crore deal with Pune-based Kumar Urban, Rs 240 crore investment with Marvel Realtors for construction of a portfolio of projects followed by a Rs 180 crore transaction with Pharande and Rs 200 crore with the Legacy Group in Bengaluru.

He further said Altico's portfolio has an overall allocation of about 35 per cent to Mumbai and the company plans to deploy an incremental Rs 1,000-1,500 crore in this market in the next couple of months with other leading groups.

Altico Capital, sponsored by Clearwater Capital, Abu Dhabi Investment Council and Varde Partners, looks to deploy Rs 3,000-4,000 crore on an annual basis into the residential and commercial real estate sectors across tier-1 cities in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Niti Aayog today said it has facilitated a meeting between the Centre and Himachal Pradesh government on pending issues related to health, education and environment, among others.

As part of its mandate to promote cooperative federalism, Niti Aayog organised a meeting of a high-level delegation from Himachal Pradesh and representatives from various ministries at the Center, it said in a statement.

It was held under the chairmanship of Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya. Himachal Pradesh delegation was led by Chief Secretary V C Pharka, it added.

The meeting came in the backdrop of a request made by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in June this year. He had written to the government think-tank with a list of issues pending with central ministries.

The discussions broadly covered issues related to health, education, environment and forest, rural development, food and public distribution, water resources, culture, tourism, industry and textiles, the Aayog said.

"A number of issues were resolved at the meeting. On some of the issues, the Central ministries requested the state to resubmit their proposals with requisite information and modifications," it added.

A few issues that were raised at the meeting pertained to policy decisions at the national level, the premier policy making body said.

On upgradation of the Indira Gandhi Medical College, the Health Ministry suggested that the state government change the project site, which was agreed upon by Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh is the fourth state after Bihar, Telangana and Rajasthan whose pending issues with the Central ministries/departments have been taken up by Niti Aayog.

States have been finding this platform very useful since their issues, which have been pending with the ministries of the Central government/departments for years, either get resolved or alternative feasible solutions are explored.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today dismissed Congress' demand for convening a special session of Parliament to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, saying there is "no logic in it" and asserted that India's security is in safe hands with Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs.

On Congress' criticism of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that she did not pitch for imposing economic sanctions on Pakistan during her address at the UNGA, he said the NDA government knows "what should be said" in the country's interest better than the opposition party.

"We are ready for a discussion and debate on the matter in Parliament. But convening a special session to discuss the issue...There is no logic in it. There is no discussion on convening a special session at our level," the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said after attending the annual conference of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).

Naqvi, also the Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge), assured that India and its respect and security "are in safe hands" with Narendra Modi at the helm of country's affairs.

"There will be no weakness (in dealing with Pakistan- backed terrorism)," he said.

The Minister lauded Swaraj for her "very good" speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday, saying "it exposed the nexus between Pakistan and terrorists".

He said the world is listening to the "cacophony of terrorism" emerging from Pakistan and asked it to either "break ties with terror or get disintegrated".

Congress had yesterday demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to declare Pakistan a terrorist state in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

It also alleged that the Narendra Modi government has responded only with catch phrases and through rhetoric since the attack took place and favoured withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation Status to Pakistan and imposition of economic sanctions on it.

Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had tweeted, "If India won't determinedly ask for diplomatic & economic sanctions against Pak in UN, who will? Modi Govt again failed us by meek response(sic)."



"Why is EAM Sushmaji shy of calling 'a spade a spade' in UN? Why did we not call upon UN for diplomatic & economic sanctions against Pakistan?(sic)" he had asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran today ruled out an imminent agreement with other major oil producers to freeze output as regional rivalry with Saudi Arabia hindered efforts to reverse a price slump.

The new signs of discord sent oil prices sliding again on world markets in the face of a global supply glut that has left a gaping hole in the finances of oil-exporting nations.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November fell 3.5 per cent to USD 44.31 a barrel in New York trade today.

Brent North Sea crude for November shed 3.4 per cent to USD 45.75 a barrel.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia has so far refused to curb its output at a time when Iran is ramping up production following the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said today on the eve of an informal OPEC meeting in Algeria that the Islamic republic was not yet ready to join a mooted production freeze.

"It's not in our agenda to reach an agreement in two days. We need time for more consultation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers.

Zanganeh said Iran wanted to increase its daily output to pre-sanctions levels of four million barrels, from the current estimated level of up to 3.8 million.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Middle East's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers, are at odds over an array of issues including the wars in Syria and Yemen.

But there were some tentative signs of a narrowing of differences in Algiers, where major non-OPEC producer Russia will also join the talks tomorrow.

Zanganeh signalled that an agreement to stabilise oil prices could be struck at a November 30 meeting in Vienna of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

And Saudi Oil Minister Khaled al-Faleh said he was optimistic that ministers would find some common ground.

"I remain optimistic on the basis of market fundamentals that are moving in the right direction and also on the producers coming to a common view," he said.

OPEC secretary-general Mohammed Barkindo, of Nigeria, suggested that the remarks from Iran and other producers were "all part of the consultations".

Oil prices have more than halved since mid-2014 as a US shale oil boom prompted a fierce fight with OPEC for market share.

A previous bid to freeze output fell apart in Doha in April as Iran refused to take part, saying it needed to return output to pre-sanctions levels.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One student has been arrested and another detained here for stabbing their teacher to death after being rusticated for low attendance, police said today.

Yesterday, two students, aged 18 and 17, had stabbed their teacher, Mukesh Kumar in a fit of rage after he reprimanded them for low attendance.

The students were apprehended from near their home in Kirari in the wee hours of this morning, said Dependra Pathak, joint commissioner of police (Southwest).

They had stabbed the teacher in front of their classmates and fled from the spot. The injured teacher was rushed to Sri Balaji Action Hospital where he succumbed late last night.

Police said that they killed their teacher because he used to ask them to be disciplined.

"The duo happen to be close friends and are class 12 students. They were undisciplined and used to remain absent from their classes. The victim was their class teacher and used to ask them to fall in line. The juvenile had been rusticated from the school once and was brought back and was again rusticated on account of his poor attendance on September 12. The other fellow was on the verge of being rusticated," said Pathak.

There were also complaints that the duo used to bully students, he said.

Yesterday, they entered the school with a motive to "inflict pain on their teacher who had been giving them pain", the officer said.

When the teacher was arranging papers after students had finished writing the exam, they came and engaged him in conversation asking him for a transfer certificate and stabbed him, he added.

Kumar was known to be strict with his students. The duo used to bunk classes regularly and had also failed their Board exams.

"The duo was apprehended in the wee hours of the morning today. During the course of interrogation, they revealed that they planned to teach a lesson to their teacher," said Pathak.

After fleeing from the spot, the duo roamed around Nithari Lake and Begampur area in the nearby locality before they were apprehended, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced Rs one crore as compensation for the family of the deceased teacher. The Deputy CM has also ordered a magisterial probe into the matter to ascertain whether there was any lapse of the school authorities or at the hospital.

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Following yesterday's incident, members of Government School Teachers' Association (GSTA) today protested on the Rohtak Road near the Government Senior Secondary School in Nangloi where the students had stabbed their teacher.

Close to 1,500 protesters blocked the road from 10 am today and were protesting till 3.30 pm.

"Their protest led to major traffic snarls between Peeragarhi and Mundka. Even though we made traffic diversions from Rani Khera village and from Peeragarhi, traffic movement was slow on the stretch. Traffic was also diverted onto some sub-lanes because of the protest. In the morning, the situation was worse but in the afternoon, situation eased out," said a senior traffic officer.

In a letter addressed to Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, the GSTA had demanded that Kumar's family be given a compensation of Rs 2 crore. They also demanded that the school be renamed after Kumar and his statute installed inside the premises.

They also demanded better security in the schools and the deployment of Delhi Police constables.

The GSTA also demanded for the implementation of Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property Act in all Delhi schools.

The teachers' body also put forth other demands, which included the scrapping of Delhi Government's programme, Chunauti 2018, and the revision of powers of school management committees, that include parents and community members.
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Over 1,000 students of a junior college here have written postcards, to be delivered to the Indian army, condemning the recent Uri terror attack in Kashmir in which 18 security personnel were killed.

Around 1,350 students of Shri Saibaba Junior College have condemned the attack and paid tributes to the slain personnel in the postcards, principal Vikas Shivgaje told PTI.

The college is run by Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

One of the students, Sidhheshwar Ranmale, wrote, "I salute those killed in the cowardly attack and who sacrificed their lives to save ours. Those who perpetrated the attack should be punished."



Another student, Shabnam Sheikh, said she was pained by the attack on the army base.

Pratikshya Thorat wrote that as the jawans were protecting the country's borders, the residents were living safely.

The postcards will be sent to the General Officer Commanding of the Army's Northern Command, Shivgaje added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Northwich-based Roberts Bakery was awarded the Good Employer accolade at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) awards last week.

The Good Employer award, sponsored by apetito, recognises companies that make an effort to create a positive working environment for employees.

FDFs director general Ian Wright said: Roberts Bakerys employee-engagement model is a great example of a business going the extra mile to ensure its employees work-life experience is as fulfilling as possible.

We congratulate the management team at Roberts Bakery for the creativity that they have applied and commitment that they have shown to their colleagues health, happiness and wellbeing.

The ceremony celebrated businesses and industry professionals from across the food and drink supply chain. Roberts Bakery bakes 3.5m products a week, employs 900 staff and distributes to supermarkets and independent retailers across Wales, as well as in the north west and central areas of the UK.

Earlier this month, Roberts Bakery embarked on a second major investment programme within a year at its Ilkeston site.
All Pakistani actors including Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan left India, for personal reasons, even before Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) threatened to push them out in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

Days after 18 soldiers were martyred in the terror strike at Uri, the MNS had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artistes to leave India by September 25 or else they would be "pushed out".

Sources, however, say that artists including Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar, Mahira Khan and Imran Abbas have already flown out.

"He (Fawad) is not in India. He is not here since July. He had finished his work for the film and hence his presence was not required further, so he went back," sources said.

The 34-year-old actor is in Lahore as his wife is expecting their second child.

Fawad will be seen in a cameo in filmamker Karan Johar's directorial venture "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil".

The film's promotions will kickstart in October as the film is schedule to release on October 28 ahead of Diwali.

According to sources, "As Fawad is having a cameo appearance in the film, he won't be promoting the film."



There are talks of Fawad doing a film with superstar Salman Khan's Production house, but there is no official statement on this yet. Also, it is not clear when the film will go on floors.

Another Pakistani actor who is famous here is Ali Zafar. He is known for films like "Tere Bin Laden" and "Mere Brother Ki Dhulan".

His next release is Gauri Shinde's "Dear Zindagi" which also stars Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Angad Bedi. The film is schedule to release in November this year.

"Ali is not here. He is in Pakistan. He comes here for work purpose. He is busy in Pakistan with his music related work and not likely to be in India next month," sources said.

According to sources, there is no schedule made for the



promotion of "Dear Zindagi" yet.

"Ali is not aware and informed about the promotions for the film," the sources added.

The leading lady of superstar Shah Rukh-starrer "Raaes" Mahira Khan is also not in India and so is actor Imran Abbas, who has acted in two Bollywood films, "Creature 3D" and "Jaanisaar".

"Raaes" is releasing on January 26 next year and the promotions will begin by the end of this year. It is not yet known if Mahira will fly down to promote her Bollywood debut film.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)'s Cine Workers Association Ameya Khopkar had warned that the release of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and "Raees" won't be allowed in Maharashtra as the films feature Pakistani actors Fawad and Mahira respectively.
Pakistan today approached the World Bank amid reports that India could revoke the 56-year- old Indus Water Treaty, with senior Pakistani officials taking up the matter with the international lender which had mediated the water-sharing deal.

A delegation of the Government of Pakistan led by the Attorney General for Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, met with senior officials of the World Bank at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC, to discuss matters relating to Pakistan's recent Request for Arbitration given to India pursuant to Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, Geo reported.

The report also said Pakistan approached the International Court of Justice, but did not provide any details.

On 19 August, Pakistan had formally requested India for settlement of outstanding disputes pertaining to India's construction of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants on rivers Neelum and Chenab respectively, by referring the matters to the Court of Arbitration as provided in Article IX of the Treaty.

Under the treaty, the World Bank has an important role in establishment of the Court of Arbitration by facilitating the process of appointment of three judges, called Umpires, to the Court, while each country appoints two arbitrators.

The Pakistani officials met with senior officials of the World Bank to insist on early appointment of the judges and empanelment the court, it said.

The Pakistani delegation consisted of Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali; Secretary, Ministry of Water & Power, Muhammad Younus Dagha; Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters, Mirza Asif Baig and others, it said.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani and World Bank's Executive Director for Pakistan Nasir Khosa were also present.

In the meeting with the Pakistani delegation, the World Bank committed itself to timely fulfilling its obligations under the treaty while remaining neutral, the report said.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

The treaty provides specific design criteria for any hydro-electric power plants to be built by India. Pakistan has held the position the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants violate the design parameters of the treaty.

Earlier, Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and Security, Sartaj Aziz said an attempt by India to block Pakistan's water could be seen as "an act of war."



Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with officials to review provisions of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

In that meeting it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water-sharing deal to mount pressure on the country.

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The Pakistan Army today said it had arrested a gang of seven militants, including women, involved in carrying out terror attacks on a Christian colony and a court house here in which 13 people were killed.

Speaking at a security meeting here, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said four facilitators who helped the perpetrators to carry out the Christian Colony attack in which one person was killed.

The attack was plannedin Afghanistan and one co-accomplice of the attackers is hiding somewhere in Afghanistan, Bajwa said at the meeting headed by Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif.

He also said that three persons were arrested for their involvementin the suicide attack on a court house in Mardan in northwest Pakistan in which 12 people were killed.

Three suicide jackets were also recoveredfrom the arrested militant, Bajwa said, adding that they were planning to attack Mardan Police Lines and NationalBank.

Noting that all the arrested were involved in facilitating the attackers to reachtheir target points from Torkham, Bajwa said that women were also nabbed for their involvement in terror incidents and would be prosecuted according to law.

He said 1,470 intelligence-based operations had been conducted in Peshawarand FATA which has significantly improved overall security situation in the restive region.

The kinetic element of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, including Khyber III, has been successfully concluded and mountainous range ofRajgal has been cleared in Khyber Agency, he claimed.

Bajwa said the security situation would improve if Afghanistan plays its due role.

One person was killed when four gunmen stormed a Christian colony near Peshawar and 12 people died when a suicide bomber struck a court in the town of Mardan on September 2.

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Pakistan today condemned the "illegal detention" of Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez by India and sought his immediate release.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the continued illegal detention of well-known Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez who was arrested on September 16," the Foreign Office said in a statement here.

It said that human rights organizations like Amnesty International have urged India for his immediate and unconditional release.

"We urge India to release him immediately and unconditionally," the statement said.

Parvez is the Chairperson of Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and Programme Coordinator of Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS).

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In a historic move, Pakistan's parliament has passed the much-delayed bill to enable the country's minority Hindu community to register their marriages.

The first ever national law was passed yesterday after the draft was presented in the lower house or National Assembly by minister for human rights Kamran Micheal.

The Nation newspaper reported that the law bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women.

Breaking the law regarding the minimum age would result in six months' jail and a Rs 5,000 fine.

UNICEF estimates 21 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were first married before age 18, with three per cent married before age 16.

Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women.

"Once marriages are registered, at least they have certain rights that are ensured," she said.

Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare benefits.

The new law legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband's death.

It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18.

Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions.

"When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated. Currently members of the Hindu community say that no one listens to them, not even the courts," said Yusuf.

The National Assembly passed the bill after 10 months of deliberations. Now it needs to be passed by the Senate where it is expected to be cleared without any significant delay.

Hindus make up approximately 1.6 per cent of Pakistan's Muslim-majority 190 million population, but they have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence in 1947.

Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages.

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The bill makes it compulsory for Hindu marriages to be



registered within 15 days. It also deals with the issue of abduction and conversion of Hindu women.

The draft law was originally moved by two minority lawmakers - Ramesh Lal of the Pakistan Peoples Partyand Asiya Nasir of theJamiat Ulema Islam-F.

The bill had beennecessitateddue to theabsence of a legal mechanism for registration and other aspects of marriage that had created problems for the Hindu community, especially women and members of themarginalisedlower castes in getting travel and identity documents.

The Sindh assembly has already moved its ownHindu marriage registration law.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher today said that while he believes art has no boundaries, it is the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working in India to publicly condemn the Uri attack.

Raj Thackeray-led MNS recently asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India following the attack, which left 18 soldiers dead. MNS has now threatened to stall the shooting of movies with Pakistani artistes.

When asked about whether it was right to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian films, Kher said, "I believe art and culture should not have boundaries but it is important and the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working here to condemn the terrorist attack, which killed our soldiers."



The actor said even he had condemned the Peshawar school attack and does not see any harm in Pakistani artistes doing the same now.

"I am not saying condemn your country because that's very difficult for you as you are living there and politically it may not be the correct move. We welcome them, give them platform and places, they become popular and earn money, and they deserve that. But it is important to be sensitive to the sensitivity of Indian people.

"It is important to say, 'I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers'. It is important to speak about such things. So, I am against that they do not do that. They need to do that because we do that. We have always shown our goodness, friendship..."



The 61-year-old actor was in the city to attend the launch of a new line-up of shows on Zindagi channel, which originally aired a host of Pakistani shows. Kher has produced one of the upcoming shows on the channel.

Kher said he has met some "really nice" Pakistanis but he is biased when it comes to India.

"There are some really nice people in Pakistan, they are great hosts. I once went to Karachi and the experience was beautiful. But when it comes to my country and jawans, I cannot be diplomatic.

"I am biased towards my country because whatever I am today is because I am an Indian. What will I tell the mother of that jawan? That let's give art and culture more importance? That's not possible."



For Zindagi, Kher has produced "Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par", which is about the journey of an aspiring actor to stardom.

Also present at the launch was Zee chairman Subhash



Chandra, who called the decision to discontinue Pakistani shows on Zindagi unfortunate but unavoidable.

"This was an unfortunate decision that we had to take. Love cannot be one-sided. When we started Zindagi I promised Nawaz Sharif that I will show your programmes here. We showed those shows, Pakistani actors became a part of our living rooms," Chandra said.

Zindagi showcased popular Pakistani dramas like "Humsafar", "Zindagi Gulzar Hai", "Maat" and "Dastaan", which helped Fawad, Mahira and other actors from the neighbouring country to gain popularity in India.

Chandra said he requested these stars to condemn the Uri attack but they did not oblige.

"Around nine actors (from Pakistan) are working in Bollywood. Six out of these are stars courtesy Zindagi. Fawad, Mahira, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Veena Malik, Imraan Abbas, Misha Shafi, Shafqat Amanat Ali. We called all of them and requested them to condemn terrorist attack.

"Nobody did that. We said don't even take Pakistan's name but they are not ready to do that. So, what will we do?" he said.
The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday again witnessed pandemonium by the opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members who have been demanding clarification from the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the sensitive Mahanadi water dispute with neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

The House was adjourned till afternoon as the opposition Congress and BJP members shouted slogans inside well of the House. The pandemonium started as soon as the House assembled for the day.

Though Congress members had started the agitation in the well on Monday, the BJP members on Tuesday joined them in seeking clarification from the chief minister.

Congress whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati tried to climb the Speaker's podium and displaced papers kept on the speaker's desk. "The ruling party had stalled the House for two consecutive days without any issue. We are simply demanding clarification from the chief minister on what action the state government has taken to stop construction on upstream of by the Chhattisgarh government," Bahinipati said.

Though the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in his reply on Saturday said that the state government was taking both administrative and legal action, the opposition members were not satisfied. They want specific reply from the Chief Minister, Bahinpati told reporters outside the House.

When all the members cutting across partylines agreed to cooperate with the state government and proposed to meet Prime Minister and the President, the chief minister did not take the House into confidence, he alleged.

"I, Leader of Opposition and other legislators assured the government of full cooperation to protect Odisha's interest on Mahanadi. But, government is yet to clear its stand. Instead, the chief minister has been criticising us saying that Opposition is shedding crocodile tears. This is unfortunate. We demand clarification from the chief minister," Bahinipati added.

Biju Janata Dal members on the other hand criticised the BJP and Congress for allegedly taking step-motherly attitude toward Odisha.

BJD member and party spokesman Divya Shankar Mishra, however, claimed that the Chief Minister has already indicated the next course of action over the river issue after the discussion.

Chief minister had approached his Chhattisgarh counterpart and the Centre in the tripartite meet in Delhi to halt the project, but the BJP-led government both at the Centre and the neighbouring State turned deaf, Mishra pointed out.
Jawans and officers of central paramilitary forces like BSF, CRPF and ITBP will soon be accorded the status of "battle casualty" on the lines of armed forces that will allow their families to avail special concessionary benefits for education and livelihood.

Officials said the Union Home Ministry has "in principle agreed" to grant sanction after the country's largest border guarding force BSF made a proposal in this regard sometime back, which was taken up during a review meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh today.

They said the battle casualty status will allow the family members of the personnel killed in the line of duty to avail special benefits like obtaining educational benefits/loans for children of the slain soldier, getting jobs in state government and private sector and while applying for license for running public service utilities like a fuel pump or a gas agency.

"The final modalities are being worked out and an order will be soon issued by the Home Ministry. This will be applicable for the jawans and officers of forces like BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB and NDRF," a senior official said.

The facilities that can be provided under the battle casualty status by the Centre and various state governments are being worked out, they said.

Also, they said, the Ministry will consider enhancing the risk and hardship allowance given to the about eight lakh men and women of these forces tasked to render a variety of internal security tasks within the country and at the international borders.

During the meeting, the BSF also put forth its request to the Ministry to make its air wing a "self regulatory establishment" on the lines of the Coast Guard, the maritime security force under the Ministry of Defence.

"The proposal essentially flags that the BSF air wing used for transport of Central Armed Police Forces and VVIPs should be given more assets and authority to operate in a more organised fashion. It is desired that the BSF air wing gets more independence in undertaking operational sorties. Comments have been sought in this regard from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Defence and also Coast Guard," they said.

The BSF, during the meeting, also informed the Home Minister that the special tech-based border security and fencing gadgets project will soon be implemented on a pilot basis along both the western (Pakistan) and eastern (Bangladesh) frontiers.

BSF Director General K K Sharma also mentioned the issue of upgradation of their border outposts and troop locations along the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh frontiers during the meeting, they said.

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The parents of an 11-year-old boy who fatally shot an 8-year-old girl after she refused to show him her puppies are being sued for USD 10 million.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed yesterday in Jefferson County, Tennessee, on behalf of the girl's mother, Latasha Dyer, argues that Jason and Mary Ann Tiller had a duty to keep their son from harming others with a firearm.

Makayla Dyer was playing outside her home in White Pine, about 40 miles east of Knoxville, in October when the boy asked her to get the puppies, and shot her after she refused.

The boy was found guilty of first-degree murder in February and sentenced to remain in state custody until he turns 19.

The lawsuit was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

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High alert was sounded in Pathankot today following inputs about suspicious movement of armed men in army uniform with Punjab Police launching a massive search operation near army base area located along side Pathankot-Dalhousie road.

Following the input, the search operation was launched at a massive scale in around 4-5 km area near army cantonment along side Dalhousie road, police said.

Searches were also conducted near Chakki river, police said. Himachal Pradesh police was also alerted about the suspicious movement which also conducted search in their area, police said.

However, the search operation which went on for five hours, was suspended during night with police saying it will resume tomorrow.

Around 400 security personnel including SWAT team and three SP-rank officers were deployed for conducting the search operation by the Punjab police in the district where terrorist from across the border had struck the IAF airbase in January.

"There was a specific input about the presence of some suspicious men carrying arms in army uniform near Pathankot- Dalhousie road," Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal said.

"Area had been cordoned off on Pathankot-Dalhousie road to locate suspects," he said.

Army has also been alerted and there is a heightened vigil, police said.

Punjab Police and BSF had jointly carried out search operation and flag march in villages near Indo-Pak border on September 25 to thwart any attempt by intruders coming from across the border.

An alert was also sounded in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in the wake of terror strike on an army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Notably, terrorists 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.

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Russia could be more willing to deploy nuclear weapons today than the Soviet Union ever was during the Cold War, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has warned.

Speaking at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota near the Canadian border yesterday, he accused Moscow of "nuclear saber-rattling," expressing concerns over Russia's push to overhaul its atomic weapons systems.

It "raises serious questions about its leaders' commitment to strategic stability, their regard for long-established accords against using nuclear weapons, and whether they respect the profound caution that Cold War-era leaders showed with respect to brandishing nuclear weapons," Carter told troops.

He was referring to Russian nuclear exercises and President Vladimir Putin's more strident nuclear rhetoric in recent months.

The Pentagon chief also described North Korea as an emerging nuclear threat.

But he praised China, whose military activities he has frequently criticised, for its nuclear conduct.

China "conducts itself professionally in the nuclear arena despite growing its arsenal in both quality and quantity."



Carter is travelling across the United States this week, highlighting America's nuclear capabilities as well as some of its ailing infrastructure, such as missile silos built in the 1950s.

The Pentagon is pushing ahead with plans to replace or modernise all three legs of its nuclear "triad" -- intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarines and bombers -- at a cost experts estimate will hit USD 1 trillion over the next 30 years.

The future of America's nuclear force is in the spotlight now more than it has been for years, thanks to Russian aggression along the border with Ukraine, North Korea's push to build a nuclear missile, and remarks by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggesting overhauls to longstanding US nuclear policy.

America's massive nuclear reinvestment comes despite President Barack Obama's memorable speech in Prague in 2009, when he called for the elimination of nuclear weapons, a call that helped him win the Nobel Peace Prize.

But he also said the United States would maintain a "safe, secure and effective" nuclear arsenal as long as the weapons exist.

"We're now beginning the process of correcting decades of under-investment in nuclear deterrence," Carter said, speaking in an aircraft hangar in front of a B-52 superbomber with six cruise missiles strapped beneath each of its vast wings.

Minot Air Force Base is one of three facilities across windswept rural America that oversee the US fleet of more than 400 Minuteman III ICBMs.

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The Public Enterprises Selection Board has recommended Narendra Kumar Nada's name for the post of chairman and MD for NMDC.

According to a notification issued by on Monday, it has selected Nanda, currently NMDC Director (technical), for the top post after interviewing four others, including Gopal Singh, CMD of Central Coalfields.

" will send its recommendation to the Department of Public Enterprises, which in turn will send it to the ministry of steel for consideration. The steel ministry after getting necessary clearances from CVC and other agencies will send it to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for approval," a source familiar with the process told PTI.

"The whole process will take a few weeks."

Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor to the steel ministry Bharathi S Sihag has been holding the additional charge as CMD of the iron ore company from January 1 after the previous CMD Narendra Kothari retired on December 31, 2015.

had earlier recommended the name of Gopal Singh for NMDC's top post.

However, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had rejected the PESB recommendation and asked it to start afresh the selection process for the post.
A professor at Italy's venerable University of Bologna has sparked a storm by inviting students to cheat by copying - saying they will just be following the example of some of their teachers accused of plagiarism.

Luccio Piccio, a professor of economics and politics at the university - the western world's oldest - said he could no longer tolerate the impunity with which some of his fellow academics are treated.

"I want to announce that I will not check whether you have copied, because in all conscience I can't ask you to respect rules which (Bologna) allows its teaching staff to violate," he wrote in an online message.

"In effect, a system is in place which guarantees teachers' impunity in case of plagiarism," he added on website of the Alma Mater Studiorum university, founded in 1088.

In his message, Piccio refers to several proven cases of plagiarism implicating some of his colleagues who have gone unpunished due to what he says is an omerta, or vow of silence, at the university.

He drew a parallel between such cases and that of a female student recently suspended for three months after having been found with a smartphone and earphones during an exam.

One case he cited dates from January 2015, when an official from a major scientific institution "wrote to the head of our department pointing out that a professor had copied other authors," Piccio wrote.

The university in that case proclaimed that it "allowed no form of plagiarism or intellectual dishonesty," wrote Piccio, who said that despite the vow the academic involved was recently appointed to head a "well-known Bologna research institue.

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The Moon was formed when a planet-sized object struck the infant Earth some 4.5 billion years ago, a new study has found, confirming the most prevalent hypothesis on the formation of the lunar body.

A layer of iron and other elements deep underground is the evidence scientists have long been seeking to support this hypothesis, researchers said.

The study used laboratory simulations of an Earth impact as evidence that a stratified layer beneath the rocky mantle - which appears in seismic data - was created when our planet was struck by a smaller object.

Scientists argue this was the same impact that sent a great mass of debris hurtling into space, creating the Moon.

"Our experiments bring additional evidence in favour of the giant impact hypothesis," said lead author Maylis Landeau, who was a post-doctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University at the time of the research.

"They demonstrate that the giant impact scenario also explains the stratification inferred by seismology at the top of the present-day Earth's core. This result ties the present-day structure of Earth's core to its formation," said Landeau, now at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

Peter Olson, research professor at Johns Hopkins said the giant impact argument for the formation of the Moon is the most prevalent scientific hypothesis on how Earth satellite was formed, but it is still considered unproven because there's been no "smoking gun" evidence.

"We're saying this stratified layer might be the smoking gun. Its properties are consistent with it being a vestige of that impact," said Olson.

Their argument is based on seismic evidence of the composition of the stratified layer - believed to be some 321 kilometres thick and lying 2,900 kilometres below Earth's surface - and on laboratory experiments simulating the turbulence of the impact.

The turbulence is believed to account for the stratification - meaning a mix of materials in layers rather than a homogeneous composition - at the top of the core.

The stratified layer is believed to consist of a mix of iron and lighter elements, including oxygen, sulphur and silicon.

The very existence of this layer is understood from seismic imaging, as it lies far too deep underground to be sampled directly, researchers said.

Till now, most simulations of the impact have been done numerically, and have not accounted for impact turbulence.

Turbulence is difficult to simulate mathematically and no computer model has yet done it successfully, Olson said.

The researchers in this experiment simulated the impact using liquids meant to approximate the turbulent mixing of materials that would have occurred when the planetary object struck the young Earth.

The study appears in the journal Nature Geoscience.

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After Indus Water Treaty, India will review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan at a meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

The decisions to review the MFN, which was granted by India unilaterally in 1996, comes in the wake of the Uri attack over which India is weighing options to respond.

The MFN status was accorded in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

According to Assocham, out of India's total merchandise trade of USD 641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre USD 2.67 billion.

India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 per cent, of the total inward shipments.

The Prime Minister yesterday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

Attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the Water Resources Secretary, and senior PMO officials, the meeting also noted that the meeting of Indus Water Commission can "only take place in an atmosphere free of terror".

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Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh has said government cannot have jurisdiction over the city police, which has to rest with the Centre to avoid conflict of interest.

He also made clear Congress' stand against the full statehood demand for Delhi, noting that nowhere in the world the national capital stays with another state.

"Washington is directly controlled by the Federal Government. It's a matter of internal security also," the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister told PTI in Hyderabad, citing an example.

"If there is a conflict of interest, between the Chief Minister of one party and government of another party (at the Centre), what will happen?" Singh asked.

"What does the statehood mean? It means the police is also with the state government. What happens if Chief Minister files a criminal case against Prime Minister?...It should be understood that the government has all the powers, except the powers of police. Everything else is there," Singh said.

"There has to be clearcut definition, defining of powers in the Constitution, which is there," he said.

On frequent "run-ins" between the Delhi government and Centre-appointed LG Najeeb Jung, Singh said: "If you compare the working of Sheila Dixit (former Chief Minister) and Arvind Kejriwal, both functioned with same powers. She delivered. People say that never so much work has been done, as was done during her tenure."

The AAP government in Delhi earlier this year released a draft bill on full statehood to Delhi, seeking to bring police, land, municipal corporations and bureaucracy under its control, and invited suggestions from the public.
A mosque and an international congress center were attacked in two explosions in the German city of Dresden, but nobody was injured, police said.

Dresden police said in a statement today, the explosions took place late yesterday, and there was no immediate report on the extent of damage.

Police President Horst Kretschmar said, "Even though we do not have a letter of confession, we must assume there's a xenophobic background."



Police said they found pieces of a home-made explosive device in front of the congress center. They also increased the security in front of mosques all over Dresden.

Dresden will hold Germany's national unification celebrations next week.

It is the state capital of Saxony which has seen a lot of racist attacks recently.

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Epileptic seizures can be suppressed by increasing the concentration of specific fats in the brain, a new study conducted on fruit flies suggests.

Patrik Verstreken, professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium focussed on synapses, the junctions between two nerve cells where electrical signals are transmitted.

In various brain disorders - such as Parkinson's disease - there is impaired communication at these synapses.

Wim Versees, professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium examined the processes which take place in our cells, right down to the level of individual molecules and atoms.

By figuring out the three-dimensional structures of protein molecules, he tried to obtain crucial information about their role in the cell and the mechanisms which underlie various disorders.

In earlier research involving fruit flies, Verstreken had demonstrated that a protein known as 'Skywalker' plays a crucial role in maintaining communication between brain cells.

An almost identical protein operates in the human brain under the name 'TBC1D24', researchers said.

"Genetic mutations of the protein TBC1D24 cause a deviation known as the DOOR syndrome," said Verstreken.

"Alongside deafness, deformed nails, brittle bones and mental retardation, this serious genetic disorder is characterised by neurodegeneration, movement disorders and epilepsy," he added.

The scientists were able to figure out the three-dimensional structure of Skywalker, making it possible to study the protein in microscopic detail.

"Looking at Skywalker in this way gave us completely new insights into the precise function of this protein, and therefore also the function of the human protein TBC1D24," said Versees.

"Among other things, we discovered that it connects with specific brain fats. And more importantly, this connection is impaired in over 70 per cent of patients with a TBC1D24 mutation," he said.

On the basis of this discovery, the scientists increased the concentration of specific brain fats in fruit flies with a Skywalker mutation.

The epileptic seizures in the sick fruit flies were completely suppressed.

"Our work shows that increasing specific brain fats at the synapses of patients with a TBC1D24 mutation is a possible strategy for preventing epileptic seizures," said Verstreken.

"And although our work focuses on people with TBC1D24 mutations, we think that our findings could be relevant to various forms of epilepsy," added Verstreken.

"Our two research groups will now continue to collaborate in order to seek out strategies for increasing the concentration of specific fats in the brain to prevent epileptic seizures," said Versees.

The research appears in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.

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President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today for a quiet sojourn during which he will pay obeisance at the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath and take part in a Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pairi in Haridwar.

The president began his visit to the hill state with the inauguration of the renovated 'Rasthrapati Ashiana', the President's retreat in the city, refurbished with laying of new lawns, planting of hedges and ornamental plants comprising flowering trees and herbs.

Accompanied by Governor K K Paul and a host of senior officials, Mukherjee planted a Rudrakasha sapling in the Ashiana premises and then was shown around its renovated building built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the President's Bodyguard and being revived at Mukherjee's initiative after long years of disuse.

K R Narayanan was the last president who stayed here in March 1998.

The commandant's bungalow was built in 1920 and then renovated and redesignated as Rashtrapati Ashiana in 1975-76 to provide a suitable summer retreat to the then President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed as an alternative to Shimla.

Mukherjee who will stay at 'Rashtrapati Ashiana' for the entire duration of his visit will attend a dinner hosted by Governor K K Paul this evening where distinguished residents of the city have been invited.

He willgo to Kedarnath tomorrow morning at around 8.25 AM and will return to Dehradun in the afternoon.

The President will visit Haridwar on September 29 to witness its famous Ganga Arti before leaving for Delhi the same evening.

It will be Mukherjee's first visit to Kedarnath after assuming office as the President and after the 2013 deluge which killed thousands of people besides inflicting largescale damage on areas adjoining the centuries old shrine tucked in the Himalayas.

Earlier in June this year, Mukherjee had to return without paying obeisance at the shrine when his helicopter could not land there due to the bad weather.

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Britain's Prince Charles feared being shot dead during his ex-wife Diana's funeral in 1997 because he had become 'public enemy number one' after her death, a royal biographer has claimed.

Ingrid Seward, a veteran royal correspondent, said that the 67-year-old heir to Britain's throne was "fatalistic" about the possibility that a gunman would take a shot as he followed Princess Diana's coffin to Westminster Abbey after she was killed in a car crash in Paris, 'The Times' reports.

"Prince Charles was extremely nervous because he was public enemy number one," Seward told the audience yesterday during the Henley Literary Festival at Henley-on-Thames.

"He thought, 'If someone takes a gun out and shoots me, that's it'. The streets of London were very quiet. You could hear a pin drop. You could hear everything the crowd was saying. They were saying, 'Look at him, look at him'. They were being quite nasty. The whole way round he could hear this abuse and he didn't think he would make it the whole way round," she said, without disclosing her sources.

Dickie Arbiter, press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II at the time, spoke alongside Seward and said the prince knew many people blamed him for the collapse of his marriage, but the real reasons were complex.

"No marriage is made in heaven. When lust and passion has worn off you've got to work at it," he said.

Seward added that public scrutiny of royal behaviour was worse because of Twitter and camera phones today.

She suggested the relationship between Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas, which ended in 2014, was strained because of the exposure.

"I think it's actually evil in a way. Cressie, the most gorgeous girl, said it was awful because every time she walked down the street she could hear people criticising her," she said.

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Investigations are underway on the bomb threat received during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here on September 24 and cases have registered under various sections of IPC and Armed Police Act, police said today.

An anonymous caller, who spoke in Hindi,had told the Nadakavu police that a bomb would be thrown during Modi's visit who was to participate in the BJP national Council meet here on September 24, they said.

It was an internet call originating from the Gulf, police added.

"A case has been registered under section 507 of IPC (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and section 118 of Kerala Armed Police Act (causing of grave violation of publicorder or danger) and investigation is progressing," Nadakavu Circle Inspector Prakasam said.

"No further informations could be disclosed at present," he said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Branch), V T Balan said, "It was an internet call from a phone number which was traced to a Gulf country. Further investigations revealed that it was a bogus number."



"As investigation is going on we cannot divulge any further details," he said.

The prime minister had attended the conference on September 24 and 25.

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The Punjab Government has decided to impart professional and practical training to the farmers in the dairy farming sector.

The training sessions would focus on high quality cattle breeding, milk products and proper attention to the health care of milching animals.

Announcing this, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister of Punjab, Gulzar Singh Ranike said the aim was "to make the farmers learn and adapt innovative techniques in the dairy farming sector".

"The experts from the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana, Dairy Research Institution in Karnal and dairy development department would impart the latest trends and techniques to dairy farmers," he said.

"This novel initiative of practical training is especially essential for the people engaged in the dairy farming sector to have hands-on approach in order to make dairy farming a profitable venture," he added.

The first batch of the six-month training will start in training centres at Beeja (Ludhiana), Chatamali (Ropar), Gill (Moga), Abul Khurana(Sri Mukarsar Sahib), Sardulgarh (Mansa), Phagwara(Kapurthala)and Verka(Sri Amritsar Sahib).

The training sessions will be held in the state starting November 7.

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Amid growing tension between India and Pakistan following Uri terror attack, Punjab has invited Pakistan along with other countries to participate in the 6th World Kabaddi Cup starting from November.

However, Punjab Kabaddi Association which is organizing the event is not hopeful of granting visas to Pakistan players by the Centre in the wake of recent terror attack.

"We have invited Pakistan to participate in 6th World Kabaddi Cup. But the invitation was given to the neighbouring country two and half months back," Punjab Kabaddi Association, President Sikandar Singh Maluka said today.

"Given the current situation prevailing in the country post Uri terror attack, I do not think the players of Pakistan will be granted visas by the government of India," said Maluka who is also a minister in SAD-BJP led government in the state.

"We will soon approach the Centre to know whether Pakistan players will be granted visas or not," said Maluka.

If Pakistan players were denied visas this time, then it will be for the first time that they will not play World Kabaddi Cup in Punjab.

Tension has grown between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror attack which left 18 army men dead.

Punjab is going to hold 6th World Kabaddi Cup for men and women to be held from November 3 to 17 in the state.

Teams from several countries including Canada, USA, Australia, Tanzania, England, Iran, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, Spain, Argentina are expected to participate in the 6th World Kabaddi Cup.

In 2015, World Kabaddi Cup was cancelled in Punjab because of several sacrilege incidents that caused tension in the state.

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Had Rajiv Gandhi not been assassinated in 1991, he would have pursued more or less the same set of economic reforms as was carried out by late Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao, as there was an urge for change, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today.

"I am absolutely convinced that if Mr Rajiv Gandhi has not been assassinated, Mr Gandhi would have done more or less same thing with more or less with same team...There was clear urge for change," he said.

He was speaking at a book launch of Sanjaya Baru's '1991 How P V Narsimha Rao Made History'.

Chidambaram, who was Commerce Minister at that time, said although Narsimha Rao is regarded as the hero of the 1991 reform, he failed the Congress party.

"Hero of 1991 economic reform was Narsimha Rao, but in 1992, he failed the Congress Party. If you will write a book about Narsimha Rao performance in 1992, that book will be very very different book...That's is tragedy of Narsimha Rao," Chidambaram said.

Narsimha Rao has made some "terrible mistakes", he said, indirectly hinting at the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 which the then government failed to prevent.

In 1991, with Manmohan Singh as the Finance Minister, India opened its economy, unleashing a host of reforms.

He said despite economic liberalisation and reforms



'India@70' is deeply suspicious of wealth and wealth creators.

"I don't defend the growing inequality, but I salute those who create wealth. The ones who create jobs, service. They are innovators. We should celebrate those who create wealth of the country," he said.

Chidambaram said 'India@70' needs its institutions to be strengthened, repaired and given new energy.

"We have replaced the Planning Commission (with Niti Aayog), but what do we have in its place? A more anemic institute. We have abolished the Economic Advisors to the Prime Minister. What do we in place? Nothing (but) vacuum," Chidambaram said.
Popular Marathi actress Nivedita Saraf has complained that her bag was gnawed by rats while she was travelling by a train, prompting the railway administration to intensify the pest control measures.

Nivedita narrated her unpleasant experience on a social networking site and sought the railways to check the rat menace in trains.

The actress had kept her bag beside her head while she was sleeping and later she found rodents had nibbled it.

"22 Sept Latur Express A1 27 rat did this to my bag while I was sleeping. Bag was near my head. Horrible #indianrailway #sureshprabhu," the actress, wife of noted actor Ashok Saraf, posted on twitter along with a picture of her rat-ravaged bag.

Saraf, who was travelling in a first class, said she heard the rats squeaking and when she got up, she found that much of her bag had been nibbled.

Reacting to the actress's experience, Central Railway Chief PRO Narendra Patil said, "The passenger has tweeted about her grievance mentioning Railway Ministry and her tweet has been considered as her proper complaint."



"The pest control staff keep doing their job from time to time, but sometimes leftover edibles in the trains invite rats," Patil said.

Another senior CR official said, "Railway has taken this complaint seriously like other cases and we shall ask the pest control staff to do their job more frequently.

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Reliance Defence and Engineering is also looking to export defence equipment to other countries besides exploring opportunities in India.

"While we are pursuing several opportunities in India on the naval side, we are also pursuing foreign military sales which is effectively selling defence naval equipment to other governments, other countries outside India," Ambani told shareholders at the AGM of RInfra here today.

"Our teams are engaged in multiple opportunities which we hope will materialise in the next few years," he added.

Reliance Defence, wholly owned susbsidiary of RInfra, is looking at an integrated play in defence sector across all the verticals of army, navy and air-force, Ambani said, adding "the sector is new and it is taking baby steps in moving forward".

In January, RInfra took over the complete control of the management and control of Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering Co (PDOC) now called as Reliance Defence and Engineering.

"The Pipavav Shipyard will be the center of excellence for everything to do with the naval operations. There are only two companies accepted by the government to build submarines, warships, to refit existing warships and existing submarines and we are one of them," he said.

Ambani also said experts from Germany, Russia, France came and surveyed the Pipavav Shipyard and have certified it as a world class facility.

All of them have expressed their desire and actually signed MoUs with RInfra to come and work with it in India and transfer technology, train the employees and also provide capital, the chairman added.

"So the capital is the constraint in the defence sector. It is not as capital intensive as most people think as capital is provided by the customer and in this case it is ministry of defence. It is a medium to light capital intensive business," he said.

The chairman also said the company is in the process of signing a contract with the Indian Coast Guard for the first defence order for 14 fast patrol vessels, estimated at a cost of about Rs 1,000 crore.

"The navy has recently sent 3 of their ships to refit to Pipavav and there are bids there, and shortly, tenders to be opened for projects on the naval side worth of over Rs 10,000 crore. So, we are deeply engaged and involved and committed to the defence sector," Ambani said.

Ambani further said the company is also pursuing the



submarines programme of the government in which the Defence Ministry is expected to place an order for 6 submarines with a value of over Rs 60,000 crore.

"There are 5 public sector shipyards owned by the ministry carrying out projects worth Rs 200,000 crore but which are, on an average, running 10 years late on all programmes. So, now there is opportunity for the private sector to come in and work with the public sector and government," he said.

"We have similar initiatives on the Army side and also on the aerospace side. We have partnered with two Israel firms Rafael, for making missiles in India for the armed forces and Elbit, which focuses on home land security and border management," Ambani said.

"we have recently bid for border security force for creating border fencing," added the chairman.

He further said the company will continue to look at monetising its non-core assets and has applied to the SEBI for an investment trust for its road projects.

RInfra currently has 11 operational road projects.

Early this year, the company sold its cement business to Birla for Rs 4,800 crore. It is also looking at monetising its Mumbai distribution business.

"Our focus is to be debt free at the standalone level," he added.

On the metro business, he said the company is looking at projects similar projects in Mumbai, Cochin, Lucknow and Nagpur, among others.
Pakistan today warned India that unilateral revocation of the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty would be treated as an "act of war" saying it could also approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if the water-sharing pact is suspended.

"It is the most successful water treaty ever conducted between two countries. Its revocation can be treated as an act of war or a hostile action against Pakistan," the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said here.

Pakistan will also approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the treaty, he said.

He said Pakistan is considering drawing attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy warning that any interruption in the water flow would serve as an example to usurp the right of lower riparian states.

He said that if India violates the treaty, Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said the treaty was not suspended even during the Kargil and Siachen wars, adding even India could suffer if the flow of its rivers was disturbed by China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday chaired a review meeting of the Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water-sharing deal to mount pressure on the country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.

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With India all set to review the MFN status given to Pakistan, India Inc today said the move to withdraw the status will not make much difference as the trade between the two countries is "almost negligible".

Pointing out that bilateral trade between the neighbours is "quite low", industry bodies said India's move to grant the status to Pakistan had not made much of a difference as it was not reciprocated.

"It is up to the government to take a decision. We will stand by the government's decision. Anyway the trade between the two countries is quite low. Moreover, Pakistan has never given us this status," Ficci Secretary General A Didar Singh told PTI.

India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 per cent, of the total inward shipments.

"The trade between India and Pakistan is almost negligible. The review will not cut much ice as far as trade is concerned but will definitely be a setback to normalisation of trade between the neighbours in the future," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said.

After the Indus Water Treaty, India will review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan at a meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

The decision to review the MFN, which was granted by India unilaterally in 1996, comes in the wake of the Uri attack over which India is weighing options to respond.

The MFN status was accorded in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

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At least 18 people, including four women, were killed and 20 others injured today when an overcrowded bus veered off a mountain road in Nepal's Dhading district.

The accident took place at Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers west of capital Kathmandu, when the ill-fated passenger bus was on its way to Marpak from the district headquarters, Dhadingbeshi, police said.

A total of 18 bodies - including 4 women - have been retrieved from the accident site, a senior police official said.

The bus fell some 300 metres down the road, 'The Himalyan Times' reported.

Six of the injured are said to be critical and they have been airlifted to the capital for treatment, he said.

Though the exact reason for the accident has not been ascertained, police have suspected that it could be the result of overloading and a steep road.

The other injured passengers have been rushed to nearby hospitals, police said.

Road accidents are very common in Nepal and occur mainly due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles.

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Office of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana in Navi Mumbai was allegedly stoned today apparently over a cartoon published in the daily alluding to the "silent march" being taken out by Maratha community.

A pro-Maratha social organisation, 'Sambhaji Brigade', later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Three youths arrived in a vehicle at the Saamana printing press building located at Sanpada in Navi Mumbai at around 1.45 PM. They called the guard of the press and requested him to take a letter, police said.

As the guard was approaching their vehicle, the youths got down from the vehicle, rushed towards the press building and allegedly pelted it with stones and fled, they said.

Two-three glasses on the building's outer wall were damaged in the attack, they added.

After getting information of the attack, police reached the spot and a complaint was lodged by the office-bearers at Sanpada police station.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale confirmed the incident.

Police said an offence has been registered against the culprits and appropriate action will be taken.

The Sambhaji Brigade took responsibility of the attack and condemned the cartoon published in the mouthpiece.

"We are condemning a cartoon which was published in Saamana. Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Saamana's executive editor Sanjay Raut must apologise to the women of Maharashtra," the brigade's spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse told PTI.

"The attack was spontaneous and an expression of emotions of the Maratha community," he said.

On Sunday, a cartoon on "silent march" was published in Saamana, which drew criticism from various political quarters.

The Marathas have been organising silent marches across the state following the Kopardi rape and murder incident, in which the victim was a member from the community.

Some more such rallies are also planned in the state in the coming days.

(Reopens BOM 13)



Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil today said the attack on Saamana office was a symbol of Maratha anger against the "derogatory" cartoon. He also urged the state government to take action against the newspaper.

"The cartoon not only insulted the Maratha morcha, but also women from all sections of the society. The cartoon exposed the anti-Maratha mindset of Sena, which is known for its anti-Dalit and anti-Muslim stand," he said.

"The cartoon insulted martyred soldiers and police," Patil said, adding Sena's sympathy for martyrs is fake.

The Congress leader demanded that Sena president Uddhav Thackeray should apologise to Marathas, women, police and families of the martyred soldiers.

He said the state government should stop giving advertisements in 'Saamana'.

"If it does not agree with the cartoon, the government should initiate action against the newspaper," Patil said.
Thousands of Saudis have signed a petition urging an end to the guardianship system giving men control over the work, study, marriage and travel of female relatives, activists said today.

The petition calls for the kingdom's women to be treated "as a full citizen, and decide an age where she will be an adult and will be responsible for her own acts", said campaigner Aziza Al-Yousef of Riyadh.

The retired university professor told AFP that she tried unsuccessfully to deliver the petition with 14,700 names to the Royal Court yesterday.

The activists will now send it by mail as requested.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.

"We are suffering from this guardianship system," said Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in Eastern Province.

The campaign is an outgrowth of a Twitter hashtag in Arabic that started more than two months ago calling for an end to guardianship.

"This momentum got very high after the hashtag was created" and following a report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, Yousef said.

"Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system remains the most significant impediment to women's rights in the country despite limited reforms over the last decade," the watchdog said.

Activists said that if they have open-minded male family members, getting their consent is not a problem - although the men still have to formally sign consent papers.

"It's a government system" which only came into effect about 30 years ago, Sadah said.

Activists said that ending guardianship will make it easier for women to work at a time when the kingdom wants to boost female employment.

"We cannot do it with half of the society paralysed," Yousef said.

In April, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the wide-ranging Vision 2030 plan to diversify the oil-dependent economy.

Under the National Transformation Programme (NTP), which sets targets for implementing the Vision, the proportion of women in the workforce should rise from 23 to 28 percent by 2020.

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Reserving his reaction to the Supreme Court's fresh direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for three days, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said he would consult legal experts and maintained that drinking water is a priority.

"I'm yet to speak to legal experts, I don't know about the order. I will speak to our advocates and react later," he told reporters in Bidar in north Karnataka.

To a question on Tamil Nadu's arguments against utilising Cauvery river water for Bengaluru, he said, "Drinking water is a priority. It is a priority according to to our water policy also. If they (Tamil Nadu) say don't give water, it will not become a law or an order."



The Chief Minister has convened a meeting of floor leaders of both the Houses, MPs and legislators and district in charge ministers from the Cauvery basin tomorrow morning to take stock of the fresh development, official sources said.

According to official sources, the cabinet meeting which is scheduled for tomorrow, will discuss the Supreme Court directions and the future course of action.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit today directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu for three days, despite the resolution passed by the state legislature last week to use the water only for drinking purpose.

The state legislature had signalled its inability to implement the court's earlier direction to release 6,000 cusecs ofCauvery water to Tamil Nadu from September 21 till today.

A special session of the legislature had on Friday adopted a unanimous resolution to use the water only to meet drinking water needs and not to provide it for any other purpose.

Following the apex court's fresh directions, sporadic protests erupted in Mandya, Mysuru and nearby areas.

Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti (MZRHS), at the forefront of Cauvery agitation, said there was no change in its stand that water should not be released to Tamil Nadu.

Samiti president Made Gowda said, "Water should not be released at any cost ... They (Tamil Nadu) have enough water for their crops, they are doing vendetta politics."



Police, as a precautionary measure, have made elaborate security arrangements in Cauvery basin areas, especially Mandya and Bengaluru.

Bengaluru city has been placed under prohibitoryorders under Section 144 of CrPC.

Calling the Supreme Court's direction to Karnataka to release 18,000 cusecs of water for three days as "grossly unfair" and "unfortunate", state BJP president B S Yeddyurappasaid the party will stand by any decision taken by the Siddaramaiahgovernment in the interest of the farmers and the people.

Alleging that the Congress leaders continue to indulge in "cheap politicking" on the issue by dragging the Centre in it, he said they have "misinterpreted" and "twisted" one of the comments of the judges.

"The apex court asked the Attorney General whether itis possible for the intervention of the Union government in this issue. The AG sought time to reply to this question. Atno point in time, the apex court mentioned about the intervention of the Prime Minister," he added.

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) The Goa Childrens' Court, which last week acquitted two men in connection with the death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, raised serious doubts about the impartiality of the probe in the case, noting it appeared to be monitored by the victim's mother and her lawyer.

The verdict, pronounced on September 23 by judge Vandana Tendulkar, noted that "the entire process of investigation is seen monitored by the mother of victim (Fiona MacKeown) and her advocate, at every stage, thereby creating serious doubt about the impartiality of the investigation."



Scarlett was found dead on the famous Anjuna beach of Goa on February 18, 2008.

Initially, Goa Police and later the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probed the case, which attracted international attention, besides raising questions on the safety of women in this world renowned tourist destination.

Two men -- Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho -- were chargesheeted by CBI in the case. The duo were accused of leaving the girl to die on the beach after drugging and sexually abusing her.

The court, in its order, noted that advocate representing the mother of the victim, had expressed doubts about the first autopsy in the case which had declared that the death was due to drowning.

"The second autopsy had taken five hours which ought to have been completed within two hours. For the meeting in the office of SP North Goa (after the second autopsy), Vikram Varma (the lawyer) was present," the verdict said.

The court also said that the possibility of the cause of death of the victim being accidental drowning, could not be ruled out in this case.

Quoting a medical witness, the court said the cause of death to the best of knowledge is due to drowning in beach and sand waters of a person intoxicated with alcohol and hypnotic drugs.

The verdict, which came almost eight years after the death of the 15-year-old girl, also said that there was a considerable delay on the part of Goa Police to record the statements of all the witnesses.

"Michael Mannion, the so-called eye witness of the prosecution, could not be examined despite several opportunities given to the prosecution and after considerable time consumed by the prosecution, firstly, to secure his presence and then to get his testimony recorded by means of video-conferencing," it said.

"Besides Michael, one more British person by name Charlie, was said to be present. But he was also not examined before the court," it said.

The verdict also said that after recording of the



statements by Goa Police, CBI had recorded their statement once again in June 2008.

"In the circumstances, improvements in the versions of these witnesses are sufficient to create reasonable doubt about the case of prosecution, as claimed by Samson and the benefit of any such doubt would go to the accused persons," the court said.

The court also noted that the victim girl when she had entered the shack (on Anjuna beach) was "not normal" and she appeared as being under the influence of alcohol.

Citing a witness, it said that the victim was unable to talk properly and she was fumbling while talking when she sat in the kitchen (of the shack).

The judge also said that even assuming that Samson was last seen with the victim girl at around 4.30 AM, the body of the victim was found at around 6-6.30 PM after a gap of one-and-a-half hours.

"As such the accused cannot be directly linked with the death of the victim girl. There is no ocular evidence or any type of evidence to fill in the time gap of around one-and-a- half hours between the time when the victim was seen alive and the time when her dead body was found," the court said.

On Friday, the Goa court had acquitted Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the high-profile case leading to reactions of shock and disappointment from Scarlett's family and politicos in Goa.

Both the accused were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging.

Goa Police was accused of trying to hush up the case after which it was transferred to CBI.

The police had initially dismissed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide, after Fiona pressed for a second autopsy, which claimed that the girl was drugged and raped.

CBI had filed its charge sheet in the case in 2009.
Security has been stepped-up at the Vaishno Devi Shrine ahead of Navratra, which begins October 2, with deployments of extra police companies and CCTV surveillance across Katra town here, police said today.

"The four additional police companies are being deployed at the Vaishno Devi Shrine's Bhavan and at its base camp. They will also ensure security in Katra town ahead of Navratra," Senior-SP Reasi Sujit Kumar said.

Hotels and guest houses, especially those on the route of the Shobha Yatra, are being verified. Meetings are being held with transport operators and the hotel association for better coordination on the issue, he added.

Strict security is being ensured by police check posts and stations in Katra. The railway station and Banganga track are under CCTV surveillance, Kumar informed.

"Spotters have been also deployed at Katra and Mufti," the SSP said, adding police, army and para-military forces are conducting day and night patrolling.

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The BJP today demanded that the Telangana government constitute a disaster management committee for the city as well as the state to deal with disasters like heavy rains.

The state government should take preventive measures and make a comprehensive plan for the development of Hyderabad, Telangana BJP president and MLA K Laxman told reporters here.

He alleged that the state government has failed in taking up relief measures following the heavy rains that wrecked havoc in the state, including the city, during last few days.

He asked if it was not the fault of the state government to regularise unauthorised constructions in the 'Buffer Zone' under its building regularisation scheme.

He charged that the state government diverted the funds allocated to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) under the 13th Finance Commission.

The state government has also diverted the funds of GHMC for other allegedly unrelated purposes, he claimed.

Nothing that the BJP MLAs from the city have explained the situation following rains to Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Laxman said the Centre would help the state government if it submitted comprehensive reports.

Referring to the recently concluded BJP's National Council Meeting in Kerala, he said the national leaders have exhorted the parties Telangana unit to work with the aim of coming to power in the 2019 Assembly elections.

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on Tuesday said it has administered the severance contract with its former chief financial officer Rajiv Bansal "strictly in line with rights and obligations" of both parties, after reports suggested that the IT firm stopped the remaining installments of the dues.

In an emailed statement, said the severance agreement with Bansal includes rights and obligations of the parties that is usual for such type of agreement.

"The agreement is being administered strictly in line with such rights and obligations. The board reiterates that there are no extraneous considerations in the administration of the contract," the IT major said in an emailed statement.

It, however, did not share the specific details of the agreement.

Earlier, some reports had claimed that stopped the remaining installments of the severance payment of Rs 17.38 crore promised to Bansal after some of the company's founders expressed their unhappiness with the decision. Infosys is believed to have already paid two of the 10 installments.

Infosys, however, dismissed allegations that the board had interfered in the matter.

"The board dismisses any suggestion of interference from shareholders in the matter of administering this agreement," it said.

In October last year, Bansal had resigned from Infosys. He later joined transportation app Ola in January this year. Bansal took home a salary of over Rs 10 crore in FY2015-16.
A replica of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon is set to be built in the Chinese city of Fuzhou.

Stratford-upon-Avon, a market town in the UK on the River Avon, is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of Shakespeare and receives millions of visitors every year.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Holy Trinity Church and the 16th Century house where the Bard was born are among the buildings that may be recreated.

A delegation from Stratford is due to visit Fuzhou to discuss the plans.

Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most visited towns for Chinese tourists visiting the UK, the 'Mirror' reported.

"I think it would encourage more people to come and visit Stratford as I think those who saw the recreation in China would want to come over and see the real thing," said Juliet Short, Mayor of Stratford.

This is not the first time that China is replicating famous European cities.

In 2007, a town modelled on Paris was built, complete with its own replica of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and French-style residential apartments.

China also has towns modelled on London and Venice.

"If it's anything like the recreations they have done of places like Venice, I think it would be fantastic," Short said.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today met UK international development minister Priti Patel here for talks on Britain's collaboration with the state on many projects, including the development of three smart cities.

Chouhan is leading a delegation of government officials from the commerce, industry, investment and employment departments to the UK on the invitation of Patel, who had visited Bhopal last month.

"The UK has a long and special relationship with Madhya Pradesh. It is a relationship based on solid foundations and a shared history that has a bright future as our partnership moves forward," Patel said.

"Our record of working together has achieved impressive results in health, livelihoods, governance and urban development. And as we move forward we will strengthen our ties by focusing on wealth and job creation which will benefit both Madhya Pradesh and the UK-India relationship through partnership working," she said.

Chouhan arrived in London yesterday on a two-day visit to promote the Global Investor Summit being to be held in Indore next month and to explore partnerships with the UK on smart cities and skills.

The UK is India's partner country for the Global Investor Summit, which is being described as the highest-profile biennial event for the state of Madhya Pradesh, and the forthcoming Tech Summit.

The UK is also India's country partner in developing three smart cities, which includes Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

During his visit, Chouhan will hold meetings with the UK businesses to learn more about their expertise in developing smart cities and will explore opportunities for British investors in the state's smart city programme.

He will also lead a smart city roundtable and make a site visit to the river Thames to observe how London uses technology to deal with waste water.

"The UK has a robust technical assistance partnership with Madhya Pradesh on smart cities and urban development, and has multi-sector investments worth 6.5 million pound in the state. This delivers a key commitment agreed by the Prime Ministers of Britain and India in November 2015," an official statement said.

Besides a meeting with Rajesh Agarwal, the newly-appointed Indian-origin Deputy Mayor of London for business, and an event with the Madhya Pradesh diaspora community in London, Chouhan will also be addressing the "Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh" summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and UK India Business Council (UKIBC).

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Six people were killed when a helicopter chartered by US oil giant Chevron crashed off the coast of Angola, security forces confirmed today.

The accident happened late yesterday near the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda, Captain Armando Nzawisa of the Angolan armed forces, who is heading emergency operations, told AFP.

Four Angolans and two expatriates were killed.

"The helicopter crashed in bad weather en route to a Chevron platform," Nzawisa said.

The bodies of the four Angolans have been recovered but search operations for the two foreigners was still underway, with 19 vessels and three helicopters deployed.

Five of the people killed were Chevron employees. The sixth was the pilot, employed by Angolan company Heli Malongo, whose nationality has not been disclosed.

"We have opened an internal enquiry into the causes of the accident," John Baltz, head of Chevron's Angolan subsidiary, told a press conference.

The helicopter was used as a shuttle between oil platforms and Chevron's onshore facilities in Cabinda, public broadcaster TPA reported.

Cabinda borders the Republic of Congo to the north, and is separated from the rest of Angola to the south by a sliver of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The province produces 60 per cent of Angola's oil, making the country Africa's top oil producer.

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The body of a Sri Lankan newspaper editor, whose assassination under the previous regime in 2009 remains unsolved, was exhumed this morning following a court order aid a new investigation into his murder.

Lasantha Wickrematunge ran the Sunday Leader, which was frequently critical of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was in power then.

The exhumation was conducted by the Colombo magistrate Mohamed Mihan in the presence of medico-judicial officers under tight police protection at the Colombo General Cemetery.

The suburban Mount Lavinia court had ordered the exhumation as the Crime Investigation Department (CID) asked for it. The CID had claimed that all previous forensic reports were contradictory.

"The body was moved to the Judicial Medical Officer's office after exhumation. It will now be examined by a team of doctors," Athula S Ranagala, the lawyer of the late editor's family told reporters.

He said the CID had asked for an exhumation due to the contradictory results in previous forensic reports.

One of the reports had said that he died of gun shot injuries while the other cited stab wounds as the reason of his death.

Wickrematunga was murdered on a motor way at Attidiya, a Colombo suburb while he was driving to work alone on January 8, 2009.

In January 2009 he had written an editorial saying he believed he would be killed by the government and that an inquiry would come to nothing.

He was killed by unidentified attackers in Colombo three days later. His death came at a time of intense restrictions on the media in Sri Lanka.

After his surprise win in elections in 2014, the new president, Maithripala Sirisena, vowed to reform Sri Lanka's treatment of the media and to reopen the investigation into Wickrematunge's murder.

In July, a military intelligence officer became the first person to be arrested in connection with his death.

Earlier this month, a judge gave permission for his body to be exhumed, because of conflicting reports from initial autopsies. His grave has been under guard since then.

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and urged him to extend the term of the foreigners tribunals, which determines the identity of illegal immigrants, for five more years.

Sonowal conveyed to the Home Minister that at present 100 foreigners tribunals are functioning in Assam out of which 64 were created in 2004 in compliance with a Supreme Court directive.

As the validity of these tribunals has expired on February 9, 2016, the Chief Minister requested the Home Minister to extend their term for five more years for smooth settlement of foreigners' issue, an official spokesperson said.

Foreigners tribunals in Assam were set up under the Foreigner (Tribunal) Order of 1964 to determine the status of citizens whose Indian nationality are doubtful.

Referring to the updation of National Register of Citizenship in Assam, Sonowal requested Singh for early release of funds for the speedy implementation of the process.

The Chief Minister urged the Home Minister to hand over the construction work of fencing of borders to Indian Army as was done in the case of Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sonowal also requested Singh to facilitate raising of India Reserve Battalion in the Assam.

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The Centre today informed the Madras High Court that a report of the Law Commission on enacting a stand-alone legislation to check honour killing is under its consideration.

This was conveyed by a central government counsel to the court when a batch of public interest litigations seeking a legislation against honour killing, came up for hearing.

"The Law and Justice Ministry is examining the 242nd report of the Law Commission to bring a stand-alone legislation to combat honour killing," the lawyer submitted.

He said that the Law Ministry and not the Home Ministry, is competent to bring a stand-alone legislation following which the court directed the Law Ministry be impleaded as a respondent.

The court also directed the ministry to keep it abreast of the progress made on the stand-alone legislation.

The petitioners had sought a direction to central and state governments to bring a new legislation against honour killing and to provide arms to Scheduled Caste people, contemplated under Rule 3(1)(5) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 and to frame guidelines to prevent such killing.

The government counsel submitted that an advisory was sent by the Home Ministry to all home secretaries on March 1, 2010 over crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Subsequently, communications were sent on increasing women personnel in police forces and to set up investigative units to deal with crimes against women in select police districts.

Recording this submission, the court said it was conscious of the fact that there has to be a social change in the thinking process, but that the sensitivity of police would also make the society more aware and law abiding on issues like these.

Referring to the petitioners' submission on the Supreme Court order spelling out measures to check honour killing, the court said these directions should also be circulated by police.

It then posted the matter for further hearing to December 15.

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Pakistan's cinema industry fears if ties with India worsen and Bollywood films are banned in the country, as has happened whenever bilateral relation strained, it could mean a loss of 70 per cent business for the industry.

And the fear among the industry people has been growing.

They feel if the situation doesn't improve there would be calls, eventually, to ban Indian films.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic but the truth is there has only been a boom in the cinema industry in Pakistan in the last few years because of the release of latest Bollywood and Hollywood films," said Nadeem Mandviwalla, a know exhibitor, distributor and owner of the Atrium chain of cineplexes.

"I just hope the ties don't remain tense on long-term basis. Even if there is a temporary ban we can survive but if there is any permanent ban you can expect lot of cinema houses and multiplexes to close down," he said.

Omair Alavi, a popular film critic, said that due to the increase in cinema screens and revenues there had also been a resurgence of the Pakistani film industry.

"We have seen number of Pakistani films release and do well and others are also lined up for release. But for a cinema industry to survive you need to produceatleast50 to 60 films in a year which we are not doing at present."



Mandviwalla said 70 per cent of the business comes from Bollywood and Hollywood. "There is no alternative. If the ties worsen, it is going to affect everyone."



He, however, said that previously when Indian films were banned in Pakistan, business flourished underground with the sale of pirated DVDs and other such materials.

"Now you have cable operators as well but I think if there is any ban it will also affect their programming."



Saleem Khan, who has been in the business for years, think there would not be a ban but, he said, if this happenescinema owners might have to completely wrap up their business or shut shut a few screens to cut costs.

"We don't produce enough films to sustain ourselves throughout the year. We need to produce at least over 50 films annually," Khan said.

Former Sindh Board of Film Censors chairman Fakhr-e-Alam saidany such ban would result in "going back to the days where our screens were shut down and converted into shopping malls or apartmentsbecause there weren't enough movies."



Alam feels there only one hope for industry people in case of a ban on Bollywood films: and that is the Pakistan government must provide funds for production of films.

Cinepax Cinemas Assistant Marketing Manager Abid Ali Zaidi said if there was a "temporary" ban the cinema chains would manage for a while by screening old Pakistani films.

"We are already planning to do that from October as an alternative."



Since Indian films were allowed to be imported and screened the cinema industry business has picked up rapidly in Pakistan with some Bollywood blockbusters even grossing the 100-crore rupees mark in Pakistan.

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A Europe-bound boat that sank while carrying hundreds of migrants, killing at least 170 of them, has been lifted from the bottom of the sea.

An Associated Press reporter says a crane vessel lifted the boat today. It is widely believed that dozens more migrants may have drowned after they were trapped at the bottom of the boat when it capsized.

Dozens of families and friends whose loved ones are still missing waited anxiously at the port in the coastal town of Rosetta, wanting to take their bodies for burial.

Around 160 people survived Wednesday's sinking. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said the tragedy was "unnecessary," and yesterday called on Egyptians to join his government to tighten control of Egypt's porous borders.

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Switzerland's lower house today narrowly approved a draft bill on a nationwide burqa ban, a report said, but the measure remains far from coming into force.

The proposal by lawmaker Walter Wobmann of the populist right-wing Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) won 88 votes, with 87 against, the ATS agency reported.

Wobmann's bill was nearly identical to a measure approved in a 2013 referendum in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino banning the full-face Islamic veil.

The Ticino ban came into force on July 1, and calls for fines ranging between 100 Swiss francs (USD 100, 92 euros) to 10,000 Swiss francs.

ATS quoted Wobmann as saying that the goal of the national burqa ban was to "maintain public order and respect for the dignity of women."



Today's vote may prove to be a largely symbolic move in the protracted process towards an outright ban on the full-face veil.

Lawmakers will almost certainly defer action on the issue until the country weighs in through a referendum, ATS said.

An initiative has been launched to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to hold a public vote on a burqa ban.

Polls say Swiss voters overwhelmingly support a ban, but a vote could still be two years away.

Even if the ban is endorsed through a referendum, Switzerland's government would still need to draw up a law proposal, which would then be subject to a final parliamentary approval.

Today's vote came as countries across Europe confront tough debates over the role of individual religious liberties, amid rising anti-Islam sentiment that has partly been fuelled by immigration.

France was this summer embroiled in a row over bans on the burkini, a full-body Islamic swimsuit, in resorts around the Riviera.

A poll published earlier this month showed Britons are strongly in favour of a burqa ban.

Switzerland's population of eight million includes an estimated 350,000 Muslims.

The wealthy Alpine nation has seen a number of high-profile disputes involving its Muslim minority, including fines slapped on parents who refused to allow their daughters to take part in swimming lessons, and a case where male students refused to shake the hands of their female teachers.

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Syria's army took control of a rebel-held district in central Aleppo today, after days of heavy air strikes that have killed dozens and sparked allegations of war crimes.

In the first advance since announcing plans last week to retake all of the divided city, pro-government troops seized the Farafina district northwest of Aleppo's historic citadel, a military source told AFP.

"After neutralising many terrorists... Units are now demining the area," the source said.

The push follows several days of Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held Aleppo neighbourhoods - some of the fiercest bombardment of the five-year conflict so far - after a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Washington collapsed last week.

The Aleppo maelstrom prompted Western powers to accuse Russia of committing possible war crimes, charges the Kremlin condemned as "unacceptable".

In the latest broadside, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the air campaign.

"The appalling attacks on Aleppo have shaken all of us, and the violence and the attacks we have seen... Is morally totally unacceptable and is a blatant violation of international law," Stoltenberg told a conference in Bratislava.

On the ground in eastern Aleppo, an AFP correspondent said air strikes struck several neighbourhoods simultaneously, including in Al-Shaar, where a five-storey building was levelled with a family stuck inside.

One young girl, her body encased in rubble, was among the dead. Her father, in shock as rescue workers picked up her lifeless body, collapsed beside, saying, "She's just sleeping. She's just used to sleeping."



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor, said that more than 155 people have been killed by Russian and regime bombardment on Aleppo city since the government announced its offensive last week.

They include 11 civilians killed today in raids on the neighbourhoods of Al-Shaar and Al-Mashhad, according to the Britain-based group.

As well as the intensified violence, residents have been left reeling from food shortages and skyrocketing prices.

The World Health Organisation warned today that medical facilities in east Aleppo were on the verge of "complete destruction".

"Over the last weekend alone, more than 200 people were injured and taken to understaffed health facilities in east Aleppo," a spokeswoman said in Geneva.

The UN body called for "an immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city.

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Coffee chain Tata Starbucks posted sales of Rs 235 crore in FY 2015-16, registering a growth of 39 per cent on account of its expansion in leading metros.

Tata Starbucks, the 50:50 JV between Tata Global Beverage Ltd (TGBL) and Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee International Inc, is also looking at selling the Tata group firm's Himalayan mineral water brand in more global markets through the outlets of its American partner.

In an an investor presentation, TGBL said the growth in Tata Starbucks' revenue was "led by good-in-store performance and expansion of number of stores".

The JV operates 84 stores in leading metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Banagalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai after opening the first store in 2012 in Mumbai.

Commenting on leveraging on relationship with Starbucks beyond the Indian market, TGBL said it is "looking for supply agreements for other international markets" of its Himalayan mineral water brand, which is now available at Starbucks outlets in Singapore.

Already, Tata Coffee has a tie up with Starbucks for international supply. TGBL has 57.48 per cent stake in Tata Coffee, which primarily is into plantation and coffee extraction business.

Moreover,"A special micro lot from Tata Coffee's Nullore estate was selected for Starbucks' most premium offering - Starbucks Reserve stores," it added.

In India, Tata Starbucks outlets uses Indian roasted coffees from Tata Coffee, for all its espressos besides premium tea Tata Tazo and Himalayan water.

In June this year, Tata Sons and Starbucks had finalised multiple new joint initiatives to expand their collaboration at a global level, apart from building the iconic American coffee chain's brand and business in India.

The initiatives include sourcing Indian coffee for the US market, introducing the Teavana brand of speciality teas in Indian stores, expanding the market of the Tata-owned mineral water brand Himalayan and skilling over 3,000 youths, the companies said.

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Police rescued a teenage boy, who was kidnapped from Jaipur, and arrested four accused in connection with the crime, senior police officials said here today.

The accused had abducted 18-year-old Vishal Sharma from Mansarovar area of Jaipur in a stolen vehicle, they said.

"The accused were in a speeding SUV and did not stop at a police check point following which a police party chased the vehicle. The police stopped the vehicle near Gajpura area in Dholpur and rescued the boy late last night," said SP Dholpur Rajesh Singh.

"The accused Anil, Rajesh, Rishi and Mukhram have been arrested and handed over to Jaipur police for further investigation," he added.

The accused are being interrogated by the Jaipur police to ascertain the motive of the kidnapping.

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Ten women pickpockets have been apprehended for allegedly trying to steal the belongings of a commuter on the Delhi Metro here.

Officials said the incident was reported yesterday from the Vidhan Sabha station at about 4:00 PM when a 25-year-old man detected that few women standing next to him on the platform were trying to steal his costly mobile phone and other stuff.

The commuter soon alerted a CISF official on duty and with his help the entire gang of the ten women pickpockets was apprehended, they said.

"The women were later handed over to Delhi Police," they added.

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Three villagers were killed and four others seriously injured when activists of ultra Left outfit People's Liberation Front of India opened indiscrimnate fire on a gram sabha meeting at Raitodand in naxal-hit Khunti district, police said today.

The villagers had assembled to discuss village-related issues on Sunday afternoon when about two dozen PLFI activists with firearms arrived on the spot and opened fire indiscriminately, DIG (Ranchi) R K Dhan, who along the Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta went to the spot last night, said.

The injured were rushed to Sadar Hospital, Khunti, from where doctors referred them to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi.

The police suspect that the PLFI presumed the meeting was part of "peace meetings against ultra activities" being held across the district.

The victims have been identified as Sukhram Munda (50), Rokan Purty (60) and Deet Munda (45). A villager, Ghansiram Purty, was reported missing following the incident, the SP said



Police personnel were rushed to the spot to track the culprits. Jharkhand DGP D K Pandey was likely visit the spot later in the day.

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Organizers of a career fair held annually in Beatrice for area high school students and eighth graders say the event grows each year on both sides of the booths.

More than 450 students from 13 southeast Nebraska schools attended the fifth annual Explore It! Career Fair held at Southeast Community College on Tuesday. About 35 area employers were represented at booths where students were encouraged to ask questions about the company and respective field.

The career fair is outgrowing the gym and classroom space in the college's Truman Center, said Nebraska Department of Labor Workforce Coordinator Kari Janssen.

The career fair is organized primarily by Janssen and her colleague, but also in partnership with SCC and area school counselors.

After students filled out an "interest inventory" at their schools earlier this year, counselors collected them and turned them into the Nebraska Department of Labor. Based on results, students were matched to career fields that best suited them and were signed up for sessions on Tuesday that were led by panels of professionals in respective fields.

The entire career fair operates around six "career clusters," which were developed by the Nebraska Department of Education:

Business, Marketing and Management

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Communication and Information Systems

Skilled and Technical Sciences

Health Sciences

Human Sciences and Education

The career fields were color-coded at the event. Each was represented by numerous employers from Southeast Nebraska. As a new incentive for students to visit employers of all fields, Bingo sheets could be filled out at several booths in order to be in a drawing for prizes.

"I think it's pretty interesting," Meridian High School sophomore Kris Stromer said of the fair. "I think it's a pretty good opportunity to learn a lot of helpful skills out of high school."

Stromer expanded by saying he learned on Tuesday of additional routes and resources available to him as he considers pursuing a career in engineering.

"They should definitely keep it going," Stromer said of the career fair. "It definitely helps a lot of people and helps broaden their horizons of what jobs they might want to pursue."

While the career fair is catered to students, employers said they enjoy the event and benefit some, too.

Gana Trucking and Excavating Safety Director Brandon Gunther has represented the company at career fairs, but never before one aimed at students.

"I like it for the very fact that it's not aimed at people who have already chosen an industry," Gunther said. "This is exposing kids to all different types of career paths that are out there and hopefully leading them to something they want to do."

Several students came to the booth, genuinely interested in the company and the construction and trucking fields, Gunther said.

"This is planting seeds," he said. "Maybe four, five years down the road, after they complete high school and college and maybe try something they don't like, they might remember us. ... You never know."

Janssen said the event shows young people that there's something out there for everyone in terms of careers. Some require college, some don't, she said.

"And it's good for the employers to see -- this is the workforce of tomorrow," Janssen said. "These are the nurses and truck drivers that they'll be hiring someday."

New this year were some employers as well as Beatrice Middle School eighth graders.

"In my opinion, it helps them practice their social skills, too," said BMS School Counselor Amy Randel. "They're asking questions and talking to people. Hopefully they all get something out of it. It's nice to have a day out. We can learn a lot outside of the school, too."

Randel said most of the eighth graders were interested in the event. The students will also visit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the spring and draft a four-year plan for high school this school year.

Lamarr Womble, youth motivational speaker and founder of Passion for Leadership, was the guest speaker at the event. Proteus Inc., was a sponsor for the event and donated the grand prize, an HP Notebook. The U.S. Army donated duffle bags, which were filled with items from various area employers and given to winning students.
Ending its alliance with DMDK-PWF combine forged for the May 16 Assembly poll, the GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) today announced its decision to face the upcoming local body polls by itself, also scotching speculations of a tie-up with DMK.

Party chief Vasan said that efforts had been on in the party for the last three months to face the local-body polls single-handedly.

"Based on that, now a conducive atmosphere has emerged for us to face the local body polls by ourselves..Preparations are underway in the local units," for this purpose, he said.

He had joined the DMDK-PWF combine to take forward "decent" and "alternative politics" but the alliance failed in the elections as it did not have the time to reach out to people with its stated objectives, Vasan said in a statement.

Vasan's TMC had joined hands with Vijayakant-led DMDK and the four party People's Welfare Front (PWF), whose constituents are MDMK, CPI (M), CPI and VCK.

Referring to his attempts to stitch a pact with DMK for the local body polls, being held in two phases next month, he said that "we made an attempt in lines with the desires of the local leaders," but did not specify why the efforts did not materialise.

Vasan had recently called on DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, triggering speculations of an alliance for the local body elections.

Vasan, who quit Congress in 2014 post Lok Sabha polls before reviving his father GK Moopanar founded TMC, said that national parties in the state 'ignored' Tamil Nadu's interests while regional parties were not keen about national interests.

His party strived for both, he added.

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It is need of the hour for the Government of Tamil Nadu to create a favourable environment for start-ups, a report has said.

"Business transformations are driven by digital advancements, introducing disruptive products and services for enhancing customer experiences. India has witnessed a significant growth in number of startups over the last few years, especially in technology, e-commerce...," the KPMG-CII report said.

The report was released during a two-day conference organised by CII here today.

Noting that the start ups were future in building the economy, the report said, "It is the need of the hour for the Government of Tamil Nadu to work with industry partners to create and nurture a robust environment for startups to thrive in the state."



The report further said that "the state ranks among the top startup destinations in India. The government is also encouraging entrepreneurs to come up with innovative solutions for common problems."



Some of the top IT companies have declared expenditures of Rs 10,950 crore and have created two lakh jobs over the last few years.

"The state received FDI inflow of USD 17.8 billion between 2008-15 and ranks third in terms of investment in Information Technology and IT-enabled services sector," it said.

While Chennai has emerged as a hub for startups, the report said, the state government should focus on creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem, support in skill development, design low-cost credit schemes for start-ups.

Tamil Nadu has over 233 electronic hardware technological parks in Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Mahindra World City, Singaperumal Koil, it said.

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The toll in rain-related incidents in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh rose to 10 today while a Central team is expected to visit the state to assess the damage caused by the heavy showers.

Three persons were killed in separate rain-related incidents on September 22 and 23, while seven more lost their lives since then.

Most of them were either washed away in floodwaters or drowned in swollen rivers, District Collector Praveen Kumar said in a release.

The state government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of those killed, he said.

He said in all 459 houses had been damaged and 6,130 hectares of paddy fields submerged in rain waters.

Meanwhile, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu today undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit parts of Guntur district.

He took off from Vijayawada in a helicopter and flew over several parts of the neighbouring district and inspected the damage caused to crops and railways tracks.

Later, the Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister spoke to officials in Guntur and learnt the details of losses.

He said a Central team will visit Andhra Pradesh after the state government submits a report on the losses. "Based on the team's assessment, necessary financial assistance will be provided by the Centre."



Heavy rains and subsequent deluge in Guntur last week had disrupted rail and road traffic with National Disaster Response Force being pressed into service for rescue and relief operation.

In Visakhapatnam, nearly 10,000 families were moved to safer places. Low-lying areas in various villages and mandals of the district were inundated, including reservoirs Raiwada and Thandava, due to incessant rainfall in the last three days, Kumar said.

According to latest reports, there were breaches in 14 check dams and 10 tanks and officials from Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Panchayat Raj and Roads and Buildings Department had been sent to assess the situation and plug the cracks, the Collector said.

He said a round-the-clock Command Control Centre was opened at the collectorate with a special team monitoring it under the supervision of District Revenue Officer.

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The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks went to a restaurant in Boston for a lunch with friends and gave a generous tip to its staff.

The 60-year-old star headed to the private dining room at Pier 6, where he enjoyed the New England clam chowder and lamb gyros and also made sure to stop and give the staff an extra thanks while leaving the restaurant, reported People magazine.

"On his way out of the restaurant, Hanks made sure to stop and give the crew an extra thanks, and in his best Boston accent, commented on how he 'loved the chowdah,' a staff member said.

"A woman made an anonymous reservation requesting the private dining room, and next thing you know, Tom Hanks walks in.

"He was very friendly and gracious with our staff, and a great tipper," the staffer added.

Hanks also recently popped into a couple's wedding photoshoot in New York's Central Park.

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Haryana government today banned 'Tree felling' for five years to increase forest cover in the state, a senior official said.

This was stated by Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Forests, R R Jowel while presiding over a review meeting of the Department here.

However, those trees that have withered or are required to be removed because of a development project would be allowed, only after seeking approval of the concerned authorities.

It was informed in the meeting that as a part of the Swarna Jayanti projects, a City Forest would be developed at Murthal over an area of 116 acres and a workshop of antique furniture items would be set up at the plots of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) in Bawal.

Jowel directed that trees should be planted along all National and State Highways, district and village roads without any further delay.

He asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Amrinder Kaur to identify and purchase land under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) head to increase green cover in the state.

Jowel directed that all the pending cases under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 should be taken up on priority basis and same should be settled without any further delay.

He said the already constituted State Level Committee should immediately assess the availability of wood and accordingly submit the report to take decision on issuance of more licenses to wood based industries.

He emphasised the need to develop dense linear forest patches which were envisaged in the Swarna Jayanti celebrations of the state.

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A Pakistani court today opened the trial against the father and ex-husband of a British woman over her alleged rape and murder in the name of so-called honour.

The court delivered copies of the charge sheet to father Mohammad Shahid and ex-husband Mohammad Shakeel, defense lawyer Mohammed Arif said.

Shahid and Shakeel are accused of killing Samia Shahid, 28. They must decide by October 7 if they plead guilty or not guilty before Judge Ambreen Qureshi, Arif said. He said both men were present in the court.

After he appeared at a pre-trial hearing last week, father Mohammad Shahid spoke to reporters outside the courtroom denying all charges. "We will contest the case," Arif said today, suggesting the accused may plead not guilty.

Samia Shahid's family had initially claimed she had died of natural causes during her July trip to Pakistan. But after her second husband Mukhtar Kazim complained to police, they reopened the case.

A police investigation concluded that Shahid's ex-husband raped her as the father stood guard before they both strangled her. It described the killing as "premeditated, cold-blooded murder."



The investigation also implicated the victim's mother, Imtiaz Bibi, and sister, Madiha Shahid, who are British nationals, in the murder. It accused them of luring the victim into the murder plot.

It said both women escaped back to England after the murder, and suggested they should be extradited to Pakistan to be tried on abetment charges.

Shahid married her first husband in February 2012 but stayed only briefly in Pakistan before returning to England where she obtained a divorce two years later. After that, she married her second husband, Mukhtar Kazim, and moved with him to Dubai.

Her family never accepted the second marriage, because Kazim is a Shiite Muslim and not a relative, the police report said.

Pakistan reports nearly 1,000 "honor killings" every year.

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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton today targetted her Republican rival Donald Trump for being a man who can be provoked easily and should not have "his fingers near the nuclear codes", indicating that the real-estate tycoon is not fit to be the next US President.

The 68-year-old former secretary of state said Trump's "cavalier" attitude about nuclear weapons, the number one threat in the world, is "deeply troubling" as she assured US allies that if elected, her administration would stand behind the country's commitment to them.

"So a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, as far as I think anyone with any sense about this should be concerned," Clinton said in response.

"His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. That is the number-one threat we face in the world. And it becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on any nuclear material," a combative Clinton said during the first of the three presidential debate here.

Clinton also slammed Trump for his alleged rhetoric on nuclear weapons.

"What we heard Donald say about nuclear weapons. He has said repeatedly that he didn't care if other nations got nuclear weapons, Japan, South Korea, even Saudi Arabia. It has been the policy of the US, Democrats and Republicans, to do everything we could to reduce the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Trump said, "...I agree with her on one thing. The single greatest problem the world has is nuclear armament, nuclear weapons, not global warming, like you think and your president thinks."



"Nuclear is the single greatest threat. Just to go down the list, we defend Japan, we defend Germany, we defend South Korea, we defend Saudi Arabia, we defend countries. They do not pay us. But they should be paying us, because we are providing tremendous service and we're losing a fortune," he asserted.

Responding to a question Trump ruled out taking out nuclear option off the table.

"We have to be prepared. I can't take anything off the table. Because you look at some of these countries, you look at North Korea, we're doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea," he said and described the Iranian nuclear agreement as the worst deal.

Clinton used the occasion to reassure the American allies.

"Words matter. Words matter when you run for president. And they really matter when you are president. And I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual defence treaties and we will honour them. It is essential that America's word be good," Clinton said.

Besides nuclear weapons, Clinton also said that cyber security and warfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president.

"I think cyber security, cyber warfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president.

"But increasingly, we are seeing cyber-attacks coming from states, organs of states. The most recent and troubling of these has been Russia," she said.

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Controversial Republican presidential candidate has claimed that he was given a defective microphone in the fiery debate with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and questioned whether it happened on purpose.

"They gave me a defective mic. Did you notice that? My mic was defective within the room," Trump told reporters after the debate.

"I wonder, was that on purpose? Was that on purpose? But I had a mic that didn't work properly," he was quoted as saying by media reports.

The 70-year-old real estate tycoon has often joked on the campaign trail about faulty microphones, saying on occasion that he may refuse to pay for the audio rental. He repeated that joke last week during a campaign event in Kenansville, North Carolina.

"The mic just shot. That was a weird sound, wasn't it? So I wouldn't pay the mic guy and they'll say, isn't that terrible. He didn't pay his bills," Trump had said at the time. "When people don't do a good job for me I don't pay them. It's one of those things."



Overall, however, Trump said he felt he did well against his Democratic rival Clinton in the debate.

"I thought it was a very fair debate," Trump told reporters last night. "The polls are all saying we won."



However, the CNN/ORC poll declared Clinton as the clear winner in the first of a series of three debates, with a massive 62 per cent of voters giving an edge to the Democrat over Trump, who was deemed winner by only 27 per cent.

It was unclear what Trump was referring to. The only notable audio interference picked up on television was some sniffing by Trump, which was widely mocked on social media.

Trump's claim about the microphone is far from the first time he has suggested that outside forces have conspired against him.

In August, he told a rally in Ohio that he feared the general election "is going to be rigged", adding that he had been hearing "more and more" that the election may not be contested fairly.
Two 'mahants' of Siddhnath Mahadev Temple in Saij village of adjoining Gandhinagar district were allegedly hacked to death by unidentified persons, police said today.

Though the police have lodged a case of loot with murder, as the assailants had decamped with some cash after the double murder late last night, police is not ruling out the angle of old rivalry or grudge.

The temple-cum-ashram is situated in Saij village of Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar. The deceased have been identified as the main priest (mahant) Dilipgiri Maharaj and his associate Ishwarvan Maharaj, both in the age group of 52-55 years.

According to Kalol police inspector R R Chaudhary, both of them were killed using an axe when they were asleep inside the temple.

"Both mahants were hacked to death using an axe during late last night. Since the assailants have scattered their belongings, we believe that murders were committed to conduct loot," said Chaudhary.

Primary investigation has revealed that attackers have stolen some cash kept inside a safe after killing priests.

However, many gold and silver articles were found to be intact, which has prompted police to look into the angle of rivalry or old grudge.

According to Gandhinagar District SP Virendrasinh Yadav, both 'mahants' were killed when they were fast asleep, which hints at the possibility of an insider's job.

"This does not look like a clear case of loot with murder. We believe that the attackers might be knowing the victims, as there was no sign of forceful entry or resistance. In addition, many valuables were found to be intact. Thus, we are investigating the case from other angles too," said Yadav.

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Workers of state-run Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) have gone on an indefinite strike from today demanding implementation of the wage revision agreement signed between the management and labour unions in March.

Of the four recognised labour unions, Singhbhum Uranium Mazdoor Union, Uranium Kamgaar Union (UKU) and Jadugora Labour Union have resorted to indefinite strike in all the units of UCIL including Turamdih, Narwapahar and Jadugora located in and around East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts, Rajaram Singh, General Secretary, UKU said.

Sources at UCIL have confirmed the strike.

Negotiations with the labour unions were on to resolve the issue, they said.

Informing about the signing of the MOU, UCIL officials said it was forwarded to the higher authorities of the concerned department and the issue was pending at concerned ministry level for approval.

The issue will be settled soon, the sources said adding that the management has responded to some clarification sought by the ministry in this regard.

Asked about the impact of the strike, UCIL officials said the strike has affected production but emergency work remained unaffected.

Singh said a memorandum of understanding was signed between the UCIL management and the representatives of the labour unions in March last in regard to the wage revision of the employees but it was not yet implemented even six month after the pact.

Several rounds of meeting in connection with the implementation of the agreement had taken place since March, he said claiming that the workers have uninanimously decided to resort to indefinite strike following 12-hour inconclusive meeting between the management and the unions in presence of the representative of District Labour Commission on Sunday.

The doors are open for negotiation to settle the issue, Singh said, adding that we have asked the management to implement the agreement with immediate effect with an option to adjust or recover the amount, in case the concerned ministry refused to accept the agreement.

The employees are also losing the benefits of the day to day allowances since March last, Singh claimed.

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The Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce stresses that a communitys people and businesses are a big part of what make a town great.

On Tuesday, the Chamber recognized some of these people and companies that have enhanced the Beatrice area in the last year by hosting the annual Member Awards Luncheon.

Lora Young, Chamber Director, said selecting winners and nominees for the event is always a daunting task, but a worthwhile one to ensure recognition is given.

My sincerest congratulations goes out to not only everybody that was nominated, because I think its an honor to be nominated, but to those that won, she said. I will tell you its never an easy decision to choose one business or one person over the other.

Winners at the event included:

* Volunteer of the year: Lisa Craig.

* Young professional of the year: Traci Garnett-Froscheiser, Garnett Investment Strategies.

* Business person of the year: Laureen Riedesel, Beatrice Public Library.

* New business of the year: Landmark Snacks, LLC.

* Business of the year: Production Creek Specialty Advertising.

* Non-profit business of the year: Community Players.

* Best new image: Carriage Motors.

Jessica Johnson, who co-owns Production Creek Specialty Advertising with Loretta Goodwin, said that even though the company has won multiple awards at different levels, the ones that are close to home mean the most.

We have won a lot of awards throughout Nebraska, but its really nice to win one in your hometown, Johnson said. We started here 21 years ago in Beatrice. Were still here in Beatrice, even though weve expanded to Lincoln. The one that you win in your hometown is pretty sweet."

She added that hiring locally and giving back to the community are things the company takes pride in.

Riedesel, manager of the Beatrice Public Library, was selected in large part for being instrumental in downtown and other areas of Beatrice being added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

When she began as the librarian in 1977, the National Register wasnt as recognized as it is today. The Carnegie Building in downtown Beatrice had recently been added to the list, and Riedesel set out to keep the trend going.

The National Register as we know it was a very new entity when I moved here, she recalled. There werent many buildings placed on it and not many people that were knowledgeable about it. I was excited about the opportunities they presentedWe really have a wealth here of history, sites and locations.

While some people focus on the negative, Riedesel asked that those people find ways to better the town.

There are people who are critical about why isnt Beatrice this way or that way, she said. I would just encourage people to do whatever it is they can. When we got started with the register, people didnt perceive that as the economic development opportunity that it truly is and can be for us.

Its one thing to stand and say, Why isnt this different, bigger or brighter. Its another to say, What can I do?
For the second time in less than ten days, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today issued a demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over Uri attack and confronted him with proof of "cross-border origins" of the terror strike in which 18 jawans were killed.

The Foreign Secretary called in Basit and told him that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad and also gives details of Pakistan- based handlers, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

"Local villagers in the Uri sector apprehended on 21 September and handed over to Indian security forces two individuals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir who have acted as guides for terrorists and helped them infiltrate across the LOC.

"Their personal particulars are -Faizal Hussain Awan, 20 years, S/o Gul Akbar Resident of Potha Jahangir, Muzaffarabad and Yasin Khursheed, 19 years, S/o Mohammed Khurshid Resident of Khiliana Kalan, Muzaffarabad," Basit was told.

During his interrogation, Awan has deposed to the NIA that they had "guided and facilitated" the border crossing of the group that perpetrated the September 18 Uri massacre, the Foreign Secretary told him.

In another incident on September 23, 2016, one Pakistani national, Abdul Qayoom, R/o Sialkot was apprehended in Molu sector opposite Pakistan's Sialkot sector and has confessed to undergoing three weeks of training with the terrorist group LeT and donating substantial funds to Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, their front organization, Basit was conveyed.

"We are willing to provide the Pakistan High Commission consular access to these three individuals apprehended in connection with terrorist attacks in India," the Foreign Secretary told the Pakistani envoy.

Basit was also told that these apprehensions and subsequent interrogation underline the cross-border infiltration that had been the subject of their previous discussion.

"We would once again strongly urge the Government of Pakistan to take seriously its commitment not to allow terrorist attacks against India from its soil and territory under its control. Continuing cross-border terrorist attacks from Pakistan against India are unacceptable," Jaishankar asserted.

This is the second time since the attack on September 18 that the Pakistani envoy has been summoned over the terror strike which India maintains was carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups.

New Delhi has already offered to provide Pakistan with fingerprints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in Uri and Poonch, if that country wished to investigate these cross-border attacks.

During the earlier summoning on September 21, Jaishankar



had also shown Basit the content of GPS recovered from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates that indicate the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the subsequent route to the terror attack site and grenades with Pakistani markings as evidence of Pakistan's role.

"Following the terrorist attack on the Uri garrison of the Indian Army on 18 September 2016, India had taken up with Pakistan the issue of honouring its January 2004 commitment not to allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India," Swarup added.

Today's summoning comes amidst India weighing the options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack. After a review of Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the government is also planning to review the MFN status granted by it, unilaterally, to Pakistan.

During the review of IWT, the government decided to take a number of steps including to "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact and suspension of IWT Commission meeting till the atmosphere was "free of terror".
The United States has warned its citizens of a potential security threat targeting US-branded hotels in southern Turkey, a US consulate said in a statement.

The consulate in southern Adana province said yesterday on its website that "it has obtained specific and credible threats of potential terrorist activity targeting US-branded hotels in Adana."



It advised US citizens in Adana "to exercise caution when patronising these establishments."



Adana hosts Incirlik air base -- used by the US-led coalition for air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria.

The US embassy last week warned of the risk of a terror attack in another Turkish city of Gaziantep close to the Syrian border on businesses frequented by Westerners, including the popular coffee chain Starbucks.

Turkey has been the target of a string of attacks blamed on Kurdish militants or the IS group.

A suicide bombing at a Kurdish wedding in Gaziantep last month killed 57 people, 34 of them children, and was blamed by Turkish authorities on IS jihadists.

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The US military says it has killed four al-Shabab extremists in Somalia in what it calls airstrikes in self-defense.

A US Africa Command statement today says the extremists launched attacks on Somali troops and their US advisers yesterday in a village near the port city of Kismayo.

The statement says Somali forces returned fire, killing several extremists, but the attack continued. The US then conducted its strike, killing four fighters.

US forces have carried out several airstrikes in Somalia in recent years, killing many al-Shabab leaders.

The extremist group is now mostly active in rural regions but continues to launch lethal attacks in many parts of this Horn of Africa nation, including the capital.

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Union Minister Hansraj Ahir today said the government respected the sentiments of the countrymen about the Uri terror attack in which 18 jawans died, but the war with Pakistan "can be won without an actual confrontation".

"Battle can be won without waging a war with Pakistan and that is precisely what is being achieved by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Minister of State for Home Affairs said here.

"We are marching towards victory at international level and also have made a reasonable progress in gaining the confidence of locals in Kashmir, though it appears to be a slow process," said Ahir, speaking at the Press Club here.

There is a need to create income sources for the youth in Kashmir as a part of confidence-building process which the government is doing, he said.

"The government has spent as much as Rs 80,000 crore for various development works in Kashmir so far, and the youth have now started to join the mainstream after realising this. Our priority is development and that is the only thing which can bring job opportunities along with economic prosperity in the country. The terrorists and the separatists would lose their voice as development takes place in the area," he said.

Ahir, a four-time BJP MP from Chandrapur, also claimed that Naxal activities were "on decline" and as many as 400 police stations in the Naxal-affected areas have been upgraded with ultramodern gadgets and facilities.

"In the North-East, the government is taking steps to relax the height criterion so that the youth from that region could join the security forces, because the average height in the region is below the national average," he said.

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Pakistan will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said today, insisting the revocation of the treaty can be taken as an "act of war".

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy. He said that if India violates the treaty Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said Pakistan is considering to draw attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"Between the two countries, this act of revocation can be taken as an act of war," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on that country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.

(Reopens FGN 27)



Commenting on the development over the treaty, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, a former federal law minister, President Research Society of International Law and an advocate in the Supreme Court on the issue India has no legal competence under the treaty to revoke it per se on its own as Article 12(4) of the treaty entitles the termination of the treaty only if both India and Pakistan agree in writing.

He said there is an arbitration clause in the IWT that can be set in motion if India go to that extreme.

"India cannot itself conclude that Pakistan has breached the treaty on any grounds, including mistrust. In case India 'revokes' the treaty, it literally means it has shunned it," he said.

"The dispute resolution mechanism under article IX and Annexes F and G of the IWT will be of no use and assistance to Pakistan. It is limited to a dispute under the treaty and not meant to provide for specific performance of the treaty itself.

"Since there is no provision in the IWT about its duration or suspension, there is no avenue that Pakistan can approach for 'revival' of the treaty. Nor can Pakistan approach the International Court of Justice seeking specific performance to implement the treaty because of the Indian reservation given under IC J statute that bars filing of case by Pakistan against India.

"In other words, Pakistan will not be left with any peaceful mechanism for seeking performance of the treaty by India," he said.

Soofi said in case India tries to interrupt water flow into Pakistan as an upper riparian, it is setting up a regional state practice which under international law can serve as a precedence and equip China with an argument to consider suspension of the waters of Brahmaputra river.

"India may have already damaged itself by even considering the suspension of water flow as an upper riparian and the Chinese government must be watching Indian moves with interest," he said.
Minister of state for External Affairs V K Singh today said that the Centre would do everything to get exit visas for Indian workers stranded in Saudi Arabia, who had lost their jobs due to the economic slowdown there.

However, he said he did not have the exact figures about how many Indians returned to the home country so far.

"We have got around 30-40 lakh Indians working in Saudi Arabia in various fields. There is a problem out there in various companies because of economic slowdown."



"And that is why certain companies have not paid their workers," he told reporters on the sidelines of an inspection at the regional passport office in the city.

Stating that the construction sector was the most affected due to the slowdown, he said major companies, including Binladin Group, Saudi Oger and Saad Group, where a large number of Indians are working, were facing problems.

"For Saudi Oger group is concerned, people who wanted to come back have already started. Government of Saudi Arabia give them free air passage," he said.

"But in the case of Saad Group, things are different. For exit visa, you need NOC of the company. And the company is refusing to do anything. Now the matter has been taken by the Labour ministry of Saudi Arabia to the royal court to decide what action can be taken on it," he said.

The minister said the workers would start returning the moment they begin getting the exit visas.

Stating that there are some problems for getting exit visas for those who work in the case of Binladin group also, he said the government was trying everything to sort out the problem and bring back the workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status by India is likely to hurt Pakistani industries as it might stop flow of raw materials at competitive prices, experts say.

In the wake of the mounting tensions between the two countries, India has decided to review the MFN status given to Pakistan at a meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

"Pakistans's industry will squeeze if India decides to withdraw the status. Diplomatically it will be a good step to isolate Pakistan," international trade expert with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Rakesh Mohan Joshi said.

In 2015-16, India's exports to Pakistan stood at USD 2.17 billion, while imports were USD 441 million.

Exporters body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said that India mainly exports inputs to Pakistani industry such as basic chemicals and cotton, which is vital for their industry.

"Their industry will face issues if India stops these exports. Their cost of manufacturing will go up," FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said.

However, another expert said withdrawal of the MFN status would be a knee-jerk reaction and trade issues should not be involved in these circumstances.

The decisions to review the MFN, which was granted by India unilaterally in 1996, comes in the wake of the Uri attack over which India is weighing options to respond.

The MFN status was accorded in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to 0.83 per cent of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were 0.13 per cent of the total inward shipments.

As per the WTO rules, India can roll back the MFN status from Pakistan.

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 but Pakistan is yet to reciprocate to that. Pakistan is postponing grant of Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) or MFN status due to lack of consensus at home.

India's main exports to Pakistan include sugar, cotton, man-made filaments, chemicals, carpets, furniture fresh fruits and vegetables while its imports comprise mineral fuels, precious stones, wooden handicrafts among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Africa's overall elephant population has seen the worst declines in the last 25 years, with their numbers falling by about 111,000, mainly due to poaching over the past ten years, according to a new report.

Researchers at the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) studied the numbers and distribution of African elephant populations across their 37 range states in sub-Saharan Africa.

The report presented more than 275 new or updated estimates for individual elephant populations across Africa, with over 180 of these arising from systematic surveys.

For the first time in almost a decade, it studied the elephant numbers at the continental, regional and national levels along with examining the changes in population estimates at the site level.

Based on population estimates from a wide range of sources, including aerial surveys and elephant dung counts, the estimates for 2015 are 93,000 lower than in 2006.

However, this figure includes 18,000 from previously uncounted populations. Therefore, 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 about 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 Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General.

"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," she said.

"Nevertheless, these efforts must not detract from addressing other major and increasingly devastating threats such as habitat loss," she added.

With over 70 per cent of the estimated African elephants, Southern Africa has by far the largest number of the species - about 293,000 elephants in systematically surveyed areas.

Eastern Africa holds about 86,000 (20 per cent) estimated elephants, while Central Africa has about 24,000 estimated elephants (6 per cent).

West Africa continues to hold the smallest regional population with about 11,000 elephants (below 3 per cent).

Eastern Africa has experienced an almost 50 per cent elephant population reduction, largely attributed to an over 60 per cent decline in Tanzania's elephant population.

"This report not only provides information on the changes in elephant numbers but, because it is spatial, it also shows where these changes are occurring," said Chris Thouless, from IUCN.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Marie K. (Tannyhill) Carsh-Busboom. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Humboldt, with Pastor Dean Joy officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at The Wherry Mortuary in Humboldt. Family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment will be at the Humboldt Cemetery.

Dean Endorf, 79, of Daykin. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church in Daykin, with Pastor Patrick Sipes officiating. Burial will be in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery at Daykin.

Jennie L. Halvorsen, 87, of Syracuse. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Syracuse. Burial will follow at Park Hill Cemetery. Lunch will be served following the service. Visitation will be held at Luther Memorial Church one hour before the service from 1-2 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Syracuse Food Pantry.

Sharon K. Klar, 78, of Beatrice. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Beatrice, with Pastor Kathee Forrest officiating. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday in the fellowship room of the church. Burial will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. The body will lie in state one hour preceding the service at the church on Wednesday. A memorial has been established to the Gideons.

Abbie Lynn Collins McCarty, 32. Memorial service 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at Beckwith Mortuary with John Hamm presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary. Cremation has taken place and Inurnment in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kan. Memorials to the Childrens Educational Fund in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550.

David William Sieck, 56, formerly of Beatrice. A visitation in Stevens Point, Wis., will be held at Boston Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 30, from 6-8 p.m. and at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m., followed by a 11 a.m. service celebrating his life. Interment will be Friday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. in Greenwood Cemetery, Seward, Neb. Memorials can be made to Special Olympics or St. Paul Lutheran Church, Stevens Point, Wis.
The hidden truth of medical education: Dr Dharminder Nagar

By setting up more medical colleges in tier II and III cities, one can prevent over-crowding of city hospitals by patients from rural areas

By setting up more medical colleges in tier II and III cities, one can prevent over-crowding of city hospitals by patients from rural areas

In 2014, when during the governments first health budget, slogans like Health for All and Health Assurance were spoken about, with great promise. However, over the past three years, the allocation to the health sector, as a part of the GDP has hovered around a little over 1 percent. The aim should be to raise this to the level that the draft health policy has set out for us: to 2.5 percent of the GDP. With the private sector coming in, as it has in a big way over the last decade, this takes the percentage investment to 4 percent of the GDP. How ...

Dr Dharminder Nagar
LeEco has partnered Snapdeal and Amazon to sell its products on the two eCommerce platforms from October, a move that will help the Chinese tech major further strengthen its online sales in India.

Currently, LeEco sells its handsets through eCommerce major Flipkart and its own portal, LeMall.

"We will start with selling our LeEco Max 2 on Snapdeal and Amazon as part of their festival sale. This will give us access to a wider market," LeEco COO Smart Electronics Business Atul Jain told PTI.

As part of the festive sale, LeEco Max 2 will be available at Rs 17,999, instead of the earlier selling price of Rs 22,999 across Flipkart, LeMall, Amazon.in and Snapdeal, he added.

ALSO READ: Vodafone rolls out free 4G data plan to counter Reliance Jio impact



"Depending on the response, we will extend other products to the other platforms," he said adding that the company has already sold over one million handsets within a few months of its entry into the Indian market.

LeEco's rivals Xiaomi and Motorola also had entered the Indian market in partnership with Flipkart. Later, these brands too ended the exclusivity and launched their range of devices across other e-commerce portals.

LeEco is also bullish on offline retail. "We are already present in 3,000-plus stores and by end of October, this number will double. We will have a healthy mix of online and offline sales going ahead," Jain said.

Talking about the festive season, Jain said he expects the company's business to be "double" than the usual numbers.

The company has also extended its content partnership and partnered with Hungama, which will provide users of LeEco smartphones free access to a library of 3.5 million songs for a year.
A day after reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting on Thursday to review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan.

On Monday, PM Modi said, "blood and water can't flow together." One of the outcome of yesterday's meet was to call off further water talks with Pakistan and maximise the utilisation of water resources flowing through Jammu and Kashmir.

Even though India granted MFN status to Pakistan in 1996, just one year after the formation of WTO, Pakistan has been reluctant to confer the same privilege to India.

Pakistan had agreed to grant MFN status to India by December 2012, but it did not adhere to the timeline due to various political considerations.

MFN status

MFN is a non-discriminatory trade policy which offers equal trade opportunities but not exclusive trade benefits.

MFN status is enforced by World Trade Organisation.

Countries with MFN status enjoy reduced custom tariffs on imported goods and and high import quota.

Exceptions

Countries with MFN status can have regional Free Trade Agreements which allows them to discriminate between member and non-member countries.

Members can give developing countries special treatment like greater market access. Or a country can raise barriers against products that are considered to be traded unfairly from specific countries.

But the agreements only permit these exceptions under strict conditions. In general, MFN means that every time a country lowers a trade barrier or opens up a market, it has to do so for the same goods or services from all its trading partners - whether rich or poor, weak or strong.


Donald Trump clashed with Hillary Clinton in Monday night's presidential debate on issues relating to taxes, economy, temperament and more, with the two contenders constantly interrupting one another with snide remarks.

The debate at Hofstra University drew a massive viewing audience to see the business mogul and former reality star face off with the first ever woman to win the democratic presidential nomination.

Here are the main highlights from the debate:

Deleted emails and Tax Returns

The firey debate quickly turned personal when Clinton shot at Trump with a lengthy explanation of why Trump won't release his tax returns, concluding he's got something to hide.

She said Trump may not be "as rich as he says he is" or "maybe he's not as charitable" as he says he is.

Clinton warned that perhaps Trump hadn't paid any federal income tax at all, noting that some of Trump's income tax returns in the 1970s showed he had paid no federal income taxes in certain years.

Trump said he would "release my tax returns, against my lawyers' wishes," if Clinton agreed to release a cache of her emails.

Trump's temperament

Clinton often put Trump on the defensive, saying he had "rooted for" the collapse of the housing industry and had considered climate change to be a hoax. In another exchange, Clinton said, "I have a feeling that by the end of this evening I'll be blamed for everything that ever happened."

Trump interjected, "Why not?" Later on, Trump said he had a "winning temperament," prompting Clinton to respond: "Whew. OK."

The economy

Trump opened with an extensive argument that jobs are "fleeing the country" and going to Mexico while the U.S. economy is being undermined by China.

He pointed to Ford Motor Co.'s plans to build compact cars in Mexico and railed against Carrier's decision to move hundreds of air-conditioner manufacturing jobs from Indianapolis to Mexico.

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us. We have to stop our companies from leaving the United States," he said.

Clinton pointed out that her father was a small businessman, adding, "The more we can do for the middle class, the more we can invest in you, your education, your skills, your future, the better we will be off."

Clinton said Trump would push for "trickle-down" tax cuts that would only benefit the wealthy, calling it, "trumped-up trickle-down."

Gender wars

Clinton turned the tables on Trump when he was asked to respond to his assertions that she doesn't have the "stamina" to be president.

Trump questioned whether Clinton has the physical fitness to be president and he repeated the criticism directly to her.

Clinton replied that Trump shouldn't talk about stamina until he's tried to maintain a busy schedule like that she kept up as secretary of state. And then she dug into him, adding, "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs."

When Trump got in a dig at Clinton's absence from the campaign trail, she said there was nothing wrong with spending time preparing for the debate. "You know what else I did?" she asked. "I prepared to be president."



Racial politics

Trump has said black voters have "nothing to lose" by supporting his candidacy but he was forced to answer for his role in claiming Obama was born outside the United States.

Clinton accused Trump of spreading a "racist lie" that our "first black president" was not an American citizen, adding, "He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior."

Trump responded by recalling the bitter debates between Clinton and Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, saying Clinton treated Obama then with "terrible disrespect." Later, when Clinton said Trump's view of black communities was too grim, Trump sighed, rolled his eyes and said, "Ugh."



"I agree with her ..."

Trump and Clinton seemed to agree on two potentially combustible political issues: child care and barring people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns.

Trump injected an element of surprise when he said he disagreed with many Republicans and "we have to look at" barring the sales of guns to people on the terror watch list.

The proposal is sharply opposed by the National Rifle Association, one of Trump's chief backers, but Democrats have hoped it will change the dynamic of the gun debate. Trump also said he backs government aid for child care expenses, an issue that has been pushed by his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Clinton and Trump have both proposed plans to help families pay for child care.



Staying the course on Iraq and Birtherism

Trump stood by his positions on two issues in which he has been frequently skewered by fact checkers: the Iraq war and his role in the so-called "birther" movement.

Trump denied Clinton's claims that he supported the Iraq war, saying it was a "mainstream media nonsense put out by her.

"I was against the war in Iraq," he said. But there isn't any evidence Trump expressed public opposition to the war before the U.S. invasion.

Trump also claimed that Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign was responsible for launching the birther movement that questioned Obama's American citizenship. That's not the case - Clinton's campaign never publicly pushed that notion during the 2008 primaries.

(With inputs from AP)


Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday battled out in front of tens of millions of American voters over jobs, taxes and terror in their fiery first presidential debate ahead of US polls as the nominees aggressively tried to discredit each other.

The 90-minute clash witnessed the 68-year-old former secretary of state and the 70-year-old reality TV star, who have attacked the other for months in separate campaigns, taking the stage together here for the first time and indulge in a series of combative, acrimonious exchanges.

The battle turned personal, with the controversial real estate mogul being questioning the "stamina" of the former secretary of state after her recent bout of pneumonia while the latter was seen smiling through the insults and landed jabs of her own to put Trump on the defensive.

Trump said he will release his tax returns if Clinton releases her 33,000 emails deleted by her from the period when she was the secretary of state in the first term of the Obama Administration.

"As soon as she releases them, I will release," Trump said when he was being grilled for not releasing his tax returns.

The two leaders clashed over race, taxes and security as they came face-to-face for the first of the three high-stake presidential debates at Hofstra University in Hempstead, about an hour's drive from New York City and projected themselves as best-prepared to lead the nation.

Clinton accused Trump of being "anti-women" and challenged his allegations that she lacked the stamina to be the commander-in-chief.

"She (Clinton) doesn't have the look. She doesn't have the stamina. I said she doesn't have the stamina. And I don't believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina," Trump said in response to a question during the first presidential debate.

Clinton hit back, saying: "Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."

She said the "racist lie" perpetuated by her rival about Barack Obama of not being a natural-born citizen "bothered and annoyed" the US President, whom she called man of great dignity. She slammed Trump's long record of engaging in "racist behaviour" and said "the birther lie was a very hurtful one".

Meanwhile, Trump - who is running for the top post for the first time - said Clinton has "got experience", but it is "bad experience".

He claimed that the US is being used as a "piggy bank" to rebuild China and many other countries are doing the same thing as he underlined the need to stop jobs from being "stolen" from the US.

However, the non-politician interrupted Clinton several times and appeared agitated as Clinton appeared calm and composed.

Showing their political colours, Clinton was dressed in a Republican red pant suit while Trump in a Democratic blue tie.

Trump, who was seen drinking water multiple times during the debate that had Clinton making a number of thinly veiled swipes, alleged his rival has no plans to defeat ISIS, the biggest national security challenge to the country.

"Secretary Clinton is talking about taking out ISIS. "We will take out ISIS." Well, President Obama and Secretary Clinton created a vacuum the way they got out of Iraq, because they got out -- what, they shouldn't have been in, but once they got in, the way they got out was a disaster. And ISIS was formed," he alleged.

He added that the country can not afford to have another four years of Clinton's "bad experience".

Clinton disagreed, asserting that she has a plan to defeat ISIS.

"I have put forth a plan to defeat ISIS. It does involve going after them online. I think we need to do much more with our tech companies to prevent ISIS and their operatives from being able to use the Internet to radicalise, even direct people in our country and Europe and elsewhere," she said.

At the same time the US would also have to intensify its air strikes against ISIS and eventually support Arab and Kurdish partners to be able to actually take out ISIS in the Syrian city of Raqqa and end their claim of being a Caliphate, she said, adding "We're making progress."

Clinton alleged that Trump has flip-flopped on his policy on Iraq as he initially supported the war in Iraq, though Trump strongly denied the charge.

"I hope the fact-checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard. Donald supported the invasion of Iraq," she said as the two entered into a verbal duel.

Both elicited laughter and cheers despite pleas from the organizers for no cheering, booing or clapping. Moderator NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt could be seen struggling to get a word in edgeways, saying "We need to move on as Trump spoke into the microphone about the nuclear threat.

"I think my strongest asset, maybe by far is my temperament," said the real estate tycoon to laughter.

"Woah. OK," she said to more laughs.

Trump called Clinton as "Secretary Clinton", avoiding his "Crooked Hillary" epithet from the campaign.

Clinton, who acknowledged that using personal email hosted on a private server was a mistake, said Trump is not releasing his tax returns may be because of couple of reasons.

"First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings, but we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes about USD 650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks.

"Or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes, because the only years that anybody's ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license, and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax," she said.

The debate ended with a question over whether each would accept the outcome of the election. "If she wins, I will absolutely support her," said Trump.
Government expects the first flight under the regional air connectivity scheme, which is in advanced stages of finalisation, to take off in early January 2017, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said.

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), which seeks to provide air services between un-served and under-served areas, is part of larger plans to boost the domestic aviation sector, which is clocking over 20 per cent passenger growth.

Raju, under whose stewardship the civil aviation policy was announced in June, said work is at an advanced stage with respect to RCS.

"We expect the first flight under RCS to take off by the end of this year or early January 2017," he told PTI.

The civil aviation ministry has already signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, for implementation of RCS.

The scheme refers to operation of an air transport service between any two airports, of which at least one has been declared by the central government as un-served or under-served.

There are 394 un-served and 16 under-served airports.

Last week, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said as many as 20 un-utilised airports are ready to start operations for regional flights.

A slew of incentives are being proposed under RCS, including Rs 2,500 cap on airfare for one-hour flights.

Airlines under RCS will be extended viability gap funding (VGF) while the states concerned are required to offer certain concessions such as providing police and fire services free of cost.

VGF will be created by way of charging a small levy per departure on all domestic flights on certain routes and small aircraft below 80 seats. Central and state governments will be sharing the VGF amount.

Last month, the government notified excise duty of 2 per cent for jet fuel purchased from airports that come under RCS, which is part of the new civil aviation policy.

The concessional rate will be applicable for airlines as well as cargo operators.

A basic excise duty at concessional rate of 2 per cent will be levied on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) drawn by operators or cargo operators from RCS airports for three years," the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had said in a notification.
To counter Reliance Jio's free service offer, Vodafone today announced a free data plan offering 10 GB 4G mobile services at the price of 1 GB plan but with various riders.

Under the offer, a Vodafone customer with new smartphone with get additional 9GB of 4G mobile broadband usage when he recharges the 1 GB plan.

ALSO READ: Telecom war intensifies as RJio makes live operator-wise call drop data

The new scheme is being offered in circles where Vodafone offers its own 3G or 4G services and can be availed by both prepaid and postpaid customers till December 31, 2016.

Jio is offering unlimited free voice calls to all its subscribers besides unlimited use of 4G high speed mobile services till December 31, 2016.

"We are giving a greater reason to customers to upgrade to 4G handsets. With this offer, we are encouraging new 4G handset users to enjoy the Vodafone SuperNet experience to the fullest," Sandeep Kataria, Director - Commercial, Vodafone India said in a statement.

Under the offer, Vodafone customer will also get free subscription to TV, Movies & Music on Vodafone Play.

The offer will be applicable on only those 4G smartphones which were not used on Vodafone network in the last 6 months.

Also, customers in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata will get 9GB of 4G data if the subscribers recharges with 1GB or above scheme.

However, the customers in Uttar Pradesh (West), Uttar Pradesh(East), Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal ,Kerala , Tamil Nadu , Maharashtra & Goa, Assam, North East states, Rajasthan will get 9GB of 3G data but only on 4G handset during limited time between 12 AM to 6 AM if the subscriber recharges with 1GB or above plan.


State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) have today released the findings of their annual Retirement Confidence Monitor (RCM) which surveyed almost 700 defined contribution (DC) savers in the Republic of Ireland, in addition to more than 2,000 respondents in the United Kingdom and the United States.



The Retirement Confidence Monitor is an annual survey designed to track changing attitudes and behaviors relative to defined contribution plans.

The RCM found that 80% of Irish respondents favour automatic enrolment of all eligible employees into pension schemes and nearly two-thirds (61%) would also likely take advantage of automatic annual increases in contributions.



Irish respondents emerged as the least confident about their retirement readiness. Thirty nine per cent of Irish defined contribution savers claimed they are not confident that theyre on track to meet their retirement goals (an increase of 4% year on year), compared with only 15% in the US and 28% in the UK.

Exactly half of the Irish sample expects to work past the traditional retirement age, with 42% saying that they would work full-time.



Furthermore, more than half (51%) of Irish respondents say they know how their savings are invested, (a significant increase from 39% in 2015) with the same number stating that they understand their investments. Interestingly 53% feel that they now receive sufficient information from their employer/pension provider to make an informed decision, compared with 35% in 2015.



The Irish are the least confident when it comes to making ends meet; if an unexpected expense or health crisis arose 35% of respondents said they would risk running low on money for basic necessities, and 36% of respondents said they would consider their financial life to be a mess. One in 10 Irish people also noted that financial stress keeps them awake at night.



Senior DC Investment Strategist at SSGA, Alistair Byrne commented, "A lot of groundwork is required to ensure that people make proper provision for their retirement, and in our third annual survey of Irish DC members, we continue to see concern about their state of preparedness. Progress has been recorded year on year and there are grounds for optimism."

He added, "However, many people are not saving enough, so introduction of automatic enrolment and automatic escalation of pension contributions should be considered as ways to help more people prepare for retirement."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
At just nine weeks old, two puppies from the Beatrice Humane Society have found new homes in Connecticut as a result of the organizations promotions on its Facebook page for adoptions, both in and out of state.

The two boxer and Saint Bernard mixed breeds, J.D and Jameson, were picked up at the Beatrice Municipal Airport on Tuesday afternoon. That boarding was the first of many for the puppies as they began a long day of traveling.

"Somebody wanted them, so we made it happen," said John Rypman, Chairman of the Beatrice Humane Society Board.

Beatrice Humane Society Manager Bryce Caulk said its social media page is very helpful to the center in finding homes for animals.

I posted a picture of Jameson on Facebook and through connections Ive made in Rescue he was adopted to a family in Connecticut, Caulk said. We get 16,000 shares on Facebook for daily posts and it has been a huge tool to help with adoptions.

J.D. and Jameson flew to Chicago via the small plane that took off from the Beatrice airport. From Chicago, the dogs were to be picked up and driven to New York before eventually arriving in their new homes in Connecticut. Though they will live in separate houses, the two owners are friends and both puppies will be trained as therapy dogs.

Its always exciting when the animals get a home, but in this case I know the owners so I know that they will have really good homes and the fact that they are getting flown out is really exciting," Caulk added.

The two puppies have been in the shelter since September 9. Under Nebraska law, the dogs could not fly until they were eight weeks old.

"The new owners work with bully breeds so the cross was exactly what they were looking for," Caulk said. "They are very smart, highly attentive and easy to train."

To become therapy dogs, each will need approximately eight to 12 weeks of training. While puppies have been adopted from the Beatrice Humane Society to families from Texas, Colorado and all over the Midwest, this was the first time Caulk had seen dogs flown out to the east coast.

"We are excited to have opportunities like this through Facebook and we hope to keep the adoptions going," Caulk said.

John and Brian Pounds with the Pilots N Paws pet rescue services came in from Crystal Lake in Chicago to pick them up.
JumpStart 2016 launched last week for the seventh year with Entrepreneur Bobby Kerr.



Jumpstart has been running since 2010 in Ireland and has become a firm favourite in the business start-up community across the country.

This years Judging Panel will again be headed up one of Irelands best known entrepreneurs, Bobby Kerr with other judges including Shane Doyle - Vice President for Manufacturing Ireland at Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc, Oisin Geoghegan - Head of Local Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Fingal, Declan Lyons - Commercialisation Manager at Enterprise Ireland and Padraig Challoner, Business Manager at AIB.



The LINC along with their sponsors have created an innovative support programme to assist the winners to Jumpstart their business from concept phase through to funding and trading position, at a rapid pace.

JumpStart 2016 will connect them with industry experts to help the company grow an export oriented business smartly and quickly whilst empowering the entrepreneur and their business with not only the information and skills required but will also house the business within an impressive incubation centre and open the doors to opportunities for both state aid and private investment.



The winner will get a cash prize of 10,000, an office space at the LINC and mentoring supports.



Manager of the LINC Centre at ITB, Assumpta Harvey says, "The 2015 winners GROOPEZE are expanding into new markets and are great ambassadors for Irish entrepreneurs abroad. The entry into JumpStart has been simplified this year and were really excited to hear from all the brave entrepreneurs out there. This competition offers full range of mentoring, financial and infrastructural supports to enable the winning company grow."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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A three-year collaboration has been established today which will aim to strengthen job growth and economic development between Jacksonville, Northeast Florida and Ireland.

Joanna Murphy, CEO of ConnectIreland, and Jerry Mallot, President JAXUSA Partnership, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today establishing bilateral cooperation between both parties, actioning a startup exchange partnership between Jacksonville and Ireland.



US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin OMalley attended the signing and welcomed the further strengthening of business relations between Ireland and the US.

The partnership will focus on startup business development, investment and innovation. Direct collaborative projects will aim to bolster economic development and startup market performance.



The creation of this relationship between ConnectIreland and JAXUSA will give companies from each respective state the supports they need to expand internationally.

ConnectIreland will provide supports and introductions to ensure that Florida-based companies make a successful expansion into the European market via Ireland. Irish companies looking to expand into the US will be equally supported by JAXUSA.



Initiatives delivered through the partnership will focus on promoting innovation and research; business acceleration; and investment. ConnectIreland and JAXUSA will be prioritising; Financial Technology (Fintech), Advanced Manufacturing, Aviation and Aerospace, Logistics, and Health Services Technology (Healthtech), for the duration of this partnership.



CEO ConnectIreland, Joanna Murphy commented, "There is real opportunity here, in partnership with JAXUSA Partnership, to promote job creation and foster innovation, ensuring Irish and Floridian companies receive the support and information to ensure their transatlantic expansions are as seamless as possible."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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A national survey recently carried out by Matrix Recruitment Group polled over 200 financial services professionals in Ireland and has been released today.

The survey investigated earnings of those working within a diverse industry as well as looking at work-life balance, benefits and employee expectations.



In relation to employees salary and benefits, the survey showed that only 7% of those questioned were dissatisfied and 59% were somewhat satisfied. In 2015, 40% of those surveyed received a pay rise and 63% of those survey are expecting a pay rise in 2016.



In Ireland, the financial sector encompasses domestic financial activities as well as internationally-traded financial services - the Irish Financial Services Centre (IFSC), which is an important feature within Ireland's economy and employs over 38,000 people, with an expected 10,000 new jobs in the sector by 2020.



Salary samples within the survey concluded that a Fund Accountant Supervisor should expect to earn 35,000 - 45,000; whilst a middle office, senior administrator position in Dublin will start at 28,000 and go up to 35,000 but reach slightly less regionally at 32,000.

The survey also showed that the one of the highest earning positions in the financial services sector was that of a Managing Director in Fund Accounting, earning 140,000 - 190,000 in Dublin and between 120,000 - 150,000 in regional posts.



A role in Compliance is also a fruitful place at the top with a position as Head of Compliance in Dublin presenting an annual pay packet of 90,000-150,000 and between 80,000 - 120,000 in a regional position.



Regarding benefits, surprisingly financial gain is not top of the list. Of the top five, performance bonus ranked as low as fifth for financial services employees. Other benefits included annual leave 22 plus days (1st), sick pay (2nd), pension contribution (3rd) and health insurance (4th).



On the topic of working hours, the results showed that over 53% of financial services professionals worked on average a 35 - 40 hour week. Over a third of those surveyed worked over 40 hours a week and 65% did not receive pay for overtime.

When changing jobs or looking for a new role, over 53% would consider a move if the right company and job came along. However, when questioned, 57% stated that if they received a new job offer, they would stay if they received a counter offer from an existing employer.



Financial Recruitment Services Manager at Matrix Recruitment, Gillian Wall commented, "A trend during 2016 within the financial recruitment market was a significant increase in the number of permanent roles advertised."

She added, "This trend and the number of employers lengthening contracts to hold on to the best talent as well as multinationals reinstating their internship programmes all reflects on our findings. Seventy per cent of those we surveyed are currently in permanent roles."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Walt Disney Co and Microsoft Corp joined a list of potential suitors for Twitter Inc , according to media reports on Monday.

Twitter shares were marginally down at $23.33 in after-market trading.

The microblogging service has reportedly started talks with a number of technology companies to sell itself, including Google parent Alphabet Inc and may receive a formal bid soon. A source told Reuters that Salesforce.com Inc is also in pursuit.

Salesforce is working with Bank of America on a potential bid, a Bloomberg report on Monday said.

Walt Disney is also working with a financial adviser to evaluate a possible bid for Twitter, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Jack Dorsey, who returned to Twitter as chief executive more than a year ago, has been a part of Disney's board since 2013.

Microsoft is also among the list of potential suitors, although Facebook Inc is not likely to have an interest in the social network, CNBC said, citing sources, following the Bloomberg report.

A sale could occur in the next 30 to 45 days, CNBC reported.

"At this moment, Microsoft has nothing to share," said a spokeswoman for the company.

Facebook declined to comment on the matter while Twitter and Disney were not available for comment. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the US tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals.

In a measure of rising ambition beyond its taxi business, Uber will begin delivering meals in Amsterdam on Thursday just as Dutch market leader Takeaway.com, begins trading on the city's stock market.

And according to current job listings on Uber and other recruiting sites - for about 150 roles ranging from general managers and sales staff to bike couriers - UberEats is planning to enter at least 22 new countries across the world in the near future. That is on top of the six countries where it already operates.

As recently as May, Uber executives were signalling that UberEats' international ambitions were a modest extension of its core business of transporting people. But its job hiring efforts over the last three months suggest something more ambitious is taking shape.

"UberEats is one (business) we feel incredibly confident is resonating across the world and resonating across the footprint of the cities in which Uber operates the transport business," Jambu Palaniappan, recently named head of UberEats for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

He named eight cities including Dubai and Johannesburg that UberEats plans to enter by the end of the year, but declined to spell out later targets.

Europe is home base to many of the most active international players in the online food takeaway business. They are counting on their local ties, established customer bases and sprawling restaurant networks to insulate them from U.S. tech giants.

The biggest international players - Britain's Just Eat , Germany's Delivery Hero and Takeaway.com - focus on advertising local takeaways and booking orders for nearby users, while leaving deliveries to the restaurants themselves.

They have been raising fresh capital or swapping assets to bulk up in the expectation that Uber would ratchet up its challenge.

Meanwhile, smaller players - Belgium's Take Eat Easy, delivering in 20 European cities, and London-based Pronto, which cooked meals as well as delivered them - have shut down in recent months, as the rush of funding that created dozens of start-ups modelled on Uber in recent years has dwindled.

Investors have poured nearly 8.9 billion euros into 421 food delivery deals since the start of 2014, but funding dropped by more than half in the first six months of 2016, according to research from CBInsights.

Overall, the global restaurant takeaway market is projected to grow by 10% between 2015 and 2020 to reach $93.4 billion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

Adding to pressures on existing food delivery players, Amazon launched its international expansion of Amazon Restaurants by entering the London market earlier this month, building on its existing 11-city base in the United States.

"The problem for many of the remaining players is that they are sub-scale: They can't compete without superior logistics," said Neil Campling, head of global research for the tech industry at fund manager Northern Trust Capital Markets.

To date, UberEats has launched in 33 cities in six countries, 27 of which are in the United States, where it first began testing food delivery two years ago.

Since launching in London in June, Uber has promised to cut delivery times to within a 30-minute window, with no minimum order size or extra delivery fees. You can order a cupcake made in Kensington and have it driven across town to Whitechapel for the price of the cupcake in the shop.

"When we launch in a city, one of the things we try to do very quickly is to get customer wait times down as low as possible," said Palaniappan, a Silicon Valley native who had run Uber's core business in the EMEA region and oversaw its move into India.

By contrast, many rivals promise orders will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, while requiring minimum orders and charging customer delivery fees. UberEats also benefits by being promoted through Uber's existing, very popular car hire app.

Later this week, Takeaway plans to raise 350 million euros ($390 million) in an initial public offering that would give it a market value around 1 billion euros.

Some newer entrants like Deliveroo of Britain and Foodora, a unit of Delivery Hero, have their own drivers - but few can rival Uber or Amazon's deep pockets and vast customer bases around the globe.

To bolster their respective local and regional positions, Takeaway and Just Eat traded assets in August, with Takeaway exiting Just Eat's British stronghold in exchange for Just Eat's Benelux properties.

London-listed Just Eat expects its revenue to rise around 50 percent this year and says its 66,000 restaurant partnerships can ensure its growth for years to come.

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Oestberg says his firm has built a market-leading position in 28 countries around the world, signing up close to 300,000 restaurants - from Asia to Europe to Latin America - by acquiring local rivals, swapping assets and exiting tougher markets such as China and Russia.

Dominance is not assured for Amazon and Uber, for whom meal delivery - a highly localised business that must be won city by city from local players - is but one of several big initiatives.

A swing factor could prove to be how willing restaurants, such as pizza chains, are willing to allow big digital players to come between them and their customers - an issue Amazon has faced with brand-name retailers and Uber with taxi associations.

Alexander Frolov, a London-based partner in venture capital firm Target Global, an investor in Delivery Hero and other food-themed start-ups, says Uber is a formidable challenger but local food delivery is far from a winner-take-all market.

"It's not like Facebook. If all my friends are on UberEats, I don't really care; there will be other options," Frolov said in an interview. "That makes it more difficult for Uber to displace strong local players." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

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A panel of legislative and education experts addressed a Legislative Town Hall event on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 at Ridgeline High School. From left to right, participants on the panel included Ben Leishman (Legislative Fiscal Analyst), Dr. Ben Lignugaris-Kraft (Interim Head of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at Utah State University), Terryl Warner (State School Board, District 1), Tami Pyfer (Education Advisor to Governor Gary Herbert), Frank Schofield (Superintendent of the Logan City School District), Dr. Steve Norton (Superintendent of the Cache County School District), and Lyle Hillyard (State Senator-District 25).

Education funding was the focus of a recent Legislative Town Hall meeting at Ridgeline High School. Among the various topics discussed was how the state is doing in attracting and retaining its teachers. Tami Pyfer, Governor Gary Herberts advisor on education, said that incoming teacher education candidates have much higher ACT scores than average Utah State University students, but after five years of entering the profession, 42% of teachers leave.

So when we talk about attracting the best and the brightest, just know we have the attracting part, Pyfer exclaimed. We have been doing that. I worry that we are going to lose that because of the narrative we have on public education, which is a false narrative. Its not how do we attract them in Utah, its how do we keep them here.

Legislative Fiscal Analyst Ben Leishman said with approximately 25,000 teachers in Utah, the average wage for teachers is only $46,700, excluding benefits. Part of the challenge with the teaching industry, Leishman said, is improving teacher salaries but not all of that funding comes from the state.

Dr. Ben Lignaguris-Kraft, interim head of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at USU, said teachers not only need a better salary, but they also need better support.

I think its a national dialogue. I think its the demands that are being put on teachers in the classroom, Lignaguris-Kraft said. Yes, salary is very, very important. But another key issue if we want to retain teachers, is to provide support in the classroom for those teachers, so they can handle those large class sizes that we have, so they can get to individual kids.

Lignaguris-Kraft said as recently as five years ago USU was turning away applicants, but over the last two semesters USUs education program has had open spots.

Leishman said the cost to limit classrooms to 15 students per class would cost the state $370 million, and that would not include any building costs.

We have a profession here that has an issue with not only how they are treated in the public sector and how they are treated with the amount of salary that we pay them, said Cache School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Norton. They could go to a whole lot of other states and receive that salary, but Cache and Logan districts will be the last in the nation to have a shortage because we have a beautiful valley to live in.

Norton claimed that the districts do a pretty good job of letting teachers know they are appreciated, getting support from parents, and having a student body that is eager to learn. Norton said there are many other places throughout the state that are not as ideal places to live and they are struggling. When they struggle, he said, then those districts rely more on substitute teachers than they should.

Frank Schofield, Superintendent of the Logan City School District, said there has been a consistent, negative narrative about teachers and schools throughout the country and even in the state of Utah. He said, unfortunately, too many times a single, anecdotal experience is shared to illustrate all of teaching. Even reports about education come with a negative tone, he said.

Even this most recent report by the state legislators: No Time to Lose. Really? asked Schofield frustratingly. Lets talk about education with a tone and climate of fear because our schools are failing, our schools are terrible and our students are suffering. Why would you choose to enter a profession where that is the narrative?

Schofield said finances is one reason why some teachers are not staying with the profession, but a negative narrative is another. He said we need to start changing how we talk about education.

To listen to the Legislative Town Hall on Education Funding in its entirety, <a href=http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/324/2016_09_23_324_49552_2867.mp3 target=_blank>click here</a>.
LOGAN  The two-day trial for Jason K. Summers has been postponed. The 30-year-old Smithfield man is accused of breaking into a LDS Church and shooting at a neighbor who confronted him.

During Mondays status conference in 1st District Court, defense attorney Ryan Holdaway said he was concerned that with the trial scheduled for October 19 and 20, he and prosecutors wouldnt have enough time to work out a possible plea agreement.

Police arrested Summers July 7 after a man called 911, claiming he was shot at while confronting the defendant, attempting to break into a Smithfield LDS Church. He was taken into custody and arrested. Police later found a shotgun, believed to be the suspected firearm.

Summers has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, both third-degree felonies and four misdemeanor drug charges. He could face up to life in prison.

During Monday court appearance, state attorney Aaron Josie said Smithfield City Police officers were still investigating the incident and additional charges are pending.

Judge Thomas Willmore ordered Summers to appear October 11 for an evidentiary hearing and said he would consider a new trial date then.

Summers remains in the Cache County Jail on $40,000 bail.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
Two vehicles collided on Seventh and Market streets in the late afternoon on Tuesday when a driver from Kansas was headed the wrong way down a one-way street.

The vehicles T-boned at the intersection, causing damage to the front sides of both cars, according to Beatrice Police Sergeant Brian Carver.

The Kansas driver was heading south on Seventh Street, a northbound one-way street, and the man driving the black Pontiac was going east on Market Street (also a one-way street), Carver said.

Following the crash, the Kansas driver was complaining of neck pain and was soon transported to the hospital, but Carver did not think it was life-threatening.
A good First-Aid kit stocked with essential elements is an important part of safety and emergency preparedness

The fear of not knowing what to do in the event of a disaster, how to gather and care for loved ones and how to survive until help arrives can be more traumatizing than the actual disaster.

According to Carolyn Washburn, Utah State University Extension professor, by taking the time to prepare now, families can diminish fear and loss in the event of a future calamity.

September is National Preparedness Month, a great time for people to begin designing a family preparedness plan. The Ready Campaign and Citizen Corp organizations (http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps and http://www.ready.gov/about-us) are now in their 13th year of encouraging awareness and preparedness for families and are helpful resources.

Disasters affect thousands of people every year in the United States and worldwide, disrupting daily functions and leaving lasting effects, but the American Red Cross reports that only 65 percent of Americans have emergency preparedness plans in place.

When families have a plan in place, each family member can feel a sense of security and have the necessary tools to survive, said Washburn. For Utah, the biggest threat is a major earthquake; however, the most common occurrences are floods, which affect and destroy many homes and properties each year, and wildfires that rage throughout the state projecting heat, ash and smoke. It may be impossible for your family to prepare for all disasters, but they should be informed of the most likely disasters and have a plan in place.

Washburn recommends building an emergency plan with the following:

 Points of contact  Make sure family members know how and where to reunite with each other.

 Stored food  Begin with a 3-week supply and then work toward building a longer-term supply.

 72-96 hour emergency kits  Have one for each family member (including pets) and one for each vehicle. According to Cindy Nelson, USU Extension assistant professor, the following contents should be included: first aid kit, including basic first aid supplies and necessary medications for allergies, pain, etc.; snacks, water, non-perishable foods and a can opener; water bottle with a purifier or a filter so water from a stream or melted snow can be used; emergency thermal blanket to provide warmth or shelter; warm clothing including gloves; microfiber towels that are highly absorbent and quick drying and/or compressed towels to save space; tissues or toilet paper; matches or a lighter; cash (small bills); notebook and pen; contact information for family members, doctor, insurance, mechanic, etc., either on a piece of paper or stored in a cell phone. Also include a car charger for cell phones as well as a backup charger that is either battery or solar powered, flashlights, batteries and a portable radio.

 Sanitation supplies  Following a disaster, water and the use of plumbing may be unavailable. Without proper emergency sanitation accommodations such as a portable toilet and waste treatment chemicals, conditions may become unsanitary causing diarrhea, respiratory illness or infections from wounds or sores that could lead to disease or even death.

 Grab and go financial kit  Take the time now to prepare a financial kit that includes your important financial information and copies of documents, family pictures and a listing of the value of important items.

According to the National Terror Alert Response Center, no matter who you are or where you live, you can be touched or devastated by a calamity, terrorist attack or natural disaster. Preparing for an emergency now provides the best chance of survival. Emergency preparedness should always be considered in the home, workplace and school.

Once you are prepared, help others build their emergency plans so we have safe, strong communities, Washburn said.
A reporter for the Western Carolinian of Salisbury in 1825 wrote,But according to historians Richard Knapp and Brent Glass in Gold Mining in North Carolina, the average Tar Heel did not fall victim to gold fever. Nevertheless, there was enough demand by 1830 that a Miners' and Farmers' Journal began publication in Charlotte.Like many events with long-lasting results, the discovery of gold was unplanned. In 1799, John Reed's son, Conrad, found a massive gold nugget in a creek bed. For three years, the Reeds did not know the rock's worth.It was used as a doorstop. After learning its value, John Reed panned nearby Little Meadow Creek for more nuggets. And he found them.Until the mid-1830s, farmers panned for gold when the agricultural season ended. Prospectors swirled the gold in pans and rockers full of water; a rocker was a wooden box or set of connected boxes that, when rocked, separated gold from gravel. Because gold is heavier, it rested at the bottom of the shaken pan or rocker.By the late 1820s, in many places part-time prospecting in creeks was turning into full-time mining operations. Although some gold mining companies employed hundreds, mining operations typically were small.The smaller operations provided a corporate blueprint for later pursuits in the furniture, textile, and tobacco industries. Because of gold mining, Charlotte evolved from little more than a village during the antebellum era into a regional financial center.American and foreign investors heard and read of gold discoveries in Mecklenburg County. Many moved to the Carolina Piedmont to start mines or work in them. Although gold prospecting and mining occurred as far west as present-day Cherokee County and as far east as present-day Nash and Halifax counties, most gold was found in 10 Piedmont counties: Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Montgomery, Stanly, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Union.Less than 30 years after Reed's discovery, in 1827 North Carolina granted the first charter to a gold mining company. Corporate charters ranged from $100,000 to $300,000. (Investments of at least $100,000 were needed to start a deep-mining operation.)For many years, North Carolina provided the only native gold for the United States mint. Once the gold was shipped to Philadelphia to be minted, however, little came back to circulate in the Tar Heel State. As a result, North Carolinians wanted a government mint.Interestingly, the United States opened the Charlotte mint in 1837, after gold miners' deposits had started to decline. While Congress delayed its decision to establish the mint, Christopher Bechtler, with homemade equipment, opened a private mint. He coined gold, including the first minted-gold dollar.Historians report that Bechtler coined $109,000 in his first four years of business (1831-35). Always trusted, the Bechtler mint lasted until 1857, a decade and half after its founder's death.In the 1840s gold mining revived, and miners, many of them immigrants, established new operations. Although the California Gold Rush lured many potential entrepreneurs westward, the vast majority of North Carolinians remained and participated in the state's mining renewal.Eventually, technology that was used in the California Gold Rush, such as hydraulic mining, was used in North Carolina. During the 1850s, mining activity waned because digging deeper and deeper for less and less gold yielded little profit.By the advent of the Civil War gold mining in North Carolina became so unprofitable that the activity stopped. Even so, gold mining had influenced the Old North State's unique economic development. According to Knapp and Glass, it contributed to North Carolina becoming a
North Carolinians have learned a lot in the past few days - about law enforcement, race relations, cynical politics, media memes, and the need for wise leadership during crisis. But the cost of our education has been far too high.Dozens of police officers, journalists, and citizens were injured during the riots that broke out after a black officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, also African-American, last Tuesday. One protester, Justin Carr, was killed. Some businesses were looted. Others shut down or instructed employees not to venture uptown. The damage, physical and otherwise, was extensive.Despite receiving our expensive lessons, there's one thing North Carolinians don't yet know for certain - exactly what transpired at the scene of Scott's death. Kerr Putney, chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, says the physical and testimonial evidence indicates Scott was armed, resisting arrest, and perceived to be an imminent threat by the officers on the scene.On Friday, Scott's wife released her own cellphone video. A day later, Putney released the police department's videos. Millions of people then watched, studied, and drew their own conclusions. Because none of the footage showed the entire incident, at a high-enough resolution to see everything clearly, these conclusions were inevitably speculative and subjective. The authorities - and a judge and jury, if charges were ever brought - could use other evidence not yet available for public inspection.What's more certain is that the riots that rocked Charlotte on Tuesday and Wednesday were not caused by the city's refusal to release its videos immediately. How do I know that? Because on Thursday and Friday, before the footage was released on Saturday, Charlotte experienced largely peaceful protests, not riots.The critical factor was that on Thursday morning, city officials finally accepted the offer Gov. Pat McCrory had made early the previous day: the declaration of a state of emergency and the deployment of state troopers and the National Guard. Overwhelming force is what deterred additional crimes against police, property, and innocent civilians.Charlotte station WBTV reported that Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts initially refused McCrory's offer because she worried that a state of emergency would look bad. Publicly, she stated that in the aftermath of the initial rioting on Tuesday evening, she still believed the Wednesday protests would be peaceful. At best, this was a disastrous error in judgment.It wasn't the only one. Reckless allegations inflamed the situation. A group of clergy led by NAACP state president William Barber stepped forward to help restrain protesters, and may have had that effect in some cases. But they also irresponsibly blamed police for "provoking" the riots. And they trafficked in a range of conspiracy theories - such as claims that Carr was killed by police, or that officers may have planted the gun attributed to Scott - that made themselves look ridiculous and their cause look political.Indeed, Barber even used his moment in the media spotlight to talk about Medicaid expansion and other political disputes far afield from the case - but conveniently linked to Republicans in Raleigh rather than Democrats in Charlotte.When it comes to freedom of speech, there is a key distinction between expressing an opinion and shouting down someone else expressing an opinion. The latter is called the "heckler's veto." In Charlotte, some people angry about the Scott case, or about race and justice issues in general, seemed to believe they enjoyed a "rioter's veto." They thought they could interrupt the normal investigative process and insist that unless the city released its videos immediately - even though such a premature release might influence the testimony of witnesses still being interviewed - the unrest would continue. "No tapes, no peace!" they shouted.Absolutely unacceptable. Peace and security come first. Then, presentation of facts. Then, discussion about what those facts mean and what response is warranted. This is the sequence civilization requires. It is the responsibility of leaders, public and private, to insist on this sequence. Some did, such as Putney and McCrory. Others didn't. They should be embarrassed. Alas, they won't be.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Cassandra Strom, with Padre Island Business Branding, interacts with part of the landmark exhibit at the Art Museum of South Texas featuring the work of Texas artist Dorothy Hood titled The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000). The exhibit runs through Jan. 8 and is the first critical overview of Hoods's paintings and works paper produced from 1935 to 2000. A preview of the exhibit was Monday.

SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Hannah Shaw (left) and Claudia Huerta, with the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitor Bureau, interact with part of the landmark exhibit at the Art Museum of South Texas featuring the work of Texas artist Dorothy Hood titled The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000). The exhibit runs through Jan. 8 and is the first critical overview of Hoods's paintings and works paper produced from 1935 to 2000. A preview of the exhibit was Monday. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Susie Kalis, guest curator and author of the exhibition book for the landmark exhibit at the Art Museum of South Texas featuring the work of Texas artist Dorothy Hood titled The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000) on Monday. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Joe Schenk, director of the Art Museum of South Texas, speaks during a preview of a landmark exhibit at the museum featuring the work of Texas artist Dorothy Hood titled The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000) on Monday, September 26, 2016. The exhibit runs through January 8 and is the first critical overview of Hoods's paintings and works paper produced from 1935 to 2000. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times John Chesshir (from left), Charlene Chesshir and Carolyn Young look at historical documents never before seen Monday during a preview of a landmark exhibit at the Art Museum of South Texas featuring the work of Texas artist Dorothy Hood titled The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000). Related Photos Dorothy Hood exibit makes history at art museum

By Natalia Contreras of the Caller-Times

Art enthusiasts who walk into the Art Museum of South Texas this weekend will not only find the largest exhibit in the museum's history  they'll find an interactive experience.

The exhibit aims to inspire young artists in South Texas to have a vision and do as much as they can to promote it.

The featured artist is 20th century modernist Dorothy Hood, of Houston.

"This is a story about a Texas woman who was born in a time when most of the recognized modern artists were men," said Deborah Fullerton, Art Museum of South Texas curator of exhibitions. "(Hood) lived in a pre-Facebook, pre-websites time, and she understood that where you are now is not where you'll always be.

"She had vision and believed wholeheartedly in what she was doing. That's what we want young artists to get from her work," Fullerton said.

The exhibition, "The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000) will open Friday and run through Jan. 8, museum officials said Monday during a news conference.

It features 160 works of art  84 paintings, 47 drawings and 29 collages produced from 1935 to 2000  and hands-on interactive pieces to enhance the learning experience of the exhibit.

"So many times in the museum we say 'stand back' or 'don't touch,' " Fullerton said. "And now we want you to touch, expand the detail and learn how these pieces came together."

The museum's goal is to reestablish Hood as an important 20th century modernist painter. She died of breast cancer in 2000.

The project is the largest and the most expensive in the museum's history.

Hood's drawings were influenced by surrealism as well as her lonely youth and her time in Mexico, where she lived for about 20 years, guest curator and author Susie Kalil said.

Kalil wrote the book "The Color of Being/ El Color Del Ser: Dorothy Hood, 1918-2000," which will be available for purchase at the museum.

"Dorothy took a big bite out of life; her interests were of great scope: science, nature, literature, everything. And it's represented in her works," Kalil said. "She wanted people to grab art by the horns and hang on for the ride. She was way ahead of her time."

Art Museum of South Texas director Joe Schenk said the museum worked on the project about five years.

"For the museum to have this exhibit, it's representative of the support this community has for art and artists," Schenk said. "We want to celebrate Dorothy's life and continue her legacy."

Twitter: @CallerNatalia

Making a collage at the Dorothy Hood exhibit @visitamst #VivaCC pic.twitter.com/5IY4du298h  Rachel Denny Clow (@CallerClow) September 26, 2016

The Color of Being/El Color del Ser: Dorothy Hood (1918-2000)

What: Exhibit preview reception

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Cost: Members with one guest/free. Nonmembers/$20

What: Lunch Amongst the Masters and Gallery Walk with Susie Kalil

When: noon Friday

Where: Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Cost: RSVP required. Members/$15. Nonmembers/$20

What: An Evening with Dorothy Hood: Panel Discussion

When: 6-7 p.m. Friday

Where: Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Cost: Free

Fun facts about Dorothy Hood

Dorothy Hood was born in Bryan on Aug. 22, 1918, and raised in Houston.

In 1941 she went to Mexico City on vacation but ended up staying there until 1961.

She became part of a group of artists and intellectuals including Ramon Sender, Leonora Carrington, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Neruda, Sophie Treadwell, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, among others.

Jose Clemente Orozco was her mentor.

In 1946 she married Bolivian composer and conductor Jose Maria Velasco Maidana, who she met at Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico City.

In 1989 her work was recognized at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C.

Source: Art Museum of South Texas
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES A small unmanned aircraft is demonstrated Monday after the announcement of a $788,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for Del Mar Colleges Unmanned Aircraft Systems Educational Initiative.

SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Del Mar College student Kevin Pratt flies a small unmanned aircraft Monday. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Hunter Morgan, Del Mar College transfer student/Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi graduate and software engineer for Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence & Innovation, speaks Monday during Del Mar College's announcement of a grant from the National Science Foundation. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES State Rep. Todd Hunter speaks during Del Mar College's announcement of a grant Monday from the National Science Foundation for their Unmanned Aircraft Systems Educational Initiative.

By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

Hunter Morgan looked up one day and his world changed.

Morgan was on track to earning a bachelor's degree in computer science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi when he started studying unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. He was a Del Mar College transfer student who knew he wanted to develop software for a changing technology workforce.

"I didn't get involved in (drones) until my senior year, which is about the time the school was designated as one of six (drone) test site by the (Federal Aviation Administration)," Morgan said. "Then, it was just starting to catch on in the commercial arena."

Morgan's foray into drone technology turned into a career-changing move. He is now the lead software engineer at Corpus Christi-based Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence and Innovation, where he climbed the ranks from an internship.

Del Mar, in a partnership with A&M-Corpus Christi and Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center, received $788,000 in an advanced technological education grant from the National Science Foundation.

The grant will go toward Del Mar's continuing development programs involving unmanned aircraft systems. The three-year grant will run until June 2019 and will allow Del Mar's geographical information systems students to continue degree plans and purse a bachelor in GIS or digital information mapping at A&M-Corpus Christi.

Drone and remote sensing curriculum will be developed in both fields of study, and area high school teachers will be trained for a future dual-credit high school certification program.

"This will mean the students don't have to go to Del Mar for classes; they will be able to stay on their high school's campus," said Jeffrey Beynon, physics teacher at Flour Bluff High School. "This field is so experimental. You can do so much with drones."

Morgan said the curriculum development at the community college will encourage high school and college students to choose careers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Jobs in unmanned aircraft development and regulations span several disciplines, including aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science, he said.

The United States ranked 28th among 35 countries on proficiency in science and math in 2012, according to the National Science Foundation. Another study in 2009 found that 26 percent of the country's 12th grade students scored at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Lenora Keas, Del Mar vice president of workforce development and strategic initiatives, said this grant is the culmination of several years of work with a trip that started in China. Texas is the third of 10 states with a significant job recreation and revenue growth in drone technology, she said.

"This is the future," said State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi). "I wish the rest of the state would look toward the Coastal Bend and South Texas schools and work together."

Twitter: @Caller_Jules
SHARE Gonzalez, Gardner Longoria, Klein Perkes, Hinojosa

By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

The local lawyers' choice for Nueces County District Attorney is an exact tie, according to poll results released Monday.

The Corpus Christi Judicial Preference Poll shows Republican James Gardner and Democrat Mark Gonzalez each earned 126 votes.

In total, 259 local lawyers participated in the poll, which took place between Sept. 6-Sept. 23.

In the 214th District Court race, incumbent Jose Longoria came out ahead of Republican challenger Inna Klein. Longoria got 58 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Greg Perkes also bested his opponent Leticia Hinojosa for the 13th Court of Appeals Place 3.

Twitter: @CallerKMT

2016 Judicial Candidate Preference Poll by callertimes on Scribd
Naval Air Station Kingsville

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By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times

A Mexican national who crashed into a barrier gate at Naval Air Station Kingsville was sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

Mario Rodriguez-Gomez, 25, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months of federal prison Monday by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos.

On May 14, Rodriguez-Gomez was fleeing law enforcement when he crashed into the barrier gate. The wreck resulted in multiple injuries for the passengers, including one being ejected from the vehicle. Fifteen people were apprehended from the vehicle, and all were determined to be undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Rodriguez-Gomez will be deported after his prison sentence.

Twitter: @Caller_Fares
KRISTA TORRALVA/CALLER-TIMES David Strickland walks outside the San Patricio Courthouse where he is being tried on capital murder and other charges.

SHARE Molli Olgin Mary Kristene Chapa Strickland's trial in the death of Mollie Judith Olgin is scheduled to start Oct. 27.

By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

SINTON  David Malcom Strickland's admission that he shot two women and left them for dead in a Portland park in 2012 is false, a social psychologist testified.

Dr. Richard Ofshe, from the University of California at Berkeley, studied Strickland's taped police interrogation and testified for the defense Tuesday.

Defense lawyers rested their case in the capital murder trial against Strickland on the seventh day of testimony. Jurors will begin deliberating Wednesday after both sides make their final arguments.

Strickland is charged with capital murder among other charges in the June 22, 2012, shooting that left Mollie Judith Olgin dead and seriously injured Mary Kristene Chapa. Their bodies were found in Violet Andrews Park by a couple bird-watching.

Strickland has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have pointed the finger at a Nevada man whom Portland police initially suspected of the crime. The Caller-Times is not naming him because he was never charged in the shooting. A woman who walked her dog at the park that night also testified that she saw the Nevada man and the girls about the same time.

About a dozen times interrogators told Strickland his wife also would be charged if he didn't confess to the shooting and at least 10 times they said they had evidence he was the shooter. Those could have been motivators for Strickland to give a false confession, Ofshe said.

Ofshe said he saw characteristics in the tape that are consistent with a psychologist's findings in 2009, when Strickland was evaluated before being honorably discharged from the Army. Strickland had hallucinations and suicidal ideations, according to the mental health evaluation.

"The interrogation I viewed and studied was not the interrogation of a normal person," Ofshe said Tuesday during Strickland's capital murder trial. "It gives me confidence this is a characteristic problem with Mr. Strickland."

Last week, prosecutors played the interview for the San Patricio County jury. In it, Strickland said he followed the girls to the park from Chili's Grill & Bar and said he shot them because they were mean to his wife, who was a server there.

Shortly after he recanted.

Strickland, 30, was arrested in 2014 after a letter meant for Chapa's father was instead given to authorities. A draft of the letter, which included two identical lines, were found on Strickland's laptop. Strickland's wife, Laura, was initially charged with tampering with evidence; police thought she delivered the letter. Charges against her were later dismissed.

But for two years Portland police suspected a Nevada man who had been living with family friends in June 2012. His DNA was found on several items in the park, including cigarette butts and an energy drink can.

Kiki Koumbis, who lives near the park and walks her dog through the park several times a day, testified she saw the Nevada man about 9 p.m.  about two or three hours before the shooting. Koumbis said she also saw the girls, and that Chapa knelt down to pet her dog. She said the next day she saw the girls' faces on TV and recognized them. She never told police.

Prosecutors called Chapa back to the stand to rebut Koumbis' testimony. Chapa said she didn't see or pet a lady's dog that night.

A state's witness, a firearms expert, testified last week that shell casings found at the scene likely came from Strickland's gun.

If convicted, Strickland faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
Fred Oaxaca, 21, asks people to register to vote in a Fry's parking lot in Phoenix. (Photo: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic)

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The number of Latino voters has steadily increased, but their voting rates still lag significantly behind other demographic groups

By Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY Network

The USA TODAY Network is spending time in eight counties in eight states, exploring the key electoral themes that could decide this falls election. Each week from now until the election, we will feature a different one. The series has so far looked at Waukesha County in Wisconsin, Chester County in Pennsylvania, and Wayne County in Michigan. Today: Maricopa County in Arizona.

Turning energy into votes

PHOENIX  Fred Oaxaca bounded into a room inside a Phoenix union hall and yelled a cheer.

Se puede? (Can it be done?)

The room full of workers, mostly young Latinos in high school or their early 20s, yelled back even louder.

Si, se puede! (Yes, it can be!)

Oaxaca, a 21-year-old team leader for Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy, pounded the table with his palms, ending the cheer with a loud clap. The room shook as everyone joined in. They were pumped and ready to spend another afternoon going door-to-door in the 100-degree Phoenix heat, standing in shopping mall parking lots or riding the light rail to register new Latino voters.

Its all about turnout. Everything comes down to turnout, Oaxaca said.

Still, turning that energy into votes here in Maricopa County won't be easy. No other demographic group represents so much potential and so much disappointment on Election Day.

The number of Latino voters has steadily increased nationally from one presidential election to the next: 11.1 million Latinos voted in 2012, up from 9.7 million in 2008, according to census data. But their voting rates lag significantly behind other demographic groups. In 2012, 48% of Latinos voted, compared with 66.6% of blacks and 64.1% of non-Hispanic whites, according to the Pew Research Center.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's tough stance on immigration, anchored by a promise to build a giant wall on the southern border and make Mexico pay for it, may spur Latinos to the polls.

But Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, has not yet ignited the same level of excitement nationally among Latino voters as President Obama did in 2012. He won 71% to 27% among Latino voters over Republican nominee Mitt Romney, according to Pew.

An Aug. 19-30 poll by the polling firm Latino Decisions showed 75% of Latinos view Obama favorably, compared with 68% for Clinton and 21% for Trump.

Evolving voting bloc: Maricopa County Latinos 'punching below their weight'

Perhaps no place illustrates the lackluster voter turnout among Latinos better than Maricopa County.

With more than 9,000 square miles, the county is larger than seven states. It is a sprawling mix of sun-drenched farming communities, tourist resorts, endless strip malls, red-tiled suburban housing subdivisions and the gleaming glass-and-steel office towers of Phoenix, the nation's sixth-largest city.

Six out of 10 Arizonans live in Maricopa County, which has 4 million residents. Its Latino population has soared in recent years, from 345,000 in 1990 to more than 1.2 million in 2014, and is now the fifth largest of any county in the nation.

The growth is driven in large part by a surge in voting-age Latinos who have turned 18 since the last presidential election.

Every month, on average, 2,042 Latinos in Maricopa County turn 18, compared with 1,975 whites  a trend also taking place nationally, according to estimates by the Morrison Institute Latino Public Policy Center at Arizona State University.

But when it comes to voting, Latinos here have a reputation of "punching below their weight."

Despite making up 30% of the population of Maricopa County, Latinos represented 14.7% of all votes cast in the county in 2012, according to data shared from TargetSmart, a consulting firm.

Overall, 76% of all registered voters in Maricopa County cast ballots in 2012.

Considering the size of the Latino population, their voting rates have been surprising slow and evolving, said Lattie Coor, the former president of Arizona State University who now runs the Center for the Future of Arizona, a think tank in Phoenix.

Many Latinos in Maricopa County dont vote because they are legal immigrants who havent become naturalized citizens or they are in the country illegally and have no way to legalize their status and become citizens.

Whats more, data show people with high school diplomas and college degrees vote more often than those who dont, Coor said. Latinos in Arizona are less likely to have high school diplomas or college degrees than other demographic groups, he said.

Every vote counts: A hot summer of registering new voters

After leading the cheer, Oaxaca drove off to pick up a group of high-school students to take them to a neighborhood on the city's northwest side for an afternoon of voter canvassing.

Along the way, he passed strip malls of carnicerias and barber shops with signs written in Spanish and English. It's where Oaxaca grew up.

On this late afternoon in early September, Oaxaca was spending one of his last days working as a paid canvasser for the group known as CASE. He soon had to leave for the San Francisco Bay Area to start his senior year at Santa Clara University.

Since the beginning of July, Oaxaca had spent every afternoon registering new voters. By the time he left for college, his records show, he had registered 414 people, many of them young Latinos like himself with parents who are immigrants and cant vote.

There are a lot of other members of the community that have very similar (backgrounds) and if we arent voting, then we are voting against our own family, he said. Not voting only allows the status quo to continue.

CASE is one of a dozen groups in Maricopa County that belong to One Arizona, a coalition of 14 nonprofit nonpartisan mostly immigrant and Latino rights groups that statewide is trying to register 120,000 new Latino voters after meeting its original goal of 75,000.

The group receives funding from the Unite Here labor union, among other progressive organizations. But because CASE is nonpartisan, canvassers cant talk about particular candidates or take sides on political issues when registering voters, said Brendan Walsh, the executive director.

Its main focus is to get more Latinos to vote so both parties will pay attention to them, he said.

Arizonas politics and voting are largely dominated by an older group of white voters," Walsh said. "Younger voters and immigrant voters do not have a voice in Arizona, so we are trying to lift up that voice to make sure that our politics in Arizona is more representative of our population.

After dropping the students off in a neighborhood, Oaxaca parked in a shopping complex parking lot. Clipboard in hand, he spent the next three hours walking up to strangers to ask, "Excuse me, are you registered to vote?" And if not, "Can I ask why?"

His goal was to register eight new voters that evening or convince as many existing voters to sign up for mail-in ballots. Registered voters who receive mail-in ballots are far more likely to actually cast ballots than those who have to drive to the polls on Election Day, Oaxaca said.

The work was slow going.

Most people ignored Oaxaca and kept walking. Some told him in Spanish they werent eligible because they arent citizens. Others said they didn't have time or didn't think their vote mattered.

An hour passed before Oaxaca logged his first mail-in ballot registration.

Lisa Perez, 31, said she registered to vote for the first time in July because she wanted to vote against Trump, whose rhetoric she found offensive to Latinos.

"I thought, my vote is going to count this year because I definitely do not want him to be the president," said Perez, a credit-card financial-services auditor.

Voice for the voiceless: 224,129 Latinos in county eligible but not registered

The push to register Latino voters in Maricopa County mirrors drives taking place in counties around the country with significant and fast-growing Latino populations. Among them: Clark County, Nev.; Marion County, Ore.; Adams County, Colo.; Kane County, Ill; Hampden County, Mass.; Prince William County, Va.

In Maricopa County, efforts have focused heavily on the disproportionately high number of Latinos who are eligible to vote but aren't registered, said Ian Danley, director of One Arizona.

Based on data from TargetSmart, shared by One Arizona, 224,129 Latinos in Maricopa County are eligible to vote but are not registered, while another 352,553 are registered. That means about 61% of the 576,682 eligible Latino voters in Maricopa County are registered, compared with 74% of the eligible non-Hispanic whites, according to the TargetSmart data.

A concerted effort also is under way to register Latinos who reached voting age since the last presidential election. Approximately 96,000 Latinos in Maricopa County have turned 18 since November 2012, according to Dan Hunting, senior policy analyst at ASUs Morrison Institute, based on census data he analyzed from the American Community Survey.

Esther Rivera turns 18 on Oct. 23, 16 days before the presidential election. She registered in July, hoping her vote will help bring immigration changes that will benefit her mother and 21-year-old brother, who are both undocumented. Her brother received a deportation deferment and temporary work permit under Obamas 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The main reason I want to vote this year is to put my voice out there for the voiceless, Rivera said. My mother, she cannot vote, but I can and there (are) a lot of people out there in my community who cant vote, but they want to.  Just one vote can help a lot, as long as we try.

Irma Maldonado, an 18-year-old nursing student at Grand Canyon University, will also be voting for the first time.

Maldonado was forced to move to San Felipe, a small town in the coastal state of Nayarit in Mexico, in October 2012 after her mother, who had lived in the U.S. without documents for 20 years, could find no way to legalize her status and decided to self-deport.

Maldonado, a U.S.-born citizen, returned in 2014 to live with her sister in Phoenix and finish high school. She plans to use her vote to say no to Donald Trump. Still, shes not sure shell cast a ballot for Clinton.

I think it would be awesome if we had the first woman president, she said. But she isnt sure she can trust Clinton after Obama made similar promises to pass immigration reforms but failed to deliver.

She is saying the right thing, but she isnt going to do anything about it, said Maldonado, who favored Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary.

At the same time, many Latino Republicans are finding it hard to vote for Trump.

Felix Garcia, 34, an immigrant from Hermosillo, a city in the northern state of Sonora across the border from Arizona in Mexico, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who owns a construction company in Phoenix.

Originally, he supported former Florida governor Jeb Bush because of his stance on immigration.

But hes now campaigning to get Latinos to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson, who like Clinton supports immigration reforms that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Donald Trump, I dont like his attitude with the Hispanic community. He is very aggressive, Garcia said.

Not voting only allows the status quo to continue," says Fred Oaxaca, 21.

(Photo: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic)

Youth vote key: Will Latino turnout tilt Maricopa County?

Some believe strong turnout by Latino voters could help tilt Maricopa County in favor of Clinton, which would all but guarantee a win for the Democratic nominee in Arizona.

That may seem far-fetched, considering Maricopa County's long track record of voting GOP in presidential elections. The county has swung Republican in every presidential election since 1948. Even Bill Clinton, the last Democratic presidential candidate to win Arizona in 1996, lost Maricopa County to Republican nominee Bob Dole.

Romney carried Maricopa County over Obama in 2012 by nearly 11 percentage points, 54.3% to 43.6%.

But a statewide Arizona Republic/Morrison/Cronkite News poll showed the race in Maricopa County between Clinton and Trump too close to call. The poll, conducted Aug. 17-31, found Clinton leading Trump 34.2% to 33.2% among likely voters, well within the polls margin of error.

In such a tight race, Latino voter turnout could make the difference. The same poll showed Clinton leading Trump among Latino voters by a wide margin, 45.3% to 14.6%. Another 29.8% hadnt decided.

If Clinton wins Arizona this fall, it will be due to the large number of Latino voters in the state and in Maricopa County who vote Democratic, said Joseph Garcia, director of the Morrison Institutes Latino Public Policy Center at ASU.

In Maricopa County, nearly 43% of Latino voters are registered Democrats, 16.2% are registered Republicans and 41% are registered as independents or other party, according to TargetSmart estimates.

"If they do so," Garcia added, "I think it will be in large part in repudiation to the top of the ticket, and thats Donald Trump, who continues to talk about building a wall, deporting them all and has never ever apologized for referring to Mexicans as criminals and rapists.

The Latino youth vote also will be a critical factor.

The countys Latino population is significantly younger than the rest of the population: The median age for Latinos is 25, compared with 43 for whites.

Latinos are largely young, still too many Latinos dont graduate from high school, much less college, and as a result Latinos disproportionately live in poverty, so what you are talking about are three very tough groups to get out to vote, Garcia said.

Oaxaca, the son of immigrants, plans to become the first person in his family to vote for president of the United States. And when he does, he hopes he will be joined by the hundreds of other Latino voters hes registered in Maricopa County.

"The reason why its exciting for me, is the other work that came before it, he said. For me, that is what is exciting.

Esther Rivera asks people to register to vote at a Fry's parking lot in Phoenix. She turns 18 on Oct. 23, 16 days before the election. (Photo: Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic)
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, right, stands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the start of the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

By Donovan Slack and Heidi M Przybyla, USA TODAY

Forty-three days before the election, the highly anticipated matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finally happened, and it didn't disappoint. Here are all the highlights from the first presidential debate.

Trump wins Facebook, or something

Its unclear whether the posts, likes and shares were actually positive ones, but Trump scored the top moment of the night on Facebook with this one-liner:

My strongest asset is my temperament

He also dominated conversation overall on Facebook with 79% of mentions compared with 21% for Clinton. And here are the issues that topped the night on Facebook:

1. Taxes

2. ISIS

3. Racial Issues

4. The Economy

5. Crime & Criminal Justice

Meanwhile, over on Twitter:

Most-Tweeted topics during the first presidential debate:



1. The economy

2. Foreign affairs

3. Energy & environment

4. Terrorism

5. Guns  Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

This is the top Retweeted Tweet during the first US presidential debate: https://t.co/fOOoPvtZHK  Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

 Donovan Slack

The grand finale

The two traded barbs on foreign policy, with Trump hitting Clinton for creating ISIS and supporting an Iran deal that he said will lead to the country developing nuclear weapons.

On substance, he said China should solve North Korea and took credit for NATO creating a unit to focus on terrorism. Clinton countered, including by saying Trumps only plan for defeating ISIS is secret and that he doesnt have one.

The moderator also asked Trump to explain a prior comment that Clinton doesnt have a presidential look. Trump repeated his contention that Clinton doesnt have the stamina to become president. She cited her experience as secretary of State, having traveled to 112 countries and negotiated a peace deal and cease fire. When Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee he can talk to me about stamina, she said.

Clinton also took the chance to remind voters of words Trump has used to describe women, specifically as pigs, dogs and slobs, that he has said pregnancy is an inconvenience and that one of the worst things he has said was about a woman in a beauty contest. He called this woman Miss Piggy, then he called her Miss Housekeeping because shes Hispanic, said Clinton.

Trump responded by citing hundreds of millions of dollars in ads Clinton is sponsoring against him that are not nice, without disputing the specific charges she leveled against him. He also noted that some of the insults were referring specifically to comedienne Rosanne Barr, whos been critical of him.

I was going to say something extremely rough to Hillary and her family. And I said I cant do it. 

 Heidi Przybyla

Trump skates on Iraq

Trump is given the floor to insist that he supported the Iraq War, something disputed by numerous fact checking groups. He recasts comments he made in an interview with radio host Don Imus prior to the war in which he expressed support for the war (when asked, he said: I guess so), insisting he was instead against it. He further builds his case that he was against the war by citing private conversations with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who is a Trump supporter.

 Heidi Przybyla

Pointing fingers on foreign policy

Clinton says Trump has been very praiseworthy" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and said things that have shocked America's national security rank and file. Thats why I was so shocked when Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans, she said.

Trump touts his foreign policy pedigree by citing endorsements from some admirals and the agency that represents border patrol agents. He also questions whether Russia was behind the hacking. I dont think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC, but it could also be China or somebody who weighs 400 pounds sitting on their bed, he said.

Clinton outlines her ISIS plan, including to prevent online recruiting, supporting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

Trump said Obama and Clinton created a vacuum in Iraq and Libya. Clinton said Trump supported the invasion of Iraq as he interjected: wrong, wrong. Clinton defends the timetable for U.S. withdrawal by noting that former president George W. Bush set the timetable for when to get out of Iraq. The Iraqi government would have had to agree for U.S. troops to remain there, something they did not do, she said.

 Heidi Przybyla

Birtherism

Trump is asked to explain why he kept pressing questions about President Obamas birth place, even after the president in 2011 produced his birth certificate proving he was born in Hawaii.

Trump made no apologies. He cited the news organization McClatchy, which sent a reporter to Kenya to investigate the issue and claimed credit for getting Obama to release his birth certificate. I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job, he said.

The moderator asked Trump what he has to say to African Americans on the issue. I say nothing, he said, insisting hes developed really good relations with the community.

Clinton responded: Just listen to what you heard. She said Trumps campaign was founded on a racist lie and cited a 1973 Justice Department lawsuit brought against Trump for housing discrimination. He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior, she said.

 Heidi Przybyla

Racial healing

Both candidates are asked how to improve race relations.

Clinton emphasized restoring trust between communities and police, reforming police practices and taking guns away from people who shouldnt have them. She said the police should be prepared to use force only when necessary.

Everyone should be respected by the law and everyone should respect the law, Clinton said. Right now thats not the case in a lot of our neighborhoods." She also cited many good police officers who equally want reform and said we have to get guns out of the hands of people who should not have them."

Trump said Clinton wont use the words law and order, which is what we need in our country. African Americans and Hispanics are living in hell in certain communities, he said. He also reiterated the need to take the guns away from bad people.

When Clinton said its unfortunate that Trump paints such a dire picture of these communities, he audibly sighed. Clinton cited statistics that African Americans are more likely to be arrested, charged and put in jail for the same offenses as white Americans. We cannot just say law and order. We have to come up with a plan, including ending mandatory minimum sentences and private prisons. She also cited common sense gun safety provisions and preventing people on the terror watch list from buying guns.

Trump said he agrees with Clinton that individuals on the terror watch list should be barred from possessing firearms: I tend to agree with that quite strongly, he said. He cited her prior use of the words super predator in describing African-American youths and said these communities are very upset with politicians.

 Heidi Przybyla

Facebook: Top moment in first half is 

That honor belongs to Trump, according to the social media site, which is tracking shares, likes and posts, when he said this:

She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I don't think Gen. Douglas MacArthur would like that too much.

 Donovan Slack

To pay or not to pay

Clinton turns the attention to Trumps business record, citing the average Americans and contractors whom hes stiffed over the years and asking why he refused to pay them for their work.

Trump didnt deny his nonpayment of contractors, saying maybe those contractors didnt do a good job. He said I take advantage of the laws of the nation and that his obligation is to take care of himself, his company and his employees. He also cited a Trump hotel hes opening in Washington, saying its ahead of schedule and under budget.

 Heidi Przybyla

What do taxes have to do with emails?

Trump is asked why he isnt releasing his tax returns to the U.S. public. He cited a mandatory financial statement that he has released and continued to insist he cannot release them because they are under audit. Ive been audited for almost 15 years, he said, turning the conversation to deleted emails by Clinton. He seemed to suggest hed release them if she releases her prior emails.

Youre just seen another example of bait and switch here, said Clinton. The IRS has made clear there is no prohibition on releasing it, she said. Clinton cited a number of reasons why Trump may not be releasing them: Maybe hes not as rich or charitable as he says he is. She cited $650 million he owes to Wall Street and foreign banks and that its possible hes paid nothing in federal income tax. It must be something really important, even terrible hes trying to hide, she said. Trump contended that you dont learn that much from tax returns.

When Clinton got her chance to address the email issue, she kept it short: I made a mistake using a private email, she said. Im not going to make any excuses, she said.

 Heidi Przybyla

The NAFTA clash

The two traded bards over foreign trade, with Trump slamming Clinton over her husbands record signing into law the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement and her prior support for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership.

She cited her husbands record in the 1990s of creating new jobs and said she would appoint a special prosecutor on trade deals as Trump continued to blame NAFTA and overregulation of companies for U.S. jobs losses. NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe signed anywhere, he said. Over and over he cited bureaucratic red tape.

Trump continued to focus on the tax system, saying U.S. companies are not being allowed to bring their money back into the country, or to repatriate them. Clinton countered by saying Trumps plan would propose a massive increase for rich people like him. Slashing taxes on the wealthy hasnt worked and a lot of really smart wealthy people know that, she said.

#NAFTA is the top-trending search on all of US Google right now  GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) September 27, 2016

#TrumpSniffles is now a thing

After the Republican nominee repeatedly sniffled during some of his early answers, the Twitterverse responded accordingly:

SNL is going to go to town on Trump's sniffles #debate2016  Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) September 27, 2016

After all that, Trump seems to have some kind of sniffle. Of course.  Teddy Goff (@teddygoff) September 27, 2016

Is the Trump sniffle the new Hillary cough? #debatenight  Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) September 27, 2016

can we get an official sniffle count for Trump? #debates #debatenight  Baratunde (@baratunde) September 27, 2016

Trump's sniffle is distracting me, and Lester needs to fact-check him on that sniffle.  David Rutz (@DavidRutz) September 27, 2016

And, of course, the sniffle soon had its own Twitter account.

*sniff*  Trump Sniff (@TrumpSniff) September 27, 2016

 Donovan Slack

First topic: Jobs

Moderator Lester Holt cites income inequality that remains insignificant," and both candidates are asked how to best create the kind of jobs to ameliorate that inequality.

Clinton says we need to build an economy for everyone, not just those at the top, citing her plan to create jobs in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and clean renewable energy. We also have to make the economy fairer, including raising the national minimum wage, instituting corporate profit sharing and paid family leave, affordable college and making sure and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.

Trump spent much of his time diagnosing the problem, saying U.S. jobs are fleeing the country and citing Chinas devaluation of its currency. They are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild their country. We cant allow it to happen anymore, he said. On policy, he said he would reduce taxes tremendously, which will be a job creator similar to what former President Reagan did. He also called for renegotiating the nations trade deals.

Clinton said the kind of plan Trump is proposing is trickle-down economics all over again. She said: I call it trumped-up trickle down. She also accused him of rooting for the housing crisis.

He really believes that the more you help wealthy people, the better off everyone will be, she said.

Trump countered by saying the U.S. needs to stop companies from leaving the country.

 Heidi Przybyla

It's on!

And moderator Lester Holt is already getting some early reviews...

Lester Holt's got that cool substitute teacher vibe going. #debatenight  Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) September 27, 2016

But things quickly soured about 30 minutes in as he allowed Trump (and Clinton) to go it alone for what seemed like a lunch break.

We now go live to Lester Holt at Hofstra. pic.twitter.com/t2NG6vKbwc  Eddy Elfenbein (@EddyElfenbein) September 27, 2016

Did Lester Holt go get a sandwich? #Debates2016  Bec (@bschaefs) September 27, 2016

lester holt is in the bathroom  derek webb (@derekwebb) September 27, 2016

Paging Lester Holt! #Debates2016  Lisa Camooso Miller (@camoosomiller) September 27, 2016

 Donovan Slack

Sanders: Clinton faces a 'great entertainer'

Clinton is up against a great entertainer in Trump, who will be a tough opponent for her during tonights debate, Sen. Bernie Sanders said on MSNBC Monday night.

The Vermont independent said he hopes Clinton will stay focused on issues that are important to middle-class Americans, including raising the minimum wage and addressing income inequality and climate change.

I think you have to put him on the defensive with regard to the issues that impact ordinary Americans lives, and when you do that, I think that people will see that hes way off in another world unto himself, not dealing with the reality of the American people, Sanders said.

Sanders indicated his campaigning on behalf of Clinton is about to step up, saying his schedule will be very, very vigorous. He said Trumps election would be a disaster for the country, and reiterated his pledge to do everything he can to make sure that doesnt happen.

Were going to go all over this country, he said. Were going to go wherever Secretary Clintons people think that I am needed. And I am going to work as hard as I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become the next president.

Clinton will campaign on Wednesday with Sanders in New Hampshire.

 Nicole Gaudiano

Oops! Is that a ticket typo?

At least some tickets to tonights debate appear to have Clintons name with one l instead of two.

NEW: @HillaryClinton's name is misspelled -- with one "L" -- on the official debate ticket https://t.co/vxDDEz0gnu pic.twitter.com/5nm9IggbEr  CBS News (@CBSNews) September 26, 2016

Debate is held at Hofstra, but the tickets were printed at Trump University https://t.co/sH7FtZrTTG  Marcus Hawkins (@HawkinsUSA) September 26, 2016

Ouch.

The folks over at NBCs New York affiliate have figured out the mystery:

"Hofstra University spokeswoman Karla Schuster said in a statement emailed to NBC 4 New York, 'These tickets are not official tickets to the debate. They were printed at the last minute to create a souvenir for the students. We'll be reprinting them for all those who won tickets.' "

 Donovan Slack

Trump hotel bar menu: 'Amerrica beer'

Washingtonian's Benjamin Freed shares tonight's special debate menu at the Trump hotel, which features all-you-can-drink "Amerrica" beer for $100. Ok, then.

There's a special menu at the Trump hotel bar tonight. pic.twitter.com/NDW90LyFlk  Benjamin Freed (@brfreed) September 27, 2016

Obama: Defeating Trump is my final fight as president

In a debate night fundraising appeal signed Barack Obama, the president says this is the most important night of this election.

He asks for money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and asserts that the possibility of a Trump presidency should be an enormous wake up call and that if Republicans take over Congress as well, it would destroy his legacy and be dangerous for our country.

Defeating Trump and his Republicans is my final fight as President, he writes. Its a tough battle  but weve fought and won before. So Im asking: Will you chip in $1 before the debate?

Hmmm, pretty sure there will be other fights. Like trying to keep the government open when funding runs out Friday, or in December 

 Donovan Slack

What you arent seeing on TV

Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson didnt make the main stage tonight, but they are hoping to capture some eyeballs on social media.

Both say they will be live-tweeting (@DrJillStein and @GovGaryJohnson) and Facebooking while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off.

Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, are set to participate from Twitters headquarters in New York City.

Stein, meanwhile, is outside the debate hall at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., with "a crowd of American revolutionaries," and her campaign says she will answer the debate questions in real time via an unprecedented and innovative social media experience.

Using the power of the free Internet, we are actually breaking open the censored debate created by the Democratic and Republican parties, Stein told USA TODAY's Eliza Collins.

In 2012, Stein tried to get into a debate hall unauthorized and was arrested  she and her running mate were handcuffed to metal chairs for eight hours.

Stein told USA TODAY she didnt plan on making a scene inside Monday's event, though she reported being escorted off the university grounds by police earlier Monday.

I guess well see how this whole #OccupyTheDebates thing works out 

Nassau Deputy Police Chief McCarthy: "(Jill) is not public enemy number one." Interesting - why escort me from Hofstra for #debatenight? pic.twitter.com/63dDWLUk7r  Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) September 26, 2016

 Donovan Slack

Green Party hacked?

Things aren't starting out so well for Stein's social media revolution...

The @GreenPartyUS platform webpage has been attacked just hours before #debatenight. This is no coincidence. The establishment is desperate. pic.twitter.com/iNHBlFd3Dg  Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) September 26, 2016

 Donovan Slack

Deplorables take over Trump Twitter account

Donald Trump was rather quiet on Twitter on Monday, tweeting out one poll showing him in the lead and retweeting his campaign manager opining about his standings in polls.

But tonight, the real estate developer says his team of deplorables will be live-tweeting the debate.

My team of deplorables will be managing my Twitter account for this evenings debate. Tune in!#DebateNight #TrumpPence16  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2016

The tweet comes at the same time his campaign blasted out a release highlighting a Washington Poststory about a Post/ABC News poll that found 65% of respondents thought it was unfair to describe a large portion of Trumps supporters as prejudiced against women and minorities."

Clinton earlier this month said half of Trumps supporters belong in a basket of deplorables because they are racist, sexist, Islamophobic and/or xenophobic. She later said she shouldnt have said half.

 Donovan Slack
SHARE JOHN MORITZ/CALLER-TIMES Greg Allison (left) of the Intercoastal Financial Group and Simon Urbanic of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership prepare to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday at the Texas Capitol.

By John C. Moritz, USA Today Austin Bureau

AUSTIN  Texas is losing business to Florida and other states on the eastern seaboard because of the high sales tax levied on luxury boats, representatives of the marine industry told a legislative panel Monday.

Greg Allison, a regional manager for Intercoastal Financial Group, told the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee that Texas should join the growing list of coastal states that have slashed tax rates for pleasure crafts that extend more than 35 feet and carry price tags starting around $300,000.

"It's easy to say this is just another tax break for the rich," said Allison, whose company finances high-end boat sales. "But the truth is, the rich already got their tax break from Florida."

He said the Texas industry took a huge hit when Florida capped its tax in 2010. Others states, including New York, New Jersey and Maryland have followed suit and have seen their big-boat industries flourish, Allison said.

Allison said Texans with the means to buy large vessels that they can take through the Gulf of Mexico and even to the Atlantic are purchasing the crafts in states with lower taxes. And they keep the boats housed, stocked and maintained at out-of-state marinas, he said.

He and others want the Texas tax capped at $18,000.

A similar measure that was billed as a way to protect the boat industry on the Texas Coast and even on the inland lakes was shot down by a large margin two years ago. Two years ago representatives from the City of Corpus Christi were strong supporters, as were House members who represent the Coast. Backers of the measure are expected to file the bill when the 2017 legislative session beings in January. They said the big-boat industry in Texas pumps about $6 billion annually and

Allison and Simon Urbanic of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership said that if Texas was more competitive, any revenue lost on the front end would be made up down the line because the big boats would stay in Texas where they'd be maintained and outfitted. The money spent on those goods and services would generate Texas taxes, they said.

They said the big-boat industry in Texas pumps about $6 billion annually and adds about 31,000 jobs to the Texas economy. And that is not just limited to the coastal communities, they said. No one spoke against the proposal.

Just about every region in Texas with a thriving lake community depends on recreation and tourism to sustain its economy, Allison said.

"All around those lakes are people with high net worth," he said. "And they like to boat."

Twitter: JohnnieMo
Observers predict Charlotte riots will have little impact on presidential race, think H.B. 2 remains potent issue despite contrary polling data



From left, Joe Stewart of the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation, Chris Sinclair of Sinclair Associates, Kapil Lohia of Ca Technologies, and Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling discussed the 2016 election Friday at a forum hosted by the N.C. Technology Association (CJ photo by Day Way).

House Bill 2 might not be the albatross for Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's re-election bid many pundits and Democrats have suggested, and his decisive response to late October's Charlotte riots could give him an electoral boost, based on recent election polls and the views of several political observers.Others say Democratic opponent Roy Cooper remains in the lead when averaging various polls, with H.B. 2 remaining an effective wedge issue.As for North Carolina's role in the presidential race, analysts say the state will remain in focus for both Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton until the final days of the campaign. They do not expect Trump, who's billing himself as the law-and-order candidate, to get much traction from the unrest in Charlotte in part because those events occurred more than six weeks before election day.said David McLennan, a political science professor at Meredith College.McCrory sent the North Carolina National Guard and State Highway Patrol into Charlotte to restore calm after two nights of rioting and violence the city couldn't contain.As the violence subsides, if the governor is perceived to have taken decisive action,McLennan said.Voters tend not to view local events at the presidential level, so a Trump bump from Charlotte is unlikely, McLennan said. The three presidential debates and news of the day leading to the Nov. 8 election will have more impact on Clinton and Trump, McLennan said."Absolutely it's going to happen," Joe Stewart, executive director of the N.C. Free Enterprise Foundation said of an unexpected event leading up to election day that could shape election outcomes, particularly because so many races are so tight in North Carolina.in Charlotte, said Chris Sinclair, a partner in Cornerstone Solutions, a campaign consulting firm. He was on an election discussion panel Friday at Research Triangle Park Foundation, sponsored by the North Carolina Technology Association and moderated by Stewart.Sinclair asked. McCrory has looked decisive and "very gubernatorial" at home, and on national cable news programs, Sinclair said."The other X-factor is H.B. 2," Sinclair said. That controversial North Carolina law requires people to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers matching their biological anatomy. McCrory "is embracing the suck around H.B. 2" for signing the legislation.Sinclair said.But two recent polls cast doubt on how much damage H.B. 2 is doing to McCrory.According to the latest Elon University Poll, 27 percent of likely voters said they are more likely to vote for McCrory because of the way he handled the legislation, and 35 percent said it makes no difference in their preference in the governor's race. That totals 62 percent of respondents, compared to just 36 percent who said they were less likely to vote for him because of H.B. 2.A Public Policy Polling survey of voters found similar results. Those saying H.B. 2 makes them less inclined to support McCrory totaled 41 percent; 30 percent said they were more likely to vote for him, leaving 29 percent presumably unaffected. That means 59 percent essentially did not see H.B. 2 as a major detriment for McCrory.McLennan said, because polls also show nearly 50 percent of North Carolinians oppose H.B. 2, and even larger numbers believe it has harmed the state.Cooper supporters likely are those saying they're less likely to vote for McCrory, and the others might have been in McCrory's camp already.McLennan said.Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, said this has been an unusual election year. In every poll there have been between 7 and 8 percent of Republican respondents who didn't vote in 2012 because GOP nominee Mitt Romney didn't excite them. They are "pro-Trump by 30 to 40 points," so if their enthusiasm turns into votes, as he expects, there will be "a little bit tighter race" in North Carolina's presidential election, he said.Jensen said. Suburban districts Romney won by 5-10 points are now favoring Clinton. In rural areas that Romney won by 20 points Trump, is winning by 30, and Clinton is losing by even more in the rural areas where President Obama lost.and his low-profile U.S. Senate re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Deborah Ross, Sinclair said. Still, he predicts Burr, like Trump, will eke out a win in North Carolina, while the Charlotte unrest now gives McCrory the edge.Jensen also predicts Burr will win by a couple of points, while Cooper will win by 3, and Clinton will squeak past Trump.
COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, steps down from a training aircraft Thursday during a tour of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

SHARE

There is no all's-fair-in-politics room for compromise when someone insults one's spouse, attempts to link one's father to the Kennedy assassination and calls oneself a liar repeatedly. One need not be a pugilist like Teddy Roosevelt or duellist like Andrew Jackson to defend one's honor. One need only display the courage of one's convictions.

Sen. Ted Cruz displayed his lack thereof last week when he endorsed Donald Trump for president. Not having been born yesterday, we don't buy Cruz's assertion that he was obligated by his pledge during the primary to endorse whomever the Republican Party nominated. Trump's attacks on Cruz's family were more than enough to absolve Cruz of any promise smaller than his duty toward his wife, daughters and father.

His assertion that Hillary Clinton is worse than Trump and must be stopped at all costs also stretches both hyperbole and credulity. Endorsing Trump is way too high a cost.

Also, it's not like Cruz and Trump share a political philosophy. The "R" after their names that they have in common is a label, not an ideology. Cruz is a Republican and Trump does a bad job of playing one on TV.

That leaves only political calculation as an explanation for Cruz's change of heart. He had been catching flak since he refused during his speech at the Republican convention to endorse Trump. He stood firm only as long as Trump's chances against Clinton looked dim and no one was making noises about Cruz's likelihood of being re-elected in 2018. It's no accident that Cruz's about-face coincided with Texas Republicans starting to like the sound of "Sen. Rick Perry."

Cruz's endorsement of the candidate he labeled accurately an utterly amoral pathological liar affirms the nickname Trump gave him  Lyin' Ted Cruz.
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Mental health in schools was put at the forefront of the agenda as more than 100 people turned out for a meeting to discuss how more can be done to help.

The event was organised by Caxton resident Christina Harrison, 49, to get people talking about mental health provision for young people and to raise money for The MindEd Trust charity.

The MindEd Trust was set up by Steve Mallen after his teenage son Edward committed suicide following a sudden onset of depression.

Christina told the News she wanted to do something to help after hearing Edwards story.

She said: I know a lot of people whose children have had anorexia, severe depression or anxiety.

I just felt I wanted to do something to help the wider community and I thought it would benefit a lot of my friends to have a talk about some of these things.

Christina then contacted Steve to organise a programme of speakers, which included South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen and Ian Morris, head of wellbeing at Wellington College.

The Berkshire school introduced a wellbeing and happiness course in 2006 in an effort to promote positive physical and mental health among its students.

Steve said the meeting had been completely packed with both parents and teachers.

He said: It was tremendously oversubscribed which shows how important this issue is in our community and how concerned parents are, so much so that well almost certainly run future events.

Its clear things are happening and that schools are trying to improve their mental health services but theres obviously a long way to go.

Steve said a recurrent topic of conversation had been cuts to mental health funding, something which he said people were worried about.

He continued: The emphasis of the evening was to frame the problem and look at what solutions could be provided and then talk about what we are trying to achieve in the next one to two years.

What we are trying to achieve is the creation of mental health provision and intervention programmes in schools throughout Cambridgeshire.

To find out more, visit themindedtrust.org.
A Cambridge woman who was diagnosed with skin cancer just months after giving birth is urging people to stand up to cancer.

Francesca Rigaut, 29, and husband Guy want to highlight that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

The Stapleford couple are now calling on people to support Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, to help save more lives more quickly.

Francesca knows only too well just how crucial new discoveries and breakthroughs are to help people like her survive after she was diagnosed with skin cancer in September 2013 just months after giving birth to her son Joshua.

She made a throwaway comment to her GP about a mark on her face who referred her to a dermatologist and her cancer was diagnosed straight away. For Francesca the news was devastating, her grandmother had died of liver cancer just a few months earlier and her grandfather died of the disease shortly after her diagnosis.

My diagnosis was a real shock. I wasn't expecting it at all," she said.

I had this mark on my face, it had been there for about 18 months. It was a dot, about the size of my little fingernail, and it ended up looking like a scar with a hole in the middle. I'd lost my grandparents and just had a baby and then there was the diagnosis.

"My diagnosis was a real shock. I wasn't expecting it at all," she said. "I had this mark on my face, it had been there for about 18 months. It was a dot, about the size of my little fingernail, and it ended up looking like a scar with a hole in the middle. I'd lost my grandparents and just had a baby and then there was the diagnosis.

"I felt really low and I stopped going out. I went from being really outgoing to being almost a recluse. My youngest son was only a few months old and it was hard to bond at first."

Francesca, who was told her cancer was genetic, has been given the all clear but was worried it would return, or that she had passed it on to her sons. I tried to shut Guy out as much as possible but he wouldn't let me do that, he was my rock and he brought me back to the real world," she said.

It's taken a long time to get over it all but we're all closer and stronger now. I can play with Joshua and I have that burst of love you get.

I say to everyone if you notice something changing, get it checked out straight away. I waited too long and never thought it could be cancer. I was lucky to make that off-the-cuff comment at the doctor's, because of that I was diagnosed and now I know to be aware."

Francesca, who has two sons and a stepson, is now urging everyone to support Stand Up To Cancer. Launched in the UK in 2012, the campaign has already raised more than 25 million to fund transitional research  including trials in Cambridge  which take developments in the lab and transform them into new tests and treatments for cancer patients.

Danielle Glavin, Cancer Research UK's spokesman for the East, said: "We'd like to thank Francesca and Guy for standing up to cancer with us.

"Their experience shows how cancer can turn lives upside down and also brings home the fact that one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lives. Cancer doesn't discriminate. Whether it's you or someone you know, it leaves its mark on us all.

"So the time to act is now. We're on the brink of a revolution in cancer research - thanks to new treatments, screening and earlier diagnosis, more people are surviving the disease than ever before.

"But we can't afford to stand still. It's time to rebel against cancer, raise money and save lives. Research is our weapon against this terrible disease and we're calling on an army of supporters in Cambridgeshire to stand up to cancer and show their support."

Cancer Research UK is calling on everyone in the county to take a stand and do something to help raise money at work, school or at home  from fancy dress days and sponsored silences to bake sales and open mic nights.

To get involved visit standuptocancer.org.uk.
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Cambridge City Council has been accused of failing to deliver on basic services for residents such as bin collections and repairs".

The council received some 10,981 comments on its services in the past year, of which 7,104 (65 per cent) were positive.

The findings appear in a report set to be presented to the civic affairs committee tonight.

However, the council's annual complaints and feedback report highlights 147 compliments sent to the council and 559 complaints.

Last year the council received over 255,000 telephone and email contacts from customers, while 42,000 face-to-face visits were recorded at the customer service centre in Regent Street.

Some 36 per cent of complaints relate to two frontline services: refuse collection and estates and facilities. Both services underwent operational changes last year which, councillors say, may have led to additional customer complaints.

It is this record that has been criticised by some.

Cllr Rod Cantrill said: Labour is failing Cambridge residents in the delivery of basic services such as bin collection. This is the second year that there has been a massive increase in complaints. It is clear Labour has done nothing to address the issues raised last year. This compares with the downward trend of complaints when the Liberal Democrats ran the city.

Executive Councillors do not have a grip on the key services that residents expect from the city council. If they can't even get the collection of bins right it does question Labour's ability to run the council."

Cllr Richard Robertson, executive councillor for finance and resources, said: We are happy to deal with complaints because we can learn from them. When the Lib Dems were in office, they had similar complaints.

It is all a learning process. There has been an awful lot of change over the last year. We are working hard to restore the services to the level they should be."

Cllr Robertson noted the estates and facilities service (252 complaints) saw a reorganisation of staff that led to some repair works being delayed.
Bungling raiders have targeted a bank in St Neots toppling over a cash machine inside the lobby of the building.

Reports are coming in that the High Street branch of the bank has been hit by thieves as police cordon off the scene today.

One onlooker said: "They were pretty brazen to have done this right in the middle of the High Street. There are a few police here as well as crime scene officers looking into what has occurred.

"The thieves have obviously gone into the lobby of the bank and somehow managed to topple over the cash machine. Its one of those machines inside the bank that you can walk into before you get to the main entrance to get inside the building. It all looks pretty bad. I can't see if there is any cash on the floor but they must have used some strength to topple it over or something to pull it down.

"I've been told they tried to drag it out the door but couldn't and ran off."

A police spokeswoman said: "Detectives are appealing for information after a cash machine was raided in St Neots.At about 3.30am today unknown offenders used a vehicle to pull an ATM cash machine from the foyer of a bank in High Street, St Neots.

"Sledgehammers were then used to force open the machine. It is believed cash was taken but it is not yet known how much.The offenders left the scene in what is believed to be a blue Ford Focus. A grey/green Daihatsu Sportrak was left at the scene.Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
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A police investigation is underway after a charity shop in Littleport was burgled.

Thieves broke into a storage facility at the rear of the Branching Out charity shop, in High Street, and stole a bicycle, numerous items of clothing and household items.

As reported yesterday (Monday), the theft happened some time between 4.30pm on Saturday and 9am on Monday.

Simon Garner, the shop's manager, said: "Whoever did it climbed over the back fence and smashed the locks to get inside the storage area.

"They took a lot of items that people have donated to us, including a bike and lots of clothes and household items.

"These are all things that we would sell in order to generate money for the charity and our work in the local community."

Police say they believe the offenders were three white males aged in their late teens or early twenties.

The charity shop had to remain closed yesterday morning but is now back open for business.

Anyone with any information about the break-in is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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A shop-keeper says he feels targeted after burglars smashed into his shop, only weeks after his home was also broken into.

Burglars threw a slab through a window and used a crow bar to prize open shutters of the Costcutter shop in Caxton Gibbet at 4.45am today. It is thought they made off with cigarettes and bottles of alcohol before they were interrupted by the police.

Katan Patel, owner of the Costcutter shop in Caxton Gibbet, said: At this time, there are bottles missing off the shelf and cigarettes have been taken from behind the counter.

They took a slab and threw it through the window. They used a crow bar on the shutters and smashed the glass in the sliding doors. They came over the counter and knocked the computer over.

We got burgled at home six weeks ago. They tipped our house upside-down. We feel like we are being watched.

Katan said the shop would soon be open again for business as soon as police had completed forensic examination of the scene and the shop had been cleaned up.

A police spokesman said three men had fled in a car to Cambourne where they abandoned their vehicle, sparking a police hunt with dogs and a helicopter.

The spokesman said: At about 4.30am today unknown offenders broke into Costcutter in St Neots Road, Caxton. It is not currently known what, if anything, has been stolen.

Three men were seen getting into a grey Audi A3 at the location and failed to stop for passing officers. All three men left the vehicle in Cambourne and an extensive search with police dogs and the helicopter was carried out. No arrests have been made.
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."
Cameroon Mini Africa Day CAC

The Cameroon American Council in partnership with the Congressional Cameroon Caucus is delighted to invite you and the members of your organization to a very special and free event entitled:

Washington, District of Columbia

September 2016

RE: Special Invite to Cameroon: Mini-Africa Day at U.S. Congress on 9/29/16 in DC.

Dear Diaspora Leader,

The Cameroon American Council in partnership with the Congressional Cameroon Caucus is delighted to invite you and the members of your organization to a very special and free event entitled:

Cameroon: Mini-Africa Day at U.S. Congress slated for Thursday, September 29th, 2016 from 1PM at the lavish Cannon Caucus Room 345 at the most powerful place on earth, the United States Congress in Washington, DC.

Back in 2011, the Washington Post recognized CAC The Cameroon American Council (CAC) is Americas leading African Immigrant advocacy organization.as The First Program Of Its Kind.

Fast forward 2016, CAC is thrilled to partner with Congressional Cameroon Caucus, which is led by Congressmen Chris Gibson, Andre Carson, Steve Russell and Hank Johnson. For this very special event, we will celebrate a trifecta of milestones!



- Celebrating September as National African Immigrant Heritage Month. - Celebrating the Sixth Anniversary of the Cameroon American Council - Celebrating the founding of the Congressional Cameroon Caucus at US Congress

There are opportunities for sponsorships/donations for Cameroonian/African groups/institutions/initiative s/businesses starting at $100 during the exhibitor section of the event. Your organizations work will be highlighted during the event to over 35,000 people who work at the US Congress and to friends of Cameroon.

For more information on sponsorship:

This 9/29/16 event will feature exhibitors and presenters from over a dozen federal agencies doing work in Cameroon/Africa. This is a great opportunity to meet the Africa Bureaus' internships/jobs, grants, business contracts, international exchanges, and programs from across the US Government!

Agencies such as Department of Labor, State Department, USAID, Federal Communication Commissions (FCC), Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC), White House, to name a few.

[email protected] For more information on the full list of federal agencies, please contact Ms. Judith Nwana at

See attached from Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin This September is National African Immigrant Heritage Month, in addition to United States Congress highlighting Cameroon and its vibrant Diaspora, over a dozen American Governors have released proclamations for September as African Immigrant Heritage Month with an emphasis on Cameroon and its diaspora (

[email protected] For a list of U.S. Governors celebrating Cameroon this month, please connect with Mr. Jason Vasser at:

[email protected] Cameroon American Council is a leader on US Congress and federal government advocacy for Cameroon, Cameroonians, and African immigrants. For a list of media coverage or media sponsorship please contact Ms. Marylyn Ndua at

Attached please find four (4) documents that trace the launching of the Congressional Cameroon Caucus from conceptualization by the Cameroon American Council, to our Cameroon Day at US Congress

This September 29th 2016 event, is FREE and open to the general public! So, to support all those coming to meet Cameroon and its diaspora, we are seeking volunteers on the day of event.

[email protected] For more information on volunteering opportunities, please connect with Mr. Yves Bouele at

We look forward to September, 29th 2016 at 1PM, when we celebrate our Cameroon in a magnificent way and in the grandest most powerful place on earth: U.S Congress; you and your organizations presence will make the day even more fabulous.

Cameroon Obosso!!

Kind regards,

Sylvie Bello , Founder/CEO

Cameroon American Council

VOLUNTEERING
| BY Ricki Green |

Ogilvy & Mather has reclaimed their top network position in the Campaign Brief Asia 2016 Creative Rankings. Over the past three Creative Rankings Dentsu have come out on top, however this year they have dropped down to #3 Network with both Ogilvy & Mather (#1) and BBDO (#2) above them. Hakuhodo is the #4 highest ranking network with McCann Worldgroup at #5.

Ogilvy & Mathers #1 Network Ranking is due to award-winning performances from 11 of their offices over the July 2015 to July 2016 award show calendar.

Leading the way for the network is Ogilvy & Mather Singapore who put in a great performance to move up from #16 agency overall in our previous Creative Rankings to #2 agency overall in Asia this year. The agency scored 1135 Ranking Points, with only Dentsu Tokyo sitting above them.

The network was also greatly helped by their Japanese office who are ranked at #10 overall with 675 points. Ogilvy & Mather Tokyo were not even ranked in our last Creative Rankings.

Also making significant contributions for the network is Ogilvy Bangkok (585), Ogilvy Beijing (410), Ogilvy Hong Kong (285) and Ogilvy Mumbai (255). Four Ogilvy offices made our Top 20 Agency Chart  Singapore (#2), Tokyo (#10), Bangkok (#12) and Beijing (#18).

The other five Ogilvy & Mather offices to figure in the Rankings are Vietnam (#48), Malaysia (#56), New Delhi (#65), Taiwan (#65) and Geometry Tokyo (#153).

BBDO moved up one place overall to be the #2 ranked network in Asia with 3380 Creative Ranking Points. Impressively, BBDO has three agencies in the Top 10 Agency chart with BBDO Bangkok sitting at #5, BBDO Malaysia #7 and BBDO Mumbai #8 overall.

All three offices had great success at award shows and saw big improvements in our overall Agency Ranking chart. BBDO Bangkoks 1000 point performance was a big increase on last Creative Rankings where they charted at #60 with 115 points. BBDO Malaysia moves up from #36 (200 points) and BBDO Mumbai is up from #77 (70 points).

Another impressive contributor was BBDO Pakistan  up into Asias top 20 with 390 points.

Dentsus network ranking of #3 Network overall was mainly due to Dentsu Tokyo amassing 2370 points of their 2930 overall points. Dentsu Toyko were again a clear #1 in the Agency Ranking table.

McCann has been one of the consistent performers over recent years and their 5th placing in the Network ranking is almost solely due to India, who contributed 1125pts of their 1475pts total.

TBWAs #6 position is lead by TBWA Hakuhodo at #11 overall, with TBWA Santiago Mangada

Puno Philippines at #24 also performing well.

Cheil Seouls improved showing (#9) saw the network increase a massive 7 places up to #7.

Grey Worldwide jumped from #13 to #8, lead by the Singapore office. Y&R lost ground on 2014s high #4 ranking, dropping to #9 overall.

Y&R Malaysia was their best performer at #28, but their previous top agencies Red Fuse Hong Kong (#141) and Y&R Singapore (#153) dropped away.

Leo Burnett rises one spot in the Network Ranking, and surprisingly, their best performing

office is Leo Burnett Solutions in Sri Lanka at #27. Thailand and Jakarta both contributed but their creative performances in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Japan remain disappointing.

The Saatchi & Saatchi network improved four places overall to #11 thanks to their Singapore office that re-entered the Creative Ranking table at #14.

J Walter Thompson dropped three spots to #12 Network overall. Their best performer was the Thailand office at #29 then Shanghai at #72.

ADK and Innocean Worldwide both had substantial gains with ADK Taiwan and Innocean Seoul both jumping up into the Agency Ranking Top 20 at #20 and #15 respectively.

MullenLowe and DDB join Y&R as networks declining the most in these Campaign Brief Creative Rankings. MullenLowe dropped from #8 to #15 with the Singapore office the highest ranked at #36. DDB dropped from #10 network in 2114 to #16 this year  DDB Singapore ranked the highest at #40.

See the Network chart above for the full ranking of the Top 16 Creative Networks in Asia (previous Creative Ranking position is in the brackets).
| BY Ricki Green |

Coca-Cola South Pacific has today announced the launch of Glaceau fruitdropwater, a low-kilojoule flavoured sparkling spring water launched specifically for the Australian market to capitalise on the growing consumer demand in the country.

Glaceau fruitdropwater offers variety and taste with sparkling spring water made with 4% superfruity vavavoom, which is the real fruit juice that is added plus a hint of sugar and natural flavours, making it perfect for quenching Aussie thirsts this Spring.

Primarily aimed at health conscious females aged 30 and above, Glaceau fruitdropwater is low kilojoule and made with natural flavours. It blends sparkling spring water with real juice and is sweetened with a hint of sugar.

The launch will be supported by a targeted customer media campaign via UM and Passport Design Agency with a strong out-of-home presence. The product will be supported in retail stores with a range of impactful visual and merchandising solutions.

Says Gloria Young, brand manager Glaceau: Glaceau fruitdropwater is an exciting new product specifically designed for an Australian audience.

Research tells us that female water drinkers look for refreshing alternatives when it comes to their drinking repertoire and we have found low kilojoule products resonate well with this audience.

Glaceau fruitdropwater was designed with this in mind and we are confident it will be well received with the aim of driving category growth.

Passport Brand Design  Shopper Marketing

UM  Media Agency
| BY Ricki Green |

There are limited spots left for the latest Copy School in Sydney, sponsored by NewsMediaWorks, featuring some of the countrys best creative talent as guest tutors.

Copy School is designed to encourage the best quality copywriting across all media channels and engages some of Australias leading advertising creative writers and creative directors, as well as news media editors, to pass on their knowledge and experience.

Date: 10 Oct 2016  14 Oct 2016

Time: 9:00 am  12:00 pm

Venue: News Media Works

Address: Level 2, The Terrace, 60 Union Street Pyrmont NSW 2009

For further information and applications, contact Kylie Hannah on 02 9692 6320 or kyliehannah@newsmediaworks.com.au.

Copy School, to be held in Sydney from Monday 10th to Friday 14th October, is seeking 20 young copywriters, or those wanting to become a copywriter, to attend the workshop series.

Some of the industrys most respected creatives and a senior newspaper editor will donate their time to be guest tutors at the Sydney Copy School including:

 The Glue Society  Jonathan Kneebone  Co-founder, Writer/Director

 Facebook  Rebecca Carrasco  Head of Creative Shop, Australia & NZ

 The Monkeys  Dennis Koutoulogenis  Creative

 Cummins and Partners  Julian Schreiber  ECD/Partner

 Oglivy  Rob Morrison  Creative Director

 Spectator Australia & AFR & Courier Mail  Rowan Dean  Editor/Columinist

 Creative consultant  Philip Putnam

 Big Red- Ted Horton  Founder and Chairman

 The Sydney Morning Herald  Stephen Hutcheon  Digital Editor

Hosted by creative veteran Ray Black, Copy School will provide participants with a real world brief that must be presented on the final morning of the course. It will be critiqued and discussed by the lecturers and the group.

The workshop fee is just $250 per student. Copy School will donate fees to The Salvation Armys Oasis Youth Support Network and the fee is fully tax deductible.

The course aims to educate and inspire young copywriters, providing real-world experience from some of the outstanding professionals in the media sector.

It will look at copywriting from the perspective of all media  print, radio, TV and digital platforms.

Course content will focus on:

 How to take a brief

 Articulating a value proposition

 Establishing narrative structures appropriate for the medium

 How to deliver audience-specific messages

 Storytelling that is consistent with a brand, and on campaign message

 Developing a style, consistently and concisely

 Writing great headlines

 Best practice editing

 Presenting work to colleagues and clients

 Taking Feedback and Rewriting

Participants will experience a highly interactive environment.

Lecturers will provide real-world experience in the fields of copywriting and storytelling for:

 Television

 Newspapers

 Radio

 Digital Media Platforms

 Social Media

 Direct Electronic Mail
| BY Ricki Green |

MADC Presents Kieran Antill, accomplished artist and ECD of J. Walter Thompson Melbourne, discussing the merits of putting more art into advertising. The event is being held Wednesday October 5 from 6:30pm at the Local Tap House, St Kilda. The event is titled Art For Ad Sake  Why modern brands (and creatives) must close the gap between art and advertising.

Antill believes the internet has given the world so much creative stimulus that people have become creative connoisseurs  difficult to impress or shock. From Instagram to pinterest, creativity is no longer a professionits just who we are. And when brands cant deliver on these new creative expectations, the results are mediocre. Its getting harder to make an impression, but that in turn opens up new avenues. Is art the answer? Antill believes it is and hes got the awards and success to show for it.
| BY Ricki Green |

By Nick Cummins, creative partner, The Royals Sydney and Melbourne

Going into the judging at Spikes Asia this year, I was concerned that national styles would play a big part in the judges decisions. I was lucky enough to be on Kentaro Kimoras Digital and mobile panel along with judges from China, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines. So we all had the potential to be drawn to very different styles of humour, insights and solutions. But that wasnt the case.

Although the work we judged  which started as a list of over 500 entries  was very diverse in tonality and levels of craft, the judges were very consistent in their views. Another thing that was very consistent over the four days of judging apart from the humidity, was how everyone entering these kinds of festivals ends up building the same style of case study.

There is a formula for a reason, I hear you cry. And yes, there are probably a few things that are important to keep doing but the problem is everything ends up looking like this.

The great thing about judging awards like this is you get to hang out with incredible people from our industry, from all different parts of the region and the world. We really are an amazingly smart, insightful, creative and funny bunch of individuals.

So why when it comes to representing our work do we lose our gift of great storytelling and end up producing cookie-cutter over-hyped communications? I dont think a case study should necessarily outshine the entered piece, but surely there are other ways to represent our work. I asked my fellow esteemed judges what they felt about this and here are a few thoughts.

Get to the point. Every judge I met was really bright even after several Tiger beers the night before. You dont have to tell them lots of people are using their phones these days or that people are distracted by lots of messages every day. Get straight to the point  what did you do and how did you do it? Personally I dont think you even need to over-explain the brief or problem you are trying to solve. It will be obvious what your brief was if your solution is award worthy.

Dont exaggerate. Dipping in to a big tub of hyperbole to get your entry to be taken seriously doesnt work. We forget that a solution doesnt have to have changed the world to win an award.

Keep it real. We watched a lot of videos of stunts, experiments, pop-ups, and activations. It was nice to see so many friends from agencies in the background looking intrigued and elated. The problem with this is not just their mediocre acting skills  it also makes great ideas feel like scams. People dont have to point or clap or cry to prove an idea worked well or is great. So if you are going to record reactions, use the real audience reacting in real ways. And avoid creating a perfectly photoshopped example of your execution. Judges love picking that stuff to pieces and again, it makes the work feel dodgy.

Dont over-animate. The amount of spinning, crashing, zooming stats, Tweets and quotes was incredibly distracting. And finally music is obviously important. Most case studies did this well. Finding the right track and voice to deliver the appropriate emotion can make a huge difference.
Dr. Jack Rose speaks during the naming ceremony of an endowed professorship in his honor. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)

Dr. Jack Rose talking with Vidant Medical Center President Brian Floyd.



From left to right, Dr. Carlos Espinoza, Dr. Elizabeth G. Baxley, Brian Floyd, Dr. Jack Rose, Dr. Mark Iannettoni, Dr. Phyllis N. Horns, and Dr. Michael Waldrum.

The director of research for the East Carolina Heart Institute is going to have a special title in honor of a cardiologist and professor who has not only changed the lives of many eastern North Carolinians, but also people around the world. The director will be known as the John 'Jack' Rose Distinguished Professor.said Dr. Mark Iannettoni, who is interim chair for the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He expects the first recipient to be named to the professorship this fall. The East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) is a partnership between Brody, Vidant Medical Center and private physicians to advance education, research, treatment and prevention related to cardiovascular diseases.said Dr. Jack Rose.Rose has been a physician for nearly 50 years. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1968 then received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1972. He eventually accepted a cardiology fellowship at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Rose started working with patients at the former Pitt County Memorial Hospital [now Vidant Medical Center] in 1982. During that time, he also taught physician residents at the hospital, eventually joining Brody as a professor in 1990.said Iannettoni.said Donna Lou Edwards, the nurse manager of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at ECHI. She said no matter what role someone plays on the patient care team, Rose considers their ideas.Edwards and others who work with him said that Rose is a humble and kind gentleman who is dedicated to getting the correct diagnosis for his patients. Rose is also well known for his attention to detail and bedside manner.Edwards said.One of Rose's passions is traveling to Nicaragua to provide treatment of rheumatic and congenital heart disease. He started making the trips in the 1980s and has made about two per year since 2001.says Dr. Carols Espinoza, a fellow in interventional cardiology at Vidant Medical Center.A native of Nicaragua, Espinoza first met Rose on one such trip in 2001. He said from the moment they first worked together, Rose inspired him.Espinoza said.Rose's most recent trip to Nicaragua, in February, ended with him being medically evacuated to Florida after being hit by a motorcycle.Edwards said.Rose said.Edwards added.Rose hopes to go back to Nicaragua in February 2017 - though he'd like to go sooner.said Jane Rose, Jack's wife of nearly 47 years.Rose has not been able to get back to teaching just yet, however he has given a couple of guest lectures this fall semester. He said he could get back into part-time teaching beginning in January 2017.The professorship was established about 10 years ago with funds from the Vidant Medical Foundation and matching state funds. The endowment will pay about $64 thousand annually for the ECHI research director's research expenses, research personnel, travel, equipment and supplies.said Vidant Medical Center President Brian Floyd.Iannettoni said.Eastern North Carolina's population has one of the highest rates of advanced cardiovascular disease in the nation. The ECHI was founded on the premise that collaboration between clinical medicine and scientific research is the best way to ensure patients receive the most advanced care possible.Rose said.
| BY Lynchy |

The lead up to attending University in Thailand is somewhat challenging and not easy for Thai high school students. They have thousands of questions about life at University, which Google might not be able to answer. In this spot by minteraction Bangkok, RSU use this as an opportunity to talk with its potential students and explain that University is not just a place to provide academic results. In fact it is the place that gives students the opportunity to live their lives with real experiences.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 12:47AM

In some countries, Google is now considered an adult. The tech giant celebrates its 18th birthday today and it commemorates it with a Google Doodle, of course. Gerben Steenks created the festive GIF you see today on September 27. But while Google has been celebrating its big day today since 2006, no one knows why this date has been pickednot even Google.

The first Google Doodle to celebrate the companys fourth anniversary was released on September 27 but when it comes to significant dates for the company it doesnt quite add up. Larry Page and Sergey Brin registered the domain on September 15, 1997 and incorporated it on September 4, 1998. Lets just say September is a big month for the tech giant.

Source: CNET
"As Canberra Airport recorded 54 millimetres on Saturday the third of September and the 24 millimetres on the 22nd, it's ranked as the second wettest September so far and it has a good chance of being the first."
Company will invest nearly $83.5 million in Catawba and Forsyth counties

Contact: Crystal Feldman

Crystal Feldman govpress@nc.gov

Hickory, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced today that Corning Optical Communications LLC will expand operations at its North Carolina facilities in Hickory and Winston-Salem. The company plans to add 205 jobs and invest nearly $83.5 million in the state over the next five years.said Governor McCrory.Corning Optical Communications is a worldwide provider of fiber optic communications solutions for voice, data and video networks. Its 160-year-old parent company, Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW], creates applications in specialty glass, ceramics and optical physics in developing transformative products for industries and consumers. It reported $9.8 billion in core sales in 2015. Corning Optical Communications is a $3 billion segment of Corning Incorporated that employs more than 3,000 people throughout North Carolina across multiple operations and ventures.said Clark S. Kinlin, executive vice president, Corning Optical Communications.Corning's expansion adds 105 people at its Hickory plant and 100 employees in Winston-Salem. While compensation will vary by position, the average yearly salary of Corning's new positions will be $58,151. Overall annual wage levels in Catawba and Forsyth counties currently average $38,238 and $49,817, respectively.said Secretary Skvarla.Corning's expansions in Catawba and Forsyth counties will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state's Economic Investment Committee today. Under the terms of the company's JDIG, Corning is eligible to receive up to $1.93 million in total reimbursements. Payments will occur in annual installments over 12 years pending verification by N.C. Commerce and N.C. Revenue that the company has met incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIGs reimburse new and expanding companies a portion of the newly created tax-base with the goal of increasing the overall tax benefit to the State of North Carolina. The state reimbursement is contingent upon local participation from the county or municipality.By law, JDIG projects must result in a net revenue inflow to the state treasury over the life of the award. For projects in Tier 3 counties such as Forsyth County, 25 percent of the eligible grant is directed to the state's Industrial Development Fund - Utility Account to help finance economic infrastructure in less populated counties. JDIG-supported projects in Tier 2 counties such as Catawba direct 15 percent of the award to the Utility Account. Corning's expansion could provide as much as $643,000 in new funds for the Utility Account. More information on county tier designations is available here Since Governor McCrory entered office in January 2013, North Carolina's economy has generated more than 300,000 net new jobs.Numerous partners joined with N.C. Commerce and the EDPNC in supporting Corning's expansion. They include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Catawba County, Forsyth County, the City of Hickory, the City of Winston-Salem, the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, and the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.
The countrys current master plan is due to expire on 3 April 2017, and NBTC has began discussions with telecoms licence-holders and consumer groups on the new draft, which it expects to unveil in November.

The new plan will contain regulations to accommodate new technologies, such as 5G, and measures aimed at promoting market competition, according to executive director of telecommunication policy Sutisak Tantiyothin.

Thailands second largest mobile operator DTAC took part in a meeting held with the regulator, in which the Telenor-owned firm urged NBTC to set a time-frame for a new spectrum auction. DTAC claimed telecom operators need time to draw up future investment plans, and make the Thai mobile market more attractive to foreign investors.

The current draft of the master plan lists when existing spectrum will be released from its current license holders, but does not provide any specific auction dates. By 2025, there will be 865MHz bandwidth available for mobile phone services, compared with 420MHz available this year.

Three spectrum bands are set to be available for auction in 2018. These include a pair of 45MHz bands of 1800MHz, and one 15MHz band of 2.1GHz. In 2022, one 40MHz band of 2.6GHz will be available, along with two 70MHz bands.

The following year will see a pair of 45MHz bands of 700MHz released, and in 2025, a pair of 10MHz bands of 450MHz will become available alongside a pair of 15MHz bands of 850 MHz, one 90MHz band of 1.5GHz, one 40MHz band of 1.8 GHz, and one 70MHz band of 2.3GHz.
Etisalat, Orange and Vodafone are all claiming that there is inadequate spectrum on offer and that the current terms favour state-controlled operator Telecom Egypt, which agreed to buy a 4G licence in July for $800 million.

According to the Bloomberg news agency, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (NTRA) is planning to set out the terms for new 4G licences, a move that may open the way for other operators to move into the market.

Mustafa Abdul Wahid, president of the NTRA, agreed that the spectrum on offer was not enough for 90 million users, but said that it was a starting point. He said the existing terms for a 4G spectrum licence were now withdrawn and would not be offered again. The regulator offered the current terms on 21 August,

A number of reports have suggested that other companies, including China Telecom, STC of Saudi Arabia and Zain of Kuwait, might be interested in bidding for a 4G licence, citing an unnamed telecoms ministry official. However, the original plan was that 4G licences would actually be unified licences, to allow operators to offer fixed and mobile services.

Arabiya TV quoted Yasser El Qady, Egypts telecoms minister, as saying Telecom Egypt will go ahead with 4G services. Telecom Egypt owns 45% of Vodafone Egypt, a stake it is expected to sell if both companies offer mobile services in the market.

Vodafone Egypt said: We want to launch 4G in Egypt as soon as possible, but to do so the conditions must be right.

The company added: After extensive analysis, Vodafone Egypts Board of Directors regrets to say that it believes the current terms and conditions of the 4G licence do not serve the interests of the Egyptian citizen and do not take into account the developmental dimension of the telecom sector in Egypt.

The licence does not offer sufficient spectrum to operate 4G services efficiently and in a way that would allow the Egyptian user to experience significantly higher speeds. Furthermore, the lack of available 4G spectrum could also impact the quality of 2G and 3G services being enjoyed by over 40m existing customers. Accordingly, the board has decided to decline the 4G licence in its current form.

Orange Egypt said: Considering the existing terms and conditions of the proposed 4G licence, Orange Egypt decided not to apply for it. In particular, the quantity of spectrum currently availed does not allow to launch a 4G service with the required level of quality according to all international standards.

It added: Orange Egypt considers that the quantity of spectrum offered is not enough to offer the Egyptian customers the quality of 4G services that they deserve. We will remain available to discuss the 4G licence further in case a new framework is offered.
Pre-Debate Revelations: Hillary's Own Minions Exposed Her Deceptions to FBI

According to documents that were released by the FBI on Friday, but were practically ignored by major news outlets, President Barack Obama used an alias and fabricated a fake email address when he communicated with his secretary of state. This information begs the question: is Obama and Hillary Clinton both liars?



In the tradition of administrations wishing to garner a minimum amount of attention of their wrongdoing, the FBI chose Friday to dump notes from their agents' interview with Clinton's staff members including her closest confidante, Huma Abedin. She was questioned about a specific email that contained what they found was an alias used by Obama.



"It has been revealed that President Barak Obama used an alias while emailing to Hillary Clinton on her private email server, but claimed he was unaware of her illegal actions. Barack Obama already attempted to circumvent the Constitution to give millions of illegal aliens the right to vote ahead of the critical 2016 elections. We cannot allow Obama and his liberal allies to steal the election for Hillary Clinton" said former U.S. Army officer Joel Arends, chairman of Veterans for a Strong America.



"A computer specialist who maintained Hillary Clinton's private email server while she was secretary of state told the FBI that fellow State Department officials had expressed concerns to him about whether the system was properly retaining public records, according to newly released documents from the now-completed inquiry. Bryan Pagliano, a former Clinton campaign aide who set up and maintained the server during her time as secretary, said that some agency officials had asked him in late 2009 or early 2010 to convey to Clinton's 'inner circle' that her use of a private server could pose a 'federal records retention issue,' the documents show," according to the Trump for President campaign.


Oct 28, 2022

California tree carnage: A decade of drought and fire killed a third of Sierra Nevada forests

Sacramento Bee, ARI PLACHTA: "Admirers of Californias Sierra Nevada mountains are familiar with the swaths of blackened trees flanking its sprawling green forest ranges. A new UC Berkeley study quantifies that devastation, finding nearly a third of southern Sierra conifer forests have died in the last decade.

California has seen devastating bouts of drought and record-breaking wildfire events in the last several years. From 2011-2020, a combination of fire, drought and drought-related bark beetle infestations killed 30% of forests in the Sierra Nevada mountain range between Lake Tahoe and Kern County, according to the analysis.

Its kind of a wake up call, even to those of us that are kind of steeped in this field, said Zackary Steel, lead author of the study. Were moving from knowing this is a problem to quantifying the problem.""

Newsom wants to tackle high gas prices with a new tax. Heres why it wont be easy

Sacramento Bee, MAGGIE ANGST: "Nearly a month after California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a new tax on greedy oil companies charging high gas prices while enjoying unprecedented profits, his administration has shared few details about the plan.

Newsom called for a windfall profits tax that would fund rebates for California taxpayers getting squeezed at the pump. Underscoring the urgency of the matter, the Democratic governor called on state legislators to convene in Sacramento for a special session in December to hammer out the specifics.

Theyre screwing you, taking advantage of you, Newsom said about oil companies after his gubernatorial debate on Sunday. ... A price gouging penalty to put money back in the pockets of people that are being taken advantage of is not only the right thing to do, its the moral and ethical thing to do.

This theory is nuts: Schwarzenegger warns independent state legislature case could upend California elections

The Chronicle, BOB EGELKO: "Arnold Schwarzenegger was the last California governor from the Republican Party, the same party whose leaders are now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to give state legislatures the last word on district boundaries and election disputes.

But Schwarzenegger is urging the court to reject that plan and says it would threaten, among other things, the nonpartisan commission that California voters approved while he was governor to draw district lines for state and federal candidates after each census.

Allowing partisan lawmakers to overrule state courts on rules that govern elections would eliminate state efforts to curtail partisan gerrymandering, imperiling the checks and balances needed for a functioning redistricting process that places voters interests over legislators, lawyers for Schwarzenegger wrote Wednesday in a filing on the case that the court is scheduled to hear Dec. 7."

Going electric: Opponents clash as California aims to force diesel trucks off the road

CALMatters, NADIA LOPEZ: "Environmentalists and trucking industry groups sparred with clean air regulators today over a contentious proposal to phase out Californias big rigs and other trucks with internal combustion engines, and force manufacturers to speed mass-production of electric trucks.

The California Air Resources Board held its first public hearing on rules that would ban manufacturers from selling any new fossil-fueled medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks by 2040. The new rules would also require large trucking companies to convert their fleets to electric models, buying more over time until all are zero-emission by 2042. The move is part of the states wider strategy to end its reliance on fossil fuels and cut planet-warming emissions.

California is leading the transition to wide-scale electrification of trucks and buses, said board chair Liane Randolph. These actions can show the world how to simultaneously address the climate crisis, improve air quality and alleviate key concerns identified by communities."

Organizers launch bid to recall embattled L.A. City Councilmember Kevin de Leon

LA Times, JULIA WICK/DAKOTA SMITH: "Amid widespread calls for the embattled politicians resignation, five constituents filed initial paperwork Thursday to recall Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon.

The former state Senate leader has been at the center of a political maelstrom set off by a leaked recording first reported by The Times on Oct. 9.

De Leon has said repeatedly that he has no plans to step down, citing the need for representation in his downtown and Eastside district. He was elected to the council in 2020 and has more than two years left in his term."

Kevin de Leon is on an apology tour. When will he realize its a farewell tour? (COLUMN)

LA Times, ERIKA D SMITH: "For what seemed like the 100th time in about 20 minutes, Kevin de Leon was speechless, his jaw slack, his eyes as wide and blank as a deer caught in headlights.

Tavis Smiley, the host and founder of KBLA Talk 1580 AM, had just asked the embattled Los Angeles City Council member the only question that matters: How did De Leon possibly think he could continue to serve in elected office?

How, when so many Angelenos now see the former activist as a hypocrite for participating in a racist, secretly recorded conversation with two other Latino council members and a labor leader? On Thursday, five of his own Eastside constituents filed paperwork to recall him."

Long COVID afflicts 15% of adults who test positive

The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "As evidence accumulates on the number of people infected with the coronavirus who end up with symptoms of long COVID, interest is also mounting in the possibility that the Pfizer antiviral drug Paxlovid could provide a possible treatment.

But as with so many other treatments during the pandemic, access to the medication has been unequal: a new CDC study finds that Black Americans were 36% less likely to be given it to fight their infection than their white neighbors.

Equal access to treatment will become increasingly important heading into the winter amid new data showing a rise in hospitalizations and forecasts for a peak in December to January.



These are now the most common COVID symptoms  depending on your vaccination status

The Chronicle, AIDIN VAZIRI: "Dont shrug off that sneeze or scratch at the back of your throat. As coronavirus variants continue to evolve and become more difficult to detect, so do COVID symptoms, allowing more people to spread the virus without realizing it.

Signs of infection are increasingly hard to tell apart from symptoms of a common cold or flu, according to the latest update from the ongoing Zoe Health Study, a joint project by researchers at Harvard, Stanford, and Kings College in London."

Sacramento supervisor shares COVID misinformation, says children do not die from virus

Sacramento Bee, MATHEWN MIRANDA/CATHIE ANDERSON: "Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost shared misinformation about COVID-19 at a public meeting, this week saying COVID is gone, children do not get or die from the virus, and describing vaccines for the virus as experimental.

Statistics from Californias COVID-19 database show that Frosts statements are not correct.

The states latest update showed that minors accounted for 18.1% of COVID-19 cases in California, 352,734 of those cases among preschoolers and 1,532,288 in kids ages 5 to 17."

CDC paves way for California to require school COVID vaccines  but lawmakers have given up for now

CALMatters, ELIZABETH AGUILERA: "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccination advisors voted last week to recommend all children get the COVID-19 vaccine, a move that does not change Californias list of vaccines required for children to attend school.

The addition of the COVID-19 vaccine to the CDCs recommended vaccines for kids is not a mandate for states school attendance requirements. Any additions to Californias list must be made by the state Legislature or the state Department of Public Health. In the last 12 months, the Newsom administration and the Legislature separately tried to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for kids to attend school, and both failed.

People involved in those efforts said they do not expect the Legislature to consider a mandate for children again next year, barring a big spike in hospitalizations or deaths."

Collaborative, hands-on trainings crucial for English language educators

EdSource, BETTY MARQUEZ ROSALES: "In a state where 2 in 5 public school students speak languages other than English at home, teachers need more collaborative and hands-on professional development to help bring Californias English learners to proficiency in English, educators and parents agreed during an EdSource roundtable on Thursday.

Teachers on the panel shared experiences of recent professional development they received that made a difference.

This summer, Marina Berry took part in a three-week program meant to accelerate the language proficiency of long-term English learners in fourth to eighth grade while providing a structured, supportive professional development opportunity for educators. The program was designed by the San Joaquin County Office of Education, where Berry teaches, and provided extensive collaboration opportunities."

Federal regulators descend upon nations largest alcohol wholesaler

The Chronicle, ESTHER MOBLEY: "Federal regulators descended upon the Union City offices of the countrys largest liquor wholesaler on Wednesday, spending most of the day at the Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits building on Dowe Avenue.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) were engaged in an official activity at Southern Glazers yesterday, said Jennifer Chiou, public information officer for the IRS. We were there most of the day."

Elon Musk just took over Twitter and fired top executives. Here are 5 questions for the future

The Chronicle, ROLAND LI: "Elon Musks $44 billion purchase of Twitter reportedly closed in dramatic fashion late Thursday: In his first action after taking control, Musk fired several top executives, according to media reports.

The departures included CEO Parag Agrawal, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde, head of legal policy, trust, and safety, the Washington Post, CNBC, and others reported, citing anonymous sources. General counsel Sean Edgett was also reportedly fired.

The purchase was expected to resolve a six-month period of financial uncertainty for the San Francisco social media company. But with major changes already taking place, plenty of questions remain. Here are five:"

Twitter employees brace for massive layoffs as Elon Musk completes his acquisition

LA Times, JAIMIE DING/BRIAN CONTRERAS: "After six months of wrangling and delaying tactics, Elon Musks deal to buy Twitter finally closed late Thursday, according to reports  leaving Twitter employees facing a very different picture than the one they contemplated in April.

When the billionaire tech mogul first agreed in April to buy Twitter, many employees at the San Francisco social media company were leery of their new potential boss, who had criticized the companys workforce as lazy and politically biased.

But they enjoyed the comfort of knowing they could always turn elsewhere. The job market for tech talent was strong and had only gotten stronger during the pandemic."

Tahoe is getting a massive upgrade. Here's how it will transform the ski destination

The Chronicle, GREGORY THOMAS: "A long-awaited mountaintop ski gondola that promises to reaffirm Lake Tahoes stature as a marquee skiing destination is set to start carrying skiers as soon as mid-December.

The gondola will link the base areas at Olympic Valley ( formerly called Squaw Valley) and Alpine Meadows  which operate together as a single resort called Palisades Tahoe  and create the third-largest ski resort in the U.S., behind only Park City Mountain and Powder Mountain in Utah.

Strung more than two miles over a high ridge between the two ski areas, the gondola is the most significant upgrade to Tahoes ski infrastructure in a decade or more. (None of Tahoes other nine major ski areas are linked in such a fashion.) Its 98 passenger cabins will cruise 11 mph, for about a 16-minute ride between base areas and carry riders past a spectacular vantage point of the surrounding Sierra peaks with the cobalt body of Lake Tahoe visible in the distance."

This California city was named one of the worlds most breathtaking. See why

Sacramento Bee, HELENA WEGNER: "California has one of the most breathtaking places in the world, according to National Geographic.

The magazine released its annual review of the 25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023 and San Francisco made the list.

Writers, Nat Geo explorers and editorial teams from all over the world chose 25 places from 200 nominations, Amy Alipio, senior editor for National Geographic, told McClatchy News in an emailed statement."

Feds urged to reject plan to sell troubled Chinatown building for low-income seniors

LA Times, CONNOR SHEETS: "For decades, living conditions at Cathay Manor Apartments have deteriorated as its elderly, low-income residents have grown more isolated amid the rising rents and gentrification of booming Chinatown.

Dingy hallways and run-down communal spaces lead to modest apartments, many of which havent been updated in years. Clogged vents blow tepid, foul-smelling air. Malfunctioning elevators have repeatedly gone unfixed for days on end, leaving many of the vulnerable, mostly Chinese American residents marooned on their floors.

The 38-year-old complex on a busy stretch of North Broadway is a far cry from the gleaming luxury towers that have gone up across the neighborhood since the turn of the century. Yet its owners see it as a potential moneymaker."

A train cut off California mans legs while he lay on tracks. Does he deserve $57 million?

Sacramento Bee, SAM STANTON: "The Amtrak amputation lawsuit went to the jury Thursday following an impassioned plea by Joe Nevis lawyer that jurors award him $57.6 million in damages for the Christmas Eve 2016 accident in which a train sliced off his legs.

He has 40 more years to live, 40 more years of finding his way through doors, of people holding doors for him, holding elevators, attorney Raymond McElfish told the Sacramento jury as he stood with Nevis next to him in a wheelchair in front of the jury box and U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd.

They all know what they did, and they know what its worth, McElfish said of the defendants  Amtrak, Marysvilles Rideout Memorial Hospital and Dr. Hector Lopez. Compensate him so he can live his life the best he can do."

FBI background check blocked gun sale to St. Louis school shooter

AP, JIM SALTER: "The 19-year-old gunman who forced his way into a St. Louis school and killed two people purchased the AR-15-style rifle from a private seller after an FBI background check stopped him from buying a weapon from a licensed dealer, police said Thursday.



Orlando Harris tried to buy a firearm from a licensed dealer in nearby St. Charles, Mo., on Oct. 8, St. Louis police said in a news release Thursday evening. An FBI background check successfully blocked this sale, police said, though they didnt say why the sale was blocked.

Harris then bought the rifle used in the school shooting Monday at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School from a private seller who had purchased it legally in 2020, police said."
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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.
Indeed, the very essence of human life is to live in such a way to meet the basic demands of food, clothing and shelter. The very basic need of an individual is that of food. Without food, the question of survival does not arise. This is what prompted our forefathers to take to cultivation. However, a major chunk of the fruits and vegetables that are produced are perishable in nature. Hence, in order to maximise their usage, the best way out would be to preserve them.

Now, modern science and technology have reached a point wherein nothing is excluded from their shackles. Indeed, by putting technology to appropriate use, education, healthcare and general lifestyle have improved. The application of technology in order to avoid food from perishing and, thereby, ensuring that there is least amount of wastage is one of the core ethics of food science and technology.

With human beings becoming more and more aware of the resources given to them by Mother Nature, the demand for food science is increasing by leaps and bounds. This article talks about the current scenario in food science and technology and the emerging scope of the different careers in this field.

 Regulatory Affairs Officer

It is after the Green Revolution that the country has started taking things pertaining to the side effects of agrochemicals and pesticides seriously. In the recent years, there has been an increase in licensing, marketing and legal compliance regulations in order to ensure the least amount of damage to the crops and subsequently ensure better quality of the food that we eat.

In order to ensure that everyone involved in the process of food generation and food delivery adheres to the guidelines laid out by the authorities, there is a need for people to regulate the same. These people are known as regulatory affairs officer and people with a background of food science is preferred for the same.

These are government jobs and bring along a lot of social security. The starting salary is about Rs 15,000 here and there are a number of other perks and incentives to go along.

 Product Developer

This is another area of food technology that has come to light only in the recent years. Government initiatives like 'Make in India' owe credit for the success of the same. The product development personnel can use their knowledge of food technology to come up with better processes that optimise the process of food manufacturing.

These days we see a number of packaged food items. Food that, in the past, was considered to be unpackageable is today available in bounty. All of this is possible only due to the combined efforts of hundreds of food product development engineers.

This is one of the most highly paid jobs in the world of food technology and the starting salary here is close to Rs 22,000. Jobs in this sector may be both government-based and private, however, it is recommended that a person working in this area has a postgraduate degree or diploma in the same.

 Toxicologist

The main job role of a toxicologist is to identify the presence of toxic items in food and to study the impact of the same in human life. This is a new profession and in the recent days we see a great surge in the number of organisations hiring toxicologists in order to ensure that the food products manufactured by them are in compliance with the laws of the land.

These people perform experiments on the food samples and make notes or prepare reports on the presence (or absence) of toxic contents in the same. Their job is to optimise the results and arrive at a conclusion wherein the potential benefits of a food product are valued against the risks to find the feasibility of the same.

This is a research-oriented job and people with a postgraduate diploma in food technology are given more weightage over graduate degree holders. Freshers here start off with a salary of Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000.

 Purchasing Manager

In the past, this role in restaurants and hotels was carried out by chefs. In this era of multi specialisation, restaurants hiring people who have a thorough understanding of food sciences (and a basic understanding of finance) for this role.

The job role here includes making a proper list of all the things that are needed to be purchased and the quantity in which the same has to be done and then going ahead with the purchase. It is the duty of the production manager to ensure that substandard products that lack nutritional value or are toxic in nature are not purchased.

This is a very crucial role for the functioning of any restaurant, bakery or other eateries because the taste of the food in any place depends greatly on the quality of food products used. The average starting salary ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,00 and with experience the responsibilities and take-home salary rises.

 Technical Brewer

These people deal with the entire process of producing and packaging beer. The quality check on raw materials, the operative procedures and the functioning of the technical equipment are the responsibilities of these people. These people also work on coming up with new recipes.

In the past, India did not really produce beer on a large scale and most of what came to the country was imported. However, the situation is up for a change now. With beer brewing in the country increasing by leaps and bounds, there is immense scope for the career growth of technical brewers.

All you need is a degree in food science and technology with brewing as one of your elective subjects. The average starting salary here is about Rs 12,000 and the same may vary depending on the organisation that you are working for.
Educomp introduces educationists to SmartSTEM: a new interdiciplinary approach in science, technology, engineering and mathematics



Over 50 prominent Principals and teachers attend seminar

Noida, 27th September, 2016: Educomp Solutions Ltd., India's largest education company and the pioneers of Smartclass education in India, held its education development School Conclave at Radisson Blue, Sector 18, Noida.

The Educomp School Conclave is an annual initiative by Educomp to discuss the key challenges faced by today's education system. The Conclave seeks to help schools identify, discuss and solve key issues facing them in imparting high quality education. The School Conclave involves educationists, principals and school management from various city schools to discuss and find solutions to key challenges for schools of the 21st century.

Over 50 principals of leading schools in Noida attended the School Conclave to jointly discuss the problems and possible solutions. This year the theme was Science and Mathematics. Based on earlier held interactive discussions with principals and administrators on filling some of the critical gaps in education delivery that schools today face, participants were exposed to new technology platform that can create an eco-system that schools can use to deliver, monitor and meet outcome targets in Science and Mathematics.

On the occasion, the school community of Noida got a chance to witness Educomp's latest offering in innovative learning called SmartSTEM.

Educomp SmartSTEM brings a whole new perspective to Science and Mathematics by evolving and embracing a learning mechanism that is globally recognized and followed - STEM education. This works towards building a sound knowledge base in areas of science & mathematics by integrating them into the curriculum through a cohesive learning approach.

SmartSTEM is a unique teaching tool that focuses on Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. It is a unique blend of technology with traditional teaching methods, in which the teacher lead tools enables in-depth learning for students via 3D animations, 3D interactivities and simulations. The students grasp the content by watching realistic 3D animations, simulation and engage in quizzes and 2D/3D interactivities to apply that learning.

Speaking on the sidelines of the School Conclave held in the city today, Anubhav Singh, State Business Head, at Educomp Solutions Ltd. said, "The aim of the Educomp School Conclave is to update schools with the latest teaching modules and technologies. The Conclave looks to enable the educators to be future-ready with state of the art technology integration, which will revolutionize the way education is imparted. STEM education is a concept-driven approach that strengthens a student's analytical skills, problem-solving abilities and enables creative thinking that helps them pursue excellence in different fields in these subjects. We are happy to introduce schools in Noida to Educomp SmartSTEM which aims to make experiential learning of Science and Mathematics both fun and insightful."

Over 4000 schools across India are expected to participate in this year's Educomp School Conclaves. To be held across 85 Indian cities/towns the conclaves will cover all four regions of the country as well as the North East. Representatives from schools will be taken through extensive models and presentations to inform, educate and update the education fraternity on the benefits of SmartSTEM and how this teacher-led program enables in-depth learning for students via 3D animations and interactive modules.

About Educomp Solutions Limited (http://www.educomp.com/)

Educomp Solutions Limited is the largest education company in India and the only company spread across the entire education ecosystem. From schools to skills; over last two decades Educomp group has empowered over 30 million learners and educators across over 65,000 schools to imagine, think and create a better future.

Educomp's presence in each of the education verticals is marked with technology-enabled products, high quality people, structured processes and entrepreneurial leadership, that come together to deliver unmatched value.

From pre-school toddlers to competitive high school exams, from core curriculum subjects at the school level to vocational & employability skills for young adults; Educomp reaches out to the entire education life cycle. Founded in 1994 by first generation entrepreneur Shantanu Prakash, the company today has 23 offices across major states of India, one in Singapore and two in the United States.

Educomp works with India's largest K12 content library with over 20,000 modules of rich 3D multimedia educational content and has reached out to over six million students across 12000 private schools and 17.5 million students across 35000 government schools. Educomp also runs over 350 Little Millennium pre-schools, 45 brick and mortar K12 schools, and 63 Test Prep centers.

Educomp is a publicly traded company on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange, India.
Theres only a handful of countries where you can buy a new Acura. The United States is one of them, of course, but so is Canada. And Hondas luxury division just sold its 500,000th vehicle in the True North.



The landmark vehicle is a 2017 Acura RDX, delivered to one Baharak Ayenesima in Toronto. The RDX is far and away Acuras most popular model in Canada, outselling the larger MDX and accounting for close to half of the brands sales in the country. In fact, after the volume-oriented Civic, Accord, HR-V, CR-V, and Pilot, the RDX is one of Honda Canadas top sellers.

Acura launched in both Canada and the United States in 1987, beating Lexus and Infiniti to the punch. In the nearly 30 years since, the brand has gone from selling two models at 20 dealers across Canada to a full lineup sold through a network of 51 dealers. By now, Acura also sells in Mexico as well as Hong Kong, China, Russia, and Kuwait. Elsewhere many of its products are often sold under the Honda brand.

Acura even sold a model unique to Canada for years. The EL and subsequent CSX were premium versions of the Honda Civic, sold in Canada from 1997 through 2011 before the ILX arrived the following year.

Photo Gallery
Stefan Knirsch, Audis head of Powertrain Development will leave the company effective immediately, according to an official statement.



Last week German media reported that Knirsch had knowledge about the use of the defeat device software in 3.0-litre diesel engines, despite having given a promise under oath according to investigations by U.S. law firm Jones Day.

Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Board of Management of Audi AG for Technical Development, is stepping down from his position with immediate effect and is leaving the company in agreement with the Supervisory Board, read Audis official statement without providing more details.

Knirsch became head of Powertrain Development last January, succeeding Ulrich Hackenberg who quit after he was found associated with the development of the EA 189 engine that sits at the eye of the whole Dieselgate tornado.

PHOTO GALLERY
At this weeks Paris Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz will give us a futuristic glimpse into its range of Tesla-fighting models with an all-electric crossover concept.



To prepare us for the world premiere, the Germans dropped the first teaser of the as-of-yet unnamed study through a short video that highlights some of the crossovers exterior and interior cues.

Mercedes recently said that the Paris show car embodies a concrete vision of a totally new generation of vehicles with battery-electric drive without getting into any other details.

The concept, which is believed to make use of the aerodynamic features shown in last years Concept Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile (IAA), will lead to a production model with an electric range of around 500 km or over 300 miles, with a planned introduction in 2019. The zero-emissions SUV has been conceived to take on the Tesla Model X, as well as the forthcoming electric crossovers from Audi and Jaguar.

It will be the first in a series of dedicated, pure-electric vehicles currently under development by Mercedes and which will include a luxury sedan to rival the Tesla Model S.

Photo Gallery

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Peugeot changed its strategy and metamorphosed its two MPVs into crossovers, but whats does the French automaker seek to accomplish with this change?



The SUV/crossover segment continues to grow, attracting more and more customers in the process; thats why Peugeot reckoned it was time to change gears in order to boost its sales.

Both the 3008 and the 5008 werent exactly tackling the most profitable niche, and they werent much of a success story either. Now though, Maxime Picat, PSA Groups head of Europe, said that the company knows exactly the direction it wants to go.

Speaking to Automotive News, Picat described the 3008 as an acceleration for the brand, especially after learning that customers actually want a real SUV from the automaker, not a crossbreed between a minivan and a crossover:

The previous-generation 3008 was a huge success in some countries, but less so in others. After asking our customers why this was the case, we learned that they increasingly look at SUVs as more than just a niche product.

The SUV offensive also means that the minivan as we know it will be ancient history at Peugeot, although PSA will still offer some models through Citroen, as Picat continued:

When you have a booming sector such as SUVs, then you change your strategy accordingly. When industry sales of a segment begin to slow down, then you have to reassess what the groups strategy is for that particular vehicle type. That is why Peugeot went in the SUV direction, while Citroen continues to have excellent success with its Picasso C4 minivan.

According to Picat, SUVs wont represent the final frontier for Peugeot, as the automaker plans to offer another electric passenger car by 2019, besides its iOn and Partner models.

PHOTO GALLERY
New York City has a new mini-animation festival. Animation Nights New York (ANNY), a monthly animation screening series in New York City, will celebrate its first anniversary this week by launching a full two-day animation festival packed with screenings, panels, vr experiences, installations, and other events.

The ANNY Best of Fest will take place this Thursday and Friday, September 29-30, at 180 Maiden Lane in Manhattans Seaport District. Like the successful screening series that inspired the festival, films will play a prominent role in the event. A panel of guest judgesEmily Hubley, Anthony Haden-Guest and Leah Shorehave programmed a special screening of 20 best of films from over 200 shorts that have screened at the monthly screening events over the past year. Watch the trailer for the best of screening below:

In addition, ANNY Best of Fest will offer other animation screenings of both shorts and features, as well as panels and talks focused around technology and story in animation (Framestore, Aardman Nathan Love, Mark Osborne, Michael Ferraro, Tom Snyder, Flickerlab), animation in reporting (TED-Ed, New York Times Op-Docs), animation as outreach (Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hey Mister!, Mythic Bridge, The Animation Project), virtual reality (Revrie Immersive Works, Framestore, Aardman Nathan Love), animation distribution (John Andrucci, InDemand, Batterypop, Vuier, Bidslate, Vivicast), crowdfunding (Seed & Spark), voice-over acting (IGDA), and storyboarding (Blue Sky Studios, Outlander), among other topics.
Mastered Environments

To bring that environment to life, the studio took advantage of its proprietary Glimpse path trace renderer which had begun development on The LEGO Movie. At that time, said Jowle, we were still using RenderMan as our primary renderer but because of our desire to make everything in the film be built out of individual LEGO bricks and for it to look real enough to make the audience wonder whether it was actually stop motion, we needed to customize the renderer to deal more efficiently with our specific needs.

Off the back of The LEGO Movie we decided to continue to develop Glimpse in preparation for the next set of movies, Jowle continued. The Master has photorealistic ground planes, rocks, and grass that we had to incorporate in with the photorealistic LEGO. We knew we could do LEGO bricks, but now the challenge was to quickly get up to speed on rendering everything else that didnt have a LEGO shader to make it part of that same world.

There were other technical challenges in the short, too. A significant amount of destruction takes place and there was a requirement to show the LEGO characters interacting with all that chaos, and even interact with individual grains of sand. This work was done using Side Effects Softwares Houdini, but Glimpse enabled the rendering of so many complex types of elements to interact in a single scene.

Man Versus Chicken

Like The LEGO Movie, the characters in The Master obey the same rules of animation. They are not bent or squashed or stretched and no motion blur is introduced into the action, even with the frenetic fighting. That was an aesthetic choice made in the first film to preserve the stop motion brick film look. However, to heighten the sense of movement, Animal Logics animators do introduce a notion of brick blurring.

Where a character moves quickly, we swap out bricks for different bricks in between, said Jowle. So the animators might turn the character into a wider brick of the same color which reads as a streak, but its actually just popping on and off with other bricks that are part of our overall LEGO library. An example of this can be seen in the scene where Master Wu first jumps onto the hat of the large sculpture and spins before he lands on top (see video above). If you frame-by-frame the character during his spin, you can see him turn into a series of bricks in the shape of a wheel.

Not using squash-and-stretch animation principles was particularly difficult for the chicken, since the character was effectively one LEGO brick. That meant Animal Logic had to be creative about how the mischievous bird would interact with Wu, without actually being able to deform its body. Ultimately, very small amounts of eye movement helped communicate intent.

When you look at Aardman or Pixar in its early shorts, said Jowle, they have been very successful in getting almost inanimate objects to have an incredible amount of emotion. As soon as our talented animators ran the first tests through and showed how much personality we could get out of a non-deforming brick, most people were on board with it.

That eye movement came from the manipulation of small round, almost 2D, facial shapes on the chicken, a source of constant hilarity for the Animal Logic team.

In the design phase we had to do some facial ROM, or range of motion, for the chicken, said Taylor. It was quite amusing because literally all youve got is a single circle to work with. So we just did a sheet with different levels of a closed circle. Squinty eye. Bendy angry eye. All the credit for the chicken should go to the animators  they nailed it.

Although it features a character from the forthcoming LEGO Ninjago Movie, The Master is not about Ninjago specifically. Instead, it gave Animal Logic a chance to offer a taste of whats to come with their LEGO films and also have fun with the kung fu genre. The cheesier the better, said Taylor.
Photo: BC Jobs Plan

It isn't just royalty leaving the British Isles for the scenic beauty of British Columbia.

Brits in ever increasing numbers made that trek this year.

According to statistics released Monday, overnight visitors from the United Kingdom jumped by 35.8 per cent in July over the same month last year.

But, it wasn't just visitors from the UK enjoying what B.C. has to offer. More than 880,000 international visitors checked out the province in July, an increase of 11.8 per cent. For the year, January to July, 3.2 million international visitors have visited the province, a 12.5 per cent jump.

The numbers broke down this way:

Australia - up 30.4%

Mexico - up 20%

China - up 11.4%

Europe - up 21.1%

United States - up 10.1%

South Korea - up 22.4%

Several factors are cited for the increase, including, increased air access and capacity to Vancouver, a low Canadian dollar and Destination BCs new international marketing strategy.

With successful marketing activities and increased air capacity, especially for Australia and Mexico, we are seeing greater visitation from all our key markets," said Grant Mackay, with Destination British Columbia.

"Tourism operators have reported a strong summer and were hearing they have positive fall and winter bookings, too. As the Royal couples visit approaches, and hundreds of international journalists turn their attention to our province, B.C. will continue to shine on the world stage.

Nearly 19,000 businesses and about 127,000 employees are directly supported by tourism.
Photo: Interior Health

Kelownas newest residential care home is on track and on budget for completion in February.

Construction began last fall at Glenmore Lodge on Drysdale Boulevard. It's being built by Baltic Properties.

The lodge will house 100 publicly funded residential-care beds along with 18 private-pay residential-care beds.

The two interconnected buildings will act as small neighbourhoods to promote community in a home-like environment, Interior Health says.

IH board chair Erwin Malzer said the new beds will not only provide homes for those in need, they will ensure people are receiving care in the most appropriate place, which ultimately will lower visits to our local emergency department and reduce pressures at our hospitals.

Residential care services provide 24/7 professional supervision and care in a secure, home-like environment for individuals with complex care needs that can't be met at home or in an assisted-living residence.

IH is focusing on strategies that will shift the system away from hospitals and toward care provided in a community setting. One of these is improving primary and community care outcomes for frail seniors living with complex, chronic conditions.

Glenmore Lodge will offer services designed to maximize independence and help residents feel comfortable, secure and cared for in a beautiful and modern new home, said Baltic Properties managing partner Will McKay.
Photo: Castanet Staff - File Photo

UPDATE 6:05 P.M.

One person who attended the event over the weekend says one of the five people taken to hospital remains in critical condition in ICU.

According to the individual, one man was able to get to the lobby of a hotel before passing out.

Cocaine, possibly laced with fentanyl, marred an event over the weekend in Kelowna.

Interior Health has confirmed five people were taken to Kelowna General Hospital and have since recovered.

"We did receive reports of five accidental overdoses that occurred in Kelowna over the weekend. All associated with a common event on Saturday," said medical health officer Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi.

"The substance involved was reported to be cocaine that may have contained fentanyl. However, we cannot confirm the presence of fentanyl as Interior Health does not conduct toxicology testing."

Through the end of August, 27 people have died in Kelowna of a fentanyl overdose.

While not using drugs is the best way to avoid an overdose and other health impacts, Dr. Golmohammadi said health-care providers recognize some people will continue to use drugs.

The following tips can help reduce the risk.
Photo: Darren Handschuh Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund

The mayor, four councillors and two city administrators are attending the Union of BC Municipalities conference this week.

Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund said that is only one more than last year and it is well worth the expense of attending.

City officials will be meeting with four provincial ministers on subjects including affordable housing, child care, mussels (on behalf of the regional district) and restorative justice.

Each meeting with a minister will last roughly 15 minutes.

I think its important to have representation as a community, but also as regional district. We do attend collaboratively their meetings as well to show that we are all concerned about some of the initiatives we put forward, said Mund.

Mund could not say how much the five-day conference will cost the city.

Councillors Brian Quiring and Bob Spiers are not attending the event.

Councillors Scott Anderson, Juliette Cunningham, Dalvir Nahal and Catherine Lord, along with CAO Will Pearce and his assistant are attending.

Quiring said he could not make it due to work load.

I'm going to go next year, said Quiring, adding that is happy to see so many councillors and staff attend the annual event.

It's a good thing to go to. It's not a holiday. It's a working session. I have all the confidence in the world they are going to do a good job there, said Quiring.
Photo: Castanet Staff

Kelowna's top cop has suddenly retired.

RCMP Supt. Nick Romanchuk has been off since early September and the force's senior media relations officer now says "he decided to retire from the RCMP."

It was made official on Monday, with a memo reportedly sent to those in the detachment.

"An interim Regional Detachment Commander, Insp. Brent Mundle, remains in place," said Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen in an email.

"We will be working with our local government partners on choosing the next detachment commander for Kelowna regional detachment."

Romanchuk became Kelowna's superintendent in 2013.

He was previously OIC of the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment and replaced Bill McKinnon, who stepped down earlier that year.

Romanchuk has 25 years of service with the RCMP, joining the RCMP in 1991.

He has served in Lillooet, Kamloops, the Southeast District Customs & Excise Section, Nakusp, Lumby, Trail, Kootenay Boundary, and Kelowna.
Photo: Getty Images

It was easy to tell that the first day of fall came on Thursday.

All I had to do was check my e-mail inbox and count the bright ideas to remind everyone to remember to turn on their lights when driving in the darkness and poor weather conditions.

Its an important thought because your vehicles lights not only help you see, they help other road users to see you.

Bob tells me that he used to be a safety committee member in industry. His favourite mnemonic was KBL: Keys in the ignition seat Belt on, Lights on.

Having accomplished that, you were now ready to consider putting your vehicle in motion.

KBL was always the routine, regardless of whether it was day or night.

My Twitter account was well populated with messages about lights last year at this time.

The reminders were for those of us whose vehicles did not have daytime running lights that turned on all the lights.

Some drivers would see the headlight illumination and not remember that the back of their vehicle remained dark until they turned on all the lights themselves.

A nice convenience in some newer vehicles are lighting systems that turn all the lights on automatically when it is appropriate.

Drivers no longer have to do it themselves, unless the light switch is turned to Off instead of Auto.

The KBL routine would have you check to make sure the switch is set to Auto rather than turning the lights on.

Ive already mentioned daytime running lights, so lets revisit them while were speaking of lights.

Is your vehicle model year 1990 or newer and equipped with licence plates from any province in Canada?

If so, you are required to have daytime running lights that function correctly. Disconnecting the system should result in enforcement action.

Now, that we have the lamps lit, there are other considerations for proper night vision.

Are all the lenses clear, undamaged, not full of condensation and aimed properly?

Opaque or yellowed headlight lenses or lenses coated with condensation dont transmit the light that you need to see with properly and blind other drivers with glare.

Future vehicle safety ratings will begin to measure headlight effectiveness. Until then, beware what you spend your money on if you are considering a lighting upgrade on your own.

Illegal products abound on store shelves or sold over the internet. Some of the legal choices are not what they seem either.

Osram Sylvania was the subject of a class action lawsuit in the U.S. over their Silver Star headlight bulbs.

The suit alleged that the company rigged the comparison with standard bulbs to influence consumers.

If you do choose to equip your vehicle with extra lights that are not street legal, remember that they fall into the category of off-road lights as defined in the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations.

All off-road lights must be covered with opaque covers whenever the vehicle is being used on the highway.

Lets wind up with cleanliness. Dirty lights, front or rear, cant do their job properly.

Some paper towel and a spray bottle containing windshield washer fluid could be a wise addition to your winter driving kit along with a spare bulb or two.

To comment or learn more, please visit DriveSmartBC.ca.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Castanet Staff - File Photo

The District of Lake Country is open for business.

Now, they have the plaque to prove it.

Lake Country was one of five municipalities bestowed with the Open For Business award.

In its fourth year, the award is sponsored by the Small Business Roundtable, and handed out each year during the Union of BC Municipalities Convention.

Village of Telkwa, City of Victoria, the Corporation of Delta and the Nisga'a Lisims Government also received the honour.

"Lake Country has dedicated resources to take the pulse of their city's business community through innovative analytics gathered from business walks and site visits," a news release on the award stated.

Twenty one communities across the province applied for the award this year.

"The Open for Business Awards are an important way to honour communities across our province that are invested in helping local small businesses grow," said Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction
Photo: Contributed

The Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge have had a soggy experience so far in Canada, but perhaps this dreary weather makes the Royal couple feel right at home.

An aerial tour of the Great Bear Rainforest and a boat tour of Bella Bella Harbour was canceled Monday for Prince William and Kate due to soggy conditions.

The sunny Okanagan also may not live up to its name when the duo arrives in Kelowna on Tuesday. There is a 30 per cent chance of showers in the morning with strong winds of up to 50 kilometres an hour.

Hopefully the rain will clear by the time William and Kate reach their first destination at UBC Okanagan set for 12:30 p.m.

There the couple be part of an unveiling of a 10th anniversary plaque, as well as view a large piece of Indigenous art commissioned to honour the unique partnership between UBC Okanagan and the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

Then they are set to tour the university, meet with students and take in a intra-squad game by the womens volleyball team.

Due to the Royal visit there will be no public parking and possibly some transit delays at UBCO. The public should also expect traffic delays along Highway 97. The speed limit will be reduced to 60 km/hr between Edwards Road and Airport Way. Regular traffic flow is expected to resume by 3 p.m.

The Highway 97 access ramp to John Hindle Drive will be closed at 11 a.m. to traffic, except for transit vehicles. After 11 a.m., the only access to the University area will be via Airport Way.

Taking transit or carpooling is recommended. Kelowna Regional Transit is adding several buses to Route 97 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The university will be open and classes will be in session.

For those planning to attend the university to catch a glimpse of William and Kate there will be an opportunity to gather in the central courtyard.

The entire visit, including the public ceremony in the central courtyard and the Duke and Duchesss visit with students in the gymnasium, will be televised on large screens in the courtyard and the University Commons for those assembled on campus.

There are some undeveloped properties on Innovation Drive north of UBC Okanagan campus that have been made available by property owners at a cost of $10.

These limited spaces will be serviced by a shuttle that will make their way to campus beginning at 8:15 am and finishing at 3 pm.

From there, the Royal entourage will move on to Mission Hill Family Estate winery; where they will view the vineyard and tour stations displaying key sectors of the provinces agri-food industry.

Castanet will be following the Royal tour to both UBC Okanagan and Mission Hill Winery.

UBC Okanagan will live stream the event here.

Ahead of the William and Kates visit Castanet hit the streets to find out what the residents of Kelowna would ask the couple if they were given the chance.

Watch here.
Photo: COSAR

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.

A 37-year-old man was transported to Kelowna General Hospital with suspected head and spinal injuries after a mountain biking accident along the Crawford Trails.

The unidentified man apparently flew over the handlebars of his bike and sustained the injuries.

He was about four kilometres up the trail, necessitating a helicopter extraction.

Ephraim Nowak, search manager for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, said his organization was called in at the request of BC Ambulance.

He said they, in turn, called the Vernon Search and Rescue helicopter winch rescue team.

"We had a real tight window with fading daylight again, but they were able to extract the subject and transfer him over to BC Ambulance before we lost daylight," said Nowak.

The helicopter was needed because a ground extraction from that area on the fire department's gator would have been too bumpy for the patient.

Nowak said the patient is in stable condition.

This is the third rescue in the same general area in the past month. The first two, including one late Saturday, were hiking accidents.

The area is popular with residents in the Upper Mission and Crawford Estates because of its close proximity to those neighbourhoods.

The Kelowna Fire Department and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue are involved in another rescue in the Crawford Canyon area.

Crews were called out late this afternoon for an injured mountain biker in the Crawford Trail area.

The man is apparently about 45 minutes by foot up the trail network. The department's gator is being used to access the area quickly.

More details when they become available.

This is the third rescue in the area in the past month.

Saturday, a hiker fell about 30 feet while trying a free climb along the Crawford Falls trail network.

About 20 rescuers from four different agencies were involved in the rescue.

A month ago, a woman was rescued from Crawford Falls after she fell.

The Penticton Volunteer Search and Rescue team used its helicopter to help rescue that woman.
Photo: Twitter - Kensington Palace

Here are details for Tuesday of the royal tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge:

 Prince William and Kate travel to Kelowna, where they will mark the conclusion of the 10-year anniversary of the University of British Columbia Okanagan and the 100-year anniversary of the University of British Columbia.

 The couple will view a large piece of indigenous art commissioned to honour the unique partnership between UBC Okanagan and the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

 William and Kate will meet students and UBC Okanagan Heat mascot "Scorch." They will also watch a demonstration by the women's volleyball team.

 The couple will attend the Taste of British Columbia Festival at Mission Hill Winery. The festival will highlight British Columbia's agrifoods and seafood products through cooking demonstrations by some of the province's celebrity chefs.

 The duke and duchess will arrive at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport on Tuesday evening.

 Prince William will inspect a guard composed of members of the Canadian Rangers and Junior Rangers.
Photo: The Canadian Press

UPDATED: 2:35 p.m.

A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California worsened a wildfire Tuesday that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose destroyed two houses and charred more than 3 square miles of dry brush and timber, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Flames lit up the mountainside above a roller coaster at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and a residence was reduced to rubble, though its hot tub still stood. The fire consumed a large home sitting on a hilltop plot and poured out thick, black smoke, while another house sat unscathed below.

The blaze broke out Monday during a statewide heat wave, and crews prepared for another day of witheringly low humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s.

The heat baked even coastal cities that normally benefit from the Pacific Ocean's cooling effect, but the high temperatures were expected to start easing Tuesday.

"This fire is a good reminder that even though we are approaching October, this time of year is historically when we experience the largest and most damaging wildfires," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

It threatened 300 buildings, though it's not clear if they were homes or smaller structures. The fire, which was partially under control, also burned close to television and radio towers. No injuries were reported.

Doreenann Bellamy packed her dog, photo albums and firearms into her pickup truck as she and her husband left their home.

"Everyone on the mountain has guns, and you've got to grab your guns first," she told The Mercury News in San Jose.

Danielle Mays anxiously waited for a neighbour to bring her Boston terrier, Layla, and her cat, Callie.

"That's it; that's what matters," Mays told the newspaper Monday. "I have fire insurance for the rest."
Photo: Castanet Staff

The Abbotsford Police Department has confirmed that it is investigating the Kelowna RCMP detachment.

APD spokesman Ian MacDonald wouldn't give specifics on the case, but said the department was contacted by the RCMP sometime around the Labour Day weekend to investigate the detachment.

"They requested that we come in as an independent investigative body to look at a series of allegations that involved Kelowna detachment," MacDonald said.

However, details are sparse at this time, as MacDonald said divulging names or the nature of the allegations could have an effect on the investigation.

"Because we are in the midst of it, one of the things we have to be extremely mindful of is to not influence any of the evidence," he said. "What I can definitively say is we are still investigating."

MacDonald said the APD has a proven track record of performing external investigations like this, and that details will be made available as the investigation closes.

However, he couldn't say when that might be, due to the nature of a series of allegations.

"When you're dealing with a series of allegations as opposed to ... a single allegation, is that it can branch off into other areas," MacDonald said. "You have to make sure you chase down each of those areas so that you know there is a completeness to the work."

This information comes to light as the detachment's top cop, Supt. Nick Romanchuk's retirement was suddenly announced.

Romanchuk had been superintendent of the Kelowna detachment since 2013.
CANNON BALL, N.D.  North Dakotas chief archaeologist has found that no burial sites or significant sites were destroyed by Dakota Access Pipeline construction, according to an early draft of an internal memo authored by the State Historical Society.

In a Sept. 22 memo from state archaeologist Paul Picha, he writes that seven archaeologists from the State Historical Society surveyed the construction area west of State Highway 1806 that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says contains sacred sites.

The team found no human bone or other evidence of human burials or cultural materials in the 1.36-mile corridor, Picha writes in a memo published Monday, Sept. 26, by Say Anything blogger Rob Port.

Kim Jondahl, director of communications for the State Historical Society, said the document published by Port is the first draft of an internal memo. A final summary will be released by the Morton County Sheriffs Department, which is leading a joint task force, said Jondahl, who referred questions to county spokeswoman Donnell Preskey.

The internal memo is different than what was provided to law enforcement and is not the most recent version, Preskey said.

Preskey declined to release the document provided to law enforcement, emphasizing that the investigation is still underway.

Discussions with the State Historical Society are ongoing, Preskey said.

The sheriffs office is investigating what occurred on Sept. 3, including a clash between protesters and Dakota Access private security with guard dogs and pepper spray.

Preskey also declined to comment on who participated in the Sept. 21 cultural survey.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was not allowed to participate in the Sept. 21 survey, said Jan Hasselman, an attorney for the tribe.

Tim Mentz, former tribal historic preservation officer, wrote in documents filed Sept. 2 in federal court that he surveyed that area and identified at least 27 burials, 16 stone rings, 19 effigies and other features in or adjacent to the pipeline corridor.

On Sept. 3, Dakota Access construction crews worked in the same area and tribal officials say they destroyed sacred sites. Dakota Access officials have said there were no sacred sites destroyed.

The team of archaeologists surveyed the corridor at the request of the law enforcement task force. The team found 10 locations where rodent- to bovine-sized mammal bone fragments and teeth were present, Picha wrote.

Locations adjacent to but outside the construction corridor previously recorded by Tim Mentz Sr. and others were inspected and photographed, Picha wrote.

The State Historic Preservation Office had previously concurred with a cultural resource survey of the pipeline route that found that no significant sites would be affected.

But in a court affidavit filed in federal court, the current tribal historic preservation officer for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Jon Eagle Sr., wrote that he disagreed with their assessment.

After reading the surveys prepared by DAPL, it is apparent to me that the archeologist involved do not have the knowledge or cultural sensitivity to be identifying and or evaluating sites that are significant to the tribes, Eagle wrote.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Photo: Instagram - kensingtonroyal

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a tightly packed schedule during their whirlwind tour of the Central Okanagan today.

Their royal highnesses are expected to arrive at Kelowna airport at 12:20 p.m., greeted by Premier Christy Clark, MP Stephen Fuhr, MLA Norm Letnick, Mayor Colin Basran and Chief Byron Louis.

William and Kate will be escorted by vehicle to UBC Okanagan, for a 12:30 p.m. arrival.

There, they will be greeted by UBC chancellor Lindsay Gordon, UBC president Santa J. Ono, UBCO deputy vice-chancellor Deborah Buszard and Grand Chief Stewart Philip.

The royal couple will be escorted to the main courtyard, where celebrations marking the end of UBCOs 10th anniversary will be underway. They will then participate in a commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony.

Following that, they head to the gymnasium, where they'll greet student athletes and the UBC Okanagan Heat mascot, Scorch at 1:05 p.m. They'll watch a short volleyball demonstration before heading onto the court, meeting the players and receiving volleyball jerseys.

The royals depart for Mission Hill winery at 1:40 p.m.

They are scheduled to arrive there at 2:10 p.m., greeted by the Premier, Letnick and his wife Helene, Mission Hill's Anthony von Mandl, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater and Westbank First Nation Chief Roxanne Lindley.

The royals will proceed into the vineyard, where they will participate in a grape-picking demonstration.

In the courtyard, they will greet some of B.C.'s top chefs, showcasing the variety of B.C.'s agricultural products.

William and Kate will be given an opportunity to sample the chef stations of Ned Bell, Vikram Vij, Rob Feenie, Hidekazu Tojo, David Hawksworth and Okanagan chef Bernard Casavant.

They'll also visit the wine cellar, where they will be invited to draw wine from a barrel.

At 3:05, they head back to the airport for scheduled departure at 3:37 p.m. on board a Canadian Forces CC-150 Polaris, bound for Whitehorse.
Photo: Contributed Rail Trail section along Kalamalka Lake.

As fundraising continues on Stage 2 of construction for the Okanagan Rail Trail comes word donations made in October will be matched, up to $500,000.

Seven trail supporters have come forward to make the offer.

We were inspired by the excitement created by the summer matching campaign and wanted to do something similar in the fall, said one of the donors.

We are hoping that this October matching campaign will inspire the donations to complete the second stage of trail construction. We want to help get this trail built!

Stage 1 of the multi-stage project, $500,000 for design and access control, has already been funded through donations.

The cost of Stage 2, rock scaling and environmental work, is expected to cost $2 million. They have already raised about $320,000.

In all, more than 10 per cent of the overall goal of has been reached for the 48.5-kilometre trail which stretches from downtown Kelowna to Coldstream.

Construction of the trail, along the former CN Rail line, could begin as soon as next spring.

Click here for information on how to donate.

Cheques or gifts of stocks or bonds can be arranged through either the Community Foundation of North Okanagan or the Central Okanagan Foundation.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was a patron at a Miami River bar and restaurant before he and two friends were killed in a boat crash, a spokeswoman for the establishment confirmed Tuesday.

American Social Bar & Restaurant spokeswoman Dana Rhoden said in an email that Fernandez was there before the accident. The statement did not say whether Fernandez had been drinking or what time he left.

The bar is along the Miami River in the city's downtown section and allows boats to dock alongside.

Fernandez, 24, died when the boat he owned slammed at high speed into a rock jetty early Sunday just off South Beach, investigators say. Emilio Jesus Macias, 27, and 25-year-old Eduardo Rivero also died.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating. Spokesman Rob Klepper said in an interview Tuesday that there's no timetable, and "we will provide a complete and thorough investigative report."

The 32-foot boat named "Kaught Looking"  the "K'' is backwards, signifying a strikeout when the batter does not swing  will be thoroughly checked for clues as to why the accident occurred, authorities said. Miami-Dade County prosecutors have obtained search warrants for wildlife commission investigators seeking access to the vessel, said Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the state attorney's office.

"As you know, FWC has a duty to investigate fatal boating accidents like this one," Griffith said in an email. "Since the incident involved a single boat and there were no survivors, there can be no criminal prosecution derived from the FWC investigation."

The Miami-Dade County medical examiner has not yet released toxicology results that might determine if Fernandez or the other two victims had been drinking or taken illegal drugs. Klepper said that report would be part of the wildlife commission's completed investigation. Authorities previously said no evidence of alcohol or drugs was found at the crash scene.
Photo: Carmen Weld

Today's brief royal visit won't put much of a dent in the budget for either Kelowna or West Kelowna.

Most of the cost of the three hour and 17 minute whistle-stop at UBC Okanagan and Mission Hill Winery will be picked up by the feds.

Much of that involves additional RCMP resources and security.

According to officials within the City of Kelowna, costs to the city are minimal.

Communications supervisor Tom Wilson said some staff time was used to co-ordinate road closures around UBC Okanagan.

The city will also pick up the tab for a return flight from Victoria to Kelowna for Mayor Colin Basran, who was among those greeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, upon their arrival at Kelowna International Airport.

It's the same scenario in West Kelowna where the city will pay for a return flight for Mayor Doug Findlater who will greet Prince William and Kate at Mission Hill Winery.

Both mayors are in Victoria this week as part of the Union of BC Municipalities Convention.
Photo: Contributed Approximate area of planned outage

Nearly 700 FortisBC customers will have to use a back-up plan to ensure they get up in time for work or school Thursday morning.

The utility will cut power to 696 customers on and around Ethel Street at 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m. the following morning. FortisBC said it needs to cut power in order to replace aging electrical and civil infrastructure.

Customers living in the following areas will be affected:
UPDATED: 3:22 p.m.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are headed to Whitehorse, Yukon, after stopping at Mission Hill Winery for the final leg of their short Kelowna trip.

The couple's large motorcade whipped through the streets of Kelowna, from UBC Okanagan to the West Kelowna winery, with an RCMP escort.

At the winery, the royals were treated to food from local and B.C. celebrity chefs, and took in the views of the sunny Okanagan day from Mission Hill.

The duke and duchess were also given a tour of the cellar, where Mission Hill ages its wines.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday appears likely to set a record for the most-watched presidential debate ever.

A final viewership estimate from the Nielsen company was not immediately available. But preliminary estimates from 11 of the networks that carried the debate totalled 81.4 million viewers, which would topple a record that had stood for 36 years.

The previous record for presidential debate viewership was the 80.6 million people who saw the only debate in 1980 between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican challenger Ronald Reagan.

No debate since then had exceeded 70 million viewers.
Photo: YouTube

European Union nations pressed ahead Tuesday with plans to boost military co-operation as Britain vowed to oppose the creation of an EU army or headquarters.

With Britain leaving the EU, France and Germany have been spearheading moves to boost Europe's capacity to run its own security operations.

Britain insists the NATO military alliance is the only forum for European security, and London has routinely blocked deeper EU co-operation in the past.

"We're going to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters, which would simply undermine NATO," British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said at EU defence talks in Slovakia Tuesday.

He stopped short of threatening a veto, saying only that "there is no majority here for an EU army."

Despite staunch support for NATO, Britain must tread warily as it prepares to negotiate its departure from the EU. Once the U.K. officially triggers its exit, London and the EU will have two years to agree on the terms for leaving. Playing hardball on defence when it is leaving anyway could undermine the negotiating goodwill of its partners.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said there is a "need to boost European capacity" for EU operations.

"We are in a very strong Franco-German relationship and we think we will be able to make significant progress before the end of the year," he said, standing alongside German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen insisted that "it's not about a European army."

EU troops have been training police and security forces in Afghanistan, Mali, Somalia and elsewhere, and recently agreed to train the Libyan coastguard.

Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief who is chairing the talks, said the EU's treaties do not allow a European army to be created. She said the attendance of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Bratislava is a sign that the EU and NATO are working closely together.

Stoltenberg, for his part, gave NATO's blessing to the boost in EU co-operation.

"It has been conveyed very clearly that this is not about establishing anything which is duplicating the efforts of NATO but which is in complementarity to NATO," he said.
RCMP are looking into a possible connection between Bobby Jack Fowler and one of Okanagan's oldest unsolved murders.

Photo: Contributed - RCMP Bobby Jack Fowler in 1972

E PANA investigators working on the murder and disappearance of 18 women in central and northern BC have concluded, through DNA evidence, that Fowler committed the 1974 rape and murder of 16-year-old Colleen MacMillen.

She was last seen hitchhiking to a friends house from her home in Lac la Hache.

At a news conference in Kamloops Wednesday, Castanet reporter Jen Zielinski asked if there was a link between an Okanagan cold case and Fowler.

Staff Sgt. Wayne Clary says police have looked into a connection between Fowler and a naked body found in a ditch up Chute Lake Road near Naramata in November, 1973.

"This could very well be linked to the Highway of Tears, but the starting point for that needs to be identifying who this woman is," says Clary.

The woman's body was discovered by two employees of the Canadian Pacific Railway working on a microwave project.

Her body was down an embankment in a heavily wooded area.

"Back in 1973 Chute Lake Road was a dirt road that was a very out of the way place."

Clary doesn't believe the woman was local, saying she may have been a fruit picker or a transient.

"The E PANA Missing Persons Unit is looking at the case to try and establish if there is a positive link between either the Highway of Tears or Fowler," added Clary.

"The key to getting this going is identifying this woman - this is a case that is begging to be solved."

A pathologist was unable to determine the cause of the woman's death, however, police have always considered the case suspicious.

The woman was believed to be in her early 20's, approximately 5'7", 140 to 150 pounds.

She had long, light brown hair.

Fowler, an American citizen had been known to cross the border into Canada.

While police are trying to determine a complete timeline they have determined he worked for a Prince George roofing company in 1974.

Investigators say Fowler was transient and would often take odd jobs in roofing or general labour.

Fowler is also considered a 'strong suspect in the murders of Gale Weys (October, 1973) and Pamela Darlington (November, 1973).

He died in prison six years ago at the age of 66 of cancer.

At the time of his death Fowler was serving a 16 year sentence for kidnapping, assault and attempted rape.

He was also a suspect in four murders in Oregon in the early and mid 1990's.

If you remember seeing or dealing with Fowler in the Okanagan in the early 70's, you're asked to call the dedicated tip line 1-877-543-4822 or Crime Stoppers
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Buying land along the Yellowstone River, removing riprap or building a boat ramp at Billings Riverfront Park are just a few of the ideas being considered as ways to spend a $12 million damage settlement proposed by ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. for its 2011 oil spill.

The ideas are outlined in a draft restoration plan with a percentage of the settlement costs allocated to preferred restoration types including: $3.56 million for terrestrial and riparian habitat; $2.09 million for large woody debris piles; $2.64 for aquatic habitat; $400,000 for American white pelicans; and $2.41 million for public recreation.

The proposals are meant to restore or replace some of the natural resources lost or injured after the oil pipeline ruptured near Laurel during high water, according to David Rouse, an environmental contaminant specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Helena. The rupture dumped an estimated 63,000 gallons  about 1,500 barrels  of oil into the Yellowstone River.

The public has the opportunity to weigh in on restoration ideas, as well, Rouse said.

To that end, public comments will be taken through Oct. 31 and a meeting is scheduled on Oct. 12 in Billings at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 5 headquarters, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, at 6 p.m. to take comments as well as outline possible options to the public.

Theres an exhaustive list for specific projects, but how we get that winnowed down  into a project to put money into is what this next month is about, said Bob Gibson, spokesman for Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Billings.

Although $12 million may sound like a lot of money, Gibson noted the amount will quickly dwindle if it goes to purchasing land for access or river easements to allow the waterway to meander.

The final decision on which projects to fund will be made by a trio of agencies, called trustees in the settlement documents. The trustees include representatives of the Bureau of Land Management, state of Montana and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Representatives of the agencies and state will rank plans based on their cost effectiveness  so the biggest bang for your buck, as Rouse put it. Other criteria will include how probable a project is likely to succeed and whether that success can be monitored and measured. Another key factor is that the project be within the affected area of the spill.

Gibson said FWP would like to see the people of Montana compensated for their loss of time on the river, as well as the fish that were lost. That might mean the creation of an access site or improvements to the fishery. Another project he mentioned is a baseline survey of the rivers fish species so if damage is afflicted on the river again FWP can more easily measure the impacts. During the 2011 spill, biologists had to estimate some of the fish losses since things like dead minnows could not be counted.

Thats one of the things we struggled with, Gibson said. How many fish were killed that we did not see? With baseline data we could scientifically say this event affected fish in this way.

Rouse estimated, depending on the number of ideas proposed, it could take a month to three months to develop a final list of projects.

The draft restoration plan is available online at https://dojmt.gov/lands/yellowstone-river-oil-spill-July-2011/ and by request at: Natural Resource Damage Program, P.O. Box 201425, Helena, MT 59620-1425.

Written comments on the draft restoration plan should be sent via email to: NRDP@mt.gov with Yellowstone restoration plan comment in the subject line.

To view the consent decree or to submit a comment, log on to www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

For more information or for a copy of the plan, contact the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program at 406-444-0205, https://dojmt.gov/lands/ or the BLM at 896-5000, http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office.html
Pray, invite your neighbors to coffee  and help organize a voter registration event at your church.

That was among the advice offered to about 40 people gathered Tuesday outside Beartooth Harley-Davidson during a Values Bus Tour stop put on by Family Research Council Action, the conservative organizations legislative arm, and Concerned Women for America.

Those groups are on a 20-state bus tour culminating with the Nov. 8 election. The tour is designed to raise awareness about federal, state and local issues that voters will help decide at the ballot box.

During the 2012 presidential election that gave Barack Obama his second term, 39 million Christians stayed home on Election Day, said Brent Keilen, FRC Action director.

We cant afford to let that happen this year, he said.

Jeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation, urged the crowd to speak to their pastor about organizing a voter registration event at their church.

Its important for you to understand this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, he said, pointing to two issues that the Montana Legislature will probably decide on during its 2017 session, which convenes Jan. 2.

One will be a statewide equivalent of the nondiscrimination ordinance defeated by the Billings City Council by a 6-5 vote in August 2014. The other will involve bathroom and locker room facilities for transgender youth, he said.

I hear from all over the state that people feel despair, theyre discouraged, or outright fearful, Laszloffy said. Theyre worried what America will look like in 10 years. Are things good? No, but without a doubt they are very, very well. God is still on his throne and still sovereign. His thoughts are still higher than our thoughts, and his ways higher than ours. We need to allow God to do his part.

Kari Zeier, state director of Concerned Women for America, said those in attendance should consider inviting your friends over for coffee to let them know what the issues are. And pray  our most powerful weapon is to pray without ceasing, for our current and future leaders.

The advice given during the 30-minute event sounded spot on to Billings couple Dave and LaVonne Swanson.

We dont have to just cave in and follow the herd, he said.

His wife added: I support what they are promoting  the sanctity of life and marriage being between a man and a woman. And being able to express our religious beliefs without worrying about a court case to follow, she added.

Next stops for the 30-ton, 45-long bus are in Spokane, Wash., Thursday and then Kennewick, Wash., on Friday. Learn more about the Values Bus Tour at www.valuesbustour.com.
By a 9-1 count with one abstention, the Billings City Council voted Monday to appeal a $2.7 million district court judgment that the city shortchanged its police officers in longevity pay.

Councilman Mike Yakawich voted against the appeal, while Brent Cromley abstained because the law firm for which he works, Moulton Bellingham PC, is involved in the appeal.

Joining Mayor Tom Hanel to vote for the appeal, which may cost taxpayers up to $60,000 for outside counsel representation, were Shaun Brown, Dick Clark, Al Swanson, Ryan Sullivan, Rich McFadden, Chris Friedel, Larry Brewster and Angela Cimmino.

I think the appeal is in the best interest of the citizens of Billings and is the right thing to do, Brewster said.

I am less confident we will win, Yakawich said. The cost to proceed concerns me, and the impact on the community as we drag it on.

McFadden said he doesnt believe that taxpayer money should be considered low-hanging fruit for frivolous and unjust lawsuits.

It upsets me greatly that a public employee would file this lawsuit against an employer, Hanel said. We owe it to citizens to spend tax dollars wisely.

Andy Forsythe, the citys lead outside counsel on the case, gave the city council several reasons for appealing, including the fact that Park County District Court Judge Brenda R. Gilbert would not allow testimony from police union representatives. He said the Montana Supreme Court, which will hear the appeal, should review whats meant by completed years of service as it pertains to longevity pay.

In Montana, he said, employees are required to recover wages and penalties within two years after the fact  three years for a repeat offender. In this case, he said, the court awarded compensation nearly eight years after the case was filed, in early 2009.

City administrator

The city council voted 10-1, with Friedel casting the lone no vote, to extend the contract of City Administrator Tina Volek for one year, from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2017. Under the agreement, the city council must meet with Volek by Dec. 31 to discuss a raise in her $130,560 salary.

I want you to step up your game, and Im voting no for that reason, Friedel told Volek. I know you can do better. In the private sector, we dont just do our job  we go over and above. If this is in fact your last year, its important to leave a legacy for future administrators.

Tina puts a lot of time and effort in this position, Cimmino said. She deals with 11 personalities up here and 900 employees while pleasing 110,000 people. That speaks for itself.

Im very proud to say Ms. Volek has done an exceptional job, Hanel said. She is the longest-serving administrator the city of Billings has ever had. We as a council will have the tremendous job of replacing her in the next 12 months.

I take your comments to heart, Volek told the council, and Ill work to ensure we have a smooth transition.
Uganda: Hima to open new plant

ICR Newsroom By 27 September 2016

Hima Cement is set to invest US$40m in a new plant in Tororo with a view to raising its output to 1.8Mta. The company's CEO, Daniel Pettersson, said the decision was a step to address the rising demand in east Africa. Mr Pettersson said, We are embarking on several projects, starting with the construction of a grinding station at the end of 2016.

Hima is the second manufacturer to gain a presence in Tororo, following Tororo Cements lead. Tororo Cement is also set to expand its capacity from 1.9Mta to 3Mta.

Ugandan cement demand stood at 2.2Mta last year, compared to its total installed capacity 2.65Mta. Approximately 0.1Mta of cement is imported from Pakistan, UAE, China and Kenya, but current and planned local capacity is expected to be sufficient to meet demand for the next 10 years.

Published under
HELENA, Mont.  A Montana nonprofit organization that advocates for abused and neglected children faces an uncertain future due to a lack of funding, but its work will continue.

The board of directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Montana has voted to close its state office at the end of next month, said executive director Joyce Funda.

The statewide office provides training and assistance to local organizations and provides someone to speak on behalf of CASA.

CASA volunteers are appointed by District Court judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. The 15 local CASA offices will remain open and that effort will continue, Funda said.

Sally Erny, chief program officer for the National CASA Association, said Monday the group is committed to keeping the Montana's state office open.

"We will be working to assure that there's adequate funding in Montana to continue operation of the state office," said Erny. She said national officials would meet with the local offices and assess what is needed. She expects they would provide some financial support in the interim while helping to build a sustainable funding source for the state organization.

CASA of Montana is in talks with the national organization and hopes there is a solution, but without a specific plan in place, the Montana office made a business decision to close, Funda said.

"This was the unfortunate conclusion that we came to," she said.

The CASA of Montana board has been working for nearly a year to try to find steady funding without success, Funda said.

Funda was a member of the Protect Montana Kids Commission appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock to investigate the Division of Child and Family Services and make recommendations for improvement.

Last year, 620 active volunteers served over 2,000 abused and neglected children in Montana, a 28 percent increase over 2014.

"We want to see every child in Montana have a highly trained volunteer advocate to speak for the child's best interests," Erny said.

There are local CASA offices in Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Conrad, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Livingston, Malta, Miles City, Missoula and Polson.
Scott Austin Price has admitted guilt in the December stabbing deaths of a Miles City man and a Missoula woman.

Miles City

The 38-year-old entered guilty pleas to deliberate homicide and aggravated kidnapping late Monday afternoon, according to Custer County Attorney Wyatt Glade.

He appeared in Custer County court via video from Missoula, where he faced more charges for a crime spree that left two dead and others injured.

Glade said that he is recommending a life sentence on each count, as well as an additional 10 years on the deliberate homicide for the use of a weapon. The sentences would run concurrently, and he made no recommendation on parole restrictions.

Charging documents say that Price stabbed 78-year-old Ed Martin in the neck on Dec. 14 inside a fifth-wheel trailer. Martin had been Price's landlord for a time.

Hes also accused of assaulting and tying up Martins wife, Helen, before leaving the scene.

Glade said the Montana Attorney General's Office assisted the county attorney during the court process. He said that he consulted with the Martin family while drawing up the plea agreement recommendation.

"The negotiation was reached with their blessing," Glade said.

A sentencing hearing has been set for Dec. 5 for Price, who remains in Missoula County jail.

Missoula

Price also pleaded guilty to five felony counts Tuesday in Missoula County District Court.

Price was charged with deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, solicitation to commit theft and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. His trial had been set for October.

Chief Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks said he will recommend Price spend life in prison without the possibility of parole when hes sentenced in early December.

Price and a co-conspirator, 32-year-old Sarah McKnight, were both charged in separate attacks that took place a week later in Missoula. Prosecutors say on Dec. 21 Price stabbed a woman in a grocery store parking lot and later killed Lonette Keehner, a 56-year-old housekeeper at a Super 8 hotel.

The pair were arrested in Idaho a day later.

McKnight pleaded guilty in May to charges that included deliberate homicide. She has not been sentenced but was sent to prison on an unrelated case two months later.
MISSOULA  In an 8-4 vote, the Missoula City Council on Monday passed an ordinance requiring criminal background checks on all private gun sales within city limits, effective in 30 days.

Ward 4 representative Jon Wilkins abstained from the vote, but after hearing a 7-4 roll call from his fellow council members changed his vote to yes, prompting a round of applause from the audience, even though the ordinance would have passed with seven in favor.

Lets the raise the bar for ourselves, Ward 6 representative Marilyn Marler said to her fellow gun owners. With this ordinance, if criminals get a gun, they wont get one from me.

Although Ward 1 representative Bryan Von Lossberg  who wrote the ordinance  changed parts of it, the ordinance still didnt provide clear solutions for where citizens could obtain a background check, which some dealers told Von Lossberg they wouldnt facilitate.

People have heard me plenty on this ordinance, Von Lossberg said in his closing remarks. Im well aware of the limitations of background checks and this ordinance.

He said his original reasons for writing the ordinance still stood: Its the responsible thing to do as a gun owner, it could prevent suicides and it could prevent gun violence by a partner.

The council passed one amendment on the ordinance, to allow for broader language around the lending of guns for hunting. Ward 2 representative Harlan Wells pointed out the original language allowed someone to possess their friends gun on legal hunting lands only, but not to and from their hunt.

Von Lossberg revised the ordinance to include jail time as an optional penalty for subsequent offenses only, which held despite a failed last-minute motion by Wilkins to remove jail time as an option.

More than 30 people commented, with slightly more against the ordinance, though it was about even among those who said they lived within city limits.

People crowded around the entrance to City Council chambers over a half-hour before the meeting started, with Moms Demand Action members handing out stickers. A member of the Order of Constitution Defenders brought tiny Constitutions for each City Council member.

Around 100 people watched the proceedings, which included multiple reminders from Mayor John Engen that the audience could not applaud, cheer or speak from their seats.

Engen, who strongly supported the ordinance, greeted those who called him on edge and arrogant, with a smile during proceedings and a defense after public comment, calling out members of the National Rifle Association.

If I get un-elected thats fine, he said. My back gets up around bullies.

As mayor, he does not vote on City Council decisions.
Bear attacks left two Montana hunters injured over the weekend in separate encounters.

The first incident occurred Saturday when a man hunting near in the Cabin Creek area of Gallatin County was calling for elk. He received minor injuries from a bear assumed to be a grizzly, said a Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks news release.

The second attack was Sunday morning. A bear believed to be a female grizzly with two cubs mauled a man who was bow hunting elk on the north side of Tim Miner basin north of Gardiner, the release said.

Both hunters were treated at local hospitals and released.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks did not attempt to locate the bears involved. The attacks were determined to be non-predatory and natural responses to close encounters between bears and humans. The bears would have been located if they were suspected repeat offenders or if they were injured during the incidents, said Andrea Jones, FWP spokesperson.

Jones said archery hunters are particularly at risk to encounter bears. Archers cover their scent and move through wilderness as quietly as possible so bears can be surprised by their presence.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks encourages hunters to stay alert while hunting in bear country by observing warning signs at trailheads, looking ahead for movement in brush and checking the ground for bear scat and tracks. Bear spray should be carried in an accessible place and hunting with a partner is encouraged.

Elk bugling, cow calling and areas with a high elk and deer hunting success rate attract bears. Circling ravens can indicate a kill site.

Hunters should carry everything they need to field dress game. If not all the meat can be packed out at once, hunters should remove the remaining meat from the kill site and hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and 150 yards from the gut pile.

When returning to the meat, hunters should check the area with binoculars for signs of bear activity. Hunters should not try to move a bear away from harvested animals.
One of country music's biggest stars is coming to Casper.

Eric Church, a Grammy nominee and Country Music Association Award winner, will perform at the Casper Events Center on April 4  and it's going to be a long concert.

Church will not be accompanied by a supporting act for his latest tour, "Holdin' My Own." Instead, the 39-year-old will perform two full sets split by an intermission.

Tickets for the concert range in price, and per Church's blessing, purchasing tickets will favor the fans.

In this era where growing inequality seems to be the norm, we wanted to do everything within our power to put the advantage back in the hands of true fans rather than those that take advantage of the system, and by extension our people, said John Peets, Churchs manager, in a news release. It was important to us to invest time into evaluating and redesigning the ticket buying process and build the technology to level the playing field.

Church will cancel all orders made by scalpers using proprietary technology, which is why the country music artist cautions fans to stay away from the secondary market. Also, all ticket deliveries will be delayed until the days leading up to the show, another measure to limit scalpers.

The way this album came together mandated we release it as a surprise, straight to our fans, as it was important for me to deliver the music the same way the creativity hit me  directly and swiftly," Church said in a news release.

Church has released five studio albums, his latest being 2015's hit "Mr. Misunderstood," which was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards. His first No. 1 single came in 2012 with the song "Drink in My Hand," followed by other hits like "Springsteen," "Talladega" and "Give Me Back My Hometown."

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
ZooMontana announced two new residents Tuesday but the pair of orphaned grizzly bear cubs wont be in Billings long.

The sibling cubs arrived at ZooMontana in August after they were captured near Ferndale on July 15. Their mother was killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks after a history of killing domestic chickens, ducks and rabbits, according to a ZooMontana news release.

The cubs, estimated to be 9 to 10 months old, include a 104 pound female and a 123 pound male. Theyll be relocated to the St. Louis Zoo when construction of its new Grizzly Ridge habitat is finished in mid-2017.

We appreciate the support of both the state and federal agencies in selecting ZooMontana as the cubs temporary home and for taking care of these cubs at the Fish Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Center in Helena until they could be transported to ZooMontana, said Jeff Ewelt, ZooMontanas executive director.

The cubs spent 30 days in quarantine after arriving in Billings to prevent the transmission of disease to other animals and acclimatize the bears to their temporary home.

The habitat being built in St. Louis is a reconstruction of the zoos bear grottos from the 1920s. Visitors will watch the grizzlies in a floor-to-ceiling viewing area with a glass wall allowing sight of the bears enjoying a waterfall and catching their food.

ZooMontana will allow the public to view the cubs in upcoming weeks. In the meantime folks can help name the grizzlies. Montanans will vote on five names selected for the male cub and people from St. Louis will choose from five names chosen for the female.

Male names include Glacier, Huckleberry, Kootenai, Rocky and Roscoe. The females name will be chosen from Finley, Helena, Skye, Ursula and Wynn. To vote on the cubs' names visit zoomontana.org. Winning names will be revealed on Oct. 7.
This election year makes a mockery of past complaints about the lesser of two evils. That cliche has been trotted out in every election of my lifetime. In every previous contest, though, the choice was not between evils. It was often between flawed candidates (think George W. Bush) and bad candidates (e.g., Al Gore or John Kerry).

This years decision is different. Hillary Clinton would be a conventional bad candidate (in a substantive, not stylistic, sense) were it not for the revelations about the email server. Her deception, her greed, her progressive views are all terrible (if dismayingly familiar), but the indifference to national security she demonstrated in the use of a private server (on which she did, despite denials, transmit classified information) places her on a plane that no national candidate has occupied before. She should be disqualified for commander in chief.

Donald Trump, too, should be debarred. Commentary Magazines John Podhoretz likened the gradual acceptance of Trump on the right to the human response to putrid odors. After about the first 45 seconds, disgust abates as the brain accustoms itself. I cannot think of a more striking example of defining deviancy down.

In order to make their peace with Trump, some apologists argue that the guardrails of the American constitutional system are robust enough to withstand even the depredations of an unstable, mendacious would-be autocrat.

I wouldnt care to test that gamble under the best of conditions. If something is truly precious, you dont want to risk its safety. You wouldnt set fire to the White House secure in the knowledge that the sprinkler system is in working order.

And these are hardly the best of conditions. The Founders included the Electoral College in the Constitution to guard against demagogues, or in Alexander Hamiltons words, men with talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity but lacking the requisite ability and virtue. The Electoral College, as originally envisioned, is a dead letter today. So much for that guardrail.

What checks and balances remain on an out-of-control president?

If Clinton is elected, assuming that it is not a landslide that sweeps in a Democratic House and Senate, Congress will oppose her. She will not get her universal pre-K or tax increases or free college tuition or a public option in Obamacare or the Paycheck Fairness Act. She could still do damage through regulation. The abuse of executive discretion during the Obama years shows just how much latitude presidents now enjoy to impose their will through the executive agencies. The leeching of power out of Congress and to the executive has been ongoing for decades, but Obama was particularly flagrant in abusing power to impose policies  e.g., climate rules and health law changes  traditionally reserved for the legislative branch.

Would the courts be able to thwart Clinton? To a point. Even the Democratic appointees to the Supreme Court ruled against Obama on a number of executive power cases. Then again, what if the president flouts the courts as Andrew Jackson did?

Is the press a check on abuse of power? Will it cover a Hillary Clinton presidency the way it covered Bill Clintons (aggressively) or the way it covered Obamas (pusillanimously)? Id guess the former, but who knows? Also, the press is held in such low regard by the public that it may not even qualify as a guardrail.

What checks would there be on a President Trump? Presumably, hed have a Congress of his (lately acquired) party. If he were to attempt to impose some of the left-of-center policies he favors  universal health care, for example  would the Republican Congress oppose him? What about on trade? Or raising the federal minimum wage? Punishing American companies that move plants overseas? Changing the libel laws? Some of the same people who excoriated the Republican Congress for supposedly giving Obama everything he wanted now attempt to reassure Trump opponents that Republicans in Congress would stand up to a president (nominally) of their own party. Almost all Republicans have failed to counter Trump now, before hes invested with the vast powers of the presidency. Its fantasy to imagine that they will find their voices later.

As for the press, theyd oppose Trump as hysterically as ever, but as to their influence, see above. Ditto the courts.

In foreign policy, through law and custom, presidents enjoy tremendous latitude. Always have.

So the institutional guardrails are quite rickety. In the end, the only true guardians of a liberal republic are the people themselves. They must prescribe minimal standards of decency. I will be voting for Evan McMullin, the only candidate (of five) who doesnt pose a threat to our national welfare.
CEDAR RAPIDS , Iowa  The flood of 2016 is in its most critical  and dangerous  phase, city officials said Monday.

Its crunch time in Cedar Rapids, Mayor Ron Corbett said during Mondays flood briefing.

The next 48 hours are the most critical. The next 48 hours are the most dangerous. ... We need 100 percent cooperation from the citizens in both the evacuation area and outside the evacuation area.

The Cedar River at Cedar Rapids started the day above major flood stage and surged toward a crest of 23 feet. The crest was expected to hit the city around 9 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. If projections hold, it would be the second-highest level the river has reached in Cedar Rapids history. The record, set June 13, 2008, was 31.12 feet.

About 9.8 miles of sand-filled and earthen barriers have been erected since last week. Approximately 250,000 sandbags have been filled and used to fortify businesses and homes. Officials said the flood measures have been built to withstand a crest of 26 feet.

Now, the wait is on to see whether they hold.

If it works, we will have saved the city, Corbett said.

Temporary protection

While officials touted an astounding turnout of city workers, contractors and citizen volunteers in responding to the rising waters and re-emphasized their confidence in the flood mitigation efforts, City Manager Jeff Pomeranz stressed those measures are temporary.

A permanent flood protection would exceed $500 million, he said. The system we put in place  while well planned  is probably a $5 million to $6 million system that was built in two days.

Public Works Director Jen Winter pleaded with pedestrians and motorists to stay away from the temporary flood walls, which could be vulnerable to breaches.

Its not safe, Winter said. Its not permanent.

Winter said city workers and contractors  outfitted with radios and flotation devices  are monitoring flood mitigation measures 24 hours a day until the threat of flooding passes.

The city put out a last-minute call Monday morning for volunteers to help fill additional sandbags. Those sandbags are not being used for homes or businesses, but rather to fortify the existing infrastructure.

Winter said a few manhole plugs came loose, but those were addressed.

Other than that, the system is holding, she said.

Evacuation zone quiet

The flood evacuation zone  represented by a potential crest of 28 feet  has been quiet, police and fire officials said.

But a drone flyover showed about half the area still was occupied, said Assistant Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Greg Smith.

National Guard troops are to secure checkpoints in the flood zone, and police are patrolling within the zone, Police Chief Wayne Jerman said. Officers from the Iowa State Patrol, Department of Corrections, Mount Vernon Police Department and Eastern Iowa Airport are assisting with those efforts.

Jerman said fraudsters already are targeting people within the flood zone. One scam asks that evacuees leave their doors unlocked. Another scam tells residents over the phone they can reserve a free hotel room by giving their credit card number.

Jerman urged all evacuees to lock their doors before leaving and not give out credit card information.

It is unfortunate there are people trying to take advantage of our citizens, Jerman said.

Other flooding

Outside of Cedar Rapids, Linn County Emergency Management Director Mike Goldberg said, the Cedar River at Palo and the Wapsipinicon River at Central City were also expected to crest Monday.

They are ramping up their operations, Goldberg said of Central City. The waters are rising fairly quickly.

Goldberg said emergency management is also monitoring county highways. He said the Highway 1 bridge across the Cedar River is likely to be the first to be impacted by floodwaters, followed by Highway 13. He said Highway 30 could see closures, though that is less likely than earlier expected.

Though no one is being forced to evacuate, Corbett again pleaded with those who remain in that zone to leave the area.

Anyone standing or on a bicycle or in a car doesnt stand a chance in the event of a breach, he said. Thats why the evacuation is so important. If youre in the evacuation zone, were asking you to please leave. Were not going to force anybody out. Were asking you to use common sense.

The river is not forecast to get back below 18 feet until later this week, Winter said. Corbett said residents could get back into their homes Saturday, or even Friday if the flood measures hold.

There wont be much of a sense of normalcy until Saturday, Winter said.
More people were arrested Tuesday in the course of pipeline protests held near St. Anthony.

The Morton County Sheriff's Department said law enforcement got reports around noon that Highway 6 was blocked. Five people were arrested for disorderly conduct.

After the protesters left this area, about 300 moved to two Dakota Access Pipeline worksites nearby, according to the sheriff's department. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations is investigating reports that a pipeline worker was assaulted and other workers were blocked from leaving a worksite and chased by protesters on horseback.

Law enforcement also got a "shots fired" report from a farmer, who said he saw protesters firing toward highway signs and construction pipe.

Mark Tilsen, of South Dakota, who was at the protests, said no shots were fired. He said pipeline workers were gone by the time he arrived. He said most people were praying on the sides of the road.

No additional arrests were made at these worksites, but the sheriff's department said it is reviewing photos and video.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Col. Mike Gerhardt told the Bismarck Tribune editorial board Tuesday that law enforcement had scaled back from 105 to 75 officers in the area this week, but may ramp back up after protests took place Tuesday and Sunday.

Authorities have said a private security guard was carried and thrown over a fence Sunday, which protester organizers also have denied.

In total, 74 people have been arrested during the protests, according to the sheriff's department.
BuffetGo, a Los Angeles-based startup that lets people buy end-of-day buffet meals for cheap, wants less food to end up in landfills.

The company, which was founded in 2014, expanded to Chicago on Friday. Its first local client is Baker Miller, the James Beard-nominated bakery with locations in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood.

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BuffetGo sells excess fresh and hot food from restaurants' buffets at a steep discount before closing time. Customers purchase meals from partner restaurants through the BuffetGo site for as little as $2, then show up at the designated time to fill takeaway boxes and take their meals to go.

Typically, customers must arrive 15 to 30 minutes before closing time, when the restaurant is less likely to sell the rest of its food to regular customers.

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Baker Miller is open to BuffetGo customers only at its Lincoln Square location; the pickup window is between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2:45 to 3 p.m. on weekends. The bakery did not respond to an emailed request for comment Monday.

BuffetGo CEO Emil Lolby said selling excess food creates additional revenue for restaurants and is good for the environment. If fresh or cooked food isn't purchased by the close of business by BuffetGo customers, restaurants can still donate it or throw it away.

"With BuffetGo, (customers) can now purchase all that food  instead of (restaurants) throwing it away," Lolby said.

Americans throw away 30 to 40 percent of the food supply, about 133 billion pounds of food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in 2010. At some partner restaurants, BuffetGo customers purchase up to 30 meals a day, Lolby said.

The company started in Denmark, where Lolby is from, before shifting to New York and landing in Los Angeles earlier this year, he said. Since late 2015, it has worked with about 30 restaurants around New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, he said. It has 10 employees in the U.S., and also operates in several European countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Germany.

In some cases, BuffetGo helps restaurants donate the food they haven't sold to area shelters, he said.

BuffetGo donates 20 percent of each purchase to the United Nations World Food Programme, which fights hunger worldwide. The majority of the rest goes to the restaurant, Lolby said, with for-profit BuffetGo keeping the difference. The revenue split varies from restaurant to restaurant, a spokesman for the company said.

The service's customers are cost-conscious but well-off enough to have access to a smartphone, which they need to show proof of purchase at the restaurants, Lolby said. He said he hopes donating to anti-hunger efforts and promoting donation rather than disposal when possible can help those unable to use the service.

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aelahi@tribpub.com

Twitter @aminamania
What's it really like to work at Chicago startups and tech companies? Blue Sky's Inside Job lets people on the ground tell us in their own words.

Jamie Dihiansan, 41, Graphic Designer on the Android team for Basecamp

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Basecamp is software for small businesses to keep track of a lot of different decisions happening in parallel  different discussions, outstanding tasks that workers need to get done. Basecamp software keeps all that decision-making and discussion at one place.

One big thing here is trust and freedom. (CEO) Jason (Fried)  and (CTO) David (Heinemeier Hansson), the partners of the company, they trust that everybody will do the right thing. You can work from home, you can pretty much make your own hours, as long as you're delivering the work you're responsible for delivering. I'm usually at my kitchen table in Jefferson Park. I have two kids, and working remotely definitely helps.

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Most graphic designers are (Apple) iOS people, and I myself was an iOS person, but sometime around iPhone 4, I said, "I'm getting kind of bored of iPhone." So I tried out (Google Nexus), and it was definitely frustrating at first, but I stuck with it. And I kind of slotted myself as the weirdo designer in the company that's on Android.

To design for Android  to make the Android version of Basecamp  you really have to use Android. It took a while for Jason to come around to it, but it was a good fit for me and a good fit for the company. I've been in the Android role for two years. I've been at Basecamp for eight.

I was born and raised in Chicago, in the Peterson Park area. My parents emigrated from the Philippines in the early '70s, just to find a better life, better work. I speak Tagalog because my grandma helped raise me, and she didn't know how to speak English.

My parents, early on, wanted me to be either a doctor or a lawyer. And of course, I followed the traditional trajectory of violin playing and piano playing. You know, come hell or high water, I was going to be a prodigy of some kind. In high school, I started to discover art class. I still didn't really know you could do anything with that. I'm thinking I'm predestined for med school.

It really wasn't until college, freshman year, that I flunked chemistry 101, and I told my dad, "You know, I don't think this is what I want to do." It was a really tough conversation.

I was always curious about technology and communication. Luckily, I had access to (Adobe) Photoshop at the computer lab. We still had floppy disks, but around that time, the internet was happening, which was this amazing thing. I was fortunate enough to apply for this internship within Loyola University. We would be coming up with ideas to sell products to other universities and to provide services internally for other departments. This place reminded me of the early days of Basecamp, where it was a lot of really smart people just doing stuff and making things.

That led to me getting a job at Closerlook. They're a full-service agency. They were doing video and print, and they were just getting into digital. I was doing all kinds of stuff, with Andersen Consulting, now called Accenture, and pharmaceutical companies, like Merck. I was designing corporate brochures, corporate materials, a lot of presentations.

A few people from Closerlook went to a place called Organic, and I ended up working there, creating websites. The creative director there, his name was Ernest Kim, and he left to help start 37signals (which became Basecamp). It's really weird how the lines work.

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From there, I went to Crate & Barrel, in Northbrook. They were looking for a designer to head up CrateandBarrel.com They had a very established catalog presence, but the internet made things 100 times faster. I was part of the team that really modernized the internet operations there.

I was at a point, in 2008, when I wanted to try something different and re-invent things, and that was the opportunity Basecamp offered. There was the freedom to learn something new for me, about the business of software. That's really different than selling housewares.

Our benefits are really good. We have a gym membership stipend, $100 a month. And then there's a massage benefit, ($100) a month. We get something called a CSA (community-supported agriculture), like fruits and vegetables delivered to your home. We have 401K, matching, and four-day work weeks in the summer. Every three years, we have a month-long paid sabbatical.

Every year, there's a very generous gift where they pay for a vacation for you, within parameters. All this stuff is not like, "Here's free food, here's laundry service, but all these things are made for you to stay at the office and work." Their whole thing is, "Listen, you're going to do your best work if you're recharged, if you have a real work-life balance. You're going to start to resent the company if you're always working for us."

The culture is responsibly quirky. I don't know how else to put it. Everybody has a quirky sense of humor, but we're all responsible adults, and we all know that we're running a business. It's not a frat thing that you hear some places are. There's a lot of mutual respect for each other's opinions.

As told to freelance reporter Erin Chan Ding. Stories are edited for length and clarity.
Families looking to trim college costs often steer their students toward public colleges in their home state instead of public colleges in another state or private institutions. Public colleges and universities typically charge two different tuition rates: one for state residents and another, much higher one for students from outside the state. The difference in sticker price (before financial aid awards are considered) is significant. During the 2015-16 academic year, the average annual sticker price  including tuition, fees and room and board  for an in-state student attending a four-year public college was $19,548. The average annual sticker price for an out-of-state student attending a four-year public college was $34,031.

But attending a public college in another state may be more affordable than you think. The lower, in-state tuition at public colleges isn't always reserved for students who reside in the state. A number of regional, state and college-specific programs allow some students to qualify for in-state or heavily discounted tuition at out-of-state public schools. "Many of these programs fly under the radar for families," says Tom Harnisch, director of state relations and policy analysis at the Association of State Colleges and Universities. But students who meet the eligibility requirements can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

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For details about these programs, including who qualifies, have your student consult his or her high school guidance counselor as well as the websites and admissions offices at the schools he or she is considering. Some schools limit the number of students who can receive the discount each year, so your student should apply for the reduced tuition as early as possible.

Regional discounts

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Four regional compacts help students from nearly every state catch a break when it comes to paying for college across state lines. Qualifying students from 13 southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) can apply for in-state tuition at participating out-of-state colleges through the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market. And residents of six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) who enroll in an eligible program pay in-state tuition at 82 public colleges and universities in the area's Regional Student Program. For both of these regional programs, students must pursue a major that isn't offered in their home state to qualify for the tuition discounts.

The Midwest Student Exchange program lets students from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin receive tuition discounts at more than 100 participating colleges and universities. Public colleges in the program agree to charge eligible students no more than 150 percent of the school's in-state tuition, and participating private colleges cut 10 percent off the cost of tuition for students from the region. Students typically save between $500 and $5,000 per year. The Western Undergraduate Exchange program offers eligible students from 15 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) 150 percent of the in-state tuition rate at participating public colleges across the region.

Neither the Midwestern nor the Western regional program requires that students pursue a major not available in their home state, but each program does allow colleges and universities to add their own restrictions.

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Friendly neighbors

In addition to the regional agreements, some states have their own smaller reciprocity programs or offer flexibility when it comes to determining who qualifies for in-state tuition. Some of the arrangements apply to students from anywhere within a neighboring state; others extend only to students living in specific counties of the neighboring state or close to the state line. For example, Colorado and New Mexico have an agreement that allows qualifying students from either state to get in-state pricing in both states  a better deal than the regional Western Undergraduate Exchange program. Students from Minnesota and Wisconsin have a similar arrangement, allowing residents of either state to pay in-state rates at the other state's public institutions. And students from Washington, D.C., can receive up to $10,000 each year toward the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at any eligible public, four-year college in the U.S.

Individual college programs

To attract more out-of-state students, some public colleges offer out-of-state students a discount on tuition through their own programs. For example, the University of Maine at Orono recently began offering students from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont its education at the same sticker price (tuition and fees) as that of the public flagship in the student's home state. To qualify for the best deal, students must earn at least a 3.0 grade-point average and score a combined 1120 on the SAT. Students from other states who meet the academic standards can receive $13,200 off the University of Maine's out-of-state tuition and fees ($29,480 for 2016-17). Students with lower GPAs and scores can receive a $9,000 discount.

At Texas A&M University (No. 180 on our list of best college values in 2016), non-Texans who earn a competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 also qualify to pay in-state tuition and fees. For 2016-17, that's a savings of more than $20,000 for out-of-state students. Similarly, the University of Arkansas will waive 70 percent to 90 percent of the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students from Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas who earn at least a 3.2 GPA and score at least 1160 on the SAT.

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Special circumstances

Even if your student doesn't qualify for a regional or state reciprocity program or a program offered by a specific school, your family may qualify for a deal based on military or public service. For example, recent veterans of the U.S. military can receive in-state tuition rates at any public college or university in the country. And children of service members who are on active duty for more than 30 days qualify for in-state tuition where they currently live, regardless of how long their family has lived there or whether the family moves out of state while the students are still enrolled in school. Some colleges extend similar in-state tuition offers to students with parents who work in public service, such as police officers, firefighters and sometimes teachers.
Authorities say a Dakota Access Pipeline security guard sustained minor injuries in a confrontation Sunday with pipeline protesters at a construction site in Morton County.

However, a spokesman for protesters said he heard no such reports.

The Morton County Sheriffs Department said law enforcement was notified at 9:30 a.m. Sunday of roughly 200 people at the site west of State Highway 6 near St. Anthony.

About 30 private security guards hired by Dakota Access LLC left the scene when protesters arrived, but three remained to inform protesters they were trespassing, the sheriffs office said.

Protesters assaulted one security guard, and when law enforcement arrived, they witnessed protesters carrying the guard for about 100 yards, the sheriffs office said.

Officers intervened when they saw the guard being carried and removed him from the area, Morton County spokeswoman Donnell Preskey said. He was treated by Metro Ambulance, she said.

Cody Hall, a spokesman for the Red Warrior Camp located along Highway 1806 just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation where thousands of self-described water protectors are camping in opposition to the $3.8 billion, four-state oil pipeline, said he didnt participate in Sundays action more than 20 miles away but spoke with the camps volunteer medics who were there.

They said nothing of that sort ever happened yesterday, he said of the reported assault.

Preskey, who provided photos of the protest, said she had not seen video or photos of the guard being carried.

The sheriffs office said officers witnessed protesters standing and sitting on pipe, damaging equipment and planting trees in the pipeline right-of-way.

Security officers reported seeing numerous protesters carrying knives; they also reported one protester with a pistol in his waistband, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in a statement.

A video of the event posted on the Red Warrior Camps Facebook page showed people singing and drumming in a circle with fists raised and tribal flags waving.

Protesters dispersed on their own shortly after officers arrived, and no arrests were made, the sheriffs office said, noting the incident remains under investigation. Authorities have arrested about 70 people in connection with the pipeline protests since Aug. 10.
That chill in the air signals not only the onset of autumn but also cooling auto sales. For bargain hunters, this could be a great time to get a good deal on a new car.

But sales downturns aren't the only time to buy a new car. New model rollouts, carmakers' redesign schedules and other events can uncover bargains for those who know how to read the tea leaves of the auto market.

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Just picking an opportune time isn't enough. First, cover the basics: Arrange financing, check local dealer inventories, and research pricing guides for the current market value of your desired vehicle.

Then, consider these five potential opportunities to up your chances of snagging a bargain.

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1. MODEL CHANGEOVER

The big three U.S. carmakers launch their new models in August and September while some foreign carmakers sprinkle new-vehicle introductions across the calendar. Most buyers are drawn to the newest models, which pressures dealers to offer deeper discounts and incentives to clear their inventory of the previous year's models.

"We're at a critical time where dealers need to clear out 2016 inventory to make room for 2017s, and that's good news for shoppers who will see some great deals on outgoing models in the coming weeks," says Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at car shopping site Edmunds.com.

That means "as a consumer I'm not going to have to arm-wrestle or play the back-and-forth game to get a good price," says Dave Cavano, AAA's car buying expert. Dealers "are much more likely to cut to the bone more quickly  so it's less of a hassle."

Current bargains are available in compact sedans and luxury vehicle segments, while pickup trucks and SUVs still are commanding higher prices, says Steven Szakaly, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Auto sales dropped 4 percent year-over-year in August, but Szakaly calls it a "plateau." In fact, 2016 is shaping up to be a strong year with an expected sale of 17.7 million vehicles, the association predicts.

Meanwhile, figures from car shopping site TrueCar show the average transaction prices for 2015 and 2016 dropping across the summer and into fall while sale incentives remain high  which is a good combination for buyers.

Cavano warns that buyers shopping for newly redesigned or recently introduced models will pay dearly for wanting to be the "first on the block to own that car." Manufacturers "trickle out" a few vehicles for each dealer to drive up interest. Eager buyers will have to pay sticker price and sometimes a bit more.

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2. END-OF-MONTH PRESSURE

Of all the days of the month, traditionally the last five are when dealers have the greatest incentive to sell.

That's because some carmakers offer bonuses when dealers hit certain sales numbers, says Christian Wardlaw, an analyst for the New York Daily News' autos section. "Dealers know they can take a loss on that vehicle because they know they'll get the bonus for hitting their quotas," Wardlaw says.

These kinds of bargains are more common at high-volume domestic dealers. However, it's hard for the average consumer to know which dealers are facing the pressure to hit quotas, Szakaly points out. Shopping at the end of the month can help you better your odds. "You're hoping you are the lucky person who walks in at the end of the month and the dealer is missing the one sale he needs," he says.

3. YEAR-END SALES

The final week of the year brings with it some great deals, particularly from luxury carmakers such as Lexus, Mercedes and BMW, Cavano says. It's when "manufacturers are trying to eke out those last few sales, and they will push money out to their dealers and say, `OK guys, let's get this done."'

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Keep in mind, however, that with dwindling inventories, you might not be able to get your first choice of color and options.

4. MODEL REDESIGN

When manufacturers redesign models, dealers have both the outgoing and new models for sale at the same time. That leads them to offer incentives and discounts to get rid of older models.

Of course, the resale value of the vehicle would be lower. And sometimes, the new model may be "heads and tails better than the outgoing model," Wardlaw says.

5. LAST YEAR OF A MODEL'S PRODUCTION

This tip is for serious penny pinchers. When a car is being discontinued or "rebranded" as a different model, the outgoing model's prices drop even more dramatically. Examples on the market include the 2016 Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200, according to Edmunds' handy list of best leftover cars for 2016. Current pricing in California for the Chrysler 200 shows a savings of nearly $5,000 off the sticker price, according to TrueCar's pricing.

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Times when you shouldn't buy a car follows a simple pattern, according to these experts. When there is plenty of foot traffic on the car lot, the dealer will keep prices higher, believing there will be a better offer from another shopper. So weekend afternoons aren't optimal because besides higher pricing, the sales staff will be busy and test-drives will be rushed. Instead, shop mid-week, communicating with dealers via text or emails.

Swapping advice about car buying is a great sport for buyers, and Wardlaw has a final recommendation: Don't be lured by the promise of crazy deals. "When it comes down to it, the best time to buy a car is when you really need one," he says.
Veteran actor John Cusack, who will begin shooting the chase thriller "Misfortune" next week, has wrapped up some business away from the set, selling his home in Malibu for $10.3 million.

Sitting along a stretch of sand in a gated community, the Spanish-style home came up for sale earlier this year for $13.5 million or for lease at $75,000, records show. Prior to the sale, the multilevel house, built in 1974, last changed hands in 1999 for $2.1 million.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 6 The Spanish-style beach house sits along the sand in Malibu. (Realtor.com)

The 4,660 square feet of living space features high ceilings, painted beams and wrought iron chandeliers. In the living room, walls of picture windows take in the coastline and open water.

Other living areas include a large kitchen, a den/office, an exercise room, three bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The master suite, outfitted with an oversized bath and a fireplace, opens to a private balcony.

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The lower level of the home includes a dry sauna and direct access to the beach. A two-car garage sits off the front entrance.

Brant Didden of 4 Malibu Real Estate was the listing agent. Jonathan Steindorff, also of 4 Malibu Real Estate, represented the buyer.

The 50-year-old Cusack gained fame in the 1980s for the films "Better off Dead," "One Crazy Summer" and "Sixteen Candles." More recently he appeared in "Love & Mercy," "Hot Tub Time Machine 2" and "Cell."

neal.leitereg@latimes.com

Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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The Budlong, a Nashville hot chicken shop, closed its original location in Lakeview today. This comes just four months after it replaced Bunny, the Micro Bakery, which also closed after four months.

The Budlong released the statement on its Facebook page, stating matter-of-factly: "Public Service Announcement: We've closed our location at 2928 N. Broadway." Calls for more information have not been returned.

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Eater Chicago reports that the closing is due to a split between Jared Leonard, who came up with the concept, and Phil Tadros, who originally owned the space. Tadros is also the entrepreneur behind Bow Truss Coffee, though he has been under pressure after an unflattering article in Crain's Chicago questioned many of his business practices.

Is all hope lost for The Budlong? On Facebook, the restaurant claims that the location in the Revival Food Hall will remain open. Plus, a new location at 1008 W. Armitage is still in the works.

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nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk






David Robinson and Jennifer Meyers enjoy beer at Emporium Arcade Bar on Saturday night with pizza ordered from Piece Brewery and Pizzeria. (Kristen Norman / Chicago Tribune)

In one corner, you have a cozy tavern with a killer beer list. In the other, a pizza joint tempting you to order takeout. You don't have to choose: For the perfect low-key night out, just put them together.

Ordering pizza has become something of a tradition at Chicago bars without kitchens. There are plenty of reasons you'd want to hang out at them  bowling, live music, friendly bartenders  but elaborate food menus aren't among them. But because food delivery is welcomed, you can call in dinner without ever leaving your bar stool.

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To aid in your pizza-ordering pursuits, we visited five bars known for the custom and identified popular delivery orders at each, plus beverage pairings to match  though the experts behind the bar suggest you don't get too hung up on the suggestions. "It's about whatever tastes good to you," said Jay Jankowski, manager at Map Room.

Naomy Miranda, left, and Gil Esquivel enjoy delivery pizza with their beers at Emporium Arcade Bar on Saturday. Ordering in pizza at the Wicker Park arcade is "easy and convenient and quick," says beer director Jared Saul. "You can just pick up a slice and eat it really fast and then go play some games." (Kristen Norman / Chicago Tribune)

Emporium Arcade Bar

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The setting: A crowded two-room playland of pinball and arcade games in Wicker Park. Ordering pizza here feels like the adult equivalent of Chuck E. Cheese's. "I think it's just easy and convenient and quick, and you can just pick up a slice and eat it really fast and then go play some games," said beer director Jared Saul. "Anything you have to use a fork or knife for takes away from your, No. 1, drinking time and, No. 2, game-playing time. It's also something people can group around."

Who goes there: An animated Blue Line crowd filling the bar stools, punching buttons on Frogger and head-bobbing to a live band.

Order from: Piece Brewery and Pizzeria (1927 W. North Ave., 773-772-4422, www.piecechicago.com), known for its New Haven-style thin crust and create-your-own topping combinations. (The only preset pie is Hot Doug's Atomic Sausage pizza, made with caramelized onions, pepper jack and spicy sausage, courtesy of former Hot Doug's owner Doug Sohn.)

Try: Red sauce with pepperoni and banana peppers, or barbecue sauce with chicken, bacon and red onion ($12.49-$18.49 plus $2-$3 per topping).

Pairing: Leisure Rules ($6), a slightly tart ale brewed for Emporium by 4 Hands Brewing Co., plays well with the pepperoni and peppers, Saul said. To match "those deep, rich flavors of barbecue," Saul recommended Revolution's Eugene porter ($6).

1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-7922, www.emporiumchicago.com

Beermiscuous

The setting: a craft beer-centric hangout with a cafe vibe near the intersection of Lincoln and Racine avenues and Diversey Parkway in Lakeview.

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Who goes there: Freelancers and remote workers sipping from tulip glasses and tapping on laptops, and beer fans looking for a switch from the usual bar scene.

Order from: Gino's East of Chicago (2801 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-327-3737, www.ginoseast.com). Right across the street, this is the most obvious choice  and you can even save a few bucks if you pop out to pick it up yourself between rounds.

Try: Indulgent deep-dish pies, such as the salty, juicy Chi-talian Stallion, with Italian beef, giardiniera and roasted sweet peppers ($22-$29), or the Classic Patty Sausage ($17.75-$27.50), a Gino's signature topped with a disk of sausage that extends from crust to crust.

Pairing: These rich, fatty Chicago-style pies call for a refreshing beer with a little hop character, said Austin Harvey, beer buyer at Beermiscuous. That could be a German-style pilsner such as Metropolitan Flywheel ($5.95) or Half Acre Pony ($6.95), or a lighter session IPA or pale ale such as Brickstone Brewery's APA ($4.95).

2812 N. Lincoln Ave., 855-450-2337, beermiscuous.com

Guthries Tavern

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The setting: An ivy-covered neighborhood bar halfway between Wrigleyville and Southport in Lakeview.

Who goes there: Multigenerational groups discussing their first experiences drinking alcohol, couples playing board games, a neighborhood regular stopping in for a drink on the way home from the airport, rolling suitcase and all.

Order from: Dimo's Pizza (3463 N. Clark St., 773-525-4580, www.dimospizza.com), a Wrigleyville pizzeria known for its oversize thin-crust slices with unorthodox topping combinations.

Try: The Chicken 'n' Waffles, with cream sauce instead of tomato sauce, topped with fried chicken, mozzarella, waffle bits, melted butter and maple syrup; or the most popular Dimo's pie, The Mac, dressed with macaroni and a quartet of cheeses, including smoked provolone, Parmesan, and mild and smoked cheddars ($14-$28 each).

Pairing: Fried chicken and Champagne are a classic combination; while there's no actual sparkling wine from the Champagne region on the short but serviceable wine list here, try a split of the Segura Viudas brut cava ($7.50). The bubbles also play off the creamy mac 'n' cheese.

1300 W. Addison St., 773-477-2900, www.guthriestavern.com

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Fireside Bowl

The setting: A Logan Square bowling alley and bar where the bartenders are alternately gruff and sweet, depending on the day. The Budweiser lamp with rotating Clydesdales above the bar is a must-see.

Who goes there: Bearded 20-something dudes, young couples and bowling leagues passing around pitchers of beer.

Order from: Dante's Pizzeria, which serves New York-style pies with massive, foldable slices and  in a nod to the name  devilishly spicy toppings. Fireside is pretty much equidistant from its two locations in Logan Square (3028 W. Armitage Ave., 773-342-0002) and Avondale (2825 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-384-8888, www.danteschicago.com).

Try: The Virgil ($25), a briny, tangy blend of black and green olives and salami, or for spice lovers, the Inferno, ($29) with pepperoni, bacon, garlic, sausage, red onion and three kinds of peppers: poblano, jalapeno and banana.

Pairing: Ask your bartender for a pairing suggestion here, and you might get a raised eyebrow. Order your favorite mass-market domestic to wash down the spice  a bottle of Miller High Life ($4) is always appropriate.

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2648 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-486-2700, www.firesidebowl.com

Map Room

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The setting: A well-known beer temple in Bucktown.

Who goes there: Couples nursing pints and snacking on pretzel sticks, snifter-sipping dudes in mechanic's shirts who definitely don't look to be actual mechanics and a few outliers ordering mixed drinks instead of beer.

Order from: Paladino's Pizza House 1647 (1647 W. Cortland St., 773-252-3500, www.pizzahousechicago.com), a Bucktown pizzeria from Club Lucky owner Bobby Paladino.

Try: The signature Paladino ($13.20-$21.20), topped with onion, Romano and mozzarella cheeses, crushed red pepper and double housemade Italian sausage.

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Pairing: Try Deschutes Chainbreaker ($5). "The extra hops from a white IPA, I think, would go really well with a greasy sausage, and the spices would match up nicely," said Jankowski. Slightly smoky Schlenkerla Helles ($7) also makes "an outstanding companion for most all pizzas," he said.

1949 N. Hoyne Ave., 773-252-7636, www.maproom.com

Lisa Arnett is a freelance writer.






Comedian Patton Oswalt, whose wife Michelle McNamara died in April, said a therapeutic trip to Chicago the following month was nearly spoiled by an employee at O'Hare airport.

On Monday's episode of "Conan," Oswalt recalled bringing his 7-year-old daughter Alice to Chicago over Mother's Day weekend to visit McNamara's family. Oswalt said he filled the weekend with action, adventure and fun and felt good about their trip until they tried to board a plane home at O'Hare.

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Oswalt said an older Polish woman checked their tickets and said to them, "I hear about what happened to your wife, to your mother. My mother died when I was your age. I never got over it."

"And now every holiday that comes up ... I'm terrified that the Polish woman of doom is just going to loom up," Oswalt said.

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Oswalt won an Emmy last week for his Netflix special "Talking for Clapping." "Conan" airs 10 p.m. weeknights on TBS.

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Two performing arts students have been awarded the first college scholarships from a fund honoring Bernie G. Yvon, the longtime Chicago actor who died in an automobile accident in 2014.

Kamilah Lay from Greendale, Wisc., and Emma Swain from Gurnee are this year's recipients. Lay will be a sophomore at Illinois Wesleyan University and Swain will be attending Carthage College. The awards are $1000 each.

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The Bernie G. Yvon Memorial Fund will offer scholarships annually in Bernie's memory.







Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Former Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy greets luncheon guests at a City Club of Chicago event at Maggiano's on Sept. 19, 2016, where McCarthy was guest speaker. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

Former top cop Garry McCarthy says his recent foray into presidential politics during a fiery speech to the City Club of Chicago was much misunderstood.

He wasn't popping off at Hillary Clinton, he says  it was Green Party candidate Jill Stein and the U.S. Department of Justice that got his goat.

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McCarthy  fired in December by Mayor Rahm Emanuel  said during the speech last week that, "We actually have a presidential candidate, whose name I'm not even going to mention, campaigning on 'police violence.' This is empowering criminals."

It was a comment that drew a mild gasp from the packed audience, which assumed he was talking about Clinton, who used the phrase "police violence" in an interview this summer. Multiple news outlets, including this column, reported the McCarthy remark as a swipe against Clinton.

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But McCarthy sent a text message to Chicago Inc. on Tuesday stating that he was in fact referring to Stein, who is polling below 4 percent nationally and has made similar comments about "police violence."

During his speech last week, McCarthy had also thrown a few jabs at a federal probe of the city's Police Department, adding, "Good idea Garry, go after the Department of Justice  what are they gonna do, go after me for having top-secret information on my server?"

Making a face of mock apology after the crowd again gasped, he added, "I had to!"

But "those digs were at Jill Stein and DOJ, not Hillary," McCarthy said in his text Tuesday.

During a phone conversation Tuesday morning he said he was "angry" when Chicago Inc. asked him if he was the unnamed "top police officer" who Donald Trump said earlier this year had explained to him how he could quickly tackle Chicago's violent crime problem if he was given greater latitude and "within one week we could stop much of this horror show that's going on."

"I have not spoken with Donald Trump and I have not spoken with Donald Trump's campaign, period," McCarthy said.

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While Chicago police brass denied any top officers had spoken with Trump, the Washington Post reported that the billionaire last year in Nashville, Tenn., praised McCarthy as "a phenomenal guy. ... He could stop this if we allowed him to stop it.  Believe me."

Parts of McCarthy's comments about stop-and-frisk policies last week also bore similarities to Trump's controversial comments last week that stop-and-frisk should be used in Chicago.

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McCarthy acknowledged on Tuesday to Chicago Inc. that he knew Trump from his days as a New York cop, when he worked the precinct in which Trump's building was located.

But he added: "I do not relate to what (Trump) is saying."

Asked in a follow-up text if that meant he will not be voting for Trump, whether he will be voting for Clinton, or whether he preferred not to say, he replied, "None of your business. Great journalism."

kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
About 300 public schools in Chicago will lose a total of $45 million in funding because enrollment this fall fell below projections. (Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune | Video by Brandon Howard) (Chicago Tribune)

About 300 public schools in Chicago will lose a total of $45 million in funding because enrollment this fall fell below projections, adding to the pain of budget cuts already imposed by the cash-strapped district.

The district said 378,481 students were enrolled on the 10th day of classes this year. That's almost 14,000 less than last year and continues a trend of enrollment falling below 400,000, which occurred two years ago for the first time in at least two decades.

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CPS estimated the latest budget adjustments would lead to about 300 layoffs, with teachers and support staff among those losing jobs. Budget cuts in some cases would leave schools without enough money to provide basic education. CPS said 55 schools will split $5.7 million if enrollment declines were "significantly deeper than expected" or "would prevent them from offering critical academic programming."

The district said it already has distributed $8 million to schools struggling with enrollment declines.

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While schools with enrollment declines will lose money, CPS said 195 schools with higher-than-projected enrollment are in line to split an additional $20 million.

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Under student-based budgeting, money is set aside for each school based on an enrollment estimate made before the beginning of the academic year. Budgets at district schools are then adjusted on the 10th day of classes. Additional state and federal aid is tied to a school's enrollment on the 20th day of classes, which is when each year's official CPS census is taken.

"Even with declining enrollment, we know that every dollar matters," CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said in a statement. "We will continue to work with our school principals to help protect classrooms and minimize the impact of having fewer students in schools."

The $2.8 billion originally allocated to schools this summer was about $140 million less than schools got last fall and reflected unprecedented midsemester budget cuts CPS made in February. School budgets also included a lump sum for special education  a change in how that faction is funded.

District high schools, some of which have experienced years of enrollment declines, were hit especially hard by this year's school budgets. That was before the updated figures CPS distributed this week.

CPS said several factors play into the district's declining enrollment, including lower birth rates and a decline in the city's population.

jjperez@tribpub.com

Twitter @PerezJr
Latangia Richardson, 28, discusses her feelings about the the presidential candidates and the importance of voting after registering to vote at the 95th Street Red Line station Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

A federal judge Tuesday blocked Election Day voter registration at polling places in Illinois, declaring a state law allowing the practice unconstitutional because it created one set of rules for cities and another for rural areas.

Voters will still be able to register Nov. 8 and cast a ballot for president but only at a limited number of sites, including the county clerk's office, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

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The ruling, handed down on National Voter Registration Day, is the latest front in a broader battle between Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Republicans led by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Democrats pushed through the same-day registration law in the lame-duck session that followed the November 2014 election, weeks before Rauner took over from then-Democratic-Gov. Pat Quinn. It was billed as a way to get more people involved in the democratic process after a trial program resulted in long lines, particularly in Chicago, where it was used at five sites by nearly 2,900 people, some who waited hours to vote.

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Republicans cried foul, suggesting the new registration method could be used for voter fraud. Last month, a Republican northwestern Illinois congressional candidate sued with the help of the Liberty Justice Center, which was founded by the Illinois Policy Institute, a tax-exempt organization allied with much of Rauner's agenda. Prior to becoming governor, Rauner donated more than $500,000 to the policy institute.

This fall, Rauner is attempting to use his wealth and that of his friends to erode Democratic supermajorities in the Illinois House and Senate. Rauner also is a supporter of Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who is in a tough re-election bid against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.

The suit challenged a law that required counties of more than 100,000 people that use electronic books to record voter registration to allow for Election Day registration at every polling place. Counties without electronic polling books and below 100,000 population had to at least provide same-day registration at a centralized location.

The suit contended that allowing the process only in more heavily populated urban counties would benefit Democratic candidates "who primarily draw their support from counties with populations of 100,000 or more."

The case ended up before U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush. In issuing a preliminary injunction, the judge found that "while it may be true that the polling place registration option can assist voters in certain populous counties, that option cannot be provided at the expense of lower population counties, thereby decreasing their political representation in Illinois."

"The application of this legislation favors the urban citizen and dilutes the vote of the rural citizen," wrote Der-Yeghiayan, who added, "Illinois is made up of more than the Chicago metropolitan area and other high population areas. Equality under the law does not end at the city limits."

The law was in effect for the March primary, when more than 110,000 people registered to vote, supporters of the law said. The backers contended the federal court injunction, coupled with Rauner's recent veto of a measure that would have made voter registration automatic upon getting a new or renewed driver's license, amounts to voter suppression.

"To suspend election day registration and suppress the vote less than two weeks before the voter registration deadline will hurt communities across Illinois who were counting on being able to register and vote on Nov. 8," Trevor Gervais, lead organizer for Common Cause Illinois, said in a statement.

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The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners already was preparing staff, equipment and signs for Election Day in-precinct registrations, including programming electronic poll books, printing instruction manuals and beginning classes for poll workers, spokesman Jim Allen said.

"The timing of this ruling is sure to create chaos," Allen said in an email. "If this ruling stands, our task will be to develop alternative programs to serve voters  and prevent lines, confusion and disenfranchisement."

The ACLU of Illinois and Democratic Cook County Clerk David Orr echoed the disenfranchisement note. The office of Democratic Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said it would appeal the ruling.

The ruling comes as online voter registration in Chicago and statewide had spiked more than tenfold in recent days, thanks in part to a Facebook push urging people to register in advance of National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday.

Since early September, Chicago elections officials received an average of 150 new or updated online voter registrations daily, Allen said. The number skyrocketed to more than 1,600 Friday, he said. Over the weekend, about 5,000 people registered online to vote in Chicago.

Statewide data showed more than 30,000 online registrations Friday, up from 2,800 the previous day. The momentum continued throughout the weekend, with 9,000 registrations Saturday and 5,000 on Sunday.

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A Facebook post popped up in news feeds Friday, encouraging people to register and taking them to vote.USA.gov, where they can enter their state and get directed to their state voter registration page.

Local election officials are waiting to see whether Monday night's debate between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and Tuesday's voter registration events  including a rally at Daley Plaza and a registration drive at the CTA's Pink and Green Line Morgan stop in the West Loop  continue to fuel the surge in registrations.

The most effective way to mobilize people to register or to vote is direct contact from a trusted friend  even on Facebook  rather than candidates or political parties, according to Zachary Cook, a political science professor at DePaul University.

"This latest Facebook post, it wasn't just that people saw a reminder to register, but I suspect a lot of people posted it and re-posted it. That kind of social pressure can be effective," said Cook, who clicked on it to change his voter registration address.

Such a mechanism could be the future of voter registration drives but won't completely replace the need for in-person registration events, because some people are not on Facebook and not all states offer online registration, he said.

With more people expected at the polls for the presidential election than the primary, the city elections agency is urging people to cast ballots during the early voting period, which begins this week, or by mail to help keep the lines short on Nov. 8, Allen said.

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Early voting begins Thursday at the Chicago elections board, 69 W. Washington St. On Oct. 10, operations will move to the former Walgreens space at 15 W. Washington St., to accommodate more touch-screen voting machines to handle more voters. On Oct. 24, early voting will be offered in all 50 wards.

The deadline to register online to vote in the presidential election is Oct. 23, Allen said. After that, voters can sign up in person during what's referred to as "grace period" voting, which continues through Election Day. While the new injunction blocks same-day registration at polling places, voters still can register that day at other sites.

lvivanco@chicagotribune.com

rap30@aol.com

Twitter @lvivanco

Twitter @rap30
A former government official of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks from a construction contractor has pleaded guilty to federal charges in North Dakota. Randall Phelan was an elected representative of the governing body of the Three Affiliated Tribes from the end of 2012 to the middle of 2020. Investigators say Phelan used his official position to help the contractors business by awarding contracts, fabricating bids and managing fraudulent invoices. His trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday. Phelan and two others were originally charged with receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bribery scheme on the oil-rich Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The contractor has pleaded guilty to bribery.
Chicago Public Schools' financial reputation took another hit from a major Wall Street credit ratings agency on Monday.

Moody's Investors Service dropped the district's bond rating further into junk status, lowering its view of the school system's debt one notch to a B3 rating.

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Moody's cited a variety of factors for the downgrade. Among them: the district's reliance on short-term borrowing, a "deepening structural deficit" and a budget "built on unrealistic expectations" of help from a state government with money woes of its own.

Word of the downgrade came on a day when the district announced budgets at about 300 schools would lose a total of $45 million because of enrollment declines, and the Chicago Teachers Union said its members authorized a strike if contract talks break down.

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Moody's warned its debt rating could decline even further. The district's junk bond rating could make borrowing more expensive.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education is set to vote on what's now a roughly $338 million capital budget that relies on borrowed money. The capital budget's size is likely to swell amid plans to borrow up to $945 million in long-term debt for a variety of other school infrastructure projects.

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Other major agencies also have CPS in junk bond territory but have not yet made further downgrades.

Fitch Ratings agency, however, recently reiterated its gloomy take on the district's "strained, structurally imbalanced" operations that continue to rely on short-term borrowing and have limited reserves, and are "poorly positioned to absorb even a mild economic downturn."

Standard & Poor's also expressed "major concerns" about the district's "extremely weak" cash position while warning it could downgrade CPS debt absent a "credible and sustainable long-term solution to its financial pressures."

The district's top financial officer said in a statement Monday that the system's finances are improved compared to last year.

"Moody's view remains an outlier from other ratings agencies' perspectives on Chicago and its sister agencies," CPS Senior Vice President of Finance Ron DeNard said. "Looking ahead, CPS will continue to work to strengthen its finances and finalize the path forward to fiscal soundness in the years to come."

jjperez@chicagotribune.com

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Boston-based RR Auction says the winning bid came Monday at an auction in Cambridge. The buyer is a collector from the Chicago area who wishes to remain anonymous.

Auctioneers had expected the letter to fetch around $50,000.

The three-page letter was addressed to Capone's son, Albert "Sonny" Capone. The mobster signed it, "Love & Kisses, Your Dear Dad Alphonse Capone #85," which was his number at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.

Experts say it shows the notorious mobster who ruled gangland Chicago during Prohibition had a soft side.

Associated Press
A mother has been arrested on two counts of murder after her son and daughter were found dead in a vehicle in northern Indiana, police said.



Elkhart police said Monday evening they believe the children found dead that afternoon are siblings Liliana Hernandez, 7, and Rene Pasztor, 6. Police had issued an Amber Alert for the children earlier Monday, saying they were "believed to be in extreme danger."



Police released no details about how the children died. Autopsies are scheduled Tuesday morning in Kalamazoo, Michigan.



Elkhart police said the children's mother, 29-year-old Amber Pasztor, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was arrested Monday on two counts of murder. She was being held in the Elkhart County jail.



The mother does not have legal custody of the children, police said. The Allen County Sheriff's Department in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said the children were taken from Fort Wayne. Police declined to say who the children were living with when they were abducted or why they were taken.



The Associated Press left phone and email messages with the Elkhart County prosecutor's office seeking comment early Tuesday.



Elkhart police Sgt. Chris Snyder told The Elkhart Truth that the mother cooperated with officers as she was handcuffed and didn't appear to be suffering from any physical injuries.



"She wasn't resistant at all," Snyder said. "She actually approached the officer and stopped and made contact with him."



The statewide Amber Alert was issued at 12:51 p.m. Monday after the two children were reported missing, last seen at 6:21 a.m. EST in Fort Wayne. Officials believed the children were abducted by their non-custodial mother, Amber Pasztor, and were in danger.

At 5:25 p.m., an officer was walking out the Elkhart Police Department and was stopped by a person driving a vehicle, who told the officer that there were two dead people inside the vehicle. The children were found in the backseat and the driver was identified as Amber Pasztor, according to a news release. The car matched the vehicle information in the Amber Alert.

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Police are still looking for 65-year-old Frank Macomber, who may have additional information. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning in Kalamazoo, Mich. The investigation is ongoing.
Amber Pasztor, 29, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was arrested on two counts of murder Sept. 26, 2016. (Elkhart Police Department)

A northern Indiana woman has been arrested on two preliminary counts of murder after her two young children were abducted and found dead in a car belonging to a neighbor of hers who was shot to death, authorities said Tuesday.

The children found dead Monday afternoon are siblings Liliana Hernandez, 7, and Rene Pasztor, 6, of Fort Wayne, authorities said. An Amber Alert had been issued for the children earlier Monday, saying they were "believed to be in extreme danger."

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Police arrested Amber Pasztor, 29, on two preliminary murder counts after the children's bodies were found in Elkhart, about 70 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. An autopsy Tuesday identified them as her children and determined they died of asphyxiation, Elkhart police Sgt. Chris Snyder said.

Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that he expected to formally charge Pasztor in the deaths of the children later this week.

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"It's a senseless tragedy," Hill said.

The children are believed to have died in Elkhart County following their abductions in Fort Wayne, Hill said.

Authorities declined to say who the children were living with when they were abducted or why they were taken, and Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards, whose jurisdiction includes Fort Wayne, said police have no indication of a motive in the case.

The children were found in a car belonging to Frank Macomber, 65, a neighbor of Pasztor, who did not have custody of her children, Richards said at the news conference.

Macomber probably died before the children were abducted, Richards said.

"We do believe there is some connection between Mr. Macomber and the woman who is being held in Elkhart County," Richards said, referring to Pasztor, who she said lived near Macomber.

No one has been charged in connection with Macomber's death, which has been ruled a homicide, the prosecutors said. All three deaths remain under investigation, they said.

Pasztor was being held in the Elkhart County Jail. It wasn't immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could comment on her behalf.

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"Miss Pasztor has been somewhat cooperative," Hill said. Asked if she told investigators where they could find Macomber's body, the prosecutor said only, "She gave information that was helpful to the investigation."

Earlier, Snyder said investigators were working Tuesday "to put the pieces together" and determine what happened between the time the two youngsters were abducted in Fort Wayne and when their bodies were found.

Snyder said Pasztor parked outside the city's police department Monday evening and began speaking to an officer who was leaving after completing his shift.

"She pulled up to him and explained to him that she was part of the Amber Alert and the two kids were in the back seat," Snyder said, adding that the officer then saw the bodies of two children in the car.

Snyder said Pasztor was initially cooperative following her arrest before "she became pretty emotional. And that's kind of where our detectives left it last night."

Capt. Steve Stone of the Allen County Sheriff's Department said officers were searching for Macomber, who authorities believe was with Pasztor at some point Monday, when they found his body early Tuesday in a wooded area near his home.

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Associated Press
Chicago State Universitys dropping enrollment is among its long list of troubles. Sept. 27, 2016.(Photo: Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune | Video by Brandon Howard) (Chicago Tribune)

Chicago State University enrolled just 86 freshmen this fall, an alarming drop as the embattled public institution faces an uncertain future.

Overall, the university now has fewer than half the number of total students it did six years ago. There are 3,578 students taking classes at the Far South Side campus this fall, down from 7,362 students in 2010, according to university figures released Tuesday. The numbers include 2,352 undergraduates and 1,226 graduate students.

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While enrollment has been declining for years, the past year has been particularly troubling. Overall enrollment is down 25 percent, and undergraduate enrollment is down 32 percent in one year, the largest decline of any public university in the state. The 86 freshmen includes both full-time and part-time students  smaller than a kindergarten cohort at many Chicago Public Schools.

The enrollment trends are the latest concern for Chicago State, with some questioning how the public school will survive  and what it might look like. Students and faculty, desperate to see the historic school survive, are growing disillusioned and losing hope that revival is around the corner.

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"I'm having a hard time seeing the future for Chicago State University," junior Adrian Mercado, a leader in the residence hall, told trustees at a contentious board meeting recently. "How do I talk to my residents and the people that come to me for help all the time about the future of Chicago State University?"

University officials said in a statement the enrollment drop was consistent with their projections when they set their annual budget. Leaders also said the freshmen numbers do not include more than 200 transfer students, although the national standard is to count those groups separately.

"The university continues to focus on improving academic excellence, student experience, increasing enrollment and revenue generation," officials said in the statement. "We plan to rebuild in 2017."

In the past year, Chicago State has struggled to survive a state budget battle that left the school without state funding for months  and then only part of what it had expected to receive. The school declared a financial emergency, laid off 40 percent of its employees, and cut academic programs and services. It was sanctioned by its accreditation agency, which warned that the school could lose its accreditation because of the severe financial problems.

On top of the financial concerns, Chicago State reported a graduation rate of 11 percent. In recent years, the rate had ranged from 13 to 21 percent.

Then, earlier this month, President Thomas Calhoun Jr. was let go after just nine months in the job, with trustees agreeing to pay him $600,000 in severance to leave immediately.

Calhoun's abrupt departure has left students and faculty exasperated by the seemingly never-ending challenges at their school. Many had viewed Calhoun as the ideal leader to move the school forward. Trustees and Calhoun have refused to say what led to his departure just months into a five-year contract, and the severance agreement prohibits either side from discussing the issue publicly.

"A new leader arrives, a breath of fresh air, a warrior who was ready to lead us into the next era of Chicago State University," student Christopher Glenn said at the Sept. 16 board meeting where trustees announced Calhoun's departure. "So we go from exciting new era in January, to the end of an era in September. In nine months, we go from fighting a war as a collective, to the war being on the inside."

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Its history and future

The situation wasn't always this dire for the nearly 150-year-old public university, one of the oldest higher education institutions in the state.

Chicago State started in 1867 as a teacher training school in Blue Island. Three years later, as Cook County Normal School, it set up its first permanent campus in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.

The school was renamed Chicago State University in 1971, and the campus relocated to its current 161-acre site in the Roseland neighborhood in late 1972.

From its roots as a training ground for aspiring teachers, Chicago State now has about two dozen departments across five colleges, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

It serves a unique student population: More than 70 percent of the undergraduates are black, and more than half are at least 25 years old. The majority of students are women. Nearly half of the students have at least one child. Most are low-income.

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Its graduate pharmacy program is a point of pride. Of the 37 black students in Illinois who received doctoral degrees in pharmacy in 2014, 26 had graduated from Chicago State.

But long before the current financial instability, the university was plagued for years by internal scandals and financial mismanagement. It lost a high-profile whistleblower suit, with damages now exceeding $5 million, and has faced criticism for hefty raises for high-ranking administrators and misspent grant money.

Problems persist with basic oversight and accounting, according to the most recent reviews from the Illinois auditor general.

Two audits examining the 2014-15 school year revealed that employees were getting paid leave and sick leave they were not entitled to; dozens of computers and other equipment were missing; an abnormally high rate of students were defaulting on federal loans; and employees were being hired without their resumes being vetted.

In addition to the institution's internal problems, the budget standoff in Springfield pushed Chicago State further into peril.

While all the state's public college and universities were without state appropriations for most of the last school year, the stalemate put Chicago State in a particularly perilous situation. The school receives about 30 percent of its revenue from the state and has little private fundraising or reserves to fall back on.

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To cope this year, Chicago State cut its budget for the current year by 30 percent, to $70 million. As recently as 2013, the university's budget was more than double that amount.

With about 400 employees laid off this year, students are feeling the impact. The number of library staff has been cut in half, and the library is only open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only three employees work in the admissions department, down from seven at the beginning of the year.

There are other signs of hardship. The campus' only residence hall was without hot water for at least two weeks this fall. Students also have complained the campus cafeteria had been closed for several days, and offers a paltry selection of food when it is opened.

"We are disheartened by the state of our campus," student trustee Paris Griffin said at the September board meeting.

Karen J. Smith, a senior studying communications, media, art and theater, said the issues threatening the school's stability are dispiriting.

"It makes me feel sad for our community," said Smith, 53, of the South Chicago neighborhood. "I can leave. Other students, they can't leave. If this is gone, what hope do they have?"

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Enrollment challenges

Now, with the release of the latest enrollment figures, Chicago State's challenges seem to have come to a head in one of the more troubling ways  very few new students.

There are 1,200 fewer students enrolled now compared with this time last year, according to school data. Student populations have declined every year since the most recent peak in 2010.

In six years, total enrollment is down 51 percent and undergraduate enrollment is down 58.5 percent.

The steep declines are not entirely unexpected, but still greater than predicted. Calhoun told the Tribune this summer he expected enrollment to drop about 20 percent.

And to be sure, other regional public universities also are facing enrollment declines this fall, at least somewhat tied to the state budget crisis. Eastern Illinois University, for example, is down 25 percent in its number of first-time freshmen students this year, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale also has about 24 percent fewer freshmen.

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But at Northeastern Illinois University, on Chicago's Northwest Side, which also serves many low-income, first-generation college students, freshmen enrollment grew to more than 800 students, up from 748 last year.

For Chicago State, the coming months will be crucial to the school's future.

By December, Chicago State leaders must show the school's accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, that the institution's financial status has improved. Agency officials plan to visit the campus again in spring and decide if further penalties need to be imposed or if the sanction can be lifted.

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State funding remains uncertain, with no funding earmarked for 2017.

And the school's leadership is in flux. Trustees appointed Cecil Lucy, the university's vice president for administration and finance, as the interim president. It is not clear whether Chicago State will launch another search for a permanent president.

In the wake of Calhoun's exit, many students and faculty have called on trustees to resign or for Gov. Bruce Rauner to dismiss them. Four board members' terms expire in January, and Rauner has said his team is considering replacements.

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A spokeswoman said Lucy was not available for an interview, and he did not respond to an email seeking comment. Board Chairman Anthony Young did not respond to requests for comment.

"My students are hurt," said senior Darren Martin, president of the student government association. "Their morale is down. Now the question becomes: How do we fix that? Because right now, they're broken."

drhodes@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @rhodes_dawn
A small fire that started on a locomotive of a Metra train at Union Station has been extinguished, and no one was injured, officials said.

Firefighters used hand pumps, and the small fire was extinguished as of about 5:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Fire Department.

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The Milwaukee District West Line train was getting ready to depart when the incident happened, Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said.

The affected train was taken out of service, but another outbound train was making extra stops to accommodate commuters, Gillis said.

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"It was put out really quickly," Gillis said of the fire. "There was no chaos.''

No one was injured.

There was no smoke showing, but someone called in the train fire at 225 S. Canal St. at about 4:55 p.m., according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
A Fox Lake woman is on trial in McHenry County this week after authorities said she raised a handgun and an assault rifle at officers before one of them shot and wounded her.

Authorities said Elizabeth Kloss, 56, was intoxicated, armed and threatening to harm herself and officers when police arrived her boyfriend's Wonder Lake home on July 20, 2014. Kloss is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm against a peace officer, illegal possession of ammunition and an expired firearms ownership identification card.

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Kloss' boyfriend, Robert Lehr, was not home at the time, but testified at the start of Kloss' trial Monday that he had spoken to her by phone that day. He testified that Kloss was distraught over an argument with a relative and because she wrongly suspected he had cheated on her; he also said she had a history of depression and alcoholism and had made prior statements about taking her life.

Lehr said that Kloss got a key to his house from his sister after the argument with the relative, who had tossed out the ashes of Kloss' dead dog. Kloss told Lehr earlier that day by phone that she had shot two rounds from his gun in the backyard and was scared police would come, Lehr testified. He said he called a friend, James Fillinger III, to check on Kloss.

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Fillinger testified that he poured out the alcohol Kloss was drinking, tried to calm her down and suggested she take a nap. Fillinger described Kloss as a good person with a good heart who was going thorough some troubles.

Hours later, after Fillinger had left, Lehr testified that he got another call from Kloss, who had resumed drinking, prompting him to have 911 alerted.

McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Justin McKenzie was one of the officers who responded. He described seeing Kloss yelling and holding and waving around a small black handgun. At one point, Kloss came out of the house apparently unarmed with her hands in the air yelling, "Shoot me, shoot me," he said.

When she returned with the semi-automatic rifle pointed at officers, she walked toward them and ignored commands to drop the gun, he said. Being in her line of fire and fearing for his and his partner's lives and the safety of neighbors, McKenzie said both officers fired "several rounds" until she was struck and fell.

Her weapon "was pointed right at us," McKenzie recalled.

Kloss was struck in the head or neck area, officials said, and was treated at a hospital intensive care unit.

Another responding officer, McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Noah Knudson, also described hearing Kloss yelling from inside the house and saying, "One minute to 5 o'clock and it's all over with."

It was just after 5 p.m., and the deputies did not know what to expect, they testified. Knudson said he and McKenzie continued to try to make contact with Kloss but that she was "uncooperative" and waved around the handgun "in a reckless manner."

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When she returned with the assault rifle and began stepping toward the deputies, Knudson said that, even though they were wearing body armor, they knew the bullets from the assault rifle could still kill them.

"It raised our fear of bodily harm and death," he said. "I was concerned for my safety."

Kloss appeared to tear up in court and held her head in her hands during the officers' testimony.

A woman who lived across the street also testified about witnessing the commotion, seeing Kloss wave the gun around and hearing Kloss yell, "I don't care. I'll shoot anybody."

Kloss has filed a federal lawsuit against responding officers and the sheriff's department.

In July, while out of jail on bond awaiting trial, Kloss was charged with aggravated battery of an emergency room employee at Centegra Hospital in McHenry and was taken back into custody, authorities said. She remains in county jail on a $35,000 bond for those charges, for which she is to be tried separately.

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Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter. Tribune reporter Robert McCoppin contributed.
Chicago police continue their search for human remains in the McKinley Park lagoon on Sept. 26, 2016. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune) (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

City officials were draining the McKinley Park lagoon on Tuesday as Chicago police try to determine if other human remains have been ditched there after a severed head was discovered late last week.

A maintenance worker found the head inside a bag Friday morning while cleaning the lagoon near Pershing Road and Damen Avenue on the South Side.

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Divers from the Police Department's marine unit later recovered from the lagoon a container carrying ashes, possibly from another human body, police officials told the Tribune on Tuesday.

Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman, said detectives were treating the severed head and ashes as "two separate discoveries." The ashes might have been discarded by family members or a crematorium, he said.

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The Cook County medical examiner's office plans to examine the severed head in hopes of identifying the victim, said Becky Schlikerman, an office spokeswoman. Authorities have said the head was believed to be from an African-American of undetermined gender.

Guglielmi said divers from the police marine unit will perform "grid searches" in the lagoon, similar to the search in September 2015 for the remains of 2-year-old Kyrian Knox, whose dismembered body was found in the Garfield Park lagoon on the West Side.

City workers were draining the McKinley Park lagoon Tuesday in an attempt to ensure no other human remains had been dumped there, Guglielmi said. The work will probably take several days to complete, he said.

The entire lagoon was cordoned off with red and yellow police tape as several police vehicles were stationed at the south end. On the north end, at least two pumps were drawing water from the lagoon through hoses that stretched into sewers along 37th Street.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JeremyGorner
Peter Fabbri was one of the hardest workers at Matt Lativsky's coating business in the western suburbs.



He's also the main reason Lativsky no longer wants to visit downtown Chicago after police say his friend was shot dead over the weekend near Millennium Park by a man with a long record of gun arrests.



"I take my family into the city quite often, but I'm at the point where I'm ready to boycott the city of Chicago," said Lativsky, who lives in Glen Ellyn. "That someone can't go to Millennium Park -- with someone who should be in jail, with a warrant, 39 arrests, two times for pointing a gun into someone's face -- this scumbag is out on the street when he should be in jail.



"Instead, he's got an illegal gun, and now my friend is dead, his life is gone," Lativsky said.



As he spoke, Paul Pagan, 32, was appearing in bond court on murder charges. He wore a white T-shirt and shorts, and the top of his shaved head was covered by a tattooed ring of flames.



"This court believes that the defendant presents a great danger to the community," Judge James Brown said, ordering the admitted gang member held without bail.



Fabbri was leaving a wine-tasting event with his sister, mother and his girlfriend around 7:35 p.m. Saturday when they encountered a group of seven to 10 people passing out religious pamphlets near Monroe Street, police said.



The family and several witnesses told police the group was preaching a "hateful message," according to Chicago police Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan.



The family began to argue with the group over the Scriptures the group was citing, Deenihan said. As the argument grew heated, Pagan rode up on his bicycle, approached Fabbri and began to argue with him, police said.



The argument escalated into a physical fight and Pagan pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and shot Fabbri twice. Pagan rode away, shaking off Fabbri's sister and girlfriend who tried to stop him, police said.



Officers tracked Pagan down, in part by the gang tattoos covering his head, police said. He was brought to the scene, identified by witnesses and arrested, police said.



Pagan has four felony convictions and had been wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Deenihan said.



"It's just not fair," Lativsky said. "I'm sad for their whole family. This is going to change their lives forever."



Lativsky said he has employed hundreds of people at his business, which does industrial work coating floors, and Fabbri was one of his best.



Anything Lativsky asked his crew to do, Fabbri immediately volunteered.



"He was the friendliest guy in the world," Lativsky said. "I'm just sick to my stomach over this. I'm shocked because he was such a good guy. To hear that there was any kind of confrontation on the street, it just befuddles me."



He said he's known Fabbri for about the past two years and that they often traveled together when the company booked jobs adding epoxy floor coating out of state.

When a crew has had to stay at a hotel for a month or so at a time, he had roomed with Fabbri at least once. He said he could often find him at the hotel pool, he loved to swim.



"He was the kind of guy, I'm a runner and he'd say, 'You're going running? I haven't run in about 10 years, but I'm going to join you,' then we went on a run together," Lativsky said.



In arguing for bail, Pagan's public defender said Pagan cares for two "special needs" children, 12 and 10, diagnosed with autism. He has six children in all, lives with his girlfriend and is a 2000 graduate of Roberto Clemente High School.

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Chicago Tribune's Marwa Eltagouri and Steve Schmadeke contributed.
Pharmaceutical company Mylan recently spurred a flurry of outrage after raising the price of their lifesaving EpiPen by 400%, leading many to decry corporate greed and point the finger at capitalism.

Unfortunately, such anger routinely fails to consider the systemic reasons as to why Mylan can charge such prices, resorting instead to knee-jerk calls for fresh tricks by the FDA and new layers of price-fixing tomfoolery from Washington.

Yet the problem, as detailed by Rep. Mick Mulvaney in a new video from FEE, begins with the very same interventions, back-room deals, and price manipulations that the critics now propose.

Why, we might ask, is Mylan able to wield this monopolistic power and exploit its consumers with little challenge? As Mulvaney demonstrates, the answer has far more to do with the FDA, Congress, President Obama, and the Affordable Care Act than a free market with free-flowing prices.

This is not an isolated incident. As Jay Stooksberry explains, even in this one small corner of healthcare, the connections between government regulators and healthcare policy reveal a trail of breadcrumbs that leads to far more pay to play cronyist schemes than Mylan and its EpiPen:

The EpiPen is not a microcosm; the cost of other prescription drugs are also on the rise. A House of Representatives report found that ten different drugs experienced even larger price hikes, starting as low as 420% and as high as 8,000%. Those companies who paid to play are providing a textbook example of crony capitalism, not free market capitalism. Considering the scope of government intervention in this specific marketplace, rather than blaming the free market for this controversy, a more appropriate response would be what free market? And now, lawmakers are ironically demanding answers from Mylan. If forced to speak in front of a Congressional panel and asked what inspired this price hike, Bresch and company should be encouraged to hold up a mirror to lawmakers faces.

As we hold up that mirror to Washington, Mulvaneys point about prices ought not be forgotten. The core problem is not whether a company is charging too much or too little for a drug. Nobody in here has any clue, Mulvaney says. We dont understand the cost. We dont understand the distribution system. We dont understand how healthcare products get priced and distributed.

Rather than trusting in the power of bottom-up creativity and strengthening the channels through which we collaborate and exchange, the planners prefer to engage in new forms of top-down experimentation, all under the guise of economic security and public health.

All the while, the problem is not high prices and the solution is not self-righteous rants about corporate greed paired with economic control. The problem is overregulation and an entrenched plutocracy, and the answer is found in freedom and the fruits that it provides.
Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Donald Trump as moderator Lester Holt looks on during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, New York. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

A claim from the presidential debate and how it stacks up with the facts:

TRUMP: "Stop-and-frisk had a tremendous impact on the safety of New York City. Tremendous beyond belief."

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THE FACTS: Trump is correct that the murder rate has plummeted in New York in the last two decades. But the same could be said for many other large American cities during the same period, and there's certainly no way to credit stop-and-frisk for the decline.

Stop-and-frisk was a popular tactic for much of the last 15 years in New York. But even as it's fallen out of favor under the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, the murder rate remains a long way off from where it was in the 1990s, when it topped 2,000 a year. City police department statistics show there were 352 murders and non-negligent homicides in 2015, compared with 673 in 2000 and 539 in 2005.

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TRUMP, responding to Hillary Clinton's statement that he didn't pay any federal income tax in the early 1990s, as recorded in documents from New Jersey gaming regulators: "That makes me smart." Asked by reporters after the debate if he had admitted to not paying federal income taxes, Trump said, "I didn't say that at all."

THE FACTS: Trump did say during the debate not paying taxes made him smart. And documents show it's true  he didn't pay taxes for at least two years in the early 1990s. But his failure to pay taxes wasn't the result of savvy tax planning. Instead, Trump avoided taxes in a simpler way: by losing money. According to documents from New Jersey gaming regulators, Trump posted losses from his creditors writing down his debts during those years that were large enough to cancel out any gains he would have had to report

Tax avoidance may have played a larger role in Trump not paying taxes during better years in the late 1970s and in 1984. As for more recent years, the size of Trump's tax payment is unclear because he has refused to release his returns, citing an IRS audit. The IRS and tax experts have said the audit doesn't prevent Trump from making his returns public.

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TRUMP: Trump sidestepped attacks about whether his past skepticism that President Barack Obama was born in the United States was racist, saying he'd raised an important question about Obama's birth certificate and moved on. "I think I did a great job and a great service not only for the country but for the president," he said, blaming Hillary Clinton and her allies for focusing attention on Obama's birth. Trump claimed he dropped the issue after Obama made his birth certificate public in 2011.

THE FACTS: False. As debate moderator Lester Holt correctly noted, Trump has regularly raised the same doubts about Obama's citizenship even after the president, in an attempt to end the discussion, released his birth certificate. (Obama was born in Hawaii).

"Was it a birth certificate? You tell me," Trump said in a 2012 interview.

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"He was perhaps born in Kenya. Very simple, OK?" Trump said in 2014.

"Who knows about Obama," Trump said in January 2016.

Trump's claim that Hillary Clinton loyalists started the false rumor about Obama's citizenship also doesn't hold up to scrutiny, as the AP and other news outlets have noted. No one in Clinton's camp publicly questioned Obama's citizenship, and when Clinton got wind of smears about Obama's roots or religion, she either rejected or ignored them.

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CLINTON: "Independent experts have looked at what I've proposed and looked at what Donald's proposed, and basically they've said this: that if his tax plan...were to go into effect, we would lose 3.5 million jobs and maybe have another recession. They've looked at my plans and they've said...we will have 10 million more new jobs."

THE FACTS: The numbers come from one expert, Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, a widely respected analyst but one who has also donated to Clinton's campaign. His estimate that Trump's plan would cost 3.5 million jobs was issued in June 2016, and Trump has altered his tax cut proposals and other policies since then. And Zandi estimated Clinton's policies would actually create 3.2 million more jobs over 10 years, not 10 million. An additional 7.2 million would be created under current law, Zandi calculated. Adding the two gets 10 million-plus.

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TRUMP: "Our jobs are fleeing the country. They're going to Mexico. They're going to many other countries. ... Ford is leaving, thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio." He added, "They're leaving, and they're leaving in bigger numbers than ever."

THE FACTS: There are no official data on job flows between countries. However, the U.S. economy has added nearly 14.9 million jobs since 2010, when the economy bottomed out after the recession.

Since GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy, the auto industry in particular has recovered and resumed hiring. The industry has added 300,000 jobs since June 2009, when the recession ended. Ford has announced it is moving production of small autos to Mexico, but the company maintains that it won't cut any U.S. jobs because it will make other vehicles at the affected plant.

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DONALD TRUMP on Russia's military capacity: "Russia's been expanding. They have much newer capabilities than we do."

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THE FACTS: Russia has indeed been expanding its military and increasing spending on weapons and equipment. But the U.S. still has far more advanced military aircraft, weapons and capabilities than Russia. In addition, the Pentagon plans to spend $108 billion over the next five years to sustain and improve its nuclear force and is developing the next generation bomber.

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CLINTON on nuclear deal: "It's been very successful in giving us access to facilities we've never been to before."

TRUMP: "We gave them $150 billion back."

THE FACTS: Both are playing loose with the facts.

The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency had been present in Iran's declared nuclear facilities like Natanz and Fordo long before the July 2015 agreement that eased economic sanctions on the country in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

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The agency's inspectors had also visited previously the Parchin military base, where nuclear weapons testing was suspected to have taken place. When the IAEA sought answers on Parchin in September 2015, the Iranians were permitted to take their own soil samples.

As to Trump's claim about the $150 billion, the deal allowed Iran to get access to its own money that was frozen in foreign bank accounts, estimated at about $100 billion. The U.S. didn't give Iran $150 billion.

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TRUMP: Donald Trump said that a 1970s racial discrimination case against his real estate business was settled "without any admission of guilt" and that the case was brought against "many real estate firms."

THE FACTS: The first claim is technically correct; the second is flatly false.

Trump and his father fiercely fought a 1973 discrimination lawsuit brought by the Justice Department for their alleged refusal to rent apartments in predominantly white buildings to black tenants. Testimony showed that the applications filed by black apartment seekers were marked with a "C'' for "colored." A settlement that ended the lawsuit did not require the Trumps to explicitly acknowledge that discrimination had occurred  but the government's description of the settlement said Trump and his father had "failed and neglected" to comply with the Fair Housing Act.

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Trump is also wrong to say that the suit was brought against many real estate developers  it was specific to buildings rented by him and his father.

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TRUMP: President Barack Obama "has doubled (the national debt) in almost eight years. ... When we have $20 trillion in debt, and our country is a mess."

THE FACTS: Trump's expressed concern about the national debt obscures that his own policies would increase it by much more than Clinton's, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Trump's tax cuts would increase the deficit by $5.3 trillion over 10 years, the group found, while Clinton's proposals would boost the deficit by $200 billion. Those increases are on top of an already-projected increase of about $9 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. By 2026, debt held by the public would total $23.3 trillion under Clinton's plans, and $28.4 trillion under Trump.

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TRUMP: "The Fed, by keeping interest rates at this level, the Fed is doing political things. ... The Fed is being more political than Secretary Clinton."

THE FACTS: This is a recurrent claim by Trump with no evidence to back it up. It's the Federal Reserve's job to help improve the economy and to the extent that happens, political leaders and their party may benefit. But presidents can't make the Fed, an independent agency, do anything.

Under former chairman Ben Bernanke and current chairwoman Janet Yellen, the Fed has attracted controversy by pegging the short-term interest rate it controls to nearly zero for seven years. After one increase in December, it is still ultra-low at between 0.25 percent and 0.5 percent, a rate that some economists worry could spark a stock-market bubble or inflation. Bernanke was initially appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, and reappointed by President Barack Obama.

One reason Yellen is keeping rates low is that, in some ways, she agrees with Trump that hiring needs to keep growing to provide jobs for Americans who want them.

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TRUMP: "You don't learn a lot from tax returns."

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THE FACTS: Donald Trump was explaining why he won't release his tax returns, although numerous other presidential candidates have done. And yes, one can learn quite a bit. Tax returns might not answer every question about Trump's finances, but they'd provide vital information about his wealth, taxes paid, tax avoidance efforts, exact amounts of real estate holdings and charitable donations that can't be gleaned from any other source. For these reasons, every major party candidate for the last 40 years has released at least a few years of recent tax returns.

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CLINTON: As part of a list of economy-building moves, called for "making college debt free so more young people can get their education."

THE FACTS: Clinton has proposed making college tuition free for in-state students who go to a public college or university. But tuition free doesn't equate to debt free.

Under her plan, the government would pay for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for students from families earning less than $125,000 a year. That would leave students still bearing the cost of room and board, which makes up more than half of the average $18,943 sticker price at a four-year public university, according to the College Board.

Experts worry about other effects: Will colleges raise tuition once the government starts paying, increasing the cost to taxpayers? Will more students flock to public colleges because of the subsidy, also raising costs?

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TRUMP, when Clinton accused him of calling climate change a hoax invented by the Chinese: "I did not say that."

THE FACTS: Yes he did, in the form of a 2012 tweet: "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." He later claimed he was kidding, but he's also repeated the claim that climate change is a hoax, and one that benefits China.

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CLINTON, denying Trump's accusation that she called the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal the "gold standard" of trade agreements: "I did say I hoped it would be a good deal."

THE FACTS: Trump is correct. As secretary of state, Clinton called the deal that was taking shape the "gold standard" of trade agreements, in a 2012 trip to Australia, and championed the agreement in other venues around the world. She did not merely express the hope it would turn out well.

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Clinton flip-flopped into opposing the trade deal in the Democratic primary when facing Bernie Sanders, who was strongly opposed to it.

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TRUMP: "I've been under audit for almost 15 years."

THE FACTS: Donald Trump has never provided any evidence to the public that he is actually under audit. A letter released by his tax attorneys never used the word, merely describing his tax returns as under continuous examination. "Continuous examination" is not a formal term for any kind of action by the Internal Revenue Service.

Trump has declined to provide the IRS' formal notice of audit to The Associated Press and other news outlets. And former IRS officials have expressed skepticism that anyone would be audited so frequently.

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TRUMP: "My father gave me a small loan in 1975..."

THE FACTS: Trump got a whole lot more than a small loan. Aside from a $1 million financing from his father, Trump received loan guarantees, bailouts and a drawdown from his future inheritance. Reporter Tim O'Brien noted in a 2005 book that Trump not only drew an additional $10 million from his future inheritance during hard times, but also inherited a share of his father's real estate holdings, which were worth hundreds of millions when they were eventually sold off.

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TRUMP: "No wonder. You've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton was born in 1947 and is currently 68 years old. She reached adulthood in 1965. The Islamic State group grew out of an al-Qaida spinoff, al-Qaida in Iraq in 2013, the year Clinton left the State Department.

Associated Press
During the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Monday, Clinton accused her rival of believing "that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese."

"I did not. I did not. I do not say that," Trump replied. Clinton was probably referring to a viral tweet from 2012, which does say that.

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Trump tweeted on Nov. 6, 2012, "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

As The Washington Post's Fact Checkers noted in June, Trump said years later that he meant the tweet as a "joke" -- although he clearly believes climate change is a hoax of some sort.

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Shortly after the exchange between Trump and Clinton, though, something very confusing happened on Twitter: another viral tweet started spreading, claiming that Trump's campaign had deleted the tweet in question. The image a "Tweet not found" message across it.

Trump and his campaign have rarely deleted his tweets due to controversy, but it has happened. Last year, for instance, a tweet of his sending "best wishes" to everyone, "even the haters and losers," on September 11th disappeared -- although one of Trump's manual retweets of it remains online to this day.

It seems that quite a few people really wanted to believe that Trump's campaign had done it again tonight while the candidate was still on stage, despite the fact that the original tweet was right there, still on Twitter, available for anyone to see.

How'd this confusion start? The initial image came from @itsjuanlove, a writer who later tweeted that he didn't fake the screenshot, implying that the "tweet not found" was the result of a bug.

Although he's deleted his original tweet, the damage is done. Several other accounts copied the image and tweeted the same claim about a deleted tweet, and those claims subsequently went viral on their own. Some journalists also picked up on the claim, believed it, and repeated it to their own followers, helping to spread the rumor rather quickly across Twitter.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 37 Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Donald Trump as moderator Lester Holt looks on during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, New York. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Comedian Patton Oswalt, who has more than 2 million followers, tweeted, "Oh my God. Trump's campaign is furiously deleting his Tweets from back in his timeline," with the hashtag #WinstonSmith, in reference to the protagonist of George Orwell's 1984. It seems likely that he was referencing the confusion about Trump's global warming tweet.

It's worth noting that if Trump's campaign was, for some reason, interested in erasing the candidate's tweeted statements about global warming, they'd have a lot of deleting to do. He's tweeted 101 times about global warming, according to a new archive of all of Trump's tweets from 2009 to the present. The vast majority of those tweets claim in some way that global warming is a hoax.
The first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is in the books. I tweeted, took notes and picked some winners and losers. They're below.

WINNERS

Hillary Clinton: Clinton wasn't perfect in this debate. At times she came across as overly rehearsed and robotic. I thought her answer on race relations was way too much head and not enough heart. But, Clinton was head and shoulders above Trump. She was, unsurprisingly, very well-prepared -- using a slew of facts and figures to not only make her positive case but to also slam Trump. She was terrific in bashing Trump on taxes. Her response to Trump's attack on her temperament -- the shoulder shimmy! -- was effective. Her birtherism response -- while low-hanging fruit -- was effective. And, on her biggest weakness -- her decision to establish a private email server at the State Department, Clinton skated. She delivered a full and unequivocal apology -- what a concept! -- and the debate moved on without much of a stir.

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Split screen: I'm not sure who made the call at networks to keep Trump and Clinton on screen at all times during the debates, but whoever did it: good job! Debates are aimed at revealing not only policy proposals but also personality and temperament. Split screens help illuminate who these people are when under duress and attack, when they are nervous and when they feel backed into a corner. Trump didn't fare as well as Clinton with the split screen. He sighed, made faces and looked, well, not very presidential.

Lester Holt: My guess is that the "Nightly News" anchor will be criticized in some circles for a) not fact-checking Trump enough and b) often disappearing during the debate. On point A, it's impossible to fact-check every single thing Trump says in real time without making the debate seven hours long. On point B, I applaud Holt for disappearing at times. Good moderators are the ones you don't remember; they're like referees in that regard. Holt let the two candidates duke it out time and time again. He avoided forcing a format on them or demanding that they move on when they were discussing real disagreements. I applaud that. Want a testament to how well Holt did? I guarantee you no one is talking about him tomorrow. That's a win.

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Twitter: I really don't know how I watched debates before Twitter. Sure, it can be distracting at times. And mean. And snarky. Also, I just described why I love it so much.

The "bigly" vs "big league" debate: I am certain Trump says "big league." Other are convinced he says "bigly." Regardless, he said one of those things a bunch Monday night. Also, well done Merriam Webster!

LOSERS

Donald Trump: Trump was simply not prepared-well enough for this debate. He regularly struggled to deal with questions he had to know were coming. His answer on his five-year quest to show that President Barack Obama was not born in this country was like watching a car accident in slow motion. His answer on why he wasn't willing to release his tax returns wasn't much better. His explanation of his position on the Iraq War not only ran counter to the facts but made very little sense. On temperament, perhaps the key to Trump's chances of beating Clinton, he resorted to insisting he had one of the best temperaments and that Clinton had come unhinged in a speech over the weekend. (Sidebar: If you have to say you have one of the best temperaments, you probably don't.) Then there was the fact that Trump left so many potent hits on Clinton unused. He never once used the phrase "basket of deplorables." He barely skirted her email problems. He didn't even mention the words "honest" or "trustworthy." And, as the debate wore on, Trump seemed to resort to his worst instincts -- interrupting Clinton and shouting "not true" while she spoke with very little back-up for those claims. Not a good night.

Donald Trump's website: Take a note: If you are going to make mention of your website during a presidential debate where the audience is likely to be upward of 80 million people, make sure it is ready for some traffic. Some users were diverted to a page with "Site error" messages.

The debate stage background: Who thought it was a good idea to have words behind the two candidates? And in cursive no less! I am sure it seemed like a good idea in theory to have the Constitution as a background. But, in the words of our greatest philosopher, Homer Simpson, "in theory, communism works!" It was far too distracting for this viewer and needs to be done away with for future debates.

The audience: Look, if you are going to have an audience why tell them repeatedly they can say or do nothing during the debate? I am agnostic on whether these general election debates should have an audience at all. But, if you are going to have one, don't tell them to never make a sound. A little bit of cheering and reaction makes the whole thing more watchable, more enjoyable and more real. If we don't let the audience react every once in a while, then we let the "Quiet Car" people win. And we can't let that happen.

400-pound hackers: Trump, pushing back against claims that the Russians were responsible for the hack of the Democratic National Committee, suggested that a 400-pound hacker sitting on a bed might have done it. Hmmm. I mean, maybe?
"Donald, I know you live in your own reality," Hillary Clinton told Donald Trump during the first debate between the two contenders for the presidency. And rather than deny it, Trump proceeded to give millions of Americans a tour of the rarefied world he inhabits and the decidedly unique attitudes that guide his dealings with people outside that sphere. Trump may have spent much of the debate lapsing into nonsense, but that message, at least, got through loud and clear.

Early in the debate, Trump dismissed the $14 million he received from his father to start his business as "a very small loan" that was no reflection on his actual business acumen or work ethic. "I built it into a company that's worth many, many billions of dollars, with some of the greatest assets in the world," he said.

How did he do it? Trump painted a portrait of his business dealings rooted in contempt for anyone weak enough to let him take advantage of them.

When Clinton pointed to his glee over the collapse of the housing market, Trump interrupted to inform her "that's called business, by the way." When Clinton told the stories of small-business owners who had done work for Trump, only for him to refuse payment, Trump shrugged it off by saying, "Maybe he didn't do a good job, and I was unsatisfied with his work," before going on to explain that "I take advantage of the laws of the nation because I'm running a company. My obligation right now is to do well for myself, my family, my employees, for my companies. And that's what I do."

When Clinton parsed some of his old income tax returns and noted that he didn't pay any federal taxes, he bragged, "That makes me smart." And when Clinton pushed him again on what he has or hasn't paid, Trump's version of a pivot was to suggest that any taxes he paid "would be squandered, too, believe me."

In the portion of the debate about race, Trump's explanation for why he cares about Charlotte, a city torn by riots after a recent police-involved shooting, was that it is "a city where I have investments." His explanation for a lawsuit early in his career, when he was sued for allegedly refusing to rent apartments to African-Americans? A lot of other people did it, too, and "We settled the suit with zero  with no admission of guilt. It was very easy to do."

A couple of patterns define these responses.

First, they're a dumb person's idea of cleverness. Refusing to pay people who can't afford to sue you to collect what they're owed isn't some sort of brilliant business strategy that Donald Trump alone discovered and had the courage to use. It's just using your personal wealth and the size of your company to skip out on basic obligations. In a similar way, settling a discrimination suit with "no admission of guilt" doesn't make you innocent of discriminating against black people, in the same way that being found not guilty of rape is not the same thing as a ringing endorsement of your personal conduct.

The second is that they reveal Trump's astonishing self-centeredness. In the world he occupies, $14 million is trivial, there's always another contractor who needs the work even at the risk of getting stiffed, and the map of the world is determined by where Trump himself stands to gain or lose.

In this context, some of Trump's more bizarre moments achieve a certain coherence.

If you've never ventured out of your gold-encrusted palaces, and never endured hardship more serious than some light meanness from Rosie O'Donnell, then maybe the rest of the world does seem fraught and terrifying. Following from that, if you truly believe that many of your fellow citizens occupy some sort of violent garbage pile, then may be it is the height of magnanimity to open up your private club in Palm Beach to anyone who wants to join.

And if you believe that you've purchased a woman's hotness  as was the case with a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, who says Trump taunted and harassed her about her weight and ethnicity  maybe it does seem as though when that woman gains weight, it's "a real problem."

Trump's messages, his contempt for the basics of citizenship and his delight in putting one over on the people he ostensibly wants to serve may be unique in presidential history. But Trump was remarkably consistent in his commitment to showing the debate audience the world as he sees it, even taking a moment to plug his new hotel in the District of Columbia. "If I don't get there one way, I'm going to get to Pennsylvania Avenue another," he said on Monday night.

Let's hope we can get Trump bundled up back in the gilded luxury where he's most comfortable as quickly as possible. The real world and the rules everyone else plays by seem as though they might be too harsh for Trump to bear.

Washington Post

Alyssa Rosenberg blogs about pop culture for The Washington Post's Opinions section.
In 2016, when politicos reach for a metaphor to describe the election, they often invoke "stakes," and especially stakes that "couldn't be higher." It seems to me they used to prefer "crossroads," but I don't hear much about crossroads anymore; mainly it's about those stakes that for some reason can't get any higher. When Jerry Brown finally decided to endorse Hillary Clinton, for example, he did so because "the stakes couldn't be higher," not because we'd reached a "crossroads."

Seeking numerical confirmation of my suspicion, I used the Nexis database to catalog the number of times the phrase "stakes couldn't be higher" appeared in news articles with the names "Obama" and "Romney" from January to September 2012. I got 52 hits. I did the same for "stakes couldn't be higher" with "Clinton" and "Trump" from January to September 2016. I got 111 hits. I did the same for the word "crossroads," and the candidates' names from January to September of 2012 and 2016. For Romney vs. Obama, "crossroads" appeared 2,477 times. For Trump vs. Clinton, "crossroads" appeared 1,171 times.

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Maybe we've just exchanged one hokey phrase for another, but I wonder if the shift doesn't signify a different outlook from the one we had in elections past. A different outlook, and a bleaker one.

Almost every presidential contest has been called a "crossroads" of some kind. "Today," wrote South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly in 2012, "our country is at a crossroads and the existence of [the] American dream is threatened like never before." Michael Brown, a delegate to the Democratic convention in 2012, likely would have disagreed with Connelly about everything, but about the country's metaphorical location he concurred: "I feel like our nation is at a crossroads where one side diminishes science and history," he told the Star-Telegram. "It is my duty as an American and a father to work to give my daughter the best chance to have a better life than I have led."

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The trouble with crossroads  literal crossroads  is that if you come to one and make the wrong choice, you can't just pretend that making a better choice at the next crossroads will somehow fix the problem. You have to turn around and go back to the first crossroads and make the choice you should have made before. It's a tired phrase, but at least it signifies the importance of a choice between two very different alternatives, one good and one bad. If you can call an election a "crossroads," you must have some hope.

And that's how we seem to have thought about the election of 2012: as a philosophical choice in which the nation might either continue its embrace of piecemeal socialism, or reject further government expansions into the free market. Democrats believed the former was the right, good path; Republicans wanted to take the other road, and they hoped to persuade a majority to take it.

That wasn't necessarily an accurate assessment of the 2012 election, but that's how partisans on both sides framed it. We were at a crossroads.

The "high stakes" metaphor operates differently. It doesn't require hope. Just fear.

In a sense, "the stakes couldn't be higher" is just another way of expressing the truism that this year's presidential election is "the most important election of our lifetime." Of course it's the most important election in our lifetime; it's the one happening right now, and we can't predict the outcome or consequences, and that makes us nervous. Similarly: Of course "the stakes couldn't be higher" because the winner becomes the chief executive of the United States government, and what could possibly be higher than that?

Mary Kay Henry, president of SEIU International, managed to combine the clichs in her Clinton endorsement: "For working families, the 2016 election is the most consequential of our lifetimes. The stakes couldn't be higher  nor the contrast starker  on all of the issues our families need to get ahead."

Although Henry mentioned getting "ahead" at the end of the second sentence, her diction isn't quite coherent at that point (working families need "issues" to get ahead?). What she's chiefly communicating  I don't think I'm wrong in thinking  is the possibility of doom. If the wrong candidate wins, all is lost.

The National Rifle Assn.'s Chris Cox sounded just as fearful, maybe more so, when he spoke to the Daily Caller about the Supreme Court vacancy. "And the stakes, with Justice Scalia's passing and that fifth majority vote being gone for the basic right to own a firearm, the stakes couldn't be higher."

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We're not facing a choice between two visions. For Cox, as for Henry, we're facing danger and ruin.

"The stakes couldn't be higher," then, begins to sound like code for "I'm not happy about it either, but the alternative's even worse." This is an unhappy place. I wish we could go back to that stupid crossroads.

Los Angeles Times

Barton Swaim is the author of "The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics."
In Colorado, Lazarus is alive, well and doing his civic duty. So are Dracula and the Walking Dead. At least that seems like a safe assumption after a CBS TV station in Denver aired a report of people continuing to vote despite the obstacle of no longer being alive.

Colorado Springs resident Sara Sosa, for example, passed away on Oct. 14, 2009, but records indicate she voted each of the next four years. Her late husband showed somewhat less determination, voting just once  so far, anyway  after shuffling off this mortal coil. The secretary of state's office later confirmed that at least 78 dead people were still listed on the voting rolls.

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As Chicagoans, we have one thing to say: amateurs. The Denver investigation turned up only four confirmed cases of corpses actually casting ballots. And the whole scandal seems to be the work of a few hapless freelancers  presumably, someone getting hold of a ballot mailed to the home of the deceased and deciding not to waste it.

We give the TV reporter, KCNC's Brian Maass, credit for paying proper homage to the real pros. "This is the kind of thing you hear rumored, joked about in Chicago," he noted at the outset of his expose.

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He's right. Comedian Mort Sahl has explained why he plans to be buried in Chicago: "When I die, I want to still remain active politically." It's been said that we know Elvis is dead because he's registered to vote here.

But these jokes are not based on mere rumors. They emerged from our city's long and extensive history of turning out the graveyard vote. This miracle was the product not of Aunt Lucy honoring her late husband's wishes by punching a straight Democratic ticket, but of trained operatives using an organized system.

Take Raymond Hicks, a Chicago Democratic precinct captain in the 27th Ward. His paychecks came from the city sewer department, but his fame came from his activities in election fraud. During a 1983 corruption trial, the Tribune reported that Hicks "told of visiting every hotel and flophouse in the West Side ward to pay for votes and lists of people who had died or moved and would not be voting." Another precinct captain attested to forging ballot applications for at least 30 people who were deceased or transient.

Methods like those got aldermen and mayors elected  and candidates for higher office benefited, too. After the 1960 presidential election, won narrowly by John F. Kennedy over Richard Nixon, Republicans accused Democrats of rigging the vote in Illinois.

Earl Mazo, a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune, came out to investigate and was shocked by what he found. "There was a cemetery where the names on the tombstones were registered and voted," he said. Nixon decided not to challenge the results, but afterward, he recalled, his 12-year-old daughter Julie kept asking, "Can't we still win? Why can't we have a recount in Chicago?"

For years, opponents of the city's Democratic machine suspected that delays in the reporting of votes from particular polling places reflected a willingness of those in charge to adjust the totals to ensure their desired outcome. For anyone asking how many dead people vote in Chicago, the obvious answer was, "As many as you need."

When it comes to political corruption, we have to say, the Rocky Mountain State has only molehills to show. But if Coloradans need instruction in how to up their game, they could solicit advice from Rod Blagojevich, our disgraced former governor, who tried to sell a U.S. Senate seat. He currently resides in a federal correctional facility  conveniently located just outside of Denver.
Maybe you heeded the sportswriter who advised watching "World Series of Poker" (a stress-free distraction) or staring at photos of baby llamas (blissfully narcotizing). But if you were among the supposed 100 million viewers who spent Monday night with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, then you saw what we did: moments of primal strength, but neither candidate knocked senseless.

Score this first debate as a cliffhanger still awaiting its climax. Partisans saw just what they came to see; flipping channels afterward, we were amused at the certainty with which talking heads declared Clinton, or Trump, the winner. We'll all learn from opinion polls of coming days how much of that was mere cheerleading. But for most of the national audience, we'd wager, Monday night was less about the issues than about the gladiators: Did Clinton look healthy and likable enough to be America's president? (Probably yes.) Did Trump come across as a bully, a buffoon or both? (Not really. A cynic would say he did come across as a New Yorker.)

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In the crucial first 45 minutes, with viewers open-minded and social media revving up, Clinton largely stuck to talking points about jobs and a better economy; Trump talked over her to accuse U.S. politicians, Clinton included, of letting American employers fire workers here and flee to other countries. Neither candidate blew us away, but we were glad neither lives next door. Clinton, determined not to take grief from her opponent, spent the night addressing him as "Donald," not Mr. Trump. He in turn tried to look decorous and respectful  not the crazy candidate you've heard about  by addressing her as "Secretary Clinton."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 37 Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Donald Trump as moderator Lester Holt looks on during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, New York. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

For Clinton, one of Monday night's challenges was to unleash Trump, to send him into the rants that satisfy his loyalists but frighten centrist voters. That didn't really happen. Nor did Clinton come across as a humorless policy wonk. We wondered going into the night whether Trump could survive by sticking to broad themes, or whether Clinton's command of facts and figures would dazzle us. That deep chasm didn't open.

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Nothing either candidate said strayed from what Americans have already heard. The night was all about style.

Trump had the choice of which among his personalities to project  brash, charming, impatient, supremely confident. Viewers saw flashes of each, but he grew especially energetic in declaring himself the law and order candidate  and citing Chicago as a city overwhelmed by violent crime, with thousands of people shot this year. "Is this a war-torn country?" Trump asked. "What are we doing? .... Almost 4,000 people have been killed in Chicago since Barack Obama became president." (Chicago police count close to 3,700.) Clinton responded with praise for community policing, a critique of stop-and-frisk tactics and a call for programs that steer young men in troubled neighborhoods into jobs and away from a life of crime.

On companion questions with implications for the next four years  Do you want Trump in the Oval Office? Do you want Clinton on the TV in your living room?  neither candidate was as off-putting as his or her detractors had hoped. Trump interjected one-liners to throw Clinton off her game; her prescriptions for addressing many problems America faces opened with variations of, I've developed a plan ...

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican contender Donald Trump shake hands before Monday nights debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. NBC anchor Lester Holt was the moderator. (Joe Raedle / Getty)

Where did the candidates land at the end of the night? Not clear. Trump's polling numbers have been more erratic than Clinton's; many voters already knew what they think of her. Trump was Monday night's variable. Going into this debate, she held a lead of barely 2 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of nine national polls. Owing to Trump's late-summer rise in the polls, that was one-third of her lead six weeks earlier.

In another six weeks we'll learn whether, back on a Monday night in September, she or Trump began to make the better closing argument to America.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Donald Trump as moderator Lester Holt looks on during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, New York. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

My takeaway from the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is simple: Never bring a Cheeto to a knife fight.

The Orange Overlord of Absurdities  whose usual faux-tan actually looked a bit muted Monday night, perhaps the victim of a pre-debate powdering  performed in exactly the way anyone who has been paying attention to the 2016 presidential campaign expected.

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He was loud, rude, allergic to facts, quick with a lie, thin-skinned, boastful, often unintelligible and petulant.

He was all the things his supporters love in him  a bully, an outsider (or at least an insider masquerading as one), a straight-shooter (with a crooked rifle) and a man unafraid to stand up to those sniveling politicians who waste their time doing things like preparing for presidential debates.

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And so, by any sensible measure, Trump thrilled his fans while losing the debate. Miserably.

Post-debate polls and focus groups showed Clinton with a lopsided win. A CNN poll of debate watchers had 62 percent saying she won the debate versus 27 percent for Trump. A focus group by Republican messaging guru Frank Luntz had 16 saying Clinton won to 6 saying Trump won.

Trumpus interruptus.

Clinton, no matter how much you might hate her, was prepared. She knew her facts, she stayed on message, she endured a barrage of interjections and outright falsehoods from Trump, and she even managed to present some details on her policy proposals.

Trump, on the other hand, got bogged down in the birther movement, again falsely blaming the conspiracy over President Barack Obama's place of birth  a conspiracy he nurtured for years  on Clinton and refusing to apologize for the whole mess.

On the subject of the birther movement's underlying racism, moderator and NBC News anchor Lester Holt asked Trump: "What do you say to people of color in this country?"

Trump responded: "I say nothing."

That response will be played over and over until the election.

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Asked about race relations, Trump immediately started talking about crime, then bragged about opening a club in Palm Beach, Fla., that doesn't discriminate "against African-Americans, against Muslims, against anybody."

How nice of him.

Trump said he was smart for not paying taxes.

At one point he uttered the phrase, "We have not been updating from the new standpoint," which I defy anyone to translate for me.

Clinton said, "Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese." Trump responded: "I did not. I did not. I do not say that."

Except he did, in a tweet from Nov. 6, 2012: "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."

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Pressed by Holt on the clearly documented fact that he expressed support for the Iraq War before the invasion, Trump said he never supported the war and backed that assertion up by citing "numerous conversations with Sean Hannity."

Hannity is a Fox News host, a stranger to the truth and a man who loves Trump so much it hurts. These undocumented conversations prove nothing.

Still, the question after the debate is the same as it was before: Will Trump's performance matter?

I think it will.

What people who have been wrapped up in this reality-show-like campaign often forget is that there are Americans who have yet to pay much attention to Trump or Clinton. For a good swath of the millions upon millions who watched the debate, this was a first look at Trump and Clinton in action.

That doesn't bode well for Trump. Clinton sliced and diced him, lured him into traps, knowing his fragile ego can't handle criticism.

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To Clinton's numerous detractors, she was Crooked Hillary, the evil, lying, half-dead, manipulative criminal who haunts their fever dreams. To those who might not have that strong an opinion, she was a patient and competent politician who quietly carved her blathering opponent into orange meat strips.

Will that matter? It most certainly should.

But I learned many months ago that with the Orange Overlord of Absurdities, nothing is ever certain.

rhuppke@chicagotribune.com
The Road Home Tour featuring Grammy award winning artist Jason Crabb and Grammy nominated Point of Grace will make an appearance at Metro Church of God, 2800 Metropolitan Way, Birmingham, Alabama on Thursday, October 6th, 2016. Joining Jason and Point of Grace will be special guest, Natasha Owens of Fort Worth, Texas.

Paul Pitts, Global Promotions Founder states, "We're so proud to bring this award-winning line up of artists to North Augusta, South Carolina."

Jason Crabb, Kentucky-born Christian artist has won a Grammy and 21 Dove Awards collectively as a soloist and with the Crabb Family. In 2012, the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards crowned Crabb as both "Artist of the Year" and "Male Vocalist of the Year."

Point of Grace is an all-female Contemporary Christian music vocal trio. The trio consists of Shelley Breen, Denise Jones, and Leigh Cappillino. They celebrate over twenty years of ministry, with thirteen albums, twenty-seven #1 hit singles, thirteen Dove Awards and three Grammy nominations. Their record sales have garnered in excess of seven million units with multiple Platinum and Gold Certifications, making them one of the Top 10 best-selling artists in the history of Contemporary Christian Music.

Special guest, Natasha Owens communicates the message of God's truth with clarity and passion. Natasha's story of God's work in her life is compelling. "We Will Rise" is a powerful song of encouragement that can motivate us to walk in God's ways.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to worship with Jason Crabb, Point of Grace and Natasha Owens! Concert begins at 7:30 pm with doors opening at 6:30 pm. Meet & Greet to begin promptly at 5:30 pm.

This is a ticketed event.

Location: Metro Church of God, 2800 Metropolitan Way, Birmingham, AL 35243

Advanced Tickets: General Admission $20; Artist Circle $30; Meet and Greet $15; Group Sales of 10 or more Tickets: $18

Day of Concert: General Admission $22; Artist Circle $32; Meet and Greet $17; Group Sales of 10 or more Tickets: $20

For additional information and tickets visit www.globalpromo.org or call 864-655-3560.
Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Donald Trump as moderator Lester Holt looks on during the presidential debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, New York. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Like countless other viewers, I wondered which Donald Trump would show up Monday night to debate Hillary Clinton : hyper Donald or sedate Donald.

Hyper Donald is the one we usually see on the campaign trail screaming himself hoarse or delighting crowds with his ad-libbed speeches like a stand-up comedian. Hyper Donald is the one we usually read in snarky tweets that he sends out almost daily.

Sedate Donald is the one whose impulses constantly pose a challenge to his advisers as they urge him to stick to his teleprompter.

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After boasting that he wasn't going to spend a lot of time preparing himself for his first debate with his Democratic opponent, the Republican nominee's lack of preparation and impulse control showed themselves, as Trump might say, "big league."

He apparently had prepared himself enough to stick to his talking points for about the first 15 minutes of the 90-minute debate at Hofstra University. From then on, former Secretary of State Clinton played him like a violin.

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In her opening statement, Clinton went on the attack against Trump's biggest strength, his much-vaunted wealth and alleged business sense that, ironically, has helped to make him a populist hero of the working- and middle-class conservatives who make up his base.

Watch: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton trade insults at debate

Clinton attacked his image as a business genius and working-class hero by zeroing in on his borrowing $14 million from his father to start his real estate business.

"Donald was very fortunate in his life and that's all to his benefit," she said, emphasizing the words "very fortunate." Pointing out that "I have a different experience," Clinton described her own father's work as a drapery maker, a vignette that led up to her money line: Trump, she said, believes in "trumped-up, trickle-down" economics.

The line didn't generate the laugh she might have hoped for, but the night was still young.

Instead of defending his economic savvy, Trump tried to defend his life of obvious privilege. "My father gave me a very small loan in 1975, and I built it into a company that's worth many, many billions of dollars," Trump said. Indeed, but that was the first time that many of us have heard a multimillion-dollar IOU described as "very small."

The rest of the debate could best be titled "Blown Opportunities." At one point, for example, Clinton went after Trump's refusal to reveal his tax returns, the first major presidential candidate to do so. Trump came back with a good line, by schoolyard argument standards, by saying that "I will release my tax returns, against my lawyer's wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted."

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pauses during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on Sept. 26, 2016 in Hempstead, N.Y. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

"Well, I think you've seen another example of bait-and-switch here," Clinton said with a smile. She smiled a lot during the evening. She had good reasons to do so besides the advice given to her by friend and foe alike to smile more.

Instead of staying on the attack, Trump became defensive as Clinton recalled how he revealed while acquiring a casino license that he had not paid any income taxes. Trump's response, "That makes me smart," might impress his core supporters but probably won't do much to expand his base.

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Similarly, his bait-and-switch tactics failed to deflect moderator Lester Holt 's question as to what took Trump so long to acknowledge that President Barack Obama was born in the United States, contrary to Trump's long-held doubts about the president's Hawaiian birth certificate.

"I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate," Trump boasted, "and I think I did a good job." But, as Holt noted, the president released his long-form birth certificate in 2011. Trump continued to question its authenticity until this January. Now Trump said he wants to move on and "get back to fighting (Islamic State)." Fine  but not before Hillary pilloried the inherent racism in Trump's crusade.

Trump bragged about how he wasn't spending a lot of time preparing for the debate. He didn't want to get in the way of his naturally charismatic self. The result turned out to be the appearance of hyper Trump, whose insistence that his temperament was more presidential than Clinton's brought the biggest laughs of the evening.

"Just listen to what you heard," she asked the audience during the strange back-and-forth over Trump's birtherism. That's the sound of a woman who does not want to get in the way of a man who is destroying himself.

Clarence Page , a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime
For Elk Grove High School Spanish teacher Ricky Castro, being named as one of 10 finalists for the 2017 Illinois Teacher of the Year has proved both exciting and humbling. Castro, 35, who has taught children in countries across the globe, and who is looking forward to attending the Illinois State Board of Education's "Those Who Excel" banquet in October, recently shared his journey from a troubled adolescent in Chicago to an award-winning educator known for successfully transitioning 80 percent of his freshman Latino English Learners into "mainstream" courses in just one year.

Q: What was your reaction when you learned that you had been named one of 10 finalists for the 2017 Illinois Teacher of the Year?

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A: I was very humbled, but it's also a time for being grateful for all of the opportunities that I've had. One of my heroes is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose faith was part of his social movement. I'm grateful to God, and to all the people around me who have been mentors.

Q: I've read one of your essays where you describe the struggles you faced growing up in Chicago. Do you think your students can imagine that their teacher was once a troubled teen?

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A: When I was growing up, if I had a teacher who said, 'I know what you're going through,' I probably would have been like, 'shut-up and stop talking.' You don't know what you really want at that age. Growing up in Chicago, close to Humboldt Park, my education was not what I held up to be of value.

Q: What was the turning point for you?

A: I was in a bad situation, and I had let my family down. They had come to this country to give me a better future. But one day, I had an epiphany, and it all became very clear to me, and I had a change of heart. It was a moment when I realized I was not honoring the sacrifices others had made for me. I had my faith, but I also had a lot of great people who invested in me, like my 7th grade teacher Mr. Weston. I had been getting suspended for ditching school, and things were not going great. He knew I still had a chance, because I was young and not in the prison system. And I'm really grateful for that. It has made me really motivated as a teacher to reach kids while they're young, before they get to high school, by investing in mentoring programs for junior high students.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your work with younger children, including the families who live in the Oasis Mobile Home Park neighborhood?

A: These kids are seeing a lot of negative images in media and culture, and many are dealing with an identity crisis, so providing them with great mentors is key. We had about 73 kids in a camp this summer, and they were working with junior high and high school kids from the community, not someone from the outside who comes into their neighborhood, looking to change them. There's a lot more acceptance from the kids, and it's much more effective.

kcullotta@tribpub.com

Twitter @kcullotta
Grading was going on Monday in the area where Duke Realty wants to have the option to build two different buildings, depending on what the market dictates. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News)

Duke Realty has asked the Aurora City Council to approve a second, alternative plan for development of a building at 2865 Duke Parkway in the Butterfield East corporate subdivision.

The second plan would be for a warehouse, distribution and storage services building, near the Follett Higher Education Group building.

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Duke is seeking a waiver of final plan requirements to create the alternative plan so the company can have more flexibility in marketing just what kind of building to build there.

The optional plan would have minor modifications to the previously approved final plan to convert the trailer parking and docks along the north side of the building to vehicle parking with an additional entrance.

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The second option would change the amount of parking from 512 spaces to 1,024 spaces, and decrease trailer parking from 228 spaces to 171 spaces. In the alternative plan, the building also would be shifted about 30 feet to the west.

In order to maintain flexibility, in this option Duke is proposing to stripe the parking islands along the north side of the building to allow for the reconversion of trailer parking and docks if needed in the future, according to a city memo.

If aldermen approve the second option, Duke would be able to build the proposed building under the original final plan, or the new optional one.

The council is set to vote on the second plan on the consent agenda at the council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.

slord@tribpub.com
Fox Valley residents have plenty to say about the first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

At the train station in Geneva Tuesday morning, Charlie Miller, of St. Charles, had a strong opinion of both candidates.

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"They are both idiots," he said. "Hillary represented herself better and had more composure, but I think she is a liar and has had more practice at it."

Miller said he likes that Trump is not a career politician, "but I still do not trust him  there is no full disclosure on his income taxes," he said.

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Miller is a union iron worker in Chicago. He said he may vote for Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson.

"If Johnson is on the ticket, I will probably throw a Hail Mary and vote for him. But even with him, I need to do some research," he said.

"When the construction industry slowed down in 2008 I started my own company and had issues with people paying me for my work. Hearing that Trump had issues with paying some of his people has really swayed me away from voting for him," Miller said. "But a lot of what Hillary has done in her past has swayed me away from her as well. People need a better choice of candidates. When our country is down to 'the better of two evils' for your president, it is a sad situation."

Jordan Graves, of St. Charles, said the debate did not change his mind on a candidate.

"I have been following the election process. If anything, the debate gave me better insight into why the candidates feel the way they do on the issues," said Graves, 27.

He said Clinton has the better demeanor to be president.

"Hillary kept her composure. Trump appeared rattled or unnerved by some of the line of questioning," Graves said. "Hillary didn't talk about a broad and grand way to make America great again, something we have heard from Trump. She spoke about specific ways to improve the daily lives of people  making college more affordable and doing something about the perceived racial problems in law enforcement."

Graves, a forensic specialist in law enforcement, said those are issues on people's minds.

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"I thought Hillary did a better job of connecting with those groups of people," he said.

Patrick Totman, of Geneva, said he thought the debate offered everything he anticipated.

"Donald was going to do his thing of creating a word salad, and Clinton would be very lawyerly and state her plans, and neither would answer the questions," said Totman, 37. "I have already decided on a candidate. I think most people's minds have been made up. I don't think the debates are going to sway a voter one way or another."

Totman said this has been an unusual election season.

"Everyone has a voice in the election, (due) in large part to social media. It has made the election process a political spectacle," he said, noting that he's not worried about the future of the country.

"I think everything will be fine. I don't think (homeland) terrorism has increased. We are just seeing more of it because everybody has the capability to be a social media news outlet," Totman said.

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Peter Wintersteen, of Geneva, said he blames the national media for the raucous presidential election campaign.

"I am not happy with the whole election process in general. The national news media has manipulated the questions and (promoted) the candidates of their choice rather than give us the choices that would be better for America," said Wintersteen, 59.

He said the debate was difficult to watch.

"It wasn't controlled enough, and the questions were the same ones we have heard since the beginning of the campaigns," he said. "There were no questions pertinent to the middle class and those of us that are working. There are still people getting laid off from their jobs and people struggling with employment. In my opinion, the Democrats have struggled to do what is best for this country, and I am really disappointed that the Republican Party didn't do more to promote a better candidate and take charge of the election."

Maureen Clancy, of Batavia, said she thought Trump appeared presidential at the start of the debate.

"I was surprised that Trump was able to stay calm, but true to his form he let it go after a little while," said Clancy, 25, a project manager for an executive search firm in Chicago.

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Clancy thought Clinton did a good job during the debate.

"I have been wary about her, but I do think her performance blew me away. I definitely trust her after the debate," Clancy said. "I was impressed that she was able to handle Trump's interruptions and her ability to remain calm throughout the debate. I can see Clinton in front of world leaders, but I can't imagine Trump in front of someone important."

She said the debate was worthwhile.

"(It) strengthened my decision," she said.

Elgin City Council member Tish Powell, a Democrat, said she wondered about Trump's position on stop-and-frisk, a practice by which officers would stop and question people and then frisk them. It was used in New York City, but police there have moved away from it in large part because of court challenges.

"Why would a potential president want to bring back something that was deemed unconstitutional?" she said.

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Powell thought Trump's comments about the violence in Chicago did not take into account that it is a multifaceted issue.

The debate format, though, didn't allow the candidates much time to give more detailed answers to questions, she said. "There was not a lot of substance to what Trump had to say. He didn't seem to have a good grasp of the issues and didn't appear to be able to go deep into them."

While she thinks there is a clear choice and that Clinton did a good job at the debate, Powell said she's still disappointed at how Clinton has handled questions about her emails and thinks she could be doing better with that issue.

Artist and Elgin Community College student Richard Farr, 25, of St. Charles, had been a supporter of Bernie Sanders during primary season.

"This morning I went on Facebook to post that with all the concern about who won and who lost the debate, the loser of the debate was America and the American middle class. They get a raw deal from either candidate," Farr said Tuesday.

He's still not sure for whom he will vote in November.

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"It won't be Donald Trump  hands down on that. But Hillary Clinton has to do a lot more to persuade me," he said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Less than a quarter of students at most East Aurora schools who took the PARCC assessment exam last year met or exceeded expectations, according to preliminary data made public by the district.

The one exception was the district's magnet school, where more than half of elementary- or middle-school students tested met or exceeded expectations in each subject, according to East Aurora School District 131 data.

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The district has also made public data showing that more East Aurora students took Advanced Placement exams last year than in 2012, and more students are earning AP designations for their scores. The district had a national AP scholar for the first time since at least 2012, according to district data, meaning that the student earned an average score of at least four on all exams taken and scores of four or higher on at least eight exams.

As more AP exams are given and the number of students earning scores of 3 or higher has risen, the percentage of test-takers earning high marks has gone down, district data show.

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The district made the preliminary information public as the state is expected to release official, detailed information in coming weeks about the second year of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam.

Versions of the exam are given to students in third- through eighth-grades and high school in both English language arts and math. The exam changed in 2016, and was set to be shorter and simpler than the previous year's test, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

In 2015, less than a quarter of students in East Aurora who took PARCC met or exceeded expectations, and more students in East Aurora did not take the exam than in surrounding districts, either because they refused or because they were absent the day the exams were given.

Information about the number of students who did not take the exam last year was not made public by the district, nor was information about students who met or exceeded expectations in both subjects.

"We look forward to reviewing the final data, realizing that PARCC is one of many factors that inform on student assessment and help track our progress," district spokesman Tom Jackson said in an email. "Like other tests and student assessments, PARCC will give us a sense of where we can improve and help contribute toward a culture of continuous improvement."

District officials declined to comment further until the state releases official PARCC data.

Though the state has not yet made public detailed information, it has released preliminary statewide data showing between 21.8 and 39.6 percent of students tested were considered proficient in math, and between 34.1 and 39.1 percent of students were considered proficient in English language arts/literacy. High school results were the lowest among all grade levels in both subjects.

In East Aurora, 19.3 percent of East Aurora High School students tested met or exceeded expectations in English, and 6.6 percent of students met or exceeded expectations in math, according to district data.

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The percentage of elementary students tested who met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts exam in each school except the magnet school ranged from 13.3 percent at Allen Elementary to 6.2 percent at Krug Elementary, according to the district. In math, excluding the magnet school, the percentage of students who earned those marks ranged from 12.3 percent at O'Donnell to 1.2 percent at Beaupre.

Among middle schools, excluding the magnet school, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English at each school ranged from 13.7 percent at Simmons Middle School to 7.3 percent at Waldo Middle School. In math, percentages meeting or exceeding expectations ranged from 11.6 percent at Simmons to 7.3 percent at Cowherd.

At the selective-enrollment, third- through eighth-grade Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy, 50.4 percent of students tested in grades three- through five met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts portion of the exam, according to the district. In math, 56.1 percent of students tested met that measure.

Among middle-school students at the magnet academy, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations was 68.9 in English and 60.2 in math.

Chicago Tribune staff contributed

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

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Twitter @srfreish
Illinois Association of School Nurses named Eva Detloff, nurse coordinator at Barrington School District 220, the Illinois School Nurse Administrator of the Year. (Morgan Delack / Handout)

A nurse coordinator at Barrington School District 220 known at the district for her leadership skills and community work recently was named the "Illinois School Nurse Administrator of the Year."

The award from the Illinois Association of School Nurses recognizes nurses for leadership, serving children, professionalism and administrative experience in the workplace, according to District 220.

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A District 220 nurse coordinator for 16 years, Eva Detloff has shown "transformational leadership" by involving other staff nurses in her decision making, said Mary Anne Wesoloski, association president who also works as a school nurse at Countryside Elementary School in Barrington.

"She values their input on decisions and she's been an advocate of continuing education for nurses," Wesoloski said. "She's also been instrumental in coordinating all the nurses in District 220 into one team. When she arrived, nurses were practicing in all the schools but not coordinating with each other."

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Detloff oversees 18 part- and full-time nurses in the Barrington school district. But she works mostly with district families on healthcare issues more often than with students at school, she said.

She also helped plan community response efforts with area emergency medical services in case of disease outbreaks. And she worked with Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington on a wellness policy and healthy eating program for students.

The program allows kids to identify and taste something different in fruits and vegetables every month to develop healthy nutrition, Detloff said.

"I believe that school nurses can care for children and support their learning through health promotion, communicable disease management and acute and chronic care," Detloff said. "The role of school nurses has expanded beyond first aid in the health office."

Linda Gibbons, executive secretary of the Illinois Association of School Nurses, said four nurses were nominated for the award this year.

Detloff also qualifies as the Illinois nominee for the "National School Nurse Administrator of Excellence Award" handled by the National Association of School Nurses, Gibbons said.

The award ceremony in June 2017 in San Diego features about 35 nurse administrator nominees from around the country, she said.

tshields@pioneerlocal.com

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Tri-State Fire Protection District Board President Eric Habercoss, at podium, swears in Daniel Niemeyer as the district's new fire chief, with Niemeyer's family watching. (Karen Habercoss)

The Tri-State Fire Protection District Board swore in Daniel Niemeyer, a 19-year member of the fire protection district, as its new fire chief Monday.

The application process was open to candidates in and outside the Tri-State fire district, said board President Eric Habercoss. After reviewing the applications, the board decided it would choose the next fire chief from among the district's firefighters.

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Three applicants were interviewed, Habercoss said, and Niemeyer was chosen because he had "the qualifications that met our needs of an administrator."

"All three were extremely qualified. It was a hard decision," Habercoss said.

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In addition to working as a lieutenant with the Tri-State district, Niemeyer's 33 years as a firefighter include working as a lieutenant with the Clarendon Heights Fire Protection District, before Tri-State annexed it in 1995, and as a firefighter with the Clarendon Hills Fire Department and the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.

He is enrolled in the chief fire officer series at the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy.

Niemeyer also is licensed to practice law. He earned his law degree from DePaul University College of Law and was a partner with the law firm Gallagher, Niemeyer and Abrams, LLC, according to district officials.

Niemeyer lives in Westmont with his wife, Karen, and their two children.

Patrick Brenn was named deputy fire chief. Brenn, who was battalion chief when Jack Mancione resigned as fire chief last November, has been serving as acting chief since then. Brenn's expertise is in the operations of the district and his experience will complement Niemeyer's administrative skills, Habercoss said.

The Tri-State district has 44 firefighters providing fire protection services to parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook, Willow Springs and unincorporated DuPage County.

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Tinley Park-based American Sale has opened a clearance center at 16025 S. Harlem Ave. in the Tinley Park Plaza.

The Tinley location is a 30,000-square-foot temporary store for Halloween merchandise and patio furniture and umbrellas, said Rob Collins, sales manager at the American Sale store in Orland Park.

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Collins said the clearance center would have no effect on the chain's outlet store off 80th Avenue in Tinley Park.

He said the new store would be open at least through Halloween.

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The retailer has occasionally operated temporary stores in the past and ran a clearance center in the same location last fall.

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The store is closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

For information, call 708-894-7000 or see www.americansale.com.

Nucor Steel buys Independence Tube

Independence Tube Corp., at 6226 W. 74th St. in Chicago, announced this week that it has entered into an agreement to sell the company to North Carolina-based Nucor Steel for $435 million.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the employees and customers of Independence Tube. Both Nucor and Independence Tube have a strong cultural compatibility, particularly the importance and focus each put on safety, quality, productivity and treating our employees fairly," Dave Grohne, founder and CEO of Independence Tube, said in a news release.

Founded in 1972 in a 53,000-square-foot facility on the Southwest Side, Independence Tube has grown to 1.7 million square feet with two manufacturing divisions in Chicago and downstate Marseilles and two manufacturing divisions in Alabama producing tube and pipe products.

"Independence Tube is a natural fit with Nucor. Their business model is similar to ours with extremely efficient manufacturing facilities and a highly variable cost structure. Our companies' cultures are also similar, sharing a belief in continual improvement, operating efficiency and the value of our employees," John Ferriola, chairman, CEO and president of Nucor, said in a news release. "This acquisition is another important step in our long-term strategy to increase the number of value-added products we can offer our customers. It also adds to our portfolio another growth platform for our team to use to grow our company."

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Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel  in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel decks; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh.

Nucor, through the David J. Joseph Co., also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.

First Midwest to close 16 branches after acquiring Standard Bank

First Midwest Bank, which announced in June the acquisition of Hickory Hills-based Standard Bank for $365 million, revealed recently that it would close 16 branches after the deal closes.

According to a regulatory filing, branches slated for closure are in Mokena, Morris, Oak Lawn, Palos Park, Plainfield, Lockport, Joliet, Orland Park, Oak Forest, Bolingbrook, North Riverside and New Lenox, as well as in Highland, Merrillville, St. John and Hammond in Northwest Indiana.

First Midwest has 110 branches and Standard Bank has 35 branches. Some closures were expected because of the proximity of some branches after the deal closes. The distance between the branches being closed and locations that will remain open ranges from 797 feet to 5 miles.

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Six of the branches slated for closing are First Midwest locations and the other 10 are Standard Bank sites.

The deal is expected to close later this year or early next year. The branch closures aren't expected to take place until next year.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Famous Footwear now open

A Famous Footwear store is now open in the north mall at Ford City Mall at 7601 S. Cicero Ave. in Chicago.

For information, call 773-585-1400.

La Senza opens in Southlake

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La Senza, a lingerie retailer, is now open on the upper level in the J.C. Penney wing at Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind.

La Senza is a part of L Brands, which also owns Victoria's Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works and White Barn Candle Co.

Bob Bong is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Lee Hsien-ning, a diver from Penghu County in Taiwan, has become a star recently. However, he made his name with his feet on dry land.

At the opening ceremony for Penghu Autumn Festival in Magong City, Lee, 42, carried a big temple umbrella and danced like he was playing with a flag.

His performance, during Saturday night's opening event, proved popular with locals and visitors alike.

The bright, colorful temple umbrella, which is often decorated with images of phoenix and dragons, is a regular feature of temple fairs.

Temple statues must be shaded by a temple umbrella whenever they are moved. Over time, the ritual developed into a type of dance.

When people from southern mainland provinces first settled in Penghu hundreds of years ago, they brought with them their religion and established dozens of temples. The residents of Penghu developed their own dance ritual that incorporated martial arts into the performance.

Because their work is connected with gods or goddesses, the temple umbrella dancers are highly respected and it is not difficult to recruit new members.

However, in recent years, as people have moved outside the county to work in big cities like Taipei, it has become apparent that there is a shortage of dancers, casting a shadow over the future of the tradition.

To preserve the art, the local government initiated an educational program encouraging residents to take up the craft, and secured funding of 3 million new Taiwan dollars (about 95,000 U.S. dollars) from the Taiwan authorities in 2012 and 2013.

Lee was one of the first to benefit from the program. He learned the art of temple umbrella dancing from local elders and then took up the baton and became an instructor to pass on the art to the younger generations.

"I have more than 100 students," Lee told Xinhua. "I want to share the pleasure I find in this tradition."

Lee's interest indicates that there is a new generation of dancers willing to keep the art alive, according to Yen Mei-li, head of the Performance Art Division of the county's Cultural Affairs Bureau.

Performing with Lee on Saturday were several elementary students, including his 12-year-old daughter.

In addition, the county has also boosted cultural exchanges with dancers from other parts of China. In 2011, a team of temple umbrella dancers from Penghu, performed at a festival in Quanzhou, a city in the eastern province of Fujian, according to the bureau, which added that another team participated in a cultural event in Macao Special Administrative Region last year.

Lee is upbeat about the future of the art, "I hope there will be more occasions for me to perform on the mainland."
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force to improve its strategic capacity and build a strong and modern rocket force.

Xi, who is chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection of the PLA Rocket Force, as he congratulated the first PLA Rocket Force Party congress.

He described the force as a "core of strategic deterrence, a buttress to the country's position as a major power, and an important aspect of national security."
A recent survey of 18,000 college students indicates a need for more effective sex education and greater access to information about reliable methods of contraception.

Around 44 percent of Chinese university students have had no sex education, according to a survey published yesterday.

About 15 percent of the female respondents said they had a sexual experience, while the figure was 28 percent for male respondents, according to a survey in around 130 universities across the country.

One in 10 female university students who has had sexual intercourse has admitted to getting pregnant at least once.

The results, compiled in a report and published by China Family Planning Association on Monday, which was World Contraception Day, also shows that 3.2 percent of them have had multiple pregnancies.

The survey was conducted in 2015 by collecting nearly 18,000 valid questionnaires from respondents with an average age of just over 20. Sixty percent of respondents were women.

More than 60 percent of those who had sex said they used condoms during their last sexual experience. But 83.2 percent also reported that condoms were their preferred contraceptive method. Yet, 16.4 percent said they never took any contraceptive measures.

Among all the respondents, 90.3 percent said they don't want to have children before they finish their college education.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission for the first time has issued leaflets to recommend long-acting reversible contraception methods to the whole childbearing age group, including those who are unmarried.

"Previously, government-supported contraceptives in China had not been well promoted among unmarried people," said Liu Liqing, founding country director of Marie Stopes, one of the world's largest reproductive health charities.

Long-acting reversible methods are those effective for an extended period without constant reapplication, such as intrauterine devices and subdermal implants.

"It is very encouraging. As statistics showed that the number of young people who had premarital sex in China has increased in recent years, helping them to prevent unwanted pregnancy is very important," she said.

"The younger generation now has different way to access information about sex. Learning the basic information on contraception before they have sex is important," said Yao Sipan, founder of Little Wingsa WeChat public account run by a group of high school students.

Since the account released its first article about sex education in October 2015, it has gained 1,220 subscribers, including high school students.

"Instead of just promoting sex education in China, I would like to encourage more people to know more about safe sex as an important part of love. A better understanding of sex helps people enjoy it," said Pan Suiming, a well-known sexologist at Renmin University of China.

"China now has many nonprofit organizations that provide information about sex, especially to youth. The trend in the future might be individual consultation," he said.

Unwanted pregnancies and abortions are a serious problem for young people. In 2014, the Sichuan Sex Education Society launched a six-province survey of more than 5,000 students aged 12 to 24. It showed that 24 percent of respondents had engaged in premarital sex, and 20 percent had abortions.

A recent survey covering more than 12,000 college students by Xi'an Jiaotong University indicated that more than 31 percent had had premarital sex. Only 21.8 percent knew how to use a condom correctly, and only around 30 percent knew the difference between routine oral contraceptives and emergency contraception. Two out of 10 students even considered abortion a contraception method.
Highly-educated young maternity nannies are gaining increased popularity for new mothers in China, both for their novel baby education ideas, and similar interests and hobbies to young mothers, dzwww.com reports.

Liu Shuo, a highly-educated young maternity matron, shows her baby care skills during a maternity matron skill competition in Weihai of east China's Shandong province on Sunday, September 25, 2016. [Photo: Weihai Evening News]

Liu Shuo, a maternity nanny from Weihai City in east China's Shandong Province, won the top prize of the city's first maternity nanny skill competition on Sunday.

Born in the 1980's, Liu received maternity training two years ago because she wanted to be prepared for when she has her own baby, but she decided to become a maternity nanny afterwards.

Liu got her master's degree abroad in a different discipline. Her decision to become a maternity nanny was not accepted by her family at first. "They only began to understand as I make progress in my work," she said.

Liu's salary now exceeds 10,000 yuan (around 1,500 US dollars), after earning 5,000 yuan in the first month.

More and more young people have joined the maternity nanny market over the last three years, and especially after China changed its one-child policy this year, allowing all couples to have two children.

Ma Xiujuan, a headmaster of a vocational school in Weihai City, says among the 500 maternity nannies registered at the school, young people born after 1980 make up 30 percent. "Compared to maternity nannies in their 40s or 50s, young people are more desirable and their salaries are higher. Many young mothers especially request young maternity nannies. Some young maternity nannies are even booked out until next year," she said.

Ma added that older maternity nannies were popular because of their experience, but now young people also have their own market. Young maternity nannies learn new things quickly, their baby education ideas are advanced, and they can communicate with customers more smoothly, she said.
A row's broken out online over a series of photos allegedly showing military training instructors expressing their love to first year students at the Linyi campus of Qingdao Technological University.

The photo from Sina Weibo showing a military training instructor hugging a first year student on the campus of Qingdao Technological University. [Photo: Weibo]

The photos posted online appear to show some military training instructors in uniform hugging, kissing or courting the affections of some of the young students.

In their defence, supporters say that everyone has the right to fall in love with someone else regardless of his or her role in life.

But many netizens have argued that instructors should abide by military service rules.

Under those regulations, compulsory service personnel and officers in China are forbidden from forming personal relationships at their residence.

While it is accepted that they might fall in love, it is seen as improper to hug or kiss at their barracks. It's suggested that they keep contact with those they fall in love with, and start dating properly after retirement.

By Saturday, both the military and university said they'd looked into the case. The university side said freshmen needed a good environment to study, to avoid pressure, and lead a common campus life.
A bus-truck collision, which occurred on Saturday night in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has left 12 people died, including two drivers, according to sources and local authorities.

The accident happened at 8:07 p.m. Saturday on a highway in Yakeshi City, which is administered by Hulunbuir City, the regional work safety bureau said in a statement Monday.

A truck swerved to avoid a horse and collided with a bus headed in the opposite direction. The bus was a long-distance shuttle bus between Hailaer in Hulunbuir and Chifeng City, a journey of over 1,000 kilometers.

Most passengers were migrant workers headed for the potato harvest in Chifeng, sources said.

Eight people, including the bus and truck drivers, were pronounced dead at the scene and four died on their way to the hospital. One of the 25 injured is in a critical condition, the statement said.

The investigation continues.
Wu Gencheng, the legendary owner of the Ada Scallion Pancake, may have wowed the BBC in the UK, but gourmets who want to taste his popular and traditional breakfast offerings are in for a disappointment.

Wu Gencheng, the owner of the Ada Scallion Pancake, making his renowned breakfast treat in this file photo.

From today the store in the downtown area has had to suspend business while it renews its business license.

The chewy, flaky, and savory local delicacy made by 59-year-old Wu for the past three decades has been attracting people from both home and abroad who are prepared to queue for hours to sample his products.

Huangpu District Market Supervision and Management Bureau yesterday asked Wu to suspend his business because he had no license, according to the district government.

The authority said it would also ask the subdistrict to help Wu to find a new store nearby and apply for a new business license to reopen the popular business.

Wu said "jealous neighbors" had complained about "the hygiene condition of my store to the district authority," and though he had to close the store, he would still accept orders from old customers.

"I can also take advantage of the suspension to take a rest because it is really exhausting as I grow older with sickness." He has a hunchback due to an accident during childhood, made worse by years of bending over to make pancakes.

Wu began making scallion dough for his pancakes at 3am since setting up his private scallion pancake store on Maoming Road S. in 1982. Customers start waiting in front of the small store, which is in the backyard of his apartment, from 5am.

His scallion pancake, which follows the traditional recipe of including both fatty pork mince and scallion has been dubbed the most authentic Shanghai-style scallion pancake  a favorite traditional breakfast here. Wu is known to his customers as the "god of scallion pancake."

"I set up the store only to make a living at the beginning, and now the only reason to hang on is to serve many of my old customers," he said.

Wu attracted many expatriate customers as well as foreign tourists after the BBC interviewed him and filmed how the popular pancake was made in a documentary named "Taste of Shanghai." The British celebrity chef Rick Stein praised Wu's scallion pancake and said it took him "back to my childhood."

"Many foreign customers bought over 30 pancakes every time to share with their friends and some of them have become my loyal customers," Wu said proudly.

He learnt his craft from a famous local pastry cook in 1982 and said he still followed what his master taught him all those years ago.

His method is to stuff a big handful of scallion and a ball of fatty pork mince into the dough. He then kneads the dough quickly and fries and then bakes the pancake in a traditional oven. This process makes the pancake more flaky and crumbly, he said.

It takes 20 minutes to cook a batch of 10 scallion pancakes and he makes 300 pancakes every day, limiting each customer to 10 pieces. Each pancake costs 5 yuan.

"None of the steps can be skipped to make it quicker, otherwise the flavor will be different," Wu said. He added he was able to make 600 pancakes every day when he was young and could punch the dough more efficiently.

"I fear my skills will be extinct one day when I am too old to make the delicacy," Wu said. He supported his son to study and graduate from university with the pancake business, but his son does not want to take over from his father and now works for a local digital company.

"I'm looking for a reliable apprentice who is willing to stick to the tradition way to cook the scallion pancake, rather than (try to) make a fortune," he said.

Wu said some supermarkets and restaurants wanted to hire him, but he refused because his pancakes "must be freshly baked and sold."

"Many young people want to study the skills only to make money but I want to pass on my legacy and brand for generations." Wu added he would test and observe the determination of those who want to become his apprentice before choosing a successor.

"It takes decades to establish the fame for a brand, but it can be destroyed overnight," he said.
"The CPC in Dialogue with the World 2016" will be held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from Oct. 13 to 15, with a theme of Innovation in Global Economic Governance: Initiatives and Actions of Political Parties.

SW China's Chongqing Municipality [File photo]

This event will bring together scholars, experts and prominent political figures from all over the world.

Participants will seek to contribute their wisdom and understanding to world economic governance through discussing the new concepts, tasks and requirements in global governance set forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as China's five development concepts.

China has been at the focus of the world's attention for its miraculous 30 years of economic growth and development since it adopted the reform and opening up policy, and especially after the country began its comprehensive reform plan in 2014 after the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Dialogue will be sponsored by the International Department of CPC Central Committee and organized by the Chongqing municipal Party committee.

The annual CPC and the world dialogue has served as an exchange platform between China's ruling Party, the CPC and the rest of the world since it was launched in 2014.
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The Deepwater Horizon oil rigs burns in the Gulf of Mexico during 2010's massive oil spill. Some north Mississippi legislators want some of the state's $750 million BP settlement spent in their parts of the state.

(AP file photo)

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Some Northeast Mississippi legislators are putting the brakes on plans to give three coastal counties all of the funds from the $750 million settlement with BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.

The issue of how the money should be divvied up is expected to be a major topic during the 2017 legislative session. During public hearings last week, Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves reiterated his stance that the money should be spent on the Coast.

Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood, who played a key role in negotiating the settlement, also supports the Coast receiving the funds.

"After years of litigation and work to identify the economic damage caused by this catastrophe, we reached an agreement that would help to make our Coastal communities whole again," Hood said earlier. "However, I am deeply concerned that the state's legislative leaders may use this payment to try to cover up their self-created budget hole."

But Rep. William Tracy Arnold, R-Booneville, tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/2d3L7ZZ) not so fast.

"I know some people feel some of the money should come to the central and northern parts of the state," Arnold said.

The state received the first $150 million settlement in late June. The Legislature committed about $46 million of that for projects on the Gulf Coast -- primarily at the University of Southern Mississippi and at Gulf Coast Community College.

Rep. Nick Bain, D-Corinth, said he understands coast legislators' concerns and agrees the three coast counties should receive the largest share of the funds. But Bain said the money is for economic damages to the state, such as the loss of sales tax revenue caused by the slowdown primarily in tourism on the coast after the oil spill. He said the sales tax revenue was for the entire state and that Gulf Coast municipalities already have been reimbursed for the portion of the sales tax they lost.

"I have heard proposals to divide the money by the three Supreme Court districts with the Southern District getting half and the Central and Northern Districts dividing the other half," Bain said.

Both Bain and Arnold mentioned that the funds should be used for infrastructure.

"Absolutely, spend it on something that benefits the entire state," Bain said.

State leaders currently are considering the possibility of increasing taxes to pay for infrastructure.

"It could offset a tax increase," said Arnold, though some are saying the state needs more money for infrastructure than the roughly $40 million annually the state will receive from the settlement.

Rep. Preston Sullivan, D-Okolona, said, "I think some of the money should be spent all over Mississippi."

Rep. Donnie Bell, R-Fulton, said, "It is something we should study. I am not prepared to make a decision right now. I think we should look at the needs, the budget and take all of that into account."

Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown, said he believes "the lion's share of the money should be spent on the Gulf Coast." If other areas of the state were impacted by the oil spill, McMahan said they could make their case to the Legislature

But he said, "If the Gulf Coast is helped to be made whole by the money, it helps the entire state."

The total settlement negotiated with BP for the state is $2.2 billion. The bulk of the funds outside of the $750 million for economic damages is going for environmental restoration projects on the Coast. In addition, the Coastal counties and municipalities have received other funds for various issues related to the oil spill, including the reimbursement of at least a portion of the sales tax revenue the municipalities lost.

Municipalities receive a portion of the 7 percent sale tax on retail sales made within their borders. So when the Coastal economy suffered during the prolonged oil spill, revenue took a nose dive in the Coastal municipalities, as well as for the entire state.
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China wishes sound and stable development of relations with Myanmar and ever lasting Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang told a reception given by him to mark the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which will be on Oct. 1.

Hong noted that China and Myanmar have been enjoying good relations since diplomatic ties were established in 1950.

Guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China and Myanmar have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the bilateral relations are in good momentum, he said.

He expressed delight over China's continuation to be the largest trading partner and largest foreign investor for Myanmar, saying that for the past six months, China's investment in Myanmar increased by more than 50 percent compared to the same period of last year.

He voiced China's support for the democratization process in Myanmar. He said China also supports Myanmar's efforts in pushing forward the domestic peace process in a more inclusive manner and welcomes the successful convening of the 21st Century Panglong Conference.

He said it is very natural for close neighbors like China and Myanmar to have some difficult issues between them, expressing confidence that the two countries can work together and address all the challenges well in the spirit of Pauk-Phaw friendship and even turn the challenges into opportunities.

Speaking at the reception, Myanmar Vice President U Henry Van Thio praised China's support for the development of the region through the "Belt and Road" initiative, expressing the belief that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will benefit the region's infrastructural development.

He thanked China for its support of Myanmar's national reconciliation and peace efforts and the people's socio-economic development efforts after the new government took office.
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The European Union (EU) launched Monday its largest humanitarian aid program allocating a monthly electronic cash grant via the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) for one million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Rehab Sidiqi, a trustee of Woman for Refugee Woman and originally from Afghanistan, poses for a photograph among 2500 lifejackets worn by refugees during their crossing from Turkey to the Greek island of Chois, in Parliament Square in central London, Britain September 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Today we launch the biggest and largest humanitarian project the EU has ever supported. It will provide a basic source of income for one million Syrian refugees," said Christos Stylianides, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, during a news conference with the Turkish EU Affair Minister Omer Celik.

The Turkish minister welcomed the EU's program of approximately 3 billion euro for refugees in Turkey, yet criticized the funds delivery system through international organizations.

"Delivering the aid through Non Governmental Organizations delays the process," he said.

The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) program will transfer on a monthly basis 100 Turkish Liras (30 euro) per person to a debit card, for basic needs such as food, shelter and transportation, EU officials told Xinhua, requesting to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The most vulnerable refugees will be elected from the applicants and every family will have one Kizilay Card.

Brussels pledged to provide around six billion euro until 2018 to help ease Turkey's burden of hosting around three million refugees, in addition to granting Turkish citizens visa-free travel to Europe.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly warned the EU that Ankara will not abide by the migrant deal if the EU delays on delivering its commitments due to red tape.

Turkey currently hosts over 250,000 refugees in 26 camps, but around 90 percent of Syrian refugees live outside camps in urban and rural areas.
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The governor of restive northeast Nigeria's Borno State on Monday said he was not intimidated by recent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the state.

Kashim Shettima told reporters in Bama, the second largest town in Borno after the state capital Maiduguri, that he is going ahead with the planned rebuilding of damaged buildings in the town in spite of recent attacks.

Shettima was reacting to the recent attacks by insurgents at the border villages of Logumani and Dara/Jamal, where an army officer and two soldiers were killed.

The governor, who relocated his office to Bama since last Wednesday to launch the reconstructions and renovation of over 2,500 destroyed houses, shops and public buildings in Bama in 2014, said the Boko Haram insurgents are merchants of fear.

"They are also vendors of fear. They want to instill fear in us," he told reporters.

"I think we should be stubborn enough to follow our convictions against the wanton destruction of lives and property not only in this state, but the entire affected sub-region of the country," he added.

The governor told reporters that the relocation of his office to Bama is an indication that the Boko Haram insurgents have already been defeated physically and psychologically.

Bama, one of the worst-hit towns by the Boko Haram insurgency, was liberated in 2015 by the military after being occupied for several months by the insurgents.

The Borno Environmental Protection Agency on Saturday began clearing and fumigation of northeast Bama town, recently liberated by the military to prepare ground for the return of the people.

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.
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Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon Jimenez met Monday to sign a peace deal ending the 52-year war between Bogota and the organization.

Image provided by the Colombian Presidency shows Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (L Front) shaking hands with Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Timoleon Jimenez during the signing ceremony of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Sept. 26, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Accompanied by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the presidents of Cuba, Ecuador and other Latin American countries, the two leaders signed the agreement, which was finalized last month in Cuba's capital Havana, with pens made from bullets to symbolize the transition to peace.

Ban spoke first after the signing ceremony, recalling that when he visited Colombia five years ago, he had seen the foundations of peace being laid.

He praised the Colombian people "who never lost hope in peace."

The UN chief also hailed the fact that the peace process had brought "victims to the forefront." "What they have lost can never be returned. Yet victims have been among the strongest voices for peace. I encourage you to continue on this path," he said.

Ban described the signing of the agreement as a "bidding of farewell to decades of flames, and sending up of a bright flare of hope that illuminates the entire world."

"We have lived, we have suffered, for 52 years, an armed conflict between the sons of the same nation," said Santos. "Today, Colombia and the international community ... hail the peace agreement as the best news in a world convulsed by war, conflict, intolerance and terrorism."

His chant of "No more war" was picked up by the crowd in attendance, who repeated it over and over again.

In a gesture to the FARC, Santos said that "as you begin your path of return to society, as you begin your transition to a political movement without weapons ... as head of state of a nation we all love, I welcome you to democracy. To exchange bullets for votes, weapons for ideas, is the bravest and most intelligent decision that any subversive group can take."

Santos acknowledged future political challenges facing the country. "We will surely never agree on the political or economic model our country should follow," he said, referring to the FARC's ideology. "But I will defend with all my determination your right to express your ideas within a democratic setting. This is the essence of liberty."

Speaking before Santos, Jimenez took a conciliatory approach, pledging that the country's largest guerrilla group would lay down its arms for good.

"Let nobody doubt that we will enter politics without weapons. Let us all be ready to disarm our minds and our hearts," he said. "With the agreement we signed today, we hope to put an end to the long history of violence that has made our country bleed."

In a much anticipated moment, Jimenez formally apologized for all the violence caused by the FARC during the conflict. "I would like to ask for forgiveness for all the pain that we have caused during the war."

Jimenez called the agreement a victory for the entire Colombian people and the international community, adding that the FARC derived enormous satisfaction from the fact that the peace process in Colombia is a reference to finding solutions to conflicts in the world.

"May God bless Colombia. The war has ended. We begin to build peace," he said.

This day came after more than four years of negotiations in Havana. The two sides came to an agreement on five points: rural development, the FARC's participation in political life, the end of the conflict, the struggle against drug trafficking and reparations to victims.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement or not. Recent opinion polls showed a large majority were in favor of it.
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A new CNN/ORC poll and experts at Hofstra University said Hillary Clinton was the winner of Monday night's presidential debate as the Democratic nominee faced off with Republican Donald Trump for the very first time in the 2016 election cycle.

The new poll showed a landslide victory for Clinton, with 62 percent of Americans that watched the debate saying Clinton won compared to 27 percent who said Trump won.

The pollster acknowledged that debate watchers normally skew Democratic, which may make for a more Clinton-friendly sample than the sample in a normal poll.

"But that is an overwhelming victory among these debate watchers we polled for Hillary Clinton," said David Chalian, political director of CNN.

Experts in the field of political science and rhetoric at Hofstra University also expressed similar views, arguing that Trump spent too much time explaining his decision for not releasing his tax returns, while failing to attack Clinton more aggressively on her mishandling of her private email servers and corruption allegations against the Clinton Foundation.

"Donald Trump did not quite change his communication style, which to many people may be disappointing," said Jingsi Wu, assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations at Hofstra.

"I thought Trump pretty clearly lost the debate," said Richard Himelfarb, associate professor of political science at Hofstra, noting that a lot of times Trump had been on his defense.

"I don't think Trump really hit her hard enough on the emails, he talked about it for a minute and then went away," Himelfarb said.

Experts also said Clinton should have made her points more precise for the general public to understand.

Tomeka Robinson, associate professor of rhetoric at Hofstra, said Clinton was frequently not concise on her policy issues, "so the general public at home doesn't necessarily know all of the things she's talked about."

The debate marked the first of three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate that will take place before election day on Nov. 8.

The fiery clash between the two candidates had focused on the economy, taxes, racial relations and their temperaments, but experts said the content of their rhetoric was nothing new.

"I don't think a lot of us are totally taken by surprise, in terms of how the two candidates came out and went at the debate through their best and most comfortable way of communicating," said Wu.

The debate performance by each candidate could be crucial to catch the majority of votes needed to clinch the presidency, as polls all showed a tightened race in many of the swing states in recent weeks.
NATCHEZ, Mississippi -- Police in Natchez say a 23-month-old girl is on life support and her mother behind bars charged with child abuse.

Detective Jerry Ford tells The Natchez Democrat 32-year-old Shalae Lewis was charged last week with felony child abuse after an investigation led to Lewis reportedly confessing to repeatedly abusing her daughter.

Ford said the child is on life support at Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson. He says the toddler suffered severe head trauma, including a cracked skull and a brain hemorrhage, after allegedly being thrown or pushed down a flight of stairs by Lewis.

Lewis is being held on a $1 million bond.

Online jail records do not list an attorney for Lewis.
By Lena Ge, China Aviation Daily | Sep. 27, 2016

Air travel has soared in the past decade, despite global economic turbulence, and there's still plenty of room for growth, particularly in China and the other emerging Asian powerhouses.

From 2005 to 2015, air travel grew more than in any 10-year period since 1975 to 1985, according to the International Air Transport Association, a trade body for the world's airlines.

China's international air travel market will grow by 15% per year over the next five years, said Dong Zhiyi, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) at the 22nd World Routes Development Forum in Chengdu on September 25.

He noted Chinese civil aviation industry has grown by double-digits over the past 30 years. In 2015, China's air traffic increased 13.8% year on year to 85.17 billion tonne-kilometers and accounted for 21.3% of the global total.

Also in 2015, China's international passenger traffic and new international routes increased by at least 30%, marking a record high. Mr. Dong added robust travel demands will provide more opportunities for global airlines to open up the Chinese market.

As of the end of 2015, China had bilateral agreements with 118 countries. 20 Chinese airlines operated to 138 foreign cities across 53 countries while 129 foreign airlines operated from 126 foreign cities to 57 cities in China.

Chengdu municipal government and six airlines signed cooperation agreement to open nine new nonstop international routes on the opening day of business at World Routes 2016.

The new routes include three additional long-haul connections from locally-based Sichuan Airlines which is adding to its recently launched flights between Chengdu and Vancouver with up to three times weekly links to Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Moscow, Russia; and Auckland, New Zealand this winter.

Ethiopian Airlines will begin four-times flights between Addis Ababa and Chengdu next summer.

New routes also include Hainan Airlines' new link from Chengdu to Los Angeles and plans for a New York service.

Capital Airlines will also serve Madrid twice-weekly from mid-November, while Tibet Airlines will begin flights to Sochi next year.

Related News:

Chengdu Adds Nine More Long-Haul Routes in World Routes Signing
By Elle Hunt, The Guardian | Sep. 27, 2016

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, mid-flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people onboard. Two and a half years later, despite the multi-million-dollar investment and efforts of three countries, the plane has yet to be found.

There have been traces. Two pieces of aircraft debris found washed up on remote beaches of the Indian Ocean have been confirmed as being from MH370, with the latest -- an outboard flap from Pemba Island -- discovered only this month. Four more pieces are almost certain to be from the lost plane.

Earlier this month, the Malaysian transport minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said that 22 potential pieces of aircraft debris had been found so far, along the coastlines of South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius and Tanzania. Fourteen of these fragments have been found by one man, Blaine Alan Gibson, the result of an independent, self-funded investigation he began 18 months ago. Several are under investigation or awaiting pickup by authorities, but one - a horizontal stabiliser, stencilled with the words "NO STEP", which Gibson found on a sandbank in Mozambique in late February - is almost certainly from MH370.

Gibson is most often described as a Seattle-based lawyer. He prefers "adventurer". He can speak six languages, and has said it is his dream to go to every country in the world. Mozambique, where he was technically on holiday, was number 177 on the list. "I've stopped at that because I'm trying to find the plane," he says. "There are other places I want to go, but the plane isn't there."

Wearing hiking boots, head-to-toe khaki tones and a slouch hat -- a new acquisition -- atop a thatch of hair, he dresses as if he is courting comparisons with Indiana Jones (a Google search reveals that the strategy has worked).

The look, topped off with a badge reading "The search for MH370: Keep it on", is striking when we meet in a bookshop-cum-cafe in an inner-city Sydney suburb, but Gibson has been living out of his suitcase for a while. He passed his bar exams in 1993, but has rarely practised (his father, Phil S Gibson, served as chief justice of the California supreme court from 1940 to 1964). It's been decades, in fact, since his life has conformed to a standard nine-to-five.

Now in his late 50s, he is not married. He does not have children. He has an apartment in Seattle, but no car any more. "Everything I spend is on travel, and I've always liked the travel to have a purpose." In the past, that has meant being present for significant political or historical events - he was in Red Square "when the red flag came down" on the last day of the Soviet Union. Or it can be "to solve some mystery", such as his trips to Guatemala and Belize, to uncover the fate of the Mayan civilisation, or Siberia, to learn about the Tunguska meteorite, thought to have created a blast as powerful as 1,000 Hiroshimas in 1908.

MH370 is his latest mission and, he says, his most successful. "This one is special because the others have been for history and interest, and this one is for the families, because it means so much to them to get some traces of answers."

When the plane disappeared, he was on an infrequent trip back to the U.S., tasked with selling the family home in California that -- with his parents both gone, and his constant globetrotting -- had become a burden. "I sat glued to the TV more than I normally would because I had to be there to sign documents, do inspections, sort through all my family memories."

Gibson spent much of the next year in Laos, helping friends set up a karaoke bar, but maintained an active interest in the search in discussion groups on Facebook. One such group, MH370 In Search of the Truth, now has more than 3,600 active members; Gibson was one of the first.

He flew to Kuala Lumpur for the public service marking the first anniversary of the plane's disappearance, and was moved by a "heart-rending" speech given by Grace Subathirai Nathan, whose mother was on the plane and who continues to speak on behalf of the families of missing passengers.

"That made me think this is something that maybe I can do - to do what I love doing anyhow, travel and solving mysteries, but also have a reason for it." He is now friends with Nathan, and many other MH370 families.

First, he flew to Myanmar and Cambodia, not far from Laos, to explore the possibility that the plane had flown north. Then he interviewed local people in the Maldives who had reported seeing a jet plane the morning MH370 disappeared (their accounts contradicted satellite data and were set aside). In July 2015, a six-foot flaperon wing was found on Reunion island, east of Madagascar - and Gibson's search area was narrowed down.

Since finding the horizontal stabiliser panel in February, he seems to have tracked down potential pieces of MH370 faster than investigators can assess them, or even pick them up - he says six items have been awaiting collection in Madagascar by Malaysian authorities for more than three months.

He has come to Sydney from Canberra, where he handed six further fragments found in Madagascar over to Australian investigators for analysis. Two apparently showed signs of charring, raising the possibility there was a fire onboard the plane before it crashed. (Two weeks later, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the dark colouration was not caused by exposure or fire, but did not rule out a possible link to MH370.)

Even allowing for misses, Gibson's successes have been remarkable, especially given his lack of professional expertise and resources. He has no prior aviation experience, although he says he is learning. "I know now what pieces of a plane look like. I've probably held in my hands more pieces of Malaysia 370 since it crashed than anyone alive."

His methods are simple: he looks on beaches, he puts the word out with locals, he checks shacks, because large pieces of metal are valuable construction materials. It's slow and labour-intensive in comparison with the initial search effort in March 2014, two weeks after the plane disappeared, when 22 military aircraft and 19 ships from eight countries covered areas of more than 4.6m sq km.

Although Malaysia holds overall responsibility for the accident investigation, the ATSB has led the underwater search since April 2014. When Gibson finds debris, he notifies Australian and Malaysian authorities, although it is Malaysia's responsibility to retrieve potential evidence.

The official search of a 120,000 sq km arc of ocean, determined from satellite data and drift modelling as the most likely site of the wreck, is expected to be completed in December. With less than 10,000 sq km to go, it seems increasingly likely it will be unsuccessful. But Gibson rejects the idea that he is doing a better job than the ATSB. "They're out there in 20-metre waves, miserable, cold, trying to find something 6,000-metres deep. I'm walking along a beach picking things up after the ocean has done its work," he says. "It's not fair to compare the two of us ... and what they have the possibility of finding, which is the black boxes - I mean, that's the holy grail."

In early September, he and relatives of the missing passengers met the crew of the Fugro Equator, one of the search vessels, in port in Fremantle, Western Australia. "There were choked-back emotions and tears from these tough guys out on the boat," says Gibson. "They really care, they're really dedicated, and I hate to see the media trash them, trash the ATSB ... they really want to find this plane." For the ATSB's part, a spokesman says Gibson's efforts have reinvigorated public interest in the search, and led to more members of the public coming forward with items.

Gibson is less effusive about the Malaysian authorities, who he has found to be slow to retrieve potential evidence. But "more frustrating" are people, particularly journalists, who cherrypick evidence to suit their "pet theories" - of which there are plenty. "Sometimes it seems to me that I'm the only person who doesn't know where the plane is and what happened to it," he says.

He singles out an Australian primetime current affairs programme that claimed in its "special investigation" that the plane's fuselage was intact under water, even though he believes he has found debris from the cabin interior. "I was holding pieces - you've seen the pictures. I'm not under 600 atmospheres of pressure, it's not dark, I'm breathing normally. I wasn't underwater," he says.

Worse still, he says, are theories implicating the captain of MH370, Zaharie Ahmad Shah. New York magazine reported in July that a route plotted on his home flight simulator "closely matched" that taken by the plane. The story was authored by Jeff Wise, a high-profile but controversial commentator on the search for MH370 who has posited a number of theories, including that it was hijacked and flown to Kazakhstan on Vladimir Putin's instruction. But, says Gibson, even if it wasn't a stretch to interpret a simulated route as evidence of planning, to say the two routes "closely matched" is just not true.

The evidence thus far points to a high-speed impact that shattered the plane, including the main cabin - inconsistent with a controlled glide by a suicidal pilot.

"There is nothing in the background of this pilot to indicate that he would want to end his life or everybody else's - nothing," he says. "The only evidence against him is the absence of any other explanation. That's not enough."

Gibson says he has been "trolled, attacked and slandered" by an "online army of armchair assassins", who have accused him of having reported planted debris, even planting it himself. A cyber-attack on The Hunt for MH370 website, after it published his report on the possible sighting in the Maldives, seemed professional, he says, although he does not know if his detractors are paid to discredit him, or "just mean people".

He insists that he is driven only by the desire to find out what happened to the plane. "The problem with Malaysia 370 is there are too many theories and not enough evidence. I can tell you what we do know. The plane crashed in the Indian Ocean, somewhere south of the equator and north of 39 degrees south [latitude] - probably more likely north of 34 degrees south."

"It did not crash in the Gulf of Thailand. It did not crash in the Bay of Bengal. It is not buried in the sand of Kazakhstan. It is not south of 40 degrees, because then debris would have gone to Australia and Tasmania - and it wasn't abducted by aliens." He says it is possible that there was an emergency that crew members tried and failed to respond to. It is also possible that the plane was hijacked.

There is no neat narrative, which, he accepts, people find difficult. But speculation at least fuels the search.

"As long as the interest remains in solving this mystery, I am content, because we need the search on until we do [solve it]," says Gibson. "What bothers me are the easy answers that cause us to say: 'Mystery solved, sweep it under the rug for ever, pin it on the pilot." I don't like the easy answers."

Gibson is hopeful the search will continue, in some form, beyond December. His investigation continues: "I'm hooked now." However, he believes governments, airlines and manufacturers -- even those not directly linked -- should play their part.

"We have to solve this mystery. It's not just for the families, it's for the flying public, who need to be sure what happened never happens again. We need to know that when we get on a plane, yeah, it may crash, things happen. But it's not going to just disappear."
A man passes by the billboard of New China Life Insurance Co at an insurance fair in Beijing. [Photo/A Qing, China Daily]

Zhang Fanyi, a 35-year-old primary school teacher in Shanghai and mother of a five-year-old boy and an infant, recently spent 23,000 yuan ($3,480) on insurance policies for her family.

The investment was triggered by an incident. "One of my mother's close friends fell sick and she could barely afford the treatment, From then on, I was thinking about insurance. Also, as my children grow up, we'll travel frequently, so insurance is necessary," said Zhang.

She is one of millions of Chinese who are spending more than ever on insurance these days. With aging people marking the society, healthcare, education and asset-building have become important; so have life and non-life insurance products, said analysts.

A research note from Northeast Securities said internet-based distribution channels enable insurance buyers to obtain more information about the products they would like to buy, and consumers have more trust now. Demand for life insurance has surged among families with aging parents and young children. At the same time, upgraded consumption, rise in disposable incomes and mounting wealth have also pushed up demand for non-life insurance.

The fast-expanding insurance market has attracted not only more consumers but investors.

About 200 companies have expressed interest or sought license to set up an insurance company, according to data of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.

In the last year, more than 10 companies have been given approval to obtain insurer's license. These 10 are backed by more than 70 companies, including Tencent, the Shenzhen-based technology giant, and Fosun, a Shanghai-based investment group.

More than 200 applicants are keen to apply for license, according to Xiang Junbo, chairman of the CIRC.

From garment makers to liquor firms, various enterprises are backing new insurers.

"Profits of insurers are much higher than that in many sectors. Getting an insurer license is like securing a guaranteed profit. An insurer can raise funds easily by selling insurance at a cost much lower than many other fundraising channels. It is not a secret that an insurance company serves like a deep pocket from which companies can easily draw funds," said Yang Di, researcher with Shanghai Shenda Asset Management Ltd.

According to CIRC data, total assets of China's insurance industry have more than doubled from 5 trillion yuan in 2010 to 12 trillion yuan in 2015.

In the first half of 2016, life insurers' premiums reached 1.176 trillion yuan, up 50 percent year-on-year, and property insurers' premium reached 463.2 billion yuan, up 8.5 percent. Overall premiums grew 37 percent year-on-year.

But authorities have warned that overly fast growth of insurers' income should not tempt companies to misuse the funds or deploy them in unrelated channels.

In a recent meeting, CIRC's Xiang said insurers must stick to their original plan of providing protection to insurance buyers and should not divert funds to non-insurance businesses. He said insurer licenses are not tools to access low-cost funds.

The entry of new insurers is expected to intensify competition in the market and sharpen focus on product development and solvency capacity management, said analysts.

Ding Wentao, a researcher with Sinolink Securities Ltd, said, "We estimate that the fast growth of premium income will last for another decade. Internet-based sales channels, and growing number of niche markets will provide more opportunities for the newcomers than ever. Insurers that develop products for specific needs of buyers, and have a strong capacity to manage risks and solvency, are more likely to win."
Employees of China Life Insurance Co chat at an international finance expo in Beijing.[Photo/Wang Jing, China Daily]

Chinese insurers are making overseas investments for steady returns and to prevent exchange rate risks, experts said.

Chinese outbound mergers and acquisitions hit a record 493 deals worth $134.3 billion in the first half, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report in August.

"The dramatic growth in outbound M& A deals is supported by the rise of alternative financial investors, such as the investment arms of insurers, large corporations and State-owned enterprises," said George Lu, PwC China transaction services partner.

Lu said Chinese companies including insurers sought advanced technology, know-how and brands. They looked favorably on low valuations of some overseas assets to make profits.

Steven Lam, life insurance analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said Chinese insurers may accelerate their overseas investments for exchange rate considerations.

Lam said their overseas investments remain far below the regulator's threshold of 15 percent of assets, meaning at least 1.8 trillion yuan ($272 billion) can be deployed, assuming only 2 percent of the industry's assets were invested abroad.

"Chinese investors have been favoring commercial properties in the US and in Europe for their stable returns and asset duration," said Lam. "But after Britain voted to leave the EU, China's insurance companies may slow their property investment in London's financial center."

Lam said Chinese investors may hold off investments in London and reassess prospects and valuations amid uncertainty in the labor market and depreciation of the pound sterling.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, large Chinese insurers invested about $2.4 billion in London real estate last year, compared with about $2.8 billion in the US, mainly in New York.

Wang Yao at international real estate consultancy company Savills said Chinese insurers dominated outbound real estate investments in the first quarter, accounting for 80 percent by value. Their proportion in the full year of 2015 was 60 percent.

"Because of encouraging policies and steady return of real estate investments, more and more insurance companies are going abroad," said Wang.

Chinese insurers will pay attention to asset safety, investment return, political stability, and the transparency of laws and regulations, he said.

Wang said the trend will continue as Chinese insurers' asset allocation in real estate sector is still small based on international practices.

Lam said Chinese insurers also seek their counterparts in Southeast Asia and fintech assets around the world.

China Life Insurance Co and Brookfield Property Partners announced in April that they jointly acquired Aldgate Tower in London for 346 million pounds ($452.3 million).

China's Anbang Insurance Group announced in April that it bought Allianz Life Insurance Korea and Allianz Global Investors Korea for more than $3 million.

A spokesman for Anbang said in March that the company has an ample overseas investment quota for this year.
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Authorities say a man arrested by Jackson police had a handgun still on him after he was placed in a patrol vehicle.

Police Commander Tyree Jones tells local news outlets 36-year-old Johnny Ailes has been charged with business burglary and attempted business burglary stemming from attempted ATM thefts.

Jones said officers did not find the gun Monday during the initial search. He said it was very fortunate that no one was injured.

Jones says the gun incident remains under investigation.
A visitor to a trade fair in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, photographs a woman in traditional Russian costume. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's expanding Belt and Road Initiative will further integrate with the development programs of partner countriesincluding Indonesia's Maritime Power Strategyfor a new growth momentum to boost the region's economy, senior government officials said on Monday.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Fang Aiqing said the partners were mostly emerging economies and developing nations in the midst of industrialization, characterized by fast economic growth and offering enormous potential for future development.

"China needs to link the initiative further with the countries' strategies including Mongolia's Silk Road on the Steppes Program, Kazakhstan's Glorious Road New Economic Policy, South Korea's Euroasia Initiative, and India's Route Plan," said Fang.

The infrastructure, service and trade network proposed by China in 2013 envisions a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa.

The trade volume between China and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative totaled $446 billion in the first half of 2016, accounting for 26 percent of China's total foreign trade during the same period, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

Fang said negotiations on bilateral investment treaties were also picking up pace, and China was willing to deepen economic cooperation including starting free trade agreement talks and establishing cross-border industrial parks with more countries and regions along these two trading routes.

China invested $51.1 billion in total in these countries and regions from January to June this year, accounting for 12 percent of China's overseas direct investment.

"The initiative is a pursuit not to establish China's own sphere of influence, but to support common development of all countries and regions along these two trading routes," said He Lifeng, vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission.

The director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria, Charles Onunaiju, said infrastructure interconnection was identified as the priority of Belt and Road Initiative construction.

He said due emphasis was placed on large transportation projects during the construction of all the six economic corridorssuch as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Central and West Asian Economic Corridorsunder the framework.

"Large-scale infrastructure programs have also been rolled out by countries along these two trading routes," said Onunaiju.
China National Petroleum Corp technical employees check facilities at Qinghai oilfield. [Photo/Xinhua]

China National Petroleum Corp, the country's biggest oil and gas producer, is a step closer to completing a backdoor listing of its engineering assets after its Shanghai-listed target company approved the plan.

Xinjiang Dushanzi Tianli High & New Tech Co, based in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, agreed to buy seven engineering companies from CNPC at total estimated value of 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), it said in a Shanghai exchange filing on Sunday. Xinjiang Dushanzi will sell 19 billion yuan worth of new shares to CNPC and will pay 6 billion yuan in cash to finance the purchase, it said in the statement.

CNPC Chairman Wang Yilin said in February the company aims to spin off its oilfield services business as it seeks to become more efficient.

The State-owned energy giant will be among the first of the nation's expansive government-run enterprises to start reforms that will transform it into a strategic holding company that no longer manages day-to-day operations of its subsidiaries.

Jinan Diesel Engine Co, another CNPC backdoor listing target, last month announced details of a share sale to raise as much as 20 billion yuan as part of a plan to take on financial business assets from the sprawling energy company.

Xinjiang Dushanzi plans to buy units including China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp and China HuanQiu Contracting & Engineering Corp, the filing shows.

Bloomberg
BEIJING - China on Monday established a national fund for structural adjustment of State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The fund has an estimated capital of 350 billion yuan ($50 billion) and will mainly invest in programs including scientific innovation, international operations and asset restructuring.

The fund will improve resource allocation and raise the efficiency of SOEs, Xiao Yaqing, head of the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, told the fund's founding conference.
Vanlian, the home decoration company jointly founded by China Vanke and Homelink Real Estate Agency, opened its second experience center in Beijing in a year, indicating it's speeded up expansion.

According to Chinese entrepreneur and business blogger Wu Xiaobo, the home decoration market in China is worth 4 trillion yuan ($599.75 billion). Stirred by low-price competition, the huge yet saturated market hasn't seen a unicorn company in years, which offered Vanlian an opportunity to venture out and grow with standard services and good quality products.

Vanlian's monthly order volume rose from 200 to 500 in the past year, and is eyeing 1,000 orders per month, next seeks to top Beijing's market.

"Slow is fast, we are building a solid foundation with a clear supply chain and a steadily expanding customer base aiming to reach the future target, getting 10,000 orders a year," said Liu Xiao, China Vanke Beijing's general manager.

The home decoration industry in China is growing in accord with consumption upgrade and supply-side reform, as ever stronger middle class families tend to pay for standard services and products, instead of spending time decorating the house themselves, said Wu Xiaobo.

Latecomer Vanlian made its breakthrough by pursuing high quality products and keeping pace with consumers' changing needs. For example, Vanlian's newly launched home storage system gave a precise set of data on people's behavior in the kitchen  a Chinese family generally spends 2.5 hours per day in the kitchen, with 45 percent of the time spent on cleaning, 35 percent to cook and the remaining 15 percent on storage. The detailed service is based on Vanlian's big data from market reseach.

Success in Beijing's market marks only the tip of Vanlian's ambition. Monthly orders' exceeding 1,000 will enable Vanlian to expand business into other cities like Tianjin or Shanghai. The strategic cooperation between Vanke and Homelink took off in Beijing and will become nationwide, Liu said.

Vanlian, in fact, is never the only one eyeing the potential business opportunities in the decor market. Duocai.cn, an O2O brand offering renovation and decoration services, recently signed a deal with Tmall's decoration channel, aiming to provide a one-stop service for customers.
Profits see fastest rise since 2013 amid restructuring, though challenges remain

China's industrial profits showed positive changes in August thanks to policy-level efforts to reduce waste and also to a low base of comparison.

But economists hastened to add that uneven growth is seen across sectors, and the country is faced with a herculean effort in structural reforms.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday show that profits of industrial enterprises increased by 8.4 percent year-on-year from January to August, up by 1.5 percentage points compared with the first seven months' year-on-year results.

Growth in industrial profits in August increased by 19.5 percent year-on-year, which is the fastest monthly growth since September 2013, data showed.

The improvement in industrial profits came from a decrease in production costs and a rebound in prices, according to the NBS. Comparison with particularly low figures for the same period last year also boosted this year's figures, NBS said.

Zhou Jingtong, a senior analyst with a think tank affiliated with the Bank of China, noted that some positive changes in the economy support the profit surge.

China's value-added industrial output growth in August increased by 0.3 percentage points compared with the previous month, and the rate of decline in the producer price index  what producers receive for their products  shrank by 0.8 percentage points compared with the previous month, data showed. PPI has been undergoing a protracted decline.

The low base for comparison was the result of a sharp fluctuation in the exchange rate and rising costs that led to the slowest growth in three years, according to Zhou.

Based on better-than-expected performance, the Asia Development Bank has upgraded China's annual growth projection this year from 6.5 to 6.6 percent.

The development bank also raised the growth estimation for next year from 6.3 to 6.4 percent from its projection in March.

However, with weak domestic and foreign demand, the foundation needed to support rapid, sustained growth in industrial profits has yet to stabilize, according to NBS.

"There's still a lot of work to be done to upgrade the real economy," said He Ping, a senior official with NBS.

Some sectors that are struggling to shed overcapacity are faced by stronger headwinds, data showed.

The subcategory of manufacturing profits rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier, but mining industry profits fell 70.9 percent, data showed.

Even though profits are expected to continue their recovery in the coming months, Zhou said enterprises' confidence in the recovery remains in the doldrums.

Agencies contributed to this story.
Despite warm relations between Moscow and Beijing, Vladimir Putin brought a chilly gift for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as they met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit Sunday: a tub of ice cream.

Putin did not divulge the flavor of the frozen gift as he was welcomed by Xi at a government guesthouse in Hangzhou.

"I promised to bring it for you. And I've brought you a whole package of ice cream," Putin said.

Xi thanked the Russian president for his "kindness", before adding that he'd developed a taste for Russian ice cream on his many official visits to Moscow.

"Every time that I come to Russia, I ask them to buy me Russian ice cream. And after, we eat the ice cream at home," said Xi, according to comments provided by the Russian delegation.

"The fresh cream you have is the best. That's why your ice cream is particularly delicious. I like it a lot," he added.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit and in more traditional diplomatic language pledged "enhanced cooperation", according to Xi.

(China Daily 09/05/2016 page5)
Students in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, ride bicycles from the ofo platform. [Photo/Zhang Tao, China Daily]

Didi Chuxing, China's largest car on-demand service provider, is gearing up to diversify its urban transportation offerings by adding bicycles to its existing product portfolio.

Beijing-based Didi announced on Monday that it has invested tens of millions of dollars in ofo, a bike-on-demand startup created in 2014 on the campus of Peking University as a student project.

Didi said that China is the world's most complex and diversified rideshare market with unrivaled potential and possibilities. The two companies will explore strategic cooperation in urban ride shares, including "offering a quality bike-sharing experience on Didi's platform," it said in the statement.

The move is Didi's latest effort to expand its presence in new areas after it became the dominant player in China's ride-hailing market with its merger with Uber China in August.

Industry observers said the investment is expected to offer Didi users an alternative mobility solution when four-wheel vehicles encounter traffic jams, or they can use bikes to arrive at their final destination after getting off Didi buses.

Zhang Xu, a transport analyst with the Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys, said that bike sharing services can serve as a good alternative to complement Didi's existing vehicles, including taxis, private cars and buses.

"Especially in mega cities in China, there is strong demand to use bikes for short-distance commutes, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly," he said.

The online bike-sharing market has been heating up in China, thanks to rising smartphone usage and local governments' encouragement of "green transportation".

Apart from ofo, another Beijing-based bike-sharing app named Mobike has also gained a lot of attention as it rolled out thousands of its tailor-made bikes in Beijing this month.

Users can use apps to find the nearest available bikes and unlock bikes by scanning a quick respond code. Payment can be made via smartphones.
Therapy involves injection as part of liver treatment, not drinking liquid

A test of a cancer therapy by Chinese researchers based on baking soda - or sodium bicarbonate - shows promise but is still in the preliminary stages of research, and much more testing is needed, they said.

The researchers made the statement after heated discussion arose online about the research, with some netizens speculating that drinking sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water can cure cancer.

The study, published in the journal eLife in August, was led by Hu Xun, a cancer researcher at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University's School of Medicine, and Chao Ming, a radiology researcher at the hospital. All 40 liver cancer patients on whom the therapy was tried during the trial responded positively.

An infusion of soda before a procedure to restrict a tumor's blood supply appeared to aid the attack on cancerous cells.

The research aroused public attention over the past few days, with many netizens excited because they believed doctors had found an effective and cheap way - merely a drink of soda water - to cure liver cancer, one of the most common types of cancer among Chinese people.

"The research is valid, but it is preliminary," Chao said in a statement posted on the hospital's website on Monday. "Repeated tests are needed."

The therapy involves injecting sodium bicarbonate into the blood vessels that supply tumors. Patients are not asked to drink it, he said, adding that it is not clear that slightly alkaline water, such as soda water, is beneficial to the treatment of cancer.

In addition, the therapy only proved effective in patients with liver cancer in the research. Further research is needed to see whether it is effective against other cancers, he said.

Zhang Yuewei, a radiologist at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital who had discussed the research earlier with Chao, said the new therapy is at an early research stage, and the therapy is intended to improve the effectiveness of the usual treatment for liver cancer, not to replace it.
Police officers escort telefraud suspects at Nanjing Lukou International Airport in Jiangsu province last Tuesday. A total of 63 suspects were brought back from Cambodia and accused of defrauding people on the Chinese mainland by posing as law enforcement officials. Han Yuqing / Xinhua

Police have detained 90 computer hackers and arrested 3,300 suspects they say were involved in the trading of personal information since April, the Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

Among those were 270 staff members who police say facilitated the leaks and traded personal information in the banking, education, telecom and express delivery sectors.

Meanwhile, police closed 900 websites and columns since April, after launching a campaign to target the online trading of personal information.

Also on Monday, the ministry issued A-level arrest warrants, the highest level, for 10 at-large suspects involved in telecom fraud cases. People who provide clues leading to the suspects' arrested will be awarded, the ministry said.

In recent years, telecom fraud has occurred frequently and has become a public plague, violating privacy.

"Infringement of personal information is a crime that feeds internet fraud. It has played an essential role in telecom fraud," the ministry said, adding that it has organized several actions to combat the trading of personal information and has effectively curbed such crimes. But criminals have adopted new techniques that have created practical challenges for law enforcement.

In addition to theft by hackers and disclosure by industry insiders, criminals have created software designed to steal passwords and personal information kept in computers.

In addition, criminals have set up strong defenses to counter police investigation, and they use web phones and fabricated usernames to operate online, and transfer accounts based on QQ groups, websites and hacker forums.

The ministry said it placed a high priority on stopping the theft of personal information and will seek punishment of suspects who abuse information for fraud, robbery or extortion.

During the recent action, police uncovered a series of major violations.

In May, the Mianyang police in Sichuan province captured nine suspects they said traded personal information. They seized many bank credit reports and 132 bank cards, as well as 61 hand-held internet terminals. The money involved was about 2.3 million yuan ($345,000).

In July, police in Jiangsu province broke another group, headed by a person surnamed Qiu. Officers said the group included hackers, industry insiders and agents using online channels including Taobao and JD.com. The suspects illegally traded 60 million pieces of personal information, authorities said.

The ministry said it will pay close attention to supervision and will urge key industries and internet platforms, including those for instant massaging and social networks, to strictly follow information security rules. It will also conduct thorough investigations to close loopholes to ensure information security for the public.

Public security departments should also advise members of the public "to raise their awareness so as to protect their individual information and avoid the leaks that can result in great losses", said Li Wei, a Beijing lawyer.
Geng Shuang, former spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the United States, began another chapter in his career in Beijing on Monday as the Foreign Ministry's 30th spokesperson.

Experience at working in major countries such as the US and the United Kingdom has become an important part of the resumes of Chinese media officials as the world tracks China's diplomatic and defense strategies on a daily basis, observers said.

"I'm looking forward to working with reporters in China and globally to enhance understanding of the country's diplomatic policy and positions in a more timely, accurate, comprehensive and objective manner," Geng said before taking questions from reporters.

For about 20 minutes, he responded to questions on topics ranging from Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Canada to the Korean Peninsula situation to the Syrian crisis.

While serving as an embassy spokesman in 2011, Geng responded after a shooting at the Chinese Consulate-General in Los Angeles, stating that China had lodged a protest and called for increased security precautions. No one was injured in the shooting.

"Such an experience (of embassy spokesman) is surely helpful to my being a Foreign Ministry spokesman. ... And I'm having a fresh start and learning everything," Geng said.

In the 1980s, the Foreign Ministry became the first Chinese ministry to create a spokesperson system.

Geng joins Hua Chunying and Lu Kang as a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

In addition to the three who hold this position at the Foreign Ministry, there are two with the Ministry of National Defense. All have a background of working or studying in the US or Europe.

Dong Guanpeng, dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs at Communication University of China, said the post of spokesman or spokeswoman requires "not only language proficiency but also a capacity to tackle foreign affairs", and those with strong experience in briefing the media are more sought after.

"The spokespersons have in-depth experience in the US and Europe, and have been a contributor of (tangible) projects," Dong said. "This will help their communication with media to be more solid and constructive, minimize potential misunderstandings and manage crisis from the beginning," Dong said.

Lu served at the Chinese embassy in the US from 2012 to last year. One of Geng's predecessors, Hong Lei, also worked in Los Angeles before serving as spokesman in 2010.

(China Daily 09/27/2016 page3)
The New York Blood Center, a charity with at least $400 million in assets, left the chimpanzees for dead in a habitat without sufficient food and water, during an Ebola crisis. Photo by Carol Guzy/For The HSUS

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EDITORS NOTE: GOOD NEWS! The HSUS and the New York Blood Center have announced an agreement to provide long-term sanctuary for the Liberian chimpanzees. READ THE UPDATE 

I was so pleased to be joined by former New Mexico governor and United Nations ambassador Bill Richardson today in a mid-morning press conference to announce a collaborative campaign to secure a safe future for dozens of laboratory chimpanzees abandoned by the New York Blood Center on a set of islands in Liberia.

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, led by one of the best-known negotiators in the world, is committed to holding the Blood Center accountable for its responsibility to chimpanzees but also to provide support for proper sanctuary of the beleaguered chimps until that responsibility is reclaimed. It was in March 2015 that the Blood Center, a charity with at least $400 million in assets, left more than 60 chimpanzees for dead. The abandonment happened at the worst possible time, during an Ebola crisis that consumed the attention of the government of Liberia and public-health advocates throughout the world, and in a habitat without sufficient food or water.

Gov. Richardson has emerged as a leader in the animal protection movement, and one of his signature achievements was triggering the campaign to end the use of chimpanzees in invasive experiments in the United States and retire them from U.S. laboratories to sanctuaries (I wrote about his decisive role in The Humane Economy). Weve seen game-changing progress on both those frontswith invasive chimpanzee research effectively ending in the United States last year and a current focus on moving hundreds of chimpanzees to sanctuary. Were so pleased to now have the governors support on our work to help the abandoned chimpanzees in Liberia, marking an expansion of his concern about chimps to the global arena.

As readers of this blog know, New York Blood Center is still refusing to accept financial responsibility for the chimpanzees it exploited for years, despite immense pressure to do so. The Blood Center recently rejected our generous offer to run all operations and provide significant financial assistance for a problem that they created (instead, they offered to provide only a small fractionless than five percent  of what it will cost to care for these animals over their lifetimes.) The Blood Center has since claimed it is willing to work with other organizations to find a solution for the chimpanzees. But this is a talking point and a hollow answer, since there are no groups waiting who have the resources and expertise to spend millions to care for chimps that the Blood Center put into this circumstance.

As part of our new phase in pressuring the Blood Center, Gov. Richardson and I recently sent a joint letter to nearly 90 of the Blood Centers most significant organizational donors, urging them to join MetLife and Citigroup in saying they wont support the charity until it fulfills its animal welfare responsibilities. Weve already heard from the head of Xerox Foundation who called the situation deplorable. The HSUS has reached out to several of these organizations in the pastincluding large multinationals such as IBM and Johnson & Johnson and local, New York based foundations like the New York Community Trustand we eagerly await their response. These companies risk their own reputation by continuing a business-as-usual relationship with the Blood Center, given its reckless course of action.

Thanks to dedicated donors, staff, volunteers, and the support of the government of Liberia, weve been able to stabilize the situation for the chimpanzees. And while we will continue to pressure the Blood Center, we cannot wait any longer to begin the next phase of planning for the long-term care of the chimpanzees in Liberia. The Richardson Center is generously providing support to help us get this effort off the ground. Continuing to work closely with the Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research and agencies within the government of Liberia will also be a critical part of this effort. We hope to partner with these institutions to create a sanctuary that meets high accreditation standards, similar to others in Africa and the United States.

The establishment of a high quality chimpanzee sanctuarywhich would be the first ever in Liberiawill help not only the chimpanzees abandoned by the Blood Center, but also other animals in the country who are victims of the bush meat and pet trades. Well-run sanctuaries also have the added benefits of promoting wildlife conservation through the support of law enforcement, education, and public awareness campaigns, and providing opportunities for local communities through capacity building, employment, and tourism.

Its great to have Governor Richardson on our side, and active. We are honored to work with him, and we know hes now poised to add to his record of accomplishments for animals. We will keep you updated on our progress and hope we can count on you to help us in our efforts to give these chimpanzees the life they deserve, and to ensure that the Blood Center plays a significant financial role in making it a reality.
Three defendants claim evidence was lacking and improper legal procedures were used

The Second Circuit of the Supreme People's Court is rehearing a case after three defendants claimed that the evidence for their convictions was insufficient and the legal procedures were wrong.

Three judges of the court, which is based in Shenyang, Liaoning province, came to Changchun Intermediate People's Court in Jilin province to hear the case.

The defendants, Sun Baoguo, Sun Baodong and Sun Baomin - all brothers - did not plead guilty during the retrial, saying that the original judgments were made with unclear facts and insufficient evidence.

The original case involved 16 defendants, who were convicted of several criminal charges, including homicide and blackmail.

Sun Baoguo said that he was tortured during the investigation, and his youngest brother, Sun Baomin, also provided new evidence against his blackmail conviction.

"We hope the circuit court reviews our case carefully, giving us a fair judgment," the three said.

The Jilin Provincial High People's Court in 2012 sentenced Sun Baoguo to death with a two-year reprieve for convictions on 13 charges including homicide and leading a gang. Sun Baodong received a sentence of 19 years and Sun Baomin was given 10 1/2 years in jail.

However, the brothers disagreed that previous sentences for offenses in 1996, as well as the judgment for the first trial in 2011, should affect their latest sentences "as they have been finished and we've served the punishment already".

In 1996, Sun Baoguo and Sun Baodong struck several passers-by during a dispute at a railway station in Liaoning, causing one death and four injuries.

They were found guilty of intentional injury in 1997 at a Liaoning court and given short sentences.

The two brothers were brought to court again in 2011 on allegations of organizing and leading a gang to blackmail others, and for disturbing the public order. Sun Baomin was also involved in the alleged blackmail.

The top court set up two circuit courts in 2015 to ease its burden and to prevent local governments from interfering in cases. One court is in Shenyang, and is in charge of cases in Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin provinces, while the other is in Shenzhen, serving cases in Guangdong and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Four former senior officials have been charged with bribery and corruption by prosecutors, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Monday.

Le Dake, former deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Tibet autonomous region's People's Congress, has been charged with bribery by the Zhengzhou city people's procuratorate in Henan province, which will prosecute the case at Zhengzhou Intermediate People's Court. A date for the court hearing will be set later.

According to an indictment, when Le served as director of the autonomous region's State Security Bureau and head of regional legislature, he abused power to gain benefits for others and accepted huge bribes paid in cash or other assets.

"During the investigation and prosecution, prosecutors informed him of his rights and carefully listened to his lawyers' defending opinions to protect his legitimate rights," according to a statement provided by the SPP on Monday.

In a separate development, Wang Tianpu, former general manager of oil giant China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, has been charged with corruption and bribery by the Nanchang city people's procuratorate in Jiangxi province.

Prosecutors said that when he served as general manager and CEO, he abused power to benefit others and accepted huge bribes.

In addition, Si Xianmin, former general manager of China Southern Airlines, has been accused of accepting bribes by the Shenzhen city people's procuratorate in Guangdong province; and Wang Shuaiting, former vice-chairman of China Travel Services Hong Kong, has been charged with corruption and bribery by the Shenzhen city people's procuratorate.

Tackling graft has become a top priority for the country since late 2012. President Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping campaign to target high- and low-ranking officials, or "tigers and flies".

To date, more than 140 high-ranking officials suspected of corruption have been placed under investigation, including Zhou Yongkang, former security chief, who was sentenced to life in prison in June 2015.
Chinese aerospace researchers are pushing the limits in a new sphere - near space - which promises superfast vehicles for passengers, business and military use.

Nearly half of the 24 entries in the final round of the Third National Design Contest on Future Aircraft and Space Planes, held in Beijing on Monday, had to do with flight in near space.

A total of 284 entries from space institutes, universities and military research establishments across the country, took part in the competition jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the general design department of the Third Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.

Near space refers to the region of Earth's atmosphere that lies between 20 and 100 kilometers above sea level, encompassing the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thermosphere - altitudes above the upper limit for commercial airliners but below orbiting satellites.

A team from Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, designed a concept for a cutting-edge spaceliner capable of traveling nearly 20,000 kilometers with 14 passengers.

Dong Haining, a senior aerodynamics researcher at the CASIC Third Academy, who guided the team, told China Daily that near space is a hot field, and China is among the leaders.

"Vehicles traveling in near space have a bright prospect," he said. "They will be able to avoid a lot of negative elements faced by traditional aircraft and spacecraft, and will be able to fly much faster - say, at least Mach 10 (12,360 km per hour)."

"Moreover, they will be capable of traveling a very long distance on less fuel than conventional aircraft."

However, researchers must resolve a host of engineering issues before a prototype can be produced.

"We should keep pace with the United States in this field," said Li Jiawei from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The vast diversity of cultures along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative poses challenges to media as they report on the huge project, making appreciation of and respect for differences vital to the coverage, media leaders from China and overseas said on Monday.

"The media coverage has been abundant since the proposal of the initiative and largely supportive. Yet people still have some misunderstandings," said Kang Bing, deputy-editor-in-chief of China Daily, at the media session of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative. The two-day seminar is co-organized by China Daily.

People in the countries along the routes of the initiative are of different ethnic groups, have different religious beliefs and speak more than 50 languages among them, said Hu Bangsheng, vice-president of China Radio International.

"It is never easy to conduct cross-cultural communication, especially when it is about something new and when nationalism is on the rise globally," he said.

Sun Yusheng, vice-president of China Central Television, said: "It is impossible to have a unified value among the different countries and we have to accept that. But we can try to have empathy for different cultures and be committed to factual reporting."

Despite the cultural differences, data is a universal language that can be a highly effective tool in reporting on the initiative, which focuses on fostering economic collaboration, said Liu Yue, executive editor for greater China at Bloomberg News.

"The initiative promotes economic development through trade and investment cooperation in such a large part of the world. And data allows businesspeople to compare the situations of different ages and in different regions," Liu said.

Sameh El-Shahat of Eypyt, president of China-i, a China-focused consulting company, said the initiative also gives Chinese media a chance to be more relevant in Africa, where they can "not only (report) on Chinese issues, but also African issues".
Doctor Cai Weiping, who has treated an estimated 20,000 patients, aims to dispel myths about the virus

Though many on the Chinese mainland might balk at the thought of it, Cai Weiping publicly acknowledges that he has hundreds of friends who are HIV-positive or have AIDS.

Cai is director of the infectious diseases department at Guangzhou No 8 People's Hospital, a designated hospital to treat AIDS and other infectious diseases in the capital of Guangdong province.

He is so dedicated to his role that he often gives his personal mobile phone number to patients so they can contact him after hours.

"Now many AIDS friends regularly call me or contact me via WeChat and email to talk about the condition and other life issues," Cai said.

Last year, a young HIV-positive man even brought his girlfriend and her parents to meet Cai, so that they might better understand the illness.

The patient, who became infected when he was given a contaminated blood transfusion after a traffic accident, asked the doctor to help explain to his would-be parents-in-law that their daughter would not necessarily contract the illness if proper preventive measures were taken.

Cai and his wife regularly eat dinner with HIV-positive patients to dispel myths about the way the virus is spread and offer encouragement to the patients and their families.

He said this had helped to rebuild familial bonds in the past, showing parents that there was no reason to fear their children living with the infection.

The 55-year-old doctor estimates that he has treated more than 20,000 HIV/AIDS patients since he started working in the field in 1998.

"HIV is dreadful, but discrimination is even more dreadful," he said.

In addition to discrimination from their families, friends and colleagues, many people who are HIV-positive in Guangdong are also given the cold shoulder by hospitals and doctors, according to Cai.

He said such patients will often be transferred to his hospital as soon as the attending physician learns of the infection, as these doctors often claim their hospitals are not equipped to deal with HIV/AIDS.

"The hepatitis virus is actually more infectious than HIV, as it can be transmitted through more channels than HIV, which is spread primarily by unprotected sex, contaminated blood transfusions and mother-to-child transmission," said Cai, adding that all hospitals that can handle hepatitis patients are capable of treating people with HIV/AIDS.

To better serve patients, Cai's hospital has now built a dedicated delivery room and operating theater where HIV-positive women can give birth or undergo other surgical operations.

He has also drawn up a list of "red surgeons" who have agreed to help perform operations on HIV-positive and AIDS patients, because few doctors wish to be publicly associated with caring for them.

According to Cai, about 30-40 HIV-positive women give birth via Caesarean section in his hospital every year.

Cai always encourages his patients to date, marry and even give birth, because an HIV-positive husband can have a healthy child with a wife who is not infected, for example.

"The wives can become pregnant and deliver a healthy baby via artificial insemination after the viruses in the seminal fluid are killed," Cai said.

Xiao Hua (assumed name), one of Cai's patients, described the doctor as "loving" with "superior skills".

"Cai always works very carefully and usually becomes a friend of his patents after he sees them," she said.

UK charity Barry and Martin's Trust presented its eponymous prize to Cai in 2012 for his work in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. The trust, which supports hospitals treating HIV/AIDS patients throughout China, created the annual prize for excellence in AIDS education, prevention and care in 2000.
Ma Li brushes a layer of ink on a woodblock engraved with 324 Chinese characters, before spreading a sheet of paper over it and rubbing it with a dry brush.

The 32-year-old is working on a reproduction of the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, a piece of Chinese calligraphy produced almost 2,000 years ago by renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi.

"I'm trying to use traditional printing techniques and materials to reproduce the charm of Chinese calligraphy," he said. "I've sold more than 5,000 copies this year."

Ma is one of two woodblock engravers recognized by the local government in Sibao, a remote mountainous town in Liancheng county, Fujian province. The town was renowned as one of China's four major woodblock printing centers during the late Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

"Sibao boasts a woodblock printing history of more than 300 years," said Qiu Qingsheng, Party chief of the town. "More importantly, it's the only surviving site of China's ancient printing centers, with 34 old printing houses still well preserved."

According to local chronicles, about 60 percent of Sibao's population used to be employed in the town's more than 100 printing houses.

More than 1,000 books were produced there and sold all over China, with some even exported to Southeast Asia. Woodblock printing began to decline in the mid-19th century, as more advanced methods were developed in the West. Sibao's last printing house closed in 1942.

"Tradition dies hard," Qiu said. "The smell of ink has never left Sibao. As time goes by, more people have begun to appreciate the value of its precious cultural heritage."

The 34 reopened printing houses, which once housed their owners' families and served as workshops, are now listed as key cultural relics under State-level protection. Recent renovations have sought to restore these buildings to their former splendor.

"We've been trying to conserve these national treasures," Qiu said. "After the renovations are finished, two of the houses will be used to demonstrate the complete woodblock printing process."

Yet carved woodblocks are required to recreate this process. These used to be handed down from generation to generation among Sibao's families - but as the industry declined, so did the number of woodblocks in circulation. Large numbers were destroyed during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976).

"Twenty or 30 years ago, you could buy woodblocks like these for only one yuan (15 cents)," said Ma, holding a small one aloft. "But a few days ago, I had to persuade a friend to sell this to me, and the price was 4,000 yuan."

Despite the inflated prices, Ma still thinks of these old woodblock as precious. "You can see how finely these characters were cut," he said.

Born in Sibao, Ma fell in love with woodblocks as a child. He learned wood carving after graduating from junior high school, while working in Fujian's Xianyou county and Dongyan in Zhejiang.

In addition to printing the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, Ma and his team plan to produce a book of ancient epigrams containing more than 6,000 characters before the end of the year.

"We've been carving the woodblocks for half a year, and we need another three months to finish," he said. "This will be the first book I have printed using woodblocks I made myself."
The wider application of internet technology in the medical sector is playing an important role in China's medical reforms.

The changes are intended to ensure that patients have better access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of treatment, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the top health authority.

"Internet technology has been widely applied in China's medical care sector and has played a positive role," Yao Jianhong, deputy chief for medical reform at the commission, told a media briefing at the commission's offices this month.

"Many services, such as online registration and payment, have greatly benefited patients and reduced the number of painstaking trips to hospitals."

New applications, such as online clinics - platforms that provide medical care services - and the popularity of wearable healthcare devices are also improving access to higher-quality resources, he said.

A guideline released in June by the State Council, China's Cabinet, said the promotion of digital healthcare will bring profound changes to the current healthcare service model and will also contribute to improved efficiency and a better supply of resources.

In addition, an open national platform for health information will be built by 2020 so basic data can be shared among different departments and regions.

By then, a range of fields, such as primary care, medication and medical insurance should have emerged on the internet, the guideline said.

The government is also encouraging apps that provide online consultations, registration for appointments and payment, plus online access to test results and follow-up treatment.

Meanwhile, to regulate services and protect the rights of all parties, the government will formulate and improve laws and regulations related to the development of digital healthcare. Strengthened supervision will ensure security of sensitive information, such as data relating to public security, patient privacy and business secrets, the guideline said.
The search for "Good Chinese Tourists", hosted by the China National Tourism Administration, China's leading online travel agency Ctrip and the country's first national English newspaper China Daily, launched in Beijing, Sept 27, 2016. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

China has launched a program to promote stories of well-behaved outbound Chinese tourists in an effort to improve overseas images of Chinese world travelers.

The search for "Good Chinese Tourists", hosted by the China National Tourism Administration, China's leading online travel agency Ctrip and the country's first national English newspaper China Daily, launched in Beijing on Tuesday.

China's tourism industry, which has seen rapid growth, has become an influencing force in the world, Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration said.

Statistics show that more than 59 million Chinese took overseas trips in the first half of this year. And it is predicted that the number of outbound travelers will surpass 600 million in the next five years.

"The behavior of Chinese [outbound] tourists is one of the important parameters to gauge the national soft power," Wang said, adding that to discover and praise good behavior and promote the stories of Chinese tourists could set a shining example for other Chinese tourists.

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily pointed out that tourism is about the transmission of cultural messages in the sense of communication.

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, speaks at the launching ceremony in Beijing, Sept 27, 2016. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

"Each Chinese outbound tourist's acts will exert intangible influence on China's image in the minds of people in other countries," Qu said.

Qu hopes that every selected person in the "Good Chinese Tourists" program could become the ambassador of China and its culture, who can also be the best storyteller of China.

"Ctrip pays much attention to what role Chinese outbound tourists can play in spreading civilization and enhancing friendship," said Chen Zhenyu, representative from Ctrip and CEO of Qunar. Ctrip holds 45 percent of the stock of Qunar, another online travel agency.

"The Chinese tourists have shown the world their more civilized behaviors," Chen said, by citing an example of a Chinese tourist in Japan collecting garbage.

Xiong Jiawen, a frequent traveler, said she believes a good tourist has to think of him or herself as a local, by tasting local delicacies or having home stays, but most importantly, he or she should love the culture as the locals do and contribute his or her part to preserve the scenic attractions.

"Travels have taught me to show respect to others' culture. Travel should make us more open-minded rather than selfish. More people should join hands with us to be good tourists and have better travel experiences," Xiong said.

The China National Tourism Administration started the campaign "Good Chinese Tourists" in 2015.

The administration is expected to cooperate with large travel agencies and the media in search for good examples of Chinese outbound tourists this year.

Through different channels published by the administration, the public can also recommend good examples that could be promoted on mainstream media.

A survey will also be launched to solicit opinions on the behavior and images of Chinese tourists. The survey will target outbound Chinese tourists and permanent residents of overseas destinations that Chinese tourists visit.

A report on the images of Chinese tourists will later be released on the basis of the survey.


SHANGHAI -- A Shanghai court sentenced four people to 10 to 14 years in prison on Monday for their involvement in a telecom fraud case.

The four defendants, Yu Xiaofei, Chen Yonghao, Wang Xuhui and Wu Yonghao, were convicted of fraud and fined between 300,000 yuan ($44,982) and 2 million yuan, according to the People's Court of the Jinshan District.

A total of 126 defendants were involved in the telecom fraud case. The court will deliver verdicts for other defendants soon.

The court said Yu and Chen used two companies they jointly ran to set up a telephone shopping platform to commit telecom fraud in April 2015.

Yu also asked Wang and Wu, who served as the general managers of the two companies, to come up with a plan to cheat customers by phone.

Members of the fraud ring randomly called people and notified them they had won "collectibles" such as agarwood bracelets and limited edition renminbi notes. They exaggerated the value and potential for appreciation of these items, then required recipients to pay large amounts in "taxes," "registration fees" and "membership fees" before they could claim the prizes, according to the court.

An investigation showed the "collectibles" were actually worthless.

The four defendants were arrested by Shanghai police in the city of Kunshan on Jan. 13, 2016.

The four people were considered the prime culprits in the telecom fraud ring, the court said.

They had obtained a total of 32.2 million yuan in illegal gains since 2015, it said.
NANJING -- Chen Chuanping, former Party chief of Taiyuan City, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, stood trial on Tuesday for taking bribes and abuse of power.

Chen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Shanxi Provincial Committee, was accused of taking advantage of his various official posts from 2008 to 2013 to seek benefits for four entities and individuals, including Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co. Ltd. (TISCO), in production, operations and personnel promotion.

Chen accepted bribes worth over 910,000 yuan (around $136,437), either by himself or through his wife, according to the indictment from the People's Procuratorate of Xuzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province.

When he served as TISCO's chairman from May 2005 to November 2007, Chen abused his power to order a subcompany to engage in futures trading overseas, causing losses to state assets of more than 907 million yuan.

The procuratorate filed the charges with the Xuzhou Intermediate People's Court.

Chen confessed to taking bribes and abuse of power, and expressed remorse in court.

The court ruling will be announced at a later date.

More than 60 people, including Chen's relatives, journalists and members of the public, observed Tuesday's hearing.
Chinese former Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang makes a speech during the launching ceremony of Nike's "Dynamic Campus" project at Guanlong New Estate Primary School in Putuo district, Shanghai, on Sept 27, 2016. The project aims to help more than two million Chinese children take part in everyday exercises in the next three years. The project plans to train more than 7,000 gym teachers and will establish "Dynamic Campus Innovative scholarship" with the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education under the Ministry of Education in a bid to encourage active and innovative physical education around the country in three years. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]
Kang Bing, deputy-editor-in-chief of China Daily, speaks at the media session of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province on Sept 27, 2016. The two-day seminar co-organized by China Daily opened on Monday.[Photo by Huo Yan/chinadaily.com.cn]
A website specializing in broadcasting trials of Chinese courts has been set up went public on Tuesday, China's top court said.

The website, ts.chinacourt.org, is another key step that the Supreme People's Court took to build "intelligent courts" across the country, according to a statement of the nation's highest justice chamber.

So far, 520 courts in the country have connected with the website and will broadcast case hearings on this platform, it said.

Since July 1, all courts have been asked to disclose case hearings on the internet, it said, adding that the top court has broadcasted 78 trials by the end of August.

The website aims to strengthen judicial transparency, help residents understand how Chinese judges hear a case and supervise courts' work, as well as provide a reference for law specialists, it said.

On the website, people can easily find live footage of case hearings they are interested in and will be informed what trials are ready to open next. Meanwhile, they are allowed to collect the video and leave messages or share opinions below live shows, it added.

It is the fourth open website set up by the top court to improve transparency.

Before, residents could search for verdicts on a nationwide verdict website, as well as can start a lawsuit through an online platform for filing cases.

In addition, they can also find defaulters, including debtors, on the top court's verdict enforcement website, urging them to meet the judgments or pay back money.

Under the court's judicial transparency rules, case hearings or verdicts that involved litigants under the age of 18 and related to state secrets cannot be made public.
China protested on Tuesday after the United States lodged criminal charges and sanctions on Monday against a Chinese firm it accuses of being connected to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

The Foreign Ministry said China objects to any country attempting to exercise jurisdiction over a Chinese entity or individual based on its domestic laws.

The company targeted by the US, the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co, is already being investigated by the public security authority, Chinese officials announced. The cross-border trading company is registered near the China-DPRK border.

A US Treasury release issued Monday said authorities there were sanctioning the company and four of its executives, including company head Ma Xiaohong.

The US accused them of violating US laws against supporting "weapons of mass destruction proliferators", and engaging in money laundering in the US and elsewhere in support of Pyongyang. Reuters reported that the US Department of Justice said it had filed criminal charges against the firm and executives.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: "Any enterprise or individual found in breach of the regulations will be treated seriously.

"In this process, if necessary, we would like to embark on cooperation with the relevant country on the basis of mutual respect and equality." Geng said.

This month, the Public Security Department of Liaoning province confirmed that the company and the executives concerned are "suspected of serious economic crimes" and under investigation with "due evidence in place".

Geng reaffirmed Beijing's opposition to Pyongyang's developing nuclear weapons and its commitment to Korean Peninsula denuclearization.

"However, I want to stress that we oppose any country enacting so-called long-arm jurisdiction, using its own domestic laws against a Chinese entity or individual," Geng said. "We have already communicated this position to the US side."

Zhang Liangui, an expert on Korean studies at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said Washington's latest sanctions partly aim to "add pressure to the Chinese government". It expects Beijing to step up sanctions.

"As China has jurisdiction over the case, there is no liability for the Chinese government to respond to an improper request, if there is any, by the US government," Zhang said.

"The US, in the meantime, knows clearly that the existing sanctions against the DPRK will not be a success without China's cooperation, so it is navigating the case issue cautiously to avoid angering Beijing," Zhang added.
Taiwan is expected to see fewer mainland tourists during the upcoming National Day holiday, as cross-Straits relations remain in stalemate.

Bookings for trips to Taiwan during the holiday from Oct 1 to Oct 7, also known as the Golden Week, dropped by 20 to 30 percent from last year, according to the China Youth Travel Service, a major tourism operator in China.

Meanwhile, Taiwan tourism professionals are predicting that the number of mainland travelers may drop by 44 percent year-on-year in 2016, according to media reports.

"The decline is mainly from group tourists, up to a 30 to 40 percent drop," said Li Zhi, general manager of the Taiwan center of China Youth Travel Service, adding that the number of tourists traveling independently has risen, but the rate of increase has slowed compared with previous years.

About 1,000 clients booked through the service for the Golden Week holiday, including group trips, hotels and document preparation.

Since 2008, when the island opened up to mainland travelers, the number of independent tourists had increased by at least 15 to 20 percent. But this year, the rise is only about 10 to 15 percent, Li said.

He added that seats usually are sold out before September, but this year seats have remained untaken right before the holiday at month's end.

Ctrip, a major online travel services provider, also has seen the change. The company reported that reservations to Taiwan have dropped. It also predicted that Taiwan's tourism-dependent businesses may have their "coldest" Golden Week during this National Day holiday.

"The preparation time needed to visit Taiwan has been reduced, mainly because there are no lines for the entry pass. Previously, customers during Golden Week in October booked six to eight weeks in advance, but now they can book four weeks before," said Sun Yu, head of the Taiwan region for Ctrip.

A travel advisory from the company called Taiwan "a good choice for tourists who want to avoid popular destinations and seek peace and quiet."

Taiwan's China Times newspaper reported this month that the island saw 30,771 mainland visitors during the National Day holiday in 2014 and 35,891 visitors last year. However, Taiwan tourism professionals have predicted that the number may drop below 20,000 this year, 44.3 percent less than last year.

Mainland tourism industry officials said the decline is mainly due to difficult cross-Straits relations and a number of negative incidents since May 20, such as a fatal bus fire and the erroneous launch of a missile that hit a fishing boat, killing the captain and injuring three of the crew.

"Group tourists who are mainly above 40 years old are affected mostly. They are more sensitive to politics. Comparatively, young travelers are less keen on politics, but the negative information in some ways also affects them," Li from the China Youth Travel Service said.

The number of mainland visitors to the island has plummeted since Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen took office in May. According to Taiwan authorities, mainland tourists in group tours declined by about 30 percent year-on-year in the period from May through July.

Liu Xiangping, head of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Nanjing University, said the island's authority has contributed to an atmosphere that has "convinced" residents that visitors from the mainland are not well-behaved tourists.

"The attitude makes mainland travelers feel unwelcome and lose interest in Taiwan," he said.

For example, Liu said, the Taiwan government poorly handled the recent bus fire incident that killed 24 tourists from the mainland. "Especially, Tsai treated the victims from Taiwan and the mainland differently, which hurt mainlanders' feelings."

Tsai sent a condolence inscription to the memorial service of Cheng Kun-wen, the Taiwan tour guide killed in the incident, yet failed to do so for the 24 mainland tourists. Taiwan officials claimed they didn't receive such requests. Investigators concluded that the driver, who also died, intentionally caused the deadly incident.

The decline of mainland tourists has moved those in the Taiwan tourism industry to action.

In mid-September, more than 15,000 hospitality and tourism workers in Taiwan took to the streets in downtown Taipei, demanding the island's authorities do something about the weakness in the industry.

"The government has refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus since taking office in May. This has damaged all the hard work toward peaceful relations across the Taiwan Straits," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, in an earlier statement. "Whoever started the trouble should end it."
A section of the Great Wall was repaired in Suizhong county, Liaoning province, with what officials said was sand. But critics of the work said it was cement. zhang Shiyao / For China Daily

Repair work has severely damaged the natural image of the Great Wall in Suizhong county, Liaoning province, despite the work's strengthening effect, officials said.

"The restoration did follow the plan that we approved, and it also achieved its initial purpose to strengthen the wall. However, we can't avoid the severe problem it has brought to the image of the historic structure," Song Xinchao, deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said on Tuesday in Beijing.

Earlier this month, people posted pictures on social media and said the top of what they described as the "most beautiful" section of the Great Wall had been flattened so that it now looks like pavement and has lost its original character. The repair work to the section of the wall, built more than 600 years ago, was completed two years ago. It has irritated many netizens who question the project's legitimacy.

The administration sent a six-person team to Suizhong to investigate the project.

In announcing the results of the two-day investigation on Thursday, Lu Qiong, head of the team, said 780 meters of the Great Wall had been flattened with a mixture of lime, clay and fine sand.

On the surface of some steep parts, a small quantity of concrete was added to the traditional material, which was not clarified in the project plan, she said.

Fu Qingyuan, senior engineer with the State Research Institute of Cultural Heritage who was on the investigation team, said, "Concrete is internationally considered a new material that can be added to traditional material to improve the effect in restoring cultural relics."

Song said the administration should have supervised the concrete restoration of the Damaoshan section of the Great Wall after examining and approving the project's plan, which did not detail materials or methods.

Lu, the head of the investigation team, said in the report that the Cultural Relics Bureau in Liaoning needs to organize experts to fully examine the repair work to see whether there are more problems. Those responsible will be punished for the damage to the Great Wall's image, she added.




Japanese women swing their long sleeves in the same direction. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

Two literary giants from China and Britain are being honored in an exhibition to mark the 400th anniversary of their deaths.

Dialogue across Time and Space at the China Cultural Center in Tokyo pays homage to Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare, who died in 1616. The exhibition opened on Sept 21.

The opening ceremony was attended by Japanese from all walks of life. Among them were a government official, a congressman, representatives of the China-Japan Friendship Association, and a fashion designer. It also grabbed the attention of multiple media outlets.

Distinguished guests warmly addressed those at the opening ceremony. Then artist Lu Hairong from the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe briefed the audience on Kunqu Opera's development and the great playwright Tang Xianzu's life story and works. He elaborated on Kunqu Opera's music, singing, costumes for different characters, gestures and postures, as well as the distinction between Kunqu Opera and Beijing Opera. He also personally demonstrated how to put on a costume for a martial role and performed an episode of Crossroads. The ceremony was taken to a whole new level when guests gave their own performances in opera costume.

The exhibition is divided into three parts: Time and Legend, Dream and Reality, and I @ Tang Xianzu. It allows the charm of Kunqu Opera to speak for itself.

Several people in attendance said they thought highly of the exhibition. They deemed it exquisite and informative on Eastern and Western cultures. In particular, the virtual reality experience at the exhibit brought Chinese literati's studies and living settings right in front of their eyes. It was so real that they felt they almost lived in that age.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the exhibition was jointly organized by the Centre of International Cultural Exchange and China Cultural Center in Tokyo. It was scheduled to wrap up by the end of September.
A plate with the pattern of a flying dragon and a dancing phoenix, made during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is on display at Shenyang Palace Museum in Shenyang city, Northeast Chinas Liaoning province, on Sept 26, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An exhibition featuring 90 state-level cultural relics opened to the public at Shenyang Palace Museum, in Northeast China's Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Monday, to celebrate the museum's 90th anniversary. The exhibition will run until November 10.

Articles on display include ancient weapons, royal costumes, porcelain, paintings and calligraphy, among others.

Shenyang Palace Museum, which previously served as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, is the only imperial palace standing outside Beijing in China. It was a palace of the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) emperors. In 2004, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Cast members Eddie Peng (center), Zhang Hanyu (left) and Chen Baoguo. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A preview of the new movie Operation Mekong, which is based on a real massacre, was shown to nearly 1,000 Chinese police officers on Sept 25 in Beijing.

Heroin smugglers operating in the Golden Triangle area of the Mekong River killed 13 Chinese sailors on Oct 5, 2011.

The movie re-creates the Chinese forces' painstaking manhunt for a drug ring from Myanmar.

In a trailer released earlier, the movie's Hong Kong-based director Dante Lam said: "We wanted to do justice to the victims."

To understand the events of that fateful day, the movie's crew toured many areas along the Mekong that crosses six countries.

With the star-studded cast of Eddie Peng, Zhang Hanyu and Chen Baoguo, the movie will be released on Sept 30.

At the preview, Zhao Chengfeng, a police officer who was on the team to track down the drug ring, praised the actors who performed the roles of cops.

Related:

Chinese film market slows pace, focuses on quality
The ban on the sale of puffer fish was lifted earlier this month. Zhang Zhuojun/China Daily

After nearly 20 years, Chinese authorities have lifted the ban on the sale of puffer fish.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Agriculture and the China Food and Drug Administration jointly issued a new regulation, allowing certified companies to raise the blowfish, named for their inflated appearance, and sell processed products.

Chinese people regard puffer fish or hetun - "river hog" in Chinese, as one of the most delicious delicacies the Yangtze River offers. The earliest record of puffer fish consumption in the area dates back to Shanhaijing, a collection of mythical legends written more than 4,000 years ago.

However, the fish contains tetrodotoxin, a lethal poison. A tiny amount can kill a human in few hours. Moreover, the poison that exists in many parts of the fish, including the eyes, blood, ovaries, liver and other inner organs, can become more toxic once heated.

It needs skill to carefully separate the edible parts, usually the skin and meat, from the poisonous organs to cook the fish, and such skills require training and experience. Only a few chefs master the art, according to Yang Zhanwen, a famous chef with expertise in Chinese and fusion cuisine in Beijing.

In 1990s, the central government officially banned the fish from entering the market.

A popular saying, "Risk your life to eat puffer fish", reflects the appeal of the blowfish in China, and according to Yang, serving puffer fish is a more or less open practice in many restaurants, because there is huge demand from diners, and "even the regulatory authorities will turn a blind eye as long as no one reports to them".
Definition: (noun) - In art, an armature is an underlying, unseen, supporting component (usually of wood or metal) for something else. Armatures are useful in sculpture, lost-wax casting (to help make the initial model three-dimensional) and even stop-motion animation puppets

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump wasted little time going for each other's jugulars Monday, each stampeding over the other's talking points as their intensely anticipated first debate began. Each candidate knows that the perception of their performance  from their command of policy issues and ability to articulate a vision for the country to their ability to parry barbs and attacks from their rival  could set the trajectory for the rest of the campaign.

Here are the most memorable and important moments of the night:

Story Continued Below

1) Trump: Clinton doesnt look presidential

Trump reiterated that Clinton doesnt have the look of a president and said she doesnt have the stamina.

Clinton had a quick rebuke. Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease-fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina.

Clinton attempted to turn the topic back to Trumps derogatory comments toward women, invoking a beauty pageant contestant she claimed Trump had called Ms. Piggy and Ms. Housekeeping.

Donald, she has a name, Clinton said, as Trump interjected, saying, Where did you find this?

Trump argued that his comments were largely aimed at Rosie ODonnell (who he had a long running feud with) and then he offered a subtle suggestion he had considered invoking of the Clintons marital strife  including her husbands infidelity.

I said to myself, I can't do it. I just can't do it. It's inappropriate. It's not nice, he said. But she's (spent) hundreds of millions of dollars on negative ads even me, many of which are untrue, and they're misrepresentations, and I will tell you this, Lester, it's not nice, and I don't deserve that, but it's certainly not a nice thing that she's done.

2) Trump to Americans on racial healing: 'I say nothing'

As Holt pressed Trump on his role in perpetuating the birther controversy against President Barack Obama, he asked Trump what hed say to Americans about the need for racial healing.

I say nothing, Trump replied, because I was able to get him to produce [his birth certificate]. He should have produced it a long time before. I say nothing.

Trump struggled to respond to charges that he fomented the debunked claim that Obama was born outside the United States for years after Obama produced his long-form birth certificate. Instead, he reiterated his claim that Clintons own advisers pushed the controversy during their divisive primary in 2008.

I'll tell you just simple to say, Sidney Blumenthal works for the campaign and close -- very close friend of Secretary Clinton. And her campaign manager, Patty Doyle went to -- during the campaign, her campaign against president Obama fought very hard, and you can go look it up and you can check it out, he said. If you look at CNN this past week, Patty Doyle was on Wolf Blitzer saying that this happened, Blumenthal sent McClatchy to Kenya to find out about it, they were pressing very hard. They failed to get the birth certificate.

I was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate, and I think I did a good job, he continued, adding of Clinton, just like she can't bring back jobs she can't produce.

3) The fact check fight

As Donald Trump excoriated Hillary Clinton for once describing the Trans-Pacific Partnership as the "gold standard" of trade deals, Clinton shot back that he was mischaracterizing her position against the deal.

"I know you live in your own reality, but those are not the facts," she said.

Soon after, she plugged her home page and urged viewers to visit her campaign's live Trump fact check. Trump cut in to plug his own website next.

View The 10 most memorable moments of the presidential debate Here are the most memorable and important moments of the night from the first presidential debate at Hofstra University on Monday.

After a tussle over taxes, Trump fired back.

"Look at her website. It's no different than this," he said. "She's telling us how to fight ISIS. She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I don't think general MacArthur would like that too much."

Trump repeatedly slammed Clinton for the Obama administration's fiscal policies. She again retorted.

"I have a feeling by the end of this evening I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened," she said.

"Why not?" he mused.

"Yeah. Why not? Just join the debate by saying more crazy things," she said.



4) Paying no income tax 'makes me smart'

Trump parried a question about his still-hidden tax returns by vowing emphatically to release them as soon as Clinton produces 33,000 deleted emails from her private server.

"I will release my tax returns, against my lawyer's wishes, when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted," he said. "As soon as she releases them, I will release my tax returns and that's against my lawyers say don't do it."

The audience broke into cheers, violating the rules of decorum set out by moderator Lester Holt.

Clinton replied that Trump's comment was "another example of bait and switch here."

"You've got to ask yourself, why won't he release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons. First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings," she said, adding that he may not have paid any income tax.

"That makes me smart," he interjected.

5) Trump defends business practices

After Clinton slammed Trump for "stiffing" his workers and bringing companies into bankruptcy, Trump defended his dealings.

"Look, it's all words. It's all sound bites," he said. "I built an unbelievable company, some of the greatest assets anywhere in the world, real estate assets in the world beyond the United States and it's an unbelievable company. But on occasion, four times, we used certain laws that are there."

As for Clinton's contention about his workers, Trump said: "First of all, they did get paid a lot but taking advantage of the laws of the nation. ... Now, if you want to change the laws, you've been there a long time, change the laws. But I take advantage of the laws of the nation because I'm running a company."

Trump also seemed to contemplate losing the presidential race, noting the hotel he just opened on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

"If I don't get there in one way, I'm going to get to Pennsylvania Ave. another," he said.



6) Trump hints at Clintons stamina

Trump attempted to stoke his campaigns insinuation that Clinton lacks the stamina to be president. In a discussion of his travels to urban areas to speak to African American voters, Trump noted hed been to Detroit and Philadelphia.

You've seen me, I've been all over the place. You decided to stay home and that's okay, he said.

Clinton counterpunched.

I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate, she said. And yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

7) Trump to Clinton: 'We agree.'

The first interaction of the night wasn't the haymaker many people expected. Trump's first comment directed at Clinton was about an area of agreement: Child care.

"As far as child care is concerned and so many other things, I think Hillary and I agree on that," Trump said after Clinton opened with a call for more family friendly economic policies. "We probably disagree a little bit as to numbers and amounts and what we're going to do but perhaps we'll be talking about that later."

8) Trump continues to mislead on his Iraq war stance

Trump continued to mislead on his position on the Iraq War, insisting that he was against it prior to the invasion despite the only evidence  a 2002 Howard Stern interview  suggesting he was in favor of it.

I did not support the war in Iraq. That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her, Trump said of Clinton.

The record shows otherwise, Holt said.

Trump urged reporters to call Foxs Sean Hannity, a close ally, to vouch for his opposition to the war beforehand.

Clinton said she hoped fact checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard.

9) Clinton laughs off Trumps temperament barb

Trump, whos been dogged by questions about his temperament to be president, sought to turn the issue around on Clinton, saying shes actually too volatile.

Trump said that at the AFL-CIO the other day, behind the blue screen, I don't know who you were talking to, secretary, Clinton, but you were totally out of control, he said.

Clinton grinned and delivered an exasperated Woo! Okay. Her voice trailed off and she moved on.



10) Trump backs off rigged suggestions

Trump poured cold water on the notion that he might challenge the results of the presidential election.

If she wins, I will absolutely support her, he said.

Clinton set the table for Trumps walkback by saying that in democracy, sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But I certainly will support the outcome of this election.

Clinton puts Trump on defense at first debate
A farmer picks apples at an orchard in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.[Photo by Wang Tiesuo/China News Service File Photo]

A documentary broadcast on Monday traces the origins of the apple to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, quashing the popularly held Chinese belief that they were introduced to the country from the West.

The documentary, "Saving the Gene Pool", draws on a multitude of scientific evidence to show that all cultivated apple varieties are offshoots of Malus sieversii, a wild apple native to the Tianshan mountain range in Central Asia.

Many Chinese attribute the introduction of the apple to China by John Livingston Nevius (1829-93), a US Christian missionary. Livingstone and his wife were said to have brought apple seedlings with them to Yantai, Shandong province, now a major apple growing region.

The documentary team also tested a wild apple tree in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Xinjiang. The 12.9-meter tree is believed to be over 600 years old, predating the supposed introduction of apples to China by a few hundred years.

The sequencing of the apple genome by Italian Riccardo Velasco further supports the relationship between wild apples and domesticated apples, said Zhang Daoyuan, a researcher with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Tianshan mountain range has one of the world's largest wild fruit ecological systems. Many wild fruit species flourished in the valleys and basins about 65 million years ago. According to the latest research, the region has 84 varieties of wild apple, making it a rare and rich apple gene pool.

Guan Kaiyun, deputy head of the institute, said researchers are exploring the potential to domesticate wild varieties that are not only drought- and cold-resistant, but also taste good.

The documentary, broadcast by China Central Television, was jointly produced by the institute, CCTV and the CAS Bureau of Science Communication.
Liu Qibao delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative which opened in Xi'an on Sept. 26, 2016.[Photo by Tang Yue/chinadaily.com.cn]

A lot of progress has been made since China launched the Belt and Road Initiative three years ago with the aim of boosting trade and infrastructure through better connectivity among countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. As Liu Qibao, a senior publicity official, said at a seminar in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, the outcomes have been better than expected.

The initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21 Century Maritime Silk Road, has received resounding support from countries along the routes. By the end of June, more than 40 countries and international organizations had signed inter-governmental cooperative agreements or memorandums of understanding with China on Belt and Road projects. Tremendous economic benefits to be reaped by countries along the routes serve as the main incentive behind their enthusiasm.

China has for years been the strongest engine of global economic growth, contributing more than a quarter to global growth in 2015. Embracing the Belt and Road Initiative means sharing the benefits of China's miraculous economic rise over the past decades.

And no country would say no to such a development proposal, especially because China has so much to offer, both in capital and technology. Its advanced 4G technology could provide users in many countries with easier access to modern communication networks, its high-speed railway technology could drastically reduce travel time between cities, and more direct flights from China can help to increase the number of big-spending Chinese tourists.

It is estimated that about half of the world's population will benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative in the years to come. Yet it is not a one-way relationship, as China, too, is poised to benefit from it.

The 20 countries with the fastest economic growth rates over the past decade are located along the routes. This means great business potential for Chinese enterprises, especially those involved in steel-making and photovoltaic industries, which are eyeing overseas markets after having met the demand at home.

With the launching of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese enterprises have accelerated their "going global" pace. In the first eight months of 2015, Chinese investments in the 49 countries along the routes increased by nearly 50 percent year-on-year, with nearly 80 percent of them yielding profits. This makes the initiative a win-win for all.

China has never sought to expand its influence overseas, ideologically or militarily. All it wants is to help countries solve their development problems. The initial success of the initiative suggests it is on the right track.
Premier Li Keqiang met with George Furey (right), speaker of the Canadian Senate, and Geoff Regan, speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. [Photo Provided to China Daily]

As Sino-Canadian cooperation is expected to expand after Premier Li Keqiang's recent visit to Canada, many Chinese now wonder how long Michael Ching, one of China's most-wanted fugitives, will be allowed to stay in the North American country. Ching, known in China as Cheng Muyang, is among the dozens of major Chinese fugitives living in Canada.

The Chinese authorities issued a "Red Notice" at the end of 2014 to hunt down major corrupt officials who have fled abroad. But the campaign has encountered difficulties in some countries because of their different judicial systems and the absence of bilateral extradition treaties.

Li's visit was the first by a Chinese premier to Canada in 13 years, and came within a month of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to China, heralding stronger bilateral relations. The near future could see the two sides also engaging in judicial cooperation.

It is believed that signing an extradition treaty between Beijing and Ottawa may mark a major breakthrough in China's efforts to pursue judicial cooperation with Western countries. Once the obstacles to cooperation are removed China's efforts to bring those fugitives to justice will succeed.

China has been working to weave an institutional network by signing extradition treaties with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, top overseas destinations where corrupt Chinese officials seek shelter, to plug the institutional loopholes used by the fugitives. However, due to their ideological differences and prejudiced perspectives, some Western countries have remained reluctant to cooperate with China in this area and even politicized the issue by distorting China's human rights record.

No extradition treaty was inked during Premier Li's recent visit to Canada, but the two sides' agreement on sharing and returning recovered assets from fugitives still marks a step toward removing the technical hurdles for the signing of such a treaty.--SZNEWS.COM
Two children in Beijing learn to use pencils. [Photo provided to China Daily]

An estimated 30,000 Chinese children a year could lose hearing ability because of misuse of drugs, and as many as 100,000 aged between 5 and 14 could succumb to curable and preventable diseases owing to the lack of child-specific medicines and proper treatment, according to information from the China center for the rehabilitation of deaf children. Beijing Times commented on Monday:

The misuse of medicines for children has long been a sore point in many countries, because their reactions can be a lot more serious than those in adults. Unlike adult-specific drugs, the medicines made exclusively for children have a limited market share and, hence, pharmaceutical companies feel less motivated to make them. That is why the United States administration provides favorable policies for pharmaceutical companies, such as the six-month exclusivity policy to ensure they add specific instructions on child dosage to their products.

Such an approach may be better than simply offering subsidies, but governments should do more than that to better protect children. For one, pharmaceutical companies should share clinical data on the reactions child-specific medicines can induce.

Most of the pediatric hospitals in China are public hospitals and they are supposed to provide clinical data to relevant departments in the health sector. Giving such information to drug-makers may not only significantly reduce their research costs, but also help to build a data base for further studies on other diseases.

In most cases, without specific instructions on the use of children's medicines, many parents break a pill meant for adults in two and give their children one half, because doctors are unable to say how much "half the dosage" should be. This could easily cause a reaction and other side effects.

As China is doubling its efforts to encourage the research on and production of child-specific drugs, the full implementation of relevant policies is very important. And those departments that fail to set a timetable for monitoring the promotion of child-specific medicines should be held accountable.
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.[Photo/Xinhua]

After the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, and the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, it's time to think how Beijing can help reform global governance further.

China has taken many proactive measures in recent years that the international community responded well to, but it could now go the extramile and turn the new project-based initiatives into institutional organizations based in China under the UN framework.

The world is becoming multi-polar and China has become an influential player, contributing hugely to global growth. And because the West is not sincere about keeping its promise of allowing China to play a bigger role on the world stage, China has taken (and has to further take) more proactive measures to propel globalization. Global governance today does not fully reflect China's true global role because most of the important international cooperation, security, trade and financial institutions are located either in the United States or Europe.

The UN, International Monetary Fund and World Bank are headquartered in the US, and Americans have always held the World Bank president's post. The UN has another headquarters in Geneva, Switzer-land, where the World Trade Organization and many other international institutions are based. Paris, Vienna, Rome, Bonn and other European cities are home to international organizations that coordinate cross-border educational, cultural, scientific, food safety and climate change issues.

As for Asia, which has the biggest share of the world's population and has been driving global growth for some time, the UN has set up just an economic and social council in Thailand and a university in Japan.

For years, China has been taking active part in UN programs to reduce poverty, and increase regional connectivity, South-South cooperation and sustainable development.

This valuable experience, along with its know-how and experience in such fields, can help China establish institutional organizations under the UN framework.

This is not to say that international organizations should be relocated to China but to suggest that the UN consider setting up offices in China to give shape to new ideas. For example, after the UN Development Programme and China signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative during Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the two sides should consider establishing a new platform to help more countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to join the initiative and turn it into a truly global endeavor.

Besides, China's top universities are now training some future global leaders. Peking University has set up a South-South cooperation institute this year, Tsinghua University recently launched a project for global young leaders with a huge donation from an American national, and Beijing Normal University has established a G20 anti-corruption research center.

The UN should take notice of these developments and contemplate setting up a university in China that focuses on nurturing talents for the developing world. The newly established institute in Peking University, for instance, could be expanded to serve this purpose. But ideally, a UN university to boost South-South cooperation should not be in Beijing but in western China, because it will also help China develop in a balanced way.

China and the developed economies are now forging partnerships to help less-developed countries expedite their infrastructure construction in order to fight poverty. This so-called third-party cooperation sounds promising, for it will bring together all the advantages of the global economic chain.

Such endeavors demand more research and coordination platforms. So to realize the UN's Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030, the UN and Beijing should also consider establishing a new office in the country to bring China, and the developed as well as less-developed countries together for global good.

The author is deputy chief of China Daily European Bureau

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
California's agricultural area.[Photo/file photo]

This tells about the opportunity I had to visit California's agricultural area of Salinas and its wonderful agribusiness system, which is responsible for the production of the majority of the salads and some of the fruits consumed in the US. After interviewing farmers and other chain participants, I was left with great impressions. As I outline below, here are the numbers and concerns for the future.

First of all, let's visit the numbers. Healthy living movements are growing all over the world, with positive impacts for salads, fruits and other healthy food choices produced in California.

Sales of fresh produce grew 3 percent in 2015 in US supermarkets. Packaged salads grew 9.2 percent in value and 5.9 percent in volume in 2015, based on US supermarket sales, and prices increased 3.1 percent (Nielsen). Sales per week averaged $3,877 (around 1,000 bags per store per week). Value-added vegetables (side dishes, trays and snacks) grew 8.7 percent in value and 5.6 percent in volume in 2015. Of total store sales, fresh produce reached 11.4 percent and is growing strongly in the USA (Nielsen).

But these impressive numbers do not come without concerns. In interviews and readings, several specific issues are present in California's agriculture that were reported to be increasing costs in the supply chain. Lets visit some of them:

Labor: With a low mechanization index in several commodities this industry is severely dependent on labor and any changes in labor policies strongly hits this business. Issues of an aging workforce, reduced inflow of immigrants, younger generations lacking the motivation to work and risks in the H2A (Mexican labor program), with the comments of some political pressure for it not to work (paper processing is getting slower) all impact labor availability. A higher minimum wage (expected to go to $ 15 an hour), together with employees' empowerment, Mexico's development, lack of housing for workers, unions getting stronger and on-productive time labor lawsuits are increasing and makes labor a huge issue.

Land: Tight availability and increasing land values, increasing costs with lease values climbing and land disputes will tend to increase in the coming years. More lands being converted to organic use are increasing issues with insects, plagues and diseases. Organics farmers are facing several quality issues and challenges to produce, so there is a chance of promising what cannot be delivered in the future.

Water: More frequent draughts mean that in some areas wells are lowering, making it more difficult to drill and there is increasing concern over water usage. The issue of water did not show convergence among those interviewed, since some are very worried and some thought there is plenty of water available.

Regulations: Rules are linked to food safety, product usage (nitrates, chemicals for crop protection) clean air regulations, water quality and several other factors. There are reports of more diseases due to tighter regulations that are increasing complexity and increasing costs (people and procedures) for everyone in the food production chain.

Consolidation: Fewer farmers managing more land due to the need of scale, labor issues, risks, succession and compliance. The valley lost 50 percent of its growers in 10 years.

Logistics' costs: This has been an issue since in the US production areas tend to be far away from the major consuming centers, demanding hundreds of trucks cross the USA each day (from the west to the east). Transport costs, consumer pressure over carbon emissions and footprint, and "buying-local" movements may challenge this wonderful region.

Retailers' concentration and private labels are trends that put pressure on farmers in California, eroding margins.

These were some of the issues raised by the farmers that I had the privilege to interview. They should be addressed to keep this region growing and remain as one of the most important food baskets in the world. It is impressive to visit California's agriculture, a lesson of efficiency and coordination to the world.

The author is professor of strategic planning and food chains at the School of Economics and Business, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (www.favaneves.org) and an international speaker. He's the author of The Future of Food Business and coordinator of 50 books published in eight countries and in China, The World on the Tongue.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to reporters at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, January 28, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

The significance of smooth Sino-Japanese relations cannot be overstated, for they not only serve the interests of the world's second- and third-largest economies, but also strengthen peace and stability in the region and beyond. Yet this vital relationship has reached a new low, to the dismay of people in both countries.

According to a joint survey conducted before the 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum that began in Tokyo on Tuesday, over 78 percent of the Chinese respondents said the two countries have a "poor" relationship, an opinion shared by 71.9 percent of Japanese.

Many factors, including historical issues and the two sides' competing maritime claims in the East China Sea, have forced the relationship into this gloom.

Japan's aggressive stance against China on the South China Sea issue, even though it has no claims in those waters, has further damaged bilateral ties. Worse, Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said recently that Japan would intensify its engagement with the United States in the South China Sea with "joint training cruises", which risks infringing upon China's maritime sovereignty.

Ironically, however, Japan has persistently portrayed China as the troublemaker. In its defense white paper issued in July, it hyped up the "China threat" theory by accusing Beijing of "high-handed" activities to alter "the status quo by force".

What Japan has done runs counter to the principles enshrined in the four political documents signed between the two countries in the 1970s, which are the foundation of China-Japan relations.

China has sought to improve bilateral ties in the spirit of "using history as a mirror and looking to the future" and strived to build an Asian community of shared destiny. But the lack of political trust between the leaders of the two countries makes turning a new chapter in bilateral ties an uphill task.

This is worrying, because "not marching forward means sliding backward" for the fragile relationship, as President Xi Jinping put it. And Japan is taking steps that are not conducive to rebuilding relations on whatever political trust is left between the two sides.

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing ahead with his efforts to revise the country's pacifist Constitution, especially the war-renouncing Article 9, he has raised eyebrows in countries that fell victim to Japanese aggression before and during World War II.

Despite its effort, China alone cannot improve relations with Japan. We do not expect Japan to always meet China halfway to maintain stable ties. But it should at least learn to watch its words and actions on sensitive issues to prevent bilateral disputes from spiraling out of control.
European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva delivers a speech on Monday at the function to celebrate China's National Day,which falls on Oct 1.[Photo by Fujing/ chinadaily.com.cn]

European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva has called China's hosting of the G20 a "huge success", while saying its steady commitment in tackling climate change has reflected the country's determination to deal with severe global challenges.

"China has gone beyond bringing the contribution to its own people and is determined to develop a peaceful world and respond to global challenges," Georgieva said on Monday.

Georgieva made the comments in a speech she delivered at a function organized by the China mission to the EU to celebrate the 67th National Day of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct 1.

Georgieva said she was encouraged by China's commitment and actions in ratifying the Paris climate change agreement ahead of the G20 summit, which she called a "huge success".

"For me, this is an action that China had taken the lead in and will be beneficial to our children and grandchildren and I should like to thank China for its commitment," said Georgieva.

She said China's 13th Five-year Plan has demonstrated that it is determined to restructure its economy, improving environmental quality and energy efficiency and continue to reduce poverty. "And for me, China's hosting the G20 has delivered a clear message that it will do in the global arena what it has done at home," said Georgieva.

Yang Yanyi, Chinese Ambassador to the EU, also said the successful hosting of the G20 Hangzhou Summit has offered new solutions to improving global economic and financial governance and unlocking a new driving force for growing the global economy.

Yang also said thanks to reform, innovation, adjustment and transformation, the Chinese economy has maintained stability and performed within the appropriate range.

"We have advanced the Belt and Road Initiative to build greater connectivity and provide strong impetus to regional development and integration," said Yang.

As to China-EU relations, Yang said both sides have convened the 18th China-EU Summit which demonstrated the shared vision to strengthen China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Looking ahead, Yang said the international environment is complex and challenging and the downward economic pressure is not to be underestimated.

But Yang said China has the confidence and capability to achieve steady progress in pursuing the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

"And China will achieve the main economic and social development targets set for this year," said Yang.
WASHINGTON - Hot-headed U.S. Republican candidate Donald Trump needs to show voters he can be calm and cool under pressure during Monday night's first presidential debate, U.S. experts said.

If Trump can do this, he may be able to continue closing in on his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. If not, he may not be able to catch up, the experts said.

Trump has had a good run in the past few weeks, and has started to close Clinton's lead in the polls, as the controversial billionaire has toned down his rhetoric and focused on the issues in recent weeks.

Indeed, the brash businessman for the past year has become infamous for hurling insults at rival candidates and for what many critics call controversial and over-the-top statements. While that earned Trump much respect from his supporters, it has also alienated him from many independent and undecided voters.

But now, it is crucial for Trump during the debate to refrain from the insults and over-the-top statements that have gained himself so much press in the past year, as he needs to increase support outside his base.

With less than two months to go until November' s presidential election, Trump will have to stay on message and away from the temptation to hurl personal attacks and insults against rival Clinton during the nationally televised debate, experts said.

"He needs to stay on message that he is the agent of change and she (Clinton) represents the status quo. This is his best strength against her. He doesn't have to hit a home run, just to avoid a series of errors that undermine public confidence in his ability to do the job," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution.

Clinton, however, will use Monday's debate as a chance to trip up Trump in hopes that he will engage in his typical name calling and insults. Many voters see Trump as temperamentally unfit to be president, and Clinton hopes to capitalize on this.

"Clinton's goal is to goad Trump into intemperate statements that make him look unfit for the presidency," West said.

If Clinton can get Trump to say outrageous things, it will remind people of his statements that and that he does not appear very presidential, West told Xinhua.

Trump in the past has compared Mexicans to rapists, called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, and has made personal insults against political rivals.

Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that Clinton has to draw Trump's "worse characteristics out."

But whether Trump can resist the temptation to spout off against Clinton on the debate stage remains unknown.

There have been past instances in which the very vocal candidate has seemed to tone it down, delivering serious policy speeches that are argued in a coherent way. But then just days later he would make an off-the-cuff remark that would erase all the gains he made.

Recent weeks have perhaps seen the longest stretch of time in which Trump has refrained from, essentially, being Trump. But it remains unknown whether he can keep it up, especially on the debate stage with Clinton.

For her part, Clinton's challenge is to present herself as more approachable and down-to-earth in a country where citizens want their leaders to understand the struggles of ordinary Americans.

"Her biggest challenge is relating to ordinary voters. People want to know that she cares about them and will undertake meaningful actions that will improve their lives. If she can do that, it will be a good night for her," West said.

Other experts said the debate is crucial for both candidates, as polls show that the two candidates have among the highest negative rates -- essentially the number of people who don' t like them -- in recent presidential history, polls show.

"In an election cycle where so many people have a negative viewpoint of both candidates, this debate is vital for both differentiating each candidate from their opponent, as well as ginning up the base," Mahaffee said.

While it may not be "make or break," it's vital for Trump to use this debate to further his momentum that's seen him close the gap with Clinton, he said.

Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua that it's not clear Trump wants to resist the temptation to throw personal insults at Clinton.

"I think he will allow some of that Trump to appear, balanced though with the more restrained figure that will be necessary for him to appear presidential," he said.
Until October 15th, Le Bon Marche in Paris  the worlds oldest department store, founded in 1852  is showcasing one hundred artisanal Paris-based clothing, jewelry, beauty, and stationery labels. Curated by Le Bon Marches style director, Jennifer Cullvier, and complemented by Christine Taconnets book Made in Paris, as a guide to Parisian artisanal ware, the LVMH-owned department store discovered nearly 8,000 independent fashion designers in all parts of the French capital, choosing one hundred of them to showcase in their annual exhibit. (Last years exhibit focused on Brooklyn-inspired fashion.)

"We spent days, weeks in our city, trying to discover new brands," Cullvier told me recently, "and while many you cannot see from the street, behind hidden doors we discovered beautiful ateliers, beautiful spaces."

Artisanal design houses  or fashion created by a single, independent designer  have been popping up all over the French capital, especially in less august neighborhoods, from Chateau Rouge to Barbes to Montorgueil, where rents are cheaper and fashion designers, like painters and writers, can afford to work in relative obscurity before sharing their vision with the world.

As more and more people have been leaving their jobs to dabble in design, the number of independent designers reached a critical mass and department stores began to take notice.

"A lot of these people were doing another job before," Cullvier said, "as bankers, in the law, and they exchanged that for more creative activities: to be designers, creative directors. In the end it became almost a joke; wed ask, what was your job before? and it was almost always some office work."

The selected brands  including Maison Chateau Rouge (minimalist streetwear: skirts and tops cut out of wax fabrics), Louise Damas (jewelry inspired by female literary characters), Aurelie Chadaine (eco-friendly leathers: bags, shoe fringes applied with vegetable tannings), Body & Clyde (lingerie bodysuits), Esquisse (laser-cut panties)  have been plucked from their relative obscurity and placed in bas-relief at Le Bon Marche in Paris seventh arrondissement alongside many of the stores permanent collection of brands.

Christian Louboutin, Chloe, Jerome Dreyfuss, Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Stella McCartney, and Baccarat, among others, have created exclusive items, which theyre calling "capsules," for the exhibit, including a black Balenciaga dress a la Edith Piaf, Baccarat crystal glassware with engraved images of Paris, and a starry Dries van Noten top thats "inspired by Paris at night."

"A lot of these people were doing another job before. In the end it became almost a joke; wed ask, what was your job before?"

Upon entering the multi-floor exhibit in Le Bon Marche, one quickly sees a stark difference between the typical luxury wares of the established brands and the sketched visions of the artisanal design-wear on show. But this diversification is a particularly welcome sight, and a rare one at that.

In many ways, department store exposure is a coup for independent artisans. In the case of Le Bon Marche, designers are gaining free publicity and space in one of the globes most frequented stores; theyre able to make money to hire new people and expand their vision; perhaps a few will even break out and get purchased by Richemont or LVMH.

And yet, one must ask what is lost when independent craftsmanship is put within the context of a department store?

Firstly, because artisanal designers require exposure for financial success, department stores need not pay exorbitant fees to gain access to the newest and brightest creative minds; they need only offer them window space. The trouble is that this window space, while financially vital to an artisan, has the potential to soften the potency of the designers vision  the very attribute that made that designer interesting to the department in the first place.

"In department stores, theres more potential for diluting artisanal brand identity."

"In department stores, theres more potential for diluting artisanal brand identity," Hazel Clark, the research chair of fashion at the Parsons School of Design in New York, told me recently.

But before the pitchforks come out against department stores and what they might mean for the fate of emerging independent fashion, it would be wise to look back at what todays artisanal designers are trying to accomplish  namely, a reinvigoration of the same spirit that drove haute couture  and how department stores might help facilitate it.

In 1858, on the rue de la Paix in Paris, the Englishman Charles Frederick Worth opened a store selling made-to-measure clothing. During his shops near-century in business, Worth would pave the way for the staples of modern fashion: he invented the designer label; he began presenting collections by season; and he introduced runway models.

But it was Worths invention of haute couture that has led to his lasting name.

In 1863, a year after the Opera Garnier had gone up next door and Worths business was taking off, Charles Dickens stopped by his shop, where he had difficulty believing that haute couture was not only a viable business model but was attracting the most esteemed aristocrats and Paris most rarefied beauties.

"Would you believe," Dickens wrote in All Year Round, "there are bearded milliners [who take] the exact dimensions of the highest titled women in Paris  robe them, unrobe them, and make them turn backward and forward before them?"

Worths one-of-kind dresses along with his high-end sartorial creations  among them the hoopskirt, the bustle (the frame worn under a skirt to puff it out behind), and the leg-of-mutton sleeve (also known as the gigot sleeve)  took off in popularity, eventually reaching across the Atlantic and into the closets of Manhattan and Midwestern elites, worn by women with surnames like Guggenheim and Rubinstein.

But by the early-twentieth century, haute couture had reached its apex and had begun its decline. The made-to-measure style was later revived and modified by Christian Dior with his "New Look" in 1947; then by Coco Chanel and to a certain extent Andre Courreges in the subsequent two decades; but haute couture, has not been as popular since those halcyon, Age of Innocence years.

Economically, haute couture simply does not make a profit.

While there were over two hundred haute couture houses before World War II, today only about a dozen remain. In his book, The Fashion Conspiracy, Nicholas Coleridge estimates that there are only thirty haute couture clients worldwide (although with new prosperity in Asia, some put this number closer to 4,000).

The explanation for haute coutures decline is both economic and social. Economically, haute couture simply does not make a profit. The late-Jean-Louis Scherrer  a former ballerina, a pupil of Christian Dior, and an haute couture designer  revealed his price structure in 2010 for his haute couture line. One example outfit of his was made up of over a half mile of gold thread, had 18,000 sequins, and took hundreds of hours of hand-stitching. Scherrer estimated that a fair price for it might have been $65,000; he was eventually able to only get $45,000 for it.

Similarly, Jean-Paul Gaultier, when reporting record sales to journalists recently, said with haute couture "we don't make any money out of it." Or Jean-Jacques Picart, who told The Telegraph, "No matter how successful you are, you can't make a profit from couture."

But haute coutures decline is also social. The style has become so detached from the fashion industry that it suggests not a trend to be bought and imitated but rather a theatrical possibility (think: Lady Gaga in Versace haute couture), which only bolsters its economic implausibility.

There remains a deep desire to connect with ones clothes and their designer, a sentiment that is also at that heart of artisanal ware

And yet, even amidst its socioeconomic decline, haute couture has left an imprint on the fashion consumer. There remains a deep desire to connect with ones clothes and their designer, a sentiment that is also at that heart of artisanal ware, which is slowly emerging as an emotionally similar (but much cheaper) alternative.

"The interesting thing about artisanal ware is that its responding to a desire for individuality, like haute couture," Clark said. "With artisanal ware, theres something more particular and related to the wearer, who cant afford haute couture but still wants to have a special relationship with their clothes and whoever is designing and making their clothes."

Perhaps then haute couture is not dying exactly; perhaps it is only being reinvented.

And perhaps its reinvention requires the kind of capital and publicity that only an LVMH-type conglomerate or a Le Bon Marche-esque department store can provide.

In both artisanal fashion and haute couture there is a singular desire for a connection with ones clothes. But whether artisanal ware is indeed the future of fashion depends on how seriously the existing fashion powerhouses and department stores want to take it.

Its a delicate balance for the department store: ignore artisanal designers entirely and they will likely continue to toil in obscurity; but embrace them fully, sell them in your stores, and buy up their labels and that singular, independent vision that made them so interesting in the first place could disappear.

A month-long exhibit, therefore, is a smart place to start: whet the palette of the consumer for the new, the unique, the independent; but don't saturate it.

One can imagine Dickens dropping by an artisanal shop in Pigalle in northern Paris, having a look at button-up dress shirts made of fine silk and designed by a former lawyer. It wouldn't be quite the same as Worths haute couture shop, but I think Dickens would find it agreeable.

"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again," he wrote in Nicholas Nickleby. Artisanal ware will never be the same as haute couture nor will it attract the exact same buyers, but by tapping into the same sartorial and emotional desires, artisanal ware might be haute coutures spiritual reincarnation  old desires meeting again.

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A trio of three armed home-invaders in Georgia got a surprise they weren't expecting.

Georgia police recently released a surveillance video taken from inside a home showing three men who have guns kicking down a door and entering a home.

The men are looking through boxes when a woman emerges from another room carrying a gun and a shootout ensues. As gun fire is exchanged, one man runs through a glass door and the other two exit the room.

Arriving at the scene, police found one of the intruders shot, in the incident that occurred on Sept 16. Although police used CPR, the suspect whom investigators have confirmed to be 28-year-old Atlanta resident Antonio Leeks died on premises. The two other suspects fled by car.

Police told local reporters the suspects were looking for cash "when they met their match."

"Their match"was a woman identified as a 40-year-old from China's Fujian province. She obtained a gun only one month prior to the incident. The owner of two restaurants in the Atlanta area, the woman was at her colleague's home for work-related reasons, investigators said.

The woman, who told dispatchers she was also shot, and another man living in the home were brought to police headquarters for questioning. She told police that she heard the intruders around 4 am.

"She exercised her right to defend her livelihood and property," Deon Washington of the Gwinnett County Police Department said in a statement. No charges are expected against the woman, whose name has not been released, Washington said.

"The homeowner told dispatchers that she and another male were awoken to the sounds of someone entering their home," Washington said. "The female retrieved her handgun and went to investigate the sounds."

She told police she saw at least three men coming through the front door. "At that point," Washington said, "she began firing rounds from her handgun and struck at least one suspect in the torso killing him.Bottom of Form

Nearly a week after the incident, the two men believed to be connected to the invasion are still on the run, Gwinnett police said.
Xiamen Airlines launched Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service on Sept 26th, creating an air bridge connecting two of China's major special economic zones with an economic heavyweight on the US West Coast.

Xiamen Airlines Chairman Che Shanglun (left) gives the Xiamen Airlines Model Plane as a gift to Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick at the ceremony celebrating the launch of Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service by the airlines at the SeaTac Airport arrival hall Wednesday morning. Linda Deng/ China Daily

The ceremony to welcome the inaugural flight to Seattle was hosted at SeaTac Airport arrival hall Wednesday morning. Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman and Xiamen Chairman Che Shanglun took part in the ribbon cutting and toast to Xiamen by the Boeing Company.

Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick Economic and Commercial Counsellor from Consulate General of China in San Francisco Yang Yihang and other guests attended.

This is not only the first long haul route originating in Xiamen with an end point in the United States, but also the first direct international service between Shenzhen and the US.

The service will be handled by a Xiamen Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with three flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Xiamen Airlines chairman and general manager Che Shanglun said, "The launch of the Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is an important reflection of the results of the meeting between Chinese and American leaders in 2015. On the heels of these events, a Fuzhou-New York and a Xiamen-LA service will also be initiated, making air travel, and, by consequence, exchanges between the two countries much easier."

The Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is the sixth long-haul and first American route that Xiamen Airlines has launched. Existing services include Xiamen-Amsterdam, Fuzhou-Sydney, Xiamen-Sydney, Xiamen-Melbourne and Xiamen-Vancouver routes.

The newly opened Seattle service is Xiamen Airlines' first long-haul route with a stop at a city outside of Fujian province.

To complete the build out of a network that extends beyond Seattle, Xiamen Airlines has signed a partnership agreement with Alaska Airlines that enables passengers traveling to Seattle via Xiamen Airlines to fly onward to 61 major and secondary destinations across the US, Canada and Mexico.

The launch of the route marks the first time the Xiamen Airlines fleet has had a chance to visit the home of their "birth", as Seattle, where Boeing is located, is where each member of the 165-strong fleet of aircraft was manufactured and first saw the light of day. As a loyal client of Boeing, Xiamen Airlines operates the largest all-Boeing aircraft fleet in China.

Over the past three decades, Xiamen Airlines has taken delivery of hundreds of brand new Boeing airliners and, due to the cost advantage of an all-Boeing fleet, Xiamen Airlines has continuously shown a profit for 29 years, the longest period of reporting uninterrupted profits in Chinese civil aviation history.
Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff leaves the Alvorada Palace, the presidential residence, after a vote in Brazil's Senate stripped Rousseff of the presidency, in Brasilia, Brazil, Sept 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil is facing a severe crisis and is moving toward a state of emergency due to suspicions of abuse of authority, former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said Monday.

Rousseff posted to Facebook and Twitter after the recent arrests of her former Finance Minister Guido Mantega and former Chief of Staff Antonio Palocci, within an ongoing investigation into a large corruption scheme at state oil giant Petrobras.

"The country is experiencing a severe situation. The announcement of the new phase of Operation Car Wash (the Petrobras investigation) by the Minister of Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an electoral campaign ... raises suspicions of abuse of authority and political usage of the federal police," Rousseff said.

Rousseff was referring to declarations made Sunday by Moraes, who promised "more actions" concerning the Petrobras investigation this week.

On Sept. 14, Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was accused of money laundering and corruption in connection with the Petrobras investigation.

On Sept. 22, Mantega was arrested and interrogated by police.

On Monday, Palocci, Lula's former finance minister and Rousseff's former chief of staff, was arrested for allegedly receiving bribes from Odebrecht, a big construction firm closely involved with the Petrobras corruption ring.

For Rousseff, had these arrests taken place during her mandate, "we would have been severely criticized by the press and the opposition. We are approaching a state of emergency," she said.

Rousseff, who was removed from the presidency by the Senate on Aug. 31, was impeached for breaking fiscal responsibility laws in her management of the federal budget, which was unrelated to Operation Car Wash.
Senior officials from inland Guizhou province come to the Silicon Valley to promote their big data comprehensive pilot zone, the first of its kind in China, hoping the preferential policies the southwest region will provide will help generate more collaborations and exchanges between Guizhou and the Silicon Valley.

At a seminar held Monday in Santa Clara, Guizhou Mayor and member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee Chen Gang, said China's central government has pinned high hopes on the development of big data nationwide and chose Guizhou to start a pilot zone.

"We can explore big data sharing, data center integration, the whole industry agglomeration, besides big data flow and dissemination," said Chen, who is also director of the leading group on the construction and development of the Guizhou Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone.

Since Chen and his 20-member delegation arrived at the Bay Area six days ago, the team has reached out to high-tech industries in the Silicon Valley and scholars at universities such as UC Berkeley.

"They are shuffling back and forth around the Bay Area in order to meet more professionals and give out more detailed and thorough information about Guizhou," said Ren Faqiang, deputy consul general at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco.

In recent years, Guizhou has launched cooperation with international companies at home and abroad.

"Cloud computing and big data have been the driving force of Guizhou's economy," said Chen, adding that Alibaba, Baidu, Qualcomm, Oracle, Microsoft and Google all operate in Guizhou with a business scope ranging from unmanned vehicles, smart city and server chips to energy transmission and storage.

Guizhou started sponsoring the Guiyang International Big Data Expo two years ago, and drew more than 20,000 guests worldwide.

"If you have missed the investment opportunity in Guangdong or Zhejiang 30 years ago, by no means should you miss that of Guizhou today," said Alibaba's Jack Ma, who attended the Expo for two consecutive years.

Through its streamlined data platform - Guizhou on the Digital Cloud and the South China Data Center - Guizhou provides quality services to any big data industries that decided to open local operations.

In 2016, Qualcomm launched its local offices in Guizhou with a focus on production of high-end server chips.

"We are making more and more friends based on the shared idea that big data is the trend and will benefit the entire world," Chen said.
Former UK chancellor supports plan to combine Eastern and Western education

Former UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne has written a letter of support for a new free school in Manchester that will combine Eastern and Western education, while a bilingual English and Mandarin pre-pschool is set to open in London next year.

Both schools are responding to an increasingly popular belief among parents in the United Kingdom that an understanding of Mandarin and Chinese culture will benefit their children as China's global influence grows.

The Manchester Rutherford School hopes to open in September 2017 and serve 900 students ages 11 to 16. This week, the school's board is submitting a bid to the Department for Education to register under the free school initiative. Such institutions are free to attend and receive state funding, though they are not controlled by the local educational authority.

The school will adhere to the regular curriculum, though Mandarin lessons will be compulsory and Eastern teaching methods will be employed.

"It will be very much focused on Chinese language and culture-a fusion of Eastern and Western pedagogies, with strong links to the business community," Peter Rowlinson, project manager for the free school bid, said recently. "Manchester is very keen to exploit the opportunities that China will bring as a marketplace and as a cultural exchange opportunity, particularly since President Xi's visit."

If the bid progresses, the board will be called to an interview at the Department for Education in November and could get the green light early next year. Both Manchester Metropolitan University and Trinity High School have agreed to be collaborative partners, and Rowlinson said that over 500 parents have expressed interest in the school.

"They believe Mandarin is a tool that will meet the needs of the local business community, in particular the ability to offer trading links and communication with China," he says.

Last week, Osborne sent a letter of support to Gerry Yeung, a Manchester entrepreneur who sits on the school's board. The former chancellor said the school aligned well with the Northern Powerhouse proposal, which aims to boost economic growth in northern England, partly by strengthening trade and investment ties with China.

Osborne was recently made chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a new government-backed body that will promote the political and business interests of the Greater Manchester area. He was sacked as chancellor by new Prime Minister Theresa May in July.

"As a leading proponent of economic growth in our region and particularly the Northern Powerhouse and Manchester China Forum initiatives, I am keen to promote programs that improve educational standards and provide young people with the skills they need to represent our region on the world stage," Osborne wrote.

Interest in Mandarin is on the rise in the United Kingdom. The number of students taking the General Certificate of Secondary Education exam in Mandarin rose by 10 percent year-on-year in 2016, and has increased by 75 percent in the past five years.

England's first bilingual school for Mandarin and English is set to open next summer in London. Kensington Wade will be a fee-charging prep school for 500 students ages 3 to 13.

Hugo de Burgh, director of the China Media Centre at the University of Westminster and co-founder of Kensington Wade, said recently that the school will target three groups of parents. The smallest group comprises Chinese professionals working in London who want their children to receive an English education while maintaining their Mandarin. The largest group will be made up of other international parents.

"You'll have, say, a Japanese guy who's married to a French wife and they work in financial services in Central London. They are very sensitive to the fact that China is so important to the world," De Burgh says.

"Then there are British parents who have discovered how important China is, who know it's the main trading partner of 124 countries and thatespecially after the G20decision-makers, opinion formers and business leaders are all realizing what China does and where China invests is very important for the world's economy. If' Little Jane' can learn Chinese, she's got a head start."
Connectivity is about the future of APEC and should be given a higher priority on the agenda, says Tian Jian, China APEC Senior Offical on Tuesday.

Tian made the remark during the International Symposium on "Connecting the Connectivities in Asia-Pacific", which is held in Yangzhou, China's eastern Jiangsu province.

Tian says that connectivity covers trade, investment, capacity building, and all the missions of APEC. Connectivity comes across both developing countries and developed ones, physical connectivity to people movement, and has great impact on APEC.

He added that China's Belt and Road Initiative is a large contribution from China to global connectivity. The initiative should be jointly built through consultation be in everybody's interest, and efforts should be made to ensure understanding of the countries along the Belt and Road.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative in 2013, which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt that links China with Europe through central and Western Asia by inland routes, and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road connecting China with Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe by sea routes.

The Symposium in Yangzhou is organized by the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, which aims to discuss three aspects of connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region: physical connectivity, institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity. Representatives from more than 20 economies of the Asia-Pacific region have participated in this meeting.
Chinese premier meets Portuguese FM on way home (Xinhua) Updated: 2016-09-27 11:38

TERCEIRA ISLAND, Portugal - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday concluded his three-day official visit to Cuba and made a stopover in Portugal's Terceira Island on his way back to China.



Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong were welcomed by Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva and Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run at the airport in the western island of the European country.



During his meeting with Silva, Li said Portugal is China's good friend in the European Union (EU) and China-Portugal relations have been enhanced in recent years with efforts from both sides.



China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political trust, increase mutual understanding, enlarge pragmatic cooperation, establish closer civilian communication with Portugal and to diversify the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, Li said.



According to Li, pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results in various fields. Chinese investment in Portugal keeps growing and their cooperation in third markets, such as Latin America, has seen excellent results.



He hoped both sides would continue to explore the potential to cooperate in fields like energy, finance and ocean, as well as to resort to complementary advantages to better coordinate in third markets.



China encourages its companies to invest and do business in Portugal, and welcomes Portuguese counterparts to exploit the Chinese market as well, Li said, adding that both countries should make efforts to offer a fair and convenient environment to foreign investors.



As the special envoy of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Silva firstly greeted Li and his wife on behalf of Costa.



He said that Portugal and China have enjoyed many exchanges in history and that their bilateral relations enjoy favorable growth momentum.



Portugal wishes to increase the export of competitive farm products and dairy products to China, Silva said.

As an important Chinese investment destination in the EU, Portugal attaches great importance to investment from China, the foreign minister said.



Portugal hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China in fields like energy, transport infrastructure and logistics, and furthermore, it wishes to establish cooperation with China as the third party in wider regions, for example in Africa, Silva said.
K-12 education barely merited a mention in the first presidential debate Monday night. But child-care access got a quickand earlyshout-out.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, said that her prescription for improving the economy includes expanding access to child care to help working families.

Donald Trump, the Republican contender, said he agreed with her on the child-care issue in general, even though the two might differ on numbers and amounts.

Those numbers and amounts are strikingly different. Clinton wants to double spending on the Early Head Start program, encourage states to offer universal prekindergarten to 4-year-olds, significantly ramp up

home-visiting services, offer scholarships of up to $1,500 to help low-income families afford child care, and more. The Clinton campaign hasnt put an overall pricetag on that proposal, although independent estimates have pegged it at about $200 billion, her campaign said.

Trump, on the other hand, wants to offer six months of maternity leave to women whose employers dont provide it. He hasnt said anything about paternity leave for new fathers, though. His other child-care proposals work through the tax system, which some experts say puts the poorest families at a disadvantage. For instance, he would make child-care tax deductible up to certain income levels, including for stay-at-home

parents.

Trump said he thought the two might get back to the child-care issue at some point in the debate. They didnt.

Clinton also gave a smattering of shout-outs to the need to increase college access. She didnt outline her plan for higher education, but it calls for making public college free for low- and moderate-income students. More here.



K-12 got little love during the debate, which was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. There were just a couple of exceptions.

Clinton said that race can play a role in what kind of an education students get. She hasnt released a proposal for helping schools desegregate, a sticky political issue. But she has occasionally mentioned the importance of equal access to education on the trail.

And her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, has talked about his father-in-laws move to desegregate schools in the Commonwealth. He and his wife, former Virginia education secretary Anne Holton, who was part of that desegregation effort as a child, sent their kids to those same integrated schools.

Earlier in the debate, Trump said the nation cant afford infrastructure, including new schools because leaders have squandered tax money. Clinton said that the problem may be that wealthy people like Trump arent paying their fair share in taxes. Shes pitched a $275 billion, five-year infrastructure program to fix-up crumbling schools.

So now the big question is: Will K-12 education get any more attention in the next Clinton-Trump debate, which is slated to be held on Sunday, Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.?



Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., on Sept. 26. --Julio Cortez/AP

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Just 41 percent of the 15,000 students at Ohios largest full-time online charter school do enough work to be considered full-time students, according to a state education department audit .

As a result, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow could be ordered to repay roughly $60 million in public funds.

ECOT has 10 days to appeal the states findings. The schools lawyers are also challenging in court the legitimacy of the states approach to counting enrollment in full-time online schools.

At issue are records demonstrating how often cyber studentswho work primarily from home, via the Internetlog in to their schools online learning platforms, as well as much time they spend using their schools learning software. State guidelines indicate that students in full-time online schools should be spending about five hours per day on schoolwork.

A preliminary audit conducted earlier this year, however, found evidence that most ECOT students logged in for only an hour or so per day.

When the state education department requested more extensive records, the school sued, arguing that the state had changed its requirements for attendance reporting midstream and was unfairly applying new rules retroactively. In August, an Ohio judge ordered the school to turn over a sample of 750 randomly selected student records.

From those, the state education department determined that ECOT could only document 6,312 full-time studentsfar fewer than the 15,322 students for whom the school received per-pupil funding from the state during the 2015-16 school year.

A spokesman for the school described the audit as a sham.

It is impossible for any e-school to meet the retroactive demands of ODE, which is why no e-school in the state has been able to do so, ECOT spokesman Neil Clark told the Columbus Dispatch.

The schools leader previously suggested that the results of the audit could lead to a death spiral.

Earlier this year, the Ohio education department found that a smaller cyber charter in the state, Provost Academy, had billed for five times as many students as it should have, based on student attendance and login records. The school was ordered to repay nearly 80 percent of the state funding it had received.

And across the country, cyber charter attendance has become a point of contention. In July, Californias state attorney general announced a multi-million dollar settlement with K12 Inc. , the nations largest operator of cyber charter schools, over issues including questionable student attendance reporting at the California Virtual Academies. The Pennsylvania Department of Education is also probing irregularities in attendance reporting at the 8,500-student Agora Cyber Charter.

Roughly 200 full-time online charter schools serve more than 200,000 students across the country. In 2015, Stanford Universitys Center for Research on Education Outcomes found that the schools on average have an overwhelming negative impact  on student learning.

A number of pro-school-choice groups, including the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, and the Ohio-based Fordham Institute, have recently called for major policy reforms in the sector.

See also:
(Photo : getty images.) China on Monday refused to back remarks published in a leading Pakistani newspaper that Beijing would unequivocal support Pakistan in case of any foreign aggression. The remark was attributed to Chinese envoy to Lahore, Mr Yu Boren.

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China said it was not aware of recent remarks, which was attributed to a top Chinese diplomat and published in a leading Pakistani newspaper, that Beijing would unequivocally support Pakistan in case of any foreign aggression, and that it is backing Islamabad in the on-going Kashmir crisis.



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"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang when asked to comment about the reported remarks on Monday.



Dawn, a popular Pakistani English newspaper, published last week a statement reportedly issued by Punjab chief minister's office. It quoted Yu Boren, China's envoy in Lahore, as saying: "In case of any (foreign) aggression, our country will extend its full support to Pakistan."



The statement also claimed that Yu conveyed to Punjab chief minister China's unilateral support in the ongoing Kashmir crisis.



"We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue," Yu allegedly added in the statement. "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."



However, China today clarified that Kashmir dispute is a purely bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.



"China's position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear," Geng noted. "As neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation and jointly work for peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region."



He further said that Kashmir is an unresolved chapter of history, as he hoped that concerned parties solvethe sensitive issue through proper mechanism.



China's refusal to back reported support to Pakistan will reportedly come as a huge setback for Islamabad, which at present, is coping against continuous diplomatic pressure piled by the Indian government following the recent Uri attack.



The Uri attack left 18 Indian soldiers dead in the Indian administrated Kashmir. New Delhi alleged that a Pakistan-based terrorist organization masterminded it.



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(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Beijing Shanhai Capital Management offered a takeover bid to chip maker Analogix Semiconductor in a deal worth more than $500 million.

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Following a number of high-profile attempts to acquire a U.S. semiconductor maker, recent news reveals that Beijing Shanhai Capital Management offered a takeover bid to chip maker Analogix Semiconductor in a deal worth more than $500 million.



"We are very happy to have reached this agreement, which provides significant value to shareholders. The financial support of Shanhai Capital propels our growth while maintaining the direction, organization, and determination to serve our customers," Kewei Yang, Chairman and CEO of Analogix Semiconductor, said in a statement.



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Meanwhile, Xianfeng Zhao, chairman of Beijing Shanhai Capital Management, is also pleased of the deal and is "looking forward to facilitating Analogix's continued growth."



"With the added investment, we can leverage the strength of the company's core technology and business expertise, extend our business into adjacent high-growth markets, and build a world-leading semiconductor company," he continued, adding that Analogix will be expecting an IPO in China soon.



The National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund also joined with Beijing Shanhai Capital as one of the limited partners, China Tech News reported. The over half-a-billion dollars deal is still subject for regulatory approval from authorities and is expected to be completed later this year.



The Santa Clara, California-based Analogix manufactures high-speed, mixed-signal chips to be utilized in cellular phones, virtual/augmented reality, and other cutting-edge devices. According to Tweak Town, it has high-profile customers including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Lenovo, to name a few.



However, Analogix, which is privately owned by venture investors such as Woodside Fund and DCM, is only established in 2002 and is relatively young compared with China's previous public acquisition targets, Forbes noted.



Although the country is the biggest consumer of such chips that power almost everything, it failed to compete fiercely with U.S. giants with the likes of Qualcomm and Intel and Asian leaders including South Korea's Samsung and Taiwan's TSMC.



But if Analogix and Beijing Shanhai Capital's deal meets less political resistance, China could finally see an end to its quest of acquiring a foreign chipmaker, Investopedia noted.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Duterte shows the finger to the European Union after the EU asked him to respect the human rights of Filipinos.

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WikiLeaks has released confidential reports hacked from the U.S. Department of State confirming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte heads the murderous Davao Death Squad that allegedly murdered over 1,400 persons, including street children and vendors, starting 1998 when Duterte became mayor of Davao City in Mindanao island.



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The leaked documents also reveal Duterte as president is now resorting to the same tactics he used in Davao City's bloody drug war over the past two decades and for which he was never held accountable.



That strategy consists in giving the Philippine National Police carte blanche to murder drug suspects at will; organizing hit squads under the guise of vigilante groups; promising the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army immunity from prosecution for their murders and offering huge rewards to civilians that inform on alleged drug bosses and drug users.



The climate of fear created by the government-abetted murders also prevents the families of victims and well-meaning citizens and civic organizations from opposing the killings out of fear they'll be murdered and branded drug addicts.



Over 3,500 Filipinos have so far been murdered in Duterte's lawless drug war, for which he is being taken to task by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and international human rights groups.



Duterte has responded by hurling expletives at his accusers while his sycophants claim Duterte and the police haven't violated any human rights in these thousands of extra-judicial killings.



A confidential U.S. State Department cable dated May 8, 2009 recently revealed by WikiLeaks said Duterte once "admitted complicity" in vigilante killings in Davao City.



WikiLeaks is an international non-profit journalistic organization that publishes secret information, news leaks and classified media from anonymous sources.



Written by former U.S. ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, the cable quoted statements from Alberto Sipaco, Jr, director of the Davao office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).



"Commission on Human Rights regional director Alberto Sipaco (strictly protect) at a private meeting affirmed that Mayor Duterte knows about the killings and permits them. Recounting a conversation he once had with Duterte, who is his close friend and former fraternity brother, Sipaco said he pleaded with the Mayor to stop vigilante killings and support other methods to reduce crime, like rehabilitation programs for offenders," wrote Kenney.



"According to Sipaco, the Mayor responded, 'I'm not done yet."



Sipaco said he "repeatedly attempted to reason with Duterte that the killings were unlawful and detrimental to society, but Duterte refused to broach the issue."



"Sipaco expressed a sense of helplessness over the killings, as well as concern for his personal safety, but acknowledged that the CHR was taking its mission in Davao very seriously," Kenney said.



A classified report by State Department Political Officer Andrew McClearn and revealed by WikiLeaks said human rights organizations have implicated the "Davao Death Squad," a vigilante group linked with Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, in 26 killings since the new year began (probably 2005).



It said the latest killings in Davao "serve to add to the lethal image that Mayor Duterte has carefully cultivated since coming to office in 1998."



The report also noted the DDS was similarly implicated in over 60 killings in 2004. But more damning, the report said Duterte "all but acknowledged his active support of the DDS Group ...."



The Davao Death Squad, described as a vigilante group "formed by the mayor," carried out many of the killings. DDS is an underground network of former criminals and communist militants. Their victims are "usually street children and petty criminals."



"In a January 17 meeting at city hall, he also offered cash rewards to citizens who helped identify drug traffickers or drug production laboratories so that they could be 'punished and destroyed'."



The report also quoted Sipaco telling U.S. Embassy officials "he did not have confidence in the ability of the national government to investigate the situation, however well-intentioned it might be:



"We are having the same problem as last year; friends and families of the victims don't lift a finger to accuse anyone, and neither eyewitnesses or hearsay witnesses come forward to the authorities."



Sipaco added that Duterte was unlikely to cooperate in any investigation given past patterns.



Moreover, most Davao citizens "seem to approve" of the extra-judicial killings, which strengthened Duterte's hand immeasurably, he said. Local human rights NGOs and leftist groups have also publicly complained about the killings, blaming Duterte for what has transpired.



The report also said the "sad fact is that rising crime rates and a slow, complicated legal system leave many Filipinos appreciative of such tactics, while weakening the rule of law in favor of summary justice."



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TagsWikiLeaks, U.S. Department of State, Rodrigo Duterte, Davao Death Squad, Kristie Kenney, Alberto Sipaco, Jr.
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Chinas new foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made its first public appearance to reiterate the countrys stance on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

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China's new foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made its first public appearance to reiterate the country's stance on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, CCTV News reported.



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"China has consistently advocated and positively supported a comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons. We are committed to not be the first to use nuclear weapons and not to use them against non-nuclear countries and regions," Geng said.



"China was one of the first countries to sign this treaty. We have always supported the aim of the treaty and demonstrated a commitment to temporarily stop nuclear tests. China would like to work with the international community to ensure this treaty comes into effect."







The statement came after the United Nations Security Council urged China as well as other nations including the Egypt, North Korea, India, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and the United States on Friday the enactment of a treaty to ban nuclear weapons testing.



The 15-member Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution with 14 votes in favor and an abstention by Egypt, Reuters reported.



It is calling all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear explosions and takes the lead to successfully put the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty into force.



The agreement can only come into effect if all 44 nations with nuclear power or research reactors will join the treaty. Although China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, and the United States have signed the treaty, they have not ratified it yet. North Korea, India, and Pakistan, on the other hand, have not signed yet, The News reported.



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(Photo : Getty Images) The European Commission set the preliminary deadline to rule on the ChemChina-Syngenta deal by Oct. 28.

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China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina) has sought the approval of European Union (EU) for the $43 billion takeover of Syngenta AG.



Earlier this year, ChemChina has agreed to acquire Syngenta, transforming it to become the worlds largest supplier of pesticides and agrochemicals. This is by far the biggest foreign acquisition of a Chinese firm.



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The European Commission set the preliminary deadline to rule on the deal by Oct. 28, according to Reuters.



This is the second deal of the three tie-ups between agrochemicals sector that sell seeds and chemicals to farmers from different parts of the world. This includes Bayer's $66 billion bid for Monsanto, Potash Corp of Saskatchewan's proposed merger with Agrium, and $130 billion merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont.



The approval will depend on the EU competition enforcers, who can either clear the deal, with or without concessions, or open a full investigation if they see anything wrong, such as harming the customers and rivals, with ChemChina's takeover. However, companies may avoid an extended probe by providing concessions in the first phase of the review, South China Morning Post reported.



Last month, EU regulators have also conducted an in-depth probe for the Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. merger and decided to suspend the deadline earlier this month to search for missing data. In addition, environmental campaigners and EU lawmakers have been asking EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to block Bayer AGs bid for Monsanto Co.



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Battling for market share against ACT Inc., the College Board is counting on its redesigned suite of SAT and PSAT tests to help it win statewide contracts, and its representing the push as a victory of opportunity for students.

In a conference call with reporters last week, College Board officials released a map of their statewide contracts, and the total

number of students who took the SAT during a school day program: 458,000 in 2015-16, up from 219,500 in 2014-15. Those numbers reflect students who took the SAT as part of a state-sponsored program , rather than signing up for it on their own.

College Board officials said that the PSAT and SAT represent opportunity because theyre now used more widely to provide free test-prep help, encourage promising students to try Advanced Placement study, and identify students for scholarships, and grant college-application fee waivers.

In 2015-16, the College Board debuted a new PSAT8/9, for 8th and 9th graders, and a redesigned PSAT, which is typically taken by 10th graders. The PSAT 10 was new last year, too; Its another version of the test that 10th graders can take. Company officials said they aimed to create a series of assessments that offer feedback to students on their journey toward college readiness, starting earlier than ever. But Coleman said that feedback alone isnt sufficient to justify the tests.

America is sick of tests but hungry for more opportunity, Coleman said on the media call. There is no room for more assessments that arent connected to more opportunity.

The College Board has won key battles in the statewide-contract war, nabbing some states, like Illinois , that had long given the ACT. Some states on the map above require all juniors to take the SAT, while others, such as Idaho, have statewide contracts that cover the cost for students, and give students the option of taking either the SAT or ACT. Five of the states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Michigan, and New Hampshire) use the SAT for federal accountability. (See EdWeeks 50-state list of what tests states used last year and how they used them, for more information.)

The statewide contracts represent opportunity for the College Board, as well, of course. Michigans three-year contract is worth $17.1 million, Illinois two-year deal is worth $12.9 million, and Colorados five-year contract could fetch up to $12.4 million. Idahos will bring in about $1.2 million this year, and New Hampshires $613,000.

Judging by the participation data the College Board released, the statewide contracts are paying off in PSAT participation. (For SAT participation data, see my companion blog post here .)

885,000 students took the PSAT 8/9



247,000 students took the PSAT 10



4 million students took the PSAT, up from 3.8 million in 2014-15



The College Boards opportunity mechanisms appear to be reaching more students. Here are some numbers the company released to back up that assertion:

7 percent to 8 percent more middle school students were identified by their PSAT scores as having AP potential



32 percent of the students who won $40,000-per-year college scholarships from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation were discovered through their PSAT scores. (The PSAT has also long been used to identify students for the National Merit scholarships.)



from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation were discovered through their PSAT scores. (The PSAT has also long been used to identify students for the National Merit scholarships.) 1.7 million students have used the free SAT-preparation course , offered through Khan Academy , which debuted in June 2015.



, offered through , which debuted in June 2015. Nearly 60 percent of the students who took the new SAT and used some form of test preparation reported on College Board questionnaires that theyd used its new free test-prep. Nineteen percent said theyd paid for test prep, a 10 percent drop from the previous year.



reported on College Board questionnaires that theyd used its new free test-prep. Nineteen percent said theyd paid for test prep, a 10 percent drop from the previous year. 435,842 low-income students in the class of 2016 received college-application-fee waivers from the College Board, up from 428,013 in the class of 2015.

This is really what this is all about, Schmeiser said on the press call. This is what students deserve.

For more stories about the College Boards push for statewide SAT contracts, see:

SAT Test-Taking Declines in Settings Not Sponsored by States or Districts

Illinois Chooses SAT over ACT for Statewide College-Readiness Testing

State Testing: An Interactive Breakdown of States 2015-16 Plans (specifies which states require SAT or ACT)

Will States Swap Standards-Based Tests for SAT, ACT?


(Photo : getty images.) United States said on Monday that it has imposed sanction on a Chinese firm,Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co (DHID, for its involvement in money laundering to facilitate North Koreas controversial nuclear program.

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United States said on Monday that it has imposed sanction on a Chinese firm for its alleged involvement in money laundering to facilitate North Korea's controversial nuclear program.



The company, which is engaged in wholesale business of industrial machinery and equipment, is run by Chinese businessman Ma Xiaohong.



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The move is expected to pile additional pressure on North Korea, which defiantly carried out its latest and most powerful nuclear test till date on Sept. 9.



It was revealed that Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co (DHID) and four of its executives, including the company's founder have been sanctioned under US regulations that targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).



"Today's action exposes a key illicit network supporting North Korea's weapons proliferation," Adam Szubin, the Treasury Department's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. "DHID and its employees sought to evade US and UN sanctions, facilitating access to the US financial system by a designated entity."



The Chinese firm used several front companies for money laundering and its bank accounts and front companies allegedly received millions of dollars that transited through the United States, the treasury department added.



The US alleged that the company acted on behalf of a North Korean firm Korea Kwangson Banking Corp (KKBC), which is already under US and UN sanction for facilitating WMD.



Meanwhile, China has also tightened the noose on Dandong Hongxiang.



China's Foreign Ministry said last week that it is pursuing investigation against the company under provisions of UN resolution 2270.



Chinese embassy spokesperson Fang Hong also confirmed that the company is being investigated for "illegal behavior" and "economic crimes." She said China has been earnestly implementing the latest security council resolution against North Korea.



Although China is North Korea's closest ally, the country has maintained that it won't hesitate from implementing the latest UN sanctions.



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(Photo : Twitter) LeEco unveiled their new series of smart televisions in the Indian market.

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LeEco plans to open 1,000 retail stores in India by December 2017 with the goal of expanding its reach and developing a strong brand recall.



With the creation of physical stores for its products, the Chinese start-up firm is expecting to earn 50 percent revenue from India, according to Livemint. In April, LeEco has filed an application with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to open single brand retail stores and expected to open up 500 stores in the first six months of 2017. These physical stores are combination of company owned stores and franchise outlets.



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This is in line with our aim to be among top three brands in the country by 2018, said Atul Jain, chief operating officer, smart electronics business, at LeEco India.



It has already teamed up with numerous distributors across organized and unorganized channels in the country. They are now available in 3,000 outlets in various cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi-National Capital Region, Varanasi, Meerut, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai. Another 65 cities will be added, as well as almost 8,000 outlets, by November and December.



LeEcos products were launched exclusively on Flipkart and they will be available on other e-commerce marketplaces like Snapdeal and Amazon India. In addition, the Chinese tech firm provides an offline presence in China as well.



The Netflix of China will spend almost $10 million for three months for marketing purposes, which will start this October. Morever, the company is planning to begin exporting products to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Russia by the second half of 2017.



For the month of August, the company has already sold more than 70,000 phones and 2,000 television sets. Recently, LeEco unveiled their new series of smart televisions in the Indian market and despite the small market size for large (55-inch plus) 4K resolution televisions were big hit, Daily Pioneer reported.



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TagsLeeco, India, LeEco India, LeTV, LeEco 1000 stores India 4k LeTV, LeEco Retail Stores India
(Photo : Getty Images ) China has once again reiterated that its stance on Kashmir issue remains unchanged.

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China has once again reiterated that its stance on Kashmir issue remains unchanged.



The Chinese foreign ministry dismissed on Monday the reports from the Pakistan media which claimed that Beijing would support Islamabad in case of any "foreign aggression."



"China's position on the China-India boundary question is consistent and clear," ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a regular press briefing in the Chinese capital.



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A press statement by the office of chief minister of Pakistan's largest province Punjab on Sunday quoted a senior Chinese diplomat saying that Beijing would take Islamabad's side in case of any "foreign aggression."



"In case of any (foreign) aggression, our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," the statement quoted China's Lahore consul general Yu Boren as saying. "We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue."



The foreign ministry spokesperson, however, said he was not aware of Boren's remarks. He also made it clear that China's position on Kashmir issue remains unchanged.



"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned," Shuang said. "As a neighbor and friend to both Pakistan and India, we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation, and jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region."



A recent terror attack on an Indian military base camp in Jammu and Kashmir state has sparked a fresh diplomatic row between India and Pakistan. New Delhi accused Pakistan of being behind the terror attack that left at least 18 Indian soldiers dead. Islamabad, on the other hand, blamed India for tarnishing its image in the international community after wrongfully branding it as a terror state.



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Tagschina, India, Pakistan, kashmir, Uri Terror Attack, terrorism, China Kashmir Issue Uri Attack
(Photo : PLARF) DF-41 on its TEL.

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Chinese president Xi Jinping let slip that China's fearsome DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile -- the world's longest ranged ICBM -- will be China's Christmas gift to the USA.



During a visit yesterday to the missile unit of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Forces (PLARF), Xi said the DF-41, which can reach out to 15,000 kilometers from China, "may be deployed this year."



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The deployment of this missile much earlier than expected will place the entire continental United States within its range from mobile launchers fired in China. It will only take 30 minutes for the DF-41 flying at Mach 25 (31,000 km/h) and its nuclear warheads to reach the U.S.



The DF-41 can carry from one to 10 nuclear warheads with yields ranging from 250 kilotons to one megaton. This missile is being called the "USA Killer" because it places all the U.S. at China's mercy.



Last April, China successfully conducted the seventh test of a DF-41 carrying two dummy warheads. The missile impacted in the South China Sea, a clear message to the U.S. and its allies ahead of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on July 12 that declared as illegal China's claim to own most of the South China Sea.



At the same meeting, Xi told the men of PLARF they need to build a mentality that "fears no death in battle." He described PLARF as "the core of China's strategic deterrence" and noted it played an important role in "deterring the threat of war."



Chinese military analysts believe Xi's pep talk to PLARF was part of his effort to improve the service's ability to withstand a nuclear counterattack from the U.S. Boosting the morale of the men behind China's arsenal of nuclear missiles and cruise missiles is also vital because China still lags far behind the nuclear capability of the U.S. but is upgrading its capability.



PLARF, which controls China's nuclear and conventional land-based missiles, is under the direct command of the Central Military Commission headed by Xi.



China is estimated to have 260 nuclear warheads, with an unknown number of them active and ready to deploy. U.S. intelligence in 2013 estimated the Chinese active ICBM arsenal to range between 50 and 75 land- and sea-based missiles.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would discuss the rights of the Filipino fishermen to the Scarborough Shoal during his bilateral talks with China next month.

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The fishing rights of Filipino fishermen in the disputed South China is expected to be on top of the agenda of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte when he makes his first official state visit to China in the third week of October.



Duterte will stop in Beijing for a two-day visit after traveling to Vietnam. During his stay in Beijing, the vocal Philippine leader is expected to raise the Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) ruling in July which dismissed China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.



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Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said China-Philippine talks would tackle the fishing rights of Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal which the arbitration court ruled that no one country has legal rights over.



Demand



Wu said that although the talks over the Scarborough Shoal would help decrease the escalating tensions among claimants in the South China Sea region, China would not automatically grant Duterte's demand.



"China would not necessarily give the Philippines fishing access near the Scarborough Shoal as they demand," Wu said.



Over the past few months, Filipino fishermen have complained about being shooed away by the Chinese Coast Guard who used water cannons on them in the Scarborough Shoal.



State visit



"China wants to develop crisis management plans with Manila, and is willing to expand cooperation with Manila in areas not related to the disputed waters," Wu said.



Wu had earlier met with Manila's special envoy, former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, in ice-breaker talks in Hong Kong in August. Both sides have agreed to start laying the groundwork for Duterte's upcoming state visit to China.



The bilateral relations between China and the Philippines turned sour after Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, filed a territorial case against Beijing in 2013 before the Hague-based PCA.



Beijing refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the arbitration court and dismissed its ruling as "illegal" and "null and void."



China's President Xi Jinping had earlier said that Beijing would not accept any talks, actions, and propositions by any nation based on the PCA's ruling.



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TagsSouth China Sea, Fishing rights, Filipino fishermen, President Rodrigo Duterte, Scarborough Shoal, china, bilateral talks
(Photo : Getty Images) China has denied allegations that its troops intruded in Indias disputed region of Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month. China said that the Chinese troops always abide by the bilateral agreements concerning Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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China on Tuesday dismissed reports that Chinese troops intruded into India's disputed Arunachal Pradesh region earlier this month. This is the second time in three months that China has denied intruding into the north-eastern state, which is being claimed by both Beijing and New Delhi.



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"The border troops of China always abide by agreements of the two sides and strictly follow the bilateral agreements concerning the LAC," said Geng Shuang, spokesman for China's foreign ministry.



Geng reiterated China's position on the border dispute. "China's position on the boundary question between India and China is consistent and clear. The boundary between the two sides is yet to be demarcated," he said.



India has demanded that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is converted into a permanent border to solve border issues in Arunachal Pradesh. However, Beijing has refused to accept New Delhi's demand.



Meanwhile, India's army has also refuted reports of Chinese incursion in the disputed state. Speaking to Indian newspaper Economic Times, a senior Indian army official said that the reported incursion was only a minor face-off between the two militaries. The face-off reportedly took place at a mutually identified disputed area near the LAC.



Chinese incursion into Arunachal Pradesh was first reported in Indian media on September 9. There were reports that nearly 45 Chinese troops set-up a temporary shelter in an area that is 45 km inside the LAC.



Arunachal Pradesh is one of the main bone of contentions between India and China. India claims that that the north-eastern state is an integral part of the country. However, China has never accepted India's sovereignty over the region. Beijing insists that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of its autonomous region of Tibet.



Over the last few months, India has beefed up its military presence in the disputed region. In August, India announced that it had built a new airfield in Arunachal Pradesh, located barely 100 km away from the China border. There are reports that the Indian government will deploy a ballistic missile to counter China's recent military build-up in the border region.



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(Photo : Getty Images ) Japan and China have been engaged in a bitter territorial dispute over Japan-controlled Senkaku Island.

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Japan on Monday warned China against carrying out aggressive activities in the disputed East China Sea.



A senior most Japanese official has made it clear that Tokyo is determined to defend its territory in the event of an aggression from China.



"The government of Japan continues to watch the Chinese military's activity, which has become expansive and more active while carrying out our surveillance activity," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "We are determined to defend our land, territorial waters and the skies."



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On Sunday, more than half a dozen Chinese military aircraft, including two fighter jets, flew over a group of islands, including the disputed Senkaku island, in the East China Sea. Tokyo reportedly retaliated to the move by deploying its own military aircraft in the region.



The two Asian powers have been engaged in a bitter territorial dispute over Japan-controlled Senkaku Island.



China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has defended its actions saying that the flyby was necessary to safeguard national sovereignty and China's security. PLA Air Force spokesperson Shen Jinke said that Chinese fighter planes are regularly patrolling the country's Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea. He added that the Sunday's flyby was part of the Chinese Air Force's regular combat drills in the West Pacific.



"The drills included surveillance, assault, and air refueling to test the air force's capabilities," Shen said, adding that aircraft like H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters, and tankers will regularly be flying over the Miyako Strait, an international waterway between Japan's Miyako Island and Okinawa Island.



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(Photo : Getty Images) India and China have held a dialogue on terrorism.

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India and China on Tuesday held a key counter-terror dialogue in Beijing. This is the first time that both Asian countries have initiated a dialogue on the sensitive issue of terror, which comes amid India's rising concern over Pakistan's continued support for terror groups in the aftermath of the recent Uri attack.



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The meeting was chaired by India's R N Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee; and Wang Yongquing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.



Both officials held "in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard," the Indian Embassy said in a statement.



The counter-terror dialogue comes after India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh's recent visit to China. Singh met China's top counter-terror Czar Meng Jianzhu during his visit. Both officials reportedly exchanged information on respective policies, systems, and legislation to deal with terrorism.



Terrorism is a common concern for both India and China. While India's terror concern mostly emanates from disputed region of Kashmir, China is a facing similar challenge in its far eastern province of Xinjiang.



Kashmir is a complicated issue with regards to China, as its close ally Pakistan is a party to the dispute. India accuses Islamabad of stroking insurgency in the region. New Delhi alleges that the recent Uri attack, which killed 18 Indian soldiers, was carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist organization.



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TagsIndia and China, Terrorism in India, India and China Dialogue, India, china
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, districts with tribal students must work with tribal leaders on issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native students, new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education says.

A Dear Colleague Letter  dated Sept. 26 urges affected districts to team with tribes to foster the collaboration that is a critical part of improving academic outcomes for Native students.

The guidance underscores the requirement that districts with tribal students must consult with tribal leaders on any plan or application for federal grants and funds. That includes programs under Title I that govern neglected, delinquent, or at-risk students and those under Title III that affect English-language learners. Previous iterations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act did not require districts or states to collect feedback from tribal leaders.

The department also announced an agreement with the Navajo Nation that will unite 66 Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools across three statesArizona, New Mexico, and Utahand allow the tribe to develop a single system of standards, assessments, and accountability. Previously, the tribe has implemented the standards and assessments of the states where the schools are located.

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewel, and Navajo leaders are expected to sign the agreement today.

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Photo Credit: Nicole Williams, a Native American interpreter at Calcedeaver Elementary School near Mount Vernon, Ala., reviews Choctaw dances with 5th grade students.
The first of the presidential debates between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, on September 26th.

The debate was moderated by NBC Nightly News Anchor Lester Holt, and was divided into six segments of about 15 minutes each, where the participants were given 2 minutes to elicit their response to the prompts and questions, after which they could respond to each other.

The three main areas of debate related to economy, race relations, and security.

Clinton and Trump were divided on how to approach each of these national concerns, and expressed their points of view on what they propose to do once they are elected.

To solve the problem of jobs, Clinton suggested investing in infrastructure, renewable energy, and small businesses, raising minimum wage and taxes, among other measures.

"I want us to invest in you. I want us to invest in your future. That means jobs in infrastructure, in advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, clean, renewable energy, and small business, because most of the new jobs will come from small business. We also have to make the economy fairer. That starts with raising the national minimum wage and also guarantee, finally, equal pay for women's work," Clinton said.

"I also want to see more companies do profit-sharing. If you help create the profits, you should be able to share in them, not just the executives at the top," she added.

On the other hand, Trump emphasized the need to prevent jobs from leaving the country, and boosting the businesses at all levels by reducing taxes, so that companies have incentives to expand and produce more jobs.

"Our jobs are fleeing the country. They're going to Mexico. They're going to many other countries. You look at what China is doing to our country in terms of making our product. They're devaluing their currency, and there's nobody in our government to fight them. And we have a very good fight. And we have a winning fight. Because they're using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing," he said.

"Under my plan, I'll be reducing taxes tremendously, from 35 percent to 15 percent for companies, small and big businesses. That's going to be a job creator like we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan. It's going to be a beautiful thing to watch."

Clinton's plans included investing in clean energy to pump up economic activity and producing jobs.

"We can deploy a half a billion more solar panels. We can have enough clean energy to power every home. We can build a new modern electric grid. That's a lot of jobs; that's a lot of new economic activity," she reiterated.

Trump did not agree that solar panels could create jobs, but said that he was instead a "believer in all forms of energy." He said that investment in solar panels was not a practical solution in the backdrop of a $20 trillion national debt.

"We invested in a solar company, our country. That was a disaster. They lost plenty of money on that one."

"Now, look, I'm a great believer in all forms of energy, but we're putting a lot of people out of work. Our energy policies are a disaster. Our country is losing so much in terms of energy, in terms of paying off our debt," he said.

Coming to the issue of race relations in the country, Clinton said that authorities have to work towards building trust between the communities and the police, while referring to the recent shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Scott.

"We have to restore trust between communities and the police. We have to work to make sure that our police are using the best training, the best techniques, that they're well prepared to use force only when necessary. Everyone should be respected by the law, and everyone should respect the law," Clinton said.

"The gun epidemic is the leading cause of death of young African American men, more than the next nine causes put together. So we have to do two things, as I said. We have to restore trust. We have to work with the police. We have to make sure they respect the communities and the communities respect them. And we have to tackle the plague of gun violence, which is a big contributor to a lot of the problems that we're seeing today," she continued.

In response to the question of violence in the inner city and racial relations, Trump noted that people need law and order, adding that "if we don't have it, we're not going to have a country."

"We have a situation where we have our inner cities, African Americans, Hispanics are living in hell because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot," he said.

"We have gangs roaming the street. And in many cases, they're illegally here, illegal immigrants. And they have guns. And they shoot people. And we have to be very strong. And we have to be very vigilant."

"You need more police. You need a better community, you know, relation. You don't have good community relations in Chicago. It's terrible. I have property there. It's terrible what's going on in Chicago."

He concurred with Clinton on the need to build community relations between the citizens and the police.

"You need better relationships. I agree with Secretary Clinton on this," he said.

The next segment of the debate was about securing America from cyber attacks, and what their approach was confronting this issue. Both of the candidates agreed that foreign state actors including ISIS were real threats to cyber security in the US and that this needed to be dealt with, though none of them specified any detailed course of action planned in dealing with the menace.

On America's role of defending countries around the world, Trump had a very different opinion from that of Clinton. He said that America loses a lot of money in protecting other countries, and that the services must be charged as the nation is already under huge debt.

"We defend Japan, we defend Germany, we defend South Korea, we defend Saudi Arabia, we defend countries. They do not pay us. But they should be paying us, because we are providing tremendous service and we're losing a fortune," Trump said.

"They may have to defend themselves or they have to help us out. We're a country that owes $20 trillion. They have to help us out," he said. "I want to help all of our allies, but we are losing billions and billions of dollars. We cannot be the policemen of the world. We cannot protect countries all over the world.

To this, Hillary remarked that the words which are heard from the leaders of a country matter and that good words need to come out from presidential candidates. She assured allies that America stands with them.

"Words matter when you run for president. And they really matter when you are president. And I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual defense treaties and we will honor them," said Clinton.

"It is essential that America's word be good. And so I know that this campaign has caused some questioning and worries on the part of many leaders across the globe. I've talked with a number of them. But I want to -- on behalf of myself, and I think on behalf of a majority of the American people -- say that, you know, our word is good," she continued.
A bill that requires Californias Department of Public Health to record the data separately for each Asian and Pacific Islander group was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on Sunday.

Current state law already requires certain departments, including the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, to collect data separately for each specific group among Asians and Pacific Islanders when conducting decennial census reports. This bill, AB 1726, would include the Department of Public Health in that existing law. Advocates who have been pushing for this legislation have said that the law would help to close disparities in health needs among Asian and Pacific Islanders.

We celebrate this milestone in our communitys history to uncover long-neglected health disparities and develop targeted solutions. This new policy will provide Californias Department of Public Health with more granular data on the diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations it serves, said a joint statement from multiple Asian American groups, including the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

Better data on the different needs of our communities translates to more effective public health strategies that save lives, the statement continues.

California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta, who introduced the bill, said that breaking down the data regarding the health needs of each Asian and Pacific Islander community will give us a clearer pathway to formulate policy focused on positive outcomes for our specific API communities.

Its critical that our policy leaders understand this diversity and are sensitive to the fact that APIs are not all the same, he said in a statement. While we share some of the same challenges, such as language access issues, racial discrimination, and obstacles born of immigration, each of our diverse communities has different social and economic outcomes that need to be addressed appropriately.

However, some opposed the bill, arguing that the bill only requires disaggregated data for the API community, and not others.

I disagree with the way we finely divide the Asian community into specific subcategories when we dont do the same thing to the other ethnic groups, Silicon Valley Chinese Association committee member Lily Ding told NBC News.

Under the new law, the State Department of Public Health would be required to disaggregate the data for the API community when collecting data on the rates for major diseases, leading causes of death, pregnancy rates, and others.

The law will take effect on July 1, 2022.
I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
Milwaukee

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said that the special education field has much to be proud of, from young children with disabilities participating in preschool programs to a focus on postsecondary transition for students leaving the K-12 system.

But every point of progress should be a reminder that theres more work to be done, King told a joint convention of special educators at the district and state level Monday.

For example, Graduation rates are up for all of our [student] subgroups, King said. And yet, we still know that too many of our students are not graduating from high school , and too many of our students are leaving without the skills they need for success.

Likewise, many students with disabilities are benefiting from schools taking a more positive approach to discipline, he said. But 1.6 million children are attending schools that have a sworn law enforcement officer on staff, but no school counselor , he said. Students with disabilities are disproportionately referred to juvenile justice programs, suspended, or expelled.

School resource officers should not be responsible for discipline. Trained educators should be responsible for discipline, King said. When school resources officers are used in that way ... we put students on a school-to-prison pipeline.

Kings address and Q&A session were part of a joint meeting between the Council of Administrators of Special Education and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. Its the first time the two groups, made up of district-level and state special education officials, have had a joint convention.

During the question-and-answer period, King said that the Education Department is part of an interagency federal group that is planning for potential effects of the Zika virus, which has been linked to microcephaly. Puerto Rico, in particular, has been affected by the outbreak, King said.

King linked the question about Zika to Flint, Mich., which has faced lead contamination of its drinking water . Lead poisoning is known to cause learning disabilities and behavior challenges. We know there is going to be a long-term consequence for kids in Flint, King said, adding that the situation was also the focus of interagency efforts.

Asked what keeps him up at night, King mentioned that he attended the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Sept. 24.

Returning to the theme of his speech, he said in many ways, our countrys values around equality and opportunity are a beacon around the world. But some of the issues we are grappling with are examples of ways we have fallen short of those values from the very beginning.

He added, Thats what keeps me up at night, the sense that we have so far to go ... what more can we do to bridge those gaps to ensure that the country is the more perfect union that we could be.

Photo: John B. King Jr. answers questions at a fall conference of special education leaders.By Christina A. Samuels
home US Court screens jurors for Charleston Church shooting trial

The jury selection for the federal trial of Charleston church shooter Dylan Roof started on Monday with the appearance of potential jurors at the federal courthouse in Charleston, South Carolina.

Roof, 22, is facing 33 federal charges including hate crimes and obstruction of religion for the shooting of nine black parishioners at the Emanuel AME Church in June 2015.

Twelve jurors and six alternates will be picked from the 3,000 people who were summoned from several counties this summer. The trial is set to begin in November.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said that the jurors will not be sequestered but their hotel room will be paid for by the court. Gergel acknowledged that the case has been widely publicized but he asked the potential jurors not to research the case or talk to anybody about it.

Roof's trial will be divided into two phases. The first phase is to establish his guilt. If found guilty, the second phase will determine whether he should be sentenced with life imprisonment or the death penalty.

The attorney for the defendant has previously stated that Roof is willing to plead guilty if prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch insisted on the death penalty because of "the nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm."

Miller Shealy, an attorney who teaches at the Charleston School of Law, said that the task of finding a jury that will rule against the death penalty for Roof could prove challenging for the defense.

"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," Miller added.

The attorneys will be presented with 70 qualified jurors from a pool of 700, which were screened from an original figure of 3,000. The lawyers will be able to use strikes to dismiss the jurors they dislike.
home US Franklin Graham deplores 'avoidable shootings', pleas for Americans stopped by police to follow their instructions

Rev. Franklin Graham has advised people who are stopped by law enforcement to just follow instructions to avoid getting shot.

"Too many people have been shot unnecessarily by police," Graham wrote on Facebook. "If you're stopped by law enforcement, here's some simple advice a Follow their instructions!" he added.

Graham's advice came after two deadly police shootings that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, last week.

An unarmed black pastor named Terence Crutcher was shot by a female police officer in Tulsa when his SUV broke down in the middle of a street. Officer Betty Shelby stated that Crutcher did not respond to her instructions and walked towards his vehicle with his hands raised.

Video footage showed the pastor with his hands in the air before he was shot. Shelby has been charged with first degree manslaughter.

In Charlotte, Keith Scott, 43, was shot by a police officer who supposedly saw him holding a gun. Video footage has been shown to the victim's family but they stressed that it did not offer conclusive evidence whether Scott was armed at the time of the shooting. Protests have erupted in Charlotte following the fatal incident.

Graham stated that the police are on high alert and are risking their lives as they patrol the dangerous streets but he noted that many of the shootings were avoidable.

"There's no question, there are too many avoidable shootings. But if you're stopped by law enforcement a any race, any time, any place a this is something everyone can do to greatly diminish your chances of getting shot. Just do what the officer says!" Graham added.

Graham advised Americans not to argue with police officers and just obey even if they believed the authorities to be in the wrong.

"That doesn't mean mistakes aren't going to be made, but heeding this advice may save your life. No matter what our skin color, we all bleed red. We're all human beings created by God a and every life matters," Graham concluded.
home Faith Hundreds wait in line to attend Hillsong NYC church service

Hillsong NYC leader Carl Lentz shared a photo on social media this week showing hundreds of people lined up to attend a second church service because they could not get in the first one.

Lentz's photo revealed that the people who attend have exceeded the capacity of the building per church service.

"When churches have buildings they own, it's easy to take for granted how convenient it is to simply have meetings! We have never known that.. Every meeting we have ever had, we have to rent a venue. Pay for it. And it's never big enough!" Lentz wrote on Instagram.

He said that he had heard of people who left Hillsong NYC for smaller churches without realizing that smaller churches also wanted growth.

"I refuse to be a Christian that asks to be delivered from my own prayer requests.. 'God bring revival to NYC!!' And then when He does, resent what I used to rejoice about.. No way," he added.

Lentz hoped that the church would have its own building in the future and expressed his gratitude to the staff and the people who attend the services.

Hillsong NYC is a branch of Australian Hillsong Church founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983. A documentary, "Hillsong: Let Hope Rise," featuring the worship band Hillsong United was released earlier this month.

Around 30,000 people attend the services at Hillsong NYC every week. The church has attracted the attention of various celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez.

Lentz stated in the past that Hillsong NYC's approach is different from those of other churches.

"In church, people treat you like you have to change or else," Lentz said in a 2014 interview with NY Daily News. "Our approach is, 'We love you, nothing else,'" he continued.
home Faith Obama should have raised issue of Christians persecution at U.N., advocacy groups complain

Several Christian advocacy groups voiced out their concern that Obama did not mention the issue of Christian persecutions during his final U.N. General Assembly speech last week.

Kristin Wright, director of advocacy at Open Doors USA, was disappointed when Obama did not reference the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities when he talked about the "mindless medieval menace of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Levant)" and the conflict in Syria.

"I believe the American people want to see greater evidence of deep concern from the president of the United States a in word and action a for those living under the tyranny of religious persecution," Wright said in a statement to the Christian Post.

Thomas J. Reese, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said that the sectarian conflict needs to be recognized with regards to the refugee crisis. He noted that religious minorities such as Christians and Yazidis are among the millions of displaced people who faced genocide in Iraq and Syria.

He also stated that religious minorities have also been forced out of their lands in Nigeria, Central African Republic and Burma and they are now seeking asylum in Europe.

"These crises cry out for increased action on the part of the international community," Reese told the Christian Post. "To be effective, such action must recognize the unmistakable fact that religious freedom is a common thread in each of these challenges and deserves a seat at the table when nations discuss humanitarian, security, and other pressing issues," he added.

The American Center for Law and Justice did not make any presentations at the U.N. but the group had written several letters to the U.N. about persecuted minorities.

Its affiliate, the European Center for Law and Justice, sent a letter in August to the U.N. Office on the Prevention of Genocide calling on the organization to take action to prevent the further genocide of minorities in the Middle East.

Last week, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the world leaders at the U.N. that the Christians are "by far the most persecuted faith group" adding that they still face persecution even in asylum countries.
home Life Greg Laurie preaches God's assurances to troubled hearts at Harvest Georgia 2016

Around 4,000 people came to hear Pastor Greg Laurie speak and 363 people accepted Christ at the Harvest Crusade 2016 in Georgia last Friday.

The three-night event was held in Georgia for the first time at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth. Apart from those who attended, the event was viewed by 4,000 people online that same night. It featured musical performances from Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, Third Day and Phil Wickham.

The pastor spoke about the troubles many Americans were facing today including Islamic terrorism and Russian aggression. He assured the people that God loved them and Christ will forgive them regardless of how many sins they have committed.

"You can change your eternal address tonight, if you put your faith in Jesus Christ," said Laurie.

Laure proceeded to read from John 14:1-6 which partly stated: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you."

The pastor noted that most Americans believe in God but he asked the audience whether they "believe in Him in a personal way"?

He stated that many people were worried just like the disciples were when Jesus Christ was crucified. He explained that Jesus had turned the worst tragedy into the greatest victory and he could do the same for the people today.

He went on to assure the people that heaven is a real place where people will be able to do real things. "It will surpass your wildest dreams," he added.

Laurie said that Jesus will be coming back to earth soon and that everyone would account to God for their lives.

"But there is only one road that leads to heaven and that's Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again from the dead," Laurie proclaimed.

The pastor asked the audience to repent and invite Christ into their lives.

By the end of the week, the Harvest website reported that a total of 12,500 people have attended and watched the event online. 1,052 have made the decision to accept Christ.

Over 5.6 million people have attended and more than 476,000 have decided to follow Christ at the Harvest events since 1990.
home World Third kidnapped priest found dead on Mexico highway

The body of a priest was found on the side of a highway in western Mexico a few days after his abduction. Fr. JosA Alfredo LApez GuillAn, pastor of Janamuato in the state of Michoacan, was the third priest that was slain in Mexico in the past week.

GuillAn was abducted from the rectory of his parish on Monday, Sept. 19. His car was found overturned on a nearby road. The autopsy revealed that GuillAn had been killed five days before his body was found.

The priest was found dead on a highway in Las Guayabas between Puruandiro and Zinaparo last Saturday.

GuillAn's abduction was not announced by the Archdiocese of Morelia until Thursday. The head of the archdiocese, Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, recorded a video pleading for the safe return of the priest.

The archdiocese announced GuillAn's death on Sunday through social media.

"We lament these violent acts and the insecurity in our state," the statement said. "We hope that authorities solve this crime," it continued.

According to the state prosecutor's office, the priest was last seen on Monday night after he ordered four portions of food to be deliverd to his church. A secretary reported that GuillAn was not seen on Tuesday and thought that the priest was just visiting relatives. GuillAn's brothers were called after the priest had still not shown up by Wednesday.

The priest's room was locked and items were found scattered on the floor. Two vehicles were reported missing. No ransom demand had been received, according to the statement.

On the day of GuillAn's abduction, two priests from the state of Veracruz were found dead on the side of the road.

State prosecutor Luis Angel Bravo stated that the abduction and killing of the two priests had nothing to do with drug cartels. He believes that the two priests knew the attackers and they were in a get-together that had turned violent.

Parishioners at the church still believe that the killings were committed by members of organized crime in Poza Rica. One parishioner dismissed the prosecutor's statement as a "lie" and a "cover-up."
'20 Churches Destroyed' As Airstrikes Continue To Pound Aleppo

Some twenty churches have been destroyed in Aleppo, Syria according to a senior Russian official.

The Interfax news agency reported the claim by the deputy chairman of the Commission for UNESCO of the Russian Federation and the Committee for Russian-Syrian cooperation, Alexander Dzasokhov.

According to Interfax, Dzasokhov told The Church and the World TV programme on the Rossiya-24 channel: "It is a magnificent city in Syria [Aleppo] that was famous not only for its renowned architecture and cultural sites, but it was a place where [a] Christian aspect of this long-suffering nation has always been present. It suffers great destructions now. According to the recent data, twenty churches were destroyed there."

Dzasokhov added: "I do not exaggerate. That is why the necessity to preserve Syria as a country with a lot of historical and exemplary things is the task not only for the persistent, courageous and worthy Syrian people, but all other peoples and states."

Earlier this month, a prominent Syriac Catholic church in Aleppo was damaged in a shell attack, in violation of the ceasefire.

The Syrian Arab News Agency filmed and reported the attack by the Free Syrian Army in the Al-Aziziyah District of northern Aleppo.

The missile appeared to have hit the second floor of the church, the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is in a part of the city that has a large Christian population.

Several archeological sites that date back to the Crusades, along with mosques and churches, have been destroyed in the fighting, AINA reported.

Last month, a Jesuit priest in Aleppo, Fr Ziad Hilal described how the Catholic Church is continuing to help those remaining in the city despite an upsurge of intense fighting that in recent months has killed scores, displaced thousands and cut water and power to up to two million people on both sides of the front line.
Charleston Church Massacre: Jury Selection Begins For Dylann Roof Trial

Several hundred people yesterday reported for jury selection at the US courthouse in Charleston, South Carolina in the death penalty case against Dylann Roof, who has been charged with shooting dead nine black parishioners in a church in June 2015.

Prosecutors have said Roof, 22, is an avowed white supremacist who carried out a racially motivated attack. Defence lawyers have said he would plead guilty if prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty, which they claim is unconstitutional.

Roof sat in shackles and kept his head down as the US District Judge, Richard Gergel, explained the time-line for the federal trial, which begins on 7 November.

Roof faces 33 counts of hate crimes, obstruction of religion and firearms charges in the shooting deaths of the parishioners during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Twelve jurors and six alternates will be chosen from a total of 3,000 people summoned from several counties for the trial. The final jury panel will be selected after a smaller group is questioned further in court in November.

Jurors will not be sequestered, but the court will pay for their hotel rooms in Charleston, Gergel said.

The judge urged people to avoid researching the case or talking to anyone about it but acknowledged that the killings had received wide publicity.

"I know that many of you have seen, read or heard about this case," Gergel said.

Roof also faces murder and attempted murder charges in state court, with jury selection in that trial set for January.

Roof has been housed at the Charleston County detention centre since being returned from North Carolina a day after the killings on 17 June 2015.

Prosecutors have said that Roof was trying to make his way to Nashville, Tennessee, after the shootings.

Prosecutors have also said that Roof discussed starting a race war and posed with the controversial Confederate battle flag before the killings.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Theres a new opponent of Floridas much-debated Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarships program, which provides bonuses to teachers based in part on their own SAT and ACT scores: the Florida Board of Education.

On Friday, the board, which is composed entirely of members appointed by Republican Governor Rick Scott, broke ranks with Republican lawmakers and proposed using the money on other teacher-recruitment and -retention programs. In their annual budget request, the board recommended that instead of renewing the $49 million program for next year, that lawmakers should use $43 million for efforts they say would be more effective at getting good teachers in front of the students that need them the most. Their proposal would attempt to better target funds at teachers working in schools with the highest need and in shortage areas like science, technology, engineering and mathematics, reports the Tampa Bay Times .

John Padget, the boards vice chairman, called for the move arguing that the money could be used more efficiently.

This comes just monehts after the controversial program, designed to attract and retain talented educators, was renewed for a second year by lawmakers in March . In fact, the legislators upped the budget allocation for the program by $5 million to $49 million.

Under the program, educators who had both stellar scores on college admissions exams and at least an effective rating on their districts teacher evaluation system are rewarded with big bonus checks. In April, 5,200 teachers were handed checks as large as $8,500.

But the initiative has been controversial since its very inception in 2015. Especially since bonuses were based on sometimes decades-old ACT and SAT scores, teachers complained that such scores were a poor measure of the quality of their teaching. Back in December, the Florida Education Association, the states teachers union, filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission arguing that the program discriminated against older teachers, who often struggled to locate their scores, and minority teachers, who have historically struggled on standardized tests that some observers say are culturally biased.

An analysis of the first payments, which went out this April, done by the Orlando Sentinel found that bonuses, which totaled $44 million, disproportionally went to teachers working with rich kids. Educators working in affluent settings were more than twice as likely to receive merit pay.

The newspaper went on to compare the best and brightest list with the list of educators the state said were having the most impact for their students:

Last year, the education department crunched its test-score data to figure which teachers did the best job helping students learn critical math and reading skills. Its list of 9,642 high impact teachers, released in February, barely overlaps with the best and brightest roster, as just 393 teachers on both lists.

Earlier this year, the states education department asked lawmakers to revamp the program to try to get more good teachers into low-income schools, and the architect of the best and brightest program, State Rep. Erik Fresen, a Republican from Miami, proposed changing the system to give an additional $1,000 to teachers working in low-income schools. That measure, however, failed to make it into law, reported the Orlando Sentinel . The future of the program again depends on the will of legislators.
Christian Family Of Slain Jordanian Writer Demand Prime Minister Quits

The Jordanian prime minster is under pressure to resign after a Christian anti-Islamist writer was shot dead outside a court room where he was due to stand trial on Sunday.

On Monday around 300 supporters of Nahed Hattar, the individual who was killed, protested outside prime minister Hani Mulki's office in Amman and demanded he quit. Human rights organisations condemned the killing as "deplorable" and "senseless".

Hattar's family, who are Christians, have refused to collect the 56-year-old's body for burial, saying they won't until action is taken against those who incited violence.

"We demand that all those whose actions lead to the assassination of the martyr be held accountable," Hattar's brother told AFP.

Hattar was arrested in August after he shared a satirical image on Facebook that showed God's face  a highly offensive act in Islamic cultures. The cartoon entitled 'In Heaven' showed a bearded jihadi fighter in bed with two women ordering God to bring him wine and clear up the dishes.

He was charged with "inciting sectarian strife" and publishing material that insults "other people's religious feelings" under articles 150 and 278 of Jordan's penal code. The charges can carry sentences of up to three years in prison.

After he was bailed on September 8, he was shot at close range as he entered the Jordanian court of justice for his trial on Sunday.

His family said he was given no protection despite receiving hundreds of threats. They added his death could have been prevented if Mulki had not ordered an investigation into the sharing of the image.

"The prime minister should have left it to the judiciary," said Mary Hattar, one of Hattar's cousins. "He asked for protection but when he was released from prison he was asked to sign a document [stating] that he was responsible for his own safety," she added according to local media.

One of Hattar's brothers, Khaled, told AFP: "We handed over 200 names [of people who had threatened the writer] to the governor [of Amman], including that of the assassin, and demanded protection.

"But he refused, saying there was 'no real threat'."

A spokesman for Amnesty International described Hattar's death as "deplorable" and said the fact he was even standing trial in the first place is an "alarming attack on freedom of expression".

The charity's Middle East and North Africa research and advocacy director Philip Luther said: "By using strict blasphemy laws to prosecute a person for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, the Jordanian authorities are fuelling a climate in which violent threats against people whose views are deemed offensive by others are allowed to flourish."

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, agreed and said the "senseless murder in front of an Amman courthouse comes on the heels of the government's senseless charges against him over a cartoon he posted to his Facebook page".

She went on: "Jordanian authorities should recognize that 'defamation of religion' laws and prosecutions effectively contribute to violent extremism.

"The government should immediately suspend prosecutions for defamation of religion, move to repeal the provisions from its penal code, and allow citizens to engage in peaceful debate even of 'taboo' subjects."
Christian missionary ready to risk death to spread the Gospel in his war-torn home of South Sudan

Returning from a land smouldering in ethnic violence may not be an option at all for an ordinary manespecially if that man has already experienced the horrors of prison and what it's like to face death in that country.

But William Levi is no ordinary man. He is a dedicated Christian missionary who is on a noble mission to rebuild South Sudan, his war-torn homelandone family, and one village at a time, according to CBN News.

Levi was 18 years old when he came face to face with Islamic radicals who confronted him about his faith.

"I was asked to relinquish my Christianity and become a Muslim, take up guns and fight and ravage villages like this one. I said, 'No way! Mohammed did not die for me, Jesus did!'" Levi told CBN News.

Because of his refusal to convert to Islam, Levi was thrown in prison and tortured. Yet, in the years he spent in prison, he never lost hope that he would be a free man again because "I knew God was with me."

In 1985, he managed to escape from prison, fled South Sudan, found asylum in the United States, got married to an American woman and raise his own family.

He has written a book, titled "The Bible or the Axe: One Man's Dramatic Escape from Persecution in the Sudan," where he chronicled his life's story.

Now, he's back from where he came fromSouth Sudan, where some 50,000 people have died and more than 2 million people have been displaced from ethnic violence gripping a nation on the brink of becoming a failed state.

Levi believes God spared his life when he escaped from prison "for the purpose of returning to proclaim the gospel in my homeland."

Levi even brought his family with himhis wife Hannah and their six children.

The Levis run Operation Nehemiah Missions International, a Christian organisation helping the impoverished people of South Sudan.

One of the first things the Levis did when they arrived in South Sudan was to build a church.

Now, more than 10,000 people are worshipping in their church, many of them hearing the gospel for the very first time.

Operation Nehemiah also runs a brick-making factory, agricultural development initiatives and other numerous projectsall intended to help rebuild the local economy and provide livelihood sto war-weary residents.
Christian Persecution In Pakistan Must Stop, Boris Johnson Told

The moderator of the Church of Scotland has voiced his support for persecuted Christians in Pakistan and written to the UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson, asking him to put pressure on Pakistani authorities to stop the abuse.

The Right Rev Dr Russell Barr said Christians were being abducted and forcibly converted to Islam against their will. In a letter to Johnson on Tuesday he said Muslims who kidnapped Christians were protected by police and not enough force was put on the government to address the issue.

"Forcible conversion to any religion is a crime, even under Pakistani law," Barr told Johnson in his letter.

"My fear is that if pressure is not brought to bear on the Pakistan government the problem will continue to grow and people will continue to commit such crimes with impunity without any fear of punishment.

"I therefore request that you raise this matter with the Government of Pakistan, asking them to stop this persecution, bring the perpetrators to justice and introduce new legislation as suggested by the Senate committee."

Christians make up two per cent of Pakistan's 200 million population and face extensive persecution at the hands of increasingly militant extremists. The country's controversial blasphemy law has been used to target Christians, according to the persecution charity Open Doors.

"Christians experience more violence in Pakistan than almost anywhere else," the charity said. It ranks Pakistan as the sixth worst country for Christian persecution, shortly behind Syria, Iraq and North Korea, with around 700 women and girls abducted, raped and forcibly married every year.

The foreign office minister Alok Sharma recently said the government was "concerned" about reports of abuses against Christians. But the government's own guidance and country profiles says Christians in Pakistan are not at "a real risk of persecution".

The guidance admits that "Christian women may be at risk of forced conversion and marriage" but denies this amounts to a "real risk of persecution". It goes on to say it is "unlikely" a Christian fleeing persecution in Pakistan would qualify for asylum in the UK.

In a report launched in February this year, Catholic peer Lord Alton urged ministers to accept the "reality" of the situation.

"The official line of the UK Government is that there is no persecution [of religious minorities], the reality is the opposite of that and our report dispenses with that illusion," he said.

In his letter to the foreign secretary Barr insisted he had "heard distressing accounts of Christian girls and young women being abducted, forced to embrace Islam and their families being hindered or refused help by the police and justice system".

He demanded Johnson pressurise Pakistani officials into action.

"Pakistan is under obligation to bring its law into line with international conventions ratified in relation to women, children and religious freedom and belief," he said.

"The Convention on Elimination of All Forms for Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) clearly establishes state obligation to respect, protect and fulfil women's rights.

"Under CEDAW, it is the responsibility of the state to take appropriate measures to eliminate laws and practices that directly discriminate against women, and also to create an environment in which women's rights can be fulfilled and protected."
Christians join other faith leaders in Israel for a 'dangerous' show of interfaith unity

In various parts of the world, Christians are being persecuted and Catholic churches are being burned down. At the same time, Muslim refugees are also being shooed away.

It is refreshing and encouraging to know, therefore, that in Israelthe place where Jesus was born and shared the Gospel representatives of various religions recently prayed with one unified voice.

Christian religious leaders joined representatives from the Jewish and Muslim communities in a gathering of music and prayer in Jerusalem. A music school located in a valley was transformed into a communal house of prayer, where the religious leaders took turns in leading worship.

Such a gathering is considered dangerous in the Middle Eastern country, where religions other than Judaism are usually not welcomed.

Catholic Rev Rafik, who used a different name in the programme to prevent a backlash against his family, admitted that he was initially sceptical about the idea of a common house of worship.

However, when he began interacting with people from other faiths, he said he realised how much they have in common despite their differences in beliefs.

"The idea was very nice but I did not see how it could happen. But when we started meeting up, I was surprised at how real relationships developed between us all and I discovered there was something interesting there," Rafik said, as quoted by The Guardian.

"And that friendship between us, I think, is the humble beginning we need to change people's hearts and from there, their minds," he added.

Rabba Tamar Elad-Abblebaum, who organised the event, praised everyone who participated in praying and singing for unity, saying it was a brave thing to do.

"I never believed something like this would be possible in my lifetime. Jews who live in the territories publicly praying together with Palestinians, this is a big risk and a huge step," she said.

She said the event was somehow a way to "reshape reality" where tolerance of other faiths is currently very low, adding that this was all accomplished through prayer.
Church Membership Plummets In Wales, But Bishop Holds Onto Hope

Tumbling church attendance in Wales could herald the end of Sunday worship as it is currently known.

Bishop of Bangor Andy John said he believed there could be a shift in worship patterns towards different types of events that appeal more to young people and people with families.

He was talking to Christian Today after the latest Church in Wales statistics show that since 1990, the church has lost more than half its members. Average Sunday attendance is now less than one per cent of the total population of Wales.

In one year alone, between 2014 and 2015, average adult Sunday attendance fell from 30,424 to 29,019, a fall of five per cent. Even weekday attendance was down by three per cent to 3,896.

Easter communicants were down one per cent to 51,435, while the number of Christmas communicants fell three per cent to 49,972.

More than 30,000 people took part in some form of non-traditional worship such as arts festival or beach services in 2015, but even this was down from 36,000 in 2014, a fall of one fifth.

This is also having an effect on finances.

The statistics report says: "Despite the generosity of members, the Church in Wales's long-term financial security is being damaged by the fall in numbers. This is in addition to the very real damage being done to the church's capacity for and effectiveness in its mission and ministry by becoming numerically smaller year-on-year."

The Governing Body of the Church in Wales noted the figures "with a heavy heart".

Bishop John told Christian Today that the problem was not so much a lack of money as the best way to spend it to help revive the fortunes of the Church.

He said the Church remained committed to the current parish system.

But many young people do not turn up at church on Sunday mornings simply because they are still in bed. People are getting older, and as they die, they are not being replaced by younger generations.

"The crucial thing that the Church can do is invest in areas where there is evidence that growth can take place," the bishop said, noting that this meant initiatives taking place in unusual venues. This is a "risk", he said, but one that the Church has to take.
Evangelical Leaders Vow To Defy Laws On Abortion And Gay Marriage

Conservative Christians have hinted they are willing to break the law in order to stand against abortion and same-sex marriage.

A full-page "Declaration of Dependence", modelled on the United States Declaration of Independence, was published in the New York Times on Sunday, funded by a number of prominent evangelical Christians. The document, already signed by tens of thousands people, is a publicity stunt in the build up to the US Presidential elections in November. It warns that signatories will ignore the law if it threatens their "right to exercise our Christians beliefs".

The statement entitled "Declaration of Dependence upon God and his Holy Bible" describes gay marriage as a "sexual perversion" and highlights "certain unalienable rights" which it says "no government has the right to take... away".

It goes on to say the signatories "respectfully reserve the right to refuse any mandate by the government" that would contravene their beliefs such as support for abortion or gay marriage.

"We also oppose same-sex marriage, polygamy, bestiality and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by scripture," the statement says.

It concludes with a promise to live "in accordance with our Christian faith and choose to obey God rather than man".

"We are asking for one million signatures," said Karen Conrad, director of marketing for Andrew Wommack Ministries in Colarado, which paid for the advert.

According to the campaign's website, $500,000 has already been pledged by supporters.

The original signatories to the declaration include David Barton, founder of WallBuilders of Aledo, James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, Jerry Boykin, vice president of the Family Research Council, Creflo Dollar and the prominent televangelist Kenneth Copeland.

Dobson and Copeland are both members of Donald Trump's evangelical advisory board.

In a video message promoting the campaign, Andrew Wommack claims he was "divinely inspired" to write the declaration and warned: "Satan is fighting for the heart and soul of this nation."
Iraqi Parliament Votes Against New Christian Province In Nineveh Plain

Plans for the creation of a new Christian province in northern Iraq's Nineveh Plain appear to have been scuppered by a vote in the Iraqi Parliament in favour of maintaining the administrative border of the province of Nineveh.

Hopes had been growing for a refuge in the heart of the old Christian area where Iraq's Christians could live in peace alongside other minorities including the Yazidis. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska introduced a bi-partisan bill into the US House of Representatives earlier this month calling for the move.

But Iraq's Parliament appears to have blocked the plan after a vote was requested by Ahmed al-Jarba, a Sunni MP representing the Nineveh province, according to the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA).

"The Iraqi people reject any decision that partitions the Nineveh province," al-Jabra said. "The people of the city determine the destiny of their city in the post-Islamic State (ISIS) stage." The MP added that any changes to the legal and administrative status quo will be unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Assyrian Christian party Bet al-Nahrain, Romio Hakkari, told Kurdistan24: "We do not want to be part of the possible Sunni autonomous region in Iraq."

Hakkari, who travelled to Washington to lobby for the creation of a new province, said that Sunnis in Nineveh discriminate against Christians in the area, AINA reported.

Local Christians are increasingly desperate for a safe space of their own following two years of onslaught by ISIS.

Earlier this month, Father Jamil Gorgis, a local priest in Dohuk, where about 75,000 Christians from Mosul have found refuge, told Rudaw: "Almost all Christian refugees who come to my Church to pray would favour to live in a Christian region or province under international protection."

In 2014, some 80,000 Christian refugees fled Mosul and the Nineveh Plain under threat of forced conversion or execution by ISIS. Hundreds of civilians were slaughtered and more than 400,000 forced to flee in northern Iraq. There have been reports of men being rounded up and killed before being left in mass graves, and women being brutally raped and sold as sex slaves.

Most of Iraq's 1.5 million Christians have fled in the last decade and it is thought there could now be as few as 200,000. More than a hundred churches and monasteries in Mosul have been destroyed by Islamic State in just two years.

It has been reported that ISIS is leaving mines in the Nineveh Plain as its fighters flee the area.

The idea of a safe space for Christians and other minorities in northern Iraq has been in circulation for many years but has gained new urgency since 2014.

In 2011, The US-based Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project said it was "a stated political objective of all major Assyrian political groups and institutions."
Pastor kills himself after mistakenly sending his nude photos intended for his mistress to church members instead

It was a case of a shameful "wrong send" that resulted in the tragic death of a pastor.

Pastor Letsego of Christ Embassy in Limpopo, South Africa reportedly hanged himself in shame after he mistakenly sent photos of his genitals to members of his church using the WhatsApp texting service in mobile phones.

According to the online news source Live Monitor, the married pastor intended to send the pictures to his mistress who, it is said, is a member of the same church.

Worse, the news source said the pastor sent a message that reads "Wife is away, it's all yours tonight" along with the photos.

To his utter dismay, he reportedly realised his mistake right after pressing the send button of his mobile phone.

Members of the church group who received the photos and message were shocked and outraged. They tried to call up the pastor, who wouldn't answer. The pastor then left the group.

The following day, he was found hanging in his rented church house, Live Monitor reported.

"Pastor's antics have always been a cause for concern. He was always seen in the company of one of the deacons named Miriam and we suspected there was more to their friendship than meets the eye," said one of Pastor Letsego's congregants who declined to be named.

"Quizzed by his wife and congregants, he would shrug off the allegations and say as a pastor he was a father to everyone and Miriam was his favourite daughter," the congregant added.

Other pastors have also found themselves enmeshed in extramarital affairs that likewise ended in tragedy.

In June, an Indiana pastor was believed to have committed suicide after he was charged with soliciting sex from a minor, The Christian Post reported.

David James Brown, the 46-year-old senior pastor at First Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana, was found hanging inside an Attic Self Storage unit in Marietta, Georgia. Investigators found no evidence of foul play.

Last year, John Gibson, a pastor and seminary professor of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was also believed to have taken his own life after his name was exposed by hackers as one of the users of the extramarital affair website Ashley Madison.

"He talked about depression. He talked about having his name on there, and he said he was just very, very sorry," Gibson's wife, Christi, revealed. "What we know about him is that he poured his life into other people, and he offered grace and mercy and forgiveness to everyone else, but somehow he couldn't extend that to himself."
Poll Says: Republicans Like Churches More Than Democrats Do

Most members of the American public like churches but dislike banks and news media, new research shows.

Republicans are far more positive towards churches than Democrats, the report says.

Pew Research surveyed more than 1,000 adults in August and September on their views of six "institutions": churches and religious organisations; large corporations; banks and financial institutions; national news media, colleges and universities and trade unions.

Just two of the six institutions, churches and colleges, were viewed "positively", each by nearly six in ten people.

And where there was hostility, it was directed most strongly at the mainstream media.

Seven in ten people said news media affect things negatively. Just one in five believed the media have a positive effect on life in the United States.

Republicans were most hostile to news media, with more than eight in ten believing in its negative effect.

This contrasted with views on churches and religious organisations, where more than seven in ten Republicans said they have a positive effect compared to fewer than half of Democrats.

More Democrats than Republicans were negative about the effects of banks and corporations on life in the US.

Report author Abigail Geiger writes: "Fewer than half of Republicans (34 per cent) and Democrats (26 per cent) say corporations have a positive impact; 39 per cent of Republicans and 32 per cent of Democrats say banks have a positive impact."

She tweeted:
The U.S. Department of Education Tuesday released a blueprint to help states and districts make the most of out of more than $2 billion in federal money for teacher support, preparation, training, and more.

The new federal guidance also walks states and districts through changes to this pot of moneyknown as Title IIunder the brand new Every Student Succeeds Act. (More on the changes to teacher quality in ESSA here .)

The department recommends that states and districts use the funds to make sure that teachers are supported from the time they enter educator training programs, through their early years of teaching, and as they take on leadership positions, including the principalship.

And, the guidance reminds states and districts that they have to reach out to teachers, support personnel, community partners, and others when figuring out how to use their Title II funding.

Educators play a critical role in securing our nations economic future and preserving the promise of an excellent education for all children, especially those who have been historically underserved, said U.S. Secretary of John B. King, Jr., in a statement. We dont just want educators to be part of the change; we need them to lead it.

Teachers and Equity

The guidance encourages states and districts to use Title II funds to make sure that all kids have access to an effective teacher, and to make sure teachers in high-needs schools get access to extra supports.

For instance, states and districts could use the money to:



Give bonuses, pay raises, and other perks to attract excellent teachers to high-needs schools.

Offer extra pay to teachers who teach in high needs subjects, or teach special populations, such as English-language learners.

Create co-teaching classrooms in high-needs schools, where beginning teachers work alongside a more experienced educator.

Address working conditions in high-needs schools, or give teachers who work in them extra time to plan and collaborate.

Many school districts use their Title II money to cut down on class size. Thats allowable under ESSA, the department says, as long as there is evidence to back up the approach.

Educator Development

School districts across the country are trying to create so-called career ladders for teachers, and the department has some suggestions on how to use Title II money to make that happen. For instance, states and districts can:



Use federal teacher quality funds to support preparation programs at traditional universities, but also for alternative-preparation programs, and teacher residency programs.

Create or choose"academies to prepare teachers, using funding under ESSA. (More on that below). States that want to go that route must first choose an authorizer that will supervise the academies and hold them accountable.

Create mentorship programs for new teachers

Support or hire principal supervisors to help school leaders in their work

Train principals, including giving them time to learn from each other.

Teacher Evaluation

States and districts can also use their money to create teacher-evaluation systems, but perhaps just as important, they dont have to do that. Teacher evaluations based on student outcomes were a huge priority for the Obama administration during its first six or so years in office. It championed the policy through Race to the Top and No Child Left Behind waivers. Under ESSA, states dont have to create teacher-evaluation systems that rely in part on student test scores, but they can if they want, or they can use their federal teacher quality money to craft other types of evaluation systems.

The department recommends creating evaluation systems that take into account multiple measures, including student academic growth, but also observations, and parent/student surveys. Evaluations should also be valid and reliable, and teachers should be clear on what they are being measured on, and get to see their entire evaluation, not just the overall rating.

Funding Changes

There are some changes to the way Title II money flows under ESSA. For instance, states can now reserve up to 2 percent of their total Title II funding at the state level to help prepare teachers and principals to work in high-needs schools. And they can reserve up to 3 percent of districts allocation for principal support. This chart, included with the guidance, illustrates the breakdown of the funding.

Importantly, states and districts may not have as much Title II money to play around with during the 2017-18 school year, the first year of ESSA implementation, as they do right now. The program is currently getting about $2.3 billion, but spending bills pending in the House and Senate seek to cut it down, from just over $2 billion to $1.9 billion, respectively.

Of course, Title II isnt the only pot of federal money for teacher quality. In fact, the department doled out $5.1 in Teacher Quality Partnership grants to teacher-preparation programs that use a residency model"where prospective teachers take courses but also teach alongside a veteran educatorand other programs with a strong, hands-on focus.

The winners this year included a cadre of rural programs: Coppin State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of West Alabama.

Want more? U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr., is hosting a live video chat with educators on Tuesday night to talk about educator support. You can check it out here .
Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs: leak suggests rumored phone will use Exynos 8895 with a Mali-G71 GPU

A new leak suggests that the rumored upcoming flagship phone from Samsung, the Galaxy S8, will be the powered by an Exynos 8895. This will then be paired with a Mali-G71 GPU that will bring mobile gaming to the next level.

Sam Mobile reported that the upcoming high-end system-on-chip (SoC) could power the next flagship phone for the company, which is an upgrade from the Exynos 8890 that was used with their Galaxy S7. The scenario is typical. The next flagship phone will have a more powerful processor than its predecessor. But that is not what the commotion is all about, it's the about the rumored GPU that will come along with the device, the Mali-G71. It is said that the Mali-G71 is 1.8 times more powerful than the Mali-T880 MP 12 (also used with the Galaxy S7).

Accordingly, this was brought about in a very unusual way. A senior Samsung official was arrested in Seoul and accused of trying to smuggle out confidential information of the latest 14 nm and 10 nm-based processors. One of these chips is said to be powering the Galaxy S8.

The SoC and GPU combo will then make the rumored processor more powerful than Qualcomm's alleged Snapdragon 830, according to a GFXBench result. This also means that it could offer 4K resolution which could benefit the VR aficionados, as well as premium gaming experience into the mobile arena, Trusted Reviews added.

The Mali-G71 is compatible with Vulkan, OpenGL ES 3.2, Android RenderScript APIs, and GPU compute. It is based on the new Bifrost architecture that can offer up to 40 percent performance increase and up to 20 percent more energy efficiency compared to its predecessor, ARM said on its product page.

"The Mali family enables stunning visuals for UHD content and the superior power and scalability of the Mali-G71 makes it the perfect GPU for next generation, high-end use cases like premium gaming and mobile VR," the statement added.

However, it is too early to tell if Samsung will use a 16 nm, 14 nm, or 10 nm fabrication node for the processor that would power the Galaxy S8.
Slain Mexican Priests Victims Of 'Malicious' Smear Campaign, Church Says

The Catholic Church in Mexico has hit out at the government there over an alleged smear campaign against three priests found dead last week.

A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City yesterday said that prosecutors and local media have sought to cover up the authorities' inability to tackle drug cartels.

Two of the priests  Alejo Nabor Jimenez and Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz  were found shot dead, their bodies riddled with bullets, in Varacruz last week. On Sunday it was confirmed that a third clergyman  Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen  had been shot to death in Michoacan state after being abducted.

State prosecutors in Veracruz alleged that the first two priests had been drinking with their killers before they disappeared. Separately, local media published a photo suggesting the third priest had been last seen with a young boy in a hotel, but other reports said the image was not of the priest.

"In these cases it has become clear that state governments that cannot handle the drug cartels, are criminalizing the victims, depicting some as drunks and another as a paedophile, making it look like the crimes were not related to drug cartels but because of some immoral conduct," said Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City.

"To physical death they are adding moral assassination, slandering the priests and holding them up to ridicule... and that has caused deep indignation in the Church," Romero said.

Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, the head of the Michoacan archdiocese, defended his priest's character. "The publication of some images and malicious interpretations has made the situation more painful," he said.

The Mexican Council of Bishops also urged authorities to investigate the killings without slandering the victims. "We respectfully and urgently demand that the respective authorities get to the bottom of both cases... and with the same forcefulness, we demand that no priest, or anyone, be slandered, above all before the investigations are finished," the council wrote.

At least 31 priests have reportedly been killed in Mexico since 2006. The country is 81 per cent Catholic.

The US State Department wrote in its 2015 International Religious Freedom report that priests in Mexico are "victims of extortion attempts, death threats and intimidation by organized criminal groups".
Ted Cruz explains why he's endorsing Donald Trump: 'Clinton is wholly unacceptable'

Former Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has decided to endorse Donald Trump as president, and he gave out several reasons why.

"Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election," he writes on his Facebook page. "After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump."

Cruz recalls that he made a promise last year to support the Republican nominee, and he is keeping his word. But more than that, he considers Trump's opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, as "wholly unacceptable" for the White House.

The Texas senator is deeply concerned about six key policies that might be negatively affected under a Clinton presidency. The first is the Supreme Court. "We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices," he says. "We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue."

The next policy is Obamacare, which he described as a "failed heathcare law." If Republicans hold Congress, Cruz is certain that Obamacare will be repealed, but a Clinton presidency would veto that legislation.

The third concern is energy. "Clinton would continue the Obama administration's war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs," says Cruz.

Cruz thinks that Obama's executive amnesty is "lawless," and he is worried about immigration. But with Trump as president, the illegal executive orders will be revoked.

"Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administration's willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees," says Cruz.

He also appreciates Trump's stand on Internet freedom. While Clinton plans to hand over control to an international community of stakeholders including Russia, China, and Iran, Trump went out to oppose Clinton's plan.

"If Clinton wins, we know  with 100 percent certainty  that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country," warns Cruz. "My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that."

"Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans," he continues. "And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way."
Thousands Of Muslim Buildings And Mosques Set For Demolition In Myanmar

Plans to demolish thousands of buildings belonging to the Rohingya Muslim population in Myanmar have been condemned by a persecution watchdog.

The order was announced by the government of Myanmar on September 18 and confirmed in a press conference on Saturday. More than 3,000 buildings are set to be destroyed in the Rakhine (Arakhan) state, including 12 mosques and 35 madrasas in the Muslim-majority townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

Local and international Rohingya Muslim groups issued a joint statement last week that said the plans were "part of their [Rakhine State Government's] long-drawn-out annihilation and ethnic cleansing policy of the defenceless Rohingya people".

It added the announcement had "caused consternation to the entire Rohingya community" and called for a halt to the demolition plans.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a religious freedom charity, said there had been a "dramatic escalation" of abuses against the Rohingya population and said 150,000 people are living in refugees camps as a result of the violence and persecution.

Senior United Nations officials have described conditions in these camps as some of the worst in the world.

Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said he was "deeply concerned" by the proposals to demolish mosques and madrasas.

"Destroying these buildings would only further stoke tensions in the country and fuel the persecution of an already severely marginalised and dehumanised people group," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We call on the government of Burma [Myanmar] to uphold and protect freedom of religion or belief for all. We also urge the government to lift the block on humanitarian aid access to parts of Rakhine state, as well as Kachin and northern Shan States, and to ensure that all those displaced by conflict receive the humanitarian aid they urgently need."

The Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar were not allowed to vote in the country's recent election and are not included in the national census.
Trial Adjourned Of Christian Pastors Facing Death Penalty In Sudan

The "spying" trial of pastors in Sudan has been adjourned until next month after the prosecution failed to prepare adequately for the case.

Four defendants, including two Christian pastors and a foreign Christian worker, are accused of spying. They have denied the charges.

Their trial in Khartoum was delayed for a second time after the judge accused the prosecution of being inadequately prepared.

All four men face the death penalty if found guilty.

They are Rev Hassan Taour, Rev Kuwa Shamal, Czech aid worker Petr Jasek and Darfuri graduate Abdulmonem Abdumawla.

When the case resumed yesterday, the prosecution used videos to back up the charges of spying, sources close to the trial told World Watch Monitor (WWM).

The defence said the material was not relevant to the case. The judge apparently agreed and warned the prosecution to come better prepared next time, WWM reported.

The hearing was adjourned until 17 October.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Jasek is charged with propagating false news. He, Taour, Shamal and Abdumawla face at least seven charges including waging war against the state. One charge against the pastors is that they propagated news about churches being burned down in Khartoum and bombed in the Nuba mountains, where Christians are classed as "atheists".

On the Open Doors' 2016 World Watch List, Sudan is ranked eighth, and the organisation has requested prayers for the four defendants.
When The Right Goes Bad: Why Christians Shouldn't Be Fooled By The 'Declaration Of Dependence '

So, Trump and Clinton had their first head-to-head last night. The pundits and pollsters called it for Clinton, though that means nothing in this most topsy-turvy of elections: it's hard to know what Trump has to do to persuade people not to vote for him.

There's a great deal about the US presidential election that is frightening and depressing. The thought of a Trump victory, of course, ticks both those boxes; Clinton's generally hawkish record on military intervention, as well as her extreme liberalism on abortion, is not really encouraging either.

Far worse than this, however, is the way the religious right has been so eager to ditch every principle it ever possessed in a desperate quest for power. Trump, they believe, can give it them, so they will overlook every lie and every insult, and every demonstration of ignorance or incompetence. And the religious right's leaders and opinion-formers have resorted to conscripting entirely legitimate conservative concerns, about abortion and same-sex marriage, into their campaign to elect Trump as president.

The latest example of this unholy alliance is an advertising campaign by Andrew Wommack ministries. It's raised $500,000 for a media campaign that includes a full-page ad in the New York Times, and it's aiming for a million signatures on a 'Declaration of Dependence'. Starting with a quote from the Declaration of Independence ("We hold these truths to be self-evident", etc) it says that no government has the right to take away the right to "exercise our beliefs as put forth in God's Holy Bible".

Among these are that life begins at conception and that abortion is wrong, and that marriage is between heterosexuals only. The Declaration says: "We therefore respectfully reserve the right to refuse any mandate by the government that forces us to fund or support abortion." It goes on, "We also oppose same-sex marriage, polygamy, bestiality and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by scripture."

The Declaration doesn't mention Trump. To that extent, it's non-political and is probably on the right side of the Johnson Amendment. But every sentence is calculated to appeal to voters who want the next US president to be the one who entrenches conservative judges on the bench of the Supreme Court. These judges, they believe, will roll back gay marriage, allow extensive religious exemptions from equality legislation, and clamp down on abortion. And this president will, incidentally, repeal the pesky Johnson Amendment that stops churches endorsing political candidates.

So who are the signatories? As I write, there are 71,486  so there's some way to go. But the list of original backers is instructive. One of them is historian David Barton, who said Christians who didn't vote for Trump would have to answer to God. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family signed it, as did televangelist Kenneth Copeland  both are members of Trump's evangelical advisory board. Retired army general Jerry Boykin signed a letter supporting Trump. Lance Wallnau is a member of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump.

The Declaration is another example of the sort of overheated rhetoric that has characterised the engagement of conservatives  with some honourable exceptions  in this election. It sets up the contest as a binary competition between the forces of light and the powers of darkness. It commits its signatories to resisting their government, when in truth there is nothing to resist. It implicitly attributes positions to Clinton she doesn't hold. It's also, incidentally, monumentally insulting to gay people by bracketing together same-sex marriage and bestiality.

The Declaration of Dependence is a new low. But November 8 is still a long way away. Watch out for even worse to come.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been pummeling each other for months on the campaign trail over the economy, and parts of the first presidential debate sounded like a montage of their stump speeches and policy platforms. But the slugfest also crystallized their wide differences  and a couple of awkward similarities.

The fundamental divergence between Clinton and Trump on this issue  to which moderator Lester Holt devoted his first segment, called "achieving prosperity"  is where they believe economic growth will come from.

Trump describes a world in which companies are fleeing America, sending manufacturing jobs to Mexico and China, on account of badly negotiated trade deals and countries that are manipulating their currencies. When asked by Holt how he would bring jobs back to America, Trump mostly talked about how he would stem the losses.

"First of all, you don't let the companies leave," Trump said, describing how he would raise tariffs on imported goods and lower corporate tax rates to push companies to put their capital to work at home.

Clinton, on the other hand, sees "achieving prosperity" more as a matter of moving into new sectors in which America can seize a natural advantage  such as the design and production of renewable energy infrastructure  as well as redistributing the gains that have disproportionately flowed to the super-rich, through measures such as raising the minimum wage and encouraging employee ownership structures.

"I call it trumped-up trickle down, because that's exactly what it would be," Clinton said of Trump's plan to cut individual and corporate taxes, noting that cutting taxes at the top would be particularly advantageous to the Trump Organization itself.

There are a couple of problems with Trump's view of the economy. First of all, while manufacturing employment took a nose dive after the normalization of trade relations with China in 2000, it's actually been rising since the end of the recession in 2010 as the risks and costs of long supply chains have mounted. And secondly, most of the manufacturing that has returned has been highly automated, not nearly labor intensive enough to create the 25 million jobs that Trump has promised.

But Clinton had some difficult moments as well, such as when Trump went after her for flip-flopping on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal with Pacific Rim nations that Clinton came out against after supporting it as Secretary of State.

After Clinton insisted that she found it to be a bad deal upon learning the details in the final version, Trump demanded to know whether it was President Obama's fault for delivering a bad trade deal  an attempt to drive a wedge between the Democratic party's two strongest leaders, which Clinton dodged by changing the subject.

Clinton did more effectively parry Trump's claims to be uniquely qualified to run the government because of his record as a businessman.

First, she made the case that running a business isn't exactly like running a country  it's more difficult and damaging for a country to go through bankruptcy and restructure, for example. Second, she argued that Trump's business record isn't what he says it is, suggesting that his tax returns might reveal dramatically lower income if he were to share them. And third, she suggested that having a large business empire might actually be a liability, if the president were more concerned about his own financial interests than the well-being of the country.

The attacks didn't faze Trump. When Clinton pointed out that the only tax returns the real estate billionaire has released showed that he paid zero federal income taxes, Trump couldn't help but interject: "That makes me smart."
Photo by Mieko Mahi/Newfield Exploration Co.

Newfield Exploration Co. has completed its $380 million sale of oil and gas properties and undeveloped land in Texas.

The independent energy company based in The Woodlands said Tuesday that its Eagle Ford Shale holdings will go to Protege Energy III, LLC. An undisclosed recipient bought the company's South Texas natural gas assets, according to a company statement issued Tuesday.
The Harris County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to add yet another law firm to the county's court fight against bail reform - a group whose focus will be representing 16 county criminal judges who were recently added to a pending federal lawsuit.

The county was sued in May by a group of public interest attorneys, including a Washington DC-based non-profit and Houston's Susman Godfrey law firm, in an effort to force local officials to moderate policies that until now have resulted in the jailing even of misdemeanor offenders who are too poor to afford bail.

The lawsuit was filed in the name of Maranda ODonnell, a local single mother, who spent two days in jail after being arrested for driving without a valid license because she couldn't post a $2,500 bail.

Harris County already has paid another law firm, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP of Houston, $169,464 for six different lawyers who have worked defending the county against the Odonnell civil case through July, according to a bill the Chronicle obtained through a Texas Public Information Act request. The bills through July included 113 hours of work by lead attorney, Katharine David, who has charged $525 per hour and 64 hours of work by Mike Stafford, a former Harris County attorney, who charges $610 per hour, according to new details released Tuesday.

Commissioners voted unanimously to add another firm, Winston Strawn, to represent judges who were only recently added as defendants to the case. There was no discussion in open session, though Commissioner Jack Cagle said he was voting in favor only because the county attorney recommended approving the additional expense.

Reformers previously had criticized the county for hiring an outside firm - instead of attempting to settle the case or fast-tracking bail reforms that could have cost less and possibly prevented the lawsuit. Among others, State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, has suggested the county attorney should handle the matter himself and seek to push through less costly settlement.

So far, the county's lawyers for the case have charged for, among other things, meeting with the county's own hearing officers who set bond via video hearings, as well as sheriff's officials, the 16 judges, the DA and other county officials. They've also drafted replies and motions in so far unsuccessful attempts to get the case dismissed, according to a copy of information compiled from their bills the Chronicle obtained Tuesday.

The lawsuit seeks no cash damages, but rather to speed long-proposed reforms such as moderating a fee schedule that sets the price for bonds by type of offense and providing attorneys to the poor at bail hearings. Harris County already has a multi-departmental group working on the problems and has won two major grants to help reform the system, but with so many players involved progress has been slow.

About 70 percent of the inmates in Harris County's crowded jail are being held pretrial and local judges release only a tiny fraction even of low-risk non-violent offenders on so-called personal bonds, the county's own records show.

A six-month pilot program to provide defense lawyers at bail hearings that are currently conducted with only hearing officers and prosecutors present would have cost less than the county has paid so far to fight the case, records show.

On the reformer's side of the lawsuit, Neal Manne, of Susman Godfrey, said his firm's attorneys are donating their time - and he's covering the expenses himself personally.

But ultimately the county could pick up the other side's legal bills if the county loses.

"Susman Godfrey and I will handle the case without charge for as long as it takes," Manne said via mail. "Of course, notwithstanding that we are working for free, the law provides that the reasonable value of our time (which will be very substantial) could be among the legal fees the County is ordered to pay if the plaintiffs eventually prevail."
Is It Legal for Protesters to Block Traffic?

Blocking traffic is an illegal, albeit effective method of protesting in the United States. When protesters block traffic, they are engaging in civil disobedience, a term coined by one of America's earliest freethinkers and intellectuals, Henry David Thoreau.

While nearly everyone caught in a traffic jam caused by protesters becomes upset due to the delay, it is important to recognize that the inconvenience gets peoples attention, which is what protesters aim to do.

Although organized protests or marches can obtain permits to close streets, frequently protesters move from the permitted areas to other areas. When protesters block highways or streets that they are not permitted to be on, they are breaking the law and do risk arrest.

But What About the First Amendment?

The First Amendment guarantees the right to assemble as well as the right to free speech and expression; however, there are limits on those rights. Generally, local and state governments can and do restrict the time, place, and manner of protest. For instance, noise and time restrictions are considered reasonable restrictions for residential areas.

Additionally, just because people are protesting, doesnt mean they are given free rein to break already existing laws. Simply walking on the highway, or any roadway outside a crosswalk, is considered jaywalking, which is a crime. Furthermore, most jurisdictions also have laws regarding blocking or obstructing traffic.

I Was Arrested While Protesting. Do I Need a Lawyer?

Frequently, protesters are arrested when their behavior becomes unlawful. While often protesters are simply detained in order for officers to effectively control a crowd, some protesters do get charged with crimes. If you are ticketed and released, or booked into custody, contact a lawyer right away as all criminal charges are serious matters that can have serious consequences.

Protest laws vary by state, but usually, protesters are charged with:

Trespassing

Disturbing the peace

Disorderly conduct

Failing to obey an officer's instruction

Obstruction of justice

Resisting arrest

Assault

If you get arrested while protesting, it is your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent that you will want to remember to avoid self-incrimination. Anything you say can be used against you. You can be charged with a crime even if you do not think you did anything wrong. Demand to speak with a lawyer and avoid other unlawful behavior such as resisting arrest that could be added to the charges you face.

Related Resources:
Two Houston organizations on Tuesday launched a voter registration campaign that pokes fun at a controversial comment made by Latinos for Trump founder Marco Gutierrez.

Earlier this month, Gutierrez told MSNBC's Joey Reid: "My culture is a very dominant culture, and it's imposing and it's causing problems. If you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks on every corner." (Story continues below.)
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A third suspect was arrested Monday evening on fraud and racketeering schemes in connection with the attempted murder of an Austin district court judge in November.

Marcellus Burgin, 26, from Cypress was arrested in New Orleans just before midnight Monday.

He, along with two other suspects, Chimene Onyeri, 28, and Rasul Scott, 24, face federal charges for fraud and racketeering involving the attempted murder of Julie Kocurek. An indictment laying out the charges against the three suspects was unsealed Friday.

READ MORE: 3 men shot by deputy, one charged with burglary

Burgin led federal agents on a car chase in southwest Houston on Thursday. He managed to escape and police continued to look for him over the next several days.

Burgin and Scott remain in federal custody in Louisiana but are expected to be transferred to the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas. Onyeri is in federal custody and his detention hearing is set for Oct. 6 in Austin.

The indictment states that Onyeri and others participated in fraudulent schemes for financial gain in Houston, Austin, and Louisiana between January 2012 and November 2015. Some of the racketeering enterprises the indictment alleges the group participated in include mail fraud, bribery of a public official, wire fraud, and other schemes involving murder.

READ MORE: Person of interest in judge shooting faces murder charge in Harris County

The indictment says that in November, Onyeri and the two defendants conspired to kill Kocurek because Onyeri believed that she was going to sentence him to prison. Kocurek was shot outside of her Austin home. She suffered serious body injuries.

The incident is still under investigation by several government entities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayna Blazey are prosecuting the case.




The fashion-event season is in full swing. Here's a ticket you won't want to miss.

J. Landa, 2412 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village, is hosting a fun event focused on fashion, fitness and beauty with experts from SoulCycle and PageBoy. (I'll be there, too.)
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Blackburn was on the job during the Labor Day weekend.

He was working as part of a DWI task force along with local law enforcement officials when early Labor Day morning, another vehicle struck his car, which was parked on the right shoulder of southbound Interstate 45 near NASA Road 1.

The driver of a red Mercedes, Tuwanna Moore, 31, of League City, was subsequently charged with intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury to a peace officer, a second-degree felony.

Blackburn, a League City resident, suffered critical injuries in the crash and remains hospitalized in Houston for ongoing treatment.

Within days of the accident, the Texas DPS Troopers Foundation and Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association-Region 2 sponsored an online recovery fund for Blackburn's family.

The Trooper Chad Blackburn Recovery Fund is overseen by Darla Freeman, a member of the board of directors for The Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association. The fund is part of an association program assisting officers and sanitation personnel with financial need during disaster, fire or medical emergencies that is not covered by DPS.

"Trooper Blackburn's injuries were considered in the line of duty injuries; so he is covered by the agency, but this is where you help the family because there are other outside expenses like hotel stays, meals, parking," Freeman said.

According to Freeman, Blackburn's injuries will likely require long-term rehabilitation.

Within two days of the start of the fundraiser, $10,000 was raised, and by the following Monday, it was up to $20,000. As of Sept. 22, the fund has raised $22,030.

The immediate response, Freeman said, says a lot about the level of respect in the community toward those in law enforcement who are in need.

"For me, it tells me that the Houston area and the state of Texas is very supportive of our law enforcement," she said.

During the 2015 Labor Day holiday enforcement period, DPS troopers arrested 488 drivers on charges of driving under the influence. Every year, local police enhance patrols specifically to observe and apprehend intoxicated drivers during the holiday.

"I think the biggest thing is that he was on patrol that weekend to help keep drunk drivers off the road, and ironically he was struck by a drunk driver," said Freeman, who is also communications supervisor at DPS.

"It is very difficult for any officer and their family when they're dealing with an injury they've received while they're on duty," Freeman said. "It's very hard for them because the officers are doing something they love and then they get injured."

The response has provided a source of strength for Blackburn's family, according to DPS Lt. Craig Cummings.

"The family has been humbled by all of the support that has been given to them, and as an agency, we are also humbled by how the community has reached out to help him and the family," he said.

Blackburn, a 10-year veteran of the force stationed in Webster, was on duty and sitting in his vehicle on the shoulder of the road when he was struck. Incidents like this one are a reminder of the inherent risks for law enforcement, Cummings said.

"Not only does it reaffirm that what we do each do is valued by the community, but to see that level of support really makes us appreciate our profession, and even makes it more apparent of how hard we have to work to make sure these thing don't happen again," he said.

"I think for all of us in this profession, we go into it with the idea that we are going to be the ones there to help others, and when we become those that are receiving the help, it's a real dynamic changer," he said. "When the community reaches out it begins to fill that role that we usually try to fill for the families, it really is heartwarming."

To find out more about contributing to Chad Blackburn's family during his recovery, visit https://www.youcaring.com/chad-blackburn-641626

The DPSOA has also set up an account in care of Trooper Blackburn at the DPS credit union.
Treadmill Accident Leads to Brain Injury Lawsuit

Like most of us, 60-year-old Etelvina Jimenez thought she was doing the healthy thing by hopping on a gym's treadmill to get some exercise. But when Jimenez fell she joined nearly half a million Americans who are injured by exercise equipment every year.

Jimenez's brain injuries were severe and now she's suing the gym, claiming it violated safety standards by placing treadmills too close to other equipment.

Risky Running

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), treadmill accidents sent 24,000 people to the emergency room in 2014, and there have been "30 reported deaths associated with treadmills for the ten year period from 2003-2012 or an average of about 3 per year (2012 is the last year for which fatality reporting is nearly complete)."

The most dangerous injuries involved head and brain trauma. Last year, Dave Goldberg (CEO of SurveyMonkey and husband of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg) died after falling and striking his head while using a treadmill. And for those who survive the initial accident, recovering from a traumatic brain injury can take years, if not a person's entire life.

Treadmill Liability

Jimenez's lawsuit claims a Sacramento-area 24 Hour Fitness placed their treadmills just three feet in front of other heavy exercise equipment, when the treadmill's assembly guide advises that the "minimum space requirement needed for user safety and proper maintenance is 3 feet wide by 6 feet deep directly behind the running belt." According to her lawsuit, when Jimenez fell from the treadmill, she struck her head on nearby equipment, causing her injuries.

Jimenez spent almost four months in different hospitals, undergoing multiple operations to reduce swelling in her brain, and she claims she is still suffering from the accident that occurred in 2011. "My memory, I'm not able to think, I think less," she told Sacramento's KCRA. "For instance, I'm not able to drive because I cannot think clearly which way I'm going." Jimenez is asking for $3.8 million in damages to cover lost wages and future medical care.

In a twist, the lawsuit was initially dismissed because Jimenez had signed a liability waiver. But an appeals court found the waiver unenforceable, since she could not read English. The case, currently in settlement talks, will go to trial in February of next year if the sides cannot agree.

If you've been injured by exercise equipment, or have questions regarding treadmill accidents or brain injuries, you can contact an experienced personal injury attorney near you.

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The ceremonys slogan was; Let Us All Start Individually for Sustainable Peace.

Naw Cynthia Win from KWEG said to KIC News: The main aim of holding [the ceremony] is to explain to residents from rural areas about peace, the nationwide ceasefire agreement [NCA], and the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee [JMC]. Another reason is to enable individuals to take part in the peace process.

She said that KWEG also explained and talked about the Union Peace Conference (or 21st Century Panglong Conference) that was recently held in Naypyidaw.

Saw Pha Dar, who attended the ceremony, said to KIC News that while ceremonies celebrating International Peace Day were being held locals were facing hardship due to fighting in the Mae Tha Wor area of Hlaingbwe Township.

He said: The best thing is not to have any wars. Everyone knows that only civilians suffer when theres a war. Women and children suffer the most. There is only one thing I want to tell the leaders. I want to request them to stop the war.

Around 300 people attended the ceremony. They included Burmese government officials, state-level JMC members, civil society organisations and womens organisations from Hpa-an. Residents of Hpa-an, Hlaingbwe, Kawkareik, and Kyain Seikgyi townships also attended.

Reporting by Saw Nyunt Thaung for KIC News

Translated by Thida Linn

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
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Neal Frey is a 72-year-old "textbook analyst" who spends his days judging Texas' future educational materials through a strict Christian lens. He is part of the "Educational Research Analysts," a group of conservative Christian volunteers that review public school textbooks that have been submitted for adoption in Texas.

While the organization has been around since 1961, Frey took over after the founder passed away in 2004. In recent profile on the east Texas resident, Frey told Reporting Texas' John Savage he has continued the nonprofit's work of reviewing textbooks in order give them a more conservative "Christian worldview."

READ MORE: Texas textbook proposal raises anti-Islam concerns

Some of these evaluations are outlined in the form of textbook "guides" on the organization's website. One guide looks to health textbooks and suggest publishers should "avoid asexual stealth phrases and definitions that covertly legitimize homosexuality."

Frey's scrutiny of the teaching materials found in Texas classrooms is not unique, but the way in which he attempts to influence them may raise a few eyebrows.

In the organization's FAQ written by Frey, he explains that "lowering our voice and working under opponents' radar gets better results."

In a phone call, Frey said this means privately pressuring publishers by mailing them his suggested criteria before textbooks are put up for state adoption.

READ MORE: 68 factual errors identified in controversial 'Mexican American Heritage' textbook

"My motto is, the less I say the better people listen," Frey said. "You have to have credibility and confidentially."

Frey said testifying to the Texas Board of Education is the wrong move to bring about change because it requires you to be very specific and cite problem passages, something he said would make it easy for opponents to undo his testimony.

With language like "satanic thought" and his belief in the "absolute biblical world view," it is easy to guess why public testimonies might not have the freedom or leverage he seeks.

Instead, Frey said he prefers dealing privately with editors and other education decision makers so that he doesn't become a target of opponents.

READ MORE: Politicization of textbooks in Texas

Frey said his organization receives between $60,000 and $80,000 in donations to help with his work - some of which ends up resulting in real change.

David Anderson, a Texas Education Agency official from 1997 to 2003, told Reporting Texas that during his time at the TEA he saw "publishers make changes as a result of information from Frey."

Frey's most famous example of success is in 2004, when the Texas Board of Education changed the definition of marriage to reflect the union between a man and a woman.

Nonetheless, it is unclear just how much influence Frey has on the educational system.

Click through to read some of Frey's controversial criteria for Texas textbooks.
When four named whistleblowers came forward to reveal that they'd been illegally fired from Wells Fargo for reporting that the company was experiencing widespread fraud, it was deja vu all over again: Wells also punished whistleblowers who sounded the alarm during the subprime crisis, and was thus so totally compromised that they needed a $36B taxpayer bailout.

Now, the whistleblowers, as well as those employees fired for not committing fraud to meet sales targets, are suing for $2.6B in damages (the fine that Wells is slated to pay for the 2,000,000 accounts it fraudulently opened in its customers' name is a mere $180M, less than the $200M in bonuses paid to CEO John Stumpf on the basis of the gains the bank realized from these crimes).

Wells Fargo customers have to surrender their right to sue the bank when they open accounts, settling for the company-friendly binding arbitration process. Wells argues that customers agreed to give up this right even for fake accounts that they didn't open, and didn't know about.

If employees also had to sign forced arbitration documents to get their jobs, this lawsuit may die on the vine.

"The biggest victims of this scheme are a class of people that nobody else has talked about," the lawsuit says. "The biggest victims of Wells Fargo's scam [are] the class of victims that were fired because they did not meet these cross sell quotas by engaging in the fraudulent scam that would line the CEO's pockets." Executives profited off the scheme, stockholders made a profit over the last five years, and customers will "undoubtedly" get fees refunded, the suit argues. But people who were fired for refusing to break the law are left out in the cold, the lawyers claim. Wells Fargo's lofty sales goals were "unrealistic," "impossible" and "unreachable," the suit alleges, and employees could not consistently meet the quotas without resorting to fraud or otherwise "gaming" the system. "Thousands of employees who failed to resort to illegal tactics were either demoted or fired as a result," the lawsuit states.

Wells Fargo Class Action [Documentcloud]





Ex-Wells Fargo Employees Sue, Allege They Were Punished For Not Breaking Law

[Camila Domonoske/NPR]

(via Reddit)
Houston police are looking for more information regarding two males involved in a shooting early Tuesday morning outside a southwest Houston bar.

Around 1 a.m., Houston police received a call from Memorial Hermann Hospital about two males who walked in to the hospital with gunshot wounds, according to HPD officer Robert Moss. One of the victims said the shooting occurred outside Fat Boy's Bar and Grill at 2596 S Loop West.
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Issues of cyber security, the Islamic State and funding of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance took up most of the national security conversation at Monday night's presidential debate.

Donald Trump said the U.S. should decrease the share it pays for the NATO budget, saying "we cannot be the policeman of the world."

Clinton argued for maintaining American investment in the alliance.

"It is essential that America's word be good," she said.

Both identified cyber security as an emerging priority, but offered few specifics on combating the threat posed by hackers, both independent and state sponsored.

Clinton raised alarm at a recent series of high-profile hacks, largely blamed on the Russian government, which Clinton said she thought was "probing" to test the U.S. reaction.

Trump said it might not have been Russia that orchestrated the hacks, but agreed with Clinton that "we have to get very tough on cyber warfare."

Regarding the Islamic State, or ISIS, Trump blamed Clinton for "creating" the group with a poorly executed withdrawal of the American occupation from Iraq. Clinton said the withdrawal had been scheduled under the previous administration of President George W. Bush and could not be adjusted.

She called for increased bombardment of the group, cyber attacks to disrupt online propaganda, military aid to U.S. allies neighboring the ISIS stronghold and targeting of ISIS leadership.

Trump declined to offer specifics but agreed that "we have to knock the hell out of ISIS and we have to do it fast."

He criticized Clinton for posting specific plans on her campaign website, saying it revealed too much to the terrorist group.
A suspect was charged with aggravated assault Tuesday, after allegedly shooting and wounding four males in east Houston last week.

The shooting occurred at 6900 Apache St. on Friday. Kedrine Young, 25, is charged with three accounts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being arrested Monday.
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If there were only a Highway 420 running between Colorado and Texas, a group of alleged marijuana growers could have made good use of it.

Federal prosecutors earlier this month joined Colorado's attorney general in going after an alleged ring. They described it as a group of 30 people accused of engaging in organized crime, tax evasion, money laundering and racketeering.

At the center: a group of Texans who allegedly used Colorado's lax marijuana laws (see the full report here).

READ MORE: Wreck in Texas Panhandle leads to $2.2 million in marijuana

The case is believed to mark the first time such charges have been filed alleging a Texas conspiracy since Colorado two years ago further relaxed its laws to allow the legal sale of pot to anyone 21 or older.

Marijuana has been found in bulk aboard outbound trains, planes, cars, trucks and often in the mail, as was the case over and over again with the ring tied to Houston.

The feds say packages of pot were headed from the Rocky Mountains to the Rio Grande on a regular basis.

RELATED: Texas agents seize more than $6 million in marijuana plants

The three packages shipped to the fictitious person were just a slice of business that was allegedly producing about 100 pounds of finished product a month and ran as many as 20 grow houses.

The investigation reaches back to February 2015.

Bank records, drug shipments and other elements in the case were traced from Colorado to Houston, Pearland, Katy and other places, according to court documents.

The cases of more than 20 people are now pending in court.
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Banned Books Week, when the American Library Association draws attention to books that are prohibited in different institutions, starts Sunday.

While children and schools are usually associated with the week-long celebration of challenged books, it also highlights books that are banned in prison.

READ MORE: Historic photos of Texas prisons show riots, rodeos and chain gangs

A 2011 report by the Texas Civil Rights Commission states the Texas Department of Criminal Justice "arbitrarily censors books and magazines sent to Texas prisoners," banning books by "award-winning authors, literary classics, and books about civil rights and prison conditions."

The newest book to be added to the banned book list for Texas prisoners is Dan Slater's non-fiction book "Wolf Boys: Two American Teenagers and Mexico's most dangerous drug cartel." It depicts the lives of Mexican-American boys in Laredo who agree to work for the Mexican cartels in order to escape poverty, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.

READ MORE: Woman marks a first as Houston's most wanted gang fugitive

In a piece for the online news site Slate, Slater wrote that books like "Friday Night Lights" and certain works by renowned authors like Noam Chomsky and Langston Hughes are banned from Texas prisoners. Ironically, Texas allows prisoners to read Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and David Duke's "My Awakening," which Slater called some "of the most racist books ever written."

According to the state rights commission, Texas prisons ban books if they have contraband, have information about making drugs, weapons or explosives; are "detrimental to offenders' rehabilitation because they would encourage deviant sexual behavior;" have sexually explicit images, or instructions on how to conduct criminal activity.

READ MORE: Jails, prisons still trying to meet federal anti-rape rules

The Guardian newspaper reports some of Leonardo DaVinci's sketches and some of Shakespeare's sonnets are also banished due to sexual content. Paul Wright, executive director of the Human Rights Defense Center, told the Guardian that TDCJ has banned about 15,000 books and that the list is growing.

"It's like we're living in the dark ages," Slater told the Guardian. "The system is so aggressive and arbitrary."

The Texas Civil Rights Commission wrote in its report that it encourages allowing prisoners to read more books since reading "enhances the ability to learn new skills, improves memory, and diminishes the effects of age on the brain."
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police source says a gun recovered at the scene of last week's fatal police shooting had been stolen.

The police source said Monday that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told police investigators the gun had been stolen and later sold to Kevin Lamont Scott. The source insisted on speaking anonymously because the State Bureau of Investigation continues to look into the case.
WASHINGTON  With funding to combat the Zika virus hanging in the balance, the Senate voted twice Tuesday to block a spending bill needed to keep the government open past a midnight Friday deadline.

Among those voting against the stop-gap funding measure was Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who pushed unsuccessfully to include language barring the government from giving up its historic oversight of the Internet domain name system.

With Cruz and nearly a dozen other Republicans joining in the Democratic filibuster, GOP leaders were left to scramble for an 11th-hour deal that can clear both the House and Senate, where it would need a 60-vote majority.

Cruz and a number of conservative allies have termed the long-planned domain name transition a "giveaway" that would allow countries like Russia, China and Iran to take control of the Internet.

Democrats, who support the Internet transition, have accused Cruz of manufacturing an issue and risking another government stoppage similar to the 2013 shutdown over Obamacare funding.

In turn, Republicans have accused Democrats of provoking a shutdown crisis to promote a narrative of dysfunction that could hurt GOP incumbents in November and help Democrats win back control of the Senate.

Democrats pressed GOP leaders last week to offer a "clean" funding measure to keep the government running through Dec. 9 without any controversial policy riders.

The spending package would provide $1.1 billion to fight the Zika outbreak, $500 million for disaster relief for Louisiana and other flood-affected states, and $82.5 billion for military construction and Veterans Affairs.

A new battle has broken out in recent days over Democrats demands for long-term funding for the lead-water crisis in Flint, Michigan. "The president has made clear for months that Congress needs to provide resources to this community of Flint," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday.

Senate Republicans say Flint would receive help in a separate water resources bill, but Democrats note that a House version of the legislation contains no funding for Flint.

Another stumbling block has been a GOP measure prohibiting the Securities and Exchange Commission from requiring publicly traded companies to disclose their political spending.

Leaders in both parties have been under pressure to break a Zika funding impasse that lingered all summer. President Barack Obama originally called for $1.9 billion to fight the mosquito-borne illness, but that figure was pared in congressional negotiations that initially stalled in battles over funding for Planned Parenthood and the Confederate flag in national cemeteries.

Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the Republican Majority Whip, has promised to break the congressional logjam before Friday's deadline, when the current fiscal year ends and lawmakers still hope to return home for the fall campaign season.

In fashioning a final compromise, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell resisted pressure from Cruz to add language stopping a long-planned Internet transition. Without action from Congress, oversight of the domain name system, a function that administration figures call "clerical," would formally transfer to an international nonprofit called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

The U.S.-based group, known as ICANN, has had the role for years under a contract with the Department of Commerce. That contract ends Friday, after which ICANN could become fully independent.

Although the transition has broad support among tech industry giants like Google and Microsoft, Cruz has rallied a broad array of critics to fight the transition, which he has likened to ceding U.S. control of the Panama Canal.

Meanwhile in Texas, state officials have confirmed about 200 cases of Zika, almost exclusively among people who had traveled abroad. About 75 of the cases have been reported in greater Houston. The virus is associated with microcephaly  a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head and incomplete brain development.
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Texas secessionists want to break away from the United States and restore the state to its one-time status as an independent republic.

But first, they want a place in the presidential debates.

The Texas Nationalist Movement, one of several groups advocating for Texas to peel away from the union, is citing a 2014 Reuters poll in which one in four Americans supported the idea of leaving the United States and taking their state with them.

READ MORE: #Texit calls for Texas secession after Brexit

That number - 23.9 percent - is like catnip to Ryan Thorson, a blogger for the Texas Nationalist Movement website.

Thorson wrote on the group's website on Monday that the figure surpasses the 15 percent support in the polls guideline laid out by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates for inclusion in the clash of ideas this fall.

"I suppose they recognize that an implication of independence being so popular among their constituents might be that their own leadership is seen as dysfunctional," Thorson wrote.

READ MORE: Texas GOP to debate secession on convention floor

The poll was taken online in 2014. The Commission on Presidential Debates is using polling taken over the last several months to set the threshold for getting on stage with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Still, Thorson wrote he expects the numbers to hold steady and even grow as time goes on.

"As the two major candidates advance their competing big-government visions for the United States, and as it becomes more and more obvious that Washington is incapable of changing its ill-fated course, I think you'll find that the ranks of the discontented, those calling for liberty from Washington, will only swell in the coming months and years," Thorson wrote.

READ MORE: In Texas, some GOPs call for statewide vote on secession

Jim Gaines of Reuters wrote with the poll that the numbers show a definite and deeply felt discontent - this was two years ago, before Trump announced for president - but the union should hold, at least for now

"The United States hardly seems to be on the verge of fracture, and the small secession movements in a handful of American states today represent a tiny percentage of those polled by Reuters," Gaines wrote.
MORNING AFTER: "Temperment at heart of first debate," by the Houston Chronicle's Kevin Diaz: "Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump clashed sharply Monday in their critical first debate, a high-stakes showdown that put their contrasting outlooks and temperaments on full display for voters.

"The much-anticipated encounter - the first of three presidential debates - saw both candidates vying to assuage the public's doubts about them, gain the initiative and reframe the dynamics of a race that is essentially tied, with 43 days left.

"Throughout the 90-minute engagement, Clinton sought ways to reinforce the perception that her unorthodox Republican adversary is temperamentally unsuited and dangerously ill-informed for the job."

Big Event report cards

"Winners and losers from the first presidential debate," by The Washington Post's Chris Cilliza

"Debate report card: Clinton tops Trump on policy knowledge, showmanship," by the Dallas Morning News' Robert Garrett

"Race: Birther issue, criminal justice issues resurface," by the Chronicle's Mike Tolson

"Presidential candidates clash on ISIS, NATO and cyber security," by the Chronicle's Dylan Baddour

"Immigration: Little insight into a big issue in Round 1," by the Chronicle's Lomi Kriel

'The 2016 Presidential Debate' was an entertaining show," by the Chronicle's Wei-Huan Chen

"Social media reacts to first presidential debate with hilarious memes," by the Chronicle's Heather Leighton

"Rick Perry isn't cool as Ice in 'Dancing' duel," by the Houston Chronicle's Joey Guerra: "To call the pairing of Rick Perry and Vanilla Ice odd would be an understatement. The twosome claimed to be fast friends during Monday's "Dancing with the Stars."

"Rapper Vanilla Ice, who was born in Dallas, said the Texas connection was part of his bond with Perry.

But it was all about crushing the competition on the floor. A higher score guaranteed immunity this week from elimination.

"Perry and Vanilla Ice took on the paso doble with their respective partners. And surprise -- both earned 23 out of 40 points from the judges. It placed them at the bottom of the pack."

Texas Association of Business: 'Bathroom Bills' Bad for Business, by the Texas Observer's John Wright: "The Texas Association of Business (TAB) has formally come out against discriminatory anti-LGBT legislation, including so-called "bathroom bills."

The board of the state's 4,300-member chamber of commerce overwhelmingly approved a resolution Friday opposing "legislation that is seen as discriminatory and would impact workforce recruitment and/or cause a negative economic impact on the state," according to TAB's president, Chris Wallace."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has made restricting transgender restroom access one of his top priorities for the 85th Legislature, which convenes in January.

"Austin Democrats line up to replace Dawnna Dukes," by the Austin American-Statesman's Andrea Ball and Sean Collins Walsh: "The race to replace longtime Austin state Rep. Dawnna Dukes got underway hours after her Monday morning announcement that she will resign effective Jan. 10.

"First out of the gate was former Austin Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, who issued a statement saying she is "seriously considering running. Joe Deshotel, son of state Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, said it is more likely than not that he will join the race. Travis County Democratic Party Chairman Vincent Harding said he will also consider running, once the Nov. 8 election is over."

"Rick Perry isn't cool as Ice in 'Dancing' duel," by the Houston Chronicle's Joey Guerra: "To call the pairing of Rick Perry and Vanilla Ice odd would be an understatement. The twosome claimed to be fast friends during Monday's "Dancing with the Stars."

"Rapper Vanilla Ice, who was born in Dallas, said the Texas connection was part of his bond with Perry.

But it was all about crushing the competition on the floor. A higher score guaranteed immunity this week from elimination.

"Perry and Vanilla Ice took on the paso doble with their respective partners. And surprise -- both earned 23 out of 40 points from the judges. It placed them at the bottom of the pack."

Capitol daybook: No meetings

Speed read

Glenn Beck: Ted Cruz is calculating, smarmy; I'm sorry I supported him, Dallas Morning News ($)

Paxton Blasts Clean Power Plan Ahead of High-Profile Legal Arguments, Texas Tribune

African-American mamorial panels to arrive Tuesday at Capitol, Houston Chronicle

Shooter wore military uniform, had Nazi emblems, police say, Houston Chronicle

Blue Cross Blue Shield will offer Obamacare plans in Texas in 2017, Dallas Morning News ($)

'Dan Patrick announces Texas advisory panel for Trump, Houston Chronicle

Dallas attorney Steve Wolens named to Texas Ethics Commission, Dallas Morning News

Austin Democrats line up to replace Dawnna Dukes in Texas House, Austin American-Statesman

Father of 'clock boy' Ahmed Mohamed sues Glenn Beck, FOX, TheBlaze, Dallas Morning News ($)

Former Williamson DA John Bradley resigning from job in Palau, Austin American-Statesman

Study finds some contamination of water wells in South Texas, San Antonio Express-News

More than one-third of calls to VA suicide hotline are left unanswered, official says, PBS NewsHour

Pass a carbon tax, repeal energy regulations, Houston Chronicle

The banning of books in prisons: 'It's like living in the dark ages,' The Guardian

Race to the White House

"Five takeaways from the first presidential debate," by Politico: "There were a couple of not-so-very-subtle signals here inside of Hofstra University that Donald Trump lost Monday night's highly-anticipated debate against Hillary Clinton, and badly.

"The first was the audible sound of groaning by some of his supporters (picked up by my attentive colleague Steve Shepard) inside the debate hall as Trump meandered self-defensively through a succession of answers against a very focused, very energized and very well-rehearsed Hillary Clinton.

"Trump and his new-ish messaging team have labored mightily to turn the avatar of populist rage into a reasonable facsimile of someone who you could see sitting in the Oval Office. But this best-laid plan unraveled on Monday  amid Clinton's steely assault and the dignified interrogation of NBC's Lester Holt, who struck a deft balance between facilitator, BS detector and lion tamer."

"How Hillary Clinton Went From Hesitant to Scorching," by The New York Times: "It started with a mystifying missed opportunity on race. It ended with a piercing attack on gender.

Hillary Clinton's performance in the first presidential debate on Monday veered from uncertain and tentative to firm and, ultimately, scorching. No amount of practice, it seemed, could fully prepare her  or perhaps anyone  for Donald J. Trump's hurricane of factual distortion, taunting interruptions and blustery generalities."

"Clinton set the trap and Trump walked in," by Politico: "The first 20 minutes of the long-awaited showdown between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton appeared to be a draw. It was only later, when Clinton began a barrage of possible explanations for Trump's failure to release his tax returns and then sat back as he squirmed his way through an explanation of his history of birtherism, that her victory became clear.

"But it was rooted in those opening exchanges and a seemingly off-hand but actually quite deliberate decision by Clinton to bait Trumpby mentioning his father and challenging his own conception as a self-made man."
Race relations and racial healing occupied a portion of the debate, and predictably turned to questions of crime and President Obama's birth certificate.

Asked how they would support racial healing, Democrat Hillary Clinton called for revision to the criminal justice system which she said has been too harsh on minorities, and for an examination of implicit bias which she said infects everyone, be they average people or police officers.

"Unfortunately, race still determines too much," Clinton said. "We've just seen those two tragic examples in Charlotte and Tulsa. We have to restore trust between communities and police."

She also assailed Republican Donald Trump for his years-long pursuit of the so-called birther issue questioning President Obama's birth certificate and citizenship, and for a business history and campaign tone that has appealed to racial extremists.

"He started his campaign activity with a racist lie and he continued to push it," Clinton said. "He has a long history of engaging in racist behavior. In 1973, he was sued by the Justice Department because he would not rent apartments ... in one of his developments to African Americans."

Trump defended his longstanding insistence that President Obama may not be an American citizen, which he recently dropped, and that he did a "great thing" by pressing the president to produce his birth certificate.

Trump said what African-American and Hispanic communities need is more law and order because they are being "decimated" by crime. He promised to extend the "stop-and-frisk" approach once used by police in New York City into other American cities. The policy later was ruled by a judge to be unconstitutional, a ruling he said likely would not be finding elsewhere.

"We have a situation where our inner cities, African Americans and Hispanics, are living in hell," Trump said. "You walk down the street and you get shot. We have to stop the shootings and bring back law and order."

As for the discrimination lawsuit, Trump said it was settled with no admission of guilt. He cited a club he opened in Palm Beach County as a model of nondiscrimination for which he has been praised.
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Houston's partisan political groups could have been watching separate debates Monday night, when they each gathered to delight in their chosen candidate's best jabs and laughed at the other nominee's expense.

Democrats packed into their Harris County party's North Loop headquarters munching pizza and multi-colored Goldfish crackers, as dozens of Republicans crowded into the back room of J. Black's bar off Washington Avenue.

Many debate watchers enjoyed both the substance and the flair of the matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

RELATED: Temperament at the heart of Clinton-Trump debate

"I think it's 50 percent theater," said Katy's Maria Merrick, 52, a Republican who sees no choice but to vote for Trump. "You can't get much more dramatic than Trump and Hillary. Good Gosh."

The Democratic gathering swung from sober attention at Clinton's answers to moderator Lester Holt's weightier inquiries to downright mockery of Trump.

Several of the GOP nominee's answers were obscured by incredulous murmurs, such as when he incorrectly insisted that the police tactic of "stop and frisk" had not been ruled unconstitutional; befuddlement, when he argued a point on race relations by talking about how he had not discriminated against anyone while building a club in Florida; or outright laughter, when he referred to one of his figures as "semi-exact."

Meanwhile, Republicans reveled in Trump's promises to cut taxes "big league" and release his tax returns only if Clinton were to release emails already deleted from the private email server she maintained as secretary of state.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION: Trump's definition of a 'small loan' gets roasted

One of the GOP attendees' favorite Clinton lines: "I have a feeling by the end of this evening, I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened."

Trump's criticism of Clinton's resume also landed well.

"I agree, she's got experience, but it's bad experience, and this country can't afford to have another four years of that kind of experience," Trump said to Republican cheers.

Democratic debate watchers griped at Trump throughout the night, muttering things like, "This guy is totally insane." The most impassioned response -- drawing several standing ovations and cries of "take that!" -- came when Clinton rebuked Trump's implication that she lacks the "stamina" to be president.

"As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina," Clinton said.

Democratic voter Ray Cohen said he thought Trump sometimes came across as bullying, in part because Clinton at times seemed to bait him into it.

FOR LAUGHS: Funny memes weigh in on historic presidential debate

"I don't know what it's going to do to the polls," he said. "My gut feeling is she may have picked up a couple of points nationally by her performance tonight. We'll see."

Laura Nicol, who hosted the watch party in tandem with the monthly meeting of her Texas Democratic Women chapter, was pleased with Clinton, but worried about the studio audience's reactions.

"I could hear Trump supporters in the crowd and I couldn't hear Hillary supporters," she said. "I would like to think that's because they were polite rather than outnumbered."

Patricia Rosario, a 57-year old engineer who voted for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the Republican primary, said she thought Trump performed better than she expected him to.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of Trump, but I'm not voting for Hillary," Rosario said.

"You and I would be in oranges downtown if we did what she did," she added, pointing to Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said this summer that Clinton was "extremely careless" in how she handled emails but did not recommend charges, and the Department of Justice has closed its investigation.

As the bar cleared out, Harris County Republican Party Chairman Paul Simpson wondered, jokingly, whether the debate actually changed anyone's mind.

"I don't know how anybody's undecided," he said.
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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump clashed sharply Monday in their critical first debate, a high-stakes showdown that put their contrasting outlooks and temperaments on full display for voters.

The much-anticipated encounter - the first of three presidential debates - saw both candidates vying to assuage the public's doubts about them, gain the initiative and reframe the dynamics of a race that is essentially tied, with 43 days left.

Throughout the 90-minute engagement, Clinton sought ways to reinforce the perception that her unorthodox Republican adversary is temperamentally unsuited and dangerously ill-informed for the job.

"The central question in this election is really what kind of country we want to be and what kind of future we'll build together," Clinton said, opening the debate. "You have to judge us - who can shoulder the immense, awesome responsibilities of the presidency."

Trump in turn sought to exploit Clinton's central weakness: the deficit of trust and honesty she has faced in her struggles to explain her use of a private email server as secretary of state. Trump - surprisingly playing more defense than offense - pivoted to the topic even as he was called on to release his tax returns.

"I will release my tax returns, against my lawyer's wishes, when she releases the 33,000 emails that have been deleted," he said.

Clinton acknowledge the blunder of using a private email server while secretary of state, which has become of a centerpiece of GOP political attacks for the past year.

"It was a mistake, and I take full responsibility for that," she said.

For Trump, the debate stage at Hofstra University in New York also provided a chance to cast off his past excesses - such as his "birther" attacks on President Barack Obama and his suggestion that climate change is a hoax - and reach his threshold goal of looking and sounding thoughtful and presidential.

Clinton, for her part, seemed at ease showing her greater policy depth - in contrast to Trump's showmanship flair - and tying Trump to the inflammatory rhetoric of his boisterous primary campaign.

"Just join the debate by saying more crazy things," Clinton said after Trump accused her of ineffectiveness on foreign policy and "fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

The two also sparred over Trump's past suggestion of a climate change hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, which he denied emphatically, despite a tweet to the contrary.

Clinton, often on the offensive, accused Trump of a record of "racist behavior" as well as a history of demeaning remarks toward women and making bellicose statements about war and foreign policy, questioning both his judgment and temperament.

"I have much better judgment than she has," Trump responded. "I also have a much better temperament.  I have a winning temperament. I know how to win."

He pressed Clinton on the slow economic recovery of the Obama administration and vowed to reduce taxes and create more jobs. While offering few details, he said, "It's going to be a beautiful thing to watch."

Starting with advantage?

For many analysts, Trump arrived on the stage with a central advantage over Clinton: the low expectations attached to the real estate mogul owing to his outsider status in presidential politics.

Clinton, a former first lady, senator, and secretary of state with years in public service, came in burdened with high expectations of winning on debate points against a celebrity billionaire who has logged long hours before the cameras, albeit as a reality TV star.

She also came onto the stage representing the status quo in what many see as a "change" election. "Hillary has experience," Trump said, "but it's bad experience."

In a pre-debate briefing, Republican National Committee strategist Sean Spicer praised Clinton's reputation as a "talented debater," versus Trump who, notwithstanding a dozen GOP primary debates, "is new to the format."

While both Trump and Clinton came to their inaugural face-off seasoned by a year of primary debates, Monday's contest was the first time either candidate had debated a rival from an opposing party.

Pre-debate maneuvering was intense, with the campaigns tussling over the proper role for NBC moderator Lester Holt in fact-checking any of the candidates' anticipated misstatements.

The buildup also was marked by Trump's suggestion on Twitter that he was considering inviting former Bill Clinton consort Gennifer Flowers - a threat designed both to unnerve his opponent and remind voters of an unseemly episode from the Clintons' past. Flowers did not appear.

Trump's campaign also primed the pump of post-debate spin by promising supporters that surrogates, such as Texas operative Katrina Pierson, would "take on the mainstream media who will try to crown Hillary the winner."

In a fundraising email Thursday, Pierson said the campaign was planning to "flood" the airwaves with pro-Trump ads in battleground states after the debate, seeking to capitalize on what Trump aides see as a momentum shift in their direction.

The Clinton campaign prepared to host more than 1,200 debate watch parties in 50 states. It also launched a minute-and-a-half new web video called "Lies," highlighting contradictory Trump statements on a host of issues.

On the debate stage, Clinton faced the challenge of projecting personal warmth while at the same time drawing blood against an opponent who has traded on attitude over policy, eschews briefing books, and revels in a political zone that is all but impervious to fact-checking.

Clinton got off the first attack of the night by contrasting Trump's inherited wealth to her own middle-class upbringing. He referred to his father's $14 million loan as "a very small amount" that he turned into a business empire worth billions.

When Trump accused her of playing politics as usual, Clinton was ready. "I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate," he said. "Yes, I did. You know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president, and I think that's a good thing."

With base voters largely dug in on both sides, both Clinton and Trump sought ways to reach moderate or undecided voters by reinforcing each other's historically high negative ratings in the polls.

Notably absent from the debate was the edgy side of Trump that helped him dispatch Republican opponents with debate insults like "Little" Marco Rubio, "low-energy" Jeb Bush and "Lyin'" Ted Cruz.

Potential game-changer

His performance in Monday's encounter with Clinton proved more disciplined and less free-wheeling, in keeping with the broader demographics of a general election campaign. Facing a record gender gap with women, Trump also steered clear of his campaign's oft-used Clinton moniker, "Crooked Hillary," a piece of personal condescension that experts said could have opened up an unwelcome gender dynamic.

One of the central ironies of the debate - among many - was that Trump, a man frequently assailed for overt sexism, found himself facing the first woman to take the debate stage as a major party candidate.

But if Clinton's aim was to bait Trump into going off-script, lashing out at her or saying anything offensive that might be deemed over-the-top by independent or moderate voters, she had limited success.

For the campaigns, the debate - with an expected 100 million viewers - had the potential to be a game-changer in a contest featuring two major party candidates locked in stalemate in both national and most battleground state polls.

According to a Wall Street Journal poll released Monday, some 34 percent of Americans said the matchups between Clinton and Trump would be very important in picking a candidate to support.

Clinton and Trump are scheduled to face off for a second time on Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis. The final debate is Oct. 19 in Las Vegas.
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.
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Business / Companies

by Agencies

Development financial institutions FMO of the Netherlands and Swedfund of Sweden have agreed to together provide NMB Bank with a $15 million line of credit for lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).FMO, which is partly owned by the Netherlands government, and Swedfund, which is the Swedish Government's development finance institution, signed the loan agreement with NMB Bank yesterday (26 September) at a ceremony in the Netherlands.The line of credit, which is for four years, is intended to enable NMB Bank to provide much needed support to Zimbabwe's SME sector. The bank will particularly target specific disadvantaged groups by, for instance, lending to small or medium businesses run by women.NMB Bank Chief Operating Officer Gerald Gore, who signed the agreement on NMB's behalf, said the line of credit should help promote Zimbabwe's economic growth, given the importance of SMEs to the country's economy."We are excited about this development," he said. "It will certainly go a long way in supporting economic growth in the country.""SMEs are the backbone of the Zimbabwe economy and as NMB we have been aggressive in sourcing cheaper and long-term finance to support this critical sector of the economy," Mr Gore said."Further, the line will also provide the much-needed nostro funds to support critical imports by our customers," he added.FMO Chief Investment Officer Linda Broekhuizen, said the line of credit should help strengthen the position of SMEs in Zimbabwe."The role of SMEs is crucial to economic growth. Through this transaction, FMO aims to further strengthen their position within Zimbabwe. It also shows our long-term commitment to NMB, a well-respected client of FMO," she said.Expressing similar sentiments, Swedfund chief executive Anna Ryott stressed the importance of job creation and inclusive growth, as well as of supporting businesses run by women."We see this loan as a great way to support NMB and particularly their important work to target SMEs, with special focus on businesses run by women. Job creation and inclusive growth will be crucial for coming development steps in Zimbabwe," she said.NMB Bank has been leveraging on its strong foreign shareholding to access lines of credit, mostly from foreign development financial institutions (DFIs). FMO is one of the shareholders in NMBZ, the holding group that owns NMB Bank.Recently, FMO and Norfund, which is also a shareholder in NMB, decided to form a partnership with Rabobank, a Dutch bank. These three entities will, through the creation of a new entity Arise, combine their investments in Africa. That means that their shareholding in NMB will be taken over by Arise, when it becomes operational on January 1 next year. The partners are committed to strengthening and developing effective inclusive financial systems in Africa.Arise will have a presence in 20 African countries. Capital will be allocated to support current investee companies as well as new minority investments in the market."FMO has been supporting NMB for the past five years and we are excited to have Swedfund join them for this syndicated loan," Mr Gore said."We believe our strong shareholder profile and corporate governance structures make the bank an attractive option for external funders," he added.Besides FMO and Norfund, other NMB shareholders include AfricInvest of Tunisia, African Century of the United Kingdom and Old Mutual, which together with FMO and Norfund own about 60 percent of the bank.FMO is one of the largest DFIs in the world, with a portfolio in excess of 8,9 billion euros in more than 85 countries. Swedfund has a portfolio of 3,6 billion Swedish krona in 27 countries., Swedfund's goal is to eliminate poverty by creating sustainable businesses in some of the world's toughest but most promising markets.
Entertainment / Music

by Lincon Goldz

The Zimbabwean group - Abafana baka Mzilikazi crowned as the best stage performers amongst the Mthwakazi Maskandi circles are set to release their second DVD video during the first week of October.The top maskandi music group led by the talented Doit Menzi Nkomo who hails from Tsholotsho are known for their electrifying stage performances that always ignite the stage during their performances and always leave fans asking for more.Nkomo who has also been honored with the title of "maskandi lecturer" by the musical genre's followers because of his role in nurturing a lot of artists who have made a name for themselves after being groomed by lecturer DM Nkomo.The talented perfectionist performer currently has five albums under his tag and this will be his second DVD video album.The first one entitled Ungubab' Onjani' was released in 2013 and sold like hot cakes, arguably the most watched video from a Mthwakazi Maskandi artist. Tracks from the DVD album have been played countless times on premier maskandi television shows Ugubhu Lwami which is aired on 1KZN TV as well as on Soweto TV making them one of the first artists from outside the borders of South Africa to be played alongside the internationally recognized artists in the same musical category.Managed by Beven Tshuma a veteran teacher by profession and practice, the Tsholotsho born mentor expressed pride in the maskandi group's accomplishments and credited all the success to the hard work, discipline and commitment by the talented youngsters under the captaincy of the energetic and charismatic Doit Menzi Nkomo whose leadership has seen him mentoring other artist of reckon in Mthwakazi Maskandi music fraternity.At the time of printing this article, Abafana bakaMzilikazi were performing at a heritage day function in Tembisa where they gave an eccentric performance that left the massive audience that had gathered for prestigious function literally asking for more of the explosive performance by the maskandi lecturer and his vibrant entourage.Part of their performance will be featured in the upcoming DVD video. Fans should keep their tounges waging and await the release of the new video by the first week of October. Abafana bakaMzilikazi are available for bookings through the following contacts.Doit Nkomo +27786860715Beven Tshuma +27791185608Also contactable through Facebook, whatsapp, Twitter and Instagram.
News / Local

by Thobekile Zhou

A proof of $100 000 payment made by rape accused Prophet Walter Magaya to Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has surfaced.Payment was made on 29 July.Kasukuwere flatly denied to President Robert Mugabe that he sold land to Magaya.The land was earmarked for Zanu PF youths in Harare.
Hillary Clinton repeated her incessant lie last night that the criminal justice system is infected with systemic racism. Race determines how people are treated in the criminal justice system, she said. Blacks are more likely [than whites] to be arrested, charged, convicted and incarcerated for doing the same thing. Such a dangerous falsehood, should Clinton act on it as president, would result not just in misguided policies but in the continued delegitimation of the criminal justice system. That delegitimation, with its attendant hostility and aggression toward police officers, has already produced the largest one-year surge in homicides in urban areas in nearly a half-century.

Criminologists have tried for decades to prove that the overrepresentation of blacks in prison is due to criminal-justice racism. They have always come up short. They have been forced to the same conclusion as Michael Tonry in his book, Malign Neglect: Racial differences in patterns of offending, not racial bias by police and other officials, are the principal reason that such greater proportions of blacks than whites are arrested, prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned, Tonry wrote. In 1997, criminologists Robert Sampson and Janet Lauritsen reviewed the massive literature on charging and sentencing. They found overwhelming evidence establishing that large racial differences in criminal offending, not racism, explained why more blacks were in prison proportionately than whites and for longer terms.

To say, as Clinton did last night, that blacks are more likely to be incarcerated for doing the same thing as whites ignores the relevance of a defendants criminal history in determining his sentence, among other crucial sentencing factors. Just last week, an analysis of Delawares prison population presented to the Delaware Access to Justice Commissions Committee on Fairness in the Criminal Justice System revealed that when juvenile and adult criminal records are taken into account, along with arrest charges and age, racial disparities in sentencing decisions are negligible to nonexistent.

Clinton also complained that too many young African-American and Latino men end . . . up in jail for non-violent offenses. In fact, the majority of prisoners in the U.S. are serving time for violent felonies. The enforcement of low-level public order offenses in New York City during the mayoralties of Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg actually lowered New York States prison population by intervening in criminal behavior early, before it ripened into a serious felony. Even as misdemeanor arrests increased in the city, felony arrests and felony incarcerations dropped. The number of jail inmates and convicts under parole and probation supervision in New York City dropped as well. Hillary Clinton may think that low-level public-order enforcement (otherwise known as broken windows policing) is racist, but law-abiding residents of high-crime communities beg the police to enforce public-order laws because they know that out of street disorder erupts gun violence and other forms of predation.

Clinton reiterated her call for implicit-bias training for officers. The premise of such training is that police officers are shooting black males out of such bias. Yet, four studies have come out this year alone that demolish this charge. They show that if there is bias among police officers in their shooting decisions, it works in favor of blacks and against whites. Implicit-bias training, based on a lie, is a grotesque waste of resources at a time when officers are desperate for more hands-on tactical training that will help them make those crucial shoot/dont shoot decisions in the field, or avoid being put into such an excruciating situation in the first place.

Clinton claimed that stop-and-frisk was found to be unconstitutional. No federal judge would have the power to declare pedestrian stops unconstitutional, because the Supreme Court put its constitutional imprimatur on the practice in 1965. Stop-and-frisk remains a lawful and essential police tactic. Criminologist David Weisburd examined the practice in New York City and found that it reduced crime in shooting hot spots. Federal district court judge Shira Scheindlin did rule that the New York Police Departments practice of stops was racially biased, but her ruling applied only to the New York Police Department. That ruling was wholly unjustified and would likely have been reversed on appeal, had newly elected New York City mayor Bill de Blasio not dropped the appeal. Judge Scheindlin used a population benchmark for measuring the lawfulness of police actions: if police stops didnt match population ratios, they were unconstitutional, in Scheindlins view. Such a methodology ignores the massive disparities in criminal offending in New York City. Blacks commit over three-quarters of all shootings, though they are 23 percent of the citys population. Add Hispanic shootings to black shootings and you account for 98 percent of all shootings in New York City. Whites are 34 percent of the citys population; they commit less than 2 percent of all shootings. Such disparities in gun violence mean that virtually every time the police are called out on a gun runmeaning that someone has been shotthey are called to minority neighborhoods on behalf of minority victims, and, if any witness or victim is cooperating with the police, being given a description of a minority suspect. The reality of crime, not phantom police racism, determines the incidence of police activity, including pedestrian stops.

Clinton claimed that stop-and-frisk was ineffective and did not do what it needed to do. Felony crime dropped 85 percent from the early 1990s to the mid-2010s in New York City; more than 10,000 minority males were spared the violent death that they would have experienced had homicides remained at their early 1990s levels. Stop-and-frisk was a crucial part of that crime drop, the longest and steepest on record; its hard to imagine anything more effective than New Yorks proactive policing revolution. Stop-and-frisk deterred criminals from carrying guns. Equally importantly, it intervened in a range of other criminal behaviors. If an officer saw someone casing a store on a boulevard plagued with burglaries, or saw someone walking quickly behind an elderly lady in a neighborhood plagued with robberies, he would stop that person and ask a few questions. That stop may not have resulted in an arrest, but it could have averted the commission of a crime.

Homicides and shootings in New York City rose 20 percent in the first half of 2015, thanks to the Scheindlin-induced drop in pedestrian stops. Then-police commissioner William Bratton responded with a massive deployment of overtime manpower to high-crime corners; officers used command presencei.e., their mere presence on the streetto deter criminal behavior. This roll-out of manpower resources quelled the shooting spike and New York City ended 2015 with a 6 percent homicide increase. Other departments do not have the personnel available to them to make up for a drop in proactive policing.

Donald Trump is right to warn about depolicing and what I have called the Ferguson Effect. Right now, our police, in many cases, are afraid to do anything, he said. The result is a massive loss of black lives in places like Chicago and Baltimore. Law and order are breaking down in inner cities; officers are surrounded by hostile, jeering crowds when they get out of their squad cars to conduct an investigation. Resistance to arrest is up, increasing the chances of an officers own use of force. And race riots are returning to American cities. The current mendacious narrative about policing and race has to change or we can expect to see further violent-crime increases and further racial violence. It is clear, however, that Hillary Clinton will continue to enflame racial tensions through a set of lies about the criminal-justice system.

Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News and the moderator in last nights presidential debate, is hearing it from conservative critics about his performance. He pressed Donald Trump on his tax returns and his long record of birtherism, and he jumped in, Candy Crowley-like, when Trump claimed that he hadnt supported the Iraq War. He didnt ask Hillary Clinton, correspondingly, questions about her e-mails, the basket of deplorables, or the rumors about her ill health.

For me, Holts lowest moment came at the end. One of you will not win this election, he said. So my final question to you tonight, are you willing to accept the outcome as the will of the voters? Clinton responded with pieties about believing in the democratic system and supporting the election results. Trump bloviated for a few moments about illegal immigration, then said that he, too, would support the results of the election.

The candidates should have responded by asking Holt how he could even pose such a question. In primary campaigns, candidates are often asked whether they will support the partys nominee, if they dont win the nod themselves. That question implies acceptance of the outcome; the only matter at issue is whether the jilted candidate will get behind his rival, a dilemma of conscience with no legal significance. The implication of Holts question, by contrast, is that some alternative exists to accepting the will of the voters in an American presidential electionlike, say, legal challenge, political resistance, or organized rebellion.

Trump critics might respond, with some justification, that Holts question springs from the nature of Trumps campaign. Before he became the GOP nominee, when talk persisted that the Republican establishment might find a way to deny him the nomination, Trump uttered the words that are his campaigns true black mark: he threatened that there would be riots if he didnt get the nomination.

On the other hand, the Lefts rhetoric about Trump has become increasingly dire, especially as his chances improved in the polls. Liberals have repeatedly declared him unfit for office, a menace to the country and the worldraising the question of how, if he does win, they could justify working with a man who is a danger to the republic. One might ask why Clinton even consented to debate him.

Still, its at least plausible that such rhetoric is the overheated result of an overheated campaign that has smashed through one barrier of decorum after another. (What presidential debate before last nights saw one candidate calling the other a racist? What debate before last nights brought Rosie ODonnell into the conversation?) There is no justification for giving it additional reinforcement. Holts question elevated both sides most fevered warnings to legitimate discussion: lets consider what extra-legal means you might take, should you not get your way at the ballot box.

There is, of course, no alternative to accepting the results in Novemberpeacefullywhatever they might be. Without the rule of law, we have nothing. The moderators other sins last night are at least arguable and negotiable; other moderators have done worse. But, for that atrocious final question, Holt, youre fired.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Throughout this heated and divisive presidential campaign, no item has generated more controversy than GOP nominee Donald Trumps plan to build a wall on the southern border. Mention of the wall sends Trumps opponents into a lather of outrage and consternation: stupid, idiotic, and chauvinist are some of the more restrained epithets we have heard about the wall. Anger about the wall is so reflexive and ingrained that the image of an enormous barrier slicing through the desert has almost become an externalization of how Trumps opponents view his supporters: dumb, blank, and obstructive.

The most impassioned arguments against Trumps wall draw a poetic contrast between architectonic forms. We need to build bridges, not walls, says Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Instead of building walls, we can help build bridges, said Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian, said Pope Francis. Life is best when you build bridges between people, not walls, said Billy Crystal (at Muhammad Alis funeral). The former president of Mexico, the Canadian trade minister, Kim Kardashianeveryone agrees that it is better to build bridges which join people instead of walls that divide people.

While the bridges/walls theme has a certain campfire resonance of brotherly togetherness, its advocates seem to forget that they are speaking metaphorically about bridges. Trump wants to build a real wall. While a real bridge might pose a separate and contradictory purpose to a real wall, imaginary bridges and actual walls could co-exist and serve complementary functions.

Immigration enthusiasts have long pointed silently to Emma Lazaruss poem The New Colossus as the final word in their argument. Trumps opponents have made Robert Frosts Mending Wall their prooftext. As Robert Frost reminds us: Something there is that doesnt love a wall, writes Brookings Institution senior fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown. Something there may be, though the same poem states the opposing sentimentGood fences make good neighbors. The speaker of that line is the narrators neighbor, who emerges from darkness, a stone grasped firmly by the top/In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed. Frosts poem is steeped in ambiguity about the purpose of fences. Its very meaning balances precariously atop the titular wall, like one of the rocks that the narrator places and prays to remain where he put it. Poets may be, in Shelleys words, the unacknowledged legislators of the world; but the fact that they are unacknowledged is precisely the reason why we dont apply their words literally.

In 1987, Ronald Reagan issued one of the most quoteworthy presidential statements of the twentieth century when he commanded Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. Taken by true believers as prophetic, Reagans words are today held out as an example of how degraded Trumps vision is compared with that of the man whose shoes he seeks to fill. The New Yorkers John Lee Anderson savors the irony of Trump, boisterously claiming he wants to build a new [wall], not to keep out Communists, or even the ISIS terrorists he mysteriously claims to know how to eliminate, but people from Mexico, our closest neighbor to the south, a friendly nation. Doug Elmets, a former Reagan speechwriter, spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Reagan famously said, Tear down this wall, Elmets said. Trump says, Build the wall.

The Berlin Wall was a prison designed to keep people in. A wall on the U.S.-Mexican border would be intended to keep people out. That difference is as significant as the difference between capitalist democracy and a Communist dictatorship, or between lawlessness and the rule of law. Nobody has to agree with Trump, or think that building a wall is more than an empty campaign promise that elicits hoots and cheers at arena rallies. But its amazing to see how far critics will go in abusing rhetoric in order to level the wall before its even built.

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images
News / National

by Staff reporter

Harare magistrate Arnold Maburo yesterday issued warrants of arrest for three anti-government protesters who failed to turn up for trial over a robbery case involving Patson Dzamara.Dzamara is jointly charged with Oliver Chikumba, 32, Tatenda Mombeyarara, 33, Pride Mukono, 26, and Makomborero Haruzivishe, 33, on two counts of robbery and defeating the course of justice.They were arrested in June while protesting against President Robert Mugabe's regime at Africa Unity Square before the State preferred the mentioned charges against them.However, at the commencement of trial yesterday Chikumba, Mukono and Haruzivishe were not present.Prosecutor Desire Chidanire then applied for warrants of arrest which were granted by the court."Chikumba is in South Africa and failed to get time off work while the other two accused persons are locked up in Mutare cells for another pending case," the group's lawyer Obey Shava explained.The case was deferred to October 10 for continuation.According to State papers, on June 9 at around midnight, the two complainants disembarked from a commuter omnibus at Fourth Street bus terminus.They passed through Africa Unity Square on their way to Copacabana bus terminus to get transport to Mufakose.Dzamara and his accomplices allegedly confronted the complainants and snatched their handbags before searching them.They allegedly stole three school uniforms, a red jersey, a pair of trousers, a jean skirt and a wallet containing $30.The other complainant lost three school jerseys and one floral dress.When the complainants screamed for help, three police officers, who were on duty near Parliament, rushed to the scene.The accused persons resisted arrest and took away constable Nhidza's cap and baton while dragging him to a silver Honda Fit along Jason Moyo Avenue.Dzamara and his accomplices were later arrested and police recovered the stolen property, valued at $80.
Achizitie de Servicii Tehnice de creare a plantatiilor forestiere de protectie din cadrul primariei Andrusul de Jos si a primariei Vadul lui Isac, r. Cahul
It probably comes as no surprise that jobs for journalists at newspapers continue to disappear. But in a disturbing development, digital news jobs that had been replacing some of the legacy positions appear to have hit a plateau.

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a chart showing the total number of employees working in the newspaper industry is now lower than those working in the internet publishing and broadcasting sector. Given the struggles of the newspaper industry, and the increasing popularity of digital native news publishers, such figures may seem intuitive. Yet it only captures how many employees work in these industriesnot how many journalists.

With digital native websites becoming more prominent, it is worth exploring how many journalists work in this sector and whether its growth is likely to offset losses in the newspaper industry. Because the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) recently announced it will no longer estimate the size of the newspaper workforce, and no organization surveys digital outlets to measure the size of its workforce, I sought out a new data source to explore these figures.

Based on my analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program, the number of journalists at digital native publishers has more than tripled in the past decade. This growth, however, pales in comparison to the number of journalists laid off in the newspaper industry. And in recent years, the number of journalists at digital-only publishers seems to have actually plateaued. With fewer journalists working today, reporters are becoming increasingly concentrated in coastal cities, investigative journalism and local statehouse reporting is declining, and the ratio of journalists to public relations specialists is widening.

Previously, the Pew Research Centers census of editorial staff at digital native news publishers estimated there were about 5,000 full-time staff members in 2014. This in-depth analysis provides important insight, but it is unable to speak to longitudinal trends.

As a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania, I used data from the OES to compare the number of journalists at digital-only publishers and newspapers over time. This program collects data from about 200,000 employers, which represent 340 types of industries, to annually catalog the structure of the American workforce. Unlike Pews 2014 census or the ASNE, the OES figures include both full-time and part-time employees.

In 2005, for every one digital-only journalist, there were 20 newspaper journalists. In 2015, for every one digital-only journalist, there were four newspaper journalists.

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According to OES data, the number of journalists in the newspaper industry declined sharply in the past decade. Consider that in 2005, there were 66,490 newspaper reporters or editors. In 2015, there were 41,400, a decline of 25,090 journalists, or 38 percent. During the same time period, the number of journalists at digital-only publishers more than tripled, growing from 3,410 to 10,580.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

Put another way, in 2005, for every one digital-only journalist, there were 20 newspaper journalists. But due to steep job losses at newspapers and substantial growth at digital native publishers, that ratio changed significantly. In 2015, for every one digital-only journalist, there were four newspaper journalists.

The OES data analyzed includes reporters and correspondents and editors working for newspaper publishers or other information services. Other information services is also referred to as internet publishing and broadcasting and web search portals, which summarizes the main types of employers in this category.

Pews 2014 census noted a majority of employees at digital-only publishers worked for 30 organizations, many of which had grown considerably in the past few years. This suggested that staff at digital-only publishers was growing quickly. Given the financial struggles of the news industry, this was seen as an important and positive development. But is that growth continuing?

According to OES data, the number of journalists at digital-only publishers grew each year from 2010 to 2013. Since then, however, the estimated number of journalists has plateaued, ranging from 10,240 to 10,580 in the past three years. These figures complement recent indicators suggesting the economic model for digital-native publishers may be in flux. In 2015, BuzzFeed projected $250 million in revenue but generated less than $170 million. Venture funding for media startups is the lowest since mid-2013. This year, layoffs have been reported at Mashable, Vice News, and International Business Times.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

The OES estimates may have weaknesses. The editor category may include some editors who do not focus exclusively on shaping news content and larger employers are more likely to be sampled, so smaller media outlets may not be fully represented. Still, these trend lines are similar to other sources. The last 10 years of OES estimates are consistently between 28-34 percent higher than the ASNE estimates that were recently discontinued. This is likely attributable to OES including part-time employees, which ASNE does not.

These patterns, even if inexact, suggest important trends. According to OES estimates, since 2005, newspapers laid-off approximately 25,000 journalists, and digital native publishers hired about 7,000 journalists. While the growth of digital-only publishers has created jobs for thousands of journalists, it has not offset steep job losses at newspapers.

Indeed, the combined number of journalists at newspapers or digital-only publishers has declined sharply in the past decade. In 2005, there were 69,900 journalists employed in these two industries. In 2015, there were 51,980, a decline of 26 percent. As a result, Americans have fewer journalists to provide news information.

This loss is important for four key reasons:

Job losses in journalism have not been evenly distributed. Between 2004 and 2014, the number of news reporters in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles actually grew, while it stayed about the same in New York City. Relatedly, most digital news outlets are located in these major markets. As a result, citizens outside of these areas likely have fewer reporters acting as local watchdogs and the media system is becoming increasingly concentrated in coastal cities. With fewer journalists, but financial pressure to adapt to low advertising rates, papers and digital outlets are incentivized to focus on shorter articles that cost less time and money to produce. Reporters feel pressure to write stories that get more clicksand outlets like the Oregonian and the now-defunct Gawker considered using metrics to help determine how much reporters should be paid. In this economic environment, greenlighting time-consuming, in-depth reports that may get less traffic than lighter-fare articles has become increasingly rare. A recent report by Mother Jones in which a senior reporter worked four months as a corrections officer exemplifies this tension. The massive 35,000-word report exposed corruption in private prisons but conservatively cost $350,000 to produce and only brought in $5,000 in banner ads. Coverage of local politics is likely worsening. According to the Pew Research Center, between 2003 and 2014, the number of full-time newspaper statehouse reporters declined by 35 percent. Several experts quoted in the report believe the quality of reporting is deteriorating. Gene Rose, former communications director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, argued that I think youre seeing fewer storiesThe public is not being kept aware of important policy decisions that are being made that will affect their daily lives. Likewise, Bobby Harrison, the capitol bureau chief for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, stated that As far as analysis and in-depth reporting, I think theres definitely less than there was 10 years ago. As Robert McChesney and John Nichols have noted, cuts in journalism are alarming because when editorial staffs shrink, there is less ability for news media to interrogate and counter the claims in press releases. In other words, we have fewer reporters objectively writing about politics to counter spin from public relations. Indeed, in 2004, the ratio of journalists to public relations specialists was one to three. In 2014, for every journalist, there were about five public relations specialists. Last year, a report from the Center for Public Integrity illustrated how intertwined public relations and public policy are with one another. In 2012, for example, the American Petroleum Institute paid $51.9 million to the public relations firm Edelman. Trade associations hire PR firms to craft messages when they are facing public scrutiny and regulations: like whether fracking should be allowed in a state. As reporters try to investigate and explain the merits of these proposals for citizens, journalists are being outnumbered and outspent by the public relations industry. Adding salt to the wound, the pay gap between journalists and public relations specialists is widening, forcing many journalists to consider changing careers.

Today we have fewer journalists, less investigative or statehouse reporting, and the journalists left standing are becoming increasingly concentrated in coastal cities.

While the number of outlets and the volume of content continues to expand, today we have fewer journalists, less investigative or statehouse reporting, and the journalists left standing are becoming increasingly concentrated in coastal cities. The situation would certainly be more dire without digital news outlets like Vox Media, Vice Media, and BuzzFeedbut it seems unlikely that such sites will offset jobs and news coverage lost in the newspaper industry.

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Alex T. Williams is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania. His writing has been published by the Pew Research Center, Poynter, and The Washington Posts Monkey Cage. Find him on Twitter @AlexT_Williams or on his website.
Nothing Lester Holt did Monday night could have made every viewer happy; the role of debate moderator is a thankless one. But with a steady, if at times quiet, performance in front of tens of millions, the NBC anchor did a solid for a press chagrined again and again throughout this campaign.

Holt mostly left the debating to the candidates, who at times interrupted each other unchecked (it goes without saying one did this more than the other). In wake of widespread discussion over whether the moderator should truth-squad in real time, however, Holt challenged Donald Trumps continued embrace of birther conspiracies and continued claims he initially opposed the Iraq War. Watch the latter moment in the clip below:

Donald Trump: I did not support the war in Iraq. Lester Holt: The record shows otherwise. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/LhRayy5ETP  Vox (@voxdotcom) September 27, 2016

Early reviews by mainstream outlets applauded such pushback, though they characterized Holts performance as restrained overall. Call him the minimalist moderator, The New York Times wrote. Lester Holt stays out of the way, a Politico headline read. The New Yorkers Andy Borowitz wrote a faux news story about a CNN manhunt after Lester Holt vanishes from debate. Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan likewise made the case that the moderator should have taken a more hands-on role.

1/3 I give @LesterHoltNBC a solid B-minus in this Mission Impossible. He pushed back some; not enough.  Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) September 27, 2016

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2/3 @LesterHoltNBC provided some realtime fact checking but let Trump go off on tangents and repeat too many proven lies  Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) September 27, 2016

3/3 @LesterHoltNBC didnt make himself the story, and was dignified, if medium-weak and sometimes absent  Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) September 27, 2016

But forget such generally positive takes by mainstream analysts. Media fragmentation has been among the primary storylines of 2016, and it was on full display during and immediately after the widely watched contest. Conservative criticisms of Holt might as well have been pre-written based on ideological priors, focusing mostly on what he didnt ask about, including the attack on an American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.

The writeup by Breitbart Newsperhaps the best analog for the id of the Trump movementis fairly similar to criticism by The Republican Party, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Media Research Center, and more conspiracy driven sources:

Holt lived up to the expectations of his peers. But he lived down to the worst expectations of conservatives, who routinely see Republican candidates treated unfairly by debate moderators. Again and again, Holt asked Trump tough questions that were straight from the Clinton campaigns talking points, and which were obvious set-ups for Clinton to attack (and for fact-checkers to pounce on whatever Trump asserted in his own defense).

Heat Street, a conservative opinion site owned by News Corp., meanwhile led with Holt on its homepage Tuesday morning:

None of this is particularly surprising. The focus on Benghazi and Clintons private email server is par for the course for right-leaning media criticism this cycle. But what is notable is that the Republican candidate, who has repeatedly harangued journalists as dishonest and at times blacklisted news organizations from covering his campaign, didnt immediately share it.

I thought Lester did a great job, Trump told CNNs Dylan Byers during the candidates unusual appearance in the post-debate spin room. Honestly, I thought he did a great job.

Added Trumps campaign manager Kellyanne Conway in a separate spin-room interview: I thought Lester Holt did a great job as moderator.

Interestingly, the Trump campaign seemed to change its tune this morning. [Holt] gave me very unfair questions at the end, the last three or four questions, Trump said while calling into Fox & Friends. But Im not complaining about that. He did OK.

The candidate went on to complain about how Holt didnt ask Clinton about her private email server (he did, though lightly and without follow-ups), Benghazi, and the Clinton Foundation. Conway and vice presidential candidate Mike Pence shared near-identical criticisms in separate TV appearances Tuesday morning.

This is a point worth highlighting: The Trump team decided to blame the ref after sleeping on it. It speaks to the Republican candidates perception of his own showing in the debate more so than it does Holts performance as moderator. When highlight reels of the contest are cut, it will be Clinton and Trumpnot the man sitting before themon center stage. The NBC newsman challenged clear lies without venturing too far into the fray, an admirable, low-key performance under unprecedented pressure.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti.
A lack of transparency in the system for disciplining physicians across the U.S. provides cover for doctors accused of molesting patients or other forms of sexual abuse against them, according to an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

No state routinely requires doctors who have been punished for sexual misconduct or other offenses to tell patients about their disciplinary history, the newspaper reported.

Many states impede patients from unearthing information themselves about their doctors. Four post no disciplinary records online, and eight purge files after as little as five years, the newspaper reported. It said up to 21 states sometimes may issue private orders that allow doctors to continue practice with no public hearings and no public scrutiny.

The Journal-Constitutions findings come from a national investigation into sexual misconduct by doctors. Through examining tens of thousands of documents from state medical boards, the newspaper identified more than 2,400 physicians disciplined for sexual offenses involving patients since 1999. About half are still licensed.

Medical boards typically require doctors on probation to notify hospitals where they have privileges, as well as their malpractice insurers, disciplinary records show. However, patients are almost always are left in the dark, the newspaper reports.

The system was at the heart of a contentious debate in California over whether doctors should have to tell patients about their tainted records. Consumer groups said that patients deserve openness from the physicians in whom they place so much trust.

From a patients perspective, he looks just like a doctor practicing medicine, said Lisa McGiffert, director of the Safe Patient Project, an affiliate of the advocacy group Consumers Union. But there is a big difference between a doctor on probation and a doctor not on probation.

Medical lobbyists said the California proposal treated doctors unfairly. They said they worried that doctors might have to disclose unsubstantiated or even fabricated allegations, often without having the chance to defend themselves before a medical board.

The California Medical Association considered the bill in direct violation of due process rights, Laura Braden Quigley, the organizations vice president of communications, said in a statement. It does nothing to increase patient safety and arbitrarily ignores most providers in the continuum of care.

Proponents said most doctors accept probation to avoid a full airing of the allegations against them. Often, they are required to have a chaperone present while examining patients and may be restricted from practicing without supervision.

The paper reported on one plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Knight, in Orange County, California, saying he is under such restrictions until 2020 and will face close monitoring until then.

The report said Knight, 47, surrendered his medical license in 2010 after the state medical board accused him of sexual misconduct with two female patients. The paper added that the doctor, who was not charged with any crime and was subsequently reinstated by the California medical board in 2015, doesnt have to tell patients about his disciplinary status.

The newspaper said board records showed one of those patients accused him of massaging her surgical scars and kissing her against her will. It said the other woman complained the doctor forced himself on her by initiating intercourse, according to a lawsuit she filed with her husband, in addition to board records. Knight denied the allegations contained in the lawsuit, since dropped.

Knight did not respond to emails and phone messages requesting an interview.

The legislative proposal to require patient notification failed in the California Senate in June. The sponsor, Sen. Jerry Hill, a Democrat who represents much of Silicon Valley, said he will try again next year.

There is absolutely no legitimate reason to oppose disclosure, Hill said. There is a self-interested reason. Thats no excuse for not informing the patient.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Leaders of a Texas county Wednesday approved a $1.8 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Sandra Bland, who died in jail days after being arrested last year.

An overall $1.9 million settlement was disclosed by Bland family attorneys last week although the Texas Department of Public Safety, also a defendant in the suit, previously said it has not settled litigation and is not a party to the mediated agreement involving Waller County, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. Blands lawyers have said the police agency would account for the remaining $100,000, but DPS officials Tuesday would not confirm that nearly 4,000 troopers will receive de-escalation training despite an attorney for Blands family saying the state agreed that would be part of a settlement.

Waller County administrators have learned a great deal through this process and the county will be increasing the training and education of jail employees in respect to mental health assessments in jail and improving our policies and processes, said Waller County Judge Carbett Trey Duhon III, the countys chief administrator.

Authorities have said Bland, 28, who was from the Chicago area, killed herself in a county jail cell in Hempstead three days after being stopped by a white Texas trooper for a minor traffic offense that escalated into a contentious arrest.

Video from the July 10, 2015, traffic stop shows Trooper Brian Encinia drawing his stun gun and telling Bland, I will light you up! She can later be heard screaming off-camera that the trooper was about to break her wrists and saying that he knocked her head into the ground. The video provoked national outrage and drew the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Encinia was later fired and charged with misdemeanor perjury related to Blands arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Duhon said Waller County tax money would account for only $1,000 of the settlement. Other than that deductible, the remainder is covered under the countys membership in the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool, which provides liability coverage.

According to attorneys for Blands family, the settlement includes a requirement that the county jail has a nurse or emergency medical technician on duty 24 hours a day and installs electronic sensors to ensure guards are checking on detainees. In addition, statewide legislation requiring training to ensure jail personnel are properly caring for inmates is to carry Blands name.

Blands mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, has said those requirements beyond the monetary settlement are what really mattered to her.

Larry Simmons, the attorney for the county, said Wednesday funding of the settlement likely would take a few more weeks, followed by dismissal of the lawsuit.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A zookeeper screamed for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, but the 350-pound animal crushed her neck before her co-workers could reach her, an autopsy report released Friday showed.

The Palm Beach County medical examiner determined that Stacey Konwiser, 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15 by the tiger named Hati.

The male tiger, then 12 years old, had been at the zoo for two years on loan from the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas.

Konwiser had entered the tigers night house, an area where they eat and sleep that is not visible to the public, to prepare for a presentation.

The report by medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman says the tigers cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open, and Konwisers view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure.

Hearing her screams, Konwisers co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body.

Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared a bullet could strike Konwiser or further enrage Hati if it didnt kill him instantly.

Instead, they tried unsuccessfully to lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer dart. Paramedics were able to reach her 17 minutes after the attack. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

No cameras were operating in the area of the attack. Officials have said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off.

There are only about 300 adult Malayan tigers in the wild and they are considered endangered.

Zoo officials didnt immediately return a call Friday seeking comment. Investigative reports on the attack by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are pending.

Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo.

Konwiser had given notice that she had accepted a job with the Food and Drug Administration, but the zoo had offered to match her salary and give her new responsibilities in an effort to keep her. She had not given a decision. Her husband, Jeremy, is a Palm Beach Zoo employee.
The only clinic in one of the nations busiest commercial fishing ports is so remote that even conventional telemedicine for emergencies has been impossible for its limited staff  until this week.

Beginning at the end of last week, a new partnership with an Anchorage hospital will virtually beam critical care doctors 800 miles (1287 kilometers) away to the emergency room on Unalaska Island, home to Dutch Harbor, the operations base for the Bering Sea crabbing fleet made famous by the Discovery Channel show Deadliest Catch.

But instead of transmissions with fiber-optics, which are nowhere near the isolated Alaska island, the team putting together the system is relying on satellite technology in what is believed to be a first in the country for telemedicine.

The clinic, Iliuliuk Family and Health Services, brings to nine the number of providers served by the electronic intensive care unit at Anchorages Providence Alaska Medical Center.

We are kind of mix-mashing everything together to try to make this work, Sharon Compton, services manager of the hospitals eICU office, said after a recent demonstration of the Dutch Harbor link.

The new system will provide real-time camera links between emergency doctors and clinic staffers during medical emergencies, such as fishing industry injuries.

The idea is to help stabilize patients before transporting them out of town and to help with triage during major events like a ship sinking.

From afar, doctors will be able to view X-rays and patient charts and talk directly with patients on camera instead of consulting with medics by phone and email.

There are some unknowns about how the system will work, with likely slowdowns in satellite reception because of the regions notoriously bad weather.

During the recent demonstration, pre-launch kinks prevented the rolling-cart-mounted camera in Dutch Harbor from being pivoted remotely. But the camera otherwise performed impressively, sending back crystal-clear video of clinic staffers as they chatted with a critical care doctor.

The new service was lauded by Seattle-based crabbing boat owner Lance Farr, who has been badly hurt twice in his decades of working in the Bering Sea.

Several years ago, he almost severed a finger in a dockside engine accident. He was stabilized at the clinic before being flown to Anchorage for further treatment. In 1996, Farr broke his foot at Dutch Harbor after dropping an engine on it. He spent the night at the clinic under the care of nurses before being flown out the next day.

In hindsight, having his care visually monitored by emergency room specialists would have provided a morale boost, as well as invaluable expertise, Farr said.

It would be a good thing, I would think, to have a real physician being able to advise the people out there, he said.

The city of Unalaska has just 4,600 year-round residents, but the population swells to 16,000 or more during the regions two main fishing seasons, when boat crews and processing workers flood the town with dozens of languages and cultures. That means more potential for patients, including people who dont speak English.

The clinic averages more than 300 after-hours emergency room visits a year, with about a third of those patients flown elsewhere, often to Anchorage, for more complete treatment.

Fishing-industry emergencies at sea can mean significant delays to appropriate medical treatments when the injured must first be carried by rescue helicopter to Dutch Harbor. Injuries can range from deep cuts and broken bones to back injuries and amputations.

These guys are pretty tough out here, and they will, you know, continue to fish until they cant get out of bed anymore, said James Novotny, nurse practitioner at the clinic.

The drastically shifting population can put a strain on clinic staffing in this rural setting. So can the inability to afford emergency specialists or much in the way of diagnostic equipment.

Then theres the challenge of living in such a far-flung spot, which makes finding and keeping medical staff difficult, according to clinic medical director, Ann Nora Ehret, an osteopathic doctor who has wanted to tap into telemedicine since joining the staff in 2013. Only recently did the clinic hire a second doctor after the position was vacant for nearly a year.

Adding the long-distance help will be invaluable, Ehret said.

I think it could be a game changer for recruiting, retention and for the care of the patients, she said. We are getting the support we need in an austere environment.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri has come under fire for openly threatening citizen activists critical of President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF government.According to media reports, Chihuri last Friday met with the Attorney General (AG), Prince Machaya, and his staff to discuss the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and was critical of the office for perceived shoddy handling of cases involving protests.At the meeting, the police chief also warned that the law enforcement agency would strike back at protesters who have been demonstrating against corruption, security sector brutality and bad governance since June.The People's Democratic Party (PDP), however, was riled by Chihuri's threat, saying it showed his intolerance to dissent."What we find shocking is that Chihuri has chosen to declare war on innocent people and disregard the country's constitution," said Jacobe Mafume, the PDP spokesperson, in a statement.He accused Chihuri, a self-confessed admirer of Mugabe and supporter of Zanu PF, of meddling in politics against the provisions of the constitution that requires the security sector to be impartial."We urge him (Chihuri) to remove his police uniform and join Zanu PF structures fulltime as it is wrong and unconstitutional for him to shield behind the police force and issue out unguided political statements.His utterances are clearly from a factional Zanu PF member who masquerades as the country's top cop while forgetting that his constitutional mandate is to serve every Zimbabwean in a non-partisan manner and without bias," said Mafume.He said Chihuri was using the police as an extension of the Zanu PF security department, adding that he "should be aware that peaceful demonstrations are a right to every Zimbabwean as clearly defined in the constitution."Police has been widely condemned for using excessive force on citizens who have taken to the streets to protest against the current social, political and economic crisis marked by growing poverty, a cash crisis, human rights abuses and bad governance."It is regrettable that Chihuri wants to unleash terror on peaceful civilians whose only crime is the demand for the Zanu PF regime to respect the country's Constitution and provide jobs," said Mafume.
Green faction, conservatives have common ground, experts say

Wind turbines erected by Iberdrola Renewables as part of the Blue Creek Wind Farm in Van Wert, Ohio, may be among the last built in Ohio if the state permanently ends its renewable energy mandates as some lawmakers want. Gov. Kasich has vowed to veto such legislation. (Karen Schiely/Akron Beacon Journal)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. John Kasich has again threatened to veto any legislation that would kill the state's laws requiring electric companies to help customers use less electricity and to sell more power generated by wind, solar and other renewable technologies.

That puts the administration on a collision course with State Sen. William Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, who has been circulating different versions of proposed legislation that would do away with or weaken future state renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates.

The standards were created by legislation originally passed in 2008. They have been "frozen" for two years by legislation approved in 2014 but are set to come back to life Jan. 1, unless lawmakers pass another bill.

"I'm for developing all these other [energy] resources ..." Kasich said during a University of Texas forum over the weekend.

"I've told the legislature the standards that were set were unrealistic," he said of the 2008 law would have eventually required power companies to secure 12.5 percent of the power they sell from renewable sources and to help customers cut electricity by as much as 22 percent.

"But if you try to kill the standards, whether it has to do with the renewables or whether it has to do with the issue of saving energy, I'll veto the bill and we'll go to the higher standards," Kasich told his Texas audience. "So, you know I'm committed to it."

Kasich spokeswoman Emmalee Kalmbach on Monday said the governor "has been clear" about his support for realistic standards.

"We typically don't comment on pending legislation, however, the governor has been clear regarding the need to set and achieve reasonable energy standards and we'll continue to work with the General Assembly towards that end," she said in an email.

The mostly quiet but intense legislative campaign waged by Seitz and other conservatives since last spring to get rid of the standards one way or another during an end-of-the-year "lame duck" session, has some lawmakers worried that Ohio is unable to attract renewable energy companies -- or companies that demand renewable energy --into the state.

And it has made Ohio-based businesses unsure whether they will be able to afford investing in solar and wind to lower their utility bills.

"The problem now is that there may be a standard in the future, or there may not be," said State Rep. Mike Duffey, a Worthington Republican, who added he was not particularly in support of mandates to begin with.

Duffey believes that even without the laws mandating renewable energy, companies would eventually have come to Ohio markets anyway.

But all of the wrangling since 2013 to get rid of the mandates has made things worse for business here and for those considering moving into Ohio, he said.

"If you [a business] are trying to allocate resources to a number of states, you invest in markets that have the most stability. In Ohio, it could get dramatically worse. Or it could get better. That's called uncertainty," he said."Investors do not like uncertainty."

During the months of debate in 2014, Duffey said he tried to introduce an alternative propose to cut both the renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates by one-third and be done with the issue.

"Then, businesses would have been able to plan," he said. The measure failed to gain support.

Duffey also believes that the efficiency programs the utilities now run for customers should be ended and replaced with efficiency programs run by independent contractors not connected with the power companies. He said the utilities have figured out how to profit from the programs, which are financed by increases in customer bills.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County grand jury handed up an indictment for the man accused of hitting an killing a highway patrolman earlier this month.

Joshua Gaspar, 37, faces two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, both second-degree felonies, and a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.

Prosecutors say he struck veteran State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenneth Velez Sept. 15 while driving during rush hour on Interstate 90 near the Cleveland-Lakewood border. Velez was standing outside his patrol car after conducting a traffic stop.

Gaspar left the scene of the crash leading to a manhunt that shuttered the busy interstate for about four-and-a-half hours, authorities have said.

A doctor who examined Gaspar after he was arrested found that he had no drugs of abuse in his system, according to his attorney. He tested positive for a controlled dose of methadone, which he had been prescribed.

Velez, a father of three who had served on the State Highway Patrol since 1989, died from his injuries. He was laid to rest last week following a memorial ceremony attended by thousands.

Gaspar remains jailed on $500,000 bond.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A storied piece of Tremont history has a new owner.

Ross Valenti, owner of D'Agnese's and Cantine restaurants in Broadview Heights, has purchased the beloved Literary Cafe. Valenti, a Tremont resident, will take over the bar from Linda Baldizzi and Andy Timithy, who opened The Lit, as it is affectionately known, in 1990.

The Tremont mainstay at 1031 Literary Road was listed by Howard Hanna Real Estate in February. The pre-Civil War building is one of the oldest in Tremont.

Baldizzi and Timithy married and raised three children in the bar. They also helped establish it as an epicenter of the Tremont arts community.

"It was exciting to be part of this urban pioneering that went on back then in Tremont," Baldizzi told The Plain Dealer. "There are so many people we met and grew to love over the years. Selling is not at all a rejection of that. There are a lot of reasons. It's just time for us to retire; we're going to try and find someplace warm."

Valenti, who will begin work on the space in a few weeks, says he plans to keep the neighborhood bar spirit of The Lit alive, with a few changes.

The new name will be The Literary Tavern.

"I'm going to add a kitchen, and a new bar back, refurbish everything and bring it up to date, but keep it as a neighborhood tavern," says Valenti. "I used to go there years ago and when it was listed, I jumped on the opportunity."

"The great thing about this purchase is, it is the best of both worlds, a Tremont resident with a new venture into the neighborhood he loves living in and also an experienced and successful restaurateur with the talent to bring yet another asset to the Tremont dining scene. It's exciting because Ross is both those things," says Realtor John Corral of Howard Hanna, who represented both buyer and seller.

The Lit sold for the listed price of $499,000. According to the Cuyahoga County Auditor's website, the sale price in 1990 was just $35,000, highlighting a rise in price that underscores the neighborhood's comeback.

Valenti is not ready to definitively say what kind of food the Literary Tavern will serve.

"Maybe Mediterranean tavern food, vegetables, sandwiches, bar snacks. I want to keep the price point low, to make it more of a neighborhood hangout than a destination place. I'll also have some cocktails, some good wine and beer."

Valenti hopes to have the Literary Tavern open by Christmas. He plans to add a patio in the spring.

"I really want to have a cool neighborhood hangout I would want to go to, like the pre-gentrification Tremont, like the Hi and Dry. I have plans, but I'm sure it will take on a life of its own," says Valenti.

"I'm trying to be very respectful of the history of the bar, that's why I'm keeping the Literary part. I didn't want to get cute with the name. I bought a historic bar, and I'm going to honor that. I'm pretty excited to get started."
wine glass

Italian wine dinners are planned at Pranzo Bistro and Vaccaro's, plus there are many other wine events scheduled throughout Northeast Ohio.

(Marc Bona, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Our wine calendar has a variety of events, from Italian wine dinners at Pranzo Bistro, Vaccaro's and Arrabiata's, plus much more:

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday, Sept. 28: Delmonico's Steakhouse will hold a casual Leap for Happy Hour with Jonah Beer of Frog's Leap Winery of Napa Valley, California. It's 5-7 p.m. at 6001 Quarry Road, Independence. Cost is $35. Call 216-573-1991.

Wednesday, Sept. 28: The Wine Spot is holding A Celebration of German Wines 6-9 p.m. Cost is TBA for the Oktoberfest celebration highlighting Germany's finest wines. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

Wednesday, Sept. 28: D'Agnese's Trattoria and Cafe, along with Erin Caruso from Wine Trends, will present its September Wine Dinner featuring Vinum Cellars Collection in California. Wines to be featured include Bubbles Clarksburg, Chardonnay Monterey 2014, Pinot Noir Monterey 2014, Insider Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2013 and The Scrapper Cabernet Franc 2011. It's at 6 p.m. Cost is $50. D'Agnese's is at 566 White Pond Dr., Akron. Call 234-678-3612.

Wednesday, Sept. 28: Pranzo Bistro will hold a five-course Tinazzi Winemaker Dinner at 7 p.m. Cost is $50. Winemaker Fabio De Filippi from Italy will guide the tasting. Pranzo Bistro is at 4066 Erie St., Willoughby. Wine menu:

* Corvina, Baby Amarone 2014.

* Cabernet Sauvignon Corvina Selezione di Famiglia 2014.

* Ndeg3 Vinum Italicum Opera 2005.

* Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Selezione di Famiglia, 2010.

* Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Selezione di Famiglia 2012 DOC.

Thursday, Sept. 29: Blue Canyon Kitchen and Tavern will hold a wine dinner featuring Justin and Landmark wineries of California. It's at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $60 plus tax and tip. Blue Canyon is at 8960 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg. Call 330-486-BLUE for reservations. Five wines scheduled to be served: 2015 Justin Sauvignon Blanc, 2013 Overlook Chardonnay, 2013 Overlook Pinot Noir, 2013 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon and 2012 Savant, a red blend from Justin.

Thursday, Sept. 29: West Shore Wine Co. will hold a Grab Bag wine event 6-8 p.m. Try any six wines that are open for $6. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Thursday, Sept. 29: Rosewood Grill Westlake will hold its fourth annual Frog's Leap Wine Dinner with Jonah Beer of Frog's Leap Winery 7-9 p.m. It's four courses paired with six wines. Cost is $95. It's at 2033 Crocker Road, Westlake. Call 440-835-9500.

Thursday, Sept. 29: Vaccaro's Trattoria will hold a five-course Amarone wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $55. A ripasso and an Amarone will be served at the same time. It will feature Tinazzi winery from Italy's Veneto region. Vaccaro's is at 1000 Ghent Road, Akron, at Interstate 77. Call 330-666-6158 for reservations. Wines: 2015 Corvina di Verona Baby Amarone, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Corvina, Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso, 2005 Opera red blend and 2011 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

OCTOBER

Saturday, Oct. 1: The Island Wine Festival will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Put-in-Bay. Cost is $6 and includes a souvenir glass. The annual festival will include samples of more than 200 imported and domestic wines. Sample tickets are $1 and sold at the door and in the tent. Most samples are $1 to $4. Retail bottle sales will be offered. A silent auction will benefit Lake Erie Islands Historical Society. Call 419-285-2832.

Saturday, Oct. 1: West Shore Wine Co. will hold an encore presentation of its Grab Bag wine event 6-8 p.m. Try any six wines that are open for $6. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Monday, Oct. 3: Parker's Grille is having a five-course dinner featuring Plumpjack and Cade wines from California at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $125. The restaurant is at 32858 Walker Road, Avon Lake. Call 440-933-9400 for reservations.

Thursday, Oct. 6: The 19th annual L'Amour du Vin is 6-9 p.m. at Avon Oaks Country Club, 32300 Detroit Road, Avon. Taste wines and food from restaurants from Lorain County and Cleveland's West Side. Tickets are $75 ($95, VIP). Event includes VIP Lounge, silent auction, raffles, more. Proceeds benefit Arthritis Foundation. Business cocktail attire. Call 216-285-2822.

Thursday, Oct. 6: West Shore Wine Co. will feature wines from California's Wente Vineyards 6-8 p.m. Paula Witkowski will guide the discussion on the old winery's history and its wines. Cost is $10 and includes six wines and food. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Thursday, Oct. 6: Flour will hold a Maisons and Domaines Henriot wine dinner 6-9 p.m. Flour is at 34205 Chagrin Blvd. at SOM Center Road in Moreland Hills. Call 216-464-3700 for reservations. Here is the wine lineup; bottles will be available for retail sale: 2015 William Fevre Chablis Champs Royaux, 2014 Bouchard Meursault les Clous, 2014 Bouchard Savigny les Beaune Rouge 1er Cru, 2014 Bouchard Nuits St. George 2014 and Henriot Brut Rose, no vintage.

Thursday, Oct 6: Habitat for Humanity will hold the ninth annual A Night 2 Build Hope, a beer and wine tasting event, 6-9 p.m. at the Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave. Cost is $70 ($125 per couple). Includes silent auction, raffle, mystery prizes, more. Buy tickets online through Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Friday, Oct. 7: The 13th annual Uncork a Cure to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is 7-10 p.m. at Ariel International Center, 1163 East 40th St., Cleveland. Cost: $75 ($125, VIP). VIP reception is 6-8 p.m. General-admission tickets include wine and food tastings, tasting glass and event program. VIP tickets also include a gift and pre-event tasting of high-end wines not available at the main event. Uncork a Cure is part of a national wine-tasting series held across the country. Go to clevelandwine.eventscff.org.

Saturday, Oct. 8: Western Reserve School of Cooking will hold a Tom's Foolery Distillery Bourbon/Whiskey Dinner 6-9 p.m. Chef Catherine St. John will prepare dishes for an interactive dinner featuring custom cocktails by Tom's Foolery Distillery's Lorilei Bailey. Learn how to make cocktails in addition to having the option of working with Chef Catherine creating the menu. WRSOC is at 2800 Euclid Ave #100, Cleveland. Details can be found here.

Saturday, Oct. 8: West Shore Wine Co. will feature wines from California's Wente Vineyards 3-6 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes six wines and food. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Saturday Oct. 8: A Natural Areas Wine Tour is planned for South River Winery 10 a.m.-noon. It's a naturalist-led hike that culminates with a wine tasting. The winery is at 6062 S. River Road W., Geneva. Cost is $35. Call 216-231-4600, ext. 3505.

Saturday, Oct. 8: Main Street Medina's Medina Beer & Wine Festival is 6-11 p.m. It will feature more than 40 local and national craft beers, hard ciders and wines at Weymouth Country Club ballroom, 3946 Weymouth Road, Medina. Tickets are $30 ($10, designated drivers). Go to mainstreetmedina.com or buy tickets at the door. Food and a commemorative tasting glass are included with admission.

Monday, Oct. 10: The newly opened CLE Urban Winery is doing a series of Wine Made Fun 101 classes 7-8 p.m. From Grapes to Glass will give an overview of the principles and practices used to grow grapes and make wine, and their impact on wine appearance, aroma, flavor and taste. Cost is $20. A minimum of five wines will be served. The winery is at 2180 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

Tuesday, Oct. 11: Huth & Harris Wine Merchants will hold a tasting of six wines from Vintner Select Wines with appetizers 7-9 p.m. It's $40. H2 is at 221 Court St., Medina. Registration required; go to h2winemerchants.com/#!blank/c1zlc.

Tuesday, Oct. 11: Corks Wine Bar will hold a tasting focused on specific wine regions or varietals on the second Tuesday of each month. Each tasting features five 2-ounce pours, light appetizers and a guest presenter. Corks is at 4084 Erie St., Willoughby. Call 440-918-9463 for details.

Thursday, Oct. 13: West Shore Wine Co. will feature Wine and Chocolates 6-8 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes six wines and food. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Thursday, Oct 13: Arrabiata's is holding a five-course Ca Montebello Winemaker Dinner featuring Alberto Scarani from Ca Montebello Winery in Italy. It's at 7 p.m. Cost is $50. Arrabiata's is at 600 Dover Center Road, Bay Village. Call 440-835-9100. Wine lineup: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir white, Pinot Noir red, Barbera ca Montebello and Sangue di Giuda (sweet red).

Friday, Oct. 14: Heinen's will hold an Italian Wine Experience tasting 6:30-8 p.m. Italian wine expert Claudia Dick will guide the tasting. Cost is $10. Reservations are requested. Call 216-382-4144. It's at 2180 S. Green Road, University Heights.

Saturday, Oct. 15: Rozi's is having its 21st annual wine- and beer-tasting extravaganza, featuring more than 150 wines and 60 beers with food pairing. Cost is $25. Rozi's is at 14900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.

Saturday, Oct. 15: West Shore Wine Co. will feature an encore presentation of Wine and Chocolates 3-6 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes six wines and food. West Shore Wine Co. is at 21629 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. Call 216-712-6400.

Saturday, Oct. 22: The Wine Spot is holding a Beaujolais Cru Tasting 4-7 p.m. It will feature wines the store bills as "overlooked, misunderstood and underappreciated." Cost is TBA. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

NOVEMBER

Saturday, Nov. 5: The Grand River Valley Turkey Trot will be held noon to 5 p.m. at assorted wineries in Northeast Ohio. The progressive tasting event costs $5 at each winery. Folks from the wineries will help to pair wines with a Thanksgiving feast. Call Ferrante Winery, 440-466-8466, for details.

Tuesday, Nov. 8: Huth & Harris Wine Merchants will hold a tasting of six wines from Purple Feet Distributors with appetizers 7-9 p.m. It's $40. H2 is at 221 Court St., Medina. Registration required; go to h2winemerchants.com/#!blank/c1zlc.

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 11-12: The 20th annual WVIZ/PBS Grand Tastings & Seminars will be held at Progressive Field's Terrace Club. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 1. For story, click here.

Saturday, Nov. 12: Picking Thanksgiving wines is the theme of The Wine Spot's tasting 4-7 p.m. Cost is TBA. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

DECEMBER

Saturday, Dec. 3: The Wine Spot is featuring a Champagne Tasting and Education - Growers Champagne event 6-8:30 p.m. Cost is TBA for this limited-ticketed event, which will be part educational, part Champagne and food pairing. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

Saturday, Dec. 10: The Wine Spot's annual holiday show is 2-5 p.m. It will feature about 50 wines. Cost is TBA. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

Tuesday, Dec. 13: Huth & Harris Wine Merchants will hold a tasting of six wines from Traderman Distributors with appetizers 7-9 p.m. It's $40. H2 is at 221 Court St., Medina. Registration required; go to h2winemerchants.com/#!blank/c1zlc.
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Zimbabwe People First interim leader Joyce Mujuru is headed for London on October 6 at the invitation of Chatham House.The country's opposition politics would be top of the agenda during an hour long meeting to be chaired by Retired Honorable Sir Malcolm Rifkind, UK Foreign Secretary between 1995-97."Zimbabwe's political opposition is in transition, with new parties and coalitions formed. This is taking place as the economy worsens and this has led to increased public protest in parts of Zimbabwe."At this meeting, Dr Joice Mujuru, president, Zimbabwe People First, will discuss how opposition politics is changing in Zimbabwe as her party prepares to compete in its first election in 2018," it said in a brief overview of the visit.
News / National

by Stephen Jake

An international researcher and well traveled Ken Yamamoto has said in his findings from a Chinese fellow who partakes in the United Nations summits, members no longer take Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe serious due to his careless rants during summits such that they have even given him a nick name.Mugabe is known for his rhetoric of calling for removal of sanction against his country in every summit that he attends such that delegates no longer take him serious and have got used to his rants.Yamamoto in his wide researched article said Mugabe was likely to [pull out of the UN alone if anything he said that some members states especial from Africa were contemplating pulling out of the bloc if they are not given two seats in the top brace of the UN.He said by the way Africa had a very little contribution to the UN budget and after all Zimbabwe was the most benefactor of the UN and was the most to lose out if what he threatened Africa want to do could happen."So Mugabe threat is just one of those empty threats. There is no strategy to it. Interestingly a contact in the top echelons of Chinese government advised me that nobody really takes Mugabe seriously at the UN with his rambling speeches. He says that they now refer typo him as "that mad man from the tropics."
News / Press Release

by Obert Gutu

The MDC-T, as a social democratic political party that has always identified with the plight of the poor and down  trodden of society, is deeply concerned and indeed, extremely saddened by the Zanu PF regime's stubborn insistence on introducing the use of bond notes later next month. John Mangudya, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, in his monetary statement that was published a few days ago, openly admitted that Zimbabwe's financial health is very depressing and disturbing. The RBZ Governor disclosed that at the moment, the country has got less than one month's import cover by way of foreign currency reserves. To his credit, the RBZ Governor disclosed that by way of international best practice in terms of macro-economic and financial stability, only countries that have got a minimum of twelve months' import cover by way of foreign currency reserves, should be able to adopt and use their own local currencies. Simply put, therefore, it will take many, many years before Zimbabwe can be able to re - introduce its own currency. Our national financial situation is dire.Against all financial and economic logic, the Zanu PF regime has decided to introduce bond notes into the financial system. No rocket science is needed to appreciate the fact that the introduction of bond notes will wreck havoc with our economy. It is a notorious fact that Zimbabwe is importing not less than 75% of all its industrial, manufacturing, agricultural and food requirements. This effectively means that we are a net importer of goods; including food such as our staple food, maize meal. In order for the country to import food and other essential goods, we badly need hard currency. Bond notes are not hard currency. The position of the MDC regarding the introduction of bond notes is very clear and unambiguous. We are deeply opposed to the introduction of this worthless currency that is, in fact, the much discredited Zimbabwe dollar by another name. In this respect, therefore, the MDC is in full support of the various political parties and other Zimbabwean businesspeople who have decided to take legal action against the introduction of bond notes.Bond notes will certainly cause untold suffering amongst the majority of the people of Zimbabwe. As a political party with the interests of the people at heart, the MDC would like to call upon the Zanu PF regime to call off the introduction of bond notes into our financial system. These worthless bond notes will inevitably lead to increased shortages of essential goods in the country simply because most, if not all, importers, will not have access to the hard currency that is needed in the import and export of goods and services. We strongly suspect that the bankrupt and faction - ridden Zanu PF regime harbours a very sinister motive pertaining to the introduction of bond notes.The majority of the people of Zimbabwe, on whose behalf the MDC is speaking, have already stated, resoundingly, that they don't want these bond notes to be introduced into the financial system. If it is indeed true that the bond notes are backed by a US$200 million facility provided by the Afri-Exim bank, the Zanu PF regime could simply release this amount of money into the market rather than rushing to print worthless bond notes that they say will initially be equivalent in value to US$75 million. The Zanu PF regime can never be trusted with financial prudence and probity. This regime has got an extremely bad record and history of spending more money than the value of goods and services that Zimbabwe can produce.The MDC is saying a resounding NO, to the introduction of bond notes. The people of Zimbabwe shouldn't continue to be abused and mistreated by the renegade and irresponsible Zanu PF regime.
Chasing higher returns in a slowing economy, Chinese investors could soon dominate Hong Kong's stock market, likely redefining how shares, especially small-caps, are traded and priced there.

Chinese money will account for a third of Hong Kong's stock trading turnover in three years, up from a tenth now, UBS and other brokers predict. Some traders say it could hit 50 percent within five years.

That would be a sea change for Hong Kong's century-old stock market and a serious challenge to western players. European and U.S. investors now account for almost a quarter of stock turnover.

Fund managers say the inflow of Chinese money will be driven by deregulation, fears of yuan depreciation, and yield chasing as there are still wide valuation gaps between the two markets.

The shift could trigger a culture clash between fundamentals-dependent western investors and momentum-driven Chinese, who tend to be more aggressive and speculative.

It is likely to be most evident in Hong Kong's small-caps, as the opening of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock trading link, as early as November, will allow mainland Chinese to buy Hong Kong small- and mid-caps, bringing much-needed liquidity, but also likely speculative fever to growth stocks.

"Small-caps in Hong Kong have long suffered from poor liquidity ... and low valuations. Mainland investors have a penchant for growth stocks, often giving them stretched valuations," said Lu Wenjie, strategist at UBS.
"I was so shocked when Donald publicly invited [Vladimir] Putin to hack into Americans. That is just unacceptable," she said at the first presidential debate at Hofstra University.

Earlier this year, Trump made an off-the-cuff comment about Russia finding missing emails from Clinton's controversial private server. Some reports have suggested Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee.

Hillary Clinton says Donald Trump has grown too cozy to Russia, threatening U.S. security.

Trump said he didn't think "anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC."



"It could be Russia but it could also be China. It could be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds," he said.

Clinton called Trump "very praiseworthy" of the Russian President Putin, who has consolidated power in Russia under his personal control.

Markets seemed to react to Clinton making headway against her GOP rival as Monday night's debate progressed.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses to trade higher during the debate, and the Mexican peso reversed losses to trade more than 1 percent stronger against the U.S. dollar.


Hillary Clinton thinks Donald Trump wants to help wealthy people like himself  but she says that won't help the U.S. economy.

She accused him of supporting the "most extreme" version of trickle-down economics with his tax plan, saying he "trumped up trickle-down." Trump has called for across-the-board tax cuts, including income tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans and dropping the estate tax.

"Trickle down did not work," Clinton said, contending the country should "never go back to what got us in trouble in the first place."


With Apple 's stock up 25 percent since its multiyear lows in May, Jim Cramer has heard various rumors about why Apple has suddenly come roaring back.

There is one important piece of the puzzle that he thinks Wall Street has mostly ignored that explains the bounce.

Apple's chief rival, Samsung, was caught in a debacle for its Galaxy Note 7 phones, after it was discovered that the batteries could overheat and cause the phone to explode. Samsung's newest smartphone has now been recalled in the U.S., and the Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning as a potential safety hazard.

"This opens the door for Apple to take back a potentially enormous amount of market share," the host of CNBC's "Mad Money" said.

For customers who want a high-end smartphone, the main choices are an Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. And now that Samsung's phones have the possibility to explode, it is this dynamic that Cramer thinks is helping to fuel Apple's stock higher. He was inspired by Jack Mohr from TheStreet to take a closer look at the Apple-Samsung dynamic.

"Considering the damage it has done to Samsung's brand, I bet there could be a lot more upside here," Cramer said.
It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed:



Ensco : "The only part of the whole complex that I don't like is the offshore. I am willing to go onshore because they are drilling because it's cheaper. But not offshore."

International Flavors & Fragrances : "We love that company ... I think that is a fantastic stock, even up here at $140. They keep delivering, they are so consistent."

Dunkin' Brands Group : "It's very interesting. This is a stock that had been kept really just doing nothing for a very long time, and now it's breaking out. But a breaking-out story like Jack in the Box, which sadly my charitable trust left at a very bad price. These are now working, and it's different from the way they have been."

Bank of New York Mellon : "The banks are going lower here for now. Bank of New York, you can wait until it comes down a little bit more."

Berry Plastics Group: "We did a piece about this saying it was incredibly undervalued. The stock then did nothing, and finally it's roaring and I like it. Let me throw in International Paper, I want to be equal with the chemicals and papers."

Applied Materials Inc : "When I was doing a piece earlier today about what stocks should be bought into weakness that are undeservingly down  it's AMAT."

Nordic American Tanker Ltd : "NAT, I don't know. The last deal just finally soured me. The dividend cut? No. I can't. I just can't do it anymore, it hurt too many people. I'm sorry."
But as the ADB pointed out, no pain, no gain.

Developing Asia will have to fork out $300 billion per year until 2050 if governments intend to uphold their 2015 Paris climate summit goals, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned in a new report on Tuesday.

Solar panels implemented by Amplus Solar on the roof of Yamaha Motor's plant in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. The Japanese motorcycle maker wants solar power to supply a quarter of energy needs at its northern Indian factories near Delhi, according to company executives.

"This is a substantial sum but the economic returns from adopting low-carbon policies far outweigh the costs," Juzhong Zhuang, ADB's deputy chief economist, said. "The region can generate more than $2 in gains for each $1 of cost it bears to reach the Paris goalif the right steps are taken."

Reduced investment in fossil fuel extraction could also help offset 20 percent of the total costs, the report said.

In December, global governments pledged to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep average temperature increases below 2 degrees Celsius.

The ADB's developing member countrieswhich include the bulk of Asia, with the exception of Japanare among the main players in global climate change. Three of the region's most populous economies, China, India and Indonesia, ranked among the top five greenhouse gas emitters in 2015, according to the World Resources Institute.

"If uncontrolled, climate change may lead to economic losses equivalent to 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2100, reversing many hard-won socioeconomic gains in the region," the ADB report cautioned.

But it was not just GDP losses at stake, according to the report.

The $300 billion annual spend on green infrastructure, including renewable power, smart grids and energy storage, could lead to improved air quality and preserve more than 45 million hectares of forest, the ADB said.

Air pollution is the fourth-highest risk factor for deaths worldwide, according to the World Bank. And Southeast Asia boasts a higher deforestation rate than any other major tropical region, the ADB noted.
Opinion / Columnist

Pastor Evan Mawarire, what did you achieve by speaking publicly and foolishly against your country in the US recently at the United Nations General Assembly?You just made useless noise which only makes our situation worse off than ever before. One good thing you could have done is to mobilise resources for your people back home to survive than the wild goose chase that is keeping you busy for nothing.Your side-kick elders like Thomas Mapfumo right there in US should at least assist you to see sense out of your actions. But alas! He is equally blind and directionless.Remember Zimbabwe comes ahead of everything else!May th Lord bless our nation in these trying times!
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a presidential awarding ceremony. George Calvelo | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to discuss crisis management and fishing rights in the disputed South China Sea when he visits Beijing next month. Duterte, who will be in Vietnam on Wednesday, will head to China in the third week of October before going to Japan. The date of his visit has not been announced, but diplomatic observers said he would stay for two days. As the Philippines currency continued to fall to a seven-year low on Monday, Duterte said he would "open trade alliances" with Russia and China. He said he had already spoken privately with President Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and who met Duterte's special envoy Fidel Ramos in August, said talks were expected to cover fishing rights in the Scarborough Shoal to help contain tensions in the South China Sea.

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Trump responded with a direct attack on two familiar targets: the trade threat posed by China and Mexico.

NBC moderator Lester Holt kicked off the 90-minute session with a question on how each candidate would create jobs that would put more money in the hands of American workers.

Republican candidate Donald Trump lashed out against China and Mexico in the first few minutes of Monday's closely watched presidential debate, setting the stage for an aggressive blame game.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York. This was the first of four debates for the 2016 Election, three Presidential and one Vice Presidential.

"Our jobs are fleeing the country, they are going to Mexico, and many other countries," the 70-year-old told the audience at Hofstra University in New York.

"Look at what China is doing to our country ... They are devaluing their currency and we have nobody in our government to fight them ... They are using our country as a piggy bank to rebuild China, and many other countries are doing the same thing."

By reducing U.S. taxes from 35 to 15 percent for companies of all sizes and by renegotiating trade deals, job creation could return to the glory days of Ronald Regan's administration, Trump said. Those measures would stop foreigners from stealing American jobs and prevent companies such as Ford from leaving the world's number one economy, he added.

Storied U.S. car maker Ford said this month that the company's small-car production would move to Mexico over the next two to three years, citing the need to be competitive.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who responded to Holt's question after Trump, advocated increasing the national minimum wage, providing equal pay for women, and corporate profit-sharing as ways to create new jobs with rising incomes.

Trump accused Clinton of failing to improve people's lives during her political career, to which Clinton responded "Donald, I know you live in your own reality."

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Donald Trump blasted Hillary Clinton's economic plan at the first presidential debate on Monday.

"You have no plan, Mrs. Secretary. You have no plan," Trump said.

He said regulations prevent new companies from forming and pushing old companies out of businesses.

"Regulations, you are going to regulate these businesses out of existence," Trump said.

Trump repeatedly touted his belief that American corporations will generate "tremendous" jobs if they operate with a lower tax burden. The Republican New York businessman argued that the part of his economic plan that "businesses and people like the most is the fact that I'm cutting regulation."

Clinton swung back at Trump and said his tax plan would add trillions to the national deficit.

"What I have proposed would not add a penny to the debt and your plans would add $5 trillion to the debt," the former secretary of state said.

Trump has called for across-the-board tax cuts, breaking income taxes down into three brackets for married or joint filers: 12 percent for taxable income of $75,000 or less, 25 percent on income between $75,000 and $225,000 and 33 percent on income above $225,000. The brackets for single filers will be set at half those levels.

The U.S. currently has seven income tax brackets with a top rate of just under 40 percent.

Trump has also proposed a 15 percent corporate tax rate for all companies and called to eliminate the tax levied on estates after death. Critics have questioned how much his broad cuts will increase the national deficit.

Most of Clinton's tax policy has focused on drawing more from the wealthy. She has called for a 4 percent surcharge on taxpayers making more than $5 million per year and a minimum 30 percent effective rate for millionaires. She would also aim to close loopholes overseas and abroad that allow the rich to avoid some taxes.

She has also proposed to boost the top estate tax rate to 65 percent for single people with estates of more than $500 million or couples with estates valued at $1 billion or more. The Trump campaign and Republican Party seized on that proposal. The current top rate is 40 percent.

Markets seemed to react to Clinton making headway against her GOP rival as the debate progressed.

U.S. stock index futures erased losses to trade higher amid the debate, and the Mexican peso reversed losses to trade more than 1 percent stronger against the U.S. dollar.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

 CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton pauses during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York.

If the is any indication, the foreign exchange market seems pretty sure Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton beat her opponent.

Throughout the course of the 90-minute debate which veered widely on issues ranging from Republican candidate Donald Trump's possible failure to pay taxes to Clinton's email server, the Mexican peso surged against the U.S. dollar.

The greenback was fetching 19.5360 Mexican pesos at 10:48 a.m. Wednesday HK/SIN, down from as high as 19.92 pesos before the debate began; that was the lowest for the peso since at least 1989, according to Reuters data. That compared with levels below 17 pesos around the beginning of the year.

Analysts said that was a sign the foreign-exchange market was calling the debate a win for Clinton.

"The peso has come up because the market has judged the odds of Trump winning have gone down," said Ray Attrill, co-head of foreign-exchange strategy, at National Australia Bank. "The peso has been the weapon of choice for betting on Trump winning."

That's because of Trump's positions of greater trade protectionism. He's called for repealing NAFTA, the U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, and has said he would impose punitive tariffs on Mexican goods imported into the U.S.
Radius CEO Darian Shirazi Source: Radius

At next week's Dreamforce conference, technology entrepreneur Darian Shirazi plans to stand out among the 170,000 attendees by dressing up in a Formula One racing outfit. It's gimmicky, to be sure, but there's logic to it. Shirazi is CEO of a 140-person start-up called Radius and, at Salesforce.com's annual customer conference, he's promoting a brand new product designed to  wait for it  drive revenue. Radius' software collects and catalogs data on 18 million U.S. businesses to help companies focus their marketing campaigns. On Tuesday, the San Francisco-based company unveiled the Radius Customer Exchange (RCX), which enables corporations to get even more efficient and targeted with their promotions by going after customers of other brands. For example, as part of the launch, Sam's Club, the wholesale chain owned by Wal-Mart , has teamed with payment systems provider First Data , allowing the two companies to co-market products or create campaigns to reach clients of the other company. It's easy to imagine other collaborations.

Car rental companies could partner with hotel chains to offer discounts to each other's customers. Insurers looking to expand in a particular region could join with a prominent telephone carrier or bank in the area. American Express is also one of Radius's launch partners. The accuracy of the data is one big differentiator between Radius and traditional corporate databases like Dun & Bradstreet . Because Radius is sitting on top of Salesforce's customer management systems, it's updated in real time, so doesn't suffer from the deficiencies of static corporate catalogs. "You're getting very warm leads from another brand," said Shirazi, who started Radius in 2009 and last year raised a $50 million financing round with funding from Salesforce Ventures. "Companies can work together to drive business for each other." The system works like a social network of sorts. A business can send a friend request to another company and if a match is agreed upon, they get a certain amount of time to analyze customer overlap before deciding if they want to move forward with a deal. Names and contact information of customers aren't shared, just general details about the number and types of matches. Radius is playing into a broader trend of software-based predictive marketing. Over $200 billion is spent annually on advertising in the U.S., according to eMarketer, often with companies hiring agencies for creative campaigns. But with improved tools available for companies to understand their own data, they can spend some of that money on software and cut down on their marketing and advertising costs.

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com, speaking at Dreamforce 2014. Source: Copyright 2014 by Jakub Mosur
Pedestrians pass in front of a Bank of America branch in New York City. Scott Mlyn | CNBC

Bank of America is set to cut about two dozen investment banking jobs in Asia, including some top dealmakers, sources told Reuters, as a slowdown forces western banks to cut costs. The job cut plan comes after Reuters reported on Friday that Goldman Sachs is planning to cut almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan, in response to a fall in activity in the region. Some bankers handling client coverage and deals will be made redundant, starting this week, with cuts expected in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, BofA's big centers in Asia, the sources said, adding that the total number has not been finalized. Bank of America's cuts will account for a small portion of its total Asia corporate and investment banking staff, and are part of an annual cost trimming, one of the sources said.

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A Hong Kong-based spokesman for Bank of America, which last year posted a roughly 3 percent drop in its Asia net income, declined to comment. The sources declined to be identified as the information is not public. The latest cuts in Asia come against the backdrop of a tough dealmaking environment as well as a slowdown in major economies including in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors. Bank of America is on track to post higher third quarter revenues in its investment banking business compared to the second quarter, its investment banking head Christian Meissner said at an industry event earlier this month. However, the bank was gaining market share in most regions except for Asia Pacific, he said. In July, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan announced a new expense target of $53 billion for 2018, $3.3 billion less than its total expenses over the past four quarters.

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Credit Suisse reiterated its outperform rating on Hormel Foods , saying the company will issue a strong earnings forecast for next year. "Our meeting with Hormel management last week reinforced our positive view on the stock and increased our confidence that Hormel will guide to a stronger fiscal 2017 than the consensus view," Robert Moskow wrote in a note to clients Tuesday. "In an environment where packaged food peers are rationalizing their portfolios and turning almost exclusively to cost-cutting to adjust to slowing consumer demand, Hormel has increased its investment in advertising and new product launches," he said. Moskow reiterated his Hormel Foods price target of $43, representing 15 percent upside from Monday's close. The analyst predicts Hormel Foods' grocery division will do better than the current expectations of 3 percent sales growth and 6 percent earnings growth for fiscal year 2017. In addition, he expects the company to announce a more aggressive long-term operating profit margin goal on its fourth-quarter earnings call. "We also walked away impressed by the highly sophisticated digital marketing campaigns Hormel has devised to target heavy consumers and potential consumers for its canned meat brands like SPAM and Dinty Moore," Moskow said.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this story.

Cans of Spam, by Hormel, are displayed on a shelf at Cal Mart grocery store in San Francisco. Getty Images
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Anyone waiting for a government rescue of Deutsche Bank shouldn't expect one just yet. The consensus of analysts who spoke with CNBC is that no government rescue is imminent, or even necessary yet, for the imperiled German financial institution, despite Deutsche Bank shares hitting all-time lows Monday. The stock was down 1 percent Tuesday. "I don't think the share price per se is going to be the deciding factor in this," said Piers Brown, a London-based analyst at Macquarie, which has an underperform rating on the stock. The German government view is that Deutsche Bank is "adequately capitalized," he said, especially given that it passed a stress test from the European Banking Authority this summer. "I don't think there's any basis for them to step in." German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out state aid for the country's largest lender, Germany's Focus magazine reported Friday, citing government sources. The report heightened investors' concerns that the bank cannot pay a U.S. Department of Justice demand for $14 billion to settle claims related to the bank's selling of mortgage-backed securities. Deutsche Bank shares fell 7 percent in New York trade Monday to $11.85, far below the 2009 financial crisis low of near $18 a share.



As we see in Italy, if there's a need for a 'bail-in,' authorities will ask for a private solution. I don't think they're near any situation where this is required. Holger Mertens head portfolio manager, global credit, Nikko Asset Management

Market analysts still expect European authorities to support Deutsche Bank in any extreme case. But the stock's reaction to the report from the weekend is seen as indicating that the German government will not necessarily provide support in a way that benefits shareholders. "If there were ever a situation where a German bank needs assistance, first (its) own capital base needs some haircuts, then primarily an underwritten rights issue," said Holger Mertens, head portfolio manager, global credit, at Nikko Asset Management. A rights issue, which gives existing shareholders the right to buy more shares, initially reduces the value of each share. Mertens also said that in Europe there's a preference for "bail-ins," in which a bank's creditors and depositors take a loss on their holdings, as opposed to a bailout, where the government injects public money. Italian banks have taken most of the headlines on Europe's ongoing bank troubles, and one of the steps for helping Italian banks with bad loans was the recent creation of a private fund that was sponsored by the Italian government. "As we see in Italy, if there's a need for a 'bail-in,' authorities will ask for a private solution. I don't think they're near any situation where this is required," Mertens said.

Does Deutsche Bank put the whole system at risk?

Deutsche Bank still maintains its independence from the government and said Monday that it had not asked for any help. The bank has also said it will fight the $14 billion settlement figure, and most analysts expect the final settlement figure to be much less than that. A German government spokesperson said Monday there was no need to speculate about state aid for the bank. But the concern about Deutsche Bank is its great potential for systemic risk to global financial systems, as the International Monetary Fund stated in a report earlier this year. Monday's decline in the share price dragged down stocks globally, with the STOXX Europe 600 Banks index falling more than 2 percent in its worst day in more than a month, and the U.S. SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) down 2 percent in its worst day since July 5. "This stock is in free fall until management (makes a change)," said Ryan Mendy, COO at The Edge, a spinoff consulting group. He said the solution for Deutsche Bank's financial struggles is separating operations into three different businesses  commercial retail, investment banking and asset management  which could eventually be purchased by other banks. Deutsche Bank has declined to comment to CNBC on the possibility of any sort of restructuring. In the meantime, Friday's report on Merkel highlights the complex, politicized nature of Deutsche Bank's challenges. "The German government ruled out state aid, but I don't think anyone thought that Germany was going to" bail out the bank, said John Kay, visiting professor of economics at the London School of Economics and author of "Other People's Money." "Politicians have made firm statements against future bailouts. What that means is any support is going to be in the less obvious ways," he said, pointing to the European Central Bank as a possible source of assistance, should it come to that.

The problem is that to bail out Deutsche Bank is to violate every principle [Merkel has] spoken of since 2008. George Friedman chairman, Geopolitical Futures
Opinion / Columnist

The $250 million Dema Diesel Power Plant, which was awarded to Robert Mugabe's family under unclear and controversial circumstances, is expensive and unsustainable for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) to manage.Due to the downturn of the country's economy and industries, Zimbabwe needs 1000 megawatts. This means that power supplies from the Kariba and Hwange power stations are enough for domestic and industrial use.It was, therefore, unnecessary and costly for both the cash strapped Zanu PF government and Zesa to engage Sakunda Holdings to provide energy through the Dema power plant.Sakunda is owned by a known Zanu PF member, Kuda Tagwirei, who went into partnership with Mugabe's in-law, Derrick Chikore. Chikore's brother, Simba, is married to Mugabe's daughter, Bona.For the Dema project, Sakunda was awarded the contract without going to tender, which according to the country's laws is a serious criminal offence.However, it is clear that Zesa was forced to allow the Mugabe family to join feeding trough and Zanu PF's gravy train by running the Dema power plant. Construction of the plant was supervised by officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet.Electricity generated at this power plant costs US15, 45c per kilowatt hour (kWh) while at Kariba it is US4, 11c/kWh and at Hwange it is US6, 97c/kWh.Zesa even imports electricity at even cheaper prices from Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa than what Sakunda is charging it. The Dema project is therefore standing on shaky ground.The government also chose to opt for the use of diesel power generators instead of cheaper liquid petroleum gas. APR Energy Holdings, the company which was awarded the tender before it was sidelined for Sakunda informed Zesa that it would save $200 million in three years if it used the liquid petroleum gas.As a result evidence shows that Zesa's deals have been inflated by over $500 million and senior Zesa and government officials have benefited from these high level corruption deals.Zesa is now failing to settle its debts amounting to $1 billion and Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique are now demanding cash upfront before Zimbabwe imports electricity and fresh power cuts loom.With the electricity generated from the Dema project expensive, it is sad to note that the ordinary consumer will be expected to foot the bill on behalf of the Mugabe dynasty.As the People's Democratic Party (PDP) we are concerned that Mugabe's has chosen the sacrifice the poor taxpayer in order to support his family and Zanu PF cronies who are now living large at the expense of the poor.Corruption at Zesa and Zanu PF's patronage system Zanu PF will soon lead to serious power cuts as the taxpayers' funds have been siphoned at the cost of better service delivery.Jacob MafumePDP National Spokesperson
Hillary Clinton won the first presidential debate "hands down," but Donald Trump has a chance to correct what was a "disastrous" performance for him in the next two debates, veteran political analyst Larry Sabato said Tuesday.

That's because Clinton will likely only gain a point or two in the polls since there are not many undecided voters left to pick up, and Trump supporters will still back him, the director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics told CNBC's "Power Lunch."

"Remember what he said  you go out on Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and they'd all still support him. Well, losing a debate is a lot less serious than shooting somebody. They're not going anywhere," he said.

Trump made those comments in January at a rally in Iowa, telling the crowd, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, OK, and I wouldn't lose any voters."
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Break out your climbing boots, Donald. GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's chances of winning the White House might have taken a hit Monday night after a debate performance against Hillary Clinton that left many political media observers underwhelmed. That included anchors on Fox News, which is Trump's preferred site for interviews, and which has been promoting his candidacy for months. Tweet Tweet

There was a similar view on CNBC. "Look, I think the bottom line is: Donald Trump's path to the presidency got a lot steeper tonight," CNBC's chief Washington correspondent John Harwood said on-air after the showdown at Hofstra University.

"This was not a good night for Donald Trump. He appeared rattled by Hillary Clinton. He interrupted her several times. He appeared flustered by questioning about his taxes, his bankruptcies, the lawsuit which he was sued for racial discrimination," Harwood said. "Let me go through a few of the things that were not helpful to Donald Trump," the correspondent said. "When he said in reference to whether or not he failed to pay taxes in previous years, he said the money would have been 'squandered.' I'm not sure the ordinary taxpayer is going to feel reassured by that." Harwood also noted that Trump has said, "Well, maybe they didn't do a good job," when Clinton mentioned a lawsuit accusing him of "stiffing ordinary workers." And when asked about the federal investigation that accused the firm run by Trump's father of discriminating against African-Americans, Trump did not make a stern defense" of that claim, but instead noted that "We settled that lawsuit with no admission of wrong-doing." CNN's lead anchor Wolf Blitzer and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper likewise were underwhelmed by Trump's performance, which they suggested was the result of a laissez-fair approach to his debate preparation. Tweet
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Twitter  Twitter remains on today's watch list amid the continuing speculation that it is moving closer to being sold. Walt Disney and Microsoft are the latest companies to be mentioned as possible Twitter suitors.

Volkswagen  The Justice Department is evaluating how much it could fine the automaker for its diesel emissions scandal without putting it out of business, according to a Bloomberg report.

Kite Pharma  Kite reported upbeat results in a mid-stage clinical trial for its non-Hodgkins lymphoma treatment, with more than 40 percent of patients showing complete remission.

American Express  American Express can bar merchants from steering customers toward other cheaper credit cards from competitors like MasterCard and Visa , according to a ruling from a federal appeals court. That ruling reversed a lower court decision that said AmEx had violated antitrust rules.

JM Smucker  Credit Suisse downgraded the food producer's stock to "neutral" from "outperform," saying it underestimated the level of reinvestment needed to boost the company's pet food division. Credit Suisse said it also underestimated the hit to sales due to difficult comparisons to last year, when an array of new products were launched.

AutoZone  The autoparts retailer was upgraded to "overweight" from "equal-weight" at Morgan Stanley, which pointed to an increase in the number of older vehicles. That traditionally correlates with improved sales of auto parts.

Eli Lilly  The drugmaker was raised to "buy" from "neutral" at Goldman Sachs, citing the potential of significant revenue and earnings growth as well as margin expansion due to its diversified late-stage product pipeline.

Rockwell Collins  Rockwell Collins is partnering with Stellar Labs to develop a cloud-based flight operations management platform. The news is boosting the avionics maker's stock, several days after it announced that Boeing had selected it to provide touchscreen controls for the 777X aircraft.

Boston Scientific  The medical products maker announced the acquisition of EndoChoice Holding for $8 a share, or $210 million in cash. EndoChoice is a maker of imaging systems and other medical technology devices.

FactSet Research Systems  The financial information services provider matched estimates with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.69 per share, but revenue fell below forecasts. FactSet CEO Phil Snow is highlighting the company's ongoing increase in market share.

Carnival Corp.  Carnival is adding to Monday's gains this morning, following the cruise line operator's latest earnings report which saw it both beat Street estimates and raise its full-year forecast.

Wells Fargo  The Labor Department launched what it calls a "top-to-bottom" review off all complaints the department has received in recent years. That follows a congressional hearing last week into the controversy surrounding the bank's sales practices and subsequent settlement with the government.

Autodesk  The company announced a new 30 million share stock buyback program. The new program is in addition to the 1.5 million shares remaining in the software maker's prior buyback program.

Deutsche Bank  The bank's stock remains under pressure, after falling to an all-time low Monday on fears it would have to raise more capital to cover an anticipated $14 billion U.S. fine. The stock slump comes despite reassurances from bank officials that it doesn't anticipate a capital-raising issue and has not asked the German government for any financial assistance.
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SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk spilled the details on his plan to colonize Mars. Musk revealed the plans for an "interplanetary transport system" Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. In his address, Musk said that the goal of SpaceX's planned missions to Mars is to turn humans into a "multiplanetary species." Musk has said in the past that making humanity "multiplanetary" is his primary reason for starting SpaceX. The ship in the video is what the company intends the actual craft to look like, Musk said. It would need to fit about 100 people, and enough cargo to build self-sustaining colonies on the planet, with "iron foundries, pizza joints, you name it."



The red planet is probably the best bet in the solar system for human colonization due to the familiar length of the Martian day (24.5 hours), gravity, and the availability of resources, such as nitrogen for growing plants.

Musk said the risk of fatality would be very high for the first mission, so one of the criteria for going is "are you prepared to die." Musk even said that he might like to go to the International Space Station and to Mars himself, but "I have to make sure if something goes wrong on the flight and I die there's a good succession plan and the mission of the company continues."

The problem with traveling to Mars is the cost, which, using manned NASA missions as a benchmark, would be extremely expensive. He believes that if the cost can be lowered to about $200,000 a personabout the cost of a house  people will be more likely to buy the ticket. He added that the price "ultimately could drop below $100,000."

SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System Source: SpaceX

Musk said a crewed mission to Mars could happen in 10 years, "if things go super well." The sources of funding for this endeavor will include private sector and government investors, profits from servicing the international space station and launching satellites, and Musk's own money, among others.

"The reason I am personally accumulating assets is to fund this," Musk said. And once there, there would be no shortage of jobs, since "Mars would have a labor shortage for some time," he said.

SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System Source: SpaceX

The ship would depart every 26 months, when the distance between Earth and Mars is closest. It would be made in large part of carbon fiber and fueled by methane, which can be synthesized using elements available on Mars itself  a key aspect of the self-sustaining character of the colony Musk wants to build. Eventually the company would try to double the number of passengers, he added. Once passenger launches began, Musk estimates it would take 40-100 years to achieve a fully self-sustaining civilization on Mars.

SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System Source: SpaceX
Energy stocks were among the biggest losers in the on Tuesday amid a decline in crude oil futures.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down 2.74 percent at $44.67 a barrel.

The slide in oil futures comes amid increased pessimism for a production cap agreement following a meeting of oil producers in Algeria.

Chesapeake Energy , EQT Corp. and Southwestern Energy skidded more than 5.8 percent, 5.5 percent, and 4 percent, respectively.

Even with Tuesday's declines, the S&P 500 energy sector is up more than 9 percent so far this year.
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Europe is disintegrating and this could come at great human cost, Greece's fiery former finance minister warned on Tuesday.

"The great fear is that the disintegration of the European Union  whatever you may think about the European Union  is going to come at a very, very large human cost," Yanis Varoufakis told CNBC in London. "That kind of Europe is one that breeds monsters. It is not the kind of Europe that the world needs," he later added.

He spoke to CNBC at a time of heightened tension in the European Union (EU), due to the U.K.'s vote to quit the bloc in June and disagreement as to how to handle the influx of refugees fleeing the chaos in Iraq and Syria. "I wish Brexit had not happened," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday. He advocated the U.K.'s exit from the EU began promptly, to prepare the ground for a Norway-like engagement with the bloc.



Justin Tallis | AFP | Getty Images

"What matters is we give business and citizens a degree of certainty," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday. A desire for greater control of immigration numbers is viewed as one reason why the majority of Britons voted to quit the European Union in June. "Open boarders are conducive to a better economy and better society," Varoufakis told CNBC on Tuesday.

Varoufakis served as Greece's finance minister in 2015 as a member of the ruling left-wing Syriza party. He bridled many of his European colleagues in Greece's negotiations on its rescue package, particularly after he likened the country's creditors to terrorists.

He eventually left government under pressure from Syriza Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Varoufakis has also criticized the EU's handling of refugees. He told CNBC in March that Turkey and Greece must not become a "large concentration camp for hapless refugees." One million refugees and migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, with the vast majority arriving in Greece, according to the United Nations. At least 3,771 people drowned or went missing on the way.

Migrants and refugees gather around a bonfire as they wait to enter a refugee camp after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images

Greece's economic straits make it hard pushed to provide services like shelter, food, hygiene and family reunification assistance to the influx of people. In April 2016, the European Commission announce initial funding of 83 million euros ($93 million) for emerging support projects for refugees in Greece.

Varoufakis has been busy since quitting government. Earlier this year, he launched the pan-European DiEM25 to make European institutions more democratic and transparent. His academic background is in economics and he is currently a professor at the University of Athens, according to his LinkedIn profile. In March, he confirmed he was also advising Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left leader of the U.K.'s Labour Party, on an informal basis.

The Greek economy is seen shrinking once again this year, this time by 0.3 percent, according to European Commission figures. The economy shrunk each year on an annual basis between 2008 and 2013, before posting narrow growth in 2014 and a narrow contraction of 0.2 percent in 2015.

"Politics disintegrates when the economy is unsustainable," Varoufakis warned on Tuesday. However, Tsipras has forecast Greece's economy will grow by 0.2-0.4 percent this year, according to Reuters.

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Around one-quarter of the adult population in Greece is without work, with unemployment seen averaging 24.7 percent in 2016, according to the European Commission, slightly lower than 24.9 percent last year.

Public debt as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) is predicted to rise to 182.8 percent this year. However, the budget deficit is expected to fall back to 3.1 percent, from 7.2 percent in 2015. The country has received three international bailouts since 2010, following the euro zone debt crisis. In June, the European Stability Mechanism (the euro zone's bailout fund) disbursed 7.5 billion euros ($8.4 billion) of the 10.3-billion-euro second tranche of its latest Greece support program. Negotiations are now ongoing between Greece and its European and International Monetary Fund (IMF) supervisors about the timing of the next bailout installment. As usual, Greece's European neighbors are urging the country to speed up on the economic reforms on which the bailout is conditional. However, the IMF is warning that the program may be unrealistic without debt relief for Greece and that this could jeopardize its involvement.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 and French CAC ended provisionally lower by 0.3 percent, with the German DAX down 0.5 percent.

The pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 Index inched down to end around 0.1 percent lower, with autos and oil companies the major underperformers.

Stocks had opened higher, with investors buoyed by the first televised debate between U.S. presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday night. Clinton appeared to have edged out her Republican opponent based on analysts' take on the initial market reaction.



However, the excitement faded, with U.S. stocks opening almost flat on Tuesday, before resuming gains.

By mid-morning in Europe, however, sentiment towards Deutsche Bank had dragged the market lower. This came amid capital concerns after the U.S. Justice Department suggested the bank pay $14 billion to settle investigations related to mortgage securities.



Deutsche Bank shares pared some losses to close around 0.4 percent higher on Tuesday, having reached a new low of 10.20 euros ($11.43) earlier in the session.

Volkswagen shares fell as much as 4 percent after a Bloomberg report said the U.S. Department of Justice was calculating what criminal fine it could levy on the carmaker. The stock pared losses to close 2.6 percent down on the day.
The 24-year-old creator of virtual reality headset company Oculus Rift, which Facebook bought for $2 billion in 2014, could at best be charged with murdering a dress code. Luckey favors flip-flops and T-shirts at work, and was barefoot for a 2015 Time cover shoot.

Sportsfile/Corbis via Getty Images



And yet that laid-back California vibe masks right-leaning political views that have gotten Luckey into hot water of late, as some in the largely liberal tech sector call for the engineer's head while developers vow to stop building programs for Oculus.

More from USA Today:

Would Trump nominate Peter Thiel to Supreme Court?: Glenn Reynolds

Who won the debate? Social media and 'The Cyber'

The first presidential debate: Catch up on what happened

On Thursday, The Daily Beast reported Luckey had donated $10,000 to Nimble America, a conservative non-profit with a mission to develop memes to attack Hillary Clinton. One was a billboard outside Pittsburgh that featured a distorted image of Clinton with the caption, "too big to jail."

On Friday night, Luckey, whose net worth is $700 million, took to Facebook to apologize for actions that were "negatively impacting the perceptions of Oculus and its partners." Luckey explaining that he contributed because he thought Nimble America "had fresh ideas" on communicating with young voters. He denied Daily Beast's claim that he was a founder of Nimble America.

Luckey added that he considered himself a Libertarian and a fan of Ron Paul, and that he would be voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson for president. "I am committed to the principles of fair play and equal treatment," he wrote.



Outcry over Luckey's support for the meme-generating, anti-Clinton group puts parent Facebook again in the uncomfortable situation of deflecting queries on the political actions of those close to senior management.

In May, Facebook board member Peter Thiel was discovered to have spent $10 million to secretly back a lawsuit against Gawker Media that resulted in the blogging site's bankruptcy. Other tech leaders lambasted Thiel for being anti-free speech, particularly given Facebook's huge influence over news distribution. Facebook distanced itself from Thiel's action, saying he did so on his own.

Facebook and Luckey did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Luckey hasn't been nearly as vocal about his politics as fellow Libertarian Thiel, who spoke at the Republican National Convention. Still, insights into Luckey's views can be gleaned from tweets he has liked. These include alt-right comments on topics ranging from immigration to Gamergate, according to news site Motherboard, which compiled a list of Luckey's liked tweets.

For example, on September 12, Luckey liked a tweet by right wing blogger Mike Cernovich that criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for speaking at a gender-segregated mosque.

A few days later, Luckey liked a tweet by Nicole Edelman  aka Nikki Moxxi, a woman Luckey allegedly has been dating for years who is known for tweets mocking SJWs, or social justice warrior protesters. (Ridiculing "SJWs" is a shared trait of Twitter users who often mocked female video-game critics who complained video games were sexist during the vitriolic online controversy known as GamerGate.)

Edelman's tweet linked to a Trump campaign press release accusing Hillary Clinton of promoting "birther" claims against then candidate Barack Obama in 2008.

Hitting a little Twitter icon shaped like a heart is not the same as stumping for a point of view. But in aggregate, Luckey's liked tweets might explain why the multi-millionaire would toss what is for him mere spare change at an organization that echoes his views.

By his own accounts, Luckey's world view was formed in fairly shielded environment. Raised in Long Beach, Luckey was home-schooled by his mother. His father worked for a car dealership.

When he met with with USA TODAY in 2014 to discuss the yet-to-be released Oculus Rift, Luckey spoke about spending most afternoons parked in front of the six-monitor computer set-up in his bedroom, talking with fellow nerds about video games. Many of the staffers at Oculus are friends Luckey met on gamer forums.

Luckey loved to dabble with electronics at home, often with little regard to his own safety. "I got shocked a lot," he told Rolling Stone for a May profile. "Looking back, it's honestly a miracle I am not dead."

While at California State University-Long Beach, he interned at USC's mixed reality lab. That move that would seal his future, as Luckey would go on to create a rudimentary virtual reality headset that instantly rendered more complex and costly variants obsolete.

While Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has not yet weighed into the matter, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe wrote on his Facebook page: "Everyone at Oculus is free to support the issues or causes that matter to them, whether or not we agree with those views. It is important to remember that Palmer acted independently in a personal capacity, and was in no way representing the company."

Others dug a little deeper. Nonny de la Pena, a virtual reality veteran whose interns at the University of Southern California's mixed reality lab included Luckey, wrote on Facebook that "feeling dismayed barely describes my sentiments."

De la Pena added that while Luckey "has the right to offer political support to anyone he wishes, as a woman working in technology who has faced many disparaging remarks, who also had amazing but undocumented grandparents from Mexico, and who has witnessed her mother subject to racist comments firsthand, the things Trump says sicken me."

Veteran tech blogger Richard Scoble wrote a short treatise on Facebook arguing that Zuckerberg should fire Luckey, not so much due to his political views but rather because Oculus under Luckey's watch is inferior to the HTC Vive headset. "Luckey hasn't done a good job for you," writes Scoble, noting that Luckey has spent time engaging people on Reddit instead of running the company. "Get some management that understands how important this market is."

The quality of Oculus Rift aside, a number of VR programmers have responded to Luckey's conservative donation by announcing that they would stop developing for Facebook's VR device.

Tweet

"Hey @oculus, @PalmerLuckey's actions are unacceptable," read a tweet from VR game developer Tomorrow Today Labs. "NewtonVR will not be supporting the Oculus Touch as long as he is employed there."

While Scruta Games and a few other VR companies expressed similar sentiments, such stances often are met with blistering criticism. In responding to Tomorrow Today Labs' stance, WolfLoot tweeted "Ur anti-freedom," while Scott Malcomson wrote, "What 'actions'? Voting for someone you don't like? Grow up."

Luckey has yet to say more publicly. In past interviews he's come across as a decidedly young, newly minted corporate titan possessed of a intense passion no matter what the topic.

Chris Dycus, an Oculus hardware engineer, told Smithsonian magazine in a 2014 article that Luckey was "enthusiastic about everything. Like, go ask him why McDonald's isn't actually that bad for you, and you'll get talked to for an hour."

Perhaps the only hint of Luckey's sense of conviction came from Iribe, who told USA TODAY: "He's fun to work with, opinionated when he believes in something and pushes forward forcefully."
First of all, the Saudis are pumping at maximum levels. For them to cut a bit, from record high output levels to slightly less than recordthat's like praising your child for eating 19 cakes in one sitting instead of 20. It kind of doesn't make that much of a differenceand the kid should maybe not have been eating 20 to begin with.

And why should Iran go along to something as silly as that? From the Iranian perspective, they are not an aggressor (look at their historythey have actually never made the first move yet they live in a part of the world where you have to puff up your feathers and appear larger and scarier than you actually are), and they are just coming back on to the oil market after a long hiatus of sanctions holiday. They have said before, we are happy to play oil-ball, just please let us get back up to the "normal" speed we were at before the sanctions were imposed on us.

Politically, this is a great play by the Saudis though. They aren't technically friends with the Iranians, and would really like the world not to be friends with them either. So by the Saudis offering to eat one cake less, but only IF Tehran does the samethe Saudis come across looking great to all their other friends, and the Iranians look bad. The problem here is that the Persians only had one cake to start with. Coffee anyone?

The only caveat here is that OPEC meetings in Algeria have surprised in the past, and we saw cuts to output following meetings there in 2006 and 2006. Maybe it's something in the Algerian water.

So where will market focus be for the rest of the year. First and foremost, it's going to be on something completely new and differentnamely, the never-before-looked-at-and-waited-on Fed. And a close contender for that top spot will be the US Presidential election. The question becomes: which will move the markets more. The US presidential election result or a 25 basis point Fed rate hike?

Louisa Bojesen is the presenter of CNBC's 'European Street Signs. You can follow her on Twitter @louisabojesen and Facebook.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


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Google is betting big on India as the tech behemoth unveiled five new products on Tuesday specifically tailored for users in the world's second-largest Internet marketincluding one designed to bring free Wi-Fi to the world. The new India offerings include new video app YouTube Go, the Google Assistant in Hindi inside messaging app Allo, data-saving features on Chrome and faster browsing for Google Play on 2G connections. But it was a new Wi-Fi network called Google Station that grabbed headlines. In India, Google has already partnered with Indian Railways' telecom arm RailTel to provide Wi-Fi across railway stations nation-wide Now, Google has plans to roll out more hotspots. Google Station will essentially offer carriers, system integrators and venues an easy way to set up high-quality Wi-Fi to "provide more people in India fast, reliable, and safe Wi-Fi in more of the places where they spend time, like malls, transit stations, and cafes," the firm said in a statement on Tuesday. On the website accompanying the Indian launch, Google announced that it was looking to seal deals with partners around the world.

Indian folk dancers from the Panghat Group of Performing Arts use a laptop during a dress rehearsal for an event to mark the forthcoming Hindu festival 'Navaratri', or the Festival of Nine Nights, in Ahmedabad on September 25, 2016. SAM PANTHAKY | AFP | Getty Images

The company's goal wasn't just getting more Indians online, explained Google's vice-president of product management Caesar Sengupta. Tuesday's news was also aimed at ensuring Indians have the tools to "create the online experience they want; one that serves their needs and enables them to have an impact on the entire world," he continued. India, one of Asia's fastest-growing economies, is home to an ever-expanding crop of entrepreneurs who are taking advantage of the nation's widening middle class and purchasing power. And it's no secret that technology is essential to a healthy business. Last week, the United Nations Broadband Commission announced India eclipsed the U.S. to become the world's second-largest Internet market, with 333 million users, trailing China's 721 million. At an event on Tuesday, Google's vice-president for India and Southeast Asia Rajan Anandan also discussed plans to train two million mobile developers on Android. Here's a breakdown of the other products that were announced Tuesday.

YouTube Go

Branded as a new mobile app for today's video-consuming generation, YouTube Go was especially designed for data-conscious customers, explained Johanna Wright, YouTube's vice-president for product management in the statement.

The app notably claims to function even in poor connectivity. "It also gives users control over how much data they consume on videos, allowing them to preview videos first and choose the video's file size before they save it offline to watch later...They can also share videos easily with friends and family nearby, without using any data at all," said Wright.

The Google Assistant in Hindi

Seen as a rival to Apple's Siri, the Google Assistant enables the use of voice commands to speed up browsing.

A preview of the service will be launched in Hindi by year-end inside the Allo chat app, Tuesday's statement said. Released last week for Android devices, Allo has already exceeded a million downloads on the Google Play Store.

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Saving data on Chrome

Chrome's existing data saver mode, which reduces the amount of data the internet browser uses on Android mobile devices, computers, and Chromebooks, will now support MP4 videos.

The service promises to save up to 67 percent of video data and automatically load simplified pages when 2G-like networks are detected. "Chrome on Android's new Download feature will now allow users to save web pages, videos, music, or pictures. Downloaded items can be easily accessed in Chrome's new downloads tab, even when offline. And if users go offline before the download is complete, the process will automatically resume next time they're connected," the statement explained.

Faster 2G browsing on Google Play
Europe has woken up to headlines dominated by the first televised debate between U.S. presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

The European press largely applauded the Democratic nominee for being "poised" and "prepared" during the debate - whose subject matters ranged from the economy to foreign policy - and her ability to "unhinge" Republican Trump, who appeared rattled by Clinton's comments early on in the debate.

Germany's Der Spiegel noted that billionaire businessman-turned-politician Trump was "erratic and uncertain" during what it called the "spectacular duel" that was watched by an estimated 100 million people and hosted by NBC News' Lester Holt.

Meanwhile, France's Le Monde newspaper noted that Clinton trumped Trump by attacking his record on women, his role in the "birther" campaign against President Barack Obama, leading Trump, the paper said, to "drown in his own speeches."

Read MoreHere are the best moments of the Clinton-Trump debate



However, many commentators warned that despite Clinton's apparent victory on the night, it might not have been enough to sway disaffected voters and that Trump was still a force to be reckoned with.


Vice President Joe Biden returned to the campaign trail for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Tuesday with nothing but scorn for her Republican rival Donald Trump.

In front of a young crowd at Drexel University, Biden excoriated Trump for two comments in particular from the first presidential debate Monday: one on taxes and the other on the housing burst of 2008.

"He acknowledged that he didn't pay taxes because he said ... because he's smart; makes him smart," Biden said, referring to an interjection Trump made when Clinton suggested he possibly did not pay federal taxes.

"Tell that to the janitor in here who's paying taxes!" answered Biden raising his voice.

"Tell that to your mothers and fathers who are breaking their neck to send you here, they're paying taxes ... It angers me, it angers me," Biden added.

More from NBC News:

During the debate, did millennials get left out?

Analysis: America in shambles? Trump paints dim picture of country in debate

Clinton: Debate exposed Trump's 'dangerously incoherent' policies


If Donald Trump's proposed policies would supercharge growth and create jobs as his campaign has promised, why are the CEOs of America's biggest companies not vocally supporting him?

In a heated debate on Tuesday, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and James Murren, CEO of Fortune 500 company MGM Resorts, traded barbs over this topic on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"Has [Hillary Clinton] ever created a job?" Conway asked Murren about Clinton. "Has she ever met taxes and regulation that she didn't love?"



Murren stressed that Clinton has created financial stability, which in turns creates jobs.

Conway rebutted: "She hasn't created any financial stability because as you said, sir, she's never been president so she's created no financial stability. She's never created a job, and you know it."

When asked how many workers Trump employs, Conway skirted around the question, saying he has "tens of thousands of employees."

"That's kind of a vague number, isn't it?" Murren countered.

Laughing, Conway responded, "America doesn't care. Here's what they care (about)  how many jobs Hillary has created? Zero. Don't count the State Department."
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban went after Donald Trump on Twitter less than 24 hours after the first presidential debate.

Cuban started by taking pride in sharing the proceeds of selling companies with his employees, claiming he has made more than 300 millionaires.

@mcuban: 1) I'm proud of the fact that for each of the companies I sold, I share the proceeds with my employees. I've mad more than 300 millionaires

He continued by asking when Trump has done the same for his employees.

@mcuban: 2) Has Trump rewarded any employees when he has succeeded ? All those supposed billions. Has he made a single employee a millionaire ?

Cuban, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton, then pivoted to criticizing the GOP nominee for not proposing any policy changes to help entrepreneurs.

@mcuban: 3) Has Trump offered a single proposal to reduce the friction of starting a business. @HillaryClinton has

The Dallas Mavericks owner has relentlessly trolled Trump and openly slammed his policy proposals on Twitter.

Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Tune in to CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" at 10am Tuesday. Bill George will be a guest.

The disregard for children's health that Mylan CEO Heather Bresch demonstrated in her testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee directly harms consumers.

Less directly, Mylan's exceptionally high price increases erode public confidence in all medical companies, including those investing billions in research to help people suffering from life-threatening diseases.



When companies like Mylan, Valeant and Turing Pharmaceuticals  which have grown profits through financial engineering, not drug discovery  take advantage of loopholes in our health-care system, they create public outrage against all medical companies. I have a growing concern this outrage will have dire consequences for research-based pharmaceutical companies, and could even lead to price controls.



Rather than acknowledging her mistakes in raising EpiPen prices 500 percent from $100 to more than $600, Bresch has tried to obfuscate her actions by shifting the blame to health plans and pharmacy benefits managers that have instituted co-payment and high deductible plans to keep premiums low for strapped consumers. Mylan's largest price increases came shortly after the FDA pulled its competitors off the market, leaving the firm with a monopoly.



Meanwhile, Bresch claimed Mylan was not making much money on EpiPens while admitting it earned $100 on a net selling price of $274 (after normal discounts). In her testimony she said Mylan earned $100 on a net selling price of $274 (after normal discounts). It turns out that Bresch misstated Mylan's profit on Epipens  it's actually $160, not $100, as the Wall Street Journal reported. That is a profit margin of 60 percent  exceptionally high by any standard. Yet she could not answer basic questions from Congress about revenues from EpiPens and their contribution to Mylan's profits.

Bresch used EpiPen's success to fuel her rapid rise to the CEO's office, yet she proved in that testimony that she is not stepping up to the responsibilities her role demands. Publicly, she led with her chin by saying, "I am running a business to make money" as if she were running a financial fund.

Bresch may feel protected from the wrath of Congress and the public by Mylan's highly unusual governance procedures, established when the company executed a tax inversion to The Netherlands in 2015 after it turned down a purchase offer from rival Teva valued at more than twice today's stock price. Under its procedures shareholders don't get to nominate board members; only the board can do that.



Authentic health-care companies from Mayo to Merck understand they are in business to restore people's health, and if they did that well, profits would follow. Mylan seems to be ignoring Merck founder George Merck's admonition, "Medicine is for the people. It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear."



At Medtronic, our founder Earl Bakken charged us with "using biomedical engineering  to restore health." As Medtronic revenues grew from $400 million in 1985 to $30 billion today, every CEO has faithfully followed Bakken's mission through good times and difficult ones. Medtronic's proudest achievement over these 31 years is not its growth in shareholder value from $400 million to $120 billion, but fulfilling its original mission by expanding the number of new patients restored each year from 150,000 to 30 million today.



In 1990 in response to public concerns over rising health-care costs, Medtronic instituted a "no price increase" policy. This put pressure on us to reduce our costs while spurring investment in more advanced products. It paid off with rapid growth and high profits, which were invested in research and development, expansion into emerging markets, and acquisitions to broaden the company's base.



One of Bresch's only defenders in this experience is disgraced former hedge-fund manager Martin Shkreli, who resigned as CEO of Turing after his outrageous 5,500 percent price increases on an AIDS drug fueled public anger. To Bresch's credit, she tried to answer questions, while just Shkreli smirked in his Congressional appearance while taking the Fifth Amendment. He later arrogantly called the congressmen, "imbeciles." The public furor these bad actors have stirred up will not subside soon, especially in this election year, and are stimulating legislative actions rather than market-based solutions.



Pharmaceutical companies have long argued that they need patent protection and pricing freedom in order to justify returns on large investments in research. Yet that argument falls flat in the cases of Mylan, Valeant and Turing, which historically have not invested in research. As long as these types of companies stay in news, public pressure will mount for government price controls or at least the ability to negotiate prices. The unintended consequence of such actions could be cutbacks in high-risk research aimed at curing and healing the most threatening diseases that require high returns to justify high costs.



In contrast, the major pharmaceutical companies base their success on high-cost, high-risk science with long lead times and no assurance of returns. In recent years some short-term investors have argued for cutting back research and simply buying drugs from others. Yet those who have committed to research without hesitation  Merck, Amgen, Genentech and Novartis, just to name a few  have created breakthrough drugs that saved millions of lives and generated high returns on their investments for their long-term shareholders.



With pharmaceutical prices now under public scrutiny, responsible leaders of medical companies should call for and demonstrate restraint in setting prices for their products, especially when they enjoy protected positions. Thus far, the only CEOs to speak out publicly against these abuses are GSK's Andrew Witty, Merck's Ken Frazier and Allergan's Brent Saunders. They should be voluntarily joined by other CEOs and industry associations like PhRMA and AdvaMed.



The time for health care's leaders to act is now, before Congress acts for them.
Firefighters respond to a house explosion in the Bronx, believed to be a drug den on Sept. 27, 2016.

A house exploded Tuesday morning in the Bronx killing a FDNY battalion chief and injuring at least 12 people, according to a NBC New York report.

Officials initially thought they were responding to a gas leak but law enforcement told NBC New York that they now believe the house was a marijuana-growing operation.

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Battalion Chief Michael Fahy was a 17-year FDNY veteran and a father of three.



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The blast occurred at West 234th Street near Tibbett Avenues in Kingsbridge before 7:30 a.m. ET, according to NBC New York's live coverage. The NYPD was called to the scene but the house had already exploded before they co

A witness, who was a block away dropping off kids to school, told NBC New York that he heard such a loud shake he thought a "plane fell from the sky."

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Read NBC New York's full coverage.
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The slump in global energy prices means oil-producing countries face a "clear need" to diversify their economies and improve competitiveness, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its latest competitiveness survey. Gulf countries reliant on oil exports have struggled since the rout in energy prices began in July 201. For example, the International Monetary Fund sees Saudi Arabia's economy growing by 1.2 percent this year, down from 3.5 percent in 2015 and 3.6 percent in 2014. "The drop in energy prices has heightened the urgency of advancing competitiveness agendas across the Arab world  There remains a clear need for all energy-exporting nations to further diversify their economies and for much greater effort to improve basic competitiveness," WEF said in its annual report on global competitiveness unveiled on Tuesday.



Aramco (Saudi national oil company) offshore oil rig 'Marjan 2' in the Persian Gulf. Reza | Getty Images

The Gulf States were the weak performers in WEF's global competitiveness index, with only three economies in the top 30: The United Arab Emirates (16), Qatar (18) and Saudi Arabia (29). WEF, which holds a prestigious annual forum in Davos, Switzerland, ranked all countries by competitiveness, using measures such as infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, financial market development and technological readiness. 2016's top performers were the same as last year, with Switzerland, Singapore and the U.S. claiming the top three spots. The Netherlands was the top European Union performer at no. 4, with Germany at no. 5 and the U.K. at no. 7 (based on data from before the Brexit vote in June).

Top 10 most competitive economies:

Switzerland Singapore US Netherlands Germany Sweden UK Japan Hong Kong Finland Spain, Italy and Greece were less competitive than their northerly neighbors, ranking 32nd, 44th and 86th respectively. France came in at 21st.

"While European economies continue to dominate the top 10, there remains no end in sight for the region's persisting north-south divide  For all economies in Europe, maintaining and improving prosperity levels will depend heavily on their ability to harness innovation and the talents of their workforces," WEF said. Among the major emerging markets, China ranked 28th, India came in at 39th and Russia was 43rd. Brazil was lower, at 81st.

Protectionism

WEF warned that countries' openness to international trade has been waning for the last decade.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico and avowed to "never-ever sign bad trade deals." He has also repeatedly accused China, with whom the U.S. had a goods trade deficit of $191 billion for the first seven months of this year, of trade violations. Across the Atlantic, the U.K. voted to quit the European Union, which provides for free movement of goods, services and labor between member countries, three months' ago. "Declining openness in the global economy is harming competitiveness and making it harder for leaders to drive sustainable, inclusive growth," Klaus Schwab, founder of WEF, said in Tuesday's report. The report cited rising non-tariff barriers, onerous customs procedures and rules around Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and foreign ownership as example of rising protectionism. This was most marked in high- and upper-middle income countries, the body said.

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This week's OPEC meeting in Algeria may not have resulted in a resolution as of Tuesday, but at least one person is optimistic an accord will be reached within two months.

Kent Moors, the executive chairman of Energy Capital Research Group, told CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Tuesday from Algeria that there is a consensus developing that there may be "an extraordinary session in 4-6 weeks," well before OPEC's next meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30.

"Behind the scenes there's a considerable amount of negotiation," Moor said. "Everybody has been shooting themselves in the foot, for some time here in OPEC. There is a consistent simple budgetary crisis that's developed."

Moor said that several non-OPEC elements are coming into play, such as Russia's "unsustainable" 11 million barrels per day rate.

"We have a situation where nobody has a vested interest in keeping any oil in the ground," Moors said. "Right now, your market share demands that you lift it up and you sell it, even though the overall revenue flow is declining and that simply is not sustainable."

Short term, Moore said, the closed door meetings taking place in Algeria this week should start presenting strategic leaks. However, he cautions against listening to everything that comes out of Venezuela, Libya and even Algeria. He said those countries are hurting from a budgetary standpoint and will "grasp at any straw to argue that there is a cut coming."

"Here's the bottom line: I'm seeing low $50 a barrel by the time we reach the end of the year," he said. "We're looking at $63 to 65 dollars a barrel, I think, by the end of the first quarter of 2017. That requires that the balance be clearly in focus and that balance requires that production remain tempered and those are the great unknowns."
Clinton Emerges Victorious From Debate Marred By Factual Errors

Trending News: All The BS Spewed At Last Night's Debate (By Both Candidates)

Why Is This Important?

Because with one down and two to go, this years debates are showing the world who really is more fit for the White House.

Long Story Short

General consensus is handing the first debate to Hillary Clinton, but nobody is counting Trump down just yet. Both candidates had some trouble getting a handle on the facts, though Trump had a harder go of it.

Long Story

In what was one of the most highly anticipated and watched presidential debates in recent memory, Hillary Clinton was by and large declared the winner over her rival Donald Trump. Though most post-debate polls tend to skew more Democratic than the country as a whole, the wide victory margins leave little doubt as to the outcome.

Most observers say she was cool and composed while Trump was short-tempered and vague on facts. Trump received some praise early on for his ability to connect with average Americans, but it was short lived: While Clinton did what she does  brushing off criticism and even coming up with some well-rehearsed zingers  Trump did what he does: shouting, blustering and exaggerating to the point of exploding (or just ignoring) the truth.

Graphiq

As expected, an army of reporters were prepared to fact-check every statement made by the candidates. And while both were guilty of being elastic on facts, Trump emerged as the clear winner in the fibbing department.

According to FactCheck.Org, Clintons claims about Trump paying no federal income taxes ever was false. Weve seen his returns in three out of five years between 1975 and 1979. She also said she did not call the much-maligned Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal a gold standard, but rather that she hoped it would be a good deal.

Not true. She called it a gold standard in 2012. There was also plenty to dispute about her claim that independent experts said her economic plan would create 10 million jobs while Trumps would cost over 3 million (namely, who are these experts?).

But Trump is coming out of this one as a candidate who doesnt command the facts  he makes them up. He said Fords decision to move its small-car production from the Midwest to Mexico will cost thousands of jobs. Ford said it wont cost a single one, thanks to the deal it cut with the UAW.

Fact Check: @Ford is not moving jobs out of Michigan. Our agreement secures future product commitments for affected plants. #Debates2016  UAW (@UAW) September 27, 2016

@Steelerfan7589 #Ford will maintain its U.S. jobs because two new vehicles are planned for Wayne, MI plant beginning in 2018.  Ford Motor Company (@Ford) September 27, 2016

He accused the Obama administration of lying to the public about a $1.7-billion payment to Iran (either to recompense it for a deal dating back to 1979 or to release hostages, or kind of both) even though the administration announced the deal in January.

It goes on: He described climate change as a hoax, either perpetuated by China or a tax, depending on the day.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

He repeated his assertion that the birther controversy originated with Clintons 2008 campaign when she was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Barack Obama. Trump even BSed on the number of times he declared bankruptcy: Clinton claimed six, Trump claimed four. Only one of them is right, and it's the person with hands proportional to the rest of her body.

Other claims that FactCheck had declared either outright false or highly misleading:

Trump on his fathers loans to him at the start of his career (actually $14-million vs the $1-million Trump claims)

Trump on the trade deficit (actually $531-billion versus $800-billion claimed

Trump on his tax returns (he cant because he is being audited and you dont learn much from tax returns anyway, he said. Not true, according to FactCheck)

Trump on NAFTA (he blames Bill Clinton for one of the worst things that happened in history. Actually the deal was negotiated by George H.W. Bush, and FactCheck says its overall impact on US jobs has been small.)

Trump on Iraq, Trump on ISIS and Libya and Trump on crime

Finally, Trump's claim that Hillary has been fighting ISIS "her entire adult life."

One claim they faulted Clinton for was her claim that Trump doesnt believe in equal pay for women. He doesnt believe in equal pay legislation but said people should be paid according to performance, not gender.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

Will the second debate be even meaner?

Disrupt Your Feed

If we're going to dismiss Donald's red herring about Hillary's health, it's only fair not to read too much into his sniffling. It's allergy season, after all.

Drop This Fact

The next debate will be the vice-presidential at Longwood University in Virginia on Tuesday, Oct 4. The next presidential debate will at Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, Oct. 9.
"It was actually pretty funny because when it happened I didn't know," Koch said in an interview with CNBC at the Iconic conference in Boston last week. "You know, Forbes prints this thing and they don't notify you. But it got in the Globe and my daughter told me."

Her friends were confused. "Em, your dad's a billionaire? Why are you scooping ice cream for $7 an hour?" they asked her. She relayed the question to her dad, founder of The Boston Beer Co. the brewhouse behind Sam Adams beer.

When Jim Koch found out he had become a billionaire, it was his daughter who broke the news.

Koch (pronounced "cook") launched the company from his kitchen in 1984 and today, at 67, he still has the perpetual jolly look of the sort of fellow who might have just been interrupted from brewing his own beer in his suburban kitchen.

You would be hard-pressed to find a picture of Koch in anything other than khaki pants and a denim button-up shirt with the "Sam Adams" logo on it.

In September 2013, Boston Beer's stock price pushed Koch into the Billionaires Club. He ranked on the Forbes' list of billionaires in 2014 and 2015 but fell off this year the stock price fell.

Koch's only regret about the billionaire list was that his dad had passed away a couple years before he had achieved that hallmark status. He thinks it would have been cool if he'd been around to see his son become a billionaire. Otherwise, the brewmaster doesn't seem to mind all that much one way or the other.

"Now I get to be an ex-billionaire, and it doesn't feel any different," Koch said.
Shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals shed nearly 12 percent Tuesday after Amgen said its multiple myeloma drug, Kyprolis, did not outperform Takeda Pharmaceutical 's Velcade in a late-stage study.

Ligand gets royalties on sales of Amgen's Kyprolis drug, which treats a form of incurable blood cancer. The drug generated $172 million in revenue in the second quarter, according to Reuters, and was expected to generate peak annual sales of about $2.3 billion.

Amgen Executive Vice President of Research and Development Sean Harper said the study was designed to explore Kyprolis dosing regimens, noting that the the trial did not meet its goal in improving progression-free survival versus Velcade in patients who had not yet been treated for the disease.



"We remain committed to exploring Kyprolis in combination with other agents to advance the treatment of multiple myeloma," Harper said.

Kyprolis has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, who have previously been treated.

Dr. Andrzej Jakubowiak from the University of Chicago Medical Center said during a conference call that although the results were disappointing, they were predictable to some extent.

"This was the wrong combination chosen for this evaluation, wrong duration of treatment as well, which we now know and is potentially important," he said.

Kyprolis is also being tested in a separate late-stage trial in combination with Celgene's Revlimid and the steroid dexamethasone, or KRd.

Shares of Ligand have fallen 8 percent for the year, closing at $99.64 a share. Amgen was down about 1 percent for the day, but up more than 5 percent for the year, closing at $171.63 a share.

--Reuters contributed to this report.
A 14-year old border conflict between Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, and Australia was revived by The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on Monday. Around 3,000 nautical miles separate Australia and Timor-Leste, an island in the Indonesian archipelago. Between the two countries lie the Timor Sea, home to the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) that is rich in oil and natural gas deposits. Next to the JPDA are the Sunrise and Troubadour gas fields, collectively known as Greater Sunrise, that are worth an estimated $40 billion. These fields are at the heart of the maritime dispute that has weighed on bilateral relations and holds the potential to accelerate the nascent Timorese economy.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration

Background

Under the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty, the Southeast Asian island receives 90 percent of revenues from the JPDA's energy resources, with the remainder going to Australia.

However, only 20 percent of the Greater Sunrise fields lies inside the JPDA, according to the 2006 International Unitization Agreement on Sunrise (IUA), which allotted the remaining 80 percent to Australia. Subsequently, a separate 2006 agreement [the Treaty on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea, or CMATS] was signed to divide revenues from the Sunrise fields 50-50. CMATs also stipulated a 50-year freeze on both countries from negotiating a permanent maritime boundary. In 2013, the Timorese government accused Canberra of espionage to gain commercial advantage during CMAT's negotiations, claiming that such a move invalidated the agreement. In April this year, Timorese Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo initiated formal conciliation proceedings by invoking the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He aims to establish an exclusive economic zone, including a permanent boundary, one that will allow the island to gain control of the entire lucrative Greater Sunrise fields. Australia has argued that the Hague's international arbitration court does not have jurisdiction over the dispute as per CMATsa response that bears striking similarities to China's viewpoint when the same court ruled on the South China Sea dispute. In an effort to appeal to the U.S. for help earlier this year, PM Araujo also accused Australia of behaving like Beijing. On Monday this week, the court refuted Canberra's claims, announcing that it was indeed competent to hold a conciliation. Talks between the two countries will now continue over the next year.

Activists attend a rally outside the Australian embassy in Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, on February 23, 2016. Hundreds called on the Australian government to negotiate for the establishment of permanent maritime boundaries between Australia and Timor-Leste. VALENTINO DARIEL SOUSA | AFP | Getty Images

Implications
The iPhone 7's debut could be a litmus test for Apple 's future in India, where a series of challenges has left the company looking like it's in "no hurry" compared to the competition, analysts told CNBC.

But the new iPhone's Oct. 7 launch in India could improve the company's fortunes, as it comes just weeks ahead of the nation's gift-giving season. It could mean reduced prices on older models, analysts said, and make more iPhones accessible in one of the world's fastest-growing smartphone markets.

It all comes at a crucial time for the company, as it looks for a stabilizing growth market amid a tenuous relationship with China, said Neil Shah, research director of devices and ecosystems at Counterpoint Research. In India, 16 percent of the population had a smartphone at the end of 2015, compared to 44 percent globally, according to Ericsson's Mobility Report.



With an estimated 2 percent in smartphone market share in the country, Apple has been no match so far for the complicated regulatory environment in India, where everything from opening a retail store to refurbishing old phones favors entrenched players and adds enormous relative cost to Apple's sticker prices. The Indian iPhone 7 is expected to to be up to $250 more expensive than in the U.S., nearing $900  in a country where the average person made just $1,581.60 last year, the World Bank estimates.

But to grow, Shah said Apple must strike in India before new smartphone users get too tethered to the Android ecosystem.



Despite its low starting point, India is already one of Apple's fastest-growing markets  iPhone sales in India were up 51 percent year on year In the first three quarters of this fiscal year, CEO Tim Cook said during an earnings conference call. And though there are challenges, Apple is a highly desired brand there, experts say.

That bodes well for Diwali, the peak of the festival season, when consumption and gift giving takes on a Christmas-like uptick. For instance, Amazon India saw its biggest day for mobile phone sales ever on the third day of the 2015 "Great Indian Festive Sale," with more than 20 percent of phones above the 20,000 (about $300) price range.

"When a new device comes out ... you see an associated price cut for older models," said Ishan Dutt, research analyst at Canalys. "That's one source of growth for Apple. People who previously couldn't afford the device are pulled in. There are still very wealth consumers there, and there are things that could sort of help it."



Meanwhile, the telecom industry in India is undergoing disruption. Wealthy mogul Mukesh Ambani has promised that Reliance Jio will offer the world's cheapest internet data by far. Though that plan has its challenges, such a move could make smartphones within reach of much of India's population.



But while Apple co-founder Steve Jobs identified deeply with India's "intuitive" culture, making inroads in the world's second-most populous country has seemed anything but instinctual for the tech giant. Its iPhone SE, once thought to be a play at emerging markets, "failed to make any significant impact" in India in the second quarter, IDC estimates.

Steep local taxes are part of the problem, Dutt said. There's also an import duty as long as Apple continues to assemble its phones outside of India, Shah said. Then there's the lack of Apple retail stores in the nation, leaving vendors to pile markups on the already hefty iPhone price tag.

Plus there's the resale market, which is healthy in some respects, Dutt said. But Shah adds that to avoid the buildup of electronic-waste, the nation has strict limits on importing refurbished products, potentially including iPhones. Different SIM card standards present more hurdles.

The company recently announced a developer center in Bangalore, as Cook looks to shift the landscape in India. It's an example, Shah said, of a show of good faith as the company seeks to gain favor among regulators.



Though these changes might not come fast enough to meet the iPhone 7, they might set up a presence ahead of the iPhone 8, already expected by some analysts to be a hit.



"We look forward to opening retail stores in India down the road," Cook said in a recent earnings call. "We see huge potential for that vibrant country."
After decades of cybersecurity efforts, even the US government's "secure" files aren't safe. Forget it if you are a customer of Ashley Madison, or Target, or Anthem. Better cryptography alone isn't the answer. The analogy is that you are making harder and harder walls, which is great as far as it goes, but when someone penetrates them, they still have access to all of your data behind the walls.

Adding insult to injury, scammers latched on to this latest data disaster and sent out fake notification letters and emails, leading to further data breaches. Experts have suggested that this OPM hack, the DNC email hack, and the Sony hack, are the results of state-sponsored cyberwarfare.

We are losing the cybersecurity war. In 2015, over 21.5 million federal employees and contractors  just about anyone who got a U.S. federal security clearance outside of the CIA  received a notification that their Social Security Number and personal information had been stolen from their Office of Personnel Management (OPM) files. When seeking a government security clearance, you have to fill out a very detailed personal information form, an SF-86. All of those are now in the hands of parties unknown.

What's more, improving security typically comes at the cost of more data silos, making it harder to share information. This runs counter to the fact that data is more useful when shared. The absence of good data sharing is visible every time you have to fill out the same information on medical paperwork when you go from one doctor to another or one clinic to another.



We are arguably at a place of crisis.



The good news is that, thanks to the rise of popularity of distributed ledger technologies (like blockchain), and data management methods such as secure multiparty computation and secret sharing, we now have a potential solution.



The first part of the solution, OPAL (Open Algorithms), inverts the traditional paradigm. Instead of bringing the data to the code, we're bringing the code to the data. No longer do we consolidate different data sources to get to an interesting answer. Instead, we distribute the code to the various pieces of data, which reduces the attack surface for hackers. The French government has funded our early work in developing OPAL.



The second part, ENIGMA, breaks up data into thousands of small pieces, encrypts each piece, and scatters them. Even if you could hack one node on the network, you'd just get a data fragment. Even better, you can perform computations on the encrypted data fragments. When combined with OPAL, you can now transform and gain use out of data while dramatically improving its security. Corporate collaborators are underwriting our efforts to implement ENIGMA as an open source code project.



OPAL/ENIGMA, and techniques like it, promise to deliver new weapons to the war on cybercrime  while making all of that data significantly more useful for society.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off Monday in the first of three presidential debates before the November election, and social media had a lot to say  especially about Trump.

The debate was broadcast live on all major networks, plus streaming on Twitter and Facebook. Like any other political discussion in 2016, a great deal of conversation happened on social networks around the world. Often dismissed as an echo chamber, social media can still be an indicator for future polling and the direction of the electorate.

Trump took the prize in terms of the number social media mentions  but most of those were negative. In fact, more than 65 percent of the conversations regarding Trump were negative, compared with just 56 percent involving Clinton, according to data from Brandwatch.


Thor Industries solidified its position as the No. 1 maker of recreational vehicles (RVs) and motor homes on Tuesday when it posted a record year for RV sales in its fourth-quarter fiscal 2016 results.

"Some people think that Wall Street only worships one god: money. But that is patently false. Why? Because there are plenty of people worshiping Thor these days, and Thor has been pretty darned good to its followers," Jim Cramer said.

In an interview with Thor's CEO Bob Martin on Tuesday, the "Mad Money" host noted that while housing levels are nowhere near where they were in 2006, RVs have surpassed levels achieved then. Martin attributed the rapid growth of RVs to consumer confidence and more wholesale and retail lenders in the RV space.

"That, along with just watching the younger buyers flock to the RV lifestyle, it really has helped to give our dealers the confidence to buy more inventory and to sell more at the shows. It has been definitely a positive for us," Martin said.


Donald Trump Mike Segar | Reuters

Should it come as a surprise that not one chief executive among the Fortune 100 has donated money to Donald Trump's campaign? That was the news reported by The Wall Street Journal over the weekend after tabulating the latest donation disclosures through August.

Mr. Trump's supporters trumpeted, excuse the pun, the lack of donations from the nation's largest companies as a badge of honor. Big business, they say, has failed the country, so why would their guy want its support?

More from The New York Times:

Twitter's Steep Premium: The Cost of Employee Stock Grants

American Express Can Stop Merchants From Steering Clients to Other Cards

WellsFargo Workers Claim Retaliation for Playing by the Rules But the logic of this argument is backward. Mr. Trump has campaigned as a successful businessman, a brilliant negotiator and someone, as he said in his own words, who can "get along with people." He has contended that his economic policies will unleash unheard-of levels of growth  as much as 6 percent. He plans to lower corporate taxes, remove regulations and allow companies to repatriate cash held overseas. Together, these policies sound like a C.E.O.'s dream.

And yet here we are: Many of the most successful business people in the country refuse to support him  or do business with him, either.



This is not an opinion. In case there is any doubt, here is a list of companies that in the last two years have publicly severed or reduced business relationships with Mr. Trump, mostly over his inflammatory rhetoric: Macy's , Univision, Comcast's NBCUniversal, Serta, Disney's ESPN, the PGA of America, Nascar and Perfumania . Those companies, which have customer bases that include broad swaths of the nation that ostensibly look like the electorate, all said some variation of what Macy's said: "In light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy's values, we have decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump."

As this column has noted previously, virtually no big United States banking institution has done new business with Mr. Trump in years, in part because of his history of bankruptcies and his penchant for litigation. During orientation for new employees, Goldman Sachs specifically used to use Mr. Trump as an example of the kind of prospective client to avoid. Still, based on Mr. Trump's policies, you would think that companies like Apple or Nike, which have railed for lower taxes and are pining to bring tens of billions dollars stashed abroad back to the United States, would be kneeling at the altar of Mr. Trump. (Apple's and Nike's chief executives have contributed to Hillary Clinton.)

Granted, there are his views on immigration and trade, which aren't in sync with United States multinational companies that manufacture products abroad. But then again, Mrs. Clinton opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership too, so that doesn't provide much of a choice.

Carl Icahn Brendan McDermid | Reuters

Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric's chief executive, who employed Mr. Trump on "The Apprentice" when G.E. owned NBC, was asked by Vanity Fair about him over the summer. "The Donald Trump that I had a chance to work with, I found to be fun to work with," he said. "The words? I can't reconcile with anything I believe in, or that I think the country stands for or that the company stands for."

By the way, this was Mr. Trump's reply last year to businesses that stopped doing business with him: "Macy's, NBC, Serta and Nascar have all taken the weak and very sad position of being politically correct even though they are wrong in terms of what is good for our country." (I should note here that I co-anchor "Squawk Box" on CNBC, which is a unit of NBCUniversal.) In fairness, it is worth pointing out that only 11 C.E.O.s of the Fortune 100 donated to Hillary Clinton, according to The Journal. Mr. Trump does have support from some businessmen like Jack Welch, Carl C. Icahn and Wilbur Ross, among others.

But for a group that has historically leaned Republican, the absence of contributions is eye-opening, particularly since at least 19 of them gave to the other Republican candidates in the primaries.

There is a good reason, wholly unrelated to political correctness, that the business community has not rallied around Mr. Trump's economic plans. On its merits, that plan is expected to hurt the economy, according to nonpartisan economists. It is hard to find many serious economists, except a handful mostly advising his campaign, who say otherwise.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonpartisan think tank that includes a list of luminaries from both sides of the aisle, Mr. Trump's economic plan would add $5.3 trillion to our national debt. That compares with $200 billion as a result of Mrs. Clinton's plan.

"Both Clinton and Trump would increase the debt relative to current law though Trump would increase it by an order of magnitude more, and Clinton's plan would slightly reduce deficits if we incorporated unspecified revenue from business tax reform," the committee wrote.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (R) speaks as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (L) listens during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York.

NBC News and our friends at PolitiFact fact checked the first presidential debate. Here's what we found.



1. Trump said it's "wrong" that he supported the invasion of Iraq. It's not.

2. Trump said he told Howard Stern "very lightly, I don't know, maybe, who knows?" of the war in Iraq. Trump actually said "I guess so, yeah."

3. Trump said Clinton and her campaign started the "birther" movement. They didn't.

More from NBC News:

Breaking Down the Debate: Trump and Clinton's Most Frequently Used Words

13 Presidential Debate Moments the Internet Loved

Full Transcript from the First Presidential Debate Between Trump, Clinton



4. Trump said it was "wrong" to say that stop-and-frisk racially profiled individuals. It did.

5. Trump said ending stop-and-frisk made the city more dangerous. It didn't.

6. Trump said murder is up in New York City. It's not.
The JS INEOS Insight shale gas tanker sails under the Forth Rail Bridge as it arrives in Scotland before docking at INEOS Grangemouth. Stuart Wallace | Ineos

Shale gas from the U.S. arrived on the shores of the U.K. for the first time Tuesday, sparking a wider debate about the impacts of the industry on the environment and the global economy.

Amid much fanfare, a Scottish bagpiper greeted a ship called the Ineos Insight on the banks of Grangemouth in east Scotland. Its cargo was 27,500 cubic meters of ethane from U.S. shale fields. However, disgruntled campaigners used the boat's arrival to dismiss the benefits of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." Scotland currently has a ban on the technology, which unlocks underground oil and shale gas resources using high-pressure steam and chemicals, while in England it's still at the exploratory stage with the ruling Conservative backing the industry and extolling its virtues.

Tweet 1 Tweet 2 Ineo is a privately owned multinational chemicals company headquartered in Switzerland and Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire founder and chairman of the firm, says that he needs the shale gas to make chemical products, fuels and plastics at his Scottish plant. He told the BBC on Tuesday morning that the price of U.S. gas can be as much as a third of the price of U.K. gas, adding that the U.S. was "immensely more competitive" than his home nation where North Sea oil is in its "sunset years."

The company also states that it needs the cheaper gas to keep the plant open after it has "limped along for the last three years" and it wants to sustain the 10,000 jobs it provides in Scotland.

Campaigners are quick to point out that the gas is being supplied by Range Resources in the U.S., which was previously fined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for violating environmental regulations. Ineos has a "corporate agenda that damages communities' health," the anti-fracking group Frack Off said on its website on Tuesday. Ineos is expected to be a major part of any shale gas industry that potentially germinates in the U.K.

Tweet 3
Top Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Bello who recently got married to her heartthrob, JJC Skillz has been enjoying a nice time in London since her secret wedding.

The delectable actress and her hubby, JJC stepped out together in Nigeria for the first time yesterday as they attended the premiere of Comedian AYs new movie A trip to Jamaica.

The pair reportedly made a grand entry into the event from a white 2016 Lamboghini Huracan.

More photos from the event below:




The Katsuren castle in Okinawa, Japan, is among the places you'd least expect Roman coins to be found.

An amazing discovery was made in Okinawa, Japan, recently, when 10 ancient coins from the Roman and Ottoman empires were unearthed in the ruins of a Japanese castle, thousands of miles from their place of origin.

The story was reported on Sept. 27 on CNN.com.

The Katsuren castle has been being excavated since 2013 by a group of local archaeologists from Uruma citys Board of Education. Their team, however, didnt make the discovery.

Toshio Tsukamoto, a researcher from the Gangoji temple who was visiting the site, came across the coins.

"I'd come to analyze artifacts like Japanese samurai armor that had been found there when I spotted the coins," Tsukamoto told CNN. "I'd been on excavation sites in Egypt and Italy and had seen a lot of Roman coins before, so I recognized them immediately."

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An X-ray was used to identify the engravings and read what details were depicted.

Its been determined that the lone Ottoman coin is from 1687, based on its inscription, while the Roman pieces date back to roughly 300 to 400 A.D.

How did Roman coins end up in Japan?

Masaki Yokou, a spokesperson for Uruma city's Board of Education, told CNN the discovery is strange and interesting.

Yokou said a direct link from Rome to the Katsuren castle is unlikely. Roman coins have been discovered all over Europe, but very few have been found so far away.

This discovery lends some insight into the extent of trade relations between Europe and Asia at the time. Both Yokou and Tsukamoto said it's possible the coins ended up at the castle after bouncing around the network of trade routes that linked West and East.

One of the most powerful empires of all time had coinage in many regions of Europe and some parts of the Middle East, so determining exactly where they're from and how they landed at the castle will be a challenge.

Other items found at the castle

In addition to the coins, there were Japanese ceramics and other household items that would've been used by the castle's inhabitants. Chinese coins and ceramics that would have be acquired through trade with China were also among the objects found.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
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Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. provides home and security products for residential home repair, remodeling, new construction, and security applications. It operates in three segments: Plumbing, Outdoors & Security, and Cabinets. The Plumbing segment manufactures, assembles, and sells faucets, accessories, kitchen sinks, and waste disposals under the Moen, ROHL, Riobel, Victoria+Albert, Perrin & Rowe, and Shaws brands in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America directly through its own sales force, as well as through independent manufacturers' representatives to wholesalers, home centers, mass merchandisers, and industrial distributors. The Outdoors & Security segment offers fiberglass and steel entry door systems under the Therma-Tru brand; storm, screen, and security doors under the Larson brand; composite decking and railing under the Fiberon brand; and urethane millwork under the Fypon brand. This segment also manufactures, sources, and distributes locks, safety and security devices, and electronic security products under the Master Lock and American Lock brands; and fire resistant safes, security containers, and commercial cabinets under the SentrySafe brand. It serves home centers, hardware and other retailers, millwork building products and wholesale distributors, specialty dealers, and remodeling and renovation markets, as well as locksmiths, industrial and institutional users, and original equipment manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Japan, and Australia. The Cabinets segment manufactures custom, semi-custom, and custom cabinetry, as well as vanities for the kitchen, bath, and other parts of the home directly to kitchen and bath dealers, home centers, wholesalers, and builders in North America under the AOK, Diamond Brands, Homecrest, Kitchen Craft, Omega, and EVE brands. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois.
First lady Michelle Obama hugs former President George W. Bush during the dedication ceremony for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A friend invited my wife and me to watch the debate with her. I declined.

I might have gone if Michelle Obama had invited me, but only if she were watching the debate with George W. Bush.

I would have stayed long enough to get a selfie with them, then slipped out the back.

I'd rather sit in a dentist's chair with a slipped disk and get a root canal without anesthesia than watch a presidential debate.

We're all feeling enough polarizing political pain, aren't we?

Why do we need to watch our ideological tribal leaders go at it? And then watch our tribal media proxies go at it?

Why can't we all be more reasonable?

We are  at least, we think we are.

Studies show that self-described liberals tend to think of themselves as more reasonable than conservatives.

And self-described conservatives tend to think of themselves as more reasonable than liberals.

Seems reasonable.

Where do we go wrong? How did we turn reasonable disagreeing into irrational demonizing? When did presidential debates become steel-cage death matches?

Why are we so politically and painfully polarized?

American National Election Studies, tracking the public's policy views since the 1950s, says we really aren't.

"Our results suggest that the public has not become more polarized in its policy views from 1956 to 2012," professors Seth J. Hill and Chris Tausanovitch wrote last year in the Journal of Politics.

"Americans tend to be no more distant from one another today than they were in the 1950s. The public has not 'moved apart' on these questions of government policy. What has changed is the sorting of the electorate into political parties."

Weren't we already sorted by party? Sort of.

"In the middle of the 20th century, each party was relatively diverse. Both parties had liberals and conservatives, so a voter's policy views did not say much about their preferred party," the authors wrote.

"Over the past 50 years, however, the parties have sorted so that now most liberals are Democrats, and most conservatives are Republicans. The result is much more homogeneous parties, even though the ideology of the public as a whole has not changed very much."

We haven't moved apart. We still live under the same roof. We've just sorted ourselves (or been sorted) into separate ideological duplexes.

Liberals on the left side of the house, conservatives on the right.

Each side of the duplex goes to its own church  the Conservative Evangelical Baptist Assembly of Our Lady of Orthodox Latter-day Saints on one side; the Liberal Ecumenical Mainline Congregation of Interfaith Unity and Community on the other.

Each side shares its own Facebook friends, Twitter followers and #hashtagslogans, and deploys its own trolls, trendjackers and Twitter bombers.

Each side feeds its own media watchdogs  the Wall Street Fox News Journal Rottweiler on one side, the MSNYT Post Pit Bull on the other.

That divide is reflected by the people we send to Washington.

"Every Congress (since 1956) appears to be more polarized than the last one," the authors wrote.

Our political leaders are more polarized than we are. That figures.

More Americans are "identifying as very or extremely liberal or conservative," but only when it comes to "a select few polarized issues" such as abortion or gay marriage, a team of researchers reported in June's Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

"Democrats and Republicans are not moving further apart on particular issues, and in many instances, they actually have great overlap and many shared views."

Shared views? You won't hear that in the debates.

Each side will present and see one candidate as a great defender, the other as a grave danger.

The ideological sorting will go on.

If only we could put the same photo next to the TV on each side of the duplex.

The photo taken last weekend at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

The photo of Mrs. Obama, the liberal Democrat, and Mr. Bush, the conservative Republican, sharing a hug.

It would remind us that we're all living under the same roof.

That we're all guarding the same house.

Contact columnist David Waters at waters@commercialappeal.com.
Lawrence McKinney talks to his attorney, Jack Lowery, before the start of his exoneration hearing before the Tennessee Board of Parole on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (Photo: Lacy Atkins/The Tennessean)

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By Andy Humbles, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

A Wilson County man who served 31 years in prison on a rape and burglary conviction from Memphis before DNA evidence cleared him of the crime was not recommended for exoneration by the Tennessee Board of Parole on Tuesday.

The board, which voted 7-0 not to recommend the formal exoneration to the governor, still questioned his innocence.

Lawrence McKinney, 60, was released in 2009 after his 1978 conviction in Memphis was overturned. His record was expunged after his release, but attempts to get a formal exoneration have been mired in red tape, according to his supporters.

Having criminal records expunged is a judicial process, but exoneration is an additional declaration of innocence awarded by the governor. If granted, the exoneration enables a person to file for compensation with the Tennessee Board of Claims.

McKinney's hearing lasted nearly four hours and had the feel of a trial.

McKinney testified on his own behalf Tuesday and said he was offered a deal of five years when he was arrested for the rape to testify against a co-defendant, but turned it down "because I didn't know anything about the crime." McKinney was sentenced to 100 years for the rape and 10 to 15 years for the burglary.

But parole board member Tim Gobble questioned evidence that contributed to McKinney's original conviction, including victim statements that she knew her attackers.

Gobble, who conducted the hearing, also went through a lengthy disciplinary record McKinney had in prison and questioned the completeness of the DNA testing that helped release McKinney.

McKinney was adamant that he was at home when the crime occurred and several times raised his voice in his defense.

He didn't deny a reported 97 incidents he was involved in while in prison but said that "only the strong survive" in a prison culture. And in an emotional turn at the end of the hearing, James Beasley testified that McKinney stabbed him while both were inmates at the Hardeman County Correctional Complex.

Board members also questioned McKinney about admissions to the crime made at a parole hearing after he had already served 28 years in prison. McKinney said his admissions were made in hopes of getting released, but Gobble went through details of the admission and asked if McKinney was telling the truth then or now.

It's McKinney's second time to apply for executive exoneration. He failed to get a recommendation soon after his release and then-Gov. Phil Bredesen opted not to go against the board and exonerate McKinney.

Lorna McClusky with the Innocence Project represented McKinney and told the board that DNA testing excluded McKinney from being one of the two men who raped the victim. The board questioned that, as well.

The parole board can make a positive or negative recommendation to exonerate and forward those findings to the governor for consolidation. The governor ultimately decides exoneration cases and is not bound to follow the parole board's recommendation nor is he required to act on a recommendation. The parole board's recommendation is expected to be sent to the governor's office in the coming weeks, said parole board spokeswoman Melissa McDonald.
August 22, 2016: Christina Miles exits Judge Louis J. Montesi Jr.'s General Sessions courtroom, in Division 13, with her two children at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center. The judge told her not to bring children to court, and her case was later dismissed and the record expunged. Advocates say many parents called to court can't afford babysitters or day care. Young children are a common sight within 201 Poplar, which does not have child care facilities. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

The mother brought her little boy and girl to General Sessions Court, and the judge didn't like it.

"I want you to understand this is no place to come with children!" the silver-haired judge said sternly. The little blonde girl ignored the court business and started toddling toward something at the side of the room. She yelped "Ya! Ya!"

The mother's court appearance ended within minutes, and she brought her children through the crowd outside, with tears in her eyes. The bag she carried dripped drops of milk.

Scenes like this play out almost every day at 201 Poplar, the brown, square criminal justice center in Downtown Memphis. Crowds of people come to court to answer minor charges like driving without a license or more serious charges. Advocates say many are too poor to afford child care. So they bring their children.

There is no day care center on site. Sometimes parents bring children into courtrooms. More often, the children stay outside in waiting spaces. Parents work to avoid losing their kids in the crowd of people swirling through the building  a crowd that includes violent offenders.

Defense lawyer Michael Working agrees with Louis J. Montesi Jr., the General Sessions Criminal Court judge who admonished the mother that day in August: This is no place for kids.

"201's a terrible place to bring children because there's a lot of child molesters there," Working said. "And there's also really serious stuff happening that's really dramatic for the people in the courtroom."

Yet he says children are often brought to 201 Poplar. "I've been practicing down there for 11 years, and it's an everyday thing."

Some courts at 201 Poplar handle serious crimes like murder, but it's more common for people to bring children to downstairs misdemeanor courts that handle cases like petty theft, he said.

He said many criminal defendants are poor people who can't afford day care or don't work, which often forces them to bring kids to court. "It's not a choice that anybody makes unless there's no other option. And there's a lot of people in this town with no other option."

Mothers sometimes come to court with their children, only to get arrested for some reason, he said. He said more than once he's personally taken charge of the child and waited at a nearby Wendy's until a relative shows up.

His work as a defense attorney takes him across Tennessee, including rural courthouses in places like Obion County. Courthouses usually don't have child care facilities, but the sheer number of people at 201 Poplar makes the need for child care far greater than in many other places, he said.

Phyllis Sheppard, a court official, gives a sense of the scale. She said on a busy day, each of the nine General Sessions criminal divisions can handle 150 or more cases. That's 1,350 or more people. Most of them aren't jailed and come to court on their own, she said. And that's not even counting the activity in other courts in the same building.

Memphis isn't the only place dealing with problems related to children in courts. Arch City Defenders, a group of legal advocates in St. Louis, wrote a 2014 report that described area court systems that turned away mothers for bringing children, then issued warrants for their arrests for failing to appear.

Much of 201 Poplar is dark, windowless and grim. But the children still try to make their own fun.

On a recent Wednesday morning, Leon Branch, a 6-year-old boy in a Batman shirt, experimented with grabbing onto the moving handrail of the escalator in the building's lower level. "No!" shouted one of a group of women standing several feet away. "You got to stay right here!"

The little boy rejoined the group of women, but not for long, as he and a 2-year-old boy kept drifting away, diving onto the well-trod floor and exploring a nearby staircase.

"Didn't have the money to get a baby sitter," said Lakesha Jackson, mother of the 6-year-old and grandmother of the 2-year-old, Tyshunn Jackson. She said she came to court to deal with charges related to driving under a suspended license. The courts often dismiss these charges, but the process can take hours.

The women in the group said they try to watch the kids closely.

"You got to make sure they're safe around all these peoples," said 20-year-old Monesha Jackson. She mentioned the possibility of kidnapping. "And upstairs, before you go out the door, they got the sex offender room right there!"

It's true: Walk up the escalator, take a couple of turns and you arrive at the office of the Memphis Police Sex Offender Registry, where people convicted of serious crimes regularly arrive for check-ins.

The two little boys weren't the only children on 201 Poplar's busy lower level that day. About 15 kids were there, but it was hard to get an exact number because they and their parents kept moving around.

What's the solution?

"If they had security and cameras and a room for babies," Lakesha Jackson said. "Sign 'em in and sign 'em out. With a small fee of an amount to watch them while in court."

Monesha Jackson liked the idea: "Charge a dollar an hour. Get little toys in there. A little book. That'd be straight. ... For real though, people don't have baby-sitting so they got to bring their kids up here."

But if something went wrong and a child was hurt while in the day care center, the government might face a big lawsuit, said Danny W. Kail, chief administrative officer for the Criminal Court Clerk's Office. "It just subjects the entity to incredible liability."

Working, the defense attorney, suggested an alternative  outside groups could run a day care to serve people coming to court. "There's a real need for maybe some local churches to step up and help in that department. That would be a real act of mercy."

The Criminal Justice Center is owned by Shelby County government. County Chief Administrative Officer Harvey Kennedy said he couldn't recall any discussion of child care at the facility. "The sheer logistics of that would be almost nightmarish," he said. Space is already at a premium inside the building, and a day care also raises liability and licensing concerns.

That said, Kennedy wouldn't rule out the idea of creating a day care at 201 Poplar and said he'd discuss it at a meeting with other county administrators.

In the meantime, children will keep looking for fun inside a place that's not meant for them.
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By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

A plan for a new office building and a new tire shop in Collierville gained final approval Monday night from the town's Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The board unanimously approved a final site plan and development agreement for a new shop by Discount Tire Company near the intersection of West Poplar Avenue and U.S. 72.

The board also approved a plan for a two-story office building on Houston Levee Road near the intersection with Poplar.

Other commercial projects moved forward, though less decisively.

The board approved a plan to convert a small parcel of vacant land behind the existing Collierville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on Byhalia Road into additional parking space. The proposal will return to the board if planners can't address certain issues  for instance, the possibility that an area for trucks to turn around might encroach into a buffer of evergreens that separates the parking lot from a nearby road, said Scott Henninger, a project planner for Collierville. If the project backers and the town can work out such details, the project won't come back to the board, he said.

The board also approved a preliminary site plan for construction of a new McDonald's restaurant near Byhalia Road on the north side of Poplar, just west of an existing Walgreens. An existing McDonald's nearby will be vacated and put up for sale.

To accommodate increased traffic for the restaurant, a section of Poplar Avenue would be re-striped from two lanes to three. That work plus related improvements to the road would cost about $32,000, according to planning documents. Alderman John Worley said the restaurant company should pay. The question of payment wasn't resolved, and the project will return to the board for further review.

Members of the board had been expected to hold a work session to review changes to the town's charter, including a term limits proposal that had been approved earlier this year and which may soon go to the state legislature for review.

However, the work session was canceled because Alderman Billy Patton couldn't attend, said Town Administrator James Lewellen. Patton was absent from Monday's full board meeting and the aforementioned matters all passed 5-0 with votes from Mayor Stan Joyner Jr. as well as Aldermen Tom Allen, Maureen Fraser, John E. Stamps and Worley.

The board also voted to pay about $49,000 to contractor Shelby Electric Company to replace a traffic signal at Shelton Road and Collierville-Arlington Road. When a vehicle struck a pole on June 29, the traffic signal controller and other equipment was damaged, according to a document.
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As the ACE Task Force of Shelby County was preparing to launch in early 2014, a task force member told this story to The Commercial Appeal's editorial board:

A group of citizens, who lived and worked next to a river, were constantly having to rescue drowning children from the river. Finally someone decided it was time to travel upstream to find out why so many children were falling into the river.

Finding concrete solutions to the "why" is the goal of the ACE Task Force. ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. The long-term research found that "toxic stress" of childhood experiences of neglect, abuse and family dysfunction are major risk factors for leading causes of illness, death and a poor quality of life.

Educators and health officials also are realizing more and more how adverse life experiences impact how well a child performs in the classroom or how those experiences can negatively impact the health outcomes of children and their families.

On the health side, a partnership formed by The Children's Health Law Directive (known as Memphis CHiLD), Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis Area Legal Services and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law is dealing with those issues.

The partnership offers free legal services to families and children who are patients at Le Bonheur. It was launched in September 2015 to address "all these things out there that are out of a doctor's control that are affecting their patient's health," said Dr. Lauren Mutrie in a Monday story about the partnership in The Commercial Appeal.

The partnership is another example of stakeholders and entities in Memphis and Shelby County continuing to realize that the community's social ills will continue to worsen unless they are attacked in a collaborative manner.

There is a realization that "silo" efforts, while noble, will not move the big needle toward positive, measurable results.

Issues, such as crime, domestic abuse, poverty and preventable health issues, have to be attacked at their roots. In other words, tackle the circumstances that are causing so many children to fall into the river.

It takes collaboration by all the stakeholders to make a difference. The Children's Health Law Directive, Le Bonheur, Memphis Area Legal Services and the U of M School of Law partnership is another acknowledgment of what working together can accomplish.
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By Fred Hiatt

In his final appearance before the U.N. General Assembly a few days ago, President Obama didn't have much to say about the civil war between Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his enemies.

"There's no ultimate military victory to be won," he said, and so the United States would "pursue the hard work of diplomacy that aims to stop the violence, and deliver aid to those in need, and support those who pursue a political settlement."

Then he moved on to other matters.

Given that Syria is his greatest humanitarian and strategic failure, where even as he spoke his latest diplomatic initiative was about to collapse, the brevity wasn't surprising.

But, Obama being Obama, you can be sure he had given the issue a lot more thought than his few words would indicate. And if he'd been thinking aloud, here's what you might have heard:

"Of course Kerry's latest peace deal will collapse. Vladimir Putin is winning, why should he stick to a deal? And even if Putin wants to play nice, why would Assad go along? He's winning, too  if he wants to destroy the last human beings in Aleppo, who's going to stop him?

"So is it unfair to keep letting John head out on these doomed missions? Year after year, he promises to get a deal and swears we'll move to Plan B if the Syrians or Russians renege. Time after time, they double-cross him, and he goes back for more. There is no Plan B, because I won't approve a Plan B.

"But John gets praised for his tirelessness. And we all look like we're trying. If I can just pull it off one more time, the whole mess will be Hillary's. Or, God forbid, the other guy's.

"The truth is, no one should want Assad gone, as odious as he is. I can't say that aloud, of course, since I got roped into pronouncing him finished years ago. Yes, he's a mass murderer and a torturer. He's even showing me up by using chemical weapons again after Vladimir and I supposedly solved that problem. The chlorine loophole.

"But what's the alternative? The 'moderate' opposition? Don't make me laugh. Maybe I shouldn't have mocked them as 'farmers or teachers or pharmacists,' but honestly  al-Qaida or ISIS would waltz into Damascus if Assad went down.

"Oh, I know what Hillary would say. If I had listened to her back in 2011 and 2012  and to Petraeus, and Panetta, and the rest of them  the 'moderate force' would be stronger now. We should have trained them and carved out safe spaces for them and given them a chance against Assad. John tried the same argument on me when he started. He thought he could give it a new spin and sucker me in where Hillary had failed.

"Well, I know what the I-told-you-so crowd is saying. I wouldn't go for it, because I worried that if we sent troops terrorism would spread, the country would fall apart, you'd get millions of refugees and even Russia might get involved. So we didn't get involved, and, yes: Terrorism spread, the country fell apart, you got millions of refugees, and Russia got involved. And, yes, all of Europe is unstable because of Syria.

"But you know what? It could have been worse. You could have had all these bad things happen  hundreds of thousands killed, half the country driven from their homes  and U.S. troops in the middle of it all. That's the Bush way. I protected us from that.

"So now it's Putin's problem. Is that so bad? Maybe it hasn't turned into a quagmire for him yet, like I said it would, but wait. Syria isn't finished with him yet.

"And what will the next president do? There's a reason you're not hearing ideas from either of them. No-fly zones? A little late for that, with Russian air-defense systems blanketing the country. Safe zones? Who's going to keep them safe? Bad enough that I'm having to do an LBJ in Iraq, sending troops back in 500 at a time.

"It looks bad, I get that. I hate the whole mess. I'd rather talk about climate change or Burma or even Ukraine, for God's sake. And, yes, a generation from now some president may travel to whatever's left of Aleppo and express remorse, like I've done in Laos and Hiroshima and everywhere else.

"That's fine. Comes with the territory. I just hope they understand this much: It always looks easier in hindsight. There was no obvious right answer. Sometimes civil wars just have to burn themselves out.

"Now, where's John? I just need him to buy me four more months. Four more months, and it's somebody else's problem from hell."

Fred Hiatt is editorial page editor for The Washington Post.
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By Noah Feldman

In a case that evokes a modern-day hangman's mask, a pharmacy that provides lethal drugs for carrying out the death penalty is arguing that it has a constitutional right to anonymity. The argument should fail, because there's no right to confidentiality in providing government services. But it shows just how dangerously far the idea of corporate constitutional rights has gone in the era of Citizens United and Hobby Lobby.

The strange situation, as reported by BuzzFeed News, arose out of a lawsuit by death row inmates in Mississippi who are arguing that the particular combination of drugs used by their state as its method of execution is cruel and unusual. In the course of the suit, the Mississippi inmates subpoenaed the Missouri Department of Corrections to find out, among other things, what drugs the state uses in its execution cocktail and who provides them. In response, Missouri argued that it had a sovereign right to keep confidential the identity of its supplier.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit is considering whether to quash the subpoena. It has allowed Missouri's supplying pharmacy, identified in court papers only as M7, to file its own argument with the court.

M7, which has sold more than $125,000 worth of lethal chemicals to Missouri, said its identity shouldn't be disclosed, because it has a First Amendment free-speech right to act in support of the death penalty on the basis of its political views.

The broader context here is that abolitionist opponents of the death penalty have been shaming the corporations that provide drugs intended to kill people at execution. The technique has been surprisingly effective, with some 20 major pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, saying their products must not be used in executions. As a result, a number of states have had difficulty getting anyone to sell them the drugs they need to execute by lethal injection. A recent Council of State Governments newsletter spoke of a "lethal injection drug shortage."

Anonymity, of course, is a way to avoid shaming. But M7's constitutional argument is deeply flawed. (I almost wrote "fatally flawed," but the ubiquitous legal metaphor is a little too close to home in this case.)

The core of M7's argument is that the First Amendment includes a right to speak anonymously. Under certain circumstances, that's true. In the landmark 1958 case of NAACP v. Alabama, for example, the Supreme Court held that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People couldn't be obligated to disclose the identity of its membership. In the background was the concern that the members could be subject to harassment for exercising their First Amendment right to speak and associate.

But there's an enormous difference between speaking and acting  particularly when that action is a for-profit commercial transaction with the government. A government contractor like Halliburton, for example, might be subject to public criticism for a contract like the cost-plus arrangement the company had with the Defense Department during and after the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The potential for public criticism wouldn't justify a claim by Halliburton to keep its provision of services secret.

To the contrary, in a democracy, it's crucially important for the government to disclose its vendors, both to avoid corruption and to promote transparency.

More fundamentally, M7 isn't speaking at all: It's performing the act of selling drugs. This behavior can be subject to ordinary regulation, including public disclosure if ordered by a court. The company shouldn't be able to protect its actions from regulation simply by insisting that it is performing them out of political belief. If that were plausible, businesses could escape all sorts of government regulation by saying that they really, really believe in their corporate mission.

But despite the flimsiness of its legal arguments, there's a reason M7 is trying to get away with its free-speech argument: the trend in recent years toward constitutionalizing corporate interests. The Citizens United decision in which the Supreme Court by a 5-4 vote held that the First Amendment applied to corporate speech, is the most prominent example.

At least in Citizens United, the corporation was actually speaking. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the justices, again split 5-4, applied the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to a corporation's funding of its employees' health care. True, that case technically involved federal law, not the First Amendment. But the subtle difference is easily lost. In essence, the court held that a corporation has a legal right to the liberty of conscience in its business dealings.

A similar impulse lies behind claims by florists or wedding cake bakers who want to be exempt from anti-discrimination laws that might require them to serve gay couples. They are saying that they should be protected by religious liberty so that they may discriminate invidiously while engaged in commercial transactions.

The M7 situation helps demonstrate why it's so dangerous to treat corporations as though they have fundamental constitutional rights while doing business. Those basic rights are designed to protect individuals against government power. They aren't supposed to be used to exempt businesses from regulation or publicity whenever it's convenient for them.

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard University.
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By Paula Dwyer

Donald Trump can thank me later. Drawing from a new study on the economic effects of immigration, I'm going to make the best possible case for the positions he's taking as the Republican nominee for president.

Do immigrants take jobs away from native-born Americans? Do they lower wages? Do they drive up tax bills?

Trump believes the answer to each question is yes, as he showed in a fiery speech last month in Phoenix, Arizona. Since I'm trying to help Trump out here, I'll highlight the parts of the immigration study, released last week by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, that don't prove him entirely wrong.

The authors of the report, "The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration," reviewed hundreds of previous studies, heard numerous academic presentations and ran calculations of their own, based on published research models.

On jobs, for example, the 495-page report finds that immigrants, who account for 16 percent of total hours worked, sometimes lower the employment rate of prior immigrants. Overall, though, immigrants have had little effect on the ability of native-born Americans to find jobs.

American teenagers who dropped out of high school were found in one study to have worked 3 percent fewer hours on average, possibly because of the availability of immigrant labor (though teens' ability to find jobs wasn't affected).

As for wages, the authors conclude that low-skilled immigrants have a short-term negative effect on the pay of other low-skilled workers. According to one model, immigrants have lowered others' wages by 5.2 percent. George Borjas, a Harvard professor known for his work on labor markets and immigration, tells me in an e-mail that the 5.2 percent translates into a $500 billion wage loss. Who's harmed? Mostly prior immigrants, followed by American high-school dropouts.

Those lower wages, however, generated an immigration surplus of $54 billion, which results from the goods and services that immigrants produce at lower cost to their employers. The net result is $54 billion in higher profit for stockholders and other owners of capital.

When researchers examined actual experiences - the studies looked at numerous years and locations  they found in two cases that a 1 percent increase in the labor supply caused native-born wages to decline by an average of 1.7 percent, and by less than 1 percent in most of the other studies. In some cases, workers received slight pay increases. When measured over 10 years, however, immigrants had little or no effect on wages.

The story is different for high-skilled immigrants. Some studies found that they adversely affected the wages of selected groups, including holders of doctorates in a few fields, and that some professionals left those fields as a result.

But for the most part, high-skilled immigrants boost the wages of educated Americans. The reason could be that immigrants complement the skills of the native-born. Or it could be that innovations brought by immigrants raise the productivity of other workers, resulting in pay increases.

High-skilled immigrants are more innovative than native Americans, possibly because of their concentration in science and engineering. The presence of immigrant scientists seems to motivate American scientists, whose patentable discoveries have increased with the influx of highly educated immigrants. The patents of immigrants, however, were commercialized more often.

One study says immigrants represent 25 percent of new business owners, possibly because they couldn't find jobs with their foreign degrees so they started their own companies instead. The study concludes: "The prospects for long-run economic growth in the United States would be considerably dimmed without the contributions of high-skilled immigrants."

What about stress on government budgets? Here, the study finds evidence that immigrants do cost state and local governments more than they pay in taxes, mostly to educate immigrants' children.

In 2013, the total fiscal burden at all levels of government for 55 million first-generation immigrants (legal and unauthorized) was $279 billion, not a trivial figure.

The effect on the federal government is positive because undocumented immigrants aren't eligible for medical insurance through Obamacare, or for food stamps and other social-welfare benefits (although their American-born children qualify). Illegal immigrants also contribute substantially more to Social Security and Medicare than they withdraw.

But even on the state and local level, after about 16 years in the U.S., immigrants' contributions turn positive. The second-generation (native-born children of immigrants) add a net $30 billion to government coffers. And third generations pay far more in than they take out of government, contributing $223 billion a year.

The costs to state and local government are offset by gains elsewhere in the economy. Immigrants account for about a third of household formation, for example, and thus are reliable consumers. This decade, they are expected to account for more than a third of home-ownership growth. Their presence in the labor market reduces the prices of child care, food preparation, house cleaning and construction for others.

So Trump is right that undocumented immigrants with little education push down the wages of some other workers, but the losers are largely prior immigrants and American high-school dropouts. He's also right that illegal immigrants cost state and local governments some money.

But Trump also says that what matters on immigration policy is whether it improves the well-being of the American people. Looking at the effects of immigration over multiple generations, and across all types of workers and employers, the study overwhelmingly shows that it does. Sorry, Donald, I tried.

Paula Dwyer writes editorials on economics, finance and politics for Bloomberg View.
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By Stephen Carter

There is a certain tragic irony in the fact that a crackdown on U.S. colleges with low graduation rates was announced during the very week when the Times Higher Education Supplement published its annual list of the world's best universities. The coincidence provokes the thought that there is too much of this going on.

By "this" I mean the constant effort in higher education to sort the best from the not-best, and the best among the best from the best, and the best among the best among the best from the best among the best. (Try saying that twice quickly.)

There are so many rankings now, using so many different methodologies. The Times Higher Education Supplement list  the THE list, as it is awkwardly known  emphasizes research done at the school. The U.S. News and World Report Rankings, which also came out this month, emphasize 15 factors, including alumni giving, graduation rate and admission selectivity. There are lists of the best party schools, the schools with the best teachers, the schools with the best dormitories.

Others have said it, and so will I: Such rankings are basically silly. They yield little useful information to would-be consumers of education. At the very top of the THE list, Oxford University has supplanted Cal Tech, which had a five-year run at the top. Does this mean you should redirect your budding physicist to England?

Even when you think you're getting information, you may not be. U.S. News has created, among other things, a list of law schools ranked by the percentage of graduates who wind up earning a clerkship with a federal judge. But what good does this do? Even an applicant whose heart is already set on a clerkship would find such a list of small utility. If school A sends a higher proportion of its graduates into the clerkship ranks than does school B, can the applicant be sure that it will be easier to impress a judge if she attends school A? Not unless she has a lot of other facts, too  for example, the rate at which the students at each school apply for clerkships  facts U.S. News does not supply and has no easy way to discover.

The many lists, crude and opaque as they might be, have largely swamped the traditional idea of searching in a personalized way not for the best school but for the school that best fits each applicant. Moreover, the existence of the lists  and the fact that students and their parents pay so much attention to them  encourages gaming. Two years ago, the president of Northeastern University admitted making a "systematic effort" to improve his school's U.S. News ranking. He broke no rules. He simply chose to emphasize things that would move the school higher. This decision was driven not by an assessment of the needs of pedagogy, but by a recognition of market realities.

Other schools have been accused of outright lying  excuse me, fudging the numbers  to improve their rankings. Several law school graduates have sued the institutions that granted their degrees, claiming that they were deceived about employment opportunities. But judges have been unsympathetic. The New York Times referred to one recent lawsuit, won by the defendant school at trial, as "the first  and perhaps last  such case to reach the courtroom." In short, the courts are unlikely to fix all of this for us.

Which brings us to the potential crackdown on schools at what we might call the other end of the list. According to the Wall Street Journal, the member organizations that make up the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions have decided to take a closer look at schools that graduate under 25 percent of their students in four years. I understand the impulse, but the tool of measurement is crude.

Experts on higher education have been predicting for years that the traditional four-year model is going to die, except at a handful of highly selective institutions. Maybe so. But it's not obvious that we can tell from the graduation rate which schools to euthanize, or even which ones deserve re-examination. A college might well have a low graduation rate because it serves a marginal population  young people for whom, to be blunt, going to college is a risk. If we punish schools with low graduation rates, we may send the message that these kids shouldn't be in higher education at all. (And if you're saying, "Well, that's true," you might be right  but it would be better if we could debate the point openly.)

More important, graduation rate is too crude, and easily gamed. If the accreditors set the level for closer investigation at a given graduation rate, they will simply give colleges, even poor ones, an incentive to graduate more students. They might wind up passing almost everybody. As my Bloomberg View colleague Matt Levine recently noted, you get what you measure. He had banking in mind. But the notion holds just as true for colleges and universities struggling to move up the ratings list. We shouldn't be surprised when the same idea occurs to the schools at the bottom.

Stephen Carter is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University.
Ah, the Android-Chrome OS merger. It's the fascination that just won't fade away.

We've been hearing predictions about Google's two primary platforms coming together for ages now -- and every time, the reality ends up being far more nuanced than the prophecies lead us to expect. Rather than the one-or-the-other, winner-takes-all type of duel folks have been forecasting for ages, Google has thus far been set on aligning the two platforms and allowing them to co-exist in a mutually beneficial manner.

The latest rumor, however, raises fresh questions about the fates of Android and Chrome OS as we know them. It all started with a cryptic tweet sent by Google Android and Chrome chief Hiroshi Lockheimer right before the weekend:

We announced the 1st version of Android 8 years ago today. I have a feeling 8 years from now we'll be talking about Oct 4, 2016.  Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) September 24, 2016

That foreshadowing set off a flurry of stories about "Andromeda," an apparent code name for an effort within Google to "fold" Chrome OS into Android -- in a way that goes beyond the level of alignment we've been seeing so far. The website Android Police kicked the whole thing off with a report revealing the alleged effort and suggesting it was the only thing with enough historic significance to justify Lockheimer's lofty comparison.

Since then, other websites have uncovered evidence of Andromeda's existence within Google's open source Android code. And there's more: Android Police followed up its initial report with additional details about an apparent "Pixel 3" device being planned for late 2017. The product, according to the site, would be a convertible laptop-like device designed to show off how the new software could work across different form factors.

If all of that isn't enough, the website 9to5Google now says a second new device, made by Huawei, is also in the works with planned support for the hybrid Android-Chrome OS.

Whew -- that's a lot of spicy sausage to nosh on. Take a minute to digest, then let's think about how this could actually all make sense.

Putting Andromeda into context

Back with me? Good. Now, as you can probably imagine, I've been doing a lot of noodling over these new rumors and how they could coexist with everything we already know about Google's current Android and Chrome strategies.

First, as you may recall, I had the chance to chat at length with Lockheimer as part of a podcast this past April. I asked him directly about the reports of Google's two platforms merging into a single entity, and he didn't hesitate to answer. He was pretty emphatic, in fact, that this wasn't the sort of one-or-the-other scenario so many people were painting it to be:

JR: We've obviously seen a lot of convergence between the two [platforms], with design and features overlapping. Would it be safe to say that it's maybe not a binary thing -- that they could share qualities but still continue to coexist? [That] it doesn't have to be one or the other, as some people are positioning it? HL: That's exactly right. It's definitely not binary. In fact, they coexist beautifully today. ... [Chrome OS and Android devices] work great together, and it's not like I have to choose one or the other. They serve different needs. That's how we see it, and I think that's how it will continue to be going forward. We'll bring good attributes from both -- so for instance, the example of running Android apps on Chrome, that's bringing an attribute of Android over to Chrome. And maybe there are attributes of Chrome OS that we bring over to Android, and so on. That's how we're seeing it, so definitely not a binary sort of switch-transition type of thing.

(The full discussion starts about 41 minutes into the podcast, if you want to listen to it all for yourself.)

So how does that declaration live alongside the notion of Chrome OS being "folded" into Android? And beyond that, what's even left for Android to gain from Chrome that's significant enough to create a whole new branch of the software? Remember, Android already adopted one of Chrome OS's most prominent features: the platform's seamless method of applying software updates, which came into Android as part of this year's Android 7.0 Nougat upgrade. What more could it incorporate that'd go beyond just being another bullet point on next year's list of new features?

I've come up with one intriguing possibility. And while I'm not generally one to indulge in the guessing game, it's an interesting enough theory that I thought it'd be worth sharing -- even if it does prove to be no more than a hypothetical exercise.

Putting Andromeda into (hypothetical) practice

Just to be crystal clear: None of the following thoughts are based on any sort of insider info. I'm just trying to put all the elements that are in front of us -- both the new leaks and the existing facts and statements -- together in a way that adds up logically. In other words, don't think about this as a "This will happen!" story but rather as a "Wouldn't it be interesting if this happened?" proposal -- a fascinating possibility to mull over as we wait for the full monty of info to appear.

So, that being said: What if Andromeda were essentially just a way to give Android devices a "desktop mode" -- a Chrome-OS-like environment that appears when, say, a physical keyboard is present, with a more traditional Android interface remaining in place for touch-centric use? A Chrome OS-like environment wouldn't be ideal as a core part of the regular touch-centric Android experience, after all, but it sure could be valuable as an option for scenarios involving more productivity-oriented and laptop-like use.

And what if this best-of-both-worlds, dual-purpose mentality applies not only to convertible systems but also to phones? Maybe even phones like, ahem, the new Pixel devices Google is expected to announce next week -- you know, at the same event where all this Andromeda business is rumored to make its grand debut?

One could imagine that happening by way of a special dock-like accessory and/or via a less proprietary method of connection -- say, a Bluetooth keyboard along with a Chromecast to beam the desktop to a display. (Of note, a new higher-end 4K-capable Chromecast is rumored to be on the docket for next week's event.)

Such a setup could effectively turn any compatible Android device into a versatile all-purpose computer that packs the strengths of Google's two platforms into a single superpowered package -- kind of like what Microsoft is doing with Windows 10's Continuum concept, only with the world's most popular mobile operating system and all of its apps involved.

It'd be pretty darn monumental. And it could conceivably allow each platform to continue to exist independently as well as within the new combined form (something that's particularly significant when you consider the strong demand for both inexpensive lower-end phones and cost-effective standalone Chromebooks).

Think about all the factors that could point to something like this making sense:

Everything Hiroshi Lockheimer has said, as outlined above -- all the comments about bringing the best attributes of each operating system into the other without forcing either one to go away. Go back and listen carefully. It all adds up.

The mysterious disappearance of Google's second-generation Chromebook Pixel late last month. The laptop still has cutting-edge specs and top-notch design, and seeing it vanish after just over a year on the market seems rather strange on the surface. It's not a device that warrants a refresh every year (the first-gen model stayed on sale for about two years before it was replaced), and there are no signs of a third-gen model being released anytime soon.



The Chromebook Pixel isn't a device that's ever been positioned as a huge seller, but its presence has always served a purpose for Google. Something conceptual had to have changed for it to be taken off the market, and the timing here sure seems awfully curious.

On the flip side: the continued sale of Google's Pixel C convertible Android tablet. Something about that tablet seemed off since its launch -- like it was meant to do more than what we were seeing. And sure enough, evidence suggests the device was once tested with an under-development alternate version of an operating system resembling Chrome OS.



Could a dual-purpose OS like Andromeda be the Pixel C's ultimate destiny -- the missing piece that'll finally make the tablet feel complete, with an Android-like environment when it's used as a slate and a Chrome OS-like desktop when it's used as a laptop? Now, that'd be a convertible worth owning.

The presence of Android apps on Chromebooks -- something that, notably, just made its way into the stable channel of Chrome OS this past week (prior to then, you had to be running the more advanced beta or developer channels of the operating system in order to find the feature). With such a possibility in the picture, you could have a somewhat cohesive experience across this interpretation of Andromeda's two environments, as all the stuff from your phone would be readily available and able to run within the Chrome OS-like "desktop" environment.



(The thus-far-rarely-used "freeform window" mode added into Android 7.0 could also go a long way in making the two interfaces look and feel united -- as could, of course, the ongoing injection of Android-like design into Chrome OS's framework. We're really already at the point where the two operating systems seem very complementary. Maybe there was a deeper reason for that evolution all along?)

The rumored price of the new Pixel phones, which is $650 (unlocked) at the base level. If accurate, that figure on its own seems somewhat surprising. Google almost certainly isn't looking to become a company that makes its profits directly by selling hardware. It experimented with high-end prices with 2014's Nexus 6, and by most accounts, that didn't go terribly well. The company went back to value-level prices with last year's Nexus 5X and 6P, and the bar for unlocked phone prices has only fallen further since that point.



All of this is to say that it seems quite illogical for Google to suddenly backtrack and go with a 2014-level high-end price on its 2016 flagship phones. But, assuming that price proves to be correct, maybe there's more to the story. Maybe $650 is justified by the presence of unusual dual-purpose capabilities -- or even the inclusion of some special kind of hardware connected to that capability.

The ad for Google's upcoming October 4 event. I hate to read too much into tea leaves, but Google spent an unusually high amount of effort on this campaign -- and it only stands to reason that it also spent a fair amount of time considering how it could cleverly tease the appropriate message.



The ad, which aired on primetime TV and has appeared in various forms throughout New York City, shows a box transforming from a Google search bar into a phone-like shape. That's the most obvious interpretation and what most of us noticed upon our initial viewing -- but if you watch closely, you'll see that the transformation actually shows the search bar progressing into a laptop- or tablet-like shape before reaching the phone-reminiscent rectangle:







Once you've seen it, it's impossible to miss: The graphic absolutely appears to be illustrating a continuum (to borrow an appropriate term). Coincidence?

Putting it all together

Before we wrap up, let's step back for a second and consider this in the big picture -- because, it's worth re-emphasizing, all we're doing here is imagining one way a purely hypothetical situation could end up coming together. It's entirely possible this is all off-base and that Google is merely going to mention Andromeda as a "one more thing"-style tease separate from its immediate hardware launches (if it even mentions it at all, of course; as of now, this entire discussion is based on unofficial info and conjecture).

But think about it: A random and detached preview of some new hybrid OS at next week's Google event would totally steal the show. It's all anyone would talk about or write about for weeks, leaving the phones and any other announced hardware as barely noticed afterthoughts. That's presumably not what Google wants to happen. If Andromeda (or whatever it might end up being called) is going to be mentioned at all, it sure seems like there'd have to be some sort of connection between it and some of the immediately launching products.

There's one other elephant in the room to address: Dual-purpose devices have been tried before in the realm of Android -- both with phones (anyone remember the Motorola Atrix?) and with tablets (a la the Pixel C). And by and large, they've never been particularly great.

But here's the catch: The problems with those devices have revolved almost exclusively around software. Plain and simple, the products were limited to running regular ol' Android on the desktop end -- software that, no matter how you look at it, just wasn't designed for productivity-heavy desktop-style use. Chrome OS, in contrast, is designed for exactly that purpose. Combined with Android's touch-centric strengths, it could be the missing piece that makes this puzzle work.

And that leads us to our final question: Why do all of this? Well, that part's easy. What Google ultimately wants as a business is to do whatever it can to keep people using the internet and thus Google services as much as possible, regardless of the context, environment, or specific needs. And getting people on board with powerful all-purpose devices that excel at both touch-based browsing and keyboard-centric computing would certainly help to accomplish that goal. On their own, Chrome OS and Android are each great at one type of use and kinda-sorta-okay at the other. Together, they'd be the total package.

Whew. Lots to think about and to be learned -- and lots of questions that may or may not be answered right away. More than anything, lots of possibilities and uncertainty. Despite all the recent leaks, after all, there are no doubt more pieces to this puzzle that have yet to be uncovered.

However this all shakes out, one thing's for sure: Here in the land of Android, we've got some seriously interesting times ahead.
The biggest raises in 2017 will go to data scientists, who can expect a 6.4% boost in pay next year. Thats well above the average 3.8% increase thats predicted for tech workers, according to new data from Robert Half Technology.

The recruiting and staffing specialist recently released its annual guide to U.S. tech salaries, which finds IT workers will be getting slightly bigger pay bumps than many other professionals. Across all fields, U.S. starting salaries for professional occupations are projected to increase 3.6% in 2017. The largest gains will occur in tech  where starting salaries for newly hired IT workers are forecast to climb 3.8%.

Robert Half Technology analyzed salary ranges for more than 75 tech positions based on input from its North American recruiting and staffing specialists. Here are the 14 jobs expected to make the biggest gains. Note: The projected salaries for each position reflect base pay only; bonuses, incentives and other forms of compensation are not included.

Tech titles getting the largest raises Title 2016 range 2017 range Raise Data scientist $109,000 - $153,750 $116,000 - $163,500 6.4% Front-end web developer $79,750 - $111,250 $83,250 - $119,500 6.2% Big data engineer $129,500 - $183,500 $135,000 - $196,000 5.8% Network security engineer $110,250 - $152,750 $115,500 - $162,500 5.7% Chief security officer $140,250 - $222,500 $145,250 - $236,750 5.3% Web designer $67,000 - $112,250 $70,500 - $118,000 5.2% Software engineer $103,000 - $156,250 $108,250 - $164,500 5.2% Database developer $103,250 - $153,250 $108,000 - $161,500 5.1% Information systems security manager $129,750 - $182,000 $136,000 - $191,750 5.1% Senior IT auditor $116,000 - $164,250 $121,000 - $173,500 5.1% Systems security administrator $105,500 - $149,500 $110,500 - $157,500 5.1% Network security administrator $103,250 - $147,000 $107,750 - $155,250 5.1% Data security analyst $113,500 - $160,000 $118,250 - $169,000 5.0% Software developer $91,000 - $145,250 $93,000 - $155,000 5.0%

Robert Half Technology also singled out specific skills that can boost a tech pros salary expectations.

The three most lucrative skills are SharePoint, Microsoft SQL Server database, and Java EE/J2EE development. Job candidates with these skills can expect to see an additional 8% bump in salary.

Skills that will deliver a 7% salary increase are: C# development, Cisco network administration, Hadoop, LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and Perl/PHP/Python), LINUX/UNIX administration, .NET development, PHP development, virtualization, and Web services development.

Skills that will boost starting salaries by 6% include: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Check Point Firewall administration, Oracle database, Python, and Ruby on Rails.

The full report is available for download here.

This story, "Tech jobs that will get you the biggest raise next year" was originally published by Network World .
Who are the 313,209 people who have voted to keep Jeremy Corbyn as their leader? They are a mixture which at first glance may seem bewildering: old, young, well off, badly off, students, teachers, trade unionists, pensioners, ex-Labour members who left because Tony Blair or even Harold Wilson had sold out socialism, ex-Green voters who want an angrier and more defiant movement, Stop The War people who hated the Iraq war and know Corbyn is one of them, Londoners who admire his record as a constituency MP, Liverpudlians who see him as a man who will defy London, public sector workers who feel in need of a champion, children of privilege who hope that backing Corbyn is a way of aligning themselves with the under-privileged, and a handful of Trotskyites who think they see a chance to take over the Labour Party.

In most cases, a Corbyn supporter will belong to more than one of these categories. As Mark Wallace reported from the launch event of his local branch of Momentum, the Corbynites grassroots campaigning organisation:

They were a mixed group  in age, in race, and in their reasons for being there. A disgruntled ex-Labour councillor, trade union officials and established local single-issue campaigners mingled with genuinely enthused new recruits to Corbynism and grizzled old veterans of every faction fight of the last three decades.

There is a nondescript quality to the Corbynites which can make them seem inexplicable. As Nick Cohen has pointed out, Corbyn has no good writers on his side.

Neither Corbyn himself, nor any member of his movement, has an eloquence which can reach beyond the converted and explain why 313,209 people  in modern terms, an astoundingly large number, which no other party can begin to match  decided to vote for him.

Communication with the Corbynites is made even harder by their touchiness, which leads them to bridle even at remarks which are intended to sound conciliatory. Best not to say to them, if you are one of the 172 Labour MPs who this summer voted against Corbyn:

At least we can agree that we want to win the next election.

That sort of thing produces an explosion of rage. For the Corbynites are completely fed up with being told, over the course of many years, that Labour cannot do various things  raise taxes, scrap Trident, nationalise various industries  because the party wants to win the next election.

The Corbyn vote is a revolution against the tyranny of the Suits. It is a cry of rage against the careerists who for so many years dominated the party.This anger unites the 313,209 people who voted for Corbyn.

And when put like this, one begins to understand why they are so cross. The Suits were insufferably patronising towards everyone who disagreed with them.

They would not engage in debate, for they knew best. As I put it a year ago, in a piece called In Defence of Corbyn:

in the Labour Party under Tony Blair, virtually all ideas except those held by the Leader and a few others were treated with contempt. Hence the low quality of the remaining Blairites: these dismal careerists have never been encouraged to have an original or provocative or at least faintly interesting opinion in their lives, and now that their Leader has left the stage, are like robots which have lost radio contact with their controller.

In his first leadership victory a year ago, Corbyn amassed an already impressive 251,417 votes, compared to 80,462 for Andy Burnham, 71,928 for Yvette Cooper and a mere 18,857 for Liz Kendall, the most unabashedly Blairite of his three opponents.

All three mainline candidates were lacklustre and tarred with the Blairite brush, as Chris Mullin, a former Labour MP, has pointed out. Mullin is a man of the Left who had the courage to criticise Blair, but now says Corbyn needs to be replaced or Labour risks annihilation.

He explains Corbyns victory by saying that

Faced with a choice of four unelectable candidates, it was hardly surprising that some people decided to take a punt on the one who was at least authentic.

In the eyes of his supporters, all Corbyns weaknesses are strengths. They show how authentic he is.

The fact that he remained for 32 years on the backbenches proves he is not a careerist. Having entered the Commons in 1983 as a left-winger, he remained true to his beliefs.

So while critics tend to suggest that his attachment to the socialism of the late 1970s and early 1980s demonstrates a lamentable inability to adapt to changing circumstances, supporters see this as principled.

He is so different to the clever young Oxford-educated advisers who were promoted by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, were parachuted into safe seats, and seemed to have the future of the Labour Party in their hands: Ed Balls, James Purnell, David Miliband, Andy Burnham, Douglas Alexander, Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper.

Only the last two of these are still in the Commons. Their brilliant but shallow careers, and their detachment (to put it mildly) from the wider Labour Party, have recently been examined by Jason Cowley, editor of the New Statesman, in a piece entitled The fall of Labours golden generation:

Call it vanity, call it hubris, but whatever you call it, the foundations of the mansion built by Blair and Brown were neither deep nor strong. When pressure came, it began to crumble and then, after the 2015 election defeat, it collapsed, and now Jeremy Corbyn and his followers are roaming through the ruins, creating a new party of anti-capitalist renegades.

Corbyn did not read PPE at Oxford, does not like wearing suits, refused to sing the National Anthem, espoused unpopular causes (Hamas, the IRA, Venezuela etc), has put down deep roots in his constituency of Islington North, enjoys digging his allotment and making jam, and does not see it as part of his job to feed an unending series of glib soundbites to the mainstream media.

All this makes him wonderful in the eyes of his supporters, to whom it demonstrates beyond any shadow of a doubt that he is not some fly-by-night careerist.

And some of it really is admirable. Along with Andrew Mitchell and David Davis, neither of whom can be described as socialist, Corbyn flew in the summer of 2015 to Washington to campaign for the release of the last Briton held in Guantanamo Bay.

At local level, Corbyn is excellent. One of his constituents, Andre Arokium, whose wife has suffered severe ill-health, told me:

Hes kind and nice. He helped me a lot when my wife was sick. Hes got time for you. He gives you advice.

Corbyn has stepped into the gap left by the decline of the trade unions, who created the Labour Party, and used to provide a route to the top for politicians who were not Oxford intellectuals. Ernest Bevin was probably the greatest of these, and Alan Johnson the most recent.

It would be unfair to blame Blair for the decline of the trade unions, and for as long as he was around, he had John Prescott as a conspicuous representative of that tradition.

But the fall of the unions means the working class, and the rebellious-minded, no longer have the capacity to bring the country to a grinding halt.

Nor, one hopes, does Corbyn. But he is the accidental beneficiary of both the collapse of the Blairites and the extinction of the trade union barons. The latter would never have let such a mediocre little man become Labour leader.

Only the ludicrous electoral system introduced during Ed Milibands leadership has permitted that: a system which favours self-indulgent protest far above the selection of a serious candidate for the prime ministership.

The Corbynites hate the Tories, but they hate the Blairites far more, as Rebecca Coulson noted when she went to one of their meetings. They are allergic to any success which is achieved as the result of intelligent and prudent compromise. This attitude is likely to kill Labour.

Richard Seymour, an acute observer of these matters from a Marxist perspective, offered in a recent edition of the Times Literary Supplement an expert analysis of the recent politics of protest:

The spontaneous ideology of young people radicalising in the past twenty years has often been a kind of anarcho-reformism. They combined anarchist suspicion of hierarchical organisations, and the tactics of direct action, with a defence of what remained of the welfare state. Resistant to joining Labour, activists once preferred social movement milieux. The unprecedented decision to reverse this trend in large numbers, joining Labour en masse, had less to do with an abrupt shift in doctrine than with changing circumstances. Thanks to an unusual political window created by the crisis of the old regime, Corbyn was able to offer supporters a unique bargain. Labour could be their instrument for addressing their problems. It could be a party of the movements, not of the markets.

This is right. Labour has become a movement, and one which attracts the disappointed as well as the discontented. In Corbyn, they see a kindred spirit: a man who is in worldly terms a failure, and quite dim with it, but who will never admit that he is a failure, for he has convinced himself that he is one of the elect: an illusion in which 313,209 people have now fortified him.

The new Labour members are not much interested in knocking on doors, where one never knows who one is going to meet, and often finds oneself confronted with objectionable views.

The special advisers mentioned above  Balls, the Milibands and so on  were likewise disinclined to spend more than the bare minimum of time on the doorstep. Had they worked their passage through the lower levels of politics for ten or twenty years, they might have developed into formidable politicians.

As it was, they started out with no idea how normal people feel about things, and never listened for long enough to acquire that necessary knowledge.

Corbyns supporters are far less gifted than those special advisers, but in a curious way just as divorced from the wider public. Their idea of a good time is holding discussion groups among themselves, but not with anyone who might disagree with them. They live in a world of their own, and it is not a world to which most of the British public wish to belong.
Iain Duncan Smith is a former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and founded the Centre for Social Justice.

How the Westminster bubble got the referendum wrong. Remember its prevailing view at the start: that it would rapidly descend into a civil war fought within the Conservative Party, with others simply watching from the sidelines. Whilst the Conservative bit was right (not too many marks for predicting that), we now know that the referendum turned out to be much, much more divisive. After all, it was not just the Conservatives who were divided: the whole country divided on lines of income, geography, education and sometimes even religion. Even the media was divided  and (speak it softly) was sometimes just as angry as the rest of us.

In the biggest exercise in democracy we have seen in modern times, the country roared its answer and the tectonic plates of Westminster politics juddered. Yet despite the warning of Project Fear that we would be plunged into chaos and economic misery if we voted to leave, it is clear that we havent been. Indeed since the referendum, despite the forecasts of all those expert doom-mongers, most people have simply gone back to work and got on with their lives. Kids still go school; businesses carry on; employment has risen, and people continute to spend their money much as they did before. Out there in the land beyond Westminster, to paraphrase John Lennon, life is what happens to you while politicians are busy making plans.

And how politicians do love to make plans. First, we pick over the carcasses of elections; then we re-write the past and finally, of course, we try to get even. Halfway through the party conference season, we can all now begin to see the results of some of those post-referendum plans.

First, Labour MPs used the referendum result to try to depose Jeremy Corbyn. His lacklustre performance during it was, they proclaimed, the final straw. What I find perplexing about this view is that, whilst Corbyn can be undoubtedly be blamed for being pretty uninspiring and taking the Labour more broadly into a cul de sac of extreme left-wing protest, blaming him for failing to persuade traditional Labour voters to go against their deeply-felt concerns about uncontrolled migration and vote to stay in the EU is verging on the absurd.

Yet blame him they did  and then plunged their party into a second leadership election which even the most optimistic of them must have realised was doomed to fail. Ironically, Corbyn is now in a stronger position than he was before, and we watch as the moderates cling to each other in defiance, whilst nervously listening out for Momentums clattering tumbrils: oh, we do love a good plan at Westminster.

It was of course  if we cast our minds back to the 24th June  the Conservatives who were meant to be in chaos. Remember, we were going to be rudderless  tearing lumps out of each other for weeks and weeks whilst the country went to the dogs. Yet here we are just about to embark on the conference, with a new Government in place, a new Prime Minister since before August, and a new domestic agenda. Surely this wasnt meant to be the plan: how did this all go so horriblyer, right?

Yet events last weekend reminded me that there are some who seem intent on sticking to the original plan, picking over the carcass of a dead event, re-writing the past  and getting even. Craig Oliver published his account of government, which I am sure historians will pore over in years to come seeking to discover rich seams of truth and enlightenment.

However, it does seem to have just the faintest element of re-writing the past. According to his account, we could apparently have struck a remarkable new deal with the EU if only Theresa May had agreed to it. Apparently, her reluctance to help left the Government unable to announce at the start of the referendum campaign that it had secured a reformed EU. Really? But I seem to recall that the Government did say it had secured a reformed EU, and had won agreement to control migration. Ah, I remember now  no-one much in the UK believed them, which must have been someone elses fault. No: I am afraid that, as rewrites of history go, it all sounds a bit desperate to me.

Then we had the former Chancellor, (ensconced in the aptly named windy city), telling the Prime Minister that, despite his losing the referendum, he now has inside knowledge of what the British people voted for. He went on as the representative of the liberal mainstream majority (and, it appears, as their spokesman) to warn Theresa May, in terms redolent of Project Fear, that she shouldnt govern from the extremes. Humility, it seems, can take many forms  though apparently not if one is mainstream, liberal or in the majority.

Still, it is always good to know that someone out there is sticking to the plan.

For the rest of us, who instead are optimistic about the UKs future, I hope that  as we leave the Labour Party with its 1980s tribute act  we can ensure that the Government delivers on the important promises made by the Prime Minister on the steps of Downing Street in July. After all, the British people voted to take back control of their borders, their money and their laws; that seems pretty mainstream to me.
James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. The focus of this column is Theresa Mays conservatism for ordinary working people.

Issue

A transport policy for those just about managing.

Background

Corbyns stunt of sitting on the floor of a cramped train was a neat idea, misdirected. It highlighted the problem of overcrowding on trains and showed Corbyn happy to share a burden faced by others. But it also showed Westminsters continued misunderstanding of provincial England.

Metropolitan professionals take trains but for those just about managing, theyre way less important. In my report of C1 and C2 voters last year, half in provincial Englands marginal seats hadnt used a train in a year. Driving is by far the most popular mode of transport; trains are often inconvenient and local buses can be extortionately expensive.

So Corbyn should have sat in a traffic jam. As The Times reported yesterday, he could have easily found snail-paced motorways by driving (or being driven) down the M606 between the M62 and Bradford (average speed 24.6mph) or the M32 into Bristol, the M621 into Leeds or the M60 near Manchester.

Politicians seldom talk about cars. When they do, its almost as if theyre embarrassed  as if theyre addressing an old-fashioned little group that needs pandering to when they get noisy (like when the oil price rises). I cant think of the last time a senior, mainstream politician gave a speech devoted to making life easier for drivers. This is extraordinary.

What next

There are four simple things the Government should have in mind: (a) cutting the costs of motoring, which next to mortgage payments is a massive cost for many families; (b) improve parking; (c) moving to energy-efficiency driving in a thoughtful way; and (d) committing to greater road investment.

On the first, the Government could axe Vehicle Excise Duty and reduce fuel taxes to bring the cost of petrol down. Combined, this would make a material difference to the vast majority of drivers almost immediately (and particularly those just about managing, whose income and expenditure are often the same).

On the second, many towns and cities across Britain would benefit from the abolition of all parking charges. Too many have pedestrianised streets and discouraged driving. Sometimes this has been necessary but often, particularly in towns in the North and Midlands, this has turned once-thriving shopping areas into wastelands. With the return of free car parking, people would be encouraged to return.

On the third, the Government must be aware that people are cash-strapped and cannot switch to greener cars easily; particularly when until recently they were encouraged to buy diesel cars by environmentalists, only to be told they were more polluting. The Government could announce that VED and higher fuel taxes will return in, say, a decade for those cars that dont meet required standards. This will give everyone fair warning that they need to change in time.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Governments new investment program must focus on roads, not just trains. This will make a much larger difference to ordinary families  and provincial towns like market towns  than train lines. Politicians should show theyre proud to support drivers.
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Editorial

Australias aid and comfort to IS

A week ago the Australian Air Force took part in the bombing and slaughter of Syrian troops at Deir al-Zor, a city in eastern Syria that has been under siege by ISIS for the last two years. This was done in concert with the US forces that are illegally ranging over Syria  in the air and on the ground, justifying their presence by the cover of a war against terrorism.

Those actions  including Australias bombing of Syrian government forces  give aid and comfort to criminal fanatics and mercenaries. The objective of the US and its allies  including Australia  is the overthrow of the Assad government. That the US and Australia are bombing another country without the consent of its government or the UN is a reflection of the regime change intent and the preparation for invasion and occupation; that the US is not at war with ISIS, but that ISIS is a US tool to destroy Syria.

Most dangerously the US has targeted the sovereign nation of Syrian for destruction to advance US strategic interests in the Middle East and beyond and that is what makes the war on Syria such a perilous venture for all humanity

Australia cut diplomatic relations with Syria in line with the US and has enforced US-imposed sanctions on Syria that hurt the Syrian people. Australian military aircraft have been carrying out strikes in Syria, under US direction, at least since 2015.

Australian special forces have been training anti-government forces at least since 2014, to carry out regime change in Syria. These military incursions by Australia are illegal under international law: their very waging of war in Syria, without UN sanction and against the wishes of Syrians, is a war crime.

But the main objective of the war against terrorism is to advance the strategic objective of the US and NATO into central Asia, as part of a geo-strategic concept.

The US leadership has, from the beginning with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, always had a number of other countries in its sights. At the time the then US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld declared that the US had over 60 countries on its hit list.

The question to be asked is whether the US and NATO will be able to stop the development of the peoples struggles around the world against globalisation, prevent the growth of the socialist states, stop the struggles for national liberation by the developing countries?

Will the imperialist offensive succeed in changing the historic direction of events, which, if it were to succeed, would result in the ultimate domination of the world by US imperialism?

As the real meaning of the war against terrorism unfolds it is certain that many more people and governments will oppose it and come to support the ideas of the settlement of disputes without recourse to war, respect for the independence and sovereignty of all countries, non-interference in the affairs of other countries and respect for the right of all people to choose their preferred form of economic and political system. They will support peaceful exchanges between people and mutually beneficial trade rather than the one-sided advantages through the likes of the Trans Pacific Partnership that the developed countries are imposing.

It is now almost 170 years since Marx and Engels declared in the Communist Manifesto that capitalism creates its own gravediggers. This remains true today. Now there are millions upon millions of working people, being united in worldwide trade union federations. There are huge numbers of others who are being beaten down by the exploitation of the big corporations and are joining the resistance.

Those perpetrating the crimes and carnage are fond of talking about civilisation. But imperialism is responsible for many, many wars and has driven millions of people into poverty and unemployment, deprived more millions of health and education facilities. This is not civilisation but barbarism.

But there is a choice, there is an alternative. The people of the world can only be truly free and be said to have taken the path to civilisation when capitalism and imperialism have been defeated.
Turnbulls shameful refugee charade

Prime Minister Turnbull appeared assured and relaxed during his recent visit to New York. The representative of the USs most submissive ally was well received and his statements given an enthusiastic hearing. His boasts about Australias migration and refugee policies were taken at face value and applauded at the two refugee summits he attended.

Addressing irregular migration, through secure borders, has been essential in creating the confidence that the government can manage migration in a way that mitigates risks and focuses humanitarian assistance on those who need it most, he told the UN. He also claimed that the publics confidence in the governments border protection regime was safeguarding Australias successful multicultural society.

There was not a word about the notorious offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. There was no mention that these centres and the whole concept of offshore processing have been condemned as illegal and in contravention of Australias longstanding undertakings towards refugees. The hypocrisy was too much for detainees.

Iranian journalist refugee Behrouz Boochani spoke out from the Manus Island detention centre, calling for international pressure to end Australias indefinite detention regime.

Australias offshore policy is not based on border protection, it is based on torture, Boochani said. The Australian government has kept us in this remote island for more than three years and it is clear that they dont have any plan to settle us here.

Please dont allow [the] Australian government to pretend it has a good policy for refugees and please speak against this cruel policy. We hope that the world puts pressure on the Australian government to give us freedom.

Turnbull used his time in the limelight in New York to announce a very modest increase in Australias refugee intake from the current 13,750 to 18,750 in three years time. Even with the increase, Australias annual intake is below the level of 2012, when 20,000 were given refuge.

In a world where 65 million people are now forcibly displaced from their homes, and where more than 20 million people  half of them children  have been turned into refugees, we are not even back to where we were when Tony Abbott was elected, World Vision Australias chief executive, Tim Costello, said.

Reports and leaks reveal refugees are languishing in camps characterised by systemic physical violence, sexual predation, punitive conditions and endemic rates of self-harm. Connect, the company running the camp on the prison island of Nauru, has had enough. It has announced that it will not re-tender to provide services. And Turnbulls successful multicultural society is coming under enormous pressure.

Just one week after Senator Pauline Hansons appalling first swamped by Muslims speech to parliament, a poll has shown that 49 percent of respondents supported a ban on Muslim migration with only 40 percent opposing the idea. Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek claimed in the media that the result shows a lack of leadership on the issue. That conclusion is generous and wrong.

Howard, Abbott and now Turnbull have stoked the flames of fear and mistrust with their we will decide and stop the boats rhetoric. They are mild in their rebukes of bigots and their hate speech. They are happy that more reactionary party colleagues are pushing for the repeal of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which outlaws racial vilification.

Most shameful of all is continued Australias involvement in US-created conflicts that throw up masses of refugees, such as in Iraq and Syria. And, as history shows, the suffering and displacement doesnt end when the shooting officially stops. During his New York visit, Turnbull undertook to take refugees from camps in Costa Rica  people fleeing violence in countries like Guatemala and Honduras. Countries in the region have never recovered from decades of US-backed dictatorship, death squads and wars against the people that reached their peak in the 80s.

Governments like Turnbulls wont give up their commitment to the US and its military and economic strategy willingly. They are the paid servants of that global imperialist system and, honeyed words about tolerance notwithstanding, they know its survival depends on keeping its opponents divided and distracted. They have made some advances in this cause lately and it is up to us to stem the hateful tide and boost the opposition to racism and war.
Childcare educators action on pay

Last May 29, childcare educators dramatically upped the ante in their Big Steps campaign for equal pay by chaining themselves to Malcolm Turnbulls Melbourne office.

Zelda DApranos actions drew enormous attention to the campaign for equal pay.

The protest was nearly 50 years after famous equal pay campaigner Zelda DAprano chained herself to a federal government building in Melbourne to protest against women being paid less than men.

A dozen early education workers and supporters chained themselves to the Commonwealth Offices Building in Treasury Place to highlight their demand to Malcolm Turnbull that he provide funding for equal pay.

Educators are paid about one third less than educators doing similar work in other parts of education system. This pay gap is a key plank of an Equal Pay Case currently underway in the Fair Work Commission, being run by United Voice, the early childhood union.

The Commonwealth Offices building houses the offices of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, Melbourne-based ministers and visiting ministers. Samantha Leaver, from Melbourne is one of the educators who chained herself to Turnbulls office. Leaver has also launched an online petition to Turnbull.

I have been waiting my whole life to have my work valued the same as a man, say Leaver. I was born in 1968. One year later Zelda DAprano took a very brave stand to protest against women being paid substantially less than men.

That was almost half a century ago, yet educators like us are still paid one third less than those educating children just a few years older  for one reason: our sector is 94 percent female.

We are fed up. We wont die waiting for equal pay. We want Malcolm Turnbull to fix this now. He has the perfect opportunity to close this pay gap.

Helen Gibbons, assistant national secretary of United Voice, the early childhood union agrees.

We all know the time for equal pay for early educators is long overdue, says Gibbons. A responsible government that values the future of every Australian would have already fixed this injustice.

Zelda DAprano: from 1969 to 2016

On October 21, 1969 Zelda DAprano, a 41 year old union official, chained herself to the Commonwealth Centre in La Trobe Street Melbourne until she was cut free by police. Her action drew enormous attention to the campaign for equal pay.

In 1969 women received 75 percent of a mans salary for doing the same job. Five decades later and women earn on average 82 percent of a mans pay.

DAprano, now aged 88, urged women to become more militant in seeking equal pay. I think the time has come for women to take more action into their own hands. I think women need to campaign for wage justice as a liveable wage, she said in an interview with The Age newspaper.

The Victorian Trades Hall Council has released an Essential Research poll which found 70 percent of respondents support fining employers who pay women less than men for the same job.
We need an active united peace movement

A talk given at the Unitarian Church, Melbourne

I will speak about how the current war system works, the desirability and necessity of replacing it, and how this is possible. Most of you have been involved in activities against wars. It is time to put into practice what our peace and social justice campaigners did from the 1960s to 2010. Learn from our past  from the campaigns run by the peace movement, in particular, by the Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament (CICD) during the Vietnam War as part of the worldwide movement that forced this war to stop.

We need to be proactive and have a vision for peace. Wars do not work: they create a state of continuous crisis. In the last 120 years the world has suffered many wars. World War One was justified as the war to end wars, but war never brings peace. It may bring a temporary resolution, a desire for revenge, and a new arms race until the next war. Ten million people died in World War One, 50 to 100 million in World War Two.

Weapons of mass destruction could, if used, end civilisation on this planet. Some other wars over this period include: the Spanish American War, the Balkan Wars, the Russian Civil War, the Spanish Civil War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, wars in Central America, the wars of Yugoslavia, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf Wars, the Afghan War, the US Iraq War, the Syrian War ... this by no means is a complete list!

Another intervention Id like to mention is the 1953 coup detat against the democratically elected Iranian President Mohammad Mosaddegh, orchestrated by the CIA in conjunction with Britain. The coup was triggered when Mosaddegh demanded an auditing of the books of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, a British company known today as BP. Mosaddegh threatened nationalisation when the British refused to allow the audit. He was replaced by the Shah of Iran, who was seen by many Iranians and Arabs as a puppet of the United States.

US military interventions continue in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Libya, leaving chaos and millions of refugees fleeing the war zones. The humanitarian crises resulting from these wars are horrific and include the bombing of hospitals.

Litany of wars

The US (the largest weapons seller in the world) and European allies are its selling billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia  the biggest supporter of terrorism in the world, which are then being used to slaughter innocent civilians in Yemen and repress democracy in Saudi Arabia. These endless wars have cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars.

Europe is overwhelmed by the largest refugee crisis since World War Two with huge migrations of over 6,000 people per day and the drowning of people so desperate to escape war zones that they undertake unsafe journeys to a place that might be safer.

From 1979 to the present, the following military campaigns and operations have taken place: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, and the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Conflicts around the world cannot be resolved at gunpoint. They require a commitment to demilitarisation. The military budgets of the world today amount to two trillion dollars a year. What is clear is that military solutions do not work.

The arms trade manufacturers have profitable government contracts and are even subsidised by them, and also sell on the open market. The US and others have sold billions in arms to unstable and violent groups in the Middle East. Sometimes the arms are sold to both sides in a conflict, as in the case of Iraq and Iran in the war that killed between 600,000 and 1,000,000 people.

Sometimes they end up being used against the seller or its allies, as in the case of weapons the US provided to the Mujahedeen that ended up in the hands of Al-Qaeda, and the arms the US sold or gave to Iraq that ended up in the hands of ISIS during its 2014 invasion of Iraq. The international trade in weapons is huge  over US$70 billion per year. The main exporters of arms to the world are the powers that fought in World War Two: US, Russia, Germany, France, and Britain.

Active in unity

We need to be active with all other peace groups around the world to dismantle the existing war system. A peace culture is a culture that promotes diplomatic diversity. There is no need for violence. Every relationship of domination, of exploitation, of oppression is by definition violent, whether or not the violence is expressed by drastic means. Wherever war is fought people suffer major destruction of infrastructure and art treasures. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, wars seem not to end but to drag on without resolution for years, and even decades, without peace ever being achieved.

At present there are treaties banning biological and chemical weapons but there is no treaty banning nuclear weapons.

While various nuclear arms control treaties between the US and the former Soviet Union did reduce the insane number of nuclear weapons (56,000 at one point), there are still 16,300 in the world, only 1,000 of which are not in the US or Russia. The foundations of peace already being laid are a basis upon which we can become part of a larger movement to build a world where everyone will be safe. I believe the historic end to war is possible if we act together to save ourselves and the planet from ever greater catastrophe.

For nearly all of recorded history we have studied war and how to win it, but war has become ever more destructive and now threatens whole populations and the planet. Most peace movements around the world ask: why  when almost everyone wants peace  do we still have wars?

Enough is enough. We must demand our governments stop interfering with and invading other countries, that mass killing and maiming cease, that there be no more living in fear, no grief from losing loved ones in wars, no more trillions of dollars wasted on destruction and preparing for destruction, no more pollution and environmental destruction that comes from wars, and no more war-driven refugees and war-induced humanitarian crises. The overwhelming majority of people from all cultures prefer to live in peace. Whatever our culture, we share a desire for the good life. War interferes with those desires.

Why a peace system is possible

Demilitarisation is underway. Costa Rica and more than 20 other countries have disbanded their militaries altogether. Former advocates of nuclear weapons, including former US senators and secretaries of state and numerous retired high-ranking military officers, have publicly rejected nuclear weapons and called for their elimination. There is a massive worldwide movement to end the carbon economy and the wars over oil.

Many thoughtful people and organisations around the world are calling for an end to the counterproductive war on terror. At least one million organisations in the world are actively working towards peace, social justice, and environmental protection. Thirty-one Latin American and Caribbean nations created a Zone of Peace on January 29, 2014.

We need to promote peace  this can be done by printing media articles, having speakers at different gatherings including schools and universities, using radio talkback shows to raise our voices, and much more. The aim is to create the demand for a just peace without undermining the benefits of unique cultures and political systems. We need to support and promote good work in this direction by other organisations in various parts of the world, including in Australia, that are making an effort to create greater cooperation and greater unity around the idea of a movement to end all war.

The truth of history is to return to the reality of what any war is: an event that has a significant negative effect on the physical, mental, social and material existence of people, nations and countries. We are also aware of the significant success of the mass anti-war movements, created, built and sustained by coalitions of community activists and organisations that had many broad and diverse political and moral agendas and objectives; those that are willing to work together for the common cause of building a peaceful future based on a culture of cooperation to solve international problems, not threat and conflict.

The war myth

There was much success last year around the many events held in opposition to the government myth agenda concerning Gallipoli, ANZAC and World War One. Here I would like to mention some groups that were involved directly in organising the anti-war and centenary myth campaign and for ongoing peace and independent Australian foreign policy campaigns.

Last year in the case of WW1, the ANZAC Centenary Peace Coalition was established. This coalition mounted an effective and thought-provoking challenge to the ANZAC myth through its forums and other activities. The coalition presented four very successful peace forums between October 2014 and October 2015. These presentations were premised on the simple presentation of the reality of war and ANZAC.

Most importantly, this has led to the continuation of the coalition, with the support of the CICD and this church, among others, for a new broad network that at this stage will be called Peace Connections Victoria. A significant concert on ANZAC eve at Federation Square was organised by MAPWA that was well attended by many young people and had some wonderful speakers.

The Australian Society for the Study of Labour History held their 14th biennial 2015 conference on the theme: Fighting against war: peace activism in the twentieth century. The subject theme of papers presented at the Societys conference was on the history of the peace movement in Australia, and the true and social impacts of war over the last 100 years. Many outstanding papers were presented which was a wonderful start to the year.

Finally, this year being the 50th anniversary of the signing of the agreement to establish the US spy base at Pine Gap near Alice Springs, IPAN (the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network) has organised a National Peace and Anti-War Gathering at Alice Springs in October and a rally calling for the removal of this US spy base as part of a more independent and peaceful Australia.

Alternative News

In the last two of our Alternative News radio programs (Alternative News is presented every Sunday on Community Radio 3CR at 9:15 am) Andrew Irving interviewed Jacob Grech from the Renegade Activists Action Force about the history of Pine Gap and its role in the region, in particular the very close link between the states that seek war and the industries that supply the weapons. It is particularly evident at Pine Gap, where 800 of the 1,000 workers are contractors working for some of the biggest armaments companies. The bases primary task is to monitor all communications in the region and one of its key tasks is to control and decide who will be killed by US drones. This task is controlled by the suppliers of the weapons.

It falls upon us as peace activists to inspire people around the world  to call for an end to war, to protest drone attacks and nuclear weapons modernisation, to wage campaigns to cut the military, to stand up in our communities to demand a full and focused effort on diplomacy and the redirection of resources to meet human needs and protect the planet.

The arguments for the right to education, access to health care, jobs and housing cannot be won when the anchor of the war industry and foreign policy is presented as the only common political platform for employment and manufacturing in the future. Its time for the movement for peace and justice to rise again!

In conclusion I would like to say:

War is always a choice and it is always a bad choice. It is a choice that always leads to more war. It is not mandated in our genes or our human nature. Non-violent action and resistance are a better choice because they defuse and help resolve conflict. This ideal must be built into education in the form of knowledge, perceptions, beliefs and values  in short, a culture of peace. Societies consciously prepare far in advance for the war response and so perpetuate insecurity. Some powerful groups benefit from war and violence. The vast majority of humans, however, will gain a lot from a world without war.

For peace to prevail, we must prepare equally far in advance for the better choice. If we want peace, we must prepare for peace. Forget that this task of planet saving is not possible in the time required. We should not be put off by people who think this is not possible. We need to do what needs to be done to achieve peace.

If you ask me whether peace is possible, I would say: yes  I believe it is possible, but only when people of the world recognise their power and unite and demand that the governments they elected cannot continue to kill and invade in their names.

*Romina Beitseen is CICD Secretary

The Beacon
Culture in Revolution

In June of 1961, Fidel gave a speech which became known as his Words to Intellectuals, rightly considered a fundament element of revolutionary Cubas cultural policy.

June 16, 23, and 30, 1961, were intense days of open, frank discussion at Jose Marti National Library in Havana. Fidel and a significant group of Cuban writers and artists from various disciplines held a dialogue, during which concerns, doubts, and problems related to the creation and distribution of ideas, art and literature surfaced. Relations between the countrys nascent institutions and the intellectual community were addressed.

On the final day, Fidel gave a speech which became known as his Words to Intellectuals, rightly considered a foundational element of revolutionary Cubas cultural policy.

First of all, it is significant that the Comandante en Jefe made time and devoted energy to a meeting of this kind. Only a few months had passed since the mercenary invasion at Playa Giron on the Bay of Pigs, and while the victory was fresh in everyones mind, the drums of war had not ceased. On the contrary, Washington had redoubled its efforts to engender counterrevolutionary bands around the country; the cruel effects of the blockade were being felt in the daily life of the population; and South Florida was being established as the nesting ground of subversion for the US dependent bourgeoisie which had been defeated in Cuba.

Regardless, the countrys political leadership considered the dialogue necessary, one that could not be delayed. Culture was a priority  and as we will see, continued to be, and is today. Between 1959 and 1961, amidst profound, radical socio-economic transformations, and the sharpening of conflict between the US and Cuba, founded were the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry, the Casa de las Americas, the national printing facility, and re-founded were the National Ballet, under the direction of Alicia Alonso, and the National Symphony Orchestra. The National Theatre began to take shape, and just hours before the aggression at Giron began, the training of arts instructors for primary and secondary schools was launched.

The most transcendental cultural project underway at that time was the Literacy Campaign, with more than 268,000 volunteers, in every corner of the country. Some 707,000 people learned to read and write, in less than a year.

There have been many malicious distortions of the letter and spirit of a single, oft-quoted phrase in Fidels speech: Within the Revolution, everything; against the Revolution, nothing. Sometimes against is replaced with outside or the statements broad, inclusive foundation is confused with an intention to restrict, diametrically opposed to this very precise political formulation. The idea was, and is, synonymous with unity within diversity, construction of a consensus, beyond current or possible differences, a broad variety of points of view, beyond sects and dogmas. Against was and is the inalienable right of the Revolution to exist and defend itself, then and now, against aggression, threats, and dangers.

Fidel expressed a basic principle, Allow me to tell you that, in the first place, the Revolution defends liberty, that the Revolution has brought the country a great number of liberties, that the Revolution cannot, by its very nature, be an enemy of liberties; if someones concern is that the Revolution may suffocate the creative spirit, this concern is unnecessary, this concern is unjustified.

He stated later, It is possible that men and women, who in reality have a truly revolutionary attitude, may not constitute a majority of the population; revolutionaries are the vanguard of the population. But revolutionaries must aspire to having the entire people march forward with them.

The Revolution cannot forego that all honest men and women, be they writers or artists, march forward with it; the Revolution must aspire that everyone who has doubts becomes a revolutionary; the Revolution must attempt to win over the greatest portion of the population with its ideas; the Revolution must never renounce counting on the majority of the people, counting not only on revolutionaries, but on all honest citizens, although they may not be revolutionaries  that is to say, that although they may not have a revolutionary attitude about life  they are with the Revolution.

A re-reading of Words to Intellectuals leads us to consider a broad range of issues and proposals, whose relevance, in the majority of cases, should guide our current efforts.

Of special significance among these is the prospect of creating and supporting a system of cultural institutions to encourage creative work, and promote it on a broad scale socially. The democratisation of culture has been one of the pillars of the Revolutions efforts in this arena of life.

Fidels dream of creating the conditions which allow all artistic, literary or scientific talent, of any kind, to be developed, has been coming true.

A year after these words came the creation of the National Art Schools, of Cubanacan  the cornerstone of an arts education program later extended throughout the country  providing children and youth, who because of their origins could not even dream of academic training, access to this type of training and skills in a wide range of artistic expressions. This process has continued, reaching unprecedented levels, with highly qualified musicians, dancers, visual artists, actors, and performers graduating every year.

Those meetings, in June of 1961, established an ongoing, fluid channel of communication between the countrys political leadership and its artistic and intellectual movement.

Writer Ambrosio Fornet has commented, What he (Fidel) said was that we all belonged to a single movement that we called the Cuban Revolution, a movement of transformation. And the question he asked intellectuals and artists was: How are you going to participate in this process? What can you contribute to this process? He left a response to both of these, and at the same time, one for practical activity, for real functioning, not in accordance with preferences, but in order to insert the cultural debate within the process of change.

Fidel was the one who unequivocally asserted, The Revolution means precisely more culture and more art, reaffirming the commitment of the countrys political vanguard to this essential dimension of development.

He who then proclaimed, We are going to make war on ignorance, we are going to wage a battle against ignorance, we are going to ignite an irreconcilable argument against ignorance, was the same person who years later, in the 1990s, amidst the hardship and tenacious resistance of those difficult times, said Culture is the first thing that must be saved.

Granma
Culture & Life

Bernie Sanders and mass action

Bernie Sanders, the independent US social democrat Senator, has been a left-wing voice in the US Senate for years without making much impact outside his own Vermont constituency. To reach a wider audience, he decided to join the race for the White House.

Bernie Sanders

As an independent he could expect to be almost completely ignored by the mass media. Most Americans would never hear of him or even realise that he was standing, just like the candidates from the Greens and the Workers World Party. So in a carefully calculated move he abandoned being an independent and joined the Democratic Party.

Initially, his campaign was treated as a joke. After all, the Democrats establishment had anointed Hillary Clinton as their chosen candidate, and she was funded by big business so what chance did an elderly bloke who had no corporate backing and talked about socialism have?

But as Sanders told The Nation, The ideas that I was talking about are what most Americans would support if they had the chance to hear these views, which they do not under normal circumstances.

And support him they did, as the progressive ideas he championed  healthcare for all, free college tuition, progressive taxation, a living wage and a complete rejection of the influence of corporate power in US politics and daily life  resonated with ordinary Americans. Financially, they could only afford to give his campaign small donations, but they sent in such a flood of them that Hillary Clintons handlers were moved to complain about the size of Sanders war chest. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

You could watch CNN for the next 14 years, and youre not going to hear a discussion about the need for a single-payer health-care system, he continued. Youre not going to see a critique of the drug companies, and youre not going to hear much discussion about income and wealth inequality, Sanders told The Nations editor Katrina van den Heuvel and national affairs correspondent John Nichols.

My view was that if we could get out to the American people, get the exposure, make the personal contacts, we would do well. And he did do well, to the consternation of Hillary Clinton and her many corporate backers. In the event, Sanders won more than 12 million votes in the Democrat primaries and to secure his endorsement Hillary and the Democratic Party establishment were forced to adopt much of his agenda, making their platform in this election one of the most progressive the Democrats have produced for many years.

Nevertheless, his eventual endorsing of Hillary Clinton shocked many of his supporters. She is after all far from sharing his antipathy to big business. But as Sanders makes clear in his Nation interview, unfortunate as a Hillary Clinton presidency might prove to be, a Donald Trump presidency, in his view, would be an absolute disaster.

To gain his endorsement, Clinton had to go on record as supporting what Sanders calls the issues of importance to the people of this country which he lists as things like free college tuition, expanded access to healthcare, pay equity for women, and climate change, among others.

Sanders believes that, of the two nominees, Hillary Clinton will do a better job for middle-class and working-class families than Donald Trump, a conclusion few would argue with, although it is only viable if it carries a corollary that Sanders is all too aware of: What kind of President Hillary Clinton will make is dependent on what mass pressure is brought to bear on her and the leadership of the Democratic Party.

[T]he day after the election, we will mobilise millions of people to make sure that we make her the most progressive president that she can be, he vowed.

US commentators speak of the Sanders revolution, which of course it is not, yet. But if Sanders and his supporters really do start a movement to pressure the Democratic Party to adopt progressive positions on key issues, it is going to make events in the USA very interesting indeed.

Australian readers will have noticed that one of Sanders policy planks is free college education. The Whitlam Labor government introduced that into Australia but it has largely been scrapped since, with university degrees leaving students burdened with huge debts incurred for their tuition.

Education (including higher education) is free under socialism, but in many capitalist countries higher education usually involves payment of a fee. In Germany, Sweden and some other European countries, tuition is still completely free; in the UK, a degree at Oxford costs about $12,000 a year.

On the other hand, a degree from Harvard in the US will set you back a cool quarter of a million dollars. As former US State Department officer Peter Van Buren notes, right now there are only a handful of paths to higher education in America: have well-to-do parents; be low-income and smart to qualify for financial aid, take on crippling debt, or join the military.

Yep, so keen is US imperialism to foster the military that they will provide free higher education if you just join up. Given that the US is engaged in fighting three or four wars in different parts of the globe at any one time, a GIs tertiary education is likely to be eventful at the very least (and actually fatal at worst).

What does it say about a country that it will use access to higher education as bribe to get people to join the army and take part in its aggressive attempts to control the worlds energy resources, trade and anything else that takes their fancy?
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Channel programs News

Synnex CEO: Tech Data-Avnet Deal Validates Our Business Model

Michael Novinson

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Tech Data's $2.6 billion purchase of Avnet's Technology Solutions business underscores the value of Synnex having both a strong broadline and enterprise footprint, according to Synnex CEO Kevin Murai.

"The combination of Avnet's TS business and Tech Data drives more toward the model that we've had for years, which is a hybrid [broadline and enterprise] model," Murai said Monday during the company's earnings call. "We see change coming, and we think we're well-positioned for that."

Murai said the Fremont, Calif.-based distributor has made investments in the parts of the business that really play into technology change such as Hyve Solutions, which serves the hyper-scale data center build-out market, and the CloudSolv community, which plays to the as-a-Service cloud computing environment.

[RELATED: Synnex Snaps Up BPO Provider, Boosting Concentrix Business]

In the short term, Murai said Synnex is looking to earn more market share as Tech Data and Avnet go through the acquisition, which was announced last week and is scheduled to close in the first half of 2017.

"We see opportunity to really demonstrate the value that we have in the marketplace," Murai said.

Synnex also expects to benefit from HP Inc.'s $1.05 billion purchase of Samsung Electronics' printer business since Murai said the distributor already has a specialty business focused on the higher-end printer and copier business. Murai said the deal will enhance HP Inc.'s A3 business and A3 supply chain.

"Anything that's good for HP Inc. usually translates into being good for us as well," Murai said. "I think this plays very, very well into one of the strongest capabilities that we have in the marketplace."

HP Inc. is Synnex's largest vendor, accounting for 16 percent of its sales in the quarter ended Aug. 31, according to Marshall Witt, Synnex's chief financial officer. No other vendor accounted for more than 10 percent of Synnex's overall sales, Witt said.

Synnex enjoyed an outstanding performance in its U.S. public sector, enterprise and small- and midsize-business segments, Murai said. The company's Hyve solutions business was also strong, Murai said, as Synnex both ramped up business from newer relationships and executed well among its core customers.

From a product standpoint, Synnex achieved solid growth in its higher-end software, networking and security business, Murai said, as well as with notebook and client device sales. The company's retail and consumer electronics businesses also performed well, he said.

"I am thrilled with our performance," Murai said. "Strong execution and progress in our business strategy drove our solid results."

Canada notched mid-single-digit growth in the most recent quarter, Murai said, while sales and profitability were down slightly in Japan.

Across the whole business, Murai said Synnex saw softer sales in its printer and system components businesses.

Synnex saw revenue climb 10.1 percent in the most recent quarter from $3.33 billion last year to $3.67 billion this year. That trounced Seeking Alpha's estimate of $3.49 billion.

Net income soared 21.9 percent from $48.2 million, or $1.21 per share, last year to $58.7 million, or $1.47 per share, this year. On a non-GAAP basis, net income rose 18 percent from $58.4 million last year to $68.9 million this year, or $1.73 per share, smashing Seeking Alpha estimates of $1.56 per share.

Wall Street reacted very favorably to the numbers, with Synnex's stock climbing 7.4 percent in after-hours trading to an all-time high of $114 per share. Earnings were released after the market closed Monday.

In the most recent quarter, Synnex's technology solutions sales climbed 9.8 percent from $2.98 billion last year to $3.27 billion this year. The division's operating income jumped 11.8 percent from $71 million last year to $79.4 million this year.

For Synnex's Concentrix division, sales increased 13.1 percent from $359.5 million last year to $406.7 million this year. Operating income for the division skyrocketed 83.3 percent from $10.1 million last year to $18.6 million this year.

Some $36.2 million of that revenue growth is attributable to Synnex's acquisition of business process outsourcing provider Minacs Group, which closed Aug. 1. Murai said the $420 million purchase of Oshawa, Ontario-based Minacs will expand Concentrix's reach in the digital marketing and automotive spaces.

For the next quarter, Synnex said it expects non-GAAP earnings of $82.7 million to $84.7 million, or $2.06 to $2.11 per share, on revenue of $3.83 billion to $3.93 billion. That handily beats expectations from Thomson Reuters analysts, who had projected earnings of $1.91 per share on revenue of $3.79 billion.
Cloud News

Partners Cheer Microsoft's Product Moves Around Security, Cloud And Containers

Kyle Alspach

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Solution providers Monday applauded Microsoft's unveiling of enhancements to a breadth of products, with a particular focus on security and cloud technologies.

Microsoft made the announcements  which included upgrades to Office 365 security and Docker Engine container support as part of Windows Server 2016 -- in connection with its Ignite 2016 conference, being held this week in Atlanta.

"Microsoft is charging toward removing the fear and uncertainty of security in the cloud," said Ric Opal, senior director at Oak Brook, Ill.-based SWC Technology Partners, while it's also "going to provide the features, benefits and product offerings that customers desire in the cloud."

[Related: Microsoft Unveils Plan To Sell Subscription-Based Windows 10 Enterprise, Surface Devices Through Channel Partners]

"As evidenced by this Docker announcement, as evidenced by [their work with] Linux, as evidenced by some of the other partnerships they've done, they continually are showing that they are open to and embracing of what customers want," Opal said.

On security, Microsoft said it's launching Office 365 Threat Intelligence, an enhancement to Office 365 security that provides alerts and data on where attacks are coming from.

In another security announcement, Microsoft said Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection is being extended to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. The vendor also announced that Windows Server 2016 will launch in October, and that it will include Commercially Supported Docker Engine at no extra cost.

"This makes it incredibly easy for developers and IT administrators to leverage container-based deployments using Windows Server 2016," said Scott Guthrie, Microsoft's executive vice president for cloud and enterprise, during his Ignite 2016 keynote Monday.

Michael Goldstein, president and CEO of LAN Infotech, a Microsoft partner in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he's "extremely excited" for the launch of Windows Server 2016 due to its new features. Meanwhile, the "timing couldn't be better for the security enhancements," Goldstein said.

Opal also praised Microsoft's announcement of new, free educational resources for IT professionals.

Those include a new online community for IT professionals, Microsoft Technical Community, and an expansion of the Microsoft IT Pro Career Center and Microsoft IT Pro Cloud Essentials.

"The announcements around education and learning are pivotal," Opal said. "If you make the products to secure our customers, you still have to educate the partners on what to do with them."
Cloud News

AppDirect Integrates Cloud Commerce Capabilities Into Comprehensive Platform

Joseph Tsidulko

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AppDirect at its Engage conference Tuesday unveiled the integration of several of its cloud commerce solutions into a comprehensive platform the channel can use to distribute and manage cloud-based software.

The San Francisco-based startup unified a stack of technologies obtained from six acquisitions with those built in-house to further enable enterprises, software vendors and channel resellers to deploy white-label software marketplaces.

The revamped platform combines components previously sold as stand-alone products for curating, monetizing and managing SaaS products from a multitude of vendors, AppDirect Co-CEO Daniel Saks told CRN.

[Related: AppDirect Buys Enterprise Search Startup Xendo, Plans Deep Integration]

"This enables endless capability for [partners] to configure things however they want, create their own bundles, merchandising capabilities, and bring multiple products to market in the digital economy," Saks told CRN.

AppDirect launched in 2009 with a vision to make it easier for businesses to adopt the SaaS solutions that were starting to proliferate in the market at the time, Saks said.

The company's product line started with a customizable online marketplace offering a curated set of cloud-based applications. But the larger goal was always a more-comprehensive and multifaceted platform, Saks said.

While the various products AppDirect later introduced  including a reseller management service  were tested and distributed independently of each other, Saks told CRN "on the back end we've been building a deep platform to change the way people use and consume software."

As the company scaled its business in recent years, it continued investing in integrating the solutions it developed and acquired that added capabilities including software management, billing, data visualization, deep search, single sign-on, and technical support.

The revamped platform, which includes Internet of Things and mobility solutions, will be available to the company's customers and channel partners on Jan. 1, 2017.

ProsperWorks, a cross-platform CRM vendor, turned to AppDirect to supply a solution to its network of resellers, said Michael Benayoun, director of channel sales at the San Francisco-based company.

"Overall we see AppDirect as a key part of our channel program, and the revamped platform puts all the capabilities we need to make sure we have automated subscription management and allows our resellers to self-serve so they make sales without our help," Benayoun said.

The CRM vendor plans to leverage the new platform to drive more business to its partners, he said.

"We plan on working with the folks at AppDirect to keep expanding our channel program so we can make the most of our integration and work with their ecosystem to make sure we offer our software through their massive network," he told CRN.

"There's a great opportunity for us to work together, and the combination of cloud monetization and management capabilities will make a big impact for us," he said.
Internet of things News

Samsung Teams Up With Mobile TeleSystems To Deepen Research On IoT, 5G Networks

Lindsey O'Donnell

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Samsung is teaming up with Russian telecommunications operator Mobile TeleSystems to test new Internet of Things technologies, including next-generation 5G networks.

The two companies will work to test advanced carrier aggregation, LTE broadcast, LTE machine and narrowband IoT, as well as paving the way toward 5G trials to help Mobile TeleSystems upgrade its data communication speed and discover new applications for 5G networks.

Based on Samsungs strengths in 5G and IoT, we look forward to supporting [Mobile TeleSystems] in solidifying their position as an innovative telecommunications leader by discovering new opportunities for the commercialization of 5G, said Dong Soo Park, executive vice president of the networks business at Samsung Electronics, in a statement.

[Related: IoT Channel Chronicles: Panel Of Solution Providers Discuss 'Velocity' Of IoT Opportunities]

Under the partnership, the two companies will conduct tests to enhance data communications speeds for leveraging 4G, as well as assess the best technologies to tackle challenges in the expanding IoT market.

In June, Samsung said it will dish out $1.2 billion over the next four years for Internet of Things-related research and startups, solidifying the company's emphasis on the lucrative IoT market.

The South Korean company said its investment will target Internet of Things applications with social benefits, such as digital health, smart machines and autonomous vehicles.

A few months ago, Samsung said it would acquire U.S. cloud firm Joyent to bolster its IoT-related software and services. Last year, Samsung also launched Artik, a System on a Chip (SoC) that connects objects and the computing power behind those objects.

Jay Gordon, vice president of sales at Enterprise Mobile, a Plano, Texas-based mobile solution provider, said that when he attended the CTIA Super Mobility event earlier in the month, it was evident that IoT and 5G are dominating the discussion.

Communications leaders, such as Samsung, Qualcomm, the wireless carriers and other entities are messaging strong future capability regarding the availability of 5G, he said. This announcement by Samsung and Mobile TeleSystems follows suit, and we would expect that the collaboration they had to build out LTE will be useful to expedite the launch of 5G service.

The partnership will give Samsung an opportunity to extend its mobility products into IoT as more products become connected, said Gordon. This investment by Samsung makes great sense as a leading global manufacturer of smartphones and tablets that will leverage 5G capability in the near future, he said.

Samsung and Mobile TeleSystems have collaborated before, first linking up in 2013 to establish LTE networks in cities across Russia. Samsung has also signed agreements with other operators, including partnering with SK Telecom to build a LoRaWAN network targeted for the Internet of Things.
The Chinese cruise industry has matured from a start-up state to one of rapid development, according to Qian Yongchang, the honorary chairman of the China Cruise and Yacht Association (CCYIA) and president of the China Communications and Transportation Association.

"The cruise industry has stepped into its second decade and transferred from the start-up stage to the rapid development stage," wrote Yongchang in a letter to attendees at the 11th China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show held in Tianjin.

In July 2006 the Costa Allegra sailed her first cruise from China, and this year, the market is expected to generate just over two million Chinese cruise passengers, doubling again well before 2020 with major brands deploying their newest ships to the marketplace.

"Developing the cruise economy has been included in the 13th five-year Economic and Social development (plan) for China," said Yongchang.

The CCYIA thus has been entrusted to draw up new proposals for policies regarding the development of the industry in China, from ports to the supply chain and recruitment.

"Cruise will become a new economic growth point of China's shipping industry and tourism, and it has become a new way to go on holidays that appeals to the masses," Yongchang noted, adding it will be a team effort between government associations, ports, universities and more.
Having launched service in 2015 with the Golden Era, SkySea Cruise Line has major backers in Ctrip, China's largest online travel agency, and Royal Caribbean Cruises.

"For SkySea, we are a brand new Chinese local cruise line. We only have one ship now, the Golden Era, but we are working to enlarge the fleet," said Min Fan, chairman and CEO of SkySea.

The product is premium, focusing on east meets west, said Fan. In charge of operations for the Shanghai-based company is industry veteran Hernan Zini, chief operating officer, who has helped assemble a stout shoreside team in China.

"Single ship companies are not the target, we will try to build the most preferred cruise line in China," Fan told Cruise Industry News at China Cruise Shipping in Tianjin.

As far as a time table for expansion, Fan said "the near future" and added it would be sooner than two or three years from now.

"A few more local Chinese companies are coming soon, and that will be good for the whole market," said Fan. "I hope we become the leading local brand."

SkySea has been among the few companies publically critical of capacity issues in Shanghai. More tonnage would certainly be based in other major Chinese mainland ports.
Alertsec, the cloud-based encryption company, today released findings from their recent Brand Perception Study that reveal significant concern about data breaches. The study, fielded among 1,200 Americans, determined that data breaches unsettle American consumers and result in negative brand perception.

Customers who are affected by data breaches suffer a significant loss of trust, and this is particularly true of men. According to the survey results, nearly one in three Americans (29 percent) said it would take them several months to begin trusting a company again following a data breach. Twenty-two percent said it would only take them a month to forgive, but 17 percent of men and 11 percent of women said their trust would be permanently lost. Men (16 percent) are also more likely to switch to a competitor following a data breach than are women (6 percent).

This is no surprise to me, said Ebba Blitz, CEO of Alertsec. Peoples personal information is, in many ways, the key to their financial and psychological well-being. When a company has allowed their customers data to fall into the hands of criminals, the resulting lack of trust is difficult to repair.

In terms of brand perception, when a company suffers a data breach, 35 percent of the respondents said this reflects sloppiness, 32 percent said it reflects a lack of professionalism, and 26 percent said it makes the company a target for lawsuits.

Data breaches unsettle

Ninety-seven percent of those surveyed said a data breach affects them in some way, even if they have no direct affiliation to the company whose data has been breached.

When Americans learn a company has had a data breach, 67 percent check to see if their information or identity has been compromised, and 35 percent worry about their information, even if they are not directly connected to the company. Twenty-nine percent said data breaches prompt them to focus on improving their own online security.

Only 3 percent of Americans reported feeling unfazed by data breaches.

Men generally have a stronger reaction to data breaches than do women:

How do you react when a data breach has occurred? Gender Men Women Check to see if information/identity has been compromised 78% 55% Worry about information, even if not directly connected to breach 38% 27% Improve personal security 32% 21% Don't trust company affected by data breach 22% 24%

When asked which actions companies should take after suffering a data breach, 81 percent of those surveyed said the company must tell everyone affected, and 72 percent suggested the company immediately invest in new encryption technology.
During the debates on Monday evening Donald Trump said something that wasn't completely insane or laughable  securing the internet is hard work. He's not wrong, and his comment is a point that both the government and private sector should remember.

The debates on Monday were a mess. Both sides were tossing around some questionable statements, or outright lies - and both came off looking so disconnected from the average voter, it's hard to imagine either one of them as POTUS  but one of them will get into office. Let that sink in for a moment, one of them will be the next President of the United States.

Jobs were a big topic early on, and Trump started in with unemployment examples from Michigan and Ohio, where the actual unemployment rates in each state are lower than the national average according to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Then Trump suggested that stop-and-frisk laws "worked very well in New York." They didn't. In fact, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) published figures showing that black and Latino communities were the overwhelming targets of stop-and-frisk and in 90-percent of all stop-and-frisk incidents, the subject was innocent. There is a reason stop-and-frisk was ruled unconstitutional, and the Attorney General of New York said it made police-community relations worse in a 2013 report on the topic.

Later in the debates, Clinton and Trump were asked about "a twenty first century war..."

"...we want to start with a twenty first century war happening every day in this country. Are institutions are under cyber attack, and our secrets are being stolen. Who's behind it, and how do we fight it?"

First, the question was just awkward. We're not in a war. There are criminal hackers, doing criminal hacker things. Then on top of that, we have governments using hackers to do things that used to require fleets of spies and planted assets. But let's look at how Trump and Clinton responded.

Clinton:

Well, I think cyber security  cyber warfare  will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president, because clearly, we're facing at this point two different kinds of adversaries. There are the independent hacking groups that do it mostly for commercial reasons, to try to steal information that they then can use to make money. But increasingly, we are seeing cyber attacks coming from states, organs of states. The most recent and troubling of these has been Russia. There is no doubt now that Russia has used cyber attacks against all kinds of organizations and our country, and I am deeply concerned about this.

Trump:

*Trump starts by bragging about endorsements, including one imagined endorsement from ICE (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency)* ...As for as the cyber, I agree to parts of what Secretary Clinton said; we should be better than anybody else, and perhaps were not. I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She's saying Russia, Russia, Russia, but I don't -- maybe it was. I mean it could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs four-hundred pounds. You don't know who broke-in to DNC... [After discussing what was learned form the DNC data leaks] ...Now, whether that was Russia, whether that was China, whether it was another country, we don't know; because the truth is - under President Obama, we've lost control of things that we used to have control over. We came and with the internet. We came up with the internet, and I think Secretary Clinton and myself would agree very much, when you look at what ISIS is doing with the internet, there beating us at our own game. ISIS. So, we have to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare. It is a huge problem. I have a son  he is ten years old. He has computers. He is so good with his computers. It's unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe it's hardly doable. But I will say, we are not doing the job we should be doing. But that's true throughout our whole governmental society. We have so many things that we have to do better, Lester, and certainly, cyber is one of them.

So, let's talk about the four-hundred pound cyber threat in the room.

It's painful to admit this, but Donald Trump has a valid point, he's right to say that security is hard work. Security isn't as simple as 'do this' or 'do that'  it's challenging and daunting at times. Trump got that fact right.

Patching is still a problem, because patching everything instantly doesn't always align with business needs  so we're stuck fending off attackers targeting MS08-067. Governments discover zero-day vulnerabilities in our networking gear and hoard them for more than a decade (thanks NSA!). Databases get owned left, right, and center because SQL Injection is now old enough to drink.

It's frustrating, not only because many of the problems faced by security teams across the globe are solvable, but also because many times those solutions are dismissed or written-off as not important right now.

Think about it. A server the red team used to compromise your exchange system could have been patched, but payroll can only use one piece of older software to process legacy accounts, and patching the server breaks the program. Guess what hasn't been patched since 2005?

Something else Trump said also made some sense, we don't know who hacked the DNC. Clinton says Russia, a lot of people do, but are they right?

We have some guesses, but nothing that is proof positive. And yet, we may never see proof positive, leaving the public with nothing but guesses to work with. Is that enough? Sometimes, but not always.

Honestly, rarely will a hacked organization know exactly who did what when it comes to working incident response. Usually they get how and when, because most incidents leave behind some markers that help define those answers. When it comes to attribution, the 'who' and 'why' are just strong guesses, based on the other collected and verifiable data.

However, it's a safe bet, whoever is working the incident response at the DNC has eliminated "other people" and "somebody sitting on their bed that weighs four-hundred pounds" as potential suspects. Hopefully.

The cyber question was just a blip during the whole debate, a blink and you miss it moment. This is unfortunate, because security is a major issue and here lately, something that has to be taken seriously.

Tony Gauda, CEO of ThinAir, shared some thoughts with Salted Hash.

"While both candidates in last night's debate acknowledged the enormity of the threat posed by cyber attacks, in particular those carried out by state-sponsored agents, neither chose to extend the conversation beyond the moderators initial prompt," Gauda said.

"Both Trump and Clinton focused on who perpetrated the DNC breach, they missed the larger point: It doesn't matter if it was China, Russia, or the '400-pound hacker' Trump mentioned who carried out the attack. What matters is the value of the data stolen, and how it's being leveraged after being compromised. In the next debate, both candidates need to expand on their policies for mitigating cybersecurity threats that affect governments and private businesses (a conversation worth more than the 5 minutes granted by this debate)."

Side note: If you're not familiar with ThinAir, their presentation at 2014's DEMO (a conference series put on by IDG Enterprise) is rather interesting.
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Honeymooners seeking over-the-top accommodations and exotic locales have a new list to peruse.

The U.S. News & World Report's Best Honeymoon Destinations of 2016-2017 ranking was just released, and it offers 20 destinations that range from secluded beaches to romantic cities.

That publication considered user votes and expert opinions when determining the best places for couples to see together now.

RELATED: How much the average wedding cost in 2015, item-by-item

Not surprisingly, there were several tropical getaways and European landmarks in the mix.

It contrasts with a recent Westin Hotels & Resorts study, which revealed that U.S. residents aren't venturing far from home for their honeymoon as often. That same report also showed that honeymooners now care more about health and wellness, even when on their romantic trip.

"One of the most surprising things about the study was how many people went running on their honeymoon," Bob Jacobs, vice president of brand management for Westin Hotels & Resorts, told Skift. "Forty percent [of honeymooners] in the last five years went on at least one run during their honeymoon and they are using it as a way to decompress, disconnect, and be a tourist at the same time."

SEE ALSO: Wedding faux pas; what not to do if you're a guest

Wherever honemooners end up traveling, or what they do when they're there, the more pressing issue is that they go somewhere. A study reported that couples who have a honeymoon are 41 percent less likely to get a divorce.

So go ahead and take that trip to Madrid, or to one of the other 19 places the U.S. News & World report suggests.
Despite headline-grabbing murders in the big cities, statistics released Monday by the FBI show crime continued to decline last year in most Fairfield County towns and cities, and across Connecticut.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Connecticut had the second largest drop nationally in violent crime in 2015 when compared to 2014, an 8.5 percent reduction. Malloy said the states violent crime rate is its lowest since 1974, and the overall crime rate overall is the lowest in Connecticut since 1967.

Over the last six years, we have experienced significant reductions in crime in Connecticut, Malloy said.

Still, while towns and cities from Greenwich to Ansonia mostly posted lower crime numbers, some categories rose, and the states murder rate increased from 89 homicides in 2014 to 117 in 2015, a 24 percent rise.

Homicides in Bridgeport jumped from 11 homicides in 2014 to 19 in 2015, a 42 percent rise, but crime across all other categories in the city was down. Shelton saw violent and property crimes, assaults and larcenies rise, and in Stratford robberies and motor vehicle theft increased while other types of crime were down.

Overall, crime is tending down, said Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara, whose department saw a 17 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts, from 29 in 2014 to 35 in 2015.

I think motor vehicle thefts in the area are on the rise, MacNamara said. But we have to recognize that even as crime is trending down, if you are a victim of a crime its significant to you. There are still too many victims of crime.

Good and bad

Malloy said the state is making significant progress in combatting crime.

We are making extraordinary strides in fostering safer communities with crime at a 50-year low and continuing Connecticuts downward trend of violent crime, Malloy said. Were being smart on crime and transforming our criminal justice system, and its working.

Nationally, violent crime, after two years of decline, increased 3.9 percent in 2015, according to FBI figures. Property crimes dropped 2.6 percent, marking the 13th straight year the collective estimates for these offenses declined.

There were 372.6 violent crimes per 100,000 U.S. residents in 2015, and the property crime rate was 2,487 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate rose 3.1 percent compared with the 2014 rate, and the property crime rate declined 3.4 percent, the FBI said.

In Connecticut, the FBI statistics paint a brighter crime picture, with more decreases by category than increases. But that doesnt mean there still wasnt crime, and some types of offenses increased by significant numbers.

In Bridgeport, the rise in homicides was the most dramatic of the Fairfield County communities. But the city is on pace to have fewer homicides this year. As of the end of September 2015, Bridgeport had 12 homicides; so far this year there have been eight.

The number of violent crimes in Bridgeport dropped from 1,338 to 996 between 2014 and 2015, and thefts, property crime, assaults and robberies all fell by significant percentages.

Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez credited the work of his officers and technology, such as video shot by stores and cell phones, with helping stem the crime rate by providing valuable information.

We go at it every day, Perez said. We are really focused on the really violent crimes and the hot spots. And technology like video is playing a big part, and information from cell phones. Last week we took 11 guns off the street. Thats very good, a game changer.

Shelton was among the hardest hit communities in the region. Violent crime rose 26 percent, from 23 offenses in 2014 to 31 in 2015. Property crime rose 9 percent, from 388 instances in 2014 to 425 in 2015. There were 30 motor vehicle thefts in 2015, five more than the previous year.

Shelton Police Chief Shawn Sequeira did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Fairfields crime numbers mostly went down across the board, the FBI numbers show. Property crimes decreased 19 percent and larcenies dropped 18 percent. But motor vehicle thefts rose from 29 to 35 incidents.

MacNamara said auto theft can be linked to other crime. There is a tendency to steal cars to complete other crimes, he noted.

Overall, MacNamara credited the work of his officers for the crime reduction.

Motor vehicle enforcement and crime prevention efforts have a lot to do with it, he said. But we see some numbers trending up this year.
Its still unknown how many farmers markets and other establishments might have received E. coli-tainted meat from a slaughterhouse in Massachusetts, but state health officials said the meat was sold to at least one Connecticut farm.

This weekend, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and United States Department of Agriculture announced Massachusetts-based Adams Slaughterhouse was recalling veal, bison and beef products that tested positive for E. coli and have sickened seven people in four states, including two in Connecticut. The involved states, the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control have launched an investigation into the outbreak.

State health department spokeswoman Maura Downes said the USDA is supposed to provide the state with a complete list of places where the meat products were sold sometime this week. She said its already known that some of the recalled meat was sold to Ox Hollow Farm in Bantam. Ox Hollow sells to farmers markets all over the state, including those in Trumbull, Westport, and the Rowayton section of Norwalk.

Informing the public

In an email, Ox Hollow owners Mark and Stephanie Maynard said they are parsing the recall information to figure out how much of their meat was affected by it. They were not prepared to make a statement regarding our distress that our high quality, pasture raised, certified black Angus Beef could have potentially been cross-contaminated, they said.

Please be mindful that we are a farming family who work hard every day to provide our Connecticut with high quality farm products and this should be no reflection of the work we do or our products integrity, the Maynards said.

More Information Fast facts on the recall Here are a few key facts about the Adams' Slaughterhouse recall. The raw intact and non-intact beef products originated from animals slaughtered on July 15, 25, and 27, 2016 and August 3, 8, 10, 11, 17, 24 and 26, 2016, and further processed and packed on various dates between July 21, and September 22, 2016. The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 5497 inside the USDA mark of inspection and have lot numbers: 120361, 121061, 121761, 121861, 122161, 122261, 122361, 122461, 122861, 123061, 123161, 123261, 123561, 123661, 123861, 124561, 125261, 125861, 125961, 124261, 120461, 120961, 121161, 121661, 124461, 125061, 126661. A full list of the recalled products is available at http://bit.ly/2duDH4A Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Ed Maltby, General Manager of Adams Farm Slaughterhouse at 978-249-9441 x 105. See More Collapse

Downes said she hopes a complete list of those who sold and used the meat in the state is available soon.

Obviously, its in the public interest to get the information out as soon as possible, she said. Because it is a multi-state outbreak, we are following the USDAs lead, and we do have to wait on them.

Meanwhile, at least two farmers markets that sell Ox Hollows products said theyve been in contact with the Maynards, and plan to keep customers informed about the recall.

Rob Martini, who organizes the Trumbull farmers market, said in an email that he had spoken at length with Mark Maynard, and that customers will be made aware of the recall and will be able to return any food that may have been affected.

Westport Famers Market Executive Director Lori Cochran said in an email that she was also contacted by Ox Hollow, and everyone has been very responsive and advocating for a quick response to any questions.

Hard to track

Food-borne illness outbreaks are notoriously hard to track, said Linda Drake, nutritionist and program Director for the University of Connecticut Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

But, she added, an outbreak that stemmed from food distributed at a farmers market should be simpler to get to the bottom of, because the supply chain is shorter.

It seems to me that the fewer steps that the product goes through, from production, processing and to the consumer, and the smaller the enterprise, the easier it is to track, Drake said. So something from the farmer's market should be easier to track, once the food that caused the illness in the first place is identified.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who has frequently called for increased food safety measures, called the recall unsettling and urged a full investigation.

As E. coli continues to threaten American families, we have more work to do to ensure that all meat products are properly inspected before they are sold in stores, she said. While I am grateful to the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the CDC for doing their due diligence in determining the source of the outbreak, I urge the USDA to aggressively and expeditiously investigate how E. coli found its way into this companys products.
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The college readiness of the last class to take an SAT with obscure vocabulary questions and a lengthy writing section continued to slide downward in 2016 for both the state and the nation.

In Connecticut. the Class of 2016 managed an overall score of 1,497 on the three-part test  17 points lower than the Class of 2015 and 28 points lower than the Class of 2014.

The slip mirrors nationwide scores, which dropped six points from last year to this year for a combined score  for reading, math and writing  of 1,484.

Average math scores, nationwide, slipped three points, to 508, writing slipped two points, to 482 while critical reading scores slipped one point, to 494.

Still, in the release, College Board President David Coleman focused not on the bottom line but on the change.

This is a peculiar year, he declared in a press briefing. We are caught in between.

Most graduating seniors took the test one or more times before the introduction of a new SAT in March. The new test reverted to a two-part math and reading exam and shrank from an overall scale of 2,400 points back to 1,600.

As such, the reported results only reflect tests taken by the Class of 2016 through January. The March test was not included in the results. As a result, college board official say the results really cant be compared year to year.

The test was also changed to reflect what students are learning in school. Scoring penalties for guessing were removed, and the essay, which few colleges asked for, was made optional.

More Information Average SAT Results for College Bound seniors, Class of 2016 Test takers Reading Math Writing Connecticut 500 500 497 Nationwide 494 508 482 See More Collapse

Early indication from the College Board, the organization that offers the test, is that most test takers prefer the new model. Of some 70,000 test-takers surveyed, 75 percent found the reading test the same or easier. The Class of 2017 results will form a baseline for future score comparisons, officials said.

Now, preparing for college is the same as practicing for the SAT, Cyndie Schmeiser, chief of assessment for the College Board, said. That, she said, makes the test fairer.

Old or new, Schmeiser said the results show there are still far too many kids leaving high school not ready for college.

Statewide assessment

It was the new version of the SAT that was substituted in Connecticut last spring for a statewide 11th grade assessment administered in public schools. On that, students averaged 520 on the language arts test and 502 on the math. The top score on each section of the test is 800 points.

Based on standards set by the state those scores indicated only 40 percent of high school juniors were performing well in math while two-thirds were reading as well as they should.

The old test, meanwhile, is what most of the Class of 2016 took. In Connecticut, there were 35,902 test takers. As is customary, most students designate one or more colleges to receive their scores. Nearly 45 percent of all seniors in the state last year had their scores sent to the University of Connecticut. Close behind were states four regional public universities and Quinnipiac University in Hamden.

Overall participation in the SAT and PSAT, a practice test, is up. Part of that is because more states are now offering the test during the school day. That is one reason given for the decline in overall scores.

Some, however, say the new test is little better than the old one. Bob Schaeffer of FAIRTest, an advocacy organization, said the main flaws of the college readiness test still exist. He pointed out that the number of colleges making the SAT optional continues to grow.
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TRUMBULL  As the Trumbull Farmers Market comes into the home stretch of its season with three more weeks left, some residents have voiced concerns about parking.

Its an issue market operator Rob Martini said he is hoping to have fixed going into next year.

I can kind of see it every week, he said. It is pretty obvious that we would benefit if it was a little more organized.

Residents have taken to social media to criticize cramped parking at the market, which housed 20 vendors from across the state this year.

Martini, who along with his wife, Catherine, runs the market, said those in attendance can look for extra parking behind the Nichols United Methodist Church across the street on Shelton Road.

For next year, he said, he has looked into several services that are affordable and safe that can help with the organization of the lot.

Beginning in May, the market is open every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 is the final day.

Martini said this year has been a major success and once the parking issue is handled, the market will look to possibly expand.

Overall we feel great about how its gone. Were real happy with it, he said.

AJohnson@hearstmediact.com;
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton didnt see eye to eye on much Monday night during their first debate of the 2016 presidential campaign, but they did agree on one thing: preventing those on the governments terrorism no-fly list from purchasing guns.

I think we have to look very strongly at no-fly lists and watch lists, the New York real estate developer and Republican candidate said. And when people are on there, even if they shouldn't be on there, well help them get off. But I tend to agree with (no fly, no buy) quite strongly.

No fly, no buy is the name given to the legislative proposal to prevent those on the governments terrorism watch list from purchasing guns. The measure was one of two that formed the basis of Sen. Chris Murphys filibuster in June, in which he held the Senate floor for nearly 15 hours until Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to a series of gun-related votes.

The Murphy-backed proposals  no fly, no buy and expanded gun-purchase background checks  went down to defeat, as did two Republican alternatives.

Things are changing

Late last year, after terrorism-related shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed a Connecticut version of no fly, no buy. But the idea never gained traction because of lack of access to the government list.

In the aftermath of the Newtown mass shooting in 2012, Connecticuts congressional delegation has assumed a leadership position on issues of gun violence prevention.

On the day after the presidential debate, members of the delegation expressed surprise (laced with suspicion) that Trump would ever express agreement with the former secretary of state and first lady on anything, let alone gun issues.

Dear gun lobby, things are changing, Murphy Tweeted on Tuesday. Our candidate kept on pushing gun safety last night. Yours folded . . .

But a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, which opposed the Murphy-backed version of no fly, no buy, said there was no disagreement with Trump over his backing of no fly, no buy Monday night.

Last night Donald Trump echoed the NRAs concerns about denying innocent Americans wrongly on these lists their constitutional rights, said Jennifer Baker of the NRA, which has endorsed Trump. He didn't say anything different than what we have said  and he has said  in the past.

But Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, made no such distinction.

Even though Hillary Clinton would be a disaster for the Second Amendment, CCDL disagrees strongly with both candidates over prohibiting anyone that has not been indicted or convicted of any wrongdoing from legally possessing or purchasing firearms, he said.

Left unclear in the debate was which version of no fly, no buy Trump is backing. Because he wove in kind words about the NRA and legal protections for those on the list, advocates on both sides assumed Trump was endorsing the Republican version of no fly, no buy.

Competing versions

That alternative, from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would give the government 72 hours to show probable cause to deny an individual a gun purchase based on suspected terrorist activity. Democrats bitterly opposed that, saying the FBI would arrest a suspect if they had evidence that met the probable cause standard.

The Murphy-backed Democratic bill included an appeal route for those who claim to be on the list wrongly, but contained no time limit.

A few Connecticut lawmakers said it made no difference to them which particular piece of legislation Trump was thinking of when he expressed support for no fly, no buy.

I regard both the NRA and Trump as fact-free zones, so the distinctions may be lost on me, Rep. Jim Himes said.

They also questioned the NRAs credibility in backing any piece of legislation, Republican or Democrat.

Rep. Elizabeth Esty recalled negotiations with the NRA in which the premier gun-rights group appeared to compromise over background-checks legislation, only to back off.

I no longer consider the gun lobby to be a fair broker, she said. A lot of NRA members supportive (of gun legislation), but the leadership has taken a scorched-earth approach. Its unfortunate and wrong.

dan@hearstdc.com
User-generated content (UGC) is like gold hidden in the rubble. Its potential value is great, but you'll need to do a lot of navigating to unlock its true potential. Content marketers have already weighed in on the benefits that can be derived from UGC, and many brands have made the move to make it part of their content-marketing strategy.

Related: 7 Legal Steps You Must Take Before Outsourcing Content Creation

The reason? Improved search-engine optimization wins UGC approval from marketers and brands alike. It also brings enlarged capabilities to win over millennials and unlocks an obvious source of promotional opportunity for businesses to tap into.

But, like every other form of marketing, user-generated content can be tricky if not handled well. This is why it's important to ensure content marketers implement best practices when using UGC as part of their overall strategy. Here they are:

1. Define the legal angles.

The legal aspect of user-generated content is not to be overlooked. Your company should consider issues such as copyrights, responsibility for stolen content and ownership of content. Bigger brands are quick to sort this out before launching their UGC campaigns because they have the advantage of a more powerful and well-sized legal team behind them.

Smaller businesses must invest to get it right from the very beginning, even though theyre exploring UGC to decrease their content-production costs. If yours is one of those small businesses, you need a well-defined legal document that your contributors can access.

This should spell out roles and responsibilities regarding the content they share. The agreement also must state the contents ownership conditions, after you upload it on your servers.

"Clear up any doubts about what your user expectations should be," says Marc Smith, founder and CEO of Top 10 Digital Agencies. "Your users have an expectation of how their content may be used, and for what. Your intentions with the content may be different from theirs. It is the job of well-prepared terms and conditions to clear this up."

2. Optimize content for quality.

Regardless of what else is in the legal agreement, its your companys responsibility to ensure that the quality of user-generated content meets your brands quality standards and satisfies your business needs.

For instance, most small businesses rely on search engines such as Google to attract customers. This means that the website hosting the UGC content must include material worthy of Google rankings.

"Google is increasingly toughening their stance on what the definition of high-quality content is," says Guy Sheetrit, founder of Over The Top SEO. "Your users may not be paying attention to the little details that will make their content stand out. You should wade in to improve the quality of the content from your users and make it more suitable for consumption on your website."

Sheetrit also cautions companies not to diminish the true value UGC contributes to the authenticity of your marketing efforts. "While your team works on improving the quality of your user-generated content, it's important to make sure their message is not lost, he says. This is the essence of using UGC to begin with.

Related: 6 Wise Investments for Your Small Marketing Budget

3. Portray your band with the best user content.

Not all content you receive deserves a spot in the limelight.

Whether the content you publish is user-generated or self-sourced, know that everything you publish affects customer perceptions of your brand. Unless you're Facebook or Instagram, you need filters between what users submit and what your audience sees.

"Bringing the best content in the glare of your audience has a double effect, Smith says. It encourages users to keep producing top-notch content, as they also aim to be noticed; and it also keeps your audience satisfied.

Related: How to Use Content to Create Trust With Users

As brands continue to benefit from UGC in advertising and awareness campaigns, the rules that guide the process will progressively be reshaped to define clear best practices. In the meantime, these strategies can help ensure you dont go wrong in your push to connect with users and your broader market.

Related:



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Havana Club Seven Years rum displays new image

Submitted by: Juana

Havana

Business and Economy

09 / 27 / 2016



Havana Club seven years, known for placing Cuban rum as a leader in the super premium category worldwide, is ready to be marketed in the domestic and international market with a new image.

At a press conference, Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, director of Havana Club International S.A. (HCI), stressed that the design change intends to attract consumers of high quality drinks through a presentation that reflects the history of the most legendary product of the company.

The renewed bottle evokes the shape of the container used in the early twentieth century, when it began production of dark rums in this archipelago, though, assured Cottin-Bizonne, it maintains the same amount of liquid and the sale will continue at usual price.

Jose Navarro, First Maestro of Cuban rum and creator of Havana Club seven years, recalled the origins of this spirit drink -in February 1978- obtained from bases aged for more than four decades, and initiator of the tradition of "continuous aging".

Named Foundational Rum, that mix, the most complex and difficult, allowed the creation of superior rums in Cuba and worldwide, known as extra-aged, he added.

There is no rum better expressing the Cuban cultural mix and flavor than Havana Club seven years, Navarro stated.

Mirelis Acosta Lopez, HCI head of Marketing and Sales, said the new design includes the presence of a handmade label, which highlights the nature of the product with colors that reflect Cuban culture.

In addition, messages characterizing the drink and referring to its history, with the image of its creator, Maestro Jose Navarro, are incorporated to the bottle.

According to Cottin-Bizonne, the company is prepared to face the opening of new markets, including the US, where it still cant be sold because of the limitations of economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Havana Club is present in more than 120 countries, is the third international rum brand worldwide, outside the US.

Created in 1993 from the union between the Cuba Ron Corporation and the French group Pernod Ricard, HCI currently reinforces its iconic collection composed of Havana Club Masters Selection, Aged 15 years, Union and Maximo, all prestigious rums designed for luxury segments. (acn)
Mayor of Houston heads trade mission to Cuba

The Mayor of Houston, Texas, Sylvester Turner, arrived Sunday in Cuba heading a 30-member trade mission aimed at exploring opportunities to expand bilateral links following the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana.

Turners agenda include talks with Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment minister Rodrigo Malmierca; Energy and Mines minister Alfredo Lopez; Tourism minister Manuel Marrero, and with the minister of Health Roberto Morales.

Texas has maintained commercial relations with Cuba for years now, but such links have been restricted due to the economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba.

Last year, Texas governor Greg Abbott visited Cuba in an attempt to open more avenues for exchange between that US state and the Caribbean island.

Turners delegation includes representatives of the Texas Medical Center, the Houston Harbor authority, Houston Airport System, the Houston Community College, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Halliburton Oil Corporation, and United Airlines company, which is scheduled to begin direct commercial flights from Houston to Havana in November, among other institutions.(acn)
Prosser, defense propel Berlin past Penns Manor in Appalachian Bowl

Berlin Brothersvalley made it 2 wins in a row for the WestPAC in the Appalachian Bowl with convincing victory over Penns Manor at Windber Stadium.
Boo! What are the scariest spots in Lake County?

The old courthouse. A tea room in Mount Dora. Lake County has several places that are thought to be haunted.
We could have done with some stirring martial music, as used in Soviet-era newsreels from Moscow.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, a mechanical orator (hand gestures courtesy of 'Thunderbirds'), was laying down his vision. 'In this party you no longer have to whisper it'  an icy smile  'it's called Socialism.'

Britain under the Corbyn-McDonnellist heel would be an egalitarian steppe of cooperatives, the 'old elite circles' having been smashed in favour of worker-owned factories where pay was set by 'sectoral bargaining'. Citizens would be paid the same basic wage, ordained by central command. Every town would have a state-run 'business hub'.

John McDonnell vowed to bring socialism back to Britain yesterday with a 10-an-hour minimum wage and plans to put every adult on benefits

Ah, hubs, a word of wafflers from management consultancy to politics. 'Hubs' can be boxed with 'best practice' and 'one-stop shops'.

Mr McDonnell's blandly-written speech, delivered without elan, created rapture in the hall.

For 20 years they had put up with Blairites peddling centrist compromises. Here was an authentically mirthless Marxist promising to wipe out private ownership. The Momentum-ised activists scented Bolshevik revolution.

A trio of prosperous-looking old women in front of me fluttered their palms in applause. There are a lot of these old biddies. Corbyn's grannies. Tribune's tricoteuses. They wear Latin American earrings, carry hessian bags and radiate a moneyed, vegetarian vibe. There are more of them around, I sense, than there are black and minority ethnic members. Odd. Labour used to be good on that score.

Mr McDonnell confirmed Labour would press ahead with plans for a 'real living wage' of over 10 an hour

How would this paradise, costing hundreds of billions, be funded? Mr McDonnell said there should be no new tax on income. Instead he would pursue 'those who hold wealth'.

A phrase to chill Middle Britain. Beware, you pensioners, homeowners, anyone with savings. They'll be coming after you and your family baubles. Hampstead's Leftie millionaires will be clutching their necklaces.

Here at the Labour conference it is no wonder they are all calling each other 'comrade' again. The morning session was a fascinating throwback to pre-Kinnock days. There was much eye-bulging fury, much talk about international socialism, industrial strategies and the redistribution of wealth.

The only Shadow Minister who sounded half-normal was Defence spokesman Clive Lewis, yet his speech went off half-cock after rumoured interference from a spin doctor.

In a bizarre aside, Mr McDonnell declared: 'Under Labour there will be no more Philip Greens at all'

The Shadow Foreign Secretary  perfect bookend for bonking Boris  is Emily Thornberry, a.k.a. Lady Nugee. Think the young Hattie Jacques squeezed into a royal blue frock. She gave a hilariously breathy, basso speech which mentioned 'our brothers and sisters in Colombia'.

I adore Embles, though she is a monument to silliness. She poses as some pocket Passionaria and yesterday went all glottal-stoppy, perhaps lest her posh accent displease the Bruvvers. On finishing, she stepped towards Mr Corbyn with slow, melodramatic tread  fringe thrown high, chin to 45 degrees  and nestled in close while the old devil gave her (I almost said 'them') a squeeze. Mag-nificent!

TUC barons stabbed chipolata fingers at the lectern and demanded renationalisation and greater rights to strike. Len McCluskey of Unite, stubbly jowels, vinegary vowels, adapted 'Henry V' when he told moderate Labour MPs 'if you have no stomach for the fight, depart the battlefield'. He added: 'Comrades, we've all seen where power without principles leads'. Mr Corbyn clapped hard this dig at New Labour.

A man from the Communications Workers' Union moaned that there were too many 'crap jobs' and a 'disease of people in boardrooms, celebrating as they bloody well break things up.' Again, the genteel ladies in front of me leapt to their feet, frenzied with delight. Sir Philip Green  he of the yachts  was repeatedly pilloried. I bet the Tories do the same next week.
It was the day the Shadow Chancellor dragged Labour back to the 1970s, with a blueprint for national bankruptcy and mass unemployment straight from a Marxist textbook.

An end to restrictions on the right to strike a universal basic income, for those in or out of work wholesale state intervention in industry

Consigned for decades to the lunatic far Left fringe, the policies outlined yesterday by John McDonnell are now the official programme of Her Majesty's Opposition.

'In this party you no longer have to whisper its name,' he says. 'It's called Socialism.'

John McDonnell vowed to bring socialism back to Britain yesterday with a 10-an-hour minimum wage and plans to put every adult on benefits

No wonder so many Labour MPs despair over the fate of their party.

What earthly sense can it make to enforce 'sectoral collective bargaining', obliging all firms to pay the same rates, whether they can afford them or not?

Could there be any surer guarantee of driving struggling companies out of business  except, perhaps, for increasing the minimum wage beyond many employers' ability to pay (which Mr McDonnell also proposes)?

As for where the money is to come from for his spending splurge, the Shadow Chancellor suggests nothing better than a massive increase in borrowing by a country already drowning in debt.

Otherwise, he falls back on that discredited standby of the Left  swingeing tax increases (to be paid, of course, by the undefined 'rich').

Indeed, this naked appeal to class warfare will resonate only with the most embittered in our society.

But then as Guy Adams reports on this page, there's a ruthlessly ugly side to Mr McDonnell which makes him the most dangerous front-bencher for decades.

As for where the money is to come from for his spending splurge, the Shadow Chancellor suggests nothing better than a massive increase in borrowing by a country already drowning in debt

After all, he makes no secret of his belief that violence is a legitimate means to political ends, saying IRA murderers should be 'honoured', while cracking 'jokes' about assassinating Margaret Thatcher and knee-capping Labour councillors who oppose Sinn Fein.

Even now, he refuses to apologise for repeating calls for former Employment Minister Esther McVey to be 'lynched'.

Friends like to portray Jeremy Corbyn as a decent and principled politician. But how can this square with appointing Mr McDonnell his chief henchman?

Betraying the workers

It's not often this paper sees eye to eye with the unions. But when the GMB attacks Labour's plan to ban fracking for shale gas, we couldn't agree more.

Yes, there are environmental concerns over fracking  though as the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled, they are grossly exaggerated by green lobbyists.

But as the GMB points out, turning our backs on the abundant cheap energy promised by fracking would increase prices and put countless jobs at risk.

Indeed, Labour's rejection of fracking is one more betrayal of the ordinary working people it was founded to champion.

But then what can we expect of a party whose newest peeress, the bien-pensant Shami Chakrabarti, contemptuously dismisses its traditional supporters as 'Essex Man'?

Nobody sane could be offended by Coronation Street character Eva Price's description of her hair as having 'more roots than Kunta Kinte'  a reference to Alex Haley's novel Roots, which features an 18th century slave of that name. Yet in our mad world, this hasn't stopped the regulator launching an inquiry to discover if the line was racist. Let the Mail save Ofcom the trouble: no, it wasn't  it was a pun.
A group of grandmothers are proving you're never too old to take on a new challenge as they take on skydiving, water water rafting and urban slacklining on a new TV series.

Ann, 77, and Joy, 73, both from London, Roz, 65, from Singapore, and Grace, 73, from Glasgow, join Irish daredevil Nancy Ashmawy, 74, on the new Sky 1 series 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammies, which begins this week.

Nancy, a retired nurse from Dublin, is an old hand at taking on such terrifying adventures around the world, as she has previously filmed two series of the show with her son, Irish TV and radio presenter Baz Ashmawy.

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Nancy Ashmawy, second from right and her son Baz return for a new series of 50 Ways To Kill Your Mammies with new recruits Roz, left, and Grace

Roz, Grace and Nancy try edgewalking around the CN Tower

Baz, right, with the daring pensioners hang over the edge of the tower

Nancy, 74, has now done a number of daredevil stunts and hopes she inspire others to face their fears

The group including Grace, pictured, also try slacklining between two skyscrapers

In previous episodes she as jumped out of a plane, sat on a crocodile and done a bungee jump off a bridge between two mountains.

On the new series, she and her brave peers will edgewalk around the CN Tower and slackline between skyscrapers in Toronto, paraglide in Dubai and go barehand fishing in a Peruvian jungle.

They also abseil down a 140ft waterfall in Costa Rica, plunge down a 30ft freefall waterslide in Dubai and learn deer-hunting from some gun-toting Canadians.

For good measure, the group zipped down the Thames in a speedboat when they launched the new series to the press.

Grace, 73, said: 'I just hope that somebody my age will look at me and think, "If she can do it, then so can I"'

Roz, 65, from Singapore, prepares to try a sky high zip wire

The group of grandmothers battle the white water of the Nile rapids in Uganda

The pensioners spent time camping in the Peru rainforest

Nancy, who was 70 when she first agreed to take part in the show with her son, said she is proof you are never too old to try something new.

'You shouldn't really think about your age because it's your health that's important.

'I'm in my 74th year, and I don't think about what I can or can't do. A lot of younger people come up to me and say they couldn't do the things that I do on the show and I say "of course you can",' she told the Irish Independent.

Nancy, who is a grandmother to Charlotte, 19, Harry, 16, Jake, 13, Amelia 11, Hanna, five and Mahy three, said it is good to 'face your fears'.

Joy, 73, gets ready to try a skydive as the grandmothers face their fears on the show

Roz goes abseiling in the jungle after Sky searched bingo halls and community centres in the UK to find pensioners to take part in the adventure series

'In my case, it has given me a certain amount of confidence. I was always terrified of water and am not a great swimmer, but now when I go into the sea, I don't have that fear,' she said.

For the third series of the Emmy award winning show - which Baz says will be the last - they recruited four extra pensioners to try the terrifying tasks alongside Nancy.

Baz said they searched bingo halls and community centres across the UK to find the brave volunteers.

One of them is Grace, from Scotland, who told the Daily Record she couldn't resist getting involved when she heard about it as she had never travelled before.

Nancy, pictured white water rafting on a previous series, used to have a fear of water but says she has conquered it thanks to doing scary challenges

Nancy pictured skydiving on the first series of the show said she hopes her antics show others it is never too late to try something new

She said: 'I never thought at my age that I would be risking my life to complete a list of crazy challenges.

'But it's the best thing Ive ever done and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Most of the trials were pretty scary but it was better than sitting at home doing nothing.'

Like Nancy, Grace, who is a widow, hopes her antics can encourage others to face their fears and try new experiences.

She said: 'I've now got amazing stories to tell, such as surviving camping in the desert to hunting wild animals and the sublime feeling of paragliding.

'I just hope that somebody my age will look at me and think, "If she can do it, then so can I."'

The group zipped down the Thames in a speedboat when they launched the new series

Nancy gets to grips with a gun as she tries shooting on the new series

New recruits Ann and Joy also said taking part in the show was an amazing opportunity which they are glad they embraced in their retirement years.

Ann told the Irish Mirror that her late husband would have been stunned to see her paragliding and camping in the jungle.

'He would have said "You're absolutely off your head",' she said.

Joy agreed and said plenty of people have called her mad for globetrotting at her age, but she has no regrets.

'I've had people tell me I'm brave, mad, crazy... and that they've always wanted to do the things I have,' she said.
A mother has penned a children's book to ensure her adorable son, Roman, 18 months, remains proud of his bright red hair.

Melissa Giret, from Pelican Waters, Queensland, has never written a children's book, but was inspired to give it a go after hearing a bunch of children laughing at her son's hair colour.

'When Roman was born he has this fiery red hair and so many people commented on it... I never realised I'd get so many comments,' Ms Giret told Daily Mail Australia.

Adorable: A mother has penned a children's book to ensure her son Roman, 18 months, remains proud of his bright red hair

Proud parents: Melissa Giret (left), from Queensland, has never written a children's book, but was inspired to give it a go after hearing a bunch of children laughing at her son's hair colour

'We were super proud of this and loved that everyone loved his hair as much as we did.'

But the doting mother is also aware that in childhood, any difference can also lead to kids being picked on.

'Roman hasn't been bullied or anything but when he was at daycare I overheard some children running around saying his hair was funny,' Ms Giret, who works in insurance, said.

Proud: 'When Roman was born he has this fiery red hair and so many people commented on it... I never realised I'd get so many comments,' Ms Giret told Daily Mail Australia

Cute: But the doting mother is also aware that in childhood, any difference can also lead to kids being picked on (Roman is pictured with his older sister)

'I didn't think much of it but I know there is bullying out there for red heads and I want to make sure he's proud of his hair now and remains that way as he grows up.'

However, when looking for a book to read to Roman that had a main character with red hair, Ms Giret had no luck... so decided to write her own.

At that moment, 'Roman Has Red hair' was born.

Not so positive: 'Roman hasn't been bullied or anything but when he was at daycare I overheard some children running around saying his hair was funny,' Ms Giret said

'I wanted to write something that I could read to Roman before bed with beautiful coloured pictures that made him feel great about himself,' Ms Giret said.

'Throughout the book Roman has this bright red hair that sticks up and won't lay flat and he doesn't like it so he wears a hat.

'But as the book goes on he realises that everyone has different coloured hair and that his hair allows him to hide in autumn leaves things like that. So by the end he absolutely loves his hair.'

Doing it her own way: However, when looking for a book to read to Roman that had a main character with red hair, Ms Giret had no luck... so decided to write her own

On a mission: 'I wanted to write something that I could read to Roman before bed with beautiful coloured pictures that made him feel great about himself,' Ms Giret said

Ms Giret hopes the message of the book will resonate with other children and help them to feel special.

'I have never written a children's book but I wanted to do this because I realised nothing is out there and there should be,' she said.

'Roman is the happiest kid in the world and I want to keep it that way. I don't want him to be picked on or to ever feel bad about himself or his hair.'

All smiles: Ms Giret hopes the message of the book will resonate with other children and help them to feel special

Simple as that: 'Roman is the happiest kid in the world and I want to keep it that way. I don't want him to be picked on or to ever feel bad about himself or his hair,' she said

Ms Giret currently plans on self-publishing the book to get it up as soon as possible, as most of the publishers she sent her book to refuse to accept authors who do not have an agent.

'This can take years and I want to be able to read this to Roman before kindy,' she explained.
The gritty detail of childbirth is not something many people are comfortable talking about.

Even pregnant women are often in the dark about exactly what to expect during labour and afterwards.

This is what mother Marta Browne, 35, from Queensland, felt after giving birth to her first child and having a traumatic experience.

Marta Browne (above) has spoken out about vaginal injuries that many women experience during birth

During the birth of Ms Browne's first child, Abigail (centre) she experienced third degree tearing

'I was in an unimaginable level of pain,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I went into labour on a Sunday, so I had an on-call obstetrician who just wanted to speed things up.'

Ms Browne says she was given a drug to try and make her labour go faster.

'It makes the contractions come faster, so your body doesn't have time to get used to it,' she explained. 'Then on top of that, I had an epidural that didn't work.'

'I ended up with third degree tears,' she said, explaining that she needed an episiotomy - a surgical cut in the muscular area between the vagina and the anus which makes the vaginal opening larger.

'I didn't even know how bad it was or what had happened until one of the nurses told me,' she said of the experience.'

She said she didn't even know how bad it was until a nurse told her afterwards

Ms Browne said that she had pain for a year after birth and struggled to have sex with her husband (stock image)

Because of this, Ms Browne suffered both physically and emotionally for some years afterwards.

'Every time I would sneeze or even get goosebumps it was very painful,' the mum explained. 'Sex was very difficult and painful. I would go to have sex with my wonderful and loving husband but was crying.'

It also had an impact on the new mum's relationship with her daughter, Abigail.

'It took me three months before I loved my daughter,' she said. 'Because you're equating pain with your baby. For a while I didn't want any more children.'

It had an impact on her relationship with her daughter, because she said she associated her baby with pain

This experience left Ms Browne feeling very isolated and alone, because not even her mothers' groups spoke about birth injury.

However new research by Medibank shows that 74 per cent of all women who give birth experience a injury.

Vaginal tears are most commonly experienced, followed by haemorrhoids, damage to the pelvic floor and incontinence.

Pelvic organ prolapse, nerve damage and fistulas also occur, but only in less than 10 per cent of women.

Research by Medibank shows that 74 per cent of women experience injury during birth

Ms Browne thinks that education is key to help women during birth. 'With my second birth, I was pain free within weeks,' she said.

'We forget about women. And new mothers are in the most danger, they're given no choices, they're not informed.

'Afterwards the damage is done. We need to talk about it more.'
With silk dresses, 1,000 designer bags and skyscraper heels, Amal Clooney's outfits are glamorous enough to grace a red carpet.

Yet the glossy-haired human rights barrister, 38, has spent the past fortnight parading her wardrobe at events linked to issues ranging from sex slavery to the refugee crisis.

Amal wore a different designer label  often several designer labels  each day.

But given her worthy role, some of her haute couture fashion seems out of place. Even saving the world, it seems, is better done in designer clothes, be they bought or borrowed.

Here, SARAH RAINEY explores two weeks of Amal's wardrobe  and reveals its eye-watering 34,403 price tag . . .

SEPTEMBER 12

The outfit: This navy and maroon suit is by Sonia Rykiel (jacket, 1,080, skirt, 786). Amal paired it with a 1,189 Dolce & Gabbana tote bag, 470 shoes by Aquazurra and 190 Salvatore Ferragamo sunglasses.

Outfit cost: 3,715

The worthy cause: A meeting with Nadia Murad, a member of the persecuted Yazidi community, at the state ministry in Stuttgart. Nadia, 22, was kept as a sex slave by Isis  and Amal is taking them to court on her behalf.

Amal Clooney wore a navy and maroon suit by Sonia Rykiel (jacket, 1,080, skirt, 786) on September 12

SEPTEMBER 14

The outfit: Amal brought some floral elegance to proceedings in a 2,580 lace pencil skirt by Dolce & Gabbana. Her 995 yellow bag and 925 cut-out slingbacks were also by D&G.

Cost: 4,500

The worthy cause: Meeting Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, to discuss the crimes being committed by Isis.

Amal (left) brought some floral elegance to proceedings on September 14 in a 2,580 lace pencil skirt by Dolce & Gabbana

SEPTEMBER 16

The outfit: Amal stood out in a sea of black suits in this 1,100 cream wool silk Gucci dress, paired with a 1,255 D&G red leather Anna bag and 770 Giambattista Valli mirrored black heels. She shielded her eyes with 314 Gucci shades  and a slick of red lipstick matched the stripe on her dress.

Cost: 3,439

The worthy cause: A UN speech about human trafficking on behalf of Nadia Murad. At one point, Amal kneeled on the floor to embrace her client, and later escorted her to a charity reception.

Amal stood out in a sea of black suits in this 1,100 cream wool silk Gucci dress, paired with a 1,255 D&G red leather Anna bag on September 16

SEPTEMBER 17

The outfit: Strutting through Manhattan, Amal donned a 1,769 pink embroidered coat by Altuzarra. Her 913 gingham-checked trousers and 395 black wool jumper are by the same label, while her black and blue slingbacks are 400 by Giambattista Valli and white leather holdall costs 1,740 from Roger Vivier.

Her shades are 190 by Elizabeth & James.

Cost: 5,407

Worthy cause: A TV interview with NBC, entitled Amal Clooney's Dangerous Mission Against Isis.

Her 913 gingham-checked trousers and 395 black wool jumper are by the same label

SEPTEMBER 18

The outfit: Compared with her racier choices, this 700 charcoal Dior dress  tweed with a metallic thread  is pared down. Amal matched it with 495 earrings by Kiki McDonough and her usual red lipstick.

Cost: 1,195

Worthy cause: Rubbing shoulders  quite literally  with the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, Amal spent the evening meeting campaigners against sexual slavery and raising public awareness of the horrific crimes being committed against women worldwide.

Amal matched the 700 Dior dress with 495 earrings by Kiki McDonough and her usual red lipstick on September 18

SEPTEMBER 19

The outfit: She wasn't going to blend into the background in this bright pink Max Mara trouser suit. The jacket, with feminine frilled lapels, isn't even in the shops yet  so Amal is thought to have borrowed this 800 design.

Cost: 800

The worthy cause: Amal (with client Nadia Murad) sought out hunky Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the UN for a meeting about refugee aid.

Amal (with client Nadia Murad) sought out hunky Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the UN for a meeting about refugee aid

SEPTEMBER 20

The outfit: Old-school glamour in this Jackie O-style tea dress (1,795 by Alexander McQueen) and 425 Prada pumps, She carried a 850 CH Carolina Herrera Baret handbag and wore 165 shades from Heidi London.

Cost: 3,459

The worthy cause: A UN discussion including husband George, involving their charity, the Clooney Foundation For Justice.

She attended a UN discussion including husband George, involving their charity, the Clooney Foundation For Justice on September 20

SEPTEMBER 20

The outfit: Later in the day, Amal changed into a vintage grey crepe dress by Pierre Cardin. She bought the sleek gown from an online auction site for 1,200 in June. It's the first time we've seen her recycle accessories on her New York trip  she must have travelled with an extra-large suitcase (or three)  and she paired the dress with her 1,189 D&G tote bag and 925 slingbacks.

Cost: 3,314

The worthy cause: An evening meeting with UN emissaries, including Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (below), to discuss solutions to the Yazidi genocide.

Later in the day, Amal changed into a vintage 1,200 grey crepe dress by Pierre Cardin

SEPTEMBER 21

The outfit: A 1,470 Gucci dress, 770 Giambattista Valli mirrored heels and a 1,189 D&G tote. Her 250 Gucci shades complete the look.

Cost: 3,679

The worthy cause: An impromptu press interview with her client, Nadia Murad.

On September 21, Amal was wearing a 1,470 Gucci dress, 770 Giambattista Valli mirrored heels and a 1,189 D&G tote

SEPTEMBER 22

The outfit: Same day, different outfit. After lunch Amal changed into the 800 Max Mara suit she wore earlier on in her trip, but this time paired with her 925 Dolce & Gabbana pumps and an 850 CH Carolina Herrera Baret Bag with a tan handle.

Cost: 2,575

The worthy cause: Discussing her latest report, on corruption and human rights abuses in South Sudan, with a select group of UN officials  before returning to her suite at the 500-a-night Carlyle Hotel.

After lunch on September 22, Amal changed into the 800 Max Mara suit she wore earlier on in her trip

SEPTEMBER 22

The outfit: Amal donned this asymmetric scarlet wrap dress, 595 by New York designer Proenza Schouler, paired with a 1,340 black shoulder bag by the same designer. Her nude heels, 445, are by English brand Paul Andrew, and she also wears 190 Elizabeth & James shades.

Cost: 2,570

The worthy cause: Setting out for a day of philanthropy on the Upper East Side, Amal was with client Nadia Murad and her PA, who lugged a heavy bag bulging with files.

She donned this asymmetric scarlet wrap dress, 595 by New York designer Proenza Schouler

SEPTEMBER 23

The outfit: For an evening engagement, Amal chose this 1,137 midnight-blue Stella McCartney dress with racy cut-out sides, worn with 760 cream Giambattista Valli slingbacks and a 1,140 Dolce & Gabbana bag.

Cost: 3,037

The worthy cause: Amal and George awarded ten scholarships to refugees from Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. The children were awarded prizes by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative.

Amal chose this 1,137 midnight-blue Stella McCartney dress with racy cut-out sides on September 23

SEPTEMBER 25

The outfit: Pretty in a ponytail, Amal stepped out in this floral print black and beige dress, 2,696 by Michael Kors, with 925 Dolce & Gabbana pumps, 850 CH Carolina Herrera Baret Bag, and 165 D&G sunglasses. She normally does her own hair and make-up, but has had stylist Rod Ortega on call in New York.

Cost: 4,636

The worthy cause: A formal briefing on Isis's role in human trafficking to round off her UN negotiations.

TOTAL spend: 34,403

Amal stepped out in this floral print black and beige dress, 2,696 by Michael Kors

PS: WHAT SHE USED TO LOOK LIKE

Back in February 2011, singleton Amal's work staples were more likely to be drab High Street odds and ends such as this 250 Jaeger trenchcoat, 175 Russell & Bromley heels and 45 bag  from none other than Marks & Spencer.
Two years ago Jinara Henry was born and sent home as a happy, healthy baby girl.

Only 36 hours later she began having strokes that killed most of her brain and almost claimed her life as well.

To this day her parents Kerryanne and Dean still don't know what caused her rapid decline.

'It's the unknown  doctors still don't know why it happened and living with that is hard,' Mrs Henry told Daily Mail Australia.

Painful ordeal: Kerryanne Henry said not knowing what had happened to her daughter Jinara (pictured) was incredibly hard

Unexpected: Just 36 hours after she was sent home with a clean bill of health, Jinara began having seizures and strokes

Mrs Henry, a mother-of-three from Dubbo, NSW, said she knew in her gut that something was wrong the minute her baby girl started having seizures.

'I gave birth and 36 hours later she started having twitching problems and we didn't know what it was.

'My instinct was that something was terribly wrong but I didn't know what it was. I asked doctors to check her but there were other babies that needed more attention at the time.

'Four doctors checked her and said she was fine. We took her home and it went downhill from there.'

Amazing: Since her brush with death two years' ago, Jinara's condition has slowly improved

Jinara's condition began rapidly deteriorating the second the family returned from the hospital.

'Her eyes were flickering, she was turning blue. It wasn't normal,' Mrs Henry said.

'I got really frightened. Me and Dean rushed back to the hospital.

'We found out they were actually strokes. They killed her brain. The left side of her brain is completely gone. Parts of it were black  the white matter was damaged.

'She was meant to die, the doctors told us.'

A blessing: Although caring for Jinara can be difficult, Dean (left) and Kerryanne (right) said their daughter was a blessing

Positive outlook: Kerryanne said she and husband Dean had no other choice but to think positively when dealing with Jinara's condition

From such a dire a prognosis, Jinara's condition has slowly improved in the two years since.

Although her parents spend most of the time taking her to medical appointments, and the financial burden is an immense strain, Mrs Henry said her daughter was a blessing.

'Since then she's been upwards and onwards. She can see, she has full vision, she can sit up and she tries to talk.

'She's doing amazingly.

'From a situation where doctors said there was nothing they could do and she was going to die, to where she is now, it is just amazing.

'We've always been positive. We had to be. It's either that orI don't know what we'd do.'
A mother has revealed the shocking moment she was verbally attacked in a shopping centre and called obscene names for breastfeeding her baby.

Kate Louise, a mum-of-two from in Werribee, Victoria, was at her local shopping centre on Monday when her youngest son, who is one, needed to be fed.

It was school holidays and Ms Louise said the parents' room was 'standing room only' so she decided to feed her baby sitting on a couch in the shopping centre.

Shocking: Mum Kate Louise (above) was attacked for breastfeeding her son in a shopping centre

Cuties: Ms Louise was feeding her one year old son (right) when two women told her to go somewhere they couldn't see her

It was then she said she was approached by another mum, who she estimated to be in her 40s, and her teenage daughter.

She said the woman approached her and told her to 'go and do that where my daughter and I don't have to see you,' Ms Louise said.

'I was so shocked. I couldn't believe that a fellow mother would attack me for feeding my child,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I was so shocked': Ms Louise said one of the women called her a s**t

Standing her ground: The mum said she would keep feeding her son

Ms Louise said she told the women her baby needed to be fed and she wasn't going to move.

It was then that she claimed the woman told her, 'that is not a baby, he is way too old to be feeding off your t*t.'

'Her daughter chimed in and blew me away, "And you look like a slut". To which her mother laughed and gave her a hi five as they turned to walk off,' Ms Louise said.

The mum was so angry and upset by the comments that she decided to write about being shamed on her blog, Claim Your Mumjo.

Upset: The mum was so angry that she wrote about the incident on her blog

Outpouring: Other mothers have been extremely supportive of Ms Louise and condemned the women

Other mothers have reached out to Ms Louise following the blog post, supporting and encouraging her.

'The reaction has been amazing. Mothers from everywhere have been so supportive and warming,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
After a team of police barged into Mel Jacob's house, her young children knew something was wrong.

Their father Patrick popped out that afternoon and, uncharacteristically, they did not hear from him in hours.

The kids, then two and five, begged their mother to tell them where he was.

In fact, Patrick was behind bars.

Doing it tough: Mel Jacob (right) and her husband Patrick (left) are pictured with their two children Nick and Lexie (not their real names) on the night before Patrick went to jail

The next day Mel found out her husband had been arrested for possessing and selling unlicensed weapons.

He would eventually spend two years, of a four-and-a-half-year sentence, in prison on charges which stemmed from possessing a slingshot - which is illegal in NSW - and an unregistered rifle.

The arrest shattered the picture-perfect life Mel and her husband had built in the idyllic Blue Mountains since leaving inner-city Sydney to settle down.

In a revealing interview with Daily Mail Australia, Mel, 43, described why she was open with her kids about their father's crime and the struggle of raising them while he was in prison.

'The police, eight of them, knocked on our door one afternoon in January 2011. We were about to go on holiday,' she said.

'They said they had a warrant and needed to search the house. Patrick was locked up that night and our son, Nick, was desperate to know where he was.

'I was honest with them from the beginning.'

Honest: Mel said she had no choice but to be honest with her children about their father's stint behind bars. She is pictured with son Nick

The harrowing experience of her own grandfather's suicide was one of the reasons she decided to be honest with her kids rather than shielding them.

'We told them the truth for two reasons. Firstly because they were there when the police arrived.

'My son is an anxious child and the more you conceal from him the more he worries.

'And also, my grandfather committed suicide when my mother was only eight and no one ever told her. It was not until she was an adult that she found out about it.

'I think I just had the opinion that shielding them from that heartbreak can hurt them more in the long run.

'I think it's good for them to see their parents are flawed.'

Humiliating: Mel said visiting her husband in jail was a humiliating experience, but worth it so the kids could see their father

Patrick was sent to NSW's Mannus Correctional Centre in 2013 and Mel would take her children on 12-hour round trips from the Blue Mountains to visit him in prison.

'I think I found the visits harder than they did,' she said.

'And it was quite humiliating for Patrick. But we decided it was better for them to see him and continue that relationship.

'We thought that would be more detrimental to them in the long run.

'And, to be honest, a lot of the time they just wanted a Crunchie from the prison vending machine.'

'Don't be ashamed': It was better to be truthful about their father's crimes than it was to hide them, Mel told her children

After their first visit to see her dad in jail, Lexie revealed a plan to 'break him out' as she was being tucked into bed that night.

Mel encouraged her children to be honest about their missing father.

'I said the best thing is to tell your best friends, you don't have to tell everyone. Because we were so open there wasn't much anyone could say about it.

'People also knew the charges. Patrick was not a murderer or a paedophile, and that partially set minds at ease.

'I told my children not to be ashamed, that this was the truth and they should be honest.'

Although Patrick's absence did not take its toll straight away, Mel said the children began acting out when they realised their father was not around to help and play with them.

'At first they didn't think it was a big deal. All they were concerned about was getting some biscuits.

'But when it started sinking in and he wasn't around to play and wrestle, that's when they missed it and started to act out a bit.

'My son was saying the whole time that divorce was way better than prison. I told him you might feel like that way but suffering is not a competition.'

Learning to live together: It has been 18 months since Patrick returned from jail, and time is slowly bringing the family back together, Mel said

Patrick was traumatised when he returned from jail last year and he and Mel are still working on repairing their damaged relationship.

'He would get really angry. Normally I'm the fiery one and he's the calm person,' she said.

'But he would go off about the pantry being messy, or the toothbrush jar that had gunk on the bottom.

'He flinched at loud noises and would sometimes recoil when touched on the arm.

'It's been 18 months and time does heal things. And we are learning how to live together again.

'I'm so glad to have him back.'

*The children's names have been changed
Just one day before his sons first birthday, Lachie Hollitt was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Initial testing showed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, liver and brain.

Doctors said he had a 72 per cent survival rate, but the cancer continued to spread.

Nine months after he received the initial diagnosis the caring father and loving husband lost his battle with the disease, leaving behind his wife, Amy, and their little boy, Jake.

Lachie was just 30 years old.

Determined not to let anyone else go through what she has, Amy spoke out about testicular cancer, and told Daily Mail Australia she hopes to raise awareness about the disease.

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Amy Hollitt has spoken out about testicular cancer after she lost her husband Lachie to the disease. The couple are pictured together with their son Jake

Lachie was diagnosed with cancer just one day before the couple's son turned one

Before he was actually diagnosed, testicular cancer never crossed our mind, Amy, 28, said.

You dont even hear it spoken about ever, but more young men die of testicular cancer than women of breast cancer.

I just dont want people to have to go through what I had to go through.

When Lachie first went to the doctor about swelling on his testicle they prescribed him with antibiotics

Amy, who lives on the Gold Coast with her son Jake, now two and a half, said Lachie first went to the doctor after finding a swollen spot on his testicle.

Doctors initially diagnosed him with an infection and prescribed antibiotics, saying if he saw no change to come back and they would administer the antibiotics intravenously.

Six month later, and with no improvement, he went back, only to be prescribed with more antibiotics.

They sought another opinion from a doctor who did a full blood test and ultrasound.

One year after he first presented with symptoms, Lachie was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, liver and a spot on his brain.

TESTICULAR CANCER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer in young men aged 18 to 39. The five year survival rate for men diagnosed with testicular cancer is close to 98 per cent. SYMPTOMS OF TESTICULAR CANCER: Painless swelling or a lump in a testicle Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum Change in the size or shape of the testicle Feeling of unevenness Pain or ache in the lower abdomen, the testicle or scrotum Enlargement or tenderness of the breast tissue (due to hormones created by cancer cells). DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: Boys should be checked for testicular cancer from 13 years old. There is no routine screening test, and there is little evidence that testicular self-examination detects cancer earlier. Tests include an ultrasound and blood tests. The only way to diagnose testicular cancer is by surgical removal of the affected testicle. Treatment can include removal of the testicle, radiation or chemotherapy. Source: Cancer Council Australia. Advertisement

It was not until 12 months after he first visited a doctor that Lachie was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, liver and a spot on his brain

At the time the family were living in rural South Australia and were told they needed to go to Adelaide for treatment.

It was still reasonably positive, the doctors in Adelaide were saying he had a 72 per cent survival rate, Amy said.

Lachie started his first of what was to be four rounds of chemotherapy.

In one week he went from a healthy 80 kilograms to just 64 kilos.

He started undergoing chemotherapy, and doctors said he had a 72 per cent survival rate

The chemotherapy saw him go from about 80 kilograms to just 64 kilos

After the chemotherapy doctors removed his infected testicle, and the young family left the hospital feeling positive.

But two months later, a scan showed the spot on his brain had grown to more than 20 cancerous spots.

I knew at that point if we didnt try some other things he was not going to last very long. Amy Hollitt, 28

Doctors started palliative care in the form of whole brain radiation.

The treatment heavily impacted on Lachies quality of life, and after being told doctors were unsure of the outcome of the treatment, they chose to up the dose and cut treatment short.

We had an amazing Christmas day, he was really well for a couple of weeks over Christmas, and then New Year hit, Amy said.

He couldnt get out of bed, he was just riddled with really bad migraine headaches that made him vomit if he stood up.

I knew at that point if we didnt try some other things he was not going to last very long.

Further testing after chemotherapy showed the spot on his brain had grown to more than 20 cancerous spots

The family sought alternative treatment on the Gold Coast that improved Lachie's quality of life, allowing him to spend precious time with his family

The family relocated to the Gold Coast where Lachie attended a natural therapies retreat.

There he spent time in an oxygen chamber and was administered high doses of Vitamin C through an IV line.

The treatment eased his headaches, and allowed the family to spend precious time together.

About a month after the treatment his headaches returned.

Lachie was placed in hospital where he had three seizures in one day, he fell unconscious, and on February 23 this year he passed away.

Lachie passed away in hospital on February 23 this year, nine months after he was first diagnosed

Amy wants other men to get regular testing, and hopes to start a support group for men who have testicular cancer

I want men to realise that its okay to go to the doctor, obviously in this case it could save their life, Amy said.

Amy made a powerful video that shared her story, urging others to learn more about testicular cancer.

She wants men to put their ego aside, and not be afraid to get checked.

Your ego is nothing compared to your life, she said.
It was supposed to be a celebration of the long-running television series One Man and his Dog.

However, viewers tuning in to watch the BBC's 40th anniversary special were more than a little distracted by some rather fruity double entendres.

Challenging the Great British Bake Off for smutty innuendo, Sunday night's Countryfile was laden with references to 'dogging', 'flighty ewes' and even a herder nicknamed 'Lucky Dick'.

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'He should be dogging the two sheep, not the three' Shepherding expert Andy Jackman left presenter Matt Baker in stitches with his suspicious terminology

Paws for thought: The 40th anniversary special of One Man and his Dog saw sheepdogs from across the country competing to win

Carry on shepherding: The show had viewers in stitches with its double entendres

During the hour-long broadcast, one of the show's presenters, Matt Baker, couldn't help but titter...and he wasn't alone, with plenty of people sniggering on social media.

Filmed at historic National Trust property Florence Court in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, the special was a celebration of shepherding skills and invited contestants from across the British Isles to compete.

However, some of the terminology used proved more than a little dubious, with shepherding expert Andy Jackson often the source of the misguided humour.

'He should be dogging the two sheep not the three,' he exclaimed at one point before saying that he wouldn't reveal how a herder known as 'Lucky Dick' got his name, which left Matt Baker smirking.

Co-presenter Anita Rai also joined in, saying of farmer Dick Roper from the Cotswolds: 'Dick and his dogging could be tested to their limit.'

Unsurprisingly, gutter-minded Twitter noticed and plenty of people questioned whether they had actually tuned in to the right programme, known for its wholesome fresh air reputation.

'I won't say how he got his name!' Presenter Andy Jackman called English farmer Dick Roper (pictured third from right) 'Lucky Dick' which left viewers tickled

A one-way ticket to corpsing: Matt Baker and Andy Jackman can't help but smile as they commentate on the shepherding

Not an al fresco sexual pursuit, but actually a long-used shepherding term

@johnproc57 wrote: 'Quite enjoying the dogging on Countryfile. That's what it's called right?'

@jonanor added: 'One-eyed dick? Lucky dick? Dogging? What am I watching here #rude #ooermissus'

@scuzzmonster2 added: 'Nothing like a spot of dogging in the countryside. #countryfile'

@JonHSharp penned: 'Has to look up to confirm I was still watching #Countryfile 'He's on the wrong sheep' and 'Should be dogging the other'! Really?'

The tweets then moved on to the name of the Cotswolds farmer. @jhuntridge was envious: 'I wish I was known as Lucky Dick. #Countryfile #onemanandhisdog.'

@mary_bobbins added: 'Dick is known as Lucky Dick' Pure filth on tonight's #countryfile'
Princess Caroline of Hanover was in high spirits as she met with young children as part of a charity project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Caroline, 59, who is known by her married title, Princess of Hanover, cheered a young girl dancing in Kinshasa on Monday during a presentation of the project Capoeira for Peace.

The scheme introduces children formerly associated with armed forces and groups to the practice of capoeira - a Brazilian martial art that fuses elements of dance, acrobatics and music - to facilitate their reintegration into their communities in the province of North Kivu.

Princess Caroline of Hanover (C) cheers a girl dancing in Kinshasa during a presentation of the project Capoeira for Peace that introduces children formerly associated with armed forces and groups to the practice of capoeira to facilitate their reintegration into their communities in the province of North Kivu

The program Capoeira for Peace was conceived by the Brazilian Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo and counts among others with the support of the World Association of Childrens Friends (AMADE), a non-profit organisation founded by Queen Grace of Monaco and which Princess Caroline of Hanover directed over the years.

The charity aims to help children, who are often the first victims of internal conflicts and are either killed, exploited or forced to enroll in the armed forces.

The Princess of Hanover last paid a visit to Kinshasa in June 2013 and joined the Brazilian Ambassador and the MONUSCO Force Commander to integrate capoeira into the process of rehabilitation of these children.

Princess Caroline of Hanover (C) pose with chidren in Kinshasa.The program Capoeira for Peace was conceived by the Brazilian Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo

With the help of UNICEF, two Centres of Transfer and Orientation were set up to help teach these children the dance.

Princess Caroline of Hanover was last seen in June standing proudly next to her daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, at an equestrian event.

The European royal was also joined by her youngest child, daughter Alexandra of Hanover, her only child with her third husband Prince Ernst of Hanover.

Princess Caroline of Hanover stands proudly next to her daughter Charlotte Casiraghi at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco in June
A teenager bullied for being covered in birthmarks hopes to become a Hollywood star to help inspire body confidence in other young girls.

Marika Nagy, 19, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, spent years being taunted by school bullies, who said she looked like a 'cow' and was 'splattered with mud'.

But after years of abuse, Marika says she has finally found the confidence to embrace her unusual birthmarks.

Marika Nagy, 19, say she spent years being taunted by school bullies, who said she looked like a 'cow' and was 'splattered with mud'

Now, after years of abuse, Marika says she has finally found the confidence to embrace her unusual birthmarks

She now hopes to pursue her acting dream to inspire other girls to love themselves the way they are.

Marika, who was born in Bremen, Germany, but now works as an au pair in the UK, said: 'I spent most of my childhood hiding away. But I refuse to allow other people to stop me from achieving my ambitions.

'My birthmarks make me special. The world would be a very boring place if we all looked the same.

'I have moved to the UK to take up acting lessons and hopefully accomplish my dream of becoming an actress. I won't let the bullies bring me down.'

During her school years, Marika says she was subjected to a series of terrifying verbal and physical attacks because of her appearance.

Marika in 2002, aged five. Marika said: 'I spent most of my childhood hiding away. But I refuse to allow other people to stop me from achieving my ambitions'

Marika in 1998, aged six months. She said: 'My birthmarks make me special. The world would be a very boring place if we all looked the same'

Around 60 per cent of her skin is covered in birthmarks, with the largest one measuring 30cm by 45cm.

Marika said: 'I had a difficult time at school and didn't have any friends. Girls cornered me in the corridor and called me '"ugly". Sometimes they'd push and kick me.

'And it didn't stop once I got home. Bullies set up fake profiles and commented on my pictures, saying they should be taken down as they were offending people.

'Eventually I lost all of my confidence and began to believe that the bullies must be right when they said I was disgusting.'

Doctors have been unable to determine why she was born with so many birthmarks, but Marika has already undergone seven painful operations to remove the largest birthmarks and reduce her risk of cancer.

In 1997 aged four months. Around 60 per cent of her skin is covered in birthmarks, with the largest one measuring 30cm by 45cm

Marika in 2000, aged three (left) and in 2004, aged seven (right). During her school years, she was subjected to terrifying verbal and physical attacks because of her appearance

While most birthmarks are not dangerous, people with large or multiple birthmarks have a higher chance of developing melanoma - the most serious type of skin cancer.

So when Marika was just two months old, her parents - nursery teacher Andrea, 54, and engineer Axel, 52 - allowed surgeons to remove a large birthmark on her back.

Marika said: 'It was touch and go whether I would survive, but thankfully I pulled through. After that, I had six more operations to remove birthmarks all over my body.

'As I got older, new ones grew - particularly on my face, arms and legs. And that's when the bullying started.

'My parents told me I was beautiful, but it was hard to believe them when strangers pointed and laughed, or people at school told me I was ugly.'

Then in her early teens, Marika discovered a passion for acting - which she says has given her the confidence to embrace her birthmarks.

Marika now. When was just two months old, her parents - nursery teacher Andrea, 54, and engineer Axel, 52 - allowed surgeons to remove a large birthmark on her back

Reflecting on her childhood, Marika said: 'My parents told me I was beautiful, but it was hard to believe them when strangers pointed and laughed, or people at school told me I was ugly'

Marika today. Throughout her early teens, Marika discovered a passion for acting - which she says has given her the confidence to embrace her birthmarks

She said: 'I loved drama at school, as it meant that I could pretend to be someone else. For a few hours, I wasn't Marika the birthmark girl - I was someone happy, or interesting or fun.

'With time, this stopped being an act, and became who I really was.

'I loved watching English movies, especially Harry Potter. It really struck a chord that Harry knew he was different to everyone else, because that's exactly how I felt.

'Now, I don't have to act happy or confident. I love and respect myself, and I no longer feel that I have to hide away.'

Determined to embark on a successful career as a Hollywood actress, Marika moved from Germany to Manchester in July this year.

She said: 'My mum is originally from Yorkshire, so it's been nice to spend time in the country she grew up in.

'I feel like I can be myself here, and I'm looking forward to taking on exciting new opportunities.

Now 19, Marika says: 'Now, I don't have to act happy or confident. I love and respect myself, and I no longer feel that I have to hide away'

Determined to embark on a successful career as a Hollywood actress, Marika moved from Germany to Manchester in July this year

'Of course people still stare at me in the street. Young children are particularly curious, so they'll tug their parent's sleeve and say "Mummy, look at that girl!"

'It doesn't offend me, though. I do look different, and I'm proud of that.'

Marika now hopes that her unique look will help to show other girls that beauty lies in individuality - a message she tries to instil in younger sister, Janka, 16.

She said: 'I will never look like a typical Hollywood movie star, but I'm glad. My birthmarks make me who I am.

'I want to show girls that it is our differences that make us beautiful. That we don't have to be ashamed of being unique, and bullies will not break us down.
Some suggested battenberg, while others thought

Facing nearly two million viewers of a morning means BBC presenter Louise Minchin is no stranger to her outfits being scrutinised.

However, a block-colour frock comprising pink, yellow and black, worn by the 48-year-old presenter today prompted some unusual debate.

'She looks like a Neapolitan ice cream,' suggested one viewer on Twitter, with others thinking the striped, close-fitting office wear was actually more like a slice of yellow and pink Battenberg cake.

Just desserts for wearing a bright dress so early? BBC presenter Louise Minchin sparked debate over whether her dress looked more like battenberg than Neapolitan ice cream

Colour me bad: Minchin said the conversation on Twitter made her 'chuckle'

Clearly tickled by the desserts-based fashion analysis, Minchin engaged with viewers about her style choices on Twitter.

She said: 'Glad to see it is only 6.08 and the Refresher, Battenburg, All-sort dress debate has started. It makes me chuckle.'

The debate continued, with @ChrisTheDJ penning: 'In honour of @louiseminchin presenting @BBCBreakfast dressed as Neopolitan ice cream, I am going to work today dressed as a yoghurt.'

Dan Walker seemed oblivious to the storm in a teacup caused by his Breakfast co-presenter's dress

The comments on social media were mainly positive...although one Twitter user suggested the eye-catching office wear didn't suit Minchin

Brightening up breakfast: Louise's fans were quick to reassure her on her sartorial choices

@john_harris13 quipped: 'Is Louise Minchin presenting the breakfast or playing 'Battenburg' in the school play?'

@pollybirkbeck added: 'Louise Minchin looking like a slice of Battenberg cake this morning #bbcbreakfast'

When one critical commentator, @Dunxi, suggested that Minchin 'bin the stylist', the presenter hit back with: 'I don't have one.'

There were compliments galore though, with one viewer suggesting the mother-of-two looked 'good enough to eat' while another said the frock was 'pretty sexy'.
Jeremy Kyle viewers were left cringing after the chat show host became uncharacteristically flirty with a grandmother who has had surgery to boost her breasts to a 32MM cup.

Sharon, 50, revealed that she had paid 10,000 for two operations to increase her 34D cleavage by 10 times, giving her the second largest fake breasts in the UK.

And her fiance Carl Hamilton insists he 'loves everything about' her - including the attention she gets from other men.

Grandmother Sharon flaunted her 32MM breasts on the Jeremy Kyle Show

She and fiance Carl said that they love the attention she gets for her oversized chest

And it seemed that Jeremy joined those ranks as Sharon arrived on the stage in a clinging tangerine-orange dress and he praised her as looking 'fantastic' and younger than 50.

Sharon insisted that the surgery has given her, 'better shape, in clothes, tight clothes. I just feel so much better.'

And she explained that she'd had the operation because, 'you're only young once, and a long time dead', adding that she has no plans to have them reduced.

Carl, however, beamed with pride at his fiancee, saying, 'she's brilliant. I can't complain'.

An approving Jeremy even sent the guests off after showering them with praise for Sharon's operation and her glamour model plans and encouraging the audience to give them a round of applause.

She and fiance Carl said that they love the attention she gets for her oversized chest

Sharon explained how her cleavage makes her feel better about herself and clothes fit better and look better on her now that her top half has been so exaggerated

The old Sharon: The 50-year-old says her former look left her feeling depressed 'As I was getting older my breasts were getting softer and droopier'

But viewers were far from convinced by Sharon's physique and were left embarrassed by Jeremy's behaviour.

They also questioned her motivation for having such extreme implants.

@thacookiemuncher said, 'You just know Jez had a good look at those boobs'

'Griselda Saggybags added, 'for the 1st time ever I'm going to weigh my boobs'

Jeremy Kyle quizzes the pair about life with Britain's second largest fake breasts

Jeremy asked Carl Hamilton why his fiancee 'flaunted' her boobs and why they had to be so big

She added in a separate tweet, 'Dear god in heaven those fake t** make my real gg boobs look tiny'

'Newt wrote:@ 'Those boobs look like they're weighing her down a bit'

Bindi Boo found Carl amiss, writing: 'So he's only with her because she has mahoosive boobs... Top bloke'.

Jemma had a more cynical take, '10k on fake boobs?? Bet she wants free NHS treatment for her sore back'

Abi asked, 'Why do people [have] fake boobs that big? I'm surprised surgeons do it'

Alice Merry tweeted, 'How is this woman on Jeremy Kyle coping with those size boobs. I can't even cope with mine and about six sizes down'

MissMyerz said, 'Surprised Jeremy was able to look at her face'

But Sharon pays little notice to her critics and has previously opened up about how after her divorce settlement finally enabled her to get the implants she'd dreamed of.

After receiving 33,000, Sharon spent 4,500 on her first surgery which took her 34D chest to a 36H.

Within six months Sharon and Carl, who buys and sells antiques, agreed she should go even bigger and after forking out another 5,500, Sharon was left with gigantic 32MM boobs which contain 1,500cc or 2.6 pints of silicone each.

Grandmother Sharon Perkins, 50, has spent 10,000 on Britain's biggest breasts - but says she wants to further enhance her look by aiming for a tiny 22 inch waist

Ms Perkins plans to marry Carl Hamilton next year and hopes to achieve her dream of a super-trim waist by then

But as well as expanding her chest, Sharon has previously revealed how she is exaggerating her silhouette by wearing a waist trainer to give her a 'Jessica Rabbit' look.

Perkins said of her corset-wearing: 'I can't believe the difference I've seen in three months, I've lost three stone too, the results have been amazing.

'It is hard to move around and get comfortable but it's definitely been more than worth it, when I have my mind set on something I'm determined to make it happen.

The glamour model says that she feels sexier and confident and that partner Carl can't get enough of her enhanced curves.

'Carl can easily wrap his hands around me now to feel his 'best friends,' they definitely catch the public's attention too.'

'I can't wait to marry Carl next year, but I won't get married unless I've reached my goal - a 22 inch waist, so that my body looks the best possible for our big day.

After splitting up with her husband, Ms Perkins (pictured) from Coventry, spent some of the money from her divorce settlement on two boob jobs

The glamorous granny says the surgery has given her a new lease of life

Her new partner, Carl , 50, is delighted with the attention her new additions get and has nicknamed her breasts his 'best friends'

Now she plans to have bigger implants with the goal of having the biggest boob to smallest waist ratio in the world.

Sharon adds: 'When I had my implants I loved how they transformed my body, but now it's just not enough.

'I'd like to double my chest size again and have a 22 inch waist.

'Implants are a walk in the park compared to waist training, I have to be incredibly strict and determined to wear corsets for 12 hours every day.

'I get asked a lot if my boobs make my back hurt or if they're heavy but I've not had any pain, I guess my body had adapted and got used to them.'

Ms Perkins received 33,000 from the divorce settlement, and while her former husband spent some of his money on a new car, she decided to get a breast enlargement

Sharon's gigantic 32MM boobs contain 1,500cc or 2.6 pints of silicone each

Jessica Rabbit is Perkins' inspiration and she's become obsessed with emulating her cartoon curves

'I love walking down the street now, they get so much attention, I love seeing people's reactions and strangers always stop me to ask questions.

'I used to work as an office administrator, my life was completely boring and I was in a mundane marriage that had just become routine.

'The response I've had from strangers had been great, people often ask me to feel them and I don't mind at all and I always see people staring.

'They feel really soft and natural, while being firm and perky at the same time.'

'As I was getting older my breasts were getting softer and droopier and I longed for perkier, firmer boobs.

'Now I stand out and everything about my life is different and exciting, I have a new lease of life and my new look has done wonders for my sex life.

'I can't wait to get even bigger boobs, I just need to find the surgeon to do it.

Former office administrator Sharon vows to never go back to her old life which she called 'mundane and boring'

Family affair: Perkins says one of her daughters now wants to go under the knife too

'I would've had the surgeries years ago but didn't have the money and I don't think my ex-husband would've been happy with the attention they got.

'Meeting Carl and starting a new chapter was the best thing I ever did, other than having my new knockers of course which were worth every penny.

'As soon as I'd had the surgery I felt amazing, I got such a buzz from them and people in the office joked I was the new Jordan.'

The rest of her money from the divorce settlement has been put into a farmhouse in Bulgaria that Ms Perkins and Mr Hamilton are in the process of renovating.

Eyes up! Carl, an antiques dealer, loves Sharon's curvier frame and actively encouraged her to seek more surgery

And the boobs came from America: Sharon's breasts had to be shipped over from the US

Her breast size is slightly larger than that of Army wife Debbie Delamar, 36, from Brecon, Pwoys, a previous claimant of the Britain's biggest fake breasts crown, who has endured three procedures to take her from a 30DD to a 30KK.

'I couldn't believe when the surgeon told me he would have to order the implants all the way from America,' said Ms Perkins.

'He explained the UK didn't do implants the size I wanted, but I told him to do whatever it takes, I wanted to be as big as possible.

'Now I want to go even larger it's even harder to find the implants I want but I will persevere until I find them and the surgeon to do it, bigger is definitely better.
There was a lot to love at Milan Fashion Week as far as beauty goes. There were dreamy, pink glittery pouts at Fendi, Betty Boop-like bobs at Moschino and subtle flashes of silver pigment at Versace.

Aside from being super playful and supremely gorgeous, all of these looks have one thing in common: Both Hadid sisters wore them on the runways.

Gigi, 21, and Bella, 19, walked in an impressive five shows together last week. Though the siblings have distinctly different styles - Bella has that brooding, raven-haired thing going on, while Gigi is a quintessential California girl - they both pulled off each hair and make-up transformation with aplomb.

Below, we share our top five beauty looks from Milan Fashion Week, as seen on Gigi and Bella Hadid.

Sister, sister: Bella (left), 19, and Gigi Hadid (right), 21, walked in five shows together during Milan Fashion Week

VERSACE

For a sporty yet refined look, make-up artist Pat McGrath painted a flash of silver pigment on the inner corners of the eyes.

After the show, the legendary face painter revealed on Instagram that the striking pigment is set to be the next sure-to-sell-out launch from her her eponymous beauty brand, Pat McGrath Labs.

While we're not quite sure whether the pigment will be part of a bigger set of products, we are sure that we must have it - epecially if it'll make us look as effortlessly cool as it made Bella and Gigi look on the Versace runway.

Silver lining: The silver pigment seen on Bella (left) and Gigi (right) at Versace gave the models what make-up artist Pat McGrath called, a 'sporty yet refined' look

MOSCHINO

Gigi led the pack of models - which included Bella - at Thursday's Moschino show, wearing a short, flipped bob and '90s make-up inspired by someone they both likely look up to: Supermodel Linda Evangelista.

The siblings were clearly feeling the look; they left the show wearing the wigs and posted selfies on Snapchat all the way home.

Wigging out: No Gigi (left) and Bella (right) didn't cut their hair for Moschino; the Betty Boop-like looks were wigs

FENDI

A Japanese Manga cartoon served as inspiration for the beauty look at Fendi, which managed to be both cute and edgy at the same time.

In their hair, models like Gigi and Bella wore pins adorned with colorful studs plucked from Fendi bags.

On the lips, they wore flecks of salmon pink glitter that was adhered with Ben Nye Glitter Glue. 'It's as if shes bitten into a donut full of glitter,' make-up artist Peter Philips told Vogue.com.

To give the look a punk element, Peter created a broken cat eye, drawing the liner along the inner and outer sections only.

Candy girls: Bella (left) and Gigi (right) looked like cartoon characters that had come to life on the Fendi runway

MAX MARA

To achieve an 'exotic individual look', make-up artist Tom Pecheux applied MAC Paint Sticks along the sides of the face at an upward angle.

Each model received a different combination of hues; Bella was adorned with red and black, while Gigi wore green and white. They've certainly earned their stripes.

True colors: Forget highlighter; Bella (left) and Gigi (right) wore coloful stripes along the side of the eyes at Max Mara

BOTTEGA VENETA

'This is a modern woman who is very pulled together in an elegant way,' said hairstylist Guido Palau of the look he created for Saturday's show, which featured a square hairline and a metal flower hair pin affixed behind the right ear.

'From the front, the hair is quite masculine, but then when you see it from the side, the jewelry and waves add a lot of femininity,' he continued.
Long-term exposure to aluminium chloride can trigger the development of tumours which spread to other parts of the body

Women who regularly use deodorants containing aluminium salts could be at greater risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has claimed.

Swiss researchers argue long-term exposure to aluminium chloride can trigger the development of tumours which spread to other parts of the body.

But previous studies have denied there is any link - and manufacturers insist products are entirely safe.

The latest study, by scientists at the University of Geneva, suggests there may be an increased risk due to the use of aluminium compounds in antiperspirants.

These compounds temporarily block sweat glands  but can build up in breast tissue and produce some oestrogen-like effects.

While some simple deodorants, designed just to mask odour, do not contain them, most do.

Andre-Pascal Sappino, co-author of the study, looked at isolated human mammary cells and later replicated it in studies on mice.

The study found long term exposure resulted in tumours which metastasise - or spread.

He said there was compared people's scepticism over its potential cancer-causing properties to asbestos.

'Asbestos is cheap, has very attractive industrial potential, and it took 50 years to ban it.

'We hope it doesn't take so long to ban aluminium salts,' he told The Local.

He said injections of aluminium salts in mice resulted in 'very aggressive tumours'.

Professor Sappino, an oncologist, said that although no formal link has been established, he would advise women - and even men - against using deodorants that contain the salts.

Dr Sally Norton, an NHS consultant, previously told MailOnline that studies so far have been inconclusive.

'If the risk was very high, we would know about it by now so we shouldn't be too alarmed,' she said.

It is thought the compounds temporarily block sweat glands  but can build up in breast tissue and produce some oestrogen-like effects, which are linked to breast cancer

'However, the increasing use of chemical products on ourselves, around the home and in our wider environment is almost certainly causing some harmful effects and we should try to reduce them wherever possible. '

Co-authored by four researchers from the Clinique des Grangettes, Professor said further research was needed and he expected a backlash from the cosmetics industry.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said the latest study should be viewed with caution.

'This study looks specifically at mouse cells grown in the lab and in mice and we need to put its findings in the context of previous research looking at human breast cancer.

'Studies investigating antiperspirant or deodorant use in women have consistently shown no good evidence of a link to breast cancer.

'With the current evidence, there is no reason for women to be concerned about using them on account of their breast cancer risk.

'There are, however, established ways that all women can help reduce their risk of the disease, including cutting down on alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular exercise.'
Britain may be chilly, but at least a trip to the seaside here is unlikely to leave you with anything more serious than an ear infection.

But could that change? Last week it was reported that some experts fear Britain is on course to be warmer and wetter as global temperatures rise.

According to a report from the Department of Health, Health Effects Of Climate Change In The UK, British winters will become less cold but wetter, whereas summers will become warmer and probably drier in some places.

Some warn that these changes could create ideal conditions for some of the worlds most unpleasant and deadlier diseases to get a hold in the Mediterranean and even the UK.

These include cholera and zika, which is linked to microcephaly (a devastating brain defect) in babies.

Last week it was reported that some experts fear Britain is on course to be warmer and wetter as global temperatures rise

And a study, Explaining Ocean Warming, published this month by the International Union for Conservation of Nature suggested that a form of tropical food poisoning known as ciguatera  caused by eating fish that have consumed toxins released in seawater by algae  could soon be common around the UKs coastline.

Water temperatures on the South Coast in July and August are already edging up to the 15c needed to support a bloom of the algae.

Warmer temperatures will have far reaching effects on a whole range of public health in the UK, says Dr Nick Watts, director of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change.

This includes increased risk of water-borne diseases across Europe such as cholera, as well as those that are carried by insects that thrive in warmer temperatures.

So what can we expect? We spoke to the experts

CHOLERA

CURRENTLY FOUND: Cholera is endemic in many parts of south-eastern and central Asia including Bangladesh and Pakistan.

It also affects countries in Africa and South America.

WHAT IS IT? A water-borne illness, it is spread by a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae which is linked to plankton found in marine environments.

It causes acute diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps and can lead to severe dehydration which can kill within hours.

Once ingested, it passes out via an infected persons faeces, which leads to rapid spread in areas where sewage or drinking water are inadequately treated.

Oral rehydration salts, or rapid intravenous administration of fluids nearly always cure it.

Artwork of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium which spreads the disease. Cholera is endemic in many parts of south-eastern and central Asia including Bangladesh and Pakistan

Cholera affects up to 4.3 million people every year. There were pandemics here in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s but improved sewage systems and clean water supplies meant it never reached epidemic proportions again.

However it could make a comeback in the UK and the rest of Europe, according to Professor Parmesan, who is co-author of the Explaining Ocean Warming reports chapter on water-borne diseases.

In warmer seas, you get a bigger build of plankton which co-exist with Vibrio cholerae, allowing the pathogen to build up in the marine environment where it is eaten by fish which end up being eaten by humans.

She says Vibrio cholerae can also survive in relatively fresh water for long periods, meaning it can get into the water systems via estuaries and rivers.

So cholera could infect Britons who drink infected water or eat fish which are contaminated, but it is unlikely that it will spread more widely because of our water treatment plants and sanitation systems, says Professor Parmesan.

A vaccination, given as a drink, is available to protect travellers against cholera.

ZIKA

CURRENTLY FOUND: Zika is now found in many countries throughout South America and the Caribbean as well as the Pacific Islands. There have also been locally acquired cases in Florida.

WHAT IS IT? Zika is a mosquito-borne disease that causes a mild rash, but may have no symptoms at all; it is linked to brain defects in babies. There is currently no vaccine.

The World Health Organisation has identified certain parts of Southern France and Spain, areas around the Black Sea and Madeira as probable sites where zika could soon emerge.

Zika is a mosquito-borne disease that causes a mild rash, but may have no symptoms at all; it is linked to brain defects in babies

Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says that the threat of zika spreading to Europe is real.

Countries in southern Europe, including France and Italy need to be especially vigilant.

The virus is carried by a variety of mosquitos; the main type is the aedes aegypti mosquito, which has spread from East Africa to many parts of the world and thrives in warm, wet conditions.

But potentially more problematic is the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which can survive cooler climates.

Also known as the Tiger mosquito, the albopictus is now found in the U.S. and Europe as well as most tropical and subtropical areas.

Its range has been expanding as it successfully adapts to cooler regions, hibernating over the winter, explains Professor Whitworth.

Zika is now found in many countries throughout South America and the Caribbean as well as the Pacific Islands. There is currently no vaccine

Globalisation and the mass movement of people has accelerated this process as well as a trick unique to its species  its eggs can dry out and reactivate when rehydrated later.

The international trade in used tyres may be one of the main contributing factors to its spread because tyres collect water and are ideal mosquito breeding grounds, says Dr Jo Lines, a professor of malaria control and vector biology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

He says the best protection is destroying the water traps where they lay their eggs, near to human habitation and wearing insect repellent and protection during the day [when the albopictus bites].

LEISHMANIASIS

CURRENTLY FOUND: India, Brazil, Iran, Bangladesh and Sudan.

WHAT IS IT? This disease, which affects around 350 million people living in 88 tropical and subtropical countries, is spread by the bite of female phlebotamine sand flies, which pass on tiny parasites to human hosts.

The parasites can cause nasty lesions on the skin as well as mouth ulcers and damage to the spleen and liver.

According to Dr Nick Watts: There is evidence in several scientific reviews that the sand flies that carry leishmaniasis are spreading North, up from the Mediterranean region and across Europe.

Leishmaniasis affects around 350 million people living in 88 tropical and subtropical countries, and is spread by the bite of female phlebotamine sand flies

There have only been a small number of cases in the developed world, but the parasite itself is now endemic in Spain, Portugal and Italy and is spreading further across Europe, helped by hotter longer summers and warmer winters.

Topical creams can help skin lesions and oral medication can usually eradicate the parasite.

Prevention is by using insecticides and nets while sleeping since the sand flies tend to bite around sunset and at night.

DENGUE FEVER AND CHIKUNGUNYA

CURRENTLY FOUND: Dengue fever is a leading cause of death among children in many Asian and Latin American countries.

Chikungunya is found in Africa, Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

What is it? Dengue fever is a viral disease which causes fever and painful joints and rash and can lead to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and death.

It can be transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus mosquitos.

Before 1970 only nine countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics, but the disease is now endemic in more than 100, including Florida, Japan and Brazil.

Illustration of the Dengue virus travelling through a human bloodstream. Dengue fever is a leading cause of death among children in many Asian and Latin American countries

Dengue picked up from infected local mosquitos (as opposed to being acquired while abroad) was reported for the first time in Europe in Croatia in 2010 and France in the same year.

The aedes albopictus mosquito can also spread the viral disease chikungunya which causes fever and severe joint pain. There is no treatment except trying to relieve symptoms.

Aedes albopictus was responsible for an outbreak of chikungunya in Ravenna in Italy in 2007 when more than 200 people fell ill (one died).

Basic precautions against both diseases include using insect repellants, wearing long sleeves and ensuring windows are fitted with screens.

CIGUATERA

CURRENTLY FOUND: Subtropical and tropical areas including the Caribbean and the Bahamas

WHAT IS IT? A form of tropical food poisoning from eating fish that have consumed toxin released by algae.

It causes nausea, pain, neurological symptoms (such as tingling)  it can, rarely, be fatal.

The toxin, cigautoxin, is odourless and tasteless and cannot be removed by conventional cooking.

There been outbreaks in the Canary Islands and Madeira caused by locally caught fish; its also been reported around Florida, the Pacific islands, Hong Kong and Japan.

Ciguatera could be a health risk in British waters within a few decades as sea temperatures continue to rise.

Ciguatera is a form of tropical food poisoning from eating fish or shellfish that have consumed toxin released by algae

According to Professor Camille Parmesan, who is also national marine aquarium chair in the public understanding of Oceans and Human Health at Plymouth University, its not the only marine-borne infection that could increase because of warmer sea temperatures.

There are around 100 types of algae that release toxins that can end up in fish that we like to eat, she explains.

Harmful algal blooms are becoming more common around the Mediterranean  red tides, algal blooms that release toxins and stain the water red, have been found around the Greek coastline since the late Seventies.

People who eat oysters and other shellfish contamined with red tide toxin can become seriously ill.

Ciguatera causes nausea, pain, neurological symptoms such as tingling. It can, rarely, be fatal

The Department of Health in Australia advises people to protect themselves from ciguatera by not eating reef fish larger than six pounds (the toxin accumulates in bigger fish).

Barrucada is considered most risky for ciguatera poisoning. There is no effective treatment.

MALARIA

CURRENTLY FOUND: Malaria is a major problem in parts of Africa, including Angola as well as parts of South America, India and Indonesia.

It is also widespread in tropical and subtropical regions such as Brazil, Tanzania and Nigeria. In 2015, there were 214 million cases of malaria worldwide resulting in an estimated 438,000 deaths.

WHAT IS IT? Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a single-celled parasite that passes from an infected female Anopheles mosquito (which thrives in warm, humid conditions) into a persons blood via a bite.

It causes flu-like symptoms, fever and sweating followed by shivering. Severe complications include pneumonia, respiratory distress and kidney failure.

Some suggest it could be endemic in some parts of England by 2050 due to an influx of anopheles mosquitos which have already spread to parts of Southern Europe.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a single-celled parasite that passes from an infected female Anopheles mosquito

In 2012, home-grown malaria was reported in Greece  the first time in Western Europe since 1974.

The disease was caught within the country, suggesting that anopheles mosquitos living there had bitten an infected person in Greece (who was infected elsewhere) and then passed it to a local.

However some experts arent convinced. Dr Jo Lines agrees that warmer temperatures will make it easier for malaria to spread, however this isnt the whole story.

Malaria used to be present in cooler countries, too, including Siberia. There were malaria outbreaks in the North Kent marshes during World War I. T

'he anopheles mosquitos, which transmitted the infection, are still present there.

He says the main reason that malaria vanished from Britain and other parts of Europe in the Seventies was because of improvement in housing and healthcare, drainage of the marshes and deforestation.

Antimalarial medication is used to prevent and treat malaria, and pilot studies are ongoing in order to develop a new vaccine

It is very unlikely that we will have malaria back in the UK, even if it gets warmer, as long as we take precautions against the risk, says Dr Lines.

These would include rapid diagnosis and treatment of disease in infected people.
After almost 20 years of living with a pacemaker, Nina Adamowicz decided she no longer wanted the device that was keeping her alive.

It had been implanted in 1996, and for the first decade it improved her life and symptoms  she had a form of hereditary heart disease.

The pacemaker sent regular electrical pulses to keep her heart beating steadily, and she was grateful for being given extra time, she later recalled.

However, she then had a heart attack and her health declined so that by 2014, her heart was working at just 10 per cent of its capacity.

Last year, Polish-born Ms Adamowicz, 71, who had lived in the UK for more than 30 years, revealed she wanted the pacemaker turned off, even though she knew it would lead to her death.

After almost 20 years of living with a pacemaker, Nina Adamowicz decided she no longer wanted the device that was keeping her alive

It was like being in line for execution and being told not yet, she said in an interview for BBC Radio 4.

Its not about I want to die, Im dying, she added.

After a series of medical examinations and psychological tests to determine whether she understood what switching off her pacemaker would mean, doctors agreed, and last October Ms Adamowicz went into a local hospice with her family for the pacemaker to be turned off  a procedure that took 20 minutes.

She described her body as feeling heavy and she felt a little nauseated  but she also felt at peace, her family told the BBC.

She slept through the night, returned home in the morning and died that night.

Her case  thought to be the first of its kind in the UK - raises profound ethical issues about when it is right to turn off someones pacemaker, or indeed withdraw other medical treatment such as dialysis for kidney failure, if thats what they want.

In fact the law itself is very clear on this point, according to Miriam Johnson, professor of palliative medicine at Hull York Medical School.

A mentally competent adult has the right to refuse medical treatment, whether it is turning off a pacemaker or stopping dialysis, even if that treatment is prolonging their life and withdrawing it will lead to their death, she says.

By turning off the device, the disease or illness will kill the person, not the doctor.

However, some doctors feel its uncomfortably close to euthanasia  the difference is that euthanasia involves overriding Nature.

Some doctors feel that turnbing off a pacemaker is uncomfortably close to euthanasia  the difference is that euthanasia involves overriding Nature

The difficulty with a case like this is that when a patient is dependent on a pacemaker, there is a direct connection between withdrawing the treatment and them dying within the next few hours, adds Professor Johnson, explaining that doctors role after all is to protect the vulnerable.

Around 35,000 patients in the UK have a pacemaker fitted each year. The devices role is to keep the heart beating steadily - it gives it a boost by delivering electrical impulses so that the heart contracts and produces a heartbeat.

The computerised match-box sized device is implanted just under the skin, usually just below the left shoulder and electrical leads are then fed down a vein into the heart.

In a significant number of pacemaker cases if you suddenly took the pacemaker away, the heart would stop beating, explains Dr Adam Fitzpatrick, a consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle.

He adds: It is very unusual for a patient to ask for their pacemaker to be turned off.

Even if the patient is dying, a pacemaker does not need to be switched off, says the British Heart Foundation.

'A pacemaker's purpose is not to restart the heart and it wont cause discomfort to someone whos dying, said a spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation

Its purpose is not to restart the heart and it wont cause discomfort to someone whos dying, said a spokesperson.

But the picture is slightly different with other heart devices such as Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) which are used to correct an abnormal heart rhythm rather than helping the heart beat steadily.

These devices, implanted in around 9,000 people in the UK every year, kick in when an abnormal heart rhythm occurs which can cause sudden cardiac arrest (where the heart stops beating).

Implanted under the collarbone as a pacemaker is, they work by firing a small electric shock into the heart to kick-start it (some pacemakers have this function too).

This might happen once every few months or not even for years.

However, this can be both painful and traumatic, especially at the end of life, and can lead to a prolonged and distressing death by continuing to give electric shocks.

In one particularly upsetting case reported in a US medical journal, a man suffered 33 shocks as he lay dying in his wifes arms  the ICD got so hot that it burned through his skin, his wife later reported.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators work a bit differently from a pacemaker, as they are yused to correct abnormal heart rhythm with an electrical current

Dying patients often have multi-organ failure which can cause metabolic and chemical changes that may trigger arrhythmias, faulty heart beats and in turn activate the ICD, explains Dr James Beattie, a consultant cardiologist at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham.

If the device goes off when the patient is conscious, the shock is like a blow to the chest, causing discomfort and distress. It may also fire repeatedly.

This may result in a distressing death for the patient and distress for the families.

Yet despite this suffering, 60 per cent of hospice patients do not have their implant deactivated before death, according to U.S. research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Furthermore, a 2011 survey by the National Council for Palliative Care suggested that only 40 per cent of UK hospices have access to the technology to deactivate the device urgently, potentially risking an undignified and painful death in hundreds of patients should they suddenly deteriorate.

Switching off the device involves holding a magnet over it, temporarily closing a magnetic switch incorporated in it.

To turn it off permanently the device has to then be reprogrammed remotely using a wand attached to a computer.

Despite the risk of suffering, 60 per cent of hospice patients do not have their implant deactivated before death, according to U.S. research

Medical professionals and families face a number of dilemmas when deciding whether to turn off an ICD.

One is the difficulty in accurately predicting when the patient is reaching the end of their life.

Determining this isnt always clear, especially with a condition such as heart failure when patients may have survived crises over many years, explains Professor Johnson.

This can be complicated further if the patient is suffering from dementia and unable to make decisions about their care.

There is also an understandable reluctance by patients and their families to take away anything that can prolong life.

Patients and their families frequently think of the device as entirely beneficial, says Professor Johnson.

Given [doctors] are trained to save lives, talking about death can be seen as professional defeat. Dr James Beattie

There is also often unrealistic expectation about what doctors are able to do to keep people alive.

Many doctors shy away from these conversations, too. A 2008 report from the National Audit Office found a significant lack of confidence in handling end-of-life care across all medical specialities  with cardiologists topping the league.

Given they are trained to save lives, talking about death can be seen as professional defeat, says Dr Beattie.

But if patients and doctors dont have that conversation were storing up trouble because decisions then have to be made at times of crisis and without planning, says Simon Chapman, of the National Council for Palliative Care.

New guidance for patients and medical staff to guide them through the ethical minefield of withdrawing heart devices was published earlier this year in the journal Heart.

Just how difficult making such decision can be was dramatically highlighted in the case of Fred Emery.

When his health suddenly went downhill six years ago, doctors recommended turning off the defibrillator that had been keeping him alive for the past 14 months.

When Fred Emery's health suddenly went downhill six years ago, doctors recommended turning off the defibrillator that had been keeping him alive for the past 14 months

The 73-year-old former manual worker from Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, had had the matchbox-sized device implanted in his chest following a 26-year battle with heart disease.

During that time hed had two heart attacks, and had already undergone two triple heart bypass operations as well as having several stents (tiny metal tubes) inserted to prevent his arteries blocking.

However, Fred then developed heart failure and ventricular tachycardia  a potentially fatal heart rhythm.

Having a defibrillator not only helped with the heart failure, but also any sudden cardiac arrest triggered by the faulty heart rhythm.

But Freds condition deteriorated and doctors suggested that as he was nearing the end of his life, it was time to turn off this life-line  to spare him and his family the ordeal of it repeatedly jolting his heart back to life when his body had reached the natural moment of death.

However, despite doctors predictions, Fred pulled through and later had the defibrillator reactivated, and it went on to save his life several times before his death this year. His family was angry that doctors had written him off before his time.

Despite doctors predictions, Fred pulled through and later had the defibrillator reactivated, and it went on to save his life several times before his death this year

It was awful when they told him to turn it off, his wife Shirley, 70, told Good Health. Fred was taken ill at 4pm, and by the next morning the defibrillator was turned off. It was too soon to make that decision  he wasnt himself and was under pressure to switch it off.

After it was reactivated, Fred had six more years. Without the ICD we would have lost him several years ago.
On August 2 last year Matthew Parkes and his wife Pamela arrived in Majorca with their four-year-old daughter to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary with a week in the sun.

We thought Sophia would love to see where Mummy and Daddy had gone on their honeymoon, says Matthew, a 39-year-old former competitive swimmer, who couldnt wait to start teaching his daughter how to swim in the hotel pool.

But the dream holiday for the family from Cheadle Hulme, near Stockport, soon turned into a nightmare.

On the second day, Matthew and Pamela developed sore throats. Mercifully, Sophia was unaffected, but her parents were both very ill, as Pamela, 40, a manager for a legal firm, recalls.

It didnt seem like a normal sore throat.

Former competitive swimmer Matthew Parkes lost both his legs battling sepsis, after he and his wife came down with a sore throat during a holiday in Mallorca

Matthew and Pamela had been infected with streptococcal A, a common bacterium responsible for many sore throats.

However, while Pamelas infection would quickly clear up, just two days after becoming ill, Matthew was fighting for his life.

Hed developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition that can be triggered by any kind of infection, as simple as a tummy bug or a sore throat.

The bodys immune system over-reacts to the initial infection, attacking its own tissues and organs.

Caught in time, sepsis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but even doctors struggle to recognise the symptoms.

Untreated, sepsis will quickly start to kill off tissue and the organs.

Every year it claims 44,000 lives in the UK  many of those could have been prevented.

The good news is that a campaign by the UK Sepsis Trust, backed by the Daily Mail, has resulted in the announcement earlier this month of a nationwide awareness programme.

From later this autumn posters in GP surgeries and hospitals across England will urge patients and parents to Just ask: Could it be sepsis?

Doctors in Majorca failed to spot the tell-tale signs in Matthew, and after a 24-hour delay in his diagnosis, he was in intensive care and would spend the next seven weeks in an induced coma.

And while he survived, it was at a terrible cost: hes had both his legs amputated from just below the knee and lost most of his left hand.

Doctors in Majorca failed to spot the tell-tale signs in Matthew, and after a 24-hour delay in his diagnosis, he was in intensive care and would spend the next seven weeks in an induced coma

Neither Matthew nor Pamela had even heard of sepsis before it changed their lives for ever.

Now they are telling their harrowing story in the hope that other families will be spared the same ordeal.

By the afternoon of the third day of the holiday, Matthew had pains all over his body. Alarmed, the couple went to a local public hospital.

This was the moment when everything could have turned out differently. Matthew was already displaying some of the tell-tale signs of sepsis, such as shortness of breath, a fever and chills.

At the very least antibiotics should have been given to fight what was clearly a serious infection.

But doctors inexplicably sent him away with diazepam, normally given for anxiety.

In fact Matthew was already in the grip of pneumonia, triggered by the strep A. infection that had now found its way into his lungs.

Neither Matthew nor Pamela had even heard of sepsis before it changed their lives for ever

By that evening, Pamela recalls, we were both very ill and they spent a dreadful night, with Matthew pacing from balcony to bathroom to be sick, or lying curled up on the floor in agony, making awful noises, like an animal.

By next morning, Matthew had pains in his stomach, chest and back  I honestly felt like I was dying, he says. Many victims who survive recall this ominous feeling.

Pamela was horrified when he lifted up his top and it looked like he was nine months pregnant.

A fit, slim man, his stomach was badly distended, almost certainly because his bowel was failing. His skin was purple and blotchy, his breathing was rapid and he had a high temperature, all signs of sepsis.

This time Pamela, who was starting to improve, took the family to the nearest private hospital. The decision almost certainly saved Matthews life.

They were fantastic, they spotted it straight away, she says. Crucially, he was given antibiotics.

He was rushed to intensive care and doctors told Pamela sepsis was shutting down his system. They told me to say goodbye to him. They didnt think hed last the day. I couldnt believe what was happening.

Now, Matthew and Pamela are telling their harrowing story in the hope that other families will be spared the same ordeal

Matthews kidneys had all but packed up and the doctors were preparing to transfer him to a hospital in Palma, an hour away, for emergency dialysis; a machine would have to do the work of his failing kidneys, removing the toxic waste from his blood.

In intensive care, he was readied for life support, but still conscious. I was crying but I didnt tell him what I knew, recalls Pamela.

He said: You and Sophia have a nice time.  They were the last words Matthew would speak for seven weeks.

I thought Id lost him, says Pamela. I just went onto autopilot because I had my child to think of.

I thought Id lost him. I just went onto autopilot because I had my child to think of. Pamela Parkes

She took Sophia back to the hotel, changed out of their beach clothes and took a taxi to Palma. Pamelas mother flew out that day to help with Sophia.

When she visited Matthew the following day, Pamela was horrified to see the skin on his lower legs and left hand had turned black. His limbs were dying because his lungs couldnt supply enough oxygen.

The doctors didnt sugar-coat it, says Pamela. They said he would need amputations but they didnt actually think hed survive.

Sophia and her grandmother flew home on the Sunday and Pamela moved to a hotel near the hospital.

For the next three weeks she visited three times a day. I just sat with him, talked or played music in his ear, she says.

On August 31, she had to fly home because their daughter was about to start primary school. I told the doctors: I can be back in six hours if you think hes going to die. 

For the next three weeks after Matthew's symptoms worsened, Pamela visited three times a day. I just sat with him, talked or played music in his ear, she says

In fact, Matthew had already started to show signs of improvement and in early September he was flown back to Manchester by air ambulance where he was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital.

I was so relieved, says Pamela. As bad as it sounds, if he was going pass away, then at least he was going to do so with his family by his side.

With his lungs no longer needing mechanical support and his other organs almost back to normal, doctors decided to bring Matthew out of his coma at the end of September.

I cant remember much about being woken, he says. But he does remember feeling very, very scared.

It took a long time to sink in. I was in despair. Matthew Parkes

It was Pamela who broke the news, a week after hed come round, that both legs would have to be amputated about 7in below the knees. It took a long time to sink in, says Matthew. When it did, I was in despair.

The operation took place two weeks later. When Matthew came round, he says: I looked down and there were two spaces where my legs used to be, with no feet sticking up at the end. I was heartbroken.

Even now, almost a year on, talking about that moment chokes him up. It was a very, very hard day, he says.

With his lungs no longer needing mechanical support, doctors decided to bring Matthew out of his coma at the end of September

And there have been many hard days since. A week later, Matthew underwent another operation to remove nearly all the fingers and a third of the palm of his left hand.

He found two crumbs of comfort; the only finger to survive intact was his ring finger, and he was naturally right-handed.

Weeks of painful physiotherapy followed. At first, he was so weak that just sitting up was a challenge.

Then came the wheelchair, a massively positive moment, he says. I remember thinking at least Ive got some independence again.

Two weeks before he was discharged from hospital, on December 14, Matthew was fitted with prosthetic legs and stood for the first time, dizzy but elated. He says learning to walk again at 39 was a very weird feeling at first, because they werent my legs.

He quickly progressed to a walking frame then to a walking stick, which he still has, though I can pretty much walk without it now.

During his darker moments he thought hed be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

But thanks to the support of Sophia and Pamela, and Helena, 13, and Luka, 12, her two children from a previous marriage, hes found the strength to claim his life back.

Thanks to the support of Sophia and Pamela, and Helena, 13, and Luka, 12, her two children from a previous marriage, Matthew has found the strength to claim his life back

Now Matthew is swimming again, four or five times a week, and every day he picks up Sophia from school by taxi.

He hasnt returned to work yet  before his illness he was a corporate account manager for an IT and telecoms company  the family manages on Matthews disability benefit and Pamelas salary.

He is determined to do his bit at home  a three-storey townhouse which gives his new legs a daily workout.

THE WARNING SIGNS If a child or adult who has had any infection  even a mild cold  develops one or more of the following symptoms, call 999 immediately and say you think they have sepsis: 1. Abnormally cold to touch. 2. Breathing rapidly or struggling for breath. 3. Very lethargic or difficult to rouse. 4. No urine (or wet nappy) for more than 12 hours. 5. Skin mottled, blueish or extremely pale. If sepsis is suspected by doctors, treatment with antibiotics must begin as soon as possible  ideally within one hour of diagnosis  even before blood tests have been carried out. Advertisement

Pam gives me a list of jobs before she goes to work, he laughs. Sepsis, he says, has changed my life. But Im a lucky man  Im alive.

Both Matthew and Pamela bitterly wish they had heard of sepsis much sooner. If wed known then what we know now, perhaps wed have spotted the signs and asked doctors to check for it, says Pamela.

Shes in no doubt that the 24-hour delay in Majorca cost him his legs and nearly his life.

As sepsis campaigner Melissa Mead, whose one-year-old son William tragically died from the condition in 2014, points out: Its vital we spread awareness of sepsis.

The Daily Mail has championed the public awareness initiative we have been campaigning for, and this support is invaluable. We need everyone to be aware of what to look for.

Matthew adds: We want some good to come out of this very bad situation.

'If I can help to raise awareness of this horrific disease, not just with the general public but also among doctors, then what happened to me will not have been for nothing. If I can save one life, Ill be happy.
Younger people, higher household income, shift workers and carers reported the highest levels of exhaustion; elderly were more rested

Two-thirds of people feel they need more rest in their lives, according to a worldwide study.

The Rest Test, led by researchers from Durham University, involved more than 18,000 people from 134 different countries to investigate their resting habits and attitudes towards relaxation.

It found 68 per cent of people wanted more rest while those who said they did not feel in need of more had well-being scores twice as high as those who did.

Exhausted? 68% of participants in the Rest Test said they needed more rest all the time

Dr Felicity Callard, principal investigator and social scientist at Durham University, said: 'The survey shows that people's ability to take rest, and their levels of well-being, are related.

'We're delighted that these findings combat a common, moralizing connection between rest and laziness.'

The survey asked people a number of questions to glean, among other things:

How does rest affect health and wellbeing?

How do people vary in what they experience as restful?

Does an individuals personality, health history and caring responsibilities have an effect on how much rest they get or the kinds of activities they find restful?

How do attitudes to and experiences of rest vary between different countries in the world?

They were also asked to choose the activities they found the most restful.

Reading came top, followed by being in the natural environment, being on their own, listening to music and doing nothing in particular.

It also asked respondents to state how many hours rest they had within the last 24 hours.

The results showed that, on average, being younger and having a higher household income was associated with having fewer hours of rest.

Those with caring responsibilities or in shift work which included nights also reported fewer hours of rest.

The average time spent resting by UK respondents the previous day was three hours and eight minutes.

Dr Callard said: 'It's intriguing that the top activities considered restful are frequently done on one's own.

'Perhaps it's not only the total hours resting or working that we need to consider, but the rhythms of our work, rest and time with and without others.'
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. United States of America Plaintiff - Appellee v. Jacob William Brisbin Defendant - Appellant No. 15-1169 Decided: September 01, 2016

Before SMITH, MELLOY, and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges.

Defendant Jacob Brisbin pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine by a drug felon. The district court sentenced Brisbin to 420 months in prison. Brisbin appeals, arguing the district court erred in applying a sentencing adjustment for obstruction of justice and denying a reduction for acceptance of responsibility. Brisbin also argues the district court erred when it proposed an alternate sentence. We affirm.

I. Background

A grand jury indicted Brisbin on two counts, including conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine by a drug felon in violation of 21 U.S.C.  841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 846, and 851, and manufacturing and attempted manufacturing of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C.  841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 846, and 851. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Brisbin pleaded guilty to Count I, conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine by a drug felon.

While Brisbin was detained on the instant charges, he engaged in several activities with the apparent intent to publicize the identities of the government's witnesses and cooperators. First, on August 28, 2014, someone posted the names of several witnesses and cooperators on Brisbin's brother's Facebook page. Next, while Brisbin was being held at the Linn County Jail, law enforcement intercepted a note Brisbin had written to another inmate. The note contained an aggressive message to the inmate, who appeared to have cooperated with the government in the case against Brisbin. Finally, on December 3, 2014, Brisbin made a recorded phone call to his mother. This phone call took place after Brisbin pleaded guilty (October 6, 2014) and after the probation office prepared the initial draft of his Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) (November 26, 2014). Brisbin and his mother discussed his PSR and Brisbin stated, I'm going to get another copy of [the PSR] and I'm going to send it out and put it all over my f**king Facebook. Brisbin's mother seemed to agree that if Brisbin gave her a copy of the PSR, she would flash it all over the f**king computer. After law enforcement listened to this call, a magistrate judge ordered that Brisbin surrender his copy of the PSR. Brisbin's attorney obtained Brisbin's copy of the PSR on December 5, 2014, and Brisbin did not send a copy of the document out of the jail.

According to the PSR, the parties agreed that Brisbin's minimum offense level would be thirty-four based on the amount of methamphetamine he had manufactured or distributed. The base offense level increased by two levels for use of a gun. The parties also stipulated to a two-level enhancement because Brisbin was an organizer or leader of his drug manufacturing organization. The Probation Officer recommended that Brisbin receive credit for accepting responsibility and that he receive no enhancement for obstruction of justice. This would have resulted in an offense level of thirty-five and criminal history category VI, with a sentencing guidelines range of 292 to 365 months. The government objected to the failure to increase the offense level for obstruction of justice.

At sentencing, the government presented evidence as to Brisbin's actions while in jail. Ultimately, the district court determined that Brisbin's recorded telephone conversation with his mother about posting his PSR on the internet constituted a substantial step toward obstructing justice by intimidating, unlawfully influencing, or retaliating against government witnesses. The district court noted that Brisbin's note to a fellow cooperating inmate also provided a basis for obstruction of justice. As a result of Brisbin's obstructive behavior, the district court concluded that Brisbin was not entitled to receive credit for acceptance of responsibility. Based on a total offense level of forty and a criminal history category VI, the district court determined Brisbin's guideline sentencing range was 360 months to life in prison. Rejecting Brisbin's motion for a downward variance, the district court sentenced Brisbin to 420 months in prison. The district court also imposed 420 months as an alternate sentence identifying the objection to the obstruction of justice enhancement and considering the 18 U.S.C.  3553(a) factors. Brisbin appeals.

II. Discussion

A. Obstruction of Justice Enhancement

Brisbin argues the district court erred in applying the obstruction of justice enhancement based on the recorded phone call to his mother and the written note to another inmate. We review a district court's factual findings underlying an obstruction of justice enhancement for clear error and its construction and application of the guidelines de novo. United States v. Mohamed, 757 F.3d 757, 761 (8th Cir. 2014) (quoting United States v. Mabie, 663 F.3d 322, 334 (8th Cir. 2011)). Clear error exists when the court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.  United States v. Adetiloye, 716 F.3d 1030, 1036 (8th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Lalley, 257 F.3d 751, 758 (8th Cir. 2001)).

The two-level adjustment for Obstructing or Impeding the Administration of Justice applies [i]f (1) the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to obstruct or impede, the administration of justice with respect to the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of conviction, and (2) the obstructive conduct related to  the defendant's offense of conviction. U.S.S.G.  3C1.1.

Brisbin challenges the district court's application of  3C1.1 in four ways: (1) the evidence does not show Brisbin's conduct rose to the level of an attempt; (2) there is no evidence to prove a nexus between his allegedly obstructive conduct and his pending sentencing hearing; (3) even if Brisbin took a substantial step toward posting his PSR on the internet, this conduct does not constitute obstruction of justice; and (4) Brisbin's note to a cooperating inmate was motivated by anger, not the desire to influence testimony or intimidate the inmate. Considering each of Brisbin's arguments in turn, we conclude that the district court properly applied the obstruction of justice enhancement.

First, Brisbin argues that his conduct did not constitute an attempt to obstruct justice. As the language of  3C1.1 suggests, [a]n attempt to intimidate or threaten a witness, even if unsuccessful, is sufficient to sustain a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice. United States v. Vaca, 289 F.3d 1046, 1049 (8th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). An attempt requires (1) an intent to engage in criminal conduct, and (2) conduct constituting a substantial step toward the commission of the substantive offense which strongly corroborates the actor's criminal intent. United States v. Smith, 665 F.3d 951, 955 (8th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. Wahlstrom, 588 F.3d 538, 543 (8th Cir. 2009)). A substantial step is one that is necessary to the consummation of the crime and  of such a nature that a reasonable observer, viewing it in context could conclude that it was undertaken in accordance with a design to commit the substantive offense.  Id. at 956 (quoting Wahlstrom, 588 F.3d at 543).

In this case, Brisbin's conduct shows that he attempted to obstruct justice. Brisbin stated to his mother, I'm going to get another copy of [the PSR] and I'm going to send it out and put it all over my f**king Facebook. Brisbin's mother agreed, Yeah, you can, I can splash it, I'll flash it all over the f** king computer. During the conversation, Brisbin mentioned several government witnesses or cooperators and expressed his desire to harm them. Given the context of Brisbin's statements about putting his PSR on Facebook, it is reasonable to infer that Brisbin intended to intimidate or threaten people named in the document. Further, Brisbin's conduct in recruiting his mother to post his PSR on Facebook constituted a substantial step toward obstructing justice. As such, we conclude that the district court did not err in finding that Brisbin's conduct constituted an attempt.

Second, Brisbin contends there was no nexus between his allegedly obstructive actions and his sentencing because, even if he had been successful in posting his PSR on Facebook, it would not have made a difference in his sentencing hearing. Section 3C1.1(1) requires that the obstructive conduct occur with respect to the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of conviction. In United States v. Galaviz, 687 F.3d 1042 (8th Cir. 2012), after the defendant entered a guilty plea he conspired to murder a confidential informant. Id. at 1043. We held that the obstruction of justice enhancement did not apply because the defendant had already pleaded guilty and the record did not support a finding that the defendant believed the informant would testify at sentencing. We concluded the defendant could not have intended to obstruct justice with respect to the instant offense by plotting to kill [the informant] unless he thought [the informant] was going to testify against him at sentencing. Id. We suggested that, although the enhancement does not apply, the defendant could be prosecuted for plotting to kill the informant. Id.

This case can be distinguished from Galaviz in at least two ways. First, Brisbin's obstructive conduct occurred within the PSR-objection period. The draft PSR was filed on November 26, 2014; Brisbin's recorded phone call to his mother occurred on December 3, 2014; and the parties' objections to the PSR were filed on December 9 and 10, 2014. Within this context, Brisbin could have believed, but could not have known what disputed facts the government would be required to prove at sentencing and whether the witnesses named in the PSR would testify. Second, because Brisbin's offense of conviction was a conspiracy, at least some of the people named in his PSR were necessarily involved in the criminal activity. Because Brisbin attempted to intimidate his co-conspirators and affect their possible testimony, we conclude that the district court did not err in finding the requisite nexus.

Third, Brisbin argues that, even if he successfully posted his PSR on Facebook, his conduct would not constitute obstruction of justice. As discussed in Application Note 4(A), threatening, intimidating, or otherwise unlawfully influencing a  witness  , directly or indirectly, or attempting to do so triggers the obstruction of justice sentencing enhancement. U.S.S.G.  3C1.1 cmt. 4(A). The government presented testimony to support a conclusion that posting a PSR on Facebook would likely place the named witnesses in danger, and the district court found that posting a PSR on Facebook would have the effect of intimidating witnesses who were named in the document. On review, [w]e will not second guess [the district court's] judgment as to witness credibility. Wahlstrom, 588 F.3d at 542. Therefore, we conclude that the district court did not err in finding Brisbin's conduct constituted obstruction of justice.

Finally, Brisbin argues that his note to a cooperating inmate, which the district court also relied upon in finding that Brisbin obstructed justice, did not constitute obstruction of justice. As discussed above, Application Note 4(A) encompasses conduct toward a witness that is threatening or intimidating. A law enforcement witness at Brisbin's sentencing hearing concluded the note was a threat intended to influence [the cooperating inmate's] testimony and cooperation with the government. We are not certain the note alone would constitute obstructive conduct. The district court, however, did not err in using this conduct as additional support for applying the obstruction of justice enhancement.

B. Alternate Sentence

Brisbin also argues that the district court erred in imposing an alternate sentence of 420 months. Specifically, Brisbin contends that, assuming the district court erred in imposing the obstruction of justice enhancement and eliminating the acceptance of responsibility adjustment, a 420-month sentence would be substantively unreasonable in light of the 18 U.S.C.  3553(a) factors. We review the substantive reasonableness of the overall sentence under an abuse of discretion standard. United States v. Sayles, 674 F.3d 1069, 1072 (8th Cir. 2012).

Because we conclude that the district court properly calculated the sentence pursuant to the guidelines and did not err in applying the obstruction of justice enhancement, we need not consider whether the alternate proposed sentence was reasonable. To the extent Brisbin argues the sentence actually imposed was substantively unreasonable, we also conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion. Because the sentence was within the advisory guideline range of 360 months to life in prison, we presume that the sentence was reasonable. United States v. Avalos, 817 F.3d 597, 602 (8th Cir. 2016). Further, evaluating the  3553(a) factors, the district court found that Brisbin's extensive criminal history and the seriousness of the instant offense justified a sentence of 420 months. Accordingly, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion.

III. Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

FOOTNOTES

. The Honorable Linda R. Reade, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

. Brisbin's brother, Tyler Brisbin, was also incarcerated at the time of the Facebook post. Neither brother had access to the Facebook account when information was posted. The district court did not rely on this conduct in applying the obstruction of justice enhancement.

. The note read: Bro that f**ked up my lawyer is bring up your statement your just like [name omitted] I thought you were a friend. No I see your just like ever one else. You want to tell people I jump on your case you might want to get the info right. You're a bitch and a rat. I send the paper over there

PER CURIAM.
A mother has described her 'never-ending pregnancy' horror after doctors discovered a melon-sized tumour in her womb.

Margaret Mcmahon, 48, from Belfast, first went to the doctors after realising something was wrong in 2013 after her stomach ballooned in size.

Her symptoms, which included a bloated stomach and abdominal pains, were put down to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Unsatisfied with the diagnosis, the teaching assistant eventually paid for her own CAT scan where her 18cm tumour was discovered.

Following an MRI, experts reassured her that it was a non-cancerous fibroid and scheduled a hysterectomy.

But she had to put her life on hold while she waited for surgery as it had grown so large it was putting pressure on her bladder and causing her to urinate all the time.

Margaret Mcmahon, 48, from Belfast, was initially told her stomach pains were due to irritable bowel syndrome. But after paying for a CAT scan, doctors discovered she had an 18cm tumour

The mother-of-two said: 'The last year was awful.

'It was like having a never-ending pregnancy except when you're pregnant you're going to get have a baby at the end.

'Towards the end I was also getting awful stabbing pains.

'It's awful when you need to urinate all the time - it completely put my life on hold.'

Following an MRI, experts reassured her that it was a non-cancerous fibroid. However, the intense pain from the size of the fibroid made her life a misery, as she couldn't sleep at night

Although she had voiced her concerns to her doctors, she believes a lack of understanding about fibroids meant it went undetected for nearly three years.

Ms Mcmahon was initially told three years ago that it was her IBS that was making her stomach blotted, and she was advised to lose weight.

Doctors eventually discovered a fibroid - but told her not to worry.

Earlier this year she went back to her doctors after complaining of pain in her hip and lower back - but they told her it hadn't grown.

After experiencing excruciating discomfort, Ms Mcmahon's daughter Emma, 24, took her to emergency care.

In A&E, nurses told her there was a mass - but she was left confused.

Ms Mcmahon added: 'I remember coming home and not knowing what to think - I didn't know what they meant by a mass and no one really explained.'

In the end, she paid to have a CAT scan done privately, where they told her she had an 18cm tumour on the side of her womb.

Miss Mcmahon, who believed she was 'going to die' when she was told she had a tumour, eventually had a hysterectomy in March this year

She believed she was 'going to die' when she was told the news and was physically sick with nerves when she left the clinic.

WHAT ARE FIBROIDS? Around one in three women develop fibroids  benign growths in or around the womb - most often between the ages of 30 and 50. The exact cause is unknown, but they are linked to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are at their highest levels during a womans reproductive years. But in 50 per cent of women who have them, fibroids do not cause symptoms: they may shrink and disappear without treatment. However, the other half experience pelvic pain (from the pressure caused by the fibroids) and heavy and/or extended periods. It's also thought they occur more often in overweight or obese women because being overweight increases the level of oestrogen in the body. They can be treated with medication or surgery. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

Ms Mcmahon went back to A&E where she had an MRI scan and was thankful to find out it was a non-cancerous fibroid tumour.

However the intense pain from the size of the fibroid made her life a misery.

She said: 'I couldn't sleep at night. My life was on hold.

'I had to stop work and my social life because there was so much pressure on my bladder. I would feel sick after eating too.

'I couldn't drive even five minutes down the road without needing the bathroom. It was just miserable and I couldn't wait to get my life back.'

Thankfully, after having a hysterectomy to remove it in March, she recovered quickly and was able to enjoy her first family holiday in Spain for two years.

She added: 'You still get the odd day of pain but that's normal and on the whole I feel like a new person, especially this last six months.

'We were able to go on holiday in June for the first time in two years.

'Just being able to get a plane, or a car and not needing to go to the bathroom was wonderful.'
This is the first amputee who can feel cold, pressure and pain through a prosthetic arm - and move the artificial fingers using her brain.

Melissa Loomis, of Canton, Ohio, had her right arm amputated last fall after a seemingly innocuous raccoon bite developed into a life-threatening infection.

The devastating ordeal left the 43-year-old depressed and fearing for her life.

But she was given a lifeline: the orthopedic hand surgeon who treated her, Dr Ajay Seth, realized she would be the perfect candidate for a revolutionary new technique.

The novel surgery, never-before-performed in the US, allows redirection of nerves to move a prosthesis with the brain - so she can move it and feel her fingers.

Experts have hailed the operation as 'revolutionary', branding Melissa 'the most advanced amputee in the world'.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Melissa Loomis (pictured) had her arm amputated last fall after an innocuous raccoon bite developed into a life-threatening infection. But now she can feel with her prosthetic arm

This is Melissa's prosthetic arm, which she detached for her TV appearance to demonstrate how it works. Just using her brain, she can make it move and can feel touch sensations

Melissa will reveal full details of her ordeal and new prosthesis to Dr Travis Stork on Wednesday's episode of The Doctors, the syndicated daytime talk show.

And she demonstrates moving the state-of-the-art arm.

First, in a clip shared exclusively with Daily Mail Online, you can see a glimpse of the devastating journey that brought her to this point.

'It was like every other morning, my dogs wake me up to go outside,' Melissa explains.

'Then I heard this horrible screeching noise and there's a raccoon on the fence.

'I ran over there, shooing the raccoon, and my dog Vivi grabbed it by the tail. I went to grab the two dogs by their collars - I was trying to protect the raccoon.

'The raccoon latched on to my arm. I knew he bit me. I could just feel electricity shooting down my arm.'

She went straight to the hospital. But they insisted it was just a scratch.

After a rabies shot, a tetanus shot, and a prescription of antibiotics, she was sent home.

Days later her shooting pains escalated and doctors found one of the worst infections they'd ever encountered.

Dr Seth said that Melissa's injury (pictured) just looked like a regular bite when she returned to the hospital in pain. But when he made the first incision all this bacteria came pouring out

On the 11th day of treatment in the ICU, Melissa developed sepsis (pictured)

Dr Seth told Melissa he'd have to amputate; she said to do anything to save her life

'This was absolutely the worst infection I have seen in my entire career,' Dr Seth (above) said

HOW DOES MELISSA'S PROSTHETIC ARM WORK? When Dr Seth amputated Melissa's arms, he severed nerves which are still firing messages from the brain. The novel surgery, never-before-performed in the US, allows redirection of nerves to connect with wires on a prosthesis. It is called TSR/TMR (Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Targeted Sensory Reinnervation) surgery. Dr. Seth utilized AxoGen's AxoGuard Nerve Protector to help protect the transferred nerves. It is the only nerve wrap available made from natural tissue rather than collagen. That means she can move the prosthesis with her brain, and also sense pressure and temperature. Advertisement

'By the time I saw Melissa, she had been on two or three rounds of different antibiotics and 24 hours of IV antibiotics,' Dr Seth recalls.

'When you looked at her arm it just looked like a regular small little bite.

'When I made the first incision all this bacteria came pouring out.

'This was absolutely the worst infection I have seen in my entire career.'

Melissa underwent more than eight surgeries with no progress.

At that point, she felt sure she was going to die.

And then, on the 11th day of treatment in the ICU, she developed sepsis. Her temperature was over 103, and her heart rate topped 140.

'Dr Seth said, "this is it, I'm sorry, I could save your arm",' Melissa remembers.

'I told him, "save my life".'

With amputation a certainty, Dr Seth decided to propose a new procedure to Melissa.

He had heard about it at a conference in Canada months before.

But this was the first surgery in the U.S. that allowed an amputee to move a prosthetic arm with thoughts alone.

Beyond that, Melissa is also the first American amputee who can actually feel the sense of touch that was restored in all five fingers via the prosthetic hand.

The state of the art prosthetic being used is still a prototype, is initially being developed for use by the military, and is the only one of its kind.

It is designed for a 200 lb male soldier.

Melissa's successful test is proof that women, military women and civilians alike, will benefit greatly from this developing technology.

During the TSR/TMR (Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Targeted Sensory Reinnervation) surgery, Dr. Seth utilized AxoGen's AxoGuard Nerve Protector to help protect the transferred nerves.

It is the only nerve wrap available made from natural tissue rather than collagen.

With this medical miracle, she can also sense pressure and temperature.

'She's so advanced, she's way too advanced for us,' Dr Seth tells The Doctors in tomorrow's episode.

Experts have hailed the operation as 'revolutionary', branding Melissa 'the most advanced amputee in the world'

'She can feel touch, pressure, cold - when you put an ice cube on her arm, instantly her fingers go cold.'

In an episode airing on Wednesday, Melissa and Dr. Seth join The Doctors on stage to demonstrate this cutting edge medical science.

They will show the audience how she can control the prosthetic with just her thoughts and feel through a piece of machinery.

The technology is not yet widely available and researchers hope for government and public funding to further advance this technology to be available in the future to the masses.

Speaking on tomorrow's episode of The Doctors, Dr Seth explains that Melissa suffers what is called 'phantom pain' since the nerves he severed for the amputation are still constantly firing.

Phantom pain is a phenomenon that afflicts people who have lost limbs.

It is a pain that feels as if it is coming from a part of the body that is no longer there.

In many amputees this pain subsides over time.

Dr Seth has rewired Melissa's nerves to capitalize on this sensation, and link it to an artificial arm.

'Her brain actually thinks her hand is here now,' Dr Seth explained, gesturing to his elbow.

'We've tricked her brain.'

Melissa added: 'I feel like my hand is right at the end of my stump.'
Indias largest research conglomerate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is 75.

It is one of the founding pillars of modern India and remains a great experiment in using science and technology for national development as envisaged by Jawaharlal Nehru.

However, over the decades, the institution has gathered moss - as is natural - and needs to be reinvented to be in tune with the needs of the 21st century India.

PM Modi with Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan (left) MoS for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Y.S. Chowdary (right)

Dozens of research laboratories working under the council across the country not only need a fresh dose of investment but also a new direction so as to do meaningful research in collaboration with universities and industry.

Laboratories and scientists working there need functional autonomy and a guarantee of academic freedom.

The council is a national asset that should not be allowed to wither away. In fact, the platinum jubilee provides an opportunity to launch a comprehensive review of CSIRs functioning, similar to the exercise that was taken up by the Abid Hussain Committee 30 years ago.

In the post-war period, the British were interested in organising science in India, Australia and Canada in order to reclaim the empires role in scientific research (Picture for representation only)

The birth of CSIR on September 26, 1942, was preceded by the Board of Industrial and Scientific Research (BSIR) and the Board of Scientific Advice.

Such efforts in scientific and industrial research were rooted in the strategy of applying science for the war effort of the British.

In the post-war period, the British were interested in organising science in India, Australia and Canada in order to reclaim the empires role in scientific research.

Nobel laureate Archibald Hill was deputed to India for this mission. Leading Indian scientists, including Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, actively participated in this project.

While Bhatnagar was director of the Chemical Laboratories of the University of Punjab in Lahore, he was picked up by Ramaswamy Mudaliar - a member of the Executive Council - to be advisor for scientific and industrial research in Delhi.

Eventually Bhatnagar was chosen to lead the CSIR. While in the Lahore lab, Bhatnagar worked closely with industry.

He executed major projects for industries run by Sir Ganga Ram and Rangoon-based petroleum company, Attock Oils.

For a university lab to do all this was a remarkable feat. When he shifted to CSIR, Bhatnagar tried to bring the same spirit of researchindustry- university linkage to the council.

One of the first labs of CSIR, National Chemical Laboratories at Pune, was seeded with grants made by the Tata Trusts (Picture for representation only)

One of the first labs of CSIR, National Chemical Laboratories at Pune, was seeded with grants made by the Tata Trusts.

Industry was fully represented on the governing bodies of CSIR and its laboratories.

Founders of CSIR, Mudaliar and Ardeshir Dalal (another member of the executive council), were keen to ensure autonomy of CSIR.

Thats why they chose the structure of an autonomous society rather then it being a government department.

Post-Independence, the council grew rapidly due to what was dubbed Nehru- Bhatnagar Effect.

Recalling the formative years of CSIR is necessary because the core values with which it was founded - meaningful research in league with industry and academia, functional autonomy and full political backing - remain relevant even today.

Lets not erode these values by treating the council on par with any other government ministry or by interfering in its functioning.

Tobacco loses legal battle

The chewing tobacco industry has lost a major legal battle. After the ban imposed on gutka in several states, manufacturers were circumventing the ban by marketing ready-to-mix pouches of pan masala and flavoured tobacco.

In an order delivered last week, the Supreme Court has found this practice a violation of ban imposed on food products containing tobacco or nicotine.

Under the food law, pan masala and gutka are categorised as food products and no food product is supposed to contain tobacco.

Selling pan masala and tobacco in separate ready to consume pouches violates the countrys food law

Selling pan masala and tobacco in separate ready to consume pouches violates this section of the food law.

The court has asked food safety officers to ensure strict enforcement of the regulation and file a compliance report by November 9.

The court order came in response to a plea from amicus curie in the case who argued that manufacturers were flouting the ban on gutka by selling the same product in twin pouches.

The government lawyer too pointed out that companies were selling pan masala (without tobacco) with flavoured chewing tobacco in separate but often conjoint sachets.

Interestingly, while products containing tobacco are banned under the food law, chewing tobacco itself remains a legal products.

Mars data in public domain

On September 24, Indias Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) completed two years around the red planet.

Unlike the Chandrayaan-1 which could not complete full duration of its planned stay around the moon, MOM has outlived its planned life.

All its cameras are in good health and continue to provide useful data about the surface of Mars and its atmosphere.

Tharsis Tholus, a shield volcano located on Mars

The extended life of MOM is adding to the planetary data repository of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and also enabling coverage of the planet in different seasons.

Data from Mars Color Camera (MCC) has helped in understating sublimation process on the Martian north pole during northern hemisphere summer.

The dust patterns around high altitude regions and in Valles have been studied and mean height of dust layer estimated to be around 1.5 km.

The imaging of the two moons of Mars - Phobos and Deimos - has revealed new details about them, the space agency has said.

To mark the second anniversary of the orbiter, the space agency has released in public domain all the data obtained in the first year of the orbiter, for the benefit of researchers and space enthusiasts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi , has outlined the scope of Indias response to the Uri attack in his September 24 speech in Kerala which seems limited for the present to a sustained diplomatic offensive to expose Pakistan as a hot-bed of international terror and not military action.

Whether restraint on our part despite intense provocation will help us gather enough international support for isolating Pakistan and changing its behaviour fundamentally remains to be seen.

Sympathy

In reality, Pakistan is now structurally incapable of normalising ties with India.

PM Modi during the Kozhikode rally said there is only one country that exports terror to the entire world

Its armed forces and extremist religious organisations play a determinant role in shaping relations with us, not the civilian government.

The military profits, not suffers, from hostile policies towards India. The extremist groups have a growing base for their religious animosity towards India owing to the increasing radicalisation of Pakistani society.

The Uri attack has demonstrated once again that Pakistans use of terrorism as an instrument of policy continues.

It is not clear what isolation of Pakistan would mean in reality.

If it means that through a vigorous international campaign we get the world to increasingly recognise that Pakistan is using jihadi terrorism as an instrument of state policy towards us and that the so-called non-state actors operating on its soil are creatures nourished by the Pakistani agencies, then what we seek is not unachievable.

Indian army soldiers travel inside an armoured vehicle after an encounter with suspected militants at Aragam village of Bandipora district, north of Srinagar on September 22

Additionally, we can puncture Pakistans claim that it is itself a victim of terrorism and is in the forefront in combating it.

We can persuade the world that Pakistan continues to make a distinction between good and bad terrorists.

We can expose its double-dealing on terrorism and damage further its already dented credibility on the issue, especially as Pakistani footprints are seen in terrorist incidents all over the globe.

We have seen that despite the burning problem in Kashmir we can draw sympathy from important countries on Pakistani-abetted terrorist attacks against us.

A large number of them have condemned the attack in Uri, despite Pakistan unleashing a propaganda barrage on the so-called atrocities committed by our security forces in Kashmir.

Even Gulf countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned this attack, with some supporting whatever counter-terrorism measures we take.

This wide support is all the more striking because the attack was on a military installation, not against a civilian target.

The world still views it as a terrorist attack and not militant action against a military target.

If, however, isolation means that key countries begin accepting that Pakistan has to be pressured collectively to curb its jihadi links, failing which they would be ready to entertain the idea of sanctions, that objective would be unrealistic.

Pakistan is considered too important geopolitically and too consequential because of its size, Islamic weight, its role in developments in Afghanistan and Central Asia, not to mention its expanding nuclear capacity, to be isolated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined the scope of Indias response to the Uri attack in his September 24 speech in Kerala

Protection

Powerful friends such as China will protect it in the UN and other forums. China has, in fact, increased dramatically its geopolitical and economic stakes in Pakistan with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The extent of Chinese unwillingness to give any advantage to India over Pakistan is demonstrated by its refusal to allow the UNSC to declare Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e- Mohammed as an international terrorist and its opposition to Indias NSG membership without that of Pakistan.

The US too will not declare Pakistan a terrorist state or impose punitive sanctions on it to change its behaviour despite suffering at its hands in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has provided safe havens to the Taliban and the Haqqani group (and Osama bin Laden), without the US using its levers to bring Pakistan to its senses.

To the contrary, it has sought to buy Pakistans cooperation through copious military and economic aid.

Its recent steps to curtail some assistance are token steps that Pakistan has learnt to absorb.

US exhortations to Pakistan over several years to bring to justice those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks in which six of its own nationals were killed has left Pakistan unmoved.

The US has now added Pathankot to the list of attacks for which Pakistan must answer, besides calling for curbs on LeT and JeM, but Pakistan ignores such calls with a sense of impunity.

Sanctions

The contrast between the draconian US sanctions on Iran as well as punitive sanctions on a powerful nuclear state like Russia and the accommodating attitude towards Pakistan towards its misdemeanors is striking.

Despite its act of killing new Taliban chief Mullah Mansour, the US sees value in Pakistans assistance in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table with Kabul.

Kashmiri protesters shout anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans as they hold Pakistan, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Palestinian flags and a pictures of leader of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during a protest

If Pakistan were designated a terrorist state, the US cannot, under its laws, do business with Pakistan.

We have begun targeting Pakistan diplomatically on terrorism as never before through statements by our political leaders at the highest level, the language used by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs and that used to rebut Nawaz Sharifs invective against us in the UN.

The unprecedented step of highlighting Pakistans brutalities in Balochistan and references to Sindh and Khyber- Pakhtunwa in Modis most recent speech are significant departure from the past.

The MEA spokespersons ambiguous language on the Indus Waters Treaty should cause Pakistan to reflect on the dangers ahead in continuing its policy of inflicting a thousand cuts on India.
Air India was pulled up for its bad service, and was asked it to pay Rs 1 lakh to a passenger who travelled in its Mumbai-New York flight.

A bench of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, headed by Justice Ajit Bharihoke, said the "nature of deficiency in service" could have affected the health of several passengers.

The Commission dismissed the revision petition filed by the airline and said: "We do not find any fault with the order of the State Commission enhancing compensation to Rs 1 lakh (from Rs 15,000)."

Air India was asked it to pay Rs 1 lakh to a passenger who travelled in its Mumbai-New York flight

It also upheld the award of Rs 10,000 as litigation cost by the district forum.

Malti Madhukar Pahade had filed a complaint against the carrier for serving her stale food on her flight from Mumbai to New York.

Pahade claimed that she also found a strand of hair in the rice bowl.

The district forum had initially asked the airline to pay her a compensation of Rs 15,000. However, a subsequent hearing by the Maharashtra State Consumer Commission saw the compensation amount getting revised to Rs 1 lakh.

Malti Madhukar Pahade had filed a complaint against the carrier for serving her stale food on her flight from Mumbai to New York. (Picture for representation only)

The commision increased the compensation on the ground that the passenger could have gone without food during the entire journey, which is not advisable in a long flight.

Air India challenged the state commissions order and argued that the compensation was not justified and highly disproportionate to the negligence/deficiency in service alleged by the complainant."

The Commission dismissed the revision petition filed by the airline (Picture for representation only)

Much to Air Indias dismay, the apex consumer commission upheld the state commissions order.

It said a passenger travelling with a reputed airline expected minimum courtesy and proper food for human consumption.

The bench also didnt approve of the airline imposing a 'meagre' fine of Rs 20,000 on the caterer for providing stale food.
The Gurugram Crime Branch has arrested three persons and appear to have cracked a double murder mystery in Mansesar which seems to be a case of honour killing.

Police arrested Sumit alias Bhim, who allegedly killed his mother Sunita, 35 and sister Ritika, 15, who he suspected were involved in prostitution.

Sumit was assisted in the crime by his friends Dharamvir and Pradeep Kumar, both residents of Najafgarh in Delhi.

Sumit and his friends (centre) allegedly killed his mother & sister suspecting them to be sex-workers

On September 12, Gurugram Police had recovered the bullet-ridden bodies of Sunita and Ritika.

It was a challenge for the police to solve the murder mystery because no one came forward to identify the bodies, a senior police official said.

The accused were arrested following a tip-off that three men were suspiciously roaming in a car bearing number plate DL11CA 6834 in Manesar on Sunday.

A team of the crime branch then barricaded the IMT Chowk to check the vehicles.

The three men were arrested when they failed to provide any document about the vehicle.

Sumit claimed that his mother had poisoned his father in year 2000 (picture for representation only)

Police also recovered two country-made pistols and two live cartridges from the possession of these men.

Police suspects that these weapons were used to commit the crime.

During interrogation, apparently Sumit admitted of murdering his mother and sister.

He claimed that his mother had poisoned his father in year 2000.

She was involved in prostitution for several years which brought bad name to the family where they lived, he alleged.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sumit Kuhar said: On September 18, Sumit had asked her mother and sister to visit Khatushyam in Rajasthan. All of them then travelled in Dharamvirs car from Najafgarh.

The accused looked out for an isolated spot to execute their plan. When they found the secluded spot behind an autorickshaw stand in Manesar, the accused murdered Sunita and Ritika, before fleeing from the place.
See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome

They are demanding regularisation and payment of

L-G Jung directed the MCD and the NDMC to take strict action against concessionaires responsible for cleaning garbage dumps.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung gave strict instructions to the civic bodies to clear the garbage dumps twice a day even as the Capital reels under the vector-borne diseases of chikungunya and dengue, on Monday.

However, his stern warning was countered by the sanitation workers who threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, demanding regularisation and payment of arrears.

Holding a top-level review meeting with all the stakeholders, L-G Jung discussed the issues related to cleanliness in Delhi and measures to be taken to control the vector-borne diseases in the city.

He also instructed the Delhi government to take action against private hospitals that deny admission to poor patients.

Jung directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to take strict action against concessionaires responsible for cleaning dhalaos (garbage dumps) in case of poor performance.

Officials of the NDMC and MCD briefed the Lieutenant Governor about the efforts made by the civic bodies to tackle the outbreak of vector-borne diseases

All three municipal commissioners and chairman (NDMC) have been directed to ensure that dhalaos are cleared and cleaned twice a day, starting from Tuesday.

Each supervisor of dhalao must submit a written report of municipal commissioner, the LGs office said.

L-G Jung also directed all the deputy commissioners (revenue) to step up efforts and prepare a daily roster of inspections to be personally monitored by them and their sub-divisional magistrates and additional district magistrates.

Daily reports of the visits undertaken are required to be submitted to the divisional commissioner with a copy to the Lt Governors office.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and senior officers from concerned agencies, besides the Delhi health minister.

All deputy commissioners were directed to visit private hospitals in their districts to ensure that EWS quota is followed strictly and no poor patient is turned away.

Strict action should be initiated if the private hospitals do not adhere to the EWS quota, the L-Gs office said.

Officials of the NDMC and MCD briefed the Lieutenant Governor about the efforts made by the civic bodies to tackle the outbreak of vector-borne diseases.

They told him that the number of chikungunya and dengue cases decreased in the last week.

Meanwhile, the sanitation workers are demanding regularisation of sanitation workers and payment of their arrears along with other benefits.

Sanitation workers alleged that no gumboots, masks or gloves are provided to the workers who clean the mess of the city (picture for representation only)

Sanjay Gehlot, leader of the umbrella body of Sanitation Workers Unions, told Mail Today: "This is our long-pending demand which is neither being addressed by the BJP which is in power in the MCD nor by the AAP government. We want regularisation of employees, cashless medical card and other benefits which others are getting. Our family members are cleaning up the drains and garbage of this city and getting infected but no one cares for us.

He further alleged that no gumboots, masks or gloves are provided to the workers who clean the mess of the city.

We understand the problems of city, but even we are left with no other option. If our demands are not met we will stop dumping of garbage at landfill sites and even block the NH-24, Gehlot said.

Several sanitation workers under the South corporation has stopped collecting garbage and will organise protests from Tuesday.

Navin of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sanh said: We are not going to collect the garbage till the time the government make contractual sanitation workers as permanent staff. We met SDMC mayor about the issue but he passed the buck on to the Delhi government. But, neither the BJP nor the Congress or the AAP did anything meet the demands of sanitation workers."

Supreme Court steps in to curb mosquito menace

By Harish V Nair

As the number of dengue and chikungunya cases in Delhi skyrocketed, the Supreme Court on Monday sought a status report from Delhi government, all three municipal corporations and the NDMC.

This was done after a PIL was filed, which blamed that inadequate preventive measures were taken for the widespread outbreak of mosquito- borne diseases.

A bench of justices Madan B Lokur and D Y Chandrachud converted a public interest litigation filed by doctor Anil Mittal into a suo motu matter (court on its own taking interest) and sought responses from these bodies by September 30.

Dr Mittal alleged apathy on the part of Delhi civic bodies leading to several areas to look like garbage dumps resulting in outbreak of diseases like chikungunya

According to the latest figures, 1,568 cases of chikungunya were reported in just one week till September 17 - an increase of nearly 150 per cent over the preceding week.

The bench first contemplated issuing notice to the Centre also, but Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi urged the bench to first seek explanation from Delhi government saying the Centre comes into picture only if the government of the union territory failed.

It is the duty of the local government to ensure that city remains clean and disease free and Centres roll comes into play once state fails in its duty," the AG said, adding: Let AAP govt come and say that it is not their duty... then we would intervene.

Dr Mittal alleged apathy on the part of Delhi civic bodies leading to several areas to look like garbage dumps resulting in outbreak of diseases like chikungunya.

Arguing for Mittal, senior lawyer Colin Gonsalves sought a direction that a panel of experts be set up to ascertain the steps taken to tackle diseases like chikungunya in country in general and Delhi in particular.

It is to be noted that the National Green Tribunal had also earlier slammed the MCD and the NDMC for not doing enough to stem the outbreak.

Humidity to trigger dengue cases

By Astha Saxena

With the rising level of humidity, doctors in the city are gearing up to deal with cases of dengue, which is expected to rise in the coming days.

The maximum and minimum temperatures on Monday were recorded was 36 and 26 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal for this time of the year, a MeT official said.

The cases of dengue will rise in the coming days. So far, we have been receiving large numbers of cases of chikungunya, but with the rise in the humidity, the dengue fever patients are expected to increase, said Dr SP Byotra, senior consultant and chairman department of medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Delhi has reported 1,692 cases of dengue this season and 4,649 cases of chikungunya.

So far, Delhi has reported 1,692 cases of dengue this season and 4,649 cases of chikungunya.

Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.

Doctors say treatment is symptomatic with no specific cure, so if patients use pain medicines indiscriminately there is a risk of them becoming resistant to them.

Symptoms usually last for two to seven days, after an incubation period of four to ten days.

Dr Navneet Kaur, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Apollo Spectra Hospitals said: "The number will increase in the coming days. We are expecting that the cases of dengue and malaria will shoot up drastically as post rains the weather becomes conducive for mosquito breeding."

"The Aedes mosquito thrives in hot, humid and high temperature, which is anywhere between 20 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius.

Experts in the city also suggest that there is a need for a stronger prevention control strategy to fight dengue.
A shoe hurled at Rahul Gandhi by a man during his roadshow in Sitapur, prompted the Congress vice-president to blame the BJP and the RSS for the incident, on Monday.

Hariom Mishra, 25, the man who hurled the shoe at Rahul, was immediately overpowered by the police and taken into custody for questioning even as the missile missed the Gandhi scion narrowly, the police said.

Rahul targeted the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS for the incident and said he was not afraid of such things.

A shoe was hurled at Rahul Gandhi by a man during his roadshow in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh

Hariom Mishra, 25, the man who hurled the shoe at Rahul, was immediately overpowered by the police

Mishra, who claims to be a journalist, said he was angry on Rahul for taking part in a roadshow, instead of paying tributes to the Uri martyrs.

The attack on Rahul was seen as a breach in the security, as he one of the most protected politicians in the country.

According to a report by NDTV, Rahul claimed that he was unfazed with such attacks.

"I was just traveling on a bus and a shoe was thrown at me. It didn't hit me. I want to tell the BJP and RSS that you can throw as many shoes at me but I am not backing down. I am not scared of you. I will continue believing in love and harmony and you can stick with hate," the Congress leader said while addressing a gathering later.

Mr Gandhi was riding in an open top vehicle through Sitapur town, around 85 km from Lucknow, when a shoe came flying at him. He was accompanied by former union minister Jitin Prasada.

A video grab showed that the shoe missed the congress vice president
The citys AAP government, currently locked in a raging turf tussle with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, has now accused Jung of impeding its efforts to fight him in court, by stalling payments of senior lawyers.

The L-Gs office has denied the claim.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has been jostling with the Centre for control of land, police, and administrative powers over the bureaucracy that is currently in the hands of the L-G who reports to the union home ministry.

Confused Kejri: The citys AAP government, currently locked in a raging turf tussle with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, has accused Jung of impeding its efforts to fight him in court

Last month, the Delhi High Court said the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of the Capital and the state government must consult him on all decisions.

The Aam Aadmi Party government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, which will hear the final arguments on November 15.

The Lieutenant Governor has stalled payments of lawyers who were appearing for the Delhi government, said a source in the AAP government.

The Delhi governments counsel told the apex court that the L-G is unqualified to administer the national Capital, as a mere employee of the Centre

Some of them are Chandra Uday Singh, Sudhir Nandrajog, Guru Krishan Kumar and Raju Ramachandran.

The state government says after the high court verdict, every file has to be cleared by the L-G and several of them pertaining to the fees to be paid to the senior advocates were stuck.

The Centre has its own attorney general, solicitor general and a battery of additional solicitor generals to appear for it in the high court and Supreme Court, said the source.

Raju Ramachandran, one of the lawyers on the list, told Mail Today: But what do we do? We need to engage seniors to fight important cases for us. Which senior advocate will once again appear for us if the fee payments of earlier cases or appearances are due?

Yes, some payments are due and I heard there are certain issues and also heard they have been resolved.

Asked if he ever asked the reason for the delay, Ramachandran said, No. We never ask for the reason. We only send reminders to those who hired us.

The Delhi governments counsel told the apex court that the L-G is unqualified to administer the national Capital, a mere employee of the Centre and the latter half of a master-servant relationship.

Asked about the stalling of payments, a senior officer in the Lieutenant Governors office said, There is a government panel of lawyers and there are some lawyers who are appointed outside the particular panel for which approval from the L-G is mandatory.

"In many cases in the past, such process was not followed.

Following the high court ruling in his favour, Jung formed a three-member panel to scan files to check irregularities and infirmities in Delhi government decisions over the past 18 months.

According to sources, department secretaries have forwarded such files to the panel where the L Gs permission was mandatory but was not sought, which includes cases of lawyers who were appointed without the Lieutenant Governors nod.

The committee is now scanning such appointments.

The L-G office does not stall anyones salaries. His office only ascertains whether proper process was followed or permission was sought.

According to sources, department secretaries have forwarded such files to the panel where the L Gs permission was mandatory but was not sought

"The onus of making the payment or stalling it is on the Delhi government, the officer said.

The top court this month refused to stay the HC decision though five top legal eagles roped in by the AAP government - senior lawyers and constitutional experts K K Venugopal, Gopal Subramanium, P P Rao, Rajeev Dhavan and Indira Jaising - vehemently argued that the verdict had tied up the hands of a democratically elected government and the Lt Governor was proceeding with several illegal acts.

The bench of justices A K Sikri and N V Ramana of the SC was not convinced.
The citys night owls who gather at Connaught Place are likely to see a drastic change to Delhi's famous and foremost nightspot.

The New Delhi Municipal Council is considering requests to put a cap on the number of pubs, nightclubs and restaurants in the Colonial-era white shopping arcade, while it is set to crack-down on such establishments misusing terraces for commercial activities.

The requests come after shopkeepers in Connaught Place complained about the overburdening of the system as the crumbling infrastructure takes the strain of an increasing number of establishments.

The citys party animals who gather at Connaught Place are likely to see a drastic change to Delhi's famous and foremost nightspot as the MCD considers request to 'cap' number of pubs and clubs (picture for representation only)

Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), wrote to the municipalitys chairperson about his concerns on September 15.

The development comes a month after a fire broke out at another nightlife hub, Hauz Khas Village, killing a young businessman and injuring a French woman in an incident that underscored the Capitals poor safety standards and pervasive failure to enforce the laws.

Though the NDMC does not have a count of the eateries, bars and cafes in Connaught Place, officials said the online restaurant search and discovery service Zomato.com shows 160.

Besides, there could be 40 other smaller establishments, taking the total figure to about 200.

Sources said 50 more are in the pipeline, waiting for licences to be granted. Some of these applicants already hold multiple restaurants in the prestigious area.

A top NDMC official, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mail Today: All the terraces being used as extensions of restaurants and bars are illegal. They are in violation of the NDMC Act, section 252 (misuse of premises beyond sanction).

"They can never be allowed as they contravene the Delhi Building Bylaws 1983. I have asked the concerned department to close them soon.

The New Delhi Municipal Council is considering requests to put a 'cap' on the number of pubs, nightclubs and restaurants in the Colonial-era white shopping arcade

Connaught Place was built as one of the largest business centres in New Delhi in 1933.

At the time, the ground floors were meant for shops and the first and second floors for residences only.

Gradually, the upper floors too turned commercial.

During the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) and after the arrival of the Metro, some enterprising shop owners opened restaurants here.

Based on their success, the trend caught on. On the issue of multiplicity of restaurants, the NDMC official said, As per existing laws, no such restriction can be imposed.

"However, we are considering the requests and trying to ensure that the load on the infrastructure is reduced.

The heritage shopping arcade draws people of all ages and backgrounds - from businessmen and foreign tourists to students, middle-class families as well as drug addicts and the homeless.

No substantial action has been taken to stop the mushrooming of new restaurants in CP in spite of worries conveyed, Bhargava wrote in his letter to the civic body.

It is imperative that a feasibility study be undertaken on the carrying capacity of each block and how many restaurants CP can actually hold.

"Accordingly, licenses may be issued in future.

Bars and restaurants catering to the young spring up almost every week in Connaught Places grand colonial-era buildings.

When contacted, Bhargava said: We have no issues with them (restaurants and bars). In fact, they supplement our business. However, with their wild mushrooming, the infrastructure  sewerage drains, traffic, parking & law and order  are all crumbling.

While all the corridors are badly affected, the worst is N Block, said shopkeepers. At one time, it had only three restaurants. Now there are 13. Restaurant owners, though, had a different take.

Bhanu Nehra, owner of Janpath Grill House and Office Office, said, This is not how it works. I visit London not only to see London Bridge; its the shopping and nightlife that attract people.

Officials say that the online restaurant search and discovery service Zomato.com shows 160 eateries, bars and cafes in Connaught Place (file pic)

Siddharth Aggarwal, co-owner of Piali  The Curry Bistro, said, Why deprive anyone? Let the market forces decide how many restaurants stay finally. Automatically, CP will reach a saturation point and some will close. But fewer restaurants will mean less competition and poor service to people.

Neeraj Dixit, owner of the cafe and pub Master of Malts, said, If not for the restaurants, who will come to CP? It will shut down.

The civic agency had initiated action against 13 restaurants in June last year for extending their services to the terraces.
Earlier this week Mail Today exclusively broke the news that up to 3000 cows a day were being smuggled from India into Bangladesh to meet the growing demand for beef.

As the news began to circulate, a video surfaced online showing of a pair of cows being thrown over the barbed wire fence along the Bangladesh-India border.

Images show cows being strung by their necks to a makeshift crane. Smaller to medium cows are pulled over a tall barbed fence, with a crowd of smugglers gathered on either side.

Scroll down for video...

A video showing of a pair of cows being carried over a barbed wire fence by their necks has gone viral online. The footage comes after an Mail Today exclusive on cow smuggling.

Cattle slaughter in India Cattle slaughter in India is an incredibly taboo subject because of the cow's traditional status as a respected creature of God in Hinduism. Dairy products are extensively used in Hindu culture and are one of the most essential nutritional components of Hindu meals. Article 48 of the Constitution of India mandates the state to prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other cattle. On October 26, 2005, the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgement upheld the constitutional validity of anti-cow slaughter laws enacted by different state governments in India. Currently, 24 out of 29 states in India have various regulations prohibiting either the slaughter or sale of cows. Advertisement

The video shows the increasingly callous and desperate ways cows are smuggled over the border fence from India to Bangladesh.

In the exclusive report, Mohammed Rehan, who works at Gabtole, one of the biggest cattle market of Bangladesh, 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.

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.

Bangladeshi cattle markets, known as khattals, are said to be brimming with cows and oxen from India

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.

Responding to the damning video, General PK Sehgal told Mail Today: You can see how the cattle is pushed over the fence. The video shows how, unfortunately, the smuggling has been done with the aid of those who are expected to guard the border.

Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh, Major General Aziz Ahmed denied all theories of connivance.

If you tell me there is connivance between smugglers from India and Bangladesh, I will agree.
The man tipped to take over as chief executive at BAE Systems picked up 26,498 shares in the company last week.

Charles Woodburn is chief operating officer at the aerospace firm. He is expected to take the helm when Ian King steps down, a move which is predicted to take place next year.

Woodburn bought the shares for 536p each, spending a total of 142,029.

He joined BAE in May with a base salary of 750,000.

He was chief executive at oilfield services business Expro Group.
Every day around 1,300 cars roll off the production line at Britain's biggest car plant in Sunderland.

The Nissan factory has been one of the country's great success stories.

The cars churned out by the 6,700 staff don't just stay on these shores, but are exported all around the world in what has become a motor export boom.

But suddenly, though the UK seems to be shrugging off the concerns about Brexit, there are worries about the future  and they're coming from halfway round the world.

Key market:China has become a voracious buyer of all things British  from cars, precious metals and plastics to pork reared on UK farms, Scottish salmon and whisky

That is because the economic slowdown in China poses a threat to every car plant in the UK  and many more businesses besides.

China has become a voracious buyer of all things British  from cars, precious metals and plastics to pork reared on UK farms, Scottish salmon and whisky.

Exports of British goods to China have risen sharply over the last two decades, jumping from 877million in 1998 to 15.5billion in 2014, making the country the UK's sixth biggest market.

But sales to China of goods stamped 'Made in Britain' fell 22 per cent in 2015 to 12.1billion with car exports down a thumping 37.5 per cent.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, warns that car makers face 'export challenges' from China.

The China warning from a former IMF chief economist

These challenges could be about to get worse. Ken Rogoff, a leading economist, yesterday warned that China now poses the biggest threat to the global economy as its debts rise at break-neck speed.

'There is no question, China is the greatest risk,' says the 63-year-old American, the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund who is professor of economics at Harvard University. 'China has been the engine of global growth. China has been really important. But it is going through a big political revolution. And I think the economy is slowing down much more than the official figures show.'

There is no question, China is the greatest risk - Ken Rogoff

Figures published by the authorities in Beijing show that the Chinese economy grew by 6.9 per cent in 2015  the slowest rate of expansion for 25 years and down from 7.3 per cent in 2014.

The IMF is forecasting growth of 6.6 per cent this year and 6.2 per cent next year  although these predictions are likely to be revised next week when the watchdog publishes its latest World Economic Outlook in Washington DC.

But it is widely thought that the official figures  and the IMF forecasts  over state the strength of what is now the world's second largest economy behind the US.

Capital Economics reckons the Chinese economy grew by just 4.2 per cent last year and has pencilled in expansion of 5 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent next year.

Andrew Polk, a senior economist at The Conference Board in Beijing, believes the Chinese economy is growing by no more than 4 per cent.

For a western economy these figures sound stellar. But as Polk explains, for a country such as China this could be a problem.

'For a fast-growing emerging market like China's, which is in the mode of playing catch-up with the wider world, a growth rate of 3 per cent or 4 per cent is in or close to recession,' he says. 'It's like zero growth in a mature economy like Britain's or America's.'

Rogoff now believes that China could suffer a 'hard landing'  a much sharper slowdown that would have disastrous consequences for the rest of the world.

China is now a major buyer as well as producer

China not only produces cheap goods for countries all over the world  Britain bought 37.8billion worth of Chinese goods last year, making it the second biggest source of imports behind Germany  but is also the world's biggest consumer of cars and smartphones.

'Everyone says China's different, the state owns everything, they can control it,' says Rogoff.

'Only to a point. It's definitely a worry, a hard landing in China. We're having a pretty sharp landing already and I worry about China becoming more of a problem. We've taken it for granted that whatever Europe's doing, Japan's doing, at least China's moving along and there isn't really a substitute for China.'

The slowdown in China is not all bad news for Britain. One benefit millions of families have enjoyed over the past two years is the slump in the oil price  partly reflecting subdued demand from China.

The price of oil has fallen from $115 a barrel two years ago to below $50 a barrel today  pushing down the cost of petrol and energy bills.

But it has wreaked havoc in the North Sea where thousands of jobs have been lost.

Exports: China not only produces cheap goods for countries all over the world but is also the world's biggest consumer of cars and smartphones

How the slowdown in China is hitting at home

The slowdown in China has also taken its toll on UK steel.

Lower growth in the Asian powerhouse has left it with an excess of steel which it has dumped in Europe  with the deluge of cheap steel devastating the industry in Britain.

British companies such as fashion house Burberry and drinks maker Diageo have also felt the pain of the Chinese slowdown. Asia Pacific, including China, now accounts for 38 per cent of Burberry sales so any fall in demand is likely to hurt.

The Bank of England is also worried about the banking sector. British banks have more than 400billion tied up in China and Hong Kong  or around 16 per cent of all foreign assets held by UK lenders.

The central bank's Financial Policy Committee last week said Britain's banks will be tested on their ability to weather a meltdown in the Chinese economy.

The big concern is debt. Government, corporate and household debt accounts for 240 per cent of national income as measured by gross domestic product in China.

The FPC warns that debt levels in China are 'very high by international standards'.

Ratings agency Fitch warns that bad debts in the Chinese banking system are ten times higher than officially reported.

Official estimates suggest 1.8 per cent of loans are 'non-performing' but Fitch puts the figure at between 15 per cent and 21 per cent and warns it would cost 1.6trillion to clean up this toxic legacy.

One of the lessons of economic history is that rapid increases in debt in short spans of time usually end badly  typically with a financial crisis

'If you want to look at part of the world that has a debt problem, look at China,' says Rogoff. 'They've seen credit fuelled growth and these things don't go on forever.'

Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics, says debt levels in China 'have been rising at a dizzying rate'.

He adds: 'One of the lessons of economic history is that rapid increases in debt in short spans of time usually end badly  typically with a financial crisis.

'If the current trend of debt-fuelled growth continues I think it is very likely that China's economy will struggle over the next few years.
Aldi is selling nine bottles of wine a second as it plans a 300million revamp to take on Waitrose.

Following in the footsteps of German competitor Lidl, the low-cost supermarket has seen sales soar as shoppers got a taste for its premium wines.

Now it is planning a further assault on rivals by aiming to put a store on every High Street and install sophisticated displays for its popular wines, and redesign its garish orange-and-blue signs.

It is the latest strategy as it tries to move away from being seen as just a budget label, and instead become a key part of the High Street.

Sprucing up: German-owned supermarket Aldi is churning 300million into improving its stores, sprucing up fixtures in its alcohol, fresh produce and food-on-the-go aisles

Yesterday Aldi revealed that sales had topped 7.7billion  twice the level of just three years ago. Although profit fell to 212million from 250.6million after the firm invested heavily in bringing down prices.

Aldi's chief executive Matthew Barnes said: 'Increasingly we are seen more and more as a British retailer. We sponsored the Team GB at the Olympics and British sourced products are 77 per cent of total sales.

'The new format in store includes newly-designed fixtures for beers, wines and spirits, fresh produce and baby and toddler, as well as a new food-to-go fixture.

'We wanted something to showcase our wine credentials and fresh fruit and vegetables.'

On Brexit the 43-year-old boss said spending has been 'unaffected by the UK's decision to leave the EU'.

Both Aldi and Lidl have become destinations for wine connoisseurs. Aldi won 13 awards in the Decanter World Wine Awards last year and one in every 13 bottles of wine, and one in 12 bottles of champagne bought in the UK, are purchased at Aldi.

It has sold more than 31,000 bottles of wine every hour throughout the past year. Its online shop sells 11,000 bottles a week.

Among its winners at the Decanter awards were the Exquisite Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, costing 7.99.

Rival Lidl will launch its French Wine Cellar this week featuring 42 wines from some of the best regions.

Sales boost: Amid a fierce supermarket price war, Aldi saw its operating profits fall 1.8 per cent to 255.6million in the past year, but sales climbed 12 per cent to 7.7billion

As part of it revamp Aldi will refurbish 100 stores in 2017. It will open 70 newly-designed stores during 2017 as part of its plan to reach 1,000 by 2022.

The store has cut prices on 30 per cent of products so far this year and it claims a basket of typical items costs 23.9 per cent more at Tesco and 39.4 per cent more at Waitrose.

'The drop in profit we have experienced is small given our price cuts,' said Barnes, who promised there would be more to come even if it means the business will deliver a loss.

'The price war continues to rage on. We will respond to any competition on price  customers will pay the lowest price for groceries at Aldi.'

He also said he wants an Aldi on every High Street.

Aldi said its strongest-performing categories last year included its premium range of Specially Selected products which saw a 20 per centrise in sales over 2015.

Fresh meat and fish was up 23 per cent and one in every 13 packs of fresh meat purchased in the UK are from an Aldi store.

Fresh produce increased 18 per cent and its Exquisite wine range up 20 per cent.
While travel firms across the globe have been hit by terror fears and worries about the Zika virus, bookings have been going well for cruise companies.

Yesterday, P&O Cruises owner Carnival posted better than expected results thanks to low fuel prices and strong bookings providing a boost to revenues.

Arnold Donald, president and chief executive, said advanced bookings were ahead year on year.

'Revenues during the peak summer season were bolstered by strong performances from both our North American and European brands and across all major deployments including the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe,' he said.

Revenue was up 4.3 per cent on last year for the three months to August 31, hitting 3.9billion.

Profit jumped 17 per cent to 1.1billion for the same period, driven by lower fuel prices which fell 62million.

Carnival Corp & plc was formed in 2002 when Carnival Corp, the US side of the business, controversially merged with P&O Cruises.

The company has its headquarters in the US and Southampton, with its shares listed on both sides of the Atlantic.
The German takeover of the London Stock Exchange is facing a prolonged probe from Brussels competition authorities.

Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse is seeking to seize control of 215-year-old LSE in a deal worth 21billion.

The European Commission could give its support for the plan following an initial deadline on Wednesday.

Target: Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse is seeking to seize control of 215-year-old LSE in a deal worth 21bn

But sources close to the deal believe it is more likely to opt for an in-depth investigation which could last until mid-February.

It follows speculation Deutsche will abandon a previous promise to base the organisations headquarters in London.

The German regulator Bafin has said it would be hard to imagine this pledge being kept after the Brexit vote.

UK critics warned that the tie-up  which both sides insist is a merger of equals  would damage the City and create a behemoth whose collapse could cause a financial crisis.

But demands for a rethink fell on deaf ears and the two firms shareholders gave their backing.

Meanwhile, LSE and seven investment banks launched a derivatives trading platform called CurveGlobal.

The aim is to challenge major rivals Deutsche and Intercontinental Exchange in the US.
Monarch Airlines needs to reapply for its Air Travel Organisers' Licensing certificate by this Friday or it will be unable to sell further package holidays.

Holidaymakers currently abroad or due to travel after Friday would still be protected if the licence is not renewed as the scheme is dependent on when a trip is booked rather than when it takes place.

Over the weekend, the budget airline was forced to rush out a statement denying 'negative speculation' that it was close to bankruptcy and said the company is 'trading well,'

Safety briefing: Monarch Airlines has revealed it is close to securing a multi-million pound lifeline from its biggest shareholder

But, on Sunday it emerged the firm, which employs 2,800 people, has been locked in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority which has reservations over whether to renew its license.

The watchdog is understood to be concerned about Monarch's finances, and specifically whether it has enough cash reserves set aside.

The airline is part of the government-backed Atol scheme, which compensates travellers in full and ensures they are not stranded if a holiday company collapses.

According to reports, the Civil Aviation Authority was responsible for chartering large aircraft which were positioned at airports served by Monarch in southern Europe on Sunday in case the airline was unable to fly passengers home.

This week, Monarch said it was close to securing a multi-million pound lifeline from its biggest shareholder as it sought to reassure passengers it is in no danger of going bust.

Statements: This week, Monarch said it was close to securing a multi-million pound lifeline from its biggest shareholder

Earlier this week, it also emerged that Monarch's private equity owners Greybull Capital could sell the troubled airline to the Chinese.

It is thought to have held talks with a number of interested parties including China's HNA Group, the owner of Hainan Airlines.

A sale would be likely to raise fresh concerns about China's increasing influence over UK plc, with the Government recently expressing reservations over the Chinese involvement in the 18billion Hinkley Point nuclear project.

In its statement Monarch brushed off concerns about its finances and said it expected to generate earnings of 40million in the year to October.

The firm has been hoping to make the announcement after receiving a clean bill of health from the CAA, but was forced to rush out the statement to reassure passengers.
Bookings at Thomas Cook remain under pressure as the travel market continues to be affected by recent terror attacks.

The holiday giant revealed that while demand from British sun-seekers was robust over the summer, overall bookings across the group were down 4 per cent.

Sales were hit hard across Continental Europe, tumbling by 9 per cent, while bookings were also 'significantly down' in Belgium after the terrorist attacks at Brussels airport in March.

Empty: Thomas Cook has been knocked hard by a string of terrorist attacks in Turkey, Belgium, and Paris and Nice in France, while the Brexit vote and plunging pound have also taken its toll

In the UK bookings were up 1 per cent but prices fell 5 per cent as it sold more 'seat-only' flight deals alongside its package holidays.

It added that summer bookings dropped 6 per cent in Germany.

Following the update shares have fallen 1 per cent, or 0.75p at 69.2p.

Its stock has been on the slide ever since Thomas Cook cut its annual earnings outlook in July.

The travel industry has been rocked by a string of terrorist attacks in Turkey, Belgium, and Paris and Nice in France, while the Brexit vote and plunging pound have all taken their toll.

Yesterday, the owner of UK airline Monarch revealed that it is in talks over a potential takeover of the carrier and is preparing to throw it a multimillion-pound lifeline.

This comes after Low Cost Holidays collapsed earlier this year, affecting more than 140,000 customers.

Upbeat: Chief executive Peter Fankhauser insists people still want to holiday despite fears

Nevertheless chief executive Peter Fankhauser insisted travellers still want to holiday overseas, but have switched to destinations such as the Balearic and Canary Islands and the United States, alongside smaller destinations like Bulgaria and Cuba.

Stripping out the impact of sharply lower demand for trips to previously popular destination Turkey, it said bookings were 8 per cent higher overall.

He said: 'Customers' desire to go abroad on holiday has remained strong, with the exception of Turkey where demand continues to be volatile.

'We remain focused on ensuring that we have the right holidays available in the most popular destinations in order to meet changes in customer demand. At the same time, we continue to transform our business for profitable growth.'

Holiday bookings over the winter season have followed a similar pattern, with strong demand from the UK being offset by a weaker performance across Europe.

The group said its winter season was 27 per cent sold so far, which is in line with a year earlier, with UK bookings up 8 per cent and ongoing weak demand in Germany and Belgium.

But customers are booking already for next summer to snap up the best deals, with bookings ahead across all its markets and prices also higher, it said.

Simon French, analyst at Cenkos, said: 'For the tour operator only, the Summer 2016 season is 89 per cent sold, 2 per cent lower than this time last year.

'We have some concerns over Winter 2016/17 which is 27 per cent sold, the same as last year albeit prices down 1 per cent.

'Given the Winter booking trends we remain negative, Sell.'
Colombia's government has signed a historic peace deal with Farc rebels to put an end to half a century of conflict that has left 250,000 dead.

President Juan Manuel Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, (Farc) signed the agreement before a crowd of 2,500 foreign dignitaries and special guests, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

However, the ceremony was overshadowed by protests with many people taking to the streets to demonstrate saying the government has shown excessive leniency towards guerrilla leaders.

President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Rodrigo Londono shake hands after signing the peace deal in the city of Cartagena

Top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Rodrigo Londono, known by the alias Timochenko, signs the peace agreement

Afterwards, president Santos signed the agreement as UN general secretary Ban Ki-Moon looks on

Londono holds his hands in the air to celebrate after signing the peace deal with the Colombian government

They say the rebels have been responsible for many atrocities in a conflict they say has been fueled by the cocaine trade.

To shouts of 'Santos is a coward!' former President Alvaro Uribe, the architect of the decade-long, U.S.-backed military offensive that forced the FARC to the negotiating table, said the peace deal puts Colombia on the path to becoming a leftist dictatorship.

However, many in the audience also had tears in their eyes, and shouts rose urging Santos and Londono to 'Hug, hug, hug!' In the end, the two men just clasped hands and smiled effusively.

Then Santos removed from his lapel a pin shaped like a white dove that he's been wearing for years and handed it over to his former adversary, who fastened it on his own shirt.

It was one of many symbolic gestures that filled the 90-minute ceremony held at sunset overlooking the historic ramparts of Cartagena, nicknamed the 'Heroic City' for its prominent role in Colombia's battle for independence from Spain.

The event kicked off with Santos unlocking with a metal key a giant door, representing a new beginning, through which 15 Latin American presidents and the two sides' negotiating teams crossed while taking their seats on the stage.

However, demonstrators yelled 'No to the plebiscite' to protest the government's peace agreement

Protesters believed that the agreement gave too much leniency to the guerrilla rebels in Colombia

Protesters say the rebels have been responsible for many atrocities in a conflict they say has been fueled by the cocaine trade

All guests were told to wear white and Santos and Londono signed the 297-page accord with pens made from recycled shells used in combat.

Borrowing phrases from Colombia's 19th century national anthem, Santos, who for years was the FARC's top military opponent, proclaimed that the signing of the accord will put an end to generations of bloody combat that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions, creating the conditions for wounds to heal and the country to prosper in the years ahead.

He led the crowd in chants of 'No more war! No more war! No more war!' and urged Colombians to ratify the accord in an October 2 national referendum that will determine its fate.

Addressing the FARC leaders on stage, Santos said: 'When you begin your journey back to society, when you begin your conversion into a political movement, I, as head of state of the fatherland we all love, want to welcome you to democracy.'

People wait for the start of the peace ceremony prior the signing of a peace agreement between Colombia's government and FARC

Guests at the peace signing ceremony were invited to wear white as a sign of peace, and the president used a pen made from a recycled shell used in combat

Londono, best known by his alias Timochenko, called Santos 'a courageous partner' and hailed the accord as not only a victory for Colombia but an example to war-ravaged Syria and the Palestinians and Israelis of what can be achieved through dialogue.

He said the FARC wouldn't abandon its fight for social justice or harsh critique of Colombian elites as it makes its transition into a political movement. But he said it would now defend its political ideals at the ballot box.

'Let no one doubt that we are going into politics without weapons,' Londono said. 'We are going to comply (with the accord) and we hope that the government complies.'

He also praised FARC's fighters as heroes of the downtrodden and then in an emotional high point called out for forgiveness of the FARC's crimes, which range from kidnapping of civilians to its laying of land mines that have claimed thousands of victims.

'I apologise for all the pain that we have caused,' he said.

The ceremony mostly went off without a hitch although an apparently unexpected low flyover by three fighter jets momentarily startled Londono, who resumed his speech with a joke: 'This time they came to salute peace instead of unload bombs.'

Londono took over as the FARC's commander in 2011 after an aerial attack killed his predecessor, known as Alfonso Cano, shortly after he authorised a secret backchannel dialogue with the government.

An elderly man places a white flag on his hat during a concert for peace in Carmen de Bolivar after the peace deal was signed

Earlier in the day, government officials attended a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, who praised Colombians for overcoming the pain of the bloody conflict to find common ground with the rebels.

'All of us here today are conscious of the fact we're at the end of a negotiation, but also the beginning of a still open process of change that requires the contribution and respect of all Colombians' the cardinal said.

The FARC was established in 1964 by self-defense groups and communist activists who joined forces to resist a government military onslaught. Reflecting that history, the final accord commits the government to addressing unequal land distribution that has been at the heart of Colombia's conflict.
Richard Meadows saved $100,000 in three years, quit his job aged 25 and headed for south-east Asia.

Now he's revealed how he did it, so you can, too.

One day, the New Zealand man and former business reporter calculated his personal net worth - which turned out to be negative - and it was a shock to the system and a turning point.

In his blog, The Deep Dish, he wrote that he was inspired by 'early retirement' and 'financial independence' movements, and after his net worth calculation and interviewing a champion of the movements, decided take the plunge himself.

Richard Meadows' view from a temple in Myanmar while on his travels after saving $100,000

New Zealand man Richard Meadows

He told Daily Mail Australia it took him three years, six months for his net worth to hit $100,000, after being in debt.

'The true "secret" is simple: Live on less than you earn. Save and invest the difference, and let compound interest do its thing,' he wrote on his blog.

Many of his tips for saving provided to Daily Mail were common sense.

He said he had lived in a large house with a group of friends to reduce rent and expenses.

He rode his bike to work and for any small errands, used his modest car as little as possible - and learned how to drive it efficiently, while also sharing it and the expense with a flatmate for a while.

Taking pre-made lunches and cutting out bought coffee helped, too.

He went out to restaurants and bars less often and instead had friends over for food and drinks at home, or went to their houses.

His beer was home brewed, he always maxed out the duty-free alcohol allowance, and bought wine by the case to keep costs down.

Mr Meadows told Daily Mail Australia it took him three years, six months for his net worth to hit $100,000, after starting from scratch

One of the stunning photos Mr Meadows has taken during his travels, which he embarked upon after three years of saving

Other purchases were most often second hand and he learned how to haggle for full-price items.

He also regularly reviewed every bill and contract to see if there was a better deal available and changed his super account to a low fee provider.

WHAT ARE SOME OF RICHARD MEADOWS' TIPS FOR SAVING? Live with friends to reduce rent and expenses, or take in flatmates if you own a house. Live as close to work as you can, and get on your bike if possible. Try not to own more than one vehicle. Make sure it's good on petrol, and learn how to drive it efficiently. Never, ever, buy a car on finance (or anything else, for that matter). Brown-bag your lunch for work, or reduce daily coffees; small habits make a huge difference over time. Buy (almost) everything secondhand for a fraction of the price. Learn how to haggle when you're buying new. Go out to bars and restaurants less often and it becomes a treat. Host your mates at home instead. Once a year, reassess bills and contracts to see if better deals are available. Make sure you're not getting ripped off through sneaky fees charged by your superannuation, bank, and other financial services. Advertisement

'I understand if you're underwhelmed,' he wrote in his blog.

'Most people already know this, at least on some level. It wasn't until I saw what happens when it's put into practice that it really blew my socks off.

'Slowly but surely, I reassessed every area of spending. I cut the bloat and wastage. I thought about what was really important to me, and what wasn't.

'Things really started humming along after I customised a spreadsheet to track my net worth. Every month I got a little buzz out of seeing the number climb higher and higher.'

Mr Meadows began his savings in 2013 and by 2015, he was thinking about taking a break from his '9 to 5' - or quitting it altogether.

He promised himself that when his savings balance hit $100,000 he would quit, sell his belongings and move overseas.

Earlier in 2016 he left New Zealand for Bangkok and Asia.

Although at the time he hadn't quite hit $100,000 due to a bad investment, at the start of August he checked his net worth - $101,227.

'I was stoked when I hit the $100,000 mark. I was in a KFC in Cambodia when I realised, and I'm pretty sure a few people witnessed a crazy foreigner staring at his laptop and doing fist pumps.

'That being said, six figures was always just an arbitrary number. I was already travelling and working on the things I'd been dreaming of for ages, which was by far the biggest buzz.'

In mid-2016, Mr Meadows had saved $100,000 and headed overseas to travel for the next year or two

Mr Meadows said regardless of a savings goal, the principle was always the same.

Next up, he intends to travel and work on business plans and do a little freelance work for the coming year or two.

'Let's be clear - $100k is nowhere near enough to retire on, and I wouldn't retire right now even if I could.

Richard Meadows pictured on his travels

'At some point down the track I'll definitely return to real work, either for myself or in a regular job. Maybe I'll end up retiring early, and maybe I won't. Now that I've got the tools for it, it's always an option.'

For the critics of the lifestyle choices he had to make, he had this to say: 'Anyone who dares to do something differently is going to get given s***. Haters lash out when they feel their lifestyle is being questioned, which is understandable.

'I don't take it to heart at all. I'm in no way trying to preach at people about how they should live.'

Finally, he pointed out that there was a large element of luck involved in his achievement.

'I grew up in a family of seven. There was b****r all money to go around, but there was always food on the table and books on the shelf. Lots of people are not so fortunate. My post is aimed at middle-class people like me, who might not fully realise the opportunities they've been blessed with'.
Victims include two women, a man and a boy no more than three days old

All four are victims of homicides whose cases have remained dormant

Exhumed three people in Hanover Township and one near Wilkes-Barre

State police exhumed took four bodies out of their graves on Monday

Pennsylvania police exhumed four unidentified homicide victims on Monday, hoping that forensic scientists can finally name them.

One of them, an unnamed woman, was found in 1973 by a motorist, wrapped in a blanket on the side of the interstate. She was wearing shorts, a pink blouse with lace trim, and floral-print slippers. The woman had been doused in sulfuric acid.

Pennsylvania State Police spent three months trying to identify the partially decomposed body, then closed the case.

State police dug up her grave Monday along with the graves of two other unidentified homicide victims, all buried within yards of each other at a cemetery in Hanover Township, northeastern Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Police exhumed four unidentified homicide victims on Monday. They are pictured in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hanover Township

State police dug up three graves at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hanover Township Monday (pictured) and another one outside of Wilkes-Barre

Police then headed to a second cemetery outside Wilkes-Barre to exhume the body of a newborn boy.

Investigators hope that forensic scientists will be able to give all four victims a name  and perhaps lead police to their killers.

'Maybe we'll be able to give some closure to some families and let them know that we found their loved ones,' Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said.

Pennsylvania State Police cold case investigators are working with forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle of the University of South Florida. Kimmerle previously led an effort to exhume more than 50 old graves at a shuttered reform school in Florida.

Kimmerle's team hopes to do facial reconstructions and perform chemical isotope testing that will help determine where the victims lived.

Investigators (pictured in Hanover Township) hope that forensic scientists will be able to give all four victims a name  and perhaps lead police to their killers

Cold case investigators are working with a forensic anthropologist and her team to hopefully identify the four homicide victims. Police are pictured Monday

The team, aided by a grant from the National Institute of Justice, also wants to collect DNA samples that will be sent to a national missing persons database.

State police Corporal Thomas McAndrew had been looking into the death of the woman doused in acid when he discovered the other unidentified homicide victims were buried in the same cemetery.

'They're basically forgotten. That's what it comes down to,' he said.

Police used a backhoe to remove the top layers of soil, then dug by hand with picks, shovels and buckets to expose their burial vaults.

Two of the bodies were found in concrete vaults; the third, in a corroded metal container.

Forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle (pictured on Monday) and her team hope to do facial reconstructions and perform testing that will help determine where the victims lived

All had been laid to rest in autopsy bags, and Kimmerle said they were sufficiently preserved to be able to perform the forensics work.

Aside from the woman who'd been doused in sulfuric acid, the victims include a woman whose nude body was found along an interstate in 1970, a man whose bullet-riddled body was found in 1979 by two men walking to a fishing hole and a boy no more than 3 days old.

The man wore a sterling silver bracelet with the word 'Vedon' on the clasp and a gold serpent ring on his pinky.

The baby was found in the trash by a landfill worker in 1980.

It will be an extraordinary long shot to crack the cases, McAndrew acknowledged - but he said it's worth the effort.
A controversial chief executive who moved from Dolce & Gabbana to give Wisconsin casual clothes firm Lands' End a glamorous new look has stepped down.

Federica Marchionni announced her departure less than two years after taking over and attempting to rebrand the company.

Since she was appointed, Marchionni introduced slimmer fits, stiletto heels and a new range of activewear, but her time at the helm was nevertheless marred by controversy.

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Federica Marchionni was recruited to Lands' End from New York fashion house Dolce & Gabbana

Her decision to feature feminist and abortion rights advocate Gloria Steinem in a Lands' End catalog drew the ire of some customers, who flooded the company's Facebook page with comments and caused at least two private religious schools to stop purchasing uniforms from the company.

The company issued a public apology and removed Steinem from its website.

Under Marchionni's leadership, Lands' End also opened up pop-up stores in fashion hotspots including Fifth Avenue in New York and SoHo as Marchionni looked to bring a touch of glam to the brand.

But the company was unable to attract a customer base beyond its catalog shoppers.

Dick Seesel, principal at Retailing in Focus, told The Journal Sentinel: 'It never seemed like a good fit.

'The luxury goods background didn't seem like a good fit to me with the type of brand image that Lands' End seems to want to continue to project.'

And Dodgeville's Mayor, Todd D Novak, said there had been concern about the direction the company - which employs around 4,000 people in Wisconsin - was taking.

He said: 'I think there was some concern about the direction that she was taking the company. So I'm cautiously optimistic that this move will benefit the company.'

Marchionni, 44, was recruited to the company, best known for making uniforms for children and outdoor clothing, in February 2015 - but her employment agreement specified that she did not have to move to Dodgeville, but could instead work from New York.

Marchionni proved unable to overhaul the company's image

This proved to be contentious with employees, The Wall Street Journal reports, stating that she only spent one week per month at the company's headquarters.

In a printed statement on Monday, Marchionni said: 'The board of directors and I have agreed it is time for others to bring Lands' End into the future.'

Lands' End posted a loss of $7.7 million for the six months which ended on July 29, compared with a profit of $9.2 million the previous year.

Sales fell 7.6 per cent to $565 million over that period.

The Lands' End board appointed Joseph Boitano, executive vice president and chief merchandising and design officer, and James Gooch, executive vice president and chief operating and financial officer, as co-interim chief executive officers.

A global executive search firm has been hired to assist with identifying a permanent CEO, the company said. The search will consider both internal and external candidates.

Josephine Linden, board chairman, said Marchionni has helped Lands' End transform by offering merchandise that was more relevant to shoppers.
Nathan DeSai has been identified by media outlets as the gunman who shot and wounded nine people at a Houston strip mall before being killed by police

Those who knew the disgruntled Houston lawyer who was killed after police say he opened fire at a strip mall Monday described a man whose life appeared to be spiraling out of control in recent months, marked by heavy marijuana use, erratic behavior and possible bouts of paranoia.

The suspect, identified by multiple media outlets as Nathan DeSai, was dressed in military-style apparel with old Nazi insignia and had two weapons and more than 2,500 rounds of live ammunition when he randomly shot at drivers in front of a condo complex, injuring nine people.

Six of the victims suffered gunshot wounds and three had eye injuries from flying glass. One person was in critical condition and another in serious condition, officials said.

Jason Delgado, the property manager of The Oaks at West University condo complex, told the station KTRK that DeSai had been involved in two recent incidents at the complex.

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A police officer examines DeSai's black Porsche, where investigators discovered Nazi insignia in his personal effects

Police investigate the scene of a shooting along Wesleyan at Law Street that left multiple people injured and the alleged shooter dead

On August 4, Delgado said, police were called after roofers working in the complex said DeSai pointed an assault-style rifle at them. DeSai apparently believed someone was trying to break into his unit.

He says there wasn't enough evidence to move forward with charges because the man contended he didn't point the gun at roofers.

Jennifer Molleda, who lives in the same complex with her husband as DeSai, also mentioned the run-in with the roofers.

Molleda said she didn't know DeSai very well, and described him as quiet.

'He's a normal, average Joe,' she said.

Then last week, DeSai became upset because of water pressure problems at his home, asked for maintenance help and expressed his displeasure in an email to the management firm that implied he'd 'intimidate his way to getting what he was asking for,' Delgado said.

DeSai was listed as a partner at McDaniel & DeSai LLP, a Houston-based law firm, but authorities say he appeared to be disgruntled

DeSai's former partner, Ken McDaniel, says the two split amicably because the economy had hurt their business

The property manager said DeSai was given a written warning about his threatening behavior.

Delgado also revealed that the management had received 'numerous' complaints from neighbors about strong marijuana stench coming from DeSai's apartment.

During the shooting Monday, DeSai was wearing an antique Nazi uniform with Swastikas on it, and police later found Nazi insignia in his personal effects inside his Porsche Boxter.

When they went to search his apartment, investigators discovered additional vintage military memorabilia emblazoned with Nazi emblems and other collectibles dating to the Civil War.

Houston Homicide Capt. Dwayne Ready and Interim Police Chief Martha Montalvo did not identify the gunman and did not have information about a motive.

Bags are carried away from the scene of a shooting along Wesleyan at Law Street in Houston that left multiple people injured

Authorities first received reports of the shootings about 6.30am Monday, and the gunman began firing at officers when they arrived.

The suspect had two legally purchased guns  a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle commonly known as a Tommy gun and an unsheathed knife, Ready said. He also noted that there were 75 spent casings at the scene, which were from officers and the gunman.

Ready said nine officers  five with the Houston Police Department and four with two other local agencies  'engaged the suspect who was shooting randomly at passersby as well as anybody he could put his sights on.'

During the shootout, one driver was shot and one of the officers 'left cover to take that citizen to safety while the other officers engaged the subject,' he said.

DeSai, who received his law degree from the University of Tulsa in 1998, started a small law firm but his former law partner, Ken McDaniel, said they closed it about six months ago.

McDaniel told local television the shooting was 'out of character' for DeSai.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, in Cuba to develop trade relations, told reporters, 'The motivation appears to be a lawyer whose relationship with his law firm went bad.'

But McDaniel disputed that assertion, saying they jointly closed their 12-year-old law firm due to economic conditions related to Houston's energy industry downturn.

McDaniel also said he hadn't had contact with DeSai lately and that police called him Monday morning to check on his safety, though they didn't explain why.

'He went his way with his practice and I went with mine,' McDaniel said, adding, 'All I can say it's a horrible situation. I'm sad for everyone involved.'

DeSai's father, Prakash DeSai, told KTRK that his son lived in the condo complex and drives a black Porsche. He also said his son, whom he saw Sunday, was upset because 'his law practice is not going well' and stays upset 'because of his personal problems.'

Perrye Turner, special agent in charge of the FBI's Houston Division, said officials don't believe the incident is tied to terrorism.

Jennifer Molleda runs down Wesleyan Street in Houston to find her husband, Alan Wakim, who had two bullets whiz by his face after going through his windshield on the way to work

Alan Wakim shows his wife, Jennifer Molleda, where two bullets entered his windshield

The entrance to the condo complex, which is in southwest Houston near the affluent enclave of West University Place, was blocked off with police tape late Monday morning. Several cars with bullet holes and shattered windows were at a nearby strip mall.

DeSai's neighbor Jennifer Molleda heard gunshots about 6.12am and called 911 after her husband left for work. The 45-year-old called him not long after, and he told her, 'I'm hit, I'm hit.'

After the shooting stopped at 7.15am, Molleda found her husband, 49-year-old Alan Wakim, several blocks away in the parking lot of a strip mall.

His Mustang had two shots that went through the windshield, and he told her that he saw a red laser beam before the shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.

Police investigate a car that was shot during a shooting along Wesleyan at Law Street in Houston

'He got out of his car, we hugged, we cried,' Molleda said, adding that after she saw everything, she believes DeSai was 'aiming to kill.'

Another witness, 30-year-old Antwon Wilson, inadvertently drove into the shooting scene after dropping off his girlfriend at work and could 'literally hear the gunfire flying.' He managed to flee and escape injury.

Lee Williams left his home in the neighborhood upon hearing gunshots and began directing traffic away from the condo complex, noting that people usually cut through the area to avoid some busier intersections.

One car ignored him, he said, and was immediately shot at. Williams couldn't see the gunman because it was dark, but believed he saw the muzzle flashes.
Paul Pagan has been charged with first-degree murder after the death of Peter Fabbri close to Millennium Park in Chicago

A heavily-tattooed 'gang member' with two gun offense convictions has been charged with murdering a 54-year-old man after an argument near a popular Chicago, police have revealed.

Paul Pagan, 32, who has a distinctive head tattoo, was charged with first-degree murder following the killing of Peter Fabbri close to Millennium Park.

Pagan is accused of shooting Mr Fabbri in the head after they got into an argument Saturday night near the park.

The victim was walking home from a wine tasting event with his sister and girlfriend when he got into a row with the gunman.

Mr Fabbri's family said the row was about politics.

Police claim Pagan pulled out a gun and shot Fabbri once in the body, then shot in him the head a few seconds later.

The victim's sister, Shelly Fabbri, chased the shooter as he tried to escape, but said she was herself attacked by the gunman's girlfriend.

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Victim Peter Fabbri died in hospital after being shot twice in an argument outside a popular Chicago tourist attraction

The gunman pushed a child off a bike and tried to flee the scene.

She told WLS-TV: 'I chased him through the street and tried to hold the bike down.

'His girlfriend comes and punched me and ripped my shirt. I wind up on the ground.'

Mr Fabbri, a father-of-two, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was initially put on life support but he was already brain-dead and his family had to watch the heartbreaking moment the machines were turned off.

Mr Fabbri's sister, Shelly, chased after the gunman following the shooting in downtown Chicago

He died late on Sunday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police obtained a description of Pagan and recovered a weapon.

Chicago police say in addition to two convictions, Pagan is a gang member, and has long been on the department's 'strategic subject list'.

He was, officials say, considered someone who would be a likely perpetrator of gun violence.

Millennium Park is a 25-acre downtown green space that hosts numerous cultural events. Its most popular attraction is 'The Bean', a stainless steel structure with a mirror-like surface.

The family set up a GoFundMe page to pay for the cost of Mr Fabbri's cremation, which, as of Tuesday morning, had exceeded its $4,000 target.
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He totters unsteadily like any other one-year-old, beaming and laughing towards the camera. Yet this beautiful 14-month-old boy, is in fact a walking, not-quite-talking medical miracle.

For little Cash-Douglas, who has big brown eyes and a determined gait, is one of the first children in the world to be born after a successful womb transplant.

His mother, 36-year-old Lolita Wasterlund, from Sweden, was born without a uterus after suffering from a rare medical condition. Yet in a pioneering operation, she was implanted with a womb donated by her sister, who had already given birth four times. Lolita then underwent IVF with her own eggs and her partner's sperm, and astonishingly carried her baby to term just over a year ago.

In an interview with MailOnline, Lolita and her sister, Linda, told of their incredible joy at the 'miracle' of Cash-Douglas's birth and described their hope that the experimental surgery will transform the fortunes of other women suffering from the condition.

'My life has taken a new turn, I am so happy. Just looking at him makes me smile,' Lolita told MailOnline. 'I still have a feeling that this is unreal... It should not have been able to happen, but it did.'

Beautiful miracle: Cash-Douglas, now 14 months old, was born after his mother underwent pioneering surgery to be implanted with her sister's uterus. He is the world's first baby to be born successfully after a womb transplant

Maternal bond: Lolita Wasterlund, 36, was born without a womb after suffering a rare medical condition, but had always wanted children. Her son Cash-Douglas, now 14 months, was born after she received a womb transplant from her sister

Medical miracle: Lolita Wasterlund gave birth to Cash-Douglas, centre, after having her sister Linda's womb implanted and undergoing IVF with her own eggs and her partner's sperm

Incredible gift: Lolita Wasterlund, left, and her sister Linda, right, 40, were always close as youngsters and even before medical science made it possible Linda had promised Lolita that she could use her womb. Now the result is beautiful Cash-Douglas

Lolita, a nurse, learned at the age of 14 that she had no uterus. Born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome - which affects one in 4,500 women worldwide - she was told she would never have children.

Despite her age she always knew she wanted a family, and struggled deeply with discovery. 'You become a woman when you have your first period, and that never happened to me,' she says.

'I felt that I was not a real woman and had problems with my identity and my purpose in life. Meeting men was also very hard. I never really knew when to tell them that I could not have children.

You become a woman when you have your first period, and that never happened to me.

'Should I tell them something that very private on the first dates or should I wait and tell them later with the risk of making them feel like I have cheated them?'

Lolita had working ovaries that produced eggs and hormones, but was still unable to have children. The only option would be surrogacy, which is illegal in Sweden.

'This was a hard blow for me because I really wanted to become a mother at young age. I remember writing in my journal when I was 14 'dear god, please give me a womb where I can bear my child'. I felt that it was unfair, I wanted to become the best mother a child could ever have and now I was not supposed to have children.'

Remarkably, Lolita's sister Linda Vasterlund, four years older, had said when the girls were teenagers that she would 'give' her uterus to her  something that was technically impossible at the time as the procedure did not yet exist.

Walking: 14-month-old Cash-Douglas is tottering around like any other one-year-old and is still learning to talk, babbling and saying 'baba'

Heartbreak: Lolita Wasterlund was told at the age of 14 that she suffered from Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, a condition affecting just 5,000 girls, in which you are born with no uterus

Devastated: Lolita told MailOnline that after the diagnosis 'I felt that I was not a real woman and had problems with my identity and my purpose in life. Meeting men was also very hard. I never really knew when to tell them that I could not have children'

Miracle boy: Lolita Vasterlund is sharing these magical images of her son Cash-Douglas in the moments after his birth to give hope to other women

Sisterly bond: When Linda Vasterlund, centre holding baby, fell pregnant she was worried about telling her sister Lolita, who was then 16, far right in white t-shirt. Lolita had already been diagnosed with the condition that means she did not have a uterus and told that she would not bear children

Linda, now 40, told MailOnline: 'I actually told Lolita 'I wish I could give you mine' when she told me about it back then. I was dead serious. Lolita was always the one of us sisters who absolutely loved children. She really loved the idea of having a child and we all knew that she would be a great mum.'

'We fought a lot as teenagers. But then I became pregnant when I was 20 years old and decided to keep the baby. It was really tough for me to tell Lolita that I was going to have a child.

'I did not know how she would react. It was Lolita who always had wanted to have a child, not me. But Lolita made an active choice to support me and our relationship grew to a very tight bond.'

After spending her late teens and early 20s in and out of depression, Lolita met her now-husband, Patrik Carlerup, a carpenter who instantly put her at her ease by saying children were not a priority for him.

'Me and my husband talked about adopting. But we never really felt like it. I guess the sorrow of not being able to have a child made me felt that it was always going to be someone elses child. I have full respect for those who are adopting, but it was just not right for me', says Lolita.

But then, in 1999, Lolita's mother read an article about womb transplant research that was being carried out at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg.

Special: Cash-Douglas has had his first day at nursery now he is 14-months-old - a moment his mother thought she would never see or experience

Trailblazer: The 'womb sisters' are very close and Linda, far left, said she had always promised Lolita, in checked shirt holding Cash-Douglas, that she could have her womb

Bond: 'It was really tough for me to tell Lolita that I was going to have a child' says Linda, pictured left. 'I did not know how she would react. It was Lolita who always had wanted to have a child, not me. But Lolita made an active choice to support me and our relationship grew to a very tight bond'

The sisters immediately contacted Professor Mats Brannstrom, who was carrying out the research.

'We said that we were ready to try when it became a reality,' recalls Lolita.

'We have never even had a discussion about me having her uterus. It was just something that was totally obvious for us.

'I never asked Linda if I could have hers; she was the one who wanted to help me. If she had not wanted to donate, this would never have happened.'

However, it was more than a decade before the procedure became a viable option (a previous attempt, in Saudi Arabia in 2000, resulted in the organ being removed).

Then, in 2011, scientists invited nine women, including Lolita, to a meeting in Gothenburg to share the exciting news  explaining that they were ready to transplant if they had suitable donors. For Linda, who already had four children at that point, the decision was obvious.

'The biggest thing for me was to help my little sister with her life long dream. I am blessed to have been able to done so', says Linda, who had already given birth to four children by then.

After 'hundreds' of checks, blood tests and X-rays  as well as consultations with a psychologist  Linda's uterus was transplanted into her younger sister on 16 March, 2013.

Joy: Lolita says Cash-Douglas is now the light of her life. 'He is very inventive, curious about the world around him and he really loves to eat all kinds of food'

Toddler: 'Right now he is on the verge of saying his first words to us,' Lolita says. 'I am really eager to hear his first words. My life has taken a new turn of course. I am so happy. Just looking at him makes me smile'

Surreal: Lolita says she wandered around in a daze for the majority of her pregnancy  never allowing herself to believe there really was a baby on the way

Recalling the day they underwent the life-changing procedure, Lolita says: 'Linda was under anaesthetic for about 12 hours. They needed to take a lot of tests to be absolutely sure that her uterus was suitable. Then they operated for about six hours to get inside me.'

It was a gruelling 12 months after the operation until Lolita was able to try for a baby; doctors were anxious to make sure the uterus was in good enough health.

The following year, the process began. Lolita had a total of ten embryos injected with Patrik's sperm  an emotionally draining process which saw the first five die within the first few weeks.

'It was a very nervous time for us both,' Lolita recalls. 'We tried again and again, but it did not work. I could see how the eggs was getting smaller and smaller in the freezer.'

Finally, in Autumn 2014, the sixth egg 'stuck'. An emotional Lolita recalls: 'The miracle had happened, I was pregnant.

Tiny: Lolita could not believe she would really give birth until a few weeks before Cash-Douglas arrived, and even now says she wonders whether her beautiful boy is real

Bonding: Cash-Douglas was delivered by C-section in June 2015 and everything went smoothly - Lolita then spent hours gazing at her 'happy boy'

Anxious: Despite being overwhelmed with joy, Lolita admits she could not relax during the pregnancy, fearing something would go wrong and never truly allowing herself to believe that there was a baby on the way until he had arrived

Uncertainty: 'I only came to realise that I was actually going to have a child just a few weeks before he was born,' Lolita says. 'Before that, there was always the uncertainty whether this was going to work. It had never been done successfully before'. Pictured right: Cash-Douglas just hours after birth

'I took the test and saw that I was pregnant. But my husband was at work and I didn't want to tell him over the phone.

'It was late when he finally came home, and I had gotten really upset and told him to sit down with an angry voice. After I told him the good news, he admitted he thought I was going to break up with him.'

Despite being overwhelmed with joy, Lolita admits she could not relax during the pregnancy, fearing something would go wrong and never truly allowing herself to believe that there was a baby on the way.

'I had to go to Gothenburg every two weeks during the pregnancy. There were ultra-sound scans to see that everything was going in the right direction. I realise that I have gotten a VIP treatment during my pregnancy. That this is not normal. On the other hand, nothing was normal about this miracle.

Cheeky: Cash-Douglas, now 14 months, is the fourth baby to be born as a result of a successful womb transplant and doctors hope the procedure will transform the fortunes of women suffering from the condition Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome

Happy families: Cash-Douglas, pictured centre in jeans, with his four older cousins in Sweden, who were all born in the same womb as him. Also pictured second left is a little baby belonging to Lizette, Linda and Lolita's other sister

Happy family: Lolita and her partner Patrik, left, pictured with Cash-Douglas, have just got married. The baby boy is pictured just weeks after birth, right

'I only came to realise that I was actually going to have a child just a few weeks before he was born,' she says. 'Before that, there was always the uncertainty whether this was going to work. It had never been done successfully before.'

Lolita was scheduled for a caesarean in Stockholm at 37 weeks  but it was brought forward by three weeks after she suffered preeclampsia.

'I was of course very nervous giving birth a few weeks early. But the operation went fine. In an indication of the daze that Lolita was in, she says the first thought that came into her mind was the appearance of her baby's nose which had seemed somewhat oversized during the ultrasound  something she now readily laughs about.

'He did have a normal nose,' says Lolita, saying she was overwhelmed as she looked at the 'happy little boy' who weighed just over 3 kilos (around 7 lbs).

One year on, life is idyllic for Lolita, Patrik and Cash-Douglas, who his mother describes as being 'full of energy' and loves nothing more than playing with the TV remote.

Tough: Linda was overjoyed to give her sister the gift of a child, and Lolita says 'The process has been hard, but it was of course worth it. I still have a feeling that this is unreal, it is something that is hard to get a grip on, because it should not have been able to happen'

Learning: Lolita says 'Right now he is on the verge of saying his first words to us. I am really eager to hear his first words. My life has taken a new turn of course. I am so happy. Just looking at him makes me smile.'

Future: Lolita and her husband Patrik have resolved to tell their son the full story about how he came to be  but all in 'due time'

'He is very inventive, curious about the world around him and he really loves to eat all kinds of food,' she says proudly.

'Right now he is on the verge of saying his first words to us. I am really eager to hear his first words. My life has taken a new turn of course. I am so happy. Just looking at him makes me smile.

'The process has been hard, but it was of course worth it. I still have a feeling that this is unreal, it is something that is hard to get a grip on, because it should not have been able to happen.'

Lolita and Patrik have resolved to tell their son the full story about how he came to be  but all in 'due time'.

Curious: 'Cash-Douglas is very inventive, curious about the world around him and he really loves to eat all kinds of food,' Lolita says proudly

And the relationship between herself and her sister has only deepened. 'Both me and my sister have often asked each other what we have gotten ourselves into,' Lolita admits. 'It has been a mix of emotions ranging from hope to anxiety, pure horror, uncertainty and happiness.'

'Our story is important for all the 14-year-olds out there who get the same reply from a doctor that I did.

'Firstly, you are not alone with this problem. The feeling that you are not a woman, there are others that are suffering from the same syndrome. Secondly, because of the research being done, there is hope.'

Linda adds: 'I have not been affected in any sense by removing my uterus. I had already given birth to four children and felt that it was enough. The strange thing is that I feel more feminine now than ever.

'I have blossomed out as a women and I am much more determined with what I want to do with my life.'

Lolita would love to have more children but is unable to do so because the drugs she took damaged her kidney and the uterus had to be removed.

But she is determined to share her good fortune in the hope that others could benefit. 'My story shows that there is hope. I prayed to God for a womb in 1994. Nineteen years later I got one, I was pregnant a year after that. There is hope for women who are born without a uterus.'
The terror suspect accused of injuring more than 30 people when he set off bombs in New York and New Jersey is still unconscious after surgery, it has been claimed.

Ahmad Khan Rahami was hospitalized after a shootout with police last Monday.

The 28-year-old faces federal terror crimes and state charges of attempting to murder police officers, but a judge said on Monday he is not yet healthy enough to appear in court.

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Ahmad Khan Rahami was injured in a shootout with police last Monday. He is still unconscious after surgery and has not been deemed healthy enough to make his first court appearance

The Afghan-born US citizen is accused of detonating a pipe bomb in a New Jersey shore town and a pressure cooker bomb in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood on September 17.

No one was injured in the Jersey Shore blast, but 31 people were injured when the device went off in New York. A second pressure cooker bomb found just a few blocks away from the site in Manhattan failed to explode.

US Magistrate Judge Mark Falk refused to appoint counsel for the terror suspect on Monday, saying he has yet to be formally arrested.

Rahami was arrested and charged with attempted murder of police officers after a shootout with police which left two officers injured. He was also hurt in the exchange and required surgery in hospital

More than 30 people were injured in the blast in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood

The judge said Rahami is 'incapacitated and intubated' in a New Jersey hospital, meaning he is not in sufficient health to be presented in court.

When a patient is intubated, a tube is placed into their trachea so drugs can be administered.

It is usually done when a patient is unconscious or unable to take the drugs in any other way.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) began representing him on Monday, and has suggested Rahami may still be unconscious.

An explosive device detonates as bomb squad robot attempts to disarm after multiple devices were found in a suspicious package near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey

Udi Ofer, the New Jersey ACLU chapter's executive director, said the suspect's family spoke with his doctors for the first time on Monday, after numerous requests.

Ahmad Khan Rahami (pictured in his mugshot), who is suspected of carrying out the bombings

ACLU attorney Alexander Shalom said law enforcement officials have informed them he remains unconscious.

Ofer said Rahami's father and wife requested the organisation represents him until he is appointed a federal public defender or other lawyer.

He said denying Rahami's right to a lawyer 'violates the Constitution and needlessly sacrifices civil liberties in the name of national security'.

Ofer continued: 'It is outrageous that Mr Rahami has been in custody for a week yet has been denied the right to have an attorney visit him to confirm his condition and protect his constitutional rights.'

Rahami was arrested around 11am last Monday, after a bar owner in Linden, New Jersey, found him passed out in the waterproofed lobby entrance to his business and called 911.

When police arrived on the scene, Rahami brandished a weapon and started shooting at the cops - injuring four. Officers shot Rahami in the right shoulder and he was taken from the scene in an ambulance, handcuffed to a stretcher.
The lead investigator into the murder of Jill Meagher has revealed his regret over the treatment of her husband Tom Meagher.

Ms Meagher, 29, disappeared in September 2012 while walking home from drinks in Brunswick. Six days later notorious criminal Adrian Bayley confessed to her rape and murder.

In an ABC documentary focusing on the investigation into Ms Meagher's untimely death, one high-ranking detective has revealed how he still feels guilty about his treatment of the murdered woman's husband when he was suspect number one.

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Conviction is a new ABC documentary focusing on the investigation into Jill Meagher's murder

Notorious rapist and murderer Adrian Bayley confessed to killing Ms Meagher six days after her disappearance

'When you think about it down the track, you're left thinking: "Jeez, we were pretty awful, for the way we've treated this poor guy",' homicide detective David Butler, who led the investigation, told the ABC.

'Not only has he lost his wife, but now he's been treated pretty badly by us in some respects,' he added.

During the search for his wife Mr Meagher fronted the media many times, and at one point thanked investigators for their hard work despite the way they had regarded him.

The documentary also looks at the parole system which 'failed' Ms Meagher and meant Bayley was on the streets when she was killed.

The documentary looks at police treatment of Ms Meagher's husband Tom Meagher

Lead investigator David Butler said he still feels guilty about the treatment

'I know that [Bayley] was sentenced to five years for an indecent assault, of which he did 20 or 22 months, and then fronted back in court charged with raping six women in St Kilda,' Victims of Crime Commissioner Greg Davies said during Conviction, which will air on Tuesday night.

'Each of those rapes carry a maximum 25 year sentence. He was given a minimum period of eight years, which works out I think about 14 months per rape.

'Had he been given even a cumulative 25 years - the maximum for one, not for the six, but one - then a further 13 (or) 15 women would not have been raped and Jill Meagher would still be alive because Adrian Earnest Bayley would still be in jail,' Davies said.
An unarmed black man shot and killed by a white police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earlier this month has been laid to rest.

The burial of Terence Crutcher, 40, whose death was captured on video, was held Monday, two days after an emotional funeral service at a nearby Baptist church drew hundreds.

Betty Jo Shelby, the Tulsa police officer who shot Crutcher, is being charged with first degree manslaughter.

She surrendered to authorities on Friday and was released on bond soon afterward.

Terence Crutcher (seen left with his twin sister Tiffany) was killed by a white Oklahoma officer on September 16, 2016, who was responding to a stalled vehicle

The Crutcher case - one of a number of high-profile deaths in recent months- has attracted nationwide scrutiny and stoked visceral emotions over the state of relations between law enforcement and the African American community.

As hundreds of mourners packed the Antioch Baptist Church on Saturday in Tulsa, thousands more watched from screens across the nation as they paid tribute to Crutcher.

Family, friends, community leaders and complete strangers remembered him through song, prayers and tears.

One of the speakers at the funeral was the Crutcher family's attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons.

He told the 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.

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Saturday to pay their respects to Crutcher during a funeral service at Antioch Baptist Church in Tulsa

'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.

Betty Jo Shelby (right), the Tulsa police officer who shot and killed Crutcher, was arrested on Friday and charged with manslaughter. She was released after posting bond (left)

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.

Shelby, who is white, was headed to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutcher's SUV abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line.

She did not activate her dashboard camera when she first came across Crutcher and his SUV.

But other video footage shows Crutcher walking away from Shelby and toward his SUV with his arms in the air.

Crutcher (seen left with his arms raised) is filmed moments before he is shot by Shelby (second from right). The footage does not offer a clear view of the actual shooting

The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher.

Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, said Friday that she had a reputation of having a 'cool head on her shoulders.'

'This wasn't her first week on the job,' Wood said. 'Betty is a field-training officer. The department has picked her to train new officers, and people will tell you this isn't Betty Shelby to overreact to a situation.'

Wood said Crutcher escalated the situation by not communicating with Shelby, disobeying her commands and walking away from her.
He is charged with three counts of

This is the heart-stopping moment a man in Mississippi pulled out a gun and opened fire in a nail salon.

On Saturday, Curtis Blanden, 26, allegedly walked into Magic City Nail Shop, pulled out a weapon and pulled the trigger before leaving the scene.

The shooting, which injured two women and one man, was caught on surveillance camera.

On Saturday, Curtis Blanden, 26, allegedly walked into Magic City Nail Shop, pulled out a weapon and pulled the trigger before leaving the scene

He stands by the door for a moment and begins to move something on his waistband

In the security footage, the suspect is seen entering the nail salon and looking around while people carry on with their business.

He stands by the door for a moment and begins to move something on his waistband.

A family, who sees what is about to happen, stands up in the waiting area and makes a move for the door, where the man believed to be Blanden is still standing.

The family pulls a young girl in a dress out of the shop as the suspect launches into the middle of the store with his gun drawn.

He appears to fire several times before walking back out of the salon.

Blanden turned himself in to police later on Saturday and has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault

The man can then be seen running away.

Blanden turned himself in to police later on Saturday and has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault.

'A black male identified as Curtis Blanden, allegedly was chasing a male subject through the nail shop and firing shots at him.

'At that time the male subject was injured and the two female customers were shot as well,' Jackson Police Department Commander Tyree Jones told WAPT.

Jones said the condition of the two women and man are varied, but the commander said he was unable to speak to one woman's condition.
' Asian candidates during its resume-screening process, it is alleged

A lawsuit has been filed against a Silicon Valley tech firm founded by financier Peter Thiel claiming that it systematically discriminates against Asian job applicants.

The US Department of Labor claims Palantir Technologies 'routinely eliminated' Asian candidates during its resume-screening and telephone-interview stages of its hiring process.

It follows statistical analysis by federal officials responsible for making sure government contractors comply with anti-discrimination laws.

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The lawsuit alleges Silicon Valley firm Palantir Technologies 'routinely eliminated' Asian job applicants

The company, which was recently valued at $20 billion, makes data-analytics software used by the US military, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies.

It also provides services for banks and insurance companies, and was set up with backing from an investment arm of the CIA.

If it loses the case, it could be made to forfeit its government contracts - which are estimated to be worth around $340 million.

Palantir has denied the allegations and said it will fight the suit, saying the government's case 'relies on a narrow and flawed statistical analysis relation to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011'.

Palantir denies discrimination and says it will contest the lawsuit, lodged by the US Department of Labor

The company has declined to answer questions about the ethnic makeup of its workforce, but released a statement saying: 'The results of our hiring practices speak for themselves.'

Palantir is based in Palo Alto, California, and employs more than 1,800 people.

The lawsuit alleges that Asians made up 77 per cent of more than 730 qualified applicants for a quality assurance engineer post at Palantir.

But the company, the US Department of Labor claims, hired one Asian and six non-Asians.

It said the statistical likelihood of that result is one in 741. The department also claimed there was a 'one in a billion' chance of Palantir's hiring pattern happening by chance, highlighting a position described as an engineering intern.

The company was founded by businessman Peter Thiel

PALANTIR FOUNDER PETER THIEL Peter Thiel believes the US has fallen behind on tech innovation Peter Thiel was one of the co-founders of PayPal alongside Max Levchin and Elon Musk. He was PayPal's chief executive, and also became the first outside investor in Facebook in 2004. A critic of the Obama regime, he told this year's Republican convention, while voicing his support for Donald Trump, that the US has fallen behind on tech innovation. He said: 'Today our government is broken. Our nuclear bases still use floppy disks. Our newest fighter jets cant even fly in the rain. 'And it would be kind to say the governments software works poorly, because much of the time it doesnt even work at all.' He revealed earlier this year that he had funded Hulk Hogan's defamation lawsuit against Gawker, describing it as 'one of my greater philanthropic things that Ive done'. In 2007 the magazine outed Thiel as gay, and he said the magazine had 'ruined people's lives for no reason'. Advertisement

The federal lawsuit comes as leading Silicon Valley tech companies are struggling to answer criticism about a lack of diversity in staffing.

One legal expert said the federal lawsuit may reflect a broader aim by the government 'to shed more light and get more accountability' from the tech industry.

'It's the new economy, but we still want to make sure there aren't new forms of discrimination in these industries,' said Orly Lobel, a University of San Diego law professor who has studied Silicon Valley hiring patterns.

Another leading tech company recently agreed to pay $750,000 in back wages to settle discrimination claims brought by the Labor Department, without admitting wrongdoing.

Those charges involved African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics who sought inside sales jobs at an Arkansas data-processing facility operated by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the government announced last week.

In a statement, HPE said: 'We are confident in our hiring processes and we will continue to promote and build a diverse and inclusive workforce.'

In recent years, Apple, Google, Facebook and other prominent Silicon Valley corporations have acknowledged they employ disproportionately low numbers of women, African Americans and Latinos, compared with the general population.

Hiring figures released by those larger companies generally show that employees of South and East Asian descent are better represented.

While the analysis involved hiring statistics for 2010 and 2011, Labor Department senior trail attorney Rose Darling said the company hasn't shown evidence that it has changed its practices since then.

Appellate courts have allowed the use of statistical analyses in discrimination claims because it's rare to find more explicit evidence, like a memo that says 'Don't hire' from a certain group, Lobel said.

'You used to have 'smoking guns,' but that's more rare these days,' she said. 'So the courts are recognizing that you can prove discrimination by showing that the odds that this would be the result, without discrimination, are just so low.'

The lawsuit is the first of its kind brought against a Silicon Valley company in recent years, Darling said. She declined to say if other investigations are pending.
A two-year-old girl weighed just 14 kilograms when her mother's boyfriend stomped her to death for wetting his couch.

Victorian man Mussie Debresay was found guilty of manslaughter on Monday after he inflicted a number of internal injuries on the toddler back in 2005.

The 37-year-old had initially claimed the girl had fallen from the couch, but a Victorian Supreme Court jury found that was not possible given her catastrophic internal injuries.

Mussie Debresay, 37, was found guilty of manslaughter on Monday for stomping his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter to death for wetting his couch

Debresay had pleaded not guilty to murdering the toddler 11 years ago.

The jury delivered a verdict of guilty on the charge of manslaughter and in doing so accepted the evidence of the victim's four-year-old brother who witnessed what happened.

He was cleared of the more serious charge of murder.

Debresay had been going out with the girl's mother - who cannot be named - for a few months when the fatal blow was inflicted.

During their short relationship he had taken on the role of disciplining her three children, who called him 'Daddy MJ', his trial heard.

The family had been staying with Debresay on May 13, 2005, when the toddler's abdomen was deliberately squeezed or compressed by an extreme, severe force.

Doctors said it could not have been accidental.

She was dead within hours.

The 37-year-old had initially claimed the girl had fallen from the couch, but a Victorian Supreme Court jury found that was not possible given her catastrophic internal injuries

The jury delivered a verdict of guilty on the charge of manslaughter but was cleared of the more serious charge of murder

When the victim's brother was asked if he knew what had happened he said he saw Debresay stomping or standing on his sister because she'd been naughty.

He told police she did a 'wee wee' on the couch and 'MJ hit (the victim)'.

He had several conversations with police officers, during which he demonstrated the motion used against the two-year-old.

'Beside this stomping motion in this conversation, he also demonstrated a swinging, kicking motion,' prosecutor Sally Flynn said in her closing address to the court.

When a babysitter came over later she noticed the toddler was slumped across the coffee table with her feet on the ground and appeared tired.

The jury heard the two-year-old would have been lethargic due to massive internal bleeding caused by the injuries she'd sustained.

Babysitter Samantha Barry appeared in court earlier this year and recalled noticing the toddler was slumped across the coffee table with her feet on the ground and appeared tired

Later that day the toddler became unresponsive so her mother rushed her to a medical centre where she was pronounced dead.

Ms Flynn said only two people could have caused the injuries - Debresay or the toddler's mother - and there was no evidence the mother harmed her.

'By far the worst thing that ever happened to (the victim) was that her mother met the accused,' Ms Flynn said.

Debresay appeared to be holding back tears after the verdict was delivered on Monday.

His mother cried out 'bullshit' and tried to kiss her son as he was led from the dock.
Scott, 43, was shot and killed Tuesday after a confrontation with Charlotte, North Carolina police

She wrote: 'He carries a 9mm black' and said he had hit her and a child

His wife Rakeyia got a restraining order in October last year, records show

A breaking and entering suspect told officials he had sold him the gun

Keith Scott's gun had been reported stolen, authorities said on Monday

Keith Scott was carrying a stolen gun when he was shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Charlotte, North Carolina, authorities have said.

The gun was reported stolen after a breaking and entering, according to the police.

A breaking and entering suspect told agents at the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives that he had sold the gun to Scott, ABC 11 reported Monday. He is now in custody.

Scott's wife Rakeyia, who filmed her husband's killing on Tuesday, had filed for a restraining order against him and had told authorities he carried a gun, hit her as well as one of her children and had threatened to kill her, records have shown.

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Keith Scott (pictured), 43, died on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina after a confrontation with police officers. Authorities say he was carrying a stolen gun at the time

His wife Rakeyia, who filmed her husband's killing on Tuesday, had filed for a restraining order against him, as shown in this formed dated October 2015

Rakeyia detailed her husband's behavior in the filing in October last year. She said he had hit her and one of her children.

'He hit my 8 year old in the head a total of three times with is [sic] fist,' she wrote on the form published by TWC News.

'He kicked me and threaten [sic] to kill us last night with his gun. He said he is a "killer" and we should know that.'

The form asked whether there was any reason that law enforcement should consider the defendant a potential threat. Possible reasons included carrying concealed weapons while drinking alcohol and having threatened an officer.

Rakeyia ticked 'yes' and specified: 'He carries a 9mm black.'

Rakeyia (pictured with Scott) detailed her husband's behavior when she filed for a restraining order against him in October last year. She said he had hit her and one of her children

'He hit my 8 year old in the head a total of three times with is [sic] fist,' Rakeyia wrote on the form asking for a restraining order (pictured)

The form (pictured) asked whether there was any reason law enforcement should consider the defendant a potential threat. Rakeyia ticked 'yes' and specified: 'He carries a 9mm black'

Scott's gun was reported stolen after a breaking and entering, according to the police. Authorities released this picture after he died, saying they had found it in his possession

Charlotte police say they saw marijuana and a gun inside Scott's car before the shooting. They released this photo of a joint following his killing

Authorities also release this picture of an ankle holster, in which they say Scott kept a gun, which they say they recovered at the scene

She dismissed the protective order against Scott voluntarily on October 16, 11 days after filing it. The couple had seven children.

His friend Toccaro Harris said: 'It doesn't mean that he was bad. It doesn't mean that he had a right to get his life [taken].'

Scott, 43, had served more than eight years in Texas for evading arrest and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to TWC News.

He shot a man whom he believed was making threats against his family, according to his attorney.

Scott had also been convicted for assault with a deadly weapon and DWI in North Carolina.

Police on Saturday released bits of footage of Scott's killing. Protesters have demanded they release the whole tapes.

None of the videos released so far show Scott raising a weapon or aiming it at the officers.

Scott instead can be seen walking backwards out of his car with his hands at his side before four shots hit him.

Officers can be heard in the video filmed by Scott's wife shouting: 'Drop the gun.' But the dashcam footage released by the policies doesn't make it clear whether or not Scott had a gun in his hand.

Charlotte police say they saw marijuana and a gun inside Scott's car before the shooting.

They released photos of the gun they said Scott had in his possession, as well as pictures of an ankle holster and a joint containing marijuana.

Scott's family said during a press conference that none of the shooting videos prove that Scott was holding a gun. Pictured left is his sister-in-law Rachel and center is his brother-in-law Ray

Hundreds of protesters have walked on Charlotte's streets since Scott's shooting. Some are pictured demanding the release of the videos

Authorities lifted a midnight curfew on Monday after three days. The city remains under a state of emergency. Protesters are pictured on Saturday

Scott's family said during a press conference following the release of the video that none of the videos prove that Scott was holding a gun at the time of the shooting.

'Unfortunately we are left with far more questions than we have answers,' his brother-in-law Ray Dotch said after seeing the police footage 

'We shouldn't have to humanize him for him to be treated fairly. He's an American citizen who deserved better.

'It does not make sense to us how this incident resulted in the loss of life.'

He asked why the police didn't listen to Scott's wife, who said he had a traumatic brain injury.

Justin Bamberg, the family's lawyer, also said: 'The dash cam or the body cam, you can't clearly identify what, if anything, is in his hand, and that has not changed.'

Scott's family believe Charlotte police might need better training policies on how to deescalate situations like the one that led to Scott's shooting.
Mathias Dopfner, chief executive of media giant Axel Springer, said the UK would be highly attractive to investors after it left

Britain will thrive outside the European Union as the bloc turns inward, a top German business leader has said.

Mathias Dopfner, chief executive of media giant Axel Springer, said the UK would be highly attractive to investors after it left.

He believes Brexit will see the nation embrace a truly free market, while the EU becomes a transfer union in which money is funnelled from rich states to poor ones.

Mr Dopfner said he expected a short-term economic slowdown for Britain, but argued that within three to five years, England will be better off than continental Europe.

If Britain can create an alternative here, I think thats highly attractive, he told the Financial Times.

Axel Springer owns major media titles on the Continent including Bild, Germanys best-selling newspaper.

The firms 53-year-old boss said the UK could introduce a very healthy immigration policy based on talent.

You basically integrate and invite the people that you benefit from and not people who only benefit from your social welfare system, he said.

Mr Dopfner argued the EU would suffer from the loss of Britains healthy influence.

He said the UK was pragmatic and focused on free markets, helping to drive sensible compromises with other members.

Germany and Britain were traditionally close partners within the bloc, resisting demands from France and the Mediterranean states for a more protectionist approach.

The Germans are also fiscally conservative, demanding an end to debt-fuelled growth across the south.

If it is all defined, lets say, by France, Spain and Italy making compromises with Germany  Im a little worried by that prospect, said Mr Dopfner, who has run Axel Springer since 2002.

The comments pit the former music critic against most of the German establishment, which has issued thunderous warnings about the risks of a clean break with the EU.

Eric Schweitzer, head of the DIHK business group, said Brexit would be very negative.

Frankfurt and Berlin, along with other foreign capitals such as Paris, are also openly plotting to wrench lucrative finance business away from the City.

And EU bureaucrats outraged by the Brexit vote have warned of catastrophic consequences.

Embattled European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the vote showed something was wrong in Britain.

Embattled European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the vote showed something was wrong in Britain

The warnings were echoed by anti-Brexit organisations from across the world.

At an infamous joint press conference with Chancellor George Osborne, International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde said the damage from Brexit would range from pretty bad to very, very bad.

Treasury forecasters and economists at major global banks also predicted an immediate recession.

But the economys robust performance since then has wrong-footed critics with stock markets higher, High Street sales holding up and a bounce-back in business confidence.
A former public servant was allowed to spend $52,000 of taxpayer's money to have once-a-week back massages after he was injured at work.

Former public servant Jeffery Drummey had regular massage therapy sessions for 12 years, his hundreds of sessions costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

But Commonwealth workplace insurer Comcare has now cut Mr Drummey's cover, and decided to stop funding the massages completely, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Former public servant Jeffery Drummey (not pictured, stock image) had regular massage therapy sessions for 12 years, his hundreds of sessions costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars

Comcare said it paid for 648 massage therapy sessions at about $81 per session, between 2002 and 2014, when it called a halt to the funding.

But Mr Drummey disagreed with his insurer's decision, and fought back.

He claimed the massages eased the pain of his long-term back problems and the massages were 'reasonable' medical treatments.

The former public servant, who lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, sustained long-term back problems 20-years ago when he worked at the Australian Capital Territory Electricity and Water Authority in Canberra.

Comcare said it paid for 648 massage therapy sessions at about $81 per session, between 2002 and 2014 for Mr Drummey (not pictured, stock image)

Mr Drummey joined in 1980, when the business was still run by the Commonwealth Government.

When his funding was discontinued, the injured worker took his case to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, in a last ditch effort to reinstate the taxpayer funding he'd come to rely on.

The tribunal heard from Mr Drummey's remedial massage therapist Alfio Sorbello, who was adamant the treatment was 'highly beneficial for reducing pain'.

Mr Drummey's remedial massage therapist Alfio Sorbello (pictured) claimed the treatment was 'highly beneficial for reducing pain'

Mr Sorbello, a therapist in Burleigh Waters a suburb on the Gold Coast, defended massage therapy as a legitimate treatment, claiming it could 'reduce tension on the trigger points and improve the quality of life for Mr Drummey'.

Mr Drummey also told the tribunal his back pain from years ago never fully went away, but it was reduced for up to four days after a massage.

He also said that nine times out of 10, his massage felt beneficial.

But both Mr Drummey and his massage therapist's claims were disputed by evidence from occupational physician Dr Alan Home who wrote that 'massage treatment will not be curative' and 'will not ultimately change his outcome or his ongoing symptoms'.

'There is no evidence base to support ongoing massage treatment,' he wrote.

Tribunal Deputy President Ian Molloy said he thought Mr Drummey 'had become reliant on massage therapy'.

On top of funding for Mr Drummey's massages, taxpayer funding for various drugs Mr Drummey was taking at the time was also cut by Comcare

'And it quite likely had become a negative factor in his self-management,' he said.

'Massage therapy is not treatment that Mr Drummey should continue to obtain.'
Labour plunged into a fresh round of toxic infighting and incompetence yesterday.

Just two days after re-electing Jeremy Corbyn as leader, the party's credibility was shredded again.

It wheeled out a series of hard-Left 1970s policies at the party conference that enraged even its union paymasters. Delegates were told of an outright ban on fracking, which would risk thousands of jobs, a 10-an-hour minimum wage and a plan to put every adult on state benefits.

In an extraordinary incident, a senior frontbencher punched a wall in a row with Mr Corbyn's aides over Trident.

Just two days after re-electing Jeremy Corbyn as leader, the party's credibility was shredded again

And the leader's key allies caused uproar by playing down the party's anti-Semitism crisis and by calling Brexit voters racists.

One Tory MP last night said the party appeared to be living in 'la-la-land'. On a day said to have left Mr Corbyn in despair:

- John McDonnell mapped out plans to borrow 500billion for a state spending binge;

- The GMB union said banning fracking would leave Britain's energy at the mercy of 'hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers' overseas;

- A shadow minister suggested expanding the bloated foreign aid programme;

- Diane Abbott said Brexit was fuelled by voters who did not like foreigners on their streets;

- Key backers of Mr Corbyn said anti-Semitism was being used as a weapon against him;

- The Labour leader cancelled a planned tour of TV and radio stations this morning.

John McDonnell mapped out plans to borrow 500billion for a state spending binge

The party was in such turmoil yesterday that former shadow chancellor Ed Balls warned: 'It may be that Labour, as it stands, is never going to be elected again.'

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'He's kept the crown, but two days on the shambolic policies emerging from Comrade Corbyn and his band show he clearly wants to rule la-la-land. They've lost all credibility and are clearly too divided and incompetent to build a country that works for anyone  except the ruling politburo.'

Judith Jolly of the Lib Dems said: 'Labour's defence policy has literally hit a brick wall. Once more Labour has shown that they are too busy fighting among themselves to provide a credible opposition.'

The Institute of Economic Affairs described Mr McDonnell's speech as 'the epitome of fantasy economics'.

The day began with a shock announcement that the party would outlaw fracking  preferring instead to reopen coal mines. The GMB, which represents energy workers in the UK, said the plan was 'madness'.

Gary Smith, the GMB union's Scotland secretary, said: 'We will have to confront the fact that we will be buying gas from hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers. We don't think that's ethical.'

The shambles quickly worsened when  at the last minute  Mr Corbyn's office forced Clive Lewis to change his speech into keeping open the possibility of scrapping Trident.

Clive Lewis was filmed looking visibly angry as he checked his phone before going on stage to make his speech. He is said to have lashed out and punched a wall after coming off stage

The defence spokesman had planned to say he would not challenge Labour's official policy  which pre-dates Mr Corbyn  that Trident should be renewed. However the line was cut from his speech upon an intervention by the leader's team.

Mr Lewis was filmed looking visibly angry as he checked his phone before going on stage to make his speech. He is said to have lashed out and punched a wall after coming off stage in a fury.

Sky News reported that Mr Corbyn had described the chaos over Mr Lewis's speech as a '****ing shambles'.

Union baron and Corbyn backer Len McCluskey then delivered a blunt attack on Labour's moderate MPs.

Cheered by delegates, he declared: 'If you have no stomach for the fight, depart the battlefield.'

TV sources said Mr Corbyn had pulled out of media performances today  presumably to avoid being grilled on the chaos of yesterday

Immediately afterwards, Mr McDonnell told the conference he was studying proposals for a 'universal basic income', which the state would pay to every citizen, regardless of whether they are in work or not.

Setting out Labour's plans for the economy, the Shadow Chancellor also vowed to raise the minimum wage to 'over' 10 an hour, vowed to scrap anti-strike laws and hinted at higher taxes on the better-off.

'That's our vision to rebuild and transform Britain,' he said. 'In this party you no longer have to whisper it  it's called socialism.'

Business leaders warned the plans to raise wages would cost jobs.

TV sources said Mr Corbyn had pulled out of media performances today  presumably to avoid being grilled on the chaos of yesterday.

A source said: 'We've been left hanging on all day. He's the leader for goodness sake.'

Socialism is back, crows McDonnell...strike laws axed, taxes to soar and everyone on benefits in 70s re-run

John McDonnell vowed to bring socialism back to Britain yesterday with a 10-an-hour minimum wage and plans to put every adult on benefits.

The Shadow Chancellor told Labour's annual conference he was studying proposals for a 'universal basic income' the state would pay to every citizen, regardless of whether they worked.

Setting out his plans for the economy, Mr McDonnell also vowed to raise the minimum wage to over 10 an hour, scrap anti-strike laws and hinted at swingeing taxes on the better off.

John McDonnell vowed to bring socialism back to Britain yesterday with a 10-an-hour minimum wage and plans to put every adult on benefits

And he said Labour would indulge in a fresh round of 1970s-style state intervention to prop up ailing industries.

'That's our vision to rebuild and transform Britain,' said the self-confessed Marxist. 'In this party you no longer have to whisper it  it's called socialism.'

Business chiefs warned the plans to raise wages would be extremely damaging.

Mr McDonnell's speech came amid continuing Labour turmoil in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn's re-election as leader at the weekend. Unite union boss Len McCluskey was cheered by delegates yesterday when he called for Labour moderates to either back Mr Corbyn or quit the party. 'If you have no stomach for the fight, depart the battlefield,' he said.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan will today urge moderates to accept they cannot change leader, saying: 'After the election this summer, the leadership of our party is now decided.' But Mr Khan, who backed Owen Smith in the leadership contest, will warn Mr Corbyn to do more to make Labour electable, adding: 'Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough.'

The idea of a universal basic income has been fashionable in left-wing circles for years. Supporters claim it would cut poverty and end the stigma attached to means-tested benefits.

Mr McDonnell confirmed Labour would press ahead with plans for a 'real living wage' of over 10 an hour

The Green Party campaigned for a minimum payment of 72 a week before the last election, but dropped the idea from its manifesto because of the ruinous cost, which was put at 280billion a year.

Mr McDonnell yesterday told delegates in Liverpool he was 'interested in the potential of a universal basic income'. Sources said the party would now examine possible schemes in detail before deciding whether to include the idea in Labour's next manifesto.

Mr McDonnell confirmed Labour would press ahead with plans for a 'real living wage' of over 10 an hour. He said the rate, which is far above the 7.85-an-hour living wage introduced by George Osborne, would be 'a fundamental part of our new bargain in the workplace'.

Mr McDonnell appeared to accept the new rate could cost jobs at small firms, but suggested they would be subsidised by the state through 'expansion and reform of Employment Allowance'.

In a bizarre aside, Mr McDonnell declared: 'Under Labour there will be no more Philip Greens at all.' But it was unclear how he would change the law to prevent a repeat of the BHS pension controversy.

He outlined plans for a gigantic state investment programme totalling 250billion to upgrade creaking infrastructure. But he gave little idea of how he would pay for this  apart from a broad hint that the better off, and those with savings and property were likely to be clobbered. 'The burden of taxation as a whole now falls too heavily on those least able to pay,' he said. 'So let me make it clear  in this coming period we will be developing the policies that will shift the tax burden more fairly, away from those who earn wages and salaries and on to those who hold wealth.'

Tim Thomas of the EEF manufacturers' organisation criticised the 10 living wage proposal, saying: 'Entry level jobs would be wiped out at a stroke. The impact on job creation and unemployment would be substantial.'

Mark Littlewood of the Institute of Economic Affairs said: 'John McDonnell's speech today was the epitome of fantasy economics.'

Simon Walker of the Institute of Directors said: 'The Shadow Chancellor played a few good notes but the overall tone was concerning for business.'

In a bizarre aside, Mr McDonnell declared: 'Under Labour there will be no more Philip Greens at all'

John Prescott launched a live TV tirade against presenter Piers Morgan and his former colleague David Blunkett yesterday.

The ex-deputy prime minister got into the early-morning verbal sparring session with the presenter of ITV's Good Morning Britain as they clashed over Labour splits.

They argued about an article written in yesterday's Mail by Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary, about the 'catastrophe' of Jeremy Corbyn's re-election.

The exchange led to Lord Prescott describing his erstwhile colleague as a 'bloody catastrophe'.
Politicians will use their

Federal politicians have urged Australians to leak secret information on poker machines to expose how the industry is designed to 'rip off' gamblers.

Greens Senator Larissa Waters, independent MP Andrew Wilkie and South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon will use parliamentary privilege to support whistleblowers as part of the 'Pokie-Leaks' campaign, ABC News reported.

The campaign, which will begin on Tuesday, is calling for information on machine design and undisclosed payments to politicians from the gambling industry.

Federal politicians have urged Australians to leak secret information on poker machines to expose how the industry is designed to 'rip off' gamblers (stock image)

South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon (pictured) will use parliamentary privilege to support whistleblowers as part of the 'Pokie-Leaks' campaign

Senator Xenophon's office in Adelaide has already received a secret USB with information from inside a poker machine, which could expose alleged addictive components of pokies designed to target vulnerable players.

Senator Xenophon said the public has a right to know more about the industry.

'That's where Pokie-Leaks comes in.

'If you know something that needs to be revealed, tell us, and with parliamentary privilege, we can tell everyone,' he told ABC News.

Senator Waters said major political parties had been compromised by donations from within the gambling industry.

'Until we get big money out of politics in Australia, the old parties will continue to serve their paymasters in the gambling lobby, and Australians will keep getting ripped off,' she said.

Senator Waters (pictured) said major political parties had been compromised by donations from the gambling industry
A young surfer has revealed the four large lacerations left on his right leg after he was attacked by a shark, as another three-metre ocean predator is spotted at a nearby beach on the second day of the school holidays.

Cooper Allen, 17, is recovering in Lismore Hospital after being mauled by a shark while surfing beyond the break at at Lighthouse Beach, in Ballina, south of Byron Bay, just before 9am on Monday.

His friend's snapped shocking images of the gaping wounds left where the shark, believed to be a 3.5 metre great white, latched on to his upper right thigh before the brave surfer made his way out of the water and calmly asked for help.

This comes as the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) reveal another three metre great white shark was spotted off nearby Lennox Head on Tuesday morning, while the State Government started rolling out measures to protect beachgoers.

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Cooper Allen, 17 is recovering in Lismore Hospital after being mauled by a shark on Monday

His friend's snapped shocking images of the gaping wounds left where the shark, believed to be a 3.5 metre great white, latched on to his upper right thigh

Ballina Mayor David Wright said new shark tracking drones, the DPI helicopter and two 'smart' drum lines - which hook sharks and send a notification to the authorities so they can be released elsewhere - were deployed on Tuesday morning.

'It's gone from being a virtually unprotected beach yesterday [now] we are going to have as much protection as we can possibly have,' he told Sunrise on Tuesday.

The drone behind us will actually give us coverage of all our beaches from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon,' he added.

'We have a high number of people in town for the holidays... we need to make sure people feel safe to go back in.

This comes as the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) reveal another three metre great white shark (pictured) was spotted off nearby Lennox Head on Tuesday morning

Ballina Mayor David Wright said new shark tracking drones (pictured), the DPI helicopter and two 'smart' drum lines were deployed on Tuesday morning

Cooper Allen, 17, was mauled by a shark while he was surfing with friends on Monday

A three-and-a-half metre great white shark (pictured) was spotted in the area shortly after the attack

The 17-year-old made his own way out of the water at Lighthouse Beach, in Ballina, south of Byron Bay, after the attack and was treated by an off-duty nurse before paramedics arrived

A local said Mr Allen was quite a good surfer and would often paddle out with friends around Lighthouse Beach

A spokesperson for NSW Surf Life Saving has confirmed all beaches in Ballina will be reopened on Tuesday except for Lennox Head where a great white shark was sighted.

Lifeguard Scott McCartney earlier said beaches would not be opened if there was another sighting close to the beach.

'This morning we're going to have IRB's, Jetski's on the water doing a few surveillance's up and down the coast, mainly Lighthouse, Shelly Beach,' he told Nine News.

'If we have no sightings of the sharks, the beach will reopen at 9am this morning.

Lifesavers on jet skis have pushed a 3.5 metre great white back out to sea after it was spotted by the Department of Primary Industries aerial team

Beaches in the area were closed for 24 hours, with lifesavers completing a sweep to determine if they will be reopened on Tuesday

The New South Wales State Government recently abandoned its plans to build a 700 metre shark barrier as rough conditions made it too risky for divers to enter the water.

Mr Allen had opposed plans to build the eco-friendly shark net in the area despite his friend 41-year-old Tadashi Nakahara bleeding to death after being attacked by a shark at Shelly Beach in 2015.

'We still go out there without the net, at our own choice. I don't think there is any need for it,' he told the Australian last year.

Mayor Wright previously said he feared the number of attacks in the area could discourage tourists from visiting the coastal town.

Lighthouse Beach, in Ballina, south of the Gold Coast, is a popular spot for surfers
Two Thai brothers have been paid almost $6,000 by two alleged Hells Angels bikies who were captured on CCTV footage kicking and punching the young men outside a Thailand bar.

Despite compensating the men, who are both in their 20s, for the alleged assault, Australian bikies Daniel Anthony Stalley, 34, and John Lee, 43, will still face charges for the September 17 attack in Pattaya, south of Bangkok, Thai police told ABC.

Police said Stalley and Lee, as well as a third Australian man seen on the graphic security footage, 40-year-old Luke Anderson, turned themselves over to police this past weekend.

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Two alleged Hells Angels bikies, Daniel Stalley (right), 34, and John Lee (left), 43, who are accused of beating two Thai brothers outside a Thailand bar in September, have paid the victims $5,670

CCTV cameras show Lee and Stalley, as well as a third Australian man, kicking one of the brothers in the chest, head and face as he fell to the ground (pictured)

CCTV cameras show all three Australians confront one of the Thai brothers, 22, out the front of the bar before kicking him in the chest, head and face as he fell to the ground, police said.

One of the men is pictured holding the Thai man's head so one of the other Australians can kick him in the head repeatedly.

All of the men then walk out of the camera frame but police said the 22-year-old's brother was also injured in the alleged attack.

Despite compensating the Thai men, who are both in their 20s, for the alleged assault, the bikies will still face charges for the attack in Pattaya, south of Bangkok

Police told The Bangkok Post Lee and Stalley admitted to the attack and agreed to pay the brothers 1500 baht, or $5,670AUS, and $190 to a third man who was taking pictures of the Australians at the time.

The fight is believed to have begun when the Thai brothers followed a car that had knocked over one of their parked motorcycles.

They traced the car to a bar and the altercation followed, police told The Bangkok Post.

The charge of causing grievous bodily harm could be brought against the three men depending on the results of medical examinations to determine the extent of the brothers' injuries, police said.

The fight is believed to have begun when the Thai brothers followed a car that had knocked over one of their parked motorcycles
A man shot in front of horrified shoppers at a busy Melbourne shopping centre in broad daylight has died from his injuries.

Police were called to the Officeworks store at Campbellfield Plaza, in Melbourne's north, on Sydney Road just after 3.30pm on Monday.

They say a man armed with a gun approached the victim, who is believed to be in his 20s, in the car park before shooting him a number of times in the leg.

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A man shot in front of horrified shoppers at Melbourne's Campbellfield Plaza in broad daylight has died from his injuries

A Victoria Police spokesperson said Armed Crime Squad detectives were investigating the incident

The gunman then fled the scene in a red Holden Commodore and was seen heading towards the Dallas area.

He is still on the run from police.

The victim was transported to hospital by ambulance. He died from his injuries overnight.

No one else was injured and Victoria Police's Homicide Squad were now investigating.

Police were unable to confirm if the shooting was gang-relating but a spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the victim had sustained lower body injuries and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.

The alleged shooter - who remains at large - is believed to have fled the scene in a red Holden Commodore

As the sun went down a large part of the car park remained cordoned off as forensics investigators gathered evidence at the scene of the shooting

Investigators also received reports of a number of shots being fired near the intersection of Riggall and Blair street, Broadmeadows a short time later.

'It is believed a number of shots were fired into the air and a car matching the same description was also seen in the area,' a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Witness Trish told 9News the shooting felt 'very real'.

'More customers ran in [to the building]. We locked the doors, I call the police,' she said.

The victim was transported to hospital by ambulance. He died from his injuries overnight

'They heard gunshots and they saw a man with a gun.'

Another witness told the Herald Sun horrified shoppers watched on in shock as the man was repeatedly shot.

'Everyone saw it,' she said.

'They said it sounded like fire crackers going off. But it was actually the multiple shots from the gun.'
The Brexit vote was fuelled by racists who did not like seeing people who look 'foreign' on their streets, Diane Abbott has claimed

People who are concerned about freedom of movement do not like seeing people who look 'foreign' on their streets, Diane Abbott has claimed.

Labour's health spokesman said 'people who talk Brexit' had 'attacked and assaulted' ethnic minority voters and East Europeans after the referendum.

Responding to her comments, Tory MPs from ethnic minorities accused her of making 'totally inflammatory' claims that smeared Leave voters as 'stupid and racist' when they simply wanted to take back control of Britain's borders.

Miss Abbott told a fringe meeting at the Labour party conference in Liverpool: 'The Brexit vote, whatever you think of that vote, has added another turn of the screw to rising racism. The Brexit vote and the Leave people winning seems to have given far too many people permission to racially abuse and attack people all over the country.

'People, not just East Europeans, but people of all colours, are being attacked and assaulted by people who talk about Brexit ... There has been this upsurge after this Brexit vote in horrible, horrible attacks.'

Miss Abbott said that when people spoke about immigrants, they often included people like her from ethnic minority backgrounds who had been British for several generations.

'The people who complain about freedom of movement will not be satisfied because what they want is to see less foreign-looking people on their street and that's not going to happen,' she said. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington went on to claim that voters' concerns over immigration were 'not rational'.

She said: 'It is the areas with the least immigrants by and large that feel the most viscerally about immigration. There is no point conceding because you can't go far enough.'

Miss Abbott also took a swipe at moderate Labour MPs such as Rachel Reeves and Chuka Umunna, who have argued that access to the single market could be sacrificed if that is the price of curbing freedom of movement from the EU.

And she added: 'I'm not one of these people who thinks we should vote again, I really don't, I think it would be fundamentally undemocratic.'

Miss Abbott said that when people spoke about immigrants, they often included people like her from ethnic minority backgrounds who had been British for several generations

James Cleverly, a Tory MP whose mother came from Sierra Leone in West Africa, said: 'Once again Diane Abbott has embarrassed herself and her party. She has projected her prejudices onto others and reinforced the perception that Labour are out of touch.'

Fellow Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, who came to Britain as a refugee from Iraq, added: 'This is a stupid and totally inflammatory claim that smears 17.4 million voters, many of them of BME [black and minority ethnic] background.

'People of colour care about having politicians that are accountable to them as much as anyone else. They, like anyone else, wanted to take back control of our borders.'

An earlier version of this article stated that Diane Abbott MP had called those who voted for Brexit 'stupid and racist'. We are happy to clarify that this was in fact the phrase used by Tory MPs who responded to Ms Abbott's remarks at a meeting at the Labour party conference.
Amazon has been accused of fixing the reviews for Hillary Clintons campaign book.

Clintons book Stronger Together, co-authored with her running mate Tim Kaine, has seen slow sales since it was released earlier this month.

Despite this, its online ratings have been terrible and the books page on Amazon has been flooded with a string of scathing reviews.

But Amazon appears to have been trying to help the Democratic candidate for president by removing numerous negative reviews, WND reports.

Amazon deleted hundreds of critical reviews last week, according to the website which has been tracking the number of reviews posted.

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Amazon has been accused of fixing the reviews for Hillary Clintons campaign book (above, Clinton with the book on September 19)

On Thursday, Amazon said the book  which lays out Clintons agenda to improve the lives of the American people  had 91 good reviews compared to 166 bad ones.

But just a couple of days earlier, there had been 1,244 reviews  81 per cent of them giving the book just one star, according to WND.

One user, Sherwood 4ust, spotted the trend and posted a one-star review entitled The Case of the Missing Reviews.

The user noted that by the evening of September 19, there were 983 reviews of the book, which were merciless and many quite funny.

However, four days later, the user said there were just 209 reviews.

One user, Sherwood 4ust, spotted the trend and posted a one-star review entitled The Case of the Missing Reviews

WND reported that the number of negative reviews on Thursday was 166 (right) whereas there had been 1,244 reviews (left) just a couple of days earlier

Hmmmmm, what happened to all those other reviews? Apparently Clinton has friends at Amazon, the user speculated.

Another reviewer posted on Sunday that its tragic that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is willing to risk the integrity of the ratings system to protect his Presidential Candidate of Choice.

Stronger Together sold just 2,912 copies in its first week after going on sale on September 6

One customer, who gave the book the lowest rating available, said: Every time I write my review it gets deleted, its so weird.

But now, it appears customers have posted a vast number of negative reviews in recent days to turn the tide once again.

As of Monday evening, there are 2,665 customer reviews  89 per cent of which are one star reviews and eight per cent of which are five star.

Meanwhile, others noted that the book appears to have attracted more reviews than sales.

Stronger Together sold just 2,912 copies in its first week after going on sale on September 6, according to Nielsen BookScan.

However, its clear that many of the negative reviews are aimed at Clinton rather than the books contents.

According to its blurb on Amazon, the book presents Clintons agenda in full, relating stories from the American people and outlining the Clinton/Kaine campaigns plans on everything from apprenticeships to the Zika virus.
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The Duchess of Cambridge dazzled yesterday in a flirty designer frock and vibrant red heels.

But Kate opted for a more practical look today as she and William braved the elements on the remote Canadian island community of Bella Bella.

Amid driving wind and rain, Kate stepped off the plane in a safari inspired jacket from Holland and Holland, Zara jeans and earrings by Canadian designer Pippa Small.

It would appear that when it came to footwear, she fell back on a pair of trusted, hardy classics.

Kate was sporting what looked to be the same pair of dark mid-length Penelope Chilvers boots that she wore when she first dated William.

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Kate affectionately rests her hand on William's knee as the couple are welcomed by the Heiltsuk people in Bella Bella. It would appear that when it came to footwear, the duchess fell back on a pair of trusted, hardy classics

Kate was first spotted in the 475 brown boots at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace in August 2004, right

The boots made another appearance when the royal couple visited Bhutan in April, pictured

Kate in the boots in 2004, left, and stepping out in the same pair at the Gatcombe Festival the following year, right

She was pictured in the 475 boots on a 2004 photoshoot and they made another appearance when the royal couple visited Bhutan in April.

The duke and duchess were greeted warmly in Bella Bella by the indigenous Heiltsuk people as hemas, a hereditary chief, and umaks, a woman of high rank or standing.

William and Kate were shown one of the most precious items owned by the community, a royal staff with a silver crown head given to the present chiefs great-grandfather by Queen Victoria.

It was awarded to the Heiltsuk people as a sign of honour with, as folklore has it, a message saying: 'This is a mark of respect. If your people need anything then you must ask my government.'

The duchess was later seen sporting a traditional 'dancing vest', which she was gifted by the Hieltsuk people

Draped in traditional First Nation blankets, William hold vests they were given for Prince George and Princess Charlotte

The couple endured a rocky flight to arrive at the remote community, where they were welcomed as hereditary chiefs

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watched a performance by local children as part of the traditional welcome

There was concern overnight that the couple's trip to the remote island community was in jeopardy due to the inclement conditions: high winds, choppy seas and heavy, driving rain.

But aides worked quickly to adapt their programme, cancelling a tour of the beautiful region by float plane and arranging for a boat to take them from the small airstrip to the jetty where they were welcomed by the First Nations people.

It is still a beautiful place in the rain and everyone is prepared to get wet, a spokesman for the couple said.

The couple endured a somewhat rocky flight with the twin propeller flight experiencing strong turbulence on route to the tiny one strip airport.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge battled the elements as they travelled to the remote island community of Bella Bella

After stunning in a 4,000 Alexander McQueen dress yesterday, the duchess, 34, dressed down for today's engagements in Zara jeans, a Holland and Holland jacket and earrings by Canadian designer Pippa Small

William and Kate are greeted with a traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community in Bella Bella

Stretching over 250 miles along the central and north coast of British Columbia, the Great Bear Rainforest is the planet's largest intact temperate rainforest.

It is the only place in the world where you can see the Kermode - or Spirit - bear which is noted for its white fur, as well as well a whales, sea otters, dolphins and sea lions.

The Kermode bear is considered sacred by the T'simshian people. Other wildlife includes coastal grey wolves, grizzly bears, cougars and orcas.

The fords, glaciers, mountains and granite cliffs of the rainforest have been virtually untouched for thousands of years.

William and Kate touched down in a private plane following an hour-long flight from Victoria, where they are based with their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, for the week-long tour.
Jeremy Corbyn's union paymasters last night warned the UK would be left dependent on 'hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers' after Labour announced plans to ban fracking.

The party's energy spokesman Barry Gardiner said that if Labour ever got into power, it would outlaw the controversial practice in England.

But the GMB, which represents workers in the gas industry, said the plan was 'madness'.

The party's energy spokesman Barry Gardiner said that if Labour ever got into power, it would outlaw the controversial practice in England

Fracking involves gas being extracted from shale rock. Opponents say allowing it would make the UK dependent on fossil fuels when the priority should be clean energy.

Gary Smith, the GMB union's Scotland secretary, said the UK would be dependent on gas for decades  meaning it would be best to make use of our own reserves.

'We will have to confront the fact that we will be buying gas from hangmen, henchmen and head-choppers,' he said.

'We don't think that's ethical. We have world-class regulators and world-leading standards in terms of monitoring. Ruling it out now is madness.'

Mr Smith's point was that if Britain does not extract its own shale gas reserves, it will have to buy gas from less reputable countries such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to meet its energy needs.

He added: 'Britain needs gas. The first fracked gas from America arrives tomorrow at Grangemouth.

'Carting gas across oceans is not good for the environment and not good for security of supply in the UK.

Speaking at Labour conference, Mr Gardiner said Labour would focus on developing a low carbon energy industry

'Given we need gas to heat our homes and power industry, the question is therefore where are we going to get our gas from.

'We are increasingly going to be dependent on regimes fronted by henchman, hangmen and headchoppers for the gas we need.

'That isn't ethical and is surely an abdication of our environmental and moral responsibilities.'

The government's position is that fracking could provide the UK with greater energy security and create jobs.

But speaking at Labour conference, Mr Gardiner said Labour would focus on developing a low carbon energy industry.

'Fracking locks us into an energy infrastructure that is based on fossil fuels long after our country needs to have moved to clean energy,' he said.

'So today I am announcing that a future Labour government will ban fracking.

'We will consult with our colleagues in industry and the trade unions about the best way to transition our energy industry to create the vital jobs and apprenticeships we are going to need for the UK's low-carbon future.'

He said the clean energy and low-carbon technologies workforce represented just 6 per cent of the economy but were responsible for 30 per cent if its growth.

'We've got to unlock the full potential of this sector,' he added, saying it meant skilled jobs, growth, clean air and 'a healthy secure future for our children'.

'Britain is at the beginning of an incredible transformation of our energy system,' he said.

Hannah Martin, energy campaigner at Greenpeace UK, welcomed the proposed ban.

'Support for community energy schemes can empower the people of Britain to take back control from the stranglehold of the Big Six, and choose cleaner and increasingly cheaper energy than the fracked gas and nuclear reactors being pushed by the government,' she said.

Under government plans put out to consultation in August, residents affected by fracking could be paid some of the proceeds of shale gas projects.

A shale wealth fund was announced in 2014 to set aside up to 10 per cent of the tax proceeds from fracking to benefit communities in the UK hosting wells.
Newborn babies lives are being put at risk because hospital staff are failing to carry out basic checks, a major report warns today.

A quarter of the most seriously-ill newborns are being allowed to become dangerously cold because their temperature has not been closely monitored.

And one in seven mothers having high-risk labours were not given vital medication beforehand to prevent their babies developing breathing difficulties.

Experts say NHS maternity services are struggling to cope with the pressures of migration, older mothers and soaring rates of IVF.

Newborn babies lives are being put at risk because hospital staff are failing to carry out basic checks, a major report warns today (stock image)

The audit examined hospital neonatal units which provide specialised care for babies who are premature, very small or born with complications. They look after 95,000 newborns in the UK each year  one in eight of all births.

But the number has steadily increased in recent years partly because women are having babies when they are older and more at risk of complicated births.

In addition, many are using IVF and this increases the chance of twins, who tend to be premature.

Immigration is further adding to the pressures, particularly as many of those coming to the UK are young couples starting families.

The report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health found that 28 per cent of babies admitted to neonatal units in 2015 were too cold and at risk of hypothermia, despite the fact they could easily have been kept warm by heaters, woollen hats and plastic bags around their bodies.

MORNING SICKNESS CUTS MISCARRY RISK Women who suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy are up to 50 per cent less likely to have a miscarriage, according to researchers. Scientists think the loss of appetite and avoidance of certain foods have a surprise benefit of helping protect the unborn child. It is estimated that anywhere from 50 to 80 per cent of expectant mothers experience morning sickness, and it typically occurs during the first three months. For some, it is so severe they cannot keep anything down and need to be admitted to hospital to be put on a drip. Now scientists working for the US governments health department have found that the debilitating condition may help protect the foetus. In a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, they looked at 797 women who gave birth or had a miscarriage between 2007 and 2011. Those who experienced morning sickness during the first three months were on average 50 per cent less likely to lose the baby. The researchers said the womans reduced calorie intake encouraged the placenta  which provides the foetus with nutrients  to grow. And by eating fewer foods, the woman would be less likely to expose the baby to harmful toxins. Janine Elson, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said: This should provide some reassurance for women suffering from nausea. However, it is important to emphasise that if a woman isnt suffering from nausea and vomiting, it doesnt mean she will miscarry. Advertisement

One in 20 newborns had not even had their temperatures checked after the birth  a key requirement under NHS guidelines.

The report also found that 15 per cent of mothers were not given steroids before the birth which help prevent infants suffering breathing difficulties. NHS guidelines state these should be offered to all women having premature birth because babies lungs may not be properly developed.

A total of 7 per cent of babies were not given an eye check before being discharged to monitor for signs of blindness. Premature babies are more susceptible to a condition of the blood vessels in their eyes which can cause loss of sight.

And one in eight parents did not have a consultation with a doctor to explain what was happening within 24 hours of their baby being admitted. The report found that many aspects of care had not improved since 2014, and barely changed from 2012.

Dr Sam Oddie, the lead author and member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the failure of staff to keep babies warm was very concerning. He added: If not monitored closely, low admission temperature can lead to hypothermia and severe illness, so getting this right is essential.

When a baby is admitted to a neonatal unit, it can be a daunting time for parents. Having a doctor speak to them early about what is happening and the support on offer to them is extremely important.

Caroline Davey, chief executive of Bliss, the charity for premature and sick babies said: These figures are very concerning.

In order to prevent avoidable illness, units must ensure that all babies receive these check-ups within the timescales set down in national standards.

Moreover, it is vital to involve parents in their babies care to ensure the best possible health outcomes for them, and it is deeply disturbing that in so many cases this is still not happening.

The report also found that 41 per cent of mothers were not breastfeeding their babies when they were discharged from units. They should have been strongly encouraged and helped by staff to breastfeed as it provides newborns with vital protection against illnesses.

Hannah Knight, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said many mothers and babies were being denied the best possible care. She added that the findings backed up the colleges own evidence of substantial variation in NHS maternity services.
China poses the biggest threat to the global economy as its debts soar, according to a leading economist.

Ken Rogoff, the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, said the country could suffer a calamitous slowdown  dragging the rest of the world down with it.

A so-called 'hard landing' in the world's second biggest economy, where growth drops to dangerously low levels, would be a disaster for other countries including Britain.

China is the UK's sixth biggest export market with sales of goods made in British factories to the People's Republic jumping from 877million in 1998 to 15.5billion in 2014.

Ken Rogoff (pictured), the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, said China could suffer a calamitous slowdown

But exports to China fell 22 per cent to 12.1billion in 2015 with car exports down a thumping 37.5 per cent.

Mr Rogoff, who is now professor of economics at Harvard University, said it was too early to tell what impact Brexit will have on the UK economy.

But he said China was the biggest worry for the rest of the world.

'There is no question, China is the greatest risk,' he said. 'China has been the engine of global growth. China has been really important. But China is going through a big political revolution. And I think the economy is slowing down much more than the official figures show.'

Official figures published by the authorities in Beijing show that the Chinese economy grew by 6.9 per cent in 2015  the slowest rate of expansion for 25 years and down from 7.3 per cent in 2014.

The IMF is forecasting growth of 6.6 per cent this year and 6.2 per cent next year but it is widely thought this overstates the strength of the Chinese economy.

Capital Economics reckons the Chinese economy grew by just 4.2 per cent last year and has pencilled in expansion of 5 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent next year.

China is the UK's sixth biggest export market with sales of goods made in British factories to the People's Republic jumping from 877million in 1998 to 15.5billion in 2014

Mr Rogoff warned that China could suffer a 'hard landing'  a much sharper slowdown that would have disastrous consequences for the rest of the world.

'Everyone says China's different, the state owns everything, they can control it,' he said. 'Only to a point. It's definitely a worry, a hard landing in China. We're having a pretty sharp landing already and I worry about China becoming more of a problem.'

The Bank of England last week warned that debt levels in China 'are very high by international standards'.

Government, corporate and household debt now accounts for 240 per cent of national income having doubled since 2008.

Mr Rogoff said: 'If you want to look at part of the world that has a debt problem, look at China. They've seen credit fuelled growth and these things don' t go on forever.'

Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics, said debt levels in China 'have been rising at a dizzying rate'.
Christopher Halliwell may have murdered six more people, a former detective has revealed

Taxi driver Christopher Halliwell may have murdered six more people, a former detective has revealed.

The convicted murderer has already been linked to the disappearance of chef Claudia Lawrence and three other missing women.

But ex-detective Steve Fulcher yesterday said Halliwell may have murdered eight people in all and police should have done more to investigate him.

Halliwell, 52, was found guilty of the murder of Swindon sex worker Becky Godden last week, five years after he abducted and killed night clubber Sian O Callaghan from the same town.

Former detective superintendent Mr Fulcher caught Hailliwell in March 2011 and elicited a confession out of him that led police to the shallow grave where Miss Godden, 20, had lain since 2003.

Mr Fulcher, now a security consultant in Somalia, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme yesterday that there was unquestionable evidence that Hailliwell killed again.

He said: I spent a lot of time with Christopher Hailliwell. He was contrite, fully contrite, crying on my shoulder when I dealt with him.

Theres no question, from all the information I gathered when I was running this inquiry in 2011, that he has committed other murders.

Theres lots of things, but the principal thing he said was, the police want to interview me about eight murders.

Police investigating Hailliwell were aware of York chef Claudia Lawrence, who went missing in 2009 a few streets away from where the taxi drivers father once lived, Mr Fulcher said.

Detectives also knew Halliwell had a direct relationship with Linda Razzell, who vanished after setting off to work at Swindon College in 2002. Her body has never been found.

Halliwell was found guilty of the murder of Swindon sex worker Becky Godden (right) last week, five years after he abducted and killed night clubber Sian O Callaghan (left)

Her husband Glynn is currently serving a life sentence for her murder, but still claims he is innocent.

Mr Fulcher said: We know that Hailliwell has killed women, has a propensity for killing women, and had a direct relationship with Linda Razzell.

Whether or not hes responsible for those murders isnt the issue. The issue is why was no investigation conducted into those issues?

Miss Goddens mother Karen Edwards, 55, also believes her daughters killer could also be responsible for the murders of his neighbour Sally Ann John and Melanie Hall, who was last seen leaving a Bath nightclub in 1996 in an unmarked taxi.

Former detective superintendent Mr Fulcher caught Hailliwell in March 2011 and elicited a confession out of him

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said yesterday: It remains our commitment to keep an open mind and follow the evidence wherever that may take us, so if there are further victims of Halliwell, then our investigation will work tirelessly to bring justice for all those concerned.

Father-of-three Hailliwell, formerly of Nythe in Swindon, originally confessed to murdering Miss Godden after leading Mr Fulcher to the field where he had dumped the body of Miss OCallaghan.

But the confessions were later ruled inadmissible by a High Court judge because Mr Fulcher failed to caution the killer.

The detective was later found guilty of gross misconduct by a police disciplinary panel before he resigned from Wiltshire Police several months later, ending his 27-year police career.

Mr Fulcher said yesterday that there was a flaw in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which prevented police officers from acting in the interests of victims.
Dallas Mavericks owner and 'Shark Tank' star Mark Cuban insisted Monday night that airing a special reality-show edition of the 'Girls Gone Wild' franchise on his TV network doesn't compromise his status as a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter.

'That's not objectifying women!' Cuban told DailyMail.com when pressed about his history of promoting the program best known for encouraging girls in the barely-legal age group to expose themselves and perform sex acts on camera.

The billionaire will occupy a front-row seat Monday night as a high-profile Clinton supporter and Donald Trump detractor when the two presidential nominees meet for the first of three debates.

SCANTILY CLAD SKELETONS FROM HIS CLOSET: Mark Cuban has emerged as a high profile Hillary Clinton backer but aired multiple seasons of a 'Girls Gone Wild' talent search program on his HDNet cable TV channel

NO APOLOGIES: Cuban told DailyMail.com that the program, which features barely-legal teen girls exposing themselves and cavorting sexually, is 'not objectifying women'

DEAL HER IN: Hillary Clinton, often accused of 'playing the woman card' to promote her presidential candidacy, finds herself with a high-profile surrogate whom her female base may find objectionable

Cuban proudly proclaimed his HDNet's alliance with the softcore porn brand in 2010, boasting that 'Girls Gone Wild Presents: Search for the Hottest Girl in America' was 'a cool, behind-the-scenes look' at the nudie program 'and a wild ride for our viewers.'

'It's a perfect fit for the new, unrated, late-night programming block that we air ... every Thursday,' Cuban said then.

A news release from HDNet claimed 'thousands of girls from across the country' had already submitted sexually suggestive photos and videos to producers, in the hope of being included in the cast.

The program was such a hit that Cuban ordered three more seasons of the program from 'Girls Gone Wild' creator Joe Francis.

Cuban walked through the media filing center Monday night a few hours before debate time at Hofstra University, drawing a crush of reporters eager to hear him dish dirt on Trump.

'TALENT' SEARCH: The Girls Gone Wild 'Hottest Girl in America' show solicited sexually suggestive videos and photos from potential contestants

'A PERFECT FIT': Cuban boasted in 2010 that the pornographic program was a great match for his cable TV network

VIP: The Clinton campaign invited Cuban to sit in the front row as she debates Donald Trump at Hofstra University on Monday night

DailyMail.com asked him instead about his history promoting teen nudity on television  making the serial entrepreneur uncomfortable enough to crane his neck in search of someone else to talk to.

But ultimately he insisted that 'no,' his past association with the 'Girls Gone Wild' brand doesn't compromise his pro-Clinton activism.

Asked if objectifying youg women might cause Clinton partisans, specifically female voters, to be concerned about his sincerity, Cuban replied: 'Nope. Not at all.'

Clinton is running on a platform that includes her potential to be the first female U.S. presidnet, and proudly exclaims 'Deal me in!' when Trump accuses her of 'playing the woman card.'

Her campaign's spokespersons did not respond to a request for comment.

CONTROVERSY: Cuban was originally a Trump backer and allowed the Republican candidate to use his Dallas basketball arena for a rally, but his opinion on his fellow billionaire soured

DEFINITELY NOT OBJECTIFIED: Cuban insisted that all R-rated programming is the same

Cuban explained the history of his airing what he called 'R-rated shows,' declaring: 'No, I'm not apologizing for it.'

'There's R-rated shows across all off TV,' he explained. 'Now if you're against R-rated shows, that's a different issue.'

Asked if 'Girls Gone Wild' is any different from other R-rated cable TV programming, he insisted it was in the same category as any other show 'that has sex.'
Wendy-May Connon failed to strap her son into a car seat

Mr Truger lost his son in 2008 in a car accident caused by his then partner

The 43-year-old died on the scene the truck driver suffered minor injuries

A father has died in a car crash eight years after his four-year-old son was flung from his seat and killed in an accident caused by his mother.

Scott Robert Truger was killed after his car collided with a truck, north of Waikanae, a small town in the south of New Zealand's North Island, on Friday, reported Stuff.

The 43-year-old's injuries were fatal but the truck driver escaped with minor injuries.

Scott Robert Truger, 43, was killed after his car collided with a truck on Friday

Mr Truger died upon collision. The truck driver suffered minor injuries

Tragically his son Konrad, who was born in a vehicle, died in January 2008 after he was flung out of his mother's car due to not being strapped into a car seat.

Mr Truger and his former partner, Wendy-May Connon, had two children together.

Connan was sentenced to community detention, community work, and intensive supervision after she was convicted of Konrad's manslaughter in 2009.

She was later jailed for breaching her conditions.

After hearing about Mr Truger's death, Connan said her sympathies are with his family.

'It's his dad,' Connan said about their son. 'He's lost his brother in a car accident and now his dad's died. I can just imagine what that poor boy is going through.'

His son Konrad, aged four, died in January 2008 after he was flung out of his mother's car due to not being strapped into a car seat

Mr Truger's former partner, Wendy-May Connon, was charged with manslaughter after she crashed while driving, killing her son

Connan who fell into drug abuse after her son's death had previously spoken about the self-loathing.

'I've got to live with that pain forever and the fact that I am responsible...I am responsible for my little boy passing away,' she said.

When Connon was convicted of manslaughter Mr Truger did not believe the sentence was enough.

'My son's death has been accounted for today but in my opinion, it is a wet towel of a sentence and does not send a good message to society,' he said.

When Connon was convicted of manslaughter Mr Truger did not believe the sentence was enough
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who lists his hobby in Who's Who as 'fermenting [sic] the overthrow of Capitalism', tells Labour's Conference that he plans to chuck 250 billion at a 'National Investment Bank', increase the minimum wage to 10 an hour, and consider a 'universal basic income', under which the Government would give every citizen a free cash hand-out.

It's part of a plan to resurrect a brand of politics 'called socialism', he told delegates in Liverpool yesterday.

A more accurate way to describe McDonnell's policy platform would, of course, be old-fashioned economic suicide, with a hefty dose of Seventies-style social chaos, trade-union militancy and class warfare.

On paper, this is no more than one might expect from a man caught on video earlier this month telling a private audience 'I'm a Marxist', and callously describing the 2008 financial crash, which cost millions of people their homes and jobs, as something for which 'I've been waiting for a generation'.

John McDonnell mapped out plans to borrow 500billion for a state spending binge

McDonnell is after all a long-standing tub-thumper whose views have altered little since the Eighties, when he edited an ultra-Left newspaper called the Labour Herald.

Under his stewardship, it supported a host of Left-wing terrorist organisations and once carried, in all seriousness, an editorial calling for all private ownership of land to be abolished, arguing: 'It's a product of nature and, therefore, should morally belong to the community and not to individuals.'

That era also happens to have marked the last time McDonnell was put anywhere near public purse strings, as finance director of Ken Livingstone's Greater London Council. The capital was duly brought to the brink of bankruptcy  before he was sacked for being too militant even for Red Ken to stomach.

Strikes

On Radio 4's Today programme yesterday, Mr McDonnell chose to outline his current monetary policies rather differently to those he once advanced, laughing and joking his way through a less-than-probing interview in which he was allowed to describe them as part of a forward thinking plan 'to modernise government'.

Modernise? That's one way to put it. Another would be that these dinosaur policies would cast British politics back two generations, to the era of the three-day week and mass strikes.

Indeed, writing in these pages last week, Harold Wilson's former Press Secretary Joe Haines remarked that McDonnell has already done so much damage to the Labour Party that it increasingly resembles a 'shrine to Karl Marx'. All of which poses the question: how has the Shadow Chancellor succeeded in selling such long-discredited policies to a significant chunk of the Labour membership and turned them into official Opposition policy in the process?

The answer, I would argue, is quite straightforward.

John McDonnell vowed to bring socialism back to Britain yesterday with a 10-an-hour minimum wage and plans to put every adult on benefits

Behind the cheery facade on display yesterday, McDonnell is a gifted propagandist whose avuncular manner is proving to be remarkably successful in convincing disaffected Left-wing voters  particularly members of the malevolent Momentum movement which has so ruthlessly bullied opponents of party leader Jeremy Corbyn  to buy into a movement whose ideas are often radical and at times extremely unpleasant.

While there may at present be little likelihood that he can propel Mr Corbyn to within a country mile of winning an election, times can change quickly in politics  just ask David Cameron.

Having managed to complete a hostile takeover of the Labour Party, it would be a huge mistake to underestimate John McDonnell. Consider the staggering gap between the McDonnell who cracked jokes on the radio and beamed through his wire-rimmed spectacles on the Conference platform yesterday, and the one who graced Robert Peston's ITV studio on Sunday.

The former, perhaps best described as the public McDonnell, cuts a jolly, almost grandfatherly figure with a paternalistic regard for ordinary voters and working men and women.

The latter McDonnell, who is less often glimpsed in public, is a far more sinister animal who was briefly on display in an extraordinary exchange with Peston when he refused to apologise for having called former Tory MP Esther McVey 'a stain on humanity', and repeated calls for her to be lynched. ('Why aren't we lynching the bastard?' was how he had charmingly put it).

Mr McDonnell confirmed Labour would press ahead with plans for a 'real living wage' of over 10 an hour

In the live exchange, McDonnell told Peston that he had no regrets for making such remarks because he was expressing 'honest anger' over welfare cuts.

Many Labour MPs, plenty of whom blame McDonnell and his chums for the growing atmosphere of intimidation in the party's ranks, saw things differently. Among them is Yvette Cooper, a former Labour Cabinet minister who went public, saying it was 'not OK', adding 'the idea of saying a woman MP . . . should be lynched  it's just wrong'.

Nastiness

McDonnell apparently doesn't see the harm in his remarks, even though they come just months after his Labour colleague Jo Cox was killed in the street.

In fact his quite staggering lack of contrition about Esther McVey serves to highlight the streak of extreme nastiness at the heart of the Shadow Chancellor's politics. One which stretches back to the earliest days of his career.

His usual modus operandi when seen revealing the ugly side of his character is to simply laugh it off. So when he was caught on video calling himself a Marxist, it was all apparently 'just a joke'. When it emerged that in 2010 he had declared that the 'single act' he'd most like to do to 'improve the world' would be to 'go back in time and assassinate Thatcher', that too, he later said, was 'an appalling joke' which 'ended my career in stand-up'.

How Lady Thatcher's family must have chuckled. (Once again, you note he all too readily talks about inflicting extreme violence on a female Conservative politician.)

In a bizarre aside, Mr McDonnell declared: 'Under Labour there will be no more Philip Greens at all'

When McDonnell chose to wave Chairman Mao's Little Red Book in the Commons last year, thereby celebrating the legacy of a Communist dictator who murdered 70 million people, that too was all  you guessed it!  just a joke.

This crass habit of laughing off deeply offensive behaviour surely reaches its nadir when you consider his long-standing and deeply held affiliation with Palestinian and Irish Republican terrorists, whom he has vociferously supported throughout his career.

In 1985, for example, his aforementioned Labour Herald newspaper (whose old editions I have spent days poring over in the British Library) compared the Israeli government to the Nazis by claiming it confined Palestinians to 'concentration camps'.

A few weeks later, the paper endorsed terrorist attacks against the Israeli authorities, to counter what it called 'the racism at the heart of the Israeli state'.

Think on that next time you see him expounding on the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Labour ranks. The following year, the Shadow Chancellor used a speech in New Cross, South London, to call for the 'ballot, the bullet and the bomb' to unite Ireland. According to a local newspaper report, attendees 'roared with laughter over the Brighton hotel bomb' which had killed five people, including a Tory MP, and maimed 31 others just a year earlier.

As recently as 2003, he was praising the 'bombs and bullets and sacrifices' of the IRA.

Thus far, McDonnell has been remarkably successful in hiding this repugnant side of his politics from public view (though in Westminster, particularly among centrist Labour MPs who are relentlessly harassed by Corbyn supporters online, it's a frequent topic of conversation).

Poison

I believe all this points to a wider truth: that McDonnell is a first-rate political operator who has waited decades for a power vacuum at the top of Labour which he could exploit to disseminate his repellent political creed.

Yes, Jeremy Corbyn is nominally in charge, but he is a poor leader, an underwhelming speaker and by many accounts rather dim. For those reasons, he is increasingly becoming a puppet for McDonnell's Rasputin-like ambitions.

That's why it is no exaggeration to describe Mr McDonnell as the most dangerous politician Britain has seen since the rise of both the extreme Left and Right in the Thirties. Thankfully, they were defeated by the forces of decency and reason.
A deputy state coroner has decided there will be no inquest into the death of a 14-year-old girl that had choked to death on McDonald's while with her carer.

The girl, identified in court as C, had spent majority of her life in state care and was out with her carer on June 27 last year when the carer bought some McDonald's.

The Brisbane Times reported that the girl had a history of taking food that did not belong to her and as a result the carer deliberately put the food in the foot well in the front of the car while C was seated in the back.

14-year-old girl with special needs choked to death on Mcdonald's after grabbing carer's food

The girl managed to find a way to reach around the seat and took some of the food from the McDonald's bag.

The girl began eating the food before choking. The carer said she turned blue and tried to resuscitate her.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and were able to resuscitate her before she was taken to Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital where she was placed on life support.

The girl's family and guardian made the decision to turn off her life support.

The deputy coroner found there was no need for an inquest into the 14-year-old girl

The girl has been born with partial brain damage, developmental delays, lung disease and also had to be fed through a gastronomy tube.

Due to the number of special needs her mother could not care for her and she had been in a care home for most of her life.

The girl was taken to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital where her family and guardian decided to turn off her life support

The deputy state coroner found that the carers took all reasonable steps required to prevent the incident from happening and then calling for medical assistance when she began choking.
Upcoming trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan (30 September to 2 October)

Author: Devin Sean Watkins | Source: http://en.radiovaticana.va

(Vatican Radio, September 27, 2016).- A referendum was held on Monday in the Republic of Azerbaijan on proposed constitutional changes regarding presidential powers and term limits, just days ahead of Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the country.

The proposed changes to the Azerbaijani constitution included raising presidential term limits from five to seven years and granting the president the right to disband parliament.

Voting on Tuesday wrapped up at 7 pm and initial counting showed a high turnout of around 70 percent of eligible voters.

Azerbaijans Central Election Commission chief, Mazahir Panahov, said that with nearly three-quarters of the ballots counted, over 90 percent of voters supported the extension of the presidential term.

President Ilham Aliyev assumed the top office in October of 2003 and is the 4th president of the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Officials say referendum results will be announced by October 21st.

Pope Francis is due to visit Azerbaijan this Sunday following his Apostolic Journey to Georgia.

It will be the Holy Fathers 16th pastoral visit and will focus on the themes of peace and solidarity, following on the message of peace that he took with him to the neighbouring Republic of Armenia last June.

(Devin Sean Watkins)
The official tickets did not have the nominees' names written on them

Hempstead, New York university printed souvenir tickets at the last minute

More than 7,500 students entered a lottery and 350 will be at the debate

The souvenir tickets spelled Hillary Clinton's first name with only one 'l'

A typo has made its way into the frantic debate preparations at Hofstra University.

More than 7,500 students at the Hempstead, New York school entered a lottery to attend Monday night's presidential debate. Only 350 got to go.

For those 350 students, the university printed souvenir tickets. They're different from the official tickets needed to enter the debate venue and are only meant to be reminders of a memorable night.

But it surfaced Monday night just a couple of hours before the debate that the tickets themselves would be worth remembering: they have Hillary Clinton's name spelled wrong.

Souvenir tickets for Monday's presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York had Hillary Clinton's name spelled with one 'l' instead of two (pictured)

The Democratic nominee's first name only has one 'l' on the souvenir ticket, when it should have two.

'These tickets are not official tickets to the debate. They were printed at the last minute to create a souvenir for the students. We'll be reprinting them for all those who won tickets,' a Hofstra University spokeswoman told NBC.

The official ticket did not have the nominees' names written on it.

Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio pulled out of hosting the debate in July due to the event's cost. Hofstra University was picked instead, as it had hosted debates during the 2008 and 2012 elections.

Official tickets to the debate (pictured) did not have the nominees' names on them. The souvenir tickets were meant for students who won a lottery to attend the event

Hofstra University printed the souvenir tickets at the last minute, a spokeswoman said. They will be printed again for the students who won the lottery
Last week 50 per cent of people said they would ban Muslim immigration

One third of people said Muslims should be heavily scrutinised at airports

60 per cent of Australian's don't want a family member to marry a Muslim

A new survey has revealed that 60 per cent of Australians would not want a member of their family to marry a Muslim.

The research, which is part of an ongoing Deakin University study into attitudes towards Islam, also found more than one third of people thought Muslims should be more closely scrutinised at airports.

This comes just a week after a similar poll revealed half of all Australians would support a complete ban on Muslim immigration.

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A new survey has revealed 60 per cent of Australians would not want a family member marrying a Muslim

In the Deakin survey, a quarter of respondents said they would be comfortable if all anti-terror efforts focused solely on Muslims.

It showed that Australians have significantly more negative views towards Muslims, and while 60 per cent would be concerned if a Muslim married into their family, 33 per cent would be similarly unhappy over a Jewish fiance.

Just 8.1 per cent of people would be upset if a relative was marrying a Christian.

The ongoing survey also revealed that when given the option, respondents did not disagree with Islamaphobic statements such as 'practicing Muslims pose a threat to Australian society'.

In the Deakin survey, a quarter of respondents said they would be comfortable if all anti-terror efforts focused solely on Muslims

Co-author of the paper Dr Matteo Vergani, who is a Research Fellow at Deakin's Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, said education was the key to combating these attitudes towards Islam.

'We found that across the board  among conservative or progressive individuals, people of different age, education and country of birth  there was an association between someone's level of knowledge about Islam and their prejudice against Muslims.

'In the wake of the recent Essential poll which showed that 49 per cent of Australians support a ban on Muslim immigration, this result is particularly heartening and important because it suggests that education and knowledge of Islam is key to overcoming Islamophobia and building a more cohesive society.'

The research comes a week after it was revealed almost half of all Australians support One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's policy of ban Muslim immigration

The research comes a week after it was revealed almost half of all Australians support One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's policy of ban Muslim immigration.

Polling conducted by Essential Research found 49 per cent of Australians surveyed supported a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia, with 40 per cent opposed to the idea.

The results surprisingly revealed more than one third of Greens voters (34 per cent) support the proposed ban, while 60 per cent of Liberal voters and 40 per cent of Labor voters agreed.
They have been given dozens of gifts for their children but today it was time for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to be honoured.

The couple looked overwhelmed as they were draped in blankets and 'dancing vests' by the First Nation Heiltsuk people in the remote island community of Bella Bella, in British Columbia yesterday.

Sitting in the community hall or 'big house' of the Heiltsuk nation, William and Kate smiled as they were recognised with gifts.

Draped in traditional First Nation blankets, William and Kate hold vests they were given for Prince George and Princess Charlotte during the ceremony in Bella Bella

William and Kate watched a performance by local children as part of the traditional welcome

The royal couple look at a painted First Nations logo they were presented with

Chief Marilyn Slett told them: 'On behalf our nation we welcome you and we thank you for being here as part of the healing that we are undertaking. As part of our....feasting system we would like to give our guests a gift.'

First the blankets and then the 'dancing vests' - worn by men, women and children during traditional celebrations - were placed over the couple' shoulders.

'We use these blankets to wrap the spirits of our ancestors around you and to unite your spirits together with ours,' they were told.

'In our way our blankets encompass the sprites of our ancestors, our history and our culture, our stories of who we are and where we come from.'

The blankets were printed with the outline of a grizzly bear, trees to represent the forest that surrounds the Heiltsuk community and local flora and fauna.

William and Kate were given a drum for Prince George, pictured, during their visit

William and Kate spent time speaking with members of the local community as they received gifts in Bella Bella

'The design represents all life, not just animals but us as humans. There is no hierarchy in the importance of life, we are all dependent on one another,' Chief Slett said.

They were then handed miniature dancing vests for their children - one in white for Charlotte and another in black for George, and examined them delightedly.

William and Kate were also given a traditional doll by a woman carrying a baby for Charlotte.

William could be seen jokingly pretending to take the little child instead, which he then clucked affectionately under the chin.

The blankets were printed with the outline of a grizzly bear, trees to represent the forest that surrounds the community

The couple were told 'the design represents all life, not just animals but us as humans'. Pictured, wearing the blankets

They were also given a painted drum for George and urged them to bring him back to the community to learn 'how to free the spirits of the drum'.

The presents were given during a cultural welcome in the community's hall or 'big house' where chiefs gathered to greet the royal couple, and the residents gave them a rapturous reception, cheering and stamping their feet when their guests arrived.

William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales was praised for her humanitarian efforts during her lifetime by one senior community member during the event which featured songs, dance and speeches.

The Duchess of Cambridge meets chiefs from the Heiltsuk First Nations community. Right, chiefs from the community
Cassie Olczak, 16, has been missing since Sunday evening, when she was last seen boarding a train, groggy and disoriented.

The Sydney girl's distressed mother Connie is desperate to find her daughter, whose last confirmed sighting was at the Banksia train station about 7pm Sunday night.

Ms Olczak choked up as she told Daily Mail Australia her daughter's disappearance was out of character and that she'd never done anything like it before, adding that she wasn't 'street smart'.

Sydney girl Cassie Olczak, 16, has been missing since Sunday evening

Cassie's desperate mother has appealed to people on social media to help find her daughter

'It's [been] too long now... I'm trying to keep calm... Her phone is off, she hasn't accessed her accounts.'

Police said in a statement they had conducted 'extensive' inquiries to find Cassie, but had not been successful yet.

Concerns were held for her due to her age.

Cassie, who has just finished school and is due to begin a Tafe hairdressing course next week, had returned to Australia on Saturday from visiting her father in Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, she went to visit friends, who sent her home when they noticed she was disoriented, Ms Olczak said.

About 6pm, she went to the train station with a friend, who took a train in an opposite direction to Cassie.

Cassie had just returned to Australia on Saturday from visiting her father in Abu Dhabi, and her mother believed she was groggy and disoriented

Ms Olczak said CCTV footage showed her boarding a train just before 7pm, but no cameras showed her getting off.

She was supposed to be travelling to Hurstville but it is not known if she arrived.

After a social media campaign to find her daughter, a member of the public said they'd seen a girl who fitted Cassie's description aboard a 5.52am train in Emu Plains on Monday, sleeping under a pink blanket.

Another alleged sighting placed her at Liverpool on a city-bound train at 9am, Ms Olczak said.

Her mother begged anyone with information to contact Miranda or Hurstville police.

Cassie is about 175cm tall and of a thin build, has long, dark hair and a tan complexion, was last seen wearing grey Adidas tights, a black zip-up Miley Cyrus hoodie, Adidas Superstar sneakers with gold stripes and a Nike hip bag.

Police confirmed they had received a missing person report for a 16-year-old girl, but could not provide further information to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday afternoon.
The James Cook University professors said it is when

Queensland scientists believe Australia may have been colonised at least 47,000 years ago.

The research, conducted by a team of James Cook University scientists, mapped the positions and permanency of more than 112,000 water bodies to determine how humans moved and settled across the country, JCU Professor Sean Ulm told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Ulm, who is an archaeologist, said the team determined during the year-long study that Aboriginal people may have even arrived in Australia as early as 50,000 to 55,000 years ago.

'The common sense and conventional meaning of colonisation is an animal, in this case humans, colonising a new land mass,' he said.

Scientists at Queensland's James Cook University believe Australia may have been colonised 55,000 years ago when Aboriginals arrived in the northwest (stock image)

'The distribution and connectedness of water across the continent, and particularly in its arid core, played a pivotal role in facilitating and focusing early human dispersal throughout the continent,' the study said.

'The findings suggest that a series of well-watered routes across Australia, particularly in the Channel Country in western Queensland, could have made possible the rapid human occupation of the continent's arid interior,' Mr Ulm said.

The study is significant because it is the first time an in-depth look at bodies of water has been used to track the movement of colonisation in Australia, Mr Ulm said.

Its about the water  it doesnt inform the date of colonisation per say, its more about the movement of people when they got here and the environmental constraint that shaped it.

JCU Professor Michael Bird, who also worked on the study, said there was still debate over when and how Australia was colonised because of its arid landscape.

Indigenous Australians were migrating across the country for thousands of years before James Cook arrived in 1770, scientists said (stock image)

The results of the study have been published in the US National Academy of Sciences official journal.

Earlier this year the University of New South Wales came under fire for advising students to describe James Cook's arrival in Australia as an 'invasion', not a 'settlement.'

Captain Cook arrived in Australia in April 1770 in Botany Bay in Sydney.

Captain Cook arrived in Australia in April 1770 in Botany Bay in Sydney (pictures is a wax statue of Captain Cook)

'Describing the arrival of the Europeans as a 'settlement' attempts to view Australian history from the shores of England rather than the shores of Australia,' the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Indigenous Terminology said.

The guide describes how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were living in Australia long before Captain Cook, making it impossible for him to 'discover' the country.

'Most Aboriginal people find the use of the word "discovery" offensive,' the guide said.
Pope Francis has made the Catholic Church's saint-making process harder with tough new rules on the approval of miracles while banning the use of cash payments to doctors involved in the process.

The Argentinian Pontiff has announced that medical experts assessing miraculous cures of would-be-saints must reach near unanimous verdicts while a case cannot be assessed more than three times.

Over the last forty years, the Vatican has produced an unprecedented number of new saints with former Pope John Paul II canonising more than 400 during his 26-year papacy. And nine years after his death he himself was declared a saint quicker than any other in modern times.

Pope Francis has made the Catholic Church's saint-making process harder with tough new rules on the approval of miracles

But the saint-making process has become embroiled in scandal recently with leaked Vatican documents revealing that the costs of canonising some are as high as 430,000 Euros while the millions of euros involved are left unaccounted for.

Soon after his election, Pope Francis - who has called for the Church to be poor -announced a clampdown by freezing the Vatican bank accounts of virtually all those individuals involved in canonisations.

Declaring someone a saint takes years to complete due to the requirement that a candidate have two miraculous cures attributed to them. These need to be approved by a group of doctors in what is an extremely secretive process.

Francis, however, is pushing for some transparency by ruling that out of a panel of six or seven experts only two can dissent from the majority ruling while that they can only be paid by bank transfer.

Recent miracles approved by medical experts in the Vatican include that of Brazilian man who says he was cured of brain abscesses thanks to Mother Teresa

A Vatican spokeswoman has said the group of seven doctors would be paid a total 3,237 which at little under 500 is a relatively modest sum given the figures involved in making saints.

In 2010 English cardinal John Henry Newman was beatified by Benedict XVI after the Vatican decreed he had been responsible for the healing of Jack Sullivan, a deacon from Boston, in the United States, who had been suffering from a spinal disorder.

The Vatican are now investigating the inexplicable healing of a young American woman who prayed for the Victorian cardinal's help when she after becoming afflicted with a 'life-threatening pregnancy'.

Recent miracles approved by medical experts in the Vatican include that of Brazilian man who says he was cured of brain abscesses thanks to Mother Teresa, canonised earlier this month.
A beekeeper accusing honey maker Capilano of selling 'toxic' honey has been hit with a gagging order after the company took legal action against him.

Queensland-based Capilano has denied selling 'toxic' imported products to make more money and took the order out against Victorian beekeeper Simon Mulvany, the Courier Mail reported.

Mr Mulvany runs consumer advocacy group Save the Bees and has made repeated claims about the honey producer.

Honey producer Capilano has taken out a gag order against Mr Mulvany (stock image)

Beekeeper and Save the Bees campaigner Simon Mulvany, from Victoria

Mr Mulvany has been campaigning for honey products to be clearly labelled with their country of origin

A petition he created which gathered almost 30,000 signatures supporting his claims, including a call for honey products to be clearly labelled with their country of origin, prompted Capilano to take action.

The order against him prevents him from making allegations against the company and he was also being sued for damages and costs, it was reported.

Mr Mulvany has been forced to take down 25 social posts about the issue until a New South Wales Supreme Court decision on the matter is made.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia he claimed Capilano imported honey from countries like China and sold it as an Australian product and urged consumers to buy honey where it was clear the product came from.

A Capilano spokesperson said it was a 'smear campaign' against the company.

Mr Mulvany (pictured) has been forced to take down 25 social posts about the issue until a New South Wales Supreme Court decision on the matter is made

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Capilano managing director Ben McKee said:'Capilano Honey is aware of recent allegations by activists including Mr Simon Mulvany of Save the Bees Australia that it is selling 'toxic and poisonous honey' to consumers.

'Capilano can confirm that these claims are completely untrue and without foundation. All Capilano honey is comprehensively tested and undergoes rigorous quality assurance testing to ensure it meets the strict standards set in place by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).

'Capilano has been committed to maintaining the highest quality standards for the past 60 years and has never failed this stringent testing.

'Capilano is pursuing legal action against Mr Mulvany following his continual breach of court orders issued by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

'However, we remain hopeful that a mediated solution between both parties can be reached.'

Mr Mulvany and Save the Bees' claims had harmed the company overseas after allegations it raised in a Chinese newspaper said honey sold in the country as Australian was actually blended a Australian and Chinese product, it was reported.

Despite the gag order, he was still posting about Capilano on Save the Bees social media, with the most recent update published on Tuesday morning.
Debate watchers broke the rules on Monday, cheering for Donald Trump - even though they'd been instructed to stay silent - as the Republican brought up Hillary Clinton's email scandal.

Trump said he'd release his tax returns despite an ongoing audit - but only if Clinton produces the emails she deemed personal and had deleted from her server and email account before she turned over her work product to the State Department.

'I will release my tax returns against my lawyers' wishes when she releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted,' he stated. 'As soon as she releases them I will release my tax returns and that's against my lawyers, they say don't do it.'

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Debate watchers broke the rules on Monday, cheering for Donald Trump even though they'd been instructed to stay silent as the Republican hit Hillary Clinton for her email scandal

Clinton charged in turn that Trump won't give the public access to his returns 'because there's something he's hiding.'

'Who does he owe money to? He owes you the answers,' Clinton stated.

She again apologized for keeping her basement secret a secret and told voters, 'I made a mistake using a private email.'

'That's for sure,' Trump interjected.

Continuing, Clinton said, 'If I had to do it over again, I would obviously do it differently. But I'm not going to make any excuses. It was a mistake and I take responsibility for that.'

Trump told the former secretary of state, 'That was more than a mistake. That was done purposely.'

That her staff invoked their Fifth Amendment rights so that they're 'not prosecuted,' he said, 'I think its disgraceful.'

'And believe me, this country really thinks its disgraceful,' he added.

Turing back to his taxes, Trump defended himself as a savvy businessman who is 'extremely underleveraged.'

'I have a great company and I have tremendous income,' he stated. 'I say that not in a braggadocios way but it's time that this country has somebody running the country who has an idea about money.'

The country is a 'mess' and owes trillions to foreign lenders because of politicians like Clinton, he contended.

'We don't have the money because it's been squandered on so many of your ideas,' he told his opponent.

Clinton shot back, 'Maybe it's because you haven't paid any federal income tax for a lot of years.'

Trump did not deny the claim - he instead said, 'It would be squandered, too, believe me.'

Trump deflected from his taxes to Clinton's emails after Lester Holt noted that voters cannot know the full extent of Trump's business dealings and where potential conflicts of interest lie because he's yet to make the documents public

Trump's taxes came up as moderator Lester Holt noted that voters cannot know the full extent of Trump's business dealings and where potential conflicts of interest lie because he's yet to make the documents public.

'I don't mind releasing. I'm under a routine audit. It will be released as soon as the audit is complete,' Trump said, 'but you will learn more about Donald Trump by going down to the federal elections where I filed a 104-page essentially financial statement of sorts, the forms that they have.'

His Federal Elections Commission forms contain his income, which is filed at $694 million last year, the businessman said.

Changing the subject to Clinton's emails, he demanded to see the messages she said her team deleted, some of which were subsequently recovered by the FBI.

The audience reacted, and Holt reminded them they were asked to be respectful of the debate process.

'Let me admonish the audience one more time. There was an agreement. We asked you to be silent. It would be helpful for us,' he said.

Debate attendees were silent throughout most of the debate - but Trump's jab at Clinton over her emails had them hooting

Clinton asserted that Trump is the only presidential candidate in the past 40 years not put out his returns.

'You've got to ask yourself, why won't he release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons,' she said. 'First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings.'

The Democratic White House candidate speculated that Trump does not perhaps, 'want the American people...to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes because the only years that anybody has ever seen were a couple of years when had he to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax.'

Trump retorted, 'That makes me smart.'

In the spin room after the debate, Alabama Senator and Trump surrogate Jeff Sessions told reporters, I dont know what he meant at all.

Sessions insisted that federal investigators would have pursued criminal charges against Trump if he'd broken the law.

It is essential that Donald Trump and the American taxpayers pay what theyre required to pay under the law. And thats what he said,' Sessions asserted. 'Hes been audited for years, apparently nobodys prosecuted him for any kind of violation of his taxes. Its not because they hadnt looked at them.'
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for the introduction of more commercial fisheries to cull sharks after a teenager was bitten on Monday.

A keen surfer himself, Abbott waded into the debate about shark protection on Tuesday, arguing that it was unfair nets were in place off metropolitan beaches but not regional ones.

'I'm lucky to surf on Sydney beaches and beaches in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong (which) since the 1940s have been protected by mesh,' he told 3AW.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called for shark nets to be installed along beaches in northern NSW

His comments come after Cooper Allen, 17, was bitten by a shark on Monday

'Now if it's good enough for Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, for the life of me, I don't know why it's not good enough for the north coast of NSW,' he said.

The shark net row reignited again on Monday after 17-year-old Cooper Allen was bitten in the leg while surfing at Ballina's Lighthouse Beach.

It was the 11th shark attack on a 70km stretch of the north coast between Byron Bay and Evans Head since January last year.

Mr Abbott questioned why a commercial shark fishery had not yet been considered for the area.

'I don't know why we don't have a commercial shark fishery up there because frankly, if it's a choice between people and animal, I'm on the side of the people every time,' he said.

Cooper recently spoke out against a proposed shark barrier trial for the notorious stretch across the north coast.

Cooper recently spoke out against a proposed shark barrier trial for the notorious stretch across the north coast

'I'm lucky to surf on Sydney beaches and beaches in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong (which) since the 1940s have been protected by mesh,' Abbott said.

'We still go out there without the net, at our own choice. I don't think there is any need for it,' he told NewsCorp earlier this year.

The teenager remains in hospital after receiving stitches for the shark bite to his upper thigh.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk offered to extend her state's successful shark drum lines and nets into northern NSW.

'We have the technology, we have the skills,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

The former prime minister is a keen surfer often seen in the waves on Sydney's northern beaches

The premier said she was concerned about the increased visitor numbers to the notorious stretch of coastline coming up to the Christmas holidays.

'I think the NSW government has tried other methods, they have not been found to be working,' she said.

She said there had only been one shark fatality in Queensland - off Amity Point - since 1960.
Relatives have warned Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother to 'stay off the internet' after cruel trolls attacked her parenting.

Cindy Palmer has faced a barrage of vitriol on social media from people attacking how she lost her child to foster care while she was in jail for 'minor' offences.

'She's made mistakes but hey who hasn't?' said Pou Kaufusi, the sister of Cindy's partner Steve, who has jumped to her relative's defence online.

'Don't care what anyone has to say about her, no one knows how real her struggle has been like I do'.

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Pou Kaufusi, the sister of Cindy Palmer's partner, has leapt to her defence on social media

Mother and daughter: Family friends have previously told Daily Mail Australia how much Cindy Palmer 'loved her daughter' (pictured together)

Pou Kaufusi's message of support for her sister-in-law

Trolls have savaged Ms Palmer on social media news feeds - including on the Facebook pages of the news organisations such as The Brisbane Times and A Current Affair.

Some of the attacks followed her statement to the media last week. 'I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing,' Ms Palmer said.

One commenter said: 'You truly have a hide coming out now declaring your love for the daughter you gave up.

'The system failed her and so did her mother,' wrote another. 'Why was her daughter in foster care?' asked a third.

Jimbooba Times commentator Sarah Tucker said the online abuse was at 'a disturbing level... towards the mother of a child who met a violent death'.

Ms Palmer served time in prison between 2011 and 2013 with friends characterising the charges as 'minor' and 'non-violent'. She has not specified the charges.

A relative told Daily Mail Australia Ms Palmer used to read all the attacks on her on the internet, but now people are warning her to keep off.

'Everyone's told her to stay off the internet'.

Supporters have rallied behind Ms Palmer, saying people who did not know the family did not know the full picture and had not 'walked in her shoes'.

'My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel,' Ms Palmer said in a statement last week. 'I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing.'

Ms Palmer is planning to keep mum while the court cases involving her daughter's foster family are resolved.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Ms Kaufusi said: ' She will eventually come on and tell her story and all the details.

'Were not allowed to say anything yet.'

Last week Tiahleigh's foster father Rick Thorburn, 56, was charged with the girl's alleged murder and interfering with a corpse.

Mr Thorburn's son, 19-year-old Trent Thorburn, was charged with incest, perverting the course of justice and two counts of perjury.

Neither were granted bail and Trent has reportedly been bashed twice while on remand at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.

Julene Thorburn, 54, and Josh Thorburn, 20, were charged with one count each of perverting the course of justice and perjury. Both were bailed.
September 26 is the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French priest known for his apostolic work among the poor and marginalized.Born to a poor family in Pouy in the southwest of France in 1581, Vincent was an intellectually gifted youth who began his theological studies at the age of 15 and was ordained at the age of 20.On a voyage to the Holy Land, Vincent's ship was boarded by pirates and he was captured and sold into slavery in Africa, where he was held for two years before he converted his master to Christianity and was freed.He returned to France and was appointed to a parish near Paris, from where he began to initiate and organize missions for the poor, destitute, forgotten, sick, uneducated, and unemployed.He founded the Congregation of Priests of the Mission and the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity and sent priests to Africa to minister to and ransom slaves.He vigorously opposed Jansenism and helped reform orders of priests and religious, famously preaching retreats around France.The humble St. Vincent often spoke on humility saying once, "The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it."Vincent died in 1660 in Paris and his body still lays there in an incorrupt state. He was canonized June 16, 1737, by Pope Clement XII.St. Vincent de Paul is the patron of: charitable societies; horses; hospitals; leprosy; lost articles; prisoners; volunteers; spiritual help; Saint Vincent de Paul Societies; Vincentian Service Corps; Madagascar; diocese of Richmond, Virginia.No matter what others say or do, even if the wicked succeed, do not be troubled: commit everything to God and put your trust in him.Extend mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His mercy from us?"You have been chosen to be at the disposition of Divine Providence and, if you do not fully submit to it, you will lose much.""But do you know what it is to labor in charity? It is to labor in God, for God is charity, and it is to labor for God purely and entirely; it is to do so in the grace of God.""Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable light at all times and under all circumstances.""We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.""Free your mind from all that troubles you; God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires.""It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible. If a needy person requires medicine or other help during prayer time, do whatever has to be done with peace of mind. Offer the deed to God as your prayer.... Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.""Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord's words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.""He who allows himself to be ruled or guided by the lower and animal part of his nature, deserves to be called a beast rather than a man.""Whoever wishes to make progress in perfection should use particular diligence in not allowing himself to be led away by his passions, which destroy with one hand the spiritual edifice which is rising by the labors of the other. But to succeed well in this, resistance should be begun while the passions are yet weak; for after they are thoroughly rooted and grown up, there is scarcely any remedy.""We ought to deal kindly with all, and to manifest those qualities which spring naturally from a heart tender and full of Christian charity; such as affability, love and humility. These virtues serve wonderfully to gain the hearts of men, and to encourage them to embrace things that are more repugnant to nature.""It ought to be considered a great misfortune, not only for individuals, but also for Houses and Congregations, to have everything in conformity with their wishes; to go on quietly, and to suffer nothing for the love of God. Yes, consider it certain that a person or a Congregation that does not suffer and is applauded by all the world is near a fall.""Humility and charity are the two master-chords: one, the lowest; the other, the highest; all the others are dependent on them. Therefore it is necessary, above all, to maintain ourselves in these two virtues; for observe well that the preservation of the whole edifice depends on the foundation and the roof. "Dear Saint, the mere mention of your name suggests a litany of your virtues:humility, zeal, mercy, self-sacrifice. It also recalls your many foundations:Works of Mercy, Congregations, Societies.And the Church gratefully remembers your promotion of the priesthood.Inspire all charitable workers, especially those who minister to the poor---both the spiritually and the materially poor. Amen.- Via Catholic Doors. Noble Saint Vincent de Paul,beloved servant of the poor,may we follow your example and do good worksamong those whom society has abandoned,enslaved, or forgotten.Inspire us to feed the hungry,to love a child,to provide comfort and medicine to the sick,to clothe those whose garments are threadbare,and to offer hope and our Lord's wordsto all who need respite.Pray for us to our beloved Godthat we may commit ourselves selflesslyto doing the same charitable actsthat you did all your life,and intercede with himthat we may have the favor of his guidanceand strength and love upon this important and meaningful work.Amen.
Wind gusts of up to 130km/h, huge swells and torrential rain will pummel parts of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

A flood warning is in place for Loddon River, Broken Creek and Kiewa River in Victoria's north-east with up to 100 millimetres expected to drench the region.

Drops in temperature will also bring unseasonable snowfall in the state's alpine region with some areas expected to get more than 1,000 metres, news.com.au reported.

In South Australia, a flood watch is already in place for the mid-north, Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide as 30 to 60 millimetres of rainfall is expected across most of these areas from Wednesday.

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Wind gusts of up to 130km/h, huge swells and torrential rain will pummel parts of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Pictured is the NSW town of Forbes

A map showing the amount of rainfall expected into next week

Up to 100 millimetres is also possible, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Meanwhile more rain is expected across swamped parts of NSW as the flood peak moves downstream from Forbes towards Condobolin.

Floodwaters are beginning to recede in Forbes after reaching 10.6 metres on Monday, up to 80mm of rainfall has been forecast to fall across the region on Thursday and Friday, which could mean renewed rises.

On Monday night, the State Emergency Service performed its 100th rescue since rain began to fall at the end of August, and are expecting more issues downstream through the week.

'We're just waiting to see where that rain may fall and what it may do to some of these river systems,' SES spokesman Andrew Richards told AAP.

A natural disaster zone is expected to be declared in the region, with the damage bill already estimated to be tens of millions of dollars.

Flooding is forecast to peak in Condobolin by Wednesday next week, with emergency services warning residents to be prepared to evacuate.

About 230 Forbes families were evacuated on Sunday and it was not yet known when they will be able to return to their homes.

More rain is expected across swamped parts of NSW as the flood peak moves downstream from Forbes (pictured) towards Condobolin

A strong low pressure system will bringing wind gusts up to 130km/h and possible flooding. Pictured is Bondi Beach on Tuesday morning

Mr Richards told AAP the SES had reported isolated cattle through the region, while some pets had also been stranded.

Later in the week as the low pressure system moves eastwards on Friday and Saturday, strong wind gusts will be experienced by residents in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Adelaide, areas in the Yorke and Eyre Peninsula, and Kangaroo Island are expected to have up to 60 millimetres of rain across Wednesday and Thursday.

The system will also bring strong swells with waves measuring up to 11 metres around Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.

NATIONAL SEVEN-DAY FORECAST Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Canberra Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Tuesday 22C, mostly sunny, <1mm 16C, possible shower, <1mm 27C, sunny, <1mm 15C, mostly sunny, <1mm 17C, mostly sunny, <1mm 19C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm 18C, late shower, 1-5mm 34C, mostly sunny, <1mm Wednesday 21C, sunny, 1-5mm 19C, rain developing, 5-10mm 27C, mostly sunny, <1mm 18C, frost then sunny, 10-20mm 20C, rain, 20-40mm 17C, mostly sunny, <1mm 17C, mostly sunny, 1-5mm 34C, mostly sunny, <1mm Thursday 19C, rain, 1-5mm 15C, rain, 5-10mm 25C, possible thunderstorm, 5-10mm 12C, rain, 10-20mm 13C, windy with showers, 10-20mm 20C, sunny, <1mm 17C, rain, 20-40mm 34C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm Friday 19C, mostly sunny, <1mm 13C, rain, 10-20mm 24C, sunny, <1mm 10C, showers, 5-10mm 15C, clearing shower, <1mm 19C, showers, 1-5mm 17C, showers easing, 1-5mm 33C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm Saturday 23C, mostly sunny, <1mm 18C, clearing shower, <1mm 27C, sunny, <1mm 14C, possible shower, <1mm 22C, mostly sunny, <1mm 19C, windy with showers, 5-10mm 18C, possible shower, 1-5mm 33C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm Sunday 27C, sunny, <1mm 23C, late shower, 10-20mm 28C, sunny, <1mm 21C, sunny, 1-5mm 23C, late shower, 5-10mm 18C, possible shower, 1-5mm 20C, cloudy, 5-10mm 33C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm Monday 27C, possible shower, <1mm 18C, possible shower, 5-10mm 30C, possible shower, 1-5mm 17C, possiblke shower, 5-10mm 16C, possible shower, 10-20mm 20C, possible shower, <1mm 16C, possible shower, 1-5mm 34C, possible thunderstorm, 1-5mm

A flood watch is in place for the mid-north, Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide as 30 to 60 millimetres of rainfall is expected. Pictured is a stock image

Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said Adelaide would be sheltered from these swells but exposed coastlines would be seeing 'pretty high waves' in the come days.

'In the areas of New South Wales and Victoria, [waves would] not nearly be on the same scale as those seen in South Australia,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Brittain said Melbourne would seen between 15 to 25 millimetres on Thursday but Sydney would not see as much, with only two to five millimetres expected.

'There's going to be a trough that is going to bring rain to parts of Queensland and that will occur from Wednesday to Thursday,' he said.

'Brisbane is going bit of rain, but nothing to write home about.'

The system will also bring strong swells with waves measuring up to 11 metres around Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. Pictured is Collaroy in Sydney where wave damaged homes

A flood watch is in place for the Mount Lofty Ranges, West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Flinders, Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, Lower South East, North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral areas.

'Sheep graziers are warned that cold temperatures, rain and showers and strong west to south-westerly winds are expected to develop over the warning area during Wednesday and continue into Thursday,' the bureau warned.
Donald Trump challenged Hillary Clinton's claim that Russian state actors hacked into the Democratic National Committee, saying it could have been anyone.

Anyone including, he said, a morbidly obese loner.

'Maybe it was. It could be Russia,' Trump said of this summer's embarrassing hack attack that exposed a Democratic Party plot to deliver the presidential nomination to Clinton.

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Could be anyone: Then Trump introduced the possibility it was a domestic hacker - and an obese one at that

Blamed: Vladimir Putin's role was introduced by Clinton when Lester Holt asked about the DNC leaks

'It could also be China,' he mused.

'It could also be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.'

Clinton called Trump 'praiseworthy' in his comments about Russian president Vladimir Putin, suggesting that he had invited Moscow to hack Americans.

Trump did suggest this summer that if Russia had already hacked into Clinton's emails from her time as secretary of state  33,000 of which she later deleted  they should show them to the world.

Clinton said cyber warfare is 'one of their preferred methods of trying to wreak havoc and collect information.'

'We should be better than anybody else, and perhaps we're not,' Trump said of American cyber capabilities.

Trump interrupted Clinton, saying 'Wrong' when his opponent mentioned his praise of Putin.

Clinton was warning against the spread of cyber-attacks in the United States, particularly from Russia.

The Democratic nominee says the United States 'is not going to sit idly by' and let hostile nations attempt to hack public or private information.

She called out Russia and dinged Donald Trump's frequent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clinton also criticized Trump for inviting Russia to find her emails.
An Al-Qaeda fanatic who helped destroy ancient shrines in Mali using pick-axes and bulldozers has been jailed for nine years after begging for forgiveness.

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, a former teacher, had pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his role in overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door in Timbuktu in 2012.

But he was sentenced today for committing a war crime by attacking the protected sites - a landmark ruling by the International Criminal Court that experts hope will send a strong message to safeguard the world's ancient monuments.

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Alleged Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi is the first jihadist to stand trial at the tribunal in The Hague

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, a former teacher, had pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his role in overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door in Timbuktu in 2012

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, around 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of 'intentionally directing' attacks in 2012 on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque. Islamists are pictured attacking one of the monuments

Al-Qaeda-linked rebels occupied the famed Saharan city in 2012 and enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law that included destruction of the historic mud-brick mausoleums they considered idolatrous. Al Mahdi was leader of one of the 'morality brigades' set up by Timbuktu's new rulers.

ICC prosecutors said Al Mahdi was a member of Ansar Eddine, an Islamic extremist group with links to al-Qaeda that held power in northern Mali in 2012.

The militants were driven out after nearly a year by French forces, which arrested Al Mahdi in 2014 in neighbouring Niger.

'The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime,' judge Raul Pangalangan said at the tribunal in The Hague.

A three-judge bench handed down its verdict and sentence against Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, the first jihadist to stand trial at the tribunal in The Hague.

The historic verdict was the first to focus solely on cultural destruction as a war crime and the first arising out of the conflict in Mali.

Observers say they hope it acts as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned as 'tearing at the fabric of societies'.

The jihadist was found guilty of destroying historic shrines in Mali in a landmark ruling by the International Criminal Court

Founded between the fifth and the 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed 'the city of 333 saints' and the 'pearl of the desert' for the number of Muslim sages buried there

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair asked the pardon of his people as videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down ancient earthen shrines with pick-axes and bulldozers

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, around 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of 'intentionally directing' attacks in 2012 on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque.

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair asked the pardon of his people as videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down ancient earthen shrines with pick-axes and bulldozers.

The residents of Timbuktu, which has now been restored, say they are ready to forgive him.

El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, who oversaw the reconstruction with UNESCO assistance, said Mahdi's trial was an important lesson.

The trial '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.

Founded between the fifth and the 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed 'the city of 333 saints' and the 'pearl of the desert' for the number of Muslim sages buried there.

A RUTHLESS ENFORCER WHO WHIPPED 'IMPURE' WOMEN Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, sentenced to nine years in jail by the International Criminal Court for destroying heritage sites in Timbuktu, was known as a ruthless enforcer for jihadist group Ansar Dine when it took over the fabled Malian city. Born around 40 years ago in Agoune, 60 miles from Timbuktu, the curly-haired former teacher was steeped in Islamic learning from a young age. He fast became a fervent proponent of the strictest interpretations of Islamic law, which had little popular support in Mali, but his chance came when jihadists descended on Timbuktu in April 2012. Mahdi was soon recruited by the Islamist group Ansar Dine as 'the most competent and prominent person in Timbuktu when it came to being knowledgeable in religious matters', in the words of ICC prosecutors. Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, sentenced to nine years in jail by the International Criminal Court for destroying heritage sites in Timbuktu, was known as a ruthless enforcer for jihadist group Ansar Dine when it took over the fabled Malian city Among a group of outsiders, Mahdi stood out for his local knowledge while also being a fluent Arabic speaker, and his scholarly background lent a veneer of credence to the Islamists' call to destroy several UNESCO-listed sites they considered idolatrous. Mahdi had made clear 'his wish to plead guilty' to orchestrating the destruction of nine mausoleums and the door of the revered Sidi Yahia mosque, which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. In court, he begged the Timbuktu community for forgiveness. The ICC verdict is the first to focus solely on cultural destruction as a war crime and the first arising out of the conflict that broke out in Mali in 2012. His former teachers recall a quiet, even introverted boy who impressed with the much-prized feat of memorising the entire Koran, Islam's holy book. 'Among the 82 students in the madrassa (Islamic school), Ahmad had the most phenomenal memory, by a long way,' said El Hadj Mohamed Coulibaly, his teacher in the 1980s. 'He had the whole Koran in his head. We couldn't catch him out,' Coulibaly said. A brilliant pupil, he spent time in Libya and Saudi Arabia, then went on to a Koranic college and worked as an Islamic teacher elsewhere in Mali before returning to the Timbuktu area shortly before jihadists entered the city. Using pickaxes, chisels and pick-up trucks, his men destroyed the shrines and the mosque door, wiping out centuries of tradition that attracted pilgrims from across Africa and the Middle East Waves of unrest had led to a military coup in March that year and an all-out rebellion in the country's north, led by Tuareg groups who were soon sidelined by Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists, including the Ansar Dine group. When the jihadists swaggered into town, Mahdi was working at an association for Muslim youths, providing them with religious advice, and was well known for his rigid principles and advocacy of sharia law. He already had jihadist connections, rubbing shoulders with the man who would become spokesman for Ansar Dine in Timbuktu, Sanda Ould Bouamama, and through his marriage to the niece of Houka Houka Ag Alfousseyni, an Islamic judge. Life in Timbuktu altered quickly to fit the vision Mahdi had always wanted: adulterers were stoned, thieves had their arms amputated, and smokers and drinkers were whipped. In a city known also for its long musical tradition, singing and concerts were banned. Mahdi became the head of the 'Hisbah', or morality police, which upheld the jihadists' narrow interpretation of the Koran's teachings. As the head of this brigade, 'he used the carrot and the stick', said a senior religious figure in Timbuktu, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, personally whipping women he judged 'impure', but holding sympathetic meetings with smokers reconsidering their habit. Born around 40 years ago in Agoune, 60 miles from Timbuktu, the curly-haired former teacher was steeped in Islamic learning from a young age Mahdi was 'a bit town sheriff' in his style, also presenting himself as the boss of all the city's imams, a local official told AFP. By late June in 2012, Mahdi had grown frustrated by the townspeople's unwillingness to desist from their long-held practice of worshipping Timbuktu's shrines of Muslim saints. Using pickaxes, chisels and pick-up trucks, his men destroyed the shrines and the mosque door, wiping out centuries of tradition that attracted pilgrims from across Africa and the Middle East. 'The prophet (Mohamed) said break apart these mausoleums because all people are equal and so in a cemetery no tomb must rise higher than another,' he told an AFP journalist, shortly before the destruction began. Mahdi's role was to 'justify all decisions made in the name of sharia, the name of the Koran,' he added. But Ansar Dine's actions, led by Mahdi, shocked 'humanity's collective consciousness', said prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the Hague in March, leading to an unusual type of war crime charge. Observers say they hope his sentence will act as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned for 'tearing at the fabric of societies'. His lawyer Jean-Louis Gilissen had defended him as 'an intelligent, reasonable and educated man' who had sought to do good in response to a 'divine message'. But though the tombs have been rebuilt, the city once known as the 'Pearl of the Desert' has yet to regain its shine, riven with insecurity and violence under the watch of Islamist and criminal gangs. Advertisement

Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was however considered idolatrous by the jihadists who swept across Mali's remote north in early 2012.

As the head of the so-called Hisbah or 'Manners Brigade,' it was Mahdi, a former teacher and Islamic scholar, who gave the orders to ransack the sites.

Apologising for his actions at the court, he said he had been overtaken by 'evil spirits', urging Muslims not to follow his example, and saying he wanted to seek the pardon of all Malians.

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

Prosecutors say Mahdi, born in 1975, was a member of the Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb which seized the northern territory before being mostly chased out by a French-led military intervention in January 2013.

Prosecutors had asked for a jail term of between nine and 11 years, which they said would recognise both the severity of the crime and the fact that Mahdi was the first person to plead guilty before the court.

Even though the list of UNESCO world heritage sites appears to be growing there is little hope that those behind attacks on monuments in Iraq and Syria will find themselves in the dock any time soon.

Neither country is a signatory to the ICC's founding Rome Statute, meaning that without a mandate from the UN Security Council an ICC investigation into such crimes is not yet possible.
A Muslim leader who wants to to be allowed to have a second wife has been told by his current spouse that she is fine with it.

Keysar Trad, who is president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said it was natural for men to have more than wife and that it was better to have two wives than to divorce the first.

Mr Trad called for the part of Shariah law that allows for men to have up to four wives to be accepted in Australia and admitted that he wanted a second wife.

Remarkably, his wife, Hanifeh, insisted she would not mind if her husband married another woman, saying she has no right to stand in his way.

Keysar Trad, who is president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, wants to to be allowed to have a second wife and has been told by his current spouse that she is fine with it

Mr Trad told Today Tonight that Australia needed to understand that Allah 'hates divorce'.

'I know that Australian society has problems with this but I would like Australian society to realise that Islam put a limit on plural relationships,' Mr Trad said.

'Islam did not introduce plural relationships. Humanity had practiced a variety of plural relationships,' he added.

Mr Trad said that taking a second wife was 'an alternative to divorce' and that 'in our religion, god hates divorce'.

He added that it was more important to be 'honest' and 'committed' than to be tied to one wife.

Under Shariah law, women are not allowed to marry more than one man, but Mrs Trad said she would accept it if her husband found another woman.

Mr Trad called for the part of Shariah law that allows for men to have up to four wives to be accepted in Australia and admitted that he wanted a second wife

Remarkably, his wife, Hanifeh, insisted she would not mind if her husband married another woman, saying she has no right to stand in his way

'I don't think he is looking for another partner, but if another partner comes in the way, who am I to be in the way,' she said.

According to an interview Mr Trad gave to the Sydney Morning Herald more than a decade ago, he has wanted a second wife since 1998.

Imam Tawhidi accused Muslims in Australia that try to remarry of 'misusing the religion' for their own pleasure

Mrs Trad said in 2002 that finding another wife was 'Keysar's pet topic' and that he 'became obsessed' with a woman, however he did not marry her.

Only the strictest of Muslims follow Shariah law and polygamy is illegal in Australia.

Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, a sheikh from Adelaide, told Today Tonight that the interpretation that said men can marry up to four women was outdated.

He said it was meant for times of war, when scores of men were killed and the remaining women needed to be protected.

Imam Tawhidi accused Muslims in Australia that try to remarry of 'misusing the religion' for their own pleasure.

'This is all about pleasure, lust or even revenge,' he said.

'We have Muslims in this modern day and age where they believe because they have enough money and can afford it that they go around looking for second wives, for pleasure. This is misusing the religion.'




A law firm had planned to charge graduates $22,000 for two years of work and was widely criticised fo the 'exploitative' program.

WBH Legal offered a two-year training and mentorship program at its new Adelaide-based firm, Adlawgroup, apparently in response to an oversupply of graduates.

The plans were put on hold last September until WHB Legal finally pulled the plug on Tuesday.

WBH Legal last year offered a two-year training and mentorship program at its new Adelaide based firm Adlawgroup (job listing on Seek is pictured)

The law firm claimed the program was made in response to an oversupply of law graduates

In a statement on Tuesday, WBH Legal said the firm would not go ahead.

'While there were a significant number of applicants willing to pay the participation fee, the partners recognise that this carried the unpalatable consequence of creating an elitist solution to the fundamental problem of too many graduate and too few opportunities in law,' the statement said.

The announcement comes after the plan was put on hold to 'address the proposed fee for participation in the two-year Getting Started in Law program'.

WBH Legal on Tuesday decided 'the concept is not economically viable without asking the participating new lawyers to invest in their own futures'.

Law Society of South Australia (LSSA) told Daily Mail Australia it welcomed the decision not to proceed with the program.

In a statement on Tuesday, WBH Legal said the firm would not go ahead (the now defunct Adlawgroup website is pictured)

WBH Legal on Tuesday decided 'the concept is not economically viable without asking the participating new lawyers to invest in their own futures'

On the now defunct Adlawgroup website, the firm said its program would create 'opportunity and addresses the critical gap in the employment market' for the some '2,000 law graduates' who have 'no immediate employment prospects'.

WBH Legal on Tuesday claimed it was yet to receive a response from LSSA a year after making contact.

LSSA said it had completed its inquiry into Adlawgroup in September last year 'and notified the firm of its serious concerns with the proposed programme'.

'After the Law Society wrote to Adlawgroup outlining its concerns and discouraging the firm from proceeding with the programme, Adlawgroup responded to the Law Society to indicate that it had significantly modified its proposed programme model,' LSSA said in a statement on Tuesday.

'The Law Society still had several concerns with the integrity of the programme, but did not receive a detailed proposal of the modified programme.

'The Law Society has received no correspondence from Adlawgroup since the Law Society issued its public statement on September 21, 2015.'

WBH Legal in central Adelaide is pictured. The Adlawgroup will not go ahead, it was announced on Tuesday

Social media users had slammed the proposal last year for being 'exploitative', 'shameful' and 'unethical'

A spokesperson for the Fair Work Ombudsman said Adlawgroup was contacted about 'concerns' over the proposed employment models in June last year.

'The company advised the Fair Work Ombudsman it had not employed any employees under this model, and the Fair Work Ombudsman advised the company to seek legal advice before implementing any such model,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia in a statement on Tuesday.

'The Fair Work Ombudsman has not received any requests for assistance from workers in relation to this matter.'

Social media users had slammed the proposal last year for being 'exploitative', 'shameful' and 'unethical'.

'You are taking advantage of people when they are in a vulnerable position in life.

According to its website, WBH Legal is a member of the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women  a not-for-profit organisation for 'fostering business opportunities' for Australian women.

Daily Mail Australia has also contacted the Australian Law Students' Association for comment.

'Charging law students $22,000 for a job? You're kidding, right?' one critic wrote on Facebook
Whereas a single ground level ticket is selling on eBay for $1,500

As the Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans prepare for battle at the AFL Grand Final, tickets are selling for a whopping $7,500 as desperate fans look for any remaining tickets.

The Bulldogs, who will be making their first Grand Final appearance in 55 years, will verse the Swans on Saturday to a crowd of over 100,000 people at the MCG stadium, in Melbourne.

With only 15,000 tickets offered to each team's club members, die-hard fans have been scanning the internet to snare themselves a ticket.

AFL fans desperate to be part of the 100,000 people expected to flock the MCG stadium for the Grand Final in Melbourne can purchase eye-watering expensive tickets online

A corporate package for two has been offered for a whopping $7,500

One seller on eBay has offered a corporate package for two which includes entry to an official function room with lunch and guest speakers for $7,500.

But if the desperate punters dont have a few thousand dollars to spare they can purchase one single ground level ticket for $1,500.

Social media has since been flooded with fans pleading for tickets asking potential sellers to part with their entry tickets in exchange for large sums of money.

If fans are unable to get their hands on entry tickets into the stadium a few tickets for the Carlton Draught Front Bar, a pop-up bar just outside the stadium, have also been offered online.

Those attending the bar will have the slight chance they might be able to enter the stadium with the tickets that are sometimes given-away on the day.

Three tickets for the bar have been offered on eBay for $500 while another seller on Gumtree has posted one ticket for $170.

For Sydneysiders dreading the thought of catching a flight a seller is offering to drive to Melbourne on Friday and return on Saturday for $1,950

Those unable to snag entry into the stadium can purchase 3 tickets to the pop-up Carlton Draught bar which opens just outside the stadium for $500

One single ground level ticket is selling on eBay for $1,500

MCC members who won the jackpot and earned themselves a ticket, lining outside the gates for when the stadium opens at 8am to earn a good seat is a must.

But for those who prefer not to, for $40 an hour a seller is offering to lineup from 10pm the night before to secure two seats.

Sydneysiders not willing to purchase airline tickets for $600 - $700 are also being given the option of getting a private chauffeur.

For a total of $1,950, four people have the option of being driven to Melbourne anytime on Friday 30 before being returned to Sydney on Sunday in a Mitsubishi 380.

The Western Bulldogs (above), will be making their first Grand Final appearance in 55 years
A six-year-old boy has been bitten on the buttocks by a dingo while holidaying on Fraser Island prompting a debate about whether the wild dog should be killed.

The boy required medical treatment after he was bitten at a camp ground near Waddy Point, in Fraser Island's north, on Monday just before 3pm.

The bite caused a five centimetre laceration on his behind, with paramedics describing the injury as significant, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily.

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A six-year-old boy has been bitten on the buttocks by a dingo on Fraser Island prompting a debate about whether the wild dog should be killed

Some have called for the dingo to be killed but animal welfare advocates have argued the injury should not warrant its execution.

Social media users pushed the blame back on the boy's parents as there are clear warning signs directing tourists to steer clear of dingoes erected at camp sites all over the island.

'[If] you go to the Island, take responsibility for your children. You are warned. The Island is home to wild animals. They do not differentiate between human children or any other animal that can be preyed upon,' one woman wrote.

'If you cant do this. Go stay in a city hotel away from wild animals. So sick of our creatures being culled cause humans cant take responsibility,' she added.

Some have called for the dingo to be killed but animal welfare advocates have argued the injury should not warrant its execution

Social media users pushed the blame back on the boy's parents as there are clear warning signs directing tourists to steer clear of dingoes erected at camp sites all over the island

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson said the dingo involved was not caught but confirmed Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers had increased dingo patrols during the busy school holiday period.

'During the holidays, rangers increase patrols in and around camp grounds and speak to campers, day tourists, resort management and staff about reducing the risk of negative interactions between dingoes and people,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'QPWS has enhanced its dingo safety precautions by fencing national park camping areas and increasing dingo safety signage,' they added.

A spokesperson said the dingo involved was not caught but confirmed Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers had increased dingo patrols during the school holiday period

The Department warned that although the island is famed for its pure-bred dingo population, the wild dogs still pose a threat to to tourists, particularly during their breeding season

The Department warned that although Fraser Island is famed for its pure-bred dingo population, the wild dogs still pose a threat to to tourists, particularly during their breeding season.

'Members of the public must be aware that dingoes are not pets  they are wild and predatory animals and it is vital they are treated as such.'

'Dingoes may be determined and aggressive in their search for food, and females will aggressively defend their young, particularly now, as its their whelping season.'

'Members of the public must be aware that dingoes are not pets  they are wild and predatory animals and it is vital they are treated as such,' a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection said

Pups are more likely to venture out of their dens to explore during whelping season to give adults the opportunity to teach them more about hunting and survival.

Feeding dingoes on the island is illegal and can attract a fine of up to $4,840.
A man accused of strangling a Sydney nurse after violently raping her sexually assaulted another three women almost 40 years ago, a court has heard.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Robert John Adams pleaded not guilty to murdering Mary Wallace, 33, more than three decades after the popular nurse vanished following a night out in inner Sydney.

Crown prosecutor Mark Hobart SC said Adams was convicted of raping another woman in 1976 and implicated in two other rapes, one in 1975 and another in 1978.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, Robert John Adams (pictured) pleaded not guilty to murdering Mary Wallace, 33, more than three decades after the popular nurse vanished

Adams was allegedly seen offering to drive Ms Wallace home in the early hours of September 24, 1983, after drinking and talking with her at the Alpine Inn in Crows Nest

Mr Hobart told the court Adams choked a woman and threatened to push her into the harbour after the pair danced together at a club in Mosman, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He served two years of a six-year sentence.

The court also heard Adams was expected to face court over the rape of another woman, but she left Sydney over fears he would kill her if she stayed.

Another woman was raped in a car and at an apartment in 1981 and selected Adams as her attacker in a lineup in 2013.

Mr Hobart said Adams was seen offering to drive Ms Wallace home in the early hours of September 24, 1983, after drinking and talking with her at the Alpine Inn in Crows Nest.

She was never seen again.

'It is the crown case that the accused, in accordance [with] a tendency to strangle women for sexual gratification, attempted to strangle Mary Wallace with a view to [having] sexual intercourse without consent,' Mr Hobart said.

Adams told police he fell asleep in his car after trying to have consensual sex with Ms Wallace in the front seat.

Crown prosecutor Mark Hobart SC said Adams (pictured) was convicted of raping another woman in 1976 and implicated in two other rapes, one in 1975 and another in 1978

Mr Hobart said Adams was seen hosing and using rags to clean out the boot of his car the day after he allegedly murdered Ms Wallace (pictured)

When he woke up she was gone, he claimed.

But Mr Hobart said Adams was seen hosing and using rags to clean out the boot of his car the day after he allegedly murdered Ms Wallace.

Police questioned him within a week of Ms Wallace's disappearance but he wasn't charged until 2013, after technological advances enabled two hairs seized from Adams' car boot to be matched to Ms Wallace's hair and DNA profile.

Mr Hobart said Adams was convicted of raping another woman in 1976 and implicated in two other rapes, one in 1975 and another in 1978.

Each case involved strangling or the threat of choking.

The three rape victims are expected to be called as witnesses during Adams' trial, which is being held before a judge alone, with no jury.
Experts brush off warnings the Australian market is about to collapse

Claim follows warning the market was at a 'crisis level' for young people

First home buyers looking to enter the Australian housing market are now in the worst position documented in recent history.

Australias housing market will need a 25 per cent drop in price, if first home buyers want a shot at entering the market, according to the ABC.

Deutsche Bank chief Australian economist Adam Boyton said house deposits were at a record high compared to relative incomes.

First home buyers looking to enter the Australian housing market are now in the worst position documented in recent history

Mr Boyton said the market would only stabilise if prices dropped by a whopping 25 per cent, in Sydney particularly.

He said Sydneys housing market was in the most dire position in the country, because its house prices were not only the highest, but prices continued to soar.

But according to one investment banker, Australia's unaffordable housing market could be coming to an end.

Australias housing market will need a 25 per cent drop in price, if first home buyers want a shot at entering the market according to Deutsche Bank chief Australian economist Adam Boyton

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham backed claims by the Reserve Bank that the property market was finally cooling off, according to nine.com.au.

Mr Bloxham said while reading the Australian market was still difficult, evidence suggested 'housing loan approvals and credit growth had slowed'.

He said there was a greater level of lower-priced housing being sold, high auction clearance rates and tightening lending standards, and these were all good signs the market was slowing.

His words will be music to the ears of long-suffering first home buyers, who have faced increasing problems breaking into the market.

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham (pictured) backed claims by the RBA that the property market was finally cooling off

Mr Bloxham said evidence suggested 'housing loan approvals and credit growth had slowed'

The RBA said the housing market was far more stable than it was just 12 months ago.

'In fact, house price growth has slowed over the course of the year, and I think that is good,' RBA governor Philip Lowe said.

But the claims come just days after Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen warned the housing market had reached 'crisis level' for young people.

Chris Bowen warned the housing market had reached 'crisis level' for young people

'In fact, house price growth has slowed over the course of the year, and I think that is good,' RBA governor Philip Lowe (pictured) said

The Reserves Bank of Australia Governer Philip Lowe (pictured) said Australia's housing market was far more stable than it was just 12 months ago

He said young Australians were at the centre of the crisis, treading water to afford a home.

Mr Bowen said the country had reached the point where it could 'no longer house its own children'.

'The inability of young people in particular to buy a home to accommodate to them has reached, I say calmly and soberly, crisis levels,' he said.

Mr Bowen said young Australians were at the centre of the crisis, treading water to afford a home

Mr Bowen said the country had reached the point where it could 'no longer house its own children'

With housing prices in Australia's capital cities reaching a price pinnacle, Mr Bowen said new dangers were coming in to play.

'We have seen the rise of the two income reliant household,' he said.

But he said the danger with this was the threat of suddenly losing that second income, and no longer being able to afford payments.

The claims come just days after Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen (pictured) warned the housing market had reached 'crisis level' for young people

Mr Bowen said suddenly losing a second income, and no longer being able to afford payments was a real threat for young people

'Many households haven't factored in the possible loss of one income due to job loss, health reasons or even starting a family,' he said.

Australia's housing market has been at the centre of discussion this month, following warnings from the Washington-based International Strategic Studies Association it would face a housing market collapse in just weeks.
Two alleged pulled a knife on an 18-year-old man and ordered he hand over his belongings before head-butting him and walking away after he asked them the time.

The man stopped to ask the two strangers for the time at a Melbourne intersection about 11.30pm on September 4 when they allegedly tried to rob him, Victoria police said.

One of the men, who police said appeared to be Sudanese, showed the 18-year-old a knife as they stood on the corner of Collins and Swanston Street and threatened to stab him if he didn't hand over everything he owned, police said.

Two alleged muggers pulled a knife on an 18-year-old man and ordered he hand over his belongings at a Melbourne intersection earlier this month before head-butting him and walking away (pictured)

'The man then head-butted the victim before the two men walked east up Collins Street,' police said.

The 18-year-old then walked to the nearest police station and reported the alleged incident.

Officers have released a photo of two men they would like to talk to about the altercation.

The man carrying the knife is described as about 20-years-old and 198cms tall.

He was wearing a bomber jacket, a cap and a red shirt, police said.

One of the men showed the 18-year-old a knife as they stood on the corner of Collins and Swanston Street (pictured) and threatened to stab him if he didn't hand over everything he owned

The second man is Caucasian and about 19-years-old, standing at 188cm tall.

He was wearing a demin jacket and blue jeans and had a 'stretcher' in his ear, police said.
Bill Clinton for his 'indiscretions' because his daughter Chelsea was there

Afterward Trump explained to several outlets that he held back on

Donald Trump held back from discussing Bill Clinton's various sex scandals, including an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, during his Monday night debate performance against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Speaking to several reporters after the debate, Trump said he was happy with his performance and hinted that he thought it was classy he didn't outright acknowledge the Clintons' familial troubles.

'No, I was very happy that I was able to hold back on the, you know, indiscretions with respect to Bill Clinton because I have a lot of respect for Chelsea Clinton and I just didn't want to say what I was going to say,' Trump said, in one interview with CNN.

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Donald Trump said he held back from bringing up Bill Clinton's (left) 'indiscretions' because Chelsea Clinton (right) was in the audience

Donald Trump explained to CNN's Dana Bash why he merely hinted at some of the sex bombs he could have thrown at Hillary Clinton thanks to her husband Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton's scandals of the 1990s, including his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and the subsequent cover-up, were not brought up on tonight's debate stage

When asked what he was going to say, he hinted he could still blurt it out.

'Which is,' Trump answered, 'maybe I'll tell you at the next debate.'

He issued a similar sentiment when he was interviewed by a few other reporters - including ABC - after the debate.

'I mean I got everything I wanted to say out, other than the transgressions of Bill,' Trump said.

In yet another interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump said: 'Well I didn't want to say, her husband was in the room, along with her daughter, who I think is a very nice young lady. I didn't want to say what I was going to say, about what's been going on in their life. So I decided not to say it. I thought it would be very disrespectful to Chelsea and maybe to the family. But [Hillary] said very bad things about me.'

Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>

Hillary Clinton (right), according to Donald Trump surrogate Rudy Giuliani, enabled her husband Bill Clinton (left)

Because Chelsea Clinton (left) was in the audience, Donald Trump decided not to bring up Bill Clinton's sexual escapades

Before the election, the Clintons and the Trumps were on friendly terms, having been pictured at fundraisers together. Bill and Hillary even attended Trump's 2005 wedding to Melania.

Pictures of Bill, Melania and Donald at the 2000 US Open surfaced earlier this month.

And last night Bill and Melania, at least, were able to appear as though they remained on their old, friendlier terms as they called a truce for a few seconds to shake hands in front of the debate stage - moments before their respective spouses excoriated each other on live television.

They smiled and appeared to exchange pleasantries before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton made their entrance. Bill was also pictured shaking hands with Donald Trump Jr and Tiffany Trump.

Bill and Hillary also attended the Trumps' wedding in January 2005. Donald and Bill are pictured at a fundraiser held in New York in 2000

Old friends: The GOP nominee appears in a series of friendly photographs with Bill at the US Open in 2000

In the spin room, Trump surrogate, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, explained what the billionaire had held back.

'He restrained himself from saying what I know he would have liked to, except for the fact that Chelsea Clinton was in the audience,' Giuliani said first, echoing Trump.

'And that is she enabled and supported a president who is a disgrace to the White House,' the former mayor continued.

'He was one of the two presidents impeached. He was impeached because he took advantage of an intern, an intern that she attacked for six months  and she claims to be a feminist,' Giuliani said, attacking the Democratic nominee.

Rebuilding bridges: The rival spouses seemed to mend fences for a few seconds before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton entered the stage

Bill was also seen shaking Donald Trump Jr's hand (left) and Tiffany Trump (right) as they arrived for the presidential debate Monday night at Hofstra University

Pointing to the Clinton Foundation, Giuliani noted that Hillary Clinton had 'taken money from at least six countries in which women can't drive, in which women are stoned, in which women are killed for adultery.'

'Well, Hillary, give the money back if you're a feminist,' the ex-mayor demanded.

'That's what he wanted to say, but he didn't say it. And as his friend, I'm going to say it for him,' Giuliani said. 'She's a total phony.'

Trump did bring up some of Bill Clinton's economic record during the 90-minute showdown between the Republican billionaire and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state.

He slammed NAFTA after Clinton bragged, 'I think my husband did a pretty good job in the 1990s.'

'He approved NAFTA which is the single worst trade deal in this country,' Trump said back.

But onstage Trump merely hinted at some of the Clinton scandals that rocked the '90s, from Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky to sexual assault allegations lobbed at him from Paula Jones and Juanita Broaddrick, who both said that they wished to be at tonight's debate.

'Hillary is hitting me with tremendous commercials,' Trump said near the end of the 90-plus minute session.

'You want to know the truth? I was going to say something extremely rough to Hillary, to her family, and I said to myself, "I can't do it. I just can't do it,"' Trump said.

Over the weekend, Trump hinted he could go there.

Upon hearing that the Clinton camp had invited Trump's now nemesis billionaire Mark Cuban  who endorsed the Democratic nominee in July in his hometown of Pittsburgh, calling him a 'jagoff'  Trump responded that he'd like to see Bill Clinton's ex-mistress Gennifer Flowers in the front row.

She said she'd like to attend, but by Sunday Trump's campaign had pushed back, with The Donald's campaign manager saying Flowers would not be invited to attend officially as part of the Trump campaign.




Says Trump humiliated her after she gained weight as Miss Universe

Machado, from Venezuela, became a US citizen in August - in time to vote

Took Machado as example to call out Donald Trump's treatment of women

Clip came after Clinton brought up Machado during presidential debate

Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado has pledged to vote for Hillary Clinton - after calling Donald Trump a racist who has no idea how much damage he causes.

Machado, now 39, came up during Monday night's presidential debate. Clinton used her story as an example of Trump's demeaning treatment of women.

Clinton's campaign released a new video just a couple of hours after the debate, in which Machado recounts her terrible experience after clutching the Miss Universe crown in 1996 - which Trump was involved with at the time.

Trump, she says, called her Miss Piggy - in reference to her weight - and Miss Housekeeping - in reference to her Venezuelan accent.

The GOP nominee, Machado says, would tell her she looked ugly and fat, and he once invited reporters to watch her work out without her knowledge.

Machado became an American citizen in August, just in time to vote during the general election - and she knows she'll cast her ballot for Clinton.

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Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who has said Donald Trump demeaned her after she won the 1996 pageant, appeared in a new clip for Hillary Clinton on Monday night (pictured)

The Democratic nominee bashed Trump's treatment of Machado during Monday's debate.

'One of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest  he loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them  and he called this woman Miss Piggy, then he called her Miss Housekeeping because she was Latina,' Clinton said.

'Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado, and she has become a US citizen, and you can bet she's going to vote this November.'

Clinton's campaign's video featuring Machado came in the hours following the debate.

Machado (pictured in the clip), who is now 39, is originally from Venezuela and became a naturalized US citizen in August this year - right on time to vote during the general election

In the clip released Monday night (pictured), Machado pledges to make use of her newly acquired right to vote in the US - and to cast her ballot for Clinton

She bashes Trump in her native Spanish, saying he is a racist who doesn't realize how much damage he causes and lacks essential qualities to be president of the United States

Machado became Miss Universe in 1996 and gained weight afterwards. She says Trump, who had just bought the pageant, blindsided her by having reporters watch her work out (pictured)

Trump, Machado says, called her Miss Piggy and Miss Housekeeping - in reference to her Venezuelan accent. Both are pictured in 1996

Machado narrates her story in Spanish in Monday's video.

'I was the first Miss Universe after Trump bought the pageant,' she begins.

'He was overwhelming. I was very scared of him. He'd yell at me all the time.

'He'd tell me, "You look ugly" or, "You look fat."

'Sometimes he'd "play" with me and say, "Hello, Miss Piggy", "Hello, Miss Housekeeping." '

She continues by revealing that she was supposed to earn 10 per cent of all the commercials and work she did as Miss Universe - but claims she never saw that money.

'I was never paid,' she says in the clip.

Machado became a US citizen in August this year and share this photo on her Instagram account. The caption read in part: 'Miss Housekeeping and Miss Piggy can vote'

In Monday's clip, Machado makes it clear she believes Trump lacks key presidential qualities. She raved about meeting Bill Clinton a week ago and shared this photo of the two of them

Machado met Lionel Richie, who played at a fundraiser for Clinton earlier this month. She shared this snap and wrote: 'We are with @hillaryclinton our strong and smart next president!'

The video then recounts what happened after Machado gained weight.

She says Trump threatened to take her crown away, and that he blindsided her by inviting reporters to watch her exercise.

Machado first disclosed the allegation on Inside Edition in May.

Monday's clip includes a shot of Trump telling a reporter at the time: 'She weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds and she went up to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat.'

The experience, Machado says in the video, was 'very humiliating' and made her feel 'like a lab rat'.

'It had turned into a circus, the joke of "The Fat Miss Universe," ' she says.

Clinton brought up Machado's story during Monday's presidential debate, telling Trump the former Miss Universe had become a US citizen and would vote in November

Machado (pictured aged 19 during the Miss Universe contest) said Trump 'bears many grudges and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him'

'I think Donald Trump definitely lacks the ability, experience, preparation, and human qualities, to be president of the United States,' Machado (pictured in 1996) added

Machado developed eating disorders as the result. She previously said she was plagued with anorexia and bulimia for five years.

'I wouldn't eat, and would still see myself as fat, because a powerful man had said so,' she adds in Monday's clip.

'This is a man who doesn't realize the damage he causes. He bears many grudges and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him.

'But now I'm strong. I am an American citizen and I'm going to vote.'

Machado shared a photo on Instagram on the day of her naturalization, with a caption that read in part: 'Miss Housekeeping and Miss Piggy can vote.'

She further bashes Trump in the video released Monday.

'I think Donald Trump definitely lacks the ability, experience, preparation, and human qualities, to be president of the United States.'
A mother has been arrested after driving to a police station and showing cops the bodies of two of her children in the trunk of her car.

Elkhart, Indiana police said they believe the children are siblings Liliana Hernandez, age seven, and Rene Pasztor, age six, who were abducted by their biological mother, 29-year-old Amber Pasztor, early Monday morning in Fort Wayne.

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old man believed to have been with Pasztor when she abducted the children has also been found dead.

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Amber Pasztor, 29 (left), was arrested on Monday and charged with murdering her six-year-old son Rene Pasztor (center) and her seven-year-old daughter Liliana Hernandez (right)

The body of 65-year-old Frank Macomber was found early Tuesday morning by an FBI agent searching the area near the home where the two children were abducted.

Macomber's daughter says he was neighbors with Pasztor, who used to make him drive her around. When his photo was released in the Amber Alert on Monday, his daughter feared that he was being used against his will.

Sixty-five-year-old Frank Macomber (pictured) was believed to be with Pasztor when she kidnapped her children Monday morning and his body was later found just hal a mile from the home where the kids were abducted

Investigators have not revealed how either the children or the older man died. Autopsies for the two children were scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Police issued an Amber Alert for the children early Monday, after Pasztor allegedly broke into her father Ricky Green's home in Fort Wayne and kidnapped them just after 6am. Green's wife Emily was allegedly sleeping at the time and didn't hear anything.

Pasztor's father gained custody of Liliana and Rene - as well as his daughter's other three-year-old son - a little more than a year ago. It's reported that Pasztor struggles with drug addiction.

The Amber Alert on Monday warned that the children were 'in extreme danger'.

Five hours after the Alert was issued, Pasztor drove to the Elkhart police station and stopped a cop who was just getting off work and informed him about the bodies in the trunk of her car.

Video Courtesy WANE

Pasztor allegedly broke into her father's home in Fort Wayne at around 6am on Monday and kidnapped Rene and Liliana

Five hours later, Pasztor drove to the Elkhart Police Department and told a cop that her children's bodies were in the trunk

Pasztor was then arrested and booked in jail on two counts of murder.

Elkhart police Sgt. Chris Snyder told The Elkhart Truth that the mother cooperated with officers as she was handcuffed and didn't appear to be suffering from any physical injuries.

'She wasn't resistant at all,' Snyder said. 'She actually approached the officer and stopped and made contact with him.'

After Pasztor's arrest, police continued to search for Macomber. They tried his home, but had no luck, and then focused on the area around the home where the kids' were abducted.

For a little more than a year, Pasztor's father Ricky Green (right) has had custody of her three children. Green is pictured above with his wife Emily

Its' reported that Green gained custody of the children when his daughter became addicted to drugs. Liliana (left) and Rene (right) pictured above

It was just after police called off the search at that home, on the 7000 block of U.S. 33, that a law enforcement agent making one last look down Wallen Road found the body in a wooded area.

Macomber's daughter spoke with WNDU and said that she believed her father was in danger when he was included in the Amber Alert about Pasztor, and may have even been taken against his will.

She says she last talked to her father at 2pm on Sunday, making plans for a 5pm dinner, but he never showed up. Then all of her calls went straught to voicemail that night.

His daughter says that Pasztor had become 'abrasive' and 'pushy' with her father in recent weeks, and would demand that he drive her places.

In addition to her alleged struggles with drug addiction, Pasztor has a criminal record including arrests for invasion of privacy and criminal trespassing. She's pictured on the left in a Facebook photo and on the right in an older mugshot, when she had blonde hair

In addition to her drug issues, Pasztor has a criminal record including an arrest in July for criminal trespassing, according to WSBT 22. She was also charged with invasion of privacy on September 14.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for the funeral expenses of Liliana and Rene. As of Tuesday morning, more than $1,300 had been donated to the fund.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Elkhart Police Department at 1-574-295-7070 or the Tip Line at 1-574-389-4777.
A gang member made $10,000 a week when he was 13-years-old by selling heroin until he was jailed at 14, shot, and overdosed to eventually get his life back on track.

Tony Hoang, now 34, was one of 10 children to his refugee parents who escaped the Vietnam War to live in Cabramatta in Sydney's southwest.

With an alcoholic and abusive father, Mr Hoang turned to the Asian gang scene to find a sense of community.

'I felt left out in primary school and high school,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'My dad was very violent and wasn't a proper role model. It led me to look elsewhere for acceptance.

'I really wanted from my father what I found in that gang.'

Tony Hoang (pictured now at 34 years old) made $10,000 a week at the age of 13 by selling heroin until he was jailed at 14 but he turned his life around

The flyer that changed his life: Mr Hoang said he was desperate for help at the age of 21 - and miraculously, he was given this flyer (pictured) that helped him turn his life around

Mr Hoang began dealing heroin when he was 13-years-old through his cousins, who were already gang members.

'Around about that time, Cabramatta was probably at the peak of its drug [scene],'

'Drug dealers were in the middle of the street.'

He began using within months and had a stint in prison at 14-years-old when he was caught dealing at the train station.

When he got out, he made the wrong choice with a lot of anger inside.

'There was a tug of war going on in my heart. There was a good side of me.

'[But] for the next eight years of my life I gave myself to dealing heroin. I bought myself my first gun at 14. I was without a home at 15.'

He had a stint in prison at 14-years-old when he was caught dealing at the train station

He was in and out of jail after dealing drugs, in which he was making up to $10,000 a week

Mr Hoang told Daily Mail Australia he began dealing through houses to other dealers.

'So I was making a lot of money. I think $7,000 to $10,000 a week. At 16 I bought everything I ever wanted. But that kind of lifestyle and all that money came at a cost,' he said.

Mr Hoang's best friend died at the age of 16, and he was so 'stuck in that mindset' that he didn't attend the funeral.

He spent another short time in prison when he was 19-years-old for dealing and was almost shot dead at point-blank range in a club that same year  but both shots miraculously missed Mr Hoang.

'That didn't wake me up, I was just like: 'Okay, this is another day'.'

It wasn't until he overdosed on heroin when he was 21-years-old that he realised he needed to change.

'It was either that or end up dead or in jail,' Mr Hoang told Daily Mail Australia.

He is now a drug educator, sharing his experience to schoolchildren and students

He was one of 10 children to his refugee parents who escaped the Vietnam War

By then, six of his friends had died  three of which were murdered. Today, he's lost 14 friends.

When he 'came to the end' of himself after overdosing, Mr Hoang said he tried returning to his faith.

'I went to my church and I dropped down to my knees weeping, just crying out, a broken man: 'If you're somewhere out there, you need to please give me a sign'.'

The next day, a man handed him a flyer as he walked through Cabramatta.

'The flyer said: 'If you're looking for a sign, here it is.'

'That was the 8th of February, 2004. From that day I turned the other way. I was no longer bound to gangs or drugs or any kind of addiction.'

Mr Hoang now lives one suburb over from Cabramatta in Liverpool with his wife and six children  two of which were adopted

Mr Hoang works as a drug educator, mentor, pastor and school chaplain

Mr Hoang admitted it wasn't the last time he used drugs, with a 'two steps forward, one step back' progression.

'That's what I [now] say to a lot of people: 'God's not looking for perfection, he's looking for progress'.

'I wasn't prefect but I am drug free. I haven't touched drugs for 10+ years, even if the first two years were tough.

'I put myself in treatment but it wasn't a cure. There's no cure for drug addiction.'

And 12 years after he was handed the flyer, Mr Hoang works as a drug educator, mentor, pastor and school chaplain.

'Looking back now, at the foolish decisions I've made  I can't change that. All the money in the world can't bring [the mistakes] back. The least I can do is reach back out and do what I can.

He is now a drug educator, sharing his experience to schoolchildren and students

Mr Hoang said he believes at-risk youth need someone to look up to

And 12 years after he was handed the flyer, Mr Hoang works as a drug educator, mentor, pastor and school chaplain

Mr Hoang said he believes at-risk youth need someone to look up to.

'If I had that when I was growing up, maybe I wouldn't have made the choices I made.'

Mr Hoang now lives one suburb over from Cabramatta in Liverpool with his wife and six children  two of which were adopted.

He's even restored his relationship with his father.

'We're a happy family now.'

Mr Hoang is opening a new facility for Potter's House Christian Church in four weeks.
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The Indian glamour couple who settled their legal battle with ANZ for $147 million left Australia the same day the deal was made - and say they won't likely be doing business in the country ever again.

Former Perth couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal had been seeking $2.5 billion in damages from the bank and receivers over the sale of their fertiliser business.

Leaving Australia, they said they felt victorious after they settled and also said the country 'exploitative' of business migrants, The West Australian reported.

An aerial view of the uncompleted 'Taj Mahal on Swan' property the Oswals have left behind in Perth

Pankaj and Radhika (right) Oswal leave the William Cooper Justice Centre in Melbourne in June 2016

The unfinished home remains standing despite its owners having left Australia - and don't plan to return

Images from inside the property reveal bare walls and empty window frames

Debris litters the property and incomplete fittings can be seen jutting from the surfaces

With work no longer continuing on the site it is beginning to fall into disrepair and vandals have begun tagging the site

Wires hanging from the ceiling and graffiti are the only features of this otherwise bare room

Mrs Oswal said: 'Pankaj always felt that the Australian energy sector is one of the most opportunistic areas of its branch in the world, but given the unfortunate negative experiences we have been through here, it has not been motivating.

'However, we hope that this will lead to a change for other business-minded immigrants and lead to reform of the systems that harness such exploitable and capitalising behaviour towards them.'

She said the couple were leaving the country with their 'heads held high'.

In leaving Australia, they abandoned their unfinished and derelict property, the Taj Mahal on Swan in Perth.

The couple's spokesman said last week: 'The Oswals are very satisfied with the settlement and pleased that the matter is over.

'They are grateful that the Australian justice system allowed them to tell the Australian public what happened at Burrup before and after the receivership.'

The ANZ announced $145 million would be added to the 2015/16 full year results, but would not reveal how much the Oswals were paid.

Pankaj Oswal and his wife Radhika and their daughters 12-year-old Riddhi (far left) and 18-year-old Vasundhara (far right) leave the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne

The owners of the property had been seeking $2.5 billion in damages from the bank and receivers over the sale of their fertiliser business

Unused building materials lie strewn across the ground while graffiti covers the walls

The property had promised to be grand but has fallen into disrepair

'The $145 million figure the ANZ described as "an additional provision charge" does not reflect the size of the settlement,' the Oswals' spokesman said.

'We are bound by a confidentiality agreement not to disclose the settlement terms.'

They described it as 'curious' that the ANZ rejected all allegations but was prepared to pay a significant sum to stop them.

The couple simultaneously settled their dispute over a tax bill estimated to be worth more than $100 million with the Australian Taxation Office.

'The $100 million claim against the Oswals has also been dropped. Further, the Oswals have settled with the Taxation Office and are now free to leave Australia,' the spokesman said.

Pankaj and Radhika (right) Oswal leave the William Cooper Justice Centre in Melbourne earlier in 2016

The Oswals have said it is unlikely they will return to Australia. They have left behind their half-finished mansion in Perth

The incomplete, graffiti-covered property is a stark contrast to the nearby homes which have been finished

On one side, the Oswal's unfinished property with rubbish and weeds taking over. On the other, pristine homes

According to The West Australian, the half-finished home will be gone soon

During the Victorian Supreme Court action, a senior bank official was accused of physically assaulting Mr Oswal by putting him in 'an aggressive sort of headlock' when the pair was alone during an impasse in negotiations in December 2009.

The Oswals also accused the ANZ of racial bigotry.

The bank denies pressuring Mrs Oswal into signing the guarantees, a year before it appointed receivers in December 2010.

ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott 'completely' rejected the allegations made against the bank's staff.

'However, we believe the settlement is the right decision for shareholders bearing in mind the residual risks in a case of this size and complexity,' Mr Elliott said in a statement.

This image is typical of what remains at the property in Perth

Building materials and equipment have been left, strewn about the abandoned property

The bare walls of the property are slowly being adorned with graffiti from vandals

Weeds and plants have begun to take over the abandoned property

What remains of the property appears to show plants slowly taking over
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The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in a red Preen dress when she joined Prince William for an historic reconciliation ceremony with Canadian First Nations groups last night.

After a dress down day in the rain forest, Kate was the epitome of glamour in at a reception for political and civic leaders from across British Columbia at Government House in Victoria.

The Princess turned heads in a 1,000 Thornton Bregazzi dress with the royal family's diamond maple leaf brooch, given to the late Queen Mother by her husband, King George VI, to mark the state visit to Canada in 1939. It was another homage to the Canadian flag after doing the same on the day she arrived, wearing a 4,000 Alexander McQueen statement frock in red and white, the national colours of Canada.

She and William mingled with 200 guests in the ballroom of the grand house, the monarch's official residence in the province of British Columbia. But before the reception they joined around 25 people, including First Nations representatives, in the drawing room for a ceremony designed to heal the wounds of conflict between indigenous people and the government.

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Lady in red: The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in a red Preen dress when she joined Prince William for an historic reconciliation ceremony with Canadian First Nations groups last night

Centre of attention: After a dress down day in the rain forest, Kate was the epitome of glamour at a reception for political and civic leaders from across British Columbia at Government House in Victoria

Shining example: Kate accessorised with a stunning broach paying homage to the Canadian flag and a matching red clutch bag as she turned heads at the reception

Respectful: The Duke and Duchess stand together at the glitzy reception, part of an eight-day royal visit to Canada

Happy times: There was no shortage of smiles from the Duke and Duchess, who mingled with 200 guests in the ballroom of the grand house, the monarch's official residence in the province of British Columbia

Diplomacy: Before the reception they joined around 25 people, including First Nations representatives, in the drawing room for a ceremony designed to heal the wounds of conflict between indigenous people and the government

Royal hand shake: Kate, wearing her 1,000 Preen dress, shakes hands with an athlete at the glamorous reception

Assisted by two chiefs, William, 34, added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, a ceremonial staff of British Columbia's Legislature modelled on the one used in Parliament in London.

Created in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it is adorned with three rings, representing the province, Canada, and the link to the UK. William added a fourth ring  engraved with eagle feathers and a canoe  to symbolise First Nations in the province.

In a yellow leather jacket, Grand Chief Edward John of the Tl'atz'en helped hold the Black Rod as Chief Shane Gottfriedson handed William the ring.

He stood in for one of the most influential Indian chiefs in British Columbia who snubbed the ceremony in protest at the treatment of his people by the Canadian government.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, leader of 115 First Nation tribes in British Columbia known as the Union of BC Chiefs, said he wad boycotting the ceremony because it was a charade.

'With the deepening poverty of our communities, remembering the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and the ongoing negligence of indigenous child welfare policies across this country, in good conscience, I cannot participate in the Black Rod Ceremony,' Grand Chief Phillip said in a statement.

Turning heads: Kate looked stunning in her red dress and maple leaf brooch, paying homage yet again to the Canadian flag after the red and white patterned dress she wore on her first day in the country

Royal brooch: The Princess turned heads in a 1,000 Thornton Bregazzi dress with the royal family's diamond maple leaf brooch, given to the late Queen Mother by her husband, King George VI, to mark the state visit to Canada in 1939

Above board: William and Kate have met First Nations representatives on their tour but have avoided publicly discussing some social issues, including the high level of suicides among indigenous people

Ceremonial: Assisted by two Indian chiefs, William, 34, added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, a ceremonial staff of British Columbia's Legislature modelled on the one used in Parliament in London

Colonial link: Created in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the rod is adorned with three rings, representing the province, Canada, and the link to the UK

Leader: In a yellow leather jacket, Grand Chief Edward John of the Tl'atz'en helped hold the Black Rod as Chief Shane Gottfriedson handed William the ring

Shining bright: The Duchess of Cambridge's smile lit up the room during the colourful event in British Columbia

Kensington Palace officials declined to comment on the controversy,

William and Kate have met First Nations representatives on their tour but have avoided publicly discussing some social issues, including the high level of suicides among indigenous people.

In Britain the couple have launched a campaign to highlight the high rate of suicide among young men and to encourage preventative measures.

In Bella Bella earlier, the couple were given a rapturous reception by First Nations people.

William praised them for helping to save one of the worlds most important rainforests.

Yesterday, strolling side by side, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge explored the natural beauty of Canada's Great Bear Rainforest on day three of their royal tour.

After battling wind and rain early in the day, the royal couple enjoyed some dry weather for the walk through a wooded glade in the rainforest, which stretches some 250miles along the coastline of British Columbia.

Kate, 34, dressed down for yesterday's engagements in Zara jeans and what looked to be her trusted pair of Penelope Chilvers boots. She stayed warm and dry in a Holland & Holland safari jacket, believed to cost 400.

Earlier the couple were greeted warmly by the indigenous Heiltsuk people as they arrived on the remote island community of Bella Bella.

In a joyous ceremony, the royals were welcomed as 'hemas', a hereditary chief, and umaks, a woman of high rank or standing as they received a number of gifts from the First Nation hosts.

Afternoon stroll: The royal couple were joined by a guide as they explored the Great Bear Rainforest, where they unveiled unveiling a plaque

Ceremonial dress: Kate shakes hands with a flamboyantly dressed indigenous person as they put on a show for the royals

Showstopper: Kate looks fascinated by the performance as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watched the local children as part of the traditional welcome

Sharp shooter: A local man takes aim with the traditional bow as part of the impressive performance put on yesterday

Cheeky smile: Kate shows of her pearly whites in a wide smile as she meets one of the elders in Bella Bella yesterday

Thankful: The Prince, a vociferous environmental campaigner, yesterday thanked the people in the region for protecting one of the world's largest rainforests

When in Rome: The duchess was later seen sporting a traditional 'dancing vest', which she was gifted by the Hieltsuk people

Tender moment: Kate affectionately rests her hand on William's knee as the couple are welcomed by the Heiltsuk people

Battling the elements: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived on the remote Canadian island community on Monday

Baby shower: Draped in traditional First Nation blankets, Kate and William admire traditional vests they were given for George and Charlotte

William and Kate were shown one of the most precious items owned by the community, a royal staff with a silver crown head given to the present chiefs great-grandfather by Queen Victoria.

It was awarded to the Heiltsuk people as a sign of honour with, as folklore has it, a message saying: 'This is a mark of respect. If your people need anything then you must ask my government.'

In a ceremony that went on for an hour longer than planned, the couple were treated to traditional dancing by groups of brightly-dressed young children who clearly entranced the smiling duchess.

They also watched while a large group of women, revered in the Heiltsuk community as 'life givers', danced what was known as 'A ladies' welcome' to the sound of drums and chanting.

Then it was time for the gift giving.

Chief Marilyn Slett told them: 'On behalf our nation we welcome you and we thank you for being here as part of the healing that we are undertaking. As part of our....feasting system we would like to give our guests a gift.'

First the blankets and then the 'dancing vests' - worn by men, women and children during traditional celebrations - were placed over the couple' shoulders.

Walk on the wild side: William and Kate enjoyed a short stroll through a wooded glade in the Great Bear Rainforest near Bella Bella on Monday

Oar-some: After unveiling a plaque, the royal visitors were given canoe paddles to commemorate their royal tour to Canada

Look out below: The Duchess of Cambridge pauses to point out something to her husband as they explore the vast rainforest on Monday

Guided tour: Led by a local guide, the royal visitors are given a tour of the stunning Great Bear Rainforest in Canada

Canopes? The Duke and Duchess were led through the rainforest, and enjoyed some drier weather on the outing

'We use these blankets to wrap the spirits of our ancestors around you and to unite your spirits together with ours,' they were told.

'In our way our blankets encompass the sprites of our ancestors, our history and our culture, our stories of who we are and where we come from.'

The blankets were printed with the outline of a grizzly bear, trees to represent the forest that surrounds the Heiltsuk community and local flora and fauna.

'The design represents all life, not just animals but us as humans. There is no hierarchy in the importance of life, we are all dependent on one another,' Chief Slett said.

They were then handed miniature dancing vests for their children - one in white for Charlotte and another in black for George, and examined them delightedly.

William and Kate were also given a traditional doll by a woman carrying a baby for Charlotte.

The duchess looked delighted as she watched the performance by young schoolchildren from the community

The Duchess of Cambridge meets chiefs from the Heiltsuk First Nations community. Right, chiefs from the community

William and Kate spent time speaking with members of the local community as they received gifts in Bella Bella

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiled throughout the ceremony, which lasted an hour longer than expected

The blankets were printed with the outline of a grizzly bear, trees to represent the forest that surrounds the community

The couple were told 'the design represents all life, not just animals but us as humans'. Pictured, wearing the blankets

The royal couple, seen centre, listened to elders explain the significance of their gifts during the ceremony

William could be seen jokingly pretending to take the little child instead, which he then clucked affectionately under the chin.

They were also given a painted drum for George and urged them to bring him back to the community to learn 'how to free the spirits of the drum'.

The couple also sat listening to several speeches from senior members of the Heiltsuk community about the battle to protect and nurture their traditional lands.

'We face many threats to our way of life and the work of our ancestors. Wide ranging energy projects, super tankers in our pristine waters....are all things we fight today,' said Chief Slett.

She also praised William's late mother, Princess Diana, as a 'humanitarian and a world advocate'.

'She remains in our hearts,' she said, as Kate clapped.

Speaking earlier, one of the elders of the community, Edwin Newman, said he was keen to use the visit to impress on William and Kate the history of his people and 'how we connect with the land and connect with the ocean'.

He said: 'We farm the ocean, that is our living. We do have rights. All these restrictions that they are putting in place are an infringement on our rights. This is not just about bears, it is about the people here.

In a speech later, Prince William praised Canada's conservation efforts and said they would inspire other countries

William and Kate were gifted 'dancing vests' by their hosts, which they appeared to be wearing as they explored

Smiling with delight, Kate thanked her hosts at the ceremony before exploring the community with her husband

William and Kate leave the elders' lodge after attending a traditional welcome ceremony

'As long as the sun rises, as long as the trees grow, this land is under our stewardship and we will continue to protect it. It is under our stewardship.'

He said that Queen Victoria's staff, so proudly kept by the Heiltsuk people, represented her acknowledgement of their people's sovereignty.

And Prince George and Princess Charlotte were not forgotten, with presents of a small black dancing vest and doll for the little royals, who had stayed back in Victoria, the family base, with their nanny.

The couple were urged to return with their three-year-old son so that he could be taught 'how to release the spirit of the drum'.

They later enjoyed a short stroll through a wooded glade in the Great Bear Forest, as they made their way to plaque unveiling ceremony that formally marked the natural wonder becoming part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network.

Stretching over 250 miles along the central and north coast of British Columbia, the Great Bear Rainforest is the planet's largest intact temperate rainforest.

The duke and duchess clap during the ceremony at the 'big house' in the centre of the Hieltsuk community

Kate arrived in a safari inspired rain coat, left, which she took off to reveal a blue check shirt and jumper, right

William and Kate are greeted with a traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community in Bella Bella

The duchess opted for a more practical look, teaming the beige safari jacket with a pair of trusted mid-length boots

Chiefs from the Heiltsuk First Nations community welcome the royal visitors to Bella Bella, British Columbia

The royal couple were delighted by the performances of local children as part of the ceremony

Smiling as they sit side by side, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are welcomed by the Heiltsuk First Nations community

The couple also sat listening to several speeches from senior members of the Heiltsuk community

The royal couple were given a traditional welcome inside the community hall or 'big house' of the Heiltsuk nation

It is the only place in the world where you can see the Kermode - or Spirit - bear which is noted for its white fur, as well as well a whales, sea otters, dolphins and sea lions.

The Kermode bear is considered sacred by the T'simshian people. Other wildlife includes coastal grey wolves, grizzly bears, cougars and orcas.

The fords, glaciers, mountains and granite cliffs of the rainforest have been virtually untouched for thousands of years.

The royal couple followed a path along a new wooden walkway that led to a fast flowing river whose banks were covered with dead salmon that had returned to the waters to spawn.

The air had a strong stench of rotting fish and Kate pointed at the hundreds of seagulls bobbing up and down in the waters hoping for a fresher meal than the decomposing salmon.

And the plaque unveiling ceremony featured a first  a coat to keep the memorial dry, following a day torrential rain.

The Great Bear Rainforest was recently named as Canada's commitment to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QQC), a unique network of forest conversation initiatives involving all 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge battled the elements as they travelled to the remote island community of Bella Bella

Kate, 34, managed to see the funny side as she struggled to open an umbrella while stepping off the small private plane

William and Kate touched down in a private plane following an hour-long flight, and were met by driving wind and rain

In a speech later William said: 'The Commonwealth has at its heart always been about the values that bind its people...... When we protect our rivers, oceans, atmospheres, or like today,our forests, we are telling our children that their future prosperity cannot be disconnected from the health of the natural world.

'Her Majesty is immensely grateful to you, and the people of Canada, for the leadership you have shown in making this contribution. I have no doubt that other Commonwealth nations will be inspired by what you have achieved here.'

There was concern overnight that the couple's trip to the remote island community was in jeopardy due to the inclement conditions: high winds, choppy seas and heavy, driving rain.

But aides worked quickly to adapt their programme, cancelling a tour of the beautiful region by float plane and arranging for a boat to take them from the small airstrip to the jetty where they were welcomed by the First Nations people.

It is still a beautiful place in the rain and everyone is prepared to get wet, a spokesman for the couple said.
Vulnerable girls as young as 12 were given drugs and alcohol before being abused, raped and trafficked for sex by a violent Somali gang, a court has heard.

The alleged victims suffered degrading, violent and horrible sexual abuse in Bristol - with the men seeing of the girls as cheap and easy, it was claimed.

Some of the seven were pestered again and again for sex by the men - who were mostly older teenagers - and the rapes became routine, the jury heard.

Prosection: Seven Somali men went on trial at Bristol Crown Court (file picture) at the beginning of the month accused of a total of 46 charges, including rape and sexual assault

Anna Vigars, prosecuting, said some of the vulnerable girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, believed they were in relationships with the men.

Seven Somali men went on trial at Bristol Crown Court at the beginning of the month accused of a total of 46 charges, including rape, rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, trafficking for sexual exploitation and false imprisonment.

DEFENDANTS AND CHARGES Here is a list of the defendants in the case and the charges they face: Sakariya Sheikh , 23, aka 'Zak', faces a total of 19 charges against seven girls. They are eight of sexual assault, eight of rape, two of trafficking and one of aiding and abetting rape.

Abdirahman Galal , 26, aka 'Ramsey', faces three charges of rape against one girl.

Mohammed Osman , 26, aka 'I-Man', faces six charges of rape and one of sexual assault against two girls.

Mohammed Dahir , 24, aka 'Kamal', faces six charges of rape and a charge of aiding and abetting rape against two girls.

Nuridin Mohamoud , 22, aka 'Ahmed', is accused of one charge of false imprisonment and one charge of rape against one girl.

Abdirashid Abdulahi , 23, aka 'Abs' or 'Older Abs', is accused of four charges of rape against one girl.

Nasir Mahamoud , 23, aka 'Ace', is accused of four counts of rape against one girl. Advertisement

The defendants are: Sakariya Sheikh, 23, known as Zak; Abdirahman Galal, 26, known as Ramsey; Mohammed Osman, 29, known as I-Man; Mohammed Dahir, 24, known as Kamal; Nuridin Mohamoud, 22, known as Ahmed; Abdirashid Abdulahi, 23, known as Abs or Older Abs; and Nasir Mahamoud, 23, known as Ace.

A ban preventing the media from reporting the case until the alleged victims had finished giving their evidence was lifted yesterday following an application by the Press Association.

The jury has heard evidence that on one occasion in March 2013 a 15-year-old girl was allegedly simultaneously raped by Sheikh and another man at a flat in Bristol.

In another alleged incident a girl who had celebrated her 12th birthday a month earlier was raped by Galal, leaving her feeling dirty and regretful, the jury heard.

The court heard that the majority of the alleged offences happened between 2011 and 2012 against girls who had travelled to Bristol by train to meet the men.

Mrs Vigars told the court that the prosecution case was that the girls suffered sexual abuse, some of it violent, degrading and horrible, some of it less so.

The majority of the alleged offences had been committed against one girl who found all the attention and excitement she had been missing at home with the defendants in Bristol, the court heard.

She would come over to Bristol regularly and she would be raped repeatedly by men she knew. They knew her as someone who was easy and cheap Anna Vigars, prosecuting

Young men who gave her drugs and alcohol and who used her again and again for sex, pestering her sometimes by threats, sometimes going on and on, relentlessly grinding her down into submission and sometimes by using physical violence, she said.

You will hear the word rape many times over the next few weeks. Rape - it is perhaps every woman's worst nightmare.

It doesn't have to involve a knife in an alleyway or a stranger. It can almost come routine and that's what we say was happening to her.

She would come over to Bristol regularly and she would be raped repeatedly by men she knew. They knew her as someone who was easy and cheap.

She wasn't cheap and easy. She was vulnerable because she was so young.

The court heard that the girl kept a diary of her trips to Bristol, in which she left coded messages about what was happening in her life, with references to sex and sex acts.

It is clear the diary was kept as she was going along and was a record of what was going on day by day, Mrs Vigars said.

What it does give is a clear indication of how often she was expected to give oral sex or have sex with men when she came to Bristol.

There are other occasions which are so routine and part of her life and happening so often that she can't remember the detail.

How can anything like that come so routine that it didn't stand out? The reality is that these men exploited her vulnerability and her longing to be wanted, they had sex with her as much as they wanted to.

Many of them she didn't want to have sex with but she did so because that was what she was told to do and she went along because she was forced.

These men exploited her vulnerability and her longing to be wanted, they had sex with her as much as they wanted to Anna Vigars, prosecuting

Her relationships with certain men were about being in charge and using her for what they wanted.

They had no interest in whether she got anything out of it or what she wanted. They wanted sex and didn't consider whether she was consenting or not.

It was about power and control and exploitation of her vulnerability.

Some of the defendants deny knowing the girls they are accused of abusing or say they have been wrongly identified by a street name.

The defendants deny all the charges they face and the trial was adjourned until Thursday.

I was raped by six different men, teenage girl tells jury

A teenage girl has told the court how she was raped by six different Somali men.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Bristol Crown Court that she felt pressurised into having sex with the men and believed it was expected of her.

She alleged the incidents happened when she was aged 14 or 15 and took place during visits to Bristol in 2012 and 2013.

Her allegations form 32 of the 46 charges the defendants face on the indictment and include rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and trafficking with the UK for sexual exploitation.

They would keep on asking me and they would give me stuff like weed and shisha and alcohol and I felt I had to do it or they would eject me from the house Alleged victim, 14 or 15 at the time

The teenager told the jury that she would be given alcohol or drugs during visits to various homes in the Bristol area and then would be raped by the men.

Asked why she had sex with Mohammed Dahir, who is known as Kamal, the girl replied: Because I was at his house. It was expected of me.

They would keep on asking me and they would give me stuff like weed and shisha and alcohol and I felt I had to do it or they would eject me from the house.

Referring to another alleged rape by Dahir, the girl told the jury: I told him I didn't want to do it but he didn't seem to want to listen to me.

The girl also alleged she was raped by Sakariya Sheikh and another man and told the court: I just lied down and let it carry on and let them finish.

She told the jury she did not consider herself to be in relationship with any of the men she has accused of raping her.

A lot of the time they kept on asking me, they would keep on asking me, so in the end I gave in, she said.

A lot of the time it was expected of me by the person whose flat I was in or by my friend as, if I didn't, she would no longer get stuff off them like alcohol and weed.

Another girl described to the jury losing her virginity to Abdirahman Galal when she was aged 12 and he was 20.

The court heard that because the girl was under 13 she could not consent to sex in law and therefore it would be rape.

The girl, who is now 17, told Bristol Crown Court she got into bed with Galal, who is known as Ramsey, after smoking cannabis for the first time.

He was telling me things, saying I was beautiful and asking how old I was and telling me things a boyfriend would. There was quite a lot of physical contact, she said.

He was telling me things, saying I was beautiful and asking how old I was and telling me things a boyfriend would. There was quite a lot of physical contact Another alleged victim, 12 at the time

I was quite scared at the time as I had never done anything like this in my life and I just thought that's what happens when you mix with older lads.

I just let it happen. It was painful. I don't remember saying anything like 'come on then' but I don't think I said anything. I can't remember...

I pulled away after a few minutes of him doing it because it was too painful.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, added: I felt I had been taken advantage of and I felt disgusting.

Why had Ramsey had this charming effect on me? I didn't feel like I didn't want to see him. He had quite an effect on me, although at the same time I felt horrible for doing it.

The girl alleged a few weeks later she had sex again with Galal.

It was very similar again as to what happened the first time, she said.

I think the first time, no matter what I thought, we were going to have sex so I thought I wanted to get things over and done again. There was no pleasure in it. I was just hoping he would hurry up and finish.

The next day she had to get the morning after pill from a chemist, the court heard.

She also alleged she was sexually assaulted in a Bristol nightclub during an under-18s night by Sheikh, who is known as Zak.

During cross-examination the girl agreed she would wear make-up and tried to act and look older than she was.

But she denied she was lying about the incident with Sheikh in the nightclub, as he says he had never been there.

Three other girls have alleged they were sexually assaulted by Sheikh and described the attacks to the jury.
A real estate agent accused of purchasing the property of two elderly clients at a bargain price before flipping it within a few months for more than $600,000 has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges.

Aaron Hughes appeared at Auckland District Court in New Zealand's North Island on Tuesday morning to face a charge of causing loss by deception, reported NZ Herald.

Hughes is accused of purchasing the rundown house Mt Wellington, Auckland, last year for $530,000 ($470,000 AUD) in a private sale.

Less than four months after the private sale, without any work to the property, the house sold for $1.255 million ($1.1 million AUD) - a profit of $725,000 ($640,000 AUD).

Aaron Hughes allegedly made $640,000 from the sale of this house less than four months after allegedly buying it from two pensioners

The property was purchased for about $100,000 ($89,000 AUD) less than the council valuation, property records showed, a number that was allegedly not passed on to the previous owners.

The former homeowners Jack and Walter Tata - brothers in their 70s - were reportedly amazed to hear their house sold for that price and as a result sought legal advice.

Hughes was sacked for a breach of standards by his employer Barfoot & Thompson and charges were laid by New Zealand's Real Estate Agents Authority [REAA].

The transactions for the home which were made through Az-Iz Rentals, lists Aaron John Hughes as its sole director. It has now been removed from New Zealand's Companies Office register.

Barfoot & Thompson was not involved in the sale and has condemned the actions of its former employee.

Aaron Hughes is facing criminal charges after an investigation was launched by New Zealand's Real Estate Agents Authority

The former homeowners Jack and Walter Tata sought legal advice after being advised of the sale

Hughes is expected court appearance in December will see him also facing charges for another property purchased in Mangere Bridge, Auckland.

On August 13 last year, Hughes allegedly received a property evaluation listing the value of the home for at least $720,000.

But he failed to pass the information onto the vendor, court documents state.

The property was then purchased in a private sale in October for $590,000 by Hughes' company Kora Rentals Ltd.

A third charge alleges Hughes attempted to sell three properties through Trade Me despite having voluntarily suspended his licence.

If found guilty Hughes can spend time behind bars.

Mr Hughes allegedly bought the Mt Wellington house last year for $530,000 ($470,000 AUD), about $100,000 ($89,000 AUD) less than its council valuation
Police investigating the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham 25 years ago have found pieces of light-coloured fabric during a search of an olive grove close to where he went missing.

The items will now be sent off for forensic testing.

Ben, who went missing in July 1991, was wearing a white buttoned T-shirt with a green motif and brown leather sanders with a buckle when he vanished.

He was not wearing any shorts as he had wet them earlier in the day and his grandmother had hung them on a tree to dry.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, who is leading the new search, said the pieces of fabric - one of which was six inches square - were of 'slight interest'.

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Ben Needham's furious mother, Kerry Needham (left) has told of her anger after it took 25 years for a mystery witness to come forward with information about her missing son (right)

Police investigating the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham 25 years ago have found pieces of light-coloured fabric during a search of an olive grove close to where he went missing

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, who is leading the new search, said the pieces of fabric were of 'slight interest'

Yesterday, on the first day of the search in Kos, police found dozens of fragments of bone

'They are light coloured. Ben was wearing a white T-shirt. We are also looking for buttons and buckles,' he said.

Yesterday, on the first day of the search in Kos, police found dozens of fragments of bone.

But Mr Cousins said they had all now been identified as animal bone.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police have launched a fresh bid to discover what happened to the little boy after a new witness came forward earlier this year to say he may have been run over by a digger and buried in the olive grove, close to a farmhouse where Ben was playing.

Speaking from the scene on the second day of the search, Mr Cousins said: 'Today, we have hit the ground running. Yesterday was a day of planning, organising and preparation.

'What I am pleased to say is the depth we need to go down to is a little bit less than we thought, it is about 30 to 40cm which is hopefully going to speed up the process.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police have launched a fresh bid to discover what happened to the little boy

A new witness came forward earlier this year to say he may have been run over by a digger and buried in the olive grove, close to a farmhouse where Ben was playing

Investigation: Special forensics police officers search the field on Kos this morning

Searches of the site, around two miles east of the Greek island's historic town centre, are expected to last for at least a week

'We found as expected, a vast number of bones yesterday.

'Each one was tested immediately and every single one was discounted as being an animal bone.

'There are some other items of slight interest which were found yesterday, the odd bit of fabric, that is being examined and looked at.

'That is going to take a bit of time to do.'

He said the items had been forensically collected and photographed.

'Those images have been sent back to the UK to be looked at. They are pieces of fabric and clearly we want to make sure, do they relate to any of the items that Ben may have been wearing. '

Searches of the site, around two miles east of the Greek island's historic town centre, are expected to last for at least a week.

Police launched a fresh bid to discover what happened to the 21-month-old after a new witness came forward to claim he may have been run over by a digger and buried.

This was the scene this morning as police started an examination of the site close in Kos

A police officer holding a plastic evidence bag kneels down to pick up an item from the ground

A police officer could be seen taking pictures of the ground as teams of investigators worked at the site

Acting on this information, a team of officers from South Yorkshire Police travelled to the Greek holiday island of Kos to begin the search yesterday.

A digger could be seen moving piles of dirt to an adjacent field where officers and local volunteers began the painstaking task of sifting through the dusty earth for fragments of bone.

The site has been searched before, when officers took cadaver dogs on to the land in 2012.

The new search will involve digging deeper and will focus on one area following information from the witness, who came forward following a TV appeal in Greece four months ago.

Ben was 21 months old when he went missing from a farmhouse which once sat on the site in July 1991. His mother Kerry, who had moved to the Greek island from Sheffield, always believed he was abducted.

Then, earlier this month, the claims emerged that Ben could have been killed.

The witness alleged digger driver Konstantinos Barkas, who was working at the farmhouse, killed Ben.

Barkas died last year aged 62. His family have denied he had anything to do with the boy's death and he was interviewed by police after Ben disappeared.

British officers and members of the Greek rescue team search land on the south eastern Greek island of Kos this morning

Police are search teams started their excavation this morning in a dusty olive grove in Kos

The dig comes after a witness came forward to suggest Ben may have been crushed to death by a digger near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating at the time of the youngster's disappearance

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 reportedly told police following a television appeal in May

But his friend reportedly saw the driver  known as Dino  'sweating and shaking' after returning from the police station. Barkas allegedly told the friend 'it's possible' there could have been a tragic accident.

Yesterday, the search team focused on the top left hand corner of the land, leading to speculation officers had received very specific information about the whereabouts of any evidence.

But the detective in charge of the hunt said it was too early to say if the bone fragments are linked to Ben because the land has been used for grazing animals for centuries.

Detectives are said to have carried out initial inquiries at the site, with experts testing soil and surveying the area with drones

Investigators on the Greek island where the 21-month-old vanished in 1991 have told Kerry Needham to 'prepare for the worst' as excavation work begins in Kos in the search for possible remains. This was the scene this morning ahead of the dig

DI Cousins said: 'I have every reason to believe that the matters he [the witness] discussed are of great significance.

'The search in 2012 was based on information known at the time ... the new information that has come forward  all of that put together  gives me a very strong reason to be here for the next week or so.'

He added: 'I can't say exactly how many bone fragments we've collected today but it's quite a lot.'

A team of officers scour the ground for clues as they start the excavation process this morning

Ben's sister said her family was 'preparing for the worst' as police today begin a painstaking search of an olive grove close to where the toddler went missing

The detective said during the 2012 dig they discovered 481 bone fragments. A police spokesman said they were finding bones on the former farmland yesterday 'every moment'.

Asked if he expected to find answers, Mr Cousins said he was 'optimistic about the search taking place', raising the prospect that Ben's mother may finally learn what happened to her son.

Miss Needham is understood to be at a secret location close to Kos, where she is being updated by police. After years spent campaigning for fresh searches for her son, she is said to be in a 'highly emotional state' and is angry the witness took so long to come forward.

TIMELINE: A 25-YEAR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH Here is a timeline of events charting the disappearance of Sheffield toddler Ben Needham on the Greek island of Kos 25 years ago. July 24 1991: Ben Needham vanishes while playing near the grounds of a farmhouse in the Iraklis region of Kos, which his family are renovating. His mother, Kerry Needham, and grandparents raise the alarm with local police and conduct a full search of the area. July 26 1991: Eyewitness reports claim a boy matching Ben's description was found at the local airport on the day he disappeared. That boy has never been traced. September 1991: The Needham family return to England due to illness but vow to continue the search. June 2003: The Metropolitan Police issue an image of what Ben might look like at age 12 - 14 years old. 2004: An anonymous businessman offers a reward of 500,000 for information leading to Ben's safe return. October 2010: Another public appeal is made by Ben's mother in the run-up to what would be his 21st birthday. May 2011: The BBC airs a programme called Missing 2011, which includes a piece on Ben's story and the campaign to find him. September 2011: Greek police on Kos officially re-open the case and grant the family a face-to-face meeting with the island's prosecutor. October 2012: South Yorkshire Police in Kos begin digging up mounds around the property where Ben went missing to look for his remains. December 2013: Ben's mother accuses then-Prime Minister David Cameron of not giving her case the same backing as he gave the parents of Madeline McCann. It comes as a dossier is produced containing reports from eight witnesses, none of who know each other, who all saw a boy possibly matching Ben's description with the same Greek family. December 2014: Lawyers representing Ben's family say they may take legal action to try to force the Government to make a decision about funding a new police investigation. January 2015: The Home Office agrees to fund a team of British detectives to help search for the toddler. March/April 2015: Three generations of Ben Needham's family travel to Greece to follow up a 'strong' lead that a man living there believes he may be the missing Brit due to having no photographs of himself under the age of two and no knowledge of where he was born. The man is later ruled out. May 2015: Ben's family make a fresh appeal on Greek television for information regarding the disappearance. May 2016: The Sun newspaper publishes a report that members of the police operation go on an 'eight-hour booze-up' in Kos during the latest stage of the investigation. September 2016: Ben's family are told to 'prepare for the worst' by detectives leading the investigation, amid the belief the 21-month-old was crushed to death by a digger - the driver of which died in 2015. It comes as police arrive in Kos to begin excavation work in the belief the boy's remains may be buried near the farmhouse The excavation, at what is now an olive grove, is expected to take up to 12 days, police say Digging began after a fresh line of inquiry suggested 21-month-old Ben may have been crushed to death by a digger near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating Advertisement

She told the Daily Mirror: 'Not even in my worst nightmares has Ben ever been dead... until now.

'I've been waking up and finding my pillow wet with tears.

'This witness told police we deserve the truth  but we deserved the truth 25 years ago. I feel like he's only come forward because Dino is now dead.

'How can you hold on to such a secret as serious as that and for all those years?'

Examination: Ben was 21 months old when he disappeared on 24 July 1991 during a family holiday

Ms Needham (pictured) said she was 'angry' when police told her about the tip-off and she now lives in fear that each day will bring the 'worst news possible'

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins is among the British officers at the scene in Kos, Greece

A new witness has claimed that 'Dino Barkas (pictured), who died of cancer last year, may have killed him in an accident with his JCB digger
A whistleblower of sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community is suing his brother over a Facebook post alleging his brother and his parents hosted a paedophile in their home.

Manny Waks, who ousted the abuse which occurred in the Yeshiva Centre in Melbourne, decided to take legal action and sue Avrahem Yemini for defamation over the public accusation on social media.

Mr Waks and his parents are accused of willingly providing a roof for convicted New York Rabbi, Moshe Keller, reported The Age.

A whistleblower of sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community Manny Waks (right) is suing his brother Avrahem Yemini (left) for defamation over a Facebook post alleging his brother and his parents hosted a paedophile in their home

Mr Yemini has reportedly refused to remove the post implicating his family which he uploaded on Facebook on September 15, 2015. It says:

'Moshe Keller, a notorious, convicted child sex offender is currently staying at the Waks family home which is located literally meters (sic) from a school frequented by hundreds of children. Ironically, it is the very same school that Zephaniah (and Manny) Waks have been attacking relentlessly for years now in a so called bid to 'protect the children' who attend there....'

The rest of the post has not been published by the Daily Mail.

Mr Yemini changed his surname after being excluded from his family for marrying a woman not accepted by his family.

Rabbi Keller was convicted after a court heard he inappropriately touched a 15-year-old boy but was not jailed due to limitations in the law.

When he arrived in Australia in September last year, Yeshivah Beth Rivkah Colleges sent a notice to parents.

Avrahem Yemini posted a message to Facebook alleging his family had knowingly hosted New York rabbi Moshe Keller in their family home. Rabbi Keller was convicted after a court heard he inappropriately touched a 15-year-old boy but was not jailed due to limitations in the law

'It was brought to our attention that an individual, from Brooklyn New York, who was previously charged with child related crimes, is visiting Melbourne and is staying in close proximity to the school campus,' the notice said.

'We have been in contact with Victoria Police and consulted with the relevant authorities and the individual is completely excluded from any access to the Yeshivah Centre in its entirety, at all times.

'The individual has agreed to these conditions. We understand he is in Melbourne for a short visit only.'

In a blog post Manny Waks wrote that his parents had unknowingly sold their house to Rabbi Keller's daughter and her family and let them stay with them for a few months until the settlement was finalised.

'By way of background, over Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) I became aware that, as fate would have it, a convicted paedophile was staying at my parents' home,' Mr Waks wrote.

Mr Waks said when he found out about Rabbi Keller he had notified the Yeshivah Interim Committee of Management the same day his parents told Rabbi Keller's daughter that he could no longer stay at the house.
Australia is losing up to $1 billion in uncollected tax from Chinese personal shoppers who ship baby formula, vitamins and Weetbix to middle class buyers back home.

About 40,000 of the 'daigou' in Australia make between $40,000 and $100,000 annually - and most of that income would be undeclared, said director of ThinkChina Benjamin Sun.

That equates to up to $1 billion in missing tax revenue, Paul Drum, head of policy at accounting body CPA Australia told Reuters.

Australia is losing up to $1 billion in uncollected tax from Chinese personal shoppers who ship baby formula, vitamins and products to families in their home country

Stores have sprouted up across Sydney for the shoppers, 'daigou', to ship direct to China

Mr Sun told Daily Mail Australia new startups or entrepreneurs in general 'have limited knowledge of how Australia's tax system works'.

'Daigou, who are mostly consist of recent young migrants and international students, have even less guidance or professional advice on Australian taxation,' he said.

'There needs to be greater education around Australian taxation for new migrants and migrant entrepreneurs.'

Daigou income should be declared in Australia, where the business is conducted. But because transactions mostly occur in offshore bank accounts, they are difficult to track by Australian authorities.

A box of items are pictured sitting in the corner of a Kingsford store waiting to be shipped to China

About 40,000 of the 'daigou' shoppers in Australia make between $40,000 and $100,000 annually - and most of that income would be undeclared, said director of ThinkChina Benjamin Sun

'The fact the fund flows might be going through a foreign bank account and never come into Australia doesn't alleviate the requirement to declare the income as taxable,' Peter Janetzki, a partner in Ernst & Young's international tax services, told Reuters.

A spokesperson for the Australian Tax Office told Daily Mail Australia the treatment of individuals will depend on their facts and circumstances.

'The tax treatment of amounts received by the individuals engaging in these types of activities in Australia is dependent on a number of factors; including whether the person earning the income is a resident of Australia for tax purposes and whether the activities amount to carrying on a business or undertaking a profit making activity,' the spokesperson said.

'The ATO has an active focus on individuals operating in the cash and hidden economy to ensure fairness for all businesses and the community.

'We look into industry-wide patterns, such as the usual expenses and earnings, to help us identify those who are deliberately avoiding their obligations.

Shelves in the stores in Kingsford, Marrickville, Burwood, Ashfield and Regents Park are lined with certified Australian-made items

Paul Drum, head of policy at accounting body CPA Australia, estimated there was up to $1 billion in missing tax revenue

'We also provide a range of education and assistance to help those at risk of participating in the cash and hidden economy understand and meet their obligations.'

Daigou and prospective customers trade on popular Chinese messaging app WeChat.

The personal shoppers typically charge about 50 per cent mark-up on the Australian sticker price.

While there are similar concerns about international online stores like eBay, tracking daigou transactions has reportedly proven even more difficult for the Australian Tax Office.

The estimated figures on potential missing tax revenue follows a government crackdown on corporations including Google and miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto who've avoided paying tax through loopholes.

Small stores littered across Sydney are shipping up to 100 boxes to Chinese customers a day, bypassing local customs regulations.

Baby formula are pictured stacked at the entrance of a Sydney store which specialises in providing for daigou

A shopkeeper named Sylvia from Nature Healthy, in Kingsford, told Daily Mail Australia baby formula and health products for children and the elderly were the most popular.

'For their safety, parents prefer to choose foreign milk,' Sylvia told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month.

She said customers in China fear they can not trust local products and are willing to pay double for Australian baby formula.

Shelves in the stores in Kingsford, Marrickville, Burwood, Ashfield and Regents Park are lined with certified Australian-made items.
Chickens with black skin and bones are in high demand within the Chinese community because they believe the bird prevents them from getting grey hair.

Silkie Bantams - a rare fragile chicken with delicate feathers that needs constant warmth to grow - are often featured in Australian poultry shows.

Victorian poultry farmer Steven Brickell told ABC they are struggling to keep up with the 'insatiable demand' among Chinese Australians.

The chickens are usually kept intact when they are slaughtered, with their heads and feet still on, and placed in a soup, he said.

Silkie Bantams (pictured) are a rare chicken with delicate feathers, black skin and bones

The rare and fragile chickens have delicate feathers that needs constant warmth to grow

'One serving of soup each week stops their hair going hair going grey; it keeps their hair black,' Mr Brickell said.

The farmer said he is looking to expand his operation to accommodate 1,000 Silkie Bantams on the market in Hindmarsh Shire.

'I get very tired sometimes of people asking: "Have you got more birds, have you got more birds?",' he said.

'How many Chinese people are there in Australia and how many will there be in a year's time? The numbers are growing all the time.'

Mr Brickell said his application to expand has been deferred twice by his local council, which is why the popular bird is such a niche market.

The birds are in 'insatiable demand' on the market among Chinese Australians, a farmer said

Not only are the birds beneficial for keeping people's hair black, the poultry is popular across menus as well, a Victorian chef said

Victorian poultry farmer Steven Brickell said he is looking to expand his operation to accommodate 1,000 Silkie Bantams in Hindmarsh Shire (stock image)

And not only are the birds beneficial for keeping people's hair black, the poultry is popular across menus as well.

Dragon Inn head chef Sung Chung Wen said the birds cooked in soup are often catered for women after giving birth and people who have had surgery.
A former teacher at the state school attended by David Camerons daughter has been jailed for having a sexual relationship with one of his teenage pupils.

Christopher Stephenson, 32, admitted having a series of drunken romps with the girl, who was aged between aged 16 and 17, when he worked at Grey Coat Hospital.

He allowed the girl to stay overnight at his London house and took a topless photo of her on his phone while she was sleeping - which he later deleted.

David and Samantha Cameron decided to send their daughter Nancy, 11, to the Westminster comprehensive school last September.

Christopher Stephenson, 32, (pictured) admitted having a series of drunken romps with a teenage pupil when he was a maths teacher at Grey Coat Hospital school in Westminster

Stephenson was jailed for 20 months on Monday over the offending - which took place between July 2007 and January 2009 when he was aged 23 and 24.

Southwark Crown Court heard Stephenson started messaging the victim after she 'poked' him on Facebook while he was working as a teacher at the all-girls school.

He lavished the 'trusting teenager' with praise and compliments and the relationship developed sexually, the court heard.

On one occasion he took the girl to Camden and plied her with booze before taking her back to his house and sexually assaulting her.

He allowed the Grey Coat Hospital pupil to stay overnight at his house and took a topless photo of her on his phone while she was sleeping - which he later deleted

The pair performed sex acts on each other when she was aged between 16 and 17.

He talked her into sleeping topless in his bed, then took a picture of her on his phone when she was asleep, the court heard.

Gregor McKinley, prosecuting, said: 'On another occasion she said she was persuaded to sleep in is bed without a top on.

'She was awoken by him taking a photo of her which she had not consented to..'

He took her on a trip to Brighton but the relationship never progressed to full sex, Mr McKinley said.

At one point the victim's father approached Stephenson, but he assured him their relationship was platonic.

The affair continued after the girl had turned 18 but 'fizzled out' in early 2009 when Stephenson left to take up a position at another school.

He was later nominated for local teacher of the year at Fulford School in York.

Judge Alistair McCreath described the case as 'grooming', adding: 'It is an adult is talking to a child through electronic media that is flirtatious and sexual.

'This follow lengthy electronic communication that has at the end of it a sexual relationship. If that is not grooming what is it.'

David and Samantha Cameron (pictured) decided to send their daughter Nancy, 11, to the Westminster comprehensive school last September

The allegations first came to light in 2011 and Stephenson was questioned about them by police, but the victim refused to press charges.

She went to the police in June last year and the teacher was arrested.

The judge read out the victim's impact statement which revealed she had suffered from depression and anxiety.

'Being rather a trusting teenager. She went through stages in her life of destructive and reckless behaviour,' the judge said.

'She says she has suffered from depression and anxiety. But she says she has improved.'

Kevin Blount QC, in mitigation, argued that it was Stephenson's first job and he was naive to the rules relationships with students over the age of 16.

But the judge said: 'If anybody had it fresh in there mind teachers should keep their hands off pupils it must be a newly qualified teacher above all others.

He added: 'The we all know that you can't have any sexual activity with a child under 16 years old. We all know that.

'The difficult bit is when they are over 16 and when they are at your school. If they are in your school, 18 years old is the age, not 16. It's not rocket science, is it?'

Mr Blount QC told the court there had been no repeat offending since he moved to other schools.

He said Stephenson's life had been 'left in tatters' following his 'mistake'.

'His life is in tatters at a relatively young age because of a mistake he made when he was 23 and 24,' Mr Blount said.

He also revealed Stephenson was planning to get married to his fiancee just before he pleaded guilty last month, but cancelled the ceremony.

Mr Blount QC asked the sentence be to suspended, but the Judge said: 'I'm afraid I cannot suspend this sentence. Given the nature of this activity and the repetition of it, it is impossible for me to so do.
A wash of hilarious memes have flooded social media after Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled it out during the first presidential debate on Monday night.

Clinton called Trump a racist and a sexist during the exchange at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York, six weeks before Election Day.

The Democratic candidate even got in on the fun herself - posting a gif that showed her smiling while Trump raged.

But others despaired at the fact that while the debate may have been entertaining to watch, Americans now seriously have to choose one of the two 'flawed' candidates to become President.

One meme referenced the controversy Hillary Clinton sparked when she said half of Trump's supporters were 'deplorables'

A popular meme involved the famous picture of Michael Jordan crying overlaid onto a map of the United States, highlighting the despair of many around the country

The Democratic candidate even got in on the fun herself - posting a gif that showed her smiling while Trump raged

'Now I know why the deplorables call me Killary - because I just killed Trump tonight,' one meme, showing Clinton in a dark pair of sunglasses, joked.

Clinton sparked controversy earlier this month when she branded 'half' of Trump's supporters 'deplorables', meaning people who are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic.

Many of the memes insinuated that Clinton smashed Trump in the debate, with one including a surly looking picture of the Republican candidate and the quote: 'The face you make when you're a bully and just got beat up by a girl.'

'When you laughing at Hillary and Donald arguing on debate night but then you remember that one of these two is our next president, one meme joked.

Trump also stole the social media spotlight for what Twitter users branded a #Trumpsniffle.

Much of the social media sentiment implied Clinton had beaten Trump during the fierce debate

A meme showed comedian Steve Harvey laughing and then looking anxious, alongside the quote 'then you remember that one of these two is our next president'

A mock of a phone conversation showed Clinton calling up Obama in glee

'I didn't watch the debate, doesn't matter we're screwed either way,' one social media user said as he posted this meme

The wealthy businessman was seen and heard sniffling repeatedly as he faced off his against Democratic rival in their first debate, giving rise to the hashtag.

The Twittersphere was abuzz with playful memes and animations as viewers tried to figure out what was causing Trump's nose to run. Parody accounts Donald's Sinuses (@TrumpsSinuses) and Trump sniff (@TrumpSniff) instantly gained a large following.

A campaign aide said Trump, 70, did not have a cold.

Debate viewers mocked how Clinton and Trump don't seem to be able to agree on a single thing

A social media user from Portland, Oregon, said they were 'slightly amused with a touch of high blood pressure' after watching the debate

Lawrence Police for joked that 'being mad at a presidential candidate in a debate is NOT a reason to call 911'

The internal monologue of both candidates could have played out like this, according to one social media user

House of Cards actor Rachel Brosnahan posted this gif of a tense Kermit the frog bitting his hand

Kevin Wood tweeted a gif of Macaulay Culkin splashing some cash in a jibe at Clinton

One Twitter user asked Trump to probe Clinton on when she'll start 'respecting the law'

Several tweeters seized on the sniffling to hit back at Trump over his repeated digs at the health and stamina of Clinton, 68, who had pneumonia earlier this month.

I am worried about @realDonaldTrump's health - are the sniffles symptoms of something more serious? #sniff #debatenight, tweeted user Scott Charton.

Making fun of the fact the presidential candidates cannot agree on anything, one meme joked: 'Hillary: Don... Trump: WRONG. Hillary: I believ... Trump: WRONG. Hillary: The sky is blue. Trump: WRONG.'

Another said the internal monologue running through each candidate's head probably went something like this: Hillary: 'Don't cough, don't cough.' Trump: 'Don't racist, don't racist.'

Meanwhile, former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders tugged at social media users' heartstrings as he shared a photo of himself watching the debate on television.

Trump also stole the social media spotlight for what Twitter users branded a #Trumpsniffle

Several tweeters seized on the sniffling to hit back at Trump over his repeated digs at the health and stamina of Clinton, 68, who had pneumonia earlier this month

A campaign aide said Trump, 70, did not have a cold as internet users mocked the presidential candidate

Lauren MacQueen posted an image from the hit Netflix show Narcos saying 'that one time a rich lunatic thought he would be President'

He urged his followers to tune into the debate as he launched a blistering take down of Trump - instead he was met with lots of responses from people feeling sorry for him.

'Bernie Sanders watching our country fall apart is the saddest thing of 2016,' one Twitter user said. Another wrote: 'That picture of Bernie Sanders watching the debate from his TV makes me so sad.'

Some users pointed out how much President Barack Obama must have been enjoying the debate.

'Debate night, making Barry O look real good right now and he knows it,' one said.

One meme shows Obama on the phone in the White House asking: 'Yo, ya'll watching this s***?'

Former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders tweeted this photo of himself watching the debate

Twitter users reacted to Bernie Sanders tweet with sympathy saying it was the 'saddest thing of 2016'

One meme compared Sanders watching the debate on TV with a scene from SpongeBob Square Pants

Twitter user Martijn Hilton shared a meme of Clinton with complicated mathematical equations and Trump with a women's swimsuit and a frog

One picture showed Barack Obama on the phone and imagined him saying 'Yo, ya'll watching this s***'

'I don't have to spend money to make Donald Trump look Dumb,' one meme said in reference to one of the arguments during the debate

Social media users said the debate made Barack Obama look 'real good'

Sentiment appeared to go Clinton's way, analytics firm Zoomph said for every negative mention, there were 1.5 positive mentions of Clinton

Twitter said the debate was the most tweeted-about political moment in the social media company's history.

Trump was the focus of 62 percent of the conversation on the social media platform, Twitter said.

On Facebook, conversations about Trump made up 79 percent of debate chatter, while Clinton's share of the conversation was 21 percent.

Even so, sentiment appeared to go Clinton's way. Social media analytics firm Zoomph said tweets mentioning Clinton ended at a ratio of about 1.5 to 1, which meant that for every negative mention, there were 1.5 positive mentions, Zoomph said.

Sentiment toward Trump fluctuated, but ended nearly flat at a ratio of one positive mention to every negative one.

The most tweeted-about topics were the economy, foreign affairs, energy and environment, terrorism and guns.

'It's like watching your grandparents argue over the best way to get to Uncle Matt's house,' one social media user joked about the stand off between Clinton and Trump
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A photographer who ventured to a remote part of Burma has captured amazing images of elderly women with elaborate facial tattoos - traces of a culture which is fast dying out.

Facial tattoos in the West are associated with a younger generation hooked on extreme body modification, but among the Chin tribe of Myanmar it is only the older women who have their faces inked.

Up until the 1960s it was traditions for girls from the age of 10 to have their faces tattooed before marriage as it was seen as a sign of beauty.

Up until the 1960s young women among the Chin people of western Myanmar had their faces tattooed, which was seen as a sign of beauty

But younger generations were reluctant to adopt the custom for fear of heavy fines imposed by the ruling military junta, who were keen to play down ethnic differences between the Burmese majority and tribes like the Chin, Karen and Kachin.

Burma's facial tattooing tradition is at risk of dying out and these women are almost walking museums.

Ukrainian photographer Dmytro Gilitukha visited the villages of Kyee Chaung and Pan Paung to capture this extraordinary culture before it completely fades away.

The Burmese military junta imposed harsh fines for having the tattoos, so the tradition rapidly died out among the Chin

The 29-year-old said: 'The tattooed women are an indispensable part of Burmese culture.'

The tattoos, which are created using thorn needles and an ink made from a mixture of cow bile, soot, plants and pig fat, are also a sign of bravery - particularly those etched on the neck, which are the most painful of all.

In the past, women who tried to avoid being tattooed found themselves thrown into the family pig pen where they stayed until they changed their minds and submitted to the procedure.

Mya Oo, 67 (pictured) is one of a diminishing number of Chin women who still carry the traditional inkings on her face

The brutal military junta that dominated the country until 2011 declared the tattoos illegal and imposing harsh fines on anyone to break the rules.

Although the country is currently undergoing a political renewal, with long-time dissident Aung San Suu Kyi finally becoming President in April this year, the law which imposed the fines has not yet been repealed.

Other tribal customs, such as changing a woman's name when she becomes a mother, remain intact, as does a continuing belief in the power of the village shaman and his totems.

Ironically in the West facial tattoos and stretched earlobes are the preserve of young people but in Chin culture they are dying out

Mr Gilitukha said: 'Women were typically tattooed from the age of 10 until marriage but in the 1960s the tradition was banned by the Burmese authorities.'

He said: 'Now all the tattooed women are old and this integral part of the Chin culture will be gone forever.

'I feel so lucky to have been exposed to such an interesting culture before it dies out - it's something I've never seen before.

Aung Sein, 73, lives in Kyee Chaung village. She was tattooed as a teenage girl, before she got married

'As a European man it is an incredibly unusual sight to behold but beautiful in its own right because it is so fascinating.'

Although they became a symbol of beauty in Chin culture, legend has it the facial tattoos were once used to invoke fear.

The story goes that an ancient king saw the beauty of the Chin women and made them his slaves, using the tattoos as a sign of ownership and to repel outsiders.

Most of the tattooed women have spider's web designs and the old joke goes that they used to 'attract the men like a spider's web catches insects'

Mr Gilitukha said: 'If you believe the stories, the Chin women have spent generations suffering for their beauty.

'Nowadays women are moving on from the old ways and don't see why they should make such a painful symbol of beauty on their faces.

'But there is also a theory that the facial marking were used to differentiate tribes from each other which has also become less necessary with time.'
Parents have been left furious after a council revealed its binmen would only collect dirty nappies if they showed their childrens birth certificates.

Anglesey Council says that because most children are potty trained between ages of two and three, people should prove their childs age to receive the service.

But families claim the changes do not consider different child development rates or take account of some disabled children requiring nappies for longer.

Fears: Ian Cheney, pictured with his partner Heather Totty and their daughter Olivia, said he has 'no hope of being able to cope for three weeks' under the changed collection service

The nappy collection every fortnight will only be for families with children up to three years old, according to the North Wales Daily Post.

Everyone else must put them in their normal household waste which is collected once every three weeks, on what is the fifth largest island surrounding Britain.

Steph Roberts, a mother from Gwalchmai, told the newspaper: I think its disgraceful that theyve placed an age limit on the service.

I have a three year old whos currently being potty trained, and I know Im not the only one in the same situation.

Waste collections: Anglesey Council says that because most children are potty trained between ages of two and three, people should prove their childs age to receive the service

Another family with a disabled daughter aged five were allegedly told to ask health officials for help after learning that there were no exceptions to the rule.

Ian Cheney, whose daughter Olivia has Downs syndrome, said: I automatically assumed that Livy would be eligible for the council service because of her disability.

At the moment, with fortnightly collections, its a struggle but we usually make it. But we have no hope of being able to cope for three weeks.

A council spokesman said: Evidence collated by our waste management team suggests that most children are potty trained between the ages of two and three.

It has therefore been agreed to offer this service up until a childs third birthday.

Concern: Families claim the changes on Anglesey (pictured) do not consider different child development rates or take account of some disabled children requiring nappies for longer

Requesting a copy of a childs birth certificate will allow us to monitor the number of children benefiting from the service and their respective ages.'

The council insisted the service will only be provided to the child's home address and does not cover any nursery, creche or child-minding service they may attend.

The spokesman added: There is another service which is readily available for individuals who are unwell or have medical needs.'

This is called the 'offensive non-infectious household waste collection' and is available on request from healthcare providers with an application form.

The council has organised drop-in sessions to explain the changes at a local leisure centre this afternoon and at a library tomorrow.

And a spokesman added to MailOnline today: 'Numerous concerns have been raised in respect of our nappy collection policy; specifically with reference to birth certificate requirements and age of children eligible for the service.
Twana Jamal, 36, (pictured in court in Dunkirk) was busted after fed-up migrants turned on him and tipped off the authorities about his illegal cross-Channel operation

An Iraqi crime lord dubbed the 'Godfather of traffickers' and king of the Calais Jungle made 364,500 a month smuggling migrants into Britain from France.

Twana Jamal, 36, was busted after fed-up migrants turned on him and tipped off the authorities about his illegal cross-Channel operation.

UK police are now working to smash the British arm of his smuggling empire by tracking down fellow gang members and seizing Jamal's cash.

His personal fortune includes more than 1million made from charging migrants4,500 a time to bring them to Britain, according to The Sun.

The money is said to have been funnelled through criminal 'bankers' in London's Kurdish community and laundered under the guise of car washes and restaurants.

Jamal was also reported to be the 'go-to' guy for getting to the UK from other camps along the French coast, ferrying lorry loads of migrants at a rate of 80-a-month.

Police estimate the operation netted 4million this year alone  but that is feared to be the tip of the iceberg in a trade worth 3.5billion a year.

Jamal initially evaded detection by using trucks with cargoes of onions and cheese to transport migrants from French ports to Britain. The cargo foiled carbon dioxide detectors used to identify the breath of people hiding because it emits the same gas.

Ex-weightlifter Jamal was arrested following a dawn raid on the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk. Three French police officers were reportedly injured trying to detain him as migrants fought to stop the gangster being taken away.

He has since been jailed for five years.

Jamal's gang was one of more than 200 busted by French authorities so far this year.

Twana Jamal was busted after fed-up migrants turned on him and tipped off the authorities about his illegal cross-Channel operation. Pictured is the northside of the Calais camp

Prosecutor Amelle Le Sant said: 'This man was earning an awful lot of money. We believe in excess of 1million.

'We have passed on all the information we have in the case files to the authorities in London.

'Our hope is they can track down members of the gang over there.'

Jamal is said to have used fake passports to travel to Britain for gang meetings and is thought to have been plotting to claim asylum in the UK so he could retire with his fortune.

Another gang member, fellow Iraqi Pirout Kadir, was sentenced to four years in prison. Both were told they will be deported after serving their sentences.

Tory MP David Davies described the latest case as 'appalling'.

He said: Its appalling this man has been able to do this and make such a vast amount of money. How many of these people who he facilitated entry into the UK have been granted asylum? Are they now having benefits paid to them courtesy of British taxpayers?

Meanwhile, Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of think-tank MigrationWatch, added: This just shows what a massive business illegal immigration into this country is.

'Until we take dealing with it more seriously and devote adequate resources to stopping those behind it, it will continue to grow.

King of the Calais Jungle: An Iraqi crime lord dubbed the 'Godfather of traffickers' made 364,500 a month smuggling migrants into Britain from France (file photo)

Last month it was revealed that more than 27,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested in the UK in just three years  the equivalent of 25 a day.

MPs and border chiefs say the number of migrants caught by police after sneaking into Britain hidden in trucks, cars and trains is just the tip of the iceberg.
An outspoken pro-Trump sheriff floored a drunk and verbally aggressive passenger as their flight was landing.

Preston Bluntson, 36, was arrested and charged with intoxication and disruptive behavior after an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Charlotte on Saturday.

He was detained by David A. Clarke Jr, the Milwaukee County Sheriff who rose to fame when he spoke at the Republican National Convention this summer, before they touched down after the confrontation.

In an article for Christian website Patheos, Clarke said Bluntson was drunk and 'kept causing problems' - although he insisted he was not the sole target of the man's vitriol.

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr floored Preston Bluntson after he verbally abused passengers on a short-haul American Airlines flight

'He was yelling at passengers, the flight attendants, and would not calm down no matter what,' the sheriff wrote.

'One newspaper reported incorrectly that the man was berating me the entire flight, which wasn't true. Had he come at me with that, I would've just kicked his ass.'

'However, I had to act when we were trying to touch down and he ran down the aisle.'

A passenger on the American Airlines flight said Bluntson kept using a racial epithet, accused Clarke of 'closing our parks' and said the sheriff is 'not one of us.'

Preston Bluntson was arrested after the flight landed and charged by police

The passenger also said the sheriff was on the back of the small plane, which has around 12 rows, and that a number of people on the flight tried to engage with Bluntson in order to calm him down.

'In all my years flying, I've never seen anything like it,' the passenger said.

'The sheriff handled himself extremely well. It could have gotten a lot worse because the guy was not backing down,' he added.

Clarke shared his article explaining the rationale behind detaining the drunk passenger on his Twitter page and many replied showing their approval for his actions.

One woman, who says she is a retired flight attendant, commented that she appreciates his 'assistance to the crew' while another said the sheriff didn't need to 'explain himself' and that he should be appointed the head of the FBI.

When the plane landed Clarke held the abusive man down in aisle and waited for Charlotte police to come on-board and arrest him.

A handful of officers then met Bluntson when he left the plane, and Clarke filled out paperwork on the incident, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said.

This Twitter user dished out praise for the Trump supporting sheriff

This tweeter said she is a retired flight attendant and said his help on the plane would be appreciated by aircraft staff

In his article for Patheos, Clarke also called for improved safety on aircraft and said places that don't allow people to enter with firearms like restaurants 'are never protected in meaningful ways' and are 'easy targets.'

'Passengers in airplanes now are sitting ducks, but we shouldn't be forced to choose between traveling and safety,' he added.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Clarke was on his way to New Hampshire, where he is the featured guest for the Cheshire County Annual Republican Shoot on Sunday.

The sheriff regularly travels to events to promote the candidacy of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and has often tweeted support to the businessman in his White House bid.
A former army officer has revealed how his troops killed four innocent civilians in Afghanistan as he campaigns for an end to the witch hunt against British soldiers.

James Heappey, who is now an MP for Wells, said the decision made on that day in 2005 was necessary to protect troops as he urged for the controversial Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) to be shut down.

He claims it is now only a matter of time before a soldier is killed through hesitating in battle because of ambulance-chasing lawyers who are hounding soldiers with spurious claims at the taxpayers expense.

Captain James Heappey with fiance Kate Bowry in 2009 (left) and pictured with his medals later on Armed Forces Day in 2013

'No matter how much judgemental training is done and no matter how much commanders encourage their troops to trust their instincts; it will not be long before an 18 year old soldier hesitates over pulling the trigger because a future run in with Leigh Day crosses his mind at that instant. His enemy will not hesitate and the outcome could be fatal,' he told The Sun.

The former officer revealed how his unit opened fire on a car that was speeding towards their position as they were trying to secure the area after two suicide bombers drove into German, Greek and Nato convoys.

Mr Heappey nearly died himself afterwards because the Taliban placed bombs in the area they knew that troops would retreat back to  but it was detected by a sniffer dog.

It was later revealed that the people killed in the car were four civilians who were high on drugs and panicked when they saw military vehicles in the area and wanted to speed away.

James Heappey, who is now an MP for Wells, revealed how his soldiers killed four civilians in Afghanistan in 2005

But Mr Heappey argues that in the context of training and the events of that day, it was reasonably to perceive the threat as real and that not making that split-second decision could have led to the death of dozens of troops.

He added: 'In the cold light of day, we killed some innocent civilians that afternoon in Kabul. But in the context of the training exercises wed done when vehicle borne IEDs were driven at cordon positions; in the context of the ignored calls for them to stop the car; in the context of the two suicide bombings that had gone immediately before; the threat was perceived to be real, immediate and lethal.'

The revelation comes as the bill for the controversial inquiry, set up to investigate claims of wrongdoing on the battlefield, rises to nearly 60million - the wage bill for around four infantry battalions, according to Mr Heappey.

It is expected to last until 2019 and taxpayers have been footing the bill as lawyers from controversial firms such as Leigh Day have made a fortune pursuing soldiers for alleged human rights abuses.

Generals and former soldiers alike have condemned the inquiry, which led to Sergeant Alexander Blackman being jailed for killing a dying Taliban insurgent.

Mr Heappey says the decision made on that day in 2005 in Iraq (picured, stock image) was necessary to protect troops as he urged for the controversial Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) to be shut down

Talking of his training, Mr Heappey added: 'It was supposed to empower us to defend ourselves and achieve our mission rather than to constrain us and make us worry about the ambulance chasing lawyers at Leigh Day.'

Three former generals and war hero Lord Bramall this week called for the inquiry to be wrapped up and warned the long-term impact of relentless probes would be 'disastrous'.

Sergeant Alexander Blackman is in jail for killing a dying Taliban insurgent

Their damning verdicts follow a Daily Mail campaign to end a witch-hunt which has seen hundreds of soldiers quizzed over their actions a decade ago and dragged through repeated probes on one incident alone.

Speaking publicly on the issue for the first time, General Sir Michael Rose, one of Britain's most respected generals and a former SAS commander, said: 'We should bring a halt to these historic investigations. This includes those relating to the counter-terrorist war fought against the IRA. I therefore applaud the Mail's campaign.'

Lord Bramall, 92, one of the UK's most decorated military heroes  who was cleared of baseless paedophile allegations  also hit out at the witch-hunt.

The field marshal said: 'This witch-hunt culture is terribly bad for the morale of the forces who have had to do their duty under difficult circumstances.

'I don't understand why we are still pursuing these soldiers. Many of these claims are spurious and they are years out of date.'

The former head of the Army also said he thought it was 'terrible' that human rights legislation was applied to battlefield conditions.

General Sir Richard Shirreff, a former Nato commander, also blasted the hounding of soldiers.

The MP claims it is now only a matter of time before a soldier is killed through hesitating in battle because of ambulance-chasing lawyers. Pictured is Iraq in 2008

The Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) is investigating 1,668 claims of wrongdoing in a 57million probe expected to last until the end of 2019. As well, Operation Northmoor, set up in March 2014, is investigating more than 550 historic allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan.

Yesterday No 10 refused to rule out that soldiers fighting in future wars could be hounded in the same way  and suggested Operation Northmoor could roll on for years.

Three former generals and war hero Lord Bramall (pictured) yesterday called for an end to the witch-hunt against British troops

Asked about future theatres of conflict and 'guarantees' troops wouldn't be treated in the same way, a spokesman for Theresa May said: 'I can't predict what is going to happen in the future.

'I am not going to be drawn on what we would be doing in the future on battlefield cases.' The spokesman was 'not aware' of a deadline on Operation Northmoor.

The Ministry of Defence was also unable to give a deadline but said it would examine the evidence as quickly as possible. It raises the prospect of the Afghan probe continuing for decades, to the tune of tens of millions of pounds.

Speaking publicly on the issue for the first time, General Sir Michael Rose said: 'We should bring a halt to these historic investigations'

General Sir Richard Shirreff, a former Nato commander, also blasted the hounding of soldiers.

He said: 'I deplore it. I think it's an absolutely tragedy. I sense we have a monster on our hands now with this inquiry and I'd like to see a little bit of boldness from politicians to say 'enough is enough'.

'The longer-term impact as well will be nothing short of disastrous because I think it raises questions in the minds of commanders and soldiers, that actions taken in the heat of battle are going to be subject to crawled over subsequently.'

General Sir Richard Shirreff (pictured, left), and General Sir Michael Rose (right) a former Nato commander, blasted the hounding of soldiers

Another retired military chief even accused ministers of encouraging the flood of legal cases against former soldiers. The former general, who did not want to be named, said: 'This [Ihat and Operation Northmoor] is an important example of where the state is turning its back on troops and tolerating, if not encouraging, litigation.'

Calling for the Government to address widespread concerns about the inquiries, he added: 'Applying peacetime, civilian protocols and law to a wartime situation is ridiculous, therefore the inference is that the law needs to be changed as it applies to soldiers in combat.'

Lord Robertson, a former Labour Defence Secretary who served as Nato Secretary General during the invasion of Iraq, also called for an end to the 'indefensible' hounding of troops by 'predatory lawyers'.
Video filmed in Ontario, Canada, has been viewed over 1.4 million times

He posted footage online, describing it as 'bravest thing I've ever done'

decided to rescue animal after spotting its predicament

A brave man risked being sprayed by a skunk when he freed it from the Coke can stuck on its head.

The good Samaritan, from Ontario, Canada, decided to rescue the animal after he spotted its predicament.

He posted a video of him rescuing the skunk online, describing it as 'the bravest thing I've ever done'.

A good Samaritan, from Ontario, Canada, freed a skunk from the coke can stuck on his head

The footage shows the animal going around in circles with the Coca-Cola can on its head

At the start of the footage, the skunk can be seen going around in circles with the Coca-Cola can on its head.

The man can be heard saying: 'Skunk, please don't spray me. Come over here.'

He continues: 'Don't be scared little guy. I'm going to take that off your head. Please don't be scared, please don't spray me.'

After following the skunk around for nearly a minute, the man manages to get close enough to grab the Coke can.

It takes the man a while to eventually free the skunk. In the video, he can be heard saying: 'Skunk, please don't spray me'

However, the can proves tricky to get off and it takes the man a while to eventually free the skunk.

The animal then runs off into the distance - leaving the man safe from its spray.

The video has had over 1.4 million views, with Reddit users describing the footage as 'oddly intense'.
A soldier was killed a week after performing Trooping the Colour for the Queen when he was hit by a car which drove off without stopping, a court has heard.

Coldstream Guard Ben Regan, 20, was thrown 15 metres in the air when he was hit by a Mini Cooper driven by Jake Polmeer, 27, as he tried to cross the road. He died at the scene.

He had been drinking in the Joules wine bar in Reigate, Surrey, and left at around 2am on June 20, 2015, Winchester Crown Court.

He was crossing the road when he was hit by Polmeer, who was driving his girlfriend's car.

Ben Regan, pictured with his father Jim, was knocked down and killed a week after he marched in the famous Trooping the Colour ceremony

The force of the collision threw Mr Regan 15 metres in the air and left him without his shoes.

Polmeer, 27, did not brake but swerved, hit the soldier and then struck a kerb before driving off, the court was told.

He parked the car, which was written off, at his home in Redhill, Surrey, before calling his mother to pick up both him and his girlfriend Danielle Frost, who had been in the front passenger seat, prosecutors said.

Robert Pawson, prosecuting, described the night of the incident, telling the court: 'June 20, 2015 - 15 months ago - in Reigate, Surrey, on a Saturday night that is warm and dry.

'The bars are emptying on a summer's night in a built-up area and there is a road with a speed limit of 30mph.

'Back then Ben Regan was 20 years old. He had been in the army and came back from London where he was based to see his father for the weekend. He had seen his father in the evening and then went out with friends.'

Motorist Jake Polmeer (left) denies causing the death of Mr Regan (right) by careless driving

Describing the horrific crash, the prosecutor said: 'Ben Regan was knocked out of his shoes'

Mr Pawson added: 'Around 2am, Ben walked out into the road, probably from between two cars and he had in his hand, almost certainly, a mobile phone.

'Jake Polmeer driving a Mini Cooper was leaving Reigate and struck Ben Regan. Ben flew through the air, probably around 15 metres. He was struck by the Mini Cooper and was killed.

'If Ben was still alive when he hit the Tarmac, he was certainly dead within minutes.'

He went on: 'What do you do if you know for that dreadful split second, if you had been driving reasonably and carefully, that you had hit a pedestrian with your car?

'You stop, I suggest it's a natural human instinct. You stop not because the law tells you to but because it is a natural human reaction to help, to assist, and to check someone is OK.

'You will panic no doubt and become extremely emotional but you will stop.

'Ben Regan was knocked out of his shoes. Not only did Jake Polmeer not stop, he did not brake. He did not even apply the brakes.'

Mr Regan has been for a night out in Joules bar in Reigate and was killed on his way home

The court heard either Polmeer or his mother contacted a lawyer in the morning, who then called police to say he was handing himself in.

Mr Pawson said Polmeer had been driving at around 36mph, 14 metres after the accident, according to an expert who examined CCTV footage captured near the scene.

The court heard when Polmeer was asked why he didn't immediately call police, he said his focus was on caring for his girlfriend Miss Frost, 27, who was upset after the collision.

In police interviews, he admitted he had drunk one or two pints and in a later interview said he had told his mother he had drank two or three pints.

The court heard Polmeer's blood alcohol level was tested some 13 hours after the incident and was found to be zero.

Mr Pawson said: 'This [the collision] was not deliberate, it was probably not the worst piece of driving of all time but it was careless and it caused Ben Reagan's death.'
Even Boris Johnson looked slightly uncomfortable today as he shook hands with the Turkish president he wrote a rude limerick about.

The Foreign Secretary met Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the subject of a poem that involved sex with a goat, during a visit to Ankara.

Mr Johnson has bizarrely tried to smooth over the issue during his trip by heaping praise on 'well functioning' Turkish washing machines.

Boris Johnson looked slightly uncomfortable as he shook hands with President Erdogan in Ankara today

Mr Johnson risked the wrath of the president back in May when he penned a poem that joked about him having sex with a goat

At a press conference alongside Turkish EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik earlier, Mr Johnson said: 'We are happy in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods.

'I am the proud owner of a digital, very well functioning Turkish washing machine.'

BORIS'S LIMERICK ABOUT PRESIDENT ERDOGAN 'There was a young fellow from Ankara 'Who was a terrific w****** 'Till he sowed his wild oats 'With the help of a goat 'But he didn't even stop to thankera'. Advertisement

Mr Johnson - whose great grandfather was Turkish - said he hoped the Brexit vote would trigger a new dawn in relations between the countries.

Mr Celik praised him as an 'Ottoman' and a strong supporter of Turkey in the aftermath of a failed coup over the summer.

The former London mayor was also hailed by Kalfat, the village where his family lived.

Adem Karaagac, the village headman, told Middle East Eye: 'We will sacrifice many sheep in Boris's honour if he visits.'

He also suggested that Kalfat was full of people who behaved like Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnson's meeting with President Erdogan seemed to warm up after the Turkish leader presented him with a replica of a document signed by Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz Khan

'I have noticed that his mannerisms and body movements strongly resemble those of people in our village,' he said.

Despite making the prospect of Turkey joining the EU a key plank of his Brexit campaign, Mr Johnson said the UK was fully behind the country becoming a member.

Mr Johnson won 1,000 for writing the 'most offensive' poem about Mr Erdogan in May.

The Spectator ran a competition to highlight the plight of comedian, Jan Bohmermann, who was prosecuted in Germany for mocking a foreign dignitary.

The Foreign Secretary visited a Syrian refugee camp in Nizip during his stay in Turkey

Boris Johnson, seen meeting Turkish minister Omer Celik, has being trying to mend fences

The poem went:

'There was a young fellow from Ankara

'Who was a terrific w******

'Till he sowed his wild oats

'With the help of a goat

'But he didn't even stop to thankera'.

The Turkish leader has banned any criticism of himself in the Turkish press  and called for it to extend to Europe.

Mr Johnson told the Spectator and the Swiss magazine, Die Weltwoche at the time that the comedian's treatment was 'a scandal'.

'If somebody wants to make a joke about the love that flowers between the Turkish president and a goat, he should be able to do so, in any European country, including Turkey.'

Liber Democrat MP Norman Lamb said: 'As good as his Turkish washing machine may be, Boris cannot wash away the stains of his Leave campaign's scaremongering over Turkish accession to the EU.

'Boris is famous for having his cake and eating it, but even by his standards this takes the biscuit.'
Two enormous Komodo dragons have been filmed locked in a dramatic battle.

Thrilling footage shows the 200-pound male lizards rear up on their hind legs and grapple and wrestle with one another in a fight to assert their dominance.

The evenly matched contest went on for more than half an hour, according to witnesses, as neither animal could gain the upper hand.

Thrilling footage shows the 200-pound male lizards rear up on their hind legs and grapple and wrestle with one another in a fight to assert their dominance

The evenly matched contest went on for more than half an hour, according to witnesses, as neither animal could gain the upper hand

At one point one of the predators can be seen spitting his venomous saliva at his opponent.

The footage was taken at Rina Island, Komodo National Park in Indonesia by Australian wildlife photographer Chris Bray, 33, from Sydney.

'As is often the way in dominance battles fighting males are not trying to kill each other; just doing whatever's necessary until one finally realises that he's not as powerful as the other, and then it'll throw in the towel and run away,' he said.

'If they are evenly matched like here then it can go on for some time and become more vicious than normal.

'The ranger said sometimes in these battles one can be thrown awkwardly and break a leg or similar that can end up in the dragon subsequently dying, but usually they both survive.'

The footage was taken at Rina Island, Komodo National Park in Indonesia by Australian wildlife photographer Chris Bray, 33, from Sydney

'As is often the way in dominance battles fighting males are not trying to kill each other; just doing whatever's necessary until one finally realises that he's not as powerful as the other, and then it'll throw in the towel and run away,' he said

'The ranger said sometimes in these battles one can be thrown awkwardly and break a leg or similar that can end up in the dragon subsequently dying, but usually they both survive'

'Komodo Dragons are potentially very dangerous animals and have been known to attack humans, so the rangers and I were quite anxious and cautious about not getting in their way or provoking them, especially as these two were so fired up,' he added

'Such close-up, in your face, even right-over-the-top-of-you type of video like this has a wonderfully gritty, "real" feel to it, showing what it'd be like to be right there yourself, in the middle of the fight,' Bray said

Bray shot his footage using a variety of cameras to ensure he didn't miss any action.

'Komodo Dragons are potentially very dangerous animals and have been known to attack humans, so the rangers and I were quite anxious and cautious about not getting in their way or provoking them, especially as these two were so fired up,' he said.

'Such close-up, in your face, even right-over-the-top-of-you type of video like this has a wonderfully gritty, "real" feel to it, showing what it'd be like to be right there yourself, in the middle of the fight.
Salim Mehajer has visited a neurosurgeon at Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney and posted an image to Instagram today to thank his doctor and nursing staff.

In the photo posted on Tuesday, the former deputy Auburn mayor is pictured sitting on a hospital bed in a private room wearing a fluffy white robe.

He captioned the image with: 'It's always been a fear of mine partaking in surgery on risky areas, however, I can comfortably say I have never, ever felt as safe as I did in the hands of Dr. Michael Biggs of North Shore Neurosurgery.'

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Salim Mehajer has visited a neurosurgeon at Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney and posted an image to Instagram today to thank his doctor and nursing staff (pictured)

He also uploaded an image of himself as a child wearing his school uniform earlier the same day (pictured)

'To add, all credit must be given to the amazing nurses at The Royal North Shore Hospital, whom have all been so amazing and have treated me with the utmost care. Who would've thought being ill could feel this good? But then again, in the hands of such caring individuals, I'd expect nothing less. God Bless all our nurses.'

The image attracted more than 600 likes and plenty of well wishes from his fans.

It comes as he posted another image to Instagram earlier that same day, showing him as a child dressed in his school uniform.

Salim Mehajer also posted a cryptic throwback image of him and his estranged wife Aysha to his Instagram account on Monday night (pictured)

The caption read: 'Yes! I was born with those brows. Spot the Similarities? What hasn't changed? Dress code? hair style? Eyes? Anything else....?'

The two posts come as he recently uploaded a cryptic throwback image of him and his estranged wife Aysha Learmonth.

He captioned the post with an emoji with with large love hearts in its eyes.

The post attracted more than 1,500 likes and hundreds of comments.

Mr Mehajer and Ms Learmonth married in August 2015 in a self proclaimed 'wedding of the century', amid much fanfare and controversy.

Mr Mehajer was fined $220 by his own council after an enormous wedding procession of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Harley Davidsons shut down a Lidcombe street, causing traffic chaos.

The pair have been estranged for the past few months, amid claims Ms Learmonth packed her bags and left the couple's mansion in Lidcombe, western Sydney, in March to stay with family in the NSW Illawarra region.

Mr Mehajer is now rumoured to be dating 24-year-old flight attendant Constance Siaflas, who he took as a date to his sister Khadijeh 'Kat' Mehajer's recent wedding.

Mr Mehajer (pictured) and Ms Learmonth married in August 2015 in a self proclaimed 'wedding of the century', amid much fanfare and controversy

Mr Mehajer is now able to speak to Ms Learmonth and approach her, after the apprehended violence order taken out on Aysha and her brother-in-law's behalf was changed.

The nine-month order was taken out by police on Ms Learmonth and Ben Miller's behalf.

The controversial property developer is also not allowed to walk into an address in Sydney Ms Learmonth often goes to.

Mr Mehajer (left) is now able to speak to Ms Learmonth (right) and approach her, after the apprehended violence order taken out on Aysha and her brother-in-law's behalf was changed

It comes after Mr Mehajer (left) threatened Ms Learmonth (left) and her parents in an expletive-ridden video that was aired on A Current Affair in August

This order also applies to his contact with Mr Miller and Mehajer is stay at least 100 metres away from his wife's brother-in-law's home in the Illawarra area.

It comes after Mehajer threatened to rape the parents of Ms Learmonth in a vicious and expletive-ridden video message.

The video, which aired on Channel Nine's A Current Affair last month, showed the embattled property developer screaming into the camera.

'Aysha you've got five minutes to give me a call,' Mr Mehajer said.

'I'm going to rape your mum. Your mum and your f****** dad'.
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These stunning images show Thai dancers keeping one of the country's most highly regarded traditions alive - despite a recent decline in popularity of the art form.

Photographer Nuttawut Jaroenchai took the pictures in Ayutthaya, Thailand, in the hope of reigniting interest in the dance and Thai traditions.

Known as Khon, the dance had been a mainstay in Thai culture for centuries. It tells the story of Phra Ram and his battle with the demon king Thotsakan who kidnapped his wife, Nang Sida.

Stunning images show Thai dancers keeping one of the country's most highly regarded traditions alive - despite a recent decline in popularity of the art form

Photographer Nuttawut Jaroenchai took the pictures in Ayutthaya, Thailand, in the hope of reigniting interest in the dance and Thai traditions

Known as Khon, the dance had been a mainstay in Thai culture for centuries. It tells the story of Phra Ram and his battle with the demon king Thotsakan who kidnapped his wife, Nang Sida

During the story, Phra Ram joins forces with Hanuman, the monkey king, to fight Thotsakan and rescue Nang Sida

During the story, Phra Ram joins forces with Hanuman, the monkey king, to fight Thotsakan and rescue Nang Sida.

Jaroenchai said: 'I wanted to capture the history of Khon. Nowadays Khon is not popular in Thailand and few young people are still doing it.'

At its height, the dance could only be performed by the royal family and was performed in the royal court.

As time went on Khon became more widespread as the performances were eventually brought to the masses.

Performance: At its height, the dance could only be performed by the royal family and was performed in the royal court

Art form: As time went on Khon became more widespread as the performances were eventually brought to the masses

Tradition: Performers of the colourful dance spend years in special schools to study every aspect of the discipline

Experts: A female dancer plays the part of Nang Sida, Phra Ram's wife during a performance of the traditional dance

Dancers study from the age of 13 until they are 23 to gain a bachelor degree in the traditional dance. A performer playing the part of Nang Sida is pictured

Jaroenchai added: 'In the past, the performances were only done in the palace, however now it is performed in theatres and used to celebrate Father's and Mother's Day.'

Performers of the traditional dance spend years in special schools to study every aspect of the discipline.

He said: 'People study from the age of 13 until they are 23 to gain a bachelor degree in the dance.'

Originating from India, the dance is an adaptation of the story of Ramayana and is practiced all over south east Asia, with each culture adding their own variation to the story

Although a native of Thailand, Nuttawut had never seen the dance in person until he took the incredible pictures

Khon dancers spend years learning their spectacular routines. These performers were pictured at Ayutthaya in Thailand

Originating from India, the dance is an adaptation of the story of Ramayana and is carried out all over south east Asia, with each culture adding their own variation to the story.

Although a native of Thailand, Jaroenchai had never seen the dance in person until he took the incredible pictures.

'I was thrilled because I have never seen it before,' he added.

Jaroenchai said that he was 'thrilled' to have been able to capture the dramatic dance on camera having never seen it before

A dancer raises up his hand as he takes part in the centuries-old Khon dance in Ayutthaya, Thailand

These dancers have been performing in the hope of reviving interest in an art form that has dipped in popularity

Jaroenchai said of his pictures: 'I wanted to capture the history of Khon. Nowadays Khon is not popular in Thailand and few young people are still doing it'

At its height, the dance could only be performed by the royal family and was performed in the royal court
The president of the National Union of Students has refused to apologise for comments condemned as anti-Semitic.

Malia Bouattia was widely criticised when she described Birmingham University as 'something of a Zionist outpost' in an article she co-authored five years ago.

But challenged over the remarks on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Tuesday, she refused to apologise for them.

Malia Bouattia has refused to apologised for calling Birmingham University a 'Zionist outpost'

She said: 'I would certainly review my language and would definitely want to explain the political context which I was discussing.

'I absolutely was not saying the things that it has been interpreted as, if you will...'

Ms Bouattia also defended 'safe space' and 'no-platform' policies in universities amid widespread concerns they are curtailing free speech.

Prime Minister Theresa May has described the policies as 'quite extraordinary' and warned they could inhibit thought and development among students.

Ms Bouattia said: 'The thing about safe spaces is they have existed for a very long time in many different forms.

'It's a call from the grassroots, it's an application of democratic processes in order to ensure that spaces of education - students unions and so on - are safe places in which to debate and in which to discuss ideas.'

Graduates leaving the Great Hall at Birmingham University. Ms Bouattia offered to 'review her language' over the institution but stopped short of apologising

She added: 'We are not stopping the tearing apart of problematic views and ideas and so on, and I think it's incredibly naive to think that unless we provide spaces where they are necessarily aired, where racist, xenophobic, homophobic views are aired, that they are not otherwise known about or taken on.'

Feminist author Germaine Greer is among the growing number of people who have faced calls to be 'no-platformed' at universities.

Professor Greer was accused of being transphobic by students at Cardiff University who launched a petition to try to block her from speaking.
But Gayton insisted the couple are in love and the relationship is genuine

A Facebook friend has suggested that Kahlil is 'not in love' while another said he was keen to 'to take UK citizenship'

He then sneaked into Britain in the back of a lorry and was given leave to remain for five years

Hamoude Kahlil, 24, proposed to Sarah Gayton, 41, months after they met in the Calais 'Jungle'

Their Calais Jungle romance has captured the public imagination - one a Syrian refugee and the other a British aid worker 17 years his senior.

But now friends of the 24-year-old Romeo in this love story, Hamoude Kahlil, have raised suspicions that his intentions towards Sarah Gayton may be less than straightforward.

A Facebook friend who has known Kahlil since they studied together in Syria told MailOnline that he loved Sarah but added: 'I understand he is doing this to take citizenship.'

Another former classmate and friend who is now living in Germany, said: 'I don't think it's love.'

Sarah Gayton and Hamoude Kahlil got engaged a few months after meeting in the Calais refugee camp, in France

When approached near the Chiswick home of his fiancee Sarah Gayton, Hamoude Kahlil said he did not want to discuss the relationship and was late for work

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's whirlwind romance was played out in the Calais Jungle camp, where management consultant Sarah was volunteering to hand out aid.

Just five days after meeting the law student who fled the besieged city of Aleppo, Ms Gayton resigned from her fulltime job and returned to the squalid camp where she worked alongside the refugee.

Within a few months, the management consultant accepted Mr Khalil's marriage proposal and returned to her 800,000 home in Chiswick, west London, to start planning the wedding.

Her Syrian fiance, who is in his twenties, sneaked into Britain illegally on a lorry and has since been given leave to remain for five years.

When told how he crossed the Channel in a lorry, his family members were shocked. His cousin, Najib Mohamad, spoke to MailOnline.

'It's a crazy thing,' a friend, Farhad Hannan, added. 'When all the European countries opened their doors to all the people, of course you will hear a lot of this sort of thing.

'When you have a dream you do it, whatever it costs you.'

Kahlil, who abandoned his university law course to make the perilous journey across Europe in 2014, used to help out in his father's mechanic business and had not had any previous relationships, his family said.

In London: Mr Kahlil came to Britain illegally in the back of a lorry despite his promise to his fiancee that he wouldn't

Gayton, from Chiswick, in west London, quit her job five days after meeting him in 2015 while she was volunteering in the camp. Kahlil proposed to her within a few months of their first encounter.

'My friend wants to marry these British and gets citizenship at the same time,' one friend claimed to MailOnline, on messages sent via Facebook.

The couple, who insist they are genuine, worked in a warehouse run by the charities Help Refugees and L'Auberge des Migrants. Kahlil was a translator in the Jungle.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Miss Gayton said she 'was definitely not looking for love', and disputed claims 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.'

Hannan, one of Kahlil's old friends, told MailOnline: 'Of course she is in love with Hamoude, not just citizenship.' He raised questions over whether her fiance was in it for love, however.

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

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'

Gayton said 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.'

Another friend said: 'When he was in the war in Syria, he dreamed to fly from [to] Britain.'

When approached by MailOnline, Ms Gayton said she did not want to comment and Mr Kahlil said: 'No comment. I'm going to be late, I have a job.'

On Friday, MailOnline reported a whistleblower's claims that Calais aid workers were having sex with migrants.

The revelations caused a furious row, with some volunteers claiming the allegations should have remained secret and criticising the whistleblower for expressing his concerns.

According to the whistleblower, some volunteers use the services of the Jungle 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
A 16-year-old boy was slashed across the neck and rushed to hospital as more than 100 children swarmed on a busy London shopping centre.

The victim reportedly ran away screaming for help and collapsed outside Poundland after the brutal stabbing at around 4.30pm yesterday.

Pools of blood were left in Lewisham Shopping Centre, which was forced to close and guarded by mounted police officers after the attack.

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A 16-year-old boy was slashed across the neck and rushed to hospital as more than 100 children swarmed on a busy London shopping centre (pictured yesterday)

The victim reportedly ran away screaming for help and collapsed outside Poundland. The centre was closed and guarded by mounted police

Witnesses said that there were around 100 children and many were screaming and hysterical

A witness told the Evening Standard: 'There was 100 schoolchildren crowding around each other and all over the place. Everyone was shocked and most people were hysterical.'

A shopper said: 'I met a friend at the entrance who works in the centre and she said the floor was covered in blood. She said a schoolboy had been stabbed right in the middle of the shopping centre. '

The victim was taken to an east London hospital and is now in a stable condition, police said. No arrests have been made.

People described the scenes on social media, with one user writing: 'Pools of blood around the centre, it's disgusting, seriously hope the boy is alright.'

The centre was closed off as police inspected the scene yesterday but fully re-opened today

Pools of blood were left in Lewisham Shopping Centre, which was forced to close after the attack yesterday. Police and ambulances were at the scene (pictured)

Footage posted online showed police mounted on horses standing outside the entrance to the closed complex. Another video showed an air ambulance leaving the scene.

A London Ambulance spokeswoman said: 'We were called at 4.42pm to reports of a stabbing on Lewisham High Street today.

'We sent multiple resources to the scene including an incident response officer, an ambulance crew , two fast response cars and London's Air Ambulance, with the first of our staff arriving in seven minutes.
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Farewell: Sir Terry Wogan was last on air on BBC Radio 2 on November 8 last year (above)

Claudia Winkleman, Dermot O'Leary and Fearne Cotton were among the stars at Westminster Abbey today as the showbusiness world paid tribute to Sir Terry Wogan in a thanksgiving service.

The likes of Alesha Dixon, Gaby Roslin, Esther Rantzen and Jimmy Carr also gathered for the event in London that comes 50 years after the Limerick-born broadcaster's first BBC radio broadcast.

Sir Terry, known for his velvety voice on radio and television, gave enjoyment to audiences over six decades, but died aged 77 after a battle with cancer.

The service began with recordings of the star's voice from Sir Terry's archive, including an emotional message as he signed off from his Radio 2 breakfast show for the final time, telling his loyal listeners thank you for being my friend, imploring an audience to dig deep for Children In Need and giggling live on air.

Chris Evans, who took over the show, paid tribute to Sir Terry in the service, saying: Terry Wogan wasn't the best. He is the best and he will always be the best.

Chris Evans speaks during the thanksgiving service for Sir Terry Wogan at Westminster Abbey

Lady Helen Wogan, the widow of Sir Terry Wogan, walks with their children, (left to right) Katerine, Alan and Mark, as they leave Westminster Abbey

Holding hands: Sir Terry's wife Lady Helen Wogan (second right), their sons Alan (second left) and Mark (right) and their daughter Katerine (left) stand together outside Westminster Abbey

Special: Katie Melua, who shot to fame after being championed on Sir Terry's long-running breakfast show, performed her hit track The Closest Thing To Crazy at the service

Emotional: Peter Gabriel sang a moving rendition of That'll Do, one of the tracks Sir Terry picked on Desert Island Discs, and played before signing off after 27 years on his Radio 2 show

He told how Sir Terry invited him for lunch when Evans landed the job hosting the Radio 1 breakfast show, going head to head with the veteran Radio 2 star.

After the marathon lunch, golf, dinner and plenty of alcohol, Evans suggested, near midnight, they get the bill. Well', said Sir Terry. 'I never had you down as a quitter.

When Evans asked whether even you have to prepare just a little bit for the following day's breakfast show, Sir Terry looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.

He looked at me and said, "it's very simple. They either like you or they don't". Of course he was exactly right, Evans said.

Evans said that he had been gifted ...the single most useful piece of advice about broadcasting from the great man himself.

Lady Susan Hussey, the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting, represented her at the service.

After the service: Joanna Lumley stands with the Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster (left), while Chris Evans and his wife Natasha Shishmanian (right) leave the Abbey

Listening: The unforgettable Irish brogue of the broadcaster - who died in January - could be heard at the service, which opened with recordings from Sir Terry's archive

Sharing their thoughts: BBC chief Lord Hall (left) called Sir Terry a 'national treasure', while Stevie Spring (right), chairman of BBC Children In Need, also spoke at the service

Stunning setting: The event at Westminster Abbey included tributes from Sir Terry's children

Music: The service today ended with The Floral Dance, which was a hit for Sir Terry in 1978

Lord Hall called Sir Terry a national treasure, saying the often over-used phrase was entirely appropriate for the star.

IN QUOTES: HOW SIR TERRY WAS REMEMBERED TODAY It was all so sudden, and how I know is that he and I used to swap medical notes all the time about our bad knees and bad hips, all the time, when I was going to have my hips done, Terry would advise me on who the doctors would be, and I would get his knee doctor and we would talk aches and pains. Eamonn Holmes We hadn't realised that he had been so unwell. It is a tribute to him how many people are turning up here, lots of his Togs (Terry's Old Geezers or Gals) from Radio 2. So it's not just celebrities here. Ruth Langsford I'm really fortunate that I got to work with such a great man.' Alesha Dixon 'It has been an honour working with Sir Terry across the years on Children In Need and it's a privilege to be hosting Rocks in celebration of his life.' Fearne Cotton Sir Terry was, in my eyes, the ultimate broadcaster.' Greg James With Terry Wogan there was no act. He was entirely authentic. He was himself on stage and off. Jimmy Carr Advertisement

He spoke of the broadcaster's numerous and memorable Eurovision quips, with his own favourite coming from 2007.

Lord Hall said: 'He announced as the coverage began: "Who knows what hellish future lies ahead? Actually I do, I've seen the rehearsals!"'

He thanked Sir Terry for giving us so much sheer unalloyed joy. Referencing his prolific TV and radio output, Lord Hall added: But of course it wasn't just Eurovision.

'During the 1980s, there was barely a night when you didn't turn on the TV and find Terry there.

The BBC chief said that Sir Terry was most proud of his work for Children In Need - he fronted the main appeal show from its inception in 1980 to 2014.

He said his contribution behind the scenes was also huge. He pointed to how modest the star had been about his achievements.

Lord Hall quoted him as saying: I'm merely in the crow's nest, there are many more people sailing the ship.

Sir Terry's children, Alan Wogan, Mark Wogan and Katherine Cripps, paid tribute to their father's love of our mother, his children and grandchildren.

They also praised his true understanding of charity, empathy and selfless wisdom and his life's work, warmth and humour, his gentleness and for his love of people.

The broadcaster's marriage was one of the most solid in showbusiness, and Sir Terry affectionately called his wife Helen the present Lady Wogan on air.

Katie Melua, who shot to fame after being championed on Sir Terry's long-running breakfast show, performed her hit track The Closest Thing To Crazy at the service.

Radio 2s Ken Bruce read WB Yeats's The Song Of Wandering Aengus at the service, which marks the 50th anniversary of Sir Terry's first BBC radio broadcast.

Peter Gabriel sang a moving rendition of That'll Do, one of the tracks Sir Terry picked as a castaway on Desert Island Discs, and played before signing off after 27 years on his Radio 2 breakfast show.

Actress Joanna Lumley read a new poem, co-written with songwriter Sir Richard Stilgoe, entitled For The Former Greatest Living Irishman.

She compared Limerick-born Sir Terry's voice to an aural newly-ripened peach/That never spoke to all, but spoke to each in the poem, penned especially for the service.

I think he was the tops, the cat's miaow, she said.

For pity's sake, who else would you allow/To mutter in your ear each dawn of days/Just rambling on, with nothing on his mind?/A brainy burbling, charming us to shreds/When we should long have risen from our beds.

Dressed for the occasion: Susan Hussey (left), Baroness Hussey of North Bradley, the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting, is greeted by the Dean of Westminster (right), the Very Reverend Dr John Hall

Radio presenter Fearne Cotton (left) and her husband Jesse Wood (right) arrive today

Presenters: Tess Daly (left) and Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans with his wife Natasha (right)

Arrival: (From left) Gaby Roslin, Dermot O'Leary and Claudia Winkleman at Westminster Abbey

Lumley, who provided one of Children In Need's most memorable moments when she stripped down to her underwear on live television in 1983 as host Sir Terry pretended to yawn, added: If he was here I'd kiss his handsome face/And tell him that they simply broke the mould/When he was made.

Broadcaster Gloria Hunniford, who was among the celebrity guests today, said before the service: It's a very special event. I feel happy and sad.

Sad because we have to be here to celebrate his life, happy that we've got a chance to say goodbye. He would be saying, what's this all about? But we never got a chance to say goodbye.

Stars of the TV screen: (From left) Alesha Dixon, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford arrive

In attendance: Esther Rantzen (left) and Gloria Hunniford and her husband Stephen Way (right) arrive for the 'Service of Thanksgiving For the Life and Work of Sir Terry Wogan' today

Actress Joanna Lumley (left) and Jimmy Carr and Karoline Copping (right) at the Abbey today

Comic Carr also paid tribute, saying: With Terry Wogan there was no act. He was entirely authentic. He was himself on stage and off. 

Eamonn Holmes, who attended with his wife and fellow broadcaster Ruth Langsford, said Sir Terry was from a time in broadcasting that will not be repeated again.

Langsford said she would recall the DJ and TV host as a family man, adding that he did not have showbiz photos around his home because his joy was his family.

Jo Whiley said: He was one of a kind. He was the one who taught us broadcasters how to be broadcasters. And he was such a fine example of a man.

Anneka Rice (left) and Maureen Lipman (right) were at Westminster Abbey for today's service

Paying their respects: Commentator Peter Alliss and his wife Jackie (left) arrive at Westminster Abbey, along with Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce (right) with his wife Kerith Coldham

Walking in: (From left) Paul Gambaccini, Aled Jones and Jane Asher all arrive this morning

Posing: Heston Blumenthal (left) joins Sara Cox and Michael Ball (right) at Westminster Abbey

Recollections: Alan Titchmarsh (left) and Matt Baker (right) arrive for the thanksgiving service

Stopping for a photo: Vanessa Feltz (left) and Jimmy Tarbuck (right) smiled as they arrived

Limerick mayor Kieran O'Hanlon, said he was a 'link between the Irish community and the British community at a time when it was really difficult' between the nations.

Today's Service of Thanksgiving For the Life and Work of Sir Terry Wogan was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall.

He said the broadcaster was a legend in his own lifetime. The much-loved star, known for his velvety voice on radio and television, died on January 31.

Sir Terry, whose career spanned more than four decades, was known for his long-running BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, his chat shows and Children In Need.

Attending: (From left) Rory Bremner, scriptwriter Lise Mayer and comedian Angus Deaton

Smiles: Barry Cryer (left) and June Whitfield (right) make their way into Westminster Abbey

Ex-BBC creative director Alan Yentob (left) and broadcaster Sue Lawley (right) arrive today

(From left) Ex-FA chairman Greg Dyke, commentator Neil Durden-Smith and Judith Chalmers

An order of service for the service of thanksgiving for Sir Terry at Westminster Abbey today

Making a tribute: Chris Evans, who took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Sir Terry, is pictured leaving the BBC radio studios this morning on his way to the thanksgiving service

His often blistering commentary on the Eurovision Song Contest was also highly popular. There was also a collection for BBC Children In Need at the service.

Sir Terry's decision to retire from the Radio 2 breakfast show, following 27 years, sparked an outcry from his eight million listeners.

They were known as Togs, Terry's Old Geezers or Terry's Old Gals - and even the Queen and Margaret Thatcher were said to be fans.

The Abbey worked with the BBC and the family of Sir Terry in planning today's event, which marked the 50th anniversary of his first radio broadcast for the BBC.

Music by George Frideric Handel, Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar among others was played by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Memories: Chris Evans (left, in 2010), who took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Sir Terry, will give a tribute at the service, while Joanna Lumley (right, in 2003) will read a new poem

Classic: Lumley (centre) provided a memorable Children In Need moment when she stripped off to her underwear on live television in 1983 as host Sir Terry (right) pretended to yawn

Tribute: Gloria Hunniford (left, pictured today on ITV; and right, with Sir Terry in 1983) began working with Sir Terry in the 1980s and said today was a very important day

Remembered: Hunniford (left) was interviewed by DailyMail.com U.S. Editor-at-Large Piers Morgan (centre) and Susanna Reid (right) about Sir Terry on Good Morning Britain today

Earlier, Gloria Hunniford, who began working with Sir Terry in the 1980s, told ITVs Good Morning Britain that today was a very important day.

She added: I think I speak on behalf of a lot of people. It's wonderful to have a chance to say goodbye to Terry because it was all so sudden.

Terry dealt with his illness in privacy which was the way he wanted it. He was buried in privacy - there were no photographs of the church or anything like that.

And I think that one part of Terry would be saying Whats all the fuss about today?

Couple: The broadcaster's marriage was one of the most solid in showbusiness and Sir Terry affectionately called his wife Helen the present Lady Wogan on air

Smile: His eight million listeners known as TOGs, Terry's Old Geezers or Terry's Old Gals - and even the Queen (right, pictured together in 2006) and Margaret Thatcher were said to be fans

Performing: Katie Melua (left) shot to fame after being championed on Sir Terry's long-running breakfast show, while Peter Gabriel (right) will sing That'll Do, one of the tracks Sir Terry picked on Desert Island Discs and played before signing off on his Radio 2 breakfast show

'But on the other hand for family and friends and his colleagues it's a wonderful opportunity, and I include myself in that, to have a chance to say goodbye to Terry because he really was so impacting in so many people's lives.

I think it's very apt. I was trying to think actually on the way in of how many other lay people have had an abbey memorial - very few of them, David Frost perhaps.'

Sir Terry was last on air on BBC Radio 2 on November 8 last year. Days later, he had to pull out of presenting Children In Need at the last minute owing to health issues.

Then, in a statement on January 31, his family said: Sir Terry Wogan died after a short but brave battle with cancer. He passed away surrounded by his family.

THE LAST WORD: SIR TERRY'S FINAL SIGN-OFF ON RADIO 2 Few moments were more moving than Wogan's signing off his Radio 2 breakfast show for good. He had hosted it from 1972 to 1984, before leaving for TV, and again from 1993 to the end of 2009. Here, we print his words of the morning that, on the brink of tears, he bid his listeners goodbye... 'This is it, then. This is the day I have been dreading  the inevitable morning when you and I come to the parting of the ways, the last Wake Up To Wogan. 'It wasn't always thus. For the first 12 years it was the plain old Terry Wogan Show and you were all Twits, the Terry Wogan Is Tops Society. 'When I returned to the bosom of our family, it became Wake Up To Wogan and you all became TOGs, Terry's Old Geezers and Gals. 'It's always been a source of enormous pride to me that you have come together in my name, that you are proud to call yourself my listeners, that you think of me as a friend, someone that you are close enough to laugh with, to poke fun at and occasionally, when the world seemed just a little too cruel, to shed a tear with. 'And the years together with you have not only been a pleasure but a privilege. 'You have allowed me to share your lives with you. When you tell me how important I have been in your lives, it's very moving. You have been every bit as important in mine. 'We have been though at least a couple of generations together, for many of you  your children, like mine, now have children of their own. And your support for Children In Need has been consistent and magnificent. You've baked the bakes, you've held the quizzes, you've sold the calendars, you've packed the CDs and the DVDs. 'You've answered the phones  always there when we've called on you, unheralded and unsung. And if anybody embodies the generous, warm spirit of this country it's you, my listeners. 'I am not going to pretend that this is not a sad day  you can probably hear it in my voice. I am going to miss the laughter and the fun of our mornings together. 'Thank you, thank you for being my friend.' Advertisement

Star-studded line-up for Children In Need tribute concert

Take That, Ellie Goulding and Rick Astley are among the acts who will perform at a special BBC Children In Need Rocks concert to honour Sir Terry Wogan.

The music spectacular will feature songs loved by the veteran broadcaster, who died at the age of 77 on January 31 following a battle with cancer.

Other artists who will perform are X Factor star Olly Murs, American jazz singer Gregory Porter, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Alexander Armstrong, boy band The Vamps and country music duo Ward Thomas.

Posing with Pudsey: Sir Terry (pictured in 2009) was life president of the BBC charity Children In Need with which he was involved for more than 30 years

The event will be hosted by Fearne Cotton and Greg James.

Cotton said: It has been an honour working with Sir Terry across the years on Children In Need and it's a privilege to be hosting Rocks in celebration of his life. It's going to be a very special evening with some great artists performing some of his favourite tracks.

BBC Radio 1 presenter James said it was a privilege to host the concert, adding: Sir Terry was, in my eyes, the ultimate broadcaster. A friend to millions on his radio show and a hero to millions more through his work with Children In Need. It's an absolute honour to be asked to be part of the concert. It's going to be a brilliant night.

Sir Terry was life president of the BBC charity with which he was involved for more than 30 years.

Performances aside, the concert will feature archive material such as one of the popular Radio 2 Janet and John stories which Sir Terry frequently read on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

Drawings created by Horrid Henry illustrator Tony Ross will accompany the reading.

BBC Children In Need vice chairman and controller of Radio 2 Bob Shennan said: Sir Terry was one of the nation's best-loved broadcasters and it's a privilege to be celebrating his life with BBC Children In Need Rocks. The night promises to be full of fun for music fans around the country.
A Chinese woman was brutally beaten up and abandoned on the side of the street yesterday.

Chinese media claimed that the 28-year-old woman was thought to be a mistress and she had been beaten after getting caught by her lover's wife in Anqiu city, eastern China's Shandong Province.

Passersby who found the woman in the shrubs alerted the police, who are currently investigating the case.

Photos of the unidentified woman were first shared yesterday by 'Zui Huo Huo Ge ', a user of Weibo. According to the user, the picture on the left was taken after she had been beaten by a scorned wife, while the picture on the right was her before the alleged attack

The woman was brutally beaten up and abandoned on the side of the street in China yesterday

This is thought to be the woman who was brutally attacked yesterday in the city of Anqiu

According to Apple Daily, the woman was found on the crossroads of Shangchang Road and Jian'an Road.

The woman is allegedly a mistress and she had been assaulted after her lover's wife discovered their affair, said Apple Daily.

Photos of the unidentified woman seemed to have come from the Chinese social media.

They were first shared yesterday by 'Zui Huo Huo Ge', a user of Weibo, China's equivalent to Twitter.

A set of four pictures were seen in the post. Two of them were claimed to be of the woman after she had been attacked. The pictures show she sustained serious bruises on her swollen face and had blood around her lips. Her teeth had been knocked out, reported Sina.

In the pictures, she seemed to be so badly attacked that she couldn't open her eyes properly.

The third and fourth pictures were claimed to be taken before the attack. In one of them the woman is seen taking a selfie against a mirror and in the other she is seen sitting in a store with heavy makeup.

According to the video, the assaulted woman was left in shrubs while passerby tried to help

Shen Weifang, a news portal circulating local news on Chinese social media platform WeChat, suggested that the photos of the woman before the attack were sourced from her QQ account

Later on the same day, a video showing the same woman sitting in the shrubs with serious injuries were uploaded by 'Zui Huo Huo Ge'.

The video also appeared on 'Qi Di Times', another popular Weibo account, who claimed the assaulted woman had been left at roadside while passersby tried to report to police.

At the 75-seconds clip, the woman, badly beaten, is seen talking on her mobile phone.

During her conversation with a male passerby, she appeared to be unable to talk clearly. It is remains unknown whether or not this is a result of the attack.

Owner of account 'Qi Di Times' told MailOnline that the video is provided by another internet user without stating the possible cause behind the incident.

MailOnline has reached out to 'Zui Huo Huo Ge' for comments.

One of the selfies came with a caption, which reads: 'I am only in my twenties, but I am feeling more and more tired. People do not understand my story'

Other posts on Weibo suggested the alleged mistress was assaulted by four men hired by the cheating man's wife, and that she had been detained and beaten up for several days.

Shen Weifang, a news portal circulating local news on Chinese social media platform WeChat, suggested that the photos of the woman before the attack were sourced from her QQ account.

One of the selfies came with a caption, which reads: 'I am only in my twenties, but I am feeling more and more tired. People do not understand my story. I have witnessed thousand kinds of sorrow.'

The incident has been widely reported by Chinese media, sparking public outrage over the violent assault.

An Apple Daily reader commented: 'It might be immoral to be a mistress, but such violence is not tolerable.'

Another suggested: 'Adultery is not a crime in China, so they resort to own means.'

One expressed sympathy: 'She got badly wounded. It might affect her life after injury.'

The woman refused to explain the cause of her injury, the public security bureau of the Anqiu city said on its official Weibo page.

However, the police said they would continue investigating the case.
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The victims of the Alton Towers Smiler ride crash have said no punishment will ever bring back the limbs they lost due to catastrophic errors by theme park bosses.

Merlin Entertainments, who run the Staffordshire park, were fined 5million today for failures leading to the disaster in which 16 people were injured and two teenagers needed amputations.

The fine imposed by the court represents less than two per cent of the company's 385million turnover in the year of the rollercoaster tragedy.

Sentencing the company over Health and Safety breaches, Judge Michael Chambers QC called the incident a 'catastrophic failure' and a 'shambles' which could have been avoided.

Vicky Balch, then 19, and Leah Washington, then 17, each lost a leg in the collision in June last year which changed their lives 'in the most dramatic way', the judge said.

Speaking after the hearing, Paul Paxton, of Stewart's Law, representing eight victims, said: 'The court have imposed what we believe is a record fine for the industry, but of course money alone will never replace limbs nor heal the psychological scars.'

Arriving at court: Vicky Balch (left) and Leah Washington (right, with boyfriend Joe Pugh, who was also injured) were both forced to undergo leg amputations after the Smiler ride crashed. They both attended Stafford Crown Court today to see the company fined 5million

The court heard of delays in calling emergency services. Victims, who sat trapped and injured with some bleeding heavily, had to wait hours to be rescued

Merlin CEO Nick Varney (left) and Alton Towers director Ian Crabbe (right) attended the sentencing hearing this morning

The judge told bosses from Merlin Entertainments, who run the park: 'This was a needless and avoidable accident in which those injured were fortunate not to have been killed or bled to death.'

He said the injured 'endured great pain and distress' while waiting for medical help, with the first 999 call not made until 17 minutes after the crash. It then took up to five hours for them to be freed from the wreckage.

Describing the crash, the judge said: 'Those in the front row bore the brunt of the collision and had their legs crushed in the tangled steel.'

He said that all 16 people aboard the carriage had been 'injured to various degrees', adding that the company's safety failure had been 'putting at risk the safety of thousands of young people and children'.

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Mr Paxton, a lawyer for the victims and their families, insisted the case 'has never been about retribution'.

He said: 'This is about learning from what happened and ensuring that it doesn't happen again at any theme park. No amount of punishment is ever going to compensate for what these victims and their families have endured.'

He said the victims had been shocked by the company's failings, which he listed as 'a catastrophic failure to assess risk, inadequate training, inadequate supervision, inadequate management, a failure to communicate and a failure to put in place safe systems of work'.

Mr Paxton's law firm, Stewarts Law, continues to pursue a claim for compensation on behalf of those seriously injured in the accident in a separate civil lawsuit.

The court in the current case heard yesterday about a catalogue of failures by the theme park's managers in the build-up to the accident.

Collision course: Swinging into the picture moments before impact on the left, the Smiler packed with people circled in blue on the right plummets towards the empty carriage circled in red

Carnage: The two trucks collide like a 90mph car crash and they became meshed together, crushing the people in the front row - two of whom later had legs amputated

Staff were under pressure to keep the ride in almost constant use and offered bonuses to keep it running. Some had not even read the manual for the 18million rollercoaster.

Engineers also overrode a fault which had been detected by the computer system and sent the ride crashing into an empty carriage with the force of a '90mph car crash'.

The court also heard engineers should have seen the empty carriage which was visible on CCTV cameras covering the track.

In its investigation, the safety watchdog found that a 'near-gale' may have been to blame for the empty carriage failing to clear the Cobra Loop in the first place, following an early problem with one of the ride's lifts.

Prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Bernard Thorogood said that although there had been 'a number of human errors', the 'fault is with the employers', and not individuals.

The prosecutor went on to say that none of the four engineers involved in working on the Smiler 'had the full picture or understanding of conditions on the ride'.

He said one engineer who worked on the Smiler that day told investigators after the crash that he had 'assumed' the rollercoaster had been fitted with a type of safety trip-switch present on at least one other park ride, when in fact it had not.

Upsetting: The moments after Smiler crashed last year - leaving the injured dangling in mid air. Leah Washington and Joe Pugh, who were in the front row, are circled

A picture of the car the injured were sitting in shows how the smash bent back the metal

NO RESIGNATIONS: WHO'S WHO IN THE HIERARCHY OF MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS Millionaire Nick Varney is CEO of Alton Towers 4billion parent company Merlin Entertainments. His 573,000 salary in 2014 was boosted by bonuses and other benefits to just under 1.6million, it was reported last year. He is understood to have taken home a 733,000 pay packet in the same year as the Smiler crash. Outside court today, Mr Varney ignored questions from reporters over whether he should resign. Left toiright: Nick Varney, the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, Dominic Wigley, Merlin's safety and security director and Ian Crabbe, Divisional Director of Alton Towers Dominic Wigley is Merlin's Safety and Security Director and used to work for BBC assessing risks with filming abroad. He joined the company from infrastructure and engineering firm Amey in 2014 and his role in the company is described as 'delivering high standards, thought leadership and best practice'. According to Merlin's website, while at the BBC, Mr Wigley 'helped managed unique risks, including war zone journalistic reporting, the performance of high-risk stunts and special effects for TV dramas'. Ian Crabbe has been in charge of Alton Towers since 2009 and has worked for Merlin Entertainments since the 1990s. He started his career as manager of Sea Life Blackpool in 1995, before moving around the company, eventually becoming general manager of the Birmingham Sea Life Centre. He was criticised in the wake of the crash after he admitted he didn't know how many times the Smiler had broken down in the previous year. Advertisement

At least 16 were injured and five people were seriously hurt. Miss Washington, now 18, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and Miss Balch, now 20, from Leyland, Lancashire, were both forced to undergo leg amputations as a result of the horror crash.

Joe Pugh, 18, also from Barnsley and Daniel Thorpe, 28, from Buxton, Derbyshire, also suffered serious leg injuries, along with 49-year-old Chandaben Chauhan.

The trapped ride-goers had to wait more than four hours to be freed from the crumpled carriage while rescue workers battled to reach them as they sat 25ft up in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, pinned in by the mangled metal.

Footage published for the first time yesterday showed the Smiler stop at the top of a loop before bungling Alton Towers engineers overrode a system warning and sent it headlong into another truck on June 2 last year.

Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, which owns and operates the Alton Towers theme park, previously admitted a breach of health and safety rules over the incident.

Nicholas Varney, the chief executive of Merlin Entertainments, took home a 733,000 pay packet in the same year as the Smiler crash.

But lawyers for the company said it had seen a 14million drop in revenue as a result of the crash, and had 'got the message', making 30 changes to safety measures, equipment, and training.

Merlin Entertainments chief executive Nick Varney said: 'It is something we will never forget and it is something we are utterly determined will never be repeated'

Standing in front of victims , the Health and Safety Executive's Neil Craig, said a series of unchecked mistakes led to the crash

The firm's barrister Simon Antrobus said, although there had been human errors which led to the incident, Merlin accepted it was at fault.

Asked by the judge if anyone had resigned over the failings which led up to the horror crash, Mr Antrobus replied: 'No'.

In a statement read outside court, Merlin Entertainments chief executive Nick Varney said the company had 'let people down with devastating consequences'.

Mr Varney said: 'From the beginning the company has accepted full responsibility for the terrible accident at Alton Towers and has made sincere and heartfelt apologies to those who were injured. I repeat those sentiments here today as we did in court yesterday.

'In accepting responsibility and liability very early on we have tried to make the healing and compensation process as trouble free as possible for all of those involved.

'We have strived to fulfil our promise to support them in every way and I promise that this support will continue as long as they need it.'
Rosie ODonnell has hit back at Donald Trump - calling him an orange anus - after he dragged her name into the presidential debate Monday.

When Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton accused Trump of sexism during the debate at Hofstra University, New York, he took the opportunity to take another jab at his long-term nemesis ODonnell.

'This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs,' Clinton said  a similar challenge to one Trump faced more than a year ago from Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly at the first GOP primary debate.

Clinton did not mention ODonnell but Trump responded using her name, implying she was the only woman hed ever verbally attacked.

Republican Donald Trump brought up his feud with comedian Rosie O'Donnell as he debated with Democrat Hillary Clinton during the first Presidential Debate on Monday

'Somebody who's been very vicious to me, Rosie O'Donnell  I said very tough things to her. And I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her,' Trump said.

ODonnell responded via Twitter saying he will never be President before tweeting a link to a clip from The View in 2006 that shows her mocking Trump, a TV moment that is believed to be the origin of their feud.

The 5 mins orange anus can't seem to get over --- tell the truth - shame the donald [sic], she wrote alongside it.

On The View in 2006, the comedian said of Trump: 'He annoys me on a multitude of levels. He is the moral authority - left his first wife had an affair, left his second wife had an affair, had kids both times - but he is the moral compass for twenty year olds in America.

Rosie O'Donnell and Trump have been calling each other names since 2006

After the debate on Monday, O'Donnell tweeted calling Trump an 'orange anus' and said he can't seem to get over her five minute segment on The View from five years ago

O'Donnell mocked trump on The View in 2006, impersonating his hair and voice

Donald sit and spin my friend, she said.

Trump called her a 'loser' after the segment in which she questioned his decision to not fire the then Miss USA Tara Conner over her reported drug use.

The feud erupted again in 2011 when O'Donnell announced she was engaged to marry her now ex-wife Michelle Rounds and Trump tweeted; 'I feel sorry for Rosie 's new partner in love whose parents are devastated at the thought of their daughter being with @Rosie--a true loser.'

She responded on Twitter by calling him a 'real a**.'

Then, after her heart attack in August 2012, Trump actually tweeted at O'Donnell saying he was thinking about her and hoped she got better, to which O'Donnell replied; 'well thank u donald - i must admit ur post was a bit of a shock ... r u trying to kill me ? xx'

'He will never be President,' O'Donnell said after Trump reasoned she 'deserved' to be abused

Clinton (R) and Trump (L) shake hands at the start of the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York

The two were back at it again however in 2014 when Trump attacked O'Donnell for getting weight loss surgery, saying she had previously criticized Star Jones for doing the same things years earlier.

Later that same year when it was revealed O'Donnell would be returning to The View, Trump wrote on Twitter; 'Rosie is crude, rude, obnoxious and dumb - other than that I like her very much!'

These comments were just a few of the ones that Fox News host Megyn Kelly brought up to Trump at the first Republican debate last August when asked about his use of the words 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals' when describing women.

'Only Rosie O'Donnell,' Trump said in response to the statement.

Madonna showed her support for O'Donnell with this throwback picture. She wrote: 'Mess with my girl Rosie and you're messing with me!!!'

Filmmaker Dustin Lance Black responded to Trump's latest attack on O'Donnell, saying 'you attack Rosie, you attack us all'

Chelsea Handler quoted a line from Dirty Dancing, saying 'nobody puts Rosie in the corner'

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane asked 'wait... did Trump whine about Rosie O Donnell there at the end?'

'Do not effing come for Rosie,' Lena Dunham said in defense of the comedian

O'Donnell tweeted later that night; 'try explaining that 2 ur kids.'

She then took aim at Trump in April when she took to the stage after a performance of the Broadway musical Disaster! and sang a number about the presumptive Republican nominee.

Singing to the tune of There Are Worse Things I Could Do from the musical Grease, O'Donnell kicked things off by crooning; 'There are worse things I could do, and Ill now name one or two. These are things hes said or done, just sit back, lets have some fun.

She then continued; 'I could build a giant wall, Mexico pays for it all. And repeal Obamacare, do that weird thing with my hair. Its a comb over, its true, thats a thing Id never do.

'Get endorsements from the Klan, brag about my tiny hands. Ban all Muslims coming in, and have bright-orange skin, that's a shade I eschew.

O'Donnell then closed with a bit of vulgarity, singing; 'Tell Ted Cruz Ill spill the beans, we still dont know what the f*** he means!

'Have my words incite hate crimes, declare bankruptcy four times. Tell the Taj Mahal screw you, and everything I've said is true, but you know he's gonna say; "I'LL SUE YOU!"'

ODonnell is a vocal support of Clinton. A host of celebrities took to Twitter on Monday to support her after Trump's latest attack.
Lord Hague (pictured with Angolina Jolie during his time as Foreign Secretary) party critics should learn from the Tories, who take a good two years for a party to despair even of a very unsuccessful leader

Labour MPs should wait two years before trying to topple Jeremy Corbyn, former Tory leader William Hague advised today.

He said the coup from Labour moderates against Mr Corbyn was launched too soon and they had left the veteran leader in a stronger position than he was before.

Owen Smith's leadership challenge ended in disaster at the weekend after Labour members and supporters gave Mr Corbyn an even bigger mandate than last year, winning by a landslide 62-38 per cent.

Lord Hague said Mr Corbyns internal party critics should learn from the Conservative party, which takes a good two years for a party to despair even of a very unsuccessful leader.

It is a sign of the drastic state of the Labour party that a former Tory leader is offering his help on how to save the party.

Lord Hague, who served as Foreign Secretary under David Cameron, urged Labour MPs to 'build a party within a party' before selecting a future leader with a philosophy.

Future leadership contenders such as Yvette Cooper, Dan Jarvis or David Miliband should spend the next 24 months writing books and making big speeches to set the stage for another coup to topple Mr Corbyn, he advised.

'If they care about having an alternative government, they cannot fight in 2020 with Corbyn at their head,' Lord Hague wrote in his Daily Telegraph column today.

Labour MPs should wait two years before trying to topple Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at the Labour party conference in Liverpool yesterday), former Tory leader William Hague advised

Lord Hague said another mistake was to select Owen Smith (pictured congratulating Jeremy Corbyn on his re-election on Saturday) to challenge Mr Corbyn, describing him as not only unprepared for the fight but offered merely a less doctrinaire version of Corbyn himself

He said the huge influx of new members from every socialist pressure group to take control of the Labour party had left the prospect of a Labour prime minister in 2020 pretty small and warned the party is now helpless to the hard-left seizing possession of Labour and deselecting moderate MPs.

By jumping the natural starting gun, the moderates left some Labour members able to say that their leader was still new and hadnt been given a chance, Lord Hague wrote.

We would have never made this error, the Tory grandee added.

Mr Hague said future leaders should write the books, pen the pamphlets and make the big speeches over the next two years before making their move to oust Mr Corbyn.

Future leadership contenders such as Yvette Cooper (left) or David Miliband (right) should spend the next 24 months writing books and making big speeches to set the stage for another coup to topple Mr Corbyn

It is a sign of the drastic state of the Labour party that Lord Hague, a former Tory leader (pictured with Angolina Jolie during his time as Foreign Secretary) is offering his help on how to save the party

They need to say what they would do about combining the benefits of globalisation with looking after the people who can miss out on its riches.

They should be showing what a leader of the opposition could be saying if their objective was to be prime minister rather than to entrench a faction in permanent control of a great party.

He said the decision by moderates to quit en-masse following the EU referendum and force a leadership and assume it could win was one of the biggest misjudgements since Stalin was accept as general secretary of the Soviety Communist Party in 1922.
A leader of Jews in the Labour party was heckled from the floor of party conference today as he slammed an 'upsurge' in anti-Semitism.

Mike Katz said Labour had become a party that was 'not seen as welcoming to Jews' amid a growing dispute about anti-Semitism among activists supporting Jeremy Corbyn.

But as Mr Katz urged delegates to immediately adopt party rule changes to make it easier to remove anti-Semites from ranks, he was loudly heckled from the floor.

Reports suggested the activist shouted that Mr Katz, vice-chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement, did not speak for all Jews and was talking 'rubbish'.

A heckler on the floor of Labour conference today, pictured, shouted at Mike Katz from the Jewish Labour Movement as he demanded rule changes to make it easier to kick out racists

Mr Corbyn faced renewed calls at conference from MPs to do more on anti-Semitism at the conference after claims were made on the conference fringes that racism was being 'weaponised' against the Labour leader.

In his speech, Mr Katz said: ' I don't want to be here because I wish there hadn't been an upsurge in antisemitics, Islamophobic, misogynistic and homophobic vile hate speech in our party, even here, in our exhibitions and on our fringe, I'm sad to report.

'Jeremy [Corbyn] has said it, Tom [Watson] has said it, we have all said it; there is no place for this in our party. We must root it out.

'Against this backdrop, is there any wonder that support for Labour amongst British Jews is said to be as low as 7 per cent.

'It makes me weep; the party of Manny Shinwell, the party that has done more than any other to promote tolerance and inequality, the party to which the Jewish Labour Movement has been affiliated since 1920, is not seen as a welcoming home for Jews.'

The row comes after Labour's ruling national executive committee last week decided only to 'note' proposals  which would make it easier to expel those responsible for anti-Semitism and other forms of racism  meaning they will not be implemented until next year.

Mike Katz told Labour conference today the party as a whole must do more to tackle anti-Semitism but he was heckled from the floor

Mr Katz received a standing ovation for his speech to the Labour conference which included a demand to speed up rules changes

Mr Katz said it was a 'let down' that it will be another 12 months before 'we can signal to our members that we're serious about dealing with the problems. We shouldn't have to wait another year. It should be now'.

Israeli ambassador Mark Regev is at the Labour conference in Liverpool today to attend the annual Labour Friends of Israel Reception.

Mr Corbyn is due to attend the event on the fringes of the main conference tonight.

A year ago, the Labour leader ran into trouble for his speech at the event as he was criticised for not using the word Israel in his main remarks or while taking questions.

Politics Home reporter Josh May said the heckler claimed Mr Katz 'did not speak for all Jews' and 'rubbish'

Anti-Semitism returned to the forefront of the conference yesterday as Illford North MP Wes Streeting, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on British Jews, spoke out.

At a Saturday night fringe meeting, controversial Momentum activist Jackie Walker last night accused opponents of Mr Corbyn of 'weaponising' and 'exaggerating' anti-Semitism against the Labour leader.

Leaflets distributed outside a meeting on religious hatred by the left-wing pressure group Momentum were branded 'anti-Semitic and undeniably racist' by Mr Streeting.

The leaflets claimed that the Jewish Labour Movement acted as 'a representative of a foreign power, Israel' and called for it to be disaffiliated from the Labour Party.

Israeli ambassador Mark Regev, seen today left in glasses, is at the Labour Party Conference for meetings with activists and leading politicians

Mr Streeting told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'That last comment, 'acts as a representative of a foreign power', this isn't ambiguous. This is classic anti-semitic trope, at our conference.

'In terms of some of the people we're talking about, and the problem that occurs, they're not going to listen to people like me.

'But they do place a lot of faith and stock in Jeremy.

'As someone who has a track record of tackling racism and discrimination, I think in the past year he's had a golden opportunity which he hasn't yet taken up to show real leadership on this, and help navigate through some of the problems we face in terms of anti-Semitism.'

Mr Corbyn, seen today arriving for day three of the party conference, is due to attend the annual Labour Friends of Israel reception on the conference fringes tonight

Mr Streeting acknowledged that anti-Semitism was not a problem among the vast majority of Labour members, and that anti-Semitism can be used to shut down legitimate debate on Israel.

He added: 'But sometimes that debate does spill over into anti-semitism.

'Jeremy Corbyn has got an opportunity to show real leadership to help steer us through.

'I feel in the past year he hasn't acknowledged the extent and the nature of the problem, or helped us reach a solution.'
Ronald Harper (pictured), a deputy property manager for the Royal Household took 55,000 in bribes to award contracts to friends and told them to make up payments

A deputy property manager in the Royal Household is facing jail for taking bribes to help companies win lucrative contracts at some of London's most iconic residences.

Ronald Harper, 64, was paid more than 75,000 in return for showing favour to heating, building and energy firms over a five year period.

The work at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Kensington Palace, was funded by the Civil List, now called the Sovereign Grant, and came straight out of taxpayers' pockets.

Harper's services to the Queen were recognised when he was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in 2004.

He was convicted earlier this year of conspiracy to make corrupt payments between 2006 and 2011 in relation to Melton Power Services (MPS), pocketing at least 55,000' from the firm.

Following a second trial Harper was also found guilty of another corruption charge - involving building service company BSI Nordale.

Directors of BSI Nordale Christopher Murphy, 56, and Aseai Zlaoui, 41, were both convicted alongside Harper of making corrupt payments to win contracts at Buckingham Palace and St James Palace.

Harpers brother-in-law Alan Rollinson, 67, was also convicted of laundering 20,000 from BSI but cleared of laundering thousands of pounds in profit for MPS.

MPS company director Steven Thompson, 62, GO Power director Glynn Orridge, 67, admitted fraudulently using their companies as part of the conspiracy.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said Harper had 'quite brilliantly disguised' the scheme and warned he is 'certainly going to go to prison for quite a long time'.

Directors of building service company BSI Nordale Aseai Zlaoui, 41, (pictured left) and Christopher Murphy, 56 (pictured right) were both convicted alongside Harper of making corrupt payments to win contracts at Buckingham Palace and St James Palace

Harper's brother-in-law Alan Rollinson (left) was convicted of laundering 20,000. MPS company director Steven Thompson (pictured centre) and GO Power director Glynn Orridge (pictured right) admitted fraudulently using their companies as part of the conspiracy

Heating, building and energy firms bribed Harper to give them lucrative contracts at several high-profile royal properties, including Buckingham Palace

The six defendants will face sentence after a two day hearing at Southwark crown court.

The charges arose following an investigation by Leicestershire Police's Financial Investigation Unit.

Harper, who was responsible for more than 2million worth of palace contracts, took thousands of pounds in bribes from companies hoping to gain the lucrative deals.

Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle are among the properties that were overseen by him during his time in the role.

David Durose, prosecuting, said: '[Harper] received what were in effect bribes from companies with who he had dealings to show favour to them in the course of his employment.

'Some of the payments that he received as such bribes were disguised as being paid through the bank accounts of others.'

His job description was 'to procure works in the most cost-effective manner' for the palaces.

'He had a key role to play in the awarding of contracts from outside businesses to provide services to the Royal Household.'

Harper extended a contract with MPS on a yearly basis without considering competitors despite knowing that this was not standard procedure.

MPS received contracts from the Royal Household worth 569,000 between 2003 and 2012 - though it is not believed that all of these were corruptly awarded.

Until 2008 Thompson was a partner of MPS - which provided 'high voltage electrical equipment'.

That year the company was sold to the Freedom Group which supposedly made their dealings with Harper more difficult due to Thompson no longer being the boss.

The Prince of Wales residence Clarence House, famous for hosting Prince George's christening in 2013 (pictured), was once of the buildings managed by Harper

Windsor Castle (pictured) is one of many royal homes overseen by Harper when he worked in the Royal Household

The takeover saw the MPS partners take home 'almost 4million' between them which was related to Harper receiving 22,000 in 2009 in part from Thompson's account.

'There were further unexplained cash deposits into Mr Harper's bank accounts totalling in excess of A20,000,' Mr Durose added.

In February 2010 Thompson made a cheque out to cash for 2,500 which the prosecutor noted had 'Ron Harper' written on it.

Corrupt payments were made to Harper from MPS Ltd through 'inflated invoices'.

Mr Durose explained subcontractors would over-charge the household for work carried out so that Harper could take a cut.

'Everybody is on the take in relation to some of these deals,' the prosecutor claimed.

As well as Harper getting a portion of the profit Thompson was also handed a cut for organising the deals.

Mr Durose also suggested that MPS having a Royal Warrant would likely have meant they were 'a more attractive proposition'.

During the first trial jurors were shown an email from Thompson which had a number of documents attached.

The email, sent on November 20, 2006, had the subject line 'Buckingham Palace Distribution Board' and related to a potential quote for work to be done at the palace.

Attached, along with a quote from MPS, were falsified quotes purporting to be from two other companies vying for the contract.

On both of these quotes the word 'trunking' was spelt incorrectly as 'truncing' and the prosecutor suggested this had been due to a copy and paste approach to their creation.

The work at Kensington Palace (pictured), was funded by the Civil List, now called the Sovereign Grant, and came straight out of taxpayers' pockets

Harper, 64, was paid more than 75,000 in return for showing favour to heating, building and energy firms who wanted to work at royal buildings, including St James's Palace (pictured)

Mr Durose explained that these quotes were higher than the MPS quote so that it would appear the Royal Household were getting the best value for money.

Thompson asked others to 'print them off, sign them' and to used 'the lads or Sue' for the signatures on the fake quotes.

He also asked a colleague to post them from Nottingham and London which is where the two companies supposedly behind the quotes were based.

Mr Durose said: 'It is clear from the email that there is an implication that Mr Thompson has effectively fabricated some quotes for other companies to submit to Buckingham Palace along with the quote from his company MPS.'

Mr Durose explained that similar false quotes had also been found in relation to a contract at St James' Palace.

A later email outlined the proposed split of funds between MPS employees and Harper.

Thompson supposedly told a colleague that he would gain '1,500 for a day at Buckingham Palace' and mentioned initially that he would pocket 1,000 and that 'Ron gets A4,727' - though these figures were later recalculated.

BSI were paid almost 750,000 for work at the palaces which made up more than 75% of their turnover for two years running.

Harper had been Murphy's line manager at Harrods before he left and Zlaoui later began working for the luxury store as an engineering and energy manager.

A notebook belonging to Zlaoui was found which showed 'the system being exploited' as it featured notes including 'make some up' following a meeting with Harper.

Two payments of 10,000 each were paid by BSI to Rollinson, purporting to be for 'various items of furniture', but the money eventually wound up with Harper receiving his bribe.

Rollinson paid off Harper's wife's credit card bill after marking one of his cheques as 'Kim and Ron's' - which was later scribbled out.

Harper, Glemsford, Sudbury, Suffolk, was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments.

Murphy, of Witham, Essex, and Zlaoui, of Witham, were each convicted of one count of the same charge.

Rollinson, of Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, was found guilty of one count of converting or transferring criminal property.

Orridge,and Thompson, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, both earlier admitted fraud charges.
Monday night's debate kicked off with one very tense moment before the candidates even took to the stage.

Washington Post reporter Dalton Bennett posted a Vine that showed Kimberly Halkett of Al Jazeera chasing down Mark Cuban in a scrum and being unable to catch up with the billionaire businessman to get an interview.

That is when Halkett suddenly whipped around and yelled at the woman behind her: 'Thanks a lot b****.'

Bennett posted the video along with the comment: 'Scrum pleasantries. The show hasn't even started but things are off to a great start.'

Scroll down for video

Not happy: A reporter lashed out at a woman prior to Monday night's debate (above) when she failed to get an interview with Mark Cuban

Fail: Kimberly Halkett of Al Jazeera (above) was chasing down the billionaire businessman in a scrum, but did not reach him in time

The other woman in the video has not been identified at this time.

Shortly after the debate on Monday night, Buzzfeed called Halkett and asked her for comment, but the reporter told the site she was too busy and did not have time to speak.

Many on social media wrote about the confrontation after the debate Monday night.

'THE HERO AMERICA DESERVES,' said Elizabeth Schindler on Twitter about Halkett.

'I went to bed laugh about this, I woke up this morning laughing and I'm still laughing, THANKS A LOT B***,' said Michael.

As of Monday morning the Vine had already been viewed well over 7 million times.

Cuban meanwhile was in his own tense interaction before the debate, squaring off with Donald Trump economic adviser Peter Navarro.

The Dallas Mavericks owner is a Hillary Clinton supporter, and his attendance at the debate became one of the big stories in the days leading up to the much anticipated faceoff.

After learning that Cuban had been invited to sit in the front row, Trump said on Twitter that he would be inviting Gennifer Flowers, Bill Clinton's former mistress.

'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!' wrote Trump.

Response: Many on Twitter have commented on the confrontation, with one person calling Halett: 'THE HERO AMERICA DESERVES'

Keeping quiet: Halkett did not respond to a request for comment about the incident

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.

Cuban responded by writing: '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 about a wholesome set of fraternal twins.
A woman who allegedly stole the handbag of a car crash victim as she lay dying on the side of the road says she'll 'never forgive herself' and has told how she wished she took the victim's place in the crash.

Silvia Schreuder, 44, allegedly went into the car of Kay Shaylor, 62, after a fatal accident in Gosford, New South Wales, and stole her handbag.

It is alleged Schreuder and her alleged accomplice Jason Hall, 42, planned to use the credit cards they took from Ms Shaylor's bag to buy McDonald's, alcohol, a fishing rod and a scratchie.

Taking to Facebook on Monday night, Schreuder apologised for her actions, saying she 'loathed' herself for being high at the time she allegedly stole the handbag, and vowed not to take drugs again.

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Silvia Schreuder (pictured) has taken to Facebook to say she will never forgive herself for allegedly stealing the handbag of Kay Shaylor as she lay dying on the road after a car crash

Ms Shaylor (left), 62, died after the accident in Gosford, New South Wales on September 3. After the crash Schreuder, 44, and her alleged accomplice Jason Hall, 42, allegedly helped to free victim from the wreckage (right) before allegedly taking her handbag and going on a spending spree

Schreuder took to Facebook on Monday night to say that she 'loathed' herself over the incident and wishes she 'was in the car accident and not Kay' (pictured)

'I loathed myself on my actions (sic) as I was in no frame of mind due to being high at the time,' Schreuder wrote.

'I wished I was in the car accident and not Kay the poor lady that passed.

'God will not forgive me and I will never forgive my actions and I will not forgive myself.'

Schreuder appeared in the Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, where she faces five charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and larceny.

But while Schreuder is seeking forgiveness from above, she said there was no point apologising to Ms Shaylor's family and is reportedly yet to decide how she will plead to the charges against her.

'(I) will never ever, I repeat never, touch that evil drug that made my life a living hell (again),' Schreuder wrote.

'Now I wish Kay may Rest In Peace as every time I pass the scene I pray for forgiveness from her and god please forgive me.'

'To the family of Kay, I know sorry will never be accepted I'm sincerely regretful,' she wrote.

Outside court on Tuesday, the family of Kay Shaylor said they weren't interested in an apology from Schreuder, the Daily Telegraph reports.

'Kay was a beautiful soul and is no longer with us, the law will take care of people like her with a just punishment,' the victim's sister-in-law Margaret Shaylor said.

'She can make as many excuses as she wants, she shouldn't have robbed Kay in her last hour.'

Schreuder is reportedly yet to decide how she will plead to five charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and larceny

This image allegedly shows Schreuder's alleged accomplice Hall (pictured wearing white shirt) at the scene of the crash attempting to help free Ms Shaylor

CCTV footage allegedly shows Hall using Ms Shaylor's cards less than an hour after the crash that took her life, Channel Ten reports

Ms Shaylor was killed in the accident on Saturday, September 3, which was allegedly caused by Bianca Harrington, 20, who allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road and hit the 62-year-old's car.

Ms Shaylor was first taken to Gosford Hospital then airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital, where she died.

Harrington is facing five charges over Ms Shaylor's death, including dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and driving while suspended.

The mother-of-one allegedly told police that she smoked 'five bongs' the night before the crash.

She remains in custody and is due to reappear in court on October 28.

Suspended L-plate driver Bianca Harrington (pictured), 20, allegedly crashed into Ms Shaylor after crossing on to the wrong side of the road
Green rope was used to hold down the trees on the roof of the vehicle

A driver has learned an expensive lesson after he was slapped with a $433 fine for travelling with a few palm trees to the roof of his car.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser was driving along a street in Telegraph Point on the North Coast of NSW on Monday when highway patrols noticed the obscure display.

After being pulled over, the driver was given a fine and lost three demerit points on his license after he infringed 'unsecured load and obscured number plates'.

NSW highway patrol pulled the vehicle over after spotting several palm streets strapped to it

The trunk of the trees rested above the windscreen with the leaves hanging down the rear

Photographs - shared on the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command - NSW Police Force Facebook page - shows the trunk of the palm trees resting above the windscreen with the leaves hanging down the rear window.

A green rope was used to hold the branches down on the roof, with the thick string wrapped around the trees several times and through the front doors of the vehicle.

The post has been met with ridicule on social media, with many describing the incident as a 'street sweeper' and the driver could have saved on 'delivery fees' if he went for that option instead.

One person commented: 'Just a man taking his palm for a drive , nothing to see here officer , keep rolling.'

After being pulled over by police, the driver was given a fine and lost three demerit points

The post has been met with ridicule on Facebook, with many describing it as a 'street sweeper' and the driver could have saved on 'delivery fees' if he went for that option instead

'I'm sorry but that's funny did he really think he was going to get away with things,' another person wrote.

Another said: 'They're only trying to cover up their embarrassing decision on their car purchase.'

'Cheaper to get it delivered By a towy [sic],' one posted.

'Haha, how could u not recognise a street sweeper when u see one. Left, righthand drive, stopping, what ever [sic],' another wrote.
Two home-made bombs have gone off outside a mosque and a conference centre in the German city of Dresden hours after a march by the anti-Islam Pegida movement.

Far-Right extremists are suspected of being behind last night's attacks.

The door of a mosque was badly damaged when one device went off at 10pm local time but the imam, his wife and two sons were unhurt, according to The Independent.

Policemen stand in front of the blackened door to the mosque in Dresden, where an imam and his family cowered inside

Another bomb hit a conference centre a few minutes later but again there were no casualties.

The city is home to Pegida movement - which stands for Patriotic Europeans against Islamisation of the West - which holds weekly marches. It has been described by one politician as 'Nazis in pinstripes'.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the blasts, which happened a few hours after protesters from Pegida (pictured) marched through Dresden

Pegida organiser Lutz Bachmann holds a controversial placard during a march through Leipzig earlier this year

Police president Horst Kretschmar said: 'Even though we do not have a letter of confession, we must assume there's a xenophobic background.'

Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere called the attacks 'outrageous'.

He said: 'Aggression against people who are practising Islam is increasing in Germany. Fortunately, people didn't get hurt, but we don't want these things to happen in Germany.'

The imam's son, Ibrahim Turan, told the Bild newspaper: 'I looked out of the window and saw how somebody with a motorcycle helmet threw something.

'First I thought it was a stone, but then there was a loud bang and the door was on fire.'

'They attacked us because they hate us, because were Muslims,' he added.

Police have stepped up security outside mosques in the area following the attacks.

The bomb went off at 10pm local time and the imam's son said: 'They attacked us...because we're Muslims'

The second device damaged a glass sculpture outside the International Congress Centre and led to a nearby hotel bar being evacuated.

Dresden is set to be at the heart of national celebrations next Monday to mark the 26th anniversary of the unification of Germany.

Dresden is the state capital of Saxony, which has seen a number of racist attacks recently.
An emotional Tom Watson today demanded Jeremy Corbyn stop 'trashing' Tony Blair and focus on winning elections and not seizing control of Labour.

In a tub-thumping speech that won a rousing standing ovation but left Mr Corbyn looking deeply uncomfortable, Mr Watson appealed to delegates to put an end to the infighting.

He told the veteran left-winger: 'We won't win elections like this and we need to win elections.'

In a clear jibe at shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who yesterday unveiled a 1970s-style socialist manifesto, he insisted: 'Capitalism, comrades, is not the enemy.'

An emotional Tom Watson today appealed to Labour to put an end to the infighting and focus on winning power from the Tories

Mr Watson said Labour had to be ready for an election that could be called as soon as next week and warned delegates the party could help no one while the Tories were in power

The defiant address to activists in Liverpool came hours after after London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the party 31 times in 10 minutes to prioritise winning power.

Mr Watson said Labour had to be ready for an election that could be called as soon as next week and warned delegates - and the Labour leader - the party could help no one while the Tories were in power.

The party's conference in Liverpool has been ruined by Labour MPs wrestling with what to do about Mr Corbyn after he extended his mandate among members but showed no sign of improving the party's worst ever ratings with the public.

Mr Corbyn has sat stony faced on stage today as two of his most powerful party rivals urged him to turn his attention to victory at the ballot box and not control of the party machinery.

Mr Watson launched a staunch defence of both New Labour PMs for their time in office - a move which will infuriate many of the party's new activists who prefer the political purity of Mr Corbyn.

WATSON'S BRUTAL SLAP DOWN FOR HECKLER Tom Watson delivered a brutal riposte to a persistent heckler during his barnstorming party conference speech. As the deputy leader called on the party to stop 'trashing' Tony Blair's record in government, a woman in the audience shouted 'Chilcot'. The jibe was a reference to the heavy criticism levelled at the former PM by the inquiry into the Iraq war. In what appeared to be a pre-prepared rebuke, Mr Watson turned theatrically to Mr Corbyn and gestured towards the heckler. 'Jeremy, I don't think she got the unity memo,' he joked. Amid laughter from the crowd, Mr Corbyn merely shifted awkwardly in his seat on the platform. Advertisement

Mr Watson won a huge standing ovation from delegates as he made his appeal for the party to take on Theresa May Tories.

He also won cheers for calling out a heckler at the Liverpool conference centre.

In a seemingly pre-prepared riposte he turned theatrically to Mr Corbyn and quipped that the female activist had not got his 'unity memo'.

After a bitterly divided summer and a grim conference, Mr Watson said: 'We can't afford to keep doing this.

'More importantly, the millions the Tories leave behind every day they can't afford us to keep doing this. I'm sure there is going to be an early general election.

'We need to be ready, we need to stand together as one Labour movement, million strong and utterly united.

'It's time for Labour to get back to business, time to get the band back together - we have to get back on the phones, out on the door step.'

In what appeared as a direct appeal to Mr Corbyn, Mr Watson said Labour did not 'worship' the market but used it to further the interests of the vulnerable.

And his voice wavered as he declared: 'We made the economy work like never before or since and we lifted half a million children out of poverty and lifted a million pensioners out of poverty, gave millions of low paid workers the decency of a national minimum wage.

Mr Corbyn looked on stony faced during Mr Watson's speech to the conference today

Mr Watson gave a tub-thumping speech to rally the Labour faithful before an awkward embrace with Mr Corbyn on the platform in Liverpool

'More than 100 new hospitals, more than 200,000 doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters, bringing waiting lists down, crime down, more than doubling overseas aid. I could go on.

'From a position of national prosperity we had the space to do good things... social democratic government started to feel normal to the people of Britain.

'I don't know why we have been focusing on what was wrong with the Blair and Brown governments for the last six years, trashing our record is not the way to enhance our brand.

'We won't win elections like this and we need to win elections.'

The rhetoric was later echoed on the conference fringes by Lisa Nandy, the Wigan MP touted as a future party leader, while other MPs praised the 'punchy address' from Mr Watson as 'exactly where we should be staking out territory'.

Sadiq Khan offered his congratulations to the Labour leader on his second victory on Saturday but demanded an election winning party

On the third day of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, he demanded: 'Labour. In. Power. Not just talking the talk but walking the walk too.'

Earlier, Mr Khan has hammered home the mantra Labour must be 'in power' more than 30 times in a ten minute speech in a rebuke to Jeremy Corbyn.

The most powerful Labour politician in Britain said the party could do nothing to tackle its priorities and help its voters if it wandered the political wilderness.

Mr Khan - who won City Hall by a landslide in May after distancing himself from Mr Corbyn - offered his congratulations to the Labour leader on his second victory on Saturday.

But on the third day of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, he demanded: 'Labour. In. Power. Not just talking the talk but walking the walk too.'

'It's only when Labour is in power we get the chance to fix the problems we care most about.'

Mr Khan has not met with the Labour leader since June while Mr Corbyn was sidetracked by the ugly leadership bout with MPs - but he has had a series of meetings with senior Tory ministers in Government.

Mr Khan, who backed Owen Smith in the summer leadership election, told Labour's delegates today he wanted to pursue the party's priorities in power.

He highlighted the housing crisis, tackling 'filthy air' and securing the best solution for Brexit.

But he said: 'We also have to be honest: We won't be able to fix the housing crisis overnight.

'But it's only with Labour in power we can make a real start and a real difference.'

Mr Khan said he wanted to pursue Labour's priorities and highlighting the housing crisis, tackling 'filthy air' and securing a sound solution for Brexit.

Mr Corbyn watched the London Mayor's speech from the podium and joined a standing ovation to his colleague at the end of his speech.

But unlike many of his close allies, Mr Corbyn did not embrace Mr Khan on stage at the end of his remarks.

Issuing a clear message to his leader to change tack, Mr Khan said: 'Labour is not in power in the place that we can have the biggest impact on our country: in Parliament.

'It's in government that Labour can make the biggest changes to people's lives, and every day now we see what happens when Labour's not in power.'

Mr Khan was greeted by Labour activists in Liverpool today ahead of his major speech to the party conference

Mr Khan condemned Tory policies on grammar schools and the lack of a plan for Brexit.

He said: The people who need us the most are those who suffer the most when Labour is not in power.

'Conference, let me end by saying this: Labour out of power will never ever be good enough. We can only improve lives with Labour in power.

'By winning elections, by putting Labour values into action every day. Real Labour values: equality, social justice and opportunities for all.

'It's only with Labour in power can we create a fairer, more equal and more just Britain. And when Labour's not in power, we fail the very people who need us most.'

Mr Corbyn was given a violin lesson by 10 year old Jessica Kelly during a visit to Faith Primary School in Liverpool as he took a trip away from the main party conference in Liverpool

Mr Corbyn was last night condemned for taking Labour into 'la la land' after his shadow chancellor unveiled a socialist programme of collective bargaining, a right for workers to own businesses and massive public spending commitments.

At the same time, senior figures in Mr Corbyn's office triggered an explosive new row over the Trident nuclear deterrent by deleting conciliatory language from shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis' speech moment before he delivered it.

Mr Lewis reportedly punched a wall in frustration at the last second changes to his speech.

The chaotic conference has continued against the backdrop of an entirely separate event nearby run by the Momentum faction of activists who are accused of running a 'party within a party'.

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Tom Brake said: 'Sadiq Khan mentioned power 38 times in a 20 minute speech.

'It was a blunt message but it still won't have sunk with the acolytes around Corbyn who had to grimace watching someone who can win an election and reach out across party lines.

'This speech shows that under Jeremy Corbyn Labour are hopelessly divided, have no plan for the economy and are failing to oppose the government.

'Jeremy Corbyn is obsessed with re-fighting the battles of the past and ignoring the damage the Government is doing to our future.'

The NHS faces disaster if Brexit ends free movement, Diane Abbott warns Labour conference

A Brexit deal which ends free movement could be a disaster for the NHS, Diane Abbott has warned.

The issue of whether the UK can secure access to the European single market while also gaining control of its borders is shaping up to be one of the key issues for the Government as it pushes forward with divorce from Brussels.

But Ms Abbott, the shadow health secretary, told delegates at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool that the health service depends on workers from other EU countries and that restricting movement could cause problems in the future.

Diane Abbott, the shadow health secretary, told delegates at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool that the health service depends on workers from other EU countries

She also said a Labour government would prioritise mental health services, repeal the controversial 2012 Health and Social Care Act, reverse privatisation within the NHS and refuse to sign any future private finance initiative (PFI) deal.

On the issue of Brexit, she said: 'In the coming months the Labour team will be holding the Government to account and battling to protect the interests of working people in the Brexit negotiations.

'But I wish to remind conference that there are 50,000 EU workers in our NHS and 80,000 EU workers in social care.
Consultant David Mills (pictured with wife Alison) allegedly gave a credit card an HBOS banker, which was than used to buy lavish purchases and expensive holidays

A banker at the centre of a 245million loan scam held sex parties with escorts which were fuelled by Viagra and funded by bribes, a court heard yesterday.

Married Lynden Scourfield, 54, received envelopes of notes worth up to 4,000 at the central London flat where the events were held, it was alleged.

The former senior director at Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) stored the cash in a kitchen drawer  which also contained a stash of Viagra  and used it to pay women whom he liked to dress in suspenders and mini-dresses, the jury heard.

Scourfield was allegedly showered with gifts, including a 3,000 Cartier watch and luxury cruises, in return for signing off vast loans to businesses on the brink of collapse.

Former banker and venture capitalist David Mills, 60, offered the rewards to ensure Scourfields clients used him as a turnaround consultant as part of the terms of the loan, it was claimed.

The corrupt lending, between 2003 and 2007, forced HBOS to write off losses of 245million when it was finally uncovered.

Scourfield was also the beneficiary of sexual entertainment which  was provided to him on a fairly frequent basis, prosecutor Brian ONeill QC said.

Michael Bancroft, one of Millss associates, told a colleague that Scourfield had an unhappy marriage and that he would want a woman to have sex with whilst in the capital, the court heard.

A staff member said she was asked to book girls for some posh t*** banker friends.

John Cartwright (pictured left) and Michael Bancroft (right) are also on trial. Bancroft was labelled as Mills' 'man on the ground' and allegedly received 'around 1million' in direct payments, the court heard

Scourfield and Bancroft were subsequently among a group, including three escorts, who dined in central Londons Royal China Restaurant in December 2005, jurors heard.

The group adjourned to a nearby flat where various sex acts took place, Mr O Neill told the court.

A diary note from the escorts concluded: Drinks at flat and quick shag. Easy 1,500. Home late and drunk.

Another diary entry, from 2005 when the escort and two others, named Amber and Starr, entertained the men, said: Portman Square W1. Drink G/G/G show songs, sex  stockings classy.

Bancroft later told an associate that one of the girls had filmed one of the parties on her phone.

He added that Scourfield suffered from premature ejaculation, liked to undress girls and liked girls to wear suspenders and mini-dresses.

Another of the escorts, using the pseudonym Suzie Best, was said to have been a particular favourite of Scourfield.

Suzie Best describes one of the men as a Danny DeVito lookalike  short and bald, the court heard.

Bancroft hired a man named Terry Holligan who made deliveries of envelopes containing up to 4,000 in 10 and 20 notes to Scourfield at the Portman Square flat.

If the banker was not there he was told to leave it in the blue drawer which was where Bancroft kept his stash of Viagra.

On one occasion he was greeted by Scourfield, wearing only a towel, who appeared from the bedroom and said: Hi Terry, you got some stuff for me? As he was talking, a girl in her twenties came out of the bedroom, the court heard.

Mr Holligan was later told the cash was funny money for Scourfield to pay for girls. He went back to make two further deliveries and on the third occasion saw the same girl with a slightly older one.

Scourfield was also allegedly bribed by Mills with free travel at the expense of a company called Bradman Lake Group Ltd, and had free rein over an American Express card the consultant owned for more than two years, the court heard.

Clothes, jewellery, luxury hotels and business-class flights  including a trip to the US costing more than 2,000  were all frequently purchased using the card. Further lavish spending took place at an oyster bar, it was alleged.

He went on several trips, some of which were clearly boys jollies, Mr ONeill said.

Textile expert John Cartwright (pictured) is said to have received 200,000 for his alleged role in the fraudulent trading at textile company Magenta Read

The purchases allegedly included a Cartier watch worth more than 3,000 in Barbados in 2005 and a six-star, all-inclusive cruise on the Mediterranean for the Scourfield and Mills couples in October 2004.

Together they occupied the second most expensive accommodation on the ship, the two-bedroom Royal Suite, Mr ONeill said.

He added that on several occasions Scourfield asked the person organising the trips to send the details to his personal email rather than his HBOS one.

In total, the Scourfields allegedly received almost 60,000 in identifiable corrupt gifts in this way.

Tom Angus, a senior HBOS director from 2006 and Scourfields direct line manager, told the court: The very fact that he had a card would place him in an indefensibly vulnerable position.

If personal usage is on the card then the suspicion would be that there can only be one reason  that the client wants you to do something in return that may not be in keeping with your duty of care to the bank.

Scourfield is not on trial. Mills, 59, appeared in the dock with his wife Alison Mills, 51, of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire; Michael Bancroft, 73, of Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire; Mark Dobson, 55, of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire; Jonathan Cohen, 57, of Pinner, north-west London; and John Cartwright, 71, from Hyde, Cheshire.

The list of charges, which the six all deny, includes conspiracy to corrupt, fraudulent trading and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.
Machado became a U.S citizen in August and will vote in November

The 39-year-old Venezuelan said in the video that Trump had fat-shamed her when she put on pounds after winning the crown

'She was the winner, and you know she gained a massive amount of weight and it was a real problem,' he said Tuesday on 'Fox & Friends'

'She was the worst we ever had,' Trump told a Fox News audience. 'The worst. The absolute worst. She was impossible'

Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado spoke to reporters today on behalf of Hillary Clinton's campaign after becoming a talking point at last night's presidential debate.

Machado, speaking predominantly in Spanish, briefly switched over to English and told journalists that watching Donald Trump during this election cycle has been like a 'bad dream.'

The 39-year-old Miss Universe 1996 was the willing subject of a line Clinton deployed during her closing remarks at Monday night's debate, with the former secretary of state telling the audience that Trump had once called Machado 'Miss Piggy' and 'Miss Housekeeping,' the latter because she was from Venezuela.

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Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who has said Donald Trump demeaned her after she won the 1996 pageant, appeared in a new Hillary Clinton ad Monday night

NO MERCY: Donald Trump blasted former beauty queen Alicia Machado on Tuesday as 'the worst' Miss Universe winner, saying 'she gained a massive amount of weight'  just hours after Hillary Clinton used her as Exhibit A in making the case that he's a sexist

Hillary Clinton (left) leveled a pre-planned attack Monday night on Donald Trump (right), revealing Machado as an endorser while she hammered him for fat-shaming the former beauty queen

On the call, Machado talked about the 'abuse' she suffered from when interacting with Trump while a beauty queen.

'And I have been talking about this for 20 years, this really bad experience working with Mr. Donald Trump,' she said.

'And last night, when I heard my President, whom I admire and respect, and Ive been concerned, Mrs. Clinton,' she continued.

'And I started crying. I started crying because I never imagined that such an important person like her would care about my story, know about my story,' the ex-beauty queen added.

She never imagined that she'd be in this position, years later, 'watching this guy saying stupid things and stupid comments,' she said in English.

Tuesday on 'Fox & Friends,' Trump said the moment Machado as brought up 'maybe' got under his skin.

'The very last question, when she brought up the person that became  I know that person  that person was a Miss Universe person, and she was the worst we ever had. The worst. The absolute worst. She was impossible,' Trump said of the Venezuelan-born Machado.

'And she was a Miss Universe contestant, and ultimately a winner, who they had a tremendously difficult time with as Miss Universe. ... She was the winner, and you know she gained a massive amount of weight and it was a real problem. We had a real problem.'

Monday night's debate, the first of three between Trump and Clinton, was a strong showing for the Democrat  but left Trump feeling moderator Lester Holt produced a one-sided affair.

'He didn't ask her about her scandals. He didn't ask her about the Benghazi deal that she destroyed. He didn't ask her about a lot of things that she should have been asked about,' Trump told 'Fox & Friends.'

'They were leaving all of her goodies out. They didn't ask her about much,' Trump vented.

The Republican boasted late Monday night and Tuesday morning that most online polls declared him the winner.

Those included snap polls  none of them scientific opinion surveys  from Time magazine, CNBS, Slate, Variety and The Drudge Report.

Clinton's pre-planned jab about Machado had its desired impact, with Spanish-language search terms about voter registration dominating Google in the event's closing minutes.

Machado fought a public battle with her weight on an international stage at the time, with Trump  who had just bought the pageant  inviting the media to watch her work out.

'She weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds, and she went up to 160 or 170. So this is somebody that likes to eat,' Trump told reporters at the time.

Citizenship: Alicia Machado posted this pointed picture just after Hillary Clinton spoke about her in the debate

Support: Machado's tweets shortly before the debate made clear she was aware she was going to be used in the course of it

She's with her: Machado posted this message of approval immediately after the debate. 'Thank you Mrs Hillary Clinton, your respect for women and our differences means so much. Im with you!' it said

Machado (pictured at age 19 during the Miss Universe pageant) said in the Hillary Clinton ad that Trump 'bears many grudges and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him'

That moment made its way into a Clinton campaign ad, released immediately after Monday's debate; Clinton set it up by berating her Republican rival on stage as a sexist.

'One of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest  he loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them  and he called this woman "Miss Piggy." Then he called her "Miss Housekeeping" because she was Latina,' Clinton said.

As Trump demanded to know where she had heard that  Machado told her story to 'Inside Edition four months ago  Clinton delivered the knockout blow: 'Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado, and she has become a U.S. citizen, and you can bet she's going to vote this November.'

Tuesday morning, though, Trump blamed Machado for being an unworkable Miss Universe, citing 'her attitude.'

'We had a real problem with her,' Trump recalled.

Machado became Miss Universe in 1996 and gained an estimated 40+ pounds afterward. She says Trump, who had just bought the pageant, blindsided her by having reporters watch her work out

'So Hillary went back into the years and she found this girl  this was many years ago  and found the girl and talked about her like she was Mother Teresa, and it wasn't quite this way,' he said.

'But that's okay. Hillary has to do what she has to do.'

In the Clinton campaign video, Machado also called Trump a racist.

Machado narrates her story in Spanish in Monday's video.

'I was the first Miss Universe after Trump bought the pageant,' she says in the video, speaking in Spanish.

'He was overwhelming. I was very scared of him. He'd yell at me all the time. He'd tell me, "You look ugly," or, "You look fat." Sometimes he'd "play" with me and say, "Hello, Miss Piggy", "Hello, Miss Housekeeping".'

Machado became a US citizen in August this year and share this photo on her Instagram account. The caption read in part: 'Miss Housekeeping and Miss Piggy can vote'

Machado also claimed she 'was never paid' for promotional work she did as Miss Universe, although she expected to collect a 10 per cent commission for commercials.

The Clinton campaign video features her insisting that Trump threatened to take her crown away over her weight-gain, and that putting her fitness regimen under a public microscope was 'very humiliating' and made her feel 'like a lab rat.'

'It had turned into a circus, the joke of "The Fat Miss Universe",' she said.

Machado developed eating disorders as the result. She previously said she was plagued with anorexia and bulimia for five years.

'I wouldn't eat, and would still see myself as fat, because a powerful man had said so,' she said in Monday night's Clinton ad.

'This is a man who doesn't realize the damage he causes. He bears many grudges and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him.
A British man has appeared in a French court accused of causing a fatal car crash after snorting cocaine.

Builder Terry Kellett, 41, was in tears as he stood in court and apologised for the incident in western France where a 20-year-old man was killed.

He is alleged to have driven his British registered Vauxhall people carrier with a friend after taking cocaine, a magistrate heard.

Terry Kellett is accused of causing the crash after his Vauxhall people carrier ploughed head on into a Renault Clio carrying the victim and two passengers aged 17 and 20 in the town of Tallud, near Poitiers in central France, pictured

Soon after taking the drug, his car ploughed head on into a Renault Clio carrying the victim and two passengers aged 17 and 20 in the town of Tallud, near Poitiers in central France.

A 38-year-old British man in the car with Kellett was also injured and all were taken to a nearby hospital following the collision.

Kellett, believed to be from Staplehurst, Kent, was said to be in a confused state and failed a road-side drugs test, with police arresting him immediately, although he was also initially treated in hospital.

He was kept in custody for almost a week until he appeared before a court in nearby Niort accused of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary wounding.

At the hearing Kellett said: 'I have done something terrible.

'I would like to find a way to do something for the family of the victim and for the people in the car.'

His lawyer Julie Adenot said: 'My client accepts full responsibility for his actions.

'He tried to help the people involved in the accident. He has acknowledged that he took cocaine even before the blood tests were returned.

The amount of cocaine he took was not revealed in the preliminary hearing before magistrate Valerie Gaillot-Mercier.

She released him on bail to an address in the Gers region 220 miles away and ordered him to sign on at his local police station twice a week.

He was also told to surrender his passport and not visit the area of the accident.

No date was set for the next hearing but prosecutor Sonia Bellier said she would be asking for the maximum seven year jail term at his trial.

In June figures released by police forces in England and Wales showed that almost 8,000 people had been arrested for drug driving.
Thalmanns were released on $250,000 bond but ordered to keep away from their

A Connecticut couple are accused of locking their two adopted children in dog cages, beating them with paddles and starving them - yet their biological son was left unharmed.

Michael, 44, and Jennifer Thalmann, 48, have both pleaded not guilty to charges of cruelty to people and risk of injury to a minor.

The authorities were first alerted to the alleged abuse in September 2015 after school officials reported that their adopted son, 10, and daughter, 9, were being forced into a dog cage as a form of discipline.

They were also allegedly being beaten with paddles.

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Michael, 44, (left) and Jennifer Thalmann, 48, (right) have both pleaded not guilty to charges of cruelty to people and risk of injury to a minor

A Department of Children and Families, DCF, investigation found that the extreme form of discipline was used while the family lived in Florida, the Hartford Courant reports.

They had then moved to Connecticut in January 2013 when the Thalmann's adoptive son and daughter were just ten and nine respectively, police said.

A younger third child, the couple's only biological son, was not subject to the same abuse.

However, the DCF did not report the Thalmanns to the police and closed their investigation after the couple agreed to undergo counseling.

But, in May this year, the DCF were forced to get involved again after the children were found stealing food from their school.

James Marciano, the principal of Newington's Elizabeth Green School, spoke to the boy who claimed his parents had starved him when he was younger.

The couple are accused of locking their two adopted children in dog cages, beating them paddles and starving them (pictured is their former home in Newington, Connecticut, where some of the abuse is alleged to have occurred)

A social worker visited the Thalmanns' home unannounced after reports their adoptive daughter was being forced to find and eat worms in the backyard (pictured) as a form of punishment

When the principal called Jennifer Thalmann to report that her son had been caught stealing, Marciano said the child began to 'get very upset and cry.' The boy told him that he was afraid to go home as his father would paddle him.

He also told the principal that his father had once lifted him up off the ground and thrown him into a wall or chair. On another occasion, after being abused by his father, the boy's arm was left so bruised and damaged he could barely lift it.

DCF Investigative Social Worker Jose Boria was called in to speak to the boy, and later interviewed Jennifer Thalmann who claimed the child had never been thrown against the wall and that they fed him healthy food.

She told the social worker that the children were punished by being sent to their rooms and having toys or freedoms taken away. Thalmann conceded the kids were paddled while in Florida but said that had stopped.

The massage therapist added that the children were only placed in the dog cage on one occasion.

Both Michael, 44, and Jennifer Thalmann, 48, told the social worker they had used paddles on their children and locked them in a dog cage for punishment, according to a report

But when Boria went to the family home to meet Michael Thalmann, he admitted 'picking up the boy and putting him against a wall' while yelling at him for stealing food.

He would also yell and curse at the children, calling them 'stupid, idiot, dumb, moron and thief', he told the social worker.

Michael Thalmann claimed he would verbally abuse the kids 'because they are trying to help them,' - by teaching them not to steal.

He put the youngsters in dog cages, he told her, again to teach them the lesson that if you steal, you go to jail. Thalmann said he would still be putting the children in the dog cage if the DCF had not intervened last fall.

When asked about the paddling, Thalmann, who claims on his Facebook page to be a veterans service representative for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said they had stopped while in Florida, after the paddle broke.

An affidavit states that at no point did the the Thalmanns refer to the adopted children as 'their children'.

During the home visit, Boria spoke to the adoptive daughter who was eating a meal with chopsticks. When asked why, she told the social worker her mother forces her to eat with chopsticks 'because she eats too fast.'

Michael Thalmann (with his wife) claimed he would verbally abuse the kids 'because they are trying to help them,' - by teaching them not to steal

The couple have also been ordered to have no contact with the children while they await their trial for cruelty to person in November

The social worker remarked in her report how thin the girl was.

Around three weeks after the initial report, Boria paid a surprise visit to the Thalmann's home on May 26.

He had received a report that the girl was looking for worms to eat as a form of punishment.

Michael Thalmann admitted he had sent her out to look for worms as a 'scavenger hunt'. He said that he had done the same as a child, and would eat the worms if he found them. The father said the children did not have to eat the worms if they didn't want to.

Both Thalmanns insisted that the DCF would not force them to giving their children 'junk food'.

The children's pediatrician and a DCF nurses both expressed serious concern that they are underweight. The Thalmann's biological son was notably heavier than their adoptive children, Boria said.

Both Michael and Jennifer Thalmann appeared Monday in New Britain Superior Court where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were each released on $250,000 bond to return to court in November.

They have also been ordered to have no contact with the children.
A refugee who fled war-torn Eritrea for Swansea has begged for a new council flat after he was burgled by Phillipa Turner (pictured)

A refugee who fled from war-torn Eritrea has begged for a new council flat so he can get away from his 'bad' neighbours.

The asylum-seeker, aged in his 40s, made his plea after his home in Swansea city centre was burgled by 28-year-old Phillipa Turner.

He said he was desperate to leave the council flat he was given by Welsh officials so he could escape from the drunken and disruptive behaviour of his neighbours.

His plight was revealed when his victim statement was read out at Swansea Crown Court on Monday.

The man, who does not drink, said he moved to the UK for a 'quiet life' after escaping his homeland in Northeast Africa - which has been plagued by conflict.

He told how he was left feeling 'violated' after his flat was raided on July 22 this year.

'This has left me feeling violated,' he said.

Prosecutor Kevin Jones said: 'He is a religious man who does not drink alcohol, and wanted to be moved out of the Griffith John Street flats - and out of the city centre in general - to get away from disruptive and rowdy behaviour, and bad people in the area.'

The religious man is now desperate to leave the council flat (pictured) in Swansea that he was given by Welsh officials after it was raided by 28-year-old burglar Phillipa Turner

His laptop, mobile phone, clothes, jewellery and chocolates were taken by Turner during the break-in.

Turner has been jailed for 10 months - half of which will be spent in custody before she is released on licence.

The court heard Turner has eight previous convictions for offences including possession of Class A, B and C drugs and being concerned in the supply of heroin.

She was on bail for shoplifting when she committed the Griffith John Street burglary.

The refugee's flat is one of 200 apartments mostly within two 11-storey tower blocks on run-down Griffith John street in the centre of Swansea.

Other neighbours have admitted it is a blackspot for crime and drugs.

Retired steel erector Dennis Thomas, 72, said: 'I've been here 17 years and it has got worse over time. There's a lot of drugs around.'

Mike George, 43, said: 'It's not the best place in the world in fact it's a f***ing hell hole and I'm sure everyone living here would rather be somewhere else - it's tough.

'There's a lot of refugees here now and they have to accept what's on offer.'
Donald Trump complained this morning on 'Fox & Friends' that last night's debate moderator Lester Holt didn't spend enough time quizzing Hillary Clinton on topics like Benghazi and the Clinton Foundation.

'He didn't ask her about her scandals,' Trump fumed.

At the same time, the billionaire Republican was annoyed that the NBC Nightly News anchor brought up some of the skeletons in his own closet, like Trump's 'birther' campaign against President Obama.

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Lester Holt has received a barrage of criticism on social media for his performance as debate moderator on Monday night

Many, including Trump, noted that Holt appeared to go easier on Clinton than he did on Trump

Some criticized the phrasing of questions, saying they implicitly made Trump seem racist or sexist

Holt had already been lambasted by social media users who accused the NBC Nightly News anchor of favoring Clinton following Monday night's presentation.

Some allegations against the NBC moderator included that he interrupted Trump more frequently.

In an infographic, Vox.com noted Trump was interrupted by Holt when he was speaking 30 times and he stopped Clinton only 19 times.

This morning, Trump mainly criticized Holt for some of the questions he asked him toward the end of the debate.

'You know, when you look at it, you look at the last four questions, he hit me on the "birther" [issue], he hit me on a housing deal from many years ago that I settled with no recourse and no guilt. He asked me about that,' Trump continued.

'You know, that's a beauty to be asked,' Trump added.

One infographic showed Holt interrupted Trump 30 times but only interrupted Clinton 19 times

While others noticed that Clinton wasn't asked about her emails, Benghazi or the Clinton Foundation

Holt called out Trump for 'perpetuat[ing] a false claim about the nation's first black president' and asked him why it took him so long to admit President Obama was born in the United States.

When it was Clinton's turn she brought up the 1973 housing discrimination lawsuit lobbed at Trump.

Holt then gave Trump a chance to respond, though wasn't the one to bring it up initially.

That didn't stop Trump from suggesting that showed Holt's bias.

'A 40-year-old lawsuit,' Trump said. 'I explained it, but when you explain that it's a no-win too,' but they were leaving all of her goodies out.'

'They didn't ask her about much. I was asked about my tax returns, which I've told about 500 times,' he continued.

'But, you know, I think I did  I think I really did well when we were asked normal questions. I think I did really well in answering those questions, but those questions are not answerable in a positive light,' Trump added.

He said if he were to grade the moderator he'd give Holt a C or a C-plus.

'I thought he was okay, I thought he was fine. I mean nothing outstanding,' Trump said. 'He gave me very unfair questions at the end, the last three, four questions, but I'm not complaining about that. I thought he was OK.'

Beyond bringing up the 'birther' issue, Holt reminded the audience that Clinton was the first female nominee of a major party and asked Trump what he meant when he said 'she doesn't have a presidential look.'

This allowed Clinton to bring up comments Trump had made about women including labeling some as 'pigs, slobs, and dogs.'

Holt also interrupted Trump during this exchange.

Holt also asked about Trump's tax returns, which the billionaire has refused to release thanks to a 'routine audit.'

Author Pamela Geller ripped into Holt saying he 'served his overlords quite well tonight' before launching into a tirade about how poorly she thought he performed

Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, echoed the top of the ticket when appearing with George Stephanopoulos on 'Good Morning America' today.

'I was disappointed that Lester did not get into some of the issues that have been so much in the forefront of Hillary Clinton's candidacy, an FBI investigation, the Clinton Foundation, pay-to-play, the whole disastrous events that took place in Benghazi and Libya,' Pence said. 'That never came up.'

Though the vice presidential candidate commended Trump for taking 'command of the stage.'

Clintons campaign notably declined to criticize Holt for sitting back and letting Trump ramble the last half-hour of the debate instead of taking control.

'I think she had sufficient opportunity to demonstrate how much more competent and prepared she was to serve as commander in chief, so I think that that got across just fine,' the Democrats campaign manager told DailyMail.com after the debate.

Communications director Jennifer Palmieri said Trump 'dug a hole deeper' on his taxes and birtherism, becoming 'unhinged' as the debate stretched on. The Clinton aide said she was 'pleased' with what her candidate 'was able to convey in a pretty raucous debate.'

'This was a difficult debate,' she said, responding to a question about Holts performance. 'I dont envy his position.'

Of Trump she said, 'There's a lot of untruths that were uttered by him that we will have a few days to pour over.I would just say for the undecided voters that are still out there were happy with what they saw tonight.'

Many on social media agreed with Trump and Pence that Holt asked almost nothing about Clinton's emails, Benghazi or the Clinton Foundation, criticism that the Republican nominee tweeted before his appearance on 'Fox & Friends' this morning.

Mediaite columnist Alex Griswold agreed that Holt's questions directed at Trump were more about his scandals.

Of the five questions specifically asked of each candidate, four out of five questions lobbed at Trump were about controversies, while just one out of Clinton's five was inherently critical.

'Let me begin with the usual disclaimer that I do not support Trump and I was rather pleased to watch him flounder last night,' Griswold said. 'But much as it pains me to say so, he's basically right. Holt's choice of questions was demonstrably one-sided against Trump.'

Fox News commentator Todd Starnes even wondered if Holt was auditioning for press secretary in a Clinton White House, such was his perceived bias against Trump.

However, during the 90 minute debate, Trump also didn't bring any of those topics up.

Holt, who is a registered Republican in New York - despite allegations from Trump that the moderator is a Democrat - also implied Trump had something to hide in his tax return.

When it came to the candidates' problematic pasts, Holt appeared to ask more questions about Trump's birther conspiracy, which came to a head in recent weeks.

While some said that Holt's questions put Trump on the defensive all night, others said the fact-checking was only done to Trump - not Clinton

However, Breitbart noted that Holt didn't ask Clinton about her remarks about 'super-predators' when she was first lady.

That was something Trump had to bring up himself.

Breitbart also suggested Holt framed questions to make Trump appear racist and sexist.

Holt also held Trump accountable for supporting the Iraq War but didn't bring up that Clinton voted for it.

He also appeared to interject more during Trump's comments than Clinton, the site suggested.

Todd Starnes of Fox News asked: 'Was Lester Holt auditioning for Hillary's press secretary?'

On Twitter, people took note of the seemingly biased moderation.

'Dumb @LesterHoltNBC was EXTREMELY bias during this debate

'He did not question Crooked Hillary on Benghazi, Clinton Foundation & More!' YouTuber Jeff Tutorials wrote.

Even moderates thought Holt didn't do well. Some suggested he might have gone out for a bathroom break. Tony Maglio said Holt should've had better questions that Trump would've faltered over on his own

Anti-Muslim author Pamela Geller ripped into Holt on Twitter, writing: '@LesterHoltNBC, you served your overlords quite well tonight.

'The 1st prez debate & @LesterHoltNBC never asked about email server, Benghazi, Huma,HRC Foundation pay4play,ClintonFoundation,deleted emails

'@LesterHoltNBC is totally outta control.

'I would never have shook @LesterHoltNBC's hand.'

However, despite the lambasting, CNN's Brian Stelter said Trump's campaign wasn't upset with Holt

Former SNL writer and The Wrap reporter Tony Maglio wrote: 'Bad job by Lester Holt & mainstream reporters on Trump walkout. Let him hang himself, tying the noose isnt your job. Ethics, a*******.'

During the debate some noticed Holt's performance and asked if he had left the stage as he failed to intervene and allowed candidates to go over their time limits.

Some suggested he left for a bathroom break while others asked if he was out for a snack.

Conversely, CNN's Brian Stelter tweeted out that Trump's campaign wasn't criticizing Holt's performance with campaign manager Kellyanne Conway telling the cable channel's Jim Acosta that 'Lester Holt did a great job.'

Trump also told a reporter on his way out that he thought the questions were fair.
A litter of puppies have died in a house fire in New South Wales after the blanket they were sleeping on caught fire.

The fire was started in a house in Lake Illawarra by a bar heater keeping the puppies warm in the laundry, reported the Illawarra Mercury.

Fire and Rescue NSW was called to the Nyan Way house in Warrawong about 10am on Tuesday and found it ablaze.

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A litter of puppies have died in a house fire in New South Wales after the blanket they were sleeping on caught fire. One puppy survived and was given oxygen in an ambulance (pictured)

The fire is believed to have started in the laundry by a bar heater keeping the puppies warm, before it spread quickly throughout the Warrawong house (pictured)

A 46-year-old man suffered from smoke inhalation and second degree burns to his arms and upper torso and a 51-year-old woman also suffered from smoke inhalation.

The woman reportedly jumped from the upstairs window to escape the fire.

The pair were taken to Wollongong Hospital by ambulance.

Two children aged 12 and 14 escaped from the house unharmed.

16 puppies died in the fire, which quickly spread through the house, and only one survived.

The surviving puppy was pulled from the house by firefighters and treated with oxygen in the back of an ambulance, and given some water.

Emergency services also rescued an older dog and chickens and a cat also escaped unharmed.

Sergeant Jason Harrison from Lake Illawarra police said investigators believed the fire began in the laundry, where 'some puppies were being warmed by a bar heater'.

Emergency services were called to the house about 10am. A 46-year-old man suffered from smoke inhalation and second degree burns and a 51-year-old woman also suffered from smoke inhalation. The pair were taken to Wollongong Hospital. Two children were unharmed

Paramedic Ellie Davy is pictured giving oxygen to the surviving puppy. NSW Fire and Rescue also rescued an older dog, while some chickens and a cat also escaped alive

'At this stage, it does appear this has been the cause, through some blankets ... coming too close to the bar heater,' he said.

The fire also threatened a house door and another suffered smoke damage.
Britain should be extracting its own shale gas to boost the economy, the boss of a major refinery said last night  as the first imported shipment of the fuel arrived from the US.

In a development that renewed calls for Britain to begin fracking, 27,500 cubic metres of gas arrived in Scotland on its way to the Grangemouth refinery.

But the boss of the firm that owns the plant said Britain should be extracting its own gas to replace dwindling North Sea reserves  potentially providing thousands of jobs.

The tanker Ineos Insight passed beneath the Forth Bridge with 27,5000 cubic metres of ethane in the first UK shipment of gas produced by fracking shale fields in the United States

Ineos bosses said the shipment represents the culmination of a 1.6billion ($2billion) investment, with eight tankers creating a virtual pipeline from America

On Monday Labour said it would ban fracking  extracting shale gas from rock  if elected. The SNP has a moratorium on fracking, while in England proposals in several areas have been held up by councils.

The move sparked a row with unions representing workers in the industry. The GMB union said the ban was madness.

And Jim Ratcliffe, of petrochemicals giant Ineos, which owns the Grangemouth refinery, said fracking could transform communities blighted by a collapse in manufacturing, as it had in the US.

The tanker Ineos Insight passed beneath the Forth Bridge, an iconic Scottish landmark, before docking at Ineos' chemical plant and refinery

Bosses hope shale gas will replace dwindling supplies of natural gas from the North Sea, where production has fallen by 60 per cent over the past ten years

He said: A lot of the heartland voters for the Labour Party are in those very industrial areas that are rather like Pittsburgh ten years ago, theyre not in great shape, shale has got this ability to transform these industrial communities.

If you look at the UK, manufacturing has collapsed in the last 20 years, and there is an awful lot of people in the industrial heartland who depend on manufacturing jobs.

'There is going to be no manufacturing left if it continues in that direction and shale has got the possibility of transforming it, maybe even reversing it, as it has in America.

But environmental campaigners (pictured at Grangemouth today) have warned about the climate consequences associated with fracking

Shale gas has absolutely transformed the United States. Theres immense levels of investment there.

Theres absolutely no reason why it cant do the same things to the UK manufacturing industry.

The ethane gas has been imported from the US because the company cannot secure enough from depleted stocks of North Sea reserves.

Up to one tanker a week is expected to arrive in Scotland for the Grangemouth plant, securing 10,000 jobs linked to the site.

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Head of Campaigns, Mary Church, said it is 'completely unacceptable' to prop up the company's plants on the back of human suffering

The campaigners are calling for an end to public investment in fracking, which has caused huge environmental problems in the US

UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which represents onshore producers, welcomed the tankers arrival.

And chief executive Ken Cronin said: We can and should be allowed to develop our own shale creating even more value for our economy and environment.

Environmental groups oppose the development of fracking, which they say could damage the environment and lead to more greenhouse gas emissions. They say Britain should develop renewable energy.

Jim Ratcliffe (right), Ineos founder and chairman, said: 'Shale gas can help stop the decline of British manufacturing and today is a first step in that direction'

The ship docked at Grangemouth (pictured) - the Scottish refinery and petrochemicals plant owned by global chemical giant Ineos

Mary Church, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said it was completely unacceptable to attempt to prop up Ineoss petrochemicals plants on the back of human suffering and environmental destruction across the Atlantic.

At the Labour Party conference on Monday Gary Smith, GMBs Scotland secretary, said the UK would be dependent on gas for decades  meaning it would be best to make use of our reserves. It came after the partys energy spokesman Barry Gardiner said Labour would outlaw the controversial practice.

The massive ship is going under the Forth Bridges early this morning on the way to deliver the historic shipment

In a nod to the destination of the shale gas shipment, a man in a kilt was seen playing the bagpipes on the front of the ship

But despite the historic nature of the shipment, no-one from the Scottish government - which has banned fracking in Scotland - was in attendance as it arrived

Ministers have said fracking could provide greater energy security and create jobs, but the industry is in its very early stages in the UK.

A decision on whether fracking should go ahead in Lancashire is expected from Communities Secretary Sajid Javid within two weeks.
A wife who claimed her husband had gone missing a year ago has been arrested by detectives in India after his body turned up in his own home.

The skeleton of Rajvinder Singh, 45, was dug up under the floor of the bedroom at his home in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh in northern India.

His wife, Manpreet Kaur, 40, has admitted burying his body but denies murder and said she simply did not have enough money to pay for a funeral.

Indian police team display the skeleton of Rajvinder Singh, 45, who was buried by his wife inside his own home, in the Raipur district of Chhattisgarh

Police became suspicious after neighbours started complaining about a foul smell which was emanating from the house.

The body, which had turned into a skeleton, had been buried in a shallow grave under the house.

Mrs Kaur was apparently worried about the cost of a full, traditional Sikh funeral and paying for a burial plot.

Rajvinder Singh, (left), vanished a year ago and his wife Manpreet Kaur, (right) has now admitted burying him but says it was simply because she could not afford a funeral

Indian police team carry the skeleton of Rajvinder Singh, 45, who was buried by his wife inside his own home
A Samsung tablet wedged under a seat on a Delta Airlines flight began smoking when it overheated - causing the plane to be diverted.

Emergency services met flight DL138 from Detroit at Manchester Airport after it diverted there on its way to Amsterdam following reports of smoke in the cabin.

The tablet had become jammed under a seat in premium class and left under a seat cover, where it started smoking - and passengers smelt a strange odour.

Smoking: Emergency services met flight DL138 from Detroit at Manchester Airport after it diverted there on its way to Amsterdam following reports of smoke in the cabin

Maintenance staff at Manchester Airport found the tablet, which had been invisible to passengers and cabin crew and was probably left by a previous passenger.

The seat is believed to have been replaced while the Boeing 767-400 was on the ground, before the flight continued to the Netherlands with a three-hour delay.

Some passengers on subsequent flights claimed Delta staff asked them to turn off their Samsung devices. The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating.

Delta has since confirmed that the device was made by Samsung - but not a Note 7 model, which is currently under a huge recall after reports of battery fires.

A spokesman said: The aircraft landed safely and Deltas maintenance team quickly found the source and the aircraft was cleared to continue its journey.

The flight arrived in Amsterdam at 2.55pm. The device in question fell below the seat and became jammed, which caused the malfunction.

Concerns: The tablet had become jammed under a seat on the Delta Airlines plane (file picture) and left under a seat cover, where it started smoking

A Samsung spokesman told MailOnline today: 'It appears that external factors contributed to this incident. This is not related to the Galaxy Note 7.

We have reached out to Delta to investigate as the cause is yet to be determined.'

The incident comes after a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone was said to have emitted smoke on board a passenger jet from Singapore to India on Friday.

The phone was found in the bag of a passenger in an overhead bin after other passengers reported smelling smoke in the plane, IndiGo airline officials said.

Etihad Airways temporarily banned the use of the smartphones at the beginning of this month again after reports of explosions from faulty batteries.
A grieving man who rushed from Indiana to his home in Michigan after learning his 15-year-old sister had been killed in a car crash has been touched by the kindness of an officer during a traffic stop.

Mark Ross learned about his sibling's tragic death at 3am on Sunday morning, so he persuaded a friend to drive in from Indiana to Detroit so he could be with his family.

He was in the passenger seat of a car when he and his family friend were pulled over for speeding in Ohio en route.

His friend had a suspended driver's license and was taken into custody, leaving Ross stranded without a car but still needing to get to his family, Inside Edition reported.

Ross thought he was going to be sent to jail himself for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, but a kind officer prayed for Ross and then drove him more than 100 miles to Detroit.

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Mark Ross has been touched by the kindness of Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt David Robison who drove him more than 100 miles from Ohio to Detroit after he was pulled over for speeding while rushing to be with family after learning about his sister's death (the pair pictured)

'It was just so overwhelming. They were trying to help us,' Ross told Inside Edition.

The ordeal unfolded after Ross received a call on Sunday at 3am informing him that his 15-year-old sister Eliza Fletcher had been killed in a car crash.

Ross was without a car so he convinced his family friend to drive him from Indiana to Detroit when they were pulled over by Trooper J. Davis.

Davis ended up taking his friend into custody and had the vehicle towed, leaving Ross stranded.

But then Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt David Robison arrived at the scene.

Ross (right) received a call on Sunday at 3am informing him that his 15-year-old sister Eliza Fletcher (left) had been killed in a car crash

'I explained to the officer that my sister had died and that I needed to get to my mother asap,' Ross wrote in a Facebook post recounting the ordeal.

'I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry. He REACHES OVER AND BEGAN PRAYING OVER ME AND MY FAMILY.'

State highway patrol called Michigan's Wayne County, who had issued Ross's warrant.

But he said they refused to come get him because of the distance. So that is when Robison offered to drive Ross to a Detroit.

Ross recounted the whole ordeal in Facebook post (shown above) in which he explains that Robison gave him hope after the kind gesture. He said: 'Everybody knows how much I dislike Cops but I am truly Greatful for this Guy. He gave me hope'

'He offered to bring me 100 miles further to Detroit because they towed the vehicle,' Ross wrote in the Facebook post.

'Everybody knows how much I dislike Cops but I am truly Greatful (sic) for this Guy. He gave me hope.'

Robison ended up taking Ross to a coffee shop in Detroit where his cousin picked him up.

His family is beyond grateful for Robison and his kindness who the family has invited to his little sister's funeral.
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An unlicensed racing car was allowed to drive through the streets of central London this morning alongside a motorcade of eight police motorbike outriders.

Commuters looked stunned as the Porsche 919 Le Mans car drove through Piccadilly Circus, alongside the River Thames and around Parliament Square.

Eight police motorbikes provided a 'rolling road block' for the 900-horsepower, 210mph machine, which flashed past early morning cyclists shortly after dawn.

Formula 1's Mark Webber drove a 200mph Porsche through the centre of London this morning with the help of police

Commuters looked on agog as the Le Mans vehicle was ushered through the centre of the capital shortly after dawn

The state of the art, all-wheel-drive vehicle was driven by Formula One racing driver Mark Webber, who described the route chosen by organisers Porsche as 'optimistic'.

The police motorbikes stopped traffic around Westminster Bridge, Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square to make way for the futuristic, hybrid sportscar.

The stunt has been planned for the last six months in secrecy and was only announced 24 hours before it was staged ahead of the Paris Motor Show.

Webber said: 'It was tricky, visibility is really difficult in that car so I couldn't see the kerbs and a few things made it more interesting that I thought it would be.'

He added: 'I won't forget the emotion on the day and the amount of people whose jaws were on the deck and were able to soak it up.

'The car itself put up a bit of a challenge in terms of being able to go that slowly. The 919 Hybrid is built to be a flying machine and take in a lot of air for cooling.

'It is fitted with a downforce package specced for 220mph, so to drive it at between 10-15mph for a long period of time was a little bit of a concern. I was tempted to floor it and get into second gear but I had nowhere to go.'

German manufacturers organised the stunt with the help of the Met Police's Film Unit ahead of the Paris Motor Show

Police motorcyclists held up traffic while the 900-horsepower machine went through Piccadilly Circus in first gear

Webber said he struggled with the racing car on ordinary roads because it is made to go much faster than he was allowed

Some bystanders joked that the hybrid car wouldn't have had to pay the congestion charge like the petrol-running vehicles driven by most commuters, but others questioned the wisdom of allowing the publicity stunt to go ahead in the heart of the capital.

One critic wrote online: 'What was the point of all that organisation, police time etc? While the police were involved in a stunt for a car which isn't road legal, where were those actively breaking the law?'

The Metropolitan Police charges companies for the help of its Film Unit, with firms paying 95 each for a police motorcycle.

The force's website states: 'Filming services provided are charged and undertaken only where they do not impede the ability of any police officer or staff to fulfil their primary function.

'Where an officer is required to be in attendance with the necessary vehicle, the additional charges associated with using police resources under a Special Services Agreement will apply.'

Webber poses in the shadow of the London Eye after his route took him past the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square

Eight police cyclists, which would have cost Porsche around 100 each to cover the event, escorted the car through London

The car snaked across the city, with cameras placed at a number of landmarks to capture shots of its route

A Met Police spokesman said: 'This was a pre-planned filming event organised by Porsche with the assistance of the Met's Film Unit.

'Road closures were not required as this would have caused unnecessary disruption to other road users and the vehicles kept to the speed limit at all times.

'The vehicles were accompanied by police outriders who were funded by Porsche for the event. The officers were not taken away from operational duties.
A former lover of Brad Pitt has poured cold water over allegations that the superstar actor violently struck out at son Maddox following a heated row with wife Angelina Jolie on a private jet.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Elizabeth Daily, 55, called the Hollywood heartthrob a 'very calm' and 'gentle guy' who never once displayed any sign of a temper with her.

Elizabeth dated Brad, 52, in 1989 when the then promising actor was forging a career in Hollywood, and they stayed friends.

Elizabeth, who went on to become a successful voice actress by voicing the character of 'Tommy Pickles' in the popular cartoon 'Rugrats', also believes that it's possible Angelina could have pushed Brad over the edge.

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Elizabeth Daily, 55, dated Brad Pitt, 52, in 1989 (pictured together right) when the then promising actor was forging a career in Hollywood, and they stayed friends. She says that Brad was a 'very calm' guy who never displayed any sign of a temper with her

Brad has been accused of striking out at his adopted son Maddox, 15, during an alleged bust-up with wife Angelina while intoxicated

'Brad isn't an aggressive man. Not at all,' Elizabeth said. 'I haven't been hanging out with him, and I don't know the circumstances, but I know Brad doesn't behave in that kind of manner.

'He's very laid back, very earthy. He's the kind of guy that would pick up and leave and drive his car just to get out of the city. He was never someone that was super Hollywood, he was a very calm and gentle guy.'

Elizabeth, who lives in Los Angeles, met Brad in 1989 on the Hollywood circuit and they remained close until 2001, where they were reunited at the premiere of The Mexican, in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts.

After splitting with Elizabeth he soon went on to date Juliette Lewis.

'Brad and I were close friends for a long time, before he dated Juliette (Lewis),' Elizabeth said. 'He was my friend, he was always sweet and was a very generous doll.

'I haven't seen him or spoken to him since The Mexican premiere, because he doesn't really live here anymore.

'He's in a whole other realm. Brad does a lot of Hollywood stuff, but he's not a Hollywood guy. From my experience with him, he was a very down to earth man.

Daily suggests that it's possible Angelina Jolie could have pushed Brad's buttons and that he was 'stressed out' when the alleged incident occurred

'I never experienced any sign of temper when I knew him. That's the sad thing. I'm sure more clarity will come out and I'm sure some of it well get sorted out.

'Our generation of parenting isn't about physical abuse, so hopefully more will come out later that'll tell us what's going on.'

Brad has been accused of striking out at his adopted son Maddox, 15, before exiting a private plane during an alleged bust-up with wife Angelina while intoxicated.

But while Elizabeth said she knew Brad to smoke pot when she knew him, she speculates his actions could have been caused by the Tomb Raider actress pushing his buttons - not the drink.

'Anyone can be pushed with anything, and more if you are stressed out,' Elizabeth said.

'The difference is in the public eye everything gets blown up, so it's much more difficult for them to tend to their difficulties, because it's not private.

'I'm hoping that it's a blown-up situation, they eventually separate and then work things out.

'All of his relationships with his exes, it didn't seem to be that there was this big, dramatic thing that caused a split.

Elizabeth believes that Brad is suffering since the divorce became public knowledge, and sayd that she hopes that his and Angelina's kids, Shiloh, Zahara, Vivienne, Knox, Maddox and Pax, are OK

'It doesn't seem that way. There was never anything hostile, or anything. I don't see anything aggressive in those breakups.'

But despite that, Elizabeth didn't have any reservations when Brad and Angelina began dating, even after a messy divorce from Jennifer Aniston in 2005.

Elizabeth said: 'I thought initially it sounded amazing and felt great. From my knowledge of Brad he always wanted kids, and he was with Jen but they didn't have kids and many years passed, and I knew that was something Brad wanted.

'And he ended up being with someone that wanted kids, and he ended up with a lot of kids.

'That's beautiful, but it's also a lot of work. Even if you have a hundred nannies. It's a stressful thing. You still have to deal with very real things.'

Elizabeth is wary of the struggles Angelina and Brad now face when settling a divorce, especially in dividing their $400million fortune.

She's worried for the sake of their children, Shiloh, Zahara, Vivienne, Knox, Maddox and Pax.

'The divorce is going to get messier and messier,' she continued. 'But, hopefully they work things out in a beautiful way for the kids.

'However, until things gets settled it will be difficult. It's tragic and it's brutal for the kids. These kids are not babies, so they will be affected by that.'

Elizabeth is the mother of 20-year-old Hunter Daily Salomon (right, with her mother), who once filed a restraining order against Conrad Hilton - the brother of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild

Meanwhile, Elizabeth believes that Brad is suffering since the divorce became public knowledge.

She said: 'I think it's very painful having any kind of separation from any partner you've been together with for that long.

'Let alone to have children that you raised and have been around all day, then not to see them... That's a very bad place to be. I can't even imagine what's going on and I hope he's OK and the kids are OK.'

Elizabeth is the mother of 20-year-old Hunter Daily Salomon, who once filed a restraining order against 22-year-old Conrad Hilton - the brother of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild.

A month after Hunter, whose father is Rick Salomon, had been granted a temporary restraining order against him in the summer of 2015, Conrad was taken into custody for breaking into her home.

Hunter claimed in legal documents that the hotel heir threatened to kill himself after showing up at her home.

Hunter allegedly said that she dated Conrad years ago and that he started coming to her house and acting in a worrying manner last September.
Actress Sally Phillips has claimed that pregnant women are being pressured to abort babies with Down's syndrome.

The mother-of-three, who starred in the Bridget Jones films, also opened up about the moment her oldest son, Ollie, now 12, was diagnosed with the condition.

She said she was 'horrified' after speaking to other mothers of babies with Down's syndrome about how medics had told them to screen and terminate their disabled children.

Actress Sally Phillips (pictured) has spoken out about how pregnant women are being pressured to abort babies with Down's syndrome

Sally recalled how one mother was told by a medic: 'Let's stop this nonsense now while you still can', while another was booked in for an abortion without her consent.

'I have heard many stories of women being pressurised by medical professionals to screen, and even to terminate,' Sally wrote in the Radio Times.

She spoke to the women while making a BBC2 documentary and was told by one that a medic had insisted: 'Your marriage will break-up if you have this baby.'

The actress' son Ollie, now 12, was diagnosed with Down's syndrome soon after his birth at a hospital in north London.

The mother-of-three, who starred in Miranda and the Bridget Jones films (she is pictured with Renee Zellweger), also opened up about the moment her oldest son, Ollie, was diagnosed with the condition

Speaking about the moment she was told by the doctor, she said: 'I hyperventilated and flapped by arms.'

The 46-year-old said she was warned by doctors that Ollie may never walk or talk.

But now her son is able to recite poetry, run, swim and ride a bike - and he even boasts an exceptional sense of humour and dance ability.

'Once we got over the initial shock, we just got on with it. It was never going to be easy, but we never moaned about the hard times,' she had previously said.

Sally said she could not understand how it is still legal in the UK for a foetus with a disability to be terminated right up until the moment when labour starts.

She was even more disgusted by the fact that disabled babies in the Netherlands can be killed with a lethal injection after birth under the 'Groningen Protocol'.

The 46-year-old (pictured) said she was warned by doctors that Ollie may never walk or talk

'I don't understand how that can be acceptable, but I do know that it hurts my head,' she said.

'If we deny someone the chance to be born because we've decided they won't meet some predetermined measure of status or achievement, then we've failed to grasp what it means to be human.'

Sally, who also has sons Luke and Tom with her husband Andrew Bermejo, said Ollie has taught her what really matters in life.

'A few weeks ago, he left me a note just as I was going to bed, telling me there was a surprise for me in the kitchen,' she previously told the Daily Mail.

'I went down and saw hed covered the entire kitchen in icing sugar. I was angry and wanted to shout, but as we were cleaning it up together, we had a really meaningful conversation about how he felt about having Downs syndrome.

'He realised what hed done was wrong, but just thought it would be a nice, yummy surprise for me.
A video that appears to show medics dancing in the middle of an operation has gone viral after it was posted online.

The clip shows a plastic surgeon and his surgical scrub nurse in the middle of a surgery at a clinic in the city of Medellin in Colombia.

With pop music playing in the theatre, the pair put down their tools next to the 'patient' before bringing out their best dance moves.

The video appears to be intended as a spoof - but some viewers have failed to see the funny side. One even called on the surgeon to be punished for his actions.

Doctor feelgood: The surgeon and his nurse have been criticised for a lack of respect for their patient, who was unconscious throughout the operation

The video shows the medics standing in scrubs with surgical masks across their faces. A 'patient' lies on the bed between them, his insides apparently cut open.

After the short burst of dancing - in which they struggle to stifle their laughter - the pair return to their apparent surgery as if nothing has happened.

Bernardo Alejandro Guerra, a Medellin councillor, said he was shocked when he saw the film.

He said the footage had come to his attention and he had reported the incident to local media.

No laughing matter: The pair share a joke during the op and then go straight back to work

Mr Guerra said: 'This is a lack of ethics and respect for the patient and the profession.

'The amazing thing is that the anaesthesiologist does not appear in the video. He is the one responsible for the sleeping of the patient and he allows them to dance in the room, without respecting the protocol.'

He asked the authorities to take action and punish the surgeon.

It is not clear how the footage emerged but the whistleblower said it was not the first time the surgeon had been involved in such antics

Mr Guerra said a whistleblower had leaked the video to him because he was unhappy with the surgeon's actions.

Carmen Calderon said she recognised the surgeon as the man who operated on her two years ago and claimed he had botched her operation.

After seeing the dancing footage, Ms Calderon said: 'He should pay for what he has done, as it is an abuse'.
The EU has a moral duty to do a free trade deal with Britain after we leave, Liam Fox has argued.

The International Trade Secretary stressed the 'moral case' for avoiding tariffs as he delivered a keynote speech.

The intervention, at a World Trade Organisation conference in Geneva, comes amid more hints at the government's Brexit plans.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, pictured left with WTO director general Roberto Azevedo in Geneva today

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has revealed that Theresa May told him privately Article 50 will be triggered early next year.

Meanwhile, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has warned against a 'hard Brexit' without access to the EU single market, saying there was 'not necessarily' a mandate from the referendum.

But Tory former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith has ramped up the pressure on Mrs May to hasten our departure from the Brussels club.

Mr Duncan Smith insisted that "the British people voted to take back control of their borders, their money and their laws; that seems pretty mainstream to me".

Speaking today, Dr Fox said quoted economist Adam Smith's famous comment that it was always in the 'interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they want of those who sell it cheapest'.

'I believe as much in the moral case for free trade as I do in its economic benefits,' Dr Fox said.

'People should be able to exchange their hard work for goods at mutually agreed prices  without the shackles of artificial barriers being placed on them by governments or market distorting practices such as dumping, export subsidies or state aid.

'Trade should be fair as well as free.'

Praising the WTO for axing red tape across borders, he said the agenda of liberalising trade had to be 'revitalised'.

'We will lead the charge for a fair and rule-based system for global trade and investment,' he said.

'We have a history as a great trading nation and, as we forge a new global role for ourselves we will carry the banner for free trade.

'Its an area I am passionate about because the benefits are clear.

'Free trade puts the consumer first by forcing businesses to compete and countries to specialise.

'It leads to higher efficiency, greater productivity as well as better quality and cheaper goods.

Dr Fox dismissed the idea there would be a 'legal vacuum' after Brexit.

'As I have said, the decision of the British people to leave the EU is not symptomatic of looking inwards but a people who want to take more control over our laws, our money and our borders,' he said.

'We are a proud and outward-looking trading nation.'
An Ohio mother who was accused of attacking a McDonald's employee for working too slow has been sent to prison for violating probation from an unrelated offense.

Mary Jordan was already on probation at the time of the incident on June 8, in which she and two other women attacked a female employee in Bellevue

The 33-year-old was given probation after serving a 20-month prison term she received in March 2014 for two counts of complicity to commit forgery, according to The News-Messenger.

Mary Jordan (pictured beaming in mugshot), 33, was sent to prison for seven months for violating her probation for a 2014 incident. She allegedly attacked a McDonald's employee for working too slow on June 8 while still on probation

Jordan, pictured with two children above, was given probation after a 20-month prison term that she received in March 2014 for two counts of complicity to commit forgery. She was charged with one count each of assault and child endangerment for the McDonald's incident

Jordan beamed in her mugshot when she was charged with one misdemeanor count each of assault and child endangerment in the McDonald's incident.

She was recently sentenced to seven months in prison for violating the terms of her probation in the 2014 case.

Jordan and two other women, Ashley England 29 and Sammie Whaley, 31, were arrested after they were filmed in an attack at a Bellevue, Ohio, McDonald's.

Ashley England, above, was also arrested and charged with assault and child endangerment in the McDonald's incident

The troublesome trio were identified on video after they fled the scene with their children, who also reportedly participated in the assault.

Police say they attacked the female employee because 'she was working too slowly when dealing with three women and their family and friends,' according to NBC 24.

The Bellevue Police Department wrote on their Facebook page that both England and Jordan were charged not only with assault but child endangerment, since they not only had their children with them during the assault, but the children were 'participating in the incident'.

Whaley was charged with assault.

Authorities allege the three women waited for the worker to leave her shift at the restaurant and then attacked her in the parking lot, the Register reported.

The McDonald's worker was injured, but the restaurant's owner and operator, Tom Humbard, said in June that she was getting better.

'We're grateful that our employee is recovering, but horrified that she was attacked. We thank the customers and employees who helped her, and the police for tracking down the suspects,' Humbard's statement said then.

Assault and child endangerment charges are still pending against Jordan and England in connection with the McDonald's incident.

Whaley pleaded no contest to assault charges on June 9 and was found guilty, according to the Register.

She was fined $100 and placed on non-reporting probation.

Sammie Whaley, above, was also arrested in the McDonald's incident and pleaded no contest to assault charges on June 9 and was found guilty, fined $100 and placed on non-reporting probation
A furious mother has told how a police officer threatened to arrest her for breastfeeding her one-month-old baby in a grocery store.

Savannah Shukla, from Columbus, Georgia, was left in tears after she was stopped by a deputy while shopping in a Piggly Wiggly with her two young children and her sister on Sunday.

While nursing a deputy approached me right when I was about to leave and informed that I needed to cover up because someone might find it "offensive", Ms Shukla wrote on Facebook.

I repeated the law back to him stating that Georgia state law says I can breastfeed wherever I want as long as I'm authorized to be there, she added.

Savannah Shukla (in the red dress), from Columbus, Georgia, was stopped by a deputy (pictured) while breastfeeding in a Piggly Wiggly store in Georgia

Ms Shukla said that instead of accepting that she was within her rights to breastfeed in public, the deputy told her: No maam thats not the case.

You just think you know what the law says and if your nipple becomes exposed I really don't want to have to arrest you or you be arrested for being offensive. This isn't like the first amendment where you can say something offensive, the deputy reportedly told Ms Shukla.

Ms Shukla said she then repeated the GA state laws to him only for him to point out that he could already see my areola.

He reportedly told her if someone saw her nipple (even if she were trying to cover up) that he would have to arrest her and that he really didn't want to arrest [her].

For him to see my areola he would've had to have been staring VERY hard, Ms Shukla said.

In her Facebook post, Ms Shukla said the officer told her: You just think you know what the law says and if your nipple becomes exposed I really don't want to have to arrest you'

Ms Shukla was left shaken by the incident after telling the officer Georgia state law allows her to breastfeed in public

The distraught mother explained: I'm so upset about it and I understand why this type of harassment can cause moms to stop.

Ms Shukla vowed to report the incident and said she was grateful to a Paralegal named April who was also in Piggly Wiggly at the time and took a photo of the confrontation.

April shared her own message on Facebook, alongside the photo of the officer talking to Ms Shukla.

'This is the deputy arguing with Savannah about breastfeeding her infant while she's in the grocery store with her other child. Telling her that it's indecent exposure because he felt it necessary to step up out of his way to stop a woman feeding her child and tell her that even though the baby is hungry she should cover up.

'See the thing is, Savannah was quite covered - you can see from the picture she's wearing a maternity bra and a dress that does not expose herself. All she was doing was feeding a hungry baby while trying to do some shopping,' April said.

Video courtesy of WTVM/Emilie Arroyo

A Paralegal named April saw the confrontation between Ms Shukla and the officer and took a photo. 'She asked me to go ahead and post what I witnessed,' April said

She added that Savannah was 'crying and hyperventilating from the confrontation'.

Ms Shuklas post has been shared over 12,000 times on Facebook and on Monday Muscogee County Sheriff John T. Darr responded with an apology.

I have seen and am aware of a post circulating Facebook, regarding a situation between a Muscogee County deputy and a woman attempting to breastfeed her young child. My wife and I have four children, each of whom were breastfed, and two of my daughters now have small children of their own.

'Therefore, I fully understand and appreciate the right of a woman to feed her child wherever she is most comfortable.

The local Sheriff said the incident is being investigated as he apologized to Ms Shukla

Sheriff Darr later met with the distressed mother to apologize in person. He confirmed that she had made a formal complaint about the officer

'It is also the law in the state of Georgia. We are currently looking into this incident and it will be addressed. Our office does not condone these actions and will ensure all officers know and understand the law.

On behalf of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, I would like to personally extend an apology to the woman involved, and we hope that she knows that these are not the opinions or practices of the office as a whole,' Sheriff Darr said.

He later met with Ms Shukla and confirmed that she had filed a formal complaint with the Office of Professional Standards.

'At the current point in time, this investigation is ongoing and the action to be taken shall be determined at the conclusion of the investigation.
British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon HAS said that increased threats from terrorism and migration are not enough to warrant Europe's own army

Britain has vowed to oppose any idea of creating an EU army despite France and Germany claiming troops would not have to wear a single uniform.

A row broke out as EU defence ministers met in Bratislava to discuss ways of boosting defence co-operation, one of the priorities set when the bloc's leaders met without Britain earlier this month.

But British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said that increased threats from terrorism and migration are not enough to warrant Europe's own army.

He also added that NATO had to remain a 'cornerstone of our defence and the defence of Europe.'

He explained: 'We agree Europe needs to step up to the challenges of terrorism and of migration.

'We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or EU army headquarters, which would simply undermine Nato.

However, Sir Michael seemed to back away from vetoing the plans.

When asked about a veto, he said: 'There is no majority here for an EU army.

'There are a number of other countries who believe with us that that cuts across sovereignty of individual nation states.

'We agree Europe needs to do more, it is facing terrorism, it is facing migration, but simply duplicating or undermining Nato is a wrong way to do it.'

His comments came as standing together, Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian were at pains to stress there were no plans for army of European soldiers wearing the same uniforms.

'On the contrary,' von der Leyen said. 'It is about bundling the various strengths of European countries to be ready to act together quickly.'

Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, right, and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, left, insisted troops would not have to wear a single uniform

Meanwhile NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who was also at the meeting, welcomed debate on strengthening European military cooperation.

'There is no contradiction between a strong European defence and a strong NATO,' he said.

Stoltenberg also said EU governments would need to spend more on defence. With Britain outside of the European Union, 80 percent of NATO spending would be provided by non-EU countries even though most EU members are part of the alliance, he said.

European military spending is a fraction of the United States' and only a handful of countries, including Britain, Estonia and Greece, spend generously on defence.
The parents of a 12-year-old girl who committed suicide a little more than a year ago, after allegedly being bullied by two girls at school, are now suing their daughter's school district.

Michaela and Dan Cady's daughter Kennis suffocated herself with a pajama pant leg on July 22, 2015. Her mother found her and performed CPR, but the pre-teen died a week later after suffering severe brain damage.

Kennis was reportedly the victim of bullying at school, from at least two girls. Her parents say that they warned the school about the girls targeting her daughter but that administrators refused to intervene.

Now they want these school officials to take responsibility for their daughter's death.

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Kennis Cady committed suicide in July 2015 after allegedly being bullied by two girls at her school in Rochester, New York

Her parents Dan (pictured) and Michaela Cady are now suing the school district for failing to intervene in the bullying

The Cadys filed a lawsuit against the East Rochester Union Free School District earlier this month, which seeks 'recovery for the economic losses incurred and pain and suffering of (Kennis)'.

In an interview with the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Mrs Cady said she also wants the school district to provide her family with more details from their internal investigation into Kennis' death.

'We just don't feel like they answered our questions about repercussions for (the adults involved)," she said. "They can't say they have zero tolerance for bullying when they don't."

Following Kennis' suicide, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office investigated but did not bring up any charges. The internal investigation by the district also found no wrongdoing by any staff or even students.

But the Cadys say there's evidence of the bullying on social media and they warned the school about the issues their daughter was facing well before her suicide.

On the day their daughter tried to kill herself, Mrs Cady says she had been arguing with Kennis over her refusal to take her brother to the community pool.

'For 30 minutes she was screaming: "I don't want to go to the pool, you must not love me if you're making me go to the pool, I don't want to see (the two girls),'"' Mrs Cady recalled.

They say the fact that she killed herself in her bedroom when most of the family was in the house shows just how desperate she was.

The Cadys three other sons continue to end school in East Rochester.

 For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here
Erlanger offers online childbirth education class. The online class is an easy-to-understand interactive program that includes more than 70 videos, animated illustrations, downloadable PDF files, review quizzes and information specific to Erlanger East and Erlanger Baroness birthing services. By choosing the online childbirth program, participants will have access to all the information for six months. The cost for the courses is $25.

For more information on the online childbirth program and other classes and events mentioned below, call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465), seven days a week, from 8 a.m.

Monday, October 3

Bariatric Support Group

5:30  6:30 p.m.

Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road)

Bariatric Support Group meetings are for individuals scheduled to have Bariatric surgery or who have already had weight loss surgery. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-2906 for more information.

Overactive Bladder and its Treatments

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Erlanger Baroness

This class is a review of overactive bladder, (OAB), including various treatments. It is meant for current patients of the OAB Clinic, as well as members of the community interested in the problem. The program will include discussion on various aspects of OAB, including all current treatments, a patient who will share her experience with OAB, and a session for audience questions. Food and drinks are provided. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423)778-2906 for more information.

Tuesday, October 4

Monogrammed Maternity

10 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

4 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road)

Monogrammed Maternity at Erlanger East Hospital provides a personalized approach to childbirth education and is tailored to each couples' unique needs. Registration is recommended around 36-weeks gestation; and is for patient's delivering at Erlanger East. This one-on-one session with our Prenatal Educator provides couples with the opportunity to privately discuss their personalized birth plan, begin the admission process for delivery, visit with a lactation consultant if needed for breastfeeding preparation, ask questions, and receive assistance in making those all important decisions that help make the birth experience less stressful and uniquely their own. A tour of Labor and Delivery is included. The session is available every Tuesday and Thursday. Space is limited. Registration is required. Registration fee is $40. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register.

Breastfeeding

6:30  9:00 p.m.

Erlanger East Womens Services, Classroom A

This class is designed to help participants make an informed choice about breastfeeding. Learn breastfeeding basics, what to expect the first few weeks and special tips for success. Concerns about returning to work/school will also be discussed. This course is coordinated by a board-certified lactation consultant. Registration fee is $30. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register.

Wednesday, October 5

Bariatric Surgery Seminar

6:00  8:00 p.m.

Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road)

Area residents who are overweight and /or with health problems related to obesity are invited to learn more about the Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Center at Erlanger. It is a free seminar and registration is required. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-2906 to register. Visit Erlangers You Tube Channel at www.youtube.com/erlangerhealth and click The Weight Loss Program under Playlist to watch first-hand accounts from those who have gone through the program.

Thursday, October 6

Diabetes Education Class

1:30  4:30 p.m.

Erlanger Chattanooga Lifestyle Center

This class will explore ways to manage diabetes. Call 778-9400 for more information on physician referral and insurance reimbursement.

Monogrammed Maternity

10 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

4 p.m.

Erlanger East (Gunbarrel Road)

Monogrammed Maternity at Erlanger East Hospital provides a personalized approach to childbirth education and is tailored to each couples' unique needs. Registration is recommended around 36-weeks gestation; and is for patient's delivering at Erlanger East. This one-on-one session with our Prenatal Educator provides couples with the opportunity to privately discuss their personalized birth plan, begin the admission process for delivery, visit with a lactation consultant if needed for breastfeeding preparation, ask questions, and receive assistance in making those all important decisions that help make the birth experience less stressful and uniquely their own. A tour of Labor and Delivery is included. The session is available every Tuesday and Thursday. Space is limited. Registration is required. Registration fee is $40. Call Erlangers HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465) to register.

Living Well With Diabetes

2:00-4:30 p.m.

6:00-8:30 p.m.

Erlanger North

Living Well with Diabetes is a FREE 6-week program geared to help individuals manage their diabetes and improve their overall health. Workshops include topics about healthy eating, preventing hypoglycemia, exercise, action planning, problem solving, managing stress, medications, and communication skills. Individuals who participate in the course will receive a book and CD from the Area Agency on Aging and Disability, (AAAD). Light refreshments will be provided. This 6-week program will be on Thursdays, October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3 and 10; from 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Friday, October 7

Cancer Support Group

10:00  11:30 a.m.

Ronald McDonald House

Have you or someone you know been touched by cancer? Erlanger Cancer Center and Pastoral Care services offers a cancer support group open to patients, family members and friends and offers education through self-care topics and support with discussions and fellowship. A cancer navigator and pastoral care representative will guide attendees through topics that include navigating through a cancer diagnosis, management of cancer treatment, emotional support and much more. For more information on the support group, call 423-778-5030.
MP Natalie McGarry has been charged with fraud offences in relation to allegations 30,000 went missing from an independence campaign group

A Scottish MP has been charged with fraud offences in relation to allegations 30,000 went missing from an independence campaign group.

The claims about Natalie McGarry emerged last year just months after she was elected to the Commons as one of 56 SNP MPs.

Ms McGarry, 35, quit the Scottish nationalist party after the allegations came to light but she stayed in the House of Commons as an independent MP.

The claims relate to 30,000 which allegedly went missing from the Women for Independence campaign group.

Glasgow East MP Ms McGarry helped found the group in 2012 and campaign actively for the SNP through the 2014 independence referendum before running for Parliament.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: 'On Tuesday September 27 a 35-year-old woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences.

'A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.'

Ms McGarry's solicitor Aamer Anwar said: 'Natalie McGarry attended with myself this morning on a voluntary basis for an interview with Police Scotland.

'She was detained and questioned.

'Following this interview she was charged with several offences, including the embezzlement of funds, breach of trust, and offences under the Scottish Referendum Act 2013.

'She will be released today and will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.'

Women for Independence said on Twitter: 'We will be making no public comment on today's news.'

Ms McGarry, pictured in white alongside Nicola Sturgeon and other SNP MPs, was a central figure in the SNP's 2015 election surge

The allegations emerged in November 2015 when Women for Independence called in the police after reporting money had gone missing from donations largely raised through crowdfunding campaigns.
A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl after her sister fought for justice for more than 50 years.

Elsie Frost was stabbed in the back and head as she walked through a railway tunnel just off a canal towpath in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 1965.

Her killer was never caught and police renewed efforts last year as a result of the perseverance for justice from her sister Anne and brother Colin.

The new publicity five decades on from her death led to new witnesses coming forward with information and police confirmed today they had made an arrest.

Pensioner Peter Pickering was detained at the Thornford Park Hospital in Newbury, Berkshire, and will now be questioned by officers from West Yorkshire.

He is understood to have been a resident of the mental health unit for many years.

Elsie Frost was killed more than 50 years ago as she walked near a canal in Wakefield

Elise, pictured aged six with her older sister Anne, 10, would be in her sixties if she was alive

Elsie's killer was never caught and police renewed efforts last year as a result of the perseverance for justice from her sister Anne (pictured today left) and brother Colin (right)

Schoolgirl Elsie was stabbed to death in a tunnel beneath a railway line in Wakefield on 9 October 1965. Her body was found by a dog walker.

She had been on her way home from her school's sailing club, close to the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Canal.

A large police operation followed. The area was searched for the murder weapon, which was never found and hundreds of people were interviewed but no-one was ever convicted of her murder.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen said today: 'A reinvestigation into Elsie's murder was launched in 2015 by West Yorkshire Police, backed by a publicity campaign on the 50th anniversary of her death.

'Since then we have received significant numbers of calls and emails from members of the public offering new information, and have generated new lines of inquiry which officers have been progressing ever since.'

Police released this image of a man in a duffle coat as they attempted to solve the case

The ABC steps at a rail underpass where Elsie's body was found in 1965

Mr Wallen added: 'Following those inquiries we have now arrested a 78-year-old man in the Berkshire area and will be interviewing him under caution to progress our investigation.

'Elsie's brother and sister have been kept fully apprised of the progress of the inquiry and I wish to commend them for their perseverance and that of members of the media in continuing to campaign for her and to put this case back in the public domain.

'The response we have received from the public since launching the reinvestigation is a testament to their dedication and to the strength of feeling Elsie's murder continues to generate in the local community in Wakefield.'

Colin Frost, 56, Elsie Frost's brother, at the sight where her body was found 50 years ago
A substitute teacher from Georgia has been arrested and charged with having sex with two teenage students at her home in Acworth last year.

Laura Rich, 38, was taken into custody Friday on two counts of sexual assault by a teacher.

Investigators said Rich, who had been employed as a substitute teacher at Ace Academy in Canton until last month, had an illicit tryst with a 16-year-old student in early 2015.

Laura Rich, 38, a substitute teacher from Georgia (pictured left in a mugshot and right) has been arrested and charged with having sex with two teenage students at her home

Later that year, according to police, Rich had another sexual encounter with an 18-year-old student at her home in Cedarl Mill Drive in Acworth, reported Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The victims' genders have not been publicly disclosed.

Cherokee County School District notified police about the alleged relationships.

School district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby told the paper that Richs last day as a teacher was August 19, and she has since been barred from working as a substitute teacher anywhere in Cherokee County.

Rich had been employed as a substitute teacher at Ace Academy in Canton (pictured) until last month

'Crime scene': Officials say Rich had sexual encounters with a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old student in her home in Acworth, Georgia (pictured)

Our School District has zero tolerance for inappropriate relationships between students and any adults serving in any capacity in our schools, Jacoby said in a statement.
A judge lost his temper today, banging his gavel and shouting: 'This is not a show!' as cheers and jeers greeted the start of the trial of 15 people who allegedly attacked two Air France executives and tore the shirts off their backs.

Hundreds of angry workers stormed the Air France building at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris in October last year after the company announced plans to cut 2,900 jobs. Air France has since dropped the restructuring plans.

Two senior executives, Xavier Broseta, Vice President for Human Resources, and Pierre Plissonnier, deputy of Air France long-haul flights, had their shirts ripped off their backs as they were evacuated through the crowds.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has branded those responsible as 'rogues' and called for tough sentences.

Under attack: A shirtless Xavier Broseta, Executive Vice President for Human Resources at Air France, was evacuated by security during the incident in October last year

Today the courtroom outside Paris was packed and there were raucous scenes among activists supporting the defendants, five of whom are charged with organised violence.

They face up to three years in prison and a 45,000 euro (38,000) fine if convicted.

Another 10 face lesser charges over the confrontation.

Some Air France workers went on strike today solidarity with the defendants.

The court was shown a clip from footage of the incident, which made headlines around the world, in which a worker can be heard threatening Mr Broseta: 'You've got millions, you're going to pay.'

Defence lawyer Lilia Mhissen was cheered as she arrived in court today to take on six attorneys representing Air France.

The judge warned the crowd in court: 'No demonstrations, no protests or I will have the court cleared. This is not a show!'

Pierre Plissonnier, (centre, with white hair), Air France deputy of long-haul flights, was surrounded by employees after they interrupted a meeting with representatives at Air France HQ last year

He also warned the two teams of lawyers 'not to bicker'.

The Guardian reported that Air France's lawyer, Dominique Mondoloni, said the defence would seek to 'transform the perpetrators into victims and the victims into perpetrators'.

But Ms Mhissen said she hoped her clients would 'not be judged on the basis of video clips that last a fraction of a second' but on the bigger picture.

She said at least two of them had 'clearly acted to protect Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier'.

Outside court union activist Mahchid Modjaverian said: 'They can't take the right to protest from us. It is engraved in the marble of the constitution.'

Air France, facing financial problems, announced plans last year to shed 14 aircraft from its long-haul fleet, and cancel its order for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

But it was the massive job cuts which outraged staff, who were already at loggerheads with the company, and hundreds stormed the building.

The action of the workers were later condemned by France's main airline industry union FNAM, who calling it 'outdated behaviour'.

Violent protests by workers are commonplace in France, where the population has a long tradition of taking the law into its own hands.

Mob rule: Hundreds of disgruntled workers stormed the building after Air France confirmed it plans to cut 2,900 jobs. The plans were later dropped

Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier were aided by security as they tried to escape the baying mob

No backing: France's main airline industry union FNAM condemned the attack on Broseta and Plissonnier calling it 'outdated behaviour'

Fleeing like a criminal: Mr Broseta was aided by security staff as he is forced to climb over a fence in order to escape the mob

Help: Mr Plissonnier was also forced to climb over the fence to safety, his suit torn to pieces

Union activists protesting proposed layoffs at Air France zeroed in on the two managers
Pupils at an Islamic faith school told inspectors they did not want single-sex lessons because it 'wouldn't prepare them for modern life in Britain', the High Court has heard.

The Muslim pupils told a school inspector that segregation at school was having a 'negative effect', because it was not a reflection of life outside the classroom.

The comments were revealed during a High Court legal battle over a controversial Ofsted report relating to a school which cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Pupils at an Islamic faith school told inspectors they did not want single-sex lessons because it 'wouldn't prepare them for modern life in Britain', the High Court (pictured) has heard

The inspector told Mr Justice Jay that one young woman referred to it as 'dumb'.

He said boys had also mentioned segregation as 'having a negative impact in terms of preparing them for life'. But he added that not all pupils had agreed with that view.

The challenge has been brought by the school's interim executive board over findings in the Ofsted report that it was an 'inadequate school' and required special measures.

The board is disputing the report's findings and applying for a judicial review to have it quashed.

One of the criticisms in the report was the school's segregation of boys from girls.

The judge was told the Islamic voluntary-aided school admitted pupils of both sexes between the ages of four and 16.

From Year 5, girls and boys are completely segregated for all lessons, break and lunchtimes, as well as for school clubs and trips.

The school cannot be named after a judge at an earlier hearing said identifying it would be likely 'to generate a media storm and tensions and fears for parents and the local community'.
The foster father accused of killing schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was under police investigation for her murder but was allowed to operate a daycare centre at his family home for five months after her death.

Rick Thorburn, 56, continued to hold a blue card as Queensland's Department of Child Safety and Education were not warned about him being a 'person of interest from day one' of the probe, The Courier-Mail reported.

Last week, Thorburn was charged with murdering the 12-year-old girl, whose decomposing body was found naked on the banks of a Brisbane river last year.

After the child safety authorities were alerted in April this year, the family's daycare approval was revoked, foster care approval was suspended and his blue card stripped.

The blue card system is used in Queensland to allow adults to work with children and young people.

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Schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer (pictured) disappeared from her foster home on October 30 last year and was found dead on a nearby river bank the following week

Her foster father accused of her murder Rick Thorburn (right) was a 'person of interest' in the but was allowed to operate a daycare centre at his home for five months after her death

Child Services Minister Shannon Fentiman announced Queensland's blue card system would be reviewed following the allegations against Tiahleigh's foster carers.

Ms Fentiman also revealed the Thorburns had operated a family day care business following Tiahleigh's death until police provided intelligence in April to authorities that resulted in their approvals being revoked.

'In April, police notified my department and the Department of Education and Training of alleged criminal activity,' she said last week.

'This was the first time that concerns were raised about the Thorburns.'

The news comes as police continue to scour the family's Chambers Flat two-hectare property, south of Brisbane, for Tiahleigh's school uniform and backpack.

The 56-year-old foster father being led away in handcuffs last week after his arrest over Tiahleigh's alleged murder

Officers have been scouring Rick Thorburn's property in Chamber's Flat, south of Brisbane

Tiahleigh disappeared from the home on October 30 last year and was found dead on a nearby river bank the following week.

Thornburn was arrested earlier this week and is accused of killing his foster daughter.

He collapsed while in police custody after being charged with Tiahleigh's murder and interfering with her corpse.

He was placed in a medically induced coma and denied bail before regaining consciousness on Thursday.

Investigators are searching for Tiahleigh's bright-coloured backpack

His youngest son, Trent, was charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The 19-year-old was also denied bail but is expected to reapply in the Supreme Court.

Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Detectives investigating Tiahleigh's tragic death were seen digging up scraps of clothing at her Thorburn's property this week.

Police also seized two suitcases from the expansive two-hectare property, carting the potential evidence away in big plastic bags.

The house is being treated as a 'primary crime scene' in the murder investigation.
Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has spoken of his desire to reinstate the death penalty in the country saying growing atheism and agnosticism means people have developed a lack of fear and respect for the law.

The death penalty was officially abolished in the primarily Catholic country in 2006, but Duterte said that 'if God doesn't exist', capital punishment is the only way to ensure justice for the victims of terrible crimes.

Speaking to reporters on Monday the firebrand leader hinted that previous presidents had succumbed to pressure from priests and other 'bleeding hearts' who argued against capital punishment 'because only God can kill'.

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Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte meets female police officers. The firebrand leader has made many remarks that has earned him the reputation of a loose cannon

Duterte, who assumed office in June and has launched deadly raids against drug gangs in the country, also questioned his own belief in God during the address.

'When a one-year-old baby, 18-months-old baby is taken from the mother's arms brought under a jeep and raped and killed. So where is God? My God, where are you?' he asked the crowd in capital Manila .

'I believe in God but that is my perpetual question to him,' he added.

'Where were you when we needed you?' He asked.

'It's not enough to say that at the end of the world, he will judge the living and the dead. What would be the purpose of all of that if the heartaches, sorrows and agony have already been inflicted in this world?' Duterte said.

Around 3,500 people have been killed by Duterte's death squads that are at war with the country's drug gangs

Police officers inspect the bodies of two supposed drug dealers killed by government forces in Manila on Friday

The former mayor of Davao City then cited the rising number of agnostics and atheists in the country as a reason as to why citizens don't have respect for the law-as they won't be held accountable for their actions after death.

'People in the Philippines no longer believe in the laws, because the fear is not there,' Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

'That is why I said, give me back the death penalty.'

Although Duterte has campaigned for the death penalty around 3,500 people have been killed by death squads in his war on drugs since he came to power.

The leader is prone to controversy. Earlier in September a former member of one of his death squads claimed that Duterte had shot dead a justice department agent with an Uzi submachine gun and fed bodies to crocodiles while serving as mayor of Davao.

The claim, made by an alleged hitman, was strongly denied by the President's office.

A meeting with US president Barack Obama was cancelled after he called him a 'son of a whore' as it was believed the talks would focus solely on the death squads.

He also aimed expletives at UN secretary Ban-Ki moon and said he would eat a group of Islamist militants alive after they killed 14 people in his home city of Davao.
The father of two was fined 500, plus 135 in additional costs

The plasterer was 'fed drink by friends' and began interrupting the crew

Martin Carroll, 26, was about to fly out to

Martin Carroll (pictured) was fined 635 at Manchester Magistrates court after he admitted being drunk on an aircraft

A father due to jet off to Ibiza for his birthday was hurled off the plane before it even took off after he got drunk and heckled cabin crew during a safety demonstration.

Father of two Martin Carroll, 26, was heading out to the Spanish holiday island with group of friends but got intoxicated in the airport departure lounge on duty free alcohol before getting on his flight.

When staff on the Ryanair plane began pointing out the safety exits, Carroll carried on drinking - then began interrupting the crew as passengers tried to listen to the demonstration.

Although Carroll was repeatedly warned to shut up, the self employed plasterer from Bolton, continued with his boorish behaviour and police were called onto the jet at Manchester Airport.

As he was escorted off the aircraft he was heard slurring: 'So I've had a few beers, so f**king what, what a f**king load of s**t, what a joke'.

The flight was delayed for several hours due to the incident on September 9, magistrates in Manchester were told.

Today, Carroll who has two children aged two and six, admitted being drunk in an aircraft and was fined 500, plus 135 in additional costs.

The Bolton plasterer (pictured) was thrown off the Ryanair flight to Ibiza from Manchester when he heckled cabin crew who were carrying out safety demonstrations ahead of takeoff. The father of two was jetting off to celebrate his birthday with friends

Prosecutor Tina Cunnane said: 'This occurred at 8:26pm on September 9 2016. Officers based at the airport were called to attend the Ibiza bound Ryanair flight.

'Crew reported a male drinking his own duty free alcohol on board and disturbing during the safety demonstration.

'This was unacceptable to the crew because other passengers needed to be aware of actions and responsibilities of the aircraft encountered a problem. The flight was delayed considerably whilst dealing with the situation.

'Several warnings to control himself were given but he continued with his poor behaviour. Crew pointed out the defendant and the police officer says he spoke to the captain initially.

'A decision had been made by crew to offload the defendant because he failed to control himself after being asked to keep quite on a number of occasions.

'A set of steps were attached to the aircraft and the defendant was heard saying 'what a f***ing joke' his speech was slurred and it was immediately apparent that he was drunk. His eyes were glazed.

'He continued to make profane comments. The officer led him to his van and he continued to make drunken comments about the crew and others aboard.

'The defendant was uncooperative about giving his passport and he told the officer that they were on board with his friends. His friends were all dismissive about their friends' behaviour.

'He did have his passport with him which was found in his bag. He was arrested for being drunk whilst on board an aircraft.

Carroll (pictured left) was heard saying 'what a f**king joke' when he escorted off the plane by police. The flight had to be delayed for several hours

'He said 'so I've had a few beers, so f**king what, what a f**king load of shit, what a joke'.'

Carroll has previous convictions on his record including a criminal damage matter in 2014 and a battery in 2011.

In mitigation defence counsel Damian Mullarkey said: 'The plane was not in flight, it hadn't even been taxied. This was a drunken individual who was heckling as the cabin crew were trying to do the safety demonstration.

'Mr Carroll was going to Ibiza with friends to celebrate his birthday. It was a pre-planned flight because it was his birthday. He was being bought large amounts of alcohol. He was being fed it by his friends.

'To suggest he was drinking from his duty free is wrong. He was drinking from his friends. He became, out of the group, highly intoxicated.

'He was acting childish and not appropriate in any manner of how he should have been on a flight. He was asked to calm down he has not. A decision has been made to remove him, he was not angry or kicking off or arguing.

'That behaviour was not appropriate whilst on an aircraft. If could have been worse, the plane could have been in flight but if was not it was not even in movement. It's a very unfortunate situation.

'I cannot excuse his behaviour and I won't. I can't make excuses for him. He has not asked me to do so. He was drunk and it was because he was celebrating his birthday and had been fed a lot of alcohol.

'He had to fly out the next day where his behaviour was controlled and he then joined up with his friends, which was more expense. He's learnt a salient lesson.

'He's working hard with a family and let off a lot of steam and as a result he's found himself in court today. He inconvenienced his friends, other passengers on board and the cabin crew.'

When asked if he had anything to say, Carroll answered 'no thank you'.

Chairing the panel of magistrates at Manchester, Helen Hawley said: 'We have taken into account your guilty plea and salary. You will be fined 500 with a victim surcharge of 50 and prosecution costs of 85. We will accept that you pay that at 250 a month.

'This was an expensive lesson for you. You're friends were feeding you the alcohol but you didn't have to drink it.'

A spokesman for Ryanair said: 'The crew of this flight from Manchester to Ibiza requested airport police assistance after a passenger became disruptive during the in-flight safety demonstration.
An Ohio woman who was arrested for drink driving was pulled over again just five hours later with an even higher blood-alcohol content.

Dawn Kvasnicka of Ravenna, was stopped for over for erratic driving around 9.25am last Tuesday in Streetsboro.

The 48-year-old was caught on police dash camera footage falling over during a field sobriety test, and later returned a blood-alcohol level of .371 - more than four times the legal limit. She was arrested, charged and later released to a friend.

However, at 2.47pm the same day - just over five hours later - the same officers pulled Kvasnicka over again, this time while she was driving a different car.

DUI: Dawn Kvasnicka, 48, was pulled over for erratic driving around 9.25am in Streetsboro, Ohio, last Tuesday, and returned a blood-alcohol level of .371

Dash cam footage shows Kvasnicka attempt a field sobriety test (left) however she soon falls backwards, slamming into her car (right)

Her blood-alcohol level was at .371. Ohio's legal limit is .08. Kvasnicka was charged with OVI - Operating a Vehicle Impaired - and released to a friend. She is seen here after her arrest

She was again driving erratically, police said.

However this time, Kvasnicka admitted that she actually wasn't capable of doing a field sobriety test.

She was again arrested, only this time her blood alcohol turned out to be even higher - measuring at .385.

'In 21 years, I don't recall anyone ever being arrested twice in the same day for OVI," Streetsboro Lt. Patricia Wain told Fox 8 Cleveland.

'Clearly she couldn't be trusted to stay off the road,' Wain said.

'We could've been looking at a tragedy.'

Kvasnicka was charged with her second OVI of the day and taken to the Portage County Jail.

She pleaded not guilty to the OVI charges, but is also facing fifth-degree felony drug charges for attempting to enter the jail with some sort of illegal substance.

Five hours later: The 48-year-old was pulled over driving a different car at 2.47pm

Even more inebriated: For the second arrest - five hours later at 2.47pm - her blood-alcohol content registered at a huge .383

Dawn Kvasnicka, 48, was arrested Tuesday and faces charges in Ravenna Municipal Court. Investigators said her blood-alcohol level was four times the legal limit during both stops
A video released by District of Columbia police Tuesday shows officers performing CPR on a motorcyclist who had been shot by an officer as a bystander screams in the background.

Terrence Sterling, 31, was killed by an officer in the early morning of September 11. Police say Sterling, who was black, was shot after he 'intentionally' rammed the passenger-side door of a police vehicle while trying to flee a traffic stop.

His death has sparked some protests, with activists demanding for the bodycam footage and the cop's name to be released.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT:

Police shooting: This is a screenshot from a body cam footage released by District of Columbia police showing the deadly shooting of a black motorcyclist on September 11

Grisly: The five-minute video begins after Officer Brain Trainer shot Terrence Sterling, 31. This image shows the man bleeding profusely on the ground

The video begins with the officer rushing to grab a first aid kit from a police cruiser

Police say the officer who shot Sterling was wearing a body camera, but he didn't turn it on until after the shooting.

Footage from the camera was released Tuesday. In it, Sterling can be seen lying on the ground astride his motorcycle and bleeding heavily.

A clearly alarmed bystander can be heard shouting off-camera, 'Oh my God!'

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the release of the video, saying in a statement that it was in the public interest and consistent with the goals of the Districts [body-worn camera] program to create broader accountability between law enforcement and communities, and to maintain open and transparent government.

Gunned down: Sterling, 31, had left a bachelor party and was on his way home in the early hours of September 11 when he was shot by police after allegedly ramming a cruiser

Besides releasing the bodycam footage, DC police also named the officer who shot Sterling, identifying him as Brian Trainer, 27, a four-year veteran of the department. His race has not been disclosed.

The 5-minute video opens with Sterling lying on the ground still wearing his motorcycle helmet, with bright-red blood streaming from a wound in his body.

Sterling's face and that of an officer appear to have been digitally obscured prior to the release of the video. The first 30 seconds of the clip have no sound.

The officer wearing the body camera, identified as Brian Trainer, scrambles for a first aid kit in his cruiser and removes Sterling's jacket and helmet as his partner begins to perform chest compressions.

That officer would spend the next three minutes desperately trying to revive Sterling, repeating over and over again: 'Look at me! Keep looking at me, buddy!'

At one point, the Metro cop tells the mortally wounded man bleeding on the ground: 'Don't let go! Keep looking at me!'

As time passes, the officer performing CPR begs Sterling, 'open your eyes!'

The video cuts off as ambulance sirens are heard approaching the scene of the shooting.

First aid: Another officer immediately began performing CPR on the mortally wounded man

Helping hand: Trainer helped remove Sterling's jacket and helmet

Fighting for life: That officer would spend the next three minutes desperately trying to revive Sterling, repeating over and over again: 'Look at me! Keep looking at me, buddy!'

Police say Trainer fired two shots at Sterling, seen here bleeding on the ground

The incident began unfolding at around 4.20am on September 11 when Terrence Sterling was spotted by an officer riding his motorcycle 'recklessly near the intersection of 17th and U Streets NW, according to police.

Sterling, a heating and air conditioning technician by trade, reportedly had just left a bachelor party and was heading east, likely on his way home.

Witness Kandace Simms, who was sitting in her car at the light at 3rd and M streets NW, told the station Fox 5 that Sterling was driving in the left lane next to her when he slammed into a police cruiser, which she said had pulled into the intersection in an apparent attempt to block the bike.

Simms characterized the collision between the bike and the cop car as unavoidable.

The witness also told Fox 5 that Sterling made an attempt to drive off, but at that moment the window on the passenger side of the cruiser rolled down and Officer Brian Trainer fired two shots at the biker.

Simms said the officer issued no command to Sterling before shooting him, and the lights and sirens on the police vehicle were off.

Outrage: The release of the video and Brain Trainer's name was preceded by a protest held Monday in DC

Black Lives Matter activists had been demanding for the bodycam footage to be released

Civil rights demonstrators are seen lying on the ground near the spot where Sterling was shot dead by police

According to the official version of events, however, Sterling intentionally rammed into the police cruiser's passenger door as Officer Trainer got out planning to stop him.

NBC Washington reported that after the shooting, Sterling was rushed by ambulance to Howard University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Trainer was placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting.
Dr. Allen Coffman, a primary care pediatrician with Highland Pediatrics in Hixson and president of the Pediatric Health Improvement Coalition for the Tennessee Valley was awarded Pediatrician of the Year by the Tennessee American Academy of Pediatrics for his work in the Chattanooga area and across the state.



His energy, passion, and knowledge are most evident. His ability to articulate the mission and paraphrase a group's discussion in a succinct and accurate manner is phenomenal. He is a full time pediatrician, father, and active member of the greater Chattanooga area, said Pamela Peck in her nomination of Dr. Coffman earlier this year.



In addition to practicing full time at Highland Pediatrics, Dr. Coffman has also worked to establish community partnerships in Chattanooga. In 2012, he was a founding member of the board and first president the Pediatric Health Improvement Coalition. "This coalition is working to build partnerships between all community groups invested in the health and well-being of children and is currently leading the development of a Tennessee Valley school-based health partnership," officials said.



At a time when the practice of pediatrics is threatened by practice transformation and decreasing payment, Dr. Coffman is at the leading edge of proactive work to bring everyone to the table for the greater good. Through PHIIT everyone who participates goes home with a win--practices, physicians, patients, and payers. His vision of our future is promising, said Michelle Fiscus, M.D., FAAP, when asked of the impact Dr. Coffman is making across the state.



Dr. Coffman volunteers at pediatric organizations including the Tennessee AAP where he has served as president, vice president and legislative chair. He developed and launched the TN AAP Pediatric Health Improvement Initiative in Tennessee (PHiiT), a network involving state Medicaid leaders, payer representatives, the Department of Health, academic medicine, schools of public health and practice leaders. Dr. Coffman currently serves as the PHiiT medical director and the program is now helping individual practices across Tennessee measure their performance and improve the care they provide to children.



Dr. Coffman graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Medical College of Georgia. He completed his residency at Childrens Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati. Dr. Coffman also serves on the clinical faculty of Childrens Hospital at Erlanger and is on the board of Beacon Health Alliance and the board of LifeSpring Community Health in Chattanooga Tennessee.



Dr. Coffman was presented with the Tennessee Pediatrician of the Year award as well as an AAP Special Achievement award for his work on developing a state-wide Quality Improvement Partnership on Sept. 16 in Nashville during the Tennessee AAPs annual Excellence in Pediatrics Reception.


George Osborne has admitted the rock bottom interest rates used by the Bank of England to prop up the economy after Brexit and the financial crisis hurt the poor.

In his first criticism of the Bank's policies, the ex-Chancellor said the historically low costs of borrowing since 2008 had made Britain less equal as savings do not grow but house prices soar.

Mr Osborne's remarks come as a Tory civil war over the referendum results and their impact deepens.

George Osborne (pictured in an interview with Bloomberg News today) was savaged by his fellow Tory MP and former Cabinet colleague Iain Duncan Smith for claiming Britain had voted for 'soft Brexit' in the EU referendum

He told Bloomberg TV: 'We need to offset the very necessary loose monetary policy, and the distributional consequences that is having.

'Essentially it makes the rich richer and makes life difficult for ordinary savers.'

Rock bottom interest rates were a key plank of Mr Osborne's economic record and he warned a Brexit vote could send rates soaring - but instead they have been cut further.

Mr Osborne has also claimed that Britain voted for a 'soft Brexit' and did 'not want to be governed from the extremes'.

He also warned that a 'hard-Brexit' deal would have 'severe consequences' for Britain.

But in a withering attack on his ex-Cabinet colleague today, Mr Duncan Smith mocked the former Chancellor for claiming to have 'insider knowledge of what the British people voted for'.

And he said Mr Osborne was among those 'picking over the carcass of a dead event' to re-interpret the result.

Mr Duncan Smith, who quit the Cabinet in March after clashing with Mr Osborne, attacked his former nemesis for his detailed Brexit advice for the Government on the upcoming Brexit negotiations during a lecture in Chicago last week, accusing him of continuing 'Project Fear'.

'He went on as the representative of the liberal mainstream majority (and, it appears, as their spokesman) to warn Theresa May, in terms redolent of Project Fear, that she shouldn't govern from the extremes,' he wrote on the ConservativeHome website today.

'Humility, it seems, can take many forms  though apparently not if one is mainstream, liberal or in the majority.'

But Mr Osborne ignored Mr Duncan Smith's attack, reiterating his plea today for Mrs May to reject a 'hard Brexit' and pursue a deal that would give Britain the closest possible relationship with the EU.

Tory civil war over Brexit deepened today as Iain Duncan Smith (left) accused George Osborne (right) of 're-writing the past' on the EU referendum result

George Osborne also used his media appearance today to comment on the US Presidential election following last night's crucial debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (pictured in the debate). Reiterating his criticism of the Republican candidate, he said: 'I don't think the answers Trump put forward.... are going to create jobs for America or will be good for the world.'

He said the Government is faced with the most important decisions since the War as he urged ministers to prioritise a deal that maintains London's status as the financial capital of Europe and protects EU migrants living in the UK and expats living in other member states.

OSBORNE CONTINUES ROLE AS BACK-SEAT DRIVER George Osborne (pictured) repeated his claims today that Britain voted for a 'soft Brexit' and did 'not want to be governed from the extremes George Osborne risked further accusations of being a back-seat driver today as he warned that the Bank of England's programme of quantitative easing and low interest rates were making life difficult for savers. Despite only leaving his role as Chancellor in July, he appeared to criticise the moves by Governor Mark Carney because they had hugely benefited the rich. 'We need to offset the very necessary loose monetary policy and the distributional consequences that is having,' he told Bloomberg News today. 'Essentially it makes the rich richer and makes life difficult for ordinary savers.' Advertisement

Speaking during a visit to Washington in the US today, Mr Osborne told Bloomberg News: 'People in Britain took part in a huge democratic exercise  more people voted in the referendum than vote in a general election and they were clear, they wanted to leave the EU.

'But of course, that was the only question on the ballot paper.

'What we didn't put to the British people and what we now need to determine is exactly what now is the trading relationship with Europe.

'How do we make sure London is going to remain a major financial centre in the world? How do we make sure that Britons can go and live and study in Europe, just like European citizens can come to Britain that have answers to some of the concerns that the British public have about that.'

He added: 'These are all crucial decisions; no one at the moment has perfect answers to all of those things  it's not surprising, it's just a few months since the vote. But we've got to work hard as a British government and a British parliament to get the right answers over the next two years and my view is we should be ending up with a  to use the jargon  a softer Brexit than a harder Brexit will be more severe.

'These are some of the most important decisions Britain is going to make since the Second World War and it's absolutely vital that we get them right.'

Mr Osborne risked further accusations of being a back-seat driver as he warned that the Bank of England's programme of quantitative easing and low interest rates were making life difficult for savers.

Despite only leaving his role as Chancellor in July, he said the moves by Governor Mark Carney had made the 'rich richer'.

'We need to offset the very necessary loose monetary policy and the distributional consequences that is having,' he said in his Bloomberg interview.

'Essentially it makes the rich richer and makes life difficult for ordinary savers.'

Mr Osborne also used his media appearance today to comment on the US Presidential election following last night's crucial debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
One of Australia's most wanted fugitives has been dramatically arrested at a suburban Hobart shopping centre after police received a tip-off.

Samuel Terrance McGovern, 23, was wanted in relation to alleged gang activity with a notorious Sydney crime syndicate and the alleged supply of heroin and ice.

He was arrested on interstate warrants at Claremont Shopping Centre in Hobart's northern suburbs on Monday and held in custody overnight, before being extradited to NSW on Tuesday afternoon.

Samuel Terrance McGovern, 23, was arrested in Hobart on Monday and extradited to NSW

McGovern was placed on Australia's most wanted fugitive list last month

The 23-year-old was wanted in relation to alleged gang activity with a notorious Sydney crime syndicate and the alleged supply of heroin and ice

Investigators previously said they wanted to speak with McGovern about a Kings Cross drug investigation from early 2016.

He has reported links to the Young Woolloomooloo Boys gang, operating within Sydney's inner-city eastern suburbs and alleged to deal drugs in Kings Cross.

The 23-year-old was placed on a most wanted list last month when Crime Stoppers and police launched a national crackdown on fugitives titled 'Operation ROAM.'

Of the 19 fugitives initially listed, 11 still remain at large, including Darren Rispen, alleged to be one of Australia's biggest drug suppliers, and Anthony Sitar, alleged to be involved in an international drug syndicate caught importing 138 kilograms of ice and 15 kilograms of cocaine at Melbourne in 2011.

McGovern has reported links to the notorious Young Woolloomooloo Boys gang

McGovern was extradited to NSW from the southern capital on Tuesday afternoon

McGovern was extradited to NSW from the southern capital on Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by detectives, after a magistrate approved his transfer to Sydney.

'There is no application for bail and the (extradition) application sought is not opposed,' a Legal Aid solicitor said on McGovern's behalf.

Magistrate Michael Daly ordered that he be taken to Sydney police headquarters before facing Central Local Court on Wednesday morning.

'My girlfriend was meant to come and visit,' McGovern said, as plans were being made for his handover to NSW Police.

The magistrate told McGovern he would have to change his plans.

Magistrate Michael Daly ordered that he be taken to Sydney police headquarters before facing Central Local Court on Wednesday morning
Pippa Middleton has launched a case at the High Court after personal photos were taken from her iCloud account

Pippa Middleton has launched a High Court case in what is believed to be an attempt to stop hacked photos of her being shared.

The 33-year-old sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, has lodged a case in the Queens Bench Division of the London court, where judges look at issues of privacy and libel.

The full details of the case are unknown, though it comes just days after fears her iCloud account was hacked and personal photos stolen.

Website designer Nathan Wyatt, 35, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence.

Some of the pictures said to have been stolen allegedly show Miss Middleton at a wedding dress fitting and naked images of her fiance, James Matthews, 40.

Pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are also reportedly among 3,000 images taken.

The alleged hack sparked major security alert after a man offered to sell images of her and her royal relatives for 50,000.

It is not known whether Wyatt is suspected of being the hacker or the seller, but his house has been searched by police.

Miss Middleton's High Court case is listed in the Interim Applications Court at the Royal Court of Justice tomorrow morning.

Nathan Wyatt has been reportedly been arrested and bailed over the alleged iCloud hack
He called for investigation into whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and public about

Virginia Senator Mark Warner asked the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and the public about a hacking attack affecting 500 million user accounts.

'Press reports indicate Yahoo's CEO, Marissa Mayer, knew of the breach as early as July of this year,' Warner said in a letter to SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White.

'Despite the historic scale of the breach, however, the company failed to file a Form 8-K disclosing the breach to the public.'

Yahoo filed a Form 8-K hours after it announced the data breach, according to ABC News.

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Virginia Senator Mark Warner (pictured) asked the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether Yahoo and its senior executives fulfilled obligations to inform investors and the public about the hacking attack affecting 500 million user accounts.

The SEC's regulations require that a Form 8-K be submitted within four business days of an event that is material to investors.

'Disclosure is the foundation of federal securities laws, and public companies are required to disclose material events that shareholders should know about,' Warner's letter said.

The FBI is investigating the hack, which Yahoo has blamed on a 'state-sponsored actor' although the company has not provided technical information to support that claim.

He said in a letter: 'Press reports indicate Yahoo's CEO, Marissa Mayer (pictured), knew of the breach as early as July of this year'

The senator is a former technology executive, is a member of the Senate Intelligence and Banking Committees and co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, according to ABC.

Warner also asked the SEC to probe whether Yahoo has 'made complete and accurate representations' about the security of its information technology systems, and for the agency to evaluate its current thresholds for how and when companies need to report a material data breach.

Sources familiar with the incident told ABC that Russian hackers are suspected to be behind the attack.

Yahoo has faced pointed questions about exactly when it knew about the 2014 cyber attack announced last week that exposed the email credentials of half a billion accounts.

The issue is critical for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover of its core business by Verizon Inc.

Verizon announced on July 25 that it would buy the tech company for $4.83 billion.

When Yahoo announced the security breach on September 22, Verizon said that it had only learned about the breach 'within the last two days'.

Although the SEC has longstanding guidance on when publicly traded companies should report hacking incidents, companies that have experienced known breaches often omit those details in regulatory filings, according to a 2012 Reuters investigation.

In a September 9 regulatory filing with the SEC, Yahoo stated it did not have knowledge of 'any incidents of, or third party claims alleging ... unauthorized access' of personal data of its customers that could have a material adverse effect on Verizon's acquisition.

After Yahoo's announcement, a source familiar with the incident told ABC News that the company only became aware of the data breach in July, following news reports of a hacker attempting to sell some 280 million accounts on the dark web.

The source told the news site that Yahoo 'found no evidence to substantiate the hacker's claims,' but when an internal security team broadened the scope of its investigation, 'they identified evidence of the theft by a state-sponsored actor occurred in 2014.'

Yahoo has so far not provided a clear, detailed timeline about when it was made aware of the breach announced Thursday

Yahoo confirmed that 'a copy of certain user account information was stolen' from their systems in 2014 and said the investigation is ongoing.

Establishing that Yahoo is liable for damages under SEC rules is a 'pretty high bar' in data breach cases, said Robert Cattanach, a lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney who specializes in cyber security.

Yahoo is additionally protected from liability given the relative lack of sensitivity of the data compromised, Cattanach said, though he said both the SEC and Federal Trade Commission were likely to open investigations.

Massachusetts is also seeking more information from Yahoo about the breach, a spokesperson for the state's attorney general said on Monday.

Yahoo has so far not provided a clear, detailed timeline about when it was made aware of the breach announced Thursday.

Cyber security services firm Stroz Friedberg has been hired by Yahoo to help investigate the breach, firm spokeswoman Carolyn Vadino said.
A little girl has made a desperate plea to Charlotte city council in a bid to end the deadly cop shootings of black people.

Nine-year-old Zianna Oliphant broke down in tears as she delivered the powerful message to politicians after nearly a week of protests engulfed the North Carolina city.

Dozens of furious protesters packed City Hall on Monday to call for the mayor and police chief to resign and for his department to be held accountable following the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

The father-of-seven's death at the hands of Officer Brently Vinson sparked days of demonstrations that turned violent and caused chaos.

'It's going to be rough in these streets until you give justice to our people,' said the Rev. Milton Williams, the final speaker, according to CNN. 'Our city's in an uproar, and you did not respond.'

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Zianna Oliphant (pictured) made a tearful plea to Charlotte city council to end the cop shootings of black people

Dozens of furious protesters packed City Hall on Monday to call for Mayor Jennifer Roberts to resign and for police to be held accountable following the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott - which has sparked days of demonstrations (pictured: Zianna addresses the meeting)

Zianna's speech was one of the most powerful, and prompted a standing ovation.

'It's a shame that our fathers and brothers are killed and we can't see them anymore,' she said. 'It's a shame that we have to go through that graveyard and bury him. We need our fathers and brothers to be by our side.'

The girl, who said she was born and raised in Charlotte, said she can't stand how black people are being treated in the city, ABC News reports.

'We are black people and we shouldn't have to feel like this. We shouldn't have to protest because y'all are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights.'

Young Zianna Oliphant who broke down in tears as she delivered her powerful message

Zianna Oliphant is consoled after addressing the Charlotte City Council during time for public comments

She was not the only child to speak at the emotion-filled event.

Ten-year-old Taje Gaddy also spoke about his fear of the police as the crowd cheered in support.

Other residents at the packed City Hall launched attacks on the Charlotte authorities over their handling of Scott's death.

The 43-year-old was shot dead by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers on September 20 after they came across him exiting his car at an apartment block where they were serving a warrant on another individual.

Police say Scott made a threatening move with his gun shortly before they shot him four times. Crucial evidence is missing from the investigation however as officers failed to switch on their body cameras until after Scott was shot.

Protesters packed City Hall on Monday to call for Mayor Jennifer Roberts (pictured) to resign

An audience member becomes emotional after a child addressed the Charlotte City Council

A 30 second 'buffer' means we can see the moment cops opened fire but no audio was recorded until he pressed the button.

Speakers at Monday night's meeting also complained about new legislation being brought in this weekend which will block the release of police video without a court order.

Many have demanded that police release all video footage of the shooting of Scott.

Protests have raged on everyday after the shooting.

The council admitted that the unrest over the shooting was 'decades in the making' as member Al Alston said: 'Tuesday was the boiling point, and it's getting hotter.'

Audience members show support for speakers at the Charlotte City Council holding up signs which read 'Black lives matter'

A sign demands police chief Kerry Putney resign - held by an member of the overflow crowd as they watch and listen outside city council chambers

An overflow crowd watch and listen outside city council chambers as members of the black community attend a open forum to speak to the city council in Charlotte

Outside the City Hall meeting, hundreds of protesters marched through Charlotte last night.

At a downtown church, North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber told the assembled crowd that authorities should investigate the city's police department and those officers who failed to activate their body cameras should be punished.

Charlotte became the first city in North Carolina to bring in body cameras for all its officers last year, but that has not stop six people being fatally shot since then.

In five of those six cases, cops failed to switch their camera on.
Apeldelrazek Badran, 33, had been released six months before the attacks after serving nine years for raping a nine-year-old girl

A convicted child rapist who posed as a policeman to attack two schoolgirls in the space of an hour was jailed for life today.

Apeldelrazek Badran, 33, had been released six months before the attacks after serving nine years for raping a nine-year-old girl.

He was locked up in 2003, released on licence in 2009, recalled in 2011 and finally released again in July 2015 before the latest spree of sexually motivated crimes against schoolgirls.

In the first attack on January 27 this year, Badran disguised himself as a policeman when he attacked an 11-year-old girl intending to sexually assault her, but she managed to escape.

An hour later, he tried to arrest a vulnerable 12-year-old girl for shoplifting.

He lured her into an alleyway, threatened to 'cut' her with what she thought was a knife before sexually assaulting her.

During the attack the girl's frantic mother, who was worried because her daughter hadn't returned home, made panicky calls to her mobile.

Badran then took photos of the girl's half-naked body on his phone, forcing her to smile and telling her that if she told anyone about the incident he would post the pictures online.

She managed to escape but dropped her mother's bank card.

When the terrified girl was eventually found by her mother she was 'crying and shaking' and said, 'it's not my fault, I tried to escape'.

Police identified Badran before officers went to his home address in Enfield, north London, half a mile away from where the two attacks took place.

The officer found the bank card and a photo of his victim, which Badran had edited to include his own details of what happened for his own pleasure.

Sick: Badran took photos of his 12-year-old victim's half-naked body on his phone, forcing her to smile and telling her that if she told anyone about the incident he would post the pictures online. Today he was jailed for life at Wood Green Crown Court in London (pictured)

Badran was found guilty of one count of causing acutal bodily harm, battery with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault by digital penetration, sexual touching and bank-card theft.

He was also found him guilty of a further two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing Badran today at Wood Green Crown Court, Judge Rosa Harwood-Smart QC said: 'You fit the criteria of a dangerous offender.

'All these offences are serious and the girls have been deeply and probably permanently scarred by their experience and I am aware of the damage to them and their families as a result of your actions.

'The seriousness is such, that a determinate sentence is not appropriate, and I am sentencing you to life.

'You are very dangerous. Your behaviour is described as protracted and they say you pose a high risk towards children, and a high risk of reoffending.'

You threatened her with what she thought was a knife and forced her to smile for photos, which were then edited and commented on by you Judge Harwood-Smart

Judge Harwood-Smart sentenced Badran to life with a minimum term of eight years and four months in jail.

She added: 'In 2003, you raped a nine-year-old girl while she was fishing.

'You persuaded her to come and play with you before you mercilessly raped her.

'You were released in 2011, but returned to jail after you chased another girl. She was older, but of diminutive stature.

'You were again release in 2015, and then in January of 2016, these offences took place.

'[The first victim] was returning from school when you chased and grabbed her. She escaped and you were captured on CCTV.

'Passers by were so alarmed by your actions that they made a note of your appearance.'

He added: '[The second victim] was returning home after shopping for school clothes.

'You posed as a police officer and told her she might have shoplifted.

'You threatened her with what she thought was a knife and forced her to smile for photos, which were then edited and commented on by you.'
Donald Trump says it was a faulty microphone  and not any sort of allergy or cold  that caused some viewers of the presidential debate to conclude he had the sniffles.

'No, no sniffles. No, the mic was very bad, but maybe it was good enough to hear breathing. But no sniffles. No allergies. No cold,' the candidate said Tuesday morning, repeating a claim about bad electronic equipment that he first floated Monday night right after the debate.

'It was on and off and it was much lower than hers, Trump told Fox News.

I dont want to believe in conspiracy theories but it was much lower than hers and it was crackling,' he said.

Trump's perceived sniffling was audible almost from the start of the debate  and it prompted the mocking hashtag #Trumpsniffles by online viewers who were cognizant of Trump's frequent questioning of rival Hillary Clinton's stamina and health, including urging her to 'sleep well' when she took time off the campaign trail to prep for the debate.

RUNNING COMMENTARY: Donald Trump insists he did not have a sniffle during Monday night's debate, and blamed a faulty microphone

Rigged? Trump said he believed the microphone was defective - and pictures showed that it seemed easier for Clinton to reach hers

On Monday night, Trump declared himself satisfied with his debate performance Monday night in the 'spin room'  but then raised a complaint about the electronic equipment that piped the contest to millions of viewers.

'And they also gave me a defective mic, did you notice that?' Trump told a throng of media gathered afterward. 'My mic was defective within the room.'

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, a failed Democratic presidential candidate, tweeted, 'Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?'

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Former Vermont governor Howard Dean tweeted that Trump was 'sniffing all the time' and asked whether he was a cocaine user. The missive picked up 25,000 retweets by early Tuesday afternoon

Spin room claim: Trump made his intervention about the microphone as he toured the spin room, telling DailyMail.com he believed it was defective

DO I SOUND SICK? Trump said he had no allergies and no cold  and said any perceived sniffles were the result of a faulty mic

A questioner at first laughed at what could be the latest Trump inquiry into a 'rigged system' and asked if somebody got paid.

'I wonder. Was that on purpose?' Trump asked. 'But I had a mic that wasn't working properly' he continued.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus didn't reject the complaint out of hand, although at first he wasn't aware of it when asked about it by DailyMail.com immediately after the event.

'There were times it was softer than Hillary's  that is true,' he said.

Reporters getting a live feed of the event could hear the GOP candidate. The mic even picked it up when Trump spoke under his breath, sighing 'huh' after Clinton accused him of having a long record of engaging in racist behavior.'

Trump otherwise liked how he did, saying 'Overall I thought it was great, and if you look at all of the polls '

Different heights: The different ways in which the podium for each candidate had been engineered could be seen when they were pictured together. It appeared to make it easier for Clinton to reach the microphone

He also didn't immediately complain when asked about moderator Lester Holt. 'I felt it was fine,' he said.

DailyMail.com spoke with four Trump partisans who were present in the debate hall.

None could recall having trouble hearing him. None would say so on the record.

A Trump campaign spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about whether or not the Republicans microphone was in fact malfunctioning on Monday night.

However pictures appeared to show it was easier for Clinton to reach the microphone than it was for Trump.

The Commission on Presidential Debates had allowed Clinton one partisan advantage, a taller podium than Trump's in order to minimize their 10-inch height difference - she is 5'4" to his 6'2".
The Swiss parliament has taken one stop closer to banning Muslim women from wearing burqas in public.

Switzerland's lower house narrowly approved a draft bill on a sweeping burqa ban today, but a full ban is still at least two years away.

The proposal by lawmaker Walter Wobmann of the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) won 88 votes, just squeezing out the 87 votes against while 10 abstained.

The proposal by lawmaker Walter Wobmann of the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) won 88 votes, just squeezing out the 87 votes against while 10 abstained

Wobmann's bill was nearly identical to a measure approved in a 2013 referendum in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino banning the full-face Islamic veil.

The Ticino ban came into force in July this year, and fines range from 100 Swiss francs ($100) to 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,000).

Wobmann said the goal of the national burqa ban was to 'maintain public order and respect for the dignity of women'.

Lawmakers are expected to hold off on actioning the ban and are likely instead to ask the nation to weigh in with a referendum.

An initiative has been launched to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to hold a public vote on a burqa ban.

Polls say Swiss voters overwhelmingly support a ban, but a vote could still be two years away.

Even if the ban is endorsed through a referendum, Switzerland's government would still need to draw up a law proposal, which would then be subject to a final parliamentary approval.

The Swiss parliament has taken one stop closer to banning Muslim women from wearing burqas in public, illustrated by these women in Hyde Park in the 1990s

The vote came as countries across Europe confront tough debates over the role of individual religious liberties, amid rising anti-Islam clashes fuelled by immigration.

France was this summer embroiled in a row over bans on the burkini, a full-body Islamic swimsuit, in resorts around the Riviera.

A poll published earlier this month showed Britons are strongly in favour of a burqa ban.

Switzerland's population of eight million includes an estimated 350,000 Muslims.
Shamed Coronation Street actor Marc Anwar has claimed he was already leaving the soap before he was fired for a series of racist tweets.

Pakistani-born Mr Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Corrie, was sacked after referring to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter.

But last night, the actor claimed he was set to leave the show at the end of his contract in November.

He said his apology was nothing to do with having lost his job.

Writing on Twitter Mr Anwar said: ' For the record, I was to leave show at the end of [my] contract in November. Apology is from regret for offending, not at early exit. Love all.'

He added: 'No human controls my livelihood but My Allah. Never have never will grovel to anyone! Proud Muslim, proud Pakistani, very proud British.

'Oh and God save the Queen. Rule Britannia!'

Last night, the actor claimed he was set to leave Corrie at the end of his contract in November

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

The 45-year-old joined Corrie in 2014 as a member of the show's first Muslim family.

But he was sacked from the show after the Sunday Mirror newspaper published screenshots from his private Twitter account, which hit out at India over the Kashmir dispute.

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

He had referred to Indians as killers and suggested Pakistanis should refuse to work in their country.

Greater Manchester Police said they are investigating his tweets after they were reported as a hate crime.

On Sunday he issued an apology and maintained his tweets were borne out of anger at attacks on Kashmir and his feelings for Pakistani people caught up in the conflict are 'sincere'.

In a video message he said: ' I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone I may have offended with my tweets on Friday evening and especially people from India. This was never my intention.

'The language was unacceptable. I feel I have let a lot of people down. My family, my friends and my former colleagues. This I sincerely apologise for.

'On Friday evening I saw on the news children being pulled out of rubble, people being pelted with pellets, women mourning their dead in Kashmir. This upset me very deeply and in a moment of madness I ranted out and vented my anger.

'My feelings were very sincere for the people of Kashmir and I hope that everyone that everyone I have offended can find it in their hearts to forgive me'.

Apology: Sacked Corrie star Marc Anwar, 45, made a video apology over anti-Indian tweets

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

ITV bosses were alerted to the posts on Saturday night and fired the actor with immediate effect.

But Mr Anwar, whose character was set to feature heavily in Christmas episodes, will still appear in future episodes.

His character on the show has recently been exposed as a love rat for cheating on his wife Yasmeen with a family friend.

Coronation Street script writers are trying to reduce his appearances on screen but said it would be impossible to edit him out of all scenes already recorded.

In a statement after the tweets came to light, a spokesman for ITV 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.'

The abusive comments were posted on Friday  just days after 17 soldiers were killed at a Kashmir airbase  sparking a clash between India and Pakistan.

During his rant Mr Anwar said: 'Why the **** do Pakistani artists want [to] work in **** face India, do you love money so much.'

Just two months ago he was pictured with police endorsing their campaign against hate crime

He followed that up by tweeting an image of a clenched fist before adding: 'Ban #india movies in #Pakistanis LeaveIndia. B******s **** drinking *****.

Referring to clashes between the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narenda Modi the actor tweeted: '******* Indians killing our Kashmir brothers and sisters...!'

In another, he attacked India and called on Pakistanis to leave the country.

Mr Anwar, who has appeared in Hollywood films such as Captain Phillips and 51st State, as well as Emmerdale and Holby City, deleted the offensive tweets and later apologised.

Campaigners welcomed ITV's decision to sack him.

Baroness Hussein-Ece, a Liberal Democrat and vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community told the Sunday Mirror: 'I understand the frustration but it doesn't justify the kind of language he's used and blaming all Indians.

'It is one thing to campaign and another to say these kind of things on Twitter.

'There are atrocious human rights abuses occurring there. People are dying. I'm not for a minute undermining that. But he is a public figure and he's gone about this in the wrong way.'

Fiyaz Mughal, director of the charity Faith Matters, added: 'It's unacceptable. You can't just blame a whole group of people for a conflict.

'If you're on Coronation Street, you're in a powerful position, you have huge influence on social media. If the reverse happened and it was said Pakistanis are bad, he wouldn't like it. It's ludicrous and those comments don't work one way or the other.'

Mr Anwar is the first Corrie star to be sacked since Chris Fountain in 2013.
Keith Vaz shamelessly paraded into the Labour party conference in Liverpool today despite the on-going probe into allegations he paid for rent boys.

In a further act of defiance Mr Vaz sat in front of the cameras in the main conference hall to listen to policy debates as he continued to refuse to avoid the spotlight following weeks of headlines about his private life.

But the disgraced MP cancelled his traditional Diversity Nite charity event at the Labour conference, where he has performed memorable dances in previous years, including the famous Gangnam Style with Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper.

Keith Vaz shamelessly paraded into the Labour party conference in Liverpool today despite the on-going probe into allegations he paid for rent boys. Pictured, Mr Vaz sits in the main conference hall to listen to policy debates today

In previous years the party regularly attracted Labours biggest stars and journalists flocked to watch the Leicester East MP with belly dancers.

He also dropped out of scheduled fringe events at the four-day conference despite making an appearance in the main hall this afternoon.

Mr Vaz, 59, was forced to resign from his high profile role as chairman of the influential Commons home affairs committee earlier this month after undercover footage showed him with two gay escorts at a flat he owns in Edgware, north-west London.

It caused humiliation for Mr Vaz because his committee was set to publish a report into prostitution in coming weeks.

The footage - revealed in the Sunday Mirror - showed him telling one of the Romanian rent boys he would pay for cocaine, although he said he did not want to take the drug himself.

The Diversity Nite was due to be held at the East East restaurant and bar near the conference centre but the restaurant confirmed it had been cancelled in the last week.

But he is understood to be planning to hold a similar party to celebrate Jeremy Corbyns re-election in London.

In a further act of defiance Keith Vaz sat in front of the cameras in the main conference hall to listen to policy debates as he continued to refuse to avoid the spotlight following weeks of headlines about his private life

The disgraced MP cancelled his traditional Diversity Nite charity event at the Labour conference, where he has performed memorable dances in previous years, including the famous Gangnam Style with Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper (pictured in 2014)

Parliaments sleaze watchdog announced it will investigate any wrongdoing by Mr Vaz while the police are assessing whether any criminal offences were committed by the Leicester East MP.

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Hudson launched an official investigation into Mr Vaz's conduct last week and will determine whether he breached MP rules.

She will investigate whether the Leicester East MP broke Clause 10 of the MPs' Code of Conduct, which covers public interest and whether damage was done to the reputation of the House of Commons.

It states: 'Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest.'

The investigation will also probe whether he breached conflict of interest rules as chair of the home affairs committee.

His committee had conducted investigations into drug use and prostitution.

The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members on select committees states that 'a Member who has personal interest which may reflect upon the work of the Committee or its report should stand aside from the Committee proceedings relaying to it.'

Keith Vaz (pictured) surprised many by turning up at the Labour party conference today
This is the railroad that gave birth to Atlanta and other towns and spearheaded the making of Chattanooga into the great railroad center it became.

The Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) started life as the Georgia State Railroad, which was leased to the company bearing this name in 1870. The railroad was built from Zero Mile Post in what is now Atlanta to Chetoogeta Mountain in Whitfield County, and from Chattanooga to the west side of the mountain. The Chattanooga to Tunnelsville branch was completed in 1849, with service beginning the same year. Passengers past Tunnelsville, however, had to carry themselves and their belongings across Chetoogeta Mountain to hop another train on the other side. But then the Chetoogeta Tunnel was finished, track laid, and and the two lines joined in 1850.

As part of the U.S. Military Rail Roads during the Civil War, the line was known as the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad.

When the lease of the Western and Atlantic with the State of Georgia ran out in 1890, the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) leased the rights to the railroad, and there was then a complete line from Atlanta to Nashville. In 1957, the NC&StL merged with its parent company, the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad. In 1982, the L&N was itself was merged into the successor of its own parent company, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, as part of the Seaboard System Railroad, which merged with the Chessie System railroads to become CSX Transportation in 1986.

The stations on the Chattanooga-Tunnel Hill branch of the Western and Atlantic Railroad and its successors were as follows.

Tunnel Hill

This schedule stop was the southern terminus of the line before the tunnel opened.

The community was called Doe Run until the building of the railroad; the town incorporated as Tunnelsville in 1848. The town and its station became Tunnel Hill in 1856. The depot, which still stands, is on the eastern edge of the town a short distance beyond the mouth of the Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel through Chetoogeta Mountain.

During the Civil War, there were encounters here on 11 September 1863; 28 November 1863 (the last of the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign); 23 February 1864; and, finally, the Battle of Tunnel Hill on 7 May 1864, the first of the Atlanta Campaign. During the Federal Military Occupation, there was a blockhouse here.

The post office of Tunnelsville was established in 1847, changing to Tunnel Hill in 1858.

Copeland Crossing

Three miles down the line and the first after the W&A enters Catoosa County, this signal stop was near the crossing of the railway by Bandy Road.

Greenwood

About eight-and-a-half miles from Copeland, this signal stop was near the crossing of the railway by Greenwood Road.

Catoosa Station

A mile and a half down the line, this signal stop lay a mile from the eastern mouth of Taylors, or Ringgold, Gap at the end of the eponymous road off U.S. Highway 41.

Its claim to fame is having been the muster point for the (Confederate) Army of Tennessee after its retreat from Chickamauga Station on 26 November 1863, which by coincidence happened to be the first national Thanksgiving Day.

The post office of Catoosa operated here from 1850 until 1853.

Ringgold

Another mile-an-a-half brought the fine stone depot at this schedule stop which still stands at its original location just west of the railway at the eastern edge of the downtown area.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Ringgold Gap took place here on 27 November 1963. There were also engagements 11 September and 17 September 1863 during the run-up to the Battle of the Chickamauga. Ringgold was the last station passed by The General during Andrews Raid of 12 April 1862 before it ran out of fuel three miles north in Rabbit Valley. During the Federal Military Occupation, a blockhouse guarded the depot.

In 2009, a bronze statue of Maj. Gen. Patrick Ronayne Cleburne, designed by Ron Tunison, was unveiled and dedicated in the Gap, funded by the Cleburne Society and the Ringgold Telephone Company, to commemorate his victory here. This came about in large part from the efforts of anthropologist-historian Raymond Evans, who recently passed away.

The post office of Ringgold was established in 1847.

Gaines Quarry

A little less than four miles from Ringgold, this signal stop was primarily to load out limestone quarried on the Hale Property by Graysville Mining and Manufacturing, but occasionally there were passengers.

Graysville

One-and-a-half miles further, this town was laid out by John D. Gray in 1849 in the postal village known as Opelika after the Cherokee settlement in the vicinity, itself named after the town of the Napochi Indians burned by Coosa Indians and Spanish soldiers under Tristan de Luna in 1560. Once a thriving town with several industries, this station was for a long time a schedule stop. The tiny depot, scaled down from Graysvilles glory days, stood between Front Street and the railway in front of the old post office in the middle of the block between Vaughn and Grove Streets.

There was an engagement here between the retreating Army of the Tennessee against its Union pursuers on 26 November 1863, and another nearby at the Lafayette road and Ringgold road crossroads that same night. There was also a skirmish here involving units of Wheelers Cavalry on 16 August 1864. During the Federal Military Occupation, a blockhouse guarded the station and another the far end of the railway bridge over the Chickamauga River.

The post office was established here in 1850 as Opalika, changing to Graysville in 1856.

Johnson

A mile down the tracks, the first station in Hamilton Co., Tennessee, was a signal stop in the southeast corner of the Concord community (now East Brainerd). It lay at the end of the farm road off Davidson Road, which was supposed to have been part of the roadbed for the Harrison, Lafayette, and Jacksonville (Alabama) Railroad whose construction was ended by the war.

On 26 November 1863, the Battle of Cat Creek, as Sam Watkins called it, or of Shepherds Run, as two Union accounts refer to it, took place nearby. It was the biggest engagement fought that day between retreating Confederates and pursuing Union forces. The action only lasted an hour because it was so near sundown.

Whorley Switch

This signal stop stood three-and-a-half miles down at Ellis Crossing of the Chattanooga-Graysville Pike (or Birds Mill Road) of the railway, west of the tracks and north of East Brainerd Road. Its main purpose was to service the switch, or side-track, here.

The building which formerly housed the Masonic Lodge to which my grandfather belonged, Whorley Lodge, may be the sole reminder of Whorley, now known as Brainerd Hills. The lodge was organized at the nearby Concord Baptist Church, one of the oldest continuing Baptist congregations in the county.

The post office of Whorley operated from 1898 until 1907.

Chickamauga Station

A mile-and-a-quarter down, this is the railway station talked about in Civil War reports from or of Chickamauga Station. The depot at this schedule stop sat on the east side of the tracks just south of Chickamauga Road, now across the street from Lovell Field. The locals called the section in which the station was built Pull Tight. Union maps from the Civil War sometimes refer to it as Campbells Station.

When Cleburnes Division was stationed in the area during the summer of 1863 between the Tullahoma Campaign and the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign, two of the redoubts he built guarded Chickamauga and its depot from Milliken Ridge. Later that year, Chickamauga Station was the muster point of the Army of Tennessee after Missionary Ridge on 25 November 1863. The first engagements between Union and Confederate forces on 26 November began north of here and continued across Milliken Ridge into Hickory Valley. Another engagement took place here on 30 January 1864. During the Federal Military Occupation, a blockhouse guarded the depot and village.

The post office of Chickamauga was established here in 1850, but service went by the wayside during the war. By the time service reopened in 1867, another community had a post office under the name Chickamauga (see Daisy, in the section on the Cincinnati Southern), so it adopted the name Chickamauga Station. The name reverted to Chickamauga in 1882 when the other became Melville in 1878. The name of the post office changed to Shepherd in 1898 over confusion with Chickamauga, Georgia, which was given priority due to its proximity to the National Park, but the depots name remained the same well into the 20th century, when it was also changed to Shepherd. The L&N closed Shepherd depot and the USPS its post office in 1955. The new USPS site in Brainerd Hills adopted the name Chickamauga Station; in the 1980s it moved down East Brainerd Road to a spot near the old Rains place under that name.

Col. Lewis Shepherd, father of the well-known judge, operated a post office called Hickory Valley at his nearby home named Altamede from 1840 until 1842.

Holmes Station

This signal stop used to stand where Stein Paving and Sealing now sits on Quintus Loop.

During the Civil War, the bridge immediately after this stop and one of the two beyond on the W&A line were two of the three bridges burned 9 November 1861 in the Little Rebellion by Unionist sympathizers. Hamilton County had twice voted a majority against secesssion. While the two bridges were being repaired (there were three in all on its tracks between Chickamauga Station and Chattanooga), the W&A detoured to go over the bridge of the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad (ET&G).

Chickamauga Junction

After the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign, Union engineers built a junction of the W&A and the ET&G just west of Chickamauga River. This cut ten miles out of the W&As mileage, which was the intention. The junction was so important it was guarded by two blockhouses in the immediate vicinity and another one-third mile down track. After the war, the two railways returned to their original routes, with the ET&G building an overpass bridge above the W&A. The junction remained a station into the 20th century.

McCarty

Serving both the ET&G and the W&A, this signal stop stood where Allied Shipping now operates on Lightfoot Mill Road in a diamond formed by the tracks of the former (now part of the Tennessee Valley Railway) and of the latter. CSX Railroad still has a presence there.

Kings Bridge

Sitting on the left bank of the Chickamauga River (South Chickamauga Creek) at the river crossing of Harrison Pike, this was the ante-bellum site of the station and village now known as Old Boyce. Both the original depot and the village around it, which had grown to double the size of Chickamauga, were destroyed during the war, and the community dispersed. As Old Boyce, this was a schedule stop; as Kings Bridge it was a signal stop.

Boyce Station

After being released from the U.S. Rail Road in 1865, the W&A rebuilt Boyce Station four-and-a-half miles above its previous location, west of the railway opposite the end of Cushman Street. It remained a schedule stop and in its later years was a coupon station. When the Cincinnatti Southern Railway came to town in 1880, the name changed from Boyce to Boyce Junction. In the early 1880s, the W&A changed the name of its station to Amnicola, probably to match the name of the post office at the time. Later in the decade, the depot moved a half mile above to a spot north of Wilder Street between the tracks, shared with the Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Texas Pacific Railroad (CNO&TP), under the original name. The Union Railway of Chattanooga later extended its tracks from Sherman Heights to Boyce Station, crossing those of both the NC&StL and the CNO&TP.

After the depot burned in 1912, Southern Railway (SOU)which then controlled the Alabama Great Southern Railway (AGS), which in turn controlled the CNO&TP and the Belt Linerebuilt it, the new facility opening in 1913. The Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis ceased passenger serivce here in the early 1930s and Southern in 1938, after which it was torn down.

The post office of Boyce Junction was established in 1879. It changed to Amnicola a month later, to Boyce for three weeks, back to Amnicola for eight years, then back to Boyce for a year-and-a-half before settling on East Chattanooga in 1889. Postal service moved to Chattanooga in 1905. The town of Boyce, between Bachman and Sims Streets and between the railroads and Chamberlain Avenue, merged with Sherman Heights as the town of East Chattanooga in 1905.

Citico Junction

The first junction of this railroad with the ET&G coming into town, it gave its name to the Afro-American community of Citico City which is now called after its recreation area, Lincoln Park. The two railroads shared a depot at this schedule stop before and during the war, and probably for at least several decades after.

The Citico Yards which grew exponentially along the tracks here are now called the DeButts Yards, but Citico Junction remains a geographic point.

King Street Junction

The second junction of this railroad with the ET&G.

For more information, see the section on the Chattanooga Extension Railroad, ET&G.

Union Junction

This was originally the junction of the W&A (and later the merged railways) with the tracks of the Nashville and Chattanooga and its successors at the south end of the yards of Union Depot.

Chattanooga

The northern terminus of the W&A, and the main terminal in Chattanooga of its successors the NC&StL and the L&N, was the Union Depot on what is now Martin Luther King Boulevard until it closed in 1971. It was not only a schedule stop but a coupon station.

The passenger station and freight depot both stood across from the Read House. Both were torn down in 1972 along with the Car Shed, despite efforts to save them. The Car Shed was built first, a cooperative venture of the W&A with the Nashville and Chattanooga (N&C) and the Memphis and Charleston (M&C) Railroads. The freight and passenger head stations were built in 1882.

During the Civil War, the town served as the headquarters for Confederate Department No. 2 and its successor the Department of the West, and later for the District of the Etowah of the Union Department of the Cumberland. The Confederate Army of the Mississippi (forerunner of the Army of Tennessee) occupied the region 23 July-28 August 1862. The Confederate Army of Tennessee occupied the region 4 July-9 September 1863. The Union Army of the Cumberland was besieged here 22 September-25 November 1863. Chattanooga also served as the main rear base for Shermans Military Division of the Mississippi during the Atlanta Campaign.

The town was the focus of the Chattanooga Campaign, which included two of the bloodiest battles of the war, the Battle of the Chickamauga (or of Mud Flats) and the (Third) Battle of Chattanooga, forming the most decisive series of encounters in the western theater.

The First Battle of Chattanooga occurred 7-8 June 1862. The Second Battle of Chattanooga took place 21 August-8 September 1863. The Third Battle of Chattanooga, also known as the Battles of Chattanooga, happened 23-25 November 1863.

The Federal Military Occupation officially began 29 September 1863 during the siege, and lasted until April 1866. After the campaign, in addition to the system of walls, redoubts, and trenches (then called rifle pits) which guarded the town, a huge two-story multi-sided blockhouse stood south of Union Depot.

The post office was established as Ross Landing in 1837. The name changed in 1838 when the new town adopted the name Chattanooga.

Chuck Hamilton

<natty4bumpo@gmail.com>
A New York mother has come forward with video of her teenage daughter being attacked by a gang of girls on a MTA bus, while passengers just sat by and watched.

Claudette Newell says her daughter was punched and slapped by a group of girls at around 8.30am on Wednesday during the school run on the Q44 bus from Jamaica to Flushing, and no one intervenes to help.

In a grainy video taken on the bus, the 15-year-old is seen sitting on a seat when she is approached by at least two other girls, who start pulling at her braids.

Attack: Distorted footage from inside the bus shows the girl - left, sitting down - being attacked by at least two girls, though no one is seen trying to help

A fight ensues, and the girl is repeatedly punched and slapped.

While the victim suffered minor injuries, Newell says she is more concerned that no one - not even the bus driver - did anything to try and stop what was happening.

Newell said she is particularly upset because she has called 911 numerous times in New York when seeing people in distress and has attempted to help.

'I feel so bad,' Newell told PIX11. 'I look again and again and again, no one helped my child.'

Newell contacted the NYPD over what happened, and also filed a report with the MTA. Police said that four arrests have since been made.

Three of the names of the accused have been suppressed, likely for being minors.

One of the suspects, Shaniah Holmes, 17, was charged with assault.

Claudette Newell says that her daughter was attacked by a group of girls about 8.30am on Wednesday on a Q44 bus from Jamaica to Flushing

However Newell still wants to know why the driver didn't at least stop the bus, and wants the MTA to explain what happened.

A spokesman for the agency told PIX11: 'Department of Buses is investigating trying to identify the bus operator. Unfortunately that is made more difficult if we don't have a bus number.'

Newell says she now lives in fear of what could happen when her daughter leaves for school each day.

'I could be looking at my child in the morgue,' Newell said.
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Chelsea Clinton made her first trip to daughter Charlotte's school on Tuesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old mother of two was photographed as she arrived to pick up her daughter with the nanny the day after her own mother Hillary took on Donald Trump in a historic debate.

Charlotte, who turned two on Monday, is in her third week of preschool.

For her school outing, Clinton wore one of her mother's campaign t-shirts designed by Prabal Gurung.

She and Charlotte then met up with Marc Mezvinsky to run some errands a little after 4pm, with Mezvinsky managing to sneak out of the office a little early.

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Chelsea Clinton (above) picked her daughter Charlotte up from school on Tuesday

Clinton was later seen taking a walk with her husband and baby Charlotte

Baby Charlotte points out something to her mother and father

Clinton could be seen smiling at Charlotte as she pushed her through the streets of New York

Clinton was joined on the trip by one of her nannies and her secret service detail

Clinton wore a Hillary Clinton campaign tee designer by Prabal Gurung for the outing

Charlotte, who turned two on Monday, is in her third week of preschool

Chelsea has been unable to accompany Charlotte to and from school over the past few weeks as she has been hard at work on the campaign trail for her mother.

She was also front row Monday night to watch her mother take on Trump in the debate, sitting alongside her husband Marc Mezvinsky and father Bill.

The fact that the debate took place at Hofstra University, less than an hour outside the city, meant that Chelsea could be back at her own apartment late Monday night.

Chelsea also got to spend the weekend at home with her family, and it was a very busy one that included a date night for her and Mezvinsky.

The couple stepped out for dinner in New York City with Matt Damon and his wife Luciana as well as John Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt.

Clinton had a collection of Sesame Street animals for baby Charlotte to play with

Chelsea eventually parted with her daughter and Marc so they two could run errands together

Marc, Charlotte and Elmo stroll the streets of Gramercy together on Tuesday

Mezvinsky and his daughter enjoying the much cooler temperatures in the city

Charlotte seemed to be enjoying her time with her father and Elmo

Marc was photographed with Charlotte and his wife at around 4pm

The hedge fund manager appears to have cut out of work earl to enjoy some family time

And for their meal the group chose the popular Mexican restaurant La Esquina, just two days before the debate.

Damon, Krasinski and Blunt have all been very public and vocal about their support for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election.

For Blunt, it will be her first time voting after getting her American citizenship earlier this year.

The following day Clinton had a birthday party for Charlotte, which her mother stopped by for a bit before heading off to do some debate prep.

Clinton has been on the road the past few weeks campaigning for her mother Hillary

Charlotte's father Marc Mezvinsky and a nanny were photographed taking her to her first day of school

Clinton sat in the front row as her mother took on Donald Trump in Monday night's debate

Because Monday night's debate was close to her Manhattan apartment, Clinton was able to do the school run on Tuesday

Clinton gave birth to her second child, son Aidan, earlier this year

Clinton had a birthday party for Charlotte on Sunday at the family's New York City apartment

Among the guests at Sunday's birthday party was Charlotte's grandmother Hillary

It was Mezvinsky who was photographed taking Charlotte to her first day of preschool earlier this month.

Charlotte was seen heading to her Manhattan school on September 13 in a stroller being pushed by her nanny while her Mezvinsky was on his phone.

After dropping off little Charlotte, Marc met up for a friend and enjoyed an hour-and-a-half lunch at a nearby restaurant.

He and his male friend could be seen laughing and in animated discussion as they sat inside the restaurant.

Marc and Chelsea take a look into baby Charlotte's carriage as they push their daughter through the streets

Chelsea threw a coat over her short to walk the streets with Charlotte and Marc after picking her up from preschool

Chelsea and Cookie Monster enjoying the last few days of September during a city stroll

Charlotte and Elmo relax in her carriage while being pushed around New York City

Charlotte seemed excited to be out with her parents, pointing out things throughout their walk

Charlotte did not attend Monday night's debate with her parents, staying home instead with her younger brother

Charlotte enjoying some one-on-one time with her father Marc on Tuesday

It has been a difficult summer for Mezvinsky, who was forced to shutter one of his hedge funds.

Mezvinsky, 38, and his partners, former Goldman Sachs colleagues Bennett Grau and Mark Mallon, raised $25million from investors to buy up bank stocks and debt from Greece, but lost big after betting on the revival of the struggling nation's economy.

Eaglevale Partners was started in 2011 by Mezvinsky and his partners, with their former boss, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, one of the first investors.

The flagship fund currently manages $330 million and is down 1 percent this year.

Clinton enjoyed her weekend in the city by going on a date night Saturday

Clinton and her husband enjoyed dinner with Matt Damon and his wife as well as John Krasinski and Emily Blunt

Mezvinsky did not join Clinton and the nanny to pick up Charlotte from school on Tuesday

Clinton wore a pair of Isabel Marant boots for her trip to the school on Tuesday

'My mom nailed it tonight,' wrote Chelsea on twitter after Monday's debate

Hillary Clinton was spotted ducking into Charlotte's Birthday gathering on Sunday

Mezvinsky was long gone from his job at Goldman in October 2013 when his mother-in-law Hillary was paid to give a speech to executives at the company during a technology conference in Arizona.

She was reportedly paid $225,000 for that appearance.

Shortly after starting Eagleville, Mezvinsky and Chelsea moved into a $10million New York City apartment opposite Madison Square Park.

The four-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot apartment is one of only four residences in the building, which despite the low occupancy rate still has a full-time doorman.

The apartment, whose hallways stretch a full city block, also has two dishwashers, two washer and dryers, dressing rooms with double-sided vanity mirrors, and two massive walk-in closets.

The bedrooms meanwhile face right into Vera Wang's bridal studio, who designed Cheslea's dress for her wedding day.

Clinton and her nanny looked to be in serious conversation at one point during their walk

The group were on their way back to Clinton's apartment from Charlotte's school

Clinton's son Aidan did not join her on Charlotte's school run Tuesday afternoon
A 12-year-old transgender boy from Pennsylvania made a powerful speech to his school board, urging them to keep upholding the rights of trans students.

Ari Bowman was given a standing ovation after sharing his story at East Penn School in an effort to combat transphobia after a classmate complained about another transgender girl changing in the same locker room.

The seventh grader, along with his mother Alisa, spoke earlier this month amid an ongoing debate about transgender students' use of bathrooms and locker rooms.

'As my Mom likes to say, "People are afraid of things that they do not understand,"' Ari said during his September 12 speech recorded on video by his mother.

'I hope you understand what being transgender means. It doesnt make me any less or any more. It makes me me and no one can change that.'

In August, student Sigourney Coyle told the East Penn School Board she felt uncomfortable changing in the locker with a classmate who is a transgender girl.

The ninth grader explained that undressing in front of someone who is biologically male before marriage is against her religious beliefs, according to The Morning Call.

Last month, Coyle's mother said while she and her daughter support the rights of transgender students, she does not 'feel comfortable with students physically male and female in the same locker room.'

Aryn Coyle also said accommodations should not infringe on others' right to privacy.

But as Ari spoke to the school board, he addressed the locker room and bathroom controversy, sharing his own experience of undressing in the boy's locker room.

'I change in the boys locker room and I have seen zero genitalia, which is why I do not understand why people would make the assumption that a transgender girl would accidentally reveal herself in the locker room,' he said.

A PROUD MOTHER'S WORDS: ALISA BOWMAN RECOUNTS 'THE BEAUTIFUL MOMENT' WHEN HER SON DELIVERED HIS SPEECH Ari, my amazing boy, stood before the school board and spoke up for transgender rights. His speech came mere weeks after a student told the school board that she'd rather fail gym class than change with transgender students in the locker room. After Ari's remarks, there was a standing ovation and the school district superintendent stood, walked over to him and shook his hand. Beautiful moment, beautiful night. Love wins. Source: Facebook Advertisement

On Facebook, his school shared a post saying they were proud of the seventh grader for making his speech before the East Penn School District's school board earlier this month

Ari, who said he came out to his friends over the summer, said he knew he was transgender before he even knew gender as a word.

He also shared how his mother figured out he was transgender when he was in the third grade, and that he started using male pronouns in the fifth grade.

He told of how in the first grade, girls would not let him use the bathroom even though he had female genitalia because he 'looked like a guy, and that made them uncomfortable.'

Ari, who attends Lower Macungie Middle School, then went on to comment on 'the hate that the transgender community has been receiving recently.'

'People say things without an open mind as if we are not human beings like they are,' he said as he addressed the school board.

'And today people are valuing one another over not just gender and sexuality  what I am talking about  but also race religion looks and even political stances.

'No one is more important than another person.

Last month, ninth grader Sigourney Coyle (pictured left with her mother, Aryn) told the school board that she was uncomfortable undressing in between gym class in the locker room with a transgender girl. She said changing in front of someone who is biologically male before marriage is against her religious beliefs

He said he will always remember East Penn for supporting him from first grade until now, regardless of the fact the he is transgender.

'I remember all the friends Ive had along the way, all the hugs Ive had and all the friends Ill make in the future,' he said.

'Because my life doesnt revolve around me being transgender. It revolves around my family my friends everything I love.'

No one is more important than another person

His mother told ABC News that after he finished his speech, her son received a 'loud standing ovation and that the superintendent came over and shook his hand.

'It was really so beautiful to watch, like watching a baby bird flying out of their nest,' Alisa Bowman said.

In a Facebook post, the proud mother had noted that before going before the school board she was scared and braced herself for a hate backlash.

But she was touched by the overwhelming support she received about people telling her how great her son is or for the video of his speech to go viral.

Lower Macungie Middle School where Ari attends shown above. He said he will remember East Penn

She wrote: 'I didn't expect the district superintendent to shake my kid's hand after his talk or for his vice principal to send him a note at school telling him, "Ari I just wanted to let you know that you are my hero. I read the story and watched the video. You are an inspiration."'

'Yes, I was hoping and praying that we would make a statement, she added.

'Yes, I so wished for love to spread and spread and spread. I just didn't truly expect my wish to come true.

'And I didn't comprehend how awesome it would feel to see love win in such a big way.
Some of the unnamed teachers are still working with students, report said

Four teachers 'more likely than not' abused students since the 1970s

A $57,000-a-year Connecticut prep school has revealed that several of its teachers abused students for decades.

Four teachers 'more likely than not' engaged in sexual misconduct between the 1970s and 2000s, at the Pomfret School in northeastern Connecticut, according to a letter sent on Monday to the school community.

Pomfret Head of School J Timothy Richards and board of trustees Chairman Justin P Klein signed the letter, which detailed the results of an independent investigation into the misconduct. Richards once worked at St George's School in Rhode Island, where dozens of students were also found to have been abused by teachers.

At Pomfret, one case happened in the early 1970s, one in the 1980s, one spanned the 1980s to early 1990s and the fourth happened after 2000, the report said.

The Pomfret School in northeastern Connecticut (pictured) announced on Monday that four teachers 'more likely than not' engaged in sexual misconduct between the 1970s and 2000s

Pomfret Head of School J Timothy Richards (left) and board of trustees Chairman Justin P Klein (right) signed the letter, which detailed the results of an investigation into the misconduct

The letter said investigators also received nine other reports involving allegations ranging from boundary violations to sexual misconduct.

'In most of these instances, the investigators found the reports credible, but found that there was insufficient information to complete the investigation or were unable to make a finding by a preponderance of the evidence or concluded that the allegation was unsubstantiated,' the letter said.

Pomfret, a boarding and day school located in the namesake Connecticut town, has existed for 122 years. It has 350 students from grades 9 to 12, as well as postgraduates.

The school did not identify the teachers, but it said some received positive recommendations when they left and some are still working with students.

'The school regrets that these letters of support were written for adults who had clearly violated core community standards of behavior,' Richards and Klein wrote.

They believe two teachers who are alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct at Pomfret are currently working with children elsewhere, Karen Schwartzman, a spokeswoman for Pomfret, said.

The school told state police but wouldn't identify the schools where the teachers are working, Schwartzman added.

In several cases, Pomfret officials were aware of misconduct, but no one reported the allegations to authorities, the letter said.

Richards once worked at St George's School in Rhode Island (pictured), where dozens of students were also found to have been abused by teachers

All allegations that should have been reported have now been relayed to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Schwartzman said. She did not say how many cases were reported.

There is an active investigation into allegations of past sexual misconduct at the school, according to Trooper Kelly Grant, a spokeswoman for Connecticut State Police. She did not know how many cases were involved.

Pomfret is the latest elite boarding school to confront allegations of sexual abuse.

An independent report released earlier this month found dozens of students at Rhode Island's St George's School were abused by school staff from the 1970s to as recently as 2004.

Pomfret's head of school, Richards, was previously an administrator at St George's and has acknowledged not reporting the 2004 allegations to authorities.

Three students told Richards that a teacher at St George's 'was touching them in ways that made them uncomfortable'. Richards and headmaster Eric Peterson interviewed the students.

The accused teacher was placed on leave but later returned to teaching, according to the Boston Globe. Authorities were not notified.

Richards said Peterson told him that 'outside counsel' had found the school wasn't required to alert authorities, the Boston Globe wrote.

He later apologized in a letter sent as Pomfret's head of school. 'I should have known,' Richards wrote. 'I would certainly file that report today, and would expect the same from all Pomfret employees.'

Pomfret (pictured), a boarding and day school located in the namesake Connecticut town, has existed for 122 years. Boarding school tuition is $57,000 per year

Richards worked at St George's for 23 years and moved on to Pomfret in 2011. Peterson, meanwhile, announced in June that he would step down as headmaster.

Other schools where abuse has surfaced include Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts , and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.

Boarding school tuition at Pomfret is $57,000 per year. The private high school's alumni include Nobel Prize-winning biochemist James Rothman and Prince Lorenzo Borghese of ABC's 'The Bachelor'.

The letter from Pomfret also noted that an outside attorney had done a comprehensive review of its practices and policies.

It said it has a new team to evaluate abuse allegations, and also requires adults and students to undergo training with experts in the field.

'If a matter arises from our student body today or in the future, we are in a much better position to respond,' the letter said.

If any new reports emerge, the school leaders pledged to 'investigate each matter fully, and respond with both empathy and transparency.'




Jared Stephen Morgan (pictured) has five felony charges that include kidnapping, rape, sodomy and human trafficking

A man has been accused of luring an 18-year-old to a remote cabin, locking her in a shed and sexually assaulting her for weeks, prosecutors in eastern Utah said in court documents filed Monday.

Jared Stephen Morgan, 37, brought the girl to the cabin starting when she was 17, according to authorities in Duchesne County.

The girl met Morgan in October 2013 after the girl's mother started going out with him, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, which cited court documents.

The girl said she spent time at the cabin with her siblings and her mother, and Morgan was a father figure to her, the newspaper's report said.

The first assault happened after he invited her to come and relax and spend time with his puppies after she broke up with a boyfriend, prosecutors said.

When she arrived, she discovered there wasn't an available bed, forcing her to share his, police wrote in court documents.

The girl went into the bed and was allegedly kissed by Morgan, who is accused of performing sex acts on her the next evening, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

According to the news outlet, she told police she was uncomfortable and didn't know how to respond.

Morgan was arrested after the woman, now 20, reported the allegations to a private investigator who called police last week, authorities said.

After the girl turned 18, Morgan created fake paperwork to make her mother think she'd joined the military, police said in court documents.

He told her she'd have to cut ties with her family to be with him, authorities said.

Morgan has been accused of luring an 18-year-old to a remote cabin, locking her in a shed and sexually assaulting her for weeks, prosecutors in eastern Utah said in court documents filed Monday (stock)

After a fight in June of 2014, he locked her in the shed and forced her to eat rat feces, the documents state.

He forced her to drink her own urine and not vomit before she could have food, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing charges.

The newspaper quoted her as telling police that she 'didn't puke' and was given 'a small cup of water and a can of cold raviolis to eat'.

Morgan armed himself with a gun or a Taser and assaulted her before allowing her to eat during the days he kept her confined in the shed, police said.

He let her out sometime in July of 2014 after a brutal assault, and threatened to 'end' her if she told anyone what happened, police said.
This self-styled glamour puss is not afraid to flutter his lashes in his bid to become Sir Alan Sugar's next Apprentice.

Magazine art director Dillon St Paul, from Dublin, is hoping to charm Lord Sugar with his cunning, style, creativity - and a healthy lashing of mascara.

And the 37-year-old might find he has a slight edge on the 17 other contestants as he has previously appeared on RTE reality show Fade Street.

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Glamorous: Magazine art director Dillon St Paul (pictured) says mascara is his secret weapon in business. The 37-year-old said he will use his charm to 'get results' on The Apprentice

St Paul also promises to bring a touch of drama to the BBC show, describing himself as 'Machiavellian' who is prepared to drop the 'truth bomb' - even if it means hurting others' feelings.

Speaking ahead of the show, which returns on 8 October, St Paul said: 'I do think I can charm people, and I can charm and manipulate situations to get results.

'I'm quite Machiavellian, so sometimes batting the lashes can get you a lot in business as well. Hence the mascara comes in handy.

'I am famous for the truth bomb. I am all about saying it as it is. I don't mess about, I don't get too emotional with it.

Photo ready: The art director offers grooming and style tips on his personal website

'If it hurts I'm sorry, but that's a fact. Facts are facts, it's a science. There's nowhere to hide with me, with regards to business.

'If people are gonna try something unscrupulous, or something that isn't 100 per cent your all, and you're not being efficient as part of a team or doing your job properly, I will call you out on it.

'I would say I'm very clean groomed stylish and glamorous.

'I think I understand girls. All my friends are girls. All the people I work with are girls. My life is girl-centric. So girl power.'

According to his website, St Paul has over 15 years experience in the magazine industry.

His has previously worked with STELLAR, Girlfriend!, and Irish Tatler magazines, as well as a string of beauty brands including L'Oreal, Chanel and Maybelline.

His personal website also features links to his selfie-filled Instagram feed.

St Paul is one of 18 contestants hoping to secure a 250,000 investment from Lord Sugar in a bid to become the next big thing in business.

Claude Littner will return for his second series as Sir Alan's adviser alongside Karren Brady, who has appeared on the show since 2009.

Plain speaking: St Paul said he is not afraid to drop the 'truth bomb' - even if it hurts feelings

Nowhere to hid: The contestant said: 'I am all about saying it as it is. I don't mess about'

Lord Sugar kicks the series off with a task designed to test the candidates' skills in negotiation and selling.

The teams arrive at a lock-up containing antiques and collectables including furniture, vintage clothing, toys, ceramics, silver and glassware.

They must spot the treasure from the trash, before they sell their chosen items to the public and trade.

Other tasks over the coming weeks include creating an advertising campaign for jeans, manufacturing a range of sweets, hosting 'late night opening' events at well-known attractions, designing virtual reality games and producing and creating their own brand of gin.

Meet the candidates: The Apprentice candidates hoping to impress the fearsome entrepreneur have now been revealed ahead of the series debut on October 6
In-N-Out fans are outraged after a petition with more than 35,000 signatures was launched asking the West Coast fast food chain to add a veggie burger to the menu.

Angry beef lovers have called the petition 'un-American' and even an attack on Christian values, begging the burger joint 'not to give into those meat terrorists'.

The restaurant's menu, which has remain unchanged since 1948, only has four items: Burger, Cheeseburger, Double-Double (a burger with two patties), and fries.

In-N-Out also offers a not-so-secret menu which includes a grilled cheese sandwich, the only vegetarian option available at the fast food chain.

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In-N-Out fans are outraged after a petition with more than 35,000 signatures was launched asking the West Coast fast food chain to add a veggie burger to the menu

The Change.org petition was launched by the Good Food Institute, a Washington DC organization dedicated to creating a food supply 'good for our bodies and our planet'

But the Good Food Institute, which launched the Change.org petition, didn't think a 'cheese-slathered bun', as they described it, was enough.

'In-N-Out has been letting its fans down by failing to serve anything that would satisfy a burger-loving customer who wants a healthy, humane, and sustainable option,' the petition begins.

The Washington DC organization, which is dedicated to creating a food supply 'good for our bodies and our planet', encouraged In-N-Out to join other fast food chains that offer meat alternatives.

Among them are Chipotle, which has vegan sofritas on the menu, and Burger King, which has created the 'BK Veggie' burger.

'The push for plant-based meats is growing, with Millennials leading the charge and backing up their desire to support ethical companies with a whopping $200 billion in annual buying power,' the petition reads.

'Before customers can let their money do the talking, there has to be a meat-free option to spend it on.'

'As a company that prides itself on both customer satisfaction and ethical business practices, adding a meat-free option is a no-brainer.'

'And by making this single addition, In-N-Out would be making a huge statement that it truly cares about its customers health and the health of the planet.'

Currently the only vegetarian option available on the West Coast fast food chain's menu is the grilled cheese sandwich (pictured), which the petition describes as a 'cheese-slathered bun'

In the petition the Good Food Institute encouraged In-N-Out (pictured in file photo) to join other fast food chains that offer meat alternatives

In-N-Out is known for its cult-like following, and many of its fans took to social media to make their beef known with the petition.

Petitioning In-N-Out for a veggie burger is like petitioning a pizza place for Chinese food,' wrote one user on Twitter. 'Its not something they make! Move on!

Burgers are made with beef. Veggies are for toppings. Stand strong In-N-Out!, said Colleen Cecil on Facebook.

Veggie burgers are available in enough places so let them go where they can find their preferred product, added Facebook user Ron Gregg.

I dont go to a veggie restaurant for an all-beef burger. What would be next? A non-dairy milkshake, fries that are broiled?

Others were in a near-panic over the petition, and they lashed out by saying those who supported the petition were terrorists.

Ive been reading that some loser vegetarians are trying to force you into serving/selling vegetarian burgers,' wrote Tony Clark. 'Please dont cave into these vegetarian terrorists.

'Dear In & Out Burgers: Please DO NOT BOW DOWN to those who want to DESTROY your BEEF business. YOU SELL BEEF HAMBURGERS,' wrote Jackie Tucker.

'I DON'T WANT MY BURGERS CONTAMINATED. Don't they ever give up trying to FORCE their ways on everyone else. Don't Like Hamburger? EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE.'

Angry beef lovers have called the petition 'un-American' and even an attack on Christian values, begging the burger joint 'not to give into those meat terrorists'

Tucker went so far as to say that a veggie burger on the menu would eventually lead to a state ban on permitting meat to be cooked on the same grill as veggie burgers.

'Then In-N-Out will end up losing money by having to fight lawsuits,' he continued. 'DO NOT CAVE INTO THESE MEAT TERRORISTS.'

Emily Byrd, a communications manager for the Good Food Institute who helped launch the petition, said the personal vitriol she received was even worse.

Byrd's Facebook inbox filled with messages from people calling her 'delusional, disgraceful, a control freak sociopath' and wishing she would 'get run over'.

One person argued that having a veggie burger at a fast food restaurant was 'like asking a steakhouse to offer something beside steak'.

'I have yet to see this steakhouse that serves nothing but steak,' Byrd retorted in an op-ed she wrote for the Los Angeles Times about the outrage.

Byrd went on to explain that the meat alternative she was requesting wasn't just for the benefit of vegans and vegetarians.

'Lots of consumers dabble in tofu, tempeh and seitan at lunch, even if they turn to poultry, pork and red meat at dinner,' she wrote.

The petition will be sent to In-N-Out president Lynsi Synder, but the company has so far refused to comment on whether a veggie burger may be on the horizon

'Adding a meat-alternative to the menu harms no one, helps many and provides a phenomenal opportunity for In-N-Out to do good while doing even better financially than they already are.'

'And for the multiple Facebook commenters who accused us of forcing our lifestyle down other people's throat  literally: You know we cant compel you to eat anything, right?' she asked.

A spokesman for the company told Daily Mail Online they had no comment about the petition, which will be sent to In-N-Out president Lynsi Synder.

Whatever the company decides, it will only affect those lucky enough to access one of the 300 locations spread out across California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Texas.
Horrifying dashcam footage has captured a Lada being blown to pieces after it darted in front of a Nissan rolling along a Russian motorway.

In the shocking scene the Lada Riva was completed destroyed after the Nissan Note was unable to move out of the way in time.

The driver of the former is now fighting for his life in hospital, while the passengers in the latter escaped serious injuries.

A Lada Riva darts into the path of an oncoming Nissan travelling along a motorway in Russia

In the Nissan the female driver and an 11-year-old girl came out of the crash with minor wounds, according to reports.

Police said both were wearing seat belts, helping them to avoid the brunt of the impact.

Yet the motorist in the red Lada, a 41-year-old man, came off far worse after his vehicle practically disintegrated, before it ended up in a ditch.

Horrifying dashcam footage then shows the Lada being blown to pieces in the collision

The 41-year-old driver of the Lada is fighting for his life in hospital, a woman and an an 11-year-old girl in the Nissan escaped without suffering serious injuries

He was then rushed by an ambulance to a hospital where he was treated for serious head and spinal injuries.

A dashcam from the Nissan caught the collision while it was travelling down a Russian motorway between the cities of Cheboksary and Syktyvkar, located in central Komi Republic.
Britain will avoid recession following the historic decision to leave the European Union, according to the World Trade Organisation.

The global watchdog, which regulates international trade, became the latest group to declare that the UK economy has shrugged off the Brexit vote.

It came as a string of technology bosses lined up to say they are committed to Britain and will continue to invest in the country.

And the World Economic Forum, another global watchdog, said Britain is now the seventh most competitive economy in the world.

Britain will avoid recession following the historic decision to leave the European Union, according to the World Trade Organisation

That is up three places on last year and the highest since the report started ten years ago.

The flurry of reports further undermine the doom-laden warnings of Remain campaigners during the bitter referendum campaign.

David Cameron said a vote to leave the EU would put a bomb under the economy and George Osborne claimed it would cause a DIY recession.

But in an astonishing climbdown today, the former Chancellor conceded that it was too early to say what economic consequences of Brexit will be.

Before the vote, he warned of an immediate and profound economic shock.

Roberto Azevedo, director-general of the WTO, said: The UK referendum result did not produce an immediately observable downturn in economic activity as measured by industrial production or employment.

The main impact was a 13 per cent drop in the exchange rate of the pound against the US dollar and an 11 per cent decline in its value against the euro. Effects over the longer term remain to be seen.

George Osborne claimed it would cause a DIY recession, but in an astonishing climbdown today, the former Chancellor conceded that it was too early to say what economic consequences of Brexit will be

Economic forecasts for the UK in 2017 range from fairly optimistic to quite pessimistic. Our forecast assumes an intermediate case, with a growth slowdown next year but not an outright recession.

It is hoped that the fall in the pound will boost the economy by making British exports cheaper for foreign buyers all over the world.

The verdict from the WTO came as top executives at Facebook and Microsoft reaffirmed their commitment to the UK.

Speaking in a video at the Institute of Directors annual convention in London, the latters global president Brad Smith said: Microsofts commitment to Britain has not changed and will not do.

Were optimistic about where we have the opportunities to go and were optimistic about the role the UK will play.

Steve Hatch, Facebooks director for Northern Europe, said: The amount of talent, skills and creativity thats occurring here  thats why Britain is such a great place to be.

British technology entrepreneur Baroness Martha Lane Fox said every crisis created an opportunity.

The crossbench peer, who founded travel site Lastminute.com and is a board member of Twitter, argued that there were historic opportunities for Britain ahead.

I believe Britain could become a world leader in skills and in talent, she said.

Brexit has its challenges, its not what I voted for, but I believe now more than ever its the opportunity we need to connect together again.

New Chancellor Philip Hammond said the climb in the world competitiveness rankings demonstrates our ability to sharpen our edge

New Chancellor Philip Hammond said the climb in the world competitiveness rankings demonstrates our ability to sharpen our edge.

He added: This government will build on that progress, as we demonstrate to the world that Britain continues to be highly competitive and open for business.

The comments came just a day after a top German business leader predicted that Britain will thrive outside the EU as the bloc turns inward.

Mathias Dopfner, chief executive of media giant Axel Springer, said the UK would be highly attractive to investors after quitting the Brussels club.

In three to five years from now, my bet would be that England will be better off than continental Europe, he said.

A host of experts have been forced into a series of humiliating U-turns in recent weeks amid signs the economy continues to flourish following the Brexit vote.

According to independent forecasts collated by the Treasury, analysts cut their predictions for growth this year from an average of 1.8 per cent to 1.5 per cent following the referendum.

But they have now raised them back to 1.8 per cent in a major vote of confidence in the UK.

Morgan Stanley, which donated 250,000 to the Remain campaign, now expects growth of 1.9 per cent this year, up from the 1.2 per cent it predicted in August.

The Office for National Statistics, the countrys official number cruncher, last week said there has been no sign of a major collapse in confidence since the EU referendum.
Many of the roads and launchpads would be underwater

The sea could rise by between 15 iand 50 inches (4ft) by 2080s

For the past two decades, the pace of the rise has been quickening

Globally, sea levels have gone up about eight inches since the early 1900s

Kennedy is the only place on US soil where humans can launch into orbit

The $10.9 billion complex is being threatened by the ocean

The Space Center in Florida is already seeing the effects of climate change - and may have to abandon some of its launchpads within a decade

Rising sea levels are threatening the majority of NASA's launch pads and multi-billion dollar complexes famous for training astronauts and launching historic missions into space.

From Cape Canaveral in Florida to mission control in Houston, Texas, the US space agency is busily building seawalls where possible and moving some buildings further inland.

Five of the seven major NASA centers are located along the coast, because being close to the water is a logistical necessity for launching rockets and testing spacecraft.

Rising sea levels are threatening the Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, which has been the site of dozens of Apollo era and space shuttle launches

Conservative climate models project that the the sea levels off Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canavweral, Florida, will rise between five to eight inches by the 2050s, and from nine to 15 inches by the 2080s

Many NASA centers have already faced costly damage from encroaching water, coastal erosion and potent hurricanes.

The most iconic launchpad lies in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center, the liftoff point for the Apollo missions to the moon and many space shuttle flights over the past three decades.

'We are acutely aware that, in the long-term sense, the viability of our presence at Space Coast is in question,' said Kim Toufectis, a facilities planner in NASA's Office of Strategic Infrastructure to Gizmodo.

According to NASA's planning and development office, rising sea levels are the single largest threat to the Kennedy Space Center's continued operation.

The majority of NASA centers and facilities are on or very near the coast for logistical reasons

Areas in red will be flooded after 12 inches of sea level rise. Regions near all coastal NASA bases are expected to experience at least five inches of sea level rise between now and 2050

Dunes protecting the Space Center from high seas even during the worst storms were leveled during Tropical Storm Fay in 2008, Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012

Scientists at the University of Florida say the problem has been ignored until recently.

'We were a little blind to it, like pre-Katrina New Orleans,' said one of the researchers, assistant professor Peter Adams of the UF Geological Sciences department.

'Now that we've seen it, we're sensitive to it.'

Adams and associate professor of geology John Jaeger, who have been studying Cape Canaveral's dunes and beach since 2009, say the impacts became most apparent after Hurricane Sandy.

'Sandy got a lot of press up north, but it really did a tremendous amount of damage at Cape Canaveral,' Jaeger said.

'Areas that had previously been relatively stable for decades suddenly they were gone.'

Adams said a combination of climate change-related sea-level rise and increased wave energy is almost certainly to blame.

At Kennedy, the launch pads and buildings stand just a few hundred feet from the Atlantic

The shrinking dunes and damaged shoreline are just a stones throw from the launch pads

'Certainly it's occurring now,' he said. 'Is it affecting NASA infrastructure? The answer is yes.'

Nancy Bray, director of center operations for Kennedy Space Center, said NASA is taking the situation seriously and has plans for dealing with it.

The research came about after NASA partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey and UF to figure out why chronic erosion was happening along a roughly 6-mile stretch of beach between launch pads 39A and 39B  the ones used for Space Shuttle and Apollo missions.

The problem had been occurring for years but seemed to be growing worse, beginning with the spate of hurricanes that struck Florida in 2004.

Faced with the question of what was causing the increased vulnerability in that part of the shoreline, they soon came to the conclusion that the culprits were sea-level rise and wave climate change.

When the space center was founded in 1961, management and scientists were aware that seas were rising and could someday pose a threat

The U.S. government chose to fly most of its rockets and experimental aircraft from the coast because failures happen, and they are less dangerous to the public when they happen over water than over land

As for what could be at risk next, the first item on the list is a two-lane road the runs parallel to and slightly inland from the railroad track.

In the short term, NASA has built new dunes to replace the natural ones that were lost on the threatened section of shoreline.

Visitors on tour buses can look out over one of the new dunes from an elevated mound on the beach.

'Without that secondary dune line, we could have saltwater intrusion at the launch pad,' Bray said.

Looking further into the future, the agency is taking an approach it calls 'managed retreat.' That means if sea-level rise becomes insurmountable, Bray said, it may eventually have to move roads, utilities and perhaps even launch pads  a costly and complex possibility.

Launching from the coast requires testing, storage, and spacecraft assembly facilities to be nearby which could prove challenging in the years to come as sea levels rise

Based on historical records and aerial photos, the beach in front of Kennedy has thinned and moved inland by as much as 200 feet

Another key NASA site that is succumbing to rising seas is Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, where 16,000 rockets have launched and where sea levels have surged nine inches since it opened in 1945.

Others are Ames Research Center in San Francisco and Langley Research Center in Virginia, which is a $3.5 billion facility with specialized wind tunnels for simulating flight.

'Retreat is the way to go here, because you just can't like, get up and move. The infrastructure is too great here,' said Russell De Young of the NASA science directorate at Langley.

'They are tearing down buildings that are at the water's edge and building new structures as far back as we can against the fence of the property line,' he said.

De Young is among a handful of NASA employees who are tasked with monitoring climate change and analyzing the impacts it would have on NASA facilities.

Crashing waves and sandy shoreline are not far from the launchpads at Kennedy Space Center. That distance is decreasing each year

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was originally built for the Saturn V, the largest and most powerful operational launch vehicle in history, for the Apollo manned Moon landing program proposed by President John F. Kennedy. It has been used to launch every NASA human space flight, including Skylab (1973), the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1974), and the Space Shuttle program (1981-2011). KSC also has a facility which was used for landing the reusable Space Shuttle orbiters when weather permitted. Advertisement

President Barack Obama in 2009 called on all government agencies to take steps to prepare for climate change.

De Young said the space agency, like other government facilities that find themselves on the coast, are trying to make incremental changes over the coming decades.

'This is not imminent,' he said, noting that the forecast at Langley, which is in Hampton, Virginia, is for five feet of sea level rise from the 1980s until the year 2100.

'With sea level rise you can always manage it, but if a hurricane hits us, that is what worries us. The combination of the two is a devastating blow that we dread.'
Crye-Leike announced the promotion of its chief information officer, Gurtej Sodhi.

Two years into being assigned the role of the chief strategist in addition to being Crye-Leikes chief information officer, Mr. Sodhi has been promoted to the position of chief information and operations officer for the Crye-Leike Group of Companies.

In his new role, Mr. Sodhi is chartered with the responsibility of ensuring that all the business units utilize the best systems and processes to operate in the most effective and productive manner. Sodhi is a resident of Brentwood, Tenn.

As a full service real estate company, Crye-Leike Group of Companies offers real estate and related services in a nine state region. Those services include: relocation services; commercial business and investment real estate services; property leasing and management services; insurance services; title and closing services; mortgage services; home warranty services; home services; auction services; business brokerage services; REO services for bank-owned and foreclosed properties and real estate schools.

Headquartered in Memphis, Crye-Leike has a network of over 3,000 sales associates in 86 company-owned offices and 26 franchise offices located throughout a nine-state region in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama and Missouri.

Technology, systems and processes are all becoming critical to achieving maximum efficiency, said Harold Crye, chief executive officer and chairman. Gurtej has successfully delivered in all the roles he has undertaken over the past two decades as Crye-Leike has grown geographically, along with diversifying into multiple business units. As a key member of the senior executive team, we expect him to guide and assist all the business unit presidents in attaining a unified vision and cohesive goal of sustained growth and profitability in this role."

I am excited and optimistic to play a part in helping Crye-Leike's future success and aligning the business operations and technology for all our units in an integrated manner to deliver the best results for our agents, employees and customers, said Mr. Sodhi. I am thankful and honored by the trust and confidence placed in me."
Coroner said the man likely died when one of the packets burst

A Pennsylvania coroner says a Guatemalan found dead over a guardrail had swallowed up to $500,000 worth of heroin and was killed when one of the packets burst.

Clearfield County Coroner Mike Morris told WJAC-TV that the man's name is Boris Anavisca-Reyes, though he has yet to confirm the man's age.

However, it's believed that the man is in his early 30s.

Guatemalan 'drug mule', Boris Reyes, was found dead over a Pennsylvania guardrail along state Route 153 (pictured) after he overdosed from swallowing up to $500,000 worth of heroin. He was killed when one of the packets burst

Clearfield County Coroner Mike Morris said the man's name is Boris Reyes, and it's believed Reyes is in his early 30s. Morris won't say how the drugs were packaged but it's typical for them to be compressed in a type of latex such as a condom (file photo) or balloon

A passing motorist found the body along a rural road on September 16.

Authorities had suspected Reyes was a drug courier.

They say tests indicate he had swallowed 'multiple packets' of heroin worth a total of $250,000 to $500,000.

Morris won't say how the drugs were packaged.

But drug mules are quite common and drug packets are typically compressed to be as dense as possible, and placed into some kind of latex, such as a condom or balloon, according to Popular Science.

The latex, whatever it may be, is then sealed with a coating, of wax or some kind of industrial sealant.

Most drug mules will carry about 50-100 of these packets in their stomachs.

Some have been caught carrying as many as 200, which is the equivalent to five pounds of drugs concealed in the gastrointestinal tract, the site reported.

The latex is then sealed with a coating, of wax or some kind of industrial sealant. Most drug mules will carry about 50-100 of these packets (file photo) in their stomachs. Morris said he's working with authorities to determine the source and destination of the drugs

'One of the packages of suspected narcotics had come undone (inside the body),' Morris explained to the Progress News.

'He had these (drugs) in his system. So one broke open without his knowledge. He would have died of an overdose.

'That's what we know now,' Morris continued. 'He was transporting drugs.'

Morris was called to the scene shortly after noon on Friday and said the death may have occurred between midnight and 6am Friday morning.
Hillary Clinton launched a searing assault on Donald Trump today for failing to pay his fair share of taxes.

I think there's a strong probability that he hasn't paid his federal taxes a lot of years, she proclaimed from the podium at a Raleigh, North Carolina, rally.

Clinton lit into her opponent for saying budget cuts have turned the military into a disaster when he probably hasnt paid a penny to support our troops, or our vets or our schools or our health care system.

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Hillary Clinton at a post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, suggested that Donald Trump paid no federal income tax

'Now if not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?' Hillary Clinton asked a crowd today in Raleigh, North Carolina

'And when I confronted him with the reason why he won't release his tax returns, and I got to that point where I said maybe he's paid zero, he said that makes him smart.'

She said, 'Now if not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?

The Democrat asserted that she and her husband Bill, now millionaires, pay the highest marginal rate and still gave 10 percent of their income to charity on top of their contributions to the government.

'We believe in this country, and we believe with the blessings that we've been given we should do our part,' she stated to cheers.

Thanks, Hillary! an audience member shouted, inspiring other rally-goers to holler, Thank you!

Clinton likewise promised to 'go after millionaires, billionaires and corporations' and make them pony up the cash to pay for her proposals.

'We're gonna raise taxes on millionaires and billionaires and we're gonna close corporate loopholes,' she said. 'And I believe that we can get that done.'

At Monday night's debate she needled Trump to release his tax returns, pointing out he is the only presidential candidate in the past 40 years not put out his out.

'You've got to ask yourself, why won't he release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons,' she said. 'First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings.'

The Democratic White House candidate speculated that Trump does not perhaps, 'want the American people...to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes.'

'He said the only years that anybody has ever seen were a couple of years when had he to turn them over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax.'

Trump interrupted and told her, 'That makes me smart.'

Hillary Clinton told her audience that she wants to know what Donald Trump is hiding in his tax returns, that he continues to refuse to release

He defended himself as a savvy businessman who is 'extremely underleveraged.'

'I have a great company and I have tremendous income,' he stated. 'I say that not in a braggadocios way but it's time that this country has somebody running the country who has an idea about money.'

The country is a 'mess' and owes trillions to foreign lenders because of politicians like Clinton, he contended.

'We don't have the money because it's been squandered on so many of your ideas,' he told his opponent.

Clinton shot back, 'Maybe it's because you haven't paid any federal income tax for a lot of years.'

Trump did not deny the claim. He retorted, 'It would be squandered, too, believe me.'

In Raleigh, Clinton said Trump 'made it very clear that he didn't prepare for that debate.'

'At one point he was kind of digging me for spending time off the campaign trail to get prepared,' she said. 'But just trying to keep track of everything he says took a lot of time and effort.'

Reusing a line from the night before, the former U.S. senator said not only was she ready to face-off against him, shes ready to be president.

'What we've heard from my opponent is dangerously incoherent. Its unclear exactly what he's saying.'

The Democrat said shed let others make heads or tails of his inconsistencies and falsehoods, however, and moved on.
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The Duchess of Cambridge upped the style stakes yesterday in a dazzling bottle green dress from Dolce & Gabbana.

Kate wore the 2,000 frock as she joined Prince William in Kelowna, British Columbia, on the fourth day of their week-long tour of Canada.

Yet it was William who managed to turn the most heads. The Prince was at the centre of attention when he held court with a gaggle of excitable women's volleyball players after watching a match at the local university.

The duke and duchess greeted crowds of well-wishers on the campus before being whisked off to sample local delicacies at a food festival at a world-renowned winery.

The couple are the first royals to visit the city since Prince Charles and Princess Diana 30 years ago.

Later they will fly to Whitehorse in the Yukon, where they will stay the night. Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte are with their nanny in Victoria, where the family are based during the tour.

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The Duchess of Cambridge speaks with local schoolchildren at a food and wine festival in British Columbia on Tuesday

The couple wore almost matching Ray Bans as they attended the food and wine festival. Right, the duchess dazzled in green

Prince William holds court with members of the women's volleyball team following the exhibition match on Tuesday

After dressing down in high street jeans and a safari jacket yesterday, Kate upped the style stakes in a designer dress

Kate shakes hands with Chief John Kruger during a ceremony at the University of British Columbia Okanagan

The couple tasted a number of local delicacies at the festival, served by some of the country's most renowned chefs

The Cambridges' first stop was the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia. UBC is one of the world's top research universities and recently celebrated its centenary.

William and Kate, who pair her dress with nude LK Bennett heels, were greeted by more than 1,000 cheering students and well-wishers as they met BC premier Christy Clark and UBC Chancellor Mr Lindsay Gordon.

Mr Gordon welcomed the couple to the campus and to the country, adding: 'A particularly warm welcome to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who we hope are enjoying their first visit to Canada.

'We also hope this is the first of many more family visits.'

The campus in Kelowna, home to 8,000 students, opened a decade ago and the royal couple helped students and staff celebrate its 10th anniversary.

They were touring part of the campus before watching an exhibition match involving the campus' nationally ranked women's volleyball team.

Kate looks a little unsure as she samples one local dish - although William seems more than happy to give it a try

Demonstrating an expert command of chopsticks, William tastes some of the locally sourced sushi on offer at the festival

Young chefs were invited to take part in a demonstration at the festival and Kate stopped in to speak with them

Showing that they were up for a culinary adventure, the couple sampled a range of dishes prepared by Canadian chefs

The couple, wearing almost identical Raybans, also tried their hand cutting pinot noir grapes from the vines

Beaming Kate looked beautiful in the bottle green dress, which is believed to be a bespoke creation by Dolce & Gabbana

Smiling at one of the chefs presenting at the festival, the duchess reaches down to try another morsel of food

Kate revealed her domestic credentials when she said curry was one of her favourite dishes to whip up in the kitchen

Wearing dark Ray Ban sunglasses, the duke and duchess were shown around the vineyard at the British Columbia winery

FOOD FIT FOR A FUTURE KING: WHAT WILLS AND KATE SAMPLED At the tasting event, William and Kate will sample delicious tasting menus from some of the country's top chefs. Here is the full, mouth-watering menu for the Mission Hill 'Taste of British Columbia' event Chef Hidekazu Tojo British Columbia Wild Smoked Salmon Battera-style Sushi (Pressed boxed sushi) Layered sushi rice, smoked BC wild Sockeye salmon, shiso leaf, pickled ginger, local radish, garnished with BC Wild Ikura(salmon caviar) Vegetarian Sushi Roll Sushi rice, asparagus, pickled ginger, spicy Japanese mayonnaise with BC zucchini, carrot and red pepper wrapped in a soy bean and roasted sesame wrap, garnished with Northern Divine caviar BC Wild Geoduck with Miso Mustard Sauce Thinly sliced BC wild geoduck sashimi, garnished with a Miso Mustard Sauce Tojos Tuna, made with BC Wild Albacore Tuna Small bite-sized morsels of BC Wild Albacore Tuna, marinated in Tojos special recipe (soy sauce, wasabi, crushed sesame seed and green onion) Chef Rob Feenie Braised Cache Creek oxtail and caramelized onion ravioli With Hazelmere farms celeriac puree, port wine jus, shaved parmesan and extra virgin olive oil. Chef Ned Bell Smoked Vancouver Island Sea Salt Crusted BC Wild Halibut with Local Honey, BC Blueberries and BC Hazelnuts Cured North Coast BC Wild Sockeye Salmon Tataki With Miso, Maple and BC Grown Radishes BC Wild Spot Prawns With Fraser Valley Cranberries, BC Grown Cauliflower and Brown Butter Roasted BC Wild Sablefish With Organic BC Ambrosia Apple Butter and BC Squash Puree Chef Vikram Vij Maharaja Style Coconut Curried BC Vegetable Curry With Basmati Rice Wine marinated BC lamb popsicles Chef David Hawksworth Yuzu Kosho Shuswap Watermelon (black lime, puffed rice, BC Dungeness crab and locally grown mint) BC Heirloom Tomato Salad (Okanagan peach, burrata, very local honey, pistachio granola) Chef Bernard Casavant Cured Okanagan Road 13 Char; Local Spiced Petite Bagel, Rosehip Essence, Fresh Ricotta Foraged Wild BC Mushrooms; Lentil Pate, Harvest Squash, Truffled BC Cauliflower, Cashew Aioli Advertisement

As they walked in, the announcer said: 'Please welcome, all the way from the UK, standing at 6ft 3in and 5ft 9in  or 5ft 11in including high heels, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!'

After watching some of the action, the couple met players, including Paralympic sitting volleyball player Jennifer Oakes, 18, who lost a leg in a boating accident in Alberta last year and took part in the Rio 2016 Games.

After the game the couple received matching personalised jerseys with 'Cambridge' emblazoned on the back. They were also handed UBC teddy bears for George and Charlotte.

However the visit was marred by controversy. The couple were apparently snubbed by a prominent First Nations leader who had been due to take part in Tuesday's engagements.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Okanagan Nation Alliance Chairman and Spokesperson, had been due to join the royal couple on stage at the university's 10th anniversary celebrations but pulled out this morning.

William and Kate were given matching jerseys with 'Cambridge' on the back after watching a women's volleyball game at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, in Kelowna, on Tuesday. The couple also toured the campus and met with students

The Cambridges looked delighted with their matching sports tops, which were printed with '16' to mark the year of their visit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had courtside seats to a volleyball game at the University of British Columbia Okanagan

The couple were later handed soft toys wearing the university's colours, believed to be presents for George and Charlotte

Kate and William spent time speaking with members of the women's volleyball team after watching the match

The couple were given personalised jerseys with 'Cambridge' emblazoned across the back by the volleyball players

A spokesman for UBC could not comment on why he had pulled out. He was replaced in the welcome line up by Chief Jonathan Kruger from the local Penticton Indian Band.

It came hours after Grand Chief Phillip refused to attend an historic reconciliation ceremony with William and Kate at Government House in Victoria.

The couple were this afternoon whisked to the BC Government's 'Taste of British Columbia' festival at Mission Hill Winery, sampling some of the region's wine and food.

They tasted one of the most unusual-looking delicacies in Canada- and tactfully pronounced it delicious. The couple tucked into the unmistakably phallic 'geoduck', a giant clam with a long neck.

As the couple toured a food and wine festival in the idyllic setting of a hilltop winery in the Okanagan valley, they initially appeared as if there was no chance of any geoduck passing their lips.

William and Kate looked in good spirits as they waved to crowds at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna

The duchess paired her knee-length green dress with a pair of nude heels and a matching clutch

The duke and duchess received gifts from local children during a welcome ceremony at the university campus

'Presentationally they are quite challenging,' said William.But chef Ned Bell told them: 'They are getting more popular all the time.'

A few stands later at the Taste of BC festival at the Mission Hill winery, they came across some geoduck prepared by Japanese chef Hidekazu Tojo - and could not resist

However it was unrecognisable from the raw version on Mr Bells stand, having been transformed into thinly sliced BC wild geoduck sashimi, garnished with a Miso Mustard Sauce.

'There is a slightly firmer texture to this,' said the duchess. 'Its really unusual. I've never seen it before. It's so fresh from the sea.'

Mr Bell said: 'It is an extraordinary species. You can eat the body, but you can also eat the neck raw, which is what they ate.

The royal visitors waved to waiting well-wishers after stepping off the flight in Kelowna, in British Columbia

After a day of wet and windy weather on Monday, the couple enjoyed some sunshine as they strolled through the university

Some 1,000 students and members of the public turned out to greet the couple as they arrived on the university campus

'It is absolutely phallic, but at end of the day it is a clam. Here on the west coast we have some of the best wild, well-managed shellfish in the world.'

Their tour saw them taste an array dishes from some of Canadas most celebrated chefs.

They included Mr Bells Cured North Coast BC Wild Sockeye Salmon Tataki With Miso, Maple and BC Grown Radishes, and Chef Rob Feenies Braised Cache Creek oxtail and caramelized onion ravioli with Hazelmere farms celeriac puree, port wine jus, shaved parmesan and extra virgin olive oil.

From Chef Vikram Vij they ate Maharaja Style Coconut Curried BC Vegetable Curry With Basmati Rice and Wine marinated BC lamb popsicle. Asked if she liked cooking, Kate replied 'Yes, especially curries.'

William said: 'This is amazing. It's the right level of spice for me. I'm very glad you did not surprise us with a vindaloo. I can't manage that - it's too much for me.'

William also tried a Laird of Fintry single malt whisky, which William pronounced 'delicious'. He said : 'You can tell the Scottish element - there's a peatiness to it.'

Kate turned down the whisky, but tried their cassis - a blackcurrant liqueur - instead, which she said was like sloe gin'.

Earlier the couple, wearing almost identical Raybans, tried their hand cutting pinot noir grapes from the vines.

Later they will fly to Whitehorse in the Yukon, where they will stay the night - away from their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte , who will remain in their base of Victoria - for two days of engagements.

The couple are almost mid-way through their eight-day tour of Canada on behalf of the Queen.

The Cambridges are the first royals to visit Kelowna since Prince Charles and Princess Diana 30 years ago, pictured

The Duchess of Cambridge is greeted in Kelowna, left, and Diana on a walkabout in the city in May 1986, right

People waved and cheered as the couple toured the university campus on Tuesday, the fourth day of their royal tour

Young girls hold up signs welcoming the couple to the city, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited in 1986
A Washington State trooper got a 'huge' surprise when he spotted a driver in the carpool lane and a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump's head in their passenger seat.

Motorcycle Trooper Greg Ulrich pulled over the driver for a carpool lane violation after seeing the Donald's head attached to the headrest next to them.

A picture of the cutout was then posted on Twitter by State Patrol spokesman Rick Johnson, who said he couldn't help but laugh when he saw it.

Motorcycle Trooper Greg Ulrichr got a 'huge' surprise when he spotted a driver in the carpool lane and a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump's head in their passenger seat

Johnson, who has been on the force for 25 years, has seen plenty of people try to get away with driving in the carpool lane with mannequins or other cutouts.

But this was the first time he has ever seen the Donald make an appearance.

'Now we've seen it all,' Johnson told the Washington Post.

Users on Twitter were quick to crack jokes - and direct some insults at the Donald - after seeing the picture.

Ulrich (pictured) pulled over the driver for a carpool lane violation and they were fined $136

'Airbags don't count as passengers?' one asked, while another asked if he was 'too far to the left'.

Others said Ulrich should've let the driver, whose name was not released, off due to their creativity.

'Hilarious. Should have been let go with a warning for the comic value,' tweeted Eric Rothenberg.

And of course many joked that the writer was probably fined a 'YUGE' amount.

The citation came out to $136, which Johnson said is the normal fine for a carpool violation.
The father of the boy who was arrested after taking a homemade clock to school, has sued conservative commentator Glenn Beck and Fox News for allegations they depicted the family as terrorists.

Mohamed Mohamed is also suing Irving mayor Beth Van Duyne under the same claims.

Mohamed filed the defamation lawsuit last week in Dallas on behalf of himself and his 14-year-old son, Ahmed, who became known in the media as 'clock boy', according to NBCDFW.

In September of 2015, Ahmed was charged with bringing a 'hoax bomb' to school.

The father of Ahmed Mohamed (pictured), who was arrested for taking a homemade clock to school, has sued Glenn Beck for allegedly depicting the Mohamed family as terrorists

Mohamed Mohamed is suing networks like The Blaze and Fox News, other commentators, journalists and the Irving, Texas, mayor for defamation over the 'clock boy' incident

Ahmed said he had built a homemade digital clock, but a teacher who saw it was unsettled by the device's appearance and eventually the authorities got involved.

The 14-year-old was suspended for three days but eventually the charges were dropped.

The lawsuit seeks a retraction, a jury trial and unspecified damages related to comments following the teen's arrest at an Irving school.

Also named in the suit are commentators Jim Hanson, Ben Ferguson and journalist Ben Shapiro.

The lawsuit seeks a retraction, a jury trial and unspecified damages related to comments following the teen's arrest at an Irving school (Glenn Beck pictured)

The suit claims mayor Van Duyne participated in on-air discussions about the case and called Mohamed 'uncooperative'.

He claims her statements were 'obviously hurtful to the Mohamed family'.

The suit claims mayor Van Duyne participated in on-air discussions about the case and called Mohamed 'uncooperative'

The suit says similarly, statements made by Ferguson and Shapiro were hurtful.

It claims the public was misled into believing the Mohamed family are terrorists and that the media fanned the flames of fear toward Muslims and immigrants.

The suit alleges that media outlets, including Beck and his conservative network The Blaze, made false statements about Ahmed in the aftermath of the 'clock boy' incident, according to USA Today.

'The Mohamed family are peaceful Muslims who have been falsely accused of being terrorists and engaging in a jihad.

'The correction must also be made that the arrest and suspension of Ahmed Mohamed was not a stunt and it was not pre-planned, staged or engineered by anyone, including [his father],' the suit says.

A previous suit by the Mohameds was seeking $15 million in damages from the city and school district of Irving.

Messages left for comment from Beck and Van Duyne weren't immediately returned Tuesday.
The former Miss Universe at the center of a bitter exchange in Monday's presidential debate was accused of aiding a would-be murderer and threatening to kill a judge, it has emerged.

Alicia Machado was named by Hillary Clinton as having been shamed for her weight in 1996 by Donald Trump, when she was Miss Universe and he bought the beauty contest, by being called 'Miss Piggy' when she gained weight.

The then-Miss Venezuela was photographed with Trump at a gym as he spoke about how she 'loves to eat,' and she also claimed he mocked her Latino accent, calling her 'Miss Housekeeping.'

On Tuesday Machado launched her own attack on the Republican candidate, accusing him of abuse and 'stupid things.'

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Prestigious title: Alicia Machado was named Miss Universe in 1996 but quickly gained weight and when Donald Trump took over the beauty contest, she was a 'problem', he said Tuesday

'Fat-shamed': Machado claimed that she felt humiliated when she was photographed exercising at a gym with Trump watching. He said Tuesday that 'she gained a massive amount of weight'

Campaign tool: The Clinton campaign energetically set up a conference call on Tuesday with Machado to try to capitalize on her mention in the debate. DailyMail.com is asking about the vetting of her past

Small world: Bill Clinton was welcomed to Caracas by Rafael Caldera in November 1997. Three months later Caldera was allegedly being named by Machado as a friend who would ruin a judge's career if he indicted her boyfriend for attempted murder

But now two Associated Press reports from 1998 have revealed the Machado was accused of aiding attempted murder and threats to kill in Venezuela.

DailyMail.com has asked the Clinton campaign whether they knew about the accusations, which do not appear to have ended in conviction, before the candidate spoke about her at the debate.

The campaign also organized a conference call for reporters on Tuesday with the now 39-year-old actress, in which she spoke almost exclusively in Spanish to continue the attacks on Trump.

The troubling details of what Machado was accused of emerged after she had reigned as Miss Universe in 1996.

In January 1998, the Associated Press revealed that Machado had been accused in court documents in Cadacras of driving her boyfriend from the scene of a shooting.

She was ordered to testify in court, with her lawyer telling a local newspaper that she was in fact filming a soap opera at the time.

The murder, it was alleged, was the culmination of a bitter feud.

Machado's boyfriend, Juan Rodriguez Reggeti, was accused of shooting his brother-in-law, Francisco Sbert Moukso  at the funeral of the dead man's wife, Maria Rodriguez, who was the alleged murderer's sister.

Sbert's attorney alleged that Reggeti believed the dead man had driven his sister to suicide and took revenge, the Associated Press said.

Rodriguez was eight months pregnant when she jumped to her death off a fifth-floor balcony.

The attorney also alleged that witnesses saw Machado drive her boyfriend away from the scene of the crime, and that her boyfriend had snatched the dead woman's 11-month-old son as well.

But her lawyer, Ricardo Koesling, was quoted in a local newspaper calling the claims 'a huge stupidity' and saying: 'She wasn't even present at the site of the incident.'

Machado was not indicted when the judge in the case said there was insufficient evidence that she was at the scene of the alleged crime.

Right to vote: Alicia Machado celebrated becoming a U.S. citizen earlier this year, saying she would use her vote against Donald Trump

'I'm with you!' Alicia Machado posted this tweet shortly after the end of Monday's debate - but it is unknown if the Clinton campaign knew about the questions over her past

Latino star: Since her apparent brush with the law in 1998, Machado has become a star of telenovas and how is a US citizen

There was clearly confusion as in contrast to her lawyer's initial claim she was filming, Machado later claimed that she was at home sick. The judge said there was also insufficient evidence to prove that claim.

A judge indicted her boyfriend, described by Reuters as 'a 26-year-old graphic designer with movie star good looks'  and police mounted a series of raids to find him, to no avail.

It was not the end of the affair.

A month later the judge went on national television to allege that Machado had threatened to kill him if he indicted Sbert.

Judge Maximiliano Fuenmayor said on national television that she threatened 'to ruin my career as a judge and ... kill me', the Associated Press reported.

Reuters reported that he 'said she would make sure, using her friendship with the president [Rafael Caldera], that my career as judge is ruined and then she would kill me.'

He alleged that when he issued an arrest warrant she made a threatening phone call. He had traced her identity because her number showed up on his mobile phone  a relatively new technology in 1998.

The judge said he planned to open a new case against Machado. Judges in Venezuela are more akin to prosecutors, having investigatory powers.

The indictment, if it had led to criminal trial, would have carried a jail term of up to 18 months if she had been found guilty.

Gym trip: In January 1996, during her reign as Miss World, she was photographed working out in a gym with Trump watching

Admission: Trump made no secret as he appeared on Fox and Friends that Machado's weight had been an issue.

I wasn't there, my love. I was at Venevision filming. At 2pm I left my house and called the station to tell them I couldn't go. I was ill with a stomach ache because of my diet. As you can see I am yet again, as God and the Virgin would have it, 15 kilos lighter and focusing on my work. How Achado explained what she had told a judge about allegations she drove her boyfriend from the scene of an attempted murder.

The Economist reported that she admitted making the call but that that she said it was to thank him for what it described as 'his unbiased pursuit of justice.'

Local newspaper El Tiempo said she was questioned behind closed doors by the judge for two hours, then emerged and spoke to local journalists.

' I don't have anything to do with this,' she said, crying, it reported.

'I wasn't there, my love. I was at Venevision filming. At 2pm I left my house and called the station to tell them I couldn't go.

'I was ill with a stomach ache because of my diet. As you can see I am yet again, as God and the Virgin would have it, 15 kilos [33lb] lighter and focusing on my work.'

DailyMail.com is reaching out to Machado for comment.

Machado went on to have a career in telenovelas and earlier this year became an American citizen, in time to vote in the November election.

Clinton named her in the debate on Monday night without making any reference to her past scandals.

As she was: Machado was appearing in the telenova Samantha, in which she was the eponymous central character, when the judge moved to indict her

Accusation: Judge Maximiliano Fuenmayor claimed the ex-Miss Universe had threatened his career and his life

Instead she said of her: 'One of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest.

'He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them, and he called this woman "Miss Piggy," then he called her "Miss Housekeeping" because she was Latina.'

On Tuesday morning Trump agreed that he had told her to lose weight, and doubled down on his description.

'She was the worst we ever had,' he said on Fox and Friends.

'She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem.'

Hours later Machado was made available by the Clinton campaign for a conference call with reporters.

Only a tiny fraction of it was in English and the campaign translated some of it for reporters, who had not been told it would be in Spanish.

In the course of it she accused Trump of 'violence' and said she wanted to share her story with the Latino community.

It does not appear she mentioned anything about the court case and although she claimed to have been 'sharing her story' for '20 years' DailyMail.com has yet to find evidence she as spoken of it since it happened.

'I have been sharing this story, my story, with all of my fans and all of the communities from the beginning,' she saud.

Basically by sharing my experience and focusing on abuse against women, the disrespect to women, violence against women, must end Macahdo on Donald Trump

'And I have been talking about this for 20 years, this really bad experience working with Mr. Donald Trump.

'I know very well whats hes capable of, this man.

I think I speak more English than her. I dont see anything about this girl. Shes a doll. Shes a decoration Machado on Melania Trump

'And thats why I am fighting to make the community understand, now more than ever, that Latinos need to support the US, that we need to return all the beautiful and grand things the US has provided for us.

'Basically by sharing my experience and focusing on abuse against women, the disrespect to women, violence against women, must end.'

Despite her attack on 'abuse against women', she had earlier this month spoke to Cosmopolitan.com about her views on Trump's wife, Melania.

'I think I speak more English than her,' Machado said. 'I dont see anything about this girl. Shes a doll. Shes a decoration. That is how I see her.'

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
But she still managed to bring a tear to her proud father's eyes as he watched her speech

Chelsea said most nights speeches didn't finish until gone midnight and she would then be woken up by baby Aidan

Philadelphia she would run back to her room or even use a backstage bathroom to breastfeed between speeches

From racing to breast pump in between speeches, to last minute speech practice in an empty locker room, Chelsea Clinton certainly had her hands full at the Democratic National Conference.

Juggling looking after a newborn with almost any other responsibility can be incredibly tough, as any new parent will testify.

But new mom Chelsea has described the difficulty of not only having to care for her six-week-old son, but to prepare to address millions in a historic speech to introduce the first Democratic female candidate.

In a lengthy interview with MarieClaire, the mother-of-two described how she prepared for weeks with one of Hillary's speech writers Megan Roone to craft the perfect speech.

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Chelsea Clinton's son was less than six weeks old when she took to the stage to introduce her mom as the first Democratic female presidential candidate

Motherly love: Chelsea and her mom made quite the patriotic pair in red and white

'I'd even worked on it as I breast-fed Aidan!' she told the magazine.

Chelsea and husband Marc Mezvinsky made one of their first public appearances after the birth of baby Aidan, as they arrived for the first day of the conference in Philadelphia on July 25 - accompanied by their two children, toddler Charlotte and baby Aidan.

At the four-day conference, as she prepared to give her own speech, Chelsea and her husband got the chance to watch friends, civil rights groups and fellow politicians take to the stage in praise of Hillary Clinton.

Keeping it casual: Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky were seen loading up the car (complete with yellow stroller) for the journey to the DNC

Spotted: Chelsea Clinton and her daughter Charlotte were seen heading into the car outside their New York City before the conference

But being a potential First Daughter for a second time, and new mother is a demanding business.

'Afterward, we raced back to our hotel so I could pump (this would become a common theme all weekin fact, there was even a breast-feeding/pumping area in the arena!and twice I knew I wouldn't make it back to the hotel in time, so I had to last-minute pump in a backstage bathroom, grateful to my husband for literally manning the door).'

Chelsea said speeches would often drag on to past midnight, and then she would be woken at least a couple of times a night by baby Aidan.

Yet she couldn't have more than a couple cups of coffee to perk up as she was breastfeeding.

But on the final night of the conference, Cheslea had plenty of adrenaline to keep her awake.

Clinton, pictured with Aidan, had only given birth less than six weeks before making her speech

'I spent Thursday (the day of her speech on July 28) running through it from the hotel, at a podium, in front of a few people, including my husband and Megantrying to imagine what it would be like in the arena, with thousands in the audience, and millions on TV, all watching.'

When the time came, she says she was nervous. Having being touched by friends and respected peers speeches during the conference, Chelsea had just ten minutes to condense a lifetime spent with her mother - and why she should be president.

In an empty Philadelphia Flyers locker room backstage, the 36-year-old read through her printed out final draft once more before a producer announced it was time for her to take to the stage.

As she walked out, she may not have been able to see her husband Marc or proud father Bill in the darkened audience, but knew they were there, beaming up at her.

Chelsea had brought her father to tears as she praised her mother Hillary as a 'grandmother, role model and fighter' who has overcome 'bruising, exhausting' lows in her very public life.

She portrayed the former secretary of state as a doting grandma, who will drop everything 'for a few minutes of blowing kisses and reading 'Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo' with her granddaughter'.

The doting parents were seen with toddler Charlotte during a trip to the doctors today

Chelsea spoke of childhood games with the former first lady, as they made up stories about what would happen if they ever met a triceratops. 'In my opinion the friendliest dinosaur,' Chelsea said. 'Though my mom would remind me that, friendly or not, it's still a dinosaur.'

'As you can probably tell, I was obsessed with dinosaurs,' the only Clinton daughter said to laughs.

'Everyday I spend as Charlotte and Aidan's mother, I think about my own mother  my wonderful, kind, thoughtful hilarious mother,' she said, attaching qualities to the Democratic candidate the Republicans would argue their opponent lacked.

Chelsea said she had been determined to show the world why Hillary wants to become the next president.

'S he never forgets who she's fighting for,' she told the magazine. 'If people remember one line from my speech, I hope it's this: 'She is a woman driven by compassion, by faith, by a fierce sense of justice and a heart full of love.'

Her introduction speech over, and with a quick onstage hug from her mother, Chelsea took a seat with her family to watch Hillary become the first woman ever to accept a major party's presidential nomination.

'I thought my heart would burst,' she said, adding that the person she had thought of most during her mother's speech was her grandmother Dorothy - born before women even got the right to vote - and how proud she would be.

Bill Clinton was seen shedding a tear as his daughter welcomed Hillary Clinton to the stage at the Democratic National Convention to accept the party's nomination for president

Proud family: Chelsea sat alongside her father Bill and vice presidential candidate TIm Kaine as her mother took to the stage

They shared a loving embrace as delegates cheered from the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia ahead of Hillary's speech

Chelsea also thought of her own children. And their future in a world where it was possible for a woman to smash the glass ceiling and become the first female U.S. president.

The potential First Daughter said becoming a mother changed the way she viewed politics, and if anything had made her even more passionate than before.

'Whoever we elect will play a profound role in shaping the future that my children and their generation will grow up in,' she said.

Chelsea described her awe at seeing the likes of gun reform and civil rights groups, such as Mothers of the Movement, Human Rights Campaign and congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly, speak passionately about their causes.

She said her highlights were pledges of support from First Lady Michelle Obama and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Obama whipped the crowd up into excitable cheers with her ringing endorsement, which she ended with an emphatic, 'I'm with her.'

'Any objective observer will conclude that - based on her ideas and her leadership - Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States,' Sanders told delegates, to another round of cheers.

Actresses Lena Dunham and America Ferrera also threw their support behind Hillary Clinton, as did Vice President Joe Biden, vice president hopeful Senator Tim Kaine, and President Obama.

But she says it was her father's speech that left her teary-eyed as he described how: 'In the spring of 1971, I met a girl.'
was stabbed to death on his porch Sunday night

A teenage boy was stabbed to death in Pennsylvania on Sunday night after a fight broke out due to a neighborhood dispute.

Christian Torres, 16, a tenth-grade student at Reading High School was found dead by police at around 8:30pm on his own front porch.

Authorities are now searching for one person involved in the fight who eyewitnesses claim was wearing a clown costume.

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Christian Torres (above), 16, of Reading, Pennsylvania was stabbed to death on his porch Sunday night

Police are now looking for a person in a clown mask to ask them questions (board remembering Torres above)

Police have also revealed they have a person of interest in the case - 29-year-old Avery Valentin-Bair.

It is unclear however if Valentin Bair was the man wearing a clown mask.

'We urge anyone who was there to contact the Reading police,' District Attorney John T. Adams told the Reading Eagle.

'Someone was wearing a clown mask and a fight broke out. Anyone who knows anything about this, please contact the Reading police.'

Torres was pronounced dead at a scene and an autopsy will be done on Tuesday.

Police have also revealed they have a person of interest in the case, 29-year-old Avery Valentin-Bair (above)

Two others were also stabbed in the situation but have been treated for their injuries and released.

Police Chief Andres Dominguez Jr. described the situation as a 'dispute that got out of control' and said that the department was looking at several suspects at this time.
Melissa Yates secretly siphoned $238,294 before a competition in the US

A bodybuilder who stole over $200,000 from Woolworths while working as a payroll clerk has been sentenced to five years behind bars after she was caught trying to 'flee' to the US.

Melissa Yates, 37, fronted Brisbane District Court on Tuesday and prosecutor Russell Hood said the bodybuilding 'fanatic' made it appear Woolworths was transferring money to former employees, when it was going into her own account.

She was caught in October 2015, just days before she attempted to take a further $400,000 and fly to the US to represent Australia in an international bodybuilding competition, The Courier Mail reported.

Melissa Yates, 37, fronted Brisbane District Court on Tuesday and prosecutor Russell Hood said the bodybuilding 'fanatic' made it appear Woolworths was transferring money to former employees, when it was going into her own account

The court heard Yates used her knowledge of the supermarket giants' payroll system to siphon the money and was caught out after making a small error.

The court heard she might have made away with the $640,000 if she had not made the administrative mistake of forgetting to 'lock' a document.

'[She] had booked flights, she had loaded up her credit cards, there was a rapid escalation in the attempts to siphon off money from the company,' Mr Hood said.

'She wanted to extract as much funds as possible before fleeing the jurisdiction.'

She was caught in October 2015, just days before she attempted to take a further $400,000 and fly to the US to represent Australia in an international bodybuilding competition

Mr Hood said Yates spent $100,000 on 'luxury items' in just six months in 2014 while she lived in the US with her family.

Yates pleaded guilty to stealing $238,294 from Woolworths and attempting to take a further $400,000.
Aelita's work is currently on display at the Russian Academy of Fine Arts Museum in St Petersburg

Her first solo show, in Manhattan, sold all 24 pieces in seven days

She has been compared to Jackson Pollack and called a 'mini Picasso'

Aelita Andre, from Melbourne, first had her work displayed when she was 2

Before she learned how to walk or talk, Aelita Andre could paint.

The 9-year-old Australian art prodigy had her work hung on gallery walls when she was just two years old, and had her first solo exhibit show when she turned four.

Two years ago, one of Aelita's pieces was sold for $50,000.

She has been compared to Jackson Pollack and called a 'mini Picasso', but it was her father who originally inspired Aelita's drive to paint.

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This is nine-year-old Aelita Andre, an Australian child art prodigy who began painting when she was only nine months old in her Melbourne home

Aelita has been compared to Jackson Pollack and called a 'mini Picasso' and has had her work displayed in galleries and museums in New York, London, Hong Kong, China and Russia

Michael Andre, of Melbourne, pulled out a canvas on the floor and arranged some acrylic paints he planned to use when he caught Aelita's attention.

The nine-month-old began to press on the tubes as she crawled all over the canvas, laughing and yelling as she smeared colors across the white surface.

And just like that, she was hooked.

'It was really fascinating to watch this creative process unfold in front of me,' Andre told ABC News.

'When I got up and looked at this square canvas, I kind of switched my whole perception of what she had done, from a child dabbling in paints to actually admiring the completed work.'

Like most parents, Andre and his wife Nikka Kalashnikova adored their daughter's works of art.

'I thought this is probably all in my imagination,' Kalashnikova recalled thinking as she stood in awe of her daughter's talents. 'And of course, I'm biased because I'm her mother.'

But Kalashnikova, a photographer, decided to take one of Aelita's paintings to a gallery where her own work had appeared in the past to get an objective opinion.

Aelita was first inspired to paint when her father Michael Andre put a blank canvas on the family room floor and set up his acrylic paints. She crawled over and was immediately hooked

Aelita describes her style as a 'magic, abstract universe' that is neither 'normal or usual'

She finds inspiration from animals, documentary films and the cosmos, and then creates in her studio - which she calls 'Aelita's magical world'

She showed it to curator Mark Jamieson, telling him it was done by a 'female artist' and leaving out the small detail of her age.

'After all, you never walk into a gallery and say, this artist is 24 or this one is 84,' Kalashnikova told The Atlantic.

'I wanted Aelita's work judged on its own merits.'

Jamieson was instantly impressed, and decided to include some of Aelita's work in an upcoming exhibition at the Melbourne gallery.

Kalashnikova would eventually come clean about her daughter's age but Jamieson didn't care and, the family soon realized, neither did the art world.

Aelita's first solo exhibition, dubbed the Prodigy of Color, was displayed for three weeks at the Agora Valley in the upscale Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

All 24 paintings featured in the show sold out in seven days, for prices ranging between $4,000 and $10,000.

Since then, Aelita's work has hung on the walls of galleries in London, Italy, Hong Kong and China.

Her latest show, called 'Music of the Infinite', is in her mother's native Russia at the famous Russian Academy of Fine Arts Museum in St Petersburg.

Despite the impressive figures and esteemed galleries, Aelita admits she gets sad when she has to say goodbye to one of her paintings.

Her latest show, called 'Music of the Infinite', is in her mother's native Russia at the famous Russian Academy of Fine Arts Museum in St Petersburg

Aelita's first solo exhibition, dubbed the Prodigy of Color, was displayed for three weeks at the Agora Valley in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. She was four years old

'If you think of the work as a living creature, it probably wants to be with all its friends in my own world,' she said. 'That's why I'm a bit upset when the works get sold.'

But when she is painting, the only thing Aelita feels is happiness.

'When I do my paintings, I just feel free,' she told News.com.au. 'I don't feel locked up in a tiny world.'

'I just feel free and wonderful and I can just express my feelings.'

'I don't have any plan. The moment before I put a drop on the canvas I just say I'm going to make a beautiful abstract work of the universe today.'

Aelita describes her style as a 'magic, abstract universe' that she sees as neither normal or usual.

'It doesn't sit in one tiny sphere in all realism,' she explains. 'It goes out and it explores the world.'

She finds inspiration from animals, documentary films and the cosmos, and then creates in her studio - which she calls 'Aelita's magical world'.

Aelita says her fame makes her feel special and that she is happy to be known around the world for her art.

Some critics have told Aelita that she is too young, that she can be a painter when she's older, but she doesn't see the point in waiting to do what she loves.

'I want to paint for the rest of my life,' she said. 'I never want to stop painting.'
M&M Productions USA was named the Preferred Vendor of the Year by the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association (TnHTA) at the organizations Stars of the Industry award ceremony in Chattanooga.

This award is a testament to the hard work and exceptional client service that the M&M Production USA provides to every client, sad M&M Productions USA President Mike Brown. Our team prides itself on customizing our services to meet the individual needs of every client and event. We are honored for those efforts to be recognized by our peers and clients in the states hospitality industry.



The Preferred Vendor of the Year award is presented annually in recognition of companies that provide products and services which allow hotels, restaurants and tourism entities in Tennessee to grow and thrive.



Hospitality and tourism make up the states second largest industry, said TnHTA President and CEO Greg Adkins. The individuals and companies we honor with these awards are the driving force behind that success. They provide the top-notch guest service that keeps people coming back to Tennessee.



The winners were selected to receive these honors by people who truly understand the level of commitment that is required to provide excellent service to customers on a daily basis  their peers.



M&M Productions USA, a national company headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tn., was nominated for the award by Mary Bogert, general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center. M&M Productions USA has been the in-house audiovisual provider at the Knoxville Convention Center, one of its venue contract clients, since 2012.



Having M&M Productions USA on-site makes our events more successful, Ms. Bogert said.



Their expertise and full-service approach in audiovisual technology, lighting, staging, special effects and overall production enhance our clients events. I congratulate them on this well-deserved honor.

M&M Productions USA provides lighting, audiovisual services, scripting, broadcast services and event coordination to high profile clients, events, conferences and conventions in Tennessee and across the country. M&M Productions USA boasts the largest and most advanced equipment inventory in the region. In 2016, the company produced events for President Obama and the White House Communications Agency, as well as campaign events for 2016 presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.


American soldiers and their Iraqi allies battling Islamic State gunmen could be subjected to a chemical weapons attack launched by the jihadist organization.

A Pentagon spokesperson said on Monday that the US believes ISIS is 'dead set' on using chemical agents in anticipation of a renewed Iraqi push to reconquer the town of Mosul, Reuters reported.

The American assessment came in response to a rocket launched by ISIS that landed near a US airbase last week.

The shell appeared to have traces of a mustard agent, although lab results are inconclusive.

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A flag of the Islamic State is seen in Falluja, Iraq. The jihadist group is preparing for a US-Iraqi counteroffensive aimed at retaking the northwestern town of Mosul

There were no casualties in the attack, the Pentagon said.

Jihadists fired the rocket at an airfield in the northern Iraqi town of Qayyarah where several hundred US troops and Iraqi partners were working.

Although nobody was injured in the blast, soldiers who handled fragments contaminated by the toxic gas had to be sanitized.

Earlier this past summer, the Daily Mail uncovered the first shocking evidence that ISIS is using mustard gas on the front line in Iraq.

Troops fighting against the terror group have been left with appalling injuries  including agonising blisters on their skin and badly damaged lungs  in a frightening echo of warfare in the trenches on the Western Front during the First World War.

Without any regard for the international ban on the chemical weapon, ISIS has used the lethal gas repeatedly against Kurdish forces who are battling to drive out the jihadis.

American soldiers at Camp New York in Kuwait simulate an emergency response to a chemical weapons attack. The US says it is convinced ISIS will try to deploy chemical agents

The terror group  which has killed hundreds of victims in repeated attacks in France and against other targets in the West  is fighting a last-ditch battle to hold on to the dwindling area it controls in Iraq and Syria.

Nearly 100 Kurdish soldiers have been injured in mustard gas attacks, which are now taking place as often as twice a week, according to doctors speaking publicly for the first time.

'We fully recognize this is something that ISIL has done before,' Navy Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesperson, said on Monday.

'They've done it many times, at least a couple dozen that we know of where they have launched crude makeshift munitions that are filled with this mustard agent.'

On Friday, coalition forces bombed an ISIS chemical weapons plant near the Iraqi town of Qayyara. It was the second time that US-led forces have targeted a chemical arms factory.

The US believes that any chemical agents manufactured by ISIS would pose a minor threat.

'It's not generally in a lethal concentration. It's more of an irritant than anything else, but again, not something we view as militarily significant,' Davis said.

Mustard gas was used in high quantities during World War I. A weapon favored by Germany, it was deployed against British and French soldiers during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Mustard gas was used in high quantities during World War I. A weapon favored by Germany, it was deployed against British and French soldiers during the Third Battle of Ypres

When used on humans, mustard gas can cause blistered skin, sore eyes, and vomiting.

If ingested, it can lead to internal bleeding and can target the bronchial tubes.

In some cases, it took troops exposed to mustard gas up to five weeks before they died.

While ISIS has a long way to go before they could ever hope to produce the high-quality level of mustard gas that was used during that conflict, the US says it still needs to be prepared.

'We recognize this is real. They're dead set on it. They would love to be able to use chemical weapons against us, against the Iraqis as they move forward,' Davis said. 'We are making every effort to make sure that we're ready for it.'
Anne Darwin feared her sons would never forgive her

Anne Darwin shocked the nation when she helped her husband fake his death so they could cash in on his life insurance. Now, she is telling all in a new book. Here, in the final part of our fascinating series, she describes the trauma of facing her deceived sons in court  and how grateful she is that they slowly built bridges to mend their relationship...

Spending a night in a police cell is a frightening experience. When you have no idea what the future holds, wondering just how many more similar nights lie ahead consumes your mind.

Would anyone ever forgive me? My sons had put out a statement through Cleveland Police saying that if the claims were true, they wanted nothing further to do with either John or me.

I had always warned my husband that wed both end up behind bars, but I never really thought it would actually come to this. I was about to pay the harshest possible price for my utter stupidity and blind loyalty to a man who didnt deserve it.

After a second night in a police cell and a day of intense questioning by two detectives, I received the news Id been dreading. When the days interviews were over, I would be going to prison.

Anne attends her son Anthony's (left) wedding in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in September 2003

Brothers Mark (front) and Anthony (rear) leave Teeside Crown Court in Middlesbrough during their parents court case

That afternoon, Tuesday, December 11, 2007, my shame was complete as I was led out of Hartlepool police station in handcuffs, locked in an individual cell in the back of a prison van and driven the 45 minutes to HMP Low Newton, a few miles outside Durham city centre.

My new home was to be a maximum security all-female Category A prison, housing notorious murderers and violent offenders  among them Rosemary West and the mother of Baby P, Tracey Connelly. Before all this Id never been in trouble with the police. In fact, Id only ever had one parking ticket in my whole life.

But John had worked as a prison officer and Id heard stories of the sort of awful things that went on inside. Would I be attacked? How could I keep myself safe?

As the prison gates and the outside world closed behind us, I was led into the jails reception area and strip searched. I was no longer Anne Darwin: mother, friendly neighbour, pillar of the community, doctors receptionist. I was Prisoner KP4801.

That evening a huge cheer went up when I walked into the main dining room. Only days later did I discover that it was the prisoners way of welcoming a notorious or high-profile inmate. All the women there had read about me and my story in the newspapers, and were desperate to quiz me on every last detail.

I remember nothing about that meal, nor even if I ate anything. Shortly before 7pm we made our way back to our cells for lock-up, where wed remain until eight oclock the following morning. And thus my prison life began.

Given the vast amount of evidence the police had, I had assumed that pleading guilty and taking whatever punishment came my way was the only option.

So I was taken aback when my lawyers told me there was one possible defence to the charges I was facing, and that was marital coercion. It was so rarely used that there had only been about five reported cases in the last 100 years, they said.

Basically, it involved proving that my wishes had been overridden to such an extent by my husband that he had had total control over my actions. It was far from certain to succeed, they warned, but if it did I would walk free.

John and Anne Darwin with agent Mario in Panama in July 2006, when everyone thought he was dead

The downside  which was considerable  was that there would be a very public trial, played out in front of my family and the world.

So my choice was this: plead guilty and face a certain prison sentence of up to three years; or plead not guilty, using marital coercion as a defence, and have a glimmer of hope of being freed.

If, however, I was found guilty, the sentence was likely to be much longer: possibly up to four and a half years.

It was a horrible decision to have to make, and for weeks my mind was all over the place as I went over and over the pros and cons.

At that stage, I hadnt even considered that my children would be called by the prosecution to give evidence against me.

That this later happened would turn out to be one of the most truly horrendous experiences of my life. I will never, ever forgive myself for making my sons give evidence against their own mother in court. It is a decision I bitterly regret.

Towards the end of February, a prison officer came to my cell and handed me a page from a newspaper. I knew it could only be bad news, as indeed it was. There, in front of me, was a huge picture of John, and a photograph of a letter hed written on prison paper to another woman  presumably some sort of pen pal.

Anne arriving at Manchester Airport, where she was arrested by Cleveland Police after their cover was blown

What really shocked me was the sexual content of the letter. It was disgusting, to say the least. I knew how important sex was to John and how frustrated he must be by now, but there was absolutely no excuse for the filth he came out with.

I went back to my cell and quietly sobbed. I felt absolutely devastated, and wondered what the poor boys would make of their own father, whom they had always adored and admired, writing such obscene material.

And I worried about whether the letter would appear on TV and have an effect on my trial. Would this nightmare ever end?

The following day was Mothers Day. How lovely it would have been to receive a card from Mark and Anthony, from whom I had heard not a word since the story of our lies and double life had broken. But of course there was nothing. I could only hope that I would briefly enter their thoughts. They were in mine every day.

Three weeks or so later, John and I appeared at Leeds Crown Court to enter our pleas.

We stood side by side as the charges were read out, and we were asked in turn for our response.

Anne arriving at Manchester Airport, where she was arrested by Cleveland Police after their cover was blown

John said Guilty while I, having had a last long talk with my lawyers, pleaded Not Guilty. If John was surprised, he didnt say anything, and we were driven back to our respective prisons.

On July 14, 2008, at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesbrough, using the defence of marital coercion, I denied nine charges of money laundering and nine of deception. John, for once in his life having taken the sensible option, had already admitted seven charges of obtaining cash by deception and a separate passport offence. Nine charges of using criminal property were allowed to lie on file.

As the trial started and the whole sorry saga of our greed, deception and lies was outlined in graphic detail, what little faith I had in my case quickly dissipated.

In truth, I dont think my defence ever stood a chance. There was plenty of evidence to prove that John had not even been in the same country as me when some aspects of the crime were committed, so there was no way he could have been at my side coercing me.

And the prosecution also produced a string of loving emails between us, undermining any possibility that he was being overbearing or bullying. There was no way of proving that I wasnt totally committed to John and the fraud.

Day after day the judge and jury listened as I wriggled and squirmed and the prosecution described how I was prepared to lie, lie, then lie again in a bid to evade justice  which, painful as it is to admit it, had been entirely true.

I hadnt seen the boys since I had moved to Panama the previous October and, despite the appalling circumstances, I was desperate for a sight of them. After all, they were my sons and I loved them both dearly.

John and Anne Darwin with thier sons Mark and Anthony

Mark, dressed in a dark blue suit, was first into the witness box but not once did he look in my direction.

I couldnt believe the fact she knew he was alive all this time, and that I had been lied to for God knows how long, he said, as I hung my head in shame. It crushed my world.

It was only as he was leaving the box that, for a fleeting second, our eyes met, and I was totally shocked at how dark and full of anger they were. Im not quite sure why I thought it would possibly be otherwise, but it jolted me dreadfully.

Then came Anthony, who said that after the picture of John and me with the estate agent in Panama came to light, he thought it was faked and must have been doctored by an internet prankster. It was only after he read my newspaper confession that he realised he had been so cruelly duped. With Anthony, there was no eye contact at all. I didnt know which was worse: angry eyes, or no eyes at all.

Nine days after the start of my trial, I was led back into the courtroom to hear the jury foreman pronounce the verdict: that I was guilty on each and every count.

I knew the sentences would be tough, but I could never have expected for a moment quite how severe they would be. John would serve six years and three months, while I, who had tried to shift all the blame onto him, would be in prison for six years and six months.

I felt numb as I listened to the judges comments. The duration of the offending, and in particular the grief inflicted over the years to those who, in truth, were the real victims, your own sons, whose lives you crushed, make this a case which merits a particularly severe sentence, he said.

My sons probably thought we got what we deserved, and I couldnt blame them. I was sure now that they would never speak to me again.

On the advice of our lawyers, we both appealed against the length of our sentences. What we did not know, until much later, was that Mark had already written to the Court of Appeal on our behalf, asking for leniency.

I was astonished when my legal team told me. After everything we had put him through, it was such an incredibly generous thing to do.

I wrote immediately to thank him and, although I heard nothing back, it did at least give me some hope. Maybe everything wasnt quite lost.

Mark Darwin (red top) and Anthony Darwin on the beach where their father went 'missing'

And then, thank God, Mark wrote to me. His letter arrived on August 14 and I had to keep re-reading his words to make sure I wasnt imagining them. My many tearful prayers had been answered.

It was only a short letter, but he asked if he could visit the following month. I lay awake at night wondering whether he would come alone or bring his girlfriend Flick with him  and whether or not he would show any forgiveness.

As soon as I saw my son and Flick walk into the visiting room, I burst into tears. They both had tears in their eyes, too, as Mark, perhaps a little frostily, said: Hello, Mum.

After about ten minutes, and after a lot more crying, he said: Weve got something to tell you, and he broke the wonderful news that they were getting married. I was thrilled for them, although of course I would not, through my own utter stupidity, be able to be a part of it.

When it was time to go, we all hugged, which we hadnt done when they arrived, and Mark promised to stay in touch. To have him talking to me again was more than I could ever have wished for.

A week later I received a short letter from Anthony. It didnt say a great deal, just that he and his wife Louise were fine, and that he hoped I was coping. But it was the breakthrough I had been praying for, and I clutched it close to my heart. Words could not describe how happy I was to be included, in some small way, in both my sons lives again.

But Christmas came and went, and as the weeks passed I grew upset at not hearing any more from Mark or Anthony. They had both given me a ray of hope but now that seemed to have disappeared. I knew they were busy trying to rebuild their lives and wondered if theyd changed their minds about being in contact with me.

If only I knew that for sure, I thought, I wouldnt have to spend every day praying for letters that would never arrive. It was agony not knowing and it was eating away at me.

Many days, I felt like crying all the time. When I woke up, my pillow was often damp from my tears.

The beach in Seaton Carew where John Darwin went missing, feared dead by authorities

Then Shrove Tuesday arrived with some wonderful news: a letter from Mark saying he was coming to visit the following month.

He arrived smiling and relaxed. He proudly showed me his wedding ring, and said getting married was the best thing he and Flick had done. They were buying a new house, and Anthony and Louise were moving too.

He also said that John and I had both been good parents  obviously not taking the last few years into account. I told him I took enormous comfort from that.

Less than a fortnight later, Flick wrote me a lovely letter, and said that if I wanted to correspond with Anthony and Louise I would have to send my letters via her and Mark, at least for the time being.

I knew I had to be patient, and at least he hadnt completely cut me out of his life.

In May 2010, Anthony made his first visit to see me. It was the first time Id seen him and Louise in more than two years  since the horror and humiliation of my trial.

It was a very emotional visit. They were both clearly still very angry and wanted to know why we had caused so much pain. All I could do was to say how sorry I was. I didnt have a suitable explanation.

It was then I learned that theyd had a baby, my first grandchild.

I will never forget the question asked by Louise: How could you do this to your sons? As a mother, surely, you want to do everything you can to protect your children?

I was so overcome with shame and emotion, I couldnt speak.

A few months later, after Id been transferred to an open prison, I got some wonderful news. Anthony wrote saying hed like to visit me again and take me out for the day.

I was thrilled. As I walked out to meet him, my heart suddenly missed a beat. There, standing by the car, was Louise  and she was holding my grandson.

It was such an overwhelming moment I burst into tears. Louise came over and passed the baby to me, and I cradled my first grandchild in my arms. It was the most wonderful moment imaginable.

It was having tasted this new-found freedom that I finally plucked up the courage, in November 2010, to tell John what I should have told him years earlier: that our 37-year marriage was over.

Id served two-and-a-half years in prison and I now knew that Id be detained until 9 March 2011. That would mark the end of my custodial sentence. The remaining 1,186 days would be served on the outside, on licence, but under close supervision from the Probation Service.

My husband was angry and belligerent, telling me not to be daft and that we could work things out.

No, John, youre not listening, I told him. I dont want to be with you when I get out of here. Its over.

Id known him since I was 11 years old, but now, after years of doing his bidding, I had to make a fresh start on my own.

John Darwin, the back-from-the-dead canoeist, leaves Hartlepool Magistrates court after police were given another 36 hours for further questioning

Through my lawyers, I continued to co-operate with Cleveland Polices asset-recovery team. All the money from the Panama bank accounts was in the process of, or had been returned to, the UK.

The flat in Panama City was in the process of being sold; and the land, really nothing more than nearly 500 acres of uninhabitable jungle, was up for sale, although there wasnt exactly a rush of get-rich-quick investors queuing to buy it. I suppose the likes of the pipe-dreaming Darwins didnt come along every day of the week.

My marriage to John was ended on January 11, 2012, the day the decree absolute was declared. I have never heard from him again. He is now married to a Filipina girl and living in the Philippines.

Home for me now is a small but comfortable flat in a pretty village just a few miles from York. If my neighbours know about my past, they are kind enough not to say.

I work five days a week for the RSPCA, having first started as a volunteer while in open prison. The people at work know about my background, obviously, but they have accepted me for who I am now and not who I was.

Im sure many people will wonder whether I really deserve a second chance. My sons decided I did, and to me thats the only thing that matters. It means everything to me to be part of their lives once more, and to be able to know and love my four grandchildren.

Over the past decade, I have learned so much: above all, that while I need my family, I dont need a husband. I know how obvious it will sound to some, but it took me 37 years of marriage and a six-and-a-half-year jail sentence to discover this.

It was only after I hit rock bottom that I managed to turn my life around. But if I can do it, I believe anyone can.

Anne Darwin will donate proceeds from the book to the RNLI and the RSPCA.
Double agent: Garbo with hot-headed wife Araceli in Spain, 1940

He was the most successful double agent of the Second World War, running a network of fictional spies who helped pull off D-Day.

But Agent Garbo, the colourful Spaniard at the centre of Operation Double Cross, had more important things to worry about than the Nazis.

His 'highly emotional and temperamental' wife nearly derailed D-Day after threatening to unmask him when he refused to let her go to a party at the Spanish Embassy.

She even left the gas taps on in an apparent suicide attempt because she was homesick, according to secret service files released by the National Archives at Kew.

Garbo, whose real name was Juan Pujol Garcia, almost single-handedly ran a network of fictional spies who fed the Germans false information. Once he had earned their trust, he sent misleading intelligence in the run-up to D-Day that convinced the Nazis to deploy troops away from real landing sites. The elaborate deception was conducted from his semi-detached home in Hendon, north west London.

His ploy saved countless Allied lives and helped set the Germans back months. But the newly-declassified files reveal that while his spying ruse went without a hitch, he struggled to keep his domestic situation under control.

In one row, his wife Araceli told her husband's MI5 handler in 1943: 'I am telling you for the last time that if at this time tomorrow you haven't got me my papers all ready for me to leave the country immediately  because I don't want to live five minutes longer with my husband  I will go to the Spanish Embassy.

'I know very well what to do and say to annoy you and my husband I shall have the satisfaction that I have spoilt everything. Do you understand? I don't want to live another day in England.'

Juan Pujol Garcia (Garbo) reunited with his children in 1984; after the war he lost contact with them for nearly 40 years

The security service was so concerned that it ordered a watch on the embassy with orders to detain her if she appeared. In a report, Garbo's case-handler Tomas Harris noted: 'Mrs Garbo has never managed to adapt herself to the English way of living, neither has she been able to learn the language. Her desire to return to her country, and in particular to see her mother, has driven her to behave at times as if she were unbalanced.'

Harris concocted a plan worthy of any Bond film to prevent her from blowing her husband's cover. But it was not elaborate enough for Garbo, who thought up his own 'drastic' strategy which his handler later referred to as a 'masterpiece'.

Satisfaction that I spoilt everything

He left his wife a note saying he had been arrested.

This triggered a 'hysterical outburst' and she phoned Mr Harris, who reported: 'She was in tears when she got through and pleaded that her husband had always been loyal to the country and would willingly sacrifice his life for our cause.' She summoned another MI5 officer to her home where he discovered her in her kitchen with the gas taps on in an apparent suicide attempt.

Mr Harris sent over his own wife to comfort her, but when this had no effect, she was taken blindfolded to see Garbo in an MI5 camp, where he was unshaven and dressed in prisoner gear, which worked. 'Weeping hysterically', she signed a statement swearing that she would never tell the Germans her husband was a double agent.

Agent Garbo almost single-handedly ran a network of fictional spies who fed the Germans false information. Pictured the events of D-Day in The Longest Day (1962)

But she was then brought before MI5's legal adviser, Major Edward Cussen, who 'reminded her that if her name was ever mentioned to him again, he would simply direct that she should be locked up.' Mr Harris later wrote in praise: 'The extraordinary ingenuity with which he has conceived and carried through this plan has perhaps saved a situation which might otherwise have been intolerable.'

Incredibly, Garbo was repeatedly turned away by MI5 when he offered to assist the war effort and so set himself up as a double agent offering to spy for the Germans.

When the intelligence service realised the incredible feat he had pulled off, they enthusiastically adopted him.

He went on to become arguably Britain's most successful spy of the entire Second World War.

'Garbo' plot to doublecross Stalin

MI5 planned to deploy Garbo against Stalin's Russia after he foiled the Nazis on D-Day, the previously secret files reveal.

The double agent had convinced his German spymasters to deploy troops in the Pas de Calais, away from actual landing sites in Normandy.

As the war drew to a close, MI5 began to think of new ways to use him, the records show.

In May 1945, Garbo's case officer Tomas Harris laid the ground for Russian intelligence to recruit the double agent. MI5 ordered Garbo to return to Spain and write anonymously to the Soviet military attache in London revealing his work as a British agent.

New files: MI5 planned to deploy Garbo against Stalin's (pictured) Russia

He was to tell them that he had become disillusioned and wanted to work for the Russians after Spanish dictator General Franco remained in post following the Allied victory. 'He will say that having fulfilled his part of the bargain with the British, it was now apparent that the latter were not only avoiding steps which might bring about Franco's overthrow but were apparently maintaining him in Spain,' Mr Harris wrote.

The letter was intended to pave the way for another approach years later so Garbo could become a Russian double agent. Mr Harris said that the scheme could be successful if the Russians grew to trust Garbo as the Nazis had.

'If the information which we would be imparting to the Russians as envisaged in the first phase of the this plan were instrumental in creating a high grade Russian double agent who at the same time might continue to operate as a German double agent, the possibilities of valuable work being achieved would be considerable,' he wrote. Another plan was to use him to lure remaining Nazis into contacting him and making him part of any underground network.

'Contrary to expectations both the plan and Garbo remained undiscovered by the Germans and Garbo's prestige increased in German eyes,' Mr Harris continued.

In a separate report, Sir John Cecil Masterman, who ran the Double Cross system, wrote: 'If Germany collapsed or partially collapsed, an effort might well be made to maintain some sort of secret intelligence service, even if this were of a clandestine nature.
Federal authorities have arrested and charged the grandmother of a 2-year-old boy who was allegedly killed by his mother due to potty-training issues in South Dakota.

Authorities say 28-year-old Katrina Shangreaux murdered her son, Kylen, after he had an accident while potty training at his grandmother's house in Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

She has pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse in the death of her son on July 28.

Her mother, Sonya Dubray, 47, is accused of hindering the investigation by altering or destroying evidence and giving false and misleading information to investigators, court documents show.

Federal authorities have arrested and charged Sonya Dubray (left), 47, the grandmother of a 2-year-old boy who was allegedly killed by Katrina Shangreaux (right), his mother due to potty-training issues in South Dakota

Authorities say 28-year-old Katrina Shangreaux murdered her son, Kylen (above), after he had an accident while potty training at his grandmother's house on July 28

She allegedly laundered the dead boy's clothes, cleaned the crime scene, misled investigators about alleged abuse against the boy and falsely told a Bureau of Indian Affairs special agent that the child was potty-trained.

'Potty training was the catalyst for the child abuse and (Dubray) knew the statement and representation was false,' prosecutors said in court documents.

Dubray faces charges, including accessory to murder and tampering with evidence, and could face up to 43 years in prison if convicted.

She was arrested Monday and is due to make her initial appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rapid City.

Federal Public Defender Neil Fulton on Tuesday told The Associated Press that he was still getting up to speed on the case and declined immediate comment.

FBI Special Agent Mark Lucas said in an affidavit that Kylen (above) had bruises, bite marks, a torn scrotum and other injuries, and evidence suggests a potty-training issue triggered the killing

Prosecutors said in court documents; 'Potty training was the catalyst for the child abuse and (Dubray) knew the statement and representation was false.' Kylen is pictured above with his aunt

The boy was in his mother's custody and living at his grandmother's home in Porcupine when he died.

He had bruises, bite marks, a torn scrotum and other injuries, and evidence suggests a potty-training issue triggered the killing, FBI Special Agent Mark Lucas said in an affidavit.

FBI agents said the boy's mother hit him in the head and stomach with her feet and fists until he suffered intracranial bleeding and died, the Rapid City Journal reported.

Shangreaux's trial was recently delayed from early October to early December to give her defense more time to prepare. She faces life in prison if convicted.

The toddler's family members and their supporters praised the news of charges against Shangreaux and Dubray in a post shared on the Facebook page titled Justice for Kylen on Tuesday.

The boy was the half-brother of a 1-year-old boy who authorities say was slain in April 2015 by James Shangreaux Sr. (pictured together above), the father of the two boys

He has pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse and faces a mid-January trial. Katrina Shangreaux (above with James) has pleaded not guilty to murder and child abuse in the death of their son Kylen

'Justice is coming down. ALL of the people responsible for contributing to this sweet soul's demise will be held accountable,' the group's Facebook post said.

'As painful as it is, do not turn your back on evil because it must be brought to light for change to happen.'

They started a Change.org petition urging lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent more deaths like Kylen's in the future.

The petition for 'Kylen's Law' has received over 1,600 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

The boy was the half-brother of a 1-year-old boy who authorities say was slain in April 2015 by the father of the two boys.
Labour voted to phase out all grammar schools last night as part of an all-out attack on selection.

Delegates voted in favour of a motion by a group called the Socialist Educational Association to establish a wholly comprehensive system in all areas of England.

The plan  which is now official party policy  would lead to the abolition of grammars in those parts of the country which have a selective system, such as Kent.

The latest lurch to the left sparked outrage last night, with one Tory MP saying it was an example of hypocritical Labour politicians pulling up the ladder despite having benefited from a selective education themselves.

Jeremy Corbyn himself went to Adams Grammar School in Shropshire, and Diane Abbott sent her son to the selective City of London School.

Labour voted to phase out all grammar schools last night as part of an all-out attack on selection

The latest lurch to the left sparked outrage last night, with one Tory MP saying it was an example of hypocritical Labour politicians pulling up the ladder despite having benefited from a selective education themselves. Jeremy Corbyn himself went to Adams Grammar School in Shropshire, and Diane Abbott sent her son to the selective City of London School

Theresa May said earlier this month that she would end the ban on the establishment of new grammars  a proposal opposed by Labour.

But the new motion, passed at the party conference in Liverpool, goes much further by than previous party policy by foreseeing the complete end to selection across the country.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said she would oppose selection  which she called segregation  in the Commons with every breath in my body.

She said: Tony Blair talked about education, education, education.

'Theresa May wants segregation, segregation, segregation.

Among those demanding an end to selection was a former grammar school boy who went from a single parent household to become a successful City lawyer.

Martin Bailey risked allegations of hypocrisy after telling the conference: Social mobility worked for me  but no we do not need new grammar schools.

He admitted he should be a poster boy for the grammar school movement, having grown up in the most deprived part of Birmingham and prospering at his state selective school.

Last night Andrew Bridgen, a Tory MP, said: Im a comprehensive boy myself but the upper echelons of the Labour elite are riddled with grammar school and privately-educated individuals.

Its a case of pulling up the ladder behind them.

'Labour believe comprehensive education is for the masses but not for the likes of them  as Diane Abbott proves.

The Labour motion states: Conference therefore commits the Labour Party to opposing any expansion to selective education and also to the establishment in all areas of a genuinely comprehensive and inclusive secondary education system that provides for all children according to their needs as well as ensuring a greater voice for councillors, parents and professionals.

Sarah Williams, from the Socialist Educational Association, proposed the motion, saying: Poor children dont need a grammar school place  what they need is to stop being poor.

Addressing delegates, Ms Rayner said: If Theresa May is talking about meritocracy, let me tell her that every child has merit.

That is why I will fight, with every breath in my body, against her new grammar schools.

'She has produced no evidence that grammar schools help social mobility.

'Selection  or segregation as it should be called  entrenches division and increases inequality.

Theresa May said earlier this month that she would end the ban on the establishment of new grammars  a proposal opposed by Labour

Mr Bailey told delegates that he had been to a grammar school despite being born in the top two per cent deprived area in Birmingham.

Social mobility worked for me  but no we do not need new grammar schools, he said.

It has taken me a long time to come to this conclusion; I am not ashamed to admit.

Like Theresa May, I went to a grammar school.

'On paper, I should be a poster child for the grammar school movement.

Born in a statistically very deprived neighbourhood, a black boy from a single parent household, yet here I am today a Russell Group law graduate working in the City of London.

Mr Bailey, who now lives in the south London borough of Vauxhall, said that he sat the 11-plus at four different schools in Birmingham.

He pointed out that at the grammar he attended, Handsworth, 80 per cent of the students are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Some 28 per cent are on free school meals  in line with the national average.

I wondered how anyone could argue they are a bad thing, he said.

I looked at my friends, the boys at the my school and the girls and the girls school, we were all doing well.

'We all went to university, we all had good careers.

Grammar school gave us choices.

'I absolutely loved my time there: Im not going to pretend that I didnt.

But Ive realised as I get older Ive looked at friends and family members who struggled, who didnt pass the 11-plus, who didnt take the test and I realised there is a problem here.

Mr Bailey said that although there were many poor children in Birminghams grammar schools, they are overrepresented by those from wealthy backgrounds and those who could have afforded to have gone private.

For the few from areas like mine, grammar schools worked, he said.

But for most of my neighbourhood, they didnt.

'They take away precious resources from comprehensives.
A woman in Guangzhou, China, was devastated to find her son was born with an eye condition which means he has little or no eye tissue.

The condition Anophthalmia affects one in every 100,000 children, according to NHS, and it means that the boy will never be able to see.

The child's mother, named Liu Peihua, gave birth on September 20 and is now talking with specialists at a larger hospital in Guangzhou to get a thorough examination of the baby, reports the People's Daily Online.

Tragic: The child was born on September 20 with a rare condition meaning he has no eyes

Heart-broken: His mother, Liu Peihua, was devastated when she learned about the news

Unable to see: The boy's family say their son cries and swings his hands like any other child

The story has been reported by mainstream Chinese media and the boy has been dubbed 'the baby with no eyes'.

Liu Peihua's family say Liu attended every antenatal check and was not informed with any unusual results.

Anophtalmia cannot be spotted in ultrasounds and conventional tests during pregnancy.

The child's family are now receiving help from a larger hospital in Guangzhou to get a better examination of the child and to check if there are any other health issues, reports CRI.

They also hope to get help from a number of charities to help plan for their son's future.

Sad: The boy was born with Anophthalmia which means he has little or no eye tissue

The child's family is now receiving help from a hospital in Guangzhou for further treatment

They say their son is like any other baby, crying loudly for milk and swinging his hands.

The boy's mother says she was devastated when she learned about her son's condition, but she is determined to bring him up despite the obstacles the family might face in the years to come.

There is no current treatment for Anophthalmia although some children have artificial eyes fitted to help the bones around the eyes grow naturally.
This is the bizarre moment a drunk driver in China asked a police officer to take better pictures of her so she could look prettier.

The woman was pulled over on September 21 just before midnight by police officers in Changji, China, reports the People's Daily Online.

When police took her photo, she asked them to use a beauty app to catch her most beautiful side.

Bizarre: Xu posed for the photo and asked officers to use an app to make her look pretty

The woman was pulled over on September 21 for a licence check however the woman surnamed Xu said she did not bring a driver's licence.

Police from Changji City Public Security Bureau Traffic Police told Xu that she needed to carry her licence and therefore violated the road traffic safety law.

She started to try and flirt with officers leading to police to question whether she had been drinking.

Xu agreed to take the test however she kept blowing too short.

Officers threatened her with a blood test and eventually the woman took the alcohol test proving that she was over the limit.

When police took her picture, Xu put on a smile and made a pose before asking the officer to use a beauty enhancing app to make her look pretty.

Police took her for a further blood test and say they are investigating the case further.
This is the terrifying moment tourists are knocked off their feet by a gigantic wave as they gathered to watch the tidal bore in China.

Hundreds of people were gathered on the banks of the Qiantang River in China's Zhejiang province when the monster wave struck, reports the People's Daily Online.

Footage shows tourists suddenly realising that the wave is too big and running for cover.

Run for your life! Upon seeing the giant wave approaching, people start to run for cover

Hold on! The people who hadn't run for cover were left completely engulfed by the wave

Powerful: The wave crashes into the barrier sweeping away objects such as a motorbike

Footage from the incident shows tourists watching as the bore starts to appear.

Suddenly they realise the waves are too big with some running for cover.

Others remain oblivious as the wave crashes against the barrier and completely coats the remaining tourists, almost sweeping them away.

A motorbike can be seen being swept along the path by the force of the tide.

Forceful: Spectators were left completely covered by the powerful wave

Run quick! The giant wave engulfed those watching and dragged objects downstream

Surprise! Spectators take a look at the approaching wave oblivious to what comes next

Trumpet shaped mouth of the Qiantang river is thought to be the largest in the world and can generate waves of up to 11.5 feet high.

A tidal bore happens when a fast-rising tide is funneled by a river into an upstream wave.

Tidal bores can be seen in several locations around the world, including the Britain's longest river, the Severn, but the Qiantang bore is the largest.
Plans for a revolutionary hypersonic propulsion system have now taken a big step toward the construction of a ground demonstrator  but at roughly a quarter the size of the original vision.

Reaction Engines Ltd has scaled back its design for the Sabre engine to bring about a demonstrator that is more affordable and better suited to early applications, including a potential X-plane.

The Oxfordshire-based firm has been developing a turbine that combines both jet and rocket technologies to achieve rates five times the speed of sound, to fly anywhere in the world in just four hours.

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The Oxfordshire-based firm has been developing a turbine that combines both jet and rocket technologies to achieve rates five times the speed of sound, to fly anywhere in the world in just four hours

Rather than aiming for a demonstrator that can achieve more than 150,000 lb thrust, the firm will instead now target an engine size capable of roughly 44,000 lb thrust, according to Aviation Week Network.

In the new plans for the Sabre demonstrator, researchers will target a smaller engine similar in size to the F135 engine for the F-35 joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Such a system, scaled back due to the slowness of funding, could be used in multistage vehicles or hypersonic craft the size of an X-plane.

It is now more affordable, more rapid to execute and will potentially find its first application quicker, Reaction CEO Mark Thomas told Aviation Week Network.

Its a quarter of Sabre, effectively. In an application for something like Skylon, the engine would have four combustion chambers connecting to the single nozzle, a bypass system and the same turbomachinery, intake and heat exchanger.

In the new plans for the Sabre demonstrator, researchers will target a smaller engine similar in size to the F135 engine for the F-35 joint Strike Fighter (pictured)

FUTURE OF FLIGHT? HOW THE SABRE JET ENGINE WORKS A model of the revolutionary Sabre engine is pictured The revolutionary Sabre engine could allow aircraft to take off from a runway and accelerate to five times the speed of sound, before switching to a rocket mode, propelling it into orbit. The Sabre engine works by burning atmospheric air in combustion chambers. It then uses the heat to turbo-charge the engine. At the moment, rockets have to carry liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to power them and the cost of carrying this heavy fuel is expensive. The new engine creates its own liquid oxygen by cooling air entering the engine from 1,000C to minus 150C in a hundredth of a second  six times faster than the blink of an eye  without creating ice blockages. The revolutionary Sabre engine could allow aircraft to take off from a runway and accelerate to five times the speed of sound, before switching to a rocket mode, propelling it into orbit. A computer generated image of the ground demonstrator is pictured This new class of aerospace engine is designed to enable aircraft to operate from standstill on the runway to speeds of over five times the speed of sound in the atmosphere. It can then transition to a rocket mode of operation, allowing spaceflight at speeds up to orbital velocity, equivalent to 25 times the speed of sound. Advertisement

There is a view that you could modularize the engine to a far higher degree, so that you could have four compressors and still have a large heat exchanger. From this point onward you could go completely modular, so if you could demonstrate one element, then it is all about integration.

Along with a JSF-sized engine for the ground demonstrator, the firm plans to solve the power gap between air-breathing and rocket engines.

While the engine is still in the design phase, the firm plans to see three main test phases stretching into the 2020s.

Its hoped that the first test will take place within the next 12-15 months, the CEO tells AWN, with a focus on the heat exchanger and the core.

Rather than aiming for a demonstrator that can achieve more than 150,000 lb thrust, the firm will instead now target an engine size capable of roughly 44,000 lb thrust. Pictured, an artist's impression of the Lapcat A2 craft flying at Mach 5

Here, a concept of the Skylon spaceplane using the engine is shown. But now, Reaction Engines Ltd has scaled back its design for the Sabre engine to bring about a demonstrator that is more affordable and better suited to early applications, including a potential X-plane

Then, the team will move on to the integrated engine tests in 2020-2021.

The system will undergo sea-level testing, and researchers will simulate high velocity air by heating the air flow. And, they will run wind tunnel tests to assess flow conditions.

In the third phase, the firm is looking toward concepts of an X-plane or flight demonstration aircraft to put it to the test.

The core will eventually be tested in the UK, meaning Reaction will need to build a test facility with a hydrogen/air breathing preburner.

In July, it was announced that the European Space Agency has invested $11 million toward the development of the engine.

Along with this, Reaction Engines announced that it had secured over $66 million in funding from the British government, with more than $55 million from the UK Space Agency, and the ESA contribution acting as the final piece.

At the moment, rockets have to carry liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to power them and the cost of carrying this heavy fuel is expensive.

The new engine creates its own liquid oxygen by cooling air entering the engine from 1,000C to minus 150C in a hundredth of a second  six times faster than the blink of an eye  without creating ice blockages.
With temperatures soaring to over 30C in Tanzania, the extreme environmental conditions were thought to be damaging to proteins in ancient fossils.

But to their surprise, researchers on a dig found preserved fossil proteins in a 3.8 million year-old ostrich eggshell.

This suggests that proteins could provide valuable new insights into the evolutionary tree, much further back in time than was previously thought.

With temperatures reaching over 30C in Tanzania, the extreme environmental conditions were thought to be damaging to proteins in ancient fossils. But to their surprise, researchers on a dig in the area found preserved fossil proteins in a 3.8 million year-old ostrich eggshell

PROTEIN PRESERVATION The researchers speculated that proteins might survive better if they were stuck onto solid surfaces. Using computer models, they tested this theory, modelling the bindings of proteins in ostrich eggshells. Dr Beatrice Demarchi, who also worked on the study, said: 'Evidence suggested that it was the more fluid, unstable, region of the protein that promoted and regulated mineral growth in the shell, but it was also less likely to survive over time and the intense heat of the African climate. 'As we examined older and older eggshells, we could see that this assumption was surprisingly wrong, as it was in fact the unstable regions that survived the best. 'They were able to bind more strongly to the eggshell, allowing it be preserved in time.' Advertisement

Researchers from the Universities of York, Sheffield and Copenhagen analysed and tracked egg fossils from sites in both Tanzania and South Africa.

Their findings suggest that survival of protein fragments in the ancient eggshell could provide genetic information almost 50 times older than any DNA record.

They say that their results could help scientists to understand how animals and humans lived and interacted in the past, as well as how some species became extinct.

Professor Matthew Collins, who led the team, said: 'To date, DNA analysis from frozen sediments has been able to reach back to about 700,000 years ago, but human evolution left most of its traces in Africa and the higher temperature there takes its toll on DNA preservation.

'We had known for many years that proteins could give more clues into the past, but when we looked at protein decay in eggshells, it gave us unusual results when compared to other fossil materials and, until now, we have not really known why.'

The researchers speculated that proteins might survive better if they were stuck onto solid surfaces.

Using computer models, they tested this theory, modelling the bindings of proteins in ostrich eggshells.

Dr Beatrice Demarchi, who also worked on the study, said: 'Evidence suggested that it was the more fluid, unstable, region of the protein that promoted and regulated mineral growth in the shell, but it was also less likely to survive over time and the intense heat of the African climate.

Protein decay in ostrich eggshells gave very different results when compared to other fossil materials

The shell of an ostrich egg (right) is very thick and hard-wearing and so survives under many more different environmental conditions than other types of shell (stock image)

COULD OSTRICHES FLY? Birds like the emu and ostrich gave up on flight because they became fat and lazy when the dinosaurs died, according to research from the Australian National University in 2010. An abundance of food and a lack of predators following the extinction of dinosaurs saw a number of birds fatten up and simply stop bothering to take to the air. The study, led by Dr Matthew Phillips, suggests ancestors of the African ostrich, Australian emu, South American rheas and New Zealand moa became flightless around 65million years ago. This coincides with the extinction of dinosaurs. Advertisement

'As we examined older and older eggshells, we could see that this assumption was surprisingly wrong, as it was in fact the unstable regions that survived the best.

'They were able to bind more strongly to the eggshell, allowing it be preserved in time.'

Ancient ostrich eggshells can be found at a range of archaeological sites across Africa.

The shell is very thick and hard-wearing and so survives under many more different environmental conditions than other types of shell.

Dr Colin Freeman, who also worked on the research, said: 'Remarkably, the oldest eggshell in the study - from the famous 3.8 million year-old site of Laetoli in Tanzania  a region of the protein was still there, giving us a unique insight into what to look for when analysing fossils of this kind.

Ancient ostrich eggshells can be found at a range of archaeological sites across Africa. Pictured is the site in Tanzania where the 3.8 million year old egg shell was found

'Now that we know minerals can trap and preserve proteins in this way, we can be much more targeted in our study of ancient remains.'

The researchers hope that their finding will provide archaeologists with the ability to be more targeted in which fossils they study.
The Walker County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2016 Walker County Gala on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club.

The 34th Annual Walker County Gala is a black-tie event at which dinner, dancing, and networking go hand-in-hand. One resident will be honored with the Walker County Citizen of the year award.

The master of ceremonies will be Rachel Oesch Willeford.

The social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Platinum Table are $1,000 and include corporate dinner table for eight, premier seating near stage, a VIP reception, logo printed in 200 event programs, special recognition from the podium and logo included on e-news blast to 700+ mailing list. Gold Table tickets are $800 and include a corporate dinner table for eight, company listed in event program and special recognition from the podium. Individual tickets are $100.

For more information contact Glenda Jones, director of Programs and Events, by sending an email with a subject 2016 Annual Gala, to info@walkercochamber.com or visit the Chamber's website.
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With the skin on his patient's chest peeled back and their rib cage cracked open, Richard Arm reaches in and pulls out their heart.

For anyone who is even a little squeamish, it is a horrifying sight, except for one key detail - this 'patient' is actually a life-like 3D printed replica of a human being.

Carefully modelled on a real body, it has been created from a combination of silicone gels and fibres to mimic a real patient to help train surgeons.

WARNING SOME READERS MAY FIND THE PICTURES DISTURBING

Researchers have developed a life-like human body (pictured) that can be used to train surgeons to perform emergency operations. Modelled on a real person, it has silicon skin and organs that have been 3D printed using CT scans of real hearts, lungs and blood vessels

Each of its organs have been printed using CT scans of real hearts, lungs and blood vessels while the face is modelled on a real person right down to realistic stubble.

Artificial blood can be pumped into the body to recreate the blood loss that occurs when surgeons cut into a patient and to give them experience of racing against the clock before they bleed to death.

Air can be pumped into the lungs so the inflate and deflate just like the patient is breathing.

HOW THEY MADE THE BODY The researchers used CT scans to create 3D printed organs that look like the real thing. Different grades of silicone were used to give the organs textures that are more realistic. The lungs can inflate and deflate like they do in real life, giving the impression the patient is breathing. Artificial blood can also be pumped out of blood vessels to mimic blood loss during operations. The skin was made from resealable silicone so it can be cut and repaired. The face is based on a real person and has been given stubble to make it more realisistic. Advertisement

Even the chest can rise and fall as the 'patient' breathes while on the operating table.

It has been developed by Mr Arm, a research fellow at Nottingham Trent University, in an attempt to recreate the stress and feel of emergency trauma surgery for trainee doctors.

He said: 'The aim is to allow trainee surgeons the psychological space to prepare for real life surgery using immersive environments and realistic representations of human anatomy.

The lifelike body can appear gruesome but is actually made from different types of silicon and some fibres to give it structure. The organs and body parts (pictured) have been modelled so they not only look the same as the real thing but look like it too

The body can also mimic breathing, which causes the chest to rise and fall, allowing trainee medics to replicate respirating a patient (pictured)

The silicon skin can be cut, pulled back (pictured) and then resealed, allowing multiple mock-operations to be conducted. The body is designed to prepare surgeons for traumatic emergency surgery

'Surgeons can be better prepared for live surgery by improving their surgical skills and enhancing post-operative outcomes for patients.'

The 3D printed patient was created in a project between the University's school of art and design, the Ministry of Defence's Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Each of the organs has been engineered to have the same feel as the real thing, so different parts of the heart have different levels of hardness.

Researcher Richard Arm (pictured) developed the body as part of a project with the Ministry of Defence, which hopes to use the 3D printed patient to train its field surgeons

Surgeons can be taught how to perform traumatic surgery on patients in safety while also experiencing what it can be like in real life (pictured)

The outer skin  created by causality simulation firm Trauma FX  can be cut with a scalpel and then seamlessly resealed for repeated mock surgeries.

A limited supply of artificial blood can be pumped into the body to provide the experience of operating against the clock, before a fatal level of blood-loss occurs.

Tests will now be conducted on the prototype to see how it can be improved while the team also plan to create other life-like organs including the brain, eyes, stomach, liver, pancreas and kidneys.

Among the organs that were created for the body was an imitation lung (pictured) that can be inflated and deflated just like the real thing. When inside the body it causes the chest to rise and fall just like the 3D printed patient is breathing

Organs like the heart were produced with different textures so they feel like the real organ. Areas around the blood vessels feel different to other parts of the heart (pictured)

The researchers have also created replica blood vessels through which artificial blood can be pumped. The design is intended to recreate the experience of cutting into a patient and how to repair damage if a blood vessel is cut

They may also recreate the vascular system for a person's legs.

Colonel Peter Mahoney, emeritus professor of anaesthesia, at the MoD's Defence Medical Services, said it could transform how military surgeons are trained to deal with battlefield traumas.

'The ability to place clinically realistic surgical and anaesthetic training models into simulations of austere military environments is of great value to military medicine,' he said.

The 3D printed patient's face was even modelled to look like a real human, complete with stubble (pictured). It is hoped the project will improve the training of surgeons

The researchers have created a range of organs that fit inside the body (pictured) just as they would in real life, but they are hoping to produce new organs such as the brain, eyes, stomach, liver, pancreas and kidneys

'As well as providing a training platform for our surgical teams, the thoracic trauma trainer will be of benefit to our prehospital Medical Emergency Response Teams.'

The MoD is expected to take delivery of two of these silicon 'patients' in 2017 to begin training their staff on them.
While violent behaviour is known to be common in certain animals, including humans, in others it is virtually unknown.

Until now, the reasons why, have remained a mystery.

But a new study suggests that lethal violence is likely to have been inherited by humans from primates during the course of evolution.

While violent behaviour is known to be common in certain animals, such as humans, in others it is virtually unknown. A new study suggests that lethal violence is likely to have been inherited by humans from primates during the course of evolution

HOW VIOLENT TRAITS EVOLVED To understand how violent traits evolved, the researchers compiled data from over four million deaths across 1,024 mammal species, and in about 600 human populations over the last 50,000 years. Using the values from modern species, the authors reconstructed the rate of lethal violence at the origin of mammals at about 0.30 per cent, which is approximately one in 300 deaths. Over time, rates of lethal violence then rose steadily, and today the incidence of human lethal violence is predicted to be two percent - about six times higher than the reconstructed mammalian value. This suggests that human violence is a hard-wired tendency that has evolved from early mammals. Advertisement

Some animals, such as primates and humans, are known to show violent behaviour towards members of the same species.

But other animals, such as whales and bats, have virtually no evidence of lethal violence towards one another.

Human violence is a very complex trait, with psychological, sociological and evolutionary origins, that have long remained a mystery to scientists.

In their paper, published in Nature, researchers from the Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas in Spain wrote: 'Lethal violence is considered by some to be mostly a cultural trait, however, aggression in mammals, including humans, also has a genetic component with high heritability.

'It is widely acknowledged that evolution has also shaped human violence.'

To understand how violent traits evolved, the researchers compiled data from over four million deaths across 1,024 mammal species, and in about 600 human populations over the last 50,000 years.

The researchers put together an evolutionary tree showing the estimation of the level of lethal aggression in mammals. Lethal aggression increases with the intensity of the colour, from yellow to dark red, while light grey indicates the absence of lethal aggression

AGGRESSION IN CHIMPANZEES Studies on chimps have shown that high-ranking males exhibit the highest levels of aggression and the highest levels of testosterone. Furthermore, all adult male chimps experience their highest testosterone levels when they're in the presence of females who are ovulating. And this is only associated with higher levels of aggression - not significant increases in actual sexual activity. Advertisement

Using the values from modern species, the authors reconstructed the rate of lethal violence at the origin of mammals at about 0.30 per cent, which is approximately one in 300 deaths.

Over time, rates of lethal violence then rose steadily, and today the incidence of human lethal violence is predicted to be two percent - about six times higher than the reconstructed mammalian value.

This suggests that human violence is a hard-wired tendency that has evolved from early mammals.

Mark Pagel, a researcher from the University of Reading, who reviewed the study, told MailOnline: 'Environments can modify the degree to which this tendency is expressed.

Over time, rates of lethal violence then rose steadily, and today the incidence of human lethal violence is predicted to be two percent - about six times higher than the reconstructed mammalian value

'Global homicide rates, for example, are currently about 1 in 10,000 and this reflects the influence of laws, police forces, jails and public attitudes.

'But the point is that we shouldn't expect lethal violence to disappear given our evolutionary tendencies.'

The researchers suggest that lethal violence has mostly changed over time in conjunction with changes in socio-politcal organisation in populations.

In the paper they added: 'It is widely acknowledged that monopolization of the legitimate use of violence by the state significantly decreases violence in state societies.'
Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the U.S. tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals.

In a measure of rising ambition beyond its taxi business, Uber will begin delivering meals in Amsterdam on Thursday just as Dutch market leader Takeaway.com , begins trading on the city's stock market.

And according to current job listings on Uber and other recruiting sites - for about 150 roles ranging from general managers and sales staff to bike couriers - UberEats is planning to enter at least 22 new countries across the world in the near future.

That is on top of the six countries where it already operates.

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Uber is making an aggressive drive into meal delivery, backed by a wave of staff recruitment, with the U.S. tech heavyweight gearing up to enter at least 22 new countries and take on local rivals

HOW DOES IT WORK? Download the UberEATS app and add your delivery address. Enter your drop-off location. Choose from full menus from dozens of restaurants in your location Place your order and follow along as your meal is prepared and delivered. After an order is placed, Uber sends it to the restaurant and shoots back an estimated delivery time to the customer. When the item is close to being ready, Uber locates a driver in the vicinity of the restaurant and lets them decide if theyd like to pick it up and drop it off. Advertisement

As recently as May, Uber executives were signalling that UberEats' international ambitions were a modest extension of its core business of transporting people. But its job hiring efforts over the last three months suggest something more ambitious is taking shape.

'UberEats is one (business) we feel incredibly confident is resonating across the world and resonating across the footprint of the cities in which Uber operates the transport business,' Jambu Palaniappan, recently named head of UberEats for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

He named eight cities including Dubai and Johannesburg that UberEats plans to enter by the end of the year, but declined to spell out later targets.

Europe is home base to many of the most active international players in the online food takeaway business. They are counting on their local ties, established customer bases and sprawling restaurant networks to insulate them from U.S. tech giants.

The biggest international players - Britain's Just Eat , Germany's Delivery Hero and Takeaway.com - focus on advertising local takeaways and booking orders for nearby users, while leaving deliveries to the restaurants themselves.

They have been raising fresh capital or swapping assets to bulk up in the expectation that Uber would ratchet up its challenge.

Meanwhile, smaller players - Belgium's Take Eat Easy, delivering in 20 European cities, and London-based Pronto, which cooked meals as well as delivered them - have shut down in recent months, as the rush of funding that created dozens of start-ups modelled on Uber in recent years has dwindled.

Uber recently began testing autonomous vehicles around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A group of self driving Uber vehicles position themselves to take journalists on rides during a media preview at Uber's Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh

UBER'S SELF-DRIVING CARS Uber is now testing autonomous vehicles around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A fleet of hybrid Ford Fusions with the Uber logo is being used for mapping data of Steel City and testing self-driving capabilities on public streets. The hybrid Ford Fusions are equipped with a variety of sensor, radars and high-resolution cameras. While the cars are roaming around Pittsburgh, a trained driver will be seated in the driver's seat to monitor the vehicles' performance -- but the cars will be set in self-driving mode. Advertisement

Investors have poured nearly $10 billion (8.9 billion euros) into 421 food delivery deals since the start of 2014, but funding dropped by more than half in the first six months of 2016, according to research from CBInsights.

Overall, the global restaurant takeaway market is projected to grow by 10 percent between 2015 and 2020 to reach $93.4 billion, according to market research firm Euromonitor.

Adding to pressures on existing food delivery players, Amazon launched its international expansion of Amazon Restaurants by entering the London market earlier this month, building on its existing 11-city base in the United States.

'The problem for many of the remaining players is that they are sub-scale: They can't compete without superior logistics,' said Neil Campling, head of global research for the tech industry at fund manager Northern Trust Capital Markets.

To date, UberEats has launched in 33 cities in six countries, 27 of which are in the United States, where it first began testing food delivery two years ago.

Since launching in London in June, Uber has promised to cut delivery times to within a 30-minute window, with no minimum order size or extra delivery fees. You can order a cupcake made in Kensington and have it driven across town to Whitechapel for the price of the cupcake in the shop.

'When we launch in a city, one of the things we try to do very quickly is to get customer wait times down as low as possible,' said Palaniappan, a Silicon Valley native who had run Uber's core business in the EMEA region and oversaw its move into India.

By contrast, many rivals promise orders will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, while requiring minimum orders and charging customer delivery fees. UberEats also benefits by being promoted through Uber's existing, very popular car hire app.

Later this week, Takeaway plans to raise 350 million euros ($390 million) in an initial public offering that would give it a market value around 1 billion euros.

Some newer entrants like Deliveroo of Britain and Foodora, a unit of Delivery Hero, have their own drivers - but few can rival Uber or Amazon's deep pockets and vast customer bases around the globe.

To bolster their respective local and regional positions, Takeaway and Just Eat traded assets in August, with Takeaway exiting Just Eat's British stronghold in exchange for Just Eat's Benelux properties.

London-listed Just Eat expects its revenue to rise around 50 percent this year and says its 66,000 restaurant partnerships can ensure its growth for years to come.

UBER LAUNCHES SECURITY SELFIES Uber has introduced a new feature in the hopes of 'building another layer of accountability' in which drivers will have to snap a selfie before signing in and accepting ride requests. The new feature, called 'Real-Time ID Check' is being rolled out to drivers across the US. In a blog announcing the update, Joe Sullivan, Uber's chief security officer, said: 'This prevents fraud and protects drivers' accounts from being compromised. Uber has introduced a new feature in which drivers will have to snap a selfie before signing in and accepting ride requests 'It also protects riders by building another layer of accountability into the app to ensure the right person is behind the wheel.' Under the new requirement, drivers will regularly be asked to take a selfie in the app before they can sign in. The selfie is then compared to the one corresponding to the account on file, using Microsoft's Cognitive Services. Advertisement

Delivery Hero co-founder and CEO Niklas Oestberg says his firm has built a market-leading position in 28 countries around the world, signing up close to 300,000 restaurants - from Asia to Europe to Latin America - by acquiring local rivals, swapping assets and exiting tougher markets such as China and Russia.

Dominance is not assured for Amazon and Uber, for whom meal delivery - a highly localised business that must be won city by city from local players - is but one of several big initiatives.

A swing factor could prove to be how willing restaurants, such as pizza chains, are willing to allow big digital players to come between them and their customers - an issue Amazon has faced with brand-name retailers and Uber with taxi associations.

Alexander Frolov, a London-based partner in venture capital firm Target Global, an investor in Delivery Hero and other food-themed start-ups, says Uber is a formidable challenger but local food delivery is far from a winner-take-all market.
Our days on Earth are numbered, according to Professor Stephen Hawking.

The world-famous physicist has previously issued warnings to the world that robots could wipe out humanity and that leaving Earth is our only hope.

Now, in a new book, 'How to Make a Spaceship', the physicist has warned our planet is becoming a dangerous place because of the threat of war or disease.

It is a 'near certainty' that a major technological disaster will threaten humanity in the next 1,000 to 10,000 years. This is according to physicist Stephen Hawking who claims science will likely bring about 'new ways things can go wrong' for human survival

The book, written by journalist Julian Guthrie, contains an afterword by the physicist.

In an extract published in The Guardian, Professor Hawking describes his views on the future of space travel.

'I believe that life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as a sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers,' he said.

'I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go to space.'

Professor Hawking made similar comments earlier this year while recording the BBC's annual Reith Lectures on January 7.

The lecture explored research into black holes, and his warning was made during questions fielded by audience members.

When asked how the world will end, Hawking said that increasingly, most of the threats humanity faces come from progress in technology.

The scientist, who turned 74 this year, said the threats include nuclear war, catastrophic global warming and genetically engineered viruses.

Professor Hawking said life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as a sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers

THE ROBOTIC UPRISING Our desire to create helpful digital assistants and self-driving vehicles could bring about our demise. Professor Stephen Hawking warned that humanity faces an uncertain future as technology learns to think for itself and adapt to its environment. Speaking at an event in London earlier this year, the physicist told the BBC: 'The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.' This echoes claims he made earlier in the year when he said success in creating AI 'would be the biggest event in human history, [but] unfortunately, it might also be the last.' He argues that developments in digital personal assistants Siri, Google Now and Cortana are merely symptoms of an IT arms race which 'pale against what the coming decades will bring.' But Professor Hawking noted other potential benefits of this technology could also be significant, with the potential to eradicate, war, disease and poverty. 'Looking further ahead, there are no fundamental limits to what can be achieved,' continued Professor Hawking. 'There is no physical law precluding particles from being organised in ways that perform even more advanced computations than the arrangements of particles in human brains.' Advertisement

'We are not going to stop making progress, or reverse it, so we must recognise the dangers and control them,' he said, speaking to Radio Times ahead of the lecture.

To get away from these threats, humankind will have to colonise other planets, which Hawking believes will take more than a century.

'We will not establish self-sustaining colonies in space for at least the next hundred years, so we have to be very careful in this period,' Hawking said.

Research regarding sending humans into space remains strong.

This week the US Senate introduced a bipartisan bill that authorizes a new $19.5 billion (15 billion) budget for Nasa to send a crew to the red planet, but mandated it must happen within the next 25 years.

Professor Hawking has also previously singled out the risk of artificial intelligence (AI) becoming powerful enough to cause the downfall of humanity.

In July, Professor Hawking and Tesla founder Elon Musk led 1,000 robotics experts in an open letter warning that 'Autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow'

'The probable life span of human civilization is much greater if we're a multi-planet species as opposed to a single-planet species,' Elon Musk said last year.

'If we're a single planet species, then eventually there will be some extinction event,' Mr Musk said.

His company SpaceX is working to send humans to space.

Last week the firm test fired one of its new Raptor 'interplanetary transport engines' which the company will use to carry astronauts to Mars.

This week the US Senate introduced a bipartisan bill that authorizes a new $19.5 billion (15 billion) budget for Nasa to send a crew to the red planet, but mandated it must happen within the next 25 years

The rocket engine is three times more powerful than the one on the Falcon 9 rockets. It will ultimately be used to launch SpaceX's manned spacecraft off our planet.

Mr Musk, chief executive of SpaceX, said the rocket will be ultimately capable of producing thrust of 690,000lbs over 382 seconds.

The engine is powered using liquid methane and liquid oxygen rather than the kerosene used in the Merlin engines of its Falcon 9 rockets.
SpaceX chief Elon Musk is set to unveil his most ambitious plan yet - building a human colony on Mars.

He hopes to send a manned spacecraft to the Red Planet within a decade, and will lay out his vision during a presentation titled 'Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species' at the International Astronautical Congress in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara.

Although the South Africa-born Canadian-American entrepreneur has given few details about his plan, he promised in a Washington Post interview in June that it will be 'mind blowing.'

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Musk hopes to send a manned spacecraft to the Red Planet within a decade, and will lay out his vision during a presentation titled 'Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species' at a Mexico conference.

He will discuss the 'long-term technical challenges that need to be solved to support the creation of a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars,' the conference's program says.

SpaceX plans to send an unmanned Dragon cargo capsule to Mars as early as 2018, paving the way for a human mission that would leave Earth in 2024 and arrive on the Red Planet the following year.

SpaceX's Mars Colonial Transporter was initially being developed to carry astronauts and supplies to the surface of Mars to set up a base there. This image shows an artist's impression of a SpaceX capsule on the surface of the red planet

However, experts are skeptical of the feasibility.

Reaching Mars225 million kilometers (140 million miles) from Earth on averageand living there would require major feats of engineering and a massive budget.

'It's unlikely that (Musk) will be able to get humans on Mars by 2025,' John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, said, noting that Musk has wrongly forecast the launch of SpaceX rockets in the past.

ELON MUSK'S INTERPLANETARY TRANSPORT SYSTEM The Interplanetary Transport System (ITS), was formerly known as the Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT). It is SpaceX's name for its privately funded development project to design and build a spaceflight system of reusable rocket engines, launch vehicles and space capsules to transport humans to Mars (and now 'beyond') and return to Earth. The spacecraft is designed to be used with the companys large Raptor rocket engine. A pilot unmanned launch is planned for 2022, and a first flight with people on board is expected to be in 2024. Musk hopes to send a manned spacecraft to the Red Planet within a decade, and will lay out his vision during a presentation titled 'Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species' at the International Astronautical Congress in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara. When billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, he set his sights on the ultimate goal of colonising Mars. But now the firm's ambitious founder has hinted that he may have bold plans that go way beyond the red planet. He has said the vehicle his company has been developing to take humans to Mars could also be used to carry astronauts even further across the solar system. Writing on Twitter, Musk said: 'Turns out MCT [Mars Colonial Transporter] can go well beyond Mars, so will need a new name' SpaceX has now renamed the spacecraft the Interplanetary Transport System. SpaceX's Mars Colonial Transporter was initially being developed to carry astronauts and supplies to the surface of Mars to set up a base there. In the past, Musk has been highly secretive about his plans for SpaceX, but at the end of this month he is due to present some of his vision for the company at the International Astronautical Congress, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Advertisement

SpaceX would have to team up with a state space agency to afford such a mission, he said.

'Bottom line is the cost. You're talking of tens of billions of dollars and SpaceX doesn't have that type of money.'

However, while Musk's timeline is ambitious, 'it's exciting to have someone with the vision' and 'we are all interested to see what he has in mind and whether he can make a compelling case,' Logsdon added.

SpaceX has already designed the powerful Falcon rocket, which could send a manned Dragon spacecraft towards the Red Planet

SpaceX has already designed the powerful Falcon rocket, which could send a manned Dragon spacecraft towards the Red Planet

SpaceX has test fired its a prototype of its new Raptor engine (pictured). The rocket engine is three times more powerful than those used in the company's Falcon 9 rockets. The new engines also use methane rather than kerosene

The US space agency NASA, which is also studying the effects of long-term space flight on the human body, has announced its own plans to send people to Mars by the 2030s.

A research village could be built on the Moon to serve as a 'stepping stone' to a Mars mission, European Space Agency chief Jan Woerner said at a news conference on Monday.

'To go to Mars means also to use the resources over there and this can be also tested on (the) Moon,' he said.

SpaceX has designed the powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, which could send a manned Dragon spacecraft into space.

The company plans to launch the 70-meter (230-foot) tall rocket, which has a liftoff thrust equivalent to 18 Boeing 747 jets, later this year.

SpaceX was hit by a setback on September 1 when its smaller Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad during a test in Florida, destroying a satellite Facebook had planned to use to beam high-speed internet to Africa.

SpaceX had previously logged 18 successful Falcon 9 launches.

The rocket (pictured during the tests) is designed to be cleaner than the current kerosene powered engines used in the Falcon 9 rocket. It will eventually be used on SpaceX's interplanetary transport system

The California-based company has also successfully landed a spent rocket vertically four timesa key achievement for the company's goal of producing reusable rockets instead of jettisoning their parts into the ocean during lift off.

The firm test fired one of its new Raptor 'interplanetary transport engines' which the company will use to carry astronauts to Mars.

The rocket engine is three times more powerful than the one on the Falcon 9 rockets. It will ultimately be used to launch SpaceX's manned spacecraft off our planet.

Elon Musk, chief executive of SpaceX, said the rocket will be ultimately capable of producing thrust of 690,000lbs over 382 seconds.

The engine is powered using liquid methane and liquid oxygen rather than the kerosene used in the Merlin engines of its Falcon 9 rockets.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Musk said: 'SpaceX propulsion just achieved first firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine.'

He also posted an image highlighting 'mach diamonds'  the diamond shaped shock waves that appear in jet flares  within the huge exhaust flame from the engine in the test at the McGregor rocket engine test facility Texas.

The rocket engine uses methane as they are much cleaner than the current kerosene engines.

SpaceX has also said it may be possible to obtain methane from natural sinks on the surface of Mars for refuelling ahead of return missions.

Earlier this month Mr Musk announced he intends his Mars Colonial Transporter, which was expected to carry astronauts to the red planet by 2020, could have capabilities elsewhere in the solar system.

SpaceX has now renamed the spacecraft as the Interplanetary Transport System.

Mr Musk is due to unveil more details of the spacecraft at the International Astronautical Congress later this month.

When SpaceX first announced the Raptor engine in 2010, nine of them were expected for be used to lift its Falcon X heavy lift vehicle into orbit.

Production Raptor goal is specific impulse of 382 seconds and thrust of 3 MN (~310 metric tons) at 300 bar  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2016

The company's plans have since evolved and it is expected to be used as part of the Interplanetary Transport System.

It has also been testing its Dragon 2 crew vehicle that it hopes will be used on missions to Mars.

The test, however, comes just three weeks after SpaceX lost one of its Falcon 9 rockets and the $200 million satellite it was carrying in an explosion on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

A large breach in the helium cryogenic system was detected just moments before a fireball engulfed the rocket, destroying the launch pad in the explosion.
The European Space Agency has revealed a new image of a remarkable swirling valley on the red planet that could one day be the landing site for ExoMars 2020.

The birds-eye view captured by the Mars Express spacecraft reveals a region of more than 205,000 square miles surrounding Mawrth Vallis, where ancient water once carved the shapes of the surface.

This is one of the largest valleys on Mars, and scientists say it may have been habitable up to 3.6 billion years ago.

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Long ago, huge amounts of water passed through the area, beginning at a higher elevation region and spilling into the northern plains. These features can be seen at the lower right and top left of the image, respectively

CANDIDATES FOR EXOMARS The Esa has identified four candidates for a Mars landing in its ExoMars 2020 mission. These are Mawrth Vallis, Oxia Planum, Hypanis Vallis and Aram Dorsum. Each of these locations are relatively close to the equator and contain 'ancient rocks where liquid water was once abundant.' Advertisement

Mawrth Vallis is roughly 373 miles (600 km) long and more than a mile deep.

Its name comes from the Welsh words for Mars, and the Latin word for valley.

And, long ago, huge amounts of water passed through the area, beginning at a higher elevation region and spilling into the northern plains.

These features can be seen at the lower right and top left of the image, respectively.

The valley sits on the border between the southern highlands and the northern lowlands, according to the Esa, and is home to phyllosilicates.

These light-toned structures are weathered clay minerals which indicate the past presence of liquid water.

According to the space agency, the remains of volcanic ash in the form of a dark cap rock may protect traces of ancient microbes in the clay.

To create this image, the researchers combined nine photos taken by the Express spacecrafts high-resolution camera.

Mawrth Vallis is roughly 373 miles (600 km) long and more than a mile deep. Its name comes from the Welsh words for Mars, and the Latin word for valley. Pictured, images from ESA Mars Express are combined with MOLA topography data from NASAs Mars Global Surveyor

The craft has been orbiting the red planet since 2003, and Mawrth Vallis has been an area of great intrigue for years.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Mars may have been covered in networks of lakes and streams for roughly a billion years longer than previously thought  with implications for its potential to host life during that time as well.

Nasa researchers made the discovery by dating 22 impact craters on the planet.

MARS MAY HAVE HAD MORE WATER THAN THE ARCTIC OCEAN Earlier this year scientists provided the best estimates yet, claiming Mars once had more water than the Arctic Ocean - and the planet kept these oceans for more than 1.5 billion years. The findings suggest there was ample time and water for life on Mars to thrive, but over the past 3.7 billion years the red planet has lost 87 per cent of its water - leaving it barren and dry. The study by scientists at Nasas Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the first to determine just how much water Mars had in its past. During its wet Noachian period - 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago - it is estimated that it had enough water to cover the entire surface in a liquid layer 450 feet (137 metres) deep. However, its likely most of the water formed an ocean that occupied the northern hemisphere of Mars, which would have been as deep as one mile (1.6km) in places - comparable to the Mediterranean Sea on Earth. Published in the journal Science, the research estimates, in total, what is now the planets arid northern plains would have contained at least 12.4 million cubic miles (20 million cubic kilometres) of water. Advertisement

'We discovered valleys that carried water into lake basins,' said Sharon Wilson from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

'Several lake basins filled and overflowed, indicating there was a considerable amount of water on the landscape during this time.'

Wilson and colleagues found evidence of these features in Mars' northern Arabia Terra region, by studying images from cameras on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The craft has been orbiting the red planet since 2003, and Mawrth Vallis has been an area of great intrigue for years. Pictured above is a selfie from the Rosetta spacecraft as it passed 250 km from the surface of Mars

They also used data from Nasa's Mars Global Surveyor and the European Space Agency's Mars Express.

'One of the lakes in this region was comparable in volume to Lake Tahoe,' Ms Wilson said, referring to a California-Nevada lake that holds about 45 cubic miles (188 cubic km) of water.

'This particular Martian lake was fed by an inlet valley on its southern edge and overflowed along its northern margin, carrying water downstream into a very large, water-filled basin we nicknamed "Heart Lake".'

The chain of lakes and valleys in the Heart Lake valley system extend for about 90 miles (about 150 km).
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If it's a room with a view that you're looking for, then you might want to check into one of these panoramically-pleasing hotels.

From stunning mountain scenes out of the 2,835-metre-high (9,300ft) bivouac Gervasutti in the Italian Alps, to Northern Light visions from the glass domes peppering Igloo Village in Finland, these digs were designed with the view in mind.

But if you're a holidaymaker with a fear of heights, your selection might be a little more limited as the majority of inns are perched high above cloud level.

However, the five-star Plaza Athenee in Paris, France, might be a better bet for those who wobble in high places, as no altitude training is needed to get to one of the hotel suites, boasting breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower...

At one with nature: Tsala lodge in South Africa is set high in the treetops with rustic suites and villas complete with fireplaces, spa bathrooms and infinity pools on private decks, where guests can admire spectacular vistas of a lush forest

Treetop level: Offering a unique take on a room with a view, the wood and stone treehouses boast high ceilings, kitchenettes and outdoor showers in a peaceful location between the coastal towns of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay

Surreal: The stunning view from the window of the Bivouac Gervasutti in the Italian Alps - the hotel is built high into the Grandes and Petites Jorasses mountains at 2,835 metres above sea level in Italy

Tunnel vision: The solar-powered refuge replaced a shabby wooden hut that was built in 1948 - climbing experts celebrated the hut's opening in 2012, believing it could save the lives of stranded climbers if they were caught in blizzards

Don't look down: Inside one of the bedrooms of the Skylodge Adventure Suites in Cusco, Peru - the room hangs above a 13,000ft drop and has a view of a beautiful valley

Cliffhanger: Constructed from aerospace aluminum and weather resistant polycarbonate, each 24 x 8 foot suite comes complete with four beds, a dining area and a private bathroom

Designer dwelling: The 'cocoon bed' lets slumberers enjoy a good night's sleep suspended between trees - it was the brainchild of Frenchman Berni Du Payrat, who said he was inspired to create it after looking at an ostrich egg

Nomadic: The bed, which costs between 3,000 and 9,000, is made of aluminium and weighs only 130 pounds - it is rigged up with ropes and secured by nets and can hold the weight of up to a tonne

Frost pods: The Kakslauttanen Hotel and Igloo Village, in Finland's snowy Arctic Circle, boasts 20 thermal glass rooms based on the traditional Eskimo lodgings

To the stars and beyond: Nestled in the wilderness near Finland's Urho Kekkonen National Park, Hotel Kakslauttanen has one of the Arctic Circle's best views of the Aurora Borealis or northern lights

Sky high: This incredible building is set 9,300ft on the top of Foronon Buinz Mountain, in the Julian Alps, Italy, and welcomes all who can make it to the high altitude location. It's not very luxurious inside (right) - but the view makes up for it

City slicker: An exterior view of the Plaza Athenee Paris Hotel in France - which is ideally situated in the city centre
Forget fresh towels, champagne on arrival or a full English delivered to their room  these are hotel requests for boring normal people.

Every once in a while, according to hotel workers around Britain, a guest will come out with a truly bizarre requirement: permission to bring along a pet hamster, for example, or spaghetti bolognese for breakfast.

According to a new audit of nearly 6,000 British hotels, other strange, suspicious or downright comical requests include a guest asking if they could bring their own mattress and another demanding tweezers to remove a nose hair.

One guest at a hotel in Newport asked whether they could check in with their pet hamster, while another at a Pembrokshire B&B requested a clairvoyant

Booking management apps suite provider eviivo conducted the audit on a wealth of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs over the past year and dug up some interesting stories.

One guest at The Sportmans Lodge in Wales requested spaghetti bolognese for breakfast one morning, while another at Rylstone Manor Hotel in Shanklin asked for a wig.

Another, at Pembrokeshire's Langdon Villa Guest House, inquired about getting a clairvoyant in for a spot of fortune-telling.

And if you think requesting permission to check in a pet hamster is off the wall, one guest at Thornley House in Northumberland asked whether his two gigantic hawks would be welcome.

One guest at a Wales hotel fancied a spag bol for breakfast one morning, while staff at a hotel in the Peak District were asked by a guest to scatter their parents' ashes

The Collins Arms recently played host to a guest with a taste for female company of the illegal kind. The gentleman in question may have mistaken Redruth for Amsterdam, but unsurprisingly the lodge was unable to grant his wishes.

A receptionist at Cirencester's The Bathurst Arms was left rather stunned when tasked with decorating a bed with rose petals specially arranged into the shape of a penis.

Staff at Stonecroft Country Guesthouse in the Peak District were asked by a guest to scatter their parents' ashes  a demand they went on to satisfy.

A wig was another slightly confounding requirement, as was permission to have two gigantic hawks stay at the hotel

Another couple with a fancy for the spooky requested a 'genuinely haunted' bedroom from the owners of Pannett House in Whitby.

While another, with a fancy for shooting thought it would be acceptable to take his shotgun  complete with ammunition  with him when he booked a stay at Falstone Barns in Hexham.
They include how to avoid cash point charges and fit more into suitcases

Travelling is one of life's greatest pleasures, but it can also be a worst nightmare when things go wrong.

Whether it's lost luggage, a dodgy meal or a wandering child, there are plenty of elements that could lead to disaster.

But regular travellers have now been sharing their favourite life hacks to prevent disaster.

Regular travellers have shared their favourite tips to improve holidays, including saving people's recommendations on your Google Maps for when you are next in an area (stock image)

On the Pro Life Tips section of the Reddit website, women and men have shared everything from the cheapest way to withdraw money, to the best way to skip queues at Disneyland.

Read on to discover some travel tips that could transform your next trip...

Save recommendations on Google Maps

If a person recommends a place they've been to, star it on your Google Maps account - that way if you are in the area, it will remind you to visit.

Taking a photo of a p;iece of luggage before checking it in will help to describe it at lost and found

Take a picture of your luggage before airport check-in

If it gets lost, it will be easier to show staff a photo than to describe it, especially if you are in a foreign country.

Get cashback from convenience stores instead of using cash points

Grabbing a cheap soft drink and getting a small amount of cash back is often cheaper than paying the cash point charge - and you'll have a refreshing drink.

To order an Uber at an airport where they are banned, take a hotel shuttle to a nearby hotel

Cash points in 7-11 stores in Japan have English menus

If you struggle to understand Japanese, head to a 7-11 shop when in Japan.

Their cash points are free and they also have English, French and German translation.

Choose a soft piece of carry-on luggage without wheels

Carry-on suitcases use up extra space for the wheels and they are heavier, so by using a soft bag you can take more items.

How to order an Uber taxi at airports that don't allow them

Take an airport shuttle to any hotel - they are unlikely to check your booking - then pick up an Uber taxi from there.

To be extra smart, choose a hotel that is relatively near your final destination.

How to avoid long queues at the most popular rides at Disneyland

Wait until the fireworks start, as the queue will be shorter then.

To skip long queues at Disneyland, go to the popular rides when the fireworks take place

To get fit more into a suitcase, pack it upright

By loading it from the bottom upwards, it is easier to fit more in.

It also makes it easier to find clothes when the bag is open and laid horizontally.

How to take the perfect picture of a ceiling

Put the camera in the middle of the room on a timer and step out of shot.

How to make it easier for your child to find you
While their friendship has sparked romance rumours in the past, insiders have insisted Charlotte McKinney and Scott Eastwood are merely friends.

But now it seems the pair have indeed taken their friendship to the next level.

The 30-year-old and Charlotte, 23, appeared to be locking lips during a beach day in Malibu on Sunday.

Malibu is for lovers! Charlotte McKinney and Scott Eastwood appeared to be locking lips on the beach on Sunday

Tender: The actor leaned in closer to McKinney to get that smooch

Kick back and relax! Sitting side by side, the two caught up while enjoying a day in paradise

Doing some of the heavy lifting! The pals first arrived to the shore with all their beach wear in tow, including a surfboard that Scott had carried beneath his arm

Scott was shirtless as he leaned down towards his bikini-clad gal pal.

The actor wore a pair of striped black trunks and sunglasses.

Charlotte, meanwhile, looked sensational in her frayed denim cut-offs and a summery black-and-white string bikini.

Showing some skin! McKinney ditched her off-the-shoulder white top as to show off her bikini-clad body

Eye-catching: The stunner's white bikini top showed off her famous assets to full effect

Bottom's up! The star's bikini clung to her pert posterior

Getting comfortable: After stripping down into her bikini, she tenderly applied a coat of sunscreen onto Scott's back

The couple first arrived to the beach with all their beach wear in tow, including a surfboard that Scott had carried beneath his arm.

Scott sported a blue hat while his gal pal wore a summery off-the-shoulder white top and frayed jean shorts.

And the two were clearly very comfortable with each other.

Life's a beach! Eastwood wore a pair of black trunks while McKinney kept her cool in her bikini

Fun in the sun: The pair took a breather beneath the shade

Stop it! McKinney giggled in delight

After stripping down into her bikini, she tenderly applied a coat of sunscreen onto Scott's back.

The pair continued to enjoy a day in paradise as they caught up from beneath the shade of their umbrella.

The two appeared to have plenty of chemistry as well.

The mane attraction! The actress' long blonde locks whipped in the breeze as she stepped out into the sunshine

Top spirits! The actor was clearly in a good mood as he enjoyed some quality time with McKinney

Charlotte giggled in delight as she spoke with Scott, who looked completely relaxed while seated beneath their umbrella.

And the Baywatch actress was certain to catch everyone's attention as she played with her long, blonde hair.

The Joe Dirt 2 actress wore a bikini which highlighted her famous assets to full effect as it also clung to her pert posterior and showed off her flat stomach.

Keeping her cool! Charlotte stepped out from beneath the umbrella with Scott's shirt placed atop her head

Staying connected: The actress glanced down at her phone

Taking a snap? The blonde beauty appeared to be taking a photo as she crouched down slightly

Safety first! The 23-year-old sprayed on a coat of sunscreen onto her behind

Charlotte accessorized the look with a pair of silver hoop earrings as well as a delicate choker necklace to top the outfit off.

Keeping her cool amid LA's relentlessly hot weather, Charlotte stepped out from beneath the umbrella with Scott's shirt placed atop her head.

Scott managed to tear himself away from Charlotte to hit the surf.

Enjoying some R&R: The actress relaxed upon the beach chairs she had carried in herself

Hitting their stride: The pair padded barefoot upon the idyllic beach

Simply stunning: McKinney's long blonde locks were styled into beachy waves

Ready? The beauty whipped out a can of sun screen

The Suicide Squad actor looked right at home as he effortlessly cruised through the waves on his surfboard.

Charlotte and Scott have previously sparked romance rumours, but have long denied it.

Last October UsWeekly reported the pair had started dating, with photos of the two silver screen stars walking side by side in Malibu emerging just one day later.

All eyes on Charlotte! No doubt the model turned heads from the moment she stepped out onto the sand

Toned and terrific! Clad in just black trunks, Eastwood put his buff physique on full show

Surf's up! The Fast 8 looked right at home as he cruised through the waves on his surfboard

Wet and wild: Scott made his way through the crashing waves

Cruising: Eastwood gave his undivided attention to the surf

However, the rumours were quickly quashed when a source disclosed there was nothing remotely romantic about the outing, or their relationship.

'They are definitely not dating,' a source close to Scott told ET.com at the time. 'They've hung out a couple of times  they barely know each other yet. [It's] Nothing serious at all.'

In the moment: The star gave a hundred percent of his focus into the surf

What's next: The pair appeared to be pondering what to do next

Smitten? The Carl's Jr. model cast a smile in the direction of her pal

Traffic stopper: Like McKinney, Eastwood more than likely turned heads on the beach as well

Undivided attention: The pair faced each other as they lounged on their beach chairs

The Hollywood actor strolled shirtless, wearing striped board shorts as he spoke on the phone.

The pair made sure to re-fuel amid their beach day as well.

Charlotte and Scott were spotted grabbing smoothies and a burrito as they stepped out in their summery outfits that same day.

Wowza: The Late Bloomer actress stole the show as she padded out onto the shoreline

Cheeky! Eastwood's pal put her bum on full show with her tiny white bikini

Catching some rays: The star placed a hand upon her head as she gazed towards her friend

Matching! The pals accessorized with a pair of stylish shades

The actress sipped on an ice cold beverage as Scott munched on his savory snack.

Charlotte had previously dated Blade actor Stephen Dorff, but their romance fizzled out over the summer.

Page Six reported in July that she broke up with the Blade actor over his 'other women.'

Bottom's up! Charlotte bent over to retrieve something from her purse

Yum! The actors treated themselves to a mid-day snack

Wait up! Eastwood appeared to slow down his pace as McKinney caught up to him

'He was fooling around with other women,' a source told the news site.

'Charlotte has been dating Stephen for a while, but he carried on texting other women and inviting them over to his house on the beach in Malibu.'

The source added: 'July Fourth weekend... there were all these random people in his house. Charlotte has had enough of him.'

However, a separate source added that the pair had actually called it quits due to her busy movie schedule.

Cumbersome: The 23-year-old easily managed to carry the chairs through the sand

Cheeky: Eastwood kicked back as his pal stepped away from their enclosure

Re-hydrate! The looker refueled with a few sips from her water bottle

Dedicated: The star seemed a natural out in the water

She has great jeans! The starlet arrived in a pair of tiny and frayed denim shorts

Rewarding himself! The Fury star pampered himself with some fun in the sun
Tennessee Senator Mark Green, MD on Tuesday called upon Governor Bill Haslam to immediately petition the Obama Administration for permission to fund a free market solution to the collapse of the federally-run exchanges in the state. Despite the approval of a 62 percent premium increase for policy holders in recent weeks, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee announced its exit from a major portion of the exchange market developed by the federal Affordable Care Act mandating insurance purchases, leaving approximately 112,000 Tennesseans without insurance mandated by IRS enforcement.

No more," said Senator Green, a practicing physicians and founder of a doctors'staffing company. "The failures of this government takeover of health insurance have conclusively proven that more government is not the answer to the problems of lowering health care costs and increasing access to care. Tennessee should receive permission to immediately implement the TennCare Opt Out along with other health policies that put patients in charge of their health care.

Senator Green is the prime sponsor of the TennCare Opt Out legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 88, passed by the General Assembly this year and signed by the governor. The resolution requests permission from the federal government to implement a test program built on free market principles. The pilot program would allow low-income Tennesseans to receive a healthcare expenditures account to pay for health services with incentives to save instead of spend, to shop for lower price and for wellness instead of the traditional government payment for a federally-determined menu of care.

"Not only was Commissioner McPeak accurate that these Obamacare exchanges are very near collapse, the urgent demand is to respond with a solution, said Senator Green who serves as vice chairman of the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee. The federal government has failed with hundreds of millions of dollars lost on our state alone. Tennessee has an effective and innovative plan passed this legislative session. We need to energize the federal government to allow us to try it.

Citing uncertainties in the marketplace along with a loss of $500 million through 2016, BCBSTn announced its abandonment of policies serving approximately 29,000 in Memphis, 52,000 in Nashville and 31,000 in the Knoxville area. These policy holders will be forced to find another insurance plan or pay the fine levied by the IRS if found to be uninsured.

Senator Green continued, Weve talked about it. Weve predicted it. Now, its time to act with a free market solution for not just TennCare patients but all low-income citizens who seek some type of insurance coverage. Folks, government-run health care does not work.

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010 mandating all citizens purchase health insurance. The federally-run exchange in Tennessee is the vehicle for those purchases for citizens not covered by their employers as a benefit of employment. While the stated goal of the law was to reduce costs and increase access to care, out-of-pocket expenses have increased to patients in Tennessee in the form of higher deductibles and soaring premium costs.
Chrissy Metz went all out for her 36th birthday.

The talented actress spent her big day by celebrating with some of her co-stars from her new NBC show, This Is Us.

Ironically, the show centres on a group of people born on the same day, who are specifically turning 36.

Birthday girl: Ironically, the show centres on a group of people born on the same day, who are specifically turning 36

The American Horror Story actress celebrated with Susan Kelechi Watson and Milo Ventimiglia.

The star admitted her birthdays are normally pretty low key but not this one. 'This was the biggest birthday party I've ever had,' Metz told People.

'I'm used to a low-key dinner with a little Catchphrase competition to end the night,' the actress continued.

Celebration! Chrissy pictured with her co-stars Susan Kelechi Watson (L) and Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (R)

Celebration: Chrissy Metz (L) went all out for her 36th birthday, spending it with fellow actors, Tahj Mowry (C), and Jonna Walsh (R)

Apparently, Metz and her character Kate from This Is Us have a lot in common: 'Kate and I are both on the precipice of incredible times in our lives,' she said.

'Coming into our own and achieving personal success and happiness simultaneously is pretty amazing.'

Stacey Ruiz, the party planner, made sure the theme for the evening was full of the '80s, purely because some of the show is set then and Metz's birth year was in the start of the decade.

Epic sweet treat: And of course the evening's festivities weren't complete without a birthday cake, which is why she had a three-tier cake from Sweet E's Bake Shop

Making a statement: Chrissy wore a frilly red dress for the evening's party

The big 3 6: The actress celebrated with a whole host of celebrities

And of course the evening's festivities weren't complete without a birthday cake, which is why she had a three-tier cake from Sweet E's Bake Shop.

This Is Us is from the writers and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love.

It follows a group of people born on the same day and the challenges and highs they are currently experiencing.

Co-stars: Susan Kelechi Watson from This Is Us looked casual chic in black jeans and a pink jacket

More famous faces: How To Get Away With Murder actor Kendrick Sampson was also there

Rebecca, played by Mandy Moore, and Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia, are a married couple expecting triplets in Pittsburgh.

Kevin, played by Justin Hartley, is a handsome television actor growing bored of his fly bachelor lifestyle.

Randall, played by The People v. O.J. Simpson's Sterling K. Brown, is a married man with a family who seeks to find his father who abandoned him.

Smile! Chrissy also posed alongside Chastity Dotson at the big bash

Looking good: Producer Cindy Cowan made sure to snap a photo with the birthday girl

Chrissy's character is struggling with her weight but through the challenge she finds a man.

The show interchanges between all these fascinating stories and how the characters deal with the situations they're put in at the age of 36.

This Is Us: Chrissy pictured here with her co-star Justin Hartley who plays actor, bachelor Kevin
She made headlines for posting THAT racy topless photo on her Instagram account in late September.

And now Summer Kane has once again been thrust into the limelight due to revealing on Tuesday she battled with chronic anxiety since she was six years old.

The 20-year-old Australia's Next Top Model contestant has divulged that facing the demons associated with the crippling illness was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

Conquering crippling anxiety: Summer Kane, 20, revealed on Tuesday that she battled anxiety attacks for 14 years, and has only just overcome the illness

The busty brunette explained that she has battled with anxiety attacks since she was six years old.

While she struggled through high school, the condition reached its peak three or four years ago.

'I pretty much didn't leave my room for almost a year. I was scared to be out of the house in case I had an anxiety attack and was on my own.'

Confident: The brunette beauty has gone from not being able to leave her house to strutting the catwalk and posting topless photos on her Instagram

Unfortunately, her friends were not too understanding, the ANTM contestant revealed, as they thought it was something she could just get over and should be conquering with ease.

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel for the model - who has come in leaps and bounds since recovering from anxiety a year ago.

This includes appearing on one of the most hotly tested shows on Australian TV.

Battling since six: Summer revealed her anxiety started when she was six years old, and gradually became worse as she grew up

Summer says talking about her anxiety attacks helped her overcome them, as did taking up yoga and meditation, and eating well.

The stunning model-in-the-making wanted to share her battle story in the hope other girls will overcome anxiety and also watch this season of ANTM.

'To [those girls], I'd say that you're not alone and it's not just you going through this. Speak up and ask for help,' Summer stated.

For information about getting help with anxiety, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or visit beyondblue.org.au.

Australia's Next Top Model airs every Tuesday on FOX8 at 7.30pm.
The countdown until the arrival of her twin sons is well and truly in action.

And on Monday, heavily pregnant Rebecca Judd ditched the glitz and glamour of the 2016 AFL Brownlow Medal Awards in Melbourne.

The 33-year-old poked fun at herself on social media, sharing an image of herself in her pyjamas with the caption: 'Brownlow night outfit reveal  complete with hole in pj pants'.

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Funny: Rebecca Judd ditched the glitz and glamour of the 2016 AFL Brownlow Medal Awards in Melbourne on Monday for a night at home in her pyjamas

In the shared image, the expecting mother leaned against the wall as she rested her right foot on the opposite knee while dressed in a pale pink skinny-cut pants.

She teamed the choice of attire with an off-white jumper, which hugged tightly over her growing baby bump.

The low-key choice of attire comes a year after Rebecca dazzled on the red carpet in a metallic gold panelled ensemble.

Glamour: The low-key choice of attire comes a year after Rebecca dazzled on the red carpet in a metallic gold panelled ensemble (Pictured in 2015)

The television host also shared a funny video of herself with a bunny filter printed over the top of her on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Rebecca took to Instagram to urge the two unborn babies to 'get out' of her crowded womb.

'Alright you two- get out. You're killin me (sic),' the mother of already two published.

Funny! The television host also shared a funny video of herself with a bunny filter printed over the top of her on Monday

She accompanied the comment with a photo of her enormous bump, which looked ready to pop.

The WAG has been rather active on social media when it comes to updating fans throughout her pregnancy.

Last week, she took to the picture-sharing application to show off her incredible baby belly while wearing a tiny colourful bikini.

She's keen! Earlier in the day, Rebecca took to Instagram to urge the two unborn babies to 'get out' of her crowded womb

'Suns out, tums out. My boys are measuring 5 pounds each at 33 weeks. That's ten pounds of baby in there and I'm not done yet (sic). Sh$t is getting cray,' she wrote as she bared her bump.

The WAG and her retired AFL-star husband Chris Judd announced that they're expecting their third and fourth children back in April.

The pair, who are already parents to five-year-old son Oscar and two-year-old daughter Billie, said they were 'giddy with excitement.'
Halle Berry is normally dressed to the nines on the red carpet.

But the in-demand actress proved that she can still pull off casual chic while out in Los Angeles.

The 50-year-old donned a pair of grey harem sweats and a black tank top as she ran errands in West Hollywood on Monday.

Working mummy! Halle Berry proved she can pull off casual chic look as she was seen running some errands in West Hollywood on Monday

The mother-of-two was specifically shopping for home decor as she opted to wear a pair of Ipanema With Starck flip flops and Sunday Somewhere sunglasses.

The brunette beauty tied her long locks into a ponytail as she let a few strands fall down around her face.

Halle's divorce from estranged husband, French actor Olivier Martinez, appears to be on hold, but a source denied to People the couple are getting back together.

'Berry 'definitely has no interest in getting back with Olivier unless his temper and controlling nature change,' the insider told the magazine earlier this month.

Fun day out: The mother of two was specifically shopping for home decor as she opted to wear a pair of Ipanema With Starck flip flops and Sunday Somewhere sunglasses

'And there's no indication that either will, so it seems that they will remain separate.'

The exes share a three-year-old son Maceo.

Halle has also been busy filming recently and has several projects coming up.

This winter, she'll appear in the drama Kidnap, which is due to hit theatres December 2.

The movie follows a mother, played by Berry, who stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.

Next year she can be seen in the action-comedy sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

An attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises.

Still pretty: The brunette beauty tied her long locks into a ponytail as she let a few strands fall down around her face

Eggsy, played by Taron Egerton, and Merlin, played by Mark Strong, are forced to work together with the American agency Statesman to save the world.

The supporting cast is a star-studded line up too.

Game Of Thrones actor Pedro Pascal is in the film, as is Colin Firth, Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges.
They've enjoyed a whirlwind romance since falling in love on The Bachelor.

And things were getting VERY steamy for Richie Strahan and Alex Nation during a photo shoot in Sydney last Monday.

Alex, 25, displayed her shapely curves in a black swimsuit as she posed alongside her muscular boyfriend.

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Professional posers! Things were getting VERY steamy for The Bachelor's Richie Strahan and Alex Nation during their latest photo shoot in Sydney

The photo shoot took place in a rented property and saw Alex and Richie put on a very affectionate display for the cameras.

The couple were spotted kissing each other as they were joined by a crew of photographers and make-up artists.

Alex flaunted her shapely derriere in a plunging black swimsuit with sheer cut-out detailing on the torso.

Ready for their close-up? The couple were spotted kissing each other as they were joined by a crew of photographers and makeup artists

Up close and personal: Alex, 25, displayed her shapely curves in a black swimsuit as she posed alongside her muscular boyfriend

And... action! The photo shoot took place in a rented property and saw Alex and Richie put on a very affectionate display for the cameras

Her remarkably toned figure was also on display, including her flat tummy and gym-honed thighs.

Meanwhile, Richie proudly showed off his ripped physique in just a pair of skinny denim jeans.

The 31-year-old flaunted his well-defined abs and muscular arms as he got up close and personal with Alex.

The look of love: Alex and Richie were often laughing and smiling, and seemed very comfortable in each other's company

She's flawless! Alex's remarkably toned figure was also on display, including her flat tummy and gym-honed thighs

Nikki who? It's only been two weeks since Alex and Richie went public with their romance after an emotional Bachelor finale

Looking good! Alex flaunted her shapely figure in a plunging black swimsuit with sheer cut-out detailing on the torso

Alex and Richie were often laughing and smiling, and seemed very comfortable in each other's company.

Despite being surrounded by a busy photo set, the Bachelor couple appeared to be lost in their own world.

Alex is an aspiring model with a growing portfolio which will likely receive a boost after her TV fame.

Meanwhile, Richie is already signed to top Australian agency Chadwick Models.

Get a room, guys! Despite being surrounded by a busy photo set, the 2016 Bachelor couple appeared to be lost in their own world

Winners are grinners! Earlier this month, Richie chose Alex over Perth real estate agent Nikki Gogan in The Bachelor finale

Strike a pose: Alex is an aspiring model with a growing portfolio which will likely receive a boost after her TV fame

Need a touch-up? Alex and Richie were spotted looking over the day's photographs

Ignoring the haters! The genetically-blessed couple have faced criticism from Bachelor fans
It's tough flying with two children of four and under.

And even tougher when it's a long, 12-hour trip from London to Los Angeles.

But Kelsey Grammer and his beautiful wife Kayte Walsh, who is expecting their third child, looked in good spirits when they jetted into LAX on Monday.

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On a role: Kelsey Grammer and his wife Kayte Walsh, who is expecting their third child, looked in good spirits when they jetted into LAX with their two children on Monday

Kayte, 35, pushed two-year-old Kelsey, named after his dad, in a stroller while the Frasier alum kept an eye on little Faith, who is four.

The couple kept the news of the new addition to their family under wraps until recently when the beautiful blonde could no longer hide her growing baby bump.

Kayte, who is expecting a little boy, is about six months along, according to E! News, citing a source.

He will be baby number seven for the 61-year-old star.

No hiding the baby bump: The couple kept quiet about the new member of their family until earlier this month. Kayte is reportedly six months along

Colourful couple: The 35-year-old showed off her baby bump in a billowing blue and white tunic as she walked next to four-year-old Faith

Kelsey also has two children with ex-wife Camille - Mason, 14 and Jude, 12 - as well as daughters Spencer, 32 and Greer, 24 with exes Doreen Alderman and Barrie Buckner respectively.

Meanwhile, Kayte looked chic in a billowing, thigh-length, blue and white tunic that she wore with silver sandals.

She tied her blonde tresses into a neat updo all the better to wrangle her children.

Ready for bed: The little blue-eyed blond appeared to be wearing her multi-coloured pyjamas

Expanding the family: The blonde is expecting her third child, a baby boy who will be a younger brother for Kelsey and Faith

Kayte held little Kelsey, who was wearing a blue and grey track suit, in her arms as the stroller was stowed in the back of a waiting SUV, before bucking him into his car seat.

Kelsey Snr. wore a black jacket over a blue and white check shirt that he left untucked and black casual trousers.

Faith, a blonde like her mum, appeared to be wearing a pair of pyjamas with stripes in all colours of the rainbow.

Totting them up: The new baby will be Kelsey's seventh child. His oldest is 32-year-old daughter Spencer with ex-wife Doreen Alderman

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star is having a busy 2016 with eight projects either completed or on the go.

He is presently onscreen as the voice of Hunter with Andy Samberg, Jannifer Anniston and Ty Burrell in the animated comedy Storks, released last weekend.

Coming up is animated TV series Trollhunters, directed by Guillermo del Toro; animated comedy Bunyan And Babe on December 1; and Nest, about the trouble that ensues when a well-preserved mummified Emperor from 200 BC China is discovered due for 2017.
Not Sully-ing his reputation: Cook's son Tom Hanks left a Big tip at a Boston eatery after lunch on Monday

He knows the value of a good meal due to the fact his father was a cook.

So no wonder generous Tom Hanks decided to reward staff at a Boston restaurant after a satisfying dinner by leaving them a 'great tip' on Monday.

The multimillionaire actor dug deep after he enjoyed a slap up lunch at the private dining room at the upmarket Pier 6 eatery, which sits on the city's harbour.

Big star Tom, 60, even made the effort to charm staff and customers alike by showing off his version the local dialect, with a staff member telling People, 'His Boston accent was a perfect 10.'

The staff member said the actor, perhaps watching his waistline, tucked into the New England clam chowder and lamb gyros during his one hour stay.

And they said his arrival, where he was accompanied by seven underlings, was a complete surprise.

The worker said: A woman made an anonymous reservation requesting the private dining room, and next thing you know, Tom Hanks walks in.

'He was very friendly and gracious with our staff, and a great tipper.'

Sully star Tom, who was casually dressed in a shirt, jeans and hat, can afford to leave sizable tips of course, given he is worth an estimated $350 million.

Pier-less tipper: He gave staff at restaurant Pier 6 something to remember him by

The Forrest Gump favourite even made sure lavished the staff with extra praise as he left, telling them as he left in his cod Boston accent that he 'loved the chowdah.'

Tom obviously knows a lot about the world of food, as his father Amos was an itinerant cook. After his parents marriage split up in 1960 he, along with his two oldest siblings, stayed with Amos.

And he also has a special affinity for seafood, as his character Forrest Gump became ended up becoming a fishing magnate in the Oscar-winning film.
Keri Russell and her partner Matthew Rhys cut stylish figures at the Met Opera in New York City on Monday.

The 40-year-old actress beamed as she posed with Matthew, 41 - ahead of the 2016-17 season opening performance of Tristan Und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The lovebirds, who costar on the hit FX show The Americans, welcomed their first child together, son Sam, in May.

So in love: Keri Russell and her longtime partner Matthew Rhys coordinated in black and white for the Met Opera in New York City on Monday

The actors who play on-screen couple Elizabeth and Philip Jennings on the spy drama, beamed at the Opera.

Keri looked incredible in an asymmetrical jumpsuit featuring one cape-style sleeve and one short sleeve.

The mother-of-three showed off her svelte frame in the chic look, just four months after giving birth to their son.

The starlet paired the dark hued one-piece with strappy heels and a black Emm Kuo 'Joa' clutch with brass detail.

Happiness: The 40-year-old posed with Matthew, 41, on the carpet - ahead of the 2016-17 season opening performance of Tristan Und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera House

The former Felicity star added diamond earrings for a pop of sparkle.

Keri pulled her brunette tresses back into a low bun while sporting brown shadow on her lids and also pink lipstick.

Matthew looked dapper in a black blazer and matching hued trousers and dress shoes.

Toting an Emm Kuo 'Joa' clutch! The lovebirds, who are co-stars on the hit FX show The Americans, welcomed their son Sam together in May

Look of love: Keri looked adoringly at her man

He sported a scruffy beard and a large bow tie to finish off his dapper look.

Last week, the good-looking couple hit the red carpet for the Emmy Awards - also opting to coordinate.

The twosome arrived for the awards show, which took place on September 18 in Los Angeles, in black and white ensembles.

Keri stunned in a white Stephane Rolland frock with Giuseppe Zanotti Design sandals while Matthew donned a black and white suit.

The actress is also mother to son River, nine, and daughter Willa, four, with her ex-husband Shane Deary.

Matthew and Keri started dating in 2013; she was married to Shane from 2007 until early summer 2013.

Suited up: Last week, the good looking couple hit the red carpet for the Emmy Awards - also opting to coordinate
He was rumoured to be next in line for the famous James Bond role.

Though, during an interview on Monday, Idris Elba hinted the role isn't for him as he revealed he wanted to move out of the 'serious' movie category.

The British actor explained to the Daily Telegraph he would love to begin filming comedy films after 17 years of working in drama and action clips.

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Wanting a change: Idris Elba hinted the role of James Bond isn't for him as he revealed he wants to begin appearing in comedy films

'I never play anyone that makes anyone laugh,' he explained.

'It is always quite grumpy characters, so I wouldnt mind having a bit of a laugh and maybe a bit of romance to spread it about a bit.'

Idris' comments comes after he claimed the possibility of him stepping into Daniel Craig's Bond shoes was the 'wildest rumour in the world'.

Reasoning: He explained: 'It is always quite grumpy characters, so I wouldnt mind having a bit of a laugh and maybe a bit of romance to spread it about a bit'

Asked about the never ending speculation, Idris admitted: 'If I'm really honest, man, I think I'm too old for that, I can't be running around in cars and ladies and martinis  who wants to do that? It sounds terrible!' he laughed.

Idris added that it will be people power that secures him the coveted part if it does happen.

'If it were to happen, it would be the will of a nation, because there's not been talks of me in the studios about any of that. But everywhere I go, people want that to happen,' he added.

Never ending rumour: Idris has been batting away the rumours of him appearing as James Bond for years after Daniel Craig stated he thought the actor would be a suitable replacement

Idris has been batting away the rumours for years, admitting in 2015 that he blamed his pal and current Bond Daniel for starting the speculation.

'Daniel Craig actually set the rumour off,' he said at the time.

'About four years ago he said "Idris Elba would be a great Bond", and then it started to creep. I blame Daniel.'

Idris is currently in Australia filming Thor: Ragnarok alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.
She was left heartbroken when property tycoon ex fell to his death from a London balcony in December 2014.

And former model and socialite Noelle Reno, 32, spoke of how 'desperate' Scot Young had become towards the end of his life as she prepares to welcome a child with her new partner.

The Ladies Of London star, who is now pregnant with her City trader boyfriend Nick Perks, told Hello! magazine said: 'I might regret that I did so much for him.'

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Candid: Noelle Reno, 32, spoke of how 'desperate' her ex Scot Young had become before he fell out of a balcony in London in 2014

'I bailed him out financially to the point where I nearly got myself into trouble. That's the bit I'm still processing; that someone who loved me would put me in that situation.

'I think he got very desperate towards the end and did things that probably he didn't want to live with.

'I do believe he would have come good with his loans and debts if he could have got back to what he was good at doing: making deals.'

Scot was 52 when his body was discovered impaled on railings outside a block of luxury flats and an inquest hearing later heard that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Tragic: The Ladies Of London star, 32, also opened up about how she helped Scot financially while they were together (pictured together in 2012)

Heartbreaking: Scot was 52 when his body was discovered impaled on railings outside a block of luxury flats and an inquest hearing later heard that there were no suspicious circumstances

He had been sent to prison during a very public and acrimonious divorce row over a multi-million-pound settlement with his ex-wife Michelle, and was said to have suffered a financial 'meltdown', leading him to bankruptcy.

Noelle started dating Scot in 2009, and stood by him during his divorce proceedings with Michelle - who has two children Sasha and Scarlet with the late businessman.

Following his death, Noelle has moved on and is now expecting her first child with new beau Nick.

The couple only discovered they were having a baby together after four months of dating but are thrilled to be expecting a boy.

New beginnings: Following his death, Reno has moved on and is now expecting her first child with Nick Perks

Exciting: The couple only discovered they were having a baby together after four months of dating but are thrilled to be expecting a boy

She said: 'I'm so grateful for where everything is at, I truly am. It's almost scary to a degree.

'There are lots of challenges but it looks like everything has panned out how I wanted. I just feel so blessed.'

Reno added that she was surprised about the pregnancy, and that she did not think it would happen for her.

For the full interview see this week's Hello! Magazine, out now

'I didn't think I could [get pregnant] so this was a wonderful surprise,' she said.

'I hadn't given up but it's so interesting because, gosh, it was a case of the right person at the right time.

'I think the body is more intelligent than we give it credit for.

'I've found someone who is an amazing partner and an amazing guy. He doesn't let me get away with anything, which is really annoying!

'My mum was watching us last week and she said [to him], 'You are perfect for her!''

The good-looking couple and parents to be have been dating since November last year.

The duo, who have several mutual friends, first met at a party in Ibiza in August, before starting up a relationship a few months later.
The Tennessee Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Tuesday released its 2016 Report Card for Tennessees Infrastructure, grading 10 categories of the states infrastructure, resulting in an overall grade point average of C.

A team of professional engineers from across Tennessee assessed the 10 categories, including Aviation (B-), Bridges (B), Dams (D), Drinking Water (C), Inland Waterways (C-), Parks (C), Roads (C+), Schools (C-), Transit (D+) and Wastewater (D+). The last Report Card for Tennessees Infrastructure, released in 2009, also gave the states infrastructure a GPA of C.

Tennessees infrastructure is at a crossroads of exploding population growth, aging infrastructure, and inadequate funding, said Monica Sartain, chair, Tennessee Infrastructure Report Card Committee. To live up to our nickname, America at its best, we need more than mediocre infrastructure; we need sustainable, strategic solutions and investments across all categories of infrastructure.

The 2016 Report Card for Tennessees Infrastructure finds that much of the states infrastructure requires investment and upgrades to keep up with its growing population and infrastructure demands. Of note:

The state is home to the lowest number of bridges that are both structurally deficient and functionally obsolete of all the southeastern states.

Tennessee is home to 576 farm pond dams that are exempt from regulation and regular inspection requirements.

Increasing traffic levels around the state cause significant delays. Each year, the average driver in Tennessees large urban areas loses significant time to traffic congestion: Chattanooga: 28 hours, Knoxville: 35 hours, Memphis: 43 hours, and Nashville/Davidson: 45 hours.

While Tennessees roads are in superior condition when compared to neighboring states, current funding will not keep pace with demand and deteriorating performance, with an estimated $475 million necessary each year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates Tennessees total 20-year drinking water infrastructure needs to be $2.7 billion.

Budget cuts and depleted funds in the federal Inland Waterways Trust Fund threaten to set back Tennessees water transportation infrastructure, including the new Chickamauga Lock, Tennessees biggest water infrastructure project.

The U.S. EPA Clean Water Needs Survey shows an overall need of $2.6 billion for Tennessees wastewater infrastructure.

Given these infrastructure challenges, the Tennessee Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers urges a number of recommendations to raise the grades, including:

Finding sustainable solutions that will help Tennessee build a transportation network for the future; leveraging infrastructure investments to help manage the impact of expected population growth; leveraging the state's central location as a transportation hub; raising awareness of the true cost of water; and lessening the unknowns about the states farm pond dams.

The Report Card for Tennessees Infrastructure was created as a public service to citizens and policymakers of the state to inform them of the infrastructure needs in their community. By using school report card letter grades, civil engineers, including students at Vanderbilt University, used their expertise to condense complicated data into an easy-to-understand analysis.

ASCE State and Regional Infrastructure Report Cards are modeled after the national Report Card for Americas Infrastructure, which gave Americas infrastructure a grade of D+ in 2013.

To view the full Tennessee report, visit http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/tennessee.
Will & Grace's Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally reunited to boost voter turnout in a video shared Monday.

The show's creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan produced the 10-minute mini-episode, which was shot a decade after their NBC sitcom ended.

53-year-old Eric reprised his role as gay lawyer Will Truman, who's still best friends with straight interior designer Grace Adler (48-year-old Debra).

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'Vote, honey!' Will & Grace's Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally reunited to boost voter turnout in a video shared Monday

'We are family!' The show's creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan produced the 10-minute mini-episode, which was shot a decade after their NBC sitcom ended (pictured Wednesday)

In it, Will called Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a 'd***' but admitted he lusted after Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

That's when Karen Walker (57-year-old Megan) bursts in with a Trump bumper sticker on her her Hermes Birkin bag and shouts: 'Make America bueno again!'

The alcoholic socialite brags about her 'fun weekend at Mar-a-Lago,' claiming: 'Donnie is one of my oldest friends. I helped him pick out Melania!'

The trio then attempts to sway undecided voter Jack McFarland (46-year-old Sean), who happens to be registered in swing state Pennsylvania.

Frustrated over election: 53-year-old Eric reprised his role as gay lawyer Will Truman, who's still best friends with straight interior designer Grace Adler (48-year-old Debra)

'There wouldn't be a lot of talking': In it, Will called Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a 'd***' but admitted he lusted after Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

That's when Karen Walker (57-year-old Megan) bursts in with a Trump bumper sticker on her her Hermes Birkin bag and shouts: 'Make America bueno again!'

'Go tell it on the mountain!' The trio then attempts to sway undecided voter Jack McFarland (46-year-old Sean), who happens to be registered in swing state Pennsylvania

After Will tells his flamboyantly gay actor pal that pop diva Katy Perry likes Hillary, he exclaims: 'And Bingo was his name-O! Sorry, Karen, I'm with her!'

After Will tells his flamboyantly gay actor pal that pop diva Katy Perry likes Hillary, he exclaims: 'And Bingo was his name-O! Sorry, Karen, I'm with her!'

The liberal-leaning sketch was strategically posted hours before the first televised debate between 68-year-old Clinton and 70-year-old Trump in New York.

It's not hard to see why the charismatic cast all but endorsed Hillary since Will & Grace was the first primetime show to star openly gay characters.

The groundbreaking, Manhattan-set show ran for eight seasons and amassed 16 Emmy Awards, including one for each lead.

It begins! The liberal-leaning sketch was strategically posted hours before the first televised debate between 70-year-old Trump and 68- year-old Clinton in New York

The fab four! It's not hard to see why the charismatic cast all but endorsed Hillary since Will & Grace was the first primetime show to star openly gay characters (pictured in 1998)

Series finale: The groundbreaking, Manhattan-set show ran for eight seasons and amassed 16 Emmy Awards, including one for each lead (pictured in 2006)

'Will & Grace did more to educate the American public than almost anything': Back in 2012, Vice President Joe Biden endorsed gay marriage by citing the series on NBC's Meet the Press

Back in 2012, Vice President Joe Biden endorsed gay marriage by citing the series on NBC's Meet the Press.

The 73-year-old politician said: 'Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done so far.'

Of the four, Messing has been the most vocal supporter for the former First Lady, even attending the Democratic National Convention on July 28 alongside Connie Britton and Sophia Bush.

That same day, the eight-time Golden Globe nominee got into a Twitter war with Republican Blake Shelton, who insisted he hadn't endorsed Trump.

'#We'reWithHer': Of the four, Messing has been the most vocal supporter for the former First Lady, even attending the Democratic National Convention on July 28

'Sorry': That same day, the eight-time Golden Globe nominee got into a Twitter war with Republican Blake Shelton, who insisted he hadn't endorsed Trump

'LOL that I would ever vote Trump': And back in March, Debra had a heated back and forth with Bernie Sanders supporter Susan Sarandon, who openly hates Hillary

And back in March, Debra had a heated back and forth with Bernie Sanders supporter Susan Sarandon, who openly hates Hillary.

The divorced mother-of-one will next play Marjorie Houseman in ABC's upcoming three-hour musical re-imagining of the 1987 flick Dirty Dancing.

Speaking of which, Sean will use his Tony-nominated talent to play Hefty Hideaway owner Mr. Pinky in NBC's Hairspray Live! airing December 7.

The boutique businessman was previously played by Jerry Stiller in the 2007 musical feature and Alan J. Wendl in John Waters' 1988 classic.

Originally played by Kelly Bishop (R): The divorced mother-of-one will next play Marjorie Houseman in ABC's upcoming three-hour musical re- imagining of the 1987 flick Dirty Dancing

Boutique businessman: Speaking of which, Sean will use his Tony-nominated talent to play Hefty Hideaway owner Mr. Pinky in NBC's Hairspray Live! airing December 7

McCormack will next play FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren in the Canadian time-traveling series Travelers, which premieres October 17 on Netflix.

And Mullally will next portrays wife and mother-of-two Barb Fleming in the film Why Him? alongside Bryan Cranston and James Franco.

The meet-the-parents comedy hits US theaters December 25 and UK theaters December 30.

Streaming soon! McCormack will next play FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren in the Canadian time-traveling series Travelers, which premieres October 17 on Netflix
She's modeled for Bras N Things, showing off her DD-cup cleavage for the lingerie label's sexy 'Killer Kurves' campaign.

Now, Tahnee Atkinson is set to be the face of another coveted brand - Ella Bache.

On Sunday, the 24-year-old posted a picture of her flaunting her impressive curves and ample cleavage while shooting the campaign on Maroubra Beach.

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Busty on the beach: On Sunday, Tahnee Atkinson, 27, showed off her ample assets and killer curves while shooting on Maroubra Beach for Ella Bache's upcoming campaign

In the photo, the stunning model is wearing nothing but a tight purple bikini, which pushed her perky breasts upwards.

Her flat, toned stomach was exposed, as was her sun-kissed skin.

The brunette beauty's makeup by Ania Milczarcyzk, was kept natural and low key.

Tahnee's chestnut hair was tied into a tight top-knot bun.

That CLEAVAGE: The Perth-born model appeared in a racy Bras N Things campaign in August

The model held her left arm up above her head to shade her eyes from the sun.

She captioned the photo: 'Behind the scenes from yesterday's shoot with @ellabacheaus #comingsoon'

The snap showed a deserted Maroubra Beach, with the white sand stretching out to the landscape.

Enviable assets: Not only does Tahnee have an impressive cleavage, but a toned stomach as well

In August, Tahnee teamed with Bras N Things to star in their Killer Kurves campaign.

In the photos, the Perth-born model worked her angles in a series of sexy ensembles.

The campaign came after the top-heavy beauty announced her plans to launch her own swimwear label Kenni and Kai.
Gold Coast Titans chief executive Graham Annesley has confirmed Jarryd Hayne is expecting his first child, according to Seven News.

The alleged confirmation comes a day after New Idea reported the 28-year-old and friend Amellia Bonnici, 25, were expecting a child together after meeting on Instagram earlier in the year.

The pair are due to welcome their first born at the end of the year, according to the publication.

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Truth: The Gold Coast Titans chief executive Graham Annesley has confirmed Jarryd Hayne is expecting his first child

However, a representative for the Gold Coast Titans has denied the club confirmed the pregnancy to Seven News, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'No it wasn't confirmed. That was a journalist's misinterpretation/stretching. Our stance us the same. That is Jarryd's personal business.'

A representative for Jarryd, who is a Christian and joined the Hillsong Church in 2008, also refused to comment on the sportsman's personal life when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

The magazine claims the Gold Coast Titans player met Amellia during a trip back to Australia in February following months of living abroad.

After finding out she was expecting, Amellia was reportedly worried about telling Jarryd because they weren't officially dating and he was living in the US at the time.

Close friend: According to New Idea magazine, he and Amellia Bonnici are due to welcome their bundle of joy at the end of the year. Amellia is pictured here on the left

Despite having concerns, the magazine has claimed the former Parramatta Eels player has been supportive of the expecting mother and their decision to have a child together.

'He told Amellia he wanted her to have the baby and would be there for her no matter what they decided to do about their relationship,' an unnamed source told the magazine.

'He was absolutely wonderful about it and he really made her feel like she had his full support, and it was a relief.'

Excited: According to the publication, Jarryd 'told Amellia he wanted her to have the baby and would be there for her no matter what' (Jarryd pictured with his nephew)

A close friend to the NRL player added his family members have welcomed Amellia into their family since news broke.

'They have welcomed Amellia into their family with open arms and can't wait to meet the little one,' they said.

Amellia has reportedly moved into Jarryd's Gold Coast apartment after he signed a two-year deal with the Titans squad.

Jarryd returned to Australia in August after signing with the Gold Coast Titans for $1.2 million per season.

Must be serious? Amellia has reportedly moved into Jarryd's Gold Coast apartment, after he signed a two-year deal with the Titans squad.

The Western-Sydney born athlete is a Christian, who joined the Hillsong Church in Sydney in 2008.

In 2015, Jarryd spoke to a crowd of 20,000 at an annual conference where he spoke about his relationship with the church.

He said: 'When I first starting coming to Hillsong I wasnt glorified as an athlete. You know, you are there as a son of God.

Where it all began: The NRL player met Amellia during a trip back to Australia earlier in the year following months of living in the U.S

'That for me helped me so much. Church for me was one of those things on a Sunday, I could just come and be me.Coming in and speaking about God was huge for me.'

During a press conference in March, Jarryd commented: 'Im not perfect. I struggle with sin and temptation all the time. For me, they are the key areas where I want to improve as well.

'Theyre part of that journey now. Christ comes before everything.'
His most famous role saw him playing immaculately turned out billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne.

But Dark Knight Rises star Christian Bale once again indulged his love of hobo chic when he stepped out with his elegant wife Sibi in Los Angeles on Monday.

The multimillionaire managed to stand out from the crowd as he stretched his legs in the posh Brentwood area of the city on a sun-kissed autumn afternoon.

Her Dark Knight in shining armour: Christian Bale escorted wife Sibi down the street as they went for a romantic stroll in Los Angeles on Monday

The 42-year-old Welsh hunk with the common touch looked far from the A-lister he is in a navy T-shirt, green combat trousers and trainers.

His look was overshadowed by his elegant other half, who appeared radiant in a black top, leggings and trainers.

The dashing actor is getting set to hit screens in The Promise, which tells the story of the star's American journalist character and a love triangle that develops involving him and an Armenian-born woman raised in France during the Armenian Genocide.

Father-of-two Christian, who is famed for his explosive temper, previously admitted he was struck with jealousy since Ben Affleck took ownership of the cape and cowl for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Mr Hipster: The Oscar-winner was sporting an adventurous moustache and goatee combo

Hobo chic: The dashing Prestige beefcake had once again dressed down for the day

What a contrast: His other half Sibi looked effortlessly elegant

He said: 'I've got to admit initially, even though I felt that it was the right time to stop, there was always a bit of me going, 'Oh, go on ... Let's do another,'"

'So when I heard there was someone else doing it, there was a moment where I just stopped and stared into nothing for half an hour.

'The fact that I'm jealous of someone else playing Batman, I think I should have gotten over it by now.'

But he ended up having the last laugh, and was surely chuckling loudly when the reviews rolled in for the critical bomb, which NPR called a 'ponderous, smothering, over-pixelated zeppelin crash of a movie.'

Hope the door's unlocked: The volatile Welsh star may have had one of his famous tantrums if he could not get in his flash motor
She confirmed her split with Liev Schreiber.

And Naomi Watts looked sad on her first outing since the shocking announcement.

The 47-year-old actress was spotted walking her dog in New York City on Monday.

Downtrodden: Naomi Watts was spotted walking her dog in New York City on Monday as she was seen for the first time since announcing her split with Liev Schreiber

She looked comfortable cool in a white and red striped long-sleeved top with skinny blue McGuire Denim Jeans rolled up and a pair of white low-top Vans Old Skool shoes.

The King Kong actress accessorised with a small black leather designer bag as she carried along a black blazer.

Her blonde locks were worn down flowing over her shoulders as she sported natural, complimentary make-up on her face.

On-the-go: The 48-year-old actress was seen all by her lonesome as she walked her precious pooch

Casual customer: She looked comfortable cool in a white and red striped long-sleeved top with skinny McGuire Denim Jeans rolled up and a pair of white low-top Vans Old Skool shoes

Stylish: The King Kong actress accessorised with a small black leather designer bag as she carried along a black blazer

Lonely? Her blonde locks were worn down flowing over her shoulders as she sported natural, complimentary make-up on her face

On the same day her now 48-year-old former partner was spotted looking melancholy while riding a bike in New York City.

Liev had a teary-eyed look on his face as he pedalled along in the Big Apple with a denim jacket and trucker cap on.

The outing came just after the pair confirmed that they have decided to split up after 11 years and two children together.

In a joint statement, they said: 'Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple.

Moving on: Liev, 48, was also seen on the same day and in the same city going for a bike ride

Aww: The Ray Donovan actor had a teary-eyed expression on his face

Pedalling along: He had a denim jacket and trucker cap on

'It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship.'

Naomi, 47, and Liev, 48, added: 'While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy.'

The couple, who never married, have been in a relationship since 2005.

They are parents to two sons: Alexander 'Sasha', nine, and seven-year-old Samuel Kai.

Calling it quits: Naomi and Liev have announced their separation on Monday. They are seen here earlier this month

'We look forward to raising our children together': The former couple, who were last pictured together on September 13, are putting sons Alexander 'Sasha' (L) and Samuel Kai first

Doing just fine: Naomi was seen smiling while on set of TV series Gypsy in New York City on Monday ahead of the split announcement

Mini-me: Liev brought son Alexander, who is known as Sasha, to the Emmy Awards earlier this month

The news certainly comes as a shock after Naomi and Liev put on an affectionate display at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

The pair went hand-in-hand on the red carpet at the premiere of The Bleeder, which they are co-starring in.

In the biographical film about heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, Naomi plays Liev's third wife as he (portraying Wepner) prepares to fight Muhammad Ali in 1975.

Naomi and Liev were spotted together for the last time before confirming their split as they took their kids to school on September 13.

However, according to social media was near impossible to tell there was trouble in paradise; A week ago Naomi posted a photo of her husband and son Sasha to Instagram as they went to the Emmys together

While Liev for his part shared a besotted snap of Naomi three weeks ago in a dress showing off her incredible legs at a party with the caption: 'Ay dios mio...'

However, according to social media was near impossible to tell there was trouble in paradise.

A week ago Naomi posted a photo of her husband and son Sasha to Instagram as they went to the Emmys together, with the caption: 'Dapper duo here... #twinning #crushingit #goodluck #raydonovan @lievschreiber #proudbeyondwords'

While Liev for his part shared a besotted snap of Naomi three weeks ago in a dress showing off her incredible legs at a party with the caption: 'Ay dios mio...'

Magic moment: While they had met previously, the two stars got together after bumping into each other at the Met Gala in 2005

The couple pictured with their children pictured in March 2015 in North Hollywood, California

Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts pictured with their sons cycling through New York in 2014

While they had met previously, the two stars got together after bumping into each other at the Met Gala in 2005.

The split comes after another celebrity shocker when Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt last week.

In March, Naomi confessed during an interview with Los Angeles Confidential magazine that their relationship wasn't always smooth sailing.

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber take their children out in New York on Halloween 2011

They had been in a relationship since 2005 and are parents to two sons (pictured)

The family is pictured at the Los Angeles Clippers vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in January this year

'Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple'

'Relationships are hard whether you're famous or not,' she explained. 'I don't know anyone who doesn't have to work on it. Being an actor doesn't change anything.

'I'm sure it's the same if you're a doctor or a couple of lawyers. You have high-pressure jobs, lots of hours, stresses that come unexpectedly - and you have to figure out how to be present in the midst of it all.'

Working together as a couple: In the biographical film The Bleeder about heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, Naomi plays Liev's third wife as he (portraying Wepner) prepares to fight Muhammad Ali in 1975 (pictured on the New York set of the film in November 2015)

Then in April she told Marie Claire magazine about meeting him at the Met Gala in 2005: 'I had a strong attraction to him. He is handsome and very masculine.'

She made the first move: Naomi previously admitted she made the Ray Donovan star ask for her number

'I love strong men, but he's just got a great look and intense eyes...and that voice,' Naomi continued to gloat.

At the time she explained they were first introduced in May 2005 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, and that she made sure she didnt go home without giving him her telephone number.

It was a lot more ballsy than I would ever normally be, the actress told Allure magazine. Normally I want a guy to make the first move, and he wasn't.

Then he got up to say he was leaving and I was like, Oh s***. Probably another couple years are going to pass by. I was wildly attracted to him and his work, so I said something cheeky as he was about to walk out.

I said, Dont you want my digits? Because I couldn't possibly say, Would you like my phone number?

Happier time: The former couple seen here in 2006, one year after they began dating

Naomi recalled how the bold move worked on her fellow actor.

It made him laugh, she explained. He texted me five minutes later saying, Would you like to go for a drink now? And I said, No, I'll meet you for breakfast tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Naomi previously opened up about her close bond with Liev, revealing she always asks him for career advice.

Back to work! The star was seen the same day the split was announced on set of her Netflix show Gypsy

Hold on: The actress looked to be quite adept at not letting the sad development get in the way of her performance

She said: 'We're both interested in each other's work. And we ask each other for advice, I trust his judgement and I like to think he trusts mine. I could be wrong.

'It's about supporting the other. When both parents are in the creative arts, it's not nine-to-five. Sometimes our schedules mean we spend a lot more time at home than most parents. And then there are times we have to travel for long periods.

'If one of us feels very passionately about a job, the other supports and takes over. That's the nature of the profession. But we always make it work.'
They have held the top spot in the FM radio ratings all year.

But in the latest round of surveys, KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show have suffered a slump, dropping by 0.9% while rivals 2Day FM's Rove & Sam have gained 0.2%.

Despite still holding the number one FM position, the controversial breakfast show has received a total of 8.9% listeners, dropping from 9.8% in July.

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The results are in: KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show (pictured) have dropped by 0.9% in the latest round of radio ratings

Ignoring the dip in their ratings, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson thanked their loyal listeners on social media.

'Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who listens to us each day. We love you guys,' they posted.

While the popular duo topped the FM ratings, it was AM broadcaster Alan Jones who held the overall top spot with a two point increase to 16.2 share.

The breakfast radio star's increased numbers helped station 2GB record it's highest audience share since new ratings began, according to Mumbrella.

Meanwhile the publication reports fellow AM channel 2UE recorded it's biggest audience share since the start of 2015.

Still holding the top: Despite still holding the number one position, the controversial breakfast show has received a total of 8.9% listeners, dropping from 9.8% in July

Ratings: Coming in at second spot was Smooth FM's breakfast show with Bogart Torelli, who sat comfortably at 7% while Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa (pictured) followed with 6.4%

Coming in at second spot on the FM dial was Smooth FM's breakfast show with Bogart Torelli, who sat comfortably at 7%, tying with WSFM's Amanda and Jonesy.

They were closely followed by Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa Show, who received 6.4% in the latest ratings.

The biggest drop in listeners was Triple M's morning show after they fell from third position to fifth.

The breakfast show lost a large 1.6% of their listeners, dropping from 6.9% to 5.3% in just six weeks.

Slowly moving up: Despite staying in the bottom spot in the latest survey, Rove McManus and Sam Frost gained 0.2%, jumping from 4.1% to 4.3%

Despite staying in the bottom spot in the latest survey, Rove McManus and Sam Frost gained 0.2%, jumping from 4.1% to 4.3%.

For the drive time slot, Smooth FM with Byron Webb held onto the number one spot, bringing in 11.3%.

Coming in second was Nova FM's Kate, Tim & Marty Show, receiving 9.3%.
She's been visited in the studio by countless A-list celebrities on her KIIS 106.5 radio show.

But Jackie 'O' Henderson couldn't believe her luck on Tuesday morning, when she was paid a surprise visit by her favourite actor, Idris Elba.

Only realising who the mystery guest was after removing a blindfold, the 41-year-old screamed hysterically and swore while on-air as she told the British hunk: 'I love you so much!'

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Surprise! Jackie 'O' Henderson was completely shocked and excited when she was paid a visit in the KIIS studio by Idris Elba

Jackie's enthusiastic reaction came after she was asked by co-host Kyle Sandilands to put on a blindfold and guess who their next celebrity guest was 'via touch and touch only'.

As Idris, 44, made his way towards a seated Jackie, the mother-of-one began to feel her way around his ripped torso in a bid to guess his identity.

'She's going straight in for the grope there!' said Kyle.

'Good shoulders!' Whilst feeling up her "mystery guest," Jackie wasn't why about praising the star's physique

Putting in the guess work: The blonde presenter was only allowed to try and figure out who her guest was by touching him

Excited: After removing her blindfold to discover who it was, the mother-of-one jumped up to give her idol a huge hug

Jackie said: 'Oh, god, I'm so sorry, whoever this is,' before making her way to the hunk's shoulders and exclaiming: 'Oh! Good shoulders!'

The blonde beauty continued to praise her unidentified guest, saying: 'Whoever this guy is, he's very muscular... and tall.'

As soon as the blindfold was off, Jackie leaped up from her seat and yelled out the F-word while screaming: 'Oh my god!'

Tears of joy: Jackie was seen wiping away tears after meeting the 'best actor on the planet'

Good one: The surprise visit was organised by Jackie's co-host Kyle Sandilands

After giving her celebrity idol a huge hug, the Sydney-based presenter settled back into her seat as she wiped away her tears.

'He is seriously the best actor on the planet,' Jackie stated.

Idris meanwhile, is in Australia to film the latest Marvel flick Thor: Ragnorak and has been doing a spot of interviews during his visit.

Well played! Jackie later posed for a happy snap with the English actor

The English actor, who has been rumoured to play James Bond, hinted that the spy role isn't the right fit for him.

He told The Daily Telegraph he'd love to star in a comedy after 17 years of playing serious and dramatic roles.

'I never play anyone that makes anyone laugh,' he explained.

'It is always quite grumpy characters, so I wouldnt mind having a bit of a laugh and maybe a bit of romance to spread it about a bit.'
She's quickly becoming one of the most in-demand Hollywood starlets.

And Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander has been revealed as Porter Magazine's stunning new cover girl in a bohemian-style 17-page spread.

The 27-year-old star speaks candidly about her party days with international pop stars Icona Pop and Tove Lo and her current relationship with Michael Fassbender.

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In demand: Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander was revealed as Porter Magazine's stunning new cover girl and opens up to the publication in an exclusive interview discussing her relationship with Michael Fassbender

The Danish Girl and Ex Machina actress met her Irish actor beau while filming The Light Between Oceans, and ahead of the film's release she opened up to the magazine about their relationship: 'We've never hidden the fact we're a couple,' the actress said.

'He's extremely hardworking. He was like, 'Give me something new! I just need a new idea. I need to do it differently.' I just thought that was cool. Because that was what I was trying to do, too. To push each other and come up with new ideas each time,' the brunette beauty added.

The romantic period blockbuster based on the M.L. Stedman novel of the same name will see the pair, who have been dating since meeting on set in 2014, play a lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia just after World War I.

Radiant! Alicia was styled by Fashion Editor George Cortina in the latest FW16 pieces - including a Louis Vuitton dress in her cover shot - in the publication's 17-page spread

Wearing a modest, black Louis Vuitton dress on the cover, the publication labels Alicia: 'Hollywood's brave and defiant leading lady'

The Swedish-born star gave a sultry stare while sporting a dark, smouldering smokey eye with a hint of sparkly blue eyeliner on her lids.

With her hair teased and combed back from her face, her intricately designed earrings added a hint of urban-jungle style to the polished look.

Urban Ballerina! The Swedish-born star shows off her former ballerina poise while posing on one foot atop a taxi cab in black, high-heeled boots

Photographed by Ryan McGinley and styled by Fashion Editor George Cortina, Alicia wears the latest FW16 pieces to perfection, including winter coats and long-sleeved dresses.

In one shot, the former ballerina showcases her poised balance while standing atop a taxi cab in high-heeled black boots on one leg.

The young actress told the magazine that while she was studying ballet she would rave all night and return to ballet school at 4am to sleep in the locker room.

Loved up: Alicia attended the premiere of The Light Between Oceans with co-star and partner Michael Fassbender at the 73rd Venice Film Festival on September 2

Introduced to the Stockholm electronic music scene by friends and Swedish duo Pop and Lo, she said to the publication: 'I kind of set myself the rule that I was going to find friends who weren't part of that (ballet scene in Stockholm) to get a break They were like the cool girls'

The star eventually gave up ballet and pursued acting, landing a role in Lisa Langseth's film Pure at 19.

Last year, Alicia won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance as Gerda in The Danish Girl, and was pulled up for controversially not thanking Michael in her acceptance speech.
They have been romantically linked since 2014.

And Kris Jenner's beau Corey Gamble, 35, is already playing the role of proud 'father' as the couple jetted off to Paris Fashion Week to support her supermodel daughter Kendall Jenner down the runway.

The 60-year-old momager fit right into the French scene as she donned a chic ensemble for her date night on Monday.

Ooh La La! Kris Jenner stepped out with beau Corey Gamble in Paris as the couple made their way to a restaurant on Monday

The mother-of-six opted for a high-neck, cream-colored lace top, which she wore under a black velvet, military style jacket.

Kris added trendy soft pants, highlighting her svelte legs, and slipped into strappy sandal heels to complete the look.

Atlanta native Corey dressed in a black zip-up hoodie, dark jeans and shoes as the pair made their way to the fancy Paris hot spot, Cavia Kaspia.

Chic: The 60-year-old star opted for a high-neck, cream-colored lace top, military jacket and soft pants. She topped off the outfit with strappy sandal heels and jewels

Matching rings? The couple donned similar rings on their respective ring fingers. The music exec, 35, wore a zip-up jacket, jeans and dressy shoes

The intimate restaurant, which has been frequented by stars including Beyonce and Jay Z, was the perfect tucked away restaurant for the couple's date night.

And this was not the only treat for the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star since her travel.

She recently took to Instagram and snapped photos of what appeared to be her fancy in-flight menu as well as Mary Kay delicacies.

Dinner is served! The mom-of-six showed off the artistic menu via Instagram on Sunday

Still going strong! Kris shared a photo of the couple as they jetted off to Paris for fashion week on Sunday to watch Kendall Jenner down the runway

After meeting at designer Riccardo Tisci's 40th birthday party, according to E! News, the couple instantly turned romantic and have been going strong for two years.

This follows her split from Caitlyn Jenner.

Meanwhile, r unning from September 27 to the October 5, Paris Fashion Week follows New York, London, and Milan fashion weeks.
Kristen Wiig showed a little leg at the Hollywood premiere of her film Masterminds on Monday.

The 42-year-old funnywoman showcased her eccentric flair in a thigh-baring patterned mesh dress selected by her stylist Penny Lovell.

The Oscar-nominated writer wore her blonde bob side-parted and sported full make-up for the glitzy black carpet event.

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Flirty for her! Kristen Wiig showed a little leg at the Hollywood premiere of her film Masterminds on Monday

See-through: The 42-year-old funnywoman showcased her eccentric flair in a thigh-baring patterned mesh dress selected by her stylist Penny Lovell

Who you gonna call? The Oscar-nominated writer wore her blonde bob side-parted and sported full make-up for the glitzy black carpet event

Kristen was joined there by her bearded castmate Zach Galifianakis, who looked slim in a black blazer and grey khakis.

The Between Two Ferns host - who turns 47 this Saturday - revealed he had to be separated from the Sausage Party actress on the set for 'laughing too much.'

'Like children, we had to be separated!' Zach told Fandango during a Facebook Live chat on Saturday.

'So I was acting to an empty chair where Kristen was supposed to be and vice versa. There's a scene in the movie where we're in a police station and neither one of us were there with each other.'

Weight loss: Kristen was joined there by her bearded castmate Zach Galifianakis, who looked slim in a black blazer and grey khakis

Larking around: Kristen and Zach had a giggle within the event

Cooling off: Kristen posed rather glamorously next to a water cooler

All the stars: Kristen also grabbed Owen Wilson for a snap

'Like children!' The Between Two Ferns host - who turns 47 this Saturday - revealed he had to be separated from the Sausage Party actress on the set for 'laughing too much'

Zach told Fandango during a Facebook Live chat on Saturday: 'I was acting to an empty chair where Kristen was supposed to be and vice versa. There's a scene in the movie where we're in a police station and neither one of us were there with each other'

Stealing $17M: In the heist comedy, Wiig plays Kelly 'The Bait' Campbell while Galifianakis replaced Jim Carrey in the role of David 'The Pawn' Ghantt

In the heist comedy, Wiig plays Kelly 'The Bait' Campbell while Galifianakis replaced Jim Carrey in the role of David 'The Pawn' Ghantt.

Also at the Masterminds premiere was Oscar nominee Owen Wilson looking sharp in a white suit over a black polo.

Steve 'The Brains' Chambers is the first role the 47-year-old Oscar nominee has taken on since the dismally-reviewed Zoolander 2.

Wilson's onscreen leading lady Mary Elizabeth Ellis - who plays Michelle - matched him in a white halter pencil dress and black stilettos.

Butterscotch stallion: Also at the Masterminds premiere was Oscar nominee Owen Wilson looking sharp in a white suit over a black polo

Blond Texan: Steve 'The Brains' Chambers is the first role the 47-year-old Oscar nominee has taken on since the dismally-reviewed Zoolander 2

Vampy lipstick: Wilson's onscreen leading lady Mary Elizabeth Ellis - who plays Michelle - matched him in a white halter pencil dress and black stilettos

Mormon maestro: Masterminds was helmed by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, who rocked trendy clear-framed glasses with his hipster beard

Masterminds was helmed by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, who rocked trendy clear-framed glasses with his hipster beard.

Based on the 1997 Loomis Fargo Robbery in North Carolina, the movie also features SNL stars Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Jason Sudeikis.

Masterminds - which has no known UK distribution - hits US theaters this Friday.
Darrell Moore, president and CEO of Parkridge Health System, will retire in December after a 40-year health care career. Mr. Moore has served the last decade of his career in this role at Parkridge, an HCA facility.

Im grateful that I am able to retire after a rewarding career committed to providing the best patient care through a compassionate, professional and friendly environment, said Mr. Moore. I couldnt have asked for a more challenging and rewarding position for the last ten years of my career.



Under Mr. Moores leadership, Parkridge expanded to five facilitiesParkridge Medical Center, Parkridge West Hospital, Parkridge East Hospital, Parkridge Valley Adult & Senior Campus and Parkridge Valley Child & Adolescent Campus.

Parkridge Health System received numerous service and quality accolades during Mr. Moores tenure, including Accredited Chest Pain Center (Parkridge and Parkridge East); Blue Distinction Center in the Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care program, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program; American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award and Atrial Fibrillation Bronze Quality Achievement Award; and accreditation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Mr. Moore also oversaw $62 million in major expansion projects, including phase one of the Parkridge Master Facility Plan, a new laboratory, operating room additions and renovations, and a new post-anesthesia care unit. In addition, Moore helped develop the next generation of hospital leadership by mentoring many young professionals in HCAs executive development program.



Darrell made a lasting impact on healthcare services available to the Chattanooga community by expanding access to quality care, fostering collaboration in the community and developing future healthcare leaders, said Steve Corbeil, president of HCAs TriStar Division, which includes Parkridge Health. We are proud of Darrells accomplishments and wish him the best as he retires.

"Under Darrells leadership, the medical staff at Parkridge has seen tremendous growth with expanded specialties. Darrells top priority has always been the patient and quality care, said Naveed Memon, MD, chief of staff. As a physician and chief of the medical staff, we could not have asked for a better leader and partner.

Mr. Moore has also been actively engaged in a variety of community service boards and committees, including the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.



Darrells guiding principal of instilling a culture of compassionate, professional and excellent healthcare delivery may seem simple but requires the skill to navigate the many demands of the hospital while building great rapport with physicians and staff at all levels, said Sandra Brewer, chair of the Parkridge Board of Trustees. His extraordinary leadership has continued the Parkridge mission of being committed to the care and improvement of human life.



Before becoming CEO of Parkridge Health System in 2006, Mr. Moore previously served as CEO of several HCA hospitals in the Kansas City area, including Research Medical Center, Baptist Medical Center, Trinity Lutheran Hospital and Centerpoint Medical Center (formerly Independence Regional Medical Center).



A national search is underway for Mr. Moores successor.



Mr. Moore and his wife plan to remain in the Chattanooga area.


They've enjoyed a whirlwind romance, albeit a controversial one, after meeting on The Bachelor.

And Alex Nation couldn't be happier as she reflects on her relationship with Richie Strahan in an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday.

Sharing a photo from their first meeting on-set, the 25-year-old gushed: 'This was one of my most favourite moments. I was so nervous I couldn't even string a sentence together.'

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Looking back: Alex Nation reflected on her first time meeting Richie Strahan on The Bachelor by sharing a snap from the very first episode

'"Thank you for the right wose,"' the mother-of-one continued, referencing her stumbled words to the 32-year-old oil-rig worker.

She added alongside the photo of the pair giggling in the Bachelor mansion's courtyard: 'Goodness we laughed!! Who would have thought hey.. Now here I am, abundantly filled with love and happiness. (sic)'

Since going public with their romance in the very polarising finale two weeks ago, Alex and Richie have been jet-setting around Australia to fulfill media responsibilities.

Loved-up: The 25-year-old said she's now 'abundantly filled with love and happiness' after her journey on the reality show

Lost for words: The mother-of-one said she was 'so nervous' she 'couldn't even string a sentence together'

The pair arrived in Richie's home city of Perth last week, where they've been enjoying life as a new couple.

On Saturday night, the love birds shared a video of themselves watching Grease on TV while lounging in matching robes.

In the short clip, Alex laughed as they both showed off their singing chops to the film's theme song Summer Nights.

Couple's night in: The love birds shared a short video of themselves singing the Grease hit Summer Nights while watching the movie on Saturday night

Bonding: The pair have been spending time in Richie's home city of Perth, where they caught up with the 32-year-old's mother Kate

During the visit, Alex has also had the chance to catch up with Richie's mother Kate and sister Alanah, whom she met during home town visits on the show months ago.

Meanwhile, Alex's five-year-old son Elijah is spending the school holidays with his father Joel Porter.

Despite filming ending months ago, Richie has yet to meet his girlfriend's little boy and the couple say they're in 'no rush'.
Heather Graham was spotted passionately kissing film producer Tommy Alastra in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood on Monday.

The 46-year-old actress couldn't keep her hands off her new bearded beau, who wore a pink tartan top, denim shorts, and a striped flatcap.

The two-time SAG Award nominee was clearly besotted with Alastra, whose last gig was producing LiveXLive Presents Rock in Rio Lisboa concert on May 19.

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It's official! Heather Graham was spotted passionately kissing film producer Tommy Alastra in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood on Monday

Get a room! The 46-year-old actress couldn't keep her hands off her new bearded beau, who wore a pink tartan top, denim shorts, and a striped flatcap

Embrace me! The two-time SAG Award nominee was clearly besotted with Alastra, whose last gig was producing LiveXLive Presents Rock in Rio Lisboa concert on May 19

Heather was dressed down in an off-white jumper, dark rinse skinny jeans, and Converse low-tops.

The PDA pair - who just returned from Italy - enjoyed the Mediterranean-Italian fare at restaurant Il Buco with friends.

While in Milan on Saturday, Graham brought the USC alum as her date to the amfAR Gala, which took place at La Permanente.

Fierce after 45! Heather was dressed down in an off-white jumper, dark rinse skinny jeans, and Converse low-tops

Lunch date! The PDA pair - who just returned from Italy - enjoyed the Mediterranean-Italian fare at restaurant Il Buco with friends

It was the first red carpet event the Angie Tribeca actress was seen at with her new tall, dark, and handsome Brooklyn-bred man.

Heather - who canoodled with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on April 24 - previously romanced Canadian presenter Tyler Harcott.

The Wisconsin-born blonde next plays Mary in Anthony Edwards' feature directorial debut My Dead Boyfriend, which hits US theaters November 3.

Definitely an item! While in Milan on Saturday, Graham brought the USC alum as her date to the amfAR Gala, which took place at La Permanente

Romance: It was the first red carpet event the Angie Tribeca actress was seen at with her new tall, dark, and handsome Brooklyn-bred man

Never married: Heather - who canoodled with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on April 24 - previously romanced Canadian presenter Tyler Harcott (pictured last year)

The Flaked funnywoman will then star as Honey in her own directorial debut - the sex comedy Half Magic with Angela Kinsey, Jason Lewis, and Molly Shannon.

'I never laughed so hard. Some nights I went home hurting from laughter. One of my biggest problems on set was trying not to laugh and ruin the take!' Graham told the Huffington Post in July.

'In the past, I think I was always waiting for someone to give me my dream job and then I realized that I was going to give myself my dream job. So, I just wrote and directed a movie- which was so fun and fulfilling.'

Action! The Wisconsin-born blonde next plays Mary in Anthony Edwards' feature directorial debut My Dead Boyfriend, which hits US theaters November 3

At the helm! The Flaked funnywoman will then star as Honey in her own directorial debut - the sex comedy Half Magic with Angela Kinsey (L), Jason Lewis (R), and Molly Shannon
After Ellen Ripley in the enduring Alien franchise, fans of Sigourney Weaver have become accustomed to seeing her in gun-toting, tough girl mode.

But on Monday night, the 66-year-old actress showed she can look as effortlessly glam as her Hollywood counterparts as she attended a movie premiere in Madrid.

The statuesque screen star wowed in a flared navy jumpsuit with stylish black heels as she walked the red carpet for her latest movie A Monster Calls.

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Spanish delight: Sigourney Weaver attended the Madrid premiere of her new movie A Monster Calls on Monday night

With her brunette tresses styled in perfect waves, Sigourney selected a natural palette of makeup, while silver chandelier earrings provided a touch of sparkle.

She was joined at the premiere by her co-star Lewis MacDougall, who plays in the lead character in the movie, which tells the story of a young boy dealing with his mother's terminal illness and the constant attacks of a school bully.

He then encounters a humanoid yew tree - played by Liam Neeson - which tells the young boy stories and helps to bring more cheer into his life.

In the navy: The Hollywood actress efortlessly oozed glamour in a flared navy jumpsuit

Lads: She was joined on the red carpet by (l-r) Juan Antonio Bayona and Lewis MacDougall

The fantasy film, based on the Patrick Ness novel, is set to be released in the US on December 23, hitting UK screens shortly afterwards on January 6.

Last week, Sigourney accepted the Donostia Award for lifetime achievement at Spain's prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival.

Looking regal and sophisticated, she oozed Hollywood glamour as she walked the red carpet in an ankle-length green gown that nipped in at the waist.

Tall drink of water: The 5ft11 star towered over her red carpet companions as she posed

Finely tailored to fit Sigourney's enviable form, the garment included a long decorative sash, also in green, which tied at her left hip.

Despite covering nearly every inch of her skin, the dress still showcased the silhouette of her chest, adding just the right amount of sex appeal to her elegant ensemble.

The 5ft 11in stunner elongated her frame in a pair of pointy heels, making her statuesque form look even more statuesque.

The New York City native, who has starred in comedies including Heartbreakers and Working Girl, pulled a series of hilarious faces as she accepted the award on stage.

Making waves: her brunette tresses were perfectly styled into a glamorous wavy bob

Star: Lewis plays in the lead character in the fantasy film, which hits US screens in December

Despite her deliberately funny expressions, which saw her gasping for air and projecting shock and horror, it was clear the Gorillas In The Mist star was deeply moved by the proceedings.

At one point her eyes appeared to well up as she looked into the audience and expressed her gratitude.

Previous winners of the award include Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, Sigourney attended a press conference where she expressed her support for U.S presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

What an entrance! Last week, she accepted the Donostia Award for lifetime achievement at Spain's prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival

'Its exciting in the U.S. now that it looks like we are finally going to have a woman president. Its overdue. I think a lot of the progress we made is now coming to fruition. We have women in all walks of life, armed services and other jobs.'

As Variety reported, she also brushed off the assumption that men get all the best roles in films.

'I dont think Ive ever had more work...Men have more roles, but I dont think they have better roles. I dont envy Russell Crowe. Great stories have great womens parts.'
She always ensures she's the centre of attention.

And Jasmin Walia was certainly turning heads when she attended the Deepwater Horizon European Film Premiere, held at Cineworld in London's Leicester Square on Monday night.

The former TOWIE star, 26, looked sensational in a skimpy teal ensemble, rocking a glitzy crop top and a matching skirt.

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Centre of attention: Jasmin Walia was turning heads when she attended the Deepwater Horizon European Film Premiere, held at Cineworld in London's Leicester Square on Monday night

Jasmin showed off her tiny waist and flat stomach in her crystal embellished top, which also highlighted her toned arms.

The reality starlet displayed her shapely derriere in a bodycon skirt, set off which a pair of nude strappy heels.

Jasmin completed her ensemble with a coordinating suede clutch bag and styled her long locks in loose curls.

Glamorous: The former TOWIE star, 26, looked sensational in a skimpy teal ensemble

Glitzy: Jasmin showed off her tiny waist and flat stomach in her crystal embellished top

The star recently split from long-term boyfriend Ross Worswick. The beauty began dating the Ex On The Beach star in 2014, and soon became inseparable.

Jasmin had been previously unlucky in love on the ITVBe show, after she was accused of seeing Charlie Sims following his split from Ferne McCann.

Ross meanwhile was a self-professed player, following an on-screen romp with Vicky Pattison on the MTV's Ex On The Beach before admitting he kept a tally of his conquests on his bedroom wall.

Glamorous: The reality starlet displayed her shapely derriere in a bodycon skirt, set off which a pair of nude strappy heels

Natural beauty: Jasmin styled her long, dark locks in loose curls

Leggy: Jasmin completed her ensemble with nude heels and a coordinating suede clutch bag

Single lady: Jasmin recently split from long-term boyfriend Ross Worswick

Sources told The Sun that Ross was left devastated, having changed his life to support his stunning girlfriend by moving down south before the shock split.

The split comes after Jasmin spoke to MailOnline last November about her dreams of marrying Ross.

'I hope he is the one but obviously, in today's society, things change everyday because of social media' she said. 'There's no rush.'

However, as well as healing her heartache on nights out, Jasmin has also been keeping busy with her fledgling singing career, having released new sexy music video for her debut single Dun Dee Dun earlier this year.

Speaking to OK! about her upcoming music ventures, she said: 'I'm just going to keep doing it organically and keep striving for it.'

Bad break-up: Sources told The Sun that Ross was left devastated, having changed his life to support his stunning girlfriend
She left her fans baffled on Monday over an image of her seemingly flat stomach.

Yet pregnant Stephanie Davis has defiantly shared a new shot of her burgeoning bump on Instagram after which she was flooded with kind words of support over the stunning image.

The 23-year-old former Hollyoaks star faced a barrage of questions and doubt after sharing an image on her Snapchat account in which she appeared to show off a suspiciously flat stomach - yet her shape changed once again in her latest post.

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Mum and baby: Pregnant Stephanie Davis defiantly shared a new shot of her burgeoning bump on Instagram on Monday after leaving fans baffled with a pic showing a flat tummy

After the furore over the image taken on her babymoon in Spain, the stunning star opted to share an image of her bump as she prepares for the arrival of the child she shares with Jeremy McConnell.

After posting the shot, a host of kind fans posted gushing comments including: 'Looking really good blooming your a fighter and this baby boy is so lucky to have you as his mum... Feeling like you been pregnant for years!!.' [sic]

'Hope you enjoyed ur holiday or still are you not got long to wait baby be here x @stephaniedavis88... Getting big now!!!! Good luck... I hope I look as good as you when I'm pregnant xx'.

Stephanie is in the midst of a babymoon ahead for the arrival of the baby she shares with her Celebrity Big Brother co-star Jeremy.

Then and now: The 23-year-old former Hollyoaks star faced questions after sharing an image on her Snapchat account in which she appeared to show off a suspiciously flat stomach

Loving words: After posting the shot, a host of kind fans posted gushing comments including: 'Looking really good blooming your a fighter and this baby boy is so lucky to have you as his mum... Feeling like you been pregnant for years!!'

After touching down in Spain, she immediately started documenting her trip on social media, with one stunning shot showing her cradling her burgeoning bump in a skin-tight black dress.

Yet fans were left baffled when she took to Snapchat to share a stunning selfie in which she showed off a shockingly flat stomach.

Her Snapchat followers then swarmed Twitter with shocked and confused reactions as they questioned why her stomach appeared to suddenly flatten.

What's going on? After touching down in Spain, she immediately started documenting her trip on social media, with one stunning shot showing her cradling her burgeoning bump in a skin-tight black dress

Happier than ever: The actress was questioned over the shot as fans on Twitter grilled her over the seemingly changing state of her bump

As she shared a screenshot of the image, one user penned: 'Ummmm @Stephdavis77 where's your baby? #fit'

Some more stunned reactions questioned why her shape changes so frequently: 'Cannot actually deal with Stephanie davis's bump, why is it huge in some pics and non existent in others?!

'Feel like stephanie Davis's bump changes size Everytime I see a pic of her.'

The images on Stephanie's Snapchat come after she seized her last chance for a child-free holiday as she jetted on her babymoon on Thursday, after revealing the trip is 'so needed' after many dramatic holidays in the past.

Shock! Some more stunned reactions questioned why her shape changes so frequently: 'Cannot actually deal with Stephanie davis's bump, why is it huge in some pics and non existent in others?!'

Happy families: Stephanie is in the midst of a babymoon as she prepares for the arrival of the baby she shares with her Celebrity Big Brother co-star Jeremy McConnell

Gone? Her Snapchat followers then swarmed Twitter with shocked and confused reactions as they questioned why her stomach appeared to suddenly flatten

The actress was perhaps referencing her overwhelming trip to Cape Verde in April with ex-beau and baby daddy Jeremy after reports surfaced claiming she was left in fear after a row.

Stephanie has kept her pregnancy well-documented following the tempestuous start to her journey after meeting Jeremy in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January.

Despite the beautiful brunette dating hunky model Sam Reece on the outside world, she struck up what would become an extremely volatile relationship with the father of her child.

Stunner: The images on Stephanie's Snapchat come after she seized her last chance for a child-free holiday as she jetted on her babymoon on Thursday, after revealing the trip is 'so needed' after many dramatic holidays in the past

Atop many questions over the pregnancy, Stephanie even faced disbelief and denial from Jeremy after he insisted his ex is not pregnant with his child and has even called for a DNA test if she gives birth to prove she is lying.

The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant called Stephanie's claims 'ridiculous,' and added she would look like a 'mug' when it is revealed any child is not his after a paternity test, Ireland's TV Now Magazine reports.

Following a bitter war of words between the former couple last week, the 26-year-old again said: 'I'm not going to be a dad. If she is pregnant, it's not mine.

Mistakes? Stephanie has kept her pregnancy well-documented following the tempestuous start to her journey after meeting Jeremy in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January

'If I was a dad, I'd be 100% no, 110%, the best dad in the world. But you'll see in the future that it's not my kid, and she'll look like a mug,' he added.

A representative for Stephanie said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Our client is categorically pregnant. We do not need to continue repeating this.'
She's a front row regular.

And while she's been busy filming as the world's fashion weeks continue, Kate Bosworth still managed to show off her chic sense of style as she headed out and about in New York on Monday.

The 33-year-old actress looked effortlessly cool in a print dress toughened up with a Frame leather jacket for the casual outing.

Stepping out in style: Kate Bosworth showed off her fashionable side as she headed out and about in New York on Monday

Kate showed off her legs in her thigh-grazing floral print dress.

She teamed the pretty frock with a Frame leather jacket buttoned up to her neck.

A pair of statement cowboy boots with a glitzy buckle and stud detail continued the rockstar vibe.

So chic: The 33-year-old actress looked effortlessly cool in a print dress toughened up with leather by Frame for the casual outing

Kate carried her belongings in a super chic satchel bag slung over her arm while she kept cool in shades.

With her blonde locks tied back into a slick ponytail and a dash of makeup to highlight her natural beauty, the actress was ready for the day.

Kate has been juggling a number of work projects in recent months, and is currently shooting film Finding Steve McQueen.

Check out the shoes! A pair of statement cowboy boots with a glitzy buckle and stud detail continued the rockstar vibe

The movie is based on the true story of the 1972 bank heist by a gang of thieves from Youngstown, Ohio, who tried to steal $30 million in illegal contributions and blackmail money from President Richard Nixons secret fund.

Travis Fimmel, William Fichtner and Forest Whitaker also star, with shooting taking place in Atlanta.

The film is expected to screen at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival.
She's the proud mum of eight-month-old son York Banks Asla.

But Tyra Banks, 42, gave herself a well deserved break from mummy-duty as she enjoyed a fancy dinner at West Hollywood's Craig's restaurant on Monday.

The former America's Next Top Model host looked effortlessly stylish in a loose-fitting olive jumpsuit paired with sky-high suede heels.

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Hot mama! Tyra Banks, 42, gave herself a well deserved break from mummy-duty as she enjoyed a fancy dinner at West Hollywood's Craig's restaurant on Monday

Tyra looked every inch the supermodel as she strutted out of the Californian hotspot in the simple yet chic ensemble.

Cinched at the waist with a matching belt, the brunette beauty flaunted her envy-inducing curves, while adding height to her tall frame with towering platform stilettos.

The 42-year-old looked all business as she carried two large handbags, one a stylish mustard number while the other looked full of papers.

The stunner wore her long chestnut tresses in a laid-back bedhead manner with her loose waves sprawled down her shoulders.

Dressed to impress: The former America's Next Top Model host looked effortlessly stylish in a loose-fitting olive jumpsuit paired with sky-high suede heels

Model behaviour: Cinched at the waist with a matching belt, the brunette beauty flaunted her envy-inducing curves, while adding height to her tall frame with towering platform stilettos

Opting for a minimal make-up look, Tyra sported a light smokey eye, contoured cheeks and a slick of nude lipstick.

She welcomed her first son, York, via a surrogate in January and has spoken about the challenge of adjusting to life with a newborn.

'You can't always be an amazing mum and an amazing businessperson at the same time - it's a continuous struggle,' she told Sunday Style.

The world-famous model, who shares the baby with her partner Erik Asla, said she gets frustrated when people assume she no longer has the time to work.

Work hard play hard: The 42-year-old looked all business as she carried two large handbags, one a stylish mustard number while the other looked full of papers

She said: 'The most insulting thing is when people come to me with ideas but follow it up with 'Oh, but now you won't have time because you're a mum'.

'People don't say that to his father. Let me make that decision for myself.'

Tyra is set to juggle motherhood as well as being a successful business woman when she becomes a guest lecturer at Stanford University next year.

The school says roughly 25 graduate students will receive instruction from the mogul and model on how to use media to showcase their business acumen and handle press exposure as a business leader.
She's been busy putting on sizzling performances at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend.

But Hailee Steinfeld, 19, looked worlds apart from her glamorous on-stage persona as she opted for a dressed down ensemble while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday.

The teen star, who sky-rocketed to fame for her portrayal of Mattie Ross in the film True Grit, went completely make-up free as she flashed a peak of her toned midriff.

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Top of the crops! Hailee Steinfeld, 19, looked worlds apart from her glamorous on-stage persona as she opted for a dressed down ensemble while arriving at LAX airport on Monday

The American star kept her outfit casual and comfortable as she left the airport in a black crop top and baggy Adidas tracksuit bottoms.

Adding an extra cool chick vibe to her look, Hailee paired white high-top trainers and toted her belongings in a faux leather rucksack slung over her shoulder.

The talented teen shielded her eyes with oversized black sunglasses while flaunting her natural beauty as she went completely make-up free.

She wore her long chestnut tresses in loosely-curled waves as she made her way out of LAX.

Cool cat: The teen star, who sky-rocketed to fame for her portrayal of Mattie Ross in the film True Grit, went completely make-up free as she flashed a peak of her toned midriff

Bare-face beauty: The American star kept her outfit casual and comfortable as she left the airport in a black crop top and baggy Adidas tracksuit bottoms

Hailee has had a busy year with recently performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

The busy entertainer is also doing not to shabbily at her other job of acting, receiving strong reviews for her performance opposite Woody Harrelson in The Edge Of Seventeen, which premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.

The actress, who portrays troubled high school student Nadine Byrd, told Seventeen magazine she can relate to her troubled character.

On the move: Adding an extra cool chick vibe to her look, Hailee paired white high-top trainers and toted her belongings in a faux leather rucksack slung over her shoulder

Busy bee: The talented teen shielded her eyes with oversized black sunglasses while flaunting her natural beauty as she went completely make-up free

She said: 'This girl goes through experiences I totally went through, where it felt like it was the absolute end of the world.

'Just having so many moments where you question who you are and what it is that youre good at and what you feel good in. I was home schooled for a reason.'

Hailee has been balancing acting and singing and recently signed on for the third and final installment of the Pitch Perfect franchise.
Her split from Brad Pitt was announced less than a week ago.

And Angelina Jolie is clearly determined to keep their six children out of the dramatic divorce proceedings, after a huge pizza delivery was seen arriving at her rented LA mansion on Monday.

The 41-year-old Mr And Mrs Smith star's pizza arrival comes shortly after it was revealed she has asked for sole physical custody in her divorce filing in what is set to be a battle between the pair.

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Pizza time! Angelina Jolie is clearly determined to keep their six children out of the dramatic divorce proceedings after a huge pizza delivery was seen arriving at her rented LA mansion on Monday

Angelina is seeking joint legal custody but sole physical custody of the children she shares with Brad - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

After the divorce announcement, the stunning star has upped sticks with her children and moved into a rented mansion in Los Angeles - where her pizza delivery was seen arriving.

People magazine report the furnished five bedroom mansion is 'a very peaceful property and very kid-friendly', with a source saying that the home rents for $95,000 a month.

It appeared to be a bodyguard who headed out to grab the pizza, which seemed to allude to Angelina keeping herself to herself in her temporary digs.

'Torn': The 41-year-old Mr And Mrs Smith star's pizza arrival comes shortly after it was revealed she has asked for sole physical custody in her divorce filing in what is set to be a battle between the pair (pictured in 2011)

A pizza the action: After the divorce announcement, the stunning star has upped sticks with her children and moved into a rented mansion in Los Angeles - where her pizza delivery was seen arriving

We are family: Shortly after Angelina's delivery, Brad's brother Douglas was spotted in their hometown of Springfield, Missouri, where he declined to comment on his sibling's situation

Shortly after Angelina's delivery, Brad's brother Douglas was spotted in their hometown of Springfield, Missouri, where he declined to comment on his sibling's situation.

Brad and Angelina will likely have no problems when it comes to dividing their financial assets - but will be going to 'war' over the custody of their six children.

According to TMZ, the couple, who were only married for two years, have an iron-clad pre-nuptial agreement which makes dividing their $400m fortune simple.

The two also share 12 properties scattered around the world, though most were purchased before the two were together. Brad, 52, owns seven of those properties and Angelina has two while three were bought while they were dating but not yet married.

The three properties the pair purchased while they were together include an apartment in New York City's Waldorf Astoria, a $6.5million mansion in the French Quarter of New Orleans and their French vineyard and estate Chateau Miraval, which they purchased for $60million.

Celebrity feud: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will likely be fighting over the custody of their six children following the actress' decision to file for divorce

Brad will not be fighting over these properties though thanks to the documents the two signed before their marriage, but rather for joint physical custody of the children after Angelina

A parent with legal custody can make decisions about the child's schooling, religious upbringing and medical care and so on. Physical custody means that a parent has the right to have a child live with him or her.

Maddox was adopted by Angelina from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton.

Angelina and Billy Bob split just three months later and divorced the following year, with Thornton never legally adopting the boy.

The actress and Brad then began dating sometime around 2004 or 2005, and in 2006 Brad adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara.

That was also the year the couple had their first biological daughter, Shiloh.

Pax was adopted by the couple the following year and in 2008 Jolie gave birth to the pair's biological twins, Knox and Vivienne.

Radio silence: Angelina has reportedly blocked calls from estranged husband Brad, after filing for divorce on September 15 (pictured in 2014)

This news about the couple's upcoming divorce battle comes amidst reports that Angelina has blocked Brad's phone number and that the actor has not seen the children in over a week.

She is said to have chosen to ignore any contact from her estranged husband after she filed for divorce from him earlier this week.

'Angelina has blocked all incoming text messages and also Brad's numbers,' a source told Us Weekly.

It was previously claimed that the actor has been left 'completely devastated' by his divorce.

'He is beside himself and has been crying. He was completely caught off guard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this,' an insider shared.

'Angelina filed the court papers a minute before the courts closed on Monday night. He didn't have a lawyer or anything.

Shocking: The duo, who tied the knot in August 2014, had been together for 12 years after falling in love while working on Mr. & Mrs. Smith (pictured)

'She had threatened divorce in the past but he did not think she would file this time. He is completely devastated and beside himself. He is a shattered man.'

The source continued: 'He's extremely upset. But he is totally focused on just being helpful and making sure his kids are doing as well as possible.'

And Brad is reportedly disappointed their split had to 'play out publicly.'

'He is emotionally torn. Right now, he is devastated. He still loved Angelina and would have preferred they fight to make the marriage work,' a friend added.

'He was willing to do whatever it took to save the marriage and didn't know Angelina had already given up on it. He has wanted to protect the children. He didn't want it to play out publicly.'

Tempting fate? The two had recently starred together in 2015's By The Sea, which was directed and written by Angelia and followed a troubled married couple

Meanwhile, it's been over a week since Pitt has seen his kids. He has reportedly been apart from the children since Angelina filed for divorce.

Brad is keen to see them as soon as possible, despite currently being under investigation by the FBI following reports of alleged child abuse.

'He knows the severity of the allegations and wants to be cleared of abuse before he sees them,' a 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,' the source said.

Among the the many circulating theories about the cause of their bombshell break-up this week are reports Brad got drunk on a private jet with his family en route to Los Angeles and was seen fighting with his eldest son Maddox during a refueling stop in Minnesota.

Happy families: Meanwhile, it's been over a week since Pitt has seen his kids. He has reportedly been apart from the children since Angelina filed for divorce

And while Angelina had 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 she rented the ocean front home three weeks before filing for divorce in a Los Angeles' court on September 19.

Angelina, who has hired celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser (who recently defended Johnny Depp through his divorce from Amber Heard), filed for divorce from Brad last Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after the couple wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval.

This will be the third divorce for Jolie, who was previously married to Elementary star Johnny Lee Miller for three years after the pair met on the set of the film Hackers.

She later wed Billy Bob just two months after the pair began dating when they met on the set of Pushing Tin.

Billy Bob had been engaged to actress Laura Dern at the time.
She's jetted back from holiday in time to promote her anticipated new TV series.

And Sam Faiers looked like a super chic mum as she carried her cute son Paul Tony around London on Monday as she headed to meetings.

Sam, whose new ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries hits screens soon, dressed to impress in a perfectly coordinated ensemble.

Fashion parade: Sam Faiers looked like a super chic mum as she carried her cute son Paul Tony around London on Monday as she headed to meetings

Sam, 25, chose an elegant Chanel swing coat in a soft beige hue which she matched to her slip-on shoes and her white skinny jeans.

Little Paul meanwhile was looking cosy in a grey and white jumper and matching trousers as he was carried around by his doting mum.

Sam is preparing for plenty of promo for her new ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries set to debut on screens soon.

Looking chic: Sam, whose new ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries hits screens soon, dressed to impress in a perfectly coordinated ensemble

The new reality show will document Sam's journey into motherhood, following through to the first chapter of the life of her baby Paul Jr, born in December.

The show also plans to show his first family holiday in Spain, his christening and his first word.

However, it has been reported that Sam's beau Paul is reluctant to appear on the former TOWIE star's new TV project.

Sense of style: Sam, 25, chose an elegant Chanel coat in a soft beige hue which she matched to her slip-on shoes and her white skinny jeans

A source said Paul is refusing to take part in the show following criticism of his actions in the one-off special which aired earlier this year.

The insider told The Sun: 'At the moment he is dead against taking part but bosses are still hoping he can be persuaded to make a few appearances to whip up some interest.'

Paul made his TV debut on The Baby Diaries back in February, which immediately divided fans.

Apple of her eye: Little Paul meanwhile was looking cosy in a grey and white jumper and matching trousers as he was carried around by his doting mum

Many branded him 'controlling' and a 'man child', while others criticised him for refusing to move in with Sam when she was six months pregnant and falling asleep during pre-natal classes.

Sam's hubby was also seen locking lips with his mother Gaynor after a deep chat on the sofa, which many deemed was an over-expressive display of mother and son affection.

Quick to stand by her man amidst the backlash however, Sam defiantly took to Instagram to post a photo of her kissing her little boy Paul on the lips.

Sam's sister Billie however, will make regular appearances on the show, having left TOWIE this season.
Chattanooga based nonprofit LAUNCH has been announced as an awardee of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition by the U.S. Small Business Administration office of Investment and Innovation. The competition saw over 400 applications from organizations across 32 states and the District of Columbia. LAUNCH and the additional 67 recipients will be awarded $50,000 each totaling $3.4 million in prizes to boost the economic impact of accelerators across 32 states and the District of Columbia.

Per a press release from the SBA, The purpose of the competition was to draw attention and funding to parts of the country where there are gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. While there are entrepreneurial activities occurring nationwide, some are better supported by private sector ecosystems than others. SBA has created connective tissue among the over 200 winning entrepreneurial ecosystems now part of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition program.

Applications were judged by more than 100 experts with entrepreneurial, investment, startup, economic development, capital formation and academic backgrounds from both the public and private sector. The first panel of judges reviewed over 400 applications and presentations and established a pool of 200 highly qualified finalists. The second panel evaluated the finalists presentations and pitch videos and selected the 68 winners. To view LAUNCHs pitch video, click here.

LAUNCH will use this funding to continue to support minority and women entrepreneurs. Since 2011, LAUNCH has trained nearly 250 entrepreneurs. In that time, there have been 134 businesses started and 166 jobs created. Thus far, 91 percent of businesses started with the support of LAUNCH are still in operation.






On Friday, the chemistry in their inaugural Strictly dance was palpable.

And it seems Laura Whitmore's apparent allure to her dance partner Giovanni Pernice has been spotted by former professional Gleb Savchenko, who is adamant the pair will hook up during their stint on the show.

The 33-year-old Russian hunk spoke to Star magazine about the coupling between the pair and insisted that he foresaw Giovanni's now-defunct romance with his partner last year, Georgia May Foote.

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Serious stuff: Laura Whitmore's apparent allure with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice has been spotted by former professional Gleb Savchenko, (pictured) who is adamant the pair will hook up during their stint on the show

What's going on? The 33-year-old Russian hunk spoke to Star magazine about the coupling between the pair and insisted that he foresaw Giovanni's now-defunct romance with his partner last year, Georgia May Foote

Gleb starred in just one series of Strictly Come Dancing last year, where he finished in fifth place. He has since jetted to the States to dance in the US equivalent, Dancing With The Stars.

Despite leaving the show, the hunky star clearly still has strong opinions about his former colleagues as he weighed in on Giovanni's love life.

Last year the dashing Italian started a relationship with former Coronation Street star Georgia, who he dated for eight months before announcing their split in August.

Gleb is now adamant that history will repeat itself after Irish beauty Laura was paired with the apparent lothario: 'Im not shocked. Hes young and hes Italian. You know what Italians are like!

Lost love: Last year the dashing Italian started a relationship with former Coronation Street star Georgia, with whom he dated eight months before announcing their split in August

'They were never going to get married, have kids and live happily ever after. I bet you 100 Giovanni will get with Laura this year. And next season Ill bet you another 100 he will get with his new partner!'

On the first episode of the series Laura and Giovanni were the first couple to perform, with the 31-year-old blonde beauty and the handsome dancer sending pulses racing as they tore around the floor.

Despite admitting she was 'extremely nervous' ahead of the show, Laura managed to impress the judges with her moves, in particular Bruno Tonioli, who seemed to get very hot under the collar.

Stunning the crowd: On the first episode of the series the duo were the first couple to perform, with the 31-year-old blonde beauty and the Italian dancer sent pulses racing as they tore around the floor

Way back when: Gleb starred in just one series of Strictly Come Dancing last year, where he finished in fifth place. He has since jetted to the States to dance in the US equivalent Dancing With The Stars

Reports circulated claiming Georgia is 'very worried' about the relationship between Laura and Giovanni - despite being pals with the Irish TV presenter.

A source told The Sun: 'Georgia knows just how intimately the couples have to dance and is terrified that Giovanni might hook up with Laura.

'She is devastated that they are no longer together and struggling with the thought of Gio getting up close and personal with a friend of hers.'
She was due to toast her 30th birthday in style at upmarket London club Drama.

But Lauren Goodger claims her celebrations were thwarted when she was turned away from the venue, forcing her to head elsewhere and incurring a whopping 690 spend.

The former TOWIE star discussed her birthday meltdown in her new! magazine column, revealing that when she arrived at the Park Lane venue at 11pm she was reportedly shunned from her pre-booked table.

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Awkward: Lauren Goodger has revealed her 30th birthday celebrations didn't go quite to plan when she was turned away from upmarket London club Drama

She ranted: 'We waited 25 minutes for the guy Id booked the table through to meet us, but then this girl with a clipboard went up to the bouncer and said, Tell her shes not coming in. Theres no table booked. Bye.

'I couldnt believe the rudeness of her! She turned her nose up at me.'

Lauren and her gaggle of gal pals tried their luck at DSTRKT instead, but were shocked by the bar tab they racked up.

VIP life: Lauren and her gaggle of gal pals tried their luck at DSTRKT instead, but were shocked by the bar tab they racked up

The reality star said: 'We went to DTRKT instead but, as I hadnt pre-booked, there was a minimum spend and a bottle of vodka cost me 690!

MailOnline has contacted Drama club for comment.

Lauren hadn't let on that she was having a bad time during her birthday night out a week ago, posting plenty of social media photos of herself having fun.

The reality star said: 'We went to DTRKT instead but, as I hadnt pre-booked, there was a minimum spend and a bottle of vodka cost me 690!'

Loving life: Earlier in the evening, she had shared a snap of her birthday dinner alongside a contented caption

Posing alongside a glamorous blonde pal, Lauren stunned in a plunging leather look top as she partied the night away.

Earlier in the evening, she had shared a snap of her birthday dinner alongside a contented caption.

She enthused: 'What a beautiful birthday weekend, with these people who aren't my friends they are my family.

'It's my 30th birthday tomorrow and I've learned I've grown I've cried I've laughed.

'And I've lost people and also gained people is been a roller coaster and it's been full of everything that it was meant to be! Now bring on my 30s I am ready for you.'
She's upped her style game since her fashionable son-in-law Kanye West came into her life.

And Kris Jenner was rocking a military chic ensemble as she headed out for a spot of designer shopping at the Hermes store in Paris on Tuesday, accompanied by her partner Corey Gamble, 35.

The 60-year-old reality star appeared to be channeling a bellboy in her uniform-inspired separates as she prepared to splash the cash.

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Here she comes: Kris Jenner was rocking a military chic ensemble as she headed out for a spot of designer shopping at the Hermes store in Paris on Tuesday

Helping hand: Kris, 60, was accompanied by her doting boyfriend Corey Gamble, 35

Kris sported a gold embellished shirt complete with shoulder detailing and flowing sleeves.

She slipped into a pair of high-rise trousers with an elasticated waistband, equal parts stylish and comfortable.

The momager completed her attire with a gold chain handbag to match, and a simple pair of suede heeled boots.

Coordinating to perfection: Kris sported a gold embellished shirt complete with shoulder detailing and flowing sleeves

Doorman chic: The 60-year-old reality star appeared to be channeling a bellboy in her uniform-inspired separates as she prepared to splash the cash

It's all in the details: The momager completed her attire with a gold chain handbag

She looked on top of the world, flashing a beaming smile as she arrived at the designer boutique.

The previous evening, Kris and Corey jetted off to Paris Fashion Week to support her supermodel daughter Kendall Jenner down the runway.

The star fit right into the French scene as she donned a chic ensemble for her date night on Monday.

Standing out from the crowds: It wasn't hard to miss Kris in her military ensemble

Inseparable: Corey rarely strays far from Kris' side, and their Paris trip was no exception

The mother-of-six opted for a high-neck, cream-colored lace top, which she wore under a black velvet, military style jacket.

Kris added trendy soft pants, highlighting her svelte legs, and slipped into strappy sandal heels to complete the look.

Atlanta native Corey dressed in a black zip-up hoodie, dark jeans and shoes as the pair made their way to the fancy Paris hot spot, Cavia Kaspia.

Ooh La La! The previous evening, the couple were seen on a dinner date in Paris

Chic: The 60-year-old star opted for a high-neck, cream-colored lace top, military jacket and soft pants. She topped off the outfit with strappy sandal heels and jewels

Matching rings? The couple donned similar rings on their respective ring fingers. The music exec, 35, wore a zip-up jacket, jeans and dressy shoes

The intimate restaurant, which has been frequented by stars including Beyonce and Jay Z, was the perfect tucked away restaurant for the couple's date night.

And this was not the only treat for the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star since her travel.

She recently took to Instagram and snapped photos of what appeared to be her fancy in-flight menu as well as Mary Kay delicacies.

Dinner is served! The mom-of-six showed off the artistic menu via Instagram on Sunday

Still going strong! Kris shared a photo of the couple as they jetted off to Paris for fashion week on Sunday to watch Kendall Jenner down the runway

After meeting at designer Riccardo Tisci's 40th birthday party, according to E! News, the couple instantly turned romantic and have been going strong for two years.

This follows her split from Caitlyn Jenner.

Meanwhile, r unning from September 27 to the October 5, Paris Fashion Week follows New York, London, and Milan fashion weeks.
She is known for her impeccable fashion sense and jaw-dropping beauty.

And former Miss World Australia Erin Holland remained true to her reputation as she slid down the red carpet at Mugler's Angel Muse fragrance launch in Sydney on Tuesday.

Clad in a black beaded midi-dress with a plunging neckline and lace panelling, the stunning 27-year-old was a picture of elegance as she confidently posed on the red carpet at Hotel Palisade.

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Va va voom! Former Miss World Australia Erin Holland, 27, slid down the red carpet at Mugler's Angel Muse fragrance launch in Sydney on Tuesday

Her outfit was complete with a pair of black stilettos with pointed toes and lace-up detailing.

Leaving her flaxen locks to hang in tousled waves by her shoulders, the pageant queen enhanced her bronzed complexion with a dramatic, smokey eye-makeup look.

She sculpted her chisseled cheek bones with a swipe of rosewood-hued blush while completing her beauty look with a dab of soft pink lipstick.

Taking the plunge! Clad in a black beaded midi-dress with a plunging neckline and lace panelling, the stunning model was a picture of elegance as she confidently posed on the red carpet

Stealing the spotlight! Her outfit was compete with a pair of black stilettos with pointed toes and lace-up detailing

Blonde beauty! Leaving her flaxen locks to hang in tousled waves by her shoulders, the pageant queen enhanced her bronzed complexion with a dramatic, smokey eye-makeup look

Glamazon: She sculpted her chisseled cheek bones with a swipe of rosewood-hued blush while completing her beauty look with a dab of soft pink lipstick

Joining Erin on the red carpet was beauty blogger Tanja Gacic, who looked chic in a black midi-dress and open-toe heels.

Carrying a simple tortoise shell clutch bag, the statuesque blonde allowed her balayage blonde mane to hang freely by her shoulders in loose waves.

She completed her look with a feminine makeup look that included a flush of pink blush and a slick of soft pink lipstick.

In good company: Joining Erin on the red carpet was beauty blogger Tanja Gacic

Stylish: The Vogue contributor looked chic in a black midi-dress and open-toe heels

Tanja, known for her fashion blog My Emprical Life, first found fame at age 14 when she was scouted by a modelling agency.

The Croatian-born stunner was signed to Australia's Chic Management soon after, leading her to become one of Australia's most in-demand models in a matter of years.

At age 18, she moved to New York where she appeared in magazines such as Vogue, V Magazine and The Face.

Chic: Carrying a simple tortoise shell clutch bag, the statuesque blonde allowed her ash blonde mane to hang freely by her shoulders in loose waves
He's been the leading man of some of the biggest rom-coms of all time.

And Richard Gere, 67, proved he's still quite the ladies' man as he made eyes at stunning girlfriend Alejandra Silva, 33, at a charity event for the Rais Foundation in Spain on Monday.

The Pretty Woman actor and his pretty Spanish publicist companion were the epitome of love, since they couldn't keep their hands off each other while attending the event to aid homeless people.

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His leading lady! Richard Gere, 67, proved he's still quite the ladies man as he flaunted his stunning girlfriend Alejandra Silva, 33, at a charity event in Spain on Monday

The silver-haired fox opted for a smart casual ensemble, donning light-wash jeans, a crisp white shirt and suave navy blazer.

The Hollywood A-lister accessorised his outfit with a simple leather belt and clear-rimmed glasses, but perhaps his best accessory was his beaming smile as he looked lovingly at his girlfriend of over a year.

Richard was previously married to Cindy Crawford and is currently in divorce proceedings with the mother of his child Carey Lowell.

On the day, Alejandra - who confirmed her relationship with Richard at the Taormina Film Festival in June 2015 - looked stunning in a chic trouser suit ensemble.

Sporting loose-fitting shimmery trousers and a stylish black blazer, the 33-year-old looked every inch the glamorous socialite.

Loved up: The Pretty Woman actor and Spanish publicist looked the epitome of love as they couldn't keep their hands off each other while attending the event to aid homeless people

Dapper: The silver-haired fox opted for a smart casual ensemble, donning light-wash jeans, a crisp white shirt and suave navy blazer

Smiles all round: The Hollywood A-lister accessorised his outfit with a simple leather belt and clear-rimmed glasses, but perhaps his best accessory was his beaming smile

She wore her long ombre locks in loosely curled waves, as she opted for a minimal make-up look with a light smokey eye and a slick of pink lipstick.

The stunner accentuated her toned legs in a pair of strappy black Louboutin heels, while Richard seemed besotted.

The loved-up couple have been on a love spree across Alejandra's native country of Spain.

On Saturday the pair coordinated outfits as they attended the Time Out Of Mind photocall during the San Sebastian Film Festival

Stylish: Alejandra - who confirmed her relationship with Richard at the Taormina Film Festival in June 2015 - looked stunning in a chic trouser suit ensemble

Perfect pair: Sporting loose-fitting shimmery trousers and a stylish black blazer, the 33-year-old looked every inch the glamorous socialite

Friends in high places: Richard was joined by Spanish politician Monica Oltra and Joan Ribo

While on Friday, Richard and Alejandra ensured all eyes were on them as they worked the red carpet for day one of the movie festival.

Having attended Leweston School in Dorset, Kent, Alejandra is described as a regular among Madrid's glitterati.

The socialite is reported as being the estranged wife of Govind Friedland, the son of American mining magnate Robert Friedland.

Together the pair have a young son, Albert.

It's believed the duo were seeing one another for at least a year before going public with their romance at the film festival last year.
He was one of Strictly Come Dancing's longest standing pros until his exit in 2013.

But James Jordan has admitted he wasn't always happy with the celeb partners he was paired with during his 14 seasons on the hit BBC show.

Appearing on Tuesday's Loose Women alongside his wife and fellow ex Strictly pro Ola, James admitted he was 'gutted' to be paired with Pamela Stephenson who was 61 at the time of the 2010 series, only to get some of his highest scores ever on the show with the psychologist.

King of the dance floor: James Jordan has admitted he wasn't always happy with the celeb partners he danced with during his 14 seasons on Strictly Come Dancing, telling Loose Women he was at first 'gutted' to be partnered with Pamela Stephenson

James explained to the Loose Women that he and some of the other pros often faced the challenge of trying to appear excited when they found out their celeb partners for the show.

But behind the scenes James said he sometimes struggled to keep up the act, admitting: 'The year I got Pamela Stephenson I was slightly gutted because she was a grandma and slightly older.'

While the Loose Women panel - Coleen Nolan, Nadia Sawalha, Penny Lancaster and Janet Street Porter all looked shocked by his comments, James continued:

Strictly couple: James appeared on Tuesday's Loose Women alongside his wife and fellow ex Strictly pro Ola

Honest: James explained to the Loose Women that he and some of the other pros often faced the challenge of trying to appear excited when they found out their celeb partners

'Im a dancer. I know I dont dance like I did 10 years ago, that's a fact of life. Would I have wanted someone in their twenties with dance training? Of course, it makes my job easier. But in hindsight, I realised this woman was amazing as I started training her.'

Pamela quickly defied all odds by topping the judges' leaderboard for the first three weeks of the competition, and for six weeks in total, a record for the series.

The couple made it the Strictly final with three perfect scores throughout, and finished in third place.

Pro: James said he sometimes struggled to keep up the act, admitting: 'The year I got Pamela Stephenson I was slightly gutted because she was a grandma and slightly older' but she soon changed his mind

Outspoken: While the Loose Women panel - Coleen Nolan, Nadia Sawalha, Penny Lancaster and Janet Street Porter all looked shocked by his comments, James continued

Talking it out: Penny Lancaster gasped at James' comments

'Its an amazing show. We love Strictly,' James gushed despite openly criticising some aspects of the series since he left in 2013. 'We still support it, we have still got lots of friends on there.'

On the subject of the negative comments they've made about the BBC show before, Ola, who left the series in 2015, added: 'Its not all glamour and glitz. Its life, its got ups and down. Not everything is perfect.'

The dancing couple also spoke candidly about their bid to stay in shape, with James admitting he tells Ola if he thinks she needs to lose weight, explaining that his wife works really hard to stay slim.

Still fans: 'Its an amazing show. We love Strictly,' James gushed despite openly criticising some aspects of the series since he left in 2013'
The original film caused shockwaves upon release 13 years ago.

And Bad Santa is back with a bang as the latest trailer for the second instalment was released this week and Angelina Jolie's ex Billy Bob Thornton brought the title character back to life in his most shocking scene to date.

The 61-year-old actor is seen spitting obscenities throughout the clip before he enjoys a saucy al fresco romp with Christina Hendricks' prim character Diane.

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He's back! Bad Santa is back with a bang as the latest trailer for the second instalment was released this week and Billy Bob Thornton brought the title character back to life in his most shocking scene to date

Billy Bob's character is fouler than ever as he hails Christina's 'gigantic t****s' and tries to help his sidekick Thurman lose his virginity in the filthy new Bad Santa 2 trailer.

The explicit red band trailer proves his character Willie T. Soke has certainly not mellowed with age, going as far as to punch his criminal mastermind mother in the mouth in the selection of clips.

The standout point of the trailer was undoubtedly Willie and Diane's extremely intimate sex scene in which the duo enjoy an intimate moment in an alleyway.

With Diane's role as a charity director with a heart of gold, the Santa Claus impersonator is left stunned with her insatiable appetite for sex.

Racy! The standout point of the trailer was undoubtedly Willie and Diane's extremely intimate sex scene in which the duo enjoy an intimate moment in an alleyway

The long-awaited follow-up movie sees Willie return with his partner in crime Marcus, played by Tony Cox, as they attempt to rob a charity in time for Christmas.

Much to the shock and dismay of Willie, they are joined by his mother Sunny Stoke, excellently played by hilarious Kathy Bates.

Their hare-brained plan for a robbery is mildly infringed by his desire for Diane, who he ogles in the first trailer in which he walks her to his car and says: 'You got gigantic t*****s.'

In shock: Their hare-brained plan for a robbery is mildly infringed by his desire for Diane, who he ogles in the first trailer in which he walks her to his car and says: 'You got gigantic t*****s'

The new movie has seen Terry Zwigoff step down as director to be replaced with Mark Waters - who maintains the edgy and shocking elements of the movie.

The long-awaited movie, which has been in the works since 2009, has garnered much excitement in fans.

Billy Bob previously spoke to The Playlist about the show saying: 'The writer is still working on the script, he's doing his rewrite right now. We saw the first draft and we just had a few little things we wanted to take away or add and he's doing that.'

The movie has been in the works since 2009 and is set for UK release in November.
She gave birth just two months ago to daughter Lily Grace but one wouldn't know that judging by those slender limbs.

Nicky Hilton was taking advantage of some alone time to run errands in New York City on Monday.

Despite the bulky coat, the 32-year-old managed to look fashion-forward in 'skinny' black jeans paired with a loose-fitting black T-shirt.

Green with envy: Nicky Hilton covered up her post-pregnancy figure with a green coat but still managed to showcase those slim limbs in tight black jeans on a solo stroll in NYC on Monday

The avocado-green coat hid her curves and fell almost to her knees, accentuated by a furry lined hood.

The elder sister of Paris Hilton held her iPhone in her hand, perhaps checking off those items she needed to grab.

Nicky wore mirrored shades that reflected the colour of her coat, and rugged black boots and a chic black handbag finished off her ensemble.

Precious: The 32-year-old socialite couldn't stop fawning over her newborn Lily Grace in this Instagram snap she recently posted

'The worst part': Nicky lamented how hard it was to take her baby to the doctor to get shots

She let her blonde hair hang loose and unstyled over her shoulders.

Since giving birth to her daughter on July 8, Nicky has immersed herself in motherhood.

She was seen taking the newborn out for a stroll with a nanny at her side on September 13, looking ever so chic with her hair slicked back in a bun.

And now they are three: The Hilton heiress and husband James Rothschild took their baby girl for a stroll on July 11 just three days after the birth

'I just took her for her first shots today, which was very, very sad,' Nicky told Page Six that same day.

'She started smiling and laughing, which melts my heart every time.'

On Twitter, she lamented: 'I think the worst part about being a parent is taking your baby to the doctor to get shots.'

She also indicated that springing back to her pre-baby body has been aided by the fact she didn't gain much weight to begin with.

While attending New York Fashion Week earlier this month, Nicky looked as slim as ever.

'I haven't worked out once since I have given birth,' the new mom told Page Six.
In 2010 an unauthorised biographer Peter Biskind estimated that Warren Beatty had bedded nearly 13,000 women throughout his career.

And the 79-year-old has finally addressed those claims in the new issue of AARP The Magazine.

He answered the supposed truth with simple math as he said: 'Think about it, sleeping with 12,775 people.

He has been fair: Warren Beatty told AARP he has been good to all his loves

'That would mean not just that there were multiple people a day, but that there was no repetition.'

As he is known for his impressive dating history as his impressive roles - from Splendor In The Grass to his new Howard Hughes film Rules Don't Apply - he also addressed his playboy reputation.

He has been romantically-linked to a bevvy of beauties including Natalie Wood, Julie Christie, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Stephanie Seymour, Janice Dickinson and even Madonna.

Still making movies: The 79-year-old star, who was photographed by Sam Jones, has a new movie out in November: Rules Don't Apply

The veteran argued that he didn't do anything wrong by being such a playboy. 'Look, I never misled anyone,' said the Bugsy star. 'And  and Im a nice guy.'

The actor is so famous for his Don Juan ways that many said in real life he was much like his Lothario characters from Shampoo and he was guessed to be the man behind Carly Simon's hit song You're So Vain.

Joan Collins, Cher, Diane Keaton have often joked about their affairs with Beatty in interviews, further adding to his reputation.

He says he's cool: 'Look, I never misled anyone,' said the Bugsy star. 'And  and Im a nice guy'

But his philandering all changed 24 years ago when he met and fell for San Francisco trained theater actress Bening.

He cast her in Bugsy, a movie about the mobster Bugsy Siegel who lived in Hollywood and created Las Vegas, then married her in 1992.

Together they had four children: Stephen, 24, Benjamin, 22, Isabel, 19, and Ella, 16.

He got her before she did Dynasty: Beatty and actress Joan Collins attend a party in Los Angeles, California in 1959

They were the best-looking couple around: The legend with Natalie Wood at the Cannes Film Festival, France, in 1962

Gone too soon: Wood tragically died in 1981; at the time she was married to Robert Wagner

'I waited a long time to be married,' he said.

'When you dont get married until youre 54  well, as Arthur Miller said, It comes with the territory.'

His children are 'by far the best thing that happened to me.'

Another beauty: Here the star is seen holding hands with Michelle Phillips during 28th Annual Writers Guild of America Awards at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1976

He added: 'I always knew I wanted to have children.

'I wanted to do it well, and I wanted to do it with someone who felt the same way. I'm an attentive father, I have to struggle somewhat not to be overly attentive.'

And he knows the fame he and Annette has is not easy for the kids: 'It's a burden to be the child of not only one famous parent, but two.'

Yes, this happened: Beatty also romanced his Dick Tracy co-star Madonna; here they are seen in 1990

He didn't like the fame she brought: The blonde made him appear in her docu Truth Or Dare

And he looks forward to traveling with his kids. 'I want to see the world through the eyes of my children. They're so different; they all want to go to different places. The big question is, Will they want me there with them?'

Also in AARP, the star talked about his fascination with Hughes.

His film focuses on the filmmaker and aviator - who also dated plenty of women including Katharine Hepburn - when he became a recluse.

Lily Collins also stars.

Now pals: He also dated Barbra Streisand, who he is seen with here in 2005

Beatty became interested in Hughes when they both stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel but instead of keeping one room, Howard had several. And the hotel staff never knew where he was.

'Right away I thought, This is very unusual. It amused me, the idea of a man being so public yet so private,' Beatty said.

'I was fascinated by my fascination with this person.'

The one that didn't get away: In 1992 the perennial playboy wed Annette Bening; here they are seen in 2013

'Howard Hughes was the first person I met when I came to Hollywood, says Beattys older sister, the actress Shirley MacLaine. 'Hughes had this theatrical mysteriousness that Warren always found intriguing.'

Also in the interview Warren addressed a Dick Tracy sequel: 'I liked the original very much, and it was very profitable. Jeffrey Katzenberg once asked me to do a sequel. At the time, I thought sequels were beneath me. Now I realize how far below sequels I am.'
It's the question that has plagued The Bachelor's newly outed couple - when will Richie Strahan meet Alex Nation's son?

And single mother Alex has finally addressed the elephant in the room, confirming that she will in fact introduce her new boyfriend to her five-year-old child Elijah 'in the next month.'

In response to a prying Instagram fan asking when the important meeting would take place, Alex wrote on Tuesday: 'In the next month. It's something we don't want to rush and we want to really enjoy that special moment together xx'.

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Confirmed! Alex has finally addressed the elephant in the room, confirming that she will in fact introduce her new boyfriend to her five-year-old child Elijah 'in the next month'

In another comment she wrote: 'I'll be heading home to him soon. he is such a gorgeous little man. yes it is a very exciting time and I'll certainly cherish that moment.'

So far, aspiring model Alex is yet to introduce her son to her new partner, despite the fact that filming for The Bachelor ceased three months ago.

Following the airing of the finale earlier this month, the pair took flight across the country so as to attend a string of interviews before jetting off for their first holiday together.

Setting the record straight: In response to a prying Instagram fan asking when the important meeting would take place, Alex wrote on Tuesday: 'In the next month. It's something we don't want to rush and we want to really enjoy that special moment together xx'

Waiting for the right time: In another comment she wrote: 'I'll be heading home to him soon. he is such a gorgeous little man. yes it is a very exciting time and I'll certainly cherish that moment'

They returned back to Australia after the brief trip, only to head to Perth to take in the Fashion Festival and spend time with Richie's family.

Meanwhile, Elijah is spending time with his father Joel Porter, who confirmed on Tuesday he is looking after the boy throughout the school break.

Joel and Alex were briefly married after the blonde gave birth to their son in 2011.

Family bonding: Alex and Richie have been spending time together in Perth so they bond with the oil-rig worker's family

Earlier this month, Alex responded to accusations she was 'neglecting' Elijah for TV fame and her relationship with Richie.

She also hit back at fan accusations that Joel's girlfriend Ashy Smith has recently taken on the role of 'stepmother' to Elijah.

'My little boy is everything to me,' she told a videographer while leaving a Melbourne restaurant with Richie on Saturday.

She added: 'I know who I am and I know what kind of mother I am so they don't bother me.'

Father and son time: On Tuesday Elijah's father Joel Porter confirmed he is looking after the boy throughout the school break

Hitting back: Earlier this month, Alex responded to accusations she was 'neglecting' Elijah for TV fame and her relationship with Richie

Televised love: Richie chose Alex Nation as his leading lady during a very controversial finale of the dating reality show




The newest officer at the Dalton Police Department had his hiring confirmed by a unanimous 5-0 vote of the Public Safety Commission at its monthly meeting Tuesday morning. Officer Nick Smith completed his training at the police academy earlier this month and is now in the police departments field training program.

Officer Smith is a 2016 graduate of the University of North Georgia with a bachelors degree in business management. Hes a native of Murray County, where he graduated in 2012 from North Murray High School.


There was a time when Paris Hilton was mobbed by adoring fans wherever she went.

And while her The Simple Life fame may have waned, it seems Paris is prepared for anything.

The onetime BFF of Kim Kardashian - who she likes to boast was her assistant - Paris showed off her SIX security guards with a group picture.

'Thank you to my amazing security team for taking care of me during my trip to #Serbia,' wrote Paris, tagging the post 'Men In Black'.

Over kill? 'My amazing security team!' Paris Hilton shares picture of her SIX bodyguards... dubbing them her 'men in black'

The blonde smiles playfully as she holds her purse and poses in front of the burly men, dressed in their matching dark attire.

While it may look like overkill, Paris is still living the live of a jet-setting superstar.

While her inherited wealth certainly helps - as the name suggests she is one of the heiresses to the Hilton hotel fortune - Paris has also successfully diverstified.

Knowing that reality stardom is fickle, she turned her hand to DJing, and now jets from one well-paid gig to the next. Indeed based simply upon earnings, she rates as one the world's top five DJs - getting paid up to $1m a night.

Life as a superstar DJ: Paris has just finished a spell at Milan Fashion Week, where t he 35-year-old showstopper was at it again, spinning the turntables for Philipp Plein's cocktail party on Sunday

Paris has just finished a spell at Milan Fashion Week, where t he 35-year-old showstopper was at it again, spinning the turntables for Philipp Plein's cocktail party on Sunday.

The blonde - who walked for the designer's runway last week in Milan - recently returned from Serbia where she played in a club in Belgrade on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the sister of Nicky Hilton released her 20th fragrance, Gold Rush, which she described as 'more mature, more sophisticated,' representing her as an 'evolved woman,' according to Allure Magazine.

With 17 different product lines, preparing for her 21st fragrance of a men's cologne, DJing all across the world and releasing her next studio album, the single former reality star said she's too busy for dating.

'I'm single for the first time, and I love having time for me,' she told People.

'I'm also too busy to have time for anyone else so I don't even want a boyfriend. I feel like I'm finally an adult.'
She's been traveling from one adventure to the next as her modeling career continues to flourish.

Alessandra Ambrosio looked more like the tomboy than the glamour girl as she landed at JFK Airport in New York City on Monday.

The 35-year-old Brazilian beauty was dressed down in ripped jeans and overlapping T-shirts while lugging her suitcase and carry-on bag through the terminal.

Casual traveler: Alessandra Ambrosio opted for tomboy style in ripped jeans and a layering of T-shirts as she arrived at JFK Airport in NY on Monday

Alessandra wore another comfortable flannel shirt tied around her waist and black trainers. which made getting around a lot easier.

Her brunette hair tumbled about her face which was partially concealed by a pair of chic shades.

It appeared that Alessandra was onto her next modeling adventure after her revealing photoshoot for GQ Brazil in The Maldives.

She's got this handled: The 35-year-old Brazilian supermodel carted her own luggage

On a whirlwind: Alessandra's recent travels include trips to the Maldives and Milan

Alessandra put on quite a cheeky display for the glossy magazine and shared one shot of herself on the beach flashing the flesh in a skimpy bikini.

In another picture shared over the weened, the cat-eyed beauty also joked around with two coconuts strateically covering her chest.

'Kisses to my 7M followers!!! Love u #islandstyle #crazyforcoconut #cocoloca #foreveronvacation,' Alessandra wrote in the caption.

Flashing the flesh: The 5 ft 10 stunner shared a picture of her bikini backside from her recent photoshoot in the Maldives for GQ Brazil

Flirty: The brunette beauty posed with a couple of coconuts

The shoot, which is for the November cover of GQ Brazil, took place at the Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa.

Last week, Alessandra walked the runway at the Philipp Plein show during Milan Fashion Week.

She was wearing a denim romper with chainlink vest and gladiator-style, high-heeled sandals.

When she's not the queen of the catwalk, Alessandra enjoys being a mom to children Anja, seven, and Noah, four, with longtime partner Jamie Mazur.
He's become quite the shredder, posting numerous clips of his expertise on the board to his Instagram.

But it seems Brooklyn Beckham isn't the only adrenaline junky in his family, as he was given a run for his money at a London skatepark by younger brother Romeo.

Heading to the boarding mecca, the 14-year-old model showed off his own impressive skills on his micro-scooter as his brother, 17, shredded his board.

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Anythign you can do... It seems Brooklyn Beckham isn't the only adrenaline junky in his family, as he was given a run for his money at a London skatepark by younger brother Romeo

Brooklyn, a well-known lover of thrashing the skateboard around, looked to showing his doppleganger brother the ropes at the skatepark.

Slaloming around the course, the two eldest members of the Beckham brood looked to be in high spirits, while their younger brother Cruz appeared to be enjoying himself immensely.

While Brooklyn showed off his ever-growing thrashing talents, Romeo appeared to be keen to spend some quality time with his big brother.

A regular little shredder: Heading to the boarding mecca, the 14-year-old model showed off his own impressive skills on his micro-scooter as his brother, 17, shredded his board

Boarding brothers: Stopping to chat with his brother, Brooklyn stowed his board under his arm and looked on a Romeo sped around the park alongside their 11-year-old brother, Cruz

As Brooklyn expertly dropped into a bowl and rode the wall, grabbing some air in the process, his little brother sped off along down a ramp.

Stopping to chat with his brother, Brooklyn stowed his board under his arm and looked on a Romeo sped around the park alongside their 11-year-old brother, Cruz.

Though it seems that Cruz is just like his big brother, and favours four wheels.

Not quite Tony Hawk...yet: Brooklyn showed off his ever-growing thrashing talents, dropping into bowls and popping ollies and kick-flips

Scooting along: Romeo appeared to be keen to spend some quality time with his big brother

Tons of fun: Slaloming around the park the two older Beckham boys looked to be in high spirits, while their younger brother Cruz appeared to be enjoying himself immensely

Chilling: Romeo looked to have work up a thirst in the excitement, and indulged in a can of coke as his brothers kept on skating

Born to ride? Brooklyn expertly rode the wall of bowl as his brother watched on

Back to the grind: He showed off his impressive balance by grinding a 50 50 around the lip of the basin

Ollie oop! the eldest of the Beckham boys flew through the air as he practiced ollies and flips his board over for a deft few tricks

Kick it! Brooklyn showed off a range of both street and vert skating styles as he watched over his two brothers

Showing off his own impressive talents on his custom board, which featured green griptape, the youngest of the Beckham boys couldnt' hide his delight as he hurled himself down a ramp.

And it seems that Brooklyn's laid-back street style has rubbed off on his younger brothers, as they all went for a classic skater look for their time at the park.

The eldest of the David and Victoria's boys cut a cool figure in a printed white tee, skinny jeans and black Nike skateboarding kicks.

Setting a stylish example: The eldest of the David and Victoria's boys cut a cool figure in a printed white tee, skinny jeans and black Nike skateboarding kicks

Cool dude: Romeo showed off his taste i music by wearing one of Kanye West's Life of Pablo sweatshirts which he teamed with a pair of skinny jeans and Vans Hightops

Rocking his own style: Cruz went for a baggy black Adidas hoodie, skinny jeans and a pair of Vans.

Romeo showed off his taste i music by wearing one of Kanye West's Life of Pablo sweatshirts which he teamed with a pair of skinny jeans and Vans Hightops.

Cruz went for a baggy black Adidas hoodie, skinny jeans and a pair of Vans.

All three boys were safety conciopus and wore crash helmets, just in case they bailed mid-skate.

Following the boys outing at the skatepark Brooklyn was seen leaving the park on his board, with his brothers presumably leaving together in the company of a responsible adult.

Wearing an intense expression on his face, the teen looked to be deep in thought.
A preview for Leonardo DiCaprio's upcoming environmental documentary Before the Flood has been released, with the actor calling climate change 'the most important issue of our time.'

In the two-minute clip, viewers see the Academy Award-winning actor rubbing elbows with President Barack Obama, Pope Francis and billionaire Elon Musk, among others, on his mission to learn more about the environmental hazard and ways to curb it.

'We've known about this for decades, for half a century ... try to have a conversation with anyone about climate change, people just tune out,' The Revenant star said in the preview. 'And the problem keeps getting worse and worse and worse.'

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Presidential shake: Leonardo DiCaprio met with President Barack Obama to talk climate change as cameras rolled for his new documentary Before the Flood, which airs next month on the National Geographic Channel

Heavy hitters: The actor, 41, was also seen meeting with the Pope in his international quest to learn about climate change and stop what's causing it

Respect: The Academy Award-winning actor bowed his head to honor the religious leader

The Titanic star, who also served as executive producer on the doc, said that the more he's 'learned about this issue and everything that contributes to the problem,' the more he realizes he doesn't know about its magnitude.

The clip is choc full of flashes of the actor as he surveyed global environmental conditions, from tumbling glaciers to hazardous smoke stacks.

Grousing about how humans have 'knowingly' destroyed 'paradise' in the name of industry and other endeavors, The Wolf Of Wall Street star said, 'I just want to know how far we've gone and if there's anything we can do to stop it.'

World traveler: DiCaprio travels from continent to continent looking for answers in his documentary, speaking with major players such as billionaire inventor Elon Musk (right)

Pure passion: The Inception star has been tireless patron of the environment dating back to 1998 - the year after his Titanic breakout - when he started his foundation

A new friend: Leo pets an elephant on his travels, as he looks to stomp out climate change

'The U.S. has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in history,' the actor said, noting that 'half of the people in office don't believe in climate change.'

In the clip, the actor is seen talking to various experts about ways to solve the environmental woes, which include options such as solar power and battery-powered energy.

The clip winds down with an except from the speech DiCaprio delivered April 22 before the United Nations, urging for significant reform in the area.

Shock and awe: The actor could barely contain himself during his global quest to investigate the cause and effects of climate change

Chain effect: DiCaprio is urging the public to hold politicians to task on their actions when it comes to environmental issues

'All that I have seen on this journey we have the means of stopping this devastation,' he told the crowd. 'The world is now watching; we ask you to protect it.'

The clip ends on Leo's powerful exit quote from his U.N. speech, telling the group of assembled world leaders, 'You are the last best hope of Earth. We ask you to protect it. Or we - and all living things we cherish - are history.'

The 41-year-old Hollywood mainstay debuted the film this month at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Using his platform: DiCaprio stood before a crowd at the United Nations April 22 and said that measures need to be taken 'for our childrens children,' before irreversible environmental damage is done

Man on a mission: DiCaprio's outing at the U.N. came on the heels of his win at the Academy Awards, where he also used the platform to elaborate on the issues that need correcting

Next stop: Leo will be a guest at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next month to further delve into the issue with the president and Katharine Hayhoe, a leading expert on the subject

Next month, he's slated to join with President Obama at the White House in South by South Lawn, a presentation with Katharine Hayhoe, one of the world's leading experts on climate change. Following the showcase, Leo will then screen the documentary for the commander-in-chief and the others.

DiCaprio's devotion toward the environment nearly spans his time on Hollywood's A-list, as in 1998, he set up a non-profit called the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, aimed at boosting awareness of environmental issues.

And on the biggest stage of all, the Academy Awards, Leo made sure to speak on the topic as he accepted the Best Actor award for his work in The Revenant.

'Climate change is real, it is happening right now,' he told the worldwide audience. 'It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.

The actor urged the public 'to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but who speak for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people out there who would be most affected by this.'

DiCaprio said that the measures needed to be taken 'for our childrens children, and for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed.'
Netflix has released the first official trailer for the highly-anticipated royal drama, The Crown - set for release on November 4.

The 10-part series follows a period of the Queen Elizabeth II's life from 1947 to 1956 with the trailer depicting her last years as a princess and her first on the throne.

With Claire Foy playing the newly crowned monarch alongside Doctor Who actor Matt Smith as Prince Philip, the show focuses on the power struggle between the young husband and wife and her dedication to duty.

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Power struggle: Netflix has released the first official trailer for the highly-anticipated royal drama, The Crown - and focuses on the challenges Elizabeth and Philip faced as she began her reign as Queen

Starting off with formalities of how her adoring audience would address her, with the Queen stating Elizabeth would be 'just fine', the clip goes on to see her husband struggling with her prominence.

When Prince Phillip asks her to exempt him from having to bow to her, she boldly refuses.

'Are you my wife or my Queen?' he asks.

'I am both. And a strong man would be able to kneel to both,' she declares. 'I will not kneel for my wife,' he grimly replies.

Journey: The trailer depicts her last years as a princess to her first on the throne as she battled the opinions of naysayers in her government and her own family

'Are you my wife or my Queen?': Prince Philip asks if he is exempt from bowing before his wife, to which the new monarch replies: 'I am both. And a strong man would be able to kneel to both'

Clearly gaining power and confidence as she takes in the huge importance of her role, Elizabeth fights off naysayers and during another dramatic moment in the trailer states: 'For better or worse, the crown has landed on my head.'

The footage also features Jared Harris as Elizabeth's father King George VI and John Lithgow as Sir Winston Churchill.

Stephen Daldry, one of The Crown's executive producers and directors, has said: 'It's the story of this extraordinary family under extraordinary pressure trying to survive.'

Before the throne: The beginning shows a young Princess Elizabeth living in Malta with her husband

Momentous: She will also be seen marrying the Duke of Edinburgh - played by Doctor Who's Matt Smith

Difficult time: The trailer also shows the headstrong Duke seemingly struggling with her prominence

'The crown has landed on my head!' Clearly gaining power and confidence throughout the years, the Queen fights off the opinions of her detractors

The story: Stephen Daldry, one of The Crown's executive producers and directors, has said: 'It's the story of this extraordinary family under extraordinary pressure trying to survive'

Creator Peter Morgan added: 'I think they (royal family) dont like not having control, but I think they also understand that dealing with this subject matter with some degree of respect, you know, even objective scrutiny is a rare thing.'

Morgan, who also wrote 2006's The Queen starring Dame Helen Mirren, teamed up with Stephen and meticulously researched the show which takes the viewer back to when a young Princess Elizabeth first set eyes on her betrothed.

Foy gushed about the British monarch in a recent interview promoting the series, saying: 'Essentially, I just think shes [Her Majesty] a very, very, very good, good, good person who has given her life for her country, whichever way you look at it, and has done the most incredible job.'
He narrated the documentary Voyage Of Time for writer-director Terrence Malick but he won't be among those celebrating at Wednesday's premiere.

Brad Pitt announced that he is skipping the event because he needs to 'focus on his family' amid divorce from Angelina Jolie.

The 52-year-old actor, who starred in Malick's Tree Of Life, had wonderful things to say about the movie and the visionary filmmaker in a statement to Access Hollywood.

No go: Brad Pitt (pictured last November) has announced in a statement to Access Hollywood that he is skipping Wednesday's premiere of Voyage Of Time to 'focus on his family'

'Terrences Voyage of Time is an incredibly beautiful and unique experiential IMAX film for children and families chronicling the birth of time,' Brad said.

'I'm very grateful to be part of such a fascinating and educational project, but Im currently focused on my family situation and dont want to distract attention away from this extraordinary film, which I encourage everyone to see.'

The Hollywood star, meanwhile, is gearing up for what could be the biggest custody battle of the century so far.

Custody battle: The 52-year-old actor is gearing up for a nasty custody battle with Angelina Jolie who filed for divorce last week

Divorce shocker: Angelina (pictured with Brad last year) is seeking sole physical custody of the couple's six children

Angelina is seeking joint legal custody but sole physical custody of the children she shares with Brad - Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

Soon after filing for divorce, the Maleficent star moved herself and the children into a rented home in Malibu, California.

People magazine report the furnished five bedroom mansion is 'a very peaceful property and very kid-friendly', with a source saying that the home rents for $95,000 a month.

In Brad's words: The film's narrator said, 'Im currently focused on my family situation and dont want to distract attention away from this extraordinary film'

Father figure: Brad starred in The Tree Of Life for the visionary filmmaker Terrence Malick

Brad and Angelina may not have issues dividing their financial assets - but it's going to be 'war' when it comes to custody of their six children.

The couple had an iron-clad prenuptial agreement in place before they wed two years ago, which makes the division of their $400 million fortune relatively cut and dry.

The two also share 12 properties scattered around the world, though most were purchased before the two were together.

It's going to be 'war': Brad and Angelina may not have issues dividing their financial assets - but it's going to be 'war' when it comes to custody of their six children (pictured 2013)

Brad owns seven of those properties and Angelina has two while three were bought while they were dating but not yet married.

The three properties the pair purchased while they were together include an apartment in New York City's Waldorf Astoria, a $6.5 million mansion in the French Quarter of New Orleans and their French vineyard and estate Chateau Miraval, which they purchased for $60 million.

Brad is not expected to fight over these properties due to the documents the two signed before their marriage.

But he's going to do everything in his power to get joint physical custody of his kids.

His place: Brad is staying in his Craftsman-style home in LA's Los Feliz area

Her place: Angelina moved herself and the children into this rented and furnished $95k-a-month home in Malibu, CA

A parent with legal custody can make decisions about the child's schooling, religious upbringing and medical care and so on.

Physical custody means that a parent has the right to have a child live with him or her.

Maddox was adopted by Angelina from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton.

Angelina and Billy Bob split just three months later and divorced the following year, and the Sling Blade actor never did legally adopt the boy.

The actress and Brad then began dating sometime around 2004 or 2005, and in 2006 Brad adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara.

That year, Brad and Angelina welcomed their first biological daughter, Shiloh.
Kim Kardashian loves to feature daughter North West in her Snapchat videos.

And Tuesday was no different as the 35-year-old reality star shared a short clip with the three year old.

This time the daughter of Kanye West had a new cabbage filter on her face that made her nearly unrecognizable. Just before the add was made, the little Keeping Up With The Kardashians star looked slightly terrified.

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No thanks: North West looked terrified before her mom Kim Kardashian put a Snapchat filer on her Tuesday

Happier: When the filer was on, she seemed to be having more fun as she posed away.

Hee hee: The filter had a purple and pink cabbage on the head with purple eye shadow and lipstick. There were also a pair of purple accented prescription glasses

North was wearing a blue sundress with flowers on it as she leaned on mom Kim, who appeared to be makeup free.

The child also wore her hair down in soft curls.

When the filer was on, she seemed to be having more fun as she posed away.

Too cute: The star had many different expressions for the lens

Mommy and daddy: North's parents are Kim and Kanye West, seen here in LA last week

The filter had a purple and pink cabbage on the head with purple eye shadow and lipstick. There were also a pair of purple accented prescription glasses.

Kim has a habit of showing off North in filter.

She has put her in everything from a princess crown to a bee face and a crown of yellow butterflies.

She likes this one better: The E! offspring has also been seen with a pink tiara

Bee good: ANd here she has a bee face on with auntie Khloe

The camera loves this cutie: And here the tot got a crown of butterflies

Also on Tuesday Kim brought a pouty blonde friend onto her Snapchat.

The beauty said her pal had never been on the app before.

The daughter of Kris Jenner, 60, then showed them barefaced and with Bambi type filters.

Before: Also on Tuesday Kim brought a pouty blonde friend onto her Snapchat
She's flown into Paris to make her annual appearance at the city's world-famous Fashion Week.

And it seems that Kris Jenner is making the most of her time in the City of Love, as she and her boyfriend Corey gamble enjoyed a romantic meal together on Tuesday.

Following a day out in the city, the 60-year-old reality star appeared to be in high spirits as she and her toyboy, 35, headed to Le Costes restaurant.

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Romance in the air? It seems that Kris Jenner is making the most of her time in the City of Love, as she and her boyfriend Corey gamble enjoyed a romantic meal together on Tuesday

Kris, mother to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Rob, Kylie and Kendall, opted for a retro-spin on high fashion evening wear.

Donning a white trouser suit, which featured a belt embellishment on the jacket, the E! reality star accentuated her slender curves subtly.

Never one to shy away from the racy side of fashion, the Kardashian 'Momager' wore a black sheer top beneath the suit; flashing more than a hint of cleavage.

Happy gal: Following a day out in the city, the 60-year-old reality star appeared to be in high spirits as she and her toyboy, 35, headed to Le Costes restaurant

Adding some height to her petite frame, Kris wore a pair of contrasting black high heels.

Cautious of the European climate she made sure to bring a warm fur jacket for her night out.

She accessorised her look with a small black clutch and a smattering of jewellery.

Chic an simple: Kris, mother to Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Rob, Kylie and Kendall, opted for a retro-spin on high fashion evening wear

Retro chic: Donning a white trouser suit, which featured a belt embellishment on the jacket, the E! reality star accentuated her slender curves subtly

Sheer daring: Never one to shy away from the racy side of fashion, the Kardashian 'Momager' wore a black sheer top beneath the suit; flashing more than a hint of cleavage

Sheer daring: Never one to shy away from the racy side of fashion, the Kardashian 'Momager' wore a black sheer top beneath the suit; flashing more than a hint of cleavage

One step at a time... Adding some height to her petite frame, Kris wore a pair of contrasting black high heels

Why so serious? Corey, whom Kris has been since late 2014, rocked his usual casual look and teamed green pullover with a pair of frayed denim jeans and camel Chelsea boots

Ever the gent: Corey played the chivalrous gent as he supported Kris on the way to the car following their meal

One quick snap? The couple paused to chat to one excited fan, who clutched a mobile phone in the hopes of snapping a selfie to remember

Corey, whom Kris has been since late 2014, rocked his usual casual look and teamed green pullover with a pair of frayed denim jeans and camel Chelsea boots.

The music executive and Kris looke typically loved-up, and held hands as they walked into the restaurant.

Kris and Corey's arrival in Paris comes as Milan's Fashion Week closes and the world of style prepares to fly to the French capital.
She was spotted out in baggy sweatpants as she ran errands on Monday.

But a day later Halle Berry transformed into a red carpet goddess as she attended Revlon's Annual Philanthropic Luncheon in Los Angeles.

The 50-year-old movie star looked fantastic in a fitted two-tone dress which accentuated her curves.

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Wow factor: Halle Berry looked stunning at the Revlon Annual Philanthropic Luncheon in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The black and blush pink number clung to Halle's figure in all the right places and featured bandage style detailing.

The Extant star showed off a hint of cleavage and wore her brunette locks pinned high in an elegant updo with soft fringe framing her face.

She teamed the frock with strappy LeSilla heels.

Prefect fit! The 50-year-old actress flattered her curves in a two tone pencil dress and paired it with some strappy LeSilla heels

Leggy ladies: The beauty posed alongside singers Jennifer Hudson and Ciara

Blonde bombshell! Melanie Griffith opted for a flirty nude dress with bronze heels

Ageless beauty: Cindy Crawford rocked boho chic in a tiered dress and tan sandals

The event, held at Chateau Marmont, attracted a host of stars including Courteney Cox, Cindy Crawford, Rachel Zoe, Jennifer Hudson and Ciara.

The luncheon serves to raise awareness for Revlons 2016 philanthropic initiatives including their 2nd annual LOVE IS ON Million Dollar Challenge.

Honoured during the afternoon was Dr. Dennis J. Slamon, Director of the Revlon/UCLA Womens Cancer Research Program at JCCC, for his outstanding achievements in cancer research.

Bold and beautiful: Rashida Jones, Rachel Zoe and Erin Foster stunned in rich colours

Serene in green: Jaime King brought summer vibes in a silk one shoulder dress and matching heels

Beauty in blush: Hudson modeled her very clingy dress which she teamed with matching pointy heels

Halle's divorce from estranged husband, French actor Olivier Martinez, appears to be on hold, but a source denied to People earlier this month that the couple are getting back together.

'Berry definitely has no interest in getting back with Olivier unless his temper and controlling nature change,' the insider told the magazine.

'And there's no indication that either will, so it seems that they will remain separate.'

Radiant! Julianne Hough stunned in a floaty sheer black number

Effortless chic: Courteney Cox kept it simple in a black shift dress

Sophisticated chic: Anjelica Huston and Lorraine Bracco opted for darker hues on the red carpet

She means business! Actress Sara Foster looked chic in grey tones

The duo share three-year-old son Maceo.

Meanwhile Halle will appear in the drama Kidnap, which is due to hit theatres December 2.

The movie follows a mother, played by the actress, who stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.

Fashionista: Designer Rachel Roy opted wore a quirky blazer with cropped patterned trousers

Looking good! Ciara put her amazing legs on parade in a white shirt dress for the event

Making it a date: Don Johnson and wife Kelley Phleger cut a stylish couple on the red carpet

Later on Tuesday, the actress slipped out of her red carpet style in favor of a relaxed look while shopping.

The Oscar-winner wore a white tank top and tight grey leggings as she ran errands in LA.

At one point, she was seen carrying some bright pink bubble wrap as she headed back to her SUV.

Quick change! Halle later was seen in a sporty look while running errands in Los Angeles on Tuesday

On the go! The Oscar-winner wore grey leggings and a white tank while out and about
Drew Barrymore's divorce from Will Kopelman, which was finalized in July, is proving to more than amicable.

The 41-year-old participated in an Ad Week panel with her former father-in-law Arie Kopelman and even gushed about him while onstage.

'He's the grandfather of all grandfathers. He always says there's nothing overrated about being a grandparent and he is the ultimate grandparent,' she said on Tuesday at the New York event.

Getting along famously: Drew Barrymore participated in an Ad Week panel with her former father-in-law Arie Kopelman and former brother-in-law Harry Kargman in New York on Tuesday

The 78-year-old businessman joked that he had never been paid for helping the actress package her products for her make-up and wine ventures, according to People.

'I gave you two granddaughters,' the 50 First Dates star retorted. 'And they love their poppy.'

The two were also joined by another family member Arie's son-in-law Harry Kargman.

Gushing: 'He's the grandfather of all grandfathers. He always says there's nothing overrated about being a grandparent and he is the ultimate grandparent,' she said of Arie

Pay back: The 78-year-old businessman joked that he had never been paid for helping the actress package her products for her make-up and wine ventures

'I gave you two granddaughters,' the 50 First Dates star retorted. 'And they love their poppy.'

Listening intently: The two were also joined by another family member Arie's son-in-law Harry, who offered up some of his own banter

Good times: The actress beamed after taking part in the panel with Harry and Arie

Meanwhile, Drew looked all business as she attended Advertising Week in New York.

The 41-year-old looked smart in a pair of tartan culottes and a maroon button down top.

The blonde wore her hair down over her shoulders as she stood tall in heels.

Drew could be seen laughing during a panel while sipping out of a box of Just Water.

The movie star sat on a panel for Building a Brand in a Mobile-First World at AdWeek.

Suits you! Drew looked all business as she attended Advertising Week

Staying hydrated: Drew could be seen laughing during a panel while sipping out of a box of Just Water

Gorgeous: The 41-year-old star looked line free

Meanwhile, the quickness of her divorce stemmed from the fact that Drew and Will - who share two daughters, Olive, three, and Frankie, two - didn't have to attend court for a hearing.

The filing was uncontested.

That meant there was no dispute over custody of the children or division of their assets.

The pair wanted to get the divorce over and done with while remaining good friends and, according to New York Post's Page Six column are enjoying family time on Nantucket island off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

'Drew and Will both wanted the divorce done expeditiously. They didn't want a messy divorce,' a source told Page Six.

'They are still friends -- in fact they are all together in Nantucket right now.'

Top Chef: Padma Lakshmi also took to the stage at the CEO Connectors panel

Dressed for success: The star showed off her fabulous figure

Drew and Will - who wed in June 2012 after four months of dating - said when they announced their split that their girls were their "first priority.'

Since then, the Miss You Already star and the art consultant have divided their time between New York and Los Angeles in a bid to share parenting responsibilities.

Kristin Chenoweth, 48, put on a busty display as she joined Drew at the event.

Eye-popping display: Kristin Chenoweth, 48, put on a busty display as she joined Drew at the event

Low-cut: She left little room for error in a plunging black dress, and added a pop of colour with coral heels

Petite star: The diminutive Glee actress looked fresh-faced and wore her wavy blonde tresses loose as she posed with Linda Yaccarino and Shelley Zalis

She left little room for error in a plunging black dress, and added a pop of colour with coral heels.

The diminutive Glee star looked fresh-faced and wore her wavy blonde tresses loose.

Meg Ryan looked relaxed as she kept her figure under wraps for a Q&A session.

A striking feature necklace drew attention from her black sweater to her youthful facial features.

Her shoulder-length bob was tousled into waves with a central parting.

Demure: Meg Ryan looked relaxed as she kept her figure under wraps for the Q&A session

Panelist: A striking feature necklace drew attention from her black sweater to her youthful facial features

Looking good: Her shoulder-length bob was tousled into waves with a central parting
More Than Local Novelty, 'Easy' Takes Sharp Look At Love & Adulthood

By Chicagoist_Guest in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 26, 2016 8:00PM



Aya Cash and Evan Jonigkeit in 'Easy' / Netflix

By Jacob Oller

Joe Swanberg's new Netflix anthology series about love, sex and day-to-day drama between people in Chicago, Easy, is eight episodes of sweet dysfunction. Not attempting to capture the city in anything but glimpses and in the personalities of its subjects, Easys Chicago follows different groups, mostly just past their quarter-life crises, caught between immaturity and responsibility.

Theres an exhilarating novelty in seeing Half Acre, Dark Matter, Wiggleworms or Davis Theatre; hearing characters discuss experimental filmmakers at a sparse Chicago Filmmakers screening; seeing Hannibal Buress work with the editor of Newcity; and watching Marc Maron take a potshot at the Chicago Reader, but the seriess best service to Chicago is highlighting the realm between fantasy and reality that houses many of its millennial residents.

Swanberg, known for his prolific burst of mumblecore millennial dramas (like 2013s Drinking Buddies, whose brewery-focused drama echoes that of two episodes here), has made a career of these gaps in nuanced relationships over all genres of lo-fi indies. A graduate of Naperville Central High School and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Swanbergs filmography, including Easy, has maintained a Midwestern feel compared to the more eclectically-set films of his genre companions like the Duplass brothers.

Though each episode has little to do with the others besides the chance encounters between characters in each others episodes, Swanbergs directorial style and favorite themes (couples that over- or under-share) permeate the series so that it feels like a four-hour movie with built-in bathroom breaksa short film series that gives ample time for concessions.

These short films encapsulate romantic tensions that might never be discussed but are immediately recognizable and career problems that hit those with unfulfilling jobs (most of us) right in the gut. The series opens with one of Swanbergs favorite topics, sex, and keeps it as a throughline.



(Netflix)

Inventively shot and lit sex scenes are Easys language: uncomfortable sex, routine sex, exciting sex. Orlando Bloom and Malin Akerman have a charmingly fitful threesome with Kate Micucci as a baby monitors responsibility calls them away from their carnal desires. Experimentation, infidelity and random hookups become instigating events rather than (pardon the pun) climaxes. Theyre used to start conversations, shot as tightly as most of the opening shot/reverse-shots that introduce us to the characters. When the camera pulls back along with the narrative, we see the sex as something that fits into a larger relationship just as these characters fit within their community.

The castinglots of locals and friendly facesis spot on, creating a warm world where even if people dont seem to know each other, they appear to exist in the same circle. Swanberg has a way with his actors that make each interaction feel realisticthe perfect acting where you never think of them as actors. Disagreements arent blowouts, theyre tense and uncomfortable wars of attrition. Lies stack when someone wants to impress their new partner or pretend not to be unfulfilled, but our emotional voyeurism cuts through. Its hard not to follow with rapt attention, like when theres a particularly juicy spat happening at the table next to yours at a restaurant. While all the episodes are slow burns, very few have moments of boredom.

Controlada, an episode almost entirely in Spanish, is rivetingly shot, with beautiful moments in Millennium Park and some jitteringly edited music that echoes a progressively drunken night out. Two middle episodes are the series weak points. Art and Life, featuring Marc Maron and Emily Ratajkowski as similar artists of different generations hits its hokey moral so hard youd think it was reading it out loud in a free creative-writing workshop. Chemistry Read, though it ends with a divine overhead long take of a game of skittles, loses its focus and meanders too languidlyan odds-and-ends drawer of talented parts.

On first glance, thats what the show seems to be about: weirdos and danglers-on, linked by nothing but a common city. But theyre all dreamers, pursuing aspirations of love, art or career. And whether it be a new job running an illegal brewery out of a garage (like Dave Franco, who delivers one of the best performances of the series) or the perfect threesome that somehow doesnt ruin your marriage, the characters in Easy have to grapple with themselves and the real world for these dreams.

Often, reality comes to shut them down or at least make their victories bittersweet. But this Peter Pan mumblecore identifies the core of aging, hip, comfortable Chicagoans: how long do theycan theystrive for these, possibly fictitious, fantasies before cold reality tells them to get a real job and put a ring on that girlfriend of theirs whos too good for them. We know these people, hell, weve been them ourselves. Its both reassuring and troubling to see their stories of urbanite growth omnisciently, but completely worth it for anyone who once was or will be a Chicagoan.
They're pulling out all the stops to impress the judges with their dance routines on Strictly Come Dancing.

But Daisy Lowe and Laura Whitmore took a break from rehearsing for the BBC One series as they arrived to watch iconic pop phenomena Britney Spears shake her stuff at the Apple Music Festival at The Roundhouse in Camden on Tuesday.

Undoubtedly ready to pick up some tips from the acclaimed performer, Daisy, 27, looked sensational in a faux-fur lined biker jacket while Laura, 31, made a statement in skin-tight leather trousers.

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Night off rehearsals: Strictly stars Daisy Lowe and Laura Whitmore took time away from training to catch dancing queen Britney Spears in action at London's Roundhouse on Tuesday night for the Apple Music Festival

Daisy - who topped the leader board with her captivating waltz on Saturday night's episode - donned a sheer lace bralet under her statement outerwear.

And opting for comfort, she wore a a pair of skinny blue jeans and converse trainers while tying a printed scarf around her neck for an extra touch of trendiness.

Her fiery red lips complemented her porcelain skin, while her brunette mane fell messily beside her.

And it was most certainly a mid-week Strictly reunion as her competitor Laura teamed her shaggy outerwear with statement leather trousers and boots.

Stylish: Daisy looked sensational in a faux-fur lined biker jacket

Sneak peek: Daisy - who topped the leader board with her captivating waltz on Saturday night's episode - donned a sheer lace bralet under her statement outerwear

Beauty: Her fiery red lips complemented her porcelain skin, while her brunette mane fell messily beside her

Trend-setter: It was most certainly a mid-week Strictly reunion as her competitor Laura teamed her shaggy outerwear with statement leather trousers and boots

A brown satchel bag was casually slung across her body, while her blonde mane was centre parted and fell slightly past her shoulders.

Meanwhile, former Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh looked in high spirits as she attended the event in a chic blazer and barely-there make-up.

Rita Ora also turned heads in a unique blue tweed co-ord set which flaunted her enviable legs.

Looking great! Former Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh looked in high spirits as she attended the event in a chic blazer and thigh high suede boots

Natural beauty: She sported a barely-there make-up look

Signature style: Rita Ora also turned heads in a unique blue tweed co-ord set which flaunted her enviable legs

Taking risks: Her 'wet look' blonde locks were styled in curves, while her contoured cheekbones complemented her deep plum pout

Wrapping up: She teamed the look with a black biker jacket and matching side bag

Sugary: Stateside singing sensation Bebe Rexha looked pretty in pink in a skin-tight dress

Injecting sexiness: She teamed the ensemble with with beige thigh-high boots and a matching cap

Her 'wet look' blonde locks were styled in curves, while her contoured cheekbones complemented her deep plum pout.

Stateside singing sensation Bebe Rexha looked pretty in pink in a skin-tight dress, which she teamed with beige thigh-high boots and a matching cap.

Georgia May Jagger put on a grunge display with a satin bomber, tiny leather skirt, tights and boots.

The model's locks were dip-dyed at the end in different hues of purple.

The nineties called: Georgia May Jagger put on a grunge display with a satin bomber, tiny leather skirt, tights and boots

Mane attraction: The model's locks were dip-dyed at the end in different hues of purple

Never fails to impress: Designer Henry Holland looked typically stylish

Excitement: He beamed in delight at seeing the iconic American singer perform

Casual chic: Nick Grimshaw wore a loose pair of track-suit bottoms with a slightly unzipped top

Cool: Nick flaunted his style credentials in an over-sized camp print shirt

Sartorially impressive: The hooded top complemented his short haircut

Designer Henry Holland looked typically stylish while Nick Grimshaw flaunted his style credentials in an over-sized camp print shirt.

Others at the event were Olly Alexander of Years & Years, Lara Stone and Roxie Nafousi.

Britney was performing at the Apple Music Festival which sees ten high-profile stars, including the likes of Alicia Keys, Chance The Rapper and Michael Buble, perform intimate shows in London to a small gathering.

Tickets to the festival are free for competition winners and the ten nights are streamed live and on demand to 100 countries.

Plaid's nice! Olly Alexander of Years & Years opted for a cool plaid baseball jacket

Low-key: Lara Stone kept it simple in an all-black outfit with white trainers

Gorgeous: Roxie Nafousi wore a long khaki coat over a figure-hugging black dress and sexy thigh high boots

Super trendy: Poppy Delevingne flaunted her model credentials in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and suede coat

Britney performed for a star-studded crowd at the Roundhouse for the Apple Music Festival in what was her first UK gig in over five years.

Hitting the stage to kick off a hits packed set, the mother-of-two looked sensational in a plunging green snake-skin style leotard.

She whipped her blonde locks around as she strutted her stuff in a pair of leather thigh-high boots alongside a series of scantily-clad dancers.

Loved up: Rugby star James Haskell and his girlfriend Chloe Madeley were in attendance

The look of love: It was plain to see the passion between the pair as they held hands

Off she goes: Millie Mackintosh called it night as she headed home solo

Leggy lady: The Saturdays' Mollie King was looking lovely in a leather miniskirt and suede ankle boots

Stepping out: Mollie was accompanied by a male friend to watch Britney

Rock chic: Les Miserables' Samantha Barks sported ripped jeans and a leather jacket

After the amazing show, the stars were all boasting big smiles as they left the venue.

The Saturdays' Mollie King was spotted leaving not long before Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks, who also dated her ex David Gandy.

The Primrose Hill set was out in force with the likes of Sadie Frost and Pixie Geldof putting in appearances.

Heading home: Laura was no doubt in need of some rest ahead of her Strictly rehearsals

Dressed down: Immy Waterhouse sported a pair of baggy tracksuit bottoms

Skeleton chic: Georgia May Jagger showed off her style credentials in a skelton blazer

Gal pals: Georgia was accompanied by her model friend Poppy Delevingne

Taxi! The redhead clambered into the back of a black cab outside the Roundhouse

Low key look: Pixie Geldof was rocking a pair of navy bootcut jeans and a leather jacket

It's all in the details: The daughter of Bob Geldof carried a psychedelic print handbag

Sombre style: Sadie Frost opted for a black bodycon vest top and a matching blazer
She recently posted a topless photo on Instagram.

And Catherine McNeil once again was spotted freeing the nipple as she headed into the ocean topless during an outing at Miami Beach on Sunday.

The Australian model flaunted her ever-shrinking physique in a tiny black bikini as shev frolicked with fellow model Jacob Morton and makeup artist Soo Joo in the water.

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Let them free! Catherine McNeil, 27, once again was spotted freeing the nipple as she headed into the ocean TOPLESS on Miami Beach on Sunday

The 27-year-old looked relaxed and happy as she showcased her floral tattoos and kept her look makeup free and her long brunette locks out.

Despite fans voicing concerns of her tiny frame, the Brisbane-born beauty seemed comfortable and at ease with her body while onlookers looked a little less confident.

With wet hair after stepping out of the ocean, Catherine sported a beaming smile.

She also flashed part of her upper thigh tattoo, which peeked through the same black bikini bottoms she wore on Sunday.

Looking slim: The Australian model flaunted her ever-shrinking physique in a tiny black bikini

Last week, the Vogue model shared the other topless snap to with her social media fans.

With total disregard for Instagram's strict anti-nudity rules, the stunner wrote:

'I know its gonna get taken down ...but f*** it !!! Miami pit stop (sic)'

Doing just fine: Despite fans voicing concerns of her shrinking frame, the Brisbane-born beauty seemed comfortable and at ease with her body

Catherine, who is a former flame of Australian actress and DJ Ruby Rose, first began her modelling career when she won the Girlfriend model search competition at just 14 years old.

Throughout her career, she has modelled for the likes of Valentino, Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.

She famously took a short break from modelling in 2010 - shortly after her split with Ruby Rose - but returned by 2012.
She had just stepped off a long haul flight from Europe.

But Miranda Kerr looked absolutely stunning on Tuesday as she arrived in Los Angeles.

The 33-year-old showed no signs of fatigue as she made her way through the airport, flashing her toned tummy in the process.

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How does she do it?: Miranda Kerr looked incredible on Tuesday as she stepped off a long hail flight at LAX

Miranda was sporting a black and silver ruffled blouse which exposed a sliver of her flat stomach, teamed with skinny jeans.

The model also wore chunky heeled black boots, a matching choker necklace and a simple belt.

Miranda pulled her chestnut brown hair into a sleek ponytail and finished off her glamorous airport look with coral lipstick and large sunglasses.

The previous day, the Australian beauty had been putting on a dazzling display at Milan Fashion Week.

Abs-olutely amazing: The model flashed her flat stomach in her chic airport look

Nothing 'plane' about her: Miranda wore a black and silver ruffled blouse with skinny jeans

All about the accessories: The 33-year-old also wore chunky heeled black boots, a matching choker necklace and a simple belt

Miranda turned every head as she showed off two gorgeous plunging dresses at the Koradior show.

It had been a whirlwind trip for the former Victoria's Secret Angel, who had arrived in Italy just that morning.

Miranda has had continued success in the modelling industry since parting ways with the lingerie giant in 2013.

Finishing touches: Miranda pulled her chestnut brown hair into a sleek ponytail and finished off her glamorous airport look with coral lipstick and large sunglasses

Jet set life: The mother-of-one was returning from a whirlwind trip to Italy for Milan Fashion Week

However she recently admitted that she never expected to become a catwalk queen.

'It's kind of weird - I never took modelling very seriously,' she said during an interview with Stellar magazine. 'I never really had that desire to be a model.'

Miranda, who is mother to five-year-old Flynn from her marriage to Orlando Bloom, also discussed the possibility of having more children.

The fiancee of Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel said: 'I am very content with just having one, but I am definitely open to the possibility of having more.'

Best foot forward: The Aussie beauty later stepped out in over-the-knee black boots as she headed to dinner

Always stylish: Miranda showed off her figure in a plunging black dress

Runway star: The model wore a silky patterned blouse over her sexy LBD
She claimed in March to have stopped undergoing cosmetic surgery.

And on Tuesday, Brynne Edelsten decided to go back under the needle for more Botox and fillers.

The 33-year-old socialite shared an image of herself at the clinic following the procedure on social media, gushing about the specialists who treated her.

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She just can't stop: Brynne Edelsten went back under the needle for more Botox and fillers on Tuesday after claiming to have stopped undergoing cosmetic surgery

'Thank you @dr.dee_official @voguedentalstudios for the dental check-up, Botox, and fillers,' she wrote, adding: 'Feeling beautiful!'

She signed off with hashtags for stress free dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, elite, Melbourne, cosmetic fillers and Botox done right.

In the image, Brynne displayed a slight smile as she wore a red pattern mini-dress and black knee-high leg warmers that covered her blue ankle boots.

Proud: She captioned her post: 'Thank you @dr.dee_official @voguedentalstudios for the dental check-up, Botox, and fillers. Feeling beautiful!'

Warning: Many of the reality TV stars fans took to the social media application to gush about the blonde's look, while others encouraged her to be careful with cosmetic surgery

She had her blonde hair extensions out and straight as she parted them over her shoulders.

Many of the reality TV stars fans took to the Instagram post to gush about the blonde's look, while others encouraged her to be careful with cosmetic surgery.

'Good on you Brynne,' one follower wrote, while another added: 'beautiful Brynne'.

Back at it: Her procedure comes six months after she revealed she had stopped having cosmetic surgery and had decided to ditch her hair extensions

Under the knife: During an interview in March, the busty blonde said: 'I used to do Botox and fillers the whole time I was with Geoff' (pictured in 2013)

In March, the ex-wife to Geoffrey Edelsten revealed she had stopped having cosmetic surgery and had decided to ditch her hair extensions.

'I used to do Botox and fillers the whole time I was with Geoff,' she told New Idea magazine.

'I used to get my lips done as wellbut to be honest, I haven't done any of it since Geoff and I split up. I have no time for it!'
Fans of the cult classic "Twin Peaks" have been waiting in anticipation for David Lynch to release Season 3 which will air in 2017 on Showtime.

In the meantime the three time Oscar-nominated film director David Lynch received the Yoga Gives Back foundations prestigious 2016 Namaste Award at their fifth-annual fundraising gala in Malibu at the estate of philanthropist Dr. Amarjit Marwah.

Oscar nominated: David Lynch accepted the Namaste Award at the Yoga Gives Back event

Lynch graciously accepted the Namaste Award which recognizes his uplifting work using Transcendental Meditation, carried out through his David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace.

He said he wishes auspiciousness to be seen everywhere, suffering belongs to no one, peace, when accepting the award.

Award Winning: Bob Roth (left) of David Lynch Foundation, David Lynch (center), Ken Atchity of Yoga Gives Back

His Foundation teaches Transcendental Meditation in many countries and, through its practice, helps young children in inner-city schools, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, the homeless and women and girls who are victims of violence. Lynch has been practicing Transcendental Meditation daily since 1973.

Gracious: Kayoko Mitsumatsu and David Lynch accepting the Namaste Award

YGB Founder Kayoko Mitsumatsu explains, While its common for many to perceive yoga as a physical exercise, the ultimate goal of the practice of yoga is to unite with the Divine Selfand meditation plays an important role in achieving this.

Namaste, which means the divinity in me salutes divinity in you in Sanskrit, symbolizes Yoga Gives Backs mission, which is to help others, and is the inspiration for the Namaste Award.

Kayoko Mitsumatsu speaks to the guests at the Yoga Gives Back event in Malibu

The Namaste Award recognizes special people who have gone beyond the practice and teaching of yoga to incorporate noble humanitarian service, which helps make the world a better place, she continues, and we believe Mr. Lynch exemplifies this through his acts of kindness and desire to help others reach enlightenment. 
Clinton boosted by debate as candidates rally support

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton jumped back onto the campaign trail Tuesday after a testy first head-to-head debate in which Clinton frequently forced her prickly opponent on to the back foot.

The White House hopefuls sparred over temperament, judgment, trade, terrorism and other issues in a televised match-up Monday night that seemed to have gone in favor of the Democrat Clinton.

In a snap CNN poll of 521 voters, 62 percent judged that Clinton had won the debate against 27 percent for Trump, with most mainstream political analysts agreeing Clinton was the stronger performer.

In a snap CNN poll of 521 voters, 62 percent judged that Hillary Clinton had won the debate against 27 percent for Donald Trump, with most mainstream political analysts agreeing Clinton was the stronger performer Jewel Samad (AFP)

But in a campaign that has consistently defied predictions from the political establishment, few can forecast for sure the impact on Americans' vote on November 8.

Nate Silver, a respected election analyst at FiveThirtyEight.com, predicted a two to four percent bump in support for Clinton, after the most recent polls showed the race in a virtual dead heat.

Both sides cried victory Tuesday as the spin game that began the very instant the debate ended kept up in full gear.

"This debate was a tremendous opportunity for the voters to look at both candidates on the stage and determine who was prepared to be president of the United States," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on CNN.

"For Hillary in particular, we thought this was a great opportunity for her to talk about the things that she's going to do to make a real difference in people's lives," he said.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway praised Trump's tone and demeanor, in particular towards the end for not bringing up Bill Clinton's past sexual indiscretions, although he alluded to them.

"I was glad that he was polite and a gentleman to her, particularly at the end when he pulled the biggest punch of all," Conway said.

With six weeks until election day, Clinton was scheduled to rally in battleground North Carolina on Tuesday, while Trump was to speak to supporters in the swing state of Florida.

During the debate at New York's Hofstra University, with an anticipated audience of up to 100 million, Clinton repeatedly questioned her rival's fitness to serve in the Oval Office.

She painted the celebrity real estate mogul as fatally out of touch and willing to say "crazy things" to get elected.

"You live in your own reality," said the 68-year-old Democrat, who sought to project her steady experience.

On Tuesday, Trump himself said moderator Lester Holt had failed to ask Clinton questions about key points such as the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya during her watch as secretary of state or about ethical issues surrounding the Clinton Foundation.

"He didn't ask her about her scandals," Trump said. "He didnt ask her about a lot of things she should have been asked about."

On Monday night Trump played the populist bruiser, pitching to frustrated blue-collar voters fed up with establishment politicians.

"Let me tell you, Hillary has experience. But it's bad, bad experience," said the 70-year-old billionaire, accusing the former secretary of state, first lady and US senator of being a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work."

As the temperature rose, Trump brought out the verbal brickbats, repeatedly interrupting Clinton and even questioning her stamina after a bout of pneumonia. He appeared increasingly irritated, at one point rolling his eyes and emitting a frustrated "ugh."

- Reactions -

"A lot of Americans will look at tonight's debate and see an individual who is prepared to become president of the United States, and she was up against an impostor," said John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"You saw not a perfect performance by Hillary Clinton, but as much as an imperfect performance as you can imagine by her opponent," he told AFP.

Clinton's brightest moments came when debate turned to foreign policy, while Trump's came when he tapped into malaise about politics and the economy.

Trump squarely blamed Clinton and the political class for losing jobs to Mexico and China through what he termed bad trade deals and incompetence.

Clinton tried to undercut Trump's CEO-in-chief acumen by accusing him of having "stiffed" small business contractors throughout his business career.

She demanded Trump release his tax returns, suggesting he may be lying about his much-vaunted wealth, his charitable donations, his tax bill or his ties with foreign benefactors.

Trump fired back that he would release his tax returns, "when she releases her 33,000 e-mails that have been deleted," alluding to the Democrat's use of a private email server as secretary of state.

- A real shot -

Clinton has a massive organizational advantage, a bigger campaign war chest and a lead in the popular vote and is in a notably stronger position state-by-state.

But Trump weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism to triumph in a vicious Republican primary campaign, and now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20.

There are two more debates in the 2016 US presidential race, which could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest upset in US political history.

First Clinton-Trump debate: key quotes Laurence Chu, Gal Roma, John Saeki (AFP)

Republican nominee Donald Trump (L) and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton face off during the first presidential debate moderated by NBC's Lester Holt (C) Paul J. Richards (AFP)

Republican nominee Donald Trump (C) speaks with reporters in the "Spin Room" as Melania Trump looks on Jewel Samad (AFP)
Asia growth holds stable thanks to China and India: ADB

The Asian Development Bank said on Tuesday that growth across the region was holding stable despite global headwinds, with resilience in China and India keeping it on track.

GDP for developing Asia is predicted to grow 5.7 percent in 2016 and 2017, according to the bank's latest report -- down slightly from 5.9 percent in 2015.

"Strong growth in the PRC (China) and India is helping the region maintain its growth momentum," said ADB's deputy chief economist Juzhong Zhuang.

India saw a boost to private consumption after recently approved increases in wages and pensions, and a healthy monsoon is likely to lift rural incomes, according to the Asian Development Bank Money Sharma (AFP/File)

"Still, policymakers need to watch for the downside risks including potential capital reversals that could be triggered by monetary policy changes in advanced economies, especially the United States."

Although China growth has dropped from 6.9 percent last year, its performance so far in 2016 surpassed the bank's previous forecast, with fiscal and monetary stimulus measures behind the increase, the ADB report said.

The bank revised up slightly its predictions for China growth to 6.6 percent in 2016 and 6.4 percent in 2017. Both figures are up 0.1 percent from the bank's previous report in March.

India saw a boost to private consumption after recently approved increases in wages and pensions, and a healthy monsoon is likely to lift rural incomes, the ADB said.

It maintained its growth forecast for India at 7.4 percent for 2016 and 7.8 percent for 2017, with improvements driven by a recovery in private investment and bank reforms.

However, a slow recovery in the US, the eurozone, and Japan will still weigh on the region, with question marks over monetary policy in those areas.

The report described risks to the regional outlook as "tilted to the downside", with the possibility of a US Federal Reserve rate hike a possible threat to capital flows.

The ADB also warned policymakers against any move towards protectionism which it said "would only undermine the recovery".

Looking to the future, the Manila-based regional bank said it was increasingly important for developing Asia to cut its carbon emissions, which went from 25 percent of the global total in 19901999 to 40 percent in 2012.

The effects of climate change, from shorter rainy seasons to droughts and outbreaks of disease could be catastrophic if unchecked, it said.

"If uncontrolled, climate change may lead to economic loss equivalent to 10 percent of GDP in 2100, reversing many hard-won socioeconomic gains in the region," the report said.

The ADB promotes social and economic development in Asia and has 67 members, 48 from the region.
On Baghdad street, a struggle between life and death

It had become something they just had to do: whenever the main shopping street in Baghdad's Karrada district was bombed, Hussein al-Fatlawi and his brother would rush to help.

When the Islamic State jihadist group set off a car bomb on Karrada Dakhil street shortly before midnight on September 5, 24-year-old Hussein was halfway up the stairs to his flat.

"I was about to reach my home when I heard the explosion... I pulled out my phone and called my brother Ali to get him to meet me so we could run to help the victims," he said.

Iraqis watch a concert at the opening of a cafe-cum-bookshop in Baghdad's Karrada Dakhil street Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP)

Ali, 26, did not pick up and Hussein had a bad feeling. Instead of going to the bomb site, he started searching for his brother and eventually found him at the morgue, dead.

Ali and Hussein had been among the first to reach the nearby site of a July attack, the bloodiest to ever hit Baghdad, that killed at least 323 people.

The massive blast set fire to two shopping arcades on either side of Karrada's busy thoroughfare, burning many people alive.

The 40-day mourning period is over and the charred bomb site is being cleaned. But everyone in the neighbourhood knew at least one, sometimes many, of those killed and Karrada is still in shock.

"We used to rush out as soon as we heard a bombing and head to the site to help out with transporting the dead and wounded to hospital," said Hussam, the Fatlawi brothers' uncle.

"Since these bombings started, Ali felt a lot of empathy for the victims. Whenever there was a blast, he and his brother were always the first among the volunteers," he said.

- Countless bombings -

A busy shopping area on the east bank of the Tigris River, Karrada has seen countless bombings since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Karrada Dakhil is a favourite spot for many Baghdadis to go for coffee or shop with friends and family, but also a prized target for the Islamic State group's seemingly endless supply of bombs.

There were phases, before IS swept through Iraq and tried to set up its Islamic "caliphate", during which several large bombings would rock Baghdad every day.

On the street, the number of times a cafe or restaurant has been destroyed in bombings is almost part of its pedigree.

Many people avoid the terraces of Karrada during periods of perceived heightened risk, such as major holidays or weekend nights.

But after the tragedy of the July bombing, some made a point of showing they would not be cowed into submission and went about their business as usual.

The authorities recently turned to a type of US-made vehicle scanner on Karrada Dakhil to further secure the area.

That was done partly in response to a public outcry over the continued use of the infamous "magic wands", fake hand-held bomb detectors sold to Iraq by a British conman who was jailed for fraud three years ago.

In late August, an attractive cafe-cum-bookshop offering espresso and iced coffee was inaugurated with a concert. Ahmed Saadawi, Iraq's rising literary star, also read from his latest novel.

- Days away from departure -

"This is great for young people who want a place that isn't noisy, where you can speak freely, buy books and drink coffee," said Muhannad al-Husseini, 25.

"Karrada is bouncing back, especially now that they've cleared the site of the bombing and re-opened the street."

Another bombing, the one in which Ali al-Fatlawi was killed, rocked the neighbourhood a week later and the main street was closed to traffic again.

Saeed Alaa Adel, 27, sitting in the same newly opened cafe, said the latest IS bombing was predictable and argued residents' resilience would be tested again.

"It's very nice to see people getting on with their lives, and I hope more will turn to these kind of cultural activities," he said.

"But government and parliament are part of the problems that cause terrorism, and until that changes, we should be prepared for the next bombing."

Despite his dedication to his neighbourhood and readiness to help bomb victims, Ali al-Fatlawi likely harboured similar feelings and had recently focused his hopes on exile.

When he was killed, he was days away from moving to the United States.

Having briefly worked for a US private security company, his application for emigration had just been approved.

"His dream was to have children and it was about to come true in America," his father Hassan said, sitting in their Karrada home, choking back tears.

Ali had been married for five years, but he and his wife had been unable to have children and were eager to try medically assisted procedures in the US.

Iraqi musicians perform at a concert at the opening of a cafe-cum-bookshop in Baghdad's Karrada Dakhil Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)

Karrada Dakhil is a favourite spot for many Baghdadis, but also a prized target for the IS group's bombs Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)

Iraqis watch a concert at the opening of a cafe-cum-bookshop in Baghdad's Karrada Dakhil street Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)
Reshaping the future? Hong Kong's face readers

Want to improve your performance at work, or solve relationship problems? Li Chau-jing has the solution -- plucking your eyebrows to help achieve those life goals.

A trained face reader, Li has taken the ancient Chinese tradition one step further, making slight changes to her client's brows to bring them better luck.

Stalls practising the face-reading discipline, which dates back more than 2,000 years, are still found in market streets and near temples in modern-day Hong Kong.

Daisy Tse has her eyebrows plucked by trained face reader Li Chau-jing, who makes slight changes to her client's brows to bring better luck, at Li's shop in Hong Kong Anthony Wallace (AFP)

Practitioners believe they can determine a client's fate by interpreting their features -- a strong brow translates to the person's ability to plan ahead, high cheekbones can point to power.

The face can be read like a book, they say, a showcase of a person's wealth, health and family.

But Li claims she can help alter the path of destiny with a few flicks of her tweezers.

"It's an instant change and you can change it for everyone," she told AFP, describing her clientele as ranging from just a few years old to in their 70s.

"I can help a person in the shortest amount of time, by bringing them energy and happiness and the goal they want to reach," Li said.

Wearing a long white dress with a ruffled high collar and purple polka-dots, the former make-up artist says she has studied the art of face reading with a mentor.

She has been running her shop in the working class neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po for six years and its walls are covered with photos of her clients' eyes and brows.

Women tend to come to her to solve emotional or relationship problems, men for better luck at work, she says.

Li, who refused to give her age but said she has worked for 43 years, believes straight brows will bring more luck and happiness than curved.

"If the brows are very straight, then those people will not have to suffer through many hardships," she says.

Customer Edward Lam, a 35-year-year old technician for a television station, said he felt more energetic after having his brows modified.

"The biggest goal I have for fixing my eyebrows is to find jobs and to have better networking, and that my career will improve," Lam told AFP.

"I believe that the impression I gave was better," he said of job interviews since having his brows worked on by Li.

Traditional Hong Kong face reader Chow Hon-ming says the art is a scientific discipline that ties in with some of the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine.

Face reading has been practised in China for thousands of years but became a popular practise in the 10th century because the social upheaval in the dying days of the Tang Dynasty prompted many to worry more about their fate, Chow said.

"There are turning points in a person's life, and when you can't make a decision at those points, you might want to seek a (face reading) master," Chow said.

A face reader starts with the left ear, which tells the story of the first seven years of a person's life. The right ear reflects the next seven years, followed by the nose, eyes and chin, which are used to predict later life.

Different parts of the face also represent different topics.

A jutting chin and a squarish jaw mean a person will have power as they get older, while large exposed nostrils mean they are bad at saving money.

"The nose represents wealth, just look at (actor) Jackie Chan's nose, it is very big," says Chow, who also predicted Hillary Clinton to win the US presidential election as her chin is "stronger" than rival Donald Trump's.

Chow said tweaking features like eyebrows could give fortunes a short-term boost -- but warned against making drastic changes, describing plastic surgery as potentially doing more harm than good.

While some may prefer eyebrow-plucking Li's proactive approach, others are happy to stick to tradition.

Dozens of packed stalls next to Hong Kong's popular Wong Tai Sin Temple offer face reading to thousands of worshippers and tourists visiting the religious hot-spot.

Chinese tourist Fu Xiaohong, 26, says she came here to have her face read in order to deal with a personal matter.

"I have some longing in my heart," she said near one stall where diagrams of faces and palms were displayed.

Fu said she felt more confident after her session, but that she also took the advice she was given with a grain of salt.

"I don't fully believe in it -- I just came to try it out."

Customers have their eyebrows plucked at specialised salon in Hong Kong Anthony Wallace (AFP)

Traditional Hong Kong face reader Chow Hon-ming shows images of US presidentials hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as he predicts Clinton to win the US presidential election as her chin is 'stronger' than rival Trump's Anthony Wallace (AFP)
Tent City Kicked Out Of Uptown By City Officials

By Mae Rice in News on Sep 26, 2016 7:00PM



Photo via Uptown People's Law Center

City officials evicted a tent city from a street near an Uptown elementary school on Monday morning. Stewart Elementary School has been closed since 2013, and Chicago's Board of Education recently sold the land it occupies to private developers, who reportedly plan to redevelop it into condominiums.

"It looked like about 50 people," Alan Mills, Executive Director of the Uptown People's Law Center, told Chicagoist. Mills noted that the tent city wasn't occupying the private developer's land, eitherthey were evicted from public property, a public street, a move likely spurred by the developers acquiring demolition permits for the school.

It's especially remarkable given the city's commitment, last spring, to resolving Chicago's homelessness crisis. Mayor Rahm Emanuel created an elaborate task force and loudly stated that affordable housing was A Priority.

As of this morning, though, police were "physically removing" tent city residents from the street, "asking people to pack up their whole lives and move them to nowhere."

Here, a resident of the tent city, once a janitor at Stewart Elementary School, discusses the land's sudden sale to private developers. He calls the sale of the property "truly underhanded," framing it as a sign that Rahm Emanuel values cash over education:







This particular tent city began in April, according to Mills, when Chicago weather first started warming up. He and his firm work with tent city residents throughout Chicago, and he noted that people take up residence in tent cities for various reasons: "They lost their jobs, they lost their housing, sometimes dealing with mental illness, sometimes simple unemployment."

Supporters and residents of the erstwhile tent city have planned a march for affordable housing for next Monday.
China sentences activists for 'disturbing social order'

A Chinese court has given suspended prison sentences to three prominent labour activists, citing their involvement with "overseas organisations hostile to China", an official said Tuesday.

The sentences come as authorities pursue what labour activists have described as an "unprecedented" campaign of arrests against organisers.

Zeng Feiyang, director of the high-profile Panyu Workers Centre, was Monday given a three-year sentence suspended for four years. His co-workers Tang Huanxing and Zhu Xiaomei received 18-month sentences suspended for two years, an official with the Panyu District People's Court in the southern province of Guangdong told AFP.

The labour activists had been helping workers in the southern province of Guangdong win payment of wages and unpaid benefits in disputes against employers Mark Ralston (AFP/File)

The court convicted the three, who had helped workers with complaints against their bosses, of "ignoring national laws and organising mass gatherings that disturbed social order", the official Xinhua news agency reported earlier.

Strikes and other labour protests have surged in recent years -- especially in Guangdong's capital, the manufacturing hub of Guangzhou -- raising anxiety among officials about maintaining social stability.

Independent trade unions are banned in China, which only recognises the official All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Critics say it often fails to help workers in disputes.

"I accepted training and funding from overseas organisations hostile to China, and, at their request, incited and organised workers to protect their rights in an extreme way," Zeng said in his closing remarks to the court, according to Xinhua.

"I hope that others will take my case as a lesson and not be conned by such organisations," he reportedly added.

A Monday report from the Ministry of Public Security claimed that Zeng had misappropriated funds from "multiple overseas groups and foreign embassies" since 2010, Xinhua said.

It quoted activist Tang as saying: "On the surface, we seem to be fighting for workers' rights but the real intention was to expand our influence, particularly overseas."

All three defendants pleaded guilty and said they would not appeal.

Their suspended sentences represented a "somewhat better outcome" than those of similar cases, said Amnesty International China researcher William Nee, though he added: "It is worrying to see the extent to which they focused on the issue of foreign funding."

- Unpaid wages -

Guangdong is one of China's richest provinces but is confronting growing economic challenges as many factories in the Pearl River Delta close or relocate to cheaper Chinese provinces or countries such as Vietnam where wages are lower.

When companies leave, workers are often left with unpaid wages and no redundancy pay, a major cause of the massive increase in strikes and other labour protests in the region.

The Hong Kong-based NGO China Labour Bulletin provided the Panyu Workers' Centre with most of its funding and training. Its director Han Dongfang said the court cases, rather than achieving the government's goal of discouraging strikes, may worsen the situation.

"This kind of verdict will encourage other employers to ignore Chinese labour law and just do whatever they want to screw workers," he said.

Han, who has also been detained in the course of his work, noted that the defendants had been held for months without visits by lawyers or family.

Those circumstances, he added, raise questions about the sincerity of the confessions.
Australia softens 'backpacker tax' after outcry

Australia on Tuesday watered down plans for a "backpacker tax" on foreigners on working holidays, after an outcry from farmers and tourism operators.

Canberra had been under increasing pressure to shelve the tax -- 32.5 cents for every dollar earned -- amid fears it would deter tourists from choosing the country as a destination.

Some 600,000 backpackers travel to Australia every year, many of them finding work picking fruit, and farmers had complained bitterly that the tax could affect labour supply at harvest time.

Some 600,000 backpackers travel to Australia every year, many of them finding work picking fruit Remy Gabalda (AFP/File)

"We recognise absolutely the important part that backpackers play in the overall tourism industry," Treasurer Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

"It is an important sector for the tourism industry, also a very important source of labour in the agricultural sector, particularly for seasonal labour."

Morrison said the visa application for working holidaymakers would be cut by Aus$50 to Aus$390.

Under the new proposed tax set to be in place from January 1, 2017, backpackers would be levied 19 percent on earnings from the first dollar made.

Currently, like other workers, backpackers do not start paying tax until their annual income exceeds Aus$18,200.

Morrison said the loss in projected government revenue of an estimated Aus$540 million over the next three years would be made up via a Aus$5 rise in the departure tax for all passengers leaving Australia.

Backpackers will also be hit with a 95 percent tax on their superannuation (pension) accounts when they leave Australia.

The tourism sector will meanwhile be given Aus$10 million to market Australia to backpackers, who are often young and work in agriculture and hospitality.

"Farmers across the nation are today breathing a sigh of relief following the announcement," the National Farmers' Federation said in a statement.

"We have consistently said agriculture simply cannot do without backpackers," president Brent Finlay added.

"The nature of these types of working arrangements is that farmers need an immediate, temporary workforce and backpackers want immediate cash in their pockets to spend while travelling -- so the approach taken makes sense."
Pakistan denounces Indian UN speech as 'litany of falsehoods'

Islamabad has branded an address by India's foreign minister to the UN in which she accused Pakistan of terrorism in disputed Kashmir as a "litany of falsehoods".

Tensions between the longtime rivals have spiked over a recent attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir that New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Monday, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said: "Pakistan remains in denial. It persists in the belief that such attacks will enable it to obtain the territory it covets.

Pakistani Kashmiris burn effigies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj during a protest in Islamabad, on September 26, 2016, to show their solidarity with Indian Kashmiri Muslims Aamir Qureshi (AFP)

"My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947. Both claim the disputed Himalayan territory in its entirety and have fought two wars over it.

The Indian army has blamed the latest attack, in which 18 soldiers and four attackers were killed, on the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The group was also implicated in an audacious attack in January on an Indian air force base in Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab, that left seven soldiers dead.

Pakistan responded by calling Swaraj's speech a "litany of falsehoods" that distorted history, and denied its forces had aided the army base attack.

"These allegations are designed principally to deflect global attention from the brutalities being perpetrated by India's over half a million occupation force against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri children, women and men," said a statement by its foreign office released late Monday.

"Jammu and Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India. It is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council."

More than 80 people have been killed in ongoing unrest in Kashmir since July 8 when a young militant leader was shot dead by Indian soldiers, sparking one of the deadliest bouts of violence to hit the region in decades.

Several rebel groups have fought an estimated 500,000 Indian forces deployed in Kashmir, demanding independence for the Muslim-majority region or its merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the fighting, most of them civilians.
Sri Lankan police exhume body of prominent slain editor

Sri Lankan police on Tuesday exhumed the body of a prominent anti-establishment newspaper editor as part of an investigation into his murder, widely blamed on the regime of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse.

Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of Rajapakse's government, was killed by unidentified gunmen as he drove to work in Colombo seven years ago.

The new administration has reopened the investigation into his killing, which sparked an international outcry and shone a spotlight on allegations of deadly violence directed against the media.

Sri Lankan police officials stand near the grave of anti-establishment newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunga as his body is exhumed at a cemetery in Colombo on September 27, 2016 Lakruwan Wanniarachchi (AFP)

Wickrematunga, chief editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, wrote an article before his death in which he forecast that the Rajapakse government would murder him.

"When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me," wrote Wickrematunga, who endured years of harassment and intimidation for his work, in the article published in the Guardian and the New Yorker.

On Tuesday police swarmed onto Wickrematunga's grave site at Colombo's main cemetery and erected two white tents after a magistrate ordered a fresh autopsy.

"The magistrate is present with a team of doctors," said Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer for the Wickrematunga family, outside the cemetery where journalists were gathered.

"The family is happy with the progress of the case," he added.

President Maithripala Sirisena last year slammed police for dragging their feet on investigations into the 52-year-old's death and into other high-profile murders during Rajapakse's rule.

Sirisena swept Rajapakse from office in a 2015 general election, pledging action against criminals and corrupt individuals during the former strongman's decade in power.

The case was reopened last year after a former minister in Rajapakse's government accused the deposed president's brother, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, of running a death squad and ordering the hit against the editor.

Gotabhaya, then secretary to the defence ministry, has denied any involvement. But rights groups say there is strong evidence the military played a role.

An army intelligence officer was arrested in July in connection with the killing.

Wickrematunga and his newspaper had accused Gotabhaya of corruption over the purchase of second-hand aircraft and arms for the military.

Another autopsy was ordered this month after scrutiny of medical examinations showing different results, including one that suggested he was stabbed.

Journalists gathered outside the cemetery on Tuesday but were blocked by police from entering, while the gravesite was covered with black plastic and the magistrate involved spoke with cemetery workers.

Ranagala said doctors were expected to examine the body at the facilities of the island's judicial medical officer in Colombo.

Wickrematunga started the Sunday Leader with his brother Lal Wickrematunga 22 years ago, building it into one of the most vocal anti-establishment newspapers in the country.

The newspaper was highly critical of rights abuses by troops against ethnic minority Tamils during the island's long-running separatist conflict that ended in 2009.

Some 17 journalists and media employees were killed in Sri Lanka under Rajapakse's regime.
Thai police say two held in frozen body case are American

Thai police said Tuesday that two men accused of hiding a dismembered body in a Bangkok house freezer and running a fake passport ring are Americans.

The pair were arrested last week along with a third suspect who allegedly opened fire on police during a raid on the shophouse they used as a crime den in the Thai capital.

They were caught in possession of multiple passports, a cache of drugs and three guns. A search of a padlocked freezer found the body of a foreigner chopped into six pieces.

Bangkok police chief Sanit Mahathavorn speaks to reporters during a press conference in Bangkok, on September 27, 2016 Munir Uz Zaman (AFP)

"We confirm two of them are Americans," said Bangkok's police chief Sanit Mahathavorn, after several days of liasing with US authorities to identify the men.

Sanit declined to name the men.

The case has gripped the Thai public with its gruesome nature and suggestions of foreign-run crime networks operating in the heart of the capital.

Yet police are still trying to gather firm details including the nationality of the third suspect, named by officers as "Peter", who reportedly shot and injured a policeman during the raid.

"Peter has ten passports. We cannot yet identify his nationality," said Sanit, adding that police are searching for his Thai wife for more clues.

Forensic officers have yet to identify the man inside the freezer and say it is still unclear how he died and whether he was dismembered before or after death.

The three men have been charged with multiple offences, including concealing a body, forging official documents and attempting to kill an officer on duty.

Police said they denied the charges and have told officers the freezer belonged to someone else.

Foreign criminals and fugitives have long sought out Thailand as a hub for running syndicates involved in everything from gem thefts to people-smuggling and contract killing.

A thriving fake documents trade has helped shield countless criminals from authorities, with local police notorious for accepting bribes to look the other way.
Vietnam fishermen sue Taiwan firm over mass fish deaths

Hundreds of fishermen in central Vietnam have filed lawsuits demanding more compensation from a Taiwanese firm accused of dumping toxic waste in the ocean that killed tonnes of fish, activists said Tuesday.

The mass fish deaths in April ravaged livelihoods in communities along the central coast, where fishing is the main source of income.

In a rare case of civic action against big business in authoritarian Vietnam, large crowds of fishermen have swamped a courthouse in Ha Tinh province since Monday to file 506 lawsuits against Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa.

Dead fish started washing ashore in Vietnam in April after Taiwanese firm Formosa released contaminated waste into the ocean

The company says it has already paid $500 million in compensation after Vietnamese officials blamed its multi-billion-dollar steel plant in the area for the fish deaths.

But local fishermen said they have yet to receive any money and are demanding Formosa close its plant and provide additional payouts.

Photos and videos on social media showed hundreds gathered outside the courthouse in the town of Ky Anh wearing white T-shirts printed with an image of a fish skeleton and chanting passages from the Bible.

"We demand compensation from Formosa and closure of the plant in Vietnam and ask them to clean up the environment in the area," said Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest helping lead the activists.

Security forces have been widely deployed in the area, activist Tran Minh Nhat told AFP, but no clashes were reported.

State media said earlier that compensation would be paid out from early October after the final tranche was received last month.

It was not clear how much would be disbursed to affected fishermen.

Tonnes of dead fish, including rare species that live far offshore, began washing up along Vietnam's central coastline in April.

Frustration at the authorities' perceived reluctance to blame Formosa led to protests across the country, with police stepping in to arrest scores of demonstrators.

Formosa is no stranger to controversy in Vietnam, where anti-China riots at its Ha Tinh steel plant killed three in 2014 and a scaffolding collapse killed 14 last year.
Saudi petition seeks 'full' rights for women

Thousands of Saudis have signed a petition urging an end to the guardianship system that gives men control over the study, marriage and travel of female relatives, activists said Tuesday.

The petition calls for the kingdom's women to be treated "as a full citizen, and decide an age where she will be an adult and will be responsible for her own acts", said campaigner Aziza Al-Yousef of Riyadh.

The retired university professor told AFP that she tried unsuccessfully to deliver the petition containing 14,700 names to the Royal Court on Monday.

Under Saudi Arabia's guardianship system a male family member must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File)

The activists will now send it by mail as requested.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.

"We are suffering from this guardianship system," said Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in Eastern Province.

The campaign is an outgrowth of a Twitter hashtag in Arabic that started more than two months ago calling for an end to guardianship.

"This momentum got very high after the hashtag was created" and following a report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, Yousef said.

"Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system remains the most significant impediment to women's rights in the country despite limited reforms over the last decade," the watchdog said.

Although the government no longer requires guardian permission for women to work, Human Rights Watch said many employers still demand guardian consent in order to hire a woman.

- 'Highly educated' women -

Some hospitals also require a guardian's approval before carrying out medical procedures, it said.

Activists said that if they have open-minded male family members, getting their consent is not a problem -- although the men still have to formally complete consent papers.

Yousef said many men endorsed the petition because they consider signing the consent forms a waste of time.

Activists claim that Islam does not require men to control women, and male newspaper columnist Abdullah Al-Alweet agreed.

"How can an illiterate father become the guardian of a highly educated woman?" he asked in a Saudi Gazette column on Monday.

Sadah said "it's a government system" which only came into effect about 30 years ago, and which some women get around by paying for permission from their guardians.

Activists said that ending guardianship will make it easier for women to work at a time when the kingdom wants to boost female employment.

"We cannot do it with half of the society paralysed," Yousef said.

In April, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the wide-ranging Vision 2030 plan to diversify the oil-dependent economy.

Under the National Transformation Programme (NTP), which sets targets for the Vision, the proportion of women in the workforce should rise from 23 to 28 percent by 2020.

The jobless rate for Saudi women increased slightly last year to 33.8 percent, according to figures cited by the Jadwa Investment firm.

A slow expansion of women's rights began under King Salman's predecessor Abdullah, who named women to the Shura Council which advises the cabinet.

Last December, when women could vote and stand as candidates for the first time, at least 20 women were elected for the 2,106 contested council seats.

There are roughly 10 million women and girls in Saudi Arabia.
Malian jihadist jailed for Timbuktu attacks

War crimes judges jailed a Malian jihadist Tuesday for nine years for demolishing Timbuktu's fabled shrines, a landmark ruling seen as a warning that destroying mankind's heritage will not go unpunished.

In the first such case to focus on cultural destruction as a war crime, the International Criminal Court found Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi guilty of directing attacks on the UNESCO world heritage site during the jihadist takeover of northern Mali in 2012.

Mahdi "supervised the destruction and gave instructions to the attackers" who took pickaxes and bulldozers to the centuries-old shrines, presiding judge Raul Pangalangan told the tribunal.

Alleged Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi pleaded guilty to a single charge of cultural destruction at the International Criminal Court in The Hague Patrick Post (ANP/AFP/File)

"The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," he added, during an hour-long hearing at the tribunal based in The Hague.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, whose office had asked for a 9-11 year sentence, said it will signal to perpetrators that destroying cultural heritage is "a serious crime".

"It is a war crime and they will be held accountable for destroying these important sites," she told AFP.

Some 55 places around the world are on UNESCO's list of endangered cultural heritage sites.

Handed over to the ICC in late 2015, Mahdi, dressed in a sober grey suit and blue-striped tie, listened intently, but made no comment as sentence was passed.

The landmark verdict by the ICC is also the first arising out of the conflict in Mali, and the first time a jihadist has sat in the dock.

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, aged between 30 and 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of "intentionally directing" attacks on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque.

The judges recognised the severity of the crimes targeting sites which "were dedicated to religion and historic monuments and were not military objectives".

But they also gave Mahdi credit for his guilty plea, his remorse and for his "substantial cooperation" with the prosecution.

- Evil spirits -

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair had previously asked for the forgiveness of his people when videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down the earthen shrines.

Founded between the fifth and 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" for the number of Muslim sages buried there.

Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was however considered idolatrous by the jihadists who swept across Mali's remote north in early 2012.

As the head of the so-called Hisbah or "Manners Brigade," it was Mahdi, a former teacher and Islamic scholar, who gave the orders to ransack the sites.

Apologising last month at a court hearing, he said he had been overtaken by "evil spirits", urging Muslims not to follow his example.

The court found that Mahdi was a member of Ansar Dine, one of the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups which seized northern territory before being mostly chased out by a French-led military intervention in January 2013.

Back in Timbuktu residents cheered the ICC's decision.

"I saw this guy at the time of the attacks. He acted like God on earth," said Mohamed Issa Toure, a young tour guide reached by AFP in Timbuktu

"Justice has been served to our ancestors, and that's important to us," Toure added.

- 'Strong message' -

UNESCO chief Irina Bokova called the ruling "a landmark in gaining recognition for the importance of heritage for humanity as a whole, and for the communities that have preserved it over the centuries".

The UN cultural body also called it a "major step towards peace and reconciliation in Mali".

The United States welcomed the ruling saying "the destruction of cultural artefacts and monuments has been used as a tool to seek to terrorise, to erase history, and to eradicate the identities of communities."

"These are assaults not just on a country and its people, but on the common cultural heritage of all humankind, and those responsible for these acts should face justice," US Department of State deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

But there was concern that other crimes committed during the conflict have not yet been prosecuted with rights groups saying they would have liked to see broader charges including for gender and sexual based crimes.

Bensouda vowed her office was still investigating, saying "We are also looking into these crimes such as sexual and gender-based crimes and killings."

The mausoleums of Timbuktu Alain BOMMENEL, Jean-Michel CORNU (AFP)

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)

Islamists destroyed 14 ancient shrines across Timbuktu in 2012, wiping out centuries of tradition that had attracted pilgrims from across Africa and the Middle East
Israel to charge Lieberman party officials in graft probe

Israel plans to charge officials from Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party in a major corruption probe, with one also accused of drug offences, the attorney general said.

The charges are linked to what has been called "one of the largest public corruption investigations in Israel," involving alleged crimes committed between 2009 and 2014.

Lieberman, who joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in May, is not among the 16 people facing charges.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in May Thomas Coex (AFP/File)

His hardline nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party holds five seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament.

Former deputy interior minister and Yisrael Beitenu secretary general Faina Kirshenbaum along with former tourism minister Stas Misezhnikov are to be charged with bribery, fraud and tax offences, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's office said in a statement.

Misezhnikov is also facing charges of possessing cocaine in Israel and abroad and using it on various occasions in his capacity as minister, according to the statement released late on Monday.

Others named include advisors, lobbyists and local government officials.

In December 2014, police arrested more than two dozen current and former officials as part of the investigation.

The arrests came just three months before Israel's 2015 general elections.
'Insider attack' killed 12 sleeping Afghan troops

Two Afghan soldiers with suspected Taliban links killed at least 12 of their comrades as they slept in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said Tuesday in the latest so-called "insider attack".

The incident occurred just after midnight on the outskirts of Kunduz city, which was briefly captured by the Taliban last year in a blow to Afghan forces.

"The two soldiers fled after killing 12 sleeping colleagues in the Zakhil Khoman area of Kunduz," senior local police commander Aziz Kamawal told AFP.

Insider attacks have plagued both Afghan and international troops in Afghanistan, depleting morale and causing mistrust within security ranks Roberto Schmidt (AFP/File)

"We have launched an investigation into the incident."

Mahmood Danish, the Kunduz governor's spokesman, gave a higher toll of 13 and said the rogue soldiers prepared the way for the Taliban to storm their checkpoint and carry out the killings.

"The police have launched a search operation to find the rogue soldiers," he told AFP.

Insider attacks have plagued both Afghan and international troops in the country, depleting morale and causing mistrust within security ranks.

The killings come as Afghan forces suffer record casualties as they battle the Taliban without the full support of NATO forces, which ended their combat operation at the end of 2014.

Authorities estimate about 5,000 local police and troops were killed in 2015 -- with an additional 15,000 wounded.
This Lincoln Square Fountain Was A Soapstravaganza This Weekend

By Mae Rice in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 26, 2016 5:46PM



Photo courtesy of Redditor mah_ree

The fountain in Lincoln Square's Kempf Plaza looked like a descending soap angel over the weekend. Redditor mah_ree snapped the shot above, of the fountain spiked with detergent, on Saturday at midnight, they told Chicagoist.

"Smells really good," mah_ree commented on their own photo. We bet! There was an entire Dear Prudie question recently about how to get a house to smell more "distinctly" like clean laundry.

Though quite fun compared to other recent Chicago events, the soap prank has some downsides. mah_ree commented that the night wasn't windy, and the suds remained "self-contained," but reports on similar incidents suggest that it's expensive to get fountains up and running after soap shenanigans. Cleaning the soap out of a fountain cost one Wisconsin parks department tens of thousands of dollars, WEAU reported in 2014.

In the overall scheme of things, we give this fountain a pass. Honestly pays for itself, if you count whimsy as a form of currency.

We reached out to 47th Ward alderman Ameya Pawar's office for details on how often the fountain gets soaped and what it costs the city, and will update this post if we hear back.

[H/T Reddit]
Israel PM steers clear of US politics after New York trip

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he believed either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would maintain strong support for Israel if elected, steering clear of US politics after meeting both candidates.

Netanyahu faced criticism in 2012 over what many saw as his support for US President Barack Obama's Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

This year, the veteran prime minister and former US resident has been careful to strike a balance after coming come under fire from political opponents who accuse him of damaging relations with Israel's most important ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office on September 27, 2016 following his return from New York Atef Safadi (Pool/AFP)

Netanyahu returned to Israel on Monday after a trip to New York to speak at the UN General Assembly. He met both Clinton and Trump on Sunday.

The premier, speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, said he "spoke with them at length about Israel and the region."

"Both spoke about their support of Israel and the importance of the relations between the countries," Netanyahu said.

"It doesn't matter which of them is elected. The American support for Israel will remain strong. This bond will remain strong and even strengthen over the coming years."

During Sunday's meeting with Netanyahu, Trump pledged to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital if elected president, which would break with decades of precedent and put the United States at odds with most UN member countries.

In her meeting, Clinton promised to help Israel confront "terrorist threats" and also said she was committed to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "negotiated directly by the parties."

Netanyahu has called for direct negotiations, while the Palestinians, frustrated with years of failed talks and Israel's continuing occupation of the West Bank, have pursued an international strategy.

On Tuesday, the Israeli premier also acknowledged his "disagreements" with Obama, but said "these disagreements have not clouded the strong and solid relations between the countries at all."

Netanyahu vehemently opposed the Iran nuclear deal spearheaded by the United States along with other world powers.

His address to the US Congress in March 2015 to lobby against the deal angered the White House.
Russia backs Aleppo assault to strong-arm US: analysts

Russia has decided to throw its military might behind the Syrian regime's drive to recapture divided Aleppo in a bid to strong-arm Washington into accepting Moscow's demands, analysts say.

After a short-lived truce collapsed, Russian warplanes have joined Syrian aerial and artillery bombardment of the rebel-held east of the city, pounding it with unprecedented ferocity.

"Negotiations with the Americans were just a smokescreen in order to buy time and prepare for the next phase of military operations," said Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at the University of Edinburgh.

A Syrian man carries a baby after removing him from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike in the Qatarji neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo on September 21, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File)

"For the (regime) loyalists, diplomacy is the continuation of war by other means," Pierret said.

After intensive negotiations between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a much-awaited ceasefire agreement went into effect in Syria on September 12.

But it fell apart within a week, with each side blaming the other for the latest failure in a conflict that has cost more than 300,000 lives since March 2011.

The deal called for the entry of humanitarian aid, particularly to besieged areas like opposition-held Aleppo, and for rebels to distance themselves from jihadists such as Fateh al-Sham Front, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate once known as Al-Nusra Front.

Neither commitment was achieved, and the ceasefire has given way to some of the most intense violence in rebel-held Aleppo since it was divided by fighting in mid-2012.

Russia intends "to give Assad a decisive victory" and "eliminate any alternative, while depriving the opposition of what it considers its 'capital'", said Pierret.

"An uprising chased from Aleppo will be relegated to nothing more than a peripheral insurrection."

- Russia goes 'all out' -

By backing government forces in Aleppo, Moscow seeks "to close that important pocket of rebels' resistance at last", said Igor Sutyagin, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

Outside Aleppo, only Idlib province remains a major opposition stronghold.

Russia has long been a steadfast ally of Damascus, entering the conflict militarily last September to bolster Assad against rebels backed by Gulf nations and much of the West.

It has also provided key diplomatic cover at the United Nations.

But Moscow now seems closer than ever to the regime, having decided after some hesitation to support the Assad government's desire to retake Aleppo by force.

"Russia has decided to go all out because it no longer believes in the possibility of collaborating with the United States in Syria," said Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

In Damascus, analyst Bassam Abu Abdullah said Moscow was "now more in line with the Syrian government's way of thinking".

"Russia was focused on the political solution, so it began dialoguing with the Gulf and the US and other countries, but it became clear that this is not possible," said Abdullah, who runs the Damascus Centre for Strategic Studies and is close to the government.

A victory in Aleppo would put Assad's regime in a strong position ahead of any new negotiations, which UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura is still seeking despite the worsening conditions.

- An alliance of 'necessity' -

"Without Aleppo, Assad is nothing but a half-president. To really govern, he needs Aleppo," said Balanche.

Assad already controls most of the cities he considers key in Syria -- Damascus, central Hama and Homs -- with only Aleppo remaining.

"The Russians and the Syrians would like to take control of all of Aleppo and only afterwards negotiate with the opposition," said foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov.

"Aleppo plays a key role" because the future "depends on the state of the front line that separates the fighting parties. And that line must be stable."

The new assault has been devastating, with more than 150 people killed in the city since the army announced its offensive late Thursday.

The heavy bombing has raised some comparisons with Moscow's strategy against Chechen separatists in the 1990s, which saw the capital Grozny nearly completely destroyed by air power and artillery.

But analysts said the devastation was not yet on a similar scale.

"Russia's military tactics in Aleppo are nothing like those used in Grozny," said Alexandre Golts, an independent military expert.

"In Aleppo, the civilian deaths are in the dozens, if you believe the Western media, not hundreds like in Chechnya. It isn't comparable."

Russia's ramped-up military involvement in Syria has drawn stinging criticism from the United States and others, but analysts say Moscow's alliance with Damascus is firm and founded on key shared interest.

"Assad can't do anything without Moscow, and Russia in turn knows that without Assad it will be chased from the Middle East," said Alexei Malachenko, a Russian Middle East specialist.

"It's a friendship of necessity."

The siege of Aleppo Sabrina BLANCHARD, Thomas SAINT-CRICQ (AFP)

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaking at a Security Council Meeting on September 21, 2016 on the situation in Syria Timothy A. Clary (AFP/File)
Six killed in Angola helicopter crash

Six people were killed when a helicopter chartered by US oil giant Chevron crashed off the coast of Angola, security forces confirmed Tuesday.

The accident happened late Monday near the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda, Captain Armando Nzawisa of the Angolan armed forces, who is heading emergency operations, told AFP.

Four Angolans and two expatriates were killed.

Four Angolans and two foreigners were killed as a helicopter crashed off the coast of Angola Stephane de Sakutin (AFP/File)

"The helicopter crashed in bad weather en route to a Chevron platform," Nzawisa said.

The bodies of the four Angolans have been recovered but search operations for the two foreigners was still underway, with 19 vessels and three helicopters deployed.

Five of the people killed were Chevron employees. The sixth was the pilot, employed by Angolan company Heli Malongo, whose nationality has not been disclosed.

"We have opened an internal enquiry into the causes of the accident," John Baltz, head of Chevron's Angolan subsidiary, told a press conference.

The helicopter was used as a shuttle between oil platforms and Chevron's onshore facilities in Cabinda, public broadcaster TPA reported.

Cabinda borders the Republic of Congo to the north, and is separated from the rest of Angola to the south by a sliver of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Syrian army retakes Aleppo district as bombs rain down

Syria's army took control of a rebel-held district in central Aleppo on Tuesday, after days of heavy air strikes that have killed dozens and sparked allegations of war crimes.

In the first advance since announcing plans last week to retake all of the divided city, pro-government troops seized the Farafira district northwest of Aleppo's historic citadel, a military source told AFP.

"After neutralising many terrorists... units are now demining the area," the source said.

Syrian forces captured the largely deserted Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, on the outskirts of Aleppo, on September 24, 2016 George Ourfalian (AFP)

The push follows several days of Syrian and Russian air strikes on rebel-held Aleppo neighbourhoods -- some of the fiercest bombardment of the five-year conflict so far -- after a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Washington collapsed last week.

The Aleppo maelstrom prompted Western powers to accuse Russia of committing possible war crimes, charges the Kremlin condemned as "unacceptable".

In the latest broadside, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the air campaign.

"The appalling attacks on Aleppo have shaken all of us, and the violence and the attacks we have seen... is morally totally unacceptable and is a blatant violation of international law," Stoltenberg told a news conference in Bratislava.

On the ground in eastern Aleppo, an AFP correspondent said air strikes struck several neighbourhoods simultaneously, including in Al-Shaar, where a five-storey building was levelled with a family stuck inside.

One young girl, her body encased in rubble, was among the dead. Her father, in shock as rescue workers picked up her lifeless body, collapsed beside her, saying: "She's just sleeping. She's just used to sleeping."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said that more than 165 people have been killed by Russian and regime bombardment on the city since the government announced its offensive last week.

At least 23 civilians, including nine children, were killed Tuesday in raids on the neighbourhoods of Al-Shaar and Al-Mashhad, it said.

As well as the intensified violence, residents have been left reeling from food shortages and skyrocketing prices.

The World Health Organization warned that medical facilities in east Aleppo were on the verge of "complete destruction".

"Over the last weekend alone, more than 200 people were injured and taken to understaffed health facilities in east Aleppo," a spokeswoman said in Geneva.

The UN body called for "an immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city."

- 'Absolutely unacceptable' -

The Observatory said that there were "significantly fewer" strikes on Aleppo on Tuesday than in recent days, but confirmed the advance by pro-government forces into Farafira.

Aleppo has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012, and the frontline has remained largely static despite continuous violence.

Earlier this month, a ceasefire went into effect across Syria, brokered after exhaustive talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

It was dubbed by Kerry as the "last chance" to end more than five years of devastating conflict.

But it fell apart within a week, with each side blaming the other for the latest failure in a war that has cost more than 300,000 lives since March 2011.

Analysts said Tuesday that the unprecedented ferocity with which Aleppo has been hit in recent days suggested that Moscow was backing the Syrian government's aim to totally recapture the city.

"Russia has decided to go all out because it no longer believes in the possibility of collaborating with the United States in Syria," said Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, US ambassador Samantha Power accused Russia of "barbarism", while both the British and French envoys went further, alleging the bombing of Aleppo constituted possible war crimes.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that violence in Aleppo was on an "absolutely unacceptable scale" and that it was up to Russia and Syria to ensure humanitarian aid could reach the battered city.

The siege of Aleppo

A grief-striken Syrian man is comforted as rescuers pull the body of his daughter from the rubble following air strikes in the rebel-held Al-Shaar district of Aleppo on September 27, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP)

Syrian civilians and rescuers gather at site of government forces air strikes in the rebel held neighbourhood of Al-Shaar in Aleppo Karam al-Masri (AFP)
The United States should give African Americans reparations for slavery, UN experts said Tuesday, warning that the country had not yet confronted its legacy of 'racial terrorism'.

Amid a presidential election campaign in which racial rhetoric has played a central role, the UN working group on people of African descent warned that blacks in the US were facing a 'human rights crisis'.

This has largely been fuelled by impunity for police officers who have killed a series of black men -- many of them unarmed -- across the country in recent months, the working group's report said.

Scroll down for video

A pair of slave shackles on display in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

Those killings 'and the trauma they create are reminiscent of the past racial terror of lynchings,' said the report, which was presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday.

Addressing the deeper causes of America's racial tensions, the experts voiced concern over the unresolved 'legacy of colonial history, enslavement, racial subordination and segregation, racial terrorism and racial inequality'.

'There has been no real commitment to reparations and to truth and reconciliation for people of African descent,' the report said.

Working group chairman Ricardo A. Sunga told reporters that the panel believed several models of reparations could work in the US context, including 'elements of apology' and a form of 'debt relief' to the descendants of enslaved people.

'There has been no real commitment to reparations and to truth and reconciliation for people of African descent,' the report said (file image)

Asked about the campaign and accusations that Republican nominee Donald Trump has made racially inflammatory remarks, Sunga voiced alarm over 'hate speech...xenophobia (and) Afrophobia'.

'We are very troubled that these are on the rise,' he added, without naming Trump specifically but calling on officials and 'even candidates' to watch their words.

Trump and his camp have denied all racism charges.

In the campaign's first debate on Monday, Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton accused Trump of launching his campaign on the 'racist lie' that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.
Timbuktu attacker jail term a 'warning' to others: ICC prosecutor

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court welcomed Tuesday a nine-year jail term handed to a Malian jihadist for destroying Timbuktu's shrines, saying it sent "a warning" to others planning such attacks.

The term imposed on Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi for directing the 2012 attacks on the fabled mausoleums in northern Mali was a "fair sentence," ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told AFP.

But she stressed it "will give warning out there for those who are committing the crimes... that this is a serious crime. It is a war crime and they will be held accountable for destroying these important sites".

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda Peter Dejong (Pool/AFP/File)

Mahdi was sentenced to nine years imprisonment Tuesday by judges at the tribunal, after he pleaded guilty to a single war crimes charge of intentionally directing attacks against a religious and historic site.

The judges said the destruction of nine mausoleums and the 500-year-old doors of the Sidi Yahia mosque at the UNESCO-listed site were of "significant gravity".

UNESCO on Tuesday applauded the International Criminal Court for jailing Mahdi, calling it a "major step towards peace and reconciliation in Mali".

The issue of cultural destruction has been catapulted into the spotlight as jihadists have swept into centuries-old sites in Iraq and Syria in recent years.

"The court has recognised that this is a very serious offence, very grave offence and the impact that it has had also on the community," Bensouda said.

The sentence would have "a deterrent effect on those who are considering committing these crimes".

She stressed her office was also looking into other crimes in Mali following criticism from some rights group that not enough was being done to bring other suspects to justice after harrowing the events of 2012.

"The investigations continue, we are looking into other crimes, we are also looking into these crimes such as sexual and gender-based crimes and killings," she said.
Corpses of stray dogs paraded in India street protest

Police in southern India were investigating political activists on Tuesday for killing dogs, tying the corpses to a pole and parading them in public to protest against dangerous strays.

The protesters from the youth wing of a local party carried the pole with the dogs hanging by their legs through the streets of a town in Kerala state on Monday.

Video of the protest in Kottayam district that saw the dogs being dumped outside local government offices was broadcast on television and sparked public anger.

Indian activists with the Kerala Congress Youth Front stand next to the bodies of dead stray dogs as they protest against dangerous strays in Kottayam in the southern Indian state of Kerala on September 26, 2016 - (AFP)

"We have registered a case against the protesters today for cruelty against animals and launched our investigation," Gireesh P Saradhi, deputy superintendent of Kottayam police, told AFP.

"They killed and paraded five to seven dogs. We have sent the bodies for a post-mortem to ascertain how they were killed," he added.

The protest is the latest incident in a row over feared rising numbers of strays in the state, after a woman was mauled by a pack of dogs last month and later died.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sparked anger recently by saying he opposed culling, while animal activists have called for sterilisation and other more humane methods of curbing numbers.

Thousands of stray dogs roam the streets in India, with some carrying rabies and other diseases. It was unclear why the numbers were feared to be a particular problem in Kerala, a popular state with tourists.

Saji Manjakadambil, one of those involved in the protest from the Kerala Congress (M) party, said such killings would continue unless the government acted on the problem.

"We have killed these dogs. And it's a warning that this will continue if the central and state governments do not control the stray dog menace," Manjakadambil told the NDTV network.
China opposes US indictment of firm tied to N.Korea nukes

China said Tuesday it opposes a US decision to bring criminal charges against a Chinese firm and executives for their alleged role in supporting North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

"We would like to stress we oppose any country carrying out so-called 'long-arm jurisdiction' over a Chinese entity or individual in accordance with its own domestic laws," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

Beijing has expressed its position directly to the US in recent communications, he added during a regular briefing.

Dandong Hongxiang logged more than $530 million in two-way trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015, according to a recent report by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul and C4ADS in Washington Mark Ralston (AFP/File)

On Monday the US Justice Department announced criminal charges against the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development company and four Chinese nationals for conspiring to evade US sanctions on North Korea, violating US regulations against support for "weapons of mass destruction proliferators", and money-laundering.

In parallel the Treasury added the company and the four individuals to a sanctions blacklist, making them ineligible to do business with American individuals or companies, particularly financial firms.

The move follows an earlier announcement by Chinese authorities that they were investigating the company, located in the city of Dandong on the border with North Korea.

Geng said Beijing would "seriously punish any illegal activities by companies or individuals, once discovered".

He added that China was willing to cooperate with other countries, if needed, on the basis of "mutual respect and equal treatment." He also stressed that China opposes Pyongyang's nuclear programme and has been "faithfully observing" its commitment to UN sanctions.

However, customs data released Monday showed China's imports of North Korean coal have surged 60 percent since the latest sanctions went into effect in April, reaching nearly 2.5 million tonnes valued at $113 million.

Dandong Hongxiang logged more than $530 million in two-way trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015, according to a recent report by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul and C4ADS in Washington.

That could have been enough to fund North Korea's uranium enrichment facilities, and to design, make, and test its nuclear weapons, the report said.
MSF finds deadly air strike on Yemen hospital 'unprovoked'

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday it has probed a deadly air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on a Yemen hospital and found that the attack was "unjustified and unprovoked".

MSF called for "urgent changes in the rules of engagement of the Saudi-led coalition... to ensure the safety of medical personnel, patients, assets and infrastructure".

The August 15 attack on Abs hospital in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja was the fifth and deadliest attack on an MSF-supported facility in war-torn Yemen, the Paris-based group said in its report.

Yemeni workers clean at a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital, on August 16, 2016 in Abs, in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja, a day after the hospital was allegedly hit by an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition

The strike which killed 19 people and wounded 24 others and drew international condemnation was preceded by Arab coalition air raids on nearby areas, MSF said.

Warplanes from the coalition regularly bomb areas controlled by Iran-backed rebels as part of its campaign launched in March 2015 in support of UN-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

A coalition plane "launched a projectile at Abs hospital without previous warning or communication with the MSF mission", the charity said.

Based on the probe findings, the attack targeted a "civilian vehicle" that drove into the hospital compound nearly five minutes before the air strike.

This was also indicated by a Saudi general who spoke to MSF in Djibouti, the charity said.

Carrying patients believed to be victims of other strikes, "the car was visually inspected at the gate" by a hospital guard who said that those inside "wore civilian clothes and that there were no weapons visible inside the vehicle".

The strike hit as MSF medical staff were bringing a stretcher to unload the wounded from the car.

"The blast was very powerful. It left a big crater and was felt throughout the hospital, where windows were shattered despite the blast film applied on them," it said.

"Thirteen of the deaths were due to severe shrapnel injuries, two people burned to death inside the car, one of which was a child, and partial remains were found of the remaining four casualties," MSF said.

The hospital remained empty for 11 days after the blast before it gradually resumed operations from August 26.

The attack prompted MSF to evacuate its teams from six hospitals in northern Yemen, including Abs -- a move that it said has "negatively impacted the availability and quality of healthcare" in the war-battered country.

"MSF had taken every possible measure to safeguard the normal medical functioning and the neutrality of the facility," it said.

- 'Positive steps' -

The hospital was identified with logos and through the communication of GPS coordinates.

It was functioning normally prior to the attack and the investigation found there had been no changes to trigger the strike while a "strict no-weapons policy was being applied".

"Thus, carrying out the attack on the hospital without any legitimate cause and without previous warning was a violation of the International Humanitarian Law rules," MSF said.

It acknowledged however that the coalition had taken "concrete and positive steps including a prompt investigation, an invitation to discuss the findings and a commitment to concrete changes".

The Arab coalition immediately announced an independent investigation into the attack but has not yet published its findings.

Last month, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of UN-condemned air strikes on civilian targets in Yemen.

More than 6,600 people have been killed since the coalition launched its intervention, most of them civilians, according to the United Nations.
Trump launches harsh new personal attack after debate

Fresh off his presidential clash with Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump doubled down Tuesday on criticism of a former Miss Universe he accused of getting too fat, comments that could repel women voters.

Alicia Machado, who won the crown in 1996, has accused Trump -- whose company owned the Miss Universe pageant until last year -- of calling her "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping," and publicly humiliating her over her post-victory weight gain.

The morning after Clinton invoked Machado's experience as an example of how the brash billionaire treats women, he lashed out at the beauty queen.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Sun Center Studios in Aston, Pennsylvania Mandel Ngan (AFP)

"She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem," Trump told Fox television Tuesday.

"She was the worst we ever had. The worst, the absolute worst," he added. "She was impossible."

Clinton had raised Machado's case during a debate exchange over Trump's assertion that the Democratic candidate did not "look presidential."

Excoriating Trump for his treatment of women, she recalled that he had called Machado "Miss Piggy," and "Miss Housekeeping" because she is Latina.

"Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado. And she has become a US citizen, and you can bet she's going to vote this November."

Trump appeared startled by the accusation.

"Where did you find this?" Trump asked Clinton three times.

Shortly after the debate, Clinton's campaign released a video in which Venezuelan-born Machado says she was scared of and intimidated by Trump.

"He'd yell at me all the time. He'd tell me 'You look ugly,' or 'You look fat,'" she says.

"He bears many grudges, and harbors a deep racism, and he is convinced that there are lesser human beings than him."

Trump is seen in 1990s footage saying Machado "weighed 118 pounds or 117 pounds (53 kilograms) and she went up to 160 or 170 (72.5 or 77 kg). So this is somebody that likes to eat."

Throughout his campaign Trump has faced intense scrutiny over his treatment of women, and Clinton assailed her rival on the issue.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and somebody who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women don't deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men," Clinton said.
Those Frontera Tortilla Chips Will Now Be Made By ConAgra

By Anthony Todd in Food on Sep 26, 2016 8:43PM



Rick Bayless dishes out food at Taste of the Nation Chicago in 2011. (Photo credit: Toque and Bottle Advisory)

Big news in the packaged food world: Rick Bayless's brand, Frontera Foods, has been acquired. From now on, when you chow down on those bags of expensive tortilla chips, they'll be coming to you courtesy of ConAgra.

The Tribune reported on the deal today, which includes the packaged foods part of Frontera but not any of Bayless's restaurants. ConAgra, which also owns Hebrew National, Orville Redenbacher's, Hunt's, Slim-Jim, Reddi-wip and lots of other familiar brands, recently moved their offices to downtown Chicago and this is their first acquisition since the move.

This will certainly allow the Frontera brand to dramatically scale up. Frontera was reportedly concerned because they weren't making enough products to meet demand. The manufacturing process and locations will remain the same (the chips, for example, are made by El Milagro on the south side of Chicago), and while no numbers have been disclosed about the deal, we're sure Bayless did pretty well.
UN calls for independent probe of DR Congo violence

A top UN rights official called Tuesday for an independent investigation into a surge of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisting the country could still avert a large-scale crisis.

"There can be no appeasement," said Kate Gilmore, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"An independent, transparent and credible investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators and instigators of violence to justice," she insisted in a speech before the UN Human Rights Council.

Demonstrators gather in front of a burning car during an opposition rally in Kinshasa on September 19, 2016 Eduardo Soteras (AFP/File)

Her comments came after deadly clashes between police and demonstrators in Kinshasa last week, as opposition groups demanded the resignation of President Joseph Kabila.

Kabila has ruled since 2001, and under the constitution, is barred from running for a third term, but although his current term ends on December 20, no date for new elections has been announced and there are fears he plans to stay in power.

"I can confirm to you here that there is no question of breaching the constitution," DRC minister of justice and human rights Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told the council Tuesday.

"The elections will be organised," he said, adding that the specific date was still being determined in cooperation with "international entities, including the United Nations".

At least 49 civilians and four police officers were killed on September 19 and 20 alone, and 127 civilians were injured, "allegedly at the hands of the Republican Guard, army and police," Gilmore said.

DRC police last week put the toll at 32 killed, while the opposition said there were "more than 100 dead".

"A large-scale crisis could be just around the corner," Gilmore said, urging "all actors to heed this wake-up call."

"Charting a path away from the violence of this past week is entirely doable. It is simply a matter of political will," she insisted.
Clinton, Trump take debate battle on critical state swing

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled to break out of deadlocked polls after clashing in their first televised debate, lashing each other with insults on the campaign trail in critical states.

An exuberant Clinton came out swinging, condemning her Republican rival as "dangerously incoherent" with an energy that suggested she was exiting perhaps the worst period of her 15-month campaign beset by blunders in belittling Trump supporters and laid up with pneumonia.

The Manhattan billionaire retaliated, telling a rally of thousands of supporters in the battleground state of Florida "we're going to get rid of that crooked woman" and accusing the press of alleged bias.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks to press on her plane on September 27, 2016 Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

"I felt so positive about it," Clinton told reporters aboard her campaign plane the day after the most watched US presidential debate in history that Nielsen said 84 million people tuned in to watch.

Most mainstream political analysts said the debate went in favor of the 68-year-old Democrat, who frequently forced her prickly opponent on the back foot over judgment, taxes, foreign policy and terrorism.

"The real point is about temperament and fitness and qualification to hold the most important, the hardest job in the world, and I think people saw last night some very clear differences between us."

But with polls locked in a near dead-heat, showing that Clinton's lead has all but evaporated, both sides cried victory.

In a campaign that has defied predictions, polarized the country and upended the political establishment, few can predict the possible impact at the ballot box on November 8.

Trump jetted into Florida to woo Hispanic voters, who polls show overwhelmingly prefer Clinton, attend two fundraisers in a bid to play catchup with his opponent's vast war chest and lead a large rally.

A master at image control, his private Boeing 757 taxied right up to the airport hanger in Melbourne, where he stepped out to electric cheering from fans in a Hollywood-style arrival.

- 'Candidate of yesterday' -

He lost no time savaging Clinton for a debate performance as the crowd broke into chants of "lock her up, lock her up."

"She's the candidate of yesterday, and ours is the campaign and we're the people of the future," he said. "Her only experience has been a failure," he added.

He announced that his campaign had raised $18 million in the last 24 hours, although he lags behind Clinton's war chest. The Republican raised $90 million in August compared to Clinton's $143 million.

In Florida, ardent Trump supporters stood by their man as the anti-establishment candidate who could bring back jobs and accused Clinton of being motivated by personal ambition alone.

"I liked everything he said," said Elaine Nunn, 40, who works in finance and lives in Sebastian, a town 20 miles (32 kilometers) away from Melbourne on the Florida coast.

"He's not a politician. He doesn't have any hidden agenda," she told AFP at the end of the hour-long speech.

It capped a day of two fundraisers, and a meeting with Hispanic voters in Little Havana, the Cuban-American heartland, which is in Miami.

But Trump faces an uphill task if he wants to win over Latinos who favor Clinton heavily in five key battleground states, according to a recent Florida Atlantic University poll.

In Miami, his motorcade swept past a handful of protesters, who held a "No Trump, No KKK, No racist USA" sign as they shouted in heavy rain.

- 'Dangerously incoherent' -

During the debate on Long Island, New York, Clinton repeatedly questioned his fitness to serve in the Oval Office.

She painted the celebrity real estate mogul, who has never held elected office, as fatally out of touch and willing to say "crazy things" to get elected.

Trump has called for the votes of Americans frustrated with establishment politicians looking for an outsider to bring change.

"Secretary you are experienced, but it's bad experience because everything you did turned out bad," he repeated Tuesday.

Clinton berated Trump further in North Carolina, telling young voters that while she has detailed policies, "what we hear from my opponent is dangerously incoherent."

Trump weathered allegations of bigotry and sexism, refusing to release his tax returns, won a vicious Republican primary campaign, and now has a real shot at being sworn in as the 45th president on January 20.

There are two more debates in the 2016 race, which could be pivotal in deciding whether Clinton will become the first woman president, or if Trump can pull off the greatest coup in US political history.

US presidential poll Philippe Mouche, Frederic HUGON (AFP)

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton arrive on stage for the first presidential debate Mandel Ngan (AFP)
India-Pakistan tensions threaten South Asia summit

A key South Asian summit was in doubt Wednesday after India and three other countries pulled out following a deadly attack on an army base that New Delhi blames on a Pakistan-based group.

India has sought to isolate Pakistan in the wake of the raid on its base in the disputed region of Kashmir, which killed 18 soldiers and triggered public fury.

On Tuesday it said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad in November, in a major snub to its neighbour.

Pakistani Kashmiris carry placards during an anti-Indian protest in Islamabad on September 26, 2016 to show their solidarity with Indian Kashmiri Muslims Aamir Qureshi (AFP/File)

Without naming Pakistan, India's foreign ministry said "increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country" had created an environment that was not conducive for a meeting.

Hours later, Bangladesh said it was also pulling out. Afghanistan and Bhutan -- both close India allies -- have since followed suit, according to an official with the Nepali government, current chair of SAARC.

"Pakistan has been interfering in our internal affairs for some time," a senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official told AFP, requesting anonymity.

"That's why we have pulled out of the SAARC summit."

Under pressure to act after the Kashmir raid, Modi warned Pakistan in a major speech on Saturday that India would push to make it a pariah state.

Pakistan denies any involvement in the September 18 attack, the worst of its kind in over a decade.

But India's army has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan-based militant group that was also implicated in an audacious assault on an Indian air force base in the northern town of Pathankot in January.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since partition in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, where the two countries regularly exchange fire across the disputed border.

At the last SAARC summit in 2014 a newly-elected Modi shook hands with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, raising hopes of warmer ties.

Just over a year later Modi made a surprise Christmas Day visit to Pakistan for a meeting with Sharif.

But those hopes were dashed by the Pathankot attack in which seven Indian soldiers died, and peace talks have been on ice ever since.

- 'Closer to China' -

Current SAARC chair Nepal said it hoped the issues would be resolved but could not comment on whether the summit would go ahead.

"The host will take decisions regarding the summit," said Jhabindra Aryal, joint secretary with Nepal's foreign ministry.

The leaders of the eight SAARC countries -- which also include Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives -- expressed frustration after the last summit in Kathmandu with the slow pace of progress towards greater regional integration.

Analysts say this is due to the mutual mistrust between Pakistan and powerhouse India.

Cyril Almeida, a columnist in Pakistan's English-language daily Dawn, said India's move to exclude Pakistan from regional discussions was not unexpected.

"Diplomatically, (it's) maybe not a big deal for Pakistan given that SAARC is widely perceived as ineffective," he said.

"But (it's) a fresh sign of Pakistan not being in a comfortable place in its own region."

Analyst Ashok Malik said the withdrawals would have little practical impact on Pakistan.

"It basically scores a symbolic and a political victory. As for Pakistan, this will push it even closer to China," said Malik, head of the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation's regional studies initiative.

Pakistan said it remained "committed to peace and regional cooperation" and accused India of perpetrating "terrorism" on its soil.

"As for the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan," tweeted foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakariya late Tuesday, citing the capture of an Indian intelligence officer in Balochistan earlier this year.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of interference in the southwestern province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is afflicted by Islamist militancy and a separatist insurgency.
Seychelles president quits after party loses four-decade grip on power

Seychelles President James Michel announced Tuesday he would quit after his party lost legislative elections, ending its four-decade grip on power.

The 72-year-old -- in office since 2004 -- made a surprise address on national television to say he would stand down on October 16.

"After 12 years as president, the time has come to hand over the reins of power to a new leader. A new leader who will take Seychelles to the next frontier of its development," Michel announced.

Seychelles's President James Alix Michel addresses the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN in New York on September 29, 2015 Jewel Samad (AFP/File)

His successor will be the current vice president, Danny Faure, 54, who has been in the job since 2010.

Faure will take the oath of office on October 16 and see out the remainder of Michel's term. The position combines that of head of state and government.

The September 8-10 election, unfolding across an archipelago nation of 115 islands, culminated in a historic victory for the opposition coalition, the Seychellois Democratic Alliance.

It won 15 parliamentary seats against 10 for the ruling Parti Lepep, the Creole term for "people."

The opposition has pledged to cooperate with the presidency in the interests of the nation. And Michel, in his initial reaction on September 11, had vowed to work with the newly-elected legislature.

Parti Lepep has been in power since a coup in 1977, a year after independence, and it had won a majority in every election since the return of multi-party politics in 1993.

Michel had already served two five-year terms and was re-elected for a third time only last December.

But he had a wafer-thin majority of only 50.15 percent, just 193 votes more than opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan.

In April this year, the National Assembly unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to limit the presidential and vice-presidential terms to two five-year mandates, down from three five-year terms.

There is little political difference between Seychelles' rival political blocs.
Dylan to release 36-CD set of electric tour

Bob Dylan is releasing a 36-CD box-set of his 1966 world tour, a landmark yet controversial series of concerts that followed the folk great's shock decision to go electric.

"Bob Dylan: The 1966 Live Recordings," the latest massive historical work by the 75-year-old music legend, will come out on November 11 ahead of the holiday shopping season, his label announced Tuesday.

The collection features restored recordings of concerts by Dylan in the United States and Australia but mostly his extensive tour of Europe, where he played before packed venues but often met a hostile reception.

Bob Dylan performs during a concert at the Olympia music hall in Paris on May 25, 1966

A year earlier Dylan had switched to an electric guitar and amplifiers when playing the Newport Folk Festival, a seminal moment in music history that symbolized the triumph of rock.

A number of European critics accused Dylan -- who had just enjoyed a two-year burst of creativity in which he put out the classic albums "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" -- of betraying folk.

The box-set includes his May 1966 concerts at the Olympia in Paris, where he clashed verbally with a jeering audience.

On the sidelines in Paris, Dylan held a news conference where he brought a puppet, to which he would sarcastically put his ear as if seeking counsel to reporters' questions.

Dylan mocked journalists with his succinct answers. When one asked if he wanted to express anything through his singing, he simply replied, "No."

Adam Block, the president of Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, said the idea of the box-set came during research for the collection released last year of outtakes from Dylan's 1965-1966 recordings.

"The intensity of Bob's live performances and his fantastic delivery of these songs in concert add another insightful component in understanding and appreciating the musical revolution Bob Dylan ignited some 50 years ago," Block said in a statement.
UN Libya envoy warns against descent into chaos

Libya is facing "political impasse" and "hazardous military developments", the UN envoy to the North African country Martin Kobler warned on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of violence on civilians.

The country has been ravaged by unrest since the fall and death in 2011 of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and has also seen the jihadist Islamic State group establish a foothold.

A Government of National Accord supported by the United Nations and Western powers was established in the capital Tripoli in March, but has been unable to assert its authority in the face of a rival administration in the east of the country.

UN special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler gives a press briefing after an update on the human rights situation in Libya, before the UN Human Rights Council on September 27, 2016, in Geneva Fabrice Coffrini (AFP)

"Unfortunately, we are now facing a political impasse," Kobler told a meeting of the UN's Human Rights Council in Switzerland.

"At the same time, Libya is witnessing the unfolding of dangerous military developments," he said, citing the takeover of key oil facilities by the forces of controversial Marshal Khalifa Haftar who does not recognise the GNA.

He also cited the fighting between forces loyal to the GNA against IS in Sirte, "with nearly 600 killed and thousands injured".

"The risk of increased tensions in the capital should not be underestimated," the UN envoy added.

"The multiple armed conflicts raging in Libya continue to directly impact the lives of civilians," Kobler said, adding that between March 1 and August 31 the UN had "documented 287 civilian casualties, including 141 deaths and 146 injuries".

Among the victims were 30 children killed and 28 wounded.

He said that in Libya's second city Benghazi in the east, "more than 100 families are currently trapped in areas of fighting, facing constant bombing and shortages of food, medical care and electricity".

The economy has also been badly hit.

"The government is spending 93 percent of its total budget on subsidies and salaries, including those of members of armed groups that are not under the control of the government," Kobler said.

"Armed groups around the country continue to carry out grave human rights abuses with total impunity," he said, adding that this "must be addressed as a matter of urgency".

The UN envoy also highlighted "the horrific plight of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers" trying to reach Europe from Libya.

Many board rickety, makeshift vessels operated by people traffickers to head for Italy, but many also drown during the perilous journey.

Kobler said the UN was seeking an end to the arbitrary detention in Libya of migrants and the closure of a number of detention centres "where women are particularly exposed to abuses including sexual violence".
New York bomb suspect apparently acted alone: FBI

The suspect in the bombing this month in New York's Chelsea neighborhood appears to have acted on his own, with no connection to an extremist movement, the FBI said Tuesday.

"We see so far no indication of a larger cell or the threat of related attacks," FBI director James Comey testified at a Senate committee hearing.

The suspect in the September 17 bombing that left 31 people wounded, Ahmad Khan Rahami, was arrested in New Jersey two days after the attack.

Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) work at the site where Ahmad Khan Rahami was arrested after a shootout with police, September 19, 2016 in Linden, New Jersey Drew Angerer (Getty/AFP/File)

He was wounded in a shootout with police as they closed in to arrest him. He has remained hospitalized and is unable to appear before a judge, according to the New Jersey prosecutor's office.

US prosecutors, in a 13-page indictment on September 20, slapped him with four charges, including use of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the New York attack, he is charged with a pipe bombing, also on September 17, in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and planting several other bombs.

A naturalized US citizen born in Afghanistan, Rahami, 28, made several trips in recent years to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The terror charges came after the Federal Bureau of Investigation admitted it had investigated Rahami for terrorism in 2014 following a complaint from his father, but found no link to radicalization or extremist sympathies.

Comey said the FBI is seeing a slight slowdown in new US terror investigation cases, but some 1,000 probes are currently ongoing.

"I hope that it's going to... head downward but it has not headed downward yet," he told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

By contrast, he said, the number of people leaving the country to join the Islamic State group in Syria or Iraq has fallen sharply.
Elon Musk envisions 'fun' but dangerous trips to Mars

SpaceX chief Elon Musk unveiled on Tuesday ambitious plans to establish a Mars colony by sending 100 humans at a time on massive spacecraft, possibly costing as low as $100,000 per person.

Taking the stage under a large globe of Mars at the International Astronautical Congress in western Mexico, Musk showed his vision for a giant rocket that would propel people to the Red Planet "in our lifetime."

He told reporters he was "optimistic" that the first human mission could leave Earth in 2024 and arrive several hundred million kilometres away on the Red Planet the following year.

SpaceX chief Elon Musk reveals his plan for the Interplanetary Transport System to send the first human crew to Mars, as he addresses the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Mexico, on September 27, 2016 Hector-Guerrero (AFP)

Before that, SpaceX plans to send an unmanned Dragon cargo capsule as early as 2018.

"I think the first trips to Mars are going to be really, very dangerous. The risk of fatality will be high. There is just no way around it," Musk said. "It would basically be, 'Are you prepared to die?' Then if that's ok, then you are a candidate for going."

These risk-taking pioneers would open the way for others under Musk's vision, which one expert warned was "long on vision, short on detail."

- 'Affordable' ticket price -

"We need to go from these early exploration missions to actually building a city," Musk said to an overflow crowd at an expo center in the city of Guadalajara.

A futuristic video depicted his concept of an interplanetary transport system based on reusable rockets, a propellant farm on Mars and 1,000 spaceships on orbit, carrying about 100 people each.

The spacecraft would have a restaurant, cabins, zero-gravity games and movies.

"It has to be fun or exciting. It can't feel cramped or boring," he said.

The South Africa-born Canadian-American entrepreneur said the plan would require a "huge public-private partnership," but did not announce any alliance with a government agency.

The first flight would be expensive but the aim is "making this affordable to almost anyone who wants to go," by dropping the price of a ticket over time from $200,000 to $100,000, Musk said.

"You can't create a self-sustaining civilization on Mars if the ticket price is $10 billion per person," he said.

While SpaceX was hit by a setback on September 1 when its Falcon 9 rocket, after several successful missions and vertical landings, exploded on the launch pad during a test in Florida, Musk said "this is just a small thing on a long road."

SpaceX is not alone in aspiring to travel to Mars.

- Costly, challenging -

The US space agency NASA, which is studying the effects of long-term space flight on the human body, has announced its own plans to send people to Mars by the 2030s.

Blue Origin, a company founded by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, also envisions a Mars mission, but decades from now.

Experts warn that reaching Mars -- 225 million kilometers (140 million miles) from Earth on average -- and living there requires major engineering feats and a massive budget.

John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, said Musk's presentation was "long on vision, short on detail."

Musk did not explain in detail how he would get the "billions of dollars that would be required to put the vision into reality."

The plan also faces technical challenges, such as refueling in orbit, which has never been done, and building fuel depots on Mars.

Chris Carberry, chief executive of Explore Mars Inc, a non-profit promoting the goal of sending humans to the planet within two decades, said a mission of just three to six people would cost between $80 billion and $120 billion.

Musk's presentation is "very inspiring, aspirational, but I think it's going to be very challenging to be able to accomplish this in 10 years."

"I think it's probably more likely we're going to send a smaller mission to first figure out if people can live on Mars before we send 100 people there at a time," he said.

- Space competition -

Musk said the rocket would take a spaceship into orbit, release it and land back on Earth to pick up a fuel tanker, which it would fly to the craft to fuel its journey to Mars. The trip would one day take as little as three months, or even less than one month.

Once on Mars, humans would have to install a plant to produce propellant by using the planet's methane resources to fuel the spacecraft for its return to Earth.

Musk posted a photo on Twitter this week showing the first test-firing of "the Raptor interplanetary transport engine."

SpaceX has achieved engineering breakthroughs, notably by successfully landing the Falcon 9 rocket upright, which could cut space travel costs by making rockets reusable.

Blue Origin has also built a rocket that lands vertically and is working on a taller launcher called New Glenn, but the company is focusing on sending people to Earth's low orbit for now.

"We want to have millions of people living and working in space in a decades timeframe if they want to," Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson told AFP.

Mars trip plan Laurence CHU, Gal ROMA (AFP)

SpaceX plans to send a human crew to Mars in 2024

Blue Origin president Rob Meyerson believes it will be decades before his space exploration firm is ready to launch a mission to Mars Hector Guerrero (AFP)

Virgin Galactic chief executive George Whitesides addresses the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, on September 27, 2016 Hector Guerrero (AFP)
Libyan leader says rival strongman to have voice in govt

Libyan prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj says military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls the north African country's main oil ports, should be represented in a new, more inclusive government.

"We have no other choice but dialogue and reconciliation," Sarraj told AFP in an interview in Paris on Tuesday.

"No one wants an escalation or a confrontation between Libyans," he added, less than two weeks after Haftar's forces seized control of the strife-ridden country's "oil crescent".

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj's fragile unity government, formed following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community Yoan Valat (POOL/AFP)

The Libyan leader pledged to "quickly" submit "the composition of a new government in which everyone will be represented in a balanced way."

Sarraj, who met with French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, said: "We should be united to fight the terrorism that is spreading in Libya."

His fragile unity government, formed in March following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community.

But the Government of National Accord (GNA) has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Libya has Africa's largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically through years of crisis.

The parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk, is under Haftar's influence and refuses to recognise the Tripoli-based GNA, which runs day-to-day affairs.

Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by Haftar, who is in turn backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a closed parliamentary hearing whose proceedings have just been released that he had asked the two countries to "suggest" to Haftar that he meet with Sarraj.

The parliament rejected the GNA in a confidence vote last month.

Sarraj said he now hoped "the parliament will convene and that it will respond within six months as it did the last time."

He said the GNA's conciliatory attitude following the offensive by Haftar's forces to seize the oil terminals showed its determination to avert civil war.

Sarraj said he has met with Haftar and still maintained "indirect contacts" with him in order to "unify the military institution and the security forces".

France was forced to admit that it has provided military assistance to Haftar after three French troops were killed in Libya during an intelligence-gathering mission in July.

Sarraj said French authorities promised to inform the GNA in future of "any security coordination" with Haftar's forces.
Desperate people of Aleppo fear massacre: rescue chief

Life in Aleppo will become impossible within weeks under relentless Russian and Syrian regime air strikes, the head of the renowned White Helmets volunteer rescue force said Tuesday.

But the quarter of a million civilians trapped in the besieged rebel-held east of the Syrian city believe they will be massacred if they flee or if the city falls, Raed Saleh told AFP.

And the White Helmets, members of a civil defense group that has won international acclaim for their work digging the wounded from bombed-out buildings, fear they will be rounded up and shot.

Syrian civilians and rescuers gather at site of government forces air strikes in the rebel held neighbourhood of Al-Shaar in Aleppo Karam al-Masri (AFP)

"The civilians there would seize any opportunity to escape, to go wherever they could go," Saleh told AFP in Washington, where he is on a frustrating quest for international support.

"But nothing is available to provide safety and protection for those civilians. We are worried that they are facing massacre or the kidnapping or the arrest of many of them."

In the eight days since Bashar al-Assad's regime declared an end to a US and Russian-brokered ceasefire on September 9, Aleppo has been hit by 1,700 air strikes, according to Saleh.

Both Russian and regime warplanes have taken part in waves of attacks, he said, using weapons new to the siege and deadly among the packed and crumbling civilian homes.

These have included 19 strikes with powerful "bunker busters" that leave victims entombed in rubble and almost 200 with cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs.

"We have 1,000 casualties, both dead and wounded," Saleh said.

Saleh's figures are impossible to confirm, but international bodies have condemned the bombardment and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it may amount to a war crime.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in a civil war now into its sixth year and millions have fled their homes -- an option not even available in besieged Aleppo.

"I think the civilian facilities will not be able to continue providing services for more than a month," Saleh warned, echoing reports from reporters in the city.

"There will be no water and no electricity, no fuel, hospitals will not be able to keep going. If the situation continues like this, I expect a big genocide."

- 'We stand for the victims' -

The population and the outgunned anti-Assad rebel fighters mingled among them fear arrest or worse at the hands of regime forces and their militia allies when Aleppo falls.

And the 122 White Helmet volunteers, who have received international plaudits for their work pulling the wounded from the rubble, could be targeted.

"The White Helmets are from the people and they are subject to the same conditions as the rest," he said. "I'm sure the regime will do its best to assassinate or arrest them."

The White Helmets organized themselves to provide frontline rescue services in rebel-held areas of Syria, they receive some international donations but insist they are independent.

"The biggest need that we have to respond to is to rescue people hit in the air strikes," Saleh said.

"And the air strikes that target civilian communities are usually in Idlib, eastern Aleppo, northern Homs," he added, citing areas under the control of rebel groups.

"It is a very normal human reaction that the people oppose the party that is bombing them," he said of the populations in the areas where his teams operate.

"So when we respond to rescue people and there is a bomber in the sky and there are casualties on the ground, we're not neutral between those two parties," he explained.

"We stand for the victims and it is our responsibility and our duty to work for the victims."

- Diplomatic support -

Saleh, who is based in northern Syria near Idlib and travels in and out of the country through Turkey, was in Washington after a week lobbying world officials at the UN General Assembly.

His group was warmly received by senior international officials in New York, but in the wake of the failed US-Russian ceasefire, he has begun to despair of outside aid.

"We believe there is no need for more resolutions at the UNSC, no need for more decisions by the UN," he said.

"We need conscience to move the political will of the leaders of the world powers to stop the killing in Syria and make those war criminals accountable for their crimes."

A Syrian man walks past a bus set ablaze following a reported air strike in the rebel-held Salaheddin district of Aleppo Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File)

The battle for Aleppo Sabrina BLANCHARD, Thomas SAINT-CRICQ, Jihad KACHAAMI (AFP)
Photos: Hundreds Protest Police Violence Against African-Americans

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 27, 2016 2:52PM

Hundreds of activists organized at Loyola University on Monday afternoon to protest the fatal police shootings of unarmed black men.

The demonstration was organized by Black Students Matter: LUC, and brought together between 400 and 500 protesters to the school's Information Commons (1032 W. Sheridan Rd.) to protest prominent examples of police shootings. Most recently and prominently, Keith Lamont Scott and Terence Crutcher were fatally shot by police in Charlotte and Tulsa, respectively. Activists also spoke out against the killings of teenagers Laquan McDonald and Paul O'Neal.

The large mass of protesters marched around the university then returned to the common area for a time of healing, in which they took a moment of silence for victims of extra-judicial killing. After the scheduled protest ended, crowd members took to the microphones to share experiences of racism and police harassment.

Activists also organized a die-in on Monday morning at Loyola's Damen Student Center.

Last year, students arranged a similar, large-scale protest that drew over 800 participants, according to Black Students Matter.
US debate moderator Lester Holt gets grilling of his own

Lester Holt, who moderated the first US presidential debate on Monday, gave a restrained performance that earned him both critics for his hands-off style, and praise for letting the candidates battle it out.

NBC's widely respected evening news anchor earned a "C, C+" grade from the Republican candidate Donald Trump, who judged he had been asked "unfair" questions.

"I thought he was fine," Trump told on Fox News on Tuesday. "I mean nothing outstanding. He gave me very unfair questions at the end."

Debate moderator Lester Holt talks during the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on September 26, 2016 Joe Raedle (Pool/AFP/File)

The billionaire real estate mogul went on to complain bitterly that Holt had been too easy on his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"He didn't ask her about the emails, he didn't ask her about the scandals, he didn't ask her about the Benghazi deal."

Holt's role had been the subject of widespread debate ahead of the event following an avalanche of criticism that fell on fellow NBC anchor Matt Lauer, whose job moderating a forum with both candidates earlier this month was lambasted for being unfair toward Clinton and easy on Trump.

Trump himself had praised the 57-year-old journalist as "a very good man" before the highly anticipated debate, watched by over 80 million people according to estimates cited by US media.

Was Holt's role to factcheck and call out lies, as many Democrats urged, or let the candidates prove their mettle by fighting their own fights?

"I'm honored to have this role, but the evening belongs to the candidates," he said, introducing himself at the start of the debate at Long Island's Hofstra University near New York.

Early on, Holt began letting the candidates speak beyond their allotted times, allowing the rivals to interrupt him or remaining silent for minutes at a time, leaving the opponents to go at each other.

He also failed to challenge several false assertions.

"CNN Launches Manhunt After Lester Holt Vanishes From Debate," The New Yorker magazine quipped in a parody piece during the debate.

- Giving candidates time -

Others pointed out that Holt's approach gave the candidates time to show their personalities by expressing themselves.

And he did call out Trump several times, including when the Republican claimed to have opposed the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. "The record shows otherwise," he said.

Holt also questioned Trump about why he had not released his tax returns and asked Clinton about her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state.

He pressed Trump about his recent turnaround on the "birther" movement questioning whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States. "For five years, you perpetuated a false claim," Holt said. "Can you tell us what took you so long... I just want to get the answer here."

Those remarks did not please Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and loyal Trump surrogate.

Holt should be "ashamed of himself," he told reporters after the debate.

"If I were Donald Trump, I wouldn't participate in another debate unless I was promised the journalist would act like a journalist and not an ignorant fact checker."

Two more presidential debates are scheduled for October 9 and 19. They will be moderated by different journalists.
As Aleppo burns, US announces new slice of Syria aid

With the Syrian city of Aleppo facing a new regime onslaught and Washington's diplomacy under criticism for failing to halt the carnage, the United States announced a new aid package Tuesday.

The State Department said it would release a further $364 million to UN aid agencies and NGOs working to help vulnerable Syrian civilians inside and outside the war-torn country.

The latest slice of funding brings the total amount that the United States -- the effort's biggest single donor -- has spent since the war started more than five years ago to $5.9 billion.

Aid is seen strewn across the floor in the town of Orum al-Kubra on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Omar haj kadour (AFP/File)

But the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration Anne Richard confirmed it would come from funds already allocated by Congress and does not represent new US spending.

"And this is probably... our last announcement of the fiscal year," she told reporters at a briefing to announce the measure three days before the end of the 2016 government spending period.

The civil war in Syria erupted in early 2011, when dictator Bashar al-Assad unleashed a brutal clampdown on anti-government protests, and has since killed more than 300,000 people.

Millions have fled their homes, with many living in makeshift camps inside Syria or its neighbors Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, reliant on UN agencies funded by major UN members.

The United States and Russia, which back the opposition and regime, respectively, announced a ceasefire on September 9. It lasted barely a week.

As the deal collapsed, Assad's regime launched a major offensive against the rebel-held east of Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo, backed by waves of Russian bombers.

The diplomatic initiative's failure has exposed President Barack Obama's White House to criticism that, having no back-up plan, it has effectively ceded the initiative to Russia.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest insisted on Tuesday that Obama "and his team are always looking carefully at the situation to determine if there is something different that we can do."
Judge: Ex-sailors convicted of rape, murder are innocent

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Two former sailors convicted of rape and murder nearly two decades ago are innocent, a federal judge said Monday, adding the "no sane human being" could find the men guilty.

U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. said in an opinion that "by any measure," the evidence shows Danial Williams and Joseph Dick did not commit the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko, though they pleaded guilty to it.

"Stated more simply, no sane human being could find them guilty," Gibney said.

Williams and Dick are two of the so-called "Norfolk Four," ex-sailors who have long claimed that police coerced them into falsely confessing. The four men, who were all stationed at the Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, drew national attention when their innocence claims were backed by dozens of former FBI agents, ex-prosecutors and novelist John Grisham.

In 2009, then-Gov. Tim Kaine freed Williams, Dick and Derek Tice because of doubts about their guilt but allowed their convictions to remain. The fourth man, Eric Wilson, had already been released.

Tice's conviction has already been overturned. DNA evidence matched a fifth man, Omar Ballard, who confessed to committing the crime alone. He is serving a life sentence.

Gibney's decision Monday is merely a procedural step that allows Williams' and Dick's innocence claims to move forward. But their attorneys said they hope the judge's strongly worded opinion will convince the state to join them in ensuring the men's convictions are overturned.

"We very much hope the Commonwealth will now recognize what Judge Gibney has very clearly said his opinion  which is that these men are innocent  and they will end this process now and join us in asking the courts to dismiss the charges against all of these men and declare they are innocent," Williams' attorney Donald Saulzman said.

Michael Kelly, a spokesman for Attorney General Mark Herring, said in an email that his office needs to review the decision before commenting.

The judge's decision is based on evidence heard in April 2015. At that hearing, Williams testified that he falsely confessed to the rape and murder because he wanted the 11 hours of grueling interrogation by aggressive police detectives to end.

"I just couldn't take it anymore," Williams said. "I couldn't take being called a liar, the pressure."

Although the men are no longer in prison, their "wrongful convictions have continuing consequences," Gibney said. They have to register as sex offenders, which means that Wilson, who was convicted only of the rape, is not allowed to adopt his stepson, Gibney wrote. Courts have rejected Wilson's bids to be declared innocent because he completed his sentence. Wilson and Dick are still on parole.

"Williams and Dick must go through life with this burden of false felony convictions. Regardless of the eventual outcome of this case, it is time for the Commonwealth to free these men of the continuing shackles of their convictions," Gibney wrote.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that the men were convicted nearly two decades ago, not more than two decades ago.

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Kerry meets Venezuelan president amid escalating tensions

CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP)  Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he is "deeply concerned" about escalating political tensions in Venezuela as he held his first official meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The two met in Cartagena, Colombia, following the signing of Colombia's historic peace agreement between the Colombian government and rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

"We're very, very concerned for the people of Venezuela, for the level of conflict, starvation, lack of medicine," Kerry told reporters ahead of the meeting. "The humanitarian situation is of enormous concern."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro in Cartagena, Colombia Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Vivian Salama)

Leading opposition politicians in Venezuela are demanding to hold a complex recall process on whether to cut short Maduro's term before it ends in 2019. Venezuela's opposition vowed Monday to press forward with its bid to recall Maduro this year and promised street demonstrations should the government continue to stymie the vote.

Opposition leaders spent most of the weekend holed up in a posh hotel debating how to respond to elections officials torpedoing what has been their main political effort  ousting Maduro and holding new elections.

Venezuela's professional class that makes up the bedrock of the opposition's support is eager for a quick response. Anti-Maduro candidates swept legislative elections in December in the biggest defeat yet for the movement started by the late Hugo Chavez, but they have been outmaneuvered ever since with their legislation blocked by the government-stacked supreme court.

The economy has only gone further into its tailspin as the price of oil remains low. Many basic foodstuffs and medicines have become impossible to find without turning to the black market, driving Maduro's approval ratings down to a nine-month low of 21 percent.

Kerry said delays to the recall have been "problematic," and said there needs to be "a way forward that can provide a consensus that provides relief to a nation under siege."
AP FACT CHECK: Trump, Clinton deny their own words in debate

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump's habit of peddling hype and fabrication emerged unabated in the first presidential debate while Hillary Clinton played it cautiously in her statements, though not without error. They both denied making statements that they are on the record as saying.

A look at some of the claims in the debate and how they compare with the facts:

TRUMP, denying Clinton's accusation that he supported the Iraq war: "Wrong. Wrong." Later: "That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by her. I was against the war in Iraq."

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Joe Raedle/Pool via AP)

THE FACTS: There is no evidence Trump expressed public opposition to the war before the U.S. invaded, despite his repeated insistence that he did. Rather, he offered lukewarm support. He only began to voice doubts about the conflict well after it began in March 2003.

His first known public comment on the topic came on Sept. 11, 2002, when he was asked whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with radio host Howard Stern. "Yeah, I guess so," Trump responded.

On March 21, 2003, just days after the invasion began, Trump said it "looks like a tremendous success from a military standpoint."

Later that year he began voicing doubts.

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CLINTON, denying Trump's accusation that she called the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal the "gold standard" of trade agreements: "I did say I hoped it would be a good deal."

THE FACTS: Trump is correct. On a 2012 trip to Australia as secretary of state, Clinton called the deal that was taking shape the "gold standard" of trade agreements. She championed it in other venues around the world. She did not merely express the hope it would turn out well.

Clinton flip-flopped into opposing the trade deal in the Democratic primary when facing Bernie Sanders, who was strongly opposed to it.

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TRUMP, when Clinton accused him of calling climate change a hoax invented by the Chinese: "I did not say that."

THE FACTS: Yes he did, in the form of a 2012 tweet: "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." He later claimed he was kidding, but he's also repeated the claim that climate change is a hoax, and one that benefits China.

He tweeted in January 2014: "Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!"

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TRUMP: "I've been under audit for almost 15 years."

THE FACTS: Trump has never provided evidence to the public that he is actually under audit. A letter released by his tax attorneys never used the word, merely describing his tax returns under continuous examination. That is not a formal term for any kind of action by the Internal Revenue Service.

Trump has declined to provide the IRS' formal notice of audit to The Associated Press and other news outlets. And former IRS officials have expressed skepticism that anyone would be audited so frequently. Trump cites an audit as the reason he won't release his tax returns.

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CLINTON, as part of a list of economy-building moves, called for "making college debt free so more young people can get their education."

THE FACTS: Clinton has proposed making college tuition free for in-state students who go to a public college or university. But tuition free doesn't equate to debt free.

Under her plan, the government would pay for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for students from families earning less than $125,000 a year. That would leave students still bearing the cost of room and board, which makes up more than half of the average $18,943 sticker price at a four-year public university, according to the College Board.

Experts worry about other effects: Will colleges raise tuition once the government starts paying, increasing the cost to taxpayers? Will more students flock to public colleges because of the subsidy, also raising costs?

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TRUMP to Clinton: "You've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

THE FACTS: Hillary Clinton was born in 1947 and is 68 years old. She reached adulthood in 1965. The Islamic State group grew out of an al-Qaida spinoff, al-Qaida in Iraq in 2013, the year Clinton left the State Department.

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TRUMP: "My father gave me a small loan in 1975."

THE FACTS: Trump got a whole lot more than a small loan. Aside from $1 million in financing from his father, Trump received loan guarantees, bailouts and a drawdown from his future inheritance. Tim O'Brien noted in a 2005 book that Trump not only drew an additional $10 million from his future inheritance during hard times, but also inherited a share of his father's real estate holdings, which were worth hundreds of millions when they were eventually sold off.

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TRUMP: "You don't learn a lot from tax returns."

THE FACTS: Americans stand to learn plenty if he releases his tax returns like other presidential candidates have done.

They would provide vital information about his wealth, taxes paid, tax avoidance efforts, exact amounts of real estate holdings and charitable donations that can't be gleaned from any other source. For these reasons, every major party candidate for the last 40 years has released at least a few years of recent tax returns.

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TRUMP: "Our jobs are fleeing the country. They're going to Mexico. They're going to many other countries. ... Ford is leaving, thousands of jobs leaving Michigan, leaving Ohio." He added, "They're leaving, and they're leaving in bigger numbers than ever."

THE FACTS: There are no official data on job flows between countries. However, the U.S. economy has added nearly 14.9 million jobs since 2010, when the economy bottomed out after the recession.

Since GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy, the auto industry in particular has recovered and resumed hiring. The industry has added 300,000 jobs since June 2009, when the recession ended. Ford has announced it is moving production of small autos to Mexico, but the company maintains that it won't cut any U.S. jobs because it will make other vehicles at the affected plant.

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TRUMP: President Barack Obama "has doubled (the national debt) in almost eight years. ... When we have $20 trillion in debt, and our country is a mess."

THE FACTS: Trump's expressed concern about the national debt obscures that his own policies would increase it by much more than Clinton's, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Trump's tax cuts would increase the deficit by $5.3 trillion over 10 years, the group found, while Clinton's proposals would boost the deficit by $200 billion. Those increases are on top of an already-projected increase of about $9 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. By 2026, debt held by the public would total $23.3 trillion under Clinton's plans, and $28.4 trillion under Trump.

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CLINTON: "Independent experts have looked at what I've proposed and looked at what Donald's proposed, and basically they've said this, that if his tax plan...were to go into effect, we would lose 3.5 million jobs and maybe have another recession. They've looked at my plans and they've said...we will have 10 million more new jobs."

THE TRUTH: Those numbers come from one expert, Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi, a widely respected analyst but one who has also donated to Clinton's campaign. His estimate that Trump's plan would cost 3.5 million jobs was issued in June 2016, and Trump has altered his tax cut proposals and other policies since then.

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TRUMP: "A trade deficit of almost ... $800 billion a year."

THE FACTS: The trade deficit was actually $500 billion in 2015, certainly large but a lot lower than Trump's figure. The deficit peaked at $761.7 billion in 2006, according to the Commerce Department.

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TRUMP: "Had we taken the oil (in Iraq) -- and we should have taken the oil -- ISIS would not have been able to form."

THE FACTS: Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. should have seized Iraq's natural resources would have required that it also seize control of the country and at no point was the U.S. in a position to do so.

To achieve Trump's stated goal of destroying Islamic State militants' revenue stream, the U.S. has bombed oil facilities in Iraq. The bombing was designed to render the oil facilities inoperable, but not destroy them, so Iraq could rebuild its economy with its oil when the conflict ended.

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CLINTON on nuclear deal: "It's been very successful in giving us access to facilities we've never been to before."

TRUMP: "We gave them $150 billion back."

THE FACTS: Both are playing loose with the facts.

The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency had been present in Iran's declared nuclear facilities like Natanz and Fordo long before the July 2015 agreement that eased economic sanctions on the country in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

The agency's inspectors had also visited previously the Parchin military base, where nuclear weapons testing was suspected to have taken place. When the agency sought answers on Parchin in September 2015, the Iranians were permitted to take their own soil samples.

As to Trump's claim about the $150 billion, the deal allowed Iran to get access to its own money that was frozen in foreign bank accounts, estimated at about $100 billion. The U.S. didn't give Iran $150 billion.

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TRUMP: "Russia's been expanding. They have much newer capabilities than we do."

THE FACTS: Russia has indeed been expanding its military and increasing spending on weapons and equipment. But the U.S. still has far more advanced military aircraft, weapons and capabilities than Russia. In addition, the Pentagon plans to spend $108 billion over the next five years to sustain and improve its nuclear force, and is developing the next generation bomber.

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TRUMP: "The Fed, by keeping interest rates at this level, the Fed is doing political things. ... The Fed is being more political than Secretary Clinton."

THE FACTS: This is a recurrent claim by Trump with no evidence to back it up. It's the Federal Reserve's job to help improve the economy and to the extent that happens, political leaders and their party may benefit. But presidents can't make the Fed, an independent agency, do anything.

Under former chairman Ben Bernanke and current chairwoman Janet Yellen, the Fed has attracted controversy by pegging the short-term interest rate it controls to nearly zero for seven years. After one increase in December, it is still ultra-low at between 0.25 percent and 0.5 percent, a rate that some economists worry could spark a stock-market bubble or inflation. Bernanke was initially appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, and reappointed by President Barack Obama.

One reason Yellen is keeping rates low is that, in some ways, she agrees with Trump that hiring needs to keep growing to provide jobs for Americans who want them.

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CLINTON: "Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans."

TRUMP on hacking of the Democratic National Committee: "I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC... I mean it could be Russia. But it could also be China. It could be lots of other people. It could be somebody sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds."

THE FACTS: Trump didn't encourage Russia to hack broadly "into Americans," as Clinton said, although he did express the hope that Russian hackers would "find the 30,000 emails that are missing" from Clinton's private server.

Trump's refusal to point the finger at Moscow is at odds with the prevailing position of the U.S. intelligence community. Last week, National Intelligence Director James Clapper said, "There's a tradition in Russia of interfering with elections, their own and others." Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees say they've concluded Russian intelligence agencies were trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.

Russia has denied the accusation.

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TRUMP said a 1970s racial discrimination case against his real estate business was settled "with no admission of guilt" and that the case was "brought against many real estate developers."

THE FACTS: The first claim is technically correct; the second is false.

Trump and his father fiercely fought a 1973 discrimination lawsuit brought by the Justice Department for their alleged refusal to rent apartments in predominantly white buildings to black tenants. Testimony showed that the applications filed by black apartment seekers were marked with a "C'' for "colored." A settlement that ended the lawsuit did not require the Trumps to acknowledge that discrimination had occurred. The government's description of the settlement said Trump and his father had "failed and neglected" to comply with the Fair Housing Act.

Trump was wrong to say the suit was brought against many real estate developers  it was specific to buildings rented by his father and him.

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TRUMP: "Stop-and-frisk had a tremendous impact on the safety of New York City. Tremendous beyond belief."

THE FACTS: Trump is correct that the murder rate has plummeted in New York in the last two decades. But the same could be said for many other large American cities during the same period, and there's certainly no way to credit stop-and-frisk for the decline.

Stop-and-frisk was a popular tactic for much of the last 15 years in the city. But even as it's fallen out of favor under the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio the murder rate remains a long way off from where it was in the 1990s, when it topped 2,000 a year. City police department statistics show there were 352 murders and non-negligent homicides in 2015, compared with 673 in 2000 and 539 in 2005.

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Associated Press writers Bradley Klapper, Eric Tucker, Stephen Braun, Jeff Horwitz, Jim Drinkard, Matthew Lee and Cal Woodward contributed to this report.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters after the first presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Westbury, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A former South Dakota police chief has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of his pregnant fiancee.

Prosecutors accused Russell Bertram, 64, of killing 26-year-old Leonila Stickney in October 2009 to collect more than $900,000 insurance money.

They also said jealousy was a factor because Bertram had undergone a vasectomy and knew the child couldn't be his.

Scroll down for video

Russell Bertram was convicted by a jury of the murder of his 26-year-old pregnant fiancee, Leonila Stickney

After Stickney's death, Bertram married her younger sister, Melissa del Valle, but she filed for divorce after his arrest.

Bertram, who had served as police chief in Harrisburg, South Dakota, claimed to have fired his shotgun accidentally in 2009, hitting Stickney in the abdomen after a hunting trip in Gregory County.

He claimed, The Daily Republic reports, that his fiancee pulled the barrel of his 870 shotgun toward her and said 'kiss me', before it discharged into her chest.

But his statements contained a number of discrepancies, including what triggered the gun, and he was charged in December last year.

A Gregory County jury returned the guilty verdict on Monday.

Video courtesy of KDLT-News

Callous: Bertram was convicted of first degree following the shooting of his pregnant fiancee, which he had claimed was an accident

He faces a minimum penalty of life in prison, and the possibility of the death penalty when he is sentenced in November.

The victim's estranged husband, David Stickney, received a letter after her death from a life insurance company that was processing a claim from Bertram.

He then contacted the South Dakota attorney general's office criminal division, setting in motion an investigation that led to a murder charge last fall.

Bertram's defense team argued the case had nothing to do with jealousy and that the insurance policy was Stickney's idea to provide for her family in the Philippines if anything happened to her.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Gregory county States Attorney Amy Bartling praised the verdict.
People around the world react to first Trump-Clinton debate

Views from around the world on Monday's first U.S. presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump:

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AUSTRALIA

Chinese students watch live broadcasting of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at a cafe in Beijing, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

RICHARD MCCONOCHIE watched the debate on a big screen in a Canberra pub and said, "To me Trump aced it."

"He came across as a man who could control himself. They said Trump's ignorant of the issues. I think he proved that he had at least a working handle on most of the stuff he was talking about."

"I think he'll swing a lot of Americans over to Trump just by proving that he is not the sort of unstable, dangerous lunatic that he's painted to be," McConochie said. "I don't see that Trump would be any more incompetent than Clinton."

MILTON GAN, a Sydney-based photographer, said it seemed like Trump was trying to rein in his temper for the first 15 minutes, then went off the rails.

"He started interrupting Clinton, he started interrupting (moderator) Lester (Holt) and he started steamrolling. And you could see he was just getting really irate about everything," Gan said.

"The most ridiculous thing was at the end when he said he had the better temperament to be president," Gan said, laughing. "It was just hilarious."

Clinton came off prepared, confident and composed, Gan said: "Obviously, she's done her prep and she's got so much experience in politics and I think that really showed."

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IRAQ

KADHIM AL-MUQDADI, a Baghdad-based analyst, agreed with Trump's comments that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq created a power vacuum and helped extremist militants regroup. He said the speed of the U.S. withdrawal was a "punishment" for Iraqis who were against the invasion.

"The American policy was not successful when it decided to withdraw its troops from Iraq," al-Muqdadi said. "The withdrawal of the U.S. troops without leaving, at least, temporary bases, deteriorated the security situation and therefore helped to create IS and increase Iran's influence."

SAEED MOUSA, a 55-year-old oil engineer, seized on Trump's comments regarding the U.S. controlling Iraq's natural resources.

"If the Americans had a say in developing Iraq's resources and then distributing the revenues, not necessarily seizing the assets, we would not see the endemic corruption," Mousa said. He said that corruption is devastating the country and had helped fund militant groups.

He believes that Clinton will be serious in fighting and eliminating the Islamic State group "in a bid to correct (the United States') grave mistakes in Iraq."

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MEXICO

JOSE ANTONIO CRESPO, an expert in international relations in Mexico City, thought Clinton came out on top.

"Clinton did not respond to the provocations. ... while you saw an angry and tense Trump," he said. "I thought he could provoke (her), but Clinton had a very good, calm attitude, and even with a sense of humor."

"I think this could start to tip the balance for the undecided (voters), but you have to wait for the other debates."

Trump is widely unpopular among Mexicans due to his disparaging remarks about immigrants and his repeated vows to build a border wall and make their country pay for it.

Former Foreign Relations Secretary JORGE CASTANEDA told Radio Formula he "worried" that Clinton did the best she could, "but on the whole economic part it seems to me that Trump had an impact, on ... jobs, free trade, Trump did score goals on all that."

"Trump was much better the first half-hour and then stumbled a lot in the last half-hour," Castaneda added. "So, a tie!"

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NIGERIA

TIMI SOLEYE, an energy executive, stayed up to watch the debate in the middle of the night at his home in Lagos, Africa's most populous city.

"Clinton has decent policies, I wished she should talk about them and just make her points," he said. "Attempts to ridicule and characterize Trump policies were distracting in the beginning. And he looked dangerously reasonable at the beginning, but of course he veered off into his trademark semi-unreasonableness."

Soleye described himself as conservative, but he called Trump's characterization of world economics as a zero-sum game in which America must crush other countries to succeed "disheartening."

"I sincerely hope he doesn't win," he said. "It's simply too risky. The man seems unhinged sometimes."

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IVORY COAST

VALERY AKPOLE KOFFI, a customer service representative in Abidjan, thought Trump did a good job of coming across as less aggressive and more precise in his responses.

"He took the lead on foreign affairs, condemning the U.S. interventions in Iraq and Libya," Koffi said. "He also was reassuring on the issues of employment and tax relief in order to give back hope to Americans."

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CHINA

WANG PEI, a graduate student in communications studies, watched the debate from a cafe in Beijing and said he thought Clinton carried herself better.

"I personally like Trump's character and the feeling that he's a fighter," Wang said. "But from today's performance, I think Clinton was more like a mature politician and Trump looked a bit like a misfit in this kind of setting."

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IRAN

SAEED LEILAZ, a Tehran-based political analyst, said he didn't believe either candidate would abandon the nuclear deal despite Trump calling it "horrible." Leilaz added, though, that "Clinton is serious about implementation of the deal."

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BRITAIN

TIM STANLEY, a columnist for Britain's conservative Daily Telegraph, said in his column Tuesday that Trump won the debate but may lose the election. He said Trump repeated many of his outrageous campaign statements and defended his earlier questions about whether President Barack Obama was really born in the U.S., but they played well in a debate that should be judged as reality TV.

He said Trump said everything that people who hate Clinton have wanted to say for 30 years.

"In terms of reality TV, he did well," Stanley wrote. "He harassed, he shouted, he taunted, he talked over. And Clinton let him do it."

But he said Trump said nothing during the debate to win over non-whites and female voters and did not act particularly presidential.

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VENEZUELA

Asked about the debate, Venezuelan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said if he could vote in the United States it wouldn't be for Trump  because of "the racism and all that stuff."

"Everything he embodies is what the rest of the world is trying to leave behind," Capriles said.

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GERMANY

SIGMAR GABRIEL, German vice chancellor and head of the Social Democratic Party, told daily newspaper Bild on Tuesday morning that Clinton was the clear winner and that Trump's performance showed striking weaknesses.

"Trump didn't have a plan. Neither for the U.S. nor for the big foreign policy challenges," Gabriel said. "Clinton convinced with competence and clarity. It was a clear victory for her."

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LIBERIA

In this West African country founded by freed black slaves repatriated from the United States in the 19th century, radio talk shows carried lively post-debate discussions.

"With his temperament, America cannot entrust Donald Trump with nuclear weapons," said DAVID TARGBEH, the co-host of the "New Dawn" show. He accused Trump of displaying "his usual racist posture."

JUSU FREEMAN, who phoned into the program, said Trump stands a chance because "America does not need a female president."

But Targbeh countered that, saying: "People made a similar insinuation that America was not ready for a black president. At the end of the day, Barack Obama emerged victorious."

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JAPAN

NARUSHIGE MICHISHITA, a Japanese analyst, said it was in some ways heartening to hear his country mentioned in the debate, since Japan is often overlooked these days. But he disagreed with Trump's criticism that Japan and other U.S. allies aren't contributing enough to their defense.

"There is a small truth to what Mr. Trump was saying, in the sense that Japan was a kind of free-rider or at least a cheap-rider back in the 1970s and '80s," said Michishita, director of the security and international studies program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.

"But ... now given what Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe is doing to make Japan much more proactive on defense and security matters, and trying to make Japan more engaged in international security affairs, it's like, 'What are you talking about?'"

HIROTSUGU AIDA, author of a book on the Trump phenomenon, agreed that Trump misunderstood the U.S.-Japan security alliance but said he still did better than Clinton.

"Trump unexpectedly acted presidential. It might be a setback for Clinton, who wanted to make him look unsuitable for presidency," he said.

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PHILIPPINES

VICTOR ANDRES MANHIT, president of the think-tank Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, welcomed Clinton's assurances that the U.S. would honor its treaty obligations if she becomes president.

"I'm really hoping that that kind of statement reminds our own government that we have an ally in the United States vis-a-vis our fight for territorial integrity and our maritime rights in the South China Sea," he said.

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SPAIN

Spain's main newspapers were unanimous in awarding victory to Clinton in the debate, each highlighting what they said was the Democratic Party candidate's superior preparation and more convincing presidential image.

In its digital edition Tuesday, leading daily El Pais' headline said "Clinton corners Trump with attacks on his racism and lack of preparation." The center-left newspaper said that while neither candidate committed any major error, Clinton was able to put Trump on the defensive by questioning his "credentials as a businessman, accusing him of racism and placing in doubt his temperament to be commander in chief."

Conservative daily ABC said that "the first debate does not resolve anything but it does leave the impression that the ex-secretary of state did her homework, knows the lesson better and transmits a more presidential image."

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SIERRA LEONE

DORIS CONTEH, a teacher, listened to the debate on the BBC World Service early in the morning and found herself thinking that the United States is not ready for a female president despite Clinton's extensive experience in government.

"Although she performed well during the debate and Trump failed to triumph over the hilarious Hillary Clinton, I doubt it," she said.

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AP journalists Jonathan Paye-Layleh in Monrovia, Liberia, Wayne Zhang and Wong Wai-bor in Beijing; Kristen Gelineau in Sydney; Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia; Ken Moritsugu and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Teresa Cerojano in Manila, Philippines; Muneeza Naqvi in New Delhi; Gregory Katz in London; Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin; Ciaran Giles in Madrid, Michelle Faul in Lagos, Nigeria, Clarence Roy-Macaulay in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Alexis Adele in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad; Maria Verza in Mexico City; Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; and Fabiola Sanchez in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

Chinese students chat as they watch a live broadcasting of the presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at a cafe in Beijing, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A man watches a TV screen showing the live broadcast of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A Chinese woman watches a live broadcasting of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reflected on a mirror at a cafe in Beijing, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People watch a TV screen showing the live broadcast of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

This Aug. 16, 2016 photo shows Narushige Michishita at an unknown place. The first of three presidential debates between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump was held on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Michishita, a Japanese analyst, said it was in some ways heartening to hear his country mentioned in the debate, since Japan is often overlooked these days. But he disagreed with Trump's criticism that Japan and other U.S. allies aren't contributing enough to their defense. (Kyodo News via AP)

People watch live broadcasting of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at the American Club Hong Kong, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

People watch a TV screen showing the live broadcast of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

People watch live broadcasting of the U.S. presidential debate between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, at the American Club Hong Kong, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Former President Aristide leaps from behind scenes in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has leaped from behind the scenes to take a major role in campaigning for next month's presidential election, leading many to believe the most polarizing figure in the tumultuous world of Haitian politics is poised to regain influence if his party wins.

Aristide's return to open campaigning for an ally is energizing supporters in poor neighborhoods who see the former slum priest as a near-messianic figure who fought for the country's most marginalized.

"He's the king of kings! Seeing him on the streets again is like being in paradise," Port-au-Prince slum resident Jhony Narcisse said as he jogged to keep up with Aristide's motorcade during a recent rally

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide greets supporters as he campaigns with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse, of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Aristide has leaped from behind the scenes to take a major role in campaigning for next months presidential election, leading many to believe that the most polarizing figure in the tumultuous world of Haitian politics is poised to regain influence if his party wins the Oct. 9 elections. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Although Aristide said he wouldn't focus on politics after he returned from exile in 2011, the twice-elected, twice-ousted leader has been vigorously campaigning for Maryse Narcisse, the presidential candidate for his Fanmi Lavalas party. While Aristide isn't a candidate for any post, he has been giving stump speeches and waving to adoring loyalists from a convoy touring the country.

In a recent speech, delivered through the sunroof of an SUV, he declared that Lavalas would build homes for the poor if Narcisse, one of 27 candidates in the Oct. 9 election, is elected.

"We're not going to build small bird cages. We are going to build houses," Aristide said to cheers from the crowd.

Such remarks suggest to some that he would not sit on the sidelines of a Narcisse presidency.

"It is clear that a victory would allow Aristide to govern behind the throne," said Henry Carey, a Haiti expert and political science professor at Georgia State University.

Aristide became a global figure of resistance when, as a slum priest known for fiery oratory, he led a popular movement that ousted the hated dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1986. He was elected president in 1990, forced out in a military coup a year later and restored to power by the U.S. in 1994 to serve out the remainder of his term. As a champion of the poor and advocate of leftist "liberation theology," he was deeply hated by members of the elite who worked to unseat him.

Re-elected in 2000 amid low turnout and an opposition boycott, he was ousted four years later in a nationwide rebellion led by opponents with ties to the elite and the old Duvalierist regime. His critics accused Aristide of breaking promises to help the poor, allowing corruption fueled by drug trafficking and masterminding attacks on opponents with armed gangs.

Aristide spent seven years in exile in South Africa after his 2004 ouster. He was greeted by jubilant crowds upon his return to Haiti in 2011, but largely kept a low profile until this year.

A candidate would need to surpass 50 percent to win outright in next month's balloting. That is unlikely with such a crowded field. Analysts say that Narcisse, thanks at least in part to Aristide and those who remain faithful to his party, has an outside chance to emerge as one of the two finalists. Narcisse finished fourth in last year's opening round, which was later annulled amid accusations of fraud.

Narcisse said in an interview with The Associated Press that she welcomes Aristide's help in her campaign and would consider him a valuable adviser if she were to win, though she said he was not interested in a Cabinet post.

"I'm very happy that he's there. He's a charismatic leader," she said. "The population listens to him. There's a love relation between Haitians and him."

Narcisse isn't the only candidate with ties to the former president.

The field also includes Jude Celestin, who is backed by Rene Preval, a former protege of Aristide who served as president in 1996-2001 and then again in 2006-2011. Figures once closely affiliated with the Lavalas movement, including Moise Jean-Charles and Jean Henry Ceant, are now presidential candidates on other platforms they created.

While it's easy to find hardcore Lavalas supporters in neighborhoods that were once Aristide strongholds, roughly a third of Haiti's population is younger than 15 and only know his image from placards or paintings sold on roadsides. There are also voters in these poor districts who view him as a disappointing figure from the past.

Ravix Fadius, a plumber with three kids who recently moved back to his mother's shack because he can't find steady work, said Aristide is just another Haitian politician who repeatedly put his own interests before those of the populace.

"Aristide and Lavalas had their chances to make things better and they didn't," he said on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince's seaside slum of Cite Soleil, where people live in rows of squalid hovels. "You can't build a sewer and call it a village."

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a man pastes a campaign poster showing Haiti's ousted President Jean Bertrand-Aristide with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse as the two campaign in the area in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although Aristide said he wouldnt focus on politics after he returned from exile in 2011, the twice-elected, twice-ousted leader has been campaigning for Maryse Narcisse, the presidential candidate for his Fanmi Lavalas party. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, left, waves to supporters as he campaigns with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse, of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Hes the king of kings! Seeing him on the streets is like being in paradise, Port-au-Prince resident Jhony Narcisse said as he jogged to keep up with Aristides motorcade during the rally. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a supporter of presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse, of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, cuts out campaign hats to distribute before a campaign rally in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Narcisse finished fourth in last years opening round, which was later annulled amid accusations of fraud. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, center, greets supporters as he campaigns with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse, of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has leaped from behind the scenes to take a role in presidential campaigning in Haiti, leading many to believe the most polarizing figure in Haitian politics is poised to regain influence if his party wins the Oct. 9 elections. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery). ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a supporter of the Fanmi Lavalas political party carries a campaign poster of presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse before a campaign rally in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Narcisse finished fourth in last years opening round, which was later annulled amid accusations of fraud. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide applauds as presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse receives a shovel and sand from a supporter as a symbol of Haiti's reconstruction after the devastating 2010 earthquake, as she campaigns in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. While Aristide isnt a candidate for any post, he has been giving stump speeches and waving to adoring loyalists from a convoy touring the capital. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide looks on after speaking to supporters at a campaign event for presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although Aristide said he wouldnt focus on politics after he returned from exile in 2011, the twice-elected, twice-ousted leader has been campaigning for Narcisse, the presidential candidate for his Fanmi Lavalas party. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, supporters of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, gesture in the street as they see former President Jean Bertrand-Aristide with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse during a campaign meeting in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Aristide became a global figure of resistance when, as a slum priest known for his fiery oratory, he led a popular movement that ousted the hated dictator Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier in 1986. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a truck is covered with campaign signs in favor of Haiti's former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse, of the Fanmi Lavalas political party, during a campaign event in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. While its easy to find hardcore Lavalas supporters in neighborhoods that were once Aristide strongholds, roughly a third of Haitis population is younger than 15 and only know his image from placards or paintings sold on roadsides. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a supporter of the Fanmi Lavalas political party pastes a campaign poster of Haiti's former President Jean Bertrand-Aristide with presidential candidate Maryse Narcisse before a campaign event in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Narcisse isnt the only candidate with ties to the former president. The field also includes Jude Celestin, who is backed by Rene Preval, a former protege of Aristide who served as president from 1996 to 2001 and then again from 2006 to 2011. Figures once closely affiliated with the Lavalas movement, including Moise Jean-Charles and Jean Henry Ceant, are now candidates on other platforms they created. Haiti will hold elections on Oct. 9. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
Colombia's road to peace marred by multiple obstacles

CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP)  The contrast couldn't be more dramatic: As Colombia's president and the head of its largest guerrilla movement were putting their signatures on a historic peace deal, a 6-year-old boy was killed when he chased a soccer ball into a field and stepped on a land mine left behind during the half-century conflict.

Even as this nation celebrates the end of hostilities with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, the harsh reality that fueled the long conflict is settling in. From the security challenges posed by surging coca crops and dangerous criminal gangs to the difficult task of removing land mines and reintegrating guerrillas blamed for numerous atrocities, the work ahead is daunting.

The first test is getting sufficient political support to implement the lofty accords, signed Monday in this Caribbean resort city despite widespread distrust of the guerrillas. Polls show that a referendum on the deal is expected to pass Sunday. But the margin of victory is still in play and nobody expects the sort of strong turnout that would put the war-torn country firmly on the path to reconciliation.

Saul Lambis reads a newspaper carrying the headline in Spanish "Agreement Signing" in Cartagena, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the day after the government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, to end over 50 years of conflict. Colombians must now show even more determination to implement an ambitious accord that will test their capacity for reconciliation and willingness to address longstanding inequality. The first test is a referendum this weekend in which voters are being asked to ratify or reject the deal. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Most of Colombia's challenges are in its vast, long-neglected countryside, where the guerrilla group long held sway and criminal activity remains rampant. The challenge is made all the more difficult by stiff opposition to the peace deal from the country's powerful former president, Alvaro Uribe, architect of the U.S.-backed military offensive that forced the rebels to the negotiating table, and a collapse in oil prices that has drained government coffers.

"The smooth part is going to end pretty abruptly," said Adam Isacson, a long-time observer of Colombia and analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America. "When you hit the second half of 2017 and you really do kind of fall off the edge of the Earth, it's going to get very confusing."

The land mine tragedy took place Monday in a plantain field in the town of Algeciras in southern Colombia, one of 700 settlements where land mines have been detected, most planted by the rebels and blamed for more than 11,000 deaths since 1990. Besides killing 6-year-old Yorman Gonzalez, whose body was riddled with shrapnel, the blast injured his friend, who is recovering in a nearby hospital.

"This saddens us and obviously tarnishes the happiness we feel over the signing of the accord," said Javier Rivera, the town's mayor.

Much of Colombia's attention has focused on the creation of special peace tribunals to judge the crimes of the rebels and state actors. For many families touched by the violence, the accord's provision sparing the rebels jail time if they confess to their crimes and surrender their weapons is an insult too far. It's also unclear to what extent the FARC will cooperate and compensate victims, as called for by the deal, following the poor example given by far-right paramilitary troops that disarmed a decade ago.

But if healing the wounds from a conflict that has left 220,000 people dead and almost 8 million homeless isn't daunting enough, there's the challenge of preventing the next outbreak of violence.

The FARC is the most powerful and best-organized illegal armed group in Colombia but it isn't the only one. Authorities say there's already evidence that criminal gangs and a smaller guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army, are moving into areas being vacated by the FARC.

They are drawn by Colombia's lucrative cocaine trade, which shows no sign of losing steam. The FARC has long demanded hefty payments from coca growers in areas they dominated in exchange for providing protection from U.S.-backed forced-eradication efforts. The drug profits strengthened the group even as other leftist insurgencies in Latin America were defeated.

As part of the peace deal, FARC leaders have committed to assisting the government in alternative development and eradication. But there's fear that some rebels, especially mid-level commanders who have no real political future, will resist abandoning the cash cow. And even if they do, others are willing to step in.

Getting it right matters beyond Colombia's borders. The world's largest supplier of cocaine, the country saw six straight years of declining or steady production reversed when the amount of land under coca cultivation jumped by 39 percent in 2014 and by another 42 percent last year, to 392,000 acres (159,000 hectares), according to U.S. government figures.

For those among the FARC's estimated 7,000 fighters who do disarm, the journey back to gainful employment and acceptance by society is likely to be a long one. The experience following the defeat of insurgencies in neighboring Central America is a cautionary tale: many former rebels, whose only marketable skill was firing an assault rifle, ended up joining criminal gangs.

Despite the many hurdles and uncertainties, Colombians for now can hold their head high, says Michael Shifter, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue.

"The fact that the military and FARC will no longer be killing each other is a big deal. It opens up a real opportunity to transform Colombia," said Shifter, who was present at Monday's signing ceremony. "Whether the country will rise to the occasion and take advantage of the opportunity remains to be seen."

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Associated Press writers Libardo Cardona in Bogota and Hannah Dreier in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

People pass by a poster that in Spanish reads "People vote yes for peace" in Cartagena, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the day after the government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, to end over 50 years of conflict. Colombians must now show even more determination to implement an ambitious accord that will test their capacity for reconciliation and willingness to address longstanding inequality. The first test is a referendum this weekend in which voters are being asked to ratify or reject the deal. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, left, delivers a speech after he signed a peace agreement between Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombians are being given the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos, front left, and the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Rodrigo Londono, known by the alias Timochenko, shake hands after signing the peace agreement between Colombias government and the FARC to end over 50 years of conflict in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

People hold up letters that form the word "Peace" in Spanish during a gathering at Bolivar square in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed a peace agreement to end over 50 years of conflict, in Cartagena. (AP Photo/ Jennifer Alarcon)

A woman shouts slogans in support of the peace agreement prior the signing of the peace agreement between Colombias government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombia's government and the FARC will sign a peace agreement to end over 50 years of conflict. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, dance during an event to celebrate the signing of a peace accord with the Colombian government in the Yari Plains of southern Colombia, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Colombians are being given the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, embrace as they watch the signing of the peace accords during an event organized by the FARC in the Yari Plains of southern Colombia, as they watch live images of government and FARC leaders signing a peace agreement in Cartagena to end more than five decades of conflict, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

A demonstrator yells "No to the plebiscite" to protest the government's peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), to be signed later in the day in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombians will be given the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, arrive to the Yari Plains in Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias Timochenko, signed a peace accord to end more than five decades of conflict in the Caribbean city of Cartagena. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

A chorus of rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, sings in the Yari Plains, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. On Monday, the FARC signed a peace accord with the government to end more than five decades of conflict in the Caribbean city of Cartagena. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Opposition leader and Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe waves to supporters during a protest against the government's peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), to be signed later in the day in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Uribe told protesters that the peace deal puts Colombia on the path to become what he called a leftist dictatorship in the mold of Cuba or Venezuela. On his left former inspector-general Alejandro Ordonez. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

People hold up letters that form the word "Peace" in Spanish during a gathering at Bolivar square in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed a peace agreement to end over 50 years of conflict, in Cartagena. (AP Photo/ Jennifer Alarcon)

A little baby is raises by a boy in a neighborhood in Cartagena, Colombia, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, will sign a peace agreement to end over 50 years of conflict, in Cartagena, on Monday. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos, center left, shakes hands with the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Rodrigo Londono, known by the alias Timochenko, after they signed a peace agreement between Colombias government and the FARC, to end over 50 years of conflict, in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombians are being given the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

The weapon of a rebel of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, hangs in his tent at a camp in the Yari Plains of Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, left, and the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, Rodrigo Londono signed a peace agreement between the government and the FARC in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, watch live images of government and FARC leaders signing a peace agreement to end more than five decades of conflict, during an event organized by the FARC in the Yari Plains of southern Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

A police officer patrols the streets of Cartagena before the signing peace agreement ceremony between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. The ceremony late Monday afternoon will be charged with symbolism. Guests have been invited to wear white as a sign of peace, and Santos will use a pen made from a recycled shell used in combat. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Demonstrators protest against the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, near the venue where the peace ceremony is being held in Cartagena, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. The peace agreement ended over 50 years of conflict between the FARC and the government. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Failure to get Syria cease-fire stole spotlight at UN

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The failed attempt by the U.S. and Russia to revive a cease-fire in Syria stole the spotlight at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders but every other global hotspot had its moment  and there were some chuckles as well including a message to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be ready to receive his gift of a "white bull" from South Sudan.

With the final speeches of the six-day gabfest delivered on Monday, there were also a few high points.

Last December's Paris climate agreement got 31 more ratifications at a high-level event hosted by Ban, topping the 55 countries required and just over 7 percent short of the 55 percent of global emissions needed for the deal to enter into force. It is expected to reach that magic number before the next U.N. conference on climate change in November in Morocco.

File-This Sept. 21, 2016, file photo shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, meeting United Nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, left, at U.N. headquarters. The failed attempt by the U.S. and Russia to revive a cease-fire in Syria stole the spotlight at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders but every other global hotspot had its moment _ and there were some chuckles as well including a message to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be ready to receive his gift from South Sudan of a "white bull."(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called the agreement a "historic achievement" that would never have happened if the world's nations hadn't shifted course to preserve life on Earth.

"There might be a Plan B in life but there certainly is no Planet B," Eliasson said Monday in wrapping up the General Assembly's annual General Debate which was attended by over 135 heads of state and government and more than 50 ministers.

The high-level meetings began with the first-ever U.N. summit on refugees and migrants called to tackle one of the most contentious issues facing the world: millions of people fleeing conflict and poverty  and not many countries willing to accept them.

World leaders approved the New York Declaration aimed at providing a more coordinated and humane response to the largest refugee crisis since World War II, and President Barack Obama secured thousands of new resettlement places and billions of dollars in pledges to help the refugees at a summit the following day.

Eliasson said both events gave "new structure to the work on refugees and migration which will be very useful."

"But above all I hope we shall make sure that this organization sends the signal of everybody's equal value, and that we need to work in such a way that we prevent the xenophobic tendencies to prevail which are still strong in today's world," he said.

As for the "buzz" in U.N. corridors, it was two newcomers making their debuts on the international stage that captured the most attention: British Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

May assured the General Assembly that Britain will remain a global power and continue playing a role in trying to resolve the many challenges in the world despite its decision to leave the European Union. And Trudeau announced new plans for Canada to become more globally engaged, including providing 750 U.N. peacekeepers, and tried to calm security jitters after a weekend bombing in New York City on the eve of the global gathering.

When the VIPs meet, small countries are almost always ignored, which angers many.

Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, population 183,000, told the 193-member General Assembly that "as a small island state within this body, our voice is meant to be equal, but long experience and realpolitik prove the contrary."

Chastanet also questioned the format of the so-called General Debate where leaders deliver speeches from 9 a.m. often until after 8 p.m.

"While many speak, few stay around to listen; far less respond," he said. "Then we wonder how and why this entity is so negatively perceived by the persons we are elected to serve."

One of the U.N.'s great failures has been its inability to end the 5 1/2-year Syrian conflict, which has claimed over 300,000 lives. During the ministerial meeting, not only did lengthy U.S.-Russian negotiations fail to restore a cease-fire but the Syrian government announced a new offensive to retake Aleppo, unleashing some of the heaviest bombing of the war.

Other conflicts, large and small, had opposing sides attacking each other.

India and Pakistan squabbled over Kashmir, which is claimed by both countries who have fought two wars over the Himalayan region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted that Israel would have a bright future at the U.N. and invited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address Israel's parliament  an offer Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour dismissed as "a new gimmick."

A number of Pacific island nations including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Tonga accused Indonesia of mass killings and other human rights violations in West Papua  criticism that Indonesia brushed off as being politically motivated. And the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of sponsoring "terrorism", a claim Tehran denies.

In almost every speech, leaders called for global action against radical extremist groups which have spread from Syria and Iran to North Africa, Europe and the United States.

There were no speeches about the search for a successor to Ban, whose second term as secretary-general ends on Dec. 31. But there was plenty of behind-the-scenes chatter about the nine candidates vying to replace him and whether the winner would be front-runner Antonio Guterres, the former Portuguese prime minister or someone from Eastern Europe which has never held the post that by tradition rotates by region, or the first woman.

Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick told the assembly she would like "to finally see a woman lead this organization  which has been such a trailblazer for gender equality."

One of the lighter moments came in the speech of Taban Deng Gai, first vice president of war-ravaged South Sudan, who paid tribute to Ban and recalled that President Salva Kiir gave the U.N. chief a "white bull" as a sign of peace.

"It has grown (and is) now ready to be delivered to his excellency," Deng Gai said. There was no word on where and when the secretary-general will take delivery.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Astor contributed to this report from the United Nations.

File-This Sept. 20, 2016, file photo shows British Prime Minister Theresa May, right, speaking at a Leader's Refugee Summit as U.S. President Barack Obama left, and Vice President Joe Biden, center, listen during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters. As for the "buzz" in U.N. corridors, it was two newcomers making their debuts on the international stage that captured the most attention: British Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. May assured the General Assembly that Britain will remain a global power and continue playing a role in trying to resolve the many challenges in the world despite its decision to leave the European Union. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

File-This Sept. 20, 2016, file photo shows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. As for the "buzz" in U.N. corridors, it was two newcomers making their debuts on the international stage that captured the most attention: British Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau announced new plans for Canada to become more globally engaged, including providing 750 U.N. peacekeepers, and tried to calm security jitters after a weekend bombing in New York City on the eve of the global gathering. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Photo: Cubs Knockoff Apparel Is Going Full Donald Trump

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 27, 2016 6:19PM



TeeChip clinched their first division title since 2008; andaside from Aroldis Chapman (a very big aside, grant you)the players seems like a generally easy group to cheer for. But, dammit, some people just love to try and kill a bandwagon

The awful, Trumpian hoodie pictured above has been doing brisk business, according to TeeChip, the site that hosts its sale.

We came across the South Side- andby extensionPOC-bating merch via Chicago Cubs Fans, an unofficial fan page on Facebook. (Yes, the wall cordons off what appears to be the Bridgeport areaa historically, and sometimes problematically, white, working-class neighborhood; but it extends pretty far, and the subtext is still pretty squirm-inducing.) Very much to their credit, CCF has removed the link to TeeChip. Before it was deleted, a comment thread showed some users defending the hoodie while others found it offensive.

This isnt the first time enterprising makers of unofficial, loathsome Cubs apparel have struck (see, or dont, this); and their White Sox counterparts are hardly innocent themselves (exhibit A). So maybe everybody could just take a deep breath and think before we jumping into these emptily provocative waters. Maybe just grab a nice Kyle Hendricks replica jersey instead?

An employee at TeeChip told Chicagoist that the team that monitors content tends to look for nudity, copyright infringement and foul language. Representatives from the company did not immediately return a request for comment. This post will be updated if we hear back.

Note: no, we did not link to the hoodie sale page because, clearly, we don't want you to buy it.
Duterte: After tough talk, damage control prevails

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  The new Philippine president uses an expletive to warn key ally Barack Obama not to lecture him on human rights and, in another impromptu speech, declares a dramatic policy change in policy such as removing U.S. counterterrorism forces out of his country's volatile south. His key officials walk back the remarks and say everything is normal.

And the world wonders which pronouncement is the one that will stick.

Impassioned speeches by Rodrigo Duterte about the United States, the European Union and the United Nations have repeatedly led his government to issue clarifications, though he has been on the job less than three months.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte poses with a fist bump during the anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing at the Philippine Air Force headquarters in Pasay city, southeast of Manila, Philippines. Impassioned speeches by Duterte about the United States, the European Union and the United Nations have repeatedly led his government to issue clarifications, though he has been on the job less than three months. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)

Here's a sampling of Duterte's broadsides  and the ensuing clarifications by him or other Philippine officials.

___

'SOB' (BUT WON'T CUT UMBILICAL CORD)

THE STATEMENT: "I do not have any master except the Filipino people, nobody but nobody. You must be respectful. Do not just throw questions. Putang ina, I will swear at you in that forum."

Duterte in a Sept. 5 speech, using the Tagalog phrase for "son of a bitch" in answer to a reporter, who asked what he'll do if President Barack Obama questions his deadly anti-drug fight when they meet in Laos during the annual summit of leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

THE BACKTRACK: Obama responded by canceling a much-awaited meeting with Duterte, who expressed regret over his remarks. The two leaders, however, met informally in a holding room before a gala dinner in Laos, where Duterte said he told Obama the SOB remark wasn't directed at him. The brash Duterte capped the tempestuous week in U.S.-Philippine ties by discussing, in another Laos meeting with Obama and other world leaders, how U.S. colonial forces killed Muslims in his country's south in the early 1900s. Back home, Duterte railed at the U.S. again in a speech but said he would not "cut our umbilical cord to countries we are allied with."

___

MIGRAINE OR PRINCIPLES?

THE STATEMENT: "I purposely did not attend the bilateral talks between ASEAN countries and ... the president of the United States. I really skipped that ... Now, the reason is not I am anti-West. The reason is not, I do not like the Americans. It's simply a matter of principle for me."

Duterte in a Sept. 12 speech at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila.

THE BACKTRACK: The remarks by Duterte, who has been critical of Obama and U.S. security policies, came four days after his much-noticed absence from the summit of ASEAN leaders and the U.S. president in the Laotian capital of Vientiane.

Duterte's spokesman, Martin Andanar, and at least three Cabinet officials, however, told the media in Vientiane at the time that the Philippine leader couldn't attend the annual ASEAN-U.S. summit because he had a migraine and wasn't feeling well.

___

DRIVING U.S. FORCES OUT OF THE SOUTH

THE STATEMENT: "The special forces, they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao. There are many whites there, they have to go."

Duterte in a Sept. 12 speech. He added that he was reorienting the Philippines' foreign policy and that Americans were under threat of attack by Muslim militants. "I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go. It'll become more heated. If they see an American, the latter will really be killed. Ransomed off, then killed."

THE BACKTRACK: Duterte's key officials initially explained that his remarks were based on fears for the safety of the Americans. But his defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, later played down the safety issue: "The fears of the president that they might be subject to reprisal by the Muslims is a little bit, may not happen because they're only in the camp and they don't go out of the camp alone or unless they're accompanied by our troops or they are also armed. ... (T)hese people are also combatants. They are not civilians that are subject to kidnapping by terrorists.

Duterte later suggested he only made the remarks to pacify restive Muslims opposed to the U.S. presence in the south: "I didn't say (they) have to leave immediately. I said, 'There will be sometime in the future that I will ask the special forces to go' ... I never said, 'Get out of the Philippines,' for after all, we need them there in the (South) China Sea."

___

RATINGS OUTBURST

THE STATEMENT: "The issue here is not my mouth. And they would say the ratings on business, on the economy, so be it, you get out of here. Then we will start on our own. I can go to China, I can go to Russia. I had a talk with them, they are waiting for me, so what the hell."

Duterte, after U.S.-based firm Standard & Poor last week maintained its investment-grade rating and stable outlook for the Philippines but added that a credit rating upgrade in the next two years under Duterte was unlikely. It also warned it may lower that rating if reforms stall.

THE BACKTRACK: Presidential spokesman Martin Andanar took a more optimistic stance. "We welcome S&P's decision as it gives government greater resolve to make our economy growth robust, sustainable, and inclusive. The fundamentals of the economy are solid and strong. ... Peace and order is a must for investors to invest more in the country."

___

ON BREAKING OFF FROM THE UNITED NATIONS:

THE STATEMENT: "Maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations. If you're that rude, son of a bitch, we'll just leave you. So take us out of your organization, you have done nothing here anyway."

Duterte at a news conference in August, reacting to concerns by U.N.-appointed human rights rapporteurs about drug-related killings.

THE BACKTRACK: Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay later assured that the Philippines isn't bolting out of the 193-nation world body and clarified the context of the president's remarks: "I can assure you that he remains committed to the United Nations, of which the Philippines is one of the founding members, and to the purposes and objectives of which this august body stands for."

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Vietnamese fishermen sue Taiwan steel firm over fish deaths

HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Hundreds of Vietnamese fishermen have filed claims seeking compensation from a Taiwanese steel company that acknowledged its toxic chemicals caused a massive fish kill, a local priest helping the fishermen said Tuesday.

The factory, owned by the Formosa Plastics Group, acknowledged in June that it was responsible for the pollution that killed large numbers of fish off the central Vietnamese coast in April, and pledged to pay $500 million to clean it up and compensate affected people. The pollution created the country's worst environmental disaster, devastating the regional fishing and tourism industries, and sparked rare protests in the Communist country.

Catholic priest Dang Huu Nam, who led the group of local fishermen, said 506 petitions have been submitted to a local court in Ky Anh town in central Ha Tinh province where the massive fish kill occurred.

"Based on the fact that Formosa admitted their mistake, based on the Vietnamese laws and the losses suffered by the fishermen, they have submitted their claims and they demand that Formosa be closed and compensate their losses as well as material and health losses they may suffer in the future," Nam said Tuesday by telephone from the courthouse.

Local court officials were not available for comment.

The priest said many more fishermen are completing their files and he expects more than 100,000 fishermen to file petitions.

He said the fishermen on Monday travelled 200 kilometers in 15 buses to the People's Court in Ky Anh town which received 199 petitions on Monday and another 307 claims on Tuesday.

Some 5,000 people around Ky Anh town on Monday gathered outside the courthouse to show their support, he said.

Nam said the court now will decide to process their claims or reject them or refer their cases to a higher relevant authority.

Under Vietnamese law, the claims must be filed individually.

Lawyer Tran Vu Hai said the fishermen's actions to file their claims may not lead to their cases being brought to trial, but could open a way for Formosa and the fishermen to "talk directly with each other" for a negotiated deal.

An estimated 115 tons of fish washed ashore along more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) of the central coast in April, the government said in a report to the National Assembly in July. The disaster harmed the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people, including 41,000 fishermen.
Before mall shooting, courts ordered mental health treatment

SEATTLE (AP)  Assaults on his parents and inappropriate sexual behavior at school led judges to order mental health treatment for the young man charged with killing five people at a Washington state department store, but weekly counseling sessions failed to help him.

Court records obtained by The Associated Press detail a series of criminal charges and attempts to rehabilitate 20-year-old Arcan Cetin, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder and depression. They didn't detail what caused the PTSD.

A court first ordered Cetin into treatment after he attacked his mother two years ago. He was following a program designed to erase that assault charge when he made unwelcome sexual advances toward two girls in his math class in 2015 and then punched his stepfather soon afterward, the documents say.

Arcan Cetin is escorted into Skagit County District Court by Skagit County's Sheriff's Deputies on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Cetin is being held under a magistrate's warrant which will give Skagit County prosecutors 30 days to file charges in relation to the Cascade Mall shooting that took place on Friday evening. Five people were killed in the shooting, and Cetin is being held on a $2 million bail. (Brandy Shreve/Skagit Valley Herald via AP)

Jim Follman, an addiction counselor, wrote in January that there was "a strong likelihood of similar future violations" unless Cetin received treatment for his mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Cetin was involuntarily sent to a hospital for treatment two months earlier because professionals said he was likely to harm himself. He had attempted suicide and overdosed on his prescription drugs several times, records show.

But as recently as Sept. 6, he attended a counseling session and was found to be compliant with his court-ordered treatment.

Cetin's parents, despite the attacks, helped him pay his rent and frequently visited  his stepfather had dinner with Cetin on Friday before police say he opened fire in the Macy's cosmetics department at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle.

When officers arrested Cetin near his apartment Saturday night after a nearly 24-hour manhunt, they say he confessed to shooting the victims ranging from a 16-year-old girl to a woman in her 90s. He was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, but prosecutors said they still don't know what motivated him.

Stepfather David Marshall told reporters as he and Cetin's mother, Hatice, left a court hearing Monday that they had been working with their son on his "mental health issues" and were devastated by the shooting. They have declined further interviews.

Cetin was arrested on domestic violence charges in October 2014 after arguing with his mother because she wouldn't let him take his car to see his girlfriend, who had recently moved away. He broke glass in two pieces of furniture, put a hole in a wall and made dents in the refrigerator, she told police.

When Marshall got home and said he couldn't visit the girl, Cetin exploded again and took his mother's hand and started smacking himself in the face, she said.

Marshall called 911, and when the dispatcher asked if there were any guns in the home, Marshall said they were under his bed. When Cetin heard the comment, he bolted for the room, with Marshall close behind. Cetin tried to reach the guns, but Marshall pinned him against a wall until officers arrived, the documents say.

He was charged with assault and malicious mischief. In February 2015, the court agreed to dismiss the charges after two years if Cetin complied with the conditions of his probation, including not possessing firearms, drugs or alcohol and attending monthly counseling sessions.

Four months later, two of his classmates at Oak Harbor High School told authorities that he placed his foot between their legs during class and wouldn't stop. He denied being at school that day when questioned by police but was arrested on two counts of fourth-degree sexual motivation.

Later in June, Cetin had another violent outburst at home, and when his stepfather tried to stop him, he kissed Marshall on the lips. Marshall pushed Cetin away, and Cetin punched his stepfather in the face twice, records say.

He was charged with assault, which included an order not to contact Marshall. But the stepfather asked the court to end the order in December.

"Arcan needs all the support he can get," Marshall wrote to the judge. "As his father, it is my responsibility to help him as much as possible. With this no-contact order I am unable to help."

Cetin's mother told a counselor in November that they rented an apartment for him, but he had not been taking care of himself. He wasn't taking his medications and may have overdosed as early as September when his mother found an empty vial and she struggled to wake him up, the counselor said in a report.

"I don't know how to help him," Hatice Marshall told the counselor.

Cetin was committed to a hospital involuntarily. He told counselors his drugs of choice were alcohol and marijuana.

"He attributes his legal issues to cannabis use," Follman wrote in January.

Arcan Cetin's mother cries openly in Skagit County District Court on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 before her son appeared before the judge under a magistrate's warrant which will give Skagit County prosecutors 30 days to file official charges against him in the Cascade Mall shooting where five people were murdered on Friday, Sept. 22, in Burlington. (Brandy Shreve/Skagit Valley Herald via AP)

Arcan Cetin's stepfather David Marshall is swarmed by the media outside the Skagit County District Court on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 moments after Cetin appeared in court under a magistrate's warrant which will give Skagit County prosecutors 30 days to file official charges against him in the Cascade Mall shooting where five people were murdered on Friday, Sept. 22, in Burlington. (Brandy Shreve/Skagit Valley Herald via AP)
Turkey issues warrants for 121 people linked to Gulen

ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkey's state-run news agency says authorities have issued detention warrants for 121 people as part of an ongoing investigation into the July 15 failed coup.

Turkey accuses U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the coup attempt that led to more than 270 deaths, and the government has launched a massive crackdown on his followers.

Anadolu Agency said Tuesday that those wanted for detention include directors of a charity linked to Gulen's movement. It says police have launched operations in 18 cities to apprehend suspects.
Trial opens in Pakistan over murder of British woman

ISLAMABAD (AP)  A Pakistani court on Tuesday opened the trial against the father and ex-husband of a British woman over her alleged rape and murder in the name of so-called honor.

The court delivered copies of the charge sheet to father Mohammad Shahid and ex-husband Mohammad Shakeel, defense lawyer Mohammed Arif said.

Shahid and Shakeel are accused of killing Samia Shahid, 28. They must decide by Oct. 7 if they plead guilty or not guilty before Judge Ambreen Qureshi, Arif said. He said both men were present in the court.

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 file photo, a Pakistani police officer escorts father Mohammad Shahid, right, and ex-husband Mohammad Shakeel of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid to a court in Jhelum, Pakistan. A defense lawyer says Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 that Pakistani court has opened the trial against the father and ex-husband of a British woman over her alleged rape and murder in the name of so-called honor. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File)

After he appeared at a pre-trial hearing last week, father Mohammad Shahid spoke to reporters outside the courtroom denying all charges. "We will contest the case," Arif said Tuesday, suggesting the accused may plead not guilty.

Samia Shahid's family had initially claimed she had died of natural causes during her July trip to Pakistan. But after her second husband Mukhtar Kazim complained to police, they reopened the case.

A police investigation concluded that Shahid's ex-husband raped her as the father stood guard before they both strangled her. It described the killing as "premeditated, cold-blooded murder."

The investigation also implicated the victim's mother, Imtiaz Bibi, and sister, Madiha Shahid, who are British nationals, in the murder. It accused them of luring the victim into the murder plot. It said both women escaped back to England after the murder, and suggested they should be extradited to Pakistan to be tried on abetment charges.

Shahid married her first husband in February 2012 but stayed only briefly in Pakistan before returning to England where she obtained a divorce two years later. After that, she married her second husband, Mukhtar Kazim, and moved with him to Dubai. Her family never accepted the second marriage, because Kazim is a Shiite Muslim and not a relative, the police report said.
Court document: Black man killed by cop had threatened wife

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  The black man killed by Charlotte police had a restraining order filed against him a year ago when he threatened to kill his wife and her son with a gun, according to court documents obtained Tuesday.

Keith Scott's wife filed the order on Oct. 5, saying that law enforcement officers who encounter him should be aware that he "carries a 9mm black" gun. Police have said Scott had a handgun when they approached him at an apartment complex last week. Officers told Scott repeatedly to drop the weapon and he was shot to death when he didn't follow their orders, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief has said.

Scott's family has said that he was not armed. Videos released by police and the family are inconclusive, and state authorities are investigating. Over the past week, sometimes violent protests have erupted, and the police headquarters building had to be evacuated Tuesday as a bomb squad checked out a suspicious package.

Law enforcement officers gather outside police headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, after a suspicious package was found inside the building. A city spokesman says the structure was evacuated and searched as a precaution following days of protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

The package was removed Tuesday night and taken to a remote location to be rendered safe, police said, adding that more testing was needed to determine exactly what the package contained.

In the restraining order last fall, Rakeyia Scott sought to keep her husband away because "he hit my 8 year old in the head a total of three times with his fist," she said in the restraining order document.

"He kicked me and threaten to kill us last night with his gun," she said in the order filed in Gaston County, where the couple then lived. "He said he is a 'killer' and we should know that."

Rakeyia Scott checked boxes on the form informing law officers who would serve the restraining order that her husband had neither a permit issued by a county sheriff to buy a handgun nor a state permit to carry a concealed handgun, which requires a criminal background check. She said he worked as a mall security guard.

When deputies went to serve the restraining order two days after it was filed, Scott had already moved to South Carolina, where he has family. About a week after that, Rakeyia Scott filed a separate court notice voluntarily dismissing the order, saying: "He is no longer a threat to me and my family."

In a video released last week capturing the moments before and after Scott was shot by police, Rakeyia Scott can be heard telling officers: "Don't shoot him! He has no weapon."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said they found Scott's DNA and fingerprints on a handgun recovered at the scene, and that he was wearing an ankle holster when he was killed.

Police released a photo of a small, black handgun they said was recovered from the scene of Scott's shooting on Sept. 20. Police have not described the gun in detail, but printing on the side of the barrel said it was a Colt Series 80 Mustang .380 caliber, which shoots a 9mm bullet, according to Steven Howard, a firearms consultant in Lansing, Michigan, who has testified as an expert witness in court cases.

It's not clear if the gun mentioned in the restraining order is the same one police said they recovered.

The gun recovered by police had been stolen and later sold to Scott, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police source told The Associated Press on Monday. The person insisted on anonymity because the State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting.

State agent Erik Hooks declined comment when asked whether the gun had been stolen.

Scott has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina. Texas records showed he was convicted of evading arrest with a vehicle in 2005, and several months later, of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Corine Mack, president of the local NAACP chapter, said Scott's legal history didn't matter because officers didn't know any of it before he was shot and blacks typically are "demonized" after being killed by police.

"I don't want to hear any of that," Mack said at a news conference announcing demands that include implementation of police reforms approved last year.

Police Chief Kerr Putney has said officers were looking for another suspect when they spotted Scott with marijuana and a gun in an SUV and decided to engage him.

___

AP reporters Jay Reeves and Tom Foreman Jr. contributed to this report.

___

Follow Emery P. Dalesio at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/emery-p-dalesio

A group of people watch a monitor of the Charlotte City Council meeting outside the Meeting Chamber during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Protesters confront a line of police outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. The Carolina Panthers hosted an NFL football game with the Minnesota Vikings at the stadium. When the national anthem was played, the protesters all dropped to one knee as many NFL players have been doing for weeks to call attention to issues, including police shootings. (Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Clergy pray with protesters outside the Charlotte Police Dept. in Charlotte, N.C., after ignoring the curfew on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. A fifth day of protests against Keith Lamont Scott's fatal shooting remained largely peaceful after the release of the partial police vehicle dashcam and police body cam footage. (Jeff Siner/The Charlotte Observer via AP)
Police say mosque, congress center attacked in Dresden

BERLIN (AP)  Two homemade explosive devices were set off outside a mosque and a conference center in the eastern German city of Dresden, police said Tuesday. Nobody was hurt.

Dresden police said in a statement that there was no immediate report on the extent of damage from the explosions late Monday.

"Even though we do not have a letter of confession, we must assume there's a xenophobic background," Police President Horst Kretschmar said.

A woman stands in front of the entrance of the Fatih Camii mosque in Dresden, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Two bombs exploded in front of the mosque and an international congress building in Dresden the night before. Nobody was injured. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP)

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere called the attacks "outrageous" and condemned them sharply.

"Aggression against people who are practicing Islam is increasing in Germany," he said. "Fortunately, people didn't get hurt, but we don't want these things to happen in Germany."

Police said they found pieces of the devices in front of the buildings.

An imam with his wife and two sons were inside the mosque at the time. They were not injured, but the entrance door was forced into the building by the blast. Police said they increased security outside mosques all over Dresden.

"I looked out of the window and saw how somebody with a motorcycle helmet threw something," the imam's son, Ibrahim Turan, told the daily Bild newspaper. "First I thought it was a stone, but then there was a loud bang and the door was on fire."

The second device exploded shortly after the first on a terrace between a hotel and the International Congress Center, a facility which can accommodate 6,000 people for conferences. The blast destroyed a decorative glass block on the outdoor terrace. Police evacuated the hotel bar and asked people to stay away from windows at the hotel building.

Some 50 officers were involved in the overnight operation, police said.

Police President Kretschmar said the two explosions could have also been connected to Germany's national unification celebrations next Monday, which will be held in Dresden.

Dresden is the state capital of Saxony which has seen a lot of racist attacks recently.

The German government published a report last week warning that there had been an increase of racist and far-right attacks in eastern Germany which it called "a big threat for the development of the society and economy."

The entrance of the Fatih Camii mosque is damaged in Dresden, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Two bombs exploded in front of the mosque and an international congress building in Dresden the night before. Nobody was injured. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP)
Overcrowded bus slips off mountain road in Nepal, killing 18

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  An overcrowded bus carrying villagers heading home for the country's biggest festival slipped off a mountain road in Nepal on Tuesday, killing at least 18 people, officials said.

The bus was carrying passengers both inside and on the roof, said Dhading District Administration official Toran Parajuli. He said that the road was covered in parts by mud from landslides, and that the bus driver appeared to be trying to negotiate around these areas when the accident happened.

Ramesh Dhamala, who was coordinating rescue efforts, said the left wheel of the bus slipped off the road and pulled down the whole vehicle.

An injured person, rescued after an overcrowded bus slipped off a mountain road is brought for treatment to the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.

Police and army rescuers along with local villagers helped the victims. Two rescue helicopters sent from Kathmandu brought 13 injured people to a hospital.

The bus, which was on a local route and carrying all Nepali nationals, was unusually crowded because people in Nepal are heading to their village homes this week for the Hindu festival of Dashain, which begins Saturday. The two-week festival is the most important one in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country.

It is illegal to travel on the roof of a bus in Nepal, but police do not monitor rural roads. Traffic accidents in the Himalayan country are blamed mainly on poorly maintained roads and vehicles.

An injured person, rescued after an overcrowded bus slipped off a mountain road is brought for treatment to the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A family member of an Injured passenger, rescued after an overcrowded bus slipped off a mountain road cries at the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Family members of an injured person, rescued after an overcrowded bus slipped off a mountain road wait for health updates outside the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Moderator Lester Holt worked to keep control of debate

NEW YORK (AP)  After initially taking a hands-off approach to the two strong-willed presidential candidates before him, NBC's Lester Holt more aggressively challenged Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as the general election's first debate wore on and he warmed to the often-thankless role of moderator.

Holt asked questions about job creation and home-grown terrorism in Monday's first debate, and also hit on specific issues regarding the birther controversy, Trump's decision not to release his tax returns and Clinton's email scandal. The sole journalist onstage, Holt was responsible for the questions asked and for steering the conversation.

While some Republicans rushed online to accuse the NBC News veteran of being unfair to their candidate, Trump himself praised Holt for his work.

Moderator Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News, asks a question of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the presidential debate Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Joe Raedle/Pool via AP)

"I thought it was great," Trump said, adding that he thought Holt had done a very good job.

It was the NBC "Nightly News" anchor's first general election debate, after doing a Democratic forum during the primaries. Holt has been NBC's top anchor for more than a year, taking over from Brian Williams after Williams was caught lying about his role in news stories.

With an initial discussion about the economy and trade practices, Holt let the conversation flow and the candidates go after each other. It's a strategy many debate moderators prefer but left him vulnerable to charges that he had lost control of the action. The first subject area that Holt introduced, intended to last for 15 minutes, stretched for nearly 45 minutes.

He constantly needed to remind the candidates to stick to time limits, which was tough when they decided to steamroll over him. At one point he said, "20 seconds" when Trump tried to make a point, but it stretched to 55 seconds before Holt could get in another question.

Later in the debate, Holt interjected some fact-checking, raising Trump's ire in the process. That had been a major issue going into Monday evening, with the Clinton campaign arguing that fact-checking should be part of a moderator's job and the Trump campaign saying it should be left up to the candidates.

Holt's NBC colleague, Matt Lauer, was criticized for not challenging Trump at a forum earlier this month when the candidate said he had opposed the war in Iraq  when there is interview footage from 2002 that shows otherwise. The issue came up again Monday, with Trump saying it was "wrong, wrong, wrong" that he initially supported the war.

"I was against the war in Iraq," Trump said.

Replied Holt: "The record shows otherwise."

"The record shows that I'm right," Trump argued.

When Trump advocated for the "stop-and-frisk" police policy, Holt told him that it was declared unconstitutional in New York largely because it singled out black and Latino young men.

"No, you're wrong," Trump said, adding that he believed the court decision would have been overturned on appeal.

Holt later brought up the issue of Trump's questioning whether President Barack Obama had been born in the United States, and asked him what made him conclude this month that Obama was indeed a legitimate citizen. Trump twice did not address the question, and cut Holt off when he tried a third approach.

"What do you say to American people of color..." Holt started asking.

"I say nothing," Trump replied.

Republicans criticized Holt after the debate for bringing up more issues that were damaging to Trump and ignoring issues that would have reflected more poorly on Clinton.

"Lester Holt clearly heard cries of his colleagues in the liberal media to be tough on Trump and ease up on Hillary loud and clear," tweeted Brent Bozell, president of the conservative media watchdogs Media Research Center.

One media observer, columnist Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times, tweeted that "Lester Holt has done a fine job as moderator. Not too intrusive, moving things along, fact-checking when necessary."

In a reflection of the attention paid to Holt, his voter registration became an issue last week.

"Lester is a Democrat," Trump said in a Fox News Channel interview. "It's a phony system. They are all Democrats."

Holt, however, is a registered Republican, according to New York state voting records.

Asked about the misstatement on Monday, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on MSNBC that it wasn't a lie because Trump didn't know Holt's voter registration.

CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC's Martha Raddatz will team up to moderate the second presidential debate, with Chris Wallace of Fox News in charge of the third.

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Follow David Bauder at twitter.com/dbauder. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/david-bauder

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands Moderator Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News, following the presidential debate with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, shakes hands with moderator Lester Holt, left, as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump watch at the first presidential debate at Hofstra University, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Hempstead, N.Y. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Lawyer: Texas officer protected by immunity in shooting

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A lawyer for a white police officer who shot and killed a black man about three years ago after a foot chase argued Tuesday to an appeals court that his client should be protected by federal immunity. But state prosecutors disagreed, saying the case never should have been dismissed by a lower court.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case of Charles Kleinert, an Austin police officer working with an FBI task force investigating bank robberies when he encountered Larry Jackson Jr on July 26, 2013. Court records say Jackson tried to enter a bank that was closed, saying he wanted to make a withdrawal. Kleinert was inside, and bank employees who talked to Jackson told Kleinert he lied about his identity.

Kleinert went out to investigate and after a short conversation, Jackson ran off. Kleinert gave chase. When he caught up to Jackson, a struggle ensued and Jackson was shot in the back of the neck and died.

Kleinert's team have argued that the shooting was the result of an accidental discharge and that Kleinert should be granted immunity, under a more than 100-year-old court ruling protecting federal officers from state prosecution if they were carrying out their duties in a reasonable and proper manner. The protection doesn't shield all acts by federal law enforcement, but it does create a different, and what many consider a more forgiving, standard for their conduct than state law.

Prosecutors said he acted recklessly, used excessive force, and that at the moment Jackson ran, Kleinert had no reason under federal law to chase him so he couldn't have been acting in his capacity as a federal officer and thus not entitled to the immunity.

A Texas grand jury indicted Kleinert for manslaughter in May 2014. Before the case went to trial, a federal judge dismissed it, citing the immunity clause. The state appealed to the 5th Circuit.

In front of a three-judge panel Tuesday, Kleinert's lawyer, Randy T. Leavitt argued that it was clear that Kleinert was acting as a federal officer and thus should be protected by the immunity ruling.

"He went back to the bank as a task force officer," Leavitt said, noting that Kleinert was there to pick up a surveillance video as part of an investigation into the bank's robbery.

But Travis County assistant district attorney Rosa Theofanis called on the judges to overturn the lower court's verdict.

"The district court erred in dismissing the case," said Theofanis, suggesting it had gone out of its purview to decide facts of the case that were still in dispute. She also challenged whether the case should have ever been moved from state court to federal court.

At one point, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod questioned whether Kleinert's striking of Jackson was "reasonable" and raised questions about how the point-blank shot to the back of Jackson's head could have happened.

That sparked one of the hearing's most interesting moments in which Leavitt re-enacted the shooting, describing how Kleinert grabbed Jackson's shirt and then when Jackson turned, both fell together.

"He didn't know whether this fleeing fellow was armed or not," Leavitt said. "They trip and fall and as he does, the gun discharges."

The hearing comes at a time of intense focus across the country on police treatment of minority suspects with many in the black community demanding more oversight and prosecutions of police killings.

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A Mass. Court Says Black Men May Have Cause To Flee Police. How About Chicagoans?

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 27, 2016 4:40PM

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court sent reverberations through legal-watching communities when it ruled that a black man running from police is not necessarily suspicious behavior. While the judgment makes no immediate impact in Illinois, it could potentially open the door to challenges against a search-and-seizure precedent that has roots right here in Chicago.

In Massachusetts, the court threw out a 2011 gun conviction of Jimmy Warren. According to WBUR, Warren was arrested after police pursed him because he matched the vague description of one of three suspects in a break-in: a black man wearing dark clothing. Police found an illegal .22 handgun on his person, and he was later convicted of criminal possession.

But the MSJC ruled that ambiguous description was unreasonable, and more notably, that fleeing is not inherently suspect.

The court ruled, as reported by WBUR:



"We do not eliminate flight as a factor in the reasonable suspicion analysis whenever a black male is the subject of an investigatory stops. 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." (Our emphasis)

The court cited a 2014 ACLU study that showed disproportionate stops against blacks in Boston.

Such a defense is certainly something we ought to be exploring in Chicago, Alan Mills, Executive Director at Uptown Peoples Law Center, told Chicagoist.

Its particularly notable that the court cited the report done by the ACLU of stop-and-frisks, Mills said. "The same thing has been established in New York City and Chicago. It might be time to revisit in Illinois.

A study by the ACLU in 2015 found that, in Chicago, people of color are stopped disproportionately, just as they were in Boston. Blacks were exposed to 72 percent of all stops, and predominantly African-American neighborhoods were unduly targeted, the report found.

The Massachusetts court is recognizing whats happening in the world out hereThe public perceives it, and the courts perceive it," Mills said. "Theres an unjust relationship between police and young black men.

Stemming from a 1995 arrest in on the West Side of Chicago, the Supreme Court determined in 2000 that sudden, unprovoked flight from police constituted suspicious behavior if a location's characteristics were relevant (i.e. high crime) in Illinois v. Wardlow.

When asked about the fleeing felon rulewhich dictates when Chicago police are allowed to use forceMills said that guideline ought to be revised. It has led to the slaughter of too many young black men by police, he added. Under current law, police can use deadly force against a suspected felon who is in flight.

Prominent cases in which Chicago police controversially used deadly force include Laquan McDonald and Paul ONeal. Police footage appears to show McDonald walking away from police when he was fatally shot by in October 2014. ONeal was shot in the back while fleeing from police after officers attempted to pin his allegedly stolen car. McDonald was carrying a knife when he was shot and killed; ONeal was unarmed.
Official: 13 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  An Afghan official says that at least 13 Afghan army soldiers were killed when a group of Taliban militants attacked their checkpoint in northern Kunduz province.

Mahmod Danish, spokesman for the provincial governor in Kunduz, said Tuesday that 15 soldiers were at the checkpoint, two of whom had links to the insurgents and facilitated the attack.

He says the attack took place on the outskirts of Kunduz city after midnight Monday. He says two of the soldiers joined the insurgents in attacking their colleagues.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. He says Taliban fighters overran the checkpoint, killing all the soldiers and seizing their weapons and ammunition.
Norwegians now can change genders legally with a mouse click

HAUGESUND, Norway (AP)  Ten-year-old Anna Thulin-Myge's passport shows what looks like an ordinary Norwegian girl wearing her long, blond hair fastened with a clip. It lists her first name as Anna, but under sex it says "M."

"That means male," Anna says, running her finger across the document. "In some weeks I'm going to have a new passport, and then it's going to say 'F.'"

Norway, a wealthy, progressive nation of 5 million people, recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctor's agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children.

In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, 10 year-old Anna Thulin poses for a photo in her bedroom in Haugesund, Norway. Anna was born a boy but never felt like one. Soon, she is likely to receive a letter confirming that she is legally a girl. Norwat recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)

Provided they have parental consent, Norwegian children as young as 6 can now self-identify as male or female, effectively overruling the gender assigned to them at birth. Anna is one of nine minors in the country to have taken advantage since the new rules were adopted in June.

With no requirement for surgery or counseling, the process is as easy as filing a tax return. So far, Norway has not refused a single application. Soon, Anna will receive the official letter confirming the government recognizes her as the girl she always knew herself to be.

"When I was little I liked to dress up in dresses," she says. "And play with dolls, and so I actually think that I was a girl the whole time."

Anna's mother, Siri Oline Myge, agrees. Her daughter endured several years of confusion and rejection when she was forced to be a boy named Adrian at school, and the legal recognition means Anna can look forward to a future without suspicion and constant misunderstandings, she says.

"Anna had two separate identities," Oline Myge says. "It took a long time for her to get her confidence back."

Though Norwegian lawmakers concede that some of the questions surrounding transgender children remain unsettled, the law generated little controversy when it was introduced. Parliament members from left to right approved the legislation in June on a 79-13 vote.

"I have met several young people who have told me that this new law is making their lives easier. Several have come out of a dark place," said Health Minister Bent Hoie, a Conservative Party member who piloted the legislation through the Storting.

Lawmakers considered adding a mandatory reflection period for both adults and children before they could legally transition, but concluded that would be "patronizing," Hoie said.

Instead, after completing an online form that generates a mailed response from tax authorities, applicants must only return a letter confirming their intention to change genders.

Once their applications are approved, they receive a new national identification number that unlocks the ability to update all forms of identification, from passports and driver's licenses to birth certificates and credit cards. The tax ID numbers in Norway are gender-specific.

Until July, Norway was one of 32 European countries that required people to undergo long periods of counseling, hormone replacement and ultimately sex reassignment surgery before their gender changes would be legally recognized.

The provision effectively prevented children from transitioning legally and put off many adults who either couldn't afford or didn't want the surgery. In the United States, requirements vary by state, but transgender residents generally must provide proof of "clinically appropriate treatment."

Although Malta allows parents or guardians to seek gender changes on behalf of children in court, Norway is the only country where minors go through the same administrative process as adults.

Some supporters, including Transgender Europe Senior Policy Officer Richard Kohler, think Norway should go even further and remove the remaining restrictions on official gender changes for children under 6.

"It shows that there is an underlying belief that trans is bad and problematic," Kohler said of the age limit. "It gives the signal that we don't believe children, and that we need to protect them from gender from an early age."

Anna lives with her mother, stepfather and three siblings by a fjord in Haugesund, a small west coast town. The family dog sniffs around their wooden house; a dinner of home-caught moose simmers in the kitchen.

When she was 5, concerned relatives and neighbors said Anna's mother was indulging a dangerous fantasy and accused her of projecting a desire for a daughter onto her son. Norway's child protection services were called. Social workers monitored the family until doctors persuaded the child welfare agency that Anna's female identity was genuine.

"I saw that Anna was different from before she was 3," Oline Myge says. "She wanted to wear clips in her hair and got really unhappy when I cut it."

After legally changing her name in July 2013, Anna started wearing dresses to school and encountered some bullying. She enrolled at a new school this year where classmates have never known her as Adrian. She says she is much happier there.

The Norwegian Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity, which helped draft the law, successfully lobbied to have the age threshold lowered from 7 to 6 so children could start school with their records already updated  heading off the sort of public transition Anna had.

Most of the 250 Norwegians who have applied for a gender change since the law took effect are adults. Christine Jentoft, a 28-year-old who requested a new tax identification number over the summer, welcomes the ability to self-identify, saying it's not the government's place to decide her gender.

"The only people who know about my genitals are my doctor, my girlfriend and me," said Jentoft, who is the biological father of a 5-year-old girl and identifies as a lesbian.

Jentoft started living as a woman six years ago. But she has been reluctant to leave Norway without a passport that matched her gender identity. Now, she can get the marker on her passport and all of her other government-issued records revised.

"I don't have to suffer a lot of questions anymore like I've done in the past, like people wanting to know, 'Why does it say male here? Why do you have a male personal number?'" she said.

While some church groups have bristled at the new rules, groups that advocate for transgender Norwegians also have voiced concerns.

Harry Benjamin Resource Center President Mikael Scott Bjerkeli, whose Oslo organization works to make treatment accessible for transgender people to transition medically, thinks the law was rushed through. He worries it could set back progress, if it ends up being abused.

Bjerkeli cited the example of a Danish man who legally changed genders under policies similar to Norway's, then disrobed in a women's changing room last year to make a political point.

"We have worked so many years to build up an understanding of what this condition is, and who this group is," Bjerkeli says. "Something like this, where someone takes off their clothes, could make people think this is all a joke again."

He thinks some counseling should be required before people can change genders legally.

Anna says she has thought long and hard enough. In the next few years, she intends to begin taking hormones that will delay puberty until she is old enough for gender reassignment surgery.

"I actually don't miss Adrian," she says. "Because I really want to be Anna all the time, and now I am Anna, a girl, and I don't want to go back to being the boy."

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AP journalist David Keyton contributed to this report.

In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, 10 year-old Anna Thulin sits down for dinner next to her stepfather Ola Vassbo in Haugesund, Norway. Anna was born a boy but never felt like one. Soon, she is likely to receive a letter confirming that she is legally a girl. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, 10 year-old Anna Thulin sits down for dinner with her mother Siri Oline Myge and stepfather Ola Vassbo in Haugesund, Norway. Anna was born a boy but never felt like one. Soon, she is likely to receive a letter confirming that she is legally a girl. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)

In this photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016, Christine Jentoft, who was born a boy, poses for the camera next to her home in Oslo, Norway. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)

In this photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016, Christine Jentoft, who was born a boy, poses for the camera next to her home, in Oslo, Norway. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)

In this photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016, Christine Jentoft walks to the bank to update her details in line with her new legal gender, in Oslo, Norway. Raised a boy, she is one of the 250 people who has taken advantage of a new law that allows Norwegians to self-identify as male or female. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctors agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)
Alleged timber smuggler says reporters should honor payoffs

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  An alleged timber smuggler in Cambodia has given journalists a lesson in ethics: People who take bribes should honor their commitments  or be prepared to die.

Timber smuggling and bribery are both common in Cambodia, but a video posted on Facebook late last week appears to illustrate how ingrained both activities have become.

The video clip was posted on a page calling itself the Siem Reap Post. It shows provincial logging tycoon Heng Samneang complaining that journalists in the northeastern province of Stung Treng to whom she was allegedly giving payoffs to keep her activities secret had instead informed the authorities, who then confiscated timber she was accused of trying to smuggle across the border to Vietnam.

She said that those who did not honor their promises would die in a car crash, though it was unclear if that was meant as a curse or a threat.

A journalist in Stung Treng, speaking anonymously because of fear for his safety, confirmed to The Associated Press that he and his colleagues were aware of Heng Samneang's alleged illegal activities, which had been going on for more than 10 years, and had received cash payments from her.

He said officials in charge of regulating logging also were aware of her activities and likewise took payoffs. While some of Heng Samneang's shipments had been confiscated, she had never been arrested, he said.

Environmental activists and experts say that Cambodia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, much of it due to illegal logging and corrupt land deals.

The video clip of Heng Samneang, also known as "Yeay Proeung," shows her outside what appears to be her office on an unknown date. She has burning joss sticks grasped between her hands, which she raises up and down in front of her head in an oath-taking ceremony.

Heng Samneang is heard calling on the sky and earth as her witnesses for punishment for any journalists who betray her by informing the authorities of her activities.

"All you journalists, be my witness," she says. "While we are alive, we shall behave with honesty. If you have given your word to someone, you have to honor that promise or you will die in a car crash."

In the brief segment, she also tells the journalists that she does not keep all her income for herself, but shares it with them.

The journalist who spoke to the AP acknowledged receiving money from Heng Samneang, but said it was just occasional payments of $15-20 treated as being for food or gasoline. The average annual income in Cambodia is about $1,000, though it is much lower in rural areas such as Stung Treng.

Some journalists and activists trying to expose illegal logging in Cambodia have been murdered. But other journalists  or people who describe themselves as journalists  use their knowledge of illegal logging to extort money from the loggers.

Buth Vicheath, owner of the Siem Reap Post Facebook page on which the video clip was posted, said he received it from a friend and was happy to circulate it to encourage the government to crack down on illegal logging.

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South African official blames students for worker's death

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  The death of a South African university worker who was hospitalized after a student protest has deepened tensions over unrest roiling campuses across the nation.

The government on Tuesday called for an investigation, saying protesters were responsible for the death last week at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, which has suspended classes because of demonstrations for free education.

The cleaner died several days after being affected by a fire extinguisher that protesters sprayed in a residence building, said the university, also known as Wits. Blade Nzimande, the education minister, criticized the university for failing to immediately report the death and he identified the worker as a member of a private security company.

FILE -- In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 file photo, students run for cover as police fire stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse them, during a protest for free education at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. The government on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 called for an investigation, saying protesters were responsible for the death last week at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, which has suspended classes because of demonstrations for free education. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Several South African universities have suspended classes because of clashes between police and students as well as arson and other vandalism on campuses, and some warned they might not be able to complete the academic year if unrest persists. The University of Cape Town said it can't hold graduation ceremonies this year and that there could be "severe consequences" because of lost teaching days if classes do not resume next Monday.

The protests, which are opposed by some students who want to study, echo larger demonstrations in 2015 that forced the government to suspend university fee increases this year. Demonstrations picked up again after the government said universities can increase fees by up to 8 percent next year, although it will pay about $180 million to cover the costs of poor students in 2017.

Wits University said it will survey students and staff this week to see if they want to start classes again on Monday.

"We cannot lose the academic year," the university said in a statement.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal said classes were being held on its campuses on Tuesday without disruption. On Monday, it reported incidents of vandalism and intimidation by protesters, including the smearing of excrement on a university building, at its campus in Pietermaritzburg.

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Senators press FBI director on response to terrorism threat

WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican senators pressed FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday about whether anything more could have been done to prevent recent acts of extremist violence, including the Orlando nightclub massacre and the Manhattan bombing this month. Comey said the FBI admits mistakes when it makes them, but he did not agree that anything should have been done differently or that any red flags were missed.

The questions arose because the FBI has said it investigated Orlando gunman Omar Mateen a few years before the June shooting and interviewed him as part of that probe. The FBI in 2014 also looked into Ahmad Khan Rahami, the Afghan-born U.S. citizen accused in the explosion, but found nothing that tied him to terrorism.

Two senators, in particular, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, said they were alarmed that both individuals had at one point been on the FBI's radar but were not intercepted.

FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

"What more do we need to do? What are the lessons learned, and if you need additional support, we need to know about it very quickly," Ayotte said at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Paul, one of the Senate's leading civil liberties champions, said he was troubled that the FBI appeared to often seek new tools but didn't seem to adequately use the ones they had. Ayotte said she thought it was "obvious" that FBI agents in their earlier investigation of Mateen should have checked to see if he was saying anything online about terrorism, which Comey said he didn't believe had been done  though he did note that the FBI had used other investigative methods to keep tabs on him.

Comey pushed back against the criticism, telling Paul that he had his facts wrong in characterizing the FBI's investigations into both Mateen and Rahami. He said he had commissioned a review of the FBI's past interactions with Mateen, who killed 49 people inside a gay nightclub, and would be doing the same with Rahami.

He declined to discuss specifics of the Rahami case since it's pending in court.

"We're going to go back and look very carefully at the way we encountered him, and we will find the appropriate (forum) to give you that transparency about what we did well, what we could've done better, what we've learned from it," Comey said.

The FBI opened an assessment on Rahami in 2014 following a domestic incident. His father has said he warned the FBI that his son was drawn to terrorism, though law enforcement officials say he never discussed with them his son's apparent radicalization or any interest in terror propaganda. The FBI searched its databases and found no terrorist connections, and the review was closed within weeks.

Rahami, the main suspect in the New York bombing, faces federal terrorism charges after a shootout with police. Prosecutors say the 28-year-old planned the explosion as he bought components for his bombs online and set off a backyard blast. They say he wrote a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the U.S. government's killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared "death to your oppression."

Comey said Tuesday that Rahami's actions do not point to a larger terror cell.

Separately, the FBI director said the U.S. remains concerned violent extremists will eventually flow out of Syria and Iraq and into other countries in hopes of carrying out attacks.

The number of Americans traveling to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State group has slowed to a trickle in the last year, but as the so-called caliphate is "crushed," many militants from Western nations who are already there will stream out of the region and create new security threats.

"There will be a terrorist diaspora sometime in the next two to five years like we've never seen before," Comey said.

Comey was testifying alongside Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, at a hearing examining threats to national security 15 years after the 9/11 attacks. The hearing took place just over a week after the explosions in New York and New Jersey and a separate stabbing attack at a Minnesota mall.

Johnson said terrorist threats have evolved, moving from terrorist-directed attacks "to a world that also includes the threat of terrorist-inspired attacks" in which individuals who live in the U.S. are "self-radicalized" to attack their own country.

Johnson said that by their nature, terrorist-inspired attacks and terrorist-enabled attacks are difficult to detect by intelligence and law enforcement communities, can occur with little or no notice and in general make for a more complex homeland security challenge.

The panel's chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said the threat of "militant Islamic terrorist attacks to the United States remains significant," citing the Sept. 17 attacks in the New York region and Minnesota, as well as deadly attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Orlando.

"In all, Islamic extremist terrorists have killed 63 people on U.S. soil since our committee last held its annual hearing to consider threats to the homeland," the chairman said in a prepared statement.

Two years after President Barack Obama stated a goal of defeating the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, "we have made little progress," said the senator, who is not related to the Homeland Security chief.

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Follow Matthew Daly: http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., left, accompanied by the committee's ranking member Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, during the committee's hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Director of National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the National Intelligence, Nicholas Rasmussen, right, accompanied by FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Muslim radical convicted in destruction of mausoleums

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  An international court on Tuesday found a Muslim radical guilty of committing a war crime by overseeing the destruction of historic mausoleums in the Malian desert city of Timbuktu, and sentenced him to nine years in prison.

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, a former teacher, had pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his role in overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door by pickax-wielding rebels in June and July of 2012.

His trial, which opened Aug. 22, was a landmark for the International Criminal Court, which has struggled to bring suspects to justice since its establishment in 2002. It was the tribunal's first conviction for destruction of religious buildings or historic monuments, and the first guilty verdict delivered against a Muslim extremist.

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, right, a Malian Islamic extremist who pleaded guilty to destruction of historic mausoleums in Timbuktu, waits in the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (Bas Czerwinski POOL via AP)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the court's ruling as "an important step forward in the fight against impunity in Mali," according to a statement released by Ban's spokesman.

Al-Qaida-linked rebels occupied the fabled Saharan city of Timbuktu in 2012 and enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law that included destruction of the historic mud-brick tombs they considered idolatrous. Al Mahdi was leader of one of the "morality brigades" set up by Timbuktu's new rulers.

ICC prosecutors said Al Mahdi was a member of Ansar Eddine, an Islamic extremist group with links to al-Qaida that held power in northern Mali in 2012. The militants were driven out after nearly a year by French forces, which arrested Al Mahdi in 2014 in neighboring Niger.

Clad in a gray suit and striped purple tie, the defendant said nothing after the verdict and sentencing. Earlier in the trial, Al Mahdi urged Muslims around the world not to commit acts similar to those he had admitted to.

"They are not going to lead to any good for humanity," he said.

Al Mahdi had faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for destruction of the World Heritage-listed sites. But presiding judge Raul Pangalangan said numerous factors argued for a lesser prison term, including Al Mahdi's initial reluctance to raze the historic shrines and what the judge called his apparently sincere admission of guilt.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization hailed the verdict as a crucial step toward ending impunity for the destruction of world cultural landmarks.

Soon after the destruction in 2012, UNESCO alerted the international community including the International Criminal Court "to ensure such crimes do not go unpunished," UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova said in a statement.

"In the context of repeated violence against people and their heritage, this sentence of the International Criminal Court is a key element in the broader response to violent extremism," Bokova said.

Al Mahdi's conviction "is a first important step toward the fight against impunity in Mali," said Drissa Traore, vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights.

"But this victory has an almost unfinished look ... We hope ICC will continue to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the most serious crimes committed in Mali, especially crimes of sexual violence."

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, right, a Malian Islamic extremist who pleaded guilty to destruction of historic mausoleums in Timbuktu, enters the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (Bas Czerwinski POOL via AP)

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, right, a Malian Islamic extremist who pleaded guilty to destruction of historic mausoleums in Timbuktu, enters the court room to hear the verdict of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (Bas Czerwinski POOL via AP)
Massive typhoon hits eastern China, Taiwan, killing 5

BEIJING (AP)  A massive typhoon left one person dead in eastern China on Wednesday, a day after killing four and injuring 260 in Taiwan.

Typhoon Megi weakened to a tropical storm after hitting the coastal city of Quanzhou in Fujian province before dawn, packing winds of up to 118 kilometers (74 miles) per-hour, China's National Meteorological Center said.

One person died after several structures collapsed in Quanzhou, state-approved news media reported. In Fuzhou, Fujian's provincial capital, people were shown on state television walking through knee-deep waters that had swamped major roads. Schools were closed and dozens of flights were canceled.

A woman eats and struggles with her umbrella against powerful gusts of wind generated by typhoon Megi across the the island in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Schools and offices have been closed on Taiwan and people in dangerous areas have been evacuated as a large typhoon with 162 kilometers- (100 miles-) per-hour winds approaches the island. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

The storm was forecast to move northwest Wednesday and fade gradually.

In Taiwan on Tuesday, the typhoon's bands of heavy rain and sustained winds of 162 kilometers (100 miles) per-hour blanketed the island by midafternoon as the eye of the storm made landfall on the east coast. Authorities had raised alert levels for Taiwan, which is prone to landslides and flooding, said National Fire Agency Director-General Chen Wen-lung.

The 268 injured included eight Japanese tourists traveling in a tour bus that turned on its side in central Taiwan. Three people suffered fatal falls and a fourth person died in a truck crash, said Lee Wei-sen, a spokesman for Taiwan's Central Emergency Operations Center. Many of the injuries were from falling and wind-blown objects.

Megi was 500 kilometers (310 miles) in diameter at its largets, and rainfall had topped 300 millimeters (12 inches) in the south and eastern mountains of Taiwan.

More than 8,000 people were evacuated, mostly from mountainous areas at risk of landslides or floods. About 2,800 went to shelters, Chen said. Approximately 2.9 million households lost power overnight.

The weather delayed more than 121 flights and forced the cancellation of 253 more at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport, while another seven were diverted to other Taiwanese airports. Authorities had closed schools, offices and most of Taiwan's railway system.

Megi is the fourth typhoon of the year to hit Taiwan and third in the last two weeks.

On the Chinese coast, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Taiwan at its nearest point, fishing boats were ordered back to port, China's official Xinhua News Agency said.

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Associated Press writer Ralph Jennings contributed to this report from Taipei, Taiwan.

A woman struggles with her umbrella against powerful gusts of wind generated by typhoon Megi across the the island in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

A woman struggles against powerful gusts of wind generated by typhoon Megi across the the island in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Netanyahu: Both presidential candidates will support Israel

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's leader says American support for his country will remain strong regardless of who is elected president in November.

Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet Tuesday about his meeting in New York with both presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and relayed their strong words of support for Israel. The prime minister was in the United States to address the U.N. General Assembly.

Netanyahu says "it doesn't matter who will be elected  the American support for Israel will remain strong, this alliance will remain strong and will even get stronger in the coming years."
Georgia sheriff seeks clues after deputy's home is shot at

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. (AP)  A Georgia sheriff is offering a $10,000 reward for information that results in an arrest and conviction after someone opened fire on the home of one of his deputies.

Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said in a statement that someone Monday evening "shot up the house" of the Douglas County deputy, who lives in nearby Paulding County. No one was hurt.

Paulding County sheriff's officials said the deputy wasn't in the home at the time of the drive-by shooting, but was in the area and heard several gunshots. Several bullet holes were found, including one through a window.

Miller said in a news release, "Killing cops is not the way to get your message across. If we're going to succeed in this country it's got to be together, not apart."
Scenic sips: Enjoy vino with a view at these scenic wineries

NAPA, Calif. (AP)  Tasting wine is fun and possibly educational. But tasting wine while gazing on a backdrop of vine-covered hills rippling toward a blue horizon? That's a fairly unbeatable pairing.

Here are some California wineries with views that will have you pulling your nose out of that glass  the better to drink in the scenery.

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In this photo taken May 31, 2016, a rampart of the Castello di Amorosa overlooks the Napa Valley in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

ARTESA

With its picturesque hilltop setting in the Carneros wine-growing region at the southern end of the Napa Valley, Artesa was one of the original wineries in the area, founded by the Spanish wine-making family Codorniu Raventos. Barcelona architect Domingo Triay designed the winery to blend into the highest hill of Artesa's 350-acre estate. A protective covering of natural grasses conceals the winery rooftop, accented by fountains and contemporary sculpture. On a clear day, you can see not forever but as far as the San Francisco Bay. Reservations required for parties of eight or more; advance booking for tours and tastings in general is recommended. Tastings begin at $25.

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CADE ESTATE WINERY

Howell Mountain at the northern tip of the Napa Valley gives CADE its amazing vantage point. From the wide terrace, at an elevation of 1,800 feet (550 meters) that is well above the fog line, you can look out over acres of vineyards and tree-covered hills. The winery was founded in 2005 by John Conover, Gavin Newsom (currently California's lieutenant governor) and billionaire Gordon Getty. It takes its name from Shakespeare, who used cade to refer to the wine casks used to ship wine from France to England in Elizabethan times. This is a good winery to visit when temperatures start to dip; the terrace includes comfy couches set around a large fire pit. Reservations required; tastings start at $40 per person.

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CASTELLO DI AMOROSA

As the Napa Valley's only 13th-century Tuscan castle (yes, it's a replica, but a very faithful one), the Castello offers sweeping views from the ramparts. But there are some indoor sights to take in as well, such as the armory, grand barrel room and a torture chamber (...though not currently in use). General admission starts at $25 and includes a tasting of five wines. Guided tours, which include tastings, start at $40. For $80, you can take a food-and-wine pairing that ends with a tasting in the elegantly decorated royal apartment. Reservations recommended for guided tours.

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CUVAISON ESTATE

If rolling hills are what you're looking for, Cuvaison's got them. This winery in the Carneros region was completed in 2009 and features a wood-and-steel structure embedded into a hilltop with wraparound terraces. Native grass landscaping complements other sustainable practices including rainwater collection and solar energy. Reservations recommended. Tastings start at $20.

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DOMAINE CARNEROS

If you've ever wanted to make like Cinderella, this is the winery to pick. Domaine Carneros features graceful flights of stone steps leading up to a terrace overlooking vine-covered hills where you can enjoy table service and order small plates to accompany your tasting. Wines may be tasted in flights or by the glass. Reservations are required for tastings and table service, and may be made up to 5 p.m. on the day of the visit, based on availability. Tours are available, must be booked in advance. Tastings start at $25.

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MUMM NAPA

The terrace at Mumm Napa is on a hillside off the Silverado Trail, the valley's lesser-traveled main thoroughfare, and has a commanding view of the Napa Valley. Open daily with three tasting experiences: outdoor patio, enclosed tasting salon or oak terrace. Tastings start at $20. Reservations required for terrace seating.

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SILVERADO VINEYARDS

There's something about drinking wine on a terrace. And the Napa Valley's generally good weather makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The terrace at Silverado Vineyards features 180-degree views of the renowned Stags' Leap Wine district, the better to taste by. Film buffs may be interested to know the winery was founded by Lillian Disney, widow of Walt, her daughter Diane Disney Miller and son-in-law Ron Miller. Open by appointment only. Tastings start at $30.

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STAGS' LEAP WINERY

The newly renovated, Victorian-era Manor House at Stags' Leap Winery has a grand wraparound porch for tastings with an expansive view of the vineyards. By appointment only; tastings start at $65.

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STERLING VINEYARDS

There's a reason Sterling Vineyards tends to make a lot of "best of" lists. The view from this hilltop winery on the northern end of the Napa Valley is remarkable. The vineyard is set 300 feet (91 meters) above the town of Calistoga. An aerial tram takes you up to the winery, set in a white stucco building modeled after the architectural style of the Greek island of Mykonos. From the south terrace you look straight down the Napa Valley. Reservations not required, although a good idea at peak times such as weekends. General admission and tasting starts at $29.

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AUBERGE DU SOLEIL

Not a winery, but a resort, Auberge du Soleil has two dining options, both with breathtaking views. If you're feeling flush, you can eat at the Michelin-starred restaurant with its terrace overlooking a green and verdant valley. Or, you can stop by the more casual bistro which has a wraparound deck, more than 40 wines by the glass and is a great spot for sunset watching.

In this photo taken May 31, 2016, people sit in a patio area outside the tasting room of the Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2012, file photo, Scott Hamel, left, and Erin Butterfield, right, drink sparkling wine while looking at the view of the Napa Valley from the terrace of the Auberge du Soleil resort in Rutherford, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

This photo taken July 20, 2016, shows the tasting area overlooking the Napa Valley outside of the Cade Estate Winery in Angwin, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

In this photo taken July 23, 2015, hand-painted Italian frescoes cover the walls of the Great Hall inside the Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

This photo taken May 31, 2016, shows the tasting room and patio of Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

FILE - In this July 14, 2010 file photo, visitors sit on the patio and sample sparkling wine at the Domaine Carneros winery in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

In this photo taken July 20, 2016, a woman drinks a glass of wine and takes in the view from the tasting room terrace at Silverado Vineyards in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

In this photo taken May 31, 2016, a sculpture is seen in a pool outside the Artesa Vineyards and Winery in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

In this photo taken Wednesday, July 20, 2016, a mirror reflects the tasting area outside of the Cade Estate Winery in Angwin, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

In this photo taken May 31, 2016, two women sit outside near vineyards at the Odette Estate Winery in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The Perfect Itinerary For A Delicious Weekend in Milwaukee

By Anthony Todd in Food on Sep 27, 2016 2:37PM



Beautiful MKE. Photo via shutterstock.

Whenever I announce that I'm heading to Milwaukee for a vacation, I get a lot of blank stares and sarcastic comments.

"That's not a vacation," I was told before my most recent trip. "Why would you go to Milwaukee when you live in Chicago?" asked another co-worker.

Well, those people are completely wrong. MKE is a city with great restaurants, a growing cocktail scene, a few pretty hotels and some of my favorite museums and attractions around. Plus, it's inexpensive and only about 90 minutes away.

We've published Milwaukee guides in the past, but here's an itinerary made specifically for the visiting food and drink geek. I've included some of my favorite attractions (you've got to do something to work off the calories in between meals) and some good places to stay, but mostly, it's all about the food.



The Wisconsin Cheese Mart. Photo via Facebook.

Friday Lunchtime: Uber Tap Room/Wisconsin Cheese Mart

I generally try to drive up to MKE on a Friday morning, which lets me beat the traffic and get an extra meal in. It also means I can get to the Wisconsin Cheese Mart when it's not filled with weekend tourists. Some swear by the Mars Cheese Castle, but this place is my go-to for my dairy fix. They've got an insane variety of local cheeses, tons of samples, and a nice bar/restaurant next door, the Uber Tap Room, which serves the largest pretzel the world has ever seen and a huge selection of cheese plates. If you don't mind having an entire lunch just made of cheese (and really, who would?) this is the place for you.



The Streets of Old Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Photo via Facebook.

Friday Afternoon: Milwaukee Public Museum

The name might be confusing to outsiders, but the Milwaukee Public Museum isn't some strange repository of municipal history. It's actually a natural history museum, and boasts some of the best dioramas in the world. Carl Akeley, who pretty much invented the museum diorama (and did most of the famous Field Museum dioramas) got his start here, and the work still holds up 100 years later. The highlight of the visit? The recently-rennovated "Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit, now complete with an app-based game that lets you play detective throughout the exhibit.



The interior of Bryant's. Photo via Facebook.

Friday Early Evening: Bryant's Cocktail Lounge



I've already raved enough in print about Bryant's, which I consider to be the best bar in the Midwest. Esquire magazine went even further, naming Bryant's the best bar in America. The dim, stylish cocktail bar hasn't changed since about 1971 and is a perfectly preserved example of groovy cool. The cocktails, on the other hand, have stayed current. The entire menu is "dealer's choice," so place yourself in the hands of their skilled bartenders and get ready for a boozy night.

Friday Dinner: Ardent



The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel recently called Ardent the best restaurant in town, and I have to agree with them. Chef Justin Carlisle, recently nominated for a Beard award, turns out some incredible dishes, and his focus on clean ingredients rather than tortured gastronomic tricks sets his food apart. My favorites: a milk and butter course that reminds you how great bread and butter are supposed to taste and a beef tartare made with meat from his family farm and topped with whipped bone marrow.



The tortilla at Tre Rivali. Photo by Anthony Todd.

Saturday Morning: Breakfast at Tre Rivali



Heather Terhune, formerly of Sable, has taken up residence in Milwaukee at the brand new Kimpton Journeyman hotel. The hotel has gotten the most attention for its stylish rooftop, but Terhune's food makes the restaurant a destination in itself. While we loved dinner, we were particularly taken with breakfast, when Terhune turns out the prettiest avocado toast around and a perfectly cooked Spanish tortilla with just a hint of spice.

Saturday Daytime: Take Your Pick!

There's plenty to do on a nice Saturday in MKE. Wander the Third Ward and check out some of the adorable shops, walk along the riverfront, or head to the Milwaukee Art Museum, the only thing that everyone who hasn't been to Milwaukee will recognize from your vacation photos. I'd suggest starting your day with the museum and ending your afternoon in the Third Ward, because you're going to want a snack.



The Lobster Bloody Mary. Photo by Anthony Todd.

Saturday Afternoon: Snack at Milwaukee Public Market



The Public Market is one of the coolest things in the city, and one of the things that makes every Chicagoan go "Why don't we have this?" It's like a more charming version of the Chicago French Market, and is made up of small outposts of local stores and restaurants. I always stop at St. Paul Fish Company's counter for an afternoon nosh. Skip the indifferently shucked oysters, but definitely go for the lobster bloody mary (topped with an entire lobster claw) and shrimp cocktail, which comes by the pound in plastic baskets.

Saturday Early Evening: Drinks at Boone and Crocket

I recently visited Boone and Crocket for the first time, and immediately felt like I'd walked into a movie set version of a craft cocktail bar. There is antique furniture, taxidermy everywhere, tattooed bartenders and huge chalkboardsevery box is checked. However, it doesn't feel formulaic so much as incredibly comfortable. And their cocktails are on point. Be sure to try their barrel aged old fashioneds, which are poured from barrels suspended from the ceiling.



The interior of Ratzsch's. Photo via Facebook.

Saturday Night: Karl Ratzsch's



Milwaukee remains a German town, and this cafe (opened in 1904) makes you feel like you're back in the old country. Recently renovated and cleaned up, the restaurant lost most of its dust but none of it's charm. The menu sticks to classics, and there's more sausage than you could ever eat, but my favorite dish remains the goose shank, rich and falling off the bone and topped with pickled red cabbage.

Saturday Late Night: Foundation Tiki



I almost never miss a visit to this neighborhood tiki bar during a trip to MKE. I actually prefer going around 5 p.m., before it gets crowded, but if you need something to wash down your goose shank, I can't think of anything better than a classic mai tai. They've got a full menu of tiki classics, but their skilled bartenders will experiment if you let them.

Sunday Morning: Milwaukee Zoo



After a late night of drinking, the last thing I want to do is eat a huge brunch. I know, this makes me weird, but I'd rather walk it off. Head over to the Milwaukee Zoo, a beautiful facility that is especially perfect for children. It's got a zoo train, a petting area and a ton of play structures to keep your little ones entertained. For the adults, it's got a good collection of small mammals (especially nocturnal ones), a great primate exhibit and an engaging penguin cove that will keep you entertained for a long time.

This only scratches the surface. We didn't get to the Conservatory, c.1880 restaurant, any of the other classic German spots, the other hopping neighborhoods in the city, a single bookstore or even a brewery or distillery.

Guess you'll just have to visit again.

Places to Stay:

If you're looking for classic charm, stay at the Pfister, the prominent downtown hotel frequented by most business tourists. It's not cheap, but it's worth the it for the gorgeous lobby, the top-floor pool and the lovely club lounge. On this most recent trip I stayed at the new Kimpton Journeyman, home of Tre Rivali, which is a great choice if you're looking for something more modern and sited outside of downtown. They'll lend you bikes for exploring, serve up a free happy hour of wine and local beer and have some of the most epic bathrooms that I've ever seen in a hotel.
But she also suffered the loss of her husband and carer Randy who committed

Now Brett Lahr is due to be released after serving his

Brett Lahr, 21, could leave Smithfield state prison in Pennsylvania this week after completing the minimum of his 18-month to 20-year sentence for causing life changing injuries to Sharon Budd in 2014

One of four young men convicted of leaving a teacher with brain damage after a rock they threw from an overpass hit her in the head is set to be released from jail after just two years.

Brett Lahr, 21, could leave Smithfield state prison in Pennsylvania this week after completing the minimum of his 18-month to 20-year sentence for causing life changing injuries to Sharon Budd in 2014.

One of his co-defendants, Keefer McGee, was granted parole last month after serving 11-and-a-half months in jail.

The other two defendants, Dylan Lahr and Tyler Porter, are still serving their sentences.

The friends were arrested in July 2014 after dropping a heavy rock from an overpass onto a darkened central Pennsylvania interstate.

The 4.6-pound rock smashed through the front windshield of a car passing below, landing directly on the head of Budd, a middle school language arts teacher from Uniontown, Ohio, on her way to see a show in New York.

Budd, 54, a passenger in the vehicle driven by her daughter, suffered massive head injuries and lost an eye.

She has undergone numerous surgeries and facial reconstructive operations but has been left disfigured and brain damaged by the 'prank.'

The Budds were being driven to New York by their daughter Kaylee to see a Broadway show when the attack took place on Interstate 80. Above, Budd in October 2014 a few months after incident

Teacher Sharon Budd (pictured after the incident with her husband Randy) suffered severe brain damage after rock thrown

Doctors used a piece of skull to create a bridge between her eyes and removed part of the intact parts of her skull to account for swelling.

Buss, who is also a breast cancer survivor, has not yet been able to return to teaching.

Her husband and primary caretaker Randy Budd, shot and killed himself at his Uniontown, Ohio, home a couple weeks before McGee was paroled in August.

He had previously called his wife's injuries 'a lifelong sentence for Sharon.'

'We have four children,' Randy Budd said. 'They always went to Sharon. Now they come to me. Sharon always took care of them. Now they take care of Sharon.'

Before and after: Budd was a school teacher but has not been able to return to her profession since the incident, after which doctors had to piece together parts of her skull that had been smashed by the rock

Above, a scan shows how Budd's skull was shattered after she wassuddenly hit by the massive rock

A Pennsylvania judge ordered Dylan Lahr - who had dropped the rock that injured Budd - to serve four-and-a-half years, Porter a year and ten months and Keefer McGee 11 and a half months for the attack. Dylan's brother Brett Lahr was given 18-months.

During their trial, McGee said he, Porter and Dylan Lahr had stole steaks from a grocery store and played video games before deciding to 'smash mailboxes, throw rocks at cars, just go out and be bad.'

Dylan's brother Brett Lahr, joined them after getting off work at a sandwich shop.

McGee said they first drove two vehicles through a corn field, causing what the farmer said was less than $100 in damage, and Dylan Lahr smashed windows in a home with a baseball bat before he stopped his vehicle on the overpass.

He said Dylan Lahr and Porter had jumped out of his car at the overpass on Interstate 80, armed with rocks they had collected earlier.

'I knew they were going to throw rocks, but never thought they were going to hurt anyone as they did it,' McGee said.

Scene: A group of teenagers threw rocks from this overpass in Milton, Pennsylvania, in July and one landed on the Budds' car

McGee (center) was said to be the driver of the car the boys rode around in before the July 2014 incident. Dylan Lahr (right) was accused of being the one who threw the rock from the overpass. Left, Porter

Tyler Porter (left) Keefer McGee (center) and Dylan Lahr (in orange jumpsuit) all pleaded guilty or no contest to a number of charges after a day of havoc including driving through a cornfield and breaking a window

In court records, Porter has been quoted as saying he dropped a rock but didn't hit anything, but Dylan Lahr struck a vehicle.

McGee testified that the rock made a 'really loud crash' when it hit Budd's Nissan Rogue. He wiped away tears before recalling how they all laughed as they drove away.

'They weren't looking for a car to hit in particular,' said McGee, who told the judge he had been involved in unspecified earlier rock-throwing incidents. 'Like, they weren't waiting for one. They hit one as they saw it.'

He drove them back to the Lahr home, where they began to watch a movie before deciding to return to the scene to see what happened  twice. During one of those trips, an alert police officer noted their license plate, leading investigators to the four.

Dylan Lahr had apologized to his vicitm in court, and asked Budd directly for forgiveness.

'I'm sorry, Sharon,' Lahr said. 'I feel horrible for what has happened and for what you and your family had to go through.'

Porter said he was sorry and that he wished every day the attack had not occurred.

Following the devastating incident, the victim's husband Randy Budd, 55, began a campaign to increase safety fencing on interstate overpasses.

Sharon's husband Randy took his own life in August after the devastating incident (pictured together before the injury)

Homecoming: Sharon Budd, left, comforts her daughter Kaylee after Sharon returned home from the hospital October 22, 2014, in Uniontown, Ohio

But this summer, it appeared to become all too much for the father-of-four who took his own life.

Police found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 6, after he texted several family members telling them he loved them and made several phone calls to his brother, Harry Campbell, chief investigator for the Stark County Coroner's Office, told People.

He had also sent a message to Pennsylvania state Sen. Gene Yaw urging him to 'please' pass legislation to require fencing on highway overpasses.

Randy had been alone with his wife Sharon Budd when he shot himself.

Union County District Attorney D. Peter Johnson said that Randy was as much a victim of the four teens who injured his wife.

'Randy Budd did not die from a gunshot,' Johnson charged. 'He died when those kids threw a rock through his windshield.'

Praying for recovery: Sharon Budd, 54, pictured with her husband, three sons and a daughter, is still undergoing treatment after her skull was shattered in a random rock attack

Shattered: Screws, bolts and plates now hold together the face of the 52-year-old married mother of four, seen left with her husband, Randy Budd
The Latest: Fire from trees spread to 13 homes California

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP)  The Latest on California wildfires (all times local):

9:00 p.m.

Authorities say embers from eucalyptus trees engulfed in flames spread to 13 homes, destroying four houses in a Petaluma, California neighborhood of modest homes bordered by a major highway.

The 500 acre Loma Fire burning near Loma Prieta Mt. off Loma Prieta Rd and Loma Chiquita Rd in Santa Clara County on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Vern Fisher/The Monterey County Herald via AP)

Petaluma fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holden says damage in the other homes ranged from a scorched fence to burned backyard decks, sheds and windows.

One woman was injured and received burn blisters on the bottom of one foot.

Holden says the fire started in grass near an off ramp of Highway 101 and blown by the wind into eucalyptus leaves.

Holden tells the Press Democrat authorities evacuated about 20 homes and shut down most northbound lanes for nearly two hours.

He says dozens of firefighters from nearby cities joined the Petaluma fire crews to fight the blazes with the last crew clearing the scene five hours after the fires started.

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5:15 p.m.

Authorities say at least five homes are burning in a Petaluma, California, neighborhood near Highway 101, forcing officials to close several northbound lanes.

The California Highway Patrol says the fire may have started in grass along the highway, spread to trees and then jumped to four homes.

The CHP says fire crews from numerous agencies are working on the blazes on Stuart Drive.

Petaluma Police Lt. Tim Lyons tells the Press Democrat that it's not clear if the fire started along the freeway or in one of the houses.

Lyons says he saw burning roofs, but the dense smoke made it difficult to see the full extent of the damage.

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10:05 a.m.

Authorities say at least 300 buildings are threatened by a growing wildfire in California's Santa Cruz Mountains.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday that the blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose has destroyed one home, damaged another structure and charred more than 1 square miles of dry brush and timber.

It's unclear if the threatened buildings were homes or smaller structures. The flames also are burning close to television and radio towers.

Hundreds of people were evacuated after the fire broke out Monday amid a heat wave, and more residents were ordered to leave as the flames spread overnight.

More than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze, which is 5 percent contained.

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6:05 a.m.

More residents have been ordered from their homes as a growing wildfire threatens remote communities in California's Santa Cruz Mountains.

Cal Fire said Tuesday that the blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose has destroyed one home and charred more than 1.5 square miles of dry brush and timber.

Hundreds were evacuated after the fire broke out Monday amid a heat wave, and more residents were ordered to leave as the flames spread overnight. Officials didn't say how many homes are affected.

The fire is 5 percent contained.

The blaze sparked on the southern edge of Santa Clara County is also threatening television and radio towers.

Meanwhile to the north evacuation orders were lifted as crews gained control over a fire that threatened homes and The Geysers geothermal complex in Sonoma County.

A structure burns at the 500 acre Loma Fire burning off Loma Prieta Rd and Loma Chiquita Rd in Santa Clara County on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Vern Fisher/The Monterey County Herald via AP)

The 500 acre Loma Fire burning off Loma Prieta Rd and Loma Chiquita Rd in Santa Clara County on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (Vern Fisher/The Monterey County Herald via AP)
Central Europe sees anti-immigration fervor, no migrants

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Together, Hungary and the Czech Republic took in just around 1,000 asylum-seekers last year. Still, rallying cries against migration have dominated the debates ahead of upcoming ballots in the two Central European countries.

Along with Poland and Slovakia, they have also become the most vocal critics of the EU's plan to share refugees according to a quota system.

The influx of migrants into Europe has also upended the political order in many countries in Western Europe, which received more than 1 million asylum-seekers last year, yet analysts say it's not surprising that opposition to newcomers is at its highest in the mainly homogenous societies in Central and Eastern Europe.

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 file photo, a group of migrants, seen through razor wire, crosses a border from Croatia near the village of Zakany, Hungary. Together, Hungary and the Czech Republic took in just around 1,000 asylum-seekers last year. Still, rallying cries against migration have dominated the debates ahead of upcoming ballots in the two Central European countries. Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum on Oct. 2 2016, seeking political support for the rejection of any future mandatory EU quotas to accept refugees. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)

"Migration is the issue because politically it works and it's not surprising that it works where there are no migrants," says Csaba Toth, strategic director of the Republikon Institute think tank. "It may even be easier without migrants because if people met migrants too often it's not certain that they would be able to hate them in the same manner."

Hungary is holding a government-sponsored referendum on Oct. 2, seeking political support for the rejection of any future, mandatory EU quotas to accept refugees and Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has expressed no qualms in its reasons for rejecting the mainly Islamic newcomers: It wants to preserve Hungary's Christian identity and its relatively homogenous culture and population.

"Hungary does not need this kind of intercultural mass migration that is happening at our border," said government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs. "We don't want those kinds of migrants, for obvious reasons." Only 1.5 percent of Hungary's population of 9.8 million is foreign born and most of them are people who moved here from areas in Romania and Slovakia which were part of Hungary until World War I.

So far, the most noticeable counter-campaign to the government has been run by the satiric Two-Tailed Dog Party, which claims on one of its posters that the average Hungarian sees more UFOs in his or her lifetime than migrants.

While 400,000 migrants passed through Hungary last year on their way to Western Europe, so far this year the country has taken in only 331 people, proportionally very similar to the 545 asylum seekers recognized in 2015, according the Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. Fences built last September on the borders with Serbia and Croatia and tougher laws against migrants entering the country irregularly have also practically stopped the migrant flow coming north through the Balkans.

Migration has also been a main theme ahead of regional and parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic on Oct. 7-8.

There, some of the new parties competing in the elections make their positions clear already in their names. For example, the group "No to Illegal Immigration - Money to Our People Instead" gathers four fringe parties with 281 candidates  one more than the total number of refugees who applied for asylum there in the second quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, the new conservative government in Poland has reneged on a promise made in 2015 by the earlier centrist government to accept some 10,000 refugees from Syria and Eritrea. It pointed to terrorist attacks in France and Belgium and said its primary task was to ensure the security of the Polish people. While it says it has received over 800,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict with Russia, Eurostat said only 695 people were granted asylum last year and 740 in 2014.

The reasons for the popularity of the anti-migrant stance in countries with few migrants and refugees include politics, history and education, analysts say, while centuries of domination by the Ottoman Turks and Austria's Habsburgs have also left their mark on Hungarians' psyche.

"Most people have no direct experience of living together with migrants, but we learn in school that foreign powers brought oppression," says Attila Tibor Nagy of the Center for Fair Political Analysis. "The government is building on people's fears, the facts learned in school and anti-foreigner sentiments."

Hungary hopes that if the Oct. 2 referendum backs the government's position, it will lead to similar efforts in other countries and put an end to any mandatory EU quotas.

"We will get a very powerful weapon for Hungary to clearly veto the quota on every front," Antal Rogan, Orban's Cabinet chief, said on state television. "If the Hungarian referendum is strong, Brussels' plans will hit a mine because opposition to the use of mandatory quotas will strengthen in many EU countries, encouraged by the Hungarian example."
Norwegian man pleads guilty to threatening Maine police

PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A Norwegian man charged with making threats against Maine police has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Twenty-eight-year-old Espen Brungodt, of Bergen, Norway, pleaded guilty to making threatening interstate communications. Authorities said he made the threats against Portland police in August via Twitter and email, threatening to shoot police officers from a parking garage.

Brungodt was in Portland as a tourist and was arrested at a hotel in Portland hours after making the threats. He never acted on them.
Bear at Polish zoo finds WWII mortar grenade

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Taking a toy from a bear can be dangerous, especially when the toy is a mortar grenade.

Malgorzata Chodyla, spokeswoman for a zoo in Poznan, in western Poland, told The Associated Press Tuesday that a visiting Border Guard officer noticed that a female bear named Ewka was playing with something odd.

On closer look, it proved to be a rusty mortar grenade from World War II.
The Latest: Records show man rescued at sea was slay suspect

BOSTON (AP)  The Latest on a Vermont man who was rescued after being lost at sea for a week (all times local):

5:40 p.m.

Court records show that a Vermont man who spent a week on a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean before he was rescued recently was a suspect in the unsolved 2013 killing of his grandfather in Connecticut.

Nathan Carman, center, disembarks from a small boat at the US Coast Guard station in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Carman spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Nathan Carman, of Vernon, Vermont, was rescued Sunday. His mother, Linda Carman, of Middletown, Connecticut, is still missing and presumed dead. Nathan Carmen told the Coast Guard he and his mother were on his fishing boat when it sank.

Documents obtained by The Hartford Courant show that Nathan Carman was investigated in the fatal shooting of 87-year-old John Chakalos.

According to a search warrant, Carman was the last person known to see his grandfather alive on Dec. 20, 2013, because he had dinner with him at his home in Windsor, Connecticut. Chakalos was found dead the next morning.

The Courant reports that Windsor police submitted an arrest warrant for Carman to a prosecutor, but it was returned unsigned with a request for more information. Carman was never charged.

Carman's lawyer, Hubert Santos, declined to comment.

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5:10 p.m.

A Vermont man who was rescued after spending a week adrift in a life raft on the Atlantic Ocean told the Coast Guard he heard a "funny noise" in his boat's engine compartment, saw water pouring in, then lost sight of his mother before he boarded the life raft.

Nathan Carman can be heard describing what happened in audio of a phone call released Tuesday by the Coast Guard. A Coast Guard officer talked with Carman by phone after he was rescued Sunday by a passing freighter.

Vermont authorities, meanwhile, said police from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, searched Carman's home in Vermont on Monday evening. South Kingstown police did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

In the audio recording, Carman said he and his mother were out in his fishing boat when it began to rapidly take on water. He said when he saw the life raft, he did not see his mother.

"Have you found her?" he is heard asking the Coast Guard. The officer tells him they have not found her.

The Coast Guard has said Linda Carman, of Middletown, Connecticut, is presumed dead.

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4:00 p.m.

A lawyer for a Vermont man who was rescued after spending a week in a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean says the sinking of the man's boat was a "tragic accident."

Nathan Carman was rescued off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday. His mother, Linda Carman, of Middletown, Connecticut, is still missing and presumed dead.

The pair left Point Judith, Rhode Island, aboard an aluminum fishing boat more than a week ago.

On Tuesday, Nathan Carman arrived in Boston, where Coast Guard officials questioned him about what happened.

He left the Coast Guard base in Boston at about 2 p.m. Tuesday with his father, who flew in from his home in California.

Prominent Connecticut defense attorney Hubert Santos said Carman "fully cooperated" with the Coast Guard. He would not disclose what Carman told the Coast Guard, but said the boat sinking was an accident.

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1:50 p.m.

Friends are remembering a Connecticut woman who is presumed dead more than a week after the fishing boat she was on with her son sank in the Atlantic Ocean.

Linda Carman, of Middletown, Connecticut, and her 22-year-old son, Nathan Carman, set out from Point Judith, Rhode Island, aboard his 31-foot aluminum boat on Sept. 18.

Nathan Carman was rescued by a passing freighter Sunday after floating in a life raft in the Atlantic for a week. He was brought back to Boston on Tuesday and is being questioned by the Coast Guard.

Friend Sharon Hartstein said Linda Carman was a thoughtful, generous person who worked to help children with autism. Nathan Carman has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

Hartstein said mother and son bonded over fishing and went on many fishing trips together.

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10:15 a.m.

A Vermont man who spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter has arrived at a Boston Coast Guard base.

Nathan Carman was transported by a Coast Guard vessel from the freighter to the base at about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. He and his mother set off for a fishing trip Sept. 18., but their boat sank. He was discovered in a life raft Sunday, but his mother hasn't been found and is presumed dead.

The 22-year-old man from Vernon was dressed in a white jumpsuit and appeared healthy and alert, but he did not speak publicly.

He was immediately taken to a Coast Guard vehicle and driven to a building on the base, where he will be questioned by Coast Guard officials.

He will also meet with his family and a lawyer.

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8:45 a.m.

A Vermont man who spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter will be reunited with his family in Boston, while his mother is still unaccounted for and presumed dead.

Nathan Carman, of Vernon, Vermont, is expected to arrive in Boston on Tuesday morning aboard the freighter that rescued him off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday. His mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman, of Middletown, Connecticut, has not been found.

The mother and son disappeared Sept. 18 after leaving a Rhode Island marina to go on a fishing trip in the son's 31-foot aluminum boat named the Chicken Pox.

The Coast Guard had suspended its search for the pair Friday. A private freighter found 22-year-old Nathan Carman two days later.

Family members have said the son has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

Nathan Carman, right, disembarks at the US Coast Guard station in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Carman spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Nathan Carman prepares to disembark from a small boat at the US Coast Guard station in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Carman spent a week at sea in a life raft before being rescued by a passing freighter. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Indiana woman accused in deaths of her children, 6 and 7

ELKHART, Ind. (AP)  A northern Indiana woman has been arrested on two preliminary counts of murder after her two young children were abducted and found dead in a car belonging to a neighbor of hers who was shot to death, authorities said Tuesday.

The children found dead Monday afternoon are siblings Liliana Hernandez, 7, and Rene Pasztor, 6, of Fort Wayne, authorities said. An Amber Alert had been issued for the children earlier Monday, saying they were "believed to be in extreme danger."

Police arrested Amber Pasztor, 29, on two preliminary murder counts after the children's bodies were found in Elkhart, about 70 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. An autopsy Tuesday identified them as her children and determined they died of asphyxiation, Elkhart police Sgt. Chris Snyder said.

This photo released by the Elkhart, Ind., Police Department shows Amber Pasztor. Pasztor, was arrested on two counts of murder Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in the deaths of seven-year-old Liliana Hernandez and six-year-old Rene Pasztor, who were the subject of an Amber Alert. (Elkhart Police Department via AP)

Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that he expected to formally charge Pasztor in the deaths of the children later this week.

"It's a senseless tragedy," Hill said.

The children are believed to have died in Elkhart County following their abductions in Fort Wayne, Hill said.

Authorities declined to say who the children were living with when they were abducted or why they were taken, and Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards, whose jurisdiction includes Fort Wayne, said police have no indication of a motive in the case.

The children were found in a car belonging to Frank Macomber, 65, a neighbor of Pasztor, who did not have custody of her children, Richards said at the news conference.

Macomber probably died before the children were abducted, Richards said.

"We do believe there is some connection between Mr. Macomber and the woman who is being held in Elkhart County," Richards said, referring to Pasztor, who she said lived near Macomber.

No one has been charged in connection with Macomber's death, which has been ruled a homicide, the prosecutors said. All three deaths remain under investigation, they said.

Pasztor was being held in the Elkhart County Jail. It wasn't immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could comment on her behalf.

"Miss Pasztor has been somewhat cooperative," Hill said. Asked if she told investigators where they could find Macomber's body, the prosecutor said only, "She gave information that was helpful to the investigation."

Earlier, Snyder said investigators were working Tuesday "to put the pieces together" and determine what happened between the time the two youngsters were abducted in Fort Wayne and when their bodies were found.

Snyder said Pasztor parked outside the city's police department Monday evening and began speaking to an officer who was leaving after completing his shift.

"She pulled up to him and explained to him that she was part of the Amber Alert and the two kids were in the back seat," Snyder said, adding that the officer then saw the bodies of two children in the car.

Snyder said Pasztor was initially cooperative following her arrest before "she became pretty emotional. And that's kind of where our detectives left it last night."

Capt. Steve Stone of the Allen County Sheriff's Department said officers were searching for Macomber, who authorities believe was with Pasztor at some point Monday, when they found his body early Tuesday in a wooded area near his home.

An eviction notice remains taped to the front door of a mobile home where Amber Pasztor used to reside, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 in Countryside Village Mobile Home Park in Fort Wayne, Ind. Northern Indiana prosecutors say they will file formal charges later this week against Amber Pasztor, arrested on two preliminary murder counts after two bodies believed to be those of her son and daughter were found in a car. Elkhart County Prosecutor's office spokeswoman Shelley Murphy says a magistrate will review probable cause information in the case Wednesday and formal charges will be filed later this week against Pasztor. (Chad Ryan/The Journal-Gazette via AP)
Putin praises farmers for Russia's strong grain harvest

MOSCOW (AP)  President Vladimir Putin praised farmers Tuesday for making Russia's grain harvest this year the highest in post-Soviet times.

Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev reported to Putin on Tuesday that this year's output is expected to reach 110-115 million metric tons, the largest yield in a quarter century.

Tkachev didn't specify what the wheat harvest would be, but experts forecast production of about 72 million tons, of which 30 million tons could be exported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting with VTB CEP Andrei Kostin in Moscow's Kremlin on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The meeting focused on the current operations of the state-controlled VTB, Russia's second-largest bank. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin emphasized that Russia shouldn't rush to boost its grain exports but wait for global prices to rise.

"We shouldn't be hurrying to dump extra volumes on the market," he said.

A mild winter and a warm, wet summer have contributed to the good harvest as Russia bounces back from a 2010 drought. Russian agricultural output has gradually recovered from its tough Soviet times, when the nation had to import American wheat.

Forecasts indicate that Russia will be the world's biggest wheat exporter this year and will ship more wheat abroad than all the countries of the European Union combined. The United States lost its place as the top exporter two years ago.

"This record harvest is down to the good weather conditions over several years and an improvement in the level of agricultural technology," said Andrei Sizov, head of Moscow-based SovEcon agriculture consultancy. "The problem is that the state has started to meddle more and more frequently in the market."

Russia imposed a grain export ban in 2010, which helped contribute to bread riots in Egypt, the biggest buyer of Russian grain. The government introduced wheat export tariffs last year only to suspend them for two years this month.

Tkachev attributed the record harvest to government assistance for the agricultural sectors, adding that Russia also has been able to boost other food exports.

He told Putin that pork exports had tripled in the last five months and that gains had also been made with poultry, dairy and beef exports. He said the successes were a stark contrast with the early 1990s, when Russia relied on U.S. chicken popularly referred to as "Bush's legs" in a reference to a deal signed under then U.S. President George H. W. Bush.
The Latest: FBI heads pledges to track police use of force

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on senior U.S. officials' testimony to Congress on terror threats (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

FBI Director James Comey is repeating his commitment to building a comprehensive database tracking police use of deadly force.

Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson, left, shakes hands with FBI Director James Comey, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, prior to testifying before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

He says the country is not having the informed conversations it needs to have about police use of force and racial bias because there's no comprehensive, national count.

He says the FBI is planning on developing a database that would provide information on those incidents.

The issue arose at Tuesday's Senate hearing in response to questioning from Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat.

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11:10 a.m.

FBI Director James Comey says the FBI will look into past contacts it had with the father of the man accused in the Manhattan bombing to see if anything could have been done differently.

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul told Comey on Tuesday that several individuals accused of attacks had at one point been known to the FBI. He asked Comey whether mistakes have been made in those investigations.

Comey said the FBI is fallible and that, when it makes a mistake, the agency is open about it.

He didn't say any mistakes had been made in past terror cases, but he noted that the FBI is looking into its past investigations of the Orlando, Florida nightclub shooter. And he says they're looking into past interactions with the father of Ahmad Khan Rahami, who was charged last week in the Manhattan explosion.

__

10:45 a.m.

A top counterterrorism official says the Islamic State is losing territory in Iraq and Syria, and losing access to money from oil production and other sources.

Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told Congress Tuesday that the group has lost over half its territory in Iraq and nearly a quarter in Syria. Rasmussen says the number of fighters the group has in those countries is significantly down and its "illicit income streams" are also down.

Still, Rasmussen says the group remains a significant threat. He says its ability to carry out terrorist attacks in Syria, Iraq and other countries has not been significantly diminished.

Rasmussen says officials do not believe that battlefield losses alone will be sufficient to completely degrade the group's terrorism capabilities.

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10:40 a.m.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh (jay) Johnson says terrorist threats have evolved. He says they include individuals living in the U.S. who are "self-radicalized" to attack their own country.

Johnson told a Senate committee on Tuesday that some U.S. residents and citizens are inspired by terrorist propaganda on the internet. Johnson says some attacks are "terrorist-enabled," in which established groups provide general guidance, such as potential targets, often in online conversations with terrorists overseas.

Johnson says another category of attacks is "terrorist-validated," which a terror group such as the so-called Islamic State claims responsibility for an attack after the fact.

Johnson and other officials are testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on security threats 15 years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

__

9:30 a.m.

In prepared testimony before a Senate committee, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh (jay) Johnson says air strikes and special operations against the Islamic State group have led to the deaths of a number of its leaders. He says the group has lost nearly half the populated areas it once controlled in Iraq and thousands of square miles in Syria.

At the same time, Johnson says, the group has "increased its plotting on targets outside of Iraq and Syria and continues to encourage attacks in the United States."

Johnson, FBI Director James Comey and Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, are set to testify as the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee looks at security threats 15 years after 9/11.
Colleges lavishing more financial aid on wealthy students

STORRS, Conn. (AP)  Spencer Mulligan knew his family could pay for his college education, even without loans or grants. So when the University of Connecticut offered a merit award of $20,000 over four years, he saw it as a bonus.

As a discount on in-state tuition, it brought the cost well below half of what his family might have paid at his other top choices, Penn State or the University of Vermont.

"My dad was kind of split because he didn't want to push me into going to a school because of financial reasons," said Mulligan, a 21-year-old computer science student from Darien, one of the nation's wealthiest communities. "Without financial reasons I might have gone to Penn State, but on the other hand he was like, 'If you go to UConn, it will save us a bunch of money.'

In this Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 photo, Manchester Community College student Jeslyn Lamonte, of Vernon, Conn., stands on the school's campus in Manchester, Conn. She said she intends to transfer to UConn after two years to save on tuition and avoid significant education debt. (AP Photo/Michael Melia)

"That means now I can pressure him into getting me stuff," he joked.

Financial aid, traditionally a lifeline for poorer students at public colleges, is increasingly being used to attract students from more affluent families. In competition with private schools and other public institutions, the state schools are using the money to lure the most qualified students, raise average test scores and entice students from high-income families who can pay the rest of the full sticker price.

Critics say that by devoting aid to students who don't need it, state schools are punishing the poor, making it harder for them to attend college when the gap between tuition costs and affordability is only growing.

"The reality is that for poor families, it's a question of whether the kids go to college at all. For the better-off family, it's a question of which college," said Harold Levy, director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which provides need-based scholarships. "It's a tragic waste of talent. It alters the lives of students."

Of the institutional aid given last year to UConn freshmen, the amount not based on need rose to $19.9 million, up from $12.9 million five years earlier. But the school also increased the amount of need-based aid it offered, $50.9 million, up from $38.9 million five years earlier.

Other state schools have moved resources even more aggressively to merit aid. A review this year by Stephen Burd, an analyst with the think tank New America, found 28 percent of public colleges in 2014-2015 spent at least half of their aid dollars on students without financial need.

It's a shift that has helped state universities cope with declines in state funding for higher education; the awards bring in students whose families can pay close to full tuition.

At UConn, as at many other flagship state schools, out-of-state students have benefited most from the increase in merit aid, according to a 2014 legislative report. The school costs $25,802 annually for residents and $47,344 for those out of state.

State universities are adopting an approach long used by private schools, according to Joni Finney, an author of a report on college affordability from the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Research on Higher Education this year that found investment in merit aid outpacing need-based aid. It said states' provision of need-based financial aid barely changed from 1996 to 2012, while state aid for high-income students rose more than 450 percent.

The study found aid for non-needy students also growing faster at private, four-year colleges, where institutional aid for students whose families earn above $125,000 increased from $1,950 to $6,400 over the same period. Aid to students whose families make less than $25,000 rose from $2,900 to $7,700.

At UConn, which has been climbing U.S News & World Report rankings, officials have vigorously defended merit awards when pressed by state lawmakers on questions about affordability. Scholarships offered to top students, university officials have said in testimony to the legislature, are critical to the university's success and attract students who could otherwise attend Ivy League schools.

A 2014 report by a state legislative committee found that aid packages for low-income students have relied increasingly on federal education loans. But it said reducing merit aid to students without financial need, in the absence of other flagship state schools doing the same, would likely hurt UConn's efforts to move up in rankings, and possibly academic quality.

Meanwhile, winning admission and paying for college has become ever more daunting at flagship state universities, institutions that traditionally were seen by many as affordable fallback options.

Jeslyn Lamonte, 19, of Vernon, Connecticut, is planning to transfer to UConn next year after two years of smaller payments at Manchester Community College, which is 15 miles west of the main UConn campus in Storrs and charges about $4,000 annually.

"It came down to that I didn't want all the student loans," Lamonte said.

A classmate, Kim Eigner, 22, of Columbia, Connecticut, transferred to the community college from UConn after her family found the tuition payments overwhelming. Her job at a grocery store's floral department hardly put a dent in the bills.
What Donald Trump Got Wrong (Again) About Chicago Violence

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 27, 2016 2:47PM



Donald Trump's presidential temperament / Getty Images / Photo: Win McNamee

If you happen to see Donald Trump, can you please pass him some Imodium? Because the guy just cant seem to stop shitting on Chicago.

Monday nights presidential debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton was rife with memorable moments: Trump lying about his global-warming hoax claim, Clintons back-half dig at her rivals misogyny, Trump turning from orange to red as he ironically defended his temperament. There was also Trumps familiar use of Chicago as a case study for greater law and order (he doubled down on stop and frisk) when asked about race relations by moderator Lester Holt.

Trump:



"These are people that are bad people that shouldn't bewhen you have 3,000 shootings in Chicago from January 1st, when you have 4,000 people killed in Chicago by guns, from the beginning of the presidency of Barack Obama, his hometown, you have to have stop-and-frisk"

Trumps shooting figures are a little bit high, and totals vary depending on how one differentiates between shootings and shootings victims, but according to Politifact, they qualify as true. But theyre also misleading, as Josh Greenman, of New York Daily News, pointed out, because they ignore an overall decline:

The 4,000 people killed in Chicago since Obama became President, if that number is right, is below previous equivalent periods. pic.twitter.com/aj7MjedMeJ  Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) September 27, 2016

Still, at least hes walking back the totally bogus claim of 5,000 Chicago murders he peddled for so long.

And as Carrie Johnson, Justice Correspondent for NPR, noted in her fact-check, much Chicago violence remains targeted to certain (underserved) communities. (Trump, on Chicago last night: Is this a war-torn country?)



NPR

Then theres stop and frisk, which Trump proposed earlier this month and said last night worked very well in New York. Naturally, Trump was unmoved by Holts reminder that the practice was ruled unconstitutional in New York, because it largely singled out black and Hispanic young men.

Hes also apparently unmoved by that fact that Chicago essentially already had stop and frisk, and it failed. As WBEZ reported earlier this year, the issuance of contact cards spiked dramatically from around 100,000 in 2013 to 600,000 last year. During the same time, the citys murder-clearance rate actually fell.

And dont forget that, according to a 2015 study by the ACLU, Chicagos use of stop-and-frisk was even more extreme than New York City. And, needless to say, it didnt help police/community relations much.

Chicago-violence-as-conservative-talking-point is sadly nothing new. Residents of the city are all too used to it. But it's still beyond irksome, especially considering Trump was basically run out of the city in March by the very people whose interest he claims.

Chicago social media was't having it, of course:

You can't imagine how many people stand in front of Trump's property in Chicago and take selfies flipping the bird. TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS.  dan sinker (@dansinker) September 27, 2016

Trump if you talk about Chicago again I'm going to make you drink malort until you die.  Hunter Owens (@hunter_owens) September 27, 2016

You couldn't even give a speech in Chicago you're so hated, Trump, and you're going to end gun violence there?  Nathan Rabin (@nathanrabin) September 27, 2016

But it was a man from Baltimore who put it best:
Unhappy Target customers send strong message on pill bottles

Longtime customers of Target's pharmacies are finding a change in pill bottle design hard to swallow.

After CVS began operating Target's drugstores earlier this year, distraught customers have been asking  in some cases begging  the drugstore chain to bring back the retailer's red prescription bottles, which came with color-coded rings, labeling on the top and prescription information that was easier to read.

Some customers also took more drastic steps.

In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, photo, Shelley Ewalt sits in her home, in Princeton, N.J., near an amber-colored CVS pharmacy prescription bottle, right, and two uniquely designed red ones from Target. After CVS took over operation of Target's drugstores earlier this year, distraught customers have been asking the drugstore chain to bring back the retailers red prescription bottles, which came with color-coded rings, labeling on the top and prescription information that was easier to read. Ewalt tweeted to the drugstore chain, asking if there was any chance they might return to the design of the Target bottles, which she found easier to open. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Vivian Ruth Sawyer went fishing through her trash to rescue the old Target bottles soon after opening her stapled prescription bag to find the dowdy, white-capped amber vials that are common in most medicine cabinets. She has since poured refills of her thyroid medicine into the old Target bottles, even though they don't have the right expiration dates. It's worth it, she said, because those bottles make it easier to tell her prescriptions apart when she looks in her drawer for them.

"This is really inconvenient and irritating," the Louisville, Kentucky, resident said.

CVS says it is working on designing a new system for dispensing prescriptions and helping people stay on their medications, but spokeswoman Carolyn Castel declined to share details or say whether that might involve an updated bottle design.

Meanwhile, shoppers continue to mourn the loss of a bottle that was considered groundbreaking when it debuted about a decade ago and was once on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Target flipped bottle design on its head in 2005 when it introduced a red container with the opening on the bottom. That allowed the label to wrap around the top so it could be seen from above. It included a flat surface that customers found easier to read than the curve of a typical pill bottle, and it came with color-coded rings for the neck to help family members quickly tell their medicines apart.

Deborah Adler devised the new approach as part of her master's thesis at New York's School of Visual Arts. She was inspired to try something different after her grandmother mistakenly took her grandfather's prescription. Adler now runs her own design business and is working with CVS on its new prescription system.

The red bottles were important to Christina Mihalek, of Cincinnati, because she accidentally took her mom's high blood pressure medicine instead of an antibiotic when she was in high school, and she passed out in the lunch line that day. Mihalek took to Twitter to voice her displeasure, telling CVS in a post with the hashtag #redbottlesrock that "perfection was at your fingertips."

Shelley Ewalt of Princeton, New Jersey, also tweeted to the drugstore chain, asking if there was any chance they might return to the "vastly superior design" of the Target bottles, which she found easier to open.

Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Health Corp., which runs the nation's second-largest drugstore chain, started operating Target pharmacies earlier this year as part of a $1.9 billion deal the companies announced in 2015.

CVS's Castel said the company stopped using Minneapolis-based Target Corp.'s bottles because it's more efficient to fill prescriptions with the same bottle at all of its 9,600 pharmacies.

Customer visits to Target's in-store pharmacies slipped in the second quarter. Castel said CVS doesn't see a connection between that and the change in prescription bottles.

But the bottle switch might have influenced a small percentage of customers to shop elsewhere, according to Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst with market researcher NPD Group. He said the second quarter was tough for many retailers, but he also noted that regular customers to pharmacies don't like change.

"When you start tinkering with things ... the consumer kind of gets a little testy," he said.

Patients can buy prescription bottle caps that glow or beep when it's time to take their medicine. But Purdue University pharmacy professor Alan Zillich hasn't seen much of an evolution in the design of pill containers used by pharmacies because it just isn't worth it, financially.

"Even though drugs cost a lot, pharmacies don't make much off each individual prescription," he said.

Sawyer still holds out hope that any new system CVS adopts might include features from the old Target bottles to replace the amber bottles, which she describes as a "ghastly" leftover from the 1950s.

"Everyone else uses the same stupid bottle," she said.

In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, photo, Shelley Ewalt sits in her home, in Princeton, N.J., near an open amber-colored CVS pharmacy prescription bottle, as she opens one of two uniquely designed red ones from Target. After CVS took over operation of Target's drugstores earlier this year, distraught customers have been asking the drugstore chain to bring back the retailers red prescription bottles, which came with color-coded rings, labeling on the top and prescription information that was easier to read. Ewalt tweeted to the drugstore chain, asking if there was any chance they might return to the design of the Target bottles, which she found easier to open. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
The Latest: Man charged in Charlotte parking deck assault

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  The Latest on protests following the shooting of a man by a Charlotte police officer last week (all times local):

10 p.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have arrested a suspect in connection with an assault in a parking deck during violent protests over the shooting death of a black man by a police officer.

Audience members show support for speakers at the Charlotte City Council during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

A statement from police Tuesday says 22-year-old Antonio Gatewood was identified as a suspect in two commercial burglaries during the protests that turned violent Sept. 21. During that night, a person was assaulted in a parking deck by several people

Video of the incident helped police identify Gatewood as one of the suspects.

New warrants filed against Gatewood, who was already in jail on looting-related charges, include charges of false imprisonment and ethnic intimidation.

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8:50 p.m.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have removed a suspicious package from its headquarters that led to an evacuation.

A statement on the department's Twitter page said a dog alerted to the package after an employee spotted it. A robot removed the package, and about 8:30 p.m. about a half-dozen police cars followed by a firetruck formed a motorcade heading down a street on the outskirts of downtown Charlotte.

Police say the package will be rendered safe at a remote location.

Authorities also said there was no phone call or threat made to the department.

After the package was removed, people were allowed to return to a parking lot across the street from police headquarters.

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7 p.m.

Gov. Pat McCrory is accusing his Democratic rival and Charlotte's mayor of meeting to talk politics during last week's protests stemming from the shooting death of a black man by a police officer.

The Charlotte Observer reports (http://bit.ly/2digz9b) that McCrory says gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper and Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts met for three to four hours with his campaign team. McCrory made the comments to reporters after an appearance in Cary.

Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman for Cooper, said the attorney general was at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center last Thursday in his official capacity in the aftermath of last week's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.

A spokesman for the Cooper campaign said that, aside from his driver, no one from the campaign was present for the meeting with Roberts.

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6 p.m.

Police in Charlotte have cordoned off several blocks around their headquarters after a suspicious package was discovered inside the building.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers used vehicles and bicycles to block intersections after the discovery of the package Tuesday afternoon. Fire trucks and a man in an ATF were outside the building.

According to police, the package was discovered just as activists were entering the building to deliver demands to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney. It's unclear if the package was found in the same area or if there was any connection.

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A South Carolina funeral home says it is handling arrangements regarding the death of a black man who was shot and killed by a North Carolina police officer.

Murray's Mortuary in North Charleston, South Carolina, said Tuesday that it is handling arrangements for Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot and killed by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Sept. 20.

There were no details regarding when or where a funeral would be held, but the mortuary said it would announce those details soon. The obituary did mention that Scott and his wife had seven children and two grandchildren.

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5:50 p.m.

Charlotte police say they are evacuating headquarters and a bomb squad is investigating a suspicious package.

Images taken near the police headquarters show officers blocking off streets Tuesday, a week after a black man was shot to death by police. The city has been besieged by protests for the past week, with some of them turning violent with fires and looting. More than 80 arrests have been made.

Police have said Keith Scott was armed with a handgun and officers told him repeatedly to drop the weapon before he was shot to death. Scott's family says he wasn't armed.

___

5:15 p.m.

Court documents say the black man killed by Charlotte police had a restraining order filed against him a year ago after he threatened to kill his wife and her son with a gun.

The documents were obtained Tuesday and show that Keith Scott's wife filed the order on Oct. 5. She said that law enforcement officers who encounter him should be aware that he is armed and "carries a 9mm black" gun.

Police have said Scott was armed with a handgun when they approached him at an apartment complex last week. Officers say they told Scott repeatedly to drop the weapon and he was shot to death when he didn't follow their orders.

Scott's family has said that he was not armed. Videos released by police and the family are inconclusive, and state authorities are investigating.

___

The University of Tennessee's law school dean says a professor will not face disciplinary action for a Twitter post that called on drivers to run over demonstrators blocking traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In a post on the law school's website, Dean Melanie D. Wilson said the tweet "was an exercise" of the professor's First Amendment rights, according to media reports. Wilson added the tweet "offended many members of our community and beyond, and I understand the hurt and frustration they feel."

The law school began an investigation after law professor Glenn Reynolds posted "Run them down," in response to news about protesters on the interstate. Reynolds also writes newspaper columns.

Wilson said the investigation included "an examination of the facts, policies in the university's Faculty Handbook, and the law."

___

10:40 a.m.

Charlotte police say nine more people face charges in the protests over the videotaped shooting death of a black man by police officers last week.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Tuesday that all nine people were charged with obstructing traffic.

Charlotte officials had warned that marching or demonstrating in the streets without a permit is illegal. Police on Sunday stopped blocking downtown traffic to allow marchers in the road and directed demonstrators to stay on sidewalks.

The police action means that there have been more than 80 arrests since the Sept. 20 shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

___

3 a.m.

Angry Charlotte residents are complaining about what they call unaccountable police officers and civilian leaders who've failed to force change as the city marks a week of protests since a police officer fatally shot a black man.

The City Council on Monday night allowed dozens of people to voice their frustrations after the Sept. 21 shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Many called on Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Police Chief Kerr Putney and other council members to resign.

Scott's family and advocacy groups complain the department divulged only about three minutes of footage from two cameras. They have urged the police department to release all other video footage it has, as well as audio recordings of communications that could clarify how the situation unfolded. A media coalition also seeks more footage.

(This story corrects Scott's first name to Keith, not Kevin)

An audience member becomes emotional after a child addressed the Charlotte City Council during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Law enforcement officers gather outside police headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, after a suspicious package was found inside the building. A city spokesman says the structure was evacuated and searched as a precaution following days of protests over the fatal police shooting of a black man. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves)

A group of people watch a monitor of the Charlotte City Council meeting outside the Meeting Chamber during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Zianna Oliphant, center, addresses the Charlotte City Council during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts listens to a speaker at the Charlotte City Council meeting during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)

Zianna Oliphant is consoled after addressing the Charlotte City Council during time for public comments, mainly concerning last week's Scott shooting, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (David T. Foster III/The Charlotte Observer via AP)
3 bears revisited: they've got a new home in Kosovo

TIRANA, Albania (AP)  Three bears rescued from neglect in Albania have gone to a better place  Kosovo.

The brown bears  Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina  were released Tuesday at the Forest of Bears sanctuary in Pristina, where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them.

The bears had been in the Albanian capital, Tirana, for a month after being taken from their owners, and were kept for a month for treatment at the zoo park until all documentation with Kosovo's sanctuary was completed. But Albanian authorities are struggling to look after rescued bears.

In this photo taken on Aug. 4, 2016 Rocky and Smocky, two young brown bears, play at the courtyard of the Environment Ministry in the Albanian capital, Tirana, after being rescued from their owners in southernmost Saranda where they were exploited to lure customers for photographs. Some 50 bears have been taken from restaurants and resorts, or from beaches in western and southern Albania where people can pay to be photographed with one. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

"They were not in very good conditions, in tiny cages, very bad food," said German veterinarian Frank Goritz, who had come to oversee their transport. "The general health condition was not so good."

"It's time for them to go to a better place now," he added.

Two younger bears  Rocky and Smocky  are to be flown to Germany on Friday.

Some 50 bears have been located in restaurants and resorts, or at beaches in western and southern Albania where people can pay to be photographed with one. The number of bears still in the wild in Albania is estimated at 100-150 and declining, said Elvana Ramaj, a biodiversity expert at Albania's Environment Ministry.

Owners have resisted handing them over, undeterred by a fine of 5,000 leks ($40; or 36 euros) for keeping a bear.

Ramaj said the keepers have no idea how to treat the animals and keep them in tiny cages to lure customers. If the bears remain captive for six months, they can no longer survive on their own in the wild.

"Albanian tourism has no profit from bears kept like this but it spreads a negative image from the exploitation of animals," said Environment Minister Lefter Koka.

This year 15 rescued brown bears have gone to sanctuaries in Kosovo, Germany, Greece and Italy.

Albania's government is working to raise 6 million euros ($6.7 million) to start building a sanctuary, hopefully next year, Ramaj said.

In March the Environment Ministry signed a deal with Four Paws to build a sanctuary near the Dajti Mountain, closed to Tirana, where the plan is to care for the remaining 35 captive bears.

The ministry also is preparing legislation to make it a crime to take a bear from the wild.

In this Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 photo, Pashuk, a brown bear used for tourist attraction, walks around at the zoo park in the Albanian capital Tirana, a day prior to being taken to a sanctuary in Pristina, Kosovo. Three bears have gone to a better place _ Kosovo. The brown bears _ Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina _ were released at the Forest of Bears sanctuary Tuesday in Pristina, Kosovo where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Male brown bear Pashuk leaves his enclosure for the first time, after being rescued from captivity, in Mramor, near Pristina, Kosovo, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Three bears have gone to a better place _ Kosovo. The brown bears _ Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina _ were released at the Forest of Bears sanctuary Tuesday in Pristina, Kosovo where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Male brown bear Tomi explores his new surroundings, after being rescued from captivity, in Mramor, near Pristina, Kosovo, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Three bears have gone to a better place _ Kosovo. The brown bears _ Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina _ were released at the Forest of Bears sanctuary Tuesday in Pristina, Kosovo where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Male brown bear Tomi exits from a cage for the first time in new environment, after being rescued from captivity, in Mramor, near Pristina, Kosovo, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Three bears have gone to a better place _ Kosovo. The brown bears _ Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina _ were released at the Forest of Bears sanctuary Tuesday in Pristina, Kosovo where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Male brown bear Tomi takes a dip in the water in his new surroundings after being rescued from captivity, in Mramor, Kosovo, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Three bears have gone to a better place _ Kosovo. The brown bears _ Pashuk, Tomi and Xhina _ were released at the Forest of Bears sanctuary Tuesday in Pristina, Kosovo where Austria-based Four Paws International cares for them. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Attorney: Lawmaker denies assault allegations, won't resign

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  An attorney for a Virginia lawmaker says her client did not assault family members in his home and won't resign.

Media outlets report attorney Nicole Belote issued a statement Tuesday that state Del. Rick Morris "adamantly denies" the allegations and is confident the legal process will show his innocence.

Morris didn't appear in person Tuesday for arraignment. He was arrested last week on 14 counts including felony cruelty and injuries to children and misdemeanor domestic assault of a woman in the family.

Belote says Morris has respectfully declined a call from the House speaker and other top Republicans to step down.
'Madam Secretary' star Carradine: 1 of many TV presidents

NEW YORK (AP)  The president, impeccable in his blue suit, strides into the Oval Office in fine spirits. He's got a paper cup of coffee, a bit unpresidential but in keeping with his casual style.

He takes his seat at his impressive desk, facing a camera where he will deliver an address about a foreign-affairs flare-up.

Now looking grave, he is about to begin speaking when he glances at his desktop and sees his coffee cup still sitting there.

In this image released by CBS, Keith Carradine portrays President Conrad Dalton on the CBS political drama "Madam Secretary," returning for a third season on Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT. (Sarah Shatz/CBS via AP)

"You don't want THIS," he chuckles to the man behind the camera, and sets the cup out of camera range.

Welcome to the Oval Office of Keith Carradine, who plays President Conrad Dalton on the CBS political drama "Madam Secretary," which returns for its third season Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT, as they film a scene for a future episode not at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., but on Stage F at Silvercup Studios East in Queens, New York.

It's one of many Oval Offices for TV presidents: They are sprinkled from just beyond the Beltway in Baltimore (where Kevin Spacey holds office on Netflix's "House of Cards" as conniving Francis Underwood) and just beyond the border in Toronto (where Kiefer Sutherland presides on ABC's new "Designated Survivor") all the way to Hollywood's Sunset Gower Studios (where Tony Goldwyn is bad boy President Fitzgerald Grant on ABC's "Scandal") and, just a few blocks away, the Paramount lot (home to HBO's zany "Veep," with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as addled President Selina Meyer).

Thus does television offer viewers something real-life democracy could never provide: a president for every taste.

Carradine is proud of his Oval Office. No wonder. Since the first Oval Office was installed a century ago for President William Howard Taft, it has reigned as a symbol of the president's business.

But President Dalton didn't have an Oval Office the first season of "Madam Secretary." As a recurring cast member, Carradine performed his presidential duties in scenes located elsewhere (including White House corridors that actually belonged to Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria hotel).

His Oval Office set, introduced for Season 2, is appropriately elegant.

"The desk is a replica of the one that JFK used," Carradine tells a reporter between shots, "made from the timbers of a famous frigate in the 1850s."

The 67-year-old Carradine is no stranger to playing real-life American heroes. In the HBO series "Deadwood," he was Wild Bill Hickok. On Broadway, he portrayed the rope-twirling, wisecracking title character in "Will Rogers Follies."

But, plopping himself in a wing chair near the Situation Room once the scene is finished, he says he has no president in mind in his depiction of Dalton.

"I'm just looking at the elements that I'm given," he explains, "and then imagining myself in each situation to find the truth of how this character would behave.

"One of the essentials of good drama is conflict," he adds, "and on this show you have to understand that our Madam Secretary is the driving force. What makes the show compelling is the obstacles that she has to face and overcome  and one of those obstacles is me!"

But even if President Dalton is a supporting character to Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni), he's a leader with presidential gravitas thanks to Carradine.

"On the set, I don't necessarily put that on, as much as I have it put on me," he insists. "This is a really fun work place for the actors and the crew, with Tea setting the tone and everybody playing make-believe."

That includes giving their proxy president a show of hail-to-the-chief respect.

"It adds immeasurably to my sense of who I am as this character," Carradine says.

Meanwhile, he keeps his distance from his fellow pseudo presidents.

"There are a lot of us out there, and I don't seem to have the time to catch what everybody else is doing," he says. "But I do think it would be fun to have all of us engaging in a presidential debate."

He grins at the thought.

"But maybe it's best to leave well enough alone and stay in my own universe. My own Oval Office."

___

A previous version of this story made an erroneous reference to "Madam Secretary" as "Madam President."

___

EDITOR'S NOTE  Frazier Moore is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. He can be reached at fmoore@ap.org and at http://www.twitter.com/tvfrazier. Past stories are available at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/frazier-moore

_____

Online:

http://www.cbs.com
It's back to school for former Florida Governor and failed presidential candidate Jeb Bush will be spending time at Harvard University this fall.

Harvard's Kennedy School announced Tuesday that Bush will be a visiting fellow in the Program on Education Policy and Governance. Bush unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party's 2016 presidential nomination.

Bush plans to serve as a guest instructor and presenter on education issues during several visits to the Ivy League university during the fall term.

Harvard's Kennedy School announced Tuesday that Jeb Bush will be a visiting fellow in the Program on Education Policy and Governance for the fall 2016 term

He is the founder and chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Bush is scheduled to deliver the annual Edwin L. Godkin Lecture at Harvard on Thursday.

The school says he will discuss problems with economic and social mobility in the U.S.

The lecture series is more than a century old and is named for the founder of The Nation magazine.

He last gig was job was a cameo at the start of last Sunday night's Emmy Awards, playing an Uber employee tasked with driving Julia Louis Dreyfuss and Tony Hale's Veep characters.

Host Jimmy Kimmel was trying to catch a ride only to discover Jeb behind the wheel.
Analysis: In debate, Clinton prep overrides Trump omissions

WASHINGTON (AP)  Studious and diligent, Hillary Clinton spent weeks getting ready for the first presidential debate, poring over policy papers and sharpening attack lines in practice sessions. Donald Trump did not want to over-prepare and skipped running through a full mock session.

At the first presidential debate of general election, it was clear who had done their homework.

Trump was forced to defend his role in the birther movement questioning President Barack Obama's citizenship, his refusal to release his income tax returns and his derogatory comments about women. But he never found a way to point to the FBI's assessment of Clinton's judgment in using a private email system, her family foundation or her recent comments calling half of his supporters a "basket of deplorables."

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are introduced during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Even when Trump accused Clinton of loafing during the campaign  "You decided to stay home and that's OK," he said  Clinton was ready to turn the tables, equating preparation for the debate with readiness to be president.

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did," Clinton said. "And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

Trump did effectively argue that trade deals had hurt manufacturing jobs and made the case that he was the change agent in the race. But Clinton wasn't pressed by Trump or in some cases, the debate's moderator, Lester Holt, on a number of her major vulnerabilities.

"He was unprepared at every level to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself," said Steve McMahon, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. "He had a pretty good 15 minutes and a bad hour and 15."

When the discussion turned to her emails, Trump said it was "more than a mistake. That was done purposely," and faulted Clinton's aides for taking the Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating themselves. But he never noted that FBI Director James Comey had called Clinton and her colleagues "extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information."

There were other omissions. Trump didn't bring up the 2012 Benghazi attack, which was the subject of a lengthy Republican-led investigation in Congress, or his charges that she created a "pay-for-play" atmosphere at the State Department that benefited the Clinton Foundation. Clinton's lucrative paid speeches  including to large Wall Street banks  never came up.

Trump could have rallied the Republican base by discussing the potential for multiple Supreme Court vacancies during the next administration or his plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. But he raised neither.

When Clinton said in September that half of Trump's supporters were in "a basket of deplorables," a crowd she described as racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic, she was forced to clean up the statement the next day, stating that she regretted saying "half." At the time, Trump called it "the worst mistake of the political season." But he never brought it up on Monday night.

"If there was concern about a candidate who didn't have the stamina to go the distance, it clearly wasn't Secretary Clinton," said Rick Tyler, a Republican strategist who worked for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of Trump's presidential primary rivals. "She was obviously prepared and he wasn't. It was devastating."

Trump could have "hammered her on one her biggest weaknesses, which is the foundation. He missed it," Tyler said. "He got hammered on everything. She nailed the birtherism to his forehead."

In the debate's aftermath, Trump said Holt had directed more aggressive questions at him rather than Clinton and suggested his microphone had been purposely sabotaged. But Sarah Isgur Flores, a Republican strategist and former adviser to Carly Fiorina's 2016 presidential campaign, countered that Holt gave both candidates enough leeway to have extended exchanges on issues.

"He just wasn't prepared and it showed," she said.

Clinton's lawyer-like preparation helped her pivot when Trump questioned her stamina, shifting the conversation to his past comments about women. "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said in a line likely to resonate with unaligned female voters.

She also got specific, referring to a Venezuelan beauty contestant who became Miss Universe in 1996. Trump called her "Miss Piggy," and then, Clinton said, "'Miss Housekeeping,' because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name."

Caught flat-footed, Trump responded, "Where did you find this?" Clinton identified the woman as Alicia Machado and vowed that "she's going to vote this November."

But the campaign had Machado ready to do more than vote. It quickly released a two-minute web ad in which Machado talked about gaining weight after the pageant and how she felt maligned as "the fat Miss Universe." The ad says she developed an eating disorder after Trump publicly discussed her weight and shows images of the media watching her work out  at Trump's invitation.

If Trump thought the moment was a mistake, there was no sign of that Tuesday morning, when he said in an interview on Fox News Channel: "She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem."

Before the debate ended, Machado tweeted out to her more than 800,000 followers her appreciation for Clinton's "respect for women and our differences," adding, "I'm with you!" The message was retweeted more than 10,000 times, each click another piece of evidence of how Clinton's preparation mattered.

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Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey cover the 2016 campaign and national politics for The Associated Press. Follow them on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/kthomasdc and http://twitter.com/catherine_lucey

FILE - In this June 15, 2016, file photo, former Miss Universe Alicia Machado speaks during a news conference at a Latino restaurant in Arlington, Va., to criticize Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Machado became a topic of conversation during the first presidential debate between Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton on Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Luis Alonso Lugo, File)
Man found dead on guardrail had eaten up to $500K in heroin

CLEARFIELD, Pa. (AP)  A Pennsylvania coroner says a Guatemalan found dead over a guardrail had swallowed up to $500,000 worth of heroin and was killed when one of the packets burst.

Clearfield County Coroner Mike Morris tells WJAC-TV (http://bit.ly/2d0rqTS ) he's working with state police and drug enforcement agents to determine the source and destination of the drugs.

Morris says the man's name is Boris Reyes, though he has yet to confirm the man's age.

A passing motorist found the body along a rural road on Sept. 16.

Authorities had suspected Reyes was a drug courier. They say tests indicate he had swallowed "multiple packets" of heroin worth a total of $250,000 to $500,000.

Morris won't say how the drugs were packaged.

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FBI chief says immunity for Clinton aide limited to laptop

WASHINGTON (AP)  FBI Director James Comey told Congress on Tuesday that his agency granted immunity to Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff because agents wanted to inspect her laptop as part of a now-closed FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state.

The immunity deal for Cheryl Mills was limited to information contained on her laptop, Comey told a Senate committee, adding that the FBI's collective judgment was that "we need to get to that laptop."

Comey told Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., that Mills was acting as a member of Clinton's legal team in the case. He said the FBI decided it would take too long to try to force Mills to turn over the laptop without an immunity deal.

FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Trying to obtain the laptop though a grand jury or other method "would likely tangle us up" in arguments over legal privilege "for a very long time," Comey said.

Sasse and other Republicans have said they were surprised that the FBI would cut a deal with someone as close to the investigation as Mills. By including the emails recovered from the laptops in the immunity agreements, the Justice Department exempted key physical evidence from any potential criminal case against Mills and other aides.

Republicans have assailed Comey's decision not to prosecute Clinton, now the Democratic nominee for president. Several have demanded the Justice Department investigate whether Clinton lied during testimony last year on the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Democrats call the claims partisan and intended to hurt Clinton's candidacy.

FBI Director James Comey, center, flanked Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson, right, and Director of National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the National Intelligence, Nicholas Rasmussen, pauses while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on on terror threats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Qin Mingxiao, 71, watched in awe as a young magician did tricks with two bars of chocolate at the third Beijing International Magic Carnival that closed on Sunday.

Though a magician for over 50 years, Qin admitted he could not see how the trick was executed. "All I know is that the secret is in the chocolate prop," he said.

"The manufacture of stage magic props was booming in the United States in the 1980s," Qin said as he recalled an eye-opening trip to the States. "Now, 30 years later, China is catching up."

The three-day magic event featured a fair for international traders from the United States, the Republic of Korea and South Africa, where designers, prop manufacturers and sellers shared experiences and explored cooperation with their counterparts .

"Chinese magic companies seldom meet with foreign colleagues except at fairs like this," said Wang Ji, one of a team of six specializing in prop manufacturing established last year.

During the trade fair, Wang's team reached agreement with Las Vegas Magic Shop.

"The Americans are interested in how we can do what we do so cheaply," Wang said. "Our next step is to make prototypes to the Las Vegas Magic Shop's specifications."

"Finalizing the deal will be a big step for us," he added.

Small magic companies in China have been doing well in recent years, according Liang Ming, CEO of Magic Alexor Studio. Established only in 2008, Magic Alexor Studio is one of the most important in China.

"More Chinese prop companies are seeking cooperation with foreign rivals," said Liang.

At the carnival, two books on magic for beginners were launched, the first in a series of books to be released in China by American magic company Vanishing. Inc.

"We plan to publish seven books each year in China," said Joshua Jay, CEO of Vanishing. Inc.

"More foreign books will be introduced each year for magic lovers in China," confirmed Liu Quanxin, director of the cultural commission of Changping District, one of the event organizers.
India to not participate in regional summit in Pakistan

NEW DELHI (AP)  New Delhi will not participate in a meeting of South Asian nations to be held in Islamabad in November, its foreign ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The statement didn't name Pakistan but tensions between the neighbors and arch-rivals have been high since a militant attack on an army base in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir killed 18 Indian soldiers.

The ministry said it has written to Nepal, the current chair of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, that "increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country" have created an environment that is "not conducive" for a successful summit.

Indian investigators say maps, weapons and other evidence indicated that the attackers were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charges.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the 8-nation summit in the Pakistani capital. Other member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said while Islamabad had not received any official communication, the Indian announcement was unfortunate. Pakistan, he said, remained committed to peace and regional cooperation.

"As far as the excuse used by India, the world knows that it is India that has been perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan," Zakaria said.

The SAARC was founded in 1985 to promote economic cooperation in the region, but Indo-Pakistan tensions have blocked its progress.

Since the attack on the base in Indian Kashmir's Uri town top Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have said they will work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing that country of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both. Most people in the Indian-controlled portion favor independence or a merger with Pakistan. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from British colonialists in 1947.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents and pushing them into the Indian portion of Kashmir to attack government forces and other targets. Pakistan says it provides only political and diplomatic support to insurgents who have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan since 1989.

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Gunmen shoot dead Somalia journalist in capital: Colleague

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  A colleague says unidentified gunmen have shot dead a journalist in Somalia's capital.

Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali Haji, a reporter for Shabelle radio, was shot on his way home Tuesday, producer Abdirizak Turyare says.

Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous countries for media workers. Rights groups say both Islamic extremists and the government have reason to target them.

In this photo taken Saturday, March 22, 2014, Somali journalist Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali Haji, ,left, stands in radio Shabelle compound in Mogadishu, Somalia. Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali Haji, a reporter for Shabelle radio, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on his way to home in the north of the capital city, said Abdirizak Turyare, a producer at the radio station. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh,)

Haji is the second journalist killed in Somalia this year. In June, gunmen fatally shot Sagal Salad Osman, a female producer for the state-run radio station, in Mogadishu.

Three journalists were killed last year, including one in a bombing claimed by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.
France gives full support to UN-backed Libyan government

PARIS (AP)  France's president says his country will provide its full support to Libya's U.N.-backed government in the fight against militants.

"There are still some terrorist groups in Libya which must be hunted down and neutralized," Francois Hollande said following a meeting Tuesday in Paris with the head of Libya's fragile unity government, Fayez Serraj.

He did not specify how France will help.

Libya was plunged into chaos by the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Gadhafi, and is now split between rival authorities.

The internationally recognized parliament, based in the east, has rejected the U.N.-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli.
Police drop charge against Arkansas lawmaker who filmed stop

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Little Rock police on Tuesday dropped a charge against an Arkansas lawmaker who was arrested when officers said he refused to leave a traffic stop he was recording.

Police said they dropped the misdemeanor obstructing governmental operations charge against Democratic state Rep. John Walker, who co-sponsored a law partly aimed at preventing authorities from prohibiting the filming of an arrest. Police Chief Kenton Buckner sent Walker, 79, a letter apologizing for the Monday arrest in downtown Little Rock. Walker did not immediately return messages left at his law office Tuesday.

In his letter, Buckner said he made the decision after reviewing the documentation and video from the arrest and talking with the city's legal counsel.

"After doing so, I have concluded that you should not have been arrested," he wrote.

Police said charges would not be dropped against Omavi Kushukuru, an attorney in Walker's firm who was also arrested at the traffic stop. Buckner also told Walker in the letter that the lawmaker would be reimbursed for the $1,000 bond he posted at the Pulaski County jail following his arrest.

Police spokesman Lt. Steven McClanahan said an internal investigation that was announced earlier Tuesday was ongoing and that no officers had been suspended or terminated. McClanahan declined to elaborate on why the charge against Walker was dropped. A police statement said a review of future training opportunities was also being conducted.

Walker was filming police after they had pulled over a driver for not having a license plate and whom they arrested for having active warrants, a police report released Monday said. When the driver asked why Walker was filming him, he replied: "I'm just making sure they don't kill you," the report said. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested for a failure to appear warrant. The report claimed Walker kept talking over officers "in an antagonistic provocative manner" when police tried to speak with him and was arrested after he refused to leave the traffic stop area. The report also said that Walker was overheard later at the jail saying he wanted to file a complaint against only the white officers.

McClanahan said Buckner had ordered the internal investigation and the department had also received complaints about the arrest. McClanahan said police expected to release dashboard camera footage from the incident on Wednesday.

Walker last year co-sponsored the measure that prohibits public officials from preventing someone from recording on public or private property where they were lawfully present unless it presents a risk to someone's physical safety or constitutes an element of a criminal offense.

Walker has represented his Little Rock district in the state House since 2011 and is unopposed seeking re-election. He has been involved in some of the state's most high-profile discrimination and civil rights cases in recent years. He has represented a group of families known as the Joshua Intervenors in a desegregation case involving three Little Rock area schools. He also represented Nolan Richardson in the former basketball coach's unsuccessful federal discrimination lawsuit against the University of Arkansas. Richardson claimed he was fired as retaliation for speaking out about discrimination at the university.

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In 'Deepwater Horizon,' an ecological disaster's human toll

TORONTO (AP)  The name Deepwater Horizon is synonymous to most with environmental catastrophe and corporate negligence. For Mike Williams, who survived the April 2010 oil-rig explosion by plunging into the Gulf of Mexico from several stories up, it was about something else.

"My 11 brothers that got killed were immediately forgotten," Williams said, speaking from his Sulphur Springs, Texas, home. "We understand the oil. It's bad, yes. The birds are dying and the shrimp and the crabs and all that stuff. But those aren't brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, sons, daughters. Shrimp can come back. People, you can't bring those guys back."

Peter Berg's "Deepwater Horizon," which opens in theaters Friday, puts the spotlight of a big-budget disaster movie on the human toll of a real-life tragedy. Mark Wahlberg stars as Williams, a central figure in an earlier "60 Minutes" segment that focused on the Deepwater Horizon workers.

In this Sept. 13, 2016 photo, Mike Williams, center, an electrician and survivor on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, poses with Peter Berg, left, director of the film "Deepwater Horizon," and cast member Mark Wahlberg at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto. Berg's film is not about the environmental disaster of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak, nor an exploration of BP's responsibility for the accident. Instead, it's squarely focused on oil rig workers and the 11 who died in the explosion. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

"There are probably several different ways you could tell this story or any story, but I liked this approach," says Berg ("Friday Night Lights," ''Battleship"). "I was very moved by the fact that 11 men lost their lives and I didn't even know that before the '60 Minutes' piece."

Made for over $100 million by Lionsgate, "Deepwater Horizon" gives the true story the kind of action-film treatment usually reserved for caped crusaders. A mock oil rig, 85 percent to scale, was built at an old Six Flags in Louisiana out of more than 3 million pounds of steel  one of the largest film sets ever erected. The film, based on a New York Times article that detailed the events surrounding the explosion, burrows into the details and politics of life on the rig leading up to the chaos-inducing blowout.

"It's great that the studio would take the risk to make a movie that has no sequel potential," says Wahlberg. "At a time when we get bombarded with superhero movies and other stuff that's pretty mind-numbing, it's nice to have a really smart, adult movie that has action."

Though director J.C. Chandor ("A Most Violent Year") originally helmed the project, Berg ("Friday Night Lights," ''Battleship") came aboard to lend the film a more movie star-based approach. "This film works on many levels and I think one of them is just a big-ass action film in the best possible way," Berg says.

Berg's last film, "Lone Survivor," similarly sought to pay tribute to a hardened community (the Navy SEALS) with kinetic verisimilitude. Many of the rig workers have small roles in the film or served as consultants, including Williams.

"Once the family members and loved ones heard that they were making a movie, they were all completely against it because they assumed that Hollywood was going to make a movie about the environmental disaster and their loved ones would be overlooked again," says Wahlberg. "Once we were able to communicate to them what our intentions were, what the movie was going to be, then they all came onboard. We wanted to honor those people."

Some may take issue that one of the largest environmental disasters in history has been reduced to a fiery action movie. "Deepwater Horizon" spends little time on the millions of barrels of oil that leaked into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days after the explosion. Nor is there much scrutiny of BP, which was found primarily responsible for the spill by a federal judge in 2014. It has paid billions in cleanup costs, penalties and settlements.

"When it came down to who decided what, pointing figures, we didn't want to do that," says Wahlberg. "These guys do a very dangerous job."

The primary figure of corporate greed is encapsulated by rig supervisor Donald Vidrine (played by John Malkovich with a devilish Cajun accent), who was found guilty of a misdemeanor pollution charge for a shoddy pressure test that precipitated the explosion. In the film, a money-centric, behind-schedule BP is seen as recklessly rushing past safety regulations.

Williams, an electrician who has given up the oil business to homeschool his kids, says Berg told the story "right down the middle." He hopes the film makes people more aware of the "dirty, dangerous, potentially toxic business" that fuels their cars.

"More than likely, the people who see this film are going to get in a car and drive to the theater," he says. "Or even if they take public transportation, it still has to have some kind of fuel source. And even if it's electric-powered, it still has to have grease, it still has to have tires  all, of course, petroleum products. When they make that connection, it will be a deeper connection to the men that died."

"It's the least I can do to speak for them," says Williams, "because I'm still here and they're not."

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

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This story has been corrected to Sulphur Springs, Texas, from Sulfur.

This image released by Summit shows Mark Wahlberg in a scene from, "Deepwater Horizon." (David Lee/Summit via AP)

This image released by Summit shows Kurt Russell, center, in a scene from, "Deepwater Horizon." (David Lee/Summit via AP)
Barriers used to protect soldiers now stopping floodwaters

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP)  Iowa's second-largest city has managed to keep flooding at bay largely because of barriers that were widely used to protect soldiers in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Crews in Cedar Rapids hastily erected Hesco barriers along nearly 10 miles of the Cedar River through neighborhoods and downtown. As of Tuesday morning, the sand-filled containers had protected thousands of properties, some up to 4 feet beneath the surging waterway.

The barriers are a key reason Cedar Rapids officials are hopeful they can largely avoid flooding, unlike in 2008 when higher river levels inundated 10 square miles of the city, causing billions of dollars in damage.

A flood wall made of Hesco barriers line the banks of the Cedar River, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Residents of Cedar Rapids are waiting anxiously as the quickly rising riiver threatens to inundate their city. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

"In 2008, we felt defenseless," Mayor Ron Corbett said. "In 2016, we took action and mobilized."

The barriers were invented by British entrepreneur James Heselden, a former coal miner who used them to stop erosion on his property. After his invention received media attention, the United Kingdom's military realized the barriers could be used to replace sandbags that protected soldiers from blasts in Bosnia, said Aaron Ackley, Hesco's director of emergency response.

The U.S. military came to the same conclusion and began using the barriers extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan, eventually totaling more than 30,000 miles of the containers, said Ackley, who first saw the barriers when he served with the U.S. Army in Bosnia.

"There's an unbelievable amount deployed for military use," Ackley said. "Every air base, every forward-operating base, every fire base is surrounded by Hesco."

As they were used more extensively by the military, emergency planners around the U.S. and the Army Corps of Engineers realized their ability to quickly protect against flooding and they have grown in popularity.

New York City has installed a network of what it calls "geotextile" bags along Rockaway Beach, weighing a total of 50 million pounds, to help protect the shoreline after Hurricane Sandy, said Meghan Lalor, a spokeswoman for the city's parks department. Containers also have been used to prevent flooding recently in Monroe, Louisiana, along the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles and spots in New Mexico where wildfires destroyed plants and led to increased flooding risks.

The barriers are comprised of steel mesh panels, lined with a thick polypropylene material that can be quickly filled with sand or dirt, usually using a front-loader. The barriers keep water from seeping through to the other side, but allow moisture to drain out the bottom.

Cedar Rapids Assistant City Manager Sandi Fowler said the city bought 1 miles of Hesco barriers in 2010 as part of its flood protection plan, but this marks the first time they have been deployed. Through Hesco, the city acquired the rest of its 9.8 miles from the University of Iowa, which had them in storage. The new Hescos cost $1.4 million, but with labor costs added, the entire temporary flood system totaled about $5 million.

Such selling and sharing of the barriers is common as new disasters arise. Fowler said the city has given its Hesco barriers to other communities facing flooding twice since 2010, and they have then been replenished by the company. They have been stored in different municipal buildings around the city.

"Ours haven't been sitting on the shelf for six years," Fowler said.

Fowler said the city hired contractors to install the barriers, which are then wrapped in plastic to repel water. Sandbags are used to hold the plastic onto the barriers.

During floods elsewhere, the city learned that Hesco barriers would tip over because the river undermines the ground beneath them, so Cedar Rapids placed them on concrete city streets and trails.

"We're feeling very good, very, very confident, that this temporary system that we built in less than two days will protect our city," City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said.

FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2010 file photo, U.S. Army Pfc. Brandon Martin, of Tuscon, Ariz., left, and Pfc. Richard Flynn, of Starke, Fla., of Tactical Command Post, HQ Company, 2-502 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, take up a fighting position behind a barrier, during a joint patrol with the Afghan Army, in Zhari district, Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan. Iowa's second-largest city has managed to keep flooding at bay largely because of the barriers that were widely used to protect soldiers in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Crews in Cedar Rapids hastily erected Hesco barriers along miles of the Cedar River through neighborhoods and downtown. As of Tuesday morning, Sept. 27, 2016, the sand-filled containers had protected thousands of properties. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)

Workers walk across a flood wall made of Hesco barriers near the flood swollen Cedar River, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. An elaborate system of temporary floodwalls largely protected Cedar Rapids homes and businesses Tuesday as the river that runs through the city reached its second-highest peak ever. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

FILE - In this March 15, 2010 file photo, Afghanistan-Fear Campaign-- In this image taken Monday, U.S. Marines of the First Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment build a barrier around their base in the southern Afghan town of Marjah. Iowa's second-largest city has managed to keep flooding at bay largely because of the barriers that were widely used to protect soldiers in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Crews in Cedar Rapids hastily erected Hesco barriers along miles of the Cedar River through neighborhoods and downtown. As of Tuesday morning, Sept. 27, 2016, the sand-filled containers had protected thousands of properties. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic, File)

Workers stand on a flood wall made of Hesco barriers on the bank of the Cedar River, Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Residents of Cedar Rapids are waiting anxiously as the quickly rising river threatens to inundate their city with devastating floodwaters. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Panama asks US to extradite ex-leader Martinelli

PANAMA CITY (AP)  Panama has formally asked the United States to extradite former President Ricardo Martinelli in connection with a phone-tapping controversy, the country's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The case involves allegations that the phones of dozens of business, opposition and labor leaders were tapped by Martinelli's 2009-2014 government.

The foreign ministry said the extradition request was made through its embassy in Washington late Monday.

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2015 file photo, Panama's former President Ricardo Martinelli answers questions during an interview at a hotel in Guatemala City. Panama is formally asking the United States to extradite Martinelli in connection with a phone-tapping controversy, an official said Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. He is believed to be living in Miami. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File)

Martinelli has denied any wrongdoing and contends the case is political persecution by his successor, President Juan Carlos Varela.

In a message on his official Twitter account Tuesday that appeared to refer to the case, Martinelli said Varela's government is using his political persecution to draw attention away from its own ineptitude.

Martinelli spokesman Luis Eduardo Camacho said via Twitter that the extradition request was illegal.

A detention order was issued for the 64-year-old Martinelli in December after he failed to appear in court. He is believed to be living in Miami.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama did not respond to a request for comment.
The Latest: Coast Guard: 4 bodies found were Cuban migrants

MIAMI (AP)  The Latest on the U.S. Coast Guard search for missing Cuban migrants off the Florida Keys (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that four bodies found in two locations were those of Cuban migrants who had been on board a makeshift vessel that capsized off the Florida Keys last week.

In a news release, the agency said investigators are still trying to determine whether a fifth body found Saturday was part of the group that left Cuba on Sept. 21, which was also the day the vessel capsized. The Coast Guard found three survivors on Monday who told them they had been on a boat with 23 people on board.

On Saturday, officials found three bodies about 20 miles off of Islamorada. A woman's body was found by Florida Fish and Wildlife officers near Big Munson Island on Monday.

Crews are still searching for survivors.

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11:13 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a group of Cuban migrants who were on board a makeshift vessel that capsized off the Florida Keys.

Coast Guard spokesman Eric Woodall says three survivors found Monday told authorities they left Cuba on Sept. 20 with 23 people aboard. The boat capsized the next day.

Woodall says they're still searching for survivors. He said three bodies were found Saturday 23 miles southeast of Islamorada after a report from a good Samaritan. Two other bodies were found in the Florida Keys. But Woodall says they aren't sure whether those bodies are connected to the capsized vessel.
Biden assails Trump on housing crisis remarks

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday questioned Donald Trump's "moral center" as a result of the Republican presidential candidate's comments about America's housing collapse.

At a rally for Hillary Clinton at Drexel University, Biden said that Trump had bragged at Monday's presidential debate about profiting from the failed housing market. He said Trump's policies are not helpful for the country, calling the candidate "painfully uninformed."

"This is a guy who said it was good business for him to see the housing market fail," Biden said. "What in the hell is he talking about?"

Vice President Joe Biden campaigns at Drexel University, urging students to register to vote and come out for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 in Philadelphia. (Charles Fox /The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

At the debate, Clinton said Trump had rooted for the housing collapse in 2006 because he saw it as a way to go in and make money. Trump responded, "That's called business, by the way."

Biden said that Trump "brags about gaming the system and bankruptcy" while "sitting on top of Trump Tower in a semi-golden palace."

"Every president I have served with, including the Republicans, has had a moral center about what it means to be an American," he said.

Referring to meetings he has had with NATO allies, Biden said Trump's campaign is damaging America's standing in the world, and that world leaders have expressed concern over a Trump presidency.

Trump "does not have the basic fundamental sensibilities and values that almost every American politician, left, right and center, I know, has," Biden said.

Several students interviewed at the rally said they were still on the fence.

"This is my second time voting and already there are no candidates I'm interested in," said Matt Goldforb, 22, an electrical engineering major from Melville, New York.

Nursing student Danielle Sobieski, 18, said she's "honestly scared" about the state of politics.

"I don't want to make the wrong choice, and, right now, both seem like they'd be fine and either could be the next president," the central New Jersey resident said.

She said she will wait until November to decide on her choice.

Biden acknowledged students' political frustrations, but urged them to support Clinton.

"I know (students) are not overjoyed about the choices. I know they think that Hillary didn't do A, B, C or D, I know, but, my Lord. My lord. What are we going to do?" he said.

Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands with supporters at Drexel University after urging students to register to vote and come out for Hillary Clinton, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 in Philadelphia. (Charles Fox /The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
LGBTQ festival canceled in Haiti amid threats, gov't order

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Organizers of a cultural festival in Haiti celebrating the Afro-Caribbean LGBTQ community said Tuesday that it has been called off due to numerous threats of violence and a subsequent prohibition by a government commissioner.

The four-day Massimadi film, art and performance event was supposed to start Tuesday in the capital, Port-au-Prince, but organizers said it had to be postponed after a prominent Haitian cultural institution known as FOKAL and other co-hosts were threatened with arson and other attacks.

"FOKAL has been receiving threats of outrageous violence," said Lorraine Mangones, executive director of the nonprofit Knowledge and Freedom Foundation.

An LGBT pride flag hangs on a bookshelf by a Massimadi festival poster, right, at the the Kouraj organization office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday Sept. 27, 2016. The four-day Massimadi film, art and performance event was supposed to start Tuesday but organizers of the cultural festival celebrating Haitis Afro-Caribbean LGBTQ community say it has been called off due to threats of violence. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Charlot Jeudy of the gay rights group Kouraj, the main organizer of the event, said he is determined that the arts festival by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Haitians and their supporters will be held at a later date.

"There are very homophobic people who are against it, and the government official who is responsible for the jurisdiction of Port-au-Prince has also taken a decision to prevent the festival for now," said Jeudy. "But we still plan on holding Massimadi in the future."

Capital Commissioner Jean Danton Leger confirmed that he issued an order to block the festival, telling a local radio station it was in part to protect Haiti's "moral and social" values.

Leger had received a complaint in recent days from Sen. Jean Renel Senatus, a lawmaker who considered the event an affront to traditional families.

Haiti's LGBTQ community has long remained largely underground because of social stigma, although there are no laws criminalizing homosexual relations as there are in a number of English-speaking Caribbean islands. A 2015 human rights report on Haiti by the U.S. State Department said that "local attitudes remained hostile to outward" LGBTQ identification and expression, especially in the capital.

The Massimadi festival was first put on in 2009 in Montreal by a group called African Rainbow. It has also been held in Belgium. This was the first year it was scheduled to take place in Haiti.

"Unfortunately the situation is getting more and more dramatic," said Anthony Manuel Plagnes Paya, festival spokesman in Montreal. "Kouraj members are threatened (with) death and are scared to go out."

Staff and volunteers at Kouraj's headquarters in Port-au-Prince said they were determined not to be intimidated and believe tolerance is gradually expanding in Haiti.

"LGBT people are coming out and accepting themselves more these days," Jeudy said. "They walk on the streets very proud."

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David McFadden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dmcfadd

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This story has been corrected to show that the name of a rights activist is Charlot Jeudy.
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Chinese bestseller "Let's Read About Mao Zedong" was recently published in the United States.

China Children's Press & Publication Group (CCPPG) and Peking University Press, since late 2014, have jointly published "Karl Marx for Young Readers" and "Let's Read about Mao Zedong."

U.S. publisher Benchmark Education Company released an English edition of "Karl Marx for Young Readers" in August 2015. Later, Leonon Media, a publisher in the Netherlands, purchased the book's Dutch rights.

Han Yuhai of Peking University wrote both books, which were translated domestically and polished by foreign editors.

According to CCPPG, "Karl Marx for Young Readers," through "plain but warm language," presents the development of Marx's thinking in particular and a history of human thought in general. "Let's Read about Mao Zedong" introduces Mao's life and thoughts.

According to Tom Raycraft, CEO of Benchmark Education Company, his team was motivated to buy the rights to the two books primarily because Marx and Mao have profoundly influenced the world and contemporary China.

The books will also help advance American students' understanding of China, said Raycraft.

Maria Jesus Gil Iglesia, former president of the jury for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, described the books as serious, well-documented, coherent, and clear.
Guardiola: De Bruyne out for up to 3 weeks for Man City

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he expects Kevin De Bruyne to be sidelined for up to three weeks because of a hamstring injury.

Speaking Tuesday ahead of City's Champions League match at Celtic on Wednesday, Guardiola said De Bruyne will be ready to return in 2 to 3 weeks. He will miss a Premier League match against Tottenham on Sunday and maybe another against Everton after the international break, but could be back for the Champions League game at Barcelona on Oct. 19.
Review: A Holocaust denier is brought to justice in 'Denial'

Mick Jackson's "Denial" brings all the decorous polish of a British courtroom drama to the pungent libel case of a Holocaust denier.

Based on Deborah Lipstadt's book "History on Trial: My Day in Court With a Holocaust Denier," the film depicts when the unapologetically anti-Semitic historian David Irving brought a libel suit against Lipstadt for calling him a Holocaust denier in one of her books.

Because of the nature of libel cases in the United Kingdom (where Irving filed the suit), the burden of proof is on the defender, not the plaintiff. Hovering constantly throughout the trial  which ran eight weeks  is the question: Is it worthwhile to expend so much energy on such a loathsome liar?

In this image released by Bleecker Street, Rachel Weisz portrays writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt in a scene from "Denial." (Laurie Sparham/Bleecker Street via AP)

It's a salient question with obvious relevance to a time where willful disregard for the truth increasingly runs rampant in national politics and social media streams, alike. Should trolls be taken to task or ignored?

"Denial" argues forcefully and convincingly for the vital necessity of confronting the perpetuation of dangerous falsehoods. It rises impressively to the wise and perhaps unpopular judgment that "not all opinions are equal." This is an honorable cause if not a particularly dramatic movie.

Just as the legal team behind Lipstadt's case brought a full array of firepower to the proceedings, so has Jackson in his film. The cast is littered with an impervious collection of British talent, in front of and behind the camera.

Rachel Weisz stars as the Queens-born Lipstadt. Her star-studded attorneys are barrister Richard Rampton (played by Tom Wilkinson) and solicitor Anthony Julius (Andrew Scott), famed for securing Princess Diana's divorce. Irving is played with snarling perfection by Timothy Spall. And the script is by playwright David Hare ("The Reader," ''The Hours").

Irving sets things in motion when he turns up a speaking engagement of Lipstadt's to heckle her from the audience. When he brings the lawsuit against her publisher, Penguin Books, the assembled legal team begins hashing out a strategy of how to argue history in a courtroom, how to prove the Holocaust.

What's partly on trial, though, is the notoriously byzantine British court system, itself. "Dickensian not Kafkaesque" is what Lipstadt says she's hoping for in her passage through its elaborate procedures.

Often, Lipstadt's experience is a frustrating one as she  more emotional than her lawyers  clashes with the stringently logical Rampton. They together visit Auschwitz where he reacts bitterly to the lack of an extensive forensics record. Despite Lipstadt's protests, the attorneys want neither her nor Holocaust survivors to take the stand to subject themselves to Irving's questions. (Irving represented himself in the trial.)

These strategic debates aren't much to hang a movie on, but the case doesn't supply much else in terms of suspense. "Denial" is carried less by the normal theatrics of courtroom dramas than a staunch sense of duty to protect the truth. It's an argument for the patient, methodical dismantling of fools.

"Denial," a Bleecker Street release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for "mild action and some thematic elements." Running time: 110 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP

In this image released by Bleecker Street, Tom Wilkinson portrays barrister Richard Rampton in a scene from "Denial." (Laurie Sparham/Bleecker Street via AP)

In this image released by Bleecker Street, Timothy Spall portrays Holocaust denier David Irving in a scene from "Denial." (Laurie Sparham/Bleecker Street via AP)
Confidential UN report details South Sudan threats, violence

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  The U.N. ambulance carried an urgent patient: a local woman in labor. South Sudan government soldiers stopped the ambulance 15 times at checkpoints in the capital, Juba. The Aug. 2 journey, which usually takes 15 minutes, lasted nearly two hours.

"The baby was dead on delivery," says a confidential report from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the U.N. Security Council. The report, obtained by The Associated Press, offers a stark list of the ways that South Sudan's government has obstructed the U.N. peacekeeping mission in a country devastated by civil war.

In one incident last month, two South Sudanese soldiers stopped a U.N. vehicle and threatened to kill the international staffers inside, the report says. In another, soldiers in the capital beat the driver of a U.N. truck "with an electric cord."

FILE--in this file photo of Thursday Feb.25, 2016, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, speaks to the media in Juba, South Sudan. A confidential report from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the U.N. Security Council, dated Sept. 8, 2016, obtained by The Associated Press, is a stark list of the ways South Sudan's government has obstructed the U.N. peacekeeping mission in a country devastated by civil war. (AP Photo-file)

The report is the first by the U.N. chief since the Security Council gave South Sudan's government an ultimatum in mid-August: Allow the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force and let the existing U.N. mission do its job unimpeded  or face a possible arms embargo.

While South Sudan's government agreed in principle to the regional force during the council's visit to the country early this month, its officials have spoken out against it, saying it violates the country's sovereignty. Hostility against the international community inside South Sudan has grown.

The report from the U.N. chief, dated Sept. 8, calls the situation "unacceptable."

Under a resolution the Security Council approved in August, Ban's list of South Sudan government obstructions of the U.N. peacekeeping mission was meant to trigger a council meeting within five days to consider imposing an arms embargo and other options.

But there has been little outcry from council members, who discussed South Sudan on Sept. 14 behind closed doors.

Under the terms of the U.N.'s operating agreement in South Sudan, its peacekeeping mission is allowed free movement throughout the country. Ban's report to the Security Council, which describes incidents during the month of August alone, shows how that agreement appears to be failing.

Of the 22 incidents listed by the U.N. chief, almost all describe South Sudan security forces denying passage or access, at times also making threats, extorting money or taking equipment. Ban's report says such incidents are in "direct violation" of the operating agreement.

South Sudan was operating under a fragile peace deal when fighting erupted again in Juba in July. Dozens of rapes and other attacks on both civilians and foreigners in the capital led to calls for the new regional protection force.

The world's youngest country, which gained independence in 2011 from Sudan, saw civil war break out in December 2013. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and both President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar have been accused of war crimes. Machar fled the country during the July fighting and over the weekend issued a call for rebellion from his new location in Sudan.

Ban's report also says the U.N. peacekeeping mission "does not currently possess the capacity to absorb an additional 4,000 troops within existing space and resources" and stresses that "genuine facilitation" and freedom of movement from South Sudan's government will be needed.
US probing possible worker abuse by Wells Fargo

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. Labor Department is investigating possible abuses of employees by Wells Fargo in connection with the bank's alleged efforts to open millions of unauthorized accounts to meet sales goals.

A group of Democratic senators last week asked the department to investigate whether Wells Fargo tellers, branch managers and customer service reps were harassed and threatened with termination in the aggressive sales push. A complete review of cases and complaints is needed to determine if the second-largest U.S. bank violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, the senators said. About 5,300 employees have been fired since 2011.

In a letter Monday, Labor Secretary Tom Perez said the department takes the senators' concerns seriously and has started a "top-to-bottom" review of labor practices at San Francisco-based Wells Fargo.

FILE - This April 19, 2010, file photo, shows a Wells Fargo Bank in Palo Alto, Calif. The U.S. Labor Department said Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, that it is investigating possible abuses of employees by Wells Fargo in connection with the banks alleged efforts to open millions of unauthorized accounts to meet sales goals. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

"We take the concerns raised in your letter very seriously," Perez told the senators, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. "Given the serious nature of the allegations ... and recent media reports, I have directed enforcement agencies within the department to conduct a top-to-bottom review of cases, complaints or violations concerning Wells Fargo over the last several years."

Bank spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn declined to comment on the Labor Department action.

The scandal over millions of deposit and credit card accounts allegedly opened without customers' permission has widened. The Labor Department review comes atop investigations by congressional committees and federal prosecutors.

U.S. and California regulators fined Wells Fargo $185 million earlier this month. In a feverish drive to meet sales targets, bank employees opened the unauthorized accounts, transferred customers' money into them and signed people up for online banking, according to the regulators. Debit cards were issued and activated, as well as PINs created, without customers' knowledge.

Senators of both parties heaped criticism on Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf last week as he testified at a hearing by the Senate Banking Committee, accusing the bank of fraud. He apologized for the misconduct and promised to assist affected customers. Senators told Stumpf he was scapegoating legions of lower-level employees while senior executives kept their jobs and received hefty pay packages.

In their request to the Labor Department, the Democratic senators noted the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had found at Wells Fargo "a workplace characterized by stringent sales quotas and aggressive incentives imposed on its employees." In the drive to meet sales quotas, employees were faced with "threats of termination, mandated hours of unpaid overtime, harassment and other forms of retaliation," the senators wrote.

On Friday, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said Stumpf was resigning his position on the advisory council to the Fed board in Washington. Stumpf made a "personal decision" to give up his position as representative from the Fed's San Francisco region to focus on his top priority of leading Wells Fargo, the company said.
US giving $364 million in new Syria aid

WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States on Tuesday provided another $364 million in humanitarian aid to Syrians at a time their nation's civil war appears to be getting worse.

The announcement means the U.S. has now given $5.9 billion in assistance to the Arab country since the conflict started in 2011. The money will help the U.N. and independent charities offer food, shelter, safe drinking water and medical care. Millions in Syria need relief. And almost 5 million have fled as refugees to nearby countries.

"Getting help to people who desperately need it requires access," Anne Richard, the State Department's refugee chief, told reporters.

She criticized Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and its allies, Russia and Iran, for "bombing humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders trying desperately to keep people alive."

Syrian government forces have advanced in Aleppo, the country's largest city, since the latest U.S.-Russian engineered cease-fire collapsed last week. The military has vowed to wipe out insurgents and more than 200 people have been killed in the latest offensive.

The U.S. had contributed limited military assistance to some rebel groups fighting Assad, but has focused in recent months on securing a long-term truce.
Justice Dept. top national security official to leave post

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department's top national security official is leaving his position next month, the department announced Tuesday.

John Carlin, who has led the department's national security division since 2014, will be leaving government on Oct. 15.

The department did not reveal what Carlin, 43, plans to do next, but it said he would take some time off and spend time with his family.

"John Carlin has been a trusted and tireless leader of the Justice Department's National Security Division," Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement. "He is wholly devoted to the department's most important mission  protecting our country against acts of terrorism and other national security threats  and he has set a high standard by relentlessly pursuing those who seek to harm our people and threaten our assets."

Carlin's exit leaves the Obama administration without one of its most vocal advocates for publicly identifying and blaming foreign government hackers for cyberattacks on American institutions. His departure comes as the administration weighs whether and how to respond to a Democratic National Committee cyberbreach that U.S. officials believe was committed by the Russians.

During his tenure, the Justice Department brought indictments against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into American corporations in a case of economic espionage. The department this year also secured indictments of Iranian hackers accused of digital intrusions on banks and a small dam outside New York City.

It's unclear whether those actions will result in courtroom prosecutions, but Carlin has repeatedly encouraged the use of indictments and other sanctions as a deterrent against foreign hackers and the nations that sponsor them and said such cases were effective.

Other notable prosecutions brought by national security division lawyers under Carlin's watch include the case against Ardit Ferizi, a computer hacker who helped the Islamic State group by providing names of U.S. government and military workers as potential targets. They also prosecuted members of the so-called Syrian Electronic Army, who have been charged with computer hacking-related conspiracies that targeted the U.S. government, media and private-sector companies.

The division has also overseen the prosecutions of young Americans who have lent support to the Islamic State.
The Latest: 2 men charged in California triple killing

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  The Latest on suspects arrested in a California triple killing (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

Two young men have been charged with multiple murder counts in the slayings of a California couple and a family friend.

This photo released by the Fullerton, Calif., Police Department shows Josh Acosta, 21, arrested and jailed in Fullerton Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Acosta is one of two men arrested in connection with the murders of two men and a woman at a Fullerton home Saturday, Sept. 24. Two children were present in the home and called 911 to report that their parents had 'died.' (Fullerton Police Department via AP)

Orange County prosecutors on Tuesday charged 21-year-old Army Pfc. Joshua Acosta and 25-year-old Frank Felix with three counts of murder each.

Prosecutors allege that Acosta was the gunman in the killings of 39-year-old Jennifer Yost, her husband, 34-year-old Christopher Yost, and their friend Arthur Boucher.

A district attorney's statement says the killings occurred when Acosta and Felix entered the Yosts' Fullerton home early Saturday.

Arraignment is expected later Tuesday.

It was not immediately possible to reach Felix or Acosta, who were being held at the Orange County Men's Central Jail on $1 million bail.

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11:55 a.m.

Officials say one of two men arrested in the killings of a California couple and a family friend is an active-duty U.S. Army soldier.

Army spokesman Wayne Hall at the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that 21-year-old Joshua Acosta is a private first class stationed at Fort Irwin, California, since last October.

Acosta and 25-year-old Frank Felix were arrested after the weekend discovery of the bodies of Jennifer and Christopher Yost and family friend Arthur "Billy" Boucher in a Fullerton home.

It was not immediately possible to reach Felix or Acosta, who were being held at the Orange County Men's Central Jail on $1 million bail.

Felix's father has said he did not know whether his son had an attorney but was a "good kid" who worked different jobs and lived at his family's home in Sun Valley, California.

This photo released by the Fullerton, Calif., Police Department shows Frank Felix, 25, arrested and jailed in Fullerton Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Felix is one of two men arrested in connection with the murders of two men and a woman at a Fullerton home Saturday, Sept. 24. Two children were present in the home and called 911 to report that their parents had died. (Fullerton Police Department via AP)

A condolence note and votive candles are seen on the front porch of the home where three adults were found dead Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, after a young child called 911 to report her parents had died, seen in Fullerton, Calif., Sunday The child placed the call about 8:20 a.m. and officers were dispatched to the home, where they found two men and a woman dead. Authorities are searching for the children's 17-year-old sibling, who is considered at risk. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

The home where three adults were found dead Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, after a young child called 911 to report her parents had died is seen in Fullerton, Calif., Sunday. The child placed the call about 8:20 a.m. and officers were dispatched to the home, where they found two men and a woman dead. Authorities are searching for the children's 17-year-old sibling, who is considered at risk. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

The home where three adults were found dead Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, after a young child called 911 to report her parents had died is seen in Fullerton, Calif., Sunday. The child placed the call about 8:20 a.m. and officers were dispatched to the home, where they found two men and a woman dead. Authorities are searching for the children's 17-year-old sibling, who is considered at risk. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

A handwritten note saying "Police do not enter crime scene" is seen on a side gate at the home where three adults were found dead Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, after a young child called 911 to report her parents had died, seen in Fullerton, Calif., Sunday. The child placed the call about 8:20 a.m. and officers were dispatched to the home, where they found two men and a woman dead. Authorities are searching for the children's 17-year-old sibling, who is considered at risk. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Fullerton, Calif., Police Sgt. Jon Radus tells media that police have arrested two men and a 17-year-old girl in connection with the slaying of three adults in a Fullerton house at the Fullerton Police Department in Fullerton. (Cindy Yamanaka/The Orange County Register via AP)
The Latest: Border Patrol: Agent dead from apparent suicide

MARICOPA, Ariz. (AP)  The Latest on the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who fired at police (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

The U.S. Border Patrol says an agent found dead inside his Arizona home after exchanging gunfire with police responding to a 911 call died from an apparent suicide.

Officials from the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector say 40-year-old Jeremy Russo joined the agency in September 2011. They say his most recent assignment was at the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station.

Police in the city of Maricopa, south of Phoenix, say Russo fired a rifle from a second-floor window at two officers responding to a call about domestic violence Monday evening.

Police spokesman Ricardo Alvarado says one officer shot back and that no officers were injured.

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8:40 a.m.

Police in Maricopa say a man found dead inside his family's home after exchanging gunfire with police responding to a 911 call was a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado identified the man found dead early Tuesday morning as 40-year-old Jeremy Russo.

A spokeswoman for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector said the agency had no immediate comment but plans to release a statement.

Alvarado said the incident began Monday evening when two officers responded to a 911 call about domestic violence at the home and a man in a second-floor window fired a rifle at them.

Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that it's not immediately known whether Russo died from a police bullet or a self-inflicted wound.

No officers were injured.

___

6:55 a.m.

Authorities say a man who allegedly fired a rifle at police responding to a 911 call made by a girl reporting domestic violence in a Maricopa home has been found dead inside.

Police Department spokesman Ricardo Alvarado says one officer returned fire but that it isn't immediately known whether the man was killed by gunfire by police or himself.

Alvarado says a robot sent inside the home by a state police SWAT team that used explosives to breach the front door found the man's body in an upstairs closet.

The robot was sent in early Tuesday morning about four hours after the incident began Monday evening.

According to Alvarado, the man's wife and his two children had earlier made it out of the home OK.
Western lowland gorilla numbers have sunk by 60% in the last 25 years

Donors to gorilla conservation center can vote on names for the newborn

Workers at Philadelphia Zoo have finally determined the gender of a baby gorilla born last month, and it's a girl.

The baby gorilla's 21-year-old mother, Honi, had been holding her so closely after its birth on August 26 that zookeepers couldn't confirm if the baby was male or female.

The zoo is encouraging the public to help name the baby western lowland gorilla. It's partnering with the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo that rehabilitates gorillas whose families have been killed by poachers.

Scroll down for video

The gorilla with no name. After donating a dollar to a gorilla sanctuary donors can select from a number of Swahili names for the newborn girl

Kept close. Mother, Honi, wouldn't let zookeepers near her child which meant it took a whole month for workers to find out what sex the baby is

Voters visit the sanctuary's website to donate a dollar and choose from a list of Swahili names that honor orphaned gorillas.

All proceeds are for benefit the sanctuary in the African country.

The zoo now has six western lowland gorillas. The public can see the baby and the other great apes at the zoo's Peco Primate Reserve.

The new arrival is Honi's second child but the is the first for 31-year-old father Motuba.

'Honi is in constant contact with the infant confidently cradling, cuddling and carrying her 24 hours a day,' the zoo wrote in a blog post yesterday.

'Dad Motuba is sticking close by to guard and protect the family, a role that male gorillas typically play in the group dynamic,' said a zookeepers

Western lowland gorillas are slightly smaller than other gorilla sub species, reaching 4ft to 5ft and a half when standing on two legs.

Nestled and safe. The public can see the baby and the other great apes at the zoo's Peco Primate Reserve

'Dad Motuba is sticking close by to guard and protect the family, a role that male gorillas typically play in the group dynamic.'

Western lowland gorillas are listed as critically endangered. They are native to the forests and swamps of nations in Central Africa such as Angola, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

They are slightly smaller than other gorilla sub species, reaching 4ft to 5ft and a half when standing on two legs.
Filings show DNC host committee raised over $85M for event

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  The host committee for the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia says it raised over $85 million to put on July's event.

The committee revealed the figures in a federal filing Monday. They've so far spent just over $75 million and have about $6 million to pay off.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, the host committee chairman, says all remaining bills will be paid by year's end and they expect to have a surplus.

Some top donors included the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which gave about $2.1 million; the Democratic Governors Association, which gave $2 million; and Comcast Corp., the Philadelphia-based cable and media company that gave $5.6 million, mostly through in-kind contributions.
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Chinese-language film "I Am Not Madame Bovary" has grabbed both the Best Picture and Best Actress awards at the just concluded San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain.

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing accepts the Silver Shell for Best Actress award the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Septeber 24, 2016. [Photo / Weibo.com]

The dark comedy by famed director Feng Xiaogang follows protagonist Li Xuelian, as she puts on a legal fight for a decade after a fake divorce goes wrong.

The film is presented in a round frame in its entirety, with pictures showing through a circle against a black background.

Feng Xiaogang says the story and the visual effects help make the movie uniquely Chinese.

"I wanted to organically combine the round frame effects with the content of the film. It's a very Chinese story. The story can only happen in China, and the round frame likens the film to a traditional Chinese painting."

The film stars actress Fan Bingbing, who is excited to be recognized with the Best Actress honor in Spain.

"I'm very happy. It's like being in a dream, really. As a Chinese actress, I am very proud and happy to be recognized at the San Sebastian Film Festival. "

"I Am Not Madame Bovary" will open in Chinese theaters on November 18th.
AP-GfK poll: Americans divide on importance of tax returns

WASHINGTON (AP)  American voters are divided along party lines about whether it's important for presidential candidates to release their tax returns, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has released her tax returns to the public, while Republican Donald Trump has not.

Voters have mixed opinions on whether Trump's tax returns are getting too much or too little attention from the media. The poll also finds a dramatic divide on whether the media are paying too much or too little attention to Clinton's use of a private email address while she was secretary of state.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable event, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Here are some things to know about what Americans think about the transparency of the two candidates and what they've disclosed to voters in the 2016 campaign:

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TAX RETURNS AND MEDICAL RECORDS

More than 6 in 10 Democrats say it's very or extremely important for candidates to release their tax returns, while fewer than 3 in 10 Republicans say the same.

Overall, just under half of registered voters  46 percent  call it very important, 2 in 10 say it's somewhat important and more than 3 in 10 say it's only slightly or not at all important.

That's more than say it's important for candidates to release their medical records. Just under 4 in 10 voters say that's very or extremely important, while 2 in 10 call it moderately important and another 4 in 10 call it slightly or not at all important. Democrats and Republicans are about equally likely to call that important.

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MEDIA COVERAGE

The poll also shows voters are split on how much attention Trump not releasing his tax returns should be getting from the media, with about a third saying that's getting too much attention, a third saying it's getting too little, and another third saying it's getting about the right amount of attention.

A slim majority of Democratic voters think that story is getting too little attention, while a slim majority of Republican voters think it's getting too much.

Meanwhile, voters are somewhat more likely to say Clinton's use of a private email address on a personal server while she was secretary of state is getting too much attention than too little, 41 percent to 36 percent. Here there's a dramatic partisan divide, with 7 in 10 Democrats seeing too much attention and 7 in 10 Republicans seeing too little.

A 41 percent plurality of voters say Donald Trump's business background is getting the right amount of attention, while just 23 percent say it's getting too much and 35 percent too little. Thirty-five percent want more attention paid to the Clinton Foundation and 28 percent want less, while 36 percent say the current coverage is about right.

Democrats are most likely to want more coverage of Trump's business background, while Republicans want more of a spotlight on the Clinton Foundation.

Many voters (44 percent) say they think the media are paying too much attention to Clinton's health. Just 24 percent say it's getting too little attention, while 31 percent say it's getting about the right amount of attention.

Fifty-three percent of voters say Trump's health is getting about the right amount of attention, 26 percent say they're seeing too much and 19 percent too little.

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WHO'S HEALTHY ENOUGH?

Registered voters are more confident that Trump is healthy enough to be president than they are about Clinton, the poll shows. Just over a third of voters (36 percent) say they're extremely or very confident that the Democratic nominee would be healthy enough to serve, while just over half (51 percent) are confident that the Republican nominee would be.

And Democratic voters are more likely to give the other side the benefit of the doubt.

Among Democratic voters, 62 percent are confident that Clinton is healthy enough to be president, 72 percent of Republican voters are confident that Trump is. Only 12 percent of Republican voters say they're very confident Clinton is healthy enough to be president, while 36 percent of Democratic voters are confident that Trump is.

Men are more likely than women to say they're only slightly or not at all confident that Clinton is healthy enough to be president, 45 percent to 34 percent. Men and women are about equally likely to express confidence about Trump's health.

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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 2.7 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.

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Online:

Poll results: http://ap-gfkpoll.com

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Follow AP Polling Editor Emily Swanson on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/El_Swan
CDC awards Puerto Rico $13M to fight Zika, other viruses

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding Puerto Rico $13 million to help fight a Zika epidemic and other mosquito-borne viruses.

The CDC said Tuesday that the money will be used to create the U.S. territory's first vector control unit to help prevent and manage diseases spread by mosquitoes.

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust will be in charge of the project. The unit will oversee projects such as eliminating standing water and the use of larvicides and mosquito traps.
UN report says Sudan violates Darfur sanctions

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The Sudanese government continues to violate sanctions imposed by the Security Council over their actions in Darfur, according to a U.N. report.

The report, written by a panel of experts and seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday, found violations of the arms embargo, the use of cluster bombs by the Sudanese government and the illegal transfer of intrusion software with electronic intelligence capability among other things.

The panel also documented numerous human rights violations attributable to the government, the financing of armed groups within the country which act as proxy forces and possible violations and a travel ban and an asset freeze on militia leader Sheik Musa Hilal Abdallah Alnsiem.

Human Rights Watch's Deputy U.N. Director Akshaya Kumar said the report demonstrated that the sanctions "now exist in name only."

"While international attention to the atrocities in Darfur has waned, unfortunately the indiscriminate bombing, killings, and rapes have not," Kumar added.

Darfur has been gripped by bloodshed since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination and neglect. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have died in the conflict and 2.7 million have fled their homes.
US looks to accelerate deployment of SKorea missile defense

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. intends to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea "as soon as possible" to counter the threat from North Korea despite opposition from China, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said Tuesday.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said he believes South Korea is firmly committed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD system. He told a congressional hearing the system is purely defensive and is not aimed at China but at North Korea.

The plans have complicated South Korea's efforts to foster warmer ties with China, which traditionally has had closer ties with North Korea, and have added to tensions between Washington and Beijing as well. Beijing says the system's radar could reach into Chinese territory.

Seoul and Washington began formal talks on THAAD earlier this year. Russel did not specify when the deployment would happen, but said "given the accelerated pace of North Korea's missile tests, we intend to deploy on an accelerated basis, I would say, as soon as possible."

North Korea has conducted two nuclear test explosions this year, and the latest one, on Sept. 9, was its largest to date, deepening worries that it is honing a capability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead. It has also conducted 22 ballistic missile test launches this year, the U.S. says.

Tuesday's hearing of a House panel overseeing foreign policy toward Asia examined the state of cooperation South Korea and Japan  close U.S. allies that face a mutual threat from neighboring North Korea but sharp historical differences. Lawmakers welcomed signs of improved relations between them.

But Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama said that the U.S. is heavily burdened by debt, and pressed Russel on whether a reduction in the billions that it spends on defending Japan and South Korea might compel them to be more self-sufficient and spend more on their own defense.

Russel conceded "it might have that effect," but argued it would have a very destructive impact on regional stability and would open the door to China asserting itself more.
Spotify's Top 10 most viral tracks

The following list represents the most viral tracks on Spotify, based on the number of people who shared it divided by the number who listened to it, from Friday Sept. 16, to Thursday Sept. 22, via Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Spotify.

UNITED STATES

1. Rockie Gold, "Dicks out for Harambe" (Rockie Gold)

2. Artists Of Then, Now & Forever, "Forever Country" (Country Music Association, Inc)

3. Darlyn, "Stepping Stone" (Darlyn)

4. Ghasper, "Foley" (Ghasper)

5. Lizzo, "Phone" (Atlantic Recording Company)

6. Flock of Dimes, "Don't Dream It's Over (feat. Sylvan Esso)" (Partisan Records)

7. Melle Jutte, "Concrete" (Trapdoor Records)

8. Vanic, "Samurai" (Disruptor Records)

9. Buku, "Front to Back" (Buku)

10. Ian Munro, "Stay Lit (feat. Adi Medici)" (Quality Goods Records)

UNITED KINGDOM

1. Artists Of Then, Now & Forever, "Forever Country" (Country Music Association, Inc)

2. Rockie Gold, "Dicks out for Harambe" (Rockie Gold)

3. Dj Remix Fellow, "I Play Pokemon go Everyday" (Dj Remix Fellow)

4. Beck Martin, "Friday night" (Beck Martin)

5. Nick Murphy, "Fear Less" (Opulent Records)

6. Emeli Sande, "Hurts" (Virgin Records)

7. James Arthur, "Say You Won't Let Go" (SME Germany)

8. MiC LOWRY, "Oh Lord" (Decca)

9. glue70, "Casin" (glue70)

10. Herizen Guardiola as Mylene Cruz, "Set Me Free" (RCA Records)

GLOBAL

1. Rockie Gold, "Dicks out for Harambe" (Rockie Gold)

2. Artists Of Then, Now & Forever, "Forever Country" (Country Music Association, Inc)

3. Darlyn, "Stepping Stone" (Darlyn)

4. Nick Murphy, "Fear Less" (Opulent Records)

5. Herizen Guardiola as Mylene Cruz, "Set Me Free" (RCA Records)

6. Emeli Sande, "Hurts" (Virgin Records)

7. Flock of Dimes, "Don't Dream It's Over (feat. Sylvan Esso)" (Partisan Records)

8. Vanesa Martin, "Complicidad" (Warner Music Spain)

9. Vanic, "Samurai" (Disruptor Records)

10. Calvin Harris, "My Way" (Sony Music UK)
Debate renews attention on Trump's tax returns

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP)  Donald Trump says "you don't learn that much from tax returns," a dubious assertion that has renewed attention on his refusal to release documents that could shed light on his tax rate, charitable giving and foreign business ties.

Trump's Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, was happy to seize on the issue, questioning in the first presidential debate what Trump is trying to hide by bucking decades of campaign tradition in keeping his 1040s private. She referred to the several years in which it is known that Trump paid nothing in federal taxes.

"So if he's paid zero, that means zero for troops, zero for vets, zero for schools or health," Clinton said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable event, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Republican Trump responded by saying avoiding taxes "makes me smart," adding whatever money he did pay "would be squandered" anyway.

Trump told CNN after the Monday night debate that "of course" he's paid federal taxes in other years, but Democrats pounced just the same.

"So what does that make the rest of us? Suckers, unintelligent, dumb?" asked Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada.

Since 1976, all major party nominees for president have released their tax returns. Clinton has disclosed nearly 40 years' worth. Both of the candidates for vice president, Democrat Tim Kaine and Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, have released theirs, too.

A recent Associated Press-GfK poll found that 45 percent of likely but undecided voters said it was very or extremely important for candidates to release their tax returns. But voters are divided along party lines. While more than six in 10 Democrats said it was very or extremely important, fewer than three in 10 Republicans said the same.

The billionaire New Yorker has said for months that because his tax returns are under a "routine audit" and have been for nearly 15 years, he is following the advice of his attorneys by keeping them private.

Former IRS officials have expressed skepticism that anyone would be audited so frequently, and they and other tax experts say there's no prohibition on Trump releasing his returns even if he is.

Trump's son, Donald Jr., recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the audits weren't the real issue. Releasing the documents, he said, would lead to "every person in the country asking questions that would distract" from his father's "main message."

Indeed, tax experts say the documents could provide significant insight about the Republican nominee, including an assessment of whether Trump has overstated  or understated  his income. The documents would also reveal how Trump has used various deductions, write-offs and loopholes in his stated effort to pay "as little" in taxes "as possible."

The returns would also shed light on the extent to which Trump is an "ardent philanthropist," as his company's website once claimed.

Trump's charitable giving has come into question during the campaign. He has made no personal contributions to his foundation since 2008, and The Washington Post has found instances where he may have used the charity to pay off expenses incurred by his businesses.

Trump told the AP early in the campaign that he does most of his giving in his own name, rather than through his foundation. The only way to verify that would be through the itemized charitable donations listed on his tax returns, which would also reveal details about Trump's foreign business dealings and offshore bank accounts.

The 2012 GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, wrote in a Facebook post in May: "While not a likely circumstance, the potential for hidden inappropriate associations with foreign entities, criminal organizations, or other unsavory groups is simply too great a risk to ignore for someone who is seeking to become commander in chief."

Romney resisted releasing his own tax returns before relenting during his campaign, and Trump has suggested that decision was a mistake. He told The Washington Post in August that Romney had been "treated very unfairly" after releasing his returns "because people don't understand returns that are complicated and complex."

"Mitt had perfect returns, they did absolutely nothing wrong," yet critics "took a couple of lines" to make him look bad, Trump said. "And his returns are very much smaller than my returns."

Trump added a wrinkle during the debate, saying he'd be willing to ignore his lawyers' advice to keep the returns private if Clinton released 33,000 deleted emails from the private system she used as secretary of state.

"As soon as she releases them, I will release," Trump said.

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AP Polling Editor Emily Swanson and AP writers Chad Day and Erica Werner contributed to this report from Washington.

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Follow Jill Colvin on Twitter on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/colvinj

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at a restaurant, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Prosecutor: Woman burned alive for witchcraft in Peru jungle

LIMA, Peru (AP)  A woman accused of being a witch was burned alive on a bonfire in an indigenous community in a remote part of the country's Amazon rainforest, authorities said Tuesday.

Prosecutor Hugo Mauricio said members of the Shiringamazu Alto community sentenced 73-year-old Rosa Villar Jarionca to death over claims she made people sick through witchcraft. The alleged burning took place Sept. 20, but the area is so remote that word of it did not reach authorities until recently.

Mauricio said a cellphone video shot by a witness and given to prosecutors appeared to show Villar with her hands tied amid a pile of dry logs and branches. A man bathes the logs and the woman with gasoline and another man throws a lit match onto the bonfire. Villar can be heard screaming.

"The woman was burned alive because the people accused her of being a witch," Mauricio told The Associated Press.

He added that villagers burned her body on the pyre for three days to leave no traces of the killing but that authorities managed to locate some bones. He said he and 20 police officers visited the scene and returned with evidence they collected.

A record of the decision to burn Villar at the stake was written by hand in the community's log book and seen by authorities, Mauricio said. It indicated she was sentenced by a majority vote and the decision was signed by community leaders, he said.

The document said her punishment would serve "as an example to the community and other communities against this kind of damage," referring to allegations that Villar had made members of the community sick, the prosecutor said.

Mauricio, whose Puerto Bermudez district in Peru's central rainforest includes 300 indigenous communities, said accusations of witchcraft are common. In 2015, a pregnant woman in another community was accused of witchcraft and beaten so badly she aborted.
Reason to cringe: Female voters react to Trump

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP)  When Donald Trump challenged Hillary Clinton's stamina on the debate stage, Pennsylvania voter Patricia Bennett said she heard a "dog whistle" that smacked of unmistakable sexism.

"Why doesn't he just say that she needs more testosterone?" said Bennett, a 69-year-old independent from the Philadelphia suburbs who plans to vote for Clinton in November.

Across the country, Lisa Lowe, a Colorado Democrat who was lukewarm about Clinton before Monday's debate, said Trump behaved like a "negative bully." Kris Stotler, an undecided Virginia Republican, was disappointed by Trump's jarring criticism of a former beauty queen's weight, comments Clinton forcefully condemned during the faceoff.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visits a restaurant, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Locher)

"It's incredibly distasteful, and it doesn't stop," Stotler, 48, said of Trump. "Even if you thought that, why would you say that?"

Bennett, Lowe and Stotler were among two dozen female voters from battleground states who spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday. Nearly all expressed concerns with Trump's critical and often demeaning comments about women, as well as his approach toward Clinton in the debate.

The concerns were shared, too, by some women who plan to vote for Trump in November, though his supporters were far more forgiving in their assessments.

"He needs to be more careful, but he needs to be who he is," said Lilia Morraz, a 58-year-old Republican from Miami. "Sometimes the truth hurts."

While Clinton has held a lead in preference polls among female voters throughout her general election contest with Trump, she aims to widen that margin as much as possible to offset her weakness with men. She also needs to urgently energize younger female voters, who have been more skeptical of the first woman nominated for the White House by a major U.S. political party.

After Monday's debate, Clinton's team believes it has all the ammunition it needs to rally women in the campaign's closing weeks.

That's due in part to strong execution by Clinton, who arrived at the debate armed with numerous past statements Trump has made about women. She was particularly assertive in calling him out for once labeling 1996 Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado "Miss Piggy" after she gained weight.

But Trump also did himself few favors. He interrupted Clinton repeatedly during the debate, at times leaning into his microphone to declare "wrong!" as she was talking. And he perplexingly stood by his criticism of Machado the morning after the debate, saying in an interview on Fox News Channel that Machado was one of the "worst we ever had" in the beauty contest he used to own.

"She gained a massive amount of weight," Trump said. "It was a real problem. We had a real problem."

Clinton's campaign quickly lined up Machado for a conference call with reporters. The Venezuelan-born Machado, now a U.S. citizen, said she hoped her story would "open eyes" about Trump in the election.

Debby Bower, a 41-year-old Democrat who lives in the Denver suburbs, said Trump's taunting of the former beauty queen was "painful to my soul."

"It hurts my heart when I hear the hateful, spiteful language that Mr. Trump uses," Bower said.

According to a recent Associated Press-GfK poll of registered voters, 64 percent of women have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 58 percent of men view the Republican nominee negatively. Women were also more likely than men to say they'd be afraid or angry if Trump is elected in November.

Among likely voters, Clinton leads Trump among women in overall support, 51 percent to 34 percent. That puts her behind the 55 percent of women President Barack Obama won in the 2012 election, according to exit polls  though Trump also trails the 44 percent of women Republican Mitt Romney carried in his losing effort that same year.

At times, Clinton has been reluctant to play up the historic nature of her candidacy or call out perceived sexism that can color how she is judged on the nation's biggest political stage. But her campaign aides showed no such reluctance in the hours after the debate, moving swiftly to cast Trump's aggressive posture toward Clinton in front of a massive television audience as no different from how women often find themselves treated by men.

"His constant interruption of her probably was reminiscent of the way a lot of women feel about bullies in their lives," said John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman. "I thought it was kind of unbecoming and he couldn't stop himself."

Victoria Widergren, a Republican from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, agreed. The 46-year-old builder and architect was planning to vote for Trump, but changed her mind after Monday's debate.

Widergren said she was particularly appalled to learn that the billionaire businessman hadn't paid contractors who worked for him. But as the 90-minute debate stretched on, she, too, grew frustrated with Trump's interruptions of Clinton, a view she said was shared by colleagues she'd spoken to after the debate.

"He just doesn't understand when to stop," she said.

___

Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Thomas Beaumont and Lisa Lerer in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kathleen Hennessey in Tysons Corner, Virginia, Steve Peoples in Miami and AP Polling Editor Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jpaceDC
Not guilty plea planned for California mayor pie protest

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A man charged with hitting Sacramento, California, Mayor Kevin Johnson in the face with a coconut cream pie plans to plead not guilty.

Defense attorney Claire White tells The Sacramento Bee that 32-year-old Sean Thompson will contest a felony charge of assaulting a public official and a misdemeanor charge of battery on school property.

He did not enter a plea at his arraignment Tuesday on charges of pushing the pie in Johnson's face last week.

Johnson then punched Thompson, who says he received nine stitches and a black eye.
Mexican immigration officials attacked to free migrants

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican immigration officials say five gunmen on motorcycles brazenly attacked a government vehicle transporting 25 immigrants and a suspected human trafficker, helping the smuggler and migrants to escape.

A Tuesday statement from Mexico's National Immigration Institute says agents had detained the migrants from unspecified countries as well as their smuggler after a brief chase in the southern state of Oaxaca on Monday.
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The Linbai project (linking Linhe district in Inner Mongolia to Baigeda on the border between Inner Mongolia and Gansu Province), stretches 930 kilometers, crossing the Badain Jaran Desert, Chinas third largest desert, and other depopulated zones with a harsh environment. [CCTV]

An expressway in China's northwestern region, hailed as the world's longest desert stretch, was completed on Sept. 25.

The Linbai project (linking Linhe district in Inner Mongolia to Baigeda on the border between Inner Mongolia and Gansu Province), stretches 930 kilometers, crossing the Badain Jaran Desert, China's third largest desert, and other depopulated zones with a harsh environment.

With a total investment of 37 billion yuan (approximately US$5.55 billion), the stretch of road is the main part of the high-profile Jingxin expressway linking China's capital Beijing and Urumqi in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, expected to complete next year.

It was co-constructed by China Communications Construction, China Railway Group Limited, and China State Construction.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
UK opens secret files about 'Jewish terrorists' in 1940s

LONDON (AP)  The call to British military security forces came early in the morning, shortly after 1 a.m., and could not be ignored. The informant's message was alarming: Assassins planned to kill the commander of British forces in Palestine the following morning; evasive action was needed.

The source didn't know the details of the plan, but warned that Gen. Evelyn Barker would be attacked on the brief journey between his home in Jerusalem and his office at British headquarters. The assailants were militant Jews from the Stern Gang, determined to drive the British from the land in their bid for Jewish sovereignty.

Before dawn broke on Nov. 14, 1946, according to secret documents declassified Wednesday by the National Archives, Barker's security team was notified of the imminent threat. He changed his route, other special precautions were put in place, and he arrived without incident.

This a declassified document released by the British Security Service made available Wednesday Sept. 28, 2016. UK opened secret files about Jewish terrorists in 1940s. The newly declassified British security services files document repeated attacks by Jewish terrorists trying to drive British forces out of Palestine in the drive toward establishing a Jewish state. The files show how British agents tried to contain the threat of militant activities and keep the groups from launching attacks in Europe and Britain.(The National Archive via AP)

Barker was particularly controversial because of his incendiary comments after militants bombed Jerusalem's King David Hotel, used by the British as a political and military base, in July 1946, when Britain was still the administrative power in Palestine under an arrangement worked out in 1920, but was increasingly unable to control events as Jews and Arabs sought control.

The King David Hotel blast killed more than 90 people and infuriated Barker, whose offices were in the hotel.

He reacted by banning British troops from having any social or business dealings with Jews, saying that they would be punished "in a way the race dislikes as much as any, by striking at their pockets and showing our contempt for them."

The plot against Barker is only one of hundreds of plans described in the newly public files that detail how British officials were tormented by the militants. The official British attitude toward the Jewish underground is summed up on the file's title page: "Jewish Terrorist Activities in the Middle East."

British influence was waning and the militants sensed a lack of resolve that could be exploited, said Saul Zadka, author of "Blood in Zion: How the Jewish Guerrillas drove the British Out of Palestine."

"They realized getting rid of the British was the key to establishing Jewish sovereignty in Palestine," he said.

"The British didn't have an end game, they didn't know what to do, and the insurgents' operations affected the morale of the armed forces very badly. The British papers were saying, 'If you can't control Palestine, just get out.' And it was very expensive to keep 100,000 soldiers there. So overall, holding onto Palestine was not worth it. The cost was too high."

It is clear from the files that the British were rattled by the constant threat of attack and by fears the violence would spread from the Middle East to Europe and, particularly, to Britain itself.

A July 20, 1946, letter from Lt. Col. Maurice Oldfield to military headquarters warns that two people on the "Jewish Terrorist List" seemed to have infiltrated Paris via an Air France flight.

"This indicates a weakness in our controls," he said, raising concerns that many more people supposedly being watched "may already, unbeknown to us, be scattered throughout Europe."

There is a specific warning from British intelligence to Belgian authorities about five individuals planning a "mission." There are also exchanges between British intelligence and the FBI about the activities of "Jewish commandos" in New York City.

The operational challenge facing British security officials in 1946 was in some ways similar to the ones faced today as Europe's intelligence agencies try to keep Islamic extremists from entering Europe to launch attacks against civilians.

The files contain an official "top secret" request for "special attention security check of all Jews travelling to the U.K." because of the security threat posed by the Stern Gang.

The files also reveal how closely British secret services tracked relations between militant groups like the Stern Gang and Irgun amid fears the rival groups would start to cooperate on joint attacks.

A secret note written on April 14, 1947, warns that a reliable source had told British agents about an agreement between the Stern Gang and the Irgun group to coordinate policy and plans.

"The main point is that terrorist activities are not to be confined only to Palestine  but will take place also in the U.K., France and Italy," the note says, adding that "certain Jewish terrorists" have already arrived in the port city of Alexandria, Egypt, and have purchased a 200-ton ship to be used to transport weapons.

The plots described were many and varied, including a failed plan by militants to blow up the British destroyer Chevron off the coast of Haifa. The files indicate that plotters left a bag of primed explosives and detonators on board and were later arrested on land with concealed explosives.

The files also detail successful kidnappings carried out by the gangs.

The sporadic but deadly attacks spawned extensive British discussions about whether Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin could travel safely to Cairo without undue risk of assassination.

Many attacks were relatively minor, involving small arms fire, grenades, improvised explosives and land mines, but the campaign clearly made it hard for the British to conduct normal business without adding layers of protection. Railways, bridges, government facilities and officers clubs were all targeted.
Idaho county launches 'food truck' polls for early voting

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Idaho election workers say it's no longer enough to encourage people to get out to the polls. Instead, they say, it's time to bring the polls to the people.

In the state's most populous Ada County, Chief Deputy Clerk Phil McGrane designed food truck-inspired voting stations to entice voters to cast ballots early for the general election.

Voters who head to the voting trailers, he said, also have the advantage of not having to figure out where their regular polling place is located.

Idaho voters head to a new food truck-inspired voting unit in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The four new trailers will be parked throughout the state's most populated county in the three weeks leading up to the November election and allow Idahoans to vote early without going to their designated precinct. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi)

Since fixed voting locations must meet multiple requirements, McGrane figured it would be a good idea to make early polling stations mobile and asked, "Why can't we just build our own?"

The new voting trailers he unveiled Tuesday are brightly painted red, white and blue with images of a friendly cartoonish Uncle Sam and "I voted" splashed on all sides. Each one cost about $50,000.

McGrane said he was unaware of any other U.S. county or state mounting a similar effort to get out the vote.

"We typically hear of efforts making it harder for people to vote," said Leo Morales, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho. "So the fact that this county is making it more accessible is commendable."

He described the effort as unique and hoped that the trailers would make stops to lure voters in areas that typically have low turnout.

Starting in October, the four trailers will spend the three weeks leading up to the November election being hauled around to towns and cities in Ada County so residents can vote early without having to go to their designated precincts.

Poll workers will use previous voting data to determine the best locations to park and attract high concentrations of voters, including spots near major employers and hospitals. On election day, the trailers will be kept ready for duty as emergency backup polling places if needed.

County clerks across the state are expecting record voter turnout numbers in November. That means some may have to wait hours to cast ballots. And in Idaho, about 74 percent of the state's registered voters voted in the 2012 presidential election.

Promoting early voting helps make voting easier for citizens and reduces stress for election workers, McGrane said.

Idaho and 36 other U.S. states offer various ways to vote early, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Critics say making early voting easier and more convenient could lead to more fraud. But supporters counter that early voting increases turnout, particularly among minorities.

Boise resident Kristi Poole updated her voter registration paperwork at one of the new trailers Tuesday, saying the effort is an effective way to ensure citizen voting access.

"Any way we can make it easier for people to register and cast their vote is a good idea," said Poole.

McGrane said he hoped the voting trailer experiment will convince other Idaho counties to mount similar efforts.
Children's doctors concern over number of premature babies at hypothermia risk

Leading children's doctors have raised concerns over the number of premature babies being put at risk of hypothermia.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said that it was "concerning" that one in 20 premature babies are not having their temperature recorded in a timely manner.

A new audit by the college reveals that 5.5% of babies born at less than 32 weeks did not have their temperature recorded within an hour after birth.

Top children's doctors expressed concern that one in 20 premature babies are not having their temperature recorded in a timely manner

The report highlights the importance of taking a baby's temperature on admission to the neonatal unit as low admission temperature has been associated with an increased risk of illness and death in pre-term infants.

It also shows that hypothermia remains a "common problem" in neonatal care across the UK.

More than a quarter (28%) of babies born in 2015 at less than 32 weeks had a temperature below the recommended range of 36.5C to 37.5C.

"Hypothermia is an easily preventable condition, even in vulnerable newborns, so if a baby is too cold, neonatal unit staff need to know so that they can take action to get the temperature back to normal," the National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP) report states.

Meanwhile, the audit also highlighted problems with communication between senior doctors and the parents of premature babies.

More than one in 10 (12%) did not have a documented consultation with a senior member of the neonatal team within 24 hours of their baby's admission.

The authors wrote: "Involving parents in their baby's care is crucial for achieving the best long-term outcomes; engaging them in the first 24 hours is an essential part of doing this.

"It is therefore vital that neonatal unit staff take the time to explain to parents how their baby is being cared for and also listen to parents, try to understand how they are feeling and respond to any questions that they may have."

The RCPCH said that the report showed very little or no improvement has been made over the last year in meeting several care standards across neonatal care.

Dr Sam Oddie, clinical lead for the audit and member of the RCPCH said: "Some units are doing remarkably well when it comes to meeting the care standards measured by the NNAP; however there are others that are simply not delivering on these yet. These units need to be looking at improving this."

Dr Oddie said: "100% of babies should have their temperature taken within an hour of birth and the fact this isn't happening is very concerning.

"If not monitored closely, low admission temperature can lead to hypothermia and severe illness, so getting this right is essential.

"Solutions to this problem can be remarkably simple. For example, many units use the combination of plastic bags, radiant warmers, hats and warm delivery rooms to maintain a newborn baby's temperature, and do it very well. Good practice like this needs to be shared."

On the findings relating to a lack of consultation with parents, Dr Oddie said: "When a baby is admitted to a neonatal unit, it can be a daunting time for parents. Having a doctor speak to them early about what is happening and the support on offer to them is extremely important."

Dr Oddie added that "27% of units did this for all their families, showing that there is no excuse for not providing this key element of support for parents. This is something I hope to see improved very quickly."

Around 750,000 babies are born each year in England, Scotland and Wales and of these nearly one in eight, or around 95,000, will be admitted to a neonatal unit.

Commenting on the audit, Caroline Davey, chief executive of Bliss, the charity for premature and sick babies, said: "These figures are very concerning.

"In order to prevent avoidable illness, units must ensure that all babies receive these check-ups within the timescales set down in national standards.
Nicola Sturgeon urges UK Government to reverse austerity after Brexit vote

Nicola Sturgeon is to call on the UK Government to tackle the "disenfranchisement and disillusionment" behind the Brexit vote and reverse its austerity policies.

Scotland's First Minister is one of the keynote speakers at the Institute of Directors' annual convention in London's Royal Albert Hall, where she will address an audience of around 2,000 people.

Focusing on the EU referendum result, she will say the UK Government can "no longer ignore the social and economic cost of inequality" as a major driver behind the leave vote.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to address the Institute of Directors' annual convention in London's Royal Albert Hall

Ms Sturgeon is expected to say: "I'm very proud of the fact that Scotland voted so strongly to remain in the European Union. But I can't ignore the fact that even in Scotland, a million people voted to leave.

"They did not think that the European Union benefited them - they did not see advantages from free trade and free movement.

"That feeling was even more prevalent in other parts of the UK. There are many, many causes of the vote to leave the EU. For many people, they will have included entirely reasonable doubts and reservations about the EU. It is, after all, an imperfect organisation.

"But in part, Brexit was a product of a sense of disenfranchisement and disillusionment. It was borne of inequality, of feelings of powerlessness - of austerity budgets which hurt the public services and social safety nets that so many people depend on.

"And so one consequence of the referendum must be a new effort - which needs to be given real substance in the UK Government's Autumn Statement - to ensure that the benefits of growth, of globalisation, are more fairly distributed.
Hillary Clinton uses TV debate to attack Donald Trump's 'racist behaviour'

Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of racism as the US presidential candidates clashed in their first head-to-head debate in the race to the White House.

The Democrat and Republican rivals squared off in a 90-minute debate at Hofstra University in New York, which was screened to tens of millions of television viewers in America and live-streamed across the world.

During a number of fiery exchanges, Mr Trump claimed he had a "better temperament" than Mrs Clinton and accused her of not having the "stamina" to be president.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton following the presidential debate at Hofstra University (AP)

Mrs Clinton said Mr Trump had started his political career with a "racist lie" after he falsely suggested President Barack Obama was born outside of America.

"He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour," she said.

Mrs Clinton also criticised the billionaire tycoon's comments about women, adding: "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs."

Discussing the fight against Isis, Mr Trump attacked Mrs Clinton for revealing her plan to tackle the extremist group on her website.

"You're telling the enemy everything you want to do. No wonder you've been fighting Isis your entire life," he said.

The candidates also addressed Mr Trump's refusal to release his tax returns, with the Republican insisting he would publish them against his lawyers' advice if Mrs Clinton releases the 33,000 deleted emails from her private server.

His comments prompted cheers from sections of the audience, with moderator Lester Holt having to remind those watching to remain quiet.

Mrs Clinton said her use of a private email server was a "mistake" and claimed Mr Trump could be refusing to release his tax returns because he was not as rich or as charitable as he claimed.

She said: "I think probably he's not that enthusiastic having the rest of our country see what the real reasons are because it must be something really important, even terrible, he's trying to hide."

During the debate, Mr Trump repeatedly insisted that he opposed the Iraq War before the 2003 US and UK invasion, despite telling radio host Howard Stern in September 2002 that he supported it.

Mrs Clinton said the Republican was too easily provoked to serve as commander in chief and could be quickly drawn into a war involving nuclear weapons.

"A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes," she said.

Discussing nuclear weapons, Mr Trump said he "would not do first strike" but he "can't take anything off the table".

Other notable exchanges during included Mrs Clinton telling Mr Trump "you live in your own reality", before adding "By the end of this evening I think I'll be blamed for everything that has ever happened."

Mr Trump prompted laughter from the audience when he replied: "Why not?"

Former President Bill Clinton and Melania Trump were among those in the audience at the event, which was expected to the most watched debate in TV history.

Some 2,000 protesters gathered outside the debate hall, including Hardhats for Hillary, socialists and activists calling for a living wage, police said. Twenty four people were arrested on mostly disorderly conduct charges.

Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton will take part in two more debates before the November 8 election, while their running mates, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence, will square off next week
William and Kate charm the Heiltsuk Nation in remote Canada rainforest

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have forged links with a remote Canadian community and left with their arms filled with presents - including a pair of dancing vests.

In the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest William and Kate were welcomed by the Heiltsuk First Nation people and in turn the Duke praised them for helping to safeguard the natural wonder in British Columbia dubbed the "Amazon of the north".

Torrential downpours had forced the royal couple to abandon a seaplane tour of the forest but they received a rapturous welcome from the Heiltsuk residents of the island village of Bella Bella, during a ceremony staged in the "big house" or community centre.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk through the Great Bear Rainforest in Bella Bella

William and Kate were visiting to mark Great Bear - the world's largest intact temperate rainforest - joining the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network, a scheme to help preserve areas of indigenous forest in perpetuity in the Queen's name.

In a speech to commemorate the event the Duke said: "The Commonwealth has, at its heart, always been about the values that bind its people. This project, focusing on our shared natural heritage, is no different.

"The establishment of the Canopy is a loud and unambiguous statement that the citizens of all Commonwealth countries believe that nature is fundamental to the health of our societies.

"When we protect our rivers, oceans, atmospheres, or like today, our forests, we are telling our children that their future prosperity cannot be disconnected from the health of the natural world."

During William and Kate's welcoming ceremony traditional cloaks were draped over their shoulders and they later donned the dancing vests, both gifts symbols of a new relationship between the British monarchy and the small Heiltsuk community.

Marilyn Slett, an elected chief council member, said: "On behalf of our nation we welcome you and we thank you for being here as part of the healing that we are undertaking. As part of our ... feasting system we would like to give our guests a gift."

They were told: "We use these blankets to wrap the spirits of our ancestors around you and to unite your spirits together with ours."

The grey blankets were decorated with the outline of a grizzly bear, trees to represent the forest that surrounded the Heiltsuk community and local flora and fauna.

Dancing vests, which are worn during a major welcoming ceremony called potlatch, were then presented to the smiling royal couple with Kate wearing a white vest and William a black garment.

Their children, who have joined the Cambridges on their eight-day tour of Canada, were not left out and also received tiny vests along with a drum for Prince George and a doll for Princess Charlotte.

William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales was praised for her humanitarian efforts during her lifetime by one senior community member during the welcoming event which featured songs, dances and speeches.

And the Cambridges heard passionate statements from First Nations leaders about their battle to stop the plunder of the natural resources of their lands and the struggle to preserve their way of life for future generations.

Ms Slett also told the Duke how much the community respected his mother Diana, Princess of Wales: "She was a great humanitarian and world advocate and positively impacted the Heiltsuk people and she remains in our hearts."

William and Kate ended their day by strolling through a wooded glade in the Great Bear Rainforest, as they made their way to a plaque unveiling ceremony that formally marked the natural wonder becoming part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network.

They followed a path along a new wooden walkway that led to a fast flowing river whose banks were covered with dead salmon that had returned to the waters to spawn.

The air had a strong stench of rotting fish and Kate pointed at the hundreds of seagulls bobbing up and down in the waters hoping for a fresher meal than the decomposing salmon.

And the plaque unveiling ceremony featured a first - a coat to keep the wooden memorial dry, following a day of torrential rain.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community in Bella Bella

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge forged links with a remote Canadian community and left with their arms filled with presents - including a pair of dancing vests.

In the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest William and Kate were welcomed by the Heiltsuk First Nation people and in turn the Duke praised them for helping to safeguard the natural wonder in British Columbia dubbed the "Amazon of the north".

Torrential downpours had forced the royal couple to abandon a seaplane tour of the forest but they received a rapturous welcome from the Heiltsuk residents of the island village of Bella Bella, during a ceremony staged in the "big house" or community centre.

William and Kate were visiting to mark Great Bear - the world's largest intact temperate rainforest - joining the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network, a scheme to help preserve areas of indigenous forest in perpetuity in the Queen's name.

In a speech to commemorate the event the Duke said: "The Commonwealth has, at its heart, always been about the values that bind its people. This project, focusing on our shared natural heritage, is no different."

During William and Kate's welcoming ceremony traditional cloaks were draped over their shoulders and they later donned the dancing vests, both gifts symbols of a new relationship between the British monarchy and the small Heiltsuk community.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted with a traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community in Bella Bella, Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada.

William and Kate are greeted with a traditional welcoming ceremony by the Heiltsuk First Nations community.

The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada.
US shale gas shipment arrives amid storm over fracking

The first shipment of controversial shale gas has arrived in the UK as campaigners step up calls for a ban on fracking.

A tanker carrying 27,500 m3 of ethane from US shale fields sailed down the Forth in central Scotland to the Ineos refinery in Grangemouth, but it was unable to dock straight away due to high winds.

Jim Ratcliffe, the founder and chairman of the petrochemicals giant, said unconventional gas extraction could transform communities that have been blighted by a collapse in manufacturing, as has happened in the United States.

The tanker has delivered shale gas from the US to Grangemouth

Ineos says the shale gas will replace dwindling North Sea supplies and secure essential raw material for Grangemouth, supporting some 10,000 jobs there.

But Friends of the Earth Scotland has spoken out about "environmental damage" caused in the US, where fracking is now a well established industry.

Head of campaigns Mary Church said: ''It is completely unacceptable to attempt to prop up Ineos's petrochemicals plants on the back of human suffering and environmental destruction across the Atlantic.

"The fact that Scottish public money is tied up in this project is disgraceful.

''Setting aside the devastating local impacts of fracking, the climate consequences of extracting yet more fossil fuels are utterly disastrous."

The Scottish Government currently has a moratorium on fracking in place while ministers consider the evidence.

Ms Church said: "We urge the Scottish Government to act swiftly to ban fracking and start planning seriously for a fair transition to a low-carbon economy across all sectors. Fracking should not happen here in Scotland, or anywhere.''

Mark Ruskell MSP, the Scottish Greens' climate and energy spokesman, said: "If we want to guarantee a future for Grangemouth we should be investing in its conversion to synthetic fuels from renewable resources.

"Amid today's PR puff from Ineos there has been no mention of climate change. The facts are clear. We need to start leaving fossil fuels in the ground, not go drilling for more."

Speaking about the shipment, Mr Ratcliffe said: "One of my great concerns about the UK economy is the collapse in manufacturing.

"I think saving Grangemouth is a brick in the wall to arresting that decline, but maybe shale gas also has the ability to reverse that decline. Shale gas has absolutely transformed the United States. There's immense levels of investment there.

"There's clearly a lot of shale in the UK as there is in the United States, and there's absolutely no reason why it can't do the same things to the UK manufacturing industry as it has done in America."

On the Scottish Government he said: "We have no objection to people evaluating safety and environmental issues, I think that's all very fair and proper.

"But it probably would have been quite sensible to let us at least do the exploration phase in Scotland. We know that there are shales in Scotland but in order to really understand whether those shales will produce economic quantities in a produceable manner, our message was to let us do the exploration to absolutely identify whether there is produceable, sensible quantities of shale gas in Scotland whilst they do their evaluation in parallel with that."

On safety, he said earlier: "The United States is the most highly regulated society in the world, it has the largest chemical industry in the world, which is highly regulated.

"They don't allow you to do things that are unsafe or environmentally unfriendly in the United States and I don't think shale is any different. Predominantly it's been seen to be an extremely safe and well managed industry."

The company said the shipment, aboard carrier Ineos Insight, was the culmination of a two billion US dollars (1.6 billion) investment resulting in eight tankers forming a ''virtual pipeline'' between the US and the UK and Norway.

As a result of shale gas, he said that "for the next 20 years, now Grangemouth's future is totally assured, those 10,000 jobs will be in very safe hands".

While the UK Labour Party has followed Scottish Labour in backing a ban on fracking in the UK, Mr Ratcliffe argued: " A lot of the heartland voters for the Labour Party are in those very industrial areas that are rather like Pittsburgh 10 years ago, they're not in great shape, shale has got this ability to transform these industrial communities.

"If you look at the UK, manufacturing has collapsed in the last 20 years, and there is an awful lot of people in the industrial heartland who depend on manufacturing jobs.
Liam Fox accused of delivering 'bland platitudes' over Brexit in WTO speech

Liam Fox has been accused of being vague and confused about the country's post-Brexit trading status after saying Britain would leave "no legal vacuum" with the world after leaving the European Union.

The International Trade Secretary told the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that the UK would continue to uphold its international trading commitments after Brexit.

But critics said he was sending out mixed messages following weekend reports that he would use his speech to signal support for pulling the UK out of the EU customs union so he could legally strike new trade deals around the world.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox gave a speech at the WTO in Geneva

Instead, Dr Fox told the WTO in Geneva: "The UK is a full and founding member of the WTO.

"We have our own schedules that we currently share with the rest of the EU. These set out our national commitments in the international trading system.

"The UK will continue to uphold these commitments when we leave the European Union.

"There will be no legal vacuum but this will not stop us pursuing a more liberalised trade agenda in the future."

Labour former business minister Pat McFadden said Dr Fox has a duty to set out the details on whether the UK will pull out of the customs union, or remain a member of the European single market.

He also warned against "sleepwalking" into a trading system that relies on WTO rules because key sectors such as the car industry would face "high and destructive" tariffs.

Commenting for the Open Britain campaign, Mr McFadden said: "From a Government promising an ambitious global trade agenda, Liam Fox's speech was pathetically vague and bromide-filled.

"Dr Fox needs to spell out the details - whether Britain will leave the customs union, whether we will continue to be a member of the single market, and what will happen to the trade deals the EU has signed on our behalf with more than 50 countries.

"The public have a right to know before the Government makes crucial decisions on our trading future."

Vote Leave Watch chairman Chuka Umunna said Dr Fox's failure to mention the customs union or make a major announcement in his speech showed the Government was "totally confused" about single market membership.

The Labour MP said: "For Liam Fox to brief the Sunday papers that he would give a major announcement, before delivering bland platitudes today, showcases the total confusion at the heart of Government on this issue.

"Vote Leavers promised that Britain would rapidly sign global free trade deals, while keeping full access to the single market. We are yet to see any detail as to how that might be achieved."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "At a time when the business community needs clarity and stability, Liam Fox is saying one thing to the papers and another to our international allies.

"Not content with insulting British businesses, it seems he now wants to confuse them by sending mixed messages about our membership of the single market.

"These actions are deeply damaging for the UK economy, jobs and our global reputation.

"Clearly, Liam Fox is incapable of speaking for our Government or country; he is a second-class Cabinet minister enjoying first-class travel around the world."

But Economists for Brexit said Dr Fox had signalled the first steps towards a future outside the single market, with Britain having its own free trade agreements around the globe.

Its co-chair Patrick Minford said such an arrangement could boost GDP by 4%.

"We now appear to see (the) Government signalling the first steps in the right direction, but many still fail to appreciate rather than just being the default position in the absence of a trade deal with the EU in order to deliver the type of Brexit the UK electorate voted for, leaving the single market is in fact the optimal option for the UK economy," he said.

Meanwhile, Iain Duncan Smith dismissed George Osborne's warnings against a "hard Brexit" with the UK leaving the single market, in the latest sign of Tory splits over how to quit the EU.

Ahead of the party's annual conference, Mr Duncan Smith rejected the former chancellor's argument that Britain must compromise with the EU in order to get a Brexit deal acceptable to the "liberal mainstream majority".
YouTube star Calum McSwiggan denies lying to police over LA assault claim

A British YouTube star has appeared before a US court accused of lying to police over claims he was assaulted in West Hollywood.

Calum McSwiggan, from London, pleaded not guilty to filing a false police report after he claimed he was attacked by three men near The Abbey gay club on June 27.

The 26-year-old, who has more than 64,000 subscribers on YouTube, posted a photo on Instagram as he lay in a hospital bed after the alleged attack, telling his followers he suffered three broken teeth and required six stitches to his head.

British YouTube personality Calum McSwiggan posted a picture to Instagram after he was arrested (Calum McSwiggan/PA)

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers investigated but were "unable to substantiate the assault".

McSwiggan had been arrested for vandalising a car and was taken to hospital after he began injuring himself with a police station payphone, a spokesman for the sheriff's department said.

McSwiggan, who is known to his followers on YouTube for discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, appeared at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of filing a false police report and vandalism.

He was ordered to return to the court for a pre-trial hearing on November 7 and refused to comment as he left the building.

After he was charged in June, McSwiggan wrote on Facebook that he had caused the injury that required the stitches to his head but insisted he was attacked by three men.

"Just because there were no visible marks on my face does not mean I was not attacked," he wrote.

"Being accused of being a liar and being called a disgrace to the LGBT+ community, a community I've dedicated my life to, is more painful than any hate crime could ever be."

McSwiggan had travelled to California in June for the online video conference VidCon.
Defence Secretary 'will continue to oppose EU army plan'

Britain will fight any plans for a European Union army, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.

Sir Michael joined his fellow defence ministers from across the bloc in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, to discuss the ambitious project to strengthen military capability across the continent.

He said: "We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or EU army headquarters.

Michael Fallon said Nato must remain the cornerstone of Britain's defence

"Nato must remain the cornerstone of our defence."

However, asked if Britain would veto the move, he said only that "there is no majority here for an EU army".

The proposals could see a new joint EU military command, as well as increased defence spending and joint development of assets such as helicopters and drones.

The move is being spearheaded by France and Germany, who insist the plan is aimed at improving co-operation and not creating the EU's own army.

Sir Michael had previously said Britain would fight any plans by the EU to create any new body that undermined Nato.

While all EU members have their own military force, the majority are also members of NatoO.
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The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Monday issued a top-level warrant for 10 fugitives implicated in telecom and cyber fraud.

The 10 suspects are Deng Zhenchuan, Xie Jianhai, Xie Zhi'an, Deng Chunping, Chen Fujin, Liao Naijian, Yue Yongfu, Wang Zhihui, Chen Hong and Huang Yexiong.

The MPS has published information about the suspects, including their date and place of birth, ID numbers and photos, on its official website, further details about the cases were not provided.

Telecom and cyber fraud made headlines across China last month when Xu Yuyu, 18, from Shandong Province, died of cardiac arrest after losing her tuition money to a telecom scam.

The police have encouraged public to provide information about telecom fraud with the promise of rewards.
Boris Johnson uses washing machine diplomacy in Turkish charm offensive

Boris Johnson has heaped praise on his Turkish-built washing machine after the country's prime minister warned that the Foreign Secretary needed to make amends after penning a rude poem about its head of state.

Mr Johnson used his first official visit to the nation to enthuse about the "beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine" he has in London.

The unusual charm offensive came after Mr Johnson sparked controversy in May by using a satirical limerick to describe president Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "wankerer" who had sex with a goat.

Boris Johnson is on a charm offensive

Mr Johnson hit on the novel "washing machine diplomacy" agenda as he talked up the trade links between the UK and Turkey.

"We are lucky in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods. I am certainly the proud possessor of a beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine, like so many other people in my country," Mr Johnson said at a joint press conference with Turkish EU affairs minister, Omer Celik.

Mr Johnson, who has Turkish ancestry and is meeting president Erdogan on Tuesday, was awarded a 1,000 prize by the Spectator in May for winning the magazine's competition to write the most offensive poem possible about the key regional power broker.

The limerick read: "There was a young fellow from Ankara. Who was a terrific wankerer. Till he sowed his wild oats. With the help of a goat. But he didn't even stop to thankera."

After Prime Minister Theresa May surprised the diplomatic world by appointing Mr Johnson Foreign Secretary in July, Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim said he needed to "make it up" with the Turks.

"May God help him and reform him. And I hope he won't make any more mistakes and tries to make it up with the Turks," Mr Yildirim told the BBC.

Asked at a joint press conference with Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu whether the offensive poem had been raised during his visit, Mr Johnson said: "That has not come up at all."

Mr Johnson said he wanted to forge a "jumbo" trade deal with Turkey after Britain exits the EU.
'Banker bribed with sex parties cash in exchange for loans'

A banker was allegedly bribed with "funny money" to spend on girls for sex parties in exchange for loans which consultants he worked with profited from, a court has heard.

HBOS banker Lynden Scourfield and others are said to have attended several parties involving high-end escorts where sex acts allegedly took place at a flat in west London, Southwark Crown Court was told.

A man employed by consultant David Mills, whose corporate entity Quayside (QCS) was engaged to advise some of the high-risk businesses under Scourfield's portfolio, was asked to deliver an envelope of cash several times to a flat one of the businesses rented, prosecutor Brian O'Neill said.

Southwark Crown Court heard of lavish spending with the card

He said John Cartwright, who had asked the employee to deliver the cash while a consultant for Mills, Michael Bancroft, was away in the summer of 2005, said it was "funny money" for Scourfield, 54, to pay for girls.

Scourfield, who is not on trial, looked after corporate customers experiencing financial difficulties at HBOS's branch in Reading, Berkshire, until 2007, when he resigned.

Mills, 59, and his wife Alison Mills, 51, from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, Michael Bancroft, 73, from Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, Mark Dobson, 55, from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, Jonathan Cohen, 57, from Pinner, Middlesex, and John Cartwright, 71, from Hyde, Cheshire, appeared in the dock on Tuesday.

The list of charges, which the six deny, includes conspiracy to corrupt, fraudulent trading and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

A woman known as "FR" described one occasion in a diary entry from December 2005, which read: "Met guys, me, Amber and Suzie. Chinese meal. Then drinks at flat and quick shag. Easy 1500. Home late and drunk", the prosecutor said.

This corresponded to a December 2005 diary entry made by an employee who worked at Fantasy, part of Remnant - a porn magazine company under Scourfield's HBOS portfolio.

She remembered being asked to arrange some girls for the head of Remnant Simon Robinson's "posh twat banker friends", Mr O'Neill said.

Her note read: "Royal China Restaurant, Baker Street in the name of Michael Bancroft", he told the court, and analysis of Bancroft's business credit card showed he was a frequent visitor to the restaurant.

The group including Scourfield and Bancroft went to a nearby flat, where various sex acts took place, Mr O'Neill said, and a woman identified as "Suzie Best" described one of the men as being a "Danny Devito lookalike - short and bald".

Scourfield also was allegedly bribed by Mills with free travel at the expense of a company called Bradman Lake Group Ltd (BLG), and had free rein over an American Express card the consultant owned for more than two years, the court heard.

He went on several trips, some of which were clearly "boys' jollies", prosecutor Brian O'Neill said.

Some of the purchases allegedly included a Cartier watch worth more than 3,000 in Barbados in 2005 and a six-star, all-inclusive cruise on the Mediterranean for the Scourfield and Mills couples in October 2004.

Together they occupied the second most expensive accommodation on the ship, the two-bedroom Royal Suite, Mr O'Neill said.

Tom Angus, a senior HBOS director from 2006 and Scourfield's direct line manager, said in a statement read out in court: "The very fact that he had a card would place him in an indefensibly vulnerable position. If personal usage is on the card then the suspicion would be that there can only be one reason - that the client wants you to do something in return that may not be in keeping with your duty of care to the bank."

Clothes, jewellery, luxury hotels and business-class flights were all frequently purchased using the card, while further lavish spending took place at an oyster bar and a cheesecake restaurant, the court heard.

On several occasions, Scourfield asked the person organising the trips to send the details to his personal email rather than his HBOS one, Mr O'Neill said.

In total, the Scourfields allegedly received almost 60,000 in identifiable corrupt gifts in this way, the court heard.

The perks were intended to reward Scourfield in exchange for loans which enabled Mills and others to charge high consultancy fees, the prosecution alleges.
Government urged to redouble efforts to maintain access to single market

Some of the City's biggest business groups have urged the Government to redouble efforts to maintain access to the single market, take a "sensible" approach to immigration and reject protectionism as part of Brexit negotiations.

The comments, from the likes of the Institute of Directors (IoD), the City of London Corporation and TheCityUK, come ahead of the 100-day anniversary of Britain's decision to quit the European Union.

Simon Walker, director general of the IoD, told the Press Association: "The Government must set out a positive vision for a free-trading Britain which is open to talent from anywhere in the world.

Mark Boleat reiterated the importance for the Square Mile's financial institutions to retain passporting rights

"That means resisting calls for protectionism and taking a sensible approach on immigration which recognises that in order to succeed, British companies need the skilled workers from the EU and beyond."

Mr Walker also said that since the initial shock of the Brexit vote is wearing off, and companies are feeling more optimistic, the Government must move quickly to underpin business confidence and ensure Britain remains open.

Post-referendum data has shown some resilience in the economy, but Mr Walker is urging the Chancellor Philip Hammond to introduce measures in the Autumn Statement that encourage businesses to spend.

"In the short-term, the Chancellor needs to take steps at the Autumn Statement, like raising the annual investment allowance to 1 million a year, that will encourage business to spend," he said.

Meanwhile, Mark Boleat, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, reiterated the importance for the Square Mile's financial institutions to retain passporting rights, which allow them to do business in Europe.

"The number one issue for the City is the uncertainty that Brexit has caused. The general consensus within the Square Mile is that access to the single market with passporting rights will be important in ensuring sustained economic growth, and easy access to skilled labour is also a major need for businesses.

"There is also broad agreement that the UK cannot be a 'rule taker' and must have some say over future regulations that will affect financial and professional services."

Mr Boleat added that the Corporation, which governs the UK's financial district, is working through a "lengthy list" of what the City wants to see from the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

Speculation is mounting that militant Tory eurosceptics could force the Government into a so-called "hard Brexit", whereby the UK would ditch the EU's single market, a move that many argue would be catastrophic for businesses and the economy.

Lobby group TheCityUK said that a "mutually beneficial" deal between the UK and the EU would be in both parties' interests.

Chief executive Miles Celic said: "Since the vote, the UK-based financial and related professional services industry has been focused on identifying and communicating to the UK Government its specific needs and priorities for the negotiations, as well as engaging with EU institutions and governments, and with key international partners.

"It is also a European asset given its role as Europe's financial centre, which is why ensuring a deal which is mutually beneficial for the EU and the UK, and ensuring stability and certainty to the extent possible, and protecting the interests of the industry's customers and clients, is in everyone's interests."
Corbyn to pledge to restore fund to help communities deal with immigration

Jeremy Corbyn is to announce plans to restore a multimillion-pound fund to help local communities deal with the impact of immigration.

But the Labour leader risks sparking a row within his own party, as aides said he was not making it an objective to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK.

The announcement, in a keynote speech wrapping up Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, will come just hours after shadow home secretary Andy Burnham warns the party must "face up fully" to the fact that millions of its supporters "voted for change on immigration" in the EU referendum.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn prepares his keynote speech in his hotel, which he will deliver on Wednesday during the Labour Autumn Conference at the ACC Liverpool.

And it follows a warning from prominent backbencher Rachel Reeves of "bubbling tensions" over immigration which could explode into riots on the streets of Britain.

Speaking four days after his decisive re-election as Labour leader, Mr Corbyn will also call on rebel MPs to "end the trench warfare" and accept the decision of members and supporters who backed him over challenger Owen Smith by 62%-38%.

He promised on Tuesday to announce new recruits to his depleted shadow ministerial team by the time Parliament returns on October 10, some of whom are expected to be among the dozens who quit the front bench in June in protest at his leadership.

And he will put the party on notice to prepare for a snap general election in 2017, with aides making clear he is ready to vote for an early election if Prime Minister Theresa May seeks the dissolution of Parliament.

In a round of TV interviews, Mr Corbyn explained that he had been talking with socialist parties around Europe about the need for what he termed "co-terminosity" - harmonisation of wages and conditions - which he said could reduce incentives for workers from countries such as Poland or Bulgaria to come to the UK.

Addressing the conference on Wednesday, he will call for action to stop employers using migrant workers to undercut the pay and conditions of home-grown staff.

And he will say Labour would reinstate the Migration Impact Fund introduced by Gordon Brown in 2008 to help local communities respond to pressure on services such as schools, health and housing, but abolished by the coalition government in 2010.

Mr Brown's 50 million scheme was funded by a 50 visa levy on non-EU migrants. Mr Corbyn will boost its resources with a new citizenship application fee.

He will say: "A Labour government will not offer false promises. We will not sow division or fan the flames of fear. We will instead tackle the real issues of immigration - and make the real changes that are needed."

Asked whether the Labour leader believed that immigration levels - last month standing at 633,000 - needed to come down, an aide told reporters: "Jeremy is not concerned about numbers. Jeremy wants to ensure that people who come to work here have the same rights as British people and there is no undercutting of pay or conditions, which is driving wages down."

He added: "It is not an objective to reduce the numbers, to reduce immigration. It is an objective to address the issues that are caused by immigration."

Speaking to the conference shortly before Mr Corbyn's address, Mr Burnham is due to say: "Labour must face up fully to this fact: millions of our lifelong supporters voted to leave the EU and voted for change on immigration."

And Leeds West MP Ms Reeves told a meeting on the fringe of the conference that the party must listen to voters' concerns, warning: "We have got to get this right because there are bubbling tensions in this country that I just think could explode.

"You had those riots in 2011 ... if riots started again in Leeds and bits of my constituency - it's like a tinderbox."

Ms Reeves is one of a group of Labour moderates who have suggested that free movement must be restricted, even if it means losing full access to the single market.

Setting out his plans, Mr Corbyn will say: "We will act to end the exploitation of migrant labour to undercut workers' pay and conditions. And we will ease the pressure on hard-pressed public services - services that are struggling to absorb Tory austerity cuts, in communities absorbing new populations.

"Labour will reinstate the Migrant Impact Fund, abolished by the Tory government. That will give extra support to areas of high migration. We will use the visa levy for its intended purpose. And we will add a citizenship application fee levy to boost the fund."

After a conference which has seen centrist MPs vow to "stay and fight" rather than split the party and Corbyn supporters stage an alternative left-wing political festival, Mr Corbyn will urge Labour to come together behind 10 key pledges which will underpin the party's programme for office.

These are full employment; a secure homes guarantee; security at work; a strong public NHS and social care; a National Education Service; action on climate change; public ownership and control of services; cuts in income and wealth inequalities; action to secure an equal society; and peace and justice at the heart of foreign policy.

He will say: "The central task for the whole Labour Party is to rebuild trust and support to win the next general election and form the next government. That is the government I am determined to lead, to win power to change Britain for the better.

"But every one of us knows that we will only get there if we accept the decision of the members, end the trench warfare and work together to take on the Tories.

"Anything else is a luxury that the millions of people who depend on Labour cannot afford."

Mr Corbyn will insist there is "every chance" Mrs May will "cut and run for an early election".

And he will add: "I put our party on notice today. Labour is preparing for a general election in 2017, we expect all our members to support that effort, and we will be ready whenever it comes."

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "All this shows is that Jeremy Corbyn wants unlimited immigration - and presides over a Labour Party that is too divided, incompetent and distracted to lead our country.
Pupils at Islamic school spoke out against segregation, High Court told

Pupils at an Islamic faith school have spoken out against the segregation of boys and girls, the High Court has been told by a schools inspector.

The inspector was giving evidence in a legal battle over a controversial Ofsted report on School X, which cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The inspector told Mr Justice Jay, sitting in London, that a number of pupils had told him they felt segregation "was having a negative effect on being prepared for life in modern Britain".

The HIgh Court is hearing evidence in a legal battle over a controversial Ofsted report on an Islamic school that cannot be named

The inspector said: "One young woman referred to it as 'dumb'."

The inspector said boys had also mentioned segregation as "having a negative impact in terms of preparing them for life".

But not all pupils had agreed with that view, he said.

The inspector was giving evidence at the beginning of a challenge brought by School X's interim executive board over findings in the Ofsted report that it was an "inadequate school" and required special measures. The report criticises its policy for the segregation of boys from girls.

The board is disputing the report's findings and applying for a judicial review to have it quashed.

The judge was told the Islamic voluntary-aided school admitted pupils of both sexes between the ages of four and 16.

From Year 5 girls and boys are completely segregated for all lessons, break and lunchtimes, as well as for school clubs and trips.

The school cannot for the time being be named after a judge at an earlier hearing said identifying it would be likely "to generate a media storm and tensions and fears for parents and the local community".

The judge said if the school's legal challenge failed the interim order could be lifted and the report published.

The head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is urging the court to reject the school board's legal challenge.

Helen Mountfield QC, appearing for the education watchdog, said the case involved unlawful sex discrimination in a mixed-sex school contrary to provisions of the 2010 Equality Act.

Ms Mountfield told the judge he had to decide whether "the complete gender segregation" inspectors had observed at the school meant school leaders were failing to protect the rights of pupils "to equal opportunities to learn and develop and take their place in society".

Ms Mountfield said: "That is the issue of principle that has ramifications beyond this case."

The complete segregation constituted less favourable treatment both for girls and boys because both were denied the chance to interact from the age of nine upwards.

"Both girls and boys suffer the loss of opportunity to learn how to socialise and in due course work with those of the opposite sex."

Ms Mountfield also argued the segregation policy contained "a necessary implication that girls are inferior to boys".

The QC said Ofsted's current approach had not been applied to the school in past Ofsted inspections and the watchdog had apologised because that had been "wrong in law".

Peter Oldham QC, appearing for the school governors, argued the judicial review application should succeed because Ofsted had wrongly "singled out" School X and taken an approach which was too broad and legally flawed.

Mr Oldham said it was relevant that there might be plenty of girls and boys who would say of School X: "I like it just the way it is."

He added: "Ofsted cannot march in and say there is detriment to everyone.

"It simply cannot be asserted that lack of the ability to consort with the opposite sex is a detriment."

Mr Oldham also argued: "It is wrong in law to say it is not acceptable for a parent to send a child to a school which segregrates pupils because of religious beliefs."

The law required that a factor to be taken into account when deciding on the provision of education for a child was the preference of the parents.

Mr Oldham said: "We know parents choose schools across a range of religions, and some of those schools separate boys and girls, not just Islamic schools."

The QC asked: "Does Ofsted really want to bring this whole type of school to an end? If so, what is its vires (power) for doing so? It does seem remarkable."
Death crash aircraft pilot 'had no formal training', teacher's inquest told

A pilot who crashed a passenger plane almost vertically into a runway at 280mph (450kph) killing all 50 on board had no record of completing any training, an inquest has heard.

Donna Bull, 53, was travelling from Moscow for a marketing trip on board the Tatarstan Airlines jet when it crash landed at Kazan Airport in November 2013.

Coroner David Morris concluded that Ms Bull, who taught at Bellerbys College in Cambridge, was unlawfully killed, and said the pilot had "missed out on the basics".

Teacher Donna Bull was among 50 people who died when the Tatarstan Airlines plane crashed in 2013

The inquest at Peterborough Register Office heard the Boeing 727 aircraft had aborted one landing attempt and the crew had initiated a go-around procedure to line up for another run.

The plane climbed to 700 metres (2,300ft) and as the captain moved the nose down it began a 20-second plunge where the 23-year-old craft dived into the ground at a 75 degree angle.

Mr Morris said: "Frankly, he shouldn't have been flying the plane. It's as simple as that."

Suggesting the death would be "gross negligence manslaughter" if the inquest was being heard by a jury, he added: "The circumstances here are so gross. He should never have been in the plane and you cannot get more gross than that.

"The pilot did not have a genuine licence, he was not properly trained, he had no experience in the particular manoeuvre.

"That, together with numerous systemic failures, led to her death."

The court heard the plane was airworthy and that conditions at Kazan airport, in south-west Russia, were described as "benign" at the time of the crash by Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigator Paul Hannant.

He told the court the co-pilot had failed an English language test three times - but passed with 100% on the fourth attempt - and had passed training to become a pilot.

Speaking about the pilot, he said: "The captain was a navigator with the airline and he then got a pilot's licence. There was no record of him having done any pilot training."

The court heard one potential explanation for the crash which killed 44 passengers and six crew was the somatogravic illusion - where acceleration is confused for lift where there are no visual references for a pilot - with this phenomenon covered in basic training.

Afandi Darlington, from the AAIB, said: "It's possible the pilot may have sensed the aircraft was pitching nose up and this may explain why he has pulled a rather extreme control movement forward."

Speaking after the inquest, Ms Bull's son George, daughter Kate and stepmother Jenny described her as a "wonderful, caring and devoted mother and daughter".

It added: "She was the sunshine to all who knew her and there isn't a day that goes by that she is not missed. We miss her smile and arms around us.

"To lose a loved one as part of an accident is a tragedy, but to lose them in an incident that was wholly avoidable is so much more painful to bear.

"How could the authorities let inadequately trained engineers pilot a plane carrying passengers? Our lives and those of many others have been shattered by this flagrant disregard for safety."

The family's lawyer, Kieran Mitchell, from Slater and Gordon, said: "It is quite extraordinary that an airline could have such a disgraceful disregard for human life.

"It beggars belief how the local regulatory authorities in the Republic of Tatarstan, or indeed those of the Russian Federation, permitted commercial flight activities to be undertaken in such circumstances.

"It was surely only a matter of time before a tragedy, such as this befell them, leading to the loss of a much-loved mother."
First baby with three genetic parents born in Mexico

Fertility doctors using a controversial technique developed to eliminate inherited disease have helped a woman deliver the first baby with three genetic parents.

Five-month-old Abrahim Hassan's Jordanian mother was treated by a US team in Mexico.

He was conceived from an egg containing nuclear DNA from his mother and father, and mitochondrial DNA from a "second" mother - an unknown female donor.

Five-month-old Abrahim Hassan was conceived from an egg containing nuclear DNA from his mother and father, and mitochondrial DNA from a 'second' mother

The aim was to replace defective mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that may have condemned Abrahim to Leigh syndrome, a fatal disorder affecting the developing nervous system.

Mitochondrial DNA is housed in the tiny rod-like "batteries" in cells that supply energy, and is passed down through the generations by mothers.

So far only the UK has given an official stamp of legal approval to the technique employed by the American doctors.

But the US team moved ahead by achieving the first live birth involving mitochondrial replacement.

Dr Dusko Ilic, an expert from King's College London, told New Scientist magazine, which carries an exclusive report of the birth in its latest issue: "This is great news and a huge deal. It's revolutionary".

Inherited mitochondrial diseases include devastating conditions that result in poor growth, muscle weakness, loss of co-ordination, seizures, vision and hearing problems, learning disabilities and organ failure.

It is estimated that one in 4,000 people has an incurable mitochondrial disease.

Abrahim's mother, Ibtisam Shaban, carries the Leigh syndrome mutation in about a quarter of her mitochondria.

While she has suffered no ill effects, the disease killed her first two children, said New Scientist.

Ms Shaban and her husband, Mahmoud Hassan, sought the help of leading embryologist Dr John Zhang, medical director at the New Hope Fertility Centre in New York City.

He used an approach called spindle nuclear transfer, which involves finding an egg from a willing donor and removing its nuclear DNA.

The nucleus from one of Ms Shaban's eggs was then inserted into the donor egg.

The result - an egg containing nuclear DNA from Ms Shaban and mtDNA from the donor - was fertilised with Mr Hassan's sperm.

Five embryos were created, only one of which developed normally and was implanted in Ms Shaban's womb.

While the US has not approved the technique, Mexico has "no rules", Dr Zhang is reported to have said.

He told New Scientist: "To save lives is the ethical thing to do."

Tests of Abrahim's mitochondria showed that less than 1% carried the Leigh mutation, which is thought to be far too low to cause any problems.

The work was briefly reported in a little-known scientific journal, Fertility and Sterility, in an article entitled "First live birth using human oocytes reconstituted by spindle nuclear transfer for mitochondrial DNA mutation causing Leigh syndrome".

British experts congratulated the team but called for more information.

Professor Doug Turnbull, from the University of Newcastle, said: " There have been extensive discussions in the UK to ensure that families with mitochondrial disease get the best possible advice about their reproductive options and that any new IVF-based technique is appropriately regulated and funded.

"This abstract gives very little information about the technique used, the follow-up of the child or the ethical approval process."

Dr Ilic added: "This was an ice-breaker. The baby is reportedly healthy; hopefully, this will tame the more zealous critics, accelerate the field, and we will witness soon a birth of the first mitochondrial donation baby in the UK.

"But some questions remain. By performing the treatment in Mexico, the team were not subject to the same stringent regulation as some other countries would insist on. We have no way of knowing how skilful or prepared they were, and this may have been a risky thing to do. On the other hand, we have what appears to be a healthy baby. Because it was successful, fewer questions will be raised but it is important that we still ask them."

Although Fertility and Sterility released a short summary of the procedure, full details have not yet been reported.

Dr Ilic said: "Was this the first time ever they performed the technique or were there other attempts and they are reporting this one because it was successful? This and other important questions remain unanswered because this work has not been published and the rest of the scientific community has been unable to examine it in detail. It's vital that that happens soon."

Professor Simon Fishel, president of the Care Fertility Group of IVF clinics, said: "This is a devastating disease that we do not wish children to be born with, and what's more, we would wish to eradicate from any family lineage - and this technology will help achieve this. However, any first-time medical procedure moving from successful animal studies to the human, that will take several years until we understand its impact, is a necessary experimental step forward, which we hope and believe should be totally safe and utterly effective.

"Congratulations to this team and all those hoping to help these unfortunate families, and we should proceed with caution and due regulation."

Last year the House of Lords approved legislation to allow IVF involving mitochondrial replacement, making the UK the first country in the world explicitly to approve the procedure.

Strict controls remain in force in the UK and scientists wishing to follow in Dr Zhang's footsteps would first have to obtain permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Dr David King, director of the watchdog group Human Genetics Alert, branded the research "unethical and irresponsible".

He added: "It is outrageous that they simply ignored the cautious approach of US regulators and went to Mexico, because they think they know better.

"Since when is a simplistic 'to save lives is the ethical thing to do' a balanced medical ethics approach, especially when no lives were being saved?

"These scientists have used an experimental technique that many scientists still think is unsafe in order to create a world first.
Labour candidate to face nine rivals in poll prompted by Jo Cox's death

Labour's Tracy Brabin will face nine other candidates in the by-election prompted by the death of MP Jo Cox, including a number from a range of far-right organisations.

The Tories, Lib Dems and Ukip stood by their pledge not to field candidates in next month's by-election out of respect for Mrs Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death outside her constituency office in Birstall in June.

But nine candidates have been nominated to stand against Ms Brabin, a former Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Eastenders actress, who was selected by Labour as their candidate in the West Yorkshire constituency last week.

The former Coronation Street actress will stand for Labour in the seat

Among the groups represented by the candidates are representatives of the National Front, the British National Party and the anti-Islam Liberty GB party.

Ms Brabin, 55, was selected from a shortlist of two at a meeting of Labour members in the constituency on Friday following hustings at a Batley school.

Campaigning in Cleckheaton on Saturday, she said she knew Mrs Cox and added: "I'm really, really committed to making her proud."

Ms Brabin said she was brought up in a council flat in the constituency and her mother owned a popular local cafe called Betty's.

She played Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street in the 1990s before appearing as Roxy Drake in EastEnders and Carole in Emmerdale.

She has also written for shows including Family Affairs, Tracy Beaker and Hollyoaks.

A number of the other nine candidates had declared their candidature and put out a statement ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

English Democrats' candidate Therese Hirst is a former leader of Veritas, the party formed by Robert Kilroy-Silk, which later merged with the English Democrats.

Independent Garry Kitchin has said he is standing because he believes "basic democratic principles mean that, in every constituency, people have the right to a full range of candidates to choose from when they select their MP".

Another independent candidate, Waqas Ali Khan, is a Ukip member who stood for the party in the 2015 general election in Shipley, coming third behind Tory Philip Davies.

The candidate named on the nominations notice as Corbyn Anti will appear on the ballot paper as "ANTI Corbyn".

The poll, which will take place on October 20, was called following the death of Mrs Cox, who was 41 and had two young children when she was killed on June 16.

Her death shocked the nation and provoked an outpouring of bewilderment and soul-searching around the world.

Mrs Cox was elected to parliament in the 2015 general election when she held Batley and Spen for Labour with a 6,051 majority over the Conservative candidate, with a 43% share of the vote.

The candidates in the by-election are:

:: Corbyn Anti - By Election Protest

:: Tracy Lynn Brabin - Labour Party

:: Jack Buckby - Liberty GB

:: Richard Charles Edmonds - National Front

:: David Furness - British National Party

:: Therese Hurst - English Democrats

:: Waqas Ali Khan - Independent

:: Garry Mervyn Kitchin - Independent

:: Ankit Love - One Love Party

:: Henry Edmund Burke Mayhew - Independent

Batley and Spen has an electorate of 78,373. At the 2015 general election there was a 64.4% turnout. The result was:

:: Jo Cox (Lab) 21,820 (43.23%)

:: Imtiaz Ameen (C) 15,769 (31.24%)

:: Aleks Lukic (Ukip) 9,080 (17.99%)

:: John Lawson (Lib Dem) 2,396 (4.75%)

:: Ian Bullock (Green) 1,232 (2.44%)

:: Dawn Wheelhouse (TUSC) 123 (0.24%)
I've left you: Historian's break-up letter to Communist Party revealed

The bitter break-up between one of Britain's most famous left-wing academics and the Communist Party has been revealed in newly released secret files.

Documents released by the National Archives at Kew show for 20 years the historian and peace campaigner E P Thompson - best known for his ground-breaking social history The Making Of The English Working Class - was the subject of MI5 surveillance.

Professor Thompson, a long-time member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), first came to the attention of the security service in 1943 when, as a lieutenant serving in the Army, he baulked at having to produce his military identity card.

Historian E P Thompson grew disillusioned with the Communist Party of Great Britain, seen here launching its election campaign in London's Trafalgar Square, newly released files show

"I must get out of here and start fighting fascism abroad, and then come back and fight it here," he told the startled guard who had demanded to see the document.

By 1956 however - following the infamous denunciation of Stalin by his successor Nikita Khrushchev at the 20th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party - Prof Thompson had become profoundly disillusioned with his "comrades" in the CPGB.

In a scathing letter to the secretary of the party's Yorkshire district committee - intercepted by MI5 - he announced that he was quitting the committee having lost confidence in the "political integrity" of the hard left party leadership.

He bitterly castigated members of the party's ruling executive committee (EC) for acting as "high priests interpreting and justifying holy writ as emanating from Stalin" rather than independent Marxists.

"How can one accept the plea of false information and good faith as an excuse for 20 years of uncritical and often hopelessly inaccurate (our opponents would say mendacious) propaganda? Is faith the main quality required of the leadership of the Party of Scientific Socialism," he wrote.

"All I can say is thank God there is no chance of this EC ever having power in Britain: it would destroy in a month every liberty of thought conscience and expression, which it has taken the British people 300-odd years to win.

"And it would do it all with benevolent safety valves and in a smug and supremely self-righteous belief that it was acting in the interests of the working class whose interests it was divinely inspired to interpret."

The MI5 surveillance showed that by the time of the split, his fellow party members had become just as unhappy with their troublesome comrade as he was with them.

A secret recording picked up one member complaining of a meeting in Leeds where some of those involved had "even gone so far as to say that the Soviet Union was not a socialist country".

The report noted: "He said that he thought things would probably end up all right there but he didn't know about Edward Thompson who he thought was the main instigator of it all."
In Skopje, residents proud of native Mother Teresa canonisation

SKOPJE, Sept 2 (Reuters) - When Mother Teresa is made an official saint of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, one city will be particularly proud of its famous native, Skopje.

On the streets of the Macedonian capital, stalls sell postcards and memorabilia with the nun's picture while visitors take in sites dedicated to the Nobel peace prize winner such as a memorial museum and statues.

Of Albanian parents, Mother Teresa was born Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu in Skopje, in what was then part of the Ottoman empire and is now Macedonia, on August 26, 1910.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected at Sunday's canonisation service led by Pope Francis in front of St Peter's basilica, which will also to be attended by Macedonian government officials.

"I think the whole world respects her," Skopje resident Milorad Ciric said. "She really did great work for the poor and helped as much as she could."

In Skopje, masses and other celebratory events will be held in honour of her canonisation.

Mother Teresa, who died in 1997, became a nun at the age of 16. She moved to Kolkata, then called Calcutta, in India in 1929 and established her mission in 1950, working to help the destitute.

While she has also has her critics, Mother Teresa is revered by Catholics for her work to help the poor, and was affectionately called the "saint of the gutters".
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China is very much committed to fulfilling all its obligations to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), said Liu Dongsheng, Head of the Chinese delegation to the CITES 17th Conference of Parties, on Monday.

File photo of a panda. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The official was delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of an exhibition hosted by the Chinese delegation on the sidelines of the conference, taking place in Johannesburg.

He said, "As the largest developing country, China has been committed to performing its obligations to CITES, improving domestic legislation, enforcing laws, combating animal trafficking crimes, raising awareness, strengthening capacity building and international cooperation."

According to Liu, China has been improving its legal system, including laws on wildlife development systems, fauna and flora protection, as well as laws on import and export of endangered species.

"Resources protection is the priority. Management and utilization of wildlife is also regulated while monitoring is strengthened," he said.

"China continues to carry out key wildlife development programs including development of nature reserves and natural forest resources conservation," said the official.

He noted that China's commitment and seriousness in protecting endangered species has started bearing fruits.

"The wildlife habitat environment conservation has improved significantly. The population decline of endangered species has been reversed," Liu said.

He emphasized that China has taken a zero tolerance to environment-related crimes.

"China has banned use of rhino horn, tiger bones and suspended ivory imports.

"It has organized targeted law enforcement actions and this has dealt a heavy blow to illegal and criminal activities, including poaching, transporting and trafficking of wildlife," the official said.

The Chinese government has also embarked on public awareness programs.

"We emphasize on increasing public awareness and hold serious memorial activities when celebrating the World Wildlife Day.

"These activities are held in import and export ports. Mobile phones warning messages are also sent out to increase public awareness on conservation," he added.

Other measures include the use of internet delivery and tourism companies to announce initiatives and build self discipline in resisting illegal wildlife trade.

Poor countries have also received financial assistance from China to attend COP meetings, according to the official.
Kremlin says worried that terrorists regrouping in Syria

MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday it was gravely concerned by the situation in Syria where it said terrorists were using a ceasefire to regroup and wage offensives against government troops.

"The Kremlin views the situation as extremely complicated," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters. "We are chiefly concerned that ... terrorists are using a ceasefire to regroup their forces, to replenish their arsenals, for obvious preparations for waging offensives."

The ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Washington broke down last week. The United States accused Russia on Sunday of barbarism as warplanes supporting government forces pounded Aleppo and Moscow said ending Syria's war was almost impossible.

Peskov said moderate opposition forces have not been separated from terrorists, repeating Moscow's reproach of the United States for failing to deliver on its promise to nudge the armed groups it has influence over to disengage from jihadi fighters.

"Because there has been no separation of moderates from terrorists, terrorists continue their encroachments, they continue offensives ... Naturally the fight against terrorists is ongoing, it must not be stopped."

French and British foreign ministers echoed U.S. criticism of Russia on Sunday, saying it could be guilty of war crimes.

Peskov said the tough Western condemnation might hinder any resolution to the Syria crisis and hurt bilateral relations with Russia. Moscow sees "absolutely no prospect" for holding a summit on Syria, he added.

"Regrettably ... the ceasefire regime has not been effective enough to date," Peskov said.
Portugal's Guterres still leads race for UN chief after fifth ballot

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres continues to lead the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General after a fifth U.N. Security Council secret ballot on Monday, diplomats said.

The 15-member council cast a ballot for each of the remaining nine candidates with the choices of: encourage, discourage or no opinion. Guterres again received 12 encourage, two discourage and one no opinion, diplomats said.

Guterres, who was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 and served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015, also won the first four rounds of secret balloting by the Security Council.

Former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic came in second with eight encourage, six discourage and one no opinion, while Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak was third with eight encourage and seven discourage.

The Security Council will hold secret ballots until a consensus is reached on a candidate to replace U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, who steps down at the end of 2016 after serving two five-year terms.

The council will hold the next secret ballot on Oct. 5, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said. He said during that vote, the ballots cast by the five veto powers - the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia - would be a different color from the votes of the remaining 10 council members, though they remain anonymous.

This allows candidates to see if they could be facing a veto.
EU launches programme to issue cash cards to migrants in Turkey

ANKARA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The European Union launched a programme on Monday to issue monthly electronic cash grants to benefit a million refugees in Turkey, as part of a deal under which Ankara will curb the numbers trying to enter Europe.

The Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) will give refugees pre-paid cards for food, housing, schooling or medical expenses in Turkey.

Earlier this year, EU countries approved a fund of 3 billion euros ($3.37 billion) to help Turkey improve living conditions for some 3 million Syrian migrants on its territory. The ESSN is part of that deal.

"Today we launch the biggest and largest humanitarian project the EU has ever supported. It will provide a basic source of income for 1 million Syrian refugees," Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said at a news conference.

"The ESSN is perfect proof of the EU's commitment to tackle the challenge posed by the refugee crisis," he said.

The EU is also funding other humanitarian projects in Turkey. But President Tayyip Erdogan has accused the bloc of not following through on its financial pledges.

More than a million migrants entered the European Union after crossing from Turkey to Greece by boat last year. Since Turkey agreed to prevent people from setting sail from its shores, the numbers taking that route have fallen dramatically.

On Turkey's criticism that the promised EU aid for refugees was slow to arrive, Stylianides said he held discussions with Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik on the issue.

"I think now minister Celik recognises and realises that this process for all European funding is going well and I think day by day the situation is getting better," he said.
Hong Kong small-caps: ready for China fever?

By Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch

SHANGHAI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Chasing higher returns in a slowing economy, Chinese investors could soon dominate Hong Kong's stock market, likely redefining how shares, especially small-caps, are traded and priced there.

Chinese money will account for a third of Hong Kong's stock trading turnover in three years, up from a tenth now, UBS and other brokers predict. Some traders say it could hit 50 percent within five years.

That would be a sea change for Hong Kong's century-old stock market and a serious challenge to western players. European and U.S. investors now account for almost a quarter of stock turnover.

Fund managers say the inflow of Chinese money will be driven by deregulation, fears of yuan depreciation, and yield chasing as there are still wide valuation gaps between the two markets.

The shift could trigger a culture clash between fundamentals-dependent western investors and momentum-driven Chinese, who tend to be more aggressive and speculative.

It is likely to be most evident in Hong Kong's small-caps, as the opening of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock trading link, as early as November, will allow mainland Chinese to buy Hong Kong small- and mid-caps, bringing much-needed liquidity, but also likely speculative fever to growth stocks.

"Small-caps in Hong Kong have long suffered from poor liquidity ... and low valuations. Mainland investors have a penchant for growth stocks, often giving them stretched valuations," said Lu Wenjie, strategist at UBS.

"Mainlanders also like stir-frying concept stocks. A growth story with a 5-year horizon is often priced in just a week in China. Such an investment style will have a big impact on Hong Kong stocks."

MIND THE GAP

In blue-chip stocks, the price gap has already narrowed, with China-listed shares around a fifth more expensive than Hong Kong, as Chinese investors have bought stocks like HSBC, Tencent and ICBC via the already open Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong link will offer a broader investment scope.

"The valuation differentials between Shenzhen and Hong Kong small-caps are pretty significant," said Kinger Lau, chief China equity strategist at Goldman Sachs.

China's small-cap companies trade at over 40 times expected earnings, the highest in Asia-Pacific, and four times the ratio in Hong Kong.

The arrival of Chinese investors, who on average trade eight times more frequently than their Hong Kong peers, will likely increase market turnover, volatility and, potentially, the number of insider trading cases.

"Investors are very clever. They will bring to Hong Kong some of the Chinese style, but will also learn about the new environment [such as short-selling and additional share issuance] and adapt," said Fu Xuejun, strategist at Huarong Securities. "I don't think they'll be as crazy as they are in China."

Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd said it does not have details of fund flows from the mainland, and does not speculate on future market activity.

FUNDS FRONT-RUNNING

Anticipating a re-valuation of Hong Kong stocks once the Shenzhen link opens, some Chinese fund managers are already building up stakes in select stocks to front-run mainland money.

Shen Weizheng, Shanghai-based fund manager at Ivy Capital, said he has bought shares in Hong Kong-listed Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable. "Water flows from high places to low places, naturally. Once the floodgate opens ... liquidity will flow south ... narrowing the valuation gaps," said Shen, who manages a $1 billion offshore fund that has 70 percent of its portfolio in Hong Kong stocks.

He noted Yangtze Optical Fibre trades at around 10 times earnings, while its China-listed rival Hengtong Optic-Electric Co trades at three times that. "It's natural to buy cheaper assets," he said, noting the stock has jumped by more than a third since Beijing approved the Shenzhen link last month. Shen said the stock could gain another 50 percent as optic-fibre is a popular concept among mainland investors.

Shanghai-based hedge fund RPower Capital has also increased its bets on Hong Kong stocks, said Robert Di, founding partner. "Chinese regulators have stepped up a crackdown on speculation, so many domestic hedge funds are starting to play in Hong Kong," said Di, whose portfolio includes both blue-chips and small-caps, such as Genscript Biotech Corp.

PRICING POWER

The expected wall of Chinese money heading for Hong Kong, fuelled by a need to diversify asset allocation and hedge against any yuan depreciation, will also seize more pricing power from global investors.

"The shift in pricing power will likely occur first in small-caps, and then spread to big-caps," said RPower Capital's Di. "A single spark can start a prairie fire," he said, referencing a civil war slogan of Mao Zedong. "It's the strategy of encircling the cities from the rural areas."

Hong Hao, chief strategist at BOCOM International, said more Chinese participation may actually help reduce volatility in Hong Kong, rather than stoke it.

"International flows used to dominate Hong Kong, and caused a great deal of volatility when they left when times were bad," he said. "With the Connect programme, the participants in the Hong Kong market should gradually change, giving some much needed liquidity."
Gulf may arm rebels now Syria truce is dead -U.S. officials

By Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The collapse of the latest Syria ceasefire has heightened the possibility that Gulf states might arm Syrian rebels with shoulder-fired missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian warplanes, U.S. officials said on Monday.

Still, the U.S. administration continues to maintain that negotiations are the only way to end the carnage after Russian-backed Syrian forces intensified their bombing of Aleppo, the last major urban area in rebel hands.

The latest U.S. attempt to end Syria's 5-1/2 year civil war was shattered on Sept. 19 when a humanitarian aid convoy was bombed in an attack Washington blamed on Russian aircraft. Moscow denied involvement.

On Monday, medical supplies were running out in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, with victims pouring into barely functioning hospitals as Russia and its Syrian ally President Bashar al-Assad ignored Western pleas to stop the bombing.

One consequence of the latest diplomatic failure may be that Gulf Arab states or Turkey could step up arms supplies to rebel factions, including shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, something the United States has largely prevented until now.

One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss American policy, said Washington has kept large numbers of such man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, out of Syria by uniting Western and Arab allies behind channeling training and infantry weapons to moderate opposition groups while it pursued talks with Moscow.

But frustration with Washington has intensified, raising the possibility that Gulf allies or Turkey will no longer continue to follow the U.S. lead or will turn a blind eye to wealthy individuals looking to supply MANPADS to opposition groups.

"The Saudis have always thought that the way to get the Russians to back off is what worked in Afghanistan 30 years ago - negating their air power by giving MANPADS to the mujahideen," said a second U.S. official.

"So far, we've been able to convince them that the risks of that are much higher today because we're not dealing with a Soviet Union in retreat, but a Russian leader who's bent on rebuilding Russian power and less likely to flinch," this official said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Asked if the United States was willing to do anything beyond negotiations to try to stop the violence, State Department spokesman Mark Toner did not outline other steps, but stressed that Washington does not want to see anyone pouring more weapons into the conflict.

"What you would have as a result is just an escalation in what is already horrific fighting," Toner said. "Things could go from bad to much worse."

RIGHT TO DEFENSE

Another administration official, however, said, "The opposition has a right to defend itself and they will not be left defenseless in the face of this indiscriminate bombardment."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted that other U.S. "allies and partners" have been involved in the U.S.-Russian talks to find a resolution to the war. "We don't believe they will take lightly to the kind of outrages we've seen in the last 72 hours," said the administration official, who added that he would not comment on "the specific capability that might be brought into the fight." He declined to elaborate.

Critics of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has sought to avoid getting into another Middle East war and seems unlikely to do so in his final months, argued that U.S. diplomacy has been hamstrung by the White House's reluctance to use force.

"Diplomacy in the absence of leverage is a recipe for failure," Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, Republican critics of the Democratic White House, said in a statement.

"Putin and Assad will not do what we ask of them out of the goodness of their hearts, or out of concern for our interests, or the suffering of others. They must be compelled, and that requires power," they added. "Until the United States is willing to take steps to change the conditions on the ground in Syria, the war, the terror, the refugees, and the instability will all continue."

"BEYOND THE PALE"

White House spokesman Josh Earnest accused the Russians of targeting the civilian water supply of eastern Aleppo used by refugee camps, aid convoys, and the White Helmets, a civilian group that seeks to rescue victims of air strikes.

"The idea of weaponizing access to a clean water supply for civilians; it's beyond the pale," Earnest told reporters.

Sarah Margon, director of Human Rights Watch's Washington office, said the actions alleged by Earnest "all constitute war crimes under international law."

"The U.S. has treated Putin as a partner in peace instead of an accomplice and perpetrator of war crimes," Margon said. "The question is now what steps the U.S. will take to compel Russia to refrain from further abuse and from facilitating Assad's atrocities."
Kerry meets with Venezuelan President Maduro amid unrest over vote

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal meeting between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat.

The two men sat down together after a ceremony in Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end Colombia's civil war.
Kerry meets Venezuela's Maduro amid vote tensions

By Patricia Zengerle

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday, the first formal encounter between the two since Kerry became the top U.S. diplomat.

The two sat down together after a ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena to mark the signing of a peace agreement to end that country's civil war.

"(Kerry) spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges," said State Department Spokesman John Kirby.

Kerry and Maduro also agreed to continue bilateral discussions that began in recent months, Kirby said.

Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the meeting.

Venezuela and the United States have been at loggerheaders since the government of late President Hugo Chavez, with frequent exchanges of barbs and expelling each others' diplomats. They do not have ambassadors in place following expulsions several years ago.

Maduro's government is struggling under an unraveling socialist economic system that suffers from triple-digit inflation, extensive shortages of staple products and food riots.

Maduro says the country is victim of an "economic war" backed by the United States and the Venezuelan political elite.

Venezuela's opposition called on Monday for a nationwide rally on Oct. 12 to push for a referendum to recall Maduro this year as they seek to oust his Socialist Party in an early presidential election.

The recall effort has run into opposition from the election board, which is imposing restrictions and argues it will take until 2017 to put the proper conditions in place.

"Everybody knows we're working toward this recall. It's been delayed. That is problematic," Kerry said before the meeting. "And we need to find a way forward that can provide a consensus that provides relief to a nation under siege."

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono, better known as Timochenko, signed the peace accord on Monday at a ceremony attended by international leaders and thousands of Colombians.
Germany's No.2 spy to become parliamentary watchdog - report

BERLIN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Guido Mueller, vice president of Germany's foreign spy agency, is slated to become the country's first parliamentary intelligence watchdog, broadcaster rbb reported on Tuesday, a move that could deepen criticism of proposed intelligence reforms.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats have agreed to name Mueller to the post, which is being created as part of a long-delayed reform of the parliamentary control committee, rbb said, citing sources familiar with the decision.

Mueller began lobbying for the job in February, according to media reports. The role will entail overseeing the work of the foreign, domestic and military intelligence agencies on behalf of parliament.

But some conservative lawmakers said at the time that it would be hard to explain why such a senior official from the foreign spy agency was being named to a key oversight role.

The cabinet in June approved draft legislation to tighten control of the activities of the spy agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst or BND, after revelations in 2015 that it had helped the U.S. National Security Agency spy on European allies.

Both the reforms of the parliamentary control committee and of the BND have come under fire from members of the Green party and the radical Left party as well as from free speech groups and former BND chief Gerhard Schindler, who left the job abruptly in April, two years earlier than planned.

Critics worry that the reforms will give the spy agency more leeway to increase surveillance under the mantle of counterterrorism. Some of the groups have vowed to challenge the new legislation in the country's highest court if it passes in its current form.

The ruling right-centre coalition had hoped to get the reforms approved before the end of the year, with the reform of the parliamentary oversight function to take effect in January.

Government officials say the legislation will provide clear rules for the spy agency's work for the first time, banning industrial espionage and surveillance of German and European citizens, governments and institutions, except in the case of suspected terrorist activity.

The draft legislation also calls for the creation of an independent body that includes judges from Germany's highest court and chief federal prosecutor's office to approve strategic foreign espionage activities.
Nickel caught between shifting Indonesian and Philippine supply trends: Andy Home

By Andy Home

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Indonesia shocked the nickel market at the start of 2014 when it made good on a commitment to ban all exports of unprocessed minerals.

With the stroke of a presidential pen the flow of nickel ore to China's nickel pig iron (NPI) producers was halted.

Indonesian mined nickel production slumped from 834,000 tonnes in 2013 to 177,000 tonnes in 2014, according to the International Nickel Study Group (INSG).

Only two local operators, Aneka Tambang and Vale Indonesia, were in a position to keep digging because they were already transforming ore into downstream products.

Now it is the turn of the Philippines to roil the nickel market.

The country, which lifted output to capitalise on the gap left by Indonesia, has been closing nickel mines on environmental grounds with another tranche of suspensions to be announced on Tuesday.

But just how big an impact will this have on nickel's supply dynamics? Particularly when there are signs that Indonesia's own production is starting to recover.

PHILIPPINE SUSPENSIONS

The new Philippine administration has already suspended 10 mines, eight of them nickel ore producers, since coming into power in June.

It is expected on Tuesday to announce another 12 suspensions for environmental violations following an audit of all the country's operating mines.

In theory, this could have a major impact on the global nickel supply landscape since the Philippines last year produced 465,000 tonnes of nickel, representing over 20 percent of world mined output.

In practice, however, it all depends on which mines are suspended.

Four producers, Nickel Asia, Global Ferronickel, SR Metals and CTP Corp., account for over 60 percent of the country's nickel ore output, according to analysts at Macquarie Bank.

All four, again according to Macquarie, "believe they can pass any audit." ("Nickel and the Philippines", July 13, 2016).

Rather, it is the smaller-scale operators that are most at risk. Many were born out of the nickel rush that followed Indonesia's early 2014 ban and many, it seems, prioritised output over environmental best practice.

And there are signs that the small-scale nickel mining sector may already have peaked even before the new government's environmental clampdown.

Graphic on Indonesian and Philippine nickel production:

http://tmsnrt.rs/2cWsFU2

Graphic on China's imports of Philippine nickel ore:

http://tmsnrt.rs/2cWsY0V

PEAK PRODUCTION?

Philippine nickel production fell by 24 percent to 215,900 tonnes in the first seven months of this year, according to the INSG.

Imports of ore by China, the single largest customer for Philippine nickel ore, also fell to the tune of 21 percent over the January-August period.

Since the first round of mine suspensions only took place in July, it's clear that there are other factors at work in terms of sliding national output.

The first has been the weather.

The Philippine nickel ore business is a highly seasonal one with both production and shipments tending to contract sharply during the rainy season which runs from December through March.

This year, however, the rainy season lasted longer than usual. Nickel Asia, for example, attributed a 12-percent drop in first-half sales to weather-related shipment delays.

Beyond seasonality, however, it appears that some local operators were already struggling with both low prices and ore depletion.

Macquarie forecasts, for example, that AlTawiTawi Nickel Corp,, the country's second largest operator in 2015, will see production collapse from around 60,000 tonnes to just 10,000 tonnes this year as its Tumbagaan mine nears exhaustion.

The takeaway here is that even before the mine suspensions, Philippines production was in danger of topping out after the initial nickel rush of 2014-2015.

INDONESIAN RECOVERY

Indonesian nickel production, meanwhile, is gradually recovering.

After imploding to just 130,000 tonnes contained nickel last year, production jumped by 30 percent to 98,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2016, according to the INSG.

The reason is that the ban on unprocessed exports is starting to reap positive results in the form of a new wave of players, many Chinese, launching processing plants.

Tsingshan is the poster child for Indonesian policy. It is already shipping large amounts of nickel pig iron from Indonesia to China.

The build-out will continue with the ramp-up of a stainless steel plant, in essence capturing the whole value-added chain from ore mining to finished product.

Tsingshan, therefore, is allowed to mine nickel. So too will others following in its footsteps.

Indonesia's nickel output could climb by 36 percent to 217,500 tonnes this year, and to 363,000 tonnes in 2017, according to the Indonesian Smelter and Minerals Processing Association.

That's still a far cry from the sort of numbers generated before the export ban, but it would represent a major increase from output levels in both 2014 and 2015.

DIVERGING TRENDS

Nickel supply right now is a function of these two diverging trends, falling Philippine output and slowly recovering Indonesian production.

Global mine supply is still down on year-earlier levels to the tune of 6.5 percent, according to the INSG.

Lower ore output, moreover, has fed through to lower refined production which, combined with strong demand, particularly from China's stainless sector, has pushed the market into cumulative 42,500-tonne supply deficit so far this year.

The problem for nickel bulls, however, is that this deficit is still small relative to the stocks build that has taken place over the last couple of years.

Moreover, China's nickel pig iron sector continues to defy expectations of its imminent collapse.

It has survived the Indonesian ban and is leading the investment wave in the country's build-out of processing capacity.

And it shows every sign of surviving constrained production and shipments from the Philippines, even if it means using higher-value forms of nickel in its blending mix with ore.

Unless the Philippine audit process brings down one of the big four producers, the worst of that country's output decline may already have taken place.

Indonesian production, meanwhile, looks as if it has passed the worst of its own policy storm and is now in recovery mode.

Which may be why the London nickel price, currently trading at US$10,500 per tonne, is only the third best performer so far this year after zinc and tin.

All three are buoyed by bullish supply narratives but nickel's continues to be a complex web of multiple moving parts.
India to speed up hydropower building on rivers flowing into Pakistan - source

By Tommy Wilkes

NEW DELHI, Sept 26 (Reuters) - India will accelerate its building of new hydropower plants along three rivers that flow into Pakistan, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday, in a move likely to aggravate already tense relations with its neighbour a week after an attack on an Indian army base.

Disagreements over how to share the waters of the Indus and other rivers have dogged relations between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals since independence in 1947.

The dispute looks set to be reignited after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told officials on Monday that India should use more of the rivers' resources, speaking a week after the Sept. 18 attack on an army base in the disputed region of Kashmir that New Delhi blames on Pakistan, a source with knowledge of the meeting attended by Modi said.

India has vowed to respond to the raid, in which at least 18 of its soldiers were killed, but any military option risks escalation. Some officials have called for a renewed diplomatic offensive instead.

Modi said on Saturday that India would mount a global campaign to isolate Pakistan, including through the United Nations, where Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke on Monday.

India has long accused Pakistan of backing militant groups operating in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir, through which several of the countries' shared rivers flow.

Pakistan denies the allegations and says India has not provided adequate proof to support its claims. A spokesman for Pakistan's foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Modi's hydropower plans.

At Monday's meeting, Modi and officials discussed ways to increase exploitation of the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers but said they would not violate a long-standing water treaty between the countries in the process.

"We want to see that all these (hydropower) projects are put on a really fast-track basis," the source told Reuters, speaking on the condition he was not named because of the sensitivity of the meeting.

"Our entire approach was done to create an atmosphere of goodwill. But in this atmosphere, we want to exploit all our rights under the (Indus Water) treaty," the source said.

The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 in a bid to resolve disputes, but India's ambitious irrigation plans and construction of thousands of upstream dams has continued to annoy Pakistan, which depends on snow-fed Himalayan rivers for everything from drinking water to agriculture.

India says its use of upstream water is strictly in line with the 1960 agreement.

The potential for a military conflict between India and Pakistan over water has long worried observers. The neighbours have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

India currently generates about 3,000 megawatts of energy from hydropower plants along rivers in its portion of Kashmir, but believes the region has the potential to produce 18,000 megawatts, the source said.

New Delhi will also review whether to restart construction of the Tulbul navigation project, which was suspended several years ago. The project proposes diverting water from one of the shared rivers to a city in Indian-administered Kashmir that could impact flows downstream, the source said.
The successful advancement of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative requires the support of countries along the routes. To achieve that goal, the media should play a bigger role in letting more people know about the strategic initiative and the benefits it will bring.

Fang Zhenghui, vice president of China International Publishing Group, shares his ideas on how media can help with the Belt and Road Initiative on Sept. 26, in Xi'an. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Chinese and international delegates to the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative, opened on Sept. 26 in the ancient Chinese capital Xi'an, agreed that media could help eliminate misunderstandings at the grass roots level and therefore lead to consensuses at the highest levels.

Since September of 2013, mainstream international media outlets have published more than 10,000 reports in English alone on the Belt and Road, according to a study done by the Center for International Communication Studies of the China International Publishing Group (CIPG).

Such high attention on a single topic is unprecedented in the history of media, said Fang Zhenghui, vice president of CIPG at the seminar.

In another survey conducted by the same agency, people from eight countries, including the United States, Russia, Britain and India, gave 77 points out of 100 for their recognition of the Belt and Road; while 18 countries in the G20 bloc, excluding China, gave 67.6 points for how the Belt and Road could help with peace and development along its routes.

"The figures show that people are paying more attention to the Belt and Road and giving it positive reviews. It's fair to say that the amicable situation can be attributed to the media's extensive, continuous and in-depth coverage of the Belt and Road these years," said Fang.

Dmitry Strovsky, professor of journalism from Ural Federal University in Russia, expressed concerns about the misconceptions between people due to the lack of proper media coverage.

Speaking at the seminar, he said that media coverage about China is quite limited in Russia, and therefore many Russian people are afraid of Chinese, because they do not know about them. This situation may get more intense since Russian media, like their peers in many other countries, tend to be aggressive in their reports about China, he said.

According to Strovsky, very few people in Russia know about China's Belt and Road. Hence, he called for more media coverage and support to help sustain China-Russia relations, which have been in good standing in recent years.

He believed that the situation is also the same when it comes to the relations between China and other countries on the Belt and Road. In other words, although media does not directly participate in the construction of Belt and Road projects, it has the power to make the construction go smoothly.
Nickel falls for 2nd day; Philippine mine projects in focus

SINGAPORE, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Nickel dropped 1 percent on Tuesday, falling for a second day on concerns over demand, with investors in the base metal market awaiting an announcement from the Philippines on closure of mines.

Copper was a touch weaker, while aluminium eased after climbing to its highest in almost five weeks in the previous session on dollar weakness.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange fell 1 percent to $10,425 a tonne by 0124 GMT, adding to Monday's decline of 1.2 percent.

* LME copper gave up 0.3 percent to $4,827 a tonne, extending losses from the previous session. The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange lost 0.3 percent to 37,670 yuan a tonne.

* A dozen more Philippine mines, mostly nickel projects, are in danger of being suspended in an ongoing environmental crackdown on the sector. Authorities are due to announce more results of the environmental audit on Tuesday.

* The Philippines accounts for more than 90 percent of China's nickel ore imports and signs of supply interruptions typically trigger higher prices for the metal used in steelmaking. Concerns over slowing demand however are weighing on industrial metals.

* For the top stories in metals and other news, click or

MARKETS NEWS

* Uncertainty gripped Asian markets on Tuesday as investors braced for a potentially pivotal U.S. presidential debate, shunning stocks while favouring safe-haven bonds and the yen.

DATA AHEAD (GMT) 0600 Germany Import prices Aug 1300 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller housing index Jul 1345 U.S. Markit services PMI flash Sep 1400 U.S. Consumer confidence Sep

PRICES

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Nickel falls for second day; Philippine mine projects in focus

By Naveen Thukral

SINGAPORE, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Nickel dropped more than 2 percent on Tuesday, falling for a second day on speculation that expected mine closures in the Philippines, the world's biggest nickel ore supplier, may not limit supply as much as originally thought.

Copper slid about half a percent, while aluminium eased after climbing to its highest in almost five weeks in the previous session on dollar weakness and strong European demand.

Nickel futures on the London Metal Exchange fell 2.1 percent to $10,305 a tonne by 0303 GMT, adding to Monday's decline of 1.2 percent.

LME copper gave up 0.5 percent to $4,816 a tonne, extending losses from the previous session. The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange lost 0.6 percent to 37,550 yuan ($5,630) a tonne.

A dozen more Philippine mines, mostly nickel projects, are in danger of being suspended in an ongoing environmental crackdown on the sector. Authorities are due to announce the results of the environmental audit on Tuesday.

Still, there were doubts over the implementation of the mine closures.

"There has been a lot of talk and concerns about the Philippines cutting production but we have to watch the developments and measures adopted by the government going forward," said analyst Judy Zhu of Standard Chartered in Shanghai.

"It seems to me that the implementation of such regulations in the Philippines as well as in Indonesia have been very much changeable. Their track record is that they can change overnight."

The Philippines accounts for more than 90 percent of China's nickel ore imports and signs of supply interruptions typically trigger higher prices for the metal used in producing stainless steel.

Concerns over slowing demand however are weighing on industrial metals.

LME aluminium slid 0.4 percent to $1,654 a tonne after rising 1.5 percent on Monday.

"Aluminium prices were higher on good demand from Europe, with premiums in that region continuing to trend higher," ANZ said in a research note, referring to the price move on Monday.

PRICES

Three month LME copper

Most active ShFE copper

Three month LME aluminium

Most active ShFE aluminium

Three month LME zinc

Most active ShFE zinc

Three month LME lead

Most active ShFE lead

Three month LME nickel

Most active ShFE nickel

Three month LME tin
China industrial profits rise most in 3 years as economy shows signs of stabilising

BEIJING, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Profits in China's industrial sector rose at the fastest pace in three years as the world's second-biggest economy showed more signs of stabilising, though some private forecasters say the improvement may be more fleeting than real.

Profits of industrial firms in August jumped 19.5 percent from a year earlier to 534.8 billion yuan ($80 billion), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Tuesday. That was the largest increase since August 2013.

China's economy grew 6.9 percent last year, the slowest in 25 years, as global demand ebbed. Following billions of dollars in government spending and a property boom in the country's top-tier cities, official data in recent months are starting to point to some stabilisation in the economy.

Steel and oil refining helped drive the jump in profits last month, the statistics bureau said, in line with the view that state infrastructure projects and a ramp-up in construction are lifting the basic materials sectors and the overall economy.

In August, the volume of rail freight rose for the first time since December 2013, up 1 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by NBS on Tuesday.

"Gross domestic product growth in the third quarter could be faster than the first or second, in the range of 6.7 to 6.8 percent," said Liao Qun, chief economist at Citic Bank International.

The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday raised its growth forecast this year for China to 6.6 percent from its last estimate of 6.5 percent, citing fiscal and monetary stimulus measures.

But some economists are more cautious, saying the growth drivers are not sustainable on their own in the longer run. The statistics bureau itself also said the jump in profits was partly due to a low base of comparison the previous year.

The surge in industrial profit data was because of government stimulus and a hot real estate market, said Zuo Congying, an analyst at Golden Sun Securities.

"Such a jump is not sustainable. Growth will likely become very low next month," Zuo said. "We're still in the big cycle of capacity reduction. The economic situation has not changed."

The increase in earnings was also fuelled by an auto sector that has enjoyed strong sales ahead of the expiry of a tax cut on small-engine vehicles at the year-end, people in the industry say.

By sector, the industrial profit data were also uneven.

Manufacturing profits rose 14.1 percent in August from a year earlier while mining industry profits fell 70.9 percent even as coal and steel prices surged.

Domestic coal and steel prices have rallied in recent months due to tighter supplies brought about by the closure of some production to reduce surplus capacity and from restructuring.

While industrial profits have shown some positive changes, traditional industries are still struggling, particularly in sectors hobbled by excess capacity, NBS said.

China has embarked on a campaign to cut capacity in the coal and steel sectors in the economy's most significant transformation in two decades.

The restructuring could lead to the layoff of up to 1.8 million workers in those sectors, according to official estimates.

"Another risk is consumer sentiment being undermined as income growth further decelerates and the labour market weakens under continuing industrial restructuring," ADB said.
Hague court to arbitrate in East Timor-Australia maritime border dispute

AMSTERDAM/SYDNEY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague has said it will oversee a compulsory conciliation between East Timor and Australia on their maritime boundary, rejecting Australian objections.

East Timor asked for the process that could decide on which side of the border lies a large oil and gas field over which the two countries have a revenue-sharing agreement. The small island nation said Australian espionage on its diplomats rendered recent agreements between them flawed.

The decision will exacerbate a rare diplomatic rift between Australia and its neighbour 610 km (380 miles) to the north, which it supported during a claim for independence from Indonesia in the late 1990s. Australia has resisted negotiating a permanent border until 2056 at the earliest.

Australia and East Timor will now engage in a conciliation process that will take place behind closed doors over the next year, the court ruled late on Monday.

The Australian foreign minister and attorney general said in a statement existing treaties between the countries had been "hugely beneficial" to East Timor but that "Australia accepts the commission's decision and will continue to engage in good faith".

"We are committed to working together to strengthen our relationship and overcome our differences in the Timor Sea," the statement said. It also said the report to be produced by the commission would not be legally binding.

East Timor Minister of State Agio Pereira welcomed the decision.
China stocks shrug off surging industrial profits; HK up over 1 pct

SHANGHAI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - China stocks were little changed on Tuesday as investors were reluctant to stake out fresh positions ahead of a week-long holiday despite data showing August industrial profits surged the most in three years.

China's blue-chip CSI300 index rose 0.1 percent to 3,223.15 points by the lunch break, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.2 percent to 2,975.92.

In Hong Kong, shares bounced over 1 percent, recovering much of Monday's drop, but investors were bracing a drop in inflows from China as the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme will be suspended Sept. 29-Oct. 10.

China's markets will be closed for a week for the National Day holidays starting on Oct. 1.

The first U.S. presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump attracted attention from the investment community, but did not appear to have had an immediate impact on the China market.

In his opening statement, Trump blamed China for currency devaluation and U.S. job losses.

"The result of the U.S. election matters. If Clinton wins, the market would be calm. If Trump wins, the market would face more uncertainty," said Linus Yip, strategist at First Shanghai Securities Ltd, adding Trump's apparent support for trade protectionism would harm world economy.

"But this is just the first debate. You need to continue to monitor how the debate will shape public opinions."

Mainland investors largely ignored data showing profits earned by China's industrial firms in August grew at the fastest pace in three years, and a move by the Asian Development Bank to increase its growth forecast for China.

Analysts say sentiment cooled after the SSEC on Monday fell below 3,000 points - viewed by some as a key psychological support level.

Property stocks rebounded sharply, but infrastructure and transportation shares dropped.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 1.1 percent to 23,574.49, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index gained 1.3 percent to 9,749.65.

Nearly all sectors rose, with financial shares leading the gains.

The suspension of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect might have an impact on the market's liquidity, as "Chinese money inflows has been an important factor behind the strong rally recently." First Shanghai's Yip said.
Philippine halts 20 more mines, 55.5 pct of nickel output - undersecretary

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Philippines has suspended 20 more mines for environmental violations, most of them nickel, a government official said on Tuesday, bringing to 30 the number of mines shuttered.

The suspended mines account for 55.5 percent of nickel ore output in the Philippines based on last year's production, Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Leo Jasareno told a news briefing.

The Philippines is the world's top nickel ore supplier.

Among those suspended include Oceanagold Corp, the top gold producer in the Southeast Asian nation.

Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange cut losses following the news. The metal was down 1.8 percent at $10,350 a tonne by 0408 GMT, after falling as much as 2.8 percent earlier.
Still robust, Turkey looks set to weather downgrade to "junk"

By Asli Kandemir and Nevzat Devranoglu

ISTANBUL/ANKARA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - On the first trading day after Moody's downgraded Turkey's sovereign rating to "junk", the reaction in Istanbul and Ankara was swift and predictable -- stocks and the lira took a beating and policymakers accused the agency of playing politics.

But the market fall-out was relatively short-lived, and less than some had feared. By afternoon the lira recovered much of its losses and investors paid more than expected in three bond auctions, showing strong demand for the very debt Moody's now classifies as sub-investment grade.

Yet again, Turkey's markets appear to be weathering the storm, as investors focus on its relatively robust economic fundamentals and the considerable potential of its young, 80-million-strong population.

Moody's on Friday cited worries about the rule of law after the July 15 failed coup, as well as risks from a slowing economy as drivers for its downgrade. Growth in economic output dipped to 3.1 percent in the second quarter from 4.7 percent in the first quarter and was seen slowing further.

"While the decision was not entirely unexpected, it's still a severe blow to Turkey's reputation and shows the extent to which the post-coup crackdown has undermined the country's institutional framework in the view of the agencies," said Nicholas Spiro, partner at London-based Lauressa Advisory.

However, analysts noted that Turkey could prove resilient despite the downgrade.

"Long term it has many merits like a young population, a big consumer base and you have, of course, a strong corporate and banking sector," said Sergey Dergachev, senior portfolio manager at Union Investment Privatfonds in Frankfurt.

Moody's cut the government's long-term issuer and senior unsecured bond ratings debt to non-investment grade Ba1 from Baa3. It kept its outlook on the rating "stable," saying the flexible $720 billion economy and strong fiscal track record offset the balance-of-payments pressures.

CRACKDOWN

Some 100,000 people have been either sacked or suspended from the civil service, military and police following the failed coup. Another 40,000 have been detained. Turkey's Western allies and rights groups worry that President Tayyip Erdogan is using the coup as a prextext to curtail dissent.

The government says the measures are necessary to root out the followers of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it blames for orchestrating the coup. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, has denied the accusation and condemned the coup.

Turkey depends on investment to fund its current account deficit -- one of the biggest in the G20 -- and service its foreign debt, requiring more than $200 billion a year. JP Morgan warned in July that a downgrade to junk could prompt the sale of $10 billion in Turkey's sovereign and corporate debt.

Sub-investment grade ratings can spark a sell-off because more conservative funds, such as those that manage pensions, are often required to hold bonds that are rated as investment grade by at least two ratings agencies.

Fitch Ratings is now the only one of the three major ratings agencies that still rates Turkey at investment grade. It is due to review that rating at the start of 2017.

But for funds that can hold riskier debt, Turkey may become an investment opportunity.

"If it's an (investment grade)-only rule you are a forced seller, but for some mandates who are able to hold high yield, such a sell-off is a good re-entry opportunity as well," said Dergachev at Union Investment Privatfonds.

For some analysts, even at "junk" status, Turkey is a more attractive prospect than South Africa, which is facing its own political turmoil with investor doubts about President Jacob Zuma.

Moody's rates South Africa's sovereign debt two notches above Turkey's.

"This seems perverse given the political/policy setting in South Africa, (and) worse ratios over Turkey," said Timothy Ash of Nomura International in London.

Analysts often point to concerns about Turkey's rising household debt-to-GDP ratio, which reached a record high of 21.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015, and stood at 19.4 percent at the end of last year, according to IMF data.

While that corresponds to a 174 percent increase over the last decade, it is still less than half of South Africa, where the household debt to GDP ratio is at 46 percent.
Poland - Factors to Watch Sept 27

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

PEKAO

Italian UniCredit is looking to raise as much as 16 billion euros ($18 billion) via a share issue, asset sales. It has started gathering offers for its Pioneer arm and is in talks with Poland's PZU to sell a 40 percent stake in Bank Pekao.

PEKAO

Leasing firm CLiF claims 3 billion zlotys from Pekao SA in compensation for settlements from 2001-2003, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily said. Pekao has declined to comment.

PKP CARGO

Poland's leading rail freight company PKP Cargo has decided to write off 98 million zlotys ($25.65 million) in the first half of this year due to impairments caused by losses on Czech market, it said in a statement late on Monday.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Germany boosts security for Muslim centres in Dresden after mosque bombing

DRESDEN, Germany, Sept 27 (Reuters) - German police are stepping up protection of Muslim institutions in Dresden after two improvised bombs exploded in the eastern city on Monday evening, one at a mosque and one at an international conference centre.

No one was hurt by the blasts although the imam of the mosque was inside the building with his wife and sons.

"Even if we so far have no claim of responsibility, we must go on the basis that the motive was xenophobic," Horst Kretzschmar, president of Dresden police, said in a statement.

He said police believed there was a link to celebrations planned for the coming weekend in the city to mark the anniversary of German reunification on Oct. 3, 1990.

Kretzschmar said three mosques, a Muslim social centre and a prayer room would be given protection immediately.

Soon after the mosque explosion, Dresden's International Congress Center was also damaged by a home-made device and the bar of a nearby hotel was evacuated.

Mehmet Demirbas, founder of the mosque that was hit, said the Muslim community had been expecting some kind of attack for a long time.

"Glass panes have been broken in the past, or graffiti on the wall. But this is the first time something like this happens. Hopefully it will be the last time and we carry on happily living in Dresden," he said.

Dresden was the cradle of the anti-Islam PEGIDA grassroots movement whose weekly rallies attracted around 20,000 supporters at the height of its popularity at the start of 2015.

The influx of about 1 million migrants, mostly Muslims, to Germany last year has increased social tensions, especially in eastern Germany where there have been some high-profile attacks on refugee shelters.

Support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which says Islam is not compatible with the constitution, has risen due to Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door refugee policy.

AfD co-leader Frauke Petry condemned the attack on the mosque, saying: "Attacking a building in which people worship God is barbaric, whether it be a church, a mosque or a synagogue."
OceanaGold says has not received Philippine suspension order, ops continuing

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Australian miner OceanaGold Corp said on Tuesday it has not received an order from a Philippine mining agency to suspend its operations in the country and that activity at its gold-copper mine is continuing.

"The company will consider all avenues, including working collaboratively with the DENR, to facilitate the immediate resolution of this matter to ensure no disruption to our operations and our valued local workforce," the company said in a statement, referring to the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"We are disappointed with the statements made earlier today and will seek clarification and reconsideration from the DENR to further understand and rectify this matter in short order," OceanaGold CEO Mick Wilkes said in the statement.

OceanaGold runs the Didipio mine in the northern Luzon island and is the Philippines' top gold producer. It was among those ordered suspended by the DENR for environmental infractions.

Wilkes earlier told Reuters that OceanaGold has not committed environmental violations.
Thailand investigates four cases of suspected Zika-linked microcephaly

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Pracha Hariraksapitak

BANGKOK, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Thailand is investigating four suspected cases of Zika-related microcephaly in three babies and a 36-week old unborn baby, the public health minister said on Tuesday, in what could be the first cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Southeast Asia.

Several countries in Southeast Asia have reported increasing cases of infection from the mosquito-borne Zika virus but Thailand has one of the highest numbers in the region, with 349 confirmed since January, including 25 pregnant women.

Public Health Minister Piyasakon Sakolsatayadorn said authorities needed to be thorough in their investigation of the cases as confirmation would be "sensitive".

"The lab results will take at least two days because we have to be thorough with this as it is a big deal and a link hasn't been detected before," Piyasakon told Reuters.

"This is a sensitive matter for Thailand," he said.

U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies.

Piyasakon said the three babies were born with small heads and an ultrasound appeared to indicate the unborn baby had a small head.

Of the four mothers, two were diagnosed with Zika when they were pregnant but two were not confirmed to have had Zika, said Apichai Mongkol, director-general of the ministry's Department of Medical Sciences.

If a Thai case were confirmed, it would be the first in Southeast Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has confirmed more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.

MONITORING

Some health experts have accused Thailand, which has a thriving tourist industry, of playing down the risk from Zika.

But officials dismiss that saying the response has been adequate and another mosquito-born disease, dengue, which can be deadly, is a bigger threat.

The director-general of Thailand's Disease Control Department, Amnuay Gajeena, said the four cases were being monitored but he declined to say exactly where they were suspected of contracting the virus.

"It is not in Bangkok," Amnuay told Reuters. "Both the mothers and babies are being tested and we have sent the tests to several labs."

There are no specific tests to determine if a baby will be born with microcephaly, but ultrasound scans in the third trimester of pregnancy can identify the problem, according to the WHO.

The World Health Organization lists Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as countries reporting new cases of Zika.

Singapore has recorded 393 cases since diagnosing its first in August. It has confirmed 16 pregnant women with the virus.

The WHO has also said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.

According to the WHO, there are two major lineages of Zika - an African lineage, which has only been reported in Africa, where the virus was first discovered in 1947, and an Asian lineage of strains.
Turkey dismisses 87 members of national intelligence agency - media

ISTANBUL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities have dismissed 87 members of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), state-run Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, on suspected links with the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed by Ankara of organising a failed coup in July.
Britain's FTSE hovers near one-week lows as Wolseley slides

By Sudip Kar-Gupta

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Britain's top shares index hovered near one-week lows on Tuesday, weighed down by a drop in construction stocks such as Wolseley and weaker energy company stock prices.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was flat at 6,819.59 points, near its lowest level in around a week.

The FTSE gained some support from a general rebound in world stock markets after Democrat Hillary Clinton, favoured by many business leaders and investors, was seen to have won the first U.S. presidential election TV debate against Republican rival Donald Trump.

The FTSE remains up by around 10 percent since the start of 2016 but it fell 1.3 percent on Monday in what was the FTSE's worst one-day percentage drop since late June, when Britain voted to quit the European Union in a shock "Brexit" vote.

Wolseley was the worst-performing FTSE 100 stock on Tuesday, falling 3.7 percent after the company warned of tough market conditions as it reported results.

"The U.S. Industrial market remains weak and the outlook statement mixed, citing an uncertain economic environment in some markets and continued price deflation," Jefferies analysts wrote on Wolseley. They kept a "hold" rating on Wolseley shares.

Shares in oil majors BP and Royal Dutch Shell also slipped, impacted by weaker oil prices.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers led by Russia are meeting on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26-28, but investors remain sceptical that a deal may be reached.
Philippine miners say optimistic environmental violations will be addressed

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A Philippine mining industry group said on Tuesday it was confident that the alleged environmental violations of eight member companies recommended by the government for suspension would be addressed properly and promptly.

The eight miners, half of them nickel producers, are part of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines and were among the 20 mines that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier ordered for suspension for environmental lapses.

"We are optimistic that these alleged violations will be addressed properly and in a timely manner," Ronald Recidoro, vice president for policy at the Chamber, said in a statement.

Recidoro raised concerns on "how the whole mining audit was done in a punitive manner rather than objectively."

"As early as August, the alleged violations could have already been addressed instead of setting a trap for suspension," he said.

The Philippine government has already suspended 10 mines in an audit launched on July 8 and completed last month. Recidoro said earlier that four of the chamber's members were among the 10.
OPEC set for no deal as Iran rejects Saudi oil output offer

By Rania El Gamal, Alex Lawler and Vladimir Soldatkin

ALGIERS, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Iran rejected on Tuesday an offer from Saudi Arabia to limit its oil output in exchange for Riyadh cutting supply, dashing market hopes the two major OPEC producers would find a compromise this week to help ease a global glut of crude.

"The gap (in views) between OPEC countries is narrowing. I don't expect that an agreement will come out of the consultations tomorrow," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier: "It is not the time for decision-making." Referring to the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, he added: "We will try to reach agreement for November."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold informal talks at 1400 GMT on Wednesday. Its members are also meeting non-OPEC producers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers.

Oil prices have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

A deal has also been complicated by acute political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are fighting several proxy-wars in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen.

Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadh's position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.

WHAT IRAN WANTS

On Tuesday, several OPEC delegates said the positions of Saudi Arabia and Iran remained too far apart. Oil prices were down more than 3 percent by 1802 GMT.

"There is a move forward, but they (OPEC) haven't got to the finish," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after meeting Falih and Zanganeh. Novak and Falih said a deal was still possible later this year.

Three OPEC sources said Iran, whose production has stagnated at 3.6 million barrels per day, insisted on having the right to ramp up to around 4.1-4.2 million bpd, while OPEC Gulf members wanted its output to be frozen below 4 million.

Several OPEC sources said Iran effectively rejected the offer despite last-minute attempts by Russia, Algeria and Qatar to rescue a deal.

The Saudi and Iranian economies depend heavily on oil, but Iran is seeing the pressure easing as it emerges from years of sanctions. Riyadh, on the other hand, faces a second year of record budget deficits and is being forced to cut the salaries of government employees.

BLAME GAME

Iranian oil sources said Tehran wanted OPEC to allow it to produce 12.7 percent of the group's output, equal to what it was extracting before 2012, when the European Union imposed additional sanctions on the country for its nuclear activities.

Sanctions were eased in January 2016.

Between 2012 and 2016, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf OPEC members have raised output to compete for market share with higher-cost producers such as the United States.

As a result, Iran believes its fair production share in OPEC should be higher than its current output, which it says should rise once Tehran agrees new investments with international oil companies. Saudi output has risen to 10.7 million bpd from 10.2 million in recent months due to local needs for summer cooling.

Gary Ross, a veteran OPEC watcher and founder of U.S.-based think tank PIRA, said Saudi output had risen too steeply in recent months and even if it were cut to pre-summer levels, Iran would see an offer to freeze its own output as unfair.

"It is a carefully calculated offer because Saudi Arabia knows it will not be acceptable to Iran ... Saudi Arabia wants to put the blame of OPEC inaction in Algiers on Iran," he said.

Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB Markets, said: "We cannot see how Iran could possibly accept the Saudi offer. It would be like asking a long-time prisoner who was finally released from prison to go back again."

He said the lack of a deal in Algeria would result in further downside pressure on oil as Saudi Arabia would maintain elevated output levels while Iran boosted supply too.

Falih said he saw no need for significant output cuts as the market was rebalancing itself. He added that Saudi Arabia was investing in additional spare capacity and could withstand the current trend in oil prices.
As talks for aviation climate deal begin, India holds out

By Allison Lampert

MONTREAL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Fast-growing aviation powerhouse India is not ready to join the world's first climate deal to curb pollution from commercial flights because it fears that talks beginning on Tuesday may not lead to a fair agreement, its civil aviation minister said.

The proposed landmark deal, backed by the United States and China, aims to limit rising airline pollution to 2020 levels after it takes effect in 2021, but has been watered down by being made voluntary for the first five years.

"(We'll decide) once the nuts and bolts become clearer," Ashok Gajapathi Raju told Reuters on the sidelines of an aviation forum. "Until then, our fears are that it is not equitable."

Countries with a high-growth aviation sector want more latitude to produce emissions than developed countries, which are growing more slowly but were responsible for generating the bulk of the industry's greenhouse gases.

If a country is not part of the deal, it will have a ripple effect as all foreign carriers on routes to and from that country - even ones from participating states - would be exempt from having to offset their emissions.

The United Nations-led talks run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal.

Environmentalists and European lawmakers said the deal is not tough enough and are concerned that big emitters like India will not participate in the first phase. The agreement, which only affects international flights, becomes mandatory in 2027.

While European Union states have agreed to join the early phase, lawmakers said in Brussels they could still try to impose the EU's own emissions scheme on international flights if too many countries refuse to join. So far, 58 states have signed up.

"(If) it's another situation (where) almost nobody would participate, then international aviation is just not covered and I could not imagine that my colleagues would support keeping it uncovered until 2027," said German MEP Peter Liese of the centre-right bloc, the largest party in the European Parliament.

Airlines support a global agreement because a patchwork of national and regional deals would be more costly, with the European one sparking a trade row in 2012 when it was temporarily imposed on foreign carriers.

Commercial aircraft emit 11 percent of carbon emissions produced from transportation.

Aviation was excluded from December's climate accord in Paris when countries agreed to limit the rise in global temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

The ICAO deal would require airlines to limit their emissions or offset them by buying carbon credits from designated environmental projects around the world.
WHO calls for safe routes to evacuate east Aleppo sick, wounded

GENEVA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Tuesday for sick and wounded people in the embattled eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo to be evacuated through safe corridors for treatment.

A massive Russian-backed assault is under way on the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where the WHO said only 35 doctors remained to care for at least 250,000 people.
Ugandan soldier captured by Somali insurgents pleads for freedom

By Abdi Sheikh

MOGADISHU, Somalia Sept 27 (Reuters) - A Ugandan soldier captured by Islamist insurgents in Somalia more than a year ago has been paraded in an insurgent video in which he appealed for his country's leaders to help free him.

"Please do not abandon me here," he said in the video released on Monday by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgency.

"Oh Ugandans, I am a soldier of your country. Join hands and come up with a solution that can secure my release."

The bearded soldier was identified as Massasa M.Y. He wore a uniform with a Ugandan army patch on it and said he was captured during a deadly 2015 attack on an African Union in Janale, about 90 km (55 miles) south of the capital, Mogadishu.

About 40 to 50 of his colleagues were killed in the attack, the soldier said.

Ugandan military spokesman Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda confirmed the man in the video is a Ugandan soldier but declined to give any details.

Some 22,000 African Union troops are in Somalia supporting the Western-backed government. It is unclear whether the insurgent group, which has mounted several attacks on AU bases in the past two years, has any other African Union soldiers as prisoners.

ELECTIONS

In a separate development, Somalia will hold its postponed parliamentary elections between Oct 23 and Nov 10, the chairman of the electoral commission said, after the vote was delayed for a second time due to disputes over the selection process.

The polls are key to retaining the government's support from Western backers and increasing its legitimacy among ordinary Somalis.

Voting for the 275-seat Somali parliament was due to begin this weekend but candidate lists had not been finalised, Omar Mohamed Abdulle told a news conference on Monday.

"The challenges that led to the delay were political, security and management of the election budget. Clan leaders have not completed the list of their delegates," Abdulle said.

Presidential elections will be held on Nov. 30, and a parliamentary speaker and the upper house of the legislature will be chosen on Nov. 23, he said.

Somalia has been at war since 1991. The government said threats from al Shabaab prevented it from organising a one-person, one-vote election.

Instead, about 14,000 people representing federal states across the nation will choose the new lawmakers. The outgoing parliament, elected in 2012, was picked by only 135 elders.
Philippine envoy's China trip on hold till "proper time"

By Manuel Mogato

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A visit to China by a Philippine special envoy tasked with rebuilding tattered ties with Beijing has been cancelled, his aides said on Tuesday, the latest turn in a foreign policy increasingly unpredictable under the new president.

Fidel Ramos, who was president from 1992-1998, would still go to Beijing when the time was right, according to an aide. News of the aborted trip was posted on the website of the Philippines embassy in Beijing.

President Rodrigo Duterte picked 88-year-old statesman Ramos to start a dialogue with China in the wake of a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, which invalidated Beijing's claim to most of the South China Sea and put much of the region on edge.

No official announcement had been made about the trip, and it was not immediately clear with whom he had planned to meet.

The aide said Ramos still planned to go to Beijing "at the proper time".

China refuses to recognise the arbitration case. Both sides have pledged to pursue warmer ties, but it remains unclear how they plan to navigate the issues of the ruling, China's man-made islands and its blocking of Filipino fishermen at the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival claims.

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters the reason for cancelling the trip was because it clashed with Duterte's schedule. He is due to visit Vietnam starting Wednesday evening.

"The president's visit to a number of Asian countries is being arranged," the source added.

Duterte in a speech on Tuesday reiterated his hopes of making China a new friend, along with Russia, and said by next year he will have "entered into so many new alliances".

His rhetorical outreach towards Russia and China was accompanied for a second day by a chiding of longtime treaty ally and former colonial power the United States, which he would not allow to "impose on us anything".

A foreign policy for years aligned with the West looks set for a shakeup following Duterte's near-daily, profanity-riddled rebukes of anyone from the United Nations, Britain and France to the European Union and United States. He has taken aim at those critical of his war on drugs, which has killed about 3,000 people in his three months in office.

A U.S. official said Washington is trying to work as closely as it can with Manila despite Duterte's public comments.

"He does say a lot of things in public, but we are still full speed ahead on cooperation with the Philippines," said the U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We've gotten no indication from the Philippines that they are done with us, that they want to cut off counter terrorism cooperation, so there is this odd disconnect between what he says publicly and what we see privately," he added.

China too was not spared criticism, with Duterte on Tuesday telling Beijing to control drug gangs supplying narcotics to the Philippines.

"If you consider us your friend and want to help us, most of the materials are from China, what does that mean?" he said.

Lauro Baja, a retired former deputy foreign minister and Philippines ambassador to the United Nations, said Duterte should send a clearer message on his foreign policy intentions, and not through the media.

"The view from the outside is that the Philippines' worst enemy is itself, its foreign policy is confusing," he said.
Singapore accuses Chinese paper of fabricating South China Sea story

BEIJING, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Singapore's ambassador to China on Tuesday accused a major state-run Chinese newspaper of fabricating a report about Singapore's position on the South China Sea, but the paper stuck by its story.

The Global Times said on Sept. 21 that at a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Venezuela, Singapore had raised the issue of the disputed waterway and an international tribunal's ruling in favour of the Philippines in a case it lodged against Chinese claims.

The influential tabloid, published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said Singapore's attempt was foiled by the opposition of "many" other countries.

The paper cited an unidentified "person in the know".

Stanley Loh, Singapore's ambassador in Beijing, said in the letter to the paper's editor in chief Hu Xijin that the actions and words attributed to Singapore in the article were "false and unfounded".

"Contrary to the claim fabricated by the Global Times, the Singapore delegation did not raise the South China Sea or the tribunal ruling at the NAM Summit," he said.

"We are disappointed that an established newspaper published this irresponsible report replete with fabrications and unfounded allegations with no regard for the facts."

Hu, in a statement in response carried on the paper's official microblog, said he stood by the story and added that its source was "serious and reliable" and the report accurate, so he could not accept the ambassador's accusations.

While not being a party to the South China Sea dispute, Singapore had taken sides with the Philippines and Vietnam, and allowed U.S. air force jets to be based in Singapore "which everyone knows are aimed at China", Hu added.

China's Foreign Ministry did not directly comment on the spat between Singapore and the paper, with a spokesman saying only that they had "noted" the reports and that the two countries should understand and respect each other's core interests.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which ships carrying about $5 trillion in trade pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims in the sea, which is also believed to be rich in energy resources and fish stocks.
WHO, Red Cross say urgent to evacuate wounded from east Aleppo

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) and Red Cross called on Tuesday for dozens of sick and wounded people in the embattled eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo to be evacuated safely for treatment.

The Syrian military, helped by Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias and the Russian air force, launched a campaign to take rebel-held eastern Aleppo last week, where the WHO said only 35 doctors remained to care for more than 250,000 people.

Syrian pro-government forces attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a campaign that has destroyed a U.S.-backed ceasefire.

"WHO is calling for the immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.

Only seven hospitals remain in east Aleppo, some of them only partially functional, and hundreds of wounded are trapped in the encircled city, she said.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said that dozens of patients required evacuation and that local health authorities would draw up the initial list which then would be assessed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

"WHO submitted the request for medical evacuations through the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Jasarevic said by email from Syria. "The plans are being firmed up on how and where to evacuate with options of west Aleppo and Bab al Hawa hospital in Idlib," he said, referring to a hospital along the Turkish-Syrian border.

Medical staff in eastern Aleppo are working relentlessly to save lives but are unable to cope with the demand for specialised and emergency services, ICRC spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said.

"There is a desperate need for medical evacuations; hospitals are short of surgical trauma items and blood products for transfusions," she said.

Syrian doctors said on Monday they were in dire need of medical and surgical supplies to treat hundreds of wounded.

The Syrian doctors said at least 40 wounded people in eastern Aleppo needed to be evacuated, but most wanted to be sent to rebel-held areas or abroad, not to the government-controlled western side of the city.

"We are waiting to evacuate them safely, to the hospitals in Idlib governorate, and some of them need to be evacuated to Turkey," said Dr. Abd Arrahman Alomar of the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS).

Jessy Chahine, spokeswoman for U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, told Tuesday's briefing: "We do remind always all parties that evacuation operations have to be in accordance with IHL (international humanitarian law) and protection standards."
Turkey says Kurdish militia role in Raqqa offensive would endanger Syria

ANKARA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that cooperating with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in a potential offensive to retake the Islamic State-controlled city of Raqqa would endanger the future of Syria.

Turkey views the YPG, which has enjoyed U.S. backing in the fight against Islamic State in northern Syria, as a hostile force with deep links to Kurdish militants who have fought a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil.

Cavusoglu said some YPG elements still remained in the Syrian city of Manbij west of the Euphrates river, despite Ankara's repeated warnings that they should withdraw and U.S. assurances they would do so. He criticised Washington's cooperation with a group he said it was unable to control.

Cavusoglu said Turkey, which launched a military incursion to drive Islamic State off its borders a month ago, had demonstrated that the strategy of supporting local groups could be successful and that this approach could be used in Raqqa or even a planned operation to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul.
Days before referendum, Amnesty criticises Hungary over treatment of migrants

By Gabriela Baczynska

BRUSSELS, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Hungary of mistreating refugees and migrants on purpose to deter them from seeking to cross into the European Union from Serbia, days before the country holds a referendum on EU migrant quotas.

The Hungarian government had no immediate comment on the report in which the human rights organisation accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of replacing "the rule of law with the rule of fear."

Critics say Hungary has been heavy-handed in answer to the migrant crisis that saw about 1.3 million people reaching the European Union last year. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Hungary should be expelled from the bloc for breaching European values, including erecting a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia.

Amnesty's director for Europe, John Dalhuisen, said of Orban: "His attempts to deliberately prevent refugees and migrants from reaching Hungary have been accompanied by an ever more disturbing pattern of attacks on them and the international safeguards designed to protect them.

"Appalling treatment and labyrinthine asylum procedures are a cynical ploy to deter asylum-seekers from Hungary's ever more militarized borders."

EU states are bitterly divided over how to share out the burden of caring for those who have made it into the bloc and have increasingly focused on sealing their external borders to prevent any repeat of an uncontrolled mass influx.

Some have praised Budapest for sharply reducing the number of irregular border crossings after hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants moved up from the Balkans towards northern Europe last year.

In July, Budapest denied that its law enforcers had mistreated asylum seekers when the U.N. refugee agency urged Hungary to investigate reports that its forces had beaten asylum seekers and unleashed police dogs on them.

Amnesty International, which said it interviewed 143 people for the report, said some of the interviewees quoted "excessive force being used during ... push backs, with asylum seekers being beaten, kicked and chased by dogs".

Hungary refused to take in refugees or migrants under an EU burden-sharing plan. Instead, Orban announced a referendum for Oct. 2 on whether to accept any future EU-wide quotas.

With a massive pre-referendum campaign, criticised by rights groups, Orban is riding a wave of anti-immigration sentiment.

"European leaders need to get organized not 'Orbanized'. Their failure to robustly challenge Hungary's breaches of EU law will strengthen the hand of xenophobes and populists," said Dalhuisen.
Microsoft and BAML team up on blockchain-based trade finance project

By Jemima Kelly

LONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Microsoft and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have joined forces on a project to use blockchain technology to make trade finance transactions faster, cheaper, safer and more transparent, the companies said on Tuesday.

The two multinationals said at the Sibos financial services conference in Geneva that they would build and test the technology and create a blockchain-based framework that could eventually be sold to other businesses.

Blockchain works as an electronic record-keeping and transaction-processing system that allows all parties to track information through a secure network and requires no third-party verification.

Proponents of the technology, which originates from digital currency bitcoin, say that it will make all kinds of transactions faster, more reliable and easier to audit because it does not require manual processing, nor authentication through intermediaries.

Trade transactions using the existing process typically take between seven and 10 days to complete and involve a complicated paper trail that is vulnerable to document fraud.

"The underlying nature of trade finance in its current form is highly manual, it's highly time-consuming and it's paper-based, so we thought this would be a good opportunity to streamline the way trade transactions are processed," BAML's head of global trade and supply chain finance, Percy Batliwalla, told Reuters.

Microsoft's cloud-based Azure platform will be used for the project.
Nickel hits 7-week high, Philippines cracks down on mines

By Pratima Desai

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Nickel prices hit seven-week highs on Tuesday as worries about tight supplies were reinforced by the Philippine government recommending more mines for suspension over alleged environmental violations.

Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange ended up 0.9 percent at $10,630 a tonne, off an earlier session high at $10,900.

The Philippines, the world's top supplier of nickel ore, on Tuesday recommended 20 more mines be suspended until operators address lapses. The government has given them seven days to explain any violations of mining and environmental laws.

Thirty mines in the Philippines, including 18 nickel producers, have now either been suspended or recommended for suspension.

"Today the suspensions are a big deal, but we have to wait and see what the longer term impact might be," said Citi analyst David Wilson.

"Are the suspensions permanent, do they have time to clear up issues? Some of the mines haven't been told what the problems are and generally they have been compliant with regulations."

China is the world's top consumer of nickel. About two-thirds of global supply is used to make stainless steel.

Goldman Sachs analysts estimate about 223,000 tonnes of nickel output or 11 percent of global supply could be suspended.

"(But) the government has said the companies affected have seven days to respond, before final suspension decisions will be handed down," Goldman said in a note.

"This suggests that the final amount of supply suspended as a result of the audit could be well below the headline level, and indeed, could theoretically be anywhere between zero and 180,000 tonnes."

Analysts also say the boost to nickel prices may recede as the market realises that nickel ore production in the Philippines this year is already falling and being replaced by Indonesian ferronickel.

Copper closed down 1.1 percent to $4,787 a tonne, partly due to a higher U.S. currency, which when it rises makes commodities more expensive for non-U.S. firms, a relationship used by funds to generate buy and sell signals.

Copper is also under pressure from concern about the potential for a rising market surplus due to higher than expected supplies this year.

Aluminium closed down 0.5 percent at $1,651 a tonne, zinc gained 1.3 percent at $2,320, lead rose 0.9 percent to $1,966 and tin was bid flat at $19,725.

PRICES

Three month LME copper

Most active ShFE copper

Three month LME aluminium

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Three month LME zinc

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Three month LME lead

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Three month LME nickel

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Three month LME tin
Helicopter crashes en route to Chevron Angola oil platform, at least four dead

LUANDA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Four people died and two were missing after a helicopter crashed en route to a Chevron oil platform off the Angolan coast, the U.S. oil company said on Tuesday.

The helicopter left Malongo port in Angola's Cabinda province on Monday at 1523 local time to make the short journey to the Tombua-Landana offshore oil platform but never arrived.

"The helicopter did not reach its intended destination. It was carrying five passengers and one pilot," Chevron said in a statement, adding that one of the passengers was an employee while four others were contractors.

"Extensive search and rescue activities continue for those who remain missing."

Chevron did not say if there was any impact on oil production from the crash or the search and rescue operation, which involved 19 marine vessels and three helicopters.
Taiwan's third typhoon of the month kills at least four, injures hundreds

By J.R. Wu

TAIPEI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The third typhoon to hit Taiwan this month killed at least four people and injured hundreds on Tuesday, knocking down trees and cutting power to millions.

Most schools and offices were shut and the north-south bullet train suspended services as Typhoon Megi, packing winds of well over 160 kph (100 mph), roared in from the Pacific.

Major cities in Taiwan announced schools and offices would be shut for a second day on Wednesday as the island's weather authorities said that due to the large diameter of the typhoon, heavy rain and strong wind would not significantly abate until Wednesday afternoon.

At least 329 people were injured and more than 14,000 evacuated, the government's Central Emergency Operation Centre said late Tuesday. Authorities also estimated more than three million households had lost power, while over 72,000 were without water.

Taiwan's financial markets, which were shut Tuesday because of the storm, will also be closed Wednesday, financial regulators said.

Hundreds of international flights were cancelled or delayed, while train services, halted Tuesday, were also scheduled to be suspended until Wednesday afternoon.

A tour bus carrying 29 passengers from a Japanese tour group was knocked onto its side on the highway by strong gusts, injuring some of the tourists, transportation authorities said in a statement.

Local television footage showed the tourists climbing out of the bus through its windshield, while other TV footage showed trucks also knocked sideways on the highway and scaffolding ripping away from a building in central Taiwan.

The typhoon moved across Taiwan and is heading into the Taiwan Strait before it is expected to make landfall in China in its southeastern province of Fujian.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said it had ordered authorities across a swathe of southern and eastern China to step up disaster prevention preparations.

This month, super Typhoon Meranti killed at least 28 people in China and Taiwan and cut power to more than a million homes.
Britain's Boris Johnson wants 'jumbo' free trade deal with Turkey

By Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANKARA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he hoped for a "jumbo" free trade deal with Turkey and backed Ankara's policy on Syria, seeking to bolster ties with the European Union candidate country after Britain's vote to leave the bloc.

Johnson, on his first official visit to Turkey since becoming foreign secretary, said his hosts had not brought up his winning entry in a "President Tayyip Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition" earlier this year, which involved a goat, wild oats and the Turkish leader.

"What I hope for is a jumbo free trade deal between the United Kingdom and Turkey," Johnson told a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "We are leaving the EU, but we are not leaving Europe."

While Ankara is not a member of the European Union, it aspires to join the bloc and has a customs union with it.

Johnson, the former mayor of London who became the lead campaigner for the pro-Brexit camp, was selected by Prime Minister Theresa May as foreign secretary in July, prompting concern about relations with Ankara.

He and other pro-Brexit campaigners were accused by Turkey's press and politicians of playing on British fears about a wave of immigration from mainly Muslim Turkey during the Brexit campaign. Earlier this year, the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper described him as "anti-Turkey".

Two months before he was named as foreign secretary, his five-line verse won the Spectator magazine's poetry competition.

A senior Turkish official later said Ankara would draw a line under Johnson's past comments, but said relations would be damaged if he repeated such insults.

"I am delighted to say that it has not come up at all in the very detailed conversations I had," Johnson said on Tuesday when asked by a reporter about the poem.

"Much to my amazement it has not come up at all. Nobody raised such trivia until you did," he told the reporter.

'OTTOMAN BORIS'

Johnson, who was also due to meet Erdogan on Tuesday, had already been on a push to smooth over differences with his hosts. On Monday, he kicked off the visit to Ankara by highlighting his "proud ownership" of a Turkish washing machine.

In return, Turkey's EU Affairs minister, Omer Celik, hailed Johnson's Turkish roots, referring to him as an "Ottoman" and a strong supporter of Turkey in the aftermath of its failed coup.

Johnson's great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, was an opposition figure in the late Ottoman period and was lynched during Turkey's War of Independence in the early 1920s.

"This is the land of my fathers, this very ministry is where my relatives used to work," he told the news conference at Turkey's foreign ministry.

Known for his clownish persona and dishevelled mop of platinum hair, Johnson has risen from EU-bashing journalist to Britain's most colourful politician.

The local administrator in the central Anatolian village of Kalfat, from where Johnson's great-grandfather hailed, told Reuters he hoped the foreign secretary would someday visit his ancestral home.

"There are several people in our village who resemble Mr Johnson both facially and physically. We call them the Sarioglan sulalesi," said Adem Karaagac, using a Turkish term that roughly translates as "Yellowboy family".

Karaagac said if Johnson visited, he could try the local ayran, a popular cold drink made from yoghurt.

"The people would be happy that the esteemed foreign secretary of Britain came all the way to the Kalfat village of Cankiri in Turkey," Karaagac said.
Swiss watchmakers pessimistic about industry outlook-Deloitte

ZURICH, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Swiss watchmakers are pessimistic about the outlook for the industry, with the number of downbeat executives doubling since 2015 to 82 percent this year, a study by Deloitte showed on Tuesday.

"Weaker foreign demand poses the key challenge at the moment - and the industry believes this will remain in the next twelve months," study authors said, adding 57 percent of the over 50 watch executives surveyed expected demand for Swiss watches in Hong Kong to keep declining.

Swiss watchmakers are grappling with a combination of collapsing demand in Hong Kong, their biggest market, tourists avoiding Europe for fear of militant attacks, and high costs exacerbated by a strong Swiss franc.

Swiss watch exports fell 10.9 percent in the first eight months of 2016, with Hong Kong down 27.6 percent.

However, the Deloitte study also identified some reasons for optimism. "The attractiveness of the 'Swiss Made' label, the undisputed leadership of Switzerland in the luxury watch market and its innovation capacity all remain strong fundamentals," study author Karine Szegedi said in a statement.

With Hong Kong's fortunes waning, the United States and India are seen as the watch markets with the most potential, Deloitte said.

Co-author Jules Boudrand said the growing category of smartwatches, and notably the Apple watch, was not seen posing a significant threat to the Swiss industry, with only 21 percent of the polled executives seeing those devices as a risk.
Protecting mangroves, Kenya's fishermen net cash - and more fish

By Moraa Obiria

GAZI BAY, Kenya, Sept 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - For fishing communities on Kenya's southern coast, felling mangrove trees to make boats has long been a part of life.

But traditional attitudes toward the mangroves are shifting, as communities become aware of a new benefit from keeping the trees standing: cash payments for carbon storage.

Local people who are protecting and replanting mangroves are now selling 3,000 tonnes of carbon credits a year to international buyers, for about $5-$6 a tonne. The money goes into financing more forest protection and restoration, and to community-chosen projects.

"We have rehabilitated Gazi and Makongeni primary schools, bought textbooks for the pupils and provided piped water to the residents in both villages," said Ali Salim, chairman of Mikoko Pamoja (Mangroves Together), the community organisation working to protect local mangroves and reap the benefits.

In 2011, residents of Makongeni and Gazi villages - home to about 6,000 people - began working with the Kenya Forest Service and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) to protect 117 hectares (290 acres) of mangroves, or about 20 percent of the mangrove forest in Gazi Bay.

Besides protecting the trees themselves, the effort aims to improve local fisheries, as many species of fish breed and raise their young in shoreline mangroves, and build resilience to worsening storm surges and coastal erosion, which can be slowed by mangroves.

Mangrove forests can also help regulate coastal rainfall, ensuring supplies of water.

But mangrove forests are also particularly effective at absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the major drivers of climate change. James Kairo, a principal scientist at KMFRI, said that mangrove ecosystems can capture five times as much carbon as similar land ecosystems.

20-YEAR PROJECT

In 2013, the Mikoko Pamoja community organisation signed an agreement with the Kenya Forest Service to sell carbon credits from the project for 20 years and to plant 4,000 mangrove trees annually to replace those harvested legally or lost to illegal harvesting.

Working with the forest service and KMFRI staff, community members divided the mangrove forest into 10m by 10m plots, measured the size of the trees in each plot and calculated their rate of growth, to come up with a figure for their carbon storage capacity and to generate carbon credits, explained Salim Mwarima, Mikoko Pamoja's project officer in charge of the carbon offset scheme.

Using that information, the community group has so far earned about $30,000 over two years selling carbon credits to international buyers, who purchase them to offset their own emissions.

The money has been a major motivation for people to become involved in mangrove conservation, said Nafasi Mfahaya, the Kenya Forest Service's ecosystem conservation officer for Kwale County, where Gazi Bay is located.

Salim, the chairman of Mikoko Pamoja, agreed.

"Now people know if we conserve the mangroves, we will have water. (And) if we conserve the mangroves we will have textbooks for the children," he said.

Mangrove cover in Kenya is currently estimated at 50,000-60,000 hectares, according to a report published this year by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. The FAO says this represents a decline of almost one-fifth since 1985.

Salim, 50, recalls that when he was growing up here on the coast, mangroves were harvested indiscriminately for building houses, making boats and burning as firewood and charcoal.

But gradual awareness of the benefits of mangroves has resulted in more controlled harvesting of the trees.

"If you look at the shoreline (at Gazi Bay) you will realise we still have mangroves within our area of conservation," said Ali Zuberi, a member of the group.

"You also will notice that there are stumps of trees cut a number of years ago. The trees remaining are out of our relentless efforts to inform people about the great significance of ensuring mangroves remain standing," he said.

MORE MANGROVES, MORE FISH

The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that the nearly one-third of the yield of onshore and offshore fisheries in Gazi Bay is related to the presence of the mangroves.

Zuberi, who is himself a fisherman, says that since 2014 - three years after the conservation program began - they no longer return from fishing expeditions with empty nets as they used to.

Instead of mangrove wood, fishermen now use casuarina trees grown on farms in the coastal area to build their boats, Zuberi said.

However, illegal harvesting of mangroves remains a problem that the community and the forest service are trying to tackle.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kenya has committed to reducing emissions of climate-changing gases by 30 percent by 2030.

That goal that will be easier to achieve if conservation and preservation of mangroves is integrated into efforts to curb emissions, Kairo said.

Claire Wigg, chief executive officer of Stockholm-based ZeroMission, which buys carbon credits from Mikoko Pamoja and sells them to Swedish companies, said the mangrove carbon offset scheme is popular among its buyers because it is unique and the trees are good performers in carbon sequestration.

A law passed by the Kenyan government in 2005 introduced the concept of community participation in forest conservation, making possible the formation of Mikoko Pamoja. Wigg said she believes the model adopted by the community guarantees the sustainability of the scheme.

ZeroMission "would like to be part of the carbon offset scheme in the long term," Wigg said.
Poland's Tauron may consider stock issue if has shareholder backing

WARSAW, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Poland's second-biggest power producer Tauron may still consider a share issue but only if it has shareholder backing, and prefers to cut investment and costs to keep debt under control, its chief financial officer said.

State-run Tauron had planned a share issue last year, but the idea was rejected by private shareholders.

It is the country's most indebted power group and in a strategy presentation in September said it would curb investment and freeze dividends to increase its EBITDA to 4 billion zlotys ($1 bln) in 2020 from 3.5 billion zlotys last year.

"We have discussed the share issue a lot. In the end, we agreed that our strategy should be based on realistic assumptions," CFO Marek Wadowski told Reuters. "We cannot link our financial stability regarding debt covenants to plans for a share issue, which could or could not take place."

After turning a net loss last year, Tauron reported an unexpected net profit for the first half of this year but has been hit by write-downs on the value of its assets this year and last year.

"We would like to have a net profit this year, but the market conditions might still change," Wadowski said.

A decision on a potential share issue will depend on market conditions and investors' interest.

"If such an option comes up and shareholders are interested in such a solution we may consider it," Wadowski said.

Tauron, like other state-run utilities, is building new coal-fired power stations and upgrading outdated ones as part of the government's pro-coal energy policy.

Wadowski declined to say whether the Polish energy ministry's plans to raise the nominal share value of state-run utilities, which obliges the companies to pay an extra income tax, will include Tauron.

As part of its strategy to reduce investment, Tauron said it has put on hold the construction of a gas-fuelled power plant in Lagisza, southern Poland.

"We do not rule out that we will go back to this project when the environment changes. Also a switch of the fuel from gas to coal is being analysed," Wadowski said.

Tauron's biggest investment, at around 6 billion zlotys, is a coal-fuelled 910 megawatt plant in Jaworzno, southern Poland, to be built in 2019.

Wadowski said that matching 2015 EBITDA of 3.5 billion zlotys this year would be difficult.

"When it comes to impairment, we are watching the renewable energy segment," he said. "It is difficult to say if we will have impairments in this year's results, but this is an area which draws our attention in this respect".

($1 = 3.8132 zlotys)
Halting school meals in Mali could keep thousands of children out of class - U.N.

By Kieran Guilbert

DAKAR, Sept 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Taking away school meals from 180,000 pupils going back to class in Mali, where insecurity has closed schools in the north, may deprive even more children of an education, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.

Halting a school meals programme due to a lack of funding will leave these children, in around 1,000 schools across Mali, without a guaranteed healthy meal each day, the WFP said.

The U.N. agency said without these meals, many children may not go to school in the West African country, which faces a growing threat from Islamist groups in its desert north and has been rocked by a series of violent raids this year.

"School meals are often the only nutritious meal a child receives a day, relieving families from further financial stress and motivating parents to send their children to school," Silvia Caruso, WFP's country director for Mali, said in a statement.

"Teachers tell us that if the meals are no longer provided, there is a significant risk that parents will no longer send their children to school," said Caruso, adding that children find it tough to walk to or stay in school on an empty stomach.

Violence in northern Mali, which has forced teachers to flee and schools to remain closed, left nearly 400,000 children out of education months into the academic year in 2015, according to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF.

More than a third of primary school-aged children in Mali are missing out on an education, more than four years after conflict involving rival armed groups and Islamist militants erupted, UNICEF said earlier this month.

Armed groups have proliferated since Islamist groups took advantage of an ethnic Tuareg uprising in 2012 to seize the north of the country. A French-led intervention drove them back in 2013 but instability has continued and undermines a fragile U.N.-backed peace process.

Despite the insecurity and challenges of being able to reach people in need, the WFP said it had managed to provide school meals to an average of 170,000 children a year since 2012.

"Going to school helps (the children of Mali) regain their childhood, and school meals play an important role in keeping them in school," Caruso said, adding that the WFP urgently needed $3 million to resume its school meals programme in Mali.
Russia needs 3-5 years to have healthy banking industry - cenbank

By Kira Zavyalova and Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Russia needs three to five years to create a robustly operating and well capitalised banking system without criminal activity and misleading accounting, Deputy Central Bank Governor Vasily Pozdyshev said.

With the appointment of Elvira Nabiullina in 2013 as the central bank's governor came stricter banking regulation and a serious crackdown on banks that are poorly managed and undercapitalised.

The clean-up has continued even as rescues of some large banks, such as Uralsib or Vnesheconombank, were conducted when Russia fell into recession after the 2014 Western sanctions limited access to foreign capital and oil prices fell.

Russia has 603 banks now, down from more than 850 in early 2014, and Pozdyshev said the central bank was only midway through the clean-up - the first phase of making the industry stronger.

"The rehabilitation of the banking sector and its structural reconfiguration will take another three to five years," Podyshev, who oversees banking regulation, told Reuters in an interview.

"We call it the rehabilitation of the banking sector, some call it a clean-up," Pozdyshev said. "Dishonest lenders are being weeded out of the market - those are not banks, but in fact, criminal structures."

He said the central bank had not sped up its licence withdrawals because of the current economic crisis.

SERVING ALL

The Russian banking sector is dominated by state-owned banks and large private banking groups. The top six banks account for 69 percent of the sector's 81 trillion roubles ($1.25 trillion) in assets.

To serve the economy, Pozdyshev said, the system should have three tiers of banks: systematically important, federal or universal banks, and regional banks.

"The paradox is that large customers are too large for our banks, and small businesses are too small," he said.

With the assets of the whole banking system amounting only to about 100 percent of Russia's gross domestic product (GDP), the sector is still underdeveloped. Some Western banks account for more than their country's entire GDP.

The Russian central bank wants to gradually increase banks' minimum authorised capital to 1 billion roubles from 2018, from 300 million roubles to build up a banking sector that is resilient to economic and financials shocks.

As of Sept. 1, only 320 banks had 1 billion in capital and of those 170 had 3 billion roubles. Some 50 banks had about 700 million roubles in capital and could probably reach the 1 billion level by 2018, Pozdyshev said.

Although data show bank lending is inching up by 0.2 to 0.3 percent each month, any revival in lending will be "very cautious", Pozdyshev said. He sees credit growth at 5-6 percent next year.

"It will reflect the pace of the economic recovery and a loan portfolio growth rate of 0.2-0.3 percent per month will be a rather long-term trend," he said.

Russia's GDP is forecast to contract around 0.5 percent this year before showing moderate growth of 0.6-0.8 percent next year.

Pozdyshev said the central bank would closely monitor consumer lending, which started growing in August, and will adopt "macroprudential measures" if lending in that segment picks up too fast.

"The growth of consumer lending should correspond to the dynamics of household income," Pozdyshev said.

Russians' income has been falling, with data showing the amount of real disposable income people had in August fell at the fastest pace in seven years.
Gaza fishermen feel caught by Israel's tight security net

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - When Palestinian fisherman Abu Mohammed came under pressure to become an informer for Israeli intelligence, the 45-year-old father of five took a radical decision - he quit fishing and became a builder.

Working off the coast of Gaza, where Israel imposes restrictions preventing fishing boats going out more than six nautical miles, was already hard enough without Israel's security services trying to co-opt him, he said.

According to the Al-Mezan Association, a Palestinian human rights group, 113 Gaza fishermen have been detained by Israel this year, compared with 41 in the same period of 2015. Those detained say there is also increased pressure - including the threat of losing their boats - to divulge information that might help Israel's security services.

Gaza is run by Hamas, an Islamist group whose founding charter calls for Israel's destruction. One of the reasons Israel maintains such tight restrictions on Gaza's water is to prevent the smuggling of weapons by militant groups.

The Israeli naval commander overseeing Gaza's coast confirmed around 70 fishermen have been detained this year. They were handed over to the Shin Bet intelligence agency or other bodies for questioning before being returned to Gaza, he said.

"Our job is to look out for the enemy, having to deal with fishermen is a distraction for the forces," said the commander, who gave his name simply as Captain Guy. "We want them to make a living and we want to protect our vital interests."

The Shin Bet did not respond to a request for comment.

For Abu Mohammed and others, most of whose lifetime has been spent at sea, the experience has left a lasting scar.

"I was on the boat with relatives and friends when an Israeli naval vessel came close," he said, describing events earlier this year and declining to give his full name for fear of reprisals.

"They fired at the boat and hit it, we stopped and they arrested us. They blindfolded us on the boat, tied our hands and took us for interrogation at a base in Ashkelon," he said, referring to a nearby Israeli city.

There an Israeli security officer asked him for information about militants in his neighbourhood and said he would give him a chance to think. "In three days I will call you and I hope you cooperate," he says the officer told him.

Scared and confused, Abu Mohammed says that when he was returned to Gaza he broke his phone's SIM card, handed himself over to a local security service and was unemployed for several months before joining friends in construction. "I preferred to starve rather than become a spy," he said.

OVER-FISHED

While there are around 4,000 fishermen in Gaza, making it one of the largest employers in the strip of 1.9 million people, only 500-700 fish regularly, either because business is too tough or they fear being detained.

Under an interim peace deal, Gaza's fishermen were supposed to be allowed to trawl 20 nautical miles off the coast. But after Hamas seized control in 2007 following a brief civil war with rival Palestinian group Fatah, a range of three and sometimes six nautical miles was enforced.

There have been periods of relaxation since, but for most of the past decade, the limit has remained the same, meaning the waters have become over-fished and depleted. Gaza now imports spawn from Israel and farms fish.

"The past year is the worst, maybe not only in the past 10 years but in a 100 years," said Majed Abu Reyala, 41, who became a fisherman at the age of seven.

"I have been in debt for the past four months, there is no work," he said. "It is not safe, someone who goes into the sea does not know whether he will make it out safely."

Hisham Baker, chairman of Gaza's fishermen, said Israel's restrictions and what he called its blackmail had reached an unprecedented scale, putting the profession in danger.
Nigerian lawmakers say to probe alleged MTN transfer of $13.9 bln

ABUJA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Lawmakers in the upper house of Nigeria's parliament agreed on Tuesday to investigate an allegation that South Africa's MTN, Africa's biggest telecoms company, illegally transferred $13.92 billion out of the West African country.

MTN declined to comment on the decision of the Senate in Nigeria which, with 62 million subscribers, is its biggest market. MTN shares were down by 4.20 percent, at 2.46 pm (13:46 GMT), on Tuesday.

The allegation was made in a motion submitted to the upper house by Senator Dino Melaye which said $13.92 billion had been repatriated "illegally" out of Nigeria by MTN through its bankers between 2006 and 2016.

The investigation threatens to raise tensions between Nigeria and the South African firm just three months after MTN agreed to pay a reduced fine of 330 billion naira ($1.05 billion) in a settlement with the Abuja government over unregistered SIM cards.

The move comes as Nigeria, Africa's biggest economy, is in recession for the first time in more than 20 years.

The upper house agreed that its committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions would "carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back to the Senate".

MTN is the largest mobile phone operator in Nigeria, which accounts for around one third of the company's revenues.
Zimbabwe police fire teargas on street vendors

HARARE, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe police fired teargas at stone-throwing vendors resisting removal from city streets on Tuesday in the latest flare-up of protests against President Robert Mugabe's 36-year rule.

Army trucks and tankers joined Harare's regular municipal police in a drive against the hawkers, pursuing them through the streets of the capital while firing teargas and water canons.

The southern African nation's 80 percent unemployment rate has left thousands of people surviving by selling fruit and vegetables, mobile phone credit, trinkets and second hand clothes on sidewalks in the city centre.

Such vendors see the city streets as key markets and have over the years refused to be moved from the central business district.

As security officials moved in, some of the vendors fought back, hurling stones and bricks.

"The government has ruined the economy and here they are, trying to interfere with our only means of survival," said 28-year-old Gilbert Fodya, as he fled from the police.

"I have to run away because I can't afford to lose the little that I have," he added, clutching a bundle of belts.

Mugabe, 92, has been confronted with a series of protests in the last few months from a wide range of opponents who say Zimbabwe, once considered one of Africa's most promising economies, has slipped into irreversible decline under his rule.
MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi tumbles on government austerity steps

By Celine Aswad

DUBAI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock index slumped 3.8 percent on Tuesday after the government said it would cut ministers' salaries by 20 percent and scale back financial bonuses and perks for public sector workers under an austerity drive.

The new steps largely appear to formalise spending reductions introduced on an ad hoc basis since last year, and they will not by themselves make a huge difference to the government's deficit. NCB Capital estimated allowances accounted for about a quarter of the government's total salary expenses last year, which were 38 percent of its overall budget.

Nevertheless, the announcement underlined the bleak outlook for Saudi government spending, which is a key driver of consumption, as oil prices stay low.

None of the 170 traded Saudi shares rose on Tuesday with roughly 30 percent of them dropping their 10 percent daily limits as trading volume jumped above the three-month average. The index posted its biggest daily percentage drop since January.

The retail and insurance sectors were hard hit. Luxury goods retailer Fitaihi slumped 10.0 percent and supermarket operator Al Othaim Markets dropped 4.7 percent.

The insurance sub-index retreated 5.9 percent; the sector is chiefly traded by local retail investors.

"Disposable income has been hit - traders can no longer afford to participate in the stock market because they now have to divert this money towards paying bills," said a Jeddah-based broker.

"Moving forward I think there will be far more prudence when it comes to trading the speculative stocks. For the value traders, this may be a good time to hunt for value."

Banking shares, which had rallied on Monday, erased some of those gains with National Commercial Bank, a lender with close ties to the public sector, down 3.5 percent and Aljazira Bank, which does considerable business with stock market participants, shedding 5.4 percent.

UAE, KUWAIT

Dubai's main index pulled back 0.8 percent with 24 stocks declining and eight advancing. Builder Drake & Scull , which has substantial exposure to Saudi business, dropped 1.8 percent and Dubai Parks and Resorts retreated 1.3 percent.

Blue chips weighed on Abu Dhabi's index, which fell 0.5 percent. Dana Gas lost 3.6 percent and First Gulf Bank declined 1.3 percent.

In Kuwait, banking shares rose after the central bank governor said the banking system was stable, with non-performing loans dropping to 2.4 percent of total loans in 2015 from 2.9 percent in 2014.

Al Ahli Bank rose 1.6 percent and Boubyan Bank added 1.3 percent. The main index edged up 0.1 percent.

Meanwhile Cairo's main index fell 0.3 percent in thin trade with losers outnumbering gainers 22 to three. Qalaa Holdings, a private equity company, declined 3.3 percent.

TUESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

* The index slumped 3.8 percent to 5,731 points.

DUBAI

* The index fell 0.8 percent to 3,467 points.

ABU DHABI

* The index lost 0.5 percent to 4,472 points.

EGYPT

* The index edged down 0.3 percent to 7,949 points.

QATAR

* The index fell 0.4 percent to 10,473 points.

BAHRAIN

* The index slipped 0.02 percent to 1,139 points.

KUWAIT

* The index added 0.1 percent to 5,412 points.

OMAN

* The index dipped 0.3 percent to 5,749 points.
Syrian government launches Aleppo ground attack

By Tom Perry and Angus McDowall

BEIRUT, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and their allies attacked the opposition-held sector of Aleppo on several fronts on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new campaign that has destroyed a U.S.-backed ceasefire.

The United States says the assault on Aleppo is proof that President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and regional allies have abandoned an international peace process to pursue victory on the battlefield after nearly six years of civil war.

Washington, which agreed a ceasefire with Russia this month that collapsed after a week, says Moscow and Damascus are guilty of "barbarism" and war crimes for targeting civilians, health workers and aid deliveries in air strikes.

More than 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs.

One air raid killed 12 people from two families when it brought down a building on Tuesday, bringing the death toll in opposition districts to more than 30, said Bebars Mishal, a spokesman for the Civil Defence emergency service.

A video purported to be of the attack's aftermath showed emergency workers bringing an apparently lifeless, dust-covered body out of the wreckage in a cherry-picker crane.

Only about 30 doctors are left in rebel-held Aleppo, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies.

The World Health Organization called for the "immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded" from the besieged eastern part of the city.

Tuesday's assault saw pro-government forces, which include the Syrian army and allied militia from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon, attempt to attack Aleppo's Old City near its historic citadel, as well as around several of the city's major access points.

Troops advanced from the countryside to the north and south, rebels said, leading to intense clashes. The military and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitoring group, said the army had made some gains, but this was disputed by rebels who said they had held them off.

A rebel official said insurgents had advanced against government forces in a separate battle further south, in Hama province.

The rebels took over several villages in Hama's northeastern countryside, building on gains they made nearby on Saturday, said Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group.

The Observatory also reported the advance.

"FEROCIOUS CONFRONTATION"

Senior combatants on both sides said pro-government forces were massing in several parts of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, now divided into a western zone held by the army and a smaller, besieged area held by rebels.

The commander of an Iraqi Shi'ite militia fighting in support of Assad told Reuters a large force spearheaded by the army's elite "Nimr", or Tiger, forces had started to move in armoured vehicles and tanks for an attack on rebel-held areas.

Quelling the uprising in the city would give Assad his biggest victory yet of the war and deliver a powerful blow to his enemies.

It is far from clear whether an all-out attempt to storm the rebel-held area is planned soon: that would require a massive assault by the army, backed by Lebanese and Iraqi Shi'ite militias, Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Russian air power.

The government's strategy in other locations such as Damascus and Homs has been to use years of siege and bombardment to force eventual surrender, rather than attempting to storm well-defended territory.

However, Assad's allies now openly say they have abandoned the peace process and are betting instead on military victory.

"There are no prospects for political solutions ... the final word is for the battlefield," the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah Shi'ite movement, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, was quoted in a Lebanese newspaper as saying on Tuesday.

The head of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Aleppo's fate would be determined only "through a forceful confrontation".

Aleppo residents said the ferocious air attacks of previous nights had abated somewhat.

State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City and engineering units were clearing mines in the area.

A senior rebel source said the army had taken some positions near that area, but had been forced to withdraw. Neither assertion could be independently confirmed. The army had also been repelled after heavy fighting in assaults on four other fronts, he said, describing it as the biggest wave of ground attacks since the offensive was announced last week.

Zakaria Malahifji, a politburo member of the Fastaqim group which is active in Aleppo, said the army had assembled infantry and heavy vehicles in a military buildup in the city.

"Until today, thank God, attempts to advance have been blocked," he added.

The senior rebel official said pro-government forces were mobilising near the rebel-held Sheikh Saeed district on the city's southern outskirts, near the location of the heaviest fighting this summer in Aleppo.
Pakistan warns of "water war" with India if decades-old treaty violated

By Drazen Jorgic and Tommy Wilkes

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Pakistan would treat it as "an act of war" if India revoked the Indus Water Treaty regulating river flows between the two nations, Pakistan's top foreign official said on Tuesday.

Tension has been mounting between the nuclear-armed neighbours since at least 18 Indian soldiers in the disputed Kashmir region were killed this month in an attack that New Delhi blames on Pakistan.

India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi to inform him about two men from Pakistan now in Indian custody who it alleges helped gunmen cross the disputed Kashmir border before the attack. Pakistan denies involvement in the raid and has urged India to conduct a proper investigation.

One retaliatory move being considered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is for India to "maximise" the amount of water it uses including by accelerating building of new hydropower plants, along three rivers that flow into Pakistan, a source with knowledge of a meeting attended by Modi on Monday told Reuters.

The source said India does not plan to abrogate the decades-old Indus Water Treaty. But using more of the rivers' water is still likely to hurt Pakistan as the Islamic Republic depends on snow-fed Himalayan rivers for everything from drinking water to agriculture.

Sartaj Aziz, foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said Islamabad would seek arbitration with the Indus Water Commission which monitors the treaty if India increased the use of water from the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers.

However, if India revoked the treaty, Aziz said Pakistan would treat that as "an act of war or a hostile act against Pakistan."

"It's highly irresponsible on part of India to even consider revocation of the Indus Water Treaty," Aziz told the national assembly.

The treaty was signed in 1960 in a bid to resolve disputes, but India's ambitious irrigation plans and construction of thousands of upstream dams has continued to annoy Pakistan. India says its use of upstream water is strictly in line with the agreement.

India currently generates about 3,000 megawatts of energy from hydropower plants along rivers in its portion of Kashmir, but believes the region has the potential to produce 18,000 megawatts and says it can use more water and still remain within the terms of the treaty.

Aziz said India's provocative posturing constitutes a breach of the Indus Water Treaty and "threats of a water war are part of a military, economic and diplomatic campaign to build pressure on Pakistan", and deflect attention from civil unrest by the Muslim population in the Indian-ruled side of Kashmir.

DETAINED BY VILLAGERS

The attack on the Indian brigade headquarters in the Kashmir town of Uri before dawn on Sept. 18 was the deadliest in 14 years in the disputed Himalayan region and has sharply raised tensions between the arch-rivals.

India on Tuesday told Pakistan's High Commissioner that security forces had in their custody two men - a 19-year old and a 20-year old - who helped a group of gunmen cross the de facto border dividing Kashmir before launching the Sept. 18 raid, and that they were from Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

In a statement, India's foreign ministry said the two men were apprehended by local villagers on Sept. 21, and that one of them had since admitted their role as guides and also identified one of the gunmen as a Pakistani from Muzaffarabad.

Reuters could not independently verify these claims.
London's Baltic Exchange succumbs to Singapore as shipping turmoil deepens

By Jonathan Saul

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The crisis in global shipping and a tax exodus by big Greek vessel owners have helped finally seal the fate of London's Baltic Exchange after at least three approaches to buy it over the last six years of its near-three centuries history.

Some 95 percent of shareholders voted on Monday in favour of a takeover deal from Singapore Exchange, valued at 87 million pounds ($112.87 million), trumping more than one effort from the London Metal Exchange to snap it up.

"For Baltic shareholders it does release value, and with many of them being shipbrokers in a very brutal market, that is going to be a welcome windfall," said Tim Huxley, director of Hong Kong based ship owner Mandarin Shipping.

"Under the wing of SGX, the Baltic can probably develop its freight market information services further," said Huxley, formerly managing director of shipbroker Clarkson Asia.

Founded in 1744 as a forum for chartering vessels, the Baltic Exchange now produces benchmark indexes for global shipping rates and owns a trading platform for the multi-billion dollar freight derivatives market. It had repeatedly rebuffed overtures - defending its independence.

Located in the heart of the City of London since its founding in a coffee house, its flagship building was extensively damaged in an Irish Republican Army bomb attack in 1992. It moved to different premises and the Gherkin tower now stands on the site.

Parts of the shipping industry are suffering their deepest downturn ever, as international trade slows and freight rates fall in a market flooded with new vessels.

"Change was needed to kick the Baltic into the 21st century and SGX came in for the entire business unlike previous interest and that really helped push it forward," one source said.

Amidst tough market conditions, SGX offered - after months of talks - 160.41 pounds per share to Baltic shareholders.

Shareholders will receive separately 19.30 pounds per share from the unlisted Baltic as a final dividend, giving the privately owned business a total valuation of about 87 million pounds.

"In terms of a deal, the possibility arose when it became clear that the Baltic was worth substantially more than the shares were trading for and that there was interest out there in an acquisition," outgoing Baltic Exchange Chief Executive Jeremy Penn told Reuters.

The takeover is one of the latest developments in a long string of mergers, bidding wars and failed deals among global exchanges.

SUCCESSIVE BIDS

In February, the Baltic confirmed it had received a number of "exploratory approaches" after SGX said it was seeking to buy it.

The LME, CME Group, ICE, state-run conglomerate China Merchants Group and Platts were among other potential bidders, sources had said.

The LME had first proposed a joint venture in 2010 to launch an exchange for freight derivatives trading.

In 2013, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the Baltic had received expressions of interest from the LME and other suitors for its freight derivatives platform Baltex, launched in 2011.

The previous LME approaches ran into opposition from ship brokers, who are members and shareholders of the Baltic, fearing they could lose business.

SGX is looking to expand its global presence in shipping and has been developing Asian pricing benchmarks for commodities such as iron ore, liquefied natural gas and coking coal.

The Singapore Exchange, started in 1999, has made little comment on how it plans to develop the Baltic. The deal still requires regulatory approval, which shipping sources say is expected to be given.

Penn said: "The vision for SGX as much as anything is that the Baltic indices, the Baltic benchmarks as a business - perhaps they get monetized more effectively ... it's all about the opportunity."

"NON DOMS"

For Greek ship owners, who had been in London for decades and held around 20 percent of Baltic shares, Britain's move to scrap special tax breaks for long-term residents who claim "non-domicile" status was another motivating factor helping the deal, sources said.

"It's not the same as it was in the past and the non-dom issue has been a serious factor for the London Greeks - many of whom are moving out of London," one source close to Greek ship owners told Reuters.

"The price offered was certainly part of the consideration but the British government's legislation played a bigger role."

When contacted, the representative Greek Shipping Co-Operation Committee declined to comment.
U.S. established working group to stop Middle East migrant smugglers

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told a Senate panel on Tuesday the United States was cracking down on Middle Eastern migrants illegally crossing the southern U.S. border.

Johnson, FBI Director James Comey and National Counterterrorism Center Director Nicholas Rasmussen all were pressed on a range of security issues by the Homeland Security Committee, including migration, cyber hackers manipulating voting systems and recent bombings in New York City and New Jersey.

Johnson told the committee his agency has established a working group in recent months to crack down on smuggling groups bringing Middle Eastern migrants across the southern U.S. border. He said the new group works with the law enforcement in Central and South America to "interdict these people before they get to our border and share intelligence about what we're seeing."

Johnson said the group is focused on the smuggling networks that are moving Middle Eastern migrants, whose numbers have risen in the past year.

Asked about cyber security threats, Johnson told the committee that 18 U.S. states have accepted his agency's offer to help secure their voting systems from hackers ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

In August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said voter databases in two states had been breached.

Johnson also was pressed about immigrants mistakenly granted citizenship, as revealed last week in a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report.

Johnson said his agency was reviewing the cases and revoking citizenship for cases in which it was wrongly granted.
Kenya moves to replace election officials after protests

NAIROBI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Kenya's government said on Tuesday it was taking steps to replace all its electoral commissioners under a deal with the opposition to resolve a row that has led to protests and violence.

Rivals in parliament have held talks to end the dispute over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which critics said was biased and not fit to oversee elections scheduled for August 2017.

A government statement said a committee representing several government agencies "will lead negotiations with the IEBC commissioners to facilitate the orderly and dignified exit of current commissioners and ensure a seamless transition".

Violence has often been a feature of Kenyan elections. After the 2007 vote, ethnic fighting left 1,200 people dead.

Opposition protests against the 10-strong commission erupted in April and led to a least four deaths when youths blocked roads and clashed with police.

The opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy coalition led by Raila Odinga had tried but failed to overturn the result of a 2013 election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The opposition complained about the failure of electronic voter identification devices and other technical glitches, which they blamed on the shortcomings of the commission and corruption.

The commissioners earlier this year denied allegations of malpractice, rejected accusations of bias and vowed to stay on.

The government initially backed the commissioners, but in June agreed to a bipartisan parliamentary committee to resolve the dispute, a move that prompted the opposition to call off the protests.
Senators accuse Yahoo of 'unacceptable' delay in hack discovery

By Dustin Volz

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Six Democratic U.S. senators on Tuesday said it was "unacceptable" that Yahoo only last week announced a 2014 hack into 500 million user accounts and asked embattled CEO Marissa Mayer for more information about the company's investigation into the data breach.

The lawmakers said they were "disturbed" the two-year-old intrusion was detected so long after the hack occurred.

"That means millions of Americans' data may have been compromised for two years," the senators wrote in a joint letter addressed to Mayer. "This is unacceptable."

Yahoo did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter.

Yahoo has faced mounting questions about exactly when it knew about the 2014 cyber attack that exposed the email credentials of users, a critical issue for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover of its core business by Verizon Inc.

The internet firm has said it detected the breach this summer after conducting a security review prompted by an unrelated hack claim that turned out to be meritless. Yahoo has not given a precise timeline explaining when it was made aware of the 2014 attack, or if it knew of the breach before announcing the deal with Verizon in late July.

The senators requested a briefing from Yahoo to explain the company's investigation into the breach, its cooperation with law enforcement and national security authorities, and plans to protect affected users.

The letter was signed by Senators Patrick Leahy, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Wyden and Edward Markey.

The senators asked Mayer for a timeline of the hack and its discovery and how such a large breach went undetected for so long. They also asked what Yahoo was doing to prevent another breach in the future, if the company has changed its security protocols, and whether the U.S. government had warned of a possible hacking attempt.
Rebels could become guides, cheesemakers in post-war Colombia

By Julia Symmes Cobb and Nelson Bocanegra

EL DIAMANTE, Colombia, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Veterans of Colombia's FARC guerrilla army could soon be making a living as eco-tourism guides, beef processors or cheese makers under plans by the Marxist group to invest in economic projects once a peace deal takes hold.

Vast swathes of rural land abandoned for decades because of war will be open to development, including by ex-fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) working on communal farms and other initiatives funded by the group.

President Juan Manuel Santos and top rebel leader Timochenko signed peace on Monday, ending a 52-year-old conflict that killed more than 220,000 people and forced millions more from their homes.

The deal will be put to a public vote on Oct. 2 and is expected to be approved.

The economic projects, many planned for the future and some already functioning, will be run by the FARC to provide jobs to some of its 7,000 former fighters.

Financing will come from the FARC's own funds and demobilization money earmarked for individual ex-rebels under the peace agreement.

Many fighters have little education and come from poor, rural families so they need employment options to resist the profitable pull of drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.

"We have to be involved in the economy," FARC commander Mauricio Jaramillo told Reuters in the jungle outpost of El Diamante, southern Caqueta province.

"We have to push an assured and positive development so we don't head down the wrong path," he said, declining to expand on specific projects or say how much would be invested.

Deep social inequality and lack of opportunities for rural Colombians sparked the creation of the FARC in 1964, and many fear disenchanted former rebels will join drug-running crime gangs unless there are economic alternatives.

The FARC's seven-member secretariat, or leadership team, is loathe to acknowledge the existence of already-functioning projects for fear they may be seized by the government to lock down funds for victim reparations, say rebel sources.

Projects allowed under the peace deal are meant to be funded by payments of 8 million pesos (about $2,700) to demobilized fighters to help them start businesses.

Reuters was not permitted to visit the active projects in Caqueta or surrounding regions, even though FARC members confirmed a milk processor and a bean farm were up and running.

Many fighters say they want to get involved in politics or stay in familiar rural areas working alongside peasant farmers, but FARC business plans also include tourism initiatives and factory projects.

Ex-fighters could shepherd tourists around little-explored areas of Colombia's mountain and jungles, which have been under rebel control for decades.

"A tourist could get to see where the secretariat camped during the peace process," said Sebastian Gomez, head of a community organization that wants to partner with the FARC on eco-tourism, during a visit to the group's Yari unit to explain the effort to fighters.

"Nobody knows these areas like the rebels do."

A FARC document reviewed by Reuters shows plans for a dairy plant, cheese factories and farms are already well advanced.

"The factories will be constructed one per region and will be multi-functional in accordance with harvests," the document said. "They will be advised by professionals with relevant experience in Europe."

REBEL WEALTH

Colombian authorities say the rebels possess huge tracts of valuable land, as well as cattle ranches, shops and construction companies which allegedly help the group launder drug and ransom money, but there have been few confiscations of rebel property.

While some experts estimate the proceeds from the drugs business and extortion have netted the FARC billions of dollars, the rebels say their income is minimal and spent mostly on maintaining fighters.

Santos told Reuters the government will go after illicit FARC funds and properties to pay reparations.

Ex-fighters can choose for their 8 million peso payment to go directly to a communal project, the FARC said last week, or they can invest in an individual business.

Rebel leader Timochenko said last week that the FARC and its ex-fighters would contribute to economic growth.

"We will not take jobs from anyone. The opposite - we are going to develop projects that create more opportunities and galvanize the economy in areas where we have presence."

Jaramillo, a member of the FARC's secretariat who also uses the alias 'El Medico', said some business owners had been in touch with rebel leaders to ask about future projects.

"They have expressed some ideas, there are business owners who want to be involved," he said, without providing details.
Panama sends U.S. extradition request for ex-president Martinelli

PANAMA CITY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Panama has sent the U.S. Department of State an extradition request for former President Ricardo Martinelli to be returned to the Central American nation, a spokesman for Panama's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Martinelli, who is accused of using public money to spy illegally on more than 150 people, left Panama in January last year and is believed to be living in Miami.
EU Commissioner says Denmark can't have "parallel" Europol deal

COPENHAGEN, Sept 27 (Reuters) - A senior EU official told Denmark's leaders on Tuesday that they would not get the cross-border policing deal they have been seeking since Danes voted in a referendum to quit Europol.

In a precursor to the much more dramatic vote by the British in June to leave the European Union entirely, Danes last December rejected a government proposal for new laws needed to keep the country inside the European police agency.

Since then, the government has sought what is known in EU jargon as a "parallel deal" that would allow it to maintain some cooperation with Europol.

But European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermanns told Danish broadcaster TV2 that was not possible.

"I'm afraid not. You can't be slightly pregnant, you're either pregnant or you're not. If you vote to be out of Europol, you're out of Europol. I don't see on the basis of the legal situation any alternative for that," Timmermanns said.

"The vote of the Danish people was very clear, and the consequence of that vote is that Denmark will not be in Europol," he said.

Britain's leaders face a similar, but far more wide-reaching conundrum, as many would prefer to keep access to the EU single market while avoiding the obligation to allow EU citizens free movement, something the Commission says is out of the question.
Panama sends U.S. extradition request for ex-president Martinelli

PANAMA CITY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Panama has sent the U.S. Department of State an extradition request for former President Ricardo Martinelli to be returned to the Central American nation, a spokesman for Panama's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Martinelli, who is accused of using public money to spy illegally on more than 150 people, left Panama in January 2015 and is believed to be living in Miami.

The former president presided over an infrastructure boom and Latin America's fastest economic growth in recent years but his administration was tainted by allegations of corruption.

In response to the extradition request, Martinelli lashed out at current government and described himself as a victim of a politically motivated witchhunt.

"Diverting attention with a political persecution from the dullest, most inept and corrupt government doesn't achieve anything for the people," he said in a Twitter post.

In December, a U.S. federal judge identified Martinelli as one of several alleged co-conspirators in an unrelated bribery scheme that helped software giant SAP sell millions of dollars in software to Panama.
Drought drains Brazil's robusta warehouses of coffee, forces layoffs

By Reese Ewing

SAO PAULO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's robusta coffee industry is laying off workers who transport, process and store the commodity in warehouses that are nearly idle two years into the worst drought in eight decades, according to traders and industry executives.

Though prices have never been higher at 427 to 434 reais (US$132-$134) per bag for conilon, the variety of robusta grown in Brazil, producers expect another bad crop in 2017 as they tear up trees ruined by drought. At current prices, Brazil's 2016 robusta crop is worth $1.2 billion.

Exports of conilon are down 90 percent over the past 12 months versus the previous year, the coffee exporters association Cecafe said.

Despite a major recovery in arabica production in the surrounding regions due to the return of rains, the 2016 conilon crop in the main producer state, Espirito Santo, has fallen 40 percent to 5.95 million bags since peaking in 2014.

"Warehouses and segments of the coffee industry here are putting employees on leave and transferring some to other areas," said Luis Polese, president of coffee trade association Sindicafe. "Unfortunately, less skilled workers are being let go." He could not say how many workers have been laid off.

Conilon makes up about a quarter of Brazil's coffee crop but is the staple coffee consumed on the domestic market, second only in size to the United States.

Brazil's exports of conilon pale in comparison to arabica shipments. However, after the robusta crop in top supplier Vietnam declined over the past year, Brazil's exports of conilon have become more important for global supply.

November robusta futures are at their highest in a year and a half.

The drought was throwing all infrastructure linked to the coffee production into crisis, including transporters, exporters and roasters, officials said.

"We're having a hard time securing raw material to supply the local roasting industry," said Egidio Malanquini, president of the roasting industry association Sincafe.

Brazil is in its worst economic recession since the 1930s. Last week, the Labor Ministry said the economy was contracting for the second straight year and had shed a net 33,953 jobs in August.

Brazil's economy is expected to shrink more than 3 percent for a second straight year in 2016, with over 11 million workers officially considered unemployed.

2017 PROSPECTS DIM

Damage from the drought appears to be worsening.

Although Espirito Santo forced irrigated coffee farms to ration water early in 2016, the state capital of Vitoria began restricting water supplies in 58 neighborhoods last week for the first time in its history.

Two main rivers, the Santa Maria and Jacu, are below critical levels and 20 other municipalities are in a state of emergency due to the water crisis, Eduardo Carvalhaes at trader Escritorio Carvalhaes in Santos said.

Octaciano Neto, the farm secretary in Espirito Santo, said some regions have seen less than half their normal rainfall for the third year running.

Polese said multinationals like Louis Dreyfus, Olam and Volcafe are experiencing drastic declines in the flow of coffee through their warehouses versus recent years, little more than a couple of months after harvest was completed.

"Olam's warehouse in Nova Venecia is running at a fraction of capacity. Volcafe, a leader in coffee, leased two warehouses in Colatina, which are moving coffee at 20 percent capacity," Polese said.

Another trader in the state, who asked not to be named, said a Louis Dreyfus Company was holding 60,000 to 80,000 bags of coffee in its 250,000-bag warehouse in Nova Venecia. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Volcafe said it continued to invest and hire in the region despite drought damage to the crop. An Olam executive in Brazil said its warehouse was running at 25 percent capacity.

President of the Vitoria Coffee Exchange CCCV Jorge Luiz Nicchio said he expected some warehouses would close soon given poor prospects for next year's crop.

"Producers are tearing up trees that are so badly damaged they don't expect them to recover," he told Reuters.

Crop analysts INTL FCStone said last week that prospects for conilon in Espirito Santo in 2017 were "extremely worrisome" and expected to be worse than this year.
Gunmen in Somalia kill radio journalist

MOGADISHU, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed a Somali radio journalist in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, an official told Reuters.

Killings of journalists in Somalia are not uncommon and are mostly blamed on al Shabaab, the Islamist militant group fighting to topple the country's Western backed government and rule the country according to sharia law.

"Unidentified men armed with pistols killed our colleague this evening," Radio Shabelle's station manager, Abukar Sheikh, told Reuters by phone about Abdiasis Ali Haji.

Police Major Mohamed Nur told Reuters he was killed by two men with pistols who fled before officers reached the scene.

A statement by the National Union of Somali Journalists condemned the killing and asked the Somali government to urgently investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators.

In June suspected al Shabaab gunmen shot and killed a female journalist, Sagal Salad, working for state-run Radio Mogadishu.

Late last year, another female reporter who also worked for Radio Mogadishu was killed in a car blast. Two men convicted of the killing were executed in April.

Somalia has been convulsed by instability, violence and lawlessness since early 1990s following the toppling of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
GRAINS-Soybean, wheat edge higher on short-covering, rains

By Michael Hirtzer

CHICAGO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. grain and oilseed futures were mostly higher on Tuesday, with soybeans rebounding from an earlier five-month low on support from investor short-covering ahead of a U.S. Department of Agriculture quarterly stocks report due on Friday.

Rainfall delayed the U.S. corn and soybean harvests, while heavy precipitation could curb wheat output in Australia and reduce grain quality in Canada.

However, global supplies of cereal grains and edible oilseeds were abundant, likely limiting the upside potential in prices, traders and analysts said.

Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures posted the largest gains, with December wheat jumping 1.8 percent, or 7 cents, to $4.03 per bushel, while MGEX December spring wheat climbed 6 cents to $5.00-1/2 per bushel.

"Wheat overall is up on Australian wheat concerns and spring wheat is up on quality concerns after recent rain events in Canada," said Adam Knosalla, a broker Frontier Futures.

More showers were predicted later this week in eastern Australia after near-record rain earlier in September, and the excess moisture would likely add to crop loss in the part of country that typically produces high-protein wheat.

U.S. corn and soybean harvests were advancing slightly slower than average, USDA data showed late on Monday, prompting some investors to take profits on bearish bets.

CBOT November soybeans were up 3-3/4 cents to $9.49 per bushel, rebounding from their session low of $9.34 last reached in April. CBOT December corn was 2-3/4 cents higher at $3.31-3/4 per bushel, recovering from a roughly two-week low.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected USDA on Friday to report U.S. stockpiles of wheat, corn and soybeans as of Sept. 1 above levels at the same time in 2015.

Rich Feltes, vice president for research at R.J. O'Brien, said early yield results for U.S. soybeans have been impressive.

"On a national basis we are seeing ... very few (anecdotal harvest) yields that are below USDA's number, at 50-plus (bushels per acre)," Feltes said.
U.S. announces $400 million more in humanitarian aid for Syrians

WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it was providing nearly $400 million in additional humanitarian funding to help Syrians caught up in the country's civil war, bring total U.S. humanitarian spending for Syria to about $5.9 billion.

Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne Richard said the United States has now admitted about 12,500 Syrian refugees in the past year, exceeding the administration's goal of 10,000.
Islamist rebel gets 9 years imprisonment for Timbuktu destruction

By Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE, Sept 27 (Reuters) - War crimes judges on Tuesday sentenced a former Islamist rebel who admitted wrecking holy shrines during Mali's 2012 conflict to nine years in prison, in the first such case to focus on destruction of cultural heritage.

Human rights groups and international legal experts hope Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi's case in the International Criminal Court may serve as a deterrent to a kind of devastation that continues to be a feature of global conflicts yet has gone largely unpunished.

Al-Mahdi expressed remorse for his involvement in the destruction of 10 mausoleums and religious sites in Timbuktu dating from Mali's 14th-century golden age as a trading hub and centre of Sufi Islam, a branch of the religion seen as idolatrous by some hardline Muslim groups.

The sites, nine of them on the UNESCO World Heritage list, "had an emotional and symbolic meaning for the residents of Timbuktu", the panel of judges at The Hague said. Several sites were razed to the ground or badly damaged and needed to be completely rebuilt.

By striking at their most meaningful religious sites, al-Mahdi participated in "a war activity aimed at breaking the soul of the people," said presiding Judge Raul Pangalangan.

Specifically, the judges said, he "exercised joint control over the attacks" by planning, leading and participating in them, supplying pick-axes and in one case a bulldozer.

Such acts have rarely been prosecuted despite being illegal under international law, but have attracted increasing international outrage after the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan in 2001 and, more recently, Islamic State jihadists smashed monuments in the Syrian city of Palmyra.

Those acts have not been investigated by the ICC because Syria is not a member of the court and the destruction in Afghanistan predates the court's jurisdiction.

Instead, prosecutors at the ICC have largely focused on war crimes in African states, earning the 14-year-old court criticism for not going after more politically challenging hotspots, such as the occupied Palestinian territories.

SWEPT UP IN A WAVE

The ICC has been examining events in Mali since 2012, when Tuareg rebels seized part of the north, imposing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. French and Malian troops pushed them back the following year.

During his brief trial in August al-Mahdi asked for forgiveness and said he had been swept up in an "evil wave" when al Qaeda and the Ansar Dine Islamist groups briefly seized control of the ancient sites.

Prosecutors and the defence had agreed beforehand to accept a sentence of 9 to 11 years for the former religious teacher, who sat quietly in a gray suit, nodding as the verdict was read aloud.

Judges said the sentence took into account al-Mahdi's "genuine remorse, deep regret and deep pain" and his calls on other Muslims not to make the same mistakes he did.

"Such an admission may have a deterrent effect on others tempted to commit similar acts in Mali and elsewhere," Pangalangan said.

UNESCO said in a statement the verdict was "a landmark in gaining recognition for the importance of heritage for humanity as a whole and for the communities that have preserved it over the centuries".

"This case is of phenomenal significance considering the character of armed conflict going on around the world and the amount of cultural property that is being destroyed," said Carrie Comer, permanent representative to the ICC of Paris-based rights watch dog FIDH.

She said that given al-Mahdi's remorse and cooperation, the sentence "is quite a strong deterrent message: saying we do take these crimes seriously, they have an impact on victims not only in the immediate vicinity but really on the international community as a whole."

A warrant for al-Mahdi's arrest was issued by the ICC on Sept. 18, 2015, and he was handed over by neighbouring Niger eight days later.

Mali's government welcomed the conviction as a source of "hope for all the victims of the barbaric ideology ... of the narco-terrorists in northern Mali", adding that it "should serve as a ... warning to criminals who attack cultural property".

Residents reached in Timbuktu had mixed views about the verdict.

"Nine years in prison is little. But he deserves the sentence as an example for all who committed these barbaric acts," said Alhoussaini Saye, a teacher.

Hawa Sisse, a trader in a Timbuktu market, said: "I was expecting him to be imprisoned for life, but (the court) decided otherwise. I hope that his return to Timbuktu in nine years will not be perceived as a sort of victory among the militants."

Mali expert Bruce Whitehouse said Malians are worried al-Madhi's case will "wind up being a kind of fig leaf".

When the ICC's prosecutor opened its Mali investigation in 2012, "there were different classes of crimes, including murder, torture, execution, pillaging, rape," said Whitehouse, a professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
Number of unsolved crimes in Mexico rose in 2015 -poll

MEXICO CITY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The number of unsolved crimes in Mexico rose in 2015, with 93.7 percent of all infractions going unreported or uninvestigated, in a fresh blow to government efforts to stem years of drug violence and restore law and order.

The survey, published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) on Tuesday, said the 2015 unsolved crime levels were up 0.9 percent from the year prior.

The 2015 figure was the highest since 2013, when the number of unsolved crimes reached 93.8 percent, INEGI said, and the second highest since the survey began in 2010.

The results of the poll come as the government struggles to stem a rising tide of murders, with 1,938 homicides across Mexico in August, the highest number since President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in 2012.

The government hopes a 2008 judicial reform, which sought to end behind-closed-doors trials and transition toward the more accountable oral legal system, will help lower the number of unsolved crimes.

But the reform's rollout across all of Mexico's states, which is scheduled to end this year, has so far been patchy.

More than 100,000 people have died in drug-related violence since 2007, and over 27,000 remain missing after having disappeared.

Crime and insecurity were estimated to cost Mexican households 236.8 billion pesos ($12.22 billion) a year, or 1.25 percent of the country's gross domestic product, INEGI found.

The survey showed that household spending on security measures increased by 17.7 percent in 2015, the largest rise since INEGI began examining security expenditures.

The survey also said 63 percent of those surveyed chose not to report crimes due to a distrust of authority.

The survey, carried out between March 1 and April 26, questioned 95,714 households.
Job security fears hamper rebound in UK consumer confidence

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - British consumer morale recovered slightly in September, but fears over job security when Brexit talks begin next year could yet dampen confidence, a survey published on Wednesday found.

Consumer confidence nosedived after Britain's vote to leave the European Union on June 23, which many economists warned would catapult the country into recession. But morale recovered after early data showed the economy would avoid an immediate slump.

The YouGov/Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) Consumer Confidence Index rose one point in September to 111.1, four points up from July but two points lower than before the Brexit vote.

The index, based on interviews with 6,000 people per month, showed measures of job security and household finances decreased and people were more pessimistic about business activity in their workplace over the year ahead.

This was balanced out by more positive expectations of household finances and house values over the coming year.

But the figures for job security over the next 12 months were the lowest since February and the second lowest in 20 months, YouGov said.

Formal exit talks with the EU are expected to start next year, when the impact of Brexit will become clearer.

Fears over this impact "will act as a handbrake on the post-referendum recovery in consumer confidence," said Cebr director Scott Corfe.
Distinctive Dalzell reopens in effort to salvage steel jobs

MOTHERWELL, Scotland, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Britain's largest steel plate mill reopens under owner Liberty Steel on Wednesday, a deal brokered by a Scottish government keen to stem the decline of its industrial heartland.

Liberty bought the Dalzell plant in Motherwell and its sister works at Clydebridge in Glasgow from Tata Steel for a symbolic sum in April this year, with the Scottish government underpinning the process and no value disclosed.

The pro-independence Scottish government wants to avoid mistakes made when such industries were dismantled under nationwide governments in London, with deep social, political and economic consequences such as at Ravenscraig, just down the road from Dalzell.

The fate of Dalzell, with its distinctive blue water tower, contrasts sharply with that of Port Talbot in South Wales at the other end of Britain, a steel mill employing 4,000 workers and in limbo awaiting Tata Steel's decision on its future.

With fears of job losses as Britain moves to leave the European Union and North Sea oil in decline, Scotland's government has tried to defend some segments of industry, particularly steel.

But the Edinburgh government was absent from the event staged by chemicals giant Ineos on Tuesday marking the first arrival in Britain of fracked U.S. shale gas, which Ineos says supports manufacturing jobs.

Scotland has a fracking moratorium but is under public pressure to ban it outright despite the jobs it would bring, because of fears of environmental damage. Fracking has the support of the government in the rest of Britain.

Sanjeev Gupta, chairman of Liberty, is reopening the Dalzell works with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and two other Scottish ministers in what he calls a first step in a "greensteel" strategy for a competitive, low-carbon and sustainable steel industry.

Sturgeon said earlier this year that the Liberty purchase showed "with the right support and a strong government there can be a future for steel."

Liberty has spent months preparing to reactivate Dalzell's furnace and rolling mill to produce 150,000 tonnes of steel plate -- for use in heavy industry such as oil, shipbuilding and infrastructure. It hopes to increase that to up to 500,000 tonnes eventually, employing 200 people.
Chinese and Russian navies recently conducted a major joint military exercise in a symbolic drill to "seize an island." The eight-day long drill involved storming beaches and seizing control of the "island."

It has a strategic significance, after the Philippines arbitration move and American and Japanese statements regarding ownership rights in the South China Sea.

This was also the largest naval military exercise between the two countries, and involved conventional submarines as well as anti-submarine vessels and missile destroyers. Xinhua news agency quoted a senior officer as saying the drill "achieved its objective."

That is, in effect true, considering the drill was symbolic as a projection of force as well as a geopolitical statement. This comes after Japan recently announced that it would be conducting joint training cruises with the U.S. navy in the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang quickly criticized Japan for interfering in China's backyard.

The recent island-seizure exercise has generated apprehensions as drills like these significantly improve realtime combat capability and the Russian and Chinese navies are doing exactly that.

The drills are also symbolic for Russia. Struggling with two wars on its eastern and southern flank, it is isolated geopolitically. This drill, however, shows Russia is in regular combat training with another great power in the most economically-active region of the entire world.

Not to mention the fact that the Russian navy could do with some combat training as it has never faced a proper war since WWII. The current navy, even after undergoing some impressive refurbishing, is still rusty and old compared to both the American and Chinese navy, and is a pale shadow of, say, the 1970s.

A simplistic assessment of all this, therefore, might follow these lines. This is part of a massive realignment going on in the Asia-Pacific region. On one hand, the American and Indian armies are conducting joint army exercises in North India, and the U.S., Japanese and Indian navies are conducting regular exercises. Indian military planners point out that India has the largest number of joint exercises with U.S. in the world.

According to Cleo Pascal, associate fellow at Chatham House Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Geopolitics, Manipal University, India, Chinese opposition to Indian Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership killed off any support for China among the Indian defense community and solidified the Indian alliance with United States.

Russia was also planning a joint military exercise with Pakistan which was called off after a recent terrorist incident in Kashmir. All this points out the wheels of realignment in Asia.

The reality is however a little different. Yes, there is a realignment going on, definitely. However, it is not clear, as yet, if the realignment has gone as far as alliance formation and other such behavior.

India-U.S. relations have improved significantly but real differences remain. The biggest involves how to deal with Pakistan. After recent attacks on the Indian Army by Islamic militants, the difference is more sharp and obvious. China, even though a great power, is much less of a daily threat to India than the terrorists, who are capable of doing real damage to Indian cities.

Similarly, Australia is starting to balance U.S. and China, something which is not going down well with either American politicians or the military. Similarly, Washington is not looking too kindly as potential detente between Japan and Russia.

Much of this remains "early stage," of course, but shows that states are acting according to their national interests, and is much more independent than during the Cold War, for example. Also, structural forces and individual interests constrain these states to form firm alliances as of old.

So, finally what to make of it? The recent Russian-Chinese exercise is, after all, just that, an exercise, designed to improve combat capabilities, although certainly more symbolic for Russia than China.

It's certainly not a threat to U.S. and not a first step to forming an alliance. In fact, every great power should remember and base their actions on the assumption that, in the great game of geopolitics, they are alone, and cannot count on anyone's help or support.

In the unlikely event of conflict in South China Sea, every major power involved will be alone, and will have a duty to de-escalate. In cooperation lies prudence, as Sun Tzu said a long time ago.

Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn
It is a week since the dastardly attack by Pakistan-aided militants in Uri. Common refrain like in all such past incidents is "Pakistan ne soye hue sher ko jaga diya hai". Most defence analysts worth their salt are crying "war" with the masses echoing the sentiments.

Election rhetoric by important functionaries of the government in power is now haunting them - and they are being widely circulated to highlight the gap between speech and action.

Indian Army soldiers patrol past a barbed wire fence near Line of Control in Silikot in Jammu and Kashmir. Photo credit: PTI

In scenes reminiscent of the "Junior Command Course", TV studios have set up elaborate sand models with the anchors taking up role of "Directing Staff" and retired services officers that of keen "young Captains" trying to catch the attention of the Directing Staff by trying to talk the most.

But is war the answer to all our problems with Pakistan? If so, what would be the military and political objective of such a war?

Is it the objective dismemberment of Pakistan and would this resolve all outstanding issues with our neighbour? Dismemberment - with present day balance of military capabilities and the absence of public support to Indian Force - unlike in Bangladesh in 1971 - is an impossible goal to achieve. Moreover, Balochistan - most eager to separate from Pakistan - is not contiguous to India.

The next issue to be considered is the conventional military and nuclear capability of the two countries. We might boast of heavy conventional military superiority over Pakistan. But this is offset to an extent by the imponderable of what China is likely to do. Firstly, the borders with China cannot be left unguarded and that will leave a large portion of our Army committed. Secondly, any action by Beijing to move troops closer to the borders during conflict, if any, with Pakistan will effectively prevent New Delhi from committing our reserves in the conflict.

The present-day military capability of Pakistan, the reserves of equipment and ammunition, et al perhaps make it difficult for the country to fight a sustained war of more than about 20 to 30 days.

However, during this period, it has the capability of giving the Indian forces a tough fight and defend what may be termed as its most valuable land consisting of the plains of Punjab and to the North. Pakistan, as it had done in previous wars, appears to have this as its doctrine of war - and rightly so. It will deploy fewer forces to defend the desert area of Sind, which has less population density, and focus on defending the land to the North considered prime.

If, by 15-20 days or so, the war is not over, it is likely that the world powers will come into play and force a cease fire on two nations because of the fear of the use of nuclear weapons. While India has a very balanced approach to use of nuclear weapons, and a no first-strike policy, the same is not true of Pakistan.

It is more likely to resort to first strike in case the Indian advances become far too deep, and in the event that the cease fire is not enforced and the prime land in the north is threatened. It is likely that, in this scenario, Pakistan may resort to a low-yield tactical nuclear weapon on the advancing Indian troops. In fact, this is most certainly likely to bring the war to an end with the super powers' intervention. A second-strike by India in such scenario, especially in the event of a nuclear strike by Pakistan on its own soil, is also unlikely.

The economic impact of the war is another factor to consider. India's economy is growing at a fair rate and the effort of the Modi government is to invite as much investment as possible. The stock markets indicate that India is an attractive FDI destination. All this will change in case the war breaks out. Investment can take place only in an atmosphere of peace and stability. The war will lead to the flight of capital followed by a stock market crash.

The economy will suffer a setback and the requirement of finances for reconstruction of war-ravaged areas will cause a heavy burden on the limited resources of the country. The benefits of decades of high growth witnessed by the economy will be neutralised, and it will take decades for recovery.

Therefore, while the general outcry is for war with Pakistan, it is perhaps not a viable option in the present-day strategic scenario in the subcontinent. I would, therefore, suggest to TV-anchors-turned-generals that they step back. If they were meant to be the strategists they pose to be, they should have been in the Army, not TV.

I will end with a couplet by Sahir Ludhianvi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined the scope of India's response to the Uri attack in his September 24 speech in Kerala, which seems limited for the present to a sustained diplomatic offensive to expose Pakistan as a hot-bed of international terror and not military action.

Whether restraint on our part despite intense provocation will help us gather enough international support for "isolating" Pakistan and changing its behaviour fundamentally remains to be seen.

Sympathy

In reality, Pakistan is now structurally incapable of normalising ties with India. Its armed forces and extremist religious organisations play a determinant role in shaping relations with us, not the civilian government.

The military profits, not suffers, from hostile policies towards India. The extremist groups have a growing base for their religious animosity towards India owing to the increasing radicalisation of Pakistani society.

The Uri attack has demonstrated once again that Pakistan's use of terrorism as an instrument of policy continues.

It is not clear what "isolation" of Pakistan would mean in reality. If it means that through a vigorous international campaign we get the world to increasingly recognise that Pakistan is using jihadi terrorism as an instrument of state policy towards us and that the so-called non-state actors operating on its soil are creatures nourished by the Pakistani agencies, then what we seek is not unachievable.

Additionally, we can puncture Pakistan's claim that it itself is a victim of terrorism and is in the forefront in combating it.

We can persuade the world that Pakistan continues to make a distinction between good and bad terrorists.

We can expose its double-dealing on terrorism and damage further its already dented credibility on the issue, especially as Pakistani footprints are seen in terrorist incidents all over the globe.

We have seen that despite the burning problem in Kashmir we can draw sympathy from important countries on Pakistani-abetted terrorist attacks against us.

A large number of them have condemned the attack in Uri, despite Pakistan unleashing a propaganda barrage on the so-called atrocities committed by our security forces in Kashmir.

Even Gulf countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned this attack, with some supporting whatever counterterrorism measures we take.

This wide support is all the more striking because the attack was on a military installation, not against a civilian target. The world still views it as a terrorist attack and not "militant action" against a military target.

If, however, isolation means that key countries begin accepting that Pakistan has to be pressured collectively to curb its jihadi links, failing which they would be ready to entertain the idea of sanctions, that objective would be unrealistic.

Pakistan is considered too important geopolitically and too consequential because of its size, Islamic weight, its role in developments in Afghanistan and Central Asia, not to mention its expanding nuclear capacity, to be "isolated".

Protection

Powerful friends such as China will protect it in the UN and other forums. China has, in fact, increased dramatically its geopolitical and economic stakes in Pakistan with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The extent of Chinese unwillingness to give any advantage to India over Pakistan is demonstrated by its refusal to allow the UN Security Council to declare Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e-Mohammed as an international terrorist and its opposition to India's NSG membership without that of Pakistan.

US President Barack Obama and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. (Photo credit: Reuters)

The US too will not declare Pakistan a terrorist state or impose punitive sanctions on it to change its behaviour despite suffering at its hands in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has provided havens to the Taliban and the Haqqani group (and Osama bin Laden), without the US using its levers to bring Pakistan to its senses.

To the contrary, it has sought to buy Pakistan's cooperation through copious military and economic aid. Its recent steps to curtail some assistance are token steps that Pakistan has learnt to absorb.

US exhortations to Pakistan over several years to bring to justice those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks in which six of its own nationals were killed has left Pakistan unmoved.

The US has now added Pathankot to the list of attacks for which Pakistan must answer, besides calling for curbs on LeT and JeM, but Pakistan ignores such calls with a sense of impunity.

Sanctions

The contrast between the draconian US sanctions on Iran as well as punitive sanctions on a powerful nuclear state like Russia and the accommodating attitude towards Pakistan towards its misdemeanours is striking.

Despite its act of killing new Taliban chief Mullah Mansour, the US sees value in Pakistan's assistance in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table with Kabul.

If Pakistan were designated a terrorist state, the US cannot, under its laws, do business with Pakistan.

We have begun targeting Pakistan diplomatically on terrorism as never before through statements by our political leaders at the highest level, the language used by the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs and that used to rebut Nawaz Sharif's invective against us in the UN.

The unprecedented step of highlighting Pakistan's brutalities in Balochistan and references to Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunwa in Modi's most recent speech are significant departure from the past.

The MEA spokesperson's ambiguous language on the Indus Waters Treaty should cause Pakistan to reflect on the dangers ahead in continuing its policy of inflicting a thousand cuts on India.
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Yemeni army troops killed a prominent al-Qaida leader southern province of Abyan on Monday, a security official told Xinhua.

The leader of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, identified as Abdullah Hubaibat, was killed when government troops raided a number of houses held by al-Qaida militants in Loder, a town in Abyan province, the security official said on condition of anonymity.

Five others were also wounded in raids.

Hubaibat was believed to have been involved in previous armed attacks against security forces in Abyan, according to the source.

In the last two months, Yemeni government forces launched anti-terror offensives and drove out scores of gunmen linked to the al-Qaida and the Yemen-based affiliate of the Islamic State from key neighborhoods and government compounds in Lahj and Abyan provinces.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional Al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), also known locally as Ansar al-Sharia, emerged in January 2009 and claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist attacks against Yemen's army and government institutions.

The AQAP took advantage of the current security vacuum and ongoing civil war to expand its influence and seize more territories in the south of Yemen.

Security in Yemen has deteriorated since March 2015, when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group which is supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and government forces which are backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

Over 6,400 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes since then, many of them civilians.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Sunday and the two exchanged views on bilateral ties, world peace, regional hotspot issues, food security and a wide range of other issues of common concern.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) visits Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 25, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li first conveyed the cordial greetings and good wishes of President Xi Jinping, other Chinese leaders and the Chinese people to Fidel Castro and extended congratulations for his 90th birthday.

President Xi, during his state visit to Cuba in 2014, met and held an in-depth discussion with Fidel Castro, said Li.

We cherish very much the traditional friendship between China and Cuba, and are willing to consolidate political mutual trust and expand cooperation with Cuba, and to enhance the friendly feelings between the two peoples, the premier said.

While noting that the world's political and economic landscape is currently experiencing complicated and profound adjustment, with old and new issues intertwined with each other and challenges emerging one after another, Li said, no matter how international situations change, China-Cuban relationship of comrade and brother, characterized by mutual respect, treating each other on an equal footing and staying together at all times, will not change.

Fidel Castro, for his part, extended congratulations to Li for his successful visit to Cuba, saying Cuba and China enjoy a profound friendship.

While noting that great changes have taken place in China since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 50 years ago, Fidel Castro said he is pleased to see the development China has achieved, and expressed admiration to the Chinese people for their diligence and unyielding spirit.

Describing the current world situations as complicated and ever changing, Fidel Castro said Cuba is willing to work with China to safeguard world peace and increase cooperation and communication.

The Chinese premier, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong and senior Chinese officials, was in Havana as guest of President of the Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers Raul Castro.

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.

Referring to his meeting with Raul Castro on Saturday as fruitful, Li said the two countries have signed a series of cooperation agreements covering a wide range of fields.

Li said he and Raul Castro agree to inherit and carry forward the China-Cuba friendship, deepen pragmatic cooperation, focus on national development, support each other in taking a development path compatible with its own national conditions, and achieve common prosperity.

China is willing to work with Cuba to strengthen strategic communication and enhance coordination, so that the China-Cuba friendship and cooperation can not only benefit the two peoples, but also make contributions to world peace and development and the cause of human progress, the premier said.

On Colombia's peace process agreement, which was poised to be officially signed soon, Li hailed the crucial role Cuba has played in relevant process, adding that China highly praises Cuba for its act of shouldering international responsibility.

Concerning agriculture, Fidel Castro said Cuba attaches great importance to agricultural production, its sugar industry is very well-developed, and the country's grain production can meet its domestic demand, adding that Cuba is making more efforts to learn advanced agricultural technology from other countries and conduct more cooperation.

Fidel Castro said they have specially noticed that productivity can be improved through enhancing education for young people.

The revolutionary leader also expressed hopes that Cuba could increase communication with China in agricultural modernization and achieve win-win cooperation in this field.
United Parcel Service, Inc. provides letter and package delivery, transportation, logistics, and related services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. The International Package segment provides guaranteed day and time-definite international shipping services in Europe, the Asia Pacific, Canada and Latin America, the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Africa. This segment offers guaranteed time-definite express options. The company also provides international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, distribution and post-sales, and mail and consulting services in approximately 200 countries and territories. In addition, it offers truckload brokerage services; supply chain solutions to the healthcare and life sciences industry; shipping, visibility, and billing technologies; and financial and insurance services. The company operates a fleet of approximately 121,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles; and owns 59,000 containers that are used to transport cargo in its aircraft. United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Emera Incorporated, an energy and services company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity to various customers. The company operates through Florida Electric Utility, Canadian Electric Utilities, Other Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Other segments. It generates electricity through coal-fired, natural gas and/or oil, hydro, wind, solar, petroleum coke, and biomass-fueled power plants. The company is also involved in the purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of natural gas; and the provision of energy marketing, trading, and other energy asset management services. In addition, it transports re-gasified liquefied natural gas from Saint John, New Brunswick to consumers in the northeastern United States through its 145-kilometer pipeline. As of December 31, 2021, the company's electric utilities served approximately 810,600 customers in West Central Florida; 536,000 customers in Nova Scotia; 132,000 customers in the island of Barbados; 19,000 customers in the Grand Bahama Island; and 35,700 customers in the island of Dominica, as well as gas utilities and infrastructure served approximately 445,000 customers across Florida and 542,000 customers in New Mexico. It also provides insurance and reinsurance services to Emera and its affiliates, as well as offers financing services. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Halifax, Canada.
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Some 12 Afghan army soldiers were shot dead by their fellow comrades in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz Monday night, an official said on Tuesday.

"Twelve Afghan National Army soldiers died after two of their comrades turned their weapons at a security checkpoint in Zakhil neighborhood on the western outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city at around mid-night," Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, an army press officer in the region, told Xinhua.

The victims were sleeping when the shooting took place in the province, 250 km north of Afghan capital of Kabul, he said.

The soldiers behind the shooting fled the scene shortly after the incident and an investigation was launched into the incident, Karimi added.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Kunduz province and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the security forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

Several members of Afghan security force members have been killed in the so-called insider attacks across Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.
Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services. It serves corporate, middle market, and commercial real estate developers and investors. The Consumer Bank segment provides consumer banking products and services related to residential first mortgages, home equity lines and loans, consumer credit cards, and other consumer loans, as well as deposits. The Wealth Management segment offers credit related products, and retirement and savings solutions; and trust and investment management, asset management, and estate planning services to individuals, businesses, governmental institutions, and non-profit entities. The company also provides investment and insurance products; low-income housing tax credit corporate fund syndication services; and other specialty financing services. As of March 01, 2022, it operated through a network of 1,300 banking offices and 2,000 automated teller machines across the South, Midwest, and Texas. Regions Financial Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
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The Federal Minister of Planning Development and Reform Prof. Ahsan Iqbal together with the Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique leading the delegation of Pakistan's Railways Ministry to China, met with the Vice Chairman of Chinese National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Wang Xiaotao in Beijing on Sept. 27.

During the meeting, Wang Xiaotao said that work on CPEC projects had seen positive progress over the past three years. The ML1 railways up-gradation project connecting Peshawar to Karachi formed an important part of CPEC's development and it would benefit people especially along the route and contribute to economic and social development of Pakistan.

ML1 is Key priority on the working agenda and NDRC takes a holistic view of the project which is a huge up-gradation project, he added. He said that NDRC would make its due contribution to CPEC's development.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC projects in energy and infrastructure sector were making steady progress.

He said that owing to commitment and sincerity from both sides, the vision of CPEC was fast translating into reality. Most of the energy projects were in implementation stage and moving fast ahead.

Similarly, in road transport sector the Chinese contractors had been mobilized. He hoped that both sides would work together to further expedite progress on CPEC projects.

The Minister proposed to have the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting in the month of November this year to which Chinese side also agreed.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also proposed exchange of knowledge and expertise in several key areas through workshops by Chinese experts and asked NDRC to identify experts to share knowledge and experience.

He invited Chinese experts to come to Pakistan for the purpose. He mentioned urban planning and housing, rural development as one of those areas that could benefit and learn from Chinese experience in transformation of rural economy.

He said that small and medium enterprises (SME) create job opportunities and form an important area for holding the workshop. He described water management and conservation particularly drip irrigation as one of the five areas where joint workshops could be organized.

He also stressed the need for developing understanding of management of industrial parks, and identified it as one of the interesting areas for workshops. He stressed fast implementation of Gawadar CPEC projects.

Railways Minister Saad Rafique highlighted the significance of ML1 project. He said railways development of China was impressive and progress on various CPEC projects was made possible through continued commitment of NDRC and commended its role in creating an enabling environment.

The up-gradation of ML- project would vastly contribute in socio-economic development and provide an opportunity to Chinese companies to bring new technology to Pakistan, he added.

He said that Pakistan Railways was performing very well and there had been its massive up-gradation from own resources. And he assured NDRC that his ministry would make all possible efforts with regard to speeding up of the projects.

During the meeting, it was decided that the 6th JCC will be held in the last week of November 2016. They also agreed to make appropriate arrangements for holding the experts workshops in the identified areas.

It was also agreed that Gwadar, transport and industrial cooperation working groups would meet before the next JCC so that their recommendations could be submitted before the JCC meeting.

Wang Xiaotao, while concluding the meeting, said that it was very productive and effective. He said that strong efforts would be made from Chinese side to push forward development of CPEC and Gwadar port in particular.
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.
Block, Inc. is the parent company to a host of digital financial solutions including Square. The company was founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey (also founded Twitter) and Jim McKelvey as a solution to a problem faced by McKelvey. Mr. McKelvey was unable to complete a transaction because he was unable to accept credit cards and that provided inspiration for Mr. Dorsey. The firm was founded in St. Louis but now has no official headquarters, instead choosing to do most work remotely or from one of several key hubs. That decision was made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when it became clear telecommuting was a solution that worked.

The original Square app provides a multitude of payment and POS solutions that include hardware and software. The hardware includes the iconic Square card mag-stripe reader that can be plugged into any tablet or smartphone as well as many other solutions. The software enables sellers to turn their smart devices into POS on a temporary or permanent/dedicated basis.

The company went public in 2015 when it IPOd on the NASDAQ stock exchange and then later decided to change its name to Block to better represent the business. Today, Block, Inc. operates as a network of businesses that are working together to expand access to the economy. The core brands are Square, CashApp, AfterPay, Weebly, Tidal, Spiral, and TBD.

The Square brand encompasses all the core business including but not limited to hardware and its related software. The CashApp business is a money transfer solution that is working to make money more available and universally acceptable. Afterpay is a buy-now-pay-later service. Weebly is an eCommerce and web hosting service for small and medium-sized businesses. Tidal is a platform for musicians and artists to connect with fans and monetize their brands. Spiral is the firm's cryptocurrency division and TBD is a division focused on crypto, specifically building a crypto platform.

Block, Inc. stunned the market in 2020 when it began to purchase Bitcoin. Then Square, the company purchased Bitcoin in two transactions for a total of $210 million. The holdings amount to 8,027 Bitcoins which were worth $154.75 million in October 2022. The purpose of Spiral is to fund open-sourced applications that encourage and facilitate the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Mr. Dorsey remains the CEO and chairman of Block, Inc. The company employs more than 8,500 individuals across its footprint and netted $17.66 billion in revenue for 2021. Mr. Dorsey is also the companys largest shareholder with about 10% of the shares.
CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
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Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..

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Oxford Industries, Inc., an apparel company, designs, sources, markets, and distributes products of lifestyle and other brands worldwide. The company offers men's and women's sportswear and related products under the Tommy Bahama brand; women's and girl's dresses and sportswear, scarves, bags, jewelry, and belts, as well as footwear and children's apparel and swimwear under the Lilly Pulitzer brand; and men's shirts, pants, shorts, outerwear, ties, swimwear, footwear, and accessories, as well as women and youth products under the Southern Tide brand. It also designs, sources, markets, and distributes premium childrenswear, including bonnets, hats, apparel, swimwear, and accessories through thebeaufortbonnetcompany.com and wholesale specialty retailers; men's apparel, which include pants, shorts, and tops through duckhead.com and wholesale specialty retailers. In addition, the company licenses Tommy Bahama brand for various products, such as indoor and outdoor furniture, beach chairs, bedding and bath linens, fabrics, leather goods and gifts, headwear, hosiery, sleepwear, shampoo, toiletries, fragrances, cigar accessories, distilled spirits, and other products; Lilly Pulitzer for stationery and gift products, home furnishing products, and eyewear; and Southern Tide trademark for bed and bath product. Oxford Industries, Inc. offers products through its retail stores, department stores, specialty stores, multi-branded e-commerce retailers, off-price retailers, and other retailers, as well as e-commerce sites. As of January 29, 2022, it operated 186 brand-specific full-price retail stores; 21 Tommy Bahama food and beverage locations; and 35 Tommy Bahama outlet stores. Oxford Industries, Inc. was founded in 1942 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
The following companies are subsidiares of Emerson Electric: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd., AE Valves, AGI Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ALCO CONTROLS spol. s.r.o., APM Automation Solutions, ASC Investments Inc., ASCO (Japan) Company Limited, ASCO L.P., ASCO Numatics (India) Private Limited, ASCO Numatics Holding Inc., ASCO SAS, ASCO Valve (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ASCO/JOUCOMATIC s.r.o., ATX SAS, Advanced Protection Technologies, Aegir Norge Holding AS, Alliance Compressors LLC, American Governor, Aperture, Apple JV Holding Corp., Appleton Electric LLC, Appleton Electric S.A. de C.V., Appleton Group, Appleton Group Canada Ltd., Appleton Grp LLC, Appleton Holding Corp., Appleton Holding Sarl, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Artesyn Hungary Elektronikai Kft., Artesyn Technologies, Asco AB, Asco Controls AG, Asco Controls B.V., Asco Joucomatic Ltd., Asco Joucomatic ZA B.V., Asco Magnesszelep Kft., Asco Numatics GmbH, Asco Numatics S.A., Asco Numatics Sirai S.R.L., Asco Numatics Sp. z o.o., Ascomatica S.A. de C.V., Ascomation (NZ) Ltd., Ascomation Pty. Ltd., Ascotech S.A. de C.V., Ascoval Industria e Commercio Ltda, Automatic Switch Company, Aventics, Aventics, Aventics AB, Aventics AG, Aventics AS, Aventics ApS, Aventics B.V., Aventics Corporation, Aventics Holding S.A.S., Aventics Holding S.a.r.l., Aventics Hungary Kft, Aventics Inc., Aventics India Private Limited, Aventics Limited, Aventics Ltd., Aventics Oy, Aventics Pneumatics Equipment (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Aventics Pneumatics Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aventics S.A.S., Aventics S.R.L., Aventics Services Germany GmbH, Aventics Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aventics Sp. z.o.o., Aventics Spain S.L., Aventics spol. s.r.o., Avtron LoadBank, Bannerscientific Limited, Beckman Industrial B.V., Beijing Rosemount Far East Instrument Co. Ltd., Bettis Canada Ltd., Bettis Holdings Limited, Bettis UK Limited, Biffi Italia S.r.l., Bioproduction Group, Branson Korea Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonic S.A., Branson Ultrasonics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonics B.V., Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Branson Ultrasonics a.s., Branson Ultrasonidos S.A.E., Branson Ultrasons SAS, Branson Ultrasuoni S.R.L., Branson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Bray Lectroheat Limited, Bristol Babcock Limited, Bristol Inc., Buehler Europe Limited, Buehler UK Limited, CR Compressors LLC, CSA Consulting Engineers Ltd., California Emerson LLC, Cascade Technologies, Cascade Technologies Holdings Limited, Cascade Technologies Limited, Chemat GmbH Armaturen fur Industrie - und Nuklearanlage, Chloride Koexa S.A., Componentes Avanzados de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Computational Systems, Computational Systems Incorporated, Conception et Representation de Technologies de Controle C.R.T. Controle SAS, Control Products Inc., Controles de Temperatura S.A. de C.V., Cooligy Inc., Cooper-Atkins, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Cooper-Atkins Pte. Ltd., Copeland Access + Inc., Copeland Compresores Hermeticos S.A. de C.V., Copeland Corporation, Copeland Corporation LLC, Copeland Limited, Copeland Redevelopment Corporation, Copeland Scroll Compresores de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copeland de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copesub Inc., Crosby Valve LLC, Damcos A/S, Damcos Holding A/S, Daniel Automation Company, Daniel Europe Limited, Daniel Industrial Inc., Daniel Industries, Daniel Industries Canada Inc., Daniel Industries Inc., Daniel Industries Limited, Daniel International Limited, Daniel Measurement Solutions Private Limited, Daniel Measurement and Control Inc., Daniel Measurement and Control S. de R.L. de C.V., Danmasa S.A. de C.V., Dar Ibtikar Al Iraq for General Services and General Trade LLC, Decision Management International, Dieterich Standard Inc., Digital Appliance Controls (UK) Limited, Dixell North America Inc., Dixell S.R.L., Do+Able Products, E. Business Development E.B.D.Com Ltd., E.G.P. Corporation, EECO Inc., EGS Comercializadora Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Private Ltd., EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES s.r.o., EMR (Asia) Limited, EMR (Mauritius) Ltd., EMR Emerson Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, EMR Europe Holdings Inc., EMR Foundation Inc., EMR Holdings (France) SAS, EMR Holdings Inc., EMR Worldwide B.V., EMR Worldwide Inc., EMRSN HLDG B.V., EMRSN Process Management Morocco Sarl, ENPDOR2012A Limited, ENPESNA Inc., EPM Tulsa Holdings Corp., EPMCO Holdings Inc., ETC International Holdings Ltd., Easy Heat Europe SAS, Easy Heat Inc., El-O-Matic B.V., El-O-Matic Valve Actuators (F.E.) Pte. Ltd., Electrische Apparatenfabriek Capax B.V., Emerald Advanced Technology Limited, Emerson (Philippines) Corporation, Emerson (Taiwan) Limited, Emerson (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Arabia Inc., Emerson Argentina S.A., Emerson Asia Pacific Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Holdings Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Sichuan) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Taiwan) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Thailand) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Czech Republic s.r.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Denmark A/S, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control France SARL, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Germany GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hong Kong Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hungary Kft, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Italia S.r.l., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Middle East FZE, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Netherlands B.V., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Polska Sp. Z.o.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Holding LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK II Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control US LP, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Automation Solutions GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Automation Solutions Ireland Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Isolation Valves Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions SSC UK Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Beijing Instrument Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Services LLC, Emerson Climate Technologies (India) Private Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies (Shenyang) Refrigeration Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Transportation Solutions ApS, Emerson Climate Technologies Arabia Limited Co., Emerson Climate Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies FZE, Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Climate Technologies Refrigeration S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Europe S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Sarl, Emerson Commercial & Residential Tools LLC, Emerson Commerical & Residential Asia Limited, Emerson Comres de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson DHC B.V., Emerson Dietzenbach GmbH, Emerson Dominicana Srl, Emerson Egypt LLC, Emerson Electric (Asia) Limited, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Electric (Mauritius) Ltd., Emerson Electric (South Asia) Pte. Ltd., Emerson Electric (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Electric (Tongling) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation, Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada, Emerson Electric (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric CR Limitada, Emerson Electric Canada Limited, Emerson Electric Company (India) Private Limited, Emerson Electric Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Emerson Electric Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, Emerson Electric II C.A., Emerson Electric International Inc., Emerson Electric Ireland Limited, Emerson Electric Korea Ltd., Emerson Electric Nederland B.V., Emerson Electric Overseas Finance Corp., Emerson Electric Poland Sp. z o.o., Emerson Electric U.K. Limited, Emerson Electric de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Electric do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Energy Systems (UK) Limited, Emerson FZE, Emerson Final Control US Holding LLC, Emerson Finance LLC, Emerson Fusite Electric (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Gabon SARL, Emerson Hazardous Electrical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Holding Company Limited, Emerson Holding Sweden AB, Emerson InSinkErator Appliance (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Industrial Automation USA Inc., Emerson International Holding Company Limited, Emerson Japan Ltd., Emerson Junkang Enterprise (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Korea Limited, Emerson LLC, Emerson LLP, Emerson Machinery Equipment (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Mexico Finance S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Emerson Middle East Inc., Emerson Network Power DHC B.V., Emerson Paradigm Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management (India) Private Limited, Emerson Process Management (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Tianjin) Valves Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management A/S (Denmark), Emerson Process Management AB, Emerson Process Management AG, Emerson Process Management AS, Emerson Process Management Angola Lda, Emerson Process Management Arabia Limited, Emerson Process Management Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Process Management B.V., Emerson Process Management Chennai Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Distribution Limited, Emerson Process Management Europe GmbH, Emerson Process Management Flow B.V., Emerson Process Management Flow Technologies Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Process Management Holding AG, Emerson Process Management Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management Kft., Emerson Process Management LLLP, Emerson Process Management Lda, Emerson Process Management Limited, Emerson Process Management Ltda, Emerson Process Management Magyarorszag Kft., Emerson Process Management Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Korea Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management NV, Emerson Process Management New Zealand Limited, Emerson Process Management Nigeria Limited, Emerson Process Management Oy, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions India Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Qatar W.L.L., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa LLC, Emerson Process Management Romania S.R.L., Emerson Process Management S.A., Emerson Process Management S.A. de C.V., Emerson Process Management S.L., Emerson Process Management S.R.L., Emerson Process Management SAS, Emerson Process Management Shared Services Limited, Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o., Emerson Process Management Ticaret Limited Sirket, Emerson Process Management UAB, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Valve Automation Inc., Emerson Process Management Verwaltung GmbH, Emerson Process Management d.o.o., Emerson Process Management de Colombia SAS, Emerson Process Management del Peru S.A.C., Emerson Process Management s.r.o., Emerson Professional Tools (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Puerto Rico Inc., Emerson Retail Services Europe GmbH, Emerson S.R.L., Emerson Sales UK Limited, Emerson Saudi Arabia LLC, Emerson Scroll Machining (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Sice S.R.L., Emerson Sweden AB, Emerson TOV, Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Technologies Verwaltungs GmbH, Emerson Tool Company de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Tool and Appliance Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson UK Trustees Limited, Emerson USD Finance Company Limited, Emerson Valves & Controls Japan Co. Ltd., Emerson Ventures Inc., Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC, Emerson Xi'an Engineering Center, Emersub 1 LLC, Emersub 10 LLC, Emersub 11 LLC, Emersub 12 LLC, Emersub 14 LLC, Emersub 15 LLC, Emersub 16 LLC, Emersub 3 LLC, Emersub 4 LLC, Emersub 5 LLC, Emersub 7 LLC, Emersub 8 LLC, Emersub 9 LLC, Emersub CII Inc., Emersub CV Inc., Emersub Italia S.R.L., Emersub LXXXIV Inc., Emersub LXXXVI Inc., Emersub Mexico Inc., Emersub Treasury Ireland Unlimited Company, Emersub XLVI Inc., Emersub XXXVI Inc., Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Emirates Techno Casting Holding Limited, Emirates Techno Casting LLC, Enardo, Endura-Greenlee Tools, Energy Solutions International (India) Private Limited, Energy Solutions International GP LLC, Energy Solutions International Ltd., Energy Solutions International SAS, Energy Solutions International Sub LLC, F-R Tecnologias de Flujo S.A. de C.V., FC QSF LLC, FMC Technologies, Fiberconn Assemblies Morocco Sarl, Fincor Holding LLC, Fire & Safety Group.Com Ltd., Fisher Controles de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fisher Controls International LLC, Fisher Jeon Gas Equipment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Fisher Regulators (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Sanmar Limited, Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc., Flow Control Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Flow Control Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Flow Control US Holding Corporation, Francel SAS, Fromex S.A. de C.V., Fusite B.V., Fusite Corporation, Fusite Land Company, GSEG LLC, General Equipment and Manufacturing Company Inc., Generale de Robinetterie Industrielle et de Sytemes de Surete, GeoFields, GeoFields Inc., Greenex Ltd., Greenfield (UK) Limited, Greenlee, Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Tools Inc., Gulf Valve FZE, Gustav Klauke GmbH, H.T.E. Engineering Limited, HD Electric Company, HTE Engineering Services Limited, Hindle Cockburns Limited, Hiross India Private Limited, Hiter Industria e Comercia de Controles Termo-Hidraulicos Ltda., Humboldt Hermetic Motor Corp., Hytork International Ltd., I Solutions Inc., ICC Intelligent Platforms GmbH, ISE-MagTech, Industrial Controls Canada ULC, Industrial Group Metran JSC, Instrument & Valve Services Company, Intelligent Platforms LLC, Intellution, International Gas Distribution SA, Intrinsic Safety Equipment of Texas Inc., JCF Fluid Flow India Private Limited, JSC Metran-Export, Joucomatic S.A., K Controls Limited, Keystone Germany Holdings Corp., Keystone Valve (Korea) LLC, Keystone Valve (U.K.) Limited, Klauke, Klauke (Jiangsu) Electrical Connection Technology Co Ltd., Klauke France SARL, Klauke Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Klauke Iberia S.L., Klauke Polska Sp. z.o.o., Klauke Slovakia s.r.o., Klauke UK Ltd., Knurr, Liebert, Liebert Swindon Limited, Locus Solutions LLC, Locus Traxx Worldwide, Locus Traxx Worldwide Europe BVBA, MDC Technology Limited, MDC Technology Trustees Limited, METCO Services Limited, MYNAH Technologies, Management Resources Group Inc., Mecafrance (Deutschland) GmbH, Metallurgical Services Laboratories Limited, Metaserv Limited, Metco Services Venezuela C.A., Micro Motion Inc., Mobrey Group Limited, Motores Hermeticos del Sur S.A. de C.V., NetworkPower Ecuador S.A., Nippon Fisher Co. Ltd., Novel Environmental Technologies Ltd., Novel Extinguishing Agent Technology Ltd., Numatics Incorporated, Nutsteel DHC B.V., Nutsteel Industria Metalurgica Ltda, O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l., Open Systems International, P I Components Corp., PT Emerson Solutions Indonesia, PT. Emerson Indonesia, PT. Paradigm Geophysical Indonesia, Pactrol Controls Limited, PakSense, PakSense Inc., Paradigm, Paradigm (UK) Holding Limited, Paradigm B.V., Paradigm France S.A., Paradigm Geophysical (India) Private Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (KL) Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical (Nigeria) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (U.K.) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical B.V., Paradigm Geophysical Corp., Paradigm Geophysical Italy SRL, Paradigm Geophysical LLC, Paradigm Geophysical Limited, Paradigm Geophysical Pty Ltd, Paradigm Geophysical S.A., Paradigm Geophysical Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical Spain S.L., Paradigm Geophysical de Venezuela C.A., Paradigm Geophysical do Brasil Ltda., Paradigm Geoservices Canada Ltd., Paradigm Geotechnology (Egypt) S.A.E., Paradigm Kazakhstan LLP, Paradigm Middle East FZ-LLC, Paradigm Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Parex Industries Limited, Pentair Valves & Controls, Pentair Valves and Controls India Private Limited, Permasense, Permasense Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Permasense Limited, ProSys, ProTeam Inc., Progea, RAC Technologies (Israel) Ltd., RIDGID Inc., RPP Europe GmbH, RPP LLC, Rey-Lam S. de R.L. de C.V., Ridge Tool (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Ridge Tool Company, Ridge Tool Europe NV, Ridge Tool GmbH, Ridge Tool GmbH & Co. OHG, Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Ridge Tool Pattern Company, Ridgid France SAS, Ridgid Italia S.R.L., Ridgid Online Inc., Ridgid Scandinavia A/S, Ridgid Werkzeuge AG, Rosemount China Inc., Rosemount Inc., Rosemount Measurement Limited, Rosemount Nuclear Instruments Inc., Rosemount Specialty Products LLC, Rosemount Tank Gauging India Pvt. Ltd., Rosemount Tank Gauging Middle East SPC, Rosemount Tank Gauging North America Inc., Rosemount Tank Radar AB, Rosemount Tank Radar Properties AB, Roxar, Roxar AS, Roxar Flow Measurement AS, Roxar Flow Measurement Sdn Bhd, Roxar Limited, Roxar Maximum Reservoir Performance W.L.L., Roxar Saudi Co., Roxar Services AS, Roxar Services OOO, Roxar Software Solutions AS, Roxar Technologies AS, Roxar Vietnam Company Ltd., Roxar de Venezuela C.A., Rutherfurd Acquisitions Limited, S.F.T. Group Ltd., SABO-Armaturen Service GmbH, Safety Systems UK Pte. Ltd., Sakhi-Raimondi Valve (India) Limited, Scroll Compressors LLC, Scroll Mexico LLC, Sempell GmbH, Shanghai Virgo Valves Technology Consulting Co. Ltd., Sherman + Reilly, Soluciones 0925 C.A., Spectra-Tek Holdings Limited, Spectra-Tek International Limited, Spectra-Tek UK Limited, Spectrex, Spectrex Inc., Spectronix Ltd., Spensall Engineering Limited, Steel Support Systems Limited, Stratos Lightwave, System Plast International B.V., System Plast Ltda, System Plast USA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TDM-avtomatizatsiya, TV&C GP Holding LLC, Taiwan Valve Co. Ltd., TechnipFMC, Termocontroles de Juarez S.A. de C.V., Tescom Corporation, Tescom Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Tescom Europe Management GmbH, The Automation Group Inc., The J.R. Clarkson Company LLC, Therm-O-Disc Europe B.V., Therm-O-Disc Incorporated, Thunderline Z Inc., TopWorx UK Limited, Tranmet Holdings B.V., Tranmet Holdings Limited, Verdant Environmental Technologies, Vilter Manufacturing LLC, Virgo Valves & Controls (ME) FZE, Virgo Valves and Controls Sdn Bhd, Von Arx AG, Vulsub 1 Limited, Vulsub Brasil Holding, Vulsub Brasil Ltda., Vulsub Chile SpA, Vulsub Gulf Holding Limited, Vulsub Holding III (Denmark) ApS, Vulsub Holding Ltd, Vulsub Holdings A LLC, Vulsub Holdings B LLC, Vulsub Holdings C LLC, Vulsub Holdings D LLC, Vulsub Italia S.r.l., Vulsub Middle East Holdings LLC, Vulsub Peru S.A.C., Vulsub Property Holding LLC, Vulsub Property Limited, Vulsub S.A., Vulsub South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Vulsub VZ C.A., Westinghouse Electric Pvt. Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW.

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RICHMOND  A Charlottesville craft beer maker has completed work on its brewery and tasting room in Richmonds Scotts Addition neighborhood, with a grand opening event scheduled for Saturday.

Three Notchd Brewing Co. is operating its Richmond brewery and tasting room in a 4,000-square-foot leased space at 2930 W. Broad St., adjacent to the co-working space Gather.

The Scotts Addition brewery is the third location for Three Notchd Brewing.

It opened its first brewery in Charlottesville in 2013 and a second one in Harrisonburg the next year. After completing a recent capital raise from private investors, the company is planning to open two other locations in the state  in Northern Virginia and at an as-yet undisclosed site.

We like the tasting-room concept, and having a couple of them across the state will let people really get to know the brand, said Scott Roth, Three Notchd Brewings president.

The Richmond brewerys emphasis will be on collaborative beer, meaning it will make customized, small-batch beers for restaurants in the area, and it will work with local nonprofit organizations to make custom craft beers specifically for community events and philanthropic fundraisers.

It is a great way to get engaged with the local community, said George Kastendike, the companys CEO.

The Richmond brewery had a soft opening Monday, attended by invited guests and Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd P. Haymore, and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil I. Gooden.

The brewery will be open for limited hours of 4 to 8 p.m. this week. Its official grand opening is on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., when it will serve five locally brewed beers, including its Hops Addition IPA and its Fernet Saison. The Richmond head brewer is Stefan McFayden.

The brewery also will serve its flagship beers made in Charlottesville, including its 40 Mile IPA, Ghost Pale Ale and Hydraulion Red Ale, and some specialty and seasonal beers such as its Biggie Smores imperial stout.

A live band and food trucks are being planned for Saturdays event.

Three Notchd joins a growing list of specialty beverage makers that have opened in Scotts Addition. That includes breweries Ardent Craft Ales, The Veil Brewing and Isley Brewing Co., and cideries Busky Cider and Blue Bee Cider.
WASHINGTON  Are Americans safer? It depends on where you live.

A report issued Monday by the FBI says the number of murders reported nationally by local law enforcement agencies rose by more than 10 percent in 2015 from the previous year, while violent crime overall was up nearly 4 percent. Experts say the increase is driven by a spike in violent crime in at least several large cities, but they caution that the country is in the midst of such low crime rates that even the tiniest increase appears larger than it is.

There are problems with violence in certain American cities, and we need to work to address that, but theres no evidence of a national crime wave, said Inimai Chettiar of the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute at New York University School of Law.

Homicides increased by an even larger percentage in Virginia last year, from 337 killings in 2014 to 382 last year, or 13.4 percent, Virginia State Police reported in their annual Crime in Virginia report.

Slayings recorded in Central Virginias four cities, three towns and 16 counties were more in line with the national numbers, jumping 10 percent last year, from 89 killings in 2014 to 98 last year  the highest level since 2008, according to crime data analyzed by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The Richmond region includes the cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg; the towns of Ashland, Bowling Green and Louisa; and the counties of Amelia, Buckingham, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Sussex.

The FBI report is based on information supplied by local law enforcement agencies through the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The report breaks down violent crime into four categories: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

The statistics show an estimated 15,696 murders and non-negligent manslaughters in the country in 2015, a 10.8 percent increase from the previous year. Those totals do not include killings that agencies have deemed justifiable.

Violent crime overall rose by 3.9 percent, though the total was still lower than levels from five and 10 years ago, in 2011 and 2006, the FBI said. By comparison, violent crime in Virginia rose just six-tenths of 1 percent last year.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch, speaking Monday at an event in Little Rock, Ark., said the new data show that we still have so much work to do. But she also noted that crime in many communities has remained stable or decreased.

And it is important to remember that while crime did increase overall last year, 2015 still represented the third-lowest year for violent crime in the past two decades, she added.

The FBIs crime totals have attracted scrutiny in recent years because of the inconsistent reporting by law enforcement agencies on use of force by police officers.

In a message accompanying this years report, FBI Director James Comey called for more transparency and accountability in law enforcement and said the FBI is working toward developing a database chronicling incidents of police use of force.

Information that is accurate, reliable, complete and timely will help all of us learn where we have problems and how to get better, he said.

The Brennan Center for Justice released a study a week ago that, based on information from 30 cities, indicates the crime rate is holding steady so far this year over 2015 levels. It said a handful of cities, however, appear to be accounting for a disproportionate amount of the violent crime. The number of murders reported by law enforcement agencies in four cities alone  Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee and Washington  is showing a 20 percent increase, the study said.

Its being driven by pockets, and its not a nationwide problem per se, Chettiar said.

Darrel Stephens, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which gathers material from more than 60 large cities in the U.S. and Canada, said the latest FBI statistics mirror what his group has been seeing.

The increase is not off the charts by any stretch of the imagination, Stephens said. But while it would be wrong to say the U.S. is experiencing a crime wave, it also would be wrong to say there isnt a problem, he said.

I think this should cause people to be a little concerned  not panicky or anything  but a little concerned about whats going on, he said.
The office of Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring is asking a Charlottesville judge to throw out the latest attempt by George Huguely V to have his 23-year prison sentence cut short.

In the citys circuit court on Monday, attorneys for Huguely and the commonwealth presented arguments over the writ of habeas corpus filed by Huguely in January, which claimed that the former University of Virginia lacrosse player is being unlawfully imprisoned after an unfair criminal trial in 2012.

It was in that 2012 trial that Huguely was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2010 slaying of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Yeardley Love. The two were students at the time and were members of UVas male and female lacrosse teams. The 28-year-old Huguely is currently serving his time in Augusta Correctional Center and faces two civil lawsuits  including a multimillion-dollar wrongful death suit from Loves family  in relation to his conviction.

Since 2012, Huguely has been steadfast in appealing his conviction, although the attempts have thus far been unsuccessful. Last October, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to review Huguelys case, effectively ending his criminal adjudication. In turn, his January filing constitutes a civil matter against the commonwealth.

During the court hearing on Monday, Judge Richard Moore reviewed a motion from the commonwealth to dismiss the case entirely. In arguing the motion, senior Assistant Attorney General Leah Darron challenged a few issues in the case that had been brought up by Jon Sheldon, representing Huguely in the matter.

Primarily, Huguely has asserted that his trial counsel made fatal mistakes that led to his incarceration, including a failure to clarify certain jury instructions prior to deliberations. His attorneys have also stated that, according to an affidavit from one of the 12 jurors from the original trial, a dictionary was used to define the word malice during jury deliberations, which may have informed a decision that was not based on the legal definition of malice in a criminal case. They have further attacked a decision to disallow a neurologist from providing testimony about Loves supposed cause of death.

Speaking to the dictionary allegation, Darron noted that the other 11 jurors have not reported having seen a dictionary being used in the jury room during deliberations  an affidavit from one of those 11 even refuted the claim. Darron said that the juror who believed she saw the dictionary could not describe what it looked like and said that she may have been simply confused about what she had seen. Either way, there is no proof by preponderance of the evidence that a dictionary was even given to the jurors, Darron said.

Darron further argued that, when looking at the record of Huguelys appeals, previous judges have invariably ruled that the jury instructions from the original trial were adequate. All in all, Darron stated that even when viewed in Huguelys favor, the issues being presented by his attorney would have had no reasonable likelihood of creating a substantially different outcome of the original trial.

In defending his stance on the issues, Sheldon noted that the jury was very much split between finding Huguely guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. Had the neurologist in question been permitted to testify about the blunt-force trauma classification of Loves cause of death, the jury may have gotten a more nuanced perspective about what actions led to Loves demise. Speaking to the dictionary allegation, Sheldon said that if one person on the jury believed a dictionary definition of malice had been used, then that one jurors view of the case may have been skewed.

Moore said that he would review the arguments and make a ruling but that it may take him several weeks.

A local defense attorney not involved with the case has previously said that writs of habeas corpus rarely lead to success. However, even if the state wins the case, Huguely is still able to file a writ of habeas corpus at the federal level.

Attorneys for Huguely will be back in court on Oct. 18 to take up matters in his other outstanding civil cases. Huguely is battling attorneys from his former Maryland insurer that does not intend to cover any damages that may result from the $29.45 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Love family. Until the insurance case moves forward, the wrongful death suit will remain stalled.
More than 400 K-12 educators from across the state met at the University of Virginia on Monday for a daylong conference focusing on how to implement new and innovative learning assessments into the state's public schools.

The Virginia Department of Education and Jobs for the Future, a national education and economic opportunity nonprofit, hosted the summit at Newcomb Hall to focus on new learning assessments that focus more on critical thinking and problem solving rather than memorization for tests, and encouraged input from teachers and other educators at the local levels.

The event consisted of speeches and panel discussions from experts and educators at the national, state and local levels, as well as breakout sessions that included one led by an Albemarle County educator.

VDOE Superintendent Steven Staples and Catherine Brighton, associate dean at UVas Curry School of Education, were the first to speak, along with Rebecca E. Wolfe, senior director for Jobs for the Futures Students at the Center.

Staples talked about the need for more than just Standards of Learning tests to measure the success of a student and said the state plans to add a performance assessment for students to complete before they leave high school  but he added that the SOLs are still important.

We cant lose the benefits that our accountability system has created, and outcomes of the SOL tests are certainly one of those," he said.

But we're thinking we can build on that in a way that provides accountability on a broader spectrum," he added. So today, we really want you to think about how to prepare for some of those reforms.

School divisions across the United States have been looking to new ways to implement different forms of learning assessments since the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act  signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2015  which calls on states and districts to develop new assessments.

Staples talked about Virginias ongoing efforts to create more project-based learning. This year, he said the expectation is that every teacher in Virginia will use at least one performance assessment sometime during the day and added that examples and versions of these types of assessments will be posted on the VDOEs website.

A panel discussion followed, featuring a number of experts who provided perspectives from across the nation on learning assessments and how they can be implemented and viewed at the local levels.

The panel featured Elliott Asp, senior fellow at Achieve; Angela Landrum, principal consultant at the Colorado Department of Education; Ray Pecheone, executive director at the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity; and Carol Tomlinson, chairwoman of educational leadership, foundations and policy at the Curry School. Stephanie Krauss, senior fellow at Jobs for the Future, moderated the panel discussion.

The panel was followed by a speech and presentation from Christopher Gareis, a professor at the College of William & Mary School of Education, who spoke about the framework for creating and putting local alternative assessments in place.

In his presentation, Gareis pointed out a number of stages in the implementation framework and frequently engaged the audience to see where their school divisions might be in that type of process. Many responded that their schools were in the earlier stages.

Pam Moran, Albemarle County Public Schools superintendent, was in attendance for the event and said what she's seeing at the state level reinforces the performance-based assessment work the county schools already have been working on in the past years that serve as an alternative to other high-stakes testing assessments, such as SOL tests.

And while we certainly believe that accountability is a critical area of focus for school divisions and districts across the nation, one of the takeaways I have this morning is that that accountability, that responsibility to student learning, can be captured in very different ways than a four-choice, one-right answer multiple-choice test, she said. So it's really exciting to hear that the state is trying to drive the work that we do with assessments toward more local assessments developed by teachers, tied to meaningful, deep learning experiences that kids can have.

Attendees then dispersed into breakout sessions led by different educators from across the state.

Debora Collins, executive director of K-12 education for Albemarle County schools, led a session on emphasizing the journey a school division takes when trying to create ways to assess student performance.

I wanted to share our progress to date and what we've learned from our journey and what we're looking to learn in the future, Collins said.

Denise Bryant, a teacher in Buckingham County Public Schools, attended Albemarle Countys session and said afterward that its important to define success in students beyond SOL test scores and other numerical indications.

Students are not a number to me.  Success is measured in lots of different ways other than just numbers that come from our state department, she said.

Before adjourning for the day, everyone in attendance reconvened to Newcomb Hall for closing statements. Staples again stressed the importance of teacher input in reforming learning assessments so it is effective as possible.

I don't think our students will be successful in life if we don't do this well, and I don't think we'll do it well without your help.
Average SAT scores from Virginia public schools continue to be higher than national averages, and scores from the Charlottesville area continued to be higher than both.

The College Board, a nonprofit organization that owns the SAT, released the average SAT scores for 2016 high school graduates on Tuesday, showing some improvements at the state level, while scores nationally continued to decrease. Both Charlottesville and Albemarle County public schools continued to report higher scores than the state and nation.

The 2016 graduates were the last group of students in the United States to take the older version of the SAT. The new version of the test  with more of a focus on real-world vocabulary and learning  debuted in March.

The College Board said it wont release average score results for the new SAT until next fall, when it has a full year of data on graduating seniors for the 2016-17 school year. The board said most 2016 graduating seniors, 90 percent, took the old SAT before its final run earlier this year.

Virginia public schools saw a small increase in average reading scores, no change in math scores and a slight dip in writing scores, as compared with the previous year. Reading scores improved one point to 516, math scores stayed at 513 and writing scores fell two points to 493.

Average SAT scores from public schools nationwide dropped in reading, math and writing, continuing a trend of the last several years. Average reading scores dropped by three points from last year to 487, four points to 494 in math and by three points to 472 in writing.

Charlottesville High School reported slightly lower average SAT scores than last year. The schools reading scores decreased by four points to 564, math by three points to 544 and writing by four points to 539.

Test scores will fluctuate up and down from year to year, but a minor fluctuation does not detract from CHSs consistently excellent performance on this exam, said Kendra King, director of student services and achievement for the city schools.

Were so proud that CHS students continue to outscore the state and nation on this important college readiness exam, she said.

Average SAT scores for Albemarle County Public Schools were higher than last year. Reading scores increased by seven points to 564, math by 12 points to 565 and writing by seven points to 541.

These SAT scores again are very strong numbers for our students, said Matt Haas, deputy superintendent for the county schools. They align with the importance of providing students with a broad range of career and college readiness resources. We continue to believe that the best instructional model is one that increases project-based learning opportunities at every grade level and leads to a more contemporary high school learning experience for all students.

In the surrounding counties, school divisions reported average SAT scores comparable  but in some cases lower  to statewide and national levels.

Buckingham County schools reported 469 as the average SAT reading score, 472 for math and 447 for writing, while Fluvanna County schools reported 518 for reading, 508 for math and 492 for writing. In Greene County, the average score for reading was 508, 511 for math and 475 for writing.

Louisa Countys averages were 489 for reading, 474 for math and 479 for writing. Madison Countys averages were 479 for reading, 474 for math and 460 for writing. Average scores in Nelson County were 502 for reading, 490 for math and 480 for writing, while Orange County schools reported 504 in reading, 479 in math and 474 in writing.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
RICHMOND  Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, found common ground but few answers for local commissioners of revenue about lost raises for their employees and threats to local tax revenues.

McAuliffe and Norment, speaking separately to the Commissioners of Revenue Association of Virginia on Monday, bemoaned the loss of scheduled raises for their offices, as well as partial funding in the budget for a career development program the commissioners have made their top legislative priority.

The raises and career development stipends were part of a two-year, $346.3 million compensation package for state employees, teachers, and state-supported local employees that was canceled after the state fell short of revenue projections by $279 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Norment, who is co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, told commissioners at the Hilton Richmond that he had asked the committee's staff "to see if there is anything we can do to offer some token pay raise to say 'We know you're out there.'"

McAuliffe said he hopes the modest revival of revenues in the last two months will continue this month to reduce state budget cuts this year, but he twice warned of the looming danger of a new round of federal budget cuts next year that could inflict another blow on Virginia's military-dependent economy.

A two-year federal budget deal reached last fall is scheduled to expire in a year, opening the door to another round of automatic spending cuts under sequestration, which dealt a severe economic blow to military-dependent regions such as Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads in 2013.

"I hope the new president and the new Congress will get their act together before the next one because if they don't that one will be much worse," the governor said.

McAuliffe and Norment also decried Congress' lack of action to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, which state and local officials say is essential to require taxation of internet sales that now have an unfair advantage over sales from traditional retail businesses.

"Something really needs to be done," Norment said.

McAuliffe agreed that passage of the law would generate more tax revenue for the state and its transportation trust fund, but he said General Assembly Republicans have stood in the way of an even bigger boost to state coffers by refusing to accept billions of dollars in federal funding to expand Medicaid.

Virginia has forfeited an estimated $7.9 billion the past three calendar years from federal taxes paid by residents and businesses under the Affordable Care Act. In the future, the state would have to pay a small match - growing to 10 percent by 2022 - to draw down more than $2 billion a year in federal funds to provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians.

McAuliffe estimates that by expanding the Medicaid program next July 1, the state would save $211 million a year that it spends now on indigent care that hospitals provide to the uninsured, hospital care for prison inmates, and local services to people with mental illness and other behavioral health issues.

"I'm just laying it out  it's your money and we have forfeited it," he said.

Earlier, Norment had played down political differences between Republican legislative leaders and the governor, despite high-profile battles over Medicaid, restoration of voting rights to felons, and appointment of a justice to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

"The chasm between the administration of Governor McAuliffe and the legislature is nowhere as broad or deep as you would be led to believe," the majority leader said.
Creepy clowns have gone viral. Photos, videos and stories depicting clowns by the woods, in parking lots and near parks and playgrounds, have been viewed, shared and commented countless times on social media in recent weeks. While some may or may not pose a danger  and most are likely pranksters, one thing is for sure: the police are not amused.

Clown sightings have been reported in multiple states: South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia and more. Locally, at least two alleged sightings in Augusta County have been reported in recent days

The Augusta County Sheriffs Office sent a notice out on Saturday after receiving a call about a clown sighting in the 100 block of River Bend Road in Fort Defiance. The call came in at 9:02 p.m.

According to the release, the call was placed by a citizen fishing in the area with his children. The male was approached by two separate vehicles leaving the area at a high rate of speed; both stopped to warn him that several people in the adjacent woodland area were dressed up as clowns.

According to the caller, the people leaving the area were upset over the clown sightings, the release said.

The other alleged sighting occurred last week when a group of children reported seeing someone dressed up as a clown near the Augusta Farms area.

Weve had two reports thus far and nobody has been injured; nobody has been attacked, Lt. Aaron LeVeck with the Augusta County Sheriffs Office said.

While clowns in the area havent injured anyone, LeVeck said no one can predict what might happen in the future, or what might motivate people to dress up as a clown and go out in public. But, he said, the activity could put all parties involved at risk.

It puts people in fear, LeVeck said. It conceals peoples identity, and you dont know what their motive is .

And, he noted, wearing a mask in public is illegal. Indeed, anyone older than 16 is prohibited from wearing a mask, hood or other device to conceal the identity of the wearer, according to state code. A few exceptions to the law do exist, of course. Those include: when a person is wearing a traditional holiday costume; is engaged in a profession or activity where a mask is necessary for protection (such as a welder or surgeon); is involved in theatrical productions or masquerade balls; or is wearing a "mask, hood or other device" for legitimate medical reasons.

A violation of the statute is a Class 6 felony punishable by up to one to five years in prison, and/or a fine of not more than $2,500, the Augusta County Sheriffs Office said.

Its national, LeVeck said of the clown phenomenon. Theres stuff all over the internet about this type of activity. I suspect its fueled by social media.

LeVeck hoped the information and warnings about the potential risks would stop people from dressing up as clowns unless they have a legitimate reason for doing so.

I hope that whoever is partaking in this has the opportunity to realize they put themselves at risk of being injured if they confront the wrong person, possibly injuring somebody else and also putting themselves at risk of prosecution because it is against the law, LeVeck said.

Sheriff Donald Smith addressed the problem in the release. He, too, called for a stop to the clown phenomenon.
WAYNESBORO  A Waynesboro man wanted in connection with a car crash that killed his father earlier this month has disappeared  and police are asking the community for information to help track him down.

Nathaniel Lee Hise, 18, was behind the wheel of the 1995 Honda Civic that crashed on Coleytown Road in Augusta County at about 11:30 the night of Sept. 17, according to Sgt. Kenneth Hyden of the Virginia State Police.

He was driving at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle, went through a fence and overturned, Hyden said.

Hise was hurt in the crash, the trooper explained, but apparently did not lose consciousness.

Instead of calling 911, though, he called his friends to come help him, Hyden said. They flipped the car back over with his father still inside the car.

Its not clear, he said, if Tommy E. Hise, 53, the front-seat passenger and Nathaniel Hise's father, was killed on impact or was still alive when the younger Hise and his friends rolled the car right side up. Soon after, the group took both father and son to Augusta Health, where the elder Hise was pronounced dead at 12:05 a.m. on Sept. 18.

When I got to the hospital, the person injured in the crash, Nathaniel Hise, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, Hyden said. At that time, he said he was the passenger in the car and that his father was the one driving.

The younger Hise was injured severely enough to be airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center with head trauma.

We did not continue [with the questions], his health being more important than our investigation at that point, Hyden explained.

Later on Sept. 18, however, Hise walked out of the hospital without being formally discharged.

Police, meanwhile, determined through their investigation that the younger Hise was, in fact, the driver of the vehicle, despite his denials, according to Hyden. A warrant has been issued for Hise's arrest on a charge of hit and run with a fatality, and additional charges are pending, Hyden said.

Police have been looking for Hise but haven't yet tracked him down, Hyden said. The elder Hise lived at 6 Dalhousie Road outside Waynesboro, the sergeant said, but it's not clear if his son was staying there or was living elsewhere. The younger man has no fixed address, Hyden said, adding that he is hoping someone in Waynesboro or Augusta County might have seen the 18-year-old Hise or knows where he is staying.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to call the nearest police agency, whatever that might be, he said.

Hise may be in the Sherando area, Hyden said, based on information police have received, but they cant be certain of that.

We have suggested to his family that they get in touch with him and have him turn himself in, he said. But so far, that hasnt happened.

Those with information on Hises location may call the Waynesboro Police Department at 942-6675, the Virginia State Police 540-885-2142 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-2017.
TUESDAY

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Meeting is at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 27 at Union Bank, 102 S. Main St.

Culpeper Town Council Committee meetings

The Personnel & Ordinance Committee meets at 9:30 a.m. and the Public Safety, Public Works & Planning Committee at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the Economic Development Center, 803 S. Main Street.

Pajama Storytime

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Culpeper County Library featuring the perfect bedtime story, games and groovy music. Children are encouraged to attend in their pajamas.

High school choral program

The Eastern View High School and Culpeper County High School Choral Program will be presenting their annual a cappella Concert in the EVHS auditorium at 7 p.m. Groups from EVHS and CCHS will be performing, as well as special guest Madison Project, the premiere male a cappella group from James Madison University. Tickets are $3 at the door.

Legislator to speak at NORML town hall meeting

Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, will speak at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 at a town hall meeting being hosted by the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The meeting is being held at Grass Rootes restaurant, 195 E. Davis St. in downtown Culpeper. Reception at 6:30.

Art classes

Hosted by the Blue Ridge Art League every Tuesday at 9:30am at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on North East Street. 540/321-4245 or blueridgeartleague@gmail.com. Plein Air Painting and other art related classes, demos, and field trips to art galleries, etc.

WEDNESDAY

Culpeper County Disability Services Board

Meeting is at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 in the county administration building, 302 N. Main St.

Culpeper Architectural Review Board

Holds its regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Economic Development Center, 803 S. Main St.

Medical talk

At 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Culpeper County Library by retired orthopedic surgeon Thomas Neviaser who will discuss shoulder surgery. His book, The Way I See It, A Head-to-Toe Guide to Orthopedic Conditions, will be available for purchase for $15 and signing as part of the program sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Culpeper Chess Club holds weekly meeting

At 6:30 p.m. at the Culpeper Library. All ages and skills are welcome.

Call-in Bible Study by Beulah Baptist Church

Hosted by Beulah Baptist Church in Rixeyville from 7 to 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday with Pastor Kenneth Pitts. Call-in number 302/202-1118; access code 862090.

Manna Ministry

Provides free lunch for anyone every Wednesday from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in the Culpeper Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 215 S. Main St. 540/825-8616

THURSDAY

Pipeline Response Exercise Event

Starts at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Best Western Inn, 791 Madison Rd. in Culpeper.

FRIDAY

Fun Friday Storytime

At 10:30 a.m. at the Culpeper County Library. Stories, songs, rhymes, activities and more for children with a parent or other caregiver.

Free Russian music concert in Rixeyville

At Little Fork Church starting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 featuring Lyra, a vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg. The concert will offer 70 minutes of music, half from the Russian Orthodox tradition and half folk music sung in traditional costume. littleforkchurch.org or 540/937-4306.

Jefferson Ruritan turkey shoot

The Jefferson Ruritan Club will be conducting its annual turkey shoot at the Jeffersonton Community Center, 5073 Jeffersonton Rd., every Friday at 7 p.m. through Nov. 25. 540/ 937-4541.

Manna Ministry

Provides free lunch for anyone every Friday from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in the Culpeper Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 215 S. Main St. 540/825-8616.

How To Marry A Millionaire

Starring Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe screens for free at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Library of Congress Packard Theater in Culpeper. No reservations required.

SATURDAY

Betty Newhouse Circle Flea Market

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Culpeper United Methodist Church. Food and more than 30 vendors.

Full STEAM Ahead education program

At the Culpeper County Library starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 1. This monthly science, technology, engineering, art, and math program is for third to fifth graders this month featuring the librarys Ozobot robots exploring how automated guided vehicles are used in factories.

NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet

Hosted by the Culpeper Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People takes place at noon Oct. 1 at Peppers Grill in Culpeper featuring keynote speaker Linda Thomas, president of the Virginia NAACP. $50 with proceeds to benefit the local scholarship fund. 540/672-4710, 540/937-5565 or jfslaughter@aol.com

Ordination service

Starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lignum for the Rev. Robert Brown, Sr. with special guest the Rev. Adrian Sledge, choir and congregation from Antioch Baptist Church. Dinner will be served following the service. 540/399-1315.

Jazz in Little Washington

Presented by Peter and Will Anderson at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Little Washington Theatre in Rappahannock County. Adults $25, aged 17 and younger $10. info@theatrewashingtonva.com

The In-Laws

Starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk screens for free at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 in the Library of Congress Packard Theater in Culpeper. Reservations not required.

The Hospital

Is an Oscar-winning comedy/tragedy directed by Arthur Hill starring George C. Scott. It screens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1. in the Library of Congress Packard Theater in Culpeper. Reservations not required.

SUNDAY

Mid-Day Lions Bingo has $1,000 jackpot

Doors open at 5 p.m., early bird games begin at 6:30 p.m. at Peppers Grill, 791 Madison Road in Culpeper. $1,000 jackpot and three Progressives at bingo raising money for community charities.

Death Cafe at the Culpeper Library

At 3 p.m. Oct. 2 is a public discussion about death and dying with dessert and coffee. Death Cafe is part of a global movement whose main objective is to increase awareness of death while helping people make the most of the rest of their lives. deathcafe.com. RSVP 540/718.5323 or craig.wilt@hopva.org.
Democrat Hillary Clinton appeared better prepared for the first presidential debate than Donald Trump, according to Virginia political analysts, but they caution against reaching long-range conclusions on the candidates' first encounter.

In fact, the University of Mary Washington held a town hall debate watch on Monday evening "and not a single person in the crowd said they walked into the debate supporting one candidate and walked out of the debate supporting another," said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science at UMW.

Instant surveys on the results varied.

In a CNN post-debate survey, 62 percent of voters who turned in to watch said Clinton won, compared with 27 percent for Trump.

In an online vote for Fox News, 50 percent said Trump won, to 35 percent for Clinton.

"It is dangerous to offer confident predictions of how the public will react to a debate immediately after it is concluded," wrote analysts Larry Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.

Instant polls following a debate might not be meaningful and the lasting effect might not be apparent until new national and state polls assess how the candidates' performance affected the race, the analysts said.

"Its no fun to urge patience - but we think thats better than making sweeping pronouncements in the aftermath of a widely-watched national event that voters may interpret quite differently than experts may expect," the U.Va. analysts said.

"The pundit consensus seems to be that Hillary Clinton 'won,' but we all know how many times Donald Trump has been counted out, only for him to endure," the U.Va. analysts add.

"We also know that Clinton and Trump are talking to two very different countries, and political analysts and reporters are generally in the country Clinton, not Trump, inhabits.

"However, Trump faces many questions about his qualifications for the job and his temperament, and we dont believe he did much to provide satisfactory answers to those concerns. Perhaps enough voters want change so much that they are willing to overlook their reservations."

Research shows that debates generally do not have a huge impact on an election and that most people who watch have already made up their minds, Farnsworth said.

"The main lesson from the debate is that Donald Trump needs to study the issues before the next debate. Without offering a clearer sense of how he would do some of the things he proposes, he will close the issue competition to Hillary Clinton," Farnsworth said.

"He gave solid answers about how Clinton hasn't been very effective in some areas, but that is only half the battle: the next step is to show how you would do better than your opponent.

"Hillary Clinton gave effective, crisp answers on most questions, but she didn't do as well as she might have on issues of crime and law and order. She did a very good job of needling Trump," Farnsworth said.

Quentin Kidd of Christopher Newport University also thought "Clinton's preparation showed through, and Trump's lack of preparation showed through" in the first contest.

"The optics of him butting in and audibly moaning can't be good for him, and I don't think the split screen helped him...his facial expressions weren't helpful," Kidd said.

"My overall sense is that she 'won' the debate, but I don't think that means that she will have won over any Trump supporters," Kidd said.

"If you were a Trump supporter before the debate, you are likely still one now. But, she may have pulled over some wavering undecideds to her side, and she likely solidified some of her soft support. I'd expect her to rise a point or two in the polls, if that, but not much more.

Kidd added: "I don't think the general dynamics of the race have been changed."

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NEW YORK - USA - Presidential candidate, Donald Trump has fallen at the first hurdle during the first debate with Hillary Clinton.

The consensus is out and Donald Trump has fallen flat during the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton.

What Trump fails to realise is that running governmental offices is not like running a business, his rhetoric is geared solely to making a profit any way he can.

Business people are only interested in profit margins and in Trumps case he does not care who he steps on to make a profit.

To have someone like Trump running the U.S. government would be a nightmare simply because his policies would be conducted like business deals. In diplomatic circles, business is a factor but not the primary concern. Within the geopolitical structure, yes money is of concern, but there are many more variables to creating multilateral deals.

One must show some pity towards Trump and his deluded view of the world. Here is a person whose worldview is severely limited. It is thus within this blinkered tiny world that Trump exists, he does not see the reality or consequence of his irrational thought process, and only lives within a closeted cotton wool gold laminated eco system of business deals.

To say that Trump is deranged and unhinged is an understatement. His childish nature hits back at the slightest note of disapproval. Here is a man who is only surrounded by yes men, and naturally when he does not get his way, he lashes out blindly. Imagine this man dealing with the Chinese, how he could lash out needlessly and order bombers to fly over Beijing. He does not know the nuances in dealing with cultural differences, according to him everyone in the world should act like an American. Furthermore, Trump does not care whose toes he steps on to achieve his goal of supremacy, and the world would surely enter a phase of war whilst Trump is in charge.

Sniff

Trump himself has admitted that he does not read books, and his illiterate speech pattern proves this quite succinctly with his stumbling non-sequitors. Where Hillary Clinton is a very well read individual, Trump falters with poor verbal communication, bad grammar and an inarticulate sentence structure.

Trump was given $14 million by his dad to start up in business, and from such humble beginnings he has forged an empire that does not pay Federal income tax, has been bankrupted six times, and is in serious debt. We have a duplicitous character in Trump, someone who refuses to show his tax filings, and operates in secrecy. It is no surprise that his dealings with the New York mafia in the past during certain construction deals engenders this secrecy.

Does the world really need a dodgy business man with his fingers in so many pies trying to run world affairs? There is the question of how being a president of the U.S. could benefit Trumps business dealings and whether there would be a conflict of interest. It is certain there would, especially with Trumps cronies, who would no doubt get special treatment once he is elected.

The major concern for all should be Trumps easily baited nature. It is all too easy to trigger his competitive personality to do anything, including drop the bomb on China or whoever.

As mentioned before, we should be aiming for clarity, logical thought and a solid foundation of political constancy over an unhinged individual who is floundering in the dark hitting out blindly.

The world needs stability, not chaos. Vote Trump if you do not value your life, or the lives of your family. Trump will start World War III. If you want to die vote for him.
GE Digital and Bosch Software, the software units of both industrial machinery giants, have announced today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of developing integrations between their respective Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and accelerating adoption.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies are focusing on promoting interoperability between GE Predix and the Bosch IoT Suite. Unveiled last summer, GE Predix takes a cloud-based, gated community approach to delivering IoT services. When Bosch IoT Suite officially launched in March, the company claimed that five million devices were already connected to the platform.

As part of the collaboration, the GE and Bosch plan to establish a new IoT open-source project based on Eclipse. The companies will focus their efforts on Eclipse hono for IoT connectivity, Vorto for data modeling and Leshan for lightweight, Java-based machine-to-machine clients. They are also contributing work to Eclispe UAA (User Account and Authentication) and ACS (Access Control Service) focused on IoT device connectivity.

Our organizations both have a rich history of manufacturing products, big and small, so we share a common understanding and vision regarding the opportunities in connectivity, said Rainer Kallenbach, CEO of Bosch Software Innovations, in a statement. As with the internet at large, building alliances is how major industry players hope to avoid fragmentation.

No company can realize the IoT on its own. It is very important for Bosch to engage in business ecosystems and open source communities, added Kallenbach. The collaboration with GE Digital is another important milestone for Boschs connectivity strategy.

GE and Bosch arent the only companies making big IoT news today.

South Korean electronics giant Samsung said today that it has partnered with Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), a Russian telecommunications company, to help advance IoT communications 5G cellular technologies. In addition to LTE-Machine and LTE Broadcast (eMBMS), the firms will explore Carrier Aggregation, Multiple-Input Multiple Output (MIMO), Multi-path TCP (MPTCP) and NB-IoT (NarrowBand IOT).

We are confident that this collaboration will play a key role in leveraging advanced technologies to bring everyday benefit to the lives of Russians, said Dong Soo Park, executive vice president of the Networks business unit at Samsung Electronics, in prepared remarks. Based on Samsungs strengths in 5G and IoT, we look forward to supporting MTS in solidifying their position as an innovative telecommunications leader by discovering new opportunities for the commercialization of 5G.

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.
In the two-wheeler world, 2016 could very well be called the year of scooters. The sales of gearless scooters have skyrocketed, while those of motorcycles have decelerated. Every two-wheeler manufacturer (except Bajaj Auto) in the country is trying its best to cash in on the growing demand for scooters. Yamaha is one of the manufacturers who has reaped the benefits of the growing demand for scooters. Its Ray series of scooters has done its part well in boosting the sales figures of the company, which has now brought a scooter that targets the youth as its primary customer -- the Ray ZR. Let's find out what it has to offer.

Design: 8.5/10

The Yamaha Ray range of scooters have always featured a stylish and eye catching design. But, in my opinion, the Yamaha Ray-ZR has to be the most striking looking scooter from the Japanese two-wheeler giant yet for our market. I must admit that I wasnt a fan of the Ray-ZRs design when I first saw it at the 2016 Auto Expo and also in the studio shots. But in the flesh and on the tarmac, the Ray-ZR does look impressive.

The raked-out front apron has been completely redesigned with a sharper looking headlight that has the cowl overlapping it mildly on top. The turn indicators arent integrated and have been shifted to the side panel. Yamaha designers have also utilised the new graphics in clever fashion to further increase the visual appeal of the scooter. The olive green and black dual tone colour scheme also works well while the streaks on the panel below the seat look distinctive. The tail lamp has been completely redesigned and is much bigger than its siblings while the indicators have been placed on the mudguard, similar to motorcycles, which is a first for any scooter, Yamaha claims.

The edgy grabrail has been finished in black while the monoshock spring gets covered in white to add some contrast to the rear. The Ray-ZR is also the first Yamaha offering to get 12-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels that look good. Styling is among the highlights of the new Yamaha Ray-ZR and the amount of eyeballs it gathered is a sure indication that it will appeal to young buyers.

Features List: 7/10

With respect to features, the biggest talking point about for the Yamaha Ray-ZR is the optional 170mm disc brake, making it the first Yamaha scooter in India to offer a disc brake. Under-seat storage is also among the highest in its segment at 21 litres but the design isnt clever as we couldnt manage to fit our full-face helmet. Also I feel that a mobile charger should have been offered as an optional extra.

Another vital feature that is omitted on the Yamaha Ray is the external fuel filler cap, which is a big miss. Theres also provision for storage below the handlebar, which is deep enough to hold a 500ml water bottle or some other sundries and is a useful addition. The edgy instrument console looks funky but we wished it had a digital display, and it also gets a key shutter lock system. Switch gear quality is good and so is the fit and finish on the new scooter.

Performance Test: 8/10

Powering the new Ray-ZR is the same 113cc motor as seen on other Yamaha scooters. The single-cylinder engine develops 7.2PS and 8.1Nm of peak torque. Power figures could have been better, I feel, with respect to the competition. But despite the lower power output, the Ray-ZR doesnt disappoint on the performance aspect. Acceleration is slow as the CVT transmission takes a moment to find its footing. But once past the initial hitch, the Ray-ZR gathers momentum at a brisk pace for a 110cc scooter. The scooter has a strong mid-range and feels happy cruising between 60 and 70kmph. Once past this, the enthusiasm of the scooter dulls down but NVH levels are impressive. There is a minor buzz from the footboard which is negligible and the Yamaha motor scores highly on refinement.

Mileage Run: 9/10

Fuel efficiency is among the most important criterion for scooter buyers. With the advancement of technology, scooters have been becoming more frugal with every passing year. The Ray-ZR features Yamahas patented Blue Core technology that reduces friction among the mating parts of the engine. This results in lesser friction and better thermal efficiency which translates in higher mileage. Yamaha claims a mileage figure of 66kmpl which is among the highest for any scooter on sale. During our fuel efficiency run, the Yamaha Ray-ZR did return us over 60kmpl fuel efficiency with a light wrist. When ridden in real world conditions and speed, the Ray-ZR returned us an overall fuel efficiency of 58kmpl which is very impressive. Clubbed with a 5.2 litre capacity fuel tank, the Ray-ZR has a range of around 300km on a full tank.

Rideonomics: 8.5/10

The tall handle bar and the slightly firm seat results in an upright and comfortable riding posture. There is also lots of space on the footboard and the raised handlebar means that tall riders will not feel cramped on the scooter. The seat has been tapered cleverly at front so that the fairer sex also feels comfortable on the scooter, though the seat height could have been lower. Among the impressive aspects of the Yamaha Ray-ZR is its supple ride quality as it rode over the innumerable potholes that have been scattered on the streets of Mumbai courtesy the monsoons effortlessly. But the 130mm ground clearance means that you have to be careful over speed breakers so as to not scrape the underbody.

Despite the brilliant ride, handling performance hasnt been compromised. The Ray-ZR took sweeping corners with confidence, something which very few scooters can boast about. It also felt quick on its feet with seamless direction changes, a trait that will be useful in negotiating the traffic choked streets. The Ray-ZR is the first Yamaha offering to get optional front disc brake as seen on our test scooter. The disc brake has understandably improved the braking performance in comparison to its siblings which have drum brakes on both ends. The disc brake provided good bite but progression could have been better through the lever.

Final Call: 8/10

So at the end of the day, I must admit the Yamaha Ray-ZR impressed me. The question is who should buy one? The obvious answer is youngsters but that shouldnt be really the case as the Ray-ZR has the potential to impress mature buyers also. Its easy to ride in city, offers comfortable ride quality and houses a refined motor that delivers impressive efficiency. The addition of disc brake and the sporty styling only hikes its appeal further. But there are some drawbacks, like the lack of features in terms of external fuel filler cap and the omission of a mobile charger. But the biggest hurdle for the Yamaha Ray-ZR is its pricing. The base variant with drum brake has been priced at Rs 52,000 while the disc brake variant carries a price tag of Rs 54,500. Its arch rival, the Honda Dio, retails for Rs 48,412 (all prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Delhi). Having said that, if money isnt a difficulty and you are in the hunt for a youthful and refined scooter, look no further!

Source: BikeDekho.com
The GoDaddy Cloud Servers allow developers to build, test and re-provision the virtual instances instantly.

Bangalore: GoDaddy, the worlds largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, on September 27 expanded its hosting services with the launch of Cloud Servers and Cloud Applications for small businesses in India.

The new offerings are designed to help the web developers to quickly build, test and scale cloud solutions for their SMB customers. With 54-second or less provisioning, the GoDaddy Cloud Servers allow developers to build, test and re-provision the virtual instances instantly.

This pay-as-you-go utility billing offering provides the flexibility and control of hourly billing and monthly limit making it affordable for customers. The easy to use solution is available at an industry leading price of INR 0.50 paisa per hour.

The launch of Cloud Servers from GoDaddy will enable Indias web developers with affordable and intuitive solutions to better serve their customers and grow their businesses, said Rajiv Sodhi, Managing Director and Vice-President of GoDaddy India & Australia.

India presents a sizeable market for expanded hosting products such as Cloud Servers. By offering a powerful, yet simple cloud offering that integrates domains, DNS, security and backups all in one place, developers can save time and exceed their clients' expectations.
Vodafone's $7.2 billion cash injection into its Indian business has turned up the heat just days ahead of an $84 billion airwave auction which could decide who wins and loses in one of the world's fastest-growing telecoms markets.Spending may fall well short of that huge target.

But, industry insiders and advisers say, the race for premium spectrum will carve up 4G airwaves, and the spending splurge could even decide the size and timing of one of India's largest listings: Vodafone's own Indian IPO.

India's telecoms sector is crowded, cut-throat and often money-losing. Many carriers struggle under multi-billion dollar debt piles left by past auctions, prompting industry bodies to caution that high prices - as the government scrambles to close its budget deficit - could dampen future investment.

But few players will be able to sit out India's biggest auction, potentially more than double the size of all three past auctions. It will be a test of self-discipline, analysts and industry insiders say, but Vodafone's cash boost is a sign of how high stakes will be when the sale begins on Saturday (Oct 1).

The arrival of Reliance Jio, a carrier backed by oil and gas giant Reliance Industries, has shaken up the sector in the past month, as it injects more than $20 billion to offer customers free data, calls and subsidised smartphones.

To battle Jio, analysts and industry players say, nationwide premium 4G services are a must. Both Vodafone, number 2 in India, and third-ranked Idea Cellular have 4G services in just about half of India's 22 telecoms regions.

"For two operators at least, this is the auction to make their data bets clear," said Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of top mobile carrier Bharti Airtel's India and South Asia operations. Vodafone is "basically telling you 'we are making a bet'."

All eyes are on the premium 700 MHz band spectrum, which is being put on block for the first time and accounts for half the estimated value of the auction. But its steep price - of $1.7 billion per megahertz - could deter bidders, industry executives say, and interest could shift to the 1800 MHz band that can also do 4G and is available at less than a quarter of the price.

Airtel and Jio have nationwide offerings. But both are also expected to bid, largely to deal with volumes, raising interest and prices.

Ahead of Vodafone's cash injection analysts had expected more cautious bidding. But the blind auction rarely undershoots: last year, the government raised a third more than it expected.

"Despite a lot of scepticism, this will be a well participated auction, particularly for the people who do not have a good 4G footprint," said Sandip Das, senior adviser at industry consultant Analysys Mason and a former telecoms executive.

IPO Ahead?

Vodafone has long been expected to list its Indian unit next year - an exercise in increased brand recognition as well as cash raising in a country with 1 billion phone subscriptions. It is expected to raise $2-$3 billion and could be India's biggest offering.

How the spectrum sale goes, how much is spent and where, could decide the size and timing of Vodafone's market debut, a person with direct knowledge of the listing process said. Part of the $7.2 billion will be used to pay down debt.

"We will take a call after the spectrum auction. Nothing before that. It's too big an event," the person said. "Difficult to say how aggressively Vodafone and Bharti will bid. People are keeping their cards close to their chest."

Vodafone declined to elaborate on the listing. It has been expected to make a decision by the end of this year. "We are on schedule as per our internal timeline. We haven't disclosed the timeline," a spokesman for the Indian unit said.

The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for India's telecoms industry, where many still use basic phones, was only 127 rupees ($1.90) in January-March, according to the regulator.

But Vodafone has crossed 200 million customers, including 107 million in rural areas, bringing it closer to Bharti's more than 257 million subscribers.

The upcoming auction will determine how fast Vodafone can catch up with Bharti and Jio on 4G. The majority of Vodafone's revenue still comes from Europe, but a 22 percent market share in India contributes about 12 percent of sales. Bharti, Vodafone, Idea and Jio did not comment on their auction strategy.
Tata Global Beverage Ltd (TGBL) and Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee International Inc, is also looking at selling the Tata group firm's Himalayan mineral water brand in more global markets through the outlets of its American partner.

New Delhi: Coffee chain Tata Starbucks posted sales of Rs 235 crore in FY 2015-16, registering a growth of 39 per cent on account of its expansion in leading metros.

Tata Starbucks, the 50:50 JV between Tata Global Beverage Ltd (TGBL) and Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee International Inc, is also looking at selling the Tata group firm's Himalayan mineral water brand in more global markets through the outlets of its American partner.

In an an investor presentation, TGBL said the growth in Tata Starbucks' revenue was "led by good-in-store performance and expansion of number of stores".

The JV operates 84 stores in leading metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Banagalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai after opening the first store in 2012 in Mumbai.

Commenting on leveraging on relationship with Starbucks beyond the Indian market, TGBL said it is "looking for supply agreements for other international markets" of its Himalayan mineral water brand, which is now available at Starbucks outlets in Singapore.

Already, Tata Coffee has a tie up with Starbucks for international supply. TGBL has 57.48 per cent stake in Tata Coffee, which primarily is into plantation and coffee extraction business.

Moreover, "A special micro lot from Tata Coffee's Nullore estate was selected for Starbucks' most premium offering - Starbucks Reserve stores," it added.

In India, Tata Starbucks outlets uses Indian roasted coffees from Tata Coffee, for all its espressos besides premium tea Tata Tazo and Himalayan water.

In June this year, Tata Sons and Starbucks had finalised multiple new joint initiatives to expand their collaboration at a global level, apart from building the iconic American coffee chain's brand and business in India.

The initiatives include sourcing Indian coffee for the US market, introducing the Teavana brand of speciality teas in Indian stores, expanding the market of the Tata-owned mineral water brand Himalayan and skilling over 3,000 youths, the companies said.
Mumbai: Grappling with mountain of debt, Reliance Communications on September 27 said it is planning to pare the Rs 42,650-crore burden by up to 75 per cent over the next one year.

Addressing the shareholders, company Chairman Anil Ambani said, "The target is to reduce debt by 75 per cent within a year (from Rs 42,651 crore) and once the ongoing merger processes of MTS and Aircel with RCom are complete, it will help reduce debt by Rs 20,000 crore."

Describing the three-way merger as the largest ever consolidation in the domestic telecom industry, he said this will create a formidable operator with the second largest holder of spectrum aggregating 448 MHz across the 850, 900, 1,800 and 2,100 MHz bands.

It will also make RCom one of the largest and valuable corporates with an asset base of over Rs 65,000 crore and networth of Rs 35,000 crore, he said.

The merger, once completed, will make RCom the fourth largest telecom player with around 180 million subscribers. Earlier this month, RCom had signed a definitive agreement with Aircel for the merger of wireless businesses with itself.

RCom and Aircel will each hold have equal stake in the merged entity. The merger will lead to a reduction in RCom's overall debt by Rs 20,000 crore from its total debt of Rs 42,651 crore, and Aircel's debt will come down by Rs 4,000 crore from Rs 23,436 crore.

The company had however told investors and analysts that even after the merger, the new entity will have debt of Rs 35,000 crore, including Rs 7,000 crore in the form of deferred spectrum payment liabilities. This is higher than its previous statement that new entity's debt will be restricted to Rs 28,000 crore.

Ambani also said the company will shortly announce monetisation of its tower business, which has been in the making for many years now.

On RCom's association with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio, he said both the brothers are working together to realise the dream of their late father Dhirubhai Ambani, and this association has accomplished a virtual merger between RCom and Rel Jio.

He also said the company already has all the spectrum they need for 2G 3G and 4G, plus spectrum trading and sharing with Reliance Jio. This will be beefed up further once the merger is complete.

"Spectrum sharing with Rel Jio has resulted in RCom's expenditure on this coming down (substantially) while the competition will have to spend heavily on spectrum to survive," he said.
Among the startups are Agribuddy, which has apps for agriculture has tied up with Indian banks for investment of $ 1 million and will start operations by the end of September in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Japan has sparked off renewed interest of Japanese businessmen and there are today over 1,1OO companies operating in India.

Following the slowdown in world trade Japans trade with India had also decreased. Among the companies coming are also three startups with five more in the pipeline.

They are primarily into food processing, waste management, automotive and internet of things ( IOT), said Naho Shigeta, MD of infoBRIDGE Holdings Group.

Unfortunately with big Japanese companies decision making is slow. So we are dealing with startups. They are aggressive and speedy. They dont have much financial investment but they can create new eco- system and also bring technology from outside to India, Ms Shigeta said, adding that she strongly believes startups can create new businesses in India.

Among the startups are Agribuddy, which has apps for agriculture has tied up with Indian banks for investment of $ 1 million and will start operations by the end of September in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

They arrange for loans from the banks for farmers and buy their produce and export them to Japan.

The other is SenSprout which specialises in soil health and helps the farmer to increase his yield which in India is just 50 per cent.

The third is in an advanced stage of negotiations. There are huge opportunities for the export of cashew, sesame and shrimps from India among other agri and processed food products.

Presently, says Ms Shigeta, the largest import by Japan is in cashew where India tops ( 9,549 tonnes in 2014) followed by shrimp ( 167,000tonnes; second largest), sesame around 160,000 tonnes.
Union Cabinet is likely to clear the proposal of sanctioning Rs 2,256 crore for implementation of the GST network across the country.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to clear the proposal of sanctioning Rs 2,256 crore for implementation of the GST network across the country, which will be formally known as Operation Saksham.

It will also function as a single window interface for facilitating trade and other initiatives under Digital India and Ease of Doing Business.
One Group feels as per the logic even RIL isnt the owner and it should just be paid a fixed rate of return on investment.

New Delhi: The ONGC board is split on the issue of claiming compensation for Rs 11,000 crore worth of natural gas spewing from its KG basin block into adjoining fields of Reliance Industries.

Justice A.P. Shah committee on the issue of gas migrating from idling ONGC blocks to RILs producing gas fields, last month opined that the compensation for unjust enrichment by the Mukesh Ambani-run firm should go to the government and not the state-owned firm.

It was of the opinion that the gas belongs to the government and so it alone deserves to be compensated. While ONGC had in May 2014 not hesitated from filing a case against RIL in the Delhi High Court and making the government a party to it, it is now vertically split on the issue.

Sources said the section of the board which was responsible for the company in the first place taking up the issue of Reliance Industries producing ONGCs gas wants the company to strongly contest the recommendations.

It feels that the High Court had given the company an option of approaching the court again if it is unsatisfied with any part of the dispute resolution. And so the firm should approach the High Court again, they feel.

The other section feels it is not wise to fight with the government and the company having proved its point that gas did migrate to RIL fields, should accept the recommendations, they said.

But the former group feels the premise on which Shah committee has based its recommendation was flawed as by the logic even RIL is not an owner of the gas in its KG-D6 block and it should just be paid a fixed rate of return on investment and not be given pricing and marketing freedom.

The Oil ministry has asked its technical arm DGH to quantify the amount of compensation that RIL has to pay. It stated, The government of India, and not ONGC, is entitled to claim restitution from RIL for the unjust benefit it received and unfairly retained. ONGC has no locus standi to bring a tortuous claim against RIL for trespass/conversion since it does not have any ownership rights or possessory interest in the natural gas.
The exchange has also ordered freezing of the entire promoter shareholding of these companies till further notice.

New Delhi: Leading stock exchange BSE will suspend trading in securities of as many as 21 companies from October 18 as they failed to comply with certain listing regulations. In case the firms comply with the norms by October 10, they would not face trading suspension.

Among the firms facing suspension are Aarya Global Shares and Securities, Bhagyodaya Infrastructure Development, Entegra, Acropetal Technologies, Broadcast Initiatives, Facor Steels, FE (India), Paramount Printpackaging, Tirupati Inks and Synergy Cosmetics (Exim).

Besides, GEI Industrial Systems, KDJ Holidayscapes and Resorts, Kyra Landscapes, Lok Housing & Constructions, Lumax Automotive Systems, Magna Industries & Exports, Rajdhani Leasing & Industries, Ratnamani Agro Industries, RNB Industries, Shri Aster Silicates and Suryajyoti Spinning Mills are also facing suspension. The exchange has also ordered freezing of the entire promoter shareholding of these companies till further notice.

"Trading in securities of the companies will be suspended with effect from October 18, 2016 (being 21 days from issue of this notice) on account of non-compliance with Regulation 55A of the SEBI (Depositories and Participants) Regulations, 1996, for two consecutive quarters -- March and June," BSE said in a circular.

Under Regulation 55A, listed companies are required to submit 'Reconciliation of Share Capital Audit Report' on a quarterly basis to the exchanges audited by a qualified chartered accountant or a practising company secretary, for the purpose of reconciliation of share capital held in depositories and in the physical form with the issued capital.

The report is required to be submitted to the exchange within 30 days from the end of the quarter. Further, the exchange said the suspension will continue till such time these firms comply with the norms, including payment of fines.

The exchange said that 15 days after suspension, trading in the shares of non-compliant companies would be allowed on restricted or trade for trade basis in Z group only on the first trading day of every week for six months.

"Revocation of suspension would be subject to the companies further complying with the procedure and all extant norms prescribed for revocation of suspension," the exchange added.
The actor was last seen in Shakun Batra's 'Kapoor & Sons'.

Mumbai: After the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) issued a 48-hour ultimatum for all Pakistani artistes to leave the country, in the wake of the Uri terrorist attack on an Indian army base that saw 18 Indian Jawaans lose their lives, theres been a general sense of insecurity in the city amongst artistes across the country pursuing a career in the bay.

Specially in dire straits were current heartthrob Fawad Khan, soon to be seen in Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Mahira Khan, whos to make her debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees.

As per reports, Fawad has surreptitiously bid adieu to the city and is back in Pakistan, with no immediate plans of returning.

Fawad, whos signed up to romance Katrina Kaif in Karan Johars upcoming production, had established himself as one of the best in business with a superlative Bollywood debut in Khoobsoorat, and a critically lauded act in Kapoor & Sons.

Karan Johar had earlier in a statement iterated that Fawad wont be a part of the promotions of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which is headed for a Diwali clash with Ajay Devgns Shivaay.
Mumbai: Sofia Hayat, an ex-Bigg Boss contestant, shocked the country by announcing that she was giving up materialist pleasures, including her glamorous lifestyle and taking up spirituality. She even changed her name to Gaia Mother Sofia.

After talking a lot about spirituality, self-love and giving up worldly pleasure, she is yet again in the news as one cant help but see her going back to her old days. Her latest posts on Instagram grabbed many eyeballs and negative reactions from people, to which Sofia Hayat hit back by saying that she is still wearing more clothes than Baba Ram Dev.

Take yourself so high that you become the light of divinity. Anyone who criticizes any skin show.. I am still wearing more clothes than Baba Ram Dev. Our Gods have always been beautiful. Anyone who judges and criticizes, needs to clean their minds and look at this picture, and indeed every woman as a sacred being of creation. A Goddess. When time began a woman on her period was considered sacred. Her blood was sacred. It was the sign of fertility. Now women hide the fact they are menstruating, and are considered unclean. Ask yourself why? The negative, masculine, left brained archon energy did this. The archons are now gone. Remove the programming of associating negativity with women. It is time. The sacred feminine energy is back and is here to stay in all her power, glory and fertility of the earth and LOVE, Sofia Hayat posted on her Instagram along with a picture where she is dressed in a bathrobe.

Here are few posts by the actress that received negative comments on Instagram:
Mumbai: The actress, who was one of prominent leading ladies of Bollywood in 90s, said during her career even she had to be apart of songs with vulgar lyrics.

At a discussion on women empowerment, Juhi mentioned popular item numbers like Munni Badnam Hui and Chikni Chameli questioning their relevance.

"Are we listening to the lyrics? These lyrics were written by men and not women. Should we be listening to these songs? Should we be allowing it? Juhi asked addressing the issue of commercialisation of women in the Hindi film industry.

She also hit out at the media saying when people voice against such songs, journalists start talking about freedom of speech and expression. "Even I had to do one or two such songs. Do you think I was happy doing that? When I was dancing to 'Jab Tak Rahega Samose mein aalu....' do you think I was enjoying it?" the actress said.

The actress said dancing to such songs was a part of her work and being the only woman on set it was tough for to her raise voice. During her speech, Chawla also stressed on the need to bring Sanskrit back into vogue for the new generation.
Actor Rishi Kapoor wasnt his usual happy-to-comment self when we called to ask him for his reaction to the MNS warning issued to all Pakistani artists to return to their country. This would have a direct impact on Karan Johars upcoming film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which features Rishis son, Ranbir Kapoor and Pakistani actor, Fawad Khan.

Rishis ringtone is the title track of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, we were jolted when the actor very curtly asked Kaam kya hai bolo? We still went ahead and asked him his opinion on Fawad Khan being asked to return to Pakistan. He said tersely, Well, I have no idea about it. The only fact I know is that my son is playing a pivotal role in the film.

We pressed him further as to what would happen to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. By now, Rishi was really annoyed and said, But why should you ask me such a question? I told you my son is in the film, thats all I know.

The conversation ended abruptly as the veteran actor hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, we hear Ranbir Kapoor and director Anuraag Basu are busy shooting the last leg of Jagaa Jasoos. Our sources wonder whether this is a patchwork shoot or if theyre shooting fresh scenes.

Ranbir Kapoor is banking on Ae Dil Hai Mushkil to do well, as he has had many flops in the last few years. No wonder dad Rishi got angry when asked about the MNS threat to ban the film.
New Delhi: Veteran actor Anupam Kher said that while he believes art has no boundaries, it is the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working in India to publicly condemn the Uri attack.

Raj Thackeray-led MNS recently asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India following the attack, which left 18 soldiers dead. MNS has now threatened to stall the shooting of movies with Pakistani artistes.

When asked about whether it was right to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian films, Kher said, "I believe art and culture should not have boundaries but it is important and the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working here to condemn the terrorist attack, which killed our soldiers." The actor said even he had condemned the Peshawar school attack and does not see any harm in Pakistani artistes doing the same now.

"I am not saying condemn your country because that's very difficult for you as you are living there and politically it may not be the correct move. We welcome them, give them platform and places, they become popular and earn money, and they deserve that. But it is important to be sensitive to the sensitivity of Indian people.

"It is important to say, 'I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers'. It is important to speak about such things. So, I am against that they do not do that. They need to do that because we do that. We have always shown our goodness, friendship..."

The 61-year-old actor was in the city to attend the launch of a new line-up of shows on Zindagi channel, which originally aired a host of Pakistani shows. Kher has produced one of the upcoming shows on the channel. Kher said he has met some "really nice" Pakistanis but he is biased when it comes to India.

"There are some really nice people in Pakistan, they are great hosts. I once went to Karachi and the experience was beautiful. But when it comes to my country and jawans, I cannot be diplomatic.

"I am biased towards my country because whatever I am today is because I am an Indian. What will I tell the mother of that jawan? That let's give art and culture more importance? That's not possible."

For Zindagi, Kher has produced 'Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par', which is about the journey of an aspiring actor to stardom.

Also present at the launch was Zee chairman Subhash Chandra, who called the decision to discontinue Pakistani shows on Zindagi unfortunate but unavoidable. "This was an unfortunate decision that we had to take.

Love cannot be one-sided. When we started Zindagi I promised Nawaz Sharif that I will show your programmes here. We showed those shows, Pakistani actors became a part of our living rooms," Chandra said.

Zindagi showcased popular Pakistani dramas like 'Humsafar', 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai', 'Maat' and 'Dastaan', which helped Fawad, Mahira and other actors from the neighbouring country to gain popularity in India. Chandra said he requested these stars to condemn the Uri attack but they did not oblige.

"Around nine actors (from Pakistan) are working in Bollywood. Six out of these are stars courtesy Zindagi. Fawad, Mahira, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Veena Malik, Imraan Abbas, Misha Shafi, Shafqat Amanat Ali. We called all of them and requested them to condemn terrorist attack.

"Nobody did that. We said don't even take Pakistan's name but they are not ready to do that. So, what will we do?" he said.
Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma starrer film 'The Ring' by director Imtiaz Ali is one of the most awaited films. Ever since the film was announced, people have been waiting patiently to get insight on the project.

Thanks to fans, every now and then we keep coming across new stills of SRK and Anushka from the film's set. We saw how Shah Rukh and Anushka rocked the streets of Prague while shooting for their film's first schedule and then we also witnessed their sizzling chemistry straight from Amsterdam where 'The Ring's second schedule took place, and now the team has moved to Lisbon.

In the new pictures, we see SRK and Anushka buzzing the streets of Portugals hilly capital with their mesmerising chemistry. By the looks of it, one can assume that the two were shooting for a song.

Sporting white, we see Anushka and SRK lost in their own trance.

In the film, Shah Rukh plays a tourist guide while Anushka plays a Gujarati girl. Their blossoming love story makes for the crux of the film.
Juhi also said that people are going out of their senses and need to change from within.

Mumbai: In a veiled attack at the Maharashtra Navnirmana Sena (MNS) threats against Pakistani artistes, Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla on Tuesday said, "people who have gone out of their senses, should think calmly to deal with problems better."

"We have gone out of our senses. The issues raised are showing we are just trying to fix problems; we are not taking that out from the roots. It may not sound like a sensational answer to you, but it is the only answer. We have to change from within," she told ANI here, when quizzed on the same.

Further putting forward an example to it, the actress asked the people to 'think calmly, speak calmly' as 'there are nicer ways to deal with problems.'

"You can do that and work out for yourself whether that can be the remedy," she added.

On a related note, a Pakistani media today reported that amidst the threats by MNS, Bollywood's recent heartthrob Fawad Khan has left India before the release of his upcoming Karan Johar flick 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.'

The MNS had last week given an ultimatum to the Pakistani artistes to leave India within 48 hours or face consequences in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

This order, backed by the Shiv Sena, came after tension between the two Asian neighbours escalated to a new level post the terror attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were martyred 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 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' as the movies star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

This threat by the MNS follows that from a blogger, who in a post told Fawad to leave the country.
Mumbai: Aishwaryas mesmerizing beauty has always been the talk of the town and Ranbirs chocolate boy looks is something to die for. Turns out, these two, who are teaming up for Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, have shared screen space with each other in the past as well and guess what? They looked just as pretty even years ago.

In this photo, a much younger Ranbir and Aishwarya look fresh as ever.

Ranbir and Aiswarya in an undated photograph.

From the trailer, it is evident that the two of them share a sizzling chemistry on screen and are sure to turn up the heat in this film. Aishwarya, who was last seen playing an intense role in Sarabjit, looks like a million bucks in Karan Johars film revolving around Love, Friendship and Heartbreak.

Ranbir too looks nothing less than a love-struck handsome hero. So, were they born with good looks? If we go by this undated picture, yes they sure did!
Mumbai: Shah Rukh has played a superhero in the film Ra.One where he displayed his superpowers. But the superstar does believe that he possesses some of these superpowers and tries to showcase it once in a while. Few days back, he had shared an interesting video with his song Chaiyya Chaiyya playing in the background, where he is moving his hands around as the windmill moves behind him. He had captioned it, Who says we cannot control the wind.....

While last time, he wanted to control the wind, this time he wants to fly and actually succeeds, well almost. Shah Rukh shared this interesting boomerang video on Instagram of pretending to fly, with his hands outstretched, as the song I believe I can fly plays in the background.

Watch the video here:

Shah Rukh is currently in Europe shooting for Imtiaz Alis The Ring opposite Anushka Sharma and the video could be from Lisbon, where the next schedule of the film will be held.
With a few senior politicians busy launching their sons as heroes with home banners, in a rare scenario, former police officer, actor-turned-politician BC Patil, is taking PM Modis cue of beti badhao forward. He is launching one of his daughters  Shrusti Patil  in his comeback production venture Happy New Year.

The pretty Shrusti Patil has been busy taking care of her fathers educational institutions after completing her MBA, and is finally deciding to test her acting skills in the multi-starrer featuring a battery of popular actors  Diganth, Vijay Raghavendra, Sruthi Hariharan, Dhananjay, Sai Kumar, and many others. Srushti speaks to Bengaluru Chronicle about her debut, and how her father, who is also making his comeback in films after six years, inspires her, and much more.

Shrusti Patil

Since after my graduation, I have been busy taking care of the educational institutes run by my father back in Hirekerur, as he was busy with his political life. I could not attend regular college, and hence finished my MBA through distance learning. When my father decided to get back to films, he was keen on doing something new and was in search of new talent with fresh subjects and ideas. We heard a lot of stories but it was eventually one of the five stories Pannaga Bharana gave us that impressed, hence we all planned Happy New Year, says Shrusti Patil.

She is also categoric that her father decided to do a film not just to launch his daughter. When I heard the script, I was happy with any of the roles that Pannaga Bharana had explained, and even expressed my desire to do any role.

Even before listening to the scripts, my father was very particular  he put me into a proper acting school to get the training and other basics right. Moreover, the character I am doing gives hope, and has a certain weightage to the script. It is not just another glamorous role which makes an appearance and goes away. Almost all the characters played by the seniors actors are of a similar nature, Shrusti adds.

The girl has already acted in a couple of films featuring her father when she was still in school. A known face in Sandalwood, BC Patil rose to fame in Sandalwood with Nishkarsha and his all-time popular film Kaurava. When asked about what she admires most about her father  as a police officer, actor or a politician, she quips that she likes him in all three avatars.

I have learnt a lot from him, and he is my greatest inspiration. When he was a police officer, he was very strict and handled responsibilities to his very best, as a politician I like his quality to relate to the public and his patience, and as an actor, he is very sincere and performs his roles with utmost dedication, she adds.

About the Happy New Year experience, Shrusti, who shares the screen with her father in her debut, feels the team  actors and technical, were very young.

Working for the film has been great with Pannaga Bharana helping me understand the process. There were no restrictions, and we worked as a team. I have been lucky to learn from the legendary stars in my first film. The director had even arranged special workshops for every character, which gave me the confidence to face the camera, she signs off, adding that her mother and her close friends have been very supportive.
London: Diluted Manuka honey may be a powerful remedy against growth of bacterial biofilms in medical devices, and may be use to reduce the risk of

infections in hospital patients, a new study has found.

Manuka honey is a monofloral honey produced in Australia and New Zealand from the nectar of the manuka tree. According to the research by University of Southampton in the UK, even low dilutions of Manuka honey can curb the

activity and growth of bacterial biofilms - the thin but resilient layer of microbes.

The research raise the prospect of the honey's potential use in patients fitted with medical devices, such as urinary catheters, which carry a high infection risk.

Around 100 million urinary catheters, used to drain the bladder of urine, are sold worldwide every year. Up to one in four hospital patients may have to use a

catheter. However, long-term use is associated with frequent complications, such as inflammation and infection.

"We have been able to demonstrate that diluted honey is potentially a useful agent for reducing biofilm formation on indwelling plastic devices such as urinary catheters," said Bashir Lwaleed, associate professor at the University of

Southampton, who led the study. "Catheter infection rates can account for a large

proportion of hospital acquired infections - it is an area of clinical practice that needs addressing," he added.

"We believe that patients might also benefit from honey's anti-inflammatory properties, which are generally stronger in dark honeys, such as Manuka and that antibacterial resistance is unlikely to be a factor when honey is used," he said. To find out if Manuka honey has a role in stopping the establishment and development of biofilms, the researchers cultured strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria on plastic plates in the laboratory.

These two bacteria account for most of the urinary tract infections associated with long-term catheter use. The honey was diluted with distilled water and added to medium to give different 'strengths', 3.3 per cent, 6.6 per cent, 10 per cent, 13.3 per cent, and 16.7 per cent.

In the first part of the experiment, the various dilutions were added at the same time as the bacteria in two of the wells of each of the 96 plates, and just plain medium or artificial half strength honey to the other two wells. These were then sealed and incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours to see whether the honey had any effect on the formation of a biofilm.

In the second part of the experiment, honey was added after 24 hours and incubated for either a further 4 or 24 hours to see if honey restricted growth of the biofilm. The results showed that Manuka honey strongly inhibited the 'stickiness' of the bacteria, and therefore the development of a biofilm.

Even at the lowest dilution, it curbed stickiness by 35 per cent after 48 hours compared with the plain medium and artificial honey. The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
A mother in Guangzhou, China, has been left shattered after she discovered that her newborn son has little or no eye tissue, according to a People's Daily Online report. The congenital condition, known as Anophthalmia, affects 30 in every 10,000 children and renders the baby blind for life.

The boys mother, named Liu Peihua, delivered him on September 20 and is now in discussions with specialists at a big hospital in Guangzhou to get a complete check-up of her child. Mainstream Chinese media has even dubbed the infant the baby with no eyes. Currently, there is no treatment for Anophthalmia even though some children have artificial eyes surgically fitted to enable the bones around the eyes to grow naturally.

Peihua's family claims that the mother had undergone every antenatal check and was not warned about any potential complications. Moreover, Anophtalmia cannot be detected in ultrasounds and tests during pregnancy. The family now hopes to get financial assistance from several charities in order to secure the boy's future.
The traditional advice to feed a cold and starve a fever might have an element of truth, say scientists. Research shows that the old adage appears to be based on sound science when a fever is caused by bacterial infection.

Scientists put the folk wisdom to the test using laboratory mice with bacterial and viral infections. They found that mice with flu like the common cold, caused by a virus were helped to recover and survive when they were fed. In contrast, feeding animals infected by bacteria only hastened their death.

The lead researcher Prof Ruslan Medzhitov, of the Yale School of Medicine in the US, said, We were surprised at how profound the effects of feeding were, both positive and negative. Anorexia  not eating, is a common behaviour during sickness that is seen in people and all kinds of animals. Our findings show that it has a strong protective effect with certain infections, but not with others.

In the first of a series of experiments, mice were infected with listeria bacteria, a common cause of food poisoning. The animals stopped eating naturally, and eventually recovered. However, when they were made to eat, they died. Sugary food was the culprit, the researchers discovered the mice survived when they were fed protein and fats but no glucose.

A similar study of mice infected with the flu virus showed an opposite effect. In this case, the mice lived when they were force-fed glucose, but died when they were denied food. Giving the animals a drug called 2-DG, which prevents glucose metabolism, saved the listeria-infected mice but proved fatal to those with flu.

Further research indicated that the different outcomes related to an interplay between metabolism and the immune system. Almost everything we know about infection is based on immune response studies and looking at how the immune system eliminates pathogens (harmful agents), said Medzhitov.

But thats not the only way we defend ourselves. There are also cases where we change and adapt so that microbes dont cause harm. His team is now looking at how changes in sleep behaviour during illness influence the way the immune system fights infection. The researchers also want to investigate why people sometimes display food cravings when they are sick.

Source: www.theguardian.com
Karnataka has it all to draw any tourist, the never ending beaches, lush green forests teeming with exotic wildlife, magnificent ancient shrines and the finest of food. And yet the state is a poor fourth in terms of revenue and footfalls in the country. What ails Karnataka tourism? On World Tourism Day, Team DC takes a 360 view.

Announcing a slew of initiatives to tap the tourism potential of the state, tourism minister, Priyank Kharge on Monday said all home stays would have to register with the tourism department before November 15 to help the government create a homestay circuit and assess their quality of service.

They will face disciplinary action if they fail to register, he warned. Other initiatives include launch of an online tourism platform, "PRATHAMA- Pravasi Thana Mahiti," a heritage bicycle ride highlighting the unique culture of Bengaluru and a Pitch to the Government Hackathon in association with the Karnataka Startup Cell, KBITS, and Department of IT and BT.

The PRATHAMA (Pravasi Thana Mahiti) online tourism platform is a holistic online MIS back-end system for collecting, collating and disseminating key information on the tourism sector such as resource inventory, data on tourists, status of projects, queries and reports. It can also be used for homestay registrations.

The minister announced that the department in association with KSTDC was organising a one day trip around Bengaluru for the students of selected BBMP schools on Tuesday to mark World Tourism Day. The children will ride in a KSTDC bus to all the tourist spots in the city.

Meanwhile, a digital photography competition was conducted in association with the Youth Photographic Society through www.karnatakatourism.org, www.karnatakaholidays.net, www.junglelodges.com, http://contest.ypsbengaluru.com to mark World Tourism Day under the categories, Karnataka heritage and Karnataka nature.

A panel of three judges chose the two best photographs in each category and they were awarded cash prizes of Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. Five contestants were awarded a certificate of merit in each category.

Read: Guest Column: Lets maintain our tourist destinations

Karnataka: Tourism heaven with hellish facilities

If Kerala is Gods Own Country, Karnataka has tried to make the slogan One State, Many Worlds, its selling point. While the catchy description may not be far off the mark, it has failed to strike a chord with tourists , who are simply not aware of the diversity it has to offer, from its beaches in Mangaluru, to the coffee plantations of Kodagu and magnificent temples and palaces of old in other parts .

While Kerala banks heavily on its tourism industry and has made sure it draws tourists in droves, the tagline that Karnataka has come up with does little to bring home revenue or foreign travellers, who are on the lookout for real experiences rather than picture perfect snaps.

Although the government promised to improve the total quality of experience for tourists by providing better access to information, greater choice of destinations and hassle-free travel, in reality, tourists have never felt the experience, which could give them reason to come back to the state, say experts. Observing that Karnataka has the most variety to offer in terms of tourism when compared to other states, civic evangelist V. Ravichandar, however regrets the state has failed to exploit this advantage.

Pointing out that there are four important aspects to developing tourism - connectivity infrastructure, experience at the destination, supporting infrastructure and knowledge infrastructure, he believes Karnataka has still a lot of catching up to do in all these aspects.

Different tourist spots are under different organizations such as the Archaeological Survey of India, horticulture department and so on. They need to work hand-in-hand with the tourism department. Also, facilities for boarding and lodging need to be improved. Finally, the tourism department should gather all travel data and provide it on one platform. We need better signages and more information counters too. Only then can we attract more tourists and generate more revenue, he says. Aware of the tourism potential of the state, the government did set up a Karnataka Tourism Vision Group to come up with an institutional framework to help the local stakeholders in developing and maintaining a tourist destination.

The panel went on to recommend setting up of more theme parks, heritage zones and clusters and promotion of marine, eco and adventure tourism to attract more tourists. Next Integrated Tourism Management plans were drawn up for cities of heritage value like Mysuru, Bijapur and Bidar. Also, in an attempt to overhaul the ailing industry, the government reached out to the private sector, hoping to accelerate investment and entrepreneurship in tourism .

But none of these moves seem to have helped as they have barely gained any momentum, leaving the sector in a state of inertia as always. Suggesting that the government needs to focus on aggressive marketing and branding, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Vinay Luthra says itss role must not overlap with that of the private players The government should just be an enabler in the tourism sector. It doesnt need to dip its hands in constructing hotels, restaurants and lodges as the private sector can do all that.. What the government must focus on is infrastructure development such as roads and basic amenities. A very important aspect is improving the quality of guides, he underlines.

Special Programmmes for Mysuru Dasara

Kairali Aviation Private Limited has come forward to operate flights from the city to Mysuru twice a day for the Dasara festival. The service will use the HAL airport. The tourism department is meanwhile, hosting a Craziest Leave Application Contest whose winners will get to travel on the luxury train , the Golden Chariot, which will run to Mysuru during Dasara. Announcing this, minister Priyank Kharge said the Golden Chariot would run on odd days, October 1, 3, 5 and 7. To attract more tourists a Rs 30,000 two night, one day package tour of Mysuru is on offer as well.

Heritage Bicycle ride

A heritage bicycle ride ride is being organised in association with Namma Cycle on September 27 along two circuits to highlight the unique culture of Bengaluru. Each circuit will see cyclists covering 10 to 12 kms. While the Basavangudi Heritage circuit will cover the Bull Temple, Gavi Gangadhareswara temple, Bugle Rock, Ramakrishna Mission, National High School and eateries around Gandhi Bazaar, the Bengaluru History circuit will acquaint the bikers with the development of the city since the time of its founder, Kempegowda and will cover Mayo hall, Trinity Church, Someswara temple, Gurudwara, MEG - Ulsoor, Chinnaswamy stadium, Cubbon park, Victoria Statue, the public library, the Karnataka High court, Press Club, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore Club, TenderSure roads and the MG Road Metro station.

CAG report slams poor infrastructure

Although Karnataka is blessed with natural resources, the state government has failed to cash in on them and build the required infrastructure at several tourist destinations, says a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the period 2009-2014. Despite Karnataka using the tag line One State, Many Worlds, to draw tourists, it doesnt get as many as it would like owing to its lack of infrastructure, the report adds.

It notes that although an attempt was made to boost tourism under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, investment from the private sector suffered a setback after entrepreneurs backed out from 35 projects involving investment of Rs 21,673.67 crore or 76.5 per cent out of the total approved investments of Rs 27,550 crore in 512 projects, owing to poor infrastructure.

CAG also pointed out that the tourism department, which came out with a vision plan for five years, failed to execute it, leading to low footfalls. It found several significant deficiencies as well in implementation of various programmes/activities over the last few years, and in the quality of internal controls, which, it said, impacted the success of the programmes.
The special birthday doodle shows Googles G blowing up a balloon to spell out the rest of its name.

Even though Google is celebrating its anniversary today, not many know that the tech giant officially adopted September 27th as its birthday only in 2005. The company admits that it had celebrated the day on September 7, 8, and 26 in the past.

The confusion arises from the fact that the month of September sees many big moments for Google like the setup of its first workspace and the hiring of its first employee.

The special birthday doodle, which shows Googles G blowing up a balloon to spell out the rest of its name, has been designed by German artist Gerben Steenks. Whats even more interesting is that the first Google doodle actually came about before Googles official birthday as the company posted its first doodle on August 30th in honour of the Burning Man festival.
Agartala: Durga Puja is one of the most joyous and colourful festivals in India and its a big deal especially in West Bengal where people will go to any length to make the most of the celebrations, as pandal hopping is a favourite activity during the festive season for Bengalis.

But it seems people elsewhere are giving Bengalis a run for their money when it comes to enthusiasm about Durga Puja, as the most expensive Durga idol will be adorning a pandal in the state capital Agartala.

The idol does have a Bengali connection as it has been sculpted by artist Indrajit Poddar from North 24 Pargana in West Bengal. It will also be studded with American diamonds and will be installed at the citys Chatra Bandhu club.

The gold sculpture will be made an a cost of Rs 4 crore, and will be around 10.5 feet high, as idols of Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik adorned with gold will also be placed alongside it.

Security is also a key concern since the idol is expensive, as police officials are keeping a strict vigil outside the artists house and CCTV cameras have also been installed.

Poddar previously made an idol studded with pearls in 2014 for the Ujjayanta palace in Agartala.
The victim has been sent to hospital for medical examination. (Representational Image)

Lucknow: A 12-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped on Tuesday by five men who held her parents hostage and looted them in Para area here, police said.

The incident took place in the wee hours, when over two dozen unidentified miscreants forced their way into the victims house and after looting valuables, held the family hostage before taking away the girl with them.

"The girl has told me that she was raped by five men. The incident took place at about 600-700 metres away from the girls house. We are probing the matter and a team has been constituted to crack the case," Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Manzil Saini told reporters.

The miscreants also beat up the victims father who sustained head injury.

The victim has been sent to hospital for medical examination.
Chennai: An Ola cab driver and his friends attempted to misbehave with a 26-year-old woman passenger near Injambakkam on Sunday night. The trio - identified as Venkatesan, cab driver and his comrades Muthupandi and Sakthi  were arrested by the City police.

Sources said the woman victim who works in the Emergency Response wing of a private hospital in Anna Nagar and resides there had visited her friend in Injambakkam. She took her friend's help and booked an Ola cab to go to work and she boarded Venkatesan's cab.

When the cab reached VGP Peace Temple street on East Coast Road, the driver halted the car and two men boarded the rear and restrained the woman passenger's movement by making her sit in between them. Venkatesan made the excuse that they were his friends and that they would get down en route to Anna Nagar. The doctor who felt uncomfortable with what was happening alerted her friend about the development and began screaming when the men started making advances to her.

A motorist who sized up the situation in the cab also heard the doctor's screams and he intercepted the car. Venkatsean's friends who were in the rear seat, took to their heels soon after the car came to a halt. Meanwhile, the doctor's friend had alerted the control room. The police patrol vehicle which came to the spot took away Venkatesan. The doctor later preferred a formal complaint with the Neelankarai Police who had registered a case.

Based on the inputs from Venkatesan, his friends were traced. It is evident that they boarded the cab with the ulterior motive of harassing the girl. They have been booked under section 4 of Women Harassment (Prevention) Act. Meanwhile, the Ola spokesperson revealed that the driver involved in the incident was blacklisted and his services were terminated.
A class X student on Tuesday attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance outside the official residence of the Superintendent of Police in Haryana. (Representational image)

Jind: A class X student on Tuesday attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous substance outside the official residence of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Haryana, following the alleged repeated sexual assault by her maternal uncle.

The girl, a resident of Kaithal's Dayora Khurana, was living with her uncle in a village under Sadar Police Station area, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Captain Singh said.

She alleged that she was raped repeatedly by her uncle and was forced into a settlement by the village panchayat after she lodged a complaint against him at Woman Police Station a month ago. However, her uncle continued to rape her and also tried to kill her.

The girl was admitted to a hospital in Jind in a critical condition after she consumed some poisonous substance. She was later referred to PGI, Rohtak.

The DSP, Women Police Station in-charge Santosh Singh, and other officials reached the hospital on receiving information about the incident.

Police have registered a case of rape against the maternal uncle after recording the victim's statement. Raids are being conducted to nab the accused, Singh added.
Ahmedabad: Two 'mahants' of Siddhnath Mahadev Temple in Saij village of adjoining Gandhinagar district were allegedly hacked to death by unidentified persons, police said on Tuesday.

Though the police have lodged a case of loot with murder, as the assailants had decamped with some cash after the double murder late last night, police is not ruling out the angle of old rivalry or grudge.

The temple-cum-ashram is situated in Saij village of Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar. The deceased have been identified as the main priest (mahant) Dilipgiri Maharaj and his associate Ishwarvan Maharaj, both in the age group of 52-55 years.

According to Kalol police inspector R R Chaudhary, both of them were killed using an axe when they were asleep inside the temple.

"Both mahants were hacked to death using an axe during late last night. Since the assailants have scattered their belongings, we believe that murders were committed to conduct loot," said Chaudhary.

Primary investigation has revealed that attackers have stolen some cash kept inside a safe after killing priests. However, many gold and silver articles were found to be intact, which has prompted police to look into the angle of rivalry or old grudge.

According to Gandhinagar District SP Virendrasinh Yadav, both 'mahants' were killed when they were fast asleep, which hints at the possibility of an insider's job.

"This does not look like a clear case of loot with murder. We believe that the attackers might be knowing the victims, as there was no sign of forceful entry or resistance.

In addition, many valuables were found to be intact. Thus, we are investigating the case from other angles too," said Yadav.
Bengaluru: The bodies of the two women, who were brutally murdered at their residence in Vasanth Nagar on Monday, were subjected to postmortem at the Bowring Hospital mortuary on Tuesday morning and were later handed over to the family members. Santhoshi Bai, 59, and her daughter-in-law Latha, 39, were found with their throats slit at their house on Monday.

Read | Double murder shocker in Bengaluru

On Tuesday, hundreds of friends and neighbours of the family, most of them from the Jain community, arrived at the house of the deceased on Millers Road and expressed their grief. The mortal remains of the two women were later taken to the Hebbal crematorium and the final rites were performed, a family friend said.

The High Grounds police, who have formed teams to catch the assailants, have ruled out that it was a case of murders for gain and that jewellery items were taken away only to mislead the investigators. We cannot say that the murders were committed purely for gain, as there was other jewellery in the house and that was left untouched, a senior police officer said. We suspect that known insiders have committed the crime. We are also investigating into the rivalry or vengeance angles.

Meanwhile, rumours were doing rounds on Monday evening that two Nepalese men, who had come to Santhoshi Bais house for cleaning and painting the house for Diwali, might have committed the murders and made away with the gold ornaments. But both the police and family members rubbished them as rumours.
The police said they have arrested the two Class XII students  one of them being a minor. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Delhi Police cracked the murder case of a government school teacher at Nangloi within 12 hours. The police said they have arrested the two Class XII students  one of them being a minor  who were accused of stabbing their 50-year-old school teacher to death, after he refused to allow them to sit for the semester exam. Sources said that the police are likely to consider treating the juvenile as an adult for committing such a brutal crime.

On Monday evening, an 18-year-old boy Vivek Kumar Jha and his 17-year-old classmate, students at Government Senior Secondary Boys school at Kirari Mod, had allegedly stabbed their class teacher, Mukesh Kumar, after he didnt allow them to to sit for the semester examination over low attendance, said a senior police official.

This is not the first time that the accused 17-year-old was rusticated. Earlier in May this year, he was rusticated on the grounds of missing classes and misbehaving in the class, police added.
New Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi performed about 1.5 lakh surgeries and attended to 30 lakh outpatients and 2.5 lakh inpatients during 2015-16, Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday said.

"AIIMS has contributed significantly in quality health care. It has discharged its roles as clinical provider, research institute and teaching Institute with considerable accolades over the past six decades," he said.

He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the Foundation Day of AIIMS currently celebrating its diamond jubilee. "During 2015-16, AIIMS Delhi, attended to 30 lakh outpatients, 2.5 lakh inpatients and performed about 1.5 lakh surgeries," he said.

'The institute has always maintained the highest standards of meritocracy and learning. It has attracted the best talents across the country that enter this institute as young students and pass out with the intensity of commitment to serve the poorest of the poor," Mr Nadda said.

He further said that AIIMS New Delhi is also the "mentor institution" for the new AIIMS-like institutions being established across the country.

In this regard, the work done by AIIMS in formulating and reviewing subordinate legislation including the AIIMS rules and regulations has been commendable, he said.

Highlighting its contribution, the Health Minister said that AIIMS not only has established high reputation but has also contributed significantly in academic quality, student care, infrastructure, and placement opportunities.

"With its 9 centres and 52 teaching departments, and a manpower of over 10,000 including more than 800 faculty positions; AIIMS Delhi produces a large number of specialists (MD/MS), super-specialists (DM/MCh), PhD scholars and allied health and basic sciences experts, including nurses and paramedical professionals," he added.
The Supreme Court had on August 29 allowed Asaram to be taken to AIIMS Delhi from Jodhpur jail for medical examination. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Rape accused self-styled godman Asaram, who is currently admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for a medical examination, reportedly likened a nurse to butter, and her cheeks to Kashmiri apples.

According to reports, when the nurse brought Asaram bread and butter before his checkup, he said, Why is there a need to bring butter with the bread when you are as soft as butter? You must be from Kashmir because your cheeks are as red as Kashmiri apples and tomatoes.

Asaram, who is accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at his ashram, is known to make outrageous remarks about women. Speaking about the victim of the Delhi gangrape of 2012, he said the victim should have taken Gods name and could have held the hand of one of the men and said I consider you as my brother.

Asaram and his men also held up a Jet Airways flight for two hours recently by creating a ruckus on the plane.

The Supreme Court had on August 29 allowed Asaram to be taken to AIIMS Delhi from Jodhpur jail for medical examination, after a team of doctors informed the top court that requisite equipment for evaluation of Asaram's medical condition was unavailable in Jodhpur jail.

On August 11, the apex court had denied interim bail to Asaram in a rape case and directed AIIMS to set up a medical board to ascertain his health condition.

Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur Police on August 31, 2013 following a teenaged girls complaint that he raped her at his ashram between 1997 and 2006.
New Delhi: Blood and water cannot flow together, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he met top officials to review a 56-year-old river water-sharing treaty with Pakistan.

The PMs strong message came as India weighs its options to hit back at Pakistan after the September 18 terror attack in Kashmirs Uri. The meeting decided to exploit to the maximum the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers-Indus, Chenab and Jhelum-flowing from India, as per the Indus Water Treaty. The move comes as pressure grew on India to scrap the pact and corner Pakistan after terrorists backed by it killed 18 Indian soldiers, heightening tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Indias move to build dams and use the waters in areas of hydro power, irrigation and storage will pressurise Pakistan, and may also be welcomed by the people of Jammu & Kashmir who say the treaty is not fair to them. The meeting also decided to set up an inter-ministerial task force to go into the details and working of the treaty.

PMs message was that rakt aur paani ek saath nahin beh sakta (blood and water cannot flow together), a government source said. Attended by National security adviser Ajit Doval, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar, the water resources secretary and senior PMO officials, the meeting noted that a meeting of the Indus Water Commission can "take place only in an atmosphere free of terror".

India to exercise its legal rights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met top officials to review a 56-year-old river water-sharing treaty with Pakistan.

Under the treaty signed by then PM Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six rivers  Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum-were to be shared between the two countries. India had said last week that it (the treaty) cannot be a one-sided affair.

Noting that India  a high riparian state  has been very generous to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture, government source said a tough situation has emerged after the terror strike, and it was

an appropriate time to review the treaty. We have not exploited western rivers fully, the source said, adding India would exercise its legal rights under the treaty.

Scrapping of the age-old the Indus treaty  off the table for now  would mean millions of acres of parched farmland in Pakistan, and similar actions from China on the river Brahmaputra.
New Delhi: Congress MPs from Karnataka on Tuesday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the Cauvery issue, urging him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of two states for an amicable settlement.

About 11 Congress MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha staged a protest on Tuesday at the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises against the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water.

The apex court had on September 20 directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of the river water per day to lower riparian Tamil Nadu by September 27 and suggested the formation of Cauvery Management Board. The order led to widespread protests in both the states.

"We have requested Modiji to intervene in the matter immediately and call the meeting of Chief Ministers and give directions to settle the Cauvery water dispute amicably," Lok Sabha MP D K Suresh from Bangalore Rural constituency said after making a representation to the PM.

The Congress MPs also demanded that the Cauvery Management Board should not be set up to resolve the water sharing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he said.

Suresh said that it would be difficult for the state to release water to Tamil Nadu as it does not have water in the reservoirs because of severe drought in last two years.

It barely has water to meet the drinking water demand, he added.

The MPs complained that the PM did not give adequate time to hear their concerns.

They submitted separate memorandums to the Prime Minister and Water Resource minister Uma Bharti today.

In the representation, the MPs informed the Prime Minister that the Karnataka government has been making sincere efforts to comply with the February 5, 2007 order passed by the Cauvery Water Tribunal. But the Tamil Nadu government has taken the matter before Supreme Court which was unwarranted.

"Water sharing dispute can be settled among the states by mutual discussions and consent. But the repeated decisions of the Supreme Court, instead of resolving the issue, have aggravated the situation, creating severe rift between the two states," they said.

Muddahanume Gowda, Lok Sabha MP from Tumkur constituency, said the PM should intervene and take a call on sharing of Cauvery after assessing the ground reality of water availability in the reservoirs of Karnataka.
The Chinese troops were reluctant to leave the place and claimed that the territory belonged to them. (Photo: File)

Itanagar/New Delhi: After Ladakh sector, Chinese troops came 45 km inside Indian territory in a remote area of Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month and built shelters to claim that the territory belonged to them, according to reports from the area.

Initial reports from Anjaw district said more than 40 Chinese troops set up a temporary shelter at 'Plum post', an area 45 km inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the district earlier this month.

Official sources said on Monday that the incursion was, however, detected by a joint patrol of ITBP and army on September nine after which a required banner drill was conducted.

However, the Chinese troops were reluctant to leave the place and claimed that the territory belonged to them, the sources said.

The 'Plum post' has witnessed frequent incursion bids by the Chinese troops every year at least two to three times but it was for the first time that they entered into this area, the sources said.

Some of the Chinese troops left on September 13 and the others after India and China held a Flag meeting on

September 14 on the Chinese side, the sources said.

In a bid to end the repeated incursions from the Chinese side in this area, the two sides would be meeting again on October one.

Chinese troops have to travel through dense forests to reach 'Plum post' while Indian troops have a jeep track in larger areas and after have to trek some distance to reach this post, the sources said.

The Chinese troops had earlier entered into Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh but were pushed back.
The incident took place at around 5 pm when the students were (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: Two class 12 students of a government school in West Delhi's Nangloi area were taken into custody on Tuesday for allegedly stabbing their teacher who had expelled them for low attendance, police said.

"One class 12 student was arrested and one juvenile apprehended," Joint CP (Delhi) said.

The students had allegedly stabbed Mukesh, a Hindi teacher, with a knife in front of their classmates on Monday after they were not allowed to sit for an examination due to lack of sufficient attendance.

The teacher was rushed to Balaji Action hospital in Delhi, but he succumbed to the injuries on Tuesday. Gulab Sharma, another school staff, alleged that the hospital delayed in giving Mukesh treatment. "The hospital authorities asked to deposit money first before treatment," another school staff said.

Teachers organised a protest at the Nangloi school following the teacher's death.

The incident took place around 5 pm when the students were writing their exam at the Government Senior Secondary School. "Mukesh Kumar was stabbed thrice allegedly by the two boys in front of the entire class, after which the two boys fled," a police officer said.

"One of the accused was expelled for low attendance. He went to the school to speak with Mr Kumar. During the conversation, the boy and his friend, who was writing the exam, reportedly lost their temper, and in a fit of rage, stabbed Mr Kumar," the police said, adding that "one of the accused is 18 years old while the other will turn 18 in two months."

An 'attempt to murder' case was registered at the Nangloi Police Station and the family members of the accused are being questioned to know the whereabouts of the duo, the officer said.
Had the Congress or UPA government attended to the needs of people earlier, there was no need of any 'Padyatra' by the Congress leaders, she said. (Photo: PTI)

Ludhiana: Union minister of state for Food Processing Industry Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Monday said the problems faced by the farmers, the poor and the labourers are "not a sudden creation and is a legacy of UPA rule" in the country.

"They are legacy of the Congress or the UPA governments," she said while addressing the media persons here in connection with the foundation laying ceremony of a Food Processing Park at village Ladhowal in Ludhiana.

She said the NDA government at Centre was "only trying to solve the problems" created by its predecessors.

Today the BJP-led government has made 'neem coated urea' available to all, she said.

Had the Congress or UPA government attended to the needs of people earlier, there was no need of any 'Padyatra' by the Congress leaders, she said.

While condemning the shoe hurling incident at Rahul Gandhi in Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, she said incidents like these were a negation of democracy.

When asked about the impact of Priyanka Gandhi on the politics, she said "Priyanka will prove as big a flop as Rahul Gandhi."

Now Congress was a "spent force" and no body could save it from "total extinction", she added.
Panaji: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday took a jibe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling Kerala "God's own country" after he compared it to "impoverished Somalia" in May. The Prime Minister had compared Kerala with the African nation by calling attention to the high child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes.

"The Prime Minister, in his speech at Kozhikode during the BJP's National Council meet, made a statement (praising) Kerala. But in the part he had compared Kerala with Somalia. Now we are grateful to him for changing his perception and recognising that it is as God's own country," Singh said.

Singh made the remarks after a meeting of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee for selecting candidates for the 2017 assembly elections.

On Saturday the Prime Minister, speaking in Kerala, said: "When we think of Kerala, we think of God's own country, it has an impression of purity and holiness."

While in May, during an election rally in Kerala, the Prime Minister had said that "the child death ration among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala was scarier than in Somalia." His comments had invited criticism from opposition parties in Kerala including the Congress.

Singh also said that the Congress remains opposed to the casino industry in Goa.

"We need to look at several issues related to operation of casinos. We don't want Goa to be known only for casinos and gambling. We don't want it to become another Macau," he said.
New Delhi: India on Tuesday pulled out of SAARC summit to be held in Pakistan in November, saying that the current atmosphere not conductive for holding a successful summit.

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement, saying, "India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016."

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad", the statement said.

According to sources, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan may also boycott SAARC summit.

The 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad from November 9 to 10.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

This development comes barely a week after Pakistan had snubbed India by sending junior officials to the SAARC meet which was held in Delhi earlier this month.
New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India has been referred to security agencies for vetting before a final decision by the Union Cabinet.

"After examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-dept vetting. A security vetting is necessary for such applications before a final decision is taken," a Home Ministry official said.

The decision on Bugti's application for political asylum in India is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva last week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.

India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy.

As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.

The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.

In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government. Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.

India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide refugees. Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.

He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.

Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.

If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year.

The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, an official said.
Mathura: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday charged that the Narendra Modi government does not have a "stable" policy towards Pakistan and has not been able to decide on how to put Islamabad in the dock in the wake of the Uri attack.

On the Indus Water Treaty, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the government should consider all pros and cons and take a decision keeping in mind the future.

"The BJP government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony and visited the Pakistani premier uninvited on his birthday.

"And many a times, he has adopted a very tough stance against Pakistan. His government has not been able to decide on how to deal with Islamabad," Azad, who was here to launch Congress' yatra from Deoria to New Delhi, said.

"In the Modi government, the Foreign Secretary favours talks with Pakistan but the National Security Advisor suggests suspension of the dialogue with Islamabad. Nobody knows what they want," he said.

Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Azad claimed that Modi had promised the people of the country that he would "avenge the death of our soldiers and that he would bring 10 heads for every martyred jawan, but he has forgotten them now".

To a query on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said the Modi government believes in taking a decision in seconds on issues that have been there for decades.

"It should consider all pros and cons and then take a decision in this regard. Bilateral issues have many other things linked to them. A decision concerning such issues should be taken keeping in mind the future," he said.

Azad blamed the PDP-BJP government for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying there was peace in the Valley when the National Conference government was at the helm of affairs, but tension is prevailing there since the new government has taken over.

He also hit out at the central government for not sending more emissaries to different countries.

"While Pakistan has sent over 15 emissaries to create pressure in its favour, India has sent only a couple," he claimed and said there was a need for exposing Pakistan at the international fora.

Asked if his party was open to a tie-up with other parties for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he said, "Congress will go alone.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of top officials on Thursday to decide whether to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation status granted to Pakistan.

The MFN status was accorded in 1996 under World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

According to Assocham, out of India's total merchandise trade of USD 641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre USD 2.67 billion.

India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 per cent, of the total inward shipments.

Taking a tough stand against Pakistan, Modi on Monday said blood and water cannot flow together referring to the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan. Modi consulted top officials on revoking the treaty, but the government later decided not to do so, instead opting to exploit to the maximum the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers-Indus, Chenab and Jhelum-flowing from India.

Last week, 18 Indian army personnel were killed in an ambush by Pakistan-based terrorists in Kashmirs Uri. Following this, a war of words has broken out between the two countries at the United Nations. India has labeled Pakistan a terror state, saying it attracts aspirants from all parts of the world.

India has demanded that Pakistan shut down terror camps in its country, stating that the country is a dysfunctional state which attacks its own people.
Lucknow: Dissent in the Yadav clan again came to the fore on Tuesday as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav openly supported the Samajwadi Party's youth leaders expelled by state president Shivpal Yadav and called on "experienced leaders" to reconsider the decision.

Shivpal had expelled seven party functionaries, including three MLCs, all considered close to Akhilesh, after assuming charge as state party chief on September 19.

"I will ask experienced leaders of my party to reconsider their decision and take back youths, who were with us from the days of struggle," Akhilesh told reporters here.

Sunil Singh Sajan, Anand Bhadauria and Sanjay Lathar, all MLCs, were shown the door for making "derogatory remarks" against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, indulging in anti-party activities and indiscipline, a party statement had said.

Besides the three legislators, Mohd Ebad, state chief of SP youth brigade, Brijesh Yadav, state president of SP Yuvjan Sabha, Gaurav Dubey, national president of SP youth brigade and Digvijay Singh Dev, state chief of Chatra Sabha were also expelled from the party on similar grounds.

"If they had raised slogans, it was in my favour and not against anyone," Akhilesh said.

The Chief Minister's statement came a day after party National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav came out in support of his nephew and expelled MLC Arvind Yadav during his roadshow from Delhi to Saifai (Etawah). Arvind had been expelled by Shivpal, in his first act as state chief, for alleged involvement in land grabbing and other such activities.

The feud between the factions led by Akhilesh and Shivpal had spilled out into the open earlier this month.

The Chief Minister had stripped Shivpal of key portfolios on September 13, hours after he was replaced with Shivpal as the state party president.

The dispute had ended on September 17 after Akhilesh restored all but one portfolio of Shivpal and promised to support him as SP's state unit president.

The two sides appeared to have reached a truce after the intervention of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Discontent, however, continues to simmer within the Yadav family with supporters of Akhilesh and Ram Gopal being expelled from the party.

Akhilesh and Ram Gopal, who is Mulayam's cousin, are said to be on the same page.
Srinagar/New Delhi: The NIA on Tuesday took into custody the two men from PoK arrested by army in connection with its probe into the attack at an army camp in Uri even as it established the identity of one of the four slain attackers as belonging to PoK.

The NIA took over the custody of the two men identified as Ahasan Kursheed alias DC, a resident of Khaliana Kalan and Faisal Hussain Awan, a resident of Pottha Jahangir--both in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and would produce them before a designated court soon, official sources said.

The two were arrested by the BSF and the Army in a joint operation at 'Angoor Post' at Gavalata village in Uri last Saturday when they were trying to infiltrate into India.

With both being residents of PoK, the army authorities interrogated them whether they had any knowledge about the attack in which four terrorists had stormed an army camp at Uri on September 18 and killed 18 soldiers.

The duo initially claimed that they had inadvertently crossed into India but after sustained interrogation they not only informed the security agencies about the two guides who had helped the terrorists to infiltrate but also helped them in identifying one of the militant involved in the attack, the sources said.

One of the killed terrorist was identified by NIA as Hafiz Ahmed of Darbang in Muzaffarabad Tehsil of PoK.

The duo would be brought to the national capital where they would undergo scientific tests and also subjected to an interrogation by joint team of security agencies.

The two had been recruited initially by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for guiding its militants to infiltrate across the LoC and later they helped other militant groups as well, the sources said.
New Delhi: A day after Karnataka expressed inability to release Cauvery water, Supreme Court on Tuesday asked it to discharge 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till Friday despite its assembly resolution, but called for a political solution to the impasse by convening of a meeting of Chief Ministers of the two states and the Centre.

The apex court, which was strongly urged by Tamil Nadu not to hear Karnataka till it complied with the previous orders, asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting of the executive heads of both states with the Centre over the next two days to find a resolution to the impasse.

"We think it appropriate that Karnataka releases 6,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu in three days by following the order passed by us, despite the resolution passed by the assembly," a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and U U Lalit said.

While the order was being dictated by the bench, senior advocate F S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, vehemently opposed any direction asking the state to release water, saying there was "no logic in it" and the order amounted to "a direct confrontation".

Blaming Karnataka's "obstructionist and obstinate" attitude for the impasse and non-compliance of the apex court directives, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, submitted: "On instruction, I am saying that the state (Tamil Nadu) is fed up. We are simply tired of this litigation. We are not getting what is our legitimate rights."

"We are in a federal structure and in a democracy like India, no state can say it will not obey the Supreme Court's order. You cannot pick up fight with everyone. It is not about Karnataka or Tamil Nadu or any state, there has to be federal cooperativism ," the bench said, asking both states to cooperate in finding a solution to the water feud.

The bench, on being repeatedly pursued by Tamil Nadu to get its orders enforced, said "Have patience for few days. This is not an ordinary litigation. Let us see how things shape up."

In its plea before the apex court yesterday, Karnataka had sought modification of its order asking it to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying it could release the water only by the end of the year, as it first needs to provide for its own state for drinking purposes.

The Karnataka assembly had last week passed a unanimous resolution during a special session directing the state to release the water only for drinking purposes to Bengaluru and regions surrounding Cauvery basin.

At the outset, the bench asked Naphade to apprise it about the prevailing situation.

The Tamil Nadu counsel said the September 20 order of the apex court asking Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu has not been complied with and rather, "in complete defiance, a resolution has been passed by their state assembly that it cannot spare water for us."

"Karnataka should not be heard till it complies with the orders," he said, adding that Tamil Nadu was fed up of this litigation and urged the apex court to exercise its "extra ordinary" powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to enforce its orders.

Nariman came out with all guns blazing, saying "we simply cannot comply with the directions. We accede to the prayers of Tamil Nadu and we should not be heard till end of the (monsoon) season."

The bench said it will hear the state and then asked Karnataka whether the order would be complied at the end of the season. "Only God knows" was the response of Nariman who said it depended on how much rain the Cauvery basin received due to the north-eastern monsoon.

Monthly installments of water, to be released to Tamil Nadu, can only be assessed at the end of the season and right now, there was insufficient water in Karnataka's reservoirs, he said criticising the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the Supervisory Committee on the issue.

"There is no dispute that monthly allocation is not fixed. That is why the Cauvery Management Board was to decide how much is the rainfall and how much water could be released. We can understand the difficulties of the state (Karnataka). What is your (Karnataka) suggestion for compliance of directions," the bench said.

Noticing the conflicting positions of both the states, the bench, which had asked the Attorney General to stay back in the courtroom, came out with the suggestion that he should facilitate a meeting between the heads of the states with the Centre to find a solution to the logjam and apprise it of the outcome on September 30, the next date of hearing.

The Attorney General submitted that the order of the court needed to be complied with and offered his assistance in facilitating the meeting between the heads of two states. "I am aware of the interim order of this court. The majesty of the court has to be upheld and orders need to be complied with," Rohatgi said.

Yesterday, Karnataka had moved the court seeking modification of its order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu saying its reservoirs did not have sufficient water.

Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, alleged that its neighbour should not be heard till it complied with directives of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 27, doubling the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee.

The apex court had on September 20 also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in its award.

On September 12, the apex court had asked both states to ensure that law and order prevails. It had modified its earlier order on sharing of Cauvery water and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs instead of 15,000 cusecs per day till September 20 to Tamil Nadu.
Mumbai: The office of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana in Navi Mumbai was allegedly stoned on Tuesday over a cartoon published in the daily alluding to the "silent march" being taken out by Maratha community.

A pro-Maratha social organisation, 'Sambhaji Brigade', later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Three youths arrived in a vehicle at the Saamana printing press building located at Sanpada in Navi Mumbai at around 1.45 pm. They called the guard of the press and requested him to take a letter, police said.

As the guard was approaching their vehicle, the youths got down from the vehicle, rushed towards the press building and allegedly pelted it with stones and fled, they said.

Two-three glasses on the building's outer wall were damaged in the attack, they added.

After getting information of the attack, police reached the spot and a complaint was lodged by the office-bearers at Sanpada police station.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale confirmed the incident.

Police said an offence has been registered against the culprits and appropriate action will be taken.

The Sambhaji Brigade took responsibility of the attack and condemned the cartoon published in the mouthpiece.

"We are condemning a cartoon which was published in Saamana. Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Saamana's executive editor Sanjay Raut must apologise to the women of Maharashtra," the brigade's spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse said.

"The attack was spontaneous and an expression of emotions of the Maratha community," he said.

On Sunday, a cartoon on "silent march" was published in Saamana, which drew criticism from various political quarters.

The Marathas have been organising silent marches across the state following the Kopardi rape and murder incident, in which the victim was a member from the community.

Some more such rallies are also planned in the state in the coming days.
The water level in River Godavari at Bhadrachalam in Khamma district rose to 30 feet by Monday evening. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

Hyderabad: The water level in River Godavari at Bhadrachalam in Khamma district rose to 30 feet by Monday evening due to heavy inflows from the upper reaches of Godavari. The water level has risen sharply by seven feet within a span of 12 hour.

The state irrigation authorities have informed that it is likely to further increase and may reach 35 feet by Tuesday afternoon.

The state authorities have sounded a high alert for people in low lying areas in the Temple town as well as nearby villages in Bhadrachalam division of Khammam district as a precautionary measure.

Besides, all river side districts of both Godavari and Krishna have been put on alert following heavy inflows.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrasekhara Rao who visited Karimnagar district on Monday evening said the delay in the construction of Mid Manair Dam (MMD) by contractors led to the 130-metre breach in the earth dam. He cancelled the contract and ordered for fresh tendering process for the dam.

Rao also directed the officials of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts to be on alert in view of the threat of flooding due to swollen Godavari river.

Meanwhile, about 12,000 people who were shifted to relief camps from the nearby villages have returned to their homes in Karimnagar district following flood water receded.

At least 11 people have been killed due to rain-related incidents in Telangana. Out of the total deaths, seven people, including three on Saturday and four on Friday, were killed in Medak. Three deaths in Warangal district were reported two days back.

In the rain ravaged Hyderabad, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation-GHMC authorities have begun massive demolition and 39 illegal constructions that were blocking the storm water drains were demolished on Monday. A total of 28 thousand illegal constructions were identified across the capital city.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the grid-based security system should be implemented as soon as possible. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Centre has given in-principle approval for a smart fence to be built along the 3323 kilometre-long Indo-Pakistan border to strengthen security and prevent more attacks following Uri and Pathankot.

According to reports, the panel constituted to study possibilities for enhancing security has urged a grid-based system along the border, wherein, at vulnerable stretches, the Army's and the BSF's ground troops would be assisted by hi-tech equipment, including satellites for surveillance, as well as the intelligence agencies and the police forces of the four states.

Whenever an instance of infiltration is reported, a particular component of this grid would respond, said reports.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the grid-based security system should be implemented as soon as possible, in a meeting attended by NSA Ajit Doval and other top officials.

The panel also suggested that ground forces be deployed in large numbers in areas vulnerable to infiltration, saying that smart fencing could do the job elsewhere. This would reduce the burden on foot soldiers, it said.

Apart from smart fencing, the committee has recommended the use of water, electronic as well as underground sensors, besides camera surveillance. Plans to create access roads for troops have also been suggested.
New Delhi: In an absurd allegation that reflects its constant denial of water-tight evidence regarding its hand in terror attacks, Pakistan has now accused India of staging the Uri terror attack to serve its tactical and propaganda objectives.

The allegation was levelled on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York by Islamabad in response to external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs stinging rebuke to Pakistan on Monday.

In New York, India again lashed out at Pakistan on Tuesday, asking how safe terror havens continued to exist in that country despite the Pakistan Armys much-vaunted anti-terror operations and Islamabad receiving billions of dollars in counter-terror aid.

In Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, meanwhile, India mounted another onslaught, listing all the evidence that linked Pakistan to the Uri terror attack.
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that ministry of home affairs has agreed to handover the supervision of construction of fencing along Indo-Bangladesh border to the Army.

Pointing out that Assam government had written a letter to the ministry in this regard, Mr Sonowal told reporters, I met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday and discussed various issues. The home minister has agreed to handover the supervision of fencing work on border to army."

Mr Sonowal said that home ministry has also agreed to grant extension to 64 foreigners tribunals with retrospective effect. Mr Sonowal said that his government was determined to complete the ongoing work updating the National Register of Citizenship.
BENGALURU: The Supreme Court order on Tuesday directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day for the next three days caused enough ripples over the possible consequences for the state government if it decides to stick to its unanimous decision of not releasing water except for drinking purposes.

Legal luminaries felt that the tone and tenor of the SC order on Tuesday has further worsened the situation. The state has to either release water as per the direction or be ready to face action by the SC in the larger interest of its people, they said.

Brijesh Kalappa, legal advisor to the chief minister, told DC that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will act after holding consultations with the ministers concerned, all political parties and the cabinet. The positive takeaway from the order is that the SC has asked the Centre to intervene, he said.

Former High Court Judge M.F. Saldanha said the Supreme Court order is impossible to comply with. Has there been a careful evaluation of the situation with regard to the availability of water, how much water is left, whether it is sufficient for Karnataka, and, most of all, what are the consequences with regard to the people if water is released, he said.

I am a little sorry with the SCs latest order. I may be right or wrong, but the SCs view is very harsh. It is a delicate matter and one should look for solutions. The approach also matters a lot, said Justice Saldanha. If I were the CM, I would rather not comply with the SC order and face action and be even ready to sit inside the jail in the larger interest of the people, he said.

Another former High Court Judge Ravi B. Naik said the SC has passed the direction to see if the state follows its order. One cannot defy the courts order and then seek relief. One has to approach the court with a clean hand. Hope sufficient rain helps the situation.

Former Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli, however, felt that if the state chooses to release 6,000 cusecs of water, it will give a different impression both to the general public and the Supreme Court. It may be better to stick to the resolution.

By sensing the tone and tenor of the SC order, if water is not released, then SC is likely to take further action. However, the state should capitalise on the positive aspect of mediation by the Centre, where it can present its case more effectively, stressing its paramount needs for drinking water against Tamil Nadus need for irrigation, he said.
Patna: Former chairman of Press Council of India and retired Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katjus latest remark suggesting Pakistan to take Bihar in a package deal along with Kashmir has triggered a controversy.

Expressing anger on the remark, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while addressing an event in Patna on Tuesday said, it will be better if he stays within his limits and stop making such remarks against Bihar to grab attention.

Mr. Kumar said that, he is not the mai- baap (guardian) of Bihar to make such an offer. He must know that Bihar has a glorious history. Bihar is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment and it is not simple for anyone to take away Bihar from India.

Justice Katju through his Facebook post had asked Pakistani to end the dispute once and for all by accepting Kashmir on condition that you will also take Bihar. You have to take the whole package or none at all. We will not give you Kashmir alone.

Meanwhile senior JD (U) leader Niraj Kumar lodged a written complaint with the police requesting them to file an FIR against Markandey Katju for his remark against Bihar.
New Delhi: India finally bit the bullet and decided late on Tuesday evening to boycott the forthcoming Saarc summit in Islamabad in November this year, citing cross-border attacks and interference by one country (Pakistan) in the internal affairs of Saarc member states that created a scenario not conducive to successful holding of the summit.

Regional cooperation could take place only in an atmosphere free of terror. Sources said there are indications that Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan have also expressed reservations on attending the summit and may boycott it along with India. This may take the number of countries staying away in the eight-member grouping to four.

Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives may then be placed in a difficult situation. Whether the summit is held or is cancelled by Pakistan remains to be seen, while the entire future of Saarc now hangs in doubt as the South Asian regional grouping has been virtually torn apart by the India-Pakistan hostility.

In a late-night reaction, Pakistan termed the Indian boycott of the Islamabad summit unfortunate, and accused India in turn of backing terrorism in Pakistan, saying the reason given by India for staying away was an excuse. It said it had taken note of the Indian spokespersons announcement, but added it was yet to get any official communication in this regard.

These developments took place on a day when India had earlier summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit yet again and issued him a second demarche, demanding Pakistan not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against India. This is the culmination of a series of events triggered by the cross-border attack on an Army base at Uri in J&K near the Line of Control that left Indian Armys 18 soldiers dead.

In a statement, the external affairs ministry said: The official spokesperson stated that India has conveyed to the current Saarc chair, Nepal, that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad in November 2016.

India remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.

In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad. We also understand that some other Saarc member states have also conveyed their reservations (on) attending the Islamabad summit in November. Senior Indian government sources said Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan were also refusing to attend the summit.

Modi to review Pakistan MFN status

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting on Thursday to review the most favoured nation (MFN) status for trade granted to Pakistan. The strong message that it is no longer business as usual comes as India continues to weigh its options to hit back at Pakistan on multiple fronts after the Uri terror attack.

Despite having enjoyed the MFN status for 20 years, Pakistan is yet to reciprocate. The move comes a day after India decided to review a 56-year-old river water-sharing treaty to squeeze Pakistan by reducing its current share after terrorists backed by it killed 18 Indian soldiers in Kashmirs Uri on September 18. The status was accorded to Pakistan unilaterally in 1996 under WTOs General Agreement.
Border Security Force soldiers patrol near the fences at the India-Pakistan International Border at Dewali post of Akhnoor sector on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Islamabad: Amid growing tension with India, Pakistans military on Tuesday said the armed forces were closely monitoring the situation on the eastern border.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa  the chief spokesman of the army  said the army was fully prepared to respond to any attack.

The meeting headed by army chief General Raheel Sharif reviewed the security at the border with Afghanistan. Diplomatic tensions have spiked between India and Pakistan since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Bajwa said that the meeting discussed the steps being taken for border management by the armed forces. Addressing a news conference in Peshawar, he said Pakistan wanted peace but was prepared to respond to any challenge.

He said the work has been completed on 20 posts set up for border management to control the movement of terrorists but the process would be more effective if Afghan side cooperate.

General Bajwa said the security forces had prevented 14 terrorist attacks in various parts of the country in recent months.Meanwhile, Pakistan also will approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the 58-year-old Indus Waters Treaty, the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday, insisting the revocation of the treaty can be taken as an act of war.

The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate from the treaty, Aziz, Advisor to PM Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly.

High alert at Pathankot

High alert was sounded in Pathankot on Tuesday following inputs about suspicious movement of armed men in army uniform with Punjab Police launching a massive search operation near the army base area located alongside the Pathankot-Dalhousie road.

Following the input, the search operation was launched at a massive scale in around 4-5 km area near army cantonment along side Dalhousie road, police said.

Searches were also conducted near Chakki river. Himachal Pradesh police was also alerted about the suspicious movement, and they also conducted a search in their area, police said. However, the search operation which went on for five hours, was suspended during night with police saying it will resume on Wednesday.
New Delhi: Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju has triggered controversy with a sarcastic message on Facebook, asking Pakistan to either take both Kashmir and Bihar or nothing.

Pakistanis, let us end our dispute once and for all. We offer you Kashmir, but on the condition you also take Bihar. It is a package deal. You have to take the whole package, or none at all, said Katjus post, which was posted on Sunday.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumars party has taken major offence at his post and has demanded that Katju be booked for sedition.

It will be better if he stays within his limits and stop making such remarks against Bihar to grab attention, Nitish Kumar said.

"He is not the Mai- Baap (guardian) of Bihar to make such an offer. He must know that Bihar has a glorious history. Bihar is the place where Buddha gained enlightenment and it is not simple for anyone to take away Bihar from India, the CM added.

Katjus post came at a time when tensions have been running high between India and Pakistan over the unrest that broke out in Kashmir following Burhan Wanis death. The Nawaz Sharif government had been repeatedly provoking India by demanding a plebiscite in Kashmir.

The former Supreme Court judge decided to offer his package deal to Pakistan to put an end to the simmering tensions between the two neighbours.

Either you take both Kashmir and Bihar, or nothing. We will not give you Kashmir alone, he said.

RJD leader and Bihars deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav took to Twitter to criticise Katju and reminded him of his states contribution to the country.

Please be aware @mkatju (Mr Katju) that Bihar is the land of great rulers like Chandragupta Maurya, the Great Ashoka, Vikramaditya and Sher Shah Suri, Tejashwi tweeted.

Katju Ji, Bihar may lack resources but that doesn't mean anyone can lambast it. Bihar has always shown the way to country in good & bad times, the leader added.

Some leaders have demanded that Katju be arrested for his statements but the former top judge remained unfazed and rued that people seemed to have lost their sense of humour.

It seems to me that many Biharis lack a sense of humour, Katju tweeted. But he just did not stop there. He tweeted another joke mocking Bihar.

"I have just received authoritative information from Pak Govt. They have point blank refuse offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar. They profusely apologized for ever asking for Kashmir & have promised never to do it again. The idea of getting Bihar too has horrified them," said in another set of tweets mocking Bihar.
New Delhi: Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack, Union minister Mahesh Sharma on Tuesday extended invitation to tourist from all countries, including those from Pakistan.

Speaking on the sidelines of a programme to mark the World Tourism Day today, he said India is a diverse country and welcomes tourists from across the globe in the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).

"For tourism, we welcome people from there (Pakistan)," he said when asked about the impact of souring India-Pakistan relations on the tourism sector.

On reports of India considering a review of 'Most Favoured Nation' status given to Pakistan, he said, the call has to be taken by External Affairs Ministry which "issues advisory from time to time" on such issues.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting various awards, including for a painting competition organised by India Tourism.

He said people's faith and perception about India has improved as is evident among others things in higher Foreign Direct Investment at a time the world struggles with economic sluggishness and witnesses bouts of terrorist activities.

He said the country has "proved itself" as "Incredible India" with increasing foreign footfalls at various tourism destinations in the country.

Sharma said India will offer tourists a "swachh (clean), and safe tourism experience and welcome them in the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'".

Stressing "tourism is for all", he said his ministry will make all tourist destinations "divyang-friendly (friendly for differently-abled people)" by introducing facilities like ramps in the coming months.

The Minister also flagged off a sightseeing tour for 'Divyang' children. Thirty five students from class II-VI of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya School for Divyang Children, Minto Road, New Delhi, are part of this sightseeing tour.

Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said, "On this year's World Tourism Day help us spread the word of both importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large."

Later in the day, the Minister also flagged off 'Swachh Paryatan Run' from Transport Bhawan, where Tourism Ministry is housed, to India Gate.
Kottayam: Some members of Kerala Congress' (M) youth wing on Monday protested against the menace of stray dogs in the state in a manner that can be stated brutal  they killed five stray canines, hung them by their legs from a pole and held a march with it.

According to a report in NDTV, the members of the youth wing dumped the dead dogs in a pile outside a post office near the municipal buildings in the Kottayam district when their march was over. They also threatened to continue such protests if the government does not take any action.

"We have killed these dogs. And it's a warning that this will continue if the central and the state government do not control the stray dog menace," said Saji Manjakadambil, who was heading the protest.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier said, in a Facebook post, that stray dogs would not be illegally killed in the state. However, no action has been taken as yet against those who claimed to have killed the five dogs.
A Kathakali artist applies chutti before the performance at the last day of the Kerala travel mart at Samudrika convention center at Willingdon Island in Kochi. (file pic)

KOCHI: The ninth edition of the largest gathering of tourism stakeholders in the state, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), organised by the Kerala Travel Mart Society in association with the Department of Tourism, will begin in Kochi on Tuesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at Hotel Le Meridien on Tuesday. The three-day Mart will be held at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island. As many as 57 foreign countries will be represented at the trade event this year, including 10 first-time participants.

The ninth edition of the biennial event will focus on Responsible Tourism and Muziris and Spice Route. The new entrants to KTM include China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Georgia, Chile, Greece, Iran and Botswana. The exhibition venue will have 265 stalls featuring a range of products, packages and services. The number of registered international delegates has swelled to 560. Domestic participation is also good with 1,304 domestic buyers expected to participate this time.

The Kerala Travel Mart Society has adopted a comprehensive 9-point charter to address major concerns at tourism hotspots ahead of the Travel Mart. The 9-point agenda calls for measures to tackle waste management, promote organic farming, efficient use of energy and extensive use of local produce and products. Other key areas in the checklist are rain-water harvesting, reducing the use of plastics and improving greenery.

The collective effort to adopt and implement the charter points aims at projecting Kerala as a sustainable modern destination and to improve the visitors experience in the state. The charter has been unanimously accepted and we are committed to implementing it. Many of the members have already started working towards its implementation, said KTM Society president Abraham George.
Mumbai: Seeking a comprehensive policy to tackle the traffic congestion in Mumbai, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday said the Maharashtra government should consider measures such as restricting the number of cars per family and promotion of inland water transport.

A division bench headed by Justice V M Kanade directed the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the state Urban Development Ministry and the traffic police to sit together and come up with a "holistic policy" on traffic issues.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation on shortage of designated parking spaces in the city. "These days every family has at least two cars...This should be restricted to just one car per family," it said.

"Unauthorised parking due to lack of space is a very serious problem in Mumbai and is the cause of much traffic congestion....A large number of private vehicles enter the city every morning and leave in the evening, but they have no space for parking through the day. The government cannot sit on the problem anymore," the court said.

"There was a time about a decade ago when one could commute between Dadar and south Mumbai in just 20 minutes. Doing so is unimaginable now. It takes three hours to travel from Juhu to the airport," it said.

Promotion of "inland water transport" may be just what the city needed, said the judges.

"While it will not solve all your problems, water transport can act as a complementary mode of transport," the bench said, asking the state government to inform about its feasibility at the next hearing after four weeks.
Chennai: Makkal Marundhagam (Peoples Pharmacy), a medical store in Sivagangai district, that opened four days ago, has already received over 4,000 phone calls for orders. Started under Jan Aushadhi, a Central government scheme, the store sells medicines at extremely low prices to help those who cannot afford spending too much on medicines.

Despite the country having developed in producing quality branded and generic medicines in most of the therapeutic categories, many are unable to afford the medicines in different parts of the country. With this in mind, the Central government had, in 2008, started the Jan Aushadhi scheme, to ensure availability of quality medicines at affordable prices to all.

It took us eight months and over Rs 3 lakh, before we could start the store. The generic medicines sold are affordable for people from all economic backgrounds.

Though there are already around 406 medical stores that have opened up in the country under this scheme, no initiative had been taken up in Tamil Nadu, said M. Omer Muckthar, state co convener of a social organisation called Makkal Pathai, which started the pharmacy.

The organisation conducts blood donations, when they also discuss the health of the donors. It was then that they found that many people, under the Insurance Scheme, had undergone heart operations and were required to take tablets worth Rs 1,500-3,000, which they could not afford. The medicines are now being sold at the store for a mere amount of Rs 150-300.

We are expecting various challenges from the public and pharma companies. People have already started spreading rumours via messages with an aim of scaring away the public, stated the co convener.

With a profit margin of barely 10-20 per cent, the store is willing to work to support the poor. People around the state have already shown immense interest, with the store having already received over 4000 calls in four days.

The medicines, which can be ordered via WhatsApp (9788052839) or email (svgjanaushadhi@gmail.com), will be delivered within 20 days, until the store gets more manpower. We will soon deliver the medicines in a days time, he said.

We welcome the move by the government. However, it must be understood that there is a major difference between generic medicines and branded medicines, in terms of quality, efficacy and technology. The move will not affect retailers as much, as the public will surely prefer branded medicines as it is trustworthy, said S.A. Ramesh of the Chemists and Druggists Association.
Bengaluru: A 21-year-old youngster, who was arrested and shamed for performing dangerous stunts and wheelies on road last week, has now become a poster boy of the traffic police to spread awareness on safe driving on city roads. The youngster, Mohammed Juber, in a 57-second video is seen urging fellow motorists, youngsters and fellow bikers not to indulge in dangerous stunts.

I was doing stunts, wheelies and flamingoes since I was 16. I didnt bother about the safety of other drivers and riders. But when I read about the death of an 18-year-old girl student, Shiny Kiran K., who was run over after she fell off the pillion when the rider suddenly did a wheelie, I understood the importance of life. I request and urge my fellow biker friends and others not to indulge in stunts and perform wheelies. Thrill is in living and not performing stunts.

Juber was arrested after the police found his photos of performing wheelies on the Facebook. Mr Abhishek Goyal, DCP (Traffic-East) said, It feels good when you see the youth acting responsibly. Juber approached us and told us that he wanted to spread the message of awareness among fellow bikers and youth. He said that since he knew how the stunts were performed, it would make a difference if he appealed to the youth not to play with their lives and ride safely.

The east division police, who are continuing their drive against youngsters performing wheelies on roads, seized 21 motorbikes and arrested eight people, including two minors. The maximum number of modified bikes used for performing stunts was seized from Pulikeshinagar police limits, followed by Banaswadi and Shivajinagar traffic police limits on Monday evening. FIRs were registered under Sections 279 of IPC & 181,184,189 IMV Act, a police officer said.

The police are keeping an eye on those indulging in drag races and performing wheelies. They are also taking the help of informers and social networking sites to identify youth performing wheelies. Once caught, the police recommend the transport department officials to cancel their driving licences.
KOCHI: Over a dozen Youth Congress and KSU activists waved black flags at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he arrived for the annual general meeting of Cochin International Airport Limited at Ernakulam Fine Arts Hall on Tuesday. The protesters shouted slogans against the government and the chief minister on the self-financing medical admission issue and the negative stand of Mr Vijayan on the fast being undertaken by Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose and others in the state capital.

Police personnel were deployed from the Naval airport where the CM landed by air from the state capital in the morning and up to the Fine Arts Hall. The police removed the protestors at the Fine Arts Hall led by Youth Congress state secretary Thambi Subramaniam, KSU district president Titto Antony, state general secretary P.Y. Shajahan and district secretary K. Sethuraj. They were taken to the central police station and later let off on bail. In view of the protest, the shareholders were let in to the hall for the meet after security check.
A Youth Congress worker dares police during the protest march carried out in fornt of Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. (Photo: Peethambaran Payyeri)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Violence erupted between police and protestors as SFI workers allegedly attacked Youth Congress and Kerala Students Union (KSU) workers who were protesting near the Secretariat on Tuesday. Workers came here in support of Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose and Vice-president C.R. Mahesh, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike protesting the fee hike in self-financed Medical Colleges.

When they were stopped by policemen, a small group of SFI workers attacked some KSU workers resulting in stones and rotten eggs being hurled. Police then began a lathi charge, used tear gas shells and hurled stun grenades. Around 10 protestors and five policemen including Assistant Commissioner R. Mahesh were injured.

A teargas shell fell right in front of KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran who had to run for cover. Police registered a case against 17 protestors for rioting. In the melee, Mr Kuriakose and Mahesh, who were on the eighth day of their hunger strike, were shifted to Medical College Hospital.
Hyderabad: NDA government is giving special treatment to Andhra Pradesh because the ruling TDP is an ally at the Centre, claimed TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha. She said Telangana should be dealt in similar fashion and its people should not be ignored.

The Centre earlier this month announced Rs 2.25 lakh crore financial package to Andhra Pradesh, whose government had been demanding special category status to the state.

"Andhra is certainly getting a special treatment because they are part and parcel of government and their ministers have been constantly trying to get new projects into Andhra", the Lok Sabha member from Nizamabad in Telangana said.

"But we (Telangana) will certainly fight for our own ground, and whatever is written in the Bifurcation Act, I am sure Telangana will also get it. Basically, it's the responsibility of the central government to treat both states alike. Just because they (the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh) are political allies they can't give them special treatment and ignore people of Telangana", Kavitha said.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had recently said, "Financial assistance announced by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh (for various projects), sanctioned and underway, will be worth Rs 2.25 lakh crore. The state will benefit from this special package more than the special status".

Naidu had also said as per the terms of the 14th Finance Commission, special status can no longer be granted.

Responding to questions, Kavitha said she believed special category status certainly would have had more benefits, not in terms of finances only but attracting investment in future also.

"What the central government has given (to AP), various projects...grants or grants-in-aid, but what about attracting investment?" Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K

Chandrasekhar Rao, asked, noting that companies go to Himachal Pradesh because of certain advantages it enjoys due to special category status.
Lakhimpur Kheri: Rahul Gandhi, whose security cover was on Tuesday tightened in the wake of Monday's shoe attack, continued his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he works only for "15-20" people and ignores the rest.

Addressing the people during a roadshow here, the Congress vice president said, though the common man elected Modi as the Prime Minister, after the elections he has forgotten the farmers, the dalits, the unemployed youths.

"Modiji, if you want to oblige 15 people, you can. But you cannot forget the interests of other people of the country," Rahul said during the roadshow, which is part of his 2,500-km Kisan Yatra in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

He said Congress will force Modi government to shed its "discriminatory approach" and work for each Indian.

After the shoe-hurling incident in Sitapur on Monday, Rahul's security cover was strengthened with deployment of additional personnel.

"The motive behind the Kisan Yatra is to press the Modi government to waive loans of every farmer, slash electricity bills of every Indian and give adequate prices to farmers for their crop," he said.

Accompanied by former Union minister Jitin Prasada, former Kheri MP Zafar Ali Naqvi and district Congress president Raghvendra Bahadur Singh in his 'Deoria to Delhi Kisan Yatra', Rahul reached Sankata Devi temple where he offered prayers before starting the roadshow.

He garlanded the statue of BR Ambedkar near Nasiruddin Mauji Bhawan during his roadshow. He addressed people at Sankata Devi and near Dr Ambedkar Park. He also addressed meetings in Mitauli and Mohammadi.

"Why the Uttar Pradesh farmers who picked up a couple of cots during my 'khat sabha' were called thieves and Vijay Mallya who fled away with Rs 10,000 crore was called just a defaulter," he asked.

He accused the Prime Minister of making false promises and asked people if they had received Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts as "promised" by the BJP leader during the Lok Sabha poll campaigns.

"During Congress regime, the petroleum prices were at USD 140 per barrel but in Modi regime they dropped to just USD 40 but benefits were not passed on to common man," he said.

Last evening, Rahul held a khat sabha in Oel town and interacted with the farmers. Seeking their support during UP polls, he assured them of adequate power supply and loan waiver.
Thiruvananthapuram: BDJS state president Thushar Vellappally has been made the convener of the National Democratic Alliance in Kerala. This was announced by BJP state president and NDA state chairman, Kummanam Rajasekharan, in Malappuram on Monday. Earlier, BJP national president Amit Shah had held a meeting with the state leaders and selected Kerala Congress (Thomas) president P.C. Thomas to represent Kerala NDA in the national committee. Mr Rajeev Chandrasekharan will be the vice-chairman.

Mr Kummanam told reporters that Mr Shah had directed the state leadership to bring the Christian community to the NDA after a meeting with Mr Thomas. The Union government may also ask BDJS leaders to head one or two boards under the centre. As part of strengthening the NDA in the state, the allies will be given more posts, he said. The doors of the NDA are open to all, and those who share its policy are welcome to the alliance. This policy was adopted at the time when the committee was formed. Some factions of the Kerala Congress are already with the NDA and they dont suffer any discrimination, he said.

Mr Kummanam said that On October 6, the NDA would organise a massive convention where all the upcoming events and plans of NDA will be announced. We are now a well-oiled machine and by December the NDA alliance will bring out a clear picture of the party and form committees on the basis of Assembly constituencies. In the next phase, we will form block committees, he said. Janadhipathya Rashtreeya Sabha chief C.K. Janu said, Amit Shah has directed the NDA to directly involve in the problems of the tribal community and Dalits here. The alliance will have a different approach to these sectors, she said.

NDA office bearers:

Chairman: Kummanam Rajasekharan, vice-chairman: Rajeev Chandrasekharan, MP. convener: Thushar Vellapally; Co- conveners: P.K. Krishnadas, BJP, V. Muraleedharan, BJP, Rajan Kannattu, general secretary- Kerala Congress, C.K. Janu, JRS, Rajan Babu, JSS.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he would expose a "very big conspiracy" behind registration of false cases against AAP MLAs, ministers and him during a one-day special session of Delhi Assembly on Friday, setting another stage for confrontation with the Centre.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the Delhi Cabinet today decided to convene the one-day special session to discuss registration of "wrong FIRs" against Kejriwal, ministers and AAP MLAs besides other issues related to dengue and chikungunya cases.

"False cases against AAP MLAs n ministers, FIR against me, CBI raid on me - why? A v big conspiracy. Will expose in Del Assembly on Fri (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

The government's move comes after the Chief Minister was named in an FIR into alleged irregularities in Delhi Commission for Women by Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) even as the anti-graft body said that Kejriwal would not be questioned.

The chief minister had alleged that the FIR has been registered against him at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It is clear that the FIR has the PM's nod. We will soon call a special session of the Delhi Assembly where we will expose the conspiracy behind this," Kejriwal had said last week.

Sources said that during the special session, the AAP MLAs will also attack all three BJP-controlled municipal corporations for "failing" to prevent spread of dengue and chikungunya cases in the national capital.

"The issue of MCD failing to fumigate across the city will be raised by the ruling party MLAs. The civic bodies have completely failed to clean the city following which there has been a spurt in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases," they alleged.

Since the Aam Aadmi Party has come to power in Delhi, Kejriwal government and BJP-led Centre have been at loggerheads on various issues including authority over the national capital.
Hyderabad: The heavy rains brought cheers and pain to people including farmers others across. With rains on the wane, the government has begun assessing the damage to crops, roads, breaches to tanks, property and across the state.

Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said that it would take two or three days to assess the actual damage caused to the crops.

District-wise teams have been constituted to assess the damage to crops. A preliminary estimate of damage or otherwise will be known only after two or three days when water recedes from fields, he said.

Sowing has been completed in 37.06 lakh hectares in the state as against the normal area of 43.43 lakh ha, which accounts for 78 per cent of the normal area as on date.

Paddy is in transplanting stage, jowar, bajra, red gram, sesamum, onion, turmeric, groundnut and chillies at vegetative stage, maize at knee-deep height, green gram and black gram in flowering to harvesting stage, castor, cotton and soya bean crops at vegetative to flowering stage.

Agriculture secretary C. Parthasarathy told DC: The extent of damage depends on the number of days the crops are submerged. If submergence period is less, crops are saved. An assessment could be made in two or three days. We are not giving any official figures since any such assessment will be wrong at this juncture. He added, Rains are a big relief to farmers. There will be sufficient water for ensuing rabi.

In rain-hit Medak district, about 50,000 hectares is reportedly hit. District collector Ronald Ross, who visited some of the affected villages, told farmers that all those who lost their crops, including horticulture crops, would get compensation.

Teams of officials belonging to Revenue and Agriculture department have already spread out across the district to assess the damage. Due to release of waters from Singur after a long time, many fields downstream were inundated.

Reports say 247 houses were fully damaged and 9,600 partially.

The collector visited some of the rain-hit villages. Farmers having fields on the banks of Manjeera in Sadashivpet mandal met MLA Chinta Prabhakar and sought compensation for the damage caused to cotton, maize, pulses and other crops.

We will provide compensation to the affected farmers, Mr Prabhakar said.

In Nizamabad district, reports indicated that crops in 20,000 hectares including soya bean, paddy and others were damaged. There are reports to damage to cotton crop in about 5,192 hectares in Warangal district.
The Narendra Modi government is stacking up its reform credentials. The inclusion of the Goods and Services Tax into the constitutional scheme, an initial step, has been followed with a double-punch by putting to rest the Raj tradition of a separate railway budget, another first. The rail budget reform got welcome Opposition support, including from the Congress and Biju Janata Dal, while Nitish Kumars criticism that it would make the railways less autonomous can only be put down to reflexive dissent with an eye to the media coverage such tactics generate. Mamata Banerjees Trinamul Congress was similarly truculent, barring Dinesh Trivedi, a former rail minister, who dulled the edge of the partys attack by not opposing the move. The net budgetary support for the railways is Rs 5,000 crores, or just one quarter of one per cent of the annual Budget. But having to get its budget passed independently by Parliament exposes the railway minister to inevitable populist demands to steer it through. This extra burden will now be borne by the finance minister, the redoubtable Arun Jaitley, whose reform credentials are growing by the day.

The railways are reportedly implementing commercial accounting standards. Suresh Prabhu, the energetic rail minister, could consider tabling an advance supplement based on the results of the first three quarters of the fiscal year (April to December) with the budget documents for next fiscal, followed up by yearly outcomes in the annual report tabled in Parliament. But lets not kid ourselves. What is well begun is only half done. Process reform, like the new rail budget mechanism, is necessary but low hanging fruit. To show results, process reform has to induce management and operational changes. In the big data age, access is available but the key is to use it to change behaviour. That is what matters. Since 1991, economic reforms have primarily focused on sunrise sectors  industry, commerce and finance. Tech grew under the governments radar as it remains export-oriented. Inevitably, urban boats have risen significantly. Two-thirds of jobs are generated there, which explains the continuing migration from rural areas.

But connectivity and business as the key drivers of growth blur the urban-rural distinction. Business, the driving force for growth, looks at supply chain networks as the critical cartographic feature, not administrative borders. Similarly, markets dont end at city limits particularly if e-tailing is to grow. But we cant ignore the fact that even till 2030 India will remain a significantly rural space. In 2001, there were nearly 19,000 villages, each with a population of over 5,000 people, and nearly 4,000 villages with a population of more than 10,000 people. Reclassifying these villages as urban spaces, on the basis of population size and the extent of non-farm occupations, could increase the statistical level of urbanisation from 31 to 50 per cent of the total population. This takes the estimates of the share of urban population in 2030 to 70 per cent. But even the 450 million left behind in villages will be a significant market and a sizeable votebank.

The government has been diligent in rolling out new schemes to pull people out of poverty. Financial inclusion via the Jan Dhan Yojana, economic and social security through subsidised insurance policies and the focus on public health and publicly-financed housing have all helped. Most of these initiatives are still in the process reform stage. Tangible results  such as more disposable money in the hands of the poor  is still some time off. It is unclear, for example, how many of the 200 million bank accounts opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and mobile numbers (JAM) are operational in a substantive way. Enlarging the direct benefits transfer will expectedly make financial inclusion real. But last-mile implementation is a slow process.

Glimmers of hope persist. The Arvind Subramanian Committee Report on price support for pulses is a signal that the government is shifting attention from reform areas where progress is ongoing, to neglected but high potential value addition sectors: agriculture, rural development and water. Agriculture needs to be brought out of the shadows, where it has been consigned since the Green Revolution in the 1970s. If the government is to lead, it first has to raise its presence in these areas by decentralising personnel, functions and finance to rural areas. At present, on an average, only one-third of state government jobs are based in local governments. The majority are centralised in the state capital and the departmental offices in the districts. This kind of personnel allocation needs to be reversed, and officers reallocated closer to the people. This means starting a conversation with state governments. Piyush Goyal, the effervescent minister of state for power, coal and renewable energy, has recently successfully done just such a conversation around restructuring discom debts.

This cooperative federalism model can be replicated for personnel reallocation  targeted funds for measurable actions. A second conversation also has to be started for levying income-tax on agriculture. The tortuous but eventually successful negotiations around GST provide the replicable model for this thorny issue. As in everything else, leadership counts. The Prime Minister should consider shifting the attention of his A team  Niti Aayog  from industry, infrastructure and commerce to agriculture, irrigation, rural development and social protection. The Niti Aayog seems saddled with all kinds of residual work. It can usefully focus on delivering tangible, measurable outcomes from two key taskforces on agriculture and poverty alleviation. Suggesting which PSUs to sell, planning new tourist islands and drawing up action agendas to win 50 gold medals in the next Olympics can be done elsewhere. Surely creating jobs in rural areas and putting more income in the hands of the poor should rank higher on the priority list.
In flawlessly executing its two-in-one mission of two different orbits in a single mission, Indias elite space agency is all set to become an even bigger player in the international satellite launch business. With 79 foreign satellite launches on its books, Isro is already a virtual Indian multinational in marketing launches. It is setting its sights even higher, trying to establish a manufacturing base in association with industry to make very effective 3D and 3DR weather satellites for foreign countries after meeting Indias requirements.

The proven stop-start capability of the rocket attained in Mondays longish 135-minute flight record is what will give the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) an edge in space commerce, besides its safety record of 33 consecutive successful missions. It is justifiable then for Indians to take pride in Isros exploits, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is an unabashed fan of our scientists who made this possible. To adapt an old homily, the sky is not even the limit for Isro now.

The European Space Agencys Vega rocket is said to have accomplished this complicated burn tech manoeuvre first, and others will join the race from the American private sector. Launch players like Ellon Musk and new economy czars like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are fascinated with these cutting-edge technologies in space research and engineering, and there will be no dearth of business in space. Their pockets are deep enough not to let an early disaster like the recent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploding on the launch pad deter them.

But what gives Isro and India the commercial advantage is the low cost of operations. Achieved on a shoestring budget, the Mangalyaan orbiter shook up the space community with its economy and endurance as the two-year-old probe has lived on well beyond its projected life and is still beaming back useful data. In its conquest of space technology, Isro has gone far as an international player, its commercial arm Antrix having shown a turnover of Rs 1,790 crores in the current year.

What this has done is to elevate Indias image from being the worlds back office to a pioneer in complex space engineering. Its successful demonstration last month of the hypersonic air-breathing dual mode ramjet engine (known as Scarmjet), using atmospheric oxygen in a part of its journey, saw it pursuing a most futuristic concept, revealing its ambition to be a premier space-faring agency. To see our nation progress from the unforgettable vignette of its early space programme, reflected in a rocket being carried on the back of a bicycle in Thumba, Kerala, to where we are now is heart-warming.
Maj. Gen. Tarique Ahmed Siddique (Retd), the security adviser to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, is her go-to man on curbing Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh. The countrys problems with pluralism and, more recently, with rabid Islamic indoctrination, are quite well known. While the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina have blamed their main political rival, the Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, the seamless transfer of the toxic ideology of political Islam slithers across the Internet to spread the message of jihad, wreaking havoc among the ruling elites progeny. But while India struggles to quell the intifada in Kashmir, it is heartening to see how Bangladesh has so rapidly managed to cauterise the open wounds of the Holey Artisan Bakery, and effectively neutralise the top jihadist leadership in a major change of fortunes.

There obviously has been a calibrated strategy in place to deal with this running sore, now the scourge of the world. This turnaround came in a matter of days, that made it even more illuminating. Everyone wondered where the spine and steel had come from. A series of brutal murders of secular writers, bloggers and liberal intellectuals by radical Islamists had shaken the very consciousness and the conscience of Bangladeshis, who seemed ill-equipped to deal with them. These attacks went as far back as 2013. The only common link appeared to be their views, which caused hotheads among Bangladeshs mostly moderate and tolerant Sunni Muslim majority to resort to random bloodletting. But this time the reaction time was swift, just 26 days after the Gulshan attack, with as many as nine members of the ultra-Islamist Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were killed in an operation. The most decisive success, of course, was the killing of Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the JMBs poster boy who was once seen as the most dangerous man in Bangladesh.

What is surprising is while the Hasina government seemed to have a policy of drift while tackling attacks on secular bloggers and other free speech advocates, she managed to quell the burgeoning local terror modules with alacrity. Many more successes were notched up by the Hasina government in the battle over homegrown terror. It is no secret that India played a pivotal role in helping Ms Hasina trump her BNP rivals in the last polls. Indian intelligence agencies were active in Bangladesh, and the recent strikes on top JMB cadres may well be the result of collaborative intelligence-sharing between India and Bangladesh. Maj. Gen. Siddiques role was said to have been critical. Earlier, Wikileaks cables quoted former US ambassador James Moriarty reporting back to Washington in February 2009: Hasina depends on retired Maj. Gen. Tarique Ahmed Siddique for his military expertise and trusts him, based on his loyalty and his relationship with her family. Siddique, whose brother Shafique is married to Sheikh Rehana (PMs sister based in London), has a long history as part of Hasinas family, including acting at times as surrogate father for her son Sajeeb Joy Wazed (based in Washington), which is partially what inspires Hasinas trust. Siddique is a Cabinet-level adviser who influences military and security issues.

Back in India, we seem to forget that one of the things the UPA government had done commendably well, and for which it perhaps never got due credit, was neutering the Indian Mujahideen leadership. Intelligence Bureau director Syed Asif Ibrahim and RAW chief Alok Joshi worked in tandem to deliver crippling blows, including picking up Yasin Bhatkal from Nepal. When Mohammed Ahmed Siddibapa Zarrar aka Yasin Bhatkal was captured, it put one of our most dreaded adversaries out of action. Another IM operative, Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, was detained with him. Bhatkals arrest came soon after Lashkar-e-Tayyabas Abdul Karim Tunda was deported from Nepal. In a couple of years, Danish Ansari, Mohammad Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, Syed Maqbool, Qateel Siddiqui and Fasih Mehmood (deported from Saudi Arabia) were all in the bag. And while siblings Riaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, along with Amir Reza Khan, are still at large, the IM has pretty much been decimated in India.

This only means India can systematically subjugate terror networks when it really wants to. From the ashes of Simi emerged Indian Mujahideen (IM), arrayed against Hindu India. Its substantive network of cells had targeted urban centres and caused incalculable damage prior to the body blow it got in the form of Bhatkals capture. Indias intelligence agencies even managed to get terrorists hiding in Saudi Arabia back in those crucial years. There was no stealth technology, but the Indian version of Americas Osama success was achieved in total secrecy. IB officials finally got their hands on Bhatkal. Humint, or human intelligence, was the key as intelligence agencies of Nepal and India worked together to track Bhatkal down to his hideout deep inside Nepal. They nabbed him in the dead of night before the terror mastermind was formally arrested at Raxaul, a town on Bihars border with Nepal. What did Bhatkal in was his cellphone. The IB hung on to it like a terrier once it got the electronic scent. The chase grew increasingly frantic over the final four days, as the IB closed in on Bhatkal, staking him out as they waited for the right opportunity to pick him up. The key IM operative, wanted in a series of terror strikes across India that killed hundreds of innocent people, was formally arrested.

The icing on the cake for India was Asadullah Akhtar, held and arrested with Bhatkal. Akhtar is the man suspected to be the planter or co-planter of Bhatkals deadly bombs. Both were taken into custody by the Bihar police. Bhatkal was living in Nepal for nearly a year. India got its Osama bin Laden! Bhatkal was wanted in at least 40 cases, including blasts in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, and carried a bounty of Rs 35 lakh. He had been captured once before. A special Kolkata police task force had got him in 2009 for carrying fake currency notes, but the cool-as-a-cucumber Bhatkal hid his real identity and jumped bail after a month behind bars. The other capture was only on CCTV footage, as Bhatkal was recorded planting a bomb in Punes German Bakery three years ago. He was one step ahead of the law on at least two occasions in 2012, once giving the pursuing police the slip by just an hour. India has to reboot its counterterrorism boiler plate, both at the borders, where slack and lax vigil has seen defence installations rocked by terror, and within the country. We need to build a perpetual moat-like structure to prevent the return of an IM-type rogue entity, and all our security and intelligence resources must be put to work for this.
SpaceX chief Elon Musk to unveil his ambitious plan to build a human colony on Mars after sending a manned spacecraft to the Red Planet within a decade.

He will lay out his vision during a presentation titled "Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species" at the International Astronautical Congress in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara.

Although the South Africa-born Canadian-American entrepreneur has given few details about his plan, he promised in a Washington Post interview in June that it will be "mind blowing."

He will discuss the "long-term technical challenges that need to be solved to support the creation of a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars," the conference's program says.

SpaceX plans to send an unmanned Dragon cargo capsule to Mars as early as 2018, paving the way for a human mission that would leave Earth in 2024 and arrive on the Red Planet the following year.

However, experts are skeptical of the feasibility.

Reaching Mars -- 225 million kilometers (140 million miles) from Earth on average -- and living there would require major feats of engineering and a massive budget.

"It's unlikely that (Musk) will be able to get humans on Mars by 2025," John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, said, noting that Musk has wrongly forecast the launch of SpaceX rockets in the past.

SpaceX would have to team up with a state space agency to afford such a mission, he said.

"Bottom line is the cost. You're talking of tens of billions of dollars and SpaceX doesn't have that type of money."

However, while Musk's timeline is ambitious, "it's exciting to have someone with the vision" and "we are all interested to see what he has in mind and whether he can make a compelling case," Logsdon added.

The US space agency NASA, which is also studying the effects of long-term space flight on the human body, has announced its own plans to send people to Mars by the 2030s.

Rocket blast

A research village could be built on the Moon to serve as a "stepping stone" to a Mars mission, European Space Agency chief Jan Woerner said at a news conference on Monday.

"To go to Mars means also to use the resources over there and this can be also tested on (the) Moon," he said.

SpaceX has designed the powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, which could send a manned Dragon spacecraft into space.

The company plans to launch the 70-meter (230-foot) tall rocket, which has a liftoff thrust equivalent to 18 Boeing 747 jets, later this year.

SpaceX was hit by a setback on September 1 when its smaller Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launch pad during a test in Florida, destroying a satellite Facebook had planned to use to beam high-speed internet to Africa.

SpaceX had previously logged 18 successful Falcon 9 launches.

The California-based company has also successfully landed a spent rocket vertically four times -- a key achievement for the company's goal of producing reusable rockets instead of jettisoning their parts into the ocean during lift off.

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Physicist Stephen Hawking has warned his fellow Earth mates to be cautious about sending back signals in response to aliens.

In an online show, named Stephen Hawkings Favourite Places, Stephen Hawking revealed his fears over extraterrestrial civilization who may conquer Earth.

In the online show, the renowned astrophysicist takes viewers on his CGI spacecraft to about five relevant locations across the cosmos. During the tour he mentioned that a planet like Gliese 832c, located approximately 16 light-year away from Earth, could one day possibly send signals to our planet, however we should be wary of replying to them.

Even if aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didnt turn out well for the Native Americans, Professor Hawking said.

Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach, he added.

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Amazon has been slapped with a fine to the tune of USD 84,000 in an attempt to ship dangerous lithium-ion batteries and flammable aerosol goods by air.

Amazon has been slapped with a fine to the tune of USD 84,000 in an attempt to ship dangerous lithium-ion batteries and flammable aerosol goods on passenger planes.

The retailer was found guilty during a trial at Southwark Crown Court for violating UK civil aviation rule causing dangerous goods to be delivered for carriage in an aircraft.

The online shipping giant Amazon, based in UK, was convicted under the Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 2002. The company has also been ordered to pay the CAA 60,000 euros in legal costs, reported arstechnica.

According to a report by Press Association, the retailer was attempting to ship three batteries, a can of Dove deodorant and a Tresemme hair mousse on passenger flights destined within and outside UK in four shipments. The order for the items was placed between November 2013 and June 2015.

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Jean Higbee ONeill, 100, died at her home in Menomonie Sept. 24, 2016.

She was born in La Crosse, Aug. 9, 1916, the second of three daughters of Jesse and Edna Coren Higbee.

Jean enjoyed telling stories of her childhood adventures. When she was a young girl in the 1920s, automobiles were still somewhat new. Horse-drawn sleighs were common on the streets of La Crosse in winter, and watering troughs stood on some of the street corners. Jean obtained her drivers license in 1930, at age 14, and her parents made their Ford roadster available to their daughters. They enjoyed their unusual freedom to roam the city and countryside, usually with their friends in the rumble seat. Jean loved driving and was especially proud of her unblemished driving record of more than 80 years.

Jean graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1934, and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1938. After college she returned to La Crosse, and hosted a noon program on WKBH radio.

In 1939 Jean married John W. ONeill of Dodgeville, a medical student at the university. They lived in Chicago and Madison, until he completed his medical education at the University of Wisconsin in 1943, and was immediately inducted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps. During Johns military service, Jean lived in La Crosse with their two young sons, until the war ended and he returned from Europe.

In 1946, the ONeills moved to Menomonie, where John joined the Steves, Halgren, and Long medical practice and later founded the Red Cedar Clinic, with four other physicians. A daughter and two more sons were born in Menomonie. For many years Jean, like many women of her era, cared for her family at home.

The ONeills ended their marriage in 1957. Jean was faced with the necessity of caring for her children alone and earning a living for herself and her family. She enrolled at Stout State College to earn a second bachelors degree and later added a masters degree from Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire. Between 1960 and 1979, she taught English and social studies at Menomonie Junior High School. After she retired, she enjoyed encountering former students in Menomonie, and remained friends with many of them.

Jean had a sunny personality. She was eager to see the bright side of things and strove to get along with others. She had a wry and ironic sense of humor, and she took pleasure in intellectual games and challenges.

Jean had a firm sense of morality. She felt she knew what was right, and she held herself and those closest to her to high standards. But her firm convictions did not prevent her from being open to persuasion. A Republican for her first 50 years, she became a Democrat in the 1960s. As the war in Vietnam became an issue, Jean became part of the opposition to the war, and she remained politically active for the rest of her life.

Jean had a particular gift for relating to children. She could converse or play with a child without condescension, entering into the childs concerns with genuine interest. Agile even in old age, she could crawl on the floor with a toddler or hold a child on her lap to read a book. She loved reading to children and nurturing their love of reading.

Jean loved music. She played the piano and enjoyed singing with family members and in organized groups, such as Sweet Adelines and the choir of Grace Episcopal Church. She also loved to read, both fiction and nonfiction, and she surrounded herself with newspapers, magazines, and books. Even into her late nineties she belonged to two book clubs. She was intensely interested in grammar and words, their meanings, their pronunciation, and their usage.

She loved genealogy, doing extensive research into the history of her family and amassing a trove of information that she eventually donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Jean served on the boards of the Menomonie Public Library and the Dunn County Historical Society, where she advocated for the establishment of the Caddie Woodlawn Memorial Park. She was a member of Wisconsin chapter AN of P.E.O. for 55 years, serving two terms as president of her local chapter and on state committees.

Jean enjoyed creative writing throughout her life. In her eighties she joined the Chippewa Valley Writers Group. The group published a collection in 2007, when Jean was 91. Called Just Read the Darn Thing, it includes poems and short essays. She also loved to write childrens stories for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, assembling them by hand and illustrating them with magazine photos.

Jean enjoyed a lifetime of summers at her familys cottage on Lac Courte Oreilles in Sawyer County. Her grandfather established the retreat in 1912, and Jean was fortunate to attend the centennial celebration with the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of her grandfathers descendants. In the Hayward area, she took a special interest in the Courte Oreilles Lakes Association and the LCO Community College on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation.

Jean led a fortunate life. Her parents valued education and sent their daughters to college when many people couldnt. She was fortunate in her health. Although her life was not free of pain or loss, her decline into old age was gradual, and it did not deprive her of the ability to converse and enjoy company and her intellectual pursuits. Furthermore, she was fortunate in her friendships, renewing and sustaining them over a lifetime and making new friends as she lost others to death.

Jean did encounter some serious challenges. Her divorce in midlife made her a single mother of five children  the youngest then just two years old  and required her to take responsibility for the economic survival of her family. And this responsibility came to her when her older, adolescent sons sometimes did more to create difficulties for her than to help her overcome them. She faced these difficulties with maturity, modesty, courage, and good humor, and with the wisdom not to waste time lamenting her circumstances but to consider what needed to be done and to set about doing it.

Jean is survived by her younger sister, Nancy Pollock; by her five children, John ONeill (Mary), Miki Odawa, James ONeill, Barbara ONeill and Richard ONeill (Mark Kile); and their families, including three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; by many nieces and nephews; and by her P.E.O. sisters.

Jean was preceded in death by her older sister, Mary Cameron; daughter-in-law, Suzanne ONeill; and by her former husband, John W. ONeill.

Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in La Crosse.

Gifts in Jeans name may be made to the Community Foundation of Dunn County, P.O. Box 498, Menomonie, WI 54751.
A new study reveals how IoT devices at home and office can be manipulated and its vulnerability can open a backdoor to hackers into your system.

A new study reveals how IoT devices at home and office can be manipulated and its vulnerability can open a backdoor to hackers into your system.

Symantec Corp. a known expert in cyber security, revealed new research demonstrating how cybercriminal networks are taking advantage of lax Internet of Things (IoT) device security to spread malware and create zombie networks, or botnets, unbeknownst to their device owners.

Symantecs Security Response team has discovered that cybercriminals are hijacking home networks and everyday consumer connected devices to help carry out distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on more profitable targets, usually large companies. To succeed, they need cheap bandwidth and get it by stitching together a large web of consumer devices that are easy to infect because they lack sophisticated security.

More than half of all IoT attacks originate from China and the US, based on the location of IP addresses, to launch malware attacks. High numbers of attacks are also emanating from Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine and Vietnam. In some cases, IP addresses may be proxies used by attackers to hide their true location.

Most IoT malware targets non-PC embedded devices such as web servers, routers, modems, network attached storage (NAS) devices, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, and industrial control systems. Many are Internet-accessible but, because of their operating system and processing power limitations, they may not include any advanced security features.

As attackers are now highly aware of insufficient IoT security, many pre-program their malware with commonly used and default passwords, allowing them to easily hijack IoT devices. Poor security on many IoT devices makes them easy targets, and often victims may not even know they have been infected.

Symantecs research findings

2015 was a record year for IoT attacks, with plenty of speculation about possible hijacking of home automation and home security devices. However, attacks to date have shown that attackers tend to be less interested in the victim and the majority wish to hijack a device to add it to a botnet, most of which are used to perform DDoS attacks.

IoT devices are a prime target, since they are designed to be plugged in and forgotten after basic set-up.

The most common passwords IoT malware used to attempt to log into devices was, unsurprisingly, the combination of root and admin, indicating that default passwords are frequently never changed.

Attacks originating from multiple IoT platforms simultaneously may be seen more often in the future, as the amount of the embedded devices connected to the Internet rises.

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DeSai used a .45-caliber handgun during the assault and police later found 2,600 rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun in his car, a black convertible Porsche parked near where he was killed. (Photo: AP)

Houston: Houston police was on Tuesday struggling to find the motive behind the mass shooting by a disgruntled Indian-origin lawyer who fired indiscriminately and injured nine persons at a strip mall here before being shot dead.

Nathan DeSai, the 46-year-old shooter who previously worked at McDaniel & DeSai LLP, was wearing a vintage military uniform and had Nazi emblems on him.

Acting Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters on Monday that police did not yet know exactly what caused DeSai, described as a lawyer struggling to keep his small law practice alive, to do what he did.

"At this point we are very open-minded in terms of motive," Montalvo said, adding the department was working with the FBI to find answers.

DeSai used a .45-caliber handgun during the assault and police later found 2,600 rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun in his car, a black convertible Porsche parked near where he was killed.

DeSai lived in a condominium complex near the scene of the shooting at Weslayan and Law streets.

A search of his home turned up additional weapons and several pieces of military regalia and other items going back to the Civil War. The .45-caliber handgun was bought in 2011. The Thompson submachine gun was purchased in 2009, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing police.

Photographs of DeSai's body show he apparently wearing military-style spats strapped over his boots. He was lying face up. His dark shirt was over his face.

Police said Nazi emblems were found in his clothing.

"We did find some old Nazi emblems about some of his personal effects, and I understand there were some in where he lived," the paper quoted Houston Police Capt. Dwayne Ready as saying.

"To what extent that played. I don't know, because there was also other, what I would refer to as historic or vintage military stuff in the apartment, going back to the Civil War."

According to local media, DeSai's father said his son was upset over the failure of his law firm and the business closed due to a lack of clients. He confirmed his son owned multiple guns and said he had a license to carry.

He said DeSai drove a black Porsche, the same type of car police were examining in the shopping centre parking lot. That car's license plate showed it was registered to DeSai.

DeSai held a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Houston and a law degree from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated in 1998, according to the Texas State Bar Association.

He specialised in criminal, business and family law, according to the bar association. Houston Police said officers had never previously encountered DeSai.

On Monday's shooting came days after a shooting at a Washington state mall left five people dead. On September 17, a 20-year-old man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot to death by an off-duty police officer.
The lawsuit said that the medical staff repeatedly addressed her son who later committed suicide as a girl. (Photo: Representational Image)

New York: The mother of a transgender boy filed a lawsuit against a US hospital on Monday claiming its medical staff repeatedly addressed her son who later committed suicide as a girl.

In the landmark case, Katharine Prescott argues the Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego (RCHSD) in California discriminated against her transgender son based on his sex. The civil complaint filed in a federal court in the state of California comes amid a raging debate in the United States about the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The 14-year-old transgender boy, Kyler Prescott, committed suicide about five weeks after staying at the hospital in 2015 where he was treated for having suicidal thoughts and self-inflicted wounds. The suit claims the hospital violated anti-discrimination provisions in federal and state laws, including the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.

The plaintiff's attorney, Alison Pennington, with the Oakland-based Transgender Law Centre, said she believed it was the first case to claim an underage transgender person had suffered sex-based discrimination under the Affordable Care Act. Less than half a dozen similar suits have claimed discrimination against adult transgender people since the law was enacted in 2010, she said.

In a telephone interview, the mother said filing the lawsuit was painful, but she hoped it would ensure no other parents or child go through the same ordeal.

"I believed that they would be able to help him feel better," she said. "They really just made things worse." According to the suit, RCHSD said on its website that it was competent in caring for transgender children and teens.

But the complaint claims that the hospital's nursing and other staff "repeatedly addressed and referred to Kyler as a girl, using feminine pronouns". The transgender boy, who had legally changed his name and gender, subsequently called his experience at the hospital "horrible", the complaint said.

A spokesman for RCHSD said that while he could not comment on pending legal matters, "any allegations of wrongdoing, including discrimination, are investigated thoroughly and followed up on". Court documents did not list a defence attorney.

The Affordable Care Act is the first federal healthcare law to explicitly ban discrimination against transgender people, said Dru Levasseur, a spokesman at Lambda Legal, a New York City-based LGBT rights group. A ruling by a Minnesota federal court last year became the first to recognize discrimination against a transgender person under the healthcare law, Levasseur said.

The mother is seeking damages and restitution, as well as an injunction that would force the hospital to institute policies preventing the discrimination of transgender youth based on sex. In 2011, the National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that 41 percent of transgender and gender non-conforming U.S. respondents said they had attempted suicide.
United Nations: The message that Kashmir is an integral part of India should be "loud and clear", India on Tuesday told Pakistan, calling it a "dysfunctional state" that commits atrocities on its own people and preaches about tolerance, democracy and human rights.

Responding to Pakistan's Right of Reply (RoR), India also asked Pakistan if it can clarify how terror safe havens continue to flourish on its soil despite getting billions of dollars in anti-terrorism aid.

Pakistan's envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, exercising the RoR to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's address to the UN General Assembly here yesterday, earlier said Pakistan rejects "all the baseless allegations" made by her and asserted that Kashmir never was and can never be an integral part of India.

She called Kashmir a "disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council".

First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN Eenam Gambhir, in India's Right of Reply to Lodhi's remarks, said that it appears that the Pakistani envoy "did not hear clearly what our Minister of External Affairs stated during her address earlier today".

Quoting Swaraj that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and will always continue to do so, Gambhir said "we hope that the message is loud and clear".

In the RoR, Lodhi claimed that the attack on the Indian Army base in Uri, particularly its timing, has all the "hallmarks of an operation designed" to divert attention from India's "atrocities" in Kashmir.

"The international community is well aware that several such incidents have been staged in the past to serve India's tactical and propaganda objectives," she said, adding that

India is utilising the Uri incident to blame Pakistan for the current Kashmiri uprising and divert attention from its 'brutal' occupation.

Gambhir, who had given India's strong RoR to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's UN General Assembly address, said the world heard from Pakistan "the views of a

dysfunctional state" which builds atrocity upon atrocity on its own people, preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights.

"We reject entirely these sermons," she said. Gambhir said that the Pakistani envoy was making "a fanciful and misleading presentation" in her RoR on the situation in the Kashmir, in yet another attempt to divert international attention from her country's continued sponsorship of terrorism.

Gambhir said Pakistan is not answering questions that are being posed to it by the international community such as how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in her country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan army's "much-vaunted counter terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains".

"Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy?

"Can the representative of Pakistan deny that Pakistan had assured in 2004 that it would not allow its territories, or territories under its control, to be used for terror attacks against India? And can the representative of Pakistan deny that it has failed to honour that assurance given at the highest level?" Gambhir asked.

India questioned whether the representative of Pakistan will deny that the armed forces of her country committed one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in human history in 1971.

"Will the representative of Pakistan deny that its armed forces have used air strikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly. Will the representative of Pakistan explain why is it that Pakistan's civil society is being silenced by the plethora of heavily armed militias that go by names such as 'Jaish' or Army, 'Lashkar' or Army, 'Sipah' or Soldiers and 'Harkat' or Armed movement," Gambhir said.

Responding to Swaraj's call that nations who do not join the global strategy to fight terrorism should be isolated, Lodhi said India's government is "delusional" if it believes that it can "isolate" any country.

"It is India itself, which because of its war crimes in Kashmir and elsewhere, and because of its warmongering, is likely to be isolated in the international community," she said.

The Pakistani envoy said Swaraj's statement reflects the "deceit and hostility" of the Indian government towards Pakistan.

"These allegations are designed principally to deflect global attention from the brutalities being perpetrated by India's over half a million occupation force against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri children, women and men in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir," Lodhi said.

In an RoR exercised after Sharif's address to the UNGA, India had accused Pakistan of committing war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Lodhi in her RoR said the call for freedom of the Kashmiri people has been met with Indian brutality.

"This is the worst form of state terrorism, a war crime, that India has continued to perpetrate in the situation of foreign occupation in Jammu and Kashmir for the past many decades," she said, adding that Pakistan demands a full and impartial investigation of the Indian 'atrocities and massive human rights violations' in Kashmir.

"We ask that India accept the investigation proposed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and allow them access for the purpose," she said.

In response to Swaraj's reference to Pakistani national Bahadur Ali who was arrested in Kashmir, Lodhi said the recently captured "Indian spy, an intelligence officer,"

Kulbhushan Yadav, has "confessed" to India's support to such terrorist and subversive activities particularly in Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

"Indeed, it was Kulbhushan, who was financing, arming and supporting individuals and entities listed under the UN sanctions regime," Lodhi said.

She said India's "policy of interference" in Pakistan, especially its attempt to destabilise Balochistan, are now on record.

"This is blatant violation of the principles of the UN Charter," she said.

Lodhi blamed India for suspending talks with Pakistan more than a year ago, saying New Delhi has refused to resume them despite repeated offers from Pakistan and advice from the international community.

"The latest offer was made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from the rostrum of this very Assembly. But let us be clear, talks are no favour to Pakistan. They are in the interest of both India and Pakistan and the people of our two countries," she said.

Lodhi reiterated that Pakistan is "ready and willing" for serious and result oriented talks with India, especially to resolve the longstanding core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, which is imperative for durable peace, stability and development in the region.

In a second RoR, a Pakistani representative reiterated that Kashmir remains an internationally-recognised disputed territory.

Gambhir responded by saying that Pakistan has yet again "chosen to stay silent" on the tough questions.

"This is what we have come to expect from Pakistan - deception, deceit and denial. The world still waits their response," Gambhir said.
United Nations: After External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's befitting reply to Pakistan at the the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, Twitter exploded with trolls mocking the rival nation.

Here is a compilation of the funniest tweets:
Washington: The US has asked Pakistan to close all terrorist safe havens and target all militant groups, including those that target neighbouring countries, after India made a strong pitch at the UN for isolating nations who nurture, paddle and export terror.

"Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability and to deal with terrorist threats on their soil. They are fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism," White House Deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said.

"We do believe that they are making progress and taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we have been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbours, and close all safe havens," 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.

Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American position that the US believes India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations.

"We encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

"We have long said that with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there is no zero-sum game here. We are pursuing very close relations with

India," the deputy spokesperson said.

"We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the world's largest democracy and we share a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation," he said.

"Similarly, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses and terrorist groups that seek refuge in its territory," Toner added.

Swaraj in her address at the UN on Monday said there are nations "in our midst" where UN designated terrorists roam freely and deliver "their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity", an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

She also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism and for whom sheltering terrorists has become "their calling card".
Entire neighborhoods and the downtown area were largely abandoned as residents in low-lying areas heeded the city's call to evacuate. (Photo: AP)

Cedar Rapids: Residents of Cedar Rapids are watching anxiously as the quickly rising Cedar River threatens to inundate their city with devastating floodwaters for the second time in just over eight years.

After days of sandbagging and erecting an extensive system of flood barriers, residents and officials in Iowa's second-largest city were simply waiting to see how high the Cedar River would rise and what impact the flood would have.

Entire neighborhoods and the downtown area were largely abandoned as residents in low-lying areas heeded the city's call to evacuate. Schools were cancelled and many businesses were closed.

The river was expected to crest at 23 feet, the second-largest flood in the city's history, behind only that of June 2008. But the National Weather Service lowered its crest forecast Tuesday to 22 feet, or 6 feet above major flood stage.

Here's the situation in Cedar Rapids and other communities affected by the flooding:

Is cedar rapids ready for the flooding?

So far the temporary flood protection system is working, city spokeswoman Sara Baughman said Tuesday morning. Only some minor street flooding from storm sewer backup had been reported, she said.

At a Monday news conference. Mayor Ron Corbett said nearly 10 miles of temporary levees have been constructed in just days, and 250,000 sandbags have been filled and placed to protect homes and businesses. More sandbags were filled Monday to beef up barriers around critical city infrastructure.

The Fire Department has staged boats for water rescues on both sides of the river. The American Red Cross has opened two shelters, and a local official said more emergency workers are flying in to help.

Why is the city relying on temporary structures?

The city has struggled since the 2008 flood to secure the funding that would be necessary to create a comprehensive flood protection system for low-lying areas on both sides of the river.

Residents voted down a sales tax increase that would help pay for it years ago. Now the city is waiting on Congress to authorize and appropriate the federal share of a plan to build the system along with investments from the state and the city.

City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said lobbying for the federal money is a top priority and the project will be critical to the city's future. Iowa's members of Congress are expected to push for the financing in the coming days.

Have residents in the potential flood zones been evacuated?

Officials estimate that about 50 percent of the people in those zones have left for temporary shelter elsewhere, but the officials didn't have a head count of those remaining. The mayor and other officials implored people to stay away from the evacuation zone, lest they be caught by gushing water should part of the flood protection system fail. Corbett said the city wouldn't force residents or business people out of the area but asked them to use common sense in making decisions that could affect their safety and the safety of others.

What about the national guard?

It's been activated to help, and Police Chief Wayne Jerman said Monday the troops will be patrolling the evacuation zone and helping out at traffic control checkpoints to keep out unwanted visitors. Jerman also said the Iowa State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies have sent officers to help.

Whats the situation upstream?

The river crested Saturday night in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, which are about 55 miles upstream from Cedar Rapids. 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.

Black Hawk County emergency manager Lori Glover said Monday that the water was dropping slowly and likely wouldn't be back to below flood stage until Thursday. She said any damage estimates would have to wait until then. In Charles City, residents put flood-damaged items out on their curbs for pickup Monday.
The boy was found guilty of first-degree murder in February and sentenced to remain in state custody until he turns 19. (Photo: Representational Image)

Dandridge: The parents of an 11-year-old boy who fatally shot an 8-year-old girl after she refused to show him her puppies are being sued for $10 million.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed Monday in Jefferson County, Tennessee, on behalf of the girl's mother, Latasha Dyer, argues that Jason and Mary Ann Tiller had a duty to keep their son from harming others with a firearm.

Makayla Dyer was playing outside her home in White Pine, about 40 miles east of Knoxville, in October when the boy asked her to get the puppies, and shot her after she refused.

The boy was found guilty of first-degree murder in February and sentenced to remain in state custody until he turns 19. The lawsuit was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
The 11-year-old boy has also been accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy once. (Representational image)

Blackpool, Lancashire: An 11-year-old boy from UK has become one of the youngest rapists after he confessed to sexually assaulting a nine-year-boy at the victim's home.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the accused was held after the victim's mother saw him on baby monitor while he was abusing the boy. The victim's mother said that she heard some whispering from her son's bedroom.

When she got suspicious, she checked the baby monitor that she had installed in her son's bedroom and caught the accused red-handed.

Under the condition of anonymity, the accused pleaded guilty to raping the minor boy at least 15 times and three counts of sexual touching.

He has also been accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy once. The 11-year-old will be put on the sex offenders list, the court ruled.

In a similar incident, a minor boy was arrested for sexually assaulting his 9-year-old sister at their family home in Plymouth, a city in England. The accused was believed to have ejaculated during one of the sexual encounters.

While the case was under trial at a court, the judge told the accused that if he were older, he would have be awarded with a prison sentence for a longer term. However, since the accused too was a minor, he was given referral order.
Bratislava: Britain will oppose all EU plans for increased military cooperation that could interfere with NATO, despite being about to leave the union, Defence Minister Michael Fallon said Tuesday.

"We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or an EU army headquarters which would simply undermine NATO," Fallon said at a meeting with his 27 counterparts in Bratislava, where European Union leaders earlier this month agreed to step up joint military efforts.

Asked if Britain could veto the plans while it still remains a member of the European Union ahead of Brexit, Fallon said: "There is no majority here for an EU army."

"There are a number of other countries who believe with us that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states," he added.

"We agree Europe needs to do more, it's facing terrorism, it's facing migration, but simply duplicating or undermining NATO is the wrong way to do it."

EU leaders met without Britain in the Slovakian capital on September 16 to discuss plans to move forward in the wake of the stunning British vote to leave the bloc on June 23.

They agreed on a six-month roadmap to create a new "vision" for the EU, including beefed up defence cooperation, which Britain has always opposed.

Fallon insisted however that Britain would continue to contribute to European defence as a member of NATO.

"We are leaving the European Union but we remain committed to the security of Europe and putting more troops into Estonia or Poland next year."
The Hague: War crimes judges on Tuesday sentenced a Malian jihadist to nine years in jail for destroying the fabled shrines of Timbuktu, in a landmark ruling experts hope will help safeguard the world's vulnerable monuments.

Judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague found Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi guilty of directing the 2012 attacks on the UNESCO world heritage site in northern Mali.

Mahdi "supervised the destruction and gave instructions to the attackers", presiding judge Raul Pangalangan told the tribunal.

"The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," he added, saying the crime had "significant gravity".

The court "unanimously sentences you to nine years of imprisonment," Pangalangan added as Mahdi, dressed in a sober grey suit and blue-striped tie, listened intently.

The landmark verdict is the first to focus solely on cultural destruction as a war crime and the first arising out of the conflict in Mali, when jihadists swept into the country's remote north in 2012.

Prosecutors will likely be satisfied having asked for a jail term of between nine and 11 years, which they said would recognise both the severity of the crime and the fact that Mahdi was the first person to plead guilty before the court.

Observers say they hope the sentence will act as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned for "tearing at the fabric of societies".

In an unprecedented move, Mahdi, aged between 30 and 40, last month pleaded guilty to the single war crimes charge of "intentionally directing" attacks in 2012 on nine of Timbuktu's mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the city's Sidi Yahia mosque.

"Legend had it that this door had not been opened for 500 years and that its opening would lead to the last judgement," the presiding judge said.

But while the court recognised the severity of the crimes targeting sites which "were dedicated to religion and historic monuments and were not military objectives," the judges also gave Mahdi credit for his guilty plea, and for his "substantial cooperation" with the prosecution.

Pickaxes and bulldozers

The slight, bespectacled man with a mop of curly hair had previously asked the pardon of his people when videos were shown of him and other Islamist extremists knocking down ancient earthen shrines with pick-axes and bulldozers.

Founded between the fifth and 12th centuries by Tuareg tribes, Timbuktu has been dubbed "the city of 333 saints" and the "pearl of the desert" for the number of Muslim sages buried there.

Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, it was however considered idolatrous by the jihadists who swept across Mali's remote north in early 2012.

As the head of the so-called Hisbah or "Manners Brigade," it was Mahdi, a former teacher and Islamic scholar, who gave the orders to ransack the sites.

Apologising for his actions at the court, he said he had been overtaken by "evil spirits", urging Muslims not to follow his example.

The court found that Mahdi, was a member of the Ansar Dine, one of the jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb which seized the northern territory before being mostly chased out by a French-led military intervention in January 2013.

Even though the list of UNESCO world heritage sites appears to be growing, there is little hope that those behind attacks on monuments in Iraq and Syria will find themselves in the dock any time soon.

Neither country is a signatory to the ICC's founding Rome Statute, meaning that without a mandate from the UN Security Council an ICC investigation into such crimes is not yet possible.
Birmingham: A UK court found an Islamic street preacher guilty of racial abuse for verbally abusing a Muslim woman on the street, because she was wearing skinny jeans.

According to a report in Daily Mail, the accused, Krissoni Henderson had called Noor Alneaimi a slut while she was walking by Birmingham's New Street on July this year. He did not stop at that and even threatened to blow her house up.

'You shall burn in hell, look at your jeans they are so tight. You will burn in hell for wearing such clothes,' he told Noor.

When Noor reacted to his abuse and said she would report him to the police, he said, 'they can't do anything. I am going to come down your house and blow up you and your house.'

The court was shown a video where Henderson was seen shouting 'You're all terrorists' and 'the Queen of England is a terrorist', while he was being taken away by the police.

Noor had told the court she was not the sole target of Hendersons verbal abuse. He allegedly called many other women 'prostitutes' for donning western clothes and also called branded the kaafir.

I was dressed in Western clothes so I don't think he thought I was a Muslim, Noor said, claiming that Henderson had been targeting white women.
Netaji's only daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff, is a professor of economics based in Germany.

London: The only child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose wants to bring her late father's ashes back to India, according to one of Japan's leading newspapers.

Anita Bose Pfaff, a professor of economics based in Germany, told 'Yomiuri Shimbun' daily this week that she hopes the debate around the circumstances of the freedom fighter's death can finally be laid to rest.

"I want to bring back his ashes to India, which is now an independent nation. Indian independence was his (her father's) ardent wish," the 73-year-old is quoted as saying.

According to Bosefiles.info, a UK-based website set up to catalogue the circumstances around Netaji's disappearances, claims the 'Yomiuri Shimbun' story was published in the context of a 1956 Japanese government investigation report on the death to be made public on Friday.

The same Japanese government investigation report was published by Bosefiles.info on September 1.

"The document, which has been treated as classified by the Japanese government, will be available for browsing at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan," the paper reports.

The document concludes Bose died as a result of a plane crash at Taipei on August 18, 1945.

Professor Pfaff was quoted by the paper as saying: "I hope that the new document can end the debate."

'Yomiuri Shimbun' writes: "According to the document (the Japanese government investigation report), which is based on testimonies by witnesses and army physicians who were at his bedside when Bose died, the airplane which Bose was on board crashed at 13:50 on 18 August, 1945, immediately after taking off from Taiwan, where the plane landed for fuelling.

"Bose, who suffered burn injury all over his body, requested 'to treat others before himself' at the army hospital he was admitted to. Despite his request, physicians treated Bose first. However, Bose died at 19:00."

It further reports: "The document also shows the process as to how his ashes and belongings were transported to Japan."

Bose's ashes have reportedly since been preserved at the Japanese capital's Renkoji temple for 71 years.

The paper reports the chief priest at this place of worship, Kyozen Mochizuki, "also hopes that the release of the document will lead to (the) return of the ashes to India".
London: Britain's Prince Charles feared being shot dead during his ex-wife Diana's funeral in 1997 because he had become 'public enemy number one' after her death, a royal biographer has claimed.

Ingrid Seward, a veteran royal correspondent, said that the 67-year-old heir to Britain's throne was "fatalistic" about the possibility that a gunman would take a shot as he followed Princess Diana's coffin to Westminster Abbey after she was killed in a car crash in Paris, 'The Times' reports.

"Prince Charles was extremely nervous because he was public enemy number one," Seward told the audience on Monday during the Henley Literary Festival at Henley-on-Thames.

"He thought, 'If someone takes a gun out and shoots me, that's it'. The streets of London were very quiet. You could hear a pin drop. You could hear everything the crowd was saying. They were saying, 'Look at him, look at him'. They were being quite nasty. The whole way round he could hear this abuse and he didn't think he would make it the whole way round," she said, without disclosing her sources.

Dickie Arbiter, press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II at the time, spoke alongside Seward and said the prince knew many people blamed him for the collapse of his marriage, but the real reasons were complex.

"No marriage is made in heaven. When lust and passion has worn off you've got to work at it," he said.

Seward added that public scrutiny of royal behaviour was worse because of Twitter and camera phones today.

She suggested the relationship between Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas, which ended in 2014, was strained because of the exposure.

"I think it's actually evil in a way. Cressie, the most gorgeous girl, said it was awful because every time she walked down the street she could hear people criticising her," she said.
The court viewed a clip from footage of the incident which was beamed around the world in which a worker can be distinctly heard threatening human resources boss. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Bobigny: Cheers and jeers greeted the start of the trial on Tuesday of 15 people over an attack on two Air France executives, who had their shirts ripped by workers angry over planned job cuts.

The trial over the October 2015 incident, which made headlines worldwide, opened in a packed courtroom outside Paris amid raucous scenes by backers of the defendants, five of whom are charged with "organised violence".

The five face up to three years in prison and a 45,000-euro ($51,000) fine if convicted in the two-day trial.

Another 10 face lesser charges over the confrontation, which arose from a dispute over plans to cut 2,900 jobs under a restructuring plan that the airline has since scrapped.

The court viewed a clip from footage of the incident which was beamed around the world in which a worker can be distinctly heard threatening human resources boss Xavier Broseta, "You've got millions, you're going to pay."

Union activists at the trial cheered as defence lawyer Lilia Mhissen took on six opposing lawyers representing the aviation giant.

Banging his gavel, the judge warned the defendants' backers: "No demonstrations, no protests or I will have the court cleared. This is not a show!"

But he was equally stern with the lawyers, ordering them "not to bicker".

The court deliberated over whether the union activists had the right to break down the gate of the perimeter fence at the company headquarters near Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport.

The defence argued that the gate was normally open, and that padlocking it on the day of the incident was a "provocation".

After crashing through the fence, dozens of workers broke into the conference room where management was unveiling the restructuring plan to the company's works committee.

As well as Broseta, another executive, Pierre Plissonnier, had his shirt and jacket torn in the incident. Guards employed by the company were also injured in the melee.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the men, whom he branded "rogues", should be given stiff sentences.

Air France's lawyer, Dominique Mondoloni, said Monday that the defence would seek to "transform the perpetrators (of the violence) into victims and the victims into perpetrators."

The bigger picture

Mhissen, the defendants' lawyer, said she hoped her clients would "not be judged on the basis of video clips that last a fraction of a second" but on the bigger picture.

At least two of them "clearly acted to protect Mr Broseta and Mr Plissonnier", she said.

"If they had retrieved all of the video images... the story would have been different."

Some Air France workers observed a strike on Tuesday in solidarity with the defendants, which the company said did not affect operations.

Some 300 union members rallied outside the courtroom, with one, Mahchid Modjaverian, saying the trial amounted to "the criminalisation of union action".

"They can't take the right to protest from us," she told AFP. "It is engraved in the marble of the constitution."

Air France-KLM returned to profit last year after seven years of losses, but faces stiff competition from Asian and Gulf airlines as well as new, low-cost long-haul alternatives.

Air France, which employs around 55,000 people, still faces tensions with pilots and flight crews that staged strikes in late July.

The airline also faces a downturn in bookings, notably by Japanese, Chinese and American customers, because of the string of jihadist attacks that have hit France over the past 21 months.
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. (Photo: Twitter)

London: British police on Tuesday said they would investigate a Pakistani-born actor's anti-India rant on social media as a possible hate crime even as the former "Coronation Street" star apologised for the "unacceptable" language.

Marc Anwar, who was sacked yesterday from one of Britain's longest-running television soap operas after a series of "racially offensive" tweets, will be investigated by Greater Manchester Police.

"On Sunday 25 September, 2016 police received a report of a hate crime. Police have launched an investigation and inquiries are ongoing," a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said.

The 45-year-old, who played a key Muslim character of Sharif Nazir on the show, apologised for his tweets.

"I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone that I may have offended with my tweets on Friday evening and especially people from India," he said in a video apology.

"This was never my intention and the language was unacceptable. I feel that I have let a lot of people down, my family, my friends and my former colleagues. This I very sincerely apologise for," he said.

'Sunday Mirror' had published screenshots of messages posted on Mr Anwar's private Twitter account which appeared to hit out at India over Kashmir using abuses for Indians.

Speaking to BBC on Monday, Mr Anwar said his Twitter account was private at the time the tweets were posted and he had not expected them to be widely read.

"My Twitter account was private because I didn't want to engage with anybody... I'm not a bigot, not a coward and not a liar. I'm definitely not a racist," he told BBC.

ITV channel had issued a statement after being alerted to the messages by the newspaper: "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 channel is expected to try and minimise the actor's presence in the show until his character can be eventually written out.

His remarks came days after the terror attack on an army base in Kashmir's Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed.
When interrogated, the woman told the officials that she was carrying the organs of her dead husband. (Representational Image)

Vienna: Officials at Austria's Graz airport detained a woman after she was caught carrying intestines of her dead husband. The customs officials held the woman after they became suspicious of her unusual behavior.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, while the woman was travelling through customs, officials observed that she was nervous, following which they decided to check her luggage.

The suspect who was travelling from Morocco to Graz airport was carrying body parts of her dead husband, said officials, adding that the cut out intestines were carefully placed in two containers.

When interrogated, the woman told the officials that she was carrying the organs of her dead husband.

The woman said that she believed her husband was poisoned and therefore she wanted a medical checkup to be conducted, for which she was carrying the intestines with her.

Graz airport is located in Austria's second largest city. It serves flights to domestic as well as international destinations. More than 6,000 passengers travel through Graz on a daily basis.
Turkey has fired tens of thousands of people from state institutions in the wake of the attempted putsch but this was the first announcement of dismissals from the powerful spy agency. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Istanbul: Turkey has dismissed 87 staff from its spy agency over alleged links to the failed July 15 coup, state media said Tuesday, in the first purge of one of the country's most powerful institutions.

National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) has suspended 141 personnel in an internal probe over links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara alleges was behind the coup.

Of these, 87 have now been expelled, the Anadolu news agency said. Criminal complaints have been lodged against 52 of them, it added.

In a separate development, Turkish police detained 41 suspects from a charity organisation Kimse Yok Mu for alleged links to Gulen, Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkey has fired tens of thousands of people from state institutions in the wake of the attempted putsch but this was the first announcement of dismissals from the powerful spy agency.

Turkey's secret service was widely criticised for not warning authorities about the coup bid and the government has acknowledged a vacuum in gathering intelligence.

The 87 staff from the Turkish intelligence will no longer be able to work in another state institution after their dismissal, Anadolu also reported.

Fidan under fire

There had been intense speculation over the future of Turkish spy chief Hakan Fidan after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly said intelligence lapses had helped the coup.

The Turkish strongman had admitted he himself found about the coup not from the intelligence service but from his brother-in-law, and that he had been unable to reach Fidan on the night of the putsch.

Fidan was named to head MIT by the Turkish president in May 2010 after serving as his foreign policy adviser for three years.

Erdogan, who described Fidan as his "secret keeper", had made no secret of his discontent when the spy chief in February 2015 resigned as head of MIT with the aim of becoming an MP from the president's ruling party. But later Fidan withdrew his candidacy and remained at the top of the intelligence service.

In a picture that sparked a frenzy on social media, the previously clean-shaven Fidan was shown in a meeting with the president in the aftermath of the coup in July with a moustache.

Several top ministers, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, have grown facial hair in recent months in what is widely seen as a sign of loyalty to the moustachioed head of state.

The MIT is one of Turkey's most secretive but powerful organisations, handling issues ranging from internal security to the sensitive areas of foreign policy.

Financing terror

Turkish police carried out operations in 18 provinces including in the mega city Istanbul in search of 121 suspects linked to Kimse Yok Mu, which had been shut down by authorities in the wake of the coup along with other Gulen-linked groups, Anadolu reported.

They detained 41 suspects while 77 were abroad, two arrested as part of unrelated probes, and one was still at large.

The suspects stand accused of several charges including "membership in an armed group" and "financing terror."

The government several occasions asked US authorities to extradite Gulen to face justice at home.

The preacher, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement in the putsch.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday warned that it can approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ), if India violates the Indus Water Treaty.

Pakistan Prime Ministers advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said that according to international law, India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty.

According to reports in Pakistani media, Aziz chose to point out further that the treaty was not suspended even during the Siachen and Kargil wars.

In a stern message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said, blood and water cannot flow together, during his meeting on India Water Treaty in the national capital.

Despite the Prime Ministers hard-hitting statement, sources in the Water Ministry have said that India will not scrap the water treaty with Pakistan, amidst heightened tension between the two countries in the wake of the recent Uri attack which was carried out by Pak-based militants. However, India has decided to use it fullest legal rights in the treaty and will make greater use of waters that are crucial to Pakistan.

Government sources said India will exploit to the maximum the capacity of Pak-

controlled rivers -- Indus, Chenab, Jhelum as per the Indus Treaty. Sources also said that India may take further action, depending on Pakistan's response.

Apart from deciding to exploit to the maximum the capacity of three of the rivers that are under Pakistan's control in the areas of hydro power, irrigation and storage, the meeting also agreed to review the "unilateral suspension" of Tulbul navigation project in 1987.

Modi had chaired the meeting to review the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, which was attended by top officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the Water Resources Secretary, and senior PMO officials.

The review was undertaken as India weighs options to give a befitting response to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.
The North carried out its fifth and most powerful atomic weapons test this month, sparking moves to impose even tougher sanctions. (Photo: AFP/Representational Image)

Beijing: China said Tuesday it opposes a US decision to bring criminal charges against a Chinese firm and executives for their alleged role in supporting North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

"We would like to stress we oppose any country carrying out so-called 'long-arm jurisdiction' over a Chinese entity or individual in accordance with its own domestic laws," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

Beijing has expressed its position directly to the US in recent communications, he added during a regular briefing.

On Monday the US Justice Department announced criminal charges against the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development company and four Chinese nationals for conspiring to evade US sanctions on North Korea, violating US regulations against support for "weapons of mass destruction proliferators", and money-laundering.

In parallel the Treasury added the company and the four individuals to a sanctions blacklist, making them ineligible to do business with American individuals or companies, particularly financial firms.

The move follows an earlier announcement by Chinese authorities that they were investigating the company, located in the city of Dandong on the border with North Korea.

Geng said Beijing would "seriously punish any illegal activities by companies or individuals, once discovered".

He added that China was willing to cooperate with other countries, if needed, on the basis of "mutual respect and equal treatment." He also stressed that China opposes Pyongyang's nuclear programme and has been "faithfully observing" its commitment to UN sanctions.

However, customs data released Monday showed China's imports of North Korean coal have surged 60 percent since the latest sanctions went into effect in April, reaching nearly 2.5 million tonnes valued at $113 million.

Dandong Hongxiang logged more than $530 million in two-way trade with North Korea between 2011 and 2015, according to a recent report by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul and C4ADS in Washington.

That could have been enough to fund North Korea's uranium enrichment facilities, and to design, make, and test its nuclear weapons, the report said.

The North carried out its fifth and most powerful atomic weapons test this month, sparking moves to impose even tougher sanctions.
George Lindy E. Peterson

TOWN OF ANSON  George Lindy E. Peterson, 88, of the town of Anson passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at Our House Senior Living in Chippewa Falls, under the care of Interim Healthcare & Hospice.

He was born Dec. 22, 1927, the son of Nels and Anna (Lang) Peterson. George was raised in the town of Anson, and attended Cadott Country Grade School, then attended and graduated from Chippewa Falls High School. He furthered his education following the military service. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II receiving honorable medals and discharge.

George was united in marriage to Doris Barquist in 1958; they later divorced.

George was employed for the U.S. government, where he was involved in many assignments which included the railroad and working on ships for many years. He also farmed during his employment for the U.S. government when he was home on leave.

He enjoyed fishing and had a trade in refrigeration repair.

George is survived by a son, Nels (Tabatha) Peterson of Cadott; daughter-in-law Kathy Peterson of Chippewa Falls; three grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, David Peterson; parents; three brothers, Theodore Ted Peterson, Dayton Pete (Sarah) Peterson and Merle Mike Peterson; a sister, Eileen (Jim) Griewisch; a half-sister, Louise Siney; anda half-brother, Herbert Proulx.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Leiser Funeral Home in Cadott, with the Rev. George Olinske officiating. Following the funeral service, military honors will be performed at the Countryside Union Cemetery by the Cadott American Legion and VFW. Inurnment will be in the Countryside Union Cemetery at a later date.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Thursday at the funeral home.

Express online condolences at www.leiserfuneralhome.com.
Govt decided that India will exploit to the maximum the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact. (Photo: Representational Image)

Beijing: China on Tuesday reacted guardedly to India's decision to suspend talks with Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty, saying it hopes the two countries can "properly" address disputes and improve ties through dialogue and consultation.

"As a friendly neighbour to both India and Pakistan, China hopes that India and Pakistan can properly address disputes and improve relations through dialogue and consultation, maintain and enhance all-round cooperation and join hands to promote regional peace, stability and development," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told PTI in a written response.

His response came to a question on India's decision to hold the talks between Commissioners of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) only when the atmosphere was free from cross border terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on that country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six rivers, Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum were to be shared between the two countries.
China is the world's largest coal producer and deadly mining accidents are common. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Beijing: At least nine people were killed and 11 more are trapped after an accident Tuesday in a China coal mine, state media reported, the latest disaster in the country's notoriously dangerous mines.

A gas explosion ripped through the colliery in the northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Tuesday morning, China Central Television reported on its verified Weibo social media account.

The mine was operated by Linli Coal Mining company in the city of Shizuishan, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

China is the world's largest coal producer and deadly mining accidents are common. In March 19 people were killed in a coal mine accident in the northern province of Shanxi.

Officials say the number dying annually in the country's mines has fallen substantially in the past decade, to fewer than 1,000 a year. But some rights groups argue the actual figures are significantly higher due to under-reporting.

Many accidents are caused by corrupt bosses seeking profits over worker safety. Industrial safety standards are often flouted in China even though deadly incidents regularly make national news.

China has vowed to cut some two million jobs in its coal and steel industries, which suffer from massive overcapacity.
If Kashmir is an integral part of India, why is it on the Agenda of Security Council, asked Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mohammed Nafees Zakaria. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: With India's Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj advising Islamabad to abandon its dream of separating Kashmir from India during her address to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday, Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson Mohammed Nafees Zakaria sought to know from her "if Kashmir is an integral part of India, why is it on the Agenda of Security Council?"

"Strange that Indian EAM is disowning the UNSC resolutions and that too at the United Nations. Can Indian EAM explain that if Kashmir is an integral part of India, why is it on the Agenda of Security Council," tweeted Zakaria within a few hours after the EAM concluded her speech.

After Swaraj showed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaj Sharif a mirror, saying those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan, Zakaria tweeted, "Indian EAM's reference to Pakistan's province of Balochistan is a violation of UN principles and international law."

Pakistan MoFA spokesperson further tweeted, "Reference to Balochistan is a continuous admission by India of its involvement in subversive activities in Pakistan."

Accusing India of diverting world's attention from "atrocities on defenceless Kashmiris", Zakaria said, "India trying to divert world attention from its atrocities on defenceless Kashmiris, but her efforts will not succeed."

However, defending Swaraj's speech at the UNGA as well-measured and fitting, India Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said she has expressed New Delhi's vision on all those issues which are crucial to the international community.

"As you know that our Foreign Minister gives to the point answer and her today's statement was well-measured and fitting, and she expressed India's vision on all those issues that are crucial to the international community," Swarup told ANI here.

With Swaraj saying "jinke apne ghar shishe ke ho, unhe dusro par patthar nahi fekne chahiye (those whose houses are made of glass should not throw stones at others)", while responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statements at the UNGA on September 21, the MEA spokesperson said, "A few days back, the Pakistan Prime Minister on this very platform had given baseless statements against India; and today the Foreign Minister has given befitting reply to all those things."

"Moreover, she has said the countries fostering terrorism, financing them and providing them with weapons do not have any place in the international community which, in my opinion, was a very important and powerful message that she delivered today," he added.

When asked whether he thought that Pakistan was isolated on the international platform, Swarup said, "That is evident. As you have seen when the Pakistan Prime Minister delivered his speech, his speech got no comments in their support; whereas there is a consensus in the world on India's statement on terrorism and there is a common consensus that fighting terrorism is, at present, utmost necessary."

On Balochistan also, the Foreign Minister commented on the atrocities committed there, he said.
Islamabad: Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday claimed that India was not serious about resolving historical disputes such as the Kashmir issue, and accused its spy agency of exploiting the security situation on the border with Afghanistan.

India is unwilling to address historical disputes like Kashmir that directly fan misunderstanding and feed into persistent regional culture of conflict, Gen Sharif said in Stutgart, Germany, where was on a day-long visit to attend a conference of Chief of Staffs of the Armed Force being held under the auspices of US Centcom.

He accused India of exploiting the security situation on the border with Afghanistan and added that terrorists could move across borders because of no effective border management systems in place there.

This is exploited by the anti-Pakistan intelligence agencies such as RAW, he said.

The Pakistan army chief said a stable Afghanistan is a guarantee to a peaceful and stable region and peace in the war-ravaged country could be achieved through a comprehensive and coordinated strategy.

Route to a peaceful and prosperous region runs through a stable Afghanistan, which is achievable through comprehensive and coordinated approach, he said.

He said Pakistan is making all out efforts to eliminate terrorism and it has suffered the most due to the menace compared to any other country in the world.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday warned India that unilateral revocation of the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty would be treated as an "act of war" saying it could also approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if the water-sharing pact is suspended.

"It is the most successful water treaty ever conducted between two countries. Its revocation can be treated as an act of war or a hostile action against Pakistan," the country's top diplomat Sartaj Aziz said in Islamabad.

Pakistan will also approach the UN and the International Court of Justice if India suspends the treaty, he said.

He said Pakistan is considering drawing attention of the international community on the dangers of such an action if it is considered seriously.

"The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Aziz, Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, said while briefing the National Assembly on the issue.

He said unilateral revocation of the treaty can pose a threat to Pakistan and its economy warning that any interruption in the water flow would serve as an example to usurp the right of lower riparian states.

He said that if India violates the treaty, Pakistan can approach the International Court of Justice.

"This Indian act can be taken as breach of international peace and hence giving Pakistan a good reason to approach the UN Security Council," Aziz said.

He said the treaty was not suspended even during the Kargil and Siachen wars, adding even India could suffer if the flow of its rivers was disturbed by China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a review meeting of the Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water-sharing pact.

The meeting came as India weighed its options to hit back at Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack that left 18 soldiers dead, triggering demands that the government scrap the water-sharing deal to mount pressure on the country.

Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, waters of six rivers - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

Pakistan has been complaining about not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in a couple of cases.
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the newly formed Rocket Force of the PLA which handles the country's growing arsenal of missiles has played an "irreplaceable" role in helping Beijing to become a "major power" by warding off war threats.

Inspecting the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force on Monday, Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), described the force as a "core of strategic deterrence, a strategic buttress to the country's position as a major power, and a cornerstone on which to build national security."

The PLA Rocket Force was established last year, part of a wider military structural reform drive in the 22,85,000 strong PLA, the world's largest standing army.

Xi, who is also the head of the military, had conferred the military flag on the Rocket Force at its inauguration ceremony held in Beijing on December 31, 2015.

Amid the changing international situation and major challenges to national security, the Rocket Force has played an "irreplaceable" role in containing war threats, ensuring a secure and favourable strategic posture for China, as well as maintaining global strategic balance and stability, Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run China Daily.

He asked the Rocket Force to increase its sense of crisis and strengthen its strategic ability so as to provide a safe and strategic security environment to the nation.

Last year, China has during a parade showcased a whole range of long, medium and short range missiles, including its Dongfeng-21D missile and the anti-ship ballistic missile described as the "carrier killer".

It had caused concern among US defence officials as it could blow up aircraft carriers from a distance of about 1500 km to 1700 kms.

"New breakthroughs should be made in enhancing the troop's strategic containment capacity, combat preparedness and application of strategy," Xi said and asked the Rocket Force to follow the Party's absolute leadership, maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee.

Xi's comments came amid growing tensions with the US and Japan over the South China Sea, disputed islands in the East China Sea and efforts by North Korea to ramp up its nuclear capability despite international sanctions.

In South China Sea, China is on the back foot after an international tribunal quashed its historic claims over the whole area.

The US has waded into the region in a big way extending military backing to Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which counter Beijing's claims.

Amid growing tensions, China on Monday flew its biggest contingent of war planes to west Pacific, close to Japanese Okinawa coast to conduct its biggest air exercises. China is also opposed to the US move to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, (THAAD) defence missile systems in South Korea to ward off threats missile threats from North Korea.
Officials said the left wheel of the bus slipped off the road and pulled down the whole vehicle. (Photo: Representational Image)

Kathamandu: An overcrowded bus carrying villagers heading home for the country's biggest festival slipped off a mountain road in Nepal on Tuesday, killing at least 18 people, officials said.

The bus was carrying passengers both inside and on the roof, said Dhading District Administration official Toran Parajuli. He said that the road was covered in parts by mud from landslides, and that the bus driver appeared to be trying to negotiate around these areas when the accident happened.

Ramesh Dhamala, who was coordinating rescue efforts, said the left wheel of the bus slipped off the road and pulled down the whole vehicle.

The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.

Police and army rescuers along with local villagers helped the victims. Two rescue helicopters sent from Kathmandu brought 13 injured people to a hospital.

The bus, which was on a local route and carrying all Nepali nationals, was unusually crowded because people in Nepal are heading to their village homes this week for the Hindu festival of Dashain, which begins Saturday. The two-week festival is the most important one in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country.

It is illegal to travel on the roof of a bus in Nepal, but police do not monitor rural roads. Traffic accidents in the Himalayan country are blamed mainly on poorly maintained roads and vehicles.
Islamabad: In a major move to clamp down on terror financing in the country, Pakistans central bank has directed all banks in the country to freeze accounts worth millions of rupees linked to 2,021 individuals listed on the Fourth Schedule of Pakistans Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.

According to a report in Dawn, All banks, development finance institutions and microfinance banks have been advised to take immediate action as per requirement of the law against individuals, whose names are included in the lists of fourth schedulers provided by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA), a State Bank of Pakistan source was quoted as saying.

But the list of accounts to be frozen does not include accounts belonging to Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), or Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) of whom Hafiz Saeed is the leader. Kashmiri separatist and terrorist groups have been entirely excluded from the order.

Some prominent names on the list are Maulvi Abdul Aziz (Lal Masjid), Mohsin Najfi (Shia leader), Maulvi Ahmed Ludhianvi, Pariyal Shah, Maulvi Kabir, Aurangzeb Farooqi (all Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat), Allama Maqsood Domki (Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen), Sibtain Shirazi, Mirza Ali, Sheikh Nayyar (all Tehreek-i-Jafria Pakistan), Ramzan Mengal (Lashkar-e-Jhangvi), and Shahid Bikik (Lyari Aman Committee).

The list of 2,021 individuals  mostly leaders and office-bearers of sectarian groups  was sent to all banks by the State Bank of Pakistan, said the report. Incredibly, the list includes some dead individuals too.

Senior counterterrorism officials were quoted as saying the complete list may have between 6,500 and 8,000 names. The list includes 1443 names from West Punjab, followed by Sindh (226), Balochistan (193), Gilgit-Baltistan (106), Islamabad (27) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (26).

It is not clear what criteria were used to draw up the list forwarded to the banks.

But this is the first time that such a large-scale crackdown on terror financing has been ordered by Pakistans central bank. The latest move comes after criticism that not enough is being done to squelch terrorism financing, even as India continues to attack Pakistan at the UN for harbouring terrorists following the attack in Uri.
Kathmandu: Nepal's main opposition leader and former Premier KP Oli on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Prachanda of "inviting" India to play its role in implementing the country's Constitution during his recent four-day visit to New Delhi.

Addressing a meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, the CPN-UML chairman said he was against the invitation.

Raising objection, Oli said 'Prachanda' had invited India's concern and role towards the implementation of the Constitution.

The Prime Minister did not brief the House about his arrival after the visit, Oli said, adding that 'Prachanda' gave space to India to seek its role in the enforcement process of the country's main law.

He also accused the government of not making required preparations for holding parliamentary and local level elections.

Noting that the main opposition party was not formally informed about the government's preparations for amending the Constitution, Oli called on the government to come up with a substantive calendar for the enforcement of the Constitution.

Prachanda's visit had come in the backdrop of a previously strained India-Nepal ties following the months-long blockade of border trade points by Madhesis - who share strong cultural and family bonds with Indians - over the new Constitution.

The Madhesi people allege that the Constitution is discriminatory to their interest and marginalise them politically.

On September 18, Prachanda said his first overseas visit to India was successful and focused on creating an "environment of trust" and effectively implement bilateral projects for Nepal's benefit.
Pro-life students at Ohio University muzzled; signs destroyed by masked assailants with clubs 27 September, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

ATHENS, Ohio (Christian Examiner)  A group of pro-life students challenging the connection between Planned Parenthood and the Democrat Party was told by an Ohio University staffer their organization cannot distribute literature to other students on the campus commons area, but instead must remain behind their table or risk trouble with the authorities for "solicitation."

According to a statement from Students for Life (SFL), its members  all students at the university  were on campus distributing postcards related to its Cycle of Corruption campaign when they were told their actions violated university policies. Members of the pro-life group said they believed they had a right to distribute literature and would be contacting their attorney.

In the campaign put forth by the SFL, the group chronicles how federal funding for Planned Parenthood increased by nearly 65 percent to nearly $554 million annually since President Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest and most vociferous abortion mill.

Of the money given to the abortion provider by taxpayers, the student group claims, it has returned nearly $3 million in cash and another $11 million in "in-kind donations" to politicians  98.7 percent of which were Democrats. As a result, the Democratic National Committee, formerly chaired by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, built into the DNC platform some of the most extreme abortion positions ever seen (including free abortion services).

Planned Parenthood also announced it will offer voter registration services to the women who utilize their clinical services.

This is the second time the SFL protestors have been confronted in a week. Last week, masked protestors attempted to demolish the signs posted by the group. One or more of the assailants carried a club of some sort.

Whether or not the pro-life students can place anti-abortion and even anti-Democrat literature in the hands of other students is a matter that may already be settled. Earlier this year, a Christian student organization at North Carolina State University sued the school for violating its members' right to speak openly about their faith anywhere on campus.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina April 26, the members of Grace Christian Life claimed that it is a registered student organization on the campus, but that it is forced to seek approval from university administrators before it can have open and frank discussions about religion with other students. It also said its members could only speak from confined areas (such as behind a table).

A federal judge ruled in July that NC State had erred and students, in fact, do not need a permit before expressing themselves either verbally or in writing.

At Ohio University, SFL organizers ignored orders to cease the distribution of postcards in spite of the fact they were warned three times.

Jacob Hoback, president of the Ohio University's SFL chapter, said his group would not be silenced as long as the unborn are silenced.

During the videotaped encounter between SFL protestors and the school official, the official said it was acceptable for SFL members to stand behind the table and smile. Interacting with students outside of the confined area, however, could be perceived as a violation of the school's policy.

"[Soliciting is] going out to someone without them kind of coming to your table," the staff member told the group. He also said if SFL protestors did not leave, they would have to answer to campus police. Both sides then agreed to disengage.

OU's communications director, Carly Glick, said the SFL group had been treated like every other student group that wanted to host a space in the same area. She also said the rules were clear and students "understood the limitations associated with this reserved space." No group, she said, may distribute literature in the location where the SFL group was because of the small ingress and egress space there.

However, it is unclear why SFL members were told to move behind their table when other groups were allowed to mingle with passing students.


But caution set in as worries grew over the outcome of an upcoming meeting of oil producers in Algeria to discuss ways to lift oil prices.



The level of uncertainty became accentuated, with futures and options expiry coming up on Thursday and the monetary policy meet on October 4.



The benchmark, which lost nearly 478.85 points in the previous two sessions, today resumed higher. But selling pressure in the last hour due to profit-booking meant the gauge slipped and settled at 28,223.70, a loss of 70.58 points, or 0.25 per cent.



Displaying volatility, the NSE Nifty managed to close above the 8,700 mark, but was still down 16.65 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 8,706.40.



"FIIs had also been net sellers in the last couple of days, keeping a lid on upsides, and with just a day ahead of F&O expiry, rollovers have remained below average, suggesting that risk appetite is lower, especially with RBI rate decision scheduled for next week," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.



Overall, 18 of the 30-share Sensex team fell. Shares of Adani Ports lost heavily, plunging the most by 2.20 per cent, followed by Bharti Airtel 2.01 per cent. L&T, ONGC, Axis Bank, GAIL and SBI too lost sizeable ground.



Among the sectoral indices, capital goods was hardest hit, down 1.12 per cent, followed by oil & gas (0.72 per cent), metal (0.68 per cent) and PSU (0.62 per cent).



IT, healthcare, technology and consumer durable stocks provided comfort, rising by up to 0.70 per cent.



The small-cap index was marginally up 0.13 per cent while mid-cap index advanced 0.11 per cent.



Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 206.40 crore yesterday.

European shares showed signs of weakness as London's FTSE slumped 0.19 per cent, Paris CAC 0.52 per cent and Frankfurt 0.85 per cent.



"The positive vibes from the global economy were evaporating with the rising perplexity over the oil exporters' meet to find a consensus on production freeze. Investors are in a defensive mode on equities ahead of expiry and the market may turn volatile in the current consolidation phase," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.



The market breadth remained negative as 1,430 stocks ended in the red while 1,254 finished higher and 215 ruled steady.



The total turnover on BSE worked out to Rs 2,890.15 crore, lower than Rs 3,435.24 crore in the previous session.



Stocks hit a soft patch for the third straight day as the Sensex succumbed to a slump in European markets as it wiped off early gains and ended lower at 28,224 -- an almost 1-month low -- ahead of the derivatives expiry.The beginning of trade, however, offered a picture in contrast as mood remained upbeat after the US presidential debate showed Democrat Hillary Clinton getting an investors' thumbs-up over Republican nominee Donald Trump.


The 90-minute clash witnessed the 68-year-old former secretary of state and the 70-year-old reality TV star, who have attacked the other for months in separate campaigns, taking the stage together here for the first time to woo a substantial chunk of voters who remain undecided voters ahead of the November 8 polls.



The CNN/ORC poll declared Clinton as the clear winner in the first of a series of three debates, with a massive 62 per cent of voters giving an edge to the Democrat over Trump, who was deemed winner by only 27 per cent.



The two candidates indulged in a series of combative, acrimonious exchanges as the battle turned personal, with the controversial real estate mogul being questioning the "stamina" of the former secretary of state after her recent bout of pneumonia.



Clinton was seen smiling through the insults and landed jabs of her own to put Trump on the defensive over his temperament, refusal to release his taxes and his past comments on race and women in the debate that set netizens talking about the showdown in huge numbers.



Trump said he will release his tax returns if Clinton releases her 33,000 emails deleted by her from the period when she was the secretary of state in the first term of the Obama Administration.



"As soon as she releases them, I will release," he said when he was being grilled for not releasing his tax returns.



The two leaders clashed as they came face-to-face for the first of the three high-stake presidential debates at Hofstra University in Hempstead, about an hour's drive from New York City and projected themselves as best-prepared to lead the nation just six weeks before the election.



Clinton accused Trump of being "anti-women" and challenged his allegations that she lacked the stamina to be the commander-in-chief as the real estate mogul said "she does not have the stamina".



"She doesn't have the look. I said she doesn't have the stamina. And I don't believe she does have the stamina. To be president of this country, you need tremendous stamina," Trump said in response to a question during the first presidential debate.



Clinton hit back, saying: "Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina."



She said the "racist lie" perpetuated by her rival about Barack Obama of not being a natural-born citizen "bothered and annoyed" the US President, whom she called a man of "great dignity". She slammed Trump's long record of engaging in "racist behaviour" and said "the birther lie was a very hurtful one".



Meanwhile, Trump - who is running for the top post for the first time - said Clinton has "got experience", but it is "bad experience" and that the country can not afford to have another four years of it.



However, the non-politician interrupted Clinton several times and appeared agitated as Clinton appeared calm and composed.



According to voters in the CNN/ORC poll, Clinton expressed her views more clearly than Trump and had a better understanding of the issues by a margin of more than 2-to-1.



Showing their political colours, Clinton was dressed in a Republican red pant suit while Trump in a Democratic blue tie.



Trump, who was seen drinking water multiple times during the debate that had Clinton making a number of thinly veiled swipes, alleged his rival has no plans to defeat ISIS, the biggest national security challenge to the country.



"Secretary Clinton is talking about taking out ISIS. "We will take out ISIS." Well, President Obama and Secretary Clinton created a vacuum the way they got out of Iraq, because they got out -- what, they shouldn't have been in, but once they got in, the way they got out was a disaster. And ISIS was formed," he alleged.



Clinton disagreed, saying: "I have put forth a plan to defeat ISIS. It does involve going after them online. I think we need to do much more with our tech companies to prevent ISIS and their operatives from being able to use the Internet to radicalise, even direct people in our country and Europe and elsewhere."



She said Trump has flip-flopped on his policy on Iraq as he initially supported the war in Iraq, though Trump strongly denied the charge.



"I hope the fact-checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard. Donald supported the invasion of Iraq," she said as the two entered into a verbal duel.



Trump claimed that the US is being used as a "piggy bank" to rebuild China and many other countries are doing the same thing as he underlined the need to stop jobs from being "stolen" from the US.



Both elicited laughter and cheers despite pleas from the organisers for no cheering, booing or clapping. Moderator NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt could be seen struggling to get a word in edgeways, saying "We need to move on as Trump spoke into the microphone about the nuclear threat.



"I think my strongest asset, maybe by far is my temperament," said the real estate tycoon to laughter.



"Woah. OK," she said to more laughs.

Clinton, who acknowledged that using personal email hosted on a private server was a mistake, said Trump is not releasing his tax returns may be because of certain reasons.



"First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is. Second, maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be. Third, we don't know all of his business dealings, but we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes about USD 650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks.



"Or maybe he doesn't want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he's paid nothing in federal taxes" she said.







Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump today battled out in front of tens of millions of American voters over racism, terror and temperament in their fiery first debate ahead of the epic presidential election as the Democratic nominee put her Republican rival on the defensive.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton today targetted her Republican rival Donald Trump for being a man who can be provoked easily and should not have "his fingers near the nuclear codes", indicating that the real-estate tycoon is not fit to be the next US President.





The 68-year-old former secretary of state said Trump's "cavalier" attitude about nuclear weapons, the number one threat in the world, is "deeply troubling" as she assured US allies that if elected, her administration would stand behind the country's commitment to them.



"So a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, as far as I think anyone with any sense about this should be concerned," Clinton said in response.



"His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. That is the number-one threat we face in the world. And it becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on any nuclear material," a combative Clinton said during the first of the three presidential debate here.



Clinton also slammed Trump for his alleged rhetoric on nuclear weapons.

"What we heard Donald say about nuclear weapons. He has said repeatedly that he didn't care if other nations got nuclear weapons, Japan, South Korea, even Saudi Arabia. It has been the policy of the US, Democrats and Republicans, to do everything we could to reduce the proliferation of nuclear weapons.



Trump said, "...I agree with her on one thing. The single greatest problem the world has is nuclear armament, nuclear weapons, not global warming, like you think and your president thinks."



"Nuclear is the single greatest threat. Just to go down the list, we defend Japan, we defend Germany, we defend South Korea, we defend Saudi Arabia, we defend countries. They do not pay us. But they should be paying us, because we are providing tremendous service and we're losing a fortune," he asserted.



Responding to a question Trump ruled out taking out nuclear option off the table.

"We have to be prepared. I can't take anything off the table. Because you look at some of these countries, you look at North Korea, we're doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea," he said and described the Iranian nuclear agreement as the worst deal.



Clinton used the occasion to reassure the American allies.

"Words matter. Words matter when you run for president. And they really matter when you are president. And I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual defence treaties and we will honour them. It is essential that America's word be good," Clinton said.



Besides nuclear weapons, Clinton also said that cyber security and warfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president.

"I think cyber security, cyber warfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president.



"But increasingly, we are seeing cyber-attacks coming from states, organs of states. The most recent and troubling of these has been Russia," she said.
The Supreme Court today expressed unhappiness over non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan through his lawyer in connection with the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case and asked CBI to serve a fresh notice on the Samajwadi Party leader.





"In our considered opinion, the respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.



It directed the apex court registry to provide copy of the case records along with the notice to CBI for serving them on the minister.



The court said that it seems whatever had been said by Khan is in "his personal capacity".



The remarks came when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, submitted that the notice could have been served through UP government as Khan is part of the cabinet.



The bench, meanwhile, allowed lawyer Kislay Pandey, appearing for the victim's father, to file additional documents in the case and fixed the matter for further hearing on October 25.



The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida- based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point.



The apex court had on August 29 taken note of the controversial remarks of Khan that the gangrape case was a "political conspiracy", while staying the CBI probe in the case. It had also asked whether the State should stop people holding high offices from making such comments on heinous crimes.



On September 8, the court lifted the stay on CBI probe in the case after modifying its earlier order and asked the agency to proceed as per law.



CBI had moved the apex court seeking modification of the order staying its ongoing probe in the case, saying it may cause "disappearance of material evidences" besides enabling six accused to seek statutory bail.



Initially, the FIR was lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police under various provisions on July 30. CBI had re-registered the case on August 18 in pursuance to the Allahabad High Court's interim order.



The apex court had earlier appointed senior advocate F S Nariman as amicus curiae (friend of the court), while framing some legal questions with regard to freedom of speech and expression and probable impact of statements of those holding high offices on free and fair probe in heinous cases like this.



The court had said it would examine whether such statements are covered under freedom of speech and expression of an individual. It had said the statements, which are not given for self protection, comply with the concept of "constitutional sensitivities".



The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped in July on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen.



The Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation.



In the plea filed in the apex court, the victim's father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi "in the interest of justice".



Unhappy with the UP Police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by "some other competent agency".


Congress MPs from Karnataka today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the Cauvery issue, urging him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of two states for an amicable settlement.





About 11 Congress MPs from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha staged a protest today at the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises against the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water.



The apex court had on September 20 directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of the river water per day to lower riparian Tamil Nadu by September 27 and suggested the formation of Cauvery Management Board. The order led to widespread protests in both the states.



"We have requested Modiji to intervene in the matter immediately and call the meeting of Chief Ministers and give directions to settle the Cauvery water dispute amicably," Lok Sabha MP D K Suresh from Bangalore Rural constituency said after making a representation to the PM.



The Congress MPs also demanded that the Cauvery Management Board should not be set up to resolve the water sharing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he said.



Suresh said that it would be difficult for the state to release water to Tamil Nadu as it does not have water in the reservoirs because of severe drought in last two years.



It barely has water to meet the drinking water demand, he added.

The MPs complained that the PM did not give adequate time to hear their concerns.

They submitted separate memorandums to the Prime Minister and Water Resource minister Uma Bharti today.



In the representation, the MPs informed the Prime Minister that the Karnataka government has been making sincere efforts to comply with the February 5, 2007 order passed by the Cauvery Water Tribunal. But the Tamil Nadu government has taken the matter before Supreme Court which was unwarranted.



"Water sharing dispute can be settled among the states by mutual discussions and consent. But the repeated decisions of the Supreme Court, instead of resolving the issue, have aggravated the situation, creating severe rift between the two states," they said.



Muddahanume Gowda, Lok Sabha MP from Tumkur constituency, said the PM should intervene and take a call on sharing of Cauvery after assessing the ground reality of water availability in the reservoirs of Karnataka.
Dedication to Outstanding Care

Contact: Micah Metz, World Gospel Mission, 765-671-7249, micah.metz@wgm.org

BOMET, Kenya, Sept. 26, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Ben Roberts is an eye doctor at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. He is being honored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology with its Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award for "his contributions in charitable activities, care of the indigent, and community service performed above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist."

A service Dr. Roberts provides regularly is traveling to South Sudan with Tenwek's Eye Team to provide eye clinics for those in need. Following is a story that highlights his dedication to God's call and his willingness to serve. On the last day of a clinic, a special couple came for help; Dr. Roberts shared:

"They traveled four days, walking and sleeping in the bush to get to our clinic. The wife had bilateral cataracts, and the husband was blind in one eye. All of us were awestruck when we saw them with only a mosquito net, a bag of sorghum (a staple food grain), and a dry water canister. The husband did not come for himself but wanted sight for his wife. After informing the husband that we could help him as well, we proceeded to operate on both him and her.

"The next morning after removing the eye patches, the man was elated that he could see again. However, the wife, despite our removing cataracts with uncomplicated surgeries, still could not see. Further examination revealed that she had an irreversible blinding retinitis condition.

"This man and his wife were not believers. They came from a village where they had never heard of the truths of Jesus that we spoke about. Wilson, one of our eye team members, recognized the sacrificial love of this husband and used it as a beautiful example to share with him of the sacrificial love that Jesus has for each of us. This couple departed having heard the gospel but not personally receiving it. They stated that they would share these new truths that they heard with their village."

We thank God for Dr. Roberts' dedication to WGM, his medical field, and his family.

You can make a difference in the lives of people in South Sudan and Kenya by praying from your own home. We are all called to help impact the world for Christ. Will you answer God's call today and partner with us in the Great Commission? Visit www.wgm.org/gcc-25791 to donate to "Sight 4 South Sudan."
In a fresh anti-India tirade, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that the assault on an Indian army base in Uri that killed 18 soldiers was a "plan devised by India itself".





Maintaining that no proof implicating Pakistan in the Uri attack had surfaced yet, Asif told DawnNews that "it was evident the attack was a plan devised by India itself."



India has said it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack and demanded that Islamabad refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism directed against this country.



One of the four terrorists involved in the Uri attack has been identified as Hafiz from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.



The Pakistani minister claimed that the "entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is".



He claimed India has not received support from anywhere despite launching a diatribe against Pakistan and added that China had, on the other hand, supported Pakistan's viewpoint.



Commenting on a bill moved in the US Congress to label Pakistan as a terrorist state, he said that anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impacts of their voices depend on the policies of these countries.



"Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state," he said.



Meanwhile, military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa has said Pakistan's eastern borders are under close monitoring of the security forces who are ready to respond to any aggression.



He urged people to be vigilant and keep an eye on any suspected movement in the border areas.
For the second time in less than ten days, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today issued a demarche to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over Uri attack and confronted him with proof of "cross-border origins" of the terror strike in which 18 jawans were killed.





The Foreign Secretary called in Basit and told him that the preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed, son of Feroz and resident of Dharbang, Muzaffarabad and also gives details of Pakistan- based handlers, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.



"Local villagers in the Uri sector apprehended on 21 September and handed over to Indian security forces two individuals from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir who have acted as guides for terrorists and helped them infiltrate across the LOC.



"Their personal particulars are -Faizal Hussain Awan, 20 years, S/o Gul Akbar Resident of Potha Jahangir, Muzaffarabad and Yasin Khursheed, 19 years, S/o Mohammed Khurshid Resident of Khiliana Kalan, Muzaffarabad," Basit was told.



During his interrogation, Awan has deposed to the NIA that they had "guided and facilitated" the border crossing of the group that perpetrated the September 18 Uri massacre, the Foreign Secretary told him.



In another incident on September 23, 2016, one Pakistani national, Abdul Qayoom, R/o Sialkot was apprehended in Molu sector opposite Pakistan's Sialkot sector and has confessed to undergoing three weeks of training with the terrorist group LeT and donating substantial funds to Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, their front organization, Basit was conveyed.



"We are willing to provide the Pakistan High Commission consular access to these three individuals apprehended in connection with terrorist attacks in India," the Foreign Secretary told the Pakistani envoy.



Basit was also told that these apprehensions and subsequent interrogation underline the cross-border infiltration that had been the subject of their previous discussion.



"We would once again strongly urge the Government of Pakistan to take seriously its commitment not to allow terrorist attacks against India from its soil and territory under its control. Continuing cross-border terrorist attacks from Pakistan against India are unacceptable," Jaishankar asserted.



This is the second time since the attack on September 18 that the Pakistani envoy has been summoned over the terror strike which India maintains was carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups.



New Delhi has already offered to provide Pakistan with fingerprints and DNA samples of terrorists killed in Uri and Poonch, if that country wished to investigate these cross-border attacks.
Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India has been referred to security agencies for vetting before a final decision by the Union Cabinet.





"After examination of Bugti's application for political asylum, we have sent it to security agencies for an in-dept vetting. A security vetting is necessary for such applications before a final decision is taken," a Home Ministry official said.



The decision on Bugti's application for political asylum in India is likely to be taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



Bugti had applied for asylum in Indian consulate in Geneva last week and the application was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn sent it to the Home Ministry.



India does not have a comprehensive asylum policy. As per the United Nations, there are at least 6,480 asylum seekers in India but the government does not recognise them.



The situation is so complex that the officials in the Home Ministry are digging through 1959 records to check the process.

In 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his followers were granted asylum by the Jawaharlal Nehru government.



Even the term 'refugee' is not mentioned in any domestic law.

India has not signed the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention on the Status of Refugees, or its 1967 Protocol that stipulates the rights and services the host states must provide refugees.

Bugti is President and founder of Baloch Republican Party.



He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistani army in 2006.



Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.



If granted asylum, Bugti could be given a long-term visa to be renewed every year.

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has been living in India since 1994 under long-term visa renewable every year.



The other scenario is that he will get registration certificate based on which he can travel anywhere in the world using it as a travel document, an official said.
In a historic move, Pakistan's parliament has passed the much-delayed bill to enable the country's minority Hindu community to register their marriages.



The first ever national law was passed yesterday after the draft was presented in the lower house or National Assembly by minister for human rights Kamran Micheal.



The Nation newspaper reported that the law bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. The minimum legal age for marriage for citizens of other religions is 18 for men and 16 for women.



Breaking the law regarding the minimum age would result in six months' jail and a Rs 5,000 fine.

UNICEF estimates 21 per cent of women aged 20 to 24 in Pakistan were first married before age 18, with three per cent married before age 16.



Zohra Yusuf, head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said the proof of marriage would offer greater protection to Hindu women.



"Once marriages are registered, at least they have certain rights that are ensured," she said.

Widows, in particular, were disadvantaged, she said, being unable to prove marriage to their husbands in order to gain government welfare benefits.



The new law legalises remarriage for a widow six months after her husband's death.

It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before 18.

Activists warn, however, that more needs to be done on the issue of abductions and forced conversions.



"When there is suspicion of a forced marriage, it has to be investigated. Currently members of the Hindu community say that no one listens to them, not even the courts," said Yusuf.



The National Assembly passed the bill after 10 months of deliberations. Now it needs to be passed by the Senate where it is expected to be cleared without any significant delay.



Hindus make up approximately 1.6 per cent of Pakistan's Muslim-majority 190 million population, but they have not had any legal mechanisms to register their marriages since independence in 1947.



Christians, the other main religious minority, have a British law dating back to 1870 regulating their marriages.
It was in December 2015 when five students started working on their start-up project PeekaBook, an e-commerce platform for second hand books, which has now made them the global winners of European Union Future Young Entrepreneurs Competition, which was held in Berlin.





The week-long competition saw participation of 210 students in the age group of 15-18 years, from other countries like Indonesia, Malawi, Netherlands, Romania,

Vietnam and Germany. Represent India on the global platform with their business model were Ansh Aggarwal, Manan Rai, Medha Mathur, Nikkhil Kalia, and Yash

Gupta from Amity School, Pushp Vihar.



We were selected to represent our school after extensive interviews in school post which we had two more rounds at the national level. We then had the finals in Berlin for which we sent an immaculate business deck beforehand. The last leg of the competition was in form of a two-minute elevator pitch on the finale Pitch Perfect: Who will make it to the top? says Aggarwal, whose role is of the chief finance officer of PeekaBook.



Mathur, companys chief customer officer, adds, The competition we faced at the national level and international level exceeded our expectations. We learnt a lot from teams from other countries during the workshop week at Berlin. The teams from Vietnam and Romania were particularly very well prepared. They had interesting yet practical ideas and were close competition.



PeekaBook gathers second-hand books from retailers in Delhi on a common online marketplace, thereby facilitating the exchange of books between retailers and buyers, who currently do not have access to a variety of second-hand books. It specialises mostly in academic books and targets students who struggle to find cheap books. The project tries to cut down average annual expenditure of an Indian on books from Rs 6,000 to Rs 3,000, informs Mathur.



But why did they choose to deal with second-hand books only? Gupta, the chief digital operations officer of PeekaBook, responsible for technology and research and development in the company, says, Just when the team was debating on various ideas, one of our teachers suggested brainstorming on a business model which would deal with second hand books. Through our pilot conducted in June, we found that customers face problems of unaffordability to purchase first-hand books,inaccessibility of second-hand books, and non-availability of variety in second-hand books, as these books are supplied by small scale proprietors located in hubs.



We realised that there existed a need for our business, and that we could offer value to both customers and its retailers by organising a traditionally unorganised

sector, he adds.



The students took various workshops with entrepreneurs, industry veterans and other professionals including venture capitalists, that were organised by their school. They also interned at three different places to gain relevant practical experience.



Rai, the chief technology officer of the company, attended a month-long entrepreneurship summer camp at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. There I learnt the nuances of starting a business to pitching to investors when the business plan is ready. I was also able to start Ordyr, another start-up aiming to reduce restaurant wait-times, he says.



Gupta interned at Dorling Kindersley, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House, a publishing house to gain knowledge about the digital operations and programming websites. Whereas, Aggarwal, Mathur and Kalia interned at Tagon.com, an online book store that carries out offline sales from Lakshmi Book Store in Janpath. There they got insight on how the companies in the book industry function, the processes of inventory management, delivery of ordered books as well as revenue collection.



PeekaBook has received aid from a German company Door-to-Door which will help them launch their project completely. Initially, it will be launched in Delhi-NCR, and will later expand to cities like Kota and Pune which are considered as a hub for the high school students and universities.



Working on this project has expanded our horizon and given us deep insight into the business world. Even though some of us might not opt for a job in the business world, but the vast knowledge we received will help us in the future no matter which field we choose because apart from transforming us into young entrepreneurs, it has transformed us into better human beings, concludes Kalia.


The High Court on Tuesday said there are certain programmes and advertisements aired on television channels which need serious censorship. Hearing a plea for censorship of TV programmes, Justice A N Venugopala Gowda said it becomes very embarrassing to watch such programmes with children.



The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have sought dismissal of a petition seeking standard guidelines for movies and TV programmes. The petitioner, Megha Movies, said that CBFC and the ministry had double standards for film and TV producers. In their objections, the ministry and CBFC said that there is a defined code in place to check violations under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and Rules. They said that there is no pre-censorship for any programmes or ads on TV channels. However, programmes should be in conformity with the Programme and Advertising Codes prescribed under the rules. The petitioners allegation is baseless, they stated.



The petitioner challenged the board's decision to delete some scenes from the Kannada movie, Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu, which had lewd comments, but were cleared by the Censor Board for the trailer. The petitioner has sought directions to follow similar guidelines, incorporated in the Cinematography Act, 1952 for TV serials/advertisements and promotion of products.



Additional Solicitor General Prabhulinga Navadgi said he needs more time to give details on what the ministry and CBFC have done with censorship on TV programmes. The judge adjourned the hearing to October 4.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened an all-party meeting at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday to decide the next course of action in view of the Supreme Courts latest order to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from September 28 to 30.





Siddaramaiah on Tuesday reacted cautiously to the order, saying that he has to consult legal experts. I am not aware of the order. I need to speak to advocates. According to our national water policy, priority is for drinking water. So, when they say do release water, it immediately does not become a law or an order (sic) he told reporters in Bidar.



Both the major Opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S), will be attending the meeting. The government is likely to elicit opinion of the Opposition parties on whether to comply with the Apex court order. The next course of action will be finalised after taking the Opposition parties into confidence, sources in the government said.



The state government had not implemented the September 20 order of the Supreme Court to release 6,000 cusecs water per day for seven days to Tamil Nadu. Instead, the Karnataka legislature had passed an unanimous resolution to utilise the available water in the four Cauvery basin reservoirs only for drinking.



Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah is learnt to have told the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) executive committee members in Bengaluru that he is ready to take tough decisions as far as protecting interests of the state on the Cauvery issue are concerned. The state legislature has already passed a resolution to use the available water in the Cauvery reservoirs for drinking purpose. The government is prepared to take tough decisions if the Supreme Court order again goes against the state, he is said to have stated at the meeting.



The KPCC executive committee unanimously passed a resolution extending its support to the state government on the Cauvery and the Mahadayi river water issues. The meeting also passed a resolution seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention in the two issues.


Following the Supreme Court order directing Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs water, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa convened a meeting at the hospital, where she was admitted for fever and dehydration.





During the one-hour meeting, the top state government officials, comprising chief secretary Dr P Rama Mohana Rao and others, highlighted the application filed by Tamil Nadu on Monday that Karnataka shall not be heard on any matter on Cauvery until and unless it complies with and makes good the shortfall in releases as directed by the Supreme Court.



Jayalalithaa, was apprised of the directions of the Court on the applications filed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with reference to the earlier orders of the Apex Court.

During the detailed discussion, Jayalalithaa also instructed state Public Works Department Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and other officials to attend the meeting as per Supreme Court orders, which had directed the Attorney General to facilitate a meeting with executive heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with the Ministry of Water Resources to recommend ways to break the impasse over the Cauvery issue.



After deliberating in detail the issues to be taken up by Tamil Nadu at the meeting, Jayalalithaa also dictated her speech, which will be read out at the meeting by the chief secretary.


home Entertainment Story of Ebola-stricken missionaries told by Franklin Graham's new documentary 'Facing Darkness'

Franklin Graham's relief organization Samaritan's Purse has produced "Facing Darkness," a new documentary recounting the true story of two American aid workers who got infected with the deadly Ebola virus while working in West Africa.

More than 28,000 people in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone had been infected with Ebola and it had taken more than 11,000 lives. The film chronicles the story of Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol who risked their lives to try and prevent the spread of the deadly epidemic.

"Samaritan's Purse workers were holding the last line of defense in a crisis the world was largely ignoring," said Graham in a statement. "Hundreds were dying and it was only growing worse. When the disease struck Dr. Kent Brantly and hygienist Nancy Writebol, we knew we had to get them home for treatment. It was their only chance, yet it was something no one had ever done," he continued.

The film features interviews with people who fought against the outbreak. It was filmed on location in Liberia and the U.S.

The Ebola virus began to spread in March 2014 and it has become a raging epidemic by June. Brantly and Writebol got infected while they were fighting against the spread of the virus at the ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. A team from Samaritan's Purse persevered to bring Brantly and Writebol back to the U.S. to be treated and cured.

Apart from the story of the patients' evacuation and treatment, the film also reveals an inspiring story of faith overcoming fear.

"Faith is not something that makes you safe," Brantly said. "You had to face death in the eye and decide, 'Who am I going to be today?'" he added

Due to their distrust of any authority, the Liberians blamed the aid workers for the spread of the virus and attacked the hospitals and people. The Samaritan's Purse team stayed despite the threats to their safety.

A massive public health education program helped to stop the spread of the virus. Liberia was declared Ebola-free after a year.

"Facing Darkness" premieres at the Heartland Film Festival. The film has already won the Award of Excellence from the Accolade Global Film Competition. It will be shown in select theaters across the U.S. on March 30, 2017 for one night only.
Sixty-six water tanksseveral of them built during the British era, have been discovered in Mumbaithrowing light on the excellent water conservation and storage techniques. The water tanks are of immense heritage importance.



Shiv Sena corporator Prof Avkash Jadhav, who is behind the discoveries, started communicating with the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government.



Three months ago I happened to see the board of BMC on the premises of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghrahlaya, the board stated Static Water tank A-4, it was in one isolated corner. I arranged for its opening and realised it has a capacity of 2,50,000 litres, said Prof Jadhav. Two weeks ago, taking the clue from A-4, he started looking for other tanks of the A series and got the information that there are six such water tanks only in A ward.



Over a period of two weeks, he tried to gather information diligently from other departments of the BMC like the hydraulic and emergency repairing services and they found out almost 66 Static Water Tanks from A to G wards of Greater Mumbai. However out of 66 tanks, 13 tanks are either non-traceable or are surrounded by structures that have been built around them.



That means we have now only 53 traceable water tanks. In all the water storage could be 1 crore, 57 lakh litres, he said. The tanks are uniform in size, it is 10 metre 10 metre 3 metre deep. They are still in very good condition and are fully concrete and strong in their establishment. They are ready for water storage. In Mumbai these are pieces of heritage and history, Prof Jadhav said.






The stay granted by the Supreme Court on the petition filed by former chief minister S M Krishna in connection with part one of the Lokayukta report on mining continues.





The DH report on September 24, 2016, Lokayuktas mining report may return to haunt 3 ex-CMs had not categorically mentioned the stay on Krishnas petition. The Special Investigation Team, in its impleading application before SC, had only sought to vacate the stay granted on two cases against former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.



Kumaraswamy had obtained a stay by the Karnataka High Court in these two cases, quoting the stay granted by the Supreme Court on Lokayukta police investigation against Krishna.
The Centre has convened a meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on Thursday at Delhi to discuss the Cauvery water sharing dispute.





Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar on Tuesday evening sent intimation letters to the two chief ministers, requesting them to attend the meeting. However, the Centre is yet to decide who will chair the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.



Though the Water Resources Minister has been chairing the meeting of chief ministers on the Mahanadhi row involving Chhattisgarh and Odisha and sharing of Krishna river water between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is still not clear who will chair the meeting on Cauvery, said a senior official in the Ministry of Water Resources.



There is also an opinion among a section of officers that the Home minister should chair the meeting as law and order issue is also involved. But the government will finalise on Wednesday, who will chair the meeting, official said.



Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to convene a meeting of the executive heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to solve the inter-state Cauvery row in next two days. Following the Supreme Court order, Uma Bharti held a meeting with officials and directed them to fix the meeting for Thursday.



Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who is hosptialised for fever and dehydration has nominated Public Works Minister Edappadi S Palanisamy to represent her state at the meeting.



Earlier, the Congress MPs from Karnataka urged Modi to intervene in the issue.

We have requested the prime minister to intervene in the matter immediately, call a meeting of the chief ministers and give directions to settle the Cauvery water dispute amicably, Muddahanume Gowda, the Lok Sabha member from Tumakuru, told reporters after the 11 MPs made a representation to Modi.




One may have seen yogis demonstrating different kinds of asanas (positions) on TV channels or at yoga camps with the specific purpose of educating people. A sadhu (sage) in Uttar Pradeshs Azamgarh district, about 300 kilometres from here, however, displayed his yoga prowess before the district magistrates office in the town for a different reason altogether.



The sadhu, identified as Babu Lal, resorted to shirshasana, a position in which the body is completely inverted and held upright supported by forearms while the head rests lightly on the floor, in protest against what he alleged illegal occupation of a public road by some musclemen at his village.



According to the reports the sadhu had complained to the local officials and the police at Raunapar area in the district that a muscleman Murat Yadav had illegally occupied the public road at Ajgara village causing great inconvenience to the people.



He charged that the officials neither removed the occupation nor took any action against Yadav. Murat Yadav threatened to kill me after I lodged a complaint with the cops, he said.



Irked over the official apathy, he reached the district magistrates office on Monday and embarked on shirshasana to register his protest. I will remain in this position until action is taken against the guilty, he said.



I have no personal interest in the matter...all I want is the removal of the illegal occupation so that villagers do not face problems, he added. Babu Lal has become the centre of attraction for the passersby in the town. Embarrassed district officials tried to persuade him to call off his novel protest, but he refused. The officials said they would look into the matter and take appropriate action.


The office of Shiv Sena-owned newspaper Saamana was attacked in Sanpada in the satellite township of Navi Mumbai after a controversy broke out over a cartoon it published on the silent Maratha marches. Saamana office in Naupada in Thane was also reportedly attacked with ink, prompting police to beef up security across the newspapers offices.



The cartoon played with the word mook morcha (silent rallies) and replaced it with muk morcha or kissing rally. It even portrayed a couple kissing in the middle of the protest. Unidentified men hurled stones at the newspapers office in Sanpada and shattered a couple of glass panes.



Speaking on the incident, Navi Mumbai police chief Hemant Nagrale said: An incident of stone pelting was reported at Saamana office, Sanpada, where 2-3 windows have been damaged. An offence is being registered against the culprits. Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action will be taken against the accused.



BJP targeted the Senas leadership over the incident. The Executive Editor had hurt the sentiments of the Maratha community and there should be an apology, Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ashish Shelar tweeted.



Pro-Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade claimed responsibility for the attacks. Uddhav Thackeray must apologise for the cartoon, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said.



It has insulted Maratha community, women, youths, policemen," Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde of the NCP said.




Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday instructed the Border Security Force (BSF) to strengthen security along the Indo-Pak border by setting up a real-time intelligence sharing grid and sealing vulnerable points.



Singhs direction came at a review meeting of BSFs functioning which was also attended by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and BSF Director-General K K Sharma. The minister was of the view that there was no point blaming each other over infiltration and the need of the hour was a coordinated approach in tackling the issue.



Expressing concern over infiltration from across the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC), Singh said that the forces should do whatever is needed to stop it. You will have to have zero infiltration, sources quoted Singh as saying.



The BSF has been told to set up a real-time intelligence sharing grid along with the state police forces to act on the intelligence gathered to effectively check infiltration along the IB, sources said.



Referring to the Indo-Bangladesh border, the minister asked the BSF to ensure that smuggling of cattle and narcotics is stopped and advised better coordination with the state police forces.



Issues of upgrade of existing Border Out Posts (BOPs) at a par with composite BOPs, construction of advanced Fibre Reinforced Polymer shelters on high altitude, among others were also discussed in the meeting.






India has pulled out of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit to be held in Islamabad in November, citing cross-border terrorism and interference in its internal affairs by Pakistan.



The move came hours after New Delhi confronted Islamabad on Tuesday with living proofs that confirmed that the terrorists, who carried out the recent attack at Uri in Kashmir, had come from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Islamabads envoy to New Delhi, Abdul Basit, for the second time in less than a week.



Jaishankar issued him a demarche, noting that villagers had recently apprehended two guides who helped Pakistani fidayeens to sneak into India from across the Line of Control (LoC) to carry out the attack in Uri. Later, India announced that it had conveyed to Nepal, the current Saarc chair, that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country has created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad in November.



Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said that in the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed summit in Islamabad. Meanwhile, Pakistan termed as unfortunate Indias decision not to attend the summit, reports PTI from Islamabad.



New Delhis decision followed consultations with other Saarc member countries, including Afghanistan and Bangladesh, besides Nepal. Swarup said: We also understand that some other Saarc member-states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad summit.



In 2005, India did not participate in the Saarc summit in Dhaka, citing the imposition of state of emergency by the King of Nepal and the law and order situation in Bangladesh as reasons.



Basit summoned

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar conveyed to Basit that the guides are from areas that Pakistan had been illegally occupying in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, Jaishankar said that another Pakistani terrorist was apprehended in Kashmir by the security forces and he had confessed to having undergone training at a camp of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in the neighbouring country.



The demarche noted that local villagers had apprehended and handed over to the security forces Faizal Hussain Awan (20) and Yasin Khursheed (19), who had guided and helped terrorists cross the LoC and carry out the attack in Uri. Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Sialkot in Pakistan, was also apprehended at Molu in Kashmir last Friday.



We are willing to provide the Pakistan High Commission consular access to these three individuals apprehended in connection with terrorist attacks in India, sources quoted Jaishankar telling Basit.


A private air-conditioned bus, four scrapyards and about 50 makeshift sheds were gutted in a major fire that broke out at ITI Layout in Nayandahalli early Tuesday morning.



As many as 30 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire. A team of over 100 firemen battled for 10 hours and doused the fire, said the police. Materials destroyed in the mishap are estimated to be worth around Rs 45 lakh. The cause for the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said. The scrapyards are owned by Ziaulla and Aslam Pasha.



The fire broke out at around 1.45 am at one of the scrapyards and spread to other three scrapyards, the station where air-conditioned buses were serviced and repaired and finally to the makeshift sheds, police said. The service station was owned by Prathap Reddy.



A few local residents noticed smoke and informed the police and the fire personnel. Two private buses were parked at the station for servicing. One of them was completely gutted, while the other was partially burnt before firemen reached the spot.



Plastic materials, chemicals, empty water bottles and iron materials were stored at the scrapyards. Hence, it was very difficult for the firemen to douse the fire. The workers inside the sheds came out safely before the fire could spread, said the police.



The firemen completely doused the fire by 11.45 am. None of the scrapyards had power connection. Hence, electric short circuit is not the cause for the fire, police said.



The situation was tense for a while as local residents presumed that miscreants had set buses on fire against the Supreme Courts direction to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. DCP (West) M N Anucheth visited the spot for inspection. He told the residents that the buses were gutted in an accidental fire.






The High Court on Tuesday passed an order directing the deputy commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, court special officer P N Hedge and revenue department officials to conduct a survey of the sites allotted to the NRIs by land developer Joseph Chacko. Chacko is accused of cheating NRIs of over Rs 500 crore promising them residential sites in Bengaluru. The NRIs have approached the court.



Chacko on Tuesday informed the court that the sites which were allotted to the NRIs are still in place and that the same could be physically verified. Justice Anand Byrareddy passed an order to conduct the physical verification of the sites from October 8 to 16 and inform the court after the Dasara vacation. Hearing a batch of petitions filed by the NRIs, the judge disposed of 22 FIRs filed against Chacko after the complainants mutual settled the matter.



Chacko, an NRI himself is accused of duping hundreds of NRIs in the West Asia by selling them sites under bogus khathas from 1994 onwards. He is accused of selling sites in more than 25 layouts in and around KR Puram. He has taken general power of attorney (GPA) from land owners and formed layouts illegally in greenbelt areas. Investors later learnt that the said layouts were not approved by the government and Chacko had cheated them. More than 200 complaints were registered against Chacko in various police stations in the city and the CID has filed charge sheets in 85 cases.




home World Transgender couple in Ecuador claim to be first to give birth to own child

A transgender man gave birth to a baby that was conceived with his transgender partner. Neither of them had gender reassignment surgery so the pregnancy did not require any medical intervention.

Fernando Machado, who was born as a woman in Venezuela, and Diane Rodriguez, born a man, are one of the most famous transgender couples in South America. Rodriguez met Machado while browsing through profiles on a social networking site in 2013. Together, they are seen as a symbol of growing tolerance for transgenders.

"I was on a bus to Ecuador days after we started chatting online," Fernando recalled. "After three weeks living together, I was pregnant," he added.

Machado gave birth to the baby last June but they have not yet named the child.

"We don't have a name yet - or rather we do - we are just waiting to announce it," Rodriguez told the BBC.

During the pregnancy, the couple admitted that the process had been complex for both of them. Rodriguez stated that there was no legal or biological barriers against having the baby so they decided to do it.

"Knowing it's our right, we decided to add another member to our family," she added.

Machado's family has been supportive of his transition but Rodriguez was shunned by her family, forcing her to live in the streets.

Rodriguez was the first transgender to run for congress in the 2013 Ecuador elections but she was not successful. She is set to run for office again in 2017.

She has been criticized by LGBT groups for her cozy relationship with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa who has made remarks critical of transgenders in the past.

"That natural men and women don't exist, that biological sex does not determine man or woman, but 'social conditions' do, and that one has a right to choose if one is a man or a woman. Please! Come on! This won't live up even to a minor analysis!" the president reportedly said in 2013.
The police have detained a few people for questioning in connection with the murder of a woman and her daughter-in-law in Vasanthnagar on Monday. A senior police officer said, We have made a list of people who frequent the house and they are being detained for questioning.



The CCTV footage is also being examined. The call record details of mobile phones of the two deceased are also being scrutinised. It is suspected that someone known to the family has committed the crime over a personal issue.



Santoshi Bai, 58 and her daughter-in-law Latha Dinesh, 38, were found murdered with their throats slit in their house. Santoshi Bais husband Sampath Raj and son Dinesh are also being questioned. They informed the police that two youths they had employed had quit recently.



The police are searching for the youths who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, said a police officer. The police said that neighbours informed them that several people would visit the house to pawn their jewels for money. All possible angles are being looked into, police said.






The city police have decided to tighten security across the city till September 30 (Friday) to prevent any untoward incidents following the Supreme Court directive to the state to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. Prohibitory orders have also been extended till that day.



The next hearing in the Supreme Court is on Friday. The police will also take a decision on whether to deploy additional forces for some more time based on the situation on that day.



The city police had summoned central paramilitary forces, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve after violence broke out on September 12 over the Cauvery river dispute.



The forces will be in the city till September 30. We will review the situation and take a decision on September 30 whether to use forces for some more time, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) K S R Charan Reddy told DH. The city police had made elaborate security arrangements in the city on Tuesday as the Supreme Court took up the Cauvery river dispute issue for hearing.



The police had deployed 40 platoons of KSRP and 14 platoons of central forces in northern and western areas of the city. The police had beefed up security in these areas to prevent miscreants from indulging in violence, he said.



There was additional security in Byatarayanapura, Laggere, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Rajagopalanagar, Peenya and Yeshwantpur.



The police had also deployed additional forces at railways stations, bus stands, Kempegowda International Airport, shopping malls and other public places to thwart any attempt to spread violence.




Arun Prasad, historian and pannapictagraphist, said that apart from the existing museums, there are many people who have private collections. These include books, comics, relics, puppets, film archives, paintings and stamps. The government can bring

all of them to a larger platform.



C S Krishna Shetty, noted artist, added that Bengaluru also needed a dedicated museum to showcase local art works. Like the National Gallery of Modern Art, there is a need for a state gallery of modern art, he said. The same should be replicated in all districts. There is a lot to showcase which will attract tourists, but the government needs to market and publicise it well like Mumbai and Mysuru, he added.





To make Bengaluru more attractive to tourists, the government is planning to have a dedicated museum circuit in the city. Members of the Bengaluru Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) are chalking out modalities of how to implement the document submitted by the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group (KTVG) listing 13 museums and galleries in the city.V Ravichandar, urban expert and BTAC member said the tourism department is working on how to string all of them together. It will take some time. In the mean time, artists and historians point that the government should have another museum, by bringing all art works together.
Just prior to the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, A.J. Fernandez Cigars unveiled its latest release, a new blend called Bellas Artes. The past two years has seen A.J. Fernandez Cigars establish three highly successful regular production lines  New World, New World Connecticut, and Enclave. The common denominator of each of these three lines is that they provided a high quality cigar around the $6.00 price point. The Bellas Artes is going to come in at a slightly higher price point, but as we will see, its going to be doing some unique things from a tobacco standpoint. Recently Ive had an opportunity to smoke the A.J. Bellas Artes in the Short Churchill size. Overall, I found this cigar to be a solid addition into the A.J. Fernandez Cigars portfolio.

The past twelve months have been a very busy month for company owner A.J. Fernandez. Late last year, Fernandez split from his longtime business partner Kris Kachaturian. Fernandez then established a new U.S. distribution center and brought in longtime production manager at Tabacalera Fernandez, Ricky Somoza to oversee the operation. Meanwhile, Fernandez has been involved with blending several high profile blending efforts including with General Cigar (Foundry, Hoyo de Monterrey); La Palina Cigars; Foundation Cigar Company, La Gran Llave, and Southern Draw Cigars. Meanwhile he has been involved with not only launching Bellas Artes and Last Call for his own company, but several other lines which will be rolled out in the upcoming months.

As for the name Bellas Artes, it translates to Fine Arts, which as we will see is a very appropriate name for this cigar.

Without further ado, lets take a look at the Bellas Artes Short Churchill and see what this cigar brings to the table:

Blend Profile

The blend of the Bellas Artes is the big story around this cigar. It uses a proprietary wrapper known as Rojita. This wrapper is a hybrid that crosses three types of tobacco: U.S. Connecticut Shade, Corojo 99 and Havana 2000. The binder comes from a region of Nicaragua known as Quilali  located northeast of Esteli. Meanwhile the filler consists of tobaccos from three countries.

Wrapper: Proprietary Hybrid Rojita: U.S. Connecticut Shade (50%), Corojo 99 (25%), Havana 2000 (25%)

Binder: Quilali, Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Brazilian

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Tabacalera Fernandez)

Vitolas Available

Bellas Artes is available in four box-pressed sizes. Each are packaged in 20 count boxes.

Robusto Extra: 5 x 52

Short Churchill: 6 x 48

Toro: 6 x 54

Gordo: 6 1/2 x 58

Appearance

The Rojita wrapper of the Bellas Artes Short Churchill had a medium brown color with a slight cinnamon / rosado tint to it. There was a slight amount of oil on the wrapper. The wrapper itself was smooth was some visible veins, and most of the wrapper seams well hidden. The box-press is Cuban style with a slight rounded effect.

There are two bands on the Bellas Artes. The primary band has a peach background with red and gold trim around it. On the center of the band is a spiritual / renaissance style portrait painting on the center of it. Below the portrait are a series of gold medallions as well as the Nicaraguan and Cuban flags. Above the portrait is the text Bellas Artes in a classic English style font with gold trim. The back of the band has A.J. Fernandezs signature.

The secondary band has a thick red stripe with thick gold trim across the top and bottom. On the center of the band is the text A.J. FERNANDEZ in large gold font.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

Prior to lighting up the Bellas Artes Short Churchill, I went with my usual choice of a straight cut to remove the cap. Once the cap was successfully clipped, I moved on to the pre-light draw. The dry draw of the Bellas Artes Short Churchill delivered a mix of classic wood, cedar sweet-spice, and some citrus sweetness. Overall I considered the pre-light draw to be excellent. At this point I was ready to light up the Bellas Artes Short Churchill and see what the smoking experience would have in store.

Flavor Profile

The Bellas Artes Short Churchill started out with a mix of natural tobacco and cedar. In the background I detected some citrus sweetness along with some black pepper. The black pepper was also present on the retro-hale. During the early stages of the first third, the cedar emerged as the primary note. The natural tobacco was a close secondary note and developed a slight caramel quality to it. Meanwhile the citrus and pepper notes were more distant.

Later in the first third the natural tobacco (with the caramel component) eclipsed the cedar as the primary note. The cedar was now a close secondary note with the pepper and citrus more distant notes.

As the Bellas Artes Short Churchill moved into through the second third, the natural tobacco remained the primary note, but it slowly shed its caramel qualities. The cedar remained a close secondary note, but now some of the classic wood notes began to emerge. Meanwhile there still were some pepper and citrus notes in the more distant background.

By the last third, the wood and cedar notes once again emerged in the forefront. The natural tobacco was now a close secondary note. Much of the sweetness present from the cedar, natural tobacco, and citrus was now practically gone. There was a slight increase in the pepper, but it never got overwhelming. This is the way the flavor profile came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

From a burn perspective, I found the Bellas Artes Short Churchill to score very nicely. Of all of the sizes smoked among the different Bellas Artes vitolas, I found the burn of the Short Churchill to perform best. The burn took a straight path and maintained a straight line from start to finish. The resulting ash was firm with a silver gray color to it. The burn temperature was ideal. I found the Short Churchill to burn slightly quick, but this didnt seem to have any other adverse effect other than to shorten the smoking time.

As for the draw, I found it smoked quite well. This was an open draw, but not a loose one. This was a low maintenance cigar to puff on.

Strength and Body

In terms of strength and body, I didnt find the Bellas Artes Short Churchill was a cigar where either attribute had large amount of variance during the length of the smoking experience. The strength of this cigar pretty much remained medium from start to finish. At the same time, the body of this cigar was medium to full. When it came to strength versus body, the body maintained the edge.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned up-front, the name Bellas Artes translates to Fine Arts. I found this name to be appropriate as this was definitely a more refined cigar than some of the other recent releases by A.J. Fernandez. My initial experience with the Bellas Artes was around the Robusto sizes, and found it more average than anything. Once I moved over to the Short Churchill size, I found that to be a superior size in the blend  delivering a much better overall smoking experience. One thing about the Short Churchill, my gut tells me that this cigar definitely has some serious positive aging potential.

Overall this is definitely a cigar Id recommend to an experienced cigar enthusiast. I also found this is an excellent cigar for a novice to move to something medium / medium plus. As for myself, this is a cigar Id smoke again  and its worthy of a box split.

Summary

Burn: Excellent

Draw: Excellent

Complexity: Medium to High

Strength: Medium

Body: Medium to Full

Finish: Excellent

Assessment: 3.5-Box Split

Score: 90

References

News: A.J. Fernandez Bellas Artes to be Showcased at 2016 IPCPR

Price: $8.25

Source: Purchased (Short Churchill, note: Robusto sizes provided prior to 8/8 by Manufacturer)

Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 202

Stogie Feed: A.J. Fernandez Bellas Artes Short Churchill

Brand Reference: A.J. Fernandez Cigars
The government of Tanzania has reacquired a 35% stake in TTCL (Tanzania Telecommunications Corp) from Bharti Airtel, once again giving it full ownership of the operator.

TTCL is Tanzanias oldest operator and largest fixed line provider, but it has fallen behind rivals in the highly competitive market, retaining just 181,000 connections. Originally announced in May 2015, the governments acquisition of the stake is an attempt to reverse the operators fortunes by injecting new funds.

The countrys top two operators, Vodacom Tanzania and Bharti Airtel Tanzania, have 12.4 million and 11.3 million respectively. With mobile penetration increasing, competition among the countrys seven mobile operators shows no sign of slowing down. Subscriber numbers rose by 25% in 2015, hitting 39.8 million.

Airtel came to hold the 35% stake in TTCL when it first entered Africa in 2010 with the $10.7 billion acquisition of Zains African assets. The Tanzanian government had sold the stake in TTCL in 2001, and is now reacquiring the holding  valued at around $7 million  after nearly six years of talks. An agreement has proven elusive over this time due to disputes over the price.
Researchers from the University of Sydney studying the effects of funding bias in nutrition research and artificial sweeteners have found that their health benefits may have been overhyped.

The comprehensive review, led by Daniele Mandrioli from the Ramazzini Institute, on most major artificial sweeteners studies published to this day revealed widespread bias in industry-funded research supporting them.

Conducted in collaboration with researchers at the Charles Perkins Centres Bias in Research project node, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the University of California, the review examined 31 studies conducted on artificial sweeteners between 1978 and 2014.

All studies that formed part of the current review published in the latest edition of PLOS ONE journal considered both potential beneficial effects of artificial sweeteners, such as weight loss, as well as harmful effects, like the development of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers found that those funded by artificial sweetener companies were nearly 17 times more likely to have favourable results.

This suggests that not all scientific studies looking at the effects of artificial sweeteners are equal and that the artificial sweetener industry has had a lot of power over the results of many of them.

There are several ways that the results of these studies may have been tweaked.

In this case, researchers believe that the scientists behind the funded studies on artificial sweeteners have cherry picked the data and the conclusions of these studies, by emphasising artificial sweeteners positive effects while neglecting mention of any drawbacks.

Transparency around an authors conflicts of interest and funding sources in nutrition science research today is lagging behind other fields and these studies are no exception.

It has been found that almost half (42 per cent) of the reviews of artificial sweetener studies had authors that did not disclose their conflicts of interest, with about one third of studies failing to reveal their funding sources altogether.

Studies by authors with a conflict of interest were about seven times more likely to draw positive conclusions and none of the nine studies without conflicts of interest reported positive results.

Overall, this alarming review shows that claims made by artificial sweetener companies should be taken with a degree of healthy skepticism.
The aviation authority had recently issued an advisory asking passengers not to charge or use Samsung Galaxy Note devices onboard flights.

Samsung officials have reportedly met with authorities at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation regarding the recent incident involving a Galaxy Note 2 smartphone catching fire onboard an Indigo flight travelling from Singapore to Chennai.

The aviation authority had then issued an advisory asking passengers not to charge or use Samsung Galaxy devices onboard flights. Now reports suggest that a meeting did take place between the regulator and Samsung, where the former sought technical information about the Galaxy Note series from the South Korean manufacturer. As the world now knows, Samsungs latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7 is under great duress following multiple incidents of the devices battery exploding and catching fire. Samsung also apparently told the DGCA that Galaxy Note 7 smartphones manufactured before September 15 will not be sold in India, given issues with the malfunctioning batteries of the phones.
The new processor is Intels first bootable host processor that is specifically designed for highly parallel workloads

Intel India has launched the Xeon Phi processor in India. The new processor is Intels first bootable host processor that is specifically designed for highly parallel workloads. It is also the first to integrate memory and fabric technologies. As a bootable x86 CPU, the Intel Xeon Phi processor scales efficiently without being constrained by a dependency on the PCIe bus like GPU accelerators.

Read the complete press release below

Strengthening its enterprise portfolio in the country, Intel India has announced the launch of its Xeon Phi Processor. As data volumes continue to explode and become more complex, new hardware, software and architectures are needed to drive deeper insight and accelerate new discoveries, business innovation and the next evolution of analytics in machine learning and the field of artificial intelligence.

A key to unlocking these deeper insights is the new Intel Xeon Phi processor. As a foundational element of Intel Scalable System Framework (Intel SSF), the Intel Xeon Phi product family is part of a complete solution that brings together key technologies for easy-to-deploy and high-performance clusters.

Currently, Intel is enabling High Performance computing in India, largely for the science and technology research vertical, through its family of Xeon processors. With the availability of this new processor, which can help get products to market faster, solve complex problems faster, and power simulations that don't require physical testing, the company is looking to collaborate more closely with the automotive, manufacturing and aerospace industries.

Solving the Biggest Challenges Faster with the Intel Xeon Phi Processor Family

The new Intel Xeon Phi Processor is Intels first bootable host processor specifically designed for highly parallel workloads, and the first to integrate both memory and fabric technologies. As a bootable x86 CPU, the Intel Xeon Phi processor scales efficiently without being constrained by a dependency on the PCIe bus like GPU accelerators. By eliminating this dependency, the Intel Xeon Phi processor offers greater scalability and is capable of handling a wider variety of workloads and configurations than accelerator products.

Across a wide range of applications and environments  from machine learning to high performance computing (HPC), the Intel Xeon Phi product family helps solve the biggest computational challenges faster and with greater efficiency and scale3. The product family also helps to drive new breakthroughs using high-performance modeling and simulation, visualization and data analytics.

Additional Intel Xeon Phi features and benefits, include:

Performance: Features up to 72 powerful and efficient cores with ultra-wide vector capabilities (Intel Advanced Vector Extensions or AVX-512), raising the bar for highly parallel computing performance.

Scalability: Delivers data center-class CPU scalability and reliability for running high-performance workloads such as machine learning where scaling efficiency is critical for rapid training of complex neural networks.

Programmability: Offers binary-compatibility with Intel Xeon processors to allow for running any x86 workload. This optimizes asset utilization across the data center while the use of a common programming model increases productivity through a shared developer base and code reuse.

Investment Protection: Built on general-purpose x86 CPU architecture and open standards, with the support of a broad ecosystems of partners, programming languages and available tools  for superior flexibility, software portability and reusability.

To date, Intel has shipped tens of thousands of units and expects to sell a total of more than 100,000 units this year. The product familys broad ecosystem support includes more than 50 OEM, ISV and middleware partners. To learn more, visit www.intel.com/xeonphi/partners.

Machine Learning Goes Deeper with Intel Xeon Phi Processors

Machine learning implementations require an enormous amount of compute power to run mathematical algorithms and process huge amounts of data. With these challenges in mind, Intel has expanded its range of technologies for machine learning with the release of the Intel Xeon Phi processor family. The Intel Xeon Phi processor offers robust performance for machine learning training models, and with the flexibility of a bootable host processor, it is capable of running multiple analytics workloads. Intel Scalable System Framework-based clusters powered by the Intel Xeon Phi processors and available integrated Intel Omni-Path Architecture, enable data scientists to run complex neural networks and run training models in significantly shorter time. In a 32-node infrastructure, the Intel Xeon Phi family offers up to 1.38 times better scaling than GPUs and in a 128-node infrastructure, the time to train models can be completed up to 50 times faster using the Intel Xeon Phi family3.

The Intel Xeon Phi family is complemented by the Intel Xeon processor E5 family, the most widely deployed infrastructure for machine learning4. Intel Xeon processor E5 v4 product family is well suited for machine learning scoring models and provides great performance and value for a wide variety of data center workloads. Together, these Intel Xeon processor families offer developers a consistent programming model for training and scoring and a common architecture that can be used for high-performance computing, data analytics and machine learning workloads.
Oil and gas exploration and production company Baron Oil announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June on Tuesday, reporting an an operating loss of 240,000 - down from 995,000 in the first half of the previous financial year.

The AIM-traded firm said following the closure of its operations in Colombia, there was nil revenue for the period, compared to 1.02m a year earlier.

Its board said it was continuing its approach of impairing both exploration intangibles and goodwill, with a total impairment charge of 954,000 - up from 1,000 year-on-year.

636,000 of that was attributable to the unsuccessful exploration well on Woodburn Forest, and the remainder arose from Barons Peru activities.

During the period, the board said it reduced the impairment charge against receivables, giving rise to a credit to the profit and loss of 427,000.

After finance and tax, the company showed a net loss 183,000 for the period, narrowing significantly from 973,000 year-on-year, and representing a loss of 0.01p per share.

The past six months have been a frustrating period for Baron' shareholders, with the failure of Woodburn Forest-1 and the continuing slow pace of progress in Peru, particularly on Block Z-34, the companys board said in a statement.

The board has spent a great deal of time trying to move things forward in Peru and has succeeded in cutting the ongoing costs of operations there.

Although we hope to be able to get a well drilled in Block XXI in 2017, the prospect is relatively small and we are attempting to find an industry partner to share a major part of the cost.

The board said the Joint Venture in South East Asia offered a great opportunity for Baron to open up a new operation.

[This is] one of the few areas of the world where there is both strong demand for oil and gas and the clear support of governments to make exploration and production easy to achieve, it explained.

We are particularly interested in gas opportunities because of the stable, long-term pricing environment.

Having access to the experience and deal flow of the SundaGas team gives Baron a head start that would take years to achieve if built from scratch.
Germany has banned Facebook from collecting and storing data from Whatsapp users in the country, as well as forcing it to delete all data already currently stored by the social media site.

In August, Facebook announced that it would be sharing data between the two platforms in order to maximise the effect of its targeted advertisements.

Facebook gave users of the messaging app the choice of opting out of the information-sharing for advertising, but not the general sharing between the two services.

Johannes Caspar, the Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, said that the order was put in place so that the German people could choose whether the information is shared or not.

"There are many millions of people whose contact details were uploaded to WhatsApp from the user's address books, although they might not even have a connection to Facebook or WhatsApp," Caspar said.

"It has to be [the users'] decision whether they want to connect their account with Facebook. Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance."

Facebook has previously been engaged in arguments with Germany and other countries over how it is policed within the European Union, to which Mark Zuckerberg's company have consistently responded that they should follow Ireland's data protection laws, as that is where its European headquarters is situated.
Volkswagen was under the cosh on Tuesday following a report that the US Justice Department is assessing how big a fine it can extract from the beleaguered German car maker without putting it out of business.

Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter as saying that the US government and VW were trying to reach a settlement by January before a new US administration comes into place.

It was not clear what penalty range the US is considering in the case of Volkswagen, which has already agreed to pay an industry-record $16.5bn in civil litigation fines in the US after it admitted last year that its diesel vehicles were fitted with emissions-cheating defeat devices.

At 1215 BST, VW shares were down 3.9% to 111.70.
Britain is to oppose the idea an EU army, defence secretary Michael Fallon said as Germany and France aim to bolster the continents security plans.

At a meeting of EU defence ministers in Bratislava, the Slovak capital, France and Germany proposed to increase spending on military missions, develop resources such as helicopters and drones, increase peacekeeping efforts abroad and build stronger defences against cyberattacks.

"We are going to continue to oppose any idea of an EU army or EU army headquarters. We agree Europe needs to do more ... but simply duplicating or undermining NATO is the wrong way to do it", Fallon said to Reuters.

Britain, which is still able to vote in the EU as it has not left the union yet, said the proposed Franco-German defence plans should not impede or suck financial resources away from Nato, the European military alliance with North America.

France, which has a major European military, and Germany, which has several military assets, have to persuade sceptical members of the union to agree to the defence plans as Britain could garner support from Poland and several Baltic nations to vote against the proposals.

Fallons German and French counterparts, Ursula von der Leyen and Jean-Yves Le Drian said there were no plans for a European army to wear the same uniform.

Von der Leyen said Europe failed to co-ordinate in order to respond to the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

At his state of the union address on the 14 September, EU Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker said he wanted to create a 'youth wing' of the EU, a volunteer European solidarity corps, in part to deal with refugee crisis, which should be in complement to Nato."

"By 2020, I want to see 100,000 Europeans taking part."

"More defence in Europe doesn't mean less transatlantic solidarity."
The first shipment of US shale gas has arrived from Pennsylvania at Ineoss Grangemouth plant in Scotland on Tuesday despite rising tensions about fracking.

The UK based chemical company has sailed 27,500 cubic metres of ethane gas to its Grangemouth plant on the Firth of Forth. The Grangemouth ethane tank is the largest in Europe at 44m high.

The gas is produced using the controversial method of fracking, which blasts rock underground. Critics of the process say it causes environmental issues such as pollution of the water table and causing earthquakes.

The shipment arrives less than 24 hours after the Labour party vowed to ban fracking at the partys annual conference.

The partys shadow energy minister Barry Gardiner, said: Fracking locks us into an energy infrastructure that is based on fossil fuels long after our country needs to have moved to clean energy. So today I am announcing that a future Labour government [would] ban fracking.

The Scottish government also imposed a moratorium on fracking north of the border last year. The Scottish National party is under pressure from some of its members to make the ban permanent.

Billionaire founder of Ineos, Jim Ratcliffe, however believes fracking would be good for the UK economy as supplies from the North Sea are dwindling.

Shale gas can help stop the decline of British manufacturing and today is a first step in that direction, said Ratcliffe.

The company said the shipment would secure the future of Grangemouth for the next 15 years. Ineos said the cargo marked the opening of a virtual pipeline across the Atlantic connecting the UK market with cheap and plentiful US shale gas.

Despite the collapse in worldwide oil and gas prices over the past two years narrowing the economic advantage of US shale gas, it has remained the cheapest source amongst the North Sea, Russia and the Middle East.

But Ratcliffe believes in the long run the solution would be to open shale resources to fracking in the UK.

Mary Church, head of campaigns for Friends of the Earth Scotland brings the argument back to the moral side of things.

"It is completely unacceptable to attempt to prop up INEOS' petrochemicals plants on the back of human suffering and environmental destruction across the Atlantic.

"The fact that Scottish public money is tied up in this project is disgraceful. Setting aside the devastating local impacts of fracking, the climate consequences of extracting yet more fossil fuels are utterly disastrous.

"If Jim Ratcliffe was really concerned about the future of the Grangemouth plant and its workers, he would be planning for its transition to a low-carbon model."
Retail sales on the UK High Street registered an unexpected fall in September but were expected to recover, according to the results of widely-followed survey.

The Confederation of British Industry's Distributive Trades index declined from +9% in August to -8% in September, below the +3% forecast by retailers themselves last month (consensus: +5%).

Of the retailers polled 38% said sales volumes were up on a year ago, but 38% said they were down, resulting in the balance of -8%.

Sales of clothing, DIY goods and hardware were all above seasonal norms, Rain Newton-Smith, CBI's chief economist, said.

A balance of +7% of companies said sales volumes were "good" for that time of year.

Nevertheless, consumer confidence had taken a hit versus earlier in 2016 and higher prices were expected to weigh on consumers' purchasing power.

Margins were tight and retailers looked set to continue having to face a fiercely competitive environment for some time, Newton-Smith added.

Retail sales volumes look set to grow slightly in the year to October, he said.

Sales volumes dropped markedly for grocers (-29%), specialist food&drink (-34%) and leather (-38%).

The volume of orders placed with suppliers slipped for a sixth month running, disappointing expectations for a bounce back.

Internet sales slowed further in the year to September, although growth was expected in October.

As of 1109 BST the yield on the benchmark 10-year Gilt was down by three basis points to 0.67%.

"The softer CBI distributive trades survey for September could be a sign that consumers are becoming more careful in their spending amid a more uncertain economic outlook following Junes Brexit vote. However, it is premature to come to any firm conclusions," said Dr. Howard Archer, chief European and UK economist at IHS Markit.

"The surveys narrow scopeSeptembers survey included just 63 retailers, who reported results only for the first half of the monthmeans that it might be giving an overly gloomy steer.

"Nonetheless, the CBIs survey corroborates others produced by the BRC, BDO and Visa, which have indicated that the trend in high street spending has been much weaker than shown by the official figures in recent months," chipped in Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Currency tailwinds boosted Wolseleys full-year revenues as the plumbers merchant announced the result of the strategic review for its UK operations.

Total revenues for 2016 jumped 8.5% to reach 14.43bn or by 4.2% in constant currency terms. Sales growth in like-for-like terms came in at 2.4%.

That drove a 43% rise in profits before tax to 727m.

Wolseleys bottom-line was also helped by a sharp drop in impairments and exceptional items, from 264 to 96m.

Turnover at its e-commerce operations clocked in at 2.1bn.

Net debt on the other hand rose 16.3% to 936m.

Zug, Switzerland-based Wolseley also unveiled its UK turnaround and repositioning strategy, including the closure of 80 branches and one distribution centre at a cost of up to 800 jobs and 100m in restructuring charges.

The cash element of those charges would be paid out of working capital efficiencies and proceeds from disposals, the company said in a statement.

"Our review of UK operational strategy has identified opportunities to transform our customer propositions whilst simplifying our branch network and supporting logistics facilities to greatly improve service levels, drive availability and choice for customers and generate better returns for shareholders. Regrettably this will result in job losses which we will handle sensitively and minimise through redeployment and attrition as far as possible," group chief John Martin said.

A strategic review of its Nordic operations was also underway.

Earnings per share before extraordinary items increased 7.6% to 247.7p.

Wolseley said its pension liabilities under IAS 19 increased from 15m to 147m, chiefly due to lower interest rates on corporate bonds. The firm committed an additional 25m per year for its UK defined benefit pension plan, following the recent triennial valuation.

The companys full-year dividend payout was raised 10.2% to 100p, but no new share buy-back authorisation was announced .

"We regard WOS as a high quality company, but see the share price as in the right area following the share price bounce which we believe now reflects WOS strong overseas positioning post the Brexit decision, a feature which investors are clearly focussed on," Numiss Howard Seymour said in a research note sent to clients on 26 September.

"The market is likely to be reassured by the US growth rebound since May but trading remains a mixed picture with deflation continuing for a few more quarters and UK & Europe weaker, and some investors may be disappointed by no capital returns as acquisitions spend steps up. Valuation looks up with events on a 2016E PE of c. 16.5 times," was the vedict from Canaccord Genuitys Aynsley Lammin and Matthew Walker.
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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.
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit accusing a high-flying Silicon Valley software company of systematically discriminating against Asian job applicants over the last five years.

Palantir Technologies was co-founded by prominent tech financier Peter Thiel with backing from an investment arm of the CIA. The Palo Alto, California, company makes data analytics software used by the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies, along with banks, insurance companies and other private clients.





. . .
Pressing on with its tough position against Pakistan after the Uri terror attack, India will now decide whether to withdraw its Most Favoured Nation trading status. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting with top officials on Thursday for a review of the relations. On Monday, the PM consulted with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other top officials to discuss whether a reconfiguration of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan was among the steps that the government should take as a response to attacks from Pakistani soil. "Blood and water cannot flow together," the PM had said in the meeting. Sources say the government has kept its option of reviewing the treaty on the sharing of the waters of six rivers with Pakistan open. India is debating a series of steps to tighten pressure on Pakistan after the 18 September attack on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, in which 18 soldiers were killed by terrorists India says were from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. The 'MFN' status was accorded to Pakistan in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of the WTO member countries as favoured 'trading partners'. Bilateral trade between the two nations, however, stood at just 0.4 per cent of India's overall goods trade. If the government withdraws the move, the impact will be mainly symbolic because bilateral trade between the neighbours represents a fraction of India's overall goods trade. Calling out Pakistan's serial use of terror attacks in India and its role in inciting the worst violence in several years in Kashmir, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday warned that Islamabad must "abandon this dream" about using terror attacks to "obtain territory it covets."








The young woman who died in a crash on Wednesday had "a warm, kind and welcoming heart, and a beautiful bubbly personality", mourners heard at her funeral yesterday.

Kiara Baird, who was 19 years old, was one of two victims of a single car collision on the Glenfin road just outside Ballybofey on Wednesday afternoon.

The second victim, Maria Wallis, a 38-year-old mother of three, was laid to rest on Saturday. A man in his 40s, who was also in the car, survived the crash.

Heartbreak and grief were etched on the faces of many as yesterday at the funeral of Kiera Baird at the Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranlorlar.

Her parents Tracy and Andrew, her siblings Cian, Cody, Cayden and Kayleigh, and her extended family formed a tight knit group of support for each other, with friends and neighbours filling the church.

Fr John Joe Duffy, PP, told the congregation how the Dublin native, who had moved to Ballybofey with her family seven years ago, had attended St Columba's, then completed a beauty course in Strabane.

Hospitality

"In the last few weeks, Kiara had embarked on another course, in hospitality and I have no doubts she would have succeeded in area of life," he added.

Fr Duffy then said, "Kiara had a warm, kind and welcoming heart, and and a beautiful bubbly personality, full of life, full of fun, full of joy and happiness

Loved to be with her family

She loved to be with her family and her friends, her besties and, of course, her cousins.

"She made friends easily, she saw the best in everyone, she looked out to find the good in people. "

He described, "that innate, goodness, that innate kindness, that generosity of heart, all of which Kiara had in abundance"

Fr Duffy continued, "She loved taking walks and enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors.

She appreciated creation.

"Kiara had care for others, those who were alone, for those who suffered. She would take the jacket off her very own back to give it to others."

Addressing her parents, Fr Duffy said, "These are days that you never expected. The most difficult task of any parent is to have to part with a child.

You shouldn't have to bury a child so young, under such tragic circumstances. Such a loss seems to go against the natural order of things.

We cannot find words to ease your pain, as much as we desire to.

It is by our presence that we hope to support you."

Driving

Fr Duffy said we must all examine our own conscience when it comes to driving, and drive cautiously and with care to reduce the awful carnage that rips the heart out of our families and our communities.
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.
Ronald Moede was born on December 21, 1934, in Rio Creek, WI. The son of the late Fred and Emily (Hanamann) Moede, he married Bonnie Neinas in Brussels on June 4, 1960, and they were married for 62+ years. He was a life-long resident of Rio Creek and was an innovative dairy farmer. He owned and managed a large dairy operation, Meade Manor Farms, which had been homesteaded by his grandfather, August Moede, in 1895. The log cabin home, barn, and herd grew to become one of the larger dairy farms in Kewaunee County under his guidance. Upon his retirement, it evolved into Meade Manor Pet Clinic, a vet service for small animals, but the land continued to flourish and produce. Ron graduated from Casco High School, Class of 1952 and Graham School for Cattlemen, Kansas. He was a member of the Wisconsin Holstein Breeders, Kewaunee County Holstein Breeders, and the National Holstein

Association. He was a charter member of the Algoma FFA Alumni. His family exhibited champion dairy cattle at local, state, and national dairy cattle shows. In 1984, in Madison, the Wisconsin FFA named him Outstanding Farmer and in 1995, he was named and honored at the Wisconsin State Fair as a Century Farmer. He served as an elder in his church for many years as well as a trustee and various committee appointments. In his younger days, he was active in dartball and also high school sports. He received the Algoma Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, and the Unified Board Business Award. In his retirement, he drove school bus for 15 years for the Algoma School District and was a member of the Great Lakes Sports Fishermen. A hobby later enjoyed was his chicken farming. He raised a small flock of chicken, and he enjoyed passing out extra eggs to friends and relatives when the supply was greater than the family could handle. He was an avid sports fan and he and Bonnie attended both Packers Super Bowl games in 1996 and 1997, and also the Milwaukee World Series in 1983. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, both here and in upper Michigan and Minnesota. He even got Bonnie to go along with him to Lake of the Woods on the Canadian border to do some ice fishing. He held Packers season tickets since 1960 and at the time they bought their tickets they were allowed to pick out where they wanted to sit on the sidelines --there were no end zone seats yet-- and the tickets cost $5.00 a piece! He traveled through most of the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii as well as traveling to the Caribbean and Europe. He enjoyed a summer place in Door County for 20 years. He told many stories of farming with his dad and the fact that at the age of 12, he had his own team of horses to work with on the farm. Responsibility came early as he was left in charge whenever it was necessary for his parents to be gone for a few days. He learned to drive a truck at an early age and often drove himself to school in 8th grade and parked the vehicle a few doors down at a relatives. This was because chores need to be done before and after school. The first tractor purchased was in 1937. In his retirement, he had it restored and displayed in local fairs and tractor shows. He would tell of shocking grain and threshing crews traveling from neighbor to neighbor and the wonderful table his mother would set full of food. A vivid memory was the day WWII ended. The whole neighborhood and working crew quit in the early afternoon (unheard of) and celebrated With beer and music! Even the clergy arrived and joined in. It was a day to remember! In his lifetime he went from horses and the depression, to the digital age and unimagined luxuries. There was no electricity and no running water in his youth and now he had wireless phones, computer screens in his vehicles, along with heated steering wheels and heated seats. Who would have thought that back then.

Ron is survived by his wife Bonnie; son Robert (Debbie Harms) Moede; grandson Michael and granddaughter Megan; siblings, Terry (Jane) Moede, Paul (Roxie) Moede; sisters-in-law, Diane Fontaine, Sheila (Don) Baudhuin; and brothers in-law, Dan (Mary) Neinas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emily Moede; sister, Marilyn (Arno) Schneider; father- and mother-in-law, Herman and Madeline Neinas, and brother-in-law, Gary Fontaine.

Visitation will be held at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services  Algoma, on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 4-7:30 pm with a prayer service at 6:30. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 8th at St. Johns Lutheran Church  Rankin, from 9-11:00 am. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am with Dr. Rev. Christopher Jackson officiating. Burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolence message may be shared at KinnardFCS.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Kewaunee County 4-H Dairy Fund and the Projection Screen Fund at St. Johns- Rankin.
The annual Barbour County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet brought Eufaulians of all racial backgrounds together in unity on the evening of Fridday Sept 23. The organizations largest fundraiser of the year, the banquets theme was strikingly timely: Unity in the Community. Declarations of welcome and support were provided by Sen. Billy Beasley, Rep. Barry Forte, Mayor Jack Tibbs, and City Council President Pro Tempore Johnny Knight.

Given it is a quadrennial Presidential Election season and the weeks chaotic rioting in the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, the theme of unity seems distant at times. But at this event, beginning with the Posting of the Colors by Eufaula High School JROTC, to the Pledge of Allegiance, through the prayerful spiritual performed by the acapella Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the invocation by Rev. Bryant Copeland, to the heart-felt Welcome given by Kranulett Forte Richardson to an optimistic, racially diverse audience, constructive unity in Eufaula was advanced.

The guest speaker was Professor Judy Rutledge Purnell of Columbus, Georgia, who recalled the days of segregation, remembered the steps of progress including the second great emancipation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and exhorted the listeners to appreciate the U.S. Constitution as best embodiment of civil rights in the world. Having conducted research in China recently, Professor Purnell shared stories that her Chinese friends hold American made products as the worlds premium products and that Chinese people look to America when considering civil rights and justice.

Professor Purnell explained in amiable fashion that she was told by President Mo Erkins to keep her speech non-political, but that she couldnt resist taking a few jabs about presidential candidates. She quipped that if she were to ever decide to move out of the country, as some people speak of, Id still choose a U.S. Territory -- maybe St. Thomas.

Alabama State NAACP President Bernard Simelton was also in attendance. Simelton served 23 years in the USAF, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, and has served as State President for over four years. He invited all to the upcoming Alabama State Convention in Birmingham, Oct. 6-8. Among the speakers at the Alabama convention will be lawyer Benjamin Crump, a national figure in high profile cases including the George Zimmerman case in Florida, as well as police shootings in both Ferguson, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Crump is respected as a regular guest among national media, including both MSNBC and FOX News.

Information sheets were shared with each person at the banquet. A statistics sheet about Barbour County showed that its population of 27,000 is 48 percent white, 46 percent black, and 5 percent Latino. Its unemployment rate is 8.2 percent and the median age is 38. Only 76 percent are high school graduates and 15 percent in the county have no health insurance. Guests were then challenged to consider working with local organizations to promote unity in Barbour County. Beyond the NAACP, the recommended organizations included Leadership Barbour County, MLK Day of Service, RSVP, Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, 4-H, Local Schools, and the Boys & Girls Club.

Especially timely was a pamphlet given to each guest The NAACP Real World Guide Interacting with Law Enforcement to be shared with young people. President Mo Erkins, persuasively appealed for the guests, the black, the white, and those of other races, to join the NAACP for the $30 membership fee to improve Barbour County. If you simply believe in one, equal justice under the law, and two, equality of opportunity, I ask you to join us, Erkins said.

Interested participants can join the NAACP on Facebook at BarbourCountyNAACPBranch5075.
Barbour County ninth grade students participated in the national GEAR UP kickoff week September 19-24 at the Barbour County High School in Clayton with several activities during the week.

On Monday students shared their plans for after high school and their academic, professional, personal goals on the Its Not a Dream, Its A Plan Wall, writing their goals on cards that were displayed in the school.

Tuesday, September 20, teachers got into the act by sharing with their homeroom classes, their own educational journeys and why college is important to each student.

On Wednesday and Thursday, students wrote thank you cards to thank their Senators and Representatives for supporting the GEAR UP program throughout Alabama.

Fridays activities, along with teachers and students wearing their favorite college gear for GEAR UP/College GEAR UP, included an address by Representative Berry Forte to the student during first period. He spoke to the students about how education is a gateway to getting a job, that it takes a good education to go anywhere in life, and that the sky is the only limit they have. Dont let anyone tell you how far you can go in life, and be careful what friends you pick, Representative Forte told students.

As students filed out of the lunchroom at the county high school Friday morning, each received one to two balloons with the cards attached that were written by students on Monday that containing the dreams, career aspirations and goals each wanted to achieve. The crowd gathered around the flag pole in front of the school and released the balloons as they promised to work hard to achieve those dreams that were attached.
Kia's most affordable car has retained its five-star safety rating following a surprise crash test in Sydney.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) bought a Kia Picanto earlier this year following a controversial crash test of a Picanto built for developing markets. While a Picanto tested by Euro NCAP in 2013 offered excellent crash protection, a similar model sold without airbags exhibited structural flaws in the roof and windscreen frame during an ASEAN NCAP test.

ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin says the "considerable variation in structural performance" triggered a surprise test of the Picanto in June.

"We wanted to confirm the validity of our existing rating for the safety of Australian and New Zealand consumers with the key driver being to provide assurance they can rely on ANCAP information when buying a new car," he says.

The Picanto had a five-star safety rating prior to its Australian crash test. That result was partially due to an excellent frontal crash result that saw the car score 15.12 out of 16 for occupant protection in an offset 64km/h collision.

But that number dropped to 12.95 out of 16 when the Picanto was tested in Australia  just enough to retain its five star rating, and enough to earn a "marginal" rating for driver's chest and lower leg protection, indicating what ANCAP describes as "a moderate risk of serious injury".

Goodwin says it is "important that consumers are made aware of these findings".

Kia says "the Picanto went into the ANCAP audit as a five-star safety rated car and at the end of the process it remains a five-star safety rated car". The brand says it remains committed to providing customers with safe and reliable cars.

The Picanto's score sits just ahead of the frontal offset result for the five-star Holden Spark (12.79 out of 16), but behind many rivals including the Suzuki Celerio (13.58), Ford Fiesta (14.9), Toyota Yaris (15.41), Honda Jazz (15.58) and Mazda2 (15.69).

Australia's Picanto differed slightly from the model tested in Europe and Asia. The local model is right-hand-drive, and available only with a larger 1.25-litre engine and four speed automatic transmission that were not fitted to 1.0-litre, manual Picantos tested overseas.

ANCAP has long maintained that differences between local and overseas models reinforce the importance of having a local crash-testing scheme.
Home Four wheelers Mercedes-Benz Planning Hybrid Battery Factory In Thailand oi-Kennedy Paul

The demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) is on the rise and with countries bringing in norms to curb the emissions, it is not surprising that German automaker, Mercedes-Benz in planning a hybrid battery factory.

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Exports are of huge importance to the Australian economy, making up 19.8% of our GDP in 2015, according to the World Bank. But success with export markets is not limited solely to the agriculture and resources sectors and nor is it limited only to large businesses. There are significant opportunities for SMBs to succeed in export markets.

What is the future of Australian exports?

Export industries are set to grow dramatically over the next five years as free trade agreements with Asian nations come into effect.

Market research released by IBISWorld shows that Australian exports are set to rise between 10% and 35% by 2021. Much of this growth is likely to occur in China, Japan, and South Korea.

IBISWorld further estimates that the top 20 export industries will be worth a total $260 billion or 15.7% of GDP.

What does exports growth mean for SMBs?

Part of the IBISWorld research identified the twenty industries that are likely to have the highest rates of export growth. While not all of these industries are very large, the strong growth rate indicates increasing demand for a wide range of Australian goods in overseas markets.

It should come as no surprise that the industries set to grow the most are in the agriculture and resources sectors, but there are also many export industries in which SMBs can flourish.

Some notable industries that the report identified as in the top twenty for export growth include cider production at #6, health snack food production at #7, toy and sporting goods manufacturing at #14.

This indicates that there is significant demand for high-quality or premium Australian goods. This can likely be at least partially attributed to the emerging middle class in China and other Asian nations. With increased disposable income comes increased demand for premium or luxury goods.

This provides an excellent opportunity for Australian SMBs to find a niche market with strong international demand and produce a high-quality product that outperforms the mass produced or low-quality products that may be available locally.

Strong export growth in Australian industries is also supported by strong growth in the global flexible packaging industry over the next five years. According to a report by Markets and Markets, the global flexible packaging industry is set to grow from $US98 billion in 2016 to $US125 billion in 2021.

The report also identifies Australia and the Asia-pacific as the region that is set to experience the highest growth rate. The report attributes this growth in part to the increased demand for food and beverages in China and India.

The demand for high-quality end-user packaging can also be attributed to the growing middle class and disposable income in the region.

Again, this shows a strong opportunity for Australian businesses to capitalise on the demand for high-quality goods and packaging in export markets.

About the author

Hugh Steele writes for ITT Jetpak, a supplier of packaging consumables and machinery, suitable for many different industries and both domestic and export applications.
By Glenn Schepens[1]

The tax deductibility of interest expenses on debt is an often neglected factor in the policy debate on bank capital requirements. A more equal tax treatment of debt and equity funding could enhance financial stability by giving banks an incentive to reduce leverage.

Tax deductibility of debt and bank capital structure

The 2008-09 financial crisis spurred both regulators and politicians around the world to rethink bank capital regulation. However, ensuring that regulation enhances financial stability by providing proper risk-taking incentives and sufficient loss-absorbing capacity for banks remains a difficult task.

Given that over-leveraged banks may significantly contribute to systemic risk and financial instability, an important policy issue is whether the reduction of tax advantages for debt can be expected to lead to better capitalised banks. For example, Admati and Hellwig (2013), Goodhart and Schoenmaker (2010) and Thakor (2014) all argue that the tax deductibility of interest on debt impacts the funding decisions of banks, potentially leading to more leverage than would be optimal from a financial stability point of view. Indeed, in many countries the cost of debt is tax-deductible whereas the remuneration for equity (dividends) is not. This tax discrimination gives a bank as any other firm  an incentive to take on more debt. This article (based on Schepens, 2016) discusses the potential impact of tax deductibility of interest expenses on banks capital structure by analysing the impact of the introduction of a tax deduction for equity in Belgium in 2006. The findings suggest that treating equity and debt more equal increases bank capital buffers, while the scope for unintended side effects on bank activities is limited.

Setting of the case study

In order to better understand the role tax incentives could play in bank capital regulation, the study analysed the impact of a change in tax legislation in Belgium in 2006 that reduced the discrimination between debt and equity funding by introducing a tax deduction for equity.[2] Since 2006 financial and non-financial firms that are permanently established in Belgium have been allowed to deduct an amount from their taxable base, depending on their book value of equity.[3] More specifically, the deductible amount equals the book value of equity multiplied by an annually set deduction rate. During the period analysed (2006-07), the deduction rate equalled the average ten-year Belgian government bond rate in the year t-1, with a maximum set at 6.5 % and with the restriction that the rate was not allowed to change by more than 1 percentage point year over year. For example, the deduction rate equalled 3.44% when the new legislation was first introduced. This change effectively reduced the relative tax advantage of debt over equity and, therefore, amounts to an ideal experiment for studying the impact of tax deductibility on bank capital decisions.

The research set-up follows a so-called difference-in-differences approach. The evolution of the capital ratio  defined as total equity over total assets - of 33 banks that were operating in Belgium and subject to the change in tax legislation (treated banks) is compared with that of a group of similar banks in other European countries that did not experience such a change (control banks). The main assumption is that the behaviour of the treated banks would have been similar to the behaviour of the control banks if there had been no change in tax legislation. If this assumption holds, then the evolution of the capital ratio of the control banks can be used as a credible reference point for the capital ratio of the treated banks. The analysis is carried out for the period 2003-07, thus including three years before the tax change and two years after.

The impact of reducing the relative tax advantage of debt

The first important result is that reducing the relative tax advantage of debt had a positive impact on bank capital ratios. Reducing the relative tax advantage of debt funding vis-a-vis equity funding increased the capital ratio of the average treated bank by 0.94 percentage point in the two years after the implementation of the new legislation. The level reached represents an increase of more than 13% compared with that of the average bank in the control sample. Put differently, the capital ratios of the treated banks (i.e. the banks that experienced a reduction in tax discrimination) were 13% higher than would have been expected on the basis of the evolution of the capital ratio of similar banks in the control group. The chart below illustrates this finding. It shows that, until 2005, the evolution of the average capital ratio was fairly similar for the banks in the control group and the treated banks, but that in 2006 and 2007 this was no longer the case. The average capital ratio of the treated banks increased from 6.79% during the period 2003-2005 to 7.21% in 2006-2007. Concurrently, the ratio for the control group banks dropped from 7.64% to 7.12%.

The results also indicate that the capital structure reaction is similar for banks with both high and low ex ante capital levels, which makes the reduction in tax discrimination more appealing for prudential authorities than if only well-capitalised banks had reacted.

Second, the results show that the impact of the change in tax treatment is driven by an increase in equity and not by a reduction of bank activities. This indicates that the scope for unintended side effects on bank activities is limited. Additionally, it indicates that the observed changes in capital ratios are unlikely to be driven by a reduction in loan demand, which could have been caused by the fact that the tax change also affected non-financial firms, i.e. the economy at large.

Concluding remarks

The results described in this article contribute to both the long-term discussion on the impact of the tax deductibility of debt on capital structure decisions and to the regulatory debate on bank capital. The findings suggest that a more equal tax treatment of debt and equity creates desirable incentives for banks. It encourages banks to increase their equity, without having negative consequences for bank activities. Given that tax issues are typically dealt with by treasuries and not by bank regulators, this result stresses the importance of proper coordination and collaboration between these authorities. Finally, it is important to note that reducing the tax discrimination between debt and equity by introducing a tax deduction for equity is only one way of steering bank incentives. An alternative option might be to reduce the tax deduction on debt.

References

Admati, A. and Hellwig, M. (2013), The bankers' new clothes: What's wrong with banking and what to do about it, Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Goodhart, C. and Schoenmaker, D. (2010), Removing tax advantages of debt is vital, Financial Times, 30 December.

Schepens, G. (2016), Taxes and bank capital structure, Journal of Financial Economics, Vol. 120, Issue 3, pp. 585-600.

Thakor, A.V. (2014), Bank capital and financial stability: An economic trade-off or a Faustian bargain?, Annual Review of Financial Economics, Vol. 6, pp. 185-223.
The Peppermint operating system is built around a concept not found in most Linux distros. It is a hybrid combination of traditional Linux desktop applications and cloud-based infrastructure.

Peppermint 7, the annual update released in June, is a lightweight distribution based on Ubuntu 16.04. It uses LXDE as the default desktop environment, and shows considerable growth since our review of Peppermint 5 two years ago.

The key to this process of linking full desktop functionality to cloud apps is an in-house developed application dubbed Ice. Peppermint makes heavy use of site-specific browsers, or SSBs. The Ice application easily controls the process of creating one-click access to cloud-based infrastructure through the browser.

Peppermints Ice technologyis a site-specific browser that lets you easily create a launcherconnecting a website with desired content or services.

Peppermint 7 comes in both 32- and 64-bit editions. The 64-bit edition, with full UEFI/GPT/Secureboot support baked in, runs a new version of Ice with full Firefox Web browser support, as well as Chromium and Chrome.

New in Peppermint 7

The latest release shifts to the Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial) code base. This is in keeping with the developers policy of choosing the best components from other desktop environments, wherever they may be, and integrating them into a cohesive whole with Peppermints own software.

Peppermint 7 stays with LXDE core session management for lightness and speed, but it adds a more modern, functional and customizable main menu. Two other key changes are a swap of lxpanel for the Xfce4-panel and the Whisker menu, along with a new Settings Panel to consolidate settings into one place.

The Peppermint OS LXDEdesktop provides a familiar, uncluttered and simple computing platformwith plenty of access to additional software and Web-based services.

The change to the Firefox Web browser resulted from Googles decision to end support for 32-bit Chrome and move to PPAPI plugins that ended flash support in 32-bit Chromium. This is the first time since Peppermint 1 that the community has adopted Firefox as the primary browser, which is significant since the Ice app is closely aligned with the Web browser.

The return to Firefox required a rebuild of Ice to allow Firefox to open SSBs in a similar fashion to Chromiums app mode. However, if you prefer the Chrome or Chromium browser, you can still install it as your default choice. The Peppermint developers kept full support for the creation and removal of SSBs in all three browsers.

New Look, Same Feel

Long-time users of earlier Peppermint editions will notice a new look. It is flatter with a dark GTK appearance and colorful icon choices. This default theme change is not reflected in the appearance of Firefox, however.

The browser has issues with dark GTK themes on some websites, so the Peppermint developers locked Firefox to a light theme independent of the system default. You still can carry the new theme into Firefox by using a new tool called Firefox Themer in the Peppermint Settings Panel to unlock/relock the Firefox theming.

Another change is the swap to Pluma from the gEdit text editor. This could be a nice upgrade. Pluma is a fork of gEdit 2 used in the MATE desktop environment. It brings more functionality through additional features and plug-ins.

The Peppermint developers made the switch to get around how gEdit handles windows decoration. Its odd behavior interferes with the rest of the system theming.

Virtual Snafus

I did not experience any issues with installing Peppermint 7 in Virtualbox for testing, but some users have reported trouble that is hardware-dependent. Those graphics issues cropped up during the install on recent versions of Virtualbox. The Peppermint 7 ISO reportedly goes into abnormal resolution that scrambles the graphics in Virtualbox.

The workaround, according to the Peppermint team, is to tweak the installation in a relatively simple way. When you first load the Live CD in the virtualbox, hit F6. When you see Try *ubuntu or Install *ubuntu, hit the Esc key.

Next, look for white letters at the bottom of screen ending with: -quiet splash. Change to this: -quiet splash vga=791 (do not use parentheses). Then hit the enter key to boot.

This forces GRUB to hold the resolution at 1024x768x16. The VM instance should boot perfectly, so you can continue with a normal Virtualbox installation.

Icing on the Web

Peppermint takes a path that at first seems similar to the Google Chromebook platform or rebranded Cub Linux (formerly the Chromixium distro). Both use the Web browser as the OS or as an integral part of it, but the similarity ends there.

Peppermints innovative approach provides installed software that runs without cloud interaction. The Peppermint OS is not tethered to the Google apps infrastructure.

The Peppermint OS integratestraditional Linux software with cloud-based computing tools.

Instead, it uses the crafty Ice SSB, which lets users easily create a launcher that connects to a website with desired content or services.

Ice technology enables Peppermint users to connect to cloud applications by clicking additional menu items. The user does not manually navigate to the Internet location in a URL window within a Web browser. Rather, the browser contains and displays the Web application in a window.

Fully Functional Desktop

Peppermint runs a fully functional Linux distribution. You install Linux software and run cloud applications without being tethered constantly to the Internet. Several package repositories are provided in Peppermint 7.

Until you actually create a menu shortcut to a Web service, you easily can miss the convenience of SSBs. If you are heavily invested in Web applications, using Peppermint could be a no-brainer.

Ice allows an application to function more like a standalone window rather than running directly through the Web browser. This approach offers the advantage of additional screen space as well. SSBs do not include all the functions and menus of a browser.

Using the Ice technology in the Peppermint OS is much like launching a Web service or other Internet location on a smartphone or tablet. For instance, you launch Google Docs, Gmail, Twitter, Yahoo Mail, YouTube, Pandora or Facebook as self-contained apps on a mobile device.

However, these pseudo apps never need updating on Peppermint. Ice easily creates a menu entry to launch any website or application as if the package were installed on the hard drive.

Out of the Box

Peppermint 7 is a pleasant looking and easy-to-use Linux distro. It comes stocked with a handy variety of accessories and system tools. However, the standard fare of office suites is sorely missing. Other than a smattering of apps like Gmail and Google Drive, you get only a text editor. Even standalone spreadsheets are missing.

This is no doubt part of the philosophy behind the Web app approach that drives this distro. You have to pick office products to install.

Finding software to install is no problem  the Peppermint repository is well supplied with thousands of titles. The software center application is uncluttered and easy to navigate.

Just click the All Categories tab and enter the name of your favorite applications. My cursory survey found everything that I use in my daily computing workload. If you can not find what you need, however, switch to the Synaptic Package Manager.

Bottom Line

Peppermint is a solid Linux operating system with a record for good performance and reliability. It is an ideal choice for handling everyday computing chores.

LXDE provides a fast and friendly desktop environment. The entire desktop package and tweaked Peppermint 7 settings give you lots of options for creating a comfortable platform. My only dissatisfaction is the lack of much in the way of desktop animation effects. All it provides are semi-transparent application interfaces in the background.

The Peppermint community is headed by the Peppermint OS LLC, a software company based in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 2010, the open source company issues one major release per year. A partial upgrade rolls out periodically.

Want to Suggest a Review?

Is there a Linux software application or distro youd like to suggest for review? Something you love or would like to get to know?

Please email your ideas to me, and Ill consider them for a future Linux Picks and Pans column.

And use the Talkback feature below to add your comments!
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Tuesday introduced new federal guidelines for the emerging highly automated vehicle industry  including self-driving and semi-autonomous vehicles  creating a framework that will help drive one of the most important new sectors in the national economy.

Foxx, joined by Mark Rosekind, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, outlined the framework that will form new federal regulations to govern how the self-driving industry goes forward.

Efforts are under way to create safety and operational standards at a time when nearly every major automaker, technology and ride-sharing firm is racing to compete in the nascent multibillion dollar industry. Its promise is to provide new levels of mobility for millions of Americans who currently cannot access personal transportation.

The federal plan calls for a 15-point safety assessment that would create the framework for the design, manufacture, testing and deployment of automated vehicles. It would ensure that cars would be crashworthy, have a mechanism to react to vehicle failure, be protected against hacking, and be able to share data, among other things.

The guidelines would influence how the federal government would split up jurisdictional issues with the states over which issues would be handled at what level  for example, issues of licensing, insurance, enforcement, etc.

Federal safety regulations would apply to vehicles fully automated with software, for example, while states would be in charge of vehicles with a driver in control, Foxx said.

Setbacks, Steps Forward

The guidelines come at a critical time for the industry. A Tesla driver this spring suffered a fatal accident in a test-drive situation, and critics have charged that the company did not disclose the incident to regulators in the proper way.

Meanwhile, Uber recently began a major test of autonomous vehicle technology in Pittsburgh, where cars are picking up live passengers in real traffic conditions  a major step up for an industry that largely has been testing driverless cars on test tracks.

Federal guidelines are necessary to help ensure there is a level of uniformity in the industry, given that car manufacturers and technology companies will be dealing with multistate regulatory frameworks, and passengers likely will be traveling across borders on a regular basis.

It is valuable to both the industry and to the consumer to have federal guidelines for autonomous vehicles, said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

Vehicles operate across state lines and, of course, are sold in every state and territory, so one set of regulations would be most efficient, he told TechNewsWorld.

Lives Saved

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has advocated for ignition interlock laws and technology that automatically would disable a vehicle that was being operated by a drunk driver, said Colleen Sheehey-Church, national president of the group.

MADD and NHTSA earlier this year helped unveil a test vehicle using the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, which blocks a car from starting when the drivers blood alcohol reaches .08.

Driverless cars have the potential to eliminate drunk, drugged and drowsy driving, Sheehey-Church said. A fully autonomous vehicle would stop a drunk or drugged driver simply because they cant physically drive the vehicle.

Autonomous vehicle technology could open up major opportunities for the disabled and elderly populations that lack the ability to drive themselves to the most basic life functions, including workplaces and recreational centers, said Henry Claypool, policy director of the Community Living Policy Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

Autonomous vehicles hold enormous potential to improve the lives of millions of Americans, like me, who because of disability, age or other condition, are not able to enjoy easy access to personal transportation, he noted.

Ford Motor expressed appreciation for the efforts of Foxx and the NHTSA to make advancements in this new technology. The company is looking forward to working with individual states on areas that complement the new guidelines.

Importantly, the guidance will help establish the basis for a national framework that enables the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles, Ford Motor said in a statement provided to TechNewsWorld by spokesperson Alan Hall. Strides in this technology have the potential to improve safety on our roads and reduce congestion in urban areas.
A problem once associated mainly with school playgrounds often follows people into adulthood, and the anonymity of the Internet has aided its proliferation. People have been shamed for being overweight, underweight, too conservative, too revealing, too young, too old, too plastic or too real.

Bullying and harassment are very real problems not only for children, but also for countless adults  as evidenced by Playboy playmate Dani Mathers recent Snapchat post of a nude 70-something woman who had a reasonable expectation of privacy in a locker room shower.

If I cant unsee this then you cant either, Mathers commented with her post of the victims photo.

The Los Angeles Police Department has asked the victim to identify herself and aid in its criminal investigation of the incident  but who could blame her if she doesnt?

Before It Had a Name

Back in 2006, before body shaming had a name, author Sue Scheff won a landmark case for Internet defamation and invasion of privacy. That victory ultimately gave Scheff a platform to advocate for those have been silently and quietly suffering, she said.

Body shaming and other forms of online abuse are destroying lives emotionally, physically and financially.

What people dont recognize is that although we speak a lot about what it does to our youth, we are failing to understand how it affects adults, Scheff told TechNewsWorld. The saddest part is that its also adults that are acting like children with their keypads.

The feeling of hopelessness is overwhelming, as well as the fear. Fear takes over and can literally paralyze you so that you can become ill, Scheff said. Its truly a vicious cycle. Cyberbullying, stalking, virtual threats are real  Ive been there.

There now are more avenues for victims to seek out help than there were 10 years ago, including organizations such as the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, Heart Mob and the SOS Online Network.

Therapists now are now recognizing the emotional damage these attacks can inflict on adults, but that wasnt always the case.

During a 2007 interview on national TV, Scheff was advised to just move on from it, she recalled.

She obviously didnt understand this cybertrash was floating online every time someone put my name through the Google rinse cycle, Scheff said. It literally made me a social hermit. I feared giving my name out for years! That anxiety of someone googling my name was paralyzing.

The Internet and Social Shaming

Even when data has been deleted from the Web, it takes just one person who has preserved the information offline to revive it and spread it like a viral contagion.

European regulators have tasked Google with accommodating citizens right to be forgotten. Whats posted on the Internet may stay on the Internet, but links that constantly surface humiliating information dont have to.

The Internet is a tool, and whether its used to build or destroy is up to the persons who wield it, according to April Masini, a relationship and etiquette expert.

When used for evil, the Internet is very dangerous, she told TechNewsWorld. Teens, as well as adults, have committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying.

Theres no easy way to suppress body shaming and other forms of abuse, Masini conceded, especially when considering the protections of the First Amendment and the double-edged sword of anonymity. Without it, whistle-blowers would be unable to make the revelations that so often are required to bring about positive change.

Teach Your Children Well

Instead of looking to change the Internet, people should work to improve their own behavior, suggested motivational speaker Mel Jones, and a great place to start is with the youngest among us.

The only way to stomp out online abuse it to build up the kids self-esteem in school so that they dont reflect their own insecurities about themselves on others, he told TechNewsWorld. Also, we must teach the kids empathy. Its hard to understand how youre making someone else feel if youve never had somebody do it to you.
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Columbus City Administrator Joe Mangiamelli is a finalist for the same position in Bellevue for the second time in five years.

Mangiamelli is one of four people being considered for the Bellevue job that opened in August when the city council there voted to remove former City Administrator Dan Berlowitz from the position.

Berlowitz and Mangiamelli were two of three finalists for the Bellevue city administrator position in 2011 before Mangiamelli withdrew his name from consideration.

While an opportunity to serve Bellevue would be extremely appealing from a purely personal perspective, my ethics tell me that finishing some of what Ive started must take priority, Mangiamelli said in a letter sent to Bellevue Mayor Rita Sanders at that time.

Mangiamelli, who still owns a home in Bellevue, served on that citys planning commission before becoming Columbus city administrator in October 2005. He also worked in Omahas Public Works Department for more than 20 years and served as an assistant to the citys mayor from 1997-2001.

After withdrawing his name in March 2011, Mangiamelli said he was comfortable with where Im at in Columbus and looking forward to seeing several major projects move forward.

In 2011, Sanders called Mangiamelli her first choice for the job, but said the city council likely wouldnt have supported her nomination.

Mangiamelli withdrew to save himself and the mayor from the lack of respect they would have received from the Bellevue City Council, Sanders said at that time.

Columbus Mayor Mike Moser said he can see why Mangiamelli would be a strong candidate for the Bellevue job.

"Mr. Mangiamelli has done a good job for Columbus," he said. "He is one of the best and longest-serving administrators that we have had. He has been a very active volunteer here in Columbus, in service clubs, church and school."

Mangiamelli, who was attending a convention in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, could not be reached for comment.

Berlowitz, a former city administrator in Seward, served in the Bellevue position for about five years before he was dismissed after running into legal troubles.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, Berlowitz pleaded no contest last week to a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge stemming from a June incident in which hes accused of confronting a doctor at Bellevue Family Practice Dentistry, where his wife formerly worked.

Berlowitz was placed on administrative leave for two months and fired last week, the World-Herald reported.

His salary was $151,176 and Mangiamelli is scheduled to earn $121,380 next fiscal year.

Karen Jackson, Bellevues administrative services director, said a second round of interviews with the finalists for the city administrator position will be held Thursday and Friday. She said the mayor is expected to present her nomination at the Oct. 10 city council meeting.

Moser has already talked to city staff members and council members here to begin preparing a transition plan should Mangiamelli leave for the Bellevue job.

"That plan would probably include naming an acting administrator, working out a timetable and beginning the search for a new city administrator," he said.

The other finalists for the Bellevue city administrator position are:

 Brett Baker of Lincoln, current TIF building project coordinator for the League of Nebraska Municipalities and former city administrator in Seward and Hickman.

 David Forrest of Omaha, current housing inspector for Heartland Family Services in Omaha and a former city manager and municipal administrator in New York and Pennsylvania.

 Allen May of Urbandale, Iowa, former city administrator in Coal Valley, Illinois.
By Nadia Prupis

A people-powered energy revolutionan era in which people can produce their own electricityis possible, and could happen soon, according to a new report released Monday by the environmental group Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE).

birgstockphoto.com

The report, The Potential of Energy Citizens in the European Union, finds that over half the residents of the EU could be generating their own renewable electricity by 2050. Thats 264 million energy citizens meeting 45 percent of the regions energy demand through a democratized, citizen-owned system that allows people to be the operators of their own utilitiestaking power away, in more ways than one, from a market monopolized by large corporations.

[People] have the power to revolutionize Europes energy system, reclaiming power from big energy companies, and putting the planet first. We need to enshrine the right for people to produce their own renewable energy in European and national legislation, Molly Walsh, FOEE community power campaigner, said.

The report also found that overall, 83 percent of European households, whether individually or as part of a utility collective, have the potential to help create, store or help provide renewable energy.

Electricity production by energy citizens, potential to 2050 per Member State. Friends of the Earth Europe

The researchers analyzed the potential for renewable energy generation, storage, and distribution for different categories of energy citizenshouseholds generating energy individually; households producing energy collectively as part of a co-op or association; public entities such as schools, hospitals and government buildings; and small enterprises with less than 50 people on staff.

The sources of renewable energy analyzed in the report included on- and off-shore wind farms, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, stationary batteries and electric boilers.

Number of energy citizens for the various technologies assessed, potential to 2050 for the EU28. Friends of the Earth Europe

The report found that:

[About] 115 million EU households will have an electric vehicle in 2050, 70 million may have a smart electric boiler, 60 million may have solar PV on their roof and 42 million may have stationary batteries on their premises. Another 64 million households could participate in renewable energy production through an energy collective.

[] About 161 million can potentially provide flexible demand services with an EV, (smart) electric boiler or stationary batteries. A large share of the households that could have demand flexibility could also be an energy producer.

Citizens are already playing a role in renewable energy projects across Europebenefiting the local economy, as well as creating public support for the energy transition. Their potential is huge, and this research shows these projects could, and should, be the norm, Dirk Vansintjan, president of the European Federation of Renewable Energy Cooperatives, said.

Potential energy storage by energy citizens, estimates for 2015, 2030 and 2050. Friends of the Earth Europe

The report was commissioned by the European Renewable Energies Federation, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace EU Unit, and the European Federation of Renewable Energy Cooperatives. The organizations are calling for a framework to promote citizen-owned energy within the European Commissions Energy Union package, the commissions strategy for ushering in a low-carbon economy.

Such a call aligns with European Commission President Jean-Claude Junckers wish for the EU to become the world number one in renewable energies, the groups said.

Because the data surrounding renewable energy is limited, there are some uncertainties surrounding the findings, the report cautions, but that in itself is evidence that more in-depth research need to be devoted to the industry and that policymakers should undertake measures to tap the potential of citizens collective energy creation.

The EU should be clearing a path for forward-thinking, nimble energy citizens, not supporting big, polluting utilities, Tara Connolly, energy policy adviser for Greenpeace EU, said. The age of energy dinosaurs is over.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Common Dreams.
A team of student engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology won Best Overall Design in SpaceXs competition to design a pod for a Hyperloop system that would transport people through high-speed vacuum tubes.

The public wants something new, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told the attendees at this first-ever competition on Saturday at Texas A&M University. And youre going to give it to them.

Elon Musk spoke to teams of student engineers at the end of the Hyperloop design competition at Texas A&M University on Saturday. Photo credit: Flickr / Texas A&M University

More than 115 student engineering teams representing 27 U.S. states and 20 countries competed. Musk challenged the teams to design a passenger pod to run in the Hyperloop, a low-pressure tube between LA and San Francisco which will use a railgun to rocket passengers between the two cities at supersonic speeds, according to The Guardian.

Delft University of Technology from the Netherlands finished second, the University of Wisconsin third, Virginia Tech fourth and the University of California, Irvine, fifth.

The top 22 teams will build their pods and test them this summer at what Texas A&M called the worlds first Hyperloop test tracka one-mile track being built next to SpaceXs headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The prototype pods would be half the size of the system that Musk envisioned and would not carry people, Phys.org noted.

One of the pod designs from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Hyperloop Team. Photo credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The idea for the Hyperloop was popularized by Musk in a 2013 Tesla blog post, in which the entrepreneur outlined his rough plans of how the system would work.

Read page 1

Musk explained in the post that he was quite disappointed with the state of California for approving a high speed rail project that was one of the most expensive per mile and one of the slowest in the world.

He wrote:

The underlying motive for a statewide mass transit system is a good one. It would be great to have an alternative to flying or driving, but obviously only if it is actually better than flying or driving. The train in question would be both slower, more expensive to operate (if unsubsidized) and less safe by two orders of magnitude than flying, so why would anyone use it?

If we are to make a massive investment in a new transportation system, then the return should by rights be equally massive.

Musk went on to explain the technical feasibility of transporting people in pods through a vacuum tube at roughly 700 miles per hour.

The proposal was quickly criticized by experts in the field, who questioned Musks figures on the cost of land by a highway, the price of concrete and the thermal expansion of steel, The Guardian said. But in the following years multiple companies picked up Musks concept and developed it further.

Various private companies, notably Hyperloop Transportation Technologies and Hyperloop Technologies, have set out to make Musks vision a reality. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies sought permits last week to build a 5-mile test track along Interstate 5 in Central California. And Hyperloop Technologies has already begun construction on a test track in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

And now it appears the federal government is interested in a Hyperloop system. U.S. Sec. of Transportation Anthony Foxx spoke at the competition on Friday, telling participants that the idea merits consideration for a public-private partnership to develop it further, Ars Technica reported.

When I first heard about the Hyperloop, I was less than enthusiastic, Foxx said. Reflexively, I felt this proposal was impractical. Then I began to think, what if there had been a secretary of transportation when the automobile was first built or the airplane invented with that attitude? I feel that we have in our department a responsibility not just to continue the traditional forms of transportation, but a responsibility to nudge the future of transportation along.

Watch Musk speak at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Design Competition awards ceremony at Texas A&M University:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab2VVp1GfmA

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In legal tiger farms across China, some 6,000 caged cats are kept in filthy conditions and will be killed for dubious medicinal uses and as home decor for the countrys newly-rich elite. The sordid business is mostly legal, but hides behind carefully-worded agreements and pretensions of conservation. The issue is expected to be addressed at this weeks Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Johannesburg.

Tiger breeding cages at Guilin Tiger Farm in China. Belinda Wright / Wildlife Protection Society of India

It is estimated that 60 percent of Chinas 1.4 billion people use so-called traditional medicines made from tiger bones, rhinoceros horn, bear gall bladder and other exotic animal parts. As China has grown in recent decades, creating a larger middle class and many newly rich entrepreneurs, demand for tiger parts has grown.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/687736442370428928 expand=1]

The use of endangered tiger products and their medicines is seen as a symbol of high status and wealth, states Tigers in Crisis.

China signed on to CITES, but maintains about 200 tiger farms, where tigers are bred to serve this growing market. Claiming that these tiger parts are for domestic consumption, and therefore not subject to the treaty on international trade, China also defends the tiger farms as a captive breeding program that actually helps the species.

However, in 1993, China banned trading in tiger bone, and a 1988 wildlife law that purports to protect endangered species sets forth a policy of actively domesticating and breeding the species of wildlife.

What we didnt understand until very recently is that ban in 1993 did not supersede Chinas wildlife protection law, which was crafted in the 1980s and actually mandates the farming and consumption of tigers and other endangered species, author and wildlife activist Judith Mills told Yale Environment 360 in an interview last year.

Small pens house tigers. Environmental Investigation Agency

Among the luxury products made from these farmed animals is tiger bone wine, which can sell for $257 per 500 ml (about 17 ounces). But almost every part of the tiger is alleged to have some medical use: the brain, whiskers, eyeballs, nose, penis, tail and feet. Tiger skins and whole stuffed tigers are a status symbol in wealthy Chinese homes.

Far from saving the species, tiger farms promote demand for these body parts that makes poaching wild tigers even more lucrative.

The problem with tiger farming is that it stimulates demand for tiger products, which stimulates poaching of wild tigers because products from wild tigers are considered superior, more prestigious and theyre exponentially more valuable, Mills said.

The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) counts the number of tigers in the wild at 3,890.

Historic and current range of tigers in Asia. World Wildlife Federation

A February 2013 report by the Environmental Investigation Agency concludes that wild Asian cats are being poached to supply the market demand stimulated by Chinas legal domestic trade in skins of captive-bred tigers at a time when the international community has agreed that demand reduction is essential to save wild tigers.

The report also notes that tiger farming and trade has spread to other Southeast Asia countries including Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Recently, Laos announced its intention to phase out tiger farms.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/175718832

In July, the Environmental Investigation Agency called on CITES to adopt concrete measures to end tiger farms. Even if adopted, it remains to be seen if China will abide by the regulations or find another loophole. The Guardian reports that a farm in northeast China is cross-breeding tigers with lions, thus creating a liger that the Chinese say is not covered by its own 1993 law.
The wild tiger population has increased for the first time after more than a century of constant decline.

A Bengal tiger resting in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India. There are more than 2,500 Bengal tigers left in the wild, making them the most numerous tiger subspecies. Photo credit: Staffan Widstrand / WWF

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Tiger Forum (GTF) said there are now 3,890 tigers according to the latest global data. In 2010, the tiger population dipped to only 3,200 compared to 100,000 in 1900.

The increase in numbers can be attributed to multiple factors including increases in tiger populations in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan, improved surveys and enhanced protection, the WWF said.

Actor and noted animal conservationist Leonardo DiCapriowhose philanthropic organization has donated more than $6.2 million to the WWF since 2010 to help boost tiger numberssaid he was proud of the work being done to save the iconic species.

Tigers are some of the most vital and beloved animals on Earth, the chairman of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and WWF board member said a statement. With our partners at WWF, my Foundation has supported major efforts to double the number of tigers in the wild.

Leonardo DiCaprio setting up a tiger camera trap in Bardia National Park in Nepal in 2010. Photo Credit: WWF

In Nepal, our efforts have produced one of the greatest areas of progress in tiger conservation, which is helping drive this global increase in population, DiCaprio continued. I am so proud that our collective efforts have begun to make progress toward our goal, but there is still so much to be done.

I am optimistic about what can be achieved when governments, communities, conservationists and private foundations like ours come together to tackle global challenges.

Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, said the latest figures offers us great hope and shows that we can save species and their habitats when governments, local communities and conservationists work together.

DiCaprio, the WWF and other animal conservation groups and all 13 tiger range countries have pledged to double the number of wild tigers in the world to more than 6,000 by 2022, which is the next Year of the Tiger. The global aim is also known as Tx2.

BREAKING NEWS: Wild tiger numbers have increased for the first time globally  https://t.co/yfUzNvl1qT #doubletigers pic.twitter.com/ezXPIbhZFB  WWF Tigers (@WWF_tigers) April 10, 2016

According to the WWF, the newest tiger figures were released ahead of the 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation in New Delhi this week. Over the course of the three-day summit, countries will report on their progress toward the Tx2 goal and commit to next steps.

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the conference on the essential role tigers play as a symbol of a countrys ecological well-being. The BBC noted that India alone has more than half the worlds tigers, with an estimated 2,226 tigers.

This is a critical meeting taking place at the halfway point in the Tx2 goal, Dr Rajesh Gopal, secretary general of the GTF, said in a statement. Tiger governments will decide the next steps towards achieving this goal and ensuring wild tigers have a place in Asias future.

Due to years of illegal poaching and loss of habitat, tigers are now nearly extinct worldwide. In Indonesia, the worlds insatiable demand for cheap palm oilanother DiCaprio pet causehas destroyed forests and depleted wildlife populations.

Last week, Cambodian conservationists conceded for the first time that tigers were functionally extinct in the country. Cambodias dry forests used to be home to scores of Indochinese tigers, but intensive poaching of both tigers and their prey has devastated the population, the AFP reported.

But in a major effort to save the iconic species, on March 23 the Cambodian government approved its Cambodia Tiger Action Plan that would import tigers from abroad and introduce them to the Mondulkiri Protected Forest.

Tigers are currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCNs) Red List. According to the IUCN, the animals currently inhabit less than 6 percent of their historic range with a 42 percent decline since 2006.

A strong action plan for the next six years is vital, Michael Baltzer, leader of WWF Tx2 Tiger Initiative, said in a statement. The global decline has been halted but there is still no safe place for tigers. Southeast Asia, in particular, is at imminent risk of losing its tigers if these governments do not take action immediately.

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Just a few years ago, Indianas department of education was breathing down the neck of administrators in the Evansville Vanderburgh district for repeatedly landing at the bottom of the states accountability system. So, rather than follow many school turnaround approaches across the country that focus heavily on principals and teachers, Superintendent David Smith in 2012 reorganized his tidy central-office staff that oversaw this 241-square-mile district of 23,000 students tucked into the southwest corner of Indiana.

We spend too much effort on improving individual schools, whereas districts are the ones in need of help, said Smith, who was born and raised in Evansville and took over the district after 29 years there as a teacher and district administrator. We cannot improve schools in isolation.

Working with Mass Insight Education, a consulting firm based in Boston paid with $600,000 from the federal School Improvement Grant program, Smith placed his five most-struggling schools under a staff of three central-office employees, those he thought most qualified to write curriculum, set budgets, and design new hiring practices.

Overseeing the team was Carrie Hillyard, a longtime Evansville administrator with a knack for rapid change. She had recently read a widely distributed paper issued in 2007 by Mass Insight called The Turnaround Challenge that detailed what, in its view, was wrong with the typical school turnaround model, especially in the No Child Left Behind Act era: It had become oversimplistic, too prescriptive, and unsustainable.

Taking Charge

With the Indiana school boards go-ahead, Hillyard began instituting sweeping changes to the districts infrastructure.

Members of the newly hired Evansville Transformation Zone moved their offices from the administration building, located miles away from the cluster of five schools with the most needs, and set up shop in them, down the hall from the principals. As each principal laid out a plan, the staff helped execute it, rewriting the schools curriculum, coming up with a set of new discipline strategies, and helping to pay for tailored intervention strategies.

It was time for us to roll up our sleeves and get dirty just like everyone else, Hillyard said.

Four years later, the district has risen from a D on the states accountability system to a C, and the schools scores in the transformation zone have modestly risen. The transformation schools suspension and expulsion rate has dramatically declined and at least two of the schools have gotten off the list of schools in the bottom 5 percent.

In 2015, the state legislature decided to write the transformation zone into law, allowing other Indiana districts to take a similar approach with the state board of educations permission.

The state school board, which temporarily delayed taking over several of the schools in Evansville, expanded the experiment known as the transformation zone to Indianapolis last year.

That program has struggled to get off the ground in Indianapolis, according to local reports. Administrators in that city didnt respond to requests for an interview but recently asked the state board to give the district time.

Across the country, state education departments have taken a greater role in recent years in dictating school turnarounds.

Under the Obama administration, the federal SIG program required prescriptive and sweeping strategies that involved firing schools staff members, handing over the school to a charter operator, or shutting the school down. That program was ended last school year.

Multiple States

There are now at least five states that operate their own districts, with the most prominent one being Tennessees Achievement School District. Louisiana is in the process of returning several schools to the oversight of New Orleans officials after running them for several years.

Since 2012, Indiana has taken over five schools and either handed them over to charter operators or directly run them itself.

Left out of this process, Smith and Mass Insight say, are district administrators.

When we look nationally, a big question about school turnaround is: Is it sustainable? said Susan Lusi, the president of Mass Insight. We need to put in place the capacity to do the work and make sure the system has the resources to do the work.

Ashley Jochim, a research analyst with the Center on Reinventing Public Education who will soon release a paper on the pros and cons of state-led turnaround efforts, said there are benefits to having states being involved in school improvement efforts.

While local administrators may understand local context, state departments can help them navigate local politics, provide resources, and properly vet charter-management operators and turnaround consultants.

As much as local control is a cherished tradition, states ... can serve as a backstop for incompetence, said Jochim, of the academic think tank.

Evansville administrators dodged the state takeover by designing the transformation zone.

The Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, provides districts with more voice in coming up with their own turnaround strategies. The U.S. Department of Education says state departments can accept district-designed turnaround strategies as long as they are research-based.

That gives hope to Smith, whos warily watched as both the federal government and state departments have lost patience in recent years with district superintendents in charge of schools with disproportionate numbers of poor and minority students and abysmal academic outcomes.

The rhetoric and the practicality of school turnaround dont often meet, Smith said. When theres the threat of school takeover, theres no incentive whatsoever of keeping or obtaining the great talent thats needed in our neediest schools. ESSA provides districts the latitude for a more diverse collection of schools to tell their story in a more accurate way.

Complexity of Problems

Smith said superintendents are often dealing with a complex series of problems that include a mobile student body, a young and unstable teaching force, and limited financial resources.

It often takes state departments and charter operators several years to figure out the cause and the solution to turning around underperforming schools.

Indeed, in Indiana, only one of the five schools taken over by the state has gotten off its failing list since 2012 when the state issued its first list of failing schools.

Smith says central-office administrators know their schools and their students best and are best suited to execute turnarounds.

I find it difficult to believe that local officials arent more passionate for the students that they serve, said Smith, who in 2012 decided, along with his board, not to fire any staff members at the low-performing schools but, rather, to retrain them and provide them with better support. Theyre our kids, and after the experts leave, theyre still going to be our kids. We owe it to them to provide the very best opportunities.

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., as the district is known, has about 39 virtual, magnet, and neighborhood schools in urban, rural, and suburban settings. (Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County.) That means a wide variation in student outcomes, culture, and day-to-day problems between schools. Despite those facts, the districts central-office staff had for decades been organized to oversee schools regionally, with each school getting an equal amount of support from central-office staff.

That left principals who oversee failing schools with little to no office support, Evansville administrators say. The central offices intent is to be fair and to treat everyone the same, said Camera Skinner, the principal of Glenwood Leadership Academy, one of the schools in Evansvilles transformation zone. But sometimes we all cant be treated the same. Some of us need more help than others.

Evansvilles transformation zone involves district administrators and school principals identifying problems and coming up with solutions tailored to those problems. About 90 percent of the administrators had worked in the district before being hired to work in the transformation zone.

In 2013, the district asked teachers to recommit to the school. More than half left, a sobering and disruptive process, said Hillyard.

But it provided an opportunity to press the reset button on many of the schools practices, administrators said.

Unlike in turnaround programs that give principals full autonomy and flexibility to turn schools around, principals in Evansvilles transformation zone are surrounded by central-office support.

Were now so much closer to where the decisions need to be made, said Hillyard. We are now the critical thought partner with them that they didnt have in the past. Its made us, as district officials, more effective and efficient.

Before, while teachers going through the hiring process were only interviewed, theyre now asked to perform in the classroom as well, and principals give them sample problems they could run into throughout the day.

Some people can talk about teaching, and some people can teach, Hillyard said.

At Glenwood, where more than 25 students a day were once being sent to the office for disciplinary problems, the transformation team re-evaluated the schools discipline rules, came up with a new list of school rules, and clearly displayed it in the hallways so students had a clear and consistent message on what is and isnt tolerable. They categorized discipline violations as high or low level so that the schools principals and vice principals had a better sense of what they needed to respond to. An average of two students a day are sent to the office these days, Skinner said.

One of the biggest assets to the transformation zone, Skinner, the Glenwood principal, said, is the budgeting process. Central-office administrators are experts at figuring out how to best utilize Title I funds. Administrators figured out a way to pay for resources Skinner said her school couldnt previously afford.

Full autonomy with zero support can be chaos, Skinner, the Glenwood principal, said. This allows me to be an instructional leader and be the lever to change culture and academics.

Renewed Attention

The program isnt perfect, administrators concede. Theyre constantly rebooting and redesigning their methods based on new data, said Hillyard.

For example, the district last year instituted a new compensation program that rewards teachers in the transformation zone incrementally for returning the next school year. This fall, more than 95 percent of the teachers returned, up from just half two years ago.

Evansvilles transformation zone, meanwhile, has gotten renewed attention in recent months from turnaround experts because of both its incremental success and innovative approach. The challenge now may be one of continuity.

When a school seems to have made dramatic improvement, and then the intervention supports go away, the school falls back to where it was, said Lusi. Districts have to have the capacity to keep continuing the work going forward, even after we leave. 




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.
One of Alabamas best schools sits on the outskirts of rural Mount Vernon, population 1,550, a dot on the map without a traffic light.

Close to 90 percent of its students live in poverty, roughly that many are Choctaw Indian, and, until a few years ago, they had to trudge through raw sewage to get to class when heavy rains swept through town.

Conventional wisdom would dictate that Calcedeaver Elementary Schools state math and reading test scores shouldnt continue to outpace those of their peers in Mobile County and across Alabama year after year. The schools test scores were always solid, if not stellar, past school employees say.

Calcedeavers transformation from what one former teacher called a hidden gem to crown jewel is a tale of students trumping expectations and conquering their circumstances. Its also a story of requited love: the passion a school has for its community, and the support that community gives back.

The school is a tutorial on how to rely on community and culture to boost achievement and reel in accolades, but its tips for success may not easily apply elsewhere. People who study high-poverty, high-achieving schools caution there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to boosting student achievement. What works in rural Alabama may not work in inner-city Atlanta or the hinterlands of Alaska.

Former Principal LaGaylis Harbuck, a Choctaw Indian herself, arrived at Calcedeaver in 2001 with little more than a strong will and undying belief in the potential of the students, almost all of whom are MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, a tribe based in Mobile and Washington counties in southern Alabama.

Sparked by an intense focus on improving reading and math instruction, Harbuck oversaw an overhaul that her successors have sustained and enhanced for the past 15 years. Now, more than 90 percent of Calcedeavers students routinely score advanced or proficient on the states reading and math tests.

Steady Climb

To kick-start the change, the school participated in the federal Reading First program and the Alabama Reading Initiative, both of which, in its view, provided much-needed funding, training, and materials. Harbuck also worked to strengthen the communitys connection to its cultural identity and the Choctaw language.

In less than five years, Calcedeaver rose to rank among the states best, racking up recognition along the way that included statewide honors and the U.S. Department of Education naming it a Blue Ribbon School in 2006.

More than a decade after the praise began rolling in, the school remains a beacon, not only for its success in teaching students the three Rs, but also for its focus on what could be called the three Hsheart, home, and hope. The school has a five-point plan for academic achievement that relies just as much on building relationships as it does on making data-driven decisionsusing test scores and other data to find out which students are falling behind and to help them catch up.

This is fundamentally a love story about a place and about people who believe in its possibility and its future, said Bryan Brayboy, the director of the Center for Indian Education at Arizona State University.

That love brought Calcedeaver alumna Nicole Williams back home in 2001 to teach Native American culture, language, dance, and history. Harbuck, the former principal, persuaded Williams to forgo her plans for a career in medicine or physical therapy to help inject life into her community.

This school is the heartbeat of this community. Everything else are the veins and the capillaries and all that. This is the main organ that supports this community, and they support us. Its a perfect union, Williams said.

Ties That Bind

Its part of a longstanding tradition, said MOWA Choctaw Indian Chief Lebaron Big Man"Byrd, a Calcedeaver graduate and former teacher at the school. Another alumnus, his twin brother, Lemural, served as principal in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Back when the Byrd brothers attended Calcedeaver in the 1950s and 1960s, the school was a 1st-through-12th-grade-school, serving almost exclusively Native American students. The campus long has hosted tribal powwows and served as a gathering place for community meetings, and as a place where news, good and bad, circulated quickly.

During Lebaron Byrds time as a teacher in the early to mid-1980s, fellow teachers often complained when reassigned to far-flung Calcedeaver, located 40 miles outside of Mobile. Their tunes often changed after their arrival, he said.

This place has always been the focal point in our community, Lebaron Byrd said. When other people came here, they found out it was a hidden gem.

Brayboy calls Calcedeaver a unicorn, because its results are the stuff that myths are made of.

In the past decade, the 250-student, 13-teacher school has had at least four principals and fairly constant turnover among its teaching staff. Almost all the students qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. Many of their parents struggled to graduate high school, Williams said.

Now, in her 15th year at the school, Williams has strong ties to Calcedeaver. All four of her children attended the school; her youngest is in the 3rd grade. Her father went to school there. Its where she spent most of the 1980s as a student. Her sister, Heather Hunt, the schools library media specialist, also came back after earning her college degree.

Williams is one of the mainstays, but also an outlier. Among her classmates, she was the first, and one of just a few, to earn a college degree.

Through a mentoring program she founded, Williams also tracks former students to ensure they graduate from high school and attend college if they choose.

Graduation Rates

When she began her mentoring program, the high school graduation rate for Native students who started at Calcedeaver hovered around 50 percent; now, Citronelle High Schoolwhere Calcedeaver students enrollhas a 91 percent graduation rate, one of the highest in the state.

I try to ensure the community and students are getting my best and theyre giving me their best, Williams said.

Brayboy, a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, said successful schools dont get caught up in the narrative of Native students as victims.

But the stark statistics that capture the state of Native American education in this country can make it hard not to.

American Indians continue to have worse educational outcomes than the general population by nearly all measures.

They traditionally post the worst achievement scores and lowest graduation rates of any student subgroup.

American Indians are also overrepresented in the school discipline system, and Native kindergarten pupils are also retained at nearly twice the rate of white kindergartners.

With those systemic challenges, it is not surprising that American Indian and Alaska Native students had the lowest national four-year high school graduation rate, 67 percent, of any racial or ethnic group, according to 2013 data from the National Center for Education Statistics

Those things are all true, Brayboy said. Where we end up in trouble is where we attribute that to a culture or to someones lack of willingness to try. Our children have been underserved. Thats just the way it is.

In-Depth Look

When the Education Trust selected Calcedeaver for its Dispelling the Myth award in 2011, Karin Chenoweth, the research and advocacy groups writer-in-residence, took an in-depth look at the school. Two years earlier, she profiled another Mobile County school, George Hall Elementary, with results similar to Calcedeavers. Its a mostly black school 40 miles away in urban Mobile.

The author of three books on high-poverty, high-achieving schools, Chenoweth has visited campuses and districts across the country, searching for common threads and shared traits.

What do they have in common with a mostly Hispanic high school in Los Angeles County? Thats a really deep question, and its not an easy one to answer, Chenoweth said. I really think it has to do with their belief in the capacity of their kids and organizing themselves around that belief. It seems almost too simple, but thats really at the core of these schools.

Her observations sync with Brayboys principles for ensuring success for students, Native American or not. Topping the list: a recognition that relationships matter and that successful teachers are often embedded in the communities where they work.

Do students feel like theyre being represented in the material and their experiences are being validated? [The teachers] understand the place, theyre present both inside the school and out, Brayboy said."We have a perverse fixation on this notion of best practices. Context matters. Place matters. If you dont have that, none of the other stuff is going to work.

Tips for Success While theres no cookie-cutter approach to school improvement, the educators at Calcedeaver Elementary School, in Mt. Vernon, Ala., follow some homegrown principles in working to get the best from their students: Inspect What You Expect

The staff collaborates on a plan to meet the needs of all students, both academically and socially. The principal inspects those expectations through frequent visits to all classrooms and offers feedback to ensure student and teacher success. Embrace Your Uniqueness

Despite its rural, high-poverty location, Calcedeaver focuses on the positive aspects of its students and looks for the necessary academic and social tools to help them succeed. Involve the Community

The school sees itself as the nucleus of its community. The tight-knit connections between school and community means word travels fast about whats happening at Calcedeaver. School officials work to find out what community members are thinking and make sure they have a stake in the decisionmaking. Form Partnerships

Calcedeaver during the past several decades has developed a Partners in Education relationship with several businesses within the wider community. DuPont financed a greenhouse project to further science, technology, math, and engineering, or STEM, learning outside the classroom. Other partners include J&B Electric, MOWA Choctaw Housing Authority, Aldersgate Methodist Church, and SSAB, which provide donations, and programs such as Reading Buddies and Junior Achievement. Unite on Common Goals

Chief among these goals are keeping the focus on student achievement and letting student needs guide the mission of the school. Source: Calcedeaver Elementary School

Laura Hittson, who came to Calcedeaver in January 2015, is the latest in a long line of principals at the school. As a former central-office employee in the Mobile school system, Hittson knew about the history and culture of Calcedeaver. She also knew that a revolving door to the principals office could lead to issues with trust and allegiance.

To ease the transition, Hittson spent her first 18 months trying to work her way into the tight-knit community. To do that, she sat back, observed, and listened, getting to know the staff, students, and people of Mount Vernon.

Relying on Veteran Staff

She relies on the judgment of such veteran support staff as cafeteria workers, janitors, and classroom aides, not just teachers. At the onset of Calcedeavers ascent under Harbuck, they were pressed to double as reading tutors and boosters, touting the benefits of picking up books.

Hittsons arrival coincided with the move to a new $10.5 million building. Less than a mile from the old site, the new campus is still a far cry from it, at least in Williams eyes. As a student and teacher, she spent more than 20 years of her life learning and teaching at the old campus, part of which now serves as a community center. It was where Calcedeavers latest renaissance began and where most of her children received their earliest formal schooling in a mix of small brick buildings and shoddy portable classrooms.

The new school honors the Choctaw tradition, incorporating Native American symbols into the design. But Williams longs for the old building, a place that she and her children still call home.

We had dilapidated buildings with $20 million minds. Our children were still knocking it out of the park, Williams said.

The effects of poor economic conditions and deplorable buildings in many Indian communities add to the challenges facing families and schools. But that, by no means, indicates theyre incapable of learning, and excelling.

We have to stop treating kids as defective just because, Chenoweth said. So theyve got strikes against them: What are we going to do to educate them?
Three years ago, Californias lawmakers and its department of education embarked on an ambitious task of overhauling the states accountability and school turnaround approaches.

The states identification of which schools were failinga system reliant mostly on test scoresand its remedy for those schools, mostly led by private consultants, had for years been haphazard, poorly aimed, and a waste of resources, state leaders concluded.

The outcome of that review: a new accountability system approved by the state board this month and a new state agency launched this year and focused strictly on continuous school improvement in the lowest-performing schools and districts.

Piloting the Work

That agency, the California Collaboration for Educational Excellence, is budgeted at around $24 million a year and soon is expected to take on a list of five pilot districts or schools and help them design and execute specific and tailored school turnaround programs.

And unlike in most states, districts will opt into the work, rather than having the state pick which districts need work.

What that work will look like is still being sketched out. The board will use its pilot districts to experiment with locally chosen strategies such as whether to fire a schools entire staff, provide intensive and more-tailored professional development, or design new curriculum and discipline methods.

Central to the work: assuring that district administrators will feel that they have more ownership.

We believe the state agency is too far removed to be the ones to come in and tell districts to change their practice, said Joshua Daniels, the collaborations director of outreach and communications. Were not telling folks what to do, but were partnering with individuals and working with their strengths.

Like Californias recently approved accountability system, which doesnt yet identify the states worst-performing schools, as required under the new Every Student Succeeds Act, the new agency approach has gotten pushback from some civil rights groups in the state. They view it as too weak and potentially ineffective in improving the states worst-performing schools in which just a handful of students meet the states minimum reading and math standards.

Well wait two to four years for a school to improve but thats a lifetime for these students, said Ryan J. Smith, the executive director of Education Trust-West, an Oakland-based advocacy group that pushes for rapid turnaround strategies. While Smith thinks the CCEE is a step in the right direction for the state, he has concerns about districts option to volunteer for the work. The proof will be in the pudding. Lets see if they act with a sense of urgency when they see black and brown kids failing.

At a Glance Agency Name

California Collaborative for Educational Excellence History

Independent agency created by state law in 2014, hired its first staff members in February of this year. What It Does

Helps local districts implement their Local Control and Accountability Plans, which districts must come up with under state law to lay out academic goals, and the costs and strategies for achieving them. Philosophy

California politicians and education leaders think school improvement is a continuous cycle that should not be done to or for a district, but in conjunction with district leaders. How It Works

School districts decide areas they want to improve upon, and CCEE provides professional development and support to help district leaders meet their goals. Professional Development

Will provide training to district teachers, administrators, and parents in the areas that the state board decides define school quality. Services to begin in November. Pilot Program

This fall, CCEE will pick five districts it will work with over the next several years to help come up with short-term and long-term goals. Source: California Collaborative for Educational Excellence

Leading the agency is former Long Beach Unified superintendent and former state board of education member Carl Cohn, a sharp critic of the No Child Left Behind Act who has regularly spoken out against heavy-handed turnaround efforts led by state departments.

The agency did not make Cohn available for an interview. But in prior interviews with local media, he has said that the collaborative will be a nimble agency that will advise and assist districts.

California has 6.2 million students in 1,022 districts. In total, the state serves about an eighth of the countrys students, more than 75 percent of them students of color.

The scope and diversity of Californias educational landscape, which stretches more than 163,000 square miles in urban, suburban, and rural settings, has long been a hurdle for the states education department when it comes to school support.

The state has taken a local-control approach to education, downsizing the role of the education department and giving boards of education and district superintendents broad latitude in shaping schools trajectories.

Its turnaround work is headed in that direction now, too.

Under the prescriptive No Child Left Behind law, which was replaced by ESSA, the state had two accountability systems, after the U.S. Department of Education repeatedly rejected Californias applications for a waiver from the laws provisions.

One accountability system, known as the Academic Performance Index, ranked schools based strictly on test scores and graduation rates.

The other was a listing of schools that met the NCLB laws yardstick of adequate yearly progress and those that did not.

For schools that landed at the bottom of the list, the state forced districts to hire an outside consultant to conduct an audit and tell the district how to improve.

It wasnt that it was bad, and its not that what they were asking us to do was incorrect, Daniels said. But many of the same strategies they would use, we would use as well.

Local Control

In 2013, the state passed the Local Control Funding Formula, a process that requires districts to spend state dollars on several academic areas, school wraparound services, and intervention efforts. And the state education department last month approved the creation of a report card that will grade schools on several indicators, including school climate, and chronic-absenteeism, and graduation rates. It will be published for the first time next year.

Many of the states civil rights groups and charter advocates have criticized that system as having too many or too few indicators, and some have said it will only further confuse parents.

The new state agency will be charged with helping districts comply with the provisions of that report card. It will provide extra support to districts that have identified themselves as in need of improvement.

It also will provide professional development to districts for the set of indicators listed in the states new report card. That could include staff retreats, workshops for teachers and administrators, online resources, and consultant work.

That work may take too much time, said Smith, of Education-Trust West.

I agree with the idea of continuous improvement, said Smith. But that doesnt mean there should be continuous non-improvement. There needs to be a sense of urgency, too. Some of these schools need to improve now and not decades from now.
Educators have gotten used to poring over spreadsheets filled with test scores to get a sense of their students'and schools'strengths and weaknesses.

What they dont often see: feedback from other teachers, administrators, and students who can offer a fresh perspective on where a school stands when it comes to instruction, resources, climate, financial efficiency, and more.

A handful of statesincluding, recently, Vermonthave worked to change that, using a model borrowed from other countries and known in Great Britain as school inspections, in which a team of experts or educators visits a school and offers objective feedback on teaching, learning, management and more.

Several states have experimented with the model for their lowest-performing schools, including Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New York, said Craig Jerald, the president of Break the Curve Consulting, who has studied the strategy.

Vermont, by contrast, plans to eventually conduct inspections, which it calls integrated field reviews, in all its schools, whether low-performing or not. The state began piloting the program last school year in about 40 schools and is continuing to test it this year in about 50, with the ultimate goal of reviewing each school every three years.

Refining the Process

Vermont is still figuring out how the reviews could be used to support schools under the new Every Student Succeeds Act, said Josh Souliere, the states assistant director of education quality reviews. The reviews arent expected to be used for federal accountability, but they could be a component of state-level technical assistance for low-performing schools, he said.

But the true purpose of the reviews is to help educators and district leaders get a sense of how a range of factorsincluding curriculum coordination, instruction, personalized learning, and the social and emotional health of studentsaffect the overall success of a school and its supervisory union (Vermonts term for local education agencies).

These reviews are intended to measure the things that we cant measure quantitatively, making sure students are experiencing an equitable education, both across the district and within a school, said Lori Dolezal, an education quality manager at the Vermont education department, who took part in some of the reviews conducted last school year. Its not punitive, its exploratory. Its OK to find problems of practice. Thats the whole point.

Personalized Look

Under Vermonts pilot, a team of 15 to 20 reviewersamong them teachers, specialists, central-office staff, officials from the state education agency, and even studentsvisit a particular supervisory union. Then they break up into teams of about three or four people and head out to individual schools.

Those teams will spend about half a day at a school collecting evidence. That can mean conducting interviews with teachers, students, and parents, and observing classes. Teams also consider supporting documents that get at how well the school is implementing the states education quality standards, including local tests, curriculum materials, budgets, and policies and procedures. A second team will visit the school for the second half of the day and perform a similar review.

A school can rebut anything in the formal report that leaders think is unfair or inaccurate.

At least for now, its up to local administrators and educators to decide what to do with the information.

School officials who took part in last years process generally say the feedback was illuminating and felt supportiveeven if the prospect of reviewers coming in and judging a school made some educators nervous at first.

It felt very personalized, said Emilie Knisley, the superintendent of the 450-student Blue Mountain district in northeast Vermont. It felt like you could take the recommendations and take action on them in a way that you cant when youre just getting a set of test scores.

Knisley also served as a reviewer herself, visiting schools in other parts of the state. That was eye-opening, too.

It ended up resulting in a lot of people being able to share experiences across schools and get ideas they could take back to their own systems, she said. Its rare that you get to talk to people in other districts.

Already, in some cases, the reports have helped nudge school boards, which often oversee supervisory-union budgets, to provide funding for resources reviewers felt were lacking.

For instance, the team visiting Knisleys district noted that some students didnt have access to the same classroom technology as others in the same school. That gave local leaders ammunition to ask the school board for money to install new interactive white boards in elementary classrooms.

ESSA Connections

Experts see plenty of potential for the reviews in the ESSA era. The new law requires states to consider multiple measures of performance, not just test scores, in evaluating school performance.

Its an elegant way to handle a lot of things that people now want out of an accountability system, including gauging school culture and support for teaching, said Jerald, who has examined school inspections in Great Britain and elsewhere, but not specifically Vermonts system.

And the reports are most valuable when reviewers are blunt and dont seek to spare a school leaders feelings, Jerald added. Improvement begins with honesty, he said.

Inspections can give you a real diagnosis of whats going on in a school in a way that test scores alone cant, said Linda Darling-Hammond, the president of the Learning Policy Institute, a research organization in Palo Alto, Calif., and in Washington. But they are not enough on their own as a turnaround tool, she cautioned.

For this to work, you need to have a good improvement strategy to follow up the review, she said.
School administrators often look at school climate and behavior issues as part of a comprehensive approach to fixing low-performing schools.

The Every Student Succeeds Act, it turns out, specifically cites a framework that officials can use to build their effortsmultitiered systems of support.

The actual text of the law mentions multitiered systems of support only briefly, and in the context of helping students with disabilities and English-language learners have access to the challenging academic standards. But supporters of this framework say it can be used to help all students, by providing them the individual academic and social support they need to succeed.

A multitiered system allows teams of school staff members to make decisions that are informed by actual data on the way children are learning and behaving. Those decisions could be on what to do with a flare-up of misbehavior on a school bus, for example, or about how to help a student who is struggling with early-reading skills.

Intensity of Service

The tiers refer to increasingly intensive services for a student based on that childs needs: an isolated incident of misbehavior needs a different approach from continued disruption, for example.

And the interventions are intended to be research-based and driven by data on the problem, not on guesses or hypotheses about what might be able to help. In a multi-tiered support system, school staff are also supposed to closely monitor students, to make sure that the interventions are really working.

The emphasis on data-driven processes is going to be very important, said Teri Marx, who is on the technical-assistance team at the National Center On Intensive Intervention, a federally funded center that helps schools devise programs for students with severe and persistent learning and behavioral needs. The American Institutes of Research manages the center.

Even though the federal government is suggesting strongly that states and districts should look at student data, its not telling schools exactly what that data should be or what should trigger a certain intervention. Thats up to the locals.

The benefit of using [multitiered systems of support] is that it really does support ESSAs underlying theme that theres more control at the local level, Marx said.

Special Education Value

The comprehensive nature of these improvement efforts is important for all students. Plus, the individualized approach is particularly appealing compared to what some considered to be the one-size-fits-all approach that was a part of the No Child Left Behind Act, the predecessor to the Every Student Succeeds Act.

A Tool To Share When school leaders look to boost outcomes for the student body as a whole, they may find some strategies particularly useful for specific groups of studentssuch as those with disabilities. Thats been the case with a method known as positive behavioral interventions and supports, or PBIS. Its a way for school personnel to organize evidence-based practices meant to improve social behaviors schoolwide. The term was introduced in the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and its specifically mentioned in the Every Student Succeeds Act as a strategy eligible for the use of federal funds. PBIS generally is organized into three tiers: universal supports, targeted supports, and individual supports. Individual supports are a personalized approach that may be necessary for some students who have dangerous or highly disruptive behaviors. Students at this level are provided with programs tailored to meeting their individual needs. Targeted supports are intended for students who are not responding to the universal supports. These students may need more focused support, such as a behavior plan or a social-skills club. Universal supports are rules, routines, and physical arrangementssuch as in classroomsmeant to prevent initial occurrence of inappropriate behaviors. These are used for the entire student body. Source: Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

For example, without a set plan to address an entire school climate and a process for dealing with problem behavior, school leaders may find themselves jumping to suspension or expulsion to deal with challenging students. Research shows that students subjected to exclusion are less likely to be engaged in the classroom and more likely to drop out of school. The U.S. Department of Education has been promoting other methods of dealing with school climate, such as instituting positive school behavior models or instructing teachers in effective classroom-management techniques.

ESSA asks states to be mindful of the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom. Districts are also required to report on several school-climate-related factors, such as chronic absenteeism, suspensions and expulsions, and incidences of bullying and harassmentall concerns that practitioners say can be addressed through a multitiered system of supports.

The term itself is often used to encompass two other tiered intervention models: response to intervention, or RTI, and positive behavioral interventions and supports, or PBIS.

Response to intervention generally focuses on academic issues; in many schools, it is used for early literacy. For example, all students in a response to intervention framework are supposed to be receiving research-based literacy instruction. That level is referred to as tier one.

Students still having academic problems despite receiving strong tier-one instruction are referred to a second tier. That level is intended to provide more focused interventions targeted at a students particular need. And a student who still does not respond to those interventions can be moved to a third tier for even more individualized work or referred for a more extensive evaluation for special education.

Behavioral Issues

The positive behavioral intervention and supports model follows the same process, except it focuses on behavioral issues. All students are supposed to receive behavior support, but those who show that they need extra help are supposed to be quickly referred to interventions that meet their specific needs.

Often, behavior issues and learning struggles go hand in hand, so addressing one problem tends to help with another. And many states, districts, and schools were working on multi-tiered systems of support well before the passage of ESSA last year.

But for all their potential power, multitiered systems can be challenging to put into place.

Michigans Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative, for example, helps schools support student reading and behavior at the same time. More than 500 elementary and middle schools implemented the program between 2004 and 2013, and the schools that followed the program closely saw both higher reading scores and lower incidences of behavior-related office referrals.

But Michigans results also suggested that it may be difficult for some schools to stick to the evidence-based practices for a long time. After initially adopting the methods and practices, many schools stopped reporting their self-assessment data to the initiative, the program noted in a 2014 report.

Its not clear if the schools were still using the methods and just not reporting their data, or if the lack of reporting itself meant that the energy behind the project had flagged. But the findings foreshadow an issue that states will have to consider if they choose to implement their own multitiered models. In the words of the report, sustained support must be provided to expect sustained implementation.

The Martin County school district, in eastern Kentucky near the West Virginia border, wrestles with poverty and high unemployment rates with the decline of the coal-mining industry. The county is losing population, and 75 percent of its 2,000 students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

In 2014, the county was awarded a $310,000 federal school-climate-improvement grants, which it used to start a multitiered behavioral-support system.

Paul Baker, the lead school psychologist for the district, said that the school system is approaching the problem from several directions. It hired two more school psychologists, so that theyd be available to provide more counseling to students who need it. The district also forged robust ties with county agencies that are able to provide additional support.

In addition, the school system created a team-based model that allowed it to pinpoint behavior problems more accurately and to more quickly devise a plan for fixing them.

Flagging Problems

For example, the behavior-monitoring system flagged that most middle school discipline problems were happening on the bus, specifically the middle school bus that brought children to the countys high school in the morning as a central drop-off point. The students were then bused to the middle school.

Baker said the bus was overcrowded and sometimes students sat three to a seat; adding a new bus helped alleviate some friction.

Overall, Martin County has adopted the idea that teaching social skills is as much a part of its job as teaching academics, Baker said.

A schools role is to help mold a child into a productive member of society, he said. Were trying to teach them how you can shake off whats going on [outside school]. Thats a skill that has to be taught.

How states may write multitiered systems into their state ESSA plans is yet to be determined. States are still in the process of reaching out to various interested parties as they draft their plans, and the plans will not go into effect until the 2017-18 school year.

States also need to take care how they implement them. A federal evaluation of 20,000 students in 13 states using response to intervention showed that students who received targeted interventions under the framework did worse than their peers who were getting just regular classroom instruction. Evaluators said that schools may need more precise screening tools to identify struggling students, as well as more effective interventions.

But Howard M. Knoff, the director of Project Achieve, a school improvement program used nationally, says the new law gives states and districts a chance to set aside ineffective practices.

We need to.... make sure we comprehensively rethink, re-tailor, and retrofit the process of education in our local schools and districts, Knoff wrote in a recent post on his blog.
The project will finance job-creating SMEs and Mid-Caps, with a particular focus on start-ups

The EIB is celebrating today 40 years of activity in Portugal

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed today four EUR 70 million loans with the Portuguese banks Banco BPI, Caixa Geral de Depositos, Millennium bcp and Banco Santander Totta in order to implement the EIB programme to foster employment and start-ups in Portugal. The project comes under the financial pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe and will be completed by an additional EUR 20 million loan at a later stage. EIB President, Werner Hoyer, and EIB Vice-President, Roman Escolano, participated in the signing ceremony, which also part of the Banks celebration of 40 years of activity in Portugal. The EIB started working in the country in 1976 and during these four decades it has granted more than EUR 45 billion worth of loans to support Portuguese projects.

This total EIB lending of EUR 300 million will finance projects implemented by Portuguese SMEs and Mid-Caps that promote job creation. The project will focus on investing in start-ups and companies employing young people and the long-term unemployed, as well as businesses run by the self-employed. These EIB loans under the Investment Plan for Europe will contribute to increasing the funding capacity of some of the most important Portuguese banks so that they can unlock investment by SMEs and Mid-Caps for these specific purposes. The focus of the financing is aligned with national programmes and priorities in these areas.

With todays signatures, a total of eight projects and financial agreements have been signed in Portugal under the Investment Plan for Europe. The goal is to support initiatives that contribute to innovation and employment creation in the country.

EIB President Werner Hoyer highlighted the long-standing partnership between Portugal and the EIB, saying that this great cooperation will continue in the future. During these past 40 years we have supported more than 25,000 Portuguese SMEs and have contributed to financing the countrys infrastructure and industry. We are here today to show the commitment of the EIB Group to supporting the Portuguese economy.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "The Investment Plan is a proven resource for innovative and R&D intensive SMEs and start-ups, and is delivering beyond our expectations. That is why we have recently increased the amount of financing available to SMEs under the Investment Plan. With today's announcement of EUR 300 million for Portuguese start-ups and small businesses, we really see the Investment Plan making a difference to our citizens. I look forward to future Investment Plan news in Portugal".

Roman Escolano, EIB Vice-President, said that these loans demonstrate the strong commitment of the European Investment Bank and the European Union in Portugal. The contracts signed today will have a direct impact on the economy of the country, with visible and tangible benefits for Portuguese citizens, by supporting long-term growth and creating jobs promoted by SMEs and start-up companies.
Two die in Lezayre crash

Two people have died following a crash in the north of the Island this lunchtime.

Three vehicles collided at Churchtown in on the TT Course between Sulby and Ramsey at 12.35pm, resulting in the road being closed for almost six hours while investigations were carried out and the emergency services attended.

Police have confirmed one of the drivers - a 79-year-old from the north of the Island - died at the scene, and the front passenger from the same vehicle passed away in hospital shortly after.

Another driver is undergoing treatment in Noble's hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the incident, while the third driver was unhurt and able to return home after being checked by paramedics.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn't already spoken to the police is asked to contact Police Headquarters on 631212.
Watterson takes up Speaker of the House of Keys post



Juan Watterson

Former Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson has been appointed as Speaker of the House of Keys.

The Rushen MHK was elected by the House this afternoon following the swearing-in ceremony earlier today.

Mr Watterson is the joint longest serving member of the House of Keys, having first been elected in 2006.

The Speaker is responsible for ensuring correct procedure and standing orders are followed during sittings of the House of Keys.
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4

The Russian Politicians Abduction

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, a well-known politician from Russia, claimed he was abducted in the 90s by aliens. He said he was taken from his house in Moscow to a space ship. He remembered the whole event clearly except that he didnt know how long he was taken; all that happened is that he was back in his suite a couple of hours later. He said time didnt matter to the aliens because when he pressed them to send him home, they said "you have time". He went on to say that he had conversations with them and they are like us  we are not alone and we are not unique. Pretty sure he didnt make this up just so he would be called an "alien abduction stories" author.
The South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) today hosted a media briefing to launch its upcoming annual convention taking place from 2-3 November 2016 themed The Property Sector as a Key Driver for Sustainable Economic Growth and Wealth Redistribution.

The upcoming 2016 SAIBPP Annual Convention will provide a much-needed platform for professionals within the South African property industry to not only network and share information but to also engage in meaningful dialogue around transformation within the industry. The overall theme will be underpinned by the robust interrogation of topics including land reform, property ownership, public sector transformation policy and sustainable economic development. The second day of the conference will address the Land Issue.

2016 SAIBPP Annual Convention speakers and panellists include a range of key industry stakeholders and decision makers from public and private sector, and funding institutions, such as Paul Serote, Head of Property Management Trading Entity; Kevin Roman, CEO of Mowana Property Group & COO of Pareto Limited; and Boni Muvevi, Gauteng Partnership Fund, CEO.

This year marks SAIBPPs 20th Anniversary and we believe that its time for honest reflection on the slow pace of transformation in SA, and our industry in particular. This conference represents a strategic, practical and solutions-orientated approach to dealing with the current challenges facing the various stakeholders in the property sector. For instance, beyond legislation, what practical interventions do we now need to apply in order to see radical transformation in the property sector, says SAIBPP President, Nkuli Bogopa.

According to Bogopa: Property and/or land ownership is one of the key foundations of wealth creation and the basis upon which our currently stagnant economy will be rebuilt. The industry is valued at R5.8-trillion according to Property Sector Charter excluding the value chain and associated services. Black people are still largely excluded from the entire value chain which is unacceptable and unsustainable 22 years into our democracy.

The SAIBPP Awards dinner will wrap up the 2-day programme where industry professionals, will once again honour property industry leaders that have excelled in their respective disciplines and companies that have succeeded in demonstrating a commitment to transformation. This year will see the introduction of a new award category honouring excellent academic achievement.

The theme of this years Annual Convention will therefore, open up a strategic dialogue about the
Writing at the tail end of Cenozoic Era, Dante wouldnt have progressed very far in composing his poetry if the oxygen content of the late medieval Italian atmosphere were too low to sustain life. Oxygen was a condition for his work. However, nobody would say that it fueled Dantes creativity. Maybe his love for Beatrice did.

Yet over at Science Daily we find another retelling of the oxygen theory of the Cambrian explosion, with the vital gas as the fuel for evolutions creativity (Oxygen levels were key to early animal evolution, strongest evidence now shows).

It has long puzzled scientists why, after 3 billion years of nothing more complex than algae, complex animals suddenly started to appear on Earth. Now, a team of researchers has put forward some of the strongest evidence yet to support the hypothesis that high levels of oxygen in the oceans were crucial for the emergence of skeletal animals 550 million years ago. The new study is the first to distinguish between bodies of water with low and high levels of oxygen. It shows that poorly oxygenated waters did not support the complex life that evolved immediately prior to the Cambrian period, suggesting the presence of oxygen was a key factor in the appearance of these animals. No oxygen, no animal life. Therefore poorly oxygenated waters would seem to be an undoubted factor in the appearance of [complex] animals, meaning a necessary but certainly not sufficient condition.

The study appears in Nature Communications. Its lead author, Rosalie Tastevin at Oxford University, says:

The question of why it took so long for complex animal life to appear on Earth has puzzled scientists for a long time. One argument has been that evolution simply doesnt happen very quickly, but another popular hypothesis suggests that a rise in the level of oxygen in the oceans gave simple life-forms the fuel they needed to evolve skeletons, mobility and other typical features of modern animals. Although there is geochemical evidence for a rise in oxygen in the oceans around the time of the appearance of more complex animals, it has been really difficult to prove a causal link. By teasing apart waters with high and low levels of oxygen, and demonstrating that early skeletal animals were restricted to well-oxygenated waters, we have provided strong evidence that the availability of oxygen was a key requirement for the development of these animals. [Emphasis added.]

Who would doubt it? In fact the studys title, Low-oxygen waters limited habitable space for early animals, sounds about as uncontroversial as it could. Naturally, a lack of oxygen limits habitable space. But note the apparent confirmation of the popular hypothesis that oxygen, that popular gas, was the fuel for evolving skeletons, mobility and other typical features of modern animals.

The Abstract is clearer:

The oceans at the start of the Neoproterozoic Era (1,000-541 million years ago, Ma) were dominantly anoxic, but may have become progressively oxygenated, coincident with the rise of animal life. However, the control that oxygen exerted on the development of early animal ecosystems remains unclear, as previous research has focussed on the identification of fully anoxic or oxic conditions, rather than intermediate redox levels. Here we report anomalous cerium enrichments preserved in carbonate rocks across bathymetric basin transects from nine localities of the Nama Group, Namibia (550-541 Ma). In combination with Fe-based redox proxies, these data suggest that low-oxygen conditions occurred in a narrow zone between well-oxygenated surface waters and fully anoxic deep waters. Although abundant in well-oxygenated environments, early skeletal animals did not occupy oxygen impoverished regions of the shelf, demonstrating that oxygen availability (probably >10 M) was a key requirement for the development of early animal-based ecosystems.

Oxygen is the currently favored explanation for the abrupt appearance of animal life, but Evolution News commented recently that its a nonstarter. Coincident, sure, a requirement, fine, but not fuel:

The goal of science is to provide a vera causa for observed effects. Except in some highly imaginative fiction, oxygen is not a creative evolutionary force. A gas cannot devise body plans. A living archaeal cell at a deep sea vent is not the ancestor to all eukaryotes. Complex specified information is present. Molecular machinery is present. What necessary and sufficient cause other than intelligence can explain these observed realities?

What fuels evolution  whether purpose, as Stephen Meyer and other ID advocates argue, or blind churning  is precisely the question at stake in the Darwin debate. Researchers seeking to explain away the Cambrian event without intelligent design are left with a tough choice. What they can say thats true is unremarkable. What they say that is false, or misleading, is also obviously absurd.

Photo: Rosalie Tostevin in Namibia, by Fred Bowyer via Science Daily.
Joppa said: You still need CSI. I'm surprised your partner got PR without CSI. It must be a mistake, and when that is realised, you will need CSI as well. How did she answer the question about exercising treaty right in UK? Click to expand...

Thanks a lot JoppaSorry I was not very clear regarding the SCIMy wife has CSI for the past 6 years but I have only for the past 2 years.My wife applied individually for her PR in the second attempt and she got it but in the first attempt we applied together and the refusal was because we didn't have SCI covering 5 years together. There was no mistakes in her application as she was self sufficientMy question is now she has PR card and I would like to apply for my PR on this ground in section 9 of the new PR form it says that if the relevant EEA i.e. The sponsor has PR card and it is going to be sent with the application we don't need to fill in the section of EEA activity during the last 5 years - Is my understanding correct?And the last question is my new born baby how can I get British passport for him? Is the nationality will be written in his birth certificate?Thanks again for your help
So let me start. There is not much information available on internet regarding UAE FAMILY HOLD VISA PROCESS.



First of all let us be very clear family visa can be hold only when the person is shifting job in the same land (Mainland to Mainland). If you were having a mainland visa and your new company is free zonethen you cannot hold your family visa YOU WILL HAVE TO CANCEL and then reapply once your new visa is stamped.



When you call on 8005111 and inquire about hold visa process, they will just transfer your line to IVR which you might not get all the information required.



So lets start. For holding FAMILY visa, first you should have a JOB OFFER LETTER from the mainland (PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE JOB LETTER SHOULD BE FROM LABOUR DEPARTMENT). A normal company offer letter is not enough to hold the family visa.



Once you have a labour approved offer letter, ask your old company to cancel only your LABOUR CARD first. PLEASE NOTE DO NOT CANCELL YOUR OLD VISA till your hold visa process is done.



Take the old labour card cancellation paper with new labour approved offer letter your original passport and your dependents original passport to Al Manara immigration center. (My experience at this immigration center was very good). Polite and well behaved officers are available to serve you. You can also visit Al jafliya immigration center (but I am not sure whether they are taking HOLD visa applications).



Typing center there will charge you 50 AED for typing hold visa document in arabic. Take the complete set and take token number.



Inform officer that you want to hold your family visa and submit the full set of documents prepared by the typing guy.



Once approved by the immigration officer you will have to pay a deposit of 5000 AED (refundable).



As per my conversation with one of the officer the validity for holding family visa is maximum 60 days. If your new visa is not stamped within 60 days then the deposit amount is forfeited (this I got to know at the cash counter).



My company took around 58 days to get my new visa stamped (due to some internal issues). So every day was like a sword on my head and fear of losing 5000 AED).



But I also met 1 gentleman at the immigration center whose new visa process was all done within 15 days (from labor approval, change status, medical, emirates ID & stamping).



So it depends on company to company.



My advice is please check with your new company as how much time is they going to take for new visa before keeping your family visa on hold.



Best of Luck..
I know that you need a CT to be able to sell a used car but how do you sell a car if you cant drive it to get the CT.



My Range Rover has finally given up, I ve changed everything on it apart from the block, it starts and runs but the coolant is blowing and therfore it cant be driven otherwise it will overheat.



I want to sell it for repairs but not sure how.



Thanks
I work and stay not far from there and often go cycling or go to the gym and walk around in the evening, sometimes by myself. I've never felt any sense of danger, although maybe I'm naive.

San Fernando is a lot more wealthy compared to where I live at the weekends, but also being a bigger city there are probably more bad people than in the province.



As Jetlag said, a lot depends on the subdivision and the lifestyle you lead.

Overall I'd say it's pretty safe but then safety is quite relative.



There's not so many expats in the area although there are many good schools. Your wife may find it hard to adjust if she doesn't have something to keep her busy.



Look me up when you're in town and I can introduce you to some people in the area (such as co-workers, my boss' wife etc) so you feel more safe and welcome when you arrive.
For people looking to move to New Zealand, the latest figures suggest that the countrys jobs market is experiencing continued year on year growth with information and communication technology (ICT) leading the way.Skills in ICT are sought after and there has also been a rise in jobs in trades and services, administration and office support, manufacturing, transport and logistics.  The latest data on job advertisements from SEEK show that they increased by 9.9% in August compared to a year ago with Auckland and Wellington seeing rises of 8.8% and 10.4% respectively.Janet Faulding, general manager for SEEK NZ, said it is encouraging to see New Zealands job market experiencing continued year on year growth.However, the Canterbury market remains subdued since its reconstruction driven peak in late 2014, with job adverts down 7.1% year on year.ICT remains New Zealands top advertising industry with 8% more jobs advertised than 12 months ago. There was a 9% rise in Auckland and a 5% rise in Wellington. The most in demand jobs are developers, programmers, business system analysts, project managers, and help desk and IT support.The highest paying ICT jobs are in management roles with a salary of $128,097, followed by architects at $126,425 and consultants at $110,766.With New Zealands increased demand for digital connectivity and new technology, its no surprise that the countrys top advertising industry on SEEK is ICT and we expect this trend will continue, Faulding said.The data also shows that jobs for the trades and services industry were up 27% year on year with Auckland seeing a rise of 28% and Wellington a rise of 48%. The highest number of jobs in this sector are in the automotive industry, followed by electricians, labourers and building trades.Job adverts on SEEK for the administration and office support industry were up 15% nationally with a rise of 6% in Auckland, an increase of 36% in Wellington and a rise of 5% in Canterbury.The most in demand job in this sector are for PA and secretarial roles followed by receptionists, sales administration, office management and record management.Nationally, jobs in manufacturing, transport and logistics were up 24% year on year led by warehousing, storage and distribution, then machine operators, management and road transport.Our countrys exporting culture is a likely driver of growth in this industry because NZ companies are now tapping into the overseas markets to grow their businesses, and are investing in new technology and logistics to distribute their products efficiently to be competitive, Faulding added.
From: American Evaluation Association (AEA) For Immediate Release: Dateline: Washington , DC Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Elizabeth Runkle, a Senior Consultant and Regional Manager with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Dayna S. Alexander, Evaluation Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH).

Atlanta has a wide variety of nonprofits from large international relief organizations to small arts focused community based organizations. In 2015, the Atlanta Metro Area had four of the top 20 nonprofit organizations in the country including two in downtown Atlanta  the Boys and Girls Club National Headquarters and the American Cancer Society. Atlanta is also home to several nationally known place-based collaborations between nonprofits, private and public partners. Located in Atlantas historic Mechanicsville neighborhood, Dunbar Learning Center brings together several nonprofits in one location that focus on children birth to 5th grade along with their parents. This collaboration has brought together the Annie E Casey Foundations Civic Site, Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center, the Center for Working Families, Westside Works and many others. Atlantas Westside neighborhood has brought funders, nonprofits, government and private partners together to change the landscape and economics of this neighborhood.

Hot tips, lessons learned, and rad resources for those interested in conducting evaluation work with nonprofits include:

Hot Tip #1: Develop a realistic timeline. Because nonprofit settings have many competing priorities and some staff have limited knowledge of evaluation, it is vital to develop a timeline for evaluation tasks. This helps with accountability, organizing the work, and alleviates stress for both the evaluator and the nonprofit.

Hot Tip #2: Develop evaluation questions based on resources and priorities. The evaluator and nonprofit staff members should develop clear evaluation questions and prioritize them according to the evaluation purpose and the resources available.

Lessons Learned: Communicate effectively and efficiently with the nonprofit team. Provide weekly updates with the nonprofit staff members about the status of assigned tasks, challenges, and their needs. An open line of communication will help build trust, improve teamwork, and help reach consensus.

Lessons Learned: Be flexible. When working with nonprofits it is important to adapt to new priorities and respond quickly. This demonstrates to nonprofit staff members that you are committed to the assigned project and the evaluation will be successfully conducted.

Rad Resource:

works to build thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia.



Were looking forward to October and the Evaluation 2016 annual conference all this week with our colleagues in the Local Arrangements Working Group (LAWG). Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to contribute to aea365? Review the contribution guidelines and send your draft post to

Welcome to Atlanta! We are, a Senior Consultant and Regional Manager with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and, Evaluation Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH).Atlanta has a wide variety of nonprofits from large international relief organizations to small arts focused community based organizations. In 2015, the Atlanta Metro Area had four of the top 20 nonprofit organizations in the country including two in downtown Atlanta  the Boys and Girls Club National Headquarters and the American Cancer Society. Atlanta is also home to several nationally known place-based collaborations between nonprofits, private and public partners. Located in Atlantas historic Mechanicsville neighborhood, Dunbar Learning Center brings together several nonprofits in one location that focus on children birth to 5grade along with their parents. This collaboration has brought together the Annie E Casey Foundations Civic Site, Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Center, the Center for Working Families, Westside Works and many others. Atlantas Westside neighborhood has brought funders, nonprofits, government and private partners together to change the landscape and economics of this neighborhood.Hot tips, lessons learned, and rad resources for those interested in conducting evaluation work with nonprofits include:Because nonprofit settings have many competing priorities and some staff have limited knowledge of evaluation, it is vital to develop a timeline for evaluation tasks. This helps with accountability, organizing the work, and alleviates stress for both the evaluator and the nonprofit.The evaluator and nonprofit staff members should develop clear evaluation questions and prioritize them according to the evaluation purpose and the resources available.Provide weekly updates with the nonprofit staff members about the status of assigned tasks, challenges, and their needs. An open line of communication will help build trust, improve teamwork, and help reach consensus.When working with nonprofits it is important to adapt to new priorities and respond quickly. This demonstrates to nonprofit staff members that you are committed to the assigned project and the evaluation will be successfully conducted. Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to build thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed. through a powerful mix of advocacy, solutions for nonprofit effectiveness, and insight building tools, GCN provides nonprofits, board members and donors with the tools they need to strengthen organizations that make a difference on important causes throughout Georgia.Were looking forward to October and the Evaluation 2016 annual conference all this week with our colleagues in the Local Arrangements Working Group (LAWG). Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to contribute to aea365? Review the contribution guidelines and send your draft post to aea365@eval.org


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HOUSTON  A lawyer who opened fire on commuters for no apparent reason during the pre-dawn rush hour in a neighborhood here Monday, wounding nine people, was wearing a vintage military uniform and had Nazi emblems on him, police said.

The rampage on a quiet street began in the darkness and lasted 20 minutes before the gunman, whom police identified as Nathan DeSai, 46, was shot and killed by officers from the Houston, Bellaire and West University Place police departments.

Six of the wounded were transported to area hospitals, with at least one in critical condition.

Police did not know exactly what caused DeSai, described as a lawyer struggling to keep his small law practice alive, to open fire, acting Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo said.

He used a .45-caliber handgun during the assault, and officers later found 2,600 rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun in his black convertible Porsche, parked near where he was killed. Officers used a robot to check his body for explosives.

DeSai lived in a condominium complex near the scene of the shooting. A search there turned up additional weapons and several pieces of military regalia. The handgun was bought in 2011. The submachine gun was purchased in 2009.

Officials would not say specifically what type of uniform he was wearing but did say Nazi emblems were found in his clothing.

We did find some old Nazi emblems about some of his personal effects, and I understand there were some in where he lived, Houston police Capt. Dwayne Ready said. To what extent that played ... I dont know, because there was also other, what I would refer to as historic or vintage military stuff in the apartment, going back to the Civil War.

Officials did not say how many times DeSai was hit. At least 75 spent bullet casings were collected from the scene, and a bullet slug was pulled from a couch on the second floor of a nearby home.

As I was driving by  I suddenly heard a big explosion, said Eduardo Andrade, who was driving to an LA Fitness gym. I covered myself, accelerated and tried to get out of there. I did not know if someone was following me or trying to shoot me.

Two bullets struck his car, with a large piece of one left lodged between his dashboard and windshield.

It is so random, Andrade said. If I were going a little faster or a little slower, the bullet would have had a different trajectory.

Others told of similar brushes with death after pulling into nearby shopping centers to seek help.

The night before he died, DeSai went by his parents Houston home. He was in a hurry, even took his dinner to go, said his father, Prakash DeSai, a retired geologist.

He said his son had been upset for months over troubles at work, chiefly trying to attract clients.

We are not getting any business, he recalled his son saying. Who wouldnt be worried?

DeSai parted ways last year with his law partner, Kenneth McDaniel, who said he had worked with DeSai for about 12 years but didnt know him outside the office.

It was simply a matter of economics. We couldnt afford to operate as a partnership anymore, McDaniel said.

DeSai held a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Houston and law degree from the University of Tulsa, where he graduated in 1998, according to the Texas State Bar Association. DeSai was in good standing with the bar, and there was no history of disciplinary trouble or complaints pending against him.

When DeSais father heard early Monday that there had been a shooting in a neighborhood near his sons condominium, he immediately called his cellphone to check on him and make sure he was safe.

He said he got no answer, but left a message: There is a shooting in your area, I am worried.

Carolyn Allen, 76, was driving nearby when a bullet came through the windshield of her Lincoln Navigator.

Though cut on her stomach, legs and face, the retired schoolteacher kept driving until she thought she was safe, she said, recalling thinking, Im not sitting here like a sitting duck.

Cliff Saunders, a KTRH-Radio reporter who lived near DeSai, said he avoided him.

I knew enough to stay away, he said of the man who seemed to have anger issues and would regularly barrel through the condominium parking lot.

My wife called me and said, Dont go home, there is a guy walking around with an AR-15. he recalled.

He asked her who it was and she said, The guy with the black Porsche.

DeSai was apparently angry at some roofers or construction workers who had awakened him. It is unclear if police responded. Houston police said officers had never previously encountered DeSai.

Just after 7 a.m. Monday, another of DeSais neighbors, Alan Wakim, was wiping dots of blood from his face as he embraced his wife, Jennifer Molleda.

They stood by his Mustang. Two bullets had broken through the windshield. One landed near the drivers headrest.

Molleda said she had seen DeSai before but that he kept to himself.

You normally say hi to neighbors, but when neighbors dont say hi back, you tend to mind your own business, Molleda said.

Still, she said she would have never expected him to go on a shooting spree.

Hes an attorney for Gods sake, driving a Porshe, Molleda said. You dont expect this from someone like that.

DaneSchiller@Chron.com
In 2015, there were roughly 8,600 violent crimes committed in San Antonio, a 10 percent increase from the year before and a 7 percent overall increase since 2005, according to FBI crime statistics released Monday.

The 2015 statistic is the third highest the violent-crime number has been in an 11-year period, according to a San Antonio Express-News analysis of the violent crime data, which includes murder, manslaughter, rape and robbery.

However, criminal justice experts and law enforcement cautioned against rushing to judgment. Violent crime can be attributed to many different factors, and offenses tend to fluctuate year to year, sometimes dramatically and without cause.

Its not a good idea to rush to any type of conclusion one way or another, said Roger Enriquez, associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Texas at San Antonio and director of the Policy Studies Center. What you want to do is collect this data, analyze it, and use it along with evidence-based practices to make sure youre doing everything you can to make everybody safe.

The uptick in crime mirrors a national trend; there were 1.2 million violent crimes committed nationally in 2015, a 4 percent increase from the year before. However, the 2015 violent crime total was 17 percent below the 2006 level, according to the FBI.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said its hard to say why violent crime has increased in recent years  both locally and nationally.

There are anecdotal reasons, he said. But there are no fact-based reasons why this is happening.

An Express-News analysis of the data  which is a compilation of crimes reported to the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by law enforcement agencies from around the nation  also found:

There were 5.9 violent crimes committed per 1,000 people in San Antonio last year, up from 5.4 crimes committed per 1,000 people in 2014. Nationally in 2015, there were 2.8 crimes committed per 1,000 people in 2015.

The uptick can mainly be attributed to an increase in robbery and aggravated assault. There were 209 more cases of robbery in 2015 compared with 2014, an 11 percent increase, and 718 more cases of aggravated assault, a 13 percent increase.

During the same period, there were 94 murders or non-negligent manslaughters committed in San Antonio in 2015, down from 103 murders in 2014, a 10 percent decrease. The number of reported rapes reported remained steady.

Nationally, San Antonio ranked close to the top third  or 107 out of 290  for the number of violent crimes committed in cities with a population of 100,000 or more.

And in Texas, the city ranked in the top quarter  or ninth out of 37 cities  for the number of violent crimes committed in cities with a population of 100,000 or more.

But McManus cautioned against comparing San Antonio to other cities because they dont necessarily report crime the same way.

In some cities, they may categorize a crime as an aggravated assault and others wont, he said. You cant accurately or legitimately compare cities using UCR stats.

Enriquez echoed that sentiment, saying its important to look at cities that have a similar demographic profile. That way you can compare apples to apples, he said.

Enriquez said the spike in crime can also be attributed to an increase in reported crime. It is possible, he said, that crime was underrepresented in the past.

We may now have a better picture, more data because folks are reporting crime, he said.

Moving forward, its important to analyze the data and look closely at each case specifically, Enriquez said. That way, law enforcement has a better understanding why trends occur.

McManus said his officers look at crime totals daily, establishing strategies to fight crime. In recent years, the department has placed a greater emphasis on fighting gangs, drugs and domestic abuse.

Officers have also worked to develop a closer relationship with the community. For example, that can be helpful in getting community members to be witnesses, McManus said.

I go to community meetings often, McManus said. I ask citizens if everyone feels safe in San Antonio. The answer is always yes, they feel safe.

eeaton@express-news.net

Twitter: @emilieeaton
This papier-mache Halloween lantern is actually horrifying

Most jack-o'-lanterns are made from pumpkins, but this particular papier-mache pear is a unique, antique find.
Shropshire

A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b...
Improving piglet survival: a management approach from breeding to farrowing

Improving piglet survival: a management approach from breeding to farrowing by Dr Ruth Wonfor: IBERS, Aberystwyth University.
In July, 18 year old Jack Walton, a budding auctioneer from Worcestershire, set off on his charity fundraiser, travelling over 1,000 miles, to raise money for two rural charities.

The charities, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution), received a huge sum of 7316.97.

Two months later with 24 livestock auction marts under the hammer, Jack has finished his travels, his gavel is at rest.

Jacks journey started at Dingwall and Highlands Livestock Auction Mart in Invernesshire and finished at Truro in Cornwall.

Sponsored by the Three Counties Agricultural Society, his journey has been exhilarating, informative and has raised money for two charities which support the farming communities in times of financial difficulties.

Jacks Journey began on Tuesday 19th July when he visited Coupled with an exhibition highlighting the work of the two charities, Jack auctioned off one pen of fat lambs with the markets commission being donated to the fund.

Following his visit to Dingwall, Jack visited 24 auction marts including; Stirling, Hexham, Clitheroe, Worcester, Hereford, Salisbury, Acklington and many more in-between.

'Completely overwhelmed'

Commenting on the completion of his challenge and journey, Jack said: "I am completely overwhelmed with the response I have received throughout the summer.

"I have met the most wonderful people, auctioned some tremendous livestock and I am very grateful to all the marts that have supported me and to everyone who has donated so generously to the charities.

"The last six weeks has been an experience that I will never forget and has certainly cemented what I know are the foundations for a career in auctioneering.

"I would like to thank all of my sponsors including, JG Animal Health, The Three Counties Agricultural Society and Glendale PR and Marketing for their support throughout my journey."

Ken Nottage, Three Counties Chief Executive, said: "What a fantastic and unique idea for raising money for charities which are close to Jack's and our hearts here at Three Counties.

"We are proud to have supported Jack on his journey and the amount he has raised is incredible.

"Congratulations Jack and we wish you all the best for your time at university."

Grandfather inspiration

Inspired by his Grandfather, renowned Suffolk breeder, Michael Walton from Roseden Farm in Northumberland, Jack has always had a keen interest in livestock marketing.

"For as long as I can remember Ive loved attending livestock marts with my Grandfather and was always itching to have a go on the rostrum.

"My journey not only raised a significant amount of money for charity, but also gave me the opportunity to meet people within the industry and gain knowledge and experience."

This month, Jack will set off on a journey of a different kind as he heads off to the Royal Agricultural University, to read Rural Land Management, with the aim of fulfilling his dreams of one day becoming an auctioneer.
Retailer Marks and Spencers has announced that they will be extending their UK sourcing of lamb by a further six weeks in 2017.

The move has been welcomed by NFU Cymru, following a recent meeting of the union's Livestock Board, where Marks and Spencers Head of Agriculture and Fisheries, Steve McLean, addressed elected delegates from across Wales.

NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chairman, and beef and sheep farmer, Wyn Evans said the sector is "delighted" to hear Marks and Spencer have extended their UK sourcing of lamb.

"In a time of uncertainty for the farming industry, it is encouraging that Marks and Spencer recognise the quality of Welsh and British lamb," Mr Evans said.

Steve McLean said farmers are "at the front" of the supply chain.

Marks and Spencer to extend their UK sourcing of lamb

"It is important to us that their businesses are profitable," Mr McClean said, "our procurement policy is key to our business and its longevity.

"Ensuring good sourcing and maintaining high product standards are key to us as an own brand retailer.

"Our lamb suppliers are important to us and this is why we have decided to extend our UK sourcing of lamb by a further six weeks in 2017.

"Furthermore we are keen to work with our farmer suppliers to develop more regional sourcing of lamb, which will clearly benefit Welsh farmers."

British produce in prominent positions

Wyn Evans added: "It is clear that going forward we must focus on what consumers want and their changing demands, with regards to carcass weights and specifications, because ultimately we want to see more British produce in prominent positions on supermarket shelves.

"We do hope that the extension of UK sourcing of lamb will prove popular for Marks and Spencer and that they will look to move to 100% UK sourcing in the near future," Mr Evans concluded.

Retailer Co-op has also made a similar announcement; from May 2017 all of its bacon and lamb will be sourced from British farms.

The news comes just days after Back British Farming day and at the start of British Food Fortnight, both part of an industry-wide push to celebrate Great British food.

Steve Murrells, retail chief executive at The Co-op, said the retailer is a "major supporter" of British farming.

"This move is a first for a major food retailer and will see us invest millions more into sourcing home produced goods," Mr Murrells said.

"Its an exciting time at the Co-op and our growing confidence is shown by our investment in UK farming as we do business a better way to meet consumer demand."
The veterinary sector has called on the UK government to ensure existing animal health and welfare protection standards are 'at least maintained' when the UK eventually leaves the EU.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has said the UK government must ensure existing animal health and welfare, public health, veterinary medicines, workforce, and environmental protection standards are maintained as part of negotiations on the UKs exit from the European Union.

In the Brexit paper, approved by the BVA Council on 22 September, the association urged the government to seek opportunities to improve standards in accordance with evidence-based risk analysis of animal health, welfare and ethics.

BVAs Brexit Working Group, chaired by former UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Alick Simmons, has outlined principles under a number of areas of interest to the veterinary profession.

In terms of animal welfare, the sector emphasises that the unique selling point of "UK plc" post-Brexit should be high animal welfare and food safety standards.

On workforce issues, the BVA has reiterated calls for working rights for non-British EU veterinary surgeons currently working and studying in the UK, and British vets working in the EU, to be maintained.

BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "From the outset, one of BVAs key priorities has been seeking reassurance for the many EU vets and vet nurses who are making an invaluable contribution in the UK across many areas of animal health and welfare, and particularly in the area of public health.

"We are maintaining that strong focus on our colleagues as well as highlighting other areas that may be affected by Brexit.

"We will ensure the voice of the veterinary profession is heard during any negotiations and discussions, to secure the best possible outcomes for our profession and for animal health and welfare in the UK."

British Veterinary Association is also urging that any public money to replace the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be used to support and incentivise public goods, encompassing at least animal health and welfare, disease surveillance, biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
The Welsh government has today revealed news about the window for Expressions of Interest to Glastir Organic.

The announcement has been made by the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs, with the most likely opening date to be 17th October 2016.

The Soil Association has said "timings will be tight".

"For new contracts to start on 1st January 2017 there will need to be a very fast turn-around of contracts so speedy responses will be necessary," the sustainable farming charity said.

Tim Bevan, farm business advisor at the Soil Association said there has been much "uncertainty" over the Glastir Organic payments.

"We are relieved that the window will shortly be opening," Mr Bevan said.

"There are clear opportunities for organic farming  the organic market is in the fourth year of sustained growth and there are good prices for organic if you pitch your offer right.

"Soil Association Certification offers comprehensive guidance throughout the two year conversion period, with a Certification Officer for each new licensee and exclusive insight into the market and business opportunities.

"We advise all farmers looking to convert to organic, or add land to their existing agreements, to be extra observant in the next few weeks."

The scheme will be open to new organic conversions and to existing contract holders who wish to bring extra land into their agreements.

Glastir Organic is an element of the Welsh Government's Glastir Scheme. It provides support to organic farmers and producers, who deliver positive environmental land management.
Food valued at 1.8bn wasted on UK farms each year, report says
Celebration takes place September 28

By Diego Flammini

Assistant Editor, North American Content

Farms.com

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared September 28 as World School Milk Day (WSMD) and Canada is getting involved in the celebrations.

Now in its 17th year, World School Milk Day celebrates the importance of milk and the many benefits it has for students.

"In 2016, it is still relevant to offer milk in schools so that children have the energy they need to learn," said Wally Smith, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), in a release. "Dairy farmers know how important student nutrition is to parents and teachers."



BonnieJacobs/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Cows milk contains 16 essential nutrients important for growth and development. And throughout the school year, there are many instances for students to enjoy fresh, cold, local milk.

There are approximately 200 days in the school year which means there are 200 lunches, or in other words, 200 opportunities for children to make healthy food choices, DFC said in a release.

According to the International Dairy Federation, more than 139 million children across 52 countries benefit from milk in schools.

Here are how some other countries have celebrated World School Milk Day:
What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you
Brazils Supreme Court has authorized a federal investigation into Brazilian President Michel Temers role in the sprawling corruption scandal known as Operation Car Wash. If Temers presidency does not survive the investigation  and Im betting it wont  it will be another chapter in what may be the most dramatic anti-corruption enforcement story this world has ever seen.

Brazils anti-corruption revolution has already toppled former President Dilma Rousseff, Speaker of the House Eduardo Cunha, and a couple of Temers ministers. It is rumored to reach an estimated 60 percent of Brazils Congress. Yes, 60 percent. It makes the U.S. Watergate scandal feel like playing in the sandbox.

But more remarkable yet is the number of Brazilian institutions working together to build a credible anti-corruption regime. Brazils principal anti-corruption agency (formerly the CGU, now the Transparency Ministry) drafted a dramatic anti-corruption law. Brazils Congress in a single year passed that law, as well as an organized crime law. These laws gave Brazils federal prosecutors the tools they needed to go after corruption, as they are doing now. The judiciary, particularly Judge Sergio Moro and, separately, the Supreme Court, have not backed down from their constitutional duties. And Brazils federal auditing court, the TCU, exposed the accounting improprieties that led to Rousseffs impeachment.

But as these institutions continue to purge Brazils elected officials, one starts to wonder: is there such a thing as a corruption revolution that goes too far? Or at least, too fast? History of course provides no shortage of well-meaning revolutions gone awry. People are asking the same question in China, as the bureaucracy has ground nearly to a halt  the anti-corruption movement there has government officials frozen in their tracks. And now Brazil cant seem to keep a president in office. Who thought, just a few years ago, that wed now be asking not whether Brazil was doing enough to crack down on corruption, but whether it was doing too much?

Put another way, when we one day look back at Brazils anti-corruption moment, will it more closely resemble the American Revolution, or the French? I, for one, remain quite bullish on Brazil. Lets not forget that people doubted the wisdom of the American Revolution too.

For more on Brazils anti-corruption moment, please see our e-book and related sources at law.richmond.edu/olympics.

____

Andy Spalding is a Senior Editor of the FCPA Blog and Associate Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. Hes the author of the ebook Olympic Anti-Corruption Report: Brazil and the Rio 2016 Games (available here). Hell be a speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
The Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday that oil services company Weatherford International paid a $140 million penalty to settle charges that it inflated earnings by using deceptive income tax accounting.

Two of the companys senior accounting executives at the time agreed to settle charges that they were behind the fraud.

Three years ago, Weatherford paid $152.6 million to the DOJ and SEC for FCPA offenses in the Middle East and Africa.

The Switzerland-based company also paid $100 million in November 2013 for violating U.S. trade sanctions.

Tuesdays SEC administrative order (pdf) said Weatherford fraudulently lowered its year-end provision for income taxes between 2007 and 2012 by at least $100 million each year to meet announced earnings projections and analysts expectations.

James Hudgins, Weatherfords vice president of tax, and Darryl Kitay, a tax manager, made numerous post-closing adjustments to fill gaps and meet its previously disclosed effective tax rate, the SEC said.

Weatherford bragged about its favorable effective tax rate to analysts and investors as one of its key competitive advantages.

The fraud created the false perception that Weatherfords tax structure was far more successful than reality, the SEC said.

Weatherford was forced to restate its financial results three times in 2011 and 2012, lowering reported earnings by $500 million.

The company, Hudgins, and Kitay settled with the SEC without admitting or denying the charges.

Hudgins paid $334,067 in disgorgement, interest, and a penalty, and Kitay paid a $30,000 penalty.

In the 2013 FCPA enforcement action, the SEC said managers at Weatherfords subsidiary in Italy flouted the lack of internal controls and misappropriated more than $200,000 in company funds, some of which was improperly paid to Albanian tax auditors.

In the sanctions case, Weatherford made at least $30 million in profits from improper sales to Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. The company settled the trade violations with the Commerce Department and OFAC through an out-of-court administrative action.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Hi. I'm Judy and I'm an unlikely Bond addict.

Judy Jarvie

Ever been freakily nudged into something you really didn't plan? That's exactly what happened to me with writing a spy book. And I fully blame the Bond films and 007. It crept up on me unawares like the tooled up ninja of smooth and sex appeal that the man himself is - and I felt helpless to resist.

So becoming a 007 fan snuck up on me quite out of the blue. Like an unexpected sneeze. Or indeed Daniel Craig appearing in a silhouetted shower scene. It was suddenly there large as life and like many a leading lady I just had to deal with it as best I could. Have pity on me, please, I beg you.

Sure I'd watched the movies, the DVDs and the TV repeats and always thoughtyes, that's a hero. But it's not that I ever really considered myself a fan to any degree in the first place. Sure I'm Scottish so a deep admiration of Sir Sean Connery comes with the territory. It would be unpatriotic not to.

My husband could be seen as the instigator. He's long had a Bond crush thing going on that means he has to catch the latest film and will repeat watch the old ones. Maybe it's the theme tune? Maybe it's the calm, quiet cool? Or maybe it's just a men and gadgets and being smooth while taking out the bad guys thing that has a great many boys liking their Bond Bromance.

So I happily went along with hubbyand soon developed a bit of a James jive all on my own. Then it got to the point that it started yelling in my head to get done. Because I really badly wanted to FUN James Bond up. Maybe just call him Jimbo, or Jamie. Let's face it, he deserves a giggle. He really needs to start joking around more don't you think?

And I guess if I really analyse it at the back of my mind I've always known - one day I'm going to have to write a Bond and make him funnier and sassier. He's the ultimate alpha. Why wouldn't he have the ultimate funny lines too?

But indeed it wasn't until Daniel - a.k.a. The Craig - came along that the nodding dog in me really got into the groove with alacrity. Don't judge please. It's not just his looks (yeah, alright it is) but the steely blue eyed 'no dice' persona speaks almost as loud as the muscles.

Make that funny, and he'll be unstoppable, said my head voice. So I did.

And along came my latest book Spying With Sir. It's the second in a romantic comedy series called Sassy With Sir. The emphasis is as much on heavy banter as hot heroes and all my heroines come fully kitted out to take their men on head to head. What's not to love about that?

So the fact I wrote a spy book lies largely at the Bond blame door. It's an ode to The Craig.

Only this hero is called Dan Draven, who is an FBI Interpol agent on the stake out case of his career. While TV reporter Kate Joseph has unwittingly been handpicked for a job with more personal ramifications than she's ready for.

If you're up for a sexy spy cop and a hot, romantic suspense, undercover heist in the Santorini sun - then this one might just be the spy who nudges you too.

If you like spicy, funny and characters with chutzpah, I hope you might like it and give it a license to thrill.

Spying With Sir is out on general release on 27 September published by Totally Bound and part of the Sassy With Sir Series. Because one Sir is never enough.

Spying With Sir Blurb

Black ops with benefits, spy cop secrets and criminal attraction. An agent finds his kink match on a sizzling Santorini stakeout.

TV news reporter Kate Joseph is assigned to go to Santorini with her hot new boss Dan Draven. But the job's thorny truths soon emerge-Dan's an undercover FBI Interpol agent working on his career case. And Kate's key to infiltrating the perpetrator's network. Shame the only one who's been kept in the dark is her.

Kate's soon embroiled in a world where quick fire bullets rival the rapid fire chemistry and banter she shares with hot top cop hunk Dan. The tension mounts as the body count rises and lives are on the line when the mission develops glaring issues. Doesn't help that the Interpol team are going more stir crazy with every passing hour.

Will Kate and Dan fight their shockingly revealed kink link? Can Dan risk ignoring his back-off mantras when he's been burned in the line of duty before? Will they grasp burning attraction on this rocky road to cracking a precarious international crime case? Hot Greek nights and crazy chemistry guaranteed

Author Bio

Judy Jarvie lives in Fife in Scotland. Her favourite heroes are too numerous to count but she's particularly partial to a bit of banter with her romance and a bit of fun with her novel flirtations.

Judy worked in Marketing and PR but gave it up in favour of motherhood and madness and the indulgence of being able to write whenever the voices in her head tell her to let her fingers loose. You can find out more on her website or Facebook.

www.judyjarvie.com

https://www.facebook.com/JudyJarvieWriter

https://twitter.com/JudyJRomancer

https://www.totallybound.com/book/spying-with-sir
If you are the restless kinds who just can't wrap their head around yoga and meditation, how is this for motivationmeditation will help you get super-powerful, rainbows-shooting-out-of-your-vagina orgasms. You read that right. Orgasmic yoga is a branch of yoga that is as much spiritual as it is sexual. Intrigued?

What is OM?

In this context, it stands for orgasmic meditation, and not the word traditionally chanted during yoga. It was US entrepreneur Nicole Daedone, author of Slow Sex: The Art And Craft Of The Female Orgasm, who trained the spotlight on this ancient practice and popularised it in America. It has now caught the fancy of the entire world. Orgasmic meditation is nothing but the sequenced, structured stroking of one's clitoris for 15 minutes. This stroking produces an orgasm that is more therapeutic in nature, flooding your system with the love hormone, oxytocin.



Why must you do OM?



 The energy released causes sexual and mental liberation.

 You feel more comfortable with the idea of sex and it helps build a positive body image.

 Orgasmic yoga is generally practised in a group, that looks to promote the acceptance of one's sexuality by everyone.

 The subsequent release of energy increases your drive in every aspect of life, improves your relationships, and leads to achieve optimal levels of consciousness.



OMStroke and breathe

Follow this exercise, with your partner or a volunteer, to experience true ecstasy.

What you need: Mats, cushions, lubricant



Set up the nest: Strategically position the mats and cushions for the female i.e. the 'strokee', who strips from the waist down and lies on her back.

Do OM: The 'stroker', who could be either male or female, is fully clothed and kneels to the right of the strokee at her hip level. The first part of the exercise has the strokee breathe and relax as the stroker massages her inner thighs gently. The stroker then applies lubricant onto his fingers (he could wear latex gloves, too) and places the lubricated index finger on the hood of the clitoris. The clitoris is then stroked for 15 minutesthis is the set time during which the massage should take place. All this while, the strokee is simply asked to focus on her breathing, switch off her mind and become more present with the physical sensations coursing through her body.

Note: No kissing or fondling is allowed during orgasmic yoga.
Sunday 25th September saw an incredible journey come to an end.

Supporters waited expectantly on the beach at the Yacht Classic Hotel for the first glimpse of Sam Tucker, Dogan Eraslan and Serkan Tarm as they approached the finish line.

Beach area at the Yacht Classic

Supporters waiting expectantly on the beach (Photo courtesy of Aisha Ali)

Waiting patiently

Here they come

And then they appeared in the distance, escorted in by TURMEPA (Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association) who made a special trip from Gocek to be part of this grand finale.

Sam, Dogan & Serkan with their TURMEPA escort (Photo courtesy of Trevor Tongue)

Cries of I can see them, here they come, the sound of horns hooting and the crowd cheering them on filled the afternoon air as Sam, Dogan and Serkan paddled the last few hundred meters to the beach.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Tongue

Photo courtesy of Trevor Tongue

An overwhelming reception

They landed to an overwhelming and emotional reception; hugs, handshakes, and reunions with loved ones and friends.

An overwhelming reception from family & friends (Photo courtesy of Trevor Tongue)

As well as family and friends, the reception was also attended by Mete Atay, Fethiye Belediye Baskan Yardmcs (Fethiye Belediye Vice President), Dilek Dincer, Fetav Muduru (Fetav Director) and FIG Chairman, Sheila Tongue.

Sam, Dogan & Serkan with Mete Atay, Fethiye Belediye Baskan Yardmcs (Fethiye Belediye Vice President), Dilek Dincer, Fetav Muduru (Fetav Director) and FIG Chairman, Sheila Tongue.

Please click here to read the article in Haberler.com. The article includes video footage from Sundays event.

An amazing journey

The amazing journey started on the 1st September in Antalya when Sam & Dogan left from Konyaalt beach to kayak to Fethiye to raise money for FIG (Fethiye International Group).

Serkan, a local vet, couldnt leave his surgery unattended for three weeks however, still being determined to do his part, joined them in Oludeniz on Friday morning.

From Antalya to Fethiye is a distance of approximately 170 nautical miles, against the natural flow of the sea and into head on winds. This makes the journey much more of a challenge. The sit-on style kayaks they used are also more difficult to navigate in unpredictable seas.

Five to six hours a day kayaking (sometimes fighting for every meter of distance) and 24 nights of camping later, they made it safely home.

We did it! (Photo courtesy of Trevor Tongue)

Thank you to everyone who went along to see Sam, Dogan and Serkan safely home

So far Sam, Dogan & Serkan have raised over a 1000 for FIG

More information

For more information please visit Facebook where you will find updates from throughout the event and details on how the money raised will be used to support local children

Please click on the links below to read our previous articles:

A kayaking adventure

A kayaking countdown

A kayaking adventure begins

To find out more about FIG please visit Facebook or www.figfethiye.com

Making a donation

If you would like to make a donation please visit the FIG GoFundMe page.

Cash donations can also be made in the following places:

Fetav Office  Fethiye

FIG Shop  132a Suleyman Demirel Blvd. Patlangc Mah. Fethiye

FIG Coffee Mornings held every Wednesday at Fora Restaurant on Fethiye Kordon

Serkans Veterinary Surgery on the Cals Road

When making a cash donation please state that it is to sponsor Sam, Dogan and Serkan.

Until the next adventure

Did you know?

Many people enjoy going fishing in their kayak. It really has some advantages compared to using a larger boat. However, one of the downsides is the need to paddle to get to the spot where you want to cast the bait. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem  a trolling motor.

Globo Surf have written a comprehensive article on how to choose a motor for your kayak.

You can read this informative article here:

https://www.globosurfer.com/best-trolling-motors-for-kayak/
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has collaborated with Italian Trade Commission to have Italy as the partner country for the up and coming season of Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) SS 17 to be held from October 12-16 in New Delhi. During the fashion week collections of leading Italian brands keen to enter the Indian market will be showcased.

FDCI in association with Assocalzaturifici (Italian Footwear Manufacturers' Association) and Aimpes (Italian Leather goods Manufacturers Association) will present the collections of leather bags and shoes of 41 Italian brands.

The collection of accessories will be displayed at the Italian Pavilion during the fashion week along with special outfits of young designers Alberto Zambelli, Bav Tailor, Davide Grillo, and Leitmotiv, selected by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (National Chamber of Italian Fashion).

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has collaborated with Italian Trade Commission to have Italy as the partner country for the up and coming season of Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW) SS' 17 to be held from October 12-16 in New Delhi. During the fashion week collections of leading Italian brands keen to enter the Indian market will be showcased.#

I am very proud to present one of the extraordinary pillars of the Made in Italy: Fashion in shoes and bags; that's why it is not by chance that we called our participation in this context as Fashion Appeals from Shoulders to Heels, said Francesco Pensabene, Trade Commissioner of the Embassy of Italy and Coordinator for Italian Trade Commission Offices in India in a press release.

Pensabene added that, Feeling extremely excited about this partnership with FDCI , Assocalzaturifici and Aimpes , we are looking forward to a great event to foster the trade relations between India and Italy in the fashion sector.

We are delighted to be associated with Italy as our partner country for the Amazon Fashion Week SS 17. Italy is known for its beautifully crafted accessories, superlative tailoring and design aesthetics which will add fervor to the fashion week. We look forward to a long and insightful association, said Sunil Sethi, president, FDCI.

A discussion focusing on the new fashion trends and collections, organized by the Italian Trade Commission, will be held on 14 October which will include participation from Italian brands like Braccialini, Cromia, and Voile Blanche along with trend forecasters Mattori and WGSN and Indian fashion experts. (HO)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

For residents, the draft rules provide for online registration within three days of submission of application. For non-residents who will come under the purview of GST, they will be required to electronically submit the application for registration at least 5 days prior to the commencement of business and shall also deposit full tax liability in advance.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

As per the draft norms, the applicant seeking registration will have to submit permanent account number (PAN), mobile number, and e-mail address on the common portal or through a facilitation centre. The tax authorities will use PAN, one time password and Aadhaar number to verify the details of the applicant. In case all documents are in order, the tax official will approve registration in three working days from the date of submission of application. In case there are defects, the applicant has to be intimated within three working days and after receiving clarification, he will be granted registration within 7 days from the date for receiving of reply.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

The draft rules also provide that if a tax official fails to take action on registration application within a stipulated time frame, the application for grant of registration shall be deemed to have been approved.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

The rules also provide for suo moto registration of person(s) who are liable but have failed to apply for registration. The rules also provide for physical verification of business premises after grant of registration.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

There will also be a provision for grant of separate registration for business verticals of the same organisation. (RKS)

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has unveiled draft rules and their formats relating to registration, invoice and payments under the new indirect tax regime Goods and Services Tax (GST). The CBEC has released 17 rules and 26 forms for registration, five rules and one form for invoice, and four rules and seven forms for payment.#

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

Established in 2001 with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as the secretariat and lead financier, the SASEC programme is a project-based partnership to promote regional prosperity by improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries, and strengthening regional economic cooperation. To date, ADB has approved 40 SASEC projects worth almost $7.7 billion in transport, energy, trade facilitation, and information and communications technology.

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

Taking regional cooperation to a higher level, the SASEC's plan for the next ten years is to extend physical linkages not only within SASEC, but also with East and Southeast Asia, an official statement said.

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

The SASEC OP promotes the development of economic corridors within and between the member countries. It also identifies regional road and rail links aligned closely with trade routes toward the east. Planned measures to streamline and harmonise trade procedures will cover both land-based and sea-based routes. This will open opportunities for the SASEC countries to participate more actively in regional value chains that are more advanced in Southeast Asia.

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

The energy strategy under the SASEC OP aims to diversify the energy mix in the SASEC countries to cope with the projected increase in demand. The immediate priority is to improve energy infrastructure that will allow countries to access commercial sources of energy and diversify their fuel mix.

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

The SASEC OP identified over 200 potential transport, trade facilitation and energy projects, which will require over $120 billion in investments for the next five years, out of which 74 projects have been identified in India with an estimated project cost of over $60 billion. Majority of these projects are located in North East or Eastern part of the country

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

The Indian government's Act East Policy resonates well with the objectives of the OP and we will work closely with our SASEC neighbours to develop the infrastructure needed to make our region's enterprises more competitive, said Raj Kumar, joint secretary, Multilateral Institutions Division, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (RKS)

The six member countries of the South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) programmeBangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka released this week, the SASEC Operational Plan (OP) 2016-2025. The SASEC OP is the programme's first comprehensive long-term plan to promote greater economic cooperation among the member countries.#

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Rakshit Shetty's maiden production Kirik Party, completed its shoot recently in Bangalore. Rakshit is producing the movie with GS Guptha under Paramvah Studios. Rishabh Shetty is directing the flick.

The film was shot in various locations of Bangalore, Mysore and Hassan. College portions, which are said to be important were shot at an engineering college in Hassan. The lead pair, apart from a number of other artists were a part of the shoot in Hassan.

Samyuktha Hegde and Rashmika Mandanna are making their debut as heroines. Both were selected from thousands of aspirants, who were a part of the auditions conducted by prodcuers Paramvah studios. Also, both the heroines are from Karnataka.

Rakshit, apart from producing and acting has choreographed for 8 out of 9 songs in the film. The actor, who is also a good dancer, did not get a chance to show his skills in the previous movies.

Rishabh Shetty has gone a step further and choreographed two out of three action sequences in the movie. Ravi Varma choreographed third action sequence that was shot in the final schedule.

Rakshit and Rishabh's previous outing Ricky, was an experimental subject which had portions based on naxalism. But this film is said to be an out-and-out entertainer penned by Rakshit Shetty and The Seven Odds. Abhijith Mahesh and Dhananjay Rajan have penned the dialogues.

Ajaneesh B Loknath has composed the music for the movie. Songs of the movie are expected to be out in the month of November. Karm Chawla is the director of photography for the film which is expected to release in November.
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/26/16 -- 3D Signatures Inc. (TSX VENTURE: DXD) (the "Company" or "3D"), announces that it has granted an aggregate of 1,083,030 incentive stock options (the "Options") to directors, officers and employees of 3D, at an exercise price of $0.68 per share.

The Options are exercisable for a ten-year period from the date of grant and will vest as follows: all Options will vest at the time of grant with the exception of options granted to an individual providing investor relations activities which will vest as follows: 25% on October 1, 2016 and 25% each quarter thereafter until fully vested.

After giving effect to this option grant, a total of 4,400,588 stock options will be issued and outstanding with 243,931 remaining for future issuance under the Company's stock option plan.

The Options are granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, which was most recently approved by the shareholders of the Company at the annual general meeting of shareholders held on February 29, 2016.

About 3D Signatures Inc.

3D Signatures Inc. is a personalized medicine company with a proprietary software platform based on the three-dimensional analysis of telomere organization. The technology is well developed and supported by 16 clinical studies on over 1,500 patients on 13 different cancers and Alzheimer's disease. Depending on the application, the technology can measure the stage of disease, rate of progression of disease, drug efficacy, and drug toxicity. The technology is designed to predict the course of disease and to personalize treatment for the individual patient. For more information, visit the Company's new website at www.3dsignatures.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. Statements with respect to objectives and priorities for the remainder of 2016 and beyond, strategies or future actions, research and development, product development, and the effectiveness of the technology, among others, are all forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward looking statements will not occur.

These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Risk factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by forward-looking information include, among other things: market demand; technological changes that could impact the Company's existing products or the Company's ability to develop and commercialize future products; competition; existing governmental legislation and regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental legislation and regulations; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect the Company's financial condition; the Company's ability to successfully maintain and enforce its intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; adverse results or unexpected delays in clinical trials; changes in laws, general economic and business conditions; and changes in the regulatory regime. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, litigation, global economic climate, loss of key employees and consultants, additional funding requirements, changes in laws, technology failures, competition, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

3D Signatures Inc.

Hugh Rogers

VP Corporate Finance

604-250-6162

investors@3dsignatures.com




SANTA CLARA (dpa-AFX) - Intel has started building a new 'smart' office building in Israel's Petah Tikva, which will host 2,500 employees. According to reports, the 34,000-square-foot development center will run entirely on sensors and will be fully digitized. No Camels reports that the building will have facial recognition so employees will never have to carry ID cards or badges. The lights and temperature of room will be monitored by sensors and will even help employees find parking spots. The building is expected to be complete by 2019 and has been certified as energy safe. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Digitization has major implications for the workforce of the service segment across industries worldwide. In Germany and Austria, for example, two countries whose industrial landscapes are representative of those of other advanced industrialized nations, digitization and automation will put up to 13% of all jobs at risk. According to Tapping into the Transformative Power of Service 4.0, a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the disruption particularly affects banks, energy suppliers, insurers, and telecom providers. "Disruptive technologies, such as software robots and virtual agents, have been around for a while. Service providers now need to orient their IT infrastructures toward them as well as adjust their employee structures to changing needs," said Olaf Rehse, a senior partner and coauthor of the report.

Big Data Can Help Better Forecast Contract Terminations

Service companies are still lagging noticeably behind industrial companies in terms of digitization. "The current changes in service companies are roughly comparable to the third industrial revolution at the beginning of the 1970s," observed Rehse. Service companies could save up to 40% of their costs if they were to exploit their full digitization potential. They are currently making great strides in big data analytics. For example, by analyzing social data, companies can better forecast the likelihood of customers canceling their phone service -- about 50% better than they could without analytics. Cognitive computing allows companies to simulate customer decisions and aids virtual service agents in interacting with customers as naturally as possible.

Customer Requirements Are Changing

"Customers today expect intuitive, proactive, and personalized service all the time, regardless of the communication channel. That expectation can be met by using modern technologies that enable businesses to offer services that are more individualized, faster, and much less expensive," said Rehse. For instance, the decentralized monitoring of devices could allow service teams to register issues before customers do and troubleshoot them remotely. App-based solutions could also trigger service personnel to contact customers immediately.

Call Centers Are Becoming Less Important

The telecom industry is one of the most service-intensive segments. A profound change in technology and personnel structures is looming on the horizon. The drivers of current costs include a degree of automation that is much too low, processes that are much too complex and reactive, and a service offering that is not adequately focused on unique customer requirements. BCG experts estimate that in ten years, across the service industry -- but especially in the banking, energy, insurance, and telecom sectors -- companies will need only half the call center capacity that they require today. Even the need for technicians will wane rapidly.

New Tasks, Fewer Jobs

Across all industries, repetitive activities that require less skill will be the first to disappear. In the medium term, more-demanding job profiles in planning and steering will be at risk as companies adopt artificial intelligence and big data analytics. New jobs requiring skilled talent will chiefly be created in sectors such as development and data security. "However, overall, the service industry will see a net reduction in the number of employees needed in years to come," noted Rehse.

A copy of the report can be downloaded at bcgperspectives.com.

To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Marike Bartels at +49 211 3011-3121 or bartels.marike@bcg.com.

About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world's leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with 85 offices in 48 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.

About bcgperspectives.com

Bcgperspectives.com features the latest thinking from BCG experts as well as from CEOs, academics, and other leaders. It covers issues at the top of senior management's agenda. It also provides unprecedented access to BCG's extensive archive of thought leadership stretching back 50 years to the days of Bruce Henderson, the firm's founder and one of the architects of modern management consulting. All of our content -- including videos, podcasts, commentaries, and reports -- can be accessed by PC, mobile, iPad, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

DH Corporation(TSX: DH) ("D+H"), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced that Gene Neyer, Group Leader, Payments, Industry & Regulatory Product Management, D+H, will discuss the potential for blockchain technology to transform the payments industry during a Sibos Open Theatre Session, scheduled on September 27 at 3:30 p.m. local Geneva time at Open Theatre One.

The session, titled "Blockchain: The Way Forward in Payments?", will focus on blockchain's transformative potential to modernize payments infrastructure and processes. Neyer will provide insights on how this technology stands to disrupt the industry, providing use cases for banks and corporations, and will address key considerations for adoption.

D+H is a market leader in payments, providing financial technology solutions to banks and corporations of all sizes around the world. Please visit D+H at Stand F70 during Sibos 2016 to meet with our experts and learn more about our solutions.

About D+H

D+H (TSX: DH) is a leading financial technology provider that the world's financial institutions rely on every day to help them grow and succeed. Our global payments, lending and financial solutions are trusted by nearly 8,000 banks, specialty lenders, community banks, credit unions, governments and corporations. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, D+H has more than 5,500 employees worldwide who are passionate about partnering with clients to create forward-thinking solutions that fit their needs. With annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion, D+H is recognized as one of the world's top FinTech companies on IDC Financial Insights FinTech Rankings and American Banker's FinTech Forward rankings. For more information, visitdh.com.

please contact: Patrick Kilhaney, Public Relations & Analyst Relations Manager, D+H, +1 917 286 1053, patrick.kilhaney@dh.com; Cognito, +1 646 395 6304, dh@cognitomedia.com
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc / Index: AIM / Epic: EOG / Sector: Oil & Gas

27 September 2016

Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc ('Europa' or 'the Company')

Sale of Interest in Wressle Discovery

Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc, the AIM traded oil and gas exploration, development and production company focused on Europe, is pleased to announce it has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement ('SPA') in relation to its 33.34% interest in PEDL180 and PEDL182 ('the Licences') in North Lincolnshire with Union Jack Oil plc ('UJO'). The Licences cover the Wressle discovery (PEDL180) and the Broughton North prospect (PEDL182).

Under the terms of the SPA, UJO will acquire a 3.34% working interest in the Licences from Europa for a cash consideration of 600,000

The transaction implies a 5.4 million mark to market for Europa's remaining 30% interest in the Licences

Wressle is anticipated to commence production at a gross rate of 500 bopd in early 2017

Europa's anticipated net share of 150 bopd from Wressle is expected to more than double existing production from the West Firsby and Crosby Warren fields and Whisby-4 well

Summary details of a Competent Persons Report compiled by ERC Equipoise Limited ('ERCE') were published by Europa and its partners in respect of Wressle and the Broughton North Prospect on 26 September 2016

Subject to approval of the assignment of interest from the Oil & Gas Authority, Europa will retain a 30.00% interest in the Licences alongside Egdon Resources UK Limited (25.00%), Celtique Energie Petroleum Limited (33.33%) and Union Jack Oil plc (11.67%)

Europa CEO Hugh Mackay said, "We consider this transaction to represent a sensible monetisation of part of the asset now it has been largely de-risked, whilststill retaining sizeable exposure to production and upside on the other reservoirs. Importantly, this transaction provides investors with a point of reference for the value of our remaining 30% interest in the Licences. At 5.4 million our 30% interest in these two licences accounts for almost half our current market capitalisation.

"PEDL180 and 182 are just two of a portfolio of licences we hold. These include three UK onshore fields which in H1 produced 124 boepd net to Europa; PEDL143 containing the Holmwood prospect in the Weald Basin, which we rate as the best undrilled conventional prospect onshore UK; and seven licences offshore Ireland which we estimate to have gross mean un-risked prospective and indicative resources of more than 4 billion barrels of oil equivalent and 1.5 tcf of gas. The funds released will be used to fund our share of drilling the Holmwood exploration well in PEDL143, which we anticipate drilling in 2017 subject to obtaining the relevant permits and permissions. In the meantime, we continue with our strategy to advance and monetise our multistage portfolio of licences, and in the process generate value for our shareholders."

Europa's net interests following this transaction are tabulated below:

Table summarising gross volumes at Wressle and Broughton North along with net volumes attributed to Europa's interests before and after transaction

Gross Volumes

Net Volumes attributable to Europa before transaction Oil MMstb Gas

Bscf Oil and Gas* MMboe Oil MMstb Gas

Bscf

Oil and Gas* MMboe Wressle

2P Ashover Grit and Wingfield Flags 0.62 0.20 0.65 0.21 0.07 0.22 2C Penistone Flags 1.53 2.00 1.86 0.51 0.67 0.62

Broughton North

Mean Unrisked Prospective Resources 0.51 0.51 0.60 0.17 0.17 0.20

Gross Volumes

Net Volumes attributable to Europa after transaction Oil MMstb Gas

Bscf Oil and Gas* MMboe Oil MMstb Gas

Bscf

Oil and Gas* MMboe Wressle

2P Ashover Grit and Wingfield Flags 0.62 0.20 0.65 0.19 0.06 0.20 2C Penistone Flags 1.53 2.00 1.86 0.46 0.60 0.56

Broughton North

Mean Unrisked Prospective Resources 0.51 0.51 0.60 0.15 0.15 0.18

*Gas converted to oil equivalent using 6 Bscf/MMboe conversion and added to oil volume

Glossary:

Some of the terms used in this announcement are defined below. A more exhaustive glossary is contained in ERCE's letter to Europa's Board of Directors summarising the findings of their CPR has been published on the Company's website (www.europaoil.com).

Proved Reserves

Proved Reserves are those quantities of petroleum, which by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be commercially recoverable, from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under defined economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations.

If deterministic methods are used, the term reasonable certainty is intended to express a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. The area of the reservoir considered as Proved includes:

the area delineated by drilling and defined by fluid contacts, if any, and

adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can reasonably be judged as continuous with it and commercially productive on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data

In the absence of data on fluid contacts, Proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbon (LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless otherwise indicated by definitive geoscience, engineering, or performance data. Such definitive information may include pressure gradient analysis and seismic indicators. Seismic data alone may not be sufficient to define fluid contacts for Proved Reserves (see "2001 Supplemental Guidelines," Chapter 8). Reserves in undeveloped locations may be classified as Proved provided that the locations are in undrilled areas of the reservoir that can be judged with reasonable certainty to be commercially productive and interpretations of available geoscience and engineering data indicate with reasonable certainty that the objective formation is laterally continuous with drilled Proved locations. For Proved Reserves, the recovery efficiency applied to these reservoirs should be defined based on a range of possibilities supported by analogues and sound engineering judgment considering the characteristics of the Proved area and the applied development programme.

2P

Proved + Probable, a best estimate category of Reserves.

Contingent Resources

Contingent Resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations by application of development projects, but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies.

Contingent Resources may include, for example, projects for which there are currently no viable markets, or where commercial recovery is dependent on technology under development, or where evaluation of the accumulation is insufficient to clearly assess commerciality. Contingent Resources are further categorized in accordance with the level of certainty associated with the estimates and may be sub?classified based on project maturity and/or characterized by their economic status.

2C

A best estimate category of Contingent Resources.

Prospective Resources

Prospective Resources are those quantities of petroleum which are estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations. Potential accumulations are evaluated according to their chance of discovery and, assuming a discovery, the estimated quantities that would be recoverable under defined development projects. It is recognized that the development programs will be of significantly less detail and depend more heavily on analog developments in the earlier phases of exploration.

* * ENDS * *

For further information please visit http://www.europaoil.com/ or contact:

Hugh Mackay Europa + 44 (0) 20 7224 3770 Phil Greenhalgh Europa + 44 (0) 20 7224 3770 Matt Goode finnCap Ltd + 44 (0) 20 7220 0500 Simon Hicks finnCap Ltd + 44 (0) 20 7220 0500 Frank Buhagiar St Brides Partners Ltd + 44 (0) 20 7236 1177 Susie Geliher St Brides Partners Ltd + 44 (0) 20 7236 1177

Notes

Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) plc has a diversified portfolio of multi-stage hydrocarbon assets that includes production, exploration and development interests, in countries that are politically stable, have transparent licensing processes, and offer attractive terms. In H1 2016 Europa produced 124 boepd. Its highly prospective exploration projects include the Wressle development (targeting production start-up in early 2017 at up to 500 bopd gross) in the UK; 100% owned gas exploration prospect (107 bcf) and appraisal project (CPR 277 bcf) in onshore France, a joint venture with Vermilion Energy also in onshore France; and seven licences offshore Ireland with the potential to host gross mean un-risked prospective and indicative resources of more than 4 billion barrels oil equivalent and 1.5 tcf gas across all seven licences.

Qualified Person Review

This release has been reviewed by Hugh Mackay, Chief Executive of Europa, who is a petroleum geologist with 30 years' experience in petroleum exploration and a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Fellow of the Geological Society. Mr Mackay has consented to the inclusion of the technical information in this release in the form and context in which it appears.
New all-in-one content moderation platform will leverage artificial intelligence and deep learning technology to reach new levels of automation and accuracy

Stockholm-based Besedo, a leader in User-Generated Content (UGC) moderation has merged with ioSquare, a French startup company specialized in automated content moderation. The agreement is a cash-and-share deal that sees ioSquare, valued at 5 million, take a stake in Besedo, making the joint entity a global market leader.

The merger will fuel marketplaces with a best-of-breed solution that is both highly accurate and cost-effective. Combining Besedo's human moderation services and ioSquare's cutting-edge automation technology, makes the merger truly unique.

The solution will also plug a gap customers have been crying out for as Maxence Bernard, ioSquare CEO explains: "No solution currently addresses the full spectrum of content moderation needs. We see in-house platforms or stopgap solutions that only address part of the problem."

"We are now able to offer a fully-integrated, ready-to-use platform, where human and artificial intelligence complement each other to keep scams, counterfeits and abusive content off the Internet. The combination of state-of-the-art deep learning technology and skilled manual workforce will allow us to reach new levels of accuracy and efficiency and will place us right at the heart of the content moderation tools and services ecosystem."

"The market is moving quickly and we see real opportunities for rapid growth," said Patrik Frisk, Besedo CEO. "The baseline expectation is that the deal will see us double in size in three years in terms of revenue, from 2016's expected 17 million. However, more importantly we are expecting hypergrowth in the data we process, potentially as high as ten times the current volumes."

Growth will be supported by the expected boom of the sharing economy over coming years. There will be opportunities to add new technology and services in the future Frisk explains: "Initially we will offer a solution focusing on text and images, however, we are already looking at adding video and virtual reality in the coming future and also expand into social media and e-commerce. The opportunities are huge. This merger will allow the new company to truly innovate and lead the market."

Post merger, new offices are planned for Asia and the US, adding to existing offices in Sweden, Colombia, Malaysia, Malta, Romania and France.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006500/en/

Contacts:

for Besedo

Andrew Chatterton, +44 7855 524 981

andrew@fivezero.net
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's import prices continued to decline in August but the pace of decrease slowed for the fourth straight month, data from Destatis showed Tuesday. Import prices declined 2.6 percent year-on-year in August, slower than the 3.8 percent fall registered in July. Prices were expected to fall 2.5 percent. This was the slowest pace of decline since July 2015, when prices dropped 1.7 percent. Excluding crude oil and mineral oil products, the index of import prices slid 1.9 percent compared with the level of a year earlier. Month-on-month, import prices fell 0.2 percent in August, reversing a 0.1 percent rise in July. Economists had forecast a 0.1 percent drop for August. Export prices decreased only 0.9 percent after easing 1.2 percent a month ago. On a monthly basis, export prices dropped 0.1 percent in contrast to a 0.2 percent rise in July. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Regulatory News:

Skanska has, in a joint venture with MT Hjgaard, signed a contract with City of Gothenburg Urban Transport Administration to build the bridge Hisingsbron over the river Gota alv. The value of the contract amounts to a total of SEK 2.0 billion. Skanska's share is 70 percent, worth about SEK 1.4 billion, which will be included in order bookings for Skanska Sweden for the third quarter 2016.

The project is a turnkey contract and the bridge will become a so-called vertical-lift bridge of steel and concrete. In addition to the bridge the project includes a facility for tram transportation, new roads and connections, installation, machines and control systems for the bridge and also demolition of the old bridge. MT Hjgaard is responsible for steel works including mechanics.

In addition to price the City of Gothenburg Urban Transport Administration based their selection of contractors on organization, implementation plan and safety. The project will employ up to 250 people from Skanska.

Construction is scheduled to start in January 2017 and the project is expected to be completed 2022.

Skanska is one of the largest project development and construction companies in Sweden, with operations in building and civil engineering as well as in residential and commercial development. The unit has about 10,000 employees. Revenues from construction amounted to SEK 27 billion in Sweden in 2015. Residential development sold about 2,200 new homes. Skanska also offers services in public-private partnerships.

The information provided herein is such as Skanska AB is obligated to disclose pursuant to the EU market securities act (EU) no. 596/2014.

Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential projects and public-private partnerships. Based on its global green experience, Skanska aims to be the clients' first choice for Green solutions. The Group currently has 43,100 employees in selected home markets in Europe and in the US. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160926006549/en/

Contacts:

For further information please contact:

Henrik Gerber, Project Manager, Skanska Sverige, tel +46(0)10-448 61 44

or

Andreas Joons, Press Officer, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10-449 04 94

Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen drifted lower against its major counterparts in pre-European deals on Tuesday. The yen dropped to 100.99 against the greenback, 104.14 against the Swiss franc and 131.22 against the pound, off its early near 5-week high of 100.09, 5-day high of 103.19 and a 6-week high of 129.63, respectively. The yen fell to a 5-day low of 73.79 against the kiwi, 4-day low of 113.57 against the euro and a 6-day low of 77.50 against the aussie, from its early high of 72.70, 5-day high of 112.48 and a 6-day high of 76.19, respectively. The yen slid to 76.69 against the loonie, reversing from its early more than 4-year high of 75.41. If the yen weakens further, it may find support around 102.00 against the greenback, 105.00 against the franc, 133.00 against the pound, 115.00 against the euro, 79.00 against the aussie, 75.00 against the kiwi and 78.00 against the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Cloud dictationworkflow solution SpeechLive with built-in speech recognition lifted to the next level with the SpeechAir smart voice recorder

Speech Processing Solutions, the world number 1 for professional dictation solutions, is proud to announce very positive feedback on its latest voice recorder, the Philips SpeechAir, and the SpeechLive cloud solution, which now also offers speech recognition.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005172/en/

Philips Dictation (Photo: Business Wire)

Both SpeechAir and SpeechLive are ideally suited to professionals who are often on the move and do not always work from their usual office workplace. Ingo Bischof, MBA, Managing Director of IVAM Real Estate, is delighted with the advantages of these two solutions: "With Philips dictation solutions it is possible for us to log and record issues in the properties that we maintain significantly more quickly. The recordings are then sent to our back office, saving us a considerable amount of time, as transcription can begin before we return to the office."

Exceptional recording quality and intuitive slide switch recording control

The SpeechAir is equipped with three professional-quality microphones providing ultimate sound quality in any recording situation. Background noise is filtered and the voices are recorded in perfect quality. This ensures excellent playback and speech recognition results. At the start of the year, the SpeechAir was awarded Nuance Communications' rating for best recording accuracy. The slide switch provides an efficient and intuitive user interface operated with just one hand. Recordings can be started, paused, stopped, played back, rewound and fast-forwarded using the slide switch.

Stay connected with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions

The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections allow wireless transfer of finished recordings and access to the customer's data in the respective document management system, email or calendar. Dr Doris Ulreich-Laussermayer, a doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology, appreciates this function. "I can send additions to the PC in the medical practice via Wi-Fi on the move or from home and my assistant can edit them. Another thing that I especially like about SpeechAir is its portability, as I can move freely around the practice. The SpeechAir's antimicrobial surface is another positive aspect for hygiene in my medical practice," says the doctor.

SpeechLive speech recognition speak, send, receive the finished document

The Philips SpeechLive cloud dictation solution now includes speech recognition available in 21 languages. Spoken words are converted into a written text in next to no time. SpeechLive can be used at any time and is easily accessible via any web browser with no software installation required. "Our company is split between two different locations. Last week I was working in the office in Melbourne; this week I am outside of the city in Mount Waverley. It's great to be able to work from anywhere, without having to think about taking something with me. I can sign in from any computer," raves Nicole Honan, Office Manager at the law firm Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams in Australia.

For more information about our solutions visit:

www.speechlive.com

www.speechair.com

About Speech Processing Solutions

Speech Processing Solutions is the global leader in professional dictation solutions. The company was founded in 1954 in Austria as a Philips subsidiary, and has been a driving force for innovative speech-to-text solutions for 60 years. The company developed ground-breaking products such as the mobile Philips SpeechAir, the Philips Pocket Memo voice recorder, the Philips SpeechMike Premium USB dictation microphone and the Philips Dictation Recorder app for smartphones, thus meeting its demands for excellence and superior quality. Thanks to the newest innovation, Philips SpeechLive, dictations and recordings will become faster and easier than ever before with cloud-based workflow services. Speech Processing Solution's perfectly tailored offers and products help professionals save time and resources and maximize efficiency.

Connect with Speech Processing Solutions on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/philipsvoicetracer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philips_dictation/

Twitter @speech_com:http://www.twitter.com/speech_com

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/philipsdictation

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/speech-processing-solutions

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005172/en/

Contacts:

Speech Processing Solutions

Christina Angerer

christina.angerer@speech.com

Tel: +43 1605 291 488

www.philips.com/dictation




Haverhill Leisure Centre Six Figure Savings Re-invested into New Facilities

HAVERHILL,England, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Haverhill Leisure Centre has invited Mark Brown of EuroSite Power (OTCQX: EUSP) to visit its new Gym and Power Room refurbishment and upgrade, which the financial savings generated by one of the company's innovative energy-saving agreements helped fund.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412033

Managed by Abbeycroft Leisure, Haverhill Leisure Centre was the first in the UK to sign a special agreement with EuroSite Power to deliver reduced energy bills for 15 years.

Under the agreement, made in March 2012, EuroSite Power installed a combined heat and power (CHP) system at the leisure centre, providing the equipment, installation and maintenance, all free of charge.

Maintaining ownership of the equipment on site, EuroSite Power has since been providing the leisure centre with clean energy in the form of electricity, heating and domestic hot water, at a price lower than if it had continued to buy energy directly from the grid.

The savings are achieved primarily by reusing, rather than wasting, the heat generated by the system in converting gas into electrical energy.

Since the system was switched on, Haverhill Leisure Centre has enjoyed six figure savings, as a combination of the avoided capital equipment costs and lower energy bills. The system has also reduced the site's carbon dioxide emissions by around 224 tonnes a year.

Directing the savings straight into new and existing facilities for the benefit of its users, the leisure centre has been able to reinvest into the development of the business.

Abbeycroft Leisure Operations Director Simon Ginders-Coxshall said: "EuroSite Power launched its pioneering approach to helping leisure centres and other large buildings save energy in 2011, so we are very proud to have been one of the first to sign-up. Because we avoided the major capital costs that would have been required to buy the energy-saving equipment they installed ourselves, we have been saving costs from day one, meaning we have been able to reinvest the savings into the new Gym and Power Room refurbishment and upgrade."

Visiting the new facilities, Mark Brown, Pre Sales Engineer of EuroSite Power, said: "Combined heat and power technology provides a fantastic way to reduce energy bills and lower carbon emissions. We developed our On-Site Utility solutions to make the equipment accessible, so that users can enjoy the savings immediately and risk-free, which helps introduce more people to the cost-cutting, green technology available.

"It is immensely gratifying to be able to physically see how our customers have invested the savings we have provided, improving facilities for customers and supporting the long term infrastructure of their business," added Mr. Brown.

On-Site Utility

EuroSite Power sells the energy produced from an onsite energy system to an individual property as an alternative to the outright sale of energy equipment. On-Site Utility solution customers only pay for the energy produced by the system and receive a guaranteed discount rate on the price of the energy. All system capital, installation, operating expenses and support are paid by EuroSite Power.

About EuroSite Power

EuroSite Power Inc. (OTCQX: EUSP) is committed to providing institutional, commercial and small industrial facilities with clean, reliable power, cooling, heat and hot water at lower costs than charged by conventional energy suppliers - without any capital or start-up costs to the energy user - through our On-Site Utility offering.For more information about our unique efficient power solutions please visit www.eurositepower.co.uk and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, as disclosed on the Company's website and in Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K. This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities by the Company, its subsidiaries or any associated party and is meant purely for informational purposes. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.




KYIV, Ukraine, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

http://mriya.ua/en/news/detail/mriya-agro-holding-publishes-key-debt-restructuring-heads-of-terms/

The National Bank of Ukraine has expressed support for the restructuring of Mriya Agro Holding's debt before international creditors in the amount of $1.1 billion. National Bank representatives welcomed Mriya's recent efforts to agree debt restructuring Heads of Terms with the Coordinating Committees of Banks and Bonds and said that it was in the best interest of Ukraine as a whole.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411303LOGO )



According to the agreed restructuring terms, all unsecured debt of Mriya Agro Holding will be treated equally and fairly in accordance with the pari passu principle in terms both of proposed recovery as well as of post-restructuring instruments. In order to accommodate the constraints of all unsecured creditors, as part of the restructuring, all existing unsecured claims (both of banks and bonds) will be considered according to Loan A/Loan B structure. Once implemented, the restructuring will reduce Mriya's operating group debt to a total sustainable debt level up to US$ 330 m.

According to the National Bank press service, restructuring of MRIYA's debt will become a successful precedent for investor and creditor rights protection in Ukraine, and will clearly demonstrate that comprehensive debt restructuring involving all creditors is possible under Ukrainian law.

Such a consensual and transparent approach to restructuring will not only ensure equal treatment for all creditors, but also become a positive example for other companies operating in Ukraine.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Japan's solar industry could be aided by the introduction of a new, renewables-focused power exchange that would allow customers to cherry-pick the energy they purchase and enable them to advertise their clean energy credentials. Talk is currently in the early stages, but those working close to the power industry in Japan believe that a new clean energy market could be introduced as early as 2018, with the prevalent thinking being that consumers and companies eager to advertise their green credentials would opt to pay more for solar energy if they were able to do so. The country's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is mulling the introduction of such a power exchange, and its immediate benefits to solar are twofold: in enabling corporations to meet the growing demand for clean power, and allowing solar producers to find willing buyers outside of Japan's FIT, which is contracting rapidly. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance's (BNEF) Asian clean energy policy analyst Takehiro Kawahara, the exchange could be hosted on the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JPEX) or one of a handful of other platforms. "JPEX is a plausible option, although there are other options, such as the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM)", he told pv magazine. "At this stage it is not actually clear what form of trading would take place." According to Kawahara, the viability of a clean power exchange would very much ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LIMA, Peru, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

A Nigerian cleric was bestowed with the 'key to the city' of Lima, Peru, on Saturday 24th September 2016.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411845 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411846 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411847 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411848 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411849 )

The recipient of the honour, T.B. Joshua, had just concluded a Christian Crusade in South America's largest stadium, 'Estadio Monumental', which was filled to capacity. An estimated 100,000 people came to the two-day event, which attracted both locals and international visitors.

Prominent Peruvian dignitaries attended the occasion, one of whom included Elias Cuba Bautista, the Mayor of La Victoria, Lima's most populous district, who presented Joshua with the symbolic key. "I give you the key to our city in acknowledgement of your outstanding work," Bautista stated.

Upon receiving the honour, Joshua redirected people's attention to the thousands who attended the free event and said: "I am receiving this on behalf of the people God has delivered today and healed" .

On the same night, the faith leader received an additional honour from General Juan Gonzales Sandoval, the President of the Generals, Admirals and Officers of Peru's Armed Forces. Presenting Joshua with a 'Medal of Honour', Peru's highest military distinction, the General said, "This is a very special decoration to the most highly distinguished people which our national police and nation bestows," he stated.

He lauded Joshua's unassuming personality stating that he was an example to other religious leaders."Your humility is an earmark that makes you great..." he said

The event was broadcast live on Joshua's religious television station, Emmanuel TV. Joshua has previously held similar foreign crusades including the Latin American nations of Mexico and Colombia.

ABOUT TB JOSHUA

T.B. Joshua is the founder of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), an international Christian ministry headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

He is also the Executive Producer of Emmanuel TV, Africa's largest Christian television network and the most subscribed Christian Ministry YouTube channel.

He is known as 'YouTube's most popular pastor' due to the fame of his videos on the video-sharing site, which have been viewed more than 300,000,000 times.

The SCOAN is West Africa's foremost religious tourist destination, with six out of every ten visitors to Nigeria headed there.

He has been recognised as one of Africa's 50 most influential people and received several international accolades, including acknowledgement from the United Nations, for his extensive philanthropic endeavours.

Please click here to find out more.

Watch the video clip here.
BUMA, one of Indonesia's leading mining operators, has decided to invest in 266 Scania trucks over the next five years, at a value of approximately USD 30 million. The order includes parts and maintenance contracts and will be delivered by Scania's partner United Tractors.

In the face of tough competition from other manufacturers, Scania was chosen as the supplier of transport solutions to Indonesian mining operator BUMA. The order comprises 266 trucks, plus parts and services on site over the next five years and is worth approximately USD 30 million.

"This is a perfect fit for our 'tailor-made for application' approach," says Bjorn Winblad, Head of Scania Mining. "By utilising our experience from lean production and continuous improvement, we intend to help BUMA to improve its mining operations across Indonesia."

Scania has worked with continuous improvements in its own business for decades, and is now drawing on that experience to offer its know-how to customers within application areas such as mining and forestry.

The order includes Scania P 410 8x4 and R 580 6x4 models. The vehicles and services will be delivered by United Tractors, Scania's partner in Indonesia. In August 2016, the first 14 vehicles were delivered, and another 86 vehicles will be delivered in 2016.

BUMA (PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama) was established in 1998 and provides services to Indonesian coal producers across all production stages, including geology and planning, overburden removal, coal mining, coal hauling and reclamation and rehabilitation. The company has some 11,000 employees and operates more than 3,000 heavy vehicles.

United Tractors is the leading and the largest distributor of heavy equipment in Indonesia, providing products from world-renowned brands, including Scania. United Tractors' distribution network includes 19 branch offices, 22 site support offices and 11 representative offices in 22 provinces across the country. The company has played an active role in the Indonesian mining industry for many years by delivering top-tier products and services to its customers.

Scania is a part of Volkswagen Truck Bus GmbH and one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications. Scania is also leading provider of industrial and marine engines. Service-related products account for a growing proportion of the company's operations, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Scania also offers financial services. Employing some 44,000 people, the company operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2015, net sales totalled SEK 95 billion and net income amounted to SEK 6.8 billion. Scania press releases are available on www.scania.com (http://www.scania.com/se)

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005813/en/

Contacts:

Scania Mining

Bjorn Winblad, Head of Scania Mining

Tel: +46 8 553 810 46

E-mail: bjorn.winblad@scania.com

or

Scania Representative Office Jakarta

Claes Nyqvist, Director

Tel: +62 21 788 488 70

E-mail: claes.nyqvist@scania.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Databricks, the company founded by the creators of the Apache Spark project, today released the findings of their second annual Apache Spark survey to determine how enterprises and users are utilizing the data analytics and processing engine. The 2016 Databricks Apache Spark Survey collected more than 1,600 responses from 900 organizations. The results show a rise in deployments of Spark in the public cloud, an increased usage of Spark in industry verticals, and an uptick in Spark streaming and Machine Learning. The survey also reveals that most developers employ two or more Spark components simultaneously to build increasingly sophisticated solutions.

Spark remains the most active open-source project in the big data space today, with over 1,000 contributors from more than 250 organizations. Spark's adoption continued to accelerate throughout the past year, and its growth continues across various industries, building sophisticated data solutions by people in various functional roles. In fact, Spark has moved well beyond the early-adopter phase and is now considered mainstream in large data-driven enterprises, such as banking, medical, bio-tech, and pharmacy.

Download the full report here: http://go.databricks.com/2016-spark-survey

"Since inception, Spark's core mission has been to make big data simple and accessible for everyone -- for organizations of all sizes and across all industries. And we have not deviated from that mission," said Matei Zaharia, creator of Apache Spark and Databricks' Chief Technologist. "I'm excited to see more Apache Spark deployments in the cloud and interest from users to build real-time applications using Spark Streaming, machine learning libraries, and other components, tackling complex problems across a broad range of industries."

Key findings from the survey include:

Spark adoption and community growth accelerates: Spark Meetup membership tripled since last year, from 66,000 to 225,000 members. The number of diverse companies represented at Spark Summit grew from 1,144 to 1,888, and number of code contributors from 600 to 1,000. This suggests a thriving and growing Spark community.

Spark's deployment in the public cloud rises: The survey confirms the rise of cloud computing across industries. Spark deployments in the public cloud jumped from 51 percent (in 2015) to 61 percent (in 2016), whereas the percentage of Spark deployments dropped for on-premises cluster managers: standalone (48 percent in 2015 to 42 percent in 2016), YARN (40 percent to 36 percent) and Mesos (11 percent in 2015 to 7 percent in 2016).

Spark's Streaming and Machine Learning usage surge: As investments in fast data analytics surge, more than half (i.e. 51 percent) of respondents indicate Spark streaming as an essential component for building real-time streaming and analytical solutions. Compared to 2015, the production use of Spark Streaming grew by 57 percent, so did MLlib by 38 percent.

Spark's usage increases in production: Spark's community uses many components in production for building sophisticated applications. Spark DataFrames saw the largest increase in production usage, from 15 percent to 38 percent, aside from Spark streaming and machine learning mentioned above. Also, Spark SQL rose from 24 percent to 40 percent.

Spark is attracting diverse users across big data analytics: Spark's adoption is growing across professional roles due to its ease of use and accessibility of common programming languages. Among languages used that Spark supports, R saw an increase in use from 18 percent in 2015 to 20 percent in 2016, as did SQL from 36 percent in 2015 to 40 percent in 2016, suggesting new users who are not only data engineers but data analysts. Also, Windows users of Spark increased from 23 percent in 2015 to 32 percent in 2016.

"As Spark becomes easier, faster, and smarter outside the Web Industry, a newer audience is adopting it, as results from the survey suggest," said Reynold Xin, chief architect and co-founder at Databricks. "Performance, ease-of-use, streaming, and reliability top the list as the most important features. These attributes make Spark an attractive engine for performing advanced analytics across industry verticals in solving complex data problems, by users from different functional roles."

About the survey:

A total of 1,615 respondents from 900 distinct organizations responded to this survey. Of the roles represented in the survey, 41 percent identified themselves as data engineers, while 23 percent as data scientists and 21 percent as architects; the rest came from technical management and academia. Survey respondents were predominantly Apache Spark users.

Additional resources:

2016 Spark Survey infographic and report can be found here: http://go.databricks.com/2016-spark-survey

Read the blog: http://dbricks.co/sparksurvey2016

Compare to the 2015 Databricks Apache Spark Survey results here: http://go.databricks.com/2015-spark-survey

About Databricks:

Databricks' vision is to empower anyone to easily build and deploy advanced analytics solutions. The company was founded by the team who created Apache Spark, a powerful open source data processing engine built for sophisticated analytics, ease of use, and speed. Databricks is the largest contributor to the open source Apache Spark project providing 10x more code than any other company. The company has also trained over 20,000 users on Apache Spark, and has the largest number of customers deploying Spark to date. Databricks provides a just-in-time data platform, to simplify data integration, real-time experimentation, and robust deployment of production applications. Databricks is venture-backed by Andreessen Horowitz and NEA. For more information, contact info@databricks.com.

 Databricks 2016. All rights reserved. Apache, Apache Spark and Spark are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation.

CONTACT:

Suzanne Block for Databricks

P: 617-824-0981

E: databricks@merrittgrp.com




VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GQC) (FRANKFURT: M1W) (BERLIN: M1W) ("GoldQuest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of an independent Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"), including maiden Mineral Reserves for its 100% owned Romero gold-copper project in the Dominican Republic. With a Net Present Value ("NPV") of US$203 million, the PFS demonstrates the economic robustness of a proposed underground mine at Romero. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated, with a DOP/USD exchange rate of 46:1 and metal price assumptions of $1,300/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $2.50/lb copper (Cu).

PFS Highlights Include:

Maiden Probable Mineral Reserves of 7.03 million tonnes containing:

840,000 ounces of gold



980,000 ounces of silver



136 million pounds of copper

A 2,800 tonnes per day operation totalling life of mine gold equivalent production of approximately 1.117 Moz Au Eq

Annual gold equivalent production averaging 109,000 ounces per year

Post tax Net Present Value @ (5%) of $203 million (pre tax $317 million)

All-in Sustaining Cost of $595/oz Au Eq

Post tax Internal Rate of Return of 28% (pre-tax 38.6%)

Initial Capex of $158.6 (Life of Mine $250.9 including sustaining and closure)

"We are very pleased that our Romero PFS validates the previous Preliminary Economic Assessment studies and we look forward to aggressively advancing the project through permitting and final feasibility," stated Bill Fisher, Executive Chairman of GoldQuest. "Along with the robust PFS results, we are proud to have established the first Mineral Reserve in our district. We believe that the Romero mine as designed is only the starting point for the Company and that the remaining resources at Romero, Romero South and the exploration potential close by provides an excellent opportunity for growth beyond the mine plan in this PFS."

The PFS was prepared under the direction of JDS Energy & Mining Inc. ("JDS"), an industry-leading, international engineering firm, with extensive experience in both the construction and operation of mining projects. The study was supported by a team of internationally recognized firms, all of whom are independent of the Company, including:

Micon International Limited (Micon) (geology, mineral resources)

Golder Associates Limited (geotechnical, tailings and water management)

Allnorth Consultants Limited (process design)

MineFill Services Incorporated (backfill plant design)

The PFS envisages a 2,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") project, encompassing a ramp-accessed underground mining operation employing a standard crush, grind, flotation process plant to produce a saleable copper concentrate product with significant gold and silver credits. Process tailings will be used as paste backfill in the underground mine with excess material stored on site as dry stack material. Water requirements for the mine will be met by collecting and storing runoff water from the site.

Mineral Resource Estimate

The basis for the PFS is the updated mineral resource estimate prepared by Micon. Details of the resource estimate will be set out in the Company's upcoming National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report for the PFS. For the purposes of reporting the mineral resources, Micon selected a net smelter returns ("NSR") cut-off of $60 (operating cost/commodity price weighted recovery) as an estimate of what might be a reasonable marginal cost of extraction at Romero and Romero South.

Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate for Romero Project --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cu Category Zone Tonnes Au (%) Zn Ag AuEq Au Ounces AuEq (g/t) (%) (g/t) (g/t) Ounces --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated Romero 18,390,000 2.57 0.65 0.31 4.2 3.43 1,520,000 2,028,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Romero South 1,840,000 3.69 0.25 0.18 1.6 4.01 218,000 237,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated Mineral 20,230,000 2.67 0.61 0.30 4.0 3.48 1,738,000 2,265,000 Resources --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inferred Romero 2,120,000 1.80 0.39 0.36 3.2 2.32 123,000 158,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Romero South 900,000 2.57 0.20 0.21 2.1 2.84 74,000 82,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Inferred Mineral 3,020,000 2.03 0.33 0.32 2.9 2.47 197,000 240,000 Resources ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effective data for the Mineral Resource is September 27, 2016. Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in the estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Gold Equivalent Metal prices used were $1,400/oz Au, $20.00/oz Ag and $2.50/lb Cu and recoveries of 78.1% for gold, 94.6% for copper and 58.6% for silver. Columns may not calculate precisely due to rounding errors.

Mineral Reserves

The Probable Mineral Reserves are the economically minable portions of the Indicated Mineral Resource as demonstrated by this PFS.

Table 2: Mineral Reserve Estimate for Romero Project

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mine Tonnes Au Ag Cu Au Eq (1) Reserves ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Cut off $70 (g/t) (oz) (g/t) (oz) (%) (M lb) (g/t) (oz) NSR) (2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Probable 7,031,000 3.72 840,000 4.33 980,000 0.88 136 4.9 1,117,000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gold equivalent metal prices $1,300/oz Au, $20.00/oz Ag and $2.50/lb Cu Cut-off NSR metal prices: Cu $2.50/lb Au $1,250/oz Ag $17.00/oz; Recovery: Cu-96.8 Au-71.7 Ag-54.4, Payable: Cu-96.5 Au-90.0 Ag-95.0, TCRC: $257.83/dmt, Cu concentrate 20%

Mining

The mine plan for the Romero deposit contemplates a ramp accessible underground mine employing mechanized longhole and cut & fill stoping methods with both paste and waste rock for backfill. At full production, run of mine material will be transported to the surface at an average rate of 2,800 tpd where it will be hauled to the process plant, located approximately 3 km south of the mine. The PFS does not propose exploiting the Romero South deposit at this time. Romero South may be evaluated as a stand- alone deposit in the Feasibility Study stage.

The PFS mine plan includes 7.03 Mt grading 3.72 g/t Au, 0.88% Cu and 4.33 g/t Ag after accounting for dilution and mining recovery, with contained metal totaling 840k oz Au, 135.9 M lbs Cu (61.7 kt) and 980k oz Ag. The waste rock mined totals 900 kt, with all waste rock returned underground as backfill by Year 5.

The mine design includes a 5.0 m x 4.5 m ramp access with production coming from a combination of 75% longhole mining, 16% cut & fill mining and 9% from development. The mine scheduling targets the highest NSR sections of the deposit early in the mine life. The mine production schedule is provided below.

Table 3: Romero Mine Production Schedule

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic Model Total Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Export ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ore Tonnes kt 7,031 817.8 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 164.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Au g/t 3.72 4.54 4.85 4.06 3.96 3.66 3.23 2.18 1.80 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag g/t 4.33 4.97 3.83 3.52 5.33 5.31 3.85 3.90 2.82 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cu % 0.88% 0.86% 0.83% 0.96% 0.96% 0.89% 0.80% 0.86% 0.78% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processing

The processing flow sheet selected for the PFS consists of crushing, grinding, gravity and flotation to produce a 13% copper concentrate with gold and silver credits and no significant deleterious elements. A marketing study commissioned by the Company has demonstrated the saleability of this concentrate.

Approximately 40% of tailings will be used as paste backfill with the balance disposed of in a tailings storage area through dry stacking. Total recoveries into the final concentrates, based on existing metallurgical test work, are expected to be approximately 78.1% for gold and 94.6% for copper, and 58.6% for silver.

Infrastructure

Off-site infrastructure for Romero is planned to include a 23.5 km main access road connecting the site to the local, paved road network. In addition, a 24.5 km -- 69 kV Transmission Line will connect the site to the national power grid.

Concentrate storage and handling would occur at the port of Puerto Viejo, which will host a storage shed for 15,000 tonnes of concentrate and a ship-loading conveyor system.

On site infrastructure includes;

 2.8 km haul road between the portal and the process plant site;

Step-down transmission substation for incoming high voltage power from the national grid;

Fit-for-purpose ancillary facilities, including administration and offices, maintenance and warehousing, mine dry, assay laboratory;

Temporary Waste Rock Storage Area for 225,000 m 3 of waste; and

of waste; and Water storage pond, sedimentation ponds, dry stack and waste rock storage run-off collection ponds, and emergency pond for excess water.

Capital Costs

The pre-production capital cost for the project is estimated to be $158.6 million including indirect costs and contingency. Life of Mine ("LOM") sustaining capital is estimated at $92.3 million. Total LOM capital required for the project is approximately $240.9 million.

Life of mine sustaining capital costs are estimated at $81.7 million (excluding contingency) including the closure costs of $15.5 million. Sustaining capital consists of capitalized development after the initial production start-up and major equipment rebuilds.

Table 4: Capital Cost Summary

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Costs Pre-Production Sustaining/ Total ($M) ($M) Closure ($M) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Underground Mining 15.7 57.4 73.1 Site Development and Roadworks 13.5 4.0 17.5 Process Facilities 32.4 5.2 37.6 On-Site Infrastructure 8.8 4.1 13.0 Off-Site Infrastructure 21.5 0.0 21.5 Indirect Costs 11.8 0.0 11.8 EPCM 23.2 0.0 23.2 Owner's Costs 10.2 0.0 10.2 Closure 0.0 15.5 15.5 Salvage 0.0 -4.5 -4.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal Capital Costs 137.3 81.7 219.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contingency 15% 21.3 10.6 32.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Capital Costs 158.6 92.3 250.9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating Costs

The operating costs used in the PFS were estimated from first principles using in-country unit rates for labour, consumables and power where possible. The LOM All-In Sustaining costs are estimated to be $595 per ounce of gold (payable net of by-product credits from copper and silver).

LOM site operating costs total $45.97/t processed, as summarized below.

These cost estimates assume an electricity rate of 0.12/kWh and a diesel cost of $0.66/L.

Table 5: Operating Cost Summary -- per ounce and per tonne basis:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Cost $/t Processed LOM $M ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mining 27.67 194.5 Processing 11.58 81.4 Re-Handle 1.28 9.0 General & Administrative 5.44 38.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total OPEX 45.97 323.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Analysis

The summary below, showing a range of commodity prices, holds the above-noted electricity rate and diesel cost constant. The NPV figures are calculated to the beginning of 2018 when, assuming the receipt of necessary permits and approvals within expected timelines, construction would begin. For purposes of the calculations, any 2016 and 2017 development expenditures are treated as undiscounted costs.

Pre-Tax

Net Present Value (NPV) discounted at 5% is $317.2 M;



Internal Rate of Return is (IRR) is 38.6%.

Post-Tax

Net Present Value (NPV) discounted at 5% is $202.7 M;



Internal Rate of Return is (IRR) is 28.1%; and



Payback of 2.5 years.

Taxes modelled include a corporate tax rate of 27%, with Export Withholding Tax credited against gross corporate tax to generate net corporate tax. The Export Withholding Tax is applied at 5% on the Net Smelter Revenue, while a local community tax is applied 5% on taxable income. The net impact is an effective tax rate of approximately 32%.

Table 6: Gold-Copper Price Sensitivity Table

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold US$ per ounce $1200 $1300 $1400 Copper US$ per pound $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 Silver US$ per ounce $15.00 $20.00 $25.00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NPV @ 5% $136.4 M $202.7 M $266.1 M -- After-tax USD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRR 21.9% 28.2% 33.7% -- After-tax ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community and Environment

The PFS incorporates several important design features that minimize the impact to the surrounding environment:

The use of cyanide is not included in the design. A flotation concentrate product will be shipped from the Puerto Viejo port to international smelters;

100% of the waste rock from the underground mine will be returned back underground as backfill to eliminate the potential for acid rock drainage;

The project is designed to capture run-off water to supply the mine, thus avoiding any water taking from the San Juan river;

Tailings from the process plant will be filtered, dried and placed in a dry stack storage facility. No tailings ponds or dam structures will be required;

Power will be supplied by a line connection to the domestic power grid;

Ventilation fans will be located underground to reduce noise; and

No relocation of the Hondo Valle village, or any settlements.

Opportunities

There are a number of initiatives recommended which may further enhance the project economics, including:

Conversion of Inferred resources at Romero and Romero South to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources which may be converted to Mineral Reserves

Examining resource growth potential at brownfields targets near Romero

Site investigation program for geotechnical, hydrology, hydrogeology and baseline environmental;

Additional drilling for metallurgical sampling and execution of further metallurgical testing on Romero South and pyrite concentrate product;

Discussions with smelters on terms and product specifications; and

Technical investigation of the Pueblo Viejo port and required upgrades.

About GoldQuest

GoldQuest is a Canadian based mineral exploration company with projects in the Dominican Republic. GoldQuest is traded on the TSX-V under the symbol GQC and in Frankfurt/Berlin with symbol M1W.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jeremy Niemi, Vice President of Exploration of GoldQuest and a Qualified Person under NI43-101. A Technical Report (the "Technical Report") to be prepared in accordance with Form 43-101F1 will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release. For further information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and risks associated with the results of the PFS, the mineral resource estimate and other technical information with respect to the Romero project, please refer to the Technical Report to be made available at www.sedar.com. The following qualified persons, as that term is defined in NI 43-101, have prepared or supervised the preparation of their relevant portions of the technical information in this news release and the related Technical Report to be filed:

The technical information contained in this news release is based upon information prepared by Mr. Makarenko, P. Eng. and Ms. Kelly McLeod, P. Eng. of JDS Energy & Mining Inc. with the exception of the Mineral Resources which were prepared by Mr. B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., of Micon International Limited. Each of these individuals is a Qualified Persons and independent of GoldQuest as defined by NI 43-101.

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the PFS, the results of the PFS, including the mine plan, the production schedule, infrastructure, capital and operating costs and financial analysis, opportunities to enhance the project economics, the advancement of Romero, the potential of the remaining resources and surrounding area, opportunities for growth beyond the mine plan, plans for Romero South, , the Company's plans and exploration programs, including the timing of such plans and programs, and the merits of the Company's mineral properties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "envisages", "assumes", "recommends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the assumptions and risks associated with the results of the PFS, timeliness and success of regulatory approvals, market prices, metal prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, as well as other risk factors set out under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis dated December 31, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Contact Information:



GoldQuest Mining Corp.

www.goldquestcorp.com



Bill Fisher

Executive Chairman -- Toronto

BFisher@GoldQuestCorp.com

+1-647-271-4505
BOLOGNA, Italy, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Leading ceramics company unveils new global brand identity at Cersaie

RAK Ceramics, one of the largest ceramics' brands in the world, today announced the launch of its new corporate brand identity which is designed to unify all of its global subsidiaries. The official roll out will start effective immediately in the UAE, with subsidiaries expected to adopt the new brand identity throughout 2017. The repositioning exercise is one of many initiatives which are helping to drive RAK Ceramics forward to achieving its vision, to become the leading ceramics lifestyle solutions provider in the world.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411027LOGO )



The announcement was made at Cersaie, the largest and most important international ceramics exhibitions which takes place annually in Bologna, Italy. The new corporate brand identity was revealed at the RAK Ceramics stand which clearly articulates the company's proposition, 'Room for Imagination', and featured the company's latest products and designs.

Abdallah Massaad, RAK Ceramics' Group Chief Executive Officer said: "Today we celebrate a new milestone as we launch our new corporate brand identity and we are delighted to be unveiling it at Cersaie. The unveiling of our new brand identity is part of our Value Creation plan which was launched in 2014 and designed to improve integration across the business; streamline our distribution networks and unify our brand globally."

He added: "RAK Ceramics has 25 years of ceramics' expertise. It is this experience, our wide product range, strong focus on innovation and continued commitment to delivering high quality products which are the four main pillars upon which our new proposition is based. Our products are already featured in some of the most iconic buildings around the globe and the launch of our new brand identity reflects our aspirations to become the leading ceramics lifestyle solutions provider in the world."

RAK Ceramics was established in Ras Al Khaimah in 1989 by H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Today RAK Ceramics is one of the largest ceramics manufacturers in the world and has sold over 1 billion square metres of tiles, serving clients in more than 150 countries through its network of operational hubs in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia, America and Australia.

Contact Details:

RAK Ceramics

Steven Allen

Tel: +971(0)7246-7400

steven.allen@rakceramics.com



FTI Consulting

Racha Mhanna

Tel: +971(0)4437-2100

Email: racha.mhanna@fticonsulting.com


GENEVA, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For thousands of years, agarwood, and the Oud oil derived from it, have been revered by a plethora of cultures and religions. Having become an essential aspect of the cultural and religious life for billions of people, scientific research is now beginning to reveal the extraordinary medicinal qualities of a substance cited in the world's oldest written texts.

At the end of the 20th Century, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) designated the Aquilaria tree from which agarwood is produced as an 'endangered species' -- such has been the extent of the illegal logging that has attended the valuable heartwood of the tree.

The tree itself is only of value for the resin contained within -- produced naturally, in response to 'injury' - but its presence is not perceptible from mere observation. This has led to indiscriminate logging, and the previously parlous state of the species prior to the intervention of sustainable plantation companies such as Asia Plantation Capital.

By using patented technologies and proven husbandry programmes, species of Aquilaria tree are flourishing once again, and with sustainability in mind and environmental awareness acting as key precepts, many different parts of the Aquilaria plant (resin, stem wood, even the leaves) are now being used in a range of value added products.

Asia Plantation Capital has established a Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of leading academics, researchers and practitioners in the field of agarwood and its associated products, of which Professor Dr Yumi Zuhanis Has-Yun Hashim, from the Department of Biotechnology Engineering at Malaysia's International Islamic University, is among the most notable.

Dr Yumi's area of specialisation is in the 'provision of healthy lifestyle and prevention of diseases through the development, use and or consumption of natural products', and she has brought a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board that complements the plantation giant's vertically integrated business model.

With Oud oil now in increasingly high demand in the fragrance industry, scientists are also assessing its medicinal efficacy, and early results have proven to be very encouraging.

Throughout history, apart from being feted for its rich, almost elemental aroma, agarwood has been used for the treatment of joint pain, inflammatory-related ailments and stomach disorders. It can act as a sedative, and even a mild stimulant, and evidence suggests that even its crude extracts and some of its isolated compounds demonstrate significant anti-allergic, anti-ischemic (cardioprotective), anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial qualities.(1) Agarwood also contains certain flavonoids that can contribute to the anti-ageing process, while agarwood tea is known to improve the digestive system and increase the stability of blood pressure.

Shown to have excellent pharmacological properties, and containing several bioactive compounds, extensive research is now underway to examine its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of cancer.(2)

Agarwood has been used in traditional medicines throughout history, despite little previous scientific research or rigorous examination. Significantly however, its apparent treatment in the microbial infections that lead to diseases such as diarrhoea, cough, leprosy and dysentery has led scientists and researchers to look at ways in which the anti-oxidant qualities of agarwood can counteract the 'oxidative stress' that can lead to diabetes and cancer.

It is no coincidence that a substance older than recorded history has been lauded and treasured through generations for its health-giving attributes and the sense of wellbeing that it produces. With the help of modern science and the enquiring minds of researchers, agarwood could prove to be a significant 'discovery' in the treatment of cancer, along with a wide variety of ailments.

It also means that the need for sustainability in the cultivation and production of agarwood and its associated products has never been more important. Only through responsible and ethically sound practices will the precious substance be available to future generations, in the continuous quest to find viable treatments for life-threatening diseases.

Notes for Editors:

For further information, please contact:

Charlotte Medigue

Marketing & Administrative Officer

Email: charlotte.medigue@apcgroup.ch

Mobile: +41-227-077-330

About the APC Group

Although operating privately since 2002, Plantation Capital was officially established in 2008 in the UK, before incorporation in Sri Lanka in 2009 as Asia Plantation Capital, followed by Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. The group expanded in 2015 to include Africa Plantation Capital in Kenya, and America Plantation Capital in Florida, US.

The Asia Plantation Capital Group now has a corporate presence, plantations and agricultural projects on four continents, with operations at various stages across the globe, making it one of the largest vertically integrated growers, manufacturers, and distributors of many end products such as Oud oil, agarwood, and bamboo.

Sources:

1) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 189, 2 August 2016, pages 331-360.

'Aquilaria (agarwood) as source of health beneficial compounds: A review of traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacology.'

Authors: Dr Zumi Yuhanis Has-Yun Hashim, Phirdaous Abbas, Hamzah Mohd Salleh - Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Phillip G Kerr School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874116304159

2) Alexandria Journal of Medicine, Volume 52, Issue 2, June 2016, pages 141-150.

'In vitro antimestatic activity of Agarwood (Aquilaria crassna) essential oils against pancreatic cancer cells.'

Authors: Saad Sabbar Dahham, Yasser M Tabana, Loiy E Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed B Khadeer Ahamed, Amin Malik Shah Abdul Hamid - EMAN Research and Testing Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, and Aman Shah Abdul Majid - Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506815000500

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160927/8521606131-a

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160927/8521606131-b
DULUTH, Minn. and SAN FRANCISCO, 2016-09-27 12:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minnesota Power and Smart Wires announced today their partnership to deploy an innovative solution for optimizing the flow of power on the grid. Smart Wires is a leading provider of power flow control technology for transmission systems.This first deployment of Smart Wires at Minnesota Power is intended to be completed by the end of 2016 and will utilize Smart Wires PowerLine Guardian technology. PowerLine Guardians are devices that are installed directly on existing power lines and essentially act as valves for electricity. They can be implemented to relieve heavily loaded power lines by pushing power onto other, underutilized lines in the grid. The devices can be controlled remotely by the grid operator or programmed to activate automatically, responding to real-time line conditions."With Smart Wires we are able to optimize the use of our existing infrastructure, enabling us to improve the overall utilization of our assets and to save our customers money by deferring the need for costly transmission upgrades. These innovative solutions fit seamlessly into our Energy Forward strategy to create a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future while efficiently delivering the safe and reliable power our customers rely upon," said Al Hodnik, Chairman, CEO and President of ALLETE.The installation at Minnesota Power represents the first stage of what is potentially a multi-stage deployment. The modular nature of Smart Wires is uniquely advantageous, providing Minnesota Power valuable flexibility in a time of increasing uncertainty around future network needs. As the grid evolves, the Smart Wires solution can be easily scaled to accommodate changing conditions on the network. The technology is also easily re-deployable and can be moved from one location to another to address emerging issues elsewhere on the grid."The Minnesota Power deployment represents a great opportunity for our team at Smart Wires to partner with an innovative leader in the utility industry," says Jim Davis, CEO of Smart Wires. "As Minnesota Power continues to transition to a clean and dynamic grid, our flexible and modular solutions are critical new additions to their toolkit for solving challenges."By deploying Smart Wires, Minnesota Power joins a group of leading utilities leveraging these solutions to solve a host of unique challenges. Smart Wires' unique modular approach to grid infrastructure has several advantages over traditional power flow control solutions that typically require long-lead times, are highly complex, demand significant capital investment, and ultimately represent single points of failure. Additionally, Smart Wires solutions are typically more cost effective than conventional system upgrades like reconductoring or building new lines. Utility crews can typically complete PowerLine Guardian installations in only a few days, dramatically reducing the amount of construction activities that can disturb the environment and customer communities."We believe this is a great first project for Minnesota Power," says Smart Wires Chairman Tom Voss. "We are excited to work with this innovative industry leader and look forward to continuing our collaboration by creatively delivering high-value solutions as part of a cleaner, more modern and efficient grid for Minnesota Power and its customers."About Smart Wires Smart Wires solutions are deployed at leading utilities such as PG&E, Southern Company, TVA and EirGrid. Our modular approach to grid infrastructure is unique and has several advantages over traditional power flow control solutions that typically require long-lead times, are highly complex, demand significant capital investment, and ultimately represent single points of failure. Smart Wires solutions can be deployed incrementally and reconfigured as needs evolve, thereby reducing investment risk, shortening lead times, and providing flexibility in an era of increasing operational uncertainty. Smart Wires is located in the San Francisco Bay Area with offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. More information can be found at www.smartwires.com.About Minnesota Power Minnesota Power provides electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting comfort, security and quality of life for 144,000 customers, 16 municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. More information can be found at www.mnpower.com.The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Contact: Amy Rutledge Minnesota Power/ALLETE Manager-Corporate Communications 218.723.7400 arutledge@mnpower.comContact: Deanna Berardi Smart Wires Manager-Corporate Communications 775.200.7777 deanna.berardi@smartwires.com
VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - European stocks reversed early gains to hover near one-week lows on Tuesday, as banks continued their retreat, oil prices lost steam ahead of OPEC meeting on Wednesday in Algiers and Wolseley, which owns brands such as Plumb Center, announced an overhaul of its U.K. business. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was down half a percent in midday trading after losing 1.5 percent in the previous session, dragged down by banks. The benchmark index opened higher earlier in the session after reports that Hillary Clinton had delivered a stronger performance than Donald Trump in the first presidential debate at Hofstra University. The German DAX was losing 0.9 percent, France's CAC 40 index was declining 0.6 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down 0.3 percent. German lender Commerzbank lost 3 percent on a report that it plans to slash around 9,000 jobs over the coming years as part of a restructuring plan. Rival Deutsche Bank fell more than 3 percent to extend Monday's 7 percent loss after a German magazine reported that Chancellor Angela Merkel had ruled out providing government aid to the bank. BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and Barclays dropped 1-2 percent, reflecting investor concerns about the health of Deutsche Bank's finances. Total SA, BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell and Tullow Oil declined 1-2 percent, as crude prices edged lower in European trading on skepticism about any deal being reached to limit production. Wolseley shares slumped 4.5 percent in London. The plumbing and heating products maker has unveiled plans to close 80 U.K. branches and a distribution center after reporting full-year underlying trading profit below analysts' expectations. Thomas Cook Group fell over 2 percent after the tour operator revealed a 4 percent decline in overall bookings for summer 2016. Travel and insurance firm Saga tumbled 3 percent after negative broker comments. Swiss foods giant Nestle rose half a percent after announcing changes to its executive board. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Avalara, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based tax compliance automation for businesses of all sizes, today announced a significant expansion of its operations and strategic initiatives in Brazil. Through acquisition and organic growth, the company has increased its Brazilian leadership team and customer base, and extended its product offering, becoming the first full-service SaaS provider to cover all tax compliance requirements for companies conducting business in Brazil.

Brazil leads the world in tax compliance complexity and governmental reporting requirements. According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers(1), the annual tax compliance burden for doing business in Brazil is approximately 2,600 hours -- more than eight times greater than for the United States or European Union. Taxation rules in Brazil involve multiple taxes and tax types, numerous taxing jurisdictions and authorities, and constant changes in rates, rules, and other requirements. In addition, companies in Brazil are required to upload digital records of every transaction to a government system provided by the Brazilian Federal Tax Authority. The process for reporting this information is referred to as SPED (Sistema Publico de Escrituracao Digital or Public System of Digital Accounting). With this announcement, Avalara Brazil leads the way in easing the tax compliance burden for Brazilian companies and international firms seeking to do business there.

"Avalara is delighted to grow our presence in Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America and the ninth largest in the world," said Scott McFarlane, Avalara co-founder and chief executive officer. "Today's news affirms our commitment to global expansion into one of the Top 10 economies in the world, and a market with enormous unmet need. We now have an excellent leadership team in place, and we look forward to serving the millions of companies doing business in Brazil by helping them automate the burden of transactional tax compliance."

Avalara has named Rodrigo Zerlotti as general manager, Latin America, and Carlos "Kazuo" Tomomitsu as general manager, Brazil. Zerlotti has more than 25 years of technology and tax experience, including 15 years in Brazil as founder and CEO of SuitePlus, responsible for the ERP localization of NetSuite; and founder of Rezolve, a cloud technology company. In the US, he held senior technology roles at University of Texas - Austin, Radian International, and other Austin-based hi-tech startups. Zerlotti will lead Avalara's expansion into Latin America.

Kazuo has more than 30 years of experience in finance and tax automation. Before founding his own tax technology company, KeepTrue, he led the business application division of Sonda IT, one of Brazil's largest systems integrators, where he directed the first SAP localization project in Brazil. Kazuo will direct Avalara Brazil's product, marketing, sales and support activities for a growing list of more than 400 customers.

Avalara Brazil offers a cloud-based software platform and professional services to enhance governance, minimize tax risk, automate fiscal operations and ensure correct compliance in Brazil. Avalara Brazil unites transactional tax calculation, electronic documents generation, tax content, audit, monitoring and compliance, electronic data interchange (EDI), tools and verification for electronic reporting to Brazilian tax authorities (SPED), and business process outsourcing (BPO) from the former SPL Fiscal, KeepTrue, TaxVision and SuitePlus brands. This expansion further augments Avalara's 2015 acquisition of the SuitePlus tax. Together, this offering spans the range of tax compliance requirements for the Brazilian market and will be integrated into Avalara's global Compliance Cloud platform.

(1) PwC State of Compliance 2015 Survey

About Avalara

Avalara helps businesses of all sizes achieve compliance with transactional taxes, including VAT, sales and use, excise, communications, and other tax types. We deliver comprehensive, automated, cloud-based solutions that are fast, accurate, and easy to use. Our Compliance Cloud platform helps customers manage complicated and burdensome tax compliance obligations imposed by state, local, and other taxing authorities throughout the world.

Avalara offers more than 500 hundred pre-built connectors into leading accounting, ERP, ecommerce and other business applications. Each year, the company processes billions of indirect tax transactions for customers and users, files hundreds of thousands of tax compliance documents and tax returns, and manages millions of exemption certificates and other compliance related documents.

A privately held company, Avalara' s venture capital investors include Sageview Capital, Battery Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Technology Crossover Ventures, Arthur Ventures, and other institutional and individual investors. Avalara's headquarters are in Seattle, WA and it has offices across the U.S. and in London and Brighton, UK; Brussels, Belgium; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Pune, India. More information at: www.avalara.com

Embedded Video Available

Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3060144



Sheri Renner

Director of Corporate Communications

sheri.renner@avalara.com




HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (Teekay LNG or the Partnership) (NYSE: TGP) today announced that it has entered into a 15-year time-charter contract with the Yamal LNG project (Yamal LNG), sponsored by Novatek OAO, Total SA, China National Petroleum Corporation and Silk Road Fund, to provide Yamal LNG with conventional Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) transportation services. Yamal LNG is currently scheduled to commence production in 2017.

The fixed-rate time-charter contract will be serviced by one of Teekay LNG's previously unchartered 174,000 cubic meter MEGI LNG carrier newbuildings that is scheduled for delivery in early-2019.

"We are pleased that our commercial team has secured this new 15-year charter contract which expands our service offering to the now fully-financed Yamal LNG project and reduces our uncommitted newbuildings to only one vessel," commented Peter Evensen, Chief Executive Officer of Teekay GP LLC. "The Partnership will now provide this strategically-important project with both icebreaker and conventional LNG transportation services. In addition, the new contract further builds on the Partnership's diversified contract portfolio, providing additional long-term stability to the Partnership's cash flows."

About Teekay LNG

Teekay LNG Partners is one of the world's largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing LNG, LPG and crude oil marine transportation services primarily under long-term, fixed-rate charter contracts through its interests in 50 LNG carriers (including one LNG regasification unit and 19 newbuildings), 29 LPG/Multigas carriers (including three in-chartered LPG carriers and five newbuildings) and six conventional tankers. The Partnership's interests in these vessels range from 20 to 100 percent. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is a publicly-traded master limited partnership (MLP) formed by Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK) as part of its strategy to expand its operations in the LNG and LPG shipping sectors.

Teekay LNG Partners' common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TGP".

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflect management's current views with respect to certain future events and performance, including statements regarding: the timing of the newbuilding vessel delivery and contract start-up; the timing of the Yamal LNG project start-up; and the stability of the Partnership's future cash flows. The following factors are among those that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, and that should be considered in evaluating any such statement: potential shipyard and project construction delays; changes in production of LNG or LPG, either generally or in particular regions; changes in trading patterns or timing of start-up of new LNG liquefaction and regasification projects significantly affecting overall vessel tonnage requirements; changes in applicable industry laws and regulations and the timing of implementation of new laws and regulations; the potential for early termination of long-term contracts of existing vessels in the Teekay LNG fleet; the inability of charterers to make future charter payments; the inability of the Partnership to renew or replace long-term contracts on existing vessels; the Partnership's and the Partnership's joint ventures' ability to secure financing for its existing newbuildings and projects; potential failure of the Yamal LNG project to be completed for any reason, including due to lack of funding as a result of existing or future sanctions against Russian entities and individuals, which may affect partners in the project; potential delays or cancellation of the Yamal LNG project; and other factors discussed in Teekay LNG Partners' filings from time to time with the SEC, including its Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The Partnership expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Partnership's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contacts:

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

Ryan Hamilton

Investor Relations Enquiries

+1 (604) 609-6442

www.teekay.com




SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Since announcing the opening of its two new domestic markets earlier this year, ABODA Global Housing Management has been executing against an aggressive strategic plan to extend innovative housing solutions to clients and guests in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA.

As part of this strategic plan, ABODA recently announced the addition of two new sales executives. Karen Ehn has joined ABODA Global Housing Management as Account Executive in Portland and William Matthews has joined as Account Executive in San Francisco.

Ehn and Matthews are responsible for identifying prospective clients and business opportunities in their markets while maintaining current client relations. "With Karen and William on the team, ABODA now has the opportunity to continue on our market growth trajectory," says Lee Curtis, CCHP, President of ABODA Global Housing Management. "Their local efforts to secure a larger share of the corporate housing industry for ABODA allow us to deliver our award-winning customer service and innovative housing solutions to a larger client base."

Karen Ehn is an Oregonian with over 15 years of sales, marketing and human resources experience. Previously, Ehn worked for VTM Group as an Account Executive and as a Human Resources Analyst/Outreach Coordinator for Multnomah County. She brings market development experience, a strong local network in the Greater Portland Area and a belief that it takes integrity and honesty to build long-term relationships. Ehn is a graduate of the University of Oregon, and earned a B.S. in Business Administration. Ehn is a past board member of the Native American Youth and Family Association (NAYA) and a founding member of UpLife and the Sunnyside Swap Shop and Co-Op.

William Matthews moved to San Francisco in 2013 by way of Virginia, Italy and San Diego. Matthews has over 8 years of sales and hospitality experience which he acquired by working for big names such as Hilton hotels and JDV hotels. He brings a love for building business and revenue from the ground up and a desire to make service a priority for all of his clients. Matthews is a graduate of the American University of Rome in Italy where he received a B.A. in International Relations. Matthews is passionate about carpentry, sustainability in architecture, engineering and transportation, and cooking and eating Italian food.

About ABODA

ABODA is an innovative leader in global housing management services, providing end-to-end solutions to some of the biggest brands in the world, many headquartered in the Seattle area where the firm is based. ABODA Global Housing Management uses a logistics-focused approach, combining the best of program planning and administration, inventory management, execution, service delivery and technology to help corporate clients operate more efficiently and enhance customer experiences. ABODA also offers furnishings, property management, and cleaning services in the Greater Seattle Area. Employee-owned ABODA is flexible enough to meet clients' ever-changing business needs through its award-winning customer service. Learn more about ABODA at www.aboda.com or call 1-888-389-0500.

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Media contact:

Jocelyn Quall

ABODA

(425) 602-5535

Email Contact




EDMONTON, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX VENTURE: CZO) ("Ceapro" or the "Company"), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, announced today that the Company has been awarded the 2016 BioAlberta Achievement Award for Company of the Year.

Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO of Ceapro, stated, "We are delighted and honored to have been awarded Company of the Year from BioAlberta. At Ceapro, 2016 has been a transformational year for the Company. We made tremendous strides in building upon the momentum we created by executing on our business plan. This year we reported Company record-breaking financial and operational results which is a tribute to the commitment and dedication of the entire Ceapro team and for which I am extremely grateful. I also wish to thank BioAlberta and the selection committee who have recognized Ceapro's accomplishments, and of course, our government and commercial partners as well as our Board and shareholders for their continued support."

Mr. Gagnon added, "Moving forward, we are pursuing excellence in our corporate development as well as the advancement of our enabling technologies which we expect will propel the company forward as we continue to expand our business into the high value areas of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals."

The Company was awarded in connection with BioAlberta's 17th Annual AGM and Awards Gala held on September 26, 2016 at the BMO Center in Calgary, Alberta. The Awards Committee received outstanding nominations on criteria set out in the Awards description and selected Ceapro as the highest-ranking nominee in the Company of the Year category.

About BioAlberta Association for Life Sciences Industry

BioAlberta is a member-driven association that represents and promotes the province's vibrant and diverse life sciences industry. Through the association's many partnerships and collaborations, they are dedicated to promoting Alberta's life science sectors, locally, nationally and internationally.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company involved in the development of proprietary extraction technology and the application of this technology to the production of extracts and "active ingredients" from oats and other renewable plant resources. Ceapro adds further value to its extracts by supporting their use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutics products for humans and animals. The Company has a broad range of expertise in natural product chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and process engineering. These skills merge in the fields of active ingredients, biopharmaceuticals and drug-delivery solutions. For more information on Ceapro, please visit the Company's website at www.ceapro.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACT:

Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC

Jenene Thomas

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advisor

(US): 908-938-1475

jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com




DUBLIN, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Facility Management Market by Solution (Asset & Inventory, Workplace & Relocation, Strategic Planning & Project, Sustainability, Real Estate & Lease, Maintenance), Service, Deployment Type, Business Size, Vertical and Region- Global Forecast to 2021" report to their offering.

The facility management market is estimated to grow from USD 28.90 Billion in 2016 to USD 56.67 Billion by 2021, at a high Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.42% during the forecast period.

Facility management solutions are gaining significant importance among organizations as they facilitate agility and efficiency in business functioning. The facility management concept comprises software and solutions that enable efficient management and use of work space, real estate, assets, relocation of offices and buildings, and energy management; it standardizes services and streamlines processes. The enterprises are moving beyond the traditional concepts of facility management to address rapid technology changes and today's business needs that is helping in the increasing adoption of these solutions.

The report provides detailed insights into the global facility management market, which is segmented by solution, service, deployment type, business size, vertical, and region. The maintenance management solution is observing great opportunities and is gaining significant importance among corporates as it facilitates the integration of specific tools which can be utilized for planning, forecasting, and evaluating maintenance work related to assets, equipment, properties, and any other related facilities

In terms of services, integration and deployment service is to dominate the facility management service market and is expected to contribute the largest market size, whereas managed service is set to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. Facility management enabled easy installation and deployment of solution and also provides solutions according to the user requirements. This technology has become popular among enterprises and is expected to decide the future of the facility management. Business expansions and increasing investments in facility management across the world and the increasing adoption of these solutions is further fuelling the growth of the facility management market.

The market in North America is expected to hold the largest share of the market. The APAC region is projected to have great opportunities in this market and would grow at the highest CAGR by 2021 due to the increasing adoption of facility management solutions in this region and the presence of various developing countries, such as China, India, and the Philippines.

However, there is a lack of managerial awareness, which may act as a restraining factor for the market. The traditional approach of manual workplace management is a tedious process. However, with the gradual increase in the adoption of these solutions and proliferation of their benefits, managers are anticipated to start favoring the use of these solutions for managing daily operations. Facility management market solutions have various benefits such as efficient business operations with easy integration and rapid deployment ability that helps in driving this market.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

5 Market Overview

6 Industry Trends

7 Facility Management Market Analysis, By Solution and Service

8 Facility Management Market Analysis, By Deployment Type

9 Facility Management Market Analysis, By Business Size

10 Facility Management Market Analysis, By Vertical

11 Geographic Analysis

12 Competitive Landscape

13 Company Profiles

- Accruent, LLC.

- Archibus, Inc.

- CA Technologies

- FM System, Inc.

- IBM (International Business Machines) Corporation

- Idox PLC

- Ioffice Corporation

- MCS

- Oracle Corporation

- Planon Corporation

- SAP SE.

- Satnav Technologies

- Trimble Navigation Ltd.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/kmblv4/facility

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - RAIT Financial Trust (RAS) announced Tuesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its unit Independence Realty Advisors, LLC, and certain assets of unit Jupiter Communities, LLC to Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) for $43 million. Independence Realty Advisors is the external advisor of Independence Realty Trust or IRT. The company said the deal permits IRT to internalize its advisor and property management functions. In addition, RAIT has agreed to sell back to IRT approximately 7.3 million common shares in IRT that RAIT currently owns. Based on the current market price of IRT's common stock, the total proceeds to RAIT including the sale of RAIT's shares in IRT is expected to be approximately $120 million, before fees and expenses. RAIT expects the purchase of its IRT shares by IRT to close within one month and the Internalization Transaction to close around year-end 2016. Effective upon closing of the deal, Scott Davidson, RAIT's current President, will become the Chief Executive Officer of RAIT and will serve on the Board of Trustees. Scott Davidson has been with RAIT since 2010, serving in various capacities, including Managing Director and President. Scott Schaeffer, RAIT's current Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, will become the full time Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IRT. Schaeffer will serve as a consultant to RAIT for the twelve months following the closing of the deal. James Sebra, RAIT's current Chief Financial Officer, will continue as Chief Financial Officer of RAIT. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
PUNE, India, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Levulinic Acid Market by Application (Plasticizers, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics), Technology (Acid Hydrolysis, Biofine), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is projected to reach USD 32.5 Million by 2021, at a CAGR of 14.0% between 2016 and 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 27 market data Tables and 52 Figures spread through 113 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Levulinic Acid Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/levulinic-acid-market-143960662.html

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This growth can be attributed to the increasing consumption of levulinic acid in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Among applications, the plasticizers segment is expected to lead the levulinic acid market during the forecast period

Based on application, the plasticizers segment accounted for a major share of the levulinic acid market in 2015. Plasticizers are organic esters that are used to provide more flexibility to plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is used in several applications due to its low cost, durability, and versatility. Levulinic acid-derived ketal esters can be a potential replacement of phthalate-based plasticizers, which make majority of the world's plasticizer market. With increasing demand for renewable, phthalate-free plasticizers, particularly used in children toys, as well as for products that are used by humans, the demand for levulinic acid is expected to grow during the forecast period.

North America is expected to lead the levulinic acid market during the forecast period

North America accounted for the largest share of the levulinic acid market in 2015, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. The U.S. is one of the major consumers of levulinic acid in North America. Increasing investments in organic materials by leading companies of the fast moving consumer goods industry for end-products, and rising demand for levulinic acid from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries are expected to drive the North America levulinic acid market.

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Major players in the levulinic acid market are Biofine International Inc. (U.S.), Avantium (Netherlands), GF Biochemicals Ltd. (Italy), Langfang Triple Well Chemicals Co. Ltd (China), Simagchem Corporation (China), Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (China), Great Chemicals Co. Ltd. (China), and Anhui Herman Impex Co Ltd (China), among others.

This report offers an overview of market trends, drivers, and challenges with respect to the levulinic acid market. It also provides a detailed overview of the market across four regions, namely, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest of the World (Middle East & Africa, and Latin America). The report categorizes the levulinic acid market on the basis of application and region. A detailed analysis of leading players, along with key growth strategies adopted by them has also been provided in the report.

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http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/green-bio-solvents-market-755.html

Biolubricants Market by Type (Vegetable Oil, Animal Fat), Application (Hydraulic Fluids, Metalworking Fluids, Chainsaw Oils, Mold Release Agents), End Use (Industrial, Commercial Transport, Consumer Automobile) - Global Forecasts to 2021

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CHAM, Switzerland, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

6 billion icons are used every day. Everybody knows them, everybody loves them. Boost Group starts exciting partnership with the emoji company to market the official emoji brand and its popular library of high resolution icons.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412212 )



During the next few years Boost Group will design and produce tailor-made collectibles' concepts for retailers based on the trademarks and copyrights of the emoji company in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Russia.

Boost Group is focusing on the production of classical and collectibles' promotions building on the resounding impact of the Minions campaigns for Carrefour Spain and France, which were successfully launched in 2015 and won this year's International Loyalty Award in London.

At present the portfolio of the emoji company contains close to 4,000 icons which have been developed specially for licensing operations. The official emoji brand is a well known and established all over the world and its icons are used with the most reputable licensing partners from multiple industries and are applied in the field of merchandising and promotions, for customer retention programs and advertising.

"At Boost Group we're proud about this latest licence. There is no better way to express yourself than saying it by using icons as they simply generate a good mood and our marketing and creative teams are already working on the exciting challenge of developing fun concepts, games and digital solutions," states Mario Schwegler, CEO Boost Group adding: "We are now offering our clients in Europe 360 emoji brand promotional concepts to activate shoppers, elevate sales and increase the average basket size."

"We are excited to team up with Boost Group who have a proven track record in building fantastic loyalty programs. Together we will establish the official emoji brand for different instant digital and physical rewards programs for years. Longevity is what our partners strive for and the official emoji brand fulfils all requirements to deliver an enduring joy and success. We are looking forward to the first launch" states Marco Husges, CEO of the emoji Company.

More on Boost's projects: http://www.boostgroup.eu/cases-eng/

Watch the emoji clip: https://youtu.be/ESJOiHvZMsA

For more information about Boost's One-Stop-Shopping please see: http://www.boostgroup.eu

For more information, please visit http://www.emoji-company.com

Contact: Laura Mattiucci - Marketing Manager - laura.mattiucci@boostgroup.ch - T: +41-58-201-94-47
For immediate release 27 September 2016

AfriAg Global PLC

("AfriAg Global", the "Group" or the "Company")

Unaudited Interim Results for the six months to 30 June 2016

AfriAg Global PLC (ISDX: AFRI), the London listed global food logistics specialists, today announces an excellent first half year performance with it's first ever half year profit recorded in its unaudited interim results for the 6-month period ended 30 June 2016.

Summary of Financial Results for the period:

The Group's gross turnover has increased by over 264% to 1.422 million for the period (6 months ended 30 June 2015 - 537,000)

- 537,000) The Group's 40% owned AfriAg SA's gross turnover has increased by 240% to 4.430 million for the period (6 months ended 30 June 2015 - 1.849 million)

- 1.849 million) The Group's net profit after taxation for the period was 48,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015 - 168,000 loss).

- 168,000 loss). The Group's current assets including cash of 172,000 at 30 June 2016 amounted to 1,063,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015 : 977,000).

David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of AfriAg Global, commented: "The start of 2016 has seen the business and its investments grow substantially, indeed more than we could have anticipated. We see an even stronger second half performance in front of the us as we gear up for the very busy pre-Christmas period. Our customer base has spread far more globally over the last 6 months, with regular airfreight shipments of food, not only around and within southern Africa, but to the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia."

Strategic Review for the Period:

AfriAg Marketing:

(100% owned by the Company)

The first half of 2016 has been an outstanding period of growth for the Company, with its 100% owned marketing division AfriAg Marketing Pty Ltd ("AfriAg Marketing") generating in excess of 264% increase in revenues, compared to the same period last year, to ZAR 31.307 million (1.422 million) with a net profit for the period of ZAR 2.153 million (98,000) and total assets of ZAR 7.569 million (382,000).

AfriAg Marketing has had an excellent first half trading performance, almost matching the whole of last year's trading performance. We continued to trade and ship our core lines of peas (sugar snap and Mange tout), pineapples, passionfruit, citrus, apples, herbs, chilies, butternuts from Africa to export markets mainly in Europe.

AfriAg (Pty) Ltd:

(40% owned by the Company)

In addition, the Company is pleased to report that the specialist global agri-logistics group AfriAg (Pty) Ltd ("AfriAg SA") in which the Company has a 40% equity shareholding, continues to grow from strength to strength. It has reported a 240% growth in top line revenues for the 6 month to 30 June 2016 of ZAR 97.555 million (4.430 million) compared to the same period last year, with a net profit for the 6 months of ZAR 0.338 million (15,000) and total assets of ZAR 68.818 million (3.473 million). The Company has equity-accounted for its 40% share of this profit for 2016, being 6,000 (30 June 2015: Loss 19,000).

Likewise, AfriAg SA had a stellar performance for the period with its airfreight shipments of perishable food for the period recording a record 1.45 million kg, which has increased by 158% over the same period last year (6 months ended 30 June 2015: 907,000 kg). This growth has come primarily from increasing exports of perishable food from southern Africa to global markets stretching from Asia, the USA and Europe. The business has also seen a substantial increase in business from shipments of frozen meat products by sea and road from South America, Europe and the USA in to Africa.

Outlook:

In August 2016, the Company announces that it has launched a new 100% owned UK subsidiary, AfriAg International Limited ("AfriAg International"), to promote and sell fresh food produce from southern African producers directly in to the UK and European market places. AfriAg International will provide a UK representational base for AfriAg Marketing's Sub-Saharan based growers, who are already permitted to sell their fresh food produce directly in to the EU markets, and provide them with direct access to UK and European retailers. AfriAg International intends to offer fresh food and vegetables from producers across Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and South Africa that are sustainable, renewable and responsibly grown. Our fresh produce offer will include: Herbs, Apples, Pears, Blueberries, Physalis, Lychees, Citrus, Table Grapes, Fine beans, Sugar snap, Mange tout, Pineapples, Passionfruit, Herbs, Chilies, Butternut and Sweet potatoes.

AfriAg SA has advised the Company that it has placed orders for another 20 refrigerated trucks to increase its fleet from the current 52 to 72 before the end of the year, to cope with the pace of expansion of the trucking logistics division in southern Africa.

Financial Results:

During the period, the Company increased revenues to 1,422,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: 537,000) and made a gross profit of 183,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: 49,000). The operating profit for the period was 6,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: loss 154,000). The total comprehensive income for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent was 87,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: loss 169,000).

There was a weighted earnings per share of 0.003p (30 June 2015: loss per share 0.01p).

Current assets at 30 June 2016 amounted to 1,063,000 (30 June 2015: 977,000).

In addition, the Company's 40% owned AfriAg SA increased revenues to 4.430 million (6 months ended 30 June 2015: 1.849 million) and made a gross profit of 286,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: 58,000), with a net profit for the 6 months of 15,000 and total assets of 3.473 million. The Company has equity-accounted for its 40% share of this profit for the 6 months to 30 June 2016, being 6,000 (6 months ended 30 June 2015: Loss 19,000).

The unaudited interim results to 30 June 2016 have not been reviewed by the Company's auditor.

In Conclusion:

The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank our shareholders, staff and consultants for their continued support and I look forward to reporting further progress over the next period and beyond.



David Lenigas

Executive Chairman

27 September 2016

For further information, please contact:

AfriAg Global plc: +44 (0) 20 7440 0640

David Lenigas / Anthony Samaha

Nominated Adviser and Broker:

Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

Guy Miller / Fungai Ndore





Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2016 2015 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note '000 '000 '000 Revenue 1,422 537 1,977 Cost of sales (1,239) (488) (1,927) Gross Profit 183 49 50 Administration expenses (177) (203) (313) Share Based Payment Charge - - - Operating profit/(loss) 6 (154) (263) Share of associate result 6 (19) 143 Finance costs (5) - (2) Investment income 41 5 26 Profit/(loss) before tax 48 (168) (96) Tax - - - Retained profit/(loss) for the period 48 (168) (96) Other comprehensive income (Loss)/gain on revaluation of available for sale investments (6) 32 36 Transfer to income statement (24) - (7) Translation exchange gain/(loss) 69 (33) (102)

Total comprehensive income 39 (1) (73) Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent 87 (169) (169) Earnings/(loss) per share (p) 2 Basic 0.003 (0.01) (0.01) Diluted 0.003 (0.01) (0.01)

All of the revenues and loss above derived from continuing operations.



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (unaudited)

At 30 June 2016

30 June 2016 30 June 2015 31 December 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited '000 '000 '000 Non-current assets Property, plant & equipment 4 1 2 Investments in associates 1,482 1,314 1,476 Total non-current assets 1,486 1,315 1,478 Current assets Inventory 5 61 - Trade and other receivables 758 571 385 Available for sale assets 128 218 177 Cash and cash equivalents 172 127 248 Total current assets 1,063 977 810 Total assets 2,549 2,292 2,288 Current liabilities Trade and other payables (865) (675) (691) Total current liabilities (865) (675) (691) Net current assets 198 302 119 Net assets 1,684 1,617 1,597 Equity Share capital 1,381 1,381 1,381 Share premium account 8,548 8,548 8,528 Share based payment reserve 213 213 213 Revaluation reserves (16) 17 14 Foreign currency reserve (54) (54) (123) Retained earnings (8,368) (8,488) (8,416) Total equity 1,684 1,617 1,597



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited)

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

Share

capital Share

premium Share based

payment

reserve Foreign currency reserve Revaluation reserves Retained

earnings Total '000 '000 '000 '000 '000 '000 '000 At 31 December 2014 1,381 8,548 213 (21) (15) (8,320) 1,786 (Loss) for the period - - - - - (96) (96) Currency translation (loss) - - - (102) - - (102) Gain on revaluation of available for sale investments - - - - 36 - 36 Transfer to income statement - - - - (7) - (7) Total Comprehensive Income - - - (102) 29 (96) (169) Shares issue costs - (20) - - - - (20) Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company - (20) - - - - (20) At 31 December 2015 1,381 8,528 213 (123) 14 (8,416) 1,597 Profit for the period - - - - - 48 48 Currency translation gain - - - 69 - - 69 (Loss) on revaluation of available for sale investments - - - - (6) - (6) Transfer to income statement - - - - (24) - (24) Total Comprehensive Income - - - 69 (30) 48 87 Shares issue costs - - - - - - - Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company - - - - - - - At 30 June 2016 1,381 8,528 213 (54) (16) (8,368) 1,684



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2016

6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2016 2015 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited '000 '000 '000 Cash flows from operations Operating profit/(loss) 6 (154) (263) (Increase) in inventories (5) (61) - (Increase) in trade & other receivables (373) (279) (93) Increase in trade & other payables 174 183 199 Share option charge - - - Net cash used in operating activities (198) (311) (157) Investing activities Investment income 7 5 8 Finance costs (5) - (2) Receipts on sale of AFS investments 53 - 57 Payments for PPE assets (2) - (2) Net cash from investing activities 53 5 61 Financing activities Issue of share capital - - - Issue costs - - (20) Net cash from financing activities - - (20) Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (145) (306) (116) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 248 467 467 Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents 69 (34) (103) Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 172 127 248

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information (unaudited)

1. General information

The condensed consolidated interim financial information for the period ended 30 June 2016 has not been audited or reviewed in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. The figures were prepared using applicable accounting policies and practices consistent with those adopted in the statutory accounts for the period ended 31 December 2015. The figures for the period ended 31 December 2015 have been extracted from these accounts, which have not been required to be delivered to the Isle of Man Registrar of Companies, and do however contained an unqualified audit report.

The condensed consolidated interim financial information contained in this document does not constitute statutory accounts. In the opinion of the directors the financial information for this period fairly presents the financial position, result of operations and cash flows for this period.

The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 September 2016.

Statement of compliance

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union with the exception of International Accounting Standard ('IAS') 34 - Interim Financial Reporting. Accordingly, the interim financial statements do not include all of the information or disclosures required in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group's 2015 annual financial statements.

2. Earnings / (loss) per share

The calculation of the earnings/(loss) per share is based on the profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period.

6 months to 6 months to Year 30 June 30 June 31 December 2016 2015 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited '000 '000 '000 Profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders of the Group 48 (168) (96) Number of Shares 000's 000's Weighted average number of ordinary shares 1,381,001 1,381,001 1,381,001 Share options in issue 79,000 79,000 79,000 Weighted average number of ordinary shares - diluted 1,460,001 1,460,001 1,460,001 Earnings/(loss) per share - basic 0.003 (0.01) (0.01) Earnings/(loss) per share - diluted 0.003 (0.01) (0.01)

3. Events after the end of the reporting period

On 26 July 2016, the Company changed its name from Afriag Plc to Afriag Global Plc.

On 11 August 2016, the Company issued 100 million ordinary shares from the existing shares held in the Company's Employee Benefits Trust to Mr Paul de Robillard.

4. A copy of this interim financial statement is available on the Company's website www.afriagglobal.com.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Cancana Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: CNY) (the "Company" or "Cancana") and its joint venture partner Ferrometals BV, together today announced the publication of the Brazil Manganese Corporation ("BMC") extraction permit (Guia licence number 886303/2009), which includes the Ademir Calefornia prospect.

The publication is significant as Ademir Calefornia is believed to be one of the more prospective colluvial areas currently identified by the Company. BMC made a special application and received an extraction permit to mine 30,000 tonnes of manganese oxide material from the Guia, which is significantly more than the standard extraction permit allowance of 6,000 tonnes.

"We view this development as an endorsement of our continued transparent and inclusive dealings with various levels of government authorities," said Anthony Julien, President and CEO, Cancana. "We have worked for two years to build strong relationships and ensure that all relevant authorities have a comprehensive understanding of our operation and the associated confidence that BMC is meeting or exceeding its regulatory requirements in developing the Rondonia project into a regional centre for economic growth."

BMC's current production output total to September 16, 2016 was 19,221 tonnes of manganese oxide product, which has already exceeded the total output from last year.

Joint Venture Status

As of the date of this news release, Ferrometals has contributed US$30,050,000 and Cancana has contributed US$7,500,000 to the BMC joint venture. Based on these contributions, Ferrometals owns approximately 80.03% and Cancana owns the remaining 19.97% of BMC.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of CANCANA RESOURCES CORP.

Anthony Julien, President, CEO and Director

ABOUT CANCANA

Cancana Resources Corp is focused on exploring and developing the BMC manganese project in Brazil with its joint venture partner Ferrometals BV. The JV is employing a two-pronged strategy at BMC, where the primary objective is to advance the project to an initial resource and onward to feasibility, while also expanding current small-scale production to support those exploration activities. Further information can be found at www.cancanacorp.com, and www.bmcorporation.com.br.

ABOUT FERROMETALS

Ferrometals is part of a privately held metals group, focusing on acquisition, exploration, development and mining activities. Further information can be found at www.ferrometals.net.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements include, among others, statements with respect to the Company's plans for exploration and development of the Brazil properties and potential mineralization. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risk factors include, among others, failure to obtain regulatory approvals, failure to complete anticipated transactions, the timing and success of future exploration and development activities, exploration and development risks, title matters, inability to obtain any required third party consents, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices and one-time events. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied several material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumptions that: (1) the proposed exploration and development of mineral projects will proceed as planned; (2) market fundamentals will result in sustained metals and minerals prices and (3) any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

The Company cautions that it has not completed any feasibility studies on any of BMC's mineral properties, and no mineral reserve estimate has been established. Because the Company production decision is not based upon a feasibility study of mineral reserves, the economic and technical viability of the property has not been established.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Cancana Resources Corp.

Anthony Julien

+1-604-681-0405

info@cancanacorp.com

www.cancanacorp.com




IRW-PRESS: Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.: Avalon: Tests bestatigen Potenzial zur Gewinnung von Lithiumcarbonat mit Batteriequalitat aus der Lepidolithmineralisierung in Avalons Lithiumprojekt Separation Rapids, Kenora (Ontario)

Tests bestatigen Potenzial zur Gewinnung von Lithiumcarbonat mit Batteriequalitat aus der Lepidolithmineralisierung in Avalons Lithiumprojekt Separation Rapids, Kenora (Ontario)

Toronto, ON - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL Und OTCQX: AVLNF) (Avalon oder das Unternehmen) freut sich, bekannt zu geben, dass es die Ergebnisse der aktuellen Testarbeiten mit Lepidolithmineralisierung (Lithiumglimmer) aus der Lithiumlagerstatte Separation Rapids erhalten hat. Sie bestatigen, dass aus diesem Material ein Lithiumcarbonatprodukt mit einem Reinheitsgrad von 99,88 % hergestellt werden kann. Durchgefuhrt wurden die Arbeiten von Lepidico Ltd. aus Perth (Australien) (ASX: LPD; Lepidico) unter Anwendung seiner patentierten hydrometallurgischen L-Max-Verfahrenstechnik. Die Ergebnisse sind in der Pressemeldung von Lepidico vom 25. Januar 2017 im Detail zusammengefasst.

Avalon und Lepidico haben im Anschluss eine nicht verbindliche Absichtserklarung (Letter of Intent; LOI) unterzeichnet. Die LOI sieht vor, dass Avalon mindestens 15.000 Tonnen Lepidolithkonzentrat aus seiner geplanten Demonstrationsanlage pro Jahr an Lepidico fur die Verarbeitung in der von Lepidico geplanten Phase-I-Anlage zur Herstellung von Lithiumcarbonat in Batteriequalitat verkaufen wird. Lepidico fuhrt derzeit eine vorlaufige Machbarkeitsstudie fur diese Anlage durch, die in der Nahe von Groabnehmern von Lithiumbatteriematerialien errichtet werden soll. Lepidico beabsichtigt zudem, bis Dezember 2017 eine definitive Machbarkeitsstudie anzufertigen. Beide Unternehmen rechnen mit einem Baubeginn der jeweiligen Verarbeitungsanlagen im Jahr 2018.

Don Bubar, President von Avalon, sagte dazu: Wir freuen uns uber die Moglichkeit, neben dem Lithiumhydroxidprodukt, das, wie in der wirtschaftlichen Erstbewertung des Unternehmens belegt wurde, aus der bekannten Petalitressource gewonnen werden kann, ein zweites Lithiumbatteriematerial aus der Lagerstatte Separation Rapids gewinnen zu konnen. Dies eroffnet uns das Potenzial, die gewinnbaren Lithiumressourcen in der Lagerstatte zu steigern und noch mehr Markte mit unseren Lithiumprodukten ebenso wie unseren potenziellen Nebenprodukten wie Rubidium und Casium zu versorgen.

Avalon beabsichtigt die Aufnahme eines Winterbohrprogramms vor Ende Februar 2017, um die bekannten Erweiterungen der Lithiumlagerstatte Separation Rapids zu untersuchen und die Mineralressource auszudehnen. Das Programm beinhaltet eine Anzahl von Bohrlochern, die der genaueren Abgrenzung der lepidolithhaltigen Unterzonen ostlich der primaren Petalitressource dienen sollen, so dass diese zu den Lithiumgesamtressourcen im Konzessionsgebiet hinzugefugt werden konnen.

Die technischen Informationen in dieser Pressemitteilung wurden von Herrn David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), Senior Vice President, Metallurgy and Technology Development des Unternehmens, and Herrn Donald Bubar, P.Geo., beides qualifizierte Sachverstandige gema NI 43-101, gepruft und genehmigt. Bei Fragen oder Anmerkungen kontaktieren Sie bitte das Unternehmen per E-Mail unter ir@AvalonAM.com oder telefonisch Don Bubar, President und CEO, unter 416-364-4938.

Uber Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. ist ein kanadisches Rohstofferschlieungsunternehmen mit einem besonderen Schwerpunkt auf Metallen und Mineralien fur Nischenmarkte, fur die im Bereich der neuen Technologien wachsender Bedarf besteht. Das Unternehmen verfugt uber drei fortgeschrittene Projekte, alle zu 100 Prozent im Besitz des Unternehmens, uber die Investoren Zugang zu Lithium, Zinn und Indium sowie Seltenerdmetallen, Tantal, Niob und Zirkon erhalten. Avalon konzentriert sich gegenwartig auf sein Lithiumprojekt Separation Rapids in Kenora (Ontario) und sein Zinn-Indium-Projekt East Kemptville in Yarmouth (Nova Scotia). Soziale und okologische Verantwortung sind die Eckpfeiler des Unternehmens.

Bei Fragen oder Anmerkungen kontaktieren Sie bitte das Unternehmen per E-Mail unter ir@AvalonAM.com oder telefonisch Don Bubar, President und CEO, unter 416-364-4938.

Diese Pressemitteilung enthalt zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen gema dem United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act von 1995 und den anwendbaren kanadischen Wertpapiergesetzen. Zu den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zahlen unter anderem Aussagen, welchen zufolge: Avalon mindestens 15.000 Tonnen Lepidolithkonzentrat aus seiner geplanten Demonstrationsanlage pro Jahr an Lepidico verkauft; Lepidico eine vorlaufige Machbarkeitsstudie fur diese Anlage durchfuhrt, die in der Nahe von Groabnehmern von Lithiumbatteriematerialien errichtet werden soll; Lepidico ebenfalls bis Dezember 2017 eine definitive Machbarkeitsstudie anfertigen wird; beide Unternehmen mit dem Baubeginn ihrer jeweiligen Anlagen fur 2018 rechnen; sich fur Avalon das Potenzial eroffnet, die gewinnbaren Lithiumressourcen in der Lagerstatte zu steigern und mehr Markte mit seinen Lithiumprodukten sowie potenziellen Nebenprodukten wie Rubidium und Casium zu versorgen; Avalon die Aufnahme eines Winterbohrprogramms vor Ende Februar 2017 plant, um die bekannten Erweiterungen der Lithiumlagerstatte Separation Rapids zu untersuchen und die Mineralressource auszudehnen; das Bohrprogramm eine Anzahl von Bohrlochern umfassen wird, die der genaueren Abgrenzung der lepidolithhaltigen Unterzonen ostlich der primaren Petalitressource dienen sollen, so dass diese den Lithiumgesamtressourcen im Konzessionsgebiet hinzugefugt werden konnen. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen sind haufig, jedoch nicht immer, an Ausdrucken wie potenziell, geplant, rechnen mit, fortsetzen, erwarten oder nicht erwarten, erwartungsgema, planmaig, angezielt oder glauben bzw. an Aussagen, die besagen, dass bestimmte Ereignisse oder Ergebnisse eintreten bzw. erreicht werden konnen, werden, sollten, konnte oder wurden sowie an ahnlichen Formulierungen zu erkennen. Zukunftsgerichtete Aussagen sind bekannten und unbekannten Risiken, Unsicherheiten und anderen Faktoren unterworfen, die dazu fuhren konnten, dass die eigentlichen Ergebnisse, das Aktivitatsniveau, die Leistungen oder Erfolge von Avalon wesentlich von den explizit oder implizit in zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zum Ausdruck gebrachten Erwartungen abweichen. Die zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen beruhen auf Annahmen, die das Management zum Zeitpunkt dieser Aussagen fur angemessen hielt. Avalon hat sich zwar bemuht, die wichtigen Faktoren aufzuzeigen, die eine Abweichung der Ergebnisse von den in den zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zum Ausdruck gebrachten Erwartungen bewirken konnten. Es konnen aber auch andere Faktoren dazu fuhren, dass die Ergebnisse nicht wie erwartet, geschatzt oder beabsichtigt ausfallen. Faktoren, die dazu fuhren konnten, dass sich die tatsachlichen Ergebnisse erheblich von jenen unterscheiden, die in zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen beschrieben werden, beinhalten, jedoch nicht darauf beschrankt, die Marktbedingungen, und mogliche Uberschreitungen der Kosten oder unerwartete Kosten und Aufwendungen sowie jene Risikofaktoren, die in der aktuellen Annual Information Form, in der Managements Discussion and Analysis und in anderen veroffentlichten Dokumenten des Unternehmens, die unter www.SEDAR.com, verfugbar sind, beschrieben werden. Es kann nicht gewahrleistet werden, dass sich solche Aussagen als richtig erweisen werden, da die eigentlichen Ergebnisse und zukunftigen Ereignisse wesentlich von den in zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zum Ausdruck gebrachten Erwartungen abweichen konnen. Solche zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen wurden lediglich bereitgestellt, um Investoren dabei zu helfen, die Plane und Ziele des Unternehmens zu verstehen, und sind unter Umstanden fur andere Zwecke nicht angemessen. Leser sollten sich dementsprechend nicht auf die zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen verlassen. Sofern nicht gesetzlich vorgeschrieben, verpflichtet sich Avalon nicht, etwaige in dieser Pressemeldung enthaltenen zukunftsgerichteten Aussagen zu aktualisieren.

Die Ausgangssprache (in der Regel Englisch), in der der Originaltext veroffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle, autorisierte und rechtsgultige Version. Diese Ubersetzung wird zur besseren Verstandigung mitgeliefert. Die deutschsprachige Fassung kann gekurzt oder zusammengefasst sein. Es wird keine Verantwortung oder Haftung: fur den Inhalt, fur die Richtigkeit, der Angemessenheit oder der Genauigkeit dieser Ubersetzung ubernommen. Aus Sicht des Ubersetzers stellt die Meldung keine Kauf- oder Verkaufsempfehlung dar! Bitte beachten Sie die englische Originalmeldung auf www.sedar.com , www.sec.gov , www.asx.com.au/ oder auf der Firmenwebsite!

Die englische Originalmeldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38825 Die ubersetzte Meldung finden Sie unter folgendem Link: http://www.irw-press.at/press_html.aspx?messageID=38825&tr=1

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AXC0034 2017-02-08/08:14
Norm Fromm, Larry Dolan and the staff at Ever Grain Brewing Company celebrated the opening of their Hampden Township craft brewery last week.

Word-of mouth advertising helped marshal a spirited first-day crowd that quickly began to fill the taprooms 29 bar stools and more than 200 table seats. The 10,000-square-foot space is located within the former Sun Motors facility off the Carlisle Pike.

Edwin Garrett of Harrisburg described the interior as a cross between the old Troegs and the new Troegs breweries. The interior has a spacious industrial look with an intimate, cozy feel.

Fromm was extremely happy for the great turnout at 11:30 in the morning, and for having 10 beers to offer for the opening. Fromm deferred credit for his part in the venture, adding Its the result of lots of hard work by the staff. I cant lie, its exciting.

Dolan was excited as well, and relieved, reflecting, The long journey its been; its finally here. Were able to share our creations with everyone, a year and a half after buying the brewery equipment.

Deuane Hoffman of Paxtang was among the first patrons to be served. He identified his draft pour as a Fluffhead.

Its good; a nice balance of banana and citrus (flavors) for a Hefeweizen, he said. Hoffman added that he appreciated the Phish tune reference in the beer name.

Other clever names are prominent on the large beer menu displayed above the center of the bar, including The Udder One, a milk stout served on Nitrogen; and Camp Pils, a refreshing German style pilsner.

The bar staff kept busy, serving 4-ounce samples, half pours, 20-ounce draft glasses and filling Crowlers, in which two pints of Ever Grain beers can be poured and sealed within an aluminum can for take-out. The brewery also offers custom 64-ounce glass or steel growlers.

Having brewed the beers in a relatively quiet building over the past three months, Brewer Bruce Tanner was pleased by the din of the crowd. Im enjoying the buzz of the brewery; its one of those good things about beer.

Tanner has another crowd pleaser in the works. He is aging the milk stout and the Dark Necessity Russian Imperial Stout in Kentucky bourbon barrels, handsomely book-ending each end of the bar. Release of the barrel-aged beers is expected during the winter months.

The Ever Grain Brewing Company is located at 4444 Carlisle Pike, Camp Hill. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 11:30 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Adjacent to the brewery, and available to customers through a window to the brewery, is Our Family Table, a restaurant serving daily soup and salad specials, hand-held sandwiches, desserts and other offerings.

A visual tour of the brewery interior can be seen on the Ever Grain website at www.evergrainbrewing.com.
DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- American Cannabis Company, Inc. (OTCQB: AMMJ) (the "Company"), a full-service business-to-business consulting solutions provider, product manufacturer and seller of ancillary products to the cannabis industry, today announced that it was in attendance at a Canadian industry event featuring its SoHum Living Soils product and that it successfully established eight new retail sales accounts for the SoHum brand. ACC expects to begin filling these retail pre-orders in the spring of 2017.

SoHum soil is a proprietary "just add water" growing medium that contains 100% natural ingredients and provides the plant a full buffet of macro/micro nutrients to achieve genetic optimization of the cannabis plant. Not only does SoHum optimize the plant's potential, it also eliminates both the need for complex feeding schedules as well as the associated risk(s) of operator error. The SoHum product overview may be viewed at goo.gl/Vr0pqs.

Corey Hollister, President and CEO, American Cannabis Company, commented: "SoHum Living Soils are a core product offering for the company, and to see this response from our first active sales efforts to Canadian retailers is tremendous. We expect the Canadian market to present significant opportunity for SoHum specifically, and we have established product mixing/manufacturing capabilities there to better service the market."

About American Cannabis Company, Inc.

American Cannabis Company, Inc. offers end-to-end solutions to existing and aspiring participants in the cannabis industry. We utilize our industry expertise to provide business planning and market assessment services, assist state licensing procurement, create business infrastructure and implement operational best practices. American Cannabis Company also developed and owns a portfolio of branded products including: The patented Satchel, SoHum Living Soils, The Cultivation Cube and The High Density Cultivation System. In addition, we design and provide other industry specific custom product solutions. The building and development of our brands and product suite is based on our Geoponics Philosophy, "the art and science of agriculture in soil."

For more information, please visit:

www.americancannabiscompanyinc.com

www.sohumsoils.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as "anticipate", "seek", intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "project", "plan", or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov.

Terry Buffalo

Chief Operating Officer

IR@americancannabisconsulting.com

303-974-4771




COLUMBUS, OH -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR) will hold its quarterly earnings conference call on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Company will discuss its first quarter results, which will be released before the market opens that day.

A live audio webcast will be available at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com and will be archived for one year. A call replay will be available for those parties who are unable to participate.

About Worthington Industries

Worthington Industries is a leading global diversified metals manufacturing company with 2016 fiscal year sales of $2.8 billion. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington is North America's premier value-added steel processor providing customers with wide ranging capabilities, products and services for a variety of markets including automotive, construction and agriculture; a global leader in manufacturing pressure cylinders for industrial gas and cryogenic applications, CNG and LNG storage, Cryogenic transportation and storage and alternative fuel tanks, oil and gas equipment, and consumer products for camping, grilling, hand torch solutions and helium balloon kits; and a manufacturer of operator cabs for heavy mobile industrial equipment; laser welded blanks for light weighting applications; automotive racking solutions; and through joint ventures, complete ceiling grid solutions; automotive tooling and stampings; and steel framing for commercial construction. Worthington employs approximately 10,000 people and operates 80 facilities in 11 countries.

Cathy M. Lyttle

VP, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Phone: (614) 438-3077

E-mail: Email Contact



Sonya L. Higginbotham

Director, Corporate Communications

Phone: (614) 438-7391

E-mail: Email Contact



200 Old Wilson Bridge Rd.

Columbus, Ohio 43085

WorthingtonIndustries.com




DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- The management of HempLife Today, Ubiquitech Software Corp. (OTC PINK: UBQU), with pending name and symbol change, is also announcing that the company has now added a unique and proprietary new product to its CannazALL CBD line, which was developed to help increase market share and go deeper into the explosive new CBD industry.

This new product is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) free 800mg Concentrated CBD oil, and like all CannazALL CBD products, is derived from Hemp. This product is in addition to the CBD Tinctures, Concentrates, Powder, GelCaps, Skin Salve, e-Liquid, and new Wax Crumble currently on the www.HempLifeToday.com website, and is available for purchase.

Company research shows that a fully THC free product allows for HempLife Today to have a broader appeal and capture a larger segment of the Medical Marijuana sector by offering legal, low THC, and now THC free Hemp CBD products to the millions of potential customers in this space.

All CannazALL CBD products are derived from Hemp and are all well within the legal limits of THC, with only naturally occurring amounts. However, with the new "THC free" CBD Oil the company can expand to potential customers who are sensitive to THC, concerned about testing, or otherwise demand a completely THC free CBD product.

"This new THC free product took a while to develop but it is very important that we offer it, and that's why we put so much resources into it," said James Ballas CEO. "It's just one more way that we show the public, our shareholders, and the industry, that we are the leaders and we will always keep innovating."

The new 800mg THC free CBD Concentrated Oil is currently on the Site @ www.HempLifeToday.com under "CBD Pricing" and can be purchased today.

About Ubiquitech (HempLife Today)

Ubiquitech Software Corp, through its subsidiaries is a dynamic multi-media, multi-faceted corporation utilizing state-of-the-art global internet marketing, Direct Response (DRTV) Television, Radio, and traditional marketing, to drive traffic to the new and emerging multi-billion dollar industries like its subsidiary HempLifeToday.com.

HempLifeToday focuses on the exciting and dynamic new thinking in the world today that recognizes the important health and life enriching enhancement that CBD Oil from the Hemp plant can bring. Through its network of quality USA growers HempLifeToday.com has developed multiple and proprietary CannazALL CBD oil products that include; It's popular CBD Tinctures, Oils, GelCaps, CBD Powder, Skin Salve, Wax Crumble, and e-liquid, all offered @ www.HempLifeToday.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as "expects", "intends", "believes", and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets Group. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Contact:

Investor Relations

E-mail: Investors@UbiquitechSoftware.com




RIVERVIEW, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 --North Springs Resources Corp. (OTC PINK: NSRS) is pleased to announce that the Company has worked closely with the Company's strategic partner and plans to issue an update to shareholders on or before Oct 1st 2016 regarding a contractual agreement that is expected to have a substantial and beneficial impact on the Company and its shareholders.

"As we seek growth on a wide scale, developments are evolving on a number of levels. We plan to update investors on the latest of these exciting ventures within a few days, as details emerge." stated J. Douglas Pulver, President of North Springs Resources Corp.

North Springs Resources recently announced that the Company has entered the final stage of preparation to bring state-of-the-art pharmaceutical, Poten, to the marketplace; a new emerging treatment for erectile dysfunction. In expectation of a strong launch, the Company mobilizes to meet robust anticipated demand.

ABOUT NSRS: North Springs Resources Group a Conglomerate Company as a diverse group of profitable private companies through future mergers, acquisitions and Joint Ventures. A conglomerate is the combination of two or more Corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate group. In most cases involving a parent company with many subsidiaries, our intent is to grow the Company and become a multinational concern. Presently the parent company has mineral assets and will continue to pursue resources on all levels as well as having different divisions in the water, health, wellness, medicinal and nutraceuticals.

Recently, North Springs Resources Group entered into a joint agreement with Island Capital S.A. for an ownership position in POTEN. POTEN is a treatment using F.D.A. approved pharmaceuticals for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

For more information about North Springs Resources, please visit the corporate website at: www.northspringsresources.net, www.northspringspharmagroup.com, www.bionicproducts.net and info@northspringsresources.net

Safe Harbor: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements.

Investor and Media Contact:



North Springs Resources Corp

813-699-4098




NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Sunergy, Inc. ("Sunergy" or "the Company") (OTC PINK: SNEY) is pleased to announce that a new strategic partnership agreement has been secured with a UK Group that will insure that our diamond buyers will have a steady and increased supply of diamonds for the balance of 2016 and thru the 2017 mining season and beyond. The properties involved also are known for gold to be contained in the diamond bearing gravels.

The agreement calls for the UK partners to lease our mining equipment and in addition Sunergy will earn a substantial portion of the project's profits. This Agreement also gives Sunergy's diamond buyer(s) the option to purchase 100 % of the diamonds produced at fair prices.

Garrett Hale, President and CEO of Sunergy, Inc.: "This approach marks a new plan whereby Sunergy is no longer spending money on mining exploration or operations; rather continuing to generate cash flow from this new agreement in terms of monthly equipment lease payments plus our negotiated share of the profits from the sale of all products produced by the operations. Sunergy has experienced the continued sale of parcels for profit, reducing our outstanding debts for over a year now, and I look forward to continuing this model on a greater scale."

Our investment in Global Builders Group, Inc. for 2,000,000 shares should become profitable for us in 2016-2017 when GBG's pipeline of projects in the Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa begin finalizing. GBG has also made commitments to support the mineral exploitation operations of Sunergy.

A recent Radio interview with The Chief Negotiator for the Company was released by Uptick Newswire. Com. This interview in its entirety can be heard on http://upticknewswire.com/steve-parent-talks-about-going-cash-flow-positive-for-sunergy-inc/. Uptick was not compensated in any way for this interview and is thanked by Sunergy for their efforts.

Please go to www.sunergygold.com for more information.

About Sunergy: Sunergy Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. For the first 11 years Sunergy was an exploration stage development mining company and controlled large mining concessions in Ghana, Sierra Leone and more recently in Liberia. In mid-2013, due to the fact that exploration funding was virtually non-existent for small mining companies, we changed our focus and operating model from solely engaging in exploration activities, to pursuing cash flow from placing our existing equipment: 3 dredges, vehicles and our wash plant to work in licensed mining activities capable of generating cash flow (exploitation activities). These licensed activities have involved relationships with local artisanal miners where we use our equipment, trained personnel and financial support and earn an interest in their operations. Sunergy has now made the transition from a mining exploration company to a mineral exploitation company. The difference is profound. From this point on, Sunergy will partner with Companies where mineralization has already been identified and located. We will lease our equipment to be used in the operations and we will earn a piece of the operations and have exclusive access to purchase the products generated by the operations.

With the efforts of our local on ground management team we are now undertaking partnerships with local mining groups in the districts most known for diamond recovery. In addition, we are still considering a new EXPL license suitable for early bulk sample testing where diamonds and gold are already known to exist in economic quantities. These regions continue to produce the parcels which Sunergy has provided for sale to date. As of this date, we have sold and are awaiting final payment on the sale of parcel #5 of diamonds from our diamond trading partner. Since we began selling diamond parcels in late 2014, we have generated revenue of $114,021 in three parcels. As the next dry season rapidly approaches, we will be fully prepared to maximize operations by washing substantial amounts of diamond bearing gravels. Our budget for operations over the next 12 months will be approximately $250,000 US.

Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This current press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, any mineralization or cash flow.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals or diamond prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our most recent annual report for our last fiscal year, our quarterly reports, and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Garrett Hale

President, CEO

(707) 255-5836

garrett@sunergygold.com

garrettsvp@gmail.com




MONTREAL, QC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - Siyata Mobile Inc. (the "Company" or "Siyata") (TSX VENTURE: SIM) (OTC PINK: SIMFF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Uniden America Corporation, whereas Siyata Mobile has exclusive rights in North America to market and distribute their innovative devices under the Uniden brand in the categories of cellular amplifiers, connected vehicle cellular devices and other rugged cellular products.

Siyata's Truckfone and Voyager 3G connected-vehicle-devices in North America will be re-branded as the Uniden UCP100 and Uniden UCP200 respectively. The rebranding brings strong brand recognition for its devices and introduces a more unified brand to the current dealers, operators and future customers in North America.

Eiji Hayasak, President and CEO of Uniden America states, "Innovative Cellular Phone Products is a key category in our strategy for expanding the Uniden Brand. Siyata is a global company with a stellar reputation for its ability to develop vehicle related cellular products for the commercial market as well as a proven track record in developing innovative branded Uniden products through their subsidiary, Signifi Mobile. We look forward to further building upon our existing relationship."

Marc Seelenfreund, CEO of Siyata Mobile stated, "We are excited to have the opportunity to brand our Truckfone and Voyager products under the Uniden name as this is a well known and respected brand in our industry which will well position us as an established vendor in the market. We look forward to launching additional innovative cellular devices under the Uniden brand and are confident that this partnership with Uniden will accelerate our growth as global leader of innovative cellular products."

About Uniden America Corporation

Uniden America Corporation, the North American subsidiary of Japan-based Uniden Corporation, manufactures and markets wireless consumer electronic products including cordless telephones, business telecommunications systems, Bearcat scanners, FRS/GMRS radios, marine radios and other wireless personal communications products. Based in Irving, Texas, Uniden sells its products through dealers and distributors throughout North, Central and South America.

www.uniden.com

About Siyata

Siyata Mobile Inc. is a leading global developer and provider of innovative cellular communication systems. Siyata's "Connected-Vehicle" devices and accessories are specifically designed for professional fleets such as trucks, vans, buses, ambulances, government cars and more. Siyata aims to provide greater mobile connectivity for professional drivers and to facilitate replacement of the current in-vehicle, multi-device status quo with a single device that incorporates voice, data, and fleet management solutions.

Through its newly acquired subsidiary Signifi Mobile, Siyata also markets and sells Uniden cellular signal boosters and accessories across Canada and the United States. Siyata's customers include cellular operators, commercial vehicle technology distributors, and fleets of all sizes in Canada, the US, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Visit http://www.siyatamobile.com/ to learn more.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of:

SIYATA MOBILE INC.

Marc Seelenfreund

CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/26/11G115717/Images/image1-24a11dfce492b167a788051b7e61866b.jpg

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/26/11G115717/Images/image2-30903424c0a5921b80c86b422604b53a.jpg

Investor Relations:

Arlen Hansen

Kin Communications

1-866-684-6730

SIM@kincommunications.com



Paradox Public Relations

Carl Desjardins

514-341-0408 or Toll Free: 1-866-460-0408

info@paradox-pr.ca
PORTLAND, Oregon, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Construction Chemicals Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014 - 2022", the market is poised to reach $40,154 million by 2022, from $27,162 million in 2015, growing with a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2022. The concrete admixtures segment leads the construction chemicals market with more than one-third of the market share during the forecast period.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140911/647229 )



Summary of the Construction Chemicals Market Report can be accessed on the website at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/construction-chemicals-market

Construction chemicals are chemical compounds that optimize the performance of concrete and increase the life of end products. These additions provide further value for end users by reducing labor cost and minimizing wastage. The key elements that drive the construction chemicals market growth include rise in construction industry, increase in urbanization, and growth in conformity with latest manufacturing standards. However, change in regulatory environment and low consumer awareness inhibit the market growth.

Concrete admixtures and water proofing & roofing chemical segments together dominated the construction chemicals market in 2015, accounting around two-thirds of the market share collectively. Concrete admixtures segment is expected to grow with a high CAGR of 9.9%, in volume terms, owing to the increased compressive strength and enhanced workability, so as to provide higher moving and positioning time. Residential and infrastructure end-user segments collectively accounted for three-fifths of the market share, in terms of volume, in 2015. Infrastructure segment is estimated to grow at the fastest rate with a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period.

Key Findings of Construction Chemicals Market

Infrastructure segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate with a CAGR of 9.7% (volume terms).

Flooring, a type of construction chemicals, is projected to grow with a CAGR of 9.6% (volume terms) during the forecast period.

Residential segment accounted for around half of the market share, in terms of value, in 2015.

LAMEA is projected to occupy the highest market value, registering a CAGR of 5.8%.

Asia-Pacific amounted for more than two-fifths of the market share, by volume, in 2015, growing at a CAGR of 10.2%.

The Asia-Pacific and LAMEA construction chemicals market is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities, during the forecast period, with CAGRs of 5.8% and 6.1%, respectively. This is due to increase in economic development, expansion in the construction industry, and rise in the need for better infrastructure. The key players profiled in the world construction chemicals market include BASF SE, Arkema SA, Ashland Inc., Fosroc International Limited, Mapie S.p.A, Pidilite Industries, RPM International Inc., Sika AG, The Dow Chemical Company, and W.R. Grace & Company.

Summary of Similar Reports can be viewed at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/materials-&-chemicals-market-report

About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.



Contact:

Pankaj Kumar

5933 NE Win Sivers Drive

#205, Portland, OR 97220

United States

Direct: +1-503-894-6022

Toll Free: +1 (800) 792-5285 (U.S. & Canada)

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Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com


DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Michael O'Leary, Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA.L, RYAAY), said that Britain's decision to quit the European Union will weigh on the Irish no-frills airline's profit for as long as four years, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The process of the U.K. withdrawing from the union could take two to four years, and would depress yields, a measure of ticket prices and profitability in the airline industry, the CEO reportedly said. Meanwhile, O'Leary maintained its fiscal 2016 profit forecast of 1.38 billion euros or $1.55 billion, despite the risks posed by the aftermath of the ballot. O'Leary said in a briefing with reporters in Brussels on Tuesday, 'The outlook for the U.K. economy is poor. This will mean slower GDP growth in the U.K. and European economies.' The company has already taken contingency plans including shifting growth away from the U.K. for the next two years. The carrier is planning to send about 50 new aircraft due for delivery this year to outside U.K. routes. In London, Ryanair shares were trading at 74.18 pence, down 1.17 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The euro retreated from early highs against its key counterparts and declined in European trading on Tuesday. The euro pared gains against the yen with the pair trading at 112.51, off its early high of 113.57. The euro is thus few pips short to breach its early 5-day low of 112.48. The euro dropped to a 4-day low of 1.1216 against the greenback, after having advanced to 1.1259 at 3:30 am ET. After advancing to 0.8693 against the pound at 5:45 am ET, the euro retreated to a 4-day low of 0.8641. The single currency fell back to 1.0877 against the Swiss franc, not far from its early 4-day low of 1.0874. This may be compared to a 4-day peak of 1.0912 hit at 3:00 am ET. The euro is likely to find support around 111.00 against the yen, 1.10 against the greenback, 1.06 against the franc and 0.84 against the pound. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
EQS-News / 27/09/2016 / 20:24 UTC+8 *UMP Announces 2016 Annual Results* ****** *Introducing NWS Holdings as new partner of UMP Beijing* _Revenue and operating profit of HK& Macau Businesses and PRC Health Check-up Business performed strongly _ - Total number of patient visits increased to record high of 1.4 million visits for FY2016 - Revenue increased 13.7% year on year from HK$401 million in FY2015 to HK$456 million in FY2016 - Operating profit for HK& Macau businesses and PRC Healthcare check-up business increased 37% year on year from HK$42.2 million in FY2015 to HK$57.8 million in FY2016 _Developing PRC Business - Shanghai and Beijing infrastructure in place_ - Recognition of HK$17 million expenses for establishing Shanghai and Beijing clinic network - Signed agreement to acquire partnership medical center in Pudong, expanding owned clinic network to 3 centers in Shanghai - Beijing Fortune Plaza clinic ready to commence operations in October 2016 - Management team, doctors and clinical staff in place for both Beijing and Shanghai _Introducing NWS Holdings Limited as a new partner of UMP Beijing_ - NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings"; Hong Kong stock code: 659), a main board listed company with market capitalization of over HK$50 billion, will subscribe for 20% share of UMP Phoenix Healthcare at a consideration of RMB55 million - UMP Phoenix Healthcare will change name to UMP Healthcare (Beijing) Group Limited ("UMP Beijing") - UMP Beijing will be owned as to 50% by UMP, 30% by Phoenix and 20% by NWS Holdings - Strong strategic guidance from and financial support by NWS Holdings - Transaction subject to independent shareholders' approval in November 2016 _Reported net profit decreased but supported by strong operating cashflow _ - Net profit decreased by 83.2% from HK$40.9 million in FY2015 to HK$6.9 million in FY2016 primarily due to recognition of one-off expenses, listing expenses and expenses incurred for the Developing PRC business - Strong operating cashflow from HK& Macau businesses and PRC Healthcare check-up business; EBITDA for established business excluding Developing PRC Business increased 16.7% from HK$52.2 million in FY2015 to HK$60.9 million in FY2016 - Proposed dividend of HK$14.7 million for FY2016 (HK$2.0 cents per share) (HONG KONG, 27 September 2016) *UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited* ("UMP", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", HKEx stock code: 0722.HK), one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong, announced its first annual result for the year ended 30 June 2016 (the "FY2016") following the successful listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 November 2015. *Financial and Operations Overview* UMP has been serving the Hong Kong community since 1990, delivering quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services through over 600 service points in Hong Kong. UMP is one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong serving more than 1.4 million medical and dental patient visits annually. UMP partners with corporations and insurance companies in the design and administration of corporate healthcare benefits plans for, and provides healthcare services to, such members, employees and policyholders. Against a backdrop of general economic slowdown, business has performed well and has delivered a year-on-year revenue growth of 13.7%, supported by a record high of 1.4 million patient visits. UMP's reported net profit however has decreased by 83.2% to HK$6.9 million in FY2016, primarily due to one-off expenses, listing expenses, equity settled share incentive expenses and investments made in the establishment of the developing PRC business. Business excluding developing PRC business have achieved strong operating profit growth across each business line. EBITDA excluding Developing PRC Business has achieved a record high of HK$60.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.7%. With such strong cashflow from operations, UMP has proposed a FY2016 final dividend of HK$14.7 million (HK2.0 cents per ordinary share). *Update on Shanghai and Beijing Operations* _Shanghai_ UMP's first new Shanghai clinic, UMP Xintiandi Medical Centre, has commenced operations in late July 2016, providing a range of services including family physicians, pediatrics, cardiology, dental and checkup services. UMP also started revamping its existing Shanghai Eaton medical centre (a site that current primarily provides health check-up business) with the aim to commence providing outpatient services in December 2016. In addition, UMP is also acquiring a clinic in the Pudong area. Upon completion of this acquisition, UMP will have three service points covering both Puxi and Pudong, laying down the foundation network for the provision of corporate healthcare services. _Beijing_ UMP will also be opening its first new Beijing clinic, UMP Beijing Cai Fu Medical Centre in October 2016. Another two other clinics in Beijing are also in the final stage of licence application and expected to obtain their licences in first quarter of 2017. Similar to Shanghai, UMP is also revamping its existing Beijing Eaton clinic such that by first quarter of 2017, UMP will have four service points covering key business and residential regions in Beijing. *Introducing NWS Holdings as a new partner in UMP Beijing* UMP will introduce a new shareholder, NWS Holdings, to take up a 20% stake in its Beijing joint venture company, UMP Phoenix JV, at a consideration of RMB55 million. The transaction will be subject to shareholders' approval in November 2016. Upon completion, the joint venture shall be owned as to 50% by UMP, 30% by Phoenix and 20% by NWS Holdings. UMP Phoenix JV will be renamed as UMP Healthcare (Beijing) Group Limited ("UMP Beijing"). NWS Holdings, with a market capitalization of over HK$50 billion as at the date of this announcement, has been investing in the healthcare sector through its investment in Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital, which is expected to commence operations in 2017. NWS Holdings has extensive experience and track record in establishing and managing new businesses in China through constructing and managing infrastructure businesses ranging from toll roads, ports to water treatment facilities. UMP believes that as it expands its operations in Beijing and in nearby regions, NWS Holdings' know-hows and business network in China and its financial strength will be invaluable in assisting UMP Beijing in such expansion. *Outlook* _Hong Kong and Macau_ With the expansion of its specialist and medical imaging services in Hong Kong, UMP will establish a Hong Kong-China-Macau outpatient and inpatient service network to provide individuals with bespoke healthcare management services and access to private and tertiary hospital referrals. UMP will work closely with corporations and medical insurance organizations on healthcare solutions and global budgets, and, with a mixture of caution, innovation and flexibility, strive to capture the largest healthcare services market share in this region. _China_ The ongoing healthcare reform has encouraged greater private sector participation to provide a more diverse scope of medical services to the growing middle class population, and to reduce overcrowding in public facilities. UMP will build a strong primary healthcare workforce by offering career pathways for local medical and health workers with enhanced compensation, structured training and accreditation. Such strategy will help to alleviate the shortage of qualified family medicine doctors and importantly improve population's trust in the quality of care at the primary care level. There is significant market potential for UMP to extend its corporate healthcare solution services to the PRC market. Over the past 20 years, UMP has accumulated significant experience in the design and administration of health plans with insurance companies, ultimately delivering a win-win situation where both insurance companies and a medical group like UMP are able to generate financial returns. Through UMP's accumulated knowhow, UMP will develop customized solutions that cater to both corporates and insurance companies. *UMP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sun Yiu Kwong, *commenting on UMP's financial results and partnership with NWS Holdings said: "We have delivered strong growth for our established businesses and are investing our capital in replicating our successful business model in China. UMP entered the China market 10 years ago through the establishment of our first healthcare centre in Beijing, and we have always been looking for opportunities to expand our presence. Our vision is to deliver quality healthcare solutions that are accessible and affordable to all. We are very excited to welcome NWS Holdings as a new partner for our Beijing joint venture. NWS Holdings has extensive experience in conducting various businesses in China, ranging from infrastructure projects to strategic investments. We are confident that together with NWS Holdings and Phoenix Healthcare, UMP Beijing will be able to adapt and localise for the China market and deliver quality healthcare solutions to our clients in China." *NWS Holdings Senior Director Mr. Rufin Mak *said: "This partnership underlines NWS Holdings' first step into the healthcare sector in Mainland China. Leveraging the extensive business network, strong operational experience and established brand of UMP and Phoenix Healthcare, we are confident that UMP Beijing will further expand and become a leading healthcare operator in China." _-End-_ *About UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited* Based in Hong Kong, *UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited (stock code: 0722.HK)* is one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong, serving more than 800,000 members and administering approximately 9,400 health plans. UMP handles more than 1.4 million medical and dental patient

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

September 27, 2016 08:25 ET (12:25 GMT)
HARRISBURG  A pair of House committees held a joint public hearing Monday on legislation that would require Pennsylvanias high school students to have a basic understanding of American history and civics before graduating.

The pending legislation would require students to pass a test on 100 basic facts from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test, the exam all immigrants must pass when applying for U.S. citizenship.

National studies have shown that less than 25 percent of high school students are unable to answer basic questions about the U.S. government and American history, and a third of adults cannot name one branch of our federal government.

Its quite scary because were entrusting our democracy with the next generation and were not educating them, said Marjorie Rendell, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and a former First Lady of Pennsylvania.

As a judge, Rendell says she is discouraged that youth are not educated in government and law, which is why she started the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement.

At the hearing of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and the House Education Committee, Rendell urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to make the civics test a graduation requirement.

Its very basic, she said. Its not something that is high-stakes testing. To me, its common sense.

The testing for high school students is too much, state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin, said. It causes stress, and thats not what we want to happen. We want them to understand the content and American history portion.

If the current measure becomes law, all high school students would have to get a minimum score of 60 percent beginning in the 2020-2021 school year. Students could take the test as many times as necessary.

Fourteen other states have laws requiring high school students pass a civics tests before graduation.
DJ EQS-News: UMP Announces 2016 Annual Results

EQS-News / 27/09/2016 / 20:24 UTC+8 *UMP Announces 2016 Annual Results* ****** *Introducing NWS Holdings as new partner of UMP Beijing* _Revenue and operating profit of HK& Macau Businesses and PRC Health Check-up Business performed strongly _ - Total number of patient visits increased to record high of 1.4 million visits for FY2016 - Revenue increased 13.7% year on year from HK$401 million in FY2015 to HK$456 million in FY2016 - Operating profit for HK& Macau businesses and PRC Healthcare check-up business increased 37% year on year from HK$42.2 million in FY2015 to HK$57.8 million in FY2016 _Developing PRC Business - Shanghai and Beijing infrastructure in place_ - Recognition of HK$17 million expenses for establishing Shanghai and Beijing clinic network - Signed agreement to acquire partnership medical center in Pudong, expanding owned clinic network to 3 centers in Shanghai - Beijing Fortune Plaza clinic ready to commence operations in October 2016 - Management team, doctors and clinical staff in place for both Beijing and Shanghai _Introducing NWS Holdings Limited as a new partner of UMP Beijing_ - NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings"; Hong Kong stock code: 659), a main board listed company with market capitalization of over HK$50 billion, will subscribe for 20% share of UMP Phoenix Healthcare at a consideration of RMB55 million - UMP Phoenix Healthcare will change name to UMP Healthcare (Beijing) Group Limited ("UMP Beijing") - UMP Beijing will be owned as to 50% by UMP, 30% by Phoenix and 20% by NWS Holdings - Strong strategic guidance from and financial support by NWS Holdings - Transaction subject to independent shareholders' approval in November 2016 _Reported net profit decreased but supported by strong operating cashflow _ - Net profit decreased by 83.2% from HK$40.9 million in FY2015 to HK$6.9 million in FY2016 primarily due to recognition of one-off expenses, listing expenses and expenses incurred for the Developing PRC business - Strong operating cashflow from HK& Macau businesses and PRC Healthcare check-up business; EBITDA for established business excluding Developing PRC Business increased 16.7% from HK$52.2 million in FY2015 to HK$60.9 million in FY2016 - Proposed dividend of HK$14.7 million for FY2016 (HK$2.0 cents per share) (HONG KONG, 27 September 2016) *UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited* ("UMP", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", HKEx stock code: 0722.HK), one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong, announced its first annual result for the year ended 30 June 2016 (the "FY2016") following the successful listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 November 2015. *Financial and Operations Overview* UMP has been serving the Hong Kong community since 1990, delivering quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services through over 600 service points in Hong Kong. UMP is one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong serving more than 1.4 million medical and dental patient visits annually. UMP partners with corporations and insurance companies in the design and administration of corporate healthcare benefits plans for, and provides healthcare services to, such members, employees and policyholders. Against a backdrop of general economic slowdown, business has performed well and has delivered a year-on-year revenue growth of 13.7%, supported by a record high of 1.4 million patient visits. UMP's reported net profit however has decreased by 83.2% to HK$6.9 million in FY2016, primarily due to one-off expenses, listing expenses, equity settled share incentive expenses and investments made in the establishment of the developing PRC business. Business excluding developing PRC business have achieved strong operating profit growth across each business line. EBITDA excluding Developing PRC Business has achieved a record high of HK$60.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.7%. With such strong cashflow from operations, UMP has proposed a FY2016 final dividend of HK$14.7 million (HK2.0 cents per ordinary share). *Update on Shanghai and Beijing Operations* _Shanghai_ UMP's first new Shanghai clinic, UMP Xintiandi Medical Centre, has commenced operations in late July 2016, providing a range of services including family physicians, pediatrics, cardiology, dental and checkup services. UMP also started revamping its existing Shanghai Eaton medical centre (a site that current primarily provides health check-up business) with the aim to commence providing outpatient services in December 2016. In addition, UMP is also acquiring a clinic in the Pudong area. Upon completion of this acquisition, UMP will have three service points covering both Puxi and Pudong, laying down the foundation network for the provision of corporate healthcare services. _Beijing_ UMP will also be opening its first new Beijing clinic, UMP Beijing Cai Fu Medical Centre in October 2016. Another two other clinics in Beijing are also in the final stage of licence application and expected to obtain their licences in first quarter of 2017. Similar to Shanghai, UMP is also revamping its existing Beijing Eaton clinic such that by first quarter of 2017, UMP will have four service points covering key business and residential regions in Beijing. *Introducing NWS Holdings as a new partner in UMP Beijing* UMP will introduce a new shareholder, NWS Holdings, to take up a 20% stake in its Beijing joint venture company, UMP Phoenix JV, at a consideration of RMB55 million. The transaction will be subject to shareholders' approval in November 2016. Upon completion, the joint venture shall be owned as to 50% by UMP, 30% by Phoenix and 20% by NWS Holdings. UMP Phoenix JV will be renamed as UMP Healthcare (Beijing) Group Limited ("UMP Beijing"). NWS Holdings, with a market capitalization of over HK$50 billion as at the date of this announcement, has been investing in the healthcare sector through its investment in Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital, which is expected to commence operations in 2017. NWS Holdings has extensive experience and track record in establishing and managing new businesses in China through constructing and managing infrastructure businesses ranging from toll roads, ports to water treatment facilities. UMP believes that as it expands its operations in Beijing and in nearby regions, NWS Holdings' know-hows and business network in China and its financial strength will be invaluable in assisting UMP Beijing in such expansion. *Outlook* _Hong Kong and Macau_ With the expansion of its specialist and medical imaging services in Hong Kong, UMP will establish a Hong Kong-China-Macau outpatient and inpatient service network to provide individuals with bespoke healthcare management services and access to private and tertiary hospital referrals. UMP will work closely with corporations and medical insurance organizations on healthcare solutions and global budgets, and, with a mixture of caution, innovation and flexibility, strive to capture the largest healthcare services market share in this region. _China_ The ongoing healthcare reform has encouraged greater private sector participation to provide a more diverse scope of medical services to the growing middle class population, and to reduce overcrowding in public facilities. UMP will build a strong primary healthcare workforce by offering career pathways for local medical and health workers with enhanced compensation, structured training and accreditation. Such strategy will help to alleviate the shortage of qualified family medicine doctors and importantly improve population's trust in the quality of care at the primary care level. There is significant market potential for UMP to extend its corporate healthcare solution services to the PRC market. Over the past 20 years, UMP has accumulated significant experience in the design and administration of health plans with insurance companies, ultimately delivering a win-win situation where both insurance companies and a medical group like UMP are able to generate financial returns. Through UMP's accumulated knowhow, UMP will develop customized solutions that cater to both corporates and insurance companies. *UMP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sun Yiu Kwong, *commenting on UMP's financial results and partnership with NWS Holdings said: "We have delivered strong growth for our established businesses and are investing our capital in replicating our successful business model in China. UMP entered the China market 10 years ago through the establishment of our first healthcare centre in Beijing, and we have always been looking for opportunities to expand our presence. Our vision is to deliver quality healthcare solutions that are accessible and affordable to all. We are very excited to welcome NWS Holdings as a new partner for our Beijing joint venture. NWS Holdings has extensive experience in conducting various businesses in China, ranging from infrastructure projects to strategic investments. We are confident that together with NWS Holdings and Phoenix Healthcare, UMP Beijing will be able to adapt and localise for the China market and deliver quality healthcare solutions to our clients in China." *NWS Holdings Senior Director Mr. Rufin Mak *said: "This partnership underlines NWS Holdings' first step into the healthcare sector in Mainland China. Leveraging the extensive business network, strong operational experience and established brand of UMP and Phoenix Healthcare, we are confident that UMP Beijing will further expand and become a leading healthcare operator in China." _-End-_ *About UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited* Based in Hong Kong, *UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited (stock code: 0722.HK)* is one of the leading corporate healthcare solutions providers in Hong Kong, serving more than 800,000 members and administering approximately 9,400 health plans. UMP handles more than 1.4 million medical and dental patient

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visits per year. UMP has a proven organic growth track record of over 20 years in Hong Kong and offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services through one of the largest service networks in Hong Kong, with more than 600 points of service across Hong Kong, Macau, Beijing and Shanghai. Leveraging its proprietary know-how and clinical management system, UMP is capable of designing differentiated, tailor-made solutions that address each contract customer's needs. UMP has partnered up with NWS Holdings (659.HK) and Phoenix Healthcare Group (1515:HK) to replicate its Healthcare Management Model for the Beijing market, and at the same time also replicating such business model on its own in Shanghai. UMP was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 November 2015. *About NWS Holdings Limited* NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 17), operates businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Environment, Logistics and Aviation projects. Its Services portfolio comprises Facilities Management (the management of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Free Duty), Construction & Transport (construction, bus and ferry services) and Strategic Investments. This press release is distributed on behalf of *UMP Healthcare Holdings Limited* by Anli Financial Communications Limited. *Media enquiries:* *Anli Financial Communications Limited * Karl Cheung 852-3956 1646 karl.cheung@anli.com.hk Crystal Lo 852-3956 1638 crystal.lo@anli.com.hk Candy Wong 852-3956 1641 candy.wong@anli.com.hk Document: http://n.eqs.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=SPGPBANNHH [1] Document title: UMP(722.HK)_2016AR_EN_Press Release 27/09/2016 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com 506143 27/09/2016 1: http://public-cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=80bccd1d482bf731b6b19fde760abade&application_id=506143&site_id=vwd&application_name=news

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 27, 2016 08:25 ET (12:25 GMT)
THE HAGUE, the Netherlands, October 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Mauritshuis today. The visit coincides with the exhibition At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his contemporaries from the British Royal Collection, which includes 22 important genre paintings from her family's collection.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161011/427358 )

Emilie Gordenker, Director: 'We are delighted that her Royal Highness paid a visit to the Mauritshuis. It was a very special experience to show her the renowned permanent collection as well as the exhibition.'

The Duchess of Cambridge was received by Emilie Gordenker, who gave her a tour of highlights in the Mauritshuis, which included the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius, and The Bull by Paulus Potter. The Duchess, who took a degree in art history at the University of St Andrews, is familiar with the collection. She also visited the Art Workshop in the Mauritshuis, where children were engaged in a painting lesson. The programme ended with a visit to the exhibition At Home in Holland.

At Home in Holland: Vermeer and his Contemporaries from the British Royal Collection

The exhibition contains works by masters such as Gerard ter Borch, Gerrit Dou, Pieter de Hooch, Gabriel Metsu and Jan Steen, which are regarded as some of the most important Dutch genre paintings in the British Royal Collection. The highlight of the exhibition is'The Music Lesson'by Johannes Vermeer.

The exhibition introduces the public to the 'genre painting', its many forms and the provocative symbolism it often conceals. These works are stunning in their variety, from simple farmhands gathered in an inn to elegant figures in rich interiors. Some of the everyday scenes carry a deeper, often moralistic meaning, which may be explicit or at times concealed. But in all of them, the artists portrayed the characters and their environments as skilfully as possible, which makes them even more attractive.

Notes to editors:

Images of the exhibition can be downloaded through this link mauritshuis.nl/pers, please mention the attached credit line: Royal Collection Trust /  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016.

The Mauritshuis

The Mauritshuis is home to the best of Dutch painting from the Golden Age. The compact, yet world-renowned collection, is situated in the heart of The Hague in The Netherlands, right next to the government centre. Masterpieces such as Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, The Goldfinch by Fabritius and The Bull by Potter are on permanent display in the intimate rooms of this seventeenth-century monument. More than two hundred top works from Dutch and Flemish masters are on display in the historic yet intimate interior, with its silken wall covering, sparkling chandeliers and monumental painted ceilings. Genre paintings by Jan Steen, landscapes by Jacob van Ruisdael, still lifes by Adriaen Coorte and portraits by Rubens offer a rich and varied representation of the best of seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish painting.

Royal Collection

The Royal Collection is among the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. It comprises almost all aspects of the fine and decorative arts, and is spread among some 14 royal residences and former residences across the UK, most of which are regularly open to the public. The Royal Collection is held in trust by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Sovereign.

Explore the Royal Collection at http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 27, 2016) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) ("UGE"), a leader in renewable energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, today announces it will engineer and build a 500 kW ground-mounted solar project for a First Nations community in Northern Ontario.

The UGE-designed 500 kW solar PV system will use an innovative tracking system, and is expected to produce approximately 877.3 MWh of electricity in its first year of operation.

"Our experience as both developer and advisor uniquely allows us to deploy this ground-mounted solar system," said Robert van Duynhoven, Managing Director of Business Development at UGE. "We are thrilled to be assisting First Nation communities as they pursue a more sustainable, more secure future through solar energy."

Over the lifetime of the system, the electricity produced is expected to offset 14,523 metric tons of CO2 emissions, or the equivalent of planting 376,388 trees. UGE is working with consultant Compass Energy Consulting ("Compass") to develop the project.

"As a company, Compass focuses on helping our clients 'read between the lines' in today's rapidly evolving technology sector," said Rachelle McCann, consultant at Compass. "After a comprehensive evaluation of proposals, we choose to work with UGE because of their proven track-record of success deploying feed in tariff solar projects in Ontario."

The value of the contract to build the project is at least $1.6 million CAD, to be recognized throughout the remainder of 2016.

About UGE International

UGE delivers immediate savings to businesses through cleaner electricity. We help commercial and industrial clients become more competitive through the low cost of distributed renewable energy. With over 330 MW of experience globally, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com. Contact:

Ashley Fallon

Communications Manager

(917) 338 - 1668

press@ugei.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements, such as the completion of the Portfolio, the economy generally, competition in its target markets, the demand for UGE's products and the availability of funding. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and UGE does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from UGE's expectations and projections.
presentation on September 30th, and in booth 314 at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Atlanta, Georgia from September 26th through the 30th.

Almost all Internet connections begin with a DNS query. Just as users need DNS to make connections with applications, threats also use DNS to communicate with threat actors across a broad range of attack vectors. Thanks to Microsoft's introduction of DNS Policies in Windows Server 2016, customers can now use ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall to interdict those communication attempts to prevent ransomware, drive-by downloads, botnets and other threats from succeeding. As a result, organizations gain immediate protection from known and unknown threats.

"The ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall provides an entirely new and powerful layer of security for our Microsoft Windows Server 2016 customers," said Vithalprasad Gaitonde, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft. "It combines the benefit of up-to-the-minute threat intelligence with automated policy updates to proactively safeguard every device on the network from new and evolving threats."

ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall protects the entire network by continuously updating user-defined policies powered by live threat data on the DNS servers used by all network clients. Policies can be based on threat type, geographic location and user-defined block lists. Once policies are set, the DNS Firewall immediately begins blocking or redirecting outbound communications with malicious domains. Detailed reports identify affected machines to speed remediation and prevent further infection across the network. The cloud-based service is easy to deploy and works with Windows Server 2016 natively-no new equipment or software installation is required.

"ThreatSTOP invented the dissemination of network policy using DNS, including configuration of the DNS Firewall," said Tom Byrnes, Founder and CEO of ThreatSTOP. "The ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall provides a continuous, automated defense for Windows Server 2016 that is essential to securing the network from today's and tomorrow's threats."

ThreatSTOP's patented technology uses DNS to automatically deliver the most current threat data to DNS Firewalls and other network infrastructure. DNS is the ideal distribution method because it is a proven technology that is ubiquitous, reliable and highly scalable enabling protection for organizations of any size.

Key benefits of ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall for Windows Server 2016:

"Check IOC" tool allows users to input a domain or IP and learn the history of that particular resource. Customers are shown whether or not the domain is actively present or has been historically present in any of ThreatSTOP's categories enabling the user to research Indications Of Compromise received from other sources. Users have the ability to easily navigate between their reporting and data and research information.

Personalized alerts, based on user-defined filters and thresholds, are easily managed and configured through the web-based dashboard and can be emailed to selected user(s). Alerts will only be sent when specified conditions are met and feature a "cool off" setting to eliminate excessive repeated notifications.

How it works:

1. Select security policies in the ThreatSTOP portal to protect against specific threat types, geographic locations, and user-defined domains or wildcards.

2. Configure your Windows (DNS) Server 2016 to use the ThreatSTOP service.

3. Policies are continuously updated with live threat intelligence data curated from global authoritative sources and ThreatSTOP's research team.

4. View detailed information about the threats blocked on your network and identify infected client machines using advanced web-based reporting.

ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall is available now for Windows Server 2016 and in the Microsoft Azure marketplace.

About ThreatSTOP

www.threatstop.com.

CONTACT:

Michael Becce

MRB Public Relations, Inc.

Email Contact

(732) 758-1100 x104




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Nutritional High International Inc. (the "Company" or "Nutritional High") (CSE: EAT)(OTCQB: SPLIF)(FRANKFURT: 2NU), is pleased to report key developments at its project in West Pueblo, Colorado.

Palo Verde Key Hires

Nutritional High is pleased to announce that Palo Verde has hired a general manager and a salesperson for its cannabis extraction operation at the Company's facility in West Pueblo, CO. Both individuals possess valid cards issued by the Marijuana Enforcement Division and are eligible to work at state-licensed cannabis facilities. The hires were made in the anticipation of Palo Verde commencing production of cannabis oils and infused products, expected to commence during the month of October 2016, contingent on timing of inspection of the facility by the local authorities.

Build-Out and Equipment Installation Status

The Company is pleased to report that Phase I of the build-out is near completion and the necessary equipment has been installed or delivered to the facility. Palo Verde is currently in process of scheduling an inspection with Pueblo Regional Building Department. The Company will post the images of the ongoing construction to the Company's social media pages as the build-out continues to progress.

Billy Morrison, Nutritional High's Director and Head of Extractions commented - "I am very pleased with how the extraction facility is coming together. We're excited to put to use the technology package we've assembled to allow Palo Verde to sell leading edge products in the Colorado market."

Upon completion of Phase I, the Company shall receive the second tranche of the secured building loan of USD $200,000, as announced in the Company's press release dated April 27, 2016. The funds will be used to begin Phase II of building remodelling to allow Palo Verde to manufacture cannabis-infused edible products and to advance additional loans to Palo Verde to fund its working capital as it continues to ramp up production of cannabis oils and infused products.

Product Roll-Out Strategy

The Company is pleased to provide further information on Palo Verde's product strategy for the State of Colorado. As described in the Company's press release dated July 11, 2016, the equipment that is being installed at the Company's Pueblo facility will allow Palo Verde to use an extraction process that utilizes a combination of mechanical separation and short-path distillation to extract essential oils from raw cannabis into high purity product, dubbed as "Clear" in the industry.

Initially, Palo Verde will sell raw oil to other infused products manufacturers followed by cannabis-infused products such as gelatine caps, vape pen cartridges and disposable vape pens. As the products are being introduced, Nutritional High and Palo Verde will continue re-modelling the Pueblo facility to enable Palo Verde to manufacture cannabis infused edible products.

The Company has also engaged a branding consultant to assist in developing packaging for an initial line of Jimi Hendrix-branded products, which will be the first product line to be introduced by Palo Verde in the State of Colorado. The consultant is also developing packaging for subsequent product lines, which will bear Nutritional High's branding.

Changes to German Investor Relations Strategy

The Company wishes to announce that it has terminated its consulting agreement with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Wertpapieranalyse GmbH ("DGWA"). Any investor inquiries should be relayed to Steve Low of Boom Capital Markets, whose contact information is listed below.

The Company will take steps to launch a German language web site and, as announced in the press release dated July 14, 2016, the Company continues to monitor the legislative changes on the German medical cannabis sector and intends to take steps to capitalize upon any potential opportunities at the appropriate time.

Nutritional High's management team thanks all its European shareholders for their strong support, and asks that any prospective investors and existing shareholder get in touch with our investor relations department if they have any inquiries about the Company.

About Nutritional High International Inc.

Nutritional High is focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing products and nationally recognized brands in the hemp and marijuana-infused products industries, including edibles and oil extracts for nutritional, medical and adult recreational use. The Company works exclusively through licensed facilities in jurisdictions where such activity is permitted and regulated by state law.

For updates on the Company's activities and highlights of the Company's press releases and other media coverage, please follow Nutritional High on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google+.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR OTC MARKETS GROUP INC., NOR THEIR REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include submission of the relevant documentation within the required timeframe and to the satisfaction of the relevant regulators, completing the acquisition of the applicable real estate and raising sufficient financing to complete the Company's business strategy. There is no certainty that any of these events will occur. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Jim Frazier, CEO

Nutritional High International Inc.

321-516-7171

jfrazier@nutritionalhigh.com



Steven Low

Boom Capital Markets Inc.

(647) 620-5101

steve@boomcapitalmarkets.com

www.boomcapitalmarkets.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (TSX: TNX)(NYSE MKT: TRX) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche of a $5 million private placement of securities with Crede CG III, Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crede Capital Group, LLC, a long-only family office that invests in emerging growth companies. Funds will be used by the Company's to expand its production team necessary to bolster development of the Company's Buckreef gold mine in Tanzania.

In the second round of the financing, which closed yesterday, the Company privately placed convertible notes and warrants for US$3.75 million. On September 1, 2016, the Company placed common stock and warrants for US$1.25 million.

Mr. James E. Sinclair, CEO of the Company, stated: "This financing is the next important step in our ability to mine the Buckreef region of Tanzania. As with the first round, the Company will use the additional funds to add the people necessary to operate Gravity CIL production circuit for our Buckreef mine."

The convertible notes were issued in the principal amount of US$3.75 million, carried a coupon of 2.0% and matured on September 26, 2046. The Company immediately exercised its right to cause the conversion of the convertible notes, resulting in the cancellation of the notes and the issuance of 5,357,143 shares of common stock to the investor. The investor also received five-year warrants to purchase 4,017,857 shares of common stock at an exercise price of US$1.10 per share. The closing of the second tranche of the financing was conditioned upon a valid registration statement for the common stock issued or issuable to the investor upon exercise of warrants being declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Commission declared the Company's Form F-3 Registration Statement registering the stock effective on September 23, 2016.

In the first tranche of the financing, which closed on September 1, 2016, investor was issued 1,840,400 shares of common stock and 5-year warrants to purchase 1,840,000 shares at a exercise price of US$0.8291 per share.

Wellington Shields & Co. acted as placement agent in connection with the financing.

The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE MKT have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - The United States Securities and Exchange Commission limits disclosure for U.S. reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms on this news release, such as "reserves", "resources", "geologic resources", "proven", "probable", "measured", "indicated", or "inferred" which may not be consistent with the reserve definitions established by the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures in our SEC filings. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario provincial securities regulatory authorities.

Certain information presented in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to our description of the risk factors affecting the Company, as contained in our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 20-F and Registration Statement on Form F-10, as amended, for more information concerning these risks, uncertainties, and other factors.

Contacts:

Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation

Investor Relations

1-844-364-1830

investors@TanzanianRoyalty.com

www.TanzanianRoyalty.com




MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Maurice Giroux, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stellar AfricaGold Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SPX) ("Stellar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in the preparation for the processing of the 15,000 tons bulk sample as announced on July 7th 2016, the Company has hired B.E.G.I.E SARL, (Bureau D'Etudes Guineen De L'ingenierie et de L'environnement SARL) to conduct a Social and Environmental Impact Study, which is a pre-requisite for Stellar Guinean subsidiary to be granted a Semi-Industrial exploitation Licence that is necessary to run the 15,000 tons bulk sample announced earlier. The Guinea Environment and Mining Code requires the realization of an environmental and social impact study for all mining projects to estimate the work effects on the ecological balance and on the quality of life of the neighboring populations as well as, if necessary, propose some measures to mitigate negative effects.

The primary objective of the bulk sample program is to investigate the amenability of the B3 oxide ore to gold extraction using gravity separation as the sole means of gold recovery. Gravity separation is the most environmental friendly gold extraction method as no chemical are used throughout the entire process. It is also the most economical solution for processing of surface oxide gold deposits. A 72 kilogram representative sample of the B3 gold zone is currently at SGS South Africa facilities for some laboratory test work. The test results will bring a relative comfort in regards to the head grade of B3 oxide ore and will provide final parameters to finalize the conception of the gold recovery Pilot Plant in China.

Stellar has retained the expertise of the XKJ SOLUTION, a branch of Henan Xingyank Mining Machinery Manufactory of China for the conception of a 15-25 tons per hour Pilot Plant to process the bulk sample. The fine tuning of the pilot plant before will be done accordingly to the results of the ore characterisation test by SGS Laboratory of South Africa.

ABOUT STELLAR AFRICAGOLD INC.

Stellar AfricaGold Inc. is a Canadian mine exploration Company based in Montreal, Quebec, with operations concentrated mainly in West Africa and in Quebec.

The Company is currently developing the promising gold potential of the Balandougou project in Guinea, which is at an advanced exploration stage, as well as the Namarana project in Mali.

In Quebec, the Company owns 100% of the Opawica, Eastmain Belt North and South and Terrax Option, all in the Chibougamau and James Bay area.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Note that Stellar Website is temporarily closed for updating purpose.

Contacts:

Stellar AfricaGold Inc.

Maurice Giroux

President and CEO

514-866-6299

514-866-8096 (FAX)

mgiroux.stellar@gmail.com

www.stellarafricagold.ca




VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Balloon catheter is a billion dollars market accounting for a substantial proportion of healthcare expenditure worldwide. The global balloon catheter market is expected to reach US$ 2,887.4 Mn in 2016 and is projected to register a CAGR of 3.8% during the period 2016-2026. The market is anticipated to reach 16,587 thousand units in terms of volume by the end of 2026. In a new report titled "Balloon Catheter Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026", Future Market Insights provides in-depth analysis and insights into the global balloon catheter market and studies the factors and restraints impacting the market during the forecast period.

According to Future Market Insights, a rising prevalence of cardiac diseases leading to interventional cardiology procedures and an increasing geriatric population prone to cardiac arrest is expected to fuel the growth of the global balloon catheter market over the forecast period. "Economic factors such as growing healthcare expenditure, increasing disposable income per capita, rising government support in developed economies, and favourable reimbursement policies are expected to boost the growth of the global balloon catheter market over the forecast period."Analyst, Future Market Insights.

Request a Free Sample Report: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1916

However, a high cost of coronary angioplasty and stenting treatment and risk of infection and artery collapse associated with balloon catheterisation is likely to hinder market growth over the forecast period.

The global balloon catheter market is segmented on the basis of product type (Normal Balloon Catheter, Cutting Balloon Catheter, Scoring Balloon Catheter, Drug Eluting Balloon Catheter, Stent Graft Balloon Catheter); disease indication (Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Vascular Disease); raw material (Polyurethane, Nylon, Others); and end user (Public Hospitals & Private Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories).

Preview Analysis on Global Balloon Catheter Market by Revenue: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/balloon-catheter-market

Segmentation highlights

The Drug eluting product type balloon catheter segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 20.0% in terms of value over the forecast period while the Stent graft balloon catheter segment is estimated to account for 33.9% revenue share by 2016 end

The Polyurethane raw material segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6% while the Nylon segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.8% in terms of value over the forecast period

The Coronary artery disease indication segment is projected to dominate the global balloon catheter market in terms of value; the Peripheral vascular disease indication segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.1% in terms of value over the forecast period

Among end users, the Ambulatory surgical centres segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2.7% in terms of value over the forecast period while the Cardiac catheterisation laboratories segment is estimated to account for 19.8% revenue share by 2016 end

Regional forecast

The global balloon catheter market is segmented into seven key regions - North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and MEA. Sales of balloon catheters have remained quite healthy in the U.S. market in recent years, making North America the most lucrative market globally. Revenue from the North America market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2016 to 2026 to reach US$ 1,312.2 Mn by 2026. In addition to North America, balloon catheters sales are also growing steadily in Japan, MEA, and APEJ. Revenues in APEJ are anticipated to grow by 4.2% whereas MEA is expected to increase at 3.4% over the forecast period.

Request for Table of Content with Figures: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1916

Vendor insights

Boston Scientific Inc., Medtronic, Terumo Corporation, MicroPort Scientific Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Jotech GmbH, QX Medical LLC, Meril Life Pvt. Ltd., Hexacath, Abbott Laboratories, Tokai Medical Products Inc., Biosensors International Ltd., Cook Medical Inc., Cardionovum GmbH, Cordis Corporation, and Biotronik Inc. are the leading companies operating in the global balloon catheter market. Major market players are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to maintain their market share.

More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence:

Veterinary Vaccines Market Segmentation By Product - Attenuated Live Vaccines, Conjugate Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Subunit Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, DNA Vaccines and Recombinant Vaccines; By Disease Application Type - Anaplasmosis, Canine Parvovirus, Foot and Mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease, Distemper Disease, Influenza, PRRS and Others; By Animal Type - Companion Animals, Livestock Animals and Equine; By Distribution Channel - Veterinary Clinics, Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Research Institute: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/veterinary-vaccines-market



Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Market Segmentation By Product - Prescription Products and Over-The-Counter (OTC) Products; By Disease - Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, Cancer, Obesity, Infectious Diseases and Other Diseases; By Distribution Channel - Hospital Pharmacies and Retail Pharmacies: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceutical-market



Teleradiology Market Segmentation By Product Type - X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, Nuclear Imaging; By Geography - North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Africa , Middle East : http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/teleradiology-market

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Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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FRANKFURT, Germany, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

pentahotels sets stage for the brand's expansion in Asian markets

Mr. Andre Guettouche, previously held the positions of Director and Vice President, has been promoted to Senior Vice-President Operations of pentahotels in the middle of the year. Started his career at pentahotels in 2006 as Conversion Manager, Mr. Guettouche has been with the brand since the beginning. For a decade, Mr. Guettouche has established himself as the accountable partner of Managing Director Mr. Alastair Thomann, as well as a leading figure within the company. Mr. Thomann confirms: "Andre has a deep understanding of the brand and has always been strongly committed to the ongoing developments of pentahotels' concept. His promotion to the role of Senior Vice-President Operations is a reward to the high level of dedication he has shown. With the upcoming major expansions in the pipeline, I look forward to taking our business to the next level with a strong and trustworthy player like Andre in the team."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160927/412304 )



Together with Managing Director Mr. Alastair Thomann, Mr. Guettouche is in a key position to drive the hotel chain's expansion plans forward and is particularly responsible for the its growth in Asia. To this end, development departments have already been set up in Asia to add direct impetus in the target markets. Mr. Guettouche outlines the company's strategy: "Alongside the purchase of our own properties, we will also rely on management/lease agreements and franchising as our growth models. We have shifted our focus on the Asia-Pacific region for a speedy expansion and diverse portfolio."

pentahotels represents a new and innovative generation of hotels. The lifestyle brand in the 4-star segment is known for its unique interior design and "neighbourhood" concept. A relaxed atmosphere in comfortable and stylish surroundings awaits individual and business travellers in each of our 27 hotels. The hallmark of the hotel chain is the pentalounge - a combination of lounge, bar, reception and cafe - with a relaxed "living room" atmosphere throughout. For further information and to make a reservation, go to http://www.pentahotels.com. Follow us on http://www.facebook.de/pentahotels for the latest news.

Media contact:

media consulta International Holding AG

On behalf of pentahotels

Aleksandar Musikic

Phone: +49(0)30-65-000-388

Fax:+49(0)30-65-000-171

E-mail: press.pentahotels@mcgroup.com



Global Marketing & Communications Department

pentahotels

Max Siegers

Penta Hotels Germany GmbH

Westhafen Tower, Westhafenplatz 1

60327 Frankfurt a.M., Germany

Phone: +49(0)69-256699-750

Fax:+49(0)69-256699-766

E-mail: communications@pentahotels.com

https://mobile.twitter.com/pentahotels

https://www.instagram.com/pentahotels/

https://www.facebook.com/pentahotels

https://www.linkedin.com/uas/login?trk=sentinel_org_block&session_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fpenta-hotels

https://pentahotels.live/





Note to Editors:

A picture/s accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.


BURLINGTON, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Evertz Technologies Limited ("Evertz" or the "Company") (TSX: ET), the leader in Software Defined Video Network ("SDVN") technology, held its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on September 7, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario (the "Meeting") and the results of the voting are as follows:

Election of Directors

A total of 59,797,585 common shares of the Company were represented at the Meeting. The seven nominees listed in the management information circular for the Meeting were elected as directors of the Company. The election of directors was conducted by show of hands. In accordance with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange, the following table reflects the votes represented by proxy that would have been voted 'for' and withheld from voting in respect of each director nominee had a ballot been called and, with respect to votes withheld, as a percentage of votes represented at the Meeting:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes For Votes Withheld % Withheld Nominee by Proxy by Proxy by Proxy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas A. DeBruin 57,087,563 2,491,173 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Romolo Magarelli 57,208,763 2,369,973 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rakesh Patel 57,168,478 2,410,258 4% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher M. Colclough 58,343,539 1,235,197 2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Ian L. McWalter 59,235,806 342,930 1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Thomas V. Pistor 59,239,806 338,930 1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Piccioni 59,199,591 379,145 1% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re-appointment of Auditor

The resolution re-appointing Deloitte LLP as the Company's auditors and authorizing the directors of the Company to determine the auditors' remuneration was unanimously carried pursuant to a vote by show of hands.

About Evertz

Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX: ET) designs, manufactures and markets video and audio infrastructure solutions for the television, telecommunications and new-media industries. The Company's solutions are purchased by content creators, broadcasters, specialty channels and television service providers to support their increasingly complex multi-channel digital, high & ultrahigh definition television ("HDTV" & "UHD") and next generation high bandwidth low latency IP network environments and by telecommunications and new-media companies. The Company's products allow its customers to generate additional revenue while reducing costs through the more efficient signal routing, distribution, monitoring and management of content as well as the automation of previously manual processes.

Contacts:

Evertz Technologies Limited

Anthony Gridley

Chief Financial Officer

(905) 335 7580

ir@evertz.com




The lives of Timothy Davison, a 28-year-old Maine man trying to get home from Florida, and Amy Lou Buckingham, a 38-year-old West Virginia mother of three, were cut short by gunfire.

One man, John Wayne Strawser Jr., 39, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, allegedly squeezed the trigger in both cases.

Strawser has a more than 15-year criminal history of violence and obsessive behavior. Despite that, he served little time in jail prior to being accused of murder.

The criminal justice systems in West Virginia and Maryland had numerous opportunities to rehabilitate or incapacitate Strawser, including times that directly surround both killings.

Not to be lost in the tragedy of the deaths, however, are Strawsers living victims.

The Sentinel was able to speak with three women who he allegedly stalked and harassed around the time of the two murders. All had complaints with authorities handling of their cases.

So, what went wrong?

Domestic violence

Strawsers criminal history is riddled with incidents where he became obsessive and controlling of the women with whom he was in relationships.

As far back as 2001, criminal records alleged Strawser bullied and intimidated women and became increasingly aggressive when those women attempted to leave the relationship.

In one case, he allegedly poured beer on one woman before stealing her truck by jamming his pocket knife into the ignition.

In another, he was accused of threating to cut an unborn child out of the woman.

For Treva Cline and Elizabeth Butler, whose cases were less than a year apart, the patterns were eerily similar.

In both incidents, Strawser was accused of becoming upset when they tried to end the relationship, and he showed up at their homes, destroyed their vehicles and stalked them during the night.

Strawser ended up serving more time in jailfive daysdirectly following a conviction for resisting arrest stemming from a DWI incident, than he did for terrorizing nearly 10 women.

Generally speaking (authorities) think of these cases as nuisance cases and theyre annoying because you dont understand them, said Judy King, executive director of the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center. So, they dont take them seriously. They treat them like nuisance cases. Look at how much this guy got away with.

He did not serve any jail time following a conviction until after he allegedly killed Davison  who police say was mistaken for the husband of a woman with whom Strawser had become obsessed.

Domestic violence accounts for roughly 15 percent of all violent crime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and more than 10,000 women were killed by an intimate partner between 2002 and 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Firearms

In 2002, Strawser was convicted of felony motor vehicle theft in Garrett County, Maryland, making him a person not to possess or own firearms.

That did not stop him from readily acquiring numerous weapons.

When Strawser was questioned by West Virginia State Police following the murder of Buckingham, he told them he had no idea how many firearms he owned because he had been actively buying, selling and trading weapons for years.

West Virginia does not require background checks for most private sales of firearms.

The Rossi Ranch Hand Strawser allegedly used to kill both Buckingham and Davison was purchased through a private sale sometime after 2012, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Had Strawser been subject to a background check, his criminal record should have prohibited any sale.

Strawser was not charged as a person not to possess firearms, and was able to hand over numerous weapons to family members during the Cline domestic violence case without being charged or even authorities appearing aware that he was a convicted felon.

A Preston County Sheriffs deputy found the Rossi inside Strawsers home two weeks prior to the murder of Buckingham, picked it up and left without seizing the weapon, according to police. Strawser was on probation, had a peace order restricting his access to firearms and was a convicted felon at the time the gun was found.

Strawsers case is not unique to West Virginia.

More than 100 people were charged with illegally possessing firearms in Cumberland County between 2010 and 2015, according to Cumberland County Insight.

Nearly 30 firearms were found inside Eric Whisters home in Shippensburg after he was arrested on unrelated charges. Whister, 28, had previously been convicted of a domestic violence incident and was not allowed to own or possess firearms.

In April 2014, Roy Adams shot and killed his ex-wifes boyfriend before turning the gun on himself near Greencastle in Franklin County. Adams had been released from prison four days prior to the murder/suicide and had been deemed a person not to possess firearms years earlier following a domestic violence incident, according to court records.

Information sharing

Strawsers case was undoubtedly complex. It spanned multiple years, three states and numerous law enforcement agencies.

However, it appears to have been made even more complex by a lack of information sharing.

In April 2014, a little more than four months after Strawser allegedly shot and killed Davison on Interstate 81 near Greencastle, he was arrested for DWI in a 1997 Ford Ranger in Garrett County, Maryland, by the Garrett County Sheriffs Department.

The truck was the same one Strawser is believed to have been driving the night of Davisons murder and is currently residing in a Pennsylvania State Police impound lot, according to West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle records.

The information about Strawsers arrest and subsequent incarceration in both Maryland and West Virginia were not passed on to Pennsylvania State Police.

Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley, in explaining why the information was not shared, said Strawser was not a suspect in any other crimes that his department was aware of at the time of his arrest.

Strawser served one week in jail following his DWI arrest for a probation violation in West Virginia.

Strawser did not become a suspect in Davisons killing until after he murdered Buckingham almost a year later, according to Franklin County District Attorney Matthew Fogal.

Proceedings against Strawser in Pennsylvania will begin after he is formally sentenced on Oct. 5 in West Virginia, Fogal said.
NEW YORK, September 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Rising automobile sales, expanding vehicle fleet and easing government policies to drive tire market in Nigeria through 2021

According to TechSci Research report, "Nigeria Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2021", the tire market in Nigeria is forecast to surpass $615 million by 2021. Growing vehicle sales, expanding automobile fleet and increasing infrastructure development are some of the major factors anticipated to boost the demand for tires in the country over the next five years. In Nigeria, automobile sales increased from 0.30 million units in 2011 to 0.35 million units in 2015, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.35%, in volume terms, during 2011-2015.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Browse 21 market data Tables and 22 Figures spread through102 Pages and an in-depth TOC on "Nigeria Tire Market"

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/nigeria-tire-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/793.html

Due to the absence of OEM vehicle production in the country, Nigeria's tire industry is entirely dependent on the replacement tire market. In 2015, the passenger car tire segment dominated the Nigeria tire market, followed by two-wheelers, commercial vehicles, three-wheeler and OTR vehicles. Owing to easy finance options and growing purchasing power of consumers, the adoption rate of passenger cars in the country is increasing at a robust pace. As a result, the passenger car tire segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the country's tire market over the next five years as well.

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@ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=793

Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.

"The dominating presence of various multinational companies such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin, etc. intensified the tire market of the country in 2015. However, as there isn't any tire manufacturing facility present in the country, the domestic demand for the product is solely dependent on the imports in Nigeria. Moreover, the widespread presence of well-established network of dealers and distributors is enhancing the market share of the above mentioned renowned tire companies in Nigeria.", said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"Nigeria Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021" has evaluated the future growth potential of Nigeria tire market and provides statistics and information on market structure, imports and trends of Nigeria tire market. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities available in Nigeria tire market.

Browse Related Reports

Global Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021

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Global OTR Tire Market, By Vehicle Type (Mining, Construction and Industrial Equipment, Agriculture Vehicles, and Others), By Demand Category (OEM Vs. Replacement), By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021

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India Automotive Components Market By Vehicle Type (PC, LCV, M & HCV, 2W, 3W & OTR), By Demand Category (OEM vs Replacement), By Component Type (Engine Parts, Body & Chassis, Suspension & Brakes, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-automotive-components-market-by-vehicle-type-pc-lcv-m-hcv-2w-3w-otr-by-demand-category-oem-vs-replacement-by-component-type-engine-parts-body-chassis-suspension-brakes-etc-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/749.html

Qatar Earthmoving Equipment Market By Type (Excavators, Loader, Motor Grader & Bulldozer), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2021

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About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends.



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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Sparton Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SRI) ("Sparton" or the "Company") reports today that the previously announced transaction to acquire JD Holding Inc. ("JDH") has been restructured. JDH is the parent company for a group of currently inactive companies engaged in the manufacturing of vanadium flow batteries ("VRB") in China (see various Sparton news releases dated January 26, February 25, April 4, and June 9, 2016 for background).

Under the terms of a new Share Acquisition Agreement (the "SAA") between a private investment corporation and VanSpar Mining Inc. ("VMI"), the Company's 89.8% owned subsidiary, the private investment corporation will directly fund the acquisition of the shares of JDH for US$ 3.3 million (the "Funding Transaction"), pursuant to an existing share purchase agreement between VMI and JDH and its security holders. In consideration for the private investment corporation funding the acquisition cost together with a further US$2,000,000 for working capital and US$605,000 to be paid to VMI, VMI will cause 82% of the JDH shares to be transferred to the private investment corporation, with the remaining 18% being retained by VMI (the "JDH Transaction"). The Share Acquisition and Subscription Agreement announced on August 12, 2016 has been terminated.

In consideration for VMI arranging the JDH Transaction, the private investment corporation will also pay VMI the sum of USD$605,000 in addition to VMI retaining its 18% interest in JDH.

The restructured transaction is subject to any necessary regulatory, board and shareholder approvals, and as well as other conditions common in transactions of this nature. Subject to those approvals, the JDH Transaction and the Funding Transaction are expected to be closed by mid-November, 2016.

JDH Transaction

The JDH Transaction will be fully financed by the private investment corporation, which will provide the purchase price funding of US$ 3.3 million payable to the current security holders of JDH, with payment of at least US$700,000 on closing. The balance of the purchase price may be reduced by up to US$300,000 for financial obligations or liabilities of the JDH subsidiaries within six months after closing. The net balance of the purchase price will be paid to the current JDH security holders six months after closing.

The JDH Transaction also requires a minimum US$2.0 million investment within 20 business days after closing, to provide working capital to reactivate the JDH subsidiaries' operations. These funds will also be subsequently invested by the private investment corporation.

The private investment corporation will also assume full managerial and administrative responsibility for JDH and its subsidiaries' battery manufacturing and marketing operations.

VMI's role going forward will be the exploration, assessment and possible development of any vanadium related resources identified as possible sources of raw material for the manufacturing of VRB battery systems by JDH.

In addition, under the terms of the restructured transaction, in the event that JDH or its affiliates acquire certain vanadium assets in China within 5 years after closing, VMI will receive a finder's fee equal to 5% of the value of the acquired assets up to a maximum of US$250,000.

Special Shareholder Meeting

The TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") has requested that the Company hold a special shareholder meeting to approve the terms of the new Share Acquisition Agreement, the Funding Transaction and certain other matters required by the TSXV. This meeting will be held on November 3(rd), 2016 and the record date for the meeting is October 4(th), 2016.

Energy Storage and Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRB)

Recent developments in the fast growing, large scale, domestic, and industrial electricity storage industry have highlighted VRB as the lowest cost, safest and most efficient type of battery technology solution available today. The success of the 8 megawatt hour VRB installation at the Zhangbei Project in China which was commissioned by staff engaged by VMI (see Company news releases listed above) and constructed by the battery manufacturer to be acquired by the private investment corporation and VMI has resulted in widespread recognition of VRB technology and generated new opportunities for building new installations in an international arena.

VRB is the ideal solution to increase renewable energy power generation efficiencies through electricity storage and has multiple other applications. The battery manufacturer to be acquired has installed batteries in 12 different countries and has over 800,000 hours of testing and quality assurance development already completed. It has a large portfolio of intellectual property registrations supporting its existing and new technology development.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release involves forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, financings, equipment commissioning processes and other transactions being pursued, and all such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although the Company believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein.

We Seek Safe Harbour

Contacts:

Sparton Resources Inc.

A. Lee Barker, M.A Sc., P. Eng.

President and CEO

Tel./Fax: 647-344-7734 or Mobile: 416-716-5762

info@spartonres.ca

www.spartonres.ca




SWATAR, MALTA--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) -SoOum Corp (OTC PINK: SOUM) is proud to announce the company has closed on a lease with a major International Office and Office Staffing Company to open doors to more Mediterranean, North African, Middle Eastern and European importing and exporting partners.

The Company said it is committed to the development of its Commodities business. This enhancement to SoOum's already established Maltese presence comes in an effort to increase the region's sales by:

1. Providing a location for meeting and closing transactions, and exchanging documents for SoOum partners in the following countries:

Egypt

Israel

Morocco

Malta

Italy (Southwest EU)

2. Establish a better foothold in the following:

Iraq

Turkey

Cyprus

Greece

Macedonia

Other Baltic & East Europe

3. Set-up a banking system that reduces risk in the following areas:

Exporter -- Credit/Payment Risk Payment brought from Frontier Country to Maltese Bank Payment release at inspection in Maltese port(s) Goods released to frontier port(s)



Importers -- Quality & Quantity Risk Payment held in neutral Maltese bank Payment only released at successful inspection or goods Importer flexibility to import as necessary to his/her Frontier port



4. Link SoOum's US team from real-time global trading platforms in New York, Oregon, Arizona, Texas and Utah to a Central Strategic Location (CSL) in the Mediterranean Sea offering better coordination in:

Locating best global pricing

Locating countries with most demand for specific commodities

Linking and matching counter-parties in real-time

Implementing financial instruments to finish transactions

Furthermore, SoOum Corp (SOUM) is in the final stages of the acquisition of Western Grade LLC -- a profitable Civil Contractor based in the Southwest; when the transaction is finalized the Company will issue a Press release.

About SoOum Corp

SoOum Corp is a publicly held (OTC PINK: SOUM) Physical Commodities Trading firm. Specializing in arbitrage based transactions of Physical Commodities, as well as offering an e-commerce Trading Platform, allowing customers to be a part of a unique community of Physical Commodities Traders, Suppliers, Buyers, and Procurement Agents engaging in the purchasing and selling of Products and Commodities across the globe: www.sooum.com/investor-relations

For inquiries into this matter please contact SoOum at www.sooum.com/investor-relations or reach Rich Kaiser, Business Consultant, YES INTERNATIONAL, 757-306-6090 and/or yes@yesinternational.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statement

Statements in this press release regarding the Company' s business which are not historical facts are " forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that various factors, including the factors described under the caption forward-looking statements in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements contained herein. These factors include the following: business conditions and volatility in the commodities market, and the general economy; competitive factors including compressed gross profit margins; shifts in market demand; product availability; reliance on key customers; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; income tax legislation; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/27/11G115798/Images/sooum3-cafe0af7ca039a86a40f7b212a631775.jpg

Steve Messina

SoOum Corp

Investors@sooum.com

(480) 287-6675



Rich Kaiser

757-306-6090

yes@yesinternational.com
WAWA, PA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Wawa, Inc., today announced that in celebration of International Coffee Day on Thursday, September 29, the company will offer customers free coffee of any size all day at each of Wawa's more than 730 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away more than 2 million free cups of coffee to customers across all of its stores.

What makes Wawa's coffee day celebration unique is the fact that customers can come in multiple times and are able to get any size free coffee.

"At Wawa we're always looking to go beyond filling customer orders by fulfilling the lives that we touch every day, so we're excited to play a part in International Coffee Day by giving customers free any size coffee all day long at all of our locations," said Chris Gheysens, Wawa's President and CEO. "Here's a toast to all those who stop by our stores to grab our most beloved beverage!"

Wawa coffee is a proprietary, private-label blend, available only at Wawa stores and on Wawa.com. Since the year 2000, Wawa has served more than 1 billion cups of coffee. Within the brewed coffee market, Wawa ranks #1 in Philadelphia and #6 in share nationally.

About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and "certified" process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960's, Grahame Wood, George's grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATM's. In July of 2015, Wawa was named "America's Most Beloved Convenience Store" by a Market Force study of 7,000 consumers, winning with the highest "composite loyalty score" of 68 percent, and taking first place in the fresh food category. A chain of more than 730 convenience retail stores (over 480 offering gasoline), Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The stores offer a large fresh food service selection, including Wawa brands such as built-to-order hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, built-to-order Specialty Beverages, and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.

CONTACT:

Wawa

public.relations@wawa.com




COVINGTON, OH -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Marias Technology, a provider of software testing, project management, integrations, implementation, hosting services, and more to the insurance industry, has joined AAIS as an Alliance Partner, effective September 26.

"We're very excited about this partnership with AAIS," said R. Christopher Haines, EVP and COO of Marias Technology. "We welcome the opportunity to help AAIS members with their implementations and the other insurance-technology challenges that typically cause them stress. This is a terrific arrangement for all parties involved."

"Marias was selected to become an Alliance Partner because of their experience with policy administration support in the P&C industry, their history of success, and their knowledge of AAIS products," said Truman Esmond, VP of Member Engagement and Technology for AAIS. "They'll provide effective and affordable support for our customers to adopt and implement AAIS programs seamlessly."

About Marias Technology

Marias Technology, headquartered in Covington, Ohio, offers insurance technology services to small to mid-sized insurance companies. Services range from system testing and implementation, to software hosting and management services, as well as IT management on-demand. For more information, please visit www.mariastechnology.com, email info@mariastechnology.com, or call 866-611-2212.

About AAIS

Established in 1931, AAIS continues to serve the Property & Casualty insurance industry as the only national not-for-profit advisory organization governed by its member companies. AAIS offers innovative products including standardized policy forms, program rules, and loss costs for rate making for 34 lines of business, industry leadership in research and data development, and unrivaled customer service, value, and efficiency. Over 700 insurance carriers, including most of the largest national carriers, rely on AAIS. For more information, contact Melanie Howard at melanieh@aaisonline.com.

Media contact:

JoAnna Bennett

860-333-5009

Email Contact






BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market ended Tuesday's session with a slight increase. The market was unable to hold its early gains, but bounced back into the green in the final 2 hours of trade, thanks to a tailwind from the positive performance of the U.S. markets. Bank stocks remained under pressure, but the positive performance of the defensive heavyweights provided support to the overall market.



The volatility index has been high in recent days as a number of potential risks are plaguing the usually quiet summer. The upcoming U.S. Presidential election remains at the forefront, after Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton held their first debate. Traders also continue to monitor the situation in Italy, where Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has stated that he will resign if he is unsuccessful in the December constitutional referendum to streamline legislation.



The Swiss Market Index increased 0.13 percent Tuesday and finished at 8,175.42. The Swiss Leader Index dropped 0.22 percent, but the Swiss Performance Index rose 0.09 percent.



Financial stocks were under pressure again Tuesday. Concerns over Deutsche Bank and the enormous fine the German lender is facing from the United States has hit the sector hard in recent days.



Credit Suisse sank 3.3 percent after its CEO Tidjane Thiam made cautious comments about the third quarter at an investor conference.



UBS weakened by about 1.0 percent and Julius Baer fell 0.5 percent. Zurich Insurance declined 1.2 percent, Swiss Re decreased 1.0 percent and Swiss Life lost 0.6 percent.



Richemont decreased 0.7 percent and Swatch surrendered 0.6 percent. Clariant and Sika each lost 0.5 percent each.



The index heavyweights all finished in positive territory. Nestle rose 1.1 percent after announcing changes to its executive board. Roche gained 0.6 percent and Novartis added 0.1 percent.



Dufry increased 1.0 percent and Kuehne + Nagel climbed 0.7 percent. Lonza and SGS both advanced by 0.4 percent.



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Technavio analysts forecast the global pet daycare and lodging market to grow at a CAGR of more than 8% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global pet daycare and lodging marketfor 2016-2020. The report provides an overview of the key leading countries, five forces analysis, competitor landscape, and corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendors in the market. It also outlines the key trends emerging in the global pet daycare and lodging market during the forecast period.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53212

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Technavio consumer and retail analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global pet daycare and lodging market:

Premiumization of pet services

Emphasis on standards for accreditation

Pet service aggregators help pet owners to connect with service providers

Premiumization of pet services

According to Arushi Thakur, an industry expert at Technavio for pet supplies research, "High income pet owners are spending lavishly on premium services for their pets as they consider their pets to be family members. In 2015, more than USD 60 billion was spent on pets in the US." Pet owners are enrolling their pets in pet daycare and lodging facilities that offer luxury daycare and lodging experience. Such facilities are designed with spacious private rooms that are climate controlled and designed with unique layouts. In addition, these facilities have raised beds with custom memory foam mattress, private television, fresh treats, bottled water, and plush play areas among other luxury services.

For instance, the All American Pet Resorts, Fort Myers provides an all-inclusive upscale luxury dog lodging and daycare resort providing all-round pet care. They offer dog suites, TV programs, soothing music, as well as personalized attention from their highly-trained staff. They also have secure play areas both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor play area is covered with the help of sunshades that use fans and misters to keep the air temperature comfortable for pets. Similarly, Kittycare Haven offers spacious rooms which are air-conditioned or fan-cooled, have scratch post, toys, and a dedicated and experienced pet sitter.

Pet daycare and lodging facilities also offer services such as pawdicure, exercise on treadmills, themed rooms, gourmet bed-time snacks, massage, and spa treatments for pets. For instance, Underdog Kennels offers special room service menu for pets as well as gourmet treats for dogs. Paw Print offers luxury accommodations, premium meals, and gourmet snacks at bedtime.

Emphasis on standards for accreditation

Pet owners are very concerned about their pets well-being and safety. They seek daycare and lodging facilities that are clean, hygienic, reputed, and have trained staff. This makes it imperative for pet daycare and lodging facilities to achieve accredited status for their staff and facility. There are accreditation associations that pass approval of pet daycare and lodging facilities based on certain parameters.

For instance, in New Zealand, AsureQuality provides approval to pet daycare and lodging centers that have met the set standards. These standards are mainly related to facility management and operational activities. Audits are carried out by independent and impartial inspectors with no commercial link to the pet daycare and lodging industry. These inspectors audit the administration, facility design, pet food preparation, staff health, isolation facilities for cats and dogs, vaccination protocol for pets, emergency procedures, transportation of pets, and animal health. They also conduct surprise spot checks. The approval certification is valid for a period of 12 months. Annual inspections are also conducted to ensure standards are being maintained by the pet daycare and lodging facilities.

Similarly, the Pet Care Service Association offers accreditation for pet services in the US. International Boarding and Pet Services Association in the US also provides accreditation, training, business resources, and judicial support for the pet care services industry. "Pet owners gain confidence when a daycare and lodging facility has been accredited, which assures them that the facility is meeting the standards set by these associations," says Arushi.

Pet service aggregators help pet owners to connect with service providers

Pet daycare and lodging service providers are posting their profile in pet-related websites and online communities to attract potential clients. Pet service aggregators help pet owners by providing convenience in connecting to a qualified and trained pet daycare and lodging facility. They also ensure that the service providers are insured, background checked, bonded with the aggregator, and have positive reviews. Pet service aggregators also have a backup sitter on call.

Due to a large network of pet daycare and lodging facilities, pet owners can be assured to find pet service providers close to their home. For instance, Find Pet Boarding has listed more than 4,000 daycare and lodging kennels and catteries, dog home daycare and lodging, and small animal daycare and lodging services in the UK to help pet owners locate a pet service facility in their vicinity. Fetch! Pet Care, a professional pet service, helps pet owners find daycare and lodging facilities in the US. Pet owners can call, email, or submit an online request for services and the in-house team helps them find a suitable pet daycare and lodging facility as per requirement.

Browse Related Reports:

Global Pet Care Market 2016-2020

Global Pet Dietary Supplements Market 2016-2020

Global Pet Grooming Market 2016-2020

Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you.

About Technavio

Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005741/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
METHUEN, MA--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - Borislow Insurance is proud to have been named a WorkWell Massachusetts Award Program Silver Level winner for exemplary worksite health promotion. The award recognizes Borislow's achievements developing, implementing, and participating in corporate health improvement and wellness programs.

Borislow Insurance offers employees a personalized experience through their innovative approach, which cultivates a culture of health and wellbeing, drives behavior change and encompasses the whole person. They engage employees through assessments and surveys, which provide guidance to develop their wellbeing roadmap. Their approach to employee and business health is the unique component that makes Borislow Insurance one of the healthiest places to work.

"We are proud to recognize these innovative Massachusetts employers for their outstanding wellness programs," states Kristie Howard, WWCMA Board of Directors Co-Chair. "The WorkWell Massachusetts Award is an important program put forth to honor the work being done by employers in our state to improve the health and vitality of our communities."

"The employees of Borislow Insurance feel it's important to walk the walk and talk the talk, which is a key component to our continued success. It's a great honor to be named a 2016 WWCMA WorkWell Massachusetts Sliver Level Winner," states Travis Horne, Director of Health & Wellbeing at Borislow Insurance.

WorkWell Massachusetts is a corporate award program created by the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) -- a not-for-profit member organization dedicated to the advancement of worksite wellness programs. The award program's criteria are based on the HERO Employee Health Management Best Practices Scorecard, in collaboration with Mercer, a tool designed to help organizations learn about best practices, discover opportunities to improve their programs, and measure progress over time. Applicants are required to provide details on their strategic planning and organizational support, program design and implementation, participant engagement, and measurements and evaluation, and applications were reviewed and designated by a WWCMA appointed committee of industry professionals. Information on WWCMA and the award program can be found at wwcma.org.

About WorkWell Massachusetts

The Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) is the preeminent, independent, and objective resource for health promotion in the workplace. A 501c3 not-for-profit member organization, WWCMA champions wellness programs that help employers encourage healthy employees, healthy families, and healthy communities across the Commonwealth. The council offers innovative wellness best practice programs, training, and events along with insightful resources and tools to help educate and advance Massachusetts organizations and their corporate wellness teams. Visit us at wwcma.org and follow us @WorkWellMass.

About Borislow Insurance

Borislow Insurance (BI) is a leading regional employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm founded in 1982 and located just north of Boston. The firm serves over 300 corporate and education organization clients and is best known for its expert health and welfare advice, risk management, market leading insights and innovative solutions. BI is recognized nationally as a leader in consumerism, health and wellbeing, risk management, ACA compliance and health care policy. For more information visit the website at www.borislow.com.

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Contact:

Travis Horne

Borislow Insurance

Phone 978-722-1123

Travis@borislow.com
Tallinn, 2016-10-07 14:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appealing the Helsinki Court of Appeal judgment AS Tallink Grupp is appealing the Helsinki Court of Appeal 8th of August 2016 judgment on AS Tallink Grupp and its group companies AS Hansatee Cargo and Tallink Silja Oy fairway dues dispute against Finnish state. Pursuant to the Helsinki Court of Appeal judgment the court found the claims from fairway dues, charged in excessive extent in the years 2001-2004, time barred and overruled the previous judgment of the Helsinki District Court. Veiko Haavapuu Finance Director AS Tallink Grupp Sadama 5/7 10111 Tallinn, Estonia Tel. +372 640 9914 E-mail veiko.haavapuu@tallink.ee

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/10/17 -- Integrated Asset Management Corp. ("IAM") (TSX: IAM) and its private corporate debt group, IAM Private Debt Group ("PDG"), announce the closing on February 28, 2017 of a $35 million senior term loan to Teutech Industries Inc. The total acquisition cost was $58 million as per the Share & Asset Purchase Agreement.

The capital raised by Teutech Industries Inc. will allow a transfer of control to The Hi-Tech Gears Ltd. (IN: HTG) an auto component manufacturer of world class repute based in Gurgaon, India.

Philip Robson, President of IAM Private Debt Group said "The opportunity to finance the acquisition of Teutech Industries by The Hi-Tech Gears is the beginning of a long term relationship for us. The expertise mix of both companies is a positive going forward, improving the breadth of products being manufactured. Teutech was a logical footprint for The Hi-Tech Gears in North America, and we're pleased to have this group in our portfolio."

IAM Private Debt Group manages and provides funding from Integrated Private Debt Fund LPs on behalf of a number of pension funds and other institutional investors. IAM PDG offers fixed rate, investment grade term loans to mid-market companies for such purposes as refinancing existing debt, acquisitions, plant expansion or modernization, project financing and management buyouts.

IAM is one of Canada's leading alternative asset management companies with approximately $2.6 billion in assets and committed capital under management in real estate and private debt.

Contacts:

Jeffrey Deacon

Managing Director

IAM Private Debt Group

T: 416-933-8279

E: jdeacon@iamgroup.ca



Philip S. Robson

President

IAM Private Debt Group

416-367-3972

probson@iamgroup.ca

www.iamgroup.ca




Union Government decides to suspend talks on Indus Waters Treaty

Published: September 27, 2016

The Union Government has decided to suspend all talks on India-Pakistan Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the Uri attack.

Decision in this regard was taken by meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was attended by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, tWater Resources Secretary and senior PMO officials.

Key Highlights of Meeting

No review or abrogation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Decision to utilise water under Indias share to fullest.

Suspend talks on the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), the dispute redressal mechanism until terrorism stops.

Review the 1987 suspension of the Tulbbul navigation project that Pakistan had objected.

Build more run-of-the-river hydropower projects on western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to exploit full potential.

Expedite construction of Pakal Dul, Sawalkot, Bursar dams in Jammu and Kashmir.

Use 20% of river water allocated under treaty for Jammu and Kashmir farmers.

About Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

IWT is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan. It brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).

The treaty deals with sharing of water of six rivers  Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum between the two countries.

It was signed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan in Karachi on September 19, 1960.

As per treaty, control over three eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej was given to India. While control over three western rivers  Indus, Jhelum and Chenab was given to Pakistan.

It allows India to use only 20% of the water of Indus river, which flows through it first, for irrigation, power generation and transport.

Most disagreements and disputes have been settled via legal procedures, provided for within the framework of the treaty.

Most disagreements and disputes have been settled via legal procedures, provided for within the framework of the treaty. The treaty has survived India-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971 and the 1999 Kargil standoff besides Kashmir insurgency since 1990. It is most successful water treaty in world.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016

Topics: India- Pakistan  Indus Waters Treaty  Narendra Modi  National

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Seiichiro Toda s-toda@cj.jp.nec.com +81-3-3798-6511

TOKYO, Sept 27, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced that it will progressively introduce and deploy a core system using SAP's cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, SAP Business ByDesign, to NEC Group companies throughout the world in order to further strengthen global management. NEC New Zealand Limited initiated the first system in September this year.NEC standardizes the business processes of sales, accounting and purchasing that are individually optimized for each NEC Group organization and company, and supports the business by establishing a core system that uses the SAP ERP application. The expansion of the core system to NEC Group companies began in 2010.NEC has decided to apply these standardized business processes to NEC Group companies that have not yet introduced the core system by deploying SAP Business ByDesign. It has a high degree of compatibility with SAP ERP, and can flexibly deal with a wide variety of conditions.This project is based on the two-tier ERP concept and aims to realize total optimization globally. NEC will maintain the core SAP ERP application (tier 1) that has already been introduced at headquarters and primary group companies. Now, it complements this investment by deploying the highly flexible SAP Business ByDesign solution (tier 2), which can be introduced at a low cost in a short period of time, at its subsidiaries.Taking advantage of the high compatibility between these two solutions, and promoting the linkage of management data, NEC strengthens corporate governance through improved transparency of management information and expediting account settlement. It also supports the locally based management and real-time business analysis for each company.In addition, NEC will promptly and flexibly adapt to the changes in a wide variety of business environments-such as legal systems, commercial practices, new entries, M&A and the market fluctuations of each country-by using the SAP Business ByDesign solution for medium-sized companies. It will also develop the methods and principles of switching to a core system using SAP ERP in line with future business growth.NEC will model the knowhow of the introduction and deployment of the core system using this in-house SAP Business ByDesign, as well as the coordination and migration of the core system using SAP ERP. NEC will offer it as a two-tier ERP solution that helps enhance the global management of a customer's business.NEC offers a comprehensive introduction and deployment service using the ERP template that is compatible with SAP's latest product, SAP S/4HANA, which supports tier 1 of the two-tier ERP solution, as well as SAP Business ByDesign, which supports tier 2.NEC will continue to provide global support mechanisms that meet customer needs related to SAP solutions in cooperation with ABeam Consulting Ltd., an NEC Group company, and United VARs, a global alliance member of SAP partners."SAP welcomes NEC's initiatives to further strengthen its own global management platform by deploying SAP Business ByDesign in addition to modernizing its SAP ERP solution on SAP HANA. The two-tier ERP approach using SAP products makes it possible to integrate information of both the company's head office and its overseas subsidiaries, helping to improve not only management transparency but also speed of management information exchange. NEC has been engaged with SAP for many years, and I look forward to working together to contribute to further innovation for our customers in the future," said Michael Schmitt, senior vice president & general manager, SAP Business ByDesign, SAP.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides "Solutions for Society" that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company's corporate message of "Orchestrating a brighter world," NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, please visit http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.Source: NEC CorporationContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
SPOKANE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Ambient Water (OTC PINK: AWGI), a leading innovator of atmospheric water generation systems for extracting water from humidity in the air, today announced it will be demonstrating its newest atmospheric water generation technology, the newly launched model AW800, at an invitation-only event in Houston, Texas. The event will take place October 19-20 at Applied Cryo Technologies, a Houston-based cryogenic transportation and mobile storage equipment manufacturing facility that hosted an installation of Ambient Water's AW400 generator in 2014. Applied Cryo Technologies has collaborated with Ambient Water on the design, manufacturing and testing of the AW800 and will be manufacturing the production units.

The AW800 is the newest model of Ambient Water's commercial atmospheric water generator lineup and was built to address bulk water needs in water scare regions, producing up to 800 gallons of consumable water per day. Designed to maximize water generation while minimizing electrical power usage for optimal efficiency, the AW800 is a self-contained water generation and dispensing unit that is housed within a 20-foot ISO shipping container, allowing for easy transit and a rugged design to endure the environmental elements of any region.

Attendees will get an intimate look at the technology, including a detailed walkthrough of how it works, as well as an opportunity to drink water that was freshly produced from the machine. Executives from Ambient Water will be on hand to lead demonstrations and answer questions.

"We are excited to be able to showcase our newest model, the AW800, to the public for the first time and to demonstrate the innovation that makes our atmospheric water generators the leading commercial technology on the market," said Keith White, Founder and CEO, Ambient Water. "The problem of water scarcity both within the United States and around the world has only continued to get worse, with many regions now realizing they are in dire need of a sustainable water source to replace the natural resources that no longer exist. We truly believe that our technology, including both the AW800 and the AW400, is ideally suited to address bulk water needs around the world and to close the gap where conservation and natural resources fall short. This demonstration is a terrific opportunity for us to further highlight the capabilities of the technology and to drive revenue through prospective sales to interested parties in attendance."

The demonstration of the AW800 comes during a time of great interest in the Company's technology, as well as the atmospheric water generation industry as a whole. A recent report states that the market for atmospheric water generators is projected to reach $4.74B by 2024, highlighted by increased commercial installations to combat drought in water scarce regions. Ambient Water has successfully penetrated such regions, including Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Peru, with anticipated agreements for exclusive rights of sale for its technology.

Ambient Water's patented atmospheric water generation technology literally makes water out of thin air, transforming humidity into an abundant source of clean water near the point of use. With multiple systems already commercially available or in development, the Company's technology produces clean and fresh water for a host of commercial industries, including oil and gas exploration and farming, while also providing fresh drinking water for homes, offices, and communities.

For details on the event or to request the opportunity to attend, please contact Carole-Lyn Martens by emailing sales@ambientwater.com or calling 888.757.3294 ext. 104.

About Ambient Water Corp.

Ambient Water pioneered atmospheric water generation technology for extracting water from humidity in the air. Drawing from the renewable ocean of water vapor in the air that we breathe, the Company's patented technology cost-effectively transforms humidity into an abundant source of clean water near the point of use. The scalable and modular systems can be configured for a number of water-sensitive applications ranging from oil and gas exploration to vertical farming. The systems can also be configured to produce high quality drinking water for homes, offices, and communities. For a thirsty planet on the verge of a water crisis, Ambient Water makes clean water out of thin air. To learn more about Ambient Water, visit our website at http://www.AmbientWater.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, products, and prospects for sales, failure to commercialize our technology, failure of technology to perform as expected, failure to earn profit or revenue, higher costs than expected, persistent operating losses, ownership dilution, inability to repay debt, failure of acquired businesses to perform as expected, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.

Press Contact:

Matthew Bretzius

FischTank Marketing and PR

matt@FischTankPR.com






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While Rudy Giuliani described Monday's first presidential debate as a great victory for Donald Trump, the former New York Mayor suggested he would skip the next two debates if he were in the Republican nominee's shoes.



In comments to reporters following the debate, Giuliani was harshly critical of NBC News anchor Lester Holt's efforts to fact-check Trump on the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk and his support for the Iraq War.



'If I were Donald Trump I wouldn't participate in another debate unless I was promised that the journalist would act like a journalist and not an incorrect, ignorant fact checker,' Giuliani said.



He added, 'The moderator would have to promise that there would be a moderator and not a fact checker and in two particular cases an enormously ignorant, completely misinformed fact checker.'



Giuliani argued that Holt proved the left-wing bias of the media but noted that he was not advising Trump to skip the debates and was only saying what he would do.



CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC News' Martha Raddatz will moderate the second debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 9th.



The debate will take the form of a town hall meeting, in which half of the questions will be posed directly by citizen participants.



The third and final presidential debate is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th, at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.



Speaking to reporters aboard her campaign plane on Tuesday, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said she will show up at the next two debates, regardless of whether Trump will be there.



(Photo: Gage Skidmore)



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LONDON and BARCELONA, 2016-09-27 19:46 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VSI is delighted to welcome Sonygraf, one of Spain's most prominent dubbing and audio post-production facilities, as the newest member of the VSI Group. This latest acquisition further reinforces VSI's leading position in the field of localisation, being the only company with its own studios in all four FIGS (France, Italy, Germany, Spain) territories.Now renamed VSI Sonygraf, and based in central Barcelona, this high-end, purpose-built 1,500 m2 facility boasts seven sound recording and editing studios, two theatrical mixing rooms, three 5.1 mixing rooms and two post-production suites, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology.A pioneer in the Spanish and Catalan broadcast and cinema industry, Sonygraf was first established in 1954. Continuous investment in the facility has maintained its position at the forefront of the dubbing industry, and its reputation for producing quality Spanish language versions in one of the world's most important dubbing territories.VSI Sonygraf additionally has dubbing studios in Valencia, and will soon expand further in Spain. It also provides subtitling and other supporting services.Jordi Daura, current Sonygraf president and son of original founder, Joan Daura, had this to say about the deal:"We are very proud of the contribution Sonygraf has made to the development of audio-visual post-production in Spain, and our long-term retention of many of the world's leading broadcasters, VOD platforms and film studios as our clients, in what is an extremely competitive market. We decided to join forces with an international localisation provider, VSI, with its outstanding track-record, was a natural choice. We respect their quality-led approach and that whilst they function as a global business, studios in local territories retain their own identity."VSI Group Managing Director, Norman Dawood, added:"I'm thrilled that Sonygraf is now part the VSI Group. We have worked together as partners for a number of years, and the excellence of their work sits perfectly with the high levels of quality provided by our studios in Paris, Berlin, Rome and in other key territories. As a result of this acquisition, VSI is the only localisation provider with its own dubbing facilities in all four FIGS territories, a position which will further enhance the solutions and level of creative control we can offer to our clients."About The VSI GroupVSI has been providing a full range of foreign-language versioning to broadcasters, distributors and media companies for over 25 years. With 21 facilities located in four continents, the business employs over 250 staff across offices in the world's major media hubs.VSI's services include: Lip-sync Dubbing, Voice-over, Subtitling, Translation and Access Services, as well as Compliance, Creative and Post-Production services.www.vsi.tvSales ContactJudit Horvath - International Sales Manager Email: judit.horvath@vsi.tv Phone: +44 207 692 7700 128-134 Cleveland Street, London, W1T 6AB, UK
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- This release corrects and replaces the release sent this morning at 8:00 am ET. The TSX Venture symbol was incorrect. The corrected release follows:

Austral Gold Limited. ("Austral" or the "Company") (ASX: AGD)(TSX VENTURE: AAM) is pleased to announce that it is recommencing full operations at the Casposo gold-silver project ("Casposo" or the "Project") following receipt of the results of an updated Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimate for Casposo in Argentina. The estimates were reviewed by independent consultants Roscoe Postle Associates ("RPA"), and are summarized in a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and JORC 2012 compliant Technical Report on the Casposo Gold-Silver Mine, Department of Calingasta, San Juan Province, Argentina (the "Casposo Technical Report" or "Technical Report") dated September 7, 2016. The Casposo Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR under the profile of Austral Gold within 45 days in accordance with NI 43-101. The Technical Report confirms that the optimisation of the plant and move to small scale mining will support a robust and economically viable underground gold and silver mine. All dollar amounts are quoted in U.S. dollars ("$").

Life of Mine Plan Highlights

-- Changes in underground mining methods are expected to reduce dilution; -- Optimisation of processing plant is expected to improve efficiency of the plant; -- Mine life: 4 years; -- Pre-Tax NPV(5%) of $53 million and After-tax NPV(5%) of $37 million; -- Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as of June 30, 2016, totaling 972,000 tonnes at 2.53 g/t Au and 231 g/t Ag, containing approximately 79,000 ounces of gold and 7.2 million ounces of silver; -- Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources as of June 30, 2016, inclusive of Mineral Reserves, totalling 1.4 million tonnes at 3.0 g/t Au and 238 g/t Ag, containing approximately 136,500 ounces gold and 10.8 million ounces silver; -- Average production of 800 tonnes per day (tpd) from underground (300,000 tonnes per year) -- All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $1,038 per oz gold equivalent. -- Metallurgical recovery based on operating data averaging 91% for gold, 83% for silver; -- Average annual gold production of 21,000 ounces of gold and 1.7 million ounces of silver per year; -- Life of Mine (LOM) capital totals $41.7 million, including reclamation and closure costs. -- Proposed operations to be funded from Austral's existing and other internal cash resources

Austral Gold Chief Executive Officer, Stabro Kasaneva, remarked that, "The Life of Mine Plan provides a very solid basis for advancing to commissioning the full operation. The Plan supports the viability of moving to small scale underground mining methods and optimisation of the process plant. The positive results put us in a position to re-commence full operations. We look forward to continuing the operation of Casposo and working with the community to the benefit of all stakeholders."

"The results present an exciting opportunity for the Company and its shareholders, and it is a very significant moment for the company, representing our first operation in Argentina," remarked Austral Gold Chairman, Eduardo Elsztain. "The results confirm our expectations for Casposo, validating the original commitment of the Board of Directors, management, our investors and Argentina's stakeholders to push forward with recommissioning the operation and growing our precious metal production in Argentina and Chile."

CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

Project economics at an average gold price of $1,329/ounce and a silver price of $19/ounce, based on a consensus of independent forecasts for annual prices, resulted in Table 1.

Table 1: LOM Net Present Value ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Tax After Tax ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate (NPV5) $53 million $37 million ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Present Value at a 7.5% discount rate $52 million $37 million (NPV7.5) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Present Value at a 10% discount rate $50 million $36 million (NPV10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: All figures are reported on a 100% equity project basis and are rounded. Economic valuation is presented using a start date of June 30, 2016.

The cash flow to be generated over the LOM are shown in Table 2;

Table 2: LOM Cash Flow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITS 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- US$ '000 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Au ounces recovered 11,168 18,603 24,525 17,924 72,221 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag ounces recovered 1,292,271 2,541,028 1,439,876 729,225 6,002,400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Au Gross Revenue 15,002 24,526 32,334 23,631 95,492 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Gross Revenue 24,430 48,038 27,221 13,786 113,475 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Gross Revenue 39,432 72,564 59,555 37,417 208,967 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Revenue 36,552 67,143 55,563 35,033 194,291 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Operating Cost 13,648 29,234 28,738 25,157 96,777 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Cash flow 22,904 37,910 26,825 9,876 97,514 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Capex (Incl Working Capital) 8,177 14,603 13,047 4,705 1,185 41,717 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taxes 1,846 8,325 5,142 1,045 16,357 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- After-Tax Cash flow 12,880 14,982 8,636 4,126 (1,185) 39,439 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding. Only Mineral Reserves have been used in generating the cash flow analysis. No Inferred Resources have been used in this cash flow model.

COST SUMMARY

Table 3: Operating Costs Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOM OPERATING COST ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mining (Underground) US$/t milled 40.07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Processing US$/t milled 37.51 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G&A US$/t milled 21.53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Unit Operating Cost US$/t milled 99.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Average cost per ounce metrics for LOM are shown in Table 4;

Table 4: Average Cost per Ounce Metrics ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost per Ounce Operating AISC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold, Silver as by product US$/oz Au (231) 550 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Equivalent US$/oz AuEq 656 1,038 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver, Gold as byproduct US$/oz Ag 0.21 9.61 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver Equivalent US$/AgEq 5.49 13.09 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: Under current price assumptions, neither gold nor silver dominates revenue - they are co-products. As such, AISC calculated according to World Gold Council guidance with silver as a by-product, may not be comparable to other gold operations.

CASH FLOW SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Economic risk analysis was examined by running cash flow sensitivities on Gold and Silver Price, head grade, recovery, operating costs and capital costs. The pre-tax NPV @ 5% was calculated for reasonable variations of each input.

The cash flow is most sensitive to metal prices and head grades as shown in Table 5. It is least sensitive to recoveries and capital costs (which are low given that Casposo is being recommissioned).

Table 5: Pre-tax NPV (5%) Sensitivity Analysis

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parameter Variables Units Lowest Lower Base Higher Highest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Price US$/oz 1,000 1,200 1,329 1,400 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery % % Au 87% 89% 91% 93% 95% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Grade g/t Au 2.02 2.27 2.52 2.77 3.03 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Cost $ millions 87 92 97 106 116 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Cost $ millions 38 40 42 46 50 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre Tax NPV@5% Units Lowest Lower Base Higher Highest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Price $ millions 7 35 53 63 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery % $ millions 44 49 53 56 60 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Grade $ millions 17 35 53 71 89 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Cost $ millions 62 57 53 44 35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital Cost $ millions 57 55 53 49 45 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Austral is currently consolidating exploration and mining geology databases and is expecting to define and prioritise brownfield targets for future drilling.

By way of background, Austral acquired a 51% interest in Casposo from a subsidiary of Troy Resources Limited (Troy) on March 4, 2016 for $1,000,000, with a reciprocal purchase and sale obligation for an additional 19% interest for the sum of $1,000,000 to be transferred and paid on March 4, 2017. In addition, Austral and Troy have agreed that Casposo will pay Troy $2,000,000 within 12 months as from March 4, 2016, out of which $1,000,000 has been already paid. In turn, Austral has options to acquire: (i) an additional ten percent (10%) for $1,500,000 within the period commencing on December 31, 2018, and ending on January 15, 2019, (ii) an additional ten percent (10%) for $2,500,000 within the period commencing on December 31, 2019, and January 15, 2020, and (iii) the last ten percent (10%) for $3,000,000 within the period commencing on December 31, 2020, and ending on January 15, 2021. These purchase price options may be subject to an adjustment based on an increase in the price of silver during such period. Pursuant to the Troy Agreement, Austral agreed to obtain from other sources or provide to Casposo funding or financing of up to US $10,000,000 towards developing and implement a re-engineering plan to recommission Casposo.

Life of Mine Plan Details

RPA reviewed and validated the Mineral Resource, Mineral Reserve, production schedule, and cost estimates for the Casposo operations as received from Austral.

For information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and risks associated with the estimates included therein and other technical information, please refer to the Technical Report on the Casposo Gold-Silver mine to be filed on SEDAR within the next 45 days.

A summary of areas described in the Technical Report is included below:

Mineral Resources

The Mineral Resources for Casposo are contained in the Kamila (including Aztec, B-Vein Inca and Mercado zones), Julieta and Casposo Norte deposits and are summarised in Table 6.

In RPA's opinion, sampling and assaying have been carried out using industry-standard quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) practices, and the resulting database is appropriate for use in Mineral Resource estimation.

In RPA's opinion, interpretations of the geology and the three-dimensional (3D) wireframes of the estimation domains are reasonable, and the resource estimates have been prepared using appropriate methodology and assumptions including: treatment of high assays, composite length, search parameters, bulk density, interpolation, cut-off grade and classification.

The Mineral Resources are classified and reported in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves dated May 10, 2014 (CIM definitions) as incorporated in NI 43-101, as well as JORC 2012.

Table 6: Mineral Resources as of June 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonnes Contained Metal (000 Classification (000) Grades (g/t) oz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Au Eq Ag Au Au Eq ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Measured + Indicated 1,415 238 3.00 5.94 10,811 136.5 270.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Inferred 1,090 140 5.0 6.7 5,040 176 238.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

1. Mineral Resources were estimated in compliance with both CIM and JORC definitions. 2. Mineral Resources are estimated using an average long-term silver price of $15 per ounce, and a gold price of $1,200 per ounce. 3. Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 2 g/t Au Eq. 4. Gold equivalents (Au Eq) are calculated using a factor of 1 g Au = 81 g Ag, based on metal prices, and metallurgical recoveries (92% for gold, 87% for silver). 5. A minimum wireframe width of 0.5 m was used. 6. Bulk density is 2.6 t/m3. 7. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. 8. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 9. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 10. The Qualified Person (QP) is Chester Moore, P.Eng., an employee of Roscoe Postle Associates ("RPA").

The Kamila deposit remains open down plunge to the southeast of the Inca 3 zone. The Casposo Norte and Julieta zones are not completely delineated and many smaller targets on the property remain to be fully explored.

Mineral Reserves and Mining

The estimated Mineral Reserves are shown in Table 7.

Table 7: Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves as of June 30, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonnes (000) Grades (g/t) Contained Metal (oz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ag Au Au Eq Ag Au Au Eq ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proven 115,000 170 1.76 3.87 630,000 6,500 14,300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Probable 857,000 240 2.63 5.59 6,602,000 72,500 154,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Reserves 972,000 231 2.53 5.38 7,232,000 79,000 168,300 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

1. Mineral Reserves were estimated in compliance with both CIM and JORC definitions. 2. Mineral Reserves were estimated at a cut-off grade of 2.8 g/t Au Eq. Development was evaluated at an incremental cut-off grade of 1.3 g/t Au Eq. 3. Gold equivalents (AuEq) were calculated using a factor of 1 g Au = 81 g Ag, based on metal prices and metallurgical recoveries (92% for gold, 87% for silver). 4. Mineral Reserves were estimated using an average long-term silver price of $15 per ounce and gold price of $1,200 per ounce. 5. A minimum mining width 2 m was used. 6. Bulk density is 2.6 t/m3. 7. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 8. The Qualified Person (QP) is Jason Cox, P.Eng., an employee of Roscoe Postle Associates ("RPA").

There are no known mining, metallurgical, infrastructure, permitting, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Reserve estimate.

Planned and unplanned dilution, minimum mining width, and extraction were included in the resource to reserve conversion at the stope optimization and design stage. The design shapes were drawn to represent final mined out volumes. An extraction factor of 95% is applied to both stopes and drifts. Dilution included in the design averages 33% across all veins (stopes and development).

MINING METHODS

The Casposo Mine consists of a number of narrow steeply dipping orebodies known as Aztec, B-Vein, B-Vein1, Inca0, Inca1, Inca2A, Inca2B, Mercado, and Julieta. Open pit mining in Kamila and Mercado pits was completed in 2013, and all mining is currently planned as underground, although there is potential for open pit mining at Julieta. The main production from the underground mine to date has been from Inca1, Aztec, and Inca2A.

The mining method at the Casposo Mine is expected to be Longitudinal Longhole Retreat, which was the historical method used at the mine. Mine production is expected to be made up of a combination of ore development through sill drifts (34%) and stope production (66%).

Austral is modifying previous operating practices in a number of ways to better control dilution:

-- Reduced stope heights from 20 m to 15 m. -- Smaller drift size (4.5 m by 4.5 m) -- Installation of cable bolts on the hangingwall. -- Revised blasting practices.

The veins are to be accessed by sub-level footwall drives, driven from the main ramp at 15 m intervals, except where pre-existing drives at 20 m intervals will be used. Stopes are designed using a minimum mining width of 2 m and are 10.5 m high, while sill drifts are designed at 4.5 m high and on average 4.0 m to 5.0 m wide. Stope lengths vary depending on the ore body, however, are limited to a maximum of 15 m due to geotechnical constraints.

Mining is planned to progress in a bottom up fashion. Stopes on each level are to be accessed in the middle and developed along strike, at both the top and bottom elevations. Once sill development is completed, the stopes are drilled and blasted. Drilling and blasting start at the end of the stoping blocks and mucked in retreating vertical slices.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

The production schedule covers a mine life of four years based on the Mineral Reserves outlined in the Casposo Technical Report. Austral has been engaged in the development and rehabilitation work at the Casposo mine since April 2016, and production is expected to begin by the end of Q3 2016 at Aztec, Inca1, Inca2A, and Inca2B, which are all accessible with current existing development. The production schedule is summarized in Table 8.

Table8: Production Schedule ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Units 2016 2017 2018 2019 TOTAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Mill Feed Tonnes (000) 150 322 297 206 976 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- g/t Au 2.53 1.97 2.81 2.96 2.52 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- g/t Ag 322 295 182 132 230 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Au % 91.2% 91.2% 91.2% 91.2% 91.2% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovery Ag % 83.0% 83.0% 83.0% 83.0% 83.0% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovered Au Oz (000) 11 19 25 18 72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovered Ag Oz (000) 1,292 2,541 1,440 729 6,002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recovered Au Eq Oz (000) 26.4 51.5 42.8 26.97 148 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROCESS

The processing and recovery method is whole ore cyanide leaching for extraction of the precious metal from the ore and Merrill-Crowe counter-current decantation (CCD) and filtration for recovery of the metal from the leach circuit. The Casposo Mine recovers gold and silver dore which is to be transported to a refining facility in Brampton, Ontario Canada for further processing into high purity gold and silver.

The Casposo processing plant has a nameplate throughput of 400,000 tpa of ore. The current underground mine plan delivers approximately 300,000 tpa of ore, and Austral plans to operate the plant on an intermittent basis to retain the nominal plant throughput.

Austral's plant modifications are expected to increase operational efficiency in the crushing and grinding circuits, and in tailings filtration and water management.

CAPITAL & OPERATING COST ESTIMATES

Austral has been carrying out a program of mine development, process improvements, and operational readiness since April 2016. The estimated capital costs (expressed in US dollars) from June 30, 2016 forward are summarised in Table 9.

Table 9: Summary of Capital Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item Units Total 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mine Development $ millions 29.2 4.9 12.7 9.9 1.7 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sustaining Capital $ millions 6.3 2.2 0.9 3.2 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working Capital $ millions 2.0 1.0 1.0 - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reclamation & Closure $ millions 4.2 3.0 1.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $ millions 41.7 8.1 14.6 13.0 4.7 1.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mine development is based on the LOM plan requirements, and a unit rate of $2,200/m, based on actual costs incurred at the mine.

Sustaining capital includes budgeted plant improvements, such as changes to the belt filter and cyanide detoxification circuit to improve efficiency and reduce costs, some mobile equipment purchases, and general site maintenance costs. Mountain Pass Consulting estimated reclamation and closure costs of $4.2 million.

Operating costs for the LOM plan are shown below in Table 10.

Table 10: Summary of Operating Costs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unit Costs Unit Total 2016 2017 2018 2019 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mining (Underground) US$/t milled 40.07 34.60 36.96 40.07 48.90 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Processing US$/t milled 31.51 36.20 35.06 36.40 43.90 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G&A US$/t milled 21.53 19.97 18.62 20.20 29.10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Unit Operating Cost US$/t milled 99.11 90.77 90.65 96.67 125.91 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Costs Unit Total 2016 2017 2018 2019 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mining (Underground) US$ '000 39,127 5,202 11,920 11,913 10,092 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Processing US$ '000 36,631 5,443 11,308 10,820 9,060 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G&A US$ '000 21,020 3,003 6,006 6,006 6,006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Operating Cost US$ '000 96,777 13,648 29,234 28,738 25,157 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating cost estimates include mining, processing, and general and administration (G&A) expenses. Operating costs were budgeted based on costs incurred during previous mining activities and have been compiled by area based on estimated labour requirements, consumables, and other expenditures according to the updated mine plan and process design.

The power requirements will be met by the existing power line to site that has the capacity to transmit 18 MW of power, which is well in excess of the requirements of the operation.

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL

All required studies were completed and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Casposo was submitted in 2007. It was reviewed by a multi-disciplinary commission, approved in 2009, and renewed every two years subsequently. The fourth update was presented recently, with approval due in March 2018.

Austral reports that it has all required permits to carry out operations. Calingasta is a mining town and the town is home to a Mining Technology school. As a result, in the view of RPA, the mine enjoys better than average local support. The social and community relations are reported to be excellent.

A Mine closure plan was prepared by Mountain Pass LLC (Mountain Pass) in December 2014.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

The Casposo Technical Report summarizing the results of the PFS is being prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR within 45 days of this press release. The RPA Qualified Persons (QPs) for the Casposo Technical Report include:

-- Kathleen A. Altman, Ph.D., P.E. (metallurgy, processing, and environmental) -- Jason J. Cox, P.Eng. (mining, Mineral Reserves, costs, and economic analysis) -- Chester M. Moore, P.Eng., (geology and Mineral Resources)

This press release has been reviewed and approved by the RPA Qualified Persons.

About Austral Gold

Austral Gold Limited is a growing precious metals mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of quality assets in Chile and Argentina. The Company's flagship Guanaco project in Chile is a low-cost gold and silver producing mine with further exploration upside. The company is also operator of the Casposo mine in San Juan, Argentina, which is currently being recommissioned. With an experienced local technical team and highly regarded major shareholder, Austral's goal is to continue to strengthen its asset base through acquisition and discovery. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE: AAM) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: AGD). For more information, please consult the company's website www.australgold.com.au.

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of projections - statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the filing of a technical report and the expected content of the technical report; statements with respect to the Company's proposed operations at Casposo, including recommencement of operations; expectation that dilution will be reduced; expectation that optimisation of plant improve operational efficiency; LOM, cash flow and other economic projections; the ability to fund operations from existing and other internal cash resources; matters relating to future exploration; matters relating to the implementation of the mine closure plan; any future increases in the Company's interest in Casposo and the related payments; the future mine grades, recovering and production rates expected from Casposo; the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and the outlook for prices of gold and silver.

All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral's ability to extract mineralization at Casposo profitably and its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company's control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company's projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Austral Gold Limited

Alison Crealy

+61 (2) 9380 7233

info@australgold.com.au



Austral Gold Limited

Mr Mike Brown

+1 604 568 2496

mbrown@australgold.com.au

www.australgold.com.au




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- KWG Resources Inc. (CSE: KWG)(FRANKFURT: KW6) ("KWG") advises that the Mining and Lands Commission of Ontario has made a final Order that the "Pending Proceedings" notation be removed from the abstracts of the Mining Claims of KWG subsidiary Canada Chrome Corporation, that the time during which they were the subject of pending proceedings be excluded, and that a new anniversary date for the filing of prescribed assessment work be established.

The final Order also provided that no costs shall be paid by any party to the application.

The final Order follows the Supreme Court of Canada's ("SCC") dismissal of Canada Chrome Corporation's application for leave to appeal the decision of Ontario's Court of Appeal. The following citation was published on September 4th:

2274659 Ontario Inc. v. Canada Chrome Corporation, 2016 ONCA 145 (36973) Canada Chrome staked more than two hundred mining claims along the 340-kilometre corridor of high ground (south)ward from its deposit to Exton, Ontario. Canada Chrome wanted to build a railway along that corridor and drilled boreholes for that purpose. When a partner in (the) deposit decided to pursue a different deposit, it approached the Ministry of Natural Resources for easements allowing the construction of a road from that deposit to Nakina, Ontario. The requested easements passed directly over the boreholes drilled by Canada Chrome for its rail lines. When Canada Chrome refused consent to the easements, the Minister referred the application to the Commissioner under s. 51(2) of the Mining Act. The Commissioner dismissed the application. The Divisional Court allowed an appeal from that decision (decision of Commissioner set aside; application to dispense with Respondent's consent granted). The C.A. dismissed the appeal. C.A.: appeal dismissed. "The application for leave to appeal . . . is dismissed without costs."

"This means that an application to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources which was made by Cliffs Natural Resources in early 2012, for the grant of an easement over the claims of Canada Chrome Corporation, may now proceed," said KWG President Frank Smeenk. "In the decision of the Divisional Court of Ontario issued July 30th, 2014 Madam Justice Swinton wrote 'the issue being decided under s. 51(4) of the Mining Act does not deprive CCC of its ability at the next stage to oppose Cliffs' easement application or to ask for conditions that would protect its legitimate interests in its mining claims.' However there is no indication that the easement application will be continued.

"At the time of the Divisional Court decision the possibility of CCC building a railroad to transport ore over its claims from the Ring of Fire was dismissed. We believe that our engagement of China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group Company Ltd. to complete a Bankable Feasibility Study substantially overcomes that incredulity.

"It is unfortunate that our exploration industry has generally come to believe that the Court decisions in this contest mean that anyone can use our 'railroad claims' for their own competing purpose. We had hoped that the Supreme Court of Canada might address that kind of issue by reviewing the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal and confirming the 'finders-keepers' nature of mining claims staking in doing so. As that was not to be, we are pleased that this gratuitous attack on our company's assets has now been exhausted and dissipated!"

About KWG:

KWG has a 30% interest in the Big Daddy chromite deposit and the right to earn 80% of the Black Horse chromite where resources are being defined. KWG also owns 100% of CCC which has staked claims and conducted a surveying and soil testing program, originally for the engineering and construction of a railroad to the Ring of Fire from Aroland, Ontario. KWG subsequently acquired intellectual property interests, including a method for the direct reduction of chromite to metalized iron and chrome using natural gas. KWG subsidiary Muketi Metallurgical LP is prosecuting two chromite-refining patent applications in Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and USA. The filings have been receipted in each of those jurisdictions.

Shares issued and outstanding: 961,320,281

Contacts:

KWG Resources Inc.

Bruce Hodgman

Vice-President

416-642-3575

info@kwgresources.com




Technavio analysts forecast the global telecom power systems marketto grow at a CAGR of more than 8% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global telecom power systemsmarketfor 2016-2020. The report has taken into consideration the sales revenue obtained from telecom power system products, software and service functions. In addition, the report discusses the major drivers that influence the growth of the global telecom power systems market. It also outlines the challenges faced by vendors and the market at large, as well as the key emerging trends.

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Technavio ICT analysts highlight the following four factors that are contributing to the growth of the global telecom power systems market:

Increased deployment of telecom network infrastructure in emerging regions

Regulatory demand for reduced OPEX

Increased deployment of small cell power systems for LTE

Increased use of ultra-high-capacity optical networks

Increased deployment of telecom network infrastructure in emerging regions

Almost 480 commercial long-term evolution (LTE) networks were deployed in 157 countries by January 2016. APAC and South Africa have become one of the growing markets demanding extensive network coverage to provide reliable and stable connectivity for an increased cellular subscriber base in remote areas.

According to Abhishek Sharma, a lead analyst at Technavio for M2M and connected devices research, "There is an urgent need to transform the system from diesel usage to renewable energy sources, which not only helps in cost reduction but also saves on energy. On an average telecom towers and data centers together consume more than 70% of the energy in the entire telecom sector."

Increasing deployment of small cells requires small size power backup. Cellect 600 from Alpha technologies integrates battery backup with an AC/DC power supply in a compact, sealed enclosure designed to withstand harsh outdoor environments, which offers high-efficiency power conversion, advanced monitoring, and control. In order to improve efficiency and reliability of services, the telecom tower companies are increasingly depending on power systems, which reduces the overall costs drastically.

Regulatory demand for reduced OPEX

Telecom operators are under tremendous pressure due to government regulations on OPEX. Most of the off-grid telecom sites require high levels of fuel for their continuous and seamless operation to ensure reliability in service. These remote sites have to be continuously monitored and maintained for refueling that involves logistics cost. It is crucial to reduce the operational expenses by utilizing renewable energy sources, which can be used to meet the growing demand for efficient network connectivity.

Adoption of hybrid power systems reduces the need for fuel requirements by optimizing the usage of renewable energy resources like solar panels or wind turbines or reusable battery products. Apart from the reduction in the level of fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions also get reduced drastically. This results in lowering of the operational costs to about 65% on an average.

Increased deployment of small cell power systems for LTE

With the explosive growth of mobile data traffic, telecom operators are compelled to extend the network coverage area by rolling out numerous wireless telecom networks in both rural areas and high-density metropolitan cities. APAC is heading the global LTE scenario in terms of existing and expected customers. Countries like India, Thailand, and Indonesia are in the early stages of LTE adoption whereas Japan has advanced LTE technology and is planning to upgrade to 5G.

The density of mobile devices is very high in the urban areas where operators are establishing more number of picocells and femtocells, which require DC power systems. (Pico and femtocells typically cover small areas like buildings, home and small business.) "With the rise in the deployment of small cell sites, the demand for power systems is increasing as they provide a cost-effective solution, with easy installation, and high operational efficiency," says Abhishek.

Increased use of ultra-high-capacity optical networks

The world is now virtually interconnected enabling efficient and easy communication that delivers better economic growth. Broadband connectivity across all regions is providing the channel for transfer of communication with higher speeds. Due to Internet of Everything (IoE), internet traffic is growing tremendously and has its implications on the telecom broadband infrastructure in fulfilling the capacity requirements. Telecom operators have to invest more in expanding effective and efficient high capacity fiber optic networks that cater to the increasing subscriber demand. Fiber to the home (FTTH) requires renewable power systems to deliver bandwidth to every household with broadband connectivity on a continuous basis.

Most of the countries in the African region will expand the growth in the broadband market with the rise in economic conditions. Internet traffic in the developing nations will grow six-fold in the coming five years. Thus, the increasing deployment of the FTTH infrastructure is expected to harness the growth of the power systems industry.

Browse Related Reports:

Telecom Power System Market in North America 2015-2019

Telecom Power Systems Market in APAC: Research Analysis 2015-2019

Global Satellite Broadband Communication in Public Safety Market 2016-2020

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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927005743/en/

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Technavio Research

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Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 27, 2016) - Frontline Gold Corporation (TSXV:FGC) ("Frontline" or the "Company") announces that conditional on TSX-V approval it has granted stock options to purchase 10,500,000 common shares at $0.05 per share to officers, outside directors and four consultants. The options will expire on September 26, 2021.

Conditional on TSX-V approval, 10,500,000 options were granted to the follow directors, officers and consultants of the Company:

Walter Henry Officer/Director 2,000,000 Jim Patterson Director 1,500,000 Darryl Sittler Director 1,500,000 Tom Hussey Officer/Director 1,500,000 Greg Isenor Officer/Director 1,500,000 Laris Brauns Consultant 1,250,000 Aydin Hencan Turkish Employee 500,000 Erkan Gun Turkish Employee 500,000 Perry English Consultant 250,000

Pursuant to the grant of these options, a total of 10,500,000 options are outstanding under Frontline's Stock Option Plan at this time, and 4,046,336 options remain available for issuance. Frontline has outstanding 140,463,361 shares and giving consideration to this option issuance, 150,963,361 shares on a fully diluted basis.

Frontline is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company. The Company's principal properties include the following:

Keban Tailings Project - Located approximately 45 km northwest from the city of Elazig, via paved highway, which is fully permitted, which includes the exclusive rights to process a minimum 114,000 tonnes of mineralized milled tailings stored in two areas within the defined tailings boundaries. Kambertepe Tailings Project - Includes the exclusive rights to process approximately up to 6,000 tonnes of mineralized tailings, with the following average reported grades per tonne of tailings: 2.1% Copper, 21 g/t Silver, 1.9% Zinc, 0.5% Titanium and over 50% Iron, based on assays completed by Bureau Veritas, Vancouver, Canada, as noted from a Firat University report on the project dated March 15th, 2016. Menderes Gold Project, a 6,194 ha (62 km) contiguous land package located near the village of Efemcukuru, in Izmir Province, Western Turkey. The permits that make up the Menderes Gold Project were acquired for their excellent potential to host low to medium sulphidation, gold-mineralized epithermal vein systems. The Menderes Gold Project is contiguous to the eastern and southern property boundaries of Eldorado Gold's Efencukuru Mine (source www.eldoradogold.com). Niaouleni gold project, in southern Mali in the heart of West Africa's prolific gold belt. Active gold exploration projects in the immediate vicinity of Niaouleni include African Gold Group Inc.'s Kobada Gold Project (www.africangoldgroup.com). Within the general geographic area surrounding Niaouleni, there are approx. 12 operating mines, which make the economics of establishing mining operations very viable. Niaouleni sits between the 6.4Moz Lero mine (source: www.nordgold.com) & the 5.9Moz Morila mine (source: www.randgoldresources.com). Flint Lake and Sandhill Lake Gold Projects which are adjacent to First Mining Finance's advanced stage exploration Cameron Lake Gold Deposit in Ontario. Measured & Indicated Resource: 8.9 Mt at 2.29 g/t for 650,000 ounces of gold. Inferred Resource: 14.9 Mt at 1.91 g/t for 920,000 ounces of gold (source: www.firstminingfinance.com.) Red Lake (gold) and Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt exploration properties, which include the Whitehorse Island Mining Patents, the Chukuni Gold Exploration project (adjacent to Goldcorp's Red Lake Gold Mine). Production Royalty and Net Smelter Royalty on a portion of First Mining Finance's Pickle Crow Gold Project which was acquired from PC Gold Inc. (see http://www.frontlinegold.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=668206&_Type=News-Releases&_Title=PC-Gold-Enters-Into-Agreement-to-Acquire-Mining-Claims)

The technical information herein was reviewed by Mr. Greg Isenor, P. Geo., who acts as Frontline's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Further information about the Company is available on the Company's website, www.frontlinegold.com, or our social media sites listed below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frontline Gold Corp./

Twitter: https://twitter.com/frontlinegold

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which address future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Company's control. These factors include: the availability of funds; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, the uncertainties of resource and reserve estimations, receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.

Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

"Walter Henry"

Walter Henry, President & CEO

FRONTLINE GOLD CORP.

Contact: Walter Henry

Telephone: (416) 362-9100

Fax: (416) 362-9300

Email: info@frontlinegold.com

Website: www.frontlinegold.com

Frontline Gold Corp. (TSXV: FGC)

1 Toronto Street, Suite 201

Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 27, 2016) - RT Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RTM) (the "Company") announces that it has entered into option agreements to acquire a 100% interest, subject to 2% Net Smelter Royalty, in the 29 claim unit Norwalk gold property and the 39 claim unit Dill River gold property, located several kilometers south and southeast of the town of Wawa, Ontario.

The Company is further pleased to announce that it has secured the advisory and field services of Mr. Mike Tremblay, who is the property vendor for the Norwalk, Dill River and the Company's 100% owned Ballard Lake gold properties. Mr. Tremblay won the 2013 Ontario Prospector of the Year award for his involvement in the discovery of the 8,000,000+ ounce Borden Lake gold deposit (now controlled by Goldcorp) located about 50 kilometres east of the Company's properties.

Pursuant to the Company's news release of September 12, 2016, drilling is ongoing at the Company's Ballard Lake property, Ontario. The first hole of the program is underway testing for mineralization approximately 50 to 75 metres beneath gold bearing surface trenches, as well as testing a coincident geophysical target.

Norwalk Gold Property

The Company may earn its 100% interest in the Norwalk gold property by paying an initial consideration of $5,000 and 200,000 common shares of the Company upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval of the agreement (the "Acceptance Date"); and making additional optional payments of $15,000 and 100,000 common shares on the first anniversary of the Acceptance Date; $25,000 and 100,000 common shares on the second anniversary of the Acceptance Date; and $45,000 and 100,000 common shares on the third anniversary of the Acceptance Date.

The Norwalk property is accessible year round by road and is situated immediately south of Red Pine Exploration Inc.'s ("Red Pine") Surluga property and mineral resource (NI 43-101 Inferred Mineral Resource of approximately 1.1 million ounces Au). The Property displays similar geology, mineralization and alteration as the Surluga property to the north. Historical records indicate that the Property hosts several gold showings from small scale past workings at surface and underground. There are three known gold occurrences and/or gold bearing veins on the Property. There are two exploration shafts on the Property ranging from 40 metres to 66 metres in depth along with exploration headings of 15 metres in length on one of the 1.5 metre wide veins. High grade gold mineralization from past work (early 1900's) has been reported from the various gold occurrences contained within narrow quartz veins (25 cm wide) with disseminated pyrite (MDI file). The surrounding intermediate metavolcanic rocks are strongly carbonatized and are known in some locations to contain lower grade gold mineralization along with the higher grade quartz veins contained therein.

Dill River Gold Property

The Company may earn its 100% interest in the Dill River gold property by paying an initial consideration of $3,000 and 200,000 common shares of the Company upon receipt of TSXV approval of the agreement; and making additional optional payments of $10,000 and 100,000 common shares on the first anniversary of TSXV approval; $17,000 and 100,000 common shares on the second anniversary date; and $20,000 and 100,000 common shares on the third anniversary of TSXV approval.

The Dill River gold property is contiguous to the eastern boundary of Red Pine's Surluga property and generally covers the same local geology as the Norwalk and Surluga properties.

The acquisitions of the Norwalk and Dill River properties are subject to TSXV acceptance.

Mr. Yvan Bussieres, P.Eng., is the Qualified Person who has prepared or supervised the preparation of the information that forms the basis for the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Antoniazzi

President and Chief Executive Officer

RT Minerals Corp.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's exploration activities, project expenditures and business plans are approximate and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities legislation. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as adverse market conditions, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labor disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties may not achieve any category of resource(s). The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, fluctuations in the price of gold, equity markets or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There is no guarantee that drill results reported in this news release or future releases will lead to the identification of a deposit that can be mined economically, and further work is required to identify resources and reserves. We seek safe harbour.
Making sense (and, sometimes, nonsense) out of Current News, Issues, Politics


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With a potential government shutdown looming, Senate Democrats voted Tuesday to block a short-term government funding bill.



The Senate held two separate votes on moving forward with the stopgap spending measure but fell short of the sixty votes needed both times.



The short-term continuing resolution would fund the government through December 9th and provide $1.1 billion in supplemental funding to combat the Zika virus.



The bill also makes $500 million available to address immediate disaster recovery needs due to flooding in Louisiana, West Virginia and Maryland.



However, most Democrats opposed advancing the bill due to a lack of funding to address the drinking water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan.



Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused Republicans of ignoring the people of Flint and noted the Senate overwhelmingly passed a water infrastructure bill that included money for the city.



'We don't need to have a manufactured crisis,' Reid said. 'We want to make sure that Flint has some degree of certainty after two and a half years they're going to get some help.'



He added, 'We need to work together to keep our government properly funded and the people of Flint protected. Certainly we should be able to do that.'



Democrats also oppose a provision in the continuing resolution that would prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission from finalizing rules on the disclosure of corporate political spending.



Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., accused Democrats of playing politics with people's lives ahead of the upcoming elections.



'This 10-week funding bill need not be, as some Democratic leaders seem to wish, some titanic struggle for the ages,' McConnell said. 'It's a 10-week funding bill.'



He added, 'It's hard to believe Democrats would really be willing to hold up this commonsense package and its critical resources to address Zika, the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic, and floods.'



Republicans have argued that any Flint funding should be included in the water infrastructure legislation, although the House version of the bill does not include any money for Flint.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Ford Motor Co. (F) refuted claims of US Presidential candidate Donald Trump after he criticized the auto maker's decision to invest million of dollars in Mexico to build production plants. During his presidential Debate at Hofstra University, Donald Trump said that U.S. jobs were fleeing the country and heading to Mexico and China. He accused Ford for sending U.S. jobs to Mexico. Earlier this month, Ford CEO Mark Fields had confirmed that the company would move all of its small-car production from U.S. plants to Mexico over the next two to three years. Ford is also building a $1.6 billion assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where it will make small cars beginning in 2018. However, Ford and United Auto Workers fired back at Trump on Twitter. Ford posted a graphic image that depicts that the company has invested $12 billion in U.S. plants and 'created nearly' 28,000 jobs in the past five years. Ford also claimed that it has more hourly employees and produces more vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker. The company also tweeted that the plans to build new assembly plant in Mexico will have no impact on US jobs. Ford's American workers will build 2 new vehicles at the US plant where small cars are made today, Ford said. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Editors Note: Four photos for this release will be available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwired.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., a Grower-Owned cooperative officially kicked off the iconic cranberry harvest this week in British Columbia. Over the next six to eight weeks more than 80 farm families will harvest about one million barrels of cranberries, up slightly over last year's crop of about 990,000 barrels. A barrel is the standard measure for cranberries and is equal to 100lbs or 45Kg. Most of the province's cranberries go into Ocean Spray products, which are sold in more than 100 countries.

Ocean Spray recently announced its latest global crop estimate for the 2016 cranberry harvest. If conditions remain as expected, Ocean Spray predicts the industry will produce approximately 13 million barrels of cranberries. Ocean Spray anticipates its Grower-Owners will deliver around 8 million barrels of cranberries to the Cooperative's receiving and processing facilities this year. A barrel is the standard measure for cranberries and is equal to 100lbs or 45Kg.

"Our Cooperative of family farms and the cranberry industry as a whole continues to grow by consistently delivering a high quality crop," shared Dan Crocker, VP of Cooperative Development and Global Ingredients. "As a cooperative, Ocean Spray is focused on selling that crop by growing demand for our Grower-Owner's fruit through both new product innovation and continuing to introduce the cranberry to new markets, geographies, and consumers worldwide."

In addition to the 80 British Columbia farms, Ocean Spray Grower-Owners are located throughout all cranberry growing regions including Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as Eastern Canada (Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) and Chile. Regionally, Ocean Spray expects Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Quebec to experience significantly larger crops than 2015 with all other growing regions remaining steady. The Cooperative wrapped up the South American harvest in June with Ocean Spray receiving just under half a million barrels of fruit in Chile.

Regional Estimates for the 2016 North American Cranberry Harvest are as follows:

British Columbia 1 million barrels Eastern Canada 2.6 million barrels Total Canada: 3.6 million barrels Massachusetts 2.1 million barrels New Jersey 540,000 barrels Oregon 480,000 barrels Washington 170,000 barrels Wisconsin 5.8 million barrels Total USA: 9.1 million barrels

About Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray is the world's leading producer of cranberry products, but it's not your typical company. Founded in 1930, we are proud to be an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers who receive the net proceeds derived from every berry sold. Our 2,000 employees are united with these family farms in a shared purpose to ignite a passion for our cranberries around the world. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.ca or www.oceanspray.coop.

To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/OcSp1.jpg

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/OcSp2.jpg

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/OcSp3.jpg

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/OcSp4.jpg

Contacts:

Kellyanne Dignan

Mobile: 617.803.3444

kdignan@oceanspray.com




Moody's Investor Service has announced that it has confirmed the ratings of Turkcell (NYSE:TKC) (BIST:TCELL) at Baa3 level, changing the outlook to "stable" from "rating under review." With this ratings confirmation, Turkcell protects its investment grade rating at Moody's.

With this announcement, Turkcell also maintains its three investment grade ratings from the top credit rating agencies. In July and August, Standard and Poor's and Fitch had also confirmed Turkcell's ratings at investment grade level. Turkcell had obtained three investment grade ratings from the three credit-rating agencies over the summer of 2015, becoming the first Turkish company to do so.

Very strong financial and liquidity profile, solid fundamentals of business

In its press release, Moody's has drawn attention to Turkcell's "very strong financial and liquidity profile" as well as the fundamental strengths of its business. In its rating rationale, Moody's highlighted

"Turkcell's leadership in Turkish mobile telephony market" which the Agency "expects will strengthen further following the award of 47% of total frequencies available as part of the 4.5G spectrum auction"

The "strong fundamentals of the mobile sector in Turkey, driven by Turkey's young population and low smartphone penetration relative to other European peers"

Turkcell's "conservative financial policies that the company continues to adhere to" with a "very low leverage despite the 4.5G license" and a "target of a net debt/EBITDA in the range of 1.0x-1.5x"

Turkcell's "ability to tap the debt capital markets and its strong relationships with international banks."

In its press release, Moody's has reminded that Turkcell had issued a 10-year $500 million bond in October 2015. The agency also stated that "Turkcell's liquidity profile is very strong. The company has high cash balances of TRY3.8 billion (78% of which in FX) and has a committed line of Euro750 million."

Turkcell had also signed loan agreements worth 2.4 million USD with a number of international banks in 2015. In June and July this year, the company took a number of further measures for liquidity, hedging its currency risk.

ABOUT TURKCELL: Turkcell is a converged telecommunication and technology services provider, founded and headquartered in Turkey. It serves its customers with voice, data, TV and value-added consumer and enterprise services on mobile and fixed networks. Turkcell launched LTE services in its home country on April 1st, 2016, employing LTE-Advanced and 3 carrier aggregation technologies in 81 cities. In 2G and 3G, Turkcell's population coverage is at 99.80% and 95.14%, respectively, as of June 2016. It offers up to 1 Gbps fiber internet speed with its FTTH services. Turkcell Group companies serve 66.5 million subscribers in 9 countries Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, Northern Cyprus, Germany, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Moldova as of June 30, 2016. Turkcell Group reported a TRY3.4 billion revenue with total assets of TRY28.6 billion as of June 30, 2016. It has been listed on the NYSE and the BIST since July 2000, and is the only NYSE-listed company in Turkey. Read more at www.turkcell.com.tr

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006656/en/

Contacts:

Hande Asik

Turkcell Corporate Communications International Media

hande.asik@turkcell.com.tr
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Aurcana Corporation (TSX: AUN)("Aurcana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing of a report in support of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its 100%-owned Shafter Project located in Texas, United States. The PEA results were previously disclosed in the Company's news release dated August 31, 2016.

The Technical Report containing the foregoing PEA is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment and Updated Technical Report on the Shafter Project, Presidio County, Texas", dated September 13, 2016 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report was prepared for Aurcana by Paul Tietz, CPG, Neil Prenn, P.E., Edwin Peralta, P.E., of Mine Development Associates, Inc., George Burgermeister, P.E., of Samuel Engineering, Inc. and Stephen Glass of Gault Group, LLC. Mssrs. Tietz, Prenn, Peralta, Burgermeister and Glass are Qualified Persons as defined under National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The report is available under the company's profile at www.sedar.com and will also be available on the Company's website at www.aurcana.com.

Kevin Drover, President & CEO of Aurcana noted, "We are pleased to file the PEA which provides our shareholders and the investment community with a thorough review of the Shafter Project and its significant leverage to silver price."

ABOUT AURCANA CORPORATION

Aurcana Corporation owns the Shafter Silver Project in Texas, US. The Shafter Silver Project was put on care and maintenance in December 2013, in part due to depressed silver prices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURCANA CORPORATION

Kevin Drover, President & CEO

For further information, visit the website at www.aurcana.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the anticipated future results of mining activities on the Shafter property, including economic results thereof. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed time frames, risks related to future metals prices, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted.

Contacts:

Aurcana Corporation

(604) 331-9333

www.aurcana.com



Gary Lindsey

Corporate Communications

(720)-273-6224

gary@strata-star.com




WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - Today, the Kingdom of Morocco and Seattle-based aerospace company Boeing announced plans to establish a Boeing industrial ecosystem in Morocco that will bring 120 Boeing suppliers to the country, create 8,200 skilled jobs, and generate $1 billion in exports. The Memorandum of Understanding outlining the project, signed by Morocco's Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy Moulay Hafid Elalamy and Boeing Vice Chairman Raymond L. Conner, comes just days before Boeing is set to host the third annual US-Morocco Trade & Investment Forum in Seattle on October 3. The conference brings US business leaders together with Moroccan officials to learn about investment opportunities in the Kingdom.

"The Moroccan aeronautics industry has seen, thanks to [the vision of King Mohammed VI], huge growth these last few years. The sector has multiplied by six in 10 years and today boasts 121 companies," said Mr. Elalamy at the signing ceremony, which was chaired by King Mohammed VI in Tangier.

"Through our business in Casablanca, we have already seen with our own eyes the unique opportunities offered by Morocco to aeronautics subcontractors in terms of cost effectiveness, all while producing quality products," said Mr. Conner at the event.

Boeing has had a presence in Morocco since at least 2001, when the company became a co-founder of Morocco Aero-Technical Interconnect Systems (MATIS) Aerospace, which produces parts and engines for Boeing jets and employs 850 people in Casablanca. Boeing is also the preferred manufacturer for Moroccan national airline Royal Air Maroc, which earlier this month launched thrice-weekly non-stop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport and Casablanca on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The new aerospace ecosystem will further cement Boeing's presence in Morocco by bringing suppliers to the country, building factories, and streamlining the manufacturing platform. Boeing has also agreed to train the local workforce to meet demands for skilled labor.

In a call on aerospace opportunities in Morocco organized on Monday by the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, US Ambassador to Morocco Dwight L. Bush said, "With a strategic geographic location and historic ties at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and its pursuit of integrated supply-chains and entrepreneurial opportunities, Morocco has developed into an important regional player in supplying the aircraft industry for Europe, the Americas, and around the world."

Walter Siouffi, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Morocco, noted on the call, "I think what's impressing us the most about Morocco is the forward planning and thinking that the government has been embarking on as far back as the early part of 2000. And part of that thinking was that Morocco, given its proximity to Europe, after analyzing the competitive advantages it has in terms of logistics, distance, free trade agreements, labor, etc, figured out really early on that it could be an important part of the supply chain to companies in the aerospace [and other] sectors."

In recent years, Morocco has successfully positioned itself as a gateway for US companies to African and European markets, and through aggressive economic reforms has become a top destination for foreign direct investment in Africa. Earlier this year, the 2016 Bloomberg Innovation Index named Morocco among the 50 most innovative economies in the world, and one of just two such in Africa. The results echoed the findings of many industry reports of recent years. KPMG International and Oxford Economics' 2015 Change Readiness Index (CRI) ranked Morocco as the most "change-ready" country in the Maghreb, with particularly positive results in the category of "enterprise capability." The World Bank's Doing Business 2016 ranked Morocco first out of 20 MENA countries for "ease of starting a business" and placed it sixth overall in the region for "ease of doing business."

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/27/11G115890/Images/king_with_boeing_vice_chairman-b0734187ba1a9294acdff7853a06817c.jpg

CONTACT:

Jordana Merran

202.470.2049

jmerran@moroccanamericancenter.com
WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- The Art of Living Foundation today announced that global humanitarian and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar became an honored guest at the historic signing ceremony in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia where FARC and the Colombian government finished a 50 year old war. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living, was invited by the Colombian president as well as the FARC leadership due to his influence with the FARC rebel group to follow the Gandhian principle of non-violence.

"You have been a friend of this peace process. Your guidance has been very important. I will be always grateful to you," said President Juan Manuel Santos to Sri Sri after the event.

During his trip to Colombia, Sri Sri addressed a group of 500 social leaders inviting them to cultivate inner peace and support the peace process. He held meetings with the Minister of Post-Conflict, Rafael Pardo with whom he discussed ways to build peace and reconciliation. The Director of the Victims Unit, Alan Jara and a group of 12 most known victims met Sri Sri to highlight the importance to teach the Art of Living techniques to every member of the FARC. The Arhuacos indigenous community asked Sri Sri his support to protect the environment in their territory, culture and ancient tradition.

Sri Sri mentioned that Art of Living has an important role to play in the process of reconciliation and forgiveness that Colombia is starting after the plebiscite on October second, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

"The challenge of peace in Colombia can make this nation the new Switzerland of Latin America if we work together to unite the heart and minds of Colombians," he said.

Sri Sri has been invited to be the keynote speaker in an event called Reconciliation Colombia in Cali on November 30th. The Art of Living has been conducting humanitarian projects and programs for stress-free living throughout Latin America. In June 2015, Sri Sri had met President Santos in Bogota and promised that he would do everything in his capacity to bring peace to all.

Sri Sri's vision of a stress-free, violence-free world has guided his efforts to contribute to the resolution of the longest armed conflict in Latin America. The Art of Living in Colombia is developing peace-building programs that will be adopted in the post-conflict period.

More information: http://l.artofliving.org/peaceincolombia-en

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3061099

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3061102



Seema Kalra

Art of Living Foundation

650-666-5294




GASPE, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 10/11/16 -- The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, will highlight support for two research projects at a local cegep.

Minister Lebouthillier will be available for questions from the media following the announcement.

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 Time: 8:45 a.m. Location: Cegep de la Gaspesie et des Iles Gaspe Campus 96 Jacques-Cartier Street Gaspe, Quebec

Contacts:

Veronique Perron

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Science

343-291-2600



Media Relations

Innovation, Science and

Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- Target Capital Inc. ("Target") (TSX VENTURE: TCI)(CSE: TCI) announces that its subsidiary, Industrial Avenue Development Corporation, has received a cancellation notice of the previously announced conditional sale agreement of the real estate project known as "The Landing at Langley". The deposit provided relating to the conditional sale agreement shall be returned to the purchaser in full.

Target intends to re-list the property with a new realtor in the near future.

Target currently attributes a value of $3,671,161 to the Langley Project and anticipates that the value of the Langley Project will be written down in Target's forthcoming financial statements subject to the new listing price suggested by their new realtor.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Target Capital Inc.

Rick Skauge

CEO

403.261.7501

rick@targetcapitalinc.com

www.targetcapitalinc.com




WHITEHORSE, YUKON -- (Marketwired) -- 09/27/16 -- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will arrive at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport today and be greeted by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada; Her Excellency Sharon Johnston; the Honourable Doug Phillips, Commissioner of Yukon; Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski; and other honoured guests. Local children associated with three charities that support and celebrate children and youth will present flowers to the visitors.

On behalf of Special Olympics Yukon, Macey Hangartner will hand a bouquet to the Duchess of Cambridge. The organization works to enrich the lives of Yukoners with an intellectual disability through sport.

"Special Olympics Yukon is honoured to have Macey Hangartner participate in the royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge," Special Olympics Yukon president Thomas Gibbs said. "It's not every day Yukoners have the opportunity to welcome royalty to the territory and we are thrilled to have Macey represent our organization upon their arrival."

Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will be presented with flowers by Reem Aarafat representing Yukon Cares, a local group of volunteers working to bring refugee families to the territory.

"Reem and her family arrived in Yukon as refugees from Syria earlier this year," Yukon Cares president Raquel de Queiroz said. "For the family, presenting a welcome bouquet to the Governor General's wife is an honour because Canada has offered them a safe and rewarding future. Yukon is benefitting from the many gifts our Syrian family has to contribute to the rich mosaic of our society."

The royal visitors leave Yukon on Wednesday, September 28. At the Whitehorse airport, the Duchess of Cambridge will receive a farewell bouquet from Yukoner Ruby Eleniak, whose wish was granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation last year.

"We are always pleased when former wish children have an opportunity to spread our message of hope, strength and joy in the community," Make-A-Wish British Columbia and Yukon CEO Ross Hetherington said. "We knew that Ruby would be thrilled to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and that she would be a wonderful ambassador for children across Yukon as well as the Make-A-Wish Foundation."

To view photos of the Royal Visit, visit the Government of Yukon Flickr page.

Learn more: Royal Visit

Contacts:

Government of Yukon

Kate Durand

Communications, Executive Council Office

867-667-8968

kate.durand@gov.yk.ca




        :         ,     FIR    
Aleph VC, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based venture capital firm, closed its second fund, at $180m.

Mainly backed by existing limited partners, Aleph II is dedicated to investing in Israeli tech entrepreneurs who aim to build global businesses.

The firm  led by Michael A Eisenberg, Eden Shochat and Aaron Rosenson  will keep on investing in Series A rounds in Israeli companies providing them with Silicon Valley level service, networks, access and advice to scale global and transformative companies.

The portfolio of the firm includes Nexar, Lemonade, Freightos, Windward, Colu, Anodot and Yevvo.

FinSMEs

26/09/2016
Aqua Security, a Tel Aviv, Israel- and San Francisco, CA-based provider of a platform for securing virtual container applications, secured US$9m in Series A funding.

The round was led by Microsoft Ventures with participation from seed investors TLV Partners and Shlomo Kramer. In conjunction with the funding, Mr. Kramer will be joining Aquas Board of Directors.

The company, which has raised US$13.5m in total funding, intends to use the funds double its staff by mid-2017.

Founded in late 2015 by Dror Davidoff, CEO, Aqua provides a security platform for containerized environments, supporting Docker on both Windows and Linux, and available for on-premises deployment or on Azure, AWS and Google clouds.

It provides Fortune 500 customers in the financial services, technology, retail and online services sectors with development-to-production container lifecycle protection by combining smart default security profiles, behavioral analytics, and in-house cybersecurity research to create a comprehensive security and compliance envelope.

FinSMEs

27/09/2016
Merieux Developpement, a Lyon, France and Boston, MA-based investment fund of Institut Merieux specialized in venture capital and growth equity transactions in the healthcare and nutrition sectors, has appointed three additional staff members.

The additions, part of the expansion of the firms capabilities in Europe and the United States, include:

 Jean-Francois Billet, as a Senior Partner (based in Paris, FR)

Billet who holds a PhD in Pharmacy and graduated from ESSEC in Paris, started his career with Pasteur Merieux (now Sanofi-Pasteur), the global vaccine manufacturer, as Southeast Asia Marketing Manager.

He then joined bioMerieux where he developed the companys initial strategy in food safety and quality services.

Billet later managed the business operations and marketing for bioMerieux Industry before joining Mercer Management Consulting (now Oliver Wyman), a strategy and management consulting firm in the areas of the sales force effectiveness, operational optimization and growth strategy. Before joining Merieux Developpement, he held the position of Vice President at Merieux NutriSciences, in charge of Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and overseeing operations in various geographical zones.

 Daniel Fero, as a Senior Associate (based in Boston, MA)

Fero worked in a variety of professional roles including as a life science strategy consultant and a professional political operative. Most recently, while working within L.E.K. Consultings Life Sciences practice, he served as strategic advisor to a wide range of healthcare companies and investors on issues of corporate strategy and transaction services. Prior to that, Fero was the senior political director for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

 Benoit Pierret, as a Senior Business Analyst (based in Lyon, FR)

A Chemical Engineer, Pierret worked at Jacquet Metal Service (JMS) as Corporate Finance Manager for five years;. He started his career in Mergers & Acquisitions consulting at Ricol Lasteyrie Corporate Finance ( a member of Ernst & Young network).

These appointments come in the context of increased investment activity across the healthcare and nutrition sectors, where Merieux Developpement team has been active since 2010.

FinSMEs

27/09/2016
New Delhi: Indiabulls Housing Finance Monday has raised up to Rs 7,000 crore from non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to fund its business expansion.

"The Bond Issue Committee of the company... approved the issue and allotment of secured redeemable non-convertible debentures and unsecured redeemable non-convertible debentures of face value of Rs 1,000 each, to base issue of Rs 3,500 crore with an over-subscription up to Rs 3,500 crore for issuance of additional NCDs aggregating up to Rs 7,000 crore," Indiabulls Housing Finance said in a regulatory filing.

The debentures are expected to carry a coupon rate in the range of 8.55-9.15 percent.

Shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance were trading 0.48 percent down at Rs 810.55 apiece on BSE.

(This story has been corrected.)
Faced with rising competition from the online retail giant Amazon at home and other global markets, US-based multi-billion dollar retail czar Walmart Stores Inc has been steadily ramping up its presence in the online retail business through minority stake buys in etail companies of late.

While having a presence in India for quite some time through its Wholesale Best Price stores, Walmart is evaluating its strategy to team up with the country's largest ecommerce company Flipkart to counter Amazon's growing influence here.

According to a report in The Economic Times, Walmart is looking at buying a small equity stake in Flipkart for which both the companies are likely to hold talks later this week.

However, both Walmart and Flipkart have termed the news as speculative.

The likely talk comes close on the heels of the US retailer entering into a deal with China's second-largest ecommerce firm JD.com in June amid growing competition from Alibaba Group Holding. As per the terms of the deal, Walmart will get a 5 percent stake in JD.com worth $1.5 billion in exchange for selling its online grocery store to the Chinese ecommerce firm. Two months later the US retail major announced up a deal to acquire Jet.com for $3.3 billion to spruce up its ecommerce business.

Although Walmart remains undisputed leader in the US retail market, its ecommerce business has been facing challenging times in recent years. In 2015, Walmart's ecommerce sales stood at $15 billion as against a whopping $99 billion revenue posted by Amazon from its online sales, the ET report said.

Back home, there is no clarity on the percentage holding and total value Walmart could negotiate with Flipkart. But the deal could be win-win situation for both. For Flipkart, a minority stake sale could bring in fresh funds into the company and help further compete with Amazon. Also, Flipkart can leverage Walmart's global supply chain and use the latter's wholesale stores in Jammu, Chandigarh etc. among other locations for pickup and delivery points.

In case of Walmart, holding a minority stake in Flipkart will help it to have a presence in the country's growing ecommerce market besides allowing it to sell goods through multiple channels, the ET report added. The US-based retailer can also eye the home-grown etailer's rising user base. Last week, Flipkart said it has crossed the 100-million registered users mark, becoming the first e-commerce company in the country to hit the milestone. The Bengaluru-based company has also doubled its user base over the last year and added 25 million users in the past six months alone.

The company is engaged in a battle for supremacy with Amazon and another domestic challenger Snapdeal, where all three are slugging it out to notch up robust volumes in the forthcoming festival sales offer starting later this week.

The Jeff Bezos-controlled Amazon has already announced big plans for India. The Seattle-based online giant had last year announced a plan infuse $3 billion in Indian operations, taking its total investment commitment for the country to $5 billion.

Expanding into other verticals of the online segment, Amazon is on the verge of launching Prime Video in India, and has partnered with Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Vishesh Films, which will give the company access to about 80 blockbustres.

The teaming up with the Dharma and Vishesh is also aimed at gaining more customers and fighting Flipkart.

A recent Bank of America Merrill Lynch report had said Amazon is improving its foothold in India and it could be the second biggest player after Flipkart in the online retail market by 2019.

The country could also become Amazon's second largest market (after the US) as it plans to invest $5 billion here.

"For last couple of months, Amazon India gross sales are higher than that of Flipkart standalone (excluding Myntra)... We now expect Amazon's GMV (gross merchandise value) market share to improve to 37 per cent by 2019 from 21 per cent in 2015 and expect it to be close No 2 behind Flipkart," the report said.

While revenues are relatively small to Amazon's global scale, Amazon India could generate $81 billion in GMV and $2.2 billion in operating profit by 2025.

Most of Amazon's gains have come at the expense of Snapdeal and other sellers, not Flipkart, according to the report. Flipkart still remains the market leader in India and "even in terms of customer satisfaction, reports indicate that it remains the leader, ahead of both Amazon and Snapdeal", according to the report.

Whoever wins the battle in the end, one thing is for sure there are interesting times ahead for e-commerce customers in India.

With IANS
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Frustrated by a lack of opportunities in India, Germany's Fraport, the world's No. 2 airport operator, is shutting its development office in the country, the latest in a growing list of companies exiting Asia's third-largest economy.

Regulatory uncertainty and policy gridlock have battered foreign corporate sentiment towards India, adding to a dramatic slowdown in economic growth and exacerbating a widening current account deficit that has knocked the rupee to record lows.

"When we came to India in 2006, we were actually extremely bullish about the market. We felt India had a lot of potential at that time," Ansgar Sickert, who heads Fraport's India operations, told Reuters in a telephone interview on Friday.

Government plans then to privatise dozens of airports in smaller cities have not come to fruition.

"We were disappointed when none of these opportunities materialised," said Sickert.

Many foreign companies in other sectors have seen their India plans thwarted by sluggish or inconsistent policymaking under the embattled government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The list of companies to leave India includes telecoms carriers Etisalat ETEL.AD of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain Telecommunications Co BTEL.BH, whose licences were among those ordered cancelled by the Supreme Court amid a corruption probe.

Another firm, Norway's state-backed Telenor (TEL.OL), which has invested roughly $2.5 billion in India and had its licences ordered cancelled, has threatened to pull out but is lobbying through diplomatic channels for favourable rules and to lower the price of airwaves to be auctioned.

"India definitely faces the threat of more foreign companies signalling an exit in the near future, as well as warding off new entrants unless it sends a very strong and immediate signal to boost foreign investor confidence, said Bundeep Singh Rangar, chairman of London-based IndusView Advisors.

For graphic on India's GDP, industrial output, exports, click link.reuters.com/qaw46s

According to a Nomura report last month, multinationals pulled $10.7 billion out of the country in 2011, up from $7.2 billion in 2010 and $3.1 billion in 2009.

To be sure, that's far less than inbound corporate investment, which surged 88 percent to a record $36.5 billion in the year that ended in March, according to official data, fuelled in part by two multi-billion-dollar energy deals.

TOUGH TIMES

India's economy grew just 5.3 percent in the March quarter, its worst in nine years and far below the 9 percent pace that drew a flood of investment before the global financial crisis.

Singh's government has been weakened by fractious coalition partners and a spate of scandals, undermining its reform agenda.

Ongoing battles over taxes on foreign companies, regulatory flip-flops and a lack of progress on key reforms have kept many foreign companies away and led others to scale back.

In a cautionary tale that has turned into a soap opera, UK mobile phone giant Vodafone (VOD.L), India's biggest foreign investor, is fighting a multi-billion-dollar tax demand and frequently spars with regulators over telecoms rules.

"Ever since then, India Inc's image abroad has taken a hit because it has basically made multinationals wary of India because of lack of predictability and certainty," said Rangar, referring to Vodafone's tax case.

Vodafone has vowed to stay in India, but other companies - including New York Life NYLIN.UL and U.S. mutual fund giant Fidelity Worldwide Investment recently sold their India units.

Augere, which owns 4G broadband airwaves in one of India's 22 telecoms zones, has stopped operational activities and is set to sell its airwaves due to regulatory uncertainties, the Economic Times reported last month.

More exits are expected in the crowded insurance industry, where a long-expected increase in foreign investor holdings has been stuck and where many joint ventures are losing money.

The mutual fund sector, where a regulatory change banning distribution fees as well as a sharp drop in markets have led to a drop in profits, is also seen to be poised for exits.

"Things are not happening at the required pace, so that has been the basic problem," said Soumya Kanti Ghosh, a director at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

"We believe that if that is not taken care of, it will be very difficult to get the message to foreign investors that we, the government, are serious about carrying out the reforms agenda," he said.

Fraport, which owns 10 percent of the company that operates New Delhi Airport, is looking to sell that stake to a partner as its role as an operator will lapse in May 2013, meaning the company would not have a presence in India, one of the world's fastest-growing airline markets.

The government, scrambling to kick-start investment, this week announced a push in the infrastructure sector, including plans to develop three airports. Sickert said recent signs are encouraging, and Fraport still sees India as a potential market.

"To be honest, there is some scepticism at the moment, given the coalition constraints, that these projects will materialise within the timeframe the government has mentioned. We are still a little wary about that," he said.

(Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by John Chalmers and Ed Lane)
'Hot pursuit' in Pakistani territory.

Special Forces operations to target Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.

Cancel Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.

'Name and shame' Pakistan at the United Nations.

Threaten Pakistani actors working in Bollywood to leave India or face the consequences.

Since the 18 September Uri terrorist attack, the Indian government and citizens have debated a lot of options including the one listed above, so Pakistan is taught a lesson and it or the elements based there do not commit another cross-border terrorist attack. Amidst all this, what most have forgotten is that responding to Pakistan's cross-border terrorism machination and preventing another attack also means strengthening our internal defences and plugging our vulnerabilities which make these attacks possible.

This is not to belittle the efforts of our security forces to neutralise the terrorist designs and admittedly, it is a difficult task to put a lid on all terrorist activities. But let's face it. Despite facing the scourge of terrorism for more than two decades, our security agencies' efforts to counter terrorism lack the required punch. In the absence of a sound national counter-terrorism strategy and political willingness to create an empowered central counter-terrorism agency, our counter terrorism apparatus has simply not been able to get its act together, despite its best intentions.

If one looks at the major terror attacks in the last two years  Hiranagar of September 2013, Samba of March 2014, Kathua of March 2015, Gurdaspur of July 2015, Pathankot in January this year and now Uri  it is not difficult to summarise that it is our collective failure to prevent these attacks despite the surprising similarity in the terrorists' modus operandi and availability of prior intelligence on likely terrorist attack, if not precise information about the impending attack, which is rare to begin with.

Mind it. If we don't act on plugging our weaknesses  border management, perimeter security of our vital military installations and inter-agency co-ordination  then we are making ourselves vulnerable to repeated attacks of such nature. Like a man-eating tiger, terrorists and their handlers based in Pakistan have seen our vulnerabilities, which they will keep exploiting till we act on plugging those.

Since the Mumbai attacks of 2008, surely India has initiated reforms and restructuring of its security and intelligence apparatus  establishing regional NSG commando hubs, evolving inter-agency coordination, beefing up coastal security, creating the National Investigation Agency and installing mass-surveillance systems (on the lines of United States National Security Agency's PRISM programme) to name a few. But it is equally true that in the absence of a central counter-terrorism agency, which has a legal basis, can launch counter-terrorism operations in states, and can collate and analyse the terrorism-related data (connecting the dots), all these efforts will prove to be partially effective.

Consider the present scenario about all the three above-mentioned features of a central counter-terrorism body, which itself will present a case for the creation of such a body.

1. The agency given the task of counter-terrorism  the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has no legal character. What it means is that the IB can capture terrorists and terror suspects but can't present them in any court since the courts don't recognise the premier security agency. This then forces the agency to do extra-judicial interrogation and then hand over the suspects to the state police forces.

2. At present, any counter-terrorism-related operation is launched by IB in co-ordination with the state police forces, which are expected to work in unison with the central security agencies. But most of the times, the bureaucratic politics and equations between the central and the state government determines the tone of the operation.

3. India doesn't have a dedicated intelligence analysts' cadre. Intelligence gathering and putting two facts together is taken as synonymous to analysis. There is no proper intelligence analysis training, as a result of which much sub-standard and uncorroborated information makes its way through the system to the highest ranks of the policy makers.

It is surprising that many of the informed Indians, when they talk of giving a response to the terrorists like the United States or Israel do, forget about the fact that these two countries have put in place a strong counter-terrorism structure domestically with even stronger laws.

It's time India does the same.
Expressing unhappiness over non-appearance of Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan through his lawyer in connection with the sensational Bulandshahr gangrape case, Supreme Court asked CBI to serve a fresh notice on the Samajwadi Party leader.

The apex court also asked the investigation agency to send the notice for Khan's personal appearance in the matter.

In late August, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister was asked to appear before the apex court with regard to his remarks in the case, but he failed to do so.

"In our considered opinion, the respondent number 2 (Khan) should have entered appearance as there is a direct allegation against him. In view of the aforesaid, we direct CBI to serve the notice on respondent number 2," a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said.

It directed the apex court registry to provide copy of the case records along with the notice to CBI for serving them on the minister.

The court said that it seems whatever had been said by Khan is in "his personal capacity".

The remarks came when Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for CBI, submitted that the notice could have been served through UP government as Khan is part of the cabinet.

The bench, meanwhile, allowed lawyer Kislay Pandey, appearing for the victim's father, to file additional documents in the case and fixed the matter for further hearing on 25 October.

Khan had stirred a controversy by alleging that a "political conspiracy" might be involved in the gangrape of a Noida-based mother and daughter near Bulandshahr.

The urban development and parliamentary affairs minister said that the investigative agencies should explore the possibility of some opposition party being involved in the gang rape.

While justifying the action against policemen on the issue, the minister further said that the government should also keep a watch on opponents as "people can stoop to any levels" in politics.

"To get power, politicians can get down to any level. They can murder people, trigger riots, kill innocent people, so the truth has to be found out," he had said.

In August, eight armed men stopped the family car on the Delhi-Kanpur highway and dragged the members to nearby sugarcane fields and raped the teenager and her 38-year-old mother as other members of the family was tied up.

The mother-daughter duo was ravished barely 100 metres away from the police post as the offenders snatched cash to the tune of Rs 36,000 and some jewellery from the victims.

With inputs from PTI
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will holding an all-party meeting and emergent Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to deliberate and decide on the Supreme Court order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for three days from Wednesday, an official said.

"The chief minister has convened tomorrow (Wednesday) an all-party meeting followed by a Cabinet meeting to discuss and decide on the apex court order, which directed the state to release water despite the Assembly passing a resolution against it," the official told IANS here.

Earlier in the day, a division bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water from 28 to 30 September 30, when it takes up the matter again for further hearing.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was on a tour of rain-hit districts in the state's northern region, rushed back to Bengaluru for discussing the apex court order with the ruling Congress leaders and Cabinet colleagues to decide its next course of action at the all-party meeting.

"We can't release water just because the Supreme Court said so, as we are not in a position to do. Let me first read the full order and come back to you," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Bidar airport.

The state on Monday sought time till January to comply with the apex court's 20 September order to release 6,000 cusecs daily for a week from 21-27 September, as it needs the depleting quantity for drinking needs.

The state also substantiated its interim plea for a modification of the 20 September order with the resolution of the state legislature passed unanimously on 23 September, which resolved to use the water in the four reservoirs across the river basin for supplying drinking water to the region.

In a related development, 11 Congress lawmakers of Karnataka from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the inter-state water dispute, urging him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of the two states for an amicable settlement.

"We have requested Modiji to intervene in the matter immediately and call the meeting of chief ministers and give directions to settle the Cauvery water dispute amicably," said Lok Sabha member DK Suresh from Bangalore Rural constituency about their joint letter to Modi.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the state's southern region where the river flows and prohibitory orders extended till Friday to maintain peace.

Hundreds of farmers, traders and youth held peaceful protests at Mandya and Mysuru against the apex court's latest order on releasing water to the neighbouring state.
Beijing: India and China on Tuesday held their first anti-terrorism dialogue amid growing Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack and reached "important consensus" on strengthening cooperation in combating the menace and on measures to jointly deal with security threats.

Seen as a significant step forward in anti-terror cooperation following differences over India's bid to get Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN, top intelligence officials from both the countries held candid discussions about stepping up cooperation in counter-terrorism.

"The two sides exchanged views on the international and regional security situation," an Indian Embassy statement said of the talks.

"They exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and furtherenhance their understanding on issues of major concerns to both sides," the Embassy statement said.

"The two sides had in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard," it said.

Later, a report by the state-run Xinhua News Agency on the talks said, "the two sides exchanged opinions on the international and regional security situation and their respective anti-terrorism systems, mechanisms and legislation".

"They also reached some consensus on measures to strengthen cooperation and to jointly deal with security threats, according to a document issued after the meeting," the report said.

The talks were held at a high-level as the meeting was co-chaired by R N Ravi, Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee from India, and Wang Yongqing, Secretary General of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of China.

The anti-terrorism talks were a follow up to the decision reached during last year's visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Beijing.

Both sides had decided to form a Ministerial Committee and another Joint Secretary-level mechanism to periodically meet and review the cooperation on terrorism, cyber security, cross border crimes and drug trafficking.

Officials regard the talks on anti-terrorism significant as the dialogue was held in the backdrop of Beijing, a close ally of Pakistan, seeking to strike a balance between the two countries in the aftermath of the Uri attack.

China has distanced itself from remarks backing Islamabad on Kashmir by its Premier Li Keqiang in his meeting with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York and later its envoy meeting with Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif.
I have no problem in admitting that I was confused by Prime Minister Narendra Modis comment about maintaining the Indus Waters treaty despite the Uri terror attacks. In that context the remark about blood and water not flowing together did not make sense.

But after reading a rather telling Firstpost article by Srinivas Prasad on the subsequent steps being taken with reference to three hydro-electrical projects and Indias refusal to attend any talks on the Indus Water Commission, my perspective changed. Maybe, this way it's more delightfully diabolical and though it may take a little time, it has the potential to hurt.

Hurt so much in the pocket that Pakistan economist and strategist as well as Foreign Affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz has said Indian cannot unilaterally separate itself from this bi-lateral treaty.

Say that again? It cant? Oh, really? Why not? What on earth are you going to do? Go to the International Court of Justice and the Security Council?

As far as the first is concerned knock yourself out, it has the fear quotient of a little bug.

And about the UN Security Council, two of its five members are currently actively involved against each other in destroying a nation called Syria so lets not get ahead of ourselves. Sartaj now waffles on to say that Pakistan will take any revocation of this treaty as an act of war.

Thats fine by India too, seeing as how we have a list of actions that would prompt us to be seen as provocations to war. The next logical step is, of course, to drop the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted to Pakistan. It is a no brainer and simply a cardboard crown that can be discarded with casual indifference by New Delhi.

Financial loss and an endangered harvest combined with double the stress from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Balochistan and a dried riverbed would wreck the country as surely as an all-out war.

For the first time there is a shrill note creeping into Pakistan media and its government spokespersons. They must have also read the same paper by Clive Judge who wrote in 2013 that World War-III will be fought over water.

"Around the world, the Institute has fingered more than twenty conflicts and potential conflicts concerning division of river flows between upstream and downstream users. These range from tensions within China over the Yangtze to discord between Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Guinea over the Niger and between Iraq, Syria, and Turkey over the Tigris and Euphrates. Even the United States is on the list: The United States and Mexico have long squabbled over the Rio Grande, Rio Bravo, Rio Conchos, and Colorado systems, all of which rise in the United States but are crucial to northern Mexico."

Pakistan know that India has the upper hand where this precious commodity is concerned. With 70 percent of the water in the world used for agriculture, the allocation of river waters and their tributaries are the killing fields of tomorrow. If India is ready for the long term and continues to perpetuate its plan to exert the pressure drop by drop (literally) even as it denies it officially, it will place Pakistan in a very tenuous position. Because even if it goes into a war it cannot win the water which isnt flowing.

Since 1960, when Nehru obligingly okayed the Indus Waters Treaty with Ayub Khan, India has never weaponised it so it wasnt factored into Pakistans scheme of things.

Today, it has. And it is a strident wake up call.
The village of Ningli, mainly inhabited by fishermen, along the Wular Lake in volatile town of Sopore in north Kashmir, is at peace these days. In April 2012, this fragile peace was broken by the thud of a falling bund, when militants allegedly lobbed a grenades at different construction site, where more than two hundred migrant labourers had been working for the construction of a bund- dredging and filling up empty cement bags and filling up one side of river Jhelum, which flows through India and Pakistan.

The spot where the bund was under construction is at the mouth of the Wular Lake  here, the Jammu and Kashmir government had started, decades ago, construction of a 439-feet-long and 40-feet-wide barrage at the mouth of the Lake to ensure flow of water during the winter.

Whenever any effort of construction took place someone would come in the dead of the night and lob a grenade. It would make labourers scared and next day the construction would stop, Abdul Majid Hajam, a fisherman and a resident of the area, told Firstpost.

The leftovers of construction material, an office for the government employs rusted machines and thousands of empty plastic bags are still lying near the proposed bund.

It is cursed sight. There was lot of construction activity going on in 2012, but after the blasts it stopped. The tourism department wanted to build some thing for the flow of tourists but they couldnt do it, Hajam said.

Now, New Delhi is likely to review officially the 1987 suspension decision of the construction on the Tulbul navigation project. Pakistan had raised objection over the construction works on the navigation lock and the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government had suspended the work.

The Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control in Omar Abdullah government, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, said the construction after the 1987 suspension had nothing to do with the Navigation Lock.

The government at that time was just trying to review Wular Lake to boost tourism in the area. I wish what Modi government is thinking we could do something on those lines, it will benefit the state, but this could also lead to a war between the tow countries, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, told Firstpost.

New Delhi had in 2012 indicated seeking international arbitration under Indus Waters Treaty, after the failure of the 2012 round of bilateral talks between India and Pakistan over the controversial Tulbul Navigation Lock.

The Jammu and Kashmir government started implementing the project somewhere around 1984, apparently without taking Pakistan into confidence. As Islamabad came to know about the construction at Ningli, on the mouth of Wular Lake, it raised objections. Later, Pakistans water experts visited the site and engineers did whatever they could to conceal the happenings from the visiting officials from Islamabad. But in 1987, Jammu and Kashmir was asked to stop executing the project. Though the government did not discard the project, the rise of armed conflict in Kashmir later decimated it as the vested interests took away every piece of steel that was lying around the site and allegedly sold it in the open market.

Farooq Ahmad Shah, a retired chief engineer remembered that it was a beneficial project. The government had already booked an expenditure of Rs 20.15 crore when the work was stopped. Central Public Works Department (CPWD) was executing the project. As CPWD fled from Kashmir, it took the state government many years to shift out the staff it had posted on the site. By March 2005, the government said it had spent Rs 45.50 crore on the staff lying idle as the project costs spiraled to Rs 150 crore. Now it could be much higher.

Pakistan calls the project Wular Barrage and India sticks with the Tulbul Navigation Lock. The project, a 440 ft long structure, involved the construction of a lock on Jhelum with an avowed objective to increase the level of water in the river during lean season (late-October to mid-February).

The Jammu and Kashmir government says the project is aimed at managing water levels of the river in a better fashion during the lean season when the discharge recedes to a mere 2000 cusecs. Fall in the water level by almost one-half prevents routine navigation especially in the 20-km stretch from Wular to Baramulla via Sopore. For navigation a depth of four feet, flow of 4000 cusecs is needed besides an operational level of 5,177.90 ft in the Wular lake. The project, the engineers argue, would stabilise the water level between Khanabal in south Kashmir and Khadanyar in north Kashmir.

Experts say that the real benefit of the project will go to the energy sector because a better discharge during lean season will add to the unutilised capacities of the downstream project, the NHPC owned Uri-I and Uri-II and PDC-run Lower Jhelum.

The project has an interesting history. In 1912 Punjab government had approached Kashmir Durbar seeking permission to construct a major barrage on Wular Lake for helping irrigate parts of Punjab where Rabi crops were not getting enough water. The Durbar would get Rs 75000 every month as royalty but it was not agreed to.

Later in 1924, the Punjab government came with a renewed proposal offering a yearly royalty of Rs 1.85 lakhs. The princely state rejected the proposal again believing it might lead to water-logging in most of the north Kashmir especially Sopore and Baramulla.

In 1972 when the government initiated a proposal of reviving the age-old navigation in the Jhelum between Khanabal (Anantnag) and Khadanyar (Baramulla), a series of studies were undertaken. The result was the idea of constructing of a navigation lock that would ensure a better water level round the year. The government was toying with the idea of getting four small vessels of 75 tones each that would be pulled by a powerful tugboat.

The project was started at Tulbal. However, after Pakistan Indus Water Commission made a number of visits to the site, and suggested that the site be moved closer to WularWular so that the navigation lock would affect only a small portion of the neighbouring Sopore. It was finally shifted to Ningli, furlongs away from the spot where Jhelum leaves Wular. The project envisages making of 10-parallel waterways  a lock way, two overflow ways, six non-overflow ways and a fish ladder.

New Delhi maintains that regulating depletion of naturally stored waters for non-consumptive use of navigation is permissible under the Treaty and that there is no storage involved.

Islamabad says India cannot store water in excess of 0.01 million acre-feet (MAF). Its objections, however, stem from the apprehension that the lock may damage its triple-canal project linking Jhelum and Chenab with Upper Bari Doab canal and a fear that the stored water could be used as weapon by India during hostilities.

Engineers who have remained associated with the project insist that a constant flow during lean season would also help Pakistan in running its Mangla-dam-fed Hydel Power Project in Muzafarabad. A host of Pakistani officers who were frequenting the site did admit the fact, however, they were apprehensive that India might use the project as a weapon by withholding the water or by simply adding more to the Jhelum especially during floods in order to create more problem in Pakistan, said another officer, who was earlier associated with the project.

So far there have been more than 10 rounds of secretary-level talks on the issue, the last in March 2012. Besides, there were five specific meetings on this issue in 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 under the Composite Dialogue. But the two sides failed to agree on a way out.

New Delhi exhibited an interest in reviving the project in 2009 when various ministries were consulted. The process was apparently a follow up to the suggestions that the then water resources MinisterSaif ud Din Soz had made for its revival. In 2007, he has asserted that the project does not violate the treaty and a Japanese company was investing in the project.
Khunti, Jharkhand: Three villagers were killed and four others seriously injured when activists of ultra Left outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) opened indiscriminate fire on a gram sabha meeting at Raitodand in Naxal-hit Khunti district of Jharkhand, police said on Tuesday.

The villagers had assembled to discuss village-related issues on Sunday afternoon when about two dozen PLFI activists with firearms arrived on the spot and opened fire indiscriminately, DIG (Ranchi) RK Dhan, who along the Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta went to the spot on Monday night, said.

The injured were rushed to Sadar Hospital, Khunti, from where doctors referred them to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi.

The police suspect that the PLFI presumed the meeting was part of "peace meetings against ultra activities" being held across the district.

The victims have been identified as Sukhram Munda (50), Rokan Purty (60) and Deet Munda (45). A villager, Ghansiram Purty, was reported missing following the incident, the SP said.

Police personnel were rushed to the spot to track the culprits.

Jharkhand DGP DK Pandey was likely to visit the spot later in the day.
This week Justice Markandey Katju sparked off another controversy, offending Biharis, by offering them up to Pakistan. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Katju suggested that Paksitan should end conflict with India by taking up the package deal  if they take Kashmir, they will have to take Bihar too.

Pakistanis, let us end our dispute once and for all. We offer you Kashmir, but on the condition you also take Bihar. It is a package deal. You have to take the whole package or none at all. Either you take both Kashmir and Bihar, or nothing. We will not give you Kashmir alone. Deal?.

His comments were not received well by the Bihari community who suggested that instead of Bihar, Pakistan should take Katju to their country.

Katju soon apologised and said that he was only joking. He later said that Biharis don't know how to take a joke, that "they have no sense of humour."

He wrote another post, saying that the government Pakistan has point blank refused the offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar, and they have profusely apologised for ever asking for Kashmir at all and have promised never to ask for it again.

Adding fuel to the fire, he even jokingly said that the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also offered a similar deal to the then Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf but he stupidly rejected it.

In the 18 September attack in Uri by four Pakistani terrorists, three soldiers from Bihar had lost their lives.

This is not the first time, Katju has grabbed headlines for his controversial statements. He had earlier sparked debate over his derogatory comments directed at Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. He had tweeted, Amitabh Bachchan is a man with nothing in his head, and since most media persons praise him, I doubt there is anything in their heads."
There were no protests after the killings, but they have sent shockwaves through the Valley. Herdsmen said over a dozen horses were killed when the trigger-happy driver of a security forces vehicle hit the animals in Frisal village in the Kulgam district in south Kashmir.

A speeding vehicle rammed into the livestock of nomads (Gujjars) who were on way from Pahalgam in the Valley to the Sunderbani area of the Rajouri district in Jammu in the wee hours of Monday morning. At least 13 horses were crushed and four more were injured. At 3 am, an army vehicle stopped us when we reached Frisal village, after questioning us they let us go but they came again and rammed their Casper into the horses, which were walking lined in two rows on both sides of the road, Reyaz Ahmad, one of the Bakerwal (nomads), who was part of the group, said.

Ahmad added that the vehicle allegedly repeated the act and its occupants then thrashed them before they fled from the scene. The incident has not gone down well with the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities that protested in Jammu city on Monday against the incident. Community members demanded inquiry into the incident and immediate compensation for the nomadic families.

Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), a frontal organisation of Gujjars, appealed to the law enforcement agencies and sent a memo to the Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar, Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, demanding their immediate intervention, as migratory tribes were facing tremendous hardships due to various restrictions in curfew-bound areas in the Valley and other areas during the current course of migration towards the plains of Jammu and Kashmir.

Showkat Aijaz, district magistrate, Kulgam, said that after receiving complaints from the nomads, the police immediately lodged an FIR and started investigations. The army, however, denied its men were involved in the incident. We are investigating the matter and once our investigation is complete, we will ascertain who was behind the killings of these animals. It is sad. These horses are their livelihood and they should not have lost them, Aijaz told Firstpost.

The Gujjars are the third largest ethnic group, after Kashmiri-speaking Muslims and Dogra Hindus, in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the years they have emerged has a significant political entity and influence the winning prospect of at least 20 candidates in eight Assembly constituencies in the state.

Normally these people (Gujjars) block the entire road for some time. Perhaps this infuriated the security forces and they crushed them after they came in their way. It was a gruesome sight when we arrived at the spot. Although there was no tension in the area, people were infuriated. Gujjar women were beating their chests because they have a deep attachment to their livestock, a district official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Firstpost.

During this time of the year, Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir migrate in large number to the plains of the Jammu region after spending summers letting their livestock graze on the pastures in the Valley. They arrive in April and return in October or November. Many of them come with horses and mules and earn a livelihood by ferrying pilgrims to the Amarnath cave in Kashmir.

The Kashmir Police, after taking cognisance of the complain by nomads, have lodged an FIR number 109/2016 under section 297 of the RPC  against an unidentified army vehicle. Dr Javaid Rahi, a Gujjar scholar, said that he has appealed to various NGOs and government agencies to mobilise their resources to provide necessary logistical facilities to his community members so that they are able to move smoothly towards their destinations without loss to their livestock and other property.

The tragic incident took on political overtones with the Opposition National Conference accusing the security forces of of giving vent to their anger and frustration on domestic animals of these nomads.

Their vehicles deliberately mowed down about a dozen horses for no rhyme or reason, exposing their hatred for the people of the state in general and the majority community in particular, senior NC leader Shiekh Mustafa Kamal said.
A country that ignores the rage of a very important section of its youth should expect an insurrection. A country whose security managers are oblivious to a dangerous external threat is in for a battering. A country whose rulers mess up on social, political and military fronts all at once condemns itself to a bleak future.

Such a future looms before India. The most tragic aspect of this situation is that at least the youth rage in Kashmir could have been handled before it became a full-blown uprising. When it did, it was not handled. The harsh suppression now underway will build up tinder for more trouble.

Over the past two years, our rulers ignored the rage among Kashmiri youth, as it built to fever pitch. Indeed, the state apparatus presided over the coalescence of that rage like an emperor fiddling while his citadel burnt. Since it happened at a time when an extremely serious external threat was building, one might even compare it with Muhammad Shah carousing while a Nadir Shah approached.

It was obvious over the past year that youth rage had coalesced visibly, particularly in south Kashmir. Some of the proximate causes: no flood rescue or relief, beef vigilantism, perceived threats to identity, the perception of a national anti-Muslim bias, and disgust at the PDPs coalition with, and perceived humiliation by, the BJP.

The PDP, which won 28 assembly seats in 2014, is based largely in south Kashmir. But even after youth rage began to visibly boil in Pulwama, Kulgam and other parts of south Kashmir last autumn, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to snub former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed at a public meeting in Srinagar  and then starve the state of promised funds.

So oblivious did the state apparatus remain even by this summer that it had no idea that rage would explode forcefully over the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. Either the powers-that-be were taken totally by surprise, or some of them calculated that letting it explode would help them consolidate an anti-Muslim 'nationalist' vote elsewhere in the country. If indeed that sort of cynical calculation was at play, it is unforgivable.

The state apparatus gave the explosion of youth rage space for several weeks after Burhans death. Leave alone the police, even army convoys turned away from stone-pelting mobs in some places. That was a sensible tactic for the first few days, especially in light of the unpreparedness and miscalculations that resulted in a huge toll of deaths and eye injuries in the very first couple of days after Burhans death. But thereafter, restraint became increasingly costly.

For, three trends unfolded simultaneously: one, agents provocateurs took increasing control of teenaged mobs. Some of them were from political parties and organisations. Many of them disbursed money. Two, narratives about what was happening became polarised, uni-dimensional and provocative. Three, more and more common people became restive, eager for 'normalcy.'

For two months, the state apparatus failed to handle the first two, or build upon the third. Political workers were largely invisible, particularly in the crucial first month. Over the past couple of weeks, the state apparatus has swung to the other extreme, opting for ham-fisted suppression.

Thousands of boys have been picked up. The states draconian Public Safety Act has been liberally applied. Adolescents have been locked up and brutalised. There is talk of desperate parents paying large sums to get them released. This may well succeed in imposing surface calm. But in terms of easing youth rage, it is even worse than ignoring it cynically over the past year and more. It will initiate a fresh cycle of fury, alienation and revolt.

In fact, the youth rage before which the state has been so helpless for two months has been building since the state employed exactly the same sort of repressive tactics in the wake of the stone-pelting uprising of 2010. Then, the issues were specific: the killing of innocents by counterinsurgency forces. The names of Wamiq Farooq, Tufail Mattoo and Machil reverberated through that summer and beyond.



The suppression that followed over the next year shaped a new wave of local militants  boys like Burhan Wani, who went underground aged 15 in October 2010 after he was brutalised by policemen of the Special Task Force.

The country's top security managers refused to take this new militancy, and the youth rage that fed it, seriously until last year, when public anger over militant attacks against security forces became politically costly. Then, they ordered the armed forces to kill militants.

That they allowed the rage to build until then makes one wonder whether they glimpsed political benefit in framing developments in Kashmir as Muslims at war with India.

Either way, the state has damaged the nation both in the lead-up to Burhan's killing as well as in the weeks since. One has a sinking feeling about just how high a price the country will yet pay for its rulers' mistakes.
In a setback to Karnataka government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for three days. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, reported ANI.

However, Karnataka government told the apex court that they were not in a position to release water and suggested that they would comply to the SC order by November, reported CNN-News 18.

CORRECTION: SC clarifies - order for K'taka to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu is for 3 days, next hearing Friday.  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Karnataka Govt tells SC they are not in position to comply with order but gave a suggestion that they will comply with the order by Nov 2016  News18 (@CNNnews18) September 27, 2016

According to IANS, the Supreme Court also asked the Centre to convene meetings of chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on release of Cauvery river waters.

On Monday, Karnataka had moved Supreme Court seeking modification of its order to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu, saying its reservoirs did not have sufficient water. Karnataka had further stated that it could comply to the SC order by December, reported NDTV.

While Karnataka had sought modification of 20 September order of the apex court, Tamil Nadu had alleged that its neighbhour should not be heard till it complied with directives of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

Cauvery water row: Farmers in Mandya (Karnataka) hold protest over Supreme Court direction to the state. pic.twitter.com/HYtqPC6tYq  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Tamil Nadu, being agrrieved by the non-compliance of apex court order, had said "the state of Karnataka is acting as judge in its own cause and refusing to comply with the orders passed by this court by consciously failing to ensure the release inspite of the matter being sub-judice before this court".

On 20 September, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till 27 September, doubling the quantum fixed by the Supervisory Committee.

The apex court had on 20 September also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) as directed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in its award.

On 12 September, the apex court had asked both states to ensure that law and order prevails.

It had modified its earlier order on sharing of Cauvery water and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs instead of 15,000 cusecs per day till 20 September to Tamil Nadu.

With inputs from agencies
Compassion died a dog's death in Kottayam in Kerala on Monday, quite literally. Proving true the adage that an empty mind is a devil's workshop, politically jobless activists of the youth wing of the Kerala Congress (Mani) killed eight stray dogs, tied four of them to a pole and paraded the carcasses in Kottayam town. They then left them in front of the Kottayam West post office, demanding that the bodies be sent in a parcel to Union minister Maneka Gandhi's office. Their ire was directed at Maneka Gandhi because she has been critical of the manner in which Kerala has tried to ensure it is not 'dog's own country'.

For those not familiar with Kerala and its politics, Kerala Congress (Mani) is headed by former finance minister KM Mani, considered a strongman in Kottayam district. Even after he was accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 1 crore from bar owners to renew liquor licenses, he refused to quit the Oommen Chandy government and even went on to present the state budget in March 2015. He finally had to resign when a court ordered a probe against him.

Since the elections this May that the United Democratic Front (UDF) lost, Mani has been keeping a low-profile. Peeved at the manner in which Mani was treated like a pariah, his five MLAs quit the UDF in a huff. He tried making overtures to the LDF but he is not really welcome in the ruling front. The BJP can be an option Mani could explore at a later date, as the saffron party would be keen on the Christian vote he will bring to the kitty. So Mani and his party have decided to play the waiting game at the moment.

But that does not include letting sleeping dogs lie. Mani's youth activists decided to bar the stray dogs from Kerala by targeting the "dangerous" ones. The politicians ridiculously bragged they could recognize a dangerous dog when they saw one. Just a week ago, another one of their party activists, Gils Periappuram  a councillor in Ernakulam district  had killed ten stray dogs. All of them were allegedly asphyxiated using a noose.

The protest also seemed intended to send a message across to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who had earlier announced in a Facebook post that no illegal killing of strays will be allowed under his watch.

The party has gone to the dogs  pun intended  because they realise it is an issue that finds resonance with the people of Kerala. According to the Kerala government, since January 2016, over 51,000 people have reportedly been bit by dogs in the state. The public outcry over the years also seems justified if you look at the numbers of dog bites reported. Over 88,000 people were bitten in 2013. The number rose to over a lakh cases of dog bites both in 2014 and 2015.

"There have been incidents of stray dogs chasing, attacking and biting school children, aged persons, pedestrians, morning walkers and two-wheeler riders,'' a three-member committee headed by former Kerala High court judge Justice SS Jagan said in its report submitted to the Supreme Court last month.

The earlier Oommen Chandy government that faced flak for not being able to control the stray dog menace, decided to look the other way, while some panchayats decided to take law into their own hands. Several cases of mass culling of strays were reported from districts like Kannur in north Kerala last year.

Social activists like Jose Mavely played to the gallery by offering Rs 500 to anyone who would kill and bury a stray canine. He started an organisation called 'Street Dog Eradication Union' in September last year whose goal, he said, was to free Kerala from aggressive and rabid stray dogs. Animal rights activists created a furore, starting an online campaign 'Boycott Kerala' to put pressure on the police machinery to rein in people who take to killing dogs.

Matters became worse when some activists alleged that cases of dog bites were being fabricated, creating more anger and animosity in the mind of the average Malayalee, who was fed up with the dog menace. But activists insist that a large number of dog owners let loose their pets and it is these free roaming pet dogs who are biting, while the strays get a bad name.

While arguing that there is no excessive population of street dogs in Kerala, animal rights activists have suggested sterilisation as a solution but Keralites dismiss it as a ploy to help the pharma companies.

The other way to contain the menace is to ensure cleanliness and proper disposal of garbage because the stray dog population in any place feeds and thrives on it. The ground reality, however, is that Kerala's towns and villages are by and large a more clean lot than many other habitations in India.

Activists dispute the claim that Kerala is home to 2.5 lakh stray dogs. A member of the Animal Welfare Board of India cites an instance when a scientific census showed that Thiruvananthapuram was home to about 8,000 street dogs but the municipal corporation officials wanted the figure to be inflated because "that the people in the state capital believe that there are a lot of street dogs."

Activists also point out that sporadic culling is only complicating the problem as the dog catcher catches just about any mongrel instead of looking out for the ferocious dogs that are given to attacking humans. So, when the friendly neighbourhood stray goes out of the picture, the more aggressive alpha male dog takes its place.

The immediate focus is to get the youth activists arrested for indulging in the mass killing of dogs. In a land where these politicians are masquerading as heroes, the dogs are the villains of the Kerala story.
After Independence in India, the Maratha Kranti Morcha is the largest silent protest by the Maratha community. It is being appreciated across the nation because of its discipline, cleanness and the absence of any of the nonsense seen in other agitations like those conducted by the Jats, Gurjars and Patels. Marathas make up nearly 35 percent of Maharashtra's population of 12 crore and of the states 288 MLA, 145 are Marathas.

Every community has the constitutional right to hold protests, marches etc if they have some demands. The Maratha marches for the past three weeks (and four subsequent weeks) will cover almost 18 districts. In each district, the average number of eight lakh Marathas taking to the street includes children, collegians, women, workers and senior citizens.

Over the past few weeks, many have been asking about the march and wondering who is behind the march. More than any political motive, the real reason for lakhs of Marathas to take to the streets is their anger over the brutal rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl on 13 July. In the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, a girl from the Maratha community was raped and tortured to death by three to four drunk people.

The incident was not covered by the mainstream media for some time. This led the youth from Kopardi as well as Nagar districts to go public about the incident on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. Angry social media posts went viral and a mob immediately gathered, leading the local police to swing into action and arrest the culprits within 24 hours. But by then, details of the incident had already gone viral across state boundaries, and youths from many parts of the state gathered to support the family.

"The first silent march was started in Aurangabad and other parts of Marathawada, however no one bothered to report this protest. The news was initially published only by a couple of vernacular media outlets, but prominent wings of the media (including television channels, Mumbai-based English and Marathi newspapers) completely ignored the march. However, we had anticipated that the traditional Brahminical media would not report the matter, so we have focused on social media to connect with the Maratha community and mobilise it. We formed several WhatsApp groups and created Facebook pages to send the message to maximum people. Today, with pride, I can say all Marathas  not only those from Maharashtra, but from across the globe are connected via this WhatsApp group. This is a big revolution. The majority of the community never come together and felt pride about themselves, but WhatsApp has changed our community's traditional mindset. This is a period of churn and we hope all good things will happen henceforth," said Bhaiya Patil, a social media expert

Ours is a silent protest. No slogans and speeches at all. We are not against any caste or region. We do not want to snatch anyone's right. We are fighting for our rights in a silent and non-violent way

Liladhar Patil, a Maratha Seva Sangh officer-in-charge for north Maharashtra elaborated on the importance of social media to the march. Speaking to Firstpost, Liladhar Patil said that in order to direct the people, they made a trained activist the admin of the group and he used to upload real-time photos and drone images of the protest. "Besides, we wrote songs and other informative messages that helped to rouse the people to participate in the movement voluntarily," he said.

"We do not rely on the traditional media, which is biased and wants to divide the community. Initially, they said that the Maratha morcha was against Dalits. When that failed, they said it was against OBCs. Now they are saying it's against the Brahmins. The traditional media only wants negative news. Therefore, we are also keeping distance from them. Now, we are focusing on opening thousands of Twitter accounts and requesting people to post morcha photos and videos, and then tag the prime minister and chief minister so as to create a larger impact. We want to see the Maratha Kranti Morcha trend worldwide on Twitter," he added.

Meanwhile, Maratha youth Satish Chavan from Jogeshwari in Mumbai said, "We hope the media does fair and factual reporting. They should not set the false 'Maratha versus Dalit', 'Maratha versus OBC' and 'Maratha versus Brahmin' narrative. Ours is a silent protest. No slogans and speeches at all. We are not against any caste or region. We do not want to snatch anyone's right. We are fighting for our rights in a silent and non-violent way. People might have seen many protests, but the Maratha protest is unique in all forms and methods. History will remember these protests."

A senior journalist and analyst Sanjay Miskin confirmed to Firstpost that the Kopardi incident was highlighted by social media, and until social media posts went viral, mainstream media had remained mum. The first protest in Aurangabad was disciplined, patient and non-violent. After three or four lakh members of the Maratha community joined the march, social media took the lead, he added. "Due to the advent of smartphones, it is easy to gather lakhs of people in one place. So while Kopardi is the cause, the real connection among the community is social media," said Miskin.

The date and timing of the Mumbai morcha will be announced soon, said a Maratha youth from Dadar. A meeting will be held to chalk out the strategy and planning on 30 September at Shivaji Mandir in Dadar, he added.
New Delhi: Private medical colleges in India seem to have bypassed the governments diktat to do away with the capitation fees. The move taken by many private medical colleges to increase course fee substantially is seen as a measure to compensate the loss incurred for doing away with capitation fee in the NEET regime.

A Times of India report said that Chennais SRM university has increased its yearly fees on MBBS course up to Rs 21 lakh from Rs 10 lakh. Consequently, the fee for the entire course has shot up to Rs 94.5 lakh. The report further says that in Katihar Medical College in North Bihar the annual tuition fee has been revised from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12.5 lakh. It also says that at the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi tuition fees in the management quota is up from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 18 lakh.

One of the goals of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was to make medical education available for deserving students irrespective of their financial profile. But Rahul Tiwary, a doctor in a government health facility in Delhi says that the NEET does not seem to have succeeded much in this aspect.

"Since private medical colleges have increased their course fee exorbitantly to compensate for the loss they have incurred because of doing away with capitation fees, many students who could have got admission in such colleges by dint of their merit will have to forego seats and leave them for students who are less deserving but financially well of candidates," he said.

He also said that India faces a shortage of doctors and hence there is a growing demand for private medical education. This is where the role of the private medical educational institutions come in.

An India Today story quoting a Medical Council of India report said the present doctor-patient ratio in India is 1:1,674, whereas the ideal ratio is 1:1000.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reportedly went on record saying that the government is increasing the number of seats in the government medical colleges to meet the growing demand of doctors, a story in The Economic Times said. But some doctors are skeptical of this approach, saying that merely increasing the number of seats without enhancing the quality of education is by no means going to help.

A doctor unwilling to express his identity said, "Merely increasing the number of seats will put further pressure on the existing teaching facilities which are already insufficient in government medical colleges. This will also add to the divide in quality of education provided by government medical colleges and private medical colleges."

He said that private medical colleges regularly enhance their health facilities, which is unheard of in most of the government medical colleges.

The doctor said that since there are more private medical colleges in India than the government ones, so the private health education sector should be given equal importance. As per a report there 250 private medical colleges out of 426 medical colleges in total.

KK Mishra another health practitioner in Delhi said that as per the NEET guidelines the state governments have the right to regulate the tuition fees of the private medical colleges those fall under their purview.

But there is a catch, Mishra said. State governments can regulate only the tuition fees of the private medical colleges and not the other heads such as development fees and maintenance fees etcetera. Hence even if the state government decides to decrease the tuition fees charged by the private medical colleges, these institutions can compensate by increasing fees charged on heads other than tuition fees.

He suggested that to have control over the private educational institutions the government should take control over 51 percent of the stakes in such institutions.
Going by the several rounds of meetings that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding with designated group of officers  civil, intelligence and military  it appears as though he is working on a multipronged strategic option to hurt Pakistan. A day after chairing a meeting to review the Indus Waters Treaty, it was announced that he will be holding a meeting on 29 September to review the 'Most Favoured Nation' (MFN) status given to Pakistan.

It indicates that he is not looking at a knee jerk military response but is weighing all possible options, assessing his own capabilities, weighing them carefully so that the cost of escalation on the Indian side can be minimised, yet the action is effective.

No one can be sure of the timeline of the action proposed, if any, but it looks as though the government is evolving a tiered strategic action plan that will be unveiled one after another in due course.

There is an unflinching faith among the ruling BJP leaders, the party and the government that Modi is working on a sound strategy and will not let Pakistan go "unpunished". Modi's working style has been such that nobody, not even his senior colleagues, get to know till the very end of his actual action plan. These leaders have observed him closely, been with him and have built their belief in him for action and delivery.

This time around the political leadership in the government is not rushing to respond in an ad hoc manner, responding to the popular mood but evolving its strategy based on cold calculations.

After letting his intent known on Indus Waters Treaty that "blood and water can't flow simultaneously" and review of the stalled Tulbul project in north Kashmir, Modi has now decided to hold a meeting on Thursday to review the MFN status granted to Pakistan. Until the Prime Minister chairs that meeting, the officials of the two ministries  External Affairs and Commerce  will go over its various aspects and prepare for the meet.

There is a strong possibility that India will withdraw the MFN status granted unilaterally to Pakistan in 1996 without any reciprocation from Pakistan so far. The MFN status was granted to Pakistan by India under terms of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). While both India and Pakistan are signatories to this, which means that the two countries have to treat each other and the rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners, but Pakistan has defaulted on that count.

Early last year, Pakistani high commissioner Abdul Basit had said at a conference organised by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations that extending MFN status to India would severely harm Pakistan's local economy. Basit argued that growing bilateral trade has hardened India's stance on the issue of Kashmir.

It is probably India's turn to pay back Pakistan on the same terms.

Modi has given all indications that India would find ways to maximise the use of Indus rivers system in due course and choke Pakistan to the extent it can. The tough words stated by Modi in the high level meeting on Monday, attended by the NSA, foreign secretary, water resource secretary and other senior officials concerned, are loaded with ominous implications for Pakistan.

The fact that the meeting of the Indus River Commission, which comprises of commissioners from both sides and meetings are held alternatively in India and Pakistan, which had not been interrupted even during the 1965, 1971 and 1999 wars, is being cancelled for the first time in 56 years. It means that New Delhi has began acting tough.

Modi's words may appear tough to Pakistan, but is actually in spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty signed by then Prime Minter of India Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Field Marshal Mohammed Ayub Khan in 1960. The water treaty was signed in spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperative spirit of the two neighbouring countries.

Read preamble of the treaty: "The Government of India and the Government of Pakistan, being equally desirous of attaining the most complete and satisfactory utilisation of the waters of the Indus system of rivers and recognising the need, therefore, of fixing and delimiting, in a spirit of goodwill and friendship, the rights and obligations of each in relation to the other concerning the use of these waters and of making provision for the settlement, in a cooperative spirit, of all such questions as may hereafter arise in regard to the interpretation or application of the provisions agreed upon herein, have resolved to conclude a Treaty in furtherance of these objectives..."

Former finance and external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha made a very convincing argument in an article published in The Indian Express: "Treaty terms are observed between friends, not enemies. Pakistan is an enemy state of India. It has said so repeatedly. The attacks on our military bases in Pathankot and Uri were not mere terrorist attacks; they were acts of war against the Indian state, sponsored by Pakistan. India will, therefore, be fully justified in abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan."

He further wrote: "We all want peace with Pakistan, but we must remember that sometimes the road to peace passes through war."

Before leaving for Kozhikode on Saturday, Modi had met Army Chief, Air Force Chief and Vice-Admiral of Navy (Naval Chief was not in New Delhi), apparently to know defence preparedness and look at the various possible dimensions involved. Earlier, he had been in the war-room of the Defence Ministry located in South Block.

A senior leader said, "Modi knows what Pathankot and Uri attack mean for the country and his image. Ultimately everyone in the party, Parivar (Sangh), the government and people at large are looking at him in great anticipation as to what he has to do. He is surely going to act tough. It may take some time because he has to weigh all options and can't be simply guided by the overriding sentiments on social media but rest assured that tough action will be coming. Don't think he is any less angry, but as PM he has to act with certain responsibility and we all are sure action will be firm and decisive."
A cartoon published in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana has drawn immense flak from senior Shiv Sena leaders, political parties and even ally BJP. The cartoon alludes to the 'silent march' being taken out by the Maratha community. Shiv Sena has largely kept mum on the ongoing agitation, but the cartoon puts party in the backfoot.

According to a report in DNA, following the publishing of the cartoon, Bhaskarrao Bhange from Marathwada, Ravi Raj (corporator) from Dhule and Ashok Khedkar from Buldhana have submitted their resignations to the Sena chief.

Enraged by the cartoon, the Saamana office in Navi Mumbai was stoned on Tuesday. A pro-Maratha social organisation, 'Sambhaji Brigade', later claimed responsibility for the attack. Three youths arrived in a vehicle at the Saamana printing press building located at Sanpada in Navi Mumbai at around 1.45 pm. They called the guard of the press and requested him to take a letter, the police told PTI.

Sanpada(Maha):Protesters agitated over cartoon related to Maratha protests,pelted stones at Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna office,earlier today pic.twitter.com/76OC9iAcsa  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

As the guard was approaching their vehicle, the youths got down from the vehicle, rushed towards the press building and allegedly pelted it with stones and fled, they said. Two-three glasses on the building's outer wall were damaged in the attack, they added.

After getting information of the attack, police reached the spot and a complaint was lodged by the office-bearers at Sanpada police station. Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale confirmed the incident. Police said an offence has been registered against the culprits and appropriate action will be taken.

Condemning the cartoon, the organisation's spokesperson Shivanand Bhanuse told PTI, "We are condemning a cartoon which was published in Saamana. Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Saamana's executive editor Sanjay Raut must apologise to the women of Maharashtra."

"The attack was spontaneous and an expression of emotions of the Maratha community," he said. On Sunday, a cartoon on "silent march" was published in Saamana, which drew criticism from various political quarters.

The Marathas have been organising silent marches across the state following the Kopardi rape and murder incident, in which the victim was a member from the community. Some more such rallies are also planned in the state in the coming days.

With inputs from PTI
Thane: Unknown persons pelted the Saamana printing press in Navi Mumbai with stones and threw ink at its offices in Thane on Tuesday, an official said.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said some culprits stoned the publication's offices in Saanpada suburb, shattering two or three glass windows on the outer wall.

"Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action taken against the accused," Nagrale told media persons.

In adjoining Thane town, some persons threw ink outside the office of Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally in both the central and Maharashtra governments.

Though officials declined comment, the provocation for the attacks stems from a cartoon published in the Saamana on Sunday, poking fun at the ongoing statewide stir by Marathas seeking reservation and other issues.

The Maratha community has taken strong objection to what it alleged were snide suggestions made in the Saamana cartoon.
Speaking in metaphors and similes, the 75-year-old self-styled 'godman' and rape accused, Asaram Bapu, who is currently admitted at Aiims for medical examination, embarrassed a nurse by likening her with butter and her cheeks to juicy Kashmiri apples, reported Dainak Bhaskar.

According to the report, the nurse had brought Asaram bread and butter before his checkup. As she entered, the self-styled godman said, "Why is there a need to bring butter with the bread when you are as soft as butter? You must be from Kashmir because your cheeks are as red as Kashmiri apples and tomatoes."

Trying to be poetic here, are we? Fail.

This has just added another feather in the controversial Bapu's embarrassment cap.

Asaram's comments on Delhi gangrape are as twisted as his ongoing case. Although he didn't use metaphors, he said that Jyoti Singh, the victim, "should have taken Gods name and could have held the hand of one of the men and said I consider you as my brother, and should have said to the other two Brother I am helpless, you are my brother, my religious brother."

Recently, while boarding a Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight, Asaram and his supporters had reportedly created a ruckus and delayed the flight by two hours by shouting slogans and refusing to be seated, reported Economic Times.

The Supreme Court had on 29 August allowed Asaram to be taken to Aiims Delhi from Jodhpur jail for medical examination.

The order had come after a three-member panel of doctors from Aiims informed the apex court that requisite equipment for evaluation of Asaram's medical condition were not there in Jodhpur jail and he needed to be brought to the institute for proper check up.

On 11 August, the apex court had denied interim bail to Asaram in a rape case and directed Aiims to set up a medical board to ascertain his health condition before taking up his regular bail plea.

In 2013, a teenage girl had filed a police complaint against Asaram of sexual assault between 1997 and 2006 when she was staying in his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

Her younger sister had filed a separate complaint against Asaram's son Narayan Sai, accusing him of repeated sexual assault between 2002 and 2005 when she was living in his Surat ashram.

Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur Police on 31 August, 2013 and has been in jail since then.

With inputs from PTI
On World Tourism Day, here's one more reason to quench our thirst for travel.

The World Tourism Day is celebrated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

In honour of promoting the 2016 of promoting universal accessibility, we decided to list the top 5 destinations Indians can travel to without the hassles of obtaining a visa beforehand. Happy planning!

Madagascar

Location: Coast of Eastern Africa

Visa on Arrival information: Madagascar gives a free visa on arrival for a stay of upto 30 days. Short stay visas for 60 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying a fee of 70 Euros and 100 Euros respectively.

Why you should visit:

If you love exploring unique flora and fauna, this is the place for you. Pack your D-SLR camera as you come across animals like lemurs, the aye-aye, flying fox and the fossa.

The plants are also unique and 80% of them are endemic to the island (you won't find them anywhere else in the world) so its the perfect spot for all the amateur photographers out there who are into capturing the beauty of nature.

For those of you are into adventure, try snorkeling at the scenic island of Nosy Mangabe.

Food to try: Madagascar Fried Rice; which with sweet corn, spring onions and soy paste makes it a unique dish to try.

Saint Lucia

Location: Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation.

Visa On Arrival information: Saint Lucia is a destination where Indian passport holders can obtain visa on arrival for a stay of upto 6 weeks.

Why you should visit: The beautiful island is the perfect combination of nature and adventure.

The island is famous for the Piton mountains, and its beautiful waterfalls. Its a perfect place to hike and revel in the beauty of nature. A must visit place is Sulpur Springs, the world's only drive-in volcano.

For those of you looking for a different type of adventure; worry not. Other than it being a international party spot, it also has a wide range of fusion-food restaurants guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds no matter what you like!

Food to try: When you are in Saint Lucia, you have to try the National dish of Green Fig & Salt Fish.

Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong is simultaneously a part of China, and not China. This means that Hong Kong has special administrative rules for its' governing, and special visa rules for visiting it.

Visa On Arrival information: For up to 14 days, you can stay in Hong Kong visa-free.

Why you should visit: Hong Kong has it all.

Whether you want to look at Hong Kong's spectacular skyline, or go on nature trails, Hong Kong has it all. It is also a shopping mecca, with shoppers flocking from all over the world to the markets of Hong Kong which are known as a bargainer's paradise.

It is also (in)famous for its party scene, and has a wild nightlife which will keep you pretty busy too. And no matter how old you are, you can't miss out on going to the Disneyland in Hong Kong.

Food to try: Douhua, also known as doufuhua or tou foo fa, is a Chinese dessert made with silky tofu.

Bolivia

Visa On Arrival information: You can get a visa on arrival in Bolivia when you show them your travel itinerary and hotel reservation. The visa is valid for 90 days. Prior visa is free of charge and you can get it at Bolivian embassy.

Why you should visit: If you like historical architecture, peaceful walks down picturesque streets and scenic lakes, Bolivia is your pick.

The quiet pace of the country is quite charming as you visit the town of Copacabana, revel in its quaintness, explore the capital of La Paz and gawk in wonder at the world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni.

Food to try: Bunuelos are a popular snack throughout Bolivia. They come in both sweet or savory flavors and are often stuffed with cheese. While Bunelos can be eaten at anytime, Bolivian tradition sees them eaten on Christmas morning with syrup and hot chocolates.

Jamaica

Location: The Carribean Islands

Visa On Arrival information: A visa is not required for your visit to Jamaica.

Why you should visit: If you are a fan of Reggae music and Bob Marley, Jamaica should definitely be on your list.

This laid back country is known for its coffee plantations, the blue lagoon (made famous by Tom Cruise's film Cocktail) and scenic beaches.

Food to try: The Jamaican Jerk Chicken and the Jamaican coffee. The jerk chicken is best sampled from street-side vendors for authenticity.
Views from around the world on Monday's first US Presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump:

China

Wang Pei, a graduate student in communications studies, was watching the debate from a cafe in Beijing and said he thought Clinton carried herself better.

"I personally like Trump's character and the feeling that he's a fighter," Wang said. "But from today's performance, I think Clinton was more like a mature politician and Trump looked a bit like a misfit in this kind of setting."

Asked if he hoped that China would someday see its political candidates engage in similar debates, he said: "I don't expect China to copy the US, or become a counterpart of the US.

"I hope China will find its own way of sustainable development instead of following the example of the US, as long as this way can give us good lives," Wang said.

Ge Mengchao, a graduate student in journalism, said he thought Trump would be a friendlier president to China because his business background could mean he would appreciate the countries' commercial ties.

"I think maybe Trump would be friendlier to China, because China and the US share vast common interests, especially in commercial areas," Ge said. "From the perspective of a businessman, he may take a friendlier approach to China."

Australia

Milton Gan, a Sydney-based photographer, said it seemed like Trump was trying to rein in his temper for the first 15 minutes, then went off the rails.

"He started interrupting Clinton, he started interrupting (moderator) Lester (Holt) and he started steamrolling. And you could see he was just getting really irate about everything," Gan said.

"The most ridiculous thing was at the end when he said he had the better temperament to be president," Gan said, laughing. "It was just hilarious."

Clinton came off prepared, confident and composed, Gan said: "Obviously, she's done her prep and she's got so much experience in politics and I think that really showed."

Richard Mcconochie, 57, watched the debate on a big screen in a Canberra pub and said, "To me Trump aced it."

"He came across as a man who could control himself. They said Trump's ignorant of the issues. I think he proved that he had at least a working handle on most of the stuff he was talking about."

"I think he'll swing a lot of Americans over to Trump just by proving that he is not the sort of unstable, dangerous lunatic that he's painted to be," McConochie said. "I don't see that Trump would be any more incompetent than Clinton."

Paul Smith, 56, at the same pub, was disappointed Trump had not done better.

"He just really didn't come up with the goods today. He hasn't done his homework as much as she had. She was just so confident, so knowledgeable, looking so healthy, relaxed and delivered. And he didn't have the comeback, didn't have the punches."

"I think he should be given a go. I think it's business as usual with Hillary, it's just a continuation of what Obama's up to."

Japan

Narushige Michishita, a Japanese analyst, said it was in some ways heartening to hear his country mentioned in the debate, since Japan is often overlooked these days. But he disagreed with Trump's criticism that Japan and other US allies aren't contributing enough to their defense.

"There is a small truth to what Trump was saying, in the sense that Japan was a kind of free-rider or at least a cheap-rider back in the 1970s and 80s," said Michishita, director of the security and international studies program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.

"But ... now given what Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe is doing to make Japan much more proactive on defense and security matters, and trying to make Japan more engaged in international security affairs, it's like, 'What are you talking about?'"

Hirotsugu Aida, author of a book on the Trump phenomenon, agreed that Trump misunderstood the US-Japan security alliance but said he still did better than Clinton.

"Trump unexpectedly acted presidential. It might be a setback for Clinton who wanted to make him look unsuitable for presidency," he said. "Clinton could not successfully distinguish herself as a mature politician from Trump the amateur in politics ... It may sound a bit too strong but I would say Trump won."

Aida, a professor of global studies at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, said Trump avoided making gaffes and meaningless criticism against Japan on trade issues, going after China and Mexico instead.

Philippines

Victor Andres Manhit, president of the think-tank Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, welcomed Clinton's assurances that the US would honour its treaty obligations if she becomes president.

"I'm really hoping that that kind of statement reminds our own government that we have an ally in the United States vis-a-vis our fight for territorial integrity and our maritime rights in the South China Sea," he said.

Richard Heydarian, a political science professor at Manila's De La Salle University said he thought Clinton "was clearly the more prepared candidate and was able to handle Trump's offensives with utmost finesse. Trump seemed more subdued than expected, but spent too much time defending himself on secondary issues and failed to build up on his vision for the American people, especially the middle classes. ...

"She clearly was more commander-in-chief material today than her main rival, who forwarded a more disengaged and isolationist America that is 'not the global policeman' and more concerned with its narrow national interests," Heydarian said.

India

Manjeet Kripalani, executive director of the Mumbai-based foreign policy think tank Gateway House, said there were "no surprises."

"Both candidates were authentically who they are. She, the sophisticated, career politician. Donald Trump, the brash entrepreneur who people relate to," she said.

Kripalani views Trump as a greater potential force for change in Washington's relationship with India and its rival Pakistan.

"Hillary Clinton is a status quoist. Where America's relationship with Pakistan is concerned or in other ways she won't change the status quo," she said. "Donald Trump may have some surprises in terms of how America views Pakistan. Trump has said that the existing world alliances don't work for America.

"He's created an opening for countries like India to step in and negotiate a new world order."

South Korea

Cho June-Hyuck, Foreign Ministry spokesman, said it would be inappropriate for the Seoul government to respond to comments made by US presidential candidates in the run-up to the vote. Trump said during the debate that South Korea should burden larger costs for the U.S. troops stationed in the peninsula, and that the United States should let China to have a larger role in controlling the actions of North Korea.

Cho said the Seoul government is closely monitoring the election, and that South Korea has been doing its part to strengthen the combined defense force between the countries and create a stable environment for the stationed U.S. soldiers. He said Seoul and Washington are holding a variety of talks on different levels to deal with the North Korean nuclear threat.
India is dealing with a terrorist state which channels billions of dollars to support terrorist groups. It still awaits credible action by the Pakistani government to bring the perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2016 Pathankot attacks to justice," India told the UN Human Rights Council in a hard-hitting statement on Monday.

The latest terrorist attack in Uri, where 18 Indian soldiers lost their life and over 20 injured, only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active, India said using its Right of Reply (RoR), during a general debate on the implementation of Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, responding to a statement made by Pakistan.

The recovery of GPS, grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets and equipment and other stores made in Pakistan, and patterns of infiltration and attacks, is clear evidence of involvement of terror organizations based in Pakistan or territory under its control, India stated.

It (India) deeply regrets its neighbours continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to its state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Pakistan has a selective approach in dealing with terrorists inside Pakistan as well as outside its boundaries and its continued support to terrorists in J&K is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of the citizens in the state, India said.

In Pakistan, our region is dealing with a terrorist state, which has for years with complete impunity channelized billions of dollars from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours, the statement said.

Internationally proscribed terrorist entities and their leaders continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with State support; even raising funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistans international obligations.

We await credible action by the Government of Pakistan to bring all those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack and the 2016 Pathankot attack to justice, India told the Council.

The irresponsible and short-sighted Pakistani policy of using terrorism as a state policy has not only affected India but has had deleterious impact on the stability of South Asia as a whole and beyond.

We call upon the Council to urge Pakistan to engage in honest introspection and focus its energies on acting against perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours from its own territory. Countering terrorism emanating from Pakistan, that has turned out to be the most acute violator of human rights, is the only way to address the risk to peace and stability of the region, India said in the RoR statement.

Pakistan, earlier during the debate, had stated that it is regrettable that decades since the adoption of the UN Charter and the two covenants (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights), the people of Indian-occupied J&K are still being denied the right to self-determination.

The repression and brutality they [Kashmiris] face is constant, Pakistan said.

The Council is being asked to believe the absurd narrative of India that the situation in J&K is about terrorism, Pakistan said, adding that the Kashmiri people were being bludgeoned and brutalized by an occupying power so that they give up their just right to self-determination.

Genuine human rights defenders like Khurram Parvez are stopped by India from speaking at the Council. This is a clear case of reprisals. Mr. President, you need to take action, Pakistan said.
Olympic gymnastic Chellsie Memmel is "on stage in a completely new way," as she puts it, later this month in the nation's capital. She's starring in "The Loser Letters," a play that makes a creative response to the "new atheism" and radical secularism currently gaining steam in our culture and encroaching into public life.

The play is adapted and directed by Jeffrey Fiske, a playwright who describes the show as a young woman wrestling with Faith, her inner demon. Memmel's character, the personification of the "inner demon," is a non-speaking role, relying entirely on the prompts of a young female character named A.F. Christian and choreography -- thus the perfect role for a gymnast.

A.F. Christian is the creation of Mary Eberstadt, who, sometime in 2008, told me about her idea for a series of letters written from the vantage point of a young woman struggling with atheism and existential crisis. We published them on National Review Online, and Ignatius Press later published it as a book.

This notion of the Shadow, that "demon" Fiske references, though, was never in the print iterations -- it's the fruit of the creative genius of Fiske. As Eberstadt explains: "There are supernatural elements to A.F.'s tale that are left mostly implicit in the book until the end. What Jeff has done is bring them to life and make them explicit in the form of the Shadow. It makes the production abound with kinetic energy -- both A.F.'s and (that of) her shadowy doppelganger. The dialectic of their movements is a show in itself."

A.F. is very much one of the "nones" of her generation -- a millennial who steers clear of organized religion. And yet, Eberstadt says: "A.F. struggles with the re-paganization of the world. She's a pilgrim who doesn't even know she's on a pilgrimage -- because she's been robbed by the secular culture of the very language of sin and redemption. Recovering that lost language is a big part of her journey."

The premise of "The Loser Letters" is that "we live in uniquely broken times," Eberstadt says. Perhaps one has to look no further than the current presidential election to drink in that sobering, saddening, maddening reality. Eberstadt, echoing Pope Francis' condemnation of our throwaway society that sees even human beings as disposable, reflects: "In today's secularized culture, a deformed, consumerist view of humanity rules. This causes heartbreak and injustice on a massive scale -- especially by undermining romance and love, as the story of the protagonist goes to show." She emphasizes, "A.F.'s problems and trials are an 'everybody' thing."

In the series of letters that A.F. writes, you hear a "struggle to intuit and understand what people in more sophisticated eras were taught early on: that transgression and penance and redemption aren't chimeras from times past; they're present-day existential realities. Lots of people in our time have learned the same truth the hard way, as she does. Her success in making sense of a broken past is what drives the action of the book and the play."

Fiske tells me that he is "always excited about creating live theater in a way that people can't experience by staying home and watching a screen." If you consider the extent to which screens rule our lives, there is disorder afoot. And "The Loser Letters" takes to the stage -- it debuts at The Catholic University of America on Sept. 29 -- at a time when we are in dire threat of losing so much of our heritage. The play steers away from politics, instead drawing on something deeper within us for reflection.

"Art is so important," Memmel tells me. "It is a form of expression. It is also a way of sparking conversation. I hope people who see the play can take something away from it."

May such a spark keep us from losing our minds, souls, and common identity as created beings with something more to live for than the material world and even presidential elections. Wouldn't that be just about the greatest news ever, if we lived as though we treasured such a faith-based reality and protected those who did, even if we all didn't quite see it the same way?
United Nations: India raising Pakistan's "internal matter" Balochistan in the UN General Assembly is a "blatant violation" of international norms, the Pakistani envoy to the UN said as she described Kashmir not as India's integral part but an "internationally recognised dispute."

"The Indian FM' speech is a litany of falsehoods and baseless allegations. The biggest falsehood is that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute. It is the oldest item on the UN agenda. The whole world acknowledges this," Maleeha Lodhi said in a series of tweets after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's address during the 71st session of the UNGA.

In another tweet, Lodhi said raising Balochistan, "an internal matter", is a "blatant violation" of the principles of the UN charter and international norms.

Lodhi said it is "untrue" that India imposed no preconditions for talks with Pakistan.

"India suspended talks more than a year ago, and has refused to resume these despite repeated offers from Pakistan. The latest offer of talks with India was made by Pakistan's Prime Minister himself from the rostrum of the General Assembly on 21 September," Lodhi said in the tweets.

Lodhi claimed India is in "denial" about the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Pakistani and separatist Kashmiri groups gathered outside the UN, following Swaraj's address, to protest against the Indian forces in Kashmir.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters shouted slogans demanding "freedom" for Kashmir.
United Nations: The message that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India should be "loud and clear" to Pakistan, India on Monday asserted and asked whether it can clarify how terror safe havens continue to flourish on its soil despite billions of dollars of anti-terrorism aid it gets.

In its 'Right of Reply', India also rejected the "fanciful and misleading" remarks by the Pakistani envoy to the UN.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi earlier exercised the Right of Reply to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's UNGA address, saying Swaraj's remarks were a "litany of falsehoods" about Pakistan and a "travesty of facts and history".

Lodhi said Jammu and Kashmir can never be an integral part of India and is a "disputed territory", the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Responding to Pakistan's RoR, India reaffirmed that Kashmir is and always will be an integral part of India.

"...It appears that the distinguished representative of Pakistan did not hear clearly what our Minister of External Affairs stated during her address earlier today," First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN Eenam Gambhir said, exercising India's Right of Reply to Lodhi's remarks.

Quoting from Swaraj's address, Gambhir said Jammu and Kashmir is India's integral part and will always remain so.

"We hope that the message is loud and clear," she said.

Gambhir said India rejects "entirely" Lodhi's "sermons", calling her remarks "the views of a dysfunctional state which builds atrocity upon atrocity on its own people, preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights."

Through the RoR, India slammed Pakistan for making a "fanciful and misleading" presentation on the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, saying Lodhi's remarks aim to divert the attention from Pakistan's sponsorship of terror and do not answer questions posed by the world community.

"Can the representative of Pakistan clarify how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in her country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan army's much-vaunted counter terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains?"

"Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy?" Gambhir said, adding that can the Pakistani envoy deny that her country had assured in 2004 that it would not allow its territories, or territories under its control,to be used for terror attacks against India?

"And can the representative of Pakistan deny that it has failed to honour that assurance given at the highest level?" Gambhir said.

She also questioned whether the Pakistani representative will deny the armed forces of her country committed one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in human history in 1971.

"Will the representative of Pakistan deny that its armed forces have used airstrikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly? Will (she) explain why is it that Pakistan's civil society is being silenced by the plethora of heavily armed militias that go by names such as 'Jaish' or Army, 'Lashkar' or Army, 'Sipah' or Soldiers and 'Harkat' or Armed movement?" Gambhir said.

In her Right of Reply, Lodhi said the Uri attacks were "staged" to "divert" attention from the situation in Kashmir.

"The attack on the Indian Army base in Uri, particularly its timing, has all the hallmarks of an operation designed to divert attention" from the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, she said.

She accused India of "utilising" the Uri incident to blame Pakistan for the current Kashmiri uprising.

"India's government is delusional if it believes that it can 'isolate' any country. It is India itself, which because of its war crimes in Kashmir and elsewhere, and because of its warmongering, is likely to be isolated in the international community," Lodhi said.

The Pakistani envoy said Swaraj's statement reflects the "deceit and hostility" of the Indian government towards Pakistan.

In a Right of Reply exercised post Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the UNGA, India had accused Islamabad of committing war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Lodhi in her Right of Reply said the call for "freedom" of the Kashmiri people has been met with "Indian brutality" and demanded an impartial investigation into the rights violations in Kashmir.

In response to Swaraj's reference to Pakistani national Bahadur Ali, arrested in Kashmir, Lodhi said the recently captured "Indian spy, an intelligence officer" Kulbhushan Jadhav, has "confessed" to India's support to such terrorist and subversive activities particularly in Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

"Indeed, it was Kulbhushan, who was financing, arming and supporting individuals and entities listed under the UN sanctions regime," Lodhi said.

She said India's "policy of interference" in Pakistan and attempt to destabilise Balochistan are now on record. "This is blatant violation of the principles of the UN Charter."

Lodhi blamed India for suspending talks with Pakistan more than a year ago, saying New Delhi has refused to resume them despite repeated offers from Pakistan and advice from the international community.

"The latest offer was made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from the rostrum of this very Assembly. But let us be clear, talks are no favour to Pakistan. They are in the interest of both India and Pakistan and the people of our two countries.

"Let me reiterate that Pakistan is ready and willing for serious and result-oriented talks with India, especially to resolve the longstanding core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, which is imperative for durable peace, stability and development in the region."

In a second Right of Reply, Pakistan reiterated that Kashmir remains an internationally-recognised disputed territory.

Gambhir responded by saying that Pakistan has yet again "chosen to stay silent" on the tough questions.

"This is what we have come to expect from Pakistan - deception, deceit and denial. The world still waits their response," Gambhir said.
Hofstra University, located in Long Island, New York, has hosted American Presidential debates during the past three cycles. That may be somewhat fitting since it also hosts the Center for the Study of the American Presidency (with Indian-American Meena Bose as its Director). But after the latest round of prizefighting, you have to wonder if that programme will ponder over the matter of debates that do little to further the political conversation.

That was more or less the conclusion at the end of the bout between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, each bringing their signature brand of sparring to the ring, and neither managing to land that critical blow that would even technically knock out the other.

If a decision had to be awarded on points, Clinton would emerge the victor. She was composed (mostly), did her wonk act and pretty much attacked Trumps soft spots, including his taxes, or the non-release of those details. Most importantly, she managed to get through 90 minutes without a coughing fit. Trump, meanwhile, did what he crafted during the numerous primary debates, which was never quite responding to direct questions and instead pivoting to matters he actually wanted to address. Once again, he proved that he has been the most inarticulate debater seen on the American political scene in recent history, and bluster doesnt quite pass muster.

In recent days, theres been a surge in support for Trumps unusual campaign, enough to statistically give him an edge in the US Presidential Electoral College which dictates who gets to occupy the Oval Office. But one fallout of this debate is almost certainly to be that his momentum will be arrested. In fact, it probably needs to be incarcerated after this particular performance. He avoided policy specifics as if they were toxic. This is actually the Trump pattern, established through a chain of campaign rallies, where the faithful forgather. But before the million of viewers, including many that may still be uncommitted; there was evasiveness on display, that may well cost him in polling.

When it comes to untrustworthiness, as with national polling, Clinton has managed the feat of actually matching Trump. But she certainly scored more points in this debate, simply because she talked details.

But beyond partisan punditry and the barrage of instapolls online, the average viewer would have suffered through an hour-and-a-half of reality television masquerading as a meaningful dialogue.

There was little memorable in the much-hyped television event. There were some jabs: Clinton accused Trump of living in his own reality" and Trump countered with his iteration of her bad experience. But overall, if their lines were scripted, there ought to be someone out there shouting to those who created these with Youre fired! (to borrow the signature line from Trumps The Apprentice).

For those in India, this debate had very little to offer; the country was not even mentioned a single time. But what is clear from the words of the two debaters, neither will make New Delhi very comfortable  Clinton, since she led strategies as Secretary of State in West Asia and the AfPak region that have left these conflict zones worse off than when she assumed office; and Trump, since, as with his speaking style, is a loose cannon who could fire in any direction.

Will this debate actually matter in the long term? There will be a shift towards Clinton, though how pronounced it will be remains to be measured. But, there are still over 40 days till 8 November, and two more debates, and plenty of opportunities for pitfalls and pratfalls for the pair.

For those who tracked the 2012 cycle, theres the reminder that Republican Mitt Romney decimated his rival Barack Obama in the opening debate. And we know how that ended up.
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law on Friday a bill that will dramatically increase fines for people who take part in protests that violate public order, just days ahead of the next planned rally against his 12-year rule.

Putin told a meeting of the country's top judges in his native St. Petersburg that he decided to sign the bill despite objections from his own human rights adviser Mikhail Fedotov who asked the president to veto it.

Participants in protests where public order is violated could now face fines of 300,000 roubles - more than the average annual salary - and the organisers of such rallies could be fined up to 1 million roubles.

The fine for participants used to be 1,000 roubles.

Opposition leaders said the Kremlin rushed the law through so that it could be in place before an opposition demonstration planned for next Tuesday.

Putin's opponents say the bill could radicalise the opposition movement.

Putin said he compared the draft with legislation in a number of European Union countries, including Britain, Germany, France and Spain, before signing it.

"There is nothing in our law which would have been more tough than similar legislation in the countries I named," he said.

(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Alison Williams)
Washington: The US has asked Pakistan to close all terrorist safe havens and target all militant groups, including those that target neighbouring countries, after India made a strong pitch at the UN for isolating nations who nurture, peddle and export terror.

"Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability and to deal with terrorist threats on their soil. They are fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism," White House deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said.

"We do believe that they are making progress and taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we have been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistan's neighbours, and close all safe havens," he said.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the 18 September attack on an Army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly.

Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American position that the US believes India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations. "We encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions," he said.

"We have long said that with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there is no zero-sum game here. We are pursuing very close relations with India," the deputy spokesperson said.

"We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the world's largest democracy and we share a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation," he said.

"Similarly, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses and terrorist groups that seek refuge in its territory," Toner added.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address at the UN on Monday said there are nations "in our midst" where UN designated terrorists roam freely and deliver "their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity", an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. She also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism and for whom sheltering terrorists has become "their calling card".
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.
One of the greatest advantages of wireless technology is the fact that you have lesser cables to carry and dont have to worry about compatibility as such. However, even in 2016, most of the accessories and basic functions such as charging still requires cables and that can often mean that most of us have to carry at least two cables in our bags. This is true especially if you are someone like me who carries an iOS and Android device. But what if you can have just one cable to suit both needs? Sounds perfect? The Romoss Rolink Hybrid could be your solution. Lets check it out.

Ideology

2 in 1 cables that combine microUSB ports and Lightning ports (pictured above) arent new per se. They have been around for almost as long as the introduction of the Lightning port itself since the microUSB is the older standard here. However, they most often involve a microUSB to Lightning adapter (or a Lightning to microUSB adapter) being attached to the end of the cable using a plastic or rubber strap. This makes most of such solutions seem like a DIY implementation rather than a refined and practical one.

In many cases, the strap that holds the adapter together does snap off with wear and tear and youre left with either one of the ports only depending on the cable you have. So, you end up with just an adapter and a cable so why not just go for that?

The issue with carrying a separate adapter is mainly attributed to the size of the adapters. They are too small and are easily misplaced which isnt something that you would want since these adapters are often your lifeline to recharging your device. So Romoss have come up with the ideal solution for that.

Design and Quality

The Rolink Hybrid Premium cable comes with a USB Type-A connector on one end and an innovative dual connector at the other end that combines both a Lightning port as well as a microUSB port in one single port. This means that you just have one cable to carry to charge your iOS and Android devices.

The cable comes with a length of 1 metre which is pretty much the standard length that comes with most smartphones. It uses all copper materials for best conductivity and also has an alloy casing for the connectors at the end. It uses eco friendly TPE material on the outside that comes in various colours too.

The flat cable design with a raised centre makes it easier to fold and carry the cable and makes it tangle free as well.

Performance

The Rolink Hybrid is capable of fast charging and supports various fast charging formats such as Qualcomms QuickCharge, Samsungs Adaptive Fast Charging, Mediateks Pump Express etc. In our tests, we found that the charging speeds were practically the same as the cables provided by the manufacturer. In terms of data transfer speeds too, the cable is almost identical with speeds dropping only by a tiny margin which has no effect on practical use cases to be honest.

Another use case for the cable is for those of you who use powerbanks since many powerbanks come with USB Type-A ports for output so your default Lightning cable will be sufficient but the input port is microUSB. Now, there are power banks that utilise Lightning ports for input as well but they are rare and more often than not, people have microUSB ones only.

Conclusion

The Rolink Hybrid from Romoss is a really nice cable and one that can make your life a whole lot easier and worry-free. The only downside about the connector is that the Lightning port will only go into your iOS device in one single way since the other side is microUSB only. But that is a minor tradeoff for the convenience that this cable offers. We hope that a Lightning/USB Type-C combination is possible in the future even though the implementation could possibly be very tricky.

At the asking price of 12 Singapore $ (Around Rs 587 or US$8.82), the cable is most definitely worth it especially considering that you are essentially getting a microUSB and Lightning cable in one single unit. The price for a good quality Lightning cable along would normally cost you a lot more than that. You can find the cable here.

Pros

Unique Design

Good Build Quality

Really Practical

Fast Charging and Data Transfer Speeds

Tangle Free

Cons

Lightning Port will work only in one direction
Just yesterday, it was reported that Google could announce Andromeda OS which is an amalgamation of Android and Chrome. New reports are claiming that Google is expected to announce a Pixel 3 laptop and Nexus tablet that will run the Andromeda OS.

First up, Android Police says Google is planning a new Pixel laptop which will be released in Q3 2017. The publication has obtained the news from two independent and reliable sources. Code-named as Project Bison internally, the Pixel 3 will be the first device that will sport the Andromeda OS and be in the form of a laptop. Andromeda is Googles new operating system that integrates Chrome OS into Android and not vice versa. The report says Pixel 3 will not be marketed as Chromebooks.

Pixel 3 will reportedly sport a 12.3-inch display, a fingerprint scanner, two USB C ports and bunch of sensors. It will also support a tablet mode and stylus input. The report goes on saying that the laptop will sport a pressure-sensitive trackpad similar to Macbooks, and have a battery life of upto 10 hours. It is tipped to be powered by either Intel m3 or i5 Core processor with 32 or 128GB of storage and 8 or 16GB of RAM. Google aims to make the device less than 10 mm thick and it is said to be priced at around $799.

Secondly, 9to5Google says that Google will also announce a Huawei made Nexus tablet that will also run Andromeda OS. The latest report comes only days after @evleaks shared that the successor for the Nexus 7 tablet might sport a 7-inch display and have a 4GB RAM. t is speculated that the tablet will be called as Huawei 7P as the company recently filed for the trademark earlier this year. The report goes on saying that Google is currently testing Andromeda OS on Nexus 9 tablet.

Google is expected to announce Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones along with Daydream VR and 4K Chromecast on October 4th. Earlier today, we saw the first press image of the Pixel smartphone.

Source: 1, 2
Today, the S&P 500 has an aggregate dividend yield of 2.08%, a pretty paltry yield from a historical standpoint. For investors who want income today or are hoping to use reinvested dividends as a wealth generator over multiple decades, then such a modest yield isn't going to get it done. Luckily, there are quite a few dividend stocks, with dividend yields more than double the S&P 500, that currently look like solid dividend investments. Three that look especially compelling are Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP 0.47%), Ford Motor Co. (F 2.00%), and National Grid (NGG 1.93%). Here's a quick look at why investors might want to consider these three stocks for a higher yield portfolio.

A solid business model supported by a superior management team

There are a lot of different reasons why Magellan Midstream Partners is a compelling investment. It has a solid business model with a contract based revenue that is mostly fixed fees. Those fixed fees insulate it from commodity price fluctuation. Its network of refined petroleum product pipelines has a pretty fixed customer base, making gasoline and diesel demand and refinery supply pretty consistent. It also has a solid backlog of development projects that should keep its dividend payments growing for years to come.

Of all these advantages, the one that is most compelling is the company's management team and its conservative approach to growing its business, its payout to shareholders, and its handling of the balance sheet. Rather than so many other companies that have pursued growth for growths sake during the recent shale boom, Magellan has taken a much more measured approach and focused on smaller investments with higher rates of return. The average EBITDA multiple on its $1 billion plus capital spending program is 7.1 times, which is much lower than what other companies have pursued in recent years.

By being more selective about its development projects and keeping its debt levels in check, Magellan has set itself up well to keep its streak of 57 straight quarters of payout increases going for some time. With a yield of 4.8%, that's a pretty compelling investment.

At the top of the cycle, but ready for the bottom

Investors in the automotive industry may be a little nervous after Ford's executives recently admitted that we may be at or near the top of the demand cycle for new vehicles in the U.S. That is why, despite Ford knocking the cover off the ball during its recent earnings, shares trade at an absurdly low price-to-earnings ratio of 5.6 times and a dividend yield of 4.9%. If you are concerned with share price appreciation over the next year or so, I can totally understand why investors may be avoiding this stock as automotive demand cools off. For those looking for an attractive income investment, though, Ford does look pretty appealing.

One of the major points that Ford CFO Bob Shanks made at the company's most recent Investor Day presentation was that the company fully intends to maintain its dividend through the ups and downs of the business cycle, and it currently sees no issue with paying its dividend at current rates until 2018. What's even more promising, though, is that investors may see even greater dividends as management has stated its intention to pay supplemental dividends when it has the financial leeway to do so. With more than $20 billion in cash on the books today, that is looking like a possibility.

An even more stable version of utilities

Electricity utilities have traditionally been a safe dividend investment because most of them operate as regulated businesses with fixed rates of return. There are still the risks, though, of competitive electricity prices and the need to meet the new regulations for carbon emissions from power plants that make the cash flows at electric producing utilities a little bit of a question mark. One part of the electric system that isn't under as much pressure is electric transmission and distribution, a subset of the business that is dominated by National Grid.

The bulk of National Grid's earnings come from electricity and gas transmission and distribution assets in the United Kingdom, a very mature market that generates loads of cash without much need for investments to grow since National Grid is the predominant player in the country. Without the need to upkeep power plants, maintenance capital requirements are much lower for the company and allow it to return large amounts of cash to shareholders and invest in its largest growth market, the United States.

National Grid is a little different than most dividend paying stocks because it pays a variable dividend based on a percentage of annual net income. Also, its dividend payments come only twice a year rather than the quarterly payments that most U.S. based companies make. For anyone that isn't bothered by this slight tweak to the payout schedule, then National Grid's 4.5% yield looks pretty attractive.
Natural gas pipeline giant Kinder Morgan (KMI 0.33%) made several very smart moves this year, which is partially why its stock is up roughly 50% since the start of the year. That said, not every move made sense, with two in particular standing out as the worst thus far.

Giving up on Palmetto

Earlier this year Kinder Morgan pulled the plug on two major pipeline projects (Northeast Energy Direct and Palmetto) that represented more than $4.1 billion in future investments. While the decision to cancel NED made sense because it was not economically viable, the reasoning behind canceling the Palmetto project, which would have carried gasoline, diesel, and ethanol from South Carolina into Georgia and Florida, is not quite so straightforward. CEO Steve Kean commented:

Essentially the Georgia legislature prevented us from getting eminent domain and also prevented us from getting other state permits. We were making good progress with land acquisition even without eminent domain, but we needed other permits which Georgia has now put a moratorium on. We needed environmental permits, for example, which they've now put a moratorium on until mid-2017. So as a result, we are not moving forward with Palmetto.

Instead of working with the state over the next year to obtain the necessary permits, Kinder Morgan decided to abandon its pursuit. In hindsight, that decision to give up so quickly doesn't appear to be a smart move, especially in light of the recent issues with the Colonial Pipeline. That competing refined products pipeline recently leaked upwards of 8,000 barrels in Alabama, causing it to shut down for several days. One of the results was a spike in gasoline prices in Georgia, which ran up by $0.28 per gallon in a week to $2.38 per gallon, with some stations completely running out of gas. The shutdown of the Colonial pipeline showed just how quickly the gasoline market could tighten and impact motorists. While environmental groups were working to block Kinder Morgan's pipeline because of the risks of a spill, the Colonial pipeline shutdown is a reminder of the need to diversify supplies to insulate markets from future disruptions.

Misreading the markets on volume

When Kinder Morgan put out its budget for 2016, the pipeline giant expected to produce $7.5 billion in EBITDA and $4.7 billion in distributable cash flow. However, due to several factors, it cut its guidance for EBITDA by 3% and dropped distributable cash flow guidance by 4%. Some of the factors driving down guidance were beyond its control, including the bankruptcy of a key coal customer and a delay in getting permits to build two key expansion projects.

That said, Kinder Morgan's internal forecasting is also to blame for the poor budgeting. For example, it expects earnings within its natural gas pipeline segment to be 2% below budget due in part to lower volumes in its midstream group. Meanwhile, its carbon dioxide segment is expected to end the year on budget -- despite the fact that oil prices are well above expectations -- due to weaker-than-anticipated oil and carbon dioxide production volumes. Finally, the company's products pipeline segment projects to be 5% below budget due to lower crude and condensate volumes on three of its pipelines and lower rates on another. This suggests some rather poor forecasting on Kinder Morgan's part, which led it to release a budget that it could not meet at a time that the market was wary of its financial situation. The far better move would have been to release a much more conservative budget so that the company did not have to pull back its guidance after the first quarter.

Investor takeaway

While Kinder Morgan is having a relatively good year, it could have been even better if it not for a couple of missteps. The decision to base its budget on overly optimistic volumes hurt its credibility with investors at a time when its credibility was already tarnished. Meanwhile, the decision to just walk away from Palmetto instead of working with the state of Georgia to get the pipeline built just does not make much sense, especially in light of that state's need for greater diversification of gasoline supplies.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe


9 Different winners from the 17 Grands Prix held so far at Sepang. Ferrari's Eddie Irvine won the inaugural race in 1999, while Sebastian Vettel triumphed last year - taking him to a record four wins in Malaysia.

8 The lowest winning grid position in Malaysia - a record set in 2012 by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

175 Laps led at Sepang by Sebastian Vettel, which is the all-time record. The German passed Fernando Alonso's benchmark of 169 en route to victory last year.

214.397 The average speed, in km/h, of Michael Schumacher's pole lap in 2004. The German started from the first grid spot on five occasions in Malaysia, a record no other driver has yet matched - Lewis Hamilton is closest, on three.

1 Race start by a Malaysian driver on home soil. Alex Yoong competed here for Minardi in 2002, qualifying 22nd and climbing as high as 14th before retiring with gearbox issues. Fairuz Fauzy is the only other Malaysian to have taken part in F1 - he participated in five FP1 sessions (including at Sepang) with Lotus in 2010.

39.286 The margin of victory, in seconds, enjoyed by Kimi Raikkonen in 2003 - the Finn's first F1 win. Rubens Barrichello, racing for Ferrari, was the only man to finish within 60s of Raikkonen, who lapped everyone up to fourth.

2.263 Sergio Perez, meanwhile, missed out on what would have been a first F1 triumph by this margin - in seconds - in a wild, rain-hit race in 2012, but even so picked up his first Grand Prix podium with second place. Fernando Alonso was the victor.

21 Or 'Multi 21' to be precise - a Red Bull team radio phrase now immortalised in F1 lore following the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, when Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders and passed Mark Webber to claim victory for Red Bull. The Australian was less than impressed, leading to a very frosty post-race 'celebration'. You can read more about that here. 1/2 Torrential rain in 2009 meant the Grand Prix was stopped early and half points were awarded for only the fifth time in F1 history. Brawn's Jenson Button triumphed, but therefore only received five points - while Nico Rosberg picked up 0.5 points for running eighth when the race was called at the end of lap 31.

17 - 5 - 27 Max Verstappen became F1's youngest points scorer in Malaysia last year when he finished seventh for Toro Rosso. He was 17 years, 5 months and 27 days old - more than two years younger than previous record holder Daniil Kvyat. 5 Record number of podiums in Malaysia, shared by four drivers: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
Walt Disney Co and Microsoft Corp joined a list of potential suitors for Twitter Inc , according to media reports on Monday.

Twitter shares were marginally down at $23.33 in after-market trading.

The microblogging service has reportedly started talks with a number of technology companies to sell itself, including Google parent Alphabet Inc and may receive a formal bid soon. A source told Reuters that Salesforce.com Inc is also in pursuit.

Salesforce is working with Bank of America on a potential bid, a Bloomberg report on Monday said. (http://bloom.bg/2d0WfLi)

Walt Disney is also working with a financial adviser to evaluate a possible bid for Twitter, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. (http://bloom.bg/2d0WfLi)

Jack Dorsey, who returned to Twitter as chief executive more than a year ago, has been a part of Disney's board since 2013.

Microsoft is also among the list of potential suitors, although Facebook Inc is not likely to have an interest in the social network, CNBC said, citing sources, following the Bloomberg report. (http://cnb.cx/2d4j924)

A sale could occur in the next 30 to 45 days, CNBC reported.

"At this moment, Microsoft has nothing to share," said a spokeswoman for the company.

Facebook declined to comment on the matter while Twitter and Disney were not available for comment. (Reporting by Anya George Tharakan and Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Anet Josline Pinto; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
China stocks ended modestly higher on Tuesday but trade was thin, with many investors reluctant to stake out fresh positions ahead of a week-long holiday despite a surge in August industrial profits.

Both the blue-chip CSI300 index and the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent, to 3,240.75 and 2,998.17 points, respectively, helped by a late afternoon rally, but turnover remained low.

The first U.S. presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump attracted attention from the investment community, but did not appear to have had an immediate impact on the China market.

Investors largely ignored data that showed profits earned by China's industrial firms in August grew at the fastest pace in three years, with some traders doubting whether the trend can be sustained.

The market also shrugged off a move by the Asian Development Bank to increase its growth forecast for China, as recent official data had already pointed to some signs of improvement.

The late-afternoon rally was fueled by strength in financial and property shares.

China's markets will be closed for a week for the National Day holidays starting on Oct. 1.

(Reporting by Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch; Editing by Kim Coghill)
The Fundao dam collapse at the Samarco joint venture between BHP Billiton and Vale is the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history and may rival or surpass the oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

The collapse of a Brazilian tailings dam jointly owned by BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) and Vale (NYSE: VALE) caused the worst environmental disaster in the country's history and could turn into a calamity on par with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Worse for the miners, their liability for the catastrophe could exceed that faced by the oil drilling rig's owner, BP (NYSE: BP).

At least 19 people were killed, 700 people made homeless, and hundreds of miles of waterways polluted when a tailings dam failed last November. Brazilian prosecutors said the cost of cleanup of the Fundao dam at the Samarco joint venture project in the state of Minas Gerais would likely be just as costly as the cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico, and BHP just warned it can't calculate how bad the bill will be thatit might have to pay.

A laundry list of damages

Earlier this summer BP announced its total tab from the Deepwater Horizon disaster will cost it almost $62 billion when all the claims are finally tallied, but the amount BHP, Vale, and Samarco might be liable for could easily surpass that.

In its annual report filed just last week, BHP Billiton detailed what the potential costs are so far:

$2.3 billion in civil public actions filed by state prosecutors in Minas Gerais

$3.1 billion in damages filed by public defenders in Minas Gerais

$620 million in damages filed by state prosecutors in Espirito Santo

$6.2 billion in a public civil claim

$43 billion for reparations, compensation, and "moral damages" in relation to the Samarco dam failure

That totals more than $55 billion, and though some of those claims may overlap, it's possible for the situation to go from bad to worse.

When it rains, it pours -- literally

BHP Billiton noted that work that began immediately after the collapse attempted to reinforce and improve the dam structures to contain the remaining tailings materials at Samarco. But higher than average rainfall between December and April made it difficult to control sediment flowing into the nearby Rio Doce river, and though much of the work will begin before the next wet season starts, it's quite possible the rains will cause additional releases or contamination of the river from movement of tailings. That could result in additional claims, fines, and proceedings against it and might even impact the existing claims against it.

In short, BHP says, "Our potential costs and liabilities in relation to the Samarco dam failure are subject to a high degree of uncertainty and cannot be reliably estimated at this time."

A total write off

The disaster has already cost the miner $2.2 billion as it's written off its entire investment in Samarco because there is no certainty of when the mine will reopen or what its costs will be for compensating families for its portion of the damages.For its part, Vale said in July it took charge of more than $1 billion related to Samarco, which drove a $670 million drop in net profits for the second quarter.

It pointed out that Samarco will be financing a foundation to pay for rehabilitation, remediation, and compensation programs totaling $2.1 billion through 2021 with additional annual contributions of $75 million annually for another 10 years. If Samarco fails to pay these amounts, BHP and Vale will be on the hook equally.

Although work to restore the region is under way, including the rebuilding of homes and business, as well as compensation to affected families, the additional risks of further environmental damage could make BHP Billiton's legacy one that's worse than Deepwater Horizon.

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Did Donald Trump really want to bring former Bill Clinton paramour Gennifer Flowers to tonights presidential debate to freak out his opponent Hillary Clinton? And how worried is the Clinton camp about facing a novice debate challenger, who despite his flaws as a candidate, is running neck-and-neck with one of the most qualified politicians to ever run for the office?

These are some of the questions political operatives are speculating about tonight on the eve of the first debate that will feature two of the best known people in the world  a volatile, real estate mogul turned reality TV star and a former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State  who are vying to be President of the United States AKA Leader of the Free World.

The debate itself is expected to draw a hundred million viewers  the most watched in history for lots of reasons including the celebrity nature of the combatants. Its the Super Bowl, World Series and Ali-Frazier of politics, so with that in mind, Id like to provide a little pre-game color on what to expect and how the campaigns positioned themselves in the hours and days before the big event.

Gennifer Flowers

It seemed like a good idea to bring Bill Clintons former goomah to tonights festivities and seat her in the front row so Hillary Clinton can be reminded of the sordid affair that threatened to derail her husbands presidential ambitions in the early 1990s if and when Hillary attacks The Donald on any number of character issues, including his own string of messy divorces. So good, in fact, Trump tweeted out this weekend that he would invite Flowers after he learned that his reality show nemesis, Mark Cuban, was showing up for team Clinton to make him squirm.

Inside the Trump camp, cooler heads prevailed, I am told, and the idea of having Flowers as a guest was promptly nixed and replaced with a more sober group including Benghazi survivor Mark Geist, as first reported by FOX Business.

But Trump, I am told, isnt done with possibly using women associated with former president Bill Clinton as props. I am told there is speculation inside the Trump campaign of inviting Juanita Broaddrick, a former Arkansas state administrator who accused the former president and then-governor of the state of sexually assaulting her, to an upcoming debate.

Clinton through his attorney has denied the charge, while a spokeswoman for Trump denied that the candidate is thinking about extending an invite to Broaddrick.

Counter Puncher vs. The Policy Wonk

Clinton is well known as a policy wonk, who loves to clinically and unemotionally dissect her debate opponent with so many facts and figures its almost sleep inducing. But people inside the Hillary camp tell me the popular narrative about her debate style isnt totally accurate; they point to the many times she has successfully side-stepped unruly reporters and various Congressional hearings (see Benghazi), not to mention how she has handled herself in past debates, as proof that she can go punch for punch with Trump  a self-described counterpuncher who lives for delivering the low-blow to opponents as he did to his GOP primary challengers Lyin Ted Cruz Little Marco Rubio, Low Energy Jeb Bush, and now Crooked Hillary Clinton.

With that, one aide to Clinton says, she is prepared to to methodically destroy Trump if he gets nasty and personal with very pointed attacks on women, or a disabled reporter, not to mention his penchant for exaggerating (recall his claim to have seen thousands and thousands of Muslims celebrating the 9-11 terrorist attacks in New Jersey). We shall see.

Speaking About Benghazi

Trumps invitation of Geist, the former Marine and CIA contractor who survived the ordeal, was designed in part to address the possibility that Clinton may ask Trump to apologize for some of the more outrageous statements he has made in the campaign regarding immigrants, women and a disabled reporter.

If she goes that route, dont be surprised to hear Trump ask Clinton to apologize to Geist and the families of his fallen comrades. The Trump spokeswoman said this wasnt the reason for Geists invitation.
Tesla Motors Co and a U.S. subsidiary of Swiss auto supplier Hoerbiger have agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the electric car maker over problems with a proposed hydraulics system for the luxury Model X's "falcon wing" doors, court records show.

Both parties have until Oct. 13 to file a joint statement as to the status of the settlement, terms of which have not yet been disclosed.

Tesla and Hoerbiger have delayed filing for a dismissal because certain conditions of the settlement will not be fulfilled until Oct. 4, according to an Aug. 18 filing by the companies.

Lawyers for the companies did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Tesla claimed that a hydraulic system developed by Hoerbiger in 2014-2015 for use in the Model X doors, which open upwards rather than to the side, was riddled with deficiencies, making it an "unworkable engineering solution" that added costs and "more than a year of wasted efforts." It sued the company in January.

The lawsuit over the development of the show-stopping doors shone a spotlight on the intricacies of Tesla's engineering and the complex and dependent relationship with its suppliers. The Model X luxury SUV was, according to Chief Executive Elon Musk, "the hardest car to build in this world."

After its launch in September 2015, with a revised door design using electromechanical parts from a new supplier instead of hydraulic ones, many owners complained the doors did not latch properly or that the sensors malfunctioned.

Hoerbiger in January denied Tesla's claims, saying it had fulfilled the company's specifications and was not responsible for the electronic controls related to the doors' symmetry and overheating problems cited by Tesla in its complaint. It said it was negotiating with Tesla over reasonable compensation.

Tesla had originally sought punitive damages for negligence from Hoerbiger before dropping that claim.

Musk claimed not to know of Hoerbiger when asked by Reuters during a first-quarter results conference call in May.

In its lawsuit, Tesla said Hoerbiger's proposed system was prone to overheating, making the doors inoperable, and leaked oil. The doors sagged and did not open properly, it said.

Moreover, "unanticipated complexity" in integrating the system with the car added to assembly time and increased costs above Tesla's expectations, it said.

(Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Joseph White and Richard Chang)
Britain's trade minister promised on Tuesday its departure from the European Union would not create a legal vacuum at the World Trade Organization, and said Britain was determined to champion free trade.

Britain is a full and founding member of the WTO, but its membership terms are currently shared with the rest of the EU, Liam Fox told a WTO conference in Geneva.

"The UK will continue to uphold these commitments when we leave the European Union. There will be no legal vacuum. But this will not stop us pursuing a more liberalized trade agenda in the future," he said.

"The decision of the British people to leave the European Union is not symptomatic of a people looking inward, but a people who want to make more control of our laws, our money, and our borders."

Fox's appearance at the WTO, his first since the Brexit referendum on June 23, created a rare buzz among trade diplomats in Geneva, while markets were bracing in case Britain committed itself to a disruptive "hard Brexit" scenario.

But Fox did not reveal new details about how Britain planned to manage its exit from the EU, and left for talks with European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom without taking questions.

Malmstrom, who addressed the WTO conference earlier in the day, told Reuters she would be meeting Fox in the afternoon. Asked her view of the Brexit negotiations, she said: "There arent any negotiations."

Asked if she might have more to say after meeting Fox, she said: "I dont think so, but its always useful to talk."

Opposition lawmaker Chuka Umunna said Fox had delivered only "bland platitudes" at the WTO, which showed the government's "total confusion".

"Vote Leavers promised that Britain would rapidly sign global free trade deals, while keeping full access to the Single Market. We are yet to see any detail as to how that might be achieved," Umunna said in a statement.

Patrick Minford, co-chair of Economists for Brexit, said Fox's speech was a first sign of steps in the right direction.

"Rather than just being the default position in the absence of a trade deal with the EU in order to deliver the type of Brexit the UK electorate voted for, leaving the Single Market is in fact the optimal option for the UK economy, Minford said.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Andrew Roche)
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Sept 27 (Reuters) - SpaceX is developing an interplanetary rocket and capsule to transport large numbers of people and cargo to Mars with the ultimate goal of colonizing the planet, company chief and tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Tuesday.

Musk outlined his plans for a massive Mars rocket, capable of carrying 100 passengers plus cargo per voyage, even as SpaceX is still investigating why a different rocket carrying a $200 million Israeli satellite blew up on a launch pad in Florida earlier this month.

Though he said he envisions humans living in a large colony on Mars, he added that the key will be getting the cost down low enough to attract willing volunteers.

"You can't create a self sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person," he said.

"Our goal is to get it roughly equivalent to cost of a medium house in the United States, about $200,000."

SpaceX, which Musk founded specifically with the purpose of colonizing Mars, is one of several private and government funded ventures vying to put people and cargo on the red planet and other destinations beyond Earth's orbit.

The nearly airless planet is typically around 140 million miles from Earth and landing the first humans there, after a six to nine month journey, is an extremely ambitious goal for anyone.

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin space venture is designing a heavy-lift vehicle and capsule called New Armstrong, that will be capable of Mars transport, according to company President Rob Meyerson. He spoke during a separate presentation at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara, which Musk addressed on Tuesday.

The U.S. government is also stepping up efforts to venture beyond the moon.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket, expected to cost $7 billion through its first test flight, is currently slated for launch in 2018. The U.S. space agency also is developing an Orion deep-space capsule, at a cost of more than $11 billion.

Between 2005 and 2010, NASA spent another $5.8 billion on an earlier version of Orion.

Russia plans a heavy-lift rocket and crewed spaceship for travel to the moon and other destinations, Vladimir Sointsev, director of Russia's RSC Energia, said at the conference on Monday. The capsule, called the Federation Crew Transportation Vehicle, is targeted for an unmanned test flight to the International Space Station in 2021.

Musk did not say how much it would cost SpaceX to develop its Mars transportation system.

SpaceX intends to fly to Mars about every 26 months when Earth and Mars are favorably aligned for flight. Musk said he would like to land people on Mars as early as 2024. NASA's first human mission to Mars is expected about a decade later.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said on Monday it likely will continue its Space Launch System rocket program even if commercial interplanetary transportation systems are available.

NASA is supporting SpaceX's first mission to Mars, which is targeted for launch in 2018. SpaceX wants to send an unmanned capsule, called Red Dragon, to the surface of Mars to test descent, entry and landing systems.

"Ultimately this is going to be a huge public-private partnership," Musk said."I'm personally accumulating assets in order to fund this, making the biggest contribution I can to making life multi-planetary," he added.

NASA will be providing deep-space and Mars communications relays for SpaceX and consulting services in exchange for flight data. NASA wants to be able to land payloads weighing up to about 30 tons on Mars. So far, the heaviest vehicle to land on Mars was the one-ton Curiosity Rover.

(Reporting by Irene Klotz; Editing by Joe White and Tom Brown)
Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson emphatically refuted the idea of dropping out of the 2016 presidential race.

In an interview with the FOX Business Networks Mornings with Maria, the former Governor Johnson said he takes offense to the comparison of being more of a Ralph Nader instead of a Ross Perot.

I really take offense. I really take offense to that. I am the first vote for so many people. I am the first vote, Johnson said.

American presidential elections are not set up to favor a third-party candidate. Historically, candidates representing a third-party have seen a decline in polling averages as they head towards the election. Candidates are considered real contenders when they reach a rate of 10% in the polls--Johnson is polling at eight percent among likely voters according to a recent Monmouth University poll.

Despite low poll numbers preventing him from participating in the debates, Johnson said he expects to impact Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump equally and doesnt see his vision for America through both candidates.

Its not an option to do nothing. We cannot continue our military interventions. We cannot continue to support regime change that has resulted in so many thousands of innocent [people], people caught in the crossfire in Syria. It goes on and on, Johnson said.

Johnson reacted to last nights presidential debate by facetiously saying the American people have a brighter outlook after listening to Clinton and Trump debate.

She did a better job of articulating that government will be the answer to all our problems. She did a better job articulating that. Donald Trump I think you know theres a certainty that there is an uncertainty when it comes to Donald Trump.

The former New Mexico Governor said he doesnt see how any presidential candidate could avoid discussing their plan to reduce government spending.

Its not an option to not talk about reducing spending. Its not an option to not talk about not reforming the entitlements, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. They are not going to be around for future generations, Johnson said.
Does the government have an obligation to support the coal miners' union pension? This is the latest contentious issue circulating Capitol Hill, as a new bipartisan bill to prop up the retirement funds of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) makes its way through the Senate after clearing the Senate Finance Committee.

The problem: The UMWA has an estimated $5.6 billion in unfunded pension promises.

What caused the pension crisis is the EPA and President Obamas war on coal. I mean theyve destroyed the coal industry. When you destroy an industry, then you destroy the industrys ability to pay their obligations to their retirees, former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) tells FOXBusiness.com.

The Miners Protection Act and the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act are designed to safeguard the pensions of 120,000 coal miners. The bill, introduced by members of Congress who hail from heavy mining regions, would allocate up to $490 million per year to the workers. This money would be taken from a supply designated for abandoned mine recovery. The legislation would also extend healthcare benefits to 20,000 employees of recently bankrupt, unionized companies.

Some argue that the government has a legal obligation to support the UMWAs pension and healthcare plans.

The federal government made a promise to these coal miners and their families that should be honored, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) tells FOXBusiness.com.  This agreement dates back to the historic Krug-Lewis Agreement, which ended the coal miners strike of 1946.

The Krug-Lewis Agreement established terms for welfare and a retirement fund under the federal government. However, many believe Krug-Lewis was only effective during a period of time (1946-1947) when the mines were under federal control. Once they were privatized again in 1947, a new agreement was negotiated between the union and the mine owners, which does not explicitly obligate federal support for the unions pension plan.

The coal industry has become a lightning rod on the campaign trail. Donald Trump has promised to restore jobs to coal states, while Hillary Clinton has been dogged over her comments last March.

Were going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business, she said during a CNN Town Hall.

Clinton has released a $30 billion plan to retrain coal workers for different jobs. The plan includes investing in new infrastructure and technology to bring money back in to mining-heavy areas.

Despite election promises, and coal country donation dollars for both parties, the problem extends beyond the mining sector. There may be a larger, systemic issue at play.

When unions negotiate on behalf of their members, they are rewarded more when they bring back higher cash wages than when they bring back lower cash wages, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, chief economist at the Department of Labor from 2003-2005, tells FOXBusiness.com. When they come back and say Ive got you a 10% raise, and they dont mention the pension plan is underfunded, then everyone is very happy.

In fact, U.S. union pensions are underfunded by $600B, according to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. So the coal miners are in good company; and that poses another problem.

If we get involved with miners pensions, then what are our grounds not to get involved with every other pension fund? And bail them out? And I just dont think thats the role of the federal government, said Santorum.

Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) shares the former presidential candidates fear that supporting one underfunded pension would be a slippery slope in an environment where so many retirement funds are lacking.

One of the most risky aspects of this legislation is the precedent it would set, he tells FOXBusiness.com. This bill would only bailout one of the 1,238 union pension plans that we know are underfunded. There are already twenty other multiemployer pension plans that are slated to become insolvent before the UMWA pension plan does.

Though the end goal of keeping the UMWA retirement funds solvent may have bipartisan support, Senator Santorum points out the motivations appear to be divided along party lines.

This is an appeal to the area of the country that democrats are struggling in right now, because theyre destroying the economy in these areas so theyre making it look like they care. If they really cared theyd put people back to work, Santorum says.

Republican Senator Enzi advocates a rollback of the current administrations regulations on the coal industry as a step toward alleviating this problem.

The way to actually help all coal miners is to get them their jobs back, Sen. Enzi says. What we should be doing to help the people who power America is to help the entire fossil fuel industry by addressing the rules this administration has issued that have put coal miners out of work.

At its heart, this bill ultimately boils down to another fight over the war on coal. What Democrats see as protecting the environment, Republicans view as an affront on the American worker and American jobs. While this bill could represent a battle won for some miners and their families, the war is far from over.
On Saturday, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Customer Records Bill enabling actors and industry workers to remove their ages from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and other public accessible sites. The purpose of the law is to ensure that information  regarding an individuals age will not be used in furtherance of employment or age discrimination.

Many top Hollywood folks expressed their support for the new law, but some legal experts have expressed concern over the implications of the law.

Your turn reporters. Stop listing ages in articles. I'm not ashamed of my age but of how it's used against me https://t.co/ozej5xaBIC  Aya Cash (@maybeAyaCash) September 26, 2016 Three cheers for the the amazing advocacy by SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, our late President Ken... https://t.co/TXF8ymKhVi  Cathy Lilly (@cathylillynow) September 25, 2016

Longtime Hollywood PR guru Howard Bragman told FOX411 its about time age discrimination is talked about in the industry.

Its a good start to attacking the real problem of age discrimination in casting, he said I hope this is the beginning of greater opportunities for actors of all ages.

And Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA, is thrilled with the passing of the new law.

"The bill will benefit countless performers for years to come, most of whom are unknown to the general public, she said in a statement sent to FOX411. This is not about our celebrity members; its about working actors who rely on auditions to continue to gain work and provide for their families and are being unfairly discriminated against based on age. No one is guaranteed a job because of this law, but at least they will have an equal opportunity to get that job.

Earlier this month, Carteris wrote in The Hollywood Reporter that she would not have landed her role in Beverly Hills, 90210 if her age was known.

I would never have been called to audition for the part of 16-year-old Andrea Zuckerman if they had known I was 29, she wrote. Electronic casting sites did not exist in 1990; today, they are prevalent and influential and they affect casting decisions even when casting personnel don't recognize their unconscious bias.

However, not everyone is pleased with the new law. Noah Theran, of the Internet Association, expressed his disapproval to The Hollywood Reporter.

We are disappointed that AB 1687 was signed into law today, he said. We remain concerned with the bill and the precedent it will set of suppressing factual information on the internet.

Plus, a handful of lawyers interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter said there is a chance the new law is unconstitutional.

The statute seems to me of the most dubious constitutionality, said First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams of Cahill Gordon & Reindel. Birth dates are facts. It's hard to see how the government, consistently with the First Amendment, can bar or punish their disclosure.

The law goes into effect January 1, 2017.

IMDb did not return FOX411s request for comment.
Rob Kardashian seemed to be on his way to mending his rocky relationship with his family members, but his latest social media rant suggests he's back on the outs with the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

The reality star tweeted late Monday night, "Didn't invite the Mother of my child to a baby shower you all were trying to throw for me!!?"

He also tweeted out a phone number he said belonged to his half-sister Kylie Jenner.

"I ain't hacked either this is rob dog lol," he added in case anyone thought he wasn't the one behind the phone number reveal.

His sisters and mom Kris Jenner have yet to respond to Rob's tweets.

ET reports that Rob's fiancee Blac Chyna sent out a Snapchat early Monday with a text image that said, "My baby shower is Sunday."

Jenner is dating rapper Tyga who is also the father of Blac Chyna's son King.
A 10-year-old Chinese boy with an eating disorder is on the mend after surgeons removed 12 nails from his stomach that he had swallowed.

Asia Wire Report (AWR) reported that Xiao Wen is thought to suffer from pica, a disorder wherein individuals swallow inedible items like hair, dirt or metal. After Wens classmates reportedly saw him ingest the steel nails, each measuring about 1.39 inches long, which he found on the playground, he was rushed to the hospital for scans.

At Hunan Childrens Hospital in Changsha, Dr. Wen Jiabing said X-rays showed the nails had begun rupturing the boys organs and would cause life-threatening internal bleeding without swift action.

After undergoing surgery, Wen is recovering, AWR reported. Doctors advised his grandparents to monitor him closely, as Wen initially denied swallowing the nails by choice but rather claimed bullies made him do so. His classmates said they watched him swallow the objects voluntarily.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), theres no single treatment thats proven successful for pica, but adequate nutrition and mild aversion therapy.
Flu season is upon us once again, and that means making a decision about whether to get this years vaccine. Experts say vaccination is the best, safest tool to protect ourselves and our loved ones, but there are some big changes this year including the elimination of the nasal vaccine, or flu mist.

The flu mist is just not as effecitve as we previously thought, Dr. Priya Nori, infectious disease specialist with Montefiore Medical Group in the Bronx, New York, told FoxNews.com. Its not going to work for our kids.

Health officials are now mounting a major campaign to get folks vaccinated as soon as possilbe.

The flu is different from other infectious disease as it affects both healthy and weaker immune systems. If you havent gotten the vaccine and want to avoid getting sick, you can still take a few steps to minimize your chances of becoming infected.

If you observe that sombody near you is coughing, sneezing, sweating, looks like they could have either the flu or even any other respiratory virus like the common cold, I would turn my back, get out my hand sanitizer and quickly wash my hands, Nori said.

The virus changes every year and easily spreads from person to person, making it difficult to fully eradicate. Experts say its unlikely the annual flu threat will go away anytime soon, but the vaccine is constantly being tweaked and improved, offering more protection each year.

We have to constantly remind people that another potentially devastating flu season is right around the corner, Nori said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine for all adults and children older than 6 months. Check with your doctor to find out which flu shot is right for you.
While the moderator focused on interrupting and fact-checking Trump, Hillary Clinton offered a litany of lies to the nation on Monday night during her first debate against Donald Trump.

Clinton's nose began to grow from the very start, as she asserted that the nation needs to "finally guarantee equal pay for equal work" for women in her opening statement. The notion that women on average do not receive the same pay as men -- the 77 cents to a dollar myth -- has been proven false repeatedly.

When confronted by Trump about her former strong support for the Trans Pacific Partnership, Clinton claimed that she "hoped it would be good deal." The truth of course is that she called it the "gold standard" of trade deals.

The fact is that it is already illegal to pay men and women different wages for the same work if they have the same experience. The 77 cents myth is derived from looking merely at average income accrued over a lifetime, and ignores the fact that men on average tend to work longer hours, often work in higher paying industries, and spend more active years in the work force.

When confronted by Trump about her former strong support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Clinton claimed that she "hoped it would be good deal." The truth of course is that she called it the "gold standard" of trade deals.

Clinton also advocated raising taxes on the wealthy based on the premise that they do not currently pay enough. "I think it's time to suggest that the wealthy pay their fair share," she said. The truth however is that America have the most progressive tax system in the developed world -- the top 10 percent contribute over half of all income tax revenue.

Bizarrely, Clinton claimed that "slashing taxes on the wealthy hasn't worked." Her comment implied that slashing taxes on the wealthy is why the economy is in such poor shape currently. This is odd thing to say considering Obama has been in office for the better part of eight years and has done anything but slash taxes for anyone.

When Trump said he wished to lower the corporate tax rate, Hillary said "we've looked at your tax proposals. I don't see changes in the corporate tax rates ... you're referring to that would cause the repatriation."

Clinton and her team couldn't have been looking very hard, as Trump's plan to lower to corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 is written quite clearly on the economic plan posted on his website.

Taking time to remind the country that Clinton's success is due in large part to her surname, she asserted that "my husband did a pretty good job in the 1990s." Clinton, like all Democrats, loves to take credit for the financial stability of her husband's presidency. Of course, it was the Republican-controlled congress led by Newt Gingrich that blocked Clinton's desired spending measures balanced the budget.

Clinton also claimed that in being party to the Iran deal she helped "put the lid on Iran's nuclear program." But many said the deal guarantees no such thing. Indeed, it rests entirely on Iran's acting in good faith and upholding their end of the bargain.

When Trump defended the use of stop-question-and-frisk policies in New York City, Clinton attacked them as unconstitutional and asserted "it was uneffective it did not do what it needed to do." This is simply false.

"Data from the few cities that report police stops show their effectiveness," Dennis C. Smith, professor of public policy at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, wrote in the New York Times in 2012 .

"My trend analysis with SUNY Albany professor Robert Purtell found that the increased use of stops correlated significantly with accelerating drops in most of the major crimes. A Harvard study of policing in Los Angeles under William Bratton, when crime dropped significantly, reported a surge in stops by the L.A.P.D. (with per capita stop rate higher than N.Y.P.D.)," Smith continued.

Perhaps Clinton's most egregious lies were two concerned with emails. "I made a mistake using a private email," Clinton said. Of course, Clinton didn't use a "private email." She used multiple private email servers. The word mistake implies Clinton didn't know she was doing anything wrong, a claim belied entirely by the fact that so many of her aides and associates pled the Fifth or were granted immunity by the FBI, not to mention the fact that many of them engaged in the destruction of evidence and that she herself made false exculpatory statements.

Finally, in visiting her favorite Trump-Putin conspiracy theory, Clinton claimed that "Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans." The truth, as is obvious from the context of his words, is that Trump was calling on the Russians to release Clinton's missing emails in the event that they already had them.

Clinton may have proven her ability to hold her own against Trump one on one Monday night, but she also proved her complete disregard for the truth and willingness to lie boldfaced to the American people.
Mondays presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump coincided with the anniversary of the famous Nixon-Kennedy debate  the first major-party debate to be shown nationwide on television.

Heres whats striking about what transpired 56 years ago in Chicago: the stage design was low-frills; JFK looked tan and rested; a pallid Richard Nixon showed the aftereffects of a knee infection.

A Chicago Daily News headline captured the moment: Was Nixon Sabotaged by TV Makeup Artists?

Lest we add talk of subterfuge to an election already fraught with conspiracies, here are five takeaways from what transpired in the first presidential debate of 2016.

Trumps Performance. From the beginning, it was clear that Trump got the memo that this wasnt the same as one of his high-octane pep rallies (the subdued audience was his first tipoff).

It was a far toned-down version from the Trump who stole the spotlight in the Republican primary debates. There was no mention of Crooked Hillary.

Trump kept his powder dry as Clinton tried to touch a nerve by speculating that he might be shielding his tax returns because hes not as rich or charitable as he claims.

When it came time to return fire, Trump went after Clintons record (primarily, inconsistencies with stances she took back in the 1990s). But he didnt take the extra step, as he has so any times before in this election, by making it personal. An example: as Clinton was mocking his fortune, he didnt call her out for her and her husbands shortcuts to wealth.

At the debates end, when Clinton ripped Trump for his treatment of women, he didnt utter a word about her husband. Though he did infer he was thinking of going there, but chose not to: Its inappropriate. Its not nice.

By the time the third debate rolls around, he might decide that enough is enough.

Clintons Performance. Madame Secretarys approach was two-pronged: keep smiling while she kept trying to get under Trumps skin.

She did smile a lot. And she rarely missed a chance to stick a shiv into her opponent  in a personal way.

Clinton sniped at Trump for taking money to start his business, alluded to his crazy ideas, suggested his tax cuts would benefit his family and recited a list of terrible comments hes made with regard to the opposite sex.

Clinton came loaded with facts and figures on the economy and crime. But she also overdid it on the pandering front  the worst moment being a passage in which she defended Americas first black president, all but branded Trump a racist landlord, and then circled back to the glorious oratory of Michelle Obama at her partys convention.

At least she didnt break out into We Shall Overcome.

Lester Holts Performance. On the day before the debate, Politico put out this story detailing the extent of recent Trump exaggerations and half-truths.

Clinton supporters called it boffo journalism; Trump supporters claimed it was meant to put undue pressure on the moderator to hound Trump.

Holt challenged Trump on frisk and search and whether he opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Not so much did he stop Clinton and correct her statements.

That wont go overlooked by media-bashers.

Now, some criticism about Holts choices.

Given 90 minutes to ask Clinton and Trump why theyre the most unpopular presidential candidates in 30 years, Holt didnt go there. He did push Trump on birtherism; he didnt push Clinton on the skeletons in her closet.

Other items Holt left off the table: immigration, climate change, Supreme Court appointments, and college tuition.

Holt gave the two candidates a long leash  at times, too long, allowing for too much cross-talk and talking past each other.

Hopefully, well get a little more insight into the candidates souls during their next two encounters.

The Next 72 Hours and Beyond. The airwaves will crackle over the next 24 hours with talk of debate winners and losers.

Youre better off donning a pair of ear buds and drowning out the noise.

Heres why: itll take a couple of days for pollsters to see if the numbers actually moved after tonight.

In 2012, Mitt Romney enjoyed what Gallup called a historic debate win after his first encounter with President Obama. A Gallup poll in the two days after that debate found 72 percent of viewers believing Romney did a better job  including 49 percent of Democrats. A five-point Obama lead evaporated.

In 2012, the instant polls from the debate were in line with Gallups findings  CNN and CBS News had Romney as the clear winner. Better to wait a few days until the head-to-head numbers are revisited (especially in the battleground states).

And theres one other factor: how Saturday Night Live satirizes things later this week, on its season premiere.

Five days after the first Bush-Gore debate in 2000, SNL spoofed Al Gores fondness for the word lockbox (he said it seven times during the debate). It didnt seem like a big deal during the debate; Gore never shook off the caricature of a robotic stiff.

Winner? If we must, round one . . . goes to Clinton  my scorecard had her ahead on points, with no knockdowns, so no lasting damage to Trump.

Clinton was more composed on the stage and showed more command of the facts. She didnt cough (the medical story coming out of Hofstra: a sniffing Trump could have used a Neti Pot).

In all, Clinton was more agile than Trump. However, she did nothing to address the elephant in the room  the publics lack of confidence in her honesty. She might want to rethink the attack-heavy approach before their next meeting.

Trump struggled on two matters: birtherism and his tax returns. He kept his focus on a failed political system and effectively tagged Clinton on trade and political convenience  all the while reminding voters that Clintons been a political presence for three decades now.

However, Trump did little to assuage concerns that hes not temperamentally suited for the job.

Much like another great conflict waged a century ago, both sides will claim they gained ground only to retreat to their trenches.

To be continued in St. Louis.
Heres the bottom line on the first presidential debate of 2016: Maybe Donald Trump should have done more prep. On so many fronts he should have been able to wipe that smug grin off Hillarys face; he did not rise to the challenge. Both candidates had singular ambitions in this confrontation; neither achieved what they might have hoped, but Hillary, aided and abetted by Lester Holt, came out ahead.

Hillary Clintons only task in this first presidential debate was to excite people about her candidacy, and reduce her enthusiasm gap. That she did not do, but she did manage to cast her adversary as unprepared and unfocused.

Donald Trumps one ambition in this debate was to convince American voters that he was presidential material, and not the monster that Hillary Clinton and the media have made him out to be. He came close.

Arguably, Trump had the easier assignment. However, he was up against not only his rival, but also against moderator Lester Holt. Holt offered Hillary one topic after another with which she could attack Trump  including several that have been central to her campaign -- and she took full advantage of the opportunity.

It was disappointing to Trump fans to see Mrs. Clinton put him on the defensive so adroitly. Instead of counter-attacking, he spent much of the debate defending his treatment of women, when he should have called her out for savaging the women who have charged Bill with sexual assault.

When talking about the countrys financial situation, Trump reasonably pointed out that with $20 trillion in debt, the U.S. is not in a position to fund grandiose infrastructure schemes. More to the point, he said, Its about time this country had somebody running it that knows something about money. Exactly.

Similarly, Holt put him on the defensive about not releasing his tax returns. Trump parried by saying he would release them when Hillary publishes the 30,000 emails that she deleted. -- He should have added that he was still waiting for the transcripts of her speeches to Goldman Sachs.

Trump was forced to deny that he had been for the war in Iraq; he should have reminded viewers that she was the one, armed with classified materials, who actually voted to allow the attack on Saddam Hussein to take place.

Clinton disparaged his treatment of some workers in the past; he should have mentioned that Hillary has yet to create a single private sector job.

She touted her plan for the U.S. to become the global clean energy superpower; he should have noted that at the same time she has vowed to put our coal miners out of business.

Trump did offer up a couple of good lines. When talking about the countrys financial situation, Trump reasonably pointed out that with $20 trillion in debt, the U.S. is not in a position to fund grandiose infrastructure schemes. More to the point, he said, Its about time this country had somebody running it that knows something about money. Exactly.

He also managed to point out that Hillary has had decades of experience, but has not accomplished much. He might have said more succinctly: if you have all the answers, why havent you put any of them to work? If your policies, presumably identical to those of Barack Obama, can heal our racial divide, why does polling show that race relations in this country are at a decades-long low? If you are correct that implicit bias is not just a problem for police but for everyone, how can you explain why the country has twice elected an African-American president?

Trump fans will give moderator Lester Holt a thumbs-down, and rightly so. Holt failed to press Hillary on her numerous lies about her email server, on charges of pay-to-play relating to contributions to the Clinton Foundation while she was Secretary of State, about her dishonest explanation of the Benghazi murders, or any of the other multiple scandals that define the former first lady.

At the same time, Holt trotted out questions that fitted neatly into Hillarys relentless attacks on Trump. Under the heading of Securing America, Holt zeroed in on cyberwarfare, which allowed Hillary to revisit her absurd suggestion that Russias Vladimir Putin is secretly trying to destabilize our election, so keen is he to elect his buddy Trump. He might, for instance, have asked about how we can prevent terrorists from entering our country.

Holts closing question was Will you support the outcome of the election which was meant to backstop ridiculous hints from Hillarys camp that Trump might not accept defeat, but rather charge election fraud.

Holt also pursued the birther disagreement, which plays into Hillarys effort to squash Trumps outreach to the African-American community.

Holts future is in mainstream media; he saw what happened to Matt Lauer when he pressed Hillary earlier this year at a commander in chief forum, and knew better than to go down that path.

Trump needs to work harder to prepare for the next debate. The race is close; its likely Monday nights performance will dampen his momentum.

In the next head-to-head, which will take place on October 9, the Republican nominee will need to sharpen his attack lines.

When challenged on his truthfulness, he needs to point out that in a recent CNN poll, 50 percent of Americans said they saw him as more truthful and honest, while only 35 percent thought that about Hillary Clinton.

He should also hit hard at Clintons economic proposals, which include substantial increases in corporate tax rates  a suggestion anathema to most economists.

In short, Trump has plenty of material; its easy to show why Hillary Clinton is not fit to be president. Were counting on him to do so.
Journalists got their wish. Presidential debate moderator Lester Holt hoisted Hillary Clintons campaign high in the air like Atlas. Holt repeatedly called out Trump, as both the Clinton campaign and the liberal media had begged him to do.

Holt reminded viewers hes liberal  from pushing the birther issue to harassing Trump about his tax returns to a wildly biased question about Clinton as the first woman nominated by a party not having the look. Clinton skated by with a 15-second response on her emails while Trump was asked repeated follow-up questions while Hillary was not. There was no deplorables question and Holt promoted the birther meme without noting its origin in the Clinton camp.

Clinton discussed fact-checking three times, even imploring her media friends: Well, I hope the fact checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard. Holt sure was. He dragged the debate to the left in six major ways:

1. Jobs: Holt pressed Trump with two questions on how he was going to add jobs even though the first answer discussed renegotiating trade deals.

2. Taxes: He portrayed the tax plans from the left  Clinton wanting to tax the rich and Trump calling for tax cuts for the wealthy, forcing Trump to correct him.

3. Tax Returns: Trump got hit hard with tax return questions for business conflicts while Hillary got a slide on emails, her hidden speeches and Clinton Foundation business conflicts.

4. Birthers: Holt asked a birther question that lasted longer than Clintons email answer. He then added three separate follow-ups to jam up Trump.

5. Iraq: He hammered Trump for supporting the Iraq War, downplaying how Hillary had voted to do the same.

6. Hillarys Gaffe: When asked about biased policing, Clinton said, I think implicit bias is a problem for everyone, not just police. Holt ignored it, rather than challenge the idea everyone is bigoted.

The New York Times said Holt Opted for Restraint, and called him a minimalist moderator. The paper liked some of Holts approach, given the news media tempest over how aggressively a moderator should fact check candidates. Still, the Times called it a split decision for Holt.

USA Today summed it up with the magic words: Holt fact-checked Trump. Right-leaning HeatStreet called Holt the third debater. Media Research Center President L. Brent Bozell III (Hint: My boss), said, Holt failed in his role as a moderator. Period.

The news media have been shouting fact check in desperate cries for relevance. More than a dozen outlets fact-checked the debate as a result. CNN "Reliable Sources" host Brian Stelter, also formerly of the Times, focused on the fact-check strategy to target Trump during his Sunday show. Does a unique candidate like Donald Trump require a different kind of moderating? he asked a guest before being told, No, no absolutely not, by long-time debate moderator Jim Lehrer.

Bloomberg TV, owned by left-wing media baron Michael Bloomberg, ran on-screen fact checks for its tiny audience. The Times assembled a team of 18 fact-checkers, generating a 2,400-word fact-check. The paper even had a correspondent watching for gender moments.

The paper pushed hard for fact-checking while it pushed hard for Clinton. Its official endorsement dropped one day before the debate  as certain as death and taxes. Its opinion page Twitter account oozed pro-Hillary headlines during the debate, such as: What a fantastic moment, to see Donald Trump self-destruct.

Left-wing Fusion was worse, calling out Trump for MANTERRUPTING HILLARY CLINTON. And The New Yorker complained Holt didnt attack Trump enough: CNN LAUNCHES MANHUNT AFTER LESTER HOLT VANISHES FROM DEBATE.

Journalists have demanded their industry give up neutrality throughout the campaign. Its a laughable conceit for anyone who recalls Candy Crowleys 2012 bias or the 2016 CNBC GOP primary debate. Univision anchor Jorge Ramos turned from journalist to crusader with barely any professional criticism. Reporters might as well wear blue jerseys with Im With Her on the back.

Back in August, Times media columnist Jim Rutenberg argued the paper had to sacrifice its alleged neutrality. If you think Donald J. Trump is a demagogue playing to the nations worst racist and nationalistic tendencies, then you have to throw out the textbook American journalism, he wrote.

By Monday, that had escalated into an industry-wide demand for debate moderators to attack Trump misstatements. As Rutenberg explained, that would require the debate moderators to interject with the truth.

Journalists have skewered anyone soft on Trump. NBC' the "Today" shows Matt Lauer faced a Storm of Criticism Over Clinton-Trump Forum because he didnt play the fact-check game. Even "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon was bashed for mussing Trumps hair instead of smacking him upside the head.
Hillary Clinton counterpunched the self-proclaimed counterpuncher, hitting Donald Trump for an apparent lack of preparedness and highlighting her own decades of political experience during a discussion about race and policing in America at Monday nights presidential debate.

Trump, the Republican nominee, was discussing his speeches to members of the African American community after moderator Lester Holt asked if police were implicitly biased against black people. In the middle of his answer, Trump noted as an aside that Clinton, the Democrat nominee, hasnt been as active on the campaign trail as he has been recently.

Ive been all over the place, Trump said. You decided to stay home, and thats okay.

Thats when Clinton landed a response that garnered applause from a crowd that had been told to remain silent.

I think Trump just criticized me for preparing for this debate, Clinton said. And yes I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president, and I think thats a good thing.

Trump didnt respond and Holt moved the debate on to a new topic.
The tone was cordial at the outset, each candidate being polite to the other while hitting their talking points: she on equal pay for women, he on China and Mexico stealing American jobs.

Hillary Clinton said it was good to be with Donald Trump. Trump said he probably agreed with Clinton on child care. But it didnt last long.

But Clinton, perhaps surprisingly, was the aggressor all night. She threw the first jabs, saying Trumps father loaned him $14 million and that he was pushing Trumped-up trickle-down to mainly help the wealthy.

Trump came back by saying his dad gave him a small loan, made a show of calling her Secretary Clinton and said she should have started pushing for jobs years earlier.

Donald was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis, she said.

Thats called business, by the way, he interrupted.

Another jab: Clinton said Trump called climate change a hoax. Another interruption: Trump insisted he never said that.

When Trump insisted Clinton did nothing to create jobs for 30 years, she smiled and played the spousal card: I think my husband did a pretty good job in the 1990s.

It was 20 minutes into the faceoff when Trump finally went on offense, accusing Clinton of dropping her support for the Pacific trade deal to match his opposition.

You called it the gold standard, he said.

Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but that is not the facts, Clinton countered.

As the debate wore on, Clinton acted bemused at Trumps charges, smiling and at one point suggesting he was saying crazy things. That seemed to aggravate the Republican nominee, who started talking faster and louder in pressing his case.

The good news for Trump is that he was debating serious issues with the former secretary of State, made no obvious gaffes and delivered no low blows.

His overarching indictment seemed to be that politics as usual had created a mess in the country: Typical politician. All talk, no action, never gonna happen.

The debate heated up when Holt asked why Trump wouldnt release his tax returns. He gave his standard answer about an IRS audit but said hed disclose them if Clinton would release her 33,000 deleted emails.

When Clinton gave an unusually crisp answerit was a mistake and she would offer no excusesTrump pounced. He said the private server wasnt a mistake, that it was intentional, and noted that some of her aides had invoked the Fifth Amendment.

Just as he was getting a little traction, Clinton turned the debate to Trumps business, saying she had met people who were stiffed by you and your businesses, Donald, and that Im certainly relieved my late father never did business with you. Next thing you know, Trump was explaining his four corporate bankruptcies.

The differences were stark when the debate turned to crime. We have to bring back law and order, Trump declared. Clinton said it was unfortunate that he was painting such a dire, negative picture of black communities.

Clinton missed an opportunity to defend the police when asked if they are biased against blacks, saying many of us have to struggle with implicit bias.

The birtherism section did not go well for Trump. Asked why he had pushed the birther issue against President Obama, Trump blamed Clinton advisers Sidney Blumenthal and Patty Solis Doyle for first floating the issue in 2008. He deflected Holts question about why he continued to press the issue after the president produced his birth certificate. Clinton, ignoring his comments about her aides, accused Trump of pushing a racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen.

Trump was able to blame the administration for the rise of ISIS, repeating his refrain that American forces should have taken the oil. When she said Trump supported the invasion of Iraq (as she did in the Senate), he kept saying wrong as she was speakinga microcosm of the debate.

Holt then declared as fact (which Matt Lauer did not) that Trump had supported the Iraq invasion. Trump called that "mainstream media nonsense," citing, as he has in the past, an interview with Neil Cavuto (in which Trump did not oppose the war) and private conversations with Sean Hannity (which Hannity has confirmed).

The bottom line: Clinton set the pace for the Long Island debate, and Trump spent much of his time responding. He scored his points, but often as a counterpuncher.

A final word about the moderator: Holt lost control of the debate several times. And he was more aggressive against Donald Trump. He asked Trump a hard question about not releasing his tax returns, but didnt do the same with Clintons email mess, merely asking her to respond after Trump raised it in rebuttal. He pressed Trump three times on the birther issue, with no comparable attempt to pin down Clinton.

Holt's fact-checking attempts were all against Trump. He followed up on Trumps call for stop-and-frisk tactics against crime, saying that in New York it was struck down by the courts. And he backed Clinton on Trump's lack of public opposition to the 2003 Iraq war.

Holt often let the candidates go at it, and go at it they did. But his role may prove to be as controversial as what the nominees said.
After all the clamor for moderators to fact-check the candidates during Monday night's presidential debate, Donald Trump flipped the script on Lester Holt by rejecting his assertion Trump backed the war in Iraq - and history backs The Donald.

Holt began one question by stating that Republican nominee Trump had supported the war in Iraq before the invasion, a frequent claim from critics that Trump has adamantly disputed during the primary and general election seasons. Holt on Monday, and many in the media before him, pointed to a September 2002 interview Trump gave to Howard Stern in which he said Yeah, I guess so in response to a question about whether President Bush should go to war.

When Trump pushed back on Holt, saying I was against the war in Iraq, Holt countered: The record does not show that.

Then Trump laid out his case.

The record shows that Im right, he said. When I did an interview with Howard Stern, very lightly, first time anyones asked me that, I said, very lightly, I dont know, maybe, who knows? essentially. I then did an interview with Neil Cavuto. We talked about the economy is more important [than going to war].

Holt repeated that his reference was to 2002 and then tried to move the discussion along.

But Cavuto himself picked up the thread post-debate on Fox Business Network, unearthing the clip Trump referenced, from January 28, 2003  Nearly two months before the Iraq War began on March 20. In the video, Cavuto asks Trump how much time President Bush should spend on the economy vs. on Iraq.

Well, Im starting to think that people are much more focused now on the economy, Trump said. Theyre getting a little bit tired of hearing Were going in, were not going in. Whatever happened to the days of Douglas MacArthur? Either do it or dont do it.

Trump continued: Perhaps he shouldnt be doing it yet. And perhaps we should be waiting for the United Nations.

After the invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent fallout, Trump became a much stronger and far more vocal critic of the war.

Look at the war in Iraq and the mess that were in, he said in an August 2004 issue of Esquire. I would never have handled it that wayTwo minutes after we leave, theres going to be a revolution, and the meanest, toughest, smartest, most vicious guy will take over. And hell have weapons of mass destruction, which Saddam [Hussein] didnt have.

Yet despite the Cavuto clip, and the ambivalence of Trumps own on-the-fence answer during the 2002 Stern interview, post-debate fact-checkers nearly universally wrote that Trump had lied during the exchange with Holt.

Politifact rated the claim False. The website even noted the Cavuto exchange, while remarking At most he suggested waiting for the United Nations to do something.

Politico blared: Trump [again] says he opposed the Iraq War. Thats still false.

Trump seemingly launched his own preemptive strike against the fact-checkers, however, complaining to Holt that the prevailing Trump/Iraq narrative was nonsense.

That is a mainstream media nonsense put out by [Hillary Clinton], Trump said during Mondays debate. Because she  Frankly, I think the best person in her campaign is mainstream media.
When Romanian hacker Guccifer breached Hillary Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthals email account in 2013, it set off an explosive chain of events among a tight circle of Clinton family aides  including one confidential assistant whose extensive role in managing some of the former secretarys mobile devices and computer security requests is only now becoming clear.

The details were contained in the latest document dump of FBI files on Clintons personal email use. The FBI chose late Friday afternoon to release nearly 200 highly redacted pages of so-called 302 files from the bureaus investigation, a release that quickly became overshadowed by the impending presidential debate Monday.

NEW TONIGHT: 2nd FBI-Clinton document dump on a Friday this month--Continues pattern of holiday/weekend releases:https://t.co/VHtYLHAh13 pic.twitter.com/tGmsCfE44a  Fox News Research (@FoxNewsResearch) September 24, 2016

But the files included new details of the tech intervention by Clinton aide Huma Abedin and Clinton Foundation official Justin Cooper  and a third individual, a Hillary Clinton aide named Monica Hanley.

Hanley was interviewed twice by the FBI, on Jan. 11 and June 23. Working for Hillary Clinton as a confidential assistant, Hanley joined the State Department in 2009 as Hillary Clinton began her job as secretary of state. Previously, the 35-year-old worked as an intern for Clinton while she served as a U.S. senator for New York.

In the released documents, Hanley emerged as the go-to staffer often tasked with finding replacements to satisfy Clintons chosen use of non-secure BlackBerries. Hanley stated she tried to find BlackBerries for sale on eBay and admitted that she made a trip to a mall in Virginia to try to find devices for sale.

Hanley noted a coffee incident ruined one of the Clintons devices.

In her interviews, Hanley told the FBI that during her time at the State Department, she learned specifically how to handle and transport classified information/paper but could not recall who provided the training.

Two emails from Hanley were marked classified with a c for confidential, the lowest level of classification. Fox News first reported some of the emails contained classified markings despite Clintons public claims.

The FBI document said Hanley received a Top Secret/SCI clearance at DoS. Despite the training, during one trip to Russia, Hanley was specifically criticized for leaving a classified document in a hotel suite she shared with Clinton during the trip. Hanley was informed by DS (Department of State) that the briefing book and document should have never been in the suite, the document said.

She was also involved in the response to the hack by Guccifer, whose real name is Marcel Lehel Lazar.

It was during her second interview with the FBI on June 23 that Hanley finally revealed details of a conference call she had with Abedin and top Clinton Foundation fundraiser Cooper as they scrambled over concerns related to a reported hack by Sidney Blumenthals email account in the spring of 2013, first reported by The Smoking Gun.

In the latest documents, the FBI redacted another individuals name who apparently was on that conference call.

Cooper, who recently testified before the House oversight committee, was responsible for running the clintonemail.com networks. In addition to his work for the Clinton Foundation, Cooper is listed as a senior adviser to Teneo Holdings, a private investment banking firm worth billions and founded by former President Bill Clinton and longtime adviser Doug Band.

The FBI file says Hanley told the FBI that after the conference call, Cooper provided Hanley an Apple Mac laptop from the Clinton Foundation, which Hanley took home to her apartment (redacted.) It was noted that Hanley created an archive of Hillary R. Clintons hdr22@clintonemail.com as a result of concerns about the reported hack of Blumenthals account.

Hanley stated that Abedin selected the new name of the email account, hrod17@clintonemail.com.

In her Jan. 11 statement to the FBI, Hanley initially said the computer given to her by Cooper was a MacAir and that it took several days for the transfer of emails to the laptop to be performed in her apartment. Hanley also testified in January that she recalled transferring the emails to a thumb-drive but could not recall what happened to the thumb-drive.

However, in her June 23 interview, Hanley changed her statement to say the computer was likely a Pro (MacPro) because it had an ethernet port and a thumb drive portal.

In addition, Hanley added that she thought she might have given the thumb drive to Abedin when she transitioned to (Redacted) as she provided Abedin with several items.

And in that second interview, Hanley suddenly remembered that the Clinton Foundation laptop given to her by Cooper to archive the secretarys emails was still in her possession in 2014 after she was not working for Clinton.

Hanley stated that she contacted Platte River Networks (PRN) on her own accord and spoke with (redacted.) That computer was never recovered by the FBI.

Unlike Cooper at the recent House hearing, Paul Combetta of Platte River Networks took the Fifth in refusing to answer questions regarding his use of Bleachbit to scrub Clintons email headers in March 2015 despite a congressional order to preserve the records.

The FBI formally concluded that Lazar did not get into Clintons private servers but assessed that other bad actors including Russia and Ukraine used brute force to launch cyberattacks again her networks immediately after Lazars breach of Blumenthals AOL account.
President Obama Tuesday nominated career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis to be the first full-fledged U.S. ambassador to Cuba since 1960.

DeLaurentis, a 25-year State Department veteran, has been charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Havana since the U.S. and Cuba formally restored diplomatic ties on July 20, 2015. Prior to the normalizing of relations, DeLaurentis was chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba from August 2014.

"Jeff's leadership has been vital throughout the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, and the appointment of an ambassador is a common sense step forward toward a more normal and productive relationship between our two countries," Obama said in a statement. "There is no public servant better suited to improve our ability to engage the Cuban people and advance U.S. interests in Cuba than Jeff."

DeLaurentis' appointment must be approved by the Senate. Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, vowed earlier this year to block the nomination of any ambassador to the Communist state.

Rubio and Cruz, who are both of Cuban heritage, have repeatedly criticized Obama's moves to restore diplomatic relations with the Castro regime during the president's second term.

The last U.S. ambassador to Cuba, Philip Bonsal, was recalled to Washington in October 1960, a few months after Fidel Castro seized power.
If polls only included media pundits, Hillary Clinton would have won Mondays debate by a landslide, but online surveys had Donald Trump as the yuge winner.

The Drudge Report online vote had 80 percent of respondents giving the victory to Trump, and a Time.com survey had the Republican nominee leading Clinton by 4 percentage points  52 percent to 48 percent  after more than 1,300,000 votes were cast. CNBC and Breitbart votes also had Trump winning the event, at New Yorks Hofstra University.

A Fox News online vote had Trump winning with 50 percent of respondents, Clinton at 35 percent and the other 15 percent declaring no one won.

The online surveys are not scientific and, in many cases, supporters of either candidate can cast multiple ballots. Still, the disconnect in judging Trumps performance was reminiscent of the Republican Party primary, when pundits often said his competitors bested him while online polls put him on top.

Experts say the online votes are a good gauge of enthusiasm, which could mean Trumps performance was enough to energize those who already backed him.

Experts were near unanimous in finding Clinton was more disciplined and armed with greater recall of facts, but Trumps supporters believe his blunt style and unconventional background are among his best attributes.

Trumps best moment, according to Stuart Tarlow, of American Thinker, came when he distinguished himself from Clinton based on their disparate backgrounds. Trump characterized his opponent as a "typical politician," who knows how to make statements and promises that sound good, but who never actually gets things done, Tarlow wrote.

Most experts agree the winner and loser wont be determined based on arcane rules of debating. Hillarys mission was to come off as well-versed on the facts and warm, while Trumps goal was to appear capable of filling the role of chief executive.

The real test of who won and who lost will likely come in the next wave of scientific polling in what has become a dead-even race. If Trump continues to surge in key battleground states, it will be taken as evidence he accomplished what he needed to in the debate. If Clinton stops or even reverses his momentum, she may be retroactively declared the winner.

Edward Panetta, professor of communication studies at the University of Georgia and director of the Georgia Debate Union, said Trump got out of the gate fast, but then struggled.

While Donald Trump was strong in the first 20 minutes of the debate he faltered badly as the debate progressed, Panetta said.
Donald Trump's case of the sniffles at Monday's debate prompted a bizarre charge from onetime Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, who mused on Twitter that the GOP candidate may be a "coke user."

While much of the pre-debate hype focused on whether Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who Dean supports, would have a coughing fit, it turned out Trump was the one with respiratory issues. The developer-turned-politician repeatedly sniffed into the microphone as he addressed the auditorium at New York's Hofstra University and a TV audience that could approach 100 million.

Howard Dean accuses Donald Trump of being a "coke user." Not a parody account. A real tweet from @GovHowardDean. #Debatenight Shameful. pic.twitter.com/Crf7tSlayn  Mark Dice (@MarkDice) September 27, 2016

"Notice Trump sniffing all the time," tweeted Dean. "Coke user?"

The remark quickly gained more than 7,000 retweets and more 7,772 likes. But it also prompted a wave of criticism directed at the former Vermont governor.

Said the Vermont acid freak, responded Twitter user Mikey Adams.

Its a stupid comment from someone who should be taking the high ground, tweeted Ryan Miller.

Trump famously claims to have never touched alcohol or smoked so much as a cigarette, so Dean's suggestion the 70-year-old turned to hard drugs on the biggest night of his nascent political career came out of left field.

Trump told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" Tuesday that there were "no sniffles" and that he didn't have a cold.

"There no sniffles," Trump said in a phone interview. "Maybe it was the mic. There were no allergies, no cold."

Clinton, who nearly collapsed earlier this month during a 9/11 memorial ceremony amid a bout with pneumonia and has had several coughing fits while on the campaign trail, appeared healthy and sharp during the 90-minute debate.
A U-2 spy plane that crashed in northern California last Tuesday, killing one of the two pilots, focused attention on a normally clandestine aspect of the U.S. military. The U-2 plane has a long and storied history that stretches back to the late 1950s, but how is the reconnaissance aircraft used today?

U-2 planes have been flown by the United States and other nations for more than 60 years, as both a spy plane and an instrument of science. They key to the aircraft's longevity is its robust and efficient design, said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group Corp., which conducts research and analysis on the aerospace and defense industry. He added that Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, the man who designed the U-2, "got it right."

"Those designers at the Lockheed Skunk Works deserve their legendary status," Aboulafia told Live Science. [Supersonic: The 11 Fastest Military Airplanes]

What sets the U-2 apart is its ability to fly higher than any other aircraft for long periods, which is what makes it a good spy plane, he said.

And spy planes are still relevant today, even in the age of satellites. "Satellites are an additional layer," Aboulafia said. "But they can't be retargeted quickly. They are in whatever orbit and they can't be moved, and they are easily blocked by bad weather." Spy planes, on the other hand, have a lot more flexibility. "They can be easily moved from one part of the Earth to another, at any time," Aboulafia said.

Spy in the sky

By the time the first U-2 flew in 1955, the problem of gathering intelligence was becoming more acute. Spy planes were in operation as far back as World War I, when aircraft were used to take photos of enemy positions. But during the Cold War, the U.S. government wanted a way to fly over what was then the Soviet Union without being detected or shot down.

In fact, the U.S. had been flying spy planes into the USSR as early as the 1940s, according to Gregory Pedlow and Donald Walzenbach, authors of "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974" (Military Bookshop, 2013).

Pedlow and Walzenbach said the USSR didn't have complete radar coverage of its borders or interior at that time, and modified B-47 bombers would fly in to take photos of sensitive targets, and then fly out. Moscow protested these flights but didn't shoot any down (though they fired warning shots). That changed in 1950, when the USSR shot down a U.S. plane over the Baltic Sea. Later that year, with the outbreak of the Korean War, Moscow adopted a policy of shooting down aircraft that violated its airspace. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 7 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]

The U.S. Air Force asked aircraft companies to submit designs for a plane that could reach altitudes of 65,000 to 70,000 feet, and just as important, be able to stay there for long periods. One of the changes to previous designs was that the plane didn't have to be equipped with the heavy armor or weaponry that were the hallmarks of military planes before, Pedlow and Walzenbach wrote.  Such specifications added weight, and made it more difficult to design a plane that could fly high enough.

It was Johnson's design that won out. To make the plane efficient at high altitudes, he adopted long and straight wings rather than a swept-back design, to improve lift at relatively low speeds (for a jet). The airframe also wasn't as strong or as heavy as the usual military-grade models, allowing for higher flight with less fuel. Johnson's design also dispensed with conventional landing gear and a pressurized cabin.

In operation

The U-2 was introduced into military service in 1957. Even after the USSR shot down one of the planes in 1960, the aircraft was still used in a number of conflicts such as the Vietnam War, providing intelligence to the U.S. and its allies. (The Christian Scence Monitor reported that a U-2 was even stationed in Cyprus in 2011, to monitor the no-fly zone established in Libya). In 1971, NASA started using U-2s as part of the agency's Earth Resources Aircraft program, flying the plane over the United States to gather scientific data. While NASA no longer uses the original U-2 model, a modified U-2, called the ER-2, still flies for the agency.

The first U-2s carried large-format cameras, but the sensors on board have grown much more sophisticated over the years, as have the controls. The engines, avionics and surveillance equipment have all been updated as technology has improved.

"You can fit a lot more [monitoring instruments] on them now than you could then," Aboulafia said. [7 Technologies That Transformed Warfare]

According to the U.S. Air Force, the U-2 carries an "electro-optical infrared camera, optical bar camera, advanced synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence and network-centric communication" for reconnaissance flights.

But the U-2 is still a notoriously difficult aircraft to fly, Aboulafia said, even though the only remaining part from the 1950s version of the plane is the airframe.

The U-2 still conducts reconnaissance missions; there are two flying in the Middle East on any given day to monitor the Islamic State, reported the Los Angeles Times. The plane flies high enough to "peer in" to airspaces where they might not be allowed, as it's no longer a good assumption that radar can't detect the planes or that a surface-to-air missile can't hit them. (Although, the kind of missile that could reach a U-2 is more likely to be in the repertoire of a major military power than a small group of militants in a remote area, Aboulafia noted.)

In September 2015, 60 years after the U-2 was introduced, Lockheed Martin said it would unveil a replacement for the venerable spy plane, called the TR-X. According to a report from Defense News, the Air Force hasn't formally committed to it, though there is a plan to retire the U-2 in 2019. That may not happen, though, as the U-2 has already outlasted some of the planes that were supposedly more advanced, including the Lockheed SR-71, which could reach similar altitudes and travel at 3.5 times the speed of sound. The SR-71 was retired in 1998 because it was too expensive to fly regularly.
There'll never be a bona fide Beatles reunion, but scientists at Sony's CSL research lab have come up with an alternative: a song written by artificial intelligence that sounds like something that could've been penned by the Fab Four, TNW reports.

Quartz calls "Daddy's Car," the lab's first attempt at an AI-generated pop tune, "pretty good." In a blog post, researchers explain how they went about creating this catchy tune, as well as "Mr. Shadow," an American standards-type song in the style of Gershwin, Berlin, and Ellington.

The lab's Flow Machines software analyzes various musical styles and composers from an enormous song repository, then "[exploits] unique combinations of style transfer, optimization, and interaction techniques" to come up with a new song in the desired style.

There is actually a human element to it all: A composer (in this case, Frenchman Benoit Carre) takes the melodies and harmonies spit out by the algorithm, writes the lyrics, and then produces and mixes it all together.

Which is all rather neat, except for a couple of things: First, it sounds somewhat emotionlessor as Vocativ puts it, "a bit like the Beatles on anti-depressants" (and honestly, the harmonies hover close to Beach Boys territory, too).

Digital Trends also points out that it muddles what's considered original music and what's not, meaning the technology "could either be seen as a threat to musicians" or prove to be a viable tool that supplements human creativity.

(AI robots recently judged a beauty contest, with controversial results.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: Robots Try to Write a Beatles Song, Kind of Pull It Off
Hillary Clinton led in Google searches during Mondays fiery first presidential debate, although Donald Trump was the most discussed candidate on Twitter.

Clinton accounted for 60 percent of Google searches during the eagerly-anticipated clash at Hofstra University, according to Google Trends.

Trump was the most searched candidate prior to the debate, but was overtaken by Clinton in all 50 states after the debate, the search giant reported.

The Republican nominee, however, accounted for 62 percent of the conversation on Twitter, according to Twitter Government.

Final share of Twitter conversation around the candidates on stage:



62% - @realDonaldTrump

38% - @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/U4idTUvGhj  Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

"As we've seen during this campaign cycle, Mr. Trump's ability to spark conversation on Twitter has created a following," social media expert and President of JRM Comm Jason Mollica told FoxNews.com, via email. "That said, just because he 'dominated' the conversation on Twitter, doesn't mean it was all positive or negative."

This is the top Retweeted Tweet during the first US presidential debate: https://t.co/fOOoPvtZHK  Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

The top retweeted tweet during the debate was Trumps November 2012 Tweet on global warming. During the debate Clinton said that Trump had labelled climate change a hoax, which he denied.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends earlier this year Trump said that the tweet was a joke.

Mollica told FoxNews.com that he wasn't surprised by the number of Clinton-related Google searches. "In many ways, there are people who have no idea who they are going to vote for in November," he explained. "Mrs.Clinton's history in Washington, while known to a large amount of people, may be new to some. I also believe [they] wanted to see why Mrs. Clinton is considered to be qualified to be the next President, leading up to and after the debate."

The nominees clashed on a number of issues during Monday's debate, including trade, taxes and the battle against ISIS. The economy was the most tweeted topic during the debate, followed by foreign affairs, energy and environment, terrorism and guns, according to Twitter Government.

The top fact-checked question for Clinton on Google was Is stop and frisk unconstitutional? while Did Trump support the Iraq war? was the most fact-checked question for her rival.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak wants to revolutionize emergency services technology with startup Reporty Homeland Security.

The Reporty chairman led the Israeli startups latest $5.15 million funding round, which was announced Tuesday.

We expect it to become the gold standard for 911-like operations, 311-like operations, Barak told FoxNews.com. In Israel, it is already operated by the nationwide equivalent of the Red Cross, the Magen David Adom.

Reporty has developed a free smartphone app that can connect people at the scene of an emergency to services control rooms. The app lets users transmit real-time audio and video, as well as pinpointing the emergencys location to within around 3.3 feet, even including floor-level information.

Designed to give operators a real-time view of emergency situations, the app aims to help them prioritize calls.

Reporty overcomes network congestion by checking available networks and then switching before transferring data, according to the startup. It also offers a two-way chat feature enabling callers to communicate silently with operators for situations such as a home invasion.

In addition to emergency situations, the app offers the ReporTeam personal safety network, which lets users set up a group of up to five contacts. A Follow Me feature, which is aimed at parents and concerned friends, lets someone from ReportTeam follow the users location as they make their way from point A to point B.

The startup launched its technology in Israel in March, partnering with the countrys Magen David Adom emergency service. The app has since been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Reporty was launched internationally Tuesday  the startup says the app can be used as a direct line to emergency services in 160 countries.

Reportys latest funding round brings the firms total funding to $7 million.

Emergency services are increasingly harnessing the power of smartphones. Earlier this month, for example, New Yorkers received a smartphone alert during the hunt for bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami. The message, which was sent out by New Yorks Office of Emergency Management after conferring with police, urged anyone with information on Rahami and his whereabouts to contact police.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Cybersecurity took center stage during Mondays first presidential debate as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump clashed on keeping Americas networks safe.

Both Clinton and Trump highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in response to a question from moderator Lester Holt.

Cybersecurity, cyber warfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president, because clearly we're facing at this point two different kinds of adversaries, said Clinton. There are the independent hacking groups that do it mostly for commercial reasons to try to steal information that they can use to make money. But increasingly, we are seeing cyber attacks coming from states, organs of states."

Cybersecurity has been firmly in the spotlight for the last few months, thanks largely to the breach of the Democratic National Committees computer network, which was blamed on Russia.

The Democratic nominee identified Russia as a key cyber threat to the U.S., turning her answer into an attack on Trump, who she described as very praiseworthy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clinton added that Putin let loose cyber attackers to hack into government files, to hack into personal files, hack into the Democratic National Committee.

She also referred to Trumps call for Russia to hack her email. I was so shocked when Donald publicly invited Putin to hack into Americans -- that is just unacceptable, she said

Trump responded by saying that the U.S. should be better than anybody else [at cybersecurity], and perhaps we're not.

He also questioned whether Russia was behind the DNC hack. I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC, the nominee said. I mean, it could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.

Additionally, the Republican nominee highlighted the cyber threats posed by Islamic State. We came up with the Internet, and I think Secretary Clinton and myself would agree very much, when you look at what ISIS is doing with the Internet, they're beating us at our own game, he said. So we have to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare.

The debate, however, did not reference Guccifer, the Romanian hacker who first exposed Clinton's use of personal email for government business. Earlier this month the hacker was sentenced to 52 months in prison by a federal judge.



Despite the absence of any new policy details from Clinton and Trump, the security industry welcomed the nominees' commitment to the issue of cybersecurity.

"While last nights debate between candidates for the U.S. presidency did not uncover much new or common ground, questions on cybersecurity were probed, prompting the candidates to agree the issue holds significant challenge and needs substantial attention and improvement, said Christos Dimitriadis, board chair of global security non-profit organization ISACA, in a statement. It is critical that the next U.S. president, as a leader on the world stage and in the interest of national security, increase an emphasis on building and expanding cyber security capabilities and workforce skills. Cyber security is no longer a technology issue but a business and global imperative vital to economic stability and public safety.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Florida's tourism industry is likely to take a big hit this fall as millions of Americans say they won't be traveling to the Sunshine State amid concerns over the Zika virus.

According to new analysis conducted by travel insurance provider Allianz Global Assistance, the number of people preparing to visit the state during the fall and winter seasons has dropped by almost 15 percent following highly publicized incidents of the mosquito-transmitted virus.

The drop comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel warning in August for people heading to South Florida.

The warning for the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami-Dade County was recently lifted last week with the CDC saying it was no longer a zone of active transmission. But the agency continues to caution pregnant women about traveling to the city and surrounding areas.

The insurance provider reviewed more than 900,000 travel plans made by Americans during the month of August for the peak fall-winter vacation period, which covers travel from mid-Nov. 2016 to mid-April 2017. Compared to the same period last year the provider found that the number of travelers planning to book flights to Miami was down 29.11 percent.

The state of Florida as a whole was down 14.84 percent.

Excluding Miami, which has been hardest hit by reported cases of Zika, the remainder of the state recorded a 12.4 percent decrease in travelers that intended to book flights during the time frame.

Its not just Miami, however, where the virus has taken a bite out of tourism profits. Other areas that have noted locally-transmitted cases of the virus experienced a decrease in booking intent at nearby airports. That includes Tampa ( down 32.79 percent) and Palm Beach (down 15.51 percent).

A poll released in early September from the kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly half of those queried were wary of traveling to places in the U.S. where people had been infected by Zika. That number jumped to 61 percent for those who were unsure about traveling to Puerto Rico or non-U.S. Zika regions.

More than 15 million people made overnight visits to Miami and its beaches in 2015 but that number may drop this year. So where are those tourists headed instead?

Travel experts say they could be going to Arizona, Southern California or even cooler weather locations like New England and Canada.

Its not just Miami thats seen its numbers drop, however. Puerto Rico has also been hurt. During the first half of 2016 the average hotel occupancy rate there fell from 78.6 percent to 74.8 percent, according to STR, a firm that monitors hotel data.

By May, the occupancy rate had dropped to 67 percent. And the luxury Belmon La Samanna hotel on St. Martin lost $700,000 in revenue, down 12 percent, between April and June as guests steered cleared due to Zika concerns.
One-hundred and forty characters. What was your first association with that phrase? I bet you're thinking: Twitter.

Related: Twitter Might Be Expanding Its 140 Character Limit  Sort Of

At least that was (and still is) the character limit for the network. However, on September 19, the platform relaxed the rule: Now, photos, videos, GIFs, polls and Quote Tweets no longer count toward the limit.

This new update will make Twitter conversations so much easier, even richer. How many times have you struggled to cut the last two characters needed to fit the limit? Have you ever felt more like a robot and less like a human when tweeting all sorts of awkward sentences full of abbreviations? What about efforts to have meaningful conversations when the tweet you were replying to or quoting was stealing valuable character count?! Well, you're not alone and Twitter has finally heard you!

While this change is a huge step for the network, it is also a logical one. When Twitter launched a decade ago (yes, its hard to believe, but its been exactly 10 years already!), it was operating in a much different space from today's. Nowadays, there is an unmistakable shift toward multimedia content. Images, short videos and GIFs have practically taken over the social space.

Since Twitter was hit with a lot of criticism and showed no potential forimpressive growth, these changes were long overdue. A plausible reason for Twitter losing its appeal is because the space just became too noisy. Partly because of the character limit (and also because of the desire to automate everything), most marketers tweet out the name of an article, sprinkle in a few hashtags, slap on a shortened URL and voila, the Franken-tweet is ready to be published. How can they expect to get any meaningful engagement from that?

The other instance is to upload an image with tons of text on it, include a call to action in the body of the tweet and slap in the shortened URL once again. That's a bit better on providing some context, but is still not very human. Plus, not only is it not the prettiest workaround, it has technical implications for businesses.

Related: Report: Twitter Won't Count Links, Photos in 140-Character Limit

Not so long ago, Twitter partnered with Google to make sure tweets appeared in search results. But, when you post a screenshot with lots of text on it, the text is not searchable. Meaning: Twitters biggest media partner cannot read your updates, and thus cannot count them as relevant to search queries.

Hopefully, the new update will modernize the network and its etiquette, encouraging more meaningful conversations, more colorful visuals and fun, short video snippets. After all, we are so used to these things on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, right?

Despite these plans, @mentions have not been affected by the recent change, but they likely will be soon. The company already announced this. We are really ready for the rule to be lifted from usernames as well, because if youre trying to engage in a chat with two or three handles at the same time, half of your tweet will be wasted just for @mentions! It is especially important to encourage real conversations instead of spamming one other with links.

Because Twitter has started losing its major space in the social media game, the network really needs to start considering the breadth and the depth of conversations taking place online every second if it wants to stay at the top. This flexibility in character limits is the first step in the right direction. Your message can still stay brief and to the point, but the media you use should enhance that message instead of cutting it short.

Related: 10,000 Characters on Twitter? 4 Reasons to Embrace That Rumored Character Limit.

So . . . well done, Twitter, well done.
Youve watched an entire season of HGTVs Flip or Flop and youre ready to start flipping houses. After doing a little research, you find that flipped homes produced an average gross profit of $58,250 in the first quarter of this year, according to a report by RealtyTrac. Sold.

But before you start sledgehammering that wall between the kitchen and the living room, there are many factors to consider when deciding to move into the house-flipping business -- one of them being location.

Financial advising site WalletHub has you covered. WalletHub analyzed 150 of Americas largest cities to find the best places in the U.S. to flip houses, considering factors such as median purchase price and bathroom-remodeling costs. In addition to placing the cities in an overall ranking, WalletHub breaks down each location into three categories: house-flipping market potential; renovation and remodeling costs; and quality of life.

Related: 4 Simple Tips for Finding Incredible Real Estate Deals

Whether you aim to make house-flipping your new full-time gig or are remodeling on the side to generate funds for your dream venture, here are the top 10 cities for renovating real estate.

10. Laredo, Texas

Witold Skrypczak | Getty Images

Laredo, a small city located on the banks of the Rio Grande, falls 10th on the list of best cities to flip houses.

Laredo's house-flipping market potential -- which factors in metrics such as the number of real estate agents per capita and the average gross return on investment -- ranks 58th out of the 150 cities that WalletHub analyzed. However, the costs of renovating and remodeling are relatively low in Laredo, which contributes to the city's high overall ranking.

Another important aspect to remember when preparing to flip a house is whether or not your potential buyers will want to live in a given location. Laredo ranks in the top third (46th place) for its quality of life -- in other words, it's a family-friendly place that offers potential for economic mobility.

9. Boise, Idaho

Ned Dishman | Getty Images

Lace up your hiking boots: Boise is the ninth-best city in which to flip houses. Boises house-flipping market potential is a bit lower than that of other cities in the top 10, ranking 80th, but Boises strengths lie in its low renovation costs and high quality of life. The city ranks 11th and 29th in those categories respectively.

Livability

8. New Orleans, La.

Mario Tama | Getty Images

If you like jambalaya and crawfish, youre in luck. New Orleans is eighth in the best house-flipping cities ranking.

Despite its reputation for festivals and food, New Orleans has the lowest quality of life among WalletHubs top 10 house-flipping cities -- it's the only one in the bottom third for that category. But the city makes up for it with its first-place market potential ranking (out of 150 cities), and its house-flippers see the second-highest average gross return on investment compared with those in other cities.

Related: Starting a Business Is Hard So Try Flipping One Instead

As for renovation costs, New Orleans wont break the bank -- The Big Easy falls 37th in that category.

7. Tampa, Fla.

George Rose | Getty Images

Tampa is the seventh-best U.S. city in which to flip houses (factoring in renovation costs and quality of life), and it is also the seventh-best city in terms of house-flipping market potential (independent of those factors). WalletHub examines the homes sold in a given city to determine market potential, and Tampa has the second-highest proportion of home flips in the country.

Livability

6. Lubbock, Texas

David Kozlowski | Getty Images

Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University, is the sixth-best city for flipping houses. Lubbock comes in 19th for house-flipping market potential and 34th for renovation and remodeling costs -- which bodes well for a relatively inexpensive buying and flipping process.

Lubbock also provides a good quality of life, ranking 39th out of 150 cities, which signifies an abundance of potential home buyers.

5. Lincoln, Neb.

Education Images | Getty Images

Nebraskas state capital is the fifth-best house-flipping city in the country.

Lincoln ranks 18th in house-flipping market potential and 38th in renovation and remodeling costs.

Related: $1.7 Million a Month: How Meridith Baer Built a Crazy Successful Home-Staging Business

The city also offers a high standard of living, with the 22nd-highest quality of life. Livability names it a top-100 place to live, top-10 college town and top-50 place to live for entrepreneurs.

4. Oklahoma City, Okla.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

Home to one of the largest livestock markets in the world, Oklahoma City falls fourth on the list of best places to flip houses.

Oklahoma City ranks lowest in the quality-of-life category (58th). However, it ranks high in both house-flipping market potential and costs of renovation and remodeling, placing 10th and 13th respectively.

OKC is also tied for having the most real-estate agents per capita out of 150 cities, which contributes to its favorable market potential.

3. El Paso, Texas

Visions of America | Getty Images

Texas claims three cities on the list of best places to flip houses, but El Paso ranks highest, sitting in third.

El Paso has the weakest market potential for flipping houses of the top 10 cities, but it's an optimal home-flipping location for other reasons. For one, its renovation and remodeling costs are low -- only nine (of 150) cities are less expensive than El Paso in that regard. El Paso also ranks in the top third for quality of life.

More than 70 Fortune 500 companies are based in the El Paso region, and it is the fourth-largest manufacturing hub in North America.

2. Fort Wayne, Ind.

Deb Perry | Getty Images

Fort Wayne, located in northeastern Indiana, comes in second on the list of best places to flip houses. Fort Wayne ranks 90th for house-flipping market potential, but it really shines because of its renovation and remodeling costs, which are the 14th-lowest among 150 cities analyzed.

Fun fact: Fort Wayne also has the lowest average bathroom remodeling cost. (Kitchens are cheapest to renovate in Mobile, Ala., and entire houses are least expensive to upgrade in Little Rock, Ark.)

Related: How to Start a Home Design Business

Fort Wayne ranks 47th out of 150 in quality of life.

1. Sioux Falls, S.D.

DenisTangneyJr | Getty Images

A combination of inexpensive remodeling materials and a high quality of life makes Sioux Falls the best place to flip houses in the U.S., according to WalletHubs analysis.

Sioux Falls ranks 66th out of 150 for its house-flipping market potential, but the city boasts the eighth-place rankings for both renovation costs and quality of life.
Two Indiana children were found dead in a vehicle outside a police station Monday hours after an Amber Alert was issued for them.

According to Fox 59, the alert was issued for Liliana Hernandez, 7, and Rene Pasztor, 6, around noon. Police said the children were last seen at around 6:20 a.m. in Fort Wayne and were believed to be in extreme danger. The Allen County Sheriff suspected that the children were abducted by their non-custodial mother, Amber Pasztor.

An officer from the Elkhart Police Department was stopped by Amber Pasztor at around 5:25 p.m. who said the two children were dead in the backseat of her 1999 Mercury Mystique. Police arrested the 29-year-old on two counts of murder and was transferred to the Elkhart County Correctional Facility.

Authorities from the Elkhart Police Department Homicide Unit were working with Allen County Sheriffs Department detectives to investigate the childrens deaths. The Coroners Office will conduct a formal identification of the two children at a later time, police said.

Authorities believe Amber Pasztor was traveling with 65-year-old Frank Macomber at the time the Amber Alert was issued and were still searching for him.

Click for more from Fox 59.
A high-ranking Air Force Space Command officer who was charged with rape and other crimes was found dead in his Colorado home after civilian police received a report of a suicide, officials said Monday.

The body of Col. Eugene Caughey, 46, was found Sunday at his off-base home in Colorado Springs, city police said.

Authorities haven't said how he died.

Caughey was relieved of his duties in June 2015 after the rape investigation began, the Air Force has said. His court-martial was scheduled for Oct. 17.

The officers who found him dead were responding to a report of a suicide, Colorado Springs police Sgt. Tim Stankey said.

The coroner's office said it could be four to six weeks before the findings of an autopsy are released.

Caughey had been vice commander of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base outside Colorado Springs. The unit operates military communications and weather satellites, as well as global positioning system satellites, which have broad civilian and military uses.

Caughey was accused of raping a woman in late 2014 or early 2015. He was also charged with adultery, indecent filming or photography, dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Prosecutors accused him of photographing his exposed genitals while in uniform and groping women twice.

His civilian attorney, Ryan Coward, said Caughey was looking forward to his day in court and had been participating in his defense.

"I think this surprised everybody," Coward said, adding that his client had served honorably for 20 years. "This is just a very tragic event that occurred for him and his family."

Caughey's family had no comment, Coward said.

Caughey joined the Air Force in 1993. He said he survived the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack on the Pentagon, according to a story on the Schriever Air Force Base website.

"I was a captain inside the Pentagon that morning when a plane crashed into the west side of the building," Caughey wrote.


Angry Charlotte residents verbally lashed City Council members for hours, complaining about what they called unaccountable police officers and civilian leaders who have failed to force change as the city marked a week of protests since a police officer fatally shot a black man.

At its Monday night meeting, the council opened the floor to dozens of residents who voiced their opinions about the Sept. 20 shooting of Kevin Lamont Scott by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. Many called on Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Police Chief Kerr Putney and other council members to resign on the seventh day of protests since the shooting.

"It's going to be rough in these streets until you give justice to our people," said the Rev. Milton Williams, the final speaker in a three-hour string. "Our city's in an uproar, and you did not respond."

Many of the speakers carried signs expressing their anger. One man's sign called for the repeal of legislation taking effect on Saturday blocking the release of police video without a court order. Many speakers demanded that police release all video footage of the confrontation.

Scott's family and advocacy groups complain that the department divulged only about three minutes of footage from two cameras. They have urged the police department to release all other video footage it has, as well as audio recordings of communications that could clarify how the situation unfolded. A media coalition is also requesting more footage.

"We have no reason to trust you, and you're giving us even less," Khasha Harris told City Council members.

Some speakers brought their children, not only to share in the moment, but in several instances, to address the council. Many in the crowd were brought to tears by the comments of Zianna Oliphant, a child who needed a stool to be seen over the lectern.

"It's a shame that our fathers and brothers are killed and we can't see them anymore," Zianna said. "It's a shame that we have to go through that graveyard and bury him. We need our fathers and brothers to be by our side."

Council member Kenny Smith said the council should be listening and taking action to answer the concerns.

"The unrest here has been decades in the making," council member Al Alston said. "Tuesday was the boiling point, and it's getting hotter."

The footage released so far of Scott's shooting left questions in many people's minds  including whether he was holding a gun, as police have stated. Scott's family said he didn't have a weapon. The footage includes body camera video from one officer, but not the black officer who fatally wounded Scott.

The gun recovered at the scene of Scott's shooting had been stolen and later sold to Scott, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police source told The Associated Press on Monday. The source insisted on speaking anonymously because the State Bureau of Investigation continues to look into the case. SBI Agent Erik Hooks declined comment when asked whether the gun had been stolen.

At a rally at a downtown church, North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber said federal authorities should investigate the city's police department. Police officers who fail to operate their body cameras during an encounter should be prosecuted, Barber said.

Six people were fatally shot since body cameras were given to all patrol officers about a year ago. But the officers who fired the fatal shots in five of those cases  including Scott's  weren't using the cameras.

Charlotte police didn't respond Monday to requests for information about those cases.
Seven Afghan students training at U.S. military facilities disappeared just this month, the Pentagon confirmed, sparking security fears amid terror attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota.

Four students were considered absent without leave, or AWOL, from International Military Student programs over the Labor Day weekend, and three more during the September 17-18 weekend as the terror attacks unfolded, Patrick L. Evans, a Pentagon spokesman, confirmed to Fox News in an email.

The four students who disappeared during the Labor Day weekend included two from Fort Benning in Georgia, one from Fort Lee in Virginia and one from an Army facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. More recently, two students vanished from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and one disappeared from Fort Gordon in Georgia.

Officials have since accounted for at least two of the Afghans -- who may have left the U.S., the Washington Free Beacon reported. Officials believe the disappearances on the same weekend as the terror attacks were coincidental, according to the newspaper.

In December 2015, military officials launched a search after two Afghan airmen disappeared from Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. Officials reportedly found one of the two men six weeks later in Virginia, possibly seeking political asylum, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The other man's whereabouts remained unclear.

The International Military Student Office, or IMSO, alerts the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement among other officials whenever a student goes AWOL, according to the Pentagon. ICE spokeswoman Sarah Rodriguez told the Free Beacon authorities were pursuing the Afghans.

"It is important to note that the majority of Afghans who train in the U.S. successfully complete their training and return to their country. However, there have been occasions where IMSOs have learned of plans to go AWOL. In some of those cases, those students have been returned immediately to their country," Evans said.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, the Afghan-born U.S. citizen accused in a string of bombings in New York and New Jersey, traveled to Pakistan and back to Afghanistan in recent years while becoming increasingly radicalized, according to investigators. One explosion in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood on Sept. 17 wounded 31 people, officials said.

Dahir Ahmed Adan, the man who police say stabbed 10 people at a mall in St. Cloud, Minn., before an officer shot and killed him on Sept. 17, was born in Kenya but grew up in the U.S., his father said. An Islamic State-run news agency claimed Adan was a "soldier" for the terror group.

In addition, U.S. officials confirmed that Gulmurod Khalimov, which ISIS named as its 'minister of war' earlier this month, had taken part in State Department-sponsored training programs in Tajikistan earlier in his career as a police officer.

Military officials declare a student AWOL when he or she is "absent from scheduled activities for more than 24 hours without proper authorization," Evans said.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter inherited a tangled web of morale and other problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps when he took over the Pentagon nearly two years ago.

Now he says he sees reason to believe that a major push for improvements is beginning to show results.

After visiting Monday with officers and airmen who operate, maintain and secure Minuteman 3 nuclear missiles, Carter said they told him they are encouraged by changes that have been made since the problems were highlighted by a series of Associated Press stories in 2013-14.

He said he concludes from those conversations that the reforms are "bearing fruit."
Another fraternity at the College of Charleston has closed amid allegations of misconduct.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports (http://bit.ly/2cxLE46ict ) that college and fraternity officials confirmed Monday that the Kappa Alpha Order chapter has closed.

The newspaper reported over the summer about a drug ring operating in Charleston that involved networks of current and former students. One man arrested was a former president of the Kappa Alpha Order chapter.

The fraternity's national office launched a review and a spokesman said members of the chapter agreed to close last week. The chapter will reopen with new members no earlier than 2018.

The chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi also closed after a student told police she was raped at an off-campus party. Two members of that fraternity were later charged.

___

Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com
A firefighter who responded to a report of a gas leak at a house in New York City was killed Tuesday morning when the home exploded -- moments after crews discovered a possible drug lab there, officials revealed.

The blast killed Bronx Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, a 17-year veteran and father of three, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters. Fahy was struck by debris while directing operations from the street. Paramedics rushed him to a hospital but doctors couldn't save him, officials said.

It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the line of duty death of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy https://t.co/XDK0NLYp1k pic.twitter.com/KpXI0ulzZO  FDNY (@FDNY) September 27, 2016

"We lost a hero today," Nigro added, calling Fahy a "rising star."

Firefighters had gone to the two-story house in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx to investigate a report of a gas leak when they came upon what they believed to be a drug lab and notified police, authorities said. The house exploded about an hour after the initial report of gas.

The cause of the explosion wasn't immediately clear. Nigro said renters were living in the home.

Images from the scene showed much of the house gone and debris strewn on the street and covering parked cars. Parts of the first floor with hollowed-out window panes could be made out.

More on this... Click for more from Fox 5

"I was sleeping and I heard this loud bomb, explosion," resident Barbara Nardo told WCBS-TV. "I thought maybe it was lightning that hit a car or something."

Another resident, David Khabinsky, told The New York Times he was getting ready for work when he heard a loud boom.

"Then five minutes later, you hear police sirens, and then helicopter after helicopter after helicopter," he said.

Police said six officers were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The head of Homeland Security says recent attacks in New York and Minnesota underscore that homegrown attacks inspired by violent extremists are as much a threat to the United States as those directed by terrorists.

While all attacks are difficult to detect and prevent, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the U.S. and its allies continue to "take the fight militarily to terrorist organizations overseas."

Johnson tells Congress in prepared testimony that air strikes and special operations against the Islamic State terror group have killed many of its leaders. While it remains a threat, Johnson said the group has lost nearly half the populated areas it once controlled in Iraq and thousands of square miles in Syria.

Johnson and other officials are set to testify at a Senate hearing Tuesday.
Friends and neighbors describe the man who authorities say randomly shot at drivers in a Houston neighborhood as someone who did his best to not stand out.

Authorities identified the gunman from Monday's shootings, in which nine people were hurt, as Nathan DeSai, a lawyer. He was shot and killed by officers.

Authorities were still trying to determine what prompted Monday's shooting.

DeSai was described as polite and someone who kept mostly to himself. A Dallas defense attorney who had worked with DeSai said a few years after 9/11, DeSai changed his first name from Niren so it would sound more American.

The normally inconspicuous DeSai drew attention to himself in recent weeks, including being accused of pointing an assault-style rifle at roofers working in his condo complex.
As they say -- from humble beginnings, come great things.

Starting your career at Google may not sound like a humble beginning, but for these tech executives and entrepreneurs, it was. A number of successful business people launched huge careers thanks in part to the time they spent at the search giant.

Youll be surprised to find how many familiar faces have their roots in Google -- and how much influence they possess today. So as the search giant celebrates its 18th birthday today, check out these inspirational quotes from 12 Google executives and employees of the past and present.

Larry Page

More From Entrepreneur.com Google Self-Driving Car Involved in Another Crash

The Washington Post | Getty Images

If youre not doing some things that are crazy, then youre doing the wrong things.

The Google co-founder and previous chief executive officer became the CEO of Googles parent company Alphabet in 2015.

Sergey Brin

Bloomberg | Getty Images

The only way you are going to have success is to have lots of failures first.

Together with Page, Brin co-founded Google in 1998. Today he is president of Alphabet.

Eric Schmidt

Bloomberg | Getty Images

It helps to see failure as a road and not a wall.

Schmidt became Googles CEO in August 2001. In 2011, Larry Page replaced Schmidt as CEO and Schmidt became Googles executive chairman. With the company's restructuring in 2015, Schmidt became the executive chairman at Alphabet.

Sundar Pichai

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

I do think its important to follow your dreams and do something you are excited by. If you follow your heart and do what you like, you will always do much better.

Replacing Page as CEO of Google last year, Pichai has worked at the search company since 2004 where he started as the vice president of product management.

Susan Wojcicki

FilmMagic | Getty Images

Things are always changing. Part of being successful is being comfortable with not knowing whats going to happen.

Wojcicki was there since the beginning -- in fact, Larry Page and Sergey Brin used Wojcickis garage in Menlo Park to set up Google first office in 1998. A year later, she became Googles first marketing manager in 1999. Today, she's the CEO of YouTube.

Omid Kordestani

Drew Angerer | Getty Images

In life you make the small decision with your head and the big decisions with your heart.

Before departing Google and becoming the executive chairman at Twitter in 2015, Kordestani was Googles chief business officer.

Sheryl Sandberg

Allison Shelley | Getty Images

Trying to do it all and expecting that it all can be done exactly right is a recipe for disappointment. Perfection is the enemy.

Before she became the COO of Facebook and best-selling author of Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, Sandberg worked at Google starting in 2001 as the vice president of global online sales and operations.

Liz Wessel

Liz Wessel | LinkedIn

Be a master of your craft, but know youre not the master.

Wessel worked at Google for two years before starting her company WayUp, a jobs search website for college students, at the ripe age of 25.

Tim Armstrong

Jamie McCarthy | Getty Images

Any time you make big plans, you have people questioning what youre doing.

AOLs CEO and chairman Armstrong worked at Google from 2000 to 2009 as the president of Googles America operations and the senior VP of ad sales.

Megan Smith

whitehouse.gov

"Be 2/3 yes and, 1/3 yes but."

Before her appointment as chief technology officer of the United States by President Barack Obama in 2014, Smith was vice president of Google X, the company's secretive research and development facility.

Kevin Systrom

Bloomberg | Getty Images

If youve got an idea, start today. Theres no better time than now to get going. That doesnt mean quit your job and jump into your idea 100 percent from day one, but theres always small progress that can be made to start the movement.

Before becoming the co-founder of popular photo-sharing app Instagram, Systrom was an associate product marketing manager from 2006 to 2009. He helped develop products such as Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Reader.

Jonathan Rosenberg

David M. Benett | Getty Images

Choose your goals wisely. Goals drive behavior and conflict. Make sure you have the goals right, and if theyre creating conflict, change them.

After nine years at Google, Rosenberg resigned in 2011 from his position as senior vice president of product management. He is currently an advisor to Google co-founder and Alphabet CEO Page.
Thousands of people evacuated Cedar Rapids as the river running through Iowa's largest city reached its second-highest peak ever on Tuesday.

City officials said a 9.8-mile system of Hesco barriers and earthen berms that contractors erected over the weekend was holding back the rain-swollen Cedar River. It crested Tuesday morning at 22.1 feet -- a foot lower than predicted Monday.

City crews turned their focus underground to the pressure-packed sewer system, which officials worried could send water shooting onto streets in the coming hours and create dangerous conditions for any bystanders. "The enemy now is what we don't see," city manager Pomeranz said.

The National Guard has been activated to help, and Police Chief Wayne Jerman said Monday the troops would patrol the evacuation zone and help out at traffic control checkpoints to keep out unwanted visitors. Jerman also said the Iowa State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies have sent officers to help.

While the barrier system was working, city officials said that many homes and businesses near the river will likely have water in their basements. They warned about the prospect of residential sewer backups and structural damage.

Thousands of residents had heeded the city's call to evacuate low-lying areas. It will likely be a few more days before they are allowed to return to their homes and businesses. Classes at public schools remained cancelled Tuesday and Wednesday.

Firefighters and police officers rescued a woman Monday afternoon who had been swept away by the river north of the city's downtown. She was able to cling to a tree until emergency responders reached her and got her to safety.

"Several officers and firefighters put their lives at risk and in great, great danger," said Cedar Rapids fire chief Mark English, who urged residents to stay out of low-lying areas that had been evacuated.

The Hesco barriers used to hold back the floodwaters are comprised of steel mesh panels, lined with a thick polypropylene material that can be quickly filled with sand or dirt, usually using a front-loader. The barriers, which have been used extensively by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, keep water from seeping through to the other side, but allow moisture to drain out the bottom.

City crews had worked through the night to patch any weaknesses in the protection system and pump out water that seeped through the barriers or came up through the saturated ground.

"City employees and contractors worked in really heroic ways to make sure the temporary system we put in place was fully functional," Pomeranz added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Latest on the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial (all times local):

11:20 a.m.

A former high-ranking transportation official who pleaded guilty in the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal says New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was told about the gridlock as it was unfolding and seemed to be happy about it.

David Wildstein testified Tuesday he told Christie at a Sept. 11 memorial event about traffic in Fort Lee on the third day of the four-day shutdown in 2013.

He says defendant Bill Baroni told Christie that the mayor of Fort Lee was frustrated he wasn't getting calls returned and that Wildstein was monitoring the situation.

Wildstein says Christie then replied sarcastically that he was sure that "Mr. Edge" wouldn't be involved in politics. Wildstein used the pseudonym "Wally Edge" while publishing a New Jersey politics website.

Christie has denied Wildstein told him about the plot.

___

10:50 a.m.

Jurors in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial are hearing how the alleged scheme unfolded in September 2013.

A witness who pleaded guilty last year testified Tuesday how he and two former allies of New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie mocked and made jokes about a Democratic mayor whose town was the target of their scheme to create traffic jams because he hadn't endorsed Christie.

David Wildstein is testifying against Christie's former deputy chief of staff and the governor's top appointee to the authority that operates the bridge.

Wildstein told jurors he texted deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly with reports of heavy traffic on the second day of the jams. He says Kelly texted back, "Is it wrong that I'm smiling?" Wildstein testified they ignored Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich's pleas for help.

Christie hasn't been charged.

___

10:10 a.m.

A jury is hearing for a third day from a key government witness in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial.

David Wildstein pleaded guilty last year and is testifying against two former allies of Republican Gov. Chris Christie charged with creating traffic jams in 2013 to retaliate against a Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie.

Wildstein described Tuesday how the two defendants "froze out" another Democratic mayor who declined to endorse the governor. He says they canceled meetings in July 2013 with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

Former Christie deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly and former bridge authority executive Bill Baroni are charged with conspiracy, fraud and civil rights deprivation.

Christie hasn't been charged and says he wasn't aware of the traffic issue until weeks after they happened.

___

6 a.m.

A jury is scheduled to hear for a third day from a key government witness in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing trial.

David Wildstein testified Monday about receiving an email from Republican Gov. Chris Christie's deputy chief of staff in 2013 that said it was "time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Wildstein said that set in motion a plan to punish the town's Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie. Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 and cooperated with the government.

He might testify Tuesday about a Sept. 11 memorial event in which he and defendant Bill Baroni bragged in Christie's presence about the ongoing traffic problems they'd created.

Christie hasn't been charged and says he wasn't aware of the traffic issue until weeks after they happened.
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A man charged with five counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the shooting deaths of five people at a Washington state mall shared an early dinner with his stepfather then told him he was headed to his job at a gym.

Instead, police say, Arcan Cetin headed to the Cascade Mall in Burlington, pulled a Ruger rifle from his trunk and opened fire in a Macy's department store, instantly killing three women and a teenage girl and critically wounding a man who died hours later.

As the small city an hour north of Seattle struggled to make sense of the carnage, an unsettling portrait emerged of the man authorities say was the shooter.

Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor has a criminal record dating back at least two years and was charged last year with assaulting his stepfather, who said his stepson suffered from mental illness.

One of Cetin's neighbors at an apartment complex said he unnerved her so much that she kept a stun gun near her front door.

On Monday, Cetin expressed no emotion when asked by a judge if he understood his rights. Bail was set at $2 million and his lawyer said nothing about his client in court and did not speak with reporters.

"It's a terrible tragedy for the community but having lived here my whole life, I believe the community is strong enough. It will recover," said Rich Weyrich, Skagit County prosecutor. "It's going to take a long time, but we will recover."

After his arrest, Cetin admitted to detectives that he was the man captured on security video carrying a Ruger rifle inside the mall, "and he did bring the rifle into Macy's and shot all five victims," court documents released ahead of Monday's hearing said.

Cetin left the rifle with a 25-round magazine on a cosmetics counter before fleeing, the documents said.

The victims ranged in age from a 16-year-old girl to a woman in her 90s and included a probation officer and a Boeing maintenance worker.

Authorities have not revealed any details about a motive, but Cetin's stepfather David Marshall told reporters after the hearing that his stepson "has mental health issues." He did not elaborate.

The court documents painted a picture of Cetin's stepfather and mother trying to help their son as he seemed to unravel.

Cetin came to the U.S. from Turkey and is a permanent legal resident, authorities have said.

Cetin faced charges last year in an assault on his stepfather after he caught Cetin smoking marijuana inside the house, according to court records.

Cetin was told by a judge last December not to possess a gun, but his stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was "going through a hard time," the records said.

Cetin had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and has taken unspecified medications in the past, the records show.

He eventually moved out of his parents' home and the stepfather told detectives after the shooting that he and his wife had helped Cetin with his rent. Cetin said his father bought him a laptop and his mother visited him regularly at his new apartment.

She last saw him Wednesday, and his stepfather shared a meal with him in the late afternoon Friday, the documents said.

Less than three hours later, surveillance video shows Cetin entering the mall from a fast-food restaurant, walking through the shopping center and leaving through the Macy's women's department exit, police said.

He then moved his car closer to the Macy's entrance and took a rifle out of the car's trunk, the documents said.

Cameras in Macy's show him entering through the same women's department  this time with the rifle.

In the span of a minute, Cetin killed a teenage girl near some clothing racks and then walked to the cosmetics counter where he shot a man and three women, the documents said.

He was arrested nearly 24 hours later in Oak Harbor, about 30 miles from the mall.

Cetin's stepfather told detectives that his Ruger rifle and .22-caliber ammunition were missing, documents said.

Police interviewed the suspect's former girlfriend and said Sunday she has an employment history at Macy's, but not at the Burlington Mall location. They did not identify her.

___

Flaccus reported from Portland. Associated Press writers Lisa Baumann in Seattle, Phuong Le and Gene Johnson in Seattle; Manuel Valdes in Mount Vernon, Washington; and Kimberlee Kruesi and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report
A Pennsylvania coroner says a Guatemalan found dead over a guardrail had swallowed up to $500,000 worth of heroin and was killed when one of the packets burst.

Clearfield County Coroner Mike Morris tells WJAC-TV (http://bit.ly/2d0rqTS ) he's working with state police and drug enforcement agents to determine the source and destination of the drugs.

Morris says the man's name is Boris Reyes, though he has yet to confirm the man's age.

A passing motorist found the body along a rural road on Sept. 16.

Authorities had suspected Reyes was a drug courier. They say tests indicate he had swallowed "multiple packets" of heroin worth a total of $250,000 to $500,000.

Morris won't say how the drugs were packaged.

___

Information from: WJAC-TV, http://www.wjactv.com
Two Mexican nationals have been arrested in Wilson County, Tennessee on multiple child sex charges, the Wilson County Sheriff's Office reported on Tuesday.

Working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshal's Task Force, WCSO says 23-year-old Fernando Limon and his brother, 28-year-old Ramiro Limon are each facing four counts of rape of a child.

Investigators began working the case in 2015, leading to their indictment. The pair was arrested last Tuesday at an Antioch residence.

WCSO detective Walker Woods says the case involved children "considerably younger" than the 13-year-old age limit sentencing guidelines involving adults charged with sex crimes against children.



Sheriff Robert Bryan thanked the TBI and U.S. Marshal's Task Force for "apprehending these suspects on such heinous charges involving our children.
An Ohio police officer is being praised for a kind gesture that went beyond the call of duty.

Sgt. David Robison of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was working early Sunday when he pulled over a speeding vehicle on its way from Indiana to Detroit.

Inside the car was Mark Ross, who had just learned that his 15-year-old sister had been killed in a car accident. The driver, an aquaintance of Ross, had a suspended license. And Ross had an outstanding petty warrant in Wayne County, Mich.

But what happened next stunned the young man who said Robison's response "gave me hope."

After getting pulled over near Dayton, Ross said he thought he was going to jail due to the warrant.

"The police called Wayne County and they refused to come get me because of the distance," Ross wrote in a post that has since been shared more than 94,000 times on Facebook.

Instead, Robison offered to help get the man home.

"I explained to the officer that my sister had died and that I needed to get to my mother asap," Ross said. "I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry. He REACHES OVER AND BEGAN PRAYING OVER ME AND MY FAMILY. He offered to bring me 100 miles further to Detroit because they towed the vehicle."

Lt. Robert Sellers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol told FoxNews.com Wednesday that Robison was willing to drive Ross as close to Detroit as possible -- offering to take him to a midway point so that a friend or relative could pick him up from there.

"We offered to help him get to Michigan," Sellers told FoxNews.com. "He ended up getting there on his own but we did offer to drive him as close as we could."

Sellers confirmed that Ross and Robison prayed together when the young man told the officer of his loss.

In an interview with Inside Edition, Ross described the trooper's kindness as "overwhelming."

"They were trying to help us," he told the website.

The family -- grateful for Robison's actions -- reportedly invited him to the young girls services.

"Hes actually going to attend the funeral," Ross told the website.

Ross's heartwarming post immediately went viral -- amid growing tensions between law enforcement and black communities around the country. As of Monday morning, the post was shared 94,150 times on Facebook.
The Portland chapter of the Satanic Temple has reportedly succeeded in bringing its "After School Satan Club" to an elementary school within city limits.

Finn Rezz, one of two heads of the chapter, told the Oregonian that the organization has been approved to begin its program, which focuses on "on science and rational thinking," on Oct. 19 at Sacramento Elementary School.

Rezz previously told the paper that most members of the Satanic Temple are atheists who see Satan as an allegory for free thought, and that the program is intended to promote "benevolence and empathy for everybody."

The purpose, Rezz told the paper, is meant to counter "the Good News Club," an after-school club put on by the Child Evangelism Fellowship, "a Bible-centered organization.

"Across the nation, parents are concerned about encroachments by proselytizing evangelicals in their public schools, and are eager to establish the presence of a contrasting voice that helps children to understand that one doesnt need to submit to superstition in order to be a good person," the After School Satan Clubs (ASSC) says on its website.

"Our goal, ultimately, is to place an ASSC in every school where the Good News Clubs, or other proselytizing religious groups, have established a presence," it said.

In August, the Satanic Temple of Seattle asked the Mount Vernon School District for permission to start an after-school program in direct response to the Good News Bible Club run by the Child Evangelism Fellowship at Centennial Elementary School.

Satanic Temple of Seattle spokesman Tarkus Claypool said a parent brought the Bible club to their attention because the parent was concerned the club was teaching children to evangelize to other children, according to the Associated Press.

Claypool said their curriculum teaches children logic, self-empowerment and reasoning, and they don't worship a deity.

School District Superintendent Carl Bruner said a 1991 Supreme Court ruling stated that if schools allow any organization to use school property, they must allow access to all organizations, religious and secular. He said the district will explore how to respond to the application.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Employees are investments not expenses and if we do not begin to accept this fact during these times of organizational renewal and reinvention, it will become more and more difficult to strengthen business models and develop the leadership mentality required to reclaim sustainable growth.

Its time to repair employee trust, rebuild their loyalty, reinvigorate their productivity and awaken their potential. Organizations and their leaders must instill their missions with true believers. The following three realities  which CEOs must solve for quickly  will serve as the impetus to create a strategy for change, so that employees can stop losing ground and organizations can start winning again.

1. Corporate values are only authentic when they allow employees to influence the future.

When organizations attempt to renew their values and reinvent themselves during times of uncertainty, they often hire consultants, survey their leaders about employee satisfaction and retain research firms to obtain customer insights before they make multi-million dollar decisions. This describes the traditional outside-in approach (template) of businesses defining the individual.

This is an outdated, one-size-fits all approach that no longer carries much weight. As such, organizations must take a more balanced approach that engages their culturally diverse employees to be part of the solution, rather than exacerbate perceptions that they are part of the problem.

When employees are not an integral part of the reinvention process, it doesnt allow them to take ownership and they begin to disengage. When employees find themselves implementing a strategy they didnt influence, they dont fully buy-in to the deployment process. If employees are the ones that are touching the business and are most mindful of the opportunity gaps and the requirements to close these gaps, why do they not have more influence?

Its because their leaders stopped listening to them and respecting them along the way  as they lost their identity in the process of change that was not supported by a strategy. Employees may do what they are told  but they lose their passion in the process.

2. Employees can only evolve if their organizations evolve.

The business climate has now reached hyper-change management mode as leaders are in search of the right strategy that will help their organizations evolve. In the meantime, to finance all of the required change and subsequent performance pressures, organizations are measuring every metric possible.

This oftentimes leads down a path where organizations adopt an execution-mindset (sowing opportunities), rather than an innovation mentality (seeing, sowing, growing and sharing opportunities). Organizations and their leaders have become overly metrics-driven and too linear in their thinking. If you disagree, take the following Workplace Serendipity assessment and put your perspectives and ability to evolve to the test (note: less than 1% of leaders have scored over 37).

Hyper-change management mode limits a leaders line of sight and thus organizations fail to see and seize the opportunities that are right in front of them. Rather than welcome the diverse perspectives of their employees to see, sow, grow and share opportunities  they remain locked in an execution-mindset of sowing that rewards the ability to get things done and in the process significantly limits an employees desire to propel innovation and initiative and share their ideas and ideals in their work; this makes it difficult for an organization to evolve. This is why the traditional workplace is not innovative enough.

Organizations that forget how to evolve are unknowingly perpetuating an environment that makes it difficult for their employees to evolve. As such, employees continue to lose out  and so does the organization.

3. Organizations must invest in their employees if they want their employees to invest in them.

When organizations forget how to evolve, it forces employees to find fulfillment in their work through recognition alone  in being able to execute what they are told to do, rather than earning respect from leaders for their ability to challenge the status quo and introduce new ways of doing things.

Few organizations incentivize their employees to think and be constructively disruptive to objectively push their leaders to evolve. Employees want to belong to an organization that holds their leaders (and themselves) accountable to help them discover and maximize their potential. This requires leaders to embrace the unique differences of their employees and their diversity of thought.

Unfortunately, based on research by my organization, less than 20% of leaders ask their employees the following question:

Who are you and what do you believe gives you distinction?

If you believe you embrace diversity of thought, put yourself to the test through this Diversity of Thought assessment (note: less than 1% of leaders have scored over 60).

Whether you are a business owner, division and/or department leader, creating a new strategy that brings everyones concerns to the surface will concurrently enable growth and new opportunities for the business. When you are solving for the right things more effectively, everyone believes that they can play a more active role to influence the future together.
A colleague says unidentified gunmen have shot dead a journalist in Somalia's capital.

Abdiaziz Mohamed Ali Haji, a reporter for Shabelle radio, was shot on his way home Tuesday, producer Abdirizak Turyare says.

Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous countries for media workers. Rights groups say both Islamic extremists and the government have reason to target them.

Haji is the second journalist killed in Somalia this year. In June, gunmen fatally shot Sagal Salad Osman, a female producer for the state-run radio station, in Mogadishu.

Three journalists were killed last year, including one in a bombing claimed by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says 59 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992, shortly after this Horn of Africa nation plunged into chaos.
A Pentagon spokesman said Monday that Islamic State militants are dead set on using chemical weapons and will likely try to use them against Iraqi forces as they prepare its siege on Mosul.

ISIS fighters are believed to have attacked U.S. and Iraqi forces last week, a U.S. official told Fox News. Tests showed that initial reports of a "mustard agent" turning up on the rocket were incorrect, military officials said Tuesday. No one was hurt in the attack.

According to Reuters, the U.S.-led coalition conducted an air strike on an ISIS chemical weapons factory Friday near Qayyara, the second attack on such a facility this month.

Davis said the terror group has a basic understanding of making mustard gas. The group has used a chemical powder bound together with oil, with leaves behind a trace. A Pentagon official told Fox News last week a tar-like black oily substance was found on the shell, which landed within the base hundreds of yards from U.S. forces.

"It's not generally in a lethal concentration. It's more of an irritant than anything else, but again, not something we view as militarily significant," Davis said.

Davis said even though ISIS chemical weapons arent perfect, coalition forces still have to be prepared for a chemical attack. He added that the U.S. has provided more than 50,000 gas masks to Iraq  40,000 going to Iraq security forces.

Fox News Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.

Click for more from Reuters.
In an about-face, U.S. military officials said Tuesday that no "mustard agent" turned up on the rocket that landed on a U.S.-controlled base in northern Iraq last week, according to lab tests.

Definitive lab tests conclude: No mustard agent present in munitions fired at Qayyarah West AB Sept 20. #Daesh #ISIL  OIR Spokesman (@OIRSpox) September 27, 2016

The rocket, reportedly launched by Islamic State fighters, landed last Wednesday at the Qayara West air base, where hundreds of U.S. troops are working to advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress. He had initially told lawmakers that mustard agent was present on the rocket's shell.

A U.S. official, who revealed details to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said a small group of U.S. soldiers who inspected remnants of the rocket after it exploded found a black, oily substance on a fragment of metal. An initial test of the suspicious substance showed it contained residue of mustard agent, but a second test was negative.

On Monday, a Pentagon spokesman said ISIS has used chemical agents in the past and warned that the group might try again.

The U.S. military destroyed a large chemical weapons facility outside Mosul earlier this month.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Vladimir Putin has praised farmers for making Russia's grain harvest this year the highest in post-Soviet times.

Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev reported to Putin on Tuesday that this year's harvest is expected to reach 110-115 million metric tons, the largest yield in a quarter century.

Tkachev didn't specify what the wheat harvest would be, but experts forecast production of about 72 million tons, of which 30 million tons could be exported.

Putin said Russia shouldn't hurry to boost its grain exports but wait for global prices to rise.

A mild winter and a warm, wet summer have contributed to the good harvest as Russia bounces back from a 2010 drought. Russian agricultural output has gradually recovered from its tough Soviet times, when the nation had to import American wheat.
The Russian military has denied allegations that its bombers jeopardized air safety during a patrol mission over the Sea of Norway.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov dismissed reports in Iceland that Russian bombers with their transponders switched off flew dangerously close to an Icelandic passenger jet last Thursday. A transponder emits a signal that allows the identification of an aircraft.

Konashenkov said Tuesday that Russian Tu-160 bombers were flying at a safe distance from passenger planes and had their transponders switched on. He added that the bombers were escorted by NATO jets.

Konashenkov described the reports as part of efforts to "incite Russophobia in Europe."

Amid Russia-West tensions, the U.S. and its NATO allies have repeatedly said Russian warplanes threaten air safety. Moscow has denied the accusations.
Shell says a fire has forced it to close a key oil pipeline feeding Nigeria's strategic Bonny Export Terminal, which militants attacked last week.

The ongoing challenges are losing oil multinationals billions of dollars in what used to be Africa's biggest petroleum producer.

SBM Intelligence risk analysts estimate that renewed militant attacks, low oil prices and weak refinery margins have cost Dutch-British Shell and U.S.-based Chevron and ExxonMobil $7.1 billion in the first half of the year, representing about 70 percent of earnings.

Shell spokesman Precious Okolobo says the Trans Niger Pipeline was shut down Monday to investigate a fire.

Shell has refused to comment on reports that militants bombed its Bonny crude pipeline Friday, crippling exports days after they resumed following months of repairs from a May bomb attack.
The Swiss parliament has voted in favor of banning Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public.

The National Council passed the vote 88 votes to 87 with 10 abstentions.

Earlier this year a government committee had voted strongly against the ban, Swiss news service 20 minuten reported.

The ruling will have to undergo further scrutiny and votes before it could be made law.

Members voted in favour of a ruling that no person shall cover his face in public places and in places or hide in the public domain or the provision of public services (excluding sacred sites).

Blick am Abend reported that CVP National Councillor Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter said: The burqa is an expression of misogynistic Islamist ideology. This symbol we need to halt. 

The burqa has already been banned in the Tessin region of Switzerland with people facing fines for breaching the rule.

Following the introduction of this ban earlier this year a national committee was set up and began collecting signatures to expand the ban across the rest of the country.
With international diplomacy in tatters and the U.S. focused on its election, the Syrian government and its Russian allies are seizing the moment to wage an all-out campaign to recapture Aleppo, unleashing the most destructive bombing of the past five years and pushing into the center of the Old City.



Desperate residents describe horrific scenes in Syria's largest city and onetime commercial center, with hospitals and underground shelters hit by indiscriminate airstrikes that the U.N. said may amount to a war crime.



Debris covers streets lined with bombed-out buildings, trapping people in their neighborhoods and hindering rescue workers. On Tuesday, activists reported at least 11 people killed in airstrikes on two districts in the rebel-held part of Aleppo.



The battle for Aleppo is unlikely to be an easy one for government forces because the isolated rebels say they are determined to "fight until the end" to defend their neighborhoods. Insurgents outside the city could also attack government troops to try to reduce pressure on comrades trapped inside.



If government forces and their allies capture the rebel-held eastern neighborhoods, it would be a turning point in the 5 1/2-year-old civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced half of Syria's population.



Over the course of the conflict, the government has slowly regained control of major cities. Its aim appears to be securing what some analysts call "useful Syria" -- a portion containing the four largest cities of Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama, along with its Mediterranean coast.



Aleppo is the last of the major cities still being contested, and it could take government forces between six months and a year to capture it, unless they aim to "annihilate" the politically significant city, a Western diplomat told The Associated Press. The envoy, who is familiar with the cease-fire talks that have faltered, spoke on condition of anonymity because of his government's regulations.



Once all of "useful Syria" is in government hands, international diplomacy would have to determine the fate of the jihadi-controlled northwest and those areas dominated by the main Kurdish militia and the Islamic State militant group.



President Bashar Assad "doesn't want a negotiation," the diplomat said, adding that "the Russians wouldn't or couldn't stop him" from attacking Aleppo.



In Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Syria's ambassador that Moscow has "a firm intention to continue providing assistance to the Syrian government in fighting terrorism and to help achieve the soonest possible political settlement of the Syrian crisis."



Opposition forces control almost half of Aleppo, the only major city where rebels hold such a large area. The U.N. says more than 250,000 people live in the rebel-held areas, while more than 1 million are in the government-controlled part that is usually subjected to shelling.



Assad's government controls the capital of Damascus, except for two small neighborhoods. It also controls all of Homs and Hama, the third- and fourth-largest cities.



Since the one-week cease-fire brokered by Russia and the U.S. ended Sept. 19, Aleppo has been under intense Russian and Syrian airstrikes, killing more than 200 civilians, knocking down entire buildings, disrupting water supplies and targeting Civil Defense centers. At least one of the eight remaining clinics in the city was put out of service.



Had the cease-fire held, the U.S. and Russia were supposed to announce the establishment of a Joint Implementation Center to coordinate attacks against the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria, formerly known as the Nusra Front.



Attempts to revive the cease-fire during the U.N. General Assembly failed, and U.S. Ambassador Samantha Powers harshly criticized Russia, saying Moscow was practicing "barbarism."



Hilal Khashan, political science professor at the American University of Beirut, said the decision to escalate the fighting occurred because Russia believes the U.S. has not been forthcoming in cooperating on coordinated attacks against the Nusra Front.



Last week, the Syrian army ordered civilians to stay away from rebel positions, saying a ground offensive would begin. On Tuesday, government forces captured the rebel-held central neighborhood of Farafra near the Old City.



Residents are stunned by the intensity of the bombing on areas that have seen a sharp increase in food prices due to the siege, which tightened earlier this month.



Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the Syrian Civil Defense, said his parents' house was shelled, and he was able to save them only because he lives nearby.



Assad "listens to no one -- not the United Nations, not anyone," a desperate and exhausted Alhaj said. "Is there no humanity in this world?"



Clinics have been flooded with casualties in the past week. Many had to be treated on white-tiled floors covered with blood.



Online amateur video showed people running to the site of the airstrikes, screaming the names of their relatives as they searched for them.



Several thousand rebels from different factions are believed holed up in eastern Aleppo, with the largest being the Nour el-Din el-Zinki group.



"The regime and its allies know very well the high price they will pay if they try to storm liberated Aleppo," said Yasser Alyousef, a spokesman for the group, referring to the rebel-held sector. "The rebels have become experts in street warfare and ways to drain the enemy."



Residents, fearing further targeting, deny the presence of any Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters inside the besieged area.



Brita Hassan Haj, head of the Aleppo council in the area, said the government's aim was to drive residents out. On Monday, 25 of eastern Aleppo's 63 neighborhoods were bombed, he said.



"Bunker-buster bombs are penetrating underground shelters, leaving no one safe," he said. "The main roads are closed, the civil defense can't operate, and people are dying. ... It is like judgment day."



The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, which has thousands of gunmen in Syria fighting alongside Assad's troops, was quoted by Lebanese newspapers Tuesday as saying: "There are no solutions (for Syria) on the horizon. It will be decided on the battlefield."


Bennigans Breaks Ground in Monahans

Legendary chain schedules earth-turning ceremony for Thursday at new site.

September 27, 2016 // Franchising.com // MONAHANS, TX  Monahans is about to get its first casual dining chain restaurant, and its not just any restaurant Its Bennigans, the iconic brand beloved across the globe for its chef-driven American fare and friendly Irish hospitality!

Mayor David Cutbirth, who purchased the rights to bring a Bennigans franchise to his hometown, will host a special groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 29. He will be joined by fellow members of the Monahans Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, as well as Legendary Restaurant Brands Chairman and CEO Paul Mangiamele.

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the future site of the restaurant at 507 West I-20, adjacent to the Monahans Business Center in the Dutch Hann subdivision. A reception will follow the ceremony.

Pattie and I love dining out, and we have wonderful memories of eating at the Bennigans in Midland, said Cutbirth, who has served as Monahans mayor for 23 years. Ive wanted to bring a really nice national chain restaurant to Monahans for years. We need one badly. Once I reached out to Paul, and he said he was willing to work with me, we made our deal and now were moving forward!

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant is tentatively projected to open in April 2017, bringing roughly 75 new jobs to the local economy. Monahans Bennigans will offer more than a dozen beers on tap, multiple HD TVs and plenty of banquet space. Its menu will feature such signature Bennigans favorites as the World Famous Monte Cristo, Oh, Baby Back Ribs, the Turkey OToole, the Big Irish double-decker hamburger and a wide assortment of handcrafted specialty drinks.

The Bennigans brand has always had a tremendous following in West Texas  and worldwide, for that matter  so I couldnt be more pleased to bring our outstanding food, drinks and Irish hospitality to the people of Monahans, said Mangiamele, who has led the renaissance of Bennigans since 2011. David is a wonderful guy and a very successful businessman, and I know hes looking forward to showing this town just how special the casual dining experience can be!

Cutbirth, a local entrepreneur who co-owns Quell Petroleum Services, Inc., and several other businesses with his brother, Henry, is eager to share his newest venture with his friends and neighbors in Monahans.

This is an extremely exciting opportunity for Monahans, Texas, to be home to a Bennigans, said Cutbirth. Not only will the locals love it, but Bennigans will attract a lot of transient business off the interstate that will now stop and spend their money in our town. Its going to be good for everyone here.

Now with more than 150 restaurants open or under contract worldwide, Legendary Restaurant Brands LLC is continuing to experience strong growth while simultaneously redefining casual dining. Since the end of 2012, the company has opened new franchise locations in Clarksburg and Frederick, Md; Santa Clara and Fremont, Calif.; Melbourne and Panama City, Fla., Saddle Brook, NJ; Tysons Corner, Va.; Veracruz, Mexico; Larnaca, Cyprus; and Dubai, UAE.

Additional restaurants are planned for California, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania and Virginia; and internationally in Mexico, Central America, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and South America.

For your nearest location, menu, hours and additional information, visit Bennigans.com.

About Legendary Restaurant Brands

Legendary Restaurant Brands owns the iconic Bennigans and Steak and Ale brands  the pioneers of casual dining  as well as the non-traditional, fast-casual concept, Bennigans On The Fly. Bennigans is a high-energy neighborhood restaurant and tavern that is redefining casual dining. With chef-driven food, innovative drinks and warm, friendly Irish hospitality, this Legendary brand delivers memorable dining experiences to every guest and compelling returns to all its franchisees. Steak and Ale is another American classic poised for a triumphant return. Redefined as a 21st Century polished-casual concept, the new Steak and Ale will once again set the standard for affordable steakhouses. Bennigans and Steak and Ale are celebrating their 40th and 50th anniversaries, respectively, in 2016.

For franchising information, visit Bennigans.com or call 855-GOT-BENN.

SOURCE Legendary Restaurant Brands

Contact:

Ladd Biro

Champion Management

Founder & Principal

O: 972.930.9933

C: 817.675.3499

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Our Town America Expands Its Reach for Minnesota Business Owners

Minnesota Is Ranked as One of the Best Places for Business, and the Best Place to Raise a Child

(PRWEB) September 27, 2016 - Our Town America, the nations premier New Mover Marketing franchise, recently opened its fifth Minnesota location, further expanding its reach in a state that was recently ranked #1 for businesses and families alike***.

Minnesota has earned several distinctions in the past few years, cementing its reputation as a state with terrific quality of life for all residents. The excellent urban planning, high-quality schools and parks, record-low unemployment and favorable tax rates are a few simple factors that have blended together to make the state a desirable place to work and live. Our Town America knows this better than most, as they have spent a lot of time investing and building their reach in the North Star State.

Our Minnesota-based franchise owners made excellent partnerships with numerous small and local businesses in their state, said Michael Plummer, Jr., CEO of Our Town America. In fact, Minnesota has become such a mover and shaker in the Our Town America system that we decided to host our 44th annual Convention in Minneapolis this year.

Our Town Americas New Mover Marketing is an impactful tool in the toolbox of any small business owner. In todays increasingly global society, New Mover Marketing stands alone as something to bring people back to the regions they inhabit, helping new movers spark relationships with new go-to local businesses through personalized welcoming packages. While the homemade pie delivered to the doorstep may be a thing of the past, reaching out to welcome new neighbors is still a kind and meaningful gesture...and its up to local business owners to step in for neighbors too busy to say hello.

Minnesota area franchise owners, including Dana Nelson of the Northeast Twin Cities region, and regional developers Peter Carlson and John Groppoli of Saint Paul, are stepping up to help local business owners do just that. Nelson, Carlson and Groppoli felt that the rapid growth in their neighborhoods and the small business climate made the Our Town America franchise an attractive option.

After being in franchise development and consulting for a number of years, my business partner John (Groppoli) and I were drawn in by the incredible validation which Our Town America has demonstrated for years amongst their franchisees, said Carlson. Having so many other franchisees in the Minnesota region has really helped us build a community, and now it feels like were all family. My fellow Minnesotans are always ready to help and share best practices.

Our Town America felt like a natural fit when I was seeking a franchise, said Kristen Lundgren, one of the newer Minnesota franchisees, who recently claimed the Eden Prairie area. I saw the difference it could make for small businesses by introducing them to the newest residents of a community, and I immediately thought of the growth potential. Minneapolis is a great area for business, in a great state for business, so the possibilities seemed  and are  endless.

Bill Hanson of Southeast Minnesota and Tom Russell of Minneapolis both saw value in the strong community in Minnesota. The organizational support is unmatched, which led to rapid success for these two franchisees.

I was very impressed with the management team at Our Town America, said Russell. I have been very successful, and have developed a good core group of sponsors in three very short months.

Our Town America reaches more than eight million households annually, helping to relieve the stress of a move and welcome families to the neighborhood with gift certificates of free housewarming offers from local businesses. New mover marketing boasts a high response rate and excellent rates of customer return visits, so brands that use new mover marketing can count on their business being top of mind for the recently-arrived residents in their regions.

For more information about Our Town America, please visit http://www.ourtownamerica.com.

About Our Town America

For more than 40 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium welcome package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking #16 in 2015 for franchisee satisfaction.

Our Town America's dedication to the sponsor exclusivity concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its welcome packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the companys long term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the new mover marketing program  such as their ability to reach a brand new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town Americas innovative pinpoint tracking system.

Due in large part to Our Town Americas devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America's concept as a viable business opportunity.

It is Our Town Americas mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America's welcome packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement.

For more information, visit the Our Town America website at http://www.ourtownamerica.com.

*** A CNBC study put Minnesota above all other states based on 60 measures of competitiveness, divided into 10 categories. Economy, infrastructure, cost of doing business and access to capital all factored into the rankings.

Minnesota took an unusual route to the top spot, generally reserved for states with low corporate tax rates and high incentives. Gov. Mark Dayton has spent the last several years championing an economic growth plan that focuses instead on luring and training skilled workers, including by expanding state-funded training programs and job-creation initiatives.

Over the past four years, the state has added 189,000 jobs  a 7.1 percent increase, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Minnesota earned points for its 3.8 percent unemployment rate and 70.8 percent labor participation rate. In addition, the state landed near the top of the heap in terms of education and quality of life, based on a host of factors like air quality and overall health. http://finance-commerce.com/2015/06/some-question-mns-ranking-as-best-state-for-business/ 6/24/2015

SOURCE Our Town

Contact:

Brittany Johnson

Our Town America

+1 800-497-8360 Ext: 229

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The way we talk about presidential debates, youd half expect a few punches to be thrown before the events are over. Whats meant to be a vigorous conversation about the direction of the country is often described as a showdown or throw down. Headlines breathlessly inform us how the candidates squared off, clashed and sparredall much more exciting words than disagreed.

The truth, of course, is that most debates are dry, forgettable affairs.

Occasionally, however, a candidate will trip up their opponentor themselves with a smart quip that reinvigorates their campaign or startling gaffe that brings it to a halt.

If this election season is any guide, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump should provide a few match-ups worth watching. After Mondays first face-off, heres a primer on the most notable of grudge matches.

1960: Nixon

sweats it out

The first presidential debate in U.S. history did two things: Set a precedent for debates to come and proved the importance of looking good on TV. Richard Nixon, suffering from the flu and after a grueling day on the campaign trail, looked sweaty and haggard compared to the fresh-faced John F. Kennedy, who had spent the day preparing in a hotel room. Though younger by only four years, the event enchanced Kennedys image of youth and vigor.

1976: Fords iron gaffe

Perhaps more than a clearer picture of the candidates, what the debates produce are quips, jabs and gaffes. Gerald Ford made one of historys most memorable blunders debating Jimmy Carter when he declared there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. In fact, at the time every Eastern European country was locked behind the Iron Curtain. Ford was trying to make a rhetorical point, but the unfortunate sound bite stuck.

1984: Young

Mr. Mondale

In 1980, at 69 years, 349 days old, Ronald Reagan became the oldest president to take office. Four years later at age 73, he ran again, but critics wondered if he had become too old to keep up with the grind of the presidency. His response? I will not make age an issue of this campaign, he said. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponents youth and inexperience. Walter Mondale, all of 56, laughed with the nation.

1988: Emotionless Dukakis

The question was odd, but the answer was worse. Michael Dukakis had a reputation as a passionless technocratan image he could have shed in a debate with George H.W. Bush when he was asked if his wife were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty? Instead of acknowledging his first instinct would likely be for revenge, he calmly said No, and gave a cold, pat explanation of his anti-death penalty stance derided for its lack of emotion.

1988: No Jack Kennedy

As far as political burns go, this might be historys most epic. Young and fair-haired, George Bush Sr.s running mate, Dan Quayle, was often compared to John F. Kennedy. During a debate with Michael Dukakis VP pick, Lloyd Bentsen, Quayle defended his relative inexperience by saying, I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency. That gave Bentsen his opening: I served with Jack Kennedy, Bentson said. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy. The audience erupted and comedians had a field day. But Quayle would get the last laughhe and Bush won in an electoral landslide.

2000: The sigh

and the nod

The debates of the 90s were free of any real drama or humor. It wouldnt be until 2000 that debaters would once again get under each others skin, though in subtle ways. Al Gore, who memorably sighed at many of the statements made by George W. Bush, actually rose from his seat during a debate as if to intimidate him. Bush, who had his back to Gore, paused, nodded politely at his opponent, and kept going. An embarrassed Gore laughed along with the audience.

2008: Say it aint so ... 

As often happens with politicians, the phrase most associated with Sarah PalinI can see Russia from my house!wasnt actually hers. The quote belongs to Tina Feys indelible caricature of Palin on Saturday Night Live. A line of her own devising, however, came during her 2008 debate with Joe Biden. After asking Biden if she could call him by his first name, Palin used Say it aint so, Joe as an attempt at a cute rejoinder. The line fell flat, but her two (!) winks lived on.

2011: Oops

Can a single word end a political career? In the case of Rick Perry, the answer might be yes. During a debate in the run-up to the 2012 election, the Texas governor said hed like to get rid of three federal agencies: the departments of Commerce, Education and ... Oops. Perry drew a blank. EPA? Mitt Romney suggested. Perry laughed and said that was it, but then admitted it wasnt. The Energy quickly left his campaign: he was the first to drop out.

Sources: History.com, Time.com, Commission on Presidential Debates, AP, ABC News, Nielsen.com
George Franklin Barnes, Locust Grove, Va.

Our dad, George Barnes, never liked to be the center of attention, but we wanted to let those who knew him know that he passed on September 23, 2016. God answered our prayers, and after months of pain, he passed quickly and with little pain in his final days.

He was known for his wry, subtle and sometimes quirky sense of humor, and his ability to make everyday life funny.

He was married to Doris Barnes for 61 years. God put them together  he told George that he would marry her even before he knew her. Besides everything else He is, God is a great matchmaker; they were that right for each other.

He grew up in the small town of Camden, Arkansas, where he eventually became a pharmacist and owned a drugstore. He would always stop for coffee and honeybuns with lonely widowers who hung around his store. He would give sandwiches and snacks to the poor, telling them that they were going bad and had to be thrown out (they werent). He worked hard to support his family, taking only 2 days off a month. He moved to Virginia in his 40s, living in Woodbridge and working at Drug Fair (later Rite Aid). He always made sure people had their medicine, walking a mile in a snow storm to the store, sleeping overnight in the store, and working many holidays. He retired to Locust Grove, Virginia.

He was a Doctor of Pharmacy, studying at College of the Ozarks, where Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, personally sold him balloons for a school dance. He was a Razorbacks fan, but also found a big room in his heart for the Redskins.

He was an Army medic in Korea, where he found deep faith from the helplessness of caring for the sick and wounded.

He was a volunteer with hospice and with the Stephen Ministry, helping people in crisis.

He was mechanically gifted, and had a fascination for cars from the time when he, in diapers, managed to start his mothers car and drive it, standing up in the seat with his hands on the wheel. He had a long and storied love affair with an old and barely running Renault he named Precious, much to the amusement of observers. His constant efforts to keep Precious going led him to win VIP status with the local salvage yard. In a strictly cash only, business, he was the only customer allowed to write a check. One former neighbor said that he hoped George would be reunited with Precious in heaven.

He was an adventurous cook not constrained by conventional wisdom, with great results sometimes and dinner for the dog others. He loved to play cards, and his bridge buddies.

He was an honorable man who stood up for right even when it cost him when he agreed to testify for a co-worker who was unjustly fired.

He had three children, Lisa Barnes Saunders (John) of Chantilly, Robin Barnes Campbell (Cabin) of Alexandria, and Russell Barnes deceased. He is survived by three grandchildren, Ellen Saunders Tham (Michael) of Toronto, Jane Saunders of Chantilly, and Sam Barnes of Woodbridge. He is survived by a brother, Dr. Robert Barnes, of Covington, Louisiana; five nieces, Lee (deceased), Beth, Julie, Alice, and Martha Sue, and many great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by children and grandchildren adopted by love, the Tribble family of Locust Grove, Brian, Carol, Meagan, and Toni; the Jones family of Locust Grove, Darrell, Michelle, Luke, Spencer, and Natalie; and John Eckman and Barbara Doman of Unionville.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Lake of the Woods Church, 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove, Virginia 22508 at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 30, 2016. A reception will follow the service at the church. Burial will follow the reception at Culpeper National Cemetery, 305 US Avenue, Culpeper, VA 22701.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the Locust Grove Lions Club Food Pantry at P.O. Box 605, Locust Grove, VA 22508. An online guest book is available at johnsoncares.com.
Allegheny Overhead Door Firm Screened And Approved By HomeAdvisor

The Altoona and State College overhead door firm offers trusted HomeAdvisor screening and approval status. The professionals specialize in installation, service and repair of residential and commercial garage doors.

--

Allegheny Overhead Door LLC and Sonny Bear are pleased to announce that they have passed the rigorous screening and approval process established by HomeAdvisor. The garage door repair Altoona PA company technicians are dedicated to prompt, professional and personal services in Altoona and State College, Pennsylvania, as well as Hollidaysburg, Roaring Spring, Tyrone PA and surrounding towns.. The family-owned company chooses the highest quality products and provides professional service for each customer.

Owner, Sonny Bear spoke recently to an interviewer, "I have been associated with the overhead door industry since I was a child, riding around with my Dad on his customer calls and installations of garage doors. His firm was known for its quality products and exceptional service. When I founded Allegheny Overhead Door LLC, I was committed to following the same principles of top quality products and prompt professional services at competitive prices."

The overhead door Altoona PA firm ensures that every door is functioning at optimal safety and efficiency. The company offers world-class service on nearly every make and model of doors and openers. Replacement of broken springs can be done safely and quickly with high quality products. The technicians can take care of garage door installation using products which suit the style and budget of the customers.

In State College, the community is known for its 20th century architecture and for contemporary construction. The State College PA garage door repair or installation team has the right door for each style of home. The appearance of the home from the street is largely dependent upon the appearance of the garage door. Homeowners can add a striking garage door to enhance the appearance of the home. The entire appearance of the home can be changed by the right style of garage door. The firm also offers garage door openers repair and installation, garage door service and repair.

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

Contact Info:

Name: Sonny Bear

Organization: Allegheny Overhead Door LLC

Address: 208 Bell Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602-4936

Phone: (814) 631-9023

Source: http://www.alleghenydoors.com/services/state-college-garage-services.php

Release ID: 133722

For more information visit r



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Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market Size, Share, 2016 Trends and 2020 Industry Growth Analysis and Forecasts

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market 2016 Research Report as available on AskLinkerReports.com is a comprehensive analysis of the Pressure Sensitive Adhesives industry.

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The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market 2016 Research Report projects investment feasibility analysis, new project SWOT analysis, and investment return analysis of the Pressure Sensitive Adhesives market. It portrays the present market picture and progress forecasts of the Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives market in the coming years.

Complete report on Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market of 156 pages is available at http://www.asklinkerreports.com/8450-pressure-sensitive-adhesives-market.

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market report offers a global synopsis along with the market share and progress forecasts by region. This report also highlights the dissection of the market in terms of product technology. The report presents the key vendor backdrop of this market and an equivalent thorough analysis of the significant market players.

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Industry 2016 Market Research Report prudently studies and outlines the changing aspects and opportunity of the market and serves in determining the principal factors impelling the development of the market for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives. This report is a calculable and qualitative demonstration including both the driving as well as constraining factors within the market for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives. The main segments besides the sub-segments within the market have also been emphasized in the report, with citing the foremost segments and their predictable market position towards the end of the forecast period.

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Industry 2016 Market Research Report carefully sketches the Pressure Sensitive Adhesives market plan and policy along with manufacturing process, product specification, cost structure and so on. Not only this the report profoundly evaluates the world's main region market conditions comprising of the product, price, production, profit, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate and much more.

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In addition, the Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Industry 2016 Market Research Report confers the main drivers that are inducing the growth of the market and also sketches the challenges faced by the vendors and the market as a whole. The report also highlights the key trends that are emergent in the market - the key region including North American, Europe and Asia; and the leading countries like US, Germany, Japan, and China.

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Industry 2016 Market Research Report comes in six segments, the first segment introduces the product basic information; the second segment analyses the Asia Pressure Sensitive Adhesives industry; the third slot chiefly dissects the North American Pressure Sensitive Adhesives industry; the fourth segment scrutinizes the Europe Pressure Sensitive Adhesives industry; the fifth segment analyzes the market entry and investment feasibility; and the sixth segment comprises the summary of the Electric Two Wheeler Industry.

The Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Industry 2016 Market Research Report as available on AskLinkerReports.com is a detailed package that answers all your enquiries concerning the Global Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Market.

Discount on the Report is Available at http://www.asklinkerreports.com/contacts/discount/8450.

About Us

AskLinker Reports is an aggregator of market research and industry intelligence reports providing data analysis of sectors including chemical, medical, machinery, food, energy, automotive, environmental protection, transportation, electric power, light industry, petroleum, electronics and other categories.

For more information, please visit http://www.asklinkerreports.com/8450-pressure-sensitive-adhesives-market

Contact Info:

Name: Ritesh Tiwari

Email: Sales@asklinkerreports.com

Organization: AskLinkerReports.com

Phone: + 1 888 391 5441

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/pressure-sensitive-adhesives-market-size-share-2016-trends-and-2020-industry-growth-analysis-and-forecasts/134132

Release ID: 134132

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Timeshare & Vacation Ownership Market 2016-2020: Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Outlook and Forecasts Research Report

MarketReportsOnline.com adds Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020) research report of 72 pages on the Vacation Ownership industry to the travel and hospitality intelligence collection of its research store.

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Vacation ownership (timeshare) market is growing significantly, largely due to rapid growth in global economy and rising urban population. This sector now includes publicly-traded hospitality companies actively developing a full range of offerings at different price points in various destinations. An increase in the factors like occupancy rates, average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) have made significant contribution to the growth of the industry.

Complete report on Vacation ownership (timeshare) market spread across 72 pages providing 4 company profiles and 3 tables and 40 charts is now available at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/501468.html.

Regionally, North America remains the global leader in the global market. Timeshare resorts are found around the globe in popular vacation areas near beaches, rivers, lakes, and mountains, and even in major cities.

As per the report "Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020)" The demand for vacation ownership (Timeshare) market will be driven by accelerating economic growth, rising employed population, growing urban population and rising high net worth individual & wealth. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry are rapid growth in vacation ownership, introduction of smartphone keys, introduction of new management services and increased emphasis on health and well-being. However, the expansion of vacation ownership market is hindered by increasing competition, technological issues and declining consumer confidence.

The Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market report presents an in-depth analysis of the global market along with market of the US. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. A thorough analysis has been conducted on key market players covering their business overview, product portfolio, financial overview and business strategies.

Purchase a copy of this "Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market: Industry Analysis & Outlook (2016-2020)" research report at USD 800 (Single User License) http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=501468.

Company Coverage of Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market:

o Marriott Vacations Worldwide

o Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

o Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

o Diamond Resorts International

Few Points from List of Charts (http://www.marketreportsonline.com/501468-toc.html) Provided in Global Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) Market 2016-2020:

Hospitality Industry Structure

Categorical Distribution of Weekly Intervals

Categorical Distribution of Points System

Timeshare Industry- Relationship between Consumer, Developer and Exchange Network

Global Hotel Industry Occupancy Rate by Region (2008-2015)

Global Hotel Industry Forecasted Occupancy Rate by Region (2016-2020)

Timeshare Industry by Ownership (2015)

The US Hotel Industry Revenue (2010-2015)

The US Hotel Industry Forecasted Revenue (2016-2020)

The US Hotel Industry RevPAR (2010-2015)

The US Hotel Industry Forecasted RevPAR (2016-2020)

The US Hotel Industry Average Daily Rates (2010-2015)

The US Hotel Industry Forecasted Average Daily Rates (2016-2020)

The US Hotel Industry Occupancy Rate (2010-2015)

The US Hotel Industry Forecasted Occupancy Rate (2016-2020)

The US Timeshare Industry Sales by Value (2010-2015)

The US Timeshare Industry Forecasted Sales by Value (2016-2020)

Total Timeshare Economic Output in the US (2015)

Average Resort Size in the US (2010-2015)

Average Forecasted Resort Size in the US (2016-2020)

Average Sales Price per Interval in the US (2011-2015)

Average Forecasted Sales Price per Interval in the US (2016-2020)

Browse All Latest Travel & Hospitality Market Research Reports at http://www.marketreportsonline.com/cat/hospitality-market-research.html.

For more information, please visit http://www.marketreportsonline.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=501468

Contact Info:

Name: Ritesh Tiwari

Email: sales@marketreportsonline.com

Organization: Market Reports Online

Phone: + 1 888 391 5441

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/timeshare-vacation-ownership-market-2016-2020-size-share-growth-drivers-outlook-and-forecasts-research-report/134118

Release ID: 134118

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Larry Pitt & Associates Earns Top Accreditation From The Better Business Bureau

Philadelphia workers' compensation law firm Larry Pitt & Associates, PC has been given the highest possible rating by the Better Business Bureau.

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Larry Pitt & Associates, PC, has earned an A+ accreditation rating from the Better Business Bureau. The rating is the highest that can be earned by any accredited company.

"I am thrilled by the rating," said firm founder Larry Pitt. "We've been here in Philadelphia for over 35 years. We have helped thousands, of people who were suffering because of a person injury, or a workplace accident, or who have debilitating illness and injuries that keep them from working. They come to us and they're scared, and they're angry: they don't know how they're going to keep their homes or protect their families. The BBB accreditation shows people who are frightened about seeing a lawyer that we're a firm you can trust to do right by you. We can help you and your family."

Larry Pitt & Associates operates six offices throughout Pennsylvania, with three of them in Philadelphia. The firm was founded in 1981, and has focused on issues of workers' rights since the beginning. Mr. Pitt is regularly named a Top Attorney by local and national organizations for his work in the area of workers' compensation.

About the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau "sets standards for ethical business behavior and monitors compliance" for close to 400,000 businesses and charitable organizations around the country. Their mission is to assist consumers in finding businesses who are dedicated to following best practices, and to "creating a community of trustworthy businesses and charities."

The ratings process is based on 13 different key elements in assessing a company, each of which is assigned a point value on a sliding scale. Those elements are:

1. Complaint Volume (Weighted by Complaint Age)

2. Unanswered Complaints

3. Unresolved Complaints

4. Complaint Resolution Delayed

5. Failure to Address Complaint Pattern

6. Type of Business

7. Time in Business

8. Transparent Business Practices

9. Failure to Honor Mediation/Arbitration

10. Competency Licensing

11. Government Action (per action)

12. Advertising Review (per incident)

13. BBB Trademark Infringement

In order to earn an A+ rating, a company must score at least 97 out of 100 possible points.

Larry Pitt & Associates maintains office locations in Bensalem, Lansdowne and Reading, as well as three separate locations in Philadelphia. The attorneys focus their practice entirely in the areas of:

o Workers' Compensation

o Social Security Disability

o Personal Injury

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

Contact Info:

Name: Larry Pitt

Organization: Larry Pitt & Associates, P.C.

Address: 409 S 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone: (215) 546-0011

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/larry-pitt-associates-earns-top-accreditation-from-the-better-business-bureau/134209

Release ID: 134209

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Junilla Sledziewski Now Hospitality Committee Co-Chair Chicago Women's Club

Chicago attorney honored by nomination to board of the Professional Women's Club of Chicago.

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Attorney Junilla Sledziewski was honored with a nomination to be a member of the board of the Professional Women's Club of Chicago. She also announced her appointment as co-chair of the Hospitality Committee of PWCC.

The goal of The Professional Women's Club of Chicago is to promote the business, professional, and personal development of its membership and to focus on issues such as health and work/life balance. PWCC is a thriving Chicago networking organization for female professionals from a wide range of industries who benefit from being part of a women-focused networking group, dealing with contemporary work and life issues.

The Hospitality Committee is responsible for ensuring that new and existing members are welcomed and integrated into the PWCC community. Its responsibilities include hosting monthly "New Member Meet and Greet" events before each luncheon and facilitating introductions between new and existing members by identifying members with similar interests.

Ms. Sledziewski shares, "I am thrilled to have been appointed as co-chair, along with Attorney Amy Cramer, and am so proud to now be a member of the PWCC Board of Directors. I look forward to serving PWCC for years to come."

Attorney Sledziewski is an attorney with the firm of Statman, Harris & Eyrich, LLC. She focuses her law practice on representing commercial lenders in a variety of transactional matters and litigation. She also practices commercial and residential real estate and works on resolving commercial disputes through informal resolution processes or litigation. Junilla graduated magna cum laude from The University of Miami School of Law, (Florida) where she was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Florida, and New Mexico. Junilla is honored to be a member of the Professional Women's Club of Chicago and the Business Law Network, and is active with Wills for Heroes to handle end-of-life issues for first responders.

For more information visit http://www.pwcc.org/?page=Committees

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

Contact Info:

Name: Junilla Sledziewski

Organization: Statman, Harris, & Eyrich, LLC

Address: 30 S. Wacker Dr. Suite 2200 Chicago, Illinois 60606

Phone: (312) 251-9964

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/junilla-sledziewski-now-hospitality-committee-co-chair-chicago-womens-club/134533

Release ID: 134533

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CCHR Protests The Psychiatric Drugging Of Children For Profit

More than 1 million children between the ages of zero to five are being prescribed psychiatric drugs despite the known side effects including deaths, homicides and suicides that are reported in older children and adults taking these dangerous drugs.

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The Florida chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights--a non-profit mental health watchdog that has, for 46 years, worked to protect patients' rights--demonstrated in protest of the over-drugging of children at the Florida Psychiatric Society annual meeting in response to the psychiatric drugging of 8 million children in the United States.

On Saturday the 24th of September, two hundred members of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) of Florida held a rally and demonstration in the vicinity of the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront hotel where the Florida Psychiatric Society was holding its annual meeting. The purpose of the rally and demonstration was to bring public attention to the epidemic destroying the fabric of the society - the psychiatric drugging of children.

Currently 8 million U.S. children are being prescribed psychiatric drugs, with more than 1 million between the ages of zero to five. [1] Normal childhood behaviors are being repackaged and labeled as "mental disorders." The result is that millions of children are being drugged for behaviors reclassified by psychiatry as "disease."

This drugging of children goes directly against the best practice guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and in a report by the Center for Disease Control, in a national sample of children ages 4-17 years collected a few short years ago, more children were not receiving treatment as described in these guidelines but instead were being given psychiatric drugs as a first course of treatment. [2]

With the meeting exhibitor list of the A Florida Psychiatric Society's event filled with companies that produce psychiatric drugs such as, Alkermes, Janssen Pharmaceutical Company and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,[3] CCHR descended on the psychiatrists attending the Florida Psychiatric Society annual meeting with signs reading "PSYCHIATRY: JUNK SCIENCE & DANGEROUS DRUGS" and "PSYCHIATRY LABELING CHILDREN FOR PROFIT" taking every opportunity to let people know that this meeting was simply a way to connect up the psychiatrists who prescribe drugs with the companies that sell them.

"Dangerous psychiatric drugs are being given to infants and toddlers despite the known debilitating side effects of deaths, homicides and suicides that are reported in older children and adults taking these medications,"[4]said Diane Stein, President CCHR Florida. "Why is this being done despite the known risks? Because a psychiatrist prescribing drugs can make up to four times as much as one who doesn't and drugs prescribed for ADHD alone make billions every year. It is all about the money."[5]

CCHR protestors also distributed hundreds of pamphlets informing passersby in St. Petersburg about the issue of the dangerous drugging of children with psychotropic drugs. Passersby in turn honked their horns and responded in agreement to the group and their signs. For more information on CCHR and the over drugging of children please visit http://www.cchrflorida.org/

About CCHR:

Initially established by the Church of Scientology and renowned psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz in 1969, CCHR's mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections.

It was L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, who brought the terror of psychiatric imprisonment to the notice of the world. In March 1969, he said, "Thousands and thousands are seized without process of law, every week, over the 'free world' tortured, castrated, killed. All in the name of 'mental health.'"

After discovering that 55 percent of foster children in Florida had been prescribed powerful mind-altering psychotropic drugs, CCHR documented the abuse to the health department, which initiated changes that led to a 75 percent reduction in prescriptions for children under six.

SOURCES:

[1] cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/children-on-psychiatric-drugs/

[2] cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

[3] floridapsych.org/page/ExhibitorInfoF2016

[4] cchrflorida.org/infants-being-given-psychiatric-drugs-on-the-rise/

[5] apa.org/monitor/2012/06/prescribing.aspx

For more information, please visit http://www.cchrflorida.org/

Contact Info:

Name: Diane Stein

Email: publicaffairs@cchrflorida.org

Organization: Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida

Address: 109 N. Fort Harrison Ave

Phone: (727) 442-8820

Release ID: 134539

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Trump Clinton Mexico Wall Viral Meme Opening 2016 Debate T-Shirt Released

A viral T-shirt based on the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton has exploded across the internet in the hours following the event. The candidates discussed a range of controversial topics and are set to do battle again on October 9.

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The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton took place last night between 9pm and 10:30pm and Trump's infamous wall remark has already been jumped on by a trending T-shirt. Trump and Clinton fired verbal shots at each other in the first of a series of debates, with a number of controversial topics covered as Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News moderated at Hofstra University, in Hempstead New York, including the now infamous wall proposed by Trump.

The t-shirts can be viewed at: http://letsgolook.at/TrumpWall.

Divided into six segments of 15 minutes each, the debate focused on some of the most important and controversial topics, including the ever present threat of ISIS and the increasingly prevalent immigration conversation.

Each segment was opened with a question from Lester Holt, with both candidates getting two minutes to respond, with the duelling debaters then getting the chance to respond to each other. It was live streamed on major news networks, including being offered for free on YouTube and Twitter, so more people than ever before could be a part of the historic occasion.

One of the topics was the wall that Donald Trump claimed he would build should he win the election. He originally emphasises that it would be impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, and beautiful, covering 1,000 miles, with natural obstacles taking care of the rest of the Mexican border.

He has since gone on to say that a wall is better than fencing, and much more powerful, which rules out any cheaper option like iron fence posts that could be implemented across the border. Because of this demand for powerful materials, but the vast expense involved in such a big project, concrete would have to be used.

Trump said: "I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me, and I build them very inexpensively." He went on to claim that the cost of the wall would be around $10 billion, and elaborated on his plans further in the live debate.

The viral T-shirts picked up on this to hugely popular effect, and have fans eagerly anticipating the next debate between Clinton and Trump. The t-shirts can be viewed at: https://politicalfunny.org.

For more information, please visit http://munchweb.com

Contact Info:

Name: Chris Munch

Organization: Munchweb

Address: 13 Upper Baggot Street



Release ID: 134523

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ICC Property Management Ltd. Ranks No. 261 on the 2016 PROFIT 500

PROFIT and Canadian Business unveils 28th annual list of Canada's Fastest-Growing.

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Canadian Business and PROFIT today ranked ICC Property Management Ltd. No. 261 on the 28th annual PROFIT 500, the definitive ranking of Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies. Published in the October issue of Canadian Business and at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their five-year revenue growth.

ICC Property Management Ltd. made the 2016 PROFIT 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 208%.

"Companies become a part of the PROFIT 500 through innovative thinking, smart strategy and sheer grit," says James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business. "These firms demonstrate what Canadian entrepreneurs can achieve, both at home and across the globe."

ICC Property Management are no strangers to praise from within their own industry. ACMO recognized ICC Property Management Ltd. with the Corporate Member of the Year award in 2008 and 2010, Steven Christodoulou was awarded the 2015 ACMO Leader of the Year Award and the Remi Network recently placed them in the top ten property management companies both by buildings managed and total number of units. The PROFIT 500 puts them into a new playing field however, being one of the fastest growing companies of any industry for 4 years in a row. The PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their five-year revenue growth.

Their success comes down to a uniquely personal approach for a business that operates on such a grand scale, the nature of which has been captured in a new eBook by the company CEO, offering guidance to property managers and directors everywhere.

ICC Property Management CEO Steven Christodoulou explained, "We are absolutely thrilled to see our company represented in the PROPERTY 500 rankings, and we extend our sincere thanks to the team at PROFIT Magazine and Canadian Business, who continue to do great work in supporting the future of Canadian business. I would also like to thank our passionate and committed team, from the front lines to our boards of directors, for helping us get to where we are today. I hope they are excited to see our ranking improve next time through continued commitment to excellence."

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About PROFIT and PROFITguide.com

PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada's preeminent media brand dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 34 years, Canadian entrepreneurs across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it's a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. Visit PROFIT online at PROFITguide.com.

About Canadian Business

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, best-selling and most-trusted business publication in the country. With a total brand readership of more than 1.1 million, it is the country's premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada's business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. We provide concrete examples of business achievement, thought-provoking analysis and compelling storytelling, all in an elegant package with bold graphics and great photography. Canadian Business--what leadership looks like.

About ICC Property Management

ICC Property Management Ltd. was established in 1992 by owner, President, and CEO Steven Christodoulou. Over more than twenty years, the company has grown under his leadership to stand out among Toronto property management companies as one of the best and fastest growing in the industry. The company takes a personalized and hands-on approach with each client, emphasizing customer service, integrity, and care.

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

Contact Info:

Name: Steven Christodoulou

Email: stevec@iccpropertymanagement.com

Organization: ICC Property Management

Address: 1151 Denison Street - Unit 15, Markham, Ontario, L3R 3Y4

Phone: 905-940-1234 - ext 24

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/icc-property-management-ltd-ranks-no-261-on-the-2016-profit-500/133107

Release ID: 133107

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LiveViewGPS Inc Reports On Cost Savings Achieved With The Help Of GPS Technology

Companies find the GPS devices pay for themselves in a very short period of time thanks to the savings that may be achieved, announces LiveViewGPS.com

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Research shows employees, when aware they are being monitored, are 100 times less likely to waste time, saving businesses money. Furthermore, they are ten times less likely to put the vehicle at risk through behaviors such as speeding. Companies that have yet to incorporate GPS tracking in their fleet vehicles should reconsider doing so, as these are only two of the many benefits associated with installation of this technology in company vehicles.

In addition to improved employee performance, GPS tracking helps to keep idling costs down. Many business owners don't recognize what a problem this is, yet every hour the engine idles, a gallon of fuel is consumed, on average. This can lead to a loss of $7,200 per year for companies with five fleet vehicles. Furthermore, this doesn't take into account the amount of wear and tear on the vehicle, which is equivalent to driving a semi 64,000 miles, according to the American Trucking Association.

"LiveViewGPS Inc offers a variety of products designed to meet the needs of business owners. Law enforcement often needs one type of device, while businesses want another to monitor their employees. We have devices designed for both purposes, along with those designed to track the elderly, teens and vehicles which have been stolen, as we recognize everyone has their own unique needs. We work to accommodate all who wish to obtain a GPS tracking device," George Karonis, spokesperson for LiveViewGPSInc, announces.

The systems allow businesses to track many things simultaneously. This includes the route of their driver, the speed of the vehicle and idling. With the help of this information, businesses find they are able to reduce or eliminate costs they may not even be aware are minimizing their profits. The system starts to pay for itself in a very short period of time.

"Visit our site today to learn more about GPS tracking and how it benefits your business. Furthermore, parents with teen drivers may wish to consider GPS tracking for personal vehicles. It's nice to know where a child is at all times and learn more about their driving habits, and this technology allows them to do so. This is only one of the many ways families benefit from this technology, and there are numerous others. Be sure to check them out while on the site," Karonis states.

About LiveViewGPSInc:

LiveViewGPS provides GPS tracking systems that are easy to use straight out of the box with no software to download. The company remains one of the most reliable available today with 99.9 percent server uptime, and billing is on a month-to-month basis. Customers receive both desktop and mobile access to GPS data.

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

Contact Info:

Name: George Karonis

Organization: LiveViewGPS Inc

Phone: 661-294-6805

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/liveviewgps-inc-reports-on-cost-savings-achieved-with-the-help-of-gps-technology/134563

Release ID: 134563

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Members Own Health Funds Launch Online Comparison Tool For Member Led Health Insurance

Members Own Health Funds now has a comparison tool to help people find the best deal from non-profit, member led health funds, providing cheaper health insurance for all.

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Not for profit and mutual health funds are becoming more common in Australia, as people seek alternatives to private healthcare companies that were created to benefit investors, instead of those taking out policies. Members Own Health Funds is a website that has been created to represent a number of mutual and not for profit health funds to showcase the difference they can make in people's lives. The site has recently launched a comparison tool, to make it easier than ever for people to see the best health cover available to them, and realise how much they could save.

The comparison tool at https://membersown.com.au/ helps people compare and contrast the coverage between the eighteen health funds that offer unique and different approaches to ensuring people's health needs are met, in whatever circumstances they find themselves in.

The comparison tool takes details from the user that require just a few minutes to fill in, before using these details to get instant quotes from the available providers. The site then ranks these in terms of best value to the customer, weighing both price and coverage to identify the best deal for the least money.

A spokesperson for Members Own Health Funds explained, "Just because your private health fund is one of the big ones, it doesn't mean their coverage is better or you get more back. Most Members Own funds have about as many -and in some cases more- arrangements with private hospitals than the big 'for-profit' brands. Members Own can bring about good, positive, results to health insurance, and most importantly to people's pockets. The new comparison tool will make it easier than ever for people to see which of our eighteen available funds will be the best fit for their needs, getting better coverage, saving money and supporting a health insurance revolution."

About Members Own Health Funds: Members Own Health Funds is a group of 18 like-minded not-for-profit and mutual Australian owned health funds that have come together to highlight that there are real alternatives to funds run solely in order to benefit investors and overseas owners. It features an online comparison engine to help people find the most suitable health insurance option for them from its available funds.

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

Contact Info:

Name: PRWhirlWind

Organization: PRWhirlWind

Address: Level 1, 87 Little Malop St Geelong VIC 3220

Phone: 1800 636 509

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/members-own-health-funds-launch-online-comparison-tool-for-member-led-health-insurance/134571

Release ID: 134571

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PCIe SSD Market Revenue to Reach $1836 Million by 2020

RnRMarketResearch.com adds Global PCIe SSD Market 2016-2020 latest research report, the analysts forecast global peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) SSD market to grow at a CAGR of 33.24% during the period 2016-2020.

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The global PCIe SSD market analyst says one of the key trends for market growth will be rise in investments in emerging memory technology. The 3D NAND flash memory market is a new market where manufacturers are investing a lot of capital. Some companies such as Samsung, Micron, and Intel have already invested to extend their product portfolios. Toshiba, in collaboration with SanDisk, is investing huge funds to develop 3D NAND. Samsung, SanDisk, and Toshiba, and Intel and Micron are likely to invest more than $18 billion in the manufacturing of 3D NAND during the forecast period. Intel has plans to invest up to $5.5 billion to manufacture flash memory in its China-based memory chip plant during the forecast period. Hence, increasing investments in 3D NAND technology will boost the global PCIe SSD market during the forecast period.

Complete report on PCIe SSD market spread across 63 pages, analyzing 6 major companies and providing 29 data exhibits are now available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/global-pcle-ssd-market-2016-2020-market-report.html

According to the 2016 PCIe SSD market report, need for managed service data centers will be a key driver for market growth. It is advantageous for an enterprise to operate a colocation facility rather than to build a data center. Data center colocation allows enterprises to rent computing storage, servers, and network. It enables minimal utilization of power and bandwidth and enhances the security of enterprise IT equipment.

The growth of PCIe SSD market is spurred by the rise in the demand for cloud-based data centers. CSPs such as Microsoft and Google operate about 100,000 servers globally due to the increasing business demand, which has generated the requirement for automation in cloud-based data centers. In 2015, the global PCIe SSD market was dominated by the Americas by accounting for almost 41% of the overall market share. The adoption of containerized data centers in the region is expected to fuel further growth in the PCIe SSD market over the next four years. Order a copy of Global PCIe SSD Market 2016-2020 report @ http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=692017

The following companies are the key players in the global peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) SSD market: Intel, Micron, Samsung, Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba. Other prominent vendors in PCIe SSD market are: ADATA, Apacer, IBM, Kingston Technology, Memblaze, Nimbus Data Systems, OCZ, SK Hynix, and Violin Memory.

The Americas will dominate the PCIe SSD market throughout the forecast period and also estimates that this region will account for about 42% of the total market shares by 2020. The US and Canada are the major revenue contributors to the market in this region. The presence of a number of data center facilities in the US that are extending their existing facilities with more rack cabinets and storage systems is a major factor for the growth of the market.

Global PCIe SSD Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sale of PCIe SSDs to the enterprise segment.

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RnRMarketResearch.com is your single source for all market research needs. Our database includes 500,000+ market research reports from over 100+ leading global publishers & in-depth market research studies of over 5000 micro markets. With comprehensive information about the publishers and the industries for which they publish market research reports, we help you in your purchase decision by mapping your information needs with our huge collection of reports.

For more information, please visit http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/global-pcle-ssd-market-2016-2020-market-report.html

Contact Info:

Name: Ritesh Tiwari

Email: sales@rnrmarketresearch.com

Organization: RnRMarketResearch

Phone: 1 888 391 5441

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/pcie-ssd-market-revenue-to-reach-1836-million-by-2020/134569

Release ID: 134569

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Dr. Saeed Bajwa Accepts The ICNA Relief USA Award Of Appreciation

A longtime devotee to the ICNA Relief USA organization, Dr. Saeed Bajwa is being recognized for his commitment and positive contributions to America's underprivileged adults and youth.

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Dr. Saeed Bajwa, renowned New York neurosurgeon, was recently presented with the ICNA Relief USA Award of Appreciation for his extensive involvement in committee and community services. A prominent innovator in neurosurgery, Dr. Bajwa is valued for his compassionate approach to improving the quality of life for patients with brain and spinal injury treatments as well as his dedication and service to underserved communities in America. His expertise in treating spinal disorders, head trauma, brain cancer, and other neurological conditions by obtaining and using cutting-edge technology has made Dr. Bajwa a leader in his field, acclaimed for his philanthropic work with ICNA Relief USA and other non-profit organizations.

ICNA Relief USA is a 501 (c)(3) group that provides caring services such as domestic disaster relief, nationwide women's shelter network, free clinics for the uninsured, refugee services, and school supply giveaways. Striving to strengthen families and build healthy communities, ICNA Relief's mission is to alleviate human suffering and advocate for people's basic needs through sustainable social service programs. A longtime devotee to the ICNA Relief USA organization and a valued member of Foundation of Faithful, Society for International Help, and Human Development Foundation, Dr. Saeed Bajwa is being recognized for his commitment and positive contributions to America's underprivileged adults and youth. He was also awarded 2010 International Peace Prize by the United Cultural Convention.

In addition to his wholehearted approach to ease human suffering, Dr. Bajwa utilized his expertise in treating spinal injuries by assisting injured victims of the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, his homeland. Continually seeking to learn new techniques, update neurosurgical training, and improve spinal operating procedures, he has earned recent certification for Endoscopic Surgery of the Spine, certification in advanced training for the Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Operation of the Lumbar and Thoracic Spine, and the MAZOR Robotics, an innovative spine surgery technology that Dr. Bajwa obtained in 2015. His compassion for patients with medical issues inspires him to be involved in clinical research programs, such as the development of a surgical implant made from connectors with DePuy Synthes Spine, and artificial lumbar disk development. Dr. Bajwa serves on the board of dozens of community groups that are dedicated to providing patients with brain and spinal injury treatments.

After earning his medical degree at Nishtar Medical College in Pakistan, Dr. Saeed Bajwa completed residencies at Combined Military Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. A member of numerous professional medical organizations including the New York Medical Society and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Dr. Bajwa gives lectures to college students in New York as well as at Kin Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan. A recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from SUNY Health Science Center from 1989 to 1993, he was also honored in 1976 with a Gold Medal for Standing First in Surgery at Nishtar Medical College of the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. As a vital and invaluable contributor to the American medical world for almost three decades, Dr. Bajwa has garnered the reputation as a leading surgeon in his industry. He continues to support patients and communities with his knowledge and philanthropic efforts in the US and around the world.

Dr. Saeed Bajwa - Expert Brain and Spine Neurosurgeon: http://drsaeedbajwanews.com

Dr. Saeed Bajwa - Speaks at Meeting of International Neurosurgeons in Dubai: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dr-saeed-bajwa-speaks-meeting-191210971.html

Dr. Saeed Bajwa -- Named Director of Neurosciences at United Health Services, Johnson City: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dr-saeed-bajwa-named-director-033110097.html

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

Contact Info:

Name: ICMD

Email: pr@icmediadirect.com

Organization: ICMediaDirect.com

Phone: 1.800.595.0821

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssbvCl_Yfi0

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/dr-saeed-bajwa-accepts-the-icna-relief-usa-award-of-appreciation/134555

Release ID: 134555

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Stronger Healthier You Through Pilates Personal Training and Worshops

Pilates of North County | Creative Pilates Workshop has updated its Website Launch to provide Stronger Healthier You to new customers and old. Further information can be found at http://www.pilatesofnorthcounty.com.

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Pilates of North County is excited to unveil the latest benefits for current and potential clients specifically designed to meet the needs of Pilates students of all levels, experienced fitness enthusiasts and elite athletes.

People of all ages who enjoy an active lifestyle and are looking for stronger healthier bodies can now take advantage of Creative Pilates Workshop, an expanded approach to Pilates training that includes 2-3 hour workshops to benefit both new and existing students.

CREATIVE PILATES WORKSHOP (CPW) ) was created to provide a platform to explore an in depth experience of the deep center (core) of the body as it relates to all aspects of health and well-being. CPW will offer a series of 2-3 hour small workshops that will focus on all aspects of the core using tools and concepts that are easy to understand and incorporate into a daily practice. These workshops will ignite a powerful relationship between mind, body and spirit. Exploring the physical structure of the body will bring to light tensions, blocked connections and scar tissue, creating profound insight into the inner self. Students will be guided to open up the body for flexibility and increased range of motion that result in long term gains. Releasing tension patterns will create fine-tuned alignment and the ability to move more efficiently from the core.

Conscious breath tones organs for optimal function. Connection to one's core supports the balance of physiological systems, including hormones, digestion and natural body rhythms. This is the introduction to discovering the possibilities of deep inner connection. Taking this deeper connection into any endeavor will enhance and improve physical functionality at any level in all areas of one's life.

To take advantage of this new offering, visit the website at http://www.pilatesofnorthcounty.com for details.

Stronger Healthier You

Donna Parsons, Owner/Trainer at Pilates of North County was quoted as saying: "Children have a natural ability to move in ways that are pleasurable and relaxed. Go to any playground and watch as children climb and tumble effortlessly, with unrestricted joy. What happens along the way to adulthood? When did movement stop being fun? As time goes on restriction of our natural ways of moving are replaced with patterns that are counterproductive to health and well-being. Driving cars, sitting at desks, and stress, immobilize our bodies completely or participate in high intensity repetitive motion workouts. Most people could not imagine going back to the unrestricted joy of movement from their childhood. Instead, our bodies can become painful and dysfunctional due to joint impingement, muscle imbalance and severe lack of mobility. Pilates training helps one get back to where one started at any age, any stage and any level of ability through individual focus for increased overall strength and uniform muscular development. With Personalized training it is possible to achieve a higher performance level within an athlete's individual sport or for individual daily functional health. Through one on one instruction, Pilates of NorthCounty addresses every aspect of human movement to reset the body's individual patterns. Working from basic to advanced using Pilates stabilization and movement principles on equipment as well as advanced training techniques to teach daily maintenance."

Everybody is unique and should not be subjected to "one size fits all" thinking when considering training options for long term health and wellness. The Pilates method of full body integration will tune one in to one's own particular patterns of movement, many of which are accumulated over a lifetime of unconscious habits, misalignments and shortcuts. Focused observation can help enlighten one to the deeper and more permanent changes that will occur with increased awareness, empowering one in the ability to take control of one's health today while insuring a strong and vibrant future. The results are profound:

o Increased functional strength o Core awareness leading to greater control and power o Enhanced flexibility at every joint o Improved balance and coordination. Everyone can benefit from this combination at any time in life, from athletes to elders.

Pilates of North County | Creative Pilates Workshop has made a point of listening to its clients and taking feedback wherever possible. Donna knows that individuals have unique needs for training, placing focus on the most effective training methods that will benefit each individual.

Having been in business for over 15 years Pilates of North County/ Creative Pilates Workshop strives to help every individual experience a fuller life in motion. This commitment to excellence has resulted in a dedicated, long term clientele who have reaped the benefits of focused individual Pilates training at every level.

Interested individuals who would like to experience a "Stronger Healthier You" with Pilates of North County/ Creative Pilates Workshop are encouraged to visit the website at http://www.pilatesofnorthcounty.com to get started.

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

Contact Info:

Name: Donna Parsons

Organization: Pilates of North County | Creative Pilates Workshop

Address: 570 Stevens Ave.,Solana Beach,CA.

Phone: (858) 792-6170

Release ID: 134567

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Solo Capital's Sanjay Shah To Launch Official Personal Blog

Sanjay Shah, a British philanthropist and entrepreneur who founded Autism Rocks and Solo Capital is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of his new personal blog www.iamsanjayshah.com. The new site will have host content including personal interviews about entrepreneurship, philanthropy, business and family.

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"This is my personal blog, and therefore, a space for me to express my honest opinions and show myself in a different way to how I'm normally seen" Mr Sanjay Shah says.

Shah intends to inspire entrepreneurs, business owners and philanthropists alike as he digs deeply into the lessons he has learnt throughout his working life and entrepreneurial journey.

Readers will benefit from the insights he gained as the founder of Solo Capital and his experience working for investment banks including Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, ING and the Dutch bank Rabobank where he was head of trading.

The blog will cover business related topics such as the keys to success, work-life balance, taking risks, and how to overcome the inevitable challenges faced by many business owners. In addition to Shah's entrepreneurial and business tips, readers will be able to gain personal insight into Shah's family life and his heartfelt philanthropic endeavour Autism Rocks.

About Sanjay Shah

Sanjay Shah is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 20011 he founded Solo Capital, a boutique financial services house based in London. In 2014 after his youngest son Nikhil was diagnosed with autism he founded Autism Rocks, a charitable organization that helps raise awareness about autism and funds research into the condition on a large scale. Shah has partnered with the music industry to raise awareness Autism globally, and has created an outlet to help fund autism research. Mr Shah is also a trustee of Autism Research Trust, which provides donations to Cambridge University's Autism Research Centre,

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability characterized by difficulties in the development of social relationships and communication skills. It affects one in 68 children every year, the number of children diagnosed with the disease have increase 30% since 2012

About Autism Rocks

Based in London, Autism Rocks is an invitation only live concert and charity event that raises awareness and donations for autism research. Founded in 2014, Autism Rocks was born of the vision of philanthropist, Sanjay Shah, whose youngest son was diagnosed with autism in 2011. Interested parties can will find more information at the Autism Rocks website

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

Contact Info:

Name: John Blackman

Email: info@khtmediagroup.com

Organization: KHT Media Group

Address: 24 Cecil Rosen Court Bushey Heath



Release ID: 134403

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Yoga Wheel Prop For Counter Poses Backbend Stretches & Easy Progression Launched

AVIVA YOGA announced the launch of its Surya Yoga Wheel, a premium back-roller with high-density foam designed to provide stability, support and comfort while stretching, back bending or shoulder standing and 12 finger grips to control and deepen the intensity of the stretches over time.

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AVIVA YOGA announced the launch of its innovative and well-constructed back roller Surya Yoga Wheel to help strengthen the body, increase flexibility and improve fitness or general well-being through backbends and counter stretches/poses.

More information is available at AVIVA YOGA Surya Wheel.

AVIVA YOGA is a popular brand founded by yoga practitioners to craft and offer fellow yoga practitioners or individuals looking for a more balanced and healthy lifestyle with premium quality and eco-friendly yoga products that combine prime functionality with style and aesthetics.

The business announced the launch of its Surya Yoga Wheel, a premium back-roller designed to assist beginning, intermediate or advanced yogis, athletes, gymnasts and other users with backbends, shoulder stands or counter-stretches / poses to offset or balance their 'everyday' postures and improve their flexibility, balance and general health, fitness or well-being.

The AVIVA YOGA Surya Wheel features an innovative design with a construction based on high-density and eco-friendly EVA foam to ensure prime comfort, support and stability along the spine during stretching and effectively support the body weight without wobbling, sinking or bouncing on the wheel while leaning back.

Its innovative design also includes 12 finger grips spread evenly along the wheel, inspired by the 12 steps of Surya Namasakar A or Sun Salutation, specifically designed to enable users to grip onto the wheel in different positions to help control or deepen the intensity of the stretches and progress over time.

More information on the AVIVA YOGA Surya Wheel and its unique design or high-quality materials and construction along with the benefits of balancing 'everyday' postures with stretching and counter-poses to help strengthen the body and alleviate body pain can be consulted on the website links provided above.

AVIVA YOGA explains that "in our modern day life, we spend a huge amount of time sitting hunched over our desks, or looking down on our mobile devices. That relatively sedentary lifestyle has contributed to discomfort, tightness or even pain in our bodies, especially in the chest, hips, shoulder, neck, and back areas".

The business adds that "yet, there isn't a prop or piece or equipment that is designed with stability and comfort to help and facilitate the backbends, shoulder stands or other counter poses to balance our 'normal' states. We searched far and wide, and couldn't find a product that we believed was the best fit for our own needs, so we collaborated with yoga teachers and put a lot of thought into developing our very own Surya Yoga Wheel." The Surya Yoga Wheel is also available on Amazon.com https://amazon.com/dp/B01C43B3OC or Amazon.co.uk https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C5PCJX8.

For more information, please visit https://avivayoga.com

Contact Info:

Name: Angela Huang

Email: hello@avivayoga.com

Organization: AVIVA YOGA Limited

Address: 187 E. Warm Springs Rd., Ste. B206



Release ID: 134252

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CochranMickels Retirement Specialists Chooses Cambridge to Expand Opportunities

About CochranMickels Retirment Specialists CochranMickels offers retirement planning, investing, investing for income, risk management, employee benefits and retirement plans and customized solutions for business owners and executives. Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC.

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CochranMickels Retirement Specialists Chooses Cambridge to Expand Opportunities for Enhanced, Broadened Base of Service

Huntsville, Alabama - April 20, 2015 - Laura and Mike Mickels announced that they have selected Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (Cambridge) as their broker-dealer. The Mickels of CochranMickels identified this opportunity as an important step in their ability to serve clients at the next level and offer greater support.

The Mickel's firm, CochranMickels Retirement Specialists, assists clients with retirement planning and wealth management. Cambridge indicated it is proud to be selected by CochranMickels Retirement Specialists as their broker-dealer of choice, and recognizes the need for financial professionals to continually strive to best serve clients' interests.

http://www.cochranmickels.com/

About CochranMickels Retirment Specialists CochranMickels offers retirement planning, investing, investing for income, risk management, employee benefits and retirement plans and customized solutions for business owners and executives.

For more information contact: www.cochranmickels.com, info@cochranmickels.com 256-417-4870

About Cambridge Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (Cambridge), member FINRA/SIPC, is among the largest privately owned independent broker-dealers in the country. Over 30 years ago*, the firm led the industry with the development of hybrid service models to support freedom of choice as well as open architecture fee and commission platforms. Today Cambridge supports approximately 2,700 independent financial professionals nationwide who serve their clients as registered representatives and investment adviser representatives, choosing to use either Cambridge's firm Registered Investment Advisor or their own. www.joincambridge.com

*Cambridge and its predecessor broker-dealer.

Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Investment Advisor Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Each company is independently responsible for the products and services they provide. Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. do not provide tax or legal advice in their roles as registered representatives. Cambridge and CochranMickels Retirement Specialists are separate entities.

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

Contact Info:

Name: Mike Mickels

Organization: CochranMickels Retirement Specialists

Address: 303 Williams Ave SW #137, Huntsville, AL 35801

Phone: 256-417-4870

Release ID: 132322

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Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date, News & Update: Dual Camera, Better Battery Life, Other Impressive Specs, Features Revealed! Better Than iPhone 7?

Recently, there have been reports claiming that Samsung is planning to launch another Galaxy S variant soon. The Samsung Galaxy S8 has been making rounds in the web lately and this could be the tech giant's first smartphone to have a dual camera feature.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Features & Specs



Several rumors on the web indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will feature a 5.5 screen display and 6GB RAM with a 128GB internal storage. The Samsung Galaxy S8 will run the Android Nougat operating system, a USB Type-C port and a dual lens camera feature similar to the iPhone 7.

With that in mind, the Samsung Galaxy S8 might follow on the footsteps of Apple in removing its 3.5mm headphone jack as well. Also, with the Samsung's recent battery issue, Samsung Galaxy S8 is expected to fix it as it is also expected to bring back the glory days of the Korean tech giant.

According to Tech Times, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be another powerful smartphone from the company as the features for the flagship will be better than ever. Reports say that the Samsung variant will sport a 10nm Enynos 8895 processor along with ARM's Mali-G71 for its graphics processing unit.

The report further states that the Mali-G71 is designed specifically to boost improvement on its power efficiency and mobile virtual reality platforms. Due to the increasing demand of 3D mobile graphics, Samsung Galaxy S8 will be a topnotch device for mobile gaming with the Mali-G71 as its processor.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date & Updates



The Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored to be launch in the upcoming Mobile World Congress in the February and March 2017, University Herald reports. For more Samsung Galaxy S8 news and updates, stay tuned to GamenGuide!
Kate Middleton Latest News & Update: Prince Williams Wife Had Major Wardrobe Malfunction In Canada? Private Parts Exposed? More Details Here

Kate Middleton and the royal family arrived in Canada looking spectacular in spite of the long haul flight. But rumors had it that the Duchess of Cambridge had a near wardrobe malfunction as she crouched to speak to Prince George.

Kate Middleton looked elegant wearing a blue dress by Jenny Packham matched with a nude pair of heels and a hat by Lock and Co. In the pictures published by Daily Mail, we can see that the Duchess of Cambridge's frock was knee length. However, nasty rumors are saying that when she crouched to talk to the Princess George while holding Princess Charlotte in her arms, she nearly had a wardrobe malfunction by exposing some body parts.

Jenny Packham is one of Kate Middleton's favorite designers. She would not definitely allow the Duchess of Cambridge to have a wardrobe malfunction. The same designer made the blue-polka dot dress the royal Middleton wore after she gave birth to Prince George. Packham also designed the frock in yellow buttercup the princess wore when she left the hospital after giving birth to Princess Charlotte.

According to E! News, the blue dress that was rumored to have caused Kate Middleton a near wardrobe malfunction in Canada approximately costs $5,000. The hat with maple leaves embellishment is said to cost $4,000. The nude pair of heels, which reports said that the Duchess of Cambridge has already worn before, is $675. The tanzanite earrings by G. Collins & Sons have a value of $12,000, though the pair has already been in her collection. The LK Bennet clutch is $240.

Kate Middleton's hairdresser is Amanda tucker, who charges her royal client $390 per day. In total, the Duchess of Cambridge's look on her arrival in Canada cost $22,305. Now, that's a hefty amount only to be rumored of a wardrobe malfunction. Stay tuned to GameNGuide for the latest news and update of Kate Middleton!
'Train to Busan 2' Release Date, News & Update: Song Joong Ki Joins Sequel; Descendants of the Sun Actor Takes Lead Role?

"Train to Busan 2" is one of the most awaited ideas to come forth in cinemas, after the immensely triumphant outcomes in recent movie history. That being said, details are slowly being fished out of the potential second movie. Some spoilers may be witnessed ahead for "Train to Busan."

Scraping over 10 million viewers to date and with more expected to come, "Train to Busan" may already have a continuity in the works. More intriguingly, rumors of a potential prequel have started to spill. So, is "Train to Busan 2" happening?

Animated Prequel/Live Action Sequel?

According to Mobile and Apps, the most confirmed feat is "Seoul Station," which is said to be the animated prequel to "Train to Busan." That being said, fans can safely assume that "Train to Busan 2" will be a sequel potentially following the events that transpired after the first.

Lead Character to be Replaced in 'Train To Busan 2'?

Another amusing bit of wonder for "Train to Busan 2" is the possibility of a new cast, if to base on the ending of the original film. It can be recalled that Seok-woo died, which triggers the fact even further.

Sparking rumors point to the possibility of "Descendants of the Sun" star Song Joong Ki to be cast for the next "Train To Busan 2" film. After portraying the role of a military man in the said hit drama series, it seems almost apparent that the actor will deliver properly, iTechPost reports.

When Will 'Train to Busan 2' Hit Theaters?

No specific date has been announced yet for "Train to Busan 2" just yet, but rumors suggest that production will start on 2017. The same goes for the story that the second movie will be taking.

Fans certainly cannot wait for "Train to Busan 2" to at least be announced. For the meantime, the animated prequel "Seoul Station" is scheduled for Korean release on September 29, 2016.
MacBook Air 2016 Release Date, News & Update: Release Date Still Questionable, Heres The Reason Why Experts Say It Will Be Announced Soon!

Unlike the Apple MacBook Pro 2016's recent news of having a new OLED touch bar or additional USB Type-C ports, its little brother the MacBook Air 2016 seems to be pushed aside a lot these past few months. With no significant or logical news of any upgrade for the MacBook Air lineup, should MacBook Air fans even have a reason to hope?

There are reports by news websites and techblogs in in recent months that Apple is discontinuing the MacBook Air 2016. But despite all of these, us here in Game & Guide reported last week that Apple is not planning to totally phase out the production of the MacBook Air lineup but just to skip this year's version.

MacBook Air Program Still Ongoing

As stated by Mobile & Apps, Apple is planning to drop the 11-inch MacBook air model and introduce instead a 15-inch model and keeping the 13-inch version on the MacBook Air lineup. Aside from that, another external hardware change is instead of USB 3 ports, it will now be replaced with USB Type-C.

A rumored retina display just like the MacBook Pro. Now the MacBook Air line is known as the budget laptops of Apple however it can offer a top of the line MacBook Air so that it can be equipped with Retina display.

Goodbye MacBook Air 2016, See You Soon MacBook Air 2017

Several reports are already confirming that fans of the MacBook Air will not see its shadow in Apple's October event, in fact even for the rest of 2016. As reported by Mobile & Apps, Apple will skip the MacBook Air 2016. It's new scheduled release date will be early 2017 with improved internals and more options.

Stay tuned to Game & Guide for more MacBook Air 2016 news and update.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Release Date, News & Update: Mirrorless Camera Arriving This Year with 60FPS, Enhanced AF Tracking Capabilities

Mirrorless cameras seem to have stolen the show during this year's Photokina. One of the launches featured that of the Canon EOS M5, which earned positive reviews from critics due to its lightweight DLSR features. Another new player in the field is the Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II, which was also showcased during Photokina.

According to PC Mag, the Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II is arriving later this year and will offer an amazing 18FPS with continuous focus, as well as 60FPS on locked focus. Images will result to full-resolution, RAW, or JPG image files. The enhanced AF capability will also enable photographers to record 14 frames before the shutter release is fully pressed, if they are in Pro Capture mode.

The British Journal of Photography reports that the enhanced AF tracking capabilities will also feature a 121 cross type AF points across the screen. This combines standard contrast detection and phase detection systems for better results.

The Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II will feature a 5-axis in-body stabilization system that supports photographers with its 6.5 stops of shake-compensation, for both still and action modes. The camera will include several video modes, namely 4K, Cinema 4K, Full HD, and HD, which will have 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60FPS, respectively. The camera will have the ability to record 4K video with data rates at 237Mbps when in 24FPS mode.

Great news for outdoor photographers, as the Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II will also feature a new battery that promises to last 40% longer than its predecessor. What's even more interesting is that the battery will be able to fully charge in just 120 minutes.

As of now, there's no price tag attached to the Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II, but check back for when we unveil the release date of Canon's highly anticipated new camera.
'Sleepy Hollow' Season 4 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Will Ichabod's Life Restart? Does He Have A Special Connection With Diana?

"Sleepy Hollow" Season 4 will be back featuring the new love interest of Ichabod (Tom Mison), Diana (Janina Gavankar). The 35-year-old star will be the latest addition to the supernatural drama replacing Abbie (Nicole Beharie).

'Sleepy Hollow' Season 4 Restarts Ichabod's Life?

Previously, Abbie sacrificed her life in fighting the Hidden One that broke Ichabod's heart. In fact, because of this, rumors suggested that a new "Sleepy Hollow" installment won't be in the works. This is evidently slammed by the coming of "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4 that will be a reboot of Ichabod's life. It will be set in Washington DC, where she will meet Secret Service Agent Diana.

But HNGN reported that Diana and Ichabod's alliance will be rough and they, too, will often have misunderstandings. Diana is a tough girl and a single parent that only shows her soft side to her child. But as the time goes by, Diana and Ichabod will eventually get along. The pair will find out that they have something in common that they don't want to happen again. As they become close to each other, Diana and Ichabod will form a new team in "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4.

Do Diana and Ichabod Have A Special Connection?

Meanwhile, Christian Times reported that Diana and Ichabod will discover that they have a different kind of connection aside from the close bond that they've built. In "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4, fans are about to see the important link the two have that won't be easily noticed. Also, this thing remains unknown and will be unfolded in the coming new episodes.

Aside from that, Ichabod will also meet a motley crew that could play a big role on his and Diana's new mission in "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4. Evidently, the coming installment will be seen with new characters that will make the series more enticing and exciting. "Sleepy Hollow" Season 4 is expected to be out in 2017 on Fox.
Rotary got started in Long Beach in 1917 when seven local businessmen met with a New York Rotarian who talked about his club there.
A few years ago, the staff and board members of the Oregon Arts Commission came to a shocking realization: There was art in the state outside of the Portland metro area.

OK, that's exaggeration  and it's unfair, to boot.

But this much is true: Just a couple of years ago, the Arts Commission decided it might be a good idea to at least occasionally hold its annual Oregon Arts Summit in areas outside of Portland.

Since then, the Arts Summit has been held in Bend and Ashland  and this Oct. 7, it will settle down in the mid-valley: The annual summit, billed as a forum for arts organizations, arts associations, elected officials, artists and arts professionals, will be held at the LaSells Stewart Center in Corvallis.

"We're all about recognizing the entire state," said Brian Rogers, the executive director of the Arts Commission.

Well, that, and this not-so-hidden agenda: Making the case throughout the entire state about how the arts are not just a nice thing to have, but an essential part of the fabric that helps make successful communities.

So it makes sense that the theme of this year's summit is "Arts in Action," and at least part of the idea, Rogers said, is to show how the arts can help to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the state. In addition, one of the themes of the summit is how the arts can reach out to groups and demographics who have been marginalized.

In that spirit, at least two of the speakers at the summit will be familiar local faces: Julie Manning of Samaritan Health Services is scheduled to speak about how her organization has worked to integrate the arts with its goals of healing and wellness. Artist Bruce Burris, who has worked in the fields of arts and disability culture for more than 35 years and is the driver behind Collaborative Employment Innovations' ArtWorks project, also is scheduled to speak.

The keynote speaker will be Tim Carpenter of EngAGE, a Portland organization that is working to turn senior apartment communities into centers for learning, wellness and creativity. His remarks will focus on how artistic pursuits can make what he charmingly calls "our later lives" more powerful and fulfilling. It's a project of such promise that we're willing to ignore, at least for now, the Portland connection.

One of the themes that's certain to get aired at the summit is the idea that the arts is just as important to rural areas and smaller towns as it is in bigger cities; in fact, that's part of the reason why the annual summit is on the move throughout the state. Rogers talked about projects such as the commission's Arts Build Communities, in which grants help support efforts such as The Arts Center's Arts in Rural Storefronts, which has placed art installations in small towns throughout the mid-valley; that program also has helped to spotlight the artists who live there. (One of the intriguing ideas behind Arts Build Communities is the idea that art can help to focus attention on community issues and also, in Rogers' words, "is a big part of the solution.")

One of the ideas underlying the entire summit, Rogers said, is to move beyond this common misconception of culture: that it is mostly the province of "the woman in the big coat going to the opera," although he means no disrespect to either opera or the woman in the big coat.

But it is vital for artists to make broader connections, Rogers said.

"The whole goal of it is to change the perception of the arts and culture from a nicety to a necessity in everyday life," he said.

No argument here. But it will be nice to see the conversation take on a mid-valley flavor in October. And it will be great to showcase the mid-valley's increasingly vibrant arts scene. (mm)
In 2012 Oregon State University reorganized its College of Liberal Arts, taking what had been 17 individual departments and collapsing them into six schools.

In September 2014 Lee Ann Garrison was hired to direct the School of Arts and Communication. And a lot of things started happening.

President (Ed) Ray and (provost) Sabah (Randhawa) wanted to raise the level of the liberal arts here at OSU, Garrison said in an interview Monday in her office at Fairbanks Hall. Thats one of the missions of land grant universities. We have to come up to the same level as other programs. That was my charge. They told me they didnt care what I did as long as I hit a home run.

Two years later, Garrison says she has the school at about second base. Here are some of the initiatives that the school has launched over the past few years:

 A School of Arts and Communication Presents series, which brings the Kronos Quartet to campus this Sunday and award-winning author David Sedaris in February. (For more on Kronos, see Thursday's edition of The E.)

 The SAC Academy, which aims to attract youth and adults to campus for choir, chamber music and band camps.

 The Friends of the Arts giving circle, a program run by the OSU Foundation, which aims to find individuals to donate $1,000 apiece.

 An SAC advisory board which Garrison said will help the school reach out more broadly into the community.

 Garrison also is in her second year as a member of the Corvallis Arts and Culture Advisory Board and made a joint presentation with Cynthia Spencer of The Arts Center of the culture boards annual report at a Sept. 7 City Council work session.

 Garrison, Spencer, Michael Dalton (da Vinci Days), Mary Pat Parker (Visit Corvallis) and Julie Manning (former Corvallis mayor) are teaming up on a program called the Oregon Creative Corridor, which looks to build a creative economy with active involvement of the arts community.

And weve got so many things going on here already, Garrison said, praising the Corvallis Arts Walk, the work of Jimbo Ivy at the Majestic Theatre and the fact that the annual Oregon Arts Summit will be in Corvallis on Oct. 7.

I wake up every day and cant wait to come to work, Garrison said. We've got wonderful deans and we have great support.

Arts at OSU got a huge boost from a $5 million anonymous gift in 2013 that helped fuel $1 million in matching funds from alums and others in the community.

That helped bring me here, Garrison said. Im just the team leader; I cant do anything by myself. The fundraising has allowed us to retain great faculty, build more programs and attract more students.

I wasnt looking for another job. I had tenure at another school. But once I interviewed I called my husband and said I want this job. I wish I had discovered this place a decade ago.

Garrison, who came to OSU from an associate dean position at the school of business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is a big proponent of the link between the arts and other disciplines.

She notes that students with art and graphic design backgrounds are a perfect fit for businesses that are looking for someone to build their websites.

Studying arts is a wonderful way to prepare for all sorts of jobs, said Garrison, who has added a new performing arts minor.

A student could be involved in music all four years but there is nothing on their transcript (to indicate that). I thought that was unfair," she said.

Garrison notes demographic challenges Corvallis faces because most of the young people who attend OSU wind up moving away, and the city lacks residents in the 30-50 age range, while also being a magnet for retirees.

We have some gaps to fill, Garrison, noting that the 30-50 cohort is the prime audience for the arts.

Garrison added that that creative economy could be providing jobs to keep those students here.

Garrisons art background is in painting and drawing. Her office includes examples of a series of oil paintings she has been working on for the past several years that feature spirals.

However, the blizzard of activity at OSU has cut into her painting time.

Something I swore that Id never be is a Sunday painter, Garrison said. Hopefully things will settle down and I will be able to do more.
This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, Oregon State Police and Benton County Sheriff's Office. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise.

Corvallis Police Department

MONDAY, SEPT. 26

LIGHT-BULB MOMENT: 3:14 a.m., 1300 S.W. Philomath Blvd. An officer was talking to John Melvin Phillips, 55, of Junction City, when he noticed Phillips had a light bulb that had been crafted into a pipe. The bulb reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine, and the officer charged Phillips with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

FLARE FOR THE DRAMATIC: 2:24 a.m., 1900 S.W. Third St. A clerk at the Circle K reported that a man who had been trespassed from the store earlier this month returned, showed the outline of a flare gun in his pocket and talked about wanting to blow the store up. Responding officers found Mark Adaire Norgen, 60, no address, with a flare gun and four flares and arrested him for second degree criminal trespass and second degree disorderly conduct.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 25

GUN INCIDENT: 3:32 p.m., 1900 S.W. Third St. Officers responding to a report of an intoxicated driver who allegedly pointed a handgun at a clerk at the Circle K stopped a person matching the description, Toby Joe Dasilva, 21, of Corvallis, and he allegedly resisted arrest. Dasilva was charged with DUII, interfering with a peace officer, menacing, resisting arrest, second degree disorderly conduct, coercion and an outstanding warrant.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

METH: 5:55 p.m., Southeast Third Street and Southeast Chapman Place. An officer reportedly recognized that Summer Dawn Jackson, 45, no address, had an outstanding warrant and arrested her. The officer reportedly found a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue on it and additionally charged her with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

RESISTING ARREST: 9:23 p.m., 590 N.E. Circle Blvd. An officer responding to a report of car break-ins contacted Thomas Darren Mulroony, 40, no address, who reportedly gave the officer a false name and had in his possession womens clothing with tags still on them, which he said he had purchased from someone at a park. When the officer tried to arrest Mulrooney, he reportedly ran and was captured 100 yards away. He was arrested for charges of third degree theft by receiving, interfering with a peace officer, resisting arrest, third degree escape, and identity theft.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

DUII: 10:37 p.m., 1045 N.W. Kings Blvd. An officer arrested Martin Joseph Peters, 35, for a charge of DUII after finding him sleeping in the drivers seat of a vehicle. He reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.24 percent.

Benton County Sheriff's Office

SUNDAY, SEPT. 25

DUII: 2:34 a.m., Highway 34 and Oakville Road. A deputy arrested Jacob Daniel Sobel, 18, of Jefferson, for a DUII charge. Sobel reportedly refused to take a breath test and police obtained a warrant to collect a sample of his blood. Sobel was additionally charged with reckless driving, refusing to take a breath test, and purchase or possession of liquor by a minor.

DUII: 8:21 p.m., Northwest Independence Highway and Northeast Pettibone Drive, Albany. An officer arrested William Arnold Thomas Jr., 40, of McMinnville for DUII and reckless driving. He reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.00, but a drug recognition expert concluded he was under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant and a narcotic analgesic.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

DOMESTIC ASSAULT: 9:30 p.m., 24000 block Penland Drive, Philomath. A deputy arrested Ronald Jack Samford, 45, of Philomath, for charges of domestic assault and harassment.
In a recent editorial, we discussed the first batch of recommendations from a task force that's examining the sorry state of Oregon's public records laws.

Those recommendations struck us as a worthwhile step forward, but we also warned that any significant overhaul to the laws could be a tough sell.

Sure enough, opposition is beginning to surface to at least one of the proposals, which would specify how long governments have to respond to requests for public records.

The recommendation, which comes from a task force convened by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, calls for public bodies to generally acknowledge a request for records within five days and fulfill them within 10.

That timetable drew fire from a lobbyist who represents local governments. Rob Boyett, who works for the Association of Oregon Counties, said that establishing such a deadline might represent an unfunded mandate from the state if governments needed to pay overtime or hire additional staff to meet those deadlines. Boyett warned that if the Legislature failed to pass the proposed revisions with a supermajority, the state was opening itself to lawsuits filed by local counties.

That argument might seem familiar: It's the the same case that local governments have made against state laws regarding mandatory sick leave and increases in the minimum wage. The argument carried little weight with legislators, who went ahead with both proposals.

It's possible that Boyett was merely starting to lobby for changes in the proposals even before legislators take them up next year. In fact, one such suggestion extending the deadline so that local governments have 15 business days to respond to a records request  seems reasonable.

But Michael Kron of the attorney general's office noted that, even with changes, the proposed legislation would make this expectation clear: that records requests would be fulfilled as quickly as possible.

In fact, the recommendations produced by the task force (which includes journalists, government officials and members of the public) include an acknowledgment that the default mode for government should be to make records available to members of the public.

That "default mode" was the foundation on which Oregon overhauled its records law in 1973. But plenty of cracks have emerged in that foundation since then.

This fight over deadlines could just be the opening salvo in the battle to put fresh teeth into Oregon's records law. For example, we haven't made much progress on a tricky issue: How much should governments be allowed to charge to fulfill requests for records?

And still waiting in the wings is the task force's effort to streamline (and possibly eliminate) some of the hundreds of exemptions to the records law  in other words, records that once were open but which now have been placed off-limits by some sort of governmental action. You can be sure that whoever fought for those exemptions in the first place will be watching closely.

So this is shaping up as a fight. But for Oregon residents with an interest in open state government  and that includes all of us  the stakes are huge.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Student Housing : University students see a rise in housing costs

Students in Bonn: The percentage of 18 - 29-year-olds is currently 17.3 percent. Foto: Holger Arndt

Bonn A high demand for student apartments and an increase in the number of young adults in Bonn means prices have gone up.

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It isnt easy for students to find affordable housing in Bonn. This is nothing new. But the trend has been confirmed once again in a recent study from the Moses Mendelssohn Institute. Included in the study were 91 university cities across Germany which had a student population of 5,000 or more. Weighing in the process were factors such as average rental prices, apartments for rent as opposed to apartments being sought, and the number of empty apartments. Also included was the number of students and young adults in a city.

According to the study, demand is higher when the university has a reputation for excellence, includes a University Clinic or has a cooperation with a top ranking international university. A good image, variety of cultural offers and infrastructure also attract young people to a city.

In 52 of the university cities, the apartment situation has gotten worse. Especially problematic are Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne. There, the prices are much higher than the average cost for a room in shared housing, which is around 349 euro per month. Bonn landed in place 14; the price has climbed from 329 to 355 euro for a room. This could be attributed to the net increase of 2,600 young people in Bonn. The percentage of 18 - 29-year-olds is currently 17.3 percent.

Students want to live centrally so they are prepared to give up space for a convenient location. Only in seven of the 91 cities did the apartment situation improve, including in Munster, Bielefeld, Hannover and Wurzburg.

For international students coming to the University of Bonn, there are tips about finding housing at the Homepage of the University.
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Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 sales to be hit in China after global recall: Report News oi -GizBot Bureau

In mainland China, 51.9 per cent people plan not to buy Samsung smartphones in light of the global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones owing to exploding batteries, a media report said on Monday.

"Samsung's turmoil from its first large-scale withdrawal of a smartphone is largely predicted to benefit rivals Huawei Technologies, Oppo Electronics, Vivo, Xiaomi and Apple on the mainland," the South China Morning Post reported, citing analysts and Chinese retailers.

SEE ALSO: Top 7 High Speed Broadband Internet Plans You Should Try in India

Samsung smartphone sales on the Chinese mainland "have been stagnant in the past few quarters" amid intense competition from major Chinese brands.

"The (Galaxy Note 7) global recall will further affect Samsung's performance and reputation in China in the second half of this year," Tay Xiaohan, a senior market analyst at technology research firm IDC, was quoted as saying.

While nearly 37 per cent said they would consider buying an iPhone to replace their Samsung smartphone, 26.3 per cent said they would purchase a Huawei handset as replacement.

The report pointed out that Galaxy Note 7 sales were underwhelming even before the issue of exploding batteries was reported.

"The Note 7 recall has convinced many of my clients to purchase the iPhone 7. Others preferred Huawei's P9 when choosing a domestic high-end model," a dealer was quoted as saying.

SEE ALSO: How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Trial Room within Seconds

Tarun Pathak, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said the Note 7 recall will hurt Samsung's share in the premium segment, which makes up nearly a quarter of total smartphone sales in mainland China.

"The models likely to benefit would be Apple's iPhone 7 Plus, Huawei's Mate series or Oppo's R series," Pathak was quoted as saying.

Source IANS

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'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable.
Uptick in Violence in Syria; ISIL 'Knows No Boundaries,' DoD Spokesman Says

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2016  The Defense Department has no reason to doubt reports that Russia and Syria are responsible for a deadly attack on an aid convoy near the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Pentagon's press operations chief said here today.

Only three parties fly in Syria, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters at the Pentagon. Those parties, he said, are Russia, Syria, and the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant coalition.

"It was not the coalition," he said, explaining coalition members have no reason to fly there because ISIL is not in Aleppo.

"Inasmuch as whether it was Russia or the regime," he said, "we hold Russia ultimately responsible because Russia is part of the cessation of hostilities."

Russia, he said, had "agreed to restrain the actions of the Syrian regime, and clearly failed in that regard."

Twenty civilians were killed in the attack last week against a humanitarian convoy destined for the besieged city of Aleppo, where the United Nations says more than a quarter-of-a-million people are trapped and cut off from food, water, medicine and other essential supplies.

In a Sept. 22 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, said the attack was an "unacceptable atrocity."

Both Russian and Syrian aircraft were operating in the area the time of the attack, Dunford told members of the Senate panel.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the Russians are responsible. I just don't know whose aircraft actually dropped the bomb," the chairman said.

Progress 'Lacking' for Joint Implementation Cell

The United States would like to see the creation of a Joint Implementation Cell, where the U.S. and Russia would exchange information on strike targets, according to Davis.

However, for the JIC to be implemented, as outlined in an agreement brokered by the United States and Russia, there has to be a cessation of hostilities and the delivery of aid, Davis noted.

"On both of those points, progress has been, sadly, very lacking," Davis said.

He noted an increase in hostilities in Syria in recent days, including with both airstrikes and artillery strikes, and an uptick of violence in Aleppo as well as in Hama and areas east of Damascus.

ISIL 'Knows No Boundaries'

Separately, Davis discussed ISIL's most recent suspected use of mustard agent in Iraq, saying the terror group "knows no boundaries when it comes to their conduct on the battlefield."

Initial field tests on fragments from munitions that landed at Qayyarah Air Base were positive for the presence of mustard agent, Davis said. Two other tests were inconclusive, he said, noting further tests will occur.

Davis described the munitions as rudimentary and non-lethal, but said using them is still a violation of international law and standards. ISIL has launched crude, makeshift munitions containing mustard agent at least a "couple dozen" times in the past, he said.

"We recognize this is real," he said. "They're dead-set on it -- they would love to be able to use chemical weapons against us, [and] against the Iraqis as they move forward."

U.S. troops are trained and equipped to defend against a chemical attack, he noted. Iraqi forces are being instructed on it as well, Davis added.

"We are making every effort to make sure that we're ready for it," he said.

According to Davis, the United States has provided more than 50,000 gas masks to the Iraqi forces -- about 40,000 as part of the brigade sets that go to the Iraqi security forces, 9,000 for the Peshmerga, and 1,500 for the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service.

"We want to make sure that the Iraqi security forces and that the Peshmerga have the ability to detect this and to defend against it," Davis said, noting coalition strikes have focused on disrupting and countering ISIL's ability to conduct chemical attacks.

"But I think we can fully expect, as this road towards Mosul progresses, ISIL is likely to try to use it again, so this is something that could happen again," he said.

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Iceland Says Russian Bombers Taking 'Risks' Near Passenger Jets

September 26, 2016

Russian military aircraft recently flew under an Icelandic passenger jet without being detected by radar, raising alarms about their risky behavior, Icelandic officials said on September 26.

The Icelandic foreign ministry said three Tupolev bombers flew between 1,800-2,700 meters below a commercial airliner flying from Reykjavik to Stockholm on September 22. The bombers' transponders were turned off, which meant they could not be detected by civilian radar.

The passenger jet's captain said he spotted the planes from the cockpit and thought their behavior was risky.

The ministry told AFP it "has repeatedly objected to unidentified Russian military flights, due to the danger this may pose to passenger flights," and would be doing so again.

Similar encounters between the Russian military and civilian planes have been reported in the Baltic region this year.

A Russian diplomat in Reykjavik, Alexei Shadskiy, said the bombers complied with international rules.

He suggested Icelandic officials are trying to "revive fear" of Russia in an effort to re-open the Keflavik airbase that the United States closed in 2006.

During World War II and the Cold War, Keflavik was an important U.S. base but its usefulness to the alliance dwindled after that.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/iceland- says-russian-bombers-taking-risks-near- passengers-jets/28015577.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Clinton, Trump Clash In Bitter Debate, Spar Over Russian Hacking

By RFE/RL September 26, 2016

U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump sparred over economic and foreign policy in a tense one-on-one debate on September 26, with the two rivals exchanging insults and interrupting each other in the first of three such match-ups ahead of the November 8 election.

Trump and Clinton shook hands as they strode on stage for the highly anticipated event before a television audience estimated at 90 million. Throughout the debate, Clinton called her opponent Donald while Trump referred to her as Secretary Clinton.

But despite a polite beginning, the bitter attacks quickly began to fly, with Clinton, 68, attacking her Republican rival's temperament and credibility. She portrayed Trump as a deceitful man who will say "crazy things" to get elected and accused him of encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to unleash cyberattacks against American targets.

"You live in your own reality," she told Trump, 70, a wealthy businessman and former reality television star who has never held elected office.

Trump, meanwhile, touted his outsider status to a nation suspicious of Washington insiders, repeatedly scorning establishment politicians for leaving the United States weakened and demoralized.

He called Clinton, a former U.S. senator who served as secretary of state under President Barack Obama, a "typical politician. All talk, no action. Sounds good, doesn't work."

Much of the debate was devoted to the economy and trade policy, with Trump accusing Clinton of backing trade deals that he says have led to jobs flooding out of the country.

Clinton, meanwhile, highlighted Trump's privileged upbringing and accused him of supporting tax policies that would further enrich the wealthy at the expense of the middle and lower classes.

'No Doubt' About Russian Hacking

Turning to national security and foreign policy, Clinton responded to a question about cybersecurity by saying there is "no doubt" that Russia has conducted cyberattacks against U.S. political organizations and accused Trump of having "publicly invited" Russian President Vladimir Putin to hack American targets.

"This is one of [Russia's] preferred methods of trying to wreak havoc and collect information," Clinton said.

Clinton said she was "shocked" when Trump suggested in July that Russia should hack her e-mails, referring to correspondence that Clinton said she deleted because she considered them personal.

Trump later said he was "being sarcastic."

Trump, who has praised Putin as a strong leader and said he would improve ties with Russia, responded to Clinton's accusations by saying that "it could be Russia, but it could also be China" behind the attacks.

Cyber security experts and U.S. officials have said they believe Russia engineered the release of embarrassing e-mails from Democratic Party officials to influence the election.

Discussing NATO, Clinton pledged to support U.S. allies, including those on the eastern flank of the military alliance who are worried about Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory in 2014 and backing of armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"It is essential that America's word be good," Clinton said.

Trump, who has questioned the wisdom of Washington's commitment to NATO, said the United States should not be "the policeman of the world."

It was the first one-on-one debate against any candidate for Trump, the real-estate tycoon who captured the Republican nomination portraying himself as an outsider capable of shaking up Washington.

Clinton, meanwhile, is a veteran of such encounters, having challenged President Barack Obama face-to-face on several occasions as the two competed for the Democratic Party nomination in 2008.

Two other candidates in the November 8 election -- Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein -- are not participating in the debate because neither reached the 15-percent threshold in national polls required to secure an invitation.

With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/clinton- trump-face-off-first-us-presidential-debate- november-election/28015528.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Azerbaijani Voters Said To Approve Greater Powers For Aliyev

By RFE/RL September 26, 2016

Over 90 percent of Azerbaijan's voters supported the extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, with about 72 percent of the ballots counted, Baku's Central Election Commission announced.

The extension for President Ilham Aliyev, announced by commission chief Mazahir Panahov early on September 27, was the most important of 29 proposed amendments to the constitution put before voters on September 26.

It enables Aliyev, who has been in office since taking over from his ailing father in 2003, to avoid running again until 2020, instead of 2018.

Official results from the election are not expected until next month, but the election commission in Baku announced some early results and said that turnout was nearly 70 percent.

Russian news agencies also cited exit polls indicating that all the constitutional changes were approved overwhelmingly by voters despite widespread international criticism that the referendum was designed to cement the rule of Aliyev and his family over the oil-rich nation while further stifling dissent.

The 54-year-old president would only have to run every seven years -- something he would be able to do repeatedly, since a presidential term limit was scrapped in 2009.

Other changes would eliminate the minimum age restriction for running for president, as well as lower the minimum age for running for parliament, from 25 years to 18.

Those changes would enable Aliyev to groom a member of his family to become his successor from an earlier age.

TASS and Interfax reported that voters approved another change giving Aliyev the right for the first time to dismiss the parliament (Milli Mejlis).

They reported that voters also supported creating two vice-presidential posts, both of whose occupants would be appointed and dismissed by the president.

The first vice president would become second in line to the president, and would be appointed acting president if the president resigns, according to the changes.

There has been speculation that the post of first vice president is being created for President Aliyev's wife, Mehriban, who is a deputy chairwoman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, or for their 19-year-old son, Heidar.

In 2002 and 2009, Azerbaijan organized constitutional referendums marred by fraud that directly benefited the Aliyev family.

Opposition groups staged mass protests ahead of the latest referendum, denouncing it as an effort by Aliyev to extend his family's long grip on power.

The Venice Commission, a European watchdog of constitutional law experts, last week said the measures would weaken political dissent.

"Many proposed amendments would severely upset the balance of power by giving unprecedented powers to the president," it said.

Amnesty International warned that the referendum would grant the government even more power to interfere with freedom of assembly, in violation of international standards. It noted that preparations for the vote were marked by arrests and intimidation of critics.

The Azerbaijani government has rejected the criticism and insisted that the proposed changes are aimed at streamlining the government and promoting economic reforms.

"One of the main reasons for the referendum is the need to conduct fast economic reforms...to improve the efficiency of the government and cut the red tape," Aliyev aide Ali Hasanov told reporters on September 26.

With reporting by AP, dpa, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan- voters-said-approver-greater-power-aliyev- referendum-results-/28015524.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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As Colombians bid farewell to 'decades of flames,' Ban pledges UN support to historic peace deal

26 September 2016  Colombians are "bidding farewell to decades of flames and sending up a bright flare of hope that illuminates the world," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today in Cartagena, welcoming the signing by the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia  People's Army (FARC-EP) of a peace deal ending more than 50 years of conflict.

Deeply moved to see thousands of Colombians at the signing ceremony, Mr. Ban said he was honored to celebrate the achievement of the parties "and that of countless Colombians who never lost hope in peace."

Since 2012, parties have been in talks hosted in Havana, Cuba. Throughout, negotiators have reached agreements on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and transitional justice. Among other developments, the Government and the FARC-EP announced in May an agreement to release and reintegrate child soldiers from the opposition force. The parties also announced the establishment of a gender sub-commission to bolster the voice of women in the peace process.

In his remarks today, the Secretary-General recalled when that when he first visited Colombia five years ago, the adoption of the Victims' Law had begun to build the foundations for peace.

"You had the vision to bring the victims to the forefront. What they have lost can never be restored. Yet victims have been among the most forceful voices for peace and reconciliation, and against bitterness and hatred. Their example should be an inspiration to all," he said.

Commending the parties for the first steps they have taken to acknowledge responsibility for tragic events of the conflict, the UN chief encourages them to continue on this path and, welcoming the commitments made to ensure truth, justice and reparations for all victims, he said: "This is how healing begins."

With a ceasefire now in effect and violence in the country reduced significantly, the Secretary-General said that lives have already been saved. Moreover, the initial release of minors is a welcome beginning, he noted, commending the negotiating teams that worked tirelessly in Havana who had shown the courage that will be needed in the crucial period ahead.

The agreements promise not only to stop the armed conflict, but to create the conditions for lasting peace based on equitable development, human rights and inclusion. They envision a peace that values and ensures the participation of women, and a future in which there is room in politics for all, "but no room in politics for violence," underscored Mr. Ban.

And while the divisions and distrust from decades of conflict run deep, "I hope that the Colombian people can overcome the pain, join together and make this a truly national project." He also stressed that the peace process has been led by Colombians "every step of the way." With the peace accord reached, the parties have now entrusted important responsibilities to the UN, which the Security Council has unanimously endorsed. In that regard, he said the UN Mission in Colombia, tasked with the verification of the ceasefire and the laying down of arms, is already deployed throughout the country.

"Its verification mandate is activated with the signing of this agreement. I thank the countries from within and beyond the region that are providing observers," explained the UN chief.

Further, the United Nations system in Colombia will also be there to help implement the agreements, building on many years of engagement on peacebuilding and its work with victims and communities. "We will continue to offer our support to address the human rights and humanitarian challenges that persist. I am encouraged to know that there is already excellent collaboration among the Mission, the larger UN system in the country and our Colombian partners," the Secretary-General added.

He went on to recognize the invaluable contribution of Cuba and Norway, as guarantors of the process. He also commended Chile and Venezuela as accompanying countries. In addition, peacemakers working in other parts of the world are already studying Colombia's peace process for lessons that can inform their efforts, he noted.

"The challenge now is to convert the vision that was so carefully crafted in Havana into transformative change here in Colombia, especially in some of the most remote and historically neglected regions of the country. Demonstrating early dividends will be crucial for building confidence," he stressed.

Encouraging the parties to remain as strongly committed to implementing the agreements as they were to reaching them, the Secretary-General also encouraged them to welcome in this endeavour the contributions of all who are part of the diverse and vibrant nation: civil society, the private sector, Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities, women and youth.

"But now, thanks to painstaking, visionary dialogue, you can look ahead with optimism.You are inviting Colombians to join you in pasando la pagina a un futuro en paz  turning the page to a future in peace," said Mr. Ban, adding: Today, Colombians are bidding farewell to decades of flames, and sending up a bright flare of hope that illuminates the entire world. Viva la Paz! Viva Colombia!

Also present at the signing ceremony, Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, congratulated all involved in the process and welcomed the historic opportunity, which brings an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict and opens a new chapter of peace in Colombia and Latin America.

"The 2030 Agenda clearly states that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development," and as such, he looked forward to the full implementation of the agreements and to continue "our strong engagement and support so the remarkable progress achieved may be reconfirmed in the coming months and years. Colombia and this process are an example and a beacon of hope to the international community."

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NATO Secretary General welcomes discussion on strengthening European defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

27 Sep. 2016

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with EU Defence Ministers in Bratislava on Tuesday (27 September 2016) to discuss stronger cooperation between the European Union and NATO, and shared security challenges. He stressed the importance of implementing the Joint NATO-EU Declaration, signed in the margins of the Warsaw Summit, which gives new substance to the partnership between NATO and the EU.

Mr. Stoltenberg also welcomed renewed discussions on strengthening European defence. He highlighted that there is no contradiction between strong European defence and a strong NATO, noting that both are mutually reinforcing. He added that it is important to avoid duplication and ensure that the dialogue between both organisations is transparent and open.

Speaking on the situation in Syria, the Secretary General condemned the brutal attacks on Aleppo and stressed that a diplomatic solution for Syria is critical. "I join the international calls on Russia to show credible efforts to restore the cessation of hostilities, to allow humanitarian aid into Aleppo, and to create the conditions necessary for UN-led transition talks to resume," he said.

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Partnerships Forged Through UNITAS Evident in Peruvian Navy Exchange Officer

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS160927-06

Release Date: 9/27/2016 9:06:00 AM

By Army Capt. Peter Nguyen, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

GULF OF PANAMA (NNS) -- He's only been working in the United States for three months yet Peruvian Navy Lt. Eder Suclla has been a key figure in this year's UNITAS 2016, a multinational maritime exercise hosted this year by Panama.

Already in its 57th year, the goal of UNITAS is to increase interoperability among participating navies and public security forces.

Lt. Suclla is an exchange naval officer from Lima, Peru and is assigned to U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 40 headquartered in Mayport, Fl. He and his wife moved to the Jacksonville area from Peru in July where, over the next two years, he'll be working directly for the unit as a surface warfare officer. Already he's proven himself invaluable as a liaison between the U.S. Navy and the 11 other nations participating in UNITAS.

"This exercise celebrates the enduring relationships the U.S. has with our friends in central and south America," said Navy Capt. Angel Cruz, the deputy commander of Destroyer Squadron 40. "Lt. Suclla, a Peruvian naval officer working full-time at a U.S. destroyer squadron, is a perfect example of the mutual respect we have with our regional partner nations."

During this year's UNITAS exercise, Lt. Suclla has been busy planning, coordinating, and translating the training activities of 18 ships, seven helicopters, one fixed-wing aircraft and two unmanned aircraft systems detachments from 11 different participating navies.

"It's clear that Lt. Suclla comes to our unit well-trained and ready to fight," said Lt. Cdr. Nathan Harvey, the operations officer for Destroyer Squadron 40. "Planning the military activities of maritime vessels from just one country is a challenge. Planning and coordinating the unified effort of many vessels from many different countries is a completely different ballgame, and Lt. Suclla, as a member of our team, has taught us a lot on how to do that."

The overarching goal of this year's exercise is to develop and test the command and control of forces at-sea. Training in this exercise will address the spectrum of maritime operations. Specifically, there will be scenarios addressing electronic warfare, air operations, search and rescue, anti-surface warfare and maritime interdiction operations.

"For a Peruvian officer, this is a one-of-a-kind experience to work for a U.S. naval unit," said Lt. Eder Suclla. "But, in many ways, it's also perfectly normal. For decades, our countries have been partners working together toward common goals, and the evidence is seen here at UNITAS."

UNITAS, which is Latin for "unity," was first conceived in 1959 and then executed in 1960 and every year since that time. This year marks the 57th iteration of the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise, and it's a demonstration to the value of the relationships forged with our partners in the region.

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'US Air Force losing edge over Russian, Chinese technologies'

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:35AM

The US Air Force's "rapidly" fading supremacy over its Russian and Chinese counterparts has worried American military commanders, a new report suggests.

According to a report published by The Washington Times on Monday, Russia and China have been test-flying their fifth generation jet fighters for quite some time.

Russia, for example, has been putting the finishing touches on the Sukhoi-T50, aka PAK FA, aircraft. The warplane, which is the first ever Russian jet to use stealth technology, rivals America's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and is expected to enter service in 2018.

China has also been working on at least two advanced warplanes, namely the Shenyang J-31 and the Chengdu J-20.

This is while the F-35 project, which was launched in 2001, has missed several deadlines due to many software bugs and dissatisfactory performances.

The $379 billion jet, which is referred to as the world's most expensive weapon, has blown out its budget by nearly 70 percent. It will cost another one trillion dollars to maintain during its lifetime.

The USAF grounded dozens of its controversial F-35 jets "due to the discovery of peeling and crumbling insulation in avionics cooling lines inside the fuel tanks" earlier in September, less than two months after declaring the warplanes ready for combat.

Before the F-35, the US had developed the F-22 Raptor stealth jets, but the fifth-generation warplane's production was ceased in 2009 due to high costs. Only 188 of the planned 749 F-22s were ever produced.

"The most pressing challenge for the United States Air Force is the rise of peer competitors with advanced military capabilities rivaling our own," Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein told lawmakers in June.

According to the Pentagon's annual assessment of the Chinese military, the country's air force "is rapidly closing the gap with Western air forces across a broad spectrum of capabilities."

In May, Air Force General Herbert Carlisle said "a resurgent Russia and a very, very aggressive China" were causing concern in Washington.

The report comes as Western military officials have stepped up their rhetoric of fear against Russia and China, exaggerating Moscow and Beijing's military might and framing it as a threat for the rest of the world.

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Bosnian Serb Leader Defies Summons To Saravejo

By RFE/RL September 27, 2016

The head of Bosnia-Herzegovina's autonomous Bosnian Serb entity has rejected a summons by state prosecutors, saying he would not travel to Sarajevo for questioning after he defied a high-court ruling by holding a controversial referendum.

Republika Srpska's nationalist President Milorad Dodik was summoned after Bosnian Serbs on September 25 voted overwhelmingly to maintain a "statehood day" holiday on January 9.

Dodik told a news conference on September 27 that he would not travel to Sarajevo because he feared for his security.

"I will not go to the prosecutor's office in Sarajevo but I am ready to give a statement in any other judiciary office in [Republika Srpska]," he said.

He labelled the Sarajevo-based State Court and Prosecution Office a "farce."

His refusal to comply with the summons could force state prosecutors to issue an arrest warrant, which could be difficult to enforce in the autonomous region, where the influence of Sarajevo is limited.

"If Dodik fails to comply with a summons, and fails to justify it, the prosecution will then issue an arrest warrant," said Bosnia's Security Minister Dragan Mektic.

Bosnia's Constitutional Court had cancelled the referendum, ruling that the holiday is illegal because it discriminates against non-Serbs, but Dodik held the referendum despite that ruling as well as considerable pressure from the United States and the European Union.

A violation of Constitutional Court decisions is punishable with prison sentences ranging from six months to five years.

Western powers fear the vote could bring about instability in Bosnia, which only last week made its first major step towards joining the European Union.

The Bosnian conflict was ignited by Serbs' declaration on January 9, 1992, of an independent "Serb Republic" in the north and east of Bosnia. The territory became the autonomous region of the same name, Republika Srpska, under the Dayton peace agreement, which ended the war.

The referendum has led to the most heated debate between Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Serb officials since that pact was signed in 1995.

Most Bosniaks and Croats opposed the referendum out of fear that Republika Srpska could be preparing to secede, destroying the delicate federal structure put in place after the war.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-serb-leader-dodik- defies-summon-sarajevo/28017008.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Whenever Swedish Air Space Gets Violated, Russians Get the Blame

Sputnik News

15:48 27.09.2016

Recently, the Swedish Armed Forces reported that a Norwegian government aircraft had flown into Swedish territory without permission, an event which constitutes an undisputed violation. However, the public's attention was quickly shifted to a far-fetched Russian "encroachment," which is a far more gratifying topic for Swedish media.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the incident took place on September 8. The flight was carried out by a type of aircraft that is not authorized to fly over Swedish territory. Press Officer Philip Simon at the Swedish Armed Forces acknowledged the incident to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, yet refrained from further comment.

"Such things happen from time to time," Simon said.

Oddly enough, the Norwegian defense authorities were totally unaware of the episode.

"Verdens Gang has informed us that the Swedes have responded to such an episode, but we have Armed Forces unaware of this. We are checking now what this could be," Norwegian Air Force spokesman Brynjar Stordal told Verdens Gang.

On the other hand, Swedish media became seemingly excited over a recent incident involving Russian military planes. Earlier this week, Russian bombers reportedly flew some 2,500 meters below Icelandair's Boeing 757 from Reykjavik to Stockholm over the Norwegian Sea. According to NATO sources, several member states sent fighter jets in the air to identify the "threat."

However, subsequent reports turned out to be rather contradictory, as the number of the Russian planes varies between two and three, as is the make of the bombers. In some sources, the bombers were identified as Tu-22M Backfire, a supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber, whereas others suggested they were Tu-160 Blackjacks, a heavy strategic bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons and traveling at supersonic speed.

Per Froberg, press officer for the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration, pointed out the Russian aircraft had remained within the allotted airspace regarding distances from passenger aircraft.

"At cruising altitude the minimum permitted distance is 300 meters vertically," Froberg told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

Whereas Swedish military officials and Icelandic sources portrayed the episode as a threat to flight safety, Jan-Olov Bergling, sector manager at the Swedish aviation industry, brushed aside risks of collision.

"No, it is unlikely. The Russian pilots want to survive too," Jan-Olov Bergeling told the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet.

Meanwhile, violations of Swedish airspace have become so frequent that they hardly make the news. In August, US reconnaissance aircraft RC-135U flew over Swedish territory south of Karlskrona without permission, the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen reported.

On March 17, two Danish F-16 fighter jets violated Swedish airspace during their patrol routes over the Baltic Sea, Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reported.

In 2015, a report made by the Swedish Defense Ministry on behalf of Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter, showed that Swedish airspace and sea territory had been violated 42 times in the past five years. The number of violations increased from three in 2011 to twelve in 2014.

Despite the fact that Russia is the country often associated with aggression and violation by many Swedes, the US and other friendly NATO members, such as Germany and Norway, turned out to be the biggest violators.

Violations from neighbors in the Baltic Sea basin are to be expected due to the proximity of borders, yet the list included such exotic "guests" such as Monaco, Bahrain and Qatar.

 Sputnik

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Showdown Over Franco-German Defense Plans as EU Split on Military Cooperation

Sputnik News

15:14 27.09.2016

Highly controversial plans to deepen EU military cooperation are to be discussed by European defense ministers on Tuesday, September 27, during a meeting in Bratislava, with the Franco-German proposals expected to face opposition from the UK and Eastern European member states.

EU ministers will use the Bratislava summit to discuss the plans, thought to be the most ambitious defense proposals in close to two decades, with the hope of developing a coherent strategy for further talks in December.

The proposals, pushed by Berlin and Paris, aim to share national assets, deepen military cooperation between member states during missions and establish a joint EU military headquarters.

Proponents say the plans would strengthen the EU's ability to act independently militarily, meaning the bloc would be less reliant on the US in regards to defense issues and would be better equipped to address any security issues near EU borders.

"The initiative is designed for a strong Europe," Ursula von der Leyen, Germany's defense minister told Reuters.

"This Europe also wants to have good relations with Britain in the future, especially in the area of defense," she added ahead of talks.

Fears Over Impact on NATO

However, the issue has divided EU member states amid concerns greater military cooperation could undermine NATO and suck financial resources away from the military alliance.

The UK, still an EU member state despite the country's vote to leave the bloc, has been the most vocal opponent of the deepening of military ties, raising concerns over the prospect of an EU army and the impact it could have on NATO.

British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, said earlier this month that he would reject moves that would duplicate NATO structures in the EU, potentially triggering a showdown on the issue.

Fallon's comments prompted a warning from his German counterpart von der Leyen, who said the Brexit-bound UK should "make good its promise that it will not hinder important European Union reforms."

However Britain may have some support in the form of Poland and Baltic EU member states, who have raised concerns about anything that might weaken NATO, particularly given the purported threat of Russia.

Russia, for its part, has rejected the notion that it is a potential threat to the EU's security, instead highlighting the NATO build-up of missiles in eastern European as a key factor inflaming tensions between the two groups.

 Sputnik

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Russian MoD Refutes Claim of Russian Bombers' Flight Close to Civilian Plane

Sputnik News

13:46 27.09.2016(updated 15:41 27.09.2016)

The Russian Defense Ministry refuted Iceland's claim that Russian strategic bombers flew dangerously close to civilian aircraft over the Norwegian Sea.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Reykjavik claimed on Monday that three Tu-160 bombers reportedly flew 6,000-9,000 feet below a flight heading from Iceland's capital to Stockholm, Sweden, last week.

"The claims of Iceland's pilots and diplomats concerning an allegedly dangerously clpse flight to a civilian airliner by Russia's long-range aircraft over the Norwegian Sea are no more than a figment of their imagination," ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov stressed that the Russian aircraft were following a mapped patrol route with switched-on transponders at a safe distance from civilian aircraft and without crossing airways.

 Sputnik

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UK Defense Secretary Says No Consensus Reached in EU on Creation of Single Army

Sputnik News

10:43 27.09.2016(updated 10:44 27.09.2016)

There is no consensus in the European Union on the idea of creating a single EU army, as the United Kingdom is not the only member state to oppose the move, UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Tuesday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  Earlier this month, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that London will not be able to veto the decision to create the single force since the nation had voted to leave the bloc in a June referendum.

"There is no majority here for a EU army. There is a number of countries that believe with us that that cuts across the sovereignty of individual nation states," Fallon told reporters on the doorstep of an informal EU summit in Bratislava.

According to Fallon, Europe needs to step up to the challenges of terrorism and migration, but "undermining NATO is the wrong way to do it."

The plans to merge the existing defense structures of the EU member states into a single army have been under discussion for years but never came to existence, partly due to the opposition from the United Kingdom, which has advocated that NATO should ensure the bloc's security. The country's decision to exit the European Union has revived the talks.

 Sputnik

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FARC to Pursue Peaceful Politics as Colombia's War Ends - Commander

Sputnik News

03:31 27.09.2016

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) former rebels will continue to pursue their left-wing ideas via political means as Colombia's 52-year conflict ends, FARC commander in chief Rodrigo Londono Echeverri said.

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  Echeverri, who goes under the alias of Timochenko, signed a historic peace deal with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday. The signing ceremony was shown live by the TeleSUR channel.

"No one is giving up their ideas here, we will continue to fight for our ideas on the political arena," the commander said.

Timochenko asked all those who suffered as a result of the conflict for forgiveness and declared a new era for Colombia.

"I ask you to forgive me for all the pain which we may have caused during this warLet God save Colombia, the war has ended," he said.

As the former rebel commander's speech concluded, planes flew over the central square of Cartagena, where the ceremony took place, painting Colombia's national flag in the sky. Timochenko described the planes as bringing peace instead of bombs.

Colombia was mired in a half-century war between the FARC and the Colombian government, which has claimed lives of a quarter of a million people. The two parties began peace talks in November 2012 and signed a historic ceasefire agreement in Cuba on August 24.

 Sputnik

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Afghan Forces Struggle in Increasingly Deadly Fight

By Hasib Danish Alikozai September 27, 2016

Ja Jaan, a member of the Afghan national police, was traveling home from his job in the provincial capital of southern Uruzgan province to spend a few days off with his family when he came under attack from the Taliban.

"I was armed, and I knew that I was going to be killed. In a split second I decided to engage them," Jaan said. "We exchanged fire, and I got injured a few minutes into the firefight. Luckily, my check post was not that far, and reinforcements arrived to help me. The insurgents took off after my friends arrived."

Jaan was injured in the neck. After some emergency first aid, he was driven about two and half hours to a hospital in neighboring Kandahar province where he went through multiple surgeries. Jaan survived and returned to his job on the front lines of Afghanistan's war.

Many of Jaan's colleagues have not been so lucky. Afghan security forces have faced steep challenges since foreign troops disengaged from front-line fighting in 2014.

Worrying statistics

U.S. military analysts said in a report earlier this year that the government lost control or influence of nearly five percent of its territory between January and May of 2016. A top U.S. commander said Afghan forces suffered more than 900 fatalities in July of this year alone.

The Afghan government does not publish casualty numbers of its forces on a regular basis. However, the U.S. Defense Department reported a 27 percent increase in Afghan security forces casualties between January and November of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. A more recent report published this June said the casualties continue to increase, without specifying exact figures.

The same report said that 42 percent of Afghans say that security is worse now than during the time of the Taliban.

Ali Ahmad Jalali, minister of interior during the previous administration of president Hamid Karzai's and current professor at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., said some of this can be attributed to international forces playing a more advisory role.

"It is a complex situation. First of all, this year is the second year that Afghan forces are fighting the insurgents with very little assistance from the international forces. On the other hand, the Afghan air force capability is very limited," Jalali said. "Taliban also increased their operations, hoping that in the absence of international forces they could make inroads into many districts and provinces."

Insurgent groups see opportunity

Some observers say that around the same time the U.S.-led NATO forces were winding down their combat mission at the end of December 2014, others like the Islamic State group started targeting Afghanistan.

"The threats are not only posed by the insurgents who are fighting with a foreign agenda, we also have to put up with intelligence proxy warfare and terrorists from all over the world. From Africa to the Middle East, and South and Central Asia terrorists are trying their best to turn Afghanistan into their safe haven," said General Mohammad Radmanesh, spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Defense. "Madrasas (religious schools) in the neighboring countries are being used as a hub for exporting terrorism to Afghanistan to destabilize the country," he added.

The responsibility for responding to such groups has in many cases fallen to the police, forcing them to choose counter-insurgency operations over enforcing the law.

Critics like General Zalmai Wardak, a military analyst in Kabul, says the challenge is compounded by a lack of leadership.

"When leaders fail to embrace their responsibilities, and there is lack of coordination within the force, it will automatically contribute to increase in casualties," Wardak said. "What adds to all of this is the fact that soldiers are put in the theater only after two months of training."

General Jabar Qahraman was put in charge of the military operations in southern Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold, by President Ashraf Ghani in the beginning of the year. But he is not leading those forces anymore. He said he stepped down from his post because he came to believe that military operations alone cannot end the fighting.

In an interview with VOA, he said he supports negotiations, in part because the current predicament is even more dangerous than the country's brutal civil war of the 1990s, in which he fought as a commander.

"One of the reasons that this war is increasingly having a big toll on the [Afghan National Security Forces] is that the war itself is multidimensional, involving regional players. In addition to that, it's an asymmetric warfare which, if fought with conventional means, will without doubt have casualties," Qahraman said.

IEDs

Afghan Ministry of Defense spokesperson General Radmanesh pushes back on the criticism, saying the leadership is focused on the right problems.

"We do have an increase in casualties within our force, and we do have some problems within our ranks at the tactical levels but in general our leadership is committed to look after its forces and reinforce them on a timely basis," Radmanesh said. "They (insurgents) have all kinds of weapons, and they have increasingly relied on IEDs which has increased our fatalities."

Retired U.S. Marine Johnny Joseph Jones, who was an explosive ordinance disposal technician in Afghanistan in 2010, believes IEDs could be the main contributor in the rise of causalities.

"If the enemy is still using IEDs against the Afghan forces the way they were using it against us, without proper medivac you are going to lose every one of them that get the hit," Jones said. "It is all a fatal hit unless you have the proper medical assistance in time which includes air support and we are talking 15 to 20 minutes. One amputation could mean death," Jones said.

Afghan policeman Jaan agrees. He said he was lucky to have survived his wounds during the drive to the hospital. Several of his friends who had life threatening injuries in other IED attacks were neglected for days before they could treated. Some died while waiting.

Jaan's colleague Abdul Bari, who serves in Uruzgan's Deh Rawood district, told VOA that he is wounded and has yet to be treated.

"I am resident of Deh Rawood district and a member of the Afghan police force. I am wounded. The roads are blocked, and there is no medical help available," Bari said. "I hope that they send a doctor and take care of us soon."

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NATO Warns West 'Losing Information War' Against Russia, IS

By Henry Ridgwell September 27, 2016

The West must step up its efforts to combat and counter the information war being waged by its opponents, according to NATO officials. They warn that countries like Russia are exploiting the freedom of the press in Western media to spread disinformation.

The term "hybrid warfare" is frequently used to describe the tactics used by the Kremlin in its forceful takeover of Crimea in 2014, when unmarked, heavily armed gunmen now widely known as the 'little green men' began storming Ukrainian military bases in the region.

Moscow initially denied they were Russian military, yet weeks later similar unidentified armed units appeared in eastern Ukraine. That conflict between Russia-backed rebels and the Ukrainian military is still continuing.

The West is under attack

Speaking at this month's United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said hybrid warfare is being waged against the whole Western world.

"Political pressure, blatant propaganda, interference with the electoral process, economic coercion, secret subversive and military operations, cyberattacks, misuse of diplomatic measures, these are modern and congenial methods of the undeclared war," Poroshenko said.

At a recent conference on Information Warfare at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, the Director of the NATO StratCom Center of Excellence Janis Sarts said the West is playing catch-up.

West not focused on this type of warfare

"The technology is ours. The marketing powerhouses are in our countries. Yet we're having this discussion against the feeling of being pushed. Against the feeling of being pushed by different actors: Russia, Daesh also China in more subtle ways," said Sarts, using and Arabic term for the Islamic State.

The conference focused on the growing reach of Russian state media such as the 24-hour news channel Russia Today or RT, often accused of being a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin.

Senior editor at The Economist Edward Lucas argued channels like RT should not be considered as journalism.

"Russia has really grasped the post-truth environment. And they will lie about things absolutely brazenly. They understand the weaknesses of our media in the post-Cold War environment: that we prioritize fairness over truth."

Russia investing big money

Lucas added the West should do more about what he termed "social media hygiene."

"There's a real problem with comment fields, and with fake social media accounts, particularly on Twitter. The Russians are putting lots and lots of money into creating tens of thousands of trolls."

Mark Laity, the chief of Strategic Communications at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe or SHAPE, noted that Russia includes information strategy as a key pillar of its conflict planning, but in the West the communications are often handed off to separate public relations teams.

"We are still fighting on the margins," he said, "when actually a properly funded, strategic communication effort is incredibly cheap compared to other costs."

Laity warned Russia was deploying disinformation and hybrid warfare in its intervention in Syria  most recently in the disputed bombing of an aid convoy outside Aleppo earlier this month. He added the West must learn how to fight back.

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Hague Court Sentences Malian to 9 Years for Cultural Destruction

By Lisa Bryant September 27, 2016

The International Criminal Court Tuesday sentenced a former Islamist rebel to nine years in prison for his role in wrecking holy sites in the ancient Malian city of Timbuktu, ending a groundbreaking cultural war crimes trial.

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi's sentence was the minimum requested by the prosecution. It was also far less than the 30 years he could have faced for leading and participating in the smashing of 10 holy shrines in Timbuktu in 2012, when Islamist rebels controlled the renowned trading city.

Al-Mahdi's early admission of guilt and remorse helped speed his trial that opened in August at The Hague-based International Criminal Court. As presiding judge, Raul Pangalangan pointed out it also factored into the sentencing.

"The chamber has found no aggravating circumstances, and five mitigating circumstances. Namely your admission of guilt, your cooperation with the prosecution, the remorse and empathy you have expressed for the victims, your initial reluctance to commit the crime and the steps you took to limit the damage caused, and even of limited importance, your good behavior in detention," said Pangalangan.

The trial was the ICC's first-ever to consider cultural destruction as a war crime. Some observers say they hope it may set a legal precedent for similar cultural crimes, such as the destruction of ancient monuments in Iraq and Syria by Islamist rebels. Rights groups also want the ICC to investigate broader crimes committed during Mali's 2012 conflict.

Al-Mahdi's conviction amounts to only the fourth the ICC has delivered since it began operating in 2002. The court, which has indicted individuals ranging from Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony to former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, has also acquitted one defendant.

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Somali Elections Postponed Again

By Jason Patinkin September 27, 2016

Somalia's elections, which were slated to begin last weekend, have been postponed again. The government now says the polls won't start until late October.

The country's parliamentary elections have been pushed to October 23. The presidential vote has been rescheduled for November 30.

The internationally-backed process has been beset by problems.

There is political wrangling over voter delegates. National and state authorities complain the international community hasn't given pledged funding.

Meanwhile, crucial institutions such as a dispute resolution commission remain unformed.

Adam Ibrahim Aw Hirsi, the justice minister of Jubaland state, said the delays are no surprise.

"The capacity of the people that promised that they would get things done should have been doubted from day one," HirsiHirsi said. "Everybody knew this wasn't happening on time because the push from the internationals, especially to those who deal with Somalia from diplomatic offices, wanted something great to report to their respective countries that wasn't in sync with the reality on the ground."

'A first step'

But the elections will still represent a major gain for Somalia when they do happen, says presidential spokesperson Daud Aweis.

"Although this is not going to be a direct election, it is going to be a first step... This is a country which has not held elections for 47 years. Many people, if you talk about elections they don't even know how to cast their votes," said Aweis.

Technically, Somalia held a presidential poll in 2012, when parliament elected President Hassan Mohamud. But it's true there hasn't been a poll of the people since the 1960s.

This year's polls won't be a one-person one-vote process. Due to security concerns, 14,000 delegates will vote for parliament. The new parliament will then choose the president.

Joe Contreras, spokesperson for the United Nations assistance mission in Somalia, says this model isn't ideal.

But he says it is better than the 2012 poll when only 135 clan elders voted.

"I don't think that anyone is calling this a democratic election in the sense that most of us think of a democratic election," Contreras said.

Yet already this small electoral process has been hampered by accusations of misconduct.

Opposition candidate Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame says the government is undermining other candidates, including tearing down his campaign posters.

"Government is still trying to use the state resources and state security apparatus and state money and state institutions for advancing one particular candidate, which is the incumbent president," said Warsame.

The government denies that accusation.

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Chinese air force sets new record in blue water training

People's Daily Online

(People's Daily Online) 15:00, September 27, 2016

On Sept. 25, the China Air Force dispatched over 40 fighters of various types for blue water training in the West Pacific. Meanwhile, bombers and fighters conducted a routine patrol in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), People's Daily Online reported.

Military expert Wang Mingliang told People's Daily Online that the scale of this blue water training was the biggest since China started offering public reports on such activities. In addition, the training took place only 12 days after the last training, which is the shortest dividing interval ever.

Shen Jinke, spokesperson of China Air Force, explained that over 40 fighters participated in the training, including Xi'an H-6K, Su-30 and refueling planes. The formation flew over the Miyako Strait and practiced exercises such as air defense early warning, sea assault and air refueling.

According to Shen, the training in the West Pacific and patrol of ADIZ are both necessary measures to defend state sovereignty and national security, and to safeguard China's peace and development.

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Four Chinese Nationals and China-Based Company Charged with Using Front Companies to Evade U.S. Sanctions Targeting North Korea's Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missile Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 26, 2016



Company Allegedly Violated Sanctions by Facilitating U.S. Dollar Transactions on Behalf of a North Korean Bank with Ties to Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators

Four Chinese nationals and a trading company based in Dandong, China, were charged by criminal complaint unsealed today with conspiring to evade U.S. economic sanctions and violating the Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations (WMDPSR) through front companies by facilitating prohibited U.S. dollar transactions through the United States on behalf of a sanctioned entity in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and to launder the proceeds of that criminal conduct through U.S. financial institutions.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the District of New Jersey and Assistant Director E.W. Priestap of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.

On Aug. 3, 2016, a U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson of the District of New Jersey signed a criminal complaint charging Ma Xiaohong (Ma) and her company, Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (DHID), and three of DHID's top executives, general manager Zhou Jianshu (Zhou), deputy general manager Hong Jinhua (Hong) and financial manager Luo Chuanxu (Luo), with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to defraud the United States; violating IEEPA; and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also imposed sanctions on DHID, Ma, Zhou, Hong and Luo for their ties to the government of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction proliferation efforts.

In addition, the department filed a civil forfeiture action for all funds contained in 25 Chinese bank accounts that allegedly belong to DHID and its front companies. The department has also requested tha the federal court in the District of New Jersey issue a restraining order for all of the funds named in the civil forfeiture action, based upon the allegation that the funds represent property involved in money laundering, which makes them forfeitable to the United States. There are no allegations of wrongdoing by the U.S. correspondent banks or foreign banks that maintain these accounts.

"The charges and forfeiture action announced today allege that defendants in China established and used shell companies around the world, surreptitiously moved money through the United States and violated the sanctions imposed on North Korea in response to, among other things, its nuclear weapons program," said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. "The actions reflect our efforts to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system and hold accountable those who seek to evade U.S. sanctions laws."

"The charges unsealed today reflect our nation's commitment to using all tools to deter and disrupt weapons of mass destruction proliferators," said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. "One of the strengths of our sanctions programs is that they prevent sanctioned wrongdoers from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions. Denying the use of the U.S. financial system can greatly curtail illegal activities and disrupt efforts to provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists and rogue nations. Those who seek to evade our financial sanctions will be fully prosecuted, and we will be unflagging in our efforts to bring them to justice."

"The FBI takes violations of these laws extremely seriously and will not hesitate to use our full investigative resources to stop this type of illegal activity," said Assistant Director Priestap. "In this case agents, analysts and forensic accountants from field offices in Phoenix and Newark, as well as FBI Headquarters, all contributed to a successful investigation."

According to criminal and civil complaints, DHID is primarily owned by Ma and is located near the North Korean border. DHID allegedly openly worked with North Korea-based Korea Kwangson Banking Corporation (KKBC) prior to Aug. 11, 2009, when the OFAC designated KKBC as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for providing U.S. dollar financial services for two other North Korean entities, Tanchon Commercial Bank (Tanchon) and Korea Hyoksin Trading Corporation (Hyoksin). President Bush identified Tanchon as a weapons of mass destruction proliferator in June 2005, and OFAC designated Hyoksin as an SDN under the WMDPSR in July 2009. Tanchon and Hyoksin were so identified and designated because of their ties to Korea Mining Development Trading Company (KOMID), which OFAC has described as North Korea's premier arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons. The United Nations (UN) placed KOMID, Tanchon and Hyoksin on the UN Sanctions List in 2006. In March 2016, KKBC was added to the UN Sanctions List.

In August 2009, Ma allegedly conspired with Zhou, Hong and Luo to create or acquire numerous front companies to conduct U.S. dollar transactions designed to evade U.S. sanctions. The complaints allege that from August 2009 to September 2015, DHID used these front companies, established in offshore jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, the Seychelles and Hong Kong, and opened Chinese bank accounts to conduct U.S. dollar financial transactions through the U.S. banking system when completing sales to North Korea. These sales transactions were allegedly financed or guaranteed by KKBC. These front companies facilitated the financial transactions to hide KKBC's presence from correspondent banks in the United States, according to the allegations in the complaints.

As a result of the defendants' alleged scheme, KKBC was able to cause financial transactions in U.S. dollars to transit through the U.S. correspondent banks without being detected by the banks and, thus, were not blocked under the WMDPSR program.

A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jennifer Wallis and Michael Parker of the Criminal Division's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Trial Attorney Christian Ford of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Chief Barbara Ward and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joyce Malliet and Sarah Devlin of the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in this matter.

16-1097

Criminal Division

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - New Jersey

Topic:

Counterintelligence and Export Control

National Security

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North Korea Declares Basic Completion of Nuclear Weapons Development

Sputnik News

12:07 27.09.2016(updated 16:02 27.09.2016)

North Korea has completed an essential part of the nuclear arms development and pledges to continue qualitative and quantitative build-up of nuclear forces amid growing threat from the United States, the country's embassy in Russia said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On September 9, Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test at its northeastern nuclear test site.

"This is an expression of confidence in the fact that the country has basically completed the study, the development of nuclear weapons," the statement obtained by RIA Novosti reads.

The embassy said that the last nuclear test verified characteristics of nuclear warheads for North Korea's army.

"We will continue to take measures for the qualitative and quantitative buildup of North Korea's nuclear forces, designed to protect the country's dignity, the right to exist and peace in the light of the increasing US threat," the statement reads.

Earlier in the day, Russian Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Vladimir Voronkov said that North Korea's statement regarding the completion of its development of nuclear weapons indicated it would no longer conduct nuclear tests that have been raising concerns worldwide.

"[Russia still] believes that Pyongyang will revert to the non-proliferation regime, and it would be a responsible step by North Korea," Voronkov said.

North Korea has been under pressure from the international community since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in tightening sanctions against Pyongyang in the new UN Security Council resolution in March.

 Sputnik

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Russia Supplies Indian Navy With Over 100 Engines for MiG-29 Fighter Jets

Sputnik News

19:56 27.09.2016(updated 20:03 27.09.2016)

Russia's United Engine Corporation has delivered over 100 turbojet engines for the Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) fighter aircraft used by the Indian Navy, the UEC said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The RD-33MK turbojet engine is a modernized modification of the basic RD-33 engine installed on all versions of famous MiG-29 fighter jet. The engine has high thrust-to-weight ratio, low specific fuel consumption and is equipped with modern digital electronic management and control system.

"Chernyshev Moscow Machine-Building Enterprise [part of UEC] has manufactured and delivered over 100 RD-33MK turbojet engines for the Indian Navy. The deliveries were carried out within the earlier agreed contract between the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG and the Indian Defense Ministry," the press release said.

hUEC is a subsidiary company of the United Industrial Corporation, producing various engines including those for military and civil aviation.

 Sputnik

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Russian Central Military District Holds First S-400 Missile Launch Exercise

Sputnik News

08:26 27.09.2016(updated 08:28 27.09.2016)

The exercise was the first drill involving the S-400 air defense system held in Russia's Central Military District.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  An air defense unit from Russia's Central Military District (CMD) has successfully hit high-speed simulated targets using the S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile system in a military exercise in the Russian Far East, an aide to the district's commander Col. Yaroslav Roshchupkin said Tuesday.

"An anti-aircraft missile regiment from the Central Military District, which received the S-400 'Triumph' system a year ago, has successfully carried out combat launches as part of a joint exercise between the air force and air defense forces at the Telemba training range in the Republic of Buryatia," Roshchupkin said.

A total of six missiles were launched, hitting several high speed targets which included the Kaban target missile, moving along a flat ballistic trajectory at a speed of 1,500 meters per second (4,000 feet per second) and at a height of 45 kilometers (28 miles).

Tuesday's exercise was the first drill involving the S-400 system held in the CMD.

The S-400 Triumph is an air defense missile system that integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control center. It is capable of firing three types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at both short and extremely long distances.

 Sputnik

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Q&A: Amnesty Suspects Russian War Crimes In Syria, But Lacks Definitive Proof

By RFE/RL September 27, 2016

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson says Russia "may have" committed war crimes by deliberately targeting a civilian convoy on September 19 with air strikes in rebel-held parts of Aleppo. Russia denies involvement, claiming rebels fighting against Moscow's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, or a U.S. drone strike were responsible.

Meanwhile, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura says Assad's forces likely committed war crimes by repeatedly targeting civilians in Aleppo after a fragile cease-fire broke down on September 19. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault says even if Assad's allies, Russia and Iran, have not intentionally targeted civilians, they "will be accomplices in war crimes committed in Aleppo" if they don't pressure Syria's government to stop the strategy.

Amnesty International says it has documented many cases of Syrian government war crimes -- including torture and what the rights group calls "deliberate attacks" on hospitals, civilian residential areas, and other civilian targets. But Avner Gidron, a senior legal expert at Amnesty International, says it is difficult to state definitely that any specific attack constituting a war crime was carried out by Russian forces.

Gidron also told RFE/RL that the complications of court jurisdiction and the Syrian war's status as a noninternational armed conflict make it unlikely there will be any trials in the foreseeable future for war crimes committed there by Russia or the Syrian government.

RFE/RL: Have war crimes been committed in Syria?

Avner Gidron: War crimes have been committed in Syria by all of the [Syrian] parties. The vast majority have been committed by Syrian government armed forces and associated militia and that's continuing on a huge scale.

There's no doubt that the vast majority has been committed by the Syrian government. You can start with the things they do to captured people. And it's not just captured opposition fighters. It's human rights defenders, journalists, people suspected of having political sympathies for the opposition -- whether on the basis of their ethnicity or their religion, their perceived political affiliation. We've documented that thousands of these people have been tortured, subjected to enforced disappearance, and killed in custody. Just the torture that they've committed has been on an industrial scale.

RFE/RL: What about the air strikes that reportedly have killed more than 230 civilians in rebel-held parts of Aleppo since the cease-fire broke down on September 19? What evidence would be necessary in a noninternational armed conflict like the war in Syria in order to define these attacks as war crimes under international law?

Gidron: It's definitely much more clearly established as a war crime in noninternational armed conflicts when a party has deliberately and directly attacked civilians or civilian objects. It's also established when attacks are inherently disproportionate. It's disproportionate when the anticipated harm to civilians would outweigh the anticipated military advantage from neutralizing a military target.

RFE/RL: Has Amnesty International collected sufficient evidence to prove Russia has carried out war crimes in Syria?

Gidron: We are not excluding the possibility that Russia is directly committing war crimes in Syria as well. It's just that we have not been able to definitely say that a particular attack, which appears to be a war crime, was committed by Russia. The problem that we have is always the same. It's been very hard for us to say "definitely by Russia" because it's the same equipment that the Syrian Air Force and the Syrian military are using. It's mostly stuff supplied by Russia.

We've researched a whole list of attacks on hospitals, medical clinics, and other civilian objects where there is reason to believe that Russia was involved. We've put all of these cases to them. Of course, they deny any role. But given the number of attacks and the way that they've been carried out, I personally would be surprised if they haven't carried out any war crimes directly in Syria. It's just that the evidence we have is relatively limited compared to the evidence we have about what the Syrian government has done or the Islamic State [militant group].

RFE/RL: Is it possible in the near future to conduct trials for war crimes in Syria?

Gidron: For these suspected war crimes by Syria itself and by Russia, there is no jurisdiction in Syria for the International Criminal Court (ICC). Syria isn't a party to it. Russia isn't a party to it. You could have the jurisdiction of the ICC with a UN Security Council referral. That's something Amnesty has been calling for now for five years. But because of the power politics and the permanent Security Council members' veto, that has not happened. Russia would never go for that.

The only way somebody could be prosecuted -- a Syrian or Russian commander who orders an attack on an aid convoy deliberately and knowing full well, not by mistake -- that could only be adjudicated through universal jurisdiction in which another state's court has jurisdiction over war crimes in a noninternational armed conflict. Another possibility, if you can't get an ICC referral, would be to set up some sort of special tribunal. But then again, you really need the Security Council's cooperation for that.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-war-crimes-amnesty- international-russia/28016584.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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An Alabama death row inmate says the courts should allow him to argue that getting shot would be a less painful way to die than enduring the states current execution protocol.





In a filing with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, attorneys for Thomas Arthur, convicted in 1982 in a murder-for-hire scheme, say the sedative used in Alabamas lethal injection procedure could possibly trigger a heart attack before the administration of the lethal drugs in the procedure. Arthurs attorneys said in the filing a district court improperly denied him the ability to argue for alternative methods of execution  such as a firing squad, a different sedative or changes to the current protocol.





Absent this courts intervention, Mr. Arthur will soon be executed without having been afforded the chance to prove that Alabamas method of execution is highly likely to subject him to agonizing pain, the filing stated.





The Alabama Supreme Court earlier this month set a Nov. 3 execution date for Arthur. Mike Lewis, a spokesman for the Alabama attorney generals office, said they had no comment. Bob Horton, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Corrections, said in a statement the department is prepared to carry out the execution as ordered by the Alabama Supreme Court.





The filing, the latest in a years-long challenge brought by Arthur against the states death penalty, follows a July ruling that dismissed his challenge. Arthurs attorneys want the circuit to send the case back to Alabama for further consideration.





Arthur first filed suit over the states methods of execution in 2011. The inmate argued that the sedative in the procedure  first pentobarbital, then sodium midazolam  wouldnt render him unconscious in time to avoid the pain associated with rorcuronium bromide, which paralyzes the muscles, or potassium chloride, which stops the heart. Arthurs attorneys said that violated his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.





Attorneys for Arthur also said Alabama Department of Corrections officials didnt regularly apply a consciousness test to inmates before administering the last two drugs in the execution protocol, a violation of his 14th Amendment due process rights.





Arthur won several stays of execution while his challenge and others to the constitutionality of the sedatives used in the procedure went forward. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Glossip v. Gross, a challenge to Oklahomas use of midazolam, that those challenging the constitutionality of an execution method had to propose one that would be less painful.





The inmate tried to argue that the state should use pentobarnital instead of midazolam at a trial in January, but lost that case as well as later motions to change the protocol due to Arthur suffering cardiovascular disease. Writing in July, U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Watkins wrote that Arthur had not had a health evaluation since 2009 and had not made good faith efforts to square his medical condition with the way the state proposes to execute him.





Intense prodding by the court saw Arthur essentially standing mute as to the existence of a specific remedy, i.e., a proposed alternative method of execution, for an alleged unconstitutional risk, he wrote.





Arthurs attorneys say that due to their clients health issues, the use of midazolam could give him a heart attack before staff administers the fatal drugs. They also argue that the trial court shouldnt have prevented him from arguing for execution by firing squad, citing Utahs use of the procedure in 2010.





Over the past century, a firing squad execution has never resulted in a botched execution (i.e., resulting in an agonizing death for the inmate), in contrast to more than 7 percent of lethal injection executions, the briefing said.





The state argued that execution by firing squad wasnt a method available in the state.





Arthur also argues the use of pentobarbital, or modifications to the midazolam protocol, may do a better job rendering him unconscious. Arthur originally challenged pentobarbitals use  the state had run out of the sedative by 2014, which led to the switch to midazolam  but his attorneys wrote that was about the use of pentobarbital in the old protocol, and that the gradual administration of the drug wouldnt reflect Arthurs initial complaint. The appeal also suggests the lower court applied the Eighth Amendment  not the 14th  in dismissing Arthurs concerns over the consciousness test.





The inmates attorneys argue the court accepted perfunctory arguments from DOC personnel that they could not obtain pentobarbital, and prevented his defense from discovery that might have added more information about DOCs efforts in that regard.





Mr. Arthur is thus ... required on the one hand to prove the availability of an alternative execution method to ADOC, but prevented, on the other, from developing the factual record to meet that burden, they wrote.





Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, an anti-death penalty group, said the U.S. Supreme Court likely didnt think about what available methods of execution meant when handing down Glossip.





The question is if a state has chosen a mechanism like lethal injection, but administers that in a questionable way, is that considered a sufficiently flexible method of execution that you dont need to consider other things like firing squad? he said. We dont know the answer to that right now.





The state executed Christopher Brooks in January for the 1992 rape, murder and robbery of Jo Deann Campbell. Witnesses said Brooks showed no visible signs of distress during his execution. The state planned to execute Vernon Madison in May for the 1985 murder of Mobile police officer Julius Schulte, but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the execution due to questions about the effect a series of strokes had on Madisons state of mind.

 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; send a submission; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: Montgomery Advertiser , Brian Lyman, September 27, 2016
Kurds' Participation in Raqqa Liberation to Put Syria's Future at Risk - Ankara

Sputnik News

21:09 27.09.2016

Engaging Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the liberation of the city of Raqqa from Daesh terrorists will put Syria's future in jeopardy, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

ANKARA (Sputnik)  Earlier in September, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would accept Washington's proposal for a joint operation in Raqqa, as long as it excluded the YPG.

"Inviting the Kurdish self-defense forces to take part in operations targeting Daesh in Raqqa or elsewhere in Syria means to put the future of this country at risk. Cooperation with a terror group against another terror group is a betrayal of own values and of Syria's and Iraq's future," Cavusoglu said.

The YPG is considered by the Turkish government a terror group allied to the domestically-outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of Daesh.

Ankara declared that it would target positions of YPG unless they withdrew to the east of Euphrates.

 Sputnik

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Turkey Failed to Coordinate Syrian Operation With Russia, Iran

Sputnik News

02:33 27.09.2016

Turkey did not provide any assurances that its military operation in Syria would be coordinated with Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar Assad's adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik)  Shaaban, who advises the Syrian president on political and information matters, told the Lebanese Al Mayadeen channel on Monday that "no guarantees of any coordination between Turkey, Russia and Iran regarding the deployment of Turkish forces in Syria" have been provided.

Shaaban stressed that a common agreement on a Turkish operation was not possible between the three sides to begin with.

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 the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Turkey also targeted Kurdish forces present in the area, ordering them to move east of the Euphrates river.

Kurds condemned the operation and said it was directed mainly against them, while Syria called the operation a violation of its sovereignty.

Iran is one of the allies of the Syrian government in the military conflict with numerous opposition factions and extremist groups ripping the country apart since March 2011. Tehran denies direct military involvement in the conflict claiming that only Iranian military advisers were supporting the Syrian government.

Russia has been conducting an anti-terrorist aerial campaign since September last year at the request of the Syrian government.

 Sputnik

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Russia Claims New Radar Data Shows Rebels Didn't Down MH17

By RFE/RL September 26, 2016

The Russian Defense Ministry has released new radar data it says shows the missile that downed a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine in 2014 was not fired from territory controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

The ministry made the announcement at a Moscow news conference on September 26, just two days before a Dutch investigative team is scheduled to release its findings into the crash of MH17.

All 298 people on board died in the July 17, 2014, incident, which occurred amid fierce fighting in the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas.

Russia has consistently rejected allegations that rebels fired the missile, and officials said the new data would be turned over to Dutch investigators.

The international investigation is collecting evidence for criminal charges against those responsible.

"The fact that Ukraine has not yet released information from the radar station suggests that the location from which the missile was launched -- if it was a Buk -- was in territory controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces," Russian Army commander Andrei Koban said during a press briefing on September 26.

It was not immediately clear why Russian officials waited until now to release the information.

But a British-based group of open-source researchers known as Bellingcat said the new data contradicted information released previously by Moscow that asserted a Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet had been in the vicinity of the airliner at the time of the crash.

Just days after the incident, Russian officials had asserted that the Su-25 was Ukrainian and had fired the missile that exploded into the Malaysian airliner.

Bellingcat, which has poked holes in Russia's announcements on the downing of MH17 in the past, said in a post on September 26 that the newly released data showed no indications of any Su-25 jet in the vicinity of the Malaysian jet.

The group also said the radar information showed that, contrary to earlier data issued by the Defense Ministry, MH17 did not make a sharp change in its flight path just before it was shot down.

The Dutch agency that is handling the international investigation concluded last year that a Russian-designed antiaircraft missile known as a Buk -- known as SA-11 by NATO -- had been fired from separatist-held territory.

But the Dutch Safety Board did not specify who might have been responsible.

However, it identified a 320-square-kilometer area where it said the launch must have taken place, and all of that territory was controlled by Russia-backed separatists at the time.

With reporting by AP and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-claims-mh17-images- not-rebels/28014798.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Don MacNeil, chief operating officer of GTT, about its company restructuring after coming out of Chapter 11 and its strategic roadmap for the next 12 months.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kibush Capital Corporation (OTC:DLCR) (the Company) announced today that its CEO has returned from a site visit to Rigo Papua New Guinea. The site visit was important to the Company, as it provided a better understanding of the infrastructure requirements to properly plan for the commencement of logging within the area. The Company was able to identify the areas which will be the base camp and processing area. In addition, the Company was able to finalize the planning for the required machinery and the personnel necessary to undertake operations. This week, the Companys Operations Manager Vincent Appo is organizing the move of equipment and personnel into place for the commencement of logging. The Company anticipates that this process should take approximately one week and that logging should commence in Rigo before the end of September. Mr. Sheppard stated revenues from operations in Rigo should commence within 30 days. Once operational I anticipate a significant increase in revenue over future periods.



While in Rigo, Mr. Sheppard met with the landowners of the Rigo property to ensure that all parties were committed to the project. Mr. Sheppard stated that the landowners expressed enthusiasm to the commencement of logging and showed their support for the Company. We expect this relationship to be profitable for both the Company and the landowners. We are very excited to get this project operational.

To assist with our new operations in Papua New Guinea, Blackbridge Capital has extended a new facility of $100,000, which as noted in our Form 8-K filed on September 12, 2016, had been drawn down by $25,000 leaving a further facility of $75,000 outstanding. This facility is not to be confused with the $105,000 convertible note to Blackbridge Capital which has been repaid in full via its conversion feature, this new facility with Blackbridge Capital cannot be converted for six months from each drawdown. Our total outstanding shares have increased since last reported due to such conversions. As of September 25, 2016, we had a total of 254,513,362 shares of our common stock outstanding. The Company is attempting to reduce its reliance on convertible notes and we believe the new revenues from Rigo will help ease such reliance in the near future.

About Kibush Capital Corporation:

Kibush Capital is a Resource company with Timber Operations in Papua New Guinea, Gold exploration in Papua New Guinea and Jade exploration in New South Wales, Australia.

Safe Harbor Statement:

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

Kibush: http://www.kibushcapital.com/




"A positive image must be maintained. I urge the use of the soft-power

approach be strengthened through cultural diplomacy, the promotion of

Indonesian cuisine and also promotion through sports." - Jokowi (no kidding)

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has urged the Cabinet to enhance the soft-power approach to improve Indonesia's image, highlighting national branding as a strategy to improve the country's competitiveness in trade, tourism and investment.





During a limited meeting on national branding held at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Tuesday, Jokowi explained that currently each ministry acted independently in promoting trade, tourism and investment.





For instance, the Trade Ministry with its Remarkable Indonesia tagline and the Tourism Ministry with the Wonderful Indonesia tagline.





As a result, strategies to build a positive image of Indonesia tended to separate and run alone. Even in exhibitions abroad, ministries did not coordinate well, he said.





"We will consolidate in order to be able to compete with other countries. I also urge the use of the soft-power approach be strengthened through cultural diplomacy, the promotion of Indonesian cuisine and also promotion through sports," Jokowi told his ministers.





He also asserted that establishing national branding was not simply the creation of a national logo or tagline, but an effort to achieve and maintain a positive perception of the country in the global environment.





"A positive image must be maintained by providing good, fast and professional services," he went on.

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Source: The Jakarta Post , September 27, 2016
APPOMATTOX  The fuse trailing from an attack ad by Democratic candidate Jane Dittmar against state Sen. Tom Garretts energy and environment record sparked Monday at the Appomattox debate.

The audience question regarding each 5th Congressional District candidates stance on uranium mining lit the confrontation toward the end of the debate that until then had been marked by general agreement private businesses are overregulated.

This is like some crazy convoluted cartwheels that were getting here, but the bottom line is that 127 people voted to form the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, Garrett said. You need to learn to read bills. This one says nothing about uranium mining.

He called for Dittmar to apologize or retract the ad after earlier calling it a lie, rehashing statements made through media last week.

The ad referred to 2013s HB1790, which created a public Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Authority and the private Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium, both charged with studying nuclear resources in Virginia. The authority reviewed potential for uranium mining among other issues. That session included hotly contested and ultimately failed bills aimed at lifting Virginias longtime moratorium on uranium mining.

Tom, Im not retracting something thats true. Heres the thing, people are sick of having politicians who rank down at the bottom below car dealerships. Politicians in Washington, 8 percent approval, theyre tired of seeing money associated with votes for the people who have given them money. Im not saying thats what you did, but theres a correlation there, Dittmar said.

She had referenced donations he accepted from Chathams Virginia Uranium Inc., which has sought to develop a Pittsylvania County uranium mine. Shaun Kenney, Virginia Republican Party executive director in 2014, wrote in the blog Bearing Drift last week the bill was as Dittmar described it.

Dittmar referenced votes against the bill by Sens. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, and Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenburg, who both represent areas that would be affected by uranium mining, as evidence the bill was a backdoor to lifting the moratorium.

In a phone interview Monday night, Ruff said he originally voted against the bill thinking it was a backdoor to lifting the moratorium but later changed his mind after being assured it wasnt.

Speaking as majority whip, Stanley said Garrett was not for using this bill to lift the moratorium.

There were a lot of reasons to vote for this bill. There was some reasons to vote against this bill, Stanley said by phone late Monday night.

The debate Monday, hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and the Appomattox Chamber of Commerce, gave candidates 90 seconds each to answer with 45 seconds to rebut. ABC-13 WSETs Mark Spain moderated at Appomattox Inn & Suites.

Earlier in the debate, Business Alliance panelist James Richards, a Lynchburg attorney, conjured Marleys Ghost from Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in referring to federal regulations placed on business as a ponderous chain in asking about specific regulations each would address.

Richards said he measured regulatory restrictions in the Code of Federal Regulations as being more than 20 linear feet of shelf space. Both candidates agreed federal regulations were out of hand.

Garrett said furniture companies closing after certain chemicals were banned in the United States, making it too expensive to produce furniture in the U.S., was one example supporting his broader philosophy promoting deregulation in general.

Im going to vote for a clean Chesapeake Bay, but it shouldnt mean someone is penalized for a mud puddle, Garrett said. ... It shouldnt take individual property rights by creating circumstances where the property is worth less than its value by virtue of meeting regulations.

Dittmar said she would focus on regulations that affect small businesses that thrive here and can thrive here in the 5th District.

Im going to look at some of the acts that have been passed over the last decade, where they have a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation, and look at how we can get relief to our small business communities, both that are starting and those that will come in the future, Dittmar said.

Garrett referred multiple times to HR4768, The Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016, passed by the House of Representatives with only one Democrat voting for it.

The legislation would have moved power involved in overseeing laws passed by Congress away from the executive branch to the legislative branch, he said. The bill is a response to what Republicans have called executive overreach by Democratic President Barack Obama.

What it would have done is allow the branch that passes the laws to oversee the enactment of the laws, Garrett said. ... What happens now is the mud puddle in your driveway is a fine from the [Environmental Protection Agency] and you have to pay to mitigate the runoff if you pave the thing.

Dittmar said regulations have increased under Democratic and Republican presidents and Congresses. The problem knows no party, she said, adding the federal regulatory system has grown and become complicated.

Adding sunset provisions to legislation would require a review on a specific deadline and help remedy the problem, she said. Congress needs to review regulations to make sure they follow an acts intent, she said.

Until we fix Congress, we cannot fix these things, Dittmar said. We have to send people to Congress that can work with each other, that can make principled compromise and that can hold the executive branch accountable.
At first, Shakeva Frazier didnt see anything unusual about the Danville police patrol cars with raised hoods.

When I [saw] it, I was thinking they must be trying to shield themselves  not knowing that they had the excuse of [patrol cars] overheating, she said.

A picture taken by a Danville Register & Bee reporter of Danville police investigating a crime scene last month showed the hoods of two patrol cars raised. It raised questions about whether those hoods obscured the view of the cars dashboard cameras.

The fatal shootings by police of African-Americans around the country have reignited discussions about transparency and accountability from law enforcement.

In response to the controversy, the Danville Police Department will no longer raise the hoods on their patrol cars, Police Chief Philip Broadfoot told the Register & Bee Monday afternoon.

Were going to close them  Its not worth the damage to the trust that we have with the community, the chief said.

Danville police patrol cars have had a continual heating issue for some time, Broadfoot said.

As of publication, more than $16,000 has been spent on repairs of Danville Police vehicles due to the heat, according to Danville Police Department Lt. Mike Wallace.

Certain electrical parts in the engine will melt when the heat rises in the summer, Wallace said, even though vents were installed on the hood of the cars to reduce the heat.

If the car is going to be stopped for a long time, such as [at] a crime scene or working traffic  that heat would really accumulate under the hood, Wallace said. So we had the officers pop the hood.

If theyre going to stay there for a long time, they actually raise the hood up.

Police raised their vehicles hoods on Aug. 24 at the scene of a shooting on the corner of Colquhoun and Jefferson streets.

Police were investigating a vehicle that was shot at near the Green Street precinct. No one was injured from the shooting.

It was a crime scene, so those vehicles were going to be there for quite a while, Wallace said. So they put the hoods up on those vehicles to keep the parts from melting.

Broadfoot answered a question at a church forum on Sept. 9 about the raised hoods on city police cars.

When [Broadfoot] addressed the question, a lot of people in the audience were concerned with his response, said Ebony Guy, a community organizer and member of the Danville chapter of Virginia Organizing.

Guy said Virginia Organizing had already begun planning an initiative asking City Council for more transparency on the issue of the raised hoods.

They had no knowledge about Fraziers post showing two pictures of Danville police cars with raised hoods prior to their planning. That post was shared by hundreds of thousands of people on social media. More residents sent Frazier photos of Danville police patrol cars with hoods up.

Dashboard cameras are a vital tool to policing, Guy said. We want to make sure that not only the citizens are safe, we want to make sure our police officers are safe as well.

When you see the hoods raised up, my first impression was theyre trying to hide something, said Marty Jackson, a member of Virginia Organizing.

With everything going on in society, all around the country  we want to make sure that both parties are safe: The community as well as the police officers, Jackson added.

Danville police have been wearing body cameras in 2013. Yet Jackson said, its still a concern because the officer controls the body cameras. They can cut them on or cut them off.

We just want to make sure that everything is on the up and up.

I dont want to believe that its some type of cover-up, Guy said of the raised hoods.

In the times we are facing of increased skepticism of police, the raised hoods was something other residents should know about, Frazier felt.

I pray to God nothing happens in Danville, Frazier added. I believe at all times the dashboard camera should be rolling.

Had it been that [theyre] investigating a shootout, [if] the shooter was still out there, and came out with his hands up, you got your hood up we wouldnt have known what happened that day, Frazier said.

If youre at a shootout, Frazier said of the scene Aug. 24 in Five Forks, it seemed like that would be the time to keep that camera rolling.

That camera is the back-up thats been letting us know nationwide whats going on, whats been going on a long time . We need ours on.

We support our law enforcement 100 percent, Jackson said. We have a concern for the community as well.
"Supreme Court justices dismissed the appeal, claiming that a large

proportion of Pakistani prisoners suffer from mental illness."

Pakistan's Supreme Court today dismissed an appeal brought by lawyers for a severely mentally ill prisoner, who now faces execution in as little as a week's time.





Lawyers for Imdad Ali, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, argued that he should not be executed as to do so would violate both Pakistani and international law. Mr Ali came within hours of execution last week, despite prison doctors having assessed him as being "insane", including on the night before the execution.





Yet today, Supreme Court justices dismissed the appeal, claiming that a large proportion of Pakistani prisoners suffer from mental illness and they "cannot let everyone go." The judges conceeded that Imdad was mentally ill but concluded that they would dismiss the appeal because the case had already been considered by the Court and - in their view - nothing had changed.





Mr Ali's execution received a last-minute stay from the Supreme Court last week, but with that stay now expired, he could receive a new 'black warrant' and face execution as early as next Tuesday (4 October). Just hours before his scheduled hanging last week, Mr Ali's severe mental illness meant he was unaware that he was due to be executed.





The Pakistani Government is now the only body with the ability to halt Mr Ali's execution. Mr Alis lawyers have sent a mercy petition to Pakistans President Mamnoon Hussain with testimony from medical experts. The petition provides an array of medical evidence for the President to consider, such as a statement from psychiatric consultant Dr Feroze Khan, who examined Mr Alis mental health and recommended that he be transferred to a mental health facility for active psychiatric treatment.





A statement issued by 14 of Pakistans leading psychiatrists also warns that executing Mr Ali would run contrary to Pakistani law. The experts, including Dr Malik Hussain Mubbasshar, Professor Emeritus at Lahores University of Health Sciences, said that: [The] Law does not allow such execution of prisoners suffering from this nature of mental disorder in which the prisoner is having a psychotic illness and is unable to know why he is being executed and what will be the consequence of this punishment.





Mr Ali comes from an extremely poor family. His family began to notice signs of mental illness as long ago as 1998  but they could not afford to pay for private medical assessments, which could have identified his mental illness, and possible treatments, earlier. Following his initial detention, his mental illness has been exacerbated by 14 years in overcrowded prison cells and lengthy periods of solitary confinement.





Commenting, Harriet McCulloch, Deputy Director of the death penalty team at international human rights charity Reprieve said: "It is indisputable that Imdad suffers from serious mental illness. There is therefore no doubt that, should Pakistan execute him, it will be committing a grave violation of both Pakistani and international law. It is shocking that the system has failed Imdad at every turn - right the way up to the Supreme Court. The Pakistan Government must immediately halt Imdad's execution, and undertake a comprehensive review into how someone who is clearly mentally unfit to be executed has been allowed to come so near to the noose."





More information about Imdad Ali is available at the Reprieve website





Source: Reprieve, September 27, 2016. Reprieve is an international human rights organization. Reprieves London office can be contacted on: communications@reprieve.org.uk . Reprieve US, based in New York City, can be contacted on Katherine.oshea@reprieve.org





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Hillary Clinton maintains an edge over Donald Trump in Virginia, according to a new Christopher Newport University survey, but a new poll by Quinnipiac University indicates the race is a dead heat nationally.

The surveys hit ahead of Monday nights first debate featuring Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and Trump, the Republican nominee.

In the Christopher Newport survey, Clinton received 39 percent to 33 percent for Trump, 15 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3 percent each for Green Party nominee Jill Stein and for Evan McMullin, a conservative running as an independent.

On character issues, a majority  54 percent  said Clinton cannot be trusted with classified information. On another question, a majority  53 percent  said Trump is racist.

The poll indicated that many millennials who would back Clinton in a two-way contest move to Libertarian Johnson when he is among the choices.

Provided a choice of only Clinton or Trump, voters 18-34 prefer Clinton, 52 percent to 30 percent. But given a choice of the five candidates who will appear on Virginias ballot Nov. 8, Clinton receives 34 percent, while Johnson gets 27 percent and Trump 23 percent.

Christopher Newports telephone poll of 1,003 likely voters was conducted between Sept. 15 and 23 and has a margin of error of 3.9 percent.

In the national poll released by Quinnipiac, Clinton had the support of 44 percent of likely voters to 43 percent for Trump, 8 percent for Johnson and 2 percent for Stein.

Trump got better marks for health than Clinton.

Asked whether Trump is healthy enough to be president, 73 percent said yes and 18 percent said no. Asked whether Clinton is healthy enough for the job, 58 percent said yes and 31 percent said no.

Earlier this month, Clinton was seen on video unsteadily entering a van after she left a Sept. 11 remembrance. The Clinton campaign subsequently said she had been diagnosed with pneumonia.

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,115 likely voters nationwide from Sept. 22-25. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
When Sharon Harris advises first-generation college students, she knows exactly how they feel.

The South Boston native and her brother were the first in their family to attend college, and because of that, she said, I didnt know all the proper steps to get there. The process was very daunting.

Harris went on to earn a bachelors degree from JMU and an MBA from Virginia Tech, thanks to the encouragement of her mother, a Tultex employee who was laid off. My mother always stressed academics, and she wanted us to go to college because she did not, Harris said.

Now, as director of the Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), Harris draws on her own experience as she and her team guide thousands of potential students each year through what can be a complicated and intimidating process  figuring out a career path, choosing a college, getting accepted, and applying for financial aid.

Im glad that I took the path I did, because now Im helping people in my community go to college. I look at this as what Im destined to do, Harris said. I have a great team to help in this process. Most were first-generation, low-income students themselves, so they can definitely sympathize.

TRIOs Southern Piedmont EOC, whose offices are headquartered in Danville Community Colleges Wyatt Building, serves five counties and has helped more than 12,000 people navigate the college enrollment process since its inception in 2003. The center was one of the recently announced U.S. Department of Education grants award of $48 million to 143 colleges and organizations nationwide under the EOC program, which promotes college readiness. The five-year, $1.2 million federal grant enables the EOC to continue its work to assist first generation, low income students. It is the programs fourth consecutive grant award.

Free services provided by the EOC include one-on-one help with financial aid, financial literacy, admissions to any college, academic counseling, GED information, career counseling, scholarship information, and assistance transferring to a four-year college. Sites in the service area include DCC, Patrick Henry Community Colleges campuses in Martinsville and Stuart, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston, and the Franklin Center in Rocky Mount.

EOC Education Specialists can help prospective students apply to any college yet many of our participants attend their local community college, Harris said. Staff include Doreen Coleman (Danville City), Camille Younger (Halifax County and Pittsylvania County), Patricia Alderson (Henry County, Patrick County, Martinsville City), and the most recent to join the team, John Westphalen (Franklin County, Henry County).

We want everybody to have the opportunity to go to college. A college certificate, diploma, or degree will enable you to become more competitive in the job market and give you more options, Harris said.

One major barrier among first-time college students is figuring out how to pay for school, but there are plenty of financial resources to help, Harris said. The EOC maintains a list of area scholarships and offers one-on-one help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

There is funding out there to make college a reality, she said. One of the first things we do is help students complete the FAFSA. When they see the estimated amount of aid they could receive, they then realize college is possible. Additionally, college debt can be minimized by applying for scholarships.

A major push for the EOC this school year will be helping students apply for financial aid earlier than usual. This year, for the first time ever, the 2017-18 FAFSA will become available starting Oct. 1, 2016, and applicants can use 2015 tax information to complete it. Until now, the application has become available January 1 each year, and students have had to wait until completing their prior years taxes before applying  meaning the amount of college aid may not be known until late spring or even summer.

The early FAFSA will benefit students because they can find out much sooner how much aid they can expect to assist in their college planning, Harris said. Also, for many states, aid is granted on a first-come, first-served basis, so waiting until the last minute can result in less aid.

The EOC offers many other free services of which people might not be aware, including career assessments to help students determine their program of study. Also, Harris said, we assist with college admissions applications, help with SAT/ACT preparation, and provide information on budgeting, finances, credit cards, and debt to make sure students are financially savvy.

These resources are not just for first-time college students; if students stop out of college (or temporarily stop attending), we can help them re-enroll, Harris said. The EOC can also help navigate the process of transferring from community college to a four-year school.

One goal for the coming year, Harris said, is to partner with churches and community organizations to offer free career, college, and financial aid workshops to high school students and adults wishing to attend college.

Harriss advice to prospective college students is when planning ones course schedule, Be sure to allocate adequate time outside of class for studying, and the best place may not be the dorms. Go to the library or academic building where you can focus. For the adult student, I would suggest keeping your textbooks with you at all times. You may get 30 minutes here or there to study. Use that time wisely.

Harris encourages people to start the college journey, even if you can only attend school part-time. If you never start, youll never finish.

Southern Piedmont Education Opportunity Center

Danville Community College

1008 South Main Street

Danville, VA 24541-4004

434-797-8577

1-800-560-4291 ext.8577

Patrick Henry Community College

645 Patriot Avenue

Martinsville, VA 24112

276-656-5491

Southern VA Higher Education Center

820 Bruce Street

South Boston, VA 24592

434-572-5479

The Franklin Center

50 Claiborne Avenue

Rocky Mount, VA 24151

540-483-0179

PHCC, Patrick County Site

214 Johnson Street

Stuart, VA 24171

276-694-8778
A defense contractor will close its plant in Buena Vista, putting about 80 people out of work by years end.

HDT Global plans to move its operations to a facility in Huntsville, Alabama, the Ohio-based company said in a statement Monday.

The news release did not say how many people currently work at the manufacturing facility on Green Forest Avenue, where HDT has operated since 2012. The company has been in Rockbridge County since 2000, when it was called Base-X, founded by a Northern Virginia entrepreneur. She sold the company, which then had a plant in Fairfield, to Hunter Defense Technologies in 2005.

Brian Brown, Buena Vistas director of economic development, said the closing will affect between 80 and 100 employees.

Production will continue until Dec. 31. Most recently, HDT workers at the plant made military tents for emergency operation centers.

In announcing the closing, HDT said it was also planning to consolidate operations in the Fredericksburg area with a new facility that will expand our capabilities and facilitate innovation and product development.

HDT makes what it calls deployable solutions for the U.S. military and its allies, including shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices and robotics. It also serves civilian government and commercial customers.

Employees and city officials were told of the companys plans to shutter its Buena Vista plant Monday morning, Brown said.

Our employees are our greatest asset, and with teamwork and engagement we intend to make this transition as easy as possible, the company news release stated.

An HDT representative did not immediately respond to a question about whether the Buena Vista employees would be offered jobs elsewhere within the company.

HDT had been leasing the building on Buena Vistas east side, which previously was occupied by an automobile axle manufacturer.

Brown said the city plans to start marketing the building for a new tenant as soon as we are able to.
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./

MELBOURNE, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corp. (TSX/ASX/NZX: OGC) (the "Company") notes that in a press conference held today by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ("DENR") Secretary Lopez and Senior Undersecretary Jasareno, OceanaGold Didipio operation was mentioned as one of the 23 mining companies listed that may have their operations suspended, due to alleged outstanding social issues.

The Company confirms that it has not received any formal order from the department and is currently seeking clarification and further details. In the meantime, mining and processing activities are continuing at the Didipio Mine. The Company will consider all avenues, including working collaboratively with the DENR, to facilitate the immediate resolution of this matter to ensure no disruption to our operations and our valued local workforce.

Mick Wilkes, President and CEO said, "We pride ourselves, and have been recognised on numerous occasions, for being a responsible mining company with a long history of operating to the highest industry standards on health, safety, environment, community and sustainability. We are disappointed with the statements made earlier today and will seek clarification and reconsideration from the DENR to further understand and rectify this matter in short order."

Mr. Wilkes added, "The Didipio Mine has a strong social license to operate. Our achievements since recommencement of construction in 2011 would not have been achieved without our steadfast commitment to the community and most importantly the strong endorsement from the residents of Didipio and the nine other communities in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino."

The Didipio operation has been a recipient of numerous international and national awards related to its strong track record for health and safety, environmental management and community engagement. In 2014, the Didipio Mine was one of the first mines in the Philippines to be certified by ISO 140001, a leading industry best practice in Environmental Management Systems and the OSHAS 18001 certification, as well as adhering to international environmental and sustainability standards.

Since 2011, OceanaGold has proactively engaged with local and regional stakeholders and has established a strong and cooperative relationship based on mutual respect. The operation has delivered significant direct and indirect benefits to its host communities.

Currently OceanaGold's Didipio operation employs over 1,800 people, 98 percent of whom are Filipino Nationals from local and regional communities. The Didipio Mine's economic contribution to the Philippines in the form of taxes and royalties is estimated at US$70 million over the past three and a half years, with considerably more to be contributed over the life of the mine.

Locally, the operation is a significant contributor to the continued social and economic development of the surrounding region providing, health and social infrastructure, establishing education programs and academic scholarships, developing training initiatives, and supporting locally sourced and run businesses.

Between 2014 and 2016, the Didipio operation received a number of environmental, health, safety and social awards, including the 2014 gold award at the sixth Annual Global CSR Summit, one of Asia's most prestigious recognition programs for corporate social responsibility, for the Empowerment of Women; the 2015 and 2016 Presidential Mineral Industry and Environment Award (PMIEA), recognising a mining and quarrying company that excels in the efficient management of the local environment and ecology and safety standards and practices; the 2016 gold award at the 8th Annual Global Corporate Social Responsibility Summit for the Best Workplace Practices; and in 2015 was awarded both the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) Safest Surface Mining Operation Award and the PMSEA Safest Mining Operation: Metallic Category award.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the comments made during the DENR press conference at 9:00pm on Tuesday 27 September (Melbourne, Australia time) / 7:00am on Tuesday 27 September 2016 (Toronto, Canada time).

Local dial in numbers are:

Toronto: (+1) 416 764 8688

Canada & North America: (+1) 888 390 0546

United Kingdom: 0800 652 2435

Australia: 1800 076 068

New Zealand: 0800 453 421

A replay of the teleconference will be available until Friday September 30, 2016 on:

All locations (local): (+1) 416 764 8677

All locations (toll free): (+1) 888 390 0541

Playback PIN: 620 486 #

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold Corp. is a mid-tier, low-cost, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. The Company's assets encompass its flagship operation, the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. On the north island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the south island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company is currently constructing the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier asset located in South Carolina along the Carolina Terrane. The Company expects the Haile Gold Mine to commence commercial production in early 2017. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Australasia and Americas regions.

OceanaGold has operated sustainably over the past 25 years with a proven track record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency.

In 2016, the Company expects to produce 385,000 to 425,000 ounces of gold from the combined New Zealand and Didipio operations and 19,000 to 21,000 tonnes of copper from the Didipio operation at All-In Sustaining Costs of US$700 to US$750 per ounce.

SOURCE OceanaGold Corp.
Toronto, ON / TheNewswire / September 27th 2016. Chilean Metals Inc. ("Chilean Metals," "CMX" or the "Company") (TSX.V:CMX, OTCQB: CMETF, SSE:CMX, MILA: CMX).

Chilean Metals has accepted private placements on over $750,000 worth of investments in its recently announced financing. Additional placements are expected but company does not intend to accept more than $1,000,000 in total. All securities issued under the private placement will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Terry Lynch Chilean President commented "Completion of this placement will enable us commence drilling on our Zulema project. It is a Copper Gold target that our geological team feel is analogous to the nearby Candelaria mine since previous drilling demonstrated the presence of a similar style sulphide system, intersecting 22 meters of 0.45% copper and 0.11 g.t gold. This drill hole was located south of our current target. Pervasive potassic alteration, skarnification and widespread copper and gold bearing sulphides in magnetiferous andesitic rocks further support a geologic model similar to Candelaria. Our primary target is an intensely skarned hydrothermal breccia with widespread disseminated copper at surface".

Lynch commented further. "Chilean Metals was invited to speak about Zulema at the Chile explore Congress in Santiago. This is Chile's leading mining event, where industry and investors meet to review the latest developments in Chile. Chilean Metals made a well received presentation on Zulema at the event. This has led to us being invited to make a presentation at the upcoming Mining & Investment Latin America Summit in Lima, Peru in late October. It has also led to opportunities in the coming months to meet with local investors through some of the areas leading broker dealers. Their ambition is to introduce their clients to our stock through our listings on the Santiago Stock Exchange and through this our listing on the MILA exchange, which combines the Mexican, Columbian, Peruvian and Chilean exchanges and is the leading South American Exchange. The conference also brought us in direct contact with many geological teams working the area and served to support our belief in project."

While in Chile the company met with drilling contractors on the site and is dealing with contract bids. Chilean Metals would expect to award the drilling contract in October with drilling to commence prior to year end and completion of the drill program in January. Additional details on drilling program will be released when contract is awarded.

Chilean Metals will require regulatory approval to complete the private placement.

About Chilean Metals

www.chileanmetals.com/

Chilean Metals Inc. is 100% owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific IOCG ("Iron oxide-copper-gold") belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3% NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire Cu-Mo deposit, recently sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. ("Teck"). Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one third of the 3% NSR for $3 million dollars at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's First Region.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

Chilean Metals Inc.

"Terry Lynch"

Terry Lynch, President

Contact: terry@chileanmetals.com

The Qualified Person for Chilean Metals Inc., as defined by National Instrument 43-101, is Gary Lohman, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration.

Forward-looking Statements: This news release may contain certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that CMX expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding current and future exploration programs, activities and results. Although CMX believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration success, continued availability of capital and financing, inability to obtain required regulatory or governmental approvals and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements.

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.



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Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Rye Patch Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RPM; OTCQX: RPMGF; FWB: 5TN) (the "Company" or "Rye Patch") is pleased to provide an update of the ongoing activities at the Florida Canyon mine. Overall, the critical path to restart is on schedule and on budget for completion in Q4 of 2016. The 3 critical items to re-start are: 1) building the new phase-1 leach pad, 2) moving the crusher, and 3) refurbishing the fleet.

Building the new phase-1 leach pad

The construction of the phase-1 leach pad is currently on schedule and under its $8mm budget.

On August 25th coarse earthwork started on pad and associated ponds. Currently 75% complete, the clay under liner is being manufactured on site, while plastic liner for the ponds and pad will be rolled out in October.

The pad is 100 acres (405,000 square metres) in surface area and, along with the ponds and piping, will be completed with ore anticipated to be placed on the pad by the end of November 2016.

Moving the crusher

The crusher relocation project is ahead of schedule and on target for its $2mm budget

The crusher is being moved from the Standard mine approximately 8km (5miles) northward to the Florida Canyon lay down yard; coarse earthwork at the crusher site is almost complete, and the foundation work has started. A concrete foundation will be poured at the end of September; the crusher will be mounted to the foundation and should be operational by approximately mid?October. Stockpiling and crushing of over liner and ore will commence at the end of October.

Refurbishing the fleet

The fleet maintenance is ahead of schedule and under its $3mm budget.

One loader and 4 trucks currently remain to be refurbished. The full complement of the fleet is three (3) loaders, twelve (12) 785 Cat haul trucks, five (5) 777 Cat haul trucks, two (2) water trucks and one (1) grader.

Pouring Gold

The Florida Canyon restart is on schedule to produce gold from the new leach pad facility in late 2016 and to ramp up toward full production in Q1 2017. Manpower ramp-up is also in progress, with the full complement of staff to be on site in late 2016  early 2017.

Florida Canyon Mining Inc. continues to produce and sell gold from the existing leach pads at the Standard and Florida Canyon mines, with the revenue from the gold sales contributing to Florida Canyon re-start costs.

Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, Rye Patch Gold's CEO and President, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Rye Patch Gold Corp.

Rye Patch Gold Corp. is a Nevada based, Tier 1, well-funded mining company led by a seasoned management team with a wide range of operations and project development successes. The team is engaged in the mining and development of quality resource-based gold and silver mines and projects along the established Oreana trend in west central Nevada. Benefitting from its strong financial position, the Company has leveraged its cash to acquire the operating Florida Canyon gold mine. The Company now controls a trend-scale platform with operations, replacement assets and exploration upside. The combination of operations and exploration concentrated along a major Nevada gold trend positions Rye Patch as an emerging mid-tier gold producer with tremendous value added potential. For more information about the Company, please visit our website at www.ryepatchgold.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

'William Howald'

William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO & President

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to future plans and objectives of the Company, proposed operations of the Company including mine development, future events and conditions and other statements that are not historical facts, all of which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Company's control. These factors include: the requirement of the Company to satisfy the conditions for drawdowns in the credit agreement entered into with Macquarie Bank Limited ("Credit Facility"), the achievement of mine redevelopment plans and production results; the availability of funds; the financial position of Rye Patch; the timing and content of work programs; the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; the reliability of calculation of mineral resources; the reliability of calculation of precious metal recoveries; the receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.

Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the drawdowns under the Credit Facility and the Florida Canyon mine redevelopment will be completed on the terms and within the time disclosed herein or at all.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Rye Patch Gold
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 27, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Mason Graphite Inc. ("Mason Graphite" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:LLG)(OTCQX:MGPHF) is pleased to announce that it has closed the bought deal private placement offering announced on September 6, 2016.

The Company issued, on a bought deal basis, a total of 26,162,500 common shares (the "Shares") at a price of $1.10 per Share, which includes the exercise of the underwriters' option (the "Underwriters' Option") in full for aggregate gross proceeds of $28,778,750 (the "Offering").

As part of the Offering, Ressources Quebec, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, subscribed for 9,090,909 Shares, which represents an investment of $10,000,000.

The Offering was underwritten by a syndicate led by National Bank Financial Inc., and including Paradigm Capital Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc., Dundee Securities Limited and Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. (together the "Underwriters").

As previously disclosed, the net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to fund the continued development of the Lac Gueret graphite mine and Baie-Comeau, Quebec concentrator plant projects (the "Project"), for the payment of amounts owing to Quinto Mining Corp. related to the Company's acquisition of the mining claims that comprise the Lac Gueret property, for an additional equity investment in Group NanoXplore Inc., and for general corporate purposes.

"We are pleased by the strong ongoing support we've received from investors, including Ressources Quebec, during the Offering" says Benoit Gascon, Mason Graphite's President & Chief Executive Officer. "These investments constitute a further endorsement of the quality and viability of the Project. This Offering represents an important milestone for the Company, and will enable us to continue working towards the successful realization of the Project, which is progressing according to the previously disclosed plan."

All securities issued at the closing of the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities legislation and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, which expires on January 28, 2017.

In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters received a cash commission equal to 5.0% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering (inclusive of the Underwriters' Option).

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

About Mason Graphite and the Lac Gueret Project

Mason Graphite is a Canadian mining and processing company focused on the development of its 100% owned Lac Gueret natural graphite deposit located in northeastern Quebec. The Company is led by a highly experienced team that has over five decades of experience in graphite production, sales, and research and development.

Mason Graphite Inc. On behalf of the Board

"Benoit Gascon, CPA, CA", President & Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information, including the use of proceeds of the Offering. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi) the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the issuer in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the issuer; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the issuer is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near term; (xix) the risk of litigation; and (xx) risk management.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - Colombian Mines Corporation (TSX VENTURE: CMJ) (FRANKFURT: X6C) ("Colombian Mines" or the "Company") is pleased to announce all parties have signed the definitive agreement (the "Agreement") whereby the Company has the exclusive right to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the high grade Pamlico gold project in Nevada. Pamlico is a historic high grade producer with recent drill intercepts to 239.15 g/T Au over 4.6 meters, and is permitted for pilot mining and processing of bulk samples via a modern "trackless" decline completed in 2013.

Colombian Mines has the exclusive option to purchase an undivided 100% interest in the property subject to a 4% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty. The Agreement provides for an initial "Option" to purchase the property for US$ 7 million or an "Early Exercise Option" of US$ 4 million if exercised and paid within four (4) years.

The Company has the option to "buy down" 3 percentage (3%) points of the royalty for US$ 1 million per point, or US$ 3 million total at any time during the agreement. During the option period the Company will pay US$ 250,000 per year as pre-production cash payments. The cumulative value of all payments, including Pre-Production Cash Payments, Annual Payments and Production Royalties, to Merritt apply to the final purchase price.

The Company plans an aggressive exploration and development program this fall once funding is in place.

ABOUT PAMLICO

Located 12 miles southeast of Hawthorne, Nevada the project has excellent access and infrastructure, a mild, year-round operating climate and strong political support from Mineral County, one of the most pro-mining counties in the pro-mining state of Nevada. Situated along the Walker Lane, one of Nevada's largest and most productive gold trends, Pamlico is comprised of 116 unpatented lode mining claims covering the historic Pamlico group of mines, as well as the surrounding Good Hope, Central, Gold Bar and Sunset mines.

Discovered circa 1884 the district rapidly gained a reputation as being one of Nevada's highest grade districts. Owned by private interests for most of its history, the property is under-explored in terms of modern exploration. There are no documented geophysical or soil geochemical surveys, inconsistent rock geochemistry and inconsistent surface and underground geologic mapping. To date only limited drilling consisting of 103 drill holes totaling 27,838 feet (8,487 meters) have been completed. Despite the extremely high success rate in drilling, multiple holes ended in mineralization assaying from 4.5 to 13.2 g/T Au. High grade mineralization remains open to expansion within the current drilling pattern as well as up and down dip, and along strike.

In 2013, the seller permitted and completed a modern, trackless 188 meter long, 3 X 4 meter decline to develop high grade mineralization identified in their drilling. While driving the decline, two previously unknown mineralized zones containing visible gold were discovered. One of these zones is termed the Discovery zone, the other remaining unnamed for the time being. To date neither of these zones have been systematically sampled.

More than 100 veins on the property have had historic artisanal level production from shallow underground workings. Mineralization is deeply oxidized and dominated by coarse, free gold that is easily recoverable by gravity methods. Individual productive veins with similar strikes and dips often form discrete zones where veins in the zone have similar characteristics. These vein zones often exhibit characteristics of strike and dip such that when projected along strike or down dip would intersect other zones of veins. It is well known structural intersections often form highly favorable geological environments for the development of larger volume, high grade targets in settings resembling other high grade Nevada deposits like the Fire Creek and Midas Mines operated by Klondex Mines Ltd. (TSX: KDX) (NYSE: KLDX).

The table below presents select high grade drill intercepts previously announced by the Company. This table is not exhaustive, and complete listing of high grade intercepts is available at the Company's web site at www.colombianmines.com.

Select Pamlico Drill Intercepts

Drill Hole Year Drilled From To Drill Intercept Length Average Gold Grade Observations (meters) (meters) (meters) g/t M10-04 2010 57.9 64.8 6.9 38.49 Bottomed in 4.5 g/T Au M10-05 2010 61.7 64 2.3 165.49 M10-06 2010 56.4 59.5 3 21.28 Bottomed in 13.2 g/T Au M10-17 2010 54.1 59.5 5.3 36.85 M10-18 2010 48.8 56.4 7.6 21.76 PAM99-01 1999 67.1 74.7 7.6 37.29 PAM99-03 1999 62.5 67.1 4.6 239.15 PRC-36 1993 54.9 61 6.1 15.05

Note: Intercepts are average of all samples in drilled intercept with no grade capping. All intercepts are actual drilled length and do not imply true width

Conventions

The Company utilizes certain conventions to avoid confusion between metric and imperial units in its press releases. Metric tons or tonnes consisting of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) are denoted with a capital "T" while imperial tons consisting of 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) are denoted with a small "t".

References

Reno Evening Gazette, April 20, 1886

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Mr. Robert G. Carrington, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, the President and CEO of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Carrington has reviewed the historic data and is of the opinion that the samples were collected in accordance with accepted industry best practices, that acceptable levels of QA/QC were maintained by the historic operators, and that the drilling and assay results are reliable and relevant.

References to historic production records from the property do not imply that similar mineralization may be discovered in the future.

About Colombian Mines Corporation: Colombian Mines Corp. is an aggressive exploration and development company focused on near to intermediate term production opportunities in favorable jurisdictions including Nevada, Colombia and Wyoming. Focused on developing shareholder value through exploration and development of key projects, the Company is also one of Colombia's leading "prospect generators". Further information can be found on our website at www.colombianmines.com.

Signed: "Robert G. Carrington"

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement:

Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Colombian Mines Corp.. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Keith Myers/Kansas City Star/TNS Cancer survivor Rebecca Hertzog Burns (left) of Fayetteville, Ark., gets a hug from one of her former nurses, Joyce Atchley, during a checkup visit at the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion in Westwood, Kan.

SHARE Stem cell transplant recipient Artesha Singleton was in good spirits on Sept. 9 at the University of Kansas Hospital. The 27-year-old Kansas City resident is fighting leukemia. With her was her aunt, Regina Roberson.

Hot topic in treatment is immunotherapy

By Rick Montgomery, The Kansas City Star (TNS)

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Last Friday was Rebecca Hertzog Burns' birthday. She turned 2. She says that's her age, though she's really 27. After a relapse in her fight with acute myelogenous leukemia, Burns received a stem cell transplant on Sept. 9, 2014, through an infusion of umbilical cord blood from a baby boy.

By her way of thinking, she and her immune system were reborn that day. "My new birthday," says Burns, who has been in remission since.

The treatment she received at the University of Kansas Hospital falls within a broad spectrum of care called immunotherapy. It is the hot topic, the "it" word, in addressing cancer. While doctors report success combating several types of cancer through different versions of immunotherapy, KU clinicians say some of the most remarkable stories arise in the treatment of blood cancers.

Deadly forms of leukemia and lymphoma, which commonly strike young adults such as Burns, are now managed, and in many cases vanquished, using treatments unavailable just a few years ago.

"In 26 years of practice, this is absolutely the most optimistic I've ever been," said Joseph McGuirk, medical director of KU's blood and marrow transplant program. Patients from around the world travel here to take part in experimental trials.

"It's not hyperbole at all to say we're in the middle of a revolution in cancer therapy," he added.

The idea behind immunotherapy is to coax a patient's own body to attack cancer cells. The way of doing that  in short, by harnessing the immune system to do the work that cancers don't let it do  differs from patient to patient, from cancer to cancer.

For former President Jimmy Carter, suffering from an advanced melanoma that many thought would kill him, the key may have been a "checkpoint inhibitor" drug with the brand name Keytruda.

Carter last year stunned the globe when he announced that his immunotherapy treatment, combined with radiation and surgery, eradicated tumors that had developed in his brain and liver.

Immunotherapy isn't new, but it's getting a lot of attention now for a reason, said McGuirk, a soft-spoken physician reluctant to trumpet medical breakthroughs before they've been proven to work.

"We've reached this critical mass where, kaboom, all of sudden (immunotherapy) has taken off like a rocket," he said.

National news media are jumping aboard, largely because of Carter's success. The U.S. government and drug companies pour billions of dollars into research, and clinical trials underway at KU and hundreds of other facilities have produced strong data.

By itself or in combination with other treatments, immunotherapy is being credited for putting some terminal cancer patients  but far from all  in remissions that can last for years.

Some of the drugs being developed block a mechanism, the immune checkpoint, that cancer exploits to keep the immune system at bay. Other treatments remove from patients millions of disease-fighting cells, reconfigure them in a lab and infuse them back into their sick owners.

The hope is for these so-called T-cells to do the job they're meant to do.

KU clinicians credit immunotherapy as one of the treatment paths that has allowed more blood-cancer patients to enjoy extensive remissions than ever seen before. The final blow to their disease is often an allogeneic stem cell transplant, which can rebuild the immune system from scratch.

Still, many patients don't respond to these treatments.

For them, conventional steps such as chemotherapy and radiation remain potential lifesavers. But in those treatments' quest to attack all cells they can get, and not only cancer cells, their side effects usually are much harsher than immunotherapy's.

Others warn that too much hype around immunotherapy could steal attention and funding from those more traditional strategies and other promising treatments.

"Through the history of oncology, there are periods in which something gets really hot and everyone gets excited that it's the answer," said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

"The immunotherapy treatments being developed are here to stay. But I worry about research and money shifting away from other approaches."

In the spring, a dying Artesha Singleton of Kansas City traveled to a St. Louis hospital to see if she might qualify for an experimental trial.

No, you're too sick, a physician told the leukemia patient. Return to Kansas City and find a hospice program. You've got a few months.

She's only 27. That she relies on Missouri Medicaid for coverage doesn't help.

"I think the way they treated her was pretty monstrous," said Haylie Colby, a social worker at KU's Westwood clinic.

Singleton was diagnosed at Truman Medical Center just last summer. She has a 2-year-old son. When she returned from St. Louis, she spent three days crying in her bedroom.

All of the approved therapies for Singleton were exhausted. Rounds of chemotherapy had no effect. "What do we do next?" asked Shaun De-Jarnette, the quality management coordinator at KU's blood and marrow transplant unit, or BMT.

The team overseeing Singleton's case knew that the drug manufacturer Pfizer was testing a product not yet on the market: inotuzumab ozogamicin. Though not an immunotherapy drug, it might reverse Singleton's deathly slide enough for her later to benefit from a stem cell transplant.

"We were desperate and asked Pfizer to give it to us," said physician Leyla Shune. "For free."

Under a provision that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls "compassionate use," Pfizer agreed.

Inotuzumab ozogamicin saved her. And with her cancer in remission, Singleton became a candidate for a transplant that would turn her immune system into that of a newborn baby's. (As of Sept. 9, her immune system was just a week old.)

Resting in her hospital bed before the procedure, which took less than an hour, Singleton said, "I feel wonderful."

Her aunt Regina Roberson was at her side. "It's been a bumpy, bumpy ride," Roberson said. "But the treatment we found here is working. She's living proof."
Fotolia When high-flying professionals get depressed, research finds they don't respond as well to treatment.

SHARE

Research: Status seems to correlate with resistance

By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

There are certainly many perks that come with a job at the top of the corporate ladder, but this is not one of them: When people with prestigious jobs fall into depression, they are less likely to benefit from treatment than their co-workers several rungs below them.

In a study of 654 employed patients who sought help for depression, researchers found that those in occupations with high wages and status showed a poorer response to treatment and higher rates of treatment-resistant depression.

After study subjects got at least two different treatments for depression, 55.9 percent in those in the highest occupational group failed to see their depression lift. In contrast, only 40.2 percent of the middle-level workers and 44.3 percent of those toiling in low-level jobs remained treatment-resistant.

The researchers, who presented their findings Wednesday at the European College of Psychoneuropharmacology Congress, counted psychotherapy and a course of antidepressant medication as a treatment. They defined "treatment resistance" as a failure to respond to at least two antidepressant regimens  a change of antidepressants; the addition of psychotherapy to an antidepressant or an antidepressant to psychotherapy; or a shift from one to the other.

By the study's end, only around one in six in the higher-status group had achieved remission from an episode of depression. Among those employed in the middle-level and low-level occupations, one in four did so.

The depressed subjects hailed from Austria, Belgium, Israel and Italy. Those who worked in posh jobs were younger, more educated and more likely to get psychotherapy in addition to antidepressants than were those in lower-status jobs. That combination of treatments is considered the standard of care in treatment of major depressive disorder. But in the United States, especially, psychotherapy is often omitted because it can be hard to access and is time-consuming, expensive and has been poorly reimbursed by insurers.

From 2009 to 2012, the most recent period for which statistics are available, 7.6 percent of Americans older than 12 were thought to suffer from moderate to severe depression. A 2010 study found that about half of Americans with major depressive disorder did not get any treatment for the condition. That research also found evidence that depressed African-Americans and Mexican-Americans are more inclined to accept psychotherapy than are non-Latino whites, and that they were less likely than whites to get antidepressant medication.

The authors of the latest research, which is considered preliminary because it has not been published, acknowledged that existing research has consistently shown that people with low incomes and educational levels are more likely to develop depression than people who are affluent and well-educated. Their findings suggest that in recommending depression treatments, doctors and mental health workers should take a patient's work into account as well, they added.

"The results of this study might sound counterintuitive," said Dr. Eduard Vieta, who chairs of the University of Barcelona's Department of Psychiatry and Psychology. "But people with highly demanding jobs are subject to a lot of stress, and when they break down with depression, it may be particularly difficult to cope" with demands they were previously managing to satisfy.

Alternatively, said Vieta, patients in high-status jobs may be less likely to accept antidepressant medications as an adjunct to psychotherapy. Since that combination is generally thought most effective in sending depression into remission, he said, those smart, hard-charging people may be denying themselves the fastest route to remission.
Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times/TNS Holiday weight gain is not unique to the United States.

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Tis the season to gain weight, recent study shows

By Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Halloween is right around the corner, which means Thanksgiving and Christmas will be coming up soon. If you're already worried about putting on extra pounds over the holidays, a new study has some discouraging news: Your fears are justified.

Americans who participated in the study saw their weight increase by 0.2 percent during the Thanksgiving holiday and 0.4 percent over Christmas, researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Though Americans are known to have trouble maintaining a healthy weight  38 percent of us are obese and another 33 percent are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  this pattern of holiday weight gain is hardly unique to the United States.

In Germany, study participants boosted their body weight by 0.6 percent around Christmas and another 0.2 percent around Easter. And in Japan, celebrants got 0.5 percent heavier over Christmas and 0.3 percent heavier during Golden Week, a period that encompasses four national holidays.

"Different countries celebrate different holidays, but many such celebration periods have one thing in common: an increased intake of favorite foods," study authors wrote.

The researchers analyzed daily fluctuations in the weight of 2,924 people with Withings wireless scales, which automatically transmit weight measurements to a smartphone app. That prevented study participants from fudging their numbers on days when the scale delivered unwelcome news.

The research team  Elina Helander of Tampere University of Technology in Finland, Brian Wansink of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and Angela Chieh of Withings, a consumer electronics company in Paris  examined data collected from the scales between August 2012 and July 2013. The weight readings were converted into daily weight changes, which were used to compute an average for each country.

To measure the effects of big holidays, the team determined the highest weight of each participant during the 10 days after a holiday and compared it with his or her weight 10 days before the holiday. That way, the researchers were able to include the extra pounds people put on while drinking Pumpkin Spice Lattes (380 calories per 16-ounce serving) in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and eating gingerbread while waiting for Santa.

The effect of all this binging was visible on scales in all three countries.

The Christmas-to-New-Year's season was the biggest doozy in the Western nations, causing Germans to put on an average of 1.75 pounds and Americans to gain an average of 1.3 pounds, according to the study.

In Japan, the most significant toll came during Golden Week, with study participants gaining an average of 1.1 pounds. Although the absolute amount of weight gain was lower than in the other countries, it represented the same percentage increase as was seen in the U.S.

About half of this extra weight was lost relatively soon after it was put on, but the other half persisted "until the summer or beyond," the researchers wrote. In all three countries, the average weight of the study participants was lower at the end of the study than it was at the start.

That's probably a sign that this group of people was "more motivated toward weight loss than average," the researchers noted. (And that explains why they invested in Withings scales, which start at about $130.)

A truly representative sample of Americans, Germans and Japanese might gain even more weight over the holidays, Wansink said. Previous studies have found that people tend to gain 3 to 4 pounds over the holidays and take longer to burn it off, but those results were based on self-reported data that aren't as reliable as the measurements from the wireless scales.

Wansink said he was surprised the Americans didn't pack on holiday pounds more often. The Fourth of July and Labor Day were two prime candidates, since celebrations often revolve around barbecues.

The study findings demonstrate that if you wait until January to overhaul your eating habits, you're already way behind.

"Make an October resolution instead of a New Year's resolution," Wansink said.
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By Kevin Johnson And Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON  Overall violent crime in the U.S. increased by nearly 4% last year, the FBI reported Monday, as several major cities struggled to deal with rising gun violence.

The FBI's annual crime report found that murder was up 12.8% in cities, driving the overall increase. Property-related crime, however, dropped by 2.6%.

While the one-year violent crime increase was significant, the 2015 total was nearly 1% lower than in 2011 and 16.5% below the level a decade ago, according to FBI records.

FBI Director James Comey, who has previously suggested that violent crime surges in some cities may be a result of a less aggressive law enforcement approach in the face of increased public scrutiny, called Monday for "more transparency and accountability in law enforcement."

"We also need better, more informed conversations about crime and policing in this country,'' Comey said. "To get there, we are improving the way this nation collects, analyzes and uses crime statistics and data about law enforcement's use of force."

As police departments face more questions about the use of deadly force, the Justice Department is seeking to create a database to track deadly encounters between police and the public. A functional repository, however, could take years to establish, officials have said.

Locally, violent crimes in San Angelo increased by 8.9 percent, with 354 incidents reported to the FBI for 2015, 29 more than the previous year. Property crimes increased by 8 percent, with 4,089 incidents reported in 2015, 303 more than the previous year.

Newly-elected San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter talked about San Angelo's crime numbers as published in the FBI report.

"Based on FBI crime stats the San Angelo Police Department reported an increase in the overall crime rate for 2015," he wrote in an email. "An increase of 8.5 percent was reported for Part One offenses. The majority of the criminal offenses reported were larceny, which includes vehicle burglary and other theft offenses. An increase of approximately 13 percent occurred in the larceny category."

"A very large number of the thefts and vehicle burglaries that are reported occur when vehicles are left unlocked and personal property is left unsecured. The San Angelo Police Department needs the assistance of all members of the community to be our eyes and ears and report crime when they see it. Together we can reduce this crime rate and make our city a safer place."

San Angelo Mayor Dwain Morrison gave his opinion on the increase in violent crime.

"It looks to me like it's gang-related," Morrison said. "It all seems to be gang-related and it's disturbing."

Morrison said he believes the San Angelo Police Department has made decreasing the crime rate in town a priority, and is hoping that there will be progress.

"I have been preaching, over and over, that we have to care for each other and respect people," Morrison said. "We need to get along, and we need to care for each other."

The report came just hours before Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump were set to square off in their first debate of the general election campaign in which crime and the conduct of police have forced the candidates to confront difficult problems in Charlotte, Tulsa and other communities across the country.

In Charlotte, protests have continued since last week's deadly police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, while Tulsa authorities last week charged a local officer there in the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher.

Trump, meanwhile, has seized on violent crime spikes in some cities as part of recent proposal to bring back controversial "stop-and-frisk" tactics in which police have engaged in routine stops of people for searches in part to seize illegal weapons. The practices have drawn the ire of civil rights advocates and some judges who have assailed the tactic as disproportionately targeting minorities.

The FBI's crime numbers, while a measure of last year's criminal activity in the U.S., represent the beginning of troubling developments that continue in cities across the country.

Earlier this year, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, issued its own midyear violent crime report, which found continuing increases in murder, robbery, aggravated assault and nonfatal shootings, according to data provided by 61 of the nation's largest cities, including Chicago, Las Vegas, Memphis, Philadelphia and San Antonio.

In Chicago, 509 murders have been recorded through Sept. 18, up from 349 during the same time last year  a 46% increase.

Darrel Stephens, executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said that while the upticks appear to be significant, the numbers may not mean much over time if they are not sustained.

"If this goes on for two or three years, then maybe there is more going on that we need to know about," Stephens said.

Other law enforcement analysts also warned against overreacting to the crime numbers, which nationally remain at near 50-year lows. The homicide rate nationally is the sixth lowest recorded since 1966.

"It is not that we are saying the increase is not important, but instead that it takes small numbers to move the rate ten or twelve percent because the crime rate is so low," said William Lansdowne, a former police chief in San Diego, San Jose and Richmond, California. "We are doing very well."

Miriam Krinsky, a former federal prosecutor, suggested that reverting to a "tough-on-crime" playbook of the past would prove to be detrimental.

"We know that philosophies around lock 'em up and throw away the key have failed," Krinsky said. "We know that mandatory minimums have failed. If we could arrest and jail our way out of the gun violence problem, the neighborhoods in Chicago and elsewhere where there had been an uptick in crime would probably be the safest in America. But that's not what the facts tells us."

Acknowledging the violent crime report Monday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the numbers are "making clear what each of us already knows: that we still have so much work to do."

"But the report also reminds us of the progress that we are making," Lynch said. "It shows that in many communities, crime has remained stable or even decreased from the historic lows reported in 2014. And it is important to remember that while crime did increase overall last year, 2015 still represented the third-lowest year for violent crime in the past two decades."
Associated Press PHOTOS Mount Vernon High School students lined the school courtyard with photos, flowers and trinkets of affection for Sarai Lara on Monday. Lara was killed in Friday night's shooting at Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash.

SHARE Arcan Cetin's stepfather David Marshall is swarmed by the media outside the Skagit County District Court on Monday.

By Martha Bellisle And Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON, Wash.  The suspect accused of killing five people at a Macy's department store confessed to police, court documents said, but his motive remained a mystery Monday as a portrait emerged of him as a mentally troubled young man whose parents said they were trying to help him.

Arcan Cetin, 20, appeared in court and was officially charged with five counts of first-degree premeditated murder following his arrest over the weekend for the rampage at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle.

Cetin appeared to express no emotion and said only "Yes, your honor" when asked by a judge if he understood his rights. Bail was set at $2 million and his lawyer said nothing about his client in court and did not speak with reporters.

The hearing followed a terrifying weekend that began Friday night when police say Cetin stormed into the mall and killed five people, leaving Burlington residents panicked for nearly 24 hours until authorities arrested him.

Cetin, described by acquaintances as socially awkward, has a criminal record going back at least two years and one of his neighbors said he unnerved her so much that she kept a stun gun near her front door.

Cetin after his arrest admitted when interviewed by detectives he was the man captured on security video carrying a Ruger rifle inside the mall, "and he did bring the rifle into Macy's and shot all five victims," court documents released ahead of Monday's hearing said.

He shot all five victims in one minute and left the rifle with a 25-round magazine on a cosmetics counter before fleeing, police said in court documents. Four died at the scene and one died in the hospital.

The victims ranged in age from a teenage girl to a woman in her 90s.

Authorities have declined to reveal details about their investigation into the motive for the shooting, but Cetin's stepfather David Marshall told reporters after the hearing that his stepson "has mental health issues" without elaborating.

"The only thing that we want to say at this time is that we both are totally devastated by what happened," said Marshall, who attended the hearing with Cetin's mother.

The court documents appeared to paint a picture of Cetin's stepfather and mother trying to keep their son on track despite his suffering from an unspecified illness and criminal charges he faced for allegedly assaulting Marshall. Cetin came to the U.S. from Turkey and is a permanent legal resident, authorities have said.

Cetin faced charges last year for allegedly assaulting his stepfather after he caught Cetin smoking marijuana inside the house, according to court records.

He was told by a judge last December not to possess a gun but Cetin's stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was "going through a hard time," the records said.

Cetin had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and has taken unspecified medications in the past, the records show.

He eventually moved out of his parents' home and the stepfather told detectives after the shooting that he and his wife had helped Cetin with his rent.

Cetin said his father bought him a laptop, according to the court documents released Monday. His mother visited him regularly at his new apartment and last saw him Wednesday, the documents said.

Despite their falling out, Cetin ate with his stepfather on the day of the shooting before leaving around 4:30 p.m. to go to work, according to the documents.

Less than three hours later, police said in court documents, surveillance video showed Cetin enter the mall through a fast food restaurant, walk through the shopping center and leave through the Macy's women's department exit.

He then moved his car closer to the Macy's entrance and took a rifle out of the car's trunk, the documents said.

Within moments, surveillance cameras in Macy's captured the shooter entering through the same women's department  this time with a rifle.

Cetin first shot and killed a teenage girl near some clothing racks and then walked to the cosmetics counter where he shot a man and three women, the documents said.

Cetin was arrested late Saturday in Oak Harbor, about 30 miles from the mall, by a sheriff's deputy who recognized him. Cetin's stepfather told detectives that his Ruger rifle and .22-caliber ammunition were missing, documents said.

Police interviewed the suspect's former girlfriend and said Sunday night she "has an employment history at Macy's, but not at the Burlington Mall location." They did not identify her.

Amber Cathey, 21, lived in an apartment next to Cetin for three months and said she was so frightened of him that she kept a stun gun handy and complained to apartment management. She said she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch.

More details emerged Monday about the victims who police have said they will not identify until Tuesday.

The man who was killed, Chuck Eagen, was set to retire next year after working 41 years for Boeing, his aunt Carol Thrush said in an interview.

Thrush described Eagan, 61, as kind and generous.

"He traveled with Boeing all over the world, doing repairs on airplanes," said Thrush, 77.
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By Rashda Khan, Rashda.Khan@gosanangelo.com/@rashda_SAST

The Tom Green County Commissioners Court gave the Sheriff's Office the go-ahead to get some high-tech tools to fight crime.

At its meeting Tuesday, the court accepted a $33,342 federal grant from the 2016-17 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. It will pay for a $12,494 forensics workstation, a $19,999 contraband team detection kit and an $849 laser distance meter.

The forensics workstation can retrieve content from any electronic devices seized by the Sheriff's office. For example, if someone is arrested on suspicion of child pornography, the workstation will extract or copy all content from that individual's computer, which can be used as evidence, explained public information officer Lt. Christina Lopez.

"Most crimes today have an electronic component involved  a phone, a tablet, a computer," Sheriff David Jones said.

Currently, the Sheriff's staff sends devices to the Texas Department of Public Safety labs in Austin for work, Lopez said.

Both she and Jones said the state and law enforcement in larger counties  like Dallas  have these workstations and Tom Green County is the first of its size to get one.

"We'll able to take care of it locally, and that means we'll get our investigation done more timely and get the evidence to prosecutors that much sooner," Jones said. "When we send it to the state, it takes us about a year to get results."

The contraband detection kit helps detect hidden and altered compartments inside a vehicle. It comes with a videoscope, which will allow authorities to even check out a fuel tank safely and comprehensively.

The laser distance meter calculates the distance between two points. "Instead of a ruler, we're using a digital tool," Lopez said.

"Every year we look at our department and try to get use the funds we have to get something that will be useful and help us keep up with technological advances and the sophistication of criminals," Lopez said. "Grants help us purchase items that we couldn't normally afford on our regular budget."

Jones added that most of the state lacks up-to-date technology and people to work in the field. "So we've been working toward this," he said.

In other business, the court:

Rejected the bids received for work on a low water crossing near Christoval in Precinct 4. The request for bids was based on engineering specifications for the project. The county received two bids  Reece Albert, Inc. submitted a bid of $279,800, and Darnell Construction entered a bid of $312,000. Both were rejected because "the bid prices greatly exceeded the budgeted amount."

Heard an update on the renovation of Building 900 on Goodfellow Air Force Base, which will help expand the base's intelligence training program for foreign military personnel. The project will involve removal of asbestos from the flooring, replacement of the sub floor and new carpeting.

Renewed an agreement with Superior Services to provide plumbing maintenance and repairs for fiscal year 2017.

Took no action to institute a burn ban because recent rains make it unnecessary.
SHARE Riddle has been held at the Tom Green County Jail since his arrest on March 19.

By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times

A district judge has approved a competency exam for a man accused of murdering Jerry Don Barr, 58, who was found slain in his apartment March 19.

A motion hearing to order a competency exam for Thomas Gene Riddle, 29, is slated for Thursday morning at the Tom Green County courthouse.

Riddle was indicted in the 340th District Court for murder, a first-degree felony, by a grand jury on May 4 for the slaying of Barr.

Police found Barr beaten to death by a blunt metal object inside a closet at a residence in the Rock Brook Apartments, 3326 Rock Brook Drive, in the Southland neighborhood, according to court documents.

Riddle has been held at the Tom Green County Jail since his arrest on March 19 in lieu of $250,000 surety bond.

On the day of the incident, police responded to an assault call around 4:22 p.m. from a resident at Rock Brook Apartments, according to court documents.

Patti Riddle, the woman who called the police, is Thomas Riddle's mother. She told police that her fiance had been assaulted, court documents stated.

Patti Riddle said she spoke with her son about two blocks from the apartment complex, near the Texas Roadhouse restaurant on Loop 306, shortly before she found Barr dead inside his apartment, according to court documents.

She told police she spotted her son and stopped to ask him "where he was walking to, but he never gave a clear answer," court documents stated.

Patti Riddle said she "saw red droplets on his pants and he was acting in a manner which was odd to her," the documents stated.

She told police her son had a gallon of milk with him as well as a Bible, which belonged to her mother, according to court documents.

Patti Riddle said Thomas Riddle then took off walking again, and she drove to the apartment. Once inside, she called out for her fiance but he did not answer, according to court documents.

She said she eventually went to her closet, opened the door, and found Barr face down in a pool of blood, according to court documents.

Patti Riddle said she knelt next to Barr and shook him, trying to revive him, and then called police when he did not wake up.

Police found a blunt metal object with blood on it lying on top of Barr in the closet, and the injuries Barr suffered were consistent with being struck by the blunt metal object, according to court documents.

Police arrested Thomas Riddle without incident when they found him walking in the 4300 block of west Houston Harte Expressway after Patti Riddle gave them a description, according to court documents.

Thomas Riddle initially denied being in the apartment during an interview with police, but later admitted that he had been inside to fetch a gallon of milk, according to court documents.

Thomas Riddle told police he had cut his hand with a knife while cutting a piece of meat, which was how he got blood on his clothes, according to court documents.

Thomas Riddle also told police that he did not see anyone inside the apartment while he was there, adding that Barr "was dead to him anyway."

Police indicated in an affidavit that Thomas Riddle referred to Barr in the past tense during the interview.

Police observed small red dots on Thomas Riddle's face which were consistent with blood splatter, according to court documents, and that he had a cut in the center of his palm that appeared irregular and bled slightly during the interview.
Terry Mikeska, currently on his Hope for Nepal mission to the Himalayas, was invited to speak at a finance conference.

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By Staff Report

Terry Mikeska, currently on his "Hope for Nepal" mission to the Himalayas, was invited to speak at a conference.

"Today was quite a surprise," Mikeska said in an update Monday. "I was asked to be the guest at the Nepal annual finance conference with more than 700 attendees, and to be the guest speaker."

Mikeska said he was told to bring a jacket and tie along with him on his trip, but didn't know why until today.

With the help of a translator, Mikeska addressed the conference, telling them about his mission.

"I also was asked to distribute gifts to the senior educators and leaders that help make a great country," he said. "It was a tremendous honor as I spoke to recognize all of you, the donors from back home, who made all of these projects possible ... I am truly just the messenger to bring these gifts to the people of Nepal, and help build a better future through education."
Graphic Illustration

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Remember a semi-comic Cold War movie, "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming"?

A deadly Soviet Union nuclear submarine, capable of killing millions of Americans, suffered engine trouble and was forced to surface in a little New England fishing village. After some awkward dealings, villagers with shotguns and rifles went to the waterfront.

Soviet sailors lined the deck with machine guns. Weapons aimed, they faced each other in a tense standoff. If anyone pulled a trigger, a double massacre would occur.

Suddenly, a little boy, watching the drama from a church belfry, fell and was caught tangled in a rope, suspended high above the ground, screeching. Abruptly, both Russians and Americans put down their guns and rushed to rescue the child. Sailors formed a human pyramid and untangled him.

Then both Russians and Americans joined in a hugging, backslapping celebration. Village girls kissed Russian sailors.

U.S. warplanes arrived to destroy the stranded sub, but villagers shielded it with their fishing boats and escorted it safely back to sea.

The movie had a deep meaning: Human decency  the urge to save a child  is stronger than political conflicts and military hostilities.

A similar message occurred on Christmas Eve, 1914, when British and German soldiers paused their hideous trench warfare on the Western Front for a spontaneous truce. They sang carols to each other, shouted holiday greetings, then got out of their bunkers to meet in No Man's Land, where they traded small gifts and cordialities. Afterward, commanders had difficulty forcing the men to resume shooting each other.

Actually, human decency is the lifeblood of civilization. Abraham Lincoln poetically called it "the better angels of our nature." The desire to help each other  or at least not kill each other  keeps humanity surviving and thriving.

Philosophers call it humanism, a craving to reduce slaughter and make life better for everyone. It's the driving force of social advancement. Every government program that reduces poverty, improves health, prevents violence, upgrades nutrition, guarantees human rights, betters education, secures housing, assures equality, cures disease, enforces fairness etc. is a step in the process.

And decency slowly is winning. Several scholars have written books outlining progress that has elevated personal living conditions.

For example, Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker asserts that rampant killing was 1,000 times worse in medieval times than today. In his classic 2011 book, "The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined," he notes that international warfare has virtually vanished in the 21st century  and that murder, rape, genocide, torture, wife-beating, lynching, gay-bashing, dueling, racial attacks, and even cruelty to animals are vastly less than in the past.

"The decline of violence may be the most significant and least-appreciated development in the history of our species," he wrote. "It is easy to forget how dangerous life used to be, how deeply brutality was once woven into the fabric of daily existence."

Today's instant flashing of lurid news scenes makes it appear that terrible killings are everywhere  but it's misleading. All statistics show a clear decline in savagery. Humanity is kinder and fairer than before.

During a June news conference, President Barack Obama told a young questioner:

"If you had to choose any moment to be born in human history  you'd choose this time. The world is less violent than it has ever been. It is healthier than it has ever been. It is more tolerant than it has ever been. It is better fed than it has ever been. It is more educated than it has ever been. Terrible things happen around the world every single day, but the trend lines of progress are unmistakable."

These improvements arise from the best human urges. Intelligent democracy makes it possible for kindly instincts  the humane empathy locked in everyone's inner mind  to prevail.

Researchers at the University of California's Greater Good Science Center assert that compassion evolved as humanity did, and is crucial for social progress.

As long as supposed enemies drop their guns to rescue a dangling child, there's hope that decency can outweigh the world's ugliness, and civilization can keep on improving.

James A. Haught is editor emeritus of the Charleston, West Virginia, Gazette-Mail. Contact him at haught@wvgazettemail.com.
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Robert Dillon, San Angelo

Dems are after our guns

Democrats again see gun control as a winning issue.

At the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton relentlessly focused on gun rights throughout the week. During the convention, President Obama's administration released a sweeping gun control measure by executive fiat without warning.

The U.S. State Department's directorate of defense trade controls issued a guidance document that sought to turn gunsmiths into regulated firearm "manufacturers" for the purpose of U.S. laws governing the import and export of military materials.

These guidelines drag small businesses that perform simple work on existing firearms into a regulatory regime that requires thousands of dollars in annual registration. Noncompliance can mean 20 years in prison or a $1 million fine.

Clinton announced Tim Kaine as her running mate saying he had a "backbone of steel." I don't know about Kaine's backbone, but I know his anti-gun stance is firm. Kaine voted for bans on sales of private firearms and limited rounds that a law-abiding person could carry for self-defense.

If you're a pro-gun voter, don't be fooled by the Clinton-Kaine act this November. You might never get another chance to get it right. The next president will decide whether we have a Supreme Court that does or does not believe in the Second Amendment.

Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, along with the Democratic Party, have made their views very clear on this issue. Let's hope you make yours very clear at the ballot box.
One morning in September 2014, when Jahnira Jones had just started seventh grade at Richard Allen Prep Charter School, her after-school plans weighed on her mind. She was supposed to take SEPTA to meet her mother near City Hall. "I was scared to go downtown," said Jahnira, now 15. It would be her first time taking public transit alone.So she brought a Taser she'd found in her mother's room. But, on the school bus that morning, other kids wanted to see it. They passed it around. It was discharged, and a child was shocked.If it had happened a year earlier, Jones would likely have been arrested: Bringing a weapon onto school property is a crime, and state law requires schools to call police. She would have been taken in handcuffs to a precinct, fingerprinted, photographed, and held in a cell for up to six hours. She would, for the first time in her life, be caught up in the juvenile justice system.Instead, she got a second chance.She benefited from the Philadelphia Police School Diversion Program, an initiative that has, on a shoestring using services the city already had in place, more or less shut down the school-to-prison pipeline in Philadelphia -- and created a model for how to do so nationwide.In the 2014-15 school year, its first full year, the program cut arrests by 54 percent from a year earlier. By the next year, arrests were down 64 percent. More than 1,000 arrests have been averted, yet schools have not become more dangerous. In fact, the number of serious behavioral incidents declined; there were about 1,000 fewer incidents each year than in the year before the program began.The concept is simple: Give first-time, low-level offenders a one-time break -- and, instead of criminalizing the behavior, address its root causes.But it required a new way of thinking for Philadelphia police.Kevin Bethel, 53, was a deputy commissioner when he conceived the idea in early 2014 after he began learning about current movements in juvenile justice, and the collateral consequences of arrests. After 29 years on the police force, he began to view juvenile arrests as a public-health problem.He had been put in charge of school police in 2013, and started digging into the data. "I was shocked to see we were locking up 1,600 kids a year. And I was shocked to see the offenses kids were being locked up for."Kids as young as 10 were being arrested for bringing scissors to school, or for pushing in the hallways.He found that 85 percent of the kids who were arrested ended up in a diversion program through the District Attorney's Office. But he worried by then some damage had already been done.So, Bethel said, "I came to the place of, not only 'What is the effect of the arrest?' but also, 'What is the trauma when I take a 10-year-old child who potentially is being abused at home, sexually or physically, a child who's maybe not been eating, and I arrest them without ever asking what's going on in their lives?' "The consequences of a juvenile arrest are significant, said Naomi Goldstein, a psychologist who runs the Juvenile Justice Research and Reform Lab at Drexel University."Once you have contact with the juvenile justice system, there are all sorts of potential collateral consequences. There are court costs that can be very difficult for these families," she said. "It can lead to expulsion and disciplinary transfer to alternative schools. And, we know, once kids leave their home school, their chances of completing school drop tremendously."The diversion process, a collaboration between police, the city Department of Human Services, and the School District, starts when a school police officer is called in. The officer, instead of arresting the student, calls the diversion intake center.The center is a quiet office in the Juvenile Justice Services Center, the city's pretrial detention center for kids, where two police officers are embedded among the probation officers and case workers.By Sept. 9, three days into the school year, four cases had been called in, all marijuana possession. Officers Vicente Ramirez and La'Tonya Bey-Gore check that the crime qualifies: The list includes possession of marijuana or a weapon other than a gun, fights in which no one's injured, and disorderly conduct. They also confirm the teen has no record and hasn't been diverted before.If a student is accepted, he or she receives a notice that a DHS worker will visit his or her home within 72 hours. DHS assesses the family's needs and, often, recommends Intensive Prevention Services, a 90-day after-school program.Goldstein said as many as 90 percent of families accept services.But: "There's nothing hanging over their head. They can accept the services, or they cannot accept the services. But the decision is, once they've been diverted, you don't go back and arrest them."Ramirez said, on home visits, case workers sometimes discover the family has other needs, like help with utilities or housing."There were homes with lots of kids, and the house was a mess. Some homes were beautiful, clean," he said. "One that didn't have any heat really stuck with me. All the kids had extra layers of clothes on. The mom kept apologizing for the condition of the home and said she needed help. It was heartbreaking."Bey-Gore said she can now take the time to understand why a kid may be using marijuana to cope, or to confirm that a kid had a box cutter because he'd been using it at an after-school job. A former school police officer, she said that those kids would have been arrested in the days of zero tolerance.Bethel left the police force last fall after receiving a Stoneleigh Foundation justice fellowship, to work at Drexel with Goldstein, who's analyzing the impact of the project with an eye to creating a template that can be used anywhere in the country.As of this August, Goldstein said, the recidivism rate among participants was 13.2 percent. By comparison, she said that, nationally, the average recidivism rate for kids who are arrested and spend any time in custody is estimated to be between 30 percent and 65 percent.She found something else in the data: Two-thirds of diverted kids had no history of suspension. Most were passing their classes. Before, she said, "We were arresting kids who are actually showing up, and who are actually doing well in school."Wednesday afternoon, teens began filtering in, past stacks of brochures about the ills of gangs and drugs, to a lounge at the Bridge, in Mantua, one of six Intensive Prevention Services programs serving at-risk kids, including those in police diversion. On Monday, they'd visited the studio of artist James Dupree. Today, they'd make an art project of their own.Other days, there are group sessions in social and emotional competency, drug and alcohol education, anger management, and healthy attachments. Each teen has a case manager and counselor who conduct home and school visits. Each must write a series of essays and fulfill a community service requirement.There's also a monthly parents' night, though attendance for that is spotty.Many kids feel a sense of abandonment, said program director Chris Kanyugi. "A lot of those kids are looking for affirmation and acceptance, and those are the kids who end up being followers and doing something stupid."Often, Kanyugi said, kids ask to stay after the program ends. But since diversions began, they're often running at capacity.Timene Farlow, deputy commissioner for juvenile justice at DHS, noted the programs aren't new."But there was considerable underutilization," she said. "The public's perception has been that DHS is child snatchers, and people don't want to have a formal relationship with the DHS system."Jovon Scere, Jahnira's mother, was wary for that very reason."I was like, 'Oh my God, DHS is not a good thing to be involved in,' " she said, in the living room of her tidy rowhouse in a North Philadelphia public-housing project. "But actually, it helped. I believe my daughter is more open now with me."This mild-mannered approach represents an antidote to zero tolerance, a disciplinary mantra that swept into schools across the country in the 1990s.The Philadelphia School District instituted zero tolerance in 2002."Removing kids from school was viewed as a method of keeping schools safe," Goldstein said. "But research shows that can actually make schools less safe."In 2011, nearly a decade into Philadelphia's zero-tolerance experiment, the Inquirer's Pulitzer Prize-winning series "Assault on Learning" chronicled a climate of violence in the schools, from kindergartners assaulting teachers to a high school student beaten by a mob while she was trying to take a test.The next year, the schools instituted a new code of conduct that focused on prevention rather than out-of-school punishments. It gave principals more discretion over disciplinary decisions.But, Goldstein said, "As cities start to get rid of zero-tolerance policies from their books, they're finding the practices still continue. So it's not just a question of getting rid of the policy, but what do you put in its place?"Rachel Holzman, deputy chief of Student Rights and Responsibilities at the School District, said there have been a slew of reforms at the district, and the district has hired climate managers and trained schools in restorative practices.Holzman is evaluating how diversion is impacting principals' decisions about discipline."We're seeing some promising results. Last school year, as high as 70 percent of children who were diverted were not sent down for a disciplinary hearing [to consider expulsion or transfer]," Holzman said. "All data points to fears being allayed that things would get worse somehow if we didn't arrest children."Now, Bethel hopes the program can be expanded beyond the schools. Farlow mentioned retail theft as a possible target, and said about 300 first-time teenage offenders could be diverted from arrest each year.And at a time when tensions between police and young people are high, Bethel thinks this work can help police understand teens, and vice versa."It's an opportunity for children and families to see policing in a different way, to see the Department of Human Services in a different way, to see the whole process in a different way."
A Cincinnati appeals court Friday ruled that the process used by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to flag inactive voters for possible purging from the registration rolls violates the National Voting Rights Act.In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower-court ruling that dismissed a suit brought by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and a voter.The court sent the case back to U.S. District Court."With today's ruling, the court will effectively force us to put voters back on the voter rolls who have died or long since moved to another address," Mr. Husted said. "This ruling overturns 20 years of Ohio law and practice, which has been carried out by the last four secretaries of state, both Democrat and Republican. It also reverses a federal court settlement from just two years ago that required exactly the opposite action."Carrie Davis, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, applauded the ruling."We're pleased the court recognized that voter inactivity is not sufficient reason to block properly registered voters from making their voice heard in this year's presidential election," she said.Roughly 2 million voters, 400,000 of them last year, have been purged from the rolls since 2011. It's unclear how many will be restored as a result of this decision."Unfortunately, it's unclear whether these voters' rights will be automatically restored since the state treats deceased voters the same as people who sit out a few elections," Ms. Davis said. "If the state is intent on managing the voter rolls effectively, why wouldn't they have the ability to make such an important distinction?"At issue is a supplemental process used by the Republican secretary of state in which county boards of elections are directed to compile a list of those on its registration rolls who have not voted in the last two years.A confirmation notice is then sent to the voters' last known addresses, and the voters are flagged as inactive if they do not respond. If that voter remains inactive another two years, he is removed from the database.This process is supplemental to the secretary's routine comparison of names in the registration database to the National Change of Address database to see if a voter's address has changed. In recent years, Mr. Husted has also begun using data from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for that purpose.The court's majority found that the supplemental process, as triggered solely by voter inactivity, is illegal."... a state cannot avoid the conclusion that its process results in removal 'solely by reason of a failure to vote,' by providing that the confirmation notice procedure is triggered by a registrant's failure either to vote or to climb Mt. Everest or to hit a hole-in-one," wrote Judge Eric L. Clay, a 1997 appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton.The court rejected Mr. Husted's argument that the case is now moot, given that the state has changed the confirmation form sent to flagged voters."As plaintiffs note, the secretary's newly issued form does nothing to correct the fact that Ohio has, for years, been removing voters from the rolls because they failed to respond to forms that are blatantly noncompliant with the NVRA," Judge Clay wrote.Mr. Husted said his office will appeal the decision if it has the effect of restoring voting rights to people who have died or moved out of state.Judge Eugene Siler, a 1991 appointee of Republican President George H.W. Bush, partly agreed with the majority's ruling, but he dissented in opining that Mr. Husted had been reasonable in his approach."The state cannot remove the registrant's name from the rolls for a failure to vote only, and Ohio does not do so," he wrote. "It removes registrants only if 1) they have not voted or updated their registration for the last two years, 2) also failed to respond to the address-confirmation notice, and 3) then failed to engage in any voter activity in four consecutive years, including two consecutive federal elections following that notice."
If there is one issue confronting our health-care system on which just about everyone agrees, its this: Unnecessary emergency room visits are a significant driver of costs. But getting the people who most abuse emergency services under control has been an uphill battle.Now a new approach is showing promise in reducing visits to the ER by what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services calls super-utilizers, typically defined as those who use emergency services four or more times a year. The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that up to 27 percent of all visits to ERs are for nonemergencies. But so-called community paramedic programs are finding new ways to manage these frequent flyers.Minnesota has been a pioneer in community paramedicine. Under its program, a hospital will typically identify four or five super-utilizers who need a managed care approach. Then community paramedics will go into those peoples homes to look not only at their overall health issues but also at factors like safety precautions and nutrition. Through the program, Minnesota has seen ER use by super-utilizers decrease by 60 to 70 percent.Community paramedics are generally more seasoned emergency medical services personnel who have undergone training to help them identify community-based health needs. Were not asking them to do a brain transplant, says Jim Dunford, the EMS director for San Diego, which has a community paramedicine program thats part of a state-launched pilot covering nine cities. The majority of issues that confound our health-care system are social ones. We need to be teaching our patients to connect the dots.San Diegos program uses data to help determine whether a community paramedic should show up at a scene where 911 has been called. All of the data that resides in these 911 systems gives us the ability to identify individuals who have been using services in the last week, the last six months, the last year, says Dunford. We can look at factors like: Do they have co-occurring illnesses? Are they over 65?Some of the big insurance players involved with government health-care programs are starting to get in on the action as well. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has begun pilot programs for its Medicaid patients in a few of the states more urban areas. The company says a group of patients identified in one of the programs has cut its ER use by 60 percent. One former super-utilizer hasnt been to the ER in the 11 months hes been enrolled in the program, says Kerry Clear, the companys manager of community social services.In setting up its program, Minnesota included legislation that allows the states Medicaid program to reimburse community paramedic services. But most of these programs are either subsidized by ambulance companies operating under fixed-price contracts or funded by grants from foundations or the federal government. In San Diego, whose program is funded through an ambulance service, Dunford is optimistic that the results from the pilot will encourage lawmakers in Sacramento to follow Minnesotas lead.The success of the community paramedic model has many EMS directors encouraged that this could be the future of emergency care. On the federal level, U.S. Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota has introduced legislation advocating for community paramedicine nationwide. Thats an idea that appeals to people like Clear. With the number of primary-care physicians at an all-time low, he says, we all know prevention is key to keeping our communities healthy.
Gov. Paul LePage said he has been keeping a binder of photos to prove that most of the drug dealers arrested in Maine are blacks or Hispanics, but people of those races account for only 40 percent of the photos in the binder.The 148-page document includes press releases, newspaper clippings and jail booking and courtroom photos of people charged with trafficking heroin, methamphetamine, crack and other drugs in Maine since January. The photos in the binder show men and women of several races, and some of the pages include handwritten notes by LePage.The governor's office released the contents of the binder Monday, in response to numerous public records requests from the media and other organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine.Of the 93 people pictured in the binder, 37 appear to be either black or Hispanic, or about 40 percent of all the photos, while 56, or about 60 percent, appear to be white.However, it's difficult to discern the race of some of the suspects because the contents of the binder, released to the media on CDs, were scanned or photocopied in black and white, and the reproduction is uneven.The photos do not support LePage's own statement that "90-plus percent of those pictures" in the binder are of black or Hispanic drug dealers from Connecticut and New York.His office has repeatedly sought to explain that LePage was specifically referring to out-of-state heroin dealers when he described the race of those arrested, not to dealers in other drugs like methamphetamine, whose photos are also in the binder.But the photos of people facing heroin or other opioid drug charges show that only 47 percent, or 24 individuals, appear to be black or Hispanic. The remaining 53 percent, or 27 people, are white. Other press releases in the binder report the names of people charged with heroin trafficking but do not include booking mug shots.The binder also includes a number of items with little or no drug dealing involved, such as a domestic violence case, a shooting in which the victim had heroin in his body and a home invasion where the list of items stolen included medical marijuana.What LePage and his staff have repeatedly refused to explain is why the race of a drug dealer matters.After reviewing the binder Monday, ACLU of Maine Executive Director Alison Beyea said it appeared LePage had "greatly" exaggerated the information in his own binder when he used the 90 percent figure."He then used his false claims as the basis for calling people of color the enemy," Beyea said in a prepared statement referencing an Aug. 27 LePage press conference. "Whether or not his assertions were deliberately misleading, they were dangerous and racist."During that press conference LePage made a reference to going to war and the color of the enemy's uniform saying, "Look, the bad guy is the bad guy, I don't care what color he is. When you go to war, if you know the enemy and the enemy dresses in red and you dress in blue, then you shoot at red."LePage then addressed House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, an officer who serves as a military lawyer in the Maine Air National Guard, who sat in on the August press conference. "Don't you -- Ken (Fredette) you've been in uniform? You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy and the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority of people coming in, are people of color or people of Hispanic origin."Beyea also questioned why LePage would bother to keep such an incomplete record of drug arrests in Maine."The governor has multiple agencies at his disposal that collect arrest data in Maine," she said. "It is outrageous that he would rely on an incomplete collection of newspaper clippings and emails to make false, inaccurate accusations about people of color."It's time for the governor to stop using people of color as a scapegoat for Maine's drug problem, and to start proposing real solutions based on actual facts."In the binder, a note reads, "Why not federal charges, U.S. Attorney". The writing appears to be in LePage's hand and is similar to the script in handwritten notes that LePage has sent to lawmakers and others. Other notes seem to be questioning why there are not booking photos. In one note, LePage writes, "file pictures in my binder for historical value."Peter Steele, LePage's communications director, said no new material had been added to the binder since the first request for it under the state's open records law was made on Aug. 25. Steele said LePage's attorneys seized the document and would not allow other staff to even reorganize it.He said the delay in the release was because attorneys had to ensure there was no information in the book that would be prohibited from release, including possible crime tips from constituents. Steele said attorneys had to go through each page line-by-line and word-by-word to ensure they were only releasing public information.It's not clear why there was such concern over confidential information, since the entire binder consists of press statements, previously published newspaper stories and email accounts of drug arrests made public by law enforcement.LePage first focused on the race of drug dealers in January, when he held a town hall event in Bridgton to promote his legislative agenda and responded to a question about how he was tackling the drug addiction problem. He began talking about how heroin was being brought into Maine by dealers from out of state."These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty -- these types of guys -- they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home," LePage said. "Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road."The statement drew sharp rebukes from Democrats, civil libertarians and other observers, and the reactions reverberated across social media and drew national media attention.In August, LePage returned to the subject when he told a North Berwick town hall audience that 90 percent of those arrested for drug dealing in Maine since January were either black or Hispanic, a claim that drew condemnation from Democratic lawmakers and others, including the ACLU of Maine.LePage described the binder he had been keeping to demonstrate that what he said about the race of heroin dealers in Maine was factually correct, even though he had been widely criticized for making the statement."Let me tell you this, explain to you, I made the comment that black people are trafficking in our state, now ever since I said that comment I've been collecting every single drug dealer who has been arrested in our state," LePage said at the event. "I don't ask them to come to Maine and sell their poison, but they come and I will tell you that 90-plus percent of those pictures in my book, and it's a three-ringed binder, are black and Hispanic people from Waterbury, Conn., the Bronx and Brooklyn."In the days following, LePage made several other controversial statements as he reacted to charges of racism and failed to say why race mattered when it came to addressing Maine's opioid crime and addiction crisis. The criticisms also prompted LePage to leave an obscenity-laden voice message for Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook.Gattine, the co-chairman of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee had said LePage's comments in North Berwick were racially charged and not helpful in solving the state's ongoing drug crisis but LePage believed Gattine had called him a racist. LePage has since apologized to the state and to Gattine and his family but has several times since the exchange insisted he was only stating the truth about the race of drug traffickers in Maine.On Monday, the contents of the binder indicated LePage had maintained what appeared to be an assortment of drug-related crime news, including courtroom appearances and booking mugshots, issued by county jails, with reports clipped from Maine newspaper articles or printed from online news web sites.In all, the binder includes copies of 89 booking mug shots from various county jails from York County to Penobscot County. It also included 15 photos from news reports and one photo from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency of evidence including weapons and drugs seized in one drug bust. Copies of the binder were reproduced in black and white, although the LePage administration was allowing individual members of the media in Maine to inspect the actual document on an appointment basis.Initially the ACLU of Maine, which first requested access to the binder, said if LePage was accurate in his assessment of the race of drug dealers, then it appeared the state had a problem with racial profiling.
LEBANON  According to the calendar, Monday was the first day of class for students at Linn-Benton Community College. But to diesel program students, it actually felt closer to Christmas Eve.

On Wednesday, the students will get to move into the newly completed building for the Heavy Equipment Diesel program at the Advanced Transportation Technology Center, part of the LBCC Lebanon branch.

In the meantime, they spent part of Monday touring the grounds and at least getting a look at the new 37,000-square-foot building from the outside.

"They're excited. They can't wait to get in there," said Bryan Schiedler, department chairman of Transportation Technology. "It's almost like it's Christmastime for them."

The community college's emphasis on its industrial programs has drawn increased enrollment. Out at the Advanced Transportation Technology Center, an additional first-year diesel program is beginning this year, doubling the first-year class to two. Next year, the college will offer two classes each of the first-year and second-year programs.

Enrollment is also up at LBCC overall for fall term. As of Monday morning, the count was up 0.4 percent overall from last year*, said Dale Stowell, executive director of Advancement/Foundation.

Stowell said that translates to a total of 7,850 actual bodies for all four campuses: Albany, Sweet Home, Lebanon and Corvallis. New students this year: 2,212 compared to last year's 1,962.

Monday and today, diesel classes were to meet in the automotive portion of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center while the finishing touches are put on the new diesel building and Innovation Center.

The $5.7 million project was supposed to be ready in time for classes to start  and it almost was, Schiedler said.

Just a few small jobs remained Monday, including completing the flooring so that equipment can be moved in, checking all the electronic and networking systems to make sure everything works properly, receiving the fire marshal's OK for a temporary occupancy permit and installing the rolling doors.

"When we talked to the contractor, he said we'll have them in three weeks. Well, their three weeks was eight weeks," Schiedler said with a sigh. However, he said, the doors will be in place by the time of the center's grand opening celebration, planned for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at the center, 2000 W. Oak St.

The new building will house classrooms, lab space, storage and shop floors for both the diesel program and for the Innovation Center, a place for industry partners looking for a space to check equipment or train employees.

Diesel students had been taking classes on the Albany campus, but moving them to Lebanon will benefit everyone, Schiedler said. Not only will diesel and auto programs benefit from the efficiency of a shared campus, the move frees up space in Albany to expand welding and machine tool programs.

"All the industrial programs are going to benefit from this," Schiedler said.

The idea to expand the college's automotive program through an Advanced Transportation Technology Center dates back to 2008.

The Technology Center's first building  the renovated PACE manufacturing site  opened for classes in the fall of 2013. Construction of the Heavy Equipment Diesel Program/Innovation Center was made possible in part through $2 million from a $34 million bond measure that voters passed in 2014.

The new building is the last step in the project, at least for now, Schielder said.

Increasingly, LBCC is working with partners in the transportation industry to maintain vehicles that run on fuels other than traditional petroleum products. The new building expands on that ability, Schiedler said.

If a vehicle is leaking gas or diesel, that fuel falls to the floor, so shops are equipped to handle a downward leak, he said. But a vehicle powered by compressed natural gas  CNG  has to be treated differently because its fuel leaks drift upward instead.

Working on a vehicle such as the Freightliner Sd-114 parked outside the Technology Center on Monday means having a shop equipped with special vents and a detector system that will open doors and kick on fans if it picks up a methane leak, Schiedler said. "That's one thing our old building could never do."

LBCC works closely with leaders in the transportation industry to train students on what those programs will need, he went on. In turn, the employers snap those students up as fast as they can get them.

"Half of the students already have a job before they start," Schiedler said.

At the Technology Center, students will be working this year on brand-new Isuzu truck engines, one diesel and one gasoline, donated by FMI Trucks. If they can learn their way around those engines, Isuzu has jobs available for all of them, Schiedler said.

"The whole thing is getting quality people, so they can help keep that customer service in a positive tone. We're working with industries to help meet that goal," he said.

Of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center as a whole, he said: "We've really worked to make this make sense, not only for us and the students but for the industry."

 The printed version of this story contained incorrect information, subsequently removed, about an increase in full time equivalent; all of the college's credits divided by 15.
Description

GIS - 27 September, 2016: Entrepreneurs should be more audacious and turn their attention to other markets other than Europe for export. USA, Pakistan and Turkey are among the markets to be tapped as business possibilities exist in these countries following the various trade agreements that Mauritius share with them. Entrepreneurs should be more audacious and turn their attention to other markets other than Europe for export. USA, Pakistan and Turkey are among the markets to be tapped as business possibilities exist in these countries following the various trade agreements that Mauritius share with them.

This statement was made this morning by the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr S. Bholah, at the opening of a workshop for Potential exporters Programme being held at the Rajiv Gandhi science Center, Bell Village.

Minister Bholah underlined that he is aware that many entrepreneurs complain about the procedures and find them tedious which in themselves can become a barrier to exportation. He added that this should not become an obstacle for entrepreneurs who want to export their products and that one of the objectives of the workshop is to help them understand the procedures associated with exports.

The workshop is being conducted by resource persons from Mauritius Export Association, Enterprise Mauritius, Mauritius Standards Bureau, Association of Mauritian Manufacturers, amongst others. They will cover the various aspects related to trade protocols and procedures, the Go Export Programme, Standards and Conformity and the importance of GS1 barcodes.
(TNS) -- 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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.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.
(TNS) -- For the next 90 days, about 25 Kansas City police officers will be equipped with body cameras, police officials announced Monday.The three-month test began Monday, with officers wearing standard body cameras that officers turn on manually.The test will help police officials determine how they would store footage from the cameras and whether equipment upgrades are needed.Weve seen other agencies rush to get the cameras out and then have to pull them back because they couldnt afford the storage costs or other issues, Police Chief Darryl Forte said in a statement. We dont want that to happen in Kansas City. If we promise something to people, we want to be able to keep that promise.In the aftermath of fatal officer-involved shootings of unarmed citizens, civil rights organizations have demanded that every officer wear a body camera. Yet some have warned that the technology promises no easy solution to confrontations between civilians and police The public has clamored for law enforcement to release the dashboard and body camera recordings following recent fatal police shootings in Milwaukee; Tulsa, Okla.; and Charlotte, N.C. Those shootings led to widespread, sometimes-violent protests.Some area law enforcement agencies, including the Clay County Sheriffs Office and Lenexa police, already have equipped their patrol and field officers with body cameras. The Unified Government in Kansas City, Kan., recently approved funding of police body cameras Several community groups have expressed their support for the use of body cameras because it would help create better transparency and enhance public trust.Every measure we can take as a community to ensure just and fair policing is a step in the right direction, said Lora McDonald, executive director of More2, a social justice coalition of about two dozen congregations throughout Kansas City.In Kansas City, officers assigned to the patrol, bike and traffic divisions will wear the body cameras during the 90-day test. Police officials want to see how much video footage each officer will generate. At the end of the test period, officers who use the cameras will be surveyed about how well the devices worked.A vendor has lent Kansas City police about 25 body cameras to test. The department expects to spend about $1,000 in overtime to train the officers to use the equipment.Authorities in Tulsa released dashboard camera video that showed Officer Betty Shelby fatally shoot Terence Crutcher, who was unarmed. In that incident, Shelby was not wearing a body camera. Shelby was later charged with first-degree manslaughter.In Charlotte, the police chief released two videos following days of protests. However, one of the officers who responded to the incident involving Keith Lamont Scott failed to activate his body camera until after the shooting, The Washington Post reported Monday.Police officials in Kansas City said they might eventually consider using body cameras that turn on automatically.Civil rights leaders in Kansas City applauded the Police Departments decision to test the use of body cameras but warn that it is only the first step of many.What we have seen across the country is that included in the body camera policy should be assurances that the content of the body camera videos will be released in incidences of fatal shootings and when deadly force is being used, said the Rev. Vernon P. Howard, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City.Howard said police officials in Charlotte reluctantly yielded to public demands to release the video days after the wife of Scott released video of the shooting that she captured on her cellphone.We had to see the great tragedy not from the police video, but it was from his wifes video begging them not to shoot him, begging them to back off, Howard said.Video captured during the test period will be treated similar to dashboard camera video, which is subject to the Missouri Open Records law and cannot be released if it is part of an ongoing investigation, said Maj. Scott Glaeser, commander of the patrol bureau. There also are limitations on what footage can be released.Kansas City began using dashboard cameras in the late 1990s.Certainly the perspective of the body-worn camera would help us gather more information, Glaeser said. They dont tell the whole story. They give more information than what we have right now, and that is important.Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 99 said it has worked with the Police Department on the implementation of body cameras for some time.Research conducted by the national FOP group found the use of body cameras has cleared 93 percent of officer complaint cases.Body-worn cameras can be a great tool for officers and the department, said Sgt. Brad Lemon, lodge president. With any tool, however, nothing is without drawbacks.For example, the camera will not always capture everything the officer sees, Lemon said.We do believe body-worn cameras can help build public trust and ensure transparency, he said. It is our hope body-worn cameras will close the divide between officers and the public they serve.Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation that limits the publics ability to see footage captured from body-worn cameras. The law prohibits public access to video if it was taken inside private homes, schools and medical facilities, and other areas generally not open to the public.At the end of the 90-day test, Kansas City Police Department officials said, they should have an idea of how much it would cost to store the camera footage, which they will later present to city officials as part of a funding request.Kansas City Councilman Quinton Lucas, a member of the City Councils public safety committee, commended the department for testing body cameras but was not sure if the city was in a position to fund full implementation.Cameras alone cant solve every issue, but greater transparency can protect officers and civilians, Lucas said. Those who care will have to make funding body cameras a priority and a key request to the police board.
April 28, 1930  Sept. 12, 2016

Betty passed peacefully supported by her children at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany following a battle with heart failure and pulmonary fibrosis on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016.

A native Oregonian, she was born at home to Noel and Willetta Walker near Glendale. She grew up at various remote Oregon locations as her family followed her father's work for the railroad.

She graduated from Lebanon High School and married Edward Gangle, also of Lebanon, on July 12, 1948. Together they had four children. She raised their family in many locations in California and Oregon following Edward's work in the wood products industry from the Redwoods of California to the plywood industry in Albany. They settled in Albany in 1965 and remained there, on a small farm South of Albany, while she raised their family.

Betty sold real estate in Albany and later worked several years for the Parker-Oak Grove Water District in North Albany. She was active in the Sorority of ESA and held offices and worked on many fundraisers for that organization and became great friends with many of her fellow sorority sisters.

She and Ed loved to camp and fish together with his many brothers and sisters and their families. They loved to travel to Quartzsite, Yuma and Tucson, Arizona. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to knit. One of her favorite pastimes was reading.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Edward in 2011; and granddaughter Erin Gangle in 2011.

She is survived by all four children, Jim (Cinda) Gangle of Eugene, David Gangle of Eugene, Kathryn (Bill) St Clair of Sisters and Chris Gangle of Albany; five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, six stepgrandchildren and four stepgreat-grandchildren.

She was the last remaining member of her family of three sisters and one brother. She was among the few remaining members of the big Gangle family of brothers and sisters-in-law.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home, followed by a luncheon at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 127 Broadalbin St. N.W., Albany.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the SafeHaven Humane Society on Old Highway 34 in Tangent.

Her final resting place will be the Lebanon IOOF Cemetery next to Edward in the Eternal Cross Section, at a later date, with her children attending.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (aasum-dufour.com).
Gerhard Berger says he is ready to sit back and watch Mercedes' two stars fight it out for the 2016 title.

Not long ago, the F1 legend headed the negotiations for Nico Rosberg's new contract with the German team.

But now, Berger says he is impartial once again.

"For me, it is now about the sport again. May the better one win," the former McLaren and Ferrari driver told Austrian broadcaster Servus TV.

However, it is Rosberg who has the upper hand at the moment, having won the last three races on the trot and even taken an 8 point lead after Singapore.

"That Nico can win is a big message to the outside," said Berger, "because Lewis (Hamilton) is a tough nut -- one of the best I've seen. Incredibly fast, incredibly aggressive."

When asked if he thinks Rosberg can keep that lead until the chequered flag of the Abu Dhabi finale, Berger answered: "Of course he can.

"He had the chance two years ago and lost it only in the last race. This year he has that chance again.

"But Lewis is of course not to be underestimated. He could suddenly explode once again. Of course, he also has his weaknesses, like in the last race, so we will have to wait and see who is ahead at the end," Berger added.

(GMM)
McLaren-Honda is expecting to match engine pacesetters Mercedes next year.

Amid reports that Mercedes is now edging towards the 1000 horse power mark, McLaren's once-struggling works supplier Honda is making strong strides forwards.

"Next year we are equal to Mercedes in horse power," Honda's F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa is quoted by the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

That would tie in with Fernando Alonso's bold claim that wins and even a title tilt are the targets for next year.

And his team boss Eric Boullier agreed: "We are ready, more than ever, to win."

It has been a particularly lean spell for the once-great British team, having failed to win a single grand prix since 2012.

Boullier said: "We have been working hard on our new concept that we believe in. It took Red Bull seven years and Mercedes five.

"If you take the average of all the races (in 2016) then we are at Ferrari's level in terms of the chassis. Red Bull and Mercedes are better, but we are best of the rest."

(GMM)
Nov. 27, 1921  Sept. 22, 2016

Lelia Lee Mae Cole, 94, of Sweet Home passed away Thursday at Wiley Creek Community.

She was born in Sweet Home to James and Vera (Coulter) Morehead. After graduating from Sweet Home High School, Lee attended Albany College in Portland. World War II interrupted her studies and she went to work at Columbia Aircraft. There she met Jay Cole, her beloved husband for 71 years. She worked at the State of Oregon Board of Health from 1944 until 1949.

When her younger son started school, Lee returned to college at Lewis and Clark and earned her bachelors and masters in education. She taught at Richmond School in Portland for 17 years. Upon retirement, Lee and Jay moved back to Sweet Home, where Lee was active in her church, PEO, ADK and calligraphy classes.

Lee is survived by her sons, James Cole of Wright, New York, and David Cole of Portland; and granddaughter Jennifer Cole of Wright, New York.

A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Gilliland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in Lees memory.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements (www.sweethomefuneral.com).
ALBANY POLICE

Burglary arrest  10:05 pm. Friday, Linn County Jail. James Vasco Henderson, 37, of Albany, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree disorderly conduct and fourth-degree assault. His initial bail was set at $27,000.

Methamphetamine arrest  1:29 a.m. Saturday, Linn County Jail. Rosa Maria Hernandez, 28, of Albany, was arrested on a charge of delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and two failure to appear bench warrants. She was released from jail without bail and scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 12.

Theft arrest  1:32 a.m. Sunday, Linn County Jail. Travis Wayne Lee, 39, of Lebanon, was arrested on charges of first-degree theft and second-degree criminal mischief. He was released from jail without posting bail and scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 26.

LINN COUNTY SHERIFF

Assault report  10:27 p.m. Sunday, 38600 block First Creek Road, near Lebanon. A caller reported that she was being assaulted with a hammer. The woman said that she was hit in the arm by the assailant. The incident remains under investigation.

SWEET HOME POLICE

Rattlesnake  12:23 p.m. Sunday, 5600 block Poplar Street. An officer responded to a report of a rattlesnake on a residents back porch. The rattlesnake was euthanized and disposed of.
The application process is now open, and the administration says the forms should take five minutes to complete. Get more info on that and more recent business news here.
The University of North Carolina was once a bastion of segregation. Today, the school takes account of race to make up for that history and to increase the number of Black students and other underrepresented minorities on campus. Its affirmative action program, using race among many factors to build a diverse student body, is similar to plans in place at other selective public and private institutions. But a Supreme Court that's twice blessed race-conscious college admissions programs in the past 19 years now seems poised to restrict their use or outlaw them altogether. The court is hearing two such cases on Monday, involving UNC and Harvard. They're the nations oldest public and private universities, respectively.
A pair of moderate earthquakes over the weekend in Southern Oregon and Northern California should serve as a reminder that we still have plenty of work to do to prepare for the much larger quake that is overdue in the Pacific Northwest.

A magnitude 5.0 quake occurred in the Pacific Ocean nearly 100 miles off the coast of Gold Beach just after 10 p.m. Saturday. About five hours later, another quake, this one measured at magnitude 4.6, occurred about 100 miles off the coast of Brookings.

There were no immediate reports of major damage in the wake of the quakes. Neither quake triggered a tsunami advisory for coastal communities.

Still, any news of an earthquake in the Pacific is likely to serve as a reminder of the Cascadia subduction zone, the big fault that rests just off the West Coast. The last time the subduction zone let loose with a major quake, it was a doozy: Scientists say it likely was a magnitude 8 or 9 quake.

It also occurred more than 300 years ago, on Jan. 26, 1700. We're overdue for the next big quake.

In related news, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, the Democrat who represents the mid-valley's 4th Congressional District, called attention on Monday to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The report called for the federal government to get serious about the work it has to do to prepare for a big quake.

Specifically, the report said, the federal government needs to do much more to identify government buildings at high risk of suffering major damage in an earthquake and working to mitigate those risks.

The report found that 40 percent of federally owned or leased buildings are located in areas where very strong to extreme shaking from earthquakes could occur. No surprise there: In all, 16 states have a relatively high likelihood of experiencing damaging shaking in the next 50 years, the report said, and nearly half of all Americans live in areas at risk of damaging earthquakes.

The report also recommended that work continue on implementing an early-warning system called ShakeAlert. The goal of the system, being developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and a variety of universities (including the University of Oregon), is to give a warning of a few seconds (in some cases, the warning could be in the tens of seconds) before the start of the strong shaking that causes the most damage.

Although it doesn't seem like much, that kind of time might be enough to allow people to take cover. It also could allow enough time to slow and stop trains and taxiing planes, to prevent cars from entering bridges and tunnels or to automatically shut down and isolate industrial systems.

The federal report recommended that the Geological Survey develop a plan to address the challenges of rolling out the very promising ShakeAlert system. That would be money well spent.

Of course, the rest of us need a plan as well. The weekend's quakes should be an impetus to dust off our emergency plans and resume our preparations for an earthquake  or, for that matter, any disaster.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of this, but there's no need to despair: Like the longest journey, this sort of preparation is best handled one step at a time. Review your plan. Start checking off the items on the plan, one at a time. With each and every check mark, you'll be in better shape for that day when you need to put the plan into motion. (mm)
House Bill 2 is unpopular in North Carolina, according to a High Point University/News & Record poll released today.

Fifty-eight percent of 404 individuals surveyed by telephone between Sept. 17 and Sept. 22 said they believe HB 2 was not necessary to protect public safety and privacy in North Carolina. Only 39 percent said they believe it was necessary.

The question read to respondents said HB 2 "includes a provision that requires people to use public bathrooms that correspond to the gender recorded on their birth certificates."

A second question asked about the economic impact.

Sixty-one percent said it has had a large impact; 28 percent said a small impact.

The ACC, NBA, NCAA, entertainers and businesses have canceled events and projects in North Carolina to protest HB 2.

In a third question, 60 percent said it is more important to them personally to end this economic impact than to enforce HB 2; 35 percent said it is more important to them to endorse the law.

Public opinion was evenly split on one question: 45 percent said cities should be allowed to adopt local anti-discrimination ordinances, while 46 percent said they should not.

Nevertheless, the clear message from this survey is that HB 2 was a mistake, it is doing real damage and it should be repealed.
The Old North State Council, Boy Scouts of America, will unveil a plaque commemorating Senate Bill 400, signed into law by N.C. Gov. Pat McCory, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at 1405 Westover Terrace in Greensboro.

McCrory, U.S. Sen. Phil Berger, U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and superintendents and school board members from the Triad are expected to attend. The reception is open to the public.

For information, call (336) 378-9166.

History Rocks! set for Saturday in High Point

The High Point Historical Societys sixth annual History Rocks! will be from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at the High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave. in High Point.

The fundraiser will feature music, a bake sale, crafts, hands-on activities, games and demonstrations.

Uncle Maddios Pizza will be selling pepperoni and cheese pizza and drinks with 10 percent of the proceeds going to the society.

Three local bands will be performing: Brandon Snow, noon-1 p.m.; Lakota John Locklear, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; and High Points Tange Lomax, 3-4 p.m. Participants should bring seating.

The High Point Police Department will have various vehicles on display including their Bearcat. A K9 demonstration will be held at 3 p.m.

The Historical Park includes two Pokestops and two Pokegyms. Museum staff will be dropping lures throughout the day.

Admission is free. For information, call (336) 885-1859.
Sept. 27, 1973

Speaker Carl Albert has rejected for the time being any House action on Vice President Spiro T. Agnews request for an investigation of charges he was involved in political corruption in Maryland. That left a grand jury in Baltimore as the only forum scheduled to hear evidence on the allegations against Agnew. Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson has ordered the panel to begin hearing that evidence today. The vice president was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday for lunch with 10 liberal Republican senators and told newsmen he had every intention of staying in office.
If you found yourself surprised that self-driving Ubers launched in Pittsburgh and not San Francisco, its time to get wise. Not all our big ideas get started in Silicon Valley, after all, and Pittsburghs dominance in robotics make it a natural launchpad for futuristic tech.

Of course, too many arent clued into Pittsburghs reboot from its steel town roots, or the entrepreneurial evolution so many cities are making happen each day. Steve Case hopes to change that.

In 2014, the AOL co-founder and investor began a series of bus tours, known as Rise of the Rest, to bring visibility to unsung cities like Detroit and Buffalo in the midst of revitalization. The tours visit with entrepreneurs and local leaders, to showcase each citys strengths and whats possible there for entrepreneurs and innovators.

The tours also bring attention to the need for investment. (Most venture funding goes to just three states: California, New York and Massachusetts.) Through daily pitch competitions, judges award $100,000 to a company in each city. Since the tour began, the program has invested more than $2 million in 20 startups across the country.

This year, the tour will kick off on Oct. 3 and travel 2,100 miles through the American West. Next weeks itinerary includes a visit to startup capital Denver, as well as stops in cities that often get overlooked, such as Provo, Albuquerque and Omaha. Case says more than 500 startups applied to this years pitch competitions, nearly five times the response the tour received in its first year.

We talked to Case ahead of this years tour to find out what hes learned from the road. We discussed how visibility can shape opportunity and whats surprised him. We also chat about the importance of networks, how they can drive momentum and where he sees the movement in ten years.

Entrepreneur: The bus tour launched in 2014. What changes have you seen for entrepreneurship since then?

Case: I think there is more awareness now. I think there is a little bit more investor attention in terms of companies outside of California, New York or Massachusetts. I think within these cities there is a little bit more optimism, a little more sense of possibility, a little bit more of a network effect. There is momentum. These things dont happen overnight, but it does feel like there is more momentum. And within the cities people are really rallying together.

Related: How to Build a Thriving Startup Ecosystem Anywhere

Entrepreneur: Entrepreneurship is trendier than ever. Does this make it harder or easier for companies outside Silicon Valley to succeed?

Case: In some ways its like there are two Americas for entrepreneurs. If youre in certain places and have certain networks, it has gotten easier. I think thats a good thing. In many places, and for many people, they still dont feel that sense. Theres still a lot of people in a lot of places who are struggling to raise capital to get attention. The discussions are different in New York and places like that than if youre in Detroit or Des Moines. And also very different, frankly, if youre talking to women or men or African Americans or Caucasians. Theres still a lot of work to be done.

Entrepreneur: What else needs to change?

Case: At the national level, access to capital, to level the playing field, is a big one. As is getting the right investment incentives and the right regulatory policy.

On the local level, we need to create more of a network density in cities, more of a sense of collaboration, engagement, commitment and culture around celebrating startups. We need to make sure that these cities tell their stories so that its not just about helping any one company, its about helping the city rise, which then attracts more capital from other places and more talent. And lastly, cities have a particular expertise and a particular sector and a particular history in that sector, that helps them differentiate themselves. Each city has a different focus typically and building on that history, that perspective, is awesome.

Related: How 3 Companies Maximized Funding in Their Region

Entrepreneur: Whats surprised you from these tours?

Case: Fifty years ago, when you wanted revitalize a community you tried to get artists to move in, like SoHo in New York. Now you try to get entrepreneurs to move in. My first job was in Cincinnati 35-plus years ago, and there was an area, Over the Rhine, that was a very challenged neighborhood. Nobody wanted to go there, and it was a scary place to be. And now its the hottest place to be in Cincinnati. Why? Because the entrepreneurs moved in, which then created jobs which then created housing and then created restaurants. Its just one visible sign that the collective work of these entrepreneurs is not just building their individual companies but also essentially rebuilding communities.

Entrepreneur: Change is happening in cities across the countries, but change can be slow.

Case: I use my own experience with AOL. In those first years, some people didnt believe people would want to go online. It took us years to convince PC manufacturers to put the modem into computers, because their view was why would we add one to every computer when only a small number of people seem to care about getting online. It was hard. But eventually it broke through. What helped our team was believing that it was going to happen. Thats the same perspective I bring to Rise of the Rest. I am confident the rest will rise, and we just try to help it happen a little bit faster.

Related: The Story Behind the Explosion of the 'Startup Capital of the South'

Entrepreneur: Every city has advantages, but thats still a surprise to some and these advantages arent always tapped. Why is that?

Case: In any city, typically, theres a dynamic where larger companies do their own things and dont really pay attention to the startup world. Its hard for entrepreneurs to get noticed by others in that city and create those partnerships. As more of those large organizations realize that entrepreneurs are strategic to them that gets easier. In all of these cities, there is capital, whether its from companies or families who have been in these cities for generations, but theyre not necessarily focused on investing in the entrepreneur until they realize there are really interesting opportunities right in sight. And as some do it, more do it. But the core is trying to get to a tipping point, to a network effect. This network density where momentum begets momentum. Thats part of what were doing with these tours, help create those connections.

Entrepreneur: How do you know youre close to the tipping point?

Case: There are some specific things you can track. One of them is how investment capital is going to startups and showing progress at the seed level, at the venture level and the growth level. Eventually, youll start to see some breakout successes -- like Magic Leap, an augmented reality company which has raised $1.3 billion from Google and Alibaba and others -- that get national visibility and give people more of a sense of whats possible and also educates the rest of the country about whats happening in those cities. But the tipping points, you actually dont see them until they happen. You can see some momentum building, you can see some points on the board, but its hard to predict exactly.

Entrepreneur: In 10 years, how do you hope Rise of the Rest will have evolved?

Case: I hope 10 years from now we dont need a Rise of the Rest. The cities will have risen and the playing field will have levelled. Its hard to predict the specific time, but Im confident that over the next decade less capital as a percentage will flow to California, New York and Massachusetts and more as a percentage will flow to these Rise of the Rest cities. Its a natural dynamic. All were trying to do is do what we can to accelerate it. So 10 years from now I could imagine us doing more things globally. But I think the bus will be in a garage somewhere. We wont need it.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Related:

Steve Case on Opportunity Outside Silicon Valley: 'There's Still Work to Be Done'

The Story Behind the Explosion of the 'Startup Capital of the South'

Struggling With Your First Sale? Follow These 3 Tips.



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Boilermakers smore pancakes go a little too well with a bacon-infused old-fashioned. Photo: Melissa Hom

New Yorkers are blessed to live in a city where late-night cravings need not go unsated. Burgers, oysters, ramen, halal-cart feasts, and diner specialties are all readily available, whether its 4 p.m. or 4 a.m. But theres a smaller, more elusive group of foods only available in the middle of the night, specialty items that exist on late-night menus and nowhere else. Below, seven of the most interesting limited-edition options for the city that never sleeps.

Smore Pancakes

Where: Boilermaker

When: 12 a.m. to close

Price: $10

This East Village cocktail destination breaks out a midnight-pancake menu that runs both sweet (red velvet, apple pie, strawberry) and savory (purple potato). The most impressive of the group, though, is the smore option: buttermilk flapjacks studded with graham crackers and chocolate chips, a layer of melted marshmallow sandwiched in between. On the side: Vermont maple syrup or homemade butterscotch.

M.C. French Fries Animal Style

Where: Midnights

When: Thursday to Saturday, 12 a.m. to close

Price: $12

The late-night fries at this Williamsburg spot are, of course, inspired by the famed In-N-Out version, given an appropriate amount of chefing up: Potatoes are cooked in the classic fast-food shoestring style, then the dish is assembled in layers: fries, blue-cheese bechamel, more fries, more bechamel, more fries, more bechamel. Scallions, bacon, and pickled red chiles finish things off.

Short-Rib Beef Burger

Where: Macao

When: Sunday, 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Monday to Wednesday, 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Price: $16

At the Tribeca staple, chef Erica Ohrlings late-night burger is made with a hormone- and antibiotic-free Black Angus beef blend (50 percent short rib, 25 percent brisket, 25 percent chuck) from Pat LaFrieda. Its served on a brioche bun with aged cheddar cheese, charred scallion, aioli, and homemade pickles.

Carne Asada

Where: Primal Cut

Price: $38

When: 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

When executive chef Thomas Perones new spot opens on East 60th Street this fall, it will offer a dry-aged New York Strip thats gotten a 48-hour bath in a secret-recipe marinade and is topped with chimichurri butter. (And, if you havent gotten enough poke lately, Primal Cut will also offer a late-night salmon-poke-topped with pineapple, avocado, scallions, and sesame.)

Hot Dogs

Where: Red Rooster Harlem and Ginnys Supper Club

When: Fridays and Saturdays, 12 to 4 a.m.

Price: $5

Red Rooster Harlem and Ginnys Supper Club (located underneath Red Rooster) both serve off-menu, late-night-only 100 percent beef hot dogs with caramelized onions, moonshine-infused ketchup, and black mustard made with fermented seeds. Its a step up from the dogs youll get on the corner.

Balkan Burger

Where: Employees Only

When: 11:30 p.m. to close

Price: $18

This pork-based take on pljeskavica, the Balkan street food traditionally made from beef or lamb, is seared on the griddle and served in a warm, halved pita stuffed with kajmak (an Eastern European dairy spread flavored with herbs and garlic), ajvar (roasted-red-pepper relish), chopped romaine, tomatoes, and onions. Paprika fries and more kajmak for dipping finish the plate. (Other late-night-only options at this popular West Village bar include Reuben croquettes with Katzs pastrami, chicken schnitzel, and a rotating staff meal that changes regularly.)

Late Night Sundae

Where: The Standard Grill

When: Wednesday 12 to 3 a.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 1 to 4 a.m.

Price: $9

This late-night sugar rush is made with high-class ingredients (Valrhona chocolate, Italian hazelnuts, organic milk and cream) and layered in a parfait glass with hazelnut and milk chocolate gelato, hot fudge, whipped caramel cream, candied hazelnuts, and sea salt.
Droid Life reports that Motorola has laid off less than 2% of the 55,000 employees that the company has worldwide, which equates to about 1,100 layoffs in total.

The action was taken by Motorola as part of the ongoing strategic integration between Lenovo and Motorolas smartphone business as the company further aligns its organization and streamlines it product portfolio to best compete in the global smartphone market.

Before Motorola could comment on the situation, rumors said that Lenovo was going to move some of Motorolas Chicago-staff over to Lenovos North Carolina US headquarters. In any case, Lenovo stated to Droid Life that this was not the case and that it planned to keep Motorolas headquarters right where it is now. And that it is absolutely committed to Chicago.

The statement also confirmed the round number of layoffs mentioned above as the report came before Motorolas statement.

Check out the Source link for the full statement by Motorola regarding to the recent layoffs.

Source
Samsung has really been working hard on expanding and updating its product lineup lately. The focus seems to be mostly on the company's newer families, with new additions like the Galaxy C9 on the horizon and now a brand new release within the "On" branch.

The On8 was just announced today in India. It comes at a quite dynamic time for the budget series, with the Galaxy On7 (2016) now official and the On5 (2016) coming shortly. Notice the lack of a (2016) in the product name? This is due to the fact that there is no On8 from last year to build upon, making this a truly fresh offer.

The Samsung Galaxy On8 comes with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display - a clear upgrade over the LCD variety on its siblings. This news falls in line perfectly with a recent Flipkart post and is great news for Samsung AMOLED fans, looking to pick up a punchy panel on the cheap. Putting two and two together, that also means that the display is FullHD.

Powering the phone is an undisclosed octa-core SoC. Judging from the quoted 1.6GHz clock rate, this might actually be Samsung's own Exynos 7870 Octa - the same 14nm chip that can be credited for the Galaxy J7 (2016)'s amazing battery life.

Other specs include 3GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable on-board storage. The camera setup consists of a 13MP, f/1.9 main snapper and a 5MP selfie one. Last, but not least, there is also 4G VoLTE support. This is all packed into a body measuring 151.7x76x7.8mm and weighing in at 169 grams. The power comes courtesy of a 3300 mAh battery.

Currently the Galaxy On8 appears to be an India exclusive, set to go on sale on Flipkart from October 2, just in time for the "Big Billion Day Sale".

To further prove its India roots, the Galaxy On8 also features two "Make for India" initiatives - UDS (ultra data saving) and S bike. As already mentioned, you can get the phone on Flipkart, starting October 2 in Gold, Black or White for INR 15990 ($240).
Spotify's Premium for Family plan - which allows families to have six individual Spotify Premium accounts for only $14.99 - has now been launched in Canada. The company says the plan was one of the most requested features in the country.

"With the Spotify Premium for Family Plan, listeners will still be able to enjoy their favorite artists and hits, but now the entire family can get in on the fun with access to over 30 million songs for just one low price payable on a single bill," Spotify said in a post on its website.

To know more about Spotify's Premium for Family plan, you can head to the Family Plan link below.

Source | Family Plan
Published on 2016/09/26 | Source

Park Shin-hye can't forget about "Doctors" which ended in August.

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She posted a picture on her Instagram saying, ""Doctors" was on every Monday".

In the picture, she's posing with Kim Min-seok and Lee Sung-kyung in their doctors' gowns. They can't hide their good looks behind a mask.

"Doctors" ended on a happy note as Yoo Hae-jeong (Park Shin-hye) accepted Hong Ji-ho's (Kim Rae-won) proposal.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2016/09/26

The main particularly interesting aspect to Jeong-seok's character is the complicated way he drinks alcohol by himself, but "Drinking Alone" keeps undermining this by making him act weirdly lovey-dovey. What's worse is that Myeong, in additiion to being really nice, apparently has some pretty amazing abs. Surprisingly enough that scene isn't just eye candy. It's also a lead-up to a fairly impressive joke.

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Elsewhere in the main plot, Ha-na's general insecurity when it comes to her credentials as a teacher is in full focus. I couldn't help but notice that at least part of this is illusory. Note how while Jin-woong is playing to a packed room, his room is much smaller than Ha-na's, so they probably have the same of actual people. Not like this is super-important anyway, considering the extent to which the school's business model relies on online videos.

Which provides the centerpiece for most of the humor with the students this episode. Basically, how even though they want to study and do well, they constantly get distracted by dumb Internet stuff, silly daydreams, and even random household chores just for the sake of avoiding any actual work. That's relatable- shoot, I do it all the time, and I don't even know why. Gong-yeong's attempts to demand an explanation from his friends are all the funnier precisely because they know they can't justify themselves.

And then, as if in some sort of bizarre response to this dilemma, Ha-na decides to try out the latest fad to solve her own problem and that...predictably goes in a weird direction. Incidentally, I like how Jin-i and Jin-woong are consistently treated as one-note gimmick characters, their gimmick being sexiness and pop culture references respectively. While they adopted these personas to become better teachers, Jin-i and Jin-woong now have the odd funny habit of lapsing into this behavior just as a default stock reaction.

"Drinking Alone" almost reads like a satire of the whole concept of privatized education. What if we lived in a world where having a graduation certificate was more important than having relevant career skills? What if we lived in a world where teachers had to amuse students lest they lose their own jobs? Of course, other scenes don't necessarily tie in to this all that well. The cliffhanger is quite possibly the most ridiculously contrived accidental kiss I've ever seen. But hey, as long as it's funny, who cares, right?

Review by William Schwartz

"Drinking Alone" is directed by Choi Gyoo-sik and Jeong Hyeong-geon, written by Baek Seon-woo, Choi Bo-rim and Myeong Soo-hyeon, and features Ha Seok-jin, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, Park Ha-sun, Min Jin-woong, Kim Won-hae, Gong Myung and Key.
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Published on 2016/09/27 | Source

Added episodes 12 and 13 captures for the Korean drama "The Second Last Love" (2016)

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Directed by Choi Yeong-hoon

Written by Choi Yoon-jung, Lee Hee-myeong

Network : SBS

With Kim Hee-ae, Ji Jin-hee, Kwak Si-yang, Kim Seul-gi, Jung Soo-young, Lee Soo-min,...

20 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:55

Synopsis

A remake of the Japanese drama "The Second Last Love" about a single woman in her 40s who feels unstable about life after her retirement.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/07/30

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The Best and Worst States to Start a Business

by Andrew DePietro, GoBanking Rates, September 26, 2016

Many Americans dream of starting a business and  despite recent economic downturns  they continue to pursue this dream more than ever. In fact, the number of new business establishments in the U.S. has reached levels not seen since before the financial crisis. So, it seems now might be a great time to launch a company.

But, starting a business is a daunting pursuit, and doing it successfully means you need an idea of how well your state caters to new businesses and startups. In other words: You need to understand your state's business ecosystem.

"Ecosystem is a useful metaphor for evaluating areas of business," said Stewart Thornhill, executive director of the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan. "For instance, its hard to say any one factor makes a rain forest a rain forest. But if you take away one critical factor, it can undo the whole thing  in much the same way business systems work."

To find out which states are the best and worst to start a business, GOBankingRates.com looked at these critical factors that shape business ecosystems and how they affect aspiring entrepreneurs' chances of success:

Startup Activity (based on the rate of new entrepreneurs, opportunity share of new entrepreneurs and density of startups)

Business Survival Rates (based on the ratio of business creations to deaths)

Productivity (based on per capita GDP)

Availability of Employees

Education Level of Potential Employees

Business Tax Climates

Cost of Living

The findings might surprise you  and maybe even inspire you. Whether you're a recent college grad wanting to launch a startup or a retiree ready to make a big move and create a family business, click through to see the best and worst states to start a business, starting with the worst.

50. Hawaii

A state's cost of living is a major factor when considering the location for opening a business, said Thornhill. And in Hawaii, the top challenge that entrepreneurs face is high costs, as this state has the highest cost of living in the U.S.

Also, many new businesses will have to work with a potential employee education level  the percentage of the state's population graduating from college  that ranks toward the bottom of the 50 states. These factors put Hawaii in first place for the worst states to start a business.

On the positive side, however, Hawaii ranks high in its opportunity share of new entrepreneurs, which measures the percent of new entrepreneurs who were not unemployed before starting their businesses. This measurement approximates the percentage of new entrepreneurs who started businesses because they saw market opportunities; in this case, nearly 89 percent of new entrepreneurs did this in Hawaii.

read  Worst and Best States
The boundaries between our public and private lives are being further blurred by the increased use of online profiling, one study has found.



However, the prevalence of this practice can lead to a number of small risks for employers especially with regards to how effective this sort of data gathering process can be.



Covert by nature



The research, conducted by Paula McDonald, Paul Thompson and Peter O'Connor of the Queensland University of Technology, examined the prevalence and general outcomes of profiling.



Although prior studies have found that up to 50% of all HR and recruitment personnel use profiling, only 6.9% of Australian employees reported knowing that they had been profiled while 29% said they had witnessed or heard about profiling occurring in their organisation.



The differences between those figures suggest that profiling is a largely covert practice so the job applicants are rarely aware that theyre being profiled, study author McDonald told HC.



Reasons for this secrecy is that online profiling gives employers much more evidence than could be gained from CVs, references or criminal background checks, she said.



Potentially, they can gather quite a widespread range of information which employers often feel gives them a better sense of whether the job applicant is a good fit for the organisation or will be a productive employee in that particular role.



Hidden risks



However, McDonald  who is also a professor of work and organisation at the QUT Business School  pointed to a few caveats to be aware of when using any kind of social or online profiling.



Firstly, as people become more aware of how to use privacy settings to protect their online profiles, this may affect the type of information available.



Were probably not likely to see a scaling back of profiling or attempts by employers to find information but if people are more aware of the risks, there might be less information for them to access, she said.



Another issue stems from the way the information is interpreted and whether or not it actually affects the candidates ability to perform the available role.



One example McDonald gave was an employer who  on scanning a job applicants Facebook profile  found that all of his friends there were female.



That raised a bit of a red flag for the employer. He didnt really know what to do with that information but because he thought it was unusual, it cast an aspersion over the job applicant. There might have been a legitimate reason for that though and it was very unlikely to affect the extent to which they could do that job well, she told HC.



Another issue which needed to be considered while online profiling was how easy it was for people with the same names to get mixed up.



Also there might be a lot more information on some people than others. Some people may have an extensive online profile while others may have none at all. So how do you fairly compare the online information for those two people?



McDonald noted that there needed to be more research done in this area especially since the QUT study only gathered information from employees.



We know the kind of prevalence of the practice from an employer perspective, she said. But we dont have a lot of information about the way they do this, eg the technologies used, whether there are any limits on the practice, whether anything is up for grabs, or even the kinds of occupational roles that might be targeted.




Australian employers have been told to look out for employees quitting in their seats as levels of discretionary effort plummet across the nations workplaces.



The recently released CEB Global Talent Monitor for Q2 2016 found that overall levels of discretionary effort have fallen from 21% to 19% over the last quarter. This represents a steady decline from peak levels of around 26% in Q2 2011.



In the ideal workplace, youd have highly engaged workers with high intent-to-stay or youd have the opportunity to trade up if you have disengaged workers with low intent-to-stay, said Aaron McEwan, HR advisory leader at CEB.



However, in Australia, we have a mismatch caused by political turmoil and economic uncertainty. This has left most employees afraid to risk a move elsewhere right now.



This means that a large proportion of workers may be silently striking in their seats, which could negatively affect both productivity and business outcomes, he added.



There is an opportunity for employers to re-engage staff and demonstrate why existing relationships are worth maintaining.



Amongst Australian employees surveyed in the CEB report, 20% put in a high discretionary effort at work while 43% put in a somewhat high discretionary effort. Thus approximately four in 10 staff members are simply cruising through their jobs.



To rectify this, McEwan suggested that employers should focus on tackling the key drivers for attrition in local firms.



When asked about the most dissatisfying attributes of their previous jobs, those surveyed in the CEB study answered as follows:
dreds of employees at an AGL power station in Victoria have opted to reject a significant pay rise of 20 percent over four years, potentially creating disruptions to power supply.Strikes and lockouts are now a distinct possibility at the Loy Yang power station in Victoria, which is owned by AGL, one of Australias biggest energy companies. AGL will now press ahead with a last resort attempt to terminate an enterprise agreement that affects more than 500 employees.The rejection of the pay rise marks the latest instalment in a long-running dispute that saw AGL make its latest offer in late August, only for it to be rejected by secret ballot. The ballot saw 70 percent of employees decide against the proposal.Should AGL succeed in terminating the enterprise agreement, hundreds of workers face cuts in pay and conditions, due to reverting to lower minimum rates of the power industry award. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has subsequently indicated it will apply to the Fair Work Commission to undertake a ballot of its workers to authorise industrial action.The rejection of AGLs offer was met with disappointment by Loy Yang general manager Steve Rieniets, who pointed out that the offer had been described by the Fair Work Commission as an impartial, middle-ground solution that retained AGL Loy Yangs generous pay and conditions.Rieniets added, This outcome further entrenches outdated union ideology and, in this case, goes against common sense.Rienets said it was hard to fathom why the offer was so overwhelmingly rejected, as it included pay rises, generous superannuation and a guarantee of no forced redundancies.He also pointed out that the latest development could bring about disruption, saying, All this vote achieves is uncertainty and a high risk of industrial disputation that could put Victorian energy supplies at risk.For its part, the CFMEU has stated that it hopes the rejection will start a dialogue with AGL. Geoff Dyke, CFMEU mining and energy division secretary, said, There are a half-dozen issues that need to be resolved, but AGL put the ballot out to workers anyway.Outside of the conciliated process in the Fair Work Commission, AGL has refused to meet with us since February.
The Association Act already provides the mechanisms to prohibit openly racist and violent organisations, Paula Risikko (NCP), the Minister of the Interior, and Jari Lindstrom (PS), the Minister of Justice and Employment, explained in a press conference on Monday.

The Government of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre) has determined that no major legislative changes will be required to intervene in the activities of racist and violent organisations.

The current problems lie not with the legislation itself but rather with its implementation, elaborated Risikko.

We have to work on the implementation, she admitted.

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice, she revealed, are also considering whether or not people should be prohibited from wearing the insignias of racist and violent organisations in public. Lindstrom, in turn, pointed out that the legislation allows for the abolition of such organisations irrespective of whether or not they have been registered and sets forth penalties for continuing the activities of abolished organisations.

The Ministry of Justice is considering modifying the provisions on the duty of notification laid out in the Assembly Act. Organisations are currently required to notify local authorities of public events at least six hours before the beginning of the event.

In addition, the Government is intent on allocating additional resources for policing online hate speech.

National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen underlined in the press conference that organisations can only be prohibited on sufficient grounds, such as flagrant violations of laws and public policy, due to the fact that the freedom of assembly is protected under the Constitution of Finland.

The Government added the issue to the agenda of yesterday's strategy session following the death of a man who was assaulted during a protest organised by the Finnish Resistance Movement (SVL) in Helsinki on 10 September, 2016.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Veterans thanked for 'the forgotten victory'

When WWII began, Bill Teal was 18 years old, unaware that he was about to fight in some of the most crucial battles in an epic conflict that shaped the 20th century. At age 93  70 years after the war ended  Teal got to see the memorial to his war for the first time.

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Unbelievable, said Teal, an Army artillery veteran from Charlotte. I never thought it was possible.

A member of the 6th Army division, Teal trained in the Mojave Desert, then traveled to Camp Cook in New York and on to the European theater.

It was a battle from there on out, Teal said. Something that had to be done. I was with Patton all the way  from beginning to end.

Teal is the same age as former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole. The 1996 Republican presidential nominee, an enthusiastic supporter of HonorAir from the start, greeted Teal and the other veterans at the entrance to the memorial.

Teal said although the war is hard to talk about, it wasnt all bad. His hat contains five stars, one for every major battle he fought, including the Battle of the Bulge.

We lost a lot of boys that day, he said with tears in his eyes. Think of the boys who couldnt be here. This is something else. Really something.

* * * * *

The flight on Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of the effort to recognize World War II veterans by giving them a free trip to see the National World War II Memorial and other sights in the Capital, including the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Vietnam Memorial. Cofounded in Hendersonville by Jeff Miller, the veteran-honoring organization has grown into a national network of volunteers that has flown more than 200,000 aging veterans to Washington. On Saturday, the American Airlines jet that took off from Asheville carried more Korean War veterans than those from World War II, marking the official kickoff of the networks effort to honor those who fought in the Forgotten War.

The veterans received a rousing and emotional welcome at Reagan National Airport. Honored with red, white and blue leis and thank you notes from F.S. Key Elementary School students, the veterans were overwhelmed by the outpouring of gratitude.

Everything was first class, said James Taylor, 86. Almost brought tears to my eyes this morning.

Travelers walking through the terminal stopped to shake hands with the men as they got off the plane.

The thank yous over and over, Ive never had that before, said Taylor, who delivered troops on an LPT boat in the Navy during the Korean War.

Taylor met up with his grandson and 9-month-old great-granddaughter at the WWII memorial, the first stop on the tour.

* * * * *

A police escort led four buses loaded with veterans to the National WWII Memorial for the first stop on what would be a memorable day for the 182 veterans, guides and other volunteers on the trip.

Next the veterans boarded buses for the Korean War Memorial, where the Korean War veterans received medals and participated in a wreath laying ceremony.

South Korean Defense Attache Major General Shin Kyoung-soo thanked the veterans for their service to his country.

Some call the Korean War the forgotten war. I call it the forgotten victory, he said.

Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of the U.S. forces in South Korea, also expressed his gratitude for the sacrifices the war veterans made. Brooks said he would not board his plane back to his base without thanking the veterans first.

Navy Corpsman Bill Trapani got to Korea on the fourth day after the war started. The invasion of Inchon happened while he was there. He was taken off his ship and put on a field evacuation unit.

We set up a small hospital. I did that for four months in Korea and went back to my ship, he said.

Originally from Brooklyn, he came home on leave for 10 days, only to be sent back to Korea for six months. He took patients to Kimpo, where they could be flown out if necessary.

The memorial was absolutely beautiful, better than I thought it would be, Trapani said. Just to see a bunch of Korean guys again, still pushing, still pulling. We left a lot of young men behind.

The Honor Flight is probably one of the greatest things Ive experienced in my life and Im 86 years old, he added. Its quite an honor. Strangers walk up and shake your hand and its nice, you know.

His 64th wedding anniversary is coming up in November.

* * * * *

Roger Dunn was born in Illinois but lived in California before his service in Korea for Army intelligence.

Stationed at Kimpo with the Air Force, Dunn had a top security clearance along with his captain and corporal. Dunn remembers a time when a plane developed engine problems.

There was oil on the windshield. That was kinda sweaty, he said. He was only 24 then.

They flew down a rocky river bed.

Taking off, we barely cleared the rocks by eight feet, Dunn said.

Dunn got married before the war.

He was going to intelligence school and had just brought his son home.

The hardest part was being gone a year, he said.

His son was walking by the time he got home. Missing that was the hardest, he said.

Saturdays Honor Flight was the first he had been able to go on.

My wife Betty said, Why dont you go?, he said. The Dunns have six children and 14 grandchildren, with great-grandchildren on the way.

It brings back old memories, he said. I think its terrific. Dunn raised his kids in Florida before retiring in Brevard.

Dunns best friend in Korea made it back to the U.S. with him. He has since passed away.

When the truce between North and South Korea came, I drove over to watch them exchange POWs, Dunn said.It was so cold the oil in engines froze.

* * * * *

Navy veteran Leo Monahan of Barnardsville was a machinist mate on an amphibious ship in the Korean War.

The ship was busy, he said. We carried prisoners, wounded and refugees aboard.

He also served in the Inchon invasion.

Monahan said his favorite part about being in the Navy was visiting Japanese ports and being able to see a lot of cities.

Following the war, he went to art school on the G.I. bill in Los Angeles. He then went on to run his own design businesses, landing Disney a client.

Monahan went to Vietnam during the war as a civilian.

He said the main difference between the countries was the weather.

Korea was so cold; Vietnam was so hot.

The DMZ in Korea is dreadful, he declares. The Korean War is still on. All there is is just a truce. Its very dangerous. I personally think something dreadful will happen.

Monahan continues to make art today.

* * * * *

Jay Kirby, the CEO of Pardee Hospital, which signed on as a major sponsor of the HonorFlight trip, served as a volunteer guardian, in charge of guiding three veterans.

"Its really interesting because Ive got one World War II, one Korean and one that did both," Kirby said. The last was Ralph Hall, a Hendersonville native and 1941 graduate of Hendersonville High School. The trip meant a lot to Kirby.

"My grandfather was killed in World War II," he said, "so when I look at these guys I think what my grandfather would be like."

"When this opened I brought my dad," he said of the World War II Memorial. "My dad never knew his dad. My dad was six months old. My wifes uncle died in the Korean War."

The greeting and gratitude the veterans get invariably impresses guardians as much as it does the veterans.

"Tears came into my eyes watching it at the airport," Kirby said. "I dont think there was a dry eye there. I told em I was going to start hanging out with them more. I didnt get this kind of treatment at home. They got more lipstick than they know what to do.  Nobody in Washington, D.C., knows these people but they know what they did.

* * * * *

One of the final stops on the trip was Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 400,000 service men and women are buried on 624 acres of rolling hillside.

Vietnam veteran Larry Rice and WWII veteran Arthur Fricks participated in the wreath laying ceremony after everyone watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

I was impressed, Rice said. I was glad I was able to participate.

Rice, 79, served as a field artillery officer for the Army and a military adviser to the South Vietnamese during 1967 and 68.

Rice appreciated the show of support for the military while in D.C. Ive had several comments about my hat, he said. Rice joined the Navy Reserves at 17 and then became a Marine before entering the Army.

Rices guardian on the trip was his great-grandson Brandon Rice, 20.

The last stop of the day was the U.S. Air Force Memorial.

Maj. Gen. Rick Devereauxs father, Robert Devereaux, who was an Air Force pilot, was impressed by the soaring imagery.

Its the most spectacular memorial in D.C., he said. Dynamite!

When the group returned to Reagan National, a live band played Elvis songs in the terminal. The veterans danced while they waited to board the plane.

Washington was in rare form today, Miller said.

So was Asheville. The veterans got one last surprise when they landed. Gov. Pat McCrory greeted the veterans along with their friends and family at Asheville Regional Airport. The crowd cheered as the veterans joined family members and exited the terminal into the night.
A woman has been sent for trial accused of falsely declaring herself unemployed and conspiracy to commit social welfare fraud.

Elizabeth Adewoye (36) had a book of evidence served on her when she appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on 26 charges.

Judge David McHugh returned her for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Adewoye, with an add-ress at Beechmount Crescent, Navan, Co Meath, is charged with 25 counts of making false declarations.

She is accused of falsely declaring that she was unemployed for the purpose of establishing entitlement to unemployment assistance.

The offences are alleged to have happened at the GPO on O'Connell Street on 15 dates between May 15 and September 2, 2014.

She is also charged with a further 10 counts of the same offence at Mulhuddart Post Office between September 22 and November 17, 2014.

Disclosure

The 26th charge is that she conspired with others not before the court to defraud the Department of Social Welfare.

That offence is alleged to have happened at an unnamed place within the State on a date unknown between February 20, 2012 and November 26, 2014.

A state solicitor told Judge McHugh that the case was before the court for the service of the book of evidence and that this was ready.

The judge gave the defendant the formal notice that she must provide to the prosecution within 14 days details of any alibi she intends to rely on in the course of her trial.

He ordered disclosure to the defence of the video of Ms Adewoye's garda interview. He also granted free legal aid to cover a solicitor and one junior counsel.

Judge McHugh sent the accused forward to the next sittings of the circuit court on a date next month.

The accused was remanded on bail under existing terms. She has not yet indicated how she intends to plead to the charges, and no details of the alleged false declarations or fraud have yet been stated in court.
HOUSTON (AP)  A disgruntled lawyer wearing military-style apparel with old Nazi emblems had two weapons and more than 2,500 rounds of live ammunition when he randomly shot at drivers in a Houston neighborhood before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said.

Nine people were injured during Monday morning's shootings on the street in front of a condo complex. Six were shot and three had eye injuries from flying glass. One person was in critical condition.

Police did not identify the man and did not have information about a motive. A bomb-squad robot examined a Porsche that police said belonged to the gunman. Texas motor vehicle records in a commercially available database showed the car is licensed to Nathan DeSai at an address in the condo complex.

The man had two legally purchased guns  a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle commonly known as a Tommy gun and an unsheathed knife.

Nine officers were involved in a shootout with the man, who was firing randomly at people driving by, police said.

Mayor Sylvester Turner told KTRK-TV in Houston that DeSai was a lawyer who was "disgruntled" and was "either fired or had a bad relationship with this law firm." But DeSai's former law partner, Kenneth McDaniel, disputed that assertion, saying they jointly closed their 12-year-old law firm in February due to economic conditions related to Houston's energy industry downturn.

McDaniel also said he hadn't had contact with DeSai lately and that police called him Monday morning to check on his safety, though they didn't explain why.

"He went his way with his practice and I went with mine," McDaniel said, adding, "All I can say it's a horrible situation. I'm sad for everyone involved."

Calls placed to phone numbers connected to DeSai and his father were not immediately answered. DeSai's father, Prakash DeSai, told KTRK that his son lived in the condo complex and drives a black Porsche. He also said his son, whom he saw Sunday, was upset because "his law practice is not going well" and stays upset "because of his personal problems."

Perrye Turner, special agent in charge of the FBI's Houston Division, said officials don't believe the incident is tied to terrorism.

Jennifer Molleda and her husband live in the same condo complex as Nathan DeSai. Though she heard gunshots about 6:12 a.m. and called 911, her husband left for work. The 45-year-old called not long after and he told her, "I'm hit, I'm hit."

After the shooting stopped, Molleda found her husband, 49-year-old Alan Wakim, several blocks away in the parking lot of a strip mall. His Mustang had two shots that went through the windshield, and he told her that he saw a red laser beam before the shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.

"He got out of his car, we hugged, we cried," Molleda said, adding that after she saw everything, she believes DeSai was "aiming to kill."

Jason Delgado, the property manager of The Oaks at West University condo complex, said DeSai was involved in two recent incidents at the complex.

In August, Delgado said, police were called after roofers working in the complex said DeSai pointed an assault-style rifle at them. He said there wasn't enough evidence to move forward with charges because the man contended he didn't point the gun at roofers. Molleda mentioned the same incident.

Last week, DeSai became upset because of water pressure problems at his home, asked for maintenance help and expressed his displeasure in an email to the management firm that implied he'd "intimidate his way to getting what he was asking for," Delgado said.

___

Associated Press writers Michael Graczyk contributed to this report.
The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do.

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NEWTON  The Catawba County Schools Board of Education approved the appointment of two new principals at its meeting Monday. The changes will be effective Monday.

Amy Rucker will be the new Mill Creek Middle principal. She has been with Catawba County Schools for the past 16 years. She has served as assistant principal at St. Stephens High School for the past six years. Prior to that appointment, she served as a math classroom teacher at St. Stephens High.

Rucker received her B.S. in Physical Education with a concentration in Psychology and a Health Education endorsement from Appalachian State University. She earned middle and secondary grade math certification from Appalachian State. She has also obtained Masters' degrees in Curriculum Specialist and School Administration from Appalachian State.

Rucker will fill the principal vacancy currently being held by interim principal Rob Rucker.

I am excited for Ms. Rucker in her new leadership role and am confident that she will lead the Mill Creek Middle School community with continued high expectations; she will do an excellent job," Interim Superintendent Dan Moore said.

Regina Bumgarner will be the new principal at Banoak Elementary School where she was the assistant principal since Fall 2015. Prior to that appointment, she was an assistant principal in Burke County Schools for three years and an elementary classroom teacher for seven years. She began her teaching career in Catawba County Schools at Startown Elementary in 1996.

Bumgarner holds a B.A. in Elementary Education with a concentration in History from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She received her M.A. in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University and an Administrative add-on license from Appalachian State as well.

Bumgarner will fill the principal vacancy currently being held by interim principal Teresa Ritchie.

I am excited for the Banoak Elementary Community; Mrs. Bumgarner has proven to be an effective, caring leader that truly cares about each child; we look forward to her leadership, Moore said.

The CCS Board of Education also voted to suspend the systems accountability policy as it relates to the North Carolina field assessments for Math II and Math III in the 2016-17 school year. Moore said the reason to take this action was because CCS would never get any data from these state tests.

The state tests come in conflict with the boards Student Promotion and Accountability policy, 3.8100 as it relates to the courses and requirement that a final exam score count 20 percent of a students final grade. These field tests will be administered during the final exam days at the conclusion of each semester. The state will use the scores in the Educational Value-Added Assessment System to produce student growth measures.

Because its a field test, we wont get the information back from the state so we cant make a determination as to how it affects the final grade, Moore said.

The board also voted to create a flate rate for activity buses to $1 per mile.

Right now its still 50 cents a mile plus the price of fuel, CCS Director of Transportation Ivan Allbritton said. It has been that way as far as I can remember and with the cost of repairs on these buses have all gone way up. Were struggling to maintain enough money to replace our fleet as we need to.

Allbritton also pointed out CCS and Newton-Conover City Schools inter-mingle their buses and it would be better to have a flat rate between the two systems.

If we had a flat rate of a dollar a mile, Newton-Conover is charging a dollar fifty a mile but to get this approved they were willing to drop down to a dollar a mile, it would be a slight increase for us, Allbritton said. A dollar a mile would be good for us up to three dollars per gallon, which hasnt happened in quite a while but if it did, we could absorb it a few months until prices go back down.
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The Narendra Modi government appears to have settled for demonstrative escalation as opposed to substantive (military) action against Pakistan. Much of whats being discussed by way of punitive reprisals is deja vu stuff; a repeat of the aftermath of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.

The arrows we have drawn from the diplomatic quiver in recent years included scaling down of diplomatic relations, revisiting the Indus Treaty, suspending overflights. Easy to roll back, the steps addressed public outrage without resort to war.

They came without collateral damage of a border conflagration and could be enforced and undone with equal ease. For instance, then Indian envoy to Pakistan, Vijay Nambiar was recalled within days of the armed assault on parliament house. Weeks later, his Pakistani counterpart Ashraf Jehangir Qazi was advised to leave for the sake of parity and as a follow-up to a resolution our parliamentarians adopted against Pak-sponsored terrorism.

Read | India hands Uri proof to Pakistan; Modi to review trade ties

There was talk even then of revisiting the World Bank-mediated water treaty. This time around the diplomatic counterpunch could also include withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status bestowed on Islamabad under WTO obligations.

Theyre playing to the gallery; Pakistan will go for arbitration if we act against its rights under the water treaty, remarked former foreign secretary Muchkund Dubey. He felt rhetorical threats such as blood and water cannot flow together negated Prime Minister Narendra Modis Kozhikode narrative where he distinguished between the rulers and the suffering people of Pakistan.

The veteran diplomat was as much unimpressed by reports suggesting abrogation of Pakistans MFN status: What are we complaining about? Their exports are a minuscule $300-400 million. The trade balance favours us as formal Indian exports to that country amount to $2.4 billion without reciprocal MFN status.

Unilateral actions on bilateral pacts were best avoided as they eroded the countrys credibility, reasoned Dubey. Whats needed is a long term vision to deal with a perennially difficult neighbour.

Dubeys argument makes sense but not in immediate terms. The PM has a crisis to quell without fighting a war, yet preserving his warrior image.

Suspension of overflights hurt Pakistan till it had its eastern wing intact, said Satinder K Lambah, an old Afghan-Pakistan hand who served Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He believed that none of the contemplated retaliatory moves would bother Rawalpindi: The Pak Army never backed trade or people-to-people connect between our two countries. He accepted nevertheless the political utility of such manoeuvres that douse public rage without military escalation.

Its like choosing between pulling a trigger and bolting a door. The latter option is safer for its easily undone  like the restoration of diplomatic hierarchy in Islamabad and Delhi with the appointments of Shivshankar Menon and Aziz Ahmed Khan. It took a two-year interregnum, bringing in its wake an accord on the fringes of Saarc that had Pervez Musharraf telling Vajpayee that he wont let anti-India terror emanate from Pakistani turf.

Read | PM Modi pulls out of Saarc meet in Islamabad citing cross-border terror
Ryan and his horde of congressional zombies have discovered hash tags and can't get enough of #BetterWay which is nothing more than a package of failed reactionary austerity plans that would utterly destroy the lives of working families. To Paul Ryan, whose intellectual development stopped in junior high school when he read his first Ayn Rand novela, #BetterWay is also the excuse for his support for as unqualified and dangerous a presidential candidate as Donald J. Trump. "He'll sign our legislation," he promises others interested in his goals for continuing the catastrophic neoliberal agenda Ryan has built his sorry career around.

George Monbiot, writing in Friday'sasked a crucial question the neoliberal disaster for working families, namely, why the left has been so ineffective in fighting it. In fact, he says, the left hasn't even bothered to define what it is and what dangers are lurking behind it. "It has," he offered, "played a major role in a remarkable variety of crises: the financial meltdown of 20078, the offshoring of wealth and power, of which the Panama Papers offer us merely a glimpse, the slow collapse of public health and education, resurgent child poverty, the epidemic of loneliness, the collapse of ecosystems, the rise of Donald Trump. But we respond to these crises as if they emerge in isolation, apparently unaware that they have all been either catalysed or exacerbated by the same coherent philosophy; a philosophy that has-- or had-- a name. What greater power can there be than to operate namelessly?" See how much Paul Ryan you recognize in this description:

Neoliberalism sees competition as the defining characteristic of human relations. It redefines citizens as consumers, whose democratic choices are best exercised by buying and selling, a process that rewards merit and punishes inefficiency. It maintains that the market delivers benefits that could never be achieved by planning.





Attempts to limit competition are treated as inimical to liberty. Tax and regulation should be minimised, public services should be privatised. The organisation of labour and collective bargaining by trade unions are portrayed as market distortions that impede the formation of a natural hierarchy of winners and losers. Inequality is recast as virtuous: a reward for utility and a generator of wealth, which trickles down to enrich everyone. Efforts to create a more equal society are both counterproductive and morally corrosive. The market ensures that everyone gets what they deserve.





We internalise and reproduce its creeds. The rich persuade themselves that they acquired their wealth through merit, ignoring the advantages-- such as education, inheritance and class-- that may have helped to secure it. The poor begin to blame themselves for their failures, even when they can do little to change their circumstances.





Never mind structural unemployment: if you dont have a job its because you are unenterprising. Never mind the impossible costs of housing: if your credit card is maxed out, youre feckless and improvident. Never mind that your children no longer have a school playing field: if they get fat, its your fault. In a world governed by competition, those who fall behind become defined and self-defined as losers.





...The term neoliberalism was coined at a meeting in Paris in 1938. Among the delegates were two men who came to define the ideology, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek. Both exiles from Austria, they saw social democracy, exemplified by Franklin Roosevelts New Deal and the gradual development of Britains welfare state, as manifestations of a collectivism that occupied the same spectrum as nazism and communism.





In The Road to Serfdom, published in 1944, Hayek argued that government planning, by crushing individualism, would lead inexorably to totalitarian control. Like Misess book Bureaucracy, The Road to Serfdom was widely read. It came to the attention of some very wealthy people, who saw in the philosophy an opportunity to free themselves from regulation and tax. When, in 1947, Hayek founded the first organisation that would spread the doctrine of neoliberalism-- the Mont Pelerin Society-- it was supported financially by millionaires and their foundations.





With their help, he began to create what Daniel Stedman Jones describes in Masters of the Universe as a kind of neoliberal international: a transatlantic network of academics, businessmen, journalists and activists. The movements rich backers funded a series of thinktanks which would refine and promote the ideology. Among them were the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Institute of Economic Affairs, the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute. They also financed academic positions and departments, particularly at the universities of Chicago and Virginia.





As it evolved, neoliberalism became more strident. Hayeks view that governments should regulate competition to prevent monopolies from forming gave way-- among American apostles such as Milton Friedman-- to the belief that monopoly power could be seen as a reward for efficiency.





...[I]n the 1970s, when Keynesian policies began to fall apart and economic crises struck on both sides of the Atlantic, neoliberal ideas began to enter the mainstream. As Friedman remarked, when the time came that you had to change ... there was an alternative ready there to be picked up. With the help of sympathetic journalists and political advisers, elements of neoliberalism, especially its prescriptions for monetary policy, were adopted by Jimmy Carters administration in the US and Jim Callaghans government in Britain.





After Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan took power, the rest of the package soon followed: massive tax cuts for the rich, the crushing of trade unions, deregulation, privatisation, outsourcing and competition in public services. Through the IMF, the World Bank, the Maastricht treaty and the World Trade Organisation, neoliberal policies were imposed-- often without democratic consent-- on much of the world. Most remarkable was its adoption among parties that once belonged to the left: Labour and the Democrats, for example. As Stedman Jones notes, it is hard to think of another utopia to have been as fully realised.





It may seem strange that a doctrine promising choice and freedom should have been promoted with the slogan there is no alternative. But, as Hayek remarked on a visit to Pinochets Chile-- one of the first nations in which the programme was comprehensively applied-- my personal preference leans toward a liberal dictatorship rather than toward a democratic government devoid of liberalism. The freedom that neoliberalism offers, which sounds so beguiling when expressed in general terms, turns out to mean freedom for the pike, not for the minnows.





Freedom from trade unions and collective bargaining means the freedom to suppress wages. Freedom from regulation means the freedom to poison rivers, endanger workers, charge iniquitous rates of interest and design exotic financial instruments. Freedom from tax means freedom from the distribution of wealth that lifts people out of poverty.





As Naomi Klein documents in The Shock Doctrine, neoliberal theorists advocated the use of crises to impose unpopular policies while people were distracted: for example, in the aftermath of Pinochets coup, the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina, which Friedman described as an opportunity to radically reform the educational system in New Orleans.





Where neoliberal policies cannot be imposed domestically, they are imposed internationally, through trade treaties incorporating investor-state dispute settlement: offshore tribunals in which corporations can press for the removal of social and environmental protections. When parliaments have voted to restrict sales of cigarettes, protect water supplies from mining companies, freeze energy bills or prevent pharmaceutical firms from ripping off the state, corporations have sued, often successfully. Democracy is reduced to theatre.





Another paradox of neoliberalism is that universal competition relies upon universal quantification and comparison. The result is that workers, job-seekers and public services of every kind are subject to a pettifogging, stifling regime of assessment and monitoring, designed to identify the winners and punish the losers. The doctrine that Von Mises proposed would free us from the bureaucratic nightmare of central planning has instead created one.





Neoliberalism was not conceived as a self-serving racket, but it rapidly became one. Economic growth has been markedly slower in the neoliberal era (since 1980 in Britain and the US) than it was in the preceding decades; but not for the very rich. Inequality in the distribution of both income and wealth, after 60 years of decline, rose rapidly in this era, due to the smashing of trade unions, tax reductions, rising rents, privatisation and deregulation.





The privatisation or marketisation of public services such as energy, water, trains, health, education, roads and prisons has enabled corporations to set up tollbooths in front of essential assets and charge rent, either to citizens or to government, for their use. Rent is another term for unearned income. When you pay an inflated price for a train ticket, only part of the fare compensates the operators for the money they spend on fuel, wages, rolling stock and other outlays. The rest reflects the fact that they have you over a barrel.





Those who own and run the UKs privatised or semi-privatised services make stupendous fortunes by investing little and charging much. In Russia and India, oligarchs acquired state assets through firesales. In Mexico, Carlos Slim was granted control of almost all landline and mobile phone services and soon became the worlds richest man.





Financialisation, as Andrew Sayer notes in Why We Cant Afford the Rich, has had a similar impact. Like rent, he argues, interest is ... unearned income that accrues without any effort. As the poor become poorer and the rich become richer, the rich acquire increasing control over another crucial asset: money. Interest payments, overwhelmingly, are a transfer of money from the poor to the rich. As property prices and the withdrawal of state funding load people with debt (think of the switch from student grants to student loans), the banks and their executives clean up.





Sayer argues that the past four decades have been characterised by a transfer of wealth not only from the poor to the rich, but within the ranks of the wealthy: from those who make their money by producing new goods or services to those who make their money by controlling existing assets and harvesting rent, interest or capital gains. Earned income has been supplanted by unearned income.





Neoliberal policies are everywhere beset by market failures. Not only are the banks too big to fail, but so are the corporations now charged with delivering public services. As Tony Judt pointed out in Ill Fares the Land, Hayek forgot that vital national services cannot be allowed to collapse, which means that competition cannot run its course. Business takes the profits, the state keeps the risk.





The greater the failure, the more extreme the ideology becomes. Governments use neoliberal crises as both excuse and opportunity to cut taxes, privatise remaining public services, rip holes in the social safety net, deregulate corporations and re-regulate citizens. The self-hating state now sinks its teeth into every organ of the public sector.





Perhaps the most dangerous impact of neoliberalism is not the economic crises it has caused, but the political crisis. As the domain of the state is reduced, our ability to change the course of our lives through voting also contracts. Instead, neoliberal theory asserts, people can exercise choice through spending. But some have more to spend than others: in the great consumer or shareholder democracy, votes are not equally distributed. The result is a disempowerment of the poor and middle. As parties of the right and former left adopt similar neoliberal policies, disempowerment turns to disenfranchisement. Large numbers of people have been shed from politics.









Chris Hedges remarks that fascist movements build their base not from the politically active but the politically inactive, the losers who feel, often correctly, they have no voice or role to play in the political establishment. When political debate no longer speaks to us, people become responsive instead to slogans, symbols and sensation. To the admirers of Trump, for example, facts and arguments appear irrelevant.





Judt explained that when the thick mesh of interactions between people and the state has been reduced to nothing but authority and obedience, the only remaining force that binds us is state power. The totalitarianism Hayek feared is more likely to emerge when governments, having lost the moral authority that arises from the delivery of public services, are reduced to cajoling, threatening and ultimately coercing people to obey them.





Like communism, neoliberalism is the God that failed. But the zombie doctrine staggers on, and one of the reasons is its anonymity... [W]hen neoliberalism fell apart in 2008 there was ... nothing. This is why the zombie walks. The left and centre have produced no new general framework of economic thought for 80 years.
Be careful what you wish for: Not content with Pakistan enjoying a water-sharing arrangement with India that is by far the worlds most generous, the countrys Senate passed a unanimous resolution in March that declared: This House recommends that the Government should revisit Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960, in order to make new provisions in the treaty so that Pakistan may get more water for its rivers. Little did the parliamentarians know that India would heed that call by revisiting the pact, which lopsidedly reserves for the lower riparian 80.52% of the total waters of the six-river Indus system, or 167.2 billion cubic metres of the aggregate 207.6 billion cubic metres average yearly flows. Thinking it was trading water for peace through the IWT, a naive India even contributed $173.63 million for dam and other water projects in Pakistan.

Read: Blood and water cant flow together, says Modi at meeting on Indus treaty

Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to review IWT arrangements, including Indias rights and obligations, extends to suspending the Permanent Indus Commission. The commission has done little more than run regular consultative meetings between its two commissioners, each of whom acts on behalf of his country. In the aftermath of the December 2001 Parliament attack by five Pakistani gunmen, India suspended any commission meeting. But this marks the first occasion that India has set in motion a reappraisal of the IWT, forming an inter-ministerial panel.

If an inherently unequal water treaty is to endure, the direction of the Pakistan-India relationship needs to change towards respecting all bilateral commitments. Pakistan cannot expect the IWT to survive eternally if it refuses to honour the terms of the central treaty governing bilateral relations  the 1972 peace pact signed at Simla. It also flouts its subsequent commitments not to allow its territory to be used for cross-border terrorism. Rights and obligations under the older IWT cannot override the terms of the Simla treaty, which provides the essential basis for all peaceful cooperation, including mandating the Line of Controls inviolability and dispute settlement by bilateral means.

Read: Petition in Supreme Court calls for scrapping of Indus Waters Treaty

Today, Pakistan, refusing to accept international norms of interstate behaviour, demands rights without responsibilities. It wages an undeclared war by terror to bleed the upper riparian while insisting that its target perpetually be munificent on water sharing. Just because a scofflaw State has enjoyed unparalleled water largesse for 56 years does not mean that such generosity by the upper riparian must last forever. Indeed, Pakistan challenges the very fundamentals of international law by seeking to repay its co-riparians water munificence with blood.

Like Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeares Macbeth, Pakistans terrorism-exporting generals must ask themselves whether all the waters flowing in the Indus system would wash this blood clean from their hands. Modi has rightly warned: Blood and water cannot flow simultaneously. In fact, Pakistans roguish conduct has armed India with the lawful option to invoke Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties to dissolve the IWT. In the interim, it could suspend the treatys implementation.

Read: Mutual trust must for treaties like on Indus water to work, says India

The purpose of any potential IWT-related action by India would not be to cut off water flows to Pakistan. Rivers flow from mountains to oceans or large lakes, and no nation can completely undo the laws of nature. Rather, the action would be aimed at India regaining sovereignty over the Jammu and Kashmir rivers, which the IWT has reserved for Pakistans use by limiting Indias full sovereignty to the three smaller rivers flowing south of J&K. No other modern treaty has partitioned rivers in such a blatant, neo-colonial manner.

By reclaiming its basic right over the J&K rivers, India could fashion water as an instrument of leverage to bring Pakistan to heel. Even a 10% diminution in transboundary water flows would hurt Pakistan, whose debt-ridden economy is reliant on earnings from agricultural exports, especially water-intensive rice and cotton. Pakistans per capita water use is almost 80% higher than Indias.

To deter India from employing its water leverage, the bugbear of Chinese retaliation has been invented. The plain fact is that China has little clout in the Indus basin: Four of the six rivers (including the two with the largest transboundary flows into Pakistan, the Chenab and the Jhelum) originate in India  three of them in Himachal Pradesh alone. The other two, the main Indus stream and the Sutlej, begin as small rivers in Tibet and collect their main water in India.

Read: Pak can go to International Court of Justice if India violates Indus pact: Aziz

China, which rejects water sharing even as a concept, is already doing whatever it wishes in other transnational basins. From the Brahmaputra and the Arun (Kosi) to the Mekong and the Salween, China is reengineering transboundary flows by building cascades of dams, with little regard for downstream impacts in Asia.

For India, reclaiming its leverage in the Indus basin is a cheaper option to reform Pakistans behaviour than fighting a war. Indeed, Indias best bet to end cross-border terrorism is employing peaceful options  from diplomatically isolating Pakistan and mounting riparian pressures to waging economic, cyber and asymmetric warfare. Modis IWT re-examination is a step in the right direction.

Brahma Chellaney is the author of Water, Peace, and War and Water: Asias New Battleground
It was in November 2014 that a large contingent of journalists stood watching the concluding ceremony of the 18th Saarc summit from the India media centre, located next to Kathmandus posh Soaltee Hotel  where South Asias top leaders were staying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, had been cold to each other at the inaugural function  an event coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the Mumbai attacks  the previous day. A multilateral agreement on connectivity had got held up because of Pakistani opposition. Islamabad had also tried to push Chinas membership, much to Indias chagrin.

Amidst this tense backdrop, a cheer went up. Journalists broke out in smiles: Modi and Sharif had finally shaken hands. The media got its headlines, and the Nepal government  which was playing host  was thrilled. The summit was salvaged. (In her book, journalist Barkha Dutt later revealed that the two leaders had actually met, quietly.)

Indias decision on Tuesday to pull out of the Saarc summit in Islamabad later this year is a reminder, yet again, of how relations between the two big states of South Asia have always held regional cooperation hostage. In a statement, Delhi has said that increasing cross-border terror attacks and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country (read Pakistan) have created a non-conducive environment for the summit.

The PM is committed to regional cooperation. This is reflected in the neighbourhood-first policy, and a range of regional initiatives he has pushed. But it would have been absurd to go to Pakistan when the country is sponsoring attacks and terror strikes, says a diplomatic source.

The decision, however, can only be understood in the backdrop of suspicion between the two countries.

When SAARC was first formed in the 80s, India saw the group as a gang-up of potentially hostile smaller states led by Pakistan. It simply went through the motions without investing in it. As India warmed up to the idea  recognising the importance of a stable region and pushing for integration and economic cooperation  Islamabad became wary of getting trapped in Indias economic designs. With its veto, it began blocking South Asian initiatives to spite India.

Tuesdays decision is a sign that India will continue to push the idea of South Asian regional cooperation minus Pakistan. Indias plan is to push engagement through bilateral or sub-regional channels. Modi had hinted at this approach during the last SAARC summit.

He spoke of the achievements on the bilateral front with various countries, particularly on connectivity. The bonds will grow through SAARC or outside it, among us all or some of us, he said. The hint was not hard to miss. If Pakistan did not want to come along, India would move ahead anyway  finding a different medium to do it. The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative is one example of this model.

Critics, however, point at the limitations of this approach. Geography cannot be ignored, and without Pakistan  and its people  inside, the South Asian bus will not go very far.

However, the Indian establishment has made its intentions clear for the moment. Unless Pakistans behaviour changes, Delhi will define South Asia in its own way.

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Two police officials in Balaghat district were suspended on Monday for beating up an RSS pracharak.

Baihar police station town inspector Zia ul Haq and sub inspector Anil Ajmaria were suspended for beating up Suresh Yadav (28), accused of uploading objectionable posts about All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi.

According to the police, Yadav was arrested from the local RSS office. But later he tried to escape and took shelter in one Swami Asatis house, from where he was subsequently nabbed. While in police custody, Yadav suffered internal injuries and was admitted to the district hospital in Balaghat, which referred him to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Medical College Hospital in Jabalpur.

Balaghat SP Asit Yadav said three cases have been registered at the Baihar police station. The first case is against the RSS worker for hurting religious sentiments, the second case is against the two police officers for assaulting him, and the third case has been filed by Asati against the two police officials for trespassing in his house.

The cops against whom the FIR was lodged include the additional superintendent of police Rajesh Sharma and town inspector Jiaul Haq for attempt to murder and house tress pass after preparation for assault under sections 307 and 452 of IPC, according to superintendent of police Balaghat Asit Yadav. However, no arrest has been made in connection with the FIR against the cops.

Meanwhile, shops and business establishments in Baihar remained closed on Monday, with many residents fearing a communal clash. Heavy police force was deployed in the area to avert any untoward incidents.
A few days ago, Jacqueline Fernandez was in Sri Lanka to receive the Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year award, under the Global Entertainer category.

read more I am single, have no time for love: Jacqueline Fernandez Didnt have any confidence before Kick: Jacqueline Fernandez

While she was there, Jacqueline also got the chance to spend some quality time with her family. In fact, she even taught yoga to her mother, father and siblings. Jacqueline is a fitness freak. She makes it a point to eat healthy too, says a source, adding, She turned yoga trainer for her family. It is important for Jacqueline to be disciplined in order to keep fit and maintain a perfectly toned body. She doesnt like giving her workouts a miss, says a source.

Happy birthday daddy @elroyjafernz i am everything I am today because you got me here! Wish I was there with you, hope I make you proud today with my speech at the European Parliament for @habitatforhumanity love youuuuuuuu  A photo posted by Jacqueline Fernandez (@jacquelinef143) on Apr 26, 2016 at 7:59am PDT

Jacqueline remained unavailable for a comment, but her spokesperson says, Yoga helps the actor maintain a positive outlook towards life, and she is keen on making her family adopt this healthy lifestyle too.

The Bollywood actor has now returned to Mumbai, and has resumed shooting for her next film, which features actor Sidharth Malhotra.

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Its quite clear that Sonakshi Sinha is having the best time of her life right now. And who could blame her?

Fresh from the critical acclaim for her women-centric, action-packed film Akira, she is now making the most of a holiday in the gorgeous islands of Seychelles, in East Africa.

Throughout Monday, Sona took to Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat to share photos from her picturesque vacation, including snaps of her enviable sculpted body basking in the sun.

The pretty lady also uploaded an underwater snap in an animal print swimsuit, captioning it, The kind of #mondayblues i like. Just the sea and me. Pure bliss.

Only weeks ago, Sona was taking to Instagram regularly to promote Akira and while her boxer braids were super cute, it was hard to focus on anything but her ever-shrinking waist. While she can partly thank genetics for her gorgeous skin, silky hair, and attractive physique, theres no question that Sona had been putting in (lots of) time at the gym.

Heres our round-up of the best Sonakshi Sinha Insta posts for some instant fit-spiration. If these shots of Sonakshi dont inspire you to hit the gym, nothing will.

For now, see more of Sonakshis dreamy getaway below, she posted on Insta and Snapchat.

Well hello paradise!! Finally made it to the stunning @jaresorts at #seychelles! Cant wait to get into that clear blue water!!! #JAResorts #EnchantedIslandResort #sonastravels A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Sep 24, 2016 at 11:36pm PDT

Waiting for the boat to come pick me up! Time for some snorkeling! @jaresorts #enchantedislandresort #seychelles #sonastravels A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Sep 26, 2016 at 12:42am PDT
In a veiled attack at the Maharashtra Navnirmana Sena (MNS) threats against Pakistani artists, Bollywood actor Juhi Chawla on Tuesday said that people, who have gone out of their senses, should think calmly to deal with problems better.

We have gone out of our senses. The issues raised are showing we are just trying to fix problems; we are not taking that out from the roots. It may not sound like a sensational answer to you, but it is the only answer. We have to change from within, said Juhi.

Further putting forward an example to it, Juhi asked the people to think calmly, speak calmly as there are nicer ways to deal with problems.

You can do that and work out for yourself whether that can be the remedy, she added.

On a related note, a Pakistani media today reported that amidst the threats by MNS, Bollywoods recent heartthrob Fawad Khan has left India before the release of his upcoming Karan Johar flick Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

The MNS had last week given an ultimatum to the Pakistani artistes to leave India within 48 hours or face consequences in the wake of the Uri terror attack.

This order, backed by the Shiv Sena, came after tension between the two Asian neighbours escalated to a new level post the terror attack in which 18 Indian army soldiers were martyred in a dastardly terror attack on an army base camp in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district.

The party also warned that it would not allow the release of the upcoming Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees as the movies star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Betting big on the Next Billion Users, search giant Google on Monday announced five new products, specifically tailored for users in the worlds second-largest Internet market.

So theres YouTube Go, a new app, which will function even when there is poor connectivity or none at all; the Google Assistant in Hindi inside messaging app Allo; Google Station, a platform to roll-out Wi-Fi hot spots in places frequented by a large number of people, such as malls, cafes and universities; data-saving features in its Chrome mobile browser; and faster browsing for Google Play on 2G connections.

While Allo with the English-language based Google Assistant was launched a week back, the other features will be launched soon, the company said.

The internet giant has outlined three areas on which the company was working to provide connectivity -- access (connecting people to the internet), platforms (letting people and developers share and build upon the internet), and products (providing better and more relevant Google experiences for Indians).

Our goal has not just been to help more Indians get online  but also to help Indians create the online experience they want; one that serves their needs and enables them to have an impact on the entire world. We have been thinking about how to build products and services for this wave of new users  products that work for any level of connectivity, in local Indian languages, and across the devices that are most frequently used in India, said Ceaser Sengupta, who heads Googles Next Billion Users initiative.

Ceaser Sengupta, who heads Googles Next Billion Users initiative, speaks during the second edition of the Google for India conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Google has already partnered with RailTel to provide free wi-fi across rail stations. Project RailWire currently provides free wi-fi in 40 stations in the country, catering to 3.5 million monthly users. The target is 400 stations by 2017.

Every three seconds an Indian is going online for the first time and the Station initiative is targeted at helping more users go online, Sengupta said.

He also announced fast browsing in Google Play for people on 2G and other low-bandwidth connections. Fast browsing uses pre-loading on Wi-Fi to load the most popular parts of Google Play quickly. When an user on a low-bandwidth connection chooses to install an app, Google Play will offer a new Wait for Wi-Fi option, where the app will only install when the phone connects nest time to the wi-fi.

On YouTube Go, Johanna Wright, YouTube vice-president for product management, said: YouTube Go was designed and built from the ground up with insights from India, in order to bring the power of video to mobile users in a way that is more conscious of their data and connectivity, while still being locally relevant and social.

YouTube Go allows users to save and watch videos smoothly even in poor connectivity, and also gives them transparency and control over how much data they consume on videos, allowing them to preview videos first and choose the videos file size before they save it offline to watch later. They can also share videos easily with friends and family nearby, without using any data at all.

Johanna Wright, YouTube vice-president for product management, speaks during the second edition of the Google for India conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

On the cards is also something called a Google Accelerator, a book-shaped device which will contain top 100,000 videos on YouTube. The company plans to place them in cafes, restaurants and other public places to help people directly stream videos from the box.

YouTube currently offers an offline feature under which users can download video over wi-fi to view them later.

The company also made incremental changes to its Chrome browser to make user experience better on slow networks. Data saver mode  which reduces the amount of data Chrome uses on Android mobile devices, computers, and Chromebooks  will now support MP4 videos, saving up to 67% of video data. Chrome on Android will also automatically optimise pages to their essentials when 2G-like networks are detected, said Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, vice-president, product management, Chrome.

Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, vice-president, product management for Chrome, speaks during the second edition of the Google for India conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The company also said that it was going to launch the Google Assistant on Allo in Hindi by the end of the year. The beta edition of Google Assistant, which can converse in English, can be used in Allo. The Assistant can throw up smart replies, suggest searches and answer simple questions. According to the company, the number of local language internet users would jump to 400 million by 2020, from 150 million now.

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Vodafones $7.2 billion cash injection into its Indian business has turned up the heat just days ahead of an $84 billion airwave auction that could decide who wins and loses in one of the worlds fastest-growing telecoms markets.

Spending may fall well short of that huge target.

But, industry insiders and advisers say, the race for premium spectrum will carve up 4G airwaves, and the spending splurge could even decide the size and timing of one of Indias largest listings -- Vodafones own Indian IPO.

Indias telecoms sector is crowded, cut-throat and often money-losing. Many carriers struggle under multibillion dollar debt piles left by past auctions, prompting industry bodies to caution that high prices -- as the government scrambles to close its budget deficit -- could dampen future investment.

But few players will be able to sit out Indias biggest auction, potentially more than double the size of all three past auctions. It will be a test of self-discipline, analysts and industry insiders say, but Vodafones cash boost is a sign of how high stakes will be when the sale begins on Saturday (Oct 1).

The arrival of Reliance Jio, a carrier backed by oil and gas giant Reliance Industries, has shaken up the sector in the past month, as it injects more than $20 billion to offer customers free data, calls and subsidised smartphones.

To battle Jio, analysts and industry players say, nationwide premium 4G services are a must. Both Vodafone, number 2 in India, and third-ranked Idea Cellular have 4G services in just about half of Indias 22 telecoms regions.

For two operators at least, this is the auction to make their data bets clear, said Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of top mobile carrier Bharti Airtels India and South Asia operations. Vodafone is basically telling you we are making a bet.

All eyes are on the premium 700 MHz band spectrum, which is being put on block for the first time and accounts for half the estimated value of the auction. But its steep price -- of $1.7 billion per megahertz -- could deter bidders, industry executives say, and interest could shift to the 1800 MHz band that can also do 4G and is available at less than a quarter of the price.

Airtel and Jio have nationwide offerings. But both are also expected to bid, largely to deal with volumes, raising interest and prices.

Ahead of Vodafones cash injection, analysts had expected more cautious bidding. But the blind auction rarely undershoots: Last year, the government raised a third more than it expected.

Despite a lot of scepticism, this will be a well participated auction, particularly for the people who do not have a good 4G footprint, said Sandip Das, senior adviser at industry consultant Analysys Mason and a former telecoms executive.

IPO ahead?

Vodafone has long been expected to list its Indian unit next year - an exercise in increased brand recognition as well as cash raising in a country with 1 billion phone subscriptions. It is expected to raise $2-$3 billion and could be Indias biggest offering.

How the spectrum sale goes, how much is spent and where, could decide the size and timing of Vodafones market debut, a person with direct knowledge of the listing process said. Part of the $7.2 billion will be used to pay down debt.

We will take a call after the spectrum auction. Nothing before that. Its too big an event, the person said. Difficult to say how aggressively Vodafone and Bharti will bid. People are keeping their cards close to their chest.

Vodafone declined to elaborate on the listing. It has been expected to make a decision by the end of this year. We are on schedule as per our internal timeline. We havent disclosed the timeline, a spokesperson for the Indian unit said.

The monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) for Indias telecoms industry, where many still use basic phones, was only 127 rupees ($1.90) in January-March, according to the regulator.

But Vodafone has crossed 200 million customers, including 107 million in rural areas, bringing it closer to Bhartis more than 257 million subscribers.

The upcoming auction will determine how fast Vodafone can catch up with Bharti and Jio on 4G. The majority of Vodafones revenue still comes from Europe, but a 22% market share in India contributes about 12% of sales.

Bharti, Vodafone, Idea and Jio did not comment on their auction strategy.
Since I moved here from New York, nearly three months ago, everyone Ive met has asked me some variation of this question: How could someone like Donald Trump have become a serious contender for the presidency of the US? Implied in the question is the assumption that someone so far removed from the American political establishment should not be able to make it this far in an election process apparently designed to protect the status quo.

But anything more than a cursory reading of American political history suggests the opposite is true: The election system allows, even encourages, outliers to make a run for the highest office, with the important caveat that they use one of the two dominant parties as their path to power. From Abraham Lincoln to Harry S Truman, US presidents have frequently been politicians who have either challenged the establishment, or have at least given voters the impression of doing so.

Read | Taxes, emails, racism: 10 takeaways from the first Trump-Clinton debate

Trump is not an unexpected, unlikely presence on the centre-stage of US politics, he is merely the latest representative of a well-established type: The Outsider. In my own adult lifetime, all but one of the American presidents have been men who projected themselves as anti-establishment challengers of the status quo. That image  and in some instances, it was no more than an image  is what voters seem to like.

I was still a child in 1977, when Jimmy Carter won power, largely by presenting himself as The Outsider. With the American political system still fresh from the disgrace brought upon it by Richard Nixon, voters were looking for a candidate with as little connection to the Washington elite as possible. Carter was a governor of Georgia (hardly the most consequential state in the country), and he played up his roots as a peanut farmer and Bible-spouting Christian, contrasting himself with the President Gerald Ford, who carried the taint of Nixon.

Read | Cold or coke?: Trump sniffles all the time and Twitter cannot take it

Four years later, Carter was beaten by a man who claimed to be even farther away from the cesspit of Washington: The actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan. Again, voters warmed to his projected image as a disruptor of politics as usual.

The trend was bucked by Reagans successor, George HW Bush, who was a Washington insider through and through, but who benefited from the fact that his rival, Democrat Michael Dukakis, was unable to credibly claim the mantle of The Outsider.

Bill Clinton, who came next, was the consummate political interloper from Arkansas, a state with little political weight on the national stage. He, too, made much of his humble roots, against Bushs perceived elitism. And Bush was weakened by the presence of a third candidate, billionaire Ross Perot, whose credentials as The Outsider were stronger than Clintons; the electorate was unwilling to stick its neck quite that far.

Read | Few N Koreans know about US polls; Hillary dull, Trump wise for those who do

Then came the strange case of George W Bush, a child (literally!) of the establishment who portrayed himself as an anti-establishment figure. He professed disdain for the Washington politics that had characterised his fathers career, instead touted his political roots in Texas, a state that revels in its opposition to the northeastern elites. It helped Bush Jr that his opponent, Al Gore, had even deeper ties to the establishment.

Until Donald Trump came along, Barack Obama was the most unlikely candidate to have ever won the presidency. Not only was he a Black man with a Muslim middle name, he built his platform around the promise of disrupting Washington politics. Remember Hope and Change? His opponents, meanwhile, were symbols of the status quo: Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Party primaries, and John McCain in the election. (McCain tried to compensate by picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, but not even her iconoclasm could offset his reputation as one of the establishments high priests.)

Read | After North Carolina: Reopening the black question

Apart from embracing otherness in pursuit of the highest office, these presidents all had one other thing in common: They did not to live up to their promise of challenging and changing Washington. We can discuss another day whether Washington can be changed by anyone aspiring to be The Outsider. The fact remains that Americans have consistently voted for just that, and their champions have consistently failed to deliver. Their disappointment is the deeper because the Washington elite, having co-opted their champions, have grown even less responsive to voters wants and aspirations.

Trump rides on that disappointment. He is The Outsiders Outsider, and his threat to tear down the establishment carries real menace. He takes such glee in humiliating the Washington elite, including the grand panjandrums of the Republican Party he purportedly represents, it is hard to see how he might work with them if he were to become president.

Read | O Trump! Keep Jerusalem out of your politics

This is precisely his appeal for voters who feel betrayed by career politicians posing as change agents. By burning his bridges with the establishment, Trump seems to have removed any likelihood of crossing over to the other side once in office.

This is why he has a chance of winning, no matter the outcome of one or two debates. Clinton, ever the embodiment of the establishment, should be scared. She should be very scared.

Bobby Ghosh is editor-in-chief of Hindustan Times

Twitter: @ghoshworld

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BISADA: Mohammad Danish cant sleep. It has been a year since a mob lynched his father, Mohammad Ikhlaq, on suspicions of cow slaughter but the young man is struggling to find a normal life in Delhis leafy Subroto Park.

The 22-year-old survived the attack with a fractured skull and underwent three surgeries soon after but says he is more scared of the nightmares.

Sometimes the nightmares wake me up. The angry faces, the distress calls of my father often come in my dreams and tear into my heart, says Danish, Ikhlaqs younger son. I was helpless, Iwas not able to protect him.

Ikhlaqs family fled their village  Bisada in Uttar Pradesh  soon after the incident and took shelter with his elder son, Sartaj, who works in the air force and lives in a cantonment in Subroto Park.

Ikhlaqs mob-lynching triggered a nationwide movement on intolerance and inspired hundreds of writers, academics and filmmakers to return their government awards in protest.

But for the family, little has changed. The incident seems to have hit Ikhlaqs wife Ikraman the hardest. She rarely meets anyone now and doesn t want to talk about the lynching. She says she has no friends in Subroto Park.

I fear everyones questioning eyes. I am tired of telling people what happened and why and that we are innocent, she says.

Ikhlaqs killers have not been convicted and earlier this year, police complaints were lodged against members of the family for alleged cow slaughter after the flesh reportedly recovered from his fridge was found to be beef. But Ikraman is determined to not be cowed down.

Now as he (Ikhlaq) has left this world, he has been made an accused of cow slaughter. This is disheartening. I have full faith in the judiciary. I know charges against him and all of my family will be dropped and his murderers will be hanged, she says.

His family did not celebrate Bakr Eid this year. They say they will never celebrate it again as Ikhlaq was murdered nearly a week after the festival.

No festival gives us joy. Bakr Eid reminds us the horrific past. We did not sacrifice any animal this year. We dont think we will be able to celebrate this festival ever again, says Ikraman.

Ikhlaqs mother Asghari, 78, says she feels like a misfit in the metropolis and misses life back in her ancestral home.

We never felt outcast in the village before the incident. Sometimes I feel like going back but I am scared of facing the families of those who killed my son. I dont want to see them ever. They ruined the lives of many people, she says.

Ikhlaq was not only a good son, he was a good father, a good husband and a good brother also.

Life for Sartaj  a corporal with the IAF  has also changed. He now carries a loaded licensed revolver and roams with an armed security personnel. In his spare time, he talks to lawyers and friends to strengthen the case against his fathers killers. Sartaj, however, refused to be interviewed citing professional restrictions.

His younger brother, Danish, is now planning to resume his routine of waking up at 5am for a run  preparation for the stringent physical examination to join the armed forces.

In our village, it is a tradition to join the armed forces. Now I know I would not be able to join such a job. However, I am willing to do something good in my life to make my family proud and earn some money, Danish told HT.

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September 26, 2016 | 08:28 pm PT

The app, Rada, connects users to an online marketplace of repair and home services.

A Vietnamese application named Rada has recently been granted a $40,000 subsidy package from FBStart, a new program designed by Facebook to help mobile startups.

Launched in 2015, Rada allowed users to search for motorcycle repairing services in their region. The application then expands to other areas like household equipment repair, healthcare, food, construction, electricity and water services.

The sum of $40,000, or nearly VND1 billion, will be converted into tools and services provided by Facebook and its partners, together with mentorship opportunities.

Co-founder Ta Quang Thai said the aid package, though not in cash, will help Rada strengthen its marketing strategies.

Currently, the app has been downloaded over 80,000 times from the Apple Store and Google Play with around 50 successful transactions per day.

Radas founders aims to reach 500,000 users by the end of 2016, with 500 professional service suppliers and 30 areas involved in their network.

Previously, a website developer from Ho Chi Minh City also managed to receive a similar $40,000 package from Facebook for his new mobile game "Shark Journey."

Related news:

> Vietnamese mobile start-up 'Shark Journey' snaps up $40,000 from Facebook

> Should the Vietnamese government invest in start-ups?
NEW DELHI: To establish ownership of brothels at GB Road, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has asked North Delhi Municipal Corporation to provide it with records and house tax records.

The DCW issued a notice to the municipal body asking about the action plan for demolition of illegal structures on GB road, which is known for prostitution and human trafficking.

The womens panel has asked the civic body to provide the details within two days. DCW asked the civic body to provide them, ownership record, house tax record and receipts and other relevant records for ascertaining the ownership of the brothels.

DCW officials said the commission has been conducting regular meetings with the police, government and North MCD to identify the owners of the brothels and to ensure that the tehkhanas (small rooms inside rooms) are demolished.

DCW has been appalled to note the presence of several illegal structures within the brothels which include tehkhanas (hidden cells) that are often used by brothel owners to hide trafficked girls, the notice issued on Monday said.

The notice said the commission has been repeatedly requesting North MCD to demolish the tehkhanas within the brothels and provide ownership details of the brothels, yet the same has not happened till date.

Earlier this month, DCW had conducted a number of raids in the area. DCW chief Swati Maliwal had, last week, alleged that she was being targeted due to efforts to rescue women from the brothels.
NEW DELHI: An NGO alleging unauthorised construction in the ecologically sensitive southern Ridge area by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has prompted the National Green Tribunal to seek a response from the Centre and the varsity on the issue.

A bench, headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar, issued notices to Ministry of Environment and Forests, JNU, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi government and others while seeking their reply within two weeks.

The order came on the NGO Chetnas plea against JNU, National Intelligence Grid and CRPF for constructing illegal buildings in the reserve forest area without environmental clearance.

Counsel appearing for the applicant submits that the present application would confine to the unauthorised construction of seven buildings in JNU Campus in violation of law and in the forest area. Issue notice to the respondents, the bench also comprising justice RS Rathore said and listed the matter for next hearing on November 7.

The NGO contended that JNU comes under the South Central Ridge (Reserve Forest) category and any type of construction is prohibited in it.

It claims that seven buildings were erected on the JNU campus without taking prior permission from Ridge Management Board threatening the areas ecology.

The buildings include 24 typeIII flats for staff at Paschimabad, sewage treatment plant in Saraswatipuram, new hostel building near Shipra hostel, Trans-Disciplinary academic building, Yamuna hostel warden flats and dining hall.
NEW DELHI: The backyard of Jamia Millia Islamia University has emerged as the danger zone for dengue outbreak in Delhi.

Fifty-five cases of dengue have been recorded in the residential areas around the university such as Shaheen Bagh, Abul Fazal Enclave, Okhla village, Zakir Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Okhla and Gaffar Manzil, according to data provided by municipal agencies till September 17.

Shaheen Bagh, an unauthorised colony in south east Delhi has reported 22 casesthe highestfollowed by Abu Fazal Enclave with 15 cases. TheOkhla area recorded four cases and one case was recorded from Okhla village. Five cases were reported from Zakir Nagar, seven from Jami aN agar and one from Ga ff ar Manzil.

Atotal of1,378 cases of dengue were reported till September 17.

South corporation, that collates the data of dengue cases in Delhi, has no information about the origin of other cases as either the patients address was not available or it couldn t be traced.

When HT visited, Shaheen Bagh,e very person in the locality knew someone, who has been affected with dengue.

SarojKhan, a resident, attributed the high number of cases in the locality to ram pant construction in the area.

Every locality you visit, you will find construction being done flouting all norms. The workers spray water on the walls of the new construction but do not bother to clean the water that gets accumulated there, she said.

Additional commissioner, SDMC, Meet aS inghsaidt hat the major reason behind the outbreak of the disease inthe area is un authorised construction, especially in basements.

People have constructed basements up to two floors illegal ly as it is easy to hide unauthorised construction below the ground. Secondly, our officials have to face lot of confrontation if they go to inspect, Singh said.

The corporation has got water pumped out from 30 basement sin the past threeweeks and around 60houseswerefined, saidasenior official of SDMC.

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NEW DELHI: The police have rescued two men who were kidnapped after they sold wheat flour to two of their clients in Delhi in the name of pseudo ephedrine, a party drug.

Sunil Kumar Thapa, 34, and Mohammad Ali ,32, were arrested on Sunday after police tracked them through mobile phone surveillance. Lalneisung, 42, and Zosangliana ,36, were rescued from Moradabad, 145 kilometres from Delhi.

The police said all the four are part of an inter-state drug trafficking ring.

The Shillong Police approached their Delhi counterparts after Lalneisungs wife registered a complaint on Friday. She told the police that her husband had gone to Delhi in the first week of September with Zosangliana and they have been kidnapped. She said the kidnappers have demanded 15 lakh ransom.

Lalneisungs wife deposited 3 lakh in a bank account in Delhi and also paid 1.40 lakh through hawala. Zosanglianas wife also paid 5 lakh through hawala, said joint commissioner of police, crime, RavindraYadav.

However, when they were not set free, Lalneisungs relative approached the police, he said. The police started tracking the phone numbers and raids were conducted in Delhi and Agra, said Yadav.

Lalneisung, an ex-serviceman, and Zosangliana worked for one Ashish. They used to get Ashish customers of pseudoephedrine and charged commission.

Ghani Bhai, a customer , approached Ashish through Zosangliana. Ghani Bhai paid 30 lakh to Ashish. He took the money and vanished. Ghani later realised that the packets given to him contained wheat flour. To take revenge, he abducted Lalneisung and Zosangliana, Yadav said.

Ghani abducted the two and called their families for ransom.

Based on the technical surveillance, the police got a tip-off that the abductors will visit Anand Vihar bus terminal road and nabbed Ghanis associates, Thapa and Ali. Ghani is yet to be arrested.

Police also recovered four mobile phones and 8 SIM cards from their possession.
What if all the cars were taken off the roads of Delhi for 17 years?

As you reach for your green calculator for the impact this will have on the air quality, oil and gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan would like you to know that the same results can be achieved by shutting down the power plant at Badarpur, on the edge of Delhi, for just a year.

All that the Arvind Kejriwal government needs to do is to stop buying power from this National Thermal Power Corporation plant, which runs on coal, and switch to its own plant at Bawana, which runs on natural gas.

You do this odd-even drama. I am presenting the facts here. Why do you go after symbolism? Pradhan said in an interview with HT.

A study released last year by the Centre for Science and Environment, the NGO, said the Badarpur facility was the most polluting power plant in the country. Pradhan said the Bawanaplant, which runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG), will emit a hundredth of what Badarpur does.

Natural gas is considered one of the cleanest-burning fuels for producing power, coal the dirtiest.

In June, Pradhan offered the Delhi government LNG at a price that would have helped the Bawana plant produce power at 5 to 6 a unit. But the Delhi government reportedly rejected the offer, and asked for even cheaper LNG. The Bawana plant now runs at just a sixth of its capacity.

The Delhi government wants domestic gas, but that is distributed according to a priority list and Delhi gets its share, Pradhan said.

As of today, this LNG will get you cheaper electricity. The cost may rise tomorrow, just like the prices of petrol and diesel change these days, the Union minister added.
At least 11,000 nursery seats meant for economically weaker section/disadvantaged (EWS/DG) category are lying vacant in private schools this year.

Activists say that such vacancies even after nine months of the admission process could be due to the poor implementation and monitoring of the online admission process.

For the first time this year, the government introduced an online system of application for the EWS/DG category students. The private unaided schools, which are built on government land reserve 25% seats for children whose parents income is less than R1 lakh per annum.

In an affidavit filed by the government at the Delhi High Court, out of the 28,135 seats in 1,159 schools, more than 19,000 seats have been filled. The affidavit was submitted by the government for a case filed by a social jurist on behalf of 80 students who were not able to get admissions.

Last year, when the admission process was offline, a total of 31,571 students had got admission at the entry-level class.

The online system is not wrong but there has been some problem with its implementation, said Khagesh Jha, an advocate.

He said that schools were not marked according to the pin code of the area and some colony names were missing from the list.

Areas such as Dwarka in the south-west and Patparganj in east Delhi were marked within a 1 km area in the online system so problems had to arise. They replicated the Rajasthan model but failed to customise it as per Delhis need. It is also surprising that this year the total number of seats in the category has been reduced and the government is not talking about it, said Jha.

Rajasthan has one entry level admission and they only consider the 1 km neighbourhood distance. However, in Delhi, entry level admission takes place in pre-school, nursery and KG with varying neighbourhood distances for admission in each of the classes.

The government said that online system is not over yet but they will fill all the seats.

Admission process is not over yet. The deputy district education (DDE) officers have inspected 150 schools, the report of which will be filed within a day or two. Once we get the report with details of seats then the third round of admission will start, said Saumya Gupta, director, directorate of education.

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For most Delhiites, choking on heavy fumes from diesel vehicles on city roads is a part of everyday life. With each breath of the polluted city air, they are at greater risk of respiratory ailments, heart diseases, cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.

The Capital has over 8.9 million registered vehicles and another 50,000 commercial vehicles enter the citys borders each night.

A two-year analysis, submitted by IIT Kanpur to the Delhi government, identified the major contributors to the citys pollution levels. Vehicular emissions were found to be among the top two contributors.

Read more: In the time of climate change, a few smart lessons for Delhi

According to the report, pollution from vehicles grew from 64% to 72% between 1990 and 2000. During the winter season, on an average vehicles contribute up to 25% of PM2.5 and at certain locations this could be above 35%.

In winters, 46% particulate emissions (PM10) were attributed to trucks and 33% to two wheelers. Four wheelers trailed behind at 10%, followed by buses (5%) and light commercial vehicles (4%), the study found. More than a third (38%) of the small particulate matter (PM2.5) not visible to the naked eye was contributed by road dust, while 20% was from vehicular emissions.

Small particles are the most dangerous as they enter the walls of lungs and clog it. This causes severe respiratory problems and other degenerative diseases, said Dr Anant Mohan, lungs specialist, AIIMS.

What next

To reduce vehicular pollution the government has taken measures such as introduction of BS-VI standards for fuel by 2020. This will cut down diesel vehicle emissions to petrol levels for all pollutants and slash 55% of the particulate matter and 47% of nitrous oxide emissions. Besides this, initiatives are also being taken to encourage the market of e-vehicles in the city.

However, this not enough to control vehicular emission.

Just giving subsidies on e-vehicles will not help. The government first needs to provide proper infrastructure. I have two electricity driven cars but I think twice before taking them out for long rides. There are no charging points anywhere in the city and I have to rely on personalised charging kits which I got along with the car, said Sunil Kumar Dahiya, a pilot with a private airline who has been using e-cars for the past two years now.

Click here to view HTs real-time air quality map

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said vehicular emission has remained a significant source of pollution in the city and the governments odd-even road rationing scheme and orders to limit the registration of diesel vehicles have proved this.

The government needs to proactively work on a comprehensive policy package that includes phasing in a policy of obsolescence for vehicles, congestion fees, expansion and integration of public transport. Measures have been taken, but we need to keep up the momentum and encourage public participation, Roychowdhury said.

In 2013, Dr Sarath Guttikunda published a study on environment according to which vehicular emissions contributed 90%, 54% and 33% to Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), suspended particulate matter and sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission, respectively.

In the same year, a study led by Dr Pramila Goyal of IIT-Delhis Centre for Atmospheric Studies flagged emissions from two wheelers as a matter of concern. Two wheelers contribute between 40% and 60% of the total pollution from vehicles, the study said. It identified Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) to be the major contributors to particulates (92%).

Market trends also show the citys heavy reliance on private vehicles. Last year, Delhi recorded a 9.5% increase in the sale of cars, excluding the luxury segment.

Only a good public transport system can reduce peoples dependence on private vehicles. If we do not provide them a comfortable, cheap and well-connected alternative, it will be unfair to expect people to not use their cars, said PK Sarkar, head of department (transport planning) at the School of Planning and Architecture. As the dependence on private vehicles increases, the air pollution levels will become more uncontrollable.

Read | Over 90% of world breathing poor quality air, says extremely concerned WHO

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The Income Tax (IT) Department has summoned Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain to appear before it for his alleged involvement in a hawala transfer case of Rs 17 crore. Refuting the allegation, AAP minister confirmed he had been asked to appear as a witness under section 131 of IT act. He alleged it was a political conspiracy and hinted at an expose by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal soon.

This is reassessment notice. I made investments in a few companies four to five years ago. The department is making reassessment of those companies and I have been summoned as a witness. This is not an investigation. I have no connections with these companies now. When I contested the election first time, I separated myself from these companies, Jain said.

Sources in the know of the matter also confirmed that an income tax summon had been issued to Jain to appear before the department on October 4, in connection with an alleged hawala transaction.

Jain further added that this is political conspiracy and the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will make a big expose in the Assembly after two days in this regard.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal tweeted in the morning to defend his minister. I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he were guilty, we wud have thrown him out. We stand by him, he tweeted.

In another tweet, he also alleged conspiracy. False cases against AAP MLAs n ministers, FIR against me, CBI raid on me - why? A v big conspiracy. Will expose in Del Assembly on Fri.

I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he were guilty, we wud have thrown him out. We stand by him  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 27, 2016

False cases against AAP MLAs n ministers, FIR against me, CBI raid on me - why? A v big conspiracy. Will expose in Del Assembly on Fri  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 27, 2016

According to the department, four companies have illegally transferred Rs 17 crore while he allegedly received cheques issued to these companies.
An hour before they murdered their teacher, the two Class 12 boys had gone to the vice-principals office seeking the 17-year-old students transfer certificate. The juvenile had been rusticated because of low attendance.

While they spoke inside the vice-principals office, Vivek Jha, 18, the juveniles associate, had a knife hidden under his shirt. The two told police that the vice-principal refused to give the transfer certificate and instead asked them to meet their class teacher Mukesh Kumar.

They told us they were furious and would have knifed the principal in his room but could not do it because other teachers came there, an officer said.

Read more: Teacher dies after two Class 12 students stab him in Delhi school

At around 5 pm, they met Kumar who was in room number 108 on the first floor of the building. Kumar asked them to write an application for the transfer certificate. They were already furious with him for trying to improve them. As per their plan, they decided to stab him, said an investigating officer.

MURDER PLANNED A WEEK AGO

A week before they stabbed Kumar, the two had planned to kill him. For a week, they saved around Rs 200. On Monday afternoon, they went to the local Sultanpuri market near the school and bought a knife for Rs 100. Jha had hidden the knife under his shirt.

The 17-year-old was rusticated around three months ago. He was taken back after parents requested the school authorities. He was again rusticated on September 12 for poor attendance.

While the juvenile was expelled, Jha was on the verge of being expelled. On September 13  a day after the juveniles expulsion  some students reportedly sent an anonymous chit to the vice-principal that Jha and the juvenile have planned a murder. Their parents were called and the matter was settled, an officer said adding that the school vice-principal had threatened to inform the police the next time.

Joint commissioner (south west), Dependra Pathak, said the police were not informed by school authorities.

Jha and the juvenile told police that Kumar was hard on them and abused them in the class. Police are probing the role of other students, who may have known about the murder.

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The Delhi government has asked a panel set up by lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung to discontinue work till the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the role and powers of the L-G.

The three-member committee was set up to scrutinise around 400 files cleared by the Aam Aadmi Party government in the last one and a half years.

Calling the panel illegal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said, The Cabinet found the L-G doesnt have any power to constitute such panel to examine files of Delhi government and it is illegal. As the members of the panel are eminent persons, we request them not to scrutinise files till the Supreme Court rules in the matter, Sisodia said.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. The cabinet resolved that Sisodia will write to members of the panel to request them to keep their functioning in abeyance till the apex court gives an order in the matter.

The cabinet noted that the exercise has brought governments important works to a halt. It has also created a feeling of uncertainty and fear among officers. As a result, public interest is gravely affected, the cabinet observed.

Jung had constituted the panel last month. It was claimed that they contained infirmities and irregularities and that decisions based on the file notings violated norms and procedures.

The appointment of the panel comprising former CAG VK Shunglu, former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami and ex-chief vigilance commissioner Pradeep Kumar, came after the Delhi high court ruled the LG is the administrative head of the Delhi government.

The AAP government had approached the Supreme Court challenging the HC order and the apex court listed the matter for final hearing on November 15.

The cabinet noted that the three-member panel was also summoning officers in connection with its examination of the files and in the process, respective ministers are being kept in the dark.

The cabinet also noted that neither the Constitution nor the GNCTD Act (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, Act), 1991 or the Transaction of Business Rules made the L-G confer any sanctity or locus on the appointment of such a committee or its examination of the current files of government.
A farmer harvests dried sugarcane on her drought-stricken farm in Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Photo by Reuters/Kham

"Lead less and facilitate more" was the message directed at the government.

Vietnam has emerged from a poor country in the last two decades where the government used to ration rice and other staples to a lower middle-income nation.

The countrys success, however, has come at a price, said the World Bank in its newly released Vietnam Development Report 2016, titled Transforming Vietnamese Agriculture: Gaining More from Less.

The countrys agricultural output is exacting a price on the environment, Ousmane Dione, World Banks Country Director for Vietnam, said at a press conference Tuesday in Hanoi.

'Business-as-usual' is no longer an option for the sectorgrowth has slowed down, it is vulnerable to climate hazards, and leaves a large environmental footprint, he added.

The Vietnamese government has been consistent with agricultural intensification to achieve its food security targets as well as to boost profits from export earnings in the short term, said Steve Jaffee, the World Banks lead agricultural economist.

Vietnam is a relatively heavy user of fertilizer and pesticides. The report estimated that Vietnamese rice farmers use more than 6.7 million tons of fertilizer per year. To put the figure into perspective, the use of fertilizer in Vietnam is from 30200 percent higher than in other Southeast Asian countries.

Pesticide use in Vietnam has increased sharply since the mid-2000s when the government encouraged more intensive production. Frequent spraying of crops has contributed to growing concerns about pesticide residue. Due to past violations, various Vietnamese products entering developed markets including the U.S. and the European Union are now subject to more frequent sampling and testing.

Vietnam has tolerated some environmental consequences to keep up the momentum of its agricultural sector, and policies have been primarily geared towards expanding output in order to meet food security, economic growth and trade targets.

However, things have not turned out the way they were expected.

Statistics show that between 1994 and 2000, the average rate of annual growth of Vietnams agriculture sector was an impressive 4.5 percent. Between 2001 and 2007 the average growth rate fell to 3.3 percent per year, and from 2008 to 2013, it dipped to 2.6 percent.

In the first half of this year, the agriculture sector took a hard hit from the worst drought and saltwater intrusion in nearly a century, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, indicating the sector recorded negative growth of 0.18 percent.

Most of Vietnam's agricultural trade is in the form of raw commodities, typically sold at prices lower than those of leading competitors due to quality, said Jaffee.

According to the World Banks report, Vietnams agriculture sector is at a turning point.

Its now not the matter of choice. Its the matter of must, said Henning Pederson, the International Fund for Agricultural Developments Country Director for Vietnam, saying Vietnam cannot afford to wait any longer for agricultural reform.

Higher production volume naturally requires more farm land

The report offers various policy recommendations to address the challenges, of which senior economist Pham Chi Lan stressed the importance of the government recognizing farmers land use rights.

It is essential for the government to push forward land reforms and give farmers more property rights, said economist Lan.

She added that it is impossible for farmers to make long-term investments without land ownership. For example, securing a bank loan is a challenge for farmers who do not have land to mortgage.

Lan said Vietnamese lawmakers should revise the law to give farmers some rights in a country where all the land belongs to the state under the constitution.

In an attempt to transform the sector, Vietnam should increase its investment in the sector that contributes 25 percent of the countrys GDP and employs 35 percent of the total workforce, said Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, the director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Official figures show currently only 5-6 percent of Vietnams total investment goes to the agricultural sector, and only about 1 percent of foreign direct investment is flowing into the sector, Tuan said.

He added that large-scale farming and well-developed infrastructure are the best way of drawing foreign investors into the agricultural sector.

The government can also play a crucial role by combining fragmented farmland and developing infrastructure, he said.

Experts and economists at the press conference proposed several solutions to transforming the agricultural sector. And the solution, agreed by all, was to call on the government to lead less and facilitate more.

Related News:

> Vietnam mulls pooling farmland to boost productivity: official

> Vietnamese farmers indignant as Mekong Delta prays for flood waters to arrive

> Go organic: how to increase the value of Vietnam's rice exports

> Organic farming takes baby steps to meet growing demand

> Drought and salinity rock Vietnam's economy in first half of 2016

> Vietnam looks to divest from all agricultural SOEs by 2017
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the murder of a government schoolteacher Mukesh Kumar, allegedly by his students. A compensation of Rs 1 crore has also been granted to the teachers family.

Deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia made an announcement in this regard on Tuesday. Kumar was stabbed by two students in a government school in Nangloi on Monday evening. Kumar passed away in a hospital late last night.

The Delhi Police have arrested the class XII student and apprehended his juvenile accomplice, who allegedly stabbed their teacher.

Sisodia said following the complaints by both families that negligence by the administration led to the incident, a magisterial enquiry has been ordered. When I went to the see Kumar in the hospital last night, his family also complained about negligence by the hospital authority and administration. Hence, I ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter whether there was any lapse on the part of administration and hospital authority, Sisodia said.

Earlier, Sisodia posted a tweet announcing the compensation on Tuesday. Loss to the family of teacher Mukesh Kumar cant be compensated. The government will give Rs 1 crore ex-gratia relief to his family immediately, his tweet said.

Read: Delhi govt school teachers demand security after students kill colleague

Sisodia also expressed his concern over the incident involving students and said it was now the responsibility of parents and students to restore the confidence of teachers. At least 26 lakh students are enrolled in Delhi government schools. Just because of two students having criminal tendency, all students should not be considered criminals, he said adding that at the same, we need to restore confidence among teachers.

It is high time parents explained to their children that if a teacher says something, it is for their betterment. Parents and students should tell teachers that they respect them. They should do every possible effort to restore their pride, Sisodia said.

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The death of a teacher who was stabbed by two 12th standard students after he had complained to their parents about their indiscipline, has triggered panic among government school teachers and a demand for higher security.

Mukesh Kumar, a Hindi teacher of a Delhi government school died Monday night in a hospital after being stabbed inside a room in the school.

On several occasions, teachers in government schools had raised the issue of deteriorating discipline among students as a major cause of concern. Now, Mukesh Kumars murder could be the last straw.

Last week during the assembly one of the student beat up a physical education teacher in front of everyone. We had to call the police and hand over the student, said a teacher of government school.in Delhis Bawana area.

More worryingly, he added that such incidents of student misbehaving with teachers and bringing objects such as knives to school have become regular feature.

Teachers of the government boys senior secondary school, Sultanpuri Road at Nangloi where Kumar was a teacher, say the students had been threatening them.

Over the last few years, there have been incidents where teachers had to be hospitalised after being assaulted by students.

In March 2015, a principal at Tughlaqabad was attacked by a student and was left bleeding from his ears. The student had also vandalised the school property.

In 2014, a teacher in Madanpur Khadar had to be admitted to an ICU after allegedly being beaten by parents and students.

In 2011, an 8th standard student in Rohini pulled a 58-year-old teacher by her hair, kicked her and slashed her chin with a sharp object after she asked him to submit his notes during an exam and stop talking loudly. Other teachers had to intervene to rescue her.

Teachers now say they prefer to ignore the indiscipline among students as they cannot risk their lives.

Parents also come and charge us sometimes. They blame the teacher for everything even if he just asks the students to dress well and come to school. So it is better to keep quiet then face disrespect, said a teacher of the government boys senior secondary school in Sonia Vihar.

A teacher who has taught in four different schools in the last 21 years said, These days children have no fear and respect. Once I had scolded a student, the very next moment he walked to me took out his mobile phone and said whether he should file a complaint that he was beaten. I was left aghast.

He says that 10 years back students would listen to what teachers had to say.

Earlier even if we beat them up for running away from schools or not doing homework, there wasnt a fear anything would happen to us. Now we never know what children might just do, he said.

Now, in the wake of Kumars murder, teachers are demanding more security personnel to be deployed in schools.

The government school teachers association (GSTA) has written to Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia demanding tight security.

Security guards of higher standards be employed in schools and beat officers from the police should also be placed outside schools, GSTA said in a letter to Sisodia.

Read:

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The income tax (I-T) department has summoned Delhis health minister Satyender Jain in connection with transactions worth Rs 16.38 crore involving three companies promoted by him, a move that could trigger another political slugfest between the AAP government and the Centre.

Summons dated September 22 asked Jain to appear before the department on October 4 with the books of accounts and other documents of the three companies  Indo Metallimpex, Paryas Infosolution, Akinchan Developers.

Officials said the details of the transactions and a possible involvement of Jain came from the income tax departments Kolkata branch, where a hawala dealer, identified as Jevinder Mishra, was being investigated.

Jain denied any wrongdoing.

As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four years ago, but I have nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong, Jain told reporters. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation.

According to Registrar of Companies filings, Jain resigned from these companies on July 31, 2013. The tax department has asked Jain to furnish details of three years from 2011-13.

Reacting to the news reports, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he were guilty, we wud have thrown him out. We stand by him.

The BJP accused Jain of being involved in money laundering and demanded that Kejriwal must live up to his claims of taking action against corrupt leaders. BJP secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said Rs 5 crore was the total value of immovable assets declared by Jain in his election affidavit in 2015, contrary to his present claims that he had invested Rs 17 crore in 2013.

Why 2013 investments were not reflected in the 2015 affidavit? Why did he hide the facts behind which he is taking refuge now, Singh asked. The BJP leader said Kejriwal sat on a dharna outside the then BJP chief Nitin Gadkaris residence over false charges, but was hesitant in acting against his minister. Why not action against Satyendra Jain? Kejriwal owes an explanation, Singh said.

Read | Another minister out, Kejriwal finding it hard to hold cabinet together
A former director general in the corporate affairs ministry and his son were found dead at their east Delhi home on Tuesday, two months after his wife and daughter killed themselves over his arrest for alleged corruption.

BK Bansal was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his bedroom by the familys domestic help, a day after he visited the CBI headquarters to deliver a handful of documents. His 31-year-old son, Yogesh, was also found hanging in his room.

Domestic help Rachna had earlier discovered the bodies of Bansals 58-year-old wife Satya Bala and daughter Neha, 28, in two rooms of their home at Neelkanth Apartment in east Delhis Madhu Vihar area on July 19.

The CBI arrested Bansal on July 16 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 20 lakh from Mumbai-based firm Elder Pharmaceutical, which has been accused of duping 24,000 investors of Rs 176 crore through a fraudulent investment scheme. He was accused of taking the bribe to scuttle an investigation against the firm.

The mother-daughter duo wrote in their suicide notes that they lost the will to live because of the humiliation when CBI officials searched their home and arrested Bansal.

Taking note of the unfortunate events in his family after his arrest, a special CBI court granted the former bureaucrat bail in August.

But on Tuesday, the 59-year-old Bansal and his son were found hanging in the same rooms where his wife and daughter hanged themselves.

Police said the duo left behind separate suicide notes in which they allegedly blamed CBI officials of harassment that the family to kill themselves within two months. Four photocopies of each note, written and signed in Hindi, and photos with contact numbers of their relatives were also recovered.

Addressing his five-page note to the CBI director, a police officer said, Bansal demanded the central investigating agency to initiate a probe into the harassment by CBI officials, including a DIG-rank officer.

Yogeshs two-page note contained similar allegations, the officer said.

Since the case was being probed by CBI, we have forwarded the suicide notes to them. We have initiated inquest proceedings to ascertain if any criminality was involved the suicide pact, said SBK Singh, the special commissioner of police (law and order, north).

Police suspect the father and sons suicide pact was planned on Monday evening when they told Rachna to come late the next day and that the main door would be left open for her.

When Rachna went to clean Bansals room, she found him hanging with a rope around his neck. She rushed to Yogeshs room and found him in a similar state, deputy commissioner of police (east) Rishipal Singh said.

She immediately rushed down to the apartment security officers room, raised the alarm and fainted.

We are deeply saddened to know the unfortunate demise of BK Bansal and his son today. The matter is being looked into by local police, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said.

The agency clarified that the younger Bansal, who was reported to be under the scanner, was neither an accused nor was he summoned in the alleged bribery case. The CBI has yet to complete the investigation and file a charge sheet.

The agency had arrested four people, including Bansal, the senior-most officer of the Indian Corporate Law Service, and Delhi-based middleman Vishwadeep Bansal. The agency suspects Bansal was involved in other irregularities as well since he got elevated to the post of director general last year, said a source.

The CBI teams found Rs 56 lakh and documents related to 20-odd properties in his home.

Being the senior-most officer in the Corporate Law Service of India, Bansal was the authority that gave technical advice to the government on such issues and had, therefore, received the ministry probes inspection report against Elder Pharmaceutical.

But he did not act on its recommendations, a source said.
Hours before he committed suicide inside his Neelkanth Apartment residence along with his son, BK Bansal, the former director general in the corporate affairs ministry had visited the CBI headquarters to deliver some documents.

Bansal was not called in for questioning or summoned on Monday. He had visited the agency headquarter to hand over some documents pertaining to the case, said a CBI official.

Following the suicide of Bansal and his son, the agency said the Bansals son Yogesh was neither an accused nor been summoned by the agency in the case of alleged bribery against his father.

The CBI is yet to complete its investigation in the case and file a chargesheet.

We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of BK Bansal and his son today (Tuesday). The matter is being looked into by the local police, CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said.

Read more: Ex-bureaucrat, son found dead months after wife, daughter killed themselves

Guar added that Bansal  a general rank official in the ministry of corporate affairs  was arrested on July 16, 2016, by the agency on charges of accepting bribe.

Bansal was granted interim bail by a special CBI court from July 20, 2016 to August 21, 2016, to attend the last rites of his wife Satyabala, 57, and daughter Neha, 27, who had committed suicide on July 22 in their apartment.

After expiry of his interim bail, Bansal was given regular bail on August 30, 2016.

The case is under investigation, Gaur added.

The CBI is yet to address allegations of harassment leveled in the suicide notes left behind by Bansal and his son.

The agency had charged Bansal with accepting bribe and attempting to stall a probe against a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company owned by TV actor Anuj Saxena. The CBI alleged that Bansal sought bribe in order to save his company Elder Pharmaceuticals from an investigation. Saxena has been named in the FIR as an accused and his anticipatory bail has been rejected.

The CBI claims that it nabbed Bansal red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 9 lakh from middleman Vishwadeep on behalf of Saxena. The deal had allegedly been set for Rs 20 lakh and the investigators said Bansal had already received the first installment of the of Rs 11 lakh.

Bansal belonged to the Indian Corporate Law Services and was promoted to the post of director general of corporate affairs last year.

The CBI has so far arrested two more accused  Vinod Singh and Gopal Krishnan  in the case.
Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who recently broke her 16-year long hunger strike to fight the elections, met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday and sought his advice on ways to defeat major political parties.

Sharmila broke her fast against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) on August 9 and said she will contest the Manipur assembly election next year. She was sitting on the fast since November 2, 2000.

In a 45-minute long meeting, Kejriwal assured Sharmila his full support and best wishes.

Met Irom Sharmila. I salute her courage and struggle. My best wishes and full support in her political endeavours, Kejriwal tweeted after the meeting.

Sharmila also met deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Read: A new beginning: Irom Sharmila starts life outside hospital

She has expressed her decision to fight the upcoming assembly polls in Manipur. For that she wanted the chief ministers advice on defeating major political parties as AAP has done the same in Delhi, an official said.

Officials said that she discussed political strategies involved in forming a party and ways to win elections. As she wants to do the same in her state, she wanted to understand the strategies for winning elections, the official said.

Sharmila did not talk to media after the meeting and said that she will give a statement later.

Sharmila has said that she wants to become the chief minister of the state so that she could fight for repeal of AFSPA. Sharmila has already announced that she would soon float a new regional party under the banner of which she will contest the polls.
The murder of a teacher by two Class 12 students in a Delhi government school triggered protests on Tuesday, with the victims colleagues demanding a speedy probe into the incident.

Mukesh Kumar, a Hindi teacher, was allegedly attacked with a knife at Government Boys Senior Secondary School in west Delhis Nangloi around 5pm on Monday. The 45-year-old succumbed to his injuries later that night.

This incident has happened to a very nice person. He was a very hard-working teacher. The whole society of teachers is very sad over this incident. And we demand that the government gives the kin of the deceased Rs 5 crore as compensation and his children government jobs according to their calibre.

...we also demand that those students be punished, said Rajbeer, senior vice-president of a committee of government school teachers.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has announced an aid of Rs 1 crore for Kumars family. He said his government respects teachers and thinks the contribution of a teacher in the society is as important as a soldier guarding the border.

A history teacher in the same school said the accused were regular offenders. They attacked Kumar after he allegedly informed their parents about their indiscipline.

The boys were regular miscreants. They used to create indiscipline all the time, they even used to bunk classes and the school. They had a group. We did counsel them, but it had no effect. The victim, Mukesh Kumarji, was their class teacher.

We tried to inform their parents, summoned them but none of them paid heed. Then, we posted letters when parents of a few children came to the school and we informed them, said Jasveer Chillar, the history teacher.

Chillar said the incident took place after 5pm when Kumar was arranging answer sheets after an examination. He also said that the accused stabbed Kumar and ran away.

We came running, but by that time the accused had run away...We tried to catch them, but they jumped across the wall and ran away, he said.

Police have identified the two boys and detained them.
The interest that the youth of Kashmir have shown to take up the job of special police officers (SPOs) only segments the huge unemployment problem in Jammu and Kashmir. Some of the young persons have post-graduate degrees, from notable places such as the Indira Gandhi National Open University at that. But the disheartening part of this is that about 10,000 people will get jobs in this recruitment drive while 650,000 people in the Valley alone are looking for employment. The problem has been made more acute by the unrest this year, which, according to a report in Hindustan Times, has created a loss of Rs 8,000 crore to the states trade and industry. And this is just in continuum with the floods two years ago, because of which, Assocham had estimated, the states economy took a hit of Rs 5,400-5,700 crore, with the maximum damage caused to trade, hotels, restaurants, horticulture and handicrafts.

Read: Kashmir violence hurts apples, tourism; over Rs 8,000cr lost in 2 months

Still this is a good effort by the state government and it should be able to calm down the street protests to some extent. But there are layers of problems inherent in this exercise. One is that the state government is screening those who had been part of the protesting groups. While one cannot deny that there are enough reasons to do so, one has also to take into account if this can stir up the youth. After all, for each young man getting the job, there are many who are not getting it. Besides, there is a precedent in this. When the Chhattisgarh police began recruiting SPOs as part of anti-Maoist operations in 2005, the hiring created a controversy because it was alleged that the state police was recruiting teenagers. Notable citizens such as former bureaucrat EAS Sarma challenged their hiring in the Supreme Court in May 2007 as being tantamount to the state arming civilians. The police in Chhattisgarh use young tribals as informants, and rely on them to negotiate little-known and remote forested terrain. Hence the Jammu and Kashmir government should follow all procedures in such matters because a public interest petition in court can lead to indefinite delay in hiring.

Read: Sufi leaders to visit Kashmir, appeal for peace

So everything considered, this is at best a palliative. Unemployment is just one of the states many other problems, which cannot be solved without the central governments intervention. For that a peace process and a political dialogue, which PM Narendra Modi has stressed from time to time, are needed. It is for the political class to lay the foundation for it.
Oscar-winning Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will begin shooting a movie about Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar next month, the married couples first film together since 2008.

Escobar, a Spanish-Bulgarian joint project to be filmed in Colombia, will go into production on October 24 with Bardem playing Escobar and Cruz playing his lover, journalist Virginia Vallejo, producers said Tuesday in a statement.

This is not a biopic, not just the story of a tough gangster. This is the story of the man who changed the history of crime in the last decades of the 20th century, the films producer, Miguel Menendez de Zubillaga, said in the statement.

Husband and wife off screen, the last time the two appeared together in a movie was in the 2008 Woody Allen romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Cruz won a supporting-actress Oscar for her role.

Bardem won a supporting-actor Oscar for the 2007 crime thriller No Country for Old Men.

Escobar will be directed by Spains Fernando Leon de Aranoa whose credits include the 2002 film Mondays in the Sun also starring Bardem, for which both got Spains Oscar-equivalent Goya for best director and best actor.

Escobar was the boss of one of the worlds most powerful criminal organisations and Colombias most-wanted fugitive.

The Colombian farmers son who became the worlds seventh-richest man with his ruthless dominance of the global cocaine trade was hunted for years before police killed him in his hometown of Medellin in 1993.

Over the years, thousands of people were killed in violence unleashed by his Medellin cartel.

He has recently inspired several films and series including Narcos, a hit on Netflix which is in its second season.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
What were the films and who were the actors who stood out at the latest film festivals? In the wake of the Venice, Toronto and Telluride festivals, here is an update on the movies and players potentially in the running for the 2017 Oscars.

In the period from September to December, the pace of superhero epic and action blockbuster releases slows down to make way for potential Oscar-winning works. This year is no exception with studios and distributors preparing to launch the movies they feel stand the best chance in the 89th Academy Awards at a time when they will still be fresh in the minds of the 2017 jury. What are the movies that will benefit from this Hollywood marketing strategy?

Top favourite: La La Land

Having won the Peoples Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, La La Land is now a serious contender for the 2017 Oscar for Best Picture. The Canadian accolade should not be overlooked. In fact it is a more than reliable indicator for the likely winner of a much-coveted gold statuette, having been awarded to such previous Oscar winners as Twelve Years a Slave, The Kings Speech, Slumdog Millionaire and American Beauty.

But it would be unwise to bet on the musical comedy which features Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling without evaluating the chances of some of the other movies that have come to light in the latest festivals: notably Manchester by the Sea, which is buoyed by a remarkable performance by Casey Affleck, Jeff Nichols Loving, Denis Villeneuves Arrival, Nocturnal Animals by Tom Ford, which won the Silver Lion at the 73rd Venice Mostra, and the biopic of Jackie Kennedy, Jackie, which could harvest a second Oscar for Natalie Portman.

However, competition for Best Actress in a Leading Role looks set to be fierce this year. Having garnered an award in Venice, Emma Stone has every chance of gaining a nomination. Ruth Negga (Loving), Amy Adams (Arrival), Viola Davis (Fences) and Taraji P Henson (Hidden Figures ) are other likely contenders, as is French actress Isabelle Huppert for her much-noted performance in Paul Verhoevens Elle. As for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), Joel Edgerton (Loving), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nocturnal Animals), Denzel Washington (Fences), Dev Patel (Lion) and Tom Hanks (Sully) could all be in the running.

A more diverse Oscars?

Several films that stand to be selected could also turn the page on the controversy surrounding the 2016 Oscars which was judged to be too white. Even if The Birth of a Nation does not currently look to be a competitor, the film which tells the story of a slave revolt may nonetheless be nominated. Other films that look likely to garner nominations include Moonlight, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The story of an African-American growing up in a Miami neighbourhood has already been hailed as major work of independent cinema.

Hidden Figures which casts Octavia Spencer and Taraji P Henson as mathematicians who, in spite of being overshadowed by their male colleagues, contributed to the success of the Apollo space program, and Denzel Washingtons Fences, which features Viola Davis, have also been tipped for Oscar nominations.

However, we will still have to wait close to five months to see which way the jury votes in the 2017 Academy Awards which will be held on February 26 in Los Angeles. The nominations for the Oscars will be announced on January 24.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
People with typical symptoms including high fever and rashes are advised to seek blood tests in the first five days. Photo by AFP

Five cases of the virus have been reported in Vietnam since April.

Ho Chi Minh City will be providing free Zika tests at 30 public hospitals until the end of the year as the mosquito-transmitted infection spreads through the region at an alarming rate.

The citys Preventive Health Department said people who develop rashes plus high fever, joint and muscle pains and sore eyes should have blood tests.

Five people have reportedly been infected with the Zika virus in Vietnam in the past five months, including two in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main carrier of the virus, is very common in Vietnam, and it is also known for carrying the dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya viruses.

Zika was first detected in Africa in 1947 and was considered a relatively mild disease until an outbreak started in Brazil in May 2015. Now 58 countries and territories currently have active Zika transmissions.

The virus has spread all over Southeast Asia, and 200 cases have been reported in the city state of Singapore in just a week.

Brazil has reported nearly 5,000 confirmed and suspected cases of microcephaly associated with Zika.

Related news:

>Foreigner confirmed as 5th Zika case in Vietnam

>Vietnam on alert as Zika virus threatens to spread from neighbors

>4th Zika case in Vietnam is German woman
From 21st September onwards, a heavy downpour - 23 times the daily average rainfall in monsoon - caused by a depression over the Bay of Bengal led to Hyderabad coming to a standstill for four days. This scenario would have been one of deja vu for Hyderabadis, who witnessed similar flooding in 2000.

As life was paralysed with waterlogged roads and housing colonies in the countrys much touted IT hub, the two-year-old Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government squarely blamed the chaos on encroachments on nalas, or storm water drains. There are 28,000 encroachments on nalas in Hyderabad and some of them even in government complexes and we need a huge Rs 11,000 crore and 3-4 years time to rectify and remove them, said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (referred to as KCR), speaking to the media on 24th September. There has been no innovative reorientation of the drain system since it was first done by Sir M Visvesvaraya in 1930 and for the last 60 years, subsequent governments have only made additions but not overhauled or redesigned it, he said.

The north east monsoon rains under the influence of the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal last week came as a double shock to residents of Telanganas capital. Having gone through harrowing days in the first week of September with heavy rain and flooding shutting schools for five days, the second shock was worse than expected. We were just returning to normalcy but these four days of thundershowers have been real mean, said Alex Smith, an American consultant of an IT giant. Smith had come to Hyderabad to conduct a seminar for Java professionals last week.

KCR said that the illegal buildings on drains and tank beds needed to be cleared immediately to improve the brand image of Hyderabad as a global city. We will relocate all the poor living in such encroached land free of cost with double bedroom flats, but every illegal construction on nalas, tank beds etc will be demolished, come what may, and whoever it belongs to, whether politician, Minister or MLA, said KCR, urging the media to back this campaign. Citizens who provide information on violations will be suitably rewarded upto Rs 10,000, he added.

Four platoons of the army and over 200 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel with boats and choppers have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and police are now identifying old buildings - there are an estimated 2,200 or so of them - and vacating them anticipating their collapse after days of waterlogging.

Water inside a home at Miyapur in the outskirts of Hyderabad. (Grist media)

Hard times for Hyderabad

Flooding has occurred both due to overflowing drains and encroachment of nalas. The unprecedented downpour has turned the spotlight on the need to unclog drains all over the city. TRS leader and former employee of the GHMC V Srinivas Goud confessed in a TV debate last week, What else can happen when 80 feet nalas were reduced to 8-10 feet with encroachments and rain water has nowhere to go but flood the streets?

It was a Black Wednesday of sorts last week for the residents of Bhandari Layout, a colony of 50-odd multi-storeyed apartments with a population of 10,000 in Hyderabads northwestern Nizampet area. With the breach of the bund in the nearby Turka Chevuru, rain water entered the colony, which is allegedly built on a nala.

The GHMC and the police have already put in action a task force to assess the damage caused in Bhandari Layout, and to detail how many of these buildings are illegal in the first place. Panic-struck residents are refusing to leave their homes, afraid that they will be demolished after the rains. Why blame the flat owners now, what did the authorities do when they approved the layout and gave all permissions? asks Rahul Kumar, an IT professional who bought a flat in Bhandari Layout in 2010.

As rain pounded the colony nonstop from Tuesday night until Friday, residents had to spend three nights without power, milk or drinking water as their roads, basements and in some cases, even the first floors of their buildings were flooded. Authorities shut down power supply to prevent electrocution. Irrigation Department officials said leakage and breach in the Turka Cheruvu bund had led to the submerging of areas downstream of Nizampet. I have never seen such downpour or even water logging, said Paladugu Parasuram, a builder and publisher who has lived in the area since 2007.

As many as 41 roads covering 120 km in the city were out of use due to waterlogging in Ameerpet, Banjara Hills, Panjagutta, Malakpet, Chadarghat, Musheerabad and Mytrivanam. Unless water is drained out with heavy duty diesel motors and repaired, they cannot be used. But with the impending rains we cannot do anything right now, said Disaster Management Assistant Commissioner K Badrinath. Water stagnating at many junctions for two days has made relief and rehabilitation a tough task. However, KCR dismisses media reports about damage to roads, claiming that only 10 percent of the citys roads (which span 9,000 km), have been affected.

K T Rama Rao also known as KTR is inspecting the waterlogged roads of Hyderabad. (Grist media)

IT Hubs Hit

For the first time in two decades, the IT corridors of Madhapur and Gachibowli were also hit. Sixty-seventy percent of employees of IT companies were caught in traffic jams on Raidurgam-Gachibowli, Miyapur-Kondapur and other roads leading towards Hitech City and Gachibowli. IT and ITeS companies permitted their personnel to work from home on Friday as incessant rains and pothole-ridden roads deterred them from reaching their offices.

We dont have power at home and basic supplies to stay indoors, so we decided to go to office and got caught up in traffic jams. What can we do at home, we dont have cable network or power, and it is better to sit in office where authorities will provide us something, said Arpita Kulkarni, an IT employee.

As rains are expected to continue for a few more days, IT companies are on tenterhooks and already have arrangements in place for Business Continuity Planning (BCP) which involves seeking help from other centres such as Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Pune and Bangalore to back them up if more rain hits. The writing on the wall is that a contingency strategy is essential for all Hyderabad-based 24x7 ITeS and IT units, said the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) in a statement.

The affecting of 4.5 lakh IT workers also hit eateries, shopping malls, multiplexes and recreational areas in Cyberabad and Hitech city as no one could venture out. At least 2,100 weddings have been cancelled as marriage halls were flooded. The GHMC and police have offered to help conduct weddings by opening a registrars office on a 24x7 basis.

Water entered a school in Allwyn colony in Kukatpally in the outskirts of Hyderabad city. (Grist media)

It Has All Happened Before

To understand this years mess one needs to go back to the year 2000. Back then in August, rainfall was just 13 times the average in monsoon but caused flash floods in the Musheerabad nala as authorities released rainwater in the wee hours of the morning without prior notice from Hussein Sagar to avoid breaching of the tank bund. This led to waterlogging and rendered over 5000 people from poor families in 20 colonies of Gandhinagar and Ashok Nagar in Musheerabad homeless. The damage to life is less this year in view of GHMCs preparedness for rains, argued Musheerabad MLA and Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, who had criticised the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government at that time.

It could well have been a scene out of a horror film in 2000 - computers, household goods, cars and motorbikes floated in the flooded nala. People living in multi-storeyed apartments along the nala had to vacate their homes as rainwater entered even first-floor flats and stagnated for two days, and hundreds of families were left homeless. Then-Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu blamed the mess on officials who allowed buildings on drains, washing his hands of any responsibility.

Sixteen years later, the extent of damage to private and public property is much larger this time, though it is yet to be assessed. Chief Minister KCR said the La Nina effect was on this year leading to cooling of the earth, delaying the withdrawal of the North East Monsoon, which would last till 20th October. So brace up and be prepared for more rains and stop this blame game, he warned Opposition parties and the media.

The rains of the last four days were unprecedented in the last three decades. No infrastructure could handle such downpour. We received 16 cm of rain in a single day on 21st September, as against 32-40 cm throughout the year, stated GHMCs Deputy Commissioner P Saroja.

The worst is not over yet, warned YK Reddy, chief of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) at Hyderabad, who has issued a red alert warning that heavy to very heavy rains are likely to continue. It is the low depression in the Bay of Bengal that has driven the rains down south causing heavy downpour, he said, adding that the La Nina effect had also kicked in.

Buffalos wade through a waterlogged road in Hyderabad. (Grist media )

Demoilition Drive

It is common knowledge that Hyderabad has an aged drainage and sewerage system, with only 1,500 km of drain main canals and 2 lakh manholes, as against a requirement of 5,000 km of drain canals and 4 lakh manholes. Since the past six decades, nothing much has been done towards remodelling the drains, said N Karthika Reddy, a retired GHMC engineer.

GHMC officials confess that successive governments failed to complete the remodelling and widening of storm water drains even 8 to 10 years after it was conceptualised, thanks to political instability and uncertainty in the state. Not even 50 percent of the required repairs of nalas have been done in the past five years due to several obstacles in carrying out the works, according to a source, who added that several contractors have just given up following threats from those with political influence opposing the demolishing of structures needed to carry out the repairs.

Though under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) a sum of Rs 260 crore had been sanctioned for widening of four primary and 11 secondary nalas, and the contracts were awarded seven years ago, the GHMC has completed only 40 percent of the widening work.

The TRS government is now gearing up for a massive campaign against encroachments on tank beds and illegal buildings on drains. Like Naidu before him, KCR has blamed the flooding on past governments, accusing them of neglecting nalas and water bodies.

I assure you there will not be a single illegal building hereafter and I want the ministers, the GHMC and other agencies concerned to work in coordination and ensure that they do not permit any illegal building. If any one is permitted, it will be demolished mercilessly, however big its owner may be, said the Chief Minister.

As early as 2015, KCR had launched a campaign against encroachments on irrigation tank beds, particularly in Hitech city. However, the exercise was dropped as it turned into a political campaign against Seemandhra industrialists and tycoons. Film actor Nagarjuna Akkineni had been caught in that web when his N-Convention centre in Hitech city, allegedly built on a tank bed, was issued show-cause notice, but a compromise was eventually reached.

KCR added that the Musi River, which at one point had an excellent drainage system, had been rendered ineffective due to the nearly 390 encroachments along its canals. The river was the artery of Hyderabad when the city was built four centuries ago, and its flooding in 1908 killed thousands, after which Visvesvaraya was sent by the British government to the Nizam of Hyderabad to remodel the system and build an effective bund. We are still enjoying the labours of Sir Visvesvaraya, said KCR.

At a review meeting on Friday, Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao said a five-member expert committee has been set up to prepare an action plan by 5th October on how to go ahead with razing illegal constructions, and the infrastructure and legal opinion needed on how to clear them. This is the third committee on encroachments since 2008. The Kirloskar Committee report, and that of a cabinet sub-committee set up by KCR after the formation of Telangana, are gathering dust with the government even today.

Rao also indicated that he had the Chief Ministers endorsement to launch an action programme similar to that done in Bengaluru in August this year, in coordination with the courts and the police department. I have discussed the issue with the Advocate General S Ramachandra Rao who says legal hurdles, if any, will be resolved, he said.

KCR has announced that an internal assessment of the GHMC and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority has already been made to remodel the drain system in Hyderabad, covering the entire area at a cost of Rs 29,000 crore. We will get loans and Government of India grants for the plan once it is ready, he said. The government wants to launch this after the first phase of Metro Rail work is completed in the state capital by 2017, to avoid disruptions in road connectivity, he added. A sum of Rs 300-400 crore has been immediately made available to GHMC for repairs and other activities now, said the Chief Minister.

Following last weeks deluge, the GHMC is now claiming it has removed 775 encroachments out of 2,452 storm water drains in just one year. The GHMC mayor went on record stating that as many as 48 illegal constructions were demolished on Friday itself. This monsoon, 416 illegal buildings on nalas were demolished, and another 147 were demolished in September alone.

However, this is at best a drop in the ocean according to city-based environmentalist and campaigner for a better Hyderabad, Captain J Rama Rao. We never doubt the good intentions of our politicians, but the only thing is whether they will do it and when, he said. Let us hope this government will not wait until another deluge and take last weeks situation as a wake-up call. Otherwise it will not take long for Hyderabad to lose its lustre and glitter.

(Published in arrangement with GRIST Media)
The Nitish Kumar government on Tuesday filed additional documents in the Supreme Court to highlight Md Shahabuddins unruly conduct in jail a day before a crucial hearing on petitions seeking to put the RJD strongman back in jail.

The Bihar government also submitted a list of 75 criminal cases in which Shahabuddins name figured. Out of these, he has been convicted in 10 and acquitted in 20, while the remaining 45 are pending trial at various stages. In most of the cases pending against him, trial has been stayed by the Patna high court.

Also, copies of a letter written by the Siwan district magistrate to the state home department highlighting Shahabuddins incorrigible tendency to do things against established norms in jail have also be submitted by the state.

Read | Invoke any law, I will live in my style: Shahabuddin

Shahabuddin  who represented Siwan in the Lok Sabha for four successive terms between 1996 and 2008  was in jail for more than 10 years and was granted bail by the Patna high court on September 7 in the case of the murder of a man who witnessed the killing of two brothers in Siwan.

The Supreme Court is to take up on Wednesday three petitions  one filed by the Bihar government and two separate petitions by the father and mother of the three brothers allegedly killed at the behest of Shahabuddin.

The petitions of the Bihar government and Chandrakeshwar Prasad have demanded quashing of the Patna high courts September 7 order granting bail to the former RJD MP. The one filed by Kalavati Devi has challenged the high courts March 2016 order to release Shahabuddin on bail in connection with the murder of her two sons  a case in which he has already been convicted.

A bench of Justice PC Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy had on Monday deferred the hearing on these petitions as noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani was not available to argue the case for him.

Read | BJP leaders blame Bihars grand alliance for Shahabuddins release

Since there are allegations and counter allegations being made in the case, we shall not pass any order without hearing both the sides. We are fixing it on Wednesday, the bench had said.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Shahabuddin on Monday, said his client was a victim of media trial and should be given adequate opportunity to present his case.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Chandrakeshwar Prasad of Siwan  whose three sons were murdered allegedly at the behest of Shahabuddin, sought an urgent hearing of the case.

The top court had on September 19 asked Shahabuddin to respond to the petitions filed by the Bihar government and Prasad challenging the Patna high courts order granting him bail.

Another petition filed by the wife of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan  allegedly killed at Shahabuddins behest  seeking transfer of the case outside Bihar is being separately heard and is likely to be taken up on Monday.

Read | Former RJD MP Shahabuddins bail challenged in Supreme Court
For residents of Deokali village, life changes after every election.

Who has power in Lucknow shapes both development work and access to justice.

In 2007, this Dalit dominated hamlet in Lakhimpur-Kheri district, 132 km north of Lucknow, was declared an Ambedkar village after the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) came to power that year.

A battery of officers from various state government departments landed in the village.

Some inspected the lanes, others inquired about the power supply, drains, water supply, community centre and parks.

The metamorphosis started soon. The mud lanes gave way to pucca roads.

Electric poles were installed, drains crisscrossed the village and hand pumps were placed outside hutments.

A board was put up stating that Deokali was being developed as a model village under the Ambedkar scheme.

The villagers had never dreamt they would get any facilities.

For years, they had to trudge to the neighbouring upper caste village to get potable water from a government tube well.

During the monsoon, the mud lanes were inundated. No government officer visited them to know their condition.

We were virtually living in hell. Our condition was worse than cattle, said, Rampal Gautam, the gram pradhan (village head).

The eclipse

The VIP status of the village was eclipsed in March 2012 after the BSP lost the assembly election.

With its arch rival Samajwadi Party coming to power, all the development schemes were withdrawn and old facilities started collapsing.

The hand pumps are not working and the villagers are forced to draw water from wells. Majority of the villagers have fallen ill after consuming dirty water but they are left with little option but to depend on the wells, said Sabhajit Raidas, a labourer.

The land allotted for the Ambedkar Park had been grabbed by a dabang (muscle-flexing) backward caste farmer, said Sarvesh Gautam.

The villagers complained that they had not got possession of land allotted to landless labourers by the BSP government.

The tehsildars and patwaris do not listen to us. Influential Yadav community farmers have encroached on the land, one of them said.

A string of incidents across the country  from the suicide of scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad University to the public flogging of four youths for skinning a dead cow in Una of Gujarat, has pitch forked Dalits to the forefront of national political discourse and there is renewed speculation on which way the community vote will swing when Uttar Pradesh votes in 2017.

At Lakhimpur Kheri, the Dalit mood is distinctly anti-SP.

We are awaiting the assembly election eagerly to get rid of the anti-Dalit SP government, said Ramrati Gautam, a member of the village panchayat committee.

The discrimination at the government level is quite apparent and influential backward and upper caste farmers use pressure tactics to get the pro-Dalit schemes stalled.

Access to thana

Who rules Lucknow also has an impact on how the local thana works.

Under BSP, a Brahman priest, Ramdas Tiwari, claimed, the upper caste people were afraid of visiting Deokali. FIR was registered against upper castes for even hitting a goat belonging to a Dalit.

In the 2007 election, the Brahmins settled in Saidpur had voted for Mayawati but in 2012 they supported Akhilesh Yadav.

We voted against the BSP as fake cases were lodged against us under SC-ST Act. While the Dalits got compensation we were sent to police lockups or jail.

But Dalits see it differently.

Under the SP, police responsiveness has dipped. A few days ago, a Dalit farmer Manna Sagar was beaten up by Yadavs over an irrigation dispute.

Manna lodged an FIR but the police did not take action against the culprits. The Dalits are planning to submit a memorandum to the deputy SP and the SDM, said the gram pradhan, Rampal Gautam.

Prosperous Dalits have applied for a gun licence.

Only two people of Raidas and Rawat communities have managed to get gun licences. The Yadavs, Kurmis and Brahmins are well armed.

Do Dalits elsewhere in UP share the uncertainties of those in Lakhimpur Kheri? The jury is still out.

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Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who is recuperating from fever and dehydration at Chennais Apollo Hospital, appears to be running the state and her party seamlessly from her bed.

A steady flow of ministers, party functionaries and officials outside the hospital keep the ship sailing. They are also tasked with assuring well-wishers and the media of her good health, saying that she will soon be discharged.

Apollo too has allayed fears, saying the CMs health was improving and that she was under observation.

Top police officials have warned severe action against anyone spreading rumours about the health of the chief minister, as speculation over her ill health continued, spreading panic among her supporters. Prayers for her good health continue at many places in the state and her supporters and party cadres are camped outside the hospital, keeping vigil.

AIADMK spokesperson CR Sarawathi rubbished all rumours. Everything is all right, she said.

Meanwhile, inside the hospital, it is business as usual for Jayalalithaa.

She approved the list of party candidates for local body elections, all of whom filed their nominations at the appointed hour.

On Tuesday, shortly after the Supreme Court directed the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to sit down and break the impasse over Cauvery water sharing, Jayalalithaa summoned an emergency meeting of key officials.

The impromptu meet began at 4:30 pm and lasted about an hour, during which she discussed in detail all the issues relating to the Supreme Court order on Cauvery. The meeting were attended by Tamil Nadu chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao, advocate general R Muthukumaraswamy, adviser to the government Sheela Balakrishnan, and senior CMO officials KN Venkataramanan and A Ramalingam.

Read | SC asks Karnataka to give 6,000 cusecs Cauvery water to TN for 3 days

The Supreme Court has directed the attorney general to facilitate a meeting of the executive heads of the two states with the Union water resources ministry to break the impasse. The implications of the apex courts verdict and the stand that Tamil Nadu has to take at the meeting of executive heads was finalised after the chief minister was appraised of all the developments by her legal team.

The meeting is likely to take place on Thursday.

Jayalalithaa has deputed minister for public works, highways and minor ports department Edapaddi K Palaniswami, Public Works Department principal secretary SK Prabakar and Cauvery Technical Cell chairman R Subramaniam to represent the state at the meeting.

Also discussed at the meeting were the issues to be taken up by Tamil Nadu and a statement she recorded to be read out at the meeting by the chief secretary, an official statement on Tuesday evening said.

Read | Cauvery row: Tamil Nadu political parties, farmers ask Centre to step in

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Security forces in Chhattisgarh have been accused of killing two tribal boys from Bhatpat village in Dantewada district in a fake encounter after branding them as Maoists.

Family members of the sixteen-year-olds  Sonaku and Bijlu  have been up in arms against the authorities ever since the incident occurred on Saturday morning. The two teenagers had reportedly gone to Burgum village in Jagdalpur to inform relatives about a death in the family when they were captured and executed by District Reserve Group (DRG) personnel.

The same day, Bastar superintendent of police RN Dash had praised the achievement of the security forces. Two ultras were gunned down by a team led by three former women rebels, who had surrendered earlier. They participated in the anti-Maoist operation as assistant constables, he said.

But Paiku Ram, Sonakus father, had a different story to tell. My son and his friend had gone to Burgum to inform my eldest daughter, Masi, about the death of a girl child in the family. As it was already late in the evening, they decided to return the next day. However, DRG personnel dragged the two out of Masis house early on Saturday morning and shot them near a rivulet about 250 metres away, he said.

Villagers and relatives of the victims protested against the DRG, saying they wouldnt take back the bodies unless justice was delivered. Besides suitable punishment for those behind the killing of Sonaku and Bijlu, they demanded Rs 15 lakh as compensation for each of the deceaseds families and government jobs for their next of kin.

Dantewada Congress legislator Devti Karma expressed distress over the incident. I demand a high-level probe into the incident. Its evident that the boys were killed in a fake encounter, she said.

Dash couldnt be reached for comment despite several attempts. He didnt respond to text messages either.
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday used her address at the UN General Assembly to accuse Pakistan of terrorism, warning that India will not give up control in Kashmir.

While many described her speech as well-measured and a fitting reply to the neighbouring country, some expressed reservations. Here are some Twitter reactions both for and against her views.

For

An overwhelming number of tweets from India agreed with Swarajs views and praised the minister for a brave speech.

Tendulkar's class, Ganguly's aggression,Dravid's determination, Sehwag's shots. I'm not talking abt Cricket,but speech of Sushma ji at #UNGA  Paresh Rawal (@Babu_Bhaiyaa) September 26, 2016

Sushma ji presented India's viewpoint very well at UNGA. Congratulations to her  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 26, 2016

Sushma Swaraj said those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at others, & one who whistled is Sir @mustikhan(Baloch Nationalist) https://t.co/AEaKdj5XDp  Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 26, 2016

I'm liking Sushma Swaraj. Kindness + Dignity + Strength.  Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) September 26, 2016

@SushmaSwaraj Excellent speech at #UNGA,Mam.Short on rhetoric,focussed on issues & precise targets.Silent performer,Impressive as always????  Sameer~V (@Samsible) September 26, 2016

Good speech given by sushma swaraj and what a attack!  Dipen Varmora (@VarmoraDipen) September 27, 2016

Sushma Swaraj deserves our congratulations on her brilliant Hindi speech at the UN, that exposed Pak's brutal violence against Baluchs#.  Prof. U.S. Chaudhari (@uschaudhari) September 27, 2016

What a great speech by of foreign minister #sushma swaraj for india against pakistan.  Abhinav sharma (@Abhinav4984) September 27, 2016

Against

Many also denounced her speech. Many such tweets originated from outside India. Many tweeted using the hashtag #IndiaLivesInDelusion to express their displeasure.

Frankly speaking what was so great about Sushma speech at UN? No one give damn about UN & very few report its proceeding!  Vikas (@vikas2783) September 27, 2016

The speech of Sushma Swaraj has no international impact so far.#IndiaLivesInDelusion  Bibi Sana Baloch (@sanaalbaloshi03) September 27, 2016

Sorry that speech was underwhelming. Troll me as much but disappointed as I was hoping a lot from Sushmaji #UNGA  Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) September 26, 2016

People of different professions have negated all what modi and Sushma swaraj addressed. #IndiaLivesInDelusion  Rafia Baloch ?? (@Rafia_Sanam) September 27, 2016

India is a country living in a fantasy that they can break Pakistan. they should snap out of this delusion #IndiaLivesInDelusion  alishaali (@AAlisha000) September 27, 2016

#IndiaLivesInDelusion

Instead of highlightng issues of human rights violations, Indians put cover over their atrocities, shame on them  rimsha (@rimsha934) September 27, 2016

violating UN and int laws by talking about a country's internal un-disputed independent part!such shame!much @Sushma! #IndiaLivesInDelusion pic.twitter.com/RTLLiYP5CR  Hira Farouq (@hirafarouq) September 27, 2016

@SirJadejaaaa Maleha Lodhi gave solid answer to Sushma Swaraj's speech. Kashmir is not India's property not can be #IndiaLivesInDelusion  Bilal Waheed  (@mr_bilall) September 27, 2016
The two-week-long joint military exercise between the United States and India concluded in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

Both the countries exchanged technological know-how, especially on counter-insurgency operations.

The drill started at Chaubatia, 350 kms from Dehradun, on September 14.

Army men participated in joint drills which involved tracking and neutralising terrorists in hideouts. (Army)

More than 400 army personnel planned and neutralised mock terrorists during the drill.

US, Indian army men preparing to shoot a target at a distance. (Rajeev Kala)

State-of-the-art equipments for surveillance, tracking and identification of terrorists were introduced to the soldiers during the exercise, said an Army note.

Army men belonging to India and US participate in a drill. (Army)

The soldiers were trained on close quarter battles, sensing and neutralizing IEDs and also on how to communicate effectively.

Major General RK Raina interacting with US soldiers. (Army)

Earlier on Monday, the joint exercise was reviewed by Major General RK Raina, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Garud Division of the Indian Army and Major General Thomas James, Commanding General, 7 Infantry Division of the US army.

This was the 12th time in history the two nations have come together for a military exercise. Such a join drill was first held in 2004.

A soldier climbing down a rope attached to a helicopter during anti-terrorist mock drills. (Army)

This was the second time Chaubatia was chosen for the exercise, last being in 2014. Last year it was organised at Joint Base Lewis McChord in the United States.

Earlier, in June this year, a trilateral Naval exercise was held between India, US and Japan close to the South China Sea.

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India handed Pakistan on Tuesday what it said was proof that militants who attacked the Uri army base earlier this month came from its territory, as New Delhi appeared set to reconsider favourable trading terms for its neighbour.

In a demarche, foreign secretary S Jaishankar gave Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit the names and addresses of two guides from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir who helped four militants cross over and attack the Uri camp, killing 18 soldiers, on September 18.

The envoy, who was called in for the second time since the attack, was told that local villagers in Uri caught and handed over the two guides -- Faizal Hussain Awan, 20, and Yasin Khursheed, 19  who had admitted to facilitating the crossing over of the attackers from Pakistan.

Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said investigations had also revealed the identity of one of the militants killed in the attack as Hafiz Ahmed, also from Muzaffarabad.

Details of handlers also obtained: Mohd Kabir Awan & Basharat. FS terms continuing CB (cross-border) terrorist attacks from Pak against India as unacceptable, Swarup said in a series of tweets.

Details of guides:

Yasin Khurshid(19 yrs),S/o Mohammed Khurshid R/o Khiliana Kalan,Muzzaffarabad.4/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Faizal Hussain Awan(20 yrs),S/o Gul Akbar;R/o Potha Jahangir,Muzzaffarabad. 3/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

The move came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a meeting of his foreign and commerce ministry officials to review the most-favoured nation (MFN) status it gave Pakistan in 1996. The meeting, to be held on Thursday, is part of retributive measures India is said to be considering to avenge the Uri attack, including reviewing a water-sharing treaty and scaling down aviation cooperation.

The attack has raised temperatures between the nuclear-armed neighbours that had been struggling to revive ties after a similar raid on an Indian air force facility in Punjab in January. New Delhi has blamed the Uri attack on Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, which is based in Muzaffarabad, a known sanctuary for militant groups operating against India.

Pakistan promptly rejected the proof, saying India should allow an independent investigation into the attack, its media reported within an hour of Swarups tweets. Its defence minister Khawaja Asif described the Uri attack as a self-generated.

India had earlier said grenades, ammunition and other equipment with Pakistani markings had been found on the dead attackers.

Modi has already held a meeting to review the 56-year-old, World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty that governs rivers flowing into Pakistan. Government sources said they could also look at reviewing aviation cooperation with Pakistan.

Revoking the MFN status is being considered because India is pushing the world to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. Pakistan backed down from granting India the MFN status in 2012.

The MFN status is granted by a trading partner to another country for equal treatment in terms of trading prices or tariffs, and market access without discrimination in imports and exports.

An industry body said on?Sunday the MFN status has not made much of a difference, as trade between the two countries remains abysmally low.

Of Indias total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion. Indias exports to the neighbouring country stood at $2.17 billion, or 0.83%, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than $500 million, or 0.13%, of the total inward shipments.

India exports meat, sugar, chemicals, cotton, artefacts, medicines and agri-products to Pakistan. Nuts, fruits, cement, leather products and onions come from Pakistan.

(With agencies from Islamabad)
A year after the lynching of a Muslim man over allegations of slaughtering a cow and storing its meat for consumption, the Bisada village of Dadri area, some 50 km from Delhi, appears calm. The calmness belies a tension that the village has not been able to shrug off.

Muslim residents, who had fled from the village fearing a backlash after the incident, have returned and resumed their businesses. A majority of barbers, carpenter and other craftsmen in the village are Muslims. But underneath the normalcy lies tension and shadows of the lynching. People avoid discussing the lynching with each other, but the fear and speculations over justice are still simmering in the village.

On the night of September 28 last year, Mohammad Ikhlaq and his son Danish were attacked by a mob over allegations of slaughtering a cow. Ikhlaq succumbed to injuries while Danish sustained a fractured skull.

Eighteen people from the village, including three juveniles, were arrested on charges of murder and assault after the lynching. The families of the accused and the villagers registered an FIR against Ikhlaq and his kin in July, citing reports of the Mathura lab that confirmed the sample allegedly recovered from Ikhlaqs residence was cow meat.

As media extensively covered the incident, the villagers are now keeping an eye on the news related to the case. Many have subscribed to Hindi dailies, young men have downloaded news apps and some have subscribed English dailies as well.

We know who is writing what about the village. The media is to blame for tarnishing the name of the village, said Dheeraj Sisodiya, father of an accused.

Among the 14,000 residents of the village, a majority of them are from the Sisodiya Rajput community. Merely 50 Muslim families reside in the village. Though the locals claim no communal tension, the local mosque and the temple, from where the accused persons had announced that Ikhlaq had slaughtered a cow, avoid using loudspeakers during religious functions.

After the incident, the Imam and the priest too had left. The Imam returned after a while but maintained a safe distance from the journalists.

Sadhvi Har Siddhi is now the priest of the temple and has tried to organize religious events in the village that have triggered controversy. The villagers stopped her from performing a bhandara (fest) with the help of saffron outfits a few months ago.

The village is calm. Let it be calm. We have seen enough and our image has been tarnished, said Ram Sisodiya, an elderly farmer of the locality.

The Muslim residents claim they are safe but they avoid carrying meat. No family offered sacrifice this Eid.

Its not a tradition here. Only those who are financially strong enough to buy one animal, offer the sacrifice. In the last 15-20 years, I have seen a handful of sacrifices in the village. Muslim here are not financially capable of buying and sacrificing an animal, said Akram Khan, class 8 student of the local government school.

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Maoists resorted to indiscriminate firing at a gathering of villagers killing three and injuring four others in Raitonang village in Jharkhands Khunti district accusing them of holding a meeting against them.

Police were unaware of the incident until late night in the village is around 70 km from state capital Ranchi. It came to the fore when villagers brought the injured and the dead to the Khunti Sadar hospital.

The dead have been identified as Deet Munda, 45, Raukan Purti, 62, and Sukhram Munda, 50. The four injured men - Vikram Purti, Paku Purti, Toto Purti and Sinu Munda - were referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The People Liberation Front of India (PLFI) members were behind the entire incident, Khunti additional superintendent of police (operation) PR Mishra said.

He added that a strong contingent of police force led by Ranchis deputy inspector general of police RK Dhan has started a combing operation to nab the extremists in Arki forest in Khunti.

Villagers said they had gathered to discuss the puja post harvesting in the village when over two dozen armed PLFI members came to the spot and asked them the reason for holding the meeting.

Even though the villagers told them the meeting was meant for a puja, the extremists alleged that it was a shanti sabha or a peace meeting against them. They started firing indiscriminately forcing the villagers to run.

More than half a dozen villagers became the target of the extremists bullets.

The PLFI members left the spot after the firing.

Over 40 villagers took the bodies to the Khunti Sadar hospital late in the evening.

Villagers in the three tribal-dominated districts of Jharkhand - Ranchi, Khunti and West Singhbhum - have been holding peace meetings urging people not to join left-wing extremist groups. Of the 24 districts in the state, 18 are affected by Maoist violence.

The peace meeting organisers take precautions to protect themselves from the rebel threats and say they will not be cowed down by the left-wing extremists. They say tribals have a tradition of holding mass meetings to solve problems faced by the community.

The left-wing rebels have been putting up posters in Jharkhands Khunti and Ranchi districts, asking villagers to hold jan adalats, punish people who are organising the peace meetings and urging them to oppose them.

In Jharkhand, as many as 1,691 people have been killed in Maoist violence since 2000. Most of them were poor tribals who were branded as police informers by Maoists and killed. At least 5,316 Maoist-related incidents have been reported between 2000 and 2015.

At least 507 policemen and 784 Maoists have died in encounters between police and left-wing groups since the formation of the state.

There has been a decline in the number of Maoist-related incidents since 2011 and Jharkhand police claim that 2015 has been the best year for it on LWE front in the past 10 years.
The president's tough image has raised eyebrows both at home and abroad.

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte starts a two-day visit to Vietnam on Wednesday, and likely on the agenda will be the South China Sea dispute, a lingering issue that has found Manila and Hanoi in the same boat and pitted the U.S. and China against each other.

The visit comes at a tumultuous time for the Philippines, with the tough image of the new president and his rough talks raising hackles both at home and abroad. He has grabbed headlines for not holding back on verbal attacks against the worlds highest profile figures, among them Pope Francis and U.S. President Barack Obama.

At home, the peso plunged to its lowest since 2009 on Monday, and foreign investors have dumped local shares for the sixth week in a row, fretting over Duterte's anti-U.S. rhetoric and controversial war on drugs. According to some estimates, his behavior may have caused foreign investors to pull out close to $400 million from the stock market this September alone, causing both the index and gross domestic product to fall about 2.5 percent.

It is in this context that a visit that seeks to bolster bilateral ties with an immediate neighbor like Vietnam is not hard to fathom, analysts say.

I think that President Dutertes advisors and other policy makers realize the problems [facing the Philippines], Ngo Vinh Long, a Vietnamese professor of history and a Southeast Asia analyst at the University of Maine in the U.S., said. Hence they have arranged for this trip to both restore the Philippines image as well as to promote economic exchanges.

Filipino foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose was quoted by the local media as saying on Monday that the president and Vietnamese leaders would discuss various areas of bilateral exchanges, including maritime cooperation, law enforcement and defense cooperation, increasing two-way trade and investment and strengthening joint cultural activities, as well as heightened exchanges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Duterte will also be prepared to discuss the South China Sea (known as the East Sea in Vietnam) issue with his counterparts in Vietnam, Jose said.

If ever this will be discussed, this will be in the context of, of course, emphasizing the need or the importance of maintaining, peace, stability and security in the region, he said.

Vietnam and the Philippines are two countries that have been directly affected by the lingering dispute in the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine 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 Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Vietnam and the Philippines have remained the most outspoken opponents of Chinas territorial claims.

In July, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague dismissed Chinas expansive claim to sovereignty over the strategically important and resource-rich waters in a case brought by the Philippines in 2013. Beijing has since snubbed the ruling, calling it a farce.

Since taking office in June, Duterte has exhibited his skepticism of the U.S.s much-touted strategic pivot" towards the Asia-Pacific region. On the other hand, he has also sought to ramp up open alliances with China and Russia.

Critics of the U.S. pivot policy point out that in 2012, when China seized control of a disputed reef known as the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing the rocky outcrop, the U.S. did nothing, even though the Philippines is its treaty ally.

Dutertes administration said it would be willing to begin direct talks with Beijing after the verdict in The Hague, with negotiations to cover jointly exploiting natural gas reserves and fishing grounds within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

While some analysts say Dutertes more conciliatory approach to China has sent very mixed signals to the U.S., others consider this a no-nonsense move.

It has been partly designed not to rub salt into Chinas wounds after the Philippines victory in order not to provoke China into more adventurous adventures, especially at a time when the U.S. is temporary distracted by the Congressional and presidential elections. Long said. If Dutertes approach could calm down an aggressive China, it would be to the benefits of all concernedChina included.

At the end of the day, at a time when 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remain deeply divided over the blocs handling of the South China Sea issue, the Philippines and Vietnam need to stand firmly together, said Malcolm Davis, an Asian security analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Given that, the purpose of Dutertes visit to Vietnam is crystal clear.

There needs to be a close diplomatic bond forged between Hanoi and Manila on this issue, Davis said.

* VIET ANH contributed to this report

Related news:

> Vietnam calls for self-restraint, peaceful solution to lingering sea dispute

> Philippines says omission of arbitration ruling in ASEAN statement not victory for China
Jammu and Kashmir politicians are seeking compensation for losses caused by the India-Pakistan Indus Waters Treaty that has robbed the state of its huge hydro-power potential, estimated to be over 25,000 MW.

They say the 1960 river water-sharing agreement had given a raw deal to the impoverished and industrially-backward state and needed a review keeping Jammu and Kashmirs economic interests in mind.

The two countries should have taken care of the interests of the state, education minister and government spokesperson Naeem Akhtar told IANS.

It has always been our stand that the state has to be compensated because of the limits imposed on power generation by the treaty, said the senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which governs the state in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It is our partys stand that India and Pakistan need to work out a mechanism to protect the interests of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Akhtar said.

The bilateral agreement arbitrated by the World Bank gives control over three eastern rivers -- the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej -- to India. It guarantees an unrestricted control to Pakistan of three western rivers -- Chenab, Jhelum and the Indus, which flow through Jammu and Kashmir.

The pact has been in focus amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions after the September 18 Uri terror attack, blamed on militants who came from across the de facto border from Pakistan.

India has indicated it would re-look at the pact as a response to the attack, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating: Blood and water cannot flow together.

India cannot construct any dams on the three western rivers as per the agreement but some storage facility is allowed. Resultantly, all power projects in Jammu and Kashmir have to be run-of-the-river, depriving the state of a huge hydro-electric potential of up to 25,000 MW.

The opposition National Conference, meanwhile, questioned the timing of a possible review of the pact by India.

For 56 years, no fingers were raised against the treaty by New Delhi. But, right now its scrapping is being advocated to settle diplomatic scores and not for protecting the rights of interests of Jammu and Kashmir, NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu told IANS.

If they (the BJP) want to fire the gun, they must place it on their own shoulders and not on ours. It has always been the stand of the NC that the treaty gives a raw deal to the state for which adequate compensation must be provided.

State Congress president Ghulam Ahmed Mir agreed. He recalled that in 2003, when the Congress ruled the state in coalition with the PDP, a resolution was brought in the assembly seeking compensation in lieu of the pact.

We told the central government that despite our immense hydro-power potential, the state is holding a begging bowl in its hand.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader MY Tarigami said scrapping the deal that has stood the test of time was not possible.

Yes, I feel the people of the state, whose largest natural resource is hydro-power, need to be compensated. But that cannot be done only by scrapping the treaty.

At the height of tensions during the wars of 1965 and 1971 the treaty was not scrapped. Now why are some forces talking of scrapping it and deprive the poor farmers of water to their fields on the two sides of the border?

Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the treaty overlooks the interests of the people of the state and therefore all hydro-power projects run and illegally owned by the (central government-run) NHPC should immediately be transferred to the state.

State BJP leaders, however, were cautiously tight-lipped over the issue. Whatever the central government decides would always be in the larger interest of the country and that includes Jammu and Kashmir, said a senior BJP leader.

No separatist leader was available for comments because most of them are under detention in their houses or lodged in jails.
A Kashmiri student of a private college here was detained on Tuesday for allegedly posting anti-national comments on Facebook after the Uri terror attack, police said.

Mudasir Rashid, a Srinagar resident, has been suspended by his college, Techno India NJR Institute of Technology.

He has been detained for allegedly posting and sharing anti-national comments and material on Facebook, sub-inspector Hiran Magri police station Gordhan Ram said.

ABVP activists along with local students staged a protest at the college and demanded action against the accused. They also damaged college property and hoisted the national flag atop a building, Ram added.

Rashid has been suspended initially for seven days, said college director RS Vyas.

He (Rashid) allegedly started posting and sharing anti-national comments after the Uri terror attacks. This came to light after some students approached the college administration with print-outs of his posts. He was handed over to police, he said.

There are 15 Kashmiri students in the college and Rashid was one of them, Vyas added.

In a separate incident, in March, four Kashmiri students were arrested for allegedly cooking beef in their hostel rooms at a Chittorgarh-based private university. The university saw clashes between locals and Kashmiri students after India lost to West Indies in a T-20 match in April.
Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katjus recent comment apparently denigrating Bihar has triggered a controversy, with some political leaders on Tuesday terming it a fit case of sedition and calling for his arrest.

Katju posted a sarcastic post on social media on Sunday, suggesting that Pakistan could get Kashmir if it agrees to take Bihar also as part of a package deal.

Addressing Pakistanis, the septuagenarian wrote on Facebook, You have to take the whole package, or none at all. Either you take both Kashmir and Bihar, or nothing.

Katjus comment drew attacks, prompting him to say he was only joking. I respect Biharis. Bhar has made a big contributionit has seen great men like Gautam Buddha, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashok, he said.

Do you think I will seriously ask Pakistan to take the offer? I joke about many communities. Do you think I will seriously offer Bihar with Kashmir to Pakistan? It was just a joke and people should develop a sense of humour.

Even as Katju made light his September 25 comment, political leaders did not take kindly to it and refused to allow him go unpunished.

Bihar BJP chief spokesperson Vinod Narayan Jha demanded Katjus immediate arrest on charges of sedition. Terming the comments as serious, he also demanded an inquiry to ascertain if Katju was entrapped among anti-nationals out to destroy Indias sovereignty and integrity.

The JD(U) described it as a case of sedition and demanded stern action against Katju. The partys general secretary KC Tyagi, terming Katjus comments as insensitive and intolerant, said it was unfortunate that a person of his stature had said so in the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhis satyagraha, which began from West Champaran in Bihar.

Mr. K.C. Tyagi,Gen.Sec. of JDU said I should be charged for sedition. I have a better suggestion. I should be charged under the Lunatics Act  Markandey Katju (@mkatju) September 27, 2016

Tyagis party colleague, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, said he will take legal opinion on whether a complaint case could be lodged against Katju. Dragging former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a statesman, into the controversy is also in bad taste, he said, describing Katjus statements as an attack on Bihari sentiments.

Katju, in his post, said, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered this deal to (then Pakistan President Parvez) Musharraf at the (2001) Agra summit, but he stupidly rejected it. Now the offer is coming again. Mat chook (dont miss out this time)

Katju, also a former chairman of the Press Council of India, was lambasted on the social media, with netizens hurling invectives. Some even suggested Pakistan should take Katju instead of Bihar.

Santa Who supports terrorism?

Banta Pak

Santa Who supports Pak?

Banta Bihar

Santa How?

Banta :Pak got all its ideas of jungle raj from Bihar  Markandey Katju (@mkatju) September 26, 2016

Read| Judge and jury: Justice Katju targets all, Amitabh to Gandhi

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In two separate incidents on Tuesday, security forces busted a militant hideout and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition from a forest area in Doda district, and an SSB camp in Srinagar suffered a grenade attack.

On a tip-off, a search operation was launched in the Linga Manjmi area in the district and a natural terrorist hideout was located, a police spokesperson said.

One AK-47 assault rifle, eight 12 bore rifles, one under barrel grenade launcher, one grenade, one Chinese grenade, 2,263 rounds of AK-47 bullets, two diaries, a purse, a notebook, two AK magazines, two radio sets and two Chinese pistols were seized from the hideout, he added.

It is suspected that the arms and ammunition were hidden by militants who have either been killed or shifted base elsewhere.

In the other incident, a grenade was lobbed by suspected militants at a camp of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Bilal colony area in Srinagar on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.

Officials said the incident was reported around 7:30 pm, when a grenade was hurled at the SSB company location in the said area and it landed about 15 metres from the first sentry post.

The grenade blast did not hit any personnel present in the post which is surrounded by a residential area. Police and SSB reinforcements have rushed to the spot from Soura, an official said.

The camp lodges the 47th battalion of the force deployed in the area for security duties.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said the Narendra Modi government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan and has not been able to decide on how to put Islamabad in the dock in the wake of the Uri attack.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the government should consider all pros and cons and take a decision keeping in mind the future.

The BJP government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony and visited the Pakistani premier uninvited on his birthday.

And many a times, he has adopted a very tough stance against Pakistan. His government has not been able to decide on how to deal with Islamabad, Azad, who was here to launch Congress yatra from Deoria to New Delhi, said.

In the Modi government, the foreign secretary favours talks with Pakistan but the national security advisor suggests suspension of the dialogue with Islamabad. Nobody knows what they want, he said.

Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Azad claimed that Modi had promised the people of the country that he would avenge the death of our soldiers and that he would bring 10 heads for every martyred jawan, but he has forgotten them now.

To a query on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said the Modi government believes in taking a decision in seconds on issues that have been there for decades.

It should consider all pros and cons and then take a decision in this regard. Bilateral issues have many other things linked to them. A decision concerning such issues should be taken keeping in mind the future, he said.

Azad blamed the PDP-BJP government for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying there was peace in the Valley when the National Conference government was at the helm of affairs, but tension is prevailing there since the new government has taken over.

He also hit out at the central government for not sending more emissaries to different countries.

While Pakistan has sent over 15 emissaries to create pressure in its favour, India has sent only a couple, he claimed and said there was a need for exposing Pakistan at the international fora.

Asked if his party was open to a tie-up with other parties for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, he said, Congress will go alone.
The Pakistani military is closely monitoring the situation along the border with India and is prepared to respond any attack, a top army official said on Tuesday even as the defence minister claimed the Uri attack was an inside job.

Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, the Pakistani militarys chief spokesman, told reporters in Peshawar that the armed forces were keeping a close watch on the Indian border following a spike in tensions.

Our soldiers are firmly established at the eastern border and are closely monitoring all developments. We are fully prepared to respond to any attack, Bajwa was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Read: Pak can go to International Court of Justice if India violates Indus pact: Aziz

He was briefing reporters after a meeting chaired by army chief Gen Raheel Sharif reviewed the security situation. Bajwa said the charges levelled by India over the Uri attack were upsetting and Pakistan had never accused anyone without concrete evidence.

India has blamed the attack on an army camp at Uri, which killed 18 soldiers, on the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group. The charge has been rejected by Islamabad. The attack heightened tensions between the two sides.

Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif described the Uri attack as an inside job. During an appearance on Dawn News channel, he said there was no proof implicating Pakistan in the attack and alleged it was evident the attack was a plan devised by India.

Read: Blood and water cant flow together, says Modi at meeting on Indus treaty

Asif, a close aide of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also told Samaa News channel that the Uri attack was self-generated by India. India has been involved for several years in the many attacks that have taken place in Pakistan. And I firmly believe that the entire Uri incident is self-generated by India, he said.

Meanwhile, Gen Raheel Sharif alleged at a meeting held under the auspices of the US Central Command in Germany on Monday that Indias RAW spy agency was spilling the blood of innocent people through (an) indirect strategy, according to a military statement.

Porous Western border and existence of some exploitable spaces, inadequate border management that allows terrorists (to) move, lack of synergy, coordination and institutionalised mechanism of intelligence-sharing still remain our challenges, Sharif told the meet attended by several army chiefs.

These challenges were being exploited through confrontationalist and subversive approaches by hostile intelligence agencies like RAW, he added.

Sharif further alleged that India is unwilling to address historical disputes like Kashmir, that directly fan misunderstanding and feed into persistent regional culture of conflict.

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Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday slammed former Supreme Court judge Markanday Katju for trying to become Maai-Baap (guardian) of the state, after his comments of offering Kashmir to Pakistan on condition that it should also take Bihar.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Katju asked Pakistan to take Bihar as well along with Jammu and Kashmir which it has been fighting for since long.

We offer you Kashmir but you should take Bihar also, Katju had said in one of his Facebook post.

I have just received authoritative information from the Govt. of Pakistan. They have point blank refused the offer of taking Kashmir along with Bihar, and they have profusely apologised for ever asking for Kashmir at all and have promised never to ask for it again. Evidently the idea of getting Bihar too has horrified them out of their wits, he wrote.

Katju further commented, Once Firaq Gorakhpuri, my English teacher in Allahabad University, said to me hindustan ko khatra Pakistan se nahin hai, Bihar se hai.

The remark that triggered sharp reactions with some leaders even demanding his trial under sedition law.

Without naming Katju, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made a strong remark on him. Ghar baithe maai-baap ban rahe hai Bihar kaa...(Trying to become guardian of Bihar while sitting at home), Kumar said while speaking in Patna after launching two of his seven resolves of providing drinking water and toilet to every household.

A few people are gripped with disease of getting printed in newspapers, he said in an apparent retort on Katju.

The CM spoke in detail about the glorious history of Bihar which is land of Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavira, Chanakya and Aryabhatt who invented Zero among others.

Patliputra, the ancient name of present Patna used to be capital of the Magadh empire whose territory extended to the entire country, he said.

Deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav also took strong exception to Katjus comment saying, Bihar may be lacking in resources but it did not give Katju a free hand to humiliate the state. Bihar has always shown the way to the country in good and bad times, said the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi and senior party leader Shyam Rajak sought trial of Katju under sedition law.

Madhepura MP and Janadhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav also condemned Katjus comments and sought public apology from him.

Faced with barrage of protests, Katju sought to backtrack and wrote on Facebook I was only joking about Bihar.

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Ka
Accusing India of being involved in the terror attacks in Pakistan, defence minister Khawaja M Asif claimed that the deadly attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir was self-generated by India.

India has been involved for several years in the many attacks that have taken place in Pakistan. And I firmly believe that the entire Uri incident is self generated by India, Asif said in an interview to Samaa TV channel.

Following the Uri attack, the defence minister posted o Twitter that blaming Pakistan for Uri and any attempt to escalate tension to deflect attention from state terrorism in Kashmir will prove expensive for Indians.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said Indians assertion that Islamabad was behind the Uri attack was New Delhis long-time habit.

Three days after the Uri attack in which 18 army soldiers lost their lives, India summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit and presented evidence of Pakistans role in the Uri terror attack as well as other strikes like Pathankot.

Showing a list of proofs nailing Pakistans involvement in the Uri attack, ministry of external affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the list includes:

1) GPS from the bodies of terrorists with coordinates that indicate the point and time of infiltration across the LoC and the subsequent route to the terror attack site.

2) Grenades with Pakistani markings

3) Communication matrix sheets

4) Communication equipment

5) Other stores made in Pakistan, including food, medicines and clothes.

Calling on the Pakistan government to take active involvement into the investigation of the attacks, the MEA spokesperson said that if Islamabad wishes to investigate cross border attacks, India is ready to provide fingerprints and DNA samples of those terrorists killed in the Uri and Poonch.
India on Tuesday announced it will not attend the Saarc Summit in Islamabad in November, sharply escalating its attack on Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism.

The move came against the backdrop of a spike in tensions between India and Pakistan over the terror attack on an army camp at Uri that killed 18 soldiers. India responded to the strike with a campaign aimed at isolating Pakistan on international stage.

Read | Not for war-mongers: PM Modi spells out what India can do with Pakistan

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India had informed current Saarc chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the summit in Islamabad.

Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/jabKoaBegJ  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Swarup added, We also understand that some other Saarc member states have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad summit in November 2016.

He said India would be unable to participate in the summit in the prevailing circumstances.

Read | India hands Uri proof to Pakistan; Modi to review trade ties

Though Swarup did not name the country accused of interfering in the affairs of Saarc members, it was clear India was pointing to Pakistan.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj accused Pakistan of responding to Indias peace overtures with a string of terror attacks and the export of terrorism.

Saarc members Afghanistan and Bangladesh too have criticised Pakistan on the issue of terrorism.

Reacting to Indias decision, Pakistans Foreign Office described it as unfortunate and said it had not yet received any official communication from New Delhi.



A brief statement issued by the Foreign Office referred to the reasons behind Indias decision as an excuse and alleged New Delhi was perpetrating and financing terrorism in Pakistan. It added, It is India which has violated the international law and UN Charter by interfering in the internal matters of...Pakistan.

A summit of the eight-member grouping cannot be held if even one member pulls out. Several Saarc summits in the past have been delayed or cancelled because of difference between India and Pakistan.

The Saarc Charter, which says all decisions should be made on the basis of unanimity, states that the heads of state or government will meet once a year or more often as and when considered necessary by the member states.

However, the grouping did not hold summits in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

In 2005, the summit was delayed by eight months after India initially refused to participate because of the imposition of emergency by the then king of Nepal and the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh. A secret US diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks quoted an Indian official as saying that the move was aimed at encouraging Bangladesh to be introspective.

The 1999 summit was cancelled after India objected to the military coup engineered by Gen Pervez Musharraf that removed the elected government headed by Nawaz Sharif.

Read | PM Modi hits out at Pakistan, says India wont forget Uri attack

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting on Thursday to review the most-favoured nation status to Pakistan, as India weighs its options to respond to an attack by militants in Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers, a source said on Tuesday.

India accorded Pakistan the MFN status in 1996 and expected it to reciprocate. Though Pakistan had agreed to grant Indian the MFN status during a secretary-level agreement in 2012, it has not kept its promise, missing several deadlines.

The decision of the meeting comes on the heels of another meet on Monday in which Prime Minister Modi discussed the Indus Waters Treaty India has with Pakistan. The meeting decided that India will explore all options to use as much water as it can within the boundaries of the World-Bank brokered treaty, considered one of the most liberal water-sharing pacts.

An industry body said on Sunday the MFN status has not made much of a difference, as trade between the two countries remains abysmally low.

Out of Indias total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion. Indias exports to the neighbouring country worked out to $2.17 billion, or 0.83%, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than $500 million, or 0.13%, of the total inward shipments.

While India has granted Pakistan the MFN status, Islamabad had not responded... even with the MFN status, Pakistans exports to India remained less than half a billion dollar, DS Rawat, secretary general of Assocham, said.

Read: Sushmas UNGA speech sparks ugly spat between India, Pakistan

The MFN status is granted by a trading partner to another country for equal treatment in terms of trading prices or tariffs, and market access without discrimination in imports and exports. The status does not suggest any special treatment but says there will be no discrimination in trade.

If India revokes the MFN status to Pakistan, it would lead to diminished imports from the neighbour.

The Uri attack triggered Indias efforts to isolate Pakistan globally and squeeze it bilaterally. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said at the UNGA on Monday that India had attempted an unprecedented paradigm of friendship with Pakistan but all it got in return was Pathankot, Uri and Bahadur Ali, a terrorist in our custody whose confession is living proof of Pakistans complicity in cross-border terror.

The remark marked the latest exchange in a war of words between the two sides, which has heated up since the terror attack in Uri more than a week ago.
Guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain of the US Navy made its first visit to Vietnam in April 2014. Photo by VnExpress/ Nguyen Dong

The USS John S. McCain is coming back after its 2014 visit for naval exchange activities, seeking to reinforce military ties.

The guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain of the US Navy will have a four-day visit to Vietnams central city of Da Nang for naval exchange activities, starting September 28.

The city said this would be the second visit of the warship. It arrived in Vietnam in April 2014 for the fifth Naval Engagement Activity (NEA), an annual event aimed to boost ties between Vietnam and the U.S.

This year, the ship with 280 crew members led by Lieutenant Colonel Alfredo J. Sanchez will also participate in joint activities and have discussion with the leaders and rank-and-file personnel of the Vietnamese Navy's 3rd Regional Command.

The two countries are scheduled to talk about the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, preparatory work before sailing, damage control and medical issues.

The U.S. Navy will also hold seminars on the Law of the Sea treaty at the base of the Regional Command and Da Nang University.

In addition, the USS John S. McCain sailors will perform and take part in a number of sporting and music events before leaving on October 1.

Bilateral ties between Vietnam and the U.S. have grown stronger in recent years, amid concerns over China's military expansion in the region.

Besides the annual reception of U.S. naval vessels, Vietnam has also welcomed visits of warships from other countries, including Japan, India, Australia and France.

In April, two Japanese guided-missile destroyers for the first time made a port call at Cam Ranh Bay Port, Vietnams newly opened international port. In July, the coast guard ship Kojima arrived in Da Nang for a five-day visit.

Prior to the trip of President Francois Hollande earlier this month, France also sent its amphibious assault ship Tonnerre to Cam Ranh Bay in a friendly visit.

Related news:

> Taiwan sends warship to South China Sea after ruling

> Vietnamese navy conducts rescue missions with U.S. hospital ship

> Indian warships dock at Cam Ranh Int'l Port

> Japanese coast guard ship docks in central Vietnam
Nearly five years after the alleged rape of four tribal women by police in Tamil Nadu, a report of a judicial magistrate filed in Madras High Court on Monday said there are reasons to believe that they were sexually assaulted, but not raped.

The report of the judicial magistrate Thirukovilur in Villupuram district stated the medical reports did not suggest rape on four women of the Irular tribal community.

There are reasons to believe that sexual assault had occurred on the women by the police personnel who had taken them, the magistrates report filed by the government pleader said.

It also stated that the enquiry with the victims revealed that police personnel who took them for questioning had asked them to remove their clothes. When they refused, the police allegedly removed them forcibly and molested them.

The report was filed in connection with the alleged incident of police personnel of Thirukovilur in Villupuram district raping tribal women after taking them in a jeep on November 22, 2011 for an enquiry though they were not required in any case.

It said no woman police accompanied the police team when the women were taken to the police station. Though rape was not confirmed, the victims statements, evidence of witnesses and circumstances lead to conclude and believe that sexual assault was done on victims, it said.

The report was filed when a Public Interest Litigation petition of advocate P Pugalenthi, came up for hearing before the court.

The petition had sought transfer of probe to the CBI and suspension of policemen involved in the alleged crime.

Last month, the court had wondered how the magistrates report did not reach the investigating officer. It directed the Villupuram principal district judge to examine the issue and send a report to it.

On Monday, the court directed the Registrar-Vigilance to look into the non-performance of the Judicial Magistrate- Thirukovilur over the cause of delay and submit a report.

It posted the matter for further hearing to November 7 and directed the government pleader to get instruction from the Investigation officer on the report and also submit details of the fate of police officers involved in the case.

The government pleader stated that the magisterial report would be sent to the Investigation officer.
Youth Front (Mani) party workers killed 10 dogs and paraded their carcasses on the streets of Kottayam on Monday, just two days after Union minister Maneka Gandhi appealed to state DGP Loknath Behra in Kozhikode to save strays.

The mass killing was reportedly a reaction to the increasing dog menace in the state that led to the death of a woman last week. In another incident, strays killed an aged woman and devoured a portion of her body on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram about two months ago.

After beating the dogs to death, the angry workers tied the carcasses to a wooden pole and took out a rally, shouting slogans against Maneka Gandhi and the state government for ignoring the plight of the common man.

If the situation continues like this, we will take law in our hands. We cant be mute spectators any more. Those who are speaking for strays are agents of the powerful vaccine lobby, said Youth Front state president Saji Manjakadambil.

He claimed his workers only eliminated the dangerous dogs and would continue the exercise if authorities fail to tackle the menace.

Video of the protest that saw the dogs being dumped outside local government offices in Kottayam district was broadcast on television, sparking public anger.

These people who are beating and using dogs to their advantage and political opportunity will do the same to people they are trying to impress. This is completely barbarian way to deal with a situation...is it leading to a solution? No way!!, Delhi-based animal rights activist Khushboo Gupta said.

Kerala is perfect example of how sensible actions has no connection with your literacy level, she wrote on Facebook.

Youth Front (Mani) party workers killed 10 stray dogs to protest against the increasing dog menace in the Kerala. (HT Photo)

We have registered a case against the protesters today for cruelty against animals and launched our investigation, Gireesh P Saradhi, deputy superintendent of Kottayam police, told AFP.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had sparked anger recently by saying he opposed culling, while animal activists have called for sterilisation and other more humane methods of curbing numbers.

According to a survey conducted by the state animal husbandry department, there are around 9.23 lakh domestic dogs and 2.70 lakh strays in the state. In 2016, till August, 51,000 dog bites and four deaths have been reported.

Animal lovers blame poor waste disposal methods of the state for the proliferation of strays.

There are only about 1,500 veterinarian surgeons, but the state needs at least double that number to effectively carry out its sterilisation programme. Since a majority of the local bodies dont have the infrastructure for animal birth control, quick, but ineffective, measures are relied upon. Most are yet to switch over from traditional sterilisation methods to the modern keyhole surgery, a standard procedure followed globally.

Veterinary doctors say if key hole surgery is performed, a dog can leave the hospital in two days; other methods require at least four days of recovery, burdening an already inadequate infrastructure. As a consequence, culling strays has become common place.

With inputs from agencies

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A speeding train hit and killed two elephants in a corridor designated for the animal near Dimapur, Nagalands commercial hub, early on Tuesday.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials said the incident happened about 12.25am when the New Delhi-Diburgarh Rajdhani Express ran into a herd of elephants that settlers on the eastern flank of the track had scared away with firecrackers.

Two female elephants of the herd, one about five years old and the other 15, were killed.

A four-member enquiry team comprising railway and forest officials has been constituted to probe how the elephants got killed midway between Dimapur and Khatkhati railway stations, NFR spokesperson Pranav Jyoti Sharma told Hindustan Times.

Khatkhati, in Assams Golaghat district, is about 270 km east of Guwahati,

It took several hours for the elephants bodies to be taken off the tracks, blocking the train, thus delaying several other trains, Sharma added.

Forest officials said the spot where train rammed into the two elephants is a designated elephant corridor, warranting movement of trains at reduced speed, preferably at 20 kph.

We have asked the district officials to ensure elephants can use their traditional corridors without any harm. We will take up the train speed aspect with the railway authorities, forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said.

But NFR officials said they have not received any official request from the forest department to cut down speed on the Dimapur-Khatkhati section. This has been the usual procedure wherever we have reduced speed on tracks through animal corridors or close to wildlife preserves, a senior NFR officer said.

Until last week, the Dimapur-Khatkhati section was a low-speed zone owing to bad bank, a railway term for soft ground requiring slow movement of trains.

Several elephants get hit by trains in Assam. In February 2014, a passenger train had mowed down three elephants in eastern Assams Jorhat district.

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The Supreme Court directed the Karnataka government on Tuesday to comply with its order of releasing 6,000 cusecs of the Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for the next three days.

The top court also asked attorney general Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting between the governments of the two states to find a solution to the long-standing dispute over water sharing by Friday.

The court has, however, agreed to a further hearing of the matter on Wednesday.

Read| Troubled waters over Cauvery but Karnataka, TN have history of sharing

Karnataka on Monday sought time till January from the top court to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu as it said it needed the depleting source for drinking purposes.

On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day till September 27. It is respectfully submitted that in a year of insufficient rainfall and distress, the state is nonetheless obliged to reserve for supply to inhabitants water at national standards norms the Karnataka application to the SC had said.

Tamil Nadu, too, has filed an application before the SC, asking it to refrain from hearing Karnatakas petition until it has complied with the September 20 direction.

Tuesdays hearing came four days after the Karnataka legislature passed a resolution that the river will be used only for meeting the drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery Basin and Bengaluru.

The resolution, however, did not mention the top courts order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs a day (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu till September 27.

Karnataka has maintained that its citizens will go thirsty and crops in the state will be ravaged if it releases any more water to Tamil Nadu.

Full Coverage| Cauvery Water Dispute
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday take up the Karnataka governments plea to modify a previous order that asked it to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka on Monday sought time till January from the top court to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu as it needed the depleting source for drinking purposes.

On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day till September 27. It is respectfully submitted that in a year of insufficient rainfall and distress, the state is nonetheless obliged to reserve for supply to inhabitants water at national standards norms the Karnataka application said.

Tamil Nadu, too, has filed an application before the SC, asking it to refrain from hearing Karnatakas petition until it has complied with the September 20 direction.

The rival pleas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are likely to be taken up by a bench headed by justice Dipak Misra. The Tamil Nadu government is also likely to file a contempt plea against the Karnataka government for not following the courts order.

Tuesdays hearing comes four days after Karnataka legislature passed a resolution that the river will be used only for meeting the drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery Basin and Bengaluru.

The resolutions, however, did not mention the top courts order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs a day (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu till September 27.

Karnataka has maintained that its citizens would go thirsty and crops in the state will be ravaged if it releases any more water to Tamil Nadu.

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Scientists at the Dehradun-Based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) have debunked established belief that river Saraswati is just a 5,000-year-old myth.

They claimed to have found after extensive research that the river did exist during ancient times, but got buried because of tectonic changes in the Himalayas.

The mythical Saraswati forms the Hindu holy triumvirate along with the Ganga and Yamuna, and the hypothetical confluence of these three rivers in Allahabad is the source of humanitys biggest gathering every 12 years during the Kumbh Mela.

Scientists said the Saraswati flowed from its origin at Adi Badri in the Shivalik range of Haryanas Yamunanagar to its meeting point with Chautang river in the plains. This is the course the river followed when it flowed in the Vedic era.

They confirmed that tectonic activities along the Shivalik Himalayas separated the river course from Adi Badri and it was never recharged because of a series of climatic disasters.

The river died eventually. But rainwater collected at scattered hollow locations above the buried river gives proof of Saraswatis existence and the course it took.

Physical and chemical analysis of nearly 22 samples from a 60-km buried water stream confirmed that of it was indeed the ancient Saraswati, now entombed by five feet of top soil, the scientists said.
The centre on Tuesday asked for a detailed report on scrub typhus, a bacterial disease, from the Himachal Pradesh government in view of the rising number of cases.

According to sources, the disease has affected more than 700 people and claimed 20 lives.

Union health minister JP Nadda assured support to the state for managing the endemic disease. The ministry is closely monitoring the situation and, if requested, shall provide all logistical and technical support to the Himachal Government, he said.

Scrub typhus, which is caused by a group of microorganisms called rickettsiae, is usually transmitted by mites that are found in the shrubs in hilly areas. It can also be transmitted by lice, ticks and fleas.

In Delhi, where the disease in not very common, 33 people have tested positive and two have died of it so far this year.

Read: 33 test positive for scrub typhus in Delhi, symptoms similar to chikungunya

The symptoms of scrub typhus are similar to chikungunya, which is doing the rounds in Delhi. It begins with high fever, skin rashes, respiratory problems, red eyes and unconsciousness. Some of the patients also develop joint pains, which is characteristic of chikungunya.

It may progress on to respiratory distress, pneumonitis (inflammation of lung tissue), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), kidney failure and then multi-organ failure. If untreated, it can kill.

If detected in time, the disease can be cured using antibiotics. Dengue and chikungunya are self-limiting viral diseases that do not have any treatment, apart from management of symptoms. In scrub typhus, however, administering antibiotics on time can save lives, said Dr Rama Chaudhary, professor of microbiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

But, getting an early diagnosis is a problem in Himachal, where Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) is the only scrub typhus testing and treating centre.

Scrub typhus:

A disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Fleas, mites (chiggers), lice, or ticks transmit it when they bite you. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Incubation period (time between bite and beginning of symptoms): 10  14 days

Fatality: 30-45 per cent, if untreated

Symptoms:

Headache, fever, chills, rash, cough, red lesion at the site of the bite

Diagnosis:

skin biopsy - sample of the skin from your rash will be tested in a lab

Western blot - test to identify presence of typhus bacteria

immunofluorescence test - using fluorescent dyes to detect typhus in samples of mucus

blood test  blood sample tested for the presence of infection

Treatment: Administration of antibiotics like doxycycline, cholramphenicol, ciprofloxacin

Complications:

hepatitis (infection of the liver)

gastrointestinal hemorrhage (bleeding inside the intestines)

hypovolaemia (decrease in blood volume)

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The message that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India should be loud and clear to Pakistan, India asserted on Monday, asking whether the government in Islamabad can clarify how safe havens for terrorists continue to flourish under its watch.

In its Right of Reply, India also rejected the fanciful and misleading remarks by the Pakistani envoy to the United Nations.

Pakistans Permanent Representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, earlier exercised the Right of Reply to Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs UNGA address, saying Swarajs remarks were a litany of falsehoods about Pakistan and a travesty of facts and history.

In her speech, Swaraj asked Pakistan to give up the dream of snatching Jammu and Kashmir and said all India had received in response to unprecedented peace overtures were a string of terror strikes and the export of cross-border terrorism.

Lodhi said Jammu and Kashmir can never be an integral part of India and is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council.

...It appears that the distinguished representative of Pakistan did not hear clearly what our minister of external affairs stated during her address earlier today, Eenam Gambhir, first secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN, said.

Quoting from Swarajs address, Gambhir said Jammu and Kashmir is Indias integral part and will always remain so. We hope that the message is loud and clear, she said.

Gambhir said India rejects entirely Lodhis sermons, calling her remarks the views of a dysfunctional state which builds atrocity upon atrocity on its own people, preaching about values of tolerance, democracy and human rights.

India slammed Pakistan for making a fanciful and misleading presentation on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying Lodhis remarks aim to divert the attention from Pakistans sponsorship of terror and do not answer questions posed by the world community.

Can the representative of Pakistan clarify how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in her country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan armys much-vaunted counter terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains?

Can the representative of Pakistan confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy, Gambhir said, adding that can the Pakistani envoy deny that her country had assured in 2004 that it would not allow its territories, or territories under its control,to be used for terror attacks against India?

And can the representative of Pakistan deny that it has failed to honour that assurance given at the highest level, Gambhir said.

She also questioned whether the Pakistani representative will deny the armed forces of her country committed one of the most extensive and heinous genocides in human history in 1971.

Will the representative of Pakistan deny that its armed forces have used airstrikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly? Will (she) explain why is it that Pakistans civil society is being silenced by the plethora of heavily armed militias that go by names such as Jaish or Army, Lashkar or Army, Sipah or Soldiers and Harkat or Armed movement, Gambhir said.

A man speaks on his mobile phone as he watches a live telecast of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj speaking at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at an electronics store in Bangalore. (AP)

Lodhi said the attack on an army base in northern Kashmirs Uri where 18 soldiers died was staged to divert attention from the situation in Kashmir.

The attack on the Indian Army base in Uri, particularly its timing, has all the hallmarks of an operation designed to divert attention from the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, she said.

She accused India of utilising the Uri incident to blame Pakistan for the current Kashmir unrest. The state has been on the boil since the killing of a militant leader.

Indias government is delusional if it believes that it can isolate any country. It is India itself, which because of its war crimes in Kashmir and elsewhere, and because of its warmongering, is likely to be isolated in the international community, Lodhi said.

The Pakistani envoy said Swarajs statement reflects the deceit and hostility of the Indian government towards Pakistan.

Lodhi said the call for freedom of the Kashmiri people has been met with Indian brutality and demanded an impartial investigation into the rights violations in Kashmir, echoing Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UNGA.

Lodhi blamed India for suspending talks with Pakistan more than a year ago, saying New Delhi has refused to resume them despite repeated offers from Pakistan and advice from the international community.

The latest offer was made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from the rostrum of this very Assembly. But let us be clear, talks are no favour to Pakistan. They are in the interest of both India and Pakistan and the people of our two countries.

Let me reiterate that Pakistan is ready and willing for serious and result-oriented talks with India, especially to resolve the longstanding core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, which is imperative for durable peace, stability and development in the region.

In a second Right of Reply, Pakistan reiterated that Kashmir remains an internationally-recognised disputed territory.

Gambhir responded by saying that Pakistan has yet again chosen to stay silent on the tough questions.

This is what we have come to expect from Pakistan - deception, deceit and denial. The world still waits their response, Gambhir said.
The spirit and zest for life is infectious in a settlement near the Ring Road on the outskirts of Indore city, where 106 families of HIV-positive patients live in remarkable harmony.

The happy faces belie what such patients go through elsewhere  their spirit dies before death comes.

They are part of a resettlement programme that the Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA), an NGO, initiated in 2003. But more than a decade ago, when the first family with HIV-positive patients was brought to settle on that stretch of land, they faced a hostile environment  much like everywhere.

There was fear of being ostracised, even outright hostility from people living nearby, said an HIV-positive woman and a counsellor with the MPVHA.

Her neighbours are HIV-free families and it took time for them to be aware of the disease and behave normally. Sometimes they hurl abuses and tell me to go away. They would say that my presence would infect the entire colony.

She recently lost her husband to AIDS, yet remains positive and helps fellow sufferers maintain their sanity and fighting spirit.

Cloistered in groups of 20 to 30 households, the colony of HIV-positive patients has expanded over the years and they now live within a radius of 2km along the busy road.

Read | How a young doctor shocked India with its first HIV diagnosis 30 years ago

The job is to give these patients what was snatched away from them  the right to live happily and with respect. Most of the family members or patients who came to us had lost hope. More than the disease, the fact that they had HIV-AIDS had shackled them emotionally, said Mukesh Sinha, executive director of MPVHA.

It is here that we built an ecosystem around them, giving them an opportunity to share their problems and concerns with people who are on the same journey as them, he said.

The NGO realised seven years after working with HIV-AIDS patients how stigma pushes these infected people to the brink, turning them into social pariahs. Hence, it decided to help these people regain their lost confidence, find a livelihood and, most of all, salvage their battered life.

The HIV-positive patients are part of a resettlement programme that the Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA) initiated in 2003. (Shankar Mourya/HT Photo)

The self-belief of a 40-year-old woman speaks of the projects success.

I got infected by my husband, who contracted it from a sex worker. For two years, he hid it from me. When I got pregnant with my second child, the doctor told me I am HIV-positive, she said. She was then at her husbands village in Barwani district, where the family grew crops.

After knowing this truth, I could not live with him anymore. Also, my in-laws started misbehaving with me. It is then that I decided to move out, she said.

She now lives in a cluster along the Ring Road with her adopted extended family, which helped her confide about her condition to her daughter.

I could not tell her. How could I? She was so young when I was diagnosed with this disease and there is a painful history behind it. But then the group here counselled me, told me how to explain this to my daughter, she said.

Now, not only her daughter, but the entire neighbourhood knows she is HIV-positive. Nobody abuses her, everybody tries to help.

Read | Over 2000 Indians got HIV due to unsafe blood transfusions in 18 months

Another HIV-positive woman narrates a similar story. She is 80 and lives with her grandchildren aged 19, 16 and 15 after her daughter died of full-blown AIDS eight years ago. Her granddaughter, the eldest of the siblings, recently married a man from the colony.

My daughter never told anybody about her condition. The stigma was so huge that she could not reveal the truth. After her death, the responsibility of the grandchildren fell on me. It wouldnt have been possible had I not received the guidance and help of people living around me, she said.

Her two grandsons are HIV-free, attend school, and participate in street plays that try to demolish deep-seated misconceptions about the infection.

When Nani (grandma) told us about the disease, we were scared. We thought after mummy she is going to die as well. To make it worse, people would break off marriage proposals for our sister, said the older of the two brothers, who wants to be a doctor.

The settlement also houses a group of widows and women whose husbands abandoned them.

This group holds monthly meets and shares livelihood options, such as stitching and embroidery.

The support system is so effective that it takes care of even the most mundane things  having medicines on time and getting regular health check-ups.

An HIV patient often fights loneliness a lot. They lose interest in their life as they hardly get people who can take care of them without judging them. Here, everyone is equal, said another HIV-positive woman.

Her neighbour, a young mother of three whose husband lost his job after he was diagnosed with HIV, is a bubbling example of the all-pervasive fighting spirit in the colony. She started working as a domestic help and is soon going to be a cab driver.

I used to be scared even to get medicines from the shop. People, even doctors, looked at me suspiciously. This ruined my self-confidence. But thanks to this small family and neighbours here, I am able to move ahead, she said.

(Names of patients have been withheld to hide their identity)

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The two guides arrested for helping Uri attackers cross over the LoC have told their interrogators that they rendered similar services to at least half a dozen groups of infiltrators in the past as well.

The NIA, which is probing the case, arrested Faisal Hussain Awan, 20, and Ahsaan Khursheed, 19, on Monday after they were apprehended by the villagers in Uri sector due to their suspicious movement. Both of them were later handed over to the security forces.

Both Awan and Khursheed are residents of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

They have disclosed that they were tasked by commanders of Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) to facilitate the infiltration of a group of four cadres who carried out the Uri attack, said NIA in a statement.

The statement added when Awan was shown photographs of the four slain attackers, he identified one of them as Hafeez Ahmed, a resident of Dharbang village in Muzaffarabad.

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Hundreds of people gather at the court in Ky Anh District, Ha Tinh Province to sue Formosa Ha Tinh Steel for compensation. Photo by VnExpress

Hundreds of fishermen demand the Taiwanese firm to cough up for the damage it has caused.

Hundreds of people from the central province of Nghe An journeyed 200km by bus to neighboring Ha Tinh on Monday to lodge lawsuits against the steel plant responsible for the mass fish deaths that hit a 200km stretch of the central coast in April, a local leader has said.

Vietnam's government has officially named Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, the Vietnam unit of Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group, as the culprit for the incident in Ha Tinh that resulted in one of the biggest environmental disasters in the country's history.

Formosa has already paid $500 million in compensation, the Vietnamese government reported last month, but public outcry continues to rage in the streets and on social media.

Hundreds of people traveled to the provincial court in Ha Tinh to file lawsuits against the Taiwanese company, a local leader of Ha Tinh's Ky Anh District told VnExpress Tuesday. Ky Anh Peoples Court also confirmed that it has received over 500 files, with the majority demanding Formosa to pay damages.

It will take time for all the files to be processed, and each case will be trialed separately if the court rules so, said a lawyer.

The toxic pollution caused by Formosa has hit at least 200,000 people where it hurts the most: their pockets, the government said in a report to the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislature, in July.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that local authorities will receive compensation by early October to allocate to those affected by the disaster.

Related news:

> Agriculture Ministry puts forward post-Formosa fishing options

> Formosa's toxic disaster: are fish safe to eat now in central Vietnam?

> Vietnam province launches criminal probe into Formosa-related waste burial
In a fresh anti-India tirade, Pakistans defence minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that the assault on an Indian army base in Uri that killed 18 soldiers was a plan devised by India itself.

Maintaining that no proof implicating Pakistan in the Uri attack had surfaced yet, Asif told DawnNews that it was evident the attack was a plan devised by India itself.

He claimed that India orchestrated Uri attack to divert the attention of the world from the Kashmir issue.

India has said it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack and demanded that Islamabad refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism directed against this country.

One of the four terrorists involved in the Uri attack has been identified as Hafiz from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Asif also threatened to use nuclear weapons in case of war with India, saying his country has not made atomic device to display in a showcase.

We will destroy India if it dares to impose war on us. Pakistan army is fully prepared to answer any misadventure of India, the defence minister told private TV channel SAMAA.

He was replying to a question about Indias intention to carry out surgical strike in Pakistan.

We have not made atomic device to display in a showcase. If a such a situation arises we will use it and eliminate India, Asif said the channel.

He said Pakistan Air Force is ready to give a befitting response to India if it violates Pakistans airspace.

The Pakistani minister claimed that the entire world knows now that India is not as serious about resolving the Kashmir dispute as Pakistan is.

He claimed India has not received support from anywhere despite launching a diatribe against Pakistan and added that China had, on the other hand, supported Pakistans viewpoint.

Commenting on a bill moved in the US Congress to label Pakistan as a terrorist state, he said that anti-Pakistan elements are present in each and every country but the impacts of their voices depend on the policies of these countries.

Five or 10 voices raised against us are not enough evidence to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, he said.

Meanwhile, military spokesperson Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa has said Pakistans eastern borders are under close monitoring of the security forces who are ready to respond to any aggression.

He urged people to be vigilant and keep an eye on any suspected movement in the border areas.
Two persons who stole a buffalo and fled from Dholpur district are suspected to have drowned while crossing the Chambal river at Dihauli area, police said on Tuesday.

According to Dihauli assistant sub-inspector Shiv Shankar Tyagi, the two suspects were crossing the Chambal river with the animal when they went missing.

The buffalo was found on Monday from Kothala village of Madhya Pradesh, with a plastic bag containing two mobile phones, pairs of clothes and shoes tied to its horns.

This suggested the police that the two thieves may have drowned while crossing the river.

The buffalo was found stolen from its owner in Dholpurs Dihauli area on September 23 and a case was registered in connection with the theft, the ASI said. Dihauli is the border between between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

While the animal has been handed over to the owner, hunt to trace the two thieves is on, he added.
This Durga Puja, Bengalis are not thinking local, rather they are going global. Puja vacations are often the most preferred time for Bengalis to travel. This year, travel agents say that foreign shores are attracting maximum travellers from Bengal.

With Kashmir burning after the Uri attack and tourists cancelling bookings, city travellers are increasingly booking foreign holidays to spend their long puja vacations.

With Bangkok, Thailand, Pattaya and Singapore being the most-sought after destinations closer home, travel agents in Kolkata have also received a healthy number of bookings for places like Malaysia, Cambodia, Kenya, Hong Kong and Spain.

Read: World Tourism Day: 16 must-see places in India before you die

Chandramouli Thakur of Miles Tourism informs that during puja, several travel agencies give attractive offers, which also help tourists plan a foreign trip. This has been a trend for a few years now. Bangkok, Krabi, Thailand and Singapore are the most favoured international destinations. Those who love wildlife are visiting Kenya (Maasai Mara, Mombasa) and Tanzania, he says.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is a major tourist attraction. (Wikipedia)

Spain, as a destination saw a huge rise in demand after the release of Zoya Akhtars Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Five years on, Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza and Seville continue to attract city tourists. Ananda Majumdar of Eureka Travels & Tours says Bengalis are heading to Spain in large numbers this year. Spain is a great location which combines modernity and tradition. Also, you get great food there, he says.

Europe has always been a must visit place on the list of city tourists. Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Rome and Italy are the top tourist spots. Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world and has always been dear to city travellers. But just like Kashmir, Paris too is not being favoured by tourists because of the frequent terror attacks.

Travel Agents Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi says that most of the bookings for puja holidays were complete by June. Even last year, we received heavy bookings in August, but this year by the month of June, tourists from Bengal had booked their dates and places. Apart from Bangkok, Malaysia and Singapore, we have received bookings for Hong Kong and Macau, he says.

Angkor Wat is one of the top tourist attractions in Cambodia. (Wikipedia)

Read: Kashmir out of bounds, Darjeeling prepares it spread for Tourists

Saswati Roy of Wandervogel Adventures informs Kolkatans are becoming increasingly interested in travelling to lesser known destinations. Even a few years ago, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, were not on the list of city travellers. Thats not the case this time. Vietnams natural beauty, historical attractions and temples attract a lot of footfall from Kolkata. Cambodia attracts crowds for its amazing temples and architecture. Angkor Wat is one of the top tourist attractions in Cambodia, she says.

Those who had to cancel their Kashmir bookings and are not heading abroad, are heading to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala. Subho Chakraborty, 35, had booked a Kashmir trip four months ago. However, he had to cancel the hotel booking in Kashmir due to Uri attack. On Ashtami, he and his family of four are leaving for Shimla, Sarahan, Sangal, Chitku and Kalpa. We had to suffer financial losses since we had booked hotels in Kashmir. But we wanted to go on a holiday. Our train tickets for Delhi have been booked, so we had to scout locations where we could travel from Delhi. Shimla seemed to be a good option. I am told there will be heavy rush in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, he says.

A snow covered Shimla. With Kashmir being out of bounds, tourists are heading to Himachal. (HT Photo)

Read: Tourists from Bengal overfly troubled Kashmir

Pradip Chowdhury of Chowdhury Tour & Travels says he had to cancel a number of bookings for Kashmir. However, they immediately booked the tourists for Rajasthan and Kumaon.

Samir Sarkar of Travel Chhuti Chhuti reveals that bookings for places such as Shimla, Sundarbans and Gangtok were closed four months ago. Kolkatans are also travelling to Bhutan, Ooty, Coorg and Nepal. Gangtok, Pelling and Darjeeling are the most preferred destinations among Bengali tourists. So, this year too, these places have received heavy bookings. Puri, Digha and Mandarmoni  the eternal favourites  continue to give competition. So, if you have not booked till now and are still trying to figure out where you can go, we advice you move quickly. Times running out.

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While cocktails are still a major trend in the drinks market, whisky is also having its moment, thanks to the revival of traditional production methods and artisanal liquors.

Can you tell a glass of bourbon from that of scotch? Or rye whiskey from corn whiskey? Here we list the major differences between all the different varieties so that the next time you know exactly what it is that youre drinking.

Rye whiskey

The clues in the name. This type of whiskey is made widely in the USA and must be distilled from at least 51% rye. It stands out for its spicier and fruitier flavours than bourbon. Mid-19th-century American cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sours, were originally made with this kind of whiskey.

In the US, sales of rye have jumped 6,000% in five years, according to American authorities, confirming the comeback of this traditional tipple. The Beast Smoke House in Paris suggests its The Beast Old Fashioned cocktail with 4cl of Sazerac Rye, 2cl of Sweet Vermouth, a dash of Angostura bitters and a dash of Bitter End BBQ Bitters.

Corn whiskey

With fewer corn whiskeys on the market, novice tasters will have less trouble choosing this kind of liquor. As the name suggests, this whiskey is distilled from at least 80% corn. It offers more rustic flavors than rye or bourbon.

After falling out of fashion and out of general consumption, a corn whiskey revival is currently underway, driven by renewed taste for cocktails based on traditional whiskeys.

The trend is sure to bring success to producers since only three brands currently make this kind of liquor, in Kentucky and Missouri, USA.

Bourbon

Whiskey is liquor produced by the fermentation and distillation of grains. Bourbon must be distilled from at least 51% corn, topped up with malted barley, wheat and rye. If distilleries opt for wheat, then the bourbon is said to be wheated. The drink is then aged in oak barrels. Bourbons are often produced in Kentucky, where they originated. Bourbon is the traditional rival for Scotch in the world of whiskey.

Scotch

First of all, Scotch isnt a whiskey but a whisky without the e, which takes its name from its place of origin, Scotland. Note that only whiskey from the USA and Ireland uses the ey spelling, drinks with other origins are labelled whisky.

Scotch is primarily made from water and malted grain, traditionally barley, at a distillery in Scotland. The fermented mash can include other whole grains. Scotch has to age for at least three years in oak barrels and must have a minimum alcoholic strength by volume of 40% (80 US proof).

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The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to consider former minister Chhagan Bhujbals bail plea after he challenged the validity of two sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) slapped against him in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

We are not inclined to consider any of your prayer for interim relief, the division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice MS Sonak told the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders counsel. The bench, however, clarified that the former minister was free to file a regular bail application before the appropriate court.

Bhujbal, who has been booked along with 54 other individuals and 24 firms in an alleged money laundering case, has sought his liberty on the grounds that he was illegally arrested by the ED. The court has now directed ED to file its reply within four weeks and scheduled the next hearing for after six weeks.

ED has registered a case against Bhujbal, a few of his family members and some contractors, for alleged corruption while awarding contracts for construction of Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi and the new RTO office at Bandra. According to investigating officers, from 2006 onwards, the Bhujbals and their associates laundered huge sums  while Chhagan Bhujbal allegedly laundered Rs 291.71 crore, his nephew Sameer and son Pankaj have accused of swindling Rs359.30 crore each. ED believes that the former minister masterminded the scam dating back to 1998, when he was the then deputy chief minister.

He devised the entire methodology and scheme of things to defraud the state government by conceptualising and implementing a scheme whereby the contract for construction of Maharashtra Sadan and RTO office was awarded to KS Chamankar Enterprises by misusing his official position and authority, states the ED complaint.
Will Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis meet the same fate like his Gujarat counterpart Anandiben Patel?

As the BJP-led government completes two years next month, Fadnavis is facing one of his biggest challenges so far in the form of the silent Maratha uprising in Maharashtra similar to the Patel agitation in Gujarat (minus the violence) that ultimately cost Anandiben her job.

Last week, as the Maratha silent rallies touched 20 districts  more than a third of the state districts  rumours were triggered about Fadnavis ouster in favour of a state minister, a Maratha, like the Public Works Minister Chandrakant Patil, considered to be close to BJP president Amit Shah.

The rumours are unfounded, at least at this stage.

Patil, the CM-candidate, himself was asked to refute this as speculation on Monday.

But its clear Fadnavis is rattled, perhaps to the glee of some of his own ministers. Thats why he chose to voice this speculation himself at a rally in Navi Mumbai recently saying he didnt really care how long he would stay in the top job as long as he worked every single day to bring transformation to the state.

The reason for Fadnavis worries are manifold, but chief among them is that as a Brahmin chief minister, he has no real community constituency and is faced with the angst of a dominant community that makes up 32% of the states population.

What makes the problems worse is that there is no way to really meet the two central demands made by the community. The demand for special reservation for Marathas in jobs and education has been refuted once by the Backward Class commission and stayed by the Bombay high court. Both had opined that the community is neither socially nor economically backward. More importantly, giving separate reservation to Marathas will take the overall reservation in the state to nearly 74%, against the Supreme Court ruling. Giving the community reservation within the existing OBC block, will alienate this group that has been carefully wooed by BJP through late leaders Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde.

The second demand to review the Atrocity Act will also draw fire with Dalits, who already have many reasons to be unhappy with the BJP and are poised to start their own protests.

Fadnavis has repeatedly made overtures for holding negotiations with the protesters, but Maharashtra does not have its own Hardik Patel.

As one of the Maratha protest leaders told HT, There is nothing to discuss and our protests dont have leaders. The CM knows our demands and he should just declare they will be met.

For the CM its a catch-22 situation. And even though these are faceless protests, they are backed, supported and funded by Maratha politicians from the Congress and NCP, who are feeling threatened about losing their hold on power structures. This Maratha protest juggernaut will roll until it culminates in the Maha Mumbai rally, but no one, including its strategists, will know what to do next, said political analyst Surendra Jondhale.

The common Maratha, who has been motivated to take to the streets, is likely to get even more disillusioned when at the end of these rallies, there are no straight answers to their demands, said Jondhale.

How this anger will get played out in the local self-government elections is anyones guess, but the BJP government is likely to feel its blaze. Fadnavis, who attended the BJP national meet in Kozikode in Kerala has been briefed not to take the protests lightly.

A clear reading in the BJP is that it can no longer expect a re-run of the 2014 elections magic when Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi found favour across communities and as such caste dynamics cannot be ignored. If the BJP does badly in the local elections  dubbed the mini state assembly polls  the referendum is on Fadnavis. And then despite having no real replacement candidate in the state, the BJP top brass may have little choice but to make a change.

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers protested outside Karan Johars Andheri office on Tuesday,hitting out at the filmmaker for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil .

The protests forced the police to increase security outside Johars office. Several workers were rounded up and taken to the police station.

The MNS threatened to stall the release of the movie, in light of the Uri attack in J&K in which 18 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed, and had last week given Pakistani artistes a deadline to leave India.

Johar had spoken against the MNS stand in an interview to a TV channel and had said banning Pakistani artistes was not the solution to terrorism. Sources said this sparked Tuesdays protests. MNS leader Shalini Thackeray, who led the agitation, called Johars statement unfortunate. These Pakistani artistes gain fame and money in India and till date have not spoken against Pakistan for encouraging terrorism. If Johar feels so much, let him migrate to Pakistan and make films there, Thackeray said.

Senior MNS activists also wrote to Johars office, warning him that just as he had the creative liberty to make films with Pakistani artistes, the MNS would ensure it is not screened .

Following the protests, joint commissioner of police, law and order, Deven Bharti, said adequate security has been provided outside Johars office. Quickly responding to last weeks threat, Bharti had said, All foreign nationals in Mumbai on valid documents need not worry. We will provide protection.

This is not the first time Johar has been targeted by MNS. In 2009, his film Wake Up Sid was disrupted as it used the word Bombay instead of Mumbai.
Even as the ongoing Maratha protest rallies have seen record turnouts, unrest among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and minorities is growing. Now, the OBCs plan a rally in Nashik on October 3 and Muslim organisations and NGOs held a meeting here on Monday to push for the 5 per cent reservation cleared by the former Congress-NCP government and upheld by the Bombay High Court.

The OBCs October 3 rally is in the hometown of former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who is in jail on corruption charges, and his supporters are touting it as a show of strength, but others see it more as an expression of the disquiet over the Marathas moves. The rally will reflect the unease among the 362 castes, which enjoy 27% of the reservation in the state and constitute nearly xx % of Maharashtras population, over the prospect of a quota for Marathas eating into their share.

After Gopinath Mundes death and action against Bhujbal, the OBCs are feeling isolated due to a leadership vacuum and the threat of reduction of our existing reservation. Some OBC organisations do not want to come out openly in support of a tainted leader, but they have announced their support in the interest of the community, said a OBC leader privy to the developments.

The OBC organisations have avoided taking to the streets as it would be construed as a counter to Maratha rallies, vitiating the atmosphere in the state. Now Bhujbals supporters plan to use the October 3 rally to press for his release after six months in jail. They started mobilizing only after key leaders such as Pankaja Munde, Praful Patel, and Supriya Sule visited Bhujbal in hospital in the last few days.

All the OBC organisations are joining the rally and at the same time Bhujbals supporters from across communities have announced their backing. OBCs feel the action against Bhujbal is vindictive and unjust, said Bapu Bhujbal, NCP leader and a Bhujbal supporter.

After the Nashik rally, OBC organisations plan two more protest elsewhere in the state.

Political observers say the OBC rallies may ease the pressure built up by the Maratha rallies on the government led by Devendra Fadnavis, who is a Brahmin. The BJP is wary of Maratha unrest affecting it in the upcoming elections to10 municipal corporations and 26 district council to be held between November 2016 and March 2017.

Muslim organisations are also consolidating to ensure their demand for reservation is not ignored. Legislators from leading political parties, social organisations working for the cause of Muslims and organisations representing ulemas and priests attended the meeting held at the Islam gymkhana on Monday evening.

Even after the High Court quashed the reservation given to Marathas, there is a huge outcry by that community, but nobody is talking about the 5% reservation for Muslims in education upheld by the court. We will push for restoration of the quota, said Congress legislator Amin Patel.

Hari Narke, who is the Mahatma Phule chair at Pune University, said, Though the Maratha rallies are organised peacefully, they have led to unrest in other communities and disturbed the social fabric of the society.
A caricature in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Monday, mocking the silent Maratha protests that are being held across the state, led to two minor incidents of violence in Navi Mumbai and Thane.

The paper has today carried a clarification saying it did not intent to hurt the community.

Unknown miscreants pelted Saamanas office at Sanpada, Navi Mumbai with stones.

Commissioner of police (Navi Mumbai) Hemant Nagrale said, An incident of stone pelting was reported at Saamana office, Saanpada, where 2-3 windows have been damaged. An offence is being registered against the culprits. Investigations will be conducted and appropriate action will be taken against the accused.

Meanwhile, ink was thrown at Saamanas Thane office.

A source from the Saamana office said, A few unknown people splashed ink on the office door around 1pm. We are not sure who these people are.

Gajanan Kabdule, senior police inspector of Naupada said, A case has been registered. We have beefed up the security outside the office.
WASHINGTON: India on Monday asked Pakistan to give up the dream of snatching Jammu and Kashmir, saying all it had received in response to unprecedented peace overtures were a string of terror strikes and the export of cross-border terrorism.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj delivered a stinging riposte to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UN General Assembly, saying Pakistan should look within at egregious abuses in Balochistan instead of leveling baseless allegations against India.

Swarajs address marked the latest exchange in a war of words between the two sides, which has heated up since the terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri more than a week ago that killed 18 soldiers.

Sharif devoted most of his speech to the Kashmir issue and demanded a UN fact-finding mission into alleged rights violations. India, Swaraj said, had attempted a paradigm of friendship without precedent to resolve outstanding issues but all it got in return was Pathankot, Uri and Bahadur Ali, a terrorist in our custody whose confession is living proof of Pakistans complicity in cross-border terror.

She added Pakistan remains in denial when confronted with such evidence. It persists in the belief that such attacks and provocative remarks will enable it to snatch the territory it covets. My firm advice to Pakistan is: Abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so, she said.

Referring to Sharif s address on September 21, Swaraj said: Those living in glass houses should not throw stones.

Swaraj, who spoke in Hindi, added that those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see what egregious abuses they are perpetrating in their own country, including in Balochistan. The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of state oppression.

In a tacit reference to Pakistans policy of acting against bad terrorists while turning a blind eye to good terrorists, Swaraj said there should be no distinction between terrorists and the world community should join hands to script an effective strategy against the menace.

If any nation refuses to join this global strategy we must isolate it. In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account, she said.

Without naming Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, designated a terrorist by the UN Security Council and the US, Swaraj said: These nations, in which UN-designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations.

Swaraj also rejected Sharif s contention that India had set pre-conditions for talks. Did we impose any pre-condition before extending an invitation for the oath-taking ceremony of our government? Did we impose any pre-condition when I went to Islamabad for the Heart of Asia conference and agreed to begin the comprehensive bilateral dialogue? Did we impose any pre-condition when Prime Minister Modi travelled from Kabul to Lahore?

She said the world community is yet to reach a conclusion on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism proposed by India in 1996. This has prevented nations from agreeing on norms to punish and extradite terrorists and there is need to act with fresh urgency to adopt this convention.

Swaraj also brought up the reform of the UN Security Council so that it does not remain an outdated body that reflects the world order of an older era and comes to terms with present day realities.

In a speech seeking to marry New Delhis national interest with global objectives to buttress its stature as an emerging global power, Swaraj stressed Indias commitment to climate change and announced it will submit its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who, she added, epitomised a lifestyle with the smallest carbon footprint.

She also emphasised Indias commitment to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which she said, were matched by the development vision of my government, which is geared towards the achievement of these same objectives. Several schemes of the Indian government dovetailed with the SDGs, such as the Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Make in India and Digital India campaigns.

While India will play a leading role in combating climate change through measures such an international solar alliance, it expects developed nations to hold up their end of the bargain by providing finance and technology transfers.
Rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi District in the northern highlands' Ha Giang Province. Photo by VietnamPlus

Ha Long Bay and northern rice terraces are among the spotlights.

German public broadcaster ARD is finishing a special program to introduce the beauty of Vietnam through its nature, culture and people.

Philipp Abresch, Southeast Asian bureau chief of the broadcaster in Singapore, said a team has been traveling across Vietnam to capture the best of its landscape and culture, especially of the minority groups.

The team visited some of the countrys most popular destinations including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and the ancient town Hoi An, all of which are highly-recommended destinations in Southeast Asia.

They also came to the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang to capture breathtaking rice terraces and farming methods in Hoang Su Phi District.

Last year, the popular U.K. news website Telegraph last year named rice terraces in Vietnams northern highlands among the most surreal landscapes on earth while travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler put the site together with Ha Long Bay in a list of 50 most beautiful places in the world.

Lena Bauer, a production team member, said Hoang Su Phi had the most beautiful rice terraces she has ever seen.

The 45-minute program is scheduled to air in 2017.

A total of 125,620 Germans visited Vietnam in the first nine months this year, up 19 percent from a year ago. German visitors can now visit the country for up to 15 days without a visa.

ARD's documentary Long Thanh Wants to Smile about Vietnamese dioxin victims was nominated for this year Emmy Awards in the Current Affairs and News category. It did not win the award.

Related news:

>Foreign tourists to Vietnam in September grow 28 percent

>Hanoi in world's top 10 destinations

>Stunning Ha Giang: In pictures

>Hoi An, an ancient outpost turned Instagram heaven
NEW DELHI: India will explore all options to use as much water as it can within the limitations of a 56-year-old pact with Pakistan over rivers flowing into the neighbouring country, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided on Monday.

The World Bank brokered Indus water treaty of 1960 is considered among the most liberal water-sharing pacts in the world and has survived three wars and numerous bilateral bickering.

The agreement gives control of the three eastern rivers  Beas, Ravi and Sutlej  to India and Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to Pakistan. The pact is seen as generous to Islamabad as it gives lower riparian Pakistan 80% of the water of the western rivers: Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

But repeated cross-border terrorist attacks and the Pakistani establishments refusal to acknowledge such strikes originating from its soil could force India to use the water treaty as a bargaining chip to compel its hostile neighbour to mend its ways.

Blood and water cannot flow together, Modi said when he met his top officials to review the pact that took a decade to negotiate and sign. His remarks reflected Indias anger after Pakistan-based militants killed 18 soldiers at the Uri army base on September 18.

After Mondays meeting, a message was sent out that New Delhi has options to hurt Pakistan within its legal rights under the water treaty as all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, from where these rivers originate or pass through, had supported such a move in the past.

But the government didnt state specifically if the pact would be abrogated or suspended.

The meeting decided the Indus water commissioners from each country will not meet under an atmosphere of terrorism. They have so far met 112 times, at an average of twice a year. New Delhi will restart its work on the Tulbul navigation project, which Pakistan calls Wullar barrage on the Jhelum, at the mouth of Wullar lake. Pakistan opposes the project, saying it would choke the water flow.

We will wait for Pakistans response before going ahead with other plans discussed at todays meeting, a source said.

Besides, the meeting discussed ways to make use of its rights in the three western rivers for agriculture, storage and hydroelectric power generation. That means India plans to increase the capacity to use its share of water permitted by the treaty.

The pact permits India to use water for 13.4 lakh hectares, but only 8 lakh hectares are in use because of lack of infrastructure. Similarly, these rivers have the potential to produce 18,600MW of electricity, but total planned projects amount to 11,406MW.

If India builds infrastructure such as hydel power projects and irrigation canals to optimise its use of the rivers, even within the treatys framework, the water flow to Pakistan will reduce from its current position. Pakistani farmers depend heavily on these three rivers and a slight dip will affect them heavily.

An inter-ministerial panel will review the working of the pact and expedite measures to exploit Indias rights over the three western rivers. The government will also expedite the construction of three dams across the Chenab.

These steps have the potential to set off a water war in an already hostile environment.

Experts suggested against India cancelling the treaty because it will be difficult to renegotiate a similar agreement and any such move might hurt Indias image internationally. Any attempt at revoking the agreement might invoke similar actions from China on the Brahmaputra.

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Mohammad Danish cant sleep. It has been a year since a mob lynched his father, Mohammad Ikhlaq, on suspicions of cow slaughter but the young man is struggling to find a normal life in Delhis leafy Subroto Park.

The 22-year-old survived the attack with a fractured skull and underwent three surgeries soon after but says he is more scared of the nightmares.

Sometimes the nightmares wake me up in the middle of the night. The incident, the angry faces, the distress calls of my father often come in my dreams and tear into my heart, says Danish, Ikhlaqs younger son. I was helpless, I was not able to protect him.

Ikhlaqs family fled their village  Bisada in Uttar Pradesh -- soon after the incident and took shelter with his elder son, Sartaj, who works in the air force and lived in a cantonment in Subroto Park.

Ikhlaqs mob lynching triggered a nationwide movement on intolerance and inspired hundreds of writers, academics and filmmakers to return their government awards in protest.

But for the family, little has changed. The incident seems to have hit Ikhlaqs wife Ikraman the hardest. She rarely meets anyone now and doesnt want to talk about the lynching. She says she has no friends in Subroto Park.

I fear everyones questioning eyes. I am tired of telling people what happened and why and that we are innocent, she says.

Dadri victim Mohammad Ikhlaq's family members at a hospital in Noida where his son Danish was admitted in Noida. (PTI file)

Ikhlaqs killers have not been convicted and earlier this year, police complaints were lodged against members of the family for alleged cow slaughter after the flesh reportedly recovered from his fridge was found to be beef. But Ikraman is determined to not be cowed down.

Now as he (Ikhlaq) has left this world, he has been made an accused of cow slaughter. This is disheartening. I have full faith in the judiciary. I know charges against him and all of my family will be dropped and his murderers will be hanged, she says.

His family did not celebrate Bakr Eid this year. They say they will never celebrate it again as Ikhlaq was murdered nearly a week after the festival.

No festival gives us the joy. Bakr Eid reminds us the horrific past. We did not sacrifice any animal this year. We dont think we will be able to celebrate this festival ever again, says Ikraman.

Ikhlaqs mother Asghari, 78, says she feels like a misfit in the metropolis and misses life back in her ancestral home.

We never felt outcast in the village before the incident. Sometimes I feel like going back but I am scared of facing the families of those who killed my son. I dont want to see them ever. They ruined the lives of many people, she says.

Ikhlaq was not only a good son, he was a good father, a good husband and a good brother also.

Life for Sartaj -- a corporal with the Indian Air Force -- has also changed. He now carries a loaded licensed revolver and roams with an armed security personnel. In his spare time, he talks to lawyers and friends to strengthen the case against his fathers killers. Sartaj, however, refused to be interviewed citing professional restrictions.

His younger brother, Danish, is now planning to resume his routine of waking up at 5am for a run  preparation for the stringent physical examination to join the armed forces.

In our village, it is a tradition to join the armed forces. Now I know I would not be able to join such a job. However, I am willing to do something good in my life to make my family proud and earn some money, Danish told HT.

Read more: Dadri lynching: Hearing on framing of charges deferred to October 28

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The political discourse in Punjab is a bit of a rehash. A mosaic of the Delhi campaign that saw Sheila Dikshits development plank blown to smithereens, of Bihar where people voted for a Bihari against a seemingly mightier Gujarati, and Kashmir where the youth are at loggerheads with the politys parental narratives.

The comparison is a guide to odds faced by rival contestants. The ride is rocky for the father-son team of PS Badal and Sukhbir as it was for Dikshit in Delhi-2013; the outsider tag slammed on Arvind Kejriwal a replay of Nitish Kumars jibes against Narendra Modi. And finally, the Punjab youths estrangement due to joblessness compounded by farm distress. One hopes not but the crisis is reminiscent of the eighties when youth took to the gun.

Read | AAP to tap NRI support for Punjab, Goa poll campaigns

There are a few months to go before the January polls. Amid controversies, Kejriwal is struggling to show his party as the one capable of ousting the Akalis while the Congress under Captain Amarinder Singh tries catching up after a slow start. The fourth front has teething trouble with Navjot Sidhu acting fickle.

Captain Amarinder Singh at a rally in Hoshiarpur. (Harpreet Kaur/HT Photo)

A hung assembly could emerge from a three-way split of the anti-incumbency vote. That makes analysts believe the Congress needs to get combative like AAP. The voters looking for a demon slayer, not a trapeze artist, argued a college professor.

The assessments logical. The Badals face revulsion for their politics of subjugation symbol is ed by the dhakka-parcha (muscle and police power) tactics. Not surprising then that the image crisis overshadows their development work and populist schemes. Their high-handedness negates everything, said Pramod Kumar, a Chandigarh-based political scientist. A case in point: cement tiles used in millions to hurriedly spruce up Amristar have been derisively named after a minister by local residents.

Read | Will end raid raj after coming to power in Punjab: Arvind Kejriwal

The rookie AAP that burst on the Punjab scene in 2014 seemed all set to dominate the political space until hit by convulsions within. Their support base is vocal but not evenly spread, said Kumar. He said the party must not take its electoral support for granted as people parked their vote with it; they didnt cast their vote for it 

The other view came from Gyan Singh, professor of economics at Punjabi University: AAPs still ahead of others in Malwa that has maximum seats. The urge for change, he said, is rooted in the agrarian crisis blamed on parties that earlier ruled the state.

But the sense one got from the ground was that peoples movements over issues as variegated as land and lurid Punjabi music were gaining traction. Thats also the reason for AAPs popularity; Delhis mohalla clinics and steps to regulate school fees are positive discussion points in Punjab where education is expensive.

Read | Great laughter challenge: Punjab poll arena turns comedy circus

Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal (left) with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. (HT File Photo)

No matter who wins, the signals are clear. If conventional polity fails to self-correct, the status quo perceived as exclusive and oppressive could face serious challenge.

The students union elections in Chandigarhs Panjab University could have been a trailer of whats in store. The left-leaning Students for Society (SFS) emerged as a potent third force in the triangular contest. Its candidate for president got 2,494 votes after the Akali-aligned unions 2,500 and 2,800 of the Congress-backed Panjab University Students Union that won.

Read | Punjab polls: Surveys put Cong ahead of AAP, SAD-BJP, claims Capt Amarinder

(Last of a two-part series on the political mood in Punjab)
Four Delhi University students were injured when the Uber cab they were travelling in rammed a parked truck near Sector 16 A early on Friday morning.

Miranda House student, Kaayum Pegu (20), is critical, said police. She is admitted at the Kailash Hospital ICU in Sector 27.

The other injured are Tanuz Kalita (19) of SGTB Khalsa College, Siddharth Pathak (20) of Swami Shraddhanand College and Akshara Badola (20) of Mata Sundari College.

The four friends were returning from a friends place in Greater Noida after celebrating a birthday party when the accident occurred. The Uber driver did not slow down, despite repeated requests. The speeding led to the accident, said the three injured.

The cab driver was smoking inside the car He rammed a stationary vehicle at 3 am. All of us were injured, but the driver escaped with minor injuries. Instead of calling for help, he abandoned the car and fled the spot, said Kalita. He was discharged after initial treatment.

Siddharth Pathak (above) of Swami Shraddhanand College is also admitted in Kailash Hospital. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Pathak sat in the front seat next to the driver. Pegu sat in the middle of the backseat, flanked by Kalita and Badola, he said. Pegu was thrown off the seat and hit the windshield and the dashboard, under the accidents impact, he said.

Pathak and Badola are recuperating in the hospital. They are out of danger, the hospital staff said.

Pegu faced multiple fractures in the ribs and a serious head injury. She is still on ventilator support. Pathak and Badola are out of danger. Badola has multiple fractures and she will undergo surgery soon, said Kailash Hospital spokesperson, BB Joshi.

The driver was arrested the same day. The police produced him in court and he was released on bail. An FIR of rash and negligent driving was registered against the driver who was later identified as Viresh, said Sector 20 station house officer, Amarnath Yadav.

The cab aggregator hasnt mentioned any possibility of compensation and asked us to wait for the response of the insurance company which has insured the driver and the cab, claimed the victims families.

It seems they are not taking any responsibility for the accident and have left us at the mercy of the insurance of the cab driver. So far, Pegus father, a government employee in Guwahati, has spent nearly Rs 4 lakh. Also, parents of Pathak and Badola have spent nearly Rs 2 lakh. Money is running out and nobody is helping, said Pegus friend, Farjad Hazarika.

We are pained to learn about the accident and are closely engaged with the victims families to provide all assistance, said an Uber spokesperson.

Pegu, Pathak and Kalita are from Assam. Badola is from Uttarakhand.

Read more: Condition of Miranda student injured in Noida road accident very critical

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More than a fortnight after 27-year-old Ridhima Mahajan was found dead after allegedly consuming celphos tablets at her Green Park home, police have failed to trace the accused Pankaj Sapra, the son of a city-based hotelier. A case of abetment to suicide was registered against Sapra.

Must read | 27-yr-olds death in Ludhiana: Father says boyfriend killed her

Sources said Sapra has fled to Delhi and was using his political influence to hush up the case. On Monday, however, Ridhimas family met police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh seeking a case of murder against Sapra.

Ridhimas father, Anil Mahajan, alleged it was a pre-planned murder and two other men were also involved in it. All three suspects were caught in the CCTV cameras installed near the Mahajan abode. He added that Sapra had administered the celphos tablets to Ridhima, either by force or by mixing it in a drink.

Ridhima went out to meet friends on ill-fated day

On September 8, the day she died, Ridhima went out to meet friends and decided to stay at a friends place since her parents were out. According to family and friends, when she was on her way to her friends place, Sapra telephoned her and asked to meet her after which her friend dropped her back home.

Her friend said Ridhima was appeared cheerful when she met her. Her death had come as a shock to her.

Sapra was to marry someone else: Friends

Friends said Pankaj and Ridhima were in a relationship for nine years but he was not serious about her. Ridhimas parents got her engaged to someone else but Sapra spoiled it. Her friends also said he was to marry someone else but he concealed this fact from Ridhima.

Police apathetic

Police earlier filed proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC declaring suicide. After around 13 days, they booked Sapra for abetment to suicide.

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The Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has come down heavily on defence authorities for not amending a policy to grant disability element to pre-2006 prematurely retired officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks, who are otherwise eligible, as the same is admitted to post-2006 prematurely retired personnel.

Taking a suo motu cognisance of the case, the AFT bench headed by justice Surinder Singh Thakur questioned why an individual had to approach the court for relief when the apex court has already settled the matter.

The Supreme Court had pronounced its decision in the case of Mahavir Singh Narwal on January 4, 2008, and the administrative decision to grant disability element to personnel below officers rank (PBOR), proceedings on premature retirement was taken on January 2010 after two years, but it was limited to only those who file court cases. The AFT said it was against the ratio of Mahavir Singh Narwal decided by the apex court.

Moreover, an administrative decision cannot replace or place any limitation on a court order, which in this case has been done by introducing the clause relief to be given only to those who file court cases. This too is not being complied with by the respondents (defence authorities), said the judgment.

It added: If each ministry resorts to such action, there will be chaos and the sanctity and supremacy of the apex court provided by the constitution would be questioned by those who do not have the power to do so creating an analogous condition and the rule of law would be the casualty, which should not happen in a democratic set up like India.

The bench observed that from 2012 to 2015, the file remained with the defence ministry. During this period of 40 months, why was the matter nor raised to the level of the raksha mantri (defence minister)?...It is incomprehensible that to implement a Supreme Court decision, the file moves within the same ministry for 40 months and the issue is not raised to the level of the minister concerned, in this case the honble raksha mantri.

The AFT commented: Armed forces veterans in the twilight of their lives, cannot be made to wait indefinitely and illegally for their benefits under the pretext of procedure and inter-departmental consultationThis attitude is not acceptable and the department of ESW (ex-servicemen) has to change its attitude with respect to processing of veterans cases, which in this case are based on the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The bench directed the Secretary, ministry of defence, to issue instructions to all concerned not to raise any objection for denying the relief to the eligible person by quoting the non-existent clause. In case they would do so, they shall be liable for contempt and cost, which shall be recoverable from the individual who illegally denies the legitimate dues by quoting a non-existent clause of the policy. These instructions shall also be put in the public domain with instructions for affected personnel to apply for such relief to the competent authority instead of directly approaching the courts/AFTs, the bench observed.

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Having cleared accounts of the cash-credit limit (CCL) to the tune of Rs 23,000 crore received in the 2015 kharif season, the Punjab government is expecting the release of the Rs 26,000 crore CCL for procurement of paddy this season any time now.

With Punjab heading for assembly polls early next year, the Akali-BJP government doesnt want to take any chances. As the procurement affects every farmer and farm worker, comprising more than 60% of total population, the state government began preparation for procurement in July, much ahead of the schedule, seeking CCL and arranging gunny bags.

Also, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July urging him for early release of the CCL. The states top brass is also in touch with Union finance minister Arun Jaitley so there is no last minute glitch.

The Punjab government would start paddy procurement from October 1. Unlike previous five procurement seasons since 2014, when arranging the CCL for procurements gave a tough time to Akali-BJP government in Punjab, the current kharif season has come with lesser worries.

So far, the CCL has not reached the state government, but we are expecting good news from the Reserve Bank of India any moment, a food and civil supplies department official told HT.

Its a bumper crop this time. We are expecting to procure 140 to 150 lakh tonnes of paddy this season and we want fast movement of grain out of the mandis, so that there is no glut, said an official. Punjab is expecting paddy production of 186 lakh tonne this season.

We are receiving queries and counter queries from the Centre. On Friday, Union finance ministry sought details of grains in stocks, and we have sent the same, said an official.

Officials say the RBI clears the CCL after a nod from the Union ministry of finance and then the RBI writes to the lead bank  the State Bank of India and consortium of banks  to release funds.

Having set records of previous four procurements straight, things have become easier now. The RBI has told us that it is not concerned about the old accounts but wants the state to devise a system for smooth procurement, said an official.

According to the Centre, theres a mismatch of Rs 12,000 crore between the CCLs received in the past and the food grain handed over.

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Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, postponed its second counselling for the MBBS/BDS seats on Monday, a day after uploading the admission notice on its website.

On Monday, HT highlighted how the college had gone ahead with admissions even as the director of medical education and research (DRME) had issued a notice on Saturday to the CMC and two other private institutes to stop counselling. On Thursday, the Supreme Court had upheld central counselling and prohibited independent counselling by any medical college or university.

CMC public relation officer Paramveer Singh said that as directed by the state government, the college had not held counselling on Monday. We will release a new schedule after fresh guidelines, he said.

Parents and students fight uncertainty, since there is no official word, so far, on the validity of admissions in three private institutes  Adesh University, Shri Guru Ram Das University and the CMC  and whether fresh counselling will be held there under a centralised process. The deadline for medical admissions in the country is September 30.

The state government had to decide fast about the intake in private colleges. DRME Dr Manjit Kaur Mohi said the matter was under consideration. Sources in the department said that it awaits another judgment.

An official said: The Supreme Court orders of last week on the contempt petition by Madhya Pradesh effectively cancelled the scope of counselling by private medical colleges. The verdict on a similar petition by Maharashtra is expected on Tuesday. Hopefully, it will bring clarity on how it will apply to the other states.

In the region, only Punjab allowed private institutes to hold independent counselling. Haryana and Himachal Pradesh prevailed over them despite their resistance.

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Accusing the district administration of harassing school van operators in the city after the Muhawa school van mishap last week, the local operators went on a strike on Monday.

Seven children were killed and over 20 were injured after a rashly driven school van fell into a drain from a bridge at the border village, 35 km from here on Tuesday afternoon.

The school van operators alleged the district authorities have been harassing them after the incident and they have come under unnecessary scrutiny. After the incident, district transport officer Lovejit Kalsi had penalised the operators of 200 school buses and impounded 108 vans. Also regular checking was carried out by other departments.

A lot of inconvenience was caused to parents, who were seen dropping off and picking up their children from various city school due to the strike. Some parents didnt even send their kids to schools.

Shublata, a grandparent, said: We did not send our kids to school as there was the transporters strike.

Joint task force to enforce Safe School Vahan Scheme

Tarn Taran: In the wake of Muhawa school van mishap, Tarn Taran district transport officer (DTO) Angrej Singh Hundal said on Monday that a joint task force of all departments concerned will be constituted to ensure the implementation of Safe School Vahan Scheme.

After a meeting with senior officials of the education, police and women and child development departments, Hundal said the committee will be formed to implement all rules and regulations under the Punjab government scheme strictly. It will examine every school vehicle being used for ferrying students to see if it fulfils all the criteria, he said.

Must read | Amritsar accident: Knew bridge was unsafe, never imagined losing kids, say kin

Issuing directions to school managements, the DTO said condition of school vehicles are directly related with the safety of children, and any negligence will not be tolerated. Hundal asked the police officials to challan any school bus or van found violating the norms set by the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Taking the toll of dengue deaths to six in the district, a 71-year-old woman, Nirmal Kaur, of Kharar died at the Fortis Hospital on Monday. The count of dengue patients in the district is now 794.

Nirmal had had a fever since September 15, but was admitted to Fortis on September 19 with low blood platelet count.

This was sixth dengue death. The district has 794 patients, said SAS Nagar civil surgeon Ranjit Guru, adding that residents were not cooperating in maintaining hygiene.

Residents need to dry up their coolers at least once a week to check the breeding of the mosquito. In case, there is a patient at home he needs to be kept in mosquito net, said epidemiologist Dr Avtar Singh.

Civic authorities fail to turn up for meeting

Municipal corporation officials did not attend a meeting of district water supply, public health and sanitation department advisory committee held on Monday.

We discussed measures to check dengue, but no MC official was present, said Vineet Verma, a member of the committee, adding that the MC needed to issue a notice to penalise people in whose larvae was found to be breedin

Councillors have raised issue

SAS Nagar councillors on Friday raised concern over the dengue outbreak in the district, blaming the MC for improper fogging. Councillor HS Sarao said: Fogging is not being carried out properly. It has to be done slowly, but the employees rush through it, defeating the purpose. Municipal commissioner Rajesh Dhiman had told the House, We have ordered one more fogging machine and will increase the frequency.

Outbreak more serious this year

The dengue outbreak this year is more serious than the previous year. In 2015, 544 cases were reported till November after the first case surfaced in August.

21 more cases in Chandigarh, count at 259

Chandigarh: The number of dengue cases has touched the mark of 259 with 21 more cases being reported in last two days in the city. There are 30 chikungunya cases which includes six new cases. A surveillance drive was carried out at marble market, Dhanas, on Monday and 10 challans were issued to the defaulters.

A total of 40 challans, 50 show cause notices and 3,176 notices have been issued to date.

Six new cases of chikungunya have been reported by GMCH-32 and PGIMER. On field investigations, it was observed that out of these, one is imported, one was reported as wrong address and four are residents of Chandigarh, mentions the press statement.
Health officials fret as the country is one of the biggest consumers of beer and liquor.

The Ministry of Health is considering a ban on sales of liquor and beer after either 10:00 p.m. or midnight as officials aim to reduce negative impacts of drinking.

Nguyen Huy Quang, director of the ministrys Department of Legal Affairs, told a seminar in Hanoi on Monday that the ban is part of a new bill on alcohol consumption that is being drafted.

The proposal is based on similar bans already in place in several countries, which the official said have proved effective in curbing the impacts of drinking.

The bill is expected to be put before legislators in 2018.

Vietnam is currently the second biggest consumer of beer and liquor in Southeast Asia, only after Thailand; the 10th largest in Asia; and the 29th largest in the world, Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said.

If prevention measures are not applied effectively, Vietnam may become the biggest consumer of beer and liquor in the world, not just the 29th, Long said.

A new study jointly conducted by the ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 77 percent of Vietnamese men drink liquor and beer, nearly half of them drink at hazardous levels.

Nguyen Phuong Nam, an official from WHO, said at Monday's seminar that nearly 67 percent of the total 1,840 traffic accident patients in the study had high concentration of alcohol in blood and 45 percent of them drove after two hours of drinking.

Is Vietnam a start-up nation or drunken one? he asked.

According to the Vietnam Beverage Association, local drinkers consumed a total of 3.4 billion liters of beer last year, up 10 percent year-on-year but surging around 40 percent from 2010.

On average, each Vietnamese person drank 38 liters of beer in 2015, more than four times higher than the global average.

The Ministry of Health said that half of drinkers drive after two hours of drinking. The Traffic Safety Committee also said that 40 percent of road-related fatalities, or some 4,000 deaths, were linked to drunk driving in 2015.

Drinking alcohol, including beer and liquor, increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, upper throat, voice-box, bowels, liver and breasts, health experts say.

Meanwhile, Vietnam still aims to produce 4.1 billion liters of beer in 2020, up from 3.4 billion liters in 2015, according to a plan for beer, liquor and beverage production until 2025.

Beer output will be raised to 4.6 billion liters in 2025 and 5.5 billion in 2035, according to the plan that has been made public recently by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Liquor output is expected to increase to 350 million liters through 2020-2035.

Related news:

> Vietnam plans more beer production as locals keep guzzling

> Beer, big bucks and babes: tapping into Vietnam's thirst
The Punjab governments contentious push in the poll-bound state to regularise the service of the employees hired through backdoor (on contract or temporary basis) has hit legal and administrative hurdles.

The proposal also takes these appointments out of the ambit of judicial review by making two laws, says a government source. Last December, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal promised 1.2-lakh government jobs, and the government recently proposed to regularise service after three years on contract, ad-hoc, daily-wages, temporary, or work-charge basis.

Read here | Punjab govt will provide 1.20 lakh jobs to youths: Sukhbir

More than 30,000 people were appointed in different departments in the past four years without any transparent procedure. Sources say the bureaucracy was under pressure from the political masters, who wanted to table the proposal in Mondays cabinet meeting but had to shelve the plan after the finance department objected, citing the already grim financial health of the state.

In its Monday evening meeting, the cabinet had informal discussion over the fate of this proposal and directed the bureaucracy to place a detailed report/agenda of this policy matter in next cabinet meeting to be held on October 4.

The government didnt receive a positive opinion from the legal remembrancer (LR). Hindustan Times has seen official documents that suggest that the government wants to achieve its objective by making two laws. The draft proposal of the two Bills was sent to the LR for advice. While the first proposal pertained to group-B-C employees, the second related to group-D employees.

Earlier, the government wanted to introduce a related Bill in the last assembly session. Now, it is left only with the ordinance route, which is fraught with uncertainties and looks like a remote possibility.

Sources say the LR told the government that its proposed legislative measure should not amount to backdoor entry or cause injustice to those who seek front-door entry. The LRs advice reads: ... advised to ensure that no irregular appointment is regularised by the proposed legislative measure, as there appears to be no barometer to work out who was appointed validly.

The government had sent the proposal to the LR without working out the exact number of appointments in various departments. Issuing a four-point technical advice subject to the observations, the LR had said: The authority of the court for judicial review is sought to be withdrawn and it may be seen as to whether such a provision can stand scrutiny of the court.

Before making a law, the government seeks four-point technical advice from the LR under the 1992 Rules of Business of the Punjab government. Sources say the LR stated categorically that the object in view cannot be achieved without making laws on the subject matter. But the LRs advice that whether or not such a provision (law) can stand scrutiny of the court has forced the government to re-draw its strategy.

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Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he has asked the CBI to nab Punjab Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) vice-president Jagdish Gagnejas attackers soon.

Rajnath was in Jalandhar to pay tributes to the RSS leader, who succumbed to the bullet injuries on September 22 He was shot by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in a busy market on August 6.

Ive told the CBI to identify the culprits and put them behind bars at the earliest, said the home minister while expressing satisfaction over the inputs provided by the Punjab government in the case.

Rajnath paying floral tributes to Gagneja in Jalandhar on Tuesday. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo)

On foreign hand (as stated by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal) in the attack, Rajnath said nothing can be said at this stage. Any comment on this issue can be made only after the probe is complete, he added.

Asked if the Centre had any information on foreign forces planning to disturb the communal harmony in Punjab, the home minister said all inputs are shared with state governments from time to time. About Punjab, you all know that its a border state and our neighbour keeps on trying to disturb peace here, he said.

Sukhbir, in his speech, asked people to give a strong reply to anti-national forces.

Sukhbir speaking at Ganejas memorial function. (Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo)

RSS leaders, who also offered tributes to Gagneja, said such attacks wont deter the Sangh which will continue to work for the welfare of the people.

Central probe team camping in Jalandhar

With pressure mounting from the Sangh Parivar on the Centre and the Punjab government to nab RSS leader Jagdish Gagnejas assilants, the CBI has set up a camp office in the city.

A full- fledged team of the central probe agency is working overtime to crack the case. The sewerage board guest house near Manbro Chowk has been taken over by CBI sleuths, who are being assisted by Punjab Police officials. The CBI team camping in the city is led by additional SP Davinder Singh. The team has so far visited the crime scene near Jyoti Chowk. It is also scrutinising the CCTV footage of the alleged bike-borne assailants.

The CBI has also sought details of loss or theft of 9mm cartridges bearing head stamp no O.K.95 2Z 9mm in the district between August 1, 2015 to August 6, 2016. Source said 9 mm cartridges (found near the crime scene) are used only by police personnel or the army and its private used is completely banned.

The CBI wants to know if the cartridges used in the attack were from the stolen or the used stock of the cartridges with Punjab Police, said a senior cop.

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The cross-border Samjhauta Express train continues to connect India and Pakistan amid escalated tension after the Uri terror attack and in spite of all rumours on Pakistani television.

The 150 passengers who arrived from the other side on Monday had heard on a Pakistani news channel that the train had been shut. Their worries turned to relief when they reached Attari and got to know that their passage to India and Indian relatives was still open.

The news flash on Sunday got us disturbed, as most of our relatives are in India. Thankfully, it was false alarm, Rabia, who had come from Lahore to meet her uncle in Delhi, said. This is common mans train and should never stop. I am travelling with my family. There is no fear among common people after the escalated tension. We want peace.

Mohamdad Khalid of Multan, also Delhi-bound, said: The news on TVF led to some panic. People dont want any tension. Already both countries have suffered a lot. It is time we hve normal relations.

The train runs every Monday and Thursday between Wagah and Attari. A relative died in Delhi and had this train been suspended, I could not have attended the mourning, said Nusrat Shaheen of Multan. Most visitors said war was no solution. The Samjhauta Express took 100-odd passengers back to Pakistan.

War bad for border people: Amarinder

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh said in Amritsar on Monday that a war between India and Pakistan will only lead to suffering for those living near the border on both sides. But attacks such as Uri need a firm reply.

In an informal chat with the media after meeting families of the school-bus-accident victims, Amarinder said: Border people suffer the worst during armed hostilities. Thats why, I insist on limited retaliation.

Also read | If India goes to war with Pakistan, both Punjabs will bear brunt

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The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings in the rape trial against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh till October 4.

The CBI special court here was informed about the apex court order, after which the court fixed the next hearing on September 30, where the defence side would produce the apex court orders copy before it.

The trial court had dismissed two applications of Ram Rahim wherein he sought to examine former CBI officer KL Raina as a defence witness and demanded handing over of statements of the alleged two victims recorded in 2003 in the rape case against him. The case was registered in 2002.

Later, the Punjab and Haryana high court also dismissed the applications. We approached the apex court against the orders, informed Ram Rahims counsel SK Garg Narwana.

Te dera chief was seeking to examine Raina, who was once an investigating officer in the case. According to Ram Rahim, Raina must have recorded the statements of both the alleged rape victims under Section 161 of CrPC which was not made part of the challan. He also alleged that the CBI had intentionally given up Raina as a witness on December 4, 2010.

The dera chief said Raina had remained the investigating officer in the case for a long time and claimed that he had met the victims and must have recorded their statements and also of other women followers.

The second application was concerning handing over of statements of the alleged victims recorded in 2003. The CBI had submitted the statement in a compact disc (CD) before the court. Some anonymous letters addressed to then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court, alleging sexual exploitation of female followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, were circulated in 2002. On September 24, 2002, the high court had handed over the case to the CBI.
High alert was sounded in Pathankot on Tuesday following inputs about suspicious movement of some people, and a massive search operation has been launched on the Pathankot-Dalhousie road.

Around 400 security personnel including a SWAT team were deployed for conducting the search operation by the Punjab police in the district where terrorist from across the border had struck the IAF airbase in January.

There was a specific input about the presence of some suspicious men roaming around on Pathankot-Dalhousie road. Following this, a massive search operation has been launched here, Pathankot SSP Rakesh Kaushal said. Area has been cordoned off on Pathankot-Dalhousie road to locate suspects, he said. Army has also been alerted and there is a heightened vigil, police said.

Such incidents have been reported almost every month ever since the January attack on the airbase here. The recent attack on the army camp in URI in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir has also heightened panic.

Also read | Amid Uri revenge calls, panic over IAF sorties in Pathankot

Notably, Punjab police and BSF had jointly carried out search operation and flag march in villages near India-Pakistan border on September 25 to thwart any attempt by intruders coming from across the border. An alert was also sounded in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in the wake of terror strike on an army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Terrorists who had sneaked in from across the border had attacked Pathankot airbase on the intervening night of January 1-2 this year 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.
Producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu, hot on the heels of the success of superstar Rajinikanths Tamil actioner Kabali, is producing his daughter Soundaryas next yet-untitled directorial project.

In an official statement, the team has announced it has begun the casting process and is keen on roping in newcomers. Soundarya, who recently announced her separation from her husband, has already begun pre-production work on the project.

Best known for directing her father in Indias first motion capture 3D Tamil film, Kochadaiiyaan, Soundarya has also produced Tamil comedy Goa.

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Donald Trump repeatedly clashed with Hillary Clinton during Mondays first presidential debate, interrupting her and appearing agitated at times as they tangled over the economy, her use of a private mail server and his unwillingness to release his income tax returns.

Clinton maintained an even demeanor, smiling indulgently when Trump turned aggressive.

Clinton and Trump engaged in a vigorous back-and-forth on the debate stage at Hofstra University as polls showed them locked in a tight race. Given the wide interest in Trump, the business mogul and former reality TV star, and Clinton, the first woman to win the nomination of a major party, the debate was expected to draw a massive viewing audience.

Here are the top takeaways from Mondays debate:

1) Trumps temperament

Clinton aimed and even appeared to succeed to get under Trumps skin in the first 30 minutes of the debate. The Democratic nominee often put Trump on the defensive, saying he had rooted for the collapse of the housing industry and had considered climate change to be a hoax.

In another exchange, Clinton said, I have a feeling that by the end of this evening Ill be blamed for everything that ever happened.

Trump interjected, Why not? Later on, Trump said he had a winning temperament, prompting Clinton to respond: Whew. OK.

2) Economy

Trump scored points with his core supporters by lamenting the number of jobs that have moved overseas. He opened with an extensive argument that jobs are fleeing the country and going to Mexico while the US economy is being undermined by China.

He pointed to Ford Motor Companys plans to build compact cars in Mexico and railed against Carriers decision to move hundreds of air-conditioner manufacturing jobs from Indianapolis to Mexico. So many hundreds and hundreds of companies are doing this, Trump said.

His economic case could resonate in states like Ohio and Michigan that have grappled with the loss of manufacturing jobs. We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us. We have to stop our companies from leaving the United States, he said.

Clinton pointed out that her father was a small businessman, adding, The more we can do for the middle class, the more we can invest in you, your education, your skills, your future, the better we will be off.

3) Clintons zingers

(AP)

Often delivered with a smile, Clinton came prepared with pithy lines that undercut Trumps case on the economy. In an early exchange, Clinton said Trump would push for trickle-down tax cuts that would only benefit the wealthy, calling it, trumped-up trickle-down. When Trump got in a dig at Clintons absence from the campaign trail, she said there was nothing wrong with spending time preparing for the debate. You know what else I did? she asked. I prepared to be president.

4) The political outsider

Trump repeatedly underscored his role as a political outsider, questioning the economic stewardship of President Barack Obama and the administration of former president Bill Clinton, who sat in the front row. Describing the loss of manufacturing jobs in states like Michigan and Ohio, Trump said Clinton had been in government for 30 years, asking, Why are you just thinking about these solutions right now? When the discussion turned to foreign policy, Trump said Obama and Clinton failed to confront the Islamic State group, saying his opponent was there when it was an infant.

Read | Fact vs fiction: Trump, Clinton go wrong with claims on Iraq, economy

5) Trumps taxes

Clinton savaged Trump with a lengthy explanation of why Trump wont release his tax returns, concluding hes got something to hide. She said Trump may not be as rich as he says he is or maybe hes not as charitable as he says he is. Clinton warned that perhaps Trump hadnt paid any federal income tax at all, noting that some of Trumps income tax returns in the 1970s showed he had paid no federal income taxes in certain years. Trump disclosed the returns to New Jersey casino regulators.

6) Clintons emails

Protesters gather before the presidential debate at Hofstra University. (AP)

Clinton gave arguably her most concise answer to questions about her use of a private email server as secretary of state, taking responsibility and giving Trump nowhere to go. Despite her past statements in which she changed her story from previous iterations or left wiggle room by not being completely accurate, on Monday she avoided getting wrapped up in a lengthy exchange over one of her biggest liabilities. When Trump said he would release his tax returns if Clinton put out what he called her 33,000 deleted emails, Clinton said, I made a mistake using a private email server. Trump interjected, Thats for sure, prompting Clinton to respond, I take responsibility for that.

7) Gender wars

Clinton turned the tables on Trump when he was asked to respond to his assertions that she doesnt have the stamina to be president. Trump questioned whether Clinton has the physical fitness to be president and he repeated the criticism directly to her. Clinton replied that Trump shouldnt talk about stamina until hes tried to maintain a busy schedule like that she kept up as secretary of state. And then she dug into him, adding, This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs.

The US presidential debate as it happened

8) Racial politics

Trump has said black voters have nothing to lose by supporting his candidacy but he was forced to answer for his role in claiming Obama was born outside the United States. Clinton accused Trump of spreading a racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen, adding, He has a long record of engaging in racist behaviour. Trump responded by recalling the bitter debates between Clinton and Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, saying Clinton treated Obama then with terrible disrespect. Later, when Clinton said Trumps view of black communities was too grim, Trump sighed, rolled his eyes and said, Ugh.

9) I agree with her ...

Trump and Clinton seemed to agree on two potentially combustible political issues: child care and barring people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns. Both are unusual positions for a GOP presidential nominee. Trump injected an element of surprise when he said he disagreed with many Republicans and we have to look at barring the sales of guns to people on the terror watch list.

(AP)

The proposal is sharply opposed by the National Rifle Association, one of Trumps chief backers, but Democrats have hoped it will change the dynamic of the gun debate. Trump also said he backs government aid for child care expenses, an issue that has been pushed by his daughter, Ivanka Trump. Clinton and Trump have both proposed plans to help families pay for child care.

10) Staying the course on Iraq, birtherism

Trump stood by his positions on two issues in which he has been frequently skewered by fact checkers: the Iraq war and his role in the so-called birther movement. Trump denied Clintons claims that he supported the Iraq war, saying it was a mainstream media nonsense put out by her. I was against the war in Iraq. But there isnt any evidence Trump expressed public opposition to the war before the US invasion. Trump also claimed that Clintons 2008 presidential campaign was responsible for launching the birther movement that questioned Obamas American citizenship. Thats not the case  Clintons campaign never publicly pushed that notion during the 2008 primaries.
The Donald Trump that showed up at this presidential elections most spectacular showdown so far was one everybody knows: combative, underprepared, easily riled and still, after months of campaigning, frequently off-message.

Hillary Clinton was also everything she was expected to be: well prepared  over-prepared, according one observer  ready with her policy and facts, answers rehearsed to fit the two-minute reply slot, and the right zingers, and plenty of them. They clashed on how they will create jobs, the first subject of the evening, and one of the main issues this election, trade, terrorism, Iran, racism, taxation, and their vision for the US.

Trump dominated the first 20 of the 90-minute debate. Clinton took charge then and had him defending himself for the rest, as only Trump could  interrupting her, talking over her.

So who won? Difficult to say. But here are some observations in the US media. Clinton jabs put Trump on defense, ran a headline in The Washington Post. The New York Times, which has endorsed Clinton, said in an editorial: On balance, she pulled it off, swatting his attacks aside and confidently delivering her own criticisms from higher, firmer ground. Wall Street Journal agreed: Theres little doubt that Mrs. Clinton won on debating points.

Though this debate may not move the needle significantly in a race that has tightened into a dead heat in recent days  Clintons lead is down to 2.3 points in RealClearPolitics average of polls some observers said it could stop Trumps surge, the momentum that helped him bridge an 8-point gap from mid August.

Trumps stronger moment of the debate came early when he attacked her on her support for multi-national trade deals that led to crippling job losses in some parts of America. And he accused her of changing her position only to bring it more in line with his, strident opposition.

That was Trumps strongest moment, and then when he attacked her on her use of a private email server as secretary of state, which Clinton tried to shut down quickly saying she has apologised for it already, and thats not something she would do again. Trump pressed on, but not for much longer.

For the rest of the 90-minute debate held at a university in New York, Trump was mostly on the defensive, unable to handle questions about his pursuit of birther charges against President Barack Obama, race relations, his failure to release his tax returns, multiple bankruptcies, refusal to pay small business contracted by his companies and allegations of discriminating against black tenants.

He flubbed most of those, which, critics pointed out, he should have anticipated and come prepared for. Instead, he left behind a trail of attack lines for the Clinton campaign to milk for ads.

In an exchange about his failure to pay taxes, and to a specific charge from Clinton that he was not releasing his returns because he was hiding the fact that he may not have paid any federal tax, he said, That makes me smart.

On his birther campaign, which was such an easy one to anticipate, Trump sought to shift the blame on to the Clinton campaign reprising a debunked theory, and then sought to turn it into a victory saying the actually forced Obama to release his birth certificate. He can get things done, while Clinton cant. The Democrat came back with a zinger: Just listen to what you heard.

The Republican probably had his worst moment of the night on his position on the Iraq War, which he has maintained he always opposed, when, there is evidence that he supported it before opposing it.

Trump insisted he was always opposed to the war, and ploughed on to Clintons ill-concealed delight. He went on to cite radio and TV hosts with whom he had discussed his opposition to the war  specially Sean Hannity, a Fox News host, who got six mentions in less than a minute.

Trump had still not proved anything at the end of it.

(The next, and second presidential debate, is on October 9)
Ali Bongo was sworn back in as Gabons President on Tuesday, calling for unity after a disputed election win that sparked deadly unrest and revealed deep divisions in the oil-rich country.

The 57-year-old used the ceremony to appeal for unity after the deadly violence that followed the announcement of his victory last month.

He pledged to ensure equal opportunities for all in the new government which I will name in a few days.

Government spokesperson Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze said Bongo wanted to install a unity government by this week or the start of next week.

Cannons were fired during the ceremony in the seafront presidential palace in Libreville, as fears of fresh violence resurfaced.

I pledge to devote all my efforts for the good of the Gabonese people and to ensure their well-being... and respect and defend the constitution and the rule of law, he said during the event.

Our country is going through a worrying period in its history, he added.

A handful of African leaders attended including the presidents of Mali, Niger, Togo and Sao Tome, as well as the prime ministers of Chad, Senegal, the Central African Republic and Morocco. But most regional heavyweights stayed away.

Bongos second mandate has received a cool reception from the African Union and the United Nations, while the European Union voiced regret that the count had not been transparent.

But Bongo on Tuesday said the democratic process has been recognised by everybody, including foreign observers.

The delicate period

I want to reassure our international partners, especially our traditional ones, that we will spare no effort to maintain good relations and friendship between our people, he said.

Bongos wafer-thin victory in the August 27 vote was confirmed on Saturday by the Constitutional Court, which dismissed opposition claims of vote fraud.

Defeated opposition contender Jean Ping, 73, lashed the courts ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself president elect.

He has so far not responded to Bongos overtures for a dialogue.

A career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, Ping had filed a legal challenge after Bongo was declared the winner by a mere 6,000 votes.

Violence initially erupted on August 31 after Bongo was first declared the winner. Demonstrators set parliament ablaze and clashed with police, who made a thousand arrests.

Opposition figures say more than 50 people were killed. The government has given a toll of three dead.

Ping had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, where 95% of voters in the Bongo family stronghold were reported to have cast their ballots for the president on a turnout of more than 99 percent.

In its final tally, the court ruled Bongo had won 50.66 percent of the vote and Ping 47.24 percent, extending Bongos lead to 11,000 votes over his opponent.

The European Unions electoral observer mission said Sunday it regretted that the court had been unable to satisfactorily rectify anomalies observed during the count.

Former colonial power France said that the verdict clearing Bongos victory has not lifted all the doubts about the process.

Bongos family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil- and mineral-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Ali Bongo took over from his father Omar Bongo, who ruled for 41 years until his death in 2009.

Cameroons President Paul Biya, who is 83 and has held office since 1982, wrote to Bongo Monday voicing his warm congratulations, wishing him success in the accomplishment of (his) new mandate.

Senegals President Macky Sall also congratulated Bongo, as did Ivory Coast head of state Alassane Ouattara.

In the delicate period which Gabon is going through, I want to express to you my full encouragement and hope passionately that dialogue and calm will predominate, Ouattara wrote in a statement.

Gabon has large oil, mineral and tropical timber resources, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations.
At least nine people were killed and 30 injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a predominately Shia Muslim district of Baghdad on Tuesday, police and medical sources said.

The blast targeted a commercial street in the eastern Baghdad al-Jadida area of the Iraqi capital, they said, adding that the death toll could climb further.

Islamic State has intensified bomb attacks in government-held areas of Iraq this year as it loses territory to US-backed Iraqi government forces and Iranian-backed Shia militias.

The ultra-hardline Sunni group claimed a truck bombing in July that killed at least 324 people in the Karrada shopping area of Baghdad - the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The group continues to control vast areas in northern and western Iraq, including the city of Mosul, captured in 2014.
Ciera Paily,19, poses outside Hofstra University, the site of the September 26 first presidential debate between U.S. Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Shannon Stapleton

It's on.

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump face off for the first time on Monday in a high stakes presidential debate that could shift the course of the neck-and-neck 2016 campaign for the White House.

The highly anticipated clash between the Democratic former secretary of state and Republican real estate tycoon has generated wide interest nationally and internationally six weeks before the Nov. 8 election.

Opinion polls show the two candidates in a very tight race, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points, with 41 percent of likely voters.

The 90-minute debate, set to start at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on Tuesday), could sway undecided and independent voters who have yet to make up their minds as well as voters from both parties who have tuned out the election until now.

A second Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed half of America's likely voters would rely on the debates to help them make their choice. More than half, 61 percent, were hoping for a civil debate and were not interested in the bitterness shown on the campaign trail.

The size of the television-viewing audience is expected to challenge the record of 80 million Americans who watched 1980's encounter between Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan. Some commentators forecast Super Bowl-sized viewership of about 100 million people.

By contrast with the single-party debates held during the Republican and Democratic state nominating contests, the audience will be asked to remain silent and not applaud or respond to the candidates' remarks. The debate will be divided into six 15-minute segments.

Clinton won a coin toss and chose to take the first question. She will have two minutes to answer, after which Trump will be given equal time. Trump will then be given the first question at the beginning of the next segment.

The debate, at Hofstra University on New York state's Long Island, is the first of three planned presidential debates and one vice presidential debate.

Market jitters

With the contest tightening, Wall Street investors grew more jittery on Monday, contributing to a fall in stocks. Some investors see the close race sparking volatility in sectors that include health insurers, drugmakers and industrials.

In Asia on Tuesday, uncertainty gripped markets as investors braced for the potentially consequential debate by shunning stocks while favoring safe haven bonds and the yen.

Markets have tended to see Clinton as the candidate of the status quo, while few are sure what a Trump presidency might mean for U.S. foreign policy, trade and the domestic economy.

Both Trump and Clinton, shown in opinion polls to be the least liked White House candidates in modern history, hope to use the debate to erase lingering voter doubts and address campaign-trail weaknesses.

The volatile Trump, a former reality television star, will have an opportunity to show a depth and steadiness worthy of a commander in chief, while the cautious Clinton, a former U.S. senator and first lady, will have a chance to connect directly with voters who view her as too secretive, strategists said.

Trump, a political newcomer who has at times shown more affinity for put-downs than policy, could benefit from lower voter expectations.

"There is no question it's a lower bar for Trump," said Dan Schnur, a former Republican strategist and now a political scientist at the University of Southern California. "He doesn't have to be brilliant, he just can't be too bombastic."

The stakes are enormous. Clinton once had a sizable lead, but that has evaporated amid more questions about her family's foundation and use of a private email server while secretary of state under President Barack Obama.

If the election were held today, Clinton would still defeat Trump, with an 88 percent chance of reaching the 270 electoral college votes needed, according to the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project, which is based on a weekly online tracking poll of more than 15,000 Americans.

Two other presidential candidates - Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein - were not invited to take part in the debate because neither had obtained at least 15 percent support in national polls, the threshold established to qualify.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets Melania Trump ahead of the start of the first debate between Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Mike Segar

Grudge match

Clinton, 68, and Trump, 70, have regularly exchanged sharp insults at a distance, raising the prospect of a fiery grudge match. Trump refers to Clinton as "Crooked Hillary" and has called for her jailing for the email controversy. Clinton denounces Trump as temperamentally unfit for the White House.

Trump dominated the crowded Republican debates with rapid-fire attacks on his rivals but has no experience in a one-on-one debate setting that requires more prolonged discussion of issues.

Clinton has participated in many one-on-one debates on the national stage: with Obama during her unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign and with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic nominating race earlier this year.

Clinton's camp has done its best to raise the bar for Trump, and in television interviews on Monday both campaigns tried to frame expectations.

"What we don't want to have is some sort of double standard where Donald Trump can get the most-improved award, but Hillary Clinton ... is getting judged on the fine points of policy," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told NBC News, calling Trump "an entertainer."

Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said Clinton's vast experience was unlikely to translate onto the debate stage, where Trump held an advantage.

"He's not going to be robotic and scripted," she said separately on NBC.

The role of moderator Lester Holt of NBC News also came under scrutiny before the debate, with the Clinton campaign and her Democratic supporters urging him to correct Trump if he makes false claims.

Trump also has tried to influence Holt and moderators of the other showdowns with Clinton, saying the candidates should be the ones to correct the record.

Related news:

> Clinton promised unequivocally to not support TPP even as president

> Obama says Trump not qualified to be president
An employee of the Royal Canadian Mint has been accused of smuggling about $180,000 (Rs 1.2 crore) worth of gold from a fortress-like facility by hiding the precious metal inside his rectum.

Leston Lawrence, 35, allegedly sold the smuggled gold to an Ottawa Gold Buyers store. He has been accused of transporting several cookie-sized gold pieces called pucks out of the Mint and selling them to the gold buyer.

His dealings allegedly netted him almost $180,000 over the course of a few months, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

The case against Lawrence, of Barrhaven, concluded in an Ottawa courtroom last Tuesday and Justice Peter Doody reserved decision until November 9 on a number of smuggling-for-cash charges, including theft, laundering the proceeds of crime, possession of stolen property and breach of trust.

It was not the Mint that discovered the alleged theft but an alert bank teller.

Court was told that, on multiple occasions, Lawrence took small circular chunks of gold to Ottawa Gold Buyers in the Westgate Shopping Centre.

Typically, the pucks weighed about 210g for which he was given cheques in the $6,800 range, depending on fluctuating gold prices, court heard. He then deposited the cheques at the Royal Bank in the same mall.

One day a teller became suspicious at the size and number of Ottawa Gold Buyers cheques being deposited and Lawrences request to wire money out of the country. She then noticed on his account profile that he worked at the Mint. The first red flag was up.

Bank security was alerted, and then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which began to investigate. Eventually, a search warrant was obtained and four Mint-style pucks were found in Lawrences safety deposit box, the court heard.

Records revealed 18 pucks had been sold between November 27, 2014 and March 12, 2015. Together with dozens of gold coins that were redeemed, the total value of the suspected theft was conservatively estimated at $179,015.

Lawrence, who has since been terminated, was an operator in the refinery section. Among his duties was to scoop gold from buckets so it could be tested for purity, as the Mint prides itself on gold coins above the 99% level.

Court was told Lawrence set off the metal detector at an exit from the secure area with more frequency than any other employee  save those with metal medical implants. When that happened, the procedure was to do a manual search with a hand-held wand, a search that he always passed.

Investigators also found a container of Vaseline in his locker and the trial was presented with the prospect that a puck could be concealed in an anal cavity and not be detected by the wand.
Indias relations with Pakistan and Nepal have deteriorated in the past year but China remains the countrys primary security challenge, according to an annual strategic survey by an influential London-based think-tank released on Tuesday.

The Strategic Survey 2016: The Annual Review of World Affairs of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reviewed Indias troubled relationship with Pakistan and referred to the intensive retaliatory firing across the Line of Control under the Modi government, fluctuations in the dialogue process, the Ufa summit and the terror attack on Pathankot airbase.

Indias major security threat remained the terrorism emanating from Pakistan, on which (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi took a tougher position than his predecessor, it said, but identified China as Indias primary security challenge.

The survey explained that the challenge from China was because of its assertiveness on the border dispute with India, exacerbated by Beijings growing trade and defence partnerships with New Delhis South Asian neighbours and by an expansion of Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.

For policymakers in New Delhi, this created fears of encirclement and hardened their attitude towards Beijing, even as China continued to be Indias largest trading partner, and Modi sought to establish stronger trade and investment links with Beijing, it said.

Referring to shifts in Pakistans policies, the survey said: As ever, the main driver of Pakistans security policy was its rivalry with India. This consideration trumped all other factors.

Rahul Roy-Choudhury, IISS senior fellow for South Asia, told HT: Instead of any knee-jerk military-focussed reaction that will at best be symbolic rather than substantive, India needs a calibrated and sustained multifaceted approach towards Pakistan.

This could seek to target Pakistan-based terrorist groups, effectively operationalise counter-terror cooperation with Indias strategic partners in the Gulf region and the West, and highlight Indias emerging economic and global influence with the international community.

Roy-Choudhary, who contributed to the survey, said India also needs to ensure that its main constituent in Pakistan, the people, are suitably empowered through the democratic process.

The survey further said that Indias neighbourhood first policy has paid few dividends beyond Bangladesh and Bhutan.

This was due to the complex domestic politics of countries in the region, their historical suspicion of India as the dominant regional power, the influence of India domestic and ethnic politics, and increasing Chinese engagement with the region, it said.

Equally important was the failure to meet expectations generated by Modis initial outreach to other leaders in the SAARC, after he invited them to his May 2014 inauguration ceremony.

At the global level, the survey said, institutions and norms that dampen the risk of conflict are under assault from populism in developed states and the assertive behaviour of rising and reviving powers.

IISS director general John Chapman said: The underpinnings of geopolitics have splintered so much in the past year that the foundations of global order appear alarmingly weak. The politics of parochialism now mix with the instincts of nationalism, and both clash with the cosmopolitan world order so carefully constructed by the technocrats of the late 20th century.

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Controversial Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has claimed that he was given a defective microphone in the fiery debate with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and questioned whether it happened on purpose.

They gave me a defective mic. Did you notice that? My mic was defective within the room, Trump told reporters after the debate.

I wonder, was that on purpose? Was that on purpose? But I had a mic that didnt work properly, he was quoted as saying by media reports.

The 70-year-old real estate tycoon has often joked on the campaign trail about faulty microphones, saying on occasion that he may refuse to pay for the audio rental. He repeated that joke last week during a campaign event in Kenansville, North Carolina.

The mic just shot. That was a weird sound, wasnt it? So I wouldnt pay the mic guy and theyll say, isnt that terrible. He didnt pay his bills, Trump had said at the time. When people dont do a good job for me I dont pay them. Its one of those things.

Overall, however, Trump said he felt he did well against his Democratic rival Clinton in the debate.

I thought it was a very fair debate, Trump told reporters last night. The polls are all saying we won.

However, the CNN/ORC poll declared Clinton as the clear winner in the first of a series of three debates, with a massive 62% of voters giving an edge to the Democrat over Trump, who was deemed winner by only 27%.

It was unclear what Trump was referring to. The only notable audio interference picked up on television was some sniffing by Trump, which was widely mocked on social media.

Trumps claim about the microphone is far from the first time he has suggested that outside forces have conspired against him.

In August, he told a rally in Ohio that he feared the general election is going to be rigged, adding that he had been hearing more and more that the election may not be contested fairly.
Egypt raised the wreck of a migrant boat Tuesday and recovered at least 33 bodies, taking to 202 the death toll from last weeks sinking off the countrys Mediterranean coast.

Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been crowded aboard the fishing trawler when it keeled over off the port city of Rosetta on September 14, including an estimated 100 in its hold.

The Egyptian military said 163 people had been rescued, meaning the boat would have had at least 365 people on board when it went down en route to Italy, according to official figures.

On Tuesday divers and a salvage vessel belonging to a petroleum company pulled the trawler to the surface some 12 kilometres (eight miles) offshore.

The boat is being dragged to shore after bodies trapped in the hold were recovered, Wahdan al-Sayed, spokesman for Beheira province in northern Egypt, told AFP.

Sixteen of the 33 bodies retrieved on Tuesday had been handed over to their relatives, while the rest were still being identified, said the health ministry.

On Monday, police detained the owner of the vessel.

A judicial source said he could face charges of human trafficking and involuntary manslaughter.

The United Nations refugee agency said Friday that most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included migrants from Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Ethiopians.

Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of interceptions of refugees and migrants trying to leave Egypt in an irregular manner, said the UNHCR.

Many refugees and migrants may be using Egypt as a transit country, it said, adding 2016 was expected to be the deadliest year on record for Mediterranean crossings by migrants.

3,501 dead or missing

The International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday that 3,501 migrants and refugees have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean so far this year.

The figure is almost six times that for the same period in 2015.

At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea, the UN refugee agency said late last week.

Increasing mixed migration flows through Egypt are of major concern to UNHCR. The loss of life faced by refugees and migrants on Mediterranean smuggling routes has increased, said the UNHCR.

It added that a significant number of unaccompanied minors have been recorded on the Egypt-Italy route.

Overall, 302,149 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea this year as of 25 September, with most of them arriving in Greece and Italy, said the IOM.

More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations.

Egyptian authorities have so far this year foiled 110 attempts to smuggle migrants to Europe, said Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.

More than 4,600 non-Egyptians, many of them Sudanese and Ethiopians, have been arrested this year trying to depart from Egypts northern coast, the UNHCR said.
Israeli ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres was fighting for his life Tuesday after a stroke suffered earlier this month, a source close to the veteran statesman said.

The downturn in the 93-year-olds condition came about two weeks after Israels last remaining founding fathers stroke that put the Jewish state on edge over his condition.

He has been hospitalised near Tel Aviv since September 13, when he was admitted to hospital feeling unwell and suffered the stroke while there.

He has been under sedation and respiratory support in intensive care.

The president is fighting for his life, the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

His health position is very, very difficult. His doctors are worried about his health.

Peres has held nearly every major office in Israel, serving twice as prime minister. He was also president, a mostly ceremonial role, from 2007 to 2014.

He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his role in negotiating the Oslo Accords, which envisioned an independent Palestinian state.

The former hawk turned dove is widely respected both in Israel and abroad.

A woman shows her support as she holds up a photograph of herself with former Israeli president Shimon Peres during a briefing to members of the media on the medical condition of Peres a day after he suffered a stroke. (REUTERS File Photo)

After suffering the stroke, he received an outpouring of support from across the world, including from Pope Francis, US President Barack Obama, the Clinton family, Donald Trump, Britains ex-premier Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he was hoping Peres made a swift and full recovery, calling him tireless in seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

There had been signs of improvement last week.

On September 18, Peress office said doctors planned to gradually reduce his sedation and respiratory support to judge his response.

His personal physician and son-in-law Rafi Walden had said at the time that Peres had seen very slow, moderate improvement.

On Tuesday, Walden declined to comment in detail, saying only that his condition was severe.

In January, Peres was hospitalised twice because of heart trouble.

In the first case, the hospital said he had suffered a mild cardiac event and underwent catheterisation to widen an artery.

He was rushed to hospital a second time just days later with chest pains and an irregular heartbeat.

Peres has sought to maintain an active schedule despite his age, particularly through events related to his Peres Centre for Peace.

When leaving hospital on January 19, Peres said he was keen to get back to work.

Im so happy to return to work, that was the whole purpose of this operation, he said.

In March, he met British supermodel Naomi Campbell at his Peres Centre for Peace during an event linked to International Womens Day. On the same day, he met visiting US vice-president Joe Biden.

Born in Poland in 1923, Peres emigrated to what was then British-mandated Palestine when he was 11.

He joined the Zionist struggle and met David Ben-Gurion, who would become his mentor and Israels first prime minister.

Peres became director general of the nascent defence ministry at just 29 years old.

Beyond his accomplishments in the public eye, he was also seen as a driving force in the development of Israels undeclared nuclear programme.

Peres once confided that the secret to his longevity was daily exercise, eating little and drinking one or two glasses of good wine.
A mosque and a conference centre were attacked in two explosions in the German city of Dresden but nobody was injured, police said on Tuesday.

Dresden police said in a statement that there was no immediate report on the extent of damage from the explosions late on Monday.

Even though we do not have a letter of confession, we must assume theres a xenophobic background, police president Horst Kretschmar said.

Police said they found pieces of a homemade explosive device in front of the conference centre and the mosque.

An imam with his wife and two sons were inside the mosque at the time. They were not injured, but the entrance door was pushed into the building by the blast. Police said they increased the security outside mosques all over Dresden.

The second device exploded shortly after the first on a terrace between a hotel and the International Congress Centre, a facility which can accommodate 6,000 people for conferences. The blast destroyed a decorative glass block on the outdoor terrace. Police evacuated the hotel bar and asked people to stay away from windows at the hotel building.

Some 50 officers were involved in the overnight operation, police said.

Police president Kretschmar said the two explosions could have also been connected to Germanys national unification celebrations next Monday, which will be held in Dresden.

Dresden is the state capital of Saxony that has seen a lot of racist attacks recently.
Hillary Clinton went into the first US presidential debate with several disadvantages. One, she is not a great debater even though she is known for her command of policy detail. She was up against Donald Trump, a guy who deals mostly in one-liners, who is not impervious to lying and doesnt engage deeply on any issue. She is methodical and deductive, he is discursive and erratic. She is an establishment candidate--wife of a popular former president, a former senator and secretary of state--he a self-obsessed business tycoon masquerading as an insurgent, representing a section of the white working class.

As said, it wasnt an easy contest for Clinton; she had to debate in a fashion that didnt again generate questions about her likeability (or her age). The Clinton camp will be gratified that the debate went on as they might have hoped. It did not dwell too long on her emails or other controversial issues and it afforded her an opportunity to highlight to independent voters what a danger to America and the world Trump would be as President. Even if the number of independent voters she convinced in key swing states may not be very high--as there were no knockout punches in this debate--there were no major faux pas from Clinton and she did manage to project herself as the more grown-up candidate.

Taxes, emails, racism: 10 takeaways from the first Trump-Clinton debate

Donald Trump seemed to get more of the airtime--and that eventually was his undoing. He did have his moments though. He was quite effective in portraying Clinton as part of the establishment that got America into the trouble it is claimed to be in. He said her husband, Bill Clinton, masterminded the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which he alleged were responsible for job losses. He criticised her for initially supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement which forced Clinton to defensively say she did not negotiate it, allowing Trump to suggest that she differed with President Barack Obama who backs the trade deal. He constantly reiterated that US debt of $20 trillion leaves the government very little cash to rebuild the countrys infrastructure. Trump said parts of the US, such as some of its airports, were like the third world as compared to places like Dubai and Qatar. He wants to renegotiate trade deals to stop jobs going overseas, reduce taxes and ease regulation so that American investors can bring their investments home.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton walks off the stage with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, after the presidential debate. (AP)

Clinton insisted, in return, that trickle-down economics and tax cuts for the wealthy have not worked. The wealthy need to pay their fair share of taxes and, besides, trade was not the only challenge for the economy.

After doing well on economic issues, Trump made mistakes at three junctures that would have turned off independent voters, particularly those from minority groups.

On the issue of race relations in the context of the series of shootings of unarmed black men by police, Trump pandered to his disaffected white base by taking a tough line; he emphasised the need for law and order; mentioned the endorsements he was getting from police associations and from the National Rifle Association (these are good people), spoke of gangs roaming the street and endorsed the unpopular stop and frisk policies.

These comments will no doubt get a lot of play in the coming weeks to get the black community to vote, as it is reportedly not enthused enough about Clinton to turn up in November. President Obama made an impassioned speech to the Congressional Black Caucus recently urging black voters to vote if they care about his legacy - and memorably said All the progress weve made is at stake in this election. My name may not be on the ballot, but our progress is on the ballot. Tolerance is on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot. Justice is on the ballot. Good schools are on the ballot. Ending mass incarceration--thats on the ballot right now!

Obamas speech will have galvanised black voters--and Trumps comments during the debate are likely to compel the community to vote in big numbers, which will make a big difference in key states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Cold or coke?: Trump sniffles all the time and Twitter cannot take it

Two, Clinton did not interrupt Trump much during the debate (as the latter did) but at key moments she managed to raise doubts about his reliability and character. She said he rooted for the US housing crisis to happen and made money off it--to which he tactlessly retorted as thats business, forgetting the many who lost their homes and savings as a result. She mentioned that he had not paid people who delivered services to his companies and she questioned his business acumen as he filed for bankruptcy six times (which he defended as taking advantage of existing laws). Clinton also speculated on the reasons why Trump has not released his tax returns, suggesting that either he is not as rich as he claims to be, or is not very charitable or perhaps he does not want people to know that he pays nothing in federal taxes. Trump came back with a line that he will release his tax returns when Clinton releases the 33,000 emails she deleted from her private server - but overall she landed more barbs on the character issue.

Lastly, Trump was at his weakest on foreign policy and embarrassed himself more than once. He made the point that there needs to be more burden-sharing on global security and that the US alone cannot be responsible for creating public goods. But he kept insisting that countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany and Saudi Arabia must pay the US for defending them, boiling down discussions on weighty security matters to petty transactional terms. He said the US cannot defend Japan, a behemoth selling [us] cars by the millions and seemed to suggest that China should go into North Korea and get hold of its nuclear weapons. He said at one point that the Obama administration gave $1.5 billion to the Iranian regime - and later switched to the figure of $150 billion. In turn, Hillary reassured countries like Japan that she as President would honour mutual defence treaties.

Clintons objective in this debate was to stay calm and let Trump express himself fully so that independent voters can take a good look as to what they are undecided about. To that end, she succeeded. Trump will have pleased his base but may not have convinced undecided voters that he is up for the job. Clinton won this debate but whether the quantum of support she garnered today is significant enough will remain a matter of debate. The big plus for her today is that Trump yet again angered the black community, which will work to her advantage in November.

(The views expressed are personal. The author tweets @SushilAaron)

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India and China held their first bilateral dialogue on counter-terrorism and security in Beijing on Tuesday against the backdrop of New Delhis aggressive global campaign against Pakistan for using terror as an instrument of state policy.

An Indian delegation headed by RN Ravi, chairperson of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), met senior Chinese officials and exchanged views on the international and regional security situation. The focus: how to deal with terrorism and enhance cooperation on mutual concerns.

The meeting was held at a crucial time  India-China relations are going through an uneasy patch, not least because of Beijings stubborn opposition to Indias bid at the UN to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist. India blamed Azhar for orchestrating the attack on Pathankot airbase in January.

Indias concerns about Azhar would certainly have been aired by Ravi at the India-China high level dialogue on counter-terrorism and security even if, it was learnt, the latest terror attack in Uri wasnt the focus of the talks.

A PTI report from the UN said on Tuesday that Chinas technical hold against Azhar being designated as a terrorist by the UN Security Council would end in the next 10 days. This means that unless China objects again, Indias bid could stand passed automatically.

Chinas next move on Azhar will be closely followed to see whether Beijing removes the technical hold or continues to exercise its right as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to block the move.

Ravi also discussed other issues with Wang Yongqing, the secretary general of Chinas Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission who led the Chinese team. The two sides exchanged information on respective policies, systems and legislation to deal with terrorism, and further enhance their understanding on issues of major concern to both sides, an Indian embassy statement said.

It added the two sides held in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism and security and on measures to jointly deal with security threats and reached important consensus in this regard.

Besides the new dialogue, India and China have held five joint military exercises  Hand-in-Hand  that focussed on counter-terror operations and disaster relief. The groundwork for the dialogue was laid during home minister Rajnath Singhs visit to China late last year.

During Singhs visit, two new meeting mechanisms for internal security were also announced - the high level mechanism led by Indias home minister and Chinas public security minister to be held in Beijing and Delhi once every two years, and the mechanism led by the international cooperation departments of the two ministries. The second mechanism will meet once a year, alternately in Beijing and New Delhi.

India and China also agreed during Singhs visit to enhance cooperation in combating international terrorism by exchanging information on terror activities and groups, exchanging experiences on hijacking, hostage situations and other terror-related crimes, and coordinating positions on anti-terrorism endeavours at the regional and multilateral levels and backing each other.
An international court has found a Muslim radical guilty of committing a war crime by overseeing the destruction of historic mausoleums in the Malian desert city of Timbuktu.

Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, a former teacher, had pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his role in overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door in June and July of 2012.

Al Mahdi was convicted Tuesday morning by a three-judge panel of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Sentencing is expected later in the day.
Nineteen people died and more than a dozen were injured when an overcrowded bus went off a road in Dhading district of Nepal on Tuesday.

Police said 18 people were killed instantly and one passenger succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Kathmandu.

The bus plunged 300 feet after going off the road, district police chief Shrad Kumar Khatri said. Thirteen severely injured passengers were airlifted from the accident site to Kathmandu for treatment, chief district officer Bishow Subedi said.

The local administration said most of the passengers were survivors of the 2015 earthquake from a remote part of Dhading who were heading to the district headquarters to receive financial assistance announced by the government.

Police believe the accident could have occurred due to lack of maintenance of the road, which was damaged by recent rains.

A series of accidents in Nepal has raised questions about road safety. Officials said many accidents were caused by poor implementation of traffic rules and the poor condition of roads and vehicles. A majority of the accidents have occurred on roads running through hilly terrain.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) smiles as he guides a test fire of a new multiple launch rocket system in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang March 4, 2016. Photo by Reuters/KCNA/File Photo

A new step in tightening the financial noose around North Korea's nuclear program.

The United States said on Monday it had sanctioned a Chinese industrial machinery and equipment wholesaler, a new step in tightening the financial noose around North Korea's nuclear program after its fifth nuclear test this month.

The U.S. Treasury said it was sanctioning Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co (DHID) and four of its executives, including the firm's founder Ma Xiaohong, under U.S. regulations targeting proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.

It accused the firm of acting on behalf of North Korea's Korea Kwangson Banking Corp (KKBC), which has been under U.S. and U.N. sanctions for supporting proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it had filed criminal charges against the Chinese firm and the executives for using front companies to evade sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Ryoo Yong-gyu, Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring Division Director, points at where seismic waves observed in South Korea came from, during a media briefing at Korea Meteorological Administration in Seoul, South Korea, September 9, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

The charges accuse the firm and the individuals of conspiring to violate sanctions rules and engaging in international money laundering. The Justice Department said bank accounts associated with the firm and front companies received hundreds of millions of dollars that transited through the United States.

"Today's action exposes a key illicit network supporting North Korea's weapons proliferation," Adam Szubin, the Treasury Department's acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement.

"DHID and its employees sought to evade U.S. and U.N. sanctions, facilitating access to the U.S. financial system by a designated entity."

The announcement came after the White House said last week that President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang agreed in New York on September 20 to step up cooperation in the U.N. Security Council and in law-enforcement channels after North Korea's latest and largest nuclear test on September 9.

Chinese investigation

China's Foreign Ministry said last week Hongxiang was under investigation following the provisions of U.N. resolution 2270, which imposed tighter sanctions on North Korea in March.

Chinese embassy spokeswoman Fang Hong said Hongxiang Industrial Development Co was being investigated for "illegal behavior" and "economic crimes."

She said China had a "clear and consistent" position of opposing North Korea's development of nuclear weapons.

"We have been earnestly and faithfully implementing Security Council resolutions related to (North Korea) in their entirety and fulfilling our international obligations in non-proliferation export controls," she said.

On Monday, South Korea's JoongAng Daily newspaper reported that China was investigating a top official of the KKBC at its branch in the Chinese border city of Dandong.

While China is North Korea's sole major ally, it disapproves of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs and was angered by its latest nuclear test.

Beijing has said it will work within the U.N. to formulate a necessary response, but questions remain as to whether it is willing to agree tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.

Discussions are under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution and the senior U.S. diplomat for Asia said on Friday he was confident an agreement would be reached before long, imposing further sanctions and tightening existing ones.

Daniel Russel, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said the aims would include preventing North Korea's abuse of international infrastructure, including banking and shipping, to further its nuclear program.

In announcing Monday's sanctions, the Justice Department said it was seeking forfeiture of all funds held in 25 bank accounts associated with DHID and its front companies located in various banks in China.

"The charges and forfeiture action announced today allege that defendants in China established and used shell companies around the world, surreptitiously moved money through the United States and violated the sanctions imposed on North Korea in response to, among other things, its nuclear weapons program," U.S. Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said.

"The actions reflect our efforts to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system and hold accountable those who seek to evade U.S. sanctions laws," she said in a statement.

Related news:

> North Korea ready for another nuclear test -Yonhap

> China slams North Korea's nuclear test but unlikely to do much

> North Korea conducts fifth and largest nuclear test
The Pakistan Army said on Tuesday it was closely watching the Indian border and was fully prepared to respond to any kind of situation, in the wake of rising tensions with India after the Uri terror attack.

We are closely monitoring the developments on the eastern border and we are fully prepared to respond, military spokesperson Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said after a security meeting in Peshawar.

The meeting headed by army chief General Raheel Sharif reviewed the security at the border with Afghanistan.

Diplomatic tensions have spiked between India and Pakistan since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri 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.

Bajwa said that the meeting discussed the steps being taken for border management by the armed forces.

He said work has been completed on 20 posts set up for border management.

Defending Pakistans security measures at the border with Afghanistan, Bajwa said that the border management would be more effective if matching actions are taken by Afghanistan on its side.

Bajwa also said that Pakistan had not accused any country without concrete evidence.

He said that major actions under Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in June 2014 have been completed but intelligence and combing operations were going in different areas.
Pakistans lower house of parliament has passed a landmark bill that will address the Hindu minoritys concerns over the registration of marriages, which is required for measures aimed at protecting womens rights.

The bill will address other key issues of the Hindu community, including matters related to divorce and forced conversions. Hindu leaders welcomed the bill but Amarnath Motumal of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it only addresses half of the issues faced by the community.

The Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 was passed by the National Assembly on Monday after much delay and inaction. Much of the debate centred round whether the bill addresses the issues raised by the minority.

Human rights and religious minorities minister Kamran Michael, who presented the bill in the House, told the media it was a historic day for him. Credit goes to (both the) opposition and ruling parties, which are on the same page on the draft (bill), he said.

Experts said the passage of bill removed a hurdle on the way to putting in place measures to protect womens rights. Activists have said Hindu women have been disproportionately targeted for abduction and forced conversions because their marriages were never officially recognised and, therefore, not provable in court.

On August 17, the National Assemblys standing committee on law and justice tabled its report on the bill, which had been pending with the panel since March last year.

The draft law was moved by two minority lawmakers  Ramesh Lal of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Asiya Nasir of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal. The bill was later supported by the ruling PML-N party.

The absence of a legal mechanism for registering marriages and handling matters such as divorce also created problems for Hindus, especially women and members of marginalised lower castes, in getting travel and identity documents.

Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces have given their consent for the federal government to frame a Hindu marriage law that they will adopt, while Sindh province, where a majority of Pakistans Hindus live, has formulated its own Hindu marriage registration law.

Through the bill, the federal government aims to institutionalise all legal rights related to marriages. All Hindu marriages will be registered in line with the provisions of the act. Such registrations shall take place within 15 days of a wedding.

Hindu widows will now have the right to remarry of their free will six months after the death of the husband, according to the bills provisions. The bill will also help put an end to the abduction of married Hindu women.

But this is an area where Hindu leaders say more has to be done. The whole concept of abducting Hindu women and converting them to Islam and marrying them off has to be seen and examined, said Motumal.
Sri Lankan police on Tuesday exhumed the body of a prominent anti-establishment newspaper editor as part of an investigation into his murder, widely blamed on the regime of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse.

Lasantha Wickrematunga, a fierce critic of Rajapakses government, was killed by unidentified gunmen as he drove to work in Colombo seven years ago.

The new administration has reopened the investigation into his killing, which sparked an international outcry and shone a spotlight on allegations of deadly violence directed against the media.

Wickrematunga, chief editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, wrote an article before his death in which he forecast that the Rajapakse government would murder him.

When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me, wrote Wickrematunga, who endured years of harassment and intimidation for his work, in the article published in the Guardian and the New Yorker.

On Tuesday police swarmed onto Wickrematungas grave site at Colombos main cemetery and erected two white tents after a magistrate ordered a fresh autopsy.

The magistrate is present with a team of doctors, said Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer for the Wickrematunga family, outside the cemetery where journalists were gathered.

The family is happy with the progress of the case, he added.

President Maithripala Sirisena last year slammed police for dragging their feet on investigations into the 52-year-olds death and into other high-profile murders during Rajapakses rule.

Sirisena swept Rajapakse from office in a 2015 general election, pledging action against criminals and corrupt individuals during the former strongmans decade in power.

The case was reopened last year after a former minister in Rajapakses government accused the deposed presidents brother, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, of running a death squad and ordering the hit against the editor.

Gotabhaya, then secretary to the defence ministry, has denied any involvement. But rights groups say there is strong evidence the military played a role.

An army intelligence officer was arrested in July in connection with the killing.

Wickrematunga and his newspaper had accused Gotabhaya of corruption over the purchase of second-hand aircraft and arms for the military.

Another autopsy was ordered this month after scrutiny of medical examinations showing different results, including one that suggested he was stabbed.

Journalists gathered outside the cemetery on Tuesday but were blocked by police from entering, while the gravesite was covered with black plastic and the magistrate involved spoke with cemetery workers.

Ranagala said doctors were expected to examine the body at the facilities of the islands judicial medical officer in Colombo.

Wickrematunga started the Sunday Leader with his brother Lal Wickrematunga 22 years ago, building it into one of the most vocal anti-establishment newspapers in the country.

The newspaper was highly critical of rights abuses by troops against ethnic minority Tamils during the islands long-running separatist conflict that ended in 2009.

Some 17 journalists and media employees were killed in Sri Lanka under Rajapakses regime.
Views from around the world on Mondays first US presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump:

CHINA

Wang Pei, a graduate student in communications studies, watched the debate from a cafe in Beijing and said he thought Clinton carried herself better.

I personally like Trumps character and the feeling that hes a fighter, Wang said. But from todays performance, I think Clinton was more like a mature politician and Trump looked a bit like a misfit in this kind of setting.

G E Mengchao, a graduate student in journalism, said he thought Trump would be a better president for China because his business background could mean he would appreciate the countries commercial ties.

I think maybe Trump would be friendlier to China, because China and the US share vast common interests, especially in commercial areas, Ge said. From the perspective of a businessman, he may take a friendlier approach to China.

Snap opinion poll results on the US presidential candidates' debate. (AFP)

AUSTRALIA

Richard McConochie watched the debate on a big screen in a Canberra pub and said, To me Trump aced it.

He came across as a man who could control himself. They said Trumps ignorant of the issues. I think he proved that he had at least a working handle on most of the stuff he was talking about.

I think hell swing a lot of Americans over to Trump just by proving that he is not the sort of unstable, dangerous lunatic that hes painted to be, McConochie said. I dont see that Trump would be any more incompetent than Clinton.

Milton Gan, a Sydney-based photographer, said it seemed like Trump was trying to rein in his temper for the first 15 minutes, then went off the rails.

He started interrupting Clinton, he started interrupting (moderator) Lester (Holt) and he started steamrolling. And you could see he was just getting really irate about everything, Gan said.

The most ridiculous thing was at the end when he said he had the better temperament to be president, Gan said, laughing. It was just hilarious.

Clinton came off prepared, confident and composed, Gan said: Obviously, shes done her prep and shes got so much experience in politics and I think that really showed.

BRITAIN

Tim Stanley, a columnist for Britains conservative Daily Telegraph, said in his column Tuesday that Trump won the debate but may lose the election. He said Trump repeated many of his outrageous campaign statements and defended his earlier questions about whether President Barack Obama was really born in the U.S., but they played well in a debate that should be judged as reality TV.

He said Trump said everything that people who hate Clinton have wanted to say for 30 years.

In terms of reality TV, he did well, Stanley wrote. He harassed, he shouted, he taunted, he talked over. And Clinton let him do it.

But he said Trump said nothing during the debate to win over non-whites and female voters and did not act particularly presidential. That means, he said, that Trump probably wont be getting the chance to redecorate the Oval Office.

GERMANY

Sigmar Gabriel, German vice chancellor and head of the Social Democratic Party, told daily newspaper Bild on Tuesday morning that Clinton was the clear winner and that Trumps performance showed striking weaknesses.

Trump didnt have a plan. Neither for the US nor for the big foreign policy challenges, Gabriel said. Clinton convinced with competence and clarity. It was a clear victory for her.

Hannes Reinhardt, a 34-year-old who works for a small German publication called zwd, said he didnt watch the debate live because it started at 3 a.m. in Germany, but he woke up to several push alerts on his phone.

My first impression based on those alerts was that Clinton was leading in the debate, he said, taking a puff on his cigarette before heading into his office in Berlins Mitte neighborhood. Reinhardt said that he hoped Clinton would also win the U.S. elections.

As a German, one can only hope that she will win. She is more moderate and more European, while Trump is very isolationist and a populist, Reinhardt said.

JAPAN

Narushige Michishita, a Japanese analyst, said it was in some ways heartening to hear his country mentioned in the debate, since Japan is often overlooked these days. But he disagreed with Trumps criticism that Japan and other U.S. allies arent contributing enough to their defense.

There is a small truth to what Mr. Trump was saying, in the sense that Japan was a kind of free-rider or at least a cheap-rider back in the 1970s and 80s, said Michishita, director of the security and international studies program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.

But ... now given what Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe is doing to make Japan much more proactive on defense and security matters, and trying to make Japan more engaged in international security affairs, its like, What are you talking about?

Hirotsugu Aida, author of a book on the Trump phenomenon, agreed that Trump misunderstood the U.S.-Japan security alliance but said he still did better than Clinton.

Trump unexpectedly acted presidential. It might be a setback for Clinton, who wanted to make him look unsuitable for presidency, he said.

PHILIPPINES

Victor Andres Manhit, president of the think-tank Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, welcomed Clintons assurances that the U.S. would honor its treaty obligations if she becomes president.

Im really hoping that that kind of statement reminds our own government that we have an ally in the United States vis-a-vis our fight for territorial integrity and our maritime rights in the South China Sea, he said.

Richard Heydarian, a political science professor at Manilas De La Salle University said he thought Clinton was clearly the more prepared candidate and was able to handle Trumps offensives with utmost finesse. Trump seemed more subdued than expected, but spent too much time defending himself on secondary issues and failed to build up on his vision for the American people, especially the middle classes.

SPAIN

Spains main newspapers were unanimous in awarding victory to Clinton in the debate, each highlighting what they said was the Democratic Party candidates superior preparation and more convincing presidential image.

In its digital edition Tuesday, leading daily El Pais headline said Clinton corners Trump with attacks on his racism and lack of preparation. The center-left newspaper said that while neither candidate committed any major error, Clinton was able to put Trump on the defensive by questioning his credentials as a businessman, accusing him of racism and placing in doubt his temperament to be commander in chief.

The daily pointed out, however, that the debate was unlikely to bring about any major change in either candidates ratings.

Conservative daily ABC said that the first debate does not resolve anything but it does leave the impression that the ex-secretary of state did her homework, knows the lesson better and transmits a more presidential image.

HUNGARY

Hungarys left-leaning daily newspaper Nepszabadsag was impressed with Clintons performance: Clinton prepared and gave Trump no chance, was its headline.

Hillary Clinton was prepared and confident, smiling as she attacked her Republican rival in the first candidate debate, the papers report said. Often, Trump was forced to defend himself and became entangled in explanations about his own business affairs and earlier statements.
Taiwan went into shutdown on Tuesday on the face of its third typhoon in two weeks as thousands were evacuated, schools and offices closed and hundreds of flights disrupted.

Typhoon Megi is expected to make landfall in eastern Taiwan later on Tuesday but is already bringing widespread violent winds and torrential rain as it nears the island.

According to government figures, 20 injuries have been reported so far.

More than 5,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and around 2,000 are in shelters, according to the Central Emergency Operation Centre. More than 650,000 households have lost power due to the typhoon so far.

A total of 575 international and domestic flights were cancelled as of Tuesday morning, and 109 delayed. Most trains were also halted.

Billboards and scaffolding have been torn down by the powerful winds, and television footage showed waves surging past breakwaters in northeastern Yilan county and outlying Orchid Island.

Ahead of the storm, more than 3,700 tourists had already been evacuated at the weekend from Orchid Island and Green Island -- both popular with visitors.

At 0415 GMT, Megi was 90 km east-southeast of the eastern county of Hualien, packing gusts of up to 198 kph. It is moving at 14 kph.

Moored fishing boats are seen at the Dasi fishing harbour at Yilan county, eastern Taiwan, as typhoon Megi approaches on Monday. (AFP)

Taiwans weather bureau now forecasts landfall between 0600 GMT and 0700 GMT near Hualien city.

Hualien and Taitung, which are also popular with visitors for their coastlines and landscapes, will be in the firing line.

Those areas are still trying to recover from damage brought by Super Typhoon Meranti earlier this month -- the strongest storm for 21 years to hit Taiwan.

Meranti, which left one dead in Taiwan before killing another 28 as it moved to eastern China, was followed closely by the smaller Typhoon Malakas.

Mountainous regions in eastern Taiwan could see a total of up to 900mm (35 inches) of rain through on Wednesday, increasing the risk of landslides.

More than 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with disaster relief.
The US has asked Pakistan to close all terrorist safe havens and target all militant groups, including those that target neighbouring countries, after India made a strong pitch at the UN for isolating nations who nurture, paddle and export terror.

Our focus with Pakistan is to enhance their capability and to deal with terrorist threats on their soil. They are fighting a serious and sustained campaign against violent extremism, White House deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said.

We do believe that they are making progress and taking steps to counter terrorist violence, but at the same time we have been very clear that they need to target all militant groups, including those that target Pakistans neighbours, and close all safe havens, 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.

Toner reiterated that it is the longstanding American position that the US believes India and Pakistan really stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations.

We encourage both India and Pakistan to pursue and engage in direct dialogue that is aimed at reducing tensions, he said.

We have long said that with regard to Pakistan, with regard to India, with regard to the region, there is no zero-sum game here. We are pursuing very close relations with India, the deputy spokesperson said.

We have a deep and broad bilateral relationship and multilateral relationship, or work our multilateral issues with India. They are the worlds largest democracy and we share a very similar vision of the world. And we obviously have very close trade and economic ties with India, and also that extends to security cooperation, he said.

Similarly, we want to see Pakistan better able to respond to the threat that terrorism poses and terrorist groups that seek refuge in its territory, Toner added.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her address at the UN yesterday said there are nations in our midst where UN designated terrorists roam freely and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, an apparent reference to Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

She also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism and for whom sheltering terrorists has become their calling card.
The suspect accused of killing five people at a Macys department store confessed to police, court documents said, but his motive remained a mystery Monday as a portrait emerged of him as a mentally troubled young man whose parents said they were trying to help him.

Arcan Cetin, 20, appeared in court and was officially charged with five counts of first-degree premeditated murder following his arrest over the weekend for the rampage at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle.

Cetin appeared to express no emotion and said only Yes, your honour when asked by a judge if he understood his rights. Bail was set at $2 million and his lawyer said nothing about his client in court and did not speak with reporters.

The hearing followed a terrifying weekend that began Friday night when police say Cetin stormed into the mall and killed five people, leaving Burlington residents panicked for nearly 24 hours until authorities arrested him.

Cetin, described by acquaintances as socially awkward, has a criminal record going back at least two years and one of his neighbours said he unnerved her so much that she kept a stun gun near her front door.

Cetin after his arrest admitted when interviewed by detectives he was the man captured on security video carrying a Ruger rifle inside the mall, and he did bring the rifle into Macys and shot all five victims, court documents released ahead of Mondays hearing said.

He shot all five victims in one minute and left the rifle with a 25-round magazine on a cosmetics counter before fleeing, police said in court documents. Four died at the scene and one died in the hospital.

The victims ranged in age from a teenage girl to a woman in her 90s.

Mount Vernon High School students gather in the school's courtyard and embrace near an impromptu memorial for Sarai Lara, a sophomore who was killed in the shooting at Cascade Mall. (AP Photo)

Authorities have declined to reveal details about their investigation into the motive for the shooting, but Cetins stepfather David Marshall told reporters after the hearing that his stepson has mental health issues without elaborating.

The only thing that we want to say at this time is that we both are totally devastated by what happened, said Marshall, who attended the hearing with Cetins mother.

There is no evidence showing that a man charged with five counts of first-degree murder had contact with any known Islamic militant groups or individuals, a law enforcement official told Reuters on Monday.

The court documents appeared to paint a picture of Cetins stepfather and mother trying to keep their son on track despite his suffering from an unspecified illness and criminal charges he faced for allegedly assaulting Marshall. Cetin came to the US from Turkey and is a permanent legal resident, authorities have said.

Cetin faced charges last year for allegedly assaulting his stepfather after he caught Cetin smoking marijuana inside the house, according to court records.

He was told by a judge last December not to possess a gun but Cetins stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was going through a hard time, the records said.

Cetin had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and has taken unspecified medications in the past, the records show.

He eventually moved out of his parents home and the stepfather told detectives after the shooting that he and his wife had helped Cetin with his rent.

Cetin said his father bought him a laptop, according to the court documents released Monday. His mother visited him regularly at his new apartment and last saw him Wednesday, the documents said.

Despite their falling out, Cetin ate with his stepfather on the day of the shooting before leaving around 4:30 p.m. to go to work, according to the documents.

Less than three hours later, police said in court documents, surveillance video showed Cetin enter the mall through a fast food restaurant, walk through the shopping centre and leave through the Macys womens department exit.

Arcan Cetin's stepfather David Marshall is swarmed by the media outside the Skagit County District Court . (AP Photo)

He then moved his car closer to the Macys entrance and took a rifle out of the cars trunk, the documents said.

Within moments, surveillance cameras in Macys captured the shooter entering through the same womens department  this time with a rifle.

Cetin first shot and killed a teenage girl near some clothing racks and then walked to the cosmetics counter where he shot a man and three women, the documents said.

Cetin was arrested late Saturday in Oak Harbor, about 30 miles from the mall, by a sheriffs deputy who recognized him. Cetins stepfather told detectives that his Ruger rifle and .22-caliber ammunition were missing, documents said.

Police interviewed the suspects former girlfriend and said Sunday night she has an employment history at Macys, but not at the Burlington Mall location. They did not identify her.

Amber Cathey, 21, lived in an apartment next to Cetin for three months and said she was so frightened of him that she kept a stun gun handy and complained to apartment management. She said she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch.

More details emerged Monday about the victims who police have said they will not identify until Tuesday.

Investigators are seen at the apartment complex that has been tied to Arcan Cetin, the suspected Cascade Mall shooter, in Oak Harbor, Washington. (AP Photo)

The man who was killed, Chuck Eagen, was set to retire next year after working 41 years for Boeing, his aunt Carol Thrush said in an interview.

Thrush described Eagan, 61, as kind and generous.

He travelled with Boeing all over the world, doing repairs on air planes, said Thrush, 77.
HOUSTON: Nine people were shot and wounded, one critically, in a Houston neighbourhood on Monday by a lawyer who had issues with his law firm, authorities said. When officers arrived, the suspect began firing at them, Police Chief Martha Montalvo said at a news conference. Police shot the man, whom Montalvo did not identify and who later died at the scene. Numerous weapons were found at the scene, a bomb-squad robot is looking at a Porsche thats believed to be the shooters and officers also were examining the suspects residence, Montalvo said. Some witnesses have described the gunman firing dozens of shots at cars passing through a condo complex, near the affluent West University Place community.

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RAMALLAH: Palestinian leaders on Monday accused DonaldTrump of abandoning any hope of a two-state solution after the Republican candidate said he would recognise Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital if he won the US presidential election.

Trump pledged on Sunday during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would re cog ni se Israel s claim over east Jerusalem, which would break with decades of precedent and put Washington at odds with most UN member states.

Trumps statement shows disregard for international law (and) longstanding US foreign policy regarding the status of Jerusalem,Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said in a statement.

Previous statements delivered by his adviser on Israel show a total abandonment of the two-state solution, international law and UN resolutions.

Israel captured the eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day war and annexed it in 1980, declaring all of Jerusalem Israels unified capital.

The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised future state.

The Palestinian foreign ministry issued a statement critic is ing Trump as well as his Democrat rival in Novembers election, Hillary Clinton, accusing her of overly favouring Israel at the expense of the Palestinians.

The state of Palestine will not serve as a bargaining chip for gaining the Jewish vote in the United States, the statement said.

After a meeting with Net anyahuinNewYork, Trump s campaign released a statement saying the candidate acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years.

The United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to re cognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel, it added.
LONDON : British police said on Monday they were opening an investigation into racist anti-India tweets by Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar, who was fired from the country s most popular TV soap following uproar over his remarks.

On Sunday, 25 September 2016 police received a report of a hate crime. Police have launched an investigation and enquiries are ongoing. Hate incidents will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and should be reported to police, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

Anwar ,45, unreservedly apologised for the tweets that referred to protests and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. He called Indians b*****ds and used other insulting terms. The actor was dropped from Coronation Street, the worlds longest-running soap opera, and producers said the storyline would be re drafted to drop his character in future episodes.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, Anwar said the language he used in his tweets was unacceptable and that he felt he had let everyone down.

An war said :On Friday evening I saw, on the news, children being pulled out of rubble, people being pelted with pellets, women mourning their dead in Kashmir. This upset me very deeply and in a moment of madness I ranted out. I vented my anger.

He added ,Again, the language that I used, I sincerely apologise for. But my feelings were very sincere for the people of Kashmir...
MISS AMERICA, 1945, Jewish Contemporary Classics, Inc., 1-877-JCC-TAPE, $33.45.

In 1945 Bess Myerson became the first Jewish woman to win the Miss America title. Her sudden rise to fame is chronicled in this four-cassette audio tapenarrated by Myerson and Broadway actor Adam Grupperfrom her childhood in the Bronx and her experience at the Atlantic City contest to working as New York City Commissioner of Consumer Affairs. Myerson describes the veterans, wily promoters, and bigoted rejection she encountered along the road from beauty queen to political activist.
Zika is now on the rise in Asia. In Singapore and Malaysia, the risk of getting infected with Zika is increasing because of the presence of the virus' transmitter, the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Latest reports also confirmed that the danger for Zika was actually more than what was expected since around 80 percent of people with the virus are asymptomatic. It has now become more difficult to check people coming in and out ports and airports because infected people may show no symptoms. Epidemiologists confirmed that Zika is known to be transmitted via sexual intercourse.

Cases in Singapore and Malaysia

According to the latest tally, there are now 369 cases of Zika in Singapore, 19 of these are Bangladeshi nationals. There are six cases in Malaysia. Asian countries with a large number of Bangladeshi migrants usually develop Zika outbreaks. The virus is spread by the Aedes mosquitoes as they bite anyone carrying the virus from abroad or anyone from the vicinity.

Professor Saif Ullah Munshi from the Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib Medical University virology department said that they are still unable to check if Zika is in Bangladesh but he said that it was found in India. And even if the virus is not found in Bangladesh, the risk of importing the virus has increased because of the outbreaks of Zika in Malaysia and Singapore.

ASEAN leaders boosting efforts against Zika

A meeting via teleconference was held by ASEAN ministers in order to boost their efforts against Zika. The special video conference of ASEAN Health Ministers was held Monday and featured health ministers from Southeast Asian health leaders. The conference was also joined by World Health Organization representatives.

The meeting highlighted the current situation of Asian countries when it comes to Zika infection. Leaders reported that there are now five Southeast Asian countries infected with Zika virus. Singapore's city-state premier Lee Hsien Loong warns ASEAN representatives in the recent 28th ASEAN Summit that the region should prepare itself for an extended campaign against the virus.

Five point plan to combat Zika

After the teleconference a five point action plan was developed to fight Zika. This plan included improving surveillance for the virus to meet standards of WHO, sharing of vital information on how the virus is fought in every country, enhancing surveillance efficiency, improving the screening process for the detection of the disease and the start of joint research.

Other countries doing their part

Thailand Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn of Thailand mentioned in an interview that the country is already spending more than 20 million baht or $575,000 in just detecting the Zika virus.

WHO director of program management Takeshi Kasei was interviewed by the Post and he mentioned that he was worried that the public has very little knowledge about Zika. This could signal a more intensified plan for public outreach programs against the virus.

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Do Presidential Debates have the power to change the mind or persuade voters?

Maybe it is better to take a look back at the past US Presidential Debates and how they affected the voters.

The 1960 US Presidential Elections was the first televised debate in US history. Senator Jack Kennedy went head-to-head with Vice President Richard Nixon.

Nixon might have been more convincing if people just listen to him. It is said that Nixon, at that time, declined to have make-up on for the cameras making him appeared very uncomfortable and sweaty.

Richard Nixon was ahead of Jack Kennedy by 1 point before the debate. But after, Jack Kennedy emerged with 3 points ahead.

Nixon's no make-up decision did cost him the presidency.

The 1984 election was no different. Ronald Reagan was pushing for a re-election. His opponent tagged him as too old for the presidential seat but Reagan was able to re-butt and used it against his opponent.

Fast forward to the 2000 US Presidential Elections between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush.

Viewers were turned off by Gore's personal attack and very audible groaning while Bush had the floor. Gore's 1.8 point lead turned around and after the debate, he was 1.5 points behind Bush.

These are great examples of debates greatly influencing the US Presidential Elections. However, there are also instances where it can be proved that debates only change the minds of the voters by some time.

Barrack Obama was beaten by Mitt Romney in the first debate during the 2012 US Presidential Elections.

Obama's lead of 5 points quickly diminished to 1 point after the debate. However, we all know he did recover and won over Romney with 3.9 points.

Now in the 2016 US Presidential Elections, Hillary Clinton's lead over opponent, Donald Trump, is getting narrower every day.

Grounding on the past US Presidential Debates, a slight error or simple misquotation has the possible power to change the minds of the viewers.

With the 2016 US Presidential Debate happening now and narrow lead of Clinton, it is anyone's game.
It is time to rejoice for the Duggars as they are all set to welcome new members to the family. It also seems that gradually, Josh is getting back to a normal life as he and his wife, Anna Duggar celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary and rumors suggest that Anna Duggar may be pregnant again.

Rumors mills are churning stories about Anna's pregnancy as now Josh is back from the rehab. Well, this could possibly be true, Inquisitr claims but, no announcement has been made yet.

Jessa Duggar Seewald announced her second pregnancy last month. And, Jill, who is currently in the US along with her husband, Derick Dillard and son, Israel has teased that Israel needs a sibling. Moreover, on being questioned, Jill had coyly replied that many people ask about it and further added that they are planning a baby soon.

According to previous reports, Jill had posted a photo on Instagram recently that had her snacking on her favorite pregnancy snacks, salted green beans. This led to speculations that Jill is already pregnant as during her first pregnancy, she had revealed her favorite pregnancy cravings, which included salted green beans.

These further led to speculations that the Duggar family will be welcoming another grandchild next year. However, nothing official has been announced yet about Jill's pregnancy.

Notably, even before the family welcomes the grandchildren next year, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar will be welcoming their 20th son, this year as they have adopted Michelle's niece, Rachel Hutchin's 8-year-old son.

In other reports, it has been said that Josh Dugar and Anna Duggar celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary on Sep. 26, US Magazine reported. It is also the first time since Josh's scandal that the couple posted a photo together on social media.

It is worth mentioning here that Josh went on treatment after having admitted that he had molested his own younger sisters as a teenager and that he cheated on his wife with his premium Ashley Madison account.

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Early last year, Pluto's "heart" was discovered and it made the world coo at the dwarf planet. Though removed under the classification of what counts as a "real" planet, the dwarf planet continues to astound as scientists find that even so far away from the heat of the sun, Pluto actually has liquid water.

Due to the distance of Pluto from the sun, it should only contain layers upon layers of ice. But last year, when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) New Horizon spacecraft flew past it, scientists began to suspect that there might be a subsurface ocean.

Since the discovery of Pluto's heart, a team led by Brandon Johnson, an assistant professor in Brown University, focused on getting to know the Sputnik Planum or the western lobe of the heart. The team believed that the love was caused by an asteroid impact. But the interesting and more pressing question arose when the Planum demonstrated positive mass instead of the opposite.

"An impact crater is basically a hole in the ground. You're taking a bunch of material and blasting it out, so you expect it to have negative mass anomaly, but that's not what we see with Sputnik Planum," said Johnson, as reported by Express.

Pluto once again defies expectations and instead shows that the crate has positive mass as a result of the meteor which in turn caused the subsurface ocean to even out across the dwarf planet. Because it was so astounding, natural curiosity took over and the scientists wanted to "run computer models of the impact to see if this is something that would actually happen."

The results of their tests yielded and stated that the production of a positive mass anomaly is sensitive to how thick, how salty, and how dense the water is. Thus, the ocean layer of at least 100 kilometers "has to be there."

Though the thermal models of Pluto's structure do suggest the existence of a liquid ocean, scientists are still on the lookout of important information that can explain how it is possible in the first place. Once again, Pluto astounds the scientific community, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

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The Duchess of Cambridge made a faux pas when the royal couple landed at Canada. Queen Elizabeth may get upset about it all, and tick her off - at least so says the media. It is noted that after she got down from the Canadian Royal Air Force jet with her family, she bent down to speak to Prince George, which sparked a fussilade in the press.

It is recalled that Prince William had earlier been ticked off by Queen Elizabeth when the entire family went to watch an RAF display from the Buckingham Palace balcony. "The memory of her Majesty telling William off for bending down to speak to George at June's Trooping the Colour is only too clear in our heads," as the Queen had tapped the Duke when he bent down to talk to George. "Stand up, William," she had said, sternly.

Even though this time, there was no "queenly" reprimand, Princess Kate has been taken to task by the media. One charge is that she had "yet another wardrobe malfunction because the Royal blue dress was much, much too short and the entire world nearly saw Kate's lady parts when she hunkered down to speak to George." As she was holding Charlotte, it was a rather awkward position to be caught in.

Prince George was being quiet, yet seemed nervous at the attention. Perhaps he needed to be soothed. Perhaps that is why Princess Kate stooped to talk to him. However, as she had made a royal visit on a Canadian Royal Air Force jet from England to Canada, she was reprimanded by media sources.

Hopefully, there will be no more 'wardrobe malfunctions', as the children are put up at the Government House, their Canadian base of operation, even as the parents visit British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

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It is a supreme irony that trophy hunting of lions can actually help to conserve the species! By preserving the habitat for the threatened species, it would benefit the lions, say scientists. After all, lions require to survive in large areas, which are phenomenally expensive to manage in the long run.

By permitting land to come under long-term management for trophy hunting, scientists can help to conserve the species, according to researchers at the University of Kent in the UK.

"Companies who have secured long-term use rights to natural resources are more likely to manage them sustainably," said Dr Henry Brink from the University of Kent, the study's first author. "This is an important lesson for lion conservation, as loss of habitat means this species is increasingly restricted to protected areas." Thus, hunting can actually work, if the companies are given over the long-term management rights.

The study was undertaken by Henry Brink and Bob Smith from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at Kent, and Professor Nigel Leader-Williams from the University of Cambridge.

Lion populations were examined in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve.

They found that some blocks of protected areas were given over to various companies. Those that were included in short-term management were "over-hunted." It tended to prove counter-effective in the conservation attempts.

However, hunting levels were more sustainable in blocks owned by a company for a decade or more, which would help to conserve the species.

Companies that got long-term use rights may even be able to oversee them better, discover the scientists.

Hence, Tanzania's fee system can actually prove to be useful. "At present, the government sells hunting block fees cheaply, and raises more by setting high quotas and high fees for each trophy animal shot, which encourages those who are only allocated blocks over the short-term to shoot more lions, at the expense of long-term sustainability and profits," said Professor Nigel Leader-Williams from Cambridge's Department of Geography, the study's senior author.

"Increasing block fees, reducing trophy fees and reducing the hunting quota could bring in the same tax revenue, while reducing the temptation of hunters to kill more lions," he added.

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Usually, when people see pictures of space, the first thing that would pop in their minds are the feeling of fascination and appreciation. The colors and how the photos are presented are simply captivating.

But there was a report that there are people who complain that those photos are simply false because the outer space doesn't look actually like that.

Paul Sutter, an astrophysicist based at Ohio State University shared at Space.com that this it is just normal for NASA to release photos of the space as such. The reason according to the chief scientist at the COSI Science Center is not because to earn more likes but simply because of science.

He added that even a little enhancement in the picture could aid them understand many complex things that people could not just grasp.

Therefore, if those pictures were enhanced, then what precisely is the color of the space?

Well, scientists stated that there is no right or wrong answer on the question because it is really impossible to tell objectively the color of the outer space. They added that this is just dependent on the type of eyes you are using to look at it.

Supporting this theory is the occurrence of space emitting wavelengths of light which others are visible while some are not. Most of the emissions are red and blue light which are easily captured by the eyes.

The Hubble Space Telescope, which is the source of most of the images of outer space we see, doesn't really know the real color of the space. Accordingly, Hubble only captures black and white images and it is only with the aid of CCD that scientists produce colored photos of the space.

This then explains why most of the images that people see are in red or blue color, which is what human eyes could see. Although, researchers still want to know which parts of the space are discharging UV, X-rays or gamma rays.

So now that it has been confirmed that space is not really what we usually see in photos, would we still get fascinated in discovering life beyond the planet?

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The fact that LinkedIn was sold to Microsoft on Monday for more than $26 billion, it would not be hard for a celebrated social media platform like Twitter to do the same.

If Microsoft is willing to shell out a colossal $26 billion for Linkedin, then there definitely has to be an emancipator in the making for Twitter as well.

To be more precise, since there have been strong talks that major companies such as Google's parent Alphabet, Salesforce, Facebook, Microsoft, and even Verizon have set their eyes on the social networking giant.

Now that the Linkedin acquisition has been accomplished, a boost in the value of Twitter has occurred --something that CEO Jack Dorsey has not accomplished especially when Twitter's stock dropped by almost 60 percent within a year after CEO Dick Costolo announced his resignation.

Another major reason is that 2016 was supposed to be the year of Twitter's resurgence. But instead, the social media company went into a state of crisis.

It has stumbled with enticing new users with a strategy so disorganized that it has simply lost the faith of investors. The numbers of executives leaving the company are rising with CEO Dick Costolo's departure in 2015 being the catalyst.

One major problem that can occur if the speculation of sale does become a solid reality is the price tag, which is widely favored at around $18 billion due to the circumstances including the recent sale of LinkedIn to Microsoft.

However, according to inside sources, Twitter is looking to sell at a much higher price.

How much? At a whopping $30 billion price tag.

This might be too much considering the state of the company. This will most likely disqualify Salesforce since it made an attempt to purchase LinkedIn but disclosed that the price is too high for an under $50 billion company.

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P arsons Green is Fulhams most coveted area after Hurlingham and the Peterborough Estate. Characterised by bay-windowed Victorian houses in tree-lined streets, this tightly packed area has seen little new development.

So this low-rise block of 24 apartments in New Kings Road brings something fresh. London Square, the developer, has clad the building in handsome Portland stone and incorporated shops at ground level that dovetail into the Victorian street scape.

The latest new homes in London 1 /26 The latest new homes in London St Clements From 440,000: new homes at St Clements, formerly a Victorian workhouse infirmary, in Mile End  the site is being redeveloped into a walled estate of 252 private, shared-ownership and rental homes.



Scroll right for more new homes in London Camberwell on the Green From 446,000: 92 flats at the areas biggest new homes development, Camberwell on the Green. Call 020 7368 4830. Wing From 375,000: in Camberwell Road, Wing is another new launch of flats, with the offer of 1,000 towards legal fees. Call 020 7487 1710. Brickfield Court From 232,000: for a one-bedroom flat at Brickfield Court, one of six new residential buildings in Slough. The flats qualify for the Government-backed low-deposit Help to Buy scheme. Call 01753 331 064. Emerald Gardens From 435,000: Emerald Gardens is the latest apartment scheme seeking to bask in the glory of Kew's unmatched green spaces. There are 170 flats in low-rise blocks divided by landscaped courtyards. Call Taylor Wimpey (020 3667 5595). The Danvers From 975,000 : built on the site of a run-down council estate, these new homes have their own front door facing a new street called Danvers Avenue. Call Peabody on 020 3369 8690 for more information.



Read more Bermondsey Works From 507,500 : this stylish, contemporary block is made up of 148 flats and duplexes above a new free school and City of London sixth form academy. Call Telford Homes on 020 3538 3457 for more information.



Read more St Georges Gate From 825,000 : this new development of two-bedroom and four-bedroom townhouses are great for families looking to trade up to a bigger home. Call 0333 577 5878 for more information.



Read more Smithfield Square From 575,000 : duplex homes at Smithfield Square in Hornsey boast two entrances - one for a studio and one for a one-bedroom apartment. Call St James on 020 3411 9880 for more information.



Read more St. James Urban Living Lord Palmerston Court From 850,000 : an historic Victorian pub has been transformed into five light-filled apartments on Britannia Road, Fulham. Call Savills on 020 7731 9400 for more information.



Read more City North From 450,000 : City North is is the largest regeneration scheme in Islington borough since Arsenals Emirates stadium project, bringing 308 new homes to the area. Call Telford Homes on 020 3538 6897 for more information.



Read more Taper Building From 595,000 : located between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, this new scheme of apartments offer climate-control, underfloor heating and fast fibre cabling. Call KFH on 020 3486 2250 for more information.



Read more Leithfield Park From 409,000 : Homes in semi-rural commuter locations are proving firm favourites with the capital's homebuyers, and could result in savings of up to 450,000. Leithfield Park was formerly Milford Hospital and is based in the Surrey Hills.



Read more Acton Gardens From 625,000: new split-level homes come with sunken patios and first-floor terraces. The Uberhauses replace a bulldozed council estate in west London.



Read more

Camden Courtyards From 200,000: a new development in the canalside regeneration that has brought bars, cafes and a Eurostar terminal that puts Paris less than two hours away. Call Barratt on 020 7428 4455 for more information.



Read more Cadogan Terrace From 435,000: A new-build block of eight flats at 129 Cadogan Terrace has the advantage of backing onto Hertford Union Canal. The homes have up to three bedrooms and generous-size terraces and there is on-site parking too. Slough From 230,000: Milestone is a development being built on land next to the old town hall in Slough, with 73 homes ranging from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom houses. Prices range from 230,000 to 500,000, and buyers get a 100 voucher towards the cost of a new bike at one of the towns cycle shops. Call 01753 326 106 for more information. Horizons From 995,000: six spectacular penthouse homes, spilt over three levels, in Docklands offer panoramic views from their terraces. Call Cushman & Wakefield on 020 3296 2222 for more information.



Read more Maida Vale From 560,000: Renamed Westbourne Place, this former "nick" has been split into 25 flats with period features, and two new blocks have been built at the rear around a communal courtyard garden. Call Redrow on 020 3538 3791 for more information.



Read more Catford Green From 338,000: Catford Green is a new scheme of 558 new homes overlooking the recently upgraded Ladywell Fields park and the Ravensbourne River. Only a five per cent deposit is required for a one-bedroom flat. Call 0844 5566166 for more information.



Read more

Prices from 795,000. Call 0333 666 2939.

Madison Apartments in Wyfold Road is another Fulham new build  a warehouse-style block of 16 flats plus a penthouse.

Prices from 575,000, with the low-deposit Help to Buy scheme available. Call Fruition Properties on 020 3828 0116.
Hospitality Net today

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 A brand that was co-constructed with its future guests and disrupts traditional codes

 A brand that blends the best of private-rental, hostel and hotel formats

 A totally reinvented and disruptive experience in terms of design approach, catering, service and customer journey

 An "excubation" project supported at every step by AccorHotels' shadow executive committee

 A total of 50 venues set to open by 2020 in destinations popular with Millennials

A new form of Hospitality

JO&JOE is a vibrant living space, a home that is open to the external world and designed to meet the expectations of Millennials and all those who value sharing, spontaneity and experience.JO&JOE rounds out the Group's economy-brand portfolio, providing a made-to-measure solution for the vast international community of Millennial-minded trend-setters revolutionizing the market.

To cater to this new demand, JO&JOE aims to expand rapidly by opening 50 venues by 2020, with locations including Paris and Bordeaux (2018) as well as Warsaw, Budapest, Rio and Sao Paulo.

JO&JOE venues will take root in bustling city-center locations that are close to public transport and less than 15 minutes away from the major points of interest.

The project is an example of "excubation" led by AccorHotels' Marketing Innovation Lab, which identifies, tests and shares customer-centric and disruptive solutions that can generate additional revenue for the Group. The JO&JOE brand is the result of a co-construction process with future guests, external experts, students, the shadow executive committee and AccorHotels teams, with the overarching aim of challenging conventions and imagining the future of hospitality, catering and social interaction.

"Break with tradition, forget old habits, be surprising, authentic, unexpected, bring a breath of fresh air to AccorHotels. Do it quickly and do it well. It wasn't an easy brief to put into practice, particularly when you're primarily targeting Millennials, who can be very difficult to win over. But with the launch of our new brand, JO&JOE, we have now more than met that challenge. I'm extremely proud of the work accomplished by the AccorHotels teams in mobilizing the energy necessary  both inside and outside the Group  to bring this enormous project to life. JO&JOE represents the very essence of hospitality: welcoming, exciting and beyond our guests' expectations" said Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccorHotels.

"More than just an accommodation solution, JO&JOE has been conceived as an experience enhancer thanks notably to its offbeat design, innovative digital ecosystem and catering offerings. With its "open house" concept, the brand diversifies the customer journey by welcoming guests as well as locals, who treat JO&JOE venues as an annex of their living room. The project is also a reflection of the Group's cultural and managerial transformation, which shapes JO&JOE's approach to hiring, management and service, another of the brand's distinctive components" added Frederic Fontaine, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Innovation Lab.

Lifestyle by JO&JOE

JO&JOE is a living space, an unexpected and innovative open house welcoming both Townsters (people living nearby) and Tripsters (people in town to explore).

The concept is designed to promote interaction and foster positive community living thanks to common areas that are open to both the external and internal worlds. An integral part of neighborhood life, JO&JOE always has something going on, be it a concert, a yoga class or a DIY workshop. The JO&JOE team and the Townsters and Tripsters themselves help keep the venue active and buzzing, notably thanks to the brand's geosocial application, which helps bring people together.

Reflecting the Group's overall strategy, JO&JOE's catering is based on research and in-depth analysis into Millennials' aspirations. The result is an unconventional offering starting at 10 for a menu, with a focus on interaction, sharing and simple, healthy flavors:

The bar is central to the JO&JOE social experience. Its unique design and high visibility from the street encourage local residents to join guests to enjoy a wide range of drinks, focused on a flagship product (wine, beer or cocktails), with a unique selection promoting local and craft products.

- Local, affordable craft cuisine delivers quality without the frills. JO&JOE offers a range of simple and authentic restaurant concepts with a warm atmosphere: grill, open flame barbecue, wok or wood fire pizzas.

- The collaborative kitchen offers guests a showcase for their culinary talents and a stage for sharing their best recipes. Guests wanting to keep their budget under control can use the space to cook meals, just for themselves or for a whole tribe.

Disruption at JO&JOE also takes the form of innovative accommodation solutions for people traveling alone, in pairs, in groups or as a family, with rates starting from 25 a night:

The "Happy House" is a private area where Tripsters can relax, work, cook or wash their clothes, just like at home.

- "Together", which embodies the essence of the brand, is an ingenious modular sleeping area that guests share without sacrificing privacy. In addition to spacious beds, private lockers, reading lights and USB ports, guests have access to shared recreation areas and bathrooms.

- "Yours" consists of rooms and apartments for two to five people with a private bathroom and, depending on the format, a kitchen area. Ideal for small groups and families, the space offers a completely different look from a conventional hotel room thanks to originally shaped and extremely comfortable beds.

- "OOO!" (Out Of the Ordinary) offers unexpected accommodation for people traveling alone or in groups of up to six people. Different at each JO&JOE venue, these original formats include yurts, hammock and caravans and ensure guests have unforgettable experience.

JO&JOE  The IRL* community and its App

To understand the expectations of future guests, enhance the user experience (UX) and lay the foundations of the JO&JOE community, the Marketing Innovation Lab worked with teachers and students from the Webschool Factory, a Paris-based management school specializing in design, marketing and digital technology.

A unique and experiential community application was designed by a network of internal and external experts to help forge links between Townsters, Tripsters and the JO&JOE team. A veritable digital experience enhancer, it enables Townsters and Tripsters to connect, meet, initiate events, share tips, or arrange to get together for a meal or a walk. All these features are "social accelerators" that will become references in this area.

A new frontier in design

"A well-designed space is the secret to a happy and satisfying life  life is too short to spend time in sad or inefficient surroundings." Lee Penson, JO&JOE

designer.

At JO&JOE, the only boundaries are those of the imagination. The brand wanted to break with the conventional vertical distribution of spaces and functions and instead takes a liberated, flexible and rebellious approach to meet the expectations of its guests.

JO&JOE's disruptive design was co-constructed with UK design company Penson, known for creating intelligent and aesthetic spaces for the world's most visionary brands. Flagship designs include campuses for Google, YouTube, Jaguar Land Rover, Playstation, Jay Z's ROCnation and interiors of the world's 5th tallest building, Lotte World Tower.

Having never worked on a hotel before, Penson delivered a decisively innovative and singular response that breaks away from industry norms.

Beyond its design reality, JO&JOE

is also a strong and distinctive brand identity fashioned by advertising W, a territory designing agency. It doesn't matter whether Jo is a girl and Joe is a guy  or the other way around. The name can be read any way because JO&JOE is an open house that blends genres. There is no right or wrong way to read the logo either: a dot as yellow as the sun  alive, radiant, variable shapes, multiple styles  the brand regenerates and nourishes itself with local culture and vibes. The hearts of cities around the world  places made for moving, chilling and exploring  are ideal settings for JO&JOE to deploy its resolute character and offbeat atmosphere.

* IRL: In Real Life

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry's most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor's unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality  one of the fastest growing categories in the industry  is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 230,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company's comprehensive loyalty program  ALL  Accor Live Limitless  a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its global sustainability commitments (such as achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050, global elimination of single use plastics in its hotels' guest experience, etc.), Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticket: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Miami, FL -- InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, on the heels of strong 2nd Quarter 2016 financial results, continues expanding its brands throughout Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, with 40 new hotels in the current pipeline, adding nearly 6,000 rooms in the region over the next several years.

The growth is buoyed by strong relationships with existing owners, as well as new entities entering the hotel-ownership arena.

In 2016 alone, IHG announced the arrival of the Candlewood Suites brand in Mexico and the continued growth of the Staybridge Suites brand alongside the opening of a Holiday Inn Resort in Mazatlan in the same country.

Other highlights of the companys ongoing growth in key markets include the signing of two new-build Holiday Inn Express hotels in Peru and the launch of the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Paraguay which joins IHGs Crowne Plaza in the countrys capital city of Asuncion. IHG is also set to debut the highly anticipated InterContinental Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, which expands the presence of the InterContinental brand within the Caribbean.

In 2015, IHG acquired the world's largest independent boutique hotel operator, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Debuting in November, the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman will have the distinction of being IHGs first Kimpton brand opening in the Caribbean. The 266-guestroom resort is Grand Caymans first new resort development in more than a decade.

Additionally, the opening of a Crowne Plaza in Colombia early next year will mark the companys 14th property in the country and IHGs second hotel brand to gain a footing in the booming metropolis of Barranquilla. The Crowne Plaza brand is also strengthening its Mexico presence with two newly signed properties in the key cities of Chihuahua and San Miguel Allende. In June, IHG announced that it is investing $200 million in the Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand in the Americas region.

By the end of 2017, IHG will also open additional hotels across Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and the Bahamas, as well as in rapidly emerging markets such as Ecuador.

Jorge Apaez, Chief Operating Officer, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG said: We are very pleased that both our long-standing as well as new ownership groups continue to see the value of IHG-branded hotels. Our brands continue to serve the growing number of both business and leisure travelers in the region. This is particularly true of our Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands which are ideally suited for the modern-day traveler. The rapid growth of these brands, alongside the IHG Rewards Club program, is an example of how IHG continues to positively impact the hotel industry in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. As the international hotel company with the longest track record of success in the region, we look to further growing our number of hotels and provide the unparalleled experience that exceeds the expectations of todays travelers.

IHGs growth in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean is a microcosm of IHGs overall growth throughout the globe. Earlier this year, the company marked a great milestone with the opening of its 5000th hotel.

Recently, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) released its 2016 Interim Results. It was a good first half, with solid revenue growth driven by both RevPAR and rooms. IHGs strong pipeline is driving momentum and supporting future growth. In the first half, IHG signed 35,000 rooms into the pipeline, taking the total pipeline to 222,000 rooms, the strongest pipeline growth since 2008. While the number of signings represent more than one hotel per day it also reflects owner confidence in IHGs brands, especially the Holiday Inn family of brands, InterContinental, Candlewood as well as Staybridge brands. Currently, 45 percent of IHGs global pipeline is under construction.

IHG now has hotels in nearly 100 countries and more than 96 million members in the worlds largest hotel loyalty program, IHG Rewards Club. The programs success is bolstered by the fact that it is nearing its five-millionth member within the Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean region alone.

With its roots in Latin America, the first InterContinental hotel opened in Belem, Brazil 1946. Currently, IHG has six brands throughout 21 countries in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, totaling 221 hotels and nearly 38,000 rooms.

About IHG

IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Jesslyn Wade

Kreps DeMaria PR & Marketing for IHG

IHG
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Tony De George, President of Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC, advised on the sale of the 100-room Motel 6 in Tampa which sold for $5,600,000. De George represented both the Seller and Buyer in the purchase of the hotel.

Greene, Canfield, De George LLC (GCD Hotels) , a Clearwater, Florida based member of Hotel Brokers International, announces the successful marketing and sale of the Motel 6 in Tampa, Florida. The Buyer  a Florida investment company  purchased the hotel for $5,600,000.00. Tony De George, President of GCD Hotels advised and represented the Seller and the Buyer in this transaction.

The Motel 6 is a 100 room, limited service hotel, built in 1985. It is well located in Tampa near Interstate 75 and is in close proximity to the Florida State Fairgrounds. In the first half of 2016, the hotel underwent a total renovation and was converted from a Days Inn to a Motel 6.

The Seller, a seasoned hotel owner, is a valued client of Greene, Canfield, De George for more than 25 years. Over the years, we have represented the Sellers investment interests in a number of transactions, said Tony De George, and, we were pleased to again exceed his expectations during the sale of this hotel asset.

Founded in 1970, Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC is the South Atlantic Regions premier real estate brokerage firm specializing in the listing, sale, financing, and evaluation of hospitality properties. In the firms 45 year history of exceptional service to the hotel investment community, GCD LLC has successfully sold hundreds of hotels ranging from single asset investment sales to strategic portfolio dispositions and acquisitions. The professionals at GCD Hotels are highly trained specialists and hold Certified Hotel Brokers (CHB) and Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designations.

GCD Hotels are members of Hotel Brokers International (HBI)  the industry leader in hotel real estate sales. Founded in 1959, HBI hotel brokerage specialists have successfully negotiated more than 10,000 hotel real estate transactions and consistently account for the largest share of all select-service and economy hotel sales in the United States. The organizations database currently comprises more than 100 property listings and the HBI website attracts more than 55,000 monthly site visitors. Founder and host of the popular Hotel Investors Marketplace Webcast, HBI also developed the Certified Hotel Broker professional designation program. In addition to hospitality real estate advisory services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services. For more information about HBIs hotel listings or to become a broker or affiliate member, visit www.hbihotels.com.

For more information contact:

Tony De George, CHB, President

Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC

Clearwater, Florida

727.447.8383

info@gcdhotels.com

Glenda J. Webb, Managing Director

Hotel Brokers International

Kansas City, Missouri

816.505.4315

gwebb@hbihotels.com
A voter casting her ballot in the Basque city of Durango. Vincent West (REUTERS)

Regional elections held in Galicia and the Basque Country on Sunday have done nothing to clear up the political scenario in Spain, where in all probability voters will soon be asked to go to the polls again for a record third time.

Following the Socialist Party (PSOE)s dismal results in both regions, party leader Pedro Sanchez has decided to put his leadership to the vote at a party conference on October 23.

The Socialist Party is split between those who feel it should let Rajoy form a government and those who refuse to do so

Until the leadership question is put to bed, the PSOE will not be engaging in further cross-party talks to reach a deal that might pull Spain out of the political deadlock that has plagued the country since December of last year.

But because of the way Spanish voting legislation works, the current Congress has been in a countdown ever since it held an investiture session in early September to choose a new prime minister.

The acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, lost his re-election bid after being voted down by all other forces in the chamber, and this in turn created a two-month deadline to either find a new PM or have the king dissolve parliament and call new elections.

This means that politicians will only have one week  from October 23 to October 31  to conduct cross-party negotiations that might save Spaniards from going to the polls again on December 25, a full year after the original general election of December 20, 2015.

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez is putting his leadership to the vote on October 23. PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU (AFP)

And so far, there is little to indicate that a deal will be reached. On Monday, Sanchez said he will not step down even if the federal committee rejects his proposal for a party conference and primaries. He also added that he would rather see third elections than help Rajoy into government.

I dont want third elections just like I didnt want second ones, but for a democrat, elections are never a bad solution, he said. A bad solution is for the left to use its vote to try to pardon Rajoy. He cannot be the prime minister for even 15 minutes more.

Possible combinations

The Popular Party (PP), which won the most votes at both general elections but fell short of a congressional majority both times, has failed to attract enough support to get Rajoy reinstated, yet is not willing to make any significant concessions to facilitate an agreement.

The PSOE is split between those who feel it should let Rajoy form a government and those who reject that possibility outright  such as party leader Sanchez.

Sanchez would like to create an alternative government with Ciudadanos and Podemos, but these two groups refuse to work together. Another option would involve the Socialists with Podemos and several Basque and Catalan parties, but many Socialist officials oppose Catalan nationalists demands for an independence referendum.

There is an outside chance that the PP could bypass the PSOE altogether by securing support from the center reform party Ciudadanos and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV)  but Ciudadanos refuses to work with any regional party that harbors separatist sentiments. And the PNV seems equally disinclined to help, particularly as it does not need the PPs help to form a new government in the Basque Country.

Ultimately, the PP and Ciudadanos could secure enough of a majority to get Rajoy reinstated as long as the Socialists either vote favorably or abstain at a new investiture vote. If Sanchez gets his primaries and is re-elected on October 23, this will not be happening. If a new leader emerges, it remains to be seen what strategy he or she will follow  if there is still time.

English version by Susana Urra.
HRI Properties and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) yesterday announced plans to convert the current James Robertson building in Nashville, Tennessee into a luxury hotel joining The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio.

HRI Properties plans to spend approximately $50 million to update the building into a 191-room hotel, and upon opening in late 2017, HRI Lodging will manage the hotel. Locally based ESA (Earl Swensson Associates) is the architect for the project, Bell Associates is serving as the General Contractor, and Stonehill Taylor out of New York will be providing the interior design services. As with all properties in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio, this new hotel will provide rich social currency through story-worthy, shareable experiences that guests will take with them long after their stay.

The building, which is located at 118 Seventh Avenue between Broadway and Commerce, occupies prime real estate in downtown Nashville and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It also has deep-rooted history, opened originally in 1929 as The James Robertson Hotel before converting to an apartment building in 1978.

There are very few historic buildings of this size located within Nashville, and we saw it as a unique opportunity to recreate history by returning the building back to its original use as a hotel, said Michael Coolidge, chief investment officer, HRI Properties. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt is an ideal fit for this new hotel. It will maintain its individuality and distinct character, and guests will benefit from the operational excellence and amenities that come from being associated with Hyatt.

The hotel will have 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a grab-and-go market concept, a lobby lounge serving light fare, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and a stunning rooftop pool and bar. The hotel is near popular Nashville landmarks such as Music City Center, Bridgestone Arena, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and corporate office buildings.

The addition of this property to our portfolio showcases our continued commitment to strategic growth in critical markets for both the company and for our newest brand, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, said Steve Haggerty, Hyatts global head of capital strategy, franchising and select service. We are thrilled to expand our presence in Nashville, which is a market that has great demand, and we look forward to creating new and shareable experiences for our guests.

We are impressed with the investment in the city from the convention center to the downtown construction activity and corporate relocations  the overall diversity of demand in the market is exciting. We look forward to this project being the first of many Nashville based projects for HRI, said Coolidge.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launched in February 2016; current properties in the collection include The Royal Palms Resort and Spa, The Confidante in Miami Beach, Miami; The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hotel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which is expected to undergo a revitalization and re-open in spring 2018.
Exploring the complex and potentially lucrative relationship between developers, residential owners and operators

Introduction

Last October in Hong Kong, this topic was featured at our Master Class presentation at Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific. We had a panel of senior industry experts and an audience of in excess of 250 enthusiastic attendees. Click here to view the presentation. Branded residences are residential developments which are branded typically by an international hotel management company. In our experience branded residences usually form part of a mixed use development which also contains a hotel (operated by the same management company) as well as potentially other components such as retail and commercial. The mixed use development can take the form of a commercial tower or a hotel surrounded by branded residential villas. In the intervening period since the Hong Kong conference we have continued to work on these developments all around the region. This product line has continued along its evolutionary path becoming more sophisticated and adapting to new markets and brand segments. Branded residences can be found in major urban centres as well as recreational destinations such a beach resorts and ski fields. The greatest concentration of branded residences is at the luxury/super luxury end of the market but increasingly the branding is moving down the star ratings. Please refer to page 8 of the presentation where we have inserted a diagram of a typical Branded Residence legal structure. It will be self evident that these developments require intricate and complicated legal arrangements. Below we will address a number of the more interesting issues that these structures produce. For the purposes of our discussion we will use a hotel/branded residence commercial tower as the example. Similar but not identical issues arise for a hotel surrounded by branded residential villas. By virtue of the fact that the structuring of branded residences is determined by the degree of sophistication of local property laws, the discussion below can be affected by the idiosyncrasies of individual legal jurisdictions.

1. Is the branding for the residences typically the same as the branding for the hotel? Yes 2. How does the branding work for the residences? Usually the operator grants the developer a licence to sell the residence incorporating reference to the brand. Typically this is for a duration of around 3 - 5 years. Additionally, the operator grants an owner's corporation a licence to refer to the brand for a term which usually is the same as the hotel management agreement. 3. What is the interrelationship between the term of the hotel management agreement and the term of the branding? Usually if the hotel management agreement terminates for any reason then this automatically terminates the licences relevant to the branded residences. If either of the licences for the branded residence terminates then this usually does not produce an automatic termination of the hotel management agreement. 4. What fees are charged by the operator with respect to the branded residences? The operator usually charges a percentage of the sale price of each residence. If any of the residences is not sold for a time and let out for rental then usually the operator charges a percentage of the rent. The licence usually contains provisions to the effect that: the operator is entitled to terminate the licence if the developer does not sell a specified number of residences within a specified time period;

generally residences must be sold for their arm's length value;

the developer may seek to negotiate a concession to the effect that a certain number of the residences be held back by the developer or sold for less than the arms length price; and

the operator has stringent rights to vet any information provided to prospective residence purchasers and also has rights to anonymously attend sales presentations to ensure that representations are not made inconsistent with the operator's understanding. 5. How does the operator seek to ensure that the branded residences are maintained to brand standards ? Usually the operator seeks to contract with the owner's corporation to maintain the common areas of the branded residence component. The owner's corporation contracts to maintain the common areas consistent with brand standards. The operator produces an annual budget which will be necessary to achieve this outcome. The owner's corporation is then required to levy the branded residence owners. 6. What happens if the common areas of the branded residences are not capable of being maintained to brand standards because of insufficient funding by the owner's corporation? This usually gives the operator the right to terminate the branding. 7. Does the operator provide the branded residence owner with the right to use the intellectual property rights attaching to the brand? In our experience usually not. The reason for this is it is usually a precondition that the developer guarantees that the branded residence owner will not contravene the terms of the licence. For a variety of reasons the developer is usually reluctant to provide this guarantee especially if it would continue to operate after all residences have ben sold and the developer has effectively exited its involvement with the development. Conversely, the operator will provide the owner's corporation (and through it the branded residence owners from time to time) with the right to refer to the building in a way which identifies the branding without the grant of any intellectual property rights, (for example, at the time a residence owner wishes to sell his or her apartment, a right to refer to the apartment as an apartment in the [relevant brand] apartment building.) 8. What if a branded residence owner wishes to make its residence available as part of the accommodation inventory of the hotel ? This is a commercial matter but it is not unusual for this option to be made available to the residence owner at the time of initial purchase. If the option is taken up then the residence owner is usually required to acquire a standard furniture pack and make the residence available for a specified period under a lease or management arrangement with the hotel. 9. Do any issues arise if the branded residences share entry ways or facilities with the hotel? This can be contentious as the brand standard requirements of the hotel may be significantly greater and hence significantly more expensive than would be the case for residential accommodation (for example concierge service). 10. What hotel services are usually made available to the residence owners and occupants? This is usually a commercial matter but residence owners and their guests are usually treated the same way as hotel guests. In some instance residence owners and their guests may be entitled to benefits not made available to some or all of the hotel guests. 11. Are there usually any restrictions on the residence owners leasing out the residence on a short term basis? Yes. The hotel usually frowns on any of the residences being made available for short term accommodation in competition to the hotel.

About Baker & McKenzie

Founded in 1949, Baker & McKenzie advises many of the worlds most dynamic and successful business organizations through more than 11,000 people in 77 offices in 47 countries. The Firm is known for its global perspective, deep understanding of the local language and culture of business, uncompromising commitment to excellence, and world-class fluency in its client service. Global revenues for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2014, were US$2.54 billion. Eduardo Leite is Chairman of the Executive Committee. (www.bakermckenzie.com)
Face to face, he flits from introspective to outgoing in a finger click. And, while avowedly non-political throughout our conversation Treays will, several days later, give it to the Brexit crowd, accusing them of behaving despicably in the run-up to Britains EU referendum. The boy contains multitudes.

You dont have to meet him to get a sense of this complexity. Its all there in his music, especially on just released fourth album, Trick (which at the time of writing is locked in a battle to secure UK number one with British country duo Ward Thomas).

Here he pings with dilettante zeal from white kid rap to avant-garde metal, with side-swerves into twee indie and krautrock. Theres a lot happening  which makes the records general coherence even more impressive. Its a tidy mess, an articulate shriek for attention.
DODGEVILLE, Wis. - The CEO of Lands' End, recruited from the New York fashion house Dolce & Gabbana in a bit of a culture clash, has stepped down after less than two years on the job.

Federica Marchionni was brought to the Dodgeville-based company with its button-down shirts and casual clothing in February 2015. Her employment agreement specified that she would not have to move to the small southwestern Wisconsin city and that her primary workplace would be in New York.

The company said Monday that Marchionni's departure was effective immediately.

'It is time'

"The board of directors and I have agreed it is time for others to bring Lands' End into the future," Marchionni said in a statement.

The Lands' End board appointed Joseph Boitano, executive vice president and chief merchandising and design officer, and James Gooch, executive vice president and chief operating and financial officer, as co-interim chief executive officers.

A global executive search firm has been hired to assist with identifying a permanent CEO, the company said. The search will consider internal and external candidates.

Josephine Linden, board chairman, said Marchionni has helped Lands' End transform by offering merchandise that was more relevant to shoppers.

"Federica is stepping down at this time, leaving Lands' End well positioned to continue its evolution and capture the growth opportunities that exist for our iconic brand in this dynamic retail environment," Linden said in a statement.

Marchionni's tenure had, at times, been strained. Her decision to feature feminist and abortion rights advocate Gloria Steinem in a Lands' End catalog drew the ire of some customers who flooded the company's Facebook page with comments and caused two private religious schools to stop purchasing uniforms from the company.

Public apology

Steinem had been interviewed by Marchionni for the Lands' End "Legend Series," which features people "who have made a difference in both their respective industries and the world at large," according to the company. The company issued a public apology and removed Steinem from its website.

It has been a rough period for many traditional retailers, and Lands' End is no exception. Annual sales have fallen for four consecutive years and net income for two.

The company lost money in its latest fiscal year.
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Even at a young age, it was clear. William "Bill" Lawson is one who needs persuading. Take when a teenage Lawson, dead-set on becoming a cartoonist, had his Superman daydreams interrupted with an image of him standing in a pulpit.

How could he be a preacher, he wondered. He often stuttered when he spoke. And sure, he belonged to a church in his hometown of St. Louis, but no one in his family was a man of the cloth.

But after seeing the same thing, day after day, Lawson was done fighting.

He finally told God, "All right, this isn't what I wanted to do, but I'm willing to do it."

"I wish I could say to people that the Angel Gabriel came into the room and said to me, 'Bill, you're going to be a preacher,' " Lawson said. "That just didn't happen."

Then there was the time in 1960 when his students at Texas Southern University asked him to help arrange sit-ins in Houston, as students in North Carolina had done.

"I said to them, are you serious? Your parents, grandparents worked their tails off to get you into school, and that's the last thing you ought to want to be involved in," he recalled. "You don't want to get a chance to be arrested, and have a jail record. What you want to do is to finish college, which is what they dreamed of for you."

More Information The Rev. William A. Lawson Founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, now retired. Bachelor's degree in sociology at Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville in 1950. Bachelor's degree in divinity and a master's in theology from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Married to Audrey H. Lawson of St. Louis, with four children. Moved to Houston to serve as director of the Baptist Student Union and professor of Bible at Texas Southern University. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church was started in the Lawsons' home in June 1962. Congregation has grown to more than 5,000 members. In 1996, the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity was founded. Lawson is the author of a book of meditations called "Lawson's Leaves of Love." See More Collapse

They did it anyway, and as anticipated, got arrested. Lawson and his wife then raised money to bail the TSU students out of jail, marking their own beginnings in the nascent movement.

Since then, Lawson has been witness to some of Houston's defining moments, often playing a starring role.

He was influential in the city's path to desegregation, founded the Third Ward institution known as Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and has been a voice for groups in need of an advocate in this city for the past 60 years. He's marched, given speeches and arranged meetings, making his mark on this city's history.

In his canary yellow living room bathed in late morning light, the vibrant 88-year-old sat surrounded by mementos of his past. Alongside family photos with his late wife, Audrey, and their four children, some with icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. could stop visitors in their tracks. The former cartoonist's artwork enhances those yellow walls.

Sitting up straight on the couch in his navy suit and tie, he wove together stories of his life and Houston that still ring true today.

Lawson came to the city in 1955 as a Baptist chaplain and professor at TSU. At the time, TSU was little more than a collection of buildings strewn together, the state's answer to a lawsuit filed by a black man denied admission to law school at the University of Texas. "It didn't even have a library," he said. "So you can't imagine a state university without a library."

Lawson knew next to nothing about Texas or Houston. But the sight of those buildings right across the street from a housing project told him this might be the place for him after all.

"When I looked at it, and saw these few black students, young high school graduates, who now had a university to attend, and so it had a great deal of hope for them," he said. "It was almost laughable for other people."

The Lawsons' early Houston years coincided with major change within town and far beyond city limits. The day they moved to Houston happened to be the same day Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi. Months later, the bus boycott in Alabama gave legs to an already growing movement.

Houston itself was on the verge of becoming a "mega city," as Lawson described, in a time of growing unrest in the nation. That is, if influential parties could get on the same page. The city was considered for everything from Major League Baseball to being the home of the nation's space center.

With growing interest in Houston's economic potential, Lawson and others decided that what was needed to discuss ending segregation in the city. Otherwise, Houston risked developing the same "ugly stain" as Birmingham.

But could it be done without the firehouses and police dogs?

The only way this could happen would be to do things quietly, as a group of white business owners, black leaders and other influential parties hammered out in talks at the Rice Hotel downtown. A hotel where Lawson had to enter through the back door, and ride up a freight elevator. A media blackout helped the mega city in the making follow a quieter path to desegregation.

"The issue was not moral, it wasn't ethical," Lawson said. "The issue was not whether or not it was right to segregate. The issue was, what is going to be the economic potential of Houston at this time, in its history, if it doesn't do something like this?"

At the same time, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church was coming into being. While the church celebrated its 54th anniversary this year, in its early days Lawson wasn't so sure it would last.

"By now you've learned, that I tend to resist whenever these opportunities come," he acknowledged. When 13 people standing in the living room of the Baptist Students Center wanted to start a church, Lawson thought for sure it wouldn't sustain the current state of civil unrest. "This is 1962, when all this other stuff is happening."

But not only did the civil rights movement provide the historical context for the church, it gave this A-frame building in the Third Ward a social conscience from the start. When Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Houston, it was from behind the wooden pulpit at Wheeler where he spoke.

Lawson's wife, Audrey, shaped the church from the beginning. Not only would the church have to focus on social issues, it had to be more than a standard church. The social worker told Lawson the church can't be in a growing black neighborhood, with "students who don't have enough money to go to school," with families facing struggles, and the church be limited to only Sunday services.

One example: the Wheeler Avenue Boy Scout troop, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. She was "very much concerned about what was happening to young black males," Lawson said, and wanted to build something out of the church.

While Lawson still thinks there are many groups without a voice today, he is confident Houstonians are still capable to come together to solve this city's most pressing issues.

He sees Houstonians as defined not just as Democrats or Republicans, or by their ethnicity, but rather just as human beings. Human beings who all have an interest in "seeing the best for ourselves, and our families."

"I don't expect to be here much longer, but I do expect we'll be able to leave some kind of legacy, because we've done some talking with people," he said.

"And some of that they've heard."
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Race relations and racial healing occupied a portion of the debate. Hillary Clinton called for revision to the criminal justice system, which she said has been too harsh on minorities, and for an examination of implicit bias which she claims infects everyone.

"Unfortunately, race still determines too much," Clinton said. "We have to restore trust between communities and police."

She also assailed Donald Trump for his years-long pursuit of the so-called birther issue questioning President Obama's birth certificate and citizenship, and for a business history and campaign tone that has appealed to racial extremists.

"He started his campaign activity with a racist lie and he continued to push it," Clinton said. "He has a long history of engaging in racist behavior. In 1973, he was sued by the Justice Department because he would not rent apartments  to African Americans."

Trump defended his longstanding insistence that President Obama might not be an American citizen, which he recently dropped.

Trump said what African-American and Hispanic communities need is more law and order because they are being "decimated" by crime. He promised to extend the "stop-and-frisk" approach.

"We have a situation where our inner cities, African-Americans and Hispanics, are living in hell," Trump said. "You walk down the street and you get shot. We have to stop the shootings and bring back law and order."

As for the discrimination lawsuit, Trump said it was settled with no admission of guilt.

He cited a club he opened in Palm Beach County as a model of nondiscrimination.
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Before the fireworks erupted on national television between Clinton and Trump on Monday, Houston saw its own fiery debate between the candidates for Harris County district attorney.

Republican incumbent Devon Anderson and Democratic challenger Kim Ogg pulled no punches in the only debate scheduled for the county's top law enforcement post.

"I think it's apparent for anybody who has been listening to Ms. Ogg that she is clearly not fit to be the Harris County district attorney," Anderson said in closing after a raucous debate in front of more than 300 people. "She can't do half of what she says she's going to do."

In her closing, Ogg reminded voters of the litany of problems that have erupted across the county's criminal justice system.

"We have a justice system that should rely upon evidence, but instead is being run by prosecutors who are led, apparently, by a win-at-all costs philosophy," Ogg said. "I have a vision for a justice system that treats us all the same under the law, that tries to help people, not just convict them."

The two women sparred over the treatment of a mentally ill rape victim who was jailed for several weeks last year by prosecutors under Anderson. They also talked at length about the emerging scandal over the unauthorized destruction of evidence at the Precinct 4 Constable's Office.

The plight of the rape victim made national headlines when it was revealed that she was put in general population in the Harris County Jail last year after breaking down on the witness stand. She immediately was found walking into traffic in an apparent effort to kill herself. She was put in a mental ward after the court delayed the trial over the Christmas holidays. When the formerly homeless woman, named Jenny, was released from the hospital, she was not allowed to stay with family in Houston. Instead, prosecutors who were trying to convict a serial rapist had the woman jailed until she testified. While in jail, she had another breakdown and was given a black eye.

Spurred new training

During Monday's debate, Anderson stood by her prosecutors.

"We regret very much what that victim went through because she did have the courage to come forward and testify against her rapist," she said. "If there is any silver lining to any of this, and there is just one, it's that this monster, this serial rapist, received two life sentences thanks to her courageous testimony."

She said the outrage over the incident has spurred new training, a focus on the marshaling of resources for women in crisis and may lead to new legislation for victims to have attorneys appointed in similar situations.

Ogg, whose mother was kidnapped then escaped a serial rapist in 1962, said last year's incident should have never happened.

"Revictimizing a victim never justifies the end," she said. "There were so many other options that could have been taken."

The debate, moderated by KPRC anchor Khambrel Marshall, then moved to the other big issue of the day: whether Anderson's office should have notified defense attorneys with pending cases that evidence in the property room of the Precinct 4 Constable's Office had been destroyed without permission.

Ogg took the incumbent to task for finding out in February that evidence had been destroyed and staying mum. It was finally revealed by a defense attorney in August.

"She waited seven months to tell people, who had already pled guilty to crimes where evidence had been destroyed, that they were now entitled to a new trial," Ogg said. "You can't cause the problem, then take credit for fixing it."

Anderson said the lists of cases that were affected constantly changed, so there was no way to tell which cases were in jeopardy.

"We didn't know who to notify, whose cases to dismiss," she said. "We did it when we were ready and when we were sure."

Anderson also made news Monday night by saying she plans to ask the county commissioners to consider a central property room for all of the eight constables' offices, a new proposal that seems to have come out of the debacle.

Competitors again

This is the second election in which the two have gone head-to-head since 2014.

Anderson, 50, was a prosecutor for a dozen years, then a felony court judge for four years and a defense attorney for five years before being appointed to fill the seat after her husband died in 2013.

Ogg, 56, also began her legal career as a prosecutor, then became the city's first gang task force coordinator, then spent seven years running Crime Stoppers of Houston. Since leaving that post, she has had a long career as a defense attorney.

Anderson closed the hour-long debate by saying Ogg was forced out of Crime Stoppers by the board of directors after revealing the identities of three juvenile rape victims, which Ogg denied.

Anderson reminded her critics that Ogg had run in the past as a Republican and voted in the GOP primary in 2008.

"She has no integrity," Anderson said. "She will say or do anything to get this job."

But there were laughs from the crowd when Anderson said her office was "transparent and responsive."
More information Colombia entierra medio siglo de guerra

Monday, September 26, 2016, will hopefully go down in Colombian history as the day when, after 52 years of conflict that left 260,000 people dead and some eight million injured and displaced, the South American country turned the page on its violent past when its president and the leader of the FARC leftist rebels signed a wide-ranging series of peace accords.

In the name of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia I offer my apologies to all the victims of the conflict, said FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by his nom de guerre of Timochenko, at the end of his lengthy speech to the dozen or so heads of state and foreign ministers, along with some 2,500 other guests, gathered in the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena de Indias.

Forgiveness frees us. Forgiveness not only frees the forgiven, but above all, the person who forgives, added Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos during his brief speech.

The UN Security Council voted in favor of a UN commission to oversee disarmament

The peace accords come after four years of negotiations in Havana under the auspices of the Cuban government, supported by the international community. Next, the deal has to be approved by Colombians themselves, who will vote in a referendum on October 2. With their votes, Colombians hold an immense power: the power to save lives, said Santos during his address.

As well as the dignitaries attending the event, among them UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Cuban President Raul Castro, and former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez, around 200 victims of the conflict from all over Colombia were also invited. Some of them spoke over the course of the day, but not as part of the signing ceremony itself, which many consider a missed opportunity.

During his lengthy speech, the FARC leader referred to Santos, a former defense minister who played a key role in overcoming the guerrillas militarily in the 1990s, as a valuable interlocutor. As well as referring to the struggles of the past, Londono looked to the future role of the FARC in political life: From now on, our only weapon will be the word: nobody should have any doubts that we will practice politics without weapons. We will keep our word: we hope the government will keep its word, he said.

The peace accords come after four years of talks in Havana

The UN Security Council unanimously voted in favor of a UN commission overseeing the disarmament process, which under the accords has to be completed within six months.

But that is unlikely to happen unless Colombians approve the peace deal in next Sundays referendum.

The opinion polls suggest a majority of Colombians will vote Yes, despite a campaign aimed at discrediting the peace deal as a sell-out to the guerrillas. Leading the opposition are two former presidents, Andres Pastrana and Alvaro Uribe, who attended a protest in Cartagena shortly before the signing ceremony attended by some 2,000 people.

Pastrana and Uribes call to the international community to boycott the event was largely ignored. That said, the Colombian government was disappointed that Spain sent only its foreign minister and former monarch Juan Carlos to the signing ceremony, according to diplomatic sources.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Before Kennedy and Nixon faced off in the first televised presidential debate, former White House speechwriter Emmet John Hughes wrote an op-ed for the New York Times that imagined two futures. In one, as described in The Atlantic, television helped democracy flourish by bringing policy debates directly to voters. In the other future, television filled politics with a sloganized portrayal of governing that promoted charlatans.

Hughes hoped for the first but predicted the latter. Now the Grand Old Party is being led by a man who has never in his 70 years demonstrated familiarity with policy or interest in service. The former reality show host has made it this far on his carnival barker's ability grab attention, but his routine floundered when placed in front of a quiet crowd, a prepared opponent and dutiful moderator.
The City of Houston Fire Department was called at about 5 p.m. Monday to a report of a structure fire on Chestnut Street.

The address was 818 W. Chestnut. An outbuilding was reported fully engulfed near King and Chestnut streets.

The Raymondville Fire Department was called for mutual aid, but wasnt needed.
A Houston man is charged with second-degree statutory rape  a class C felony  after an incident last weekend at his residence.

Houston Police Chief Tim Ceplina said Anthony C. Goff, 22, of 816 Augusta Street, was arrested Saturday afternoon after allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl earlier the same day. Ceplina said the arrest was made after the girl and her mother reported the incident.

Goff was taken to the Texas County Jail and held on $150,000 bond.
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Forensics experts at the house where the family was murdered. Pepe Zamora (EFE)

Spanish Police investigating the brutal murder of a family of four from the Brazilian state of Paraiba suspect they may have been killed over unpaid debts.

The dismembered bodies of two adults and two children were found on September 18 in their rented home in Pioz in Spains Guadalajara province after neighbors alerted police to a terrible stench coming from within the property.

The family lived in three different locations in three years, leading police to suspect they may have been on the run

Investigators believe the four had been dead for at least a month and identification of the heavily decomposed corpses was only possible after worried family members in Brazil contacted the Brazilian Consulate in Madrid and Brazils Foreign Affairs Ministry to find out if their relatives were the victims.

The names of the adults have since been confirmed as Marcos Campos Nogueira and Janaina Santos Americo from the city of Joao Pessoa, the capital of Paraiba state.

Photo posted by Janaina on Facebook.

Police have previously said the nature of the killings suggested they were carried out by professional hitmen who used either a butchers knife or an ax. The killers then bagged up the bodies and and left them in the familys rental home to reduce suspicions and give themselves extra time to escape, according to experts.

They did a meticulous and methodical job, investigators said.

Family members say Marcos Nogueira was a restaurant manager in Brazil who came to Spain for work, finding jobs in the hospitality sector all over Spain with stints in locations including Galicia, Murcia, Madrid and Valladolid. His last known job was at a Brazilian restaurant near Alcala de Henares, in Guadalajara province.

Marcos Nogueira married Janaina Americo, the daughter of a well-known businessman, in 2013. She then moved to Spain and the family then lived in three different locations in three years  a fact that has led investigators to believe they may have been on the run from someone.

The bodies of the four were found after neighbors alerted police to a terrible stench coming from within the property

Police also suspect unpaid debts may be behind the murder. Janaina had recently asked her family for 1,000, supposedly to go to the dentist and, above all, to pay two months deposit for the rental property in Guadalajara.

Marcos was apparently outraged that his wife had asked the family for money as it suggested he was unable to support his family.

But investigators also are considering that the father, his wife and two children could have been killed over a drug deal gone wrong.

English version by George Mills.
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If an employer has a duty under the HSWA, it must eliminate any risk to health and safety so far as reasonably practicable. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk then the employer must minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

The employer must comply with the above obligation to the extent which the employer has or would reasonably be expected to have, the ability to influence and control the matter to which the risks relate.

Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, an employer is required to take all practicable steps and can take cost into account when considering if a step is practicable. However Judge Doogue in the WINZ judgment says "it has long been held that in order for cost to outweigh the risk of harm, the cost must be grossly disproportionate to the risk".

Under the HWSA, an employer is now required to take reasonably practicable steps - a new test. It must weigh up and take into account all relevant matters including;

a.the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and

b.the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk; and

c.what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about

(i) the hazard or risk; and

(ii) ways of eliminating or minimising the risk; and

d.the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk; and

e.after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.

The key change here being, under the new HSWA, cost can only be taken into account after the weighing up of all the above factors.

the Ministry of Social Development awaits sentencing over the tragic WINZ shooting, two leading industry lawyers from DLA Piper have offered their advice on just how far employers really have to go if they want to avoid legal risk.Here, Laura Scampion and Melissa Johnston explain.On 1 September2014 at 9.51am Russell Tully a disgruntled Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) client wearing a balaclava and armed with a loaded shotgun, entered the Ashburton WINZ and shot at four employees, killing two of them. Mr Tully was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison.In March 2015, WorkSafe New Zealand laid a charge against the Ministry of Social Development under section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. WorkSafe alleged that the Ministry failed to ensure the safety of its employees while at work, in that it failed to take all practicable steps to ensure that they would not be exposed to the hazard of violent clients. Similar charges could be laid under the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).The Ministry pleaded guilty to the charge but disputed the fact that it needed to ensure there was a physical barrier between employees and clients to delay the advance of a violent client.Like many WINZ offices, the Ashburton office had a history of security incidents occurring with some frequency. Between June 2008 and August 2014, it had experienced 31 security incidents, including nine threats to kill, a statistic all too familiar to WINZ offices throughout New Zealand.In the WINZ liability judgment, Chief Judge Doogue concluded that despite the fact that a lone mission-oriented gunman, such as Mr Tully, was not reasonably predictable, client initiated violence against WINZ employees was a reasonably predictable hazard.Having concluded there was a reasonably predictable hazard, Chief Judge Doogue had to assess whether implementing a physical barrier to delay violent clients was a reasonably practicable step that the Ministry were required to take. To do this the Court had to weigh up the quantum of risk generated by the hazard against the practicability of addressing the hazard.Chief Judge Doogue concluded that some form of physical barrier should have been provided for to delay a client attempting to manually assault an employee, or assault an employee with a weapon other than a firearm. She concluded, given the severity of potential harm, potential risk, and the Ministry's large operating budget the cost of implementing of barriers nationwide between $13.1 million and $27.3 million would not be disproportionate.The Chief Judge noted that the fact that a physical barrier would not have prevented the harm of 1 September 2014 is not to be taken into account at this stage, but may be relevant during sentencing. The sentencing date for the Ministry is yet to be set.In light of this WINZ judgment, how far does an employer have to go to keep employees safe? To what extent should cost be taken into account when weighing up the actions that need to take place?Our take home points:
FARC guerrillas playing soccer on Sunday. AFP

More information Pistoleros por la paz

At a ceremony on Sunday, held away from the scrutiny of journalists, Juan Manuel Santos, Colombias president, decorated four men with the countrys highest civilian honor. One was from Britain, another from El Salvador, the third from the United States, and the last from Israel. The event took place at the official residence of the Colombian president in Cartagena de Indias, where the men, largely unknown in Colombia, were guests, along with heads of state and other leading international figures who had traveled to the Caribbean resort to attend a signing ceremony that will hopefully bring an end to more than half a century of civil war in the South American country.

Each of the four men has lengthy experience in peace processes around the world

Jonathan Powell, Joaquin Villalobos, Bill Ury and Shlomo Ben Ami have played a discreet but crucial role as advisors to President Santos and his negotiating team during the talks in the Cuban capital of Havana between the Colombian government and the leftist guerillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Each of the four men has lengthy experience in peace processes around the world and met with Santos and his team some 30 times during the four years of talks.

The international advisors have not been paid for their efforts, with just the Canadian government covering their travel costs and expenses.

The story dates back to 2011, when Santos, Powell and Sergio Jaramillo, Colombias high commissioner for peace, met in Londons Mayfair. There, they agreed on the need to create a team that could share their experiences of similar peace processes in Northern Ireland, Israel, El Salvador and South Africa. In what seemed like a reprise of The Magnificent Seven, Powell and Jaramillo recruited Villalobos, Ury and Ben Ami as their gunslingers for peace.

The four were a perfect fit. Powell, the most influential, was Tony Blairs chief advisor during his decade-long tenure as British prime minster. As such, Powell played a key role in putting together the Good Friday agreement that brought an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1998. After leaving office, Powell set up an NGO called Inter Mediate, which helps with conflict resolution. According to Colombian sources close to the talks, Powells contribution has been inestimable. Tireless, clear-headed and a very quick thinker, he foresaw many obstacles, coming up with practical solutions to what seemed initially insoluble problems.

Sundays secret award-giving ceremony was important to President Santos

Villalobos is a former member of El Salvadors FMLN guerrilla group, and played a key role in the talks that in 1992 ended the Central American countrys 12-year-long civil war. In 2011 he met with Sergio Jaramillo in Paris, where the pair talked for 11 hours straight as they wandered the streets of the French capital discussing the seeds of the ideas that would eventually bear fruit at the peace deal that has just been signed in Cartagena. Villalobos initially provided tactical and strategic support to the Colombian military in its fight against the FARCs counterinsurgency. He then joined Powells team, providing the Colombian governments negotiators with invaluable insight into the thought processes of the guerrillas sitting across the table from them in Havana.

Bill Ury is a writer, Harvard professor and an expert in negotiations who has advised the White House, businesses and even families on conflict resolution. He provided psychological insight into the minds of the FARCs leadership, and as an analyst specializing in the cycles that make up peace processes, he knew how to anticipate in which stages of the arduous procedure there would likely be movement and where talks would bog down.

Shlomo Ben Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, brought a tough pragmatism to the team, the product of his countrys repeated failures to reach peace with the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. His experience as a politician and government minister also created a special bond with Santos.

Sundays secret award-giving ceremony to the four international advisors was important to President Santos, his way of recognizing on behalf of his country that without their efforts, it would not have been possible to finalize the most detailed, honed, complex, extensive, inventive and exemplary peace agreement ever signed.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Summer may be over but so long as the warm weather's still here, you have an excuse to eat ice cream.

And if you're craving soft serve, "Like A Tourist" host Dan Rodo knows where to find the good stuff.

Enter the Bridge Drive-In in Winnipeg. Located near the city's Elm Park Bridge across the Red River, the Drive-In (or BDI, as the locals call it) has been slinging soft serve for nearly 60 years, making it something of an institution in the city.

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More than five decades has given the joint time to churn out a few speciality items like "the Coconilla," "the So-Much-Smore" and "Sleeping Beauty"  two types of sundaes buried beneath a mound of fruits, nuts and whipped cream and served in a hollowed-out pineapple.

To see what else the BDI has in store, check out the video above. And for more must-see spots in Winnipeg, head here.

Also on HuffPost
When it comes to providing healthy food for kids, Alberta barely gets a passing grade.

Power Up, a multi-agency organization funded by the federal government, was given a D in Albertas 2016 Nutrition Report Card.

In the last year, Albertas grades have gotten significantly worse for childrens food environments, Kim Raine, professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, said in a statement.

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"The research shows that Alberta is not making the healthy choice the easy choice for children and youth."

Researchers said the biggest concern was a lack of access to healthy food.

Healthy food hard to find

In 60 per cent of Alberta neighbourhoods, the number of stores that sell unhealthy products outnumber stores selling healthy food, 10 to one.

Over 75 per cent of schools in Calgary and Edmonton are located less than 500 metres away from a convenience store or fast food restaurant. And, in recreation centres, almost all of food available for sale is junk.

The situation is even worse in rural Alberta communities. In those areas, the study gave an "F" for the lack of affordable, healthy choices. It also noted that reliance on food banks by Alberta's children is on the rise.

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Since 1980, the number of obese kids in Canada has increased three-fold, according to the study.

Last year, Alberta received a "C" on the report.

"Put simply, our province is barely passing when it comes to providing healthy food environments for children and youth," Raine said.
Holy shit!

According to a scientific study, intelligent people use more swear words.

Researchers at Marist College in New York say a big vocabulary of curse words is a sign of higher rhetorical skill, and those that can name the most swear words in one minute tend to have a greater overall vocabulary.

These findings challenge the stereotype that people curse because they can't find more intelligent things to say.

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"A voluminous taboo lexicon may better be considered an indicator of healthy verbal abilities rather than a cover for their deficiencies," the researchers wrote. "Speakers who use taboo words understand their general expressive content as well as nuanced distinctions that must be drawn to use slurs appropriately. The ability to make nuanced distinctions indicates the presence of more rather than less linguistic knowledge, as implied by the POV [Poverty of Vocabulary] view."

In the first experiment, the researchers gathered 43 participants (30 of whom were women), who had to come up with as many swear words and animal names as possible in one minute. They ended up coming up with 533 taboo words, including lesser-known words such as "ass pirate." The participants also partook in standardized verbal fluency tests.

In the second experiment, another 49 participants (34 of whom were women) aged between 18 and 22 were asked to perform a similar task, however this time it involved writing down as many curse words and animal names starting with the letter "A" as they could.

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The study also found that curse word fluency was connected to traits of neuroticism and openness, and that there was no major difference in results between men and women.

Also on HuffPost
Lindsay Coulter says she's used to seeing a lot "minor crises" as a wedding photographer.

Sure enough, prior to a ceremony in Guelph, Ont. on Sunday, Coulter witnessed a bit of a wardrobe mishap unfold  with the most unexpected resolution.

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She was photographing the wedding of Jo Du and Earl Lee in Guelph, Ont. Most of the couple's family were visiting from China, so they were all staying at a rented home to have everyone under one roof.

Everyone was preparing for the big event and things were going well  until the bride put on her dress and the zipper broke.

Coulter and the wedding party started working the phones.

"We tried a few times to make something work. We were calling dress shops asking what we can do," she told The Huffington Post Canada.

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They were told the only option was to sew Jo into the dress, or get a new zipper  on a Sunday.

Help arrives

Coulter then decided to send a bridesmaid over to a neighbour's house and ask for some pliers to help with the "zipper situation."

The neighbour delivered, and mentioned that he was hosting a family of Syrian refugees. The father  the hero of our story, if you haven't guessed yet  happened to be a master tailor.

A few minutes later, Ibrahim Halil Dudu and his son showed up with a sewing kit.

The refugee family of five had moved to Canada from Turkey just days prior and spoke only Kurdish, Coulter said.

Despite a "huge" language barrier, Coulter said there was a "calm over the room" once the tailor got there.

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"He just kind of pointed at the zipper and he was like 'All right,' trying to use the universal symbol for 'leave me alone to work.'"

Coulter managed to snap a few pictures of him as he sewed the bride's dress. Once he was done, Coulter said, members of the wedding party bowed to thank him.

I was so excited and so happy (to) help Canadian people like other people helped (me), Halil Dudu told CTV News through a translator.

Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer came to the rescue

Coulter shared the story on her Facebook page on Monday, describing it as an "incredible situation."

"Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer came to the rescue," she wrote.

"I am so proud to live in Canada, a country who has opened our doors to refugees countless times. I'm in awe of the families who have welcomed these strangers in to their homes and lives, and I'm inspired by the resilience of the Syrian people. We are truly blessed."

Also on HuffPost
Bad news, ladies: according to a recent study, women are getting a full two hours less sleep than men, and there's an annoying reason for it.

Research conducted by scientists at McGill University in Montreal, Columbia University in New York and Dalhousie University in Halifax showed that the reason women get less shut-eye than men is due to their biological clocks.

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The small-scale study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences analyzed the sleep patterns, levels of melatonin and alertness of a group of 11 women and 15 men for 36 hours in a controlled lab.

The study participants were subjected to a "cat nap" paradigm, where the lights were raised and lowered, so that they slept for an hour and rose for an hour. Researchers studied the women participants during two phases of their reproductive cycles, since, as Forbes notes, sex hormones can affect quality of sleep.

The findings showed that women get tired earlier than men but are falling asleep later because of their circadian cycles (biological clock). Not only are women having more trouble falling asleep than men, but even staying asleep is difficult.

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"For a similar sleep schedule, we find that womens body clocks cause them to fall asleep and wake up earlier than men. The reason is simple: Their body clock is shifted to a more easterly time zone. This observed difference between the sexes is essential for understanding why women are more prone to disturbed sleep than men," wrote the studys author, Diane B. Boivin.

The scientists also found that women's internal sleep cues weren't as strong in the early hours of the morning as men's, which could explain why women are more likely to wake up earlier.

If you are having trouble sleeping, there are a variety of ways to help you get that much needed shut-eye.

Experts recommend making your bedroom as dark as possible, avoiding excessive alcohol and caffeine at night, turning off your TV and phone, and setting a sleep schedule so you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. A good mattress can't hurt, either.

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Also on HuffPost
Madrids Provincial Court has found event promoter Miguel Angel Flores guilty of five counts of negligent homicide over a 2012 tragedy in which five young women were crushed to death during a Halloween night concert at the Madrid Arena.

The women were killed after a flare was set off during US DJ Steve Aokis Halloween night concert inside the arena. The commotion caused a stampede that left many concert-goers trapped inside a narrow passageway.

The company sold 17,000 tickets for the event although the venues capacity was just 10,620

Flores, who was also found guilty on 29 counts of causing harm through serious negligence, headed up the firm Diviertt, which was in charge of promoting the event at Madrid Arena. The company sold 17,000 tickets for the event although the venues capacity was just 10,620.

This overcrowding was the main cause of the tragedy, investigators found. Lax security and the blocking off of five of eight access points to the main stage also contributed, according to police.

Victims Cristina Arce and Katia Esteban were killed on the night of the tragedy, while Rocio Ona, Belen Langdon and Teresa Alonso died shortly after in hospital. All were aged between 17 and 20.

Miguel Angel Flores during the trial in Madrid.

Fourteen other defendants were handed sentences ranging from 30 months to three years over the incident, which attracted huge media attention in Spain.

Among those given jail terms are Francisco del Amo, the coordinator of operations and projects at Madridec, the municipal company responsible for managing Madrid Arena, who was sentenced to three years, and Carlos Manzanares of Kontrol 35, the firm charged with overseeing security at the venue. Manzanares was handed a sentence of two-and-a-half years.

However, police chief Emilio Monteagudo, and Simon and Carlos Vinals, the two doctors present at Madrid Arena on the night, were not found guilty of any wrongdoing.

All of the victims were women aged between 17 and 20

As part of a ruling that comes after a lengthy trial, the court also said the families of the victims will receive compensation of around 350,000 each.

The Madrid Arena case caused enormous damage to the reputation of the citys Popular Party mayor at the time, Ana Botella, while Pedro Calvo, charged with economic affairs on the city council, resigned from his post after being officially questioned in the case.

However, no city officials were made to stand trial.

English version by George Mills.
The Balance Rock, a rock that was left balancing after the last glacial retreat, stands on the island of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. (Photo: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As Will and Kate journey through western Canada this week, they will spend plenty of time within aboriginal communities that are increasingly attractive as tourist draws. The ability British Columbia's First Nations have shown in growing a range of diverse tourism products is extraordinary. Aboriginal tourism brings in more than $50 million a year to the provincial economy, double the amount from the start of this decade. The province even has a dedicated agency, Aboriginal Tourism B.C., to market those distinct First Nations experiences to the world.

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As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have encountered, aboriginal tours of B.C. include wildlife-viewing opportunities, the chance to witness pristine nature, connections with influential artists, visiting a resort in wine country and taking a paddle in a canoe around protected waters.

Here are just a few of the province's wealth of attractions that give visitors an immersive look into First Nations life as well as a chance to enjoy exciting activities.

1. Great Bear Rainforest

Will and Kate's royal visit includes a flyover of this massive wilderness area that covers 32,000 square kilometres -- larger than the size of Wales. Chances are they won't see many bears from up high, but visitors are sure to spot grizzly bears and perhaps even sight the rare white Kermode, aka the Spirit Bear. At Spirit Bear Lodge, which is owned and operated by the Kitasoo/Xai'xais people, experienced aboriginal guides tour guests into the rainforest and around the surrounding area. The lodge is in the village of Klemtu and is open from early June to mid-October each year. Along with the Spirit Bear, whose unique colour is the result of a recessive gene, you may also spot eagles, orcas, salmon and many more species in this fascinating habitat.

2. Haida Gwaii

Nicknamed the Galapagos of the North, Haida Gwaii is a wonderland of big trees, amazing fishing, and rare wildlife. In the villages of Masset and Skidegate, you can learn how totem poles are made as well as find out more about the Haida, once regarded as among the greatest warriors of the west coast and whose artwork is now coveted around the world. Haida Gwaii, whose name means "Land of the People," is an archipelago consisting of more than 150 islands. The westernmost point of Canada includes some of the best fishing lodges in North America, attracting large numbers of sportfishers each year. Canoeists and kayakers also revel in the opportunities to paddle around these beautiful islands that remain largely desolate.

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3. Wya Point Resort

Amid 600 acres of old-growth forest on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Wya Point Resort provides a luxury experience that is breathtaking and indulgent. Owned and operated by the First Nations community in Ucluelet -- Tofino's neighbour to the south -- Wya Point provides one- and two-bedroom lodgings in timber-framed buildings, as well as spacious yurts -- those "glamping" accommodations that feature comfortable beds beneath warm tents and modern conveniences never more than a few feet away. The resort is on the Pacific Ocean, close to the famed West Coast Trail that leads hikers through the Pacific Rim National Park, and a short drive to the centre of Ucluelet, where visitors can depart on whale watching or kayaking excursions as well as enjoy sensational dining.

4. Spirit Ridge Resort

Overlooking Osoyoos Lake in the southern Okanagan Valley, Spirit Ridge at Nk'Mip Resort is home to the Nk'Mip Cellars (pronounced in-ka-meep), North America's first aboriginal-owned and -operated winery. The property includes a museum that recounts the history of the Osoyoos Indian Band, whose members helped to create Spirit Ridge. Guests can enjoy a tour of the 18,000-square-foot winery, feast at the on-premises fine-dining restaurant, or visit the towns of Oliver and Osoyoos, where some of Canada's best wines are produced.

5. Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

In Whistler, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is a first-of-its-kind Canadian facility dedicated to the history and culture of a local aboriginal group. It is a light-filled building that provides a focused look at two important First Nations groups in British Columbia. Along with artifacts dating back centuries, the cultural centre features a theatre where films are shown and performances take place. One of the most eye-catching display is the huge canoe in the centre of the building. The 40-foot Xxays canoe, made in the style of traditional hunting vessels, is still in use, having recently voyaged from Whistler north to Bella Bella.

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Pacific Press via Getty Images KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA - 2016/08/12: Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata observe World Elephant Day along with school children in Alipore Zoo garden complex. It?s also the awareness pogram for the conservation of World?s largest Land animal, Elephant. World Elephant Day observe Internationally annually on August 12 , dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Elephant since 2011. (Photo by Saikat Paul/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

As a kid growing up in South Africa a trip into the wilderness was life-changing. Family vacations were spent on Safari and seeing animals in their natural environments touch my heart and soul deeply. From an early age I understood the importance of nature and conservation.

Nothing beats seeing an animal in the wild. Experiencing the beauty and majesty of wildlife firsthand makes your heart skip a beat.

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Humans are naturally drawn to watching animals, it's one of the reasons why we have zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries exist, unfortunately that curiosity is leading ot widespread abuse of many animals around the world thanks to wildlife tourism.

Wildlife tourism is worth up to $250 billion (USD) annually and its estimated that about 550,000 wild animals are kept in wildlife attractions around the world and 110 million people visit cruel wildlife attraction as tourists each year, unaware of the cruelty that goes on behind the scenes.

World Tourism Day is the perfect time to recognize the impact of tourism on social, cultural, political and economic issues as well as the issues it raises in terms of the conservation and animal welfare impacts.

If you are travelling and want to make a difference in the lives of animals, here are 5 things to keep in mind:

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1) Don't ride wild animals, take selfies or watch animals do stupid things

Elephant riding is popular in Thailand and the activity is spreading across Africa. In order for an elephant to accept a rider it endures a cruel training program called the "crush" using pain, fear and isolation. The trauma cased from this process can stay with the elephants their entire lives. Lion and tiger cubs used for selfies with tourists are taken from their mothers at an early age and typically kept in isolation. Many animals like monkeys are forced to do unnatural things through painful training methods and when not performing are usually kept in small barren cages.

2) Don't buy souvenirs made from animals -- especially endangered animals like sea turtle shell

Even if the trinkets didn't come from endangered species, there was likely still cruelty involved but at risk species like sea turtles are especial vulnerable to poaching and commercial exploitation. For sea turtles, every part of their bodies are desirable from their eggs and meat to their shells.

3) See animals in the wild

Safaris and whale-watching trips can be amazing experiences and can be run humanely and sustainably. Look for companies that have animal protection policies and reviews. Make sure they keep an appropriate distance from wildlife.

4) Speak up for animals with complaints and compliments

If you see animal cruelty, voice your concern right away. If possible also report the cruelty to local authorities and your hotel management. Try to note down the date, time, circumstances and names and don't forget to leave feedback for other potential tourists on trip review websites. Also, if you see an animal, like a horse or donkey that is being well looked after, compliment the owner and let them know that is why you're giving them your business

5) Support sanctuaries that rescue wild animals

When looking for a sanctuary to visit, keep an eye out for a place with:

professional accreditation

access to veterinary care

natural habitats and social groupings for the animals

restrictions on having direct contact with the animals; allowing the animals every opportunity to behave naturally

restrictions on public viewing; allowing animals privacy when they want it

no breeding programs

a not-for-profit business model

a good visitor education program about animal welfare and conservation

Wild animals belong in the wild and we are all responsible for doing our part to protect them. For more tips and suggestions look to groups including World Animal Protection who are a great resource for travellers. World Animal Protection has been working with travel companies all over the globe to improve animal welfare policies and more than 100 travel companies have signed on to their Elephant Friendly Travel pledge.
skynesher via Getty Images 'Group of college students in the university amphitheatre, they are sitting and doing an exam.'

Students all over Canada are adjusting to their first year of university or college. Leaving home, new classes, new friends and new activities, it can be a lot to handle. While attending post-secondary school is an exciting chapter in anyone's life, it can also be a transitional period for students experiencing it all for the first time.

Student Life

Moving out on your own is exciting and full of opportunities, but at times it can be lonely. Clinical psychologist Dr. Christopher Thurber co-produced a study on homesickness in university students, and found that while all students miss something about home when they're away, 5-10 per cent of post-secondary students develop intense homesickness, which has an effect on behaviour.

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Homesickness isn't the only threat to first year students' mental health. Students have to deal with a more demanding curriculum, adapt to new roommates, new classmates and learn how to take care of themselves for the first time ever. I remember the culture shock I experienced during my first few weeks of classes at York University, and that was back when university wasn't as expensive, programs were less competitive, and moving away from home was not the thing to do!

Students who choose to live at home during post-secondary schooling are not exempt from mental health issues either. While staying home saves students and families from the financial burden of accommodation, it can be challenging to watch friends go off and start a new life while they remain at home with their parents who may still treat them as children.

Mental health issues in universities and colleges are not new. Why do you think Reading Week was introduced? It was created in the 1960s to allow students a reprieve from their demanding curriculum. Since then, mental health issues have grown exponentially.

In 2011, Ryerson university's centre for student development and counselling found that there was a 200 per cent increase in students reporting a crisis situation. I was initially shocked by this statistic, but a Maclean's report about mental health on campus provided some background on this issue. They found that more students are enrolling in school with previous mental health issues than ever before, and now these existing issues are being intensified.

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We developed The Student Assistance Program (affectionately known as SAP) at Aspiria to augment what schools are currently providing to assist students seeking help with their mental health on campus. Our goal is to help students thrive while at school and build resiliency skills to prepare them for graduation and the workforce.

Attending college or university certainly has its challenges for students, but it's important to remember that the experience is also exciting, rewarding, and will help shape who they become in life.

So how can we help students adjust to their first year of college or university? Here are a number of tips for students on how to stay mentally well:

 Parents should encourage their children to work summer jobs to create a sense of independence and responsibility they will carry with them to school.

 If students are moving away for school, it's important to familiarize yourself with the campus prior to starting classes. This will allow for less of a culture shock when school begins.

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 Join clubs and social groups. Clubs are a great way to meet friends and people who have similar interests. International students can find other students who have recently moved to their campus.

 Seek help with the school's counsellors or find out if a SAP is offered. These programs are in place to help students address their mental health issues and are always accessible.
Westend61 via Getty Images Germany, Bavaria, Munich, Scientists in greenhouse examining parsley plant

There has been an adverse trend in the food and agriculture sector in recent times with the control of seeds and chemical inputs being consolidated through various proposed mergers.

If these mergers go through, it would mean that three companies would dominate the commercial agricultural seeds and agrochemicals sector.

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While big agribusiness players like Monsanto rely on massive taxpayer subsidies to maintain their highly profitable business models, there are immense external social, health and environmental costs for the public to bear.

At the same time, across the globe healthy, sustainable agriculture has been uprooted and transformed to suit the profit margins of these transnational agribusiness concerns.

If we continue to hand over the control of society's most important infrastructure -- food and agriculture -- to these wealthy private interests, what might the future look like?

There is no need for idle speculation. Foods based on CRISPR (a gene-editing technology for which Monsanto has just acquired a non-exclusive global licensing agreement for use) and synthetic biology are already entering the market without regulation or proper health or environmental assessments.

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And we can expect many more unregulatedGM technologies to influence the nature of our food and flood the commercial market, usually under the lie (pp 5-8) that the end-product is 'substantially equivalent' to organisms that have not been genetically tampered with in a lab.

Despite rhetoric about the humanitarian motives (feeding a hungry world) behind these endeavours, the bottom line is profit and control.

And despite talk about the precision of the techniques involved, these technologies pose health and environmental risks. Moreover, CRIPRS technology could be used for unscrupulous political and commercial ends.

There could be severe social and economic consequences too. The impacts of synthetic biology on farmers in the Global South could result in a bio-economy of landlessness and hunger. Readers are urged to read this report which outlines the effects on farmers and rural economies: 'synbio' has the potential to undermine livelihoods and would mean a shift to narrower range of export-oriented mono-cropping to produce biomass for synbio processes that place stress on water resources and food security in the exporting countries.

Can we trust private entities like Monsanto (or Bayer) to use these powerful (potentially bio-weapon) technologies responsibly?

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Given Monsanto's long history of cover-ups and duplicity, the answer must be no.

Moreover, the legalities of existing frameworks appear to mean little: national laws that exist to protect the public interest are regarded by certain players as little more than hurdles to be got around by lobbyists, lawyers and political pressure. So what can be done?

Agroecology is a force for grass-root rural change that would be independent from the cartel of powerful biotech/agribusiness companies. This model is already providing real solutions for sustainable, productive agriculture that prioritises the needs of farmers and consumers and rolls back the adverse effects of the corporate-controlled Green Revolution.

As much as people strive to become independent from unscrupulous corporate concerns, however, and as much as localized food systems try to extricate themselves from the impacts of rigged global trade and markets, there also has to be a concerted effort to push back corporate power and challenge what it is doing to our food. These corporations will not just go away because people eat organic or choose agroecology.

The extremely wealthy interests behind these corporations do their level best to displace or dismantle alternative models of production and replace them with ones that serve their needs.

Look no further than attempts to undermine indigenous edible oils processing in India, for instance, or look no further than the 'mustard seed crisis' in that country in 1998.

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And look no further than how transnational biotech helped fuel and then benefit from the destruction of Ethiopia's traditional agrarian economy.

Whether it's on the back of military conflicts (Iraq), 'structural adjustment' (Africa) or slanted trade deals (India), transnational agribusiness is driving a global agenda to suit its interests and eradicate impediments to profit, and that includes displacing alternative systems of agriculture that are independent of it.

Profit is the bottom line. 'Crisis management' under the guise of 'innovation' fuel the corporate-controlled treadmill they seek to impose.

The problems associated with the food system cannot be dealt with on a single-issue basis: it is not just about the labelling of GM foods; it's not just about the impacts of Monsanto or its products; and it's not just about engaging in endless debates about the science of GMOs.

As long as the domination of the food system by powerful private interests is regarded as legitimate, we are destined for a future of more contaminated food, ill health, degraded environments and an agriculture displaced and uprooted for the benefit of self-interest.

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Despite the promise of the Green Revolution, hundreds of millions still go to bed hungry, food has become denutrified, functioning rural economies have been destroyed, diseases have spiked in correlation with the increase in use of pesticides and GMOs, soil has been degraded, global food security has been undermined, and access to food is determined by manipulated international markets and speculation -- not supply and demand.

Food and agriculture have become wedded to power structures that have restructured indigenous agriculture across the world and tied it to an international system of trade based on export-oriented mono-cropping, commodity production for a manipulated and volatile international market and indebtedness to international financial institutions.

The problem isn't a lack of food. The problem is the system of international capitalism that is driving a globalised system of bad food and poor health and the destruction of healthy, sustainable agriculture as well as systemic, half-baked attacks on both groups and individuals who oppose these processes.

At the very least, there should be full public control over all GMO/synthetic biology production and research. And if we are serious about reining in the corrosive power of private corporations over our most vital infrastructure, they should be placed under democratic ownership and control.

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Last year, Canadians were justly proud that our country welcomed 25,000 Syrian refugees in just a few months. Last month, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that in just three weeks, it processed 37,491 refugees from South Sudan who were fleeing to neighbouring Uganda -- 8,200 arrived in a single day.

The largest number of those refugees joined 138,000 already at a nearby settlement in Adjumani that I visited in January, before the influx caused by renewed fighting in the civil war.

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The settlement is run for the UNHCR by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Uganda and the work is supported by Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR). LWF also manages the reception centre at the border and on July 19th, staff counted 41 refugees per minute.

"In all my career, I've never had a situation where we were receiving over 8,000 refugees a day and international media had not picked up on it, and that's something that's surprised us all," says Jesse Kamstra, LWF country representative in Uganda and the man who toured me and my group through the Adjumani settlement earlier this year.

Stepping up to assist are Canadian churches: early in August, CLWR made an emergency donation of $20,000, matched by $30,000 from the Anglican Church's Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.

"You can't even begin to image how timely this contribution is," Kamstra wrote in thanks. "Yesterday we got confirmation that we have a cholera outbreak in our settlement."

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The outbreak was contained with help from Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF).

South Sudan was once a good-news story: it achieved independence from Sudan in 2011, ending Africa's longest-running civil war, against the government in the north. But bad news followed in 2013, when a civil war began between political rivals in the new nation, divided akong tribal lines. The result has been one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises, with millions displaced.

Adjumani is a settlement, not a camp, because in Uganda, the government has not only allowed in over half a million refugees -- an extraordinary achievement for a small country -- but allows them freedom of movement, the right to work and to set up businesses.

When I visited, I learned that in return for allowing the settlement, Uganda asked the LWF to support schools that South Sudanese and local children attend together.

The settlement is an active place, where families receive not just shelter, but plots of land to grow food, and residents get paid employment, such as helping build housing for the elderly or the handicapped who cannot build their own.

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When he spoke to my group, Kamstra was optimistic Adjumani could serve its purpose and close again because Uganda and the LWF have seen it before: another settlement in the same location emptied out when the previous civil war ended. As he explained to me, the South Sudanese are herders and they do not like to stay away from their cattle for long.

The support the Canadian churches have provided to refugees in Adjumani would not have been nearly as effective without contributions from the Government of Canada, but now Canadians need to ask what more they can do.

We should make donations for the South Sudanese to charities we trust. We should call on our government to support both the victims and peace-making efforts. And our media also need to play a role: they should turn their eyes to Africa, where not only great disasters are occurring, but great efforts are being made that it is time for us to join.

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Massey Tunnel bridge replacement project. (Photo BC GOV/FLICKR)

In 2009 -- with the B.C. election fast approaching -- the B.C. government went on a full-court press to get the Port Mann/Highway 1 improvement project deal signed and past the point of no return.

Now, with the 2017 election on the horizon, history is repeating itself, but this time with two megaprojects: Site C and the Massey Tunnel replacement project.

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Yet, one aspect to these multibillion-dollar projects remains shrouded in mystery for most British Columbians: who's in charge?

Who calls the shots on virtually every decision -- from design changes to cost overruns -- once the shovel hits the ground? The taxpayers' foreman, if you will.

Is it the minister responsible? A deputy or assistant deputy minister?

Not necessarily.

On major projects, more often than not, the government assigns the job to someone in the private sector.

How did B.C. end up in the peculiar situation of having to rely on the private sector to oversee private sector construction companies working on public sector infrastructure projects, potentially signing off on billions of tax dollars in cost overruns along the way?

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Rendering of B.C.'s Site C project. (Photo: YouTube)

Public Safety Canada's 2012 report, "Economic Sectors Vulnerable to Organized Crime: Commercial Construction," offers a clue (page 29).

"In 2001, public agencies in B.C. assumed responsibility for their own procurement.

Our sources in B.C. indicate that government officials responsible for procurement lack the requisite expertise in relation to commercial construction projects.

Many of those who formerly had the expertise have retired or moved on to the private sector."

The taxpayers' foreman on the Port Mann project was Gary Webster, a senior vice-president at CH2M Hill until the summer of 2009, when he became a partner at accounting firm KPMG.

His responsibilities -- spelled out in the Kiewit & Sons/Flatiron General Partnership contract with TIC -- included: "negotiate and make all consequential decisions on behalf of the Authority, audit and monitor the Constructor's Quality Management System, perform all such functions as may be ascribed and perform such other functions in respect of this Agreement or any other."

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Lest there be any doubt as to his authority: "The Constructor and the Design Build Contractor are entitled to treat any act of the Authority's Representative which is authorized by this Agreement or any other Authority Project Document as being expressly authorized by the Authority, and shall not be required to determine whether any express authority has in fact been given."

According to Webster's resume (page 333) -- found in a 2014 Mackenzie County, Alberta council document -- he was also the province's representative on the Sea-to-Sky highway project and the procurement director for the entire Gateway program.

His responsibilities included: "guiding the identification, approval, risk review, development, implementation of the procurement process, and contract negotiations" for the Port Mann, the North and South Fraser Perimeter Roads and the Pitt River Bridge.

One word not found in his resume? Overrun, as in cost.

The Massey Tunnel in Richmond, British Columbia. (Photo: Gettystock)

Webster is familiar with the subject.

Sometimes a letter isn't always as important for who signed it, or who it was addressed to, as it is for who was carbon-copied in it.

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Such is the case with a letter dated Oct. 9, 2007, from Garry Dawson, Project Director, Port Mann/Highway 1 project to Environment Canada.

Webster was carbon-copied, which means he was very much on the job when the government publicly recommitted to its $3-billion Gateway estimate -- including a $300-million contingency fund -- only four days before.

The latest Gateway price tag totals $4.77 billion, nearly 63 per cent over the government's first estimate.

The Port Mann alone was $3.3 billion, more than double its original estimate, enough to pay for two Coquihalla Highways in 2016 dollars.

How times change.

After assuming office in 1986, then-premier Bill Vander Zalm called a public inquiry to investigate cost overruns on the Coquihalla.

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Commissioner Douglas MacKay found "the financial reporting of the project to be tainted with an atmosphere of deceit and prevarication by both politicians and public servants. The legislature was avoided, the legislature was misled by the documents presented to it, the true costs were not reported in a forthright manner."

Findings that could easily apply to the fears of many over the selective information the government shares with the public today on both the Site C and Massey projects.

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SuperStock via Getty Images Canada, British Columbia, Victoria, Saanich Peninsula, Farmer working a field

Co-authored by Don Wells, Professor Emeritus of Labour Studies and Political Science at McMaster University; Aaraon Diaz, Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Migration Research Centre; and Andre Lyn, community researcher.

Imagine for a moment there are hardly any jobs available in your community. The few that are available pay a maximum of $1.25 an hour. To support your family, you get a job as an agricultural worker in another country for up to eight months each year. Your work contributes to that country's economy. Yet that country's government won't allow you to bring your family with you. Regardless of your years of work, you have no prospect of becoming a permanent resident.

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For 10 years, 20, maybe 40 years, you spend more of your life away from your family than with them. You pay into that country's taxes and employment insurance programs, but you are denied access to any benefits. You're seen as a labour commodity, not a person, and not someone with a family -- permanently "temporary," forever a "foreigner."

What you just imagined is a reality for tens of thousands -- mostly men with families who come from Mexico and the Caribbean to work under Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, called the SAWP. And it's been a reality for a long time. This year marks the SAWP's 50th anniversary.

The committee also recommended another crucial reform: that ways be found to help migrant workers gain permanent residency in Canada.

Now there are new grounds for cautious hope that a better reality could emerge. Although often vague and lacking in particulars, last week a Parliamentary Committee recommended some important changes. These include some of the recommendations that migrant workers and their allies have advocated for many years.

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One is the right of workers not to be restricted to only one work contract with only one employer. Although insufficient attention was paid to massive problems related to family separation, the committee did recommend, again without enough particulars, that labour rights and standards be enforced more effectively. The committee also recommended another crucial reform: that ways be found to help migrant workers gain permanent residency in Canada.

Our new university based study suggests that if these and other changes were adequately formulated and enforced they could help a lot. We found that as the SAWP is currently set up, it hurts not only the workers but also damages their families. We interviewed SAWP workers, their spouses and children, and the children's teachers in Mexico and Jamaica. What we discovered about many of the SAWP's impacts on these families is alarming.

Soledad is one of the mothers and spouses we interviewed. Her husband, Pedro, has been a SAWP worker for many years. One year, when he was working in Canada, she had a miscarriage. There was no one to help her. Most of the time she raised her kids alone. Repeated SAWP separations damaged her marriage. Soledad says she doesn't love her husband anymore. The family Pedro worked so hard to support is no longer intact when he returns.

Marco's family is another example. While he was working in Canada, his sons stopped going to school. They developed alcohol and drug problems. His wife became depressed. He wants to immigrate with his family to Canada so they can be together, but under current rules, that's impossible.

SAWP workers should have a choice of coming to Canada as permanent residents and to bring their families.

These families are not unique. We found that repeated, prolonged separation of workers from their families under the SAWP has significant negative family impacts. Spouses become estranged. Some split up. Many kids say their dads are like strangers to them, that they don't love their dads any more. Often kids get sick or depressed when their dads leave. Some get better after a while. Others don't. A lot of kids rebel, especially against their moms.

To reduce these negative impacts and to promote social and political inclusion of those who labour among us, we join a growing chorus in arguing that SAWP workers should have a choice of coming to Canada as permanent residents and to bring their families.

A significantly reformed SAWP could strengthen families like Soledad's and Marco's. Much of the pressure for these changes is coming from outside Parliament. SAWP workers, faith groups, employers, unions and coalitions such as Justicia for Migrant Workers and the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change have been calling for similar reforms to the SAWP for a long time. Workers and their allies are currently marching over 1,500 kilometers in a Harvesting Freedom Caravan through southern Ontario to raise awareness and demand changes. Their final stop will be in Ottawa on Thanksgiving weekend.

A SAWP that is much better for workers and their families is not hard to imagine. The time is right for Ottawa to make it a reality.

--

Don Wells is Professor Emeritus of Labour Studies and Political Science at McMaster University; Janet McLaughlin is Assistant Professor of Health Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University; Aaraon Diaz is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Migration Research Centre, and Andre Lyn is a community researcher. Their study, Impacts of Repeated Migration on SAWP Families was funded through a Community-University Research Alliances grant, Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario, by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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Maskot via Getty Images Two women in head scarf

Imagine all Kashmiris were Ahmadi Muslims, would you still speak up for their rights? ~ Kashif N. Chaudhry

The persecution of Ahmadi Muslims is denied, ignored or at best condemned with the caveat "but Ahmadis are not Muslims." Their plight may go unaddressed unless Muslims in freer societies take conscious steps to reach out to them.

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It is imperative for Muslims with immense privilege in the West to realize that conversation, dialogue and social connections with Ahmadi Muslims are a necessary part of confronting prejudice and discrimination against them.

Putting aside instances of mob lynching, this oppression also manifests itself in educational institutions amongst the highly educated. At the state level, a top Ahmadi economist gets sidelined or the appointment of a human rights activist to the United Nations is opposed, both for their Ahmadi beliefs.

Micro-aggression against Ahmadis persists across Muslim communities in the West. This includes opposition to Ahmadis in interfaith gatherings as Muslims, sidelining them during Islam Awareness Weeks on campuses and telling colleagues in interfaith circles that, "Ahmadis are not Muslims."

Such otherization and social ostracism in the West, where there is immense potential to build intra-faith bridges, is not helpful to end their ill treatment in Muslim countries.

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However, if Islam is projected as a universal faith that affirms human rights then Muslims have the responsibility to stand by the most vulnerable amidst their communities.

But the path to including Ahmadis in Muslim spaces, getting educated about their plight, signing petitions against their oppression and expressing solidarity through rallies requires a shift in mindset. This can be achieved in the following five ways.

1)Recognizing that doctrinal differences do not trump human rights

Traditionally, Muslims are meant to have a universal outlook for they learn to imbibe wisdom from various sources whether Muslim or foreign. As such, they can learn from Rev. Tony Campolo's powerful words:

"You don't have to legitimate somebody's lifestyle inorder to love that person, to be brother or sister to that person and to stand up for that person."

This is consistent with the Islamic emphasis on justice and suggests that standing up against Ahmadi apartheid despite doctrinal differences is a Muslim duty and value.

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2)Realizing that Ahmadis are loving and loyal citizens

Despite being heavily persecuted in Pakistan, Pakistani Ahmadis remain very patriotic. They do not respond to hate with more of the same but rather follow the Qur'anic dictate to repel evil with good. Unlike indoctrinated Sunni and Shia Muslims who have taken up arms in sectarian conflicts, it deserves to be appreciated that Ahmadis resort to peaceful prayer in the midst of horrific oppression.

3)Recognizing that all oppression is interconnected

Muslims in the West are rightfully concerned about rising Islamophobia. They clearly reject the notion of being singled out through the rhetoric of special ID cards, racial profiling at the airport, and being targeted solely for their faith. Ethical consistency requires that they openly protest against the constitutionally institutionalized discrimination of Ahmadis in Pakistan where they are singled out in government documentation, their faith is demeaned and where they are socially cast as pariahs.

4)Rejecting hate speech in the name of Islam

Muslims must distinguish between conservative religious practice and hateful bigotry when it comes to groups that exploit mass sentiments. This is true in the case of groups that masquerade as religious bodies and which usurp religious jargon to instigate murder. Indeed, language that projects Ahmadis as blasphemers deserving of death has no place in Islam and should be called out for what it is -- hate speech.

5) Recognizing that the umbrella of Islam is large

Adherence to Islam is dependent on the simple testimonial -- "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his Messenger" and strong caveats are placed against excommunicating those who recite it. The reason behind this simplicity is provided by the Qur'anic verse that explains diversity as part of God's plan for human beings to know one another. Muslims can realize that it is this emphasis in Islam that allows them to find reasons to include rather than exclude.

Desmond Tutu explained ubuntu through the words that, "my humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours." The same holds true for Muslims and Ahmadi Muslims.

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On Saturday, I woke up to the news that the former Ontario Ombudsman is going to be the candidate for the PCs in the coming byelection in my home riding of Ottawa-Vanier.

On the surface, this looks like a good move by Patrick Brown and the Ontario Progressive Conservatives. Marin has a profile and has been a consistent critic of the current government, to top it off, he is actually an Ottawa area native.

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Byelections are about name recognition, and Mr. Marin certainly has that. But byelections are also mini referendums on the party leader and despite Kathleen Wynne's currently popularity, it may be time to send young Mr. Brown a message about his own shortcomings.

Since Patrick Brown became leader, not a single female candidate has stepped forward to express interest in a nomination for a byelection.

It's 2016 after all and we haven't seen the PCs offer up a single female candidate during their current streak of byelection victories. You have to scroll way down the list of endorsements for Mr. Brown to find a few female endorsements.

I have to give Patrick Brown credit for his work in diversifying the PC base beyond the traditional old white males and rural voters. His push towards greater diversity and embracing less hard line Conservative policies is admirable. We have heard rumours about many high-profile candidates running for the PCs in 2018, including CFL superstar Mike "Pinball" Clemens, but not a single female.

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Since Patrick Brown became leader, not a single female candidate has stepped forward to express interest in a nomination for a byelection. Is he appointing high-profile men because he knows they have the best chance of getting elected? Or is there something about his leadership that just doesn't attract female candidates? What we do know for sure is he did not get rid of his caucus member who made sexist jokes, and who was rumoured to be helping oust high-profile female PC Lisa McLeod.

As a voter in the riding of Ottawa-Vanier, I will have to consider what message I want to send when I cast my ballot whenever this byelection is called. Do I remind Kathleen Wynne that I am not happy about my Hydro bill, something she has acknowledged and is doing something about. Or, do I let Patrick Brown know that his social Conservative pandering and ignoring half the population in his candidate selection process is unacceptable to people like me.

Only time will tell.

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Maryam Monsef's "Cinderella story," from refugee to Canadian Member of Parliament, is the kind of mythical fairytale that reinforces Canadians' belief their nation is not only welcoming to immigrants, but offers them equal opportunity to ascend to the highest offices of the land.

Even U.S. President Obama made reference to it when he made a stop in the House of Commons last summer.

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" Like the girl who fled Afghanistan by donkey and camel and jet plane, and who remembers being greeted in this country by helping hands and the sound of robins singing. And today, she serves in this chamber [...] because Canada is her home." - President Obama in Ottawa

After reporters revealed the mismatch between Minister Monsef's stated and actual birthplaces, a politically-motivated "outrage" ensued. Did she purposely mislead her colleagues, her constituents? Was she a fraud? Could her Canadian citizenship be revoked?

The first ever Afghan-born Minister went on a media tour to explain herself smooth things over with the Canadian public. The public relations exercise aimed to deflect blame to one particular family member who allegedly made the innocuous "mistake."

Like millions of immigrant families that came before her, Maryam Monsef probably faced significant resistance from her peers during her time in small town Ontario in the mid-1990s. She discusses her struggle to "fit in" with her accent, her "different clothes," and her "misunderstanding of the culture" in this April 2016 interview. The notion of integrating and assimilating into Canadian society by catering to the Anglo-Saxon dominant culture has always been a winning formula.

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Along the way, Monsef's family name was truncated, from Monsefzadeh.

This is a tried and true tactic to placate "old stock Canadians" who can be cold to those with "ethnic-sounding" names.

The first Arab immigrant to Canada, Ibrahim Abu Nadir, became Abraham Bounadere in 1882. The Canadian co-creator of the Superman comic character, Joseph Shuster, was originally a Shusterowich. Poles, Italians, and Eastern Europeans have a similar history of dodging native Canadians' prejudices by camouflaging their ethnicity. Przystawski became Preston, Zanetti became Zaneth, Simonovic became Simon.

Schoenwald to Shinwell: "My Jewish grandmother's family name was originally Schoenwald, which was changed to Shinwell sometime in the late 19th Century." Stephanie Blitz, Toronto, Canada

For over a century, immigrants have altered and anglicized their surnames to help lessen the burdens of nativism, ethnic bias, and name-based discrimination.

It's particularly malevolent to vilify migrants who must strategize to dodge the bias bullet.

Some have gone further still to dissimulate their ethnic origins. Because of WWII and its negative effect on Germany's reputation, German-Canadians pretended to be Dutch, Scandinavian or Russian.

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It isn't surprising that a Persian migrant to the West would avoid publicly associating themselves with a country that was part of the "axis of evil," in a post-9/11 era.

These days, immigrants resort to all sorts of artifices to gain employment survive. Women can shed their (ethnic-sounding) maiden name, and keep the new one post-divorce and, when convenient, post-remarriage(!). Many Asian immigrants adopt a Christian first name in an attempt to fit in. Latinos, who often have two last names, might choose to go by the least ethnic-sounding one. The pains immigrants and minorities go through to 'whitewash' their resumes can stave off, if temporarily, Canada's pernicious prejudice problem.

Conservative MP and leadership contender Tony Clement (born Anthony Payani) has floated the idea of a criminal investigation regarding Minister Monsef's family.

It's particularly malevolent to vilify migrants who must strategize to dodge the bias bullet.

The problem Canadians need to address isn't found within the pages of Maryam Monsef's 20-year-old refugee petition. The burden is on everyday Canadians who have tacitly accepted anti-ethnic prejudices. Migrants like Maryam are condemned to navigate around Canadians' biases. These nocuous societal biases require a correction more so than Monsef's birth certificate.

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The powerful archdiocese of Mexico added fuel to the already inflamed debate about gay rights on Sunday after its weekly magazine, Desde la fe (In faith), published an article by one of the leading conservative voices of the countrys Roman Catholic Church.

Arguing against same sex marriage and adoptions by gay couples, Cardinal Norberto Rivera listed a catalogue of calamities that supposedly befall children raised by gay parents: higher rates of disease and emotional instability, lower success rates in school and greater risk of sexual assault. A child is more likely to suffer sexual abuse at the hands of a homosexual father, the cardinal said in the religious weekly.

The cardinal also turns his sights on the homosexual lifestyle and its health risks

This homophobic attack was carefully timed. Rivera, who runs the weekly, has launched a campaign against President Enrique Pena Nietos efforts to push through legislation recognizing same-sex marriage, after Mexicos Supreme Court ruled that defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman violated the Constitution. Rivera has mobilized his army of followers and encouraged a series of demonstrations that culminated in a huge march against gay marriage and by proxy, the secular state, on Saturday in Mexico City.

The day after that show of force  tens of thousands participated in the march, which received the Popes blessing  the archbishop published his vitriolic attack in the religious magazine: Wherever this law has been passed, anybody disagreeing faces fines and prison. Hotel owners have already been arrested for not admitting homosexuals to their rooms, bakers who refuse to decorate a wedding cake for gays have been fined, as have fathers who are against schools teaching their kids that homosexuality is natural.

The cardinal also turns his sights on the homosexual lifestyle and its health risks. Countless scientific studies show that homosexuals are more likely to suffer and contract sexually transmitted diseases, he said.

But his attack on adoption by same-sex couples caused particular surprise: It has been shown that children of homosexual parents are in fact affected: their self-esteem, sexual identity, emotional stability, performance at school, etc

Rivera listed a catalogue of calamities that befall children raised by gay parents

Cardinal Rivera and his supporters warn that gender ideology will creep into Mexicos schools, as has happened in the United States and Europe. An educational model that has led, in the senior clerics judgment, to a loss of values in places such as Spain and Germany. In those countries, children are encouraged to mutually explore each others private parts, practice masturbation, exchange clothes  the girls dress like boys and the boys like girls  in order to feel comfortable with the idea of belonging to another sex, Rivera said.

The cardinal also denied that the pope had recommended the Catholic Church apologize to gay people for the way it has treated them over the centuries.

It is worth noting that Rivera repeatedly defended Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ movement, which after his death in 2008 admitted he had sexually abused young boys for decades.

English version by Dyane Jean-Francois.
The five things you need to know on Monday, September 26, 2016

1) NUCLEAR MELTDOWN

The real danger of Labour conference is that all the medias attention is on the fringes and not on what happens in the hall itself. But as Clive Lewis delivered his speech yesterday, I was alerted to the last-minute script change that laid bare fresh divisions over the partys policy on Trident.

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Our scoop  that Lewis had wanted to say he would not seek to overturn Trident renewal, but had the line cut by Corbyn comms chief Seumas Milne  became the only story in town as various new details and iterations emerged.

PolHome got the fantastic detail of Lewis punching a wall in frustration at the autocue-room cut, ITV News had the footage of him reading his smartphone and looking flustered, and last night Politico got his killer quote that Labour shouldnt be picking at the scab of a Trident policy that was settled. He had a meltdown over the late change, but hes determined not to cave in his determination that the party should now leave the issue alone and not walk into a Tory ambush.

Despite the attempt to keep the defence review nominally alive, with both GMB and Unite vowing to protect their members jobs in the defence industry, Lewis has now won a major concession. Corbyn will maintain his personal opposition to the deterrent, while accepting the policy is unlikely to change.

And if there is one lesson for Jeremy Corbyn from this entire conference its this: dont mess with the unions. They hold the ring not just on Trident, but also have the numbers on the NEC and at party conference to determine both party reform and policy. Thats why the GMB kicking off over the new fracking ban matters too.

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As for Jez, he has cancelled a round of media interviews planned for this morning. His team cite diary management and the pressures of writing his Big Speech tomorrow, but others suspect he is just keen to avoid the Trident meltdown.

And on policy more widely, dont forget about Corbyns 10-point manifesto on which he fought the leadership campaign. Most of it the party can live with (though some bits, such as ending support for aggressive wars of intervention, could prove contentious), yet it has not gone through the formal policymaking process. NEC members were surprised on Saturday when Corbyn, fresh from his victory, asked them to endorse his manifesto in full. Some objected that that was not how things worked. But Im told yesterdays NEC decided to allow the manifesto to go before conference and will form the framework for the national policy forum. One to watch.

2) POWERBALLS

Ed Balls may be struggling on Strictly but he is still proving he can bust some moves when it comes to dishing it out to the Corbyn regime. The former Chancellor was on ITVs The Agenda last night, saying that the coup was foolish but under its current leader it may be that Labour, as it stands, is never going to be elected again. Yes, never again.

Team Corbyn are working behind the scenes on their reshuffle and the appointment of Jonathan Reynolds as Shadow City Minister (he got a shout-out in McDonnells speech, along with Caroline Flint) is the first sign of a welcome for returnees. Dan Jarvis may however hold out until theres clarity on shadow cabinet elections (he may have to wait some time), though hes got a Private Members Bill on child poverty that will raise his profile after a quiet summer.

But the big power struggle that moderates believe theyre on the cusp of winning is over the expansion of Labours ruling NEC. Although Corbyn has a huge new mandate, he wont be able to further change the party, or policy, without the NEC or conferences approval.

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And although it may look like the most arcane bits of Kremlinology, the decision to add two extra NEC places for Scotland and Wales matters hugely as it shifts the balance of power from a narrow pro-Corbyn majority to a narrow Corbyn-sceptic one. Ian Murray warned yesterday that if the moves were overturned there was a danger of shutting the Scottish Labour party down.

The vote on the rule changes is this morning and although there was some speculation that Unite may try to delay them, they may give up after failing to convince the GMB and others. When that happens, watch the smiles on the faces of Tom Watson, Kezia Dugdale and Iain McNicol.

3) COUNCILLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Theres one rule change buried in the raft of reforms to be voted on today that many have missed, but its significant nonetheless: Labour will ban all its councillors for voting against or abstaining on setting a legal budget in its town halls. Anyone who defies the edict will be disciplined.

Why does this matter? Well, moderates fear that across the country Momentum groups could copy the Lewisham branch in lobbying councils to set not just no cuts budgets but illegal budgets (ie ones that defy the law on balancing the books), as a symbolic protest against Tory Treasury austerity.

As well as a return to the 1980s days of loony Left councils, there is a fear that the councillors would be deselected if they refuse to take radical action. And away from all the talk of MPs deselection, Corbyn-sceptics worry that councillor deselection could be the Next Big Thing, with new members forcing their local representatives to follow the leader.

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Ive written in detail about this HERE, but its worth noting that this summer John McDonnell (himself a rate-capping rebel in 1986) marked the 30th anniversary of the fightback alongside Red Ted Knight in Lambeth, saying he was proud of the heroes and heroines who stood firm against the cuts.

Of course, one council that refused to set a budget was Derek Hattons Militant-led Liverpool. Degsy has been given a pass to conference this year and has revealed in his Liverpool Echo diary that hes exchanged very pleasant, very welcoming words with Corbyn.

Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan (an Owen Smith backer) has his speech today with a warning that Labour councils should be about power, not protest. And he has a pointed line that 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.

Moderates fear Corbyn is going back to the future with his agenda. But there is a real risk that they still fail to understand the tsunami of new members who have flooded into the party.

And the comparisons with the 1980s can be misleading. The Independents Andy Grice, who knows more than anyone I know about Liverpool and Labours internal warfare, has written a piece today in which he says Momentums World Transformed event proves the movement is nothing like Militant. Well worth a read.

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BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR

Watch Hillary Clintons best moment in the debate with Trump: his invisible tax return

4) BIG MAC, FRIED?

Jess Phillips has never been afraid to speak her mind, but it seems that her new role as chair of the womens PLP has given her even more licence to thrill fellow moderates. Yesterday, she laid into John McDonnell on LBC, coming very close to calling him a misogynist for his lynch the bitch joke about Esther McVey and assassinate Thatcher gags. The common denominator seems to always be....women".

McDonnell was however greeted with a heros welcome on the conference floor for his unashamed pledge to bring socialism to Britain, along with a raft of plans to tackle tax avoidance by the rich, a minimum minimum wage of 10 an hour (by 2020) and a possible universal basic income.

McDonnell has been all over the fringes like hes still a backbencher and last night popped up with a couple of interesting ideas. He told an electoral reform fringe that he wanted the House of Lords to be a testbed of some kind of PR. And he told our Martha Gill that Lords reform could also be a first test of directly consulting Labours mass membership on policy.

Much of Big Macs speech was focused on life after Brexit, and some MPs felt he didnt sound too devastated by the prospect. Still, his ally Diane Abbott had a dig not just at Labour MPs who are now talking about ending freedom of movement, but also the voters who backed Leave. At a fringe (picked up by the Sun), she said: The people that complain about the freedom of movement will not be satisfied because what they really want is to see less foreign looking people on their streets.

5) THE KIDS, WERE UNITED

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has her debut on the conference stage today and I predict that she will go down a storm with delegates. She will draw on her personal backstory to underline the changes Labour can achieve in office, setting out how SureStart helped her as a young mum.

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Having left school at 16, pregnant and with no qualifications, Rayner will use her speech to talk about the snobbery she gets from some pundits and commentators, from the hate-filled trolls on social media. Some of the Tories say: she left school at 16, she doesn't have a university degree, what does she know about education? I say, I may not have a degree - but I have a Masters in real life.

Rayner will unveil a taskforce into early years childcare policy, an area where Labour thinks it ought to be ahead but where Ed Miliband was completely outmanoeuvred by David Cameron in the 2015 general election.

More widely however, Im told Rayner will kickstart a new nationwide campaign titled Education not Segregation, to press on the bruise that is Mays new grammars plan  the one area that unites every Labour PM. On Corbyns education campaign day on Saturday, the party aims to contact a million voters in key marginal seats like Norwich North, Warrington South, Harrow East, Stockton South, South Swindon. It will be a test to see how its mass membership of 600,000 can be mobilised to fight the Tories rather than vote on an internal election.

There is one fly in the ointment, however. Will Corbyn pledge to abolish existing grammars in places like Kent? Theres lots of pressure on him to do so from some on the Left, but Labour could be wiped out in the county elections there if it does so, one source told me.

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Iraj is a 6-year-old girl that will forever stay etched in my memories. On my last trip to Jordan I met Iraj and her family after they fled Syria where Iraj's life was changed forever. Iraj was out picking flowers when she was hit by a sniper's bullet and lost her leg as a result of her injuries. Our team in Jordan fitted her with a prosthesis and the little girl can now walk again but her family has struggled getting her accepted in a school given her disability.

The tragedy behind Iraj's story is shared by millions of Syrians displaced by the ongoing conflict. The numbers related to this crisis are so big, it can be hard to think of them as individual stories, specific families, unique faces... Each story we hear has one thing in common: explosive weapons are always part of their heart-breaking account.

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In Handicap International's last report, 'Qasef: Escaping the Bombing', the people we have spoken to identify explosive weapons as the leading cause for millions of Syrians to flee their home.

Most of the time families are subject to multiple displacements. I was shocked to learn that, in some cases, the family can be displaced up to 25 times by successive attacks before finding a safe refuge. This causes extreme poverty and serious psychological distress. "Each time we tried to return to the house, but we could not stay because of the bombing. [...] We had to move to other cities where armed forces had agreed not to attack. But the agreement was always broken and we had to move again. There is no safe place in Syria" explains 20-year-old Ahmed, who found refuge in Jordan after being hit by shrapnel and suffering from a brain injury during bombing in Syria.

Ahmed's sentiment that "there is no safe place in Syria" is universal among Syrian civilians interviewed in this report.

Bombing destroys everything. Even Syrians not directly affected by the attacks are forced to flee in order to survive and rebuild their lives. For many people who survive the immediate effects of an attack, explosive weapons become the driving cause for them to flee. Besides causing horrific injuries, explosive weapons spread terrors, make people fear for their lives and destroy vital infrastructure. Shelters, hospitals and schools are being destroyed by bombs. Water and electricity networks are also ruined leading to food and water insecurity.

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Many of the Syrians we interviewed have injuries from the conflict and have had to leave Syria to seek adequate treatment for their conditions. The lack of hospitals, medical personnel, and maternity services endangers all Syrians, particularly women and their new-born children.

The story of Aisha really sticks in my mind. Aisha had to give birth alone during a bombing as the only midwife left in her village was forced to flee. After giving birth, Aisha had to hide in a basement for 12 hours with her new-born because of the bombing. "I bled for 20 days and my baby was also in critical condition." She eventually found help in Jordan where doctors told her that her baby's long-term development will suffer from this complicated birth.

Aisha's baby will bear the impacts of war for life. And it's not just Aisha. The explosive weapons that are being used will have a long term impact on a generation of Syrians.

Civilians exposed to the effects of explosive violence are marked for life. As 36-year-old Zeinah, who lost a leg after being injured by a rocket, tells us, "The war had an impact on us, and not just the physical injury. The emotional impact is much worse". Zeinah's story is particularly telling. She explains how, after a bombing near her children's school, her young niece was so shocked when seeing a man lying on the ground in his own blood, that she started laughing instead of crying. "We started shaking her until she came to herself, and then she started crying" explains Zeinah.

Indeed the impact on the mental health of civilians exposed to the effects of explosive violence is extremely worrying. "One of my relatives wakes up every day and grabs her children, one on each side and stares at the sky all day, scared that a bomb will drop on them. She doesn't eat or drink." explains Kareem who found refuge in Jordan with his wife and five children.

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Children are the first victims of this conflict and are particularly vulnerable. Their parents report nightmares, skin problems and hysteria due to their exposure to constant airstrikes and bombardments.

The tragedy of each of these stories is not lost on me. What kind of world do we live in when we can sit by and watch innocent civilians die, run for their life, suffer injuries and violations and struggle for basic needs like food and medicine?

The large-scale use of explosive weapons in populated areas has had a devastating effect on people's lives, and contributes significantly to the worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen for decades. With more than 1.5million casualties in Syria, an entire generation is going to suffer the sequels of this horrific conflict for many years to come.

With war comes responsibility. There are international rules that must be enforced - all states have a responsibility to ensure international humanitarian law is upheld and enforced. The international community must ensure protection and life-saving assistance in response to the immediate needs of Syrian refugees and all victims of explosive weapons, from all impacted areas and wherever they are. Warring parties must immediately cease all attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and end the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas, particularly the use of banned weapons such as cluster munitions and landmines.
Today is the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The UN Secretary-General's message reminds us that nuclear disarmament is one of the founding principles of the United Nations.

When will we realise that nuclear weapons are catastrophic?

These weapons are so indiscriminate that the UN made nuclear disarmament one of its founding principles.

If the founding leaders, former presidents and prime ministers, found it essential that nuclear disarmament be the central goal around which all other principles are built upon, what makes us think that it is now ok to allow the proliferation of these horrific weapons?

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It's not just the devastation that these weapons cause upon impact - like in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (see survivor stories), but also the disasters caused by nuclear testing.

You only have to look at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in north-eastern Kazakhstan to know the damage caused by nuclear testing. There is an irregularly high proportion of children born with birth defects, and higher cases of leukaemia. The testing was conducted in a part of the country with a semi-nomadic, poor population. Still to this day natural water sources in this region have a much larger quantity of radioactive properties than what is considered safe.

We would never want to put the children of others through this.

"Tens of billions of dollars have been pledged to maintain and upgrade nuclear weapon systems." - Excerpt from Ban Ki Moon message on Day for Total Elimination on Nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons do not keep us safe, in fact quite the opposite, they empower more oppressive states such as North Korea to normalise them. For more on why acquiring nuclear weapons makes us more vulnerable see my blog post entitled 'Is it not time we abandon this sinking ship we call trident?'

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Not only do nuclear weapons not keep us safe but they are incredibly expensive. It's surprising how here in the UK our recent vote to leave the EU, in part due to the apparent cost, does not affect the 100,000,000,000 (that's one hundred billion!) we spend on trident alone. This money could also be invested into the NHS to help save lives instead of destroying them.

Countries such as the UK should take a lead on nuclear disarmament; a temporary freeze on the acquisition of all nuclear weapons would be a start. Then clearly making it illegal to buy/renew/create nuclear weapons would be the next step, before creating a larger disarmament industry (providing jobs for former workers in the nuclear sector), then completing disarmament.
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Whenever I am asked about the work of the Trussell Trust, I am reminded of a comment by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. When asked about the rise of foodbanks and poverty in Britain, he said "'There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in."

The Trussell Trust is best known for its work running a network of foodbanks providing three days of emergency food and support to people in crisis in communities across the UK. A record 1.1 million of these parcels were given to people supported by our 420+ foodbank projects in the last year alone. This is work we are proud of- but it's shameful that it is necessary. We need to ensure that people left desperate, with nowhere to turn, get the support they need.

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This starts with the food someone receives at a foodbank, alongside a sympathetic ear and cup of tea offered by a volunteer, who will also signpost people to other specialist support if they need it. Many foodbanks have widened their support and work with partners to deliver a number of additional projects aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty and avoiding a crisis that might lead someone to need a foodbank.

Now around 100 foodbanks run projects from our More Than Food programme, which include 'Money Life' (money and debt advice), 'Eat Well Spend Less' (a 6-week cooking and budgeting course), and holiday clubs. But the causes of poverty are complex and communities, businesses and charities need to work together to give people who lack a financial cushion or other support structures the best possible support.

That's why were we're excited about our plan to embark on a new, innovative, partnership with Community Shop - bringing our More Than Food support services to the community cafes in their social supermarkets. Community Shop was pioneered by Company Shop to get wholesome surplus food to people on low incomes, as well as offer a mentoring programme to develop skills. This will allow us to help people who might not have reached a crisis point and ended up at a foodbank, but have complex issues or are facing social isolation which might tip them into crisis in the future.

The pilot will be trialled in two locations and both The Trussell Trust and Community Shop believe that by working together there is the potential to be able to help more people before they reach crisis point. The two organisations are now actively looking for locations of approximately 20,000 square feet of space, where projects can be developed.

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We believe that support services like debt advice and personal development, offered by the Trust's More Than Food and Community Shop's 'Success Plan', could be co-located in hubs featuring a social supermarket offering affordable food, a foodbank cafe, and other local initiatives to target poverty in the community and help people break out of crisis. Our 'Money Life' debt advice service has already been a huge help to hundreds of people this year and has been effective in breaking the cycle of debt. People attending our 'Eat Well Spend Less' cooking and budgeting course have told us it's a massive confidence boost.

Since attending an Eat Well Spend Less course, mother of two Judith has managed to reduce her food bill and has gained more confidence in her ability: "It changed how I spent my money, now I am spending a third less on food as a result of the course. I am making big savings and I am using the money I am saving to pay off some of my other debts."

Judith has also been able to share these skills with her family: "My young son comes and helps me in the kitchen now, he is my little sous chef when I am preparing meals. I'm also now not buying cereal bars for my children as I learnt how to make my own here."

It makes sense. Both organisations share a common vision to transform lives by empowering local communities. They can be complementary rather than seek to compete with each other to help people.
Imogen and Erick met in 2015, fell in love and are spending their first year abroad teaching and exploring Central America.

Being trans and traveling can often pose unique challenges. This can include problems at airports and borders, such as with passports, papers, searches and inspections. Traveling for a long period of time might also be problematic as trans people who take hormones need to take them on a regular basis and often cannot access large amounts of supply, let alone travel with them. Issues of security and safety can also be posed if you are traveling in places where trans issues are not discussed or where trans people face a lot of prejudice and discrimination.

It's also a chance to explore how different societies view gender and it's diversity throughout the world. Many societies have completely different ideas than people have in the UK and often these ideas are tied with a long cultural history that is hard to understand without living there or having experienced the culture.

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"Since the film that Fox made, we've travelled from the UK to Costa Rica, before settling into our new home in Granada, Nicaragua. Over the past month we've been working weekdays at local schools teaching English to primary school children, whilst on weekends we travel around the country to experience as much of it as we can."

The couple started their blog and Youtube channel to document their experiences as a transgender couple in regards to a life of travel. Their primary focus will be on making entertaining and informative travel videos and trans vlogs, followed up with a blog post.

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"As we travel, we hope to gain more insight into the lives of transgender people around the world and also about how gender is perceived differently in different places and how the concept of gender can both separate and join people together."

Imogen and Erick's aim is to travel long-term, and through TransTravellers, help other trans people feel more encouraged to travel. "Our blog and channel are really for anyone who has an interest in travel and/or gender as we hope to continue sharing our experiences of both."

Imogen & Erick will FB Live Chat on the My Genderation page over the next few weeks. For more updates and top tips, checkout Trans Travellers.

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There he sat, bold as brass, welcoming us into Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo's, one of the pirates of Campeche.

It's not quite the Caribbean, but sitting on the Gulf of Mexico, the Mexican city of Campeche has more than its fair share of pirate stories to share. The main tourist strip of Campeche city, the pedestrianised street Calle 59, is bookended with two city gates; 'Puerta del Mar' and 'Puerta de la Terra'. The sea gate used to lead to a long jetty, but those barbarous pirates, many English (ever heard of Sir Frances Drake referred to as a pirate?!), were a scandalous crew and often hit the city from the land gate having taken the scenic route before beginning the slaughter.

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There at 'Puerta de la Terra' a pirate themed light show takes place at 8pm. Unfortunately, since we were travelling during the rainy season, we missed it but we did enjoy playing 'walk the plank' on the 'Lorencillo' ship by the gate and we brought life to the tales by browsing the pirate artefacts in the collection housed beside the cannons. Ring the bell, the pirates are coming!

The old city is dotted with reminders of its pirate histories, and the municipal building, lining one side of the central plaza, offers a fabulous free tour where you can find out more about the grizzly operations of those lawless raiders. Shiver me timbers!

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Campeche certainly has its treasures to guard. The old colonial houses, painted in an array of pastel palette colours, are simply gorgeous to walk along. Casa 6, a 'high society' house/museum, also right in the central plaza is worth the visit, giving a glimpse into late 18th century / early 19th century interior design. We stayed in Hotel Don Gustavo, at the Puerta del Mar end of Calle 59, and the table in the dining room was set with as much care as I imagine the table at Casa 6 was set in its heyday. In fact, everything at Don Gustavo's was offered with such grace. Samantha Barrera was so helpful at reception, her smiles and true excitement that we would be exploring the city were infectious and she had us smiling from ear-to-ear after every encounter with her. Our room was spacious and extremely comfortable; and the stained-glass, saloon-style swing doors led to an enormous bathroom. The rooftop swimming pool was a great place to refresh ourselves when the humid heat got a little too heavy for us. Well, that was our excuse to spend more time in the hotel when we weren't exploring the gems and jewels of the town and outskirts.

Gem: The old cinema 'Selem' that is now a car park. Its crumbling balconies housing pigeons and the wonderful tiled floor made this an odd choice for a 'gem' but it was quite a sight. Think art-deco-stroke-hipster gem.

Jewel: Edzna. One of Campeche's most intriguing and impressive Mayan sites is a mere 50 minute ride from the city. With few tourists compared to Chichen Itza in the neighbouring state, you might be lucky enough to have the whole place to yourselves for a moment to two. Mayan Magic.

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Gem: Taking the short trip up to the San Jose del Alto museum fort and seeing a model of Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind with notes referring to it as a pirate vessel. It's all about perspective. The rooftop view to the sea inspires the imagination.

Jewel: Visiting the spectacular Hacienda Uayamon and feeling its beauty was laced with a haunting veil having read about its bloody pirate histories.

Campeche city is worthy of a couple of your days on the Yucatan Peninsula circuit. Its easy going pace makes it wonderful to stroll around with young children and its pirate history leaves everyone talking with a sea-dog accent. Yo-ho-ho!!

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These days, experience trumps stuff every time. Don't get me wrong, I take particular pleasure in my 11 o'clock coffee everyday, or a new outfit on payday. But these things pale in comparison to what I really like to spend my money on. I look at the mere 19 days I get as holiday from my full time job as a challenge, working out just how much I can do in this time with money I've barely saved. I'm researching holidays every weekend, planning music events with friends and wondering when I can next go to Alton Towers. The last time I actually spent a substantial amount of money on a material thing was my DDJ-RB controller - but even so, this was so that I could get better at DJing, and ultimately experience DJing in a real club setting.

Whether we realise it or not, millennials like experience. In fact, 78 percent of us actually prefer to spend money on experience over material possessions. I have often thought that this comes hand in hand with the digital social media revolution. More and more we're trying to show (off) that really cool thing we did that one time, or the inspirational person or celebrity we met. If we did it, there's sure to be a picture of it; after all, if there isn't proof on social media - did it really happen?

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Without realising it I've actually written about this subject before, pointing out that when buying presents you should look to buy loved ones things to do over actual things. After some research, there's actually a lot of places that market specifically to this idea. Once upon a time, Red Letter Days were the only company really making any waves in this type of present, however, with a little help from us millennials, there's been a real boom in the amount of choice here.

You can now buy experience days by the bucket load. You can still do the classics; ride in a hot air balloon, drive an iconic car, but you can also do things that once upon a time you would have had to stumble across to find; wood craft workshops, learning to rear farm animals, wilderness survival courses, forge your own wedding ring. You can literally do anything these days, the extraordinary has become accessible. What I found most interesting on the Humdinger Days website, though, was the opportunity to 'suggest a day'; the capacity to almost crowdfund an experience is brilliant. This means you can get your entire family to donate to your once-in-a-lifetime experience and with social media, you can now share every part of the story with them.

It's no surprise that this market has exploded either. With house prices rising - making it nearly impossible for us millennials to get on the property ladder - and the struggle to get into a career without a plethora of unpaid work, experiences to make us feel better about these facts are sorely needed. No wonder about 80% of 18-35 year olds voted to stay in the EU, this is the generation that has experienced more outside of their own culture than probably anyone else before them, the need to hold onto this is more important than a Britain that will be supposedly 'great again'.

Of course, the internet helps here. We see so much than anyone else before us. Videos on Facebook are thrust in our face as we scroll, Instagram shows thousands of pictures from around the world with a single hashtag and Twitter allows us to see the opinions of those with different lifestyles. We're an accommodating generation who want to do and feel as much as they can.

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AFP via Getty Images

The children of Aleppo won't be listening to the leaders' addresses this party conference season. Nor will parents across Syria think anything said by a politician in Britain could make the slightest difference to their hellish lives and shattered country. But if we are to fulfil Theresa May's ambition for a thriving, post-Brexit 'Global Britain', the words of our leaders should - must - matter to people in countries where war is devastating lives and destroying opportunity.

After a referendum debate that brought discord and division, it is time for a grown-up conversation about Britain's place in the world. To her credit, the prime minister has made a start. She has cautioned against seeing the EU vote as a step towards global disengagement. At a time when war, terrorism and the pressures generated by globalisation are eroding democratic values, fraying the liberal economic order and challenging shared ideals of tolerance, turning inwards would be an act of folly that threatens national self-interest.

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The question is whether, when they assemble in Birmingham for their conference next week, the government's new ministers are able to turn Global Britain from a slogan into a strategy. The issues to be addressed are complex and the foreign policy agenda is crowded. But focusing on children can help to cut through the complexity in areas where Britain is uniquely well-placed to make a difference.

We need to rise to three big challenges in my view.

The first is to protect children in war. The summer of 2016 has seen some of the most unspeakable violence perpetrated against children that I can remember in my lifetime.

In Yemen, an average of six children are dying every day, their homes and schools treated as military targets rather than safe spaces. Today, one million Yemeni children under five are acutely malnourished as blockades and sieges are used as weapons of war.

In Syria, children are barrel-bombed and attacked with chemical weapons - and humanitarian convoys bringing relief are destroyed. The violence in South Sudan has seen both sides using the murder and rape of children as weapons of war.

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What makes these sickening acts of violence even more distressing is the total impunity enjoyed by their perpetrators. We are witnessing the collapse of a system of international humanitarian laws and human rights provisions that were framed over half-a-century following the Second World War.

Britain has a proud record of advancing humanitarianism and child rights. We should now be convening the new alliances needed to stop the war being waged against children.

Asserting global leadership in this area will require a foreign policy guided by a clear ethical standard. We are meeting that standard through the Department for International Development's humanitarian relief. Yet Britain continues to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. This is the country which, according to the UN, is responsible for almost two-thirds of civilian deaths and almost half of attacks on schools and hospitals in Yemen.

It cannot make sense that different parts of our government's policy effectively cancel each other out. That is why I hope Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, will use the party conference to set out a strategy for investigating Saudi Arabia's compliance with international laws, which Britain has a responsibility to uphold. We must also engage with Iran and governments across the region to secure the humanitarian access needed to avert famine in Yemen.

The second challenge relates to aid. There's no shortage of criticism of the amount Britain spends on aid, but this is the vehicle through which we play our role in eradicating poverty, extending opportunities for health and education, combating corruption and supporting growth.

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Children should be at the centre of our aid priorities. The past 15 years have seen extraordinary gains in many areas of their well-being. Yet almost 6 million children still die before their fifth birthday, many of them from causes - such as respiratory tract infection and diarrhea - that would be cured with a single visit to a GP in Britain. And in an increasingly knowledge-intensive global economy, more than 50 million are denied a first step on the ladder of educational opportunity in primary school.

Priti Patel, the international development secretary, has signalled that she will be looking for aid investments that deliver the highest returns. I support that approach: in a period of fiscal stress at home, getting value for money from aid is vital. Supporting the development of the health and education systems that enable kids to survive, thrive and realise their potential are among the best investments available. And Britain is uniquely well-positioned to build the global partnerships needed to deliver change.

The third challenge is about Britain's role in international cooperation. We live in an increasingly globalised, interdependent world. No country acting alone can tackle threats such as climate change, tax evasion, terrorism, and cross-border health epidemics. These are shared problems requiring multilateral solutions. As a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, one of the largest shareholders in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, a member of NATO, and a country with an extensive diplomatic presence, Britain has an opportunity to help create the collective solutions to global problems that are so vital to national security.

Theresa May has already demonstrated an acute awareness of the threads linking Britain to the world. Her Modern Slavery Act marked a bold attempt to ensure that the supply-chains of companies operating in the UK are not polluted by forced labour. Yet in the 21st century, modern slavery has many faces.

The 168million children forced by poverty into child labour are not free in any meaningful sense. Neither are the millions of girls forced into early marriage. As the country that led the way in abolishing slavery, Britain should be extending the principles of the Modern Slavery Act to the world stage.

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The tortured debate over Europe has created a climate of uncertainty. Many governments around the world are looking for signals of intent. That is why it is so important that ministers at the Conservative conference start to underpin the 'Global Britain' approach with practical plans for action.

Today, Save the Children is publishing a set of essays that provide a vision of what an internationally-engaged, post-Brexit foreign policy might look like. There will doubtless be some people questioning why a children's charity is engaging in a dialogue about Britain's place in the world.

My answer is simple: a world in which Britain turns inwards will be immeasurably worse for children, and it will diminish us all.
NUS

Safe space and no platforming are once again being discussed after Theresa May attacked the policies during a recent Prime Minister's Questions.

She agreed with MP Victoria Atkins that freedom of speech is being undermined on campuses by a "sense of righteous entitlement by a minority of students". But it is strange to blame students for curtailing free speech at universities when the obvious culprit is May's own Conservative government.

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As Home Secretary, Theresa May championed the Prevent agenda, which has created a toxic atmosphere throughout our further and higher education communities. Her legislation placed a duty on education and other public sector workers to monitor students for signs of "radicalisation".

Now Muslim students must constantly watch their words in fear of being referred for de- radicalisation. Societies and groups on campus must inform their institution before inviting speakers to events in order to allow universities and colleges the chance to judge their suitability and require students to invite opposing speakers. With these policies still in place, it is hard to take the Prime Minister's concern for free speech seriously.

In April, the United Nations issued a statement to the British Government which said "it is difficult to define the term 'non-violent extremist' without treading into the territory of policing thought and opinion. Innocent individuals will be targeted. Many more will fear that they may be targeted--whether because of their skin colour, religion or political persuasion--and be fearful of exercising their rights. Both outcomes are unacceptable."

To make matters worse Theresa May now attacks the measures students have developed to support and protect those who work in or use union spaces.

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'Safe space' policies are a recognition that we live in a world where oppressed groups can be subject to terrible levels of prejudice, bullying and injustice. They attempt to make sure these things do not take place in our unions.

There is for instance considerable evidence of high levels of bullying against LGBT+ students in schools. We want to be proactive in ensuring that is not the case when those students enter higher or further education. No one should have to study under conditions of bigotry and hate.

It is in that vein that student unions across the country have democratically adopted policies that outline shared standards and principles which recognise and seek to combat discrimination and prejudice. This should not have anyone worried. Rather it marks a commitment to the inclusion of women, Black, LGBT+ and disabled students who so often experience unfair treatment - not only in wider society, but in the education system as well.

If this will be made into a question of 'free speech' we should consider that safe spaces policies are designed to question just who is offered the comfort to speak and where our most marginalised students are being kept silent. This is the opposite of curtailing free speech; it's a challenge to the conditions that currently make voices unequal.

Safe spaces and no platforming are often confused but are not the same thing. At NUS we have a long-standing policy to exclude those organisations that pose a physical threat to oppressed groups. Since the 1970s we have maintained this decision against fascist and racist groups such as the BNP and EDL. For us this is a hard line. It is also very specific - with just six groups on the NUS no platform list. The implication that no platforming is a new and niche position is untrue, but it does have a renewed importance at this time when post-Brexit we have seen increased racist and Islamophobic hate incidents. That the government has shown a lack of interest in tackling this worrying trend yet chooses to criticise our own efforts, reveals their strange priorities.

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Of course students and their representatives have the right to choose who they host and the invitations they accept beyond this no platform policy. I fully support our liberation campaigns and the unions we represent in making these choices.
When I graduated from university last year, I felt incomplete. I now had my degree, yes, but I'd remained at home with my mum and dad in London for the entirety of my course. I felt like I had missed out on something. That my peers were far more ahead of me; had earnt some money doing minimum wage jobs, lived in shared accommodation, coped (somewhat) without their parents, the works. So eventually I set out to do all that, and in fact, ended up inadvertently one-upping my peers, as I left the British Isles for Berlin.

Never to be entirely without my comfort zone, I must admit I was not exactly new to Germany, given that my mum herself is German and that because of this, growing up; I'd spent most summers in her hometown of Eisenhuttenstadt with my grandparents. Unfortunately for my younger self, Eisenhuttenstadt is a small and unexciting town in Brandenburg, East Germany. I hardly ever visited Berlin as a child, and so I was almost completely new to the kind of big city excitement that Germany could offer as was my German flatmate who moved from a small town in Nordrhein Westfalen.

One of the first things you notice when moving to a new city is the demographics of that city. In Berlin, the phrase "Multi Kulti", is often used in connection with the city's multiculturalism yet Berlin's is a different kind of diversity than I was used to. In London, there's a much broader range of ethnicities, with noticeable portions of all kinds of ethnicities. My friendship group alone includes people of Chinese, Sri Lankan, Ghanain, Irish, Pakistani and Kenyan descent etc. Whereas in Berlin, a considerable portion of ethnic minorities are of Turkish descent.

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In a bid to combat xenophobia, there are lot of anti-fascism stickers around the city, often with the words "Nazis Raus" (Nazis Out) or "Kein Mensch is illegal" (No person is illegal). There are also a number of events set up to connect Germans with Syrian refugees. However, as with any multicultural city in Europe, there is a lot of polarised opinion on immigration and multiculturalism in Berlin. Casual and overt racism tends to be directed at Turkish people. In fact, I remember seeing a guy on the U Bahn ranting about immigrants while repeating the word "Kanake", an anti-Turkish slur. Ironically this very man chose to get off the U-Bahn at Neukolln, an area known for its predominant proportion of Turkish people.

Political correctness is pretty big in London especially, but also England as whole. And while I wouldn't say Germans aren't politically correct to a degree, they are not really ones to beat around the bush. For instance, I was once flat out asked whether my Zambian father came to England as a refugee. You wouldn't really hear that kind of thing in England, it would be more like "So what brought your dad to England?" or they just wouldn't ask at all. The funny thing is Zambia is actually one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. In fact, many refugees from its neighbouring countries have sought asylum in Zambia. To be fair though, African immigration it not as high in Berlin as it is in London so I think that kind of ignorance can be excused. And plus British people are known to be exceedingly polite and being polite often involves refraining from making assumptions.
Crime rates have also risen in Argentina, one of the least-violent nations in Latin America. Telam

More information America Latina sufre 135.000 asesinatos al ano

Security is a major political issue in practically all of Latin America.

In Peru, it was at the center of a presidential campaign that nearly handed victory to Keiko Fujimori, because of her hard stance on crime and violence. In Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and even less-violent nations such as Argentina, it is citizens chief concern.

The figures help to explain why. Nearly 135,000 people were murdered in 2015 in Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a homicide rate that is four times the global average, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In Argentina, the government has decided to station more officers at the borders to prevent drug smuggling

This international organization estimates the annual cost of crime and violence in the region at $120 billion, or around $200 per person. Latin America could raise its per capita GDP by 25% if it could only bring its crime rate down to levels found elsewhere in the world.

The IDB is organizing a Security Week in Buenos Aires to promote more dialogue and knowledge exchange on crime and violence, and to reorganize national police forces more effectively.

Insecurity and inequality

Latin American countries may be very diverse, but there are two elements that they share: insecurity and inequality. In recent years, enormous economic growth derived from a boom in raw materials and a redistribution of wealth by left-wing governments have managed to reduce poverty. Education and public health have also improved noticeably.

Inequality and unchecked urban growth create a breeding ground for crime in Latin American cities. AP

Yet crime and violence rates have not decreased. In fact, even nations that were doing better than average on this front, such as Argentina, are now regressing.

For the last 10 years weve been systematically doing worse, explains Eugenio Burzaco, the number two official at Argentinas Interior Ministry. Our country has lower levels than other countries in the region, but compared with ourselves, we are doing worse. We have a rate of six homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants, which is low for the region, but twice what it was 20 years ago. And violent crimes without homicide are increasing dramatically.

Meanwhile, Honduras has a homicide rate of 84 murders for every 100,000 people (the figures are from 2013); in Venezuela it is 53, in Colombia 31, in Brazil 28 and in Mexico 19. Chile is at the bottom of the list, with just three homicides per 100,000 people.

This deteriorating security situation is holding back the region economically, and forcing many people to flee to Europe or the United States. The IDB estimates that the region spends around $51 billion a year on its police forces.

Latin America has an average of 23 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. That is twice as much as Africa and five times as much as Asia. One out of every five Latin Americans view this as their biggest problem, says Jose Luis Lupo, manager of the Southern Cone Country Department at IDB.

One out of every five Latin Americans view this as their biggest problem

Jose Luis Lupo, IDB chief of Southern Cone Department

Natalie Alvarado, who coordinates the IDBs security area, admits that regional statistics are insufficient but still useful to find patterns.

Southern countries are very worried because there has been a rise in victimization  the number of people who report having been victims of a crime. The region has grown a lot, but security is not improving, she notes. There is an enormous population of youths who are neither in school nor holding a job, and a great institutional vacuum. Penitentiary systems are in crisis because they are crime centers where, far from rehabilitating, criminals hone their techniques. Disorganized urban growth in Latin Americas major cities is the ideal breeding ground.

Better, not more

All experts agree that the key lies in reforming law enforcement agencies, rather than increasing the number of police officers on duty.

Honduras, which is in a very delicate situation, is focusing its reform on police recruitment and training. There is evidence in every country that more police does not equal more security, says Alvarado. Ecuador has also made progress. Before this, police officers were people who had no other career options, who had no future. We need to dignify the police.

Yet citizens seem to be asking for more patrols on the streets. In Argentina, the government has decided to station more officers at the borders to prevent the drug smuggling that is at the origin of much of the nations security problem. People want to see uniformed officers near their homes in the cities.

Nobody has a definitive solution, but everyone agrees that security is Latin Americas great 21st-century problem, and that it affects the poor more intensely because they cannot afford to hire private bodyguards.

English version by Susana Urra.
David Jones/PA Archive

As the shock of losing the referendum, which engulfed many of those who advocated remaining in the weeks after the vote, lessens with time, some have now taken to demanding to know what Brexit 'means'. This question comes in a few forms, but is usually accompanied by a knowing smile and an almost visible inner monologue screaming "aha! I've got you now!". Many of those who ask this question were the same that demanded to know what the 'plan' was during the Referendum, and scolded those who could not come forward immediately with a coherent five year plan for a new Brexit Government.

But all of this is founded on a widespread misunderstanding about what the Referendum was about, and what its consequences would be. In amongst all the argument about 350million a week, rebates and VAT, the one overriding and clear message was this: 'Take Control'.

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The idea of 'Vote Leave, Take Control' was the central pillar of the Leave campaign's message. It encapsulates the key sovereignty question of the referendum and explains the Government's statement that Brexit means leaving the European Union, because that is as far as anything will ever be permanently settled. After taking control, everything else is up to British politicians accountable to British voters to decide.

When we leave the EU, every single question that is currently up for debate will be answered and then re-answered again and again through our democratic process. Questions abound in the argument over migration for example. How many migrants should we allow? Which ones? Should it be zero, or should we have free movement from the continent? Should we have free movement deals with our friends in the Commonwealth? None of these issues will be settled forever by leaving the EU, all we have done is take control of the power to provide answers, when previously it was off-limits.

Political parties will now have to set out in their manifestos clear and achievable immigration policies. If the Lib Dems want to stand on a manifesto that says we should continue allowing citizens from the EU to come to the UK without any visas, they can make a case for it to the British people and the issue will be decided by the ballot box, rather than immutable European rules. If Ukip want to stand on a platform of bringing net migration to zero, they will have to set out to the electorate why they believe that it will not damage our economy.

I would imagine that a centrist Conservative government would go to the country with a sensible plan to control immigration, treat EU citizens no differently to those from India, Nigeria or Jamaica, and ensure that our economy could access the specialist skills it requires. But ultimately it would be up to the electorate to decide, and then hold us to account.

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There is a legitimate interest to find out the Government's negotiating position, and to see what deal is delivered; but even that will not be what Brexit 'means'. No policy is ever permanent or set in stone. No matter what is agreed by the new Government with the European Union, and what policies are put in place, if a future government believes it has been a failure and wants change, it can promise to deliver it. If free movement is ended and proves disastrous then a new party could promise to reintroduce it. There are those who may agree, and those who disagree, but these issues can and must be dealt with through the ballot box.

If you believe that the EU will be unwilling to ever change these rules or even negotiate in the future, just look at Switzerland, whose relationship with the EU is governed through a number of bilateral deals. The news last week was that Jean Claude Juncker may be willing to allow the Swiss full access to the single market without free movement after their 2014 referendum demanding quotas on immigrants; a huge change to their existing relationship. There will always be scope for new deals and different arrangements, depending on what the people want, and what is in the best interests of the EU and the UK.

As David Miliband wrote in the New Statesman last week, Brexit makes "discretionary various social, political, economic and environmental rights that have become mandatory over the past two generations". He is right, but he should not fear it. Instead of worrying, he should celebrate that British voters have control over what was previously 'mandatory', even if some may disagree with him as to how best to use these powers.

It is clear what Brexit 'means'. It means that our Government, and our voters will decide on the policies that affect our everyday lives. There will be no immovable 'Brexit Britain', but a democracy with politicians accountable to the voters, for both success and failure. Whether you wish to see more or less environmental regulation, more or less immigration, higher or lower VAT, freer trade or greater protectionism these decisions will no longer be out of your control. Leaving the European Union will not settle these questions or set answers that we must follow. Each issue will be dealt with from year to year as all other issues that our country continued to control were.

Ultimately Brexit means trusting our democracy and trusting ourselves to find the right path to a brighter future, and to know when to change course too. It is now up to all of us, whether we voted leave or remain, to take part, scrutinise and put forward alternatives to a process that will not end when a deal is signed. Democracy can never end with a final agreement, with 'mandatory' policies, on Europe or any other issue. This is what Brexit means. We have taken back control; it is now up to us how we use it.

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The line goes, "There are some things in life you just can't teach". Your reaction, whether one of sage nodding or vehement glaring, will succinctly reflect which side of the line your views reside.

Without fence-sitting, the American writer Marya Hornbacher brokers a middling perspective; "You can't teach an ear, you can't teach talent... but you can teach people who have those things not to just fly by the seat of their pants."

City of Glasgow college just announced that this September they'll be running a course in vlogging.

Autumn 2016 so marks the moment vlogging has become a subject of formal learning, something 'study-able', a 'discipline', a college qualification, a practice with more to it than pushing 'Record', breaking the Fourth Wall and "flying by the seat of your pants". The sub-textual message: the path to potential YouTube stardom might just be helped by a modicum of 'classical training'.

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Akin to leaning over an exam paper, the questions quickly leap:

Is Glasgow College jumping on a 'fad', riding a bandwagon craze in a Selfie Age where we all carry audio-visual means in our pocket?

Or is Glasgow recognising the above-water tip of the zeitgeist and stating itself a first-mover in what will become a more widespread field of learning?

Perhaps more fundamentally, is a class teaching vlogging and "how to become a YouTuber" broken logic - because how can you teach online eccentricity and how have a 'big personality' that can cross the divide and become captured content? Where George Bernard proposed the paradox that "youth is wasted on the young", is Glasgow's latest course a paradox in reverse, the 'Oldies' just not getting what it's all about, trying to teach aspiring YouTuber's a set of old tricks that just don't apply?

And... 'discuss'. Leaving me about 500 words to do so.

I'll start with a bigger picture point. We should applaud any course that develops understanding and skills in how to interact with the Internet and create for it.

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Whether we attend a class in it or not, all of us (of all ages), should take the occasional pause and consider how we represent ourselves digitally, and how others may perceive us online. We 'upload-share-comment-like' with daily enthusiasm: every online act saying something about us and adding to the self-portrait. Institutions offering courses that help young people consider how they fairly and healthily present themselves (digitally) is judicious and astute.

Where growing-up naturally involves taking a few missteps, Social Media can become a mean-spirited companion. Ferris Bueller's day would have turned out seriously different if at any point he'd checked-in or posted to his Timeline.

The second positive point, I believe, relates to 'craft skills'. Talking to camera, behaving naturally in front of a lens, communicating clearly to an audience - these are terrific skills to have, not ones that come naturally to all of us, and are of huge benefit in a whole host of present careers, as well as future ones that have yet to define themselves. You talk to any headmaster today, and they'll comfortably discuss their school's role in terms of preparing for the unknown, in terms of equipping children for walking future career paths that don't currently exist.

So Glasgow College's latest curriculum addition is a new data-point in a trend line that shows a form of creative expression, and an Influencer Marketing industry, in evolution. You can teach film-making, story-telling and screen writing. You can teach acting and TV presenting and broadcast journalism. You can teach video editing and documentary-making. Now you can also be taught vlogging and take lessons in how to become a Social Influencer - and while this might be something you already do and that comes as naturally to you as breathing, study and practice and the accumulation of experience can only serve to positively hone your craft and creative process.

All education is a potential path to something better. The Education (or Butler) Act of 1944 is toasted by historians as a "triumph for progressive reform". It gave rise to the grammar schools, to open-opportunity for all regardless of social class or financial circumstance, inviting a post-war 'Baby Boom' generation to meritocratic rise, based solely on effort and ability. Michael Heseltine described it more pointedly, calling the Butler Act a chance for all to "escape from mediocrity". 1944, 2016, there are parallels. I see the Digital Age as a liberating invitation to all to express, create and upload. It's the opportunity for talent to 'out', creativity to find form and personalities to shine. The Digital Age is an opportunity to trash some out-dated paradigms, and find new ways of doing things. 'How to advertise', 'how to build brands' and 'how agencies stay creative and relevant' are firmly included in this welcome 'paradigm rebuild'. Whether we take formal classes in this or not, everyday is a new lesson inviting us all to learn and to escape mediocrity.

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For my close companions or in fact, anybody who's ever met me on a night out, you'll definitely know by now that I'm Middle Eastern. I don't look it nor do I sound it but the tattoo on my left wrist in Farsi scripture alongside the regular verbal diarrhoea about my mother's roots has made it pretty obvious that I'm proud of my heritage. However, as an atheist bought up in a Western, secularised world, I have never really understood both the religion and the assumptions that has come to define the Middle East: Islam.

I am currently taking two classes at Duke University in North Carolina that focus on the Middle East; Modern Middle Eastern History and a Seminar on Islamic Fundamentalism, with a particular focus on 9/11 and its aftermath. I am not taking these classes to become closer to my so-called" roots" but I am coming to recognise how naive and uneducated I am about a major global religion and both the beautiful history and the struggles that many moderate Muslims have to face on a daily basis.

I am coming to recognise how naive and uneducated I am about a major global religion and both the beautiful history and the struggles that many moderate Muslims have to face on a daily basis.

My Modern Middle Eastern History class has taught me about a world that I have never gotten to know. I know about the British Colonisation of India, I know about Napoleon's French Republic and I know more than enough about the Cold War. But the Safavids, Moghuls and Ottomans? Nothing. Why this was neglected in both my childhood and throughout my adolescent years I am yet to know.

In the 16th century, The Ottoman Empire was a civilisation of progression, beauty and inclusion. Far more impressive was their bureaucratic system than any other known empire, their legal system was centralised and well-coordinated and their women had the rights to divorce, own land and hold their own in the work place. The Ottomans were also extremely modern in their approach to religious tolerance, with the introduction of the Millet System. This pluralistic system allowed Christians and Jews the right to religious freedom and expression, a concept extremely progressive for the time. The Safavids, an expansive empire with Persian roots were concurrently in the process of rebuilding Isfahan; a city of glistening turrets, bustling souks and theatre shows that embraced political satire. Urban planning was bold and colossal, with the royal mosque, the Maydan - I -Jaham, holding its place as the centre piece of the cultural hub. The well- known jingle " Isfahan- nisf- jahan" (Isfahan is half of the world) definitely held truth.

But why has this essential part of our global history and an essential player in global religion been continually ignored in Western education and common knowledge? Why are the views that I have on Islam only that of fundamentalism and "bad news" ? Why do I not hear about the moderate Islamic community who have shaped our western world as much as you and I? Why has their history been neglected and why has the Muslim role in building America been erased?

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But why has this essential part of our global history and an essential player in global religion been continually ignored in Western education and common knowledge?

My 9/11 seminar has taught me a lot and made me realise that even as someone who regards themselves as extremely inclusive and tolerant, I am still a victim of my own assumptions. Post 9/11 was also when we fell victim to radicalisation. We were taught not to hate the nine men who flew into the twin towers but to hate the Muslim community and vilify them for the actions of an anomalous minority. We were taught that Jihad was a war against us, rather than the literal translation of "the struggle" of ordinary Muslims and were taught that Sharia law is the main determinant in the oppressive nature of many Middle Eastern countries. Little did I know that Sharia literally means "the path", a way to live your life as humbly and morally as possible and that Jihad has become a misconstrued term that fundamentalists use as a justification of their actions. It is frowned against and illegal in the Islam religion to injure innocent people, even in state of war.

I am still a victim of my own assumptions.

But we have congregated innocent Muslims with extremists. We have forgotten the beauty of a religion and ignored the voices of the masses who just want us to understand. We ask Muslims to apologise for the actions of Osama Bin Laden and the Muslim Brotherhood, yet we forget that their views are just as disjointed from those men as ours are. President George Bush made the grave mistake of vilifying the Islam Religion post 9/11 and both Muslims and ourselves have come to feel the repercussions. 45% of Americans view the Islam faith as unfavourable due to this misunderstanding and the time has come for both Americans and the western world to come to terms with the concept of the Islamic Religion as a whole entity, rather than just the negative press cuttings from CNN.

Islam is the biggest growing faith in the world for a reason and with that comes the need of Muslims to be politically assertive to make a place for themselves in the western world. I believe, similar to any modern religion, that Islam certainly can fit into the western world, given that the pluralistic and less literal reading of the Qur'an is used. But we also need to recognise the liberal and moderate nature of 99.99% of the community.

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It is inevitable that the question of terrorism will arise at some point within this post and I do believe that the West has a role to protect its citizens. However, Islamism does not equate to terrorism nor has it ever done. Terrorism is certainly something the West should not and does not put up with but I suggesting that terrorism is entrenched in Islam, the West is simply making this toxic situation worse. Islam, as Antepli suggested is an inherently peaceful religion and this is something the West must acknowledge and respect. Perhaps, through the respect of the religion, those disenfranchised members of society who turn towards more radical forms of Islam will no longer feel the need. It is a self-perpetuating circle that can only be broken with religious tolerance and greater understanding of Islam and the recognition that Sharia is a way of life, Jihad is permission based not obligatory and that the vast, vast majority of the Muslim Community are as innocent as you and I.
Beautiful beaches, 5-star resorts, amazing carnival atmosphere. All topped off with a rugged mountainscape and cloudless skies serving as the backdrop. It's no wonder travellers make a beeline for Rio. But this huge seaside city isn't the only place worth visiting in Brazil. As South America's largest country, this place offers so much diversity and a great mix of coastline, countryside, culinary delights and culture.

Here are 7 places to check out whilst you're in beautiful Brazil, other than Rio de Janeiro...

1. Petropolis

Just an hour away from the city is Petropolis, a lush green town bordering Serra dos Orgaos National Park. If you love outdoor adventures, this part of the state is ideal for an active holiday. Forested peaks, waterfall walks and hiking tours will reconnect you with nature, and the 19th Century architecture and museums will keep culture vultures engaged for days.

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"Serra de Petropolis - Rio de Janeiro." by Marinelson Almeida is licensed under CC BY 2.0

2. Buzios

If you want a beach destination away from the city crowds, head to the fishing village of Buzios. It offers paradisiacal beaches, quiet coastal promenades and a choice of luxury accommodation, whilst still having great nightlife to keep you entertained after the sun goes down.

"Buzios" by karendesuyo is licensed under CC BY 2.0

3. Ilha Grande

For an unspoiled island adventure, head to Ilha Grande - perfect for beach lovers and those who enjoy eco-tourism. It's the easiest island to be reached from Rio de Janeiro, with its closest town being Mangaratiba - also worth checking out for its pretty coastline and elegant harbour.

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"Ilha Grande" by mk30 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

4. Paraty

History fans will love Paraty. It's a scenic 4 hour drive along the coast from Rio and it'll offer a complete flipside to the resorts and high-rises of the city. Come here to check out the classic colonial architecture, the incredible historic centre, and the surrounding islands scattered in the sea.

"Museu de Arte Sacra de Paraty" by Ministerio da Cultura is licensed under CC BY 2.0

5. Penedo

Penedo is one of those places that has to make your bucket list in Brazil, even if it's just for the novelty factor. It's known as the country's famous Christmas village so if you love festive cheer, make tracks for Penedo to enjoy the all year round Christmas tree and its surrounding boutiques and shops. A great place to take the whole family - the little ones will love it here!

"Viagem a Visconde de Maua" by Rosanetur is licensed under CC BY 2.0

6. Tiradentes

If you're here for the food, don't miss the gastronomic capital of Tiradentes. From its postcard-perfect architecture and cute cobbled streets to its endless choice of authentic Brazilian restaurants, this colonial village deserves a couple of nights' stay at least. It is worlds away from bustling Rio and you'll find genuine, affordable dishes served up with love by the local chefs. Some of the best places to eat include Leitao do Luiz Ney for its fantastic suckling pig and Theatro da Vila for its unique blend of traditional Brazilian ingredients with haute cuisine cooking techniques.

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7. Iguazu Falls

Iguazu should be a must-visit for any visitor to Brazil and arguably South America. The falls are an incredible force to behold, and with its beautiful green surroundings the whole area is a pleasure to explore, as well as being the perfect access point into Argentina or Paraguay. It's no surprise that it is one of the most Instagrammed places in Brazil, you'll struggle to find anywhere more picturesque.

"Sunset over Iguazu" by SF Brit is licensed under CC BY 2.0

8. Salvador

The Old Town of Salvador is one of the most beautiful, iconic places to visit outside of Rio. It is a well-known UNESCO site with multi-coloured buildings and quaint backstreets. Explore the pretty squares and enjoy a fantastic choice of cafes, restaurants and bars. The nightlife won't disappoint either.

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Expedia/Mat Pringle

Just when I thought modern technology was hitting its peak, along comes virtual reality. VR is like something out of Blade Runner or Back to the Future - simply strap on a headset and open your eyes in a completely different world, without having to leave the one you're in. It's great for gamers and fun for thrill-seekers, but honestly? I think VR's real potential lies in travel.

The days of relying on teletext for last minute deals are gone. From holiday inspiration to making a booking, the future of travel lies firmly online. But even this is changing.

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I've spotted a trend: we don't simply base our bookings on great deals anymore (though these do help!). Whilst at Expedia, I've noticed that more and more holidaymakers want to guarantee they'll be getting an authentic experience: local produce, authentic digs and adventures they'll never forget. Traditionally, this is nothing I couldn't uncover without a good bit of internet trawling, but with the rise of virtual reality, I think I can go one step further.

Picture the scene: I can pop on a headset and stand on top of Iceland's Gulfoss waterfall, or, perhaps, Peru's Machu Picchu. I could even find myself wandering the bustling streets of an Asian city, where the tourist industry may or may not have taken away some of the local charm.

Fully immersive VR has the potential to captivate potential travellers with style and substance, offering true-to-life expectations and matching wearers to their ideal experience.

But what happens once I've found my dream break? It's possible that hotels will take advantage of virtual reality technology, allowing holidaymakers to preview their accommodation. Exciting, yes, but still speculative. What's really impressive is a nifty bit of technology that's up and running right now: booking bot.

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If, like me, you're sick of spending hours searching the internet for your dream hotel, then worry not, booking bot does all the hard work. I begin a Facebook message to Expedia with a friendly 'Hi', input where I'd like to go, when and for how long, and in seconds, I'll be shown the best deals. There's little hassle and I could be making a cup of tea in the time it takes to chat.

Booking bot and VR both herald a new age of convenience. With the unavoidable airport check-in experience still lending an element of stress to proceedings, making what comes before and after as easy as possible will be key in the future. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if robots with suitcase-packing potential enter the mass market in years to come.

Once I arrive at my hotel (booked using booking bot), it's only right that the seamless, space age experience continues.

"The modern traveller wants a friction-free, mobile-led experience that offers help when needed," says Kevin May of Tnooz. Keyless hotel rooms, anyone? Mobile technology is bound to take over from something that's so easy to lose.

Some experts are even going so far as to predict the fall of human interaction. Front desk staff replaced by holograms, waiting staff swapped for robotic butlers and smartphone apps: we could soon be living like The Jetsons, after all. Especially when you consider the potential of augmented reality.

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You see, I haven't only seen VR making waves: AR is coming to the fore as a holiday must-have, too. A certain game involving pocket-sized monsters has already shown that augmented reality can reach critical mass faster than VR, but travel-wise? I wouldn't be surprised to see Google Glass-style specs replacing sunglasses in the near future. After all, I could look up at a landmark and be presented with overlaid fun facts, or browse a restaurant menu from my hotel room to help me decide whether to book.
It was a beautiful thing to watch. There's nothing sweeter than witnessing a Donald Trump implosion in front of 100-million people. I suspect the first presidential debate will likely go down as the modern-day Kennedy-Nixon contest for its ultimate impact on the election.

The debate could be summed up against a singular backdrop: the candidates each had one critical mission to accomplish. Trump needed to demonstrate a temperament that's presidential. Clinton needed to be likeable. That's it. Because when it comes to substance and policy, there's no contest. So what happened?

Trump showed up as he always does: cocky, brash and, unfortunately for him, winging it. And to borrow from Trump and his surrogates, she came "over-prepared." By the end of the night Trump appeared scared, ensnared and woefully unprepared...while Clinton was composed, disciplined, engaging, endearing and affable (as an aside, I don't think Team-Trump will be accusing her of "not smiling enough" anymore). And while she took the high road, he snaked along the curb.

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The big question leading up to Monday's debate was "which Trump will show up?" Would it be boring Trump? Toned-down Trump? Old Trump? New Trump? But it was much simpler than that. Just Trump showed up. The one and only Trump. The same smug, belittling, thin-skinned egomaniacal Trump the world has known since his rich pappy gave him that "small" $1-million loan and put him on the New York real estate map.

The Trump we saw was the familiar bloviating empty-suited bully. He was loud, angry, belligerent, combative, nasty, demeaning, dismissive, disrespectful and dishonest. He sighed, sniffled repeatedly, nervously guzzled water, made juvenile mocking faces, interrupted Clinton 30 times and was disrespectful to the moderator Lester Holt. It was not pretty. Like Nixon's performanace in 1960 against the calm, cool, polished, telegenic John F. Kennedy, it was awkward and unattractive. The only thing missing was Nixon's sweaty 5 o'clock shadow and dark-circled darting eyes.

I'm not going to get into the weeds of Trump's pathology except to say that his lying, narcissism, sexism and racism took center stage. He was consistently offensive when the subjects were the birther movement, black communities, Clinton's appearance and health, women and his "deserved" attacks on Rosie O'donnell. He justified his racial discrimination charges from the 1970's by saying other real estate developers had also been sued by the Justice Department. In Trump's convoluted world, every despicable act is justified if someone else has also done it...or done it first.

Yes, Just Trump showed up alright, and voters got a solid glimpse of the man who insisted he has the right temperament to be president even as he made that claim while seeming totally unhinged.

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Trump appeared to admit that he pays zero federal income taxes ("Because I'm smart") . He seemed to admit that he could release his tax returns at any time (said he'd do it, despite his lawyers' counsel, if Clinton releases "the 33,000 emails.").

One of the most bizarre moments came during the subject of cyber attacks and hacking, and whether the United States government is being targeted by Russia. He defended Russia, his praise of Vladimir Putin, and his challenge for the former Soviet Union to "find the missing emails," claiming that it could be anyone doing the hacking, including China or "someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds." Give him credit. Just when you think he can't offend any other voter group he goes ahead and loses the overweight block.

But the knockout punch of the debate came when Trump suggested Clinton was 'over-prepared.'

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate. And, yes, I did. You know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

The argument can be made that Trump's decision to forego the typical debate prep in and of itself is a unequivocal disqualifier. That if he doesn't think the job requires an investment in time and preparedness, then he's not fit for office. To be sure, for ninety minutes Monday night Trump drove that point home masterfully.
What would the city streets look like without cars? On September 25th, two great cities on opposite sides of the globe - Seoul and Paris - will find out by handing over the streets to pedestrians. In both cities, the entire day will be designated "car-free," banning cars from the iconic Sejong-daero in Seoul and Champs Elysees in Paris.

For decades the car and the city have existed in symbiosis as mayors and city planners pursued growth at any cost. Automobiles appeared to offer higher travel speeds, and greater convenience for citizens which should have led to faster economic growth. Yet, as anyone who has ever sat in a traffic jam at rush hour knows, the reality is very different. Crucially, we now also know that private vehicles are one of the main contributors to any cites greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore a major cause of climate change. A person driving a car at 60km per hour emits as much as 1,500 times more greenhouse gases than the same person travelling on the subway. These emissions also cause air pollution that affects the health of our most vulnerable citizens. Everyday we are suffering the consequences of conceding the streets to cars rather than people.

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In this respect, "Car-free Day," is a symbolic campaign that represents our determination as both mayors and citizens to proactively tackle climate change by shifting the transportation paradigm from cars to people.

Seoul introduced Car-free Day in 2007, so this year marks the tenth anniversary. Paris instituted its first Car-free Day on September 29, 2015, in the run-up to the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference. Since then, the Car-free Day has been repeated on the first Sunday of each month on the Champs Elysees. Last year, 45% of all roads in the east of the Seine was closed for Paris' Car-free day. This year, it will be expanded to 65%.

Seoul and Paris have long been leaders in the global fight against climate change, not least because they have seen the threat that it poses. This year, a catastrophic flood caused the Seine River to rise to its highest level in more than 34 years, forcing the Louvre and Orsay museums to close. In 2016 Seoul also suffered from a severe heatwave with the average August temperatures hitting 34.3 degrees Celsius.

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Through leadership of powerful global city networks, ICLEI and C40 Cities we have personally committed to driving international progress on tackling climate change and building sustainable, resilient and liveable cities. This week will also see the launch of the C40 Mobility Management Network, led by the city of Paris, which will bring together cities to talk about their mobility challenges and transform the way people move around their cities.

The most successful cities of the future and those that will benefit from the greatest economic growth will be the cities that adapt to the threats and opportunities of a changing climate. The Car-free Day on the streets of Seoul and Paris will provide just a glimpse of what sustainable, accessible and healthy future cities look like.
It was her husband David's terminal illness and passing away at the young age of 60 that started Sandy Caley thinking that she needed to be kind to herself and live life to the fullest. Now a "semi-retired" widow who lives alone in Nottinghamshire, England, after raising three sons, she was ready to chase her deepest, most passionate dreams.

"I just decided that if I wanted to do something, and it wasn't harming anyone else, and I could afford it, then I'd do whatever that was," Sandy said.

Throughout her adulthood, her passion for The Monkees, the group she obsessed about for years starting at age 13, lay dormant. There were other obligations and priorities, and her husband didn't understand her interest in them.

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So at the ripe young age of 63, and now a grandmother, Sandy decided that she would follow the band The Monkees around the US during their 50 year anniversary tour and make up for all those years of missed opportunities to see them. Her social media posts simply stated, "Granny's on tour again."

This raised some eyebrows with her sons, who were worried about her traveling abroad alone. So far, she's been to two concerts in the US, and she has tickets for a return trip for three more shows.

"When I heard about the 50th anniversary tour, I felt like I waited 50 years for my opportunity," Sandy said. "I was a bit nervous, but knew there would be Monkee fans at each venue, and they are like being embraced by a huge family."

Her fanaticism started when the Monkees debuted in England on television in January 1967. She fell hopelessly in love with Davy Jones, and every penny she earned went to buying Monkee albums which she "wore out" by playing them so much. Her school "satchel" was covered with the Monkees and "I love Davy" signs and she collected magazines and information on her favorite band.

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When she was 14, she heard the Monkees were appearing in London, but living in Northhampton which was 80 miles away, and no way to get there, she was unable to go to the concert. She grieved and cried for four days. Even today, she explains that how vivid and raw her feelings still are over having the band in her country but not being able to see them as a youth. It was a missed opportunity of a lifetime.

A more painful life event was the day her husband David was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She remembers that on the very same day, February 29, 2012, she turned on the television set and found out that Davy Jones passed away.

Sandy's husband passed away just a few months later and she started going through things. She came upon her old Monkees albums, and decided not to keep them because she didn't have a turntable to play them. That started her quest to replace them with a full catalog of their music, and she then discovered a whole Monkees fandom on the Internet.

"For me discovering the Monkees fans on the Internet was like speaking a very rare language your whole life that no one else spoke, and suddenly you find a whole village speaking your language," Sandy said.

Fast forward to present day when Sandy went to see Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork appearing as the Monkees at the Hammersmith Apollo in London last September, and "it was like a switch was thrown." She described the utter joy and happiness she felt at the event and just loved every minute. She knew she would have to go to see them again no matter how far away.

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She came to the US already once this past summer for a few fan happenings and conventions, and then bought tickets for three Monkees concerts for this coming October.

Once Mike Nesmith announced he would play his very last concert as a Monkee on September 16 in Los Angeles Sandy decided she had to be there, even though her other three East Coast concerts were only a month away. She flew solo the 5500 miles to Los Angeles from England by herself, traveled to San Francisco, and then returned home preparing to fly out again for the next leg of the tour in a month's time.

"I came, I saw, and I cried," Sandy said. "They have given me 50 years of joy. I am so happy for the support I received from friends and family to follow my dream."

After the Los Angeles concert, Sandy traveled to San Francisco for another show. While there, Jodi Ritzen, one of Micky Dolenz' team, found out about the "Granny Groupie," who was following the group around to several concerts. When Micky Dolenz was informed about this special fan who traveled so many miles on her own to see them, he wanted to meet her. It was then that another dream came true, one that was totally unexpected - Sandy was whisked backstage after that show and met Dolenz close up and in person.

"Those were the most extraordinary and exhilarating hours of my life," Sandy said of the concert and then getting to go backstage to meet a Monkee.

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Both Photo credits: Sarah El Ebiary

You can see the delight in Sandy's face in the photo below, just moments after she had spent some time with Dolenz.

There were other super fans at this leg of the tour who traveled an incredible number of miles to see their favorite group- most of them 50 year and 40 year fans. A group of four women from Japan traveled 5500 miles and saw four concerts, and an Australian who is seeing every concert in the US, and even a woman from Egypt, who was kind enough to snap the above photos of Sandy and Micky Dolenz.

Yet even among this group of diehard fans, everyone was most impressed with the spunky granny who traveled across the globe alone and on her own, and made her dreams come true.
By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday -October 1 marks the beginning of the week-long National Day holidays, one of the most important Chinese holidays along with the Labor Day and Spring Festival. Since it can be up to 10 day holiday, it is expected to serve as a driving force to stimulate domestic demand and promote industries related to tourism and leisure.

[The Tiananmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. Many Chinese tourists from the provinces visited the place in celebration of the National Day holidays. More tourists are expected to visit this year./ Source: Xinhua News Agency]

According to the September 26th report of the People's Daily, there are many companies and organizations offering 10-day break by adding three days to the official 7-day holiday. This seems why the number of Chinese tourists will increase compared to previous years. The tourism industry forecasts that 598 million Chinese are likely to hit the road, at home and abroad, during the holiday, up 12 percent from last year.

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China's domestic tourism market will certainly rise as well. During the holiday, Chinese residents are expected to spend 500 billion yuan (KRW 85 trillion won), up 15 percent from the previous year. This is more than twice the GDP of Jordan and Libya. Guwei, CEO at Aojia Travel Agency, said, "China has now become a country where people put a lot of importance to their pursuit of a better quality of life. This fact will be definitely true on the upcoming National Day holiday. It may also boost China's sluggish economy."

What's noteworthy is that Chinese tourists to Korea are on the rise again after Korea and the United States announced their plans to the THAAD missile defense system on the peninsula, creating uncertainty in the domestic tourism industry for a while. Sui Lan, director of Beichen travel agency in Chaoyang District, said, "It's true that the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea reduced slightly in the months of July and August. However, things have improved in September. The atmosphere will heat up even more during the National Day holiday."
There have been many questions raised about Donald Trump's fitness to be Commander-In-Chief, both intellectually and emotionally. However, the NBC Hillary/Donald Debate last night left many people wondering whether Trump has the health and stamina to be President.

In addition to Trump's constant sniffling, mugging, and sipping of water, he looked completely worn out. His energy level was disturbingly low, and gone was his orange-glow that blends so well with the decor of his gold-gilded penthouse in Trump Towers.

Donald's inexplicable sniffling has gone viral. Was he sick-- or perhaps only allergic to a strong woman like Hillary?

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In typical Trump fashion, he complained about having a defective microphone, reportedly stating "My mic was defective within the room. I wonder ... Was that on purpose? Was that on purpose?" Oh my-- he is seeing nefarious forces out to undermine Donald Trump!

In his defense, old codgers sometimes do suffer from paranoia. It may be recalled that prior to the debate, Trump questioned whether NBC moderator Lester Holt could be fair and impartial, asserting that Holt was a Democrat. Holt has reportedly been registered as a Republican since 2003. Nevertheless, Trump has now accused Holt of asking him "unfair questions."

In addition, in the past, Trump has complained that the federal judge presiding over a Trump University case is unfair because he is "Mexican," even though the judge was born in Indiana. And, of course, Trump has frequently claimed that the election will be rigged against him.

There are many previous examples of Trump's delusional behavior, including the crazy assertion that he saw thousands and thousands of people cheering on 9/11 from rooftops in New Jersey-- or an Iranian propaganda video showing $400 million cash paid by the US being unloaded from an airplane (a claim he later recanted). And let us not forget his conspiracy thoughts about Ted Cruz's father's alleged connection to Lee Harvey Oswald and the Kennedy assassination.

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Last night he seemed to have had several senior moments. And every credible fact-checker has confirmed Trump's inability to accurately recall information, coupled with some disturbing memory losses about his own prior statements.

For example, the poor fellow forgot what he said in the past that "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." And he told Hillary, "No wonder you've been fighting -- no wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life." Interesting, since ISIS didn't come into existence until 2004. Hillary is apparently much younger than she appears.

And this bizarre behavior continues to manifest itself-- he has actually convinced himself that he won the debate last night.
Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro (c). Zipi (EFE)

The combined public deficit of Spains public administrations  excluding local councils  rose during the first seven months of the year to 36.443 billion, equivalent to 3.27% of GDP. Thats according to data released on Tuesday by the Finance Ministry. The red numbers that have been racked up until July are 7.9% higher than those registered during the same period last year, and mean that Spain is increasingly unlikely to meet its public deficit target, as set by Brussels, of 4.6% this year.

Spains caretaker government is due to approve a decree on Friday to increase company tax receipts by around 6 billion, in a bid to get the countrys finances back on track. However, the public administrations will have to rein in their budgets in the last quarter of the year if they are to meet the target set by the European Commission.

Public administrations will have to rein in their budgets if they are to meet the EC target

For their part, Spains regional governments have managed to bring down their deficits by 90.3% during the first seven months of the year, to 830 million  thats the lowest amount since at least the start of the economic crisis in 2008. This reduction, the ministry explained, was due to the definitive liquidation of the 2014 accounts with a positive balance for the regions of 7.6 billion, while the 2013 definitive liquidation was in favor of [the regions] for the amount of 1.75 billion.

The Social Security system  which is the public organism that is prompting most concerns over the weakness of its accounts  registered a deficit of 0.53% in the first seven months of the year, 176% up on the previous year. Both the government and the opposition have called for reforms to the funding sources for the system, but the current political stalemate is making the possibility of a deal unlikely.

The political stalemate is making the possibility of a Social Security deal unlikely

While the ministry highlights the growth of income from social contributions, the growth of costs to the system, such as spending on pensions and other benefits, is moving at a faster pace, in part due to the ageing of the population, among other factors.

In July, the European Commission decided to cancel sanctions against Spain and Portugal despite their continuous deficit target misses. The two countries were facing fines of up to 0.2% of GDP, which in Spains case would have meant 2.2 billion. But in exchange for waiving the fines, Brussels set tough new deficit targets for Spain and Portugal: 4.6% of GDP in 2016, 3.1% in 2017 and 2.2% in 2018.

English version by Simon Hunter.
It's not uncommon for politicians in the U.S. to switch party affiliations. Many of our best American leaders and legislators have done so. While some well-known politicians switched parties in early adulthood, other American leaders have defected from one side of the aisle to the other while serving in office. In some ways, American politics is a study in contradictions: Americans view bipartisanship and independence as virtues, and yet, Americans also value party loyalty and political consistency. "It's odd that parties are sacrosanct to so many people now," says Ted Widmer, a historian at Brown University. Our current party landscape seems unexpected, "[Especially when you consider] how little the founders liked them or how fluid they have been in American history."

Here are six American politicians who have switched parties at one point or another. The list may surprise you.



1. Strom Thurmond

U.S. Senator, South Carolina (1954-2003)

Thurmond first gained national attention in 1948, when he ran for President as a "Dixiecrat" candidate who opposed racial integration and championed states' rights. Thurmond went on to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing his home state of South Carolina for nearly 50 years. His opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 moved him to switch parties and register as a Republican. Despite his opposition to desegregation and his record-breaking filibuster (which lasted over 24 hours) in 1957 to protest proposed civil rights legislation, Thurmond always insisted he wasn't bigoted or racist. Rather, as Thurmond put it, he was merely opposed to what he believed was excessive reach of the federal government.

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2. Condoleezza Rice

National Security Advisor (2001-2005); U.S. Secretary of State (2005-2009)



Many Americans are surprised to learn that Condoleezza Rice was a registered Democrat until 1982. Though Rice voted for Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election, she became disillusioned by President Carter's foreign policy-especially his handling of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Rice switched parties in 1979, voting for Ronald Reagan in the presidential election the following year. Rice spoke publicly about her decision to switch parties at the Republican National Convention in 2000. Her decision to register as a Republican, she said, was partially inspired by her Dad: "My father joined our party because the Democrats in Jim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did."

3. Hillary Clinton

First Lady of the United States (1993 - 2001) U.S. Senator, New York (2001-2009); U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013)

Hillary Clinton grew up in Chicago, where she was raised in a politically conservative household. Clinton was already politically active at a relatively young age; as a teenager in 1964, she campaigned for Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. As a college student, she even served as president of Wellesley's Young Republicans Club and attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami. Clinton's views had evolved by the time she graduated from Wellesley. She switched her party affiliation and registered as a Democrat, a party to which she's been loyal ever since.

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4. Theodore Roosevelt

NY State Assemblyman (1882-1994); Asst. Secretary of the Navy (1897-1898); Governor of New York (1899-1900); U.S. Vice President (1901); U.S. President (1901-1909)

Two years after finishing his second term as U.S. President, Teddy Roosevelt announced his plans to run for President again, for a third term, in 1911. Roosevelt's best-laid plans went astray, however, when William Howard Taft secured the Republican nomination. Determined to run in the election, Roosevelt formed the Progressive "Bull Moose" Party. Although he eventually lost the election to Woodrow Wilson, Roosevelt's third-party campaign siphoned a number of his liberal supporters away from the Republican Party. Some historians contend that this had the unintended effect of making the GOP more conservative in the years that followed.

5. Elizabeth Warren

U.S. Senator, Massachusetts (2013 - present)

Senator Elizabeth Warren wasn't always the face of progressive politics. Although we now know her as a liberal icon and powerful Democratic voice in Congress, this wasn't always the case. Warren grew up in Oklahoma, where she identified with political conservatives and voted Republican due to the pro-business stance of the Republican Party. It wasn't until 1996 that Warren would switch her political affiliation to the Democratic Party. She ran unopposed to secure the Democratic nomination to run for Senator of Massachusetts in 2012, ultimately winning the seat from incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown.
I spent some years of my boyhood in Dallas, Texas. And this summer's events in both Dallas and the Twin Cities brought on both a flood of memories (of Dallas) and a few epiphanies about our so-called North Country utopia.

I lived in Dallas in '61, 62, and part of '63, from ages 9-11, during the years of the civil rights conflicts. Most of our neighbors in the all white suburb of Irving were friendly. But some of them forbade their kids to play with me. I was, to these few a nine-year old "N--- lovin' Yankee, or a "Kennedy Communist." (Imagine a Kennedy as a communist).

Dallas was then a city segregated by law. It was also the hometown of the richest man in the world, H. L. Hunt, an oil baron who bought radio and television time with a show called "Life Line," which spewed daily invective against liberals (especially President Kennedy), Catholics, the NAACP, and the United Nations. If a Dallas citizen supported a liberal cause or supported any organization committed to civil rights, he stood the chance of being called "red" (communist) or "pink" (socialist), and may even lose his job. (I know this from my father's worries over his employment at Great Western Producers Oil).

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I might not have noticed all the tension and paranoia in Dallas had it not been for my activist mother, who had a personal animus for Ted Dealy, the publisher of the Dallas Morning News. She used to call that newspaper, write letters protesting its editorials, letters that were never published. She nearly flipped her wig after the civil rights March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. King made his "Free at Last" speech. The next morning's Dallas News' editorial referred to observing "pickaninnies squatting beneath the Lincoln Memorial." Mom tried to reach Dealey on the phone, hoping to cuss him out, but no luck. She then called the other Dallas newspaper and spent a half hour commiserating with Editor A.C. Green, of the Dallas Times Herald, who was later a mentor to journalist Molly Ivins.

We moved back to Minnesota in September of 1963. My mother considered our return to St. Paul as our Exodus. You didn't have to read lunatic editorials in the local newspapers. The Selby Dale and Rondo neighborhoods looked like paradise compared to the Dallas neighborhood called "The Bottoms," a shantytown with unpaved streets and tarpaper shacks, not unlike South Africa's Soweto. Black bodies were regularly fished out of the nearby Trinity River, and there was much talk that the all-white police were often involved in these disappearances.

Then came November, when we learned that JFK planned to visit Dallas. My mother got out her pack of Pall Malls, lighted one, exhaled, and then said with a worried tone in her voice, "Why would he go to Dallas? Look how they treated Adlai Stevenson (Stevenson, who was our UN representative, famous for his confronting the Russians during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was harangued and spit on by anti-UN crazies) I'm afraid they'll kill him."

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But things have changed in the U.S. in the ensuing years--some for the worse, some for the better. While I watched television coverage of the shooting of Philando Castile and the subsequent murder of six cops from the Dallas Police Department, I found myself gobsmacked by the changes I saw in the city of Dallas. The chief of the Dallas Police is black, as well as a fair proportion of the officers. I saw more than one black woman cop. I saw black marchers supporting their bereaved police, commenting on their heroism. The following day, the news screened a crowd of Black Lives Matter marchers make peace with, and then embrace, with Christian charity, a group of white, confederate flag flying counter protestors. Dorothy, we're not in Dallas anymore.

But the Twin Cities needs a good look in the mirror. Our lovely cities sport one of the largest gaps between whites and blacks--in income, education, and health--found in the nation. The median household income for black Minnesotans in 2014 was $27, 000, compared to $67, 000. For whites. And we've heard the stories from our black citizens about the social hypocrisy of our their white counterparts. "Minnesota Nice is Minnesota Ice," is among the favorite slogans one hears about our region.

I know, I know, officer Janez was Hispanic. He pulled over Castile allegedly because he "looked" like someone who robbed a nearby gas station. Maybe he got out of the car with his gun drawn. Maybe Castile, seeing that weapon actually did reach for his pistol, though I doubt that. And it's easy to surmise that Janez panicked. You can make all the excuses we want--about Mr. Castile and Jamar Clark. But let's own up to the profiling. Let us reach out to those who have been wronged. Let us make restitution.

I'm an unabashed supporter of Black Lives Matter. And I was fairly disgusted by the Minneapolis cops who walked out because the Minnesota Lynx--the only champion professional athletes in this northern baliwack, by the way--wore warm up jerseys supporting Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matters is not the problem, and had nothing to do with the crazy killer in Dallas.
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Whew! Even though I expected Hillary Clinton to win the first presidential debate with Donald Trump, watching it was a nerve-wracking experience. Here are my first thoughts about the debate:

1. Hillary had the best demeanor. In general, Clinton came across as composed and cheerful. Trump came across as angry and, occasionally, disdainful.

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2. Trump interrupted Clinton either by talking over her or by making snide comments such as, "that's called business, by the way" -- when she noted that Trump "was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis."

3. Although the Trump campaign has made a lot of fuss about Clinton's supposed "stamina" problem, it was Trump who wilted in the last half of the debate.

4. Clinton repeatedly trapped Trump with his own words: "Donald thinks that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese." (Trump denied this but it's verified by his Tweet.)

5. Roughly one-quarter of the way through the debate, Clinton stood up to Trump: "Well, Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but that is not the facts." (sic)

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6. After Trump blamed the supposed failings of the Obama Administration on Clinton, Hillary quipped: "I have a feeling that by the end of the evening I'm going to blamed for everything that ever happened." Trump responded, "Why not?" Clinton laughed, "Why not? Yeah, why not?" And the audience laughed with her. Clinton continued, "... just join the debate by saying more crazy things." Hillary won every round from that point forward.

7. Trump failed to explain why he has not made public his tax returns. When Clinton speculated that "he didn't pay any federal income tax," Trump quipped, "That makes me smart."

8. Roughly half way through the debate, Trump's responses began to ramble. He didn't do a good job explaining "people who were stiffed by you." He didn't explain why he believe his "stop and frisk policy" was legal even though it has been ruled unconstitutional. Trump failed to explain why, until recently, he continued his "birther" campaign. (Clinton called this "a racist lie" and noted, "he has a long history of engaging in racist behavior.")

9. When Clinton noted, "Donald supported the invasion of Iraq," Trump denied it. When the moderator, Lester Holt, questioned Trump about his statement, Trump again repeated his denial, rambling for several minutes. Trump concluded with, "I also have a much better temperament than she has, you know?" The audience laughed at him. Clinton laughed and shook her head in disbelief, "Whew, OK."

10. At the end of debate, Lester Holt reminded Trump that he had said Clinton, "Doesn't have a presidential look." Again, Trump rambled trying to explain himself. Clinton nailed him: "He tried to switch from looks to stamina, But this is a man who has called women pigs, slobs, and dogs. Trump defended himself by attacking Rose O'Donnell: "I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it."

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Image credit: PhotoDune

Police use of lethal force as a civil rights violation is a common conversation in our society as is prosecutorial misconduct caused by withholding exonerating evidence. While these cases are extreme and valid examples of civil rights violations, there are others that impact large segments of society that often go unnoticed.

No Refusal Holiday

In Texas, prosecutors announced a "No Refusal Initiative" during rodeo season, stating that if a person is pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence, they have no right to refuse to take a breathalyzer test or a blood test. While the goal of reducing drunk driving is understandable, the initiative misleads the public into believing they are required to comply with these tests. However, as Houston attorney Grant Scheiner explains "this initiative cannot override civil rights." The prosecutors threaten that if someone does refuse, the police will get a warrant for the blood sample, but they neglect to explain that if they do obtain a warrant, the driver has the right to request their doctor take the sample, and the police must comply. The No Refusal campaign misleads the public and in doing so violates the civil rights of those it prosecutes as a result.

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Police Access to Hotel Registries

A Los Angeles ordinance required hotel owners to provide police access to hotel registries without a warrant, but the owners felt this violated their clients' rights to privacy. The local law required the owners to keep a comprehensive record that included:

The guest's name and address;

The number of people in each guest's party;

The make, model, and license plate number of any guest's vehicle parked on hotel property;

The guest's date and time of arrival and scheduled departure date;

The room number assigned to the guest;

The rate charged and amount collected for the room;

The method of payment; and

A copy of a photo ID for guests who paid in cash.

This information had to be kept on file for a minimum of 90 days and be available to police upon request without a warrant or be arrested immediately.

A lawsuit filed by hotel owners resulted in a Supreme Court decision in their favor, finding the century's old law violated their 4 Amendment rights.

Big Data and Civil Rights Violations

Big Data requires the analysis of large quantities of information with the results used to direct staffing processes, production decisions, marketing tactics and more. For several years the ACLU has expressed concern that analytics could be used for discriminatory purposes and recently the Federal Trade Commission released a report that concurred with this assessment. The FTC found that there is a pot for civil rights violations in areas including employment, housing, lending, and education. Discrimination can be based on race, gender, age, and other factors. In fact, a recent study found that Google Ads presented ads for high-paying jobs disproportionally to men over women. This is a relatively new field of analytics and the potential for civil rights violations is high.

While the FTC states it is committed to monitoring big data practices for violations of civil rights laws and to bring enforcement actions where appropriate, this will be a difficult process to manage. Companies must be aware of the subtle ways their analytics can result in discriminatory behavior and incorporate best practices to avoid these circumstances.

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Social Media and Civil Rights Violations

Social media is reshaping our education system, largely for the better. These platforms are used for study tips, encouragement and learning management systems. However, the social media platform, Yik Yak is the center of a civil rights violation discussion at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia and other campuses around the country.

Students have used this Yik Yak to post racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments and many believe that their actions violates several civil rights laws, including the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A few universities are blocking this and similar apps but some experts argue that colleges and universities can't block this type of speech and are not obligated to monitor these apps. The Office of Civil Rights has begun an investigation and it remains to be seen where social media comments will qualify as civil rights violations or be protected as freedom of speech.

Bottom Line:
You want a campaign slogan for 2016?

Race. Infecting American Life Since 1492.

You don't like the choices? Trump or Hillary? You, and everyone before you, brought us to this point. For whites, it's High Noon in Mayberry. For people of color, it's high time for change.

The rabid fear of others is an American institution. We see it so much it's commonplace. We forget about it. It's hardwired to the very essence of our economy, our way of life.

Since the 1400s, xenophobia the fear of others has driven North American socioeconomics.

Racism, and its more toxic and silent offspring, racial resentment, are the tools of social control. We talk proudly about defeating fascism in Europe, but we are consumed by a disease that is so profound, so hardwired into all of our DNA, that, to overcome it, requires turning the mirror on ourselves and really seeing how it is a part of everyone's life in America.

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White power has its roots the white seafaring peoples of Europe. British. Dutch. Portuguese. Spanish. Their ability to leverage their weapons, and ability to travel to bring back far-flung resources gave them power. It was far cheaper to force people, at the point of a gun, to mine and harvest and crate and load, than it was to pay them for their labors. It spawned the hubris of "empire," and created both social and economic dislocations that sent white Europeans, British and Spanish, in search of "opportunity" to North America.

The whites who settled North America, often of this or that religious politically abused religious sect, quickly became the abusers. They subjugated or exterminated the native populations that were difficult to control. They brought in cheap labor, both voluntary and involuntary, to build and maintain economic power.

The white indentured servant was quickly replaced by the cheaper and more permanent slave as the backbone of the American agricultural economy.

When the Civil War ended slavery, the white power structure invented a raft of legal walls, Jim Crow, to keep African-Americans in subjugation.

Economic refugees of countries which Northern European white Americans saw as "inferior" the Germans, Italians, Irish, Poles, Swedes, Slavs, of the industrial era migrations, were resisted and then marginalized and vilified by white American citizens;

Low-paid Asians were brought in to build railroads and cities and work the farms in the West

When the existing base of people of color improved their lot in life through hard-fought improvements in education, housing, and civil rights, Latinos were brought in, legally and illegally, from North, Central, and South America, to do the underpaid, back-breaking work and low-desirable jobs that the generations of immigrants before them had largely vacated.

The American Dream, that oft-touted myth of equality for all, a society where hard work, not family trees, determined success, included people of color, of gender, not by design, but by the force of will of all of these suppressed peoples to be included in American life.

Liberalism, fueled by all of those European industrial migrants who inserted themselves forcefully into American culture, and who were legitimized by "media," the 20th century's new playing field of radio and film empires started by entrepreneurial immigrants and their descendents, sought some socio-political equality.

The Great Depression threw the white power structure off its solid financial feet, and in came liberalism and the New Deal. Unions and laws that prevented the exploitation of workers. Suffrage that opened the door to the gender revolution. Civil rights legislation that gave people of color the hope of social justice and equality.

The media, largely run by immigrants or first generation Americans, preached liberal ideas of equality. David beat Goliath regularly from Chaplin's "little tramp" character, and comedians like the Marx Brothers, who stuck it to the white elites, to the 1960s and 1970s where Sidney Poitier came to dinner, and blue collar white Archie Bunker found his passive racist WASP superiority under attack by a racially and socially changing America.

At the same time, though, from WWII to the 1970s, the calculus of race and racial resentment changed too. The fear of Fascism in the war, and the huge propaganda machine used to keep Americans working at full tilt to defeat it, was migrated by the white right.

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Revolutions in Russia and China demonstrated that it was possible that the large mass of workers which white America had imported to great financial gain could further turn on them, and unseat them. The propaganda machine was turned against external Communism, in Russia and China, and then, during the 1950's, against the unions and the Hollywood media that preached a color-blind, gender-equal America.

Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist witch hunts and Barry Goldwater's GOP run for president were both heavily based in white racist control, and in stoking racial resentment, the true "wall" that white America built to protect its privilege and power.

White elites generally focused on political control, but it didn't work though. The growing ranks of minorities, and greater political gains for them, increasingly was making the ballot box a poor place to make a stand.

Post-war Republican politicians until Ronald Reagan operated within the New Deal. lke was focused on building American infrastructure, reducing Cold War tensions, and resolving the Korean conflict. Richard Nixon was far more interested on global engagement in the Middle East and Asia than domestic sociopolitical control at home.

It was not until their run of Ronald Reagan that the more extremist elements of the white right invested heavily in re-engineering American politics in the latter part of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries to either control or block the liberalization of American society, in the face of the growing numbers of people of color and immigrants whose growing legal standing under the Constitution reduced their ability to be controlled and contained.

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The arrival of Barack Hussein Obama as the first African-American President of the United States was a wake up call not just for the wealthy elites, but for racial resenters.

As Pew reported, more than 100 million guns were sold since the first African-American president, Barack Obama took office.

In fact, our insane cultural stance on guns and the Second Amendment, with mass shootings happening multiple times every year, as Fusion noted in an amazing article, is all about race. "Put simply, America's gun problem is a white supremacy problem in disguise." Consider the facts:

Of the more than 300 million guns owned in the United States.

41% of guns are owned by whites, 87% of which are held in rural and suburban neighborhoods with about half held by people who identify as Republican or socially conservative.

The National Review reports that for whites, 77% of gun deaths are suicides, the vast majority of gun deaths. For blacks, 82% are homicides in a population that has some of the lowest gun ownership rates per capita (19%) in American society.

The huge amount of concentrated urban violence in cities like Chicago or Detroit or New York or Los Angeles has never been solved by law enforcement because it is a symptom of generational economic suppression of the population, the Washington Post notes.

That violence and dysfunction is also stoked by our media and games. We are what we watch. So what has American media served up?

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Until WWII, the Western pit white American "good guys" against the "savage" native Americans and the outsider immigrants trying to compete for their piece of the pie with whites.

Films, TV and radio from the 1920's to the 1960's depicted a poor mom in the kitchen, and a rich one in fabulous gowns with a black mammy cracking jokes about the crackers in the rich homes. Ma and Pa Kettle were poor and proud with a billion kids but not ambitious. Prosperity was platinum blondes sipping cocktails with stylish white men all affecting English accents and living oversized lives that few Americans really experienced.

The anti-Communist era brought xenophobia to the screen in a wide variety of movies that used everything from alien and giant lizard invasions to spy flicks to films like the Manchurian Candidate about mind control. The others were out to get us, and they were coming.

News operated by neutral to progressive owners was neutralized by the rise of right wing acquisitions of media by Rupert Murdoch, or the political conversion of owners like CBS' Sumner Redstone. Out were the Murrows, Cronkites and Rathers. In were the Rush Limbaughs on reactionary radio, Fox News and MSNBC's turn towards packaging propaganda and commentary.

Think about what you watch and take for granted:

Thousands of films filled with alien attacks threatening us with extinction

Cop and Gangster films, from the Italian mafia to the Cali Cartels all feature scary "others" brandishing guns, selling drugs and all things illicit to get rich quick, and threatening the peace and stability of white America. Movies glorify gun-toting minorities even though minorities own fewer than 19% of the weapons in the United States.

The X-Men are the minorities in threat of extinction for being "different."

73% of American-made movies feature white actors and plotlines that favor white culture, but only 46% of America, and only 16% of the world population is white. Even though the white population is a world minority, it projects its power as a majority.

Video games filled with gun toting people of color, from jihadi Arabs to the minority crime figures of Grand Theft Auto, to the array of characters of various shape and form who all code to "evil other."

We can see race on the news in the obvious as the unveiled separatism and racial hatreds of Trump's friends in the alt-Right movement, but it is much more subtle in the nice suburban white lady in Chicago who clutches her purse a little tigher in the supermarket line when a black man is standing behind her waiting in line with his groceries, or the guy who makes jokes about the fact that a black man won't move in next door to him because the white guy has big dogs.

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The combat zones of control in 2016 America are the police, and the federal government's role in interpreting whether the Constitution is used progressively or regressively.

The mistreatment of African-Americans at the hands of the police isn't new. The increasing blow-back of it, from an America that is now, by birth a minority-majority, is.

Police have been trained to serve and protect the white power structure first and foremost. Numerous national studies synthesized into a Vanity Fair article found that:

A black person, black males in particular, is three times more likely to be stopped by police

The pressure on police of "high crime" neighborhoods have nothing to do with the conduct of police at the vast majority of stops of citizens;

That people of color are more than three times likely to have invasive searches done of their person and/or vehicles, more than three times likely to be shot by police

Only a bit more than 1/4 of the time will the police actually find any contraband in their stops or short detentions of people of color for minor causes.

Social justice for people of color is a growing movement with a face that, with each police shooting, alleged or proven, is galvanizing the coalition minority-majority into action.

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Government was built to be the regulator of these social forces. Then the Far Right put its political fist into the gauge, and sand into the gears of our government. The alt-Right that backstops Trump is pro-white, anti-Constitution, and leans heavily fascist. Never before have the racial resenters, the quiet white power, found themselves lining up behind the uglier, baldfaced white power movement, until Trump became the GOP nominee.

They don't want racial, gender or social progress, but they know that if they have the power to slow it down, this election, with a Supreme Court appointment on the line, is their Alamo.

In truth, the Federal government, from Lincoln to Obama, has, guilty as charged, the federal government of the United States, in particular, has been the single political entity in America to stand up for equality and civil rights of all of its citizens. In the name of true democracy, imperfectly to be sure, it has:

Ended centuries of slavery.

Ended Jim Crow and enforced the right of minorities to vote;

Passed sweeping civil rights legislation to live up to its credo for all people;

Desegregated the schools;

Ended segregation in public places, restaurants, and shops

Established workplace equality rules;

Created a social safety net for all to live better in their elder years;

Legislated against housing discrimination and red-lining;

Strived to improve educational opportunity for children of color;

Helped feed poor children of any race and struggled to improve education and opportunity;

Provided the potential for affordable health care to bring millions the opportunity to maintain the lives, liberty and happiness.

When the federal government tried to keep the water and the air clear, and make banks and Wall Street investors accountable for their excess negatively impacting the lives of millions of Americans in Republican laissez-faire capitalist catastrophes like the Great Depression or the Great Recession, it ran afoul of the billionaire class.

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Race is the most powerful motivator in American political history. More than the economy. More than defense. Fear by whites of being overtaken internally is the driving force of history, the economy, and even our foreign policy.

Which is why, of the 41-43% of voters currently supporting Trump, 90% of them are white males.

Hillary Clinton touches off the gender rail of American white male power. There is also the millions of dollars spent by the right and our government in fruitless witch hunts, from Whitewater to Benghazi. She represents everything that white America fears: The erosion of power, the inclusion of people of color and of spectral gender at equal standing to themselves.

The coding, from Trump's racial birther rants, to the talk about ending "political correctness" to their orgiastic ritual of screaming for an impossible Wall to somehow protect them from a minority America that is already here, are how the Republican party has collapsed into a seething heap of white racial fear and social anxiety.

If James Carville, Bill Clinton's masterful campaign manager, was Hilary Clinton's top political campaign advisor, the sign over his desk for this election would be:

"It's the skin color, stupid."

Unless Mrs. Clinton can own it, channel it, and motivate enough minority and progressive white voters, fear may "Trump" progress for another four years.
Stacks of Library Books

The Department of Education has announced a Second Chance Pell Pilot Program as part of the Barack Obama administration's goals to have a fairer criminal justice system, reduce recidivism, and reduce the impact of the effects of incarceration on communities. The Second Chance Pell Program will allow incarcerated individuals to receive Pell Grants to pursue further educational opportunities while still in prison.

The program was eliminated in the 1990s, and the goal of this experimental program, offered at only aa limited number of institutions, is to provide opportunities for prisoners in a system of the highest incarceration rates in the world, and rates of release to match. Educational opportunities allow individuals to work and support their families, as well as to grow and learn personally, and ultimately reduce the rate of recidivism and further incarceration costs.

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Incarcerated individuals who participate in educational initiatives are 43% less likely to return to prison than those who don't. For every dollar spent on educational initiatives, an estimated $4 is saved on further incarceration costs.

The Pell grants cover tuition, books, and fees for eligible students in need of financial aid. For prisoners to participate, they must be eligible for release within 5 years of first enrolling in coursework. The pilot program for prisoners will not affect any other Pell funding, and the money earmarked for the program is much less than 1% of regular Pell funding.

Only a limited number of institutions have been chosen for the pilot program. California State LA launched an education program in 2015 at the state prison in Lancaster, a minimum and maximum security prison for males, and is the only university in California to offer an in-person bachelor's degree program for incarcerated students. It is an initiative of the university's Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good along with the College of Professional and Global Education and the College of Arts and Letters.

Twenty-five students are currently enrolled, with goals to further increase the program by 2018. These incarcerated students will now be eligible for Pell grants under the new pilot program. The prison also offers a range of other programs to assist with effective re-entry including plumbing, masonry, and computer literacy, as well as the Words Uncaged Lecture Series, also in partnership with Cal State LA, to offer informal educational opportunities to prisoners who are not enrolled in formal programs.

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Cal State LA is not the only school participating in the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program. 67 universities and colleges will partner with 141 federal and state institutions to educate 12,000 students. Other participating institutions include the University of Baltimore, and education will be provided in a range of formats, including prison-based education, online education, or a hybrid. Like with Cal State LA, for many participating schools, this will be an expansion of existing educational initiatives for prisoners.

The Second Chance Pell Program is not the only educational initiative of the Obama administration for incarcerated students. A range of resources has been released, as well as the My Brother's Keeper Taskforce.
Don't be fooled. The current air blitz by Russian jets, Syrian government troops and Iranian-organized ground forces would have happened without the bogus ceasefire that officially ended last week. If President Barack Obama didn't realize that when he made a ceasefire deal with Russia, then Vladimir Putin bamboozled him.

Or Obama bamboozled himself.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled the Russian bellicose intent when early in the middle of the ceasefire period, he said that U.S.-backed rebels had failed to separate themselves from the Nusra Front, a terrorist group, and so Russia would have to bomb everybody. If Moscow had any subsequent hesitation, the attack by U.S. jets on forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, killing some 60 government soldiers, provided Putin with a green light.

The Obama Administration said the air strike was a mistake. The Russians quickly bombed an aid convoy near Aleppo and Aleppo's demolition was on.

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The Russian tactics in Aleppo date at least to Moscow's 1999-2000 siege of Grozny, the capital of then-breakaway Chechnya. The siege, which included aerial bombing and heavy artillery shelling that devastated the city, had the dual purpose: to flush out civilians and guerrillas; anyone left in the city was dead meat. That's what's going on in Aleppo.

Islamist-inspired insurgents are in the east side of Aleppo and that's the target of what might be the heaviest bombing of any city in the Middle East, ever, including America's 2003 bombing of Baghdad and Israel's 1982 bombing of Beirut. Congratulations, Putin! You're Number One!

President Obama wanted to stay out of Syria, where he thought a quagmire lurked at all costs. Setting up a refugee safe zone early in the war was an option, but he feared defending such a haven would require US air intervention. Of course, Obama ended up bombing anyway (just the Islamic State, though) without much effect. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of refugees flooded into Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and, last year, Europe at the invitation of Germany's Angela Merkel. Congratulations, Obama!

Washington's haphazard policy has left Secretary of State John Kerry with an unenviable task. He is habitually down on his knees begging Russia to stop. But Putin unabashedly aims to prop up Assad and since, with Russia's help, Assad is currently winning, he has no reason to desist. In Russia's view, ceasefires are for losers.

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Iran is somehow left out of Kerry's supplication diplomacy even though Tehran oversees its own affiliated militias on the ground in Syria and keeps arms and money flowing to Assad. If Kerry approached Tehran people maybe might notice that the US-Tehran nuclear weapons deal seems to have unleashed Iran's regional war ambitions. The mullahs can carry on minus the distraction of a possible Israeli air strike on its atom facilities.

A year and a half ago, Obama predicted that the nuclear deal indeed would not heal the "deep divisions" between the US and Iran, including Iran's "support for proxies who destabilize the Middle East." Obama said, "We will remain vigilant in countering those actions." It turns out, that's all he's doing. Remaining vigilant.

It seems to me that Obama (or more likely, his successor) has three options:

He can continue as now, intervening here and there and thus consigning Syria to a slow-drip Assad victory anyway while destructive warfare continues. This option has the domestic political advantage for Obama of preserving the fiction that he doesn't actually go to war. Somehow this myth is still at large in the US, though Obama's bombing five other countries-Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Afghanistan- in case you haven't noticed.

Or, Obama can try to match the Russians by attacking the Syrian army (Assad's continued use of chemical weapons would be a ready excuse), showing Moscow that it's client can't win so easily after all and it would be better to go to peace talks right away. This, of course, would risk an open collision with Moscow, perhaps in the air. And remember, Obama doesn't want to get embroiled in Syria very much. Nobel Peace Prize winners aren't supposed to shout bombs away.

Or Obama can throw in the towel, do nothing and effectively give way to Assad as the lesser of many evils. Let Russia wipe out the Islamic State, if it can. Such a decision would surrender an unhappy Sunni Muslim population, largely centered in Syria's marginalized (and now battered) cities and rural areas, to an inevitable post-war crackdown and long-term police state. Lots of refugees might well refuse to go back. Critics and supporters of Obama would complain that such an option ruins American credibility, the great bogeyman of US foreign policy failures. On the other hand, what credibility does Obama have in managing Middle East crises?

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Katie Meyler wrote the above poem after Abigail, a 11 year-old girl she met in Liberia's impoverished West Point region, went missing.

Meyler, founder of the nonprofit organization More Than Me (MTM), first met Abigail about two years after MTM was founded. During that time, Abigail and Meyler had formed a close relationship after Abigail mentioned that she was involved in sex work "because [she] didn't have any water." When she went missing, Meyler feared that Abigail had been trafficked.

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Abigail was found 3 months later, but the sentiment expressed in her poem holds true as the foundational mantra behind MTM -- that every girl in Liberia deserves an education. MTM believes that empowering and educating Liberian girls is the single most powerful way to effect social change that will transform Liberia's future for the better.

But in Meyler's own words, a superhero she is not: she's "just a person with a beating heart."

Born into a family relying on government assistance, Meyler never imagined she'd one day be a TIME Person of the Year or be invited to speak at prestigious conferences like the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit, which will be hosted in Boston from October 16 - 19.

Indeed, she was just a working-class girl whose only light in her life was helping others. When she studied abroad in a developing country for the first time, she realized that -- despite being labeled "poor" as a child -- in a global context, she was actually one of the richest people in the world.

More Than Me represents Meyler's conviction to do something about it.

The seeds of MTM were planted when Meyler, in one of her first jobs out of college, was running an adult literacy program in a Liberian village called Koyah. As she talked more and more with the local children, she realized how inadequate their schooling was.

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"Where I live, a kid's biggest dream is being an astronaut," Meyler explains. "Where these kids live, their biggest dream was just to go to school."

Meyler didn't know how to start her own nonprofit organization. She didn't know how to host a fundraiser. But she did know one thing: she was going to spread these children's stories, no matter what.

So she connected with her friends and family and used the uniting power of social media to inspire people to help pay for these children's school fees. Eventually, she gained traction: first, a local newspaper wrote about her; later, a wealthy couple in her town hosted a barbecue that raised $40,000 for her cause; finally, a friend helped her through the paperwork to establish MTM as an official organization.

As time goes on, MTM's successes have increased exponentially. In 2012, for instance, the company received a $1M grant as a part of Chase's Giving Awards.

But as Meyler's successes have multiplied, so too have her challenges. When the ebola epidemic hit Liberia, MTM was faced with a plethora of harrowing new challenges.

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Meyler, however, didn't let this stop her. In fact, she only became more tenacious in her determination to achieve her organization's mission.

"The only way to ensure that ebola never takes another devastating toll on human life is to rebuild Liberia's infrastructures, and this starts with education," Meyler says. "With the strong foundation of a good education, Liberians will be prepared to lead their country through any emergency and have the capacity needed to revitalize their country within this generation."

Nowadays, MTM's vision becomes more tangible each day. The More Than Me Academy, a tuition-free K-6 girls' school in Monrovia (Liberia's capital city), is among the top-performing schools in the country -- both in terms of academic fields like math and literacy, but also in terms of students' self-reported levels of hope and happiness.

Indeed, Meyler and MTM have come a long way: what started as one woman's plea to help pay for a few children's school fees has blossomed into a fully-fledged nonprofit organization that provides education and basic healthcare and social services to hundreds of girls in Liberia.

And Meyler did it all without cutting-edge technology, prestigious degrees, or millions of dollars to her name.

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As Meyler puts it, "The people that change this planet for the better are no different from you and me."

Meyler's message to others? Stop waiting for others to solve the world's problems. "Too often, we wait for people to solve our problems, thinking that MIT or Silicon Valley is going to save us," Meyler explains. "But really, ordinary people are the changemakers. We are the ones who can change what we don't like in the world."

Meyler's success wasn't magic. It wasn't a coincidence. Rather, she found something in the world that mattered to her, and fought relentlessly for it.
The G20 summit of the world's top economies held recently in Hangzhou, China, was a big show short on substance. But one important incident flew under the radar that the media, conveniently or ignorantly, failed to highlight its importance: 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 doesn't pass muster under the lenses of international relations. As I explained to my students in the international relations master's program at Texas A&M University-Commerce, in international relations context matters. How China treats the U.S. president sends a message.

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So was this mere miscommunication? I don't 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 it's 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 Beijing's 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 China's perspective, the incident offers a pointed response to the U.S. stance on China's 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).

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China's 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 China's ongoing construction in the South China Sea in defiance of the International Tribunal Court's 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, China's 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 America's 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. Alas, the emerging new geopolitical landscape will prove to be far beyond the ability of Washington to control and influence alone.
A Wells Fargo branch is seen in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, U.S. on February 10, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo

The country's major banks are like trouble-making adolescents. They constantly get involved in some new and unimagined form of mischief. Back in the housing bubble years it was the pushing, packaging, and selling of fraudulent mortgages. Just a few years later we had JP Morgan, the country's largest bank, incurring billions in losses from the gambling debts of its "London Whale" subsidiary. And now we have the story of Wells Fargo, which fired 5,300 workers for selling phony accounts to the bank's customers.

It is important to understand what is involved in this latest incident at Wells Fargo. The bank didn't just discover last month that these employees had been ripping off its customers. These firings date back to 2011. The company has known for years that low level employees were ripping off customers by assigning them accounts - and charging for them - which they did not ask for. And this was not an isolated incident, 5,300 workers is a lot of people even for a huge bank like Wells Fargo.

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When so many workers break the rules, this suggests a problem with the system, not bad behavior by a rogue employee. And, it is not hard to find the problem with the system. The bank gave these low level employees stringent quotas for account sales. In order to make these quotas, bank employees routinely made up phony accounts. This practice went on for five years.

As it became aware of widespread abuses, it's hard to understand why the bank would not change its quota system for employees. One possibility is that they actually encouraged this behavior, since the new accounts (even phony accounts) would be seen as good news on Wall Street and drive up the bank's stock price.

Certainly Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, as a major share and options holder, stood to gain from propping up the stock price, as pointed out by reporter David Dayen. In keeping with this explanation, Carrie Tolsted, the executive most immediately responsible for overseeing account sales, announced her resignation and took away $125 million in compensation. This is equal to the annual pay of roughly 5,000 starting bank tellers at Wells Fargo. That is not ordinarily the way employees are treated when they seriously mess up on the job.

Regardless of the exact motives, the real question is what will be the consequences for Stumpf and other top executives. Thus far, he has been forced to stand before a Senate committee and look contrite for four hours. Stumpf stands to make $19 million this year in compensation. That's almost $5 million for each hour of contrition. Millions of trouble-making high school students must be very jealous.

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There is little reason for most of us to worry about Stumpf contrition, or lack thereof. His bank broke the law repeatedly on a large scale. And, he was aware of these violations, yet he nonetheless left in place the incentive structure that caused them. In the adult world this should mean jail time.

This is not a question of being vindictive towards Stumpf, it's a matter of getting the incentives right. If the only price for large-scale law breaking by the top executives of the big banks is a few hours of public shaming, but the rewards are tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in compensation, then we will continue to see bankers disregard the law, as they did at Wells Fargo and they did on a larger scale during the run-up of housing bubble.

There is another aspect to the Wells Fargo scandal that is worth considering. Insofar as the bank was booking revenue on accounts that didn't exist, it was also ripping off the banks' shareholders. The shareholders' interests are supposed to be protected by the bank's board of directors.

It doesn't seem the shareholders got much help there. It is a very prominent group, including Elaine Chao, a member of President George W. Bush's cabinet (and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's wife) and Frederico Pena, a member of President Clinton's cabinet. Of course the board also includes Mr. Stumpf as chair.

It's hard not to wonder if the board ever asked questions about the large number of employees being fired for creating phony accounts. Did the board ever ask if they could get a CEO who was just as good for lower pay? For example, could they have paid Stumpf or his replacement half as much ($9.5 million a year) and gotten someone just as good, or would this person only have needed to fire 2650 employees for ripping off the bank's customers.

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STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

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Convenience, speed and efficiency have turned texting into a primary form of personal communication for many of us. Text messages are becoming increasingly common in business for the same reasons.



While it's fun and easy to send an abbreviation-filled, emoji-studded message to a friend, the rules are different when texting clients, colleagues and your boss.

Here are 10 texting etiquette tips to help you reap the benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls.



1. Text only when there is an established business relationship.

Once you have developed a comfortable relationship in person or by email, ask what their preference of communication is and let it be your guide. A text should never be your first contact with a business associate.

2. Pay attention to timing.

Limit texting to work hours. You wouldn't call a client with a great idea right before you climbed into bed for the evening, so don't text them at that hour either. Sending a text after hours signals urgency. Wait until the next business day to relay your message.

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3. Know when to make a call.

Anything complex that might require further explanation should be handled with an email or a phone call. However, a short text could be a good start to inquire as to the best time to talk.

4. Keep it brief.

With voice-to-text capabilities, it's easy to send a rambling, lengthy text message. If your message is more than a couple of sentences in length, a phone call or email is probably better. Not only do long texts get broken apart and sent in random order, but they defeat the purpose of this tool, which is to communicate short messages quickly.

5. Don't text confidential news.

Texting is not the venue to convey delicate or difficult information. As with other digital communication, be careful about what you type - remember that your words can live on forever in a screenshot. Once you hit send, it's out of your control.

6. Remain professional.

Every piece of communication is a reflection of your professionalism, including a simple text. Even though there are hundreds of fun emoji's, reserve them for your personal correspondence. Avoid abbreviations that are confusing at worst, silly at best. As with every form of communication, spelling and punctuation count.

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7. Text clear, specific information.

A text message doesn't allow for subtleties. Use texts for information that has little room for misinterpretation. Avoid attempts at humor or witty remarks - without a lot of context, your message could get lost in translation.

8. Reply promptly.

Texting conveys a sense of immediacy. When you receive a message from a client or your boss, respond in a timely manner. On the other hand, when a text is emotional, give yourself some time to think your response through. The speed of texting is why we love it, but don't let it work against you.

9. Put it away.

Being glued to your phone takes away from your professional image and can be quite distracting. Just as you wouldn't check your email every 10 seconds, give your phone a rest so you can observe your environment and engage with others.

10. Sign off gracefully.

Some text threads go on and on, as though each party doesn't want to be the first to close the conversation. When the communication goal has been reached, end the exchange with a clear departure, such as a thank you or a promise to follow up soon.



You may also like my recent article, Job Interview Tips: 7 Things Employers Notice.
Access to modern contraception saves and transforms women's lives. It transforms their families and communities, too. Family planning is one of the best investments countries can make for women's empowerment, gender equality and economic prosperity.

Still, wherever I travel, I continue to meet women and girls who are unable to exercise their right to choose whether or when to have children.

Women like Melody Abadji, a 24-year-old food vendor in the Republic of Benin, who became pregnant at 18, before she and her partner were ready.

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"We didn't want to have any children because of our difficult financial situation," she said.

Melody was forced to drop out of school and put her dreams on hold. To support their baby, the couple moved from the northern city of Parakou to Cotonou to find work, leaving the child with her parents.

In Cotonou, Melody learned about a clinic run by the Benin Family Planning Association, an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The clinic receives health commodities, including male and female condoms and a wide range of hormonal contraceptives, from UNFPA Supplies, the largest global fund dedicated to family planning.

Melody opted to receive a contraceptive implant to avoid pregnancy until she and her partner were more financially stable.

But far too many women and couples still lack access to modern contraception.

Today, as we mark World Contraception Day, some 225 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe and effective family planning methods. Moreover, a global funding crisis is threatening family planning programmes like the one in Cotonou.

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Last year alone, contraceptives provided by UNFPA Supplies averted an estimated 9 million unintended pregnancies and 26,000 maternal deaths. This support saved families and countries approximately $500 million in pregnancy, delivery and other health care costs.

These kinds of gains are at risk.

And this jeopardizes the health and well-being of millions of women and adolescent girls and global prospects for sustainable development.

As for Melody, she recently returned to the clinic in Cotonou to have her implant removed.

"Now we are ready," she said.

Together, let us recommit ourselves to ensuring that every women and adolescent girl has the means and information to delay pregnancy until she is ready.

Today, I call on global leaders and the international community to prioritize funding for contraceptives and the systems that deliver them.
During the year of grace 2013, I worked as a Swedish for immigrants language teacher in the outskirts of my hometown Stockholm. Sweden is statistically multicultural, with roughly one-fifth of the population being born abroad or with both parents being born abroad. As a society though, it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to integration. The municipality where I was working, still has Sweden's second highest immigrant population per capita at nearly 40%. When I met one student on the metro and asked if he enjoyed living there, his reply was "Nah. Norsborg, Afghanistan. Same thing."

Ironically, meeting native Swedes is a common difficulty among those who move to Sweden. Besides offering insights like this, the students invited me to dinners and birthday parties. The way I was included in their cultures, that was how I wished more people got included into the Swedish society.

So, the idea of United Invitations (in Swedish it's Invitationsdepartementet) really came from them. It's an initiative where immigrants who study Swedish are invited to the homes of native Swedes for dinner, or vice versa. A dinner that is free of charge for the guest, served at home and takes place with no further obligations then to meet and eat this one time. If you become friends - that's great, and around 25% of participants do. But we also believe that anyone is nice enough to have dinner with, at least once.

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After one of the initial dinners, a guest from Pakistan told me that this was the first time during his two years in Sweden that he had been invited to a native's house for dinner. I remember finding that remarkable. Since then I've heard of the first invitations in seven, nine, eleven years. A woman from Eritrea, who for the first time after 20 years had dinner at a Swedish couple's home, asked if someone were paying them to do this. The answer is no, as no one pays or gets paid to participate and the host cooks the food at their own expense.

The idea of sharing food is ancient and anyone can start their own chapter. What began with a simple invitation handed out in a few classes, eventually grew into initiatives in 44 locations in Sweden and another thirty something around Europe. In Stockholm we had 200 dinners the first year, three times as many the following year, and another 600 already this year. And yet a city of nearly a million inhabitants, so much more can be done.

I am fully aware of the larger challenges facing the Swedish society as a whole, with lack of housing, access to labour markets and polarized political views. But when it comes to integration - have we even tried, if we haven't even shared meal?

Sweden, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eritrea. Well, same thing when it comes to a love for food. By sharing meatballs, biryani, injera, we also share our values, opinions and, maybe most importantly, our time.



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In 1851, the world got a little faster.

Thats the year the first worlds fair opened in London. Six million people visited and marveled at the new technology on display, and watched with pleasure as men traded telegraphed messages instantly between London and Manchester. The defeat of distance was magical, and it was just the beginning.

Good connections transform society. And the exhibition visitors not only sensed a new age, they felt it rushing in and welcomed the transformation.

They were right. By 1873, news traveled instantly to and from over 20,000 towns worldwide. Instant communication and other technological developments created a new world in the 20th century, one that grew more connected and dependent on technology as the pace of change grew ever faster.

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Our 21st century is another new, yet very different age, and the publics mood about technology has altered. Just this year, weve seen a cyber-Watergate with the Democratic National Committee, and intruders are poised to meddle further with our elections. Weve seen a 300 percent increase in ransomware. Weve also seen central banks like the one in Bangladesh looted of millions.

Analysts estimate that cybercrime overall caused about $3 trillion in damage in 2015; one report from Cybersecurity Ventures says the sum will jump to $6 trillion in 2021. Thats about three times the nominal GDP of India today. But in fact there is no good way to estimate the cost of a future deferred. We do know that if the telegraph had been deferred, the loss in prosperity would have been enormous.

What can we do?

First, the world must train more cybersecurity professionals. They maintain the soundest locks in history and strategize endlessly against the criminal infrastructure. There is a vast and urgent need for more. Cisco estimates that, worldwide, one million jobs remain unfilled in cybersecurity; that figure will probably grow each year and universities must redouble efforts to provide these cyber warriors.

Second, we need better education for the public. Everyone understands a robbery in a bank, but for many, cybercrime feels abstract and unreal. Its harder to think about what you dont comprehend. Careless people are the primary entry point for these thieves, and we need to teach individuals how to, in a sense, walk under the bright lights of the Internet and not take rides from strangers. Universities will help keep people informed as digital threats mutate.

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Third, we must encourage those who can to fund the technology needed to thwart cybercrime. Many organizations are working on the problem, but fundamental breakthroughs have always come from universities, the foundation of modern science and technology. Thats why the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, Universities create the future. You can see it emerging in universities and the many beneficiaries of its knowledge transfer, such as science parks, consultancies, and companies. We all know about the big changes wrought by campus-bred companies like Google, but universities give us innovations on every level.

If you recall, universities helped create the Internet itself. So its no surprise they are the innovators in cybersecurity research and education. At NYIT, weve been advancing the field for the past 10 years and hosting conferences for seven, including one this week, to bring together foremost experts from business, government, and academia, to spur dialog and find solutions to cybersecurity challenges. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency named us a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, one of only eight in New York. Weve also just established Cisco Academies on our campuses in New York, Vancouver, and Abu Dhabi. With our partner Cisco, well give hands-on, experience-based training in these labs to both students and professionals.

Last August, DHS awarded preliminary funding of $1.3 million to 13 firms to further research blockchain data structures that keep bitcoin secure, and that may keep websites secure as well. But we cant succeed without more funding. And it cant come soon enough.
We're clearing out our basement getting ready to finish it. I've come across the soda can collection I started when we were stationed in Germany. I've carted these empty cans across the Atlantic from Jersey to Iowa and now they're in Minnesota. They are worthless (I mean for some of these cans I went digging through garbage cans in Europe) but they remind me of my childhood.



That's the thing for a military brat; they have no "home" station. I cannot go back to the place where I grew up because that would mean going to Illinois, Okinawa, Japan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Mississippi, Ramstein Germany, and New Jersey.



When you're a brat you have memories and friends literally all over the world. There's a sense of homeless-ness about it.

When people say, "Oh where are you from?" I typically respond with, "Well, my dad was in the Air Force for 20 years, so everywhere?" You pick up accents easily because you learned as a child that if you didn't sound native you were made fun of. You quickly figure out that coke means pop and pop means soda. You learn the vernacular of the area and if that means your little North Dakotan self is going to start saying, "ya'll" by golly you'll do it with gusto.







You vividly remember stopping everything at 1700 because the anthem is playing somewhere on base. You feel weird when you see someone dressed in BDU's without a hat on outside. "Where is their hat?!" you inwardly scream to yourself and heavens help your anxious heart if you see someone exhibiting public displays of affection while in a uniform.



Some things just cannot be mimicked for the military brat during their adult life.



A sense of community, for example, far greater than anything you will find outside of a military community does not exist. You quickly learn that the people around you while you're away from family become your family. Blood has nothing to do with it and in a way your military family understands you better than any extended blood relative will ever understand. You understand that life is temporary, most tours last three years at the max, and so you open yourself up quickly. Civilian friendships can take years to create; a military brat friendship can be created in a matter of weeks. That doesn't translate into the civilian world well at all. The military brat living in a civilian world opens up to others quickly. It's what they know. It just isn't how the civilian world works. Most people take their time getting to know each other but as a military brat you learned that if you didn't open yourself up quickly you simply didn't have friends. But don't worry, you'll be PSCing soon and can recreate yourself at the next base.







That temporary feeling of life a military brat feels certainly isn't normal in the civilian lifestyle.

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Every three years you start to get the itch to leave. It's just normal, pack up and move out to the next place. Nothing lasts forever. Moving is comforting for you. Saying good bye, while it's devastating, there's a sense of hopefulness and adventure for the next place you will call home.



You call your surroundings "home" not because it's where your parents planted their roots or because you're planting your roots but because it's where your family is. You see, while your physical location and the people surrounding you may change your family unit remains the same. That is where your home is. They are your home. The military community you move into, while it may contain different people than your previous one, still operates the same way. This is home and stepping into that familiar community as an adult military brat makes you feel like you are home.



And so as an adult military brat raising civilian children you begin to answer many questions.



"Mommy, what was your house like when you were a kid?"

So you respond to them by asking them at which age they're talking about because you didn't live in just one place.

You sort through boxes of your childhood belongings and say things like, "We got this in Brussels" and "I think Grammy bought this for me when she visited Korea."

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And as you watch their eyes widen you begin to understand that while you understood at a very young age just how big the world is, your children will never inherently know this. While flying on airplanes by the age of two, living oceans away from extended family, and depending on those who are physically near you is so comfortable to you it is not normal to the civilian you've married or the civilian community you live in.





You find yourself enjoying the first and second seasons of Army Wives because there's a sense of nostalgia and it fills this craving of a hometown. Then you imagine that a civilian must feel this way when they physically walk into their childhood house.



You look at your child's Kindergarten class and marvel at the fact that your child will graduate high school with many of these classmates. You can't even remember your own Kindergarten classmates.



You find it difficult to even empathize with your child when they cannot adapt easily to change. You find yourself saying things like, "Nothing in life is permanent," or "you can't do anything to change the situation so you need to just get over it." It's not that you don't care. In fact, you love your children more than you love anything else in this world.



You see, a military brat grew up in a world where future outcomes were uncertain: You had no say in where you would live next, you had no say in the color paint you could use in your bedroom because nine times out of ten you were renting or living on base which meant that you couldn't paint your bedroom, you had no control of whether or not your parent would be deployed. As a military brat, you learned at an early age that there is much you have no control over so you better make the best of what you have.
Just when you thought the madness of the 2016 presidential campaign couldn't get anymore insane, guess what, it has. Many people are probably aware of the comments made by Kathy Miller, volunteer chairwoman of GOP nominee Donald Trump's presidential campaign in northeastern Ohio's Mahoning County. In an interview with a reporter for The Guardian,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct_7KJluOqY Miller said that "I don't think there was any racism until Obama got elected. We never had problems like this. You know, I'm in the real estate industry. There's none."

As one can imagine, all hell broke loose in the bloggersphere. Social media went to town lambasting Miller like a roasted turkey for her out of touch comments. My reaction to her comments was: Lady, are you serious? Where the hell have you been all this time?

Miller, in fact, was just getting warmed up. She fancied herself calling out Black America further by saying: "If you're Black and you haven't been successful in the last 50 years, it's your own fault. You had every opportunity; it was given to you. You had the benefits that White kids didn't have. You had all the advantages and didn't take advantage of it. It's not our fault, certainly."

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The fact is that such comments are false, pitiful and woefully ignorant. It is the rhetoric of a pitifully ill-informed and clueless person. Just last week, the day after Miller made her inaccurate remarks, the Economic Policy Institute released a report conducted by Valerie Wilson and William M. Rodgers III that showed that Black-White wage gaps are larger today than they were in 1979 .http://www.epi.org/publication/black-white-wage-gaps-expand-with-rising-wage-inequality/ and that neither education or good intentions has managed to close this gap.

Does Miller actually believe that President Obama is responsible for Jim Crow, the lynchings and segregation that were the law of the land prior to 1964? If so, she and others who harbor a similar mindset are in a deep, funky level of cluelessness and denial bordering on the irredeemable. In regard to her comments that there was no racism in the 1960s, as a historian, I do not have time to discuss that one here. That is another entire column. I will limit my reaction to three words: yes there was!

On a related note, given the fact that she is in the real estate industry, surely Miller must be aware of redlining, banks refusing to grant conventional mortgages and insurance to predominantly Black neighborhoods, blockbusting, fearmongering and other antics that resulted in White flight and sizable profits for those agents who perversely and shamelessly exploited that situation.

Apologizing for her "inappropriate" comments Miller resigned her chairmanship and her eligibility to be an elector in the electoral college and was replaced by a Black female radio talks show host, Tracey Winbush. To be sure, Miller was not the only Republican engaging in outlandish, indefensible commentary. North Carolina congressman Robert Pittenger told BBC news reporter James Bryant that Black protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina were rioting because they were jealous and resentful of the success of White people.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFU7qNZ8VYM

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Pittenger also was called out and apologized for his ludicrous rhetoric. CNN commentator Don Lemon, who sometimes harbors an ambiguous position on racial matters, took the congressman to the verbal woodshed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFU7qNZ8VYM for his comments. Interestingly, Pittenger resorted to a mild version of the "some of my best friends are Black" defense as he informed Lemon that he has discussed the matter with some of his "dear Black colleagues and longtime friends" in the congressional Black Caucus and they had accepted his apology.

It appears that both misguided individuals, Miller and Pittenger, are oblivious to the fact that:

 Black kids are suspended from school at rates five times higher than their representation in the student population.

 Banks routinely discriminate against Black customers who apply for loans.

 Applicants with Black sounding names are 50% less likely to be hired than those whose names are more White identified with the same qualifications.

 Black people are being disproportionately murdered by cops.

 Blacks are far more likely to be arrested for using drugs despite using drugs at the same rate or less than Whites and so on..

The real hard, truthful reality is that Miller and Pittenger are not outliers or mere aberrations. They and their viewpoints represent a large portion of White Americans and some Black Americans who are in supreme denial about the grim realities of the educational, economic, judicial and social issues many Black and brown Americans face.

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What is even more alarming as well as important is the fact that many White people like Kathy Miller and Robert Pittenger do not see themselves as bigots. While I do not know their hearts, I would like to believe that neither of these individuals are hardcore racists. Rather, I would say without hesitation that they (and far too many other White people) suffer from a severe and chronic level of racial ignorance and naivete.
Glenn Waco is a hip hop artist from a small town in the northern quadrant of Portland, St John's. He began rapping as a coping mechanism when his grandmother became paralyzed, and Waco says that rapping has always been a "therapeutic process" for him. In 2013 Waco dropped his first album "NorthBound" which was a critically acclaimed local album and as member of The Resistance hip hop collective with Rasheed Jamal and Mic Capes, Waco became a foremost hip hop artist for our generation of Portland rap artist. In 2014 Waco put his music on hold and became heavily involved in activism after Darren Wilson's acquittal in Ferguson. He has worked fearlessly with his mentor and founder of Don't Shoot PDX Teressa Raiford and has emerged as one of the youngest, and most powerful community leaders in Portland. I have had the privilege of working with the musical genius as well as social justice warrior, Glenn Waco, and sat down with him to talk briefly about his first single, Assata, and his upcoming album "Human."

Grace Wong: Why Assata? Why now? (For those unfamiliar with the case, Assata Shakur was a Black Panther and member of the Black Liberation Army who was convicted for a series of crimes between 1971 and 1973, but was most known for being shot with her hands up in a shootout between herself and the New Jersey State Troopers in '73. She was incarcerated in a series of prisons, but in 1979 escaped from prison to Cuba where she received political asylum and has been living since. n 2013 she became the first woman to on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorist Watch List. Along with the FBI price, the New Jersey Attorney General matched the reward for her capture: $2 million. Black Lives Matter has taken this instance of a black woman being shot with her hands up as a powerful image to inspire change within racist police bureaus and as a call to end police brutality towards black and brown community members)

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Glenn Waco: The events that occurred in the 1970s directly connect to what we're going through now in 2016 so I wanted to reach back and connect the dots to the present in order to gain clarity about what's going on right now.

A 1993 report was just recently unearthed in which a former Nixon aide John Ehrlichman revealed that the War on Drugs was started to criminalize black people. Around the same time there was a government effort to dismantle and neutralize black nationalist movements through the FBI counter-intelligence program (COINTELPRO). According to the program's founder J. Edgar Hoover, the program was founded out of fear of a black messiah, someone who could unify these organizations. In a post MLK & Malcolm, a lot of Black Panthers lived in exile or were imprisoned on false charges.

Assata Shakur's case sounds like it could have happened in 2016. In short she was shot with her hands up, accused of killing a New Jersey state trooper even though forensic evidence proved she never touched a gun and medical evidence proved she was physically incapable of lifting her arm to shoot a gun in the first place. She was then chained to her hospital bed, tortured by police officers, spent years of solitary confinement in men's prisons and was convicted by a proven racist all-white jury but to this day those details are ignored and she's the one labeled a terrorist.

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Assata Shakur is turning 70 soon, she's Tupac's godmother and a political refugee not a terrorist. I want to help spread awareness about her case so that she can live the rest of her life out in peace.

Grace Wong: What was your inspiration behind "Human"?

Glenn Waco: This struggle that we're going through is nothing new. What separates American slavery from others is the fact that black slaves were viewed as being sub-human. There's entire sciences based on the pain, suffering and trauma of black women stemming from experiments on slaves that we practice to this day. Black people in America have been fighting for human rights since before we set foot on American soil.

9 million+ died on the slave ships heading here alone. This isn't a civil rights issue, it has to be recognized as a human issue because it's not only our civil liberties being violated we're being told when, where, how and why we are allowed to exist and occupy spaces. We're not only being denied civil rights, we're being denied the right to be human beings.

Grace Wong: There are so many issues to care about. Further, you have music to be making. Why do you care about and devote so much time to social justice issues?



Glenn Waco: Social justice has roots of threatening my right to exist as a black man in America. The first slaves arrived here in Jamestown 1619, the United States of America was founded in 1776. Today The KKK are not categorized as a terrorist organization but currently conservatives are pushing for Black Lives Matter to be labeled as a terrorist organization. There's a presidential candidate whose supported by the KKK, Neo Nazis and other white supremacist organizations openly. 73% of police murders are committed by white males yet all you hear about is how officers need to fear black men. 2015 was the safest year for police officers since the 1980's yet we're to believe there's a 'War on Cops'

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In retrospect according to the research that's been conducted, police officers have killed 700+ so far this year and if we're to compare national averages according to the Bureau of Justice, American police officers kill an average of 930 people per year, Canadian police 25, Germany 8, Australia 5 and the United Kingdom 2.

Where is the war on dissension from oppression in this country with Black, Latino, and Native Americans bearing the brunt of the war?

Human rights are being violated, that violation has gone unchecked for quite some time. If we're to ever progress, we must talk about the cause of systemic oppression rather than zoning in on the effects such as gang violence and mitigate the root of the problems.

Grace Wong: What has been an unforgettable moment in your activism work?

Glenn Waco: The night of our first and biggest protests- I was between a line of police and everyone else, hundreds of people. It had come to a halt and as I was motioning everyone to turn back around and continue on route, the police in full militarized uniforms targeted me with flash-bang grenades right at my feet. I will never forget that.

On another occasion me and Marcus Cooper, another Don't Shoot PDX activist, saved a kid's life after a drive-by shooting at a parade in Portland called Last Thursday. After saving this kid, we surrounded by police and nearly murdered ourselves. The icing on the cake was being slandered by the local media in spite of being heroes. The positive side to all of this is I've had the blessing of influencing a lot of change and inspiring a lot of people to wake up and get proactive rather than reactive.

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By Jeremy Adam Smith

News coverage of sexting tends to focus on the negative. When teens and politicians get caught exchanging nude pictures and lascivious messages on their phones, they're publicly shamed. And their relationships can suffer profoundly, as when Anthony Weiner's wife left him after The New York Post published the disgraced politician's extramarital sexts.

But is there a positive side to sexting? Could it contribute to healthier and more satisfying relationships for adults? The research to date says yes--but only in certain conditions. It also says that sexting has become extremely common.

"Sending someone a sext message is not much different than writing an 1800's erotic love note," says Joe Currin, research coordinator for the Sexual Health Research Lab at Oklahoma State University. "Behaviors are adapting to the use of newer technologies. We just now have the ability to express our sexuality in real time."

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So what factors make the difference between good sexting and bad sexting? Here's a list.

1. Enthusiastic consent

This should go without saying, but common sense plus research says that sexting needs to be mutual, enthusiastic, and consensual. Sexting gets a bad name partially because too many people receive unsolicited and unwanted nude pictures. Properly speaking, this is sexual harassment, not sexting, and it can be scary.

People can also be compelled to sext against their will, which may be linked to other kinds of abuse. A study published last month in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that 21 percent of the 885 undergraduates surveyed--most of them women--had been coerced at some point into providing sexual messages. The study also linked coerced sexting to "mental health symptoms, sexual problems, and attachment dysfunction," which leads the researchers to describe it as a form of intimate partner abuse. In fact, this and several studies published last year suggest that coerced sexting may be a danger sign that the relationship could involve physical coercion or even violence.

This leads to the next condition for successful sexting.

2. Emotional safety, respect, and communication

Sexting is not the same as sex, in the sense that bodies are not directly interacting. It is, rather, minds interacting through phones. Just as sex flourishes in conditions of physical safety and respect, so sexting requires a certain degree of emotional safety if it is to work for both parties. When that condition is absent, sexting hurts the relationship.

This may sound simple, but the research reveals some tricky nuances. A study published earlier this year found that people who feared looking bad in the eyes of their partners were more likely to engage in sexting, suggesting that while the sexts weren't necessarily coerced, they were being exchanged only to please a partner, not themselves. It suggests, further, that they didn't feel confident enough in the relationship to simply say "no" to unwanted sexual activity.

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Currin's research with colleagues actually finds that heterosexual women feel a lot of anxiety when they don't want to reply to a sext--but lesbians and men do not. Why? It may have a lot to do with the degree to which a woman wants to conform to a traditionally feminine ideal--what Currin calls a "controlling image"--which pits pressure to comply against seeing sexts as simply lewd.

"For non-heterosexual individuals, they're already going against what society says they should be doing--so doing this other behavior doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother the other person," says Currin.

This line of research suggests sexting needs to occur within the wider context of honest, back-and-forth conversation. How does your partner really feel about sexting? What kinds of sexts are acceptable and what are not? In what circumstances, if any, could pictures or text be shared? Is there a type of communication that feels threatening or just uncomfortable? While it may seem not-fun to have such conversations, their absence can destroy a relationship.

This is especially the case when a partner has past bad experiences--or an insecure attachment style.

3. Pay attention to attachment

The most interesting dimension of sexting research involves attachment theory, which refers to how childhood relationships with our parents can shape our adult ones. People who grow up to have a secure attachment style find intimacy easy; those with anxious or even avoidant styles might struggle with closeness and cooperation.

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Sexting can help a couple become more attuned to each other, says Rob Weisskirch, a researcher at California State University, Monterey Bay. But many studies find that it can also hint at anxiety. According to this research, insecurely attached people are more likely to engage in sexting--and this, for them, is actually associated with greater relationship satisfaction. Why, and what this means, is still a matter of debate among researchers and therapists.

It doesn't necessarily mean that sexting is unhealthy, says Indiana University psychologist Michelle Drouin. "Instead, it is more likely that those who want to keep a bit more distance in their relationship (and women who want to keep partners closer) use sexting to fill sexual needs. For these individuals, sexting may actually help them by increasing their sexual or relationship satisfaction."

The bottom line is that in this dimension of a relationship, as in others, it pays to know your attachment style--and that of your partner. "Recognize the attachment pattern and look for ways of providing the feedback needed," suggests Weisskirch. (Incidentally, one Hungarian study published last year found that attachment style can even extend to our relationship with our phones.)

4. (Creative) honesty

Like other items on this list, honesty falls into the category of obvious-but-tricky. Several studies suggest that deception-while-sexting is commonplace--and this is especially true for women who try to avoid emotional connection and intimacy, often as a result of childhood experiences.

A 2014 study by Michelle Drouin and colleagues found that almost half of the people in their sample of 155 heterosexual college students had sent deceptive sexts. These were often benign or even playful lies about what they were wearing or their state of arousal that were intended to entertain or titillate their partners. Women lied far more often than men, but mainly if they were anxiously attached--implying that they worried their significant other might go away if he didn't get what he wanted.

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"Lying during sexting, just like pretending orgasm in a face-to-face context, is more likely to occur among those with insecure attachments to relationship partners," write the authors.

So, should you never lie when sexting? Instead of making up sexy details or responses, is it better just to say, "I'm bored" or "I'm grocery shopping" or "I'm wearing that pair of underwear that sags around my butt"? To Drouin, it really depends.

"In a follow-up paper I've done, but not yet published, I found that many people consider sexting just fantasy," says Drouin. "They use sexting to spice things up, and few are honest about what they are doing, wearing, or intending to do with a partner. Additionally, most people know and expect that others aren't being honest during sexting."

So is it better build up a fantasy or keep it real? "Depends on your personal boundaries, both sexually and in terms of how authentic you want your interaction to be," says Drouin.



Which gets us back to consent, safety, communication, and emotional security. "Sure, sexting might be used to spice up a sexual relationship, but if one partner or another doesn't feel like the communication is appropriate or authentic, it could also cause issues in the relationship," says Drouin. At its best, sexting is playful and imaginative. If everyone is knowingly and voluntarily participating in the fantasy, it's fun. If they're not, it can hurt the relationship.
By Yasmin Anwar

Living in unabashedly racist communities can shorten the lives of both blacks and whites, according to new research published in Psychological Science.

Researchers compared the racial biases of nearly 1.4 million people nationwide to death rates in more than 1,700 US counties. Their findings suggest that blacks and, to a lesser degree, whites who reside in overtly racist communities are more prone to dying from heart disease and other circulatory diseases.

"This suggests that living in a racially hostile environment might be detrimental to both the group targeted by this bias, in this case blacks, as well as the group that harbors the bias, in this case whites," said study lead author Jordan Leitner, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at UC Berkeley.

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Researchers also found a racial gap in perceived access to affordable health care. The study found that blacks living in more bigoted communities reported having less access to affordable health care. Meanwhile, whites reported relatively high access to affordable health care, regardless of the racial bias of their community.

The study controlled for age, education, income, population, rural vs. urban environments, and other factors that might influence health.

While previous studies have connected perceived discrimination to negative health outcomes, this is the first to take large data sets, which were not previously available, and measure relationships between whites' racial bias and the health of whites and blacks in their community, Leitner said.

To conduct the study, researchers compared death rates from circulatory diseases from 2003 to 2013--collected by the Centers for Disease Control--with racial bias data from Project Implicit, a website that provides tests to measure explicit and implicit biases related to gender, religion, and race. Explicit bias refers to more conscious biases, while implicit bias reflects more nuanced automatic biases.

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To assess implicit racial bias, study participants viewed a series of faces on a computer screen and pressed certain keys to categorize the faces as black or white. Next, they viewed a series of positive and negative words such as "nasty," "agony," "joy," and "peace," and used keys to categorize these words as "good" or "bad."

The same key was sometimes used to identify a black or white face, and to identify a positive or negative attribute. Participants who were faster at hitting the key associated with, say, a black face and with a negative attribute scored higher in implicit bias because they were quicker to make the association between black people and negative attributes.

To measure overt racial attitudes, participants rated on a scale of 0 to 10 the warmth of their feelings about whites and blacks. Overt racism was defined as greater warmth towards whites, as compared to blacks. Although the data depend on self-reported feelings about race, the sheer volume of responses (nearly 1.4 million) offers insight into the racial attitudes of a community, Leitner said.

Analysis of the data showed that counties in which people reported higher levels of racial bias also had higher rates of heart-disease-related deaths, and that blacks were most negatively impacted by this trend.

"We found that whites' explicit bias was more powerful than their implicit bias at predicting negative health outcomes for blacks," Leitner said.

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As for the link between whites' explicit racial bias and death rates, Leitner said, a recent study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that whites in highly biased communities are less likely to trust and bond with others in their community, and this lack of social connectedness may have negative health implications.

Circulatory disorders, which include heart attacks, angina, and coronary heart disease, are the leading cause of death in the United States. While the study cannot make a causal link between racism and circulatory disease deaths, researchers speculate that the environmental stress of racial hostility combined with discrimination in health care may create or exacerbate circulatory problems for blacks.

"One possibility is that blacks in racially hostile communities experience lower-quality health care, or may avoid seeking health care, even if it is available, because they feel like they won't be treated fairly," Leitner said.

Overall, Leitner said, the study reinforces the enduring power of overt racism, discussion of which has been eclipsed in recent years by a growing awareness of unconscious biases.

"It's become more normative over the past 40 years to be egalitarian, and being labeled a racist is stigmatizing in many communities," Leitner said.

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But while explicit racism has decreased on a national scale, he said, "it's still a powerful predictor of how whites and blacks fare health-wise in a community."

Next, Leitner plans to look into long-term trends to see if racial biases are actually causing health disparities. He also intends to explore how blacks' racial attitudes affect health outcomes.
Canadian doctors can now prescribe heroin to people with serious addictions to the drug.

This change is thanks to new regulations approved earlier this month by the Canadian government.

The government says this treatment will be limited to a small number of users "in cases where traditional options have been tried and proven ineffective."

Doctors will need to apply to Health Canada -- the country's health department -- for access to pharmaceutical grade heroin (diacetylmorphine).

Requests will be approved on a case-by-case basis as part of the government-run Special Access Programme.

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Shift in approach

This new policy is part of a shift by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government away from the previous Conservative government's approach toward fighting drug addiction and misuse.

In April, the government also announced it will introduce legislation next year to legalize the sale of marijuana.

According to The Washington Post, some members of the Canadian Conservative party remain opposed to the use of prescription heroin as a treatment option for those with an opioid addiction.

Others welcome the change.

"It's good that the federal government is considering the most vulnerable patients and people in Canada," Dr. Scott MacDonald, lead physician at the Providence Crosstown Clinic in British Columbia, told Healthline.

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The clinic, which is funded by the provincial government, has been using diacetylmorphine for several years to treat people with heroin addiction. Patients visit the clinic up to three times a day for injections of heroin from a nurse.

This is part of a special court-ordered exemption granted in 2014. The new regulations are expected to allow the clinic to expand its program.

Small number of users

But the government's new stance will hardly open up the floodgates to people seeking prescription heroin.

This treatment is focused on the small minority of users who have tried and not been helped by standard treatments for opioid addiction, such as methadone and suboxone.

"Here in Vancouver we have a small number of people who have tried everything. That number may be 500 people," said MacDonald. "We're currently treating 150. Maybe someday we can treat 500."

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MacDonald says many of his patients have been using heroin for a long time -- one for 50 years.

Long-term heroin use can have severe effects on the health of users, including an increased risk of collapsed veins, arthritis, and liver and kidney disease. Users also have a higher risk of becoming infected with HIV, hepatitis, or other infectious diseases.

In 2014 about 10,000 Americans died from a heroin overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The situation is similar in Canada.

"We need every option available," said MacDonald. "This is a crisis. People are dying daily from opioid overdoses here in British Columbia and across the country."

MacDonald says the goal of Crosstown's program is to coax people who are addicted to heroin into treatment -- and to keep them coming back.

For the people who might benefit from prescription heroin, it will still not be an easy route.

"When people are started on these treatments," said MacDonald, "we need to acknowledge -- and they need to accept -- that this is going to be long-term treatment for most."

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As people get their lives back on track, some may switch to less-intensive treatments like methadone or suboxone. Others may be able to get off these drugs completely.

Long track record

While the new regulations in Canada are pushing the boundaries of how drug addiction is treated in the country, the use of prescription heroin as a treatment is not new.

This treatment has been available in Europe for many years, including almost 100 years in the United Kingdom.

Several randomized clinical trials -- such as one published in 2009 in the New England Journal of Medicine -- have also been conducted looking at the effectiveness of this treatment.

"The results [of these clinical trials] were all unanimous -- showing benefit. There is very good and substantial evidence that this is safe, effective, and cost-effective," said MacDonald. "I don't understand the delay in implementing it."

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By Shawn Radcliffe
How could Armenia purchase "Iskander tactical missile systems?

Brief Notes about Iskanders During the military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independence of Armenia, the Iskander tactical missile systems were displayed among other military equipment. Union of Informed Citizens NGO has tried to gather information about those systems and their purchase. Price As it is known, on June 26 of 2015, a contract on Providing a State Export Loan to the RA Government was signed between Armenia and Russia. According to the contract, Armenia was supposed to purchase 200 million USD-worth weapons and military equipment from Russia and pay for the purchased items during 10 years. However, according to the response letter received recently from the RA Ministry of Finance, those 200 million USD had not been used yet by the date of September 13 of 2016. And according to Article 2 of the aforementioned contract, the use of the loan shall start from the day of the delivery of the weapons. It means that Russia had not provided any weapons or other military equipment to Armenia within the framework of the loan as of September 13 (when the Iskanders were already surely in Armenia). This allows us to claim with confidence that the Iskander systems (among other weapons) were not purchased with the loan but by direct payment. In fact, it was confirmed by Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan in his interview to Radio Liberty, who said that it was obtained at the expense of our budget spending. This Iskanders deal is not yet reflected either in the UN Register of Conventional Arms or the Stockholm International Peace Institute reports. Hence, it is difficult to assess the amount that the Armenian taxpayers have paid for those systems. However, according to the evaluations by different experts, one brigade of these systems costs 200-300 million USD. The brigade is composed of 12 launching systems. During the 25th anniversary parade in Yerevan, 4 launching systems were shown. Hence, we can assume that the Iskanders cost the Armenian budget 70-100 million USD. Range Some Russian, Azerbaijani and Turkish sources have come up with publications in which 500 kilometers were mentioned as the radius of destruction of the Armenian Iskanders. However, during the military parade in Yerevan, 300km was announced as the radius of destruction of the systems. The point is that there are different types of 9K720 Iskander systems (SS26 Stone by NATOs classification): Iskander-M, Iskander-K and Iskander-E. During the Yerevan military parade, the launching systems were concealed and it was not possible to form a clear understanding of the type the Armenian Iskanders belong to. According to the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (also known as the Hague Code of Conduct), its member countries (including Russia) are obliged not to sell missiles exceeding the range of 300 kilometers to other countries. In order to meet the requirements of that Code, Russia created the so-called export-oriented Iskander E. According to official data, the latter have a 280km range. Most probably, particularly this type has been supplied to Armenia (in this case, the announced range of 300 km is closer to reality). In this regard, we should note that the Iskanders should be transported to Nagorno Karabagh in order to be able to strike objects around Baku because Baku is 305km far from the closest point in Armenia. However, the transportation of those systems to Nagorno Karabagh is dangerous both politically and diplomatically. Daniel Ioannisyan Union of Informed Citizens
A recent University of Virginia study found that racial bias in pain assessment may result in African Americans being undertreated for their chronic pain. This finding, coupled with the Center for Disease Control's new opioid prescribing guidelines, suggests African Americans and their practitioners must be their own best advocates for diagnosing and properly treating pain. One in three Americans live with chronic pain, according to the Institute of Medicine's 2011 report, Relieving Pain in America, and the causes range from injury to diseases, including cancer, arthritis, heart disease and more.



September is Pain Awareness Month, a time when health professionals and organizations - including nurse practitioners - focus our patient communities on the importance of diagnosing, treating and managing their chronic pain. As a nurse practitioner who has worked with thousands of patients to root out the cause of chronic pain and treat it head on, I want to offer some concrete strategies to African Americans living with chronic pain.



1) Focus on the Underlying Cause

Your pain doesn't come out of nowhere; there's something causing it. Your health care provider can help you identify the cause of your pain, and your health depends on it. By visiting with your nurse practitioner or other health care provider, you can partner to make a diagnosis and start a treatment plan to address your pain - and the underlying condition.



2) Communicate With Your Provider

In order to treat your condition, your health care provider needs to know as much as possible about how your pain is affecting you. That's why the American Association of Nurse Practitioners recommends patients keep a daily health log to monitor their pain symptoms, and communicate the frequency and impact of those symptoms on their daily lives. When it comes to treating complex conditions, knowledge is power to both patients and their health care providers.



3) Consider the Potential of Non-Drug Treatments

In addition to pain medication, chronic pain can be eased by non-drug treatments. The Cleveland Clinic recommends strategies from light to moderate exercise, acupuncture, massage and spinal cord stimulation, based upon the cause of chronic pain and the patient's symptoms. The American Chronic Pain Association also has a resource guide that lists therapeutic exercises for managing your chronic pain.
The recent controversy over EpiPen pricing has caused appropriate dismay among Americans who recognize the serious risks involved for allergic individuals. The controversy also provides an important opportunity to better understand the issues underlying pharmaceutical pricing in the United States. The epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) market in this country is a remarkable microcosm of almost every issue involved and those that are currently haunting pharmaceutical market policies in the United States; access challenges, rapidly growing affordability barriers, lack of meaningful competition, and limited innovation.

EAIs are neither niche products nor optional prescriptions; they are a life-saving treatment, as the tens of millions of people with food and other allergies know. A large percentage of EAI users are pediatric patients and this highlights issues related to the provision of pediatric drugs. EAI are device/drug combinations, leading to unique regulatory problems. The concept of a "generic" drug has been raised in multiple ways with EAI including questions surrounding safe importation policies. Finally, many entities including insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and suppliers all play major, but poorly understood roles in consumer cost for this drug. It is therefore worthwhile to look at five major takeaways from this current controversy that highlight issues needing attention in pharmaceutical markets.

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1) Different types of companies now compete in pharmaceutical markets. Special incentives have been provided to pharmaceutical companies over the years to encourage research and development and innovation. Unfortunately, many companies now enjoying the advantages associated with branded drugs do not perform research and development. These companies are better described as sales and marketing organizations that happen to sell pharmaceutical products. Mylan did not develop and does not even manufacture EpiPen instead focusing on marketing to increase profit from this product. Companies who get the benefits of special considerations as 'innovators' (longer patent protection, regulated generic competition, etc.) but do not have development costs should be handled differently by policymakers, insurers and the public.

2) A "generic" drug is a complex concept. Making an identical drug molecule is fairly straightforward with current chemistry capabilities. The epinephrine in an EAI is a generic drug, identical in all EAIs; however each EAI device delivering epinephrine is considered unique. The EpiPen manufacturer appears to have exploited this definition two ways, using the uniqueness of the device to identify it as "branded" with the FDA (to limit competition) while portraying the same device to be "generic' with CMS (to improve reimbursement). This is important since branded drugs get additional protection from generics through manufacturing patents and patent extensions for doing activities like pediatric studies. Clearly the FDA needs to address the definition of a generic device so as not to limit competition for EAI and other products.

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3) The United States pharmaceutical market is distinctive from those in other industrialized countries. There are multiple, approved competitors to the EpiPen in almost every industrialized country other than the U.S. In the EU, thanks to clearer and less expensive regulatory and marketing paths, there are at least three approved devices that compete with the EpiPen. These devices compare favorably with the EpiPen in size and ease-of-use, but no manufacturer has applied to bring them to the U.S. Despite recent attempts to "harmonize" the approval pathways between EU regulators and FDA, the path to U.S. approval for an approved EU device remains long, costly and uncertain. This seems out of alignment with a desire for more competitive markets. The FDA has the authority to allow importation of competitors during shortages of important generic drugs. Congress should empower the FDA to act similarly when the actions of drug monopolies potentially put patients at risk.

4) Access to pharmaceuticals in U.S. healthcare plans is controlled by a complex set of organizations. Insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and pharmaceutical companies all control access to therapeutics for patients in insurance plans. Patients often have limited access to different medications because of agreements made between these entities. While these deals could theoretically benefit patients if cost savings are passed on to them, plans with high deductibles or large out-of-pocket costs can keep the savings while limiting the choices of patients. A lack of public transparency on who is benefiting from these deals makes meaningful dialogue difficult. As one example, before it was withdrawn from the market, the Auvi-Q (an EpiPen competitor) appeared to be eliminated from many insurance plans because of aggressive competitive pricing. Unfortunately, in many cases that pricing appeared to provide little direct patient financial benefit despite the downside of a restricted formulary. We need to realign incentives to enhance patient access and affordability, while encouraging market competition and innovation.

5) "New" marketing of "old" drugs combined with steep market entry barriers from both insurers and regulators harm markets and prevent long-term innovation. The simplest concept here is that aggressive EpiPen marketing, enabled by a lack of development costs, can prevent better and more effective EAI devices from coming to market. More broadly, companies that do not perform research and development do not use profits to create innovative new drugs. While use of an EAI in an emergency situation can stabilize allergic reactions, allergic patients would be better served by new medications that prevent allergic reactions altogether. We must end practices that favor marketing over innovation.

The current discussion around the EpiPen appropriately focuses on the acute need to help patients with access to EAIs. However, we believe the U.S. needs to urgently address the market forces that have led to this problem. We all benefit from market dynamics that favor innovation and new medications, while we suffer from dysfunctional markets that stifle competition. While liberals and conservatives alike can debate the different approaches to restore market competitiveness, reinvigorating the pharmaceutical marketplace in the U.S. is a concept all Americans should support.
"Good for Mike Coffman."

That's the first line of an August Denver Post editorial, and, as it turns out, an excellent summation of the The Post editorial page's singular stance toward Coffman over many years.

I just finished reviewing five years of Post editorials mentioning Coffman, and, of the 43 editorials citing the Aurora Republican Congressman during that period, including two endorsements, he's been criticized only four times, while being praised in 34 editorials. The newspaper has lauded him mostly on issues related to the Veterans Administation but also on immigration, Selective Service, Afghanistan, marijuana, the federal budget, and more.

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In 2013, Coffman threatened to shut down the government instead of raising the debt ceiling. Nothing from The Post. And nothing from The Post when Coffman belittled global-warming science in 2013.

The Post was silent in 2012 when Coffman said Obama was not an American "in his heart," and Coffman strangely told 9News' Kyle Clark five times: "I stand by my statement that I misspoke, and I apologize."

Coffman's positions over many years have been at odds with stances The Post has taken. But the newspaper has been mostly silent.

To be fair, a more cursory analysis shows that The Post doesn't criticize U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet much either, and he was also endorsed by The Post.

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The difference? Bennet's policy positions, on the issues mentioned above and others, align very closely with The Post's, while Coffman's do not.

You can't blame Post editorial page editor Chuck Plunkett for much of this, since he took over the job exactly three months ago, but I called him anyway for his take on whether the newspaper deliberately refrains from criticizing Coffman, even when his positions clash with the newspaper's editorial views.

"I think this is an election year stunt, not a genuine analysis," he told me, arguing that there was no news hook for my blog post and I was not focusing on The Post's treatment of other elected officials. "You're picking Mike Coffman, when Morgan Carroll is struggling. Why is that? It looks like you're trying to aid Morgan more than you are legitimately trying to critique an institution."

I explained to Plunkett that as a progressive media critic, I look for instances where news outlets tilt rightward. That's my bias, and with the election coming up, now is a valid time to analyze The Post's editorial-page approach to Coffman, which I found inexplicable.

"As a journalist, I think trying to analyze a newspaper's position over time is very tricky, especially if you only look at one particular angle," Plunkett told me. "There are all kinds of things that go into thinking about an editorial or an endorsement or what have you."

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"You're right," Plunkett acknowledged, "when a newspaper endorses someone, that same board is going to be, understandably, more protective of that person."

"But one the things I like about our business is, we don't make friends and we don't make promises," he said. "And if someone crosses us, or crosses what we believe is a reasonable line, we call them on it."

I told Plunkett that he was making my point exactly, that The Post should have been more critical of Coffman over these five years, even if the newspaper endorsed him.

"That's where you've got me in a rough spot, because I wasn't on the board over the past five years," Plunkett responded. "I had absolutely zero influence on those pieces."

I told Plunkett that I understood, and would make it clear I wasn't blaming him for The Post's love affair with Mike Coffman. Why would I blame Plunkett? In fact, the pattern even goes back further than the tenure of former editorial page editor Vincent Carroll.

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I'm hoping this changes. It's bad editorial writing. The Post is missing an opportunity to influence Coffman and advance the issues the newspaper cares about.
He lauded countries upholding civil rights and functioning under representative governments and berated those rejecting the "model of free societies." The President powerfully warned of the danger of religious fundamentalism and blasted nations responsible for igniting the "proxy wars that fuel disorder," yet did not mention Iran by name--the chief perpetrator of this international crime, as he did North Korea in regards to their nuclear tests. Just last year, President Obama stated that Iran's "support for terrorism" and "its use of proxies to destabilize parts of the Middle East" was problematic despite the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ("Nuclear Deal") reached at that time, that allowed Iran access to millions of previously frozen funds. Yet, bafflingly -- just five minutes after mentioning terror proxies in his address - President Obama seemed to turn a blind eye to Iran's ongoing offenses by saying, "when Iran agrees to accept constraints on its nuclear program, that enhances global security and enhances Iran's ability to work with other nations." Today, Iran is poised to move funds to its global terror proxies more easily due to the infusion of cash created by the unfreezing of their assets. Even John Kerry admitted in 2015 that some of the money going back to Iran through sanctions relief would undoubtedly go to fund terrorism. So, we all know it's happening and yet nothing is being done to stop them or to even state this obvious fact aloud before the very body that is designed to protect against such international violations. The UN Convention that prohibits terrorism financing explicitly outlines the illegality of any government that commits such an offense when it "directly or indirectly, unlawfully and willfully, provides or collects funds with the intention that they should be used or in the knowledge that they are to be used, in full or in part, in order to carry out . . . act(s) intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to a civilian, or to any other person not taking an active part in the hostilities in a situation of armed conflict, when the purpose of such act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act" (Article 2(1)). All of which, Iran is guilty of in spades. Additionally, the Iranian government remains the U.S. State Department's top proxy war and terror sponsor. Previous reports from the U.S. State Department note that Iran remains "unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qa'ida (AQ) members [and has] previously allowed AQ facilitators to operate a core facilitation pipeline through Iran." The state department has also highlighted Iran's provision of "hundreds of millions of dollars in support of H[e]zballah in Lebanon and has trained thousands of its fighters . . . in direct support of the Assad regime in Syria" as well as terrorist groups in Palestine (Hamas), Yemen (Houthis) and "throughout the Middle East." President Obama's appeals to the oppressive government of Iran have clearly fallen on deaf ears. In a one on one with MSNBC's Chuck Todd merely 24 hours after Obama's UN speech, Iranian President Rouhani stated "if the future administration of the United States wishes to continue animosity, it will receive the appropriate response." The Iranian leader rightfully fears a future administration that may not be willing to tolerate a total disregard for international law or human rights, given that even President Obama's positive nod to Iran at the UN was met with the label of "continued animosity." No amount of vocal, material, or financial appeasement can ease relations with the State Department's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Despite repeated efforts by President Obama, it will not get better until the Iranian regime abandons its practice of funding terrorism, inciting proxy wars throughout the Middle East, and oppressing their own people by using their resources to build and test weapons before providing the infrastructure needed to create a stable economy and free society for their people. While Iranian civilians and citizens were paying $7 for a loaf of bread (according to a personal source in Iran) with very little government reprieve or resource allocation to ease such conditions prior to the Nuclear Deal sanctions relief, the Iranian regime was spending over $6 billion to support the Assad regime in Syria in its efforts to ensure a Shi'a majority in the region. The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its non-adherence to international law and its desire to finance terror globally in places like Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. It must be held responsible for using funds to bankroll violence and oppression instead of providing basic necessities and freedoms for its own people. Iran must "listen to voices of young people everywhere who call out for freedom, and dignity, and the opportunity to control their own lives." Rouhani made it clear that despite all of the steps we've taken, including acknowledging them positively at the Assembly of Nations in NY, nothing we've done has thawed our relationship or helped to improve the security of people living in the areas ruled by Iran or its terror proxies. Our leaders must continue to speak out against Iran's human rights violations and the financing of terror if we ever hope to see change and remain a positive beacon of democracy and freedom.
In synchrony with their philosophy of "indulging in the finer things in life for a deep appreciation of humanity and nature," The Orpheus Luxury Collection proudly hosted a fundraiser to benefit the Hellenic Education & Language Program (H.E.L.P.) recently in Astoria, Queens as part of its Philanthropy Through Travel Initiative.



The children and the mothers of H.E.L.P. dancing in unison.

Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.



Georgia Nomikos, owner of The Orpheus Luxury Collection, speaking on the

importance of Hellenic language and ideals. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

The Hellenic Education and Language Program is a not-for-profit, community-based initiative of the Hellenic diaspora of America and its purpose is to sustain the Hellenic heritage, culture, and language. The goal of the event was to raise necessary funds to ensure the survival of such a program that provides opportunities to existing and future students being educated as the Hellenes -- the humanists -- of tomorrow.

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The young Goddesses performing their dance. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.



An invaluable cause very dear to Georgia Nomikos is reflected in her personal belief in preserving the Hellenic language and ideals, as well as the identity and knowledge, for generations to come. As Georgia has repeatedly stated "It is these ideals that we have an obligation to pass down to future generations, for the betterment of our Humanity today - and the future."



The beauty of Hellas was reflected in the faces of the Orpheus Luxury Collection

team. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

The event aptly themed, "Eros in Muse," highlighted the beauty and dynamic force of Eros with unforgettable and thoroughly entertaining performances of music, theater, poetry, dance, and art.



Soprano Eleni Calenos singing Tosca. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.



The author spoke on the need to spark H.E.L.P. with Georgia Nomikos.

Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

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The program opened with the dynamic soprano, Eleni Calenos, who impeccably performed Vissi d'arte from Puccini's Tosca and song to the moon. Praised by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker for her outstanding and memorable performances, Eleni was truly inspirational, winning the hearts of the audience.



Surrounded by Sophia Kokonas and Angelika Sandora, Georgia Nomikos

was triumphant. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

Ancient Hellenic theatrical performances ensued, carrying the guests to a distant past love for culture and learning. Angelika Sandora and Sophia Kokonas showcased their talents as well. These young Hellene actors held us spellbound to the Ancient Hellenic erotic atmosphere.

Their repertoire of the famous classic Hellenic tragedies of Sophocles' Antigone and Euripides' Hippolytus rendered, in both classic Greek and English, came to hypnotizing end with the monologue of Phaedra and her love for Hippolytus.



Many of the J. Luce Foundation team attended and supported the event.

Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

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The second part of the program opened with enthralling performances by Anna Tsoukala, a multi-talented actor from the National Theater of Greece, accompanied on piano by Gregory Post, composer, soloist, and graduate from Julliard and the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music.



Chryssi Kasimis along with Y.S.E.E. and H.E.L.P. leaders and founders

Kostas Kamberis, Georgia Nomikos, Nikos Petratos, Theodore Kalavesios,

and Dino Malliaros. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.



Dr. Kazuko Hillyer Tatsumura, Georgia Nomikos, Grigoria Kamaterou,

the author, and the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Orpheus Luxury

Collection, Eleni Tsagianni. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

Dignitaries included Ambassador George Iliopoulos, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic in New York, and Grigoria Kamaterou, Director, USA and Canada of The Greek National Tourism Organization as well as many prominent New Yorkers including Dr. Kazuko Hillyer Tatsumura and Danielle Duret, M.D.



Grigoria Kamaterou with H.E.L.P. Board Member Nikos Petratos, PTO President Effie Skordilis, Georgia Nomikos, Amb. George Iliopoulos, H.E.L.P. Board members Eva Halkias and Chris Orfanakos, and PTO Vice President Marina Loizos.

Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

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This is not the first time Orpheus Luxury Collection has organized and showcased such worthwhile causes. From their Aesthetics in Motion event (2013) to their Philanthropy through Travel Initiative (2015) and the Hellenic Fund of our foundation (2015), Georgia Nomikos continuously raises awareness with the greatest passion for such philanthropic endeavors.



Renowned hairstylist to the stars, Patrice Bisiot, Georgia Nomikos, the author,

and foundation director Tony Abdelghany. Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

Our foundation greatly esteems and supports causes in tandem with our mission of supporting Young Global Leadership. We recently appointed Georgia Nomikos to our Board of Directors in recognition of her support of so many philanthropic events. Her enormous energy and benevolence to improve the lives of children worldwide, no matter their ethnicity, is extremely admirable.



Leaders and supporters of the Hellenic community pose with

Georgia Nomikos (center). Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.



"And a good time was had by all." Photo: Orpheus Luxury Collection.

A magnificent reception, exceptional Hellenic gastronomic delights, wines and spirits, Greek music and dancing ensued.

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The soaring cost of EpiPens is the latest in a long run of wildly increased costs of prescription drugs that are unaffordable to many, such as Turing's Daraprim for toxoplasmosis (5,000 percent overnight price increase) and Gilead's Sovaldi for hepatitis C ($84,000 for a 12-week treatment). These greedy grabs by their manufacturers create public anger and even congressional inquiries, but the corporate system of price escalations grinds on without relief on the horizon as Big PhRMA and its lobbyists continue to prevail. (1)

Mylan's EpiPen story is a classic poster child for continued corporate greed that knows no bounds. Its EpiPen 2-Pak contains epinephrine with an easy-to-use auto-injector. It is a life-saving treatment for severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis in both children and adults. Since EpiPens generally expire after a year, its prescriptions need to be regularly refilled. The cost of a two-pack has gone up from $94.00 in 2007 to $609 today, more than a six-fold increase, while Medicare spending for EpiPens grew by almost 1,100 percent from 2007 to 2014.(2)

Why this huge jump? Look no farther than corporate greed and malfeasance. The backstory boggles the mind. Between 2007 and 2014, the annual compensation of Heather Bresch, Mylan's CEO, went up by 671 percent from $2.4 million (when Mylan bought EpiPen) to $18.9 million.

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Farther back, the story is even worse. Bresch is the daughter of Democratic U. S. Senator Joe Manchin III, former governor of West Virginia. She got her first job at Mylan as a favor from Milan Puskar, an earlier Mylan CEO. A scandal erupted at that time when it was discovered that Puskar had donated $20 million to West Virginia University (WVU), whose president was a Manchin and Bresch family friend, and where Heather Bresch was awarded an MBA. (3) A major investigation by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette found that she had not completed the MBA program. That was followed by an independent report that revealed falsification of her transcripts, which led to resignation of WVU's provost and business school dean as well as revocation of her MBA. (4)

Heather survived the scandal and rose from a factory basement job at Mylan to lobbyist to CEO. She was Mylan's chief lobbyist when the Medicare prescription drug law was passed in 2003. In 2012 and 2013, Mylan spent about $4 million lobbying for EpiPens and for legislation including the 2013 School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act. All this lobbying has worked out well for Mylan, which has the dominant market share for this kind of product. In 2014, the company did a tax inversion by making a deal with Abbott Laboratories to incorporate in the Netherlands. (5)

Even if insured, this kind of pricing for what is an essential drug is unaffordable to many, especially for those with high-deductible plans. A family needing a pair of life-saving treatments for an allergic family member has to pay the full price out-of-pocket until the deductible is reached, which may be $3,000 or more these days. Since prescriptions for EpiPens have to be refilled every year, this becomes an annual expense. (6) As Senator Bernie Sanders has recently said: "There's no reason an EpiPen, which costs Mylan just a few dollars to make, should cost families more than $600." (7)

The market for EpiPens is huge. About 40 million Americans have severe allergies to bee stings, spider bites and some foods such as nuts and shellfish. They have to have ready access to EpiPens to guard against anaphylactic shock. Mylan has a virtual monopoly on the injector units for the life-saving epinephrine. More than 3.6 million prescriptions for EpiPen two-packs were filled in 2015, bringing annual revenue to Mylan of almost $1.7 billion. (8)



Mylan has contributed heavily to both presidential campaigns. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the company has contributed up to $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation, while one of its leading stockholders--with 22 million shares--is the hedge fund owned and managed by the billionaire John Paulson, a Trump bankroller. Mylan's political action committee has also given to congressional candidates on both sides of the aisle. At least $71,000 has been given to congressional candidates in this election cycle, including to Heather Bresch's father, Senator Joe Manchin III. (9)

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So the greed lives on without any fix in sight. Mylan will, of course, continue to lobby for no price controls and minimal regulation as it sucks our wallets dry without remorse. It will take a tidal wave of grassroots backlash and political will in both parties to redress this ongoing scandal.

References:

1. Geyman, JP. Big PhRMA: Blatant greed and disregard for the public

interest. The Huffington Post, November 19, 2015.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-geyman/big-phrma-blatant-greed-a_b_8595032.html

2. Appleby, J, Carey, MA. It's not just for kids: Medicare Epi-Pen spending up 1,100 percent. Kaiser Health News, September 21, 2016.

http://khn.org/news/its-not-just-for-kids-medicare-epipen-spending-up-1100-percent/

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3. Winship, M. EpiPen price hike can only happen in hijacked democracy. The Progressive Populist, October 1, 2016.

http://www.populist.com/current.html

4. Garde, D. The EpiPen was her 'baby.' Now this PhRMA CEO is in the hot seat over price hikes. STAT, August 24, 2016.

https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/24/epipen-mylan-bresch/

5. Rockoff, JD. Drugmaker stung by EpiPen backlash. Wall Street Journal, August 26, 2016.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/mylans-epipen-price-increases-highlight-its-grip-on-the-market-1472154769

6. Skinner, G. EpiPen costs add to high-deductible insurance woes. Consumer Reports, September 12, 2016.

http://www.consumerreports.org/drugs/epipen-costs-add-to-high-deductible-insurance-woes/

7. Ibid # 4.

8. Johnson, LA. How EpiPen's maker raised prices, and hackles, so much. Associated Press, August 23, 2016.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5b4ef34806674a918ce76e9629bbe8ae/how-epipens-maker-raised-prices-and-hackles-so-much

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Located in Northern Europe, the Danish landscape is ideal for agriculture. In fact, out of our total area of 10.6 million acres more than 60 percent is cultivated. In the growth season, we have many hours of daylight which help us produce strong, healthy plants and animals. And today, all hours all year round, Danish companies are hard at work producing Danish favorites for the world market--from the classic Danish butter cookies to trendy organic treats.

How did a small country become a major exporter of value products? This story started more than a century ago when grain prices dropped. At that time, Danish farmers found that they could make a better living by exporting animal products. However, animal products are more risky than crops and mean more organization and cooperation.

Danish farmers have always worked together and shared the latest advances in agricultural technique. Today, farmers as well as the food industry works closely with universities to develop innovative solutions for better and more efficient, environmentally friendly production. Thus, research and innovation has been an important parameter for corporate competitiveness and the success of the Danish food industry.



Danish ingredients are in half of the world's ice creams

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The ingredients industry is an excellent example of how Denmark combines the best of an agricultural tradition with top-notch science and innovation. Several of the major Danish companies are global market leaders in their specific segments like enzymes, emulsifiers, cultures, natural colors, natural whey ingredients and are also key suppliers to the American market--with, for example, products such as potato starch that accommodate consumer trends such as non-GMO.

The innovative approach by the Danish ingredient companies is characterized by close cooperation between partners along the entire value chain. The close cooperation and exchange of views on new ideas often in cooperation with customers is a major factor in creating specific value in new products and solutions in the food industry.

Danish ingredient companies are estimated to cover 14 percent of the world market of ingredients to the food and drink industry. One in six processed food products in the world contains ingredients from Danish companies--every other ice cream sold around the globe contains Danish ingredients.



A quarter of all Danish export comes from the food cluster

60 percent of everything produced in Denmark is exported to our foreign markets--25 percent is related to the food sector. We are able to accommodate very different consumer demands around the globe---from Brits eating Danish bacon to Americans enjoying baby back ribs.

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Not only do we supply food products to around 200 markets around the world, our exports also include technology and knowhow for the agriculture and food industry. Because our products travel around the globe, we strongly believe that trade in safe, healthy food products can go hand in hand with exchange of knowledge and technology for sustainable agriculture and food production.

High standards of safety and traceability in the production of food in Denmark give customers as well as consumers' confidence that every possible effort has been made to deliver safe and nutritious food. Furthermore, regulation on food safety and traceability is backed by a strict control system operated by Danish authorities



Focusing on sustainability
"One's destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things." - Henry Miller



When looking into the eyes of Beathe, a Rwandan woman who suffered unthinkable tragedy during the 1994 genocide that killed nearly a million people, including many of her loved ones before her eyes, I could see a depth of pain I will never forget. But I could also see the glimmer in her eye when she talked about how far her life has come since then and the significant hope she feels for her own future and the future of her country. I could see a serenity in her face and posture as she had freed herself of the weight of hate and grudges in exchange for the lightness that comes from forgiveness. Witnessing this as I sat in her home changed my heart in profound ways.



Before traveling to Rwanda, I knew quite a few facts and figures about what happened in their history. I had read up on what led to the atrocities of 1994 and had learned about the incredible advancements throughout the country in recent years, making it a progressive, technologically-developed, green, and forward-thinking nation. But nothing could tell the story of Rwanda like looking into the eyes of those who had lived that history, those atrocities, and the reconciliation that followed.



I've been thinking about the delusion that can come in this Information Age--with all the access we have to images, videos, information, and stories provided by the media and individuals--we blur the lines between knowledge and true understanding. We can know a lot through watching, reading, and listening, but we cannot truly understand until we immerse ourselves in a culture and sit with the people who have lived the stories. We must be humble enough to know that no amount of highly produced media can give us the life-transforming experience of hugging a woman who has lived through what would be our worst nightmare. We must believe that the knowledge we can obtain at a comfortable, digital distance can never rival the intimacy--however uncomfortable--of being present.



As we traveled to Kenya and Rwanda a few weeks ago with 16 cabi Stylists, each of their lives were transformed. They will never be the same because they've walked the road of a foreign land that is now no longer foreign to them, they've looked into the fierce eyes of a lion, they've felt the pure joy of the children who leapt into their arms for a deep hug, and they've seen the quiver in the throats of women courageous enough to tell the stories of what happened as they and their families were hunted.



For me, hearing Rwandans speak about the forgiveness that has taken place throughout their country floored me. It defies all reason. To have the perpetrator ask for forgiveness from the lone survivor of a family he murdered and for that survivor to generously and open-handedly give it is an absolute miracle--there is no way around that. Rwanda is the place of peace that it is today because these big-hearted people chose the freedom of forgiveness rather than to be forever fettered to the grave injustice they suffered. That hit me deeply. I understood that I need to approach the act of forgiveness differently--in a way I had not previously thought reasonable or thought myself able. It was through being in the presence of those who had forgiven greater grievances than I have ever encountered that I could have possibly learned the power of this lesson.



There is an Asian proverb that says, "Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times." I could have read or heard the stories of these people over and over, but it is not until we sit in their presence, look in their eyes, and take their hand in ours that we can truly understand.
By Adrian D. Pantoja

Much has been made in this election about Hillary Clinton's struggle to win over millennial voters. Indeed, some have speculated that Hillary Clinton could lose the election because millennials don't like her and their votes may prove decisive.

It's true that the millennial generation now constitutes a larger share of the population than Baby Boomers or Generation X. But it's also true that the size of the millennial generation varies across different segments of the electorate. For example, millennials are a mere 27 percent of the non-Hispanic white electorate, whereas millennials constitute a much larger share -- 44 percent -- of the Latino electorate.

In a previous post, I used the results of a weekly tracking poll of the Latino electorate conducted by Latino Decisions, National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund and Noticias Telemundo that found Latino voters to be more enthusiastic and partisan in 2016 than in the 2012 election. This week, I take a closer look at the data to analyze the attitudes of Latino millennials (18 to 39-year-olds) toward Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party.

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The focus on Latino millennials is imperative given that they are nearly half of Latino eligible voters and the fact that they provide insights into the future of this population's voting patterns. This analysis parallels the findings of a previous seven-state study on Latino millennials conducted by Latino Decisions and Americas Voice. The results of our weekly tracking poll reveal that Clinton is winning decisively among Latino millennial voters. Indeed, Latino millennials are skewing overall Latino support toward Clinton and the Democrats.

Latino voters were asked if they felt favorably (strongly or somewhat) or unfavorably (strongly or somewhat) toward Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Democrats in Congress, and Republicans in Congress. Figure 1 reports the favorability ratings for Clinton and the Democrats in Congress. Clearly younger Latinos rate Clinton more favorably than older Latinos (71 percent to 62 percent). The favorability gap is even higher for congressional Democrats (68 percent to 53 percent). Nonetheless, among millennials, Clinton's favorability rating are slightly higher than those congressional Democrats (71 percent to 68 percent). Clearly, Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party are solidly supported by Latino millennials. On the other hand, among millennials and non-millennials Trump and congressional Republicans are faring poorly.



Feeling favorably toward the candidates and party is important, but voting for them is more critical. We asked Latino respondents to state who they planned to vote for on Election Day. We find that overall 72 percent of Latino voters say they will be voting for Hillary Clinton. However, when we divide the electorate into age cohorts, we find that millennials are more likely to state they will be voting for Clinton than older Latinos (77 percent to 67 percent), a 10-point gap (see Figure 2). When it comes to voting for congressional Democrats, the support gap widens to 11-points, with 75 percent of millennials saying they will be voting for the Democratic candidate compared to older Latinos who say they will do the same by 64 percent. Again, Latinos are broadly supportive of Clinton and congressional Democrats, but younger Latinos are especially supportive and that support drives up the favorability figures for Latinos overall.

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Is Latino support for Clinton and the Democratic Party merely the result of Donald Trump's attacks against immigrants and Hispanics? Certainly, factors including Trump's rhetoric have driven Latinos away from the Republican Party. But it is also important to consider what factors are drawing Latinos toward Clinton and the Democratic Party because doing so challenges the prevailing narrative that Clinton has failed to connect with younger voters.

Specifically, we asked respondents if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: Hillary Clinton truly cares about the Hispanic/Latino community. Nearly, three quarters (74 percent) of Latinos agreed with that statement. Yet, it was younger Latinos that agreed with that statement at a higher rate (80 percent) than older Latinos (68 percent). Donald Trump may be driving Latinos away from the GOP, but we shouldn't underestimate Hillary Clinton's appeal to young Latino voters.



Millennial voters sustained Bernie Sanders' campaign during the 2016 primary election. After his defeat, pundits wondered whether Hillary Clinton could lure his young supporters to her campaign. Many news stories backed by piecemeal evidence suggest that millennials remain ambivalent about Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party and are seriously considering casting their vote for a third party candidate. However, this narrative fails to recognize that young minority voters skew non-white; Latino millennials in particular constitute nearly half of the Latino electorate.

Using national tracking poll data, my analysis shows that Latino millennials are strongly backing Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. The Latino electorate is diverse and different segments exhibit varying levels of support for the candidates and political parties. Yes, younger Latinos are reacting more negatively to Donald Trump's rhetoric, but they also reacting more positively to Hillary Clinton's campaign. Latino voters broadly, and millennials in particular, are hardly ambivalent about their electoral choices in 2016.

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If you need to destress from the noise of the national debate, consider how the Bethlehem Bach Festival has helped communities come together to find calm, peace and prayer for more than 100 years.



It was in 1900 that the two-year old Bach Choir of Bethlehem gave the first performance in North America of Bach's greatest choral work, his Mass in B Minor. With only a few exceptions, the Choir has performed the Mass every year since. Their voices, nearly one hundred strong, cannot have been more fervent, nor more inspired by community spirit, than they were earlier this year at Packer Memorial Church, on the campus of Lehigh University, May 13 and 14. it was the first weekend of the 109th Bethlehem Bach Festival, and the house was packed.

Led by by Greg Funfgeld, artistic director and conductor since 1983, the Bethlehem Bach Festival's two performances each year of its signature work, the Mass in B Minor, represent a link with the America of Andy Hardy. It was a time when classical music, and the arts in general, aspired to provide guidance and energy to communities nationwide; in the case of Bethlehem, it was according to the University's holistic motto, "Homo Minister et Interpres Naturae," which translates loosely to "Woman and Man, servants and interpreters of nature."

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The performance was one of integrity, movement, passion and weight. The effortless virtuosity and stylistic homogeneity of the combined forces in the chapel's stone sanctity, allowed Bach's music to sing out with infectious, exhilarating enthusiasm. Agnes Zsigovics, Rosa Lamoreaux, Daniel Taylor, Benjamin Butterfield, William Sharp and Daniel Lichti were outstanding soloists. The Choir was large, warm and flexible.

With a collaborative interpretive approach based on the latest scholarly research, kept honest by the great Bach biographer Christoph Wolff in the front row, Funfgeld focused on creating a compelling flow in which the emotional weight of each section was directed upwards, as if the music were being offered to Bach's God. The rolling out of the massive, six-part fugue in the "Sanctus" was the most perfect single demonstration of how Funfgeld's combined forces combined the intimate and the infinite. And beyond the music, there was a different authenticity from listening in an audience which, as I came to know, heard -- as Bach intended in his humility -- the prayers for consolation and peace inseparably from the music itself.

If you were not there, you can hear the same deep intensity of music making on the Festival's recording from 1998. Bethlehem may no longer have Bethlehem Steel, but it has in the cultural fuel of its Bethlehem Bach Festival a generous helping of GPS for the soul.

There was more to the two-day musical feast than just the B Minor Mass. On Friday afternoon, Dr. Wolff gave a stimulating lecture, and the first of two public, Bach chorale sing-alongs ensued. Friday evening, it was an exuberant, feel good concert of Bach's gloriously optimistic Cantata No. 100, the Second Brandenburg Concerto with the brilliant trumpet soloist Terry Everson, and the procession of gorgeous delights known as the Easter Oratorio.

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On Saturday morning, at the University's Zoellner Arts Center just down the block, the Taylor 2 unit of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, with the Festival Orchestra in the pit, charmed the audience, who charmed them back with their encouragement and eager applause, in a series of joyful, inventive responses to and illuminations of music by Handel and Bach.

Then at last, after a brisk walk and a healthy lunch, the B Minor Mass of Johann Sebastian Bach, Part One, began at 2:30; Part Two began at 4:30. Then out into the night for a recreation on the Moravian College campus of the Cafe Zimmermann in Leipzig, where Bach and his fellow musicians and townspeople spent many pleasant evenings, quenching their thirsts in both music and coffee. It was thirsty work being Bach.
As a white teenage civil rights marcher in the 60's, I remember when 'Colored' became 'Black,' and suddenly I was an outsider. It was proposed that if we Caucasians could call ourselves 'White' and take pride in our various European heritages, former Negro slaves could call themselves 'Black' and take pride in their African heritage. However, with that Black and White distinction, an 'us' and 'them' mentality was also implanted.

Black Nationalism

I understood the concept of instilling pride in a people that had never known it, and promoting a feeling of 'community,' as Blacks began referring to themselves as 'brothers' and 'sisters.' But I had a problem with the 'Black Separatism' of Stokely Carmichael, advocating what looked to me like self-ghettoization. However, what 'Black Power' was actually advocating was a form of unionism. Like the labor union struggles with their corporate bosses, the American Negro was fighting for equal rights with the 'White' establishment. And like the labor movement, some chose to negotiate using the system like Dr. Martin Luther King, while others advocated a more militant approach, like The Black Panthers of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale.

Black Muslims

Repudiation of the White Christian majority also found another, more radical voice in the preaching of Elijah Muhammad of The Nation Of Islam (NOI) and his fiery minister Malcolm X. Not to be confused with a Muslim religious sect, NOI could best be described as an anti-Semitic, Black-supremacist, hate group. In fact, when Malcolm X eventually became disillusioned and embraced Sunni Islam, in 1965 he was gunned down by three NOI members.

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And Violence Ensued

In 1966, when non-violent James Meredith tried to march for civil rights in Mississippi, he was shot in the back. In Chicago 4,000 National Guardsmen were called in to deal with shootings between police and Negro snipers. At the same time gangs of blacks, whites and Puerto Ricans rumbled in the streets of East New York, and in Cleveland, a young Negro mother was killed by police, triggering a series of riots.

Black and Proud

In early 1968, James Brown sang, "Say It Loud... I'm Black and I'm Proud," proudly proclaiming what civil rights leaders hoped would be a self-fulfilling prophesy. As the single hit number one on the national R&B Charts, and Brown stopped chemically straightening his hair in favor of a large bouncing Afro, a young generation began to do the same, embracing the new pop phrase 'Black Is Beautiful!' When the song also reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 it started to feel like we might all sing together.

Martin Luther King Assassination

Then in April of 1968, The Rev. Martin Luther King was murdered in Memphis and the country exploded. In Chicago, 5,000 federal troops were dispatched to quell the sniping gunfire, street fighting and raging fires. Five died in Baltimore where Governor Spiro Agnew ordered 6,000 National Guardsmen in to arrest over 500 looters. A White graduate student was pulled from his car and stabbed to death while attempting to drive through a Black area of Cincinnati, and entire sections of the nation's capital went up in flames. The real damage was deep within the nation's soul as we lost another leader to a cancerous genetic human defect; a reminder that beneath the bandages and restraints of civilization, we're just animals that tend to kill our own. Within a week, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was signed into law in an attempt to cauterize the wound. But as a practical matter, hate and distrust continued to ooze in Black and White and would fester for years to come.

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So Where Are We Today?

Since history is no longer taught in our schools, as noted in my previous "Lessons Unlearned," current generations are probably ignorant of the contracted racial disease beneath the violence and distrust bubbling once again to the surface. Perhaps exacerbated with the election of our first Black President, virtually emasculated by an obstructionist opposition, that then blamed him for getting nothing done. But despite the setbacks, change may still be coming. In ubiquitous camera eyes, like our chant in 1968 Chicago, when Mayor Daley's helmeted pigs attacked us on camera, "The whole world is watching!" Police and bigots can no longer cover-up blatant criminal use of force and violence. Meanwhile, as Republicans face the karma of their Twittering non-presidential candidate, Obama is getting in his last licks by executive order, saving 'the Dreamers' and pardoning hundreds of predominantly Black casualties of the disastrous 'War On Drugs.' Then there's the music... Although James Brown, Marvin Gaye and the Motown Sound was a prominent voice of the 60's, today's urban music of Beyonce, Kanye West, Drake, Rihanna, etc. is the predominant music of the day, with teenage earplugs universally plugged in to the urban messages embedded in the lyrics. What's more, the gap between rich and poor is no longer Black and White. With a large segment of the White middle class now also struggling to get by, the dysfunctional corporate controlled government and political system has become our mutual problem... perhaps, with the current groundswell of disenchantment, to be challenged and solved together.
There were a few moments in Monday night's debate when an eerie familiarity came over the debate stage. During the first few minutes, the Republican candidate called for tax cuts for the rich and gave a hearty endorsement to the magical thinking of trickle down economics. The Democratic candidate responded by asserting that trickle down economics does not work and by calling for a battery of programs aimed at helping struggling Americans and increasing economic fairness. There was almost something quaint about that exchange. In the middle of a most unusual campaign season, the two major party candidates reverted to their generic party positions. That could have been Reagan and Mondale, Clinton and Bush or Romney and Obama up there having that exchange.

The rest of the debate, however, was something new. Americans have never seen a candidate like Donald Trump take the stage for a general election presidential debate as the nominee of one of the major parties. Undoubtedly, for many Trump supporters that is a major reason they like the GOP candidate, but that gives the New York real estate heir too much credit. On substance, many of the comments Trump made were more or less standard debate fodder. He charged that Clinton has been part of the problem for too long, that only an outside can change Washington and that he has a common sense approach to politics. Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan as well as unsuccessful politicians like Mitt Romney have made similar appeals in recent years.

It was not the substance of Trump's comments, but the body language, asides and general temperament, Trump's assertion that was his greatest strength notwithstanding, that made last night's debate so unusual. One way to understand this is that last night Trump was more in control, calm and mature than he was in any of the numerous debates in which he participated during the Republican primary campaign. Nonetheless, he was qualitatively less mature and calm than anybody who has taken that debate stage since I began watching in 1984.

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To understand Trump, it is essential to watch the body language and asides. During Hillary Clinton's discussion of police brutality and African Americans, Trump struggled to keep still and even looked bored at times. When discussing NATO, Trump made an aside referring to when he was asked about NATO on a television program. "I'll tell you. I haven't given lots of thought to NATO." Regardless of what one thinks about NATO and the US role in the world, the notion that a candidate for President had not given that issue much thought is, at the very least, concerning. Similarly, at several points in the debate, Trump got stuck on a word, "temperament", and towards the end of the night "stamina" and kept repeating it as part of an answer to a question.

Although the policy differences we saw last night were significant, but not much different from what we see in most presidential debates, the differences of style, approach and, yes, temperament remain the real story of this campaign. This campaign is an argument over substance, but it is also one about the state of American political institutions and even America itself. We see this in comments like Trump describing African Americans and Latinos as "living in hell, because it's so dangerous. You walk down the street, you get shot," and in the dystopic picture he paints of the American economy. For Trump, this is a country in the midst of a war on the police where the middle-class economy has collapsed just in the last eight years. These are the fantasies that have driven his campaign from its inception.

These assertions are not peripheral to Trump's appeal, but are at the very center of it. His core argument is that conditions in the US are so bad that only a leader like him who is incapable of the give and take, compromise and hard work of politics, can save the country. This argument is almost impossible to counter, because any demonstration of experience, or even knowledge, on the part of Hillary Clinton, or anybody else, is simply turned around to demonstrate that Clinton, or whomever, is part of the problem.

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This continues to be an election year like no other. None of the typical rules apply, pollsters are scrambling and pundits are fumbling. But there is one thing that has remained constant. Politicians know they can't win without women voters, and that continued electoral might gives women the leverage we need to hold their feet to the fire on issues like equal pay, college affordability and campus safety, creating well-paying jobs, and access to birth control. Witness the other night's epic debate: in their opening statements one candidate spoke about childcare, and the other about equal pay. I need to say this again: In the opening statements of the first presidential debate, the two major party candidates focused on issues especially important to women. This is big. This is, one might say, huge. Election Day is now Ladies Night.

Unmarried women, people of color, and millennials make up what's being called the Rising American Electorate, a moniker coined by the Voter Participation Center. Women make up half the population and are the majority of voters yet we're typically underrepresented at the polls. The AAUW Action Fund understands the importance of women in the electoral process, and is leveraging that strength to not only drive the campaign debate, but to ensure that post-election we can hold policy makers accountable for their decisions impacting women and girls. One way we do that is through the AAUW Action Fund Congressional Voting Record, which covers the entire 114th Congress so far (2015-2016), and outlines how U.S. senators and representatives voted on issues affecting education, economic security, and civil rights.

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Someone messed up on the job at Egyptian state-run TV and big heads began to roll.

The catastrophe: An employee aired an interview of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi with PBS' Margaret Warner dated September 28, 2015 when she should have broadcast a newer one with host Charlie Rose on September 19, 2016.



Screen shot of Al-Sisi's September 28, 2015 PBS interview with

Margaret Warner

"What led to the earthquake at the TV's building yesterday, and is ongoing today, I must tell you, the phones haven't stopped ringing," said an agitated Ahmed Moussa, a talk show host on Sada Al Balad TV. "The building is a temple of the (outlawed) Muslim Brotherhood (MB)."



Screen shot of Ahmed Moussa: Maspero is a Muslim Brotherhood temple

It wasn't the first time a major blunder was committed at Maspero, the iconic, dilapidated TV building on the street by the same name overlooking the Nile in Cairo housing the state-run broadcast operation.

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Rose had interviewed Al-Sisi during the Egyptian president's visit to New York this month to speak at the United Nations General Assembly.



Screen shot of Al-Sisi interview with Charlie Rose on September 19, 2016

Moussa said there were countless patriotic Egyptians at Maspero, but also pockets of terrorists, and that engineers and technicians were the most dangerous among them.

No sooner was the broadcast error committed when the ax began to fall and sarcastic comments filled social media.

The head of the news division, Mostafa Shehata, who got the job just months ago, was summarily relieved of his duties.

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Then came word Safaa Hegazi, the head of Egypt's Radio and TV Union, was instructed not to go to her office by the State Security apparatus, which would handle investigation of the matter.



Maspero (Abu-Fadil)

Others were also hauled in to determine who was responsible for the gaffe.

Legislator-cum-journalist Mostafa Bakry, who hosts the "Facts and Secrets" program on Sada Al Balad and is a member of parliament's media committee, said Egyptian TV was a matter of national security and that nobody should besmirch its staffers' reputations, despite occasional slipups.

But he also jumped on the blame bandwagon, saying a campaign to cleanse Maspero was underway and that an emergency meeting of parliament's media committee had been scheduled to call for an investigation of the interview flop.



Screen shot of legislator/TV star Mostafa Bakry pointing to MB members

in Maspero

"There are MB elements inside Maspero that were appointed during the tenure of information minister Salah Abdel Maqsoud when the Brotherhood was in power, and others appointed prior to that, in addition to organizations that are enemies of the state like the 'April 6' movement and revolutionary socialists," he told Al Youm Al Sabeh newspaper.

Not so, Mhmd Abdel Rahman, the editor in chief of the Egyptian e3lam.org website

that specializes in all things media, told me, adding that if the Brotherhood had any real influence inside Maspero, it would have been directed at disseminating ideas and programs to agitate public opinion against the regime.

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While admitting Maspero undoubtedly had MB members within staff ranks, Abdel Rahman disputed Bakry's contention they were in leadership positions.



Screen shot of Mhmd Abdel Rahman calling for transparency

"There's no exaggeration about how bad things are at Maspero," Abdel Rahman said. "The building is beyond internal reform, the current number of employees is 37,000, annual spending is huge and there's no income to compensate for it, and, its impact on the street is zero."

The fiscal year 2015-16 budget for state-run broadcast media is over 11.5 billion Egyptian Pounds (about $1 billion), close to 6 billion of which are expenditures, under 2 billion is revenue, and 4 billion a deficit.



Screen shot of Egyptian state-run broadcast media's 2015-16 budget

The regime has diverted its attention to private TV channels and radio stations as undeclared government alternatives, to address Egyptian public opinion, Abdel Rahman added about the irreparable bloated state-run bureaucracy.

For Abeer Saady, former vice president of the Egyptian Journalists' Syndicate, anti-Maspero attacks following the latest disaster have raised concerns, notably the campaign by rich pro-regime businessmen aiming to hold sway over the media.

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"The error occurred and requires an investigation and accountability, but the way public TV, that's supposedly owned by the people, was attacked is suspicious because it dovetails with the rise of pro-regime monopolies owned by businessmen," she said.
Oil and Gas Pump Jack Prairie Landscape Saskatchewan Canada

New Mexico has a problem with natural gas waste. The recent NASA's Four Corners methane report found that two of the most polluted energy-producing regions are located in the state. In fact, NASA found that a Delaware-sized methane cloud is hovering over the Four Corners region, that only 10 percent of the methane sources contribute half of all emissions and that leaking storage tanks and pipelines are the major culprits.

Methane is the primary component of natural gas. Without question, it's time to reduce methane emissions and cut natural gas waste. This issue is what brought New Mexicans together last month for a forum sponsored by Southwest Organizing Project, JUNTOS, Hispanic Access Foundation and HECHO on air quality and the Bureau of Land Management's natural gas waste rule.

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The BLM's proposed rule would curb natural gas waste by requiring oil and gas developers drilling on public lands to use the most up-to-date technology to capture wasted natural gas that is either released into the atmosphere or burnt off (commonly referred to as "flaring") and repair leaks from equipment.

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and U.S. Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Lujan listened to San Miguel County Commissioner Rock Ulibarri and concerned citizens speak about the importance of cutting natural gas waste on our public lands.

Every year oil and gas companies waste hundreds of millions of dollars worth of natural gas through unchecked leaks, venting and flaring. Natural gas waste has cost New Mexicans tens of millions in tax dollars, including funds that would have been used for education. Estimates show that enough taxpayer-owned natural gas is being wasted annually on America's public lands to supply the entire state of New Mexico for a year. Put another way, oil and gas companies operating on federal and tribal lands are wasting more than $330 million worth of natural gas nationwide each year. Nearly a third of all that waste occurs on public lands in New Mexico.

The land, air and water are part of New Mexico's cherished outdoor heritage and we have a moral obligation to protect it. We need to hold developers accountable with common sense rules, so they don't damage the air we breathe, the water we rely on, and the land we all own.

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No wonder Latino leaders from San Miguel, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties, as well as other local officials statewide, support the BLM natural gas waste rule.

This waste also leads to vast amounts of toxic pollution being released into the air. Numerous studies have shown that Latinos face disproportionate health hazards largely due to poor environmental health--they are more likely to live in areas affected by pollution and more likely to die from asthma than other racial or ethnic groups. Moreover, San Juan and Eddy counties, the state's largest natural gas and oil producers respectively, received failing grades in the American Lung Association's State of the Air report. Greater protections for our nation's public lands will help address some of the larger health issues that affect our community as a whole.

We appreciate the leadership of New Mexico's elected officials like Sens. Udall and Heinrich around an issue that is of great importance to the state's Latino community. There is no excuse to not modernize oil and gas development, especially when our health and safety hangs in the balance. And if the resulting changes equal hundreds of millions of dollars in savings, we can invest in improving health outcomes and community infrastructure.
Half of all refugees in the world are youth. As countries host millions of refugees and aid reaches the most vulnerable, programs that invest in youth and their potential have the opportunity to empower generations to come. Two organizations are supporting refugee youth, furthering their agency in telling their own stories and the potential to chart their own lives and careers by providing them with the tools to do so. Re:Coded has created a coding bootcamp in Iraq to teach refugees and IDPs how to code and place them with companies upon graduation and Another Kind of Girl Collective has provided a series of workshops to teenage girls in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan and in the city of Irbid in northern Jordan engaging Syrian girls in artistic and technical training in photo and video tell their own stories in first person. Both founders gathered on September 7 at the N.Y.C. Humanitarian Tech Meetup at the NYU School for Global Affairs to discuss why engaging youth in refugee contexts matters.

Re:Coded's mission is to create innovative, socially minded leaders in conflict-affected communities using technology and entrepreneurship. Founded by Alexandra (Ali) Claire, an Australian who splits her time between Iraq and New York, Alexandra saw a demand for such an organization while working in Iraq. There are currently 65.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including 21.3 million refugees and 10 million stateless people1. Sustainable employment is one of the greatest problems refugees face. At the same time, refugees have a lot to contribute. According to the latest Tent Foundation report, investing 1 euro in welcoming refugees can yield nearly 2 euros in economic benefits within just 5 years2. Refugees provide a development dividend - to themselves, their children and their country of origin. While refugees earn globally, they spend locally. Estimates by Re:Coded are that for every fellow trained by Re:Coded, 3-5 people are impacted through the fellows' purchasing power. At the same time, there is a gap between opportunity and availability. In the United States alone, there are 1 million unfilled vacancies for programmers. This summer a school was created to fill in the gaps. Re:Coded received funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and in conjunction with its partners, conducted outreach in refugee and IDP camps. It recruited youth committees to get the word out and even held information sessions at peak hours when many IDPs would be gathered. Before any of the Re:Coded bootcamp took place, Ali did extensive research in Iraq on what worked and what didn't in terms of programming. She saw there were few programs for youth and began conducting market-based research, looking into skills gaps as well as remote opportunities, with the goal of targeting the youth, specifically the 17-35 age group. Alexandra went to the CEO of the Flatiron School in New York, who provided all of the school's curriculum to Re: Coded, pro-bono. Flatiron School has produced 5 graduates for the New York Times, 3 for Spotify, and 12 for xo group to name a few and has had a 99% graduate employment rate.

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The 'Full Stack' coding bootcamp received 500 applications from refugees and IDPs and from those 500, a cohort of 50 fellows were chosen. As all coding curriculum is in English, there was an 8-week intensive English course program. Though one downside has been having to jump through the hurdle of English fluency to get to the next hurdle of coding adeptness, the upside has been greater access to global markets. Trainers for were all hired locally, aware of the needs of the refugees, having been refugees themselves. Volunteers teaching English as well as serving as mentors, assisted in the teaching of soft skills, allowing fellows to learn more about the tech world and to be connected on a personal basis, receive career guidance, as well as refine their code.

I spoke to one of Re:Coded volunteers attending the event who works for General Assembly. Despite not receiving volunteer training from Re:Coded, she has instead received a great amount of curriculum to help teach English to the fellow she was paired with. Moreover, the relationship wasn't one-sided: she enthusiastically begun learning Arabic at the behest of the fellow and the two exchange daily emails. Though they are about the same age, one is already a mother and provider to her children, but what binds them together is a belief in technology and in human potential.

Re: Coded has also guaranteed employment for all of its fellows, implemented one-on-one training, and provided daily support, such as free lunch, free transport, free credit for internet usage, free access to handheld devices, and free childcare for all fellows, so that mothers, fathers, and caretakers could learn without one sacrificing for the sake of the other, making it possible for a husband and wife to participate in the bootcamp together. Moreover, 40% of the fellows chosen were women, a number which speaks to diversity more than tech programs and companies within the United States as only 28% of proprietary software jobs are held by women, 25% of IT jobs, 5% of tech start-ups are owned by women, and one 11% are executives at Fortune 500 companies. Re:Coded is also representative of refugee movement: while 58% of refugees live in cities in urban areas, 65% of Re:Coded fellows also came from urban areas, while 35% came from refugee camps. Half are Iraqi and the other half are Syrians. Though they were in different professions previously, such as teaching, Re:Coded has allowed them to develop new skills, learn more about the tech world, opportunities available to them in the Middle East, as well as possibilities for starting their own businesses, something Re:Coded wants to expand upon further by starting an innovation lab and possibly an entrepreneurship fellowship. Re: Coded has also addressed security concerns as groups such like ISIS use technology for spreading violence, by allowing fellows to choose how they build their digital presence, whether by creating aliases or by omitting identifying information such as photographs, seeking a balance between access to livelihoods and digital security.

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Laura Doggett, community artist, educator, and founder of the Another Kind of Girl Collective began the event with screening a film one of the participants in her workshops created in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan. Featured in the New York Times op-doc, 'Another Kind of Girl' was made by Khaldiya Jibawi, a 17 year old Syrian who describes her pre-Za'atari days as living life as a Bedouin, but with a house instead of a tent. The film is full of color, light, friendship, and family. We see Khaldiya's siblings play and hear Khaldiya explain they never played with their hands before coming to the camp, instead amusing themselves with some new toy. By contrast, at Za'atari kids always stay active. For Khaldiya, being a refugee has its positives as well as its negatives: she has more friends than she'd ever had before and she is able to learn from them just as much as they are able to learn from her. Though Khaldiya does not speak for all refugees, she provides us with her own lens, one she is aware is vital and fills her with a sense of completion. "Before learning to film, I felt like there was a huge part missing in my life. The only thing that filled it for me was filming" she explains." "The image of a refugee camp can be distorted by portrayals by outsiders....and when I encounter a scene I think people would be interested in seeing, I film it -- life as it is. I'm filming from my own personal perspective. I live in the camp, I am within the camp, and I know the camp. An outsider will miss a lot of the deeper meanings because they haven't felt what it's like to live here." Unlike those with the fluidity to move from outside the camp in and then back out, Khaldiya moves us through spaces, revealing something new. "I want to show the rest of the world that even though we live in a refugee camp, and have different lives from others, we still have dreams and ambitions. We are creative. We strive to rise above our limitations and work toward our dreams. I feel it's my responsibility not just to tell the world that truth, but to let people see it for themselves." Many of the girls Laura worked with are from Dara'a, in Southern Syria. As families from Dara'a were less well-off than their northern counterparts pre-war, often making a living small farmers, for girls this meant their education ceased around 7th or 8th grade.



Credit: Khaldiya Jibawi

For Khaldiya, this means she likes her life in the camp more than she liked her life in Syria, as in the camp, she has been exposed to a variety of resources. Laura's workshops were such a resource. The goals of the workshops were to facilitate an exploration of imagination, experimentation, and expression as a means to develop creative thinking and communications skills. The girls participating in the workshops were given point and shoot cameras to keep, which Laura stressed to Save the Children and Women One who funded the workshops in 2014 and the International Rescue Committee and DFID who funded them in 2015, that the girls must keep.Through the 4 workshops, the young girls underwent lessons on point of view by engaging in movement, writing exercises though prompts such as "when I look through the window...", scavenger hunts, as well as abstract assignments such as 'Fall in Love with Movement'. Through these workshops, the girls would see how they have different stories to tell within the same spaces.



Credit: Another Kind of Girl Collective
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Fast forward to 2015. Jeff and I were once again keynoting a homeless services conference. I was fully prepared for Jeff to educate the audience on the crisis of homelessness. However, when this middle-aged white man opened his presentation with the statement, "Homelessness is a symptom of racism", he once again blew me away.



While Jeff's talk was spot on, the subject of homelessness and racism is a difficult and painful topic. As is the nature of conversations like this, they often seem to disappear, never to be brought up again. I didn't think it would gain traction.



The good news is I was wrong and this conversation continues to take center stage. Jeff, who is CEO of the Center for Social Innovation, and Marc Done, Associate of Equity Initiatives & Diversity, regularly speak about homelessness and racism around the country. In fact, Jeff and Marc were invited to the White House Policy Briefing on Ending Youth Homelessness this past June. Read the "transcript of their talk" here [link].



Here is a short excerpt:


Photo Source billditewig.wordpress.com

Conscience has been defined as "the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct and motive." While emotions influence our conscience, what informs it is what defines us as a species - we think. Specifically, we carefully observe and critically assess reality around us to inform our conscience and ultimately, our actions. Doing so is vital to the health of our conscience, and to our survival.

Whether voting our conscience or our fantasy, both are motivated by hope - but the latter lacks the critical assessment that will anchor it to reality. And therein lies the danger of conscience sliding into fantasy.

For example, my ideal candidate for president would, if elected:

Be as pure as the driven snow;

Create world peace;

Make pollution illegal everywhere;

Redistribute wealth equitably in our society;

Grant universal access to family planning materials to all citizens;

Have the political expertise and connections to work with Congress to create laws that accomplish the above.

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Fantastical expectations? Often our fantasies are visions that have the possibility of reality, given the requisite time and effort to change people's priorities.

Back to my list. The first expectation is fantastical. Our belief in our fallibility is so engrained, that we ascribe infallibility only to gods. Because of this, whomever I vote for will not be an ideal choice.



Source www.youtube.com

The next four expectations, however, are not necessarily fantastical, but dependent on the sixth one: working with Congress. As President Barack Obama reminded us at the 2016 Democratic convention, democracy is a team sport.

We elect a president to work within our existing political system. Based on her/his abilities and a cornucopia of ever-changing outside factors, she/he might even be able to effect important changes.

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Here is where critical assessment comes into play, separating choices of conscience from fantasy. Does a candidate's record reveal an aptitude for working within our political system to achieve our hopes? Does he/she have a record, however fallibly imperfect, of achievement and dedicated work toward our visions? How rationally realistic are the candidates ideas for achieving those visions?

Vote Smart is one of many websites offering nonpartisan assessments of political candidates.

Source votesmart.org

We could compare every candidate on these critical bases: there are several nonpartisan websites that can give us an incomplete but good assessment of which candidate has reasonable chances of progressing best on our expectations.

And among those records we can also make the final, critical assessment - can we trust this candidate? Our ultimate choice can then be based on an informed conscience, not fantasy.

Source pix11.com

Bernie Sanders understands the distinction between conscience and fantasy. So do many people now who voted for Ralph Nader in 2000. A credible argument can be made that those votes made a difference in the presidential race. If so, given the record of the ensuing presidency, Nader votes had destructive consequences nationally and internationally, for both young and old alike.

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Some still defend a vote for Nader as one of conscience -- but perhaps an uninformed one. A critical assessment of his ability to work within the system, or to capture the trust of most voters in being able to do so without experience, made him a vote of fantasy, however strongly his supporters wished otherwise.

Photo Source www.modernpractice.org

Trust. In God We Trust. Americans make a lot of gut choices based on trust. "Trust, but verify" has been a core tenet of American foreign policy, an old Russian proverb enthusiastically adopted by Ronald Reagan.

Yet many voters appear to be eschewing any in-depth, critical assessment that could verify whether a particular major presidential candidate, Donald Trump, possesses adequate aptitude, character or qualifications, and these voters are supporting him. Indeed, unbiased, factual, public records indicate that he is a compulsive liar who ignores factual reality to an extent far beyond any other presidential candidates. Yet a sizeable portion of the electorate is prepared to vote for him - trusting, but not verifying.



Source www.cnn.com

The alarming conclusion is that many voters have embraced a brand ideology incarnate in Donald Trump, as illustrated in the first Clinton Trump debate, an ideology whereby "a shared fantasy becomes part of the world."

"In many ways the performances of Donald Trump remind me of male chimpanzees and their dominance rituals," said Jane Goodall, the anthropologist, shortly before Trump won the GOP nomination. Based on implicit trust in the raw emotion of "alpha male" dominance, it requires no verification. But are we chimps, dominated by emotions without the balance of reasoning?

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History shows societies suffering and even collapsing when shared fantasies crash into physical reality. Voltaire summarized the problem best long ago: "Men argue; Nature acts." (1764) An increasingly dangerous part of our reality is the rapidly changing physical world of human-driven climate change, verified by one of our most reputable US institutions, the National Academy of Sciences.
Monday's first presidential debate is anticipated to break viewership records. "Securing America" will be one of the debate's hot topics. If you are planning to watch by yourself or with others, and the issue of torture or what has been euphemistically called "enhanced interrogation" comes up, here's what you, your friends, and family should know about torture. Pass it on.

Torture is not a policy option, it's a crime. Torture is illegal under both U.S. and international law. It is never justified - not in war, not in a state of emergency, not ever. Like genocide and slavery, torture is so widely condemned that it has reached a rare status in international law - no country can exempt itself from the absolute prohibition. President Obama signed an executive order on his second day in office to end the immoral and unlawful practice of torture and cruelty in interrogations. And in November 2015, Congress, in a rare showing of bi-partisan unity, passed the McCain-Feinstein anti-torture amendment which codified many aspects of the President's executive order into law. In so doing, Congress sent a clear message to any future administration that torture is off the table.

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Torture makes us weak, less safe. According to Harvard's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, America's use of torture post 9/11 served as a recruiting tool for our enemies, incited violence against U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, hampered cooperation with allies, and weakened U.S. diplomacy. It also undermines what the U.S. has often touted as one of its greatest foreign policy assets - its moral authority and leadership on human rights. Far from being "tough" on terror, torture makes us weak and less safe.

Torture leads to failure. As an effective interrogation tool, torture is a complete failure. Historically, torture has been used to force confessions, spread fear, silence dissent and exact vengeance. Unlike the fictionalized versions of torture shown on t.v. or in film, torture is not likely to lead to actionable information. The popular plotline that requires torture in order to stop a ticking time bomb from going off and save lives is used in t.v. or film because it creates drama; experts have said repeatedly this not a real scenario--and, even if it was, torture wouldn't be the way to solve it. In real life, torture is more likely to produce false information and send investigators on wild goose chases. A strong body of scientific evidence finds that torture simply doesn't work because it affects memory and other cognitive abilities to recall accurate, actionable information. Indeed, the Senate's torture report found that the CIA's torture program was ineffective in gathering actionable intelligence that wasn't already known. By contrast, it found that multiple detainees fabricated information and provided faulty intelligence.

Torture is opposed by prominent Americans across political lines. Recently, over 100 senior U.S. leaders in national security, foreign policy, military and faith sectors from diverse political affiliations endorsed a declaration rejecting torture unequivocally and without exception. This statement, coordinated by the Center for Victims of Torture, is another example of the long-standing bi-partisan opposition to torture in the United States. But too many Americans believe that torture can sometimes be justified. It's time to speak out and not be silent anymore. Join other prominent Americans in rejecting torture and end this debate once and for all.

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A few years from now, every time you squeeze into an airplane seat, you could be helping protect the world's tropical forests. That's because the airline industry is considering a plan to make up for excessive carbon emissions by financing the preservation of those species-rich forests.

Today, if the international aviation industry were its own country, it would be among the top ten emitters of carbon dioxide globally. And going forward, the industry is expecting a tremendous increase in air travel, especially in developing countries where an estimated 56,000 new passenger aircraft will take to the sky over the next 25 years. This influx of travel will likely cause aviation's carbon emissions to skyrocket even more, potentially tripling or quadrupling by 2040.

The aviation industry has made some concrete commitments to reduce carbon emissions. It has pledged to cap aviation carbon pollution at 2020 levels and to achieve carbon-neutral growth after 2020. However, there is a limit to how much airlines can reduce carbon pollution through measures such as increasing engine efficiency or building lighter planes which burn less fuel, and the industry is unlikely to meet its emission reduction commitments through technological advances alone. The gap between expected emissions and industry goals is expected to be at least 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2035.

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As a result, the aviation industry is exploring additional ways to reduce its carbon pollution. That's where forests enter the equation.

One option to offset airline emissions that cannot be cut with technological advances is to pay developing countries that are protecting their forests. Such a step would contribute to slowing climate change because forests store between one-third and one-fourth of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and tropical forests alone absorb almost one-fifth of all carbon dioxide released each year from the burning of fossil fuels.

This week the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is meeting in Montreal, Canada, and is poised to finalize a global market-based measure that would allow the airline industry to take advantage of market-based mechanisms to achieve its self-imposed emissions reduction targets while also generating important investments for forest protection.

How would this work? One possibility would be to utilize a policy framework under the Paris Agreement called Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). (Emissions from the aviation sector are not covered by the Paris Agreement because previous negotiations determined that countries and airlines should reduce emissions from air travel through the ICAO.) According to recent research, the REDD+ program could generate the necessary supply of forest carbon credits for the airline industry to offset its emissions. There are existing programs, such as the World Bank Carbon Fund or programs at the state level in various developing countries, that could support this.

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Participating in REDD+ would give the aviation industry an efficient and effective way of achieving emission reductions goals while generating additional benefits for society and the environment, including preserving important habitats for endangered plants and animals, and securing the livelihoods for indigenous and local communities.

The vast majority of climate scientists agree that a global temperature increase of more than 2C degrees will cause severe, irreversible climate impacts. The Paris Agreement lays out a global action plan that puts the world on a path to limiting global warming to well below 2C. However, additional actions by the aviation industry are essential since their emissions are not covered by the Paris Agreement. Also, the responsibility of fighting climate change should not rest on governments' shoulders alone. There is tremendous potential for the private sector to step up, particularly for the aviation industry, and forests can play a key role.
In June of this year, as Britain approached its referendum on whether to leave the European Union, Jo Cox, a Labour Party Member of Parliament, was brutally murdered on the streets of Birstall, West Yorkshire. As her assailant murdered her, he shouted, "Put Britain first."

Like the demon whom Jesus confronted in Gadarenes (Mark 5:9), this man's name could be "Legion," as the demon said to Jesus, "for we are many." It seems ever more apparent that the common demonic zeitgeist of our time is a tribal spirit which threatens to split the human family into ever smaller units, to drive wedges between us in the name of nations, politics and religions, to erect impregnable walls so that the "we" on one side need never be sullied by the "them" on the other.

There is nothing more "common" than the spirit that claims that our tribe is unique, that our little group is special, especially blessed by God, exceptional, Number One. There is nothing more "common," more vulgar, more primitive, few things more dangerous, and nothing less true.

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Tribalism appears in the disguise of pride; but, in fact, it reflects a profound lack of confidence and a deep insecurity, sometimes something close to self-loathing. Rarely (maybe never) does one find a genuinely secure, healthy, confident person or group of people possessed by this demonic force. Persons afflicted by such a spirit, though claiming to be guided by enlightened self-interest, tend to act instead on an instinctive fear of others. What we might describe as the "other-ness" of the "other" is the thing that threatens them most. So they attribute to the other the worst characteristics and tendencies imaginable. It does not matter one whit whether the tribalist is British or French, Ugandan or Argentine, Chinese or Libyan. The spirit that tribalism manifests is the same small-minded, insecure, ignorance and fear wherever it emerges, whether it is a mentally unstable British man shouting "put Britain first," or a cravenly opportunistic American politician claiming that it is America that deserves that position.

Religion doesn't seem to make much of a dint in the tribal spirit. If anything, religion is most often co-opted by it.

Whether we are exploring a history of the inability of Christian faith to thwart the imperialism pursued by most Western nations throughout the modern period, or the impotence of Christianity to curb the nationalistic chauvinism of Germany prior to the First World War, or the inability of Buddhism and other faiths to influence their followers to resist the rise of Japanese militarism prior to the Second World War, the thing that stands out is that religious faith seems powerless in the face of tribalism. Religion seems most often to make a secondary claim, at best, on the loyalty of those obsessed by the tribe's primacy. And in those times when religion appears to make a primary claim, that claim may be no less violent and destructive when it is linked to tribalism.

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The Christian preacher who stands in her pulpit pointing out that Jesus calls us to love not only the members of our own tribe, but strangers too, those unlike us, those who do not share our ways or even love us (Matthew 5:46; Luke 6:32), is likely to taste the rejection of the tribe for herself. Yet, there are few things more true than that Christianity's genius, inherited from its founder, is its global universality. "God so loved the world," the fourth gospel tells us (John 3:16), not "God so loved my tribe."

The story of Christianity is the story of good news that will not respect the walls erected by human hands, but opens the eyes of people to the fact that every partition we erect is called into question by the neighborhood of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14). The Spirit of Christ runs counter to the spirit of the tribe, calling us to let go of the fears and self-hatred that separate us and to find in Christ the humanity that revels in God's love for everyone God created.

But, of course, if you are still reading this essay, you probably already agree. And if you don't agree, you stopped reading long ago.

How do we help the tribalist learn the love of God that overcomes self-loathing and casts out fear and that replaces the primitive distrust of the outsider with a confident eagerness to know the other? How do we act in society to limit the damage the tribal impulse can do while also seeking to recover the humanity of those who are possessed by this demonic force?
Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton spent time discussing the loss of American manufacturing jobs in last night's presidential debate. In a recent trip to the San Francisco Bay area, I met with some Silicon Valley professionals. There seems to be a group consensus regarding manufacturing challenges.

Though we can bring manufacturing jobs back to America, it's not as easy as we may think. There are many factors involved. Of course, one problem is that high taxes are driving manufacturing out of America. Certainly, all the regulations and restrictions are another problem. In addition, it's well known that wages in this country are so high that we can't compete with foreign companies. But there are a few other challenges that are not quite as well known.

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The Silicon Valley 'think tanks' are predominantly composed of Chinese and Indians. Evidently, it's a common joke among the Silicon Valley crowd that each 'think tank' has a token white guy on the team. The buzz seems to attribute this to the fact that the Chinese and Indians are more committed to excelling in the engineering and science fields. Their educational systems encourage and support them from a very early age. In America, the education system has fallen behind.

On the other hand, current immigration laws are undermining America's ability, not only to recruit, but also to hold onto highly skilled people. I've heard that in some South American countries the government offers to pay large sums of money to well-educated, skilled people to move to that country. In the United States, foreigners who graduate from Harvard, M.I.T., etc. often can't even get visas to stay in this country. They are forced to return home.

Another manufacturing challenge is the simple fact that we, in America, don't have all the materials needed for manufacturing. The rare metal rights have already been bought up by the Chinese throughout the world and even in our own country.

According to the Silicon Valley buzz, corporations in America are becoming overburdened with top-heavy bureaucracy. The scientists, engineers, and manufacturing staff find it difficult to do what they know has to be done because of the bureaucratic hierarchy lording over them. For that reason, many of the skilled staff are leaving large corporations and joining smaller businesses.

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An additional problem is that, in America, we tend to resent the wealthy. Employees of large corporations are not as grateful for having a job as they are resentful toward the powers that be. The employees in many foreign countries, in contrast, honor, and are grateful to, the employers for providing them with a job.

A number of years ago, a panel of business 'experts' on television was discussing the impact of rising oil prices. One individual was not concerned, saying, "This economy is so big and so powerful, it can absorb almost anything." Not a single person objected. Right then, I knew we had a problem. The entire economic equilibrium adjusts around the price of energy. A big fluctuation in that price sends shock waves of chaos throughout the economy. Prices of everything go up with the price of oil. It costs more money to deliver a loaf of bread to the grocery store. This puts a squeeze on consumers. More recently, the high price of oil suddenly and substantially dropped. This puts another kind of squeeze on the economy. The bank loans to the fracking companies can no longer be repaid. An economy geared around a $100 barrel of oil is suddenly plunged into chaos. The wild swings we see in our economy make it very difficult to invest in anything, including new manufacturing facilities.

Some like to think the solution to all of this is to have everyone buy American, and punish companies that try to leave this country in order to avoid all of our manufacturing pitfalls. I consider these approaches to be un-American and also unrealistic. If we want people to buy American, we need to make American products competitive. If we want companies to stay in America, we need to make that financially attractive. After all, companies have an obligation to their investors to maximize profits. That's called free enterprise, which is the very foundation of what made America great.

All of these manufacturing challenges can be overcome. It's really not that hard. But what we have to do first is take a sobering, wise, and intelligent look at the situation. Only then can we deal with it. Only then can we effectively bring manufacturing back into this country, providing good jobs and economic stability to our nation.
On the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, a call to Gen-Z to put nuclear disarmament on the radar

As with all generations, priorities and concerns are shaped by context and experience. We are yet to decipher what truly defines the generation of people born between 1995 and 2000 but there is some insight. Gen-Z is packed with entrepreneurial digital natives that are socially and environmentally conscientious. Nice mix. Climate change, sharing economy, internet privacy are concerns of their everyday life. Nuclear disarmament? Not so much.

Gen-Z have no way of knowing how it felt to live in a world where nuclear threat was part of daily life. They have probably heard more about "nuclear warfare" in movies than in the news or at the dinner table. For many, this could indicate something positive, a reflection of the world moving towards a more peaceful times. And by many accounts this has been the case. But this vague understanding of nuclear disarmament is also cause for concern. Nuclear warfare and disarmament is by no means a mere abstract thing of the past that we see today recreated through films. There is critical work that the world as a whole still needs to do on nuclear disarmament. Banning nuclear tests has been at the top of the list for so long, we don't talk or think about it as often as we should.

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It was 20 years ago that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was signed by over 166 states including the United States, but today we are still waiting for it to enter full force because there are 8 countries that have failed to commit themselves to ratifying the agreement. This is a glaring example of the stalemate plaguing multilateral disarmament.

The achievement of a moratorium on nuclear testing - maintained by all but North Korea - is significant. But as I have said time and again, it can be no substitute for a legally binding global prohibition.

Nobody said nuclear disarmament was easy but we cannot afford to have entire generations growing up to realize that things they grew up feeling as part of the past, are actually things we still need to sort out! We must give priority to achieving the long-overdue Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Leaving yesterday's diplomatic brain-bending negotiations to the next generation to grapple with is not the way to operate. As Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament I feel this frustration first hand but it does not deter me. I feel strongly that each Member State needs to engage proactively, but to do that they obviously need a strong push. Last Friday the UN Security Council adopted a Resolution to ban nuclear weapons testing which is an important step but a resolution is not a substitute for a legally binding treaty.

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"I'm not as successful as I thought I would be by now."

Have you ever thought these words to yourself?

The fact is, not everyone is in their peak during their twenties. This is the age where we are still gaining new skills, meeting new people, and figuring out who we will become.

That's why I've put together a list of 7 extremely successful people on what they were doing in their 20s and what major lessons you can take away from each example.

Mark Cuban was a bartender after college.

In 1982, when Cuban first moved to Dallas, Texas, he started off as a bartender and later found a job as a PC software salesperson. But less than a year later, Cuban was fired from his sales job because he wanted to close a deal with a new client instead of opening a new store that day like he was supposed to.

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This led him to starting his first business, Microsolutions.

"When I got to Dallas, I was struggling -- sleeping on the floor with six guys in a three-bedroom apartment," Cuban wrote in his book. "I used to drive around, look at the big houses, and imagine what it would be like to live there and use that as motivation."

Lesson: When you are young and scrappy with the drive to succeed, you can make it!

*****

Arianna Huffington was traveling the world with the love of her life.

At age 21, Huffington entered in a relationship with the famous journalist Henry Levin. During her early twenties, they traveled the world together attending music festivals while she worked on her book "The Female Woman" and he wrote for the BBC.

Even though, Huffington broke up with Levin when she turned 30 because he didn't want to have children, she still regards him as her mentor in her 20s.

Lesson: You can grow and learn a lot while being in a committed relationship in your 20s even if it doesn't work out.

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*****

Oprah Winfrey was demoted from her job.

Before Winfrey was a $3 billion media mogul, she had her humble start as a co-anchor for Baltimore's WJZ-TV nightly news.

But by age 23, Winfrey suffered one of the biggest career disappointments of her life, a huge demotion.

"I had no idea what I was in for or that this was going to be the greatest growing period of my adult life," Winfrey said. "It shook me to my very core, and I didn't even know at the time that I was being shaken."

This was a stepping stone to leading Winfrey to becoming the talk show host the world knows her by.

Lesson: What may initially seem like a failure is just a stepping stone to success.

*****

Warren Buffett was just getting into investment and sales.

For several years after college, Buffett put his time as an investment salesman at his dad's brokerage firm in Omaha.

Afterwards, Buffet did a short stint in New York City as an securities analyst. However, he quickly realized the city wasn't for him because it's easy to lose perspective in a big city like that.

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At age 26, he went back to Omaha to start Buffett Partnership to do investment partnerships.

Lesson: It's okay to do the opposite of what everyone is doing and do what feels right to you.



J.K. Rowling was daydreaming about Harry Potter during her day job.

In 1990, a 25 year old J.K. Rowling was stuck in a delayed train ride when she came up with the idea for Harry Potter. That evening, she started writing the very first book.

During the next 7 years, she would experience being fired from her secretary job at Amnesty International, marriage and divorce, having a daughter, and getting diagnosed with depression.

Even with all the traumatic events in her life, Rowling managed to finish her book in 1995 and get it published in 1997.

Lesson: If you have a will you will find a way no matter what challenging situations life throws at you.

*****

Anderson Cooper couldn't get even get a job answering telephones right after college.

The first job Cooper landed was being a fact-checker for Channel One, a news broadcast show for high schoolers. Even after 6 months of doing this, he wasn't discouraged and was determined to find a way to becoming a foreign correspondent.

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"For me, that was hatching a plan to quit my job as a fact-checker and go overseas to shoot stories by myself. I would make the stories as interesting and dangerous as possible, and then offer them to Channel One for such a low price that the stories would be hard to refuse. I knew I could live so cheaply overseas that it wouldn't matter how little I earned. A friend agreed to make me a fake press pass and loan me his home video camera. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I figured I'd learn along the way." Cooper says to Fast Company.

Channel One bought his videos on a case by case basis, and after a year, they hired him on as a full-time correspondent.

Lesson: If no one hands you an opportunity, then you have to create it for yourself.

*****

President Barack Obama was doing a lot of soul searching in his 20s.

Decades before he ran for political office, Obama spent his early 20s helping rebuild low income communities in Chicago by setting up a job training program, a tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization.

When he was 27, Obama took 5 weeks off to travel to Kenya where he met many of his relatives from his father's side for the first time.

"For a long time I sat between the two graves and wept," Obama wrote. "I saw that my life in America -- the black life, the white life, the sense of abandonment I felt as a boy, the frustration and hope I'd witnessed in Chicago -- all of it was connected with this small plot of earth an ocean away."

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Lesson: It's important to take some time to do soul searching, figure out your identity, and what are the things you actually care about.

The truth is, we don't have to have things all figured out in our 20s, but it is a good time to embark on that journey.

******

I hope you enjoyed this article!

By the way, if you are confused about what your passion is, I've put together a list of 10 Questions to Help You Figure Out Your Passion through understanding your strengths.

My hope is that you'll go through this exercise and have a better understanding of areas where you are strong in and like doing!
Yes, I am an immigrant and I have my papers. I guess that makes me a "documented immigrant". Having arrived here at a young age - with papers - about 50 years ago, there was not much I understood about the legalities of these matters, but it was not difficult to understand how one was perceived by others. It is part of human nature. Although I had my moments of uneasiness as a new arrival, I assimilated well into the mainstream society, making long lasting friendships and work relationships with people from all backgrounds, races, and ethnic backgrounds. Perhaps, my arrival did not coincide with a big wave of immigrants settling in the same area at the same time, so I didn't pose a threat. Others might not be so fortunate. Throughout the history of this land (even before it was the United States), most immigrants have posed a threat where they have settled.

According to Freedman (2007) the first European newcomers to what we call the American continent today were the Vikings. Interestingly enough, Freedman states that these first Europeans eventually left their settlements because they were not welcomed by the indigenous population, who at some point or another, thousands of years before, had also immigrated to these lands. From the late 15th century, the American territories from north to south - and islands alike - were being explored, settled, and colonized by Europeans. Most of these movements of people were undertaken with force and violence. Those who were here first, the Native Americans, fought fearlessly to keep their land. However, this fight was in vain because the Native Americans ended up in reservations marginalized from those who came after them. The Native Americans lost what had once been theirs.

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These lands have witnessed forced territorial shifts as part of a well orchestrated conquest, which later led to a migratory process of families and people pursuing a better life, such as the Pilgrims in Plymouth. For whatever reason, all movements of people have a motive for leaving behind their point of departure. Putting aside the constant bickering that went on among the English, the French, the Spanish, and even the Dutch over territories in what is called the United States today, once the land was conquered by those primarily of Anglo descent and new people began to move in from Europe, these heterogeneous European groups would clash with each other especially with the group that was last to arrive. People have always been suspicious of those who have arrived later.

The English were followed by the Germans and Irish with many of these groups settling in New York City and other Midwestern and northeastern cities. Later periods brought eastern and southern Europeans who were in very precarious economic conditions. Regarding these poor European immigrants, Howell and Moore (2010) noted, "Anglo native-born Americans discriminated against these immigrants as well. Conflict was therefore imminent, and gangs grew in such environments" (p. 1). In other words, because of anti-immigrant sentiments, eventually gangs were formed to protect their interests and fight those who were of a different ethnic group, creating a sort of pecking order as new immigrant groups arrived. Later on, when Asian and Latino immigrants entered the scene, they also formed gangs to survive the combative nature of those who had been here first.

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With a sharp contrast, the new Ellis Island is the sizeable Mexican-American border, a porous and somewhat uncontrollable major point of entry to this country. Nonetheless, it is important to note that not all immigrants who come through the Mexican-American border are Mexicans or from another Latin American country as some may believe. If there is a great Mexican presence, let's not forget the Alamo or Manifest Destiny, a philosophy that found a way to defeat the southwestern territories, belonging to Mexico first and then becoming a part of the United States.

Considering the somewhat anarchic character of this border, anyone who has an inclination to reach the other side and who knows about the illicit border crossing services offered or the difficulties involved in competently supervising the border will give it a try. As a result, the United States finds itself with an approximate number of 11 million undocumented immigrants. With such a great number, many documented people here may have family members who fall within this undocumented group, most of whom are very hard-working decent individuals who might be escaping violence or some other sort of misery in their country of origin. Because law and order should prevail, the border has earned the reputation of a place of contention not only because of the dysfunction it represents but also because of the (relatively few by comparison) number of dangerous criminals who find a way to come across.

Being an immigrant is a difficult process of adjustment from various perspectives no matter the age. However, being an immigrant without papers can certainly compound the stress this process brings. Papers or not, the welcome is not always warm, making some feel out of place and unwanted. As this rainbow of people unfolds cutting across the border, many of those who were born here and who perhaps can trace their ancestors to the Mayflower simply react in the same manner that others have done in the past. They view immigrants with circumspection. Following an established pattern, immigration has always been a tug of war between the ones who were here first and the ones who came after. Possibly, those who have been here fear that the force brought on by those who come after might be stronger than the prevailing one. History may repeat itself.

References

Freedman, R. (2007). Who was first? Discovering the Americas. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.


An ad sponsored by the NRA-ILA attacking Indiana Senate candidate Evan Bayh (D).

By: Soo Rin Kim

Four years after it began requiring TV stations to upload their records of political ad sales to a central government website, the Federal Communications Commission maintains a recordkeeping system that makes finding out who an ad's sponsor is feel like a treasure hunt.

In 2012, the FCC approved a rule requiring broadcast stations in the largest markets to upload the files showing who bought time for political ads, how much they paid and other details, saving journalists and others from having to visit to individual TV stations to get the info. The directive was gradually expanded and now includes most broadcast, cable, satellite and radio outlets.

But the victory for open government turned out to be a website that is searchable only by station call letters, channel number, facility ID number and similar data -- not by sponsoring group, candidate mentioned and other terms that would make it easier to track who is running ads in particular federal races, and how much they're spending.

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The current filing system is "pretty useless" for the public, said Meredith McGehee, policy director at the Campaign Legal Center, which put out a report on the system's shortcomings this week.

The political ad purchase records, also known as political files, were basically an unorganized pile of mostly non-machine readable documents with no uniform filing system.

Earlier this month, the Center for Responsive Politics launched an ad data tracking tool searchable by state and zip code (and soon, by other terms) to continue efforts started by watchdog groups and news outlets such as Sunlight Foundation and ProPublica when the data first came out.

But the federal agency responsible for the data still maintains only a vague "due diligence" standard when it comes to stations' responsibility for ensuring the forms contain complete and accurate information.

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How it shouldn't work

Here's an example: This particular ad-buy record of the National Rifle Association of America-Institute for Legislative Action--a 501(c)(4) that does not disclose its donors--from a Pennsylvania CBS affiliate, WHP-TV, is a short, casual thread of emails titled "NETWORK BUY."

The WHP-TV email thread seems like a version of a contract document as it shows dates and times of ads to be aired, but the it doesn't include any information on the amount charged for the broadcast time, contrary to the law.

Under the Section 315 of the Communications Act, all broadcasters have to maintain a complete record of requests to purchase air time that includes ad buyer and content information. Forms drawn up by the National Association of Broadcasters usually contain the same information. Contracts and invoices generally detail dates and times ads were aired and amount paid to purchase broadcast time.

Most stations use the NAB form -- but not all. And byond that, there is absolutely no standardization in filing.

According to a Campaign Legal Center consultant's analysis of the whole archive, broadcasters nationwide were using about 80 different forms to report the same type of information, making it difficult for anyone to sort the information.

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It doesn't look like change is coming soon. Asked whether the FCC is building a standardized filing system for ad buy information, an agency spokesperson replied it is looking into the costs and benefits of making the political files machine-readable and machine-searchable.

Under the current system, ads don't have unique identification numbers, making it extremely difficult to match ads seen or heard on TV or radio to corresponding purchase records.

The NAB form for its buy from WHP-TV lists "National Rifle Association of America-Institute for Legislative Action" where it should have identified specific issues referenced in the ad.

With thousands of ad clips uploaded on YouTube by the NRA in the last few months, it is impossible to match the NAB form and the email contract with a specific ad.

An examination of the records shows this isn't unusual. In fact, count yourself lucky if you find any responses to questions asking for candidates names, issues the ad may mention or names of the sponsoring organizations' board members.

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For instance, this NAB form shows that the conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit One Nation has purchased TV time for "a message relating to any political matter of national importance," but the document is missing required information on what the ad is about.

According to Campaign Legal Center's report, several stations have also incorrectly labeled ads as not "of national importance" when the contrary was true.

In June 2015, multiple broadcasters in Wisconsin, including ABC affiliate WBAY-TV, CBS affiliate WFRB and Fox affiliate WLUK aired ads from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in support of Ron Johnson's Senate race. The corresponding NAB form, on the other ad, fails to say the ad is a "matter of national importance."

Not only does the federal law clearly require broadcasters to identify ads that target any election to federal office, the NAB form kindly reminds filers to mark a communication "a message relating to any political matters of national importance" if the ad references "legally qualified federal candidate," "any election to Federal office" or a "national legislative issue of public importance."

Campaign Legal Center was able to confirm this was a false filing only after checking with the Chamber of Commerce itself, something that would be extremely difficult for an individual to do; super PACs and 501(c) groups often don't reveal their contact information to the public.

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Sometimes, different stations put down completely different information for the same advertisement.

Last month, conservative dark money group One Nation spent about $1 million on airing an ad against the Obama administration's Medicare overhaul across Missouri, including Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia.

While Kansas City station KMBC clearly marked the program as a message relating to a political matters of national importance and listed Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as the target of the ad on its NAB form, Columbia's NBC affiliate KOMU and St. Louis' Fox affiliate KTVI left the boxes empty.

Ad buyer information reported for One Nation ads are even more baffling. Several One Nation documents show that either broadcast stations or ad buying agents have been mixing up the nonprofit group One Nation with One Nation PAC, which has no relation to One Nation and has purchased no ads in 2016.

In this particular ad purchase record for WMUR in New Hampshire from last month, the contract document lists One Nation PAC as the advertiser but the NAB Form identifies One Nation as the organization that will use the broadcast time.



The contract lists One Nation PAC as the advertiser.



The NAB form lists One Nation as the organization to use the broadcast time.

As similar as they sound, there's an important between the two. One Nation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) nonprofit that has a legal privilege to keep its donors secret. One Nation PAC, on the other hand, is a Carey Committee, a hybrid that can contribute to candidates as well as make independent expenditures. But the PAC must disclose its donors.

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Vermont's WCAX consistently lists One Nation as the advertiser in all its documents; but it uploaded all its One Nation filings under a folder named One Nation PAC on the FCC website.

WCAX General Sales Manager Nick Hasenecz, who files the reports for the station, told OpenSecrets Blog he wasn't aware that the political action committee and the nonprofit group were separate entities. The station changed the folder's name to One Nation after the conversation with OpenSecrets Blog.

But WMUR and WCAX aren't alone in mixing up the two groups.

Because the database isn't sortable, it's difficult to check the whole archive, but an analysis shows that at least 10 different stations have listed One Nation and One Nation PAC interchangeably on their NAB forms, records of requests and contracts.

"The reason for this [missing and inaccurate information] is that the stations feel absolutely no pressure to fill in all the required information accurately," McGehee said.

Under current rules, broadcast licensees have the sole burden of "due diligence" to report complete and accurate information. But because of the lack of precise definition for "due diligence," stations can simply say they "asked" sponsors or ad-buying agencies for missing information but failed to get an answer.

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An FCC spokesman said the agency conducts periodic audits to ensure compliance with its rules and also reviews complaints filed with the FCC.

The agency usually issues warnings to stations that have failed to comply with the rules. Last month, a Florida radio station WQBQ (AM) was fined $15,000 by the FCC for failing to include required information in a public file.

However, McGeehee says fines and warnings don't happen often enough and aren't sufficient.

When the Campaign Legal Center and Sunlight Foundation filed complaints against TV stations in 2014, the FCC responded immediately with letters of inquiry to each of the stations and issued a statement claiming to take the matters seriously. However, the complaints still have not been resolved.

"It seems reasonable to assume that FCC is not making reasonable effort to provide the important information to the public," McGehee said.

The devil's in the details



McGehee said easy access to accurate political ad buy information is especially critical since the Citizens United decision in 2010 because sometimes that's the only way to track huge amounts of dark money spending in elections.

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Federal Election Commission rules allow 501(c) groups to spend millions without disclosing their activities to the agency as long as the ads run more than 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election. Political nonprofits have deliberately avoided spending within the window to avoid filing reports with the FEC.

One Nation's ad buy records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics show that the dark money group has spent tens of millions of dollars already this election -- a fact that can be partially gleaned from its website.

One Nation has already spent at least $25 million in 2016, but the FEC's database shows its outlays as a little over $200,000, because the only began reporting its spending to that agency two weeks ago.

The Campaign Legal Center, along with Common Cause, the Sunlight Foundation and the Benton Foundation, filed more complaints this week against several broadcasters across the nation that have failed to comply with the rules by leaving out important information or reporting false information on their political ad records.

In its new report, CLC called for building a machine-readable standardized filing system, updating the "due diligence" definition to clarify the responsibilities of broadcasters and requiring ad sponsors, under penalty of perjury to provide media outlets with accurate information.


It's hard to know where Norwegian author Unni Turrettini's life will take her next. Her book, "The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer: Anders Behring Breivik and the Threat of Terror in Plain Sight (Pegasus Books, November 16, 2015) about the tragedy of the 2011 Norway attacks, is receiving excellent reviews. In September, she came to Boston and gave a talk about her work at the prestigious Chilton Club. This November 5th, she'll be presenting a TEDx event at Institute Le Rosey, Switzerland. Currently her latest work, a comprehensive analysis of the Nobel Peace Prize, is being represented by Linda Langton of Langtons International Agency, and under consideration with publishers.

We managed to catch up with Unni through Skype, on an early afternoon just outside Oslo, Norway, before her two children returned from school, to talk about her life, her writing, and her worldview.

Unni Turrettini was born and raised in Norway, the daughter of adventurous parents who moved frequently around the country, so she is familiar with all areas of this Scandinavian nation. Her father was an engineer working in mining and oil fields. Because the family moved so often, from the northern border adjacent to Russia to the southern tip of the country, Unni found it easy to adjust and fit in to any new environment.

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As a teen, Unni wanted to travel and see the world. She spent a year as an exchange student in Kansas City, Kansas, and learned quite a lot about family life in the American Midwest. She loved her host family and enjoyed her time there immensely. After her trip to the U.S., Unni returned to Norway, and once she was ready, studied law in Paris, France and Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, and received admission to the New York State bar.

"We just returned to Norway from Switzerland. I spent eleven years there." Unni laughed, "It's the longest I've ever lived in one place! I've been abroad for 20 years. I guess I lack roots, and often feel restless if I'm in one location for too long. Now we are back in Norway. My experiences abroad were great, but it feels good to be back and live on the water. It's peaceful, close to nature, and safe. My kids can have freedom here that they can't always have elsewhere. My oldest can ride his bike, and do stuff on his own."

Unni feels that her time abroad has made her less Norwegian than those who never left the country. She intimately understands American and European cultures that differ radically from typical Norwegian society. It has colored her worldview and she is able to see both the positive and negative prevalent in her native culture, and this insight enables her to incorporate different views and cultural perspectives into her writing and research.

What were you like at school?

"I was a wild girl, forced to conform to the Law of Jante, or Janteloven. Although Norwegian society subscribes to this concept which criticizes individual success and achievements as unworthy, I knew I was different. Even though I was forced to conform to this inflexible rule, I was full of life and a dreamer. I was too loud, too cheerful, too active. I had to force myself not to stand out too much. It's why I left. I didn't feel at home, so instead I went abroad, studied, became an overachiever and made a life away from the Norwegian norm." She sighs. "Norway has changed somewhat, so it was easier to return with my children. The society has opened up somewhat so that individual achievement isn't as suppressed as it used to be."

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Is that why you chose to write about Anders Behring Breivik?

"Let me be clear. Anders Behring Breivik is a monster. He slaughtered 77 people and wounded hundreds more. And right now he is getting all the attention he ever wanted. He has an audience, and instead of locking him up and throwing away the key, he still commandeers an audience and media attention.



"It was that it happened so close to home. Who could have thought a home grown terrorist would be in Norway? As I followed the trial, I researched everything I could find on similar killings worldwide."

The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer: Anders Behring Breivik and the Threat of Terror in Plain Sight takes on how the Law of Jante could, in some instances, spawn a vile, murderous killer such as Anders Breivik, and not recognize the signs of a domestic terrorism seeking a cause and chaos within a peaceful society. On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik blew up a government building trying to kill Norway's leadership and then went to Utya Island where he slaughtered teens and young adults at their summer camp. Unni compares Breivik to other lone-wolf killers, who unlike the Aurora and Sandy Hook killers, were out to prove their ideological superiority by causing as much mass destruction as possible. Tim McVeigh, Eric Rudolph and the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski are all examples that she equates to Breivik.

"If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere." Turrettini explains and indicates that the combination of conditioning and shame that can facilitate the process of becoming a killer, and tries to show it's not just an American problem, but a world problem as well.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

"I love to write. I feel free doing it and if I am able I plan to continue writing and publishing as a living. I also love public speaking and find it rewarding to touch someone with my words. I believe in empowering people, and since I am better at writing than extemporaneous speaking, I am able to transmit what inspires me.

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"I am a truthteller. What I say may not be groundbreaking, but the way I use my words can affect people. I touch people in different ways, and I know that what I say may be difficult, but I am ready to learn from criticism."

Your new book is about the Nobel Peace Prize. What truths are you revealing in this book?

"It is well known that all the other Nobel prizes are awarded by Sweden, but in Alfred Nobel's will, he stipulated that Norway award the Peace Prize. At the time he died, Norway and Sweden were under one King with Norway as the "little brother" country. Nobel thought that humble Norway would choose the best candidates in accordance with his wishes."

This was before Norway became a powerhouse in the energy sector and one of the richest societies per capita in the world. Turrettini's new book delves into the controversial selections for the Peace Prize and examines those choices and the peacemakers who did not receive the prestigious award. It examines how the Peace Prize no longer resembles what Nobel intended and how the power and prestige of the award has gone to the Norwegians' heads, thereby negating the humility and the substance of the prize that Alfred Nobel intended.

"It's been a fascinating study of this prize. I mean, there are only so many prestigious awards. The Academy Awards, the Nobel Prizes, and the Nobel Peace Prize. I wanted to see what happened, who Alfred Nobel really was, and how the evolution of the Peace Prize as a way to promote peace, has become a popularity contest, with Norway choosing the victor."

What is the hardest thing about writing about Nobel?

"It's feeling as if I were betraying Norway. It's not exactly a marketing book for Norway. I am scared of the reaction that the book may get. As a Norwegian I feel responsible and I get what it means to be Norwegian. Still, because of spending so much time out of Norway, I am in the unique position of being able to view the culture from a distance, and provide insights into their sacred cow, the Nobel Peace Prize."

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"I guess it comes down to the old adage, 'If liberty means anything at all it's the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.'"

When did you decide to become a writer?

I wasn't too happy being a lawyer in corporate law. So instead, my supportive husband and kids accept that I write and research full time. I love it.

How do you think you've evolved creatively?

There has been so much to learn. My mentor, Bonnie Hearn Hill, has taught me to be braver and to control my writing. I have also found peaceful moments and create space for inspiration. The research is the easy part...I am very left-brained. The writing and thinking or right-brained stuff is much harder. I still need to learn more, so I can keep improving.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

Writing is easier than talking. I am not usually a talker, so I feel more confident when I can write my thoughts down.

What book/s are you reading at present?

Just finished Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Well written, and inspirational. Also Robert Bly's Iron John.

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How do you relax?

I like to run, take walks, hike, and swim. I do my best thinking in nature and being alone.

What is your favourite motivational phrase?

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance."

What is your favourite book?



The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Where can you see yourself in 5 years?

Writing articles, books, and more personal stories, fiction based, and motivational, and being involved in making documentaries. International keynote speaker, and more time in the U.S. and the ocean

What is your favourite movie?

Forest Gump. Such a beautiful movie. "You have to do the best with what God gave you" is my favorite quote when his mother tells him this.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Trust yourself, be brave enough, and be kind to yourself, and don't care about what others think.

Which famous persons, living or dead, would you like to meet ?

Oliver Stone, Arianna Huffington, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Chiba, Japan

The sales pitch, in various versions, pops up every time charter cheerleaders are pushing charters as the Big Solution in education.

"We know how to educate poor minority students."

The implication, of course, is that public schools don't know how to get the job done. The use of civil rights rhetoric further pushes the idea that charters can rescue non-wealthy, non-white students from a public school system that either can't or won't provide them with the education they need and deserve.

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The problem with this assertion, however, is the words that charter fans invariably omit from the pitch.

The word is "some."

As in, "We know how to educate some poor minority students."

And that's a problem. That single word is the difference between a pitch that makes compelling sense and one that is simply a pack of weasel words. Let me tell you why.

First, some stipulations:

I'm going to skip for the moment my usual objections that the measures being used to determine whether a school is successful or not are grade-A useless baloney. Let's just pretend for the moment that we know how to measure student success.

And we can also insert my usual disclaimer here that not all charters are problematic, and particularly back before the rise of the modern investment-driven hedge-fundie charters, there have been charters that have truly added to the public education landscape. So I don't automatically hate charter schools.

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I'm also going to acknowledge right up front that we have many schools and school districts that are not doing right by non-wealthy non-white students. That problem is real, and I am not going to pretend for a moment that if we just make modern charter schools go away, things will automatically be both hunky and dory.

So, what is the problem with--

We know how to educate some poor minority students

After all-- educating even some students, particularly those who might find themselves in underfunded, under-resourced public schools.

Problem #1: That is not the gig.

The public education gig is to educate all students. All. Students. Not some, not a few, but all. One of my objections to the rise of the modern charter is that it's a quiet re-write of the public education mission-- let's stop trying to educate everyone and just focus on the chosen few, and put Those Children in the underfunded holding pen that we'll call public school.

Some charter fans are open and honest about this; Mike Petrilli has noted that a charter mission should be to give "strivers" a place to get away from Those Other Students. But other charter fans deliberately obscure their omission of "some" and tout their ability to get good results with a few students as a sign that they know something that public schools do not.

Problem #2: This is not news.

I think this is one of the things about modern charters that absolutely drives public school teachers nuts. Charters want to claim that because they can achieve success with a small, select sample of students, they Know Something About Education. Dude, those of us in public education have known since forever that if we were free to pick and choose our students and could just get rid of the ones who don't want to learn the way we want to teach, we would look like education rock stars. Everyone knows that.

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So when Boston charters start talking about their awesome results without also talking about their awesome attrition (and non-backfill) rates. When your charter system can point to a grand total of fifteen black males who went on to graduate from college, you are not showing us anything that public schools couldn't quickly and easily replicate-- if we were allowed to change the nature of the gig (see problem #1).



Problem #3: The Real Solution

Treating the educating of a few students in well-supported charter schools takes our eyes off the broader solution-- to actually fully fund and support the schools that are already trying to reach all students, and not just some.

Bottom line

Some charters cream, deliberately, as a matter of policy (like these charters in California that got caught). Some cream more organically by targeting particular parts of the market with their advertising, and of course all charters self-select for families that are more involved in their child's education (and ask any public school teacher how schools would change if we had only the students of families that cared about education).

And we don't talk enough about the importance of the no-backfill rules in operation in many charter markets, guaranteeing that no new students ever come in in the middle of a multi-year program. Again- we already know that no-backfill would work, but that's not the public education gig.

There are charter fans who know better. Chris Barbic left the Tennessee Achievement School District noting that it's hard to raise the success rate of schools when you have to keep all the students that live in that school's community.

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Anybody can do a good job of educating some students. Modern charter advocates should stop pretending they have invented the wheel. And if they really want to be honest, they can start using that one simple word-- some.
By: Merrill J. Fernando

We are a family of tea makers who became accidental hoteliers, born of our commitment to ethical tea production and a genuine pride in sharing our country with interested visitors from abroad. Sri Lanka's tea has been acclaimed for centuries, but much of it was bulk-exported abroad and the serene beauty of the tea region was not widely explored by tourists.

Early in my career, I resolved to change the way the Sri Lankan tea industry operated, creating the country's first producer - owned brand - one that would offer the finest teas to consumers whilst providing a better deal to producers. Thus, Dilmah tea was born.

I faced enormous opposition from the big traders. Packing the tea at source in Sri Lanka was a threat to the exploitative and colonial system in place across the country at that time. Our team was small but passionate and our customers were too.

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In 2000, when the Sri Lankan government announced a ceasefire in the long-running civil war, we began to receive letters from fans of Dilmah tea around the globe. They were intrigued by our beautiful country and delicious tea; they wanted to visit Sri Lanka to experience the unique culture for themselves.

Alongside my sons, Malik and Dilhan, we began running unofficial tea tours, with visitors staying in our tea planters' bungalows and estate managers' homes, touring the factories and plantations with our team. Word spread and our accidental hotel business began!

We renovated four colonial-era tea planters' bungalows - built between 1888 and 1950 - within the tea estate, between beautiful Mousakelle and Castlereagh Lake. In 2005, Ceylon Tea Trails officially opened as a unique 'hotel' concept, allowing guests to feel as though they have travelled back in time to colonial Ceylon.

We wanted our guests to experience graceful living in the pristine surroundings of our tea estate - awoken each day by a butler serving 'Bed Tea', an age-old institution, as their bath is drawn and curtains opened to reveal the misty valley below. At its core, Ceylon Tea Trails is a celebration of our country's greatest export and my family's great love - tea.

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I have always believed that the greatest gift is the gift of giving - in sharing and caring, making our business a human service. Since the early days, out earnings have been shared amongst our workers, the differently abled and the wider community. Our business was established on the principle that success is a blessing to be shared.

The MJF Charitable Foundation was a natural extension to this, allowing us to widen the benefit to the community and the environment. Through this, we have supported 200 scholarships for members of our tea picking families - with 99 students going on to university. We have helped with housing improvements for workers including providing additional water supply, implemented a health care infrastructure and created a breast cancer awareness programme.

Other initiatives include the Small Entrepreneur Programme, the Prison Reform Programme and the Local Heroes Programme, all aiming to empower disadvantaged people and communities.

The two MJF Centres - in Colombo and Weligama - provide much-needed childcare, education and support to disadvantaged and differently-able children in the area. We also work with women from underprivileged, marginalised communities to create a livelihood through education. Alongside these social initiatives, we work towards environmental sustainability through Dilmah Conservation, protecting the fragile environment through harmonious co-existence between humankind and nature.

Following in the footsteps of Ceylon Tea Trails' success, we opened a second resort on Sri Lanka's south coast - Cape Weligama - in 2014. Situated on a spectacular promontory jutting out into the Indian Ocean, with whales passing by and wonderful surfing, this is a very different experience but it maintains the central principles of philanthropy and giving back to the community.

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Looking to the future, we hope to continue showcasing our unique country and culture to visitors, with new properties in the pipeline. The next resort will be Wild Coast Tented Lodge - a luxury tented camp situated on a white-and beach on the fringes of Yala National Park, a renowned hotspot for leopards and elephants.

Here, we can showcase the unique biodiversity of the region whilst benefiting the local communities and fostering in our guests a respect and awe for nature.

As hoteliers, we have a unique role in protecting our country. Through understanding the mutuality that exists between the environment and tourism, demonstrating leadership and making a genuine commitment to sustainability and community engagement, we can truly shape the future of our unique island nation.

Pioneers for Change is a seed-bed for innovative thought. An activator of personal potential. A catalyst for collective energy. A community to drive social change.

Our annual, international Fellowship is open to anyone aged 28 - 108 years old. We gather change-makers -- a business person, a community person, an investor, a thinker or doer -- who are willing to harness their talents, energy and resources as a force for good. Pioneers for Change is an initiative of Adessy Associates.

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Adessy Associates believes a better world is possible, and equips and enables organisations and individuals to make positive change happen, and contribute to a sustainable future. We focus on benefit for people, planet and profit. Our bespoke services harness sustainability, innovation, consciousness and purpose. We are proudly B Corp certified.

About Merrill J. Fernando

Born in 1930, in the village of Pallansena in South Western Sri Lanka, Merrill J. Fernando hails from a rural, middle class background. Following his early education at Maris Stella College, Negombo he moved to the capital Colombo, seeking better prospects. He wished to become a Tea taster, then the domain of British expatriates who guarded their profession keenly. Merrill was fortunate to be selected to join the first batch of Ceylonese (Sri Lanka was then called Ceylon) to be trained in tea at what was then the 'mecca' of tea - Mincing Lane, London.



Whilst at Mincing Lane, Merrill observed the dysfunctional aspects of an industry on which his country relied heavily, and which was exploited by large multinational corporations. Tea, a finished product that was handpicked, produced according to a traditional and artistic process in Sri Lanka, was treated as a raw material and shipped at nominal value to Europe where value addition, branding and packing took place.



This meant that the producer received a tiny fraction of the profits from the sale of Ceylon Tea, whilst middlemen - mainly a handful of large corporations - benefitted disproportionately. Addressing that inequity has been the fire that has driven Merrill since the age of 20, for more than half a century. He established his Dilmah brand - the first producer owned tea brand - after 38 years of endeavour, and has since championed Integrity - Quality, Freshness, Authenticity and Ethics - in tea.



The tiny, upstart tea company that Merrill formed in 1988 to change the exploitation of his country's crop by big traders, has today grown to become one of the top 10 tea brands in the world. However as Merrill says, his Dilmah will always be a small, family brand because it represents integrity, and integrity in tea requires quality, commitment and passion. Those are not qualities that can be extended to the mass market.



Merrill J. Fernando is joined in his passion for tea by his sons, Malik and Dilhan, whose names form the Dilmah brand. Together they pursue Merrill's vision of bringing quality back to tea, with tradition, ethics, and all the health benefits in fresh tea. Merrill maintains an active interest in Resplendent Ceylon - the hospitality arm of Dilmah - which is now overseen day-to-day by his son, Malik.
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

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There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh

USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens
"Today this man is getting his voting rights back."

My friend Maurice Harris remembers the day he heard a judge make that pronouncement. It was 2008, and Maurice had paid $500 for the cost of court filing and legal representation. The prosecuting attorney was arguing in the courtroom that Maurice should not gain his right to vote. The judge, though, ruled in Maurice's favor, just in time for the presidential elections that year.

Maurice had lost his voting rights when he was incarcerated. Once he had served his time and returned to our community from prison, he fought passionately to have his rights restored. For Maurice, regaining freedom and regaining the right to vote went hand-in-hand.

Or, as he puts it: "I needed to have that, to be whole. I was working, I was contributing to society, but I wasn't really whole. It makes you feel a part of the community. When I got my voting rights, I really felt whole at that point."

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Throughout our country's history, we have denied people the right to vote based on their history of criminal conviction.

Unfortunately, only 15 states allow the restoration of a person's voting rights as soon as a prison sentence is complete. A full 33 states (and the District of Columbia) do not automatically allow people to gain voting rights when they get out of prison. Instead, they impose additional restrictions, post-incarceration, of varying length and complexity. In a dozen states, a person can be banned from voting for life based on a felony conviction.



In Tennessee, for example, people who were convicted of certain serious crimes can never vote again. For the rest, there are three tiers of requirements that must be met. For one, once prison is behind them, they also have to complete their probation and parole - which can extend years and years, and in many cases a lifetime. Secondly, they must have paid of all criminal justice system-related debt. The fact is, though, people who go to prison are likely to rack up tens of thousands of dollars in court costs and fees, in addition to fines and restitution - a debt which is practically guaranteed to never be paid off in full. Thirdly, they must be paid up on child support; this debt will typically have accrued during the entirety of the prison term, and can take years of monthly payments to catch up on after prison.

These can - and do - amount to an insurmountable obstacle for someone trying to rebuild a life.

As a result, nearly 6 million Americans with felony convictions - the majority of whom have completed their jail or prison sentences - are currently or permanently unable to vote because of felony disenfranchisement laws.

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Moreover, because of the racially disproportionate way in which black citizens in this country are policed, convicted, and imprisoned, they are also disproportionately denied the right to vote. Denying people the right to vote based on criminal conviction operates as a mechanism for denying black people the right to vote. Nationwide, nearly 2.5 million African-Americans are disenfranchised.

There's been pretty clear recognition that felony disenfranchisement laws arose from concerted efforts to suppress the black vote. States' felony bans proliferated especially during the late 1860s and 1870s, at the same time that the Fifteenth Amendment was supposed to be guaranteeing the black vote, and restrictive state laws gained more steam in the Jim Crow era. Research shows that the larger a state's black population, the more likely it was to pass the most stringent laws that permanently denied voting rights to people convicted of crimes. That's why, when even more restrictive voting legislation was recently proposed in Virginia, the move was called "essentially racist."

As a nation, we need to be honest about the ugly fact that disenfranchisement is not just an issue of social justice, but also of racial justice. And since our democracy has made voting the cornerstone of citizenship, we need to be sure that justice for all includes the right to vote.
Serbian Air Force MiG-29 departing with two AA-8 Aphid missiles, Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria.

I was shocked to wake up and read that Russia was furious over the deaths of Syrian government forces -- from a US airstrike -- and that it was calling an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.

Are you kidding me? Seriously?

There are two reasons why this is absurd.

The first is that Syrian government forces are actually the cause of over 94 percent of deaths in Syria. Where does ISIS sit? 1.3 percent of deaths. This is according to the well-respected Syrian Network of Human Rights.

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Furthermore, since the Russian intervention (really, could things get worse?) 12, 366 barrel bombs have been dropped indiscriminately on rebel held areas.

I've written about this before. But let me remind you why barrel bombs are the equivalent of hell on earth: made of scrap metal and high explosives, they are rolled out of regime helicopters onto hospitals, homes and schools since the UN banned them. These aerial attacks are the biggest killer of civilians.

The image of five year old Syrian boy, Omran Daqneesh, who was the victim of a barrel bomb, ignited a new wave of anger last month. Sitting startled and not even crying, this picture is horrific because it symbolises the new normal.

Is that new normal ok with you?

It's horrendous for me.

These crimes ladies and gentlemen are committed by the Assad regime - that's right, the Syrian forces. The same forces that were hit accidentally by a US airstrike. How are they even different to ISIS? They are more than 90% effective in killing their targets.

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The second reason why Russia's anger is completely misplaced is the insane hypocrisy it is bringing to the Security Council. Russia has used its veto powers four times in the UNSC to protect Assad.

This includes a resolution calling for the crisis in Syria to be referred to the international criminal court - ignoring support for the measure by 65 other countries and all other members of the security council (bar China).

This includes vetoing a resolution in 2012 which was a plan proposed by the Arab League to stop the violence. The US representative to the Security Council, Samantha Power said that her delegation was "disgusted" that the text had been blocked and explained that the Council had been held hostage for months while the same two members (Russia and China) had held fast to "empty arguments and individual interests", trying to "strip bare" any measure that would call on the Syrian regime to change its tactics. "Wrecking amendments" proposed at the last hour to delay action further were reprehensible, she said, especially because they had come as the Assad regime was ratcheting up its "horrific campaign" in Homs.

It was this campaign that had led to the death of renowned journalist Marie Colvin who was basically hunted down and targeted by the Syrian regime for reporting on the unrelenting military aerial campaign in Homs.

So Russia, get real.

Seriously.

You're angry and want to bring the matter to the UNSC?

What a joke. Maybe if you hadn't vetoed four UNSC resolutions to try and keep Syrian civilians alive it might be a legitimate ask.

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It comes as no surprise to me that employees at Wells Fargo resorted to dishonesty in opening bogus accounts, just to keep their jobs. Why am I not surprised? Because in 2013, after six years of employment, my sister was about to lose her job at Wells Fargo because she could not meet her sales goals. I wrote this letter to CEO John Stumpf, advising him that the intense sales culture was damaging to employees and consumers. I received a startling response. But first, here is that letter:

March 27, 2013

Mr. John Stumpf,

Chairman and CEO

Wells Fargo & Company

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

Dear Mr. Stumpf:

Knowing how busy you are, I apologize for the length of this letter; but as a long-time customer, I ask that you please grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and take the ten minutes you will need to read this letter through to its end.

I very recently became aware of Wells Fargo's Vision Statement through a graduate school paper my niece was writing for a course. I was reading it, and here is what stood out:

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"Our vision has nothing to do with transactions, pushing products or getting bigger for the sake of bigness. It's about building lifelong relationships one customer at a time."

Ironically, my sister, who has worked as a teller for Wachovia/Wells Fargo for almost six years and is terrific with customers, is about to lose her job. This is not due to unprofessional behavior. It is not due to excess absences. It is not due to transactional errors. It is not due to lack of excellent customer service. What it is due to is her failure to continue to meet sales goals through pushing products.

She transferred from a large public branch to a Wells Fargo branch located on a military base in Xxxxxx, XX. It is a controlled location with limited opportunity for sales, since new customers cannot just walk in off the streets. That my sister is extremely reliable, has rarely missed a day of work, is well liked by customers and her manager, offers excellent customer service, and does a very good job as a teller, seemingly counts for nothing.

The fact is, she cannot meet Wells Fargo's designated product sales goals and is therefore on her final warning and expects to be unemployed within a month. It seems extraneous circumstances, like branch demographics or economic anomalies, are not taken into account by Wells Fargo when it comes to setting goals for evaluating employee productivity and determining job retention.

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For example, when sequestration cuts occurred on March 1, 2013, I thought to myself, this is going to hurt military people in terms of jobs and pay. My sister will have even less opportunity to sell. Indeed, the military healthcare system is affected, and will be cut by $3 billion. Any expendable income that might have gone into a new account -- perhaps a Custodial College Savings Account -- will be diverted for basic necessities, like health care and food. Hiring freezes, smaller staffs, and furlough days... All of these things, I thought, will affect military families' finances, and consequently my sister's employment status.

My niece (this sister's daughter) worked for Wells Fargo for a year before going back to get her Master's at California State University. Since she and her mother have both been enmeshed in the Wells Fargo "sales culture," she found it contradictory that your Vision Statement cites customer retention and relationships, not the pushing of products. The fact is, on the front line, that vision does not hold true. There is so much emphasis on the sale of any product that a teller cannot realistically ascertain all of a customer's financial goals, as is also declared in your Vision Statement.

I was a banker in Miami, Florida in times when (besides location) great customer service was the most important inducement a bank had to offer. I have been a branch manager, a commercial lender, and a VP in charge of a private banking division. I "retired" at the age of 36, and I am now 58, so I have been out of banking for a very long time, it's true. But I experienced tremendous growth in my branches, in my lending portfolio, and in our private banking division. And I distinctly attribute that growth to excellent customer service, which led to customers entrusting me and my bank with all aspects of helping them reach their financial goals.

Now let's look at Wells Fargo's Values Statement, which was also in my niece's paper:

"When they're (employees) properly supported, incented, rewarded, encouraged and recognized, they're even more satisfied with their jobs, providing even better service for our customers."



This is a time unlike any other in Corporate America history, when production goals are very high, with fear and anxiety being the prevalent motivators. Yet Wells Fargo states that support, incentive, reward, encouragement, and recognition are its employees' motivators. In truth, neither my sister nor my niece ever felt this was a part of the Wells Fargo culture. Rather, all employees hear is that keeping their jobs depends on sales.

The motivators you tout are lost in the intense sales culture, and the job satisfaction asserted in the Values Statement is illusory. It seems to me that firing a very good employee of six years because she can no longer meet her sales goals, then hiring and training a new employee, with the expectation of that employee having a better, immediate and all-knowing grasp of customers' financial goals, is ideally and fiscally unsound.

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I must tell you I learned of my sister's plight from her daughter (my niece referred to herein.) My sister has never voiced her concerns as complaints. She is grateful to have her job. So when I learn that she -- who would have been a valuable employee to me as a manager because of her work ethic and her customer relations skills -- is about to lose her job because she cannot meet rigid sales goals at her particular branch, I am saddened and distressed on her behalf. She needs her job, and so she works very loyally and diligently and does succeed in every aspect of her job over which she has direct control -- like great customer service and financial transactional skills.

My husband and I are long-time (Wachovia) Wells Fargo personal and corporate customers who still appreciate a banking relationship with the people of our local branch, though we do a great deal of our banking electronically. We recently had to obtain some information from our WF branch, via phone, regarding a wire transfer from Europe. While looking up the information, your employee made a sales pitch for a home equity line. While I admired the effort, I was once again reminded of the intense need to sell. I think this underscores my assertion that an employee cannot know a customer's financial goals when he makes a stab at selling just any product over the phone during an information-seeking call. It is all about sales, but then again, if he didn't ask, there is no chance at all for a sale! So that's good...But must keeping a job depend solely on sales? What about the good service he provided by getting me the information I needed? That matters, and that is what will keep me a lifelong customer.

So, Mr. Stumpf, I have addressed you from three perspectives: A relative to an employee, a former commercial banker, and a customer. I think all of these qualify me to give you an honest assessment of how your Values and Visions Statements fail to faithfully filter down to the front-line employees at the branch level.

That said, I am ending this letter with my thanks for your having read it, and with a wish for a more aware and benevolent Wells Fargo corporate culture--one that recognizes the value of excellent service in customer retention; and one that acknowledges dedicated, long-term, hard-working employees like my sister with the most coveted reward of all...Continued gainful employment.



Sincerely,

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REBECCA WARNER
TOPSHOT - Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (L) and Republican nominee Donald Trump leave the stage after the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on September 26, 2016. / AFP / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

So how do we judge last night's debate?

Before we get to what actually happened, we should start with what history -- from past years and this year-- tells us about how to view it.

First, audience. The number of Americans watching no doubt dwarfed the viewership for any prior debate -- including for the legendary first meeting between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Given the closeness of this contest, and the widespread doubts about both candidates, last night's affair could be unusually influential in determining the outcome.

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Second, these events often turn less on substance than on memorable moments -- the gaffe or zinger -- endlessly replayed on our screens. Who of a certain age can forget Dan Quayle's gaffe in comparing himself to the martyred President Kennedy, followed by Lloyd Benson's zinger: "I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

To merely quote these lines does not fully capture this moment of devastation. For those too young to recall it, a quick trip to YouTube will prove worthwhile.

Third, never before have two candidates had such contrasting styles. Hillary Clinton tends to be lawyerly, resolute and well-prepared. Donald Trump customarily relies on insults, outrage and serial mendacity, breaking all rules for normal political decorum. The question was whether the format, and the moderator, would reward substance or bluster.

Fourth, as a result Lester Holt's role was critical. Would he be prepared to call out falsehoods? Would he probe the candidates' grasp of issues, the basis for their prior statements or changes in position, the means by which they make crucial judgments? In short, would he help the audience -- at least the more discerning -- take the contestants' measure as potential presidents?

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Fifth, many of the undecideds watching no doubt were low information voters, unequipped to assess the policies debated in terms of specifics, yet wary of both Trump and Clinton. Their response was was bound to be more visceral. The question is who more of them liked better and trusted more, and on what basis.

A last question summarizes all the rest: how well did each candidate do in addressing their weaknesses? Clinton's task was to seem more likable and trustworthy or, at least, to persuade more Americans to trust her as president. Advantaged by a bar so low it was almost subterranean, Trump merely had to make "President Trump" more thinkable, especially to a critical mass of undecided voters unprepared to be critical thinkers.

As to all this, prior first debates -- four in particular -- have much to tell us about the dynamics of picking last night's winner.

The first televised debate proved the centrality of expectations and appearances. As compared to Richard Nixon, the incumbent vice president for eight years, John F. Kennedy was a lesser known senator of scant accomplishment. Their debate, it was widely anticipated, would dramatize this gap. Instead, Kennedy came off as crisp, confident, and deeply informed, Nixon's equal as a prospective president -- a draw which, because it surprised, advantaged Kennedy.

But even more telling was how they looked. Kennedy was tan, rested and attractive, the candidate as movie star. Nixon had just spent time in the hospital recovering from an infection, and was drawn, pallid and sweaty -- without makeup, and cursed with a 5 o'clock shadow, he looked more like a shifty-eyed character actor in a crime movie. Even his suit didn't fit; the patrician Kennedy, as ever, was impeccably tailored.

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Even for would-be presidents, optics matter. Those who watched television gave Kennedy the edge; by a small margin, the radio audience favored Nixon. But Kennedy had exceeded expectations -- and looked better doing it. He gained an edge which he never lost.

The presidential debate of 1980 had similar dynamics, but may be even more instructive in assessing Trump's performance. Polls showed a close race between President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. But in itself that spelled trouble for Carter. He was widely regarded as a failed president -- what gave him the edge were pervasive doubts about Reagan's knowledge and judgment. Which made Reagan the combatant with much more to gain.

What transpired was that rare debate which may well have flipped the outcome. In what was widely viewed as a gaffe, Carter cited his adolescent daughter Amy's advice that nuclear weapons were the most important issue - reinforcing a sense of fecklessness. In contrast Reagan was not only an experienced actor but, as a two-term governor of California, a gifted political performer. He looked confident and at ease, dispatching one of Carter's attacks with a practiced zinger -- "There you go again" -- delivered with an indulgent chuckle

Once again, low expectations had served a candidate's smoother performance -- a surprise to many. For millions watching, Reagan had become thinkable as president. He never looked back.

As in prior years, the first debate of 2000 presented an experience gap. Al Gore was the sitting vice president; many voters questioned George W. Bush's acumen and experience. One wildcard was that a considerable segment of the media, while questioning Bush's substance, harbored an intense dislike for Gore -- as the story line went, he was stuffy, or disingenuous, or unresponsive to their inquiries. As the media has tender feelings, this is never a good thing.

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Nonetheless, in the immediate wake of the debate the journalistic consensus was the Gore had won. The next morning I went to visit a friend -- a highly-placed Republican professional -- and voiced the same opinion. The gist of his response was this: you may think that now, but wait until we finish spinning the result.

It turned out that Republican operatives had spliced together a tape of Gore, sighing at Bush's answers with showy exasperation. It was, indeed, a lethal affectation, serving the trope that Gore was a pompous stuffed shirt, and swiftly became all the press could talk about.

Gore's win evanesced in an avalanche of changed perceptions. With help from the media, the GOP had snatched at least a standoff from the jaws of defeat. We all remember what happened in November.

The Bush-Gore debate also underscores the media's role in shaping public perceptions of who won or lost. That is particularly salient in 2016, where the omnipresence of social media increases this influence exponentially, insuring a flood of instantaneous opinion. The question was whether a media consensus would emerge, and how that compared with the first reaction of viewers.

Finally, there is a contradictory example -- the first debate of 2012. To the surprise of many, President Obama turned in a lackadaisical performance. Sharp and well-prepared, Mitt Romney walked away from any number of his prior positions, an acrobatic series of flip-flops for which he was never called to account. The near-uniform consensus was that Romney had seriously dented Obama's lead.

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Not so much. Obama recovered nicely in the second and third debates. Perhaps more instructive is that, by 2012, our politics was so polarized that Romney's victory seemed to change few minds. Winning the first debate wound up counting for almost nothing.

So, given these precedents, who won last night?

Hillary Clinton, easily.

It was the kind of night she needed. Though this debate will not transform the poll numbers, historians may conclude that it was critical in preserving her electoral advantage.

That this is so owes much to how both candidates performed.

In terms both of substance and optics, Clinton did well. Her responses were crisp, coherent and well considered. On the economy she spoke directly to middle-class voters, and effectively tied Trump to trickle down GOP economics. She navigated the thicket of race relations clearly and effectively. And, in particular, she addressed foreign policy issues in a measured and knowledgeable way, effectively contrasting her experience with Trump's intemperate bluster.

Perhaps more critical, she looked calm, confident and unruffled throughout. The brand of trust she needs to establish is that America would be safe in the hands of President Hillary Clinton. Her manner last night served that goal. And though Trump interrupted her frequently, she maintained her poise, leavened at times by a hint of amusement.

Clinton also succeeded in bringing out the Trump in Trump, hitting him with barbs and attack lines which pierced his all-too-thin skin. As his responses descended into interruptions and irrelevancies, he looked less like a president than an obnoxious ex-husband.

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That was the key. Even more decisively than Clinton won, Trump lost.

He started well enough, attacking Clinton on trade and casting himself as an agent of change who would sweep away the failed policies she supposedly represents. Regrettably for Trump, there were 75 minutes left.

What began as a slow-motion train wreck gained speed as Trump reeled to the end. His answers became increasingly garbled, defensive, and pointlessly self-referential -- as usual, he forgot that the campaign is supposed to be about other people. He made all the same old mistakes; lying about his original position on Iraq; clumsily evading his five-year embrace of birtherism; repeating his dystopian portrayal of black communities. None improved with repetition.

It turns out there is only one version of Donald Trump, and it does not wear well over 90 minutes. He was woefully unprepared, unable even to pretend that he knows more than he does -- which, quite evidently, is very little. It was a telling window on a man too self-absorbed to look any better than he is. And he looked even worse when, after he jibed at Clinton for taking time off to prepare for the debate, she responded that she also believed in preparing to be president.

But then Trump looked pretty bad throughout. He grimaced; twitched, sniffed, gulped water and, toward the end, seemed too weary to make much sense even by his own elastic standards. By then he was an easy mark for Clinton's jabs about his history of sexism, racial discrimination and dubious business practices. The alpha male was at risk of becoming a human pinata.

For Trump, this was a lost opportunity on an epic scale. All he needed was to exceed America's very modest expectations, and more independents and wavering Republicans might have come his way. He succeeded only in speaking to the already converted, at most solidifying a base which is too small for him to win.

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For Trump is no JFK, Reagan or George W. Bush, underrated candidates who showed their mettle. Trump proved that he was not underrated at all -- except, perhaps, in his own mind. What too many voters saw was a pretender who proved himself worthy of their wariness and unease.

Perhaps the ripest moment came near the end. Asked by Lester Holt to explain his remark that Clinton did not have the look of a president, he said that she lacked stamina -- an unfortunate remark from man who was beginning to resemble a beached flounder. Clinton's response was perfect -- when Trump has visited 100-plus countries, as she did, he should get back to her. One expects that this remark resonated in the souls of more than a few hard-working women.

As for Holt, on a couple of obvious occasions he challenged Trump's statements. But in general he did something far more damaging -- he let Trump speak. Much of the time Trump had nothing much to say, and he said it badly. The audience, on this night, was well served by Holt's light hand. And so a consensus emerged among the media and in early surveys of viewers: Clinton had done well; Trump had not.

As the Obama-Romney debate suggests, given our polarized politics a win in debate does not presage a dramatic shift in voter sentiment. But Clinton likely stabilized her support, while opening some minds among undecideds, wavering Republicans and potential third-party voters. By doing so, she took one large step closer to becoming president.
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

This was undoubtedly the first presidential debate in history to include a mention of Rosie O'Donnell. Even grading on a curve -- something the press tends to do with Donald Trump -- the Republican fared poorly. Hillary Clinton took him down on one character issue after another, from his tax returns to his business practices.

Unfortunately, that was not her most important mission on Monday night. Clinton's fate largely rests on her ability to turn out key Democratic voters in large numbers, especially young people and minorities, by persuading them that she understands their concerns and has a inspiring vision for the future.

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There was probably little Clinton could have done to change the nature of the debate, given the media feeding frenzy and the personality-driven nature of our political process. But it was unfortunate. She bested Donald Trump, but she will still need to excite and motivate the Democratic base.

Trading Blows

The debate was largely a clash of personalities, rather than a clash of visions for the nation's future. Moderator Lester Holt asked some excellent questions, including some we had hoped would be asked about the economy and racial justice. But at times it felt as if NORAD should deploy its Christmas Eve "Santa tracker" to find Holt, as long stretches passed with no sign of him.

Holt did step in at several key moments to fact-check Trump on the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk policing, his ability to release his tax returns, and his continued "birtherism" after Barack Obama's birth certificate had been released. In return, Trump telegraphed weakness when he complained to Holt about how he was being treated.

Trump was most effective in the early minutes of the debate, when he attacked Clinton for her past support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other harmful trade (really, intellectual property) treaties. While she now opposes the TPP, Trump pointed out that as Secretary of State Clinton called it a "gold standard" for such deals.

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Clinton was not able to defend herself effectively on the trade issue, and instead went into an odd digression that conflated the 2008 financial crisis, tax policy, the long-term decline of the middle class, and Trump's expressed desire to exploit the housing crisis.

"It's called business," Trump said to that last point.

Trump pressed Clinton effectively on President Obama's support for the TPP - a line of attack she could have blunted much more effectively by promising to lobby against the deal if Obama introduces it during the lame duck congressional session.

From that moment on, Trump's best moments were behind him.

Yes, he's a Republican.

Trump squandered an opportunity to talk about infrastructure investment, saying only, "Our airports are like from a Third World country. You land at LaGuardia, you land at Kennedy, you land at LAX, you land at Newark and you come in from Dubai and Qatar and you see these incredible -- you come in from China -- you see these incredible airports and you land... we become a Third World country."

True enough. But that's the symptom of a larger problem: the unwillingness of his own party to support infrastructure investment.

Clinton was most effective when she painted Trump as a typical Republican and hung his party's past errors around his neck. That was a smart reversal from her habit of characterizing Trump as a deviation from Republican norms. That approach was probably ineffective, kneecapping Democrats running for Congress and robbing her of a powerful line of attack. By tying Trump to his party, she robbed him of his populist aura and linked him to failed GOP policies of the past

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Unfortunately, Clinton also characterized Trump's economic ideas as "trumped up, trickle down." That's the kind of phrase that delights politicians and their campaign staff but leave voters cold or confused. Given her struggles to appear spontaneous, it's also precisely the sort of overly wordsmithed, artificial-sounding phrase Clinton should avoid.

Clinton then mentioned the plight of the middle class, the burdens of student debt, and the need for debt-free college. They were good, if somewhat inchoate, thoughts. But she failed to tie them together into a single economic theme or vision, and that will work to her detriment. Nor did she attack Trump on his misguided deficit fixation -- a fixation shared by too many Democrats in the Clinton camp.

On climate change, Trump denied Clinton's charge that he had characterized it as a Chinese hoax. But he did, and climate denial is the GOP's default position. At a time of planetary crisis, that alone should disqualify him for the presidency. But there was far too little discussion of the policies that are needed to protect the planet.

The Divide

Lester Holt mentioned recent police shootings of African Americans in Tulsa and Charlotte and asked the candidates how they would "heal the divide." Clinton spoke about her policies for criminal justice reform, while Trump talked about "law and order" and boasted about his endorsements from police groups. (I thought for a moment he was about to announce the support of the warden from "Cool Hand Luke.")

Trump sounded like a feudal overlord, or worse, when he spoke about law enforcement. Instead of projecting compassion, he seemed to have his mind on his money (and vice versa):

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"And when I look at what's going on in Charlotte, a city I love, a city where I have investments ... we need law and order in our country."

"You don't have good community relations in Chicago. It's terrible. I have property there."

Trump brought up his support for "stop and frisk" policing, a tactic which has been found unconstitutional, and repeated a great deal of misinformation about urban crime trends. He and Clinton went a few rounds on his favorite topic - law and order - before Holt gamely tried to reassert control by saying, "This conversation is about race ..."

Clinton pushed back on Trump's assertions and commendably addressed sentencing reform, saying: "We have to come forward with a plan that is going to divert people from the criminal justice system, deal with mandatory minimum sentences which have put too many people away for too long for doing too little. We need to have more second chance programs."

She did, however, wrongly claim that "we're ending private prisons in the federal system." The federal prison system is phasing them out, but Homeland Security still detains immigrants in for-profit prisons, and for-profit companies will continue to provide services in public prisons.

But Clinton clearly has a much better grasp of this issue than Trump does. "We have to address the systemic racism in our justice system," she said.

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Policeman of the World

The conversation on national security was equally frustrating. "We cannot be the policeman of the world," said Trump, a thought that deserved a meaningful exchange. Both candidates should be asked to explain where, when and how they would intervene militarily around the world. But Trump immediately added: "We cannot defend people when they're not paying us," a statement that made the United States sound like a private security patrol company. The right questions were never asked.

Neither candidate found the high ground in Iraq. Trump claimed the United States could've crushed ISIS by claiming Iraq's oil revenue for itself. That position is at once unlawful, unethical, and impractical. Clinton failed to offer a coherent plan to stop ISIS in either Iraq or Syria. And neither candidate acknowledged the deaths, not only of thousands of young Americans, but of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and other Middle Easterners.

Trump also claimed that the Iran nuclear agreement was ill-advised because sanctions were devastating that country, which is untrue. He repeated the conservative lie that the United States "gave" the Iranians money to secure the treaty. (Blocked Iranian funds were released as part of the agreement.) It was somewhere around this time that Trump began talking somewhat incoherently about the need to protect "the cyber."

Game Over

Observers pointed out that Trump became increasingly less comprehensible as the evening wore on. He also spent the evening sniffling loudly as he spoke -- which, if Clinton had done it, would no doubt have been characterized by the right as evidence of a life-threatening disease.

This summary makes the debate sound more substantive than it was. There was too much talk about the candidates -- about Clinton's stamina, emails, and personality, or Trump's taxes, temperament (which he claimed was "my greatest asset"), and fibbing - and too little about the voters: their fears, their needs, their dreams, and their changes for a better future.

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Trump got the reality show spectacle he wanted, even if it didn't go his way. Hillary Clinton missed a number of chances to rise above the "Super Bowl" aspect of the debate and appeal directly to the voters she needs the most.

As for the American people -- well, they got quite a show. But they didn't often get the answers they deserved. There was too much contest, and not enough content, in Monday night's debate.
It's pretty clear that at a basic level, men are just as involved in the act of conception as women are. But when it comes to who's using contraception, things aren't even close to 50-50.

Women have upwards of 10 modern methods of contraception they can use. There are caps and rings, patches and sponges, diaphragms and female condoms and improved fertility awareness methods. Oral contraceptive pills that come in three categories, including an extended-cycle version. Injectable contraceptives that last for one, two, or three months. Hormonal implants good for up to five years. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) containing either copper or hormone, protective against unintended pregnancy for up to 12 years. There is emergency contraception if needed. And permanent methods (such as tubal ligation) are available for those who want to limit further childbearing.

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Many men have come to see family planning as "the woman's job."

Yet even though most men are involved in making reproductive decisions, there are only two modern contraceptive methods for men: vasectomy and condoms. Vasectomy, though highly effective, is suitable only for men certain they want no more children, and it requires a minor surgical procedure. It is also largely unavailable in low- and middle-income income countries, where its use is negligible. (In contrast, vasectomy is the most widely used single method in Canada, with one in every three married women relying on it. Recent initiatives like World Vasectomy Day are also calling greater attention to vasectomy.)

Condoms, too, have their limitations. They must be used correctly with each and every act of intercourse to be effective--and often aren't properly used (or even available) in the heat of the moment. And their association with preventing sexually transmitted infections and HIV transmission often carries a stigma, even though male and female condoms are the only contraceptive methods that afford such protection.

Together, these two male methods account for only around 15% of overall modern contraceptive use in low- and middle-income countries. Nor are there new male methods on the horizon, at least for the next five to ten years. (Despite years of research, it turns out that feasibly modifying the male reproductive system remains quite challenging.)

No wonder, then, that organized family planning programs have been primarily oriented toward women, and that many men have come to see family planning as "the woman's job."

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Access to modern contraception is now a globally recognized right and a widely desired social good.

Which is not to say remarkable progress has not been made. When organized family planning programs began to function some 50 years ago, not even 10% of women in the world were using modern contraception; now nearly 60% of women do so. In most low- and middle-income countries, access to modern contraception has increased substantially. Such access is now a globally recognized right and a widely desired social good.

And while the importance of responsible male involvement in family planning has long been acknowledged by policymakers, program leaders, and donors, the rhetoric of their commitments to gender equity and method choice has not been matched by the sustained prioritization, funding, and programming we need to make sure men are able to do their part in helping to plan their families.

So what can be done? Here are five constructive things men can do, starting now:

1) Be a supportive partner. If you have a female partner, support her autonomy and agency, not only in making a contraceptive choice, but also in using that chosen method correctly.

2) Use contraception yourself. If you are a condom user, use it with every act of intercourse. And if you and your partner want no more children, consider vasectomy--it's highly effective, easier and safer to perform than tubal ligation, and almost all men are eligible to use it. It will not make you weak or impotent--in fact, many couples find that it improves their sex lives!

3) If you are a health worker, provide contraceptive information and services to men as well as women. Female and male providers alike should feel comfortable and capable in providing these to all clients.

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4) If you are a health system decision-maker or manager, make sure services are geared toward men, too. Every fully functioning health system needs its clinics, hospitals, and health workers to offer a constellation of male reproductive health services regularly, and in a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment. This means your health system's workforce must be well-trained, highly skilled, properly deployed, and adequately compensated.

5) Become a champion for family planning in general and responsible male engagement in particular. Policymakers, program leaders and managers, service providers, and religious and community leaders can become family planning champions. Individual health facilities can also become champions, building reputations for regularly providing respectful care and high-quality contraceptive services, without bias or barriers, to both men and women.

The international family planning community has indeed made great progress in making modern contraceptive widely accessible, especially for women. But until men are fully engaged and doing their part, the job is not yet done.

And we cannot forget what is at stake. In too many low-income countries maternal mortality is shockingly high. In South Sudan, there is 1 maternal death for every 50 births, the highest maternal mortality level in the world. And sadly, maternal death is only the tip of the iceberg: for each instance of maternal death, 20 women suffer incapacitating injuries like obstetric fistula. Yet if we could meet women's and men's current unmet need for contraception, 30% of all of this maternal morbidity and mortality would be eliminated.

Not only that, but infant and child mortality would go down, global gender equity would go up, and social and economic development would flourish.

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So on this World Contraception Day, let's see if we all--policymakers and program leaders, health workers and religious leaders, donors and NGOs, men and women--can't do more to ensure that appropriate male engagement, in all its positive manifestations, becomes a greater part of the contraception equation.
I wish I could speak with ironclad certainty about the right of fiction writers to portray anyone, from any culture, in any way we wish. In her opening address at the Brisbane Writers Festival, Lionel Shriver, a celebrated U.S. author, adamantly took that stance. Her argument appeared sound: the genre is fiction, therefore it's made up, imaginary, and nobody should take offense.

I've pored over her speech and studied the uproar of commentary it incited. Do you remember the movie, Fargo, now a television series by the same name? The Cohen Brothers created the film and billed it as a true story. Here was a movie about my state, my peeps, getting rave reviews. I couldn't wait.

I'd heard it called scathing social satire, but that didn't prepare me for the film's insulting portrayal of people, dare I say it, like me. I couldn't separate myself from the exaggerated Scandinavian backwoods brogue littered with you betcha, golly, and gee whiz. But the problem went beyond a personal affront. People all over the world watched it and formed an opinion of Minnesota, a state of hicks who talk funny and are a little stupid, but really, really, nice. Nobody sat beside them saying, "This is a farce, a parody, people there aren't like that, seriously they're not!" It was cultural appropriation at its box-office best.

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We can't help ourselves. We believe what we read, see, and hear in the media. If we don't swallow it whole, there's an impression left in our mental data banks that sticks.

So I had a problem when Ms. Shriver, from a position of white American privilege, told the rest of the world in so many words: Shame on you for feeling marginalized. This is fiction. It isn't about you, it's about the author's freedom to IMAGINE you.

Is she right?

Don't we all love story? What if the freedom to imagine and create is censored, given walls, boundaries, taboos?

I didn't like my group being portrayed in an unflattering way. Who does? And yet I'm a creative writer and imagining is what I do. I invent unsavory characters as well as quirky, funny, bumbling, brilliant, and dull ones. I visualize them in skin: tanned, pale, olive, sallow, wrinkled, white, brown. I identify them ethnically, socially, culturally, and by their own, unique voice. I give them place and purpose and bring them to life. It's never my intent to ridicule or malign others. But have I unwittingly done that by creating people who are nothing like me?

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How I love getting lost in a book that someone else has imagined, living with those characters in their reality while momentarily escaping my own. And how I love to create story, allowing my normally serious mind to come out and play, to run with abandon waving my magic wand as dreamed-up people populate the pages and live and breathe before my eyes.

It's scary when I extrapolate the issues of cultural appropriation in fiction to various possible outcomes. What if we were banned from writing anything but what we have personally experienced? Memoir would be off limits unless the only character was me. As soon as I introduced another person, an ex-husband, mother-in-law, one of my children, and shined my prejudices upon them, whether in a positive or negative light, zap! Guilty!

The fact that literary festivals are springing up all over the world, and writers are being introduced cross-culturally to a degree never before possible, brings issues of sensitivity to the forefront. Years ago, when authors wrote for a small segment of the population: those who could afford to buy books and also knew how to read, this was a moot point. But now that events bring writers and readers together world-wide, and literacy rates are increasing, those who have been portrayed in ways that don't ring true to what they believe about themselves, are speaking out.


Phillip James Brannon in Nat Turner in Jerusalem

Photo: Joan Marcus

Nat Turner in Jerusalem is one of those prison-cell-the-night-before-the execution plays. Jerusalem was a small town in Virginia, just north of the North Carolina border. The name was long since changed to Courtland, but the town remains known as the place where Nat Turner was executed on the morn of November 11, 1831.

Turner is one of those mostly forgotten people who can be said to have helped change the course of history. He joined with a group of fellow slaves to stage what is known as Nat Turner's Rebellion, in which they rode through the Virginia countryside for a couple of days killing any white people they came across (about 60 in all, as far as history can tell). While Turner's men were quickly caught--and the white locals went on a rampage, killing 200 or so slaves and free blacks--the leader managed to escape for two months until he was apprehended and hanged.

But that is neither here nor there. A week before his execution, Turner met with a rural lawyer named Thomas R. Gray. Gray ultimately published "The Confessions of Nat Turner," the veracity of which has been questioned. But it is the main source on Turner and his rebellion; without it, Turner might indeed have been forgotten altogether. Which brings us back to Nat Turner in Jerusalem. Nathan Alan Davis has conjured up ninety minutes-worth of that final evening's conversation, putting the audience in "the room where it happened" (as in the recently-coined popular phrase).

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(If Turner is relatively unknown today, you can expect him to become instantly infamous next month as the main character in the forthcoming motion picture "The Birth of a Nation." Turner also had a spell of notoriety in 1967, compliments of William Styron's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel which was also titled "The Confessions of Nat Turner.")



Rowan Vickers and Phillip James Brannon in Nat Turner in Jerusalem

Photo: Joan Marcus

Is this indeed a facsimile of what truly occurred? Or a fanciful recreation? It's impossible to say, of course; but playwrights have full license to tell their story the way they see it. Davis's version is not all that convincing or all that compelling. Phillip James Brannon (as the prisoner) and Rowan Vickers (as the lawyer and, in a few scenes, a prison guard) give strenuous performances as the only two actors onstage. Megan Sandberg-Zakian directs, using a square stage within a rectangle (and with the seating area at NYTW once again reconfigured, this time with bleachers of hard-bottomed benches with hardly-helpful cushions). She keeps the story moving, yes; but one can wonder at her device of overloud rock/gospel music between scenes; stagehands who come on and literally move the stage area from one side of the house to the other, and back; and Turner's prison-chains, which grow thicker and then thinner as the scenes progress.

Turner, here, seems an overly philosophical and ingratiating prisoner; in real life he was reported to be a self-educated, fire-and-brimstone preacher, but the character on stage seems more 21st century than 19th. That is the author's (and the director's and actor's) prerogative; if they feel they can make their points by making Turner a contemporary hero, so be it. Turner was never seen as a hero, mind you; but he was one of the earliest Americans to protest slavery in a manner so violent and fearful that it had impact in all twenty-four states.

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Despite the potentially explosive subject matter, Nat Turner in Jerusalem turns out to be non-compelling. Let it be added that this is a case where the program note is more intriguing than the play itself. Lawyer Gray mentions several times that Turner indiscriminately killed children in his wanton murder spree. The helpful program note explains that "the dead included all of those who had ever claimed to own Turner, including his current legal owner, a ten-year-old boy named Putnam Moore."



Phillip James Brannon in Nat Turner in Jerusalem

Photo: Joan Marcus
Washington, September 23, 2016. Power is an old game in this city, but a style in play last week made all others seem crude. Aung San Suu Kyi, the effective head of state of Burma, was in town, and in her presence, the American government performed at peak form.

On Tuesday, even as her plane was still crossing the Atlantic, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) were introducing the "Burma Strategy Act of 2016," as elegant a piece of legislation as one could conceive--intelligent, sensitive, outward-looking, exactly what would be needed should the executive branch want to ease sanctions in a country long beset by corruption and human rights abuse--which was, of course, the case.

The Act addressed the issues of persons anxious about continuing corruption and human rights abuses but set in place watchdog guidelines while still allowing the country to take advantage of American business acumen and investment.

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Rather than leaving the still-reeling country to muddle its way after 50 years of a civically incompetent junta, the Burma Strategy Act charges U.S. representatives in international financial institutions to "support projects in Burma that focus on transparency and accountability" and authorizes the Secretary of State to monitor progress.

So, when Aung San Suu Kyi woke her first morning in the U.S., she could walk calmly into breakfast at the home of Vice President Biden, who had invited the leaders of both chambers of Congress. Over broth, noodles and tea, she was able to discuss the law, address concerns, and agree to visit separately with more members the next morning. Lunch at Blair House with Secretary Kerry was similarly pleasant.

By early afternoon, Aung San Suu Kyi was in the Oval Office seated comfortably beside the President. Their mutual esteem was apparent, and, though neither spoke from prepared remarks, the meeting took but thirteen minutes. The President warmly praised his guest for all she and her colleagues had accomplished in six months and said that given the momentum, he was confident the U.S. could help by moving from sanctions to other forms of support.

One member of Congress had taken umbrage at something she said earlier in the day, so the next morning, he and numerous other members of Congress met with her in their caucuses. Senator Corkin, one of the bill's sponsors, had followed up. "I was pleased to see that there was a detailed response and the issue was taken very seriously," he told VOA.

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By Thursday evening Aung San Suu Kyi had accomplished what she had come to do with government and was free to turn to courting business investors.

That is power.

What is it that made these figures in an otherwise paralyzed government behave like a corps de ballet? Burma is important, to be sure, a key in the "pivot" to Asia--a crossroads between China and India, and an ally with Japan in the struggle for balance in the region. But in a Washington tainted by years of scorn and scarred by an acid campaign, few elected officials are eager to advance one another's agenda, much less turn intricate international maneuvers on a dime.

Aung San Suu Kyi's power works because it evokes the honor most members brought to public service in the first place. Could anyone in Washington actually tell a leader overseeing the birth of a federal democracy not to bother? That the "e pluribus unum" model the Burmese hope to emulate is fundamentally dysfunctional? Or would a sense of personal honor and national pride inspire them to show how well it can work?

Could anyone in Washington tell someone who endured years of personal sacrifice to be able to lead her country that they were too embittered by petty squabbles in their mature democracy to give her a hand? Or would an awareness of the integrity that drove her all those years suggest that they display government at its best?

Aung San Suu Kyi has earned trust in a place currently reluctant to grant any. Her preparedness is profound. During the more than 15 years under house arrest, she spent hours planning what she would do if given the chance. Now she has the chance, and she is not going to throw it away. She and her party gained over 80% of the vote last year. She is now working assiduously, assuredly and fast. Who does not want to help?

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In Washington she was as much benefactor as beneficiary. In her presence, democracy worked. Perhaps a rider could be added to the Burma Strategy Act 2016, that as part of the deal, Aung San Suu Kyi spend a week in Washington every year.
It started off as an ordinary airport experience. I was heading to Cleveland for a business conference. I packed carry-on for the short two-day trip. I kissed my son goodbye, thanked my parents for looking after him while I was gone, and set off by Uber to Logan International Airport.



A seasoned traveler, I packed a pair of socks in my purse for when they inevitably asked me to take my cute summer shoes off at the security check as I don't enjoy walking around barefoot in public places. I dutifully took out my laptop, removed my watch, placed everything into a couple of the little grey bins provided. I heeded the requests to stay with my things until I pushed my personal items all the way through the x-ray machine.



I walked into the full body scanner, put my hands over my head in the "surrender" position, and was scanned. I've read about these scanners and how the people on the other side of the screen can see every inch of your body, almost as if you are naked. I tried not to think about it.



I went to go collect my things from the x-ray machine conveyer belt and noticed that my purple suitcase was being carried off. That's where things took a terrible turn.



The TSA woman, who could not have been more than 24, smiled and proceeded to do her job. My bag, she said, had to be looked through to find something that made the x-ray operator take notice. After a few moments of scanning, we found the culprit, a small bottle of Victoria's Secret "Sheer Romance" body spray. It was bigger than the current allowed size. I grumbled slightly, but said "no worries, just take it away." But then the random swabbing she had done of my bag made her machine beep. I would have to go with her for a full bag search, she said, and a pat down.



I could not touch my bag, I was told. So she carried it half opened to a table. I was confused. What could possibly have made my bag set off their alarm? I'm a mom on her way to a conference. Besides having packed too many shoes, a box of heavy business cards, and possibly having the remnants of animal crackers in my bag from the last time traveling with my son, there wasn't much in there, much less anything nefarious.



The TSA woman asked me if I ever had a pat down before. I told her I had been patted down when the metal detector went off. She said this was going to be more thorough. She proceeded to tell me that she was going to be touching me in some very private areas. She would use the back of her hand when she touched my breasts, she said. I couldn't entirely believe what was going on and can't say I remember everything she said. There was panic in my head. "Am I going to be one of those people I have read about? One of those people who get close to violated by a complete stranger in the name of our national security?" It turns out that's exactly what was about to happen. She asked if I wanted a private screening. I declined, thinking that it would likely be better to be out in an open space.



She started with my hair. She moved through my hair with thoroughness that I have come to expect from my hairdresser. Then my arms. My back. My legs. She went up my side and around my waste. I felt myself tensing up. This woman, this woman who works for the TSA was going to touch my entire body so that I could go to Cleveland. And she did. Using the back of her hand as she promised she touched my breasts, around them, under them. While she was doing that one of her male colleagues walked past and said to me, with a smile on his face: "Watch out with her, she gets a little handsy!" She turned red. I started to feel as bad for her as I did for me. There was nothing normal about this.



But still she continued. She pressed around my waistband and underneath my buttocks. She ran her hands up my left leg and touched my groin. As she ran her hands up my right leg and touched my groin again I actually found myself needing to hold back tears. What was happening here? This couldn't be right.



Before I could process what was going on she had finished with the pat down, but there was more embarrassment I would have to suffer through before I would be allowed to travel.



We walked over to the table on which she had placed my bag. She took out my dresses I had neatly packed and put them on the cold silver surface. Then my skirts. Then my stockings. I asked her if she was going to completely unpack everything. She said she had to. So one by one she pulled out every item in my suitcase, my Immodium AD in case the food disagreed with me, my nighties, my shoes. Everything was touched, squeezed and often swabbed and then tested. Every time she put the wand into the machine I felt my body tighten, wondering what would happen if I twice set off the alarm. The thought petrified me so much I had to put it out of my mind.



Seeing how uncomfortable I was (and possibly feeling guilty about the faux pas of her male colleague) she spared me the embarrassment of taking my panties out one by one and checked them all inside the bag. She didn't pull out my feminine products for swabbing. I whispered to her "thank you." She just looked at me apologetically. She didn't like what she was doing any more than I liked it being done to me.



She finally finished and asked me if I needed help packing up my bag. I said I was ok. She told me to have a nice day and went back to her work. As I packed up my stuff, I noticed she had left the bottle of "Sheer Romance" on the table. I had to laugh to myself at the ludicrousness of it all. Here they searched my bag because my perfume was slightly larger than the allowed size, and after what can only be termed as a complete violation of my privacy, there was the little bottle, forgotten. I sprayed myself a few times with it and found an agent to throw it away. I didn't want to look at it. I didn't want to risk taking it back from Cleveland and having to suffer the ordeal all over again.



But I keep thinking about it. I keep thinking about how it felt to have a stranger touch me in the middle of Logan airport in places I would only let my partner touch me. I keep thinking about what would happen if they tried to do it to my child. What would I do? Now that I know what it feels like I would never allow my son to be "patted down" but until today I had no idea of the violation one would suffer. And I keep thinking of that bottle of "Sheer Romance," sitting there, abandoned on the TSA table.



When a mother on her way to a business conference is searched with such reckless abandon for human privacy, what have we really accomplished as a nation? Knowing I (and perhaps even my son) can be violated like makes the safety of being "protected" from terrorists feel a lot less safe. The words are still ringing in my ear... "watch out with her.... She gets handsy." I may never feel safe flying again.
Next time Russian will sell Iskanders to Azerbaijan - Ara Papian (video)

Historian Ara Papian says by displaying the Iskander tactical missile systems during the military parade dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Armenias independence, Russia had two over-arching objectives. First, Russian wants to restore its shattered influence in Armenia and assure us that it is selling weapons not only to Azerbaijan, but also to Armenia. The second reason is that Russia wants to create a new market. I assure you that next time Russia will sell Iskanders to Azerbaijan, Mr. Papian said on September 27. The historian believes that the display of the Iskander system was also an attempt to restore confidence in the armed forces and, why not, curb the likelihood of a major war. It was also aimed at curbing Azerbaijan but will have partial effect as Azerbaijan does not unleash and will not unleash a full-scale war. Azerbaijan does not need it at all, the historian said. Speaking about the referendum in Azerbaijan, Mr. Papian said, The question of heredity is in the limelight. By amending the constitution, Aliyev wants to introduce the post of first vice-president and remove the requirement that the presidential candidate should be at least 35 years old. He wants to make his son Heydar Aliyev Vice-President of the country. Ara Papian says the ultimate aim of the constitutional reform is to transfer presidential duties from the father to the son.
It's the timing that should amaze us (were anyone to think about it for 30 seconds). Let's start with the conflict in Afghanistan, now regularly described as the longest war in American history. It began on October 7, 2001, and will soon reach its 15th "anniversary." Think of it as the stepchild of America's first Afghan War (against the Soviets), a largely CIA affair which lasted from 1979 to 1989. Considered a major victory, leading as it did to the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991, it also devastated Afghanistan and created close to the full cast of characters for America's second Afghan War. In reality, you could say that Washington has conducted a quarter-century-plus of warfare there (with a decade off). And in the Pentagon, they're already talking about that war's possible extension well into the 2020s.

And then, of course, there's Iraq. Where even to begin to count? You could start perhaps with the military aid and assistance that Washington gave Saddam Hussein in the eight-year war that followed his invasion of Iran in 1980, including crucial information that the Iraqis could use to target Iranian troops with their chemical weapons. Or you could start with that victory of all victories, the first Gulf War of 1991, in which the U.S. military crushed Saddam's troops in Kuwait, showed off the snazzy techno-abilities of the mightiest force on the planet... and er, um... somehow didn't unseat the Iraqi ruler, leading to years of no-fly-zone air war until that second, ultimate victory, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which led to... er, um... a disastrous occupation, various insurgencies, and finally the withdrawal of American forces in 2011 before... er, um... the Islamic State emerged triumphantly to smash the American-trained Iraqi army, taking over major cities, and establishing its "caliphate." That, of course, led to America's third Iraq War (or is it the fourth?), still ongoing. In other words, at least a quarter-century of conflict and possibly more with no end in sight.

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And don't get me started on Somalia. Who, after all, doesn't recall the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (known here as the "Black Hawk down" incident)? Twenty-three years later, the U.S. is still bombing, missiling, and raiding that country which is, by now, a terror disaster zone. Or Yemen, where the U.S. began its drone strikes back in 2002 and has never stopped as that country went over a cliff into civil war followed by a disastrous Saudi-led invasion that the U.S. has backed in a major way, including supplying cluster bombs and white phosphorous to its forces. And Libya? From the moment in 1986 when the Reagan administration sent in the U.S. air power to take out "terrorist training" sites in Tripoli and Benghazi, as well as the residence of the country's autocratic ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, on and off hostilities continued until the NATO/U.S. air intervention of 2011. That, in turn, brought on not just the end of Gaddafi's rule, but a failed state filled with actual terrorists.

Syria is, of course, a Johnny-come-lately to American war, since Washington has been bombing there for a mere two years, and Special Forces operatives only entered the country relatively recently. And Pakistan barely counts: just 424 drone strikes over 12 years. A mere nothing when it comes to American warfare in this era. And as if to make the point about all this, just a few weekends ago, the U.S. launched bombing or missile strikes in six of those seven countries (skipping only Pakistan), all six now being either failed states or close to that. It's quite a record of unending warfare, largely against -- with the exception of Saddam Hussein's military -- lightly armed insurgents and terror groups of various sorts in countries that are generally now verging on collapse or nonexistent.

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Crossposted from UN Women.

At university when I presented myself as a Roma, my colleagues facial expressions changed. One teacher even asked, why I had come to the university instead of getting married, as Roma girls do, says Diana Leahu, a 20-year-old Roma woman from Orhei, a city 48 km north of Moldovas capital Chisinau.

Diana Leahu (on the right), a 20-year-old Roma woman from Orhei, a city 48 km north of Moldovas capital Chisinau. Photo: UN Programme Women in politics/ Ramin Mazur

A 2014 UN study indicates that Roma women and girls are among Moldovas most disempowered groups, often facing inequality in social, economic and political life. Half of the Roma girls in Moldova receive no schooling, only 20 per cent complete primary school, and only 10 per cent graduate from a high school or university.

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Leahu is an exception, rather than the norm, in being able to attend and complete university. This summer, Leahu, along with 25 young Roma women and men, attended the week-long Zorjaras summer school, organized by the National Roma Centre and supported by the joint UN Women-UNDP programme, Women in Politics (WiP). There she learned about womens rights and gender equality, her own rights and the importance of issues such as gender-responsive budgetinghow government spending can and should benefit women equally as menas well as how to engage in politics.

As of 2015, Moldova ranked 64 in terms of womens representation in the Parliament, with women holding only 22 per cent of seats in the lower house. UN Women-UNDP collaboration with the government and the Parliament contributed towards the adoption of a new law on 14 April, 2016, which for the first time, introduced gender quotas for party list candidates and cabinet nominees. Law No. 71 says that women and men must each make up a minimum of 40 per cent of every political partys candidates and of cabinet nominees, and amends 15 other national laws. It also introduces 14 days paid paternity leave, prohibits sexist language and images in the media and advertising, and establishes a Gender Equality Coordination Group in the central public administration.

Adoption of this law is an important step forward towards gender equality in Moldova, said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Representative in Moldova. It is now critical that we join forces and ensure the law is fully implemented and all responsible institutions and the citizens of Moldova are fully aware of its provisions.

The WiP programme, running from 2014 - 2016 and funded by the Government of Sweden, aims to increase womens participation in politics and decision-making in Moldova by raising public awareness on womens contributions to political leadership, the economy and public life, training women to understand and claim their rights and by supporting the government to implement its commitments to womens rights.

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Laura Bosnea, who was elected local councillor in the town of Rascani, was the youngest local candidate elected. Photo: UN Programme Women in Politics/Ramin Mazur

The programme gives particular attention to marginalized women, such as from the Roma communities. Through sustained efforts, for the first time since the Republic of Moldova gained independence in 1991, two Roma women who participated in the trainings and other activities organized by the Romani Women and Girls Network (RWGN) in partnership with UN Women, were elected to town councils in 2015. It wasnt easy, shared 28-year-old Laura Bosnea from the northern town of Rascani. Some of the acting political party members declared in public that Romani women had no place in politics. But drawing upon previous community work, unrelenting efforts, the campaign training skills they had gained and fierce determination, both women were able to overcome the obstacles. Since I became councillor, 79 Roma children have been registered in schools. Now, the streets inhabited by Roma have lighting and garbage bins have been installed, adds Bosnea.
I am always looking for topics for this blog about learning that is interesting, exciting and engaging for both teachers and students. Last year I wrote about Ruth Shuman who founded Publicolor, a nonprofit organization that gives poor kids an afterschool program that teaches commercial painting so that they can spruce up schools and other public venues in NYC while they get help with school work so they can ultimately go to college. Ruth's motto is "From paint to college." To this date 122 of her students have gone. But more must be done. Recently, Ruth hosted a small gathering at her home to discuss "Poverty and Education" with the conversation being led by former NYC Education Chancellor, Rudy Crew, who is currently President of Medgar Edgars College and, Tony Marx, President of the New York Public Library. Since this subject is right up my alley, I accepted her invitation.

Rudy Crew opened the conversation with the statement that the NYC Public Education System, which had done its job well in the last century, is failing miserably in the 21st. One of his shocking statistics is that 70% of the NYCPS children are not reading by third grade. Statistics from the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) for 4th grade, when testing occurs, are not much better. In 2015, 64% were at the basic or below basic standard for proficiency. It has become increasingly clear that the focus on standardized testing for kids and evaluation of teachers by their students' test scores has taken classroom time and focus away from real learning--the kind of critical and creative thinking that will be needed for a global economy. And the problems are exacerbated in low socioeconomic areas. Dr. Crew suggested that we call a moratorium on testing and evaluating for at least 4 years. What would he do during such a moratorium?

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"My sense of our discussion nationally is that we should go slow on the barrage of new policy pronouncements aimed at more of the same. Give good teachers and quality instruction a chance to work, for say four years. Help schools to double down on reading, math, and science internships. Seriously, rework the school years of high school to go beyond Carnegie unit counting to creating technical and certification based on new experiences, new technologies, entrepreneurialism, cultural, artistic, journalistic expression and stem jobs. Steady the hand of our existing, veteran teachers while building the support to onboard new teachers into the profession. "Use best practices and research in all disciplines to teach beyond skills to inquire critical thinking. Make schools a predictable resource to the parents, communities, teachers and principals. We know what works. What's needed now is the time to build it along with demand and the commitment to create schools where the arts and other disciplines are finally given a chance to work."

One very important resource that makes its way into affluent schools but not poor ones is high-quality children's books, particularly nonfiction. It seems that school budgets have been cut so that there are no funds for books. Enter Tony Marx, President of the NYC Public Library with a simple solution. One thing he has is books. Why not let the library join forces with the public schools? After all, they are both funded by the City government.

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"The MyLibraryNYC program -- an innovative partnership between the Department of Education and the city's three library systems -- brings much-needed books and materials to New York City students and teachers, literally giving them the tools they need to succeed. By filling this serious need, the Library's resources and staff expertise strengthen our schools and by extension our city's future."

The only way children become proficient in reading is by reading. Good writers captivate readers. Boring writing turns them off. Collaboration between MYLibraryNYC and the Public Schools of NYC is a no brainer. Put good books in the hands of children and teachers and watch what happens.
On September 27, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on the U.S. the Clean Power Plan, one of the most significant pieces of environmental policy the United States has ever seen.

When the White House announced the plan in August 2015, it was heralded as the strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat climate change. The centerpiece of the U.S. national climate plan, by 2030, the Clean Power Plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels, and it will cut carbon pollution from the power sector by 30 percent. The plan will also create jobs, save consumers US$155 billion from 2020 to 2030, and reduce health hazards by cutting pollutants that contribute to soot and smog.

Unfortunately, several states concerned about the erosion of the fossil-fuel-based economy have challenged the legality of this policy, and the U.S. Supreme Court placed a hold on the implementation of the plan in February 2016.

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As the D.C. District Court weighs arguments, it is critical that judges hear the loud and clear message from the private sector: Global companies want this plan, it's good for business, and it will deliver tremendous benefits to the economy, the planet, and communities.

In the past several years, many American companies have set ambitious energy efficiency and renewable energy targets that will help the world achieve the goals established in the Paris Agreement. These companies welcome the Clean Power Plan because it will guarantee a reliable, resilient source of clean energy; it will stabilize and reduce energy costs; it will help them meet corporate climate targets; and it will improve the health of employees and the communities where these companies are based.

The Clean Power Plan will help remove the barriers for companies to achieve these goals and reduce business risk. We can no longer afford a patchwork approach to clean energy. Current energy markets are complicated to navigate, and it's expensive for companies to scale up clean energy purchases without regulatory certainty. It's also not practical for companies to meet climate goals by self-generating clean energy--nor does this maximize the opportunity to advance clean energy at scale.

In the private sector, companies have been working with industry partners, NGOs, policymakers, utilities, and regulators to do their part to reduce their climate footprint. Some companies have partnered to centralize corporate demand for renewable power and help utilities meet that demand through initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance and BSR's Future of Internet Power group.

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Leaders across many different sectors have voiced their overwhelming support for the Clean Power Plan. When the policy was finalized last year, 365 companies and investors signed on to a letter encouraging governors across the country to finalize their implementation strategies. In light of the challenges to the Clean Power Plan, some of the biggest technology and consumer brands submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the plan. Myriad leaders from business, government, civil society, and faith-based communities support of the Clean Power Plan because they understand that climate change affects us all.

The opponents to the Clean Power Plan have been promoting a message of fear--that the plan will harm business and damage the economy. These fears come from factions that are clinging to an old economy and an old way of doing business. In contrast, the Clean Power Plan is a bold piece of policy that will usher in a new clean energy economy.

As the D.C. District Court listens to the oral arguments on September 27, we urge the judges to listen to the voice of business: This policy is good for business, it's good for the environment, and it's good for our communities. Business leaders are working together to build a thriving, clean American economy. The government must make good on its commitments and create a policy environment that will give business the chance to increase its ambition even more.

It's time to move forward without fear and implement this plan.

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One year ago, we launched a campaign in California, called "No Such Thing As A Child Prostitute." Our goal? To eliminate the very notion of "child prostitute" in both language and in law. We began our advocacy in LA by partnering with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and County Board of Supervisors who showed great courage by dramatically shifting their policies when encountering young women and girls who were being sex-trafficked. In the County of Los Angeles, trafficked girls are no longer placed in handcuffs and criminalized for their exploitation. Instead, survivors are treated as victims of crime and given the services and support that are offered to other victims of child sexual abuse and violence. Now, one year later, this policy has been enacted state-wide in California, thanks to the leadership of Governor Jerry Brown, State Senator Holly Mitchell, and the champions of SB 1322, otherwise known as the "No Such Thing" bill.

When we launched our No Such Thing campaign, we had no idea how long it would take for change to take hold. But fortunately, our victories came quickly beginning with the significant changes made in LA County. Our second victory came in April 2016 when the Associated Press updated their authoritative Style Guide to discourage the use of "child prostitute" and related terms when referring to victims of child sex trafficking, largely in response to our petition.

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Today's enactment of SB 1322 is our biggest No Such Thing campaign victory to date. Over the past year we have worked with survivors and advocates in California to leverage the power of our No Such Thing campaign to influence lawmakers that it was time to make a change--it was time to stop arresting and charging children with prostitution.

But the achievements did not stop there-- today, Governor Brown signed three other significant pieces of legislation that we were proud to have contributed to-- all echoing the essential principles of No Such Thing to protect survivors while holding exploiters accountable. These bills included AB 1276, which affords child victim witnesses the ability to testify through closed circuit television so they do not have to face their exploiters in open court, AB 1761 which provides an affirmative defense to survivors with convictions directly related to their exploitation, and AB 2948, which protects the privacy of victims of human trafficking and expedites prosecutions for buyers.
During the Egyptian revolution, demonstrators marched on Al-Ahram threatening to burn it down, I knew I had to stop them

Egyptian journalist and war correspondent Yehia Ghanem remembers the day the Egyptian revolution came to the doorstep of his newspaper. Read the rest of his series, Caged, here

In the days that followed January 26, 2011, the showdown between the Egyptian people and the government continued. And while the number of demonstrators in Tahrir Square grew, the uprising was not confined to Cairo. In the city of Suez, the crowds were also swelling. As the security forces grew ever more aggressive, the number of casualties rose.

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The Muslim Brotherhood responded by reversing an earlier decision, issued just days before, that followers could participate in an individual rather than organisational capacity and, instead, urged its members to defend the demonstrators. It marked a significant shift.

Friday, January 28, was designated a "Day of Anger" by the demonstrators. The security forces were ordered to take any measures against them deemed necessary.

A walk through a revolution

With neither public nor private transportation available that morning, I decided to walk to my office in downtown Cairo. The two hours it took by foot from my home to the head offices of Al-Ahram newspaper gave me the opportunity to observe history in the making, to breathe in the air of revolution that had settled upon my city.

As I walked, I tried to estimate the number of demonstrators filling the streets. But my mind couldn't keep up with the masses; I had never seen anything like it. Demonstrators walked hand-in-hand, one group after another. It was a majestic scene.

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It was ironic that while the young upper and middle-class demonstrators were demanding bread, freedom and social justice, the lower-class youth I witnessed that day had just one word on their lips: Freedom.

We had long expected a revolution to be led by those for whom bread was a real need. But, instead, it was the wealthy demanding bread for the poor, while the poor simply demanded freedom.

By the time I reached my office, having witnessed the violence meted out by the security forces against the demonstrators, I was certain that Egypt was standing on both the edge of major change and imminent danger.

I went straight to the office of one of the top editorial managers, who was a good friend of mine. He was surrounded by several colleagues and was cursing the demonstrators.

"There's no way these ignorant people can decide for themselves. It's the right of the intellectual elite, our right, to rule," he told those gathered around him. He anticipated a severe crackdown by the security forces, he said.

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"Enough bragging over your so-called elite," I interjected, "and stop referring to the majority as ignorant."

"Even if they are, who made them ignorant?" I asked.

I cautioned them about what I believed to be the disinformation over the demonstrations being spread in our newspaper and others.

Then I told them what I had witnessed that morning: the millions of angry demonstrators. And I warned them that, just a mile away, I had heard some calling for a march to Al-Ahram's offices, threatening to burn them down.

His face turned ashen. He returned to his desk and held his head in his hands.

"Is it that bad?" he asked.

"I would rather say: Is it that wonderful?" I answered him. "Yes, it is amazing. Yet, it could be very dangerous - and unless we make some quick decisions, it could get out of control."

Addressing the demonstrators

I left his office and went to my own. From the window, I could see a crowd trying to enter the building. Security guards were holding them back, but it was clear that they could be overwhelmed at any moment. I ran downstairs, meeting a long-time friend and colleague, Ibrahim Sengab, along the way. Together, we made it past security and onto the street, where I mounted a large stone monument to address the crowd as Ibrahim engaged in heated debates with groups of people within it.

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The crowd was demanding that members of the editorial board be handed over to them. They were calling for some of them by name.

I identified myself to the demonstrators and one among them shouted to the others: "This is a good man. He is for us, not against us; we should listen to him."

"Physical harm is never a solution to a problem," I told the crowd. "Besides, it is a crime by the law, and a sin by our faith. What's important is to neutralise this machine of disinformation."

"If you are insistent on having someone from the newspaper's staff, here I am and here is my colleague, Ibrahim. We are in your hands already, and you can do whatever you want with us."

There was an expression of horror on Ibrahim's face as he looked at me.

Under attack - by the security forces

"Stay away from the building. We're going to storm it and burn it down," shouted someone in the crowd.

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"There's no need to do that. The paper and the building are state property; it is your property - the loss is going to be yours at the end of the day. Instead, let's all go to Tahrir Square to support our brothers and sisters there," I urged them.

After more than an hour of shouting back and forth, they were convinced to march to the square.

Al-Ahram's headquarters is located on one of the most famous streets in downtown Cairo, Al-Galae Street, It runs southeast until it meets Abdel Monaem Riyad Square, where it then joins with the bigger, more famous Tahrir Square.

We had walked just 200 yards from Al-Ahram when the security forces, appearing from the side streets, suddenly closed in on us and began firing. Snipers were also targeting us.

Myself, Ibrahim and many other demonstrators picked up the wounded and carried them back to the lobby of Al-Ahram.

We would have to find an alternative way to stop a massacre at my beloved newspaper.
"The revolution will begin and I know you won't want to miss it," Mohamed whispered, urging me to go to Tahrir Square.

It was January 5, 2011 and Mohamed, whom I'd first met as a 12-year-old in 1993, when he'd visited me at my office in downtown Cairo to appeal to me to take him with me to Bosnia, was on the other end of the telephone line. Many years had passed since our first meeting and Mohamed was now a 29-year-old civil engineer, but he spoke with the same passion I recalled from all those years before.

Only this time he spoke in hushed tones about a revolution in our own country: Egypt. It would happen in just a matter of days, he insisted.

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I agreed that something was brewing, but I dismissed his notion that it could happen so soon.

"Mohamed, you will never change, you will always be carried away by emotion," I told him.

But he continued, unfazed.

"I want you to be with us in Tahrir Square on January 25th. This is when the revolution will begin and I know you will not want to miss it," he whispered.

For a few seconds I did not respond, reflecting instead on his unusual quietness. Then, I said: "If you are correct, then it should be your revolution, the youth's revolution, not my generation's."

We were about to hang up, but Mohamed had a few final words he wanted me to hear. "I know you have always loved war coverage," he said, "but I have also felt that you continued because you knew how much it meant to me, and how I loved following you.

"It was partly my incitement that took you to remote and dangerous places around the world. I'm sure Tahrir Square is closer than those places; you will be there," he concluded.

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Driving home, I recalled my conversation with Mohamed and his friends 17 years before when they'd asked me to take them to the besieged city of Sarajevo so that they might help defend the Bosnians from the Serbs. When I politely refused, they had asked me to take money instead - two years' worth of savings from their allowances. As I'd watched them leave my office, Mohamed leading his friends from the middle, I'd wished that he would one day grow up to lead our country. Now, I wondered, could it be time for Mohamed - or one of his friends - to make that wish come true?

As I left my office at around midnight on January 25, I noticed a crowd of young people at Tahrir Square. They were surrounded by a massive police presence. I feared for Mohamed.

I took a detour to avoid the Square and called Mohamed. It took several attempts until he answered. Again, his voice was quieter than usual. But I could hear the shouting crowd around him. That was the first time I heard what was to become the slogan of the revolution: "Bread, freedom and social justice."

I questioned him about the number of people in attendance and what they planned to do next. Would they stage a sit-on or disperse after the demonstration? "No, we are not leaving," he answered.

My sense of fear deepened. "Whatever violence the security forces use, do not reciprocate," I warned him.

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His response recalled our first meeting when he was just 12. "Remember when you insisted 17 years ago that I should not fear the security forces when meeting you at Al-Ahram [the newspaper where I worked]?" he said. "From that day, I quit fearing the security.

"We will not reciprocate no matter how violent they become, but we will not go home without restoring the dignity of the people."

I later heard on the radio that the security forces had used force to disperse hundreds of the demonstrators, injuring many of them. I tried to call Mohamed, but his mobile phone was switched off.

The following day, I had agreed to appear on a late-night television programme. I had a few hours between finishing work and the show, so I decided to see what was going on in Tahrir Square.

The moment I stepped into the Square, I was overwhelmed by the sense of enthusiasm that pervaded it. Some people were standing, others were sitting, all were singing and cheering.

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At that point and for the next two days, there were no demands that the regime be toppled. The calls were for social justice and radical reforms. Still, the police clearly outnumbered the demonstrators - who were by now in their thousands.

I moved from one group to another, listening, discussing, sometimes arguing, all while trying in vain to call Mohamed. Then it dawned on me that I'd completely lost track of the time. I had just minutes until I was supposed to be on air. It was a 10-minute walk from Tahrir to the television building overlooking the Nile where the show was to be filmed; I ran it in four.

As I ran, I reflected on what I'd seen and heard. Most of the young people demonstrating belonged to the upper or upper-middle class. Many had been educated in private universities. They came from families that had not suffered from the social and economic injustices inflicted upon the poor. That they should be driven to protest amazed me. Most Egyptians had expected the poorest and least privileged to be at the heart of any revolution. But the people I saw at the Square had resembled Mohamed. Would we finally get what I had dreamed of all those years ago, I wondered; a revolution that combined Mohamed's bravery with Mordechai's freedom?

I got to the television studio on time and the show went ahead as planned. But we got halfway through without the anchor even alluding to what was unfolding just a few hundred metres away in Tahrir Square. When I interrupted her to express my dismay about that, she seemed both angry and embarrassed. "Why not [talk about it]?" she responded. "It's a free country and you are talking to a free media."

At first, I spoke about the youth in the Square, risking their lives for the rest of us, demanding "bread, freedom and social justice for the underprivileged, not for themselves".

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But then I began to address the president directly. "I appeal to you to set your strategies and to draw your policies to the heartbeat of these youth; it is their right, it is their country, it is their future," I said.

"In order to meet the demands of the youth, you, the president, must dismiss the rigged parliament and hold elections that are internationally observed. You should reshuffle the government whose cabinet ministers are limited to wealthy businessmen from your own entourage."

Glaring at me, the anchor asked: "Don't you think the Muslim Brothers are behind the mobilised youth in the Square?"

"Not unless we are all liars," I responded. "We must remember that just the day before yesterday the government claimed that the Muslim Brothers failed to win even one seat in the parliament due to their loss of influence with the public. We cannot say one thing, and at the same time say the opposite: two days ago the Muslim Brothers lost all influence, yet today they have all of a sudden gained it back?"

The next morning I received a call from the anchor, who had been a friend for many years. "Regrettably, you are banned from appearing on state TV as of today," she told me. "You should be grateful it's just a ban."

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World Learning's scholarships are targeted to 16-18 year old students in Cuba.

14ymedio, Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, 27 September 2016 - The woman approaches without fear or hesitation. "How can my son apply for one of the scholarships mentioned on television?" she asks me abruptly. It takes me a few seconds to realize what she's talking about, for the images to come to mind of young Cuban students engaged in demonstrations called by the government to reject the programs of the World Learning organization.

She waits a few minutes, standing next to me, eager to have an email address she can write to, a bridge for her child to learn another reality. The slogans against the US NGO launched by officialdom don't seem to have swayed her. When I ask her if she is aware of the government campaign attacking this program, which is targeted to Cuban youth between 16 and 18, she responds with a very popular phrase: "In this case, it's all the same to me to whether I'm driving the car or hit by the car."

Fear no longer works as it once did. A few decades ago, it was enough for any phenomenon or person to be demonized on television for the circle of silence and fear to close around them. Now, the volume at which the extremists shout is inversely proportional to the interest in the object of their animosity. Without realizing it, the Party propaganda of recent days is helping to advertise the existence of some scholarships that were known to only a tiny part of the island's population.

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By Michael Overell

Small business is the driving force of the economy, contributing 64 percent of all new private-sector jobs. But almost every small business struggles with scarce resources, expertise and technology to efficiently operate and grow. New online platforms are now transforming the way small businesses operate in every industry.

Online platforms are replacing legacy systems that have previously been offline, one-to-one, expensive and lacking transparency. The platforms of the future are technology-enabled, one-to-many, efficiently accessed, and driven by transparent marketplace dynamics. They will transform the productivity and output of small businesses everywhere, with massive effects on the economy.

So what are these platforms and how do they work? Let's take 10 of the most critical needs for a small business in any industry.

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1. Finding Customer Leads

The old way: Yellow Pages, local newspapers and classifieds.

The new way: Thumbtack.

Thumbtack is a lead-generation platform for every type of small business profession. Consumers post a detailed request, and small businesses pay to respond to the lead. It's performance marketing at its best: business owners only pay for the leads they respond to.

As a business consumer, I've used it to find portrait photographers across the U.S., office cleaners in San Francisco, and designers for PowerPoint presentations.

2. Selling Products Online

The old way: Craigslist, eBay.

The new way: Shopify.

Shopify gives any small business an e-commerce platform out of the box. It provides themed stores, online payment, and support for SEO and other online marketing channels. Business owners pay per month, and pay a fee for online payment processing.

3. Payment Processing

The old way: Checks, money order.

The new way: Square, Stripe.

Square allows any business to accept physical credit card payments. Its first product was a simple card swiper that plugs into your phone. It has since expanded into point-of-sale solutions and even online cash transfers. Stripe enables any website to collect credit card payments, without the headache and compliance usually required to do so.

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Our business uses Stripe to collect credit card payments from all over the world in dozens of currencies. It has saved literally hundreds of hours of development and compliance time.

4. Bookkeeping and Accounting

The old way: Local accountant.

The new way: Bench.

Bench is a bookkeeping platform where accounting professionals work like your personal bookkeeping team. Business owners can select from a range of packages, with services delivered through an intuitive online interface.

5. Hiring Temporary Staff

The old way: Local staffing firm.

The new way: Wonolo.

Wonolo stands for "work now locally," and is an on-demand staffing platform powered by a mobile app. Employers can find hourly and daily staff in minutes. Their platform takes care of all the paperwork, payment and compliance.

6. Finding Full-Time Staff

The old way: Job boards, recruitment agencies.

The new way: Hired, ZipRecruiter.

Hired is a new type of recruitment marketplace where job seekers put themselves up for bid. It's an interesting and fast-growing model that solves one of the biggest challenges for hard-to-fill roles: access to available talent. ZipRecruiter allows small businesses to post a job ad to hundreds of sites and easily manage all applications through a single interface.

Recruiting for small business is often a painful tradeoff between money and time, but there has never been a greater range of tools and services that provide better alternatives than the old way of hiring.

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7. Payroll and Benefits

The old way: Paychex, ADP.

The new way: Gusto.

Gusto is an online platform for payroll processing, compliance, insurance and now benefits. They focus specifically on small businesses, and have automated time-consuming, manual processes with intuitive software. Gusto can automatically file state and payroll taxes on your behalf (one of the biggest pain points for every small business owner) at an affordable monthly subscription.

As a foreign CEO setting up in the U.S., Gusto saved me weeks' worth of work and risk by managing all the necessary state filings and compliance reporting in hiring and managing staff.

8. Legal Support

The old way: Local attorney.

The new way: UpCounsel.

UpCounsel is a marketplace of experienced independent attorneys. Small business owners can engage specialist attorneys who have often come out of big firms for any project, while avoiding the typical overhead of working with a traditional firm. UpCounsel has also built an online platform to manage your legal documents to ensure you're always in compliance.

We've used UpCounsel for a range of legal needs. The most useful element was the ability to work with different legal specialists based on our specific requirements, whether immigration, contracting or fundraising.

9. Business Advice

The old way: Local consultant, your neighbour or relative.

The new way: HourlyNerd.

HourlyNerd is another professional-marketplace platform, focused on business advisors and MBAs. They match small businesses with MBA graduates and other "nerds" to help solve specific business problems -- ranging from financial modelling, marketing strategies, transactions and due diligence. Similar to the other marketplaces on this list, they allow small businesses to engage business professionals in a flexible way, without paying the overhead of a big firm.

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I recommend every small business consider working with a platform HourlyNerd to tackle any of your biggest, hairiest business problems. The value from an independent, expert perspective can bring an entirely new focus to something you may not have even realized was holding you back.

10. Small Business Finance

The old way: Local bank (if you're lucky).

The new way: Kabbage.

Kabbage is an online platform that provides small businesses with capital and credit lines. They promote a "six-minute loan" with more flexible lending criteria than traditional banks. Other well-funded players in this space include Bluevine, Lending Club and Prosper.

These online platforms, and many others, are enabling the next generation of small business to become more technology enabled, efficient and productive. They will create opportunities for business owners, employees and the economy at large.
Somehow, we're here this morning with #TrumpWon trending on Twitter. Everyone who thought that the debate would change minds seems to be mistaken. Despite the debate being a shitshow for Donald Trump undecided voters haven't really lost confidence in the Republican candidate. It's as if they were watching a completely different channel.

We're not really concerned with going over who won, or who had the better sound bite. Most of that's readily available anyway. The truth is, it's clear that people who were going to vote for Trump are still going to vote for him. What isn't clear however, are any of Trump's policies. He was able to point fingers like a kid in the principal's office, and unable to put forth what his correction plans for America might look like.

The debate was framed in a way where Donald Trump had to use his love for lying to paint a picture of a struggling America. This is why he literally refused to use facts. He planned to lie from the beginning.

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In the first thirty minutes, Trump's plan to mock and deflect was working, but then he faltered. Hillary was cool, calm, and collected. She maintained her arguments and showed that she's an experienced politician who is ready to be president. Yet, this didn't seem to matter.

The narrative continues that there's a media bias against Trump. No shit, there is. The GOP candidate is feeding his potential voters a story of underdog struggle. That despite his implosions he's a well meaning businessman up against a nasty politician. It's bullshit.
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.
A report by the Consumer Federation of America regarding auto insurance ratings is flawed as it does not compare like with like.Thats according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America which highlights the large choice that consumershave in the market and that they are able to shop around to get better deals if they arent happy with the premium quoted by their insurer.In a statement, PCI vice president of policy development and research David Snyder says:The CFAs latest study on auto insurance pricing is flawed and misleading. The central flaw in the report is that it fails to take into account that all the rating and underwriting factors insurers use are proven to increase the accuracy of predicting the risk of loss.He added that without an apples to apples comparison it is impossible to isolate the impact of individual factors as the CFA attempts to do by singling out a driver with a driving under the influence conviction. A component of one profile indicated that the driver went six months without insurance, which is a significant factor in predicting risk.Mr Snyder also pointed out that the rating factors are closely regulated and are based on predicted losses rather than the social economic metrics that have been suggested.Professional liability claims in the healthcare sector have continued to see a moderate decrease.Data from Aon Risk Solutions shows that there was a 1 per cent annual reduction in claims in its 2016 report produced in association with the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.Risk Managers and Insurance Underwriters seek to find data that describes the general safety environment for a given hospital facility said Dominic Colaizzo, Chairman of Aons National Health Care Practice.We found that there is, in fact, a correlation between patient safety and worker safety. Health care systems should be encouraged to know that investments in their general safety environment benefit both workers and patients, he added.Those facilities with better Total Performance Scores (as measured by the Centers for Medical & Medicaid Services) tend to have lower frequency of professional liability claims.Projected loss rate for hospital professional liability is $2,620 per occupied bed equivalent (OBE) for events occurring in 2017. The frequency of claims is projected to be 1.55 per 100 OBE and the severity of claims is expected to be $169,000 per claim.Economical Insurance has donated $17,000 to help raise awareness of prostate cancer in Atlantic Canada.The insurer is sponsoring the Wake Up Call Breakfast events organized by Prostate Cancer Canada this week."We want to help men over 40 understand that their best chance of surviving prostate cancer is early detection," said Karen Kaminska, Regional Vice-President, Sales and Distribution, Atlantic Canada for Economical Insurance.
The library was overflowing with people listening to the presentation.

Middle East Refugee Plan Outlined to Overflow Pittsfield Crowd



Deirdre Griffin said the project is a public-private partnership. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  An overly packed library auditorium heard an overview of the organization looking to resettle 50 Syrian and Iraq refugees in the city's plans. But representatives did not field questions much to the distaste of many who attended.

The meeting only lasted an hour with more than 400 people, in standing room only in back and on the sides and overflowing into the other rooms, with Jewish Family Services providing an overview of the program.

The plan will bring the 15 or so Arab-speaking families from the Middle East to Pittsfield and volunteers and the JFS will work closely with them to help them become self-sufficient.

Director of the New American Program Deirdre Griffin said the families will be moving in one or two at a time from this January through September. The JFS will start by working with volunteers and landlords to secure housing and gather donations to furnish it and stock it with supplies. The family will arrive, be fed, and brought to their new home.

"The focus of the refugee resettlement program is on the most vulnerable and the families with children. Most likely, 50 people, that would be 10 to 12 families including 15 to 20 children and probably 15 would be employable adults. We are looking at 10 to 12 families, 12 to 15 jobs, and housing for 10 to 12 households," Griffin said.

Once in Pittsfield, the families will be matched with a caregiver  someone who speaks their language and understands their culture. That person will connect the refugees with services such as health care, education and connect them with jobs.

"The low housing costs make it possible for refugees to begin new lives without the extreme burden of high rent. Local industries with an array of opportunities present possibilities for partnerships that foster refugee self-sufficiency and revitalization of the city and the economy. We already began discussing with several local employers about employing several refugees," said JFS CEO Maxine Stein.

The city has jobs in the service industry available for refugees to start and there are open jobs at the next level for career growth. Griffin said 80 percent of those who are able to work are working within three months.

"There are over 1,500 jobs available in Berkshire County. So 12 to 15 people needing to find jobs is a small percentage of that. Refugees are not given any kind of preference for employment. Our staff and anybody in the community who are willing to work with them to find them a job will be the ones who make that happen," Griffins said.

Many refugees become business owners later in life. The city also offers adult education through Berkshire Community College or the Adult Learning Center and has a school system capable of the teaching the refugee children.

"This a project that really is a project between Pittsfield and us. It is a private-public partnership. We do the work but we also turn to the community and to ask all of you to get your arms around the work."

What the organization hears a lot of concerns about is safety and Griffin said the national refugee program is highly structured by the government, and even provides more screening than other immigrants.

"We are saying yes to something that has a level of unpredictability to it. That is just a reality. There is no way around that. But, I also want you to hear that the reality is that the people who are coming as refugees are the victims of war. They are people who have been fleeing the violence," Griffin said.

"Of the over 800,000 admitted to United State since 2001, three have been charged with some sort of violent act in terms of what may be called terrorism and none have been convicted. So when you get into percentages, can I guarantee that no one will ever have something happen? No, I can't promise you that. We all have to stop and take that in."

Griffin said there are 20 steps in the security process including background checks, medical exams, interviews, and approvals from the United Nations and the U.S. Department of State.

"We have this compassion but at the same time we have to know enough about this process to know that compassion and security can coexist. I would go so far to say they are inherently related," Griffin said.

Worldwide, there are 65 million people displaced from their homes for various reasons. A total of 21 million are identified as "refugees" by the United Nations.

"This term refugee has a very particular meaning. Lots of people leave their homes and immigrate for lots of different reasons, many of them for very similar reasons as refugees. But only those who are formally recognized as refugees are able to be resettled through the United Nations," Griffin said.

And only 1 percent of those get resettled in safe havens. The United States is the leader taking in 110,000 next year. But, even though resettlement programs have been ongoing for years, a crisis has have been growing because the numbers are increasing. In the past, a war would displace people for some time but as soon as it ended, the families could return.

"So many of these altercations and wars are becoming very, very long, so there is no going home. At least not for a very long time. That is why there is all this emphasis now on the global refugee crisis. The United States had a refugee resettlement program formalized since the 1980s. We have a very structured program," Griffin said.

The Department of State and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society run the resettlement programs and JFS has approval to run it.

"This isn't just about running a program. This is about saving people's lives. This is about enriching our own lives and stepping out in ways that each of us feel called to take responsibility," Griffin said.

JFS started in 1915 and in the 1930s began providing services for refugees. Now the organization, which operates on a $2.9 million budget, provides behavioral health, counseling for adults, children and families, elder legal guardian, aging in place, and citizenship programs on top of the resettlement work in four Western Massachusetts counties. The resettlement program has been ongoing in the Springfield area  taking on 250 in the coming year  and Pittsfield is eyed for an expansion.

Stein said Pittsfield has been a resettlement community in the past with accepting Jewish refugees and in recent years the organization has been receiving calls from residents asking to help some more.

The 90-day program helps get the refugees acclimated to the culture and into jobs and schools. But, the federal government also offers ongoing services to work toward self-sufficiency.

"Of course there will be questions about 'we already have people who are vulnerable, who are struggling with housing, who may be veterans or need some other kind of support.' We want to be clear in acknowledging that those needs don't go away," Griffin said. "The resettlement program is a very specifically streamlined funded program so they are no in competition with each other. And I would take the next step and say vulnerable people are not in competition with each other. We can do ourselves a great service by avoiding that 'one gains the other has to lose' that is not the case,"

The organization has been working with local officials in the faith community, in housing, in schools, and in the government for weeks now and brought the issue to the public on Monday. Next the organization plans to pull together smaller groups and have house party like meetings to iron out the details.

"I think now we want to step back, go into small groups, establish our Berkshire resettlement committee and then take it from there. Then we will see," Stein said.

At Monday's meeting, the group collected question cards and promised to respond with answers. But, many in the community felt they were unable to discuss the project further. The group handled just three hand-picked questions to address and the public had no opportunity to weigh in.

"We do try to listen to everyone and it really was the lack of time and the actual format that we designed that were not able to adequately address all of those needs. We would like to do that in the future should that come up," Stein said, relating to the lack of a question and answer session.

City Council Vice President John Krol agreed that the program was too short and vowed to hold more sessions to allow for additional comments.

"It was a little too short. There were a lot of questions that went unanswered because of the number of people here and because of the logistics. They are aware of that and they'll be back," Krol said. "This meeting was an initial overview. Many people may not be aware how we got to this point so that was helpful for them. There were other people who had more specific questions that perhaps didn't get a comprehensive answer."



Maxine Stein said JFS is more than 100 years old this year and has been providing refugee resettlement for years. Overall, however, both Krol and the JFS believe the majority of the community at the meeting was on their side  based on one-on-one conversations following the meeting and applause during.

"I am proud of this community that we had so many people come out. A lot of people are interested in helping. You can definitely see that. That makes me proud," Krol said.

Griffin estimated that three-quarters of the more than 400 people were "enthusiastic" about the program and she said the organization will create venues for to answer questions from those with remaining concerns. Stein said she doesn't expect that to be too difficult.

"I don't think we have to go out and reach them. I think they will reach us. I don't think we would advertise a special living room conversation for the people who are not in favor of it. But, I would hope those people would email us or calls us. One man asked if he could talk to me. I do have a feeling that those sentiments will reach us; they already have," Stein said.

JFS doesn't have any plans at this point for a larger forum giving the public an opportunity to vocally weigh in but once a local committee is formed and local staff is hired, if there is a need for one the leaders say they will hold one.

For now, the group will next be asking the City Council to endorse the program.
Commissioner Ilene Mitchell explains the background of the Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren that held a listening session Monday night. Berkshire Probate Register Francis B. Marinaro talks about the connections his office has with local agencies. The listening session was the first of eight being held across the state. PreviousNext

Commission Listens to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren



Margo Chevers, the Western Mass representative on the commission, said custodial grandparents had to get vocal to make change happen.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Margo Chevers remembers the night she was called to take in her two granddaughters, once almost 10 months, the other 23 months.



She wasn't prepared for the physical and emotional toll or the financial needs. It was, she said, a wake-up call.



"I dropped $50 just to get through the night," Chevers said of the supplies she had to get - diapers, food, pajamas. And there was the "mental calisthenics of how I'm going to get through the day."



Within two years she was facing a major health crisis, and saw her financial stability endangered. She struggled to find resources in her small town of Wales.



And with "two beautiful babies" in her arms, she recalled sliding to the kitchen floor in tears, wondering how she was going to get through it. Chevers met up with another grandparent raising a grandson and together created a support group in Brimfield.



"I don't need to tell you this. ... This is your story, too," she told the group gathered at the Ralph Froio Senior Center on Monday night. "We need other people to know what we're going through."



The gathering was the first of eight listening sessions across the state by Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The panel included Chevers and fellow Commissioner Ilene Mitchell, an assistant deputy court administrator for Probate and Family Court in Boston; Catherine Madden, project manager of the Opioid Task Force for the Office of the Attorney General, and Abigail Taylor, assistant attorney general for the Child and Youth Protection Unit for the AGO.



The listening sessions are to get input to develop priority goals for the commission, created by the Legislature in 2008 and spearheaded by Chairman and former Attleboro state Rep. John Lepper, also a grandparent raising grandchildren.



A state senator and current representative also sit on 14-member commission, and this year was able to get funding to hire a program coordinator, Colleen Pritoni. It's held listening sessions in the past and hosted a conference and legislative to advocate for its constituents. It also hopes to hold regional workshops and a "grand-families" fun day.



"We are in a position to try to ask the state to put in more money," Mitchell said. "There's no question that this is something we are actually aware of."



A number of custodial grandparents spoke up Monday about the difficulty in getting resources in this rural area, different funding by different agencies, unequal support and lack of safe housing and caregiver respite.



"I've been raising my granddaughter as long as you have been," said one woman. "It's a really big problem with inconsistency."



For example, children awarded to custody through the Department of Children and Families have access to a scholarship program, children going through Probate Court do not.

Catherine Madden, project manager of the Opioid Task Force for the Office of the Attorney General, explained some of the work the task force is doing and the effect of opioids on the state's citizens.

Chevers' story started about a dozen years ago and the numbers of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren has continued to climb.

There are an estimated 7 million grandparents across the country living with grandchildren younger than age 18; 2.7 million are responsible for their grandchildren's basic needs.



Between 2000 and 2014, the number of grandparents living with grandchildren in Massachusetts has jumped by 22 percent. Nearly 35,000 have custody, up from 28,000; and nearly a third of cases, there are no parents present.



Their are a range of reasons for why children end up with their grandparents but the primary ones are drugs, mental health, domestic abuse, illness, homelessness, incarceration, military deployment, and death.



"The reasons didn't change much," said Mitchell. "It's pretty much the same reasons because drugs and mental health were the top two reasons 15 years ago."



But drug addiction, largely because of the opiate/heroin epidemic, may have increased the number of children left parentless. A survey of support groups found estimates of up to 80 percent are raising grandchildren because their parents are addicts and an estimated 31 percent of those children were born addicted.



"What you are doing is awesome and difficult and challenging and inspiring," state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier told the gathering. "And I don't know how to thank you enough and honestly, I don't think we as a community recognize what you're doing and how difficult it is."

Comments can also be sent through www.massgrg.com, colleen.pritoni@state.ma.us, or by mail at 600 Washington St., 6th floor, Boston, MA 02111. The commission also has a Facebook page here.
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
Garo Yeghnukian denied meetings and access to information (video)

Garo Yeghnukian, a member of the Founding Parliament opposition group accused of supporting the Sasna Dzrer group, is disputing the prosecutors inaction in court. All applications filed by him and his lawyer have been left unanswered. Yeghnukian says this very fact speaks to the fact that he has been in prison for his political views. When the charged are not grounded and when the evidence presented to the court has nothing to do with the charges, what should one think? I am denied also meetings and I do not receive any information. What does it mean? In fact, they are trying to silence me, says the member of the Founding Parliament movement. Today, Garo Yeghnukian declared in court that his freedom of movement and freedom of speech have been restricted. He cited the case against Russian citizen Sergei Mironov and asked why the person wanted by Interpol was set free while he was placed under arrest. I have a family, property and immovables Where shall I take them? Where can I flee? I returned to Armenia. I have been living here for 7 years? Did I return to Armenia to flee again? The court session lasted 15 minutes. Judge Arshak Vardanyan rejected the appeal upon his return from the consulting room. The judge was unlikely to make a decision against the prosecutor who has been recently appointed Yeghnukians mother and brother, who live in the USA, were present in the court siting. "As you know, Garo Yeghnukian is married and has five children. I came to support them, said Grigor Yeghnukian. He also believes that his brother was arrested for his political views. "This is a consequence of tyranny." Yeghnukians lawyer is going to appeal the decision in a higher court.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia Invites Small Business Owners and Community to Small Business Resource Fair

El Centro, California - Assemblymember is pleased to announce his office will be hosting a small business resource fair in partnership with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation.

GO-Biz Director Panorea Avdis is making her inaugural visit to Imperial County and will be bringing key members of the GO-Biz team, including the Small Business Advocate.

The Director of GO-Biz, Panorea Avdis, will be making her inaugural visit to Imperial County and will be bringing key members of the GO-Biz team, including the State Small Business Advocate, California Business Investment Services, and many other resource partners from across the state.

As Chair of the Assembly Jobs Committee, we have consistently asked GO-Biz about how effective state programs are in serving the needs of low-income communities, especially those in hard to serve rural areas. Events like the Small Business Resource Fair will assist local businesses, while also providing GO-Biz with an opportunity to gain more understanding about their real world challenges.

The Small Business Resource Fair will included over twenty staffed resource tables to provide information on how small businesses can gain access to capital, find local technical assistance, and compete for state contracts.

In addition to the resource fair, local government and community representatives will have the opportunity to present economic development projects to GO-biz and other Resource Partners, as well as speak one-on-one with GO-Biz about their community priorities.

Other activities include a binational lunch with leaders from California and Mexico, ending with GO-Biz Director Avdis visiting the Salton Sea to get a picture of the region's renewable energy and redevelopment opportunities.

Small Business Resource Fair Time 7:30 - 10:00 a.m. Location El Centro Old Post Office

230 S. 5th Street

El Centro, CA 92243

The Small Business Resource Fair is free. For more information please contact Jacqueline Lopez at (760) 347-2360
Secretary of State John Kerry's Meeting with Venezuelan President Maduro

Cartagena, Venezuela - Secretary Kerry met this evening in Cartagena with Venezuelan President Maduro. The discussion came on the margins of the ceremony commemorating the signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the FARC.

The Secretary expressed our commitment to the well-being of the Venezuelan people, and our willingness to work with all sectors of Venezuelan society to enhance our relationship. He also spoke of our concern about the economic and political challenges that have affected millions of Venezuelans, and he urged President Maduro to work constructively with opposition leaders to address these challenges.

Secretary Kerry stressed our support for democratic solutions reached through dialogue and compromise. Finally, the Secretary and President Maduro agreed to continue the bilateral discussions begun in recent months.




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!
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There's a certain kind of film that will inevitably premiere at Sundance.

A madly premised vehicle that begs hashtag notoriety and hushed voices in festival queues, spilling across social media like a public transport sneeze. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the only question you start hearing is, "Hey, have you seen that Daniel Radcliffe farting corpse movie?"

It's hard to avoid cynicism here; if only because, indubitably, if you make a film where Harry Potter plays a farting corpse, people will go see that movie. Festival hype gorges itself on one-sentence elevator pitches; this year's Sundance spread saw not only Swiss Army Man's farting Daniel Radcliffe corpse, but also The Greasy Strangler's monstrously-endowed titular murderer and The Lure's Polish cannibal mermaid musical.

Notoriety's easy to acquire within Sundance's veil of hyperbolism, but beyond that? The word's 'Daniel Radcliffe's farting corpse' are funny for the duration of the words 'Daniel Radcliffe's farting corpse', but how could such a ludicrous conceit actually sustain itself over the duration of an entire film?

Magically, it somehow does. Swiss Army Man is a testament to the powers of cinema, and how it can render you so emotionally invested in literally the dumbest thing possible. That's the underappreciated beauty of cinema.

As Paul Dano's Hank - stranded on an island - resolves to kill himself only to suddenly discover a body on the beach whose farts prove so powerful as to provide his ticket home, and as Hank begins to bond with said body in strange, lyrical ways as they explore the notion of alive and (not) alive; the farting never stops, but still your heart begins to grow and grow.

Swiss Army Man's ingenious gift comes in the ability to so carefully balance the sincere and the absurd. Directing duo The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) have somehow delivered both the hilarious farting corpse movie the Sundance hordes were promised, while simultaneously supporting a sincere and sweetly-delivered narrative on the crippling pain of isolation.

Radcliffe's corpse Manny grows from punchline to a canvas for Hank's internal projections; his hope and his despair, especially when it comes to his strained interactions with women. The farts, if anything, slowly morph into a punctuation to the drama. These are some of the most well-timed farts in cinematic history; interlacing the film's sincerity like the inter-act drawing of a curtain, carefully balancing tone and pacing.

Hank's love affair with crafting an environment for himself out of trash and sticks could potentially slip towards cliched quirkiness, but The Daniels know just when to slip in a gross-out moment to rectify things.

 Swiss Army Man - Trailer

A movie like Swiss Army Man proves to be both its own best friend, and its own worst enemy; its premise is quick to attract attention, but also drives presumptions of mere surface worth that can be pretty hard to shake off. Something that The Daniels were surely aware of, and a viewpoint Radcliffe himself certainly shares.

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"It was a sort of double thing of - on the one hand, I hope this isn't all that people ever say about the film," the actor told The Independent. "On the other hand, it's got people talking about us at a film festival of 1,000s of movies; whatever make us stand out, I'm sort of in favour of. I would have been upset if it had been the only story to have every come out of this film."

Thankfully, it hasn't been. And neither should it be - Swiss Army Man is a strange gem of a film hiding untold worth.

Swiss Army Man hits UK cinemas 30 September.
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Justin Kellys second feature, King Cobra, had some nice words said about it when it debuted at Tribeca, and, this morning, the first trailer arrives.

Based on the 2007 murder of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis it looks to be a creepy, tense and contorting movie, somewhere in a ballpark fielded by Boogie Nights, Spring Breakers and The Neon Demon.

Its set back in 2006 when porn was stuck behind paywalls and YouTube was yet to really become a thing, and splices low budget porn-style shot with more artistic, HD ones.

James Franco, Christian Slater, Molly Ringwald and Alicia Silverstone star, Franco having previously collaborated with Kelly on his first movie, I Am Michael.

Official synopsis from IFC: Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story, King Cobra is a deliciously dark, twisted plunge into the behind-the-scenes world of the pornography industry. Its 2006, YouTube is in its infancy, and internet porn is still behind a paywall. Taking the stage name Brent Corrigan, a fresh-faced, wannabe adult video performer (Garrett Clayton) is molded into a star by Stephen (Christian Slater), a closeted gay porn mogul who runs the skin flick empire Cobra Video from his seemingly ordinary suburban home. But as Brents rise and demands for more money put him at odds with his boss, he also attracts the attention of a rival producer (James Franco) and his unstable lover (Keegan Allen) who will stop at nothing to squash Cobra Video and steal its number one star. Co-starring Alicia Silverstone and Molly Ringwald, King Cobra is part delirious, tabloid-shocker satire, part American tragedy.

Though initially offered a minor role in the film, the real life Corrigan is not happy about the movie, tweeting: Its made. And its not about me. Its Hollywoods attempt at bastardizing my early years in porn, adding that he intends to set the record straight in a memoir.

King Cobra opens in cinemas and on VOD 21 October.
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During Oliver Stones upcoming film based on the life of Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower is asked by the NSA deputy director to lead an important project in Hawaii.

That person would have been Chris Inglis, now a former NSA deputy director. However, in a new interview, Inglis revealed that he never met Snowden, calling the idea of a contractor being asked to embark on such a huge task preposterous.

"It's preposterous on its face. For many reasons," Inglis told NPR. "That a deputy director would reach down to a contractor  who's performing an important but relatively low-level function  and ask them to take on a Jason Bourne-like activity? It simply exceeds all propriety.

Although never being referred to as a documentary, Inglis also took issue with the film labelling itself as a "dramatisation of actual events.

The best films of 2016 (so far) Show all 22 1 /22 The best films of 2016 (so far) The best films of 2016 (so far) Creed This empowering spin-off sequel to the Rocky franchise sees Sylvester Stallone return as the personal trainer to Odonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his old rival-turned-compadre Apollo (Carl Weathers). Barry Wetcher The best films of 2016 (so far) Room A grandstanding adaptation of the Emma Donoghue novel. At Room's heart is two towering performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay as a mother and son who find freedom after being locked away by in a boxed building for years. The best films of 2016 (so far) The Big Short Plenty of The Big Short's charm is manifested in the way that it takes a clunky story (the 2007-8 financial crisis) and transforms it into a cinematic experience. The best films of 2016 (so far) Spotlight The facts speak for themselves in this Oscar-winning biographical film about four investigative journalists who uncover a scandal of child molestation in the Catholic church. Strong performances and a firm directorial presence in Tom McCarthy make Spotlight a worthy recipient of this year's Best Picture Oscar. The best films of 2016 (so far) Bone Tomahawk The best films of 2016 (so far) Anomalisa Paramount Pictures The best films of 2016 (so far) The Witch Take any shot from Robert Eggers' assured debut - based on a New England folktale - and your spine will tingle. A masterclass in understatedness. The best films of 2016 (so far) 10 Cloverfield Lane If you're going to unveil a secret sequel-of-sorts to 2008 hit Cloverfield, this is how you do it. Essentially a chamber piece set in the same world of Matt Reeves' original, 10 Cloverfield Lane will hold you in a vicelike grip until its closing frame. The best films of 2016 (so far) High-Rise Ben Wheatley's fifth feature as director may not be to everyone's tastes but, should you be up to it, there's a lot to take away from this adaptation of J.G. Ballard's dystopian tale. The best films of 2016 (so far) Zootropolis Despite strong competition in the form of Finding Dory and Kubo and the Two Strings, Zootropolis - named Zootopia in the US - takes the trophy of 2016's greatest animated film. The best films of 2016 (so far) Victoria The best films of 2016 (so far) Captain America: Civil War Even those who aren't invested in superhero films will have a hard time keeping their breath in several of Civil War's action sequences. The best films of 2016 (so far) Son of Saul The haunting winner of the Best Foreign Language Oscar, Son of Saul's technical mastery (courtesy of first-time director Laszlo Nemes) is backed up by a harrowingly real portrayal of life within a Nazi concentration camp. Sony Pictures Entertainment The best films of 2016 (so far) Everybody Wants Some!! Richard Linklater followed Boyhood with this charming coming-of-age story that bears similarity with 1993's Dazed and Confused. This time, our ensemble are a group of baseball-playing college freshmen. In the upper echelons of the year's best. The best films of 2016 (so far) Green Room The best films of 2016 (so far) Sing Street The best films of 2016 (so far) Love and Friendship The best films of 2016 (so far) Suburra The best films of 2016 (so far) The Neon Demon The best films of 2016 (so far) Hell or High Water The best films of 2016 (so far) Kubo and the Two Strings The best films of 2016 (so far) Hunt for the Wilderpeople

"Dramatisation to me means you add the occasional exclamation point, he told the publication. You bring in a musician to perhaps add some background music. But you don't tell a story that is fiction.

Asked which other elements of the plot he would label fiction, Inglis reportedly rolled his eyes when talking about the films CIA aptitude test. In the scene, Snowden completes the test in 38 minutes while others take an average of five hours.

"Clearly [he's] a clever person, he said. But NSA makes a habit of hiring smart people. Extremely smart people. Also principled people. So he was clearly the former; turns out he wasn't the latter.

Meanwhile, real life Edward Snowden recently called Prime Minister Theresa May Darth Vader in the UK over her Investigatory Powers Bill.

Snowden hits US theatres 16 September; with no UK release date announced.
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Marvel's Cinematic Lee-niverse continues to expand unabated.

A beloved treat for fans remains the recurring string of cameos from the legendary Stan Lee, forever cropping up in brief and varied roles, from bartender (Ant-Man) to Xandarian Ladies' Man (Guardians of the Galaxy). Only this year, Lee's featured as a strip club DJ in Deadpool, a FedEx delivery guy in Captain America: Civil War, and as a horrified bystander in X-Men: Apocalypse.

A trend which, thankfully, shows no sign of stopping anytime soon; though the now 93-year-old comics honcho has taken the route of efficiency for his upcoming appearances.

During a Q&A session which accompanied an LA screening of Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that Lee had recently filmed four of his upcoming cameo roles in one day at the centre of production in Atlanta, Georgia (via CinemaBlend).

"We do no shoot random ones," Feige explained in response to an audience question as to whether Lee's cameos were specific for each film. "They're always very specific... a couple of months ago in Atlanta, he flew down and we shot four in one day -- for four various projects. They're all awesome! They're all totally different. And he was unbelievable. He was on fire. He came in, he sat here, he stood there, he stood in this window, and then he went home."

It doesn't take a huge amount of guesswork to determine which projects are being talked about here; both Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have already wrapped production, with filming currently underway for both Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

 Luke Cage Streets Trailer - Netflix

There's a chance the cameos could also tie into Avengers: Infinity War and the untitled fourth Avengers film; however, considering how specific Lee's cameos tend to be, it would seem unlikely they'd film anything unless the screenplay had been completely solidified.

Doctor Strange is Marvel's latest offering, set to hit UK cinemas on 25 October 2016.
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Emerging from the North-West of England in 2013 to a thriving British pop-punk scene, Boston Manor have caused a stir amongst fans of sophisticated, heart-on-sleeve, melodious punk rock. With 3 EPs already to their name (2013s Here/Now, 2014s Driftwood and 2015s Saudade) the time has come for one of the most exciting bands in British pop-punk to release their debut full length album, Be Nothing. through Pure Noise Records on Friday 30th September. The album is available to stream 3 days before official release exclusively with The Independent below.

Walking a tight line between emo, indie and punk, Be Nothing. is 10 intelligently crafted anthems of brutal honesty, wrapped up in sweet melodies, shimmering guitar lines and frantic punk intent. Unlike a raft of recent bands who focus on the pop to the detriment of the punk, Boston Manor balance the two key elements that make up the genre perfectly. Whilst many troupes of pop-punk are present, there are enough other elements to indicate that Boston Manor could branch out into a wealth of different musical areas and ideas; an enticing prospect for a band this young, capable of writing anthems of this startling quality, whether it be Laika, Broken Glass and Burn You Up.

We asked vocalist Henry Cox about recording their first full length album, the DIY approach and being involved in all elements of the band

---

How did your DIY experiences shape the nature of the band and the way that you operate now? What are the benefits and the disadvantages to approaching things with a DIY ethic?

Being DIY gave us a very strong work ethic. We had to keep up with other artists that had a whole team behind them, which meant we had to be industrious. Keeping everything as low cost as possible without compromising quality, finding a way around things; basically problem solving. We roughed it for so long on tours, pretty much sleeping outside some times. It definitely toughened us up. Being DIY was also all about just making friends, helping people out as much as you could, which meant in turn they would help you out. I'll get you a show up here, you get us a show down there. I think a lot of the ethics & the ideals we learned as a DIY band are things we still put into practice today. The advantages are that you can be spontaneous, & you don't have to work to anyone's schedule but your own. The down side is the lack of financial support as well as not having the expertise of a team behind you. The bigger you become, the busier you become & it's all about efficiency, dividing up the work & playing to one another's strengths.

Could you tell me a little bit about your experience signing to Pure Noise Records?

Pure Noise are awesome, they're really trusting; they allow us to have total creative freedom & really back what we're doing. We'd been talking to a few labels when we first spoke to PN, we had a meeting with them & we knew right away that they were the guys for us. You hear a lot of horror stories about bands being ripped off by labels, so we were super sceptical when we first started having those conversations. When you initially start getting lawyers involved it all gets quite serious & scary to a band that have previously just been writing songs in their bedrooms & playing shows in basements. Pure Noise were really sensitive to that & really put our minds at ease. We were also big fans of their roster which made working with them seem all the more attractive.

You write, produce and film all your own music videos  how important is it to keep the artistic elements of the band as DIY as possible to you?

That isn't strictly true; weve worked with two amazingly talented filmmakers over the past year - Chris Porter & Lewis Cater. I did a degree in Filmmaking at the Manchester School of Art & shoot music videos outside of the band. So initially I did all the music videos with the help of a few friends. I still shoot some of them now & will be doing another one soon for the album. Chris & Lewis have worked on a lot of our recent ones as directors & editors & have done an amazing job. We fully believe that the visual element of a band is a crucial component of its art as a whole & like to be involved in everything from videos to photos to artwork in any way we can. With the videos, often Ill write a treatment & sent it to either Lewis or Chris & theyll adapt it, add to it & then bring it to life; collaboration is part of the art.

How has the experience of recording a full-length album differed from recording your EPs?

It was totally different. Recording a full album has such wider boundaries than just working on an EP. If you're only working with 4 tracks then you can't stretch yourself too much because the songs have to have some consistency. If you're working with ten tracks or more then you have more to play with. We sat down & thought about the record as a whole piece of work when we first started working on the album, rather than just diving in & seeing what we came out with. We definitely pushed ourselves artistically, we're by no means re-inventing the wheel but I think we pushed ourselves creatively & surprised ourselves with what we came out with. It was a really challenging few weeks; when you're locked in working on a track for 13 hours a day, you can get a bit of cabin fever. You also start obsessing over tiny things which don't really make a difference. Sometimes you have to learn when to just leave something alone.

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What are your personal highlights from Be Nothing.?

There's a moment on every song which really excites me. I'm so proud of the whole record, it's honestly one of the best things I've ever achieved. I think songs like Broken Glass & Fossa are exactly what I had hoped we'd be able to write. I wrote a lot of the melody to Broken Glass before the song itself was written, which is opposite to the way we usually write. It was a pretty organic process, which I think was also quite a cathartic experience.

Be Nothing. is released via Pure Noise Records on Friday 30th September on Vinyl, CD and digitally and is available to pre-order now. The band begin an extensive tour of the UK in Plymouth on 18th November
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A palm oil company with links to Tory party donors and friends of David Cameron has been accused of failing to prevent massive fires devastating the rainforest.

The firm, called Astra Agro Lestari, is a subsidiary of multi-billion dollar conglomerate Jardine Matheson, which owns major retail outlets, a string of luxury hotels and construction firms  as well as selling second-hand cars  mostly in Asia.

Jardines is largely controlled by the well-connected Keswick family, descendants of its founders as an opium trader in 19th century China.

David Camerons father Ian was a friend of the Keswicks and worked as a stockbroker to the family. In the 1980s, the future Prime Minister briefly worked at the companys office in Hong Kong.

In 2012, Ben Keswick, Jardine Mathesons current managing director, was among a number of British business delegates who flew in the then Prime Ministers plane on a business trip to Asia. Sir Henry Keswick and his brother Simon Keswick have donated substantial amounts to the Conservative Party.

In May last year, Astra stunned conservationists when it told The Independent it would sign up to a strict no deforestation policy ahead of protests outside the Mandarin Oriental luxury hotels, an international chain owned by Jardines.

However, a report commissioned by the Rainforest Foundation Norway and other conservation groups has now found there were a total of 677 fire hotspots on Astras land concessions in Indonesia from July to October last year.

A recent study suggested air pollution from forest fires in 2015 in the country caused the premature deaths of more than 100,000 people.

The loss of rainforest land is also one of the major reasons why animals such as orangutans are now critically endangered.

Anja Lillegraven, of Rainforest Foundation Norway, said: Astra urgently needs to take steps to prevent a repeat of last years haze catastrophe.

Palm oil plantations on peat are extremely fire-prone, and we want to see Astra making a serious effort to restore degraded peatlands and forests within its concessions.

The report, by researchers at AidEnvironment, stressed there was no evidence that Astra was deliberately burning rainforest to clear the land for palm oil plantations.

But it added Astras lack of fire control had contributed to the blanket of smoke that covered much of Indonesia last year and resulted in enormous environmental and economic losses for the country.

Thousands of hectares burnt inside Astras concessions, including valuable forests and oil palm planting, the report said.

In recent years conservationists have been successful in persuading many major international food companies to stop cutting down pristine forests to plant food crops.

This is partly because of the loss of endangered animals and a valuable natural environment, but also because there is so much degraded land available that it is not actually necessary.

Animals in decline Show all 8 1 /8 Animals in decline Animals in decline Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) Where: Orkney Islands. What: Between 2001-2006, numbers in Orkney declined by 40 per cent. Why: epidemics of the phocine distemper virus are thought to have caused major declines, but the killing of seals in the Moray Firth to protect salmon farms may have an impact. Alamy Animals in decline African lion (Panthera leo) Where: Ghana. What: In Ghanas Mole National Park, lion numbers have declined by more than 90 per cent in 40 years. Why: local conflicts are thought to have contributed to the slaughter of lions and are a worrying example of the status of the animal in Western and Central Africa. Animals in decline Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Where: Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Costa Rica. What: Numbers are down in both the Atlantic and Pacific. It declined by 95 per cent between 1989-2002 in Costa Rica. Why: mainly due to them being caught as bycatch, but theyve also been affected by local developments. Alamy Animals in decline Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) Where: South Atlantic. What: A rapid decline. One population, from Bird Island, South Georgia, declined by 50 per cent between 1972-2010, according to the British Antarctic Survey. Why: being caught in various commercial longline fisheries. Alamy Animals in decline Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) Where: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. What: fall in populations has been dramatic. In the early 1990s numbers were over a million, but are now estimated to be around 50,000. Why: the break up of the former USSR led to uncontrolled hunting. Increased rural poverty means the species is hunted for its meat Animals in decline Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Where: found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Why: at risk from overfishing and as a target in recreational fishing. A significant number of swordfish are also caught by illegal driftnet fisheries in the Mediterranean Animals in decline Argali Sheep (Ovis mammon) Where: Central and Southern Asian mountains,usually at 3,000-5,000 metres altitude. Why: domesticated herds of sheep competing for grazing grounds. Over-hunting and poaching. Animals in decline Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) Where: the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to South Africa and to the Tuamoto Islands (Polynesia), north to the Ryukyu Islands (south-west Japan), and south to New Caledonia. Why: Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing and trading of the species

This culminated in the historic signing of the New York Declaration on Forests in September 2014, which was hailed as the end of humanitys war on trees, which essentially dates back thousands of years to the invention of agriculture.

Astra, also known as AAL, adopted a moratorium on converting forest into plantation land in June last year, when it said: AAL will ensure that there will be no clearance of any natural forest either by the company or any of its contractors across all its operations in Indonesia.

Under Indonesian law, companies are responsible for preventing and extinguishing fires on their concessions.

Astra was sent a copy of the report ahead of publication by the researchers and responded by saying: AAL has always had a Zero Fire Policy. None of the fires occurring inside of AAL estates during July to October 2015 was carried out by AAL, or for the purposes of AALs plantation development.

Fires occurring were the result of sparks from areas surrounding our concessions. We have reported these fire incidents to the Indonesian government.

Since October 2015, AAL has made further improvements on its fire prevention and mitigation procedure in compliance with government regulations.

In a statement, Jardine Matheson said said Astra "takes environmental and social stewardship very seriously" and had published a sustainability policythat "reflects the companys ongoing commitment to cultivate oil palms responsibly".

It said it had appointed technical consultants to develop a "comprehensive implementation plan that is ongoing and making progress including maintaining a full moratorium on all forest clearance".

"AAL takes the findings of the Rainforest Foundation Norway report very seriously, and sees it as providing information that can help improve its sustainability work further," it added.
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Of all the grooming products a man can own, a decent deodorant is probably the most important. Along with shampoo and shower gel, its certainly the most popular, with a Harris Interactive report revealing 79 per cent of men use one (the report doesnt say what the other 21 per cent smell like).

Sweating, of course, is a totally natural process  needed to cool the body and remove toxins  but your armpits (along with your groin) produce a very particular kind of sweat thats full of proteins and fatty acids. The sweat they produce doesnt actually smell  its the odour-causing bacteria that live on your skin, and feast on it, that kick up a stink. From the bacterias perspective, your pits provide an all-they-can-eat buffet, so its little wonder armpits get a little whiffy sometimes. Hair only makes things worse, because it retains moisture and provides a home for the bacteria, which is why its always a good idea to trim your pit hair if youre applying a deodorant or antiperspirant. Do so and not only do you rob the bacteria of a home, you give the product a better chance of making contact with the skin, where it can do the most good.

Thankfully, help is at hand in the shape of deodorants and antiperspirants. Deos work by absorbing excess moisture and neutralising odours and the bacteria that cause them, while antiperspirant deodorants aim to minimise sweat by actually blocking sweat production by temporarily blocking the pores with aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium.

In the past, antiperspirants set the benchmark for odour prevention, while deos were considered a poor relation. However, times  and formulations  have changed, meaning modern deodorants now offer superb odour control without blocking pores or leaving nasty stains (its the aluminium that leaves clothes with those unsightly yellow marks, as it interacts with the proteins in sweat).

As the trend continues for using products that work with, rather than against, your bodys natural processes, the market for deodorants has increased, so weve focussed on these for our review, though there are a few antiperspirants in there for good measure, too. Theres something here for everyone  from those wanting to upgrade their current pit protection to those looking to switch from antiperspirant to deo. There may even be something to tempt the deo-free 21 per cent out there.

How we tested

Luckily, our deodorant pit-stop took place at the tail end of one of the hottest summers on record, so each product got a chance to be properly put through its paces. Efficacy was important, obviously, but we also took into account the fragrance, price, packaging and overall value for money. At the end of the day, though, how our pits smelt after use was the ultimate test.

The best deodorants for men 2022 are:
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WhatsApps hugely controversial data-sharing deal with Facebook is now officially banned in Germany.

The two companies announced last month that WhatsApp would start handing over data about its users to Facebook. Facebook would then use that data to help its ads, generating more information about the people using it.

That agreement caused huge outrage, with many people arguing that such an arrangement shouldnt be allowed. Whats more, it caused embarrassment for WhatsApp, which has in the past committed to keeping data private and not using its platform for ads.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Those criticisms have now been echoed by the Hamburg data protection commissioner, which has issued an administrative order that officially bans Facebook from sharing information with WhatsApp across Germany.

Recommended Read more WhatsApp threatened with legal action over Facebook data sharing deal

The order prohibits Facebook with immediate effect to collect and store data of German WhatsApp users, according to a statement from the watchdog. Facebook is also ordered to delete all data that has already been forwarded by WhatsApp, it said.

The order had been taken out because the data-sharing deal was never done with the agreement of users of the two companies, the watchdog said.

Data can only be shared if both companies establish a legal basis to do so, it wrote. But Facebook doesnt have any approval from WhatsApp users and the legal basis for the data sharing doesnt exist.

The European Court of Justice recently suggested that international companies must comply with national data protection laws if they process data in those countries. Facebook markets its German-speaking business through a subsidiary in Hamburg, meaning that the citys data protection watchdog can hand down orders to Facebook  though it remains to be seen whether it will actually comply with it.

This administrative order protects the data of about 35 million WhatsApp users in Germany, said Johannes Caspar, the Hamburg commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, in a statement. It has to be their decision, whether they want to connect their account with Facebook. Therefore, Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance. This has not happened.

Mr Caspar pointed out that many users might not even have given their permission to either Facebook or WhatsApp.

 How to opt out of new WhatsApp's terms of use

In addition, there are many millions of people whose contact details were uploaded to WhatsApp from the users address books, although they might not even have a connection to Facebook or WhatsApp, he said. According to Facebook, this gigantic amount of data has not yet been collected.

Facebooks answer, that this has merely not been done for the time being, is cause for concern that the gravity of the data protection breach will have much a more severe impact.
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More than nine out of every 10 people on the planet live in areas where air pollution breaches official safety limits  and millions of people are dying as a result, according to new research by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

An interactive map produced by WHO shows vast areas of the world are bathed in tiny particles from pollutants such as sulphate, nitrates and black carbon, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and beyond, leading to an array of deadly diseases. China, India, eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa are among the worst affected regions.

Heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer can all be caused by the particles, known as PM2.5 and PM10, which also increase the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection.

The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths (graphic by statista) (WHO/statista)

While some of the dust is natural in places such as the Sahara, much comes from the burning of fossil fuels, also the cause of global warming.

Almost all of England is above the WHO safety limit with places where the air is considered safe to breathe largely confined to the rural north-west and parts of Cornwall and Devon.

By contrast the vast majority of Scotlands air is below the limits, except for the central belt, particularly Glasgow. Northern Ireland is also largely clear, apart from Belfast and a strip down the east coast.

In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK Birmingham Dust particles and pollution from cars hang over Birmingham as people suffering the effects of high levels of pollution In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK Dover A view of Dover in Kent, covered in haze and smog In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK Dover Dover Castle in Kent shrouded in haze and smog In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK Nottingham The River Trent in Nottingham is surrounded by smog and haze as record levels of air pollution continue to plague the UK In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London A view of London skyline covered in smog.The environment department confirmed that the air pollution level could reach the top rung on its 10-point scale In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London A view through smog over the 02 Arena and the Canary Wharf financial district in London. The BBC weather centre predicts a potential 8 or 9 out of 10 level of air pollution likely to be found in East Anglia and the East Midlands In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London Dust from the Sahara combined with pollution from mainland Europe has contributed to one of the worst smogs of the year this week with record levels being recorded in parts of England In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London The skyscrapers of the Canary Wharf business district in London are shrouded in smog, as seen from a viewing gallery on the Orbit sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during an tour of the park organized for the media In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London Air pollution hangs in the air lowering visibility towards central London and the City from east London In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London The 02 Arena through smog in London In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London The Shard and St Paul's Cathedral from Hampstead Heath in London In pictures: High air pollution levels across the UK London A general view of City Hall and the River Thames in London

Air pollution  indoor and outdoor  was linked to the deaths of some 6.5 million people worldwide in 2012, representing more than 11 per cent of all deaths and making it one of the greatest threats to human health.

Of those, three million were solely attributable to the quality of outdoor air. The WHO said an estimated 16,355 British people died in that year as a direct result of outdoor air pollution.

Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at the WHO, said: For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last.

The report, Ambient air pollution: A global assessment of exposure and burden of disease, admitted there were significant uncertainties in the data about air pollution but said the report represented the best evidence available to date.

But one thing appears clear  just how bad breathing polluted air is for human health.

Writing in the report, Dr Maria Neira, director of public health at the WHO, said: Air pollution has become a growing a growing concern in the past few years, with an increasing number of acute air pollution episodes in many cities worldwide.

To date, air pollution  both ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor)  is the biggest environmental risk to health, carrying responsibility for about one in every nine deaths annually.

 China activists call for tough measures against pollution

Ambient air pollution alone kills around 3 million people each year, mainly from non-communicable diseases. Only one person in 10 lives in a city that complies with the WHO air quality guidelines.

Air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, and affects economies and peoples quality of life; it is a public health emergency.

British Lung Foundation chief executive Dr Penny Woods said: These figures show a depressing picture of deaths due to air pollution exposure, impacting on general respiratory health.

The fact that so many deaths a year are recorded in the EU shows we need urgent action to improve pollution levels.

That is why the British Lung Foundation believes we must all play a part in reducing harmful pollution, working with other organisations who also want action to improve air quality now. We can do this by ensuring parliament brings in a new Clean Air Act, and creating carefully designed clean air zones in air pollution hot spots across the UK.

James Thornton, chief executive of ClientEarth, a group of lawyers which campaigns on legal issues, said: While air pollution is mostly invisible, these figures show that many of us living in Britain are breathing in unhealthy levels of it.

In the UK and several other European countries we are using the courts to force governments to uphold our right to clean air. Air pollution is causing a public health crisis in many countries across the world. This can only be overcome with swift, strong actions from governments and industry alike.
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Deutsche Bank shares dipped 3 per cent per cent this morning as fears the European financial giant is close to collapse failed to abate.

Deutsches shares plunged 7.54 per cent on Monday after a German media report that Chancellor Angela Merkel had ruled out any bailout before the 2017 national elections.

The bank was forced to deny that it was looking for, or needed, a state bailout.

This question is not on our agenda. Deutsche Bank is determined to meet the challenges on its own, insisted Jorg Eigendorf, Deutsches spokesman.

Deutsche shares are down 55 per cent in the last year and are currently trading at just 10.25, their lowest since the mid 1980s.

Deutsche down

Reuters Eikon

The lender, run by the British banker John Cryan since July 2015, has been struggling for years as a result of legacy bad loans made before the financial crisis and the undermining of its investment banking-focused business model.

But the latest crisis has been forced by a shock demand earlier this month by the US Justice Department that Deutsche pay $14bn (10.8bn) in fines for mis-selling US mortgage securities in the years before the global financial crisis.

That bill is not much smaller than Deutsches entire market capitalisation of 14.15bn ($15.9bn).

Deutsche is contesting the fine, saying it has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited.

Mr Eigendorf also insisted yesterday that the bank was not looking to raise additional capital from shareholders to shore up its balance sheet.

The question of a capital increase is currently not on the agenda, we comply with all the regulator requirements, he said.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

However, a number of hedge funds, including the family fund of George Soros, have taken significant short positions in Deutsches stock, betting that the share price has further to fall.

Other funds betting against Deutsche include Marshall Wace and Highfields Capital Management.

Andreas Utermann, chief executive of Allianz Global Investors, has said that, in the end, the German Government would probably stand behind Deutcshe.

"It's too important to the Germany economy," he told Bloomberg Television.

But others in Germany refute this.

Its unimaginable that we would help Deutsche Bank with taxpayers money, said Hans Michelbach, a senior lawmaker in Merkels Christian Democrat-led bloc.

It would lead to a public outcry. The political establishment would lose credibility if the government jumped in.

Mark Ostwald of ADM ISI argued the Germany government has no choice but to say in public that there will not be a bail-out.

Firstly, if they were to admit the possibility, then the follow-up question is so you are saying they need a bail-out?. Secondly, after all the forced bailouts for Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, it would genuinely beggar belief for a German government official to suggest that a bail-out was possible, above all given the precedent that it would set, he said.

The latest round of stress tests from the European Banking Authority showed that Detusche Bank's 11.1 per cent capital buffer would fall to just 7.8 per cent in an adverse scenario of another European recession.

Deutsche, which has a $1.8 trillion (13.8 trillion) total balance sheet underpinned by just 43.5bn of capital according to its most recent market update, has been identified by the International Monetary Fund as one of the major risks to global financial stability.
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Disney and Microsoft have reportedly joined the list of potential buyers for Twitter as the bidding war for the social media platform is heating up.

Rumours of a potential sale came on Friday as the company grapples with its slowest revenue growth since going public in 2013.

Bloomberg first reported on Monday that Disney is considering bidding on Twitter, joining a growing list of potential suitors said to include Salesforce, a US cloud computing company and Alphabets Google, among other tech companies.

Shares in Twitter jumped more than 20 per cent on Friday following the takeover reports.

 Quartz

They climbed another 3 per cent on Monday, with Twitter's market value surpassing $20 billion (15.5bn) for the first time this year, as Disney joined the bidding war.

Disney, the owner of channels such as ABC and ESPN, is trying to secure its future in the digital world.

Investing in Twitter could give the company a strong distribution platform for video content as well as a way to communicate directly with its customers, according to Bloomberg/

Jack Dorsey, the current chief executive officer of Twitter, is already on the board of Disney since 2013 and is close to Bob Iger, chief executive of the Walt Disney Company.

Iger has made himself a reputation of strategic thinker after making several bold acquisitions such as Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm.

But some analysts were sceptical of such a deal, citing strategic, economic and philosophical reasons.

Disney and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment.

Microsoft is also said to have joined this list of potential bidders, according to a separate report by the CNBC. Meanwhile, Facebook is reportedly unlikely to have interest in buying the struggling social network.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

In its most recent quarterly earnings statement, Twitter's revenue missed Wall Street estimates and the revenue forecast for the current quarter of $590 million to $610 million was well below the average analyst estimate of $678.18 million.

The company has struggled to keep up in the face of fierce competition from rival social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been urged to encourage the UK to take in more Syrian refugees by the aunt of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian child who drowned as his family tried to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

A shocking picture of Alans body washed up on the shore of a Turkish beach on 2 September 2015 became an iconic image of the refugee crisis.

His mother, Rehana, and five-year-old brother Galip also died.

Tima Kurdi said the royal couple should use their power to deliver messages to inspire Britain to do more to protect refugees and address the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Speaking at her home near Vancouver in Canada, as William and Kate met with Syrian refugees on the second day of their Royal tour through the county, Ms Kurdi told Sky News: "They have the power to deliver messages and I hope when they see what we did in Canada it will inspire them, and when they go back home they will do something about it."

Recalling seeing the devastating pictures of her nephew last year, she said: "I know what kind of situation they were fleeing from and it was very, very upsetting and I felt so angry, I want to scream to the world that enough is enough."

The royal couple and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrived in Canada on Saturday to begin their week-long tour of the Commonwealth country.

On Sunday, William and Kate spoke with a family who had fled the civil war in Syria, during a visit with Canada's prime minister and his wife to the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISS).

Canada's government resettled 25,000 Syrian refugees between November 2015 and February this year - this included government-supported and privately sponsored refugees.

In the building's Hope suite, the royal couple sat down with the government-assisted refugee family, Alaa Al Mahameed, 36, and wife Yosra, 35, who came to Canada with their daughters Reemas, three, and two-year-old Reetaj, in August.

Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The Solidarity With Refugees group said Saturdays protest aimed to show our Government and the world that Britain is ready to welcome more refugees. Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis People march through central London as they take part in a protest rally organised by Solidarity with Refugees in a bid to urge the Government to take more action on the migrant crisis Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The protest comes days before world leaders meet to discuss crisis at UN General Assembly Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Demonstrators made their way from Park Lane to Parliament Square in London on Saturday afternoon Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis Marchers chanted refugees are welcome here and waved banners reading no-one is illegal and lets help people Press Association Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis The march was supported by charities and groups including the Red Cross, Asylum Aid, Save the Children, Hope Not Hate, Oxfam and the UN Refugee Agency Rex Features Refugees welcome here: Protesters demand UK resettle more migrants in response to refugee crisis In the wake of Alans death, David Cameron pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK over the coming five years but there have been additional calls to re-home those who have already reached Europe, as well as asylum seekers coming from other conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Rex Features

The family - who fled Syria in 2012 and struggled to start a new life in Jordan - are one of the first to live in the ISSs on-site temporary housing.

William spoke to Mr Mahameed about the conflict in Syria asking: "Was there a lot of devastation in your town? How bad was the situation?"

He said he was relieved the children were born outside of Syria, in Jordan, adding: "It's been difficult. We hope that things would get better and we could return to Syria but unfortunately things have not improved."

Earlier this month, Alan Kurdis father, Abdullah Kurdi condemned politicians and the international community for failing to live up to its promise to do more to protect refugees.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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From breaking up physical fights to having security guards usher incensed guests off stage, Jerry Springer has been privy to his fair share of dramatic debates. As such, it seems fitting that he has now delivered his own opinion on the fiery debut presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

After watching the debate, Springer concluded Mr Trump's true spiritual home might be The Jerry Springer Show while Ms Clinton belongs in the White House.

Hillary Clinton belongs in the White House. Donald Trump belongs on my show, he tweeted.

Of course, Mr Trump is no stranger to reality TV given his colourful career as the host of The Apprentice prior to taking up politics.

Springer also referred to Mr Trumps greatly laughed at remark about his temperament being his strongest asset.

Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Show all 11 1 /11 Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby kisses a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby looks at a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby takes a picture of a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: People gather around a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby hugs a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle.(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: A passerby has a picture taken with a statue depicting republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the nude on August 18, 2016 in San Francisco, United States. Anarchist collective INDECLINE has created five statues depicting Donald Trump in the nude and placed them in five U.S. cities on Thursday morning. The statues are in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: A molded foot is all that remains of a statue of naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Naked Donald Trump Statue Appears Across The States NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 18: Park authorities haul away a statue of a naked GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump that appeared in Union Square Park this morning on August 18, 2016 in New York City. The illegally placed statue drew hundreds of curious onlookers, who took selfie picture with the statue, which was signed "Ginger." A published report attributed the work to the anarchist collective INDECLINE, which titled the project "The Emperor Has No B--s." (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images

To the delight of the audience (who could not help but laugh) and the internet (who generated numerous flashing memes), Mr Trump moved the discussion away from the Iraq War for a second to declare: I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament.

Well I have much better judgement than she does, theres no question about that. I also have a much better temperament than she has, he also said.

C'mon Donald... you complaining about Hillary's temperament is like me complaining about the quality of television! tweeted Springer in response.

Another example of the ever-blurred line between politics and reality television in America, Springer is the former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati and has long been an outspoken supporter of Ms Clinton.
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The Duke of Cambridge has joined Canadian chiefs for a historic ceremony designed to heal the wounds of conflict between indigenous people and their government.

After spending the day visiting a remote First Nation community with the Duchess, William took part in the symbolic event before a reception for political and civic leaders from across the province of British Columbia at Government House in Victoria.

But one of the most influential chiefs in British Columbia (BC) boycotted the ceremony in protest at the treatment of his people by the Canadian government.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, leader of 115 First Nation tribes in the province, known as the Union of BC Chiefs, said in a statement: With the deepening poverty of our communities, remembering the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and the ongoing negligence of indigenous child welfare policies across this country, in good conscience, I cannot participate in the Black Rod ceremony.

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.

Assisted by two chiefs, William added a ring of reconciliation to the Black Rod, the ceremonial staff of British Columbia's legislature modelled on the artefact used in the UK's Parliament.

Created in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it is adorned with three rings, representing the province, Canada, and the link to the UK. The Duke added a fourth ring - engraved with eagle feathers and a canoe - to symbolise First Nations in the province.

Grand Chief Edward John of the Tl'atz'en, who stood in for Mr Phillip, helped hold the Black Rod as Chief Shane Gottfriedson handed William the ring.

Kensington Palace officials declined to comment on the controversy.

In a speech at the start of the ceremony, Steven Point, a former lieutenant governor of British Columbia and a member of the Stolo Nation, hailed the Black Rod as a symbol of reconciliation.

Today we begin again, he said.

Grand Chief Edward John spoke of what he called the cultural genocide of First Nation people but paid tribute to the role of the Crown in healing divisions.

He told William: Today we honour you. You honour us by bringing your young family to this great country.

Many of British Columbia's 203 First Nations were represented at the 10-minute ceremony.

Patrick Kelly, of the Leq'amel First Nation, declined to pass judgment on Grand Chief Phillip for boycotting the event.

He said: It's not my place to comment. Reconciliation is an important process. Everyone is entitled to their view.

After the ceremony, William and Kate, who wore a red Preen dress and the Queen's maple leaf brooch, mingled with 200 guests in the ballroom of the grand house, the monarch's official residence in the province of British Columbia.

During Tuesday the royal couple will travel to the settlement of Kelowna where they will tour the University of British Columbia's campus and meet its highly ranked women's volleyball team.

William and Kate will visit an event showcasing the best produce from British Columbia, from food to wine, before travelling to the territory of Yukon to visit its capital, Whitehorse.

Press Association.
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It remains one of historys best-known naval tragedies  and mysteries. The loss of all 129 men of the 1845 Royal Navy expedition led by Captain Sir John Franklin to navigate a north-west passage through the Arctic remains an enigma. The only informative document to be recovered from the expedition was a single page that reported initial good progress through 1845 to 1847, but then the desertion of the ships in 1848 by which point nine officers  including Sir John Franklin  and 15 other ranks were reported to have died.

Franklins two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, became trapped in ice off King William Island in 1846, where it is known that Franklin died in June the following year. But what happened to the rest of the crew? We know that they deserted their ships in 1848  after two winters trapped in the pack ice  and all eventually perished over the next two or three years. Three permafrost preserved bodies were found in graves at the expeditions winter quarters of 1845/46 on Beechey Island in the northern Arctic. Forensic examination suggests that their deaths may have been caused by tuberculosis.

Skeletal remains of some other members of the crew have been found further south on King William Island and adjacent parts of the Canadian mainland. Their deaths occurred after desertion of the ships and were probably due to starvation and exposure. Some of the remains show evidence that cannibalism occurred in the last desperate throes of the expedition.

Members of the arctic expedition led by British explorer Sir John Franklin on their attempt to discover the Northwest passage in 1847 (Getty)

However, both of the expeditions ships have now been discovered  HMS Erebus in September 2014 by Parks Canada, and most recently the pristine HMS Terror, found this month by the Arctic Research Foundation. Their locations and contents may provide new insights into the fate of the crew.

Early historians supposed that scurvy had caused widespread incapacity, while more recent research proposed that the men were poisoned by lead from the solder that sealed their canned provisions.

Scurvy did occur in Arctic crews but research by Simon Mays, a biologist at Historic England, concluded that samples of the crews skeletal remains show little clear evidence of the disease. Levels of lead in the remains of some of the crew are high relative to today, but it is debatable whether those levels would reflect incapacitating lead poisoning. The difficulty is the lack of normative data for levels of lead in the British population from which the crew was recruited in the 19th century. That population ingested high levels of lead from water pipes, pewter cooking utensils and drinking vessels, lead-based medical treatments and many other sources. In general, levels of lead in their bodies would have been high anyway.

The supposed roles of scurvy and lead poisoning in the disaster would be answered if the expeditions medical records had survived  but they have eluded discovery, as have all the formal logs and journals. So our team at the University of Glasgow proposed that the medical records of those in the Royal Naval ships sent in search of Franklin and his crew might serve as a proxy for the health problems encountered by the expedition. Those ships were similarly equipped and provisioned to Franklins vessels and met similar conditions. Consequently, the illnesses and deaths that occurred on them might reflect those of the lost crew.

After examining the illnesses seen in almost 1,500 medical cases across nine search crews, we concluded that Franklins men would have suffered similar common infections, gastro-intestinal disorders and injuries. They also will have suffered exposure, and some deaths might have occurred from respiratory, cardiovascular and tubercular conditions. Scurvy was evident but was not so prevalent as to affect the operational efficiency of the crews: if the same pattern occurred in Franklins men then it would not have been significant, which would support Mays findings.

The search crews had similar canned provisions to Franklins men but their medical records showed no evidence of lead poisoning despite the relatively high exposure to lead that was inevitable on ships of that time. Unless a unique source of lead was present on Franklins ships, there is no clear evidence that lead poisoning played a part in the disaster. This conclusion supports the outcome of our earlier published reappraisal of the evidence for lead poisoning.

What then was the most likely fate of the crews, and particularly the officers who had a disproportionately higher death rate? Based on the evidence from the search ships, we proposed that the deaths of Franklins officers were probably due to non-medical factors such as accidents and injuries sustained when officers took on the dangerous task of hunting for wild game to supplement provisions, and continued the attempt, on foot over difficult terrain in a harsh climate, to discover the route of a north-west passage. Ironically, the expeditions success in reaching a remote part of the Arctic resulted in entrapment that precluded escape or rescue.

British Naval Officer and Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin around 1810 (Getty) (Getty Images)

The discovery of the Erebus and Terror many miles from their initial desertion might confirm that they were re-manned and navigated to their new locations. It would be further evidence that a majority of the crew were in sufficient health to operate the ships, and counters popular portrayals of a sickly rabble staggering to their deaths in 1848. Such an end did come but David Woodmans thoughtful analysis suggests that it was not until 1850 or 1851.

Initial exploration of the Erebus has retrieved items including the ships bell, bearing the date of the expeditions departure 1845, cannon, ceramic plates, buttons from tunics and a sword handle. The Terror appears much more intact but her discovery is too recent for an attempt to have been made to recover any contents, although the bell has been seen lying on the deck. We understand from our colleagues in Parks Canada that if any written records were stored on board the ships then they may remain legible and provide first-hand evidence of the events leading to disaster.

If any medical records have survived they will show whether health factors led to the failure of the expedition and put an end to further speculation, including our own. Whether they are ever recovered, however, remains to be seen. It is likely that the ships' significant records would have been taken with the officers when deserting the ships so the reality is that they may now be irretrievably lost. Like all good mysteries, the Franklin saga may continue to withhold answers.

This article was first published in The Conversation (theconversation.com). Keith Millar is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow
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Archaeologists were left baffled by the "strange" discovery of ancient Roman coins buried in the ruins of a castle in Japan.

The four copper coins were retrieved from soil beneath Katsuren Castle on Okinawa Island, and were originally thought to be a hoax before their true provenance was revealed.

The designs on the coins are difficult to decipher as they have been eroded over time, but x-ray analysis revealed several of the relics bore the image of Emperor Constantine I.

Since excavation on the site began in 2013, researchers have also found a further six coins which may be dated back to the Ottoman Empire in the late 17th century.

The Roman coins appear to be much older, dating back to at least 400AD according to estimates.

The board of education in the Japanese city of Uruma announced the discovery, and said the story of how the coins came to arrive in Japan remained shrouded in doubt.

Discoveries that change the way you see the world Show all 30 1 /30 Discoveries that change the way you see the world Discoveries that change the way you see the world Million-year-old human footprints discovered Million-year-old human footprints have been discovered on the beach as Happisburgh, Norfolk Discoveries that change the way you see the world The world's oldest face Scientists discovered the worlds oldest face, which belongs to this 419 million-year-old fish - an ancient sea predator that might also re-write the history of our evolution from the seas Discoveries that change the way you see the world Discovery of the ancient forest Ancient forest revealed by storms. The recent huge storms and gale force winds that have battered the coast of West Wales have stripped away much of the sand from stretches of the beach between Borth and Ynyslas. The disappearing sands have revealed ancients forests, with the remains of oak trees dating back to the Bronze Age, 6,000 years ago. 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Katsuren Castle was known to have been the focal point of trading partnerships with China and other Asian countries, but ties to Europe were not evident until the recovery of the coins.

The ruins of the castle were registered in 2000 on the World Heritage list as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

Ottoman coins and other relics were also found among the ruins (Urama Board of Education)

Education spokesman Masaki Yokou told CNN: "It is a strange and interesting find. We don't think that there is a direct link between the Roman Empire and Katsuren Castle, but the discovery confirms how this region had trade relations with the rest of Asia."

The coins will be analysed further and displayed at Uruma City museum on Okinawa until the end of November.
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Humanity might just have got its best chance yet to meet aliens  even if the possibility is still tiny.

Nasas announcement that it has spotted plumes of water erupting above Jupiters moon Europa means that scientists now have a chance to actually study the water that is thought to lie under its crust. And if theyre lucky that might provide them with evidence of life in those big, covered oceans.

It still isnt confirmed that what the Hubble Space Telescope saw was definitely a plume, or that the plume definitely came from the water under Europas shell. It certainly isnt confirmed that the water underneath Europas crust contains any kind of life.

In the run-up to the event, Nasa announced that it would be making a statement about "surprising activity" that had been spotted on Europa. Many peoples minds instantly went to aliens  especially given Europas status as perhaps the most likely place for life to be found in our solar system.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. 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Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. 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This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

But Nasa then debunked the rumours with a tweet that read: Monday, well announce new findings from Jupiters moon Europa. Spoiler alert: NOT aliens.

While the discovery certainly isnt on the same scale as finding aliens, it does give them a tantalising glimpse of the way that they might, potentially, one day be able to do so.

Scientists hope to be able to send a craft to explore those plumes, and examine the liquid that they are made up of. When it does, it will be able to look for evidence of life or the conditions that might be able to bring it about.

Astronomers used Hubble's ability to observe ultraviolet light to look for signs of water above the surface of Europa as the moon crossed the face of Jupiter.

Light reflected from the planet was absorbed at specific wavelengths consistent with the presence of water vapour or particles of water ice.

The results indicated plumes erupting 125 miles (200 kilometres) into space on three occasions during 10 observations over 15 months. All were clustered around Europa's south pole apart from one which had an equatorial origin.

In 2012 another team of Hubble scientists spotted a plume signature above Europa - in this case, the hydrogen and oxygen components of water. However, no further evidence of plumes has come to light until now.

While the scientists are cautiously stressing they have found evidence but not proof, no other natural phenomenon is known that can explain the results.

Astronomer Dr William Sparks, from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, US, said at a Nasa news briefing: "If plumes exist, this is an exciting find as it potentially gives easier access to the ocean below, and would allow us to search for signs of life in the ocean of Europa without needing to drill through miles of ice.

"However, I do want to stress that the observations are at the limit of what Hubble can do ... We remain cautious, because we're working at difficult wavelengths for Hubble."

Powerful tidal forces caused by Jupiter's gravity are believed to keep Europa's hidden ocean from freezing solid.

Europa is roughly the same size as Earth's moon, about 3,000km (1,864 miles) in diameter. Yet scientists estimate that its hidden ocean contains twice as much water as all the oceans on Earth combined. The ocean is believed to be in contact with silicate rock, providing a chemical environment potentially suitable for simple life.

Experts are still not sure how the water can penetrate through a blanket of ice 10 to 15 miles thick. Some computer simulations suggest that heat within the ocean may be focused at lower latitudes, making the ice thinner there.

Geoff Yoder, acting associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate in Washington DC, said: "Europa's ocean is considered to be one of the most promising places that could potentially harbour life in the solar system."

Europa is not the first moon in the solar system to yield evidence of water vapour plumes. In 2005, Nasa's Cassini orbiter detected jets of water vapour and dust spewing from the surface of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.

The agency is planning a space mission to Europa, likely to be launched in the 2020s, that could confirm the presence of plumes and study them at close range.

The Hubble team's findings are due to appear in The Astrophysical Journal on Thursday.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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The worlds first child created using a controversial three-parent baby technique has been born in Mexico, it has been announced.

Limited details about the birth were revealed ahead of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's scientific congress in Salt Lake City next month, where it will be discussed more fully.

According to critics, the procedure is tantamount to genetic modification of humans or even playing God. But supporters say it allows women with a particular type of genetic disease to have healthy children who are related to them.

A report in the New Scientist magazine said the baby was now five months told. His parents are Jordanians and the work was carried out by a team of experts from the US.

The childs mother has Leigh syndrome, a fatal disorder that affects the developing nervous system and would have been passed on in her mitochondrial DNA.

Although she is healthy, two of her children have died as a result of inheriting the disease: a girl who lived until she was six and an eight-month-old baby.

There are different ways of creating a so-called three-parent baby.

The technique used by Dr John Zhang, of the New Hope Fertility Clinic in New York, and his team involved taking the nucleus from one of the mother's eggs  containing her DNA  and implanting it into a donor egg that had its nucleus removed but retained the donors healthy mitochondrial DNA.

Unlike ordinary DNA, which has the genetic information that helps make us who we are, mitochondrial DNA provides power for the cell and has been compared to a battery. Many scientists in the field insist the term three-parent baby is inaccurate for this reason as the significant DNA is still from two people.

Dr Zhang told the New Scientist that, as the technique has not been approved in the US, the team went to Mexico where there are no rules.

To save lives is the ethical thing to do, he added.

 Vote yes to three-parent babies

In 2003, Dr Zhang and his team revealed they had used a different technique to create three-parent babies, sparking international outrage.

The British Parliament voted to allow the creation of 'three-parent babies' in principle but regulators must still decide whether the specific technique is safe before such a birth could happen in Britain.

Other scientists working in the field welcomed the news.

Professor Bert Smeets, director of the Genome Centre at Maastricht University, said: At last, the first child of a mother with a mtDNA mutation is born after mitochondrial donation.

The safety of the method had already been quite convincingly demonstrated by the Newcastle group in the UK and introduction into the clinic would only be a matter of time  obviously, dependent on national regulation or the absence of it.

A US-based research group apparently escaped the more rigid regulatory framework in the US to perform this treatment in Mexico. That is a concern, especially as the framework not only safeguards the introduction into the clinic, but also the follow-up of the children born after this treatment.

Hopefully, now the first child is born and the heat is off, it takes away the pressure to involve patients in unsecured treatments, when good alternatives are available.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. 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And Dr Dusko Ilic, a reader in stem cell science at Kings College London, said: Without much ado it appears the first mitochondrial donation baby was born three months ago.

This was an ice-breaker. The baby is reportedly healthy. Hopefully, this will tame the more zealous critics, accelerate the field, and we will witness soon a birth of the first mitochondrial donation baby in the UK.

However, he added that some questions remain.

By performing the treatment in Mexico, the team were not subject to the same stringent regulation as some other countries would insist on, Dr Ilic said.

We have no way of knowing how skilful or prepared they were, and this may have been a risky thing to do.

On the other hand, we have what appears to be a healthy baby. Because it was successful, fewer questions will be raised but it is important that we still ask them.

Professor Alison Murdoch, head of the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life, Newcastle University, who has been at the forefront of research in this area in the UK, also welcomed the announcement.

If this baby has been born as suggested then that would be great news. The translation of mitochondrial donation to a clinical procedure is not a race but a goal to be achieved with caution to ensure both safety and reproducibility, she said.
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An army ground offensive on four different fronts has begun on rebel-held areas of the besieged city of Aleppo.

The attack comes after five days of intense air strikes on east Aleppo, including the reported use of bunker-buster ground-penetrating bombs and incendiary devices, which have destroyed civilian infrastructure including a water station and emergency response centres. Activists on the ground say more than 400 people have died.

Nato said on Tuesday that the Russian-backed attacks on Aleppo are in blatant violation of international law. There are now fears that the approximately 250,000 people inside besieged rebel areas could be facing an all-out assault from the air and the ground. An atrocity that would resonate in history," as one diplomat warned.

Read more

Ammar al-Selmo of the White Helmets civil defence rescue service told The Independent that Tuesday had dawned quietly before strikes begin in earnest again at 3.30pm, approximately the same time ground troops began making their advance. Mr Al-Selmo said he had seen 14 dead in two strikes so far, before the phone line cut out.

The Syrian army and allied Iraqi, Iranian and Lebanese militias attacked four of the citys major access points at the same time on Tuesday.

Rebels said the government troops were held off, but Syrian state media reported that the army captured several buildings near Aleppo's citadel in the historic Old Quarter, and successfully retook the rebel neighbourhood of Farafra. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that Syrian army troops had entered the Old Quarter.

The leader of a Syrian government-allied elite Iraqi militia said his soldiers were moving tanks and armoured vehicles in preparation for an assault on the opposition-held east of the city, Reuters reported.

A military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the AP that the offensive will continue daily on all fronts until terrorists in east Aleppo are wiped out.

Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance

Aleppo bears the brunt in another day of carnage and defiance







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Damaged police vehicles and equipment lie scattered after one of the bombings that targeted security compounds in Aleppo

EPA

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A masked Syrian rebel

AP

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Syrian rebel at a demonstration in Idlib

AP

Leaflets dropped on the city in the past day sought to assure trapped residents there are no boundaries between us, break fears within you and come back to your normal life, urging them to flee to government-held parts of the city. However, several reports say that those who tried to approach the siege barricades were shot at by snipers. There are no reports of any east Aleppo civilians crossing over into western districts.

Another leaflet warns rebel fighters to surrender or die, showing portraits of leaders recently killed in clashes struck through with red crosses.

The Syrian government announced last week following the collapse of a US-Russian brokered ceasefire that it intends to retake Aleppo  the last major rebel stronghold  for good.

The UNs envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that the battle could be a grinding, street-by-street fight, over the course of months if not years.

Government forces briefly captured Handarat from rebels on Saturday, but lost it in a counter-attack the same day. Minor clashes in several outskirts in recent days have so far been repelled by the opposition.

There are only 35 doctors left to tend the wounded in Aleppo (AFP/Getty Images)

East Aleppos supply lines were completely shut off by goverment forces in July, leaving residents inside living under siege conditions. There are only 35 doctors left in the district caring for hundreds of wounded, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday. A White Helmets representative told The Independent he estimated 2,000 people were in need of urgent medical assistance.

WHO is calling for the immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded from the eastern part of the city, spokesperson Fadela Chaib said from Geneva.

The Syrian regime has not attempted to retake Aleppos rebel neighbourhoods by means of a ground offensive since 2012.

Recapturing rebel districts of Aleppo would greatly strengthen President Bashar al-Assads position in the six-year-long war, effectively wiping out all non-Islamist resistance from major cities and leaving just pockets of US-backed rebel groups in the far north and south of the country.
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Three men have appeared in court over allegations they passed horsemeat off as beef.

Andronicos Sideras, 54, Ulrik Nielsen, 57, from Denmark, and Alex Beech, 44, were accused of arranging beef and horsemeat to be combined and then sold in the UKs meat industry as beef.

The men were accused of mixing horsemeat with beef, with the combined product later sold as beef, between 1 January 2012 and 31 October 2012.

Recommended Read more Three men charged for allegedly conspiring to sell horsemeat with beef

In 2013, supermarkets were rocked by the horsemeat contamination crisis - dubbed the horsemeat scandal - with products labelled as beef and other meats found to contain various amounts of horse flesh.

Horse DNA was found in frozen meat products in several British and Irish supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.

The trio appeared at City of London magistrates court on Tuesday

They were jointly charged with conspiracy to defraud following a complex international criminal investigation by the City of London police, in which the Food Standards Agency and Crown Prosecution service teamed up with law enforcement agencies across Europe.

Smugglers hide drugs in food Show all 11 1 /11 Smugglers hide drugs in food Smugglers hide drugs in food Methamphetamine in chocolate bar This July 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows methamphetamine disguised as a chocolate candy bar in Los Angeles. Officials said a California man tried to smuggle more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine out of the country disguised as 45 individually wrapped chocolate bars at Los Angeles International Airport. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in coffee This October 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows a packet of cocaine hidden in a bag of ground coffee in Miami. Three bags of roasted, ground coffee arriving at Miami International Airport in a package from Guatemala in October were actually filled with more than 3 pounds of heroin, customs officials said. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in powdered milk This November 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows bags of powdered dairy product that contained cocaine in New York. A woman arriving at Kennedy International Airport in New York from Guyana was found with six bags of milk and custard powder that were filled with cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in custard powder This November 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows bags, marked as holding powdered dairy products, that hold cocaine in New York. A woman arriving at Kennedy International Airport in New York from Guyana was found with six bags of milk and custard powder that were filled with cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in various foods This October 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows an array of food products concealing cocaine in Newark, N.J. A U.S. citizen arriving from Peru at Newark Liberty International Airport in October had an assortment of food in his luggage that customs officials found also included 10 pounds of cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in vanilla wafers This April 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows vanilla wafers filled with cocaine in Houston. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in vanilla wafers A Guatemalan citizen arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport from Guatemala City in April with packages of vanilla wafers. But when customs officials opened them up, they said they found they were filled with cocaine instead of cream filling. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Liquid cocaine in rum bottles This December 2014 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows rum bottles filled with liquid cocaine in New York. A man arriving from Guyana at Kennedy International Airport in New York was found to be carrying the bottles that customs officials said were filled with 18 pounds worth of liquid cocaine. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine paste in chocolate syrup This February 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows plastic packets of chocolate syrup and salad dressing concealing cocaine paste in Los Angeles. A mother and daughter traveling from Spain were carrying bags of condiments that customs officials at Los Angeles International Airport decided felt unusually thick. They opened it up to find a plastic bag with cocaine paste placed inside, and then found another syrup packet in their checked-in luggage that contained more cocaine paste. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Opium in cinnamon packets This June 2012 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows packets of opium covered in cinnamon hidden inside a rice cooker in Los Angeles. Officials found the rice cooker stuffed with 3 pounds' worth of black opium, which had been coated in cinnamon and wrapped in plastic, being transported by a man arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Iran. AP Smugglers hide drugs in food Cocaine in frozen meat This undated photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in October 2015 shows a block of cocaine concealed in a package of frozen meat in New York. A man arrived at Kennedy International Airport from Trinidad with three large packages of frozen meat in his suitcase. AP

Beech, from Highfield Close, Hull, and Sideras, of Friars Walk, Southgate, north London, were first arrested and questioned in July 2013.

Nielsen, from Gentofte, near Copenhagen, was interviewed under caution in Hull the following month.

Magistrates bailed the men and they have been ordered to appear at Inner London Crown Court on 25 October.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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An Scottish MP has been charged in connection with alleged fraud.

Natalie McGarry, MP for Glasgow East, has been under a police investigation since last year after a pro-Independence group alerted authorities to a potential financial discrepancy in its accounts.

The alleged offences, which reportedly involve a five-figure sum of money, are believed to be linked to Ms McGarrys involvement with the group Women for Independence (WFI).

The organisation was set up in the lead-up to the 2014 Scottish referendum and Ms McGarry was a prominent figure during its launch in 2012.

A complaint was made by members of the WFI's national executive committee to Police Scotland in November 2015 after an internal audit of the organisation's accounts left money unaccounted for, the Scotsman reports.

The alleged offences are also understood to relate to Ms McGarry's involvement with the SNP's Glasgow Regional Association, in which the MP served as the organisation's convener for a number of year's before entering parliament.

She was one of 56 SNP MPs elected in the 2015 general election.

The 35-year-old withdrew from the party whip while the allegations were probed. She was later suspended from the party and is now an independent MP.

Ms McGarrys lawyer told BBC Scotland she had voluntarily appeared at Govan police station on Tuesday morning.

Mr Anwar said: "Following an interview she was charged with several alleged offences, including embezzlement of funds, breach of trust and an offence under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013.

"She was released and there will now be a report to the procurator fiscal."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "On Tuesday September 27, a 35-year-old woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences.

"A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

Additional reporting by Press Association
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A former teacher at the school David Camerons daughter is attending has been jailed for having a sexual relationship with a pupil.

Christopher Stephenson admitted to engaging in sexual acts with a student at The Grey Coat Hospital School who was aged between 16 and 17 at the time.

The former teacher let the student stay overnight at his London home and took explicit photos of her, which he later deleted, the Daily Mail reported.

The pair started messaging on Facebook when she moved into the sixth-form and he was no longer her maths teacher, according to the Sun.

At one point the father of the victim approached Stephenson, who reassured him the relationship was nothing to worry about.

Judge Alistair McCreath said Stephenson was guilty of grooming. This follows lengthy electronic communication that has at the end of it a sexual relationship. If that is not grooming what is it, he said.

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 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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 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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. 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City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. 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Stephenson was 23 at the time of the incident, which took place between 2007 and 2009, and has been jailed for 20 months.

His name will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
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Boris Johnson has praised Turkey for producing his beautiful and very well-functioning washing machine.

On his first official visit to Ankara, the Foreign Secretary attempted to rebuild bridges and spoke positively of the relationship between the two nations.

In May, Mr Johnson won a 1,000 prize for a limerick about the Turkish President amid a debate about freedom of speech in which he accused him of having sex with a goat.

It went:

There was a young fellow from Ankara

Who was a terrific wankerer

Till he sowed his wild oats

With the help of a goat

But he didn't even stop to thankera"

Mr Johnson was also accused of deliberately lying to voters over Turkish migration during the EU referendum campaign.

So in what could have been an awkward first visit to Turkey, Mr Johnson, speaking at a news conference alongside Omer Celik, Turkeys EU affairs minister, emphasised how crucial it was for the two nations to work together after Brexit.

We are lucky in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods, the former Mayor of London said.

I am certainly the proud possessor of a beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine, he added.

Mr Celik said although his nation respected Britains decision to leave the EU he strongly criticised the "anti-Turkish rhetoric" that emerged during the campaign.

"We have to close this ugly parenthesis and look to the future," Celik said.

Mr Celik also hailed Mr Johnsons Turkish roots and referred to him as an Ottoman.

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. 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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 British Foreign Secretary has family lineage in Turkey and his paternal great-grandfather was born in the town of Kalfat in Anatolia.

Members of his ancestral village have pledged to sacrifice many sheep in honour of his visit to Turkey.
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Jeremy Corbyn has rejected calls for immigration curbs by a growing number of Labour MPs, warning Britons would pay the price in tit-for-tat retaliation.

The Labour leader said harmonisation of wages and working conditions across Europe  not restricting freedom of movement  was key to winning back public confidence on the explosive issue.

In recent days, a number of Labour MPs have urged their party to accept that the public clamour for tighter immigration rules, laid bare in the Brexit vote, must be heeded.

But, in a round of TV interviews, Mr Corbyn called for a recognition that European migrant workers make a huge contribution to our health service, our education service and many others.

And he said: Tighter rules will also mean it is much more difficult to travel to Europe, much more difficult to take a holiday in Europe, much more difficult to study in Europe.

What I would do about immigration is try to bring about a degree of co-terminosity, a degree of equality of work conditions and wages across Europe.

In the interviews, the Labour leader also criticised the bombing of so-called Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, saying: Im not sure it is working. I think there has to be a political solution.

I would look at the effects of that bombing. Im concerned about the collateral damage thats been done, Im concerned of the effects of it on civilians in Syria.

Mr Corbyn defied his party by announcing he would be appointing new Shadow Cabinet members next week, without conceding the elections demanded by most of his MPs.

He stepped back from his previous statement that he would never, as Prime Minister, press the nuclear button, saying instead: I never want to use a nuclear weapon.

And he shrugged off Labours disastrous poll ratings, insisting he was winning the arguments, saying: I tell you what, the political agenda has changed. Everyones against austerity now - they werent a year ago.

Mr Corbyn added: Stop treating the word `socialism as if its some sort of bad word we should only talk about late at night.

On yesterdays clash with Clive Lewis over Trident renewal  and the last-gasp editing of the Shadow Defence Secretarys speech to stop it ruling out a future unilateralist shift  Mr Corbyn insisted: We agreed on some changes.

I had a good chat with Clive afterwards, we had a man-hug and a cup of tea and he invited me to Norwich [his constituency] and Im going.

On Shadow Cabinet elections  an issue which Mr Corbyn has been accused of kicking into the long grass  he said: Im open to the idea and I understand the argument behind it, but I also think the leader of the party must have the ability to form the general policy areas.

He added: The MPs will come back. We are all getting on fine. I will reach out by talking to them all.

Mr Corbyn also rejected claims that London Mayor Sadiq Khans speech  which mentioned power 38 times - was directed at him, saying: How is that a lecture to me? It was a lecture to everybody that we have to come together to get in power.
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Labours divisions have been publicly exposed after conference delegates gave a standing ovation to deputy leader Tom Watsons praise for the Blair and Brown era, while Jeremy Corbyn sat refusing to clap.

Mr Watson had the conference hall on its feet as he declared: I dont know why weve been focusing on what was wrong with the Blair and Brown governments.

But as the audience cheered, Mr Corbyn sat silently fingering his beard nearby on the stage, giving TV cameras a moment likely to be played over and over and again on news bulletins.

The speech, in which the deputy leader told Labour members that capitalism was not the enemy of his party, hailed Tony Blair and Gordon Browns achievements.

Recommended Read more Corbyn to lose NEC majority as party adds extra members to body

While Mr Corbyn applauded at the end of the speech, the visible disconnect underlines the uphill struggle Labours warring factions have to build a way forward.

Mr Watson said: I dont know why weve been focusing on what was wrong with the Blair and Brown governments for the last six years, but trashing our own record is not the way to enhance our brand.

Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Show all 8 1 /8 Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith clash at a leadership hustings in Gateshead, where Mr Smith was scarcely able to answer a question without being booed by Mr Corbyns supporters PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy himself admitted he was seven out of 10 in terms of his faith in the European Union. He said it, said Mr Smith during his second live debate with Jeremy Corbyn Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Ballot papers are currently due to be sent out on 22 August and returned a month later, with the result being announced at a special Labour conference on 24 September Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Jeremy Corbyn supporters cheer and wave placards as the Labour Leader addresses thousands of supporters in in Liverpool, England Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour Party leadership candidate Owen Smith poses for a picture with supporters during a picnic for young members in London Fields, Hackney in London Getty Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith The Labour leader has a spring in his step at a leadership rally in Sunderland Screenshot Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Labour leadership contender Owen Smith delivers a speech at the Open University in Milton Keynes, where he promised to reverse Conservative cuts set to leave millions of low paid workers thousands of pounds a year worse off PA Labour leadership contest: Jeremy Corbyn vs Owen Smith Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has urged Owen Smith to distance himself from those saying they want to split the Labour party Getty

We wont win elections like that and we need to win elections. The Prime Minister could call one next week. Now is the time to be proud of our party. We have to believe we can win, and remember how much we achieve when we do.

He continued: Were in the seventh year now of a Tory Government and the last time that happened I looked round and it was 17 years of Tory Government. I was 30 when we finally got back into power and Id been seven years old when Labour had previously won a general election. Ive never got over growing up under Thatcher and thats not what I want for my children.

I dont want it for anyones children. We cant let that happen again. We can't fail today's seven year olds. We can't let them grow up in Tory schools, paying to go to Tory hospitals, working all hours for low pay in jobs the Tories have degraded.

We must be again what we are at our core: the party of Britain.

Mr Corbyn was re-elected as leader on Saturday with an increased vote share of about 62 per cent. He won every section including members, affiliates, and registered supporters. A further 100,000-plus new members who joined under Mr Corbyn were barred from voting in the contest at the behest of the partys ruling national executive committee.
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Shadow Defence Secretary Clive Lewis has denounced what he described as anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

Mr Lewis  who clashed with Jeremy Corbyn over Trident renewal  condemned what he called a quite appalling year for Jewish people.

And he warned that loyal supporters are deserting Labour because of its anti-Semitism problem, citing the example of one of his own best friends.

Addressing a Jewish Labour Movement rally in Liverpool, Mr Lewis said: I understand this has been a quite appalling year for Jewish people.

One of my best friends, a lifelong Labour supporter, told me she wasnt going to vote Labour any more until we sorted out our anti-Semitism problem. That hit me really hard. It really hit home to me how bad a situation  a problem  we had.

Speaking to more than 100 people crammed into a small pub, Mr Lewis said that, as a black man, he experienced racism himself.

He said: I can also empathise with what many Jewish people are going through. Its not the same  but I can empathise. My message is this  socialism is about the emancipation of all people, or it is about the emancipation of none.

Mr Lewis said he was often asked what about Israel?, to which he replied: Why dont you blame me for what Idi Amin did in Africa to the Asians? Thats in effect what you are doing when you blame Jewish people for what has happened there. Theres no place for it.

A Jewish News journalist who attended the rally said: It was a fantastic speech  completely unequivocal.

Mr Lewis spoke before Mondays clash with the unilateralist Labour leader, when his conference speech accepting Trident renewal was amended by autocue, minutes before it was delivered.

This week, Mr Corbyn has sought to assure Jewish Labour supporters of his commitment to stamping out anti-Semitism within Labour. He pledged to move ahead with implementing the recommendations of the Chakrabarti Report, published in the summer.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: Let me be clear  I stand against all forms of prejudice and discrimination and will not tolerate any forms of it in our party. Anyone who is found to have been involved in anti-Semitic abuse or instances will be dealt with through our party structures.

However, today, Mike Katz, the national vice-chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement was heckled in the conference hall when he called for immediate action to tackle anti-Semitism.
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Jeremy Corbyn is set to lose his majority on Labours national executive committee (NEC) after the party moved to add two extra unelected seats to the body  shifting the balance of power.

The Labour leaders supporters won a clean sweep of all the open elected positions on the NEC last month, putting Mr Corbyn over the line with six additional supporters, who are due to take their seats after conference.

The outgoing NEC, which is hostile to Mr Corbyn, however passed a rule change to add two additional members to itself  chosen by the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Labour parties. The leaders would be allowed to nominate themselves if they wished.

Mr Corbyn supported adding additional seats for Scotland and Wales but said they should be chosen by party members instead of appointed.

With Scottish and Welsh leaders Kezia Dugdale and Carwyn Jones having previously spoken out against Mr Corbyns leadership the new NEC seats are likely to cost Mr Corbyn his in-built majority  and control over key areas of the partys internal policy.

Previous controversial decisions taken by the old NEC include banning new members from voting in the Labour leadership contest, as well as raising the fee to vote from 3 to 25 apparently in order to deter supporters of Mr Corbyn.

Though there are no official factions on the NEC and no precise count of Mr Corbyn's majority, the change will definitely make life more difficult for the Labour leader and dilute his influence.

Jackie Baillie MSP told conference the reforms had been in train for over a decade and that they were a result of discussion between Mr Corbyn and Ms Dugdale.

Nobody is questioning Jeremy Corbyns right to be on the NEC. The Scottish leaders should be on there too, as should the Welsh leader, she said. Other speakers said putting the extra seats on the NEC was necessary for Labour to win back Scotland.

There was however controversy at Labour's Liverpool conference on Tuesday over the confirmation of the rule change. Max Shanly, a delegate from Young Labour, made a point of order accusing the chair of trying to "rig the debate" by not allowing speakers against the package of changes.

A number of speakers also criticised the fact the there was no vote on the specific change  and that it was instead grouped in a vote with a package of other unrelated changes, such as beefing up Labour's women's conference. Steve Walker, a first time delegate from Garston and Halewood constituency Labour Party (CLP), said the move would go against "the democratic will of the vast majority" in the party.

Frankly, adding nominated members rather than elected members to the NEC is an anti-democratic attempt by an NEC thats composed of a significant number of people wholl be leaving at the end of this week, to try and rig the deck afterwards, he said.

If this gets through it will decide negatively how we take the fight to the Tories because it will be against the democratic will of the vast majority of members of this party.

Labour's annual conference is being held in Liverpool (Getty Images)

Harry Donaldson, chair of conference arrangements committee, defended not letting delegates vote individually on the rule changes and instead only as a package.

These are a single package of rule changes as details on CAC1 and will be taken in one single vote as was agreed by conference on Sunday, he said.

Corbyn doesn't clap after Watson's response to heckler is met with applause

NEC member Paddy Lillis who was chairing the debate at this point, refused to give delegates a so-called card vote on whether rule changes should be voted on individually, instead passing it with a show of hands he said was overwhelming.

The card vote would have been a formalised vote that counted which way delegates voted on the motion. Mr Lillis said it would have taken over and hour to conduct the vote and that conference had other issues to debate.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has previously criticised Mr Corbyn (PA)

In heated scenes on the conference floor, Christine Shawcross, another NEC member, took to the stage uninvited by the chair to point out that a card vote was applicable because the proposer of the motion had asked for one.

Several people said including the mover that they wanted a card vote  I move that we immediately move to the card vote now, she said.

Manuel Cortes, the president of the TSSA rail union, who proposed the motion calling for the measures to be split up, told the conference: I very clearly called for a card vote. The rules of our party says that when you move a reference back and you call for a card vote a card vote will be taken. Thats what the rules say.

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

Mr Lillis said: The reason for taking a card vote is if it looks like its close, it wasnt close.

Labours NEC currently consists of the Labour leader, deputy leader, frontbenchers, trade union representatives, constituency party representatives, councillors and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party. The Welsh and Scottish leaders will now appoint two extra members.

The blow to Mr Corbyn comes just days after he was re-eleceted as leader of the party following a challenge by his internal opponents.
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Labour will vow to strip private firms of health contracts where they can be shown to be ripping-off the NHS.

Diane Abbott, the Shadow Health Secretary, will also promise on Tuesday to rein in the private sector by promising to break expensive private finance initiative (PFI) contracts where possible.

The excessive charging of the Big Pharmaceutical companies will also be in Labours sights if it wins the next general election, she will say.

A focus on investing in public health, better mental health services and restored bursaries for student nurses and midwives will also be promised.

And the N will be put back in NHS, with the Health Secretary once more responsible for the health service - a responsibility removed in the controversial 2012 Health Act.

In her conference speech, Ms Abbott will echo Tony Blairs famous 1997 24 hours to save the NHS warning, by arguing Labour will have to rescue it again.

She will 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.

Ms Abbott will also attack the Government for not having a childhood obesity strategy, after watering down proposed crackdowns on sugary drinks and fatty foods advertising.

And she will highlight the Kings Funds warning of a looming 22 billion funding gap in the NHS, which will deepen the already severe crisis.
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Musician Lily Allen, an ardent supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, has referred to Labours deputy leader as a snake.

The unlikely flashpoint came after Tom Watson addressed Labours annual conference in Liverpool on Tuesday and told delegates the party should stop trashing its record in government and focus on winning elections.

In his speech, Mr Watson said that attacking the administrations of Tony Blair and his successor Gordon Brown is not the way to enhance our brand.

We won't win elections like that. And we need to win elections, he added.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Show all 11 1 /11 The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He called Hezbollah and Hamas friends True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups friends after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be part of the debate for the Middle East peace process. I use (the word friends) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk, he added. Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. Reuters The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyns original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is haunted by the legacy of his evil great-great-grandfather False. A Daily Express expose revealed that the Labour leaders ancestor, James Sargent, was the despotic master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about pigeon bombs in Parliament This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled pigeon bombs, proposing that the House register being appalled but barely surprised that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: The House believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. It was not carried. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He rides a Communist bicycle False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a Chairman Mao-style bicycle earlier this year. Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao, he later joked. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn 'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews' False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a rumour passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Ricas move to abolish it armed forces. Wouldnt it be wonderful if every politician around the worldabolished the army and took pride in the fact that they dont have an army, he added. The caveat that every politician must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He missed the induction into the Queens privy council True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyns republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem. Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials respect in the proper way, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese True. The group lists its purpose as the following: To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers.

But Ms Allen posted on her Twitter account: Tom Watson is a snake. A spokesperson for Labours deputy leader declined to comment.

However, one journalist quipped back at the celebrity, adding: Tom Watson loses the Beadles school/Primrose Hill vote.

Ms Allen then responded to a tweet from Yvette Cooper, the former shadow Home Secretary, which praised Mr Watson for his barnstorming performance at Labours conference. Brilliant reminder of what Labour governments can do, she added.

Ms Allen said: Lead us in to an illegal war and lost two consecutive elections. Real change is needed.

The celebrity strongly supported Mr Corbyns campaign to remain Labour leader, writing in June: Ill be protesting this evening in support of Jeremy Corbyn. Seems to be the only dignified person in Westminster.
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Theresa May told another senior politician that she will set the ball rolling to leave the EU early next year, it emerged today.

Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister, revealed the Prime Minister told him that Article 50 would be triggered at the start of 2017.

The claim echoes Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, who said Ms May had given him a similar briefing when the pair held talks at No 10 earlier this month.

 Boris Johnson goes 'off script' about when Brexit should happen

Recommended Read more Theresa May rejects claims she will trigger Article 50 in February

However, Downing Street has refused to give what it calls a running commentary on its timetable and slapped down Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, for pointing to January.

Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr McGuinness, of Sinn Fein, said: I asked her about when she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty [and she said] that she was going to do it not this year but very early next year.

So we are working on the basis that early next year, the article will be triggered, the Politics Home website reported him saying.

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

The Prime Minister has said she will not begin the formal two-year leaving process before the end of this year, but has stopped short of saying exactly when it will happen.

There is growing pressure from senior EU politicians for Brexit to be completed before the European Parliament elections in June 2019, which would mean invoking Article 50 in the first half of next year.
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Citizens juries should be used to help map out fresh immigration policies and achieve a national consensus on controls, says Yvette Cooper.

The former Labour leadership candidate is proposing panels of people chosen to represent their communities to try to fill the void where the immigration debate should be.

The conclusions of the juries would be fed to a new cross-party National Commission on Immigration, drawing together politicians, faith leaders, community leaders, trades unions and employers.

Recommended Read more Jeremy Corbyn rejects Labour MPs calls for immigration curbs

Ms Cooper has had positive talks with some Conservative backbenchers about setting up the Commission, to ease rising tensions about immigration following the Brexit vote.

She told The Independent: Immigration is important for Britain, but many worry about control, safeguards and the impact on jobs and pay.

From past public meetings Ive held, I think we should be trying to build a consensus on the principles of a new framework of rules and controls on immigration outside the EU.

For too long we have left a void where the immigration debate should be. Citizens juries should form part of a National Commission on Immigration, talking to and hearing from people in the small towns, to the big cities and all across the UK.

Ms Cooper stressed the urgency of finding a new approach, warning that extremists are waiting to exploit divisions.

She added: We must confront this  and in a cross-party way. Community cohesion cannot cope with more games, either by the far right ramping up rhetoric or politicians staying sheepishly silent.

The move by the former shadow Home Secretary comes as more Labour MPs echo her call in June for the party to accept the need for some restrictions on freedom of movement of EU citizens.

Ms Cooper has argued that Britain, once outside the EU, will not support free movement - particularly of unskilled workers.

She sees that gathering mood as particularly crucial for Labour, warning it is in danger of rejection in industrial towns and becoming a party of the cities and university towns.

Meanwhile, Ms Cooper will also call for Britain to agree immediately to take half of 1,000 lone child refugees with nowhere at all to go, ahead of the looming closure of the Calais Jungle camp.

Speaking as chairwoman of Labours Refugee Taskforce, she will tell the Labour Party conference that the stand-off between France and Britain over who will help the children has to end.

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 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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. 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City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. 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Ms Cooper will say: In Calais tonight, 1,000 children will go to sleep in muddy tents, alone in a camp run by traffickers and criminal gangs.

Now France say they will dismantle the camp by Christmas, moving people to accommodation centres across the country where their asylum claims will be assessed. And they are right to do so - the camp is dangerous.

But there are no places for lone children. No safe accommodation for the child refugees alone in the camp to go. Last time they cleared the camp, many of the children just disappeared. This is urgent.

Both the French and British Childrens Commissioners are demanding action, with a call for France to accept the other 500 children.
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The International Criminal Court has found a jihadist militant guilty of a war crime for the desecration of holy shrines in Timbuktu, in the first case of its kind.

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi was jailed for nine years after he admitted the damage during a two-day trial in August, asking for forgiveness and saying he was swept up in an evil wave by al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups.

The case marks a collection of firsts for the ICC: the first time it has prosecuted an individual over cultural destruction; the first time a radical Islamist militant has appeared before the court, and the first time a defendant has pleaded guilty.

Al-Mahdi oversaw the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door in the Malian city during June and July of 2012 (Getty) (Getty Images)

Prosecutors noted that the destruction during the rebel occupation of Timbuktu was among a series of recent cultural desecrations (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Fighting for the Ansar Dine group, Al-Mahdi was leader of one of the "morality brigades" set up during the rebel occupation of Timbuktu in June and July 2012, and oversaw the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque door.

According to the founding treaty of the ICC, a person is guilty of a war crime if they are found to have intentionally direct[ed] attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, and historic monuments, which are not military targets.

Prosecutors in Al-Mahdis trial noted that the destruction in the Malian city was among a series of recent cultural desecrations, including the razing of Palmyra in Syria by Isis; the bombing of Aleppo by Syrian combatants and Russia forces; and the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban in 2001.

Recommended Read more Why criminalising cultural atrocities will save lives

A former teacher, Al-Mahdi was described by a former Madrassa tutor as the most brilliant pupil in his class, who had mastered the much-prized skill of learning the Koran by heart.

His lawyer, Jean-Louis Gilissen, defended him as an intelligent, reasonable and educated man who had sought to do good in response to a divine message.

Wearing a grey suit and striped purple tie, the defendant said nothing after the verdict and sentencing.

But earlier in the trial, Al-Mahdi urged Muslims around the world not to commit acts similar to those he had admitted.

"They are not going to lead to any good for humanity," he said.

The presiding judge at the ICC, Raul Pangalangan, said Al-Mahdi's apparently sincere remorse was among a number of mitigating factors reducing his jail term to nine years. The war crime of cultural destruction carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Founded by Tuareg tribes in the 5th century, Timbuktu has near mythical status as the city of 333 saints and the Pearl of the Desert.

Unesco says the mosques and holy places of Timbuktu played an essential role in the spread of Islam in Africa at an early period, and parts of its historic centre were added to the World Heritage list in 1988.
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A controversial official dubbed Kenyas moral policeman has boasted on Facebook about being granted a diplomatic visa to enter the US, saying it confounds critics of his anti-LGBT, anti-atheist policies.

Ezekiel Mutua has been chief of the Kenya Film Classification Board for less than a year, yet has already become infamous for overreaching his mandate to ban TV adverts, parties organised on social media and even Google search results.

The official will be travelling to the US to attend the Web Rangers Summit in California, a Google-organised convention on online safety.

And there are some who questioned the search giants relationship with Mr Mutua, who has previously claimed in interviews to have a memorandum of understanding with Google to block certain search results appearing in Kenya.

Since his dramatic rise to public prominence, Mr Mutua has sparked controversy by forcing Coca-Cola to cut a scene involving a male-female kiss from one of its adverts, which he said violated family values.

A relatively chaste video promoting gay rights in Africa entitled Same Love was initially banned in its entirety from Google-owned YouTube, at Mr Mutuas request, before it was eventually allowed to stay with a warning that it may contain offensive content.

And police stepped in when Mr Mutua ranted on his Facebook page about a Girls Only speed dating event that was due to take place in Nairobi, saying the use of the so called colours of pride on the event poster suggested it would be an orgy attended by lesbians. The event did not take place.

Writing on Facebook alongside a photograph of his US visa, Mr Mutua said: Because of my stand on moral values, including the banning of content promoting LGBT and Atheists culture in Kenya, someone wrote in a local daily that I will never get visa to the US.

Well, I not only got it but it came on a Diplomatic Passport and I didn't even have to go to the Embassy for biometrics or pay the visa application fee.

America here we come. . .TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Despite its name, the Kenya Film Classification Board has had its remit expanded to include material broadcast on TV during the watershed.

Mr Mutua's enchroachment into online material has widely been regarded as a step too far, however.

Asked in a May interview whether he was acting outside his mandate, Mr Mutua said: "If I have no mandate, somebody will take me to court and stop me. Kenyans are litigious, but theyre also very enlightened.

"When I came here toward the end of last year, I found adverts that were running at prime time, during the watershed period, contrary to the rules.

"I believe Im doing the right thing," he said. "There are issues about morality and inappropriate content ... programmes were hearing on FM stations and seeing on TV, we must regulate to protect our children from indecent exposure."
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Thousands of investors are feared to have lost their money after a pyramid scheme run by a convicted Russian fraudster crashed, somewhat predictably, in Zimbabwe.

MMM Global has swept across Africa, with branches promising returns on investment of 30 per cent a month in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and some east African states.

It is masterminded by the former Russian politician Sergey Mavrodi, who went on the run when the original MMM  standing for Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox  collapsed in the late 1990s, losing investors an estimated $100m.

On its website, MMM Global unashamedly advertises itself as a scheme whereby new members assist older members by paying a fee to join. Older members are allowed to withdraw money after a certain period of time, and receive bonuses for encouraging others to sign up.

Mavrodi himself is reported to have gone into hiding after a separate entity designed to reward investors with the cryptocurrency bitcoin  dubbed the Republic of Bitcoin  folded in April this year.

Not a pyramid: MMMs website describes the scheme as a circular system where members give help by transferring the money to each other directly (Screengrab)

And since then, a criminal investigation has been launched into MMM Globals branch in South Africa, after a probe by the National Consumer Commission found something to suggest the scheme was acting illegally.

With Zimbabwes traditional financial institutions in jeopardy and the country gripped by an economic crisis, thousands turned to MMM Global as an investment that was avowedly independent of government control.

Thats despite a warning from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that the scheme was fraudulent. RBZ warned members of the public that existing investors were paid money not from genuine market investment of their funds, but from contributions made by new investors, until a point when the scheme can no longer attract new investors.

Sure enough, users reported being unable to withdraw any funds earlier this month. One told The Herald newspaper: When we started putting our funds in the scheme one could get assistance within seven days but things later changed to 14 days and when we were shut out the waiting period was 21 days.

What it simply means is that the number of people in need of help has outnumbered the number of people joining. Right now we have nowhere to get our money which we invested.

Despite the cautionary tales of Zimbabwe and South Africa  and indeed the original MMM scheme  a branch is now proving increasingly popular in Nigeria.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has been forced to step in, warning consumers not to deposit money in any institution that is not insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

The banks comms director, Isaac Okoroafor, described MMM Global as a new Ponzi scheme  that is spreading like wildfire.

These people always come with very interesting propositions, Mr Okoroafor said. These are fraudsters who are just out there to collect peoples money and run away as soon as they hit their target.

MMM Globals members across Africa continue to defend its legitimacy, publishing screengrabs showing withdrawals as proof the scheme pays out.

In South Africa, where a Ponzi scheme is defined as any investment where the return is 20 per cent higher than the repo rate (currently 7 per cent), an anonymous member told business website Fin24: MMM honestly tell people how it really works and do not promise people any return on the investments.

As a donation programme, how is it possible to lose your donation? In MMM people ask each other to help them. It depends on the members themselves to maintain the continuation of the process of the provision of help to each other.

A number of South African banks have now started shutting down accounts they believe could be linked to MMM, while in Zimbabwe the trusted mobile money transfer company EcoCash has distanced itself from the scheme, saying it is not liable for any losses arising from the use of EcoCash to engage in illegal activities such as Ponzi schemes.
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New Jersey governor Chris Christie was told of the plan to shut down the George Washington Bridge to create traffic havoc for a Democratic mayor who had failed to endorse him, according to the figure who organised the closing.

Mr Christie has long denied being aware of the plan but the affair, nicknamed Bridgegate, has dogged him for three years and is credited with costing him a run at the White House.

He has been sucked back into the controversy this week as a key witness testified in a federal court case that he and a colleague "bragged" to Mr Christie about the lane closures as they were happening.

David Wildstein, a political appointee at the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey, said he and his boss, former Port Authority deputy executive director, Bill Baroni, had both executed the plan and informed the governor at the time in 2013.

He also claimed he had boasted of the closures because Bridget Anne Kelly, former top aide to Mr Christie, told them that the "governor is going to love this" during a planning meeting, as reported by Fox News.

Ms Kelly and Mr Baroni are on trial after being accused of plotting to cause large traffic jams in Fort Lee in retaliation against mayor Mark Sokolich, who failed to endorse the governor during his re-election campaign.

Mr Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 to conspiring to cause traffic gridlock.

Mr Christie has always denied knowledge of the plan, and claimed he was told at the time the bridge was blocked off to carry out a "traffic study".

He repeated his denial on Tuesday, following the latest revelations, as reported by the Associated Press.

"All kinds of stuff is going on up in a courtroom in Newark. I want to be really clear: I have not and will not say anything different than I've been saying since January 2014. No matter what is said up there, I had no knowledge prior to or during these lane realignments."

Mr Christie was once seen as the frontrunner for the 2016 Republican nomination, but dropped out of the primary race after New Hampshire. He has said the sandal affected his political fortunes.

He apologised for the bridge closure during a press conference at the time but blamed the "unacceptable conduct" of his "stupid" and "deceitful" staff.

"I terminated her [Kelly] appointment immediately, because she lied to me," he told reporters.

"I had no knowledge or involvement in this issue, in its planning or execution," he added. "And I am stunned by the abject stupidity shown here regardless of what the ultimate facts uncovered."

Mr Wildstein said in court that he had a "one constituent" rule.

"If it was good for governor Christie, it was good for us. If it was not good for governor Christie, then it was not good for us," he said, as reported by NJ.com.

Mr Christie said he supported Mr Trump as he thought he was "better" than former rivals Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and John Kasich.
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Three of the six police officers who were accused of killing Freddie Gray in 2015 were honoured at a right-wing party last week.

Details of the black-tie dinner, hosted by the conservative Media Research Centre, may upset advocates against police violence.

The three officers  Brian Rice, Edward Nero, and Garrett Miller  were given standing ovations as they were introduced to the audience last Thursday night.

Recommended Read more Freddie Gray prosecutors accuse police of bungling investigation

In April of last year, six Baltimore police officers were transporting Freddie Gray to jail and he died en route, Fox News contributor Deneen Borelli incorrectly told audience members.

Mr Gray did not die in the officers care  he passed away in a hospital several days later after suffering severe spinal injuries inside the police van.

Immediately someone made the accusation that Freddie Gray had been killed by the police, Ms Borelli added. The accusation grew and grew  fed by the left, political agitators, and the national media  to advance the anti-police narrative. Soon there were riots in the street.

 Celebrations in Baltimore as six officers are charged with the death of African-American Freddie Gray

The decision to charge the officers was greeted with celebrations. But things soon changed as three of the officers were acquitted.

In July, prosecutors dropped charges against the three remaining officers, saying they feared they would not be able to secure convictions.

Since 2005, 54 officers have been charged in wrongful death cases despite police killing more than 10,000 citizensand few of them are found guilty.

Ms Borelli continued to praise the officers at the gala.

These five men and one woman, all veteran police officers, were now in handcuffs, fighting for their lives, their careers destroyed, bankrupted, humiliated, she said.

Sources within the Media Research Centre voiced discontent with honouring the police officers involved in the Mr Grays death. They told The Daily Beast that the organisation never informed guests that the officers would be honoured but said the law enforcement community would be celebrated at large.

All six police officers remain on administrative duty pending an internal review by the Baltimore Police Department.
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The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man while he was off duty has been charged with second degree murder.

Officer Wayne Isaacs killed Delrawn Small while he was in plain clothes and on his way home in an unmarked vehicle on 4 July.

Mr Small's girlfriend, Zaquanna Albert, told police Mr Small grew angry because he thought Mr Isaacs had cut him off. He then got out of his car at a traffic light to confront the officer.

People gather to protest against the death of Delrawn Small (Getty)

Police initially said they believed the officer shot Mr Small twice after he reached through the open window on the driver's side to punch the officer.

However, a short black and white video showed Mr Isaacs opening fire as soon as Mr Small approached the car, without clear indication of whether the officer was assaulted.

The video, obtained by the New York Post, shows Mr Small, 37, recoiling from the officer and stumbling away before collapsing. Mr Isaacs steps out of his car and looks towards Mr Small, but then returns to his vehicle.

Mr Isaacs, 37, was stripped of his badge and gun and put on "modified duty" while the footage was investigated by the NYPD and the state Attorney General's Office.

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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. 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At the time, Mr Smalls brother, Victor Dempsey, said: His wife was in the car with him. His two kids were there. They were going to see fireworks up by whatever park is in the neighborhood.

It has to stop, he added. Its not right that they just get a gun and a badge and they can do what they want to do.

Mr Isaacs is expected to appear in court in Brooklyn on Tuesday to face charges of murder and manslaughter.
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Donald Trump's avid use of Twitter was deployed against him during the first presidential debate, as Hillary Clinton sought to demonstrate his rapid-fire putdowns and online spats meant he lacked the cool head and strategic nous needed for a potential commander in chief.

Standing opposite Mr Trump on the stage, Hillary Clinton suggested that Donald Trumps use of social media could translate into his readiness to push nuclear buttons.

His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling, she said.

It is the number one threat we face in the world.

It becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on any nuclear material so a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes as far as I think anyone with any sense about this should be concerned.

Mr Trump, who has tweeted more than 33,000 times, said previously he would encourage Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia to acquire nuclear weapons so they would not have to rely on US aid.

 The First US Presidential Debate - in 90 seconds

We cannot be the policemen of the world, replied Mr Trump.

Vice president Joe Biden said on the campaign trail in August that Mr Trump cannot be trusted with the nuclear codes and talks about nuclear weapons as if they were a trivial affair.

Does he not realise we wrote the Japanese constitution so they could not own a nuclear weapon? Where was he in school? Mr Biden asked.

Someone who lacks this judgement cannot be trusted.

Earlier that month, Mr Trump denied asking a foreign policy adviser three times why the US could not use nuclear weapons during an hour-long meeting, as claimed by former CIA director Michael Hayden, who knew the adviser.
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As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton walked on stage for the first presidential debate, they both oozed cool and calm. It was not a sign of things to come.

Donald Trump was very strong for the first 20 minutes and then I feel he went off the rails, Karol Ward, a New York-based psychotherapist and confidence expert, told The Independent.

I thought Trump showed nervousness  he was drinking water early on with hands that were shaking a little, she said. Clinton also had nervous energy but it was contained in a different way.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump said he did not want to attack Bill Clinton

While Mr Trump gripped the lectern  something to hold on to  he stared at his opponent with pursed lips and sideways glances. Occasionally he rolled his eyes, Ms Ward said.

This is just what I perceived, but he seemed to look to where his family were seated. He seemed to be trying to get signals or reassurance, whereas Clinton looked out more at the crowd.

It was almost as if he was looking for encouraging smiles.

The hashtag #sniffles started trending on Twitter within half an hour of the start of the debate.

Its either that he had a cold or it was a nervous tic, she said.

He seemed to to do it right before he answered a question. He wasnt rubbing his nose or sniffling between answers so it was almost like when someone takes a breath but not deeply enough and theyre trying to get more air.

The candidates each had a hard line of attack, covering national security, the economy and terrorism.

Mr Trump went after Ms Clinton on trade deals and emphasised law and order to deal with inner city violence, while the Democrat claimed he was not a successful businessman and asked what he was hiding by not releasing his tax returns.

But Mr Trump did get brownie points for the way in which he delivered his remarks, which would hold great sway with his voter base.

 Trump blames 'defective mic' after debate

Its not always what you say, its how you say it, said Ms Ward. And if youre forceful, it can be seen as a sign of strength.

Ms Clintons beaming smile during the debate became a viral meme on Monday evening.

Ms Ward said the smile was a way of letting Mr Trump hang himself but Ms Clinton ended up missing a few key opportunities to hit back harder as a result.

At times there was a little bit of a frozen smile on her face and she needs to let that go, she said. It means  these things dont bother me  but it didnt always come across as appropriate or effective.

 The First US Presidential Debate - in 90 seconds

While Ms Clinton maintained a slow and deliberate way of talking, Mr Trump became defensive at several points, insisting that Fox News anchor Sean Hannity could prove that Mr Trump had not wanted to invade Iraq.

Theres a difference between defending oneself and saying No, thats not true, and getting defensive.

Defensiveness means getting heated, they cant hear things and they go off on an irrational loop of thought.

A key difference between the candidates came at the end of the debate.

While Ms Clinton, her husband and daughter instantly went to greet the crowd, Mr Trump surrounded himself with his family on stage.

She really was conveying: Im available, Im here, Im open, said Ms Ward.

Trumps family congregated on the stage after the debate instead of greeting the crowd (Reuters)

Bill Clinton shook all the Trump familys hands before the debate started and they looked a bit startled by that.
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The list of appropriate responses to the current political landscape in the US includes howling at the moon, putting yourself through a table WWE-style and spontaneously, wilfully combusting, but calling the police for assistance is not one of them.

This was the message from Lawrence police in Kansas, who tweeted last night: REMINDER We realize politics can make emotions run high, but being mad at a presidential candidate in a debate is NOT a reason to call 911.

Presumably referencing recent calls made to the precinct, the post has already been retweeted over 20,000 times by angry debate viewers.

People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit!  Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone'

Around 100 million people are believed to have tuned in to intoirst televised exchange between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump last night, which saw the candidates discuss ISIS, tax returns, email leaks and crime.

Health also inevitably came up, with Trump claiming that the Democrat didnt have the stamina to be president.

As soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a cease fire, a release of dissidents, an opening of new opportunities in nations around the world, or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a Congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina, Clinton fired back.
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Donald Trumps distinctive style came to the fore in his landmark presidential debate with Hillary Clinton.

The Republican candidate turned up in trademark form, launching broad attacks on his opponent, claiming she did not have the look or stamina to be President.

Fact-checkers have been analysing claims made by both sides during the 90 minutes debate, with several of Mr Trumps statements criticised as nonsensical by opponents.

 Trump blames 'defective mic' after debate

Nuclear policy

When asked how he felt about Barack Obamas consideration of whether the US should scrap its policy of using nuclear weapons first in any prospective conflict, Mr Trump appeared to do several U-turns.

Firstly, he appeared to support nuclear disarmament, saying: I would like everybody to end it, just get rid of it. But I would certainly not do first strike... I think that once the nuclear alternative happens, its over.

But he then the Republican candidate said he would not take anything off the table, before appearing to encourage China to invade North Korea.

Mr Trump said: China should go into North Korea. China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea.

And by the way, another one powerful is the worst deal I think Ive ever seen negotiated that you started is the Iran deal. Iran is one of their biggest trading partners. Iran has power over North Korea.

And when they made that horrible deal with Iran, they should have included the fact that they do something with respect to North Korea. And they should have done something with respect to Yemen and all these other places.

Mr Trump went on to claim the deal struck with Iran over its weapons capability would lead to nuclear problems.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall  and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

Isis

He garnered further criticism for claiming Ms Clinton has been trying to fight Isis for 50 years  decades before the groups existence.

Ms Clinton had been outlining her policies to tackle the militant group, which controls swathes of Syria, Iraq and Libya and has affiliates launching terror attacks around the world, when her rival interrupted.

Youre telling the enemy everything you want to do, Mr Trump said. No wonder youve been fighting Isis your entire adult life.

The Republican candidate appeared stunned by the claim, which triggered a ripple of gasps and laughter in the audience.

Thats athatsplease go to the fact-checkers and get to work, Ms Clinton said.

Born in 1947, the Democrat candidate is 68 years old and became a legal adult when she turned 18 in 1965.

Isis evolved from a jihadist group established in Iraq by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999, which was initially known as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, before changing to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) after pledging allegiance to Osama bin Ladens network in October 2004.

The group operated under numerous guises until leaders declared it the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) in 2006, adding the and al-Sham [Syria] to make Isis in 2013 after fighters were sent to join the Syrian civil war.

But an internal power struggle between caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and heads of the Syrian arm known as Jabhat al-Nusra caused al-Qaeda to cut ties with Isis in early 2014, shortly before the terrorist group launched its lightning advance across Iraq and Syria.

 Trump says Clinton has been 'fighting Isis her entire adult life'

Housing crisis

Mr Trumps business career has long been a bone of contention, with him citing it as one of his main qualifications for becoming President and touting his skill at making a good deal.

Opponents, meanwhile, have cited controversies including a discrimination lawsuit brought by black tenants in the 1970s and Mr Trumps activity during the US disastrous subprime mortgage crisis.

Mrs Clinton called the ensuing recession a perfect storm of bad tax policy and mismanagement.

Donald was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis, she continued.

He said, back in 2006, 'Gee, I hope it does collapse, because then I can go in and buy some and make some money.' Well, it did collapse.

Mr Trump did not refute the allegation, responding: That's called business, by the way. He provided no further explanation.

Americas subprime mortgage crisis has been blamed for driving the recession (Getty) (Getty Images)

Blaming Hillary Clinton for everything

Asked to defend his proposal to cut taxes for the rich, Mr Trump unleashed a stream of consciousness ending with the accusation: We have no leadership. And honestly, that starts with Secretary Clinton.

She responded: I have a feeling that by, the end of this evening, I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened.

Why not? Mr Trump shrugged.

Ms Clinton laughed before added: Yeah, why not, you know, just join the debate by saying more crazy things?

Earlier in the debate, he addressed his adversary as Secretary Clinton before asking; Is that okay? I want you to be very happy. It's very important to me.
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Donald Trump claimed Hillary Clinton has been trying to fight Isis for 50 years  decades before the groups existence  in their landmark presidential debate.

Fact-checkers had their work cut out after the two candidates traded blows on Monday night, watched by an estimated 100 million people around the world.

But analysts were astounded when Mr Trump, the candidate for the Republican Party, appeared to claim Isis dated back to the in 1960s.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton exchange blows during the Presidential Debate at Hofstra University (Getty)

Ms Clinton had been outlining her policies to tackle the militant group, which controls swathes of Syria, Iraq and Libya and has affiliates launching terror attacks around the world, when her rival interrupted.

Youre telling the enemy everything you want to do, Mr Trump said. No wonder youve been fighting Isis your entire adult life.

The Republican candidate appeared to be stunned by the claim, which triggered a ripple of gasps and laughter in the audience.

Thats athatsplease go to the fact-checkers and get to work, Ms Clinton said.

Born in 1947, the Democrat candidate is 68 years old and became a legal adult when she turned 18 in 1965.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

Isis evolved from a jihadist group established in Iraq by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 1999, which was initially known as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, before changing to al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) after pledging allegiance to Osama bin Ladens network in October 2004.

The group waged its insurgency and terror attacks until leaders declared it the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) in 2006, adding the and al-Sham [Syria] to make Isis in 2013 after fighters were sent to join the Syrian civil war.

But an internal power struggle between caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and heads of the Syrian arm known as Jabhat al-Nusra caused al-Qaeda to cut ties with Isis in early 2014, shortly before the terrorist group launched its lightning advance across Iraq and Syria.

So depending which date is viewed as the group's foundation, Isis is between two and 12 years old. Mr Trump's gaffe did not go unnoticed among analysts and commentators:

Driving militants out of their strongholds and preventing supporters from launching terror attacks has been a key issue of the presidential campaign.

Mr Trump has previously sparked controversy for proposing extreme vetting including a once-floated ban on Muslims entering the US to fight terrorism, and has repeatedly accused Ms Clinton and Barack Obama of fuelling the rise of Isis with disastrous policy decisions.

The Republican candidate has repeatedly defended his remarks when challenged, telling CNN: [President Obama] was the founder. His, the way he got out of Iraq was that that was the founding of Isis, okay?

Mr Trumps opponents have accused him of worsening division in the US and fuelling propaganda by Isis and other terror groups that seek to portray a global war on Muslims.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said he was playing into the hands of Isis during a trip to Canada earlier this month.

Donald Trump said that Muslims from around the world - I'm paraphrasing - would not be welcome into the United States of America, he added.

Not only does that show a lack of understanding and awareness of the great country that is the USA and its history and legacy, it's also inadvertently playing into the hands of Daesh and so-called Isis because it implies it's not possible to be a Western liberal and mainstream Muslim."
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The big question going into the the first US presidential debate - a 90-minute encounter that had the power to decide the future of the world - was which Donald Trump would show up.

Would it be the subdued, disciplined candidate, seeking to prove his credentials for the highest office in the land, or would it be the street fighter who brawled and bullied his way to victory in the Republican primaries?

Within moments of the debate starting, it was clear it was the latter. But if the testy Republican candidate thought he was going to have things all his own way, he was wrong. Hillary Clinton, well prepared and on-message, threw as many punches as Mr Trump, dodged some of his swings, and landed some solid blows of her own. She may even have come out ahead, based on expectations going in.

By the end of the evening, the pair had probably each punched enough to please their own supporters. But it will be some days before the public learns if either of them won over any undecideds. It may be that this hugely-hyped television event - one that 100m people were expected to watch - changed very little in voters' minds. A CNN/ORC snap poll said 62 per cent of respondents felt Ms Clinton won, and 27 per cent believed Mr Trump was the winner.

Donald, its good to be with you, Ms Clinton said, as the pair shook hands as they arrived on the stage.

US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures President Barack Obama embraces Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on stage at the party's convention in Philadelphia US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump's wife Melania delivered a speech at the GOP convention in Cleveland that was later found to have been cribbed in part from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention address AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton talks to reporters aboard her new campaign plane on Labour Day, 5 September, her first 'press conference' since 2015 (Getty Images) US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City in August, hours before reiterating his harsh immigration plans at a campaign rally in Arizona Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton, saying his progressive vision for a transformed America would be best served by the defeat of Donald Trump Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Khizr and Gazala Khan appeared at the DNC to slam Trump for his stance on Muslim immigration, citing the case of their son Humayun Khan, who was killed in combat while serving as a Captain in the US Army in Iraq US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is doing better in polls than any third party candidate since Ross Perot, 20 years ago Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Green Party candidate Jill Stein (centre) marches with supporters in Colorado AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine at a rally in Kaine's home state in July, days before Ms Clinton tapped him to be her running mate Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Trump on the campaign trail with his vice presidential pick, Indiana governor Mike Pence AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage appears at a Trump rally in Mississippi in August, where he told the crowd that he 'wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me'.

That brief moment was about the only polite interaction of Monday night. Over the next 90 minutes, he accused of her being an establishment politician who had achieved nothing during her lengthy career. He said contrary to what people may have learned in the mainstream media, he had a better temperament than his rival. I have a winning temperament, he said.

Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks as Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens during their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S., September 26, 2016 (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

She, in turn, sought to highlight him as a failed businessman who would do nothing to help America progress. He was not interested in science and ignored facts that did not suit his case. "Donald, I know you live in your own reality." she said.

Ms Clinton said that Mr Trump was a man with a cavalier attitude who could not be trusted to remain calm when dealing with difficult diplomatic situations.

A man who can be provoked by a Tweet she not have his finger near the nuclear code, she said.

Ms Clinton demanded to know why Mr Trump would not release his tax returns, something every president has done in modern history. Mr Trump said he was unable to because he was being audited by the tax authorities.

This is something the American people have a right to see. I dont think he will because he he trying to hide something, she said, in one of her clearly rehearsed lines that landed with a genuine zing.

He is either not as rich as he says, he is not as charitable, he maybe doesnt want the American people that he has paid nothing in federal income taxes.

Mr Trump responded by saying: [That] makes me smart.

The New York tycoon throw down his own gauntlet to Ms Clinton. I will release my tax returns when she releases her 35,000 emails, he said.

He said that Mr Trump did not believe Ms Clinton had the stamina required to be president. I dont think that Hillary has the stamina, he said.

She responded: Well, when he travels to 108 countries and negotiates deals.he can talk to me about stamina.

Mr Trump came back: I admit she has experience, but its bad experience.

Moderator Lester Holt asked Mr Trump about his long-standing campaign to try and prove that President Barack Obama was not born in the US. The president was born in Hawaii, but it was only this month that Mr Trump admitted this.

Mr Trump repeated his false accusation that Ms Clinton's failed 2008 presidential campaign against Mr Obama had initiated the so-called birther issue.

Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about itI was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate and I think I did a good job, he said.

Ms Clinton back: He has really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen. There was absolutely no evidence for it. But he persisted. He persisted year after year."

After it was all done, Mr Trump appeared himself in the so-called spin room, the media filing area where supporters of the two candidates are on hand to deliver soundbites. Presidential candidates rarely appear in person. It was another example in which Mr Trump broke with tradition.
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Hillary Clinton evinced ebullience with reporters on her plane the day after the first televised debate with Donald Trump, declaring he had made claims on stage that were demonstrably untrue and mocking him for suggesting he had somehow been given a wonky microphone.

She also seized on remarks by Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York, suggesting that Mr Trump might skip the two further debates that are scheduled before Election Day on 8 November unless he is given assurances the moderators at each of them will treat him better.

Recommended Read more Trump hit by left and right as Giuliani suggests skipping next debate

If I'm the only person onstage, well, you know, I'm the only person onstage, Ms Clinton said, clearly savouring the mostly kind reviews of her performance at Hofstra University on Long Island on Monday night and the rather less glowing assessments of his.

Mr Trumps response on Tuesday appeared to be first to blame everyone but himself if the perception was that he had fallen short at the debate and to attempt belatedly to deflect some of the more effective attacks that Ms Clinton had unleashed against him, thus making sure the media spotlight stayed on them when it was perhaps in his best interests that it did not.

US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of their first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures President Barack Obama embraces Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton on stage at the party's convention in Philadelphia US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump's wife Melania delivered a speech at the GOP convention in Cleveland that was later found to have been cribbed in part from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention address AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton talks to reporters aboard her new campaign plane on Labour Day, 5 September, her first 'press conference' since 2015 (Getty Images) US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico City in August, hours before reiterating his harsh immigration plans at a campaign rally in Arizona Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton, saying his progressive vision for a transformed America would be best served by the defeat of Donald Trump Reuters US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Khizr and Gazala Khan appeared at the DNC to slam Trump for his stance on Muslim immigration, citing the case of their son Humayun Khan, who was killed in combat while serving as a Captain in the US Army in Iraq US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is doing better in polls than any third party candidate since Ross Perot, 20 years ago Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Green Party candidate Jill Stein (centre) marches with supporters in Colorado AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Hillary Clinton and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine at a rally in Kaine's home state in July, days before Ms Clinton tapped him to be her running mate Getty US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Trump on the campaign trail with his vice presidential pick, Indiana governor Mike Pence AP US election 2016: the race for the White House in pictures Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage appears at a Trump rally in Mississippi in August, where he told the crowd that he 'wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me'.

That included his returning to an allegation that he had shamed a winner of a beauty pageant he once owned calling her Miss Housekeeping, apparently because she was from Latin America. On Tuesday, he implied she deserved his scorn because she gained weight. She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem, he told Fox News.

Arguably, Mr Trump had opened himself up to additional post-debate mockery with his suggestion that debate organisers may have given him a microphone that was faulty or set at a lower volume than Ms Clinton's. My mic was defective within the room, Mr Trump told reporters before leaving the venue on Monday. I wonder  Was that on purpose? Was that on purpose?

Anybody who complains about the microphone is not having a good night, Ms Clinton suggested to reporters on her plane on Tuesday just before returning to her seat for a flight to North Carolina where she was due to hold her first post-debate rally.

She also sought to contrast how she sees America with the more dystopian characterisation of it that Mr Trump offered on Monday. He had spoken of the country in dire and dark terms, she said, adding: That's not who America is.

Clearly aware that she was having a better day-after than her rival, Ms Clinton said she had had a great, great time and was thrilled with how it turned out. There had been widespread agreement among political commentators on Tuesday morning that she had come far more prepared for the debate than he had even if some thought she had occasionally seemed smug.

She also sought briefly to reiterate the contention she had made on stage that Mr Trump lives in his own reality when it comes to some of the things he said. She agreed that he was making charges and claims that were demonstrably untrue, offering opinions that I think a lot of people would find offensive and off-putting.

Also on the trail yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden excoriated the Republican nominee for responding to Ms Clintons assertion that he had avoided paying income tax to the federal government for years by calling himself smart for it. What in the hell he is talking about? Mr Biden said, campaigning for Ms Clinton in Pennsylvania.

Xavier Becerra, a Congressman from California who is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives, told reporters that Mr Trump had seemed to come unhinged at moments in the debate, although he didnt specify which ones they were.

Donald Trump essentially showed who he is, the congressman offered. He gave us a sense of his character and his temperament.
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A reporter's response to a fellow journalist trying to barge through in order to bag an interview ahead of the US presidential debate has gone viral after she was caught on camera shouting, "Thanks a lot bitch".

Kimberley Halkett, from Al Jazeera English, made the outburst in the build-up to the debate while she attempted to get an interview with businessman Mark Cuban.

While trying to get closer in the moving huddle an aide of Mr Cuban told her back off - provoking her to react angrily to the female reporter behind her who she held responsible for pushing her forward.

The video quickly went viral using the hashtag #thanksalotbitch - with people describing her outburst as emblematic of the Presidential election and 2016.

Other journalists expressed solidarity with Ms Halkett stating they had been in similarly frustrating situations chasing a story or interview.

For many, the outburst was the quote of the night, which was surprising in the fact that it did not come from the mouth of the controversial Republican nominee - Donald Trump.

Dawn Howard tweeted: "Who knew that #thanksalotbitch would be the quote of the night, and Donald Trump wouldn't be the one to say it?!"

People soon called for Ms Halkett to receive the plaudits they feel she deserves.

The debate itself quickly became personal with both candidates making aggressive statements about each other's ability to serve as President.

Hillary Clinton labelled Mr Trump's birther campaign as "racist" while he labelled the Democratic Candidate as lacking in stamina.
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A British YouTube star has appeared before a US court accused of lying to police over claims he was assaulted in West Hollywood.

Calum McSwiggan, from London, pleaded not guilty to filing a false police report after he claimed he was attacked by three men near The Abbey gay club on June 27.

The 26-year-old, who has more than 64,000 subscribers on YouTube, posted a photo on Instagram as he lay in a hospital bed after the alleged attack, telling his followers he suffered three broken teeth and required six stitches to his head.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers investigated but were unable to substantiate the assault.

McSwiggan had been arrested for vandalising a car and was taken to hospital after he began injuring himself with a police station payphone, a spokesman for the sheriff's department said.

McSwiggan, who is known to his followers on YouTube for discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, appeared at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of filing a false police report and vandalism.

He was ordered to return to the court for a pre-trial hearing on November 7 and refused to comment as he left the building.

After he was charged in June, McSwiggan wrote on Facebook that he had caused the injury that required the stitches to his head but insisted he was attacked by three men.

Just because there were no visible marks on my face does not mean I was not attacked, he wrote.

Being accused of being a liar and being called a disgrace to the LGBT+ community, a community I've dedicated my life to, is more painful than any hate crime could ever be.

McSwiggan had travelled to California in June for the online video conference VidCon.
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Police in Pakistan allegedly illegally excute hundreds of people each year in "staged encounter killings", a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims.

Several police officers allegedly claimed to HRW that encounters where suspects were killed were sometimes reported an act of self-defence or means of preventing them from fleeing arrest or escaping custody.

The report is based on interviews with 30 police officers of various ranks, as well as 50 interviews with victims and, their families, and witnesses to such alleged abuse, the group said.

The report claims: "Police are rarely held accountable for these killings and families of victims are deterred from filing complaints against police out of fear of harassment or being accused of false charges."

One senior office allegedly told the researchers: "As far as they are concerned, encounters are the perfect way of getting rid of hardened criminals.

"They do not consider it a gross violation of human rights and instead see it as an effective way of delivering justice."

The group quoted an unnamed senior police official as saying that security forces stage mock shootouts to kill "habitual offenders and criminals." Others cited in the report defended the practice, saying it was the only way to bring culprits to justice in an apparently corrupt system.

Nayab Haider, a spokesman for police in Punjab province, where Lahore is the capital, denied that extra-judicial killings and death in detention were widespread, saying any such abuses were carried out by individuals and punished by authorities.

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 report calls for the police to address issues such as alleged bribery and suggests it creates a mechanism for increased accountability in order to "transform the police."

Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said: Law enforcement has been left to a police force filled with disgruntled... and tired officers.

Police should have the resources, training, equipment, and encouragement to act professionally instead of leaving Pakistanis to rely on favours... to seek justice.
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The Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has called for the death penalty in the country to be reinstated, claiming growing atheism and agnosticism means people have a lack of fear and respect for the law.

The death penalty was officially abolished in the largely Catholic country in 2006, but Mr Duterte said that if God doesnt exist, capital punishment is the only way to ensure justice for the victims of terrible crimes.

Speaking in Manila, Mr Duterte also questioned Gods existence himself and addressed God directly in his speech, asking where are you?

He also hit out at priests and human rights groups who he labelled bleeding hearts, for saying the death penalty did not deter crime and said it was the fault of previous presidents for not using capital punishment, the Philippines' Inquirer.net reports.

He said: Every president along the way didnt impose it only because the Catholic Church and all the bleeding hearts would say that only God could kill. But what if there is no God?

He pointed at Isis and the plight of women and children in war-torn Syria, who he said are burned if they refuse to have sex with Isis militants.

When a one-year-old baby, 18-months-old baby is taken from the mothers arms brought under a jeep and raped and killed. So where is God? My God, where are you? asked Mr Duterte.

I believe in God but that is my perpetual question to him, he added.

Where were you when we needed you? He asked.

Its not enough to say that at the end of the world, he will judge the living and the dead. What would be the purpose of all of that if the heartaches, sorrows and agony have already been inflicted in this world? Mr Duterte said.

He also drew attention to growing rates of agnosticism and atheism in the Philippines. It is not only one or two or three, he said. In this age a lot are questioning [God] now.

This, he said, was responsible for Filipinos lack of fear and therefore their lack of respect for the law.

Mr Duterte was elected president in June 2016, and has earned a reputation as a loose cannon, after calling Barack Obama a son of a whore, ahead of a meeting with the US president.

He also threatened to eat a group of Islamist militants alive after they killed 14 people in his home city of Davao.

The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Show all 9 1 /9 The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On killing drug addicts These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, dont go into that, even if youre a policeman, because I will really kill you. If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Message to China I will go there on my own with a Jet Ski, bringing along with me a [Phillipino] flag and a pole, and once I disembark, I will plant the flag on the runway and tell the Chinese authorities, Kill me  AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Christmas message to law-breakers If you do not want to stop, and just continue committing crimes, then this would be your last Merry Christmas AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On sex life I was separated from my wife. Im not impotent. What am I supposed to do? Let this hang forever? When I take Viagra, it stands up AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On the drugs trade None of my children are into illegal drugs. But my order is, even if it is a member of my family, kill him'" AP The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting the Pope We were affected by the traffic. It took us five hours. I asked why, they said it was closed. I asked who is coming. They answered, the pope. I wanted to call him: Pope, son of a wh**e, go home. Do not visit us again AFP/Getty Images The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Joke about rape I saw her face and I thought, 'What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor should have been first AFP/Getty The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte Insulting Barack Obama "Mr Obama should be respectful and refrain from throwing questions at me about the killings, or son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum" REUTERS The most controversial quotes from Rodrigo Duterte On Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you. If you annoy me to the fullest... I will eat you alive. Raw" EPA

They will pay. When the time comes, I will eat you in front of people, Mr Duterte said at the time. If you make me mad, in all honesty, I will eat you alive, raw.

Earlier this month, it was claimed at a senate hearing Mr Duterte had allegedly shot dead a justice department agent with an Uzi submachine gun while serving as mayor of Davao. The claim, made by an alleged hitman, was strongly denied by the President's office.
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Two women have allegedly been assaulted after trying to stop officials taking away stray puppies they were looking after.

The mother and daughter from India adopted four dogs, who were only two months old, in Kothrud, a suburb of Pune.

Milind Kale, a 45-year-old who lives in the same area as the women, called the authorities asking them to take the dogs away.

When the women refused, Mr Kale allegedly proceeded to attack them with his shoe, leading to one of the victims losing a tooth.

The complainant, who is an animal lover, started taking care of four puppies. Yesterday, Kale who lived in the same society, called up the municipal authorities and asked them to take away the puppies," said inspector Radhika Phadake of Kothrud police station, the Times of India reported.

"Officials returned empty handed and an irked Mr Kale then hit both the 20-year-old daughter and her mother with his shoe. The complainant lost a tooth in the scuffle," the inspector added.

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 Kale has been arrested and, after a court appearance, was remanded in police custody for one day.
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An Australian teenager is recovering in hospital after surviving an attack by a great white shark.

Cooper Allen was surfing with a friend off Lighthouse Beach, New South Wales, when he was attacked by the 3.5-metre-long fish.

However, the 17-year-old was able to escape, helped to shore by his friend.

Recommended Read more Australian surfer Ben Gerring dies after losing leg in shark attack

Local surfer Dan Webber witnessed the incident, and said the shark was a massive f****** thing.

Hes just swimming backwards away from it, Mr Webber told The Australian.

I think it was tangled up in his legrope. I saw the dorsal and the tail fin thrashing around.

When Cooper reached the shoreline, beach-goers administered first aid, including a rudimentary tourniquet. The teenager asked them to call an ambulance but not his mother.

Despite losing blood through four deep gashes to his right leg, he did not require surgery and only needed stitches.

The attack led to the beach and others in the area being closed by authorities for fear of other attacks.

Soon after the attack, a local government monitor observed a shark in the area which matched the description of the one which bit Cooper.

A statement from Surf Life Saving NSW said: "Surf lifesaving assets were on the water from 8am conducting a roving patrol along the coastline as part of the comprehensive process of reopening local beaches.

"After a meeting involving the NSW Department of Primary Industries, local council representatives, NSW Police and lifeguards, the decision was made to reopen the beaches with the exception of Lennox Head."

Cooper is reportedly in good spirits in hospital and recovering well.
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Boris Johnson was amazed and delighted that a poem he wrote about Turkeys leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan with references to a goat and fornication was not brought up during his first trip to the country as Britains Foreign Secretary.

His hosts had also, it was claimed, forgiven him for playing the Muslim Card during the Brexit campaign when he was accused of endorsing scare stories about millions of Turks coming into Europe through visa-free travel if it joins the European Union.

Mr Johnsons doggerel containing the line, there was a young fellow from Ankara, who was a terrific w***erer, won the first prize of a thousand pounds in a competition in The Spectator magazine for the poem most offensive about Turkeys controversial president. It led to furious protests at the time from Ankara and there were musings of what kind of reception he would get on a visit.

But asked at a press conference whether he would apologise about what he had written, the British Foreign Secretary claimed: I am delighted to say that this has not come up at all in very long, and very, very important discussions we have been having. To my amazement it has not come up at all. He then quickly added: Of course I knew it wouldnt come up, its just trivia. A British official insisted afterwards that the controversy over all that has died down.

What is likely to lead to controversy, however, is the attempt by the Turkish government to get the UK to take action against the supporters of the US-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who officials claim was behind the attempted military coup two months ago. Mr Johnson has been provided with a list of Gulen-linked organisations based in the UK and he promised that the information will be studied back in London.

Opponents of the Erdogan government claim it has used the takeover bid to carry out a draconian crackdown in which thousands have been imprisoned on charges of being Gulenists. Turkey wants the US to extradite the cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, but some American officials have expressed doubts privately that the evidence supplied by Ankara is strong enough for that to take place. Mr Gulen has denied any link to the coup.

Mr Johnson, who met President Erdogan along with other senior members of the cabinet, wanted to stress the blossoming trade relations between Turkey and Britain. He added: What I hope for is a jumbo free-trade deal between the United Kingdom and Turkey. He avoided mentioning livestock, dwelling instead on washing machines, saying he was the proud owner of one made in Turkey. He added that he was also very glad that a Turkish company now owns the makers of Jaffa Cakes, a particular favourite of his while he was growing up.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys foreign minister, said it was a matter of regret that the UK had chosen to leave the European Union, but one must respect the democratic wishes of the British people. The EU affairs minister, Omer Celik, added there was also regret at the anti-Turkish rhetoric which had been used by the Leave campaign but that we have to close this ugly parenthesis and look to the future.

 Boris Johnson says Britain will help Tukey become a member of th EU 'in anyway possible'

Mr Johnson has declared that even after leaving the European Union, Britain would continue to support Turkeys bid to join the European Union. He did not explain what leverage London would have with Brussels on this, or address the issue of a Muslim state with a population of 80 million becoming a member, a prospect he and his fellow Brexiters had so publicly decried.

Mr Johnsons visit did, however, please the Turks on another issue. Ankara has been critical of the West for failing to offer enough support, as they see it, during the failed coup in July and its aftermath. It had complained that western countries had focused too much, instead, on questioning the punitive measures which were taken on those who allegedly planned and carried out the uprising.

Ismail Kahraman, the parliamentary speaker, said: Some of our friends are taking strange stances. We expected stronger support from EU countries. They have been talking about human rights, but they should also have said much more about defending democracy.

We have now started receiving official visits, although a bit delayed. We show our foreign friends the damage done by the terrorists behind the coup; how they attacked our parliament. How would Europeans feel if a section of their army used tanks and guns paid for by taxpayers to attack their parliaments? We will show Mr Johnson what they tried to do here, the terrorist acts which were carried out.

Mr Johnson, left, and Mr Erdogan (EPA)

The damage to the parliament building, caused by air strikes from F-16 jets and helicopter-gunships, is being repaired. There are suggestions that part of the destruction should be preserved as a memorial to the more than 300 people killed across Turkey in the violence. Showing The Independent around the site, which has been closed to the public since attack, guide Ertugral Akay said: I have been doing this job for 10 years and I never thought that Id see out parliament like this. I have shown around 15 delegations of foreign politicians so far and they have been shocked. I am sure that Boris Johnson will also see what we had to face and understand.

Minister Celik also felt that the British Foreign Secretary would be sympathetic towards Turkey, not least because of his Ottoman ancestry. Mr Johnsons paternal great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, came from the province of Cankiri.

Mr Johnson played up the Turkish link at the press conference, pointing out that he has a cousin, Selim, who is in the countrys diplomatic service. However, Selim Kuneralp, the diplomat cousin, is less that impressed by Mr Johnsons politics over Brexit  a little Englander attitude as he called it. Under the policy the British Foreign Secretary now espouses, he pointed out, his own grandfather would not have been able to go to the UK.

Some others among Mr Johnsons relations were more laudatory. At the ancestral village of Kalfat there were plans, said the headman, to sacrifice many sheep in Mr Johnsons honour, if he paid a visit. We will give him the complete red carpet treatment if he came, added Adem Karaagac. Its a small village and many of the people are distantly related. Even my wife is somehow related to Boris, I am not sure of the exact connection though. I have also noticed on television that his mannerisms and body movements also strongly resemble those of the people in our village. There are quite a few here with blond hair and pale skin.

Despite being in a remote location Mr Johnsons distant relatives say they they have been avidly following his political career. Our Boris was ready to be Prime Minister. But now he can gain more experience as Foreign Minister before becoming Prime Minister, was Mr Karaagacs analysis
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Brexit could leave the country better off than its former European Union partners, a leading German businessman has suggested.

Mathias Doepfner, chief executive of publishing giant Axel Springer, said he could see the UK adopting a more free market-oriented model which could be a highly attractive alternative to the EU economy.

He told the Financial Times that Britain was bound to experience short-term pain as a consequence of its 23 June vote to quit the EU, but in three to five years from now, my bet would be that England will be better off than continental Europe.

The short-term effects of Brexit would include currency fluctuations and turbulence in the property market, he suggested.

But the UK would be free to implement a very healthy, talent-oriented immigration policy once outside the EU.

You basically integrate and invite the people that you benefit from and not people who only benefit from your social welfare system, he said.

Meanwhile, the remaining EU members would lose Britain's healthy influence, in particular its pragmatism and free-market orientation, which had led to sensible compromises in negotiations in the bloc.

If it is all defined, let's say, by France, Spain and Italy making compromises with Germany - I'm a little worried by that prospect, he told the newspaper.

Press Association
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Far-right extremists are suspected of being behind attempted bombings targeting a mosque and conference centre in Germany, hours after a march by the anti-Islam Pegida movement.

The door of a mosque in Dresden was blown inside by the force of the blast at around 10pm local time (9pm BST) on Monday.

The family living inside, the mosques imam, his wife and two sons, were unhurt but found six bottles filled with fuel outside their scorched and blackened door.

The scene of an explosion at the Fatih Camii mosque in Dresden on 26 September 2016 (Reuters)

Ibrahim Ismail Turan, the imams 10-year-old son, told the Sachsische Zeitung newspaper: They attacked us because they hate us, because were Muslims.

Around 25 minutes later, another explosion was reported to police outside the citys International Congress Centre, lying near the state parliament on the River Elbe.

The blast shattered glass on the buildings terrace but injured no one, with investigators finding remnants of an improvised explosive device at the scene.

Police evacuated a nearby bar over fears of a further blast and told guests staying in the hotel above the terrace to stay away from windows.

Officers have been dispatched to guard two mosques in Dresden, as well as an Islamic centre, with further protections under consideration as the investigation continues.

The attacks came hours after a Pegida march (Getty) (Getty Images)

Horst Kretzschmar, the chief of Dresden police, said the attempted attacks were believed to be connected.

Although we have not yet seen any claim of responsibility, we must work on the basis of a xenophobic motive, he said. At the same time, we see a connection to celebrations for the Day of German Unity this coming weekend.

The public holiday, which falls on 3 October, marks the reunification of Germany in 1990 and is marked with festivals officially hosted by a different city each year, with the task for 2016 falling to Dresden.

The city is home to the Pegida movement, which stands for Patriotic Europeans against Islamisation of the West, and holds weekly marches sometimes drawing tens of thousands of supporters.

Described by one politician as Nazis in pinstripes, the group is regularly met by counter-demonstrations accusing members of racism, fascism, xenophobia and inciting violence.

Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Show all 13 1 /13 Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism outside Cologne Cathedral on 5 January after the assaults Oliver Berg/EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism in Cologne following the rash of sex attacks on New Year's Eve Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police initially failed to mention the assaults in report the following morning EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police officers patrol in front of the main station of Cologne, Germany AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne`s train station (Reuters) Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police used pepper spray to control supporters of Pegida, Hogesa (Hooligans against Salafists) and other right-wing populist groups as they protested against the New Year's Eve sex attacks on 9 January, 2016 in Cologne, Germany Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use a water cannon during a protest march by supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016 Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use pepper spray against supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida, in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Artist Mira Moire protests naked in Cologne against the mass sex attacks on New Year's Eve AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks A demonstrator holds a sign in German that reads 'No violence against women' during a demonstration in the wake of the sexual assaults on New Year's Eve, outside the cathedeal in Cologne, Germany, 09 January 2016. EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Counter demonstrators hold up a sign reading "Against sexism, against racism" as they protest against a demonstration of the islamophobic movement PEGIDA at the train station in Cologne, Germany, on January 9, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Demonstration by a womens group on Saturday (AP) AP

Photos from Mondays march, which started four hours before the explosions, showed huge crowds demonstrating with flags and banners reading rapefugees not welcome and Germany is being destroyed.

Suspicion quickly turned to the groups supporters following the bombings, although police have not confirmed any link and no suspects have been arrested.

Pegida founder Lutz Bachmann suggested the attacks were a false flag operation to allow authorities to stop a protest against Angela Merkel planned for 3 October.

Violence is not the right solution for anything in the world, he wrote in a Facebook post. No matter who carries it out and when.

The arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in Germany and the New Year's Eve sex attacks in Cologne have sparked a rise in tensions, seeing vigilantes patrol the streets and refugee accommodation attacked.

Government statistics showed 2015 to be a record year for political violence, with the majority of 39,000 recorded offences committed by right-wing extremists.

The sharp increase in politically motivated crime points to a dangerous development in society, the interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said earlier this year. We are witnessing a growing and increasingly pronounced readiness to use violence, both by right and left-wing extremists.
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Nationalists in southern Denmark have prompted outrage after handing out refugee spray,

The Danes' Party, which was founded by a former Neo-Nazi, said the substance was a legal alternative to pepper spray, which is outlawed in country.

The organisation has called for all non-Western immigrants to be kicked out of Denmark

The can is titled asylum-spray and says it is both effective and legal on the packaging.



Daniel Carlsen, the partys chairman said he did not believe there was anything wrong with handing out the cans.

I dont think it is provocative. We are tackling an actual problem in our society, where many Danes feel unsafe, he told TV Syd.

Partially because there are so many migrants in the country and partly because one isnt allowed to defend ones self.

Mr Carlsen claimed 137 people took the spray in the town of Haderslevand and added that the party planned to hand them out again next week, the Local reported.

The area was targeted by the activists following several reports of women being harassed by refugees.

The cans received a mixed response, with one woman interviewed by TV Syd describing them as disgusting.

Im simply so offended, local resident Helle Byg said.

Another woman, Charlotte Bech, was visibly emotional about the spray.

They've been through so much and then they're told that they are so undesirable that we had to make a spray to use on them.

One thing is the opinion that we dont have the capacity [for refugees] or an opinion that some of them might not fit in to our culture. But to make a joke out of it is not okay, Ms Bech said.

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However, another resident, Diana Nielsen said: Its great. It matches bloody well with my attitudes and opinions.

"It is after all them [refugees] who we are protecting ourselves against at the moment."
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A controversial idea of building a 3km (2 mile) bridge connecting the island of Sicily to the Italian mainland is being reconsidered by the country's prime minister, despite long-running concerns over costs.

Matteo Renzi said the roadway across the Strait of Messina would be economcially beneficial for both areas and create over 100,000 jobs for local workers.

Former prime minster Silvio Berlusconi pursued the idea in 2009 and estimated the cost to be 6.1 billion, but the porject faced significant opposition and was eventually abandonned four years later.

Experts now suggest the bridge would cost as much as 9 billion (7.8bn) to complete, and have warned the high earthquake risk in the south of Italy could jeopardise construction work.

Italy is to hold a constitutional referendum on December 4 this year, and Mr Renzi was quoted as saying that "once the reforms are done, we can go back to planning our future", namely reviving "grand projects" including the Messina bridge.

Detailed plans for the bridge were first conceived in the early 1990s, but a succession of economic crises have ensured it has never become a reality.

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

Supporters claim the bridge would give boost Sicily's ailing economy and increase the tourist trade, but critics say the money would be far better spent improving the island's inefficient system of roads.

Concerns over the environmental impact of the bridge have also been raised, and many say it could potentially damage the scenery of the most southern point of Italy.

If realised, the bridge would become the world's longest suspension bridge by a considerable distance - exceeding the current longest, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan, by 1.3km.
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Paris is set to have an official nudist park after officials voted in favour of the plans on Monday night.

The park could open as soon as next summer, AFP reports, and two main wooded areas on the outskirts of the city, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes, are being considered as possible options.

Naturism is popular among some Parisians but public nudity is forbidden unless taking place in specified areas, and can carry a penalty of 15,000 (13,050) or up to a year in prison.

Paris currently has a swimming pool on the 12th arrondissement that allows nudity three evenings a week, but many naturists have been asking for larger spaces in which to roam free of clothes.

There were 150 of us there on Wednesday night, Denis Porquet, a member of the Nudist Association of Paris (ANP) told 20 Minutes. The 372-people strong group is often forced to hire other venues such as bowling clubs and spas to be able to host private events for its membership.

Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Show all 5 1 /5 Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Performance artist Poppy Jackson climbed on top of Toynbee Studios in London and sat there naked for four hours on two separate days. She was investigating questions relating to temporality, the body in site, representation and gender through consideration of the use of the body in performance as an activist practice. Jackson previously called for donations of menstrual blood for a project. Raquel Rodrigues Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Photographer Erica Simone wondered what the world would feel like naked without the empowering or disempowering effect of clothing so decided to find out in New York. Erica Simone Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Performance artist Milo Moire protested against the New Years Eve sex attacks in Cologne by standing naked in the city holding a placard reading: Respect us! We are not fair game even when naked! AP Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Deborah de Robertis was arrested yet again for a nude stunt in front of Manets Olympia in the Musee dOrsay in Paris. The performance artist lay down naked in front of the painting to mimic the pose of the famed nude portrait of a prostitute. YouTube Naked performance art, exhibitions and protests Photographer Mathilde Grafstrom takes pictures of women who dont have traditional model looks to combat negative self-image. Her Copenhagen exhibition was closed down by police in December, prompting complaints. Mathilde Grafstrom

The proposal for a nudist park was put forward by the Green Party of Paris and Deputy Mayor Bruno Julliard said the new space would likely be near a lake, in a regulated setting so that there is no threat to public order, AFP reported.
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Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said the UK will support Turkey's bid to join the European Union despite voting to leave the bloc.

"We may be leaving the European Union but we are not leaving Europe," Mr Johnson said on his first official visit to Ankara.

"And Britain," the foreign secretary added, "will help Turkey in any way."

Mr Johnson also praised Turkey for making his "beautiful" and "very well-functioning" washing machine, in comments aimed at repairing relations between the two nations after he accused the Turkish president of having sex with a goat.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik speak to the media before a meeting in Ankara (AP)

In May, Mr Johnson won a 1,000 prize for a limerick about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid a free speech debate:

The limerick read: "There was a young fellow from Ankara.

Who was a terrific wankerer.

Till he sowed his wild oats.

With the help of a goat.

But he didn't even stop to thankera."

Mr Johnson was also previously accused of deliberately lying to voters about Turkish migration during the EU referendum campaign.

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

However, speaking at a news conference alongside Turkey's EU affairs minister Omer Celik, Mr Johnson emphasised how important it is for the two nations to work together after Britain leaves the EU.

We are lucky in the United Kingdom to be one of the biggest recipients of Turkish goods, the former Mayor of London said.

I am certainly the proud possessor of a beautiful, very well-functioning Turkish washing machine, he added.

 Boris Johnson says he believes Article 50 will be invoked early next year

Mr Celik said although his nation respected Britains decision to leave the EU he strongly criticised the "anti-Turkish rhetoric" that emerged during the campaign.

"We have to close this ugly parenthesis and look to the future," Mr Celik said.

In honour of his visit to Turkey, Mr Johnson's ancestral village pledged to sacrifice "many sheep".

The town of Kalfat in Anatolia, the home of Mr Johnsons paternal great-grandfather, takes immense pride in his achievements and has offered to repaint the village and give him the full red carpet treatment if he visits.
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A journalist suing over the CIA's alleged killing of his son and brother in a drone strike has said he will never let go" of his battle for justice.

Kareem Khan has been fighting for almost seven years to see the officials who ordered the attack on his home in Pakistans North Waziristan province face criminal charges.

A missile struck on New Years Eve 2009, killing his brother and teenage son in what was locally reported to be a mistake by US forces targeting a Taliban commander.

They tell the world that theyre killing terrorists [but] theyre killing innocents, Mr Khan told Al Jazeera.

Pakistani tribesman Kareem Khan has campaigned against drone strikes since his relatives were killed (Getty Images)

My brother and my son were completely innocent. For as long as I can go on, I wont let this go.

His brother, Asif Iqbal, was a school teacher with a masters degree in modern languages, while his teenage son Zahinullah was preparing to enter Year 10.

They are two of many reported civilian casualties of American drone strikes, which have killed between more than 400 civilians in Pakistan since the CIA campaign began in 2004 according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, although the US' own total is far lower.

In a rare glimmer of hope earlier this year, the family of an Italian aid worker killed in one such bombing was paid $1.2 million (900,000) by the US government.

There was no admission of guilt by authorities, who said the payment to Giovanni Lo Portos relatives was a donation, not compensation.

The 37-year-old died when a US drone struck an al-Qaeda base on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where he was being held captive in January 2015, also killing American aid worker Warren Weinstein.

Giovani Lo Porto studied at London Metropolitan University

Four months after their deaths, Barack Obama publicly confirmed the strike and apologised, claiming the US is committed to openness.

I profoundly regret what happened, he said. On behalf of the United States government, I offer our deepest apologies to the families.

Saying the operation was fully consistent with American guidelines for counter-terror operations in the region, the President said that in our fight against terrorists specifically, mistakes - sometimes deadly mistakes - can occur.

Mr Obama added: We will continue to do everything we can to prevent the loss of innocent lives - not just innocent Americans, but all innocent lives in our counterterrorism operations.

But campaigners say no such changes have been evident in Pakistan, where the US continues drone strikes against al-Qaeda, Taliban and Isis militants.

Officials claim they work with the Pakistani governments approval but politicians have publicly denied the claims, calling the attacks a violation of our sovereignty as well as international law.

Mr Khan is fighting a civil case in Pakistans courts attempting to see two former employees of the CIA branch in Islamabad charged with murder for allegedly ordering the strike that killed his family members.

Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan Show all 6 1 /6 Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629349.bin NOOR BEHRAM Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629348.bin NOOR BEHRAM Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629347.bin NOOR BEHRAM Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629346.bin NOOR BEHRAM Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629345.bin NOOR BEHRAM Under fire from afar: Harrowing exhibition reveals damage done by drones in Pakistan 629344.bin NOOR BEHRAM

Shahzad Akbar, from the Pakistani Foundation for Fundamental Rights, said it took six years of campaigning to obtain a ruling in the Islamabad High Court ordering police to open a criminal investigation into the deaths.

The probe into former CIA station chief Jonathan Banks and legal counsel John A Rizzo over alleged, murder, conspiracy and terrorism was launched in April last year.

But the pair have returned to the US and police swiftly attempted to transfer the investigation to the authorities in the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas, who do not have the resources to continue.

Jennifer Gibson, a lawyer specialising in drone strikes with the legal charity Reprieve, told The Independent Mr Khan is now battling in the courts to force Pakistans central police force to carry on the probe.

Theres always hope, she said. The ultimate aim is for an international arrest warrant to be issued and pursued by Interpol.

This case is effectively murder being carried out on Pakistani soil by US forces. It is right that it can be called what it is and investigated.

When Mr Khan launched his case in 2010, he sought $500 million (380 million) in compensation but all damage claims have since been dropped.

US drone strike kills Pakistani Taliban leader

Since his brother and son were killed, he has become a prolific anti-drone campaigner in the face of significant personal risk, being abducted and beaten shortly before he was due to visit the European Parliament in 2014.

Earlier this year, another Pakistani man met with MPs in London to call for the British Government to intervene with its American allies on the issue.

Malik Jalal told The Independent he had survived four drone strikes, believing he is being mistakenly targeted because of his work with the North Waziristan Peace Committee, which mediates between local tribes, government agencies and the Taliban.

He argued that the CIAs programme is counter-productive and makes terror attacks more likely by fuelling anti-Western sentiment in the volatile region.

Theyre not getting rid of militants - for every two militants hit, 10 more will spring up in their place because their families and friends have been killed, he added.

Ms Gibson said the payment to Mr Lo Portos family was a step forward but was little consolation to other civilian victims of drone strikes.

There are hundreds of Pakistanis who have never had any acknowledgement, let alone any compensation, she added.

The US Department of Defence has not responded to The Independents request for comment.
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More than 14,500 women in Saudi Arabia have signed a petition calling for an end to the country's male guardianship scheme.

Saudi law states that all women must have a male guardian, typically a husband, father or brother, who gives them permission to study, travel abroad or marry.

Leading women's rights campaigner Aziza al-Yousef delivered the petition to the royal court on Monday.

She told the BBC: "In every aspect, the important issue is to treat a woman as a full citizen."

 Thousands of people share cartoon showing how ridiculous Saudi laws are for women

A key part of the campaign, she said, is for an age between 18 and 21 to be chosen from which a point a woman should be "treated like an adult".

Ms Yousef and other campaigners first raised the issue five years ago.

"We never had a problem with campaigning, but the problem is there is no answer," she said. "But we always hope - without hope, you cannot work."

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

A Human Rights Watch report on male guardianship published in July found "a woman's life is controlled by a man from birth until death" in Saudi Arabia, which restricts their ability to pursue a career or make life decisions.

Despite limited reforms in 2009 and 2013 to decrease guardians' control over women, which included no longer requiring permission for women to work and making domestic abuse illegal, the report found the system remains largely in place, hindering the reforms.

The report led to a social media campaign, with women tweeting an Arabic hashtag translating to "Saudi women want to abolish the guardianship system" and the hashtag #IAmMyOwnGuardian.

Kristine Beckerle, one of the Human Rights Watch researchers who worked on the report, described the response as "incredible and unprecedented".

"I was flabbergasted - not only by the scale, but the creativity with which they've been doing it," she said. "They've made undeniably clear they won't stand to be treated as second-class citizens any longer, and it's high time their government listened."

The petition is yet to receive an official response from the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom.
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The US has been boxed into a corner in the face of a huge Russian-backed military escalation in the Syrian civil war, several experts have said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been criticised both at home and abroad for continuing to reach out to the Kremlin, which has stated there is absolutely no prospect" of talks to revive the failed Eid-al-Adha ceasefire deal.

Speaking to reporters from Cartagena in Columbia late on Monday, Mr Kerry defended the US diplomatic efforts. The cause of what is happening [in Aleppo] is [Syrian President Bashar] Assad and Russia wanting to pursue a military victory, he said. Today there is no ceasefire and were not talking to them right now. And whats happening? The place is being utterly destroyed. Thats not delusional. Thats a fact.

Approximately 250,000 people trapped in rebel-held east Aleppo have been subjected to intense bombing since Thursday which has destroyed civilian infrastructure such as emergency response clinics and left almost 500 people dead, activists on the ground say.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have ignored pleas from the West and besieged residents to cease the campaign, which civilians report has included napalm, cluster bombs, and incendiary devices. Several countries, and Nato, have said the attacks amount to war crimes.

Instead, the air strikes were followed up with a ground assault on several different access points of the city on Tuesday, leading to fierce fighting between government soldiers and allied militias against opposition factions.

 Video shows shelling as Syrian Army advance on Aleppo

While the US continues to see a ceasefire brokered through agreement with Moscow as the only route to settling the conflict, it is clear that the US is not willing to take the steps necessary to enforce one, and Russia knows that, said Tim Eaton, a Research Fellow with Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa Programme.

A precedent was set in July when Russia bombed the Syrian opposition at At Tanf, a base near the Jordanian border used by both US and UK special forces, killing four rebels, a monitor in the NGO sector told The Independent.

The [US] government buried the story, and it showed Russia it could basically do what it wanted. In retrospect letting them act with impunity then says a lot about the current situation, the source said.

In a move which will displease Russia, US officials said on Monday that they may let the Gulf states or Turkey arm rebel factions with anti-aircraft shoulder-fired missiles, which is something the US has largely prevented until now.



(Reuters (Reuters)

The Saudis have always thought that the way to get the Russians to back off is what worked in Afghanistan 30 years ago  negating their air power by giving MANPADS [anti aircraft guns] to the mujahideen," a US official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

"So far, weve been able to convince them that the risks of that are much higher today because were not dealing with a Soviet Union in retreat, but a Russian leader whos bent on rebuilding Russian power and less likely to flinch."

Talks to revive the ailing ceasefire ended abruptly when a UN aid convoy outside Aleppo was bombed on the 19th September. The US blamed Russia for either carrying out the attack or failing to stop Syrian planes from launching it. Russia, in turn, said the US had derailed peace efforts by killing 63 Syrian soldiers in an accidental strike on a Syrian military base near Isis territory in Deir el Zour a few days earlier.

(AFP/Getty Images)

As the ceasefire crumbled, the Assad government announced a fresh campaign to seize Aleppo from the opposition for good.

East Aleppo is the last major rebel stronghold in Syrias almost six-year-long war. Retaking it would greatly consolidate Assads control over all of the country that is not held by Islamist factions such as Isis and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the al-Qaeda allied group also known as al-Nusra.

Crushing rebel areas into submission through a combination of air strikes and sieges is a strategy that has worked for Assad in several places.

The renewed campaign, and Russian refusal to engage in talks, does not bode well for the US Syria policy or for the countrys suffering civilians.

In the absence of any progress at the diplomatic level, we can expect to see escalation on the battlefield. Rather than a Plan B, we are likely to see the US and its allies seek to ensure that the rebels remain alive long enough for Plan A to be revived, Mr Eaton of Chatham House said.
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It's a universal truth that the rich are getting richer  but,according to a new report, it's not the case the world over.

The number of ultra wealthy people in the world rose by 0.6 per cent in 2015, with their total wealth up by 0.8 per cent to $30 trillion (23 trillion) in net assets - a record high - according to a new report by Wealth-X.

These individuals - referred to as ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals - account for just 0.004% of the worlds adult population, but control 12 per cent of global wealth.

In 2015, billionaires saw their wealth grow 5.4 per cent - more than double the rate of global economic growth - while collectively other tiers saw their wealth shrink by 0.6 per cent.

But while the wealthiest individuals experienced the most success across all geographic regions, not every country is experiencing the same rise.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, UHNW wealth fell 2.4 per cent as equity markets, local currencies and gross domestic product collectively experienced negative net returns.

By contrast, Asia-Pacific experienced a 3.9 per cent rise as the ultra wealthy in certain markets continued to benefit from dynamic business expansion and economic growth.

While the wealthiest individuals experienced the most success across all geographic regions, not every country is experiencing the same rise (Wealth-X)

Australia experienced the biggest decline in ultra wealthy individuals of any developed economy, with the number slipping by almost 31 per cent last year - largely attributed to the fact that China, one if its main trading partners, is experiencing an economic slowdown.

Russia also saw its wealthy population drop, slipping by nearly 13 per cent to 1,075 individuals who have $30 million or more in assets.

Meanwhile in the Americas, it was Latin America, rather than North America, that helped the region achieve a modest 1.5 per cent growth in ultra wealth value.

The report also revealed the rise is not equal across the sexes, with men experiencing an increase in wealth while the share of ultra wealthy female individuals has dropped.

While the female UHNW population remained steady at 13 per cent, their share of total UHNW wealth fell from 14 per cent to 11 per cent, while by contrast UHNW male wealth increased 2.4 per cent.

The findings also indicated how the wealth of the wealthiest is accumulated. In two out of three cases, wealth was found it be purely self-made rather than inherited, in a transfer of wealth that has seen a growing class of second-generation ultra wealthy emerge.

Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Show all 10 1 /10 Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Bill Gates - $75 bn The creator of Microsoft is worth $78 billion. He has topped the list for 17 out of the past 22 years - though his net worth shrank by $4.2bn (3bn) to $75bn (53.7bn). Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Amancio Ortega - $67 bn The Spanish business who set up the Zara chain of high-street shops is worth $67 billion. REUTERS/ AP Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Warren Buffet - $60.8 bn Warren buffet is the world's most successful investor. Forbes rates him as being worth $60.8 billion. Getty Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Carlos Slim Helu - $50 bn Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecom magnate, is this years biggest loser with a fortune of $50 billion, down from $77.1 billion last year. Getty Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Jeff Bezos - $45.2 bn Amazons Jeff Bezos moved up to the fifth from the fifteenth spot last year; his net worth increased to $45.2 billion. Getty Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Mark Zuckerberg - $44.6 bn The biggest gainer on the 2016 list is Mark Zuckerberg , whose fortune is up $11.2 billion for a total net worth of $44.6 billion. He is the sixth richest in the world. Getty Images Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Larry Ellison - $43.6 bn The American entrepreneur has a fortune of $43.6 billion Bloomberg Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Michael Bloomberg - $40 bn Michael Bloomberg, whose media and financial empire has created a personal fortune of $40 bn, is said to be willing to spend up to $1bn on a presidential campaign AP Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Charles Koch and David Koch - $39.6 bn Charles Koch, along with brother David Koch of Koch Industries are joint sixth and are valued at $39.6 billion. Forbes top 10 richest billionaires in the world Liliane Bettencourt - $36.1 bn Liliane Bettencourt is the heir to the LOreal empire Getty Images

Yet wealth continues to rise generation by generation. The under-30 demographic accounts for just one per cent of the worlds ultra wealthy population and 0.3 per cent of global UHNW wealth, while UHNW individuals aged 80 or over are seven times wealthier and worth nearly double that of the average UHNW individual globally.

This rise in riches among the world's richest is set to continue. According to the report, by 2020 UHNW wealth is expected to grow to $46.2 trillion (35.7 trillion) at a compound annual growth rate of nine per cent.

Collated with dossiers curated by Wealth-X, the World Ultra Wealth Report contains detailed analysis of the wealthiest individuals in the world with a focus on geography, lifestyle, social networks, philanthropic behaviors, motivations and legacy.
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As Britain grapples with how to handle Brexit, the debate from top politicians is becoming confused and incoherent. At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool the organisers refused to hold a debate on Brexit, the most importance political topic of the day. They feared exposing Jeremy Corbyns incoherences on Europe  in favour of unrestrained free movement but opposed to the Single Market and competition policy  would lead to yet more mockery.

Some pro-European Labour MPs are now backing an end to the four key EU freedoms of movement  of goods, capital, services and citizens  by calling for work permits and managed migration. They are dubbed Red Ukip and add to the confusion around how to respond to Brexit.

Now Scotlands First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, steps forward to add her own message at the annual conference of the Institute of Directors. She told delegate that Brexit was born of inequality, of feelings of powerlessness, of austerity budgets.

The idea that austerity equals anti-European votes is fast becoming an accepted cliche on the part of those politicians and opinion-formers, especially on the left, who will not accept their own share of responsibility for the 23 June vote. Other countries with no record of austerity, such as Switzerland or Sweden, have also had plebiscite votes against Europe in recent years.

 Sturgeon on Scotland & Brexit

But the main message of the Brexit campaign was to take back control from an outside body. This is precisely the line Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP have promoted for years about Scotland  namely, that Scots should wrest control from the external power with too much sway over the Scottish nation: the United Kingdom and London.

Substitute the European Union and Brussels for the UK and Westminster and the SNP rhetoric matches that of Tory-Ukip nationalists saying freedom requires divorce from our neighbours. Arguably the UK is a prototype European Union of four nations  England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland  with full rights of movement, residence and even voting afforded to all citizens of a foreign republic, Ireland.

All her political life, Sturgeon has brandished the narrow nationalism of separation from the union of the European offshore nations on the western edge of the continent. She has proclaimed that Scotland will thrive economically free of the shackles of union with its neighbours.

There are no single causes for the Brexit vote. Certainly many working class voters felts let down by the financerisation of the economy promoted by Gordon Brown and sustained by George Osborne. But Ukip and the anti-EU campaign were funded by wealthy Mayfair and City hedge funds and spread-betters. Big money and the offshore-owned press constructed a political project which won once David Cameron gave way to the Ukip demand for a plebiscite.

It tapped into deep atavisms of prejudice, strong in English politics since the days of Enoch Powell, and above all Brexit took the most powerful force in politics since the French Revolution  a cry of the Nation uber Alles  as the only hope for salvation from an external force.

In this, the Tory-UKIP Brexiteers had only to read the playbook written by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to win.

Denis MacShane is the former Labour minister for Europe. He is the author of 'Brexit: How Britain left Europe', published by IB Tauris
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Watching them both yacking on about the Middle East as a pink dawn glowed from behind the Lebanese mountains above Beirut, I found the Trump-Clinton show a grimly instructive experience. In the few hundred miles east and south of Lebanon, hundreds are dying every week  in Syria, in Yemen, in Iraq  and yet there were the terrible twins playing I can beat Isis better than you can beat Isis. Was this what the Arab world really meant to the reality show participants at the unpronounceable university campus on Long Island?

What was it Trump said to Clinton? Youve been fighting Isis your entire adult life! And what did Clinton say? Well at least I have a plan to fight Isis! After an hour, I was praying that the Lebanese slept on amid the mountains. Please God there would be electricity cuts in Aleppo and Baghdad and Sanaa  just for these 90 minutes, you understand  so that the people enduring the Middle East tragedy did not witness how the next US president was using their homelands as a movie back-lot.

He has no plan to defeat Isis, quoth Madame Clinton. But does anyone? Its a pity, for example, that they didnt outline plans for justice, freedom and dignity in the Middle East and an end to the policy of bombing, bombing, bombing and more bombing that now seems to equal political initiative in the Arab world. But of course they did not, for all this was slotted into the last bit of the CNN show, the climax which was  wearingly and predictably  entitled American security.

There was a very brief mention by Trump of Bibi Netanyahu that must have left many American viewers completely floored  save for those supporters of Israel to whom, of course, it was addressed  but that was all we heard about another small conflict in the Middle East. Cliche and banality rubbed up against each other. Clinton claimed that Obama had stopped those centrifuges that were whirling away in Iran  Im not sure that centrifuges do whirl, though Clinton may have been talking about the whirling dervishes who also live in the region. And then Trump came up with his apple pie throwaway.

The Middle East is a total mess, and Iran would soon be a major power  as if Iran was not already a major power in the region, as it has been for around 3,000 years. But what particular mess was he talking about? The mess in the hospitals of eastern Aleppo? The mess of Egypts civil rights  though I do suspect that Brigadier-General-President al-Sissis version would rather appeal to Trump  or the mess left behind by the bombing of the Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Afghanistan? Or perhaps the mess of Palestine  another word that mercifully was not dwelt upon by the duo who both plan to rule America? Didnt Bibi mention that to Trump? Or the mess of Nato, whose killing of Serbs (and quite a few Kosovo Muslims) in 1999 was followed by the Alliances support for the Afghan war but which, according to Trump, does not focus on terror?

 Trump says Clinton has been 'fighting Isis her entire adult life'

We have to knock the hell out of Isis  and we have to do it fast, the great man told the world. Well, sure, but havent we all been knocking the hell out of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, even Lebanon (a few years ago), and achieving the constant rebirth of ever more vicious warriors, of which Isis  heaven spare us the thought  may soon generate another, even worse progeny? Trump apparently believed that Isis would not exist if Obama had left 10,000 US troops in Iraq  a strategy Isis would surely have applauded  while Clinton moaned on about how the Iraqi government would not protect American troops.

And there you have it, I suppose. It is the Arab worlds job, isnt it, to protect America in its various military occupations, or  at the very least  the task (yes, this old chestnut was indeed produced) of our friends in the Middle East. And who were they, I wondered? Those fantastic Saudis who gave us 15 of the 9/11 hijackers? About the only nonsense left unuttered by Trump and Clinton was that Isis was born outside the United States. There they would have been on safe ground. Or would they? For I suspect there may be a growing number of Arabs who believe that Isis is indeed a child born in America.
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In a world on nodding terms with sanity, that surely would be that. After a gruesomely electrifying, barely moderated first presidential debate, you could stick a fork in Donald Trump in the certain knowledge that his juices would run clear, and give thanks that America will overcome its distaste for Hillary Clinton and make her its 45th President.

But right now, lest this has escaped you, it is by no means a sane world. No world in which Trump is quoted at shorter odds to reach the White House than the Road Runner, Elmer Fudd, Muttley, Mr Magoo or any other cartoon character can be considered that. So often have rumours of his political death proved exaggerated that to write the obituary again risks stretching that Einsteinian definition of madness beyond breaking point. He could recover yet again.

But God alone knows how. Trump was absolutely slaughtered in the early hours of today, partly by his own capacious buffoonery, and in part by a Hillary Clinton who started slowly but ended up owning the terracotta grifter and the very underpants he walked in.

For the first 10 or 15 minutes she was tense and unfocused, on the defensive. But once the nervousness lifted, a smile played almost incessantly at the corners of her mouth as she slew both the malicious rumours about her health and her opponent. While she grew in strength the longer it went it was Trump, who does like to question her stamina, who visibly tired. She looked far younger than her 68 years (hats off to the make-up artist). He looked every moment and more of his 70.

 The First US Presidential Debate - in 90 seconds

While you might draw the same conclusion from the verbal exchanges, as in fact I will, the optics made a compelling case. Not once in 90 minutes did she cough or touch her water. Red-eyed and snifflier than a cokehead at a white pepper festival, Trump relentlessly sipped his.

Radiating authorative stillness, Hillary smiled him to destruction. She grinned at him like an irked but indulgent aunt, while he gurned and fidgeted like a bored and bad tempered schoolboy.

People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit!  Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone'

She looked like she belonged on a banknote. He looked like he belonged in detention.

With any debate, you can no more overstate the importance of the visual messaging than a candidates ability or otherwise to beat expectations. Hillary soared above her caricature as an ailing, humourless virago. She even got more laughs than Trump, who married unusual witlessness (every crack at a zinger fell flat) to the familiar rambling ignorance.

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Trump said so much that was false, stupid and grotesque that it seems invidious to choose a winner. Reminded that he had looked forward to the imminent 2008 crash, which cost some eight million Americans their homes, because it would help him buy property cheaply, he said thats called business, by the way.

When she suggested he wont publish his tax returns because they would show him avoiding all federal taxes, he brazenly observed that makes me smart. When Hillary accused him of stiffing his hotel contractors for their money, he shrugged insouciantly.

If we absolutely must pick a champion from a crowded field of braggardly foolishness, the laurels should probably go to the brag about ending the Birther fantasy he peddled for years  and would continued to peddle for years  by forcing Barack Obama to release his birth certificate. The giggle she just about suppressed then erupted later, when he cited his temperament as his greatest presidential asset. The chuckle seemed as lethal to Trump as his own mesmerising inability to articulate a coherent thought. His sentences were bamboozling hybrids in which one half-expressed idea collided with another. He spoke like the winner of one of those beauty pageants Hillary archly mentioned that he likes to hang around.

 First presidential debate - Inside the spin room

After more than a year as a candidate, it was plain that Trump had made no more effort to educate himself on the detail of domestic and geopolitical issues than to jettison the racism and sexism that were the fuel injectors for his insurgency.

Whether his indolence is more or less staggering than his arrogance is as close a call as this election appeared before this debate. But it is hard to believe that this transparent huckster can recover from being dismantled by Hillary on so many fronts, among them his references to women as pigs, dogs and  in the case of someone Clinton took the trouble to name  Miss Housekeeping (purely because she was Latina).

Hard, but not impossible. Every instinct screams that even now, with two more debates to come, the combination of Hillarys wry competence and an an angry, outclassed Trumps cluelessness has settled this race. But writing after a long, draining, sleepless night in which much malt whisky was taken for the nerves, I must acknowledge the perils of wishful thinking. There is a chance that the terror of a Trump presidency influences the judgement.

But sod it. Lets show a little faith in the sense and sanity of our cousins across the Atlantic and make a prediction. If it comes to make me look an idiot yet again, so be it.

To what extent she won it, and he threw it away, is a matter of perspective. But by any objective measure, Hillary gave Trump such an elegantly vicious hiding today that it will be she who takes the oath to defend the Constitution on 20 January next year.
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Just about the only thing Hillary Clinton didnt accuse Donald Trump of at the debate on Monday night was rank laziness. He was a racist, he was a dissembler, he was a misogynist.

Mr Trump apparently prepared for the first of three presidential debates precisely as everyone had suspected he had - hardly at all. What he did do, was use the occasion to rehash the themes he offers his supporters at rallies on the debate trail.

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That, he did well. He gave it to her arguably most effectively on trade policy, declaring that the NAFTA treaty signed by your husband in 1993 "was one of the worst. He charged her with having been asleep at the wheel when Isis began its rampage across Iraq and Syria.

Those already determined to vote for him will have glowed in front of their television sets. For a moment in the early running, it almost looked like he was going to pull off a presidential, restrained version of himself. He was a little vivid describing the crime crisis afflicting cities like Chicago, but vivid and visceral has worked for Mr Trump thus far. For the most part.

People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit!  Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone'

The country is a mess, American foreign policy is a mess and Ms Clinton, who has been part of the establishment running it for the last thirty years, was thus responsible. And when Ms Clinton talked earnestly about the economy and tried to coin a phrase about Trumped-Up Trickle Down economic policy, its doubtful it stuck with many viewers.

But what was happening was actually something slightly different. Ms Clinton was deliberately letting Trump be Trump, in the certain knowledge that she would soon be able to dangle bait before him and that he would take it and from thereon out he wouuld start to veer off the rails. Which is exactly what happened. A Trump train crash indeed ensued.

That does assume, of course, that he had a script for the debate. But that seems doubtful, since he failed to say a word about the Clinton Foundation and the alleged conflict of interest that donations to it posed for Ms Clinton when she was Secretary of State - a favourite topic for many of his supporters - and allowed the email controversy to slip by in a matter of moments.

Ms Clinton, by contrast, came to Hofstra University understanding that this was her chance to advertise the long list of allegations against Mr Trump that have been plastered over the mainstream front pages for weeks but which many voters havent been paying attention to.

She raised his history of failing to pay contractors. She hit him on his four bankruptcies. She absolutely let him have it on comments he has made about women. This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, she said.

She even told a not-heard-before story of a one-time competitor in one of his beauty pageants whom he allegedly called "Ms Housekeeping" because she was Mexican. Ms Clinton knew that that woman had since won American citizenship. She named her and, added smartly, you can bet you she is going to vote this November. He was peeved. "Where did you find that? Where did you find that," he asked, attempting to interrupt her as he had throughout the night.

She was so prepared. Which, in a way had worried her advisors before. Would she appear like an automaton? Possibly, she smiled a bit too much. Possibly, she came across as condescending.

But if he had spent just a few hours preparing, he would have seen the worst moments of the debate coming. She pushed his buttons, and every time he reacted. He huffed and sighed and look grim. He repeatedly found himself on the defensive. He relied on his talent for blurting statements of alleged fact, that on their face sounded daft. That included the flat-out assertion that she does not have the stamina to be president, a claim he loves to make on the trail. As soon as he travels to 112 countries...then he can talk to me about stamina, she responded, to applause.

He said he knew the questions about his refusal to release his tax returns would come, yet his attempts to explain it away were tortuous. There's something he's hiding, she declared. He even replied to her claim that he hadnt paid federal taxes for years that that proved he was a good businessman. That makes me smart.

And he allowed himself to get drawn deep into the weeds over his record of being the leader of the birther movement attempting to delegitmise Barack Obama as the first black president.

Woo, OK, was the reaction of Ms Clinton when he, in a particularly colourful rant, made the point both about stamina and then attempted to tell a story about witnessing her once losing her temper which, he said, proved she didn't have the temperament to be president. "I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament. I have a winning temperament, he said - drawning laughter in the hall. But she did not take the bait. Instead she used the attack to turn it back on him about his temperament if he is to become commander-in-chief.

A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes, she said.

The test of his temperament will come when the two meet for a second debate on 7 October. He told reporters afterwards that he was proud that he had resisted bringing up the marital problems of the Clintons and the infidelity record of Bill Clinton. It sounded like he regretted not having done so. If he wants to be president he had better resist slinging that out there next time. And he had better prepare himself. Because she surely will.
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Its become an all too regular occurrence, waking up to headlines reporting that anti-Semitism in the Labour party is now an endemic problem, and that bad feeling against Jewish people in the party is on an upward trajectory.

As a Jewish Labour Party member, they are stories that should have me alarmed. I know from experience just how dangerous anti-Semitism can really be: vast swathes of my ancestors were lost to the murderous hands of the Nazis, and observant Jewish friends of mine have been harassed and attacked on British streets. Ive read the slurs, faced the trolls, had neo-Nazis shout abuse in my face.

And yet its not just anger against bigots that hits as I scan story after story, but frustration towards those trying to use an all too real threat facing my community for their own political gain. Since Corbyns election as Labour leader, unsupportive MPs, campaigning groups and journalists have been desperate to paint him and the movement who support him as anti-Semitic fanatics, despite knowing its really not the case.

I could tell you about my own experiences, how Ive never experienced or witnessed anti-Semitism inside the party  but thats just what Ive seen, non-Jewish defenders of my religion will claim. My experiences, and those of countless other Corbyn-supporting Jewish members who Ive spoken to, arent reflective of whats really going on, apparently.

Just a few months ago, I found myself sat in the Channel 4 News studio, tasked with discussing anti-Semitism under Corbyn. Sat opposite me was John Woodcock MP, desperate to tell me its the hard-left who are associated [with] Soviet Russia with anti-Semitic views infiltrating the party who were responsible for stirring up hatred.

Now, we only need look at the most high-profile of cases to see that anti-Semitism is by no means a product of Corbyns supporters. Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West, was rightly suspended for sharing anti-Semitic posts on Facebook, not a Corbynite but a backer of Yvette Cooper in the last leadership election. Ken Livingstone, similarly sanctioned for his remarks about Hitler, has been a party grandee for decades. An insurgent? I think not.

Woodcock pointed me towards a rise in anti-Semitic incidents within the party, without having a single statistic or figure to back it up. Its an answer I hear time and time again, and for those of us  Jewish or otherwise  committed to fighting anti-Semitism, enough is enough.

Its tiring and its frustrating, but moreover its frankly dangerous.

For years now Ive travelled across the UK to report from far-right, fascist and neo-Nazi rallies, and the counter-demonstrations that take place alongside. Ive seen the real threat that faces Jews in the country, those who profess hatred for Jews and our religion, who wear swastikas as badges of honour, wholl salute like a Nazi in front of your face. Where was your concern for my community then?

 Jeremy Corbyn's campaign team tackle accusations of antisemitism

Its not just the distinct absence of those MPs in Labour who now claim to be at the forefront of the fight against anti-Jewish prejudice thats striking, but the presence of those they now claim to be British Jewrys biggest threat.

Its the left, and Corbyns supporters, whove put their bodies on the line time and time again to protect us from these racist organisations.

Thats why these cries of anti-Semitism make a mockery of a real and present danger. Corbyns commitment to fighting discrimination and prejudice has been well documented for decades. His supporters are those whove stood alongside him. Accusing these people now of peddling prejudice is nothing but political point-scoring at its worst. It undermines real hatred, and waters down the impact of calling out anti-Semitism when it rears its ugly head.

Im not saying Labour members havent experienced anti-Semitism inside the Labour Party, and of course, a progressive movement like Labour should hold itself to higher standards than other organisations. Those few who blindly label all incidents of anti-Semitism as anti-Corbyn slander and restrictions on critiquing Israel need to listen to the voices of victims and let conversations about Judaism and Israel be led by Jewish members: we are here and we know how to speak.

The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Show all 11 1 /11 The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He called Hezbollah and Hamas friends True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups friends after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be part of the debate for the Middle East peace process. I use (the word friends) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk, he added. Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. Reuters The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyns original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is haunted by the legacy of his evil great-great-grandfather False. A Daily Express expose revealed that the Labour leaders ancestor, James Sargent, was the despotic master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about pigeon bombs in Parliament This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled pigeon bombs, proposing that the House register being appalled but barely surprised that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: The House believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. It was not carried. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He rides a Communist bicycle False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a Chairman Mao-style bicycle earlier this year. Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao, he later joked. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn 'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews' False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a rumour passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Ricas move to abolish it armed forces. Wouldnt it be wonderful if every politician around the worldabolished the army and took pride in the fact that they dont have an army, he added. The caveat that every politician must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He missed the induction into the Queens privy council True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyns republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem. Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials respect in the proper way, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese True. The group lists its purpose as the following: To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers.

This isnt to say I dont value the concern, but I want to make a few things perfectly clear. Anti-Semitism is not a problem particular to Labour; using the words Judaism and Israel interchangeably is just as (if not more) common on the right as on the left.

Oppression, discrimination and Jewish identity are complex; the relationship between our religion and the state of Israel is constantly debated; disagreements will happen inside our community. Let us lead these discussions. Dont quickly take sides simply to advance your faction, angle or personal interests.

And if youre truly concerned about fighting racism and anti-Semitism, I look forward to seeing you stand alongside us in meetings and on the streets.
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We live not so much in the age of the robots as in the age of worrying about the robots.

New books and think pieces proliferate about the threat to the worlds workers from the twin forces of digitisation and automation.

The shadow Chancellor John McDonnell this week has cited new technology as a reason why his party is looking closely at a Universal Basic Income.

The Bank of Englands chief economist, Andy Haldane, last year suggested that 15m British jobs could be automated.

Such is the buzz around the subject that one half expects to arrive at the office one morning to find C-3PO sitting there, typing away and answering the phone.

Yet the actual evidence of the rise of the job-taking machines is patchy and, in some respects, considerably overblown.

A much-cited study by two academics, Carl Frey and Michael Osborne, suggesting 47 per cent of jobs in the US economy are at risk of automation has been challenged.

According to an OECD report the figure is more like 9 per cent for advanced economies.

Driverless car technology is advancing fast and we have app technologies such as Uber that threaten a traditional industry. But take a step back and theres very little evidence on an aggregate level of robots and computers yet displacing flesh and blood humans on any kind of scale.

The UK employment rate is at a record high. In France, Spain, Italy and Greece unemployment rates are painfully elevated; but that is due to catastrophic macroeconomic policies from European governments, not robots nabbing the jobs.

The US adult workplace participation rate has been falling since the turn of the millennium for reasons that economists dont understand. But theres really no compelling reason to think automation is a major culprit.

As was once said of computers, one can see the robot revolution everywhere except in the official statistics. Theres a bizarre quality, not only to the prevalent anxiety about something that hasnt even started to happen yet, but also to the fretting itself.

Scrape away the sci-fi tropes and robotisation is simply another way of increasing our productivity (the time it takes to produce a given amount of economic output).

There is no substantive difference between robotisation and the invention of the wheel, the spinning jenny, the steam engine or the personal computer: these are all human inventions that boosted our productivity and shifted the shape of society.

As John Maynard Keynes pointed out in the 1930s, these technological developments are the means by which mankind is gradually solving our economic problem of needing to toil, often in unpleasant or boring jobs, to ensure mere survival. Robots displacing human labour isnt the problem: its the whole point.

Theres another curiosity. Some economists are pessimistic because they think our current era of economic growth driven by technological advances is over (at least for now) and that is why productivity growth across the world has been so lacklustre in recent years.

Yet the robot worriers are pessimistic because they think precisely the opposite: that we are on the cusp of another industrial revolution and an explosion in productivity. Do they really think stagnation would be preferable? Indeed one might look at the flatlining of productivity and lament that humans are taking all the robots jobs.

So are we foolish to worry? Not entirely. While its true that, historically, technological advances have tended to lift living standards and opportunities for all, there have also been strains in the transitions (sometimes prolonged or violent strains).

And its not inconceivable automation could exacerbate income inequality if the economic fruits from new technology accumulate in the wallets of a privileged minority, rather than being broadly shared.

A socially destabilising glut of frustrated and surplus human workers  a wealth of humans in the title of one new book by the journalist Ryan Avent  seems unlikely given how history has unfolded until now, with new types of jobs created at each stage of development. But its not impossible.

This is one of the reasons why the case for a universal basic income is being pushed, and not only by old-school left-wingers like McDonnell. It may be necessary to go down that road. But then again it may not.

There is a danger that supposedly looming robotisation is used to justify redistributive economic policies that really ought to be considered on their merits given the state of technology and society as it currently exists, not as it might be in some unknowable future.

Another danger is that robotisation is presented, rather like globalisation is sometimes presented, as an inexorable economic force before which political leaders are helpless; that robotisation becomes a kind of excuse for the economic outcomes we have in our societies, despite the fact those outcomes could be ameliorated by adopting a different suite of policies on tax, investment and redistribution.

If we are unhappy with the shape of our societies and the opportunities for human flourishing that they offer (or dont offer), then the fact is we always retain the power to change things. Lets not fall into the trap of lazily blaming C-3PO.
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These days, its confusing to know what I, as a woman, should wear. Im not talking about the struggle of deciding whether to go for denim cut-offs or a floral dress, or about keeping my outfit weather-appropriate. No, thats a relatively simple task. What Im talking about are the politics that now surround almost every other sartorial choice a woman can make  the kind of politics that have seen Paris create a designated space for naked people while, elsewhere in France, women are arrested on their beaches for wearing the wrong kind of beachwear.

Its ingrained in pretty much every woman that she has to toe the line with her dress anyway, lest she be seen as a slut or too conservative and frumpy; that she should wear just the right amount of barely there make-up so she looks pretty but not overdone and try-hard, while avoiding the insult that she doesnt make an effort with her appearance. Oh, and nowadays, of course, if she wears Islamic dress, then she must be oppressed and in want of liberation from the clothes that cover her body. Cue the burkini police.

Photographs showing armed French police asking women to remove their burkinis swamped our newsfeeds this summer. The two-piece sportswear, which is made up of a headscarf and long-sleeved tunic, and which is preferred by some Muslim women, is not too dissimilar to wetsuits regularly warn by surfers. The religious connotations of the burkini, however, mean that it has become acceptable for women enjoying themselves on French beaches to be publicly shamed, humiliated and ordered to strip in front of armed police.

It will come as a kick in the teeth to the women who were forced out of their clothes across beaches in France this summer that a nudist park in Paris has been approved, because the rights of those who would rather eschew their clothes must be respected. The park, which could open as nearly as next year, is likely be located on the outskirts of the city  in either the Bois de Boulogne or the Bois de Vincennes areas  in what has been described as a regulated setting with no threat to public order.

In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Jenny Dawkins, a curate from All Saints Church in Peckham, at an anti-burkini ban protest at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans PA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Somayia Khan's six-year-old daughter at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Friends Rebecca (L) and Hannah (R) at a protest against burkini bans at the French Embassy in London on 25 August Lizzie Dearden In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans Reuters In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London Demonstrators stage a beach party outside the French Embassy, in Knightsbridge, London, in protest against burkini bans AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London People participate in a 'Wear what you want beach party' protest outside of the French Embassy in London EPA In pictures: Protest against burkini bans in London A protester holds a sign which reads "Are you Burkini Beach Body Ready?" as she lies on a beach towel outside the French Embassy in London on August 25, 2016, AFP/Getty Images

The hypocrisy is absurd. A strict form of secularism known as laicite is enshrined in French law and has been the basis of previous French bans on headscarfs in state schools and the face-covering niqab in public. Many in France argue that the burkini is oppressive to women, epitomising patriarchal control over their bodies, and therefore can be banned in the name of freedom from coercion. But the very act of banning the dress is in itself coercion. Headscarves, niqabs and burkinis are not compulsory in Islam; they are a simple matter of clothing choice for some Muslims.

What the planned opening of Paris nudist park shows is that it is clearly perfectly okay to wear no clothes at all but if you dare to cover yourself up in the wrong way, you face arrest. It tells women that liberte, egalite, fraternite doesnt actually always apply to them, because theyre damned if they do and damned if they dont.

Its about time that this notion of freedom of expression, something that France holds as a sacred value, actually applied to all people  women included  and not just an exclusive, predominantly male, few. Ceasing to police what women can and cannot wear would be a good place to start.
The Labour Party is among the political parties campaigning to repeal the eighth amendment

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has denied that a committee which is examining the ban on abortion has been designed to impose further restrictions on terminations.

The contentious issue was raised as six TDs from the Anti Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit group wore black sweaters with the Repeal slogan in the first Dail session of the new term.

Socialist Party member Ruth Coppinger accused the Taoiseach of continually avoiding the subject and said she had concerns that the Citizens' Assemby had been pre-determined.

"We can win a repeal of the eighth amendment without any further restriction, which is what I fear has been cooked up to be put into the constitution in terms of restrictive legislation or an amendment to the eighth amendment," she said.

The Citizens' Assembly, chaired by Supreme Court Judge Mary Laffoy, meets on October 15 in the Grand Hotel in Malahide, Dublin, with all hearings being streamed online.

The other 99 members were chosen at random and their views on abortion were not known in advance.

The assembly will hold a number of public hearings on the issue of abortion and is expected to hear from experts and interested groups before the judge files a report to the Oireachtas next year.

The Taoiseach insisted: "I want to assure you that there's nothing being cooked up here.

"This is a very straightforward democratic exercise in selection of 99 citizens to give their view.

"And their view may well be divided, may well be divisive, I don't know, but I look forward to the engagement and the contributions that they may make."

A large protest was held in Dublin last Saturday in favour of a repeal of the eighth amendment to the constitution, which bans abortion by recognising the right to life of the unborn as equal to the right to life of the mother.

Estimated numbers marching ranged from 20,000 to 30,000.

Ms Coppinger said the supporters were predominantly young people who want an end to the policing of women's bodies.

"There's nothing normal about this. There's nothing normal about putting anything about abortion or putting anything about women's health in the constitution," she said.

"There's only one other country that I'm aware of that does that and that's Chile which was done under a murderous military dictator called General Pinochet."

Ms Coppinger also claimed that 165,000 women had to travel out of Ireland for an abortion during the Taoiseach's 40-year Dail career.

"I'm asking you in what could be one of your final acts as Taoiseach, I'm asking you to break a pattern that we've seen over four decades in the Dail of you being on the more backward, conservative side," she said.

Ms Coppinger said the church and state should stay out of personal decisions.

A pregnancy can be terminated under the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act if there is a risk to a woman's life, including from suicide.

The procedure can involve a medical or surgical termination or an early delivery by induction or Caesarean section to deliver the baby.

Figures from the Health Service Executive showed 26 terminations were carried out under the legislation in 2014 and the same number again in 2015.

In both years, 14 arose from a risk to the life of the mother from physical illness, three in relation to suicide and nine following emergencies arising from physical illness.
Ireland's attractiveness to global companies is likely to be boosted as result of Brexit, the head of the State's debt management agency has said.

National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) chief executive Conor O'Kelly said that if the UK was to continue to "isolate itself", Ireland could benefit.

It came as sterling traded near a five-week low amid mounting concerns from investors that the UK government will stick to a hard line over the Brexit negotiations. Mr O'Kelly told Bloomberg TV that the implications of the vote are "profound", but suggested Ireland could benefit.

"The advantages of Ireland as a multinational and FDI destination .. [with] access to European markets, good demographics, well educated workforce, they're likely to be amplified I think," Mr O'Kelly said.

"If Britain were to continue to isolate itself, Ireland's natural advantage as a global hub or a centre for European industries, not just financial, could be very significant."

Mr O'Kelly said Brexit was a very big issue for Ireland, given the close economic relationship between Ireland and the UK. "I think probably in the short term, you're seeing lower sterling, it will hurt exporters, it will hurt the tourism industry, but Ireland is a very adaptable, flexible economy.

"We've been trading with Boston, Berlin, Birmingham for a long term and we're a very open economy," he added.

A survey by consultancy group KPMG at the weekend found that three-quarters of British company bosses are considering moving operations abroad following the vote to leave the European Union.

Meanwhile, the euro was worth almost 87 pence yesterday and around $1.29. Sterling was knocked down late on Thursday after British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he expected formal divorce proceedings between Britain and the EU to begin early next year.

Mr Johnson said that two years may not be needed to negotiate a deal. Yesterday sterling was down 0.2pc at $1.2947.

"The comments from Johnson around the timeframe for Article 50 to be invoked and that the Brexit negotiations do not need to take two years have had a detrimental impact on sterling," said Jameel Ahmad, chief market analyst at FXTM.
Concerns are mounting in the beef sector as Brexit currency pressures and surging supplies of finished cattle threaten to pull prices.

Despite a huge shift to finishing animals at a younger age and lighter weights, Bord Bia estimates that there are an extra 31,000 head of cattle coming on stream this autumn.

Extra supplies are likely to put prices under pressure, especially when the impact of a weaker sterling is factored in.

The latest figures from the UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) show that Irish beef exports slumped by 20pc in July as British processors there took advantage of cheaper local supplies.

"Prices have gone through the roof here since the Brexit vote," said the AHDB's beef and sheep analyst Debbie Butcher, referring to the 14pc increase in British beef prices since the June referendum. However, she believes that British consumers will never want to see Brazilian steaks replacing Irish product on their supermarket shelves.

"The British consumer still sees Irish beef as local and coming from a system that is familiar to them. It's effectively viewed as a British product," she said.

Currency changes

However, with a 15pc devaluation in sterling over the last three months, Ms Butcher said that getting Irish product into the British market was all about "competitive positioning" and lowering the price to reflect the currency changes.

The currency pressures come at a time when the massive increase in calves from the expanding dairy herd is starting to filter through.

While older cattle aged from 24-36 months are down 44,000, those aged 12-24 months are up 140,000.

"There are more cattle out there and we're seeing that on a week-to-week basis, there's around 1,500 to 2,000 more in the kill, that will probably hold for the next little while because there is more cattle around," said Bord Bia's beef sector manager Mark Zieg.

"Live exports are down 25pc this year so there are more cattle staying in the country.

"Irish buyers are outbidding the export buyers so we have a lot of those cattle on the ground that are going to come through the kill," he said.

"Live exports are down 25pc this year so there is more cattle staying in the country. Irish buyers are outbidding the export buyers so we have a lot of those cattle on the ground that are going to come through the kill," he said.

However, he doesn't anticipate a huge flood of cattle by Christmas and he added that live exports to Turkey will relieve some pressure.

"That's probably a steadying influence, there's not going to be too many cattle around if we can get those 2,000 head off every couple of weeks," he said.

Mr Zieg believes opening up China, and other Asian markets, and the US market for manufacturing beef is needed. "We're definitely going to have more cattle in the system next year. It really depends on so many other factors and what is happening elsewhere in Europe," he said, noting that weanling exports to Italy have bounced by 17pc so far this year.
Property development firm Sherman Oaks - now a wholly-owned unit of Sean Mulryan's Ballymore group - is still in talks with US private equity giant Lone Star regarding its funding status.

The company's latest set of accounts reveal that the negotiations regarding ongoing funding are continuing.

Sherman Oaks' loans were part of the 'Project Clear' portfolio sold last December by Ulster Bank. That saw loans with a total par value of 2bn sold for just over 500m. The loans were acquired by Cairn Homes in conjunction with a Lone Star fund, LSREF IV Clear.

Cairn paid 378m to the deal, and Lone Star paid 125m. Over 90pc of the lands connected with the loan portfolio are in Dublin.
UK banks are already weighing up a move to Dublin following Britain's decision to leave the European Union, Central Bank governor Professor Philip Lane has said.

Brexit may diminish London's attractiveness as a financial hub and a number of institutions are exploring a move to the Irish capital.

Mr Lane told Bloomberg that there has to be a level of relocation following the referendum result but the amount of movement would be dependent on the UK's exit negotiations.

The UK has to decide what its asking for and the EU has to respond to that request, Mr Lane said. The Central Bank chief also said Ireland is looking for a "win win" scenario with both the UK and the EU.

Mr Lane also said the institutions are not in decision-making mode yet, but are simply doing research on the capital. He also said the bank will have sufficient staff to deal with an influx of financial institutions from the UK.

"Of course it will be a challenge, but if new business comes along, we will be able to staff up to deal with it," Prof Lane said.
Irish oil and gas firm Providence Resources has appointed Pat Plunkett as non-executive chairman, replacing James McCarthy who will stay on as a non-executive director.

Mr Plunkett, who will take up his new role on October 1, previously spent 11 years as a non-executive chairman in Tullow Oil. During his time there Tullow grew from a small firm to Africa's largest independent oil company.

He currently holds the same job at T5 Oil and Gas, a private company set up three years ago focused on acquiring oil and fas assets in Africa and the Middle East.

Providence chief executive Tony O'Reilly said Mr Plunkett is joining the firm at an exciting stage.

"Pat requires no introduction in the E&P sector and we very much look forward to benefiting from the extensive knowledge and experience that Pat will offer as we move forward with our very exciting programme offshore Ireland.

The company also announced that Phil Nolan would retire from the board from October 1. Mr Nolan had previously been a non-executive director since 2004.

Mr O'Reilly paid tribute to Mr Noland and Mr McCarthy.

On behalf of the whole team at Providence, Id like to extend our sincere thanks to James who has helped guide the company through a very difficult period from late 2015 through mid-2016, which culminated in the very successful re-capitalisation of the business in July 2016.

"The board is pleased that James has agreed to remain as a non-executive director and that we will have continued access to his valuable counsel. Id also like to express our great appreciation to Phil Nolan for the significant contribution he has made to the board during his tenure."
Traders work at their desks in front of the German share price index, DAX board, at the stock exchange in Frankfurt

Stocks almost erased their monthly advance yesterday as Deutsche Bank sank on speculation it will need to raise capital. Bonds climbed as traders awaited last night's US presidential debate.

Financial companies dragged down global equities after reports that the German government wouldn't step in to back the nation's largest lender, fuelling investor concern about its finances.

All the anxiety over capital buffers put European banks in the spotlight at a time when the region's economy has been sending mixed signals.

While a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters there are "no grounds" for speculation over state funding for Deutsche Bank, the International Monetary Fund said in June that the lender may be the biggest contributor to systemic risk among the world's largest financial companies.

"The negative implications of what's happening at Deutsche Bank are weighing on sentiment," said Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles.

In Ireland, the ISEQ Overall Index slumped 1.44pc to 6,021.

Unsurprisingly, Bank of Ireland got caught up in that negative banking sentiment. Its shares tumbled 5.3pc to 17.6 cent. CRH was down 2.4pc at 29.34, while hotel group Dalata was 2.6pc lower at 4.00.

The UK's FTSE-100 fell 1.3pc. Germany's DAX was 2.2pc lower and France's CAC-40 was down 1.8pc.

The FTSE's fall made for its worst one-day performance in three months, with Lloyds pushing banks lower after a downgrade by Goldman Sachs and miners tracking weaker metals prices. Lloyds fell 3.1pc.

Bloomberg/Reuters
Ronnie Foreman, managing partner, Foreman Consultants (centre) with left TJ Malone, ceo of Actavo, and Jerry Mallot, president, JAX USA Partnership, at the JAX USA Partnership presentation to Irish businesses in Dublins Shelbourne Hotel

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce has courted Irish companies looking to expand into the US in a bid to get them to set up offices there.

The Florida city's chamber met with around 20 companies in the Shelbourne Hotel yesterday to discuss the possibility of setting up in the Sunshine State.

Among the incentives for Irish businesses are a 5.5pc corporate tax rate and a 0pc personal income tax rate. The 5.5pc rate is generally restricted to larger firms.

Jerry Mallot, president of the JAXUSA partnership, a non-profit division of the chamber, said he was looking to set up market opportunities here and in the UK.

"We aren't expecting companies to move here but to grow and expand there. The right way to do business in the US is to have some sort of an office or manufacturing as part of what you do there," he said.
Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers:

Irish Independent

* A former partner at KPMG in Belfast who is being investigated by the UK's revenue and customs, and helped lead the way for devolving corporation tax in the North, has launched his own business consultancy firm.

The move comes as Eamonn Donaghy joins three fellow former partners at KPMG in Belfast in taking a judicial review against Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) next week.

* Pre-tax profits at one of the best known pubs in the country, the Temple Bar, soared by 31pc to 2.77m last year.

Temple Inns Ltd, which operates the pub in Dublin's Temple Bar area, saw gross profit at the business jump from 7.4m to 8.8m.

* Shares in Irish-Swiss food group Aryzta dipped yesterday as its pre-tax profits fell over 8pc to 365.5m and a full percentage point was sliced from its margin.

The Zurich-headquartered company, which has its roots former Irish agri group IAWS, saw its full-year revenue climb 1.5pc to 3.87bn.

The Irish Times

* The OECD tax boss Pascal Saint-Amans has said the build of Apple's profits from its Irish operations are meant to be in the United States.

Mr Saint Amans said that due to the fact the majority of the firm's R&D happened in the US, the profits should then be association with that country.

* The firm controlling the businesses worker in the Titanic Quarter in Belfast reported losses of 383,329 last year, narrowing from 1.16m of losses made two years ago.

Titanic Island Limited also said the UK's decision to leave the EU could adversely affect its prospects in the short to medium term.

* Shares in Deutsche Bank slipped to their lowest level since the 1980s yesterday amid speculation over the viability of Germany's biggest bank.

It is understood that Berlin would offer no support in helping the bank pay a 12.4bn find owed to the US for the mis-selling of mortgages.

Irish Examiner

* Finance minister Michael Noonan has said there is no threat to the country's low 12.5pc corporation tax, despite the ruling by the European Commission on Apple Tax.

Mr Noonan said the ruling had now become "an historic issue" and that the Commission is not putting any pressure on the Government to change the rate of tax paid by companies here.

* A pharma firm based in Shannon made a profit of 519m from the sale of the intellectual property (IP) of its main drug last year.

New accounts show that UCB Manufacturing Ireland recorded pre-tax profits of 461m that arose chiefly from the sale of the IP of its Parkinson's disease drug, Neupro. Revenues at the firm - formerly Schwarz Pharma - rose from 114.6m to 136.35m.

* Tesco's long standing position as Ireland's second largest supermarket has come under threat from Dunnes, which has tied with it in second place.

In the three months to mid-September Dunnes has managed to gain an equal share of the grocery market with 21.6pc of the overall marketplace.
Two companies are to create 140 jobs over the next five years in the areas of technology and medicine.

Software firm WP Engine has opened a new support and innovation centre in Limerick, which will lead to the creation of 100 jobs over the next three years.

WP Engine powers digital experiences for websites hosted on Wordpress. Since launching its London office last year, its customer base has more than doubled.

The new Limerick base will help support the firm in dealing with surging demand. The firm boasts Soundcloud, UnderArmour and AMD among its clients.

Meanwhile, Fort Wayne Metals Ireland is to expand its production operations in Castlebar, Co Mayo, with an investment of 10m that will result in the creation of 40 jobs over the next five years.

The investment will see the medical material manufacturer add 20,000 sq ft of production space.

Fort Wayne Metals makes materials used in guidewires, stents, embolic filters, and pacemaker leads. The firm now employs 80 staff.
Companies were ranked across six different areas: personalisation, time and effort, integrity, empathy, expectations, and resolution. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Huge hikes in premiums and difficult to understand products has made insurance companies the worst performing sector for customer service, new research has shown.

None of the 10 Irish car insurers made it into the top 100 brands for customer experience, according to a report from consumer insights firm CXi.

Companies were ranked across six different areas: personalisation, time and effort, integrity, empathy, expectations, and resolution.

The insurers struggled in personalisation and integrity but fared worst under the empathy category.

The survey, which was conducted by Amarach Research, found credit unions rated best by consumers for customer experience. The research examined over 42,000 cases across 170 brands.

CXi's Michael Killeen said credit unions did well at putting customers at the heart of everything they do. "All 339 credit unions share the same ethos," Mr Killeen said.

"They are a customer-centric business and their culture, behaviours and activity flow from this. Looking after members comes naturally to staff, while trust is at the heart of their customer relationships.

"The local community dynamic and personal relationships are also highly valued in Ireland," he added.

"It helps to explain why credit unions, An Post, pharmacies and hairdressing salons all feature among the best performers in the survey," Mr Killeen said.

Strikingly, US firms Burger King and Starbucks found themselves tied at number 100.

Elsewhere, the Luas's 12 days of halted service during the summer caused one of the country's top performers to fall out of the top 100 altogether. The public transport firm was previously 22nd on the list.

Another company that remains outside of the top 100 is Dublin Bus. The bus service is currently suffering strike stoppages as drivers take action in a bid for increased pay.

CXi's Cathy Summers said it will have significant impact on the public's perception of the company.

"Industrial action is also possible at Bus Eireann, 95th on the list," Ms Summers said.

"One of their direct competitors, CityLink, at number five, is one of the best performers, which will undoubtedly add to the debate on private versus public bus services and proposed changes to the operations of Bus Eireann's Expressway."

Ryanair's 'Always Getting Better' programme has worked for the airline which placed in the top 100 for the first time.

"Its new approach to customer experience, improvements to its digital platforms and cabin baggage policy are making an impression with customers. While Aer Lingus has slipped a few places, it's still comfortably ahead of its rival at number 28," Ms Summers said.

While indigenous firms scored well, Ireland still has ground to make up on the US and the UK for customer service, according to the data. The country's overall score in 2016 is up, with five of Ireland's top brands able to make it in the UK's top 10. One of the main findings from CXi's research is that Irish firms are falling down on expectations, meaning they are promising more than they can deliver.

This year was the first time CXi included the public sector. Despite a rush for applications from Britain in the wake of the Brexit vote in June, the Passport Office was the top-ranking body, at 32nd. The office was praised for its simple online application service and online tracking tool.
No flexibility will be shown to first-time buyers who purchased a home before July as part of the financial assistance package to be announced in the Budget, the junior housing minister has said.

Despite complaints from some TDs that anyone who bought a home in the weeks before the Government revealed its action plan on housing, Damien English said the issue is "black and white".

"There has to be a start date and it's difficult," he told the Irish Independent.

"There's not much you can do about that when you're dealing with a new scheme because it's a tax system that has to be dealt with in the Budget.

"There has to be a start date and an end date."

The Government is planning a package of measures - worth as much as 10,000 per person - aimed at helping young people afford their own homes as part of the Budget on October 11.

However, several TDs, including some Fine Gael backbenchers, believe it is unfair that it will only apply retrospectively to July 19. "When it comes to financial help it's very black and white," Mr English said.

"Everyone agrees that a first-time buyers grant or some kind of assistance towards purchasing a house or reducing the cost of a house if you bring it back to January, then some people will want to go back to December. There's no other way around it."

He said Housing Minister Simon Coveney needed to confirm a plan was being drawn up for first-time buyers in July because rumours were circulating that had the potential to stall market activity.

"There was a danger then that supply of housing would be reduced because of that. Whether we said it or not, everybody else was saying it and expecting it.

"If a market expects something in a budget, the market will wait for that. That had to be done because we didn't want people to stop building houses," the minister said.

Mr English yesterday attended a seminar on 'Housing, Homelessness and Rights' hosted by the Simon Community in Dublin. He told attendees that resolving the housing crisis was the "number one" priority for the Government but they faced many challenges.
The international profits of US multinationals belong in the United States, a senior tax official at an influential global economic think tank has said.

Although declining to comment specifically on the Apple case, Pascal Saint-Amans, the director of tax policy at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), suggested the profits of large American technology and pharmaceutical firms should be taxed in the US.

The comments will give a boost to the Government's argument that the European Commission's decision concerning Apple is flawed.

"If we go beyond the pure state aid with its own aspect  you have the question of where does the profits belong to? Who does it belong to. I think there is no ambiguity here, that the bulk of it belongs to the United States," Mr Saint-Amans said. "When you look at the broad picture, the tech companies, the pharmaceutical companies, yes the profit belongs to the US, the problem is that the US is not taxing it today, because of the lack of tax policy reform."

Mr Saint-Amans said there needs to be tax reform in the United States to ensure profits are taxed, where the substance of the organisation lies. He also said Ireland was not a tax haven.
German's biggest lender has insisted it doesn't need a bailout. Deutsche Bank said yesterday it had no need for German government help to meet a $14bn (12.4bn) US demand to settle claims it missold mortgage-backed securities, as its shares hit a record low.

German magazine 'Focus' reported at the weekend that Chancellor Angela Merkel had met Deutsche Bank chief executive John Cryan over the summer and had indicated he could expect no help from Berlin in resolving the bank's dispute with the US Department of Justice (DoJ).

Mrs Merkel had also ruled out state aid to Deutsche Bank, the magazine said, citing government sources.

Deutsche Bank responded yesterday, saying it did not require assistance from Berlin.

"John Cryan at no point asked the German Chancellor for the government to intervene in the US Justice Department's mortgages case," a Deutsche Bank spokesman said.

The bank's shares hit a record low of 10.62 yesterday and were 6pc lower at 10.72 by 11.40am.

A litany of legal troubles, of which the $14bn DoJ claim is only the latest, have spurred worries it may need to raise capital. Those concerns have contributed to a 50pc drop in its share price since the start of the year. But the bank spokesman said capital raising was not on the agenda.

"There is currently no question of a capital increase. We are meeting all regulatory requirements," the spokesman said. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said yesterday there were no grounds for speculating about the government assistance to Deutsche Bank and declined to say whether there had been any contact between Deutsche Bank and the German government.

Angela Merkel regularly holds talks with senior business figures, he said. (Reuters)
Some of the best-known gents' hairstylists in the world will be arriving in Dublin for Ireland's first-ever barber conference.

Barber Cut Dublin is a day-long event that will feature celebrity and master barbers from the US and Europe.

The mini-festival is the brainchild of barber Sam Donnelly (41) and event organiser Kieron Black (44).

"It's seen as cool to be a barber now and there's almost as many barber shops in Dublin as there are coffee shops," Sam told the Herald.

"With me it's a lifestyle as I'm a fourth-generation barber and my first shop was around long before it was cool - and we'll be around for many more years.

"We have barbers coming in from around the world and cutting gents' hair on the day, but there are different styles and approaches.

"What the event will involve will be people being able to watch international barbers they've been following on social media and interact with them.

"The whole day will be like a mini-festival, so everybody will have an average stage time of 45 minutes, cutting hair and talking about their method.

"We'll be going from midday until 1am. There will be DJs spinning tunes, and at the end of the day we'll have two bands playing at the after-party."

The event will take place in the Opium Rooms on Wexford Street on October 2. More information can be found at www.barbercutdublin.com
I See His Blood Upon The Rose

I see his blood upon the rose

And in the stars the glory of his eyes,

His body gleams amid eternal snows,

His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;

The thunder and the singing of the birds

Are but his voice-and carven by his power

Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,

His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,

His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,

His cross is every tree.

An assessment of 'I See His Blood Upon The Rose' by Dr Lucy Collins

'I See His Blood Upon the Rose' is a poem in the mystical tradition, expressing the intensity of Plunkett's Christian faith. These simple verses testify to the presence of the divine in the world, reading in nature the iconography of the crucifixion. At the centre of the poem lies the conviction that Christ's suffering will never be forgotten, as long as God's word remains the bedrock of existence. Here the deeply personal becomes universal through an unworldly directness of address.

Plunkett's commitment to the revolutionary process suggests how shared intentions may find expression in individual action, and indicates the redemptive power of personal sacrifice. Yet this is also a poem about what it is to see - about the significance of the act of writing as a form of revelation. It reflects our need to move beyond the narrow confines of the self in the search for human meaning.

Dr Lucy Collins is a lecturer in English at University College Dublin (UCD). She is the curator of 'Reading 1916', a forthcoming exhibition at UCD Special Collections.
Sean Redmond, the owner of Andys Bar and Restaurant in Monaghan town. Photo: Tom Conachy

A pub in Monaghan is leading the way towards efficiency in Irish hospitality.

Andy's Bar and Restaurant in Monaghan town is one of Ireland's first 'eco-pubs'. Sean Redmond, who works as a chef at the family's pub, says their energy efficiency drive began after the premises was destroyed in a fire.

With support from Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) and the cross-border Sustainable Together through Environmental Management (STEM) project, the Redmond family started off by installing better insulation.

They then brought in solar panels and stopped using fridges with glass doors, which lose more energy.

"I was driven more by the environmental impact it would have, rather than the money, but when I saw the savings I was shocked." Sean recalled.

After the early successes, Sean and his family started to examine leftover food that was being thrown away and are now focused on reducing their waste. Sean says the pub is now cited as an inspiration by Failte Ireland and the SEAI.
Protesters during the trial of a 17-year-old for false imprisonment at The Childrens Court in Smithfield, Dublin and inset Joan Burton

The decision to charge a teenager with false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest was not in accordance with Irish or European human rights laws, the boy's lawyers have argued.

The 17-year-old boy denies falsely imprisoning the former Labour leader and her advisor Karen O'Connell who were allegedly trapped in two garda cars for three hours during the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in Tallaght, on November 15, 2014. He was aged 15 at the time.

The Dublin West TD had been at a graduation ceremony at An Cosan education centre when a water protest took place outside. She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did not think she had the alternative of being able to get out of Garda cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on windows.

The State has closed it's case and on Tuesday morning, the boy's legal team asked Judge John King to dismiss the charges. It is day four of the boy's trial at the Dublin Children's Court.

The boy's barrister Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC told Judge King that the the case is unprecedented.

Counsel said: If the charge of false imprisonment is not dismissed, that would amount to a failure to vindicate the constitutional rights of the accused, failure to uphold the right to fair trial, failure to uphold the obligation on the authorities not to abuse their powers and not to act arbitrarily or in a manner inconsistent with basic fairness.

Counsel has also submitted that the prosecution has failed to prove their case beyond the necessary proof of reasonable doubt.

He said there was evidence from a statement of a Garda Superintendent, who was not called to give evidence, that there was an agreement between gardai and protesters that they could slow march ahead of a car carrying Ms Burton.

He said that there appears to have been an agreement with gardai and the teenager was never told he was committing an offence or committing a public order offence or an offence of an entirely different magnitude, false imprisonment. My submission is that the decision to charge in relation to this matter in the first place was not in accordance with constitutional rights and the European convention on human rights.

The prosecution case is that the former Tanaiste and her advisor were detained by the actions of the teenage defendant in conjunction with the actions of others.

The case continues.

Earlier, Judge John King was shown video footage of the protest. The clips were obtained from YouTube, RTE and a garda 4X4 which at one point had been blocked while carrying the former Minister for Social Protection and her advisor Ms O'Connell.

Some people were seen chanting slogans while others were hurling abuse at the former Tanaiste and jostling with gardai. Ms Burton was hit with a water balloon as she walked from An Cosan adult education centre across the road to St Thomas's Church for the concluding part of a gradution ceremony. She has said there was an "air of extreme hostility" at the protest and she and her former advisor said it was not safe to get out of garda cars.

Ms O'Connell said she was hit on the back as gardai bundled them into a car and that she was upset and began hyper-ventilating.

The number of protesters grew and gardai formed cordons around the then Tanaiste to protest her. Det Inspector Derek Maguire described the actions of some of the protesters as being like a rugby maul. He has rejected the defence suggestions that there was an agreement with protesters in relation to a "slow march".

Plastic bottles and eggs were thrown at gardai and the windscreen of a Garda 4X4 was broken while Ms Burton was in it, the court has heard.

When questioned months after the protest the teenager denied being an organiser of the demonstration and said he was sorry for the upset he caused Ms Burton.
Cocaine with an estimated street value of 960,000 (1.1m), heroin worth 500,000 (576,000), and cannabis resin valued at 2,000 (2,300) was found after officers stopped a car and trailer on the West Bank Road in Belfast.

A Dublin-based gang suspected of smuggling nearly 1.5m (1.7m) worth of cocaine and heroin into Northern Ireland warned someone would get "a bullet in the head" if the operation failed, a court heard yesterday.

Police claimed a man arrested after the drugs were seized in Belfast's docks area could now be under threat because of his alleged links to a violent outfit with networks in the Republic of Ireland and Holland.

Details emerged as 28-year-old Neil Davidson was remanded in custody on charges connected to the haul recovered last Friday night.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of 960,000 (1.1m), heroin worth 500,000 (576,000), and cannabis resin valued at 2,000 (2,300) was found after officers stopped a car and trailer on the West Bank Road in Belfast.

Mr Davidson, of no fixed address but from the Portadown area, faces counts of possessing Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply, and importing Class A and Class B drugs.

He is understood to have been detained shortly after exiting a ferry at Belfast ferry port. As he appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court, a defence lawyer confirmed he claims to have acted under duress.

Opposing bail, an investigating detective said Mr Davidson was believed to be part of an organised criminal gang importing drugs on a large scale. The accused was said to have refused to identify others, but mentioned contacts in Northern Ireland, Dublin and Holland.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told Mr Davidson's own safety could be at risk if released.

"There's a loss of 1.5m of drugs, and as the defendant said in interview, (he was told) somebody will be getting a bullet in the head if this operation went pear-shaped," the detective disclosed.

Defence solicitor Mark Crawford argued police were trying to "ride two horses" by claiming his client is connected to a violent gang yet also under threat.

Mr Crawford described the accused as "the perfect patsy" due to his lack of a criminal record and significant health issues. The court heard Davidson has had two liver transplants since 2004. Judge Bagnall refused bail and remanded Mr Davidson in custody.
A woman robbed an 83-year-old lady of 1,250 after snatching her purse when she left a local butcher shop two days before Christmas.

Mum-of-three Monica Rostas appeared before Letterkenny District Court charged with robbing Bridget McElcar in Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

Rostas, 28, spotted Mrs McElcar coming out of the shop and shoved a Big Issue magazine into her face and then snatched her purse at 1pm in the afternoon.

Mrs McElcar, who has since died, managed to get the purse back but the money from the purse was missing.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison told the court that he believed another woman involved in the robbery at Chestnut Grove, Ballybofey managed to receive the money before fleeing.

He added that Rostas, of Glenfinn Road, Ballybofey, had been threatening and abusive towards the pensioner who was vulnerable and scared.

Around 150 in cash fell to the ground and was picked up by passers-by.

Four other passers-by managed to come to Mrs McElcar's assistance and Rostas was arrested.

She initially denied any involvement and the balance of the missing money, 1,065 has never been recovered.

Barrister for Ms Rostas, Gareth McGrory, said his client admitted it was an act of "immense stupidity" which she pleaded guilty to.

He said his client had gather 2,000 from her uncle and she was prepared to provide compensation to Mrs McElcar's family.

He said she planned to leave Donegal and move to Belfast.

Judge Paul Kelly described the incident as "a despicable crime."

"This was an absolutely despicable crime on an elderly woman. I suspect it was less impulsive than you make out as there was two people involved. It seems inconceivable that this woman has no idea of where the money is.

"However, the fact that she is moving to Belfast and cash in lodged in court, I don't see any great value in a custodial sentence," he said.

He sentenced Rostas to four months in prison but suspended it for 12 months on her own cash bond of 500.

He also ordered that 1,500 of the cash lodged in court be handed over to the late Mrs McElcar's family.
A deceased RTE producer was remembered as "a most delightful person" on what would have been her 50th birthday, at a Medical Council inquiry into her death.

Praise was also paid to the doctor under review at the hearing, who is accused of prescribing an overdose of a chemotherapy drug to her.

Sinead Ni Dhulaing-Johnson (44), who passed away from a brain tumour in 2010, was allegedly given over twice the correct dose of chemotherapy drug temozolomide, which she took for 16 days in August and September 2008 before the error was discovered, the inquiry previously heard.

A consultant medical oncologist at the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin, referred to as Dr A, is facing allegations that Ms Ni Dhulaing-Johnson had been prescribed an incorrect dose of temozolomide on August 13, 2008.

It is also claimed Dr A failed to disclose in a timely manner to Ms Ni Dhulaing-Johnson and to her husband, Eddie Johnson, that she had been prescribed the incorrect dose of the medication.

Dr Gerry Connaghan, a consultant haematologist, who provided care to Ms Ni Dhulaing-Johnson at the Beacon Hospital in 2008, spoke poignantly of her yesterday. "She was a most delightful person. If fate hadn't laid as heavy a hand on her, this particular day would have been her 50th birthday."

The inquiry continues.
Former Chairman of the Anglo Irish bank, Sean Fitzpatrick, arrives at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Three new jurors have had to be sworn for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick on charges of misleading auditors.

The move was necessary after two jurors who were sworn last week at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a man and a woman, asked to be excused. This was agreed to by Judge John Aylmer.

The judge said a third juror, a man, had to stand down as it had come to the court's attention that there was a connection between an acquaintance of his and someone involved in the trial.

Three new jurors were subsequently selected, two women and a man. It means the specially enlarged jury is now made up of six men and nine women.

The judge said he wished to give the jury the opportunity to reflect overnight on whether there was any reason they could not take part in the trial.

The case is expected to last for 12 weeks.

"I want you all to be sure you can deal with this case with absolute impartiality," he said.

The judge said there were 10 categories of people who it had been decided could not sit on the jury.

These include people with strong feelings about the banking crisis; anti-austerity protesters; people who had bank shares; and people who knew anyone connected to the trial.

The judge warned jurors not to look for information on the internet or social media or discuss the case with friends or family.

Mr FitzPatrick (68), of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, is facing 27 charges, all of which he denies.
Some Institutes of Technology are close to trading insolvently while our universities continue to slide in international rankings.

That was the strong message from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin as the Dail returned from the summer break.

He demanded at least 100m extra in the October 11 Budget to meet the immediate third level funding crisis.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny accepted that third level sector funding must be urgently addressed. But he also warned that there was a long list of demands facing the Budget in a fortnights time  and funds were not there to meet all the demands.

Mr Kenny also told Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams that he was still seeking a way of opening an all-island conversation on Brexit. This would bring business, farming and other interests from North and South together to discuss the issues.

The Fianna Fail leader said the recent report on the third level funding crisis by former trade union leader, Peter Cassells, had to be dealt with. He said core third level investment fell by 22pc since 2011 and student-to-lecturer ratios were below OECD-recommended levels.

Some of our Institutes of Technology are very close to trading involvently, Mr Martin warned. He said education investment was central to Irelands economic future and in excess of 100m was needed in the Budget with more plans for longer-term funds.

The Taoiseach said it was clear the Cassells required prompt attention but he said the Oireachtas Education Committee was the correct way to do this. He said Education Minister, Richard Bruton, was in discussions with Public Expenditure Minister, Paschal Donohoe, on immediate third level funding needs.

Replying to the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Kenny said he was still trying to set an all-island body to discuss Brexit. He avoided the use of the term forum which was rejected out of hand by Northern Ireland First Minister, Arlene Foster, in the immediate aftermath of Brexit vote on June 23 last.
Health Minister Simon Harris emphatically ruled out any immediate review of an independent report on Waterford cardiac services despite claims it was based on incorrect data.

Mr Harris insisted he "stands over" the independent report on University Hospital Waterford (UHW) despite claims the expert who compiled it was supplied with data which included a near 50pc write-down on the hospital catchment area and that the critical UHW risk assessment rating was temporarily amended.

More than 2,000 people protested in Waterford city last weekend over the treatment of cardiac services at UHW. In an olive branch to furious UHW campaigners, Mr Harris vowed that all the funding recommendations in the report by Prof Niall Herity, a Belfast-based cardiologist, would be immediately fulfilled for Waterford.

This will include extra staff, new equipment for the UHW catherisation lab and resources for longer opening hours. Mr Harris also indicated he would be visiting UHW shortly.

But he said Waterford would not get a second cath lab - though the Government is open to a review late next year on the success of staff and equipment investments.

He warned he would not be diverted by "the chatter of local medical politics". "You could not have got a more independent review than that of Prof Herity," he said.
Jennifer Lawrence had naked pictures of herself posted online. Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Tough new digital safety laws to tackle revenge porn and cyber stalking have been proposed to the Government.

Intentional victim shaming, more commonly known as revenge porn, is where a person uploads intimate images of another person online without their consent.

Expand Close Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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The practice, which has tended to occur following the break-up of a relationship, is an offence in England, Wales and the US, but it is not specifically classified as a crime in Ireland.

Under proposals being examined by Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, the offences would carry prison terms of up to seven years.

The appointment of a commissioner who could take web and social media sites to court if they fail to take down harmful material is also on the cards, following a report being published today by the State's law reform body.

The Law Reform Commission began examining "negative aspects" of the digital revolution last year.

It found that while existing legislation addressed some harmful communication, there were some "gaps" in the law.

The report recommends:

Two new criminal offences to deal with posting intimate images online without consent.

One offence deals with revenge porn, and another with the voyeuristic practice of secretly obtained intimate images known as "up-skirting" or "down-blousing".

Reforms to the existing offence of harassment, to include online activity such as fake social media profiles.

Making cyber stalking an offence, similar to aggravated harassment.

Reform of existing offences for sending threatening and intimidating messages, so they capture online intimidation.

Allowing courts to issue restraining orders restricting an alleged perpetrator from communicating with a complainant, even if a prosecution has yet begun.

The report found that many forms of harassment are dealt with under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

However, it noted there were examples where harmful digital communications may not be covered by the existing legislation.

This included the setting up of a website or fake profile page to post harmful or private content in the victim's name.

This happened in a case in the UK, where a man was convicted of harassment after setting up a website called "[name of complainant] is gay.com".

He also registered the complainant on a database for people with sexually transmitted diseases.

But the commission said this sort of offence may not come under section 10 of the Act.

It also cited the example of the posting of intimate images or videos online without consent.

This happened in the case of Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence and others after their iCloud accounts were hacked in 2014.

"This clearly involved hacking but might not come within section 10 of the 1997 Act," the report said. Under the proposals, the revenge porn, harassment and cyber stalking laws would carry an unlimited fine and/or a jail term of up to seven years in cases tried on indictment in the Circuit Court.

Less serious forms of those offences, tried in the District Court, would carry a maximum fine of 5,000 and/or up to 12 months in prison.

The report recommended that "up-skirting" offences should carry a maximum fine of 5,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

However, it said prosecutions of minors for the new offences should only be a last resort would have to have the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Educational and diversion programmes should be tried first.

New watchdog urged to police social media

The Government is being urged by the Law Reform Commission to appoint a Digital Safety Commissioner with powers to force social media sites to remove harmful posts.

Under its proposals, the commissioner would promote digital and online safety. They would also publish a statutory code of practice on digital safety, replacing current non-statutory take-down procedures developed by the online and digital sector.

Under the system suggested, a person who believes they have been targeted by harmful material online would initially apply directly to the website or social media site.

If the site refuses to take down the content, in breach of the new code, an appeal could be made to the commissioner.

Should the commissioner find in favour of the user, and the site operators refuse to comply with a direction to take down the material, the commissioner could apply to the Circuit Court for an order requiring compliance.
3D printed muscles and tendons, a jelly to repair disc damage and instantaneously stopping blood loss during surgery are some of the world changing devices currently being developed in Ireland.

The 68m Curam centre is developing medical devices which mimic the bodys biology, working on a range of chronic ailments as well as treatments for injury and to assist in surgeries.

Curam, based at NUI, Galway, which was officially opened yesterday will be a global hub of research expertise in medical device technology.

Among the projects being explored is the creation of 3D muscles and tendons to help repair injuries in athletes which could be available in under a decade.

The team is also making huge breakthroughs in back pain. It is developing a jelly-like system which can mimic the environment within the damaged disc, which could be used medically within six years.

Shorter term projects which may come to fruition within the next 18 months include devices to stop bleeding in a surgical suite.

We are working with an industry partner and weve just finished a clinical trial in that space where we show that the formulation we are working with stops bleeding instantaneously so it reduces the surgical time and the patient time on the table, said Prof Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director of Curam.

Researchers are also working on treating illnesses such as diabetes without the need for constant injections.

A total of 250 researchers will push scientific frontiers to advance medical devices for chronic diseases including diabetes, Parkinsons and heart disease.

Prof Pandit said chronic diseases are the particular focus of the research.

Working with industry partners and clinicians, we will better understand the hostile environment of the body and advance medical devices to the next stage where they mimic the bodys biology. We want to launch devices which are more effective for the individual patient, but more affordable to lessen the burden on healthcare systems worldwide, he said.

In the long-term we may have minimally invasive injections instead of operations for back pain, electrodes which degrade within the body over time, or 3D printed muscles and tendons. This will not happen overnight, but the unparalleled combination of scientific, industry and clinical and regulatory expertise which Curam facilitates will get us there in the coming years, he added.

The centre was officially opened by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell OConnor, who said the work was not only transforming lives but transforming the whole worlds medical history.

The Irish medtech industry employs 29,000 people. Curam represents investment of 49 million over six years from Science Foundation Ireland and industry.

In the past 18 months this support has already been used to leverage a further 19 million in funding from the EUs Horizon 2020 programme, over 4.3 million of which has been awarded directly to indigenous Irish industry.
The Irish citizen imprisoned in Egypt while awaiting trial for the past three years has written a poignant letter describing his experiences in jail.

Describing himself as a freedom fighter, Ibrahim Halawa (20) said he did not get to see the sky and was striving to cope with lifes toughest conditions in a cramped prison dormitory.

The letter was released by his family ahead of the resumption of his trial on October 2 over his role in protects in Cairo against the military coup which toppled President Mohammed Morsi

Proceedings have previously been adjourned on 14 occasions and efforts by the Government to secure his release have met with resistance from Egyptian authorities.

Mr Halawa, the son of a senior Irish-based Muslim cleric, is one of almost 500 defendants facing a mass trial on charges of murder, attempted murder and attending an illegal protest.

His family, based in Firhouse in Dublin, has denied the charges, which can carry the death penalty, and maintain he and three sisters, who were subsequently released, had been caught up in the protests.

In the letter, released by his sister Somaia, Mr Halawa wrote that he should be celebrating his graduation from college, but was instead locked up in prison.

Today while every graduate throws their graduation hat in the sky to come down with the long waiting dream, I dont see the sky because Im enrolled in a different college, he wrote.

A college I did not know I had applied for when I chose to fight for freedom.

A college that kidnapped me from life to teach me the principles of real life, a college full of lessons.

Mr Halawa said the first lesson he had learned was that he should have appreciated the small leisures in life that passed by unnoticed.

Striving with lifes toughest conditions was another lesson. Being forced to share with 30 human beings 24/7 a dormitory where my sleeping area is 35cm, he said.

In this college Im obliged to live with a broad diversity of inmates from presidential consultants and college professors to illiterate criminals which thought me to see the real human being behind every social rank.

It is a college where the hardest subject is finding the forgiveness, as I must say as a freedom fighter I never became a revenge hunter.

Even though after all these years my oppressor is yet not convicted to let me graduate from his prison and go home while for others its graduation night out for me its graduation lights out.

Mr Halawas family said today he had been suffering from chest pains, but was being denied access to a specialist.

Last month the speaker of the Egyptian parliament rejected Irish calls for Mr Halawas release, saying no-one could interfere with the judicial process.
A religious pamphlet which has been distributed at a primary school has been branded as "sledgehammer Christianity" and inappropriate for young children.

The flyer, from Hope for Youth Ministries, was sent home with pupils at Lisnasharragh Primary on Tudor Drive in east Belfast last week to the horror of disgruntled parents who found them inside schoolbags.

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It informs children: "If you want to get saved and ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, here is a prayer that will help you do that" and "if you meant your prayer to God, then the Lord Jesus has saved you... every day, live your life for Jesus".

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Belfast Telegraph: "I don't mind children learning basic Christian principals but this is Christianity being delivered via a sledgehammer. I'm surprised the school allowed these pamphlets to be distributed. It was inside my daughter's schoolbag along with her homework."

A mother-of-two, whose four-year-old daughter just started the school on September 1, said she was annoyed because she hadn't been informed that there was a speaker from Hope for Youth Ministries in attendance.

"A lot of mums were shocked and very angry when we saw the flyer," said the 36-year-old, who also asked not to be named.

"There was a picture of a lamb on the outside and it looks innocent enough until you read the message and language used which should not have reached any primary school child, especially P1 pupils.

"Luckily, my daughter can't read because I really wouldn't want her to see material like that. But I think it's too much even for a 10-year-old to think of themselves as sinners needing forgiveness for being bad and then to be warned that even saying the prayer won't save them and that Jesus died because of them."

The stay-at-home mother from east Belfast added: "An adult may comprehend this but a child definitely wouldn't."

Principal Philip Monks said: "One parent contacted me regarding a flyer that had been given by Hope for Youth Ministries. All concerns expressed by parents are taken seriously. After consultation with staff, I responded immediately and to the parent's satisfaction."

Dromara evangelist Colin Tinsley, who runs Hope for Youth Ministries, said he was "deeply saddened" by the parents' comments.

"If they feel our approach is sledgehammer in nature, I'd be shocked," he said. "Having engaged with thousands of young people throughout Northern Ireland I would be so annoyed if anyone felt our approach was anything other than loving and caring. We simply present the gospel of Jesus Christ."

On the pamphlet, in handwriting above the prayer, it says: "If you want to get saved and ask the Lord Jesus into your heart here is a prayer that will help you do that. Remember saying the prayer won't save you. You must really mean what you say with all your heart."

The prayer then reads: "Dear Lord, I am a sinner. Please forgive me for all my sin. I'm really sorry for all the wrong things I have done. Thank you for dying on the cross to save me. I believe in You. Please come into my heart and life and help me live for You. Amen."

It adds: "If you mean your prayer to God, then the Lord Jesus has saved you."
A plaque unveiled by the Queen at a new train halt was removed within 24 hours and has not been replaced three months on.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, visited Northern Ireland in July and took in the sights of the north coast, including the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills.

During the one-day visit she also experienced a steam train journey, enjoying some of our most stunning scenery while travelling from Coleraine to the restored platform at Bellarena, Co Derry.

Many people stood at the railway line along the route and cheered as the train passed, before the Queen disembarked and unveiled the plaque at Bellarena halt.

But the plaque was removed within 24 hours of being unveiled, and three months later has not been replaced.

Following an Assembly question asked by People Before Profit MLA Eamonn McCann, it emerged that Translink staff had removed the plaque, believing it could be vandalised.

A Department of Infrastructure stated in its response to Mr McCann: "Translink has advised that, because the halt at Bellarena is unmanned, it was concerned about the safety of the plaque and the possibility that it could be vandalised. Translink is currently looking at options to minimise this risk."

Translink told the Belfast Telegraph last night that its officials are currently considering where to locate the plaque.

East Derry DUP MP Gregory Campbell queried why there would be concerns over the plaque being damaged at the halt. He described Bellarena as a quiet rural village, adding that the residents had been delighted by the Queen's visit.

"It is important that the plaque is put on a visible sighting so people can see that Her Majesty did officially open the halt at Bellerena," he said.

"There was no animosity whatsoever in the area - the local people were very pleased and delighted Her Majesty came to their village. There should be no reason for the plaque to not be on public display." Mr Campbell said Translink needs to ensure the plaque is put back in an appropriate place on public display.

"I would be very surprised if the plaque were to be vandalised," he said. "Even at that, they can put the plaque in a place where it would be very hard to vandalise. It can be covered in special spray to protect it."

Coastway Coast and Glens UUP councillor Aaron Callan said local people want the plaque back. "It was a source of great pride for the local people of Bellarena that Her Majesty unveiled a plaque at the new train platform," he said.

"I was notified by a number of local people that the plaque disappeared within 24 hours. I have been assured that a permanent plaque would be put in place. Locals would like to see that happen and I hope Translink will carry this out."

Mr McCann said he had asked the question because members of the Into The West campaign group - who are pressing for an hourly train service between Belfast and Derry - feared that the removal of the plaque was a sign Translink was reneging on its commitment to the line. But he said he has received assurances that the hourly service is still being worked on.

A spokeswoman for Translink said: "We are currently considering the best way to mount the plaque at Bellarena Station within the context of the simple layout of the halt and its dramatic setting."
Minister Leo Varadkar has said tax cuts in the Budget must benefit middle-income workers because they "pay the most tax".

With limited resources of around 300m available for tax cuts, the issue of who should benefit from cuts - particularly to the USC - is set to be the focus of tense negotiations.

Independent Alliance Minister Finian McGrath has said that his preference is for low- paid workers to benefit most.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan last night outlined the challenges facing him in Budget talks. He noted there are three Independent ministers as well as the demands of the Fine Gael and of Fianna Fail which is facilitating the minority government. "There are a lot of views that have to be taken into account," he said. He said that "so far" there haven't been "dramatic" conflicting views, adding he's confident "we'll put a good Budget through".

Changes to USC is perhaps the area that presents the most potential for disagreement as talks intensify.

A 0.5pc cut across the rates affecting the broadest cohort of low- and middle-income workers would cost 330m - obliterating the expected fiscal space available to other tax measures.

Neither Social Protection Minister Mr Varadkar nor Independent Communications Minister Denis Naughten would say if they favoured using all of the available funds for a broad cut to the USC.

Mr Varadkar said his view is that any tax reduction has to benefit low-income workers "but also the middle class" because they "pay the most tax both in cash terms and percentage terms".

Mr Naughten said the Government have a "difficult balancing act" to perform but that "all working families, regardless of income, need a break" and he hopes an agreement can be reached to benefit as many as possible.

Asked if he would like to see room for other tax cuts as well as a cut to the USC, he said: "there are other issues there that need to be dealt with."

He said this included support for small businesses and - from his own department - measures to help people retrofit their homes for energy efficiency.

Separately, speaking at a jobs announcement in Limerick, Mr Noonan said he'll use the Budget to reiterate the Government's commitment to the 12.5pc corporate tax rate.

He also spoke of potential benefits from Brexit. He said there is "great interest" in the City of London in Ireland as an alternative location for the financial services industry.
The 158 TDs start back this afternoon for the first full and real working term of Dail Eireann since this hybrid Government was elected on May 6 last after 70 days of haggling. We have heard a lot about 'new politics', suggesting a partnership government, a real opposition role, with dialogue and consensus bringing us better government. In reality, we have seen too much 'old politics' of short-term interests and dreary sniping.

It will be exceptionally busy and there will be huge challenges for the Government and Fianna Fail, who have agreed in opposition to underpin the minority coalition. But all parties must make a better effort to co-operate. These are the key challenges for all of the deputies:

Expand Close After the 2011 general election threatened extinction, Micheal Martin is enjoying a renaissance. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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1 SURVIVAL: The one agreement point for all TDs is that they do not want another election. Opinion polls tell us that another election would not end the current political deadlock. But not wanting an election will not of itself avoid one. All TDs need to engage their brains before they open their mouths.

2 BUDGET 2017: There is a dangerous assumption that this will pass in just two weeks from today, on October 11. But Fine Gael and the Independent ministers have to forge compromises. Fianna Fail must not push their somewhat extravagant demands too far. There is only limited scope with about 1bn to spare. This is the acid test of 'new politics'.

3 THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT: Taoiseach Enda Kenny believed he had this one politically 'parked', with the Citizens' Assembly due to begin its work considering the issue of the 1983 constitutional ban on abortion on October 15. Ms Justice Mary Laffoy will guide a team of 99 citizens. But the AAA-PBP will have a Dail motion on the issue next week, threatening further political divisions within Government.

4 PROJECT EAGLE: The Dail Public Accounts Committee, led by Sean Fleming of Fianna Fail, will examine the Comptroller & Auditor General's scathing report on the NAMA 1.6bn sale of distressed loans in the North. It is a very loaded issue. The Government must also launch a public inquiry amid a tangle of cross-border and other legal difficulties.

Expand Close Junior minister John Halligans antics have been a big problem. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook

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5 WATER CHARGES: The special Commission examining the issue is due to report in November. The big issue is Fianna Fail's total about-face in seeking the abolition of charges, which they had backed since 2009. Fine Gael say this will devastate Irish Water and plans to overhaul Victorian sewerage and water supply facilities. This one could be a deal-breaker.

6 EDUCATION FUNDING: Previous governments ducked out of the issue of third-level funding. But the issue of investment in the sector cannot be ducked much longer. Again, Fianna Fail say they will not tolerate a return of full-blown third-level fees. They want 100m extra from Exchequer funds.

7 PUBLIC SECTOR PAY: A Dublin Bus strike may be about to be resolved. But threats of a nationwide bus and rail strike linger. And all across the public sector workers are understandably looking for redress after eight years of austerity. But reason must prevail in meaningful negotiations. The Dail must set a tone here in contributing to the national debate.

8 BREXIT AND NEW EU RELATIONSHIPS: This is the most important of all the tasks confronting the returning Dail. We cite it at the end because it will really only kick into gear next year - if then. For Irish business, and especially indigenous business like food production, it is hard to exaggerate the potential fallout here. Unity, ideally cross-party agreement, is vital - if unlikely.

Expand Close Another new Dail term, another set of historic allegations involving Gerry Adams, and another cry from the party that they are the victims. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos / Facebook

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Whatsapp Another new Dail term, another set of historic allegations involving Gerry Adams, and another cry from the party that they are the victims. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

What's facing the parties as the new Dail term begins?

FINE GAEL

Battered in last February's general election, the party is still on the same support level at around 25pc. They risk being seen as in office - but not in power, as Independents and Fianna Fail steal their thunder. They need to assert their 'brand' in government. They must urgently address how and when Enda Kenny will exit the leadership.

FIANNA FAIL

A better than predicted election was followed by further support increases in opinion polls. After the 2011 general election threatened extinction, Micheal Martin is enjoying a renaissance. But recent polls suggest they may be stalling. And they must manage a delicate balancing act: facilitating government, but not getting too close.

INDEPENDENT ALLIANCE

Did famously to land four Government jobs after the election. But having real difficulties adjusting to the burdens of power. They have also communicated poorly among themselves and with Fine Gael. Junior minister John Halligan's antics have been a big problem.

SINN FEIN

Another new Dail term, another set of historic allegations involving Gerry Adams, and another cry from the party that they are the victims. The difference now is that Mr Adams has for the first time spoken of his retirement from leadership after 33 years. He's just not saying when - but sooner would be better

LABOUR

With just seven TDs and five senators, they have it all to do. Party leader Brendan Howlin was still in Cabinet up until early May. They have a hard political row to hoe.

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

Reduced to two TDs after losing Stephen Donnelly, they are in the business of building. A hard slog lies ahead but their poll numbers of 4pc are encouraging.

GREEN PARTY

Back from oblivion, with two TDs and one senator, they will continue to challenge.

ANTI-AUSTERITY ALLIANCE/PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT ALLIANCE

Encouraging poll numbers and strong Dail presence offer choice on the left. But they still struggle to make common cause with other left-leaning deputies and groupings.

Other Independents: These are still the preferred choice of one in 10 voters. As diverse as the electorate itself.
Our GP on the benefits of generic drugs and why getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid the flu.

Q. I have been on the same medicine for several years. I attend the same pharmacy but have noticed that several times in the past year my medicine looks different.

Dr Nina replies: Many patients complain that their tablets don't appear the same month to month. This is due to the fact that pharmacies substitute generic or unbranded drugs on certain prescriptions. If there is a cheaper generic drug available they can dispense this instead. The aim of this policy is to reduce the overall cost of medication both to the consumer and the government but it can lead to confusion due to the changing appearance of the tablets received.

Your medication is not being changed. The pharmacist is simply going with the cheapest available generic. These drugs must meet the same safety and quality standards and have the same effect as a branded drug. They may be a different colour or shape but this does not mean that they act differently. The key active ingredient is the same.

Many people are concerned that generic drugs might not be of the same quality as branded drugs. This isn't true. The reason generic drugs are cheaper is that they cost less to produce than branded drugs. When a drug company brings a new drug onto the market it has invested a lot of time and money in research, production and marketing of this product.

New drugs are granted a patent, which gives the pharmaceutical company exclusive rights to sell the drug while this is in place. As the patent of a particular drug comes to an end, other companies can apply to produce and market a generic version of these drugs.

These companies don't have the same research and start-up costs to produce the drug and therefore they can sell it at a cheaper rate. This saving should be passed onto the consumer resulting in savings all around.

Generic drugs have been around for a long time. Paracetamol is a drug we are all very familiar with. Some well-known brands include Panadol, Paralink, and Calpol. Most people would consider all these brands reliable and effective and wouldn't have any problem switching among them.

Generic antibiotics are also commonly prescribed. The Irish Medicines Board is the regulatory body for the prescription of medicines in Ireland (much like the FDA in the USA). They oversee the licensing of drugs in the Irish market.

Once a drug has been licensed here you can be confident that if a doctor here prescribes it and you buy it in an Irish pharmacy that your generic medicine is as safe and effective as the branded product. It is important to stress that drugs bought over the Internet are not subject to the same licensing regulations.

Generic drugs are a safe equivalent substitute for you and you shouldn't be concerned. If you find it hard to keep track of which tablet is which, ask your pharmacist to prepare a blister pack with dosing pouches. This is a great way to simplify your daily dosing.

If you would prefer to stay on the branded drugs, there are two options available. You can ask the pharmacy to give you the branded one and pay them the difference between branded and generic or you can ask your doctor to write "do not substitute" on the prescription. But remember, branded doesn't mean better.

Q. My doctor has recommended the flu vaccine. I have never had the flu but I have heard stories of those who got it getting sick. Im generally healthy and just over 65. Do I really need to get vaccinated?

Dr Nina replies: Influenza is a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory system and spreads rapidly from person to person. Infections reach a peak during winter months with the peak flu season in the northern hemisphere running from October through April. Flu is estimated to kill from 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide every year.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent infection and is particularly important for those at risk of the complications. These include adults over 65, pregnant women, obese people with a BMI over 40, those with low immunity due to illness or other medicines and therapies, and those of any age with underlying chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease.

Children under two are also at risk of complications. The vaccine is very safe, has been used for over 60 years and given to millions of people worldwide. It can be given to those over the age of six months unless they have a history of severe allergy to the vaccine or its constituents.

If you are unwell and have a fever over 38 degrees when your vaccine is due, it can be deferred. Those with egg allergy can receive the vaccine but it should be done by a doctor and may be given in a hospital setting.

The flu vaccine cannot cause illness. It takes up to two weeks to have full effect and so any illness occurring in this time is not vaccine related. Flu vaccination reduces flu complications by 70 to 90% in healthy people.

In the elderly it reduced the risk of serious illness by 60% and death by 80%. It is also known to be safe at any stage of pregnancy and babies born to mums who were vaccinated are 50% less likely to be hospitalised with flu.
Morning sickness, which can strike at any point during the day or night, affects roughly eight out of ten women

Morning sickness in pregnant women has been linked to a significantly reduced risk of suffering a miscarriage, new research has found.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that experiencing nausea and nausea with vomiting was associated with a 50 to 75 per cent reduction in risk of losing a pregnancy.

Morning sickness, which can strike at any point during the day or night, affects roughly eight out of ten women and is thought to be caused by pregnancy hormones which are produced at the highest levels during the first trimester. Experts have said the research should give confidence to women suffering from nausea and vomiting, but stressed that an absence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean a mother will miscarry.

The study by the National Institutes of Health in Maryland analysed the data from nearly 800 women, with an average age of 29, who had suffered one or two previous miscarriages.

The participants were asked to record their symptoms through pregnancy diaries and questionnaires.

Nausea and vomiting were common symptoms even during the earliest weeks of pregnancy, with around one in five women reporting feeling sick even before they had carried out a pregnancy test.

By the second week of gestation, almost 18 per cent had reported nausea without vomiting, while 2.7 per cent said they suffered nausea with vomiting; by week eight the proportions had risen to 57.3 per cent and 26.6 per cent respectively.

The researchers said that, although there has been speculation suggesting that nausea is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, previous evidence has been limited.

Our study confirms prior research that nausea and vomiting appear to be more than a sign of still being pregnant and instead may be associated with a lower risk for pregnancy loss, they wrote.

While the study identified a strong correlation between morning sickness and a lower prevalence of miscarriages, the authors were not able to explain the apparent link between the two.

However, some experts have previously said nausea may encourage a healthier pregnancy by leading women to eat less, thereby reducing the risk of exposing the foetus to toxins.

The reduction in food intake also appears to lower levels of circulating insulin and encourage growth of the placenta, research has shown.

A spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said: This new study should provide some reassurance for women suffering from nausea and vomiting that their risk of miscarriage is reduced.

However, it is important to emphasise that if a woman isnt suffering from nausea and vomiting, it doesnt mean she will miscarry.

Around one in six pregnancies, where the mother to be knows she is pregnant, will end in miscarriage.

Sarah McMullen, from the National Childbirth Trust, said that while pregnant women with morning sickness might be relieved to hear they may have a lower chance of miscarriage, they should not ignore the hazards presented by the condition.

Vomiting can lead to dehydration and weight loss so women suffering from severe sickness need to keep an eye on their symptoms, she said.

If they are unable to keep anything down, they should contact their doctor or midwife immediately."

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Chances are that at some interview you will be asked what your weaknesses are. If possible your flaw should be an attribute that is regarded by most as an asset. One of the things most employers would like to hear from you is that you are a perfectionist.

You could explain that this may be seen as a drawback because your family may feel you work too hard or spend too much time in the office and that you run the risk of burn-out. However, in the eyes of an employer it would cast you in the mould of a high achiever who gets things done. For most people that is what perfectionism amounts to and this is not misleading.

There are personal rewards for perfectionism also. Among these are that you will achieve what you have set out to do, you will go home each evening satisfied that you are organised and able to plough through your work methodically.

It means you are self-motivated and do not need to be driven to act by others. You feel empowered, responsible and fulfilled. Perfectionism is adaptive and worthy of praise. Usually!

For some, perfectionism is a curse that generates frustration in the individual and annoyance in those involved with the person. One of the difficulties that maladaptive perfectionism brings is indecision.

The person may be fearful of making one decision over another lest the wrong choice is made. So contracting one company over another to do the office cleaning may become an intellectual battle between the pros and cons of each company, swirling around in the brain during the working day and after.

Completing a document such as a contract of employment may take the person into the ramifications of employment law that are out-with the usual contact. These mind-bending deliberations slow the person down as documents are incomplete or overly prescriptive.

The individual is overwhelmed with information from meticulously gathered information and extracting the relevant parts is impossible. Procrastination rules the day.

One of the major frustrations of working with a perfectionist is their fear of risk-taking and of errors. As a consequence they are closed to new ideas. The shut-down that an employee faces when a new idea is discussed with a rigid boss is palpably exasperating and discouraging.

This may lead to a stolid and unimaginative business with no room for healthy experimentation or expansion. Staff turnover is likely to be high if the person is in a position of authority.

Perfectionists don't just have high expectations of themselves but this extends to others also. While wishing for high standards, they are incapable of forgiving those who are unable to meet their expectations and cannot accept that forgiveness itself is one of the most noble acts we can extend to others.

They hold grudges and do not easily let go of what they perceive as let-downs in the past. Thus long-term relationships are often problematic and contact with other members of the family may be severed on foot of simple misunderstandings.

One of the difficulties in dealing with perfectionists at this end of the spectrum is that they are reluctant to admit their own vulnerability and that they, too, make mistakes. They defend themselves against self-doubt and set themselves up as an ideal, unable to confide their mistakes when they make them.

It goes without saying that such people seldom present for treatment. Indeed changing personality is very difficult and interventions take years to active success, if at all. The person has to accept that perfection is not a requirement in life and that nobody achieves it.

They have to be taught to challenge their perfectionistic thinking by perhaps getting involved in some activity they are not very good at and then accepting that failing at this does not amount to total personal failure.

So when a prospective employee indicates that s/he is a perfectionist, it would be wise not to accept this at face value. It may not be as good a prize as it seems and it may indicate the employee from hell.
At first glance, it could have been an unremarkable Monday afternoon in the seaside town of Skerries, Co Dublin.

Blackbirds sheltered among the sails of the nearby windmills, while primary schools finished up classes for the day.

But all the serenity was slowly giving way to a buzzing sense of excitement over news of a double victory in this year's Tidy Towns competition.

Skerries Tidy Towns Committee claimed the award for Ireland's Tidiest Town at a ceremony in the Helix yesterday, after facing tough competition from 859 villages and towns across the country. It also snatched the prize for Ireland's Tidiest Large Town.

Ray Hunt, manager of the Skerries Mills visitor centre, called the win "unbelievable".

"Skerries has won the gold medal in its category so many times it's unbelievable, but we've never won the overall Tidy Towns," he told the Irish Independent.

"Skerries joined the competition one year after it started - we've been in it for the long haul."

Mr Hunt also pointed out that rising tourist numbers were a positive sign but often put a lot of pressure on the Tidy Towns committee.

"There aren't big hotels or huge companies to give the money to the committee," he said.

"But after a sunny Bank Holiday weekend, the place can be trashed, with litter and everything," he added.

"Trying to keep the place tidy is a big job and I know it's a big job for the committee."

Mr Hunt also said a promised Dart line to Balbriggan could put the hidden gem on the map.

The town is currently served by three bus routes, as well as trains to Dundalk and Drogheda.

"It (the Dart) should bring a huge boost to the town," he said.

"Everybody says it's nice to be the best-kept secret, but we wish it wasn't."

Deirdre Fahy runs Olive Deli and Cafe in the town and said the committee members were regular customers.

"They're normally in for lunch but I think they're away with a bottle of champagne now," she said.

"They work so hard. There's never any graffiti around the town, they're out painting it right away," she added.

Deirdre is also among the locals who help out with keeping the streets pristine.

"I have one patch from the Rush Road to town. To be honest, there's hardly anything to pick up because people are really litter-conscious," she said.

"But if there is rubbish, it's my patch and I stop the car and pick it up."

On the seafront, news of the win for Skerries was spreading like wildfire.

Anna Thornton and Wyn Rafter, who have lived in Skerries for years, were delighted with the committee's achievement.

"It's great news. Well done to the people that did it," Anna said.

"Every year, winter and summer, they're out making the place look lovely."

Meanwhile, Evie Anna McKenna from Drogheda was spending the day with her friends Leah Reid (22), Emma Hodges (22) and Leah's daughter Sadie May (17 months).

Evie Anna (21) said the awards came as no surprise.

"Near where we live, towards the end of the day, it would be in bits," she added.

"You'd think Skerries would be too, for somewhere that's so popular."

Meanwhile, other towns and villages across the country were also celebrating their achievements at the Helix.

Birdhill in Co Tipperary won the prize for Ireland's Tidiest Village.

Listowel in Co Kerry took home the award for Ireland's Tidiest Small Town, while Ennis in Co Clare was given the title of Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

The competition, which is supported by SuperValu, has been an annual event since 1958.

For the past five years, more than 800 towns and villages in Ireland have competed for the coveted awards.
Any new law has its work cut out. Irish people now communicate as much through images and photos (of ourselves, mainly) as we do through text. This is one reason why services such as Instagram and Snapchat are far outpacing rivals such as Twitter and SMS.

And this extends right into personal relationships. Intimacy - or the trappings of it - over messaging apps is not a novelty. A recent study by Dublin City University found that more than a quarter of Irish teenagers send intimate images or texts to each other.

Other research suggests that young adults are similarly unfazed by exchanging images that could later become highly sensitive or embarrassing.

With so much compromising material flying around in the 'cloud', can our criminal legal system keep up? The Law Reform Commission intends to try. The commission has recommended heavy sentences for offences such as revenge porn.

It also makes clear that posting or taking indecent photos without consent will now land perpetrators in serious trouble. The same goes for "one-off harmful communications".

And it won't be an excuse now to say that a photo or video was part of an end-of-year party after a few pints.

Consent, the Law Reform Commission recommends, should be something that the person involved has the "freedom and capacity" to accede to. That almost certainly means that it can't be obtained if the person being filmed is clearly drunk.

The proposals reach into other modern types of harassment too, making specific reference to the setting up of fake social media profiles meant to denigrate or humiliate.

However, it does not propose a solid remedy for one of the most widespread forms of online abuse - anonymous social media accounts that are set up to harass individuals.

Blocking or banning such accounts is largely ineffective because the perpetrator simply sets up a new one.

One possible answer to this would be the proposed creation of a 'Digital Safety Commissioner', backed by a statutory code of practice.

While all of this may help, a lot more is needed.

Cyber-crime also poses a huge challenge for business, as global security incidents have risen by almost 40pc, according to PwC research.

This November 15 in Dublin, the conference Infosec 2016 will examine some of the important issues that threaten businesses of the digital age. Security experts, journalists and business leaders will gather at Dublin's RDS to look at potential solutions.

Technology will always be ahead of the law. So too will our evolving behaviour. We can't expect legal rules to fix human failings.
Nobody's going to admit it, but it's no coincidence that talks to end the crippling Dublin Bus strikes were called as soon as there was a hint that they could infect the entire bus and rail network.

Last week, the seriousness of the dispute went up a notch when fears grew that industrial action could spread to other CIE companies. Dermot O'Leary of the NBRU warned that Irish Rail drivers will not tolerate the prospect of their bus colleagues being forced to stand on picket lines for an "inordinate" period of time.

There was speculation that passengers could face the immediate prospect of unofficial action, while the possibility of union-sanctioned action at sister CIE companies in other disputes grew.

Dublin Bus passengers had already suffered six strikes with no sign of drivers going back to the wheel. Unions and the semi-state company were entrenched in their positions and Minister Shane Ross and the Workplace Relations Commission were not going to intervene.

But as soon as it looked like Irish Rail workers might get involved, the Workplace Relations Commission stepped in and invited everyone to "exploratory" talks over the weekend. It's amazing what can happen when "minds are concentrated", to use the usual jargon that is used at moments like this.

The most immediate danger to passengers was the threat of unofficial action possibly in the form of wildcat strikes at Irish Rail and Bus Eireann.

Simultaneous official action in the other companies would take longer to play out - but could come down the tracks if the parties to the Dublin Bus dispute remained deadlocked.

To make matters worse, Siptu and the NBRU announced they were balloting for strike action after Bus Eireann announced a plan to restructure its loss-making Expressway service.

The plan to slice 7m from costs could mean job and pay cuts.

The problem of a 500m deficit in the CIE Group schemes is also waiting in the wings. This is the one issue with the potential to unite workers across the three companies in a single front. However, ballots would have to be held before industrial action became a reality.

While these scenarios were playing out in people's heads, the state's troubleshooting body stepped in to sort out the debacle on Sunday.

As if to add to the drama, talks were convened at 2pm, giving just a seven-hour window before services were due to wind down ahead of a seventh strike today.

Unions set the scene before they even went in. It did not take long for a consensus to be reached on the crucial question of deferring today and tomorrow's strikes.

The Workplace Relations Commission is not an organisation that likes to be associated with failure. Otherwise, it would be seen as bad at its job.

It is highly likely that it knew the answer to the question of whether unions would be prepared to call off industrial action before it posed it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have asked.
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Colette Browne Opinion Every effort must be made to retrieve oral histories of mother and baby home survivors

With three days to go until the Mother and Baby Homes Commission ceases to exist as a legal entity, we are being told that audio recordings of hundreds of witnesses which were deleted may not actually be gone forever. It is another usual twist in a most emotional saga. For decades, survivors of mother and baby homes have been denied a voice and denied autonomy. When they fell pregnant, many through rape and abuse, they were marched to the doors of religious institutions.
In our report being published today, the Law Reform Commission has made 32 recommendations for reform of the law on harmful communications and digital safety. Our report aims to encourage education and empowerment about positive and safe digital citizenship, while also recognising that the digital media revolution has brought negative aspects such as cyberbullying, harassment and stalking.

This report is the culmination of an extensive consultation process including workshops with young people, and consultation with representatives from Government, the social media sector, legal practitioners, law enforcement and academia. We also looked to how other countries - including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK - have tackled this area.

The digital media revolution has brought enormous communications benefits and has expanded the capacity for freedom of expression. But this freedom has also brought negative aspects, including some users engaging in communications that cause harm to others, including by posting intimate images online without consent, which involves gross breaches of the right to privacy.

The report deals with a wide range of behaviour, including the intentional victim-shaming of individuals (overwhelmingly women) sometimes referred to as 'revenge porn' (our report tries to avoid that phrase because it may suggest it is "just porn"); posting intimidating and threatening online messages; and a new type of voyeurism, sometimes referred to as 'upskirting' and 'down-blousing' in which intimate images are taken without consent and posted online.

In addition, online and digital harassment mirror, to some extent, the older versions of these harmful behaviours. Harmful communications can also include other, arguably less harmful but nonetheless hurtful, types of bullying behaviour, such as sending unpleasant messages, 'unfriending' or 'freezing out' from groups.

A big challenge is how we should deal with these harmful communications, and our report follows well-accepted principles, especially the need to achieve a balance between relevant rights - such as freedom of expression on the one hand, and the right to privacy on the other. Therefore, our report has recommended that we should approach this on three different levels. First, through education: to create user empowerment and to foster safe and positive digital citizenship. Secondly, through statutory oversight: where education and related responses are ineffective and the law needs to be employed, a system of statutory oversight should be used because it can be a more suitable and proportionate response than using the criminal law. Thirdly, criminal law can play a part, but only in respect of the most serious, harmful communications.

In terms of education and oversight, our report recommends that we should establish a statutory Digital Safety Commissioner who would promote digital safety, and have an educational role to promote positive digital citizenship among children. We envisage that the commissioner, and the Ombudsman for Children, would liaise with education partners (the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the NCCA, the National Parents Council and student representative bodies) to develop guidance material for schools on what it means to be a safe and responsible digital citizen. This would include guidance on encouraging mediation and restorative processes, especially to deal with issues for which a criminal law response would not be suitable.

We recommend that the Digital Safety Commissioner would publish a statutory Code of Practice on digital safety. This would build on the current non-statutory take-down procedures developed by the online and digital sector, including social media sites, to respond to take-down requests concerning harmful communications.

Under the proposed statutory system, individuals would initially apply to a social media site to have harmful material removed in accordance with agreed timelines, similar to the system in Australia. If a social media site did not comply with the standards in the Code of Practice, the individual could then appeal to the Digital Safety Commissioner, who could direct a social media site to comply with the standards in the code. If a social media site did not comply with the Digital Safety Commissioner's direction, the commissioner could apply to the Circuit Court for a court order requiring compliance.

Criminal law has a role in addressing the most serious types of harmful communications and we have recommended the enactment of two new criminal offences to deal with posting intimate images online without consent. The first is to deal with the intentional 'victim-shaming' by posting intimate images without consent, often done after a relationship has broken down.

The second new offence also deals with posting intimate photos or videos and is to deal with 'upskirting' and 'down-blousing'.

We recommend reforms of the existing offence of harassment, to ensure that it includes online activity such as posting fake social media profiles. We also recommend that there should be a separate offence of stalking, which is an aggravated form of harassment. The introduction of a separate stalking offence in Scotland, England and Wales has led to more reporting of what might otherwise be a hidden form of harassment (and, after a debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly, a separate offence of stalking is to be considered there too).

Our report also recommends reform of the existing offence of sending threatening and intimidating messages, again to ensure that it fully captures the most serious types of online intimidation.

We think there is a strong case to develop national standards that can educate and empower everyone to become safe digital citizens. The establishment of a commissioner could work to help achieve this. In addition, we believe that criminal law can play a suitable deterrent role in labelling as completely unacceptable the most serious kinds of harmful communications. We recognise that decisions about whether to implement some or all of these recommendations are for others, and we hope that the discussion in the report will help in that process.

Raymond Byrne is a full-time commissioner in the Law Reform Commission
I am in the United States this week, and finding out how people here feel about the presidential election.

Although the candidates have been selected through a primary process, in which the voters themselves have had the final word, they now find themselves deeply dissatisfied with the choice they have given themselves.

Everybody was looking to the debate in the early hours of this morning as a signal for the momentum of the campaign.

The debate may enable Hillary Clinton to re-establish the sizeable lead she won after the conventions. Or it may confirm the more recent trend of increasing support for Donald Trump.

One influential person told me he thought more Americans would watch the debate than have ever watched any event on television before.

In past presidential elections, the first debate has also had a disproportionate influence.

Under the Electoral College system, a narrow win in the popular vote can gain all the electors of that state for the winning candidate. The margin of victory does not matter. The winner takes all. Because of the way her support is spread throughout the country, this system gives Clinton (pictured inset) the advantage.

The system means that the candidates will tend to focus their appeal to certain 'swing' states.

One seasoned observer said to me that the election comes down to just four swing states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. He said that, to get a majority in the Electoral College, Clinton just needs to win one of these swing states, whereas Trump must win all four of them.

As a European, I have found the depth of the hostility, in some quarters, to Clinton surprising. Concrete evidence of specific wrongful acts is absent. But the negative feelings towards her are very strong. Her own campaign advertising against Trump is itself very negative, which feeds this.

In the case of Trump, it is his personality, rather than his policies, that attract attention.

His policies include:

imposing 35pc tariff on imports from Mexico;

imposing a 45pc tariff on imports from China;

ending the trade agreement with South Korea;

considering US withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation.

These trade policies of Donald Trump are a radical departure from the traditional policies of the Republican Party.

They have been analysed by the Petersen Institute for International Economics (PIIE) in Washington DC, which says that, if implemented, they would ignite a trade war because retaliatory tariffs would be imposed on US exports.

They say that, if elected, President Trump could implement these policies even without the approval of Congress.

PIEE has calculated which states within the US would lose most from the trade war a victorious President Trump might initiate.

Washington State, home of Boeing, tops the list, with a loss of 5pc of all jobs. Other big losers would include California, Connecticut and Illinois.

But two 'must win' states for Trump, Pennsylvania and Texas, also stand to lose more jobs than most if his policies lead to a trade war.

Support for Trump, and for his anti-trade policies, derives from an instinct that many Americans have, that globalisation (the free movement of foods, services and money around the world) is reducing their personal job security, and rendering their skills redundant.

In the 1990s, when world trade was growing at 5pc a year, and everyone's income was rising, Americans were willing to put up with the disruption and uncertainty brought by the opening up of markets.

Now, with the emergency caused by the banking crisis receding, and world trade growing at only 2pc, more people are willing to take the risk of voting for a radical anti-trade candidate like Trump.

A similar willingness to take big risks, to make a point, was evident in the 52pc vote for Brexit in the UK.

Trump's policy of making the allies of the US pay more for their own defence also strikes a chord with many Americans.

While he wants to "make America Great again", Trump does not believe the US should pay, as much as it does at present, for other countries' defence. This explains why some East European countries are pressing for the EU to take a bigger role in defence. Ireland, as an EU member, will have to take account of these trends.

Trump, who is spending a lot less on his campaign than Clinton, is also tapping into a dissatisfaction among voters with the disproportionate role that money and fundraising play in US politics.

From the moment he or she is elected, a new member of Congress must spend three times as much time, every day, on the phone, raising money for the next election, as he or she does on legislative business or in meeting ordinary constituents.

All this explains why this is an angry election, on both sides of the divide.
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)

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 and actress 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 Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Actress Angelina Jolie (L) waves to fans with actor Brad Pitt (R) during 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' Japan Premiere at Roppongi Hills on January 29, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. The film will open in Japan on Feburary 7. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Brad Pitt has released a statement, saying he is "putting his kids first".

The actor has released the statement a week after his wife of two years Angelina Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Pitt also confirmed he will not be attending a screening for his new gilm Voyage of Time due to take place on Wednesday, September 28.

The 52-year-old said; "I'm very grateful to be part of such a fascinating and educational project [Voyage of Time], but I'm currently focused on my family situation and don't want to distract attention away from this extraordinary film, which I encourage everyone to see."

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

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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)

Jolie (41) hit global headlines after she filed for divorce last Monday, September 19.

The couple were together for a total of 12 years.

Jolie is also seeking sole custody of the couple's six children; Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8. Jolie is being represented by well-known Hollywood divorce attorney Laura Wasser and has requested that Pitt only get joint legal custody.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light

Prince William and Kate were left deluged by downpours when they visited a Canadian rainforest - to inaugurate the natural wonder into a new initiative.

The British royal couple were forced to change some of their programme when forecast torrential rain swamped the rural settlement of Bella Bella in British Columbia - which has direct links to the British crown.

But they received a rapturous welcome from the small Heiltsuk First Nation community, whose claim to the lands in the area was recognised by Queen Victoria in the form of a staff, presented to the people by a representative of the monarch.

In a community hall or "big house" filled with the Heiltsuk people, William and Kate were honoured as "people of standing" - with important men known as Hemas and the women Umaks.

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light / Facebook

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For her day in the Canadian wilderness Kate wore a Holland and Holland jacket and Zara jeans and, in acknowledgement of her hosts, donned earrings by Canadian designer Pippa Small.

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Lining an open space in the community centre's hall were around 12 hereditary priests in their colourful ceremonial costumes with long flowing headdresses made from animal pelts.

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light / Facebook

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The pair were greeted by each in turn before a welcoming dance was performed and musicians played drums.

A spokesman for the community said: "The welcoming dance performed was for royalty and is seen on very special occasions. It is performed every time there's anybody the community want to welcome and bring into the community as a sign of good faith."

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light / Facebook

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Later the royal couple will travel to nearby McLoughlin Bay, where the rainforest will be officially committed to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy during a brief ceremony.

The royal visitors will also have an opportunity to see one of the new walking trails being constructed in the area.

Expand Close Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a cultural sharing ceremony at the Wawiskas Community Hall during their eight day royal tour to Canada in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light / Facebook

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Mary-Kate Olsen spending some time by the water on vacation in Antibes, Southern France. Pictures by : FameFlynet UK  2016

Ashley Olsen at the 'Hotel Du Cap' in Antibes, France. Pictures by : FameFlynet UK  2016

Ashley (L) and Mary-Kate Olsen in Antibes, France. Pictures by : FameFlynet UK  2016

Only Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen could make plain black swimwear look so stylish.

The two laid-back fashionistas were spotted soaking up the sun at Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes on Sunday.

The notoriously private Olsen twins looked relaxed and carefree as they dipped into the sea in the south of France.

Mary-Kate showed off her rock-hard abs in a tiny black bikini, paired with colourful necklaces and bangles, while Ashely sported a white strapless one-piece.

Expand Close Mary-Kate Olsen spending some time by the water on vacation in Antibes, Southern France. Pictures by : FameFlynet UK  2016 / Facebook

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The New York-based sisters were in France to attend the wedding of art collector Alberto Mugrabi and fashion blogger Colby Jordan at the hotel, where they were also seen spending time with English model Poppy Delevingne.

The 30-year-olds were joined by Mary-Kates husband Olivier Sarkozy, half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Olivier (47) and Mary-Kate reportedly wed in an intimate ceremony in New York last November, and Mary-Kates engagement ring couldnt be missed as it glistened in the sun.

The banker reportedly bought the Cartier sparkler for over $80,000 at a Sothebys auction.

The former actresses have spent the last decade focusing on their high-fashion label, The Row, which was awarded the title of CFDA Accessory Designers of the Year in 2014.
The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada.

The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

Kate Middleton dazzled in a red cocktail dress on Monday night as she continues the Canadian Royal Tour.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her most glamorous outfit yet; a scarlet, classic-cut dress by London designer Preen.

Kate (34) wore the dress for a reception at British Columbias Government House in Victoria on the third of eight days she will spend in Canada.

She wore her hair in a simple up-do, paired with diamond earrings and a diamond maple leaf brooch, in tribute to Canadas flag.

Expand Close The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

The formal ensemble was a great transformation from the Zara jeans and Holland and Holland jacket the mother-of-two wore earlier that day due to downpours.

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She was joined by her husband Prince William and around 200 other guests at the historic reconciliation ceremony with Canadian First Nations groups.

The Duchess landed in Victoria on Saturday evening with Prince William and children Prince George (three) and Princess Charlotte (one) in their first international engagement as a family of four.

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.

Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at Government House in Victoria, during the third day of their tour of Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 26, 2016. See PA story ROYAL Canada. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

''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.''
A 92-year-old farmer is hoping to finally meet the woman of his dreams at the annual matchmaking festival he has attended every year since he was 23.

Tipperary man Mick Burke revealed that while he fell in love several times at Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, he has yet to happen upon the woman of his dreams.

I never married. I had a lot of lucky escapes. I fell in love with several women I met in Lisdoonvarna. I used to go home with a pocketful of phone numbers  this was my fodder for the winter! I would go out on dates and to dances but had no notion of getting married, said Mick, from Borrislea.

I had a few girlfriends over the years. Once I was going out with a girl at home but I broke it off before I went to Lisdoonvarna  when I came back that was the end of that relationship.

Back then, Lisdoonvarna and the month of September were known as the farmers holiday  lots of bachelor farmers would come looking for a wife. There was a real rush to get the hay in so you can go to the spa, as it was known in those days. Lisdoonvarna was the place to go for a holiday and people would be looking forward to it all year.

The farmer revealed that he had several meetings with legendary matchmaker Willie Daly, but a suitable partner was never found.

Expand Close Mick (92) pictured with Matchmaker Willie Daly at Lisdoonvarna / Facebook

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There would be lots of women from American back then, looking for a rich farmer. I had 200 acre sheep farm. Once I was dating a woman from Dublin and she came to visit me on the farm; it was particularly bad winter and we got snowed in for a few days. After the snow thawed she got straight on a train back to Dublin and that was the end of that. I think the remote location put a lot of women off.

I always said that if I had met someone that would have been the end to my trips to Lisdoonvarna, he said.

Mick admitted that its best to come to Lisdoonvarna without expectations, but holds out hope he will meet his soulmate.

My ideal woman is someone who is good company and able to dance the razor blade dance dont think she has been born yet. I have to go as far as my eyes can see.

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I love coming back every year, meeting old friends and dancing and theres never any trouble here. I would say the best thing about coming to Lisdoonvarna is to come with no expectations and you will never be disappointed, he said.

The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year and will run until October 9th. For more information visit www.matchmakerireland.com
A family member of an injured passenger cries outside the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu (AP)

At least 18 people have died after an overcrowded bus taking villagers home for Nepal's biggest festival slipped off a mountain road.

The bus was carrying passengers both inside and on the roof, Dhading district administrator Toran Parajuli said.

He added the road was covered in parts by mud from landslides, and that the bus driver appeared to be trying to negotiate these areas when the accident happened.

Rescue co-ordinator Ramesh Dhamala said the left wheel of the bus slipped, with the whole of the vehicle then rolling off the road.

The bus slipped near Lapang Phedi village, 75 miles west of the capital Kathmandu, and rolled about 1,000ft before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.

Police, army personnel and local villagers helped the victims, 13 of whom were taken to hospital by two helicopters sent from Kathmandu.

The bus, which was on a local route and carrying all Nepali nationals, was unusually crowded because people in Nepal are heading to their homes this week for the Hindu festival of Dashain, which begins on Saturday.

The two-week festival is the most important one in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country.

It is illegal to travel on the roof of a bus in Nepal, but police do not monitor rural roads. Traffic accidents in the Himalayan country are blamed mainly on poorly maintained roads and vehicles.

AP
Britain's most important double agent of the Second World War almost had his cover blown because his homesick wife could not stand living in England, according to secret files made public for the first time.

Juan Pujol Garcia - codenamed Agent Garbo by MI5 - was a Spanish national living in the London suburb of Harrow from where ran a network of fictitious sub-agents sending back a steady stream of false intelligence reports to his German spymasters.

His elaborate deceptions helped to convince the Nazis the D-Day landings would take place at the Pas de Calais - diverting German forces away from Normandy, scene of the actual invasion, saving countless Allied lives in the process.

However MI5 files released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, show how his scheming was nearly wrecked because his wife, Araceli, struggled to cope with the pressures of his double life.

Fears the deception could unravel if she was recognised by fellow Spaniards in London, meant that her movements were strictly controlled by Pujol and she was largely confined to the house with her two children, to her intense frustration.

Matters finally came to a head in June 1943 - a year before D-Day - when, after quarrelling violently with her husband, Mrs Pujol threatened to go to the Spanish embassy and tell all unless she was allowed to travel home to see her mother.

"I don't want to live five minutes longer with my husband," she screamed at Pujol's alarmed MI5 case officer, Tomas Harris. "Even if they kill me I am going to the Spanish embassy."

With a visit to Spain out of the question, Mr Harris suggested she should be told Pujol had been sacked as a result of her outburst, while quietly allowing him to carry on his work against the Germans under the cover of working as a BBC translator.

Pujol, however, felt rather more drastic action was needed if she was to be brought round. With the agreement of MI5 he came up with a deception plan every bit as cunning as those he used to fool the Germans.

The next day Mrs Pujol was informed her husband had been detained following a violent argument with his MI5 spymasters over her treatment - prompting what Mr Harris described in his report as a "hysterical outburst".

She then threatened to take the children and "make a disappearance". A MI5 officer who was sent to check up on her found she had turned on all the gas taps in the house in an apparent suicide attempt.

"He said he felt there was a 90% chance she was play acting, but there existed a 10% chance of an accident," reported Mr Harris, who sent over his own wife to comfort her.

The following afternoon, a tearful Mrs Pujol was taken blindfolded to MI5's Camp 020 interrogation centre near Ham Common, west London, where her husband was brought before her, unshaven and dressed in camp clothing.

In an emotional reunion, she swore to him she had never meant to carry out her threat to go to the embassy and had simply wanted her request to to return home to be taken seriously.

"She promised that if only he was released from prison, she would help him in every way to continue his work with even greater zeal than before," Mr Harris noted. "She left Camp 020 more composed, but still weeping."

The charade was not quite over. Mrs Pujol was then taken before MI5's legal adviser, Major Edward Cussen, who after a stern dressing down, told her he had decided her husband should be released and allowed to continue his work.

"He reminded her that he had no time to waste with tiresome people and that if her name was ever mentioned to him again, he would simply direct that she should be locked up," Mr Harris noted. "She returned home very chastened to await husband's arrival."

Mr Harris was clearly in awe at the way Pujol orchestrated the whole affair, writing: "The extraordinary ingenuity with which he has conceived and carried through this plan has perhaps saved a situation which might otherwise have been intolerable."
The ex-husband and the father of British woman Samia Shahid are escorted to court in Pakistan where they face trial for murder over her alleged honour killing (AP)

The trial of the father and ex-husband of a British woman for her alleged rape and murder in a so-called honour killing has opened in Pakistan.

Mohammad Shahid is accused of killing his daughter, Samia Shahid, 28, along with her ex-husband, Mohammad Shakeel.

Defence lawyer Mohammed Arif said t he court in Islamabad gave copies of the charge sheet to the two men, who must decide by October 7 if they plead guilty or not guilty before Judge Ambreen Qureshi.

After appearing at a pre-trial hearing last week, Mohammad Shahid spoke to reporters outside the courtroom and denied all the charges.

"We will contest the case," lawyer Mr Arif said on Tuesday, suggesting the accused may plead not guilty.

Mrs Shahid, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was visiting family in July when she was found dead of what were initially assumed to be natural causes, and buried in a local cemetery in the village of Pandori.

However, a fresh inquiry was ordered by the Pakistan government after her second husband, Syed Mukhtar Kazam, publicly accused her family of killing her because they opposed her decision to divorce her first husband in 2014 and marry him.

A police investigation concluded that her ex-husband raped her as her father stood guard before they both strangled her. It described the killing as "premeditated, cold-blooded murder".

The investigation also implicated the victim's mother, Imtiaz Bibi, and sister, Madiha Shahid, who are British nationals, accusing them of luring her into the murder plot.

It said both women fled back to England after the murder, and suggested they should be extradited to Pakistan to be tried on abetment charges.

Mrs Shahid married her first husband in February 2012 but stayed only briefly in Pakistan before returning to England where she obtained a divorce two years later.

After that, she married her second husband and moved with him to Dubai. Her family never accepted the second marriage, because Mr Kazam is a Shiite Muslim and not a relative, the police report said.

Pakistan reports nearly 1,000 "honour killings" every year.

AP
Members of the public pay their respects at a memorial to Keith Scott after he was shot dead by police (AP)

Angry Charlotte residents have criticised city council members over what they called "unaccountable" police and civilian leaders who have failed to bring about change one week on from the fatal shooting of a black man by an officer.

The council opened the floor to dozens of residents who voiced their opinions about the shooting of Kevin Lamont Scott by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police in the North Carolina city last week.

Many called on mayor Jennifer Roberts, police chief Kerr Putney and other council members to resign on the seventh day of protests since the shooting on September 20.

"It's going to be rough in these streets until you give justice to our people," said the Rev Milton Williams, the final speaker in a three-hour session.

"Our city's in an uproar, and you did not respond."

Several speakers carried signs expressing their anger.

Many called for the repeal of legislation taking effect on Saturday which blocked the release of police video of the shooting without a court order. Others demanded the release of all police video footage of the confrontation.

Mr Scott's family and advocacy groups say the department divulged only about three minutes of footage from two cameras. They have urged the police department to release all other video footage it possesses, as well as audio recordings of communications that could clarify how the situation unfolded. A media coalition is also requesting more footage.

Khasha Harris told city council members: "We have no reason to trust you, and you're giving us even less."

Council member Kenny Smith said the authority should be listening and taking action to answer the concerns.

"The unrest here has been decades in the making," council member Al Alston said. "Tuesday was the boiling point, and it's getting hotter."

The footage released so far of Mr Scott's shooting left questions in many people's minds - including whether he was holding a gun, as police have stated. Mr Scott's family said he did not have a weapon.

The footage includes body camera video from one officer, but not the black officer who fatally wounded Mr Scott.

The gun recovered at the scene of the shooting had been stolen and later sold to Mr Scott, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police source said, though there was no official confirmation of this.

At a rally at a city centre church, North Carolina civil rights leader the Rev William Barber said federal authorities should investigate the city's police department.

Police officers who fail to operate their body cameras during an encounter should be prosecuted, the Rev Barber added.

Six people have been fatally shot since body cameras were given to all patrol officers about a year ago. But the officers who fired the fatal shots in five of those cases - including Mr Scott's - were not using the cameras.

Charlotte police did not respond to requests for information about those cases.

AP
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the start of the presidential debate (AP)

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump at the start of the presidential debate at Hofstra University (AP)

Donald Trump has blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and anyone but himself after facing a barrage of criticism by Hillary Clinton over his taxes, honesty and character in the first US presidential debate.

The Republican nominee tried to defend himself against some of Mrs Clinton's most damaging attacks the next morning, even when the explanations seemed only to further damage his image among the voters he needs to win.

After brushing off her debate claim that he had once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight, Mr Trump dug deeper on Tuesday.

"She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem," he told Fox And Friends about the 1996 winner of the pageant he once owned.

Mrs Clinton, meanwhile, was in a celebratory mood, telling reporters on her campaign plane she had a "great, great time" and was "thrilled" by how it went.

She accused Mr Trump of making "demonstrably untrue" claims in the debate and mocked him for floating the possibility that debate organisers had set him up by lowering the volume on his "terrible" microphone so he was quieter than Mrs Clinton.

"Anybody who's complaining about the microphone is not having a good night," she said.

Both campaigns knew the highly anticipated first debate could mark a turning point six weeks before Election Day, but it was unclear whether either candidate would reap significant gains.

Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton are locked in an exceedingly close race and competing vigorously to win over undecided voters.

Although he said on Twitter that he had "really enjoyed" the debate, Mr Trump accused moderator Lester Holt of a left-leaning performance and going harder on him than on Mrs Clinton.

He insisted he had "no sniffles" and no allergies despite the #snifflegate speculation that had exploded on social media.

Still, Mr Trump insisted he had gotten the better of Mrs Clinton, awarding her a C-plus while declining to assign himself a grade.

He also threatened to go harder after her in the next debate and said he had planned to assail Bill Clinton for his "many affairs" and stopped himself solely because daughter Chelsea Clinton had been in the room.

With precious few weeks left to campaign, both candidates returned promptly to the trail, with Mrs Clinton campaigning in North Carolina on Tuesday and Mr Trump in Florida.

Those are among a handful of toss-up states whose winners could help determine the outcome of the election.

Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump are slated to face each other again in St Louis on October 9.

Asked about the possibility Mr Trump could pull out, Mrs Clinton said she would show up regardless.

"If I'm the only person on stage, well, you know, I'm the only person on stage," she said.

Mr Trump's latest comments about Alicia Machado, the 1996 Miss Universe, were striking in that they come just as he is working to broaden his appeal among women.

Aiming to capitalise on his renewed focus on a woman's weight, Mrs Clinton's campaign dispatched Ms Machado - who is backing Mrs Clinton - to tell reporters how she spent years struggling with eating disorders after being humiliated publicly by Mr Trump.

"I never imagined then, 20 years later I would be in this position, I would be in this moment, like, watching this guy again doing stupid things and stupid comments," Ms Machado said.

"It's really a bad dream for me."

The two candidates' first face-to-face showdown the night before was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Mrs Clinton and speaking over her answers.

She was more measured and restrained, often smiling through his answers, well-aware of the television cameras capturing her reaction.

Mr Trump tried aggressively to pin America's problems on Mrs Clinton.

However, the Democrat, showing her intensive preparations, went after him as hard or harder, including sharp criticism of his business practices and false assertions about President Barack Obama's birthplace, which she called part of a pattern of "racist behaviour".

She repeatedly criticised Mr Trump for breaking tradition by refusing to release his tax returns, declaring: "There's something he's hiding."

When Mrs Clinton suggested his refusal might be because he possibly paid nothing in federal taxes, he interrupted to say: "That makes me smart."

"What in the hell he is talking about?" asked an exasperated Vice President Joe Biden as he campaigned for Mrs Clinton in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

He noted Mr Trump had boasted of making money off the housing market's collapse.

The centrepiece of Mr Trump's case against Mrs Clinton is that the former senator and secretary of state is little more than a career politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international problems she is now pledging to tackle as president.

"She's got experience," he said, "but it's bad experience."

When Mr Trump made a crack about Mrs Clinton taking time off the campaign trail to prepare for the debate, she turned it into a validation of her readiness.

"I think Donald just criticised me for preparing for this debate," Mrs Clinton said.

"And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

AP
After half a century of bloodshed, Colombians have embarked on a new path to settle their political differences with the signing of a historic peace accord between the government and leftist rebels.

President Juan Manuel Santos and Rodrigo Londono, top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), formally signed the agreement before a crowd of 2,500 foreign dignitaries and special guests, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US secretary of state John Kerry.

Many in the audience, all dressed in white, had tears in their eyes as Mr Santos removed from his lapel a pin shaped like a white dove which he has been wearing for years and handed it over to his former adversary, who fastened it to his own shirt.

It was one of many symbolic gestures during the 90-minute ceremony overlooking the colonial ramparts of Cartagena that filled Colombians with hope and optimism for the work ahead to implement a 297-page accord that took four years to negotiate.

The deal's first test will be a weekend referendum in which voters are being asked to ratify or reject the deal.

If it passes, as expected, Colombia will move on to the thornier and still uncertain task of reconciliation.

If the accord is accepted by Colombian voters in Sunday's referendum, as polls say it will, the FARC's estimated 7,000 fighters would have to turn over their weapons to a team of United Nations-sponsored observers within six months.

A much tougher challenge will be reconciliation, a process that will require rebels and state agents who want to avoid jail to confess to war crimes committed during a 52-year conflict marred by brutalities on both sides.

The European Union announced it has suspended its sanctions against the FARC, which has been on the bloc's "terrorist list" since 2002. The sanctions have allowed the EU to freeze the assets of people, groups and entities linked to the FARC and to stop Europeans making funds or economic resources available to it. The US has yet to follow suit, although Mr Kerry said he was open to reconsidering the group's status.

In the longer term, the two sides have drafted an ambitious agenda to hasten the development of Colombia's long-neglected countryside and rid it of illegal coca crops that starting in the 1980s strengthened the FARC - and some say morally corrupted it - while other insurgencies across Latin America fell to the wayside.

Mr Londono, best known by his alias Timochenko, called Mr Santos "a courageous partner" and proclaimed there was no turning back on the FARC's decision to abandon Colombia's jungles.

"Let no-one doubt that we are going into politics without weapons," he said, before ending his speech with a simple but loudly applauded appeal for forgiveness.

"I apologise for all the pain that we have caused," he said.

Mr Santos, who for years was the FARC's top military opponent, was equally emphatic that he would honour his promise to promote pluralism and open up Colombia's traditionally elite-driven political system.

"As head of state of the fatherland we all love, I want to welcome you to democracy," he said. Earlier, he led the crowd in chants of "no more war".

Across the country, Colombians celebrated with a host of activities, from peace concerts to a street party in the capital, Bogota, where the signing ceremony was broadcast live on a giant screen.

AP
A 35-year-old man who was arrested by police investigating claims that the iCloud account of Kate Middleton's sister 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 Kate and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are reportedly among 3,000 images taken from her sister, Pippa.

Private photographs were said to have been offered to 'The Sun' and 'Daily Mail' via the online messaging service WhatsApp.

'The Sun' said it had been approached by someone using a pseudonym and asking for 50,000 (58,000) 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 - and led to images being posted online.

In July it was announced that Miss Middleton would marry her financier boyfriend James Matthews in a society wedding in 2017.

Hedge fund boss Mr Matthews proposed during a trip to the Lake District after they had dated for less than a year.
A Ryanair flight has been forced to land in Paris after having an emergency declared mid-air.

Flight FR1633 was making its way from Limoges in southwest France to East Midlands airport in the UK but was diverted to Paris Beauvais where it landed safely.

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A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "This flight from Limoges to East Midlands (27 Sept) diverted to Paris Beauvais after a customer became ill on board. The aircraft landed normally and the customer was met by medical personnel, and disembarked for further treatment.

"The aircraft is due to depart for East Midlands shortly. Ryanair sincerely apologised to affected customers for any inconvenience caused.
Antique coins are displayed at a newly opened museum in the southern city of Basra (AP)

Iraq has opened a new antiquities museum in the southern city of Basra, featuring pottery, coins and other artefacts dating back more than 2,000 years.

Although only one hall was opened due to a shortage of funds, according to Qahtan al-Obaid, the museum director, it will showcase objects dating back to 400 BC outlining the history of the oil-rich city on the Persian Gulf.

Mr al-Obaid said there are plans to open other wings which would exhibit Babylonian, Assyrian and Sumerian artefacts from across Iraq dating back to 3,300 BC.

Iraq is currently in the grip of an economic crisis linked to the plunge in global oil prices and the war against Islamic State (IS).

The museum is housed in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, which had briefly served as a mess hall for British troops after the 2003 US-led invasion which overthrew him.

Mr al-Obaid said the location was chosen in order to "replace the themes of dictatorship and tyranny" with civilisation and humanity.

The museum was conceived in 2008 after the British withdrawal, and was partly funded by a UK charity. The hall that opened Tuesday cost an estimated 750,000 dollars (578,000), of which 500,000 dollars (385,000) was provided by the oil company BP, which operates in Basra, Mr al-Obaid said.

Basra has been inhabited for thousands of years, but the current city dates back to AD 637. It flourished during the Middle Ages as an important cultural and commercial centre of the Abbasid Empire. It also marked the departure point for Sinbad the Sailor's fictional adventures in Africa and South Asia.

Iraq's oil-rich south is far from the front lines of the war with IS, which has destroyed ancient sites in northern Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

AP
Ryan Lochte is banned from swimming until next June (AP)

Two men have been charged after they rushed the stage of Dancing With The Stars in a protest against US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office said Sam Sotoodeh and Barzeen Soroudi were charged with interfering with a performance and leaving a spectator area and entering a stage, both misdemeanors.

Sotoodeh, 59, and Soroudi, 25 were arrested during a taping of the ABC ballroom dancing competition on September 12.

Sotoodeh told ABC News they wanted to "get the message out that Lochte is a coward, a liar and, under Brazilian law, a criminal".

Mr Lochte and three of his swimming team-mates faced criticism after lying about a drunken encounter during the Rio Olympics.

Arraignment is set for October 4. Each man could face six months in jail and a 1,000 US dollar (770) fine if convicted.
A woman walks in front of the entrance to the mosque in Dresden, Germany (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP)

Two home-made explosive devices have been detonated outside a mosque and a conference centre in the eastern German city of Dresden.

No-one was hurt in the incident, and there is no immediate report on the extent of damage from the explosions which took place late on Monday.

Police president Horst Kretschmar said: "Even though we do not have a letter of confession, we must assume there's a xenophobic background."

German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere called the attacks "outrageous".

He said: "Aggression against people who are practising Islam is increasing in Germany.

"Fortunately, people didn't get hurt, but we don't want these things to happen in Germany."

Police said they found pieces of the devices in front of the buildings.

An imam with his wife and two sons were inside the mosque at the time. They were not injured, but the entrance door was forced into the building by the blast.

Police have increased security outside mosques all over Dresden.

"I looked out of the window and saw how somebody with a motorcycle helmet threw something," the imam's son, Ibrahim Turan, told the Bild newspaper.

"First I thought it was a stone, but then there was a loud bang and the door was on fire."

The second device exploded shortly after the first on a terrace between a hotel and the International Congress Centre, a facility which can accommodate 6,000 people for conferences.

The blast destroyed a decorative glass block on the outdoor terrace. Police evacuated the hotel bar and asked people to stay away from windows at the hotel building.

Around 50 officers were involved in the overnight operation, police said.

Mr Kretschmar said the two explosions could have also been connected to Germany's national unification celebrations next Monday, which will be held in Dresden.

Dresden is the state capital of Saxony, which has seen a number of racist attacks recently.

The German government published a report last week warning that there had been an increase of racist and far-right attacks in eastern Germany which it called "a big threat for the development of the society and economy".

AP
A man accused of three murders threatened a judge that is renowned for her kind gestures in court.

Brice Rhodes, who is accused of killing three people including two teenagers, was wearing a spit mask when he was wheeled into Judge Amber Wolf's court in Jefferson District, Kentucky.

His profanity-laced tirade was caught on video.

"Why you all havin' me come in like this for?" Rhodes' muffled voice asked from behind the spit mask, according to a courtroom video obtained by WDRB.com.

He added after an angry, expletive-filled protest; "I don't care what I've been charged with."

He continued; "I don't care! I don't care!

"Don't you think I'm gonna **** find out where you live at?...*** I don't give a *** about none of that! I didn't do ***! I'll be out!"

"You got family! I'll be out!"

The judge charged him with assault in the fourth degree, minor injury, terroristic threatening in the third degree and harassment with physical contact.
A New York City firefighter killed in a house explosion has been identified as a Bronx battalion chief.

Michael Fahey, a 17-year veteran of the New York Fire Department and a father-of-three, was struck by debris from the Tuesday morning collapse in the Kingsbridge area.

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New York mayor Bill de Blasio and fire commissioner Daniel Nigro said Mr Fahey was rushed to the hospital, but could not be saved.

Authorities were responding to a report of a gas leak when the residence exploded, shortly after firefighters discovered a possible drugs lab there.

Images from the scene showed much of the house was gone, with debris strewn over the street and covering parked cars. Parts of the first floor could also be made out.
Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump, with his wife Melania, talks to reporters in the spin room after his first debate against Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, U.S. September 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Here are 10 key points from the first live televised debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House.

Jobs and the economy:

The candidates kicked off with different approaches to the first question on Americans' wealth and work, with Mrs Clinton looking to future policies while Mr Trump targeted the Democrats' record in government. Mrs Clinton noted that it was her granddaughter Charlotte's second birthday as she pledged to achieve gender parity in the workplace and increase taxes for the wealthy.

Mr Trump said the US had lost jobs to Mexico and industry to China and promised to revive the US economy by lowering taxes, cutting regulation and renegotiating trade deals. He repeatedly attacked his rival's husband, former US president Bill Clinton, for the North American Free Trade Agreement which was approved under his administration in the 1990s.

Mrs Clinton used the subject of family income to launch a personal attack on Mr Trump, contrasting his charmed start in life with her own.

Emails and tax returns:

These were two subjects on which both candidates could expect to be attacked. Mrs Clinton admitted she had made a mistake by using a private email system during her tenure as US secretary of state. Mr Trump said he would only disclose his tax affairs if his rival releases the "33,000 emails" deleted from her private server. However Mrs Clinton accused Mr Trump of hiding "something terrible", suggesting he may not be as wealthy as he claims, pay a low rate of tax or give smaller charitable donations than he has claimed.

Climate change:

Mr Trump denied saying climate change was false despite having tweeted in January 2014: "Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!"

He also claimed in 2012 that the concept of global warming was "created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive".

Race:

The candidates were asked how they would heal race relations in the wake of police shootings that have provoked outrage across the US. Mrs Clinton said gun violence is the leading cause of death among young African-American men and tackling the "plague of gun violence" is critical.

The pair clashed on "stop and frisk" laws, with Mr Trump claiming a judge's ruling that the practice was unconstitutional was wrong. He said: "Right now our police are afraid of doing anything" and that if you walk down the streets in places like Chicago, "you get shot". A theme throughout his campaign has been to "make America safe again".

"Birther" controversy:

Mr Trump recently dropped a conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States and was therefore ineligible to serve as president. The retreat came after years of campaigning for Mr Obama to release his birth certificate. In the debate Mr Trump blamed Mrs Clinton for starting the false claim that Mr Obama was born in Kenya and said that he was instrumental in achieving the certificate's release. Mrs Clinton accused her rival of spreading a "racist lie" that our "first black president" was not an American citizen.

Gender:

During an exchange over her ability to cope with the physical demands of the job, Mrs Clinton referred to an episode between Mr Trump and US chat show host Rosie O'Donnell. "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," the Democrat said.

Gun laws:

On a rare point of agreement between the candidates, Mr Trump said he supported Mrs Clinton's view that people on watch lists or no-fly lists should have restrictions on their ability to buy guns.

"We have to look very strongly at no-fly lists and watch lists," the tycoon said.

Defence and cyber security:

After batting off questions over his temperament, Mr Trump said he would not use America's nuclear arsenal unless the US was struck with warheads first. However he also said he "can't take anything off the table" and referred to issues with Iran and North Korea.

The candidates were quizzed on their views on cyber security, with a focus on Russia. Mrs Clinton said the US "is not going to sit idly by" and let hostile nations attempt to hack public or private information. Mr Trump's past praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin left him open to attack. He simply replied "wrong" when the comments were raised.

Terror:

Mr Trump was quick to bring national security into the debate even when the question was on a separate issue. He first accused Mrs Clinton of leaking tactics to Islamic State on her campaign website and criticised the Obama administration for the ascendancy of the terror group. The Democratic candidate said she is hopeful that IS will be eradicated by the end of the year - with taking out its leaders her top priority in office.

In the wake of several deadly terror-related incidents in the US, Mrs Clinton said her rival had "consistently insulted Muslims abroad, Muslims at home", while people from within the Muslim community would be key to fighting terror.

Fitness to serve:

Both candidates appeared fit and well during the debate - however, sniffling by Mr Trump set chins wagging on Twitter. After Mrs Clinton revealed earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia, Mr Trump questioned whether she had the stamina to be president. "You have so many different things you have to be able to do and I don't believe Hillary has the stamina," he said. Mrs Clinton said Mr Trump should not talk about stamina until he has tried out the busy schedule she kept up as secretary of state.
This alarming image was tweeted by @TNHighwayPatrol, which later sought to reassure the public that it was not taken in Tennessee Credit: TNHighwayPatrol

Authorities in Tennessee have warned the public that clowns may be attempting to lure children into the woods in the state.

The warnings, issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and the Tennessee Highway Patrol via their social media channels, come amid a spate of creepy clown sightings across the United States.

The agencies posted tweets stating: "Watch for clowns in your area. They could be child predators seeking kids" and: "Watch for clowns trying to lure children into the woods. They are possibly predators."

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It is unclear what specific incident, if any, prompted the warnings, but the Department of Safety said it would "continue to monitor this situation as it has been reported in Tennessee".

Last week a woman posted a photo of a clown she claims she spotted on the 192 highway in the city of London, Kentucky.

Jamie Hill explained: So, I was a little scared to post this because I didn't think anyone would believe me until Kelly Hill [a Facebook friend] told me that one of her friends just had seen a clown here in London.

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And I was out tonight and was headed back home on 192 and saw this. Now, it's not a really good picture because I couldn't stop, there [were] people behind me.

I seriously think this clown thing has gotten out of hand and someone is going to get hurt. Please share this so people around London will know that they are here!

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In a follow-up post she added: I didn't post that picture to get famous or any of that. I posted so people would be cautious.

The person behind the clown may or may not have meant any harm. I don't know that. I wasn't going to stay around to talk to it. That's for sure.

People saying it's fake and I just made it all up. I'm sorry to tell you, but it's not. (It) seems like ever since my post, clowns have (been) spotted in or around London.

I just want people to be cautious. People that have kids, keep an eye out on them. They [were] trying to lure kids into the woods. Stay safe everyone and God bless.

Police in South Carolina town have warned that anyone dressed as a clown could face arrest after reports of mystery figures frightening members of the public.

Clowns have also been spotted in North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, WTVQ reports.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Calum McSwiggan, who has been charged with filing a false police report after he claimed he was assaulted near a gay club in West Hollywood. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department/PA Wire

A YouTube star has appeared before a US court accused of lying to police over claims he was assaulted in West Hollywood.

Calum McSwiggan, from London, pleaded not guilty to filing a false police report after he claimed he was attacked by three men near The Abbey gay club on June 27.

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The 26-year-old, who has more than 64,000 subscribers on YouTube, posted a photo on Instagram as he lay in a hospital bed after the alleged attack, telling his followers he suffered three broken teeth and required six stitches to his head.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers investigated but were "unable to substantiate the assault".

McSwiggan had been arrested for vandalising a car and was taken to hospital after he began injuring himself with a police station payphone, a spokesman for the sheriff's department said.

McSwiggan, who is known to his followers on YouTube for discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, appeared at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of filing a false police report and vandalism.

He was ordered to return to the court for a pre-trial hearing on November 7 and refused to comment as he left the building.

After he was charged in June, McSwiggan wrote on Facebook that he had caused the injury that required the stitches to his head but insisted he was attacked by three men.

"Just because there were no visible marks on my face does not mean I was not attacked," he wrote.

"Being accused of being a liar and being called a disgrace to the LGBT+ community, a community I've dedicated my life to, is more painful than any hate crime could ever be."

McSwiggan had travelled to California in June for the online video conference VidCon.
Aleppo has seen some of the worst of the fighting (AP)

Syrian government forces have captured a central rebel-held area in Aleppo after a week of air strikes, as a military official vowed that the offensive would continue until the insurgents are "wiped out."

Syrian state TV said troops captured Farafra, near Aleppo's famous citadel, and that fighting is under way near the historic core of the northern city.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and former commercial centre, has been fiercely contested since rebels captured several eastern regions in 2012.

Those areas are now under siege, and over the past week have endured the worst aerial onslaught since the start of the war, with more than 200 people killed and several buildings flattened.

The battle for the city still appears deadlocked. Government forces captured the Handarat area on the northern edge of Aleppo over the weekend, only to lose it hours later.

The contested historic quarter of Aleppo, one of the world's oldest cities, is home to the Umayyad Mosque, a Unesco world heritage site. The 11th-century minaret of the famed mosque collapsed in April 2013 during fighting.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria, confirmed government forces are advancing on the old quarter.

"There was intense shelling earlier. It seemed the (government) was preparing for the attack," said Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, volunteer first responders also known as the White Helmets.

He added that news from the front line suggests a large mobilisation of pro-government militias in the old city.

Mr Alhaj and activist Yassin Abu Raed, who is based outside the city, said rebels were able to repel the offensive.

Mr Abu Raed said five troops were killed in the fighting. Alhaj said the house of his parents was shelled earlier, but that he was able to rescue them and bring them to his own home.

The latest escalation came after a week-long ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia unravelled, which each side accusing the other of violating the agreement.

A Syrian military official in the capital, Damascus, said operations in Aleppo will continue until the "terrorists" in the eastern parts of the city are "wiped out".

AP
The bill includes 500 million US dollars to help Louisiana after last month's flooding

The US Senate has stumbled over a must-do bill to prevent the government from shutting down this weekend and to fund the fight against the Zika virus.

Democrats, demanding money so that Flint, Michigan, can address its man-made water crisis, overwhelmingly opposed the measure, as did a host of the chamber's most conservative members.

The 45-55 vote stalls the stopgap funding bill - for now at least - and is exasperating top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made several concessions to Democrats in weeks of negotiations over the measure.

The GOP defections left Mr McConnell short of a simple majority, much less the 60 votes needed to clear a filibuster hurdle.

Republican leaders are promising to address the Flint issue after the election in a separate water resources bill, but Democrats refuse to take them at their word.

"'Trust me, we will consider Flint later' - that's like nothing to me," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Democrats say that it is unfair that the water crisis in Flint has gone on for more than a year with no assistance, while Louisiana and other states are getting 500 million US dollars (384 million) for floods that occurred just last month.

"Democrats have been clear that Congress should not leave Flint and other lead-tainted communities out of any (stopgap spending) negotiation that includes emergency disaster funding," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and other top Democrats in a Tuesday morning letter to Mr McConnell.

Mr McConnell characterised the Democratic position as "no Flint, no flood" and indicated he is considering dropping the flood aid.

The stopgap spending bill would keep the government running through to December 9 and provide 1.1 billion dollars (845 million) in long-delayed funding to fight the spread of the Zika virus and develop a vaccine and improved tests to detect it. Zika can cause grave birth defects.

Mr McConnell has made numerous concessions in weeks of negotiations on the measure, agreeing, for instance, to drop contentious provisions tied to Zika funding that led Democrats to filibuster prior Zika measures this summer and earlier this month.

"Can it really be that Democratic leaders have embraced dysfunction so thoroughly that they'd tank a non-controversial, 10-week funding bill over - well, what exactly?" Mr McConnell asked, as he opened the Senate on Tuesday.

"It's almost as if a few Democratic leaders decided long ago that bringing our country to the brink would make for good election-year politics."

Republicans say the Flint issue will be handled in a separate measure to authorise water development projects.

That measure - without Flint money - is set for a House floor debate on Tuesday, but Republicans are telegraphing it will be included in any final measure handled in a post-election session.

However, GOP leaders blocked Dan Kildee - who represents Flint - from getting a vote on the Senate measure on Monday night.

"We are going to deal with Flint," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday that the water development bill "is the better place to address this".

But Democrats say too many House Republicans oppose aid to Flint as a "local issue" or special earmark to take GOP leaders at their word.

"We need more than vague promises," said Senator Barbara Boxer.

AP
The hack was likened to an ecological disaster

Information security experts fear that internet giant Yahoo's massive breach data could be used to "pick locks" across the web.

While it is not yet known to what extent the record-breaking haul of passwords has been circulating, such breaches can send ripples of insecurity across the internet.

Matt Blaze, a security researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a Twitter message: "Data breaches on the scale of Yahoo are the security equivalent of ecological disasters."

One big worry concerns a cyber crime technique known as "credential stuffing", which works by throwing leaked username and password combinations at a series of websites in an effort to break in.

The effect is like a thief finding a ring of keys in a block of flats and trying them, one after the other, in every door in the building. Software can make this trial-and-error process practically instantaneous.

Credential stuffing typically succeeds between 0.1% and 2% of the time, according to Shuman Ghosemajumder, the chief technology officer of California-based Shape Security.

That means cyber criminals wielding 500 million passwords could conceivably hijack tens of thousands of other accounts.

"It becomes a numbers game for them," Mr Ghosemajumder said.

He said he did not foresee a surge in fresh breaches so much as a steady increase in attempts as cyber criminals replenish their stock of freshly-hacked passwords.

It is conceivable that Yahoo passwords have already been used to hack other services. As the theft occurred in late 2014, this means that the data has been compromised for as much as two years.

"It is like an ecological disaster," Mr Ghosemajumder said.

"But pick the right disaster. It's more like global warming than it is an earthquake. It builds up gradually."

The first hint that something was wrong at Yahoo came when Motherboard journalist Joseph Cox started receiving supposed samples of credentials hacked from the company in early July.

Several weeks later, a cyber criminal using the handle "Peace" came forward with 5,000 samples - and the startling claim to be selling 200 million more.

On August 1, Mr Cox published a story on the sale, but the journalist said he had never established with any certainty where Peace's credentials came from.

He noted that Yahoo said most of its passwords were secured with one encryption protocol, while Peace's sample used a second.

Either Peace drew his sample from a minority of Yahoo data or he was dealing with a different set of data altogether - more likely, the latter.

The darknet market where Peace has been active in the past has been inaccessible for days, purportedly due to cyber attacks.

Yahoo users who recycle their passwords across different sites may be at risk. While an internet-wide password reset is one option, Yahoo's announcement that some security questions were compromised too means that the risks associated with the breach are likely to linger.

AP
The moonwalk may not be the quickest mode of transport, but it certainly is one of the slickest.

Travis DeRose proved this in his video, where he gave 13 different countries the 'Jacko' treatment.

American, DeRose, explained that his plan to do this came from a trip to Ireland.

He said: "The idea for this video started on a previous trip to Ireland. I was getting my photo taken in front of a castle or something and I was just standing there awkwardly.

"Out of pure instinct, I decided to fight the awkwardness by moonwalking. The photo actually turned out pretty cool so I started moonwalking everywhere when I began this big trip."

Judging by the video, it seems that one of the only places DeRose didn't do this walk was the actual moon.
In a first for world science, a baby has been born using a 'three person' fertility technique.

New Scientist has revealed that the baby, who is now five months old, has the usual DNA from his father and mother and a small amount of genetic code from a third party donor.

The new procedure was designed to allow parents with rare genetic mutations have healthy children.

It is done by removing the nucleus from one of the mothers eggs and inserting it into a donor egg that had had its own nucleus removed. The resulting egg is then fertilised with the fathers sperm.

Dusko Ilic at Kings College London, who wasnt involved in the work, told New Scientist: This is great news and a huge deal. Its revolutionary.

The Jordanian parents were treated by a US medical team in Mexico.
British YouTube personality Calum McSwiggan posted a picture to Instagram after he was arrested (Calum McSwiggan/PA)

A British YouTube star has appeared before a US court accused of lying to police over claims he was assaulted in West Hollywood.

Calum McSwiggan, from London, pleaded not guilty to filing a false police report after he claimed he was attacked by three men near The Abbey gay club on June 27.

The 26-year-old, who has more than 64,000 subscribers on YouTube, posted a photo on Instagram as he lay in a hospital bed after the alleged attack, telling his followers he suffered three broken teeth and required six stitches to his head.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers investigated but were "unable to substantiate the assault".

McSwiggan had been arrested for vandalising a car and was taken to hospital after he began injuring himself with a police station payphone, a spokesman for the sheriff's department said.

McSwiggan, who is known to his followers on YouTube for discussing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, appeared at the Los Angeles Airport Courthouse on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of filing a false police report and vandalism.

He was ordered to return to the court for a pre-trial hearing on November 7 and refused to comment as he left the building.

After he was charged in June, McSwiggan wrote on Facebook that he had caused the injury that required the stitches to his head but insisted he was attacked by three men.

"Just because there were no visible marks on my face does not mean I was not attacked," he wrote.

"Being accused of being a liar and being called a disgrace to the LGBT+ community, a community I've dedicated my life to, is more painful than any hate crime could ever be."

McSwiggan had travelled to California in June for the online video conference VidCon.
GREENSBORO - N.C. State Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Jr., R-Cabarrus, was indicted by a federal grand jury on campaign finance issues today.

Hartsell had previously been charged on the state level in June on three felony counts of filing false campaign finance reports.

The latest charges include mail and wire fraud, money laundering and campaign finance violations.

Here is the complete press release from U.S. Department of Justice:

A grand jury returned a federal indictment today, charging North Carolina State Senator Fletcher Lee Hartsell, Jr. with multiple counts related to fraudulent campaign fundraising and reporting and associated money laundering, announced the United States Attorneys Office, John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division and Thomas J. Holloman, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), Charlotte Division.

Hartsell, 69, of Concord, N.C., is charged with five counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and six counts of money laundering. According to allegations in the Indictment, from 2007 through 2015, Hartsell engaged in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money through materially false pretenses by soliciting funds for the Hartsell State Senator Committee through mailings and interstate wires, using those funds for personal goods and services not authorized under relevant state campaign finance laws, and then concealing such conduct through false campaign filings mailed via the United States Postal Service to the North Carolina Board of Elections. The Indictment further alleges that Hartsell laundered Hartsell State Senator Committee funds through his law firm, Hartsell & Williams, P.A., as well as a corporation he owned with his wife, Equity Properties of Concord, LLC, to disguise the fact that campaign funds were being used for personal enrichment rather than for lawful purposes. The Indictment further alleges that, as a result of this scheme to defraud, Hartsell spent approximately $210,000 of monies properly belonging to the Hartsell State Senator Committee on personal goods and services for his own enrichment.

Our campaign finance laws must be enforced in order to protect the integrity of the American democratic process. If you abuse the power granted to you as an elected official, the FBI will work tirelessly to ensure you are held accountable for your actions, said John Strong, FBIs Special Agent in Charge.

Confidence in the integrity of our elected officials is essential and is at the heart of our democracy. To be elected to serve in public office is an unmistakable privilege, not an opportunity to fraudulently enrich oneself using a position of trust. IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents play a crucial role in unraveling complex schemes in service to the American taxpayer, said Thomas J. Holloman, III, IRS-CIs Special Agent in Charge.

Hartsell will have his initial appearance on September 29, 2016 in U.S. District Court in Greensboro. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of twenty years and a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and Hartsell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation is being handled by the FBI and IRS-CI with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney JoAnna G. McFadden.
The smell hit before anything else.

Descending into the dark and dampened basement, not even an incessant chorus of barking, whining and scratching could drown out the overwhelming odor of excrement and crammed bodies that wafted up to meet the rescue team. And then the reality before them sunk in.

"Walking into the conditions that they were living in yesterday, the first thing that just hits you across the face right away is the ammonia of just dogs living in their own squalorfeces, urine everywhere," Erica Geppi, North Carolina State Director for the Humane Society, said. "Seeing just that obvious lack of care was the biggest thing here. There was one dog who's tongue was sticking out of his mouth because all of his teeth were rotting our, and his jaw had basically rotted into the bone. Animals were spinning in their enclosures because they just go crazy."

The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office teamed with the Humane Society of the United States to rescue almost 130 animals from a suspected Cabarrus County puppy mill Monday, Sept. 26.

Patricia Yates of 4048 Hilton Lake Road in Kannapolis was charged with cruelty to animals by the sheriff's office, which served a search and seizure warrant on the property Monday morning and found about 105 dogs, 20 cats and three goats. All animals were crammed in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, and many had untreated medical issues, were pregnant and in urgent need to veterinary care.

The bust

An anonymous tip came into local law enforcement, sparking an investigation into Yates' property. The Cabarrus County District Attorney's Office and the sheriff's office determined a need for further action, and deputies obtained a warrant.

Animal cruelty comes with serious consequence, Lt. David Taylor with the sheriff's office said in a release. Our No. 1 priority is the protection and safety of the animals, including their environment. In Cabarrus County, were investigating claims and prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law. However, the investigation is just the beginning of the story. We are fortunate to have the support of The HSUS as we move forward with the response.

Yates surrendered custody of the animals, which allowed rescue organizations to move ahead with caring for them.

The Humane Society of the United States assisted the two law enforcement agencies in removing the dozens upon dozens of animals to rescue vehicles, joined by the Cabarrus Animal Hospital for on-site veterinary care. The team moved the dogs and cats to a temporary emergency animal shelter. Animal rescue volunteers and responders from Red Rover helped care for the dogs and cats, and Banfield provided medical supplies.

Deputies transported the goats to a safe facility for large animals.

Yates was charged with one count of animal cruelty. The investigation remains ongoing, and more charges are pending.

The conditions

The animals festered in their own filth, suffering from an apparent lack of medical care. Geppi said many of them had been overbred, forced to have litter after litter until they could no longer produce and therefore had no more value.

"You never know exactly what you're going to walk into, but the first thing that hits you is the smell and the barking and then just the sheer volume of dogs and cats that were on the property," she said. "But then walking in, seeing inside the enclosure, the urine, the feces they were having to sit in all day their entire lives, lots of pregnant dogs, very dirty water bowls, inadequate levels of food, just overall squalorstanding there all day but even standing there for a few minutes just gets to you. Physically and emotionally it's very heartbreaking to see."

Lack of standards

Unfortunately, Humane Society staff said they saw puppy mills like this one more often than they would like across the country but especially the state since North Carolina doesn't have any legal standards or regulations for breeders.

"Last year, [a bill] passed the house, and it failed in the Senate as it's done multiple sessions now, unfortunately," Geppi said. "Basically what it does is it just establishes a minimum level of care, so it's things like clean water, fresh food, adequate preventative vet care, proper sized enclosures, sanitary living conditionsnothing outrageous, very common sense and very widely supported by the public."

The Humane Society has continued to urge the state legislatureand others across the nationto enact standards. Until then, Geppi said, they have to use state animal cruelty laws to prosecute.

"Currently we have cruelty statutes, which is what this case was able to tug on," she said. "However, the cases have to escalate to a level of cruelty and neglect to be able to trigger those laws. So these standards are getting at preventing that cruelty from happening in the first place."

Until then, Jessica Lauginiger, puppy mill response manager for the Humane Society, said many such operations go undetected or are allowed to continue because law enforcement has no legal course of action.

"A lot of these places kind of slide under the radar a little bit," she said. "They operate just above legal standards, so it can be very difficult to shut a breeding operation down."

The other side

The animals in this case, however, seem to have bounced back. After several warm baths, medical attention and lots of love, Geppi said the dogs and cats are doing great.

"It's amazing walking in, they're in the cage, you can tell they really haven't felt a human touch or been part of a family, so going to get them out of the enclosures and bring them to safety they're in the corner cowering," she said. "Build their trust, pick them up, pull them out, and as soon as the sunshine is hitting their back, they're being petted, their little tails started wagging, and their little spirits started coming out. Now, seeing how happy they are and bringing them on to their forever homes make sit all worth it."

None of the animals can be adopted out quite yet, however, Geppi said the case must go through the legal process before the animals' status is determined. Once that is in place, the Humane Society has a team of placement partners across the state dedicated to finding each and every dog and cat a home.

"We'll work with those shelter and rescue partners to bring them safely into their care and then get them adopted out to their forever homes, which we're very much looking forward to," she said. "Have you seen how cute they are? It's ridiculous. It will be good."
CONCORD - The Humane Society of the United States was called in by the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office to assist in the rescue of nearly 130 animals from a suspected puppy mill in Cabarrus County.

The Sheriffs Office served a search and seizure warrant on the property this morning and found approximately 105 dogs, 20 cats and three goats housed in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, according to a press release from the humane society and Cabarrus County.

Many animals had untreated medical issues, were pregnant and in need of urgent veterinary care. Representatives from Cabarrus Animal Hospital are providing veterinary expertise.

The HSUS and Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office removed nearly 130 animals, and their custody is pending the final disposition of this case.

North Carolina is one of a handful of states that has failed to enact any regulations for commercial dog breeders, said Erica Geppi, North Carolina state director for The HSUS. The HSUS is urging the North Carolina legislature to enact meaningful reform that can prevent puppy mill cruelty in the state.

An anonymous complaint to local law enforcement led to an investigation of the property. In cooperation with the Cabarrus County District Attorneys Office, the Sheriffs Office determined further action was necessary.

Animal cruelty comes with serious consequence, said Lt. David Taylor. Our number one priority is the protection and safety of the animals, including their environment. In Cabarrus County were investigating claims and prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law. However, the investigation is just the beginning of the story. We are fortunate to have the support of The HSUS as we move forward with the response.

The HSUS has safely transported the dogs and cats to a temporary emergency animal shelter. Animal rescue volunteers and responders from Red Rover are assisting with the temporary caretaking of the dogs and cats, and Banfield is providing medical supplies.

Once at the shelter, the animals will be thoroughly examined by a team of veterinarians and receive any necessary immediate medical treatment. The Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office transported the goats to a safe facility for large animals.

The HSUS has established a reward program to offer up to $5,000 to anyone who provides any information leading to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator for animal cruelty. Persons wishing to report a valid tip are encouraged to call 1-877-MILL-TIP and can remain anonymous.

More details will be posted on this story as they become available.
KANNAPOLIS  Two Kannapolis residents received one of North Carolinas highest honors and were presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the Kannapolis City Council meeting Monday.

Officials presented the awards to Dr. Troy L. Day and to the family of Newmoon N. Jung, Sr.

Jung was not available for the meeting and his family received the award on his behalf.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to their communities, extra effort in their careers, and many years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award.

A city can be just a bunch of buildings and buildings can be cold and heartless and un-providing, said Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant. And its only people who make a town or a community. Its only people like the two we just honored who have contributed a good part of their lives to our community and we can be thankful for it as we move forward through life. It is those kinds of relationships that make life warm and attractive.

Jung was born in Kannapolis and was the first son of Daniel and She-Lee Jung. He graduated from J. W. Cannon High School in 1944 with honors and served as his class reunion chairman for 57 consecutive years.

As a young adult, Jung served the Boy Scouts of America as a neighborhood commissioner for three years

Jung served as the division chairman for Community Funds and United Way. He also served as the city chairman for Red Cross, the city chairman and county chairman of the N. C. Heart Association, and received the Founders Award for his service.

Jung was the charter president for the Towel City Lions Club for one and a half years and served as secretary for five years, treasurer for 14 years and then was re-elected president. Jung served the Lions International as zone chairman, district chairman and was the first full time district chairman for the N. C. State Eye Bank. His awards from the Lions International include: Lion of the Year, Lions International Key Award, Master Key Award, Extension Award and the N. C. State Eye Bank Award.

Jung is a Charter member of United Commercial Travelers and was a past NASCAR Scorer.

Jung operated his fathers laundry on West Avenue in Kannapolis from September 1948 until its sale in 1961 and then was a self employed furniture merchant in Kannapolis until his retirement in December 1989.

He served as a purser and warrant Officer in the Merchant Marines and has been an American Legion member for 20 years serving as membership chairman, publicity chairman, program chairman, 2nd vice commander, 1st vice commander. He served as commander from 2006  2007 and was named the N. C. Post Commander of the Year for 2006-2007.

Jung has been a Life Time member of First Baptist Church in Kannapolis and was named 1 of 10 Heroes of Kannapolis in 2006.

Also honored Monday was Dr. Troy L. Day, who was born May 1927 in Valdese to Thomas Hamilton and Lila Mae McNeely Day. Educated at Mars Hill College, Day majored in accounting and started working at Commercial Credit Corporation from 1948-1955. Over the years he has worked at Bank of Granite, in Granite Falls; First Union National Bank of NC in Kannapolis; Day Enterprises, Inc. in Kannapolis; ParkDansan in Kannapolis; and Car Fare, Inc., in Gastonia.

Days membership in professional and work related organizations include:

Director and past chairman of the First Union National Bank Board, Kannapolis.

Director and past president of the Southeastern Kentucky Fried Chicken Association.

Member National Franchisee Advisory Council Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Days civic activities have included:

Director and past president YMCA.

Director and past president Kannapolis Chamber of Commerce.

Director and past chairman Cabarrus-Stanley Credit Bureau.

Director and president Greater Cabarrus County Economic Development Corporation.

Member and past president Kannapolis Rotary Club.

Member and past president Kannapolis Lions Club.

Guardian Member Boy Scouts of America

Member advisory council of the Salvation Army and past Chairman.

Chairman for Mars Hill College Foundation.

Member First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, where he has served on as chairman of the finance committee, served as deacon and past chairman of deacons.

Member and chairman elect of Mars Hill College Board of Trustees.

Some of his honors include:

Kannapolis Lion of the Year 1965-1966, 1969-1970.

Lions Outstanding Service Award 1982-1983.

Kannapolis Chamber President's Appreciation Award 1979.

Distinguished Volunteer Leadership Award - March of Dimes

Citizen of the Year - Kannapolis Jaycees 1985.

N.C. Baptist Philanthropist of the Year  1998.

2000 Citizen of the Year  Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Outstanding Leadership & Dedicated Service  Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce  2001.

Lifetime Service Award  Kannapolis Rotary Club  2008.

Outstanding Leadership  Capital Campaigns Chair - Mars Hill College  2004-2009.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Service and Citizenship  Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce  2011.

These years in Kannapolis have been wonderful, Day said after receiving his award. I have a lot to be thankful for.
Superstar Rajinikanth's younger daughter and the director of India's first Motion capture film 'Kochadiiyaan' has officially announced her second directorial project.

This film will be produced by none other than Kalaipuli.S.Thanu who delivered this year's biggest blockbuster 'Kabali' with Superstar Rajinikanth.

Though reports have been doing rounds about the second film to be directed by Soundarya, the announcement that it will be funded by one of the highly experienced and talented producers of Kollywood comes as a big surprise.

The film has been titled as 'Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam'. Details about the genre, cast and crew of this project is still under wraps.

The makers have announced a talent hunt for actors in the film. If you are passionate about acting please email your photos and details to the Email Id given in the below tweet.
Thala Ajith's fans have spread among Tamil people living all over the world. Though Ajith has dissolved his fan clubs in 2011, his fans retain the fan club and conduct public service and charity under the name of their beloved actor.

Recently Thala Ajith's Official fan club in Malaysia conducted a big charity event to help the kids of underprivileged families. Details of the same is are given below.

"Thala Ajith Official Fan Club of Malaysia, Organized an event named as THALA CHARITY CONVOY. It's a charity event whose main objective is to help Tamil students from poor family background who will be facing their school exams in the near future. Our club gave school bags , stationery, dictionary and other schools items to 20 students and also provided lunch for the students , participants, parents & school teachers . Around 20 bikes and 23 cars were part of this convoy which traveled from Kajang to Tampin ( almost 200km and above). The school management is really happy with this event and requested to do charity in other Tamil schools too."
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Veterans from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe joined a #NoDAPL rally in North Dakota in August 2016. Photo by Cheyenne River Veterans Association



VA Black Hills Health Care Closes Eagle Butte Clinic

By Jim KentLakota Country Times Correspondent

Fort Meade, S.D. - The VA Black Hills Health Care System has announced that a change in service is planned for veterans in Eagle Butte, Isabel and Faith . That change consists of the closing of the healthcare clinic serving veterans in those areas.

As a result, the 290 mile roundtrip drive from Eagle Butte to the Black Hills VA health care facility in Sturgis may be a journey some Native American veterans will be forced to take once health care services supported by the Veterans Administration on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and nearby areas come to an end on October 1.

C.B. Alexander is associate operations director for the VA Black Hills Health Care System.

VA Black Hills Health Care System has decided not to exercise any option years and received no bids for a contract for the  community based outpatient clinic in Northwestern South Dakota, Alexander explained. We had put out a solicitation for bids for a new contract. We did not receive any bidders. That solicitation closed on August 25. And so to give out veterans as much notice as possible we announced last week that we would not have a clinic up there.

Alexander noted that the former contractor in the affected area did offer to operate 3 clinics  one in Faith, one in Isabel and one in eagle Butte as opposed to the one that had formerly served those locations.

But weve always advertised just for one Community Based Outpatient Clinic in that area, she said.

Veterans in the affected areas can obtain care locally through the Veterans Choice Program, Alexander added. That program pays for approved health care services to any veteran who needs to travel more than 40 miles to a VA health care facility.

But Cheyenne River Sioux Veterans Services Officer Robert Dunsmore isnt happy.

Nobody bid on these contracts, Dunsmore observed. So were asking questions why they didnt bid on it. Veterans Choicethat dont work anyway. You call that 800 number youll be on hold for at least a half-hour before you get anybody. And then when you do make an appointment therestheres no close providers.

As a result Dunsmore has sent veterans as far as Omaha, Minneapolis and Denver for health care.

Additional problems exist once an alternative provider is finally located, Dunmore added, no matter where they are.

Then we have to contact the VA to make sure theyre going to pay the bill, he commented. Ive got a situation right now were a veteran has been told he has to go see a specialist in Aberdeen while hes still getting all these bills that are going delinquent as a result of the VA not paying them. And that was a referral through the IHS and the VA.

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C.B. Alexander insists the Veterans Choice program is working.

When Choice was first instituted there was a little bit of a rough start all the way around, she recalled. But I can tell you that we worked diligently over time to correct any problems our veterans were experiencing.

The Veterans Choice Program was initiated in 2015 as a new, temporary benefit that allows eligible Veterans to receive health care in their communities rather than waiting for a VA appointment or traveling to a VA facility. However, Dunsmores experience is that one year down the road hes still seeing problems that Alexander claimed do not exist.

Although a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the local Indian Health Services facility Lakota veterans dont see that as a viable option. The federal agency has been plagued with issues  especially across the state  in recent months and Dunsmore noted that many veterans feel theyve already received poor service there.

Cheyenne River Sioux tribal leaders are calling for a meeting with the VA Black Hills Health Care Systems director to address their concerns.

(Jim Kent is a freelance writer and radio producer who lives in Hot Springs. He is a contributing columnist to the Lakota Country Times and former editor of The New Lakota Times. He can be heard on South Dakota Public Radio, National Public Radio and National Native News Radio. Jim can be reached at kentvfte@gwtc.net)

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Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates of the Department of Justice speaks at the White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C, on September 26, 2016. Photo by Indianz.Com



Another 17 tribes have settled their trust fund lawsuits against the federal government, taking advantage of the few months left in the administration of President Barack Obama

The latest settlements total nearly $430 million. That brings the total value dollar to more than $3.3 billion since Obama came on board in January 2009.

"Settling these long-standing disputes reflects the Obama administrations continued commitment to reconciliation and empowerment for Indian Country," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a press release on Monday.

The Quinault Nation of Washington is among with settlements. The tribe expects to receive about $27 million, after attorney fees and other costs are addressed, to resolve its breach of trust and mismanagement claims

"This is great news, and a historic moment for the Quinault Indian Nation, said President Fawn Sharp, who led a discussion during the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Monday. We thank the Obama administration for honoring its commitment to settle historic trust cases and right decades of injustice to the Quinault Indian Nation.

Other settlements include $6 million for the Penobscot Nation in Maine and $12.5 million for Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. They are part of a lawsuit that the Quinault Nation originally filed in April 2013, which grew to include more tribes as plaintiffs.

More than 100 tribes have gone to court to seek an accounting of their trust funds and trust assets. Most of the lawsuits were filed toward the end of the Bush administration because they faced a critical deadline to assert their claims.

For years, Congress extended the deadline without much debate or controversy. But that changed when the Bush administration -- under fire for its handling of the Cobell trust fund case -- opposed further extensions.

But almost all of those cases have since been settled by the Obama administration. The first round came in April 2012 and dozens more followed over the years. Other cases, some of which have toiled in the courts for decades, also have been resolved.

"This is an important achievement that will end, honorably and fairly, decades of contention that not only sapped valuable resources but also strained relationships," Sally Q. Yates, the deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice , said during the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

The tribal settlements are in addition to the $3.4 billion settlement for the Cobell trust fund case, which involved the trust funds and trust assets of individual Indians. The case was the largest class action in the history of the United States.

Internal Revenue Service Documents: Notice 2015-67: Per Capita Distributions of Funds Held in Trust by the Secretary of the Interior (September 2015) Notice 2014-38: Per Capita Payments from Proceeds of Settlements of Indian Tribal Trust Cases (March 2014) Notice 2014-17: Per Capita Distributions of Funds Held in Trust by the Secretary of the Interior (March 2014) Notice 2012-60: Per Capita Payments from Proceeds of Settlements of Indian Tribal Trust Cases (May 2014) Notice 2013-1: Per Capita Payments from Proceeds of Settlements of Indian Tribal Trust Cases (December 2012 Notice 2012-60: Per Capita Payments from Proceeds of Settlements of Indian Tribal Trust Cases (September 2012)

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The Uri terror attack claimed lives of 18 Indian troops and it was considered as one of the deadliest terror strikes on armed forces. As a result, it has shaken the Indo-Pak ties and left many doubtful. While many reacted after the attack, Bollywood celebrities have condemned the war and according to many, India should declare war with Pakistan. During an interview with the Times of India, Mirzya director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra was asked to comment on the solution to this problem and his reply was surely spot on. He said,

IndianExpress

"All of us should keep quiet and not add to the noise. It is not just an attack by Pakistan, it is a sensitive problem. We don't want to escalate into an unwanted war situation. I hope the endeavors of our Prime Minister and people, who are running the country to solve these problems through a peaceful dialogue, see the light of the day."

Tagging the issue as sensitive, Mehra made a valid point on why citizens of India should endorse the decisions taken by Government of India. He said,

BCCL

"As citizens, our job is to look up to the leadership and endorse whatever decision they take as we have given them the mandate to run this country. It's a sensitive issue. We should leave them (the government) to themselves."
After eighteen soldiers were killed in the Uri terror attack, MNS threatened Pakistani actors to leave India in 28 hours. Ameya Khopkar, president of the MNS Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, had said:

When our soldiers are being killed on the borders by Pakistan, why should we host their actors here? We warn all Pakistani actors to leave India in the next 48 hours. If they do not do so, MNS activists will give them a thrashing."

Shalini Thackeray, General Secretary of MNS Chitrapat Karamchari Sena said,

IndianExpress

It is not a veiled threat. Its a direct threat to producers like Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar who take Pakistani actors in their movies. Cant you find Indian actors for your films? In this 125 crores Indian population, cant you find a single Indian actor to cast in your films that you import people from a place like Pakistan, a country with which we all are facing a problem? Its not a veiled threat but a direct threat. We will not allow the release of these movies here.

After the reports of MNS threatening, there were several reports claimed that actor Fawad Khan, who was last seen in Kapoor & sons has left India. However, contradicting all such reports, an Indian express report strongly claims that Fawad did not leave India because of the threats, instead, he did so because his wife is expecting their second child. Fawad has taken some time off and that's the reason why he might not come back to India in October to promote Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

All set to support the team! #ISLU #PSL #islamabadunited A photo posted by Fawad A Khan (@fawadkhan81) on Feb 4, 2016 at 9:20am PST

The Karan Johar film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma is slated for a grand Diwali release but because of personal commitments, Fawad might not fly back to India.
Google is planning to launch its brand new operating system (OS), 'Andromeda' that will merge the characteristics of both Chrome OS and Android. The new OS will be rolled out on 'Huawei Nexus' and a new convertible laptop.

Reuters

If this report by Android Police is to be believed, then Google's definitely planning to release a 'Pixel' laptop in Q3 2017 which will, in fact, run on Andromeda. Internally known as 'Bison', the project will finally combine the efforts of Google's Pixel team and the Chrome OS and Android teams.

The laptop is expected to flaunt a 12.3-inch touchscreen under the weight of 10mm that will possibly make it one of the world's thinnest notebooks ever produced.

Reuters

As for the tablet, it will come with a 7-inch display screen and 4GB RAM. Though these details cannot be confirmed at the moment, people are referring to it as the 'Nexus tablet'.

Android Police has also confirmed that Google is testing Andromeda on Nexus 9 but won't be releasing it publicly.
IAF's premier operational command along the western front has gone on a high alert with a major exercise across all its 18 airbases and other installations from Srinagar to Bikaner, which comes amid heightened tensions with Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack on the Army camp in Uri.

BCCL

The primary objective of "Exercise Talon" involving the crucial Western Air Command (WAC) is to "improve operational preparedness and air defence" in the entire stretch from J&K to Rajasthan, said defence sources on Monday.

Though the four-day war-games are largely defensive in nature, with combat air patrols and PAD-GD (passive air defence and ground defence) operations, it's significant that WAC had conducted a similar Talon exercise just about a week before the terror attack on the Uri Army camp on September 18.

BCCL

Repeating the intensive manoeuvres within the same month is highly unusual, said sources, adding that it showed that IAF was leaving nothing to chance at a time when Pakistan's F-16s and other fighters have been taking to the skies on a regular basis across the border, apart from practising landing on highways.

The Indian Army, of course, has been refining different contingency plans in conjunction with the IAF after the Uri attack to further synergise the integrated air-land fighting machinery, even as the force has also steadily upgraded its "readiness" all along the 778 km line of control with additional troops, "forward movement" of ammunition and fuel dumps and the like.

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There have also been a flurry of top-level military meetings over the last one week among the different top commanders as well as detailed presentations to PM Narendra Modi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and national security advisor Ajit Doval in the military operations directorate in South Block.

While WAC chief Air Marshal S B Deo has been visiting the different airbases under his command, chiefs of the Army's South-Western Command (Jaipur), Western Command (Chandimandir) and Northern Command (Udhampur) too have been reviewing their areas of responsibility.

Western Command chief Lt-General Surinder Singh, for instance, visited the Jammu-Pathankot region over the weekend to direct his commanders to "maintain a high order of operational preparedness and alertness".

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"All personnel have been told to be available at short notice"

As for the Talon exercise underway till September 30, IAF also continues to deploy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or spy drones to maintain "a constant surveillance" over all airbases ranging from Srinagar, Leh, Thoise, Awantipur to Ambala, Amritsar, Halwara and Nal.

"The exercise also involves camouflaging runways, moving aircraft to their blast pens and deploying decoys to prevent or minimize losses during enemy attacks. IAF's automated air defence network with a wide variety of radars and date links or the IACCS (integrated air command and control system) is also on a high alert," said a source.

Meanwhile, if you are wondering about what India's missile capabilities are, here goes:
Rama is a white tiger and will be the new attraction at Udaipur zoo. However, Rama only understands humans speaking in Tamil. You read that right!

A formal request has been placed for a Tamil zookeeper to accompany the white tiger.

Representational image/BCCL

Either the tiger learns Mewari language or the caretakers here learn Tamil, the officials of the Sajjangarh Biological Park told HT. The DFO and in-charge of 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.

Rama was born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Tamil Nadu in 2011 and understands the commands of its present caretakers who speak Tamil.

Representational image/Reuters

The idea to get a male white tiger to the biological park was to attempt an in-breeding programme. 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.
Two class XII students of a government school in West Delhi stabbed their teacher to death.

On Monday, while the class sat for their exam, two boys started arguing with the teacher, who wasn't allowing them to sit for the exam due to low attendance. Mukesh Kumar, a professor teaching Hindi in the school, was then stabbed thrice allegedly by the two boys in front of the entire class.

"After the stabbing, the duo fled," a police officer said.

Mukesh Kumar died after being stabbed allegedly.

The incident took place around 5 PM when the students were writing their exam at the Government Senior Secondary School.

The victim was admitted to Balaji Action Hospital, where he died due to excessive bleeding.

hindustantimes

One of the accused was rusticated for low attendance, and thus went to the school to speak with Kumar. The other guy was just a friend.

The accused is an 18-year-old while his friend will turn 18 in two months.
The government has given in-principle approval to the recommendations of a committee that stressed the need of technology, among other measures, to strengthen security along India's 3,323km border with Pakistan.

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Headed by former Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta, the committee was set up by the ministry of home affairs in April 2016 in the wake of the Pathankot attack three months earlier. The approval for the recommendations, which also focus on addressing cross-border terrorism, comes days after a similar terror strike in Uri.

Also Read: The BSF Might Put Laser Walls and Sensors Along The Indo-Pak Border

India's border with Pakistan runs through four states, Jammu & Kashmir (1,225km, including the Line of Control), Rajasthan (1,037km), Punjab (553km) and Gujarat (508km).

BCCL

The panel has urged a grid-based system along the border, wherein, at vulnerable stretches, the Army's and the BSF's ground troops would be assisted by hi-tech equipment  including satellites for surveillance  as well as the intelligence agencies and the police forces of the four states.

Whenever an instance of infiltration is reported, a particular component of this grid would respond according to its capability and alert the others.

Also Read: India Activates A Dozen Laser Walls Along Border With Pakistan To Stop Terrorist Infiltration

Home minister Rajnath Singh, at a meeting attended by Gupta, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the Intelligence Bureau and the Research & Analysis Wing chiefs, and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, among other senior officials, said the grid-based security system should be implemented as soon as possible.

BCCL

The suggestions made by the committee also include optimised force deployment.

It has suggested that ground forces be deployed in large numbers in areas vulnerable to infiltration, saying that smart fencing could do the job elsewhere.

This would reduce the burden on foot soldiers.

"Where there is a need to deploy 100 men together, they should be placed there, and where there is no need of more than two persons, there the deployment should be reduced," said a senior official.

Also Read: Indian Pakistan Border Will Be Covered With A Laser Wall To Stop Militants From Entering India!

Apart from smart fencing, the committee has recommended the use of water, electronic as well as underground sensors, besides camera surveillance. The use of foliage penetrating radars has also been suggested.

BCCL

In keeping with the recommendations, there are also plans to build access roads for forces instead of creating unnecessary infrastructure.

Gupta has also recommended that intelligence play a major role in border management, and that Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and Subsidiary Multi Agency Centres (SMACs) also assist in this objective.
The Good Samaritan Gurmeet Singh, who has been working towards the welfare of abandoned patients in Patna, is all set to receive this year's World Sikh Award in London.

Reported by The Hindu, Singh has been chosen from 100 entries received from all around the world in the category "Sikhs in Seva" by The Sikh Directory, an organisation based in London.

Ranjeet Kumar/The Hindu

For over 20 years, Singh has been offering his undivided support to the lawaaris - the abandoned patients in Bihar's biggest government institution, Patna Medical College and Hospital.

Every night, Singh visits the patients in the hospital ward and comes bearing food and medicines for the poor who have no one to look after them. And the lawaaris wait for Singh as someone who is their saviour.

Read Also: 11 Times Sikhs Made The World A Better Place

Singh, who recently got a brand new pair of trousers and a shirt stitched - for the first time in six years - is worried as the date of his commemoration approaches. As the award ceremony, which is touted to be held on November 19 inches closer, Singh's anxiety keeps getting the better of him.

Liveindia.in

Apart from being worried about who will look after the patients, he is also anxious about his speech: "I do not know English, sir!", he told The Hindu.

It also happened that on two occasions, citing bad publicity, the hospital authorities banned Singh's entry into the hospital. Thankfully, both times, the incumbent District Magistrates intervened and Singh was allowed to continue his service.

But as the world prepares itself to honour the philanthropist, Singh doesn't like to boast about his humanitarian efforts. All he cares about is his abandoned friends, who with full stomachs and warm blankets are able to sleep peacefully at night.
If youve never visited Indore, youd never know how jovial and exuberant its bustling streets can be. Even those traffic-laden areas are sometimes a scene straight from a comedy show. Locals talk about politics and pressing problems like its no big deal, and you always, always smell some appetising aroma.

But amid such hustle-bustle thrives an area where 106 HIV-positive families live in harmony. Almost a decade ago, an NGO called Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (MPVHA) took charge of these patients who struggle with life, every single minute. Initiated in 2003, the NGO brings HIV-affected families to settle on Ring Road.

ht

Much like everywhere else, the patients initially suffered a lot of hostility in the environment, with people making snide comments. Sometimes they hurl abuses and tell me to go away. They would say that my presence would infect the entire colony. But with time, things sort of came to a halt.

Neighbours who are HIV-free now understand the plight and struggle of these patients. Watching the rising sociability, a lot of families from the city and nearby regions have come here to settle seeking refuge  spreading within a radius of 2 km along the busy road.

Mukesh Sinha, executive director of MPVHA, reveals the goal of this NGO, The job is to give these patients what was snatched away from them  the right to live happily and with respect. Most of the family members or patients who came to us had lost hope. More than the disease, the fact that they had HIV-AIDS had shackled them emotionally.

The NGO strives to give better living standards to all the families, helping them find a livelihood, and boosting their confidence.

Another woman, who wishes to keep her identity concealed, revealed that she contracted HIV from her husband, and was kept uninformed for years. Later when she got pregnant with her second child, the doctor revealed the information.

My in-laws started misbehaving with me, and it was then when I decided to leave, she said.

huffingtonpost

She now lives in a cluster along Ring Road with her adopted extended family, which helped her communicate about her condition to her daughter.

Dwelling in the midst of similar stories and incidences, a lot of HIV- patients live here with all the amenities they need to survive. Their grandchildren go to school, and they participate in street plays to generate awareness and earn their own livelihood.

MPVHA is doing a phenomenal job by taking care of everyone like a big family  giving them medicines on time, having regular check-ups, etc.

An HIV patient often fights loneliness a lot. They lose interest in their life as they hardly get people who can take care of them without judging them. Here, everyone is equal, said another HIV-positive woman.

HT: Hindustan Times
Hours after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched one of the strongest attack on Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly, Islamabad exercising its right of reply, denounced her speech.

Calling Ms Swaraj's speech a litany of falsehoods and travesty of facts and history, the Pakistani delegation said, We reject all the baseless allegations made in that statement. Her statement is a litany of falsehoods about Pakistan and a travesty of facts and history.

ANI

Rejecting Swaraj's statement, Kashmir is an integral part of India, the Pakistani delegation said, "It is a disputed territory, the final status of which has yet to be determined in accordance with several resolutions of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Pakistan also claimed that India was the one called off the talks and was putting preconditions for the dialogue.

TOI

India suspended talks more than a year ago, and has refused to resume, them despite repeated offers from Pakistan and advice from the international community.

Pakistan also went on to blame India for the spread of terrorism in the country and claimed that "India is utilising the Uri incident to blame Pakistan for the current Kashmiri uprising and divert attention".

India which utilized its right to reply responded to the claims made by Pakistan.

India's first secretary at the Permanent Mission Eenam Gambhir, began where Swaraj stopped.

Can the representative of Pakistan clarify how is it that terror sanctuaries and safe havens in his country continue to flourish despite the Pakistan armys much vaunted counter terrorism operations, and the billions of dollars of international counter terrorism aid it obtains?

She also asked whether Pakistan can confirm that they do not use terrorist proxies and export terrorism as a matter of state policy.

Terming Pakistan as a 'dysfunctional state' Gambhir in reference to Balochistan questioned if Pakistan can deny that its armed forces have used air strikes and artillery against its own people repeatedly. She also pointed out the previous instance of gross human rights violations by Pakistan army in 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
A petition on the White House website, seeking to declare Pakistan a state sponsoring terrorism, has gathered massive support from netizens.

Created with a goal of 100,000 signatures on September 21, as many has 82,000 people have signed the petition in the five days.

BCCL

The petition states that declaring Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism is "Important to the people of United States of America, India and many other countries that are continuously affected by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism."

Online petition to White House to declare Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism

gets massive response. Must Sign, link https://t.co/EYKvhCZihu  Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 26, 2016

This closely follows the move by two US lawmakers who had introduced legislation in the US Congress aimed at designating Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism.

TOI

The bill was moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism.

It's time to tell both Islamabad and Obama that Pakistan in reality is Terroristan. Pls sign this petition. Please. https://t.co/kyJm0p84zb  Tarek  Fatah (@TarekFatah) September 25, 2016

"It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism," said Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism.

Also Read: In A Historic Move, Bill Seeking To Term Pakistan A 'Terrorist State' Introduced In US Congress

The online petition has its deadline till October 21, but is expected to reach its target much earlier.

White House petition, to declare Pakistan a state sponsoring terrorism, gets more than100,000 signatures..  Supriya Bhardwaj (@Supriya23bh) September 27, 2016

This online system of petitioning the White House has been used on several occasions but is mostly for issues ranging from local, national and international issues. The website promises a response from the White House within 60 days if 100,000 signatures are gathered on a petition within 30 days.

BCCL

The pressure on Pakistan has been mounting from every corner, with the US repeatedly urging the country to crackdown on terrorism originating from its soil. In the wake of the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Pakistan even faces the risk of being isolated by the international community.

Also Read: India Hits Back With Fierce Reply At UN, Says Pakistan Supports State-Sponsored Terrorism
In a gruesome response to alleged stray dog menace in Kerala, protesters left dead dogs at a post office to send across a message to those seeking a humane solution to the rising number of the canines.

Some members of the Youth Front Congress (Mani) beat 10 stray dogs to death and then paraded them to protest against what they consider a menace.

Facebook

The incident which took place in Kottayam, was targeted at making the government more aware of the issue and taking stern steps against it.

After parading the dead dogs on a pole through the town, the protesters arrived at a post office declaring that they "wished to parcel the dead dogs" to the Ms Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development. Ms Gandhi is also a well known animal rights activist.

I love dogs; I have dogs in my house. Our protest was against dangerous dogs and we hope that seeing the protest in Kottayam, people across districts will do the same, Saji told a news agency.

"So many people in Kottayam have been attacked by dogs. Dog lovers are okay with any other animal getting slaughtered, why this bias only towards dogs?" he asked.

However, the politician failed to explain what a "dangerous dog" is.

Twitter/Catch News

In a feeble attempt at damage control, Saji insisted that members of his party had only killed "dangerous dogs".

"One can understand when one sees dangerous dogs. We identified dogs that were attacking people or were simply rotting in the streets, he claimed.

He rubbished the requests of several animal activists to promote sterilisation of the dogs by saying, "Dogs don't attack people for lust. How will sterilising them help?"

Wait, what?

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The dogs were left at the post office after which government officials removed them and gave them a decent burial. According to reports, police have stated that charges have been filed against 15 people under section 428 and 429 of IPC and Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty against animals.

The police also stated that no arrest has been made.

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Animal abuse is rampant in India and such insensitive displays will only worsen the situation. The Youth Wing has later confirmed that they "will continue to kill strays."

The maximum penalty for animal abuse in India is still Rs 50.
Just 10 days before Durga Puja, Kolkata Police's special task force (STF) arrested six operatives of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including the second-in-command of the outfit's India unit and the chiefs for Bengal and north-east, on Monday.

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Five of the arrested were involved in the Burdwan blasts that came in the middle of Durga Puja, on October 2, two years ago. The STF claimed the arrests in Bengal and Assam came in the nick of time as the module was planning major strikes in both these states and south India. National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers have already reached the Kolkata Police headquarters to question the six men.

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The prize catch includes JMB's Bengal unit chief Anwar Hussain Farukh alias Inam, north-east unit head Sahidul Islam alias Surya, chief motivator and number two of JMB's India unit Maulana Yusuf alias Abu Bakkar, IED experts Md Rubel alias Rafiq and Abul Kalam and Zahidul Islam alias Jabirul Islam who acted as the key linkman between JMB and northeastern terror groups and ran a fake currency racket. Zahidul is also suspected to have links with the Islamic State group. IS operative Md Musa, who was arrested by the CID this July, had the same handler as Zahidul - Md Suleiman, a key JMB and IS operative in Bangladesh.

BCCL

Police in Bangladesh have also registered cases against Inam and Yousuf and their role in the terror strike at Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka is being investigated. Bangladesh authorities had earlier conveyed their suspicion that both money and arms for the July 22 attack were routed through India.

BCCL

Large quantities of bomb-making material and explosives were seized from the JMB men. Besides, forged documents ranging from passports to PAN cards, bomb-making literature, JMB letters in Bengali, a list of the outfit's hierarchy, mobile phones, laptops and SD cards were found on them. The STF had been monitoring the movements of some JMB operatives for several months, though their exact names could not be ascertained as they were using aliases.

BCCL

It was the arrest of fake-currency operative Zahidul from Assam's Cachar district four days ago that led to the arrests of Inam and Rubel from the Bangaon-Bagda Road near the Bangaon border. Yusuf and Sahidul were nabbed in simultaneous raids at Nutanbazar in Basirhat. The sixth person - Kalam - whom sleuths have been trailing from Cachar, was arrested in New Cooch Behar while on way to Kolkata. Six separate STF teams carried out the arrests.

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According to investigators, the operatives had fled to Bangladesh after NIA, CID and police turned on the heat following the Khagragarh blast in 2014 in which two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists were killed and a third injured. A huge cache of explosives and various devices required to make bombs were recovered from the site in Burdwan district. With the lapse of two years, the operatives were again trying to regroup.

BCCL

While the arrests have neutralised JMB's modules in Bengal and Assam, its south Indian module is still active, officials said. Joint CP (STF) Vishal Garg said two separate teams are camping in two separate places in search of these groups. NIA had missed one Maulana Yusuf by a whisker while he was camping in south India not too long ago. "We are looking at some big names of JMB who are on the run," said Garg. Sources insisted JMB India head Kausar and Hathkata Nasirullah could be holed up in India.
While India is reportedly stepping up troops presence along the LoC after the Uri terror attack, there looms an even bigger challenge at the Chinese border.

PTI/ Representative Image

The Chinese troops came 45km inside the Indian territory in a remote area of Arunachal Pradesh, earlier this month, and built shelters claiming that the territory belonged to them, PTI reported.

Around 40 Chinese troops set up a temporary shelter at 'Plum post', in Anjaw district, an area 45km inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) earlier this month.

PTI/Representative Image

Meanwhile, the Army sources have rejected reports of Chinese intrusion. The Economic Times quoting a top army official reported that there was no face off between the two forces.

"There is mutually identified disputed area astride the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Fish Tail is one such area where the incident occurred. In this area both India and PLA conduct patrolling and there are incidents of face off," said the Army official.

"The incident being reported is one such face off which has been resolved through established border management mechanism. The PLA patrol has gone back. There is no truth in claim of patrol setting up camp and staying put," he added.

Chinese incursions along the border into Arunachl and Assam are not anything new. This is because China does not recognise the McMahon Line which divided the border between India and Tibet. China still consider Arunachal as Southern Tibet. Skirmishes along the border, and PLA intruding into the disputed territory and camping there has been a regular occurrence for the past couple of years.

BCCL/ Representative Image

However, the timing of the latest reported incursion is significant as New Delhi is engaged in a high-voltage war of words with Pakistan which many on the both sides of the border fear could turn into an armed confrontation.

It is also worthwhile to note that China is the only regional ally of Pakistan, and has time and again come to rescue Islamabad in various international fora including the UN.
India seems to be taking the fight to Pakistan, on several fronts. While the External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, took on Pakistan with a firm speech last night, today Ministry Of External Affairs has released a list of militants and their handlers. Hafiz Ahmad is the name of the slain terrorist accused of Uri attacks.

Indian Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar handed over proofs of Uri attack to Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit.

AFP

One of the four terrorists involved in Uri attack, has been identified as Hafiz Ahmed from Muzaffarabad in PoK, Jaishankar told Basit.

Jaishankar termed the continuing attacks from Pakistan against India as unacceptable, added Swarup.

Jaishankar also gave details of the alleged handlers, identified as Mohd. Kabir Awan and Basharat.

Jaishankar also informed Basit that the two guides, who helped in infiltration have been apprehended by local villagers and are now in NIA custody. The guides have been identified as Faizal Hussain Awan (20), son of Gul Akbar and resident of Potha Jahangir in Muzzaffarabad and Yasin Khurshid (19), son of Mohammed Khurshid and resident of Khiliana Kalan in Muzzaffarabad.

All terrorist and their handlers belonged to POK's Muzaffarabad.

Google

Not just terrorists, he also tweeted names of handlers of terrorists along with their villages.

Details of handlers also obtained:Mohd.Kabir Awan &Basharat.FS terms continuing CB terrorist attacks frm Pak against India as unaccpt'le.n/n

 Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016





One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Hafiz Ahmad





Preliminary interrogation reveals identity of one of d slain Uri attackers:Hafiz Ahmed,S/o Feroz,R/o Dharbang, Muzaffarabad. 5/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of the guides: Details of guides:

Yasin Khurshid(19 yrs),S/o Mohammed Khurshid R/o Khiliana Kalan,Muzzaffarabad.4/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of guides:

Faizal Hussain Awan(20 yrs),S/o Gul Akbar;R/o Potha Jahangir,Muzzaffarabad. 3/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016



Informs him that the two guides who helped infiltration were apprehended by local villagers and are now in custody 2/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016


























Days after Pakistani media reported that its 'all weather friend' China has assured of its support in the event of any foreign aggression and supported the countrys stance on the Kashmir dispute, Beijing has officially denied of any such support.

ISPR/ File

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said he was not aware of any such remarks made by the envoy.

"I am not aware of the situation you mentioned. But China's position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear."

He also added that China wants both India and Pakistan to resolve the dispute through dialogue.

"As the neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India, we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation and jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region."

Xinhua/ File

Shuang's clarification came after a Pakistani Newspaper citing Punjab Chief minister and brother of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reported that in case of any foreign aggression, Beijing will extend its full support to Pakistan.

"In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu was quoted as saying in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister's Office.

China's reaction is the second time since September 22 that it distanced itself from the Pakistani media attributing Beijing's support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.

Reuters

China has declined to confirm Beijing's backing to Islamabad on the issue during the meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Republican candidate Donald Trump and his Democrat counterpart Hillary Clinton faced off in the first of the three US presidential debates, at Hofstra University, on New York state's Long Island. Both the candidates showed high energy as they put forward their arguments against each other.

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On creating and bringing back jobs

Hillary Clinton took the first debate question from moderator Lester Holt, who asked about her plan to create better jobs for American workers. Clinton responded with her standard campaign promise to fight for fair pay for female workers and to increase taxes on the wealthy.

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Trump kicked off the debate touting his plan to create jobs and claiming that Mexico and other countries are "stealing them."

"We have to stop our jobs from being stolen from us" and is claiming that Mexico's factory building is like "the 8th wonder of the world," Trump said. He called for renegotiating U.S. trade deals and said that job creation would flourish under his administration because of his plans to lower taxes and scale back regulations.

The Republican candidate blamed Clinton for what he says "defective" trade agreements that have cost American jobs.

He said Mexico taxes products imported from the US but the latter does not tax Mexican imports.

He said Clinton's been "doing this for 30 years," a reference to her long political career.

On Hillary's leaked e-mails

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton said she's taking responsibility for using a private server to get State Department emails.

When Trump said he would release his tax returns if his opponent released what he called her "33,000 deleted" emails, Clinton replied: "I made a mistake using a private email server."

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She said that Trump has a simple reason he won't release his tax returns: He's got something to hide. She noted that some of the Republican nominee's income tax returns in the 1970s showed that Trump paid no federal income taxes in certain years.

On racial discord and law and order

Clinton said fixing race relations comes down to two things: Restoring trust between police and communities of color and reforming gun laws. She said gun violence is the leading cause of death among young African-American men.

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Trump talked about the importance of "law and order" in response to the moderator's question on how to heal racial divides. He said that if you walk down the streets in places like Chicago, "you get shot." He went on to cite the controversial "stop-and-frisk" policing tactic as a way to bring down crime. "Right now our police are afraid of doing anything," he said.

On Barack Obama's origins

Clinton said Trump started his political career by claiming that President Obama was born outside the United States. Clinton accused Trump of spreading a "racist lie" that our "first black president" was not an American citizen. She added: "He has a long record of engaging in racist behavior."

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Trump responded by recalling a bitter debates between Clinton and Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. He said Clinton treated Obama then with "terrible disrespect." He said Clinton "failed to get the (Obama's) birth certificate."

"When I got involved, I didn't fail," he added.

On gun laws in US

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Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton seemed to have come to a rare agreement about a contentious gun issue.

Trump told Clinton: "I agree with you" when it comes to not allowing people "on a watch list or a no-fly list" from buying guns. "We have to look very strongly at no-fly lists and watch lists," he said.

Clinton had said earlier that she believes, "If you're too dangerous to fly, you're too dangerous to buy a gun."

On cyber attacks from outside

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Hillary Clinton warned against the spread of cyber-attacks in the United States, particularly from Russia. The Democratic nominee said the United States "is not going to sit idly" and let hostile nations attempt to hack public or private information. She called out Russia and dinged Trump's frequent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Clinton also criticized Trump for inviting Russia to find her emails.

Trump interrupted Clinton, saying "wrong" when his opponent mentioned his praise of Putin.

On fighting IS

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Hillary Clinton said defeating the Islamic State group and taking out its leaders would be a top priority as president. Clinton hoped the Islamic State group would be pushed out of Iraq by the end of the year. She says the U.S. could then help its allies "squeeze" the terrorist group in Syria.

On relation with Middle East countries and Muslims

Hillary Clinton said one key to fighting terrorism in the United States is working closely with Muslims living here. Clinton said Trump has "consistently insulted Muslims abroad and Muslims at home." Both candidates were asked to explain how they would combat terrorism in the US.

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Clinton said her plan includes an intelligence surge to obtain "every scrap of information" and to "do everything we can to vacuum up intelligence from Europe, from the Middle East."

Trump interrupted the moderator to insist he has the best temperament for the office. Trump repeatedly made the assertion after clashing with moderator Lester Holt over his early support for the Iraq War. "I think my strongest asset by far is my temperament," Trump said. "I know how to win."

On the Iraq war

Donald Trump insisted that he opposed the Iraq War before the US invasion despite evidence to the contrary. Trump said during the debate that he "did not support the war in Iraq," calling that charge "mainstream media nonsense." But there is no evidence, Trump expressed public opposition to the war when the US invaded Iraq.

BCCL

Trump was asked in September 2002, whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with Howard Stern. Trump briefly hesitated, then responded: "Yeah, I guess so." Presented with the comment during the debate, Trump responds: "I said very lightly, I don't know, maybe, who knows."

Clinton voted in favor of the invasion in 2002 while she was a New York senator. She has since said it was a mistake.

On NATO and its Middle East policies

Donald Trump said NATO needs to "go into the Middle East with us" to combat the Islamic State group. And he took credit for NATO focusing resources on combating terrorism.

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Earlier this year, Trump criticized NATO for not focusing on terrorism. He said that afterward, he saw an article reporting that NATO was opening a new, major anti-terrorism division. He said Tuesday that NATO's action was "largely because of what I was saying, and my criticism of NATO."

'Stamina war'



Hillary Clinton punched back at Donald Trump's assertions that she doesn't have the "stamina" to be president. Trump had questioned whether Clinton has the physical fitness to be president and he repeated the criticism to her directly during the debate.

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Clinton's response? Trump shouldn't talk about stamina until he's tried out the busy schedule she kept up as secretary of state. "Well, as soon as he travels to 112 countries and negotiates a peace deal, a ceasefire, a release of dissidents... or even spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina," she said.

Trump didn't answer moderator Lester Holt's original question about his past comments that Clinton doesn't have the "presidential look."
With the Indian and Pakistani envoys locking horns at UN and forces of two countries assembling at borders, the world is once again hit by the perennial fear of a possible escalation between the two nuclear powers of South Asia.

Reuters

But since India is considered to be responsible enough and has been practicing restraint despite several provocations by its errant neighbour, the nuclear war between two Asian rivals appears quite unlikely.

Those who scare most with their nukes include:

Kim Jong Un, North Korea

With reports of North Korea getting closer to possess the nuclear weapons doing rounds, the global fear of Kim Jong Un, the young North Korean despot unleashing the unclear havoc on the world is getting firm ground.

AFP

The 32 year old autocrat is known for his mercilessness and has been in news for all the wrong reasons including the assassination of his own relatives over minor issues. North Korea is considered to be a hell on earth, where people aren't allowed to read, write and watch movies. North Korea has been threatening its neighbours, particularly, South Korea and Japan of facing dire consequences after North Korea possesses the nuclear weapons.

Rodrigo Duterte, The President of Philippines

Though Philippines doesn't have nuclear weapons and is quite unlikely to posses them, it has the leader who is known for his hatred for any given opposition.

AFP

Duterte's levels of insanity can be easily fathomed by his recent comment against Barack Obama where he called the US President, son of a whore, shortly after the G20 summit in China. He He is believed to have a 'death squad' which carries out assassinations at his behest.

General Raheel Sharif, Pakistan

Pakistan possesses nuclear arsenal and the world fears that Pakistan is one country which can start the nuclear war or can hand over the nukes to the terrorist like it allegedly did in past where it sold nuclear technology to countries like Libya, Iraq and North Korea.

Reuters

Though Pakistan Army Chief, General Raheel Shariff, so far has not reflected any sign of becoming an autocrat, being one of the most powerful Army Generals he may exercise his power at his will.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's President

Although the recent attempt of coup in Turkey was foiled, experts believe that it was planned by president Erdogan himself to find legitimacy for massive crack down upon his rivals.

Reuters

Erdogan is known for his iron fist approach and though it's believed that Turkey doesn't posses nuclear, Erdogan isn't the man who should have his finger close to button of nuclear missile.

Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President

Since 2011, Syria has been under civil war with several theaters of war including pro-Assad forces taking on rebels allegedly backed by NATO apart from Daesh aka IS, which still has a hold on key areas in the country.

Reuters

The reports have been doing rounds that over the last five years, Syrian forces have killed more than 1,500 people using chemical weapons. Assad is certainly among those leaders who shouldn't have hands on nukes.

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the US President has been a known for his tomfoolery over the years. If he becomes president of a super-power like the US which has more than 2,500 nukes, the fears of a nuclear war may rise again.

Reuters

The US's current stand with Russia (also a nuclear power) over Syria and other global issues can trigger tension between two nations.

Donald Trump is certainly among those who shouldn't have hands over the nuclear weapons.
Loung, a three-year-old pooch, who waited for her long-lost owner to return, was recently killed in a car accident.

The tragic incident happened in Thailand's Chanthaburi province where Loung had become a local celebrity for the villagers as a soul who never gave up on her owner.

Facebook

Apparently, Loung had fallen out of the car she was travelling in with her owner near the village of Ban Nong Khon twelve months ago. Since then she sat on the highway, waiting for her owner to return - who never did.

Facebook

Loung never left. The villagers put out food for her while she kept her constant guard.

Her death, therefore, has come as a rude shock for people who knew her story. A local dog-lovers' club is now preparing to bury Loung's body in the Tha Mai district.

Rest in peace, you beautiful soul.
Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

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Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials.

If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details.
Democratic Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton faced off with her Republican rival, Donald Trump in the first US Presidential debate of 2016.

The debate was hosted by NBC reporter, Lester Holt and it witnessed some real moments of tension and drama. Here are four of the most important takeaways from the debate;
70 migrants have been sent from the island of Lesbos to Turkey by Greek authorities under an agreement between Turkey and the European Union.

The Greek Ministry of Public Security said: 51 Pakistanis, 9 Sri Lankans, 7 Algerians, a Turk, a Moroccan and an Afghan have been returned to Turkey.

Three of those sent back to Turkey had withdrawn their asylum applications while another three did not appeal against the rejection of their claim. A further 63 were returned because they did not apply for asylum in the country under the terms of the Turkish-European agreement.

The Turkish citizen was sent back to Turkey after he renounced his intention to apply for asylum.

Greece returned 7 Syrians last Friday to Adana in southern Turkey. A total of 578 immigrants and refugees have been sent back to Turkey under the terms of the agreement which came into force on 4 April.

Turkey and the European Union reached the agreement in March in an effort to combat smuggling and human trafficking and reduce the number of migrants and refugees making the perilous journey across the Aegean Sea to reach Europe.

SEE ALSO: Buhari Joins Other World Leaders to Adopt Declaration for Refugees, Migrants
Boko Haram has over-run some villages in Borno State and hoisted its flag in at least three of such conquered territories, a security source has disclosed.

The terrorists reportedly slaughtered at least eight persons, including a village elder during the attack, a security source and residents told the BBC on Tuesday.

The villages  Kubirivour, Boftari and Kuburmbalah  are near Chibok town, from where Boko Haram insurgents abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in 2014.

Other sources claim Boko Haram were still in control of Malam Fatori town, on the Nigeria-Niger border.

Last Wednesday, the Nigerian Army said troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Joint Task Force captured the town after a fierce battle that was closely covered by air operations.

However, the sources claim that Boko Haram fighters reinforced their ranks and regained control of the town.

The military authorities are yet to react to the claim of Boko Haram reclaiming territories.
Ali Bongo, 57, has been sworn in as Gabons president for a second seven-year term.

This comes three days after his election victory was controversially validated by the Constitutional Court following allegations of fraud.

Bongos victory in the August 27 vote was confirmed on Saturday by the countrys top court, which dismissed opposition claims of voter fraud.

His opponent Jean Ping, 73, who came in second in the vote, rejected the courts ruling as a miscarriage of justice and declared himself president-elect.

Bongo won the elections by a margin less than 6,000 votes.

Ping had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, where 95 percent of voters in the Bongo family stronghold were reported to have cast their ballots for the president on a turnout of more than 99 percent.

The Constitutional Court meanwhile upheld Bongos victory and put the winning margin higher at around 11,000 votes.

Bongos second mandate, which takes his familys reign over the oil-rich country into a fifth decade, has received a cool reception from the African Union and the United Nations, while the European Union voiced regret that the count had not been transparent.

The event was attended by a handful of African leaders including the presidents of Mali, Niger, Togo and Sao Tome, as well as the prime ministers of Chad, Senegal, the Central African Republic and Morocco.

SEE ALSO: Gabon Police Makes 1000 Arrests Following Post-Election Violence
President Muhammadu Buhari appointed 13 Chief Executives to head respective Federal Government agencies.

This was stated in a statement by Bolaji Adebiyi, the Director of Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in Abuja on Monday.

The appointments are as follows:

Joseph Ari, Director-General, Industrial Training Fund Isa Ibrahim, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency Simbi Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Monitoring Board Aboloma Anthony, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria Mamman Amadu, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement Sharon Ikeazor, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate Akodundo Gloria, National Coordinator, New Partnership for Africas Development Ahmed Bobboi, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalisation Fund Umana Umana, Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority Saadiya Faruq, Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Usman Abubakar, Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation Bello Gusau, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, National Investment Promotion Commission

SEE ALSO: Lamido: Economic Recession Exposed Buharis Incompetence
Residents of Gloryland Estate, in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), of Alimosho, have urged Lagos state governor Akinwumi Ambode in a petition to save them from activities of land-grabbers (Omo-onile).

Property owners at Glory Estate are accusing Omo oniles in the area of selling Right of Ways (RoWs) under high tension wires to tipper operators who have invariably degraded the road infrastructure as well as pose security threat in the area.

The accusation was contained in their petition written under the aegis of the Glory Land Community Development Association, CDA, and addressed to the state government through the Ministry of the Environment.

Signed by the associations Chairman, Mr. Olumide Adewale, the petition accused Omo oniles of illegal sales of government properties as well as constituting environmental degradation to the area.

According to one of the residents, Alhaji Lateef Olayinka, the dual carriageway that leads to federal sites and services scheme which also houses a federal craft centre for the blind has been completely taken over by squatters and land grabbers.

Efforts by the community to fix the roads have been resisted by squatters and tipper drivers to whom the land grabbers had sold the road and setback. The roads have been completely taken over by illegal structures occupied by miscreants and people suspected to be Boko Haram squatters who snatch residents bags at night.

The worst part is that the road is under the pipeline and power-line, but we now have permanent structures there, including residential houses and hotels. The kerbs used to demarcate the roads were excavated and carted away by the unscrupulous tipper drivers aided by Omo oniles.

They have even encroached into the estate, selling government setbacks and this was the subject of a recent appeal to the Ministry of the Environment by the estate association, he explained.

Olayinka added, We, therefore, appeal to Governor Ambode to save our souls and by so doing protect the Federal and state governments institutions and sites in the estate.

Governor Ambode had on August 15 signed the State Property Protection and Neighbourhood Safety Corps bills into law which stipulates a 21 year jail term for anyone convicted of land-grabbing.
APC FREE AKARA CAMPAIGN

The controversies and accusations surrounding the Edo State gubernatorial election, which is to hold on Wednesday, havent seemed to end.

The two major parties in the race, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been trading defaming words.

But the latest in this seems to be comical as a photograph of an APC banner depicting a free Akara spot has been sighted in the State.

The emerged picture has sparked outrage on social media with many at their dismay joking about it.

Here are some tweets about the picture:

As bag of rice gradually becomes a unicorn, voters in Edo state now receive akara. At least, they got protein.  BROUHAHA (@BrouhahaNG) September 26, 2016

After putting NGR into recession,Apc want to use Akara to buy votes.This is the highest form of insult @PastorIzeIyamu  Nuel (@chuksST) September 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/DeclanIfeanyi/status/780481172229021697

https://twitter.com/obizz_AgentFox/status/780476387954155520

Welcome to Nigeria, where Politicians think they can get your vote with free akara pic.twitter.com/EKKYLz7HeL  Eghe (@egheCodes) September 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/hardknock4/status/780472370440134656
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was jailed in the United States in 2012 for terrorism offences has appeared on the voters register in Edo state.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole drew attention to the existence of AbdulMutallabs portrait in a fake voters register now in circulation.

A high stake governorship election is due in the state tomorrow, with the All Progressives Congress candidate, Godwin Obaseki locked against Pastor Ize Iyamu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Oshiomhole spoke about AbdulMutallab during a visit to him by the United States Consul General in Lagos, Mr F John Bray.

The Edo governor said he was shocked to see the portrait of the underwear bomber the fake register, but with a Benin name.

Abdulmutallab was convicted of attempting on December 25, 2009 to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on board an airline from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

Governor Oshiomhole, who raised concern about the duplication of the voters register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the foundation for credible election is the voters register. Once the voters register is manipulated, then you have problems.

Right now, we have evidence of two versions of voters register  the one they have officially distributed and the one that some elements within the ICT in INEC have also produced in Abuja.

And what they have done in the past, which we hear they want to re-enact again, is that whereas they will display one voters register which is reasonably accurate, there are still some flaws but let me say it is about 85 percent accurate, they also have a fake one which they intend to bring and spring a surprise in certain locations where they believe that they have no chance, and when the voters go there and you find a voters register different from the one that you know, there will be confusion in those voting centres.

At the end, you may end up having peoples voice level going up and one thing leading to the other, and you could have violence. We will show you those samples between the one that we know and the one we have gotten through our intelligence and I want to give a copy to the embassy, and so you can study it and see it. That, for me, is the only thing I am worried about.

If the INEC has two versions of voters register and they display one officially, then we have a problem. And the reason why this is extremely worrisome for me is that in my election in 2012, INEC tried to use this method to disenfranchise many of our supporters.

For example, I was shocked to find the portrait of Mr Abdulmutallab, and that will interest your Excellency, the young man who has been jailed in the US for a terrorist act. His portrait is in the fake voters register with a Benin name under it. I am sure if you look at the face, if we dont know the face, you the US officials know the face. And you find the name under it, that it is a Benin name in Ovia South West.

He also said INEC has enlisted some members of the opposition as election observers.

Last night, in my local government, one of the PDP leaders, who incidentally is on the list of INEC observers, I can be very specific, one Tenebe. We have information that he got boys around and they were shooting but the police went to apprehend them; they engaged the police in a shooting.

The police had to go and reinforce. As we speak, I dont have information as to how that was settled. If you have people like this engaged in violence, then it poses a challenge.

Unfortunately, it takes more than one hand in this case to achieve a free and fair election. All the political parties must be committed to putting away this thing, the Edo governor said.

The United States Consul General, Mr John Bray, who led a delegation of election observers to the Government House, said: We are here to observe the elections, we will all be watching this election very closely. It is essential that the election is peaceful, fair and credible and reflect the will of the Edo citizens.

The postponement was a setback a few weeks ago, but I still believe it offers us the opportunity to hold the first successful and transparent gubernatorial election in states in 2016.

NAN
Ghanaian political party Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has signed a petition against former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings over an alleged $5 million gift he received from late Nigerian Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha back in 1998.

GCPP petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Ghana to launch an investigation into the former Presidents claim.

Flag bearer of the party, Dr Henry Lartey, accused Rawlings of lying to Ghanaians about the amount of money he received from Abacha. According to Lartey, Rawlings received $5 million and not $2 million as he had claimed in a recent interview.

Lartey while speaking at a news conference on Tuesday said: We will not allow anyone who is corrupt to get away with it, even if you are the president of Ghana. If we start from the top, it will trickle down. We are going to CHRAJ with our lawyers and he (Rawlings) will have to answer all these questions.

No vendetta or whatsoever, I actually respected him to a point  he disappointed me and he has disappointed all West Africans. It is a sad thing that a man of probity and accountability must come to tell us that he took $2 million cash (from Abacha).

Did he take it on behalf of Ghanaians? Who signed for the money? What was the money used for? Did he really receive $2 million? Are we being lied to?

Rawlings had previously said in an interview with Guardian that he received $2 million and not $5 million as alleged from the late military ruler.
The Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, has called for greater economic cooperation between his country and Nigeria, to enhance the economy of the two countries.

Noting that India was Nigerias biggest trading partner, Ansari, stated that the two countries have common aspirations to improve the socio-economic status of their citizens.

The VP said this during the inauguration of the chancery of the Indian High Commission on Monday in Abuja.

Ansari, who was accompanied on the visit to Nigeria by his wife, Salma and other officials, explained that he would sign various bilateral agreements with the Federal Government.

The VP stated that India and Nigeria had come a long way as former British colonies, noting that the Asian country contributed immensely to Nigerian education sector, stressing that this can not be forgotten.

The contributions of Indian teachers in different parts of Nigeria, educating the citizens, will never be forgotten. The Nigerian armed forces have also benefitted from the defense institutions in India; the Nigerian security forces have enjoyed and are still enjoying training programmes in India.

Source: Punch
In exercise of her constitutional powers, the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafumilayo Atilade, on Tuesday released 20 inmates of Ikoyi Prisons awaiting trial. Atilade, who made the pronouncement at a mini-court session conducted at the prisons, told the inmates:Go and sin no more. The gesture was part of activities marking the 2016/2017 legal year.

She said:Having been informed by the prison officials of the offences for which you have been in prison for a period longer than three months, I pronounce, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are all hereby released from custody this 27th day of September, 2016.

This is without prejudice to any charge that may be preferred against you at a later date; I, therefore, enjoin you to turn a new leaf and go and sin no more. Noting that every individual deserves a second chance to be able to lead normal lives as productive members of the society, Atilade added:It is better for 10 guilty persons to go scot free than for one innocent person to suffer being punished unjustly.

Atilade recalled that since she took over, a total of 2,065 inmates had been released from custody. She said her prison visit was backed up by the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation. I have taken it as one of the key pillars in my administration to regularly conduct this visit with a view to granting amnesty to eligible and deserving inmates.

It is a notorious fact that the number of awaiting trial inmates far exceeds those of convicted inmates, and for this reason, my administration has established a Prison Decongestion Committee to set up criteria for the release of inmates. She said the inmates were among the 104 of those whose criminal cases have been ongoing from nine months up to four years. The Lagos CJ also noted that a number of factors had contributed to the large number of inmates awaiting trial in the various prisons. The factors included, police investigation, time lag between the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the actual filing of cases in court.

Atilade added that occasional delays such as transportation of inmates to court and lack of legal representation were among factors responsible for the large number of awaiting-trial inmates. She reiterated her administrations commitment to ensuring that justice prevailed in the state.

Source: Vanguard
Alhaji Sule Lamido has carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari for his poor handling of the economy, which is in recession, saying the president is incompetent.

Lamido, who is the immediate past Governor of Jigawa State and founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also faulted the president for blaming the excruciating hardship sweeping across the land on the economic recession.

According to the former governor, there were basic needs of living, which must be provided for the citizens, whatever the harshness of the sweeping recession.

He pointed out that it was too escapist on the part of Buhari to lean on recession and lament his inability to source for funds to provide such needs.

President Buhari is simply incompetent on the provision of the welfare of the citizens because he was never ready for the job, and so, he lacks the capacity to source for the wherewithal to do it well to the satisfaction of Nigerians, Lamido said.

According to him, If he (Buhari) cannot ensure the provision of basic needs of Nigerians, tell him to hand over to me and see how I will source for the wherewithal to do it.

Alhaji Lamido drew an analogy: Imagine a husband who, before marrying his wife, promised her that he would provide all her legal and legitimate needs according to the obligations of matrimony, only to confront the wife shortly after the wedding and tell her that he didnt know that he would have to provide her this, and he has now realized that he cannot, and she should please bear with him; and the wife, because of the love she has for him, overlooks that limitation.

The following day, he confronts her again, explaining his inability to provide another basic need, pleading with her to overlook it, and she does so; again he comes to her another day to say he didnt know that he also has to provide so and so to her, and now he has realized he cannot; it should dawn on the wife that he simply cannot discharge the obligations of matrimony to her, and it is legal and legitimate for her to seek divorce, he said.
A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday granted a 24-year-old man, Emmanuel Ogbonna, a bail of N550,000, for allegedly defrauding a woman of N500,000 after impersonating a Senegalese businessman.

The judge, Umar Kagarko, also ordered the defendant to produce one surety that must reside within the courts jurisdiction.

Mr. Ogbonna of Angwan Cement, Life Camp, Abuja was arraigned on a 10-count charge of joint act, cheating, assembling for purpose of committing brigandage and abetting commission of offence.

Other charges are abduction, wrongful confinement to extort property, wrongful restraint, impersonation and giving false information.

The prosecutor, Umoh Inah, told the court that the complainant, Mary Edet of Katampe, Abuja, reported the case at Wuye Police Station on September 23.

He said the complainant boarded the defendants taxi from Jabi Garage, Abuja, with other syndicate members (Emeka, Nnadi and Matthias) now at large posing as passengers sometime in June 2014.

According to him, the defendant and others fraudulently collected N200,000 from Ms. Edet and subsequently collected another N300, 000 from her, totalling N500,000.

The defendant claimed to be a Senegalese tailor and told the woman that he would supply laptops and Blackberry phones to her but failed to do so.

The woman boarded the defendants taxi again on September 23 from Berger to Life Camp, Abuja, and recognised the defendant.

The defendant and his members noticed this and diverted to Wuye District with the intent to abduct her.

The woman raised an alarm; the defendant was arrested while other members fled, the prosecutor said.

The offences contravened Sections 79, 322, 307, 93, 272, 260, 256, 179, 178 and 80 of the Penal Code.

The defendant pleaded not guilty while the case was adjourned to November 17 for hearing.

Source: NAN
The Police and authorities of the Federal College of Education, Zaria, have commenced investigation into how the registration fees paid by 1,128 students through banks was not credited into the institutions account.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that more than N26m paid by the students in some banks in Zaria were not credited to the schools account.

An affected student who craved anonymity said, I personally paid my money in the banks (name withheld) main branch in Sabongari, but to my greatest dismay, they said my money did not enter the FCE account.

As I am talking to you now, my name is not captured as a registered students and I am not the only person affected.

Over 1,000 students are now facing similar problem, and all categories of students are affected.

Another student said he also paid through the same bank, adding, I have the payment teller and the registration slip with me; however, they said I have not registered.

According to him, a large number of the affected students are now stranded.

The Registrar of the college, Dr. Jibril Lawal, confirmed the incident, but debunked allegations of management connivance as suggested by the students.

He said, The management has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the College Bursar, Mohammed Sani-Uwais, to thoroughly investigate the mater and report back to the management.

On his part, Sani-Uwais said payment made by 1,128 students was not credited into the institutions TSA account.

He added that 82 other students also had irregular records of payment.

Sani-Uwais said 99 per cent of the victims paid their money through the first generation bank located in Sabongari area of Zaria city.

This is a serious issue, as such, we reported the case to the police and police advised us to come back and set up an investigation committee to investigate the matter, which we did.

We have gone a long way in discharging our responsibilities. When a student appears before us, we ask him how did you make the payment, whom did you pay to, can you identify him?

We want to establish where the problem is and also who and who are involved in the shoddy deal and report back to the management for further action, the bursar said.

Sani-Uwais alleged that an attempt had been made on his life as a result of the investigation.

Officials of the affected bank did not respond to inquiries on the matter, but a reliable source informed NAN that the major suspect had resigned before the case became public.

The spokesperson of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman, confirmed that the case was reported to Zaria Area Command and that investigation into the matter had begun.

One of the prime suspects has been arrested and investigation is still ongoing, Usman said.

Source: Punch
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has approved the establishment of a study centre for prison inmates in Gombe state.

The University has also waved registration and other fees for inmates that will register to study at the centre.

The State Comptroller of Prisons, Ahmadu Adamu made this known while receiving Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo at the prison yard as part of the activities to mark the 20 years of the creation of the state.

The Comptroller said the effort would make it possible for inmates that meet University admission requirements to enjoy free university education while serving their prison terms.

He appealed to the Governor to incorporate and carry inmates along in his administrations various skills acquisition programmes.

In his reaction, Governor Dankwambo expressed delight at the possibility of inmates acquiring tertiary education while in prison.

He advised the inmates to ensure they turned new leaf as the prison is intended to be a place of positive transformation in character.
The Ebonyi State Police Command have arrested seven persons in connection with the murder of a 25- year -old man, Ndubisi Nwali.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victim hailed from Effium, Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), George Okafor, told NAN that the victims cousin, Uchenna Ochika, reported that the victim visited him on September 22.

Ochika alleged that the victim was shot by unidentified gunmen after he saw him (victim) off, the police spokesman said.

The cousin said when he arrived at the shooting scene, he saw six boys running and the victim, while still writhing in pains, mentioned the names of those who shot him.

The victim was quickly rushed to the Sudan Missionary Hospital, Effium, where he later died.

However, we have arrested seven suspects in connection with the murder.

The state Commissioner of Police visited the area, interacted with stakeholders and deployed several officers to the area.

The fear of reprisal attacks has forced people to abandon their homes.
Contrary to earlier reports that actor Kalu Ikeagwu was abducted by gunmen in front of his Gbagba Crescent flat in Ogba, Lagos yesterday afternoon, new details have emerged of what really transpired between the actor and the heavily armed men.

According to Encomium.ng, the newly married actor was actually arrested by security agents following a robbery and homicide case.

Kalu, who returned home around 8:30 pm yesterday, explained to his worried neighbours that his personal assistant bought a stolen phone from Computer Village in Ikeja, and the thieves reportedly killed one of the victims of the robbery.

He told neighbours that the crime happened in Abuja, and the phone was traced to Lagos by the security agents who later came for him since his address and name were used during the purchase.

Source: Encomium.NG
Three women have been arrested by the Kano State State Police Command over attempted murder of a little girl.

Confirming the arrest, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, said the girl was thrown into an old well in Gayawa village, Ungoggo Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the girl had spent two days inside the well, where she was allegedly thrown into by her step mother before she was rescued alive by men of the state Fire Service.

He said the suspects were apprehended in the village on Sunday following report by the father of the girl.

We have arrested three women in connection with the case and they are now in our custody assisting us in our investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Rabiu Yusuf has directed the transfer of the case to the state Criminal Investigation Department, for proper investigation.

Majiya added that the commissioner had ordered for thorough investigation to ascertain the suspects individual involvement in the case.

The commands spokesman said that anyone found involved after full investigation, would be charged to court.
The first US Presidential debate of 2016 has come and gone but it dominates the front pages around the world. Hillary Clinton faced off with her Republican rival, Donald Trump for the first of three debates in the race to the White House.

You can read all the talking points from the debate here.

A Poll by News agency, CNN shows that most viewers thought Hillary Clinton had the upper hand in the debate with 62% giving the debate to her. 27% of the viewers thought Donald Trump had done better than his democratic rival.

Hillary looked more assured during the debate and was able to keep Trump on the defensive for the better part of the evening while Trump appeared flustered at times.

A Public Policy Polling of 1,002 debate-watchers found that 51% of national voters thought Mrs. Clinton had won, with 40% choosing Mr. Trump and 9% undecided.Most major American newspapers such as the Washington Post, The New York Times also reported Hillary as the most convincing candidate of the night.
The immediate past Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido has extolled the leadership qualities of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, urging the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress to borrow a leaf from him.

The former governor spoke at the commissioning of the reconstructed Ozuoba-Rumosi road in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers on Tuesday.

According to a statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, the media aide to Wike, Alhaji Lamido, who recently took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari over the economic recession, advised members of the APC at all levels to learn the art and science of leadership and projects delivery from the Rivers governor.

Lamido, who commissioned the road, blasted the leadership of the APC for learning on the job after their electoral victory, pointing out that they have embarrassed Nigeria on the global stage through their failure to work for Nigerians.

He said: Only PDP Governors are working. We in PDP, care and we are concerned. If we are giving a responsibility, we discharge it creditably. Governor Wike has done very well. I extend the gratitude of the entire PDP family to Governor Wike for his performance.

The former governor called on Nigerians to build understanding amongst themselves for the promotion of unity, peace and prosperity.

In his remarks, Wike urged leaders not to make excuses as the people expect them to deliver on their campaign promises.

Whether there is economic recession or not, I will always fulfill my campaign promises to the people of the state.

The people have played their part by voting us. Therefore, we have a responsibility to work for our people. They dont deserve excuses, he said

Governor Wike explained that the Ozuoba-Rumosi road is a direct reward to the people of Akpor Kingdom for their support, adding that the community was forgotten by the previous administration, hence his resolve to reconstruct the road linking them with their kith and kin in neighbouring communities.

Speaking earlier, the Rivers Commissioner for Works, Mr. Iheanyichukwu Harrison, said the road was so deplorable that the people of the area were cut off from their neighbours.
A group of protesters on Tuesday morning stormed the Federal High Court, Lagos, to protest against what they described as one sided and media trial of Patience Jonathan, Nigerias erstwhile First Lady.

The protesters, who gathered under the aegis of Association of Media Professionals Against Corruption and Instability, said President Muhammadu Buhari must be fair in his anti-corruption war.

The protest took place at a time the court was sitting on the matter involving a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, who is being arraigned before Justice Babs Kuawumi, over another 17 counts charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Dudafa is also currently facing N5.1billion alleged fraud alongside two other people.

He is also facing another charge over alleged money laundering to the tune of $15m.

But the former first lady had since claimed that the $15m belongs to her.

The protesters, numbering about two dozen, who stormed the court around 11am, carried various placards with inscription like: EFCC stop the trial or ordeal on Patience Jonathan, Buhari, EFCC, your style of anti-corruption war is chasing away investors, stop witch hunting Patience Jonathan, among others.

Leader of the protesters, Igho Akeregha, said the group supports the anti-corruption campaign of the present administration under the condition that the president will probe past leaders.

According to him, the current trial of some former aides of Jonathan is a systemic plan by the present government to take over the ex-presidents family assets using the EFCC.
The economic recession in the country is not a justification for the call to sell off some national assets to raise much-needed foreign exchange, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has said.

The group, which strongly kicked against the proposal, suggested that allowances of public officers and government overhead cost should instead be reduced to cushion the effect of the economic recession.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, selling the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and four refineries will only rob Nigeria of vital assets without fund worthy of the exercise going into the coffers of the country.

It pointed out that the sale of former national assets in the past had not helped the country.

The Federal Government, which is seriously considering the proposal to sell off some national assets, said it would include a buy-back clause in any deal to guarantee that it would be able to repurchase the assets in the future when its financial fortunes improve.

But the ACF insisted that frivolous allowances of public officers and overhead costs, which it noted formed over 40% of the nations annual budget, should be converted to capital allocation to boost the ailing economy.

This is the time for national sacrifice to bequeath an enduring legacy to the next generation, Mr. Ibrahim said.

According to him, Positive change comes with painful sacrifice. ACF supports some of the measures proposed by the National Economic Council but seriously kick against the selling of strategic national assets to get out of temporary economic recession.

We see the growing calls by prominent politicians and business tycoons for sale of viable national assets as inappropriate, the forum stated.
The embattled National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has promised not to join words with the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the former Lagos state governors call for his resignation.

Mr. Tinubu had made the call in response to Oyeguns alleged manipulation of the Ondo APC governorship primary, which was won by Rotimi Akeredolu.

The former Lagos governor, in apparent disgust with happenings in the party under the leadership of Oyegun, for the first time, publicly acknowledged his informal title of national leader and also rejected same until the issues he raised are resolved.



In his response to Tinubus grouse against him, Oyegun said the former governor is a well-respected leader of the governing party, as such, he would not engage in a public spat with him.

Speaking at a political function in Benin City, the Edo State capital, yesterday, Mr. Oyegun said the governorship election in his home state, coming up tomorrow Wednesday, was his major priority even as he assured that I dont joke with my credibility.

He said: Asiwaju is a well-respected leader of the APC and as such, I cannot be heard speaking evil against him.

You know we have a crucial election here in Edo which is my priority right now. I dont want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all worked hard for this. So may be after the election if there is need, I will speak if there is no need, I will relax.

The APC chair, however, said most of the things reported about him especially in the media are untrue.

I have always believed in internal democracy; that the credibility of primary must be taken seriously. I believe that if the primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I dont play with these things at all.

Everybody knows me and I dont joke with my credibility and I have tried to maintain it. Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader and we all hold him in high esteem, so I will never join issues with him, he stated.

Mr. Oyegun hinted that after the Edo elections, after the APC must have emerged victorious, he may speak on some of the issues raised by Mr. Tinubu.

So there is no problem at all. Edo is the focus for now and as you know this is my state, so it is a very serious election for us. So I want to be allowed to remain focused; then after the election we can speak.
The Nigerian Senate has rejected the proposed sale of national asset by the federal government.

The present administration of Muhammadu Buhari had earlier proposed the sell some of Nigerias asset to order to revive the countrys economy.

Some have issued support for the proposed sale while many Nigerians are opposed to the plan. Those against the move argue that previous sales barely helped the nations economy. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has even planned a nationwide protest to oppose the planned sale.

The Federal Government claims that the sale of the asset would reduce borrowing and has even suggested that if it eventually adopts the policy, it would insist on a re-purchase clause.

The Senate meanwhile after extensive deliberation took to oppose the governments attempt on Tuesday at the resumed plenary.

SEE ALSO: Slash Allowances Instead Of Sale Of National Asset, ACF Advices FG
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed-doors with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The duo, who arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa in one vehicle, spent over 45 minutes in the Presidents office.

They, however, declined to speak to State House correspondents on the motive of their meeting with President Buhari when they came out from his office.

While Dogara was silent on the purpose of the visit , Tambuwal, who is the immediate past Speaker of the House, tactically evaded most of the questions from the journalists.

On whether the meeting has to do with the budget padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives, Tambuwal said: Not at all.

Asked if it has to do with recession and sale of assets, he replied the journalists with: I have already aired my views on the sales of assets.

When pressed further on whether the meeting has to do with the clash between the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the partys National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, he responded with: I dont know about that.

We are here to meet Mr. President and greet him and to show our support, Gov. Tambuwal said.
The feud currently playing out between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was long overdue, an elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said on Monday.

Tinubu, who is regarded as national leader of the governing APC, at the weekend, authored a statement rebuking the partys national chairman over his handling of the controversial Ondo State governorship primary, calling for Oyeguns resignation.

It is not immediately clear if Mr. Oyegun will heed the former Lagos governors call to resign, but over 48hours after Tinubu issued the statement, the APC chairman is yet to react to some of the damning allegations leveled against him by the partys national leader.

In his reaction, Yakasai said the misunderstanding did not come as a surprise to keen political observers, pointing out that people like him had anticipated the crisis soon after the formation of the present government.

He said: APC is an amalgamation of four to five political groups. After the formation of the government, only members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) were being considered for political patronage, while members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been sidelined.

Yakasai added that members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) are neither here nor there in spite of the appointment of the erstwhile partys former national chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as a minister.

The ACN leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, is totally out of the picture despite the fact that the vice president (Yemi Osinbajo) is his nominee. The appointment of Fashola to the jumbo ministry is considered personal, just like that of Amaechi. Bukolas emergence as Senate president was largely due to his personal financial prowess and the support he received from the PDP members in the Senate, he noted.

The elder statesman further said that prior to the economic crises the country was plunged into, Osinbajo was a mere onlooker in the current government, as according to him, the vice presidents new found relevance was made possible by his position as the chairman of the National Economic Council, which conferred on him the position of the chairman of the Economic Team of the government.
The call for the removal of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, by the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has divided the APCs National Working Committee, The PUNCH learnt on Monday.

Tinubu had, in a statement on Sunday, accused the national chairman of allegedly working against the ideals of the APC in the handling of its governorship primary in Ondo State.

He had alleged that the National Working Committee of the APC had voted in favour of a fresh primary in Ondo State but Odigie-Oyegun overruled the NWC and submitted the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the governorship candidate of the APC.

The statement added, If Tinubu is to choose between John (Odigie-) Oyegun and progress toward a better Nigeria, the choice has already been made. For those 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.

It was gathered in Abuja that members of the NWC, especially those from the South-West, were backing Tinubu, whom they argued was at the verge of being disgraced.

Tinubu is also said to be receiving support from some party chiefs, who were said to have felt they had been sidelined in the party under Odigie-Oyeguns leadership.

A member of the partys leadership, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said, I was one of those who cautioned our chairman about the handling of this Ondo palaver.

He (Odigie-Oyegun) was the one who said we should put the recommendations of the panel to vote, which we did. He asked us to pray but used the opportunity to leave the hall.

I personally think he is dancing to the tune of some individuals around Mr. President. He should simply step down.

Asked to comment on the division within the partys NWC, he said, Our last meeting made that very clear.

Six out of the 11 of us present at the meeting voted in favour of a re-run of the Ondo primary; five voted against. Yet, the choice of five was upheld. Is that democracy? You tell me.

Another member of the NWC said Odigie-Oyegun should not be crucified because he made an honest mistake here and there. I think this situation is not yet beyond redemption.

In an interview with The PUNCH, another NWC member said, Lets be honest, the APC does not belong to any individual. It is a give and take thing. Tinubu asked for and got the VP slot; he has members of his political family in the cabinet and even heads of government agencies. What else does he want?

A top source in the APC stated that an emergency National Executive Committee meeting might be summoned after the Edo State governorship election to iron out some of the contending issues.

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Mr. Seguin Oni, in response to enquiries by The PUNCH on the issue, said, Yes, we have issues within the party but we are resolving them.

You must give us some credit. We are a relatively young party with members drawn from diverse backgrounds. There are bound to be issues but we have the internal capacity to deal with our issues and we are doing it; be patient.

The acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Timi Frank, backed Tinubus call for Odigie-Oyeguns resignation.

He said he saw this coming long before now, stressing that many did not take him seriously.

He said, I said there was crisis within the party. At that time, I was alone; nobody saw what I saw coming. The crisis of this party came up when the issue of the National Assembly came up; the position of the party leadership against its own party members, Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, for the party to close its eyes to the travails of these two men.

Today, God has vindicated me after the Ondo primary. A national leader of our party, a founding father of the party has agreed with my earlier call that Odigie-Oyegun should resign as National Chairman. I knew from day one that the person that we have as national chairman could not give what he does not have.

It is now clear that (Odigie-) Oyegun cannot take this party to where it is going. Can we now deny that one of the founding fathers of this party has come out clear to say Oyegun should resign?

Meanwhile, Odigie-Oyegun has said he will not take issue with Tinubu.

Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke on Monday in Benin, said Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, was a respected leader in the party, adding that he would have to consult with other party leaders before making a statement.

He, however, said most of the allegations in the media report were not true, noting that the party would focus on the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, which he said was his priority.

He said, Asiwaju is a well respected leader of our party; so, I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I have to consult properly with other leaders of the party before we make any definite statement. Again, you know we have a crucial election here in Edo, which is my priority right now.

We do not want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all have worked hard for this. So, maybe, after the election, if there is need, I will speak. If (there is) no need, I will relax. But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true.

Odigie-Oyegun stated that he had always believed in internal democracy and the credibility of primaries, which must be taken seriously.

The former Edo State governor added, I believe that if primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy. So, I do not play with these things at all. Everybody knows me and I do not joke with my credibility and I have tried to maintain it.

But maybe after Edo election, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised. So, there is no problem at all.

It was learnt that Odigie-Oyegun came under serious pressure on Monday not to respond to Tinubus call on him to resign as the APC national chairman.

The outburst of Tinubu was said to have confirmed the internal wrangling in the ruling party.

However, Odigie-Oyegun, who was said to have been seriously jolted by Tinubus accusation, was said to have been prevailed on by some ministers and governors from the APC not to respond to Tinubus attack.

A minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity with The PUNCH in Abuja, said he, along with some of his colleagues, had called the party chairman not to speak.

He said while it was true that the former governor of Lagos State had every reason to be embittered, allowing the party chairman to respond would further portray the ruling party as uncoordinated.

The top party chief stated, Though it is painful when you are accused of something and you feel you needed to reply, but we have told him to keep quiet because we dont want the opposition and the media to feast on it.

The matter is being looked into and I think the leaders of the party, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, must act fast, otherwise, the party will die under his Presidency.

Reacting to the crisis in the APC, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, elder statesman and former aide to ex-President Shehu Shagari, called on Tinubu to condemn what he described as the current injustice in the party before it degenerated.

Claiming that he foresaw the current crisis, Yakasai also urged Tinubu to tackle Buhari, alleging that Tinubus political travails were well-thought-out and plotted in the Presidency.

Yakassai said, From all indications, every right thinking person will figure out a sinister plot to bundle out Tinubu from the hierarchy of the APC; and I want to believe this is coming from the Presidency.

The situation at the moment is that apart from the CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) members, everybody in the government is a mere onlooker.

Also, one of the Ondo State governorship aspirants of the APC, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has asked Tinubu, to accept the result of the APC governorship primary in the state instead of chasing a lost cause.

Abayomi said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Monday while reacting to Tinubus statement, demanding the resignation of Odigie-Oyegun.

Abayomi urged Tinubu to behave like a true democrat and accept Akeredolu.

He said, Asiwaju Tinubu is a respected leader of the party and is also a champion of democracy. He needs to understand that in life, you cannot win every battle. You win some and you lose some. Now that he has lost, he should accept the outcome and act like a true leader by accepting the outcome of the primary.

Source: Punch
UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced call for entries for the 2016 edition of its annual National Essay Competition.

The Managing Director/CEO of UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso, made this announcement last weekend as he said the competition is an avenue for Nigerian senior secondary students to win prizes in form of educational grants.

According to Aso, the competition is part of the Foundations initiative to promote creative and analytical thinking among senior secondary students in Nigeria and across Africa and a follow up on the Foundations Read Africa initiative, which promotes reading culture among students through mentoring and free distribution of Africa literary classics in secondary schools.

Entries received for the competition will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges made up of professors from reputable Nigerian Universities, who will then shortlist 12 best essays for further assessment.

A second round of the competition will involve the 12 finalists who will write a second supervised essay from which three best essays will be selected.

Three best essays will be selected as the overall winners from 12 finalists that will emerge from the first round of the competition Aso said.

The winner of the competition will win a N1 million educational grant to study in any African university of his or her choice while the 1st and second runner-up will be awarded N750,000 and N500,000 educational grants respectively.
Callebaut, Prova team on vanilla

Barry Callebaut and vanilla extracts and flavours manufacturer Prova are joining forces to launch what they describe as a novel project in Madagascar to diversify and stabilise revenues of vanilla farmers through the introduction of cocoa farming.

Barry Callebaut and vanilla extracts and flavours manufacturer Prova are joining forces to launch what they describe as a novel project in Madagascar. The aim is to diversify and stabilise revenues of vanilla farmers through the introduction of cocoa farming. With additional services, the project will also increase levels of vanilla curing at the farm level and support the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The joint project activities are expected to improve the livelihoods of the vanilla farmers located in the district of Bemanevika. In return, the activities are playing an important role in Barry Callebauts and Provas efforts to extend the sourcing of sustainable vanilla and cocoa.

To accomplish this, Barry Callebaut will apply its cocoa expertise in association with Provas local vanilla know-how, creating synergies on the ground for the benefit of the local vanilla farmers. Both Barry Callebaut and Prova will fund and support local communities through social, health and education programs.

IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, will support Barry Callebauts and Provas project with professional consulting services as well as financing.

The project will run over the next five years. First results regarding the newly introduced cocoa production are expected after three years.

The cocoa and vanilla synergy is an ancient love-story that dates back to the Aztecs, thousands of years ago, said Alessandra Ognibene-Lerouvillois, Chief Sustainability Officer at Prova. Witnessing this marriage in the field, helping farmers to improve their livelihoods is a big achievement. We are excited to embark on this journey with Barry Callebaut. Together, we will initiate the cultivation of cocoa! Our objective is to enable the planters to become stakeholders in their own development, take ownership of these projects and ensure their long-term sustainability. All our efforts are working towards this goal.

We are very happy to partner with Prova on this exceptional project, said Oliver von Hagen, Sustainability Manager Global Sourcing at Barry Callebaut. Vanilla is a key ingredient for us when making chocolate. This project will support farmers in being prepared for a less favourable future vanilla market. It also helps us as a company, securing a significant amount of our vanilla needs from a sustainable source. We are also very pleased that IDH fully supports our intentions and work on the ground. Altogether, this will complement and strengthen the efforts of the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative where we also are an active member.

This is a unique and promising collaboration of experienced supply chain partners, bringing joint investments and technical knowledge on two distinct and valuable commodities together in the promotion of farm income diversification and sustainable farming," said Jan Gilhuis, Senior Program Manager at IDH.

With about 80,000 vanilla producers, Madagascar is by far the most important producer of vanilla globally. Although vanilla is referred to as the worlds most popular taste and second most expensive spice in the world, it is also one of the most labour-intensive crops. The vast majority of farmers are smallholders situated in the SAVA region.
Lean Hogs Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - 58 minutes ago The downtrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading below resistance level 89.075, which will be followed by reaching support level 80.675 and if it keeps on moving down below that level,...

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Soybean Oil Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - 1 hour ago The downtrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading below resistance level 73.75, which will be followed by reaching support level 68.16 and if it keeps on moving down below that level,...

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Proponents of "effective altruism" argue that the best metric for judging the effectiveness of an initiative is "lives saved per dollar." It's a powerful metric, but a slightly nebulous one, outside of certain clear-cut areas such as malaria prevention or vaccinations. How do you quantifiably prove its accuracy in other areas? Will $100 to fight poverty in Africa save five lives? Ten? Fifty? And if the answer is, say, eight, how does one calculate that figure?

Coming up with solid metrics can be even tougher when working on domestic social issues, where it can be hard in many cases to nail down a clear causal link between a nonprofit's activities and outcomes in policy or people's lives. Absent a significant investment in professional evaluation studies, which many nonprofits can't afford, grantseekers are left touting a variety of indicators of success that can feel pretty mushy to funders.

Yet sometimes, coming up with metrics to prove an initiative's value needn't be an ambiguous or relative exercise. Sometimes the metrics hit you over the head with a (figurative) mallet.

That was certainly the case for long-time Cincinnati benefactor Richard "Dick" Rosenthal, who just gave $15 million to the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP) at UC's Lois and Richard Rosenthal Institute for Justice at the College of Law. The gift, which marks the largest ever for the college and any innocence program, ensures the program will exist for perpetuity.

Now about those metrics.

Since its inception, the school has freed 24 innocent prisoners in Ohio alone. Collectively speaking, these individuals served a total of 450 years of prison time. So, in other words, the project has unequivocally salvaged 24 lives.

Stripped of any relative or ancillary considerations, these are compelling metrics. But they become even more impressive when you consider the projects runs a shoestring operation. Its current staff consists of one director, one executive staff assistant, three staff attorneys, one legal researcher, writing specialist and outreach coordinator, and 17 fellows.

Each year, about 20 students spend a full year working on cases, digging through files, interviewing witnesses, writing case briefs and applying their knowledge of forensic techniques like DNA testing. Through hands-on learning, they discover how to build a case and what can make a case go wrong, resulting in a tragic injustice.

Then there's the following "soft" metric at play: More than 250 students have graduated from the program. The students spread out far and wide, taking their experience and desire for social justice with them. We'll go out on a limb and argue that many of them are doing good work. You can't enter a figure in a spreadsheet that reflects the impact of this kind of reach. But it's an important consideration nonetheless.

Rosenthal obviously agrees. "The Ohio Innocence Project has a laudable mission: to free every innocent person in Ohio. I'm proud to help ensure its life-saving work continues now and forever," he said. In 2004, Dick and his late wife, Lois, gave $1 million to create and endow the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Institute for Justice.

Rosenthals investment will boost recruitment of top students and faculty, both nationally and internationally, and support vital programming at the OIP. In recognition of the monumental gift, the law school will add three Lois and Richard Rosenthal Clinical Professors of Law. Students will be identified as Rosenthal Student Fellows. Finally, the OIP will occupy custom-designed, named space in the new building with upgraded work spaces, offices and technology.

In related analysis, check out our January piece on the Colorado Innocence Project and the donors who support it.
When many of us hear the phrase family values, what immediately comes to mind is a whole slew of divisive partisan issues: the marriage equality fight, abortion and religious liberty among them. What can get lost in the turmoil are actual family relationships, and practical thinking about how to improve such relationshipsespecially marriage.

The conservative philanthropic establishment (think Bradley, Scaife, the Kochs) has long professed a deep concern about the decline of the American family. But only a tiny slice of its giving over the past several decades has been for work that seeks to repair frayed family ties in a hands-on way. For example, as we've reported, promising initiatives to strengthen the role of fathers in their childrens' lives don't attract nearly as much support from conservative funders as you might think. Instead, liberal funders like Kellogg and Annie Casey have been the main players on bolstering fathers and, more broadly, it is these funders who've become most closely associated with the defense of families.

Related: These Donors Dig Dads: How Fatherhood is Getting Attention from Philanthropy

Given the gap between conservative talk and actual grant dollars when it comes to strengthening families, we've been intrigued to see the Philanthropy Roundtable's Culture of Freedom Initiative. Despite the libertarian-inflected name, the grantmaking here is all about supporting marriage, and not just with words. And its not about insisting that marriage must be between a man and a woman (though many involved probably believe that). Instead, the Culture of Freedom Initiative musters conservative dollars to close the marriage gap on the ground, in communities.

In a piece for Philanthropy magazine, Heather Wilhelm explains by quoting the controversial Charles Murray, a darling of the conservative philanthropic establishment: The marriage gap between upper-middle and working-class Americans, he has noted, now spans a whopping 35 percentage pointsup from 10 in 1960. Single parenthood exhibits the same class split.

That marriage gap translates into a wide array of negative outcomes related to economic security and outcomes for children. Even many liberals these days acknowledge that efforts to strengthen marriage and bolster "fragile families," as Brookings report put it, can make a lot of sense. Meanwhile, research backed by the Russell Sage Foundation has shown that the rising marriage gap is also a factor behind growing inequality in household income and wealth.

The Culture of Freedom Initiative has raised $18 million over the past year for its pilot programs. The initiative aims to provide small grants to neighborhood nonprofits in three areas (Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Dayton, Ohio), bolstering marital success and family participation in religious services. By the end of next year, the programs fundraising goal is $40-50 million.

With the Philanthropy Roundtable, it can be hard to tell where, exactly, the moneys coming from. The Bradley Foundation is one of the Roundtables biggest supporters, and its likely involved. The William E. Simon Foundation, with its past work in this area, is another one to watch. The Roundtable cites Annie E. Caseys work on marriage initiatives, as well as the National Christian Foundation. The Kirby Foundation, DonorsTrust, and the Donors Capital Fund are other likely sources. (Kirby has backed pro-fatherhood work in the past, as we've reported.) Several Culture of Freedom staff at the Roundtable previously worked for the Kochs.

Culture of Freedom of Initiative grantees include Creciendo Unidos in Arizona, Live the Life in Florida, and the RIDGE project in Ohio, each of them neighborhood nonprofits offering counseling, programming, and activities to promote stable marriages and family interaction. The Philanthropy Roundtable has also tapped the private sector to essentially market marriage to a 21st-century audience. Partnering with Right Brain Research and Cambridge Analytica, the Culture of Freedom Initiative is funding targeted outreach to put likely demographics in touch with the pro-marriage nonprofits it sponsors.

Those interested in hearing more should check out the Philanthropy Roundtables guidebook on marriage philanthropy to get a sense of where it's coming from. In it, William J. Doherty writes, Some liberal foundations have avoided marriage because they emphasize diversity of family forms and are afraid of stigmatizing single parents. Some conservative foundations have viewed marriage as a personal value, not a public valuea private moral issue and not a societal issue.

Now, though, it seems like there's room for new common ground among funders across the ideological spectrum who share the goal of strengthening marriage and families.

Related:
Real estate developer Osborne Capital Group has converted the former Capital Contractors building in Willoughby, Ohio, to a self-storage facility branded as Ace Storage. Osborne Capital acquired the site in January from a receivership, according to the source.

The 5-acre property at 4850 E. 355th St. comprises 40,000 square feet of storage space in 184 units, 40 of which are climate-controlled. Property features include 24-hour access, a self-serve rental kiosk, a loading dock and outdoor vehicle storage. The facility also offers truck rental, and a retail store that sells moving and packing supplies.

Improvements are planned for the parking lot as well as the facility lighting. The site also has room for the expansion of additional services. Weve been pretty busy and management-intensive, and were now exploring the possibility of wine storage, said Lance Osborne, CEO and president of Osborne Capital. Sixty percent of our business is household goods, but we do retail development [storage], pharmaceutical, [and] hospital and medical in addition to commercial and residential.

Osborne was attracted to the self-storage industry because of its resiliency, the source reported. During the Great Recession, people needed places to store their stuff when the housing market collapsed. This business has been a bona-fide asset class for real estate, he said, adding hes already looking to open a second Ace facility.

Stephen Sandor, whos known Osborne for some time, landed the job as the facilitys general manager soon after hearing about the project. My experience has [led] me here, and I believe Ive made the right decision, said Sandor, who has 16 years of experience in restaurant management.

Sandor added he was drawn to Ace Storage because of the latest features the facility provides its customers. The experience has been good. Its a different kind of hustle and bustle, he said. I keep very busy with customers and keeping the place clean; and the majority of the questions I receive are safety- and security-related, but some are also about accessibility.

Launched in 2003 and based in Mentor, Ohio, Osborne Capital is a real estate investment and management company specializing in acquisitions, advisory services, asset recapitalizations, distressed-debt workouts and property development.
XtraSpace Self Storage, which operates flexible, co-working office space and business services in many of its self-storage facilities in South Africa, is expanding the office concept and rebranding a separate work-space solution as The Workspace. The company will continue to offer branded FlexiOffice space at select XtraSpace locations, but new facilities under The Workspace name will feature office solutions with an expanded suite of services, according to a press release.

The Workspace is a premium offering with fully serviced, furnished offices and co-working spaces. Theyre connected and flexible with meeting facilities and excellent support services, said Colleen Mansour, chief operating officer. Services include call-answering, decor and finishes, full reception, IT support, meeting rooms, onsite management, printing, and video conferencing.

You can run your business from our premises instantaneously, Mansour said. The difference between [fully serviced and co-working space] is with fully serviced offices you get your own furnished, private lock-up office, and you have 24-hour access to the premises. With co-working, you make use of our open plan working space, and you have access to the premises during normal office hours.

In contrast, the FlexiOffice solution will be characterized by a smaller suite of services. It provides infrastructure, such as business centers, meeting rooms, printing and faxing capabilities, and free WiFi, but excludes support services like call-answering, IT assistance and a reception desk. Our FlexiOffices are located at selected storage facilities and are available to give additional support and service to our storage clients. Terms are flexible, Mansour said.

The more robust office solutions are in high demand from South African entrepreneurs, the release stated. We traveled extensively and observed and researched the ways in which co-working is presented and put together around the world; they are all very similar but still have unique aspects which are determined by local realities, Mansour explained. We spent much time ensuring that our model works for the business owner in South Africa, making it very convenient and very affordable because we really believe in assisting small businesses to grow.

XtraSpace has implemented expanded office services at nine facilities in the last two years, which will be rebranded from FlexiOffice to The Workspace. It also has three Workspace facilities in development, including The Workspace at The Club in the Hazelwood area of Pretoria, South Africa, which is scheduled to open in October.

XtraSpace operates 21 self-storage facilities in the South African provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. In addition to traditional self-storage space, the companys locations offer business centers with flexible offices for small and mid-sized companies. The company also offers domestic and international courier services. It launched its SpaceBox valet-storage service last year.
While it is difficult to replicate an advice model using machines, brokers that think they are safe from disruption could be in for a rude awakening.John Elliott, CEO of Elliott Insurance Brokers, told Insurance Business that brokers need to remain open to tech opportunities or risk disruption.There is an element that you can never utilise technology to replace the advice model, Elliott said.However, that doesnt mean that our industry is safe from it.There is a fair bit of that client relationship, and efficiency of managing that client relationship, where technology can assist.At this point, there still seems to be this resistance in general to stick by those advice guns and if we are not more open to it in a big way, in changing the way we operate, then that is going to provide a third party that opening that we really dont want to give them into our industry.Elliott said that brokers need to be on the front foot when it comes to innovation in their businesses for the good of the industry as a whole. Elliott Insurance Brokers were the first in Australia to offer bitcoin as a method of payment and Elliott noted that while this isnt a crown jewel for the business, it offers a good signal to clients.Insurance broking seems to be behind a little in this space to our other financial services cousins, Elliott continued. If we look at some of the other examples of contestable platforms and quoting systems for life insurance, for mortgage broking, they are really pushing the boundaries.While there will always be a need for in-depth advice on complex insurance products, Elliott warned that some brokers will feel the pressure as companies continue to invest in insurtech and fintech.Brokers trying to compete on the advice model for something that could be delivered through technology and whos business rely on that, predominantly in the scheme and SME sector, will probably start to notice a lot of pressure from the people spending millions of dollars on technology.
The government is determined to resist pressure from the elements of the $60 billion life insurance industry to temper new laws banning hefty upfront commissions, it has been reported.Financial services minister Kelly ODwyer told the Australian Financial Review that draft legislation to deal with conflicted remuneration would be discussed at the October meeting of the Federal Parliament.The changes will reduce upfront commissions, from some 120 per cent of the first years premium to a maximum of 60 per cent.Advisers will be allowed to receive ongoing annual commissions of 20 per cent but will also be given a two-year clawback period to discourage churning. This means that if a policy lapses in its first year, the adviser will have to refund 100 per cent of the commission in the first year and 60 per cent in the second, the Australian Financial Review explained.ODwyer said the government would not succumb to pressure from the Life Insurance Consumer Group (LICG), a group of advisers who battled with Financial Services Council (FSC), one of the nations most powerful lobby groups, over the changes. LICG have also met with crossbench senators and Coalition backbenchers, hoping to have them back down, similar to that which occurred on superannuation, the report said.Despite this, O'Dwyer vowed to push ahead with the reforms: "The government is very committed to these reforms. We're not watering them down."The draft legislation, which is part of the wider reform agenda Life Insurance Framework, was before Parliament when the election was called; and must now be formally reintroduced, with changes initially set to take effect in July, the report said.LICG seeks to convince the Association of Financial Advisers ( AFA ) to withdraw its support of the Life Insurance Framework.Mark Dunsford, head of LICG and NOW Financial Group director, claimed that the AFA and Financial Planning Association of Australia were forced into accepting the 60 per cent limit with threats to an even lower threshold, the Australian Financial Review reported."The FSC's proposals will result in alarming competitive advantage being gifted to the big banks and FSC members while hurting independent financial planning businesses and consumers," Dunsford said.He said if brokers were not paid via commissions attached to insurance products, they would have to charge customers a service fee, which would worsen the problem with under-insurance.John Trowbridge, a former APRA executive who led an inquiry into life insurance, called on the government to proceed with the job, saying The reforms are good. They don't go as far as they might but they are a very important step forward. There is a conflict of interest between advisers who receive big up-front commissions and their customers. It creates a number of perverse consequences."Sally Loane, FSC chief executive, said the bill to reduce upfront commissions in life insurance represented the unfinished business of the Future of Financial Advice reforms."The life insurance remuneration reforms will significantly reduce upfront commissions which have been found to create incentives to offer advice that may not be in consumers' interests," she said."The proposed changes are consistent with concerns raised in the Financial System Inquiry, the landmark Trowbridge Review and the ASIC Report 413 which found misaligned incentives were influencing the quality of life insurance advice."
By Paul LucasSo its finally here. After months of hype, the Dive In Festival will kick off in Sydney today and run for three days around the world with events across the United Kingdom, as well as in Toronto, Canada; Singapore; and Columbus, Ohio, New York and Chicago in the USA. In total the event spans 16 cities across four continents.However, the festival is designed to not only celebrate diversity, but to make the business case for it.Its a message that should be relatively simple to put across when you consider that 64% of insurance CEOs are said to be concerned about the lack of availability of key skills hindering their growth. However, when you realise that there are more CEOs called John in the FTSE 100 than there are females, turning theory into practice seems to be a stumbling block.Thats why Insurance Business sat down with Pauline Miller, head of diversity and inclusion at Lloyds of London, to discuss what can be done to make the message resonate. She believes that the need for diversity is getting across slowly  but that insurance is lagging behind other industries.It has been a very traditional industry, she said, referring to insurance. The profile of those who work in the industry hasnt always been very diverse. We are seeing that our business is more and more global and thats the call for action for us  to reflect the business as it continues to grow.There has been a slow progression with women joining and being, for example, on the underwriting floor. I still meet people today who will tell me they were one of the first on the underwriting floor. So its taken us a little bit longer in seeing more of that diversity in the industry  but I think weve made huge leaps and bounds in ensuring that we attract the most talent and having the most skilled workforce available.According to Miller, the initial diversity focus for most companies is on gender. However, rather than seeing this as a safe option that most business leaders feel comfortable addressing, she sees it as a natural first step  and one that must be seen as just that: a first step.Gender tends to be the area that organisations focus on first because its the one area where we tend to know a little bit more about our employees, she explained. We can track gender quite easily - but then that needs to be expanded in areas like ethnicity, then LGBT, then disability.The issue is that we dont always hire the best person for the job if we dont always search the right pools for those candidates. What we regularly find is that individuals tend to hire like themselves because when youre under pressure and you need to make a hiring decision with time at the essence, you tend to hire the person you feel you can put the most trust in  and often that tends to be someone who is a bit like ourselves, similar background and experiences.In addition, if we dont give our recruitment partners enough support they will always search in the same pools  I have seen that in many organisations and many industries. We tend to reach out to the same networking groups. We have to think about  how do we make sure we havent created job profiles that exclude individuals just by the way they are written, for example? We need to make sure that we are neutralising the profiles so that they are relevant to all individuals.Its not just about ticking a moral box either  Miller believes there is a genuine business case for a diverse workforce.There are many reports that will attest to the fact that those organisations with more diversity on their board  gender and ethnicity  see a benefit with their bottom line, she said. A PwC survey last year showed that organisations with a diversity and inclusion strategy were able to improve their bottom line. There is similar research from McKinsey, Lloyds  all high quality research arms that will all state that there is a bottom line impact. Its an issue that will affect your ability to recruit the best new talent too, with Miller pointing out that the Millennial generation and beyond is looking for a different type of working environment.For example, we know more fathers coming into the workforce want to spend time with their families, she explained. Thats a difference to two generations ago.This isnt just something for the big players in the insurance world to be thinking about either  its something that affects everyone, including the smaller, high street broker.Brokers need to think about who their customer base is, Miller explained. A high street broker may not think they have too much concern with disability, for example  but the reality is the majority of people acquire their disability, they are not born with their disability. If thats the case you dont know if the customer who is walking through the door is someone who has acquired the disability in the last six months who used to be a customer but something happened over that period.Also the smaller we become as a world  you dont know who youre engaging with and youve got to be able to engage with all of your potential customers. The customer base is changing.The Dive In Festival is now bigger than ever before. It includes events with keynote speakers, celebrities who have particularly relevant messages around their own personal experiences; key professionals within the industry; and consultants who will be able to talk things through on how to approach things from a diversity perspective and ensure you create cultures that are open and welcoming.If youre interested in taking part in any of the events, or finding out who the key speakers are in your area, you can download the app on iPhone and Android  or to find out more information visit the website now.
establishment of an industry taskforce which will identify and address emerging issues;

activation of disaster hotline 1800 734 621 to help policyholders with their inquiries, including which insurer they are with or about the claims process; and

mobilisation of ICA staff to work with local services and affected policyholders in the region.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared the major flooding around Forbes in the Central West of New South Wales a catastrophe.Rob Whelan, ICA CEO, said the insurance industry was still unclear about the full extent of damages to residential and business properties and crops, but had escalated its response to help policyholders.Early reports indicate the region has suffered extensive crop losses, while about 100 businesses and homes may also have been affected by flooding," Whelan said."It's likely that insurance losses will be in the tens of millions of dollars. However, it will take several weeks for the full extent of the losses to be known.The ICA and its members are liaising with the NSW Government, local municipalities, emergency services, and other agencies. Several insurers have already begun setting up disaster response teams in the Forbes region to assist their policyholders.By declaring the major flooding a catastrophe, ICA has enabled the following:Whelan advised affected policyholders to contact their insurer or insurance broker as soon as possible to commence the claims process. He said insurance assessors would start visiting properties once it was safe to do so.Insurers have electronic records so policyholders who cant find their paperwork need only provide their name and address, Whelan said."They are also prioritising insurance claims from the catastrophe region to ensure resources are directed to those policyholders most in need of assistance."Whelan said flood damage is now covered in over 95 per cent of household insurance policies purchased in Australia under the Federal Governments standard definition.Flood cover is also available to all farms and other businesses, but its not yet clear how many of the affected primary producers chose not to purchase policies that cover flood damage to crops," he said.In those rare cases where homes, businesses, and farms have been inundated and did not purchase flood cover, insurers will use independent hydrologists to determine if losses can be covered under other provisions of their policies.
Keeping students safe on college campuses is the focus of an upcoming conference in Massachusetts.

The state Department of Higher Education says the gathering scheduled for Wednesday at the DCU Center in Worcester is expected to attract hundreds of officials from public and private schools.

A key topic will be protecting students from sexual assaults with a keynote address from Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education.

Campus police chiefs are also planning to discuss the threat of active shooters on college campuses.

Among the state leaders expected to attend are Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, state Education Secretary James Peyser, Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago and University of Massachusetts President Martin Meehan.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Massachusetts Training Development
As cyber attacks become a growing concern with advances in technology, firms should be working to establish a cybersecurity plan that is cohesive across business operations to effectively reduce damage and cyber insurance claims, according to panelists at the 2016 Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Cyber Liability Symposium held Tuesday at the Hilton Midtown in New York City.

That is the biggest barrier to quickly acting when you have a risk event, said panelist Cari Toneck, chief compliance and risk officer at Methodist Hospital of Southern California. You need to think of [cybersecurity] like disaster management  similar to your plan for an event like hurricane Katrina  where everybody is on the same page. The key players in an organization need to immediately get together to respond to an event in a cohesive fashion and look at cyber risk as something that has the potential to domino into other claims and exposure.

Toneck pointed to one example of a local hospital in California that recently suffered a ransomware attack, where attackers demand ransom payments in exchange for the return of stolen data.

The hospital didnt have that cohesive structure, she said. Its backup data wasnt available for days, so it had to divert all patients from the 400-bed hospital to another location, figure out how to manage patients en route and were late in notifying state authorities. As a result, there was a full blown department of health survey, in which unexpected violations were found and [the hospital] had to be shut down for two weeks.

Indeed, business interruption can present as big a risk of damage for companies as stolen data, according to Linda Betz, chief information security officer at Travelers.

When attacks happen, attackers are either trying to gain access into your system or trying to interrupt your business operations, she said during the panel discussion, emphasizing the importance of having a plan that is integrated across business operations so firms arent scrambling to work together and regain functionality when an attack occurs.

N. MacDonnell Ulsch, senior managing director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, added that it is important for companies to adapt business processes to work together in establishing a unified cybersecurity plan. Today, cybersecurity needs to be built into hardware and software products the day they are implemented, since that is how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said it will evaluate companies going forward in the event of a breach, he stated.

A lot of these things sound extreme until you start to implement them, he said. Business processes are critical, but cybersecurity is also critical. We just need to make them work together.

As cyber risk begins to be perceived as a risk equal to or sometimes greater than certain types of physical risk, companies need to be asking how their cybersecurity plan allows them to recover from an attack and how it furthers the companys viability in the event of an attack, whether its a data breach or a business interruption, Betz said. Companies can do this by developing a cybersecurity plan that is not only inclusive across all business operations, but is forward looking as technology continues to evolve, she stated.

Theres probably something else that will happen tomorrow we havent thought about, she said. We have to be moving forward to stay competitive, unless we turn off all of our computers, which isnt an option. So, companies need to be thinking about the future as theyre forming a cybersecurity plan.

Topics Cyber New York Training Development
Global Risk Partners Limited (GRP), the acquisitive insurance broking and managing general agent investment vehicle, has acquired Marshall Wooldridge, a UK commercial insurance broker which controls in excess of 20 million ($25.2 million) GWP.

Marshall Wooldridge has served the business community in and around Leeds, England for over 40 years and employs 50 staff based in its offices in Leeds and Rotherham.

The acquisition by GRP signals the start of an ambitious plan to double the size of Marshall Wooldridge in the next three years, both organically and by local acquisitions, said GRP in a statement.

James Hall, managing director of Marshall Wooldridge, will continue to lead the business and is a co-investor.

I am delighted we have completed the acquisition of Marshall Wooldridge  it is a highly regarded broker with a strong reputation in both the local market and within its specialist areas, said Mike Bruce, CEO broking for GRP said.

This is a key acquisition for GRPs broking business as we continue to focus on our strategy of developing a national footprint of quality commercial brokers. In addition to working with James and his excellent management team to accelerate their own growth plans, Marshall Wooldridge will provide a regional base to accommodate further acquisitions we have already identified, and the recruitment of high quality teams and individuals in Yorkshire and the surrounding counties, Bruce added.

Being a member of GRPs broking operation will enable Marshall Wooldridge to benefit from greater distribution for our specialist products and access to markets, said James Hall, managing director of Marshall Wooldridge. GRPs model is ideal for our staff and clients, as we will continue to trade under the Marshall Wooldridge name, but benefit from the financial backing and management expertise of GRP.

David Margrett, chief executive of GRP commented: We consider Marshall Wooldridge to be the standout broker in the region and are keen to rapidly accelerate its growth. This acquisition is a key move in our retail broking business and we expect to be announcing a number of further acquisitions over the next few months.

He said that Marshall Wooldridge is GRPs seventh acquisition of the year, controlling GWP in excess of 420 million [$528 million].

Source: Global Risk Partners

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Trends Agencies Human Resources
Leavenworth, Kansas-based Armed Forces Insurance (AFI), which serves current and retired members of the uniformed services, their children and Department of Defense civilians, has promoted Lori L. Simmons to chief marketing officer and vice president, Marketing and Corporate Communications.

Simmons, who has been with Armed Forces Insurance for 21 years, was formerly the companys assistant vice president of Marketing and Communications. In her new role, she will oversee all corporate branding as well as direct all of AFIs integrated marketing and public relations programs in addition to serving as company spokesperson.

Simmons will continue to serve as the President of the Armed Forces Insurance Foundation, which works to educate the military community on an array of personal financial topics. As a former military spouse, she is a passionate advocate for our nations military families and plays an integral role in the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year program. In addition to her work with AFI, Simmons also has experience in running successful marketing initiatives for both education and leading defense contracting organizations.

Simmons is a member of several leading industry associations, including the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association, the Professional Insurance Communicators Association, NAMIC, PCIAA and the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council.

Source: Armed Forces Insurance
Starr Companies has acquired Wright USA from Ironshore Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Chinas Fosun Group.

Wright USA is an insurance agency and third-party administrator principally providing Federal Employee Professional Liability (FEPLI) as well as disability, life, dental and other coverages to federal employees.

The organization will use the marketing name Starr-Wright USA. The organization is located in Wilmington, Delaware, and is licensed to operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Terms were not disclosed.

Ironshores ownership of Wright USA had become an issue following Chinas Fosun Groups acquisition last November of the remaining 80 percent of the Bermuda-based specialty insurer Ironshore that it did not already own. As reported by Insurance Journal, U.S. authorities have been reviewing that deal.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, was reportedly concerned about a professional liability product designed for federal employees, which Ironshore sold through its Wright subsidiary. CFIUS was reportedly concerned about who has access to this list of federal employees, following the hack last year of employee records held at the Office of Personnel Management.

The government regularly conducts company reviews after a sale to a foreign investor, Kevin H. Kelley, CEO of Ironshore, told employees in a June 6 letter to employees.

CFIUS evaluates national security issues in connection with foreign investments and acquisitions in the U.S., said Kelley.

In his letter, Kelley explained that the process is a civil regulatory one which does not involve any allegations of wrongdoing. Fosun and Ironshore voluntarily filed with CFIUS and have been cooperating fully, he said.

As the Wright business accounts for less than 0.5 percent of Ironshores total annual premium, Fosun was willing to sell the subsidiary to alleviate any CFIUS concerns.

In July 2015, A.M. Best placed Ironshore under review with negative implications due to the then-planned $1.84 billion acquisition of Ironshore by Fosun. A.M. Best said it was worried about Fosuns credit profile and financial leverage and how it would affect the insurer.

However this past June, A.M. Best changed its mind and restored the financial strength ratings of A (Excellent) and issuer credited ratings of a for Ironshore. A.M. Best said the affirmation of its ratings nearly a year later reflected its view that Ironshore has strong standalone attributes as a specialty insurer, will continue to build a relevant franchise in the specialty sector and is capable of delivering strong operating results.

In July, Ironshore filed for an initial public offering (IPO).

Starr Companies, which is headed by CEO is Maurice Greenberg, former CEO of American International Group, is the marketing name for the insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Co. Inc. and for the investment business of C.V. Starr & Co. Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Starr provides property, casualty, and accident & health insurance products as well as a range of specialty coverages including aviation, marine, energy and excess casualty insurance. Starr has insurance company subsidiaries domiciled in the U.S., Bermuda, Hong Kong and Singapore.

In 2014, Starr Companies acquired a majority ownership of Shanghai-based Dazhong Insurance Co. Ltd. of China, which had been state-owned.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions USA Excess Surplus China AM Best
Insurance brokers who sold allegedly illegal workers compensation products from Berkshire Hathaway affiliates involved in legal and regulatory troubles in New York and California could end up being strapped with liability issues that may not be covered by their professional liability insurance, according to sources familiar with the matters.

The products are at the center of charges made in a New York lawsuit filed on Sept. 9 by attorneys for New York City-based Breakaway Courier Corp. over a dispute between the company and its carrier involving its workers comp bills.

The suit, which also names as a defendant Omaha, Neb.-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc., as well as several Berkshire companies with names starting with Applied, alleges that an unlicensed, unrated insurance company was involved in selling the products. Applied Underwriters Captive Risk Assurance Company Inc. (AUCRA) and Applied Underwriters Inc. (AU), both involved in the suit, are unrated by A.M. Best; AU is not licensed to do business in New York.

In documents filed in the case, including a response to the suit filed by attorneys for the defendants, these workers comp products are referred to as investments.

Among the reasons brokers who have sold the products may be concerned is because a Reinsurance Participation Agreement (RPA), which policyholders were asked to sign, describes the programs profit-sharing component as an investment and not as insurance coverage.

See Applieds responses to the lawsuits, and allegations.

A source familiar with both the New York and California cases who says he works in the brokerage community believes brokers will be negatively affected and could end up having to defend themselves against angry clients that are forced into payments much higher than they believed were originally agreed to.

Theyre trying to throw the brokers under the bus in this whole thing, said the source, who asked not to be identified.

The source believes brokers could be refused coverage by errors and omissions carriers, and heres the reasoning: The agreement is being treated not as insurance, but as an investment. Brokers are prohibited from selling to carriers that are not A.M. Best rated, while both AUCRA and Applied Underwriters Inc. show NR (not rated) ratings from A.M. Best. Further adding to the potential concern for brokers is that Applied Underwriters Inc. is not licensed to do the business of insurers, while AUCRA is only licensed in California and Iowa, according to the New York complaint.

There are no amounts of money being charged by a licensed entity, the source said. If its a premium, its being collected illegally. If its an investment, its being collected illegally as well. So a broker could have introduced an investment in a reinsurance company that is not rated and not licensed despite insurance policies that are being issued through it.

A similar lawsuit is ongoing in California, where a similar workers comp product was being sold until the states insurance commissioner forced those selling the product to agree to a cease and desist order earlier this month.

Reverse Ponzi

The New York suit alleges that Berkshire and its affiliates have created an illegal scheme to steal workers comp premiums under whats referred to as a reverse Ponzi scheme targeting New York consumers. It alleges that Berkshire Hathaway is in violation of multiple sections of New York insurance law by causing an unlicensed foreign insurance company to divert insurance premiums to another entity unlicensed by New York State and siphoning those premiums through under collateralized shell companies.

The so-called scheme has helped Berkshire Hathaway become a large national seller of workers comp over the last six years, according to the suit.

Berkshires market share has jumped up to fifth in the nation with average annual premium growth of nearly 40 percent since 2009, roughly the time its affiliates started selling the product, according to recent data published by Insurance Journals sister publication Carrier Management.

Raymond J. Dowd, with the New York law firm of Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP, which is representing Breakaway in the case, said the scheme enables the affiliates to keep far less loss reserve than other carriers, giving it a competitive advantage.

If the rest of the industry has to keep a loss reserve of 70 percent because actuaries say thats the amount that you need to pay out to injured workers  based on 100 years of actuarial experience  and Applied is saying, Oh no, its 30 percent for us, theres not reality there, Dowd said

Dowd alleges the scheme is essentially whats known as shadow insurance, in which one insurance entity is insured by another affiliate.

The rule is you want all the risk to be spread, because in case theres a disaster, the system can handle it, Dowd said. If you look at the big picture, all the risk is concentrated.

Protected Cells

The scheme differs from a typical Ponzi scheme in which victims are paid with investments by others. Instead, it requires insureds to cover each others losses. The complaint states victims of the scheme are led to believe their capital is being paid into protected cells and will eventually be returned to them, however it is siphoned off through an unregistered Hawaiian entity, leaving New York employers and injured workers without the funds required by New York state to cover losses related to worker injuries.

Employers are lured by discounted workers compensation insurance premiums and a share in underwriting profits. However, New York insurance law forbids an insurer to rebate premiums or offer any benefit as an incentive for an insured to enter into an insurance contract. Because Breakaway was incentivized based on the understanding that it would share in underwriting profits related to workers compensation insurance premiums, the transaction violates New York state insurance law, according to the complaint.

Under New York law, you cant give any discounts, Dowd said.

Since workers compensation insurance is regulated at the state level, laws regarding this vary by state.

In this case, Applied Underwriters presented Breakaway with a profit-sharing plan called Premier Exclusive, in which it could save money on workers comp insurance premiums and have a chance to participate in underwriting profits. The plan was presented as an investment scheme that would allow Breakaway to pay lower insurance premiums, as well as save and recover funds through rebates if there was an underwriting profit.

RPA

To participate, however, Breakaway signed a RPA  a complex derivative instrument that shifts all risk of losses from worker injuries back onto the insureds, according to the complaint. To pay premiums, clients fill out monthly Automated Clearing House (ACH) forms, or direct deposit forms, that collect money directly from clients bank accounts, according to the source.

You never see a check go out on a monthly basis to Applied Underwriters  thats just a holding company that is unlicensed to do the business of insurers, said the source.

AU takes the money in through the ACH forms, while Applied Risk Services acts as the billing agent and internally moves the money around, the source explained.

From an insurance perspective, its the largest insurance company doing business without a license, the source said.

The case refers to a similar matter in California in which Commissioner Dave Jones has faulted Berkshires Applied Underwriters Inc. and California Insurance Co. units over the sale to Shasta Linen Supply Inc. of a nontraditional workers comp policy called EquityComp, the terms and rates for which had not been reviewed by state officials.

In July Jones office issued a cease and desist notice in the Applied case, and while Jones and Applied reached a deal where Applied agreed to stop selling EquityComp, there is still a lawsuit ongoing.

We reached a settlement with Applied Underwriters, Nancy Kincaid, a spokeswoman for the CDI said. The Shasta Linen writ is still pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Craig E. Farmer, of Farmer, Smith & Lane, LLP, the firm represents the insured, Shasta Linen Co., said he expects a hearing date in the Shasta Linen case to be set for Oct. 6.

EquityComp

The order issued by Jones portrays CICs EquityComp program as a success, generating 80 percent of CICs policy premium.

The EquityComp program was launched in 2008 and has risen steadily since.

CICs net earned premium in 2009 totaled $71.5 million with incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses equaling $55.6 million, resulting in a net loss ratio of 77.7 percent and combined ratio of 109.7 percent, giving CIC negative net income of $4.4 million, the document shows.

By 2014, CICs net earned premium reached $240 million, its incurred losses and LAEs equaled $72 million, for a net loss ratio of 30 percent. Its combined ratio totaled 60 percent and CIC reported a net income of $65.5 million, the document shows.

CIC recorded the lowest loss ratio among the top 30 workers compensation insurance carriers in 2013, and the lowest loss ratio among the top 15 workers compensation carriers in 2012, according to the document.

Its combined ratio for 2012 was roughly 110 percent.

During the life of the EquityComp program, CIC saw its market share in total written premiums in California go from 37th at .867 percent to seventh at 2.92 percent, the document shows.

Applied

Several companies named Applied are involved in both New York and California cases.

They include: Applied Group Insurance Holdings Inc. of Hawaii; Applied Underwriters Inc., a non-insurer in Nebraska; Applied Risk Services Inc., a general agency in Nebraska; and Applied Underwriters Captive Risk Assurance Company Inc. in Iowa.

The result, whether intentional or not, makes it difficult to comprehend the relationship between the firms and which entity is performing what function.

There are a lot of legitimate businesses with lots of confusing names, so its not necessarily anything nefarious, Dowd said. However, if you want to confuse regulators, it is how you do business. The way in which the businesses are structured fits with Berkshire CEO Warren Buffetts philosophy of building moats, according to Dowd.

Warren Buffetts business concept is that you build moats around these businesses, Dowd said.

Buffett has often been quoted about his moat philosophy with the line: In business, I look for economic castles protected by unbreachable moats.

Dowd believes moats were constructed around these Berkshire affiliates to create protective barriers that keep regulators and workers comp customers from getting a clear picture of their innerworkings.

What Id like to know is whos behind the castle, wheres the king? he said.

When contacted by Insurance Journal, a spokesperson for Applied Underwriters Inc. said the company does not comment on pending litigation. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. could not immediately be reached for comment.

The California structure of the Berkshire affiliates named in the decision, like those in New York, is complex.

AUCRA

CIC is a P/C insurer domiciled in California and is wholly owned by North American Casualty Co., a non-insurer, which is in turned owned by Applied Underwriters Inc., a Nebraska corp. AU is an indirect subsidiary of Berkshire. AU is also parent of Applied Underwriters Captive Risk Assurance Co., BVI (now AUCRA) and applied Risk Services. AU underwrites workers comp through affiliated companies and manages CICs underwriting.

AUCRA is an insurance company organized under the British Virgin Islands law and is domiciled in Iowa. Its sole purpose is to serve as CICs reinsurance arm.

ARS is the billing agent for EquityComp. The boards for CIC, AU and AUCRA are identical in composition.

Also involved are Commercial General Indemnity and Applied Group Insurance Holdings, Hawaiian captives owned by UA Holding Co Inc. (Delaware), which is turned owned by Berkshire and others. Berkshire owns AUCRA and Continental.

A quota share agreement between AUCRA and California Insurance Company was revised January 2012 to reflect the British Virgin Islands entity being taken off of the contract, leaving only Iowa-based AUCRA on the contract and bringing to light additional concerns involving the New York case, the source said.

After Breakaways Premier Exclusive policies expired on June 30, 2012, it agreed to purchase a renewal option from Applied Underwriters Inc. called Solution One. Breakaway subsequently signed a second RPA with AUCRA BVI in July 2012, while a report of the California Department of Insurance shows AUCRA BVI ceased to exist on Dec. 9, 2011, according to the complaint.

This may be because the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), signed into law after the financial crisis, contains the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010, which went into effect in July 2011, the source explained.

What that said is that you cant, as an insurance company, accept reinsurance credit from entities not on the NAIC alien insurance company approved list  AUCRA BVI is not on that list, the source said. There are multiple RPAs out there signed after December 9, 2011 until about 2013 after the company ceased to exist.

It is unclear if the matters involving the New York case against Berkshire are being investigated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), which declined to comment for this story.

Related:

Topics Lawsuits Carriers California Agencies Workers' Compensation Profit Loss New York Underwriting Reinsurance Iowa Nebraska
Professional employer organizations (PEOs) began their rise after the adoption of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 cleared a path for the creation and expansion of such entities. Between 780 and 980 professional employer organizations operate across all 50 states. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, approximately three million employees work under a PEO arrangement and the PEOs industry earned, on the top end of the estimate, $156 billion in gross revenues in 2014 (gross revenues are the total payrolls plus the fees charged by the PEO).

PEO contracts are co-employment arrangements whereby the professional employer organization and the client with whom it contracts both retain some right of control over the individual worker or workers collectively. Such relationship is wholly different than a leased employee or the use of a borrowed servant. Leased employees and borrowed servants are under the absolute control of the special employer. Co-employment vests responsibility and control with both parties to the contract.

The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) website explains these responsibilities as follows:

The PEO relationship involves a contractual allocation and sharing of employer responsibilities between the PEO and the client. This shared employment relationship is called co-employment.

As co-employers with their client companies, PEOs contractually assume substantial employer rights, responsibilities, and risk through the establishment and maintenance of an employer relationship with the workers assigned to its clients. More specifically, a PEO establishes a contractual relationship with its clients whereby the PEO:

Co-employs workers at client locations, and thereby assumes responsibility as an employer for specified purposes of the workers assigned to the client locations.

Reserves a right of direction and control of the employees.

Shares or allocates with the client employer responsibilities in a manner consistent with maintaining the clients responsibility for its product or service.

Pays wages and employment taxes of the employee out of its own accounts.

Reports, collects and deposits employment taxes with state and federal authorities.

Establishes and maintains an employment relationship with its employees that is intended to be long term and not temporary.

Retains a right to hire, reassign and fire the employees.

When evaluating the employer role of either the PEO or the client, the facts and circumstances of each employer obligation should be examined separately, because neither party alone is responsible for performing all of the obligations of employment. Each party will be solely responsible for certain obligations of employment, while both parties will share responsibility for other obligations. When the facts and circumstances of a PEO arrangement are examined appropriately, both the PEO and the client will be found to be an employer for some purposes, but neither party will be found to be the employer for all purposes.

NCCI and PEO Arrangements

NCCI monitors the workers compensation issues and problems created when employers choose to join a PEO. A 2005 report printed in NCCIs Workers Compensation Issues Report delineates and briefly discusses many of the continuing issues. A few of the problems/issues discussed in the NCCI article include:

Experience Modification Calculations: Most states require the PEO to individually monitor and report the claims experience of each individual client. The purpose is to thwart the efforts of employers with bad experience to escape their problems by joining a PEO for a couple of years then coming back out and starting over. Since individual experience must be monitored and reported, the employers experience mod will be correct based on its experience; it will not get a 1.0 when it leaves the PEO unless that is what it has earned;

The ability of executive officers to exclude themselves (if allowed by law); and/or the ability of sole proprietors or partners to include themselves (if allowed by law); and the ability to include or exclude members of an LLC (based on the applicable state law);

Problems that might arise if the employer/client hires an uninsured subcontractor. Is the PEOs workers compensation carrier required to pay as the statutory (de jure) employer?

Problems that arise out of PEOs being insured in state assigned risk pools; and

Are the proper endorsements in place? For example, NCCI states in this article that the Alternate Employer Endorsement is not intended for use in co-employment situations. However, without using this endorsement there is a problem when trying to effectuate and confirm the proper dovetailing of coverage between the employer/client and the PEO (detailed below).

NCCIs report specifically lists and highlights more problems than those listed here.

Insuring PEOs

Four endorsements are available for use in most co-employment situations, and depending on the jurisdiction a fifth endorsement may be necessary. Two are client-specific and two are intended to be attached to the PEOs policy. Contractual agreement between the PEO and the employer regarding which entity is responsible for providing workers compensation benefits govern which endorsements are used.

Employer/Client Responsible for Providing Workers Compensation

When the direct employer/PEO client is contractually responsible for providing benefits, two endorsements dovetail to provide the necessary or required workers compensation benefits:

Labor Contractor Endorsement (WC 00 03 20 A) . This endorsement is attached to the clients (the leasees) policy. Attachment of this endorsement extends benefits to the leased employees from the direct employers policy and essentially provides additional insured status to the scheduled PEO. The use of this endorsement is coupled with the 

. This endorsement is attached to the (the leasees) policy. Attachment of this endorsement extends benefits to the leased employees from the policy and essentially provides additional insured status to the scheduled PEO. The use of this endorsement is coupled with the  Labor Contractor Exclusion Endorsement (WC 00 03 21) . Attached to the PEOs workers compensation policy, this exclusionary endorsement excludes coverage for employees leased to the client(s) scheduled in the form. This endorsement is used when the client leases employees on an other-than-short term basis and such client is contractually charged with providing the workers compensation benefits.

PEO is Responsible for Providing Workers Compensation Protection

As above, two endorsements, one attached to the direct employers/clients policy and the second to the PEOs, work in tandem to assure that coverages mesh as per the contractual agreement requiring the PEO to extend workers compensation benefits to the leased workers.

Employee Leasing Client Exclusion Endorsement (WC 00 03 22) . This endorsement is attached to the direct employers/clients workers compensation policy to exclude the extension of workers compensation benefits to employees leased on a long-term basis from the scheduled labor contractor (PEO). Only use this endorsement when the PEO is responsible for providing coverage. The direct employer/client must confirm that the PEO attaches the 

. This endorsement is attached to the direct employers/clients workers compensation policy to exclude the extension of workers compensation benefits to employees leased on a long-term basis from the scheduled labor contractor (PEO). Only use this endorsement when the PEO is responsible for providing coverage. The direct employer/client must confirm that the PEO attaches the  Professional Employer Organization (PEO) Extension Endorsement (WC 00 03 20 B) . Workers compensation and employers liability benefits extend exclusively from the PEO when this endorsement is attached to the PEOs This extension only applies to employees leased to the client(s) listed on the schedule.

. Workers compensation and employers liability benefits extend exclusively from the PEO when this endorsement is attached to the PEOs This extension only applies to employees leased to the client(s) listed on the schedule. Alternate Employer Endorsement (WC 00 03 01 A) . Although NCCI states this endorsement is not properly used in co-employment situations and even the form itself does not contemplate its use in these relationships, if the insured is located in a state that has not approved the PEO Extension Endorsement discussed above, the Alternate Employer Endorsement may be the only way to extend coverage from the PEOs form to protect the direct employer/client. This endorsement is attached to the PEOs policy naming the employer/client as the alternate employer. The use of this form in co-employment contracts is not recommended and should be avoided if possible.

Separate Workers Compensation Policies for Employers Using PEOs

As evidenced above, it is absolutely essential that the employer/client have in place a workers compensation policy even when the PEO is contractually providing coverage. Since both entities are legally employers and, in fact, are the employers of record, such contractual arrangement does not preclude the necessity of coverage.

Exposure to a workers compensation claim still exists if an uninsured subcontractor is hired, if there are employees hired outside of the leasing contract (temporary workers, etc.) and other potential gaps in protection as studied and monitored by NCCI. Further, while it may seem like a weak argument, without a workers compensation policy in force, the employer/client has nothing to which the required endorsements can attach attesting that coverage is extended from another party.

Lastly, if the PEOs coverage is compromised or the PEO suddenly goes out of business, the employer is in violation of the law until coverage can be placed. Many employers have received notice that the PEO with which they were contracted is no longer in business.

Employers should carry the workers compensation policy even if it must be set up using If Any payrolls. The cost is very low for the protection it provides. A central theme of risk management is dont risk a lot for a little. The small premium may avoid big problems.

A Place for PEOs

PEOs offer many services to and advantages for employers using their services. But the use of a PEO does not relieve the direct employer of its responsibility to assure workers compensation protection is properly constructed  before the injury occurs.

Information for this article is taken from, The Insurance Professionals Practical Guide to Workers Compensation: From History through Audit. Click here for more information on this useful guide.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent
Automated cars have the backing of President Barack Obama, whos signed off on whats largely been a hands-off approach to regulating the burgeoning industry, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.

The U.S. is allowing road trials by the likes of Alphabet Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. because real-world testing is critical to the technologys acceptance, and for companies and regulators to understand its potential, Foxx said in an interview Saturday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week released guidelines for the industry that stopped short of offering prescriptive rules that car and tech companies have to follow.

The president is a techie at heart, Fox said in Karuizawa, Japan, where Foxx was attending a meeting of G7 transport ministers. Foxx said Obama has given him wide latitude in figuring out how to improve mobility, raise the level of safety and create more choice and equity in how transportation is accessible to people.

The Obama administrations embrace of the technology stands in contrast with the approach taken by China, which surpassed the U.S. as the worlds largest auto market in 2009. The government warned automakers in July against testing their self-driving vehicles before regulations are finalized. Thats been a setback to companies including Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Baidu Inc. and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which have urged Chinas government to speed up the its rule-making process.

Real-world testing will teach manufacturers as well as us regulators more about what works well and what doesnt work well and is a critical part of the path to autonomous vehicle acceptance, Foxx said. We also believe that can be done with a high relative level of safety.

Alphabets Google self-driving car program racked up about 1.97 million miles of autonomous-mode testing near its Mountain View, California, headquarters and three other U.S. cities through August. Uber last month started allowing customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicles capable of automated driving.

The technology hasnt entirely escaped scrutiny. NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety board are investigating a May 7 fatal crash involving Tesla Motors Inc.s Autopilot driver-assist system. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has said a software update introduced this month may have been able to prevent the death of the driver.

Highway fatalities climbed by 7.2 percent, the highest one-year increase in almost half a century, to 35,092 last year, according to the Transportation Department.

While NHTSA has emphasized the potential of automated vehicles, the hands-off approach may not stay for good. NHTSA said within its guidelines last week that it may eventually seek authority for a pre-market approval system, in which the regulator would have to sign off on the safety of automated vehicles before theyre sold.

This would be a wholesale structural change from the existing regulatory approach, in which automakers self-certify the safety of their cars, the agency said.

Theres obviously an issue around acceptance and trusting the technology, and one way perhaps that the confidence level can be increased is by having more rigor on the front end of a product coming into the marketplace, Foxx said. Its certainly a question we felt strongly enough needed to be placed in the document.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Tech
Insurers say they are encouraged by the most recent developments in the covered re/insurance agreement negotiations between the United States and European Commission.

Following the latest round of the talks, held Sept. 21-22 in Washington, D.C., the United States and European Union released a joint statement citing progress.

Both sides continued to discuss in good faith matters relating to group supervision, exchange of confidential information between supervisory authorities on both sides, and reinsurance supervision, including collateral, the joint statement said.

The statement said U.S. and EU representatives made progress on key issues, and identified next steps toward a possible completion of negotiations in the near future.

In November 2015, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced their intention to begin negotiating a covered agreement with the EU. The talks began in February. U.S. and EU representatives also met in July, 2016 and in May, 2016.

Steve Simchak, director of International Affairs for the American Insurance Association (AIA), said his groups member companies are encouraged by the latest round.

It is our hope that an agreement will be reached soon so that U.S. insurers will no longer face discriminatory measures that are increasingly distorting insurance trade with the EU, Simchak said.

A covered agreement is an agreement between the United States and one or more foreign governments, authorities or regulatory entities, regarding prudential measures with respect to insurance or reinsurance.

European reinsurers and regulators want the U.S. to lift reinsurance collateral requirements on foreign reinsurers and treat them like U.S. reinsurers. European reinsurers and Lloyds of London syndicates complain they are disadvantaged compared to American competitors by the additional capital and collateral requirements of some states. They note that they must also now comply with new EU solvency [Solvency II) rules.

Michael McRaith, director of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) within Treasury, has called negotiating a covered agreement with the European Union a critical step toward leveling the playing field for American insurers and reinsurers.

U.S. insurance groups want assurances that the EU will treat U.S. insurers fairly and recognize the U.S. regulatory scheme. Solvency II provide a process for non-EU countries to be determined to be equivalent to the Solvency II regime.

Simchak said AIA is convinced that resolving these issues through a covered agreement is the best option for regulators and industry on both sides of the Atlantic. In the meantime, we hope that regulatory authorities will recognize that a process is underway and act accordingly as they implement Solvency II, he added.

State insurance regulators and some insurers are concerned that a covered agreement could potentially undermine the U.S. system of state regulation of insurance. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) believes states should continue to handle the situation through its model law process. The NAIC has a model law that eases the collateral requirements for foreign reinsurers that has been adopted by 32 states (about 66 percent of the market).

The NAIC has said it has assurances that state regulators will have direct and meaningful participation in the U.S.-EU discussions. The administration has promised it will consult with Congress and state regulators throughout the negotiation process.

Topics Carriers USA Legislation Europe Reinsurance
Former American International Group Inc. Chairman Maurice Hank Greenberg says he got personally involved in an insignificant business deal at the insurance giant 18 years ago to teach some managers a lesson. Now, that deal is part of a fraud claim that could prevent the 91-year-old from serving as an officer of a public company.

Greenberg took the witness stand Tuesday in a Manhattan courtroom to defend against claims that he and former AIG Chief Financial Officer Howard Smith orchestrated two sham deals to hide the insurers financial condition from shareholders. One was a transaction involving CAPCO Reinsurance Co., allegedly to hide more than $200 million in underwriting losses from an auto-warranty business started by Greenbergs son, Evan.

Greenberg testified that he became aware of serious problems in AIGs auto-warranty business as early as 1998. He said he began taking steps to correct them the following year, while disagreeing with New York Assistant Attorney General David Nachmans characterization that he was a hands-on CEO.

This was a small part of our business, said Greenberg. It was insignificant.

It wasnt so insignificant that you tried to insert yourself personally into these matters? Nachman asked.

I was trying to teach a lesson to some managers who were involved with it, Greenberg said. This was a nonevent at AIG. There are other things that are far more important than this.

You regard other things are more important than a fraud charge against you?, Nachman asked.

Thats why Im here to defend against it, Greenberg said.

Greenberg was dressed in a dark-blue suit, a white dress shirt and a light-blue tie. His exchanges with Nachman were sometimes congenial, sometimes contentious.

Home Depot Inc. co-founder Kenneth Langone, a friend of Greenbergs who has called for the state to drop the case, attended the beginning of Greenbergs testimony.

The current attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, is seeking to bar Greenberg and Smith from serving as officers or directors of public companies and force them to give up more than $52 million in bonuses. Schneiderman dropped his demand for $6 billion in damages in the case after Greenberg and other executives paid $115 million in 2009 to settle suits filed by AIG shareholders.

The trial, which is being heard without a jury, is likely to last through January. Greenberg had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a June decision by New Yorks top court allowing the trial to proceed, arguing the state claims are preempted by federal law.

The case is State of New York v. Greenberg, 401720-2005, New York state Supreme Court (Manhattan).

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics New York Reinsurance
The Arkansas Insurance Department announced that two companies have been approved to begin offering insurance products in the state.

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr has granted authority to Motorists Life Insurance Co. (MLIC) of Columbus, Ohio, to write life, accident and health products. In addition, OBI America Insurance Co.(OBI) was approved to offer workers compensation coverage.

MLIC is a regional life insurer formed in 1965 and is a subsidiary of Motorists Mutual Insurance Co., a property and casualty insurer, established in 1928 and the lead company in the Motorists Mutual Group. MLIC plans to offer individual life and annuity products through independent agents, and other distribution channels. MLIC offers various ordinary life plans, such as whole life, universal, term and final expense.

MLIC has one affiliate licensed in Arkansas, Consumers Insurance USA Inc. and maintains an A.M. Best Rating of A- (Excellent).

OBI, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, property and casualty insurer, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of OneBeacon Insurance Group, which is wholly owned by White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd., a publicly held company whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

OBIs direct parent, Atlantic Specialty Insurance Co., is licensed in all 50 states and has been actively transacting insurance for over 28 years. OBI has been assigned an A.M. Best Rating of A (Excellent).

The addition of MLIC and OBI brings to 27 the total of new insurers Kerr has approved since taking office.

Source: Arkansas Insurance Department

Topics Carriers Arkansas
Damage from flooding in eastern North Carolina approached the level of destruction left behind by Hurricane Irene in 2011, Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday.

But instead of the hurricanes storm surge, the cause of this weeks flooding was days of rain.

We literally have water up to peoples waist and above, and many houses have been flooded, McCrory said at a news conference.

About 63 people across northeastern North Carolina have had to be rescued from their homes by fast-water rescue teams. Another 61 were taken to safety from threatened nursing homes.

For much of this week, the remnants of Tropical Storm Julia sat spinning off the coast, dropping anywhere from a foot of rain in parts of North Carolina to nearly 18 inches in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.

Schools canceled classes, a downtown was submerged and overwhelmed sewers spewed untreated wastewater.

McCrory said the Bertie County seat of Windsor appeared to suffer the worst, although floodwaters appeared to be receding. The town of about 3,000 along the Cashie River received more than a foot of rain.

Windsor Police Chief James Lane asked people to stay out of downtown. He said business owners need a chance to assess damage after flood waters inundated the business district. The Cashie River reached 15 feet (5 meters) on Thursday, 2 feet (2/3 meter) above major flood stage.

Windsor Fire Chief Billy Smithwick said the river was dropping pretty quickly and that 35 homes had been damaged. The American Red Cross put that number at around 60 homes.

But other parts of northeastern North Carolina were also flooded.

A news release from Elizabeth City reported that 1 million gallons of untreated wastewater flowed into the Charles Creek and the Pasquotank River.

City manager Rich Olson told the Virginian-Pilot that floodwaters had overloaded manholes, sending sewage into the citys storm water system and on into the waterways. The leakage began Wednesday and continued for about 24 hours, the city said.

School district websites in several counties also reported closings for a second day or more, including Bertie, Currituck and Hertford.

Media outlets reported that Pender County schools are operating on a two-hour delay Friday after the area received 7 inches of rain, with more on the way.

Gov. McCrory had declared a state of emergency in 11 counties Thursday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Flood Windstorm North Carolina
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, North Carolinas environment agency said Friday.

The fine holds Duke Energy accountable for violations of federal water protection laws during and after the countrys third-worst spill of the residue left behind after burning coal, the state Department of Environmental Quality said in a prepared 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 power plant in 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 environmental agencys attempt last year to impose an unprecedented $25 million fine for persistent groundwater pollution at its closed Sutton power plant in Wilmington.

The agency later reduced that fine to $7 million and agreed 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 three decades.

McCrorys environmental agency said it was forced to reduce the fine because of a policy adopted under McCrorys Democratic predecessor that favors offenders taking corrective action over paying fines.

North Carolina officials began pursuing stronger regulations and enforcement of coal ash after the Dan River spill. North Carolina legislators required the company 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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution North Carolina Chemicals
North Carolinas highest court has upheld earlier rulings that the state Department of Transportations failure to install traffic signals at a Charlotte-area intersection helped cause an accident that killed three, including two children.

The state Supreme Court affirmed Friday the decision of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which awarded $1 million each to the estates of those killed during the 2009 collision at an intersection with Highway 49 near the South Carolina border.

The justices upheld the majority opinion of the Court of Appeals that rejected DOTs arguments that drivers participating in a drag race that day were the accidents sole cause. One of those drivers collided with a car carrying a mother and 2-year-old daughter who died. A 13-year-old inside one of the speeding cars also died.

Topics North Carolina
Hawaii Gov. David Ige said he plans to ask President Barack Obama for federal assistance to help Maui communities clean up and repair areas damaged by flooding through Iao Valley.

The state and Maui County have already issued disaster declarations for last weeks heavy rains, which officials estimate caused at least $15 million in damage to public lands. That number could rise as officials continue to assess the area.

Ige toured the damage and promised to request a presidential disaster declaration for public assistance.

This truly is a sobering reminder of the power of nature and what happens every 500 years or so, Ige said during a Thursday news conference held in Maui Mayor Alan Arakawas Wailuku office.

Thirty members of the Hawaii Air and Army National Guard have been helping with debris removal. Arakawa said an estimated 9,000 truckloads of debris needed to be removed from Iao Valley.

This is going to be a large project. Very expensive. Its going to take months and months to try and secure this area, but its going to be worth it, Arakawa said.

The heavy rains made rivers and streams swell, flooding several homes with mud and debris and causing landslides. The Iao Valley State Monument was heavily damaged and remains closed to the public.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Flood
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
Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter

Fianna Fail have "grave concerns" over government plans to provide special tax rates to highly skilled Irish workers living abroad.

It has been reported that the Government is considering a special reduced tax rate to a range of graduates and entrepreneurs living abroad in a bid to lure them back to work in Ireland.

The proposal would see those with in-demand skills pay a 30% tax rate for a set period of time.

Speaking ahead of a Fianna Fail private members debate on pharmacy fees in the Dail this evening, Dara Calleary (pictured) said he would not be in favour of introducing different tax rates for those returning home and those who remained in Ireland.

"I would have concerns about it personally, it hasn't been discussed within the party," he said.

"Yes we do need to bring people back we need to bring very high skilled people back, but we need other ways of bringing them back other than splitting up our tax system for people who might be doing the same job.

"I would have gave concerns about it but we do need to see the detail. We do need to bring highly skilled people back but the best way to do that is a fair system for everybody."

Mr Calleary said his party would be waiting to see the September returns before finalising their budget submission.

"We will want some of our proposals included.

"We are going to approach this in a very responsible fashion but in a manner that delivers fairness.

"If we could achieve that it would be the first time in five years that a budget would be fair," he said.
The shares slumped 6% to 10.73 yesterday afternoon, bringing losses to about 52% this year.

The lenders 1.75bn of 6% additional Tier 1 bonds, the first notes to take losses in a crisis, fell about 2c on the euro to 73c, near a seven-month low, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

CEO John Cryans efforts to shore up profitability and capital, by cutting thousands of jobs and shrinking, have been put at risk by the US Justice Department requesting $14bn (12bn) to settle a probe tied to residential mortgage-backed securities.

The amount, which Deutsche Bank has said it has no intention to pay, sparked concerns that the lender will be forced to tap investors, with Germanys Focus magazine reporting that the government had ruled out any backing for the firm.

Nobody believes that they will end up paying that amount, but for some investors it might be a concern that even the German government is discussing Deutsche Banks situation, said Daniel Regli, an analyst at MainFirst.

Clearly headlines around the Department of Justice settlement and the $14bn continue to weigh on the stock.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled out state aid for Deutsche Bank ahead of national elections in September 2017, Focus magazine reported, citing unidentified government officials.

The German leader also declined to step into the banks legal imbroglio with the Justice Department, the magazine reported.

Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Ms Merkel, told reporters in Berlin yesterday that there are no grounds for speculation over state funding for Deutsche Bank, adding that the government expects a fair result in the lenders talks with the Department of Justice.

The lender has already pushed back against the Department of Justice claims, saying that it has no plans to settle anywhere near the number cited, with negotiations at an early stage.

Responding to the Focus report, spokesman Jorg Eigendorf said in an emailed statement that Cryan had at no point asked Merkel for assistance.

The bank is determined to meet challenges on its own and the question for a capital increase is currently not on the agenda, he said.

The case concerns allegations that the bank misled investors about the quality of subprime mortgage bonds it created and sold during the US housing boom that led to the 2008 crisis.
Oil prices have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

Sources told Reuters last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadhs position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.

As delegations gathered in Algiers, Iranian oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said expectations should be modest.

Crude prices rose by 4% yesterday, recouping most of the losses sustained on Friday, when hopes for an output deal in Algeria faded.

One Opec delegate said the focus was now firmly on trying to persuade Iran to freeze output at levels acceptable for the rest of the producer group.

Irans output has been stagnant at 3.6m barrels per day (bpd) in the past three months, close to what the country produced before the imposition of European sanctions in 2012.

The sanctions were eased in January 2016, and Iran has said it wants to achieve output of more than 4m bpd.

Yesterday, an Opec source said Iran was still insisting on being allowed to reach 4.1m to 4.2m bpd before freezing production.

Some ministers and officials expressed hope that a deal could emerge this week.

For us in the UAE, we are for a decision. We think a freeze will help if it is agreed. We hope that all are going to agree, said the United Arab Emirates energy minister, Suhail bin Mohammed al-Mazroui.

Algerian energy minister Noureddine Bouterfa said everyone in OPEC agreed that the market was badly oversupplied and the situation had worsened since the last Opec meeting in June.

Members of Opec will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers, and runs until tomorrow.

Russia is also attending but there is no evidence the country is preparing to participate in any production action.
Mr Noonan said what had occurred was now being regarded as a historic issue and there is no pressure to alter the 12.5% corporation tax or other tax incentives available in this country.

Its part of the Irish offering now for years, said Mr Noonan.

We could nearly put it on the flag now, because everybody knows what the rate is. When industrialists think of Ireland, they automatically think of 12.5%. Just in case theres any doubt, Ill confirm it again in this years budget.

"We are under no pressure. The European Commission acknowledge that the right to set tax rates is a matter for sovereign governments; its not for Europe or the European Commission. So theres no pressure on us.

Mr Noonan, who was speaking at the announcement of 100 new jobs in Limerick by US digital website hosting service provider, WP Engine, said employment has now grown to just 100,000 below the level at the height of the Celtic Tiger era.

Over the past year, more than 56,000 additional people are at work  bringing those at work to more than two million, he said.

The Celtic Tiger was a false economy built on one sector, building and development. The difference now is that in job creation, the economy is growing across all sectors.

Asked if it is his aim to remain in the Cabinet until the next election, Mr Noonan said: Well, we dont know when the next election is. So you are asking me to make a commitment to a target which nobody knows when that target will be.

"Well wait and see. I took on a job and Im doing the job and will continue to do it.

Heather Brunner, CEO of WP Engine said the companys decision to come to Limerick was based on its objective to have a presence in cities which are successful.

Ms Brunner said: Limerick has a terrific environment and culture where the community, government, and business leaders are committed to building local talent and creating a technology innovation and incubation centre. We want to help further build and be part of that ecosystem.

On the budget, Mr Noonan said that while there are now different views which have to be taken into account, so far these views did not seem to be in conflict in any dramatic way.

So I am quite confident that well put a good budget through, he said.

The views of three independent Cabinet ministers along with the Fine Gael parliamentary party and Fianna Fail, will influence budget decisions, said Mr Noonan.

In terms of putting a budget in place, a lot of views will have to be taken into account, he said.

Asked if he was worried Micheal Martin might come knocking on his door saying his time is up, after the budget, Mr Noonan replied: Theres no sign of that. You had better ask Micheal Martin that. I dont think he knows where I live, so hell have difficulty knocking on the door.

During a visit to London last week, Mr Noonan said his department will produce its next growth forecasts for the Irish economy, ahead of the upcoming budget and Brexit will be a key factor underlying Budget 2017, with particular reference to competitiveness.
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Pfizer will keep its low-growth generics and patent-protected branded medicines separate, giving it the option to split down the road if factors materially change at some point in the future.

Pfizer said the decision would not have an impact on its 2016 financial forecast.

The decision not to create two publicly-traded companies follows the collapse of its planned $160bn acquisition of Allergan after a change in tax law took away the tax benefits of the deal.

Investors were expecting the company to step back from the split, Sanford Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a research note.

Where to from here? The company seems likely to leave open its option for a future split-up, but more immediately it may continue hunting for M&A targets, said Mr Anderson.

The pharma giant began openly planning for the possible split in early 2014, saying it would operate the businesses as separate divisions and track their progress for three years before reaching a decision. In August, it said a decision would be made by year-end.

Pfizer said the sum-of-the-parts analysis showed no benefit to shareholders, and that tax costs and business disruptions were factors it considered.

The company had considered the move largely because its patent-protected medicines routinely enjoy sales growth while sales in the generics portfolio usually declined.

In August, Pfizer said it was buying cancer drugmaker Medivation for $14bn to get access to blockbuster prostate cancer drug Xtandi for its growing oncology roster.

The Medivation deal illustrates a shift in Pfizers mergers and acquisitions strategy from lowering taxes, which was the rationale behind the failed Allergan tax inversion deal, to strengthening its line-up of branded drugs, especially lucrative cancer treatments.

Last year, Pfizer paid $15bn for Hospira, which sells generic hospital products and is developing biosimilars to compete with big-selling injectable biotech drugs.

That deal was seen as a way of bolstering its generic drugs operation ahead of potentially divesting the business.
ICA group is the largest retailer in the Nordic region and the leading grocery chain in Sweden, with more than 1,300 stores.

Founded in Cork by veggie entrepreneur Deirdre Collins, Dees Wholefoods also launched in the Netherlands in 2015 with Jumbo, the countrys second largest retailer.

This year, the company also expanded its UK presence, and now services 300 Holland and Barrett stores.

In the UK market for several years, it also sells to online grocer Ocado and at supermarket group Booths.

We are excited to bring Dees products to Sweden  one of the most developed and dynamic food retail markets in the world and a country that has been at the forefront of adopting an increasingly meat-free lifestyle, said Ms Collins.

The Swedish vegetarian food market is thriving with a recent survey showing that more than one-in-three Swedes (36%) eat vegetarian food at least once a week.

Dees range includes Vegan Burgers containing superfood hemp and sunflower seeds, Vegan Sausages, Veg Pots and Dees Quinoa Pots.

The company began exporting soon after its launch at a farmers market in West Cork in 2008.

The companys Swedish launch was aided by Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland. Ms Collins says that the UKs surprise Brexit vote has served as a reminder to Irish businesses of the importance of exporting into new markets.

Once we were familiar with the market, we carried out formal research and developed a business plan, she said.

We met with ICA and they loved our concept and our food and we loved their very local approach to retailing. ICA is a symbol group, a bit like SuperValu here in Ireland, with each store operated by an independent owner, so they are very much part of their local communities.

We have a huge market on our doorstep and I feel it is really important for Irish companies to look beyond our borders towards new markets, new cultures and new languages.

In Ireland, the Dees Wholefoods range is available in Tesco, SuperValu, Dunnes Stores and in a wide selection of health stores.
Measures to equalise tax rules for the self-employed, expected to be included in next months budget, could cost around 40m.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has said there will be no giveaway budget and called on all parties not to engage in auction politics.

Fine Gael ministers are expected to meet their Fianna Fail counterparts this week, as the nuts and bolts of the budget are discussed between the parties, as agreed in the Government support deal.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan will meet Michael McGrath, with changes to the USC and a delayed sugar tax will be discussed.

The confidence and supply agreement between the parties states there should be no surprises. Department of Finance sources expect Fianna Fail will have full knowledge of the budget.

The Independent Alliance is meeting today to discuss the budget before talks with Mr Noonan later in the week. The grouping has yet to agree on a number of budget positions, including the level of USC reduction.

Meanwhile, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe met a number of his Cabinet colleagues last week, including those in Education, Health, Children, Transport, and Social Protection, in a bid to cut down their wishlists.

Ministers have put forward 3bn worth of requests, but the Government only has 1bn available to use on a combination of additional services and tax cuts.

Mr Donohoe will also meet with a number of unions and representative bodies this week.

Mr Varadkar yesterday refused to say if Fianna Fails demand for a 5 rise in the weekly pension would be in the budget. There would be significant measures around childcare announced, he said.

He also told RTE the most important thing is that the budget is prudent.

There is a risk in the coming years at some point that there will be a downturn again, there is also Brexit. We dont want to be left in the same position that we were by the last government, he said.

The budget priority is to improve services and taxation and restore some social welfare payments, he said, though it would definitely not be a giveaway budget.

Mr Varadkar said he doesnt want to see parties engage in an auction around these issues.

There are choices and that means anything you do, you cant do something else, he said.

Elsewhere yesterday, the Green Party launched pre-budget proposals that include a reduced rate of Vat on the repair of consumer and electronic goods to encourage a move away from a throwaway economy. It also wants public banks set up, modelled on ones in Germany, to stimulate regional and rural economic development.
City councillors voted to proceed with the first two stages of the revised City Centre Movement Strategy  one of the biggest overhauls of traffic flow in the city in 50 years.

The first draft, which included proposals to ban private cars from St Patricks Street from 12.30pm to 6.30pm  was shot down last year amid concerns over the length of the car ban period.

However, following months of consultation, a revised plan came before councillors last night with up to 30 amendments, including a reduced St Patricks St car ban from 3pm to 6.30pm.

Despite concerns from traders on North Main St and from residents of the Middle Parish  one of the citys oldest residential areas  about the impact the changes will have, councillors voted 19 for and seven against in favour of proceeding with the ban.

The revised plan includes a package of parking measures for the Middle Parish, including:

Extending the pay-parking regime from 6.30pm to 8.30pm;

Reducing the allowable parking period of pay parking from two hours to one;

Upgrading the Grattan St car park;

Improving signage to direct visitors to North Main St car park  extending the parking time in North Main St car park beyond 6.30pm, and reviewing the car park operations to accept payment for long-term parking by city workers.

Upgrades to the public realm, and local traffic calming measures are proposed, and other amendments include additional pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, and changes to certain junctions.

City officials pledged to monitor the implementation of the plans closely for six months, and to make changes if needed.

However, residents from the Middle Parish said the St Patricks St car ban will have an adverse effect on their community.

Residents spokesman George Patterson said it would simply redirect private cars towards Grattan St and choke their neighbourhood. Despite the minor changes to the plan from last year, which we feel are cosmetic, they in no way alleviate our fears that the traffic will increase with a rise in noise pollution, air pollution and increasing danger to residents and pedestrians, said Mr Patterson.

He said North Main St traders also said they have concerns that changes to traffic flow around Daunt Square would hit the flow of trade into their area.

Sinn Fein councillor Fiona Kerins said residents of Middle Parish are totally opposed to the traffic changes.

Fianna Fail councillor Tim Brosnan said the traffic proposals were being foisted on Corks city officials by a quango in Dublin with money to spend, and that the proposals will choke the city with traffic. Fianna Fail councillor Tom ODriscoll said residents views should be taken on board.

However, Fianna Fail Cllr Terry Shannon said that while residents have legitimate concerns, traffic is part of city life, and he suggested certain councillors were objecting to the strategy for electoral reasons.

This is something thats needed but it needs to be managed, he said.
A statement from the Garda Representative Association said discussions at its central executive committee meeting had been adjourned until tomorrows special delegate conference.

One of the branches  Dublin South Central Division  unanimously rejected the proposal, saying it was wholly unacceptable.

It comes as the results of a ballot of members on their willingness to take industrial action is due today  with many representatives expecting it will back action.

In what was a surprise development on Friday night, GRA negotiators and Department of Justice officials agreed a pay proposal.

The GRA statement said the draft agreement dealt with the restoration of the rent allowance, the removal of the pay freeze, and partial pay restoration by 2017.

The proposal debated by the GRAs 31-member executive committee yesterday has been seen by the Irish Examiner. It proposes:

The freeze on the incremental pay scale will be lifted with retrospective effect to July 1;

Restoration of the 4,000 per year rent allowance to new members subject to accepting the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the public service stability agreement, and a list of seven reforms;

It will be subject to a verification process  which, if conditions are adhered to, will restore rent allowance in two phases, from January 2017 and January 2018;

Additional hours, to be implemented with flexibility by the Garda commissioner;

Constructive engagement with the pay review under the Haddington Road Agreement with a view to concluding it by end of 2016;

Garda representative bodies are to have direct access to future pay determination mechanisms.

The agreement also states: It is acknowledged that the Garda Representative Association does not have trade union status and is constrained from taking industrial action.

The agreement adds it was the associations policy to pursue trade union status and associated rights.

In the GRA statement, president Ciaran ONeill said: The central executive committee has decided that further discussion is required and as a result, will meet again at the special delegate conference on Wednesday, where representatives will be given the opportunity to debate the package and then decide whether or not to ballot our membership.

The Dublin South Central statement said: After an initial review of the document put forward, the DMR South central reps find what is on offer as wholly unacceptable as it fails to meet a number of red line issues, primarily pay restoration.

Working additional hours and pay restoration have failed to be addressed.
Like its predecessor GPNow, NetDrNow offers patients unlimited doctor visits for an upfront fee. It also offers the option of monthly direct debit payments.

According to its website, NetDrNow.com  which still contains a reference to GP Now  is operating out of two clinics, one in Swords and one in Sandyford. The addresses of the clinics are identical to those from which GPNow previously operated.

In addition, records at the Companys Registration Office (CRO) show the company that presented documents for registration of NetDrNow was Nomis Secretarial Ltd, with an address at Unit 12, Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, Navan, Co Meath. The same company with the same address presented documents for registration of GPNow Ltd.

When the Irish Examiner contacted one of the two Dublin clinics last week and asked if NetDrNow was previously GPNow, the reply was yes and that it was the same company.

GPNow had operated five clinics, four in Dublin and one in Cork. The Cork clinic went into liquidation in May 2014, the year after it opened, owing 155,000. A substantial number of patients who took out a 10-year upfront membership at a cost of about 1,000 were left out of pocket. Two other clinics, GPNow Templeogue and GPNow Portmarnock, are listed as dissolved on the CRO website.

Last December, the Irish Examiner revealed patients of Dublin clinics who had paid 1,000 for a 10-year membership on the understanding the fee covered all the costs ended up being billed for blood tests, annual flu vaccinations, sick notes, and prescriptions.

According to its website, NetDrNow membership includes blood tests, administration of vaccines, repeat prescriptions, and annual flu vaccination with no extra or hidden charges.

Individuals can take out membership of NetDrNow for 20 a month with the exception of the first payment which is 50, or at a cost of 240 annually. Family membership is 40 a month, with an initial payment of 70, or an annual cost of 480. Corporate membership is also available.

A search of NetDrNow reveals nothing about the identity of the doctors who work for the service even though who are the doctors? is listed under frequently asked questions. Nor are there any clues as to the identity of those operating the service, billed on its Facebook page as consultations online, in person, and by phone.
The ISPCA 2015 Inspectorate Report said that more than 15,000 calls were made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline resulting in 3,000 investigations and 35 prosecutions instigated under the Animal Health and Welfare Act last year.

The report highlights the work of the ISPCAs team of trained, professional inspectors and focuses on ISPCA-initiated prosecutions finalised in the courts in 2015, ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling said.

While our officers find a solution to most problems by working with animal owners, when serious instances of cruelty, neglect or abuse are uncovered we feel that those responsible should be held accountable in the courts.

Mr Dowling said that prosecutions were instigated under the Animal Health and Welfare Act which came into force in March 2014.

This legislation was a huge step forward for animal welfare in Ireland, he wrote in the report.

Not only does it demand higher standards of animal welfare and places a duty of care on animal owners, it also means the ISPCA is now uniquely placed to investigate allegations of cruelty to domestic animals and inspectors can report their findings directly to the Department of Agriculture as a prosecuting body, he said.

The ISCPA report outlines case studies highlighting examples of some of the incidents encountered by ISPCA in 2015.

One example referred to the conviction of a male in his 50s in a Cork District Court last year, following a multi-agency investigation involving the ISPCA and Cork County Council.

That was after 23 dogs were found living in squalid conditions at a property in Cork, all of which were in varying degrees of neglect.

They were forced to live in filthy cramped conditions with copious amounts of faeces and urine, the report read.

Some dogs were found hidden in a cattle trailer some distance away from the dwelling. One of the dogs presented with 95% hair loss and its skin was thickened and crusted as a result of long-term lack of care.

The water that was present was filthy and contaminated. All dogs were un-socialised and, even under sedation, showed signs of aggression.

Judge Brian Sheridan was appalled by the evidence presented to him and stated it was one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he has seen in his career.

The man involved was convicted, with sentencing adjourned pending further inspections.

The ISPCA has a total of eight authorised Inspectors  one chief and seven Inspectors  who cover 17 counties and work with 19 affiliated member societies nationwide.

The ISPCA operates two rescue and rehabilitation centres which were developed in order to support the ISPCA Inspectorate and member societies with the rescue, rehabilitation, and responsible rehoming of cruelly treated and neglected animals.
Noel Crean, with a previous address at Kilquane, Mourneabbey, Co Cork, yesterday pleaded guilty. Judge James OConnor, at Cork District Court, imposed a jail term of five months.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said the accused had gone to England in the hope of getting off heroin. He said it had worked to some extent when he got a job but when the work ran out the defendant reverted to heroin use. He said Crean was now ravaged by the effects of heroin and had lost a lot of weight.
The States legal advisory body said such abuses can have substantial effects on people and have been linked to serious psychological harm and even, in extreme cases, to suicide.

The Law Reform Commission said the digital industry here should be legally obliged to comply with a statutory code of conduct in terms of taking down offensive material from the internet.

In a major report, it proposes a digital safety commissioner which will police this code  and have recourse to court enforcement orders if its directions are not complied with.

The commission said that given so many internet corporations have headquarters in Ireland, their legislation, if enacted, would have a huge influence on social media worldwide.

Digital communication have the capacity to be instant, numerous, reach large even global audiences, be permanently available and are frequently anonymous in nature, said the report.

Harassment by digital or online means can also have an inescapable quality as the victim can be targeted anytime and anywhere because of the ubiquity of internet-connected devices such as smartphones.

It states: Thus, the potential for harassment by digital or online means to cause substantial harm is significant and it has been linked to serious psychological harm and even in extreme cases to suicide.

The report and accompanying draft bill, spanning 237 pages, recommends two new offences:

Intentional victim-shaming, involving the posting of intimate images without consent (known as revenge porn)  punishable by up to seven years in prison;

Posting intimate photos or videos, often called upskirting or down-blousing, which causes harm  punishable by up to six months in prison.

Ray Byrne, a commissioner with the LRC, said the first new offence involved the intention to cause harm, which he described as a very serious offence and therefore could be prosecuted on indictment in the Circuit Court.

He said the second offence may not involve such an intent, but did result in harm to the person, usually a woman, and was a summary matter for the District Court.

The report, entitled Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, also proposes three amendments to existing laws:

Expanding the definition of harassment to specifically include online activity, such as posting fake social media profiles;

Making stalking a specific offence, describing it as an aggravated form of harassment;

Expanding the existing offence of sending threatening or intimidating messages to include online methods.

There are two major pillars to this: one criminal offences for the most serious things and the second is promoting good and safe behaviour under civil law, said Mr Byrne.

He said they consulted with a wide range of groups, including the internet companies, and favoured the setting up of a statutory system of national standards, supervised by the digital safety commissioner.

Mr Byrne said the current industry voluntary system was not good enough. He said a statutory system operated in Australia, where he said it appeared to work well.

All companies will have to comply with the code, which includes a time-lined process of taking down imagery. If a company failed, the DSC can seek an enforcement order and, if that is not complied with, the company would be in contempt of court.

Mr Byrne said it was up to the Government and the Oireachtas to implement the draft bill.

He noted that Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald had mentioned at the weekend the need to combat revenge porn.

www.lawreform.ie
The Irish Examiner ICMSA opinion poll has found that 37% of respondents said they would enrol their children in a non-denominational school, versus 34% who said they would not.

The finding comes amid ongoing debate about the patronage and ethos of schools.

Support for non-denominational schooling is strongest among those aged 35 to 54, at 43%.

Equate Ireland, a group campaigning for more diversity in schools, said the school system was now lagging behind what communities wanted.

Equate director Michael Barron said in response to the poll findings: In rural Ireland we are now in a situation where more families want a school that is non-denominational rather than religious.

This represents the reality of modern Ireland.

Considering the present situation where 96% are under religious patronage, this is an extraordinary situation where parental choice is virtually non-existent, particularly in rural Ireland.

Change in school patronage across the country is urgent. The Department of Education needs to issue its road map on the divestment of schools from Church bodies. At Equate we will continue to work with education stakeholders and families to bring about this change.

A separate opinion poll conducted by Equate last year found that 46% of respondents said they would choose to send their child to a non-denominational school.

Mr Barron said: We live in a modern diverse society and our school system has for too long lagged behind what parents, communities and children want and need.

In June, Education Minister Richard Bruton said he hoped to accelerate the divestment of some Catholic primary schools in order to provide for parental choice. The plan would see an average of 20 new multi-denominational and non-denominational schools provided per year up to 2030.

Catholic and other patrons control more than 90% of the countrys 3,300 primary schools.

While a number of towns have been identified by the Department of Education where demand for alternatives to faith-based primary school exists, only very small numbers have seen school buildings handed over to multi-denominational or other alternative patrons.

Mir Brutons officials have made increased efforts this year to speed the process along. But further pressure exists in relation to rural and other areas where there is no increased choice likely as pupil numbers are not enough to justify providing new schools.
And to add to the distress of the tourists, a second passenger boat on its way to rescue them also became submerged.

They were finally brought to the safety of the shore by a third boat.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) is conducting an investigation.

The tourists, all wearing life jackets, were reportedly in the water for up to 20 minutes.

They had set out on a traditional tour in the unique Killarney Gap boats which are big for their class.

The incident had occurred at around 11.15am on September 1 on Lough Leane.

The party had set out from a pier near Ross Castle for a trip through the three Killarney lakes.

No injuries were reported but some passengers were said to be very shaken.

A number of tourists, among them German and Americans, later made statements to gardai about lost property and damage to electronic equipment.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Transport are also involved in investigations.

Passengers had reportedly told gardai the waters became choppy as the boat was rounding a point.

The boat became swamped by waves and everyone ended up in the water.

A second boat, coming to their assistance, also got into difficulties.

The first Gap boat, licensed to carry 12 people and a skipper, was submerged and bicycles along with money and cameras were reportedly lost.

We are liaising directly with the MCIB and have furnished them with all documents, Sgt Dermot OConnell of Killarney gardai confirmed.
Speaking at the organisations Housing, Homelessness and Rights conference yesterday, national spokeswoman Niamh Randall said that Ireland has obligations under five international covenants referring to the right to housing.

Under international human rights obligations, housing is not a commodity; it is a human right, she said.

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself [herself] and of his [her] family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.

Therefore homelessness is a clear violation of this right. Under international law, to be adequately housed means having security of tenure  not having to worry about being evicted or having your home taken away with very little notice. It means having access to appropriate services, schools, and employment.

The conference, which marks the beginning of this years Simon Week was opened by the minister of state for housing and urban renewal, Damien English, and focused on enshrining rights at the heart of policy, practice, and legislation.

Noting that the 2014 Constitutional Convention recommended that the right to a home should be included in the Constitution, the charity said it wanted the issue to now be referred to the new Oireachtas committee on housing, planning and local government in order for it to be progressed further.

People who are homeless are often excluded from society, she told delegates.

The damage and trauma being done is untold. What is clear is that, without the security of a place to call home, it is very difficult to fulfil many other human rights.
On average, just over one in five TDs in the 32nd Dail missed or abstained from votes in the first seven months of the new Dail.

As TDs return to Leinster House today after the summer recess, analysis by the Irish Examiner of the voting record of the countrys 158 TDs over 46 Dail divisions that have been held since March 10 shows 22.5% of TDs are absent or abstain from each vote on average.

It compares favourably with the non-attendance rate of 40% during all of 2015 when Leinster House was gripped by the prospect of an election being called with the figure rising to 49% in the first two months of 2016.

The current high participation rate in Dail votes also mirrors the first year of the previous Dail in 2011 when non-attendance levels were 21.5%.

The absentee rate increased every subsequent year during the lifetime of the last administration.

Votes have been held on 18 of the 46 days on which the Dail has sat since last Februarys general election with many relating to the election of a taoiseach and ceann comhairle.

The Dail record shows that 11 TDs  10 Fine Gael and one Independent  have achieved a perfect attendance rate at votes in the parliament to date.

They include Education Minister Richard Bruton and junior health minister, Helen McEntee.

The others are Maria Bailey, Peter Burke, Bernard Durkan, Brendan Griffin, Sean Kyne, Tom Neville, Kate OConnell, and John Paul Phelan.

The sole non-Fine Gael TD with a full attendance rate at Dail votes is the Independent Alliance TD for Longford-Westmeath, Kevin Boxer Moran.

The deputy with the poorest attendance record is Fianna Fail TD for Carlow- Kilkenny, John McGuinness, who has missed more than two out of every three votes. Mr McGuinness, a former chairman of the Dail Public Accounts Committee, has a non-participation rate of 67.4% in votes in the new Dail. It was 56% during the entire period of the 31st Dail.

Other TDs who missed or abstained in more than half of votes were Sinn Fein TDs, Sean Crowe and Brian Stanley, and Fianna Fail TD, Charlie McConalogue.

Independent TD for Tipperary, Michael Lowry, who had the worst absentee rate for voting in the 31st Dail with the exception of Enda Kenny, who like all taoisigh has a high absentee rate because of attending official government business, has missed 39% of votes in the new Dail. His non-attendance figure averaged over 73% during the lifetime of the previous government.

Apart from Fine Gael deputies, Mr Lowry is the TD who has voted the most consistently with the Government in the new Dail, taking the same view as his former Fine Gael colleagues in over 96% of votes.

Among the various political parties, the Social Democrats had the worst participation rate as the partys three TDs (which included Stephen Donnelly before his recent resignation) didnt vote in over 38% of divisions.
Buyers can expect to fork out an average of 295,000 for a three-bedroom home in Cork City, with price increases in the city in the region of 1.72%.

Prices in Co Cork rose by just 0.6% over the last three months, with the average price of a three-bed home coming in at 126,750.

However, estate agents in the West Cork region who saw, in some cases, deposits on property taken back after the Brexit vote, report that sales are now back on track with Dutch and German buyers and returning Irish looking to buy.

According to the Real Estate Alliance Average House Price Survey, the average three-bed semi nationally now costs 200,093, an increase of 4,732 since the end of June and indicates an increase of 6.3% against the same time last year.

Prices in Dublin City grew by 2.75% to 373,000 since June, which is almost twice the growth experienced in the second quarter of the year as buyers chase a scarce supply of suitable housing.

Longford, where the average house price is 68,000, showed the biggest increase in house prices in the last three months at 9.68% with the commuter towns serving the capital also showing hikes in prices ranging from 6% to 7%.

The average amount of cash buyers according to the survey has fallen to 33% nationwide, but in Dublin City that figure fell by 7%, with nearly three quarters of all transactions now mortgage funded.

Real Estate Alliance chairman Michael OConnor said prices in the tier containing commuter counties and the main cities of Cork and Galway have risen by an average of just under 3,000 while those in the rest of the country have increased by nearly 5,000.

We are seeing little or no increase in supply nationally, with an increase in funded buyers fuelling the market in the short term, Mr OConnor said.

Many of our agents are now reporting some buyers are returning to the market, having achieved a level of savings and that there is an increase in mortgage funded purchases.

Mr OConnor said that while the early effects of the Central Bank restrictions had previously seen prices decline in the capital up to the first quarter of this year, a combination of a longer time period to save and pressure on supply has manifested itself in price growth.

The Central Banks mortgage deposit rules are still being keenly felt in the commuter areas, with most rises occurring in towns where three-bed semis are available for under the deposit threshold of 220,000, said Mr OConnor. The immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote has had an effect in the north west where Donegal is the only county to register a three-month fall of 1.73%.

This has been most keenly felt in traditional holiday home spots such as Bundoran where the average three-bed semi has dropped by -3.41% in three months from 88,000 to 85,000.

Estate agent John ONeill of Celtic Properties, Bantry, West Cork, said in the uncertainty in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, a number of deposits put on property in the area by those looking to come here from the UK were removed.

However, he said that, since then, people from the UK have been returning to view properties. They have been joined by Irish people looking to move from Britain, he said.
Last week, a specially enlarged jury panel of 15 had been sworn in at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the trial, which is expected to run for three months.

Yesterday, three of those jurors were excused and new jurors sworn in to replace them.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Indonesian National

Police, General Syafruddin (Photo: VNA)



During his reception for the visiting Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Indonesian National Police, General Syafruddin in Hanoi on September 26th, the PM highlighted the growing relations across fields between the two countries, especially after it was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in June 2013.

The two countries are implementing the Vietnam-Indonesia Action Programme for the 2014-2018 period, he said.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his joy at the sound cooperation between Vietnams Ministry of Public Security and the Indonesian National Police in combating transnational crime, drug and human trafficking, hi-tech crimes over years.

He gave high estimation to the role played by Indonesia in the ASEAN Community and regional security cooperation mechanisms, adding that it contributed to ensuring peace, stability, sustainable development and prosperity in the region and the world.

He urged Indonesia to continue working closely with Vietnam and other ASEAN member nations to ensure intra-bloc solidarity and assure their common stance and voice and the vital role of the bloc in solving East Sea-related issues.

Vietnam and Indonesia should work together to accelerate the pace of negotiations on t he delimitation of exclusive economic zones at sea, he said.

For his part, General Syafruddin said he hopes for closer security links between the two nations, especially in fighting terrorism.

He congratulated Vietnam on the countrys strong economic growth, expressing his belief that Vietnam will successfully organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit next year.

The guest informed the host about the outcomes of the talks between representatives of the two security agencies, saying that the two sides discussed orientations for cooperation in the coming time.

Indonesia wants to join Vietnam and other ASEAN member nations in safeguarding navigation security, safety and freedom, and peace in the East Sea in line with international law, he stated./.
The crew of the 60ft vessel, Horizon, which fishes out of Union Hall, raised the alarm around 5.46pm yesterday, when their vessel began taking on water about 30km off the Seven Heads coastline in West Cork.

The Courtmacsherry RNLI all-weather lifeboat and the Waterford- based Irish Coast Guard helicopter were tasked to respond to the mayday alert.

RNLI coxswain Sean OFarrell and a crew of five launched immediately and despite poor conditions and bad visibility, they reached the stricken vessel at at 6.40pm.

The fishermen were struggling to keep their vessel afloat as it began taking on vast quantities of water following an apparent mechanical failure on board.

The lifeboat crew, and the Irish Naval vessel, the LE Niamh, managed to transfer pumps on board the sinking vessel, and with the help of the RNLIs mechanic who also transferred onto the trawler, they managed to stem the intake of water into the fishing boat.

The lifeboat took the stricken vessel in tow and made for Union Hall, at low speed, while monitoring the intake of water on the fishing boat.

It was midnight before they arrived safely.

Conditions at sea were very poor, with strong winds measuring force 6/7, with heavy swells in the area.

The visibility was very poor with low lying fog.
The win for Skerries marks just the second time that a Dublin entry has won the national prize, in 58 years of the competition. Malahide won the award in 1990.

Skerries scooped the national prize with 327 marks. It was followed closely by Birdhill, Co Tipperary, and Ennis, Co Clare, with both entries earning themselves 326 marks each.

However, Birdhill claimed the prize for Irelands Tidiest Village and Ennis was declared Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre. Listowel, Co Kerry, for the second year, was named as Irelands Tidiest Small Town.

All of the towns and villages were marked according to eight categories, which included landscaping and open spaces and community involvement and planning. The maximum score was 450 marks.

Skerries scored its highest mark in the landscaping and open spaces category  44 out of 50 points.

The town also scored well in the built environment and streetscape section, securing 41 marks out of a possible 50.

Minister for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring presented the awards at a ceremony in Dublin.

Listowel Tidy Towns secretary Mary Hanlon being presented with the award for Irelands Tidiest Small Town.

This is a fantastic achievement for Skerries, a really worthy winner. This is the first time Skerries has won the overall prize. Skerries first entered the competition in 1959 and its win today is evidence of it consistently achieving high standards in the competition at local and regional level, Mr Ring said.

He added that the annual competition had become an integral part of Irish community life.

How a community lives together, strives to involve all of its members and makes the most of their abilities and interests is integral to the ethos of Tidy Towns.

Tidy Towns is one of the most recognisable environmental initiatives in Ireland, but Tidy Towns is much bigger than that, it encompasses a way of life here in Ireland, where we live our lives showing respect for our neighbours and for nature, Mr Ring said.

The contest, which has been sponsored by SuperValu for the last 25 years, has had more than 800 entrants for the last five years.

Tidy Towns celebrates the efforts of communities up and down the country and year after year we see the tremendous power of local as volunteers rally together to enhance their towns and villages.

The competition continues to grow and the tireless dedication from young and old who give freely of their time for the betterment of their communities is truly inspiring, Martin Kelleher, managing director of SuperValu said.

Several special awards were also given out as part of the Tidy Towns competition.

The Sustainable Development Award was given to the Edible Landscape Project, in Westport, Co Mayo. The project, which is an edible planting initiative, was awarded 1,000. Meanwhile, Monaghan Tidy Towns was given 5,000 for winning the Climate Change Award.

Ennis Tidy Towns vice chairperson Teresa McGrath and chairperson Josephine Cotter Coughlan get the award for Irelands Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Munster close to a clean sweep

Ennis, Birdhill, and Listowel were among the big winners in the Tidy Towns as Munster just missed out on a clean sweep at the awards.

Although the top prize went to Skerries in Dublin, the other top prizes all went to towns and villages around Munster.

The last time a town from Munster took the top prize was in 2011, when Killarney was named Irelands tidiest town.

Finishing just one point behind Skerries this year was Birdhill, Co Tipperary, which was awarded the title of Irelands tidiest village. On the same score, Ennis in Clare took the prize for Irelands tidiest large urban centre, while Listowel in Kerry took the award for Irelands tidiest small town.

In its adjudication report on Birdhill, the Tidy Towns said its first impressions of the village were beyond good.

Birdhill is a beautiful village and so much loved by its proud residents. Congratulations for the sustained efforts to keep the area at such a high standard.

It notes an abundance of all types of wildlife all over the village and praised it for being spotlessly clean and tidy with no litter found on the day it was adjudicated.

The award for Irelands Tidiest Village was presented to Denis Floyd, chairperson of Birdhill Tidy Towns, Co Tipperary.

Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill praised the people of the village for consistently placing highly at the awards.

Birdhill has been top dogs in the national Tidy Towns competitions for nearly a decade, and they continue to do Tipperary proud. The local volunteers are an absolute credit to their community, said Mr Cahill.

Year after year, they keep the village looking immaculate. Congratulations to everyone involved. Ive no doubt they will be back doing the hard graft very soon as they prepare for next years competition.

Ennis was singled out as having its eye on the top prize in the adjudicators remarks, and received high praise for its landscaping and open spaces.

Ennis is a thriving, bustling town with an energy which comes from being open and welcoming. It was a real pleasure for this adjudicator to spend some time enjoying local life, states the report.

Listowel, Co Kerry, also took high marks for its landscaping and open spaces as well as its community involvement and planning.

Kerry TD John Brassil paid tribute to the incredibly hard-working and dedicated local Tidy Towns committee.

The volunteers are an absolute credit to their community. They have helped put Listowels best foot forward, and they should be commended for all their hard work, he said.

Towns and villages from all across Munster took home 14 gold medals at the awards.

The gold medals went to Coolagown, Co Cork; Rathbarry, Co Cork; Rosscarbery, Co Cork; Sneem, Co Kerry; Lismore, Co Waterford; Listowel, Co Kerry; Kilrush, Co Clare; Clonakilty, Co Cork; Kenmare, Co Kerry; Kinsale, Co Cork; Killarney, Co Kerry; Cobh, Co Cork; Ballincollig, Co Cork; Tralee, Co Kerry; and Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
The president of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), Ed Byrne, said his 17,000 members will not accept the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) as they want collegiality amongst teachers where there is equal pay for equal work.

Its members are voting for industrial action up to and including an all-out strike if the pay of new entrants since 2011 is not put back on a par with longer-serving teachers.

Mr Byrnes union is staying firm in its stance despite the Garda Representative Association (GRA) being the latest representative body to agree a deal with its relevant government department.

The other teaching unions, the TUI and INTO, have signed up to the LRA which brought in gradual increases in pay for such teachers. They also reached agreement around allowances.

Mr Byrne said pre-conditions are commonplace whenever the union engages with Department of Education officials and it does not want pre-conditions. We just get a mantra, not a discussion, Mr Byrne told RTEs Morning Ireland.

He said the union has taken a principled stance around lesser paid teachers.

Teachers in other unions are to receive an extra 796 a year, half the former allowance for doing supervision and substitution. Mr Byrne argued that despite such gains made by the other teaching unions, there remains a 110,000 difference between the 246,000 in allowances that an older teacher will earn over a 40-year career and a teacher hired since 2011.

Recently qualified teachers will also receive pay increases of up to 2,000 a year in a top-up deal agreed to by the TUI and INTO.

The ASTI is balloting for strike action over its equal pay stance. A second ballot is seeking withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties, a move which would force schools to shut because of lack of cover. The results of the two ballots are due on October 14.

While acknowledging that his union is most likely heading towards industrial action, Mr Byrne conceded this was not good for education.

Meanwhile, former education minister and Limerick TD Jan OSullivan told reporters in Limerick that the ASTI needed to re-evaluate their stance.

Its really time for the ASTI to recognise that the only way forward is to talk and get there and negotiate with the Department of Education.

I think strike action would be a huge mistake for the ASTI. I would urge them to find a different path.

The idea of strike action is completely out of proportion to the issues that other people have negotiated. There have been improved conditions for teachers. There has been progress, she said.
WHEN Alannah Hopkin was asked by Con Collins of the Collins Press to edit an anthology of Cork city poems and songs, she first turned to the late poet and Irish Examiner journalist, Sean Dunnes Cork Anthology, published in 1993, to see what he had done.

Ive always loved that book, says Hopkin. I was very surprised to find there were only 15 poems and songs in it. Its largely prose. So that was a sort of relief.

Hopkins brief for the hardback anthology, On the Banks: Cork City in Poems and Songs, was to focus on the city. Dedalus Press produced a book on Dublin poems. Collins saw a market for a Cork book but Hopkin initially found it a bit limiting that it was only going to be about Cork city, because there are so many wonderful songs and poems about County Cork. But that actually turned out to be a strength. It gives the book a very strong identity.

Hopkin agrees that there is much sentiment about Cork.

People love writing about it. Weve had big characters like James N Healy, a Mercier Press author, who was great at putting together anthologies and comic songs (often about Cork). That was another good starting point for me. And then theres Tomas O Canain, the musician, who put together a wonderful book of songs with commentary.

Alannah Hopkin

VERSE REVIVAL

On The Banks is a beautifully produced hardback that comprises traditional songs and chants as well as highly acclaimed work from the citys many contemporary poets and songwriters, not necessarily native to Cork but working and living here.

These include Matthew Sweeney whose popular poem, A Calf in the English Market, is in the anthology. Theres serious subject matter too, such as Ghost Estate by William Wall. And theres poetry by the revered and deceased such as Sean O Riordain.

Hopkin believes that a renaissance in poetry in Cork is taking place. Everybody used to talk about the old days when you had poets, Sean Lucey and John Montague lecturing at UCC and people like Sean Dunne, Tom McCarthy and Theo Dorgan (coming out of UCC) writing. The scene is so different now. The balance has changed towards the city rather than the university. Maybe thats because the Munster Literature Centre is so lively. And theres the weekly poetry readings at O Bheal in the Long Valley.

Back in the days of the old guard, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill seemed to be the only female coming out of UCC, writing acclaimed poetry. Because she didnt write poetry about Cork, she is not included in the anthology.

But we have a lot more women writing poetry now. Liz ODonoghue is in the book as is Doireann Ni Ghriofa and Mary Noonan, for example. And theres the current Ireland Professor of Poetry, Cork-born Eilean Ni Chuilleanain. Theres also new names in the book, like Roisin Kelly, Victoria Kennefick and Bernadette McCarthy.

Id have loved to have had a poem by Leanne OSullivan but she doesnt write about Cork. Shes a Beara person. It was Pat Cotter (director of the Munster Literature Centre whose poetry is in the anthology) that gave me signposts to people I might otherwise have missed like Doireann Ni Ghriofa, Billy Ramsell, Dean Browne and John Mee.

FRANK OCONNOR

In what is something of a coup, the anthology includes two previously unpublished Frank OConnor poems. Night in the Cottage was written in 1922-23 when OConnor was just nineteen years old. It deals with what would then have been the taboo subject of sexual repression. Theocritus on Sunday was written in 1924 and explores the emotional impact of turning away from Catholicism.

Frank OConnor

I was talking to Frank OConnor scholar, Hilary Lennon, who told me she had just been reading an archive collection of Frank OConnors work which included some unpublished poems. So I pounced and asked Hilary if I could have a couple. I went for poems that were set in Cork.

OConnor wrote Theocritus on Sunday at a time when he was feeling a real sense of isolation and was having trouble finding another form, other than Mass, through which he could express his spirituality.He lived in incredibly conformist times. The two poems in the anthology are not great poems. They were written when OConnor was very young but theyre interesting in their context.

In putting together the book, Hopkin paid closer attention to the poetry of Patrick Galvin than she had previously, and remarks that it was an eye-opener. His poetry really is topnotch world quality.

She doesnt think that Galvin (1927-2011) received enough credit in his lifetime. Thats partly because he distracted people. He wasnt exactly a poseur but he played a role a lot of the time; the wild poet, the working-class hero.

Patrick Galvin

Retired Oxford academic Bernard ODonoghue, a Cork-born poet, is also in the anthology. Hes probably one of the most distinguished poets in the world. He dug up some older poems of his that are not so widely known.

The anthology is divided into themed chapters. The themes suggested themselves, with, for example, the River Lee being a recurring subject in poetry written about Cork. Other themes include courting and playing, Cork city landmarks, local characters, sporting teams, the Cork accent and famous songs.

Tim ORiordans The Langer Song makes it, while Rory Gallaghers My Home Town is the only rock song in the book.

Hopkin says there isnt really any strong representation of performance poetry in the anthology. But performance is very much the way things are going now on, on YouTube. Its attracting an audience that might never have read a poem before.

She says there are people who are afraid of poetry or think it will bore them. There is also a fear of inaccessibility.

A very strong rule I applied to the book was that I wouldnt have anything in it that I didnt understand. I think its a good rule to have because there is a tendency for poetry to be impenetrable. I hope this book will encourage people who dont normally read poetry to have a go and find out that its often quite funny and touching.
The tragedy brought a public outpouring of grief, and, it seemed at the time, a lot of soul searching about the way Travellers are treated by mainstream society and the state. People lined the streets during funerals. Politicians and religious leaders wringed their hands. Newspapers gave blanket coverage. But it was no wake-up call, Collins now wryly observes. It did not reset a dysfunctional relationship.

Ireland Shed a Tear? will be staged during the Dublin Theatre Festival, almost a year to the day since the tragedy. But in that year, says Collins, things have returned to a familiar pattern. This was one of the biggest tragedies, where so many people lost their lives in a fire, since the Stardust, he says, referring to the 1981 fire at a nightclub in Dublin. And at the time, there was a genuine outpouring of grief from both the Travelling community and the settled community. A year later, these people are still not accommodated properly.

Collins cites the short-lived solidarity in the wake of the tragedy, which ended in disputes about where Travellers would be housed, and locals blockading a proposed site. Collins reserves particular criticism for Enda Kenny: Saying people are entitled to say who should live beside them and who should not live beside them. These were neighbours for 10 years. I just didnt understand that, he says. (Kenny made the remarks on Newstalk, where he said There is a procedure and a process where you can consult with local people.)

The experience of Carrickmines and its fallout left him feeling like an alien in his own country.

He began to record his feelings, to take note of the dozens of conversations he was having at the time. But he also began thinking about Travellers way of life, and the contradictory, capricious way the state has had in dealing with that. The result is a two-hander play, performed with his 10-year-old son, Johnny. The pair use songs and poetry to tell the story of a family who fear eviction in the wake of the Carrickmines fire.

In the piece, Collins links back to his own experience, of travelling the country with his father, a tinsmith and farm labourer. But, as machine farming and plastic killed those trades, Travellers often were forced to rely on social welfare, and for that, he says, they were told to get permanent addresses by the state.

Ireland Shed A Tear? A play to commemorate the first anniversary of the Carrickmines Tragedy #DTF16 pic.twitter.com/XBj7WJ7grw  Dublin (@Dublin_ie) July 26, 2016

Collins himself remembers moving to a field near Finglas. It didnt cater for the next generation. People were growing up with no place to live. We were forced because of social welfare to live in those fields. Then the kids had nowhere to go.

Now homelessness threatens many Travellers, including Carrickmines survivors, as local authorities conduct fire audits of sites.

In our story, we have this man who brings in the council and the fire department, he opens his door to them and tells them whats wrong. But then he finds out hes getting evicted because they say the site is not fit for habitation. So, his kids are there, his family. Hes listening to a council who couldnt accommodate him in 30 years and they are telling him he has to do it in two weeks?

Its indicative, says Collins, of local authorities covering their arses and kicking the can down the road.

Its yet another rock-and-a-hard- place dilemma, and what drives the drama in Collinss piece. Thats why I wanted to use it as a backdrop. I wanted to show the way families like the families affected in Carrickmines and others are being treated now.
And it hasn't been an easy time, particularly for the shareholders, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel. It seems that the Walt Disney Company might be putting together a bid to buy Twitter, according to sources close to the company.

This comes in the wake of word that Salesforce Inc is also working on a bid, which has created a spike in interest in the Twitter, and an upturn in the stock price.
Forget Eastenders, Fair City or even Red Rock.

Back after less than popular demand, Irelands most complex, confusing, and at times just plain infuriating drama will return to the small screen today as the Dail comes back from its 10-week summer sojourn.

Refreshed and insistent, the era of new politics will finally settle down into something resembling a functioning parliament.

After a rather rocky first few months, TDs are ready to get down to serious business.

But in order to do so, they will have to overcome a series of potential stumbling blocks waiting around the corner, and more than a few others lurking in the shadows.

The budget, Brexit, water charges, industrial disputes, and a highly divisive abortion row are all bearing down on a Dail which, whether it wants to or not, will have to start addressing the potentially career-ending controversies.

And thats even before the futures of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, John Halligan and Fianna Fail are discussed...

The budget

With just 1bn to fund increased public spending and tax cuts, Finance Minister Michael Noonan is under pressure to ensure the October 11 budget delivers. And in the era of new politics, that means not only for the country but for his own party.

While it is generally accepted USC will be cut for low to middle earners and a deal for first-time home buyers will be agreed, there is a political dogfight right now in terms of which areas, and parties, will benefit most.

Fine Gael is focused on the squeezed middle, but Fianna Fail wants to prioritise old and young voters through pension and education spending.

Coupled with unaligned Independent minister Katherine Zappone seeking childcare supports specifically for the worst off in society, and the budgetary balancing act difficulty becomes apparent.

Lots of inputs, is how Mr Noonan described the situation yesterday. And if its not managed properly, lots of problems too.

Water charges

The issue that wont go away, no matter how many independent commissions you throw at it.

A water charge protest taking place last year

While Fine Gael is continuing to back charges, Fianna Fails alleged U-turn on whether it wants to suspend the fees or remove them completely has guaranteed the issue will again dominate, with Sinn Fein tabling a motion for tomorrow designed to increase pressure on Micheal Martins party. Outside of the Dail bubbles political games, the independent water commissions report in November will also recommend whether to scrap, change or reintroduce water charges  with any decision to be ratified by TDs who have until now tried to pass the buck, risking an expensive legal battle with the EU.

The Eighth Amendment

As Saturdays pro-choice march and the pro-life information demonstration shows, four years after the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar abortion remains an issue politicians are increasingly under pressure to address.

Next month, the matter will come under the intense Dail spotlight as Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger launches a bill to remove the amendment and allow abortions to take place legally in Ireland.

While Fine Gael and its government colleagues want the new Citizens Assembly  which begins next month and will announce its conclusions next year  to address the issue, for left-wing opposition parties the move is little more than a delaying tactic, with the stand-off likely to be central to future opposition attacks against pro-choice campaigner and unaligned Independent Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone.

Brexit

The Government understandably remains on high alert as to the impact of any fallout from our closest neighbours decision to leave the EU, a move set to be formalised early next year.

In repeated statements on the matter, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has outlined the concerns by stressing to fellow EU heads of state that Irelands special relationship with Britain must ensure no hard border is imposed with Northern Ireland and that this countrys industries are protected from any Brexit- related difficulties.

While Sinn Feins calls for a united Ireland vote due to the fact Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU have led to half-hearted responses from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, in truth all parties will be focused on ensuring Brexit does not damage our still-fragile economic recovery.

Industrial disputes

Despite some progress on the Dublin Bus dispute, a winter of industrial discontent may still be looming due to difficulties in Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann.

Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann workers have in recent days hit out at feared pay and condition reductions due to revelations the company may next month separate its Expressway operation from the firm, which is said to be losing 500,000 a month, while the latters employees are also seeking pay increases.

With Fianna Fail transport spokesperson Robert Troy making it clear on Sunday he will not support the Bus Eireann plan, Transport Minister Shane Ross may come under pressure in the coming weeks to rethink his insistence he will not be a sugar daddy to resolve transport industry disputes.

Motor tax, health, and education

You cannot expect politicians to pass up an opportunity to speak in the Dail without raising genuine issues, which will just happen to also help win over voters, and this Dail term will be no different.

Motor tax insurance hikes, the ongoing crisis in the health service and the fallout on how to respond to the Cassells report into third-level education funding will guarantee more than a few opposition-inspired awkward reality checks for cabinet ministers.

Due to the tight numbers involved in the minority governments make-up, any and every one of these issues now poses a potential risk to the Coalition if it manages to cause further factions to emerge in the Cabinet.

Nama and other State investigations

The rarely stated fact about kicking cans down roads is that, eventually, you run out of road. And while it is not quite there yet, the Government should be increasingly aware the time is fast approaching when its clutter of booted cans needs to be picked up and addressed.

Before Christmas, the Coalition will face further questions on the Nama Project Eagle controversy, and calls for a state investigation into alleged foster abuse in the South-East; Siteserv; the Olympics ticket-touting saga; and other matters.

Coupled with a PAC inquiry into Project Eagle which will include tough questions for Finance Minister Michael Noonan this week, expect fireworks whenever state investigations are raised.

Enda Kenny, John Halligan, and Fianna Fail waiting in the wings

Despite other issues, the big question facing the new Dail remains the future of Enda Kenny.

While the Taoiseach last week all but said he will remain in power until 2018, the decision is unlikely to sit comfortably with ambitious ministerial colleagues and disgruntled backbenchers.

John Halligan

The situation continues to risk Governments stability, as does the increasingly obvious problems between Independent Alliance TD John Halligan and Fine Gael.

While Fianna Fail continues to insist it has no intention of bringing down the Government on any of the hurdles facing the new Dail term, at least not yet, the departure of either the Taoiseach or the Waterford TD could yet lead to yet another political plot twist in the months to come.
MANY people around the world are probably wondering why Hillary Clinton  who is obviously more prepared and better suited for the American presidency than her opponent, Donald Trump  isnt waltzing to victory. Many Americans share the worlds bewilderment.

Opinion polls may well continue to fluctuate until the election on November 8, but Trump has been closing in on Clinton in recent weeks, even threatening to catch up with her in the electoral college vote, where the Democrats control of some of the most populous states (New York and California) give Clinton an advantage. Why is this happening?

For starters, Trump, despite knowing almost nothing about governance or public policy, has managed to consolidate most Republicans behind him. One motivation is Republicans long-held hatred of Clinton. Another is the Supreme Court; the court already has one vacant seat for the next president to fill and is likely to have more over the next four years.

Trump has also exploited many Americans economic anxieties, tapping the same anti-immigrant, anti-elite rage that is sweeping across European countries. But he cannot win by appealing only to white men without a college degree.

So he has been clumsily trying to suggest that he also cares about African-Americans and Latinos  not by talking to African-American and Latino voters, but by speaking in exaggerated stereotypes about them to white audiences. Not surprisingly, African-Americans and Latinos consider his comments insensitive and patronising; white women  his real target audience  havent yet been persuaded, either.

Since the two major parties national conventions in July, each candidate has alternately made gains and suffered losses. This month, just as Trump was rising in the polls, he attempted to separate himself from the racist birther movement, which falsely claims that Obama  Americas first black president  wasnt born in the US, and thus was ineligible for the presidency.

Trumps remarks, terse and grudging, reminded everyone that he himself was one of the loudest birthers of all. His damage-control effort further backfired, because he falsely claimed that Clinton and her 2008 presidential campaign had started the birther rumour.

Many news outlets finally used the word lie in their coverage of Trump, who had gone essentially unchallenged on past fabrications.

Trumps recent polling gains say less about his improvement as a candidate than they do about Clintons own weaknesses and bad luck. Outside her base of passionate loyalists, Clinton has always had a voter-enthusiasm problem.

She comes across to many as a packaged know-it-all, the super-smart girl who put off the boys in school. And she confronts a fair amount of sexism, even among her supporters. (A former Democratic governor recently declared she should smile more. Would he have said that about a man?) But Clinton has also created some of her own problems.

Her poor judgement in using a private email server as secretary of state, thereby risking the disclosure of classified material, has become a chronic burden for her campaign. She compounded the problem when she claimed, falsely, her predecessors had done the same thing, and that State Department security officials had cleared it. And, unlike Trump, she received no deference from the press on this issue.

The email saga added to voters long-held impression that Clinton isnt honest and trustworthy, and it exposed her to attacks from adversaries on the right. While FBI director James Comey decided not to recommend prosecution of Clinton for the email issue, he hurt her campaign by commenting that she had been extremely careless.

A new issue arose in August, when the AP reported that numerous donors to the Clinton Foundation had received special treatment by the US state department during Clintons tenure there, mainly by winning an appointment with her. But many of these people would have received an appointment anyway; there is no evidence that state department policies were changed as a result.

Finally, Clinton had the bad luck of falling ill, with footage showing her nearly collapsing as she left a ceremony in New York commemorating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. This added further fuel to right-wing media speculation that she is in poor health; Trump added the sexist charge that she lacks the stamina to be president.

Clintons four-day convalescence came just as she was preparing to make the case for why people should vote for her, rather than why they shouldnt vote for Trump.

As she resumed campaigning, there were bombings in New York and New Jersey, and two more police shootings of unarmed African Americans, which spurred demonstrations in North Carolina, a swing state. The events took over the national dialogue, with Trump, as usual, playing on racial divisions and blaming Obama and Clinton.

It would be unwise to call this election over before it is.

Elizabeth Drew is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books and the author of Washington Journal: Reporting Watergate and Richard Nixons Downfall. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2016.
ROGER ANGELL is an old man  96 years of age. A former soldier, he has written for the New Yorker magazine for more than 70 years. He cast his first vote for Franklin Roosevelt, and in this election  which he describes as the most important of his long lifetime  he will vote for Hillary Clinton, with alacrity and confidence, as he puts it.

From the beginning, he says. her life has been devoted to public service and to improving the lives of children and the disadvantaged. She is intelligent, strong, profoundly informed, and extraordinarily experienced in the challenges and risks of our lurching, restlessly altering world 

Why, when I read passion and wisdom like that, from someone who has spent a lifetime serving his country in different ways, am I afraid? Very afraid?

By the time you read this, one of the most watched presidential debates in history will be over, and the media youre reading will be full of who won and who lost. For many commentators, the outcome has already been framed. If Donald Trump survived the debate, hell be seen as a winner.

If he doesnt come across as too much of a bully, if he doesnt get some elementary facts outrageously wrong, if he manages to cement the crooked Hillary image that has become his mantra, that may be enough for him.

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has to climb a huge mountain. She has to be likable but strong. She has to overwhelm Trump with facts without appearing condescending or nerdy. She has to remain calm in the face of any provocation  and yet she cannot allow accusations to go unanswered.

Hillary Clinton faces a media audience that is, on balance, unreservedly hostile to her and to her candidacy. If she wins the debate, you can expect to hear commentators tomorrow claiming that the moderator let her off the hook. Trump, on the other hand, faces a media audience that has already given him a fools pass. Expectations of him in this forum are so low  even among commentators who arent on his side  that if hes still standing by the end some of them will say he did all right.

In short, even though I think Hillary Clinton has the ability to destroy Trump in this first debate, it may not be enough.

Im a political anorak, of course. All elections fascinate me, and I find myself getting immersed in the coverage of them. But I genuinely cant remember an election that mattered as much as this one does, not just to the United States, but to the whole world. If it is possible for Donald Trump to win, after a campaign in which he deliberately sought to tap into the basest of human instincts, then we all face a deeply uncertain future.

Ill come back to why that might be in just a moment. But the fact is that the unthinkable can happen. Just like it was possible for Brexit campaigners to tap into deep-seated fears in the UK, just as its possible for the hard left in Ireland to pretend there are easy solutions to intractable problems, it is possible for Trump to persuade a majority of people in the US that a strong man is necessary and that he is it.

If youre a political anorak like me, youll be following the polls in the US pretty closely. Nowadays, we dont follow polls as much as poll aggregators. The best are Nate Silver and Real Clear Politics, each of whom has a great track record in predicting outcomes based on a highly analytical and mathematical approach to analysing enormous amounts of poll data.

As I was writing this, before the debate, Nate Silver (on his website FiveThirtyEight.com), was giving Hillary Clinton a 57.1% chance of victory, as against 42.9% for Trump. Exactly a month ago today, he gave Clinton 73.5% and Trump 26.5%. Thats how much the odds have narrowed. In his most recent commentary, he says that the medium-term trend in the polls has been toward Trump for a long time now.

Clintons position peaked on August 8, he says. Trump has slowly and fairly steadily gained ground since then, closing his deficit by about one percentage point a week to narrow Clintons lead from about eight points in mid-August to two points now. With six weeks to go, it means Hillary needs a game-changer if she is to make her position as solid as it needs to be.

There is no better news in the Real Clear Politics poll average, which shows Clinton slightly ahead everywhere  but only slightly. They work out which states are still toss-ups  and if they eliminate them, they have Hillary winning the electoral college by just one vote. They give Trump Florida and Ohio, which have 47 electoral votes between them  if she can turn that around, her margin of victory would be quite comfortable.

But it shouldnt be this way. Nearly everyone in the United States knows in their heart of hearts that Donald Trump isnt fit to be President, and that he would represent a real danger to the countrys interests. They know this man who pretends to be up for working people is a complete charlatan, who has screwed working people all his life. They have seen people like him off the stage before  even people just as disreputable when it comes to character but with a great deal more ability.

No, the real fuel that is driving this election is not, in any sense, admiration of Donald Trump. Its hatred of Hillary Clinton. Its the same hatred that drove all the opposition to Barack Obama, and made his Presidency such a difficult one. He achieved a great deal, and leaves office with the grudging respect of a majority of the people, but he was fought every inch of the way.

And he was fought by people who wont admit it, but were determined not to see a black man succeed. Those same people have taken up arms now (in the political sense) against a woman.

Hillary Clinton is the most investigated person in American political history. Mud has been thrown at her again and again, and of course some of it has stuck. But remarkably, even though the investigations have always been started by her political enemies, and prosecuted relentlessly, she has always been exonerated. However, the moment she is, another investigation into something else is started.

If that isnt enough, she is subjected daily to endless sexism. Her appearance, her voice, her laugh  there is an endless string of commentary that simply wouldnt arise if she were male. And between the investigations and the sexism an untrue narrative has developed about a shrill, unlikeable, and untrustworthy woman.

The single most important quality in a political leader is character. Its hard to define, but impossible not to recognise when you see it. This election is between someone whose character has been forged around issues and controversy and hard battles, and someone who is entirely bereft of character. Im hoping against hope that the debates will begin to show that. But Im afraid.
Burma Arakan Lawmakers Bid to Restrict Muslim Birth Rate Rejected

A group of Muslim women and girls are pictured in a village in Maungdaw Township in 2014. / Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  A Lower House lawmaker has asked that the government restrict birth rates within the Muslim community in two Arakan State townships: Maungdaw and Buthidaunga move that was rejected by the Union health minister and described as disturbing by an international rights group.

Aung Taung Shwe of the Arakan National Party (ANP), representing Buthidaung Township, brought up the topic in Parliament on Sept. 22. Citing statistics on populationwhich The Irrawaddy could not verifyhe suggested that Muslim Rohingya were having proportionally more children than the Buddhist Arakanese in these two townships.

We need to restrict the birthrate in these areas. These are appropriate areas in which to enforce the law, he said, referring to the highly controversial Protection of Race and Religion laws, put forward by ultranationalist Buddhist organization Ma Ba Tha and passed in 2015 under ex-President Thein Seins government.

One statute, the Population Control Law, says that state or regional governments can ask that the government organize women to space births 36 months apart, a law that critics say could be used against Burmas Muslim population, who, according to the 2014 census, make up just 4.3 percent of the country.

The authorities did not carry out their duties based on the law, and the population of the people has increased greatly, Aung Taung Shwe alleged.

Union Minister for Health and Sport Dr. Myint Htwe called the ANP lawmakers suggestion a violation of medical ethics to sterilize women against their will. His ministry, he added, could not take action to restrict birth rates without an order from the President and the Union government.

David Scott Mathieson, a senior researcher on Burma in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, told The Irrawaddy that Aung Taung Shwes idea was disturbing and that there was no evidence of a rise in birth rates of the Rohingya Muslims. A call to reduce their population, he pointed out, was tantamount to racial culling.

Arakan States Rohingya community, who are locally labeled as Bengali, a term which implies that they are interlopers from Bangladesh, are widely stateless and face restrictions on their freedom of movement, access to medical care and education.

Mathieson added that the Population Control Law should be immediately repealed by the National League for Democracy-led (NLD) government. Furthermore, the NLD should respond by stand[ing] firm against racism and commit to providing healthcare for all people living in these townships, based on real needs, not religion or citizenship.

This, Mathieson said, would be the best way to silence the voices of xenophobia.
Vietnam's border guards and Chinese counterparts hold a joint patrol from the

border marker 1223 to the border marker 1222. (Source: VNA)



The two sides need to promote and coordinate joint patrols at sea, on land while boosting friendship exchanges between the two countries border guards and organising annual Vietnam-China friendship border defence exchange activities more practically, Minister Lich told Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun, in Hanoi on September 26th.

Minister Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, highlighted the close collaboration cooperation between two ministries, saying it has played a core role in cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples of the two countries.

On his part, Minister Guo, who is on a visit to Vietnam, spoke of good friendship between China and Vietnam, emphasising that this has laid solid foundations for promoting and developing cooperation in other fields.

The effective cooperation between the Chinese Ministry of Public Security and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence in general and between the two countries border guards and coast guards in particular has contributed to maintaining security and order at sea and creating a border line of peace, friendship and development.

In upcoming time, the border guards and coast guards of the two countries will continue boosting coordination in fighting types of crimes such as illegal border-crossing, and drug, weapon, and human trafficking as well as experience sharing in participating in the United Nations peacekeeping missions./.
Burma Former Political Prisoners Call for Justice Ministry

Chairman and members of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Union. / Justice / Tribunal Website

Former political prisoners have called on the Union government to establish a justice ministry to ensure judicial independence.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) released a study on Burmas prisons on Monday, detailing prison conditions and the prospect of prison reform.

If a prisoner complains about human rights abuse, there should be a credible body not related to the home affairs ministrylike a ministry of justice, said Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent leader of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society.

Ko Ko Gyi admits that it would be a daunting task to establish a new ministry and stressed the need for detailed discussion between the government, Parliament, civil society organizations, and international experts.

The study suggests forming a Ministry of Justice and passing the responsibility of administering prisons from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the newly proposed ministry.

It took AAPP two years to finish the report, which provides several recommendations to the new governmentincluding reviewing all legislation pertaining to the prison sector in order to align it with international standards, signing relevant international conventions, and ensuring all prison staff are adequately trained, especially in human rights standards and the use of force.

The AAPP has vowed to take an active part in prison reform and plans to conduct more studies and release more reports, said U Bo Kyi of the AAPP. Government cooperation was weak in compiling the report and greater collaboration is required to compile new reports, he added.

The report is not comprehensive. We made it with as much information as we could gather. We still need many facts about prisons and strong cooperation from the government, said U Bo Kyi.

The new government should not treat prison facts and figures as state secrets, but instead maintain official websites to inform the public about the number of prisons, detention camps and inmates as a fundamental requirement for prison reform, he said.

Activists engaged in helping prisoners of conscience have called on the government to carry out an independent and unbiased investigation into torture against existing and former political prisoners and to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).

This story was translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Heritage Group Reveals Rangoon Conservation Plan

Rangoons landmark Shwedagon Pagoda at night. / Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Burmas prominent heritage conservation body, the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT), revealed its conservation strategy for the countrys former capital as it said Rangoon is at a tipping point and that without action there will be a terrible loss of cultural and natural heritage.

The Yangon Heritage Strategy is a 150-page report that outlines YHTs vision and strategy to combine heritage conservation and sustainable development. Meant for all relevant stakeholdersfrom national leaders to street vendors, city residents and businessesit includes 24 Action Plans on issues ranging from the expansion of green space to improved streetscapes to transforming downtown Yangon into a future international hub for arts and culture.

For the citys civic and business leaders, it [the strategy] can provide new ideas that might not have been considered before as well as a sense of the huge longer-term economic potential Yangon has to become a regional hub that combines heritage conservation with sustainable development, the report says.

For the general public, this document can provide a sense of how special their home city is and how, together, we can make Yangon Asias most livable city, it added.

Thant Myint-U, YHT chairman and founder, said the strategy was not a master plan. It is a collection of YHT ideas, based on four years of work on these issues and meant as a contribution to government and public debate at this critical moment in Rangoons development.

The plan comes at a time when the city of 5.16 million people is now under stress from traffic congestion, little to no urban planning, and poor infrastructurewhile the citys century-old architecture faces a threat from unregulated development.

The YHT strategy includes interim, awareness and long-term regulation measures to protect the citys unique heritage. YHT proposes the creation of a coordinating body to oversee urban planning, promote public awareness of the importance of heritage conservation, and tailor a mix of immediate actions with a comprehensive urban plan within a solid regulatory framework based on a revised heritage lawwhich would include mandatory height control regulations across the city to protect heritage areas and free up space for high-rises.

In the Action Plans, YHS suggestions encircling Shwedagon Pagoda with a series of public parks; reusing government buildings as public libraries, hotels and retail outlets; and upgrading the circle-line train and bus system and utilizing the citys waterway to address transportation challenges. It also recommends using the waterfront for public recreation and opening a view of heritage buildings along Strand Road for tourism purposes. It states that the point where Shwedagon Pagoda Road meets the waterfront could be designated as a public park, forming a river gateway to the pagoda as it did for Burmese royalty hundreds of years ago.

Thant Myint-U told The Irrawaddy that YHT provided an advanced copy and discussed many aspects of its plan with the Rangoon chief minister and members of the regional government over recent months.We have been extremely pleased with the chief minister and governments support for Yangon conservation and urban planning and believe we have a very close working relationship across a range of issuesfrom the revitalization of the downtown area to the reuse of the waterfront to the protection of the citys green and other public spaces, he said.

When asked to what extent the recommendations could materialize, the historian said, The YHS plan is extremely realistic and what we have suggested over the next 4-5 years is doable.

Its not a cookie-cutter plan that can only be implemented in Sydney or Seattle. Its a plan for Yangon, based on all weve learned these past few years about Yangons political, legal, economic, and social environment, he said.

Its based on hundreds of conversations not just with experts, government and business people, but also with people who live and work in the historic city. It will make all the difference in setting Yangon on the right path for the rest of the 21st century.
Burma Illegal Log Trade Continues on Salween River

Thai border guard soldiers and KNLA soldiers examine logs seized in KNLA Brigade 5 territory on the Salween River. / Mutraw Mobile Team

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  The 25 tons of teak logs recently seized on the Salween River in Karen State show that the illegal trade persists despite a nationwide logging ban.

The teak logs were seized by an armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) along with Thai military after they were found floating down the river in the Thai border village of Ban Tha Ta Fang in Mae Hong Son Province.

Speaking with The Irrawaddy from a military camp on the border, Lt-Col Kyaw Mue of Brigade 5 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) said that the logs were intended to be delivered to a company in Hpa-an, capital of Karen State, passing territory of the KNLA Brigade 5 on the Salween River.

As the government has banned logging nationwide, we seized the logs as they passed through our area, said Lt-Col Kyaw Mue. If we let them pass freely, we worry that people will accuse us of taking bribeswe dont want our image damaged.

Lt-Col Kyaw Mue said that the logs were escorted by a number of workers including ethnic Karenni and Karen with Thai documents. After seizing the logs the KNLA Brigade 5 let these men return in their boat.

Thai border guard soldiers also said they went to examine the logs but later held no responsibility as the logs came from Karenni State, eastern Burma.

A document dated Sept. 21 obtained by The Irrawaddy showed that the logs were authorized by a Karenni armed organization known as the Karenni Nationalities Peoples Liberation Front (KNPLF).

The document, signed by the KNPLFs vice-chairman Tun Shwe, gives permission to trader U Myint Thein to transport 112 logs from Hpasawng in Karenni state, though no destination was recorded.

Lt-Col Kyaw Mue said that he had contacted U Myint Thein and detained him at the KNLA Brigade 5 base. He said he is waiting to hear from KNU on what to do with U Myint Thein and the seized logs.

Illegal logging has been regularly reported in Karen and Karenni states, which border Thailands Mae Hong Son Province. The Thai military and police often crack down on illegal trade on their northern border with patrols by boat and helicopter.

In June, Minister for Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win announced a complete suspension of logging to stem rapid deforestation in Burma. The ministry also imposed a ban on teak logging in areas without young teak growth.

According to the minister, from the start of the 2016-17 fiscal year in April, a total of 1,940 tons of smuggled logs and 104 units of heavy machinery were seized, along with 117 smugglers arrested in Kachin State. Over the past five years, a total of 26,233 tons of smuggled logs and 1,598 units of machinery were seized, while 861 Burmese smugglers and 176 foreign smugglers were arrested.

Saw Alex Htoo, deputy director of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN), criticized persistent illegal logging on the Salween River despite the nationwide ban.

The logging trade must not continue as Parliament has banned it nationwide, said Saw Alex Htoo. Illegal logging not only affects the environment but could lead to conflict between local armed groups.

Founded in 1978, the KNPLF split from its main organization the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)an ethnic armed organization that signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the former government. With backing from the Burma Army, the KNPLF also serve as border guard force (BGF).

Sources close to the KNPP said that some KNPLF leaders were logging illegally together with leaders of the KNUs Brigade 7, although they could not be pushed for more detail.
From the Archive Death of a Journalist

Japanese video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, of APF lies fatally injured on the street of Rangoon after Burmese soldiers fired upon and then charged at protesters on Sept. 27, 2007. / Reuters

Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai at the hands of a Myanmar Army soldier during the countrys Saffron Revolution. The domestic upheaval became an increasingly international affair the shooting was captured on video and broadcast worldwide. Known as the Saffron Revolution, the monk-led anti-government protests of August and September 2007 were, for many people outside the country, their first exposure to the brutality of Burmas former military regime. This story, originally published in December 2007, offers another Japanese photojournalists take on the death of a colleague and countryman.

JAPAN  It was painful to witness the images broadcast worldwide on Sept. 27, 2007. Japanese cameraman Kenji Nagai was lying on his back on a street in Rangoon. Then there was the piercing sound of a bullet fired from the rifle of a soldier.

Kenji Nagai, a man I considered a colleague, was dead. Immediately, I thought: It could have been me. As a photojournalist, I also report on conflicts. I have covered many Asian countries, including Burma, and I imagined myself in Kenji Nagais place, lying dead on a street in Rangoon.

But, I was in Japan, and he was in Rangoon. However, I knew the streets where the pro-democracy demonstrations occurredthe scene was very familiar to me.

For me, the shooting confirmed the true mentality of the Burmese junta, which has been killing and imprisoning the Burmese people with impunity for decades: 3,000 or more people died in 1988 alone, the year I started covering events in Burma.

On the day Kenji Nagai was murdered, I was taking photographs of exiled Burmese activists who were demonstrating in front of the Burmese Embassy in Tokyo, demanding the Japanese government stop supporting the State Peace and Development Council financially.

Later that day, my mobile phone started ringing, one call after another without a break. News agencies and newspapers were calling me to check if the unidentified Japanese journalist killed in Rangoon was me or not. One call was from Australia, from my Burmese friend who had worked as my interpreter when I made trips to Burma. He explained that he was worried about me when he heard the news.

Before long, the Japanese media confirmed the dead journalist was Kenji Nagai. His name was new to me, and we had never met.

The TV news showed video of the shooting of Kenji Nagai over and over again for several days. The Japanese public was horrified and angry. The Japanese government seemed shocked. Perhaps for the first time, the government realized the SPDC is truly an evil government.

When the funeral service was held on Oct. 8 in Tokyo, hundreds of Burmese exiles attended the service to honor Kenji Nagai. They apologized for his death on behalf of the SPDC government, which they hate. It was a natural feeling for the Burmese people who live in Japan to express their sorrow for Kenji Nagai, who was now a martyr in the Burmese struggle for democracy.

Media coverage on Kenji Nagai focused on his personality, his professional work in Iraq and elsewhere, but neglected any factual background on what had been happening in Burma under the military regime for the past 20 years. There were almost no critical questions about Japans foreign policy toward the military juntawhether it was trying to help the country move toward democracy or helping the SPDC.

As a photojournalist, I have been critical of Japans foreign policy, which has favored the SPDC generals rather than the democratic forces and the ethnic minorities. You can get a sense of Japans policy toward the SPDC through various comments made by top Japanese diplomats.

For instance, the then Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi made an ignorant comment in May 2003, when she was asked about the murderous attack on Aung San Suu Kyis motorcade at Depayin. She said, There is no deterioration of environment for dialogue between the SPDC and Aung San Suu Kyi. She retracted her comment the next day.

In May 2006, Japanese ambassador to the United Nations, Kenzo Oshima, said, Burma does not constitute a regional threat yet, and along with China and Russia, Japan opposed efforts by the United States and European Union to put Burma on the Security Council agenda.

The latest and most shameless comment was made by Yoichi Yamaguchi, the former Japanese ambassador to Burma (1995-97).

After the killing of Nagai, he was quoted in the Japanese media as saying several offensive comments:

Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy gave money to the demonstrators.

There is not a single so-called political prisoner there [in Burma] in the true sense.

The regime has succeeded in maintaining economic growth of over 5 percent annually, earning it the widespread trust of the people.

After Kenji Nagais death, the Japanese government took a seemingly strong stance. In New York, Foreign Minister Komura demanded an apology from the SPDC. But as time passed and the crackdown by security forces continued, the Japanese government remained quiet, simply waiting for the UN Security Council to act.

The government will coordinate efforts with the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to make progress in the democratization of Myanmar [Burma], Komura said after the UNSCs presidential statement was announced.

Later, Japan cancelled a grant of up to 552 million yen (US $4.7 million). The grant had been intended to finance the construction of a human resources center.

On Oct. 28, the Peoples Forum on Burma, an NGO formed in Tokyo in 1996 to support the Burmese peoples struggle for democracy, made a plea for the Japanese government to fundamentally change its foreign policy toward the SPDC by giving full-scale humanitarian support to the 160,000 displaced people in refugee camps in Thailand.

The group also asked for a halt in grants to the Union Solidarity and Development Association, which was accused of taking part in the suppression of the demonstrators. In 2006, the USDA received a Japanese grant of nearly 24 million yen ($209,000) for construction of three grade school buildings. It also demanded that Japan stop humanitarian aid to subsidize Burmas health care and education budgets while the military regime allocates more than 50 percent of its national budget on the military.

The group wants to pressure the Japanese government to support the Burmese people and the pro-democracy groups, instead of helping to keep the generals in power.

A Burmese citizen in Tokyo, a former political prisoner, said Burmese exiles remember two Japanese citizens: one with hate, and one with great respect.

One is former ambassador Yoichi Yamaguchi; the other is journalist Kenji Nagai.

Yamamoto Munesukes books include Burmas Children and Burmas Great Illusions. He was deported from Burma in 1998 for gathering news, following his exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi.




An art performance at the event (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand)



This is a cultural exchange event organized annually in Wellington to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam to local students, people and international friends.

This is also an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese in Wellington to meet and exchange with international friends, introduce and promote Vietnams diversified culture.

This is also an opportunity for local and international friends to experience "Vietnam Today" through typical images of many regions of the country with hidden beauty, art items performed by Vietnamese students studying in New Zealand and the children from VietKids, as well as traditional dishes of the people of Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Viet Dung highlighted the significance of the "Vietnam Day" event in Wellington, saying that it is not only an important channel for the people of the two countries to increase understanding and open up cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and New Zealand, but also a bridge to connect overseas Vietnamese.

He hoped that through each art item and traditional dish, Vietnamese persons attending the event would be cultural ambassadors of the beautiful, peace-loving country of Vietnam.

On this occasion, the Ambassador also appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese Student Association and the Vietnamese community in Wellington to contribute to the success of the "Vietnam Day" in New Zealand, and hoped that "Vietnam Day 2016" would continue to bring diversified experience of Vietnam to the guests, significantly contributing to further promote people-to-people exchange and good relations between the two countries.

"Vietnam Day 2016" attracted positive response from most participants, and leaving a deep impression in the hearts of local and international friends./.
Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 (4:37 pm) - Score 2,043

The Westminster Magistrates Court has heard how 19-year-old Daniel Kelley, who was arrested in Llanelli (South Wales) at the end of last year on suspicion of blackmail, attempted to extort 465 Bitcoins (worth 216K) from TalkTalk following the devastating 2015 Cyber-Attack on their systems.

The attack itself was the result of a combined Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assault and an SQL Injection exploit against the ISPs website (here), which ultimately resulted in masses of personal customer and financial data being stolen.

Since then various UK children and adults have been arrested in connection with the hack, not to mention several support agents in India who were working for TalkTalk through their outsourcing sub-contractor Wipro (here).

At the time TalkTalks embattled CEO, Dido Harding, confirmed that she had received an email demanding a ransom. It is hard for me to give you very much detail, but yes, we have been contacted by, I dont know whether it is an individual or a group, purporting to be the hacker. All I can say is that I had personally received a contact from someone purporting  as I say I dont know whether they are or are not  to be the hacker looking for money, said Harding.

Daniel Kelley is accused of carrying out similar attacks and making related blackmail demands against several other companies from around the world (e.g. Zippo), as well as TalkTalk. The Guardian reports that in total he is said to have demanded 593 Bitcoins, which is currently worth roughly 276,000. Overall Kelley faces 14 charges related to blackmail, four computer hacking offences and two fraud offences.

Kelley was formally charged with the offences yesterday, before being released on conditional bail until 10th October 2016 and he has yet to enter a plea.
Why and How to Build an Enterprise App Store

Google seems set to take a big step on the operating system (OS) front, according to reports.

Android Police reported yesterday that two independent and reliable sources told it that Google is planning to release a laptop in the third quarter that will be driven by an OS that combines Android and Chrome.

The tech field is rife with acronyms. In this case, the project is Bison, the laptop is the Pixel 3 and the new OS is Andromeda. Fuchsia is another new operating system being worked on by Google. The relationship, if any, between Andromeda and Fuchsia is unclear.

But something clearly is happening. IDC Vice President of Research John Jackson told IT Business Edge that any step must be taken with great care:

If this is true, the devil will lurk in the architectural implications for developers and the broader ecosystem, particularly on the app-centric Android side. Convergence to date has preserved the core integrity of either platform. With Android, Google has created for itself a commanding position on smartphones  historys most prolifically distributed computing environment. And it has profited mightily from this as the worlds experiences and eyeballs have shifted to mobile. Obviously, any sort of binary break resulting from a unified OS approach risks disrupting the mobile position. But Google doesnt need an analyst to tell them that.

The Android Police story provides a lot of commentary on what it believes the laptop, which will be capable of converting to a tablet, will cost and other technical details.

In mid-August, there were reports about Fuchsia. Those reports suggested that the operating system would use the Magenta kernel instead of the Linux kernel. This led experts to suspect that Fuchsia would be aimed at the embedded market, such as car GPS systems, and not general purpose computing. The relationship between Andromeda and Fuchsia is unclear, according to Pocket-lint.

The story says that more light may be shed on Googles plans soon. The main evidence is a tweet from Google Senior Vice President of Android, Chrome OS and Play, Hiroshi Lockheimer, that points to the next weeks Made by Google Event:

We announced the first version of Android eight years ago today. I have a feeling eight years from now well be talking about Oct 4, 2016.

It is possible, though a bit unlikely, that he is not referring to anything related to these rumors. It seems more likely that the company has made some key strategic decisions. IDCs Johnson has a feeling for what is at stake:

If this is true it will be interesting to see which OS wins. Recall that Chrome is organic Google and therefore most closely reflects the companys philosophy about how digital services should evolve. Android was a timely and highly effective acquisition.

Android and Chrome have been growing closer, in part because Chrome OS includes Google Play Store access in beta. The likelihood is that the relationship will grow even closer a week from today.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.

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Did you know that somewhere between 30 and 159 species disappear every day? And since year 1500, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians vanished around 300 types each. Now, Science wants to bring them back to life. Are we ready for this?

For decades, science fiction has always enticed and amazed us on the big screen; however, UCSB ecologist Douglas McCauley and Benjamin Halpern have recently published a list of criteria hovered on the scientific fringes. It is about time for scientists to do research and be funded on discovering things like this.

They now believe that there is "resurrection" that they think might help the ecosystem. An ecologist from Santa Barbara UCSB gave a press release on the fascination of the idea of resurrection or that it could bring species back to life; which specifically can help the planet's ecosystem.

Woolly Mammoth, a hairy and close relative to the elephant that lived in the Artic would most likely be the first in line. Next to the list is a passenger pigeon, a grayish small bird with pinkish red breast that was found in North America. These two were highly recommended to be the first for this venture due to the fact that the mammoth died 4000 years ago and the pigeon around 1900 years ago.

There are three main methods on how to de-extinct species. First is called backbreeding that involves finding traces of traits similarity. Breeding is the common term, an approach that might lead them to that specific breed.

The second is cloning, an option to take preserved cell tissues from an extinct breed then swap this nucleus into an egg from the animal's closest cells. We now have surrogate species.

Lastly, genetic engineering. Researchers will gather all closest living relative of the specimen genes and implant it into a living species, relatively closest and grow it in an artificial womb.
Samsung is one of the leading brands around the globe. From retail stores and corporate postpaid plan holders, this phone is enticingly gorgeous and economic. However, it set them back unwantedly that Galaxy Note 7 was highlighted due to numerous safety issue reports. There have been sold batteries that were unsafe, and with some reportedly even exploding while charging.

The company was very quick to respond and act in accepting the responsibility for the oversight on the quality of assurance policy, and took steps to correct it. They hold the process of making batteries made by Samsung SDI, one of the two suppliers producing Galaxy Note 7 batteries as well as mandate all to return the devices for free replacements. They are also looking into the Operating System of the phone that might also trigger the malfunctioning. The battery replacements for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 have started, but unfortunately some of the replacement devices still experience battery issues, which includes overheating.

According to the Wall Street Journal, YTN, a South Korea TV Network, received numerous reports of the new replaced Galaxy Note 7 devices that are experiencing fast battery drain and other issues when charging. There is a report too that a user was not able to charge and was under ten percent charging overnight. As the TV crew conducted their own tests, they've found out that the new replaced phones battery decreases too fast in only 39 minutes.

Despite of the reports, Samsung did not confirm any of the registered cases. Friday, a spokesperson said, that the issue is "completely unrelated to batteries," and reported incidents are "isolated cases" that are unavoidable due to mass productions however Samsung is closely monitoring the matter.

Samsung promised to replace about half of the Galaxy Note 7 units in America, it's also more likely that customers in the U.S. are going to be cautious enough to buy this phone. If the issues is not resolved in due time, it might have a dwindling effect for Samsung and the mobile industry.
An unbelievable potential of ending life here on Earth. Scientists and experts warn us of a powerful billionlike nuke heading towards Earth. A warning that you might possibly see in Sci-fi movies. This powerful nuke is said to destroy and end life on Earth. Is this serious?

Nanjing, China: using one of the largest telescope detected an asteroid by an astronomer Zhao Haibin. As Haibin quoted in an interview with Daily Star, "technology has helped us to identify probable threats for space", "with the help of our images, astronomers across the world have a more specific and accurate trajectory of the asteroid." What is shocking here is that the size of the asteroid can lead to an extinction - a level that the entire Earth will be toasted.

2009ES as NASA named the asteroid is huge as 10 miles across. Admittedly, astronomers have not yet pinpointed the affected areas when it reaches Earth. The exact trajectory is still unknown and not yet determined. Images was captured by the 1.2-meter Schmidt space telescope however bases conclude 18.8 lunar distances.

With space and orbital threats, as astronomers counted 1,640 near-Earth asteroids that noone knows when it will hit Earth, launches NASA's super computer Scout. It allows us to counteract such potentially dangerous asteroids by detecting and calculating distances before possible impact on Earth's surface.

"Some near-Earth asteroids are potentially hazardous to Earth and their properties need to be better understood in order to inform impact mitigation strategies," NASA writes. Referring to near-Earth objects and their potential to impact our planet, Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object (NEO) Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, told Space.com, "In many cases, after a few more observations, we realize it's not high priority, because it's not going to come as close as suspected." - Sputniknews report
The participants enjoy bowling competition (Photo: VNA)



This is an activity of ASEAN countries in France. It is a festival of staff of representative agencies of ASEAN countries. It is not only a political and cultural activity, ASEAN Family Day in France also contributes to strengthening solidarity and friendship among ASEAN countries.

ASEAN Family Day is an annual traditional day of ASEAN countries. This is a significant activity, contributing to strengthening solidarity and friendship as well as understanding among ASEAN countries in Paris, said Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son.

Besides bowling competitions, the participants can also enjoy games such as billiards, foosball, lottery and art performance. On this occasion, the ASEAN Embassies in France introduced their special dishes.

This was also an opportunity for families of ASEAN member countries to meet and exchange with each other, thereby tightening solidarity not only among the staff working in representative agencies, but also among ASEAN people in France./.
Android 7.0 Nougat Beta Program has officially been confirmed to be available to some Sony Xperia units. The release however will only be available in stages.

Sony is finally joining the Android 7.0 Nougat Beta Program, allowing its handset devices from the Xperia X and Z series to qualify for said test. According to the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of Android 7.0 Nougat's update posted by Xperia Blog, Sony Xperia X performance and XZ line will first receive the official Android 7.0 Nougat update by October this year.

The said website stated that the ETA roadmap was seen during a Sony press conference in Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Sony Xperia X and X Compact will receive the update around November while Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z3+ and Xperia Z4 Tablet at around December this year. The final wave of update will be rolled out to Xperia XA and Xperia Ultra around the first two quarters of 2017.

In a report from Phone Arena, the Japanese tech giant could be targeting to update most of its handsets before 2016 ends. As its mission statement states on its website, Sony aims to release software updates as soon as it can.

Although the screengrabbed ETA seemed legitimate, owners are warned to take it with a pinch of salt due to the inconsisteny of Android developments. In addition, the projected release date of the software update goes way too far from what has been reported for Sony's devices.

There is no word yet as to when the update will be released to other models like Xperia M4 Aqua, Xperia M5, Xperia C5 Ultra and Xperia C4.

Android 7.0 Nougat Beta Program lets device owners of select market try the new software before releasing it worldwide. In this stage, Android developers will have the idea what improvements they can make for the new software before its official release in the market.

The beta program app can be downloaded via Google Play Store while a notification will also prompt device owners to download said program through the Xperia Lounge app. As of the moment, Android 7.0 Nougat is still available in European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia and the Netherlands.
If you're in the U.S., chances are you've seen the Google Doodle prompting you to register to vote for the presidential elections on Nov. 8. If you haven't, then go to Google now, click on the Doodle, and follow the instructions.

The colorful animation flashes the text "Register to Vote" in several languages. Clicking on the Doodle will bring a user to another page for more information depending on the state they live in.

The Doodle comes just in time for National Voter Registration Day and Monday's presidential debate.

This is just one of the many moves from Google to encourage voter registration especially in states where voting has certain restrictions. In Google's blog post, Engineering Manager Jonathan Betz said that "by helping more people get registered, we're also helping ensure more people get to the polls and vote. The majority of Americans who register to vote end up voting - according to the US Census Bureau, in 2012, 86 percent of those who registered also voted in the November election."

Google has also made "how to vote" and "how to register" search results to answer the high volume of queries for the said information. Google project manager Emily Moxle said that this year's election is a "special" one, as a huge number of people are using Google to learn more about registration and voting.

Google isn't the only web company helping Americans register. Snapchat has partnered with TurboVote to encourage users to register. Facebook has also rolled out a "register now" button.

These social media channels are made in the hopes of appealing to millennials who are the largest living generation in the U.S., but had the lowest voter turnout in the last three elections from 2004 to 2012.

Americans will vote for a new leader on Nov. 8, and will place either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump as the country's newly elected president.
Nvidia continues to push the boundaries of its GPUs. Its recent Pascal-architecture GPUs have been successful. Nvidia looks to further build on its Pascal-architecture core to build graphics cards that will have more features.

According to DigiTimes the new Pascal-based Tesla P4 and P40 graphics cards would be able to detect and sense images as well as texts and voices. The new GPUs will also have better performance and response times. The two new graphics cards have been presented at the recent GPU Technology Conference in Taiwan.

Nvidia has also formed partnerships with some Taiwanese companies. One of these is Quanta Computer. Its partnership with Quanta involves developing deep-learning graphics cards. Quanta and Nvidia have developed 1U to 4U GPU-based servers and the DGX-1 super computer.

The GPU-based servers are designed to learn, see and simulate our world, as DABCC reports. Nvidia isn't just making graphics cards for gaming. The tech company is developing GPUs to assist in making powerful artificial intelligence for some of the top research labs as well.

Nvidia's site states that Quanta would be the first to offer systems that would be able to connect processors to exchange data 12 times faster than PCI-e. The new GPUs presented at GTC Taiwan would be able to help in the deep-learning program that Nvidia has developed together with Quanta.

Other features from GTC Taiwan include sessions that talked about deep learning. Also from GTC Taiwan is the Deep Learning Institute which is a hands-on lab for developers to learn deep learning techniques.

A robotics challenge participated in by 10 Taiwanese universities was also held at the event. There was also an Emerging Companies Summit where nine new companies were on hand to demonstrate how they would use graphics cards for AI.

Nvidia continues to move forward with its intuitive graphics cards based on the Pascal architecture. The new graphics cards presented offer new ways that GPUs can be used in an AI environment. Graphics cards will have more uses as its technology advances even further.
It has been months since Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson were seen solving crimes and mysteries in London. However, the wait is now getting shorter as the upcoming episodes were already teased with titles, and set to premiere on the early part of 2017.

How Will Moriarty Be Placed In The "Sherlock" Season 4 Storyline If He Had Already Died?

During the last season's finale, it was teased that Moriarty could possibly resurrect form the dead. However, it is highly unlikely that it will happen; hence, he rather just left his plans to be continued by others upon his death. Since he is set to reportedly appear in the upcoming season four of "Sherlock," it is speculated that it will be just to haunt Sherlock as a ghost.

Moriarty's appearance in the fourth season of "Sherlock" has not yet been confirmed, however haunting Sherlock is the only plot that would make sense of his role in the upcoming season. There will be a new villain to appear in the upcoming season to be entitled "The Adventure of the Dying Detective."

Titles For The First Two Episodes Of "Sherlock" Season 4 Revealed

There are reportedly three episodes set to be released on early 2017, and the titles of the first two have already been teased by BBC online. The first episode is going to be entitled "The Six Thatchers" which reportedly verifies the keyword "Thatcher" that was revealed during the San Diego Comic Con early this year. The second episode on the other hand is going to be entitled "The Lying Detective" that is reportedly in reference to the story of the same title by Arthur Conan Doyle where a certain Culverton Smith attempts to murder Sherlock Holmes.

The third episode title however was not yet revealed to the fans. However, on the better note, there have been allegations claiming that the first episode of "Sherlock" season 4 will be released on New Year's Day of 2017, to welcome the year with a blast of mysteries.

There are a lot of theories and probabilities on the upcoming twists and turns for the fourth season of "Sherlock," and the fans will have to wait for the official announcement of its premiere date next year.
Google is just a few days away from its much-anticipated Google press event where the company is most likely to unveil its newest arsenal of gadgets. Google's new Pixel X and Pixel XL smartphones, codenamed Sailfish and Marlin, are the two of the gadgets that will be released in the event.

Google Challenges Apple iPhones

The two new phones will be Google's proof that it is pursuing its challenge against Apple for dominance in the smartphone industry. The Pixel phone is said to feature a 12 MP back camera and an 8 MP front camera together with a fingerprint reader.

It is also most likely that the Google Pixel X will ship with a 5-inch screen and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch screen as well as an aluminium and glass construction. On the other hand, the Nexus 5X phone will have a body made entirely of plastic.

Price speculations on the two Pixel phones start at $649. On the other hand, the Google Nexus 6P, the current flagship phone of Google is priced at $500.

Sustainability Of Google Phones

If ever Google continues to take its pricing even higher like that of Apple's, then surely, it will result in a negative reputation. Take note that Google is mainly known for offering low-cost devices.

However, it is also important to note that the Pixel X and Pixel XL might not have the capability of beating the iPhone 7 or the Galaxy Note 7 if the devices are not waterproof.

With these phones come speculations that another VR innovation in the likes of the Google Daydream VR will also be showcased in the Google event this October 4.
Rumors claim that Twitter management is currently in negotiation with Google over a potential takeover of the social media company by the search engine giant.

According to Seeking Alpha, Twitter is currently looking for potential acquirers. And a potential takeover of Twitter by Google makes sense, since Google engineers believe that more real-time data could improve the search engine results. Especially during those moments of breaking news, Google's search results feed based on Twitter data analysis could prove very useful.

On Friday, Sept. 23, following news that Twitter's management is currently in conversations with potential acquirers, shares of social media company went up by 21 percent. Several publications, including CNBC, reported that Twitter is currently in negotiations with Google and Salesforce. There were also speculations troughout the day Friday that other companies including Microsoft, Viacom and Disney may be interested in making a bid for Twitter.

Shares of Twitter had been down over the last year by around 20 percent. Investors have been avoiding the once beloved social media company due to human capital errors, slowing growth and a lack of enthusiasm.

While Twitter is struggling to monetize its user base, the social media network does have an impressive number of over 300 million monthly active users. A huge amount of real-time data is generated by these users.

For some time now, it has been speculated that Twitter could be for sale. To a larger company such Google, Twitter's wide amount of data could provide more value than its ability to generate revenue via sales of ads. For this reason, some market analysts are very confident that Twitter will end up being acquired by Google. According to Tech Crunch, an eventual takeover of Twitter by Google would also benefit YouTube that lacks short-form, frequently updated content.

In fact, back in the year 2015, Twitter and Google entered into a data sharing partnership, according to Search Engine Land. This agreement between the two companies gives Google access to crawl and index more efficiently up to thousands of Tweets per second.
Today it was announced to the public that Leonardo DiCaprio will be meeting the President of the United States next week, October 3, 2016, for the inaugural of South by South Lawn: A White House Festival of Ideas, Art, and Action. However, the Twitter account of White House has posted a photo of them together talking earlier than scheduled.

President Obama and actor Leonardo DiCaprio is set to discuss the ways to fight climate change with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and the significance of protecting Earth, the only planet we have, for the future of humanity. This will be followed by a "first-of-its-kind film screening" documentary of DiCaprio titled "Before the Flood" for everyone in the festival to watch.

The festival will also be streamed online on White House's Facebook account, website and SXSW.com live.

Leonardo Di Caprio has been vocal of his climate change advocacy long before his movie "Revenant" which is why he chose to talk about it in his acceptance speech for "Best Actor" in the Oscars saying "Climate change is real, it is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating,"

In the last couple of years, the actor has been steadily donating financially to his foundation Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to help United Nations protect Earth and spread awareness to the public of the dangers climate change can bring to us. The actor has more or less donated $30 million.

The actor has also been active in different events such as the Davos economic forum, having a private talk with Ban Ki-Moon, the secretary general of the United Nations, 2016 Our Ocean Conference in Washington, D.C., and much more. Climate change must be addressed now and the actor is doing his best to get as much help as possible.
Microsoft has really gone above and beyond with its line of Surface products. Not only has the company released well-received items into the market, but it has also made things very easy for its customers to get their hands on the same. Now, the Redmond-based company is making the whole experience even easier with Surface Services.

The Surface Enterprise Initiative

As the official Windows Blog notes, Microsoft launched the Surface Enterprise Initiative a year ago. The project was meant to aid business all over the world get the most of the Surface devices. More specifically, the program was meant to provide specific services and support to various industry needs.

The initiative was launched with Dell, which provided Surface customers more procurement capabilities along with Dell's own services and support power. IBM and Booz Allen Hamilton were included in July.

In total, the project increased Microsoft's purchasing and deployment partner footprint from a humble 200 to 10,000.

The Extension of Surface Services And Support

But even with the Surface Enterprise Initiative in place, the company knows there is still so much more. As such, they have expanded the same to include services and support capabilities for the Surface.

Particularly, Microsoft will focus on the following:

Configuration and Deployment Services - includes imaging, asset management, provisioning and integration services.

Enhanced Replacement and Exchange Services - includes next business day, advanced exchange and onsite replacement services.

Logistics and Warehousing Services - includes custom shipping, order consolidation and kitting services.

Next Generation Services and Support - meant to conceive and create solutions, which will enable changes in business, with the use of devices as a key component to that change

Benefits

As WinBeta notes, the appeal of Microsoft's plan is that it could help create an entire ecosystem focuses solely on the Surface line. What this will correspondingly offer clients is a simple environment where they can go to extract personalized support that they need.

Furthermore, providing this type of service only differentiates Microsoft as a company even further, especially since more and more tech companies are jumping onto the hybrid trend.


Rumor suggests that at the Oct. 4 event Google will unveil a new 4K Chromecast called "Ultra."

According to a post on Twitter by electronic device leaker Evan Blass, Google is preparing to launch a new media streaming stick. Based on insider information provided by a person familiar with the company's plans, Blass claims that Google's new streaming device will be called the Chromecast Ultra.

According to PCMag, Blass's leaked photo shows a round, jet-black device that features a short HDMI cable and looks pretty similar to the Chromecast devices that are currently already on the market. According to Android Police, an earlier rumor this month suggested that Google's 4K Chromecast will retail for $69. For this price, the Chromecast Ultra would bring more powerful hardware able of streaming content with 4K resolution from a variety a devices to an HDMI-equipped display.

If the rumor about the price of the upcoming streaming stick is true, that's nearly double the price of the current Chromecast. However, this would still be cheaper than the price many competitors charge, including Roku's new 4K-capable Premier that comes with a price tag of $79.

Google's Chromecast Ultra's difference is that the device will likely not stream on its own. This is currently the situation with Google's media streaming devices already on the market. With current models, users need to connect via Wi-Fi a Google Cast-enabled computer, tablet or smartphone.

There is also a possibility that Google may eventually abandon the Chromecast name, according to Blass. For instance, the new version of the Chromecast firmware currently available to beta testers uses Google's stylized "G" logo rather than the Chromecast logo.

According to Venture Beat, the Ultra will be able to run firmware version 1.21 at retail and it will allegedly be sold alongside the existing high definition Chromecast dongle, released by Google last year. The 1.21 firmware has been already released in beta form to Chromecast Preview program members.
Fans have been hearing about the Surface Phone almost for the entirety of 2016. However, Microsoft is still not releasing an official statement on the matter. Instead, the company has allowed its fans to figure things out by themselves. Whether this gives fans false hopes or a reason to be excited, it's hard to tell. What's certain as of now is that Microsoft has not verified the existence of the Surface Phone yet, but there might be clues lurking around that confirms its arrival. Here are some:

1. Lumia might be cancelled soon.

Rumors about the Lumia brand's cancellation started to circulate about a couple of months ago. It was said that Microsoft will be killing their older Windows Phone line to make room for a new mobile phone under the Surface brand. This is further supported by the discounts given to Lumia phones every now and then. Some of the discounts were even made permanent. Some people believe that this is because Microsoft is disposing all of its Lumia phones in light of the cancellation and to prepare for the arrival or the Surface Phone.

2. A patent has been spotted, and it could be for the Surface Phone.

Recent news from IBTimes reveal that Microsoft has applied for a fingerprint scanning patent called 'fingerprint detection with transparent cover'. This news further supported the idea that Microsoft is about to release a new phone. Whether the device is already finished or still in progress, no one has spilled the info yet. However, it's almost sure that it's coming, simply because the said fingerprint scanning technology doesn't seem too appropriate for the Surface Pro, Surface Book or any non-mobile phone device. With that information at hand, it won't be impossible that a new smartphone will be released from Microsoft soon.

3. Subtle hints are coming out from Microsoft officials.

Microsoft has not confirmed the device yet, but clues are coming in once in a while indicating that maybe, the Surface Phone does exist. A few weeks ago, Microsoft Engineering's Laura Butler said that the Surface Phone is "not NOT confirmed". This ordinary typo error or a subtle clue clearly did not help killing the widespread rumor about the device. Also, another leak came from their Australia branch and it showed a teaser literally showing a shadow of a supposed smartphone with the caption implying that there is a new member of the Surface family.

4. It's impossible for Microsoft to give up on their mobile phone division.

Microsoft's Windows phones may not be as popular as other flagship iOS and Android phones, but their devices usually cater to a different market. With Microsoft being one of the most trusted tech companies, it's impossible that they would give up on producing high-quality smartphones with top-notch specs. A 're-branding' is more likely to happen rather than a total elimination of a flagship phone.

5. Microsoft Surface is doing well.

Last year's Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book were both a big success. In fact, the releases were almost perfect. After years of Surface Pro development, it looks like last year's releases had the least flaws. This is proven by Microsoft's revenue growth in its Surface division. According to Windows Central, the revenue figures was up to $965 million for the said quarter. With a success like this, it is not impossible that Microsoft would launch a new phone under this division.
This number has increased by over 35% compared to 2016 and is more than double the number of students in 2015, when Vietnam first joined the program. In 2017, Vietnam ranks 7th among 38 eligible host countries/locations in the Indo-Pacific region in terms of number of students enrolled.

"The outcomes show Australian students increasing interest in Vietnam and this is a wonderful compliment to the strong and long-lasting education ties between our two countries. I strongly believe that the new insights and understanding about Vietnam as well as new friendships that Australian students have established here in Vietnam will benefit the bilateral relations between our two countries for a long time, said Mr Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam.



Students from Adelaide University visiting a community-led tourism project in Mai Chau.

Twelve Australian design students from Swinburne University are studying Hanois unique architecture. (Photos: Binh Chau)



Lauren Tropeano, a student from the University of Adelaide, was on a four weeks study tour in Vietnam in July 2016 said Vietnam was my first experience of South East Asia. It was a humid, beautiful, rewarding, friendship-building, career-confirming, and often challenging, whirlwind fours weeks. Visiting and connecting with local and international NGOs provided a really unique perspective to complement the more theoretical aspects of my degree. It was also truly rewarding to interact with local people beyond the 'tourist' level. I hope it was my first trip to Vietnam of many more to come.

According to a source from the Australian Embassy Hanoi on September 26th, next year, students from 22 Australian universities will study and undertake internships at over 30 institutions in Vietnam in a broad range of areas including business management, education, health, engineering, hospitality, urban design and regional planning.

The NCP is a signature initiative of the Australian Government to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduate students to carry out part of their study and undertake internships in the region.

By 2017, the total number of Australian undergraduate students who live, study and take up internships in countries in the Indo-Pacific region under the NCP mobility program will exceed 17,000./.
Windows 10 is getting even better, as Microsoft has just proven at a conference held in Atlanta. The inclusion of the Windows Defender Application Guard, which will be ready for the public by next year, will enhance the security features of all devices. Meanwhile, the company is also spending this time to figure out exactly how artificial intelligence can best be applied on a wider scale.

The Windows Defender Application Guard

As reported by Tech Republic, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's corporate vice president of the Windows and devices group, was the one who conducted the demo. Reportedly, the Defender Guard will add container-based isolation to the Edge browser. With this addition, Windows 10 can protect firms against attacks that would not have been picked up by Windows 7.

Mehdi admitted that the browser is still one of the most insecure aspects of a notebook. "There have been a lot of software-based-sandboxes to help protect the browser," she said. "But they still provide a pathway for malware and vulnerability exploits."

Theoretically, the harder shelled container that will arrive with the Windows 10 update, will offer better protection.

The Application Of Artificial Intelligence

In the same conference and as noted by Tech Crunch, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed how artificial intelligence could transform the company as a whole.

"AI is at the intersection of our ambitions," he said.

Of course, Microsoft is already applying AI to various applications, the most popular of which is Cortana, the company's version of a digital assistant. But the Nadella is aware there is so much more to learn. He envisions a digital assistant that "can take text input, can take speech input, that knows [you] deeply."

However, in order for this to be a reality, Nadella acknowledges the fact that Cortana will need to be available in various other platforms - including those not controlled by Microsoft.

"'What societal problem - what industry - will you reshape?' That's really what we dream about," he said. "We want to democratize AI just like we brought information to your fingertips."
Next year's flagship phones seem to be more exciting than what the market has today. Now that most flagship phones for 2016 have already been released, heads are now turning towards what's next. One of these upcoming phones is the Samsung Galaxy S8. Samsung is known for its very competitive flagship phone specs, and it looks like the Galaxy S8 won't be a disappointment in this regard.

Latest News About Samsung Galaxy S8, Graphics

Latest Samsung Galaxy S8 news suggest that Samsung might be using the Mali G71 GPU. This could lead to a big improvement over the S7's performance. It also means that the Samsung Galaxy S8 could be the most premium smartphone for gaming and VR next year. It is unusual for smartphones to have its graphic processor as its key selling feature, but Samsung might change that with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Latest News About Samsung Galaxy S8, Processor And Cameras

According to a source, the Galaxy S8 will come with the highly anticipated Snapdragon 830 processor and get a very big boost in the camera department. It was said that the S8 will have a 9 MP front camera and a very surprising 30 MP rear camera. Samsung never takes their phones' cameras for granted, and this sure is proven by the possibility of a 30 MP rear camera for the Galaxy S8.

Latest News About Samsung Galaxy S8, More Specs

Furthermore, according to the same source, the Samsung Galaxy S8 2017 will have 6 GB RAM, 2160 x 4096 resolution, 4200 mAh battery, and a built-in projector. Overall, the Galaxy S8 would probably be the best smartphone for next year, granted that other brands don't cope up with the said specs and if the Note 7 controversy won't happen to the Samsung Galaxy S8.
A ride on Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster could get rid of kidney stones. This is based on a recent study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Patients with kidney stones may have to go to Florida.

The Rollercoaster Ride Experiment

According to the Live Science, the researchers had to create a 3D kidney model. It was concealed in a backpack. It had to be taken with the researchers during the ride. The said model contained three real kidney stones and some urine. The stones were 4.5, 13.5 and 64.6 cubic millimeters in size.

Apparently, they rode the roller coaster 20 times. They put the stones in different parts of the model. Each stone had to be placed in each location of the kidney for at least one ride.

Their study revealed that the seat assignment on the roller coaster was important. The kidney stones passed nearly 64 percent of the time. This is when the researchers were seated in the rear car. The size or location of the kidney stones doesn't affect it. The stones passed about 17 percent of the time in the front seat.

Co-author Dr. David Wartinger said that the findings support an anecdotal evidence. A ride on a moderate-intensity roller coaster could actually benefit some patients. It's possible in cases of small kidney stones.

He also mentions that riding it could prevent stones from getting larger. He advised that this should be done after receiving the lithotripsy treatment.

Inspired By A Real-life Cases

Wartinger admitted that the experiment was inspired by real-life cases. He had been told by patients about their ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster, which caused them to pass their kidney stones. He had also seen reports of such incidents.

Wartinger and his colleague Dr. Marc Mitchell, then decided to go to Florida. According to NBC News, they left East Lansing in the name of medical research.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce remains to be a big shocker to everyone. And it only keeps getting controversial as days pass by. This time, actor Johnny Depp is being dragged in the issue.

Rumors circulating online claims that Depp and the newly separated Jolie are spending too much time together, talking about the actress' heartbreak from the split. It was said that Jolie also supported Depp during his break-up with estranged wife Amber Heard. Jolie also hired Depp's divorce lawyer, Laura Wasser as recommended by the actor.

The Sun reported that the two became close ever since they worked together on "The Tourist" and that Jolie "idolised" Depp for years, saying: "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."

The same source also revealed that the two developed a bond, with the tabloid even claiming that Depp tried to seduce Jolie but didn't push through since their former partners regularly visit the set while they're filming.

"There were rumours then that she was tempted by him, because it was around then she told a magazine fidelity wasn't absolutely essential."

Meanwhile, Depp's divorce with Heard was finalized recently, sparking speculations that he and Vanessa Paradis could possibly get back together. Many fans anticipate if they're going to rekindle their relationship anytime soon. However, with Depp being linked to Jolie, things might turn out differently.

On the other hand, Gossip Cop slammed the Jolie-Depp rumors and claimed that the said reports are merely fabricated. As of this writing, there has been no confirmation about the said rumors from both parties. Thus, it's best to wait for their official statement before jumping into conclusions.
Google has one of the most anticipated events happening on Oct. 4. Following its massive campaigns teasing prospect products to launch on said date, tech geeks can expect an exciting announcement with a list of devices already in the pipeline.

Here's what you can from Google's Oct. 4 press event:

Daydream: High Quality, Smart VR Experience

First announced at 2016 Google I/O event, Daydream VR gained popularity after speculations that it will replace Google Cardboard. The search giant pointed out, however, that Daydream VR is intended for higher quality mobile virtual reality experience.

The device boasts comfortable headsets and a smarter controller. Daydream VR is coming in fall 2016.

Pixel, Pixel XL Phones: Replacement Of Nexus Lines?

With only a meager amount of details available, Google has continued to tease the tech community by not confirming rumors in relation to Pixel and Pixel XL phones.

Earlier last week, supposed ads of the phones have been around the streets of New York City, catching attention of passersby. Google's massive spending on this campaign was seen to defy Samsung and Apple's marketing ploy.

There had been reports that this unlikely move of Google might be the company's first steps to venture in hardware products.

In another news, Google is reportedly ditching the Nexus line in favor of Pixel. There is no confirmation yet from the company.

The latest Pixel and Pixel XL renders leaked shows the phone having thin bezels and less components around the build. Both will sport a 4-gigabyte RAM and 12-megapixel rear camera.

What looks to be the distinguishing feature between these smartphones are the screen and battery sizes.

Pixel 3 Laptop: The Future Of Chromebooks

With the success of Chromebook, Google is also expected to release a new breed of laptop that would surpass Chromebook's performance. The device is reportedly scheduled to hit the market late 2017.

According to rumors, it will run on Andromeda, a powerhouse combination of Chrome and Android operating system (OS).

Andromeda: A Powerhouse Chrome, Android OS Combo

As mentioned, Andromeda will be Google's next OS in the works. Per reports, the developer will bring together Chrome and Android.

Google Senior VP Hiroshi Lockheimer already hinted on Twitter before that his company is coming up with something huge in the OS department.

Huawei Tablet: First Tablet To Run On Andromeda

Another device to run Andromeda is a Huawei-made tablet. According to tipster Blass, the tablet will have a 7-inch screen display.

If true after all, the tablet will be the first to run Andromeda. There are no more details about this tip, however.

Chromecast Ultra: The 4K-Capable Digital Media Player

Chromecast Ultra is reported to be a 4k-capable digital media player. The information was revealed last Tuesday, Sept. 27 on Twitter by a tipster named Evan Blass.

Google's digital media player is reported to cost $69, which is much more expensive than the original Chromecast. The price explains the power the device has as it is capable to stream content with 4k resolution.

Google Home: The Smart Companion

In response to Amazon Echo, Google is manufacturing the Home device. Google Home was first announced at the 2016 Google I/O event.

As presented, the device will have basic home functions to include playing music and telling weather forecast.

Google Home will have a microphone and a Bluetooth speaker.

Google is also expected to release a new Wi-Fi router. According to reports, it will be a Wi-Fi mesh device like Luma.
Google's newest phone, the Pixel, made its first appearance online when an image was tweeted by Venture Beat's Evan Blass. The Pixel is set to be announced on Google's Oct. 4 event along with other new products.

Blass first tweeted an image of the Pixel, with a link to Venture Beat's report on the device. The post was later updated to include an image of the Pixel XL. Google Pixel will have a 5-inch display with 1080p resolution, while the Pixel XL will have a 5.5-inch screen with a QHD display. Both devices will have quad-core 2.0GHz processors, 4GB of RAM and a 12 megapixel rear camera.

Perhaps the most noticeable change to the new Google device are the on-screen keys. The new set of keys are not too far from that of the Android 5.0 Lollipop, which features an outlined triangle, circle and square. The Pixel version, which will carry the Android 7.1 Nougat, made these shapes solid, with the circle key - which is the Home key - sporting a prominent border.

Blass's tweet received mixed reactions from his Twitter followers. While others compared it to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s, some were not impressed though with the use of round icons.

"That must be a mockup or something, because my nexus 6p looks way better with stock icons," said @rekaarts.

"It's so rounded, it looks like it's from 2012," added @CamCovington.

"I hate this rounded icon," @McBob stated more plainly.

It's not clear whether this design will be exclusive to the Pixel or be seen across all Android 7.1 devices.

Most tech reports are confident that the Pixel will be manufactured by HTC, following a leak from someone with insider knowledge of HTC's involvement.

These devices will be available on Verizon in the US. An unlocked version can be bought from Google for $649, according to Android Police.
Facebook is getting orders from German authority to stop WhatsApp from collecting information from its users. WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014, has been sending notifications to 35 million Germans telling them to connect their account with Facebook.

As a response, Germany's commission on data protection has banned Facebook from further asking for user data. It further instructed Facebook to delete data that has been transferred from WhatsApp. Commissioner Johannes Caspar stressed that Facebook has to request permission in advance, which has not happened.

"This administrative order protects the data of about 35 million WhatsApp users in Germany. It has to be their decision, whether they want to connect their account with Facebook," Caspar said.

This development comes just a month after WhatsApp announced that it will start sharing data with Facebook. This was a big shift from WhatsApp's earlier privacy stance, which stated that "respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA".

WhatsApp, which is a chat service that requires only your mobile phone number to sign up, gained popularity for its privacy and ad-free features. However, the privacy switch after the Facebook acquisition has drawn speculations that user data, including phone numbers, will be used without the user's permission or knowledge.

Other privacy regulators in Europe have also expressed concerns about the recent data-sharing policy, and promises to monitor WhatsApp with vigilance. In a G29 summit, the head of the summit and the CNIL, which is the French data protection commission, said that "each European authority will be following the changes made to WhatApp's privacy policy with great vigilance."

Facebook has recently responded with an email statement saying: ""Facebook complies with EU data protection law. We will appeal this order and we will work with the Hamburg DPA in an effort to address their questions and resolve any concerns."
ISRAEL / JORDAN. The "Peace Canal" will link the Dead Sea with the Red Sea. For the moment at least, it is mainly just filling newspaper columns.



A technical cooperation agreement between Jordan, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed in May, 2016, opened the way for three studies to be carried out on the economic and financial implications and the environmental and social impact of the project. "The scheme is important to ensure a water supply for Jordan and the rest of the region, while at the same time preventing damage to the Dead Sea's environment," underlines EIB vice-president Dario Scannapieco.



It all started with an excellent idea: make use of the 417 metres' difference in elevation between the seas to bring water to the Dead Sea, whose name has never seemed so apposite. The latter's level is falling by around eight centimetres each month. It is clearly in need of a few glasses of Red to put it back on its feet.



It all ended with a slew of questions.



First of all, environmental: Alexandre Taithe, research officer at the Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique (FRS), sees it as merely "one more transfer scheme when in fact we should be working on water management"; the ONG Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) has raised the alarm over the influx from the Red Sea increasing the chances of degradation of the Dead Sea's waters.



But also social and economic, including the prohibitive cost of drinking water for the Jordanian and Palestinian populations. The biggest beneficiaries from the canal will be the private companies that obtain the contracts.



And lastly political, since the project will not resolve the issue of the Palestinians' right to water.
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With two upcoming seasons secured, "Outlander" has proven itself to be a strong force on television. While the show is currently in production for "Outlander" Season 3, actor Sam Heughan remedied the "Droughtlander" with some details about the series.

In an interview with Elle, Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser, confirmed that filming is in full swing in Scotland, and that they've just finished the first two episodes of Season 3.

"Outlander" Season 3 is based on "Voyager", the third book in Diana Gabaldon's fantasy series. Heughan teased that there's a lot to look forward to in "Outlander" Season 3, which he described as "very strong, very exciting."

"If the second season was very political - a lot of intrigue, and even Diana Gabaldon said it's a hard book to adapt - I think the third book is the one everyone's excited about," Heughan shared.

In the second season finale, Caitriona Balfe's Claire Randall bid farewell to Jamie as she once again travelled through the stones in order to save their baby. In "Outlander" Season 3, Claire and Jamie will reunite after several years, and their reunion will come with some tensions following years of separation.

"So much time passes by-20 years-the characters are apart and together again, so there's some big emotional stuff," Heughan added.

Aside from his love story with Claire, Jamie's storyline will get even more interesting in "Outlander" Season 3. In a previous interview, actress Nell Hudson revealed that her character, Laoghaire, might pose a threat to Claire and Jamie's relationship. In Season 2, bits of Jamie's feelings for Laoghaire were shown, and there's a huge chance that their romance might be explored even further in the upcoming season.

"There's a sort of purity to Laoghaire's love for Jamie. Despite all her [scheming], she's not a bad person, really. Had a parallel universe happened, maybe there'd be a happy ending for Laoghaire and Jamie," Nell told TVLine.

Moreover, "Outlander" will take viewers to new destinations, as the show is heading to South Africa for filming. Due to the filming changes, there's a chance "Outlander" Season 3 might take longer to finish, and the premiere might be a bit late.
NEW YORK -- Donald Trump just got roughed up, and badly. On Monday night, at the first presidential debate, Hillary Clinton made her opponent look ignorant, unprepared, egotistical, childish, petulant, impatient and at times totally incoherent.

How bad did it get? At one point, as Trump was groping blindly across the minefields of foreign policy, losing a foot here and a leg there, he announced, apropos of nothing, that "I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament." Clinton smiled sweetly and exclaimed, "Whew, OK!" The audience at Hofstra University, sternly instructed to remain silent throughout the debate, ignored the rules and burst into laughter.

They were laughing at you, Donald, not with you.

Clinton then patiently explained the importance of honoring international agreements, such as the NATO treaty, to a man who seemed not to grasp the concept of the nation's word being its bond. One hopes her reassurances were enough to coax allies in Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul and other capitals down from the ceiling.

The 90-minute encounter, moderated by NBC's Lester Holt, was less a debate than a beat-down. Clinton obviously had put in many hours of preparation. Trump apparently decided to wing it -- and while this approach worked well during the Republican primaries, when nobody got much time to speak and pithy one-liners could win the day, it bombed in a one-on-one clash where there was no place to hide.

Trump's biggest vulnerability is that he so rarely knows what he's talking about. Minutes before his hilarious temperament declaration, he had been boasting that his criticism of NATO a few months ago caused the alliance to begin focusing on terrorism. "I think we have to get NATO to go into the Middle East with us, in addition to surrounding nations," he said.

Clinton coolly reminded him -- "informed him" would probably be more accurate -- of some pertinent facts. "You know, NATO as a military alliance has something called Article 5, and basically it says this: An attack on one is an attack on all," she said. "And you know the only time it's ever been invoked? After 9/11, when the 28 nations of NATO said that they would go to Afghanistan with us to fight terrorism, something that they still are doing by our side."

That's pretty much the way the evening went, especially toward the end. Trump visibly ran out of gas, poor thing. His answers became increasingly scattered and elliptical. Pressed to defend his contention (long since disproved) that he was against the Iraq War, he complained repeatedly that "everybody refuses to call Sean Hannity." Even Hannity, the Fox News host, must have been perplexed.

This was after he charged that Clinton "doesn't have the stamina" to be president. But she looked fresh as a daisy throughout, while Trump wilted before our eyes.

One of Trump's worst moments, at least to my eyes and ears, came when Clinton alleged that he paid no federal income taxes at all in at least some recent years. Trump offered no protest, instead interjecting, "That makes me smart." Seriously? No one wants to pay more in taxes than required, but the idea of a self-proclaimed billionaire getting a free pass will be hard for many voters to swallow.

Throughout the debate, the split-screen showed Trump mugging, fidgeting, shrugging, grimacing, offering an array of exaggerated smiles and frowns. He interrupted Clinton frequently, but she didn't complain. She may have calculated that it benefited her cause for Trump to have the floor.

Clinton also may have tried to bait Trump by suggesting he only succeeded in business because of his father's help -- and might not be as wealthy as he claims. If so, the tactic worked. Trump was unable to let anything pass. For reasons I can't begin to understand, he even renewed his long-running feud with comedian Rosie O'Donnell.

I am under no illusion that Trump's abysmal performance will cause his most dedicated supporters to have second thoughts. They heard his central argument, which is that "politicians like Secretary Clinton" have failed -- and it's time to try something new.

But while the race has tightened to the point where Trump could actually win, Monday night vividly demonstrated why he should not -- why he must not. Whether you like Clinton or not, it's obvious that she can do the job. The debate had to make undecided voters question whether Trump even has a clue.
Four men were wounded Monday in a drive-by shooting in the 100 block of 5 Royales Drive, authorities said.

The incident in the Boston-Thurmond community happened shortly before 3:25 p.m. Winston-Salem police dispatchers received a 911 call that someone had been shot at a house there, police Lt. Mike Cardwell said. When officers arrived on the scene, they found four men with gunshot wounds inside the house.

According to a news release from police, those injured include: Myrick Malone Dodd, 18, Richaad Deon Dodd, 23, and Earnest Dean Dodd, 46, all of whom live at the home, and Keith Reynard Bristow Jr., 25, of the 4200 block of Orchid Drive.

The men were talking and responsive to the officers, Cardwell said. They were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

They appear to be our only witnesses to the event, Cardwell said.

No arrests have been made.

Officers were trying to interview them at the hospital, he said. Other officers talked with neighbors about the shooting.

Police said the men were at the residence when a dark-colored SUV drove past. A passenger in the SUV discharged a handgun multiple times at the residence and the vehicle left the area headed in an unknown direction.

Wayne Fox, a neighbor, said he heard the gunfire, but doesnt know the victims.

Fox said hes not overly concerned about the violent incident in his neighborhood.

Its everywhere, Fox said about gun violence. You worry about it, but what can you do?

Its in Gods hands, he said. It isnt that bad around here.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call police at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800.
Board Chairman of Naftogaz Ukrainy Andriy Kobolev last week discussed the gas market and group corporate management reforms with representatives of the council of heads of public joint-stock company Ukrtransgaz's trade unions.

Naftogaz said that the parties exchanged opinions on the ways of developing the Ukrainian gas transport complex and decided to intensify the dialog between Naftogaz and the employees of Ukrtransgaz to prevent conflicts caused by a lack of information.

In his address Kobolev said that the gas market reform is intended to retain the country's gas independence and Ukraine's status as the transit state.

He also explained the necessity of attracting European companies to the management of the Ukrainian gas transport system.

"Remember the recent deals on exchange of assets in the gas storage, production and transportation sphere between Gazprom and European gas companies. Remember what companies are among partners of Gazprom in Nord Stream 2 project. It is not enough to appeal to the implementation of European legislation, principles of solidarity and energy union to prevent this. Ukraine must be active and offer own solutions. In this situation the best protection of your workplaces is the attraction of a European partner," he said.

Kobolev also said that one of Naftogaz's demands in the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce is the transfer of right under the transit contract from Naftogaz Ukrainy to the operator of the Ukrainian gas transport system.
London, England (FSCwire) - Gabriel Resources Ltd. (Gabriel or the Company) announces an update in relation to its ongoing bi-lateral investment treaty arbitration against Romania proceeding under the auspices of the World Banks International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (the Arbitration) and the previously announced disputed value added tax (VAT) assessment (the Assessment) levied against its majority-owned subsidiary, Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A. (RMGC), by the Romanian National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF).

The first session of the tribunal constituted to conduct the Arbitration (the Tribunal) was held by teleconference on August 12, 2016 and on August 26, the Tribunal issued Procedural Order No.1 establishing certain procedural matters. The Tribunal is still to issue a procedural calendar with specific dates for the filing of submissions by the parties and other necessary procedural matters.

On September 23, 2016, the Tribunal held a hearing in Washington, D.C., to consider requests for certain provisional measures submitted to the Tribunal by the Company and its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Gabriel Resources (Jersey) Ltd. (together Claimants) relating to, inter alia, aspects of the Assessment and other actions being undertaken by ANAF (PM Hearing). The Tribunal has not indicated a timeframe to issue its decision in regard to the matters addressed during the PM Hearing.

As announced on July 14, 2016, the Assessment relates to a demand by ANAF for repayment of VAT deductions claimed by RMGC in the period 2011 to 2016 in the amount of RON 27m ($8.6m). In mid-September, ANAF issued a further demand against RMGC in respect of interest and penalties payable on the Assessment in the amount of RON 15.9 million ($5.1m). RMGC challenged the Assessment on the basis that it was contrary to well established Romanian fiscal laws as well as European directives, and was issued despite its basis being contradictory to the results of eighteen prior VAT audits conducted by various divisions of ANAF in relation to RMGCs activities.

Immediately prior to the PM Hearing the Claimants were notified, through a filing made on behalf of Romania to the Tribunal, that the General Directorate for the Settlement of Challenges, a division of ANAF, had decided to partially quash the Assessment and to rerun the fiscal inspection for the same period but using a new inspection team. The Company is advised that the Assessment and the associated interest and penalties will no longer be due for payment by RMGC and debt recovery actions against RMGC accordingly must be withdrawn.

In parallel to the Assessment, a directorate of ANAF continues to pursue an investigation of a broad range of operational activities and transactions of RMGC over an extensive period spanning 1997 to 2015 (the ANAF Investigation). The Company believes that the ANAF Investigation is unjustified and has been initiated in an attempt to disparage the reputation of RMGC and the Company, in view of the Companys dispute with the Romanian State and the Claimants filing for the Arbitration. Accordingly, the Company has brought this matter to the attention of the Tribunal as Gabriel continues to consider that such actions further evidence the discriminatory acts and bad faith conduct of the Romanian authorities with regard to the Companys investment in Romania.

Jonathan Henry, Gabriels President and Chief Executive Officer, stated:

We welcome the recent ruling by Romanias fiscal authorities against the demand for repayment of prior VAT rebates, although we are cautious as to the ultimate result given the direction to re-run the VAT inspection. The various investigations have been time consuming, expensive, and in our view abusive in nature for the Company. The Company is committed to preserving the Claimants rights as well as those of RMGC throughout the Arbitration process. Unfortunately, Romania continues to take action seeking to ensure that the Project does not go ahead, such as its successful application for Rosia Montana to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The Company has always stated it remains ready to explore an amicable resolution of the dispute that includes development of the Project. Unfortunately, Romanias actions demonstrate that it has no interest in engaging with a foreign investor who has consistently stated a desire for an amicable resolution to the issues at dispute and to improve the economic and reputational outlook for the country.

For information on this press release, please contact:

Jonathan HenryPresident & Chief Executive OfficerMobile: +44 7798 801783 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Max VaughanChief Financial OfficerMobile: +44 7823 885503 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Richard BrownChief Commercial OfficerMobile: +44 7748 760276 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Gabriel

Gabriel is a Toronto Stock Exchange listed Canadian resource company. The Companys principal focus has been the exploration and development of the Rosia Montana gold and silver project in Romania. The Project, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Europe, is situated in the South Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania, an historic and prolific mining district that since pre-Roman times has been mined intermittently for over 2,000 years. The exploitation license for the Project is held by Rosia Montana Gold Corporation S.A., a Romanian company in which Gabriel owns an 80.69% equity interest, with the 19.31% balance held by Minvest Rosia Montana S.A., a Romanian state-owned mining company. It is anticipated that the Project would bring over US$24 billion (at US$1,200/oz gold) to Romania as potential direct and indirect contribution to GDP and generate thousands of employment opportunities.

Since the grant of the License in June 1999, the Company has focused substantially all of its management and financial resources on the exploration, feasibility and subsequent development of the Project. Despite the Companys fulfilment of its legal obligations and its development of the Project as a high-quality, sustainable and environmentally-responsible mining project, using best available techniques, Romania has blocked and prevented implementation of the Project without due process and without compensation.

For more information please visit the Companys website at www.gabrielresources.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information (also referred to as forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Companys operating environment. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements.

In this press release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Companys actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the uncertainties associated with the ICSID Arbitration, actions by the Romanian Government, conditions or events impacting the Companys ability to fund its operations or service its debt, exploration, development and operation of mining properties and the overall impact of misjudgments made in good faith in the course of preparing forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors including those set out below, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause the Companys results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as expects, is expected, anticipates, believes, plans, projects, estimates, assumes, intends, strategy, goals, objectives, potential, possible or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results may, could, would, should, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

the duration, required disclosure, costs, process and outcome of the ICSID Arbitration against Romania;

changes in the liquidity and capital resources of Gabriel, and the group of companies of which it is parent (Gabriel Group);

access to funding to support the Gabriel Groups continued ICSID Arbitration and/or operating activities in the future;

equity dilution resulting from the conversion or exercise of existing securities in part or in whole to Common Shares;

the ability of the Company to maintain a continued listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange or any regulated public market for trading securities;

the impact on business strategy and its implementation in Romania of: unforeseen historic acts of corruption, uncertain legal enforcement both for and against the Gabriel Group and political and social instability;

regulatory, political and economic risks associated with operating in a foreign jurisdiction including changes in laws, governments and legal regimes;

volatility of currency exchange rates, metal prices and metal production;

the availability and continued participation in operational or other matters pertaining to the Gabriel Group of certain key employees and consultants; and

risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in the Companys affairs since the date of this report that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with or furnished to the relevant securities regulators or documents presented on the Companys website. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to the Companys disclosure obligations under applicable Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulatory agencies including Gabriels Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, which can be viewed online at www.sedar.com
TORONTO, Ontario, Sept. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX:AVL) and (OTCQX:AVLNF) (Avalon or the Company) is pleased to announce the completion of a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its 100% owned Separation Rapids Lithium Project (the Project), Kenora, Ontario. The PEA was prepared under the oversight of Micon International Limited (Micon).

The Separation Rapids Lithium Deposit (the Deposit) was originally evaluated by Avalon in 1997-2000 as a potential producer of lithium minerals for glass-ceramics under a pre-feasibility study (which was also prepared by Micon). The purpose of this 2016 PEA was to investigate the potential for recovery of a lithium product suitable for the battery market from the same lithium resource, and the results confirm a technically viable process and positive economics for the recovery of a battery-grade lithium hydroxide product.

Highlights

An average mining rate (open pit) of 950,000 tonnes per year would yield an average annual production of 14,600 tonnes of lithium hydroxide for 10 years and 100,000 tonnes per year of feldspar mineral concentrate for 20 years, as it would continue to be recovered from previously processed material for an additional 10 years after the initial 10 year mine life.

The discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis yields a 19% internal rate of return (IRR) on a pre-tax basis and a 16% IRR on an after-tax basis, assuming 100% equity financing. The Projects net present value (NPV) at an 8% discount rate is CAD$343 million pre-tax and CAD$228 million after-tax.

Total Project construction capital costs are estimated at $514 million, which is inclusive of $86 million in contingencies and $7 million in sustaining capital.

The average lithium hydroxide price assumption used for this PEA was US$11,000/tonne and the CAD:USD exchange rate assumption was US$1.00 = CDN$1.30.

Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, as currently delineated, total 8.0 million tonnes averaging 1.29% lithium oxide and 38% feldspar. Inferred Mineral Resources contribute an additional 1.63 million tonnes at 1.42% lithium oxide to a maximum vertical depth of 260 metres. The deposit is open to depth and along strike.

At the production rate modelled for this PEA, the currently delineated lithium resource would support lithium production for at least 10 years. There is sufficient high quality feldspar (an industrial mineral) in the resource to support production for at least 20 years. If additional drilling on untested extensions of the Deposit were to increase the resource and extend the initial 10 year lithium production period, each additional year of additional lithium production could add $200 million in revenues per year and significantly increase the NPV of the Project.

Don Bubar, President and CEO, stated, I am delighted with the results of this PEA indicating that production of a high purity lithium battery chemical from Separation Rapids is indeed economically viable in this model. Extraction of lithium chemicals such as lithium hydroxide from lithium pegmatites like Separation Rapids is an emerging business requiring innovative new process technology. Under the leadership of SVP Metallurgy and Technology Development, Dave Marsh, over the past 12 months we have successfully developed a new process flowsheet to extract a lithium hydroxide product from the rare high purity lithium mineral petalite, something that had not been done before. We look forward to working with our partners in government, the battery materials sector and the local community to advance this Project to the demonstration plant stage.

The PEA development model covers all aspects of project development, including mining, mineral concentration, and hydrometallurgical processing as well as all related infrastructure. Micon developed its capital and operating cost estimates from first principle capital quotations, estimates from suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and experience based on comparable operations in Canada and abroad. The capital and operating cost estimates were completed to a level consistent with an AACEI Class 4 estimate, with an intended level of accuracy of 30%, based on Q3 2016 prices, excluding escalation. Currency is Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Optimization Opportunities and Next Steps

With the completion of a positive PEA on lithium hydroxide production, next steps are oriented primarily toward gathering all the technical information needed to support the completion of a feasibility study in 2017 and secure customer acceptance of the products, followed by operation of a demonstration scale production facility. Commercial operations could begin by 2020. The key factors going forward influencing the timely execution of the Project are: securing sufficient product offtake commitments to support Project financing; the availability of sufficient equity and/or debt financing and receipt of all requisite operating permits and approvals.

Avalons first priority will be to carry out additional drilling with the objective of increasing the resources, while continuing to optimize metallurgical processes to confirm design parameters and product properties. While the economics contained in the PEA are positive, ongoing metallurgical process development work and market research have identified opportunities to improve the overall Project economics or reduce Project risk. These include:

Recovery of lithium from other lithium-bearing minerals in the resource;

Defining a low-cost, clean energy solution for the operations;

Improvements in lithium recovery rates in the flotation process and in the hydrometallurgical plant while maintaining high product quality;

Expansion of feldspar markets through product research and market development work;

The recovery of high purity silica and tantalum by-products; and

Integrating the production of petalite concentrate for glass-ceramics customers into the development model.

The development model presently contemplates connection to the hydro-electric grid near the Whitedog power generation station at a cost of $11 million, including construction of a 25 km power transmission line and substation. The Company has begun to investigate the potential to meet the power needs for the mine and concentrator (estimated at 5 MW) using local low-cost, run-of-river power generation supplemented by renewable energy delivered by an independent energy company. An initial reconnaissance study has identified a promising site close to the Deposit capable of meeting most of the operations energy requirements at a lower total cost.

Lithium and Feldspar Markets

Lithium Compounds for Batteries

The demand for lithium chemicals, such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, has been growing rapidly over recent years, driven predominantly by lithium ion rechargeable battery technology now in high demand for the electric vehicle marketplace and other energy storage applications. Current projections indicate continued growth in lithium demand from the battery sector for the foreseeable future. Because lithium is marketed in different forms, (including lithium minerals used in glass and ceramics) aggregate lithium demand and supply is usually expressed in terms of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Market studies completed by the Company in 2015 indicated that at least three different lithium chemicals are used in lithium ion batteries, depending on the specific cathode chemistry the technology employs: lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium metal. There are at least four battery cathode chemistries presently competing for market share: Lithium cobalt oxide, lithium-nickel-aluminum-cobalt oxide (NAC), lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide and lithium iron phosphate. The lithium ion battery now preferred by many electric vehicle manufacturers uses the NAC chemistry, for which lithium hydroxide is becoming the preferred lithium chemical feedstock. Demand for lithium hydroxide is projected by Stormcrow Capital Ltd (August, 2015) to grow at a faster rate than lithium carbonate demand and to more than double from 82,000 tonnes LCE in 2016 to 186,000 tonnes LCE in 2025.

Based on these market observations, Avalon selected lithium hydroxide as its target lithium product and conducted process testwork to create a flowsheet to produce it cost effectively from its lithium mineral (petalite) concentrate which contains few impurities requiring removal from the final product. Lithium hydroxide can also be produced directly from the mineral concentrate without first making an intermediate product such as lithium carbonate. New hydrometallurgical technologies offer an environmentally efficient and relatively low cost extractive alternative to make lithium hydroxide from the mineral concentrate and achieve the high purity requirements now demanded by battery makers.

It is clear that new lithium supply sources will be needed to meet the growing demand for batteries for electric vehicles. The Separation Rapids Lithium Project will be well-situated to serve new battery production facilities contemplated in North America. Just one well-known example, the lithium battery Gigafactory of Tesla Motors Inc. in Nevada, is expected to consume up to 25,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide after it has reached full production.

Prices for both lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate have increased significantly in recent years, with the growing demand from the battery sector exceeding supply growth. This is creating upward pressure on prices, a trend that analysts are predicting will likely continue until the market comes back into balance. Lithium hydroxide typically sells at a US$2-3/kg premium to lithium carbonate reflecting higher average production costs.

Avalon has reviewed all publicly available lithium price forecasts. While they all forecast increasing prices, there is considerable variability in absolute price levels predicted for battery grade lithium chemicals in the future. Lithium hydroxide prices negotiated in 2019-2020 (when Avalon may be entering the market) are forecast to range from current price levels of around US$11,000/tonne to as high as US$25,000/tonne (Global Lithium LLC) with the average being around US$16,000-$17,000/tonne (Benchmark and Global Lithium LLC).

For the purposes of this PEA, Avalon has used a price assumption of US$11,000 per tonne FOB plant for lithium hydroxide. This is consistent with a recent price forecast for the period 2019-2020 prepared by Roskill Information Services.

Feldspar

Feldspar is an industrial mineral used commonly in the manufacture of glass and ceramics, also used as a filler and extender in the production of paints, plastics and rubber. The glass market for feldspar in the United States represents the largest market at around 68%, while ceramics account for 23% and filler and other applications represent less than 10%. Market access depends upon product quality and freight costs to individual markets.

Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIAI) projects that between 2015 and 2022, feldspar demand in the United States will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.8% to reach approximately 800,000 tonnes per year.

Testwork carried out by Dorfner Anzaplan GmbH, Germany, a specialist in industrial minerals process development, indicates that feldspar from the Separation Rapids Deposit has a very low iron content and comparable quality to the feldspars marketed by other North American producers.

Through discussions with market participants and industry experts, and evaluation of data provided in purchased reports and publicly available information, Avalon estimates that 100,000 tonnes per year of feldspar can be sold into the glass, ceramics, frits/glazes and filler markets in the United States and potentially other markets in Europe and Mexico. However, Avalon has sufficient feed material to produce much greater quantities of feldspar should there be sufficient market demand.

Pricing for feldspar in the USA currently ranges from US$175/tonne to US$250/tonne FOB plant. Avalon has based the feldspar revenue calculations for this PEA on a conservative price assumption of US$170/tonne FOB Separation Rapids plant.

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources are essentially the same as used for the 1999 pre-feasibility study, adapted to current resource reporting guidelines under NI 43-101 and are summarized in the tables below. Measured and Indicated Resources are estimated to total 8.0 million tonnes at a grade of 1.29% Li 2 O using a 0.6% Li 2 O cut-off grade. In addition, the Deposit includes an estimated Inferred Resource of 1.63 million tonnes at 1.42% Li 2 O. Within the same rock volume, there is also an estimated Inferred Resource of 8.0 million tonnes averaging 38% feldspar at a 30% feldspar cut-off grade.

The Deposit is hosted within a large, highly-evolved pegmatite body of a rare petalite sub-type, similar to the Tanco pegmatite: a rare metals producer located 60 km to the west at Bernic Lake, Manitoba. The Separation Rapids pegmatite forms a vertically-dipping body varying in thickness up 70 metres and traceable for approximately 1.5 km along strike. Unlike the Tanco pegmatite, it is highly deformed and was essentially flattened and stretched into its present sub-vertical orientation. The Deposit exhibits typical mineralogical zoning characteristics seen in other highly evolved rare metal pegmatites like Tanco, such as well-developed wall zones and a petalite-rich intermediate zone. Exploration potential exists to discover additional mineralogical sub-zones typical for such pegmatites enriched in other rare metals, notably tantalum and cesium. The Deposit has been delineated by exploration drilling over 500 metres of strike length to a depth of 260 metres, and is open for expansion.

The primary lithium bearing minerals in the deposit are petalite and lepidolite and locally spodumene formed from petalite. The feldspars include both albite and potassium feldspar. The other major rock-forming minerals are quartz and muscovite. Accessory minerals include columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, apatite and topaz. Results from 69 historic diamond drill holes totalling 10,152 metres were used to create a 3-D model of the host pegmatite.



Separation Rapids, Mineral Resource Estimate at 0.6% Li 2 O Cut-off Grade

Class Tonnes

(Mt) Li 2 O

(%) Specific

Gravity Measured 4.03 1.32 2.66 Indicated 3.97 1.26 2.67 Measured plus Indicated 8.00 1.29 2.66 Inferred 1.63 1.42 2.64

Notes:

CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, 10 May, 2014 were followed for this mineral resource estimate. The Qualified Person for this mineral resource is Benjamin Webb, P.Geo. (B.C.). The resource estimate is constrained by a 3D geologic model of the mineralized material. Assay intervals were interpolated using the Inverse Distance Weighted method to create a 3D block model. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Summation of individual columns may not add-up due to rounding. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resource will be converted into Mineral Reserves. In addition, while the terms Measured, Indicated and Inferred mineral resources are required pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not recognize such terms. Canadian standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral resource information contained herein is not comparable to similar information regarding mineral reserves disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. U.S. investors should understand that inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In addition, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Barricks mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves.

Separation Rapids, Feldspar Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at 30% total Feldspar Cut-off grade

Classification Tonnes

(Mt) Feldspar

(%) Inferred 8.0 38

Notes:

CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, 10 May, 2014 were followed for this mineral resource estimate. The Qualified Person for this mineral resource is Benjamin Webb, P.Geo. (B.C.). Feldspar is the total of potassium feldspar and albite.

The model includes lithium resources with an average grade of below 1% Li 2 O. The lower grade lithium mineralization consists of a swarm of narrow lithium-bearing pegmatite dykes intruded into meta-volcanic rocks, where tests indicate the resource can be pre-concentrated using optical sorting technology.

The resource block model has had an open pit mine design applied to it using Whittle Pit optimization resulting in 9.34 million tonnes of mineralized material at an average grade of 1.22% Li 2 O within the pit. The pit has a strip ratio of 1:5.6, resulting in 52 million tonnes of waste rock for stockpiling for use as aggregate. For the purpose of this PEA, the mine depth was limited to 260 metres.

The mine design has not been optimized and the appropriate timing to transition the operation to underground mining has yet to be determined. Further drilling is expected to identify additional resources at depth which would create the opportunity to ultimately re-work the development model to include an underground mining operation to access the depth extensions of the Deposit and reduce the amount of rock generated for stockpiling.

Summary of the PEA Project Development Model

The PEA Project development model consists of facilities located at two separate sites: an open pit mine and concentrator located on the Companys mining lease approximately 75 km north of Kenora, Ontario and a hydrometallurgical plant located at an industrial site near the city of Kenora.

The current development model contemplates an open pit mine to a final depth of 260 metres providing 950,000 tonnes of mineralized plant feed per year for 10 years at an average diluted grade of 1.2% Li 2 O. The mineralized plant feed will be crushed and processed at a concentrator constructed at the mine site. At full production the concentrator will produce an average of 144,400 tonnes per year of petalite concentrate and 100,000 tonnes per year of feldspar concentrate. The petalite will be transported by truck to the proposed hydrometallurgical plant presently contemplated for Kenora.

The hydrometallurgical plant site selected for the purposes of the PEA is in close proximity to sources of hydropower, natural gas and water needed for the processing of the petalite. The hydrometallurgical plant would have the capacity to produce an average of 14,600 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide. The lithium hydroxide will be bagged at the hydrometallurgical plant and loaded on to rail cars for shipment to market.

Non lithium-bearing rock produced in the mining operation will be stored at site for potential recovery of other industrial minerals or use as aggregate in the surrounding region. Tailings from both the concentrator and the hydrometallurgical plant will be stored in a tailings management facility located at the mine site. Future engineering, procurement and construction of both the concentrator and the hydrometallurgical plant will proceed in parallel.

Environmental Assessment and Community Engagement Update

Avalon is committed to developing the Project based on modern Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles and reporting on its performance in its annual Sustainability Reports. These CSR principles include commitments to minimize environmental impacts, ensuring the health and safety of employees, maximizing benefits for local communities and providing full transparency in its social and environmental performance. The Company and the Project are well known in the local community.

A detailed environmental baseline study was updated in 2007 and work has been ongoing to further update this study to align it with recent regulatory changes. Following some additional baseline work to validate the 2007 study, a detailed project description and Environmental Impact Assessment will be produced in consultation with regulators, Indigenous Peoples and other communities of interest. Initial studies suggest that aggregate stockpiles, tailing and concentrate storage areas will not contribute effluents of environmental concern. Dry stacking of tailing and concentrates will minimize long term storage risk, water use and effluent quantity.

The Project is located in the traditional land use area of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (WIN) for which they have stewardship under an agreement with the Province. The Company first signed an MOU with WIN in 1999 which was renewed when the Project was re-activated in 2013. Avalon management has been keeping WIN leadership informed on Project activities and remains committed to fulfilling its community consultation obligations and partnering with WIN on Project business opportunities. The Company has also initiated dialogue with the Metis Nation of Ontario who hold Aboriginal rights in the area.

Qualified Persons

The PEA was prepared with contributions from the following Avalon independent consultants and "Qualified Persons" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, who have reviewed and approved this release.

Qualified Person Consulting Firm Contribution Richard Gowans,

P.Eng Micon International Limited Process, Infrastructure, Capital & Operating Costs Bruce Pilcher, Eur

Ing, CEng, FAusIMM (CP) Micon International Limited Mining and Mineral Reserves, Mine Capital & Operating Costs Christopher Jacobs,

CEng, MIMMM Micon International Limited Economic Analysis Jane Spooner, P.Geo Micon International Limited Lithium and Feldspar Markets Benjamin Webb, P.Geo. (BC) BMW Geoscience LLC Resource Estimation Kevin Hawton, P.Eng Knight Piesold Ltd. Tailings Management Design, Mine Rock and Water Management Steve Aiken, P.Eng Knight Piesold Ltd. Environmental Studies, Permitting & Social or Community Impact Assessment

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at " href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0NLiXQG7Xwp6x5oy5tsrmGUx9ZUF1KlQ4kdESoyZGNkvb8vWEliiUf35DdqvYdN-9bD12U69HJnhBtX1LHlxtA==" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the results of the PEA, including the proposed development model and potential economics, the key measures and economics reported in the PEA, timelines, capital and sustaining costs, power and storage facilities, life of mine, social, community and environmental impacts, mineral resource and, mineral reserve estimates, lithium and feldspar markets and sales prices, off-take agreements and purchasers for the Companys products, environmental assessment and permitting, securing sufficient financing on acceptable terms, opportunities for short and long term optimization of the Project, and continued positive discussions and relationships with local communities and stakeholders. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as potential, scheduled, anticipates, continues, expects or does not expect, is expected, scheduled, targeted, planned, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be or will not be taken, reached or result, will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, Avalons ability to secure sufficient financing to advance and complete the Project, uncertainties associated with securing the necessary approvals and permits in a timely manner, assumptions used in the PEA proving to be inaccurate, uncertainties associated with Avalons resource and reserve estimates, uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for lithium and feldspar and market and sales prices, uncertainties associated with securing off-take agreements and customer contracts, uncertainties with respect to social, community and environmental impacts, uncertainties with respect to optimization opportunities for the Project as well as those risk factors set out in the Companys current Annual Information Form, Managements Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Companys profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Companys plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Reserve and Resource Estimates

The reserve and resource estimates in this news release have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), and reserve and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term resource does not equate to the term reserve. Under United States standards, mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SECs disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute reserves by United States standards in documents filed with the SEC. United States investors should also understand that inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists, is economically or legally mineable, or will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Disclosure of the amount of minerals contained in a resource estimate is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of reserves are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by Avalon in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as reserves under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with United States standards.
VANCOUVER, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Rye Patch Gold Corp. (TSX.V: RPM; OTCQX: RPMGF; FWB: 5TN) (the "Company" or "Rye Patch") is pleased to provide an update of the ongoing activities at the Florida Canyon mine. Overall, the critical path to restart is on schedule and on budget for completion in Q4 of 2016. The 3 critical items to re-start are: 1) building the new phase-1 leach pad, 2) moving the crusher, and 3) refurbishing the fleet.

Building the new phase-1 leach pad

The construction of the phase-1 leach pad is currently on schedule and under its $8mm budget.

On August 25th coarse earthwork started on pad and associated ponds. Currently 75% complete, the clay under liner is being manufactured on site, while plastic liner for the ponds and pad will be rolled out in October.

The pad is 100 acres (405,000 square metres) in surface area and, along with the ponds and piping, will be completed with ore anticipated to be placed on the pad by the end of November 2016.

Moving the crusher

The crusher relocation project is ahead of schedule and on target for its $2mm budget

The crusher is being moved from the Standard mine approximately 8km (5miles) northward to the Florida Canyon lay down yard; coarse earthwork at the crusher site is almost complete, and the foundation work has started. A concrete foundation will be poured at the end of September; the crusher will be mounted to the foundation and should be operational by approximately midOctober. Stockpiling and crushing of over liner and ore will commence at the end of October.

Refurbishing the fleet

The fleet maintenance is ahead of schedule and under its $3mm budget.

One loader and 4 trucks currently remain to be refurbished. The full complement of the fleet is three (3) loaders, twelve (12) 785 Cat haul trucks, five (5) 777 Cat haul trucks, two (2) water trucks and one (1) grader.

Pouring Gold

The Florida Canyon restart is on schedule to produce gold from the new leach pad facility in late 2016 and to ramp up toward full production in Q1 2017. Manpower ramp-up is also in progress, with the full complement of staff to be on site in late 2016  early 2017.

Florida Canyon Mining Inc. continues to produce and sell gold from the existing leach pads at the Standard and Florida Canyon mines, with the revenue from the gold sales contributing to Florida Canyon re-start costs.

Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, Rye Patch Gold's CEO and President, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Rye Patch Gold Corp.

Rye Patch Gold Corp. is a Nevada based, Tier 1, well-funded mining company led by a seasoned management team with a wide range of operations and project development successes. The team is engaged in the mining and development of quality resource-based gold and silver mines and projects along the established Oreana trend in west central Nevada. Benefitting from its strong financial position, the Company has leveraged its cash to acquire the operating Florida Canyon gold mine. The Company now controls a trend-scale platform with operations, replacement assets and exploration upside. The combination of operations and exploration concentrated along a major Nevada gold trend positions Rye Patch as an emerging mid-tier gold producer with tremendous value added potential. For more information about the Company, please visit our website at www.ryepatchgold.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

'William Howald'

William C. (Bill) Howald, CEO & President

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to future plans and objectives of the Company, proposed operations of the Company including mine development, future events and conditions and other statements that are not historical facts, all of which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Company's control. These factors include: the requirement of the Company to satisfy the conditions for drawdowns in the credit agreement entered into with Macquarie Bank Limited ("Credit Facility"), the achievement of mine redevelopment plans and production results; the availability of funds; the financial position of Rye Patch; the timing and content of work programs; the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; the reliability of calculation of mineral resources; the reliability of calculation of precious metal recoveries; the receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.

Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the drawdowns under the Credit Facility and the Florida Canyon mine redevelopment will be completed on the terms and within the time disclosed herein or at all.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Rye Patch Gold

Grubbing the Phase-1 Leach Pad



Preparing the pad and ponds



Crusher at Florida Canyon lay-down yard



Disassembling the crusher



Rebuilding an engine



Mechanic working on a haul truck


VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - September 27, 2016) - GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GQC) (FRANKFURT: M1W) (BERLIN: M1W) ("GoldQuest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of an independent Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS"), including maiden Mineral Reserves for its 100% owned Romero gold-copper project in the Dominican Republic. With a Net Present Value ("NPV") of US$203 million, the PFS demonstrates the economic robustness of a proposed underground mine at Romero. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated, with a DOP/USD exchange rate of 46:1 and metal price assumptions of $1,300/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $2.50/lb copper (Cu).

PFS Highlights Include:

Maiden Probable Mineral Reserves of 7.03 million tonnes containing: 840,000 ounces of gold 980,000 ounces of silver 136 million pounds of copper

A 2,800 tonnes per day operation totalling life of mine gold equivalent production of approximately 1.117 Moz Au Eq

Annual gold equivalent production averaging 109,000 ounces per year

Post tax Net Present Value @ (5%) of $203 million (pre tax $317 million)

All-in Sustaining Cost of $595/oz Au Eq

Post tax Internal Rate of Return of 28% (pre-tax 38.6%)

Initial Capex of $158.6 (Life of Mine $250.9 including sustaining and closure)

"We are very pleased that our Romero PFS validates the previous Preliminary Economic Assessment studies and we look forward to aggressively advancing the project through permitting and final feasibility," stated Bill Fisher, Executive Chairman of GoldQuest. "Along with the robust PFS results, we are proud to have established the first Mineral Reserve in our district. We believe that the Romero mine as designed is only the starting point for the Company and that the remaining resources at Romero, Romero South and the exploration potential close by provides an excellent opportunity for growth beyond the mine plan in this PFS."

The PFS was prepared under the direction of JDS Energy & Mining Inc. ("JDS"), an industry-leading, international engineering firm, with extensive experience in both the construction and operation of mining projects. The study was supported by a team of internationally recognized firms, all of whom are independent of the Company, including:

Micon International Limited (Micon) (geology, mineral resources)

Golder Associates Limited (geotechnical, tailings and water management)

Allnorth Consultants Limited (process design)

MineFill Services Incorporated (backfill plant design)

The PFS envisages a 2,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") project, encompassing a ramp-accessed underground mining operation employing a standard crush, grind, flotation process plant to produce a saleable copper concentrate product with significant gold and silver credits. Process tailings will be used as paste backfill in the underground mine with excess material stored on site as dry stack material. Water requirements for the mine will be met by collecting and storing runoff water from the site.

Mineral Resource Estimate

The basis for the PFS is the updated mineral resource estimate prepared by Micon. Details of the resource estimate will be set out in the Company's upcoming National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report for the PFS. For the purposes of reporting the mineral resources, Micon selected a net smelter returns ("NSR") cut-off of $60 (operating cost/commodity price weighted recovery) as an estimate of what might be a reasonable marginal cost of extraction at Romero and Romero South.

Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate for Romero Project Category Zone Tonnes Au

(g/t) Cu (%) Zn (%) Ag

(g/t) AuEq

(g/t) Au Ounces AuEq

Ounces Indicated Romero 18,390,000 2.57 0.65 0.31 4.2 3.43 1,520,000 2,028,000 Romero South

1,840,000 3.69 0.25 0.18 1.6 4.01

218,000

237,000 Total Indicated Mineral Resources

20,230,000

2.67

0.61 0.30 4.0 3.48

1,738,000

2,265,000 Inferred Romero 2,120,000 1.80 0.39 0.36 3.2 2.32 123,000 158,000 Romero South

900,000

2.57

0.20 0.21

2.1 2.84

74,000

82,000 Total Inferred Mineral Resources

3,020,000

2.03

0.33 0.32

2.9 2.47

197,000

240,000

Effective data for the Mineral Resource is September 27, 2016. Mineral Resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Resources in the estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Resources as an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Gold Equivalent Metal prices used were $1,400/oz Au, $20.00/oz Ag and $2.50/lb Cu and recoveries of 78.1% for gold, 94.6% for copper and 58.6% for silver. Columns may not calculate precisely due to rounding errors.

Mineral Reserves

The Probable Mineral Reserves are the economically minable portions of the Indicated Mineral Resource as demonstrated by this PFS.

Table 2: Mineral Reserve Estimate for Romero Project

Mine Tonnes Au Ag Cu Au Eq (1) Reserves (Cut off $70 (g/t) (oz) (g/t) (oz) (%) (M lb) (g/t) (oz) NSR) (2) Total Probable 7,031,000 3.72 840,000 4.33 980,000 0.88 136 4.9 1,117,000

Gold equivalent metal prices $1,300/oz Au, $20.00/oz Ag and $2.50/lb Cu Cut-off NSR metal prices: Cu $2.50/lb Au $1,250/oz Ag $17.00/oz; Recovery: Cu-96.8 Au-71.7 Ag-54.4, Payable: Cu-96.5 Au-90.0 Ag-95.0, TCRC: $257.83/dmt, Cu concentrate 20%

Mining

The mine plan for the Romero deposit contemplates a ramp accessible underground mine employing mechanized longhole and cut & fill stoping methods with both paste and waste rock for backfill. At full production, run of mine material will be transported to the surface at an average rate of 2,800 tpd where it will be hauled to the process plant, located approximately 3 km south of the mine. The PFS does not propose exploiting the Romero South deposit at this time. Romero South may be evaluated as a stand- alone deposit in the Feasibility Study stage.

The PFS mine plan includes 7.03 Mt grading 3.72 g/t Au, 0.88% Cu and 4.33 g/t Ag after accounting for dilution and mining recovery, with contained metal totaling 840k oz Au, 135.9 M lbs Cu (61.7 kt) and 980k oz Ag. The waste rock mined totals 900 kt, with all waste rock returned underground as backfill by Year 5.

The mine design includes a 5.0 m x 4.5 m ramp access with production coming from a combination of 75% longhole mining, 16% cut & fill mining and 9% from development. The mine scheduling targets the highest NSR sections of the deposit early in the mine life. The mine production schedule is provided below.

Table 3: Romero Mine Production Schedule

Economic Model Total Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Export Ore Tonnes kt 7,031 817.8 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 1008.0 164.7 Au g/t 3.72 4.54 4.85 4.06 3.96 3.66 3.23 2.18 1.80 Ag g/t 4.33 4.97 3.83 3.52 5.33 5.31 3.85 3.90 2.82 Cu % 0.88% 0.86% 0.83% 0.96% 0.96% 0.89% 0.80% 0.86% 0.78%

Processing

The processing flow sheet selected for the PFS consists of crushing, grinding, gravity and flotation to produce a 13% copper concentrate with gold and silver credits and no significant deleterious elements. A marketing study commissioned by the Company has demonstrated the saleability of this concentrate.

Approximately 40% of tailings will be used as paste backfill with the balance disposed of in a tailings storage area through dry stacking. Total recoveries into the final concentrates, based on existing metallurgical test work, are expected to be approximately 78.1% for gold and 94.6% for copper, and 58.6% for silver.

Infrastructure

Off-site infrastructure for Romero is planned to include a 23.5 km main access road connecting the site to the local, paved road network. In addition, a 24.5 km -- 69 kV Transmission Line will connect the site to the national power grid.

Concentrate storage and handling would occur at the port of Puerto Viejo, which will host a storage shed for 15,000 tonnes of concentrate and a ship-loading conveyor system.

On site infrastructure includes;

 2.8 km haul road between the portal and the process plant site;

Step-down transmission substation for incoming high voltage power from the national grid;

Fit-for-purpose ancillary facilities, including administration and offices, maintenance and warehousing, mine dry, assay laboratory;

Temporary Waste Rock Storage Area for 225,000 m 3 of waste; and

of waste; and Water storage pond, sedimentation ponds, dry stack and waste rock storage run-off collection ponds, and emergency pond for excess water.

Capital Costs

The pre-production capital cost for the project is estimated to be $158.6 million including indirect costs and contingency. Life of Mine ("LOM") sustaining capital is estimated at $92.3 million. Total LOM capital required for the project is approximately $240.9 million.

Life of mine sustaining capital costs are estimated at $81.7 million (excluding contingency) including the closure costs of $15.5 million. Sustaining capital consists of capitalized development after the initial production start-up and major equipment rebuilds.

Table 4: Capital Cost Summary

Capital Costs Pre-Production Sustaining/ Total ($M) ($M) Closure ($M) Underground Mining 15.7 57.4 73.1 Site Development and Roadworks 13.5 4.0 17.5 Process Facilities 32.4 5.2 37.6 On-Site Infrastructure 8.8 4.1 13.0 Off-Site Infrastructure 21.5 0.0 21.5 Indirect Costs 11.8 0.0 11.8 EPCM 23.2 0.0 23.2 Owner's Costs 10.2 0.0 10.2 Closure 0.0 15.5 15.5 Salvage 0.0 -4.5 -4.5 Subtotal Capital Costs 137.3 81.7 219.0 Contingency 15% 21.3 10.6 32.0 Total Capital Costs 158.6 92.3 250.9

Operating Costs

The operating costs used in the PFS were estimated from first principles using in-country unit rates for labour, consumables and power where possible. The LOM All-In Sustaining costs are estimated to be $595 per ounce of gold (payable net of by-product credits from copper and silver).

LOM site operating costs total $45.97/t processed, as summarized below.

These cost estimates assume an electricity rate of 0.12/kWh and a diesel cost of $0.66/L.

Table 5: Operating Cost Summary -- per ounce and per tonne basis:

Operating Cost $/t Processed LOM $M Mining 27.67 194.5 Processing 11.58 81.4 Re-Handle 1.28 9.0 General & Administrative 5.44 38.3 Total OPEX 45.97 323.2

Financial Analysis

The summary below, showing a range of commodity prices, holds the above-noted electricity rate and diesel cost constant. The NPV figures are calculated to the beginning of 2018 when, assuming the receipt of necessary permits and approvals within expected timelines, construction would begin. For purposes of the calculations, any 2016 and 2017 development expenditures are treated as undiscounted costs.

Pre-Tax Net Present Value (NPV) discounted at 5% is $317.2 M; Internal Rate of Return is (IRR) is 38.6%.

Post-Tax Net Present Value (NPV) discounted at 5% is $202.7 M; Internal Rate of Return is (IRR) is 28.1%; and Payback of 2.5 years.



Taxes modelled include a corporate tax rate of 27%, with Export Withholding Tax credited against gross corporate tax to generate net corporate tax. The Export Withholding Tax is applied at 5% on the Net Smelter Revenue, while a local community tax is applied 5% on taxable income. The net impact is an effective tax rate of approximately 32%.

Table 6: Gold-Copper Price Sensitivity Table

Gold US$ per ounce $1200 $1300 $1400 Copper US$ per pound $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 Silver US$ per ounce $15.00 $20.00 $25.00 NPV @ 5% $136.4 M $202.7 M $266.1 M -- After-tax USD IRR 21.9% 28.2% 33.7% -- After-tax

Community and Environment

The PFS incorporates several important design features that minimize the impact to the surrounding environment:

The use of cyanide is not included in the design. A flotation concentrate product will be shipped from the Puerto Viejo port to international smelters;

100% of the waste rock from the underground mine will be returned back underground as backfill to eliminate the potential for acid rock drainage;

The project is designed to capture run-off water to supply the mine, thus avoiding any water taking from the San Juan river;

Tailings from the process plant will be filtered, dried and placed in a dry stack storage facility. No tailings ponds or dam structures will be required;

Power will be supplied by a line connection to the domestic power grid;

Ventilation fans will be located underground to reduce noise; and

No relocation of the Hondo Valle village, or any settlements.

Opportunities

There are a number of initiatives recommended which may further enhance the project economics, including:

Conversion of Inferred resources at Romero and Romero South to Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources which may be converted to Mineral Reserves

Examining resource growth potential at brownfields targets near Romero

Site investigation program for geotechnical, hydrology, hydrogeology and baseline environmental;

Additional drilling for metallurgical sampling and execution of further metallurgical testing on Romero South and pyrite concentrate product;

Discussions with smelters on terms and product specifications; and

Technical investigation of the Pueblo Viejo port and required upgrades.

About GoldQuest

GoldQuest is a Canadian based mineral exploration company with projects in the Dominican Republic. GoldQuest is traded on the TSX-V under the symbol GQC and in Frankfurt/Berlin with symbol M1W.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jeremy Niemi, Vice President of Exploration of GoldQuest and a Qualified Person under NI43-101. A Technical Report (the "Technical Report") to be prepared in accordance with Form 43-101F1 will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release. For further information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters and risks associated with the results of the PFS, the mineral resource estimate and other technical information with respect to the Romero project, please refer to the Technical Report to be made available at www.sedar.com. The following qualified persons, as that term is defined in NI 43-101, have prepared or supervised the preparation of their relevant portions of the technical information in this news release and the related Technical Report to be filed:

The technical information contained in this news release is based upon information prepared by Mr. Makarenko, P. Eng. and Ms. Kelly McLeod, P. Eng. of JDS Energy & Mining Inc. with the exception of the Mineral Resources which were prepared by Mr. B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., of Micon International Limited. Each of these individuals is a Qualified Persons and independent of GoldQuest as defined by NI 43-101.

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the PFS, the results of the PFS, including the mine plan, the production schedule, infrastructure, capital and operating costs and financial analysis, opportunities to enhance the project economics, the advancement of Romero, the potential of the remaining resources and surrounding area, opportunities for growth beyond the mine plan, plans for Romero South, , the Company's plans and exploration programs, including the timing of such plans and programs, and the merits of the Company's mineral properties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "envisages", "assumes", "recommends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the assumptions and risks associated with the results of the PFS, timeliness and success of regulatory approvals, market prices, metal prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, as well as other risk factors set out under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis dated December 31, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 27, 2016) - B2Gold Corp. (TSX:BTO)(NYSE MKT:BTG)(NAMIBIAN:B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") reports that it has been notified with regards to the following:

SHOW-CAUSE ORDER DUE TO DENR MINE AUDIT REPORT

Today in the Philippines through a press conference the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced the results of the nationwide audit of metallic mines. DENR spokespersons informed us that the Masbate Gold Project (MGP) will be provided a Show-Cause Order related to the operations of Filminera Resources Corporation (FRC) and Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corporation (PGPRC) at the Masbate Gold Project.

Based on the reference to the three findings indicated in the brief received today and based on our subsequent meeting with the Secretary of DENR, B2Gold is confident that these issues will be resolved by working with the government agencies, in the time frame provided. None of the findings involve any environmental or social issues. They are related to administrative issues only.

Meanwhile operations continue uninterrupted and guidance remains unchanged.

The company awaits formal notification from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and details of the Show-Cause Order.

The following will be the process:

Show-Cause order will be delivered within two weeks. One week will be provided to address the issues. One week will be taken to consider the company's responses.

MGP is the largest single investment in the Province of Masbate and the largest producing gold mine in the Philippines. Masbate Gold Project operations are ISO 14001 compliant so that our environmental management systems demonstrably meet Philippine requirements. MGP continues to maintain an outstanding Safety Performance record.

Further information will be made available as it is confirmed.

ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.

Clive T. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold please visit the Company website at www.b2gold.com.

The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this News Release.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward -looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including statements regarding the expected findings and issues in the Show Cause Order, the process to be followed in respect of the Show Cause Order and the resolution of issues raised in the Show Cause Order, . Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur.

All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with the ability of the Company to resolve issues raised in the Show Cause Order and the timing of the resolution, gold and other metal price volatility; risks of not achieving production, cost or other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and development; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources and metallurgical recoveries; various political, economic and other risks associated with conducting operations in several different countries; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; inherent hazards and risks associated with mining operations, including accidents; risks associated with hedging activities and ore purchase commitments; risks of obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from various governmental authorities; risks related to compliance with environmental regulations and environmental hazards; risks related to compliance with stringent laws and regulations and the effect of changes in law and regulatory environment; risks associated with joint ventures; risks associated with our minority shareholdings in the entity that owns the Masbate Gold Project; our ability to continually obtain additional mineral reserves for production of gold; the inability to identify appropriate acquisition targets or complete desirable acquisitions or the failure to integrate businesses and assets that we have acquired or may acquire in the future; risks associated with our use of information publicly disclosed by the former owners of our mines and property interests; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to obtain additional financing; uncertainty relating to the outcome of our discussions with the Government of Mali; political, economic and other uncertainties in certain jurisdictions where we have property interests and conduct exploration and development activities; our ability to successfully establish mining operations or the actual cost and timing to establish mining operations at the Fekola Project; actual production, development plans and costs of the Fekola Project may differ from estimates; risks associated with our property interests and exploration activities in developing countries;

inability to comply with Philippines regulations or political and legal developments in the Philippines related to ownership of natural resources and operation, management and control of our business; labour disputes; risks related to community relations and community action; reliance on outside contractors to conduct certain mining and exploration activities; adverse weather and climate issues; disruptions arising from conflicts with small scale miners in certain countries; defective title to mineral claims, surface rights or property or challenges over mineral rights relating to our properties; loss of key personnel and our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with our Common Shares; failures of information systems or information security threats; potential losses, liabilities and damages related to our business which are uninsured or uninsurable; competition with other mining companies; risks associated with litigation; volatility of global financial conditions; taxation, including changes in tax laws and interpretation of tax laws; difficulty in achieving and maintaining the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; risks related to Aboriginal and local community title claims and related consultation rights; and inability to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form and the Company's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the SEC, which may be viewed at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
The Federal Police of Brazil [official website, in Portuguese] on Monday arrested [press release, in Portuguese] former finance minister Antonio Palocci in connection with an ongoing corruption probe. The former minister is accused of being involved with a host of other government officials who worked under the administrations of former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff [BBC profile] and illegally conspired with the local company Odebrecht group to engage in deceitful business practices with the oil giant Petrobras [corporate websites]. The ongoing probe, entitled Operation Lava Jato [Rio Times backgrounder], is in its 35th phase with the execution of the warrant.

Last week the Brazil Supreme Court approved [JURIST report] a motion by prosecutors to open a preliminary investigation into accusations from Sergio Machado, former Transpetro head, that current President Michel Temer sought illegal campaign donations in 2012. A Brazilian judge last Tuesday accepted [JURIST report] charges against former president da Silva after the Petrobas Oil Scandal. Rousseff was removed [JURIST report] from office earlier this month following a 61-81 Senate vote in favor of impeachment.
The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a peace agreement [text, in Spanish] on Monday that ends a more than 50-year conflict. The agreement was finalized [JURIST report] in August after four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba. Witnesses to the signing included UN secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US secretary of state John Kerry, as well as hundreds of victims of the war. Under the accord, FARC has vowed [Guardian report] to sever all ties with the drug trade, hand over all its weapons and convert into a political party. A special tribunal will try war-related crimes, but those who confess to crimes against humanity will serve alternative sentences that do not involve jail time. Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timoshenko, said, [o]ur only weapons will be our words. In the name of the Farc I ask sincere forgiveness to all the victims of the conflict and for all the pain we may have caused in this war[.] Colombian citizens will vote on Sunday whether to approve the deal.

The peace agreement seeks to end more than half a decade of conflict in the South American country that claimed [CNN report] more than 220,000 people and displaced countless others. In June the Colombian government and FARC signed [JURIST report] a ceasefire as the revolutionary forces transition to a peaceful political party. In January the UN Security Council unanimously approved [JURIST report] a resolution authorizing the creation of a political peace mission in Colombia to monitor the disarmament between the Colombian government and FARC rebels. In November Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos pardoned [JURIST report] 30 former guerrilla soldiers in jail for non-violent and minor crimes.
The FBI [official website] on Monday reported an increase in violent crime during 2015 and decrease in property crimes [press release]. Crime in the United States, 2015 [report materials] revealed the first increase in violent crime in recent years, although property crimes have been declining each year for over a decade. While the report showed a 3.9 percent rise in violent crime from 2014, the totals for 2015 were lower than 2011 by 0.7 percent, and lower than 2006 by 16.5 percent [FBI report]. Included in the report was a message [text] from FBI Director James Comey [official profile] highlighting the necessity of accurate crime statistics:

We need more transparency and accountability in law enforcement. We also need better, more informed conversations about crime and policing in this country. To get there, we are improving the way this nation collects, analyzes, and uses crime statistics and data about law enforcements use of force. Information that is accurate, reliable, complete, and timely will help all of us learn where we have problems and how to get better.

The report also unveiled that crime was almost twice as high in the southern US than in other regions [Reuters report].

The report was released amid a national conversation about police use of force, as well as conversations about hate crimes in general. Last week the US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] opened an investigation [JURIST report] into the fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man who was shot the previous week by a Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer. A new report compiled by California State University, San Bernardino [official website] and released earlier this month found an increase in hate crimes [JURIST report] in 2015, particularly against Muslims and Arab-Americans. In May Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law an amended hate crimes bill [JURIST report], referred to as the Blue Lives Matter law, including police, EMS personnel and firefighters in the category of those protected.
The National Assembly of Pakistan [official website] on Monday approved a bill [PDF] that allows the Hindu community to legally register their marriages. Rights groups applauded [Times of India report] the passing of the Hindu marriage bill as it will lead to greater protection for female members of the minority Hindu community who will now be able to provide proof of marriage. The bill sets the minimum age for marriage for Hindus at 18. It also grants Hindus the right to divorce, with women having the additional right to do so on grounds of negligence, bigamy or having been married before the age of 18. In February the Pakistani province of Sindh became the first province to legalize Hindu marriage [JURIST report] under the marriage registry in the nation. The nation-wide bill will now proceed to the Senate for approval.

Pakistan has been under pressure to improve human rights conditions for years. Also in September Human Rights Watch released a report [JURIST report] that looks at the history of the Pakistani police and details occurrences of arbitrary arrest, torture, extra-judicial killings and sexual violence, especially among religious minorities that are especially vulnerable. Last week HRW called on Pakistani authorities to halt the execution of a mentally disabled man [JURIST report], saying executing people with mental health conditions is an affront to decency and serves no criminal justice purpose. Earlier this month a human rights lawyer was re-arrested in Kashmir [JURIST report] on the grounds of a controversial security law which allows the detention of suspects for up to six months without a trial.
Vasyl Khmelnytsky's K.Fund and lackBox Capital will set up a Technology Companies' Development Center (TCDC) in Kyiv, which will support small- and medium-sized hi-tech projects, K.Fund said in a Tuesday press release.

"The project aims to provide priority support to product developing hi-tech companies; investment is estimated at UAH 100 million," K.Fund said.

The TCDC will be located in a separate building with an area of about 3,500 square meters at 8 Simyi Khokhlovykh Street in Kyiv. Construction is under way at the site now, it is to be completed in December 2016.

"The TCDC will be operated by a managing company, an advisory board, the Juscutum law firm, inter-corporate IT university BIONIC University, two high-tech laboratories: VR Lab (Crytek) and Smart City lab," the press service said.

Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (kmbs) will be the center's special educational partner, which has already developed a training program "Be Tech. Client Focus Strategy." To become a TCDC resident, please fill in a form and take kmbs' respective training course. K.Fund will refund 70% of the tuition fees.

K.Fund was founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Vasyl Khmelnytsky in 2015 to support education and economics projects.

BlackBox Capital, founded by Yevhen Sarantsov, has been creating new business models in the segment of IT and digital commercial communications with Ukrainian companies since 2014.
[JURIST] UN human rights expert Dubravka Simonovic [official profile] called [press release] Monday for women to participate in a new peace process between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Simonovic suggested that reducing violence against women and supporting gender equality will assist in achieving peace in the region. Her comments were made at the end of her first official visit to Israel and the OPT, which spanned nearly two weeks and was intended to investigate violence against women:

My visit takes place after a long absence of any other UN Special Rapporteur visits and I hope that this translates the willingness of both governments to strengthen their efforts to eliminate violence against women and to uphold womens rights in public and private sphere in line with their international human rights obligations and commitments.

Groups of women in Israel, including refugees and women from minority communities, face multiple forms of discrimination, and the prolonged occupation has had a particular impact on females in relation to embedded patriarchal social norms. Simonovic will present her final report and recommendation to the UN Human Rights Council [official website] in June.

The violence in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict [HRW backgrounder] has created contentious legal and human rights situations. In July Amnesty International called upon Palestinian and Israeli officials [JURIST report] to address human rights violations committed by their forces. The UN Committee Against Torture, a body of independent experts, released closing remarks [JURIST report] to its fifty-seventh session in May, expressing concern about the use of excessive force by Israeli forces against Palestinians. An Israeli court in April convicted [JURIST report] Yosef Haim for the 2014 murder of a Palestinian teenager that led to the 50-day war in Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Makarim Wibisono [official profile] resigned [JURIST report] from his position in January, saying that Israel has not granted him access to the OPT after repeated requests.
Mercedes-Benz has opened what it says is the largest parts warehouse in the luxury car industry and also setting up the companys largest retail training academy in South Asia, christened as the Mercedes-Benz Academy.

The parts warehouse and the Mercedes-Benz Academy were inaugurated by Dr. Till Conrad, head-region overseas Mercedes-Benz Cars at Daimler and Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Till Conrad, head-region overseas Mercedes-Benz Cars at Daimler commented, India remains one of the bright spots for Mercedes-Benz and this critical expansion of infrastructure and investment in retail training signifies our strong customer centric approach and long-term vision; which underlines our confidence in the Indian market. Mercedes-Benz is not only expanding its world-class infrastructure here in India, but also strategically developing the skill-set of its workforce, ready to capitalise the future growth of the luxury industry. We are glad to support such strategic decisions and are confident, that initiatives like these will make the India growth story more inclusive, making the brand future ready.

Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, commented, Creating the largest parts warehouse in the luxury car segment equipped with state-of-art technological processes, automations and also inaugurating South Asias biggest Mercedes-Benz Academy, are significant accomplishments for Mercedes-Benz India. These initiatives are result of our focused customer orientation that will help create a long-term value to our discerning patrons, giving us a competitive edge in this dynamic market. At Mercedes-Benz India, it remains our relentless endeavour to build-on to the strong foundation we have created for the brand, and further develop a sustainable future for our partners and employees. Investing in the infrastructure and also in people is a hallmark of a fundamentally strong brand like Mercedes-Benz, and this strategic decision, will play a pivotal role in our future growth in India.

Mercedes-Benz parts warehouse: The parts warehouse is spread across 16,500 square metres and can accommodate up to 44,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) It is equipped with LED lights for energy saving with motion sensors Wi Fi provision around the entire warehouse for continual connectivity Multi-tier shelving system (G + 2 Levels) with in rack sprinklers in shelving system at every three metre 10 outbound docks for loading and dispatching the material, six inbound docks for receiving materials 50+ locations catered through newly built warehouse Modern material handling equipment (MHE) like high level order picker (HLOP), low Level order picker (LLOP) and reach trucks (RT)) for efficient operations Spare parts automation (SPAN) update to showcase operational efficiency/SPAN 1.0 wholesale, spare parts automation at wholesale Systems designed considering future requirements in warehouse (with efforts towards paperless warehouse operations) World class equipment (RD devices) for operations SPAN mapped with modern MHEs to improve operational efficiency Warehouse equipped with specialised safety features like VESDA (Very early smoke detection alerts), in-rack sprinklers, air handling unit (AHU), etc.

Mercedes-Benz Academy: Mercedes-Benzs retail training division has been actively contributing in developing, nurturing and mentoring retail manpower effectively for the last two decades. Be it establishing the in-house Mechatronics School, successfully driving the ADAM course at Government Polytechnic in Pune, Aurangabad and Government Engineering College Trivandrum, or developing training content creating virtual learning platform for global training of Daimler. The retail training has been the backbone of developing manpower required to support future business growth. Mercedes-Benz India now consolidates its retail training division and inaugurates its largest training facility in South Asia, christened as the Mercedes-Benz Academy. The key objective of this academy will be to pursue the cultivation of knowledge and support retail manpower growth. Some of the key highlights of the Mercedes-Benz Academy are: Trainings for 225 participants per day at any given time Combi-bays: Four large bays that can accommodate two vehicles per bay, two small bays that can accommodate one vehicle per bay It hosts classrooms, aggregate room and an eLab

Vehicle preparation centre: The VPC is created to cater to vehicle storing requirement of Mercedes-Benz India till 2024 and will aid the companys vision to deliver Zero defect customised vehicles with customer delight.

At VPC, the vehicles are stored, maintained and prepared for dealer dispatches following the stringent VPC guidelines laid down by Daimler. Apart from these guidelines, the system is subjected to process audits, integrated management system (IMS) audits and various inventory audits. All the vehicles are subjected to stringent checks during take-over from production, periodic maintenance and SVC (standard vehicle check) before dispatching the vehicles to the dealers. Some key highlights are: Use of an unique inventory management software which eases the monitoring of the movement of vehicles, their maintenance schedules and also this software has features such as automatic UPN (unique parking number) generation as per model and colour Entry is restricted only to authorised vehicles and drivers through automated boom barriers, digital board displaying parking occupancy status, etc. Automated key storage and vending machine for safety and faster retrieval of required key Automated conveyor system for automatic car wash machine which removes human intervention while placing the car in auto car wash State of the art underground exhaust extraction system in workshop Nine productive bays comprising five scissor lifts and four two post lifts and a facility to lift guard vehicles Exclusive storage facility for VPC loose parts, welcome kits for customers A world-class paint booth, paint preparation station for paint repair jobs A supreme car modification centre to carry out value added jobs like AMG styling, decal kits, specialised car upholstery, specialised paints, other fitments etc.
Ukraine and Israel have agreed to speed up negotiations on a free trade area (FTA) between the two countries, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said.

"We have agreed to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement, because it is the only anti-crisis way that is absolutely mutually beneficial," Poroshenko said at a joint press briefing with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian president said he believes progress will be made in this area soon.

As reported, on January 19, 2016, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Eliav Belotserkovsky said he hoped that Ukraine and Israel will sign a free trade area agreement before the end of 2016.

The two countries' mutual trade stood at $800 million, a decline as compared to the previous period, he said. Israeli exports to Ukraine dropped, while Ukraine's exports to the Israeli market grew 4% to some $600 million-$650 million.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has stressed on the importance of investing in science and a systematic approach to reforming the academic sphere in the country.

"The state should invest in science - this is an investment. But this investment must be successful. We have everything needed for this. Science and innovations will allow us to move forward and find the way out of serious problems and trials," Groysman said at a meeting with scientists on Monday, the press service of the government reported.

Groysman also called for the formation of a systemic view on reforming the academic sphere in Ukraine.

"Ukrainian science needs a qualitative dialogue today, including with the authorities. We need to answer the following questions: what resources do we need how will we use them, what kind of a system of cooperation should there be between the authorities, scholars and the Academy of Sciences, how can we measure cooperation - not just the amount of money we allocate to a particular industry?" the prime minister said.

Scholars said the system of funding science should be changed, as well as ensuring cooperation between business and science.

According to the press service, the meeting was attended by government officials, parliament deputies, members of Ukraine's national academies of sciences, representatives of higher educational institutions, enterprises and NGOs leaders.
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy hopes for a final vote of the European Parliament on granting visa-free regime in the beginning of October.

"European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has backed a report today on granting Ukraine a visa-free regime. I welcome this decision of our European partners and thank them for their consistent support of Ukraine," Parubiy said on his Facebook page making comments on the correspondent committees decision.

He recalled a meeting with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who said that "on condition of a positive decision of the profile committee, the final vote on granting a visa free regime will take place at the next session of the European Parliament in early October."

"Therefore, I believe that a week later European MPs will support this important and familiar to every Ukrainian citizen issue," Parubiy said.

The speaker also said after the receipt of a visa-free regime with the EU "every Ukrainian will really feel himself full free citizen of the free world."

As reported on Monday, the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted in favor of the introduction of Ukraine in the list of countries with which the EU introduces a visa-free regime.

The committee members rejected all the amendments made to the report of the European MP Mariya Gabriel (European Peoples Party) from Bulgaria on the Ukrainian issue.
The current state and future prospects of the NATO-Ukraine Professional Development Program are being discussed during a working visit to Ukraine by newly appointed program coordinator Marcin Koziel.

According to the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine (NLO), a number of meetings are scheduled during Koziels trip, including with Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and Deputy NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko.

"The purpose of the visit is to meet with key Ukrainian governmental officials to discuss the current state and future prospects of a NATO-Ukraine professional training program under the command of a joint NATO-Ukraine working group on a military reform," the statement reads.

The NATO-Ukraine professional training program under NLO began in October 2005 to improve the professional skills of the civil servants of the security and defense sector.
Three Ukrainian servicemen have suffered injuries in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in Donbas, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Andriy Lysenko said.

"Fortunately, none of our servicemen was killed in the hostilities over the past day, yet three were wounded," Lysenko said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

All in all, Ukrainian troops stationed in Donbas were shelled 40 times on Monday, the ATO headquarters said.

In particular, 10 instances of the violation of the ceasefire were recorded in the Luhansk sector, 12 in the Donetsk sector, and 18 in the Mariupol sector.

The Russian occupation forces used mainly grenade launchers, machine-guns, and small arms to fire on Ukrainian positions.

In the Donetsk sector they used mortars and an infantry fighting vehicle to attack Ukrainian troops near the village of Zaitseve and Nyzhnie Lozove.

The enemy was most active in the Mariupol sector. Small arm and grenade launchers were used to shell the town of Maryinka, the villages of Starohnativka, Shyrokyne, and Pavlopil.

"What is more, Maryinka was under sniper fire, while an infantry fighting vehicle was used to attack Starohnativka," the ATO HQ said.
Main Military Prosecutor's Office has completed the special pre-trial investigation into activities of former defense minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Yezhel, who is suspected of abuse of power and office.

Yezhel is suspected of having committed an offense under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or office), the public and media relations department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine reported on Tuesday.

At the moment the defense team has been notified about the completion of the pre-trial investigation in accordance with the requirements of Article 290 of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine, and can see the materials of the criminal proceedings, the report says.

The military prosecutor's office said that Yezhel, who has been put on the state wanted list, can come at any time to the investigator for high-profile cases of the Main Military Prosecutor's Office of the Prosecutor General's Office and examine the materials of the criminal proceedings.

As reported, Yezhel is suspected of misusing public office and assisting a third party from 2011 to 2012. He issued four separate tasks paid for by budget resources not paid to the organizations which carried them out (commercial entities were contracted to provide food services to Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel). These actions cost the state about UAH 43 million and had serious consequences.

According to law-enforcement agencies, Yezhel has been put on the Ukrainian government's wanted list and steps have been taken to put him on the international wanted list. Kyiv's Pechersky District Court authorized a special pre-trial investigation of a criminal case involving Yezhel. The court has authorized his arrest and transfer to a court for determining pre-trial detention pending trial, as well as a pre-trial inquiry in absentia into his actions.
The owner of 112 TV Channel Andriy Podschipkov is asking for political shelter in Belgium, the Detector Media portal reported on Tuesday.

Podschipkov told the portal that since early 2016 he had applied for political asylum because to political pressure in Ukraine.

Former creative director of the television channel Viktor Zubrytsky told the publication that initially the owner of the channel asked Austrian authorities to give him political asylum, and later his lawyer convinced Podschipkov to ask for the status of a refugee in Brussels where he lives.

The portal kp.ua, referring to its own source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reported that Podschipkov is applying for the political asylum in Austria where he has been staying in the past several months after a conflict with other shareholders of 112 TV Channel.

"Podschipkov was to support Onyschenko in a PR campaign to create an image of person persecuted by Ukrainian authorities," the source was quoted as saying.

The publication claims that Podschipkov owns only 1% of shares in 112 TV Channel.

Strana.ua publication claims Podschipkov lives in London now.

  
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. ~ Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine was a Christian bishop of the Hippo Regius, now known as Annaba in Algeria. He lived in the 4th and 5th centuries CE and his writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and philosophy.

As a book lover and a keen traveller, this quote resonates with me on multiple levels.

I took this photo on a day out in London with fellow amateur photographers. This colonnade is part of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. I was mesmerised by the lines of light and shadow cast by the beautiful stone pillars.

More Kavey Eats Travel Quotes.

You are welcome to save or share this via Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram provided you do not alter the image or crop out the attribution text.
LINCOLN  Dolores A. Kropp, 88, of Lincoln, formerly of Aurora, died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Lincoln.

A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Aurora United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karla Sheffy officiating. Burial will be at Aurora Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour before services.

Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora is in charge of arrangements.



A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Dolores passed away surrounded by family, healthcare professionals and Tabitha Hospice caregivers.

Dolores was born on Jan. 24, 1928, in Norfolk and received her primary and secondary education in Stanton. After high school, Dolores attended Wayne State College alongside her lifetime love, friend and partner, Bill Kropp. They married on Jan. 8, 1949, and together raised a family of four children.

After seeing the children through elementary school, Dolores returned to college to complete her degree in elementary education at Kearney State College. She began her teaching career in Aurora and enjoyed more than 30 years in the profession of education.

Dolores is warmly remembered by her loved ones for the infinite sacrifices she made to ensure that each was provided opportunities for health, happiness and success. She was a gentle soul with a quick and easy smile and a giving heart. The most fitting tribute to her life would be remembrance of her humility and unwavering strength and purpose. She will never be forgotten and will be forever remembered for her devotion, sacrifice and steadfast love of family.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Kropp, and is survived by their four children and spouses, John Kropp and Karen of Grand Island, Mary Greenfield and Stan of Lincoln, Judy Kropp of Lincoln and Tom Kropp and Sonja of Kearney; her brothers, John Kane of Albuquerque, N.M., and Don Kane and wife Joanne of Missouri Valley, Iowa; her sister, Linda Marshall and husband Robert of Spring Hill, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Kari Voss, Jenny Goess, Jay Kropp, Pete Kropp, Sam Greenfield, Ben Greenfield and Dominique Kropp; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Tabitha Hospice Care Services in Lincoln.

Visit www.higbymortuary.com to email condolences to the family through the mortuary website.
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In this photo taken on Aug. 24, 2016, Christine Jentoft walks to the bank to update her details in line with her new legal gender, in Oslo, Norway. Raised a boy, she is one of the 250 people who has taken advantage of a new law that allows Norwegians to self-identify as male or female. Norway recently became the fifth country in the world to allow adults to legally change genders without a doctorAos agreement or intervention. Argentina, Ireland and Denmark have similar laws. But only Malta and Norway have extended the liberalized rules to children. (AP Photo/David Keyton)
Dr. Natasha Crowcroft is shown in a handout photo. The current vaccine for pertussis, or whooping cough, is highly effective during the first three years after children get their shots, but immunity wanes over the next several years, leaving little protection from the disease, researchers have found. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Michael Yee MANDATORY CREDIT
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will dedicate a plaque at the base of this new piece of aboriginal art, by Les Louis, during their visit Tuesday morning to the UBC Okanagan campus.
In this photo taken from surveillance video, two men take a look inside the Okanagan Spirits distillery in Vernon before smashing their way in and getting away with a haul of spirits.
Saul Lambis reads a newspaper carrying the headline in Spanish "Agreement Signing" in Cartagena, Colombia, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the day after the government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, to end over 50 years of conflict. Colombians must now show even more determination to implement an ambitious accord that will test their capacity for reconciliation and willingness to address longstanding inequality. The first test is a referendum this weekend in which voters are being asked to ratify or reject the deal. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
An injured person, rescued after an overcrowded bus slipped off a mountain road is brought for treatment to the Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The bus slipped off the road near Lapang Phedi village, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Kathmandu, the capital, and rolled about 300 meters (980 feet) before stopping on the banks of the Ankhu River.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Dear KFBers, we have got loads of interesting stories in tonights #MajorHeadlinesYouMissedToday featureenjoy!

Nigerian Army reacts to Shekaus new video, says hes mad



Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President, African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina

The Nigerian military has reacted to the new video footage released bythe Boko Haram on Sunday where Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the group,declared that hes alive and in good health.The military hadlast month claimed that Shekau was fatally injured in the shoulder in anair strike by the Nigeria Airforce in Sambisa forest during which manyBoko Haram commanders were killed.In its reaction to the new BokoHaram video, Nigerian Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman,described Shekau as mentally sick and unstable. He urged members of thepublic to ignore him as the groups ability to fight has been degraded.

African Development Bank to invest $10bn in Nigeria

The African Development Bank says it

will increase its investment in Nigeria by $4.1 billion between 2016 and

2017 and raise it up to $10 billion by 2019.

The Banks President, Dr Akinwumi

Adesina, gave the indication while speaking with State House

Correspondents after its delegation met with Vice President Yemi

Osinbajo and the Economic Management Team.

Adesina said that the bank would support

the Federal Government in its budget to enable it to deal with the

current economic challenges.

FG appoints new heads for NEPAD, PTDF, others

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of 13

Chief Executives in some parastatals and agencies, thereby marking an

end to the tenure of various occupants of the positions.

A statement issued on Monday evening by the Director of

Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the

Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, with Ref. No.

PPR/OSGF/PR/03, said the appointments were approved by President

Muhammadu Buhari.

While Joseph Ari was named Director-General of Industrial

Training Fund, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), becomes the

Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency.

The government also appointed Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote,

Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Monitoring Board, while Osita

Anthony Aboloma becomes DG of Standard Organisation of Nigeria.

Mamman Amadu is the DG of Bureau of Public Procurement,

while the mantle of leadership in Pension Transitional Arrangement

Directorate fell on Sharon Ikeazor.

Princess Gloria Akobundu becomes the National

Coordinator/Chief Executive of New Partnership for Africas Development,

just as Alhaji Ahmed Bobboi was named Executive Secretary of Petroleum

Equalisation Fund.

While Umana Okon Umana becomes the Managing Director of Oil

and Gas Free Zone Authority, Saadiya Faruq has been appointed Federal

Commissioner for National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and

Internally Displaced Persons.

The government also named Usman Abubakar as chairman of

Nigerian Railway Corporation; Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, Executive

Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund and Yewande Sadiku,

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.
(Xinhua) 21:03, September 26, 2016

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's central government has asked for a concerted effort to lower logistical costs in an action plan issued by the State Council on Monday.

China wants to reduce the ratio of logistics costs to sales revenue from 8.9 percent in 2014 to about 8.5 percent for manufacturers and from 7.7 percent to around 7.3 percent for wholesale and retail sellers by 2018.

The government will streamline reviews and approvals for logistics companies, cutting taxes and fees, according to the National Development and Reform Commission plan.

The document also expects better connected highways, railways, waterways and air routes to create a more efficient network.

Customs clearance will be speeded up and delivery services expanded to more rural areas, with financial support and an adequate land supply guaranteed.

Eligible logistics businesses may issue corporate bonds and go public, or asks banks to lend them more.
Over the last few years, the proportion of university students in China infected with AIDS has increased significantly. The city of Nanchang, located in Chinas southeastern Jiangxi province, has seen a 43 percent increase in the number of university students infected.

Other cities are experiencing a similar trend. As of January 2015, of Beijings reported 3,000 AIDS, the proportion made up of students is rising. From 2014-15, Shanghais number of infected students increased by 31.4 percent.

Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued statistics showing that 65 percent of infected students contracted the virus between 18 and 22 years of age, typically during their undergraduate studies.

The Director of the STD and AIDS Prevention Center at Chinas CDC, Wu Zunyou, addressed several causes beneath the rise in sexually transmitted diseases. According to statistics from the National Health and Family Planning Commission, 81.6 percent of AIDS-infected university students contracted the virus through homosexual intercourse. Wu believes that many male students feel liberated from the intense pressures of high school and are intrigued by the novelty of homosexuality. They would like to try it, but do not understand the risks involved.

Wu also feels Chinas sex education is severely lacking. Theres a negative stigma associated with openly teaching about sex, causing some schools to be reluctant. They fear the school will be labeled as a school with STD problems and experience a lack of applicants. Others point to the administration not taking sex education seriously.

Students subsequently fail to cultivate a healthy understanding of sex and how to practice safe sex. This deficiency, combined with the fact that Chinas youth are growing increasingly open towards sex, makes the lack of reliable sexual education an even graver issue.

Thus, those that have contracted AIDS lack the education to identify symptoms and seek medical assistance. A China Youth Daily report found that while 75 percent of Americans living with AIDS were aware of their condition, only 54 percent in China knew. Some fear the label of having AIDS may affect their employment opportunities and avoid getting tested. This type of self-destructive behavior not only leaves the patient worse off due to a lack of treatment, but also promotes further spreading.

In order to prevent the proliferation of AIDS, Chinas parents, schools, and respective governmental bodies must collectively implement practical measures and promote sex education. Communities must come together and engage in open dialogue about sex and how to practice it safely.

(This article is originally published on People's Daily official wechat account, translated by Luo Ensi and edited by Joanna Law)
Nanjing, Chinas eastern Jiangsu, will follow the footsteps of Xiamen and Hangzhou by implementing purchasing restrictions on the housing market. The measures are meant to cool down the intense price rise.

As of September 26, 2016, families residing in Nanjing who own two or more homes will be unable to purchase any newly built properties. According to a government-issued statement published Monday, restrictions facing non-locals appear more severe. Those who do not have a Nanjing residency, but own one or more residence, can no longer buy any newly built or second-hand properties.

Consequently, numerous couples filed for divorce the following morning. The boom in divorcees is seen as a move to bypass the new restrictions on the number of homes a resident can purchase. No longer married, a husband and wife can separately purchase a residence.
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Illustration by Jorge Muniz, PA-C.

Heres a quick review of health care delivery basics:

Primary care. Stuff you can get handled with your primary care doctor in your neighborhood. Example: ingrown toenail.

Secondary care. Stuff your primary care doctor refers to a secondary specialist down the road. Example: colonoscopy.

Tertiary care. Complex stuff you need to deal with at a big-city hospital. Example: lung transplant.

Simple. Right?

Heres the problem: In modern medicine, were holding primary care hostage to a tertiary care delivery model.

If youre getting a lung transplant, you need a 5-story hospital with helipad, medical team, insurance coding/billing software (you actually need insurance to cover the $500,000+ bill) and all sorts of special machines and complicated equipment. If youre getting a colonoscopy, you need one person to shove a tube up your butt in a simple office with a few staff. If youve got an ingrown toenail, you need one primary care doc in one tiny exam room with a pair of scissors.

When we force ingrown toenails and buttholes to subsidize 5-story hospitals, helipads, medical teams, and insurance systems, we create incredible inefficiency and expense. In fact, all that crap is not only unnecessary, it just gets in the way and makes your $100 toenail or $1000 colonoscopy cost hundreds and thousands more!

When we force primary care to pay for the infrastructure of tertiary care medicine, we end up with assembly-line medicine in which patients are forced through 7-minute visits. Both high volume and price gouging are required to pay for the unnecessary helipads and hospitals for your ingrown toenail.

Im a family doctor, and Ive been delivering primary care to my community for decades. Ive removed ingrown toenails and metastatic lung cancer. Ive cared for psychiatric patients and complex neurologic conditions. In fact, I can deliver care for 99 percent of what ails my patients right in the comfort of my 280-square-foot office. Just two chairs. One exam table. And no staff.

All I really need is my brain. And my brain tells me we must stop allowing buttholes to design primary care delivery in America.

Pamela Wible pioneered the community-designed ideal medical clinic and blogs at Ideal Medical Care. She is the author of Physician Suicide Letters  Answered and Pet Goats and Pap Smears. Watch her TEDx talk, How to Get Naked with Your Doctor. She hosts the physician retreat, Live Your Dream, to help her colleagues heal from grief and reclaim their lives and careers.

Jorge Muniz is an internal medicine physician assistant, illustrator, and author of Medcomic: The Most Entertaining Way to Study Medicine.

Image credit: Medcomic.com
After having to wait over five hours to receive water, residents within the Colorado Acres received good news on Monday.

Commissioners Court approved funding for improvements to the Colorado Acres drinking water dispenser.

A USDA grant is allowing the county to install a double dispenser to colonial residents to receive water.

"They will be able to fill up two at a time, instead of one by one," says Webb County Engineer Luis Perez. "That will assist them considerably in getting the water sooner."

They will also be installing a 40,000 gallon storage tank to deliver the water to be distributed to the residents.
Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. [File Photo]

Chinas Belt and Road initiative, since it was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping three years ago, has yielded more than its expected harvest, Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said on Monday at a seminar in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau as well as secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative. In a keynote speech entitled Linking Peoples Hearts for Win-win Cooperation, he said that a growing number of nations and international organizations have engaged in the initiative.

China has inked cooperative agreements with more than 30 countries and launched manufacturing and production capacity cooperation with more than 20 countries along the routes, Liu further explained.

Citing a spate of symbolic projects represented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund as evidence, the official added that China and en-route nations have deepened their financial cooperation and intensified their exchanges in culture, education, technology, tourism and business.

The Belt and Road initiative, which serves the common interests of all parties, carries the aspirations of people from around the world for a better life, he said stressing its significance.

China sincerely welcomes more involvement from en-route countries as well as other nations around the world in this initiative, he said, adding that since a Chinese proposal contains oriental wisdom, the initiative aims to bring the world common prosperity.

Liu called on the countries along the route to pursue win-win cooperation by showing mutual respect and trust, valuing openness and inclusiveness, sticking to pragmatic innovation and maintaining peaceful development, in order to build a "green, healthy, intelligent and peaceful" Silk Road together.

When advancing the initiative, human exchanges should be given equal importance as economic cooperation, Liu stressed.

He further explained that in order to maintain sustained cooperation and deliver each other the message of win-win cooperation, China and en-route countries, in the past three years, have hosted thematic years on state, culture and tourism, organized book fairs as well as other exhibitions, and also held art festivals. Dialogues between think-tanks and media were also launched, the head added.

China and countries along the routes now also witness closer cooperation on culture and charity, according to him, citing the archeological cooperation between China and Uzbekistan as an example. Whats more, China, together with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, has managed to include the millennium-old Silk Road into the World Heritage list.

He praised education cooperation as key to the initiatives success, saying that over the past three years, en-route countries have succeeded in implementing an overseas study program, establishing an education fund and reinforcing collaboration in talent training.

Underlining the importance of the coexistence of various cultures and the mutual understanding among peoples, Liu called on countries along the route to more closely cooperate on education, culture, media, sport and tourism.

The Eurasian people, with different religious and cultural backgrounds, should join efforts to build a human community rooted in mutual respect and understanding, he concluded.
As Monday marks the first presidential debate, many local students are getting into the election season. One local school district is encouraging its students to 'Rock the Vote.'

For many high school seniors this will not only will their first-time voting but they will take part in one of the most talked about and controversial presidential elections.

That is why United Independent School District is encouraging students to exercise their right to vote.

It was a packed cafeteria at lunchtime, but besides lining up for a hot meal this Monday students at Lyndon B. Johnson High School stood in line to register to vote.

It's during our lunchtime. So, it's very convenient, says Angelica Mendez, a student at LBJ

UISD brought 'Rock the Vote' to its schools, qualified students like Angelica Mendez went through a quick process.

It was just your name, address, your social security number, says Mendez. That's about it, simple questions.

A 'Rock the Vote' station was set up in the center of the cafeteria with videos playing in the background informing the students about the candidates for each political party.

Students and even staff were talked through the process of registering.

The district then takes care of turning in the registrations into the Webb County Elections office.

Mendez says the registration station was very much welcomed by her peers.

Admitting she keeps up with current politics and already knows where and with who she'll be going to the voting poll with.

My dad always goes votes at the elementary school, so I think I will go with him, says Mendez.

The district says they will continue motivating students to vote each year.

It makes me kind of nervous, but I know my voice will make a change, says Mendez.

UISD will hold more voter registration events on Thursday for students at Alexander, United and United South High Schools.
African students in China eager to change negative views on their countries on Saturday spoke glowingly about their history and culture at a speech and music contest in Beijing.

The event called Africa Speech Night and Music Contest was organised by Appreciate Africa Network, a non-governmental organisation seeking to promote Africa and its culture.

The students were given a five-minute opportunity each to speak about their countries, focusing mainly on history, culture and development.

The students were from Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Rwanda, Egypt, Zambia, Botswana, Algeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Mauritius and South Africa.

High profile guests at the function included Zimbabwes ambassador to China Paul Chikawa, officials from other African embassies in China and business people from different countries.

Addressing the guests, Appreciate Africa Network founder Samantha Sibanda said the contest was meant to present the true story of Africa and its culture in China.

She said many people from other continents, including the Chinese, were not privy to the true status of Africa because they relied mainly on the media to shape their opinion.

We want to tell you the other side of Africa which you have never seen on television, said Samantha. Many people think Africa is about poverty, diseases and hunger and this is reflected even in schools.

Employers even here in China are shunning Africans because of these stereotypes. I have so many African brothers and sisters who have to lie that they are American or British to get a job.

Samantha said the desire to tell the true African story occurred to her through a sad story when a lecture in a class she was the only African misrepresented African people.

One of the reasons I started Appreciate Africa Network was because of what one of my professors said during my Masters of Business Administration course, she said.

She showed us some Masai people from Kenya and she said, Imagine if you were to put this man in a car. He is likely to die of heart attack than if you put him in a den of lions.

"I remember that day I was shivering with anger and I was the only African and black person in my group. I gave her a piece of my opinion and walked out of the lecture."

I spend a week without going to the classes and when I returned we were asked to write what we know about continents. We were 20 in that class and 19 of the students wrote that Africa had poverty, diseases, hunger and war.

Samantha said she then made up her mind to start the Appreciate Africa Network in an effort to project the positive side of the continent which many foreigners were not aware of.

The students at the speech and music contest presented their countries passionately and expertly, receiving rousing applauses from the audience, which included people from different nationalities.

Judges adjudicated that Sierra Leonean representative Godfrey Lloyd Randall was the overall winner after he spoke about his country comprehensively.

Randall aroused emotions in the crowd when he touched on the emotive issue of how Sierra Leone was used as a port to transport African slaves to work in plantations in the Americas.

He also spoke of how Africans launched sustained resistance against slave trade and European colonisation, including launching a sustained war in Sierra Leone.

Randal then presented the modern Sierra Leone, how it has since recovered from that dark era to make progress in its endavours to develop into a modern country.

The first runner-up went to Wakonyu Mukoma from Kenya, who, dressed in a Masai tribal outfit, talked about her countrys changing landscape both politically and economically.

She also showcased why outsiders should visit Kenya to explore its vast wildlife and other tourist attractions.

The second runner-up, Mwiza Vwalika from Zambia, made a broad presentation of his country which helped debunk a number of stereotypes.

Sherif Salman from Egypt was judged the most promising male after he gave a good account of his country, starting with its historical attractions like the pyramids.

For the females, the most promising speech award went to Christelle Mukazera from Rwanda, who showed how her country has recovered from the genocide which claimed nearly one million lives within four months in 1994.

It was one of the most touching speeches and in awarding her the prize, the judges noted that her presentation was touching and an eye opener.

The best dressed male was Glen Dhliwayo from Zimbabwe, while the best dressed female was Hadjar Bessaih from Algeria.

Randall, Ambassador Chikawa and Samantha

Some Chinese nationals took turns to sing songs by African legendary musicians, with Uyi Lee performing Miriam Makeba of South Africas Pata Pata, while Lixia sang Neria by Zimbabwes Oliver Mtukudzi.

Also on offer at the event was an African cuisine which included the staple thick porridge made out of maize meal that is eaten mostly in eastern and southern Africa.

In several countries in east African, that food is known as ugali in Swahili, while in Zimbabwe it is called sadza or isithwala, pap in South Africa, phaletshe in Botswana and nsima in Zambia and Malawi.

Samantha formed Appreciate Africa Network in 2013 to create awareness about Africa, African people and their culture not only in China, but in the whole of Asia.

The organisation does not only strive to deal with the above mentioned stereotypes, it also brings to the fore contributions that Africans are making to the development of China.

It hosts many other activities that offer Africans an opportunity to participate and market their countries in China, the whole of Asia and the world.

Lovemore Chikova is the News Editor for The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe and a fellow at the China-Africa Press Centre. He can be contacted on [email protected]
Carbon tube (center) as a photon source and superconducting nanowires as receivers constitute part of the optical chip (Photo: W.Pernice/WWU)

Whether for use in safe data encryption, ultrafast calculation of huge data volumes or so-called quantum simulation of highly complex systems: Optical quantum computers are a source of hope for tomorrows computer technology. For the first time, scientists now have succeeded in placing a complete quantum optical structure on a chip, as outlined in the Nature Photonics journal. This fulfills one condition for the use of photonic circuits in optical quantum computers. (DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2016.178)

Experiments investigating the applicability of optical quantum technology so far have often claimed whole laboratory spaces, explains Professor Ralph Krupke of the KIT. However, if this technology is to be employed meaningfully, it must be accommodated on a minimum of space. Participants in the study were scientists from Germany, Poland, and Russia under the leadership of Professors Wolfram Pernice of the Westphalian Wilhelm University of Munster (WWU) and Ralph Krupke, Manfred Kappes, and Carsten Rockstuhl of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

The light source for the quantum photonic circuit used by the scientists for the first time were special nanotubes made of carbon. They have a diameter 100,000 times smaller than a human hair, and they emit single light particles when excited by laser light. Light particles (photons) are also referred to as light quanta. Hence the term quantum photonics.

That carbon tubes emit single photons makes them attractive as ultracompact light sources for optical quantum computers. However, it is not easily possible to accommodate the laser technology on a scalable chip, admits physicist Wolfram Pernice. The scalability of a system, i.e. the possibility to miniaturize components so as to be able to increase their number, is a precondition for this technology to be used in powerful computers up to an optical quantum computer.

As all elements on the chip now developed are triggered electrically, no additional laser systems are required any more, which is a marked simplification over the optical excitation normally used. The development of a scalable chip on which a single-photon source, detector, and waveguide are combined, is an important step for research, emphasizes Ralph Krupke, who conducts research at the KIT Institute for Nanotechnology and the Institute of Materials Science of the Darmstadt Technical University. As we were able to show that single photons can be emitted also by electric excitation of the carbon nanotubes, we have overcome a limiting factor so far preventing potential applicability.

About the methodology: The scientists studied whether the flow of electricity through carbon nanotubes caused single light quanta to be emitted. For this purpose, they used carbon nanotubes as single-photon sources, superconducting nanowires as detectors, and nanophotonic waveguides. One single-photon source and two detectors each were connected with one waveguide. The structure was cooled with liquid helium to allow single light quanta to be counted. The chips were produced in an electron beam scribing device.

The scientists work is fundamental research. It is not yet clear whether and when it will lead to practical applications. Wolfram Pernice and the first author, Svetlana Khasminskaya, were supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, Ralph Krupke was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.

Original publication:

Khasminskaya S. et al. (2016): Fully integrated quantum photonic circuit with an electrically driven light source. Nature Photonics; DOI10.1038/nphoton.2016.178

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Prototype tandem solar module made up of a semitransparent perovskite solar module (on top) and a CIGS solar module (below). (Picture: imec/ZSW/KIT)

Thin-film technologies can dramatically reduce the cost of next-generation solar modules. Whereas their production cost is low, it is in particular the combination of complementary absorber materials in a tandem solar module that increases the power conversion efficiency. At the PSCO international conference in Genova, researchers from KIT, ZSW, and the Belgian research institute imec present a perovskite/CIGS tandem thin-film solar module that achieves 17.8 percent in efficiency, surpassing for the first time the efficiency of separate perovskite and CIGS solar modules.

Our prototype demonstrates that scalable perovskite/CIGS solar modules can drastically surpass the efficiency of a separate solar module made of these materials, emphasizes Dr. Ulrich W. Paetzold of KIT. His newly established young investigators group at KITs Institute of Microstructure Technology and Institute of Light Technology investigates and optimizes light trapping and energy efficiency in these tandem solar modules.

Professor Michael Powalla, head of the Thin-film Photovoltaics Division at KIT as well as member of the board and head of the Photovoltaics Division at ZSW, points out: The novel stacked module is an elegant way of making optimum use of a large part of the solar spectrum by combining the advantages of two highly innovative thin-film technologies. Whereas the semitransparent upper perovskite solar module efficiently absorbs the high-energy portion of the solar spectrum, the lower CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) layer converts the infrared parts. In total, the prototype achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 17.8 percent. For comparison, the current world record for perovskite modules on this scale is at 15.3 percent, and the reference CIGS solar module has an efficiency of 15.7 percent.

Besides, the stacked module implements a fully scalable device concept that matches industrial needs. Both, the perovskite top module and the CIGS bottom module feature an aperture area of 3.67 square centimeter and a monolithic interconnection scheme, using 4 and 7 module cell stripes respectively. The area losses are less than 8 percent for both technologies and the interconnection can be laser-processed, allowing industrial scaling to stacked modules of several square meters. All previous reports on this technology have been limited to very small scale solar cells. The presented achievement takes the technology to large area and scalable solar module architecture which show remarkable power conversion efficiencies.

Tom Aernouts, team leader head of thin-film PV research at imec commented: This result was made possible by combining the complementary world-leading expertise of the three partners in a very fruitful collaboration. Whereas the Belgian research institute imec is a leader in the manufacture of semitransparent perovskite solar modules, ZSW is a pioneer in the development and scaling of CIGS-based solar cells and modules and holds the efficiency world record of 22.6 percent for CIGS thin-film solar cells which are the basic elements for interconnected solar modules. The Helmholtz Young Investigators Group at KIT, headed by Dr. Ulrich W. Paetzold, studies the optics in these components and develops new nanophotonic materials for improved light harvesting.

Read more about nanophotonics at KIT:

https://www.imt.kit.edu/1291.php

More about Nanotechnology at KIT:

https://www.stn.kit.edu/

About ZSW

ZSW (Zentrum fur Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wurttemberg - Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wurttemberg) is one of the leading institutes for applied research in the areas of photovoltaics, renewable fuels, battery technology, fuel cells, and energy system analysis. There are currently around 230 scientists, engineers, and technicians employed at ZSWs three locations in Stuttgart, Ulm, and Widderstall. In addition, there are 90 research and student assistants. Read more: www.zsw-bw.de

About imec

Imec performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics and photovoltaics leveraging its scientific knowledge with the innovative resources of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare, and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China, and Japan. Its staff of about 2,500 people includes about 740 guest researchers. The imec budget is 415 million euros. Imec is a partner in Solliance (www.solliance.eu) and Energyville (www.energyville.be). Read more: www.imec.be

More about the KIT Energy Center: www.energy.kit.edu

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
HANOI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0058 GMT.

Sept 27 Sept 26 USD/VND mid-point 21,943 21,946

USD/VND interbank 22,311/22,312 22,311/22,312 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.04/36.30 36.06/36.32

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank quotes are indicative bid/ask prices.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co, the gold manufacturer.

Interbank offered rates are indicative, quoted from market sources.

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
(Updates to close)

By Aparajita Saxena

Sept 27 (Reuters) - Australian shares pared early losses on Tuesday on investor views that Democratic Hillary Clinton won the first U.S. president debate with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Traders are wary over the uncertainty that a Trump presidency might bring, especially in areas of U.S. foreign policy, trade and the domestic economy, while viewing Clinton as the candidate of status quo.

The S&P/ASX 200 index finished down 0.5 percent at 5,405.9 points, after slumping 1.1 percent in early trade.

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials (GIC) Index ended 0.73 percent lower, with Australia's "big four" banks leading losses.

Renewable energy company Infigen Energy Ltd was the biggest percentage loser on the index, falling 5 percent to its lowest in almost four months. Coal miner Whitehaven Coal also ended 3.1 percent lower.

Qantas Airways shed 2.2 percent, its biggest percentage loss in a little more than two weeks after snapping four straight sessions of gains.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index also pared early losses to end down nearly 0.2 percent, or 12 points, after receding 0.6 percent in morning trade.

Losses in financials and telecommunication services were offset by gains in materials and healthcare stocks.

Fletcher Building Ltd , the second biggest gainer on the index ended 1.6 percent higher, while energy company Genesis Energy Ltd slipped 1.78 percent after crude futures fell on profit-taking. (Reporting by Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
CAIRO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - BP has signed amendments to the Temsah, Ras El Barr and Nile Delta Offshore concessions in Egypt, allowing for the development of the Nooros field, the company said on Tuesday.

"BP is proud to progress the acceleration of its drilling activities in the three concession areas. The conclusion of these amendments was a critical milestone that allowed the discovery and fast track development of the Nooros field," Hesham Mekawi, BP's North Africa chief said in a statement.

Noroos achieved in September a record production of 700 million standard cubic feet per day, the company said, and is targeted to reach 88 million standard cubic feet per day by early 2017.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Lin Noueihed)
TEL AVIV, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Israel Discount Bank said on Tuesday it has accepted precommitments from institutional investors for 481 million shekels ($128 million) worth of shares that it plans to sell in an offering of shares and options.

The price per unit of 150 shares was set at 1,039.5 shekels, reflecting a price per share of 6.93 shekels, a 1.5 percent premium to its close on Monday.

Discount said it is selling a total of 80.4 million shares in an offering to the public.

Israel's fourth-largest bank also said it accepted precommitments from institutions for 77.8 million shekels worth of options.

The bank had said on Monday its board had authorised an offering of stock and options. The offering is still subject to regulatory approval. "The offering is being carried out against the backdrop of accelerated growth in the bank's credit portfolio and is aimed at enabling the realisation of the business growth potential, increasing profitability and improving the efficiency ratio and return on equity," the bank said on Monday.

Earlier this month Discount approved an efficiency plan that is expected to help reduce its workforce by about 1,000 people in the next five years. ($1 = 3.7490 shekels)

(Reporting by Tova Cohen, Editing by Ari Rabinovitch)
* Mexican peso climbs about 2 pct, Canadian dollar rises

* Dollar/yen up from recent 1-month low

* Clinton seen keeping status quo, uncertainty over Trump

(Updates throughout, adds fresh quote)

By Anirban Nag

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The Mexican peso rose 2 percent on Tuesday after record lows against the U.S. dollar, buoyed by a view that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton fared better than rival Donald Trump in a television debate.

The peso was on track for its best daily rise in three weeks, lifting the higher-yielding Canadian dollar along with it. Canada, like Mexico, has close trade ties with the United States and is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Markets have tended to regard Clinton as someone who is likely to retain the status quo, while few are sure what a Trump presidency might mean for U.S. foreign policy, international trade deals or the domestic economy.

Higher-yielding currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars also did well, rising 0.3 percent against the U.S. dollar. The safe-haven yen underperformed.

"The currency market is dominated by risk-on. Not only the currencies of the neighbouring countries Mexico and Canada were able to appreciate notably, but also other conventional risk currencies such as the Aussie, kiwi and the Scandinavian currencies," said Esther Reichelt, currency strategist at Commerzbank.

"Similar to the June 23 Brexit referendum date, Nov. 8 (the presidential election date) entails some very binary risks. Either everything remains as it is, which a Clinton victory would imply, or there is a likelihood of everything or at least a lot changing rapidly."

Earlier, the Mexican peso touched record lows of around 19.92 pesos per dollar on concerns that a Trump victory would threaten Mexico's exports to the United States, its single biggest market. Data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed that speculators had recently ramped up their bearish bets against the peso. It was trading at 19.5950 in Europe, up around 1.4 percent on the day. Similarly the Canadian dollar was flat at C$1.3215 per U.S. dollar , having weakened to a six-month low earlier in the Asian trading session.

Earlier, both presidential candidates traded barbs and accusations in their first debate. Clinton accused Trump of racism, sexism and tax avoidance while the real estate tycoon, making his first run for public office, said Clinton's long years of service represented "bad experience". A CNN/ORC snap poll said 62 percent of respondents felt Clinton won and 27 percent believed Trump had prevailed.

"Markets fretted that a strong Trump performance would add to his recent momentum, but the consensus takeaway was that Clinton had the upper hand with a sharp performance and the concern in asset markets yielded to a relief rally," said John Hardy, head of currency strategy at Saxo Bank.

(Editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Kitco News) - Monday evening's U.S. presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump saw Clinton win the contest, most market watchers reckon. This helped to rally world stock markets and put some downside pressure on the gold market Tuesday. Asian and European stock markets rallied and U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward firmer openings when the New York day session begins.

There is a sense outside the U.S. that Trump is an unknown and potentially unpredictable, which could bring anxiety to some markets if it appears Trump has a better chance to become the next U.S. president. Markets are now starting to pay closer attention to the U.S. presidential race heading up to the early-November election.

Traders and investors worldwide are closing watching this week's OPEC oil cartel meeting in Algiers. Oil ministers arriving in Algiers for the meeting are already making all kinds of comments to the press. However, most energy market watchers do not believe OPEC will make any significant moves to reduce their collective crude oil output, or to forge an agreement with Russia to stabilize world oil prices. Iran's oil minister reportedly said Tuesday that this week's meetings are only "consultative" in nature, which put some more downside pressure on the crude oil market.

In other overnight news, the European Central Bank and People's Bank of China agreed to extend a currency swap arrangement put in place three years ago.

Focus continues on the German Deutsche Bank, whose shares are tumbling amid the bank having potentially big fines levied against it from U.S.

regulators. The weakened German bank has put downside price pressure on other financial stocks in the Euro zone.

By Jim Wyckoff, contributing to Kitco News; jwyckoff@kitco.com

Follow Jim Wyckoff @jimwyckoff
I was honored to attend the recently-concluded G20 Hangzhou Summit both as a member of German delegation headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and a representative of Hamburg, the next host city of the G20 Summit.

During this Hangzhou visit, I found several of similarities between Hangzhou and Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany. Both cities, for instance, are popular tourism destinations.

As the largest port in Germany and the third largestin Europe, open and internationalized Hamburg is also the engine of German economy.

During my trip, I was impressed by the enormous efforts China made to ensure the success of the summit. The well-prepared infrastructure and supporting services, for example, can provide a good reference for Hamburg, especially the hotels, cafeterias, the media center, registration process and the security checks.

The organizers not only did a good job in traffic management, but also applied high-tech equipment in security check work. The friendly volunteers at the airport and the conference also provided a satisfactory service.

My biggest impression about the summit is that China, as the second largest economy, has prepared itself well to address global challenges together with the rest of world on the international stage.

The Hangzhou Summit also stressed the importance of innovation and interconnection, in which fields Germany and China share promising cooperation prospects.

The governments and enterprises of both countries have realized the importance of the digital economy and kept close connection in trade and industry. For instance, many mechanical devices and automobile spare parts in Germany are imported from China while more and more Chinese enterprises are investing in Germany to increase value through technology integration.

Yet the two countries could still further their cooperation in innovation. In addition to state-driven innovation, I believe that the private sector is also very important. Alibaba, China's e-commerce giant based in Hangzhou, is a pioneer in this field.

During the summit, Merkel mentioned her desireto include women and health into the agendas of the next G20 Summit. Meanwhile, the strategies of Made in China 2025 and Industry 4.0 are expected to be discussed as well.

In my opinion, the Hamburg Summit should follow the footstep of Hangzhou Summit in inviting many developing countries. With China's experiences and support from the international community, I believe Hamburg will host a successful summit next year.

(The author is the State Secretary to the Senate Chancellery, Hamburg)
ATHENS, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Greek lawmakers on Tuesday passed reforms sought by the country's creditors to cut pension spending and expedite privatisations in exchange for financial aid under the country's latest international bailout.

Signalling the conclusion of a first review of bailout terms, parliament voted by a majority to reform the country's electricity market and transfer state assets into an umbrella sovereign wealth fund.

The reforms were passed by a majority vote in the 300-seat parliament by members of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' leftist-led government. Passage of the reforms may unlock 2.8 billion euros of loans when deputy euro zone finance ministers meet this week.

Greece signed up to an international bailout worth up to 86 billion euros in mid-2015, its third financial lifeline from lenders since 2010.

Greece's public sector union (ADEDY) opposed the transfer of assets into the fund, saying it opens the way for the fire-sale of strategic state-controlled companies to private investors.

"Health, education, electricity and water are not commodities. They belong to the people," the union said in a statement.

Workers at the country's listed water utilities in Athens and Thessaloniki also walked out on Tuesday to protest at the transfers of the government's stakes to the new fund.

Government officials say the transfer - grouping privatisation agency TAIPED, bank stability fund HFSF, state real estate and some state entities under a holding company - did not constitute plans for a sell-off, but more effective management.

"Transferring (the assets) to the fund does not mean the state forfeits its property. Secondly it does not mean privatisation, and thirdly, these assets are not collateral for the loans of the country," Energy Minister Panos Skourletis told a parliamentary debate earlier

Representatives from the country's lenders - the European Commission, European Central Bank, European Stability Mechanism and the International Monetary Fund - are expected in Athens mid-October, to start a second bailout review which includes unpopular labour reforms.

Greece hopes to wrap up that review quickly and qualify for participation in the European Central Bank's quantitative easing programme early next year.

But government officials, echoing Tsipras' pre-election pledges, have said that Athens is not willing to implement reforms that could lead to job losses and further wage cuts.

(Reporting by Michele Kambas and Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Alison Williams)
(Kitco News) - OceanaGold Corp. (TSX, ASX ,NZX: OGC) say it has not received a formal shutdown order for the Didipio mine in the Philippines, operations are continuing and the company is willing to work with authorities to resolve any issues.

Recently elected President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to get tough with mining companies over environmental issues.

Overnight news reports say that the Philippines ordered the suspension of 20 more mines after 10 were shuttered as part of an audit last month. The most recent round involved mostly nickel operations, and nickel prices surged on the London Metal Exchange Tuesday as a result, rising 0.7% even as base-metals bellwether copper traded 1.2% lower.

OceanaGold was also caught in the governments crosshairs.

Reuters reported that each mining company would have a chance to respond to audits before the Department of Energy and Natural Resources decides whether to impose a suspension.

OceanaGold issued a statement saying it has not received a formal order and is seeking clarification and further details. In the meantime, Didipio operations continue. The company said it will consider all avenues to resolve the issue.

The company defended Didipio, saying it received a number of environmental, health, safety and social awards between 2014 and 2016.

We pride ourselves, and have been recognized on numerous occasions, for being a responsible mining company with a long history of operating to the highest industry standards on health, safety, environment, community and sustainability, said Mick Wilkes, president and chief executive officer.

He later added, The Didipio mine has a strong social license to operate. Our achievements since recommencement of construction in 2011 would not have been achieved without our steadfast commitment to the community and most importantly the strong endorsement from the residents of Didipio and the nine other communities in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Currently, OceanaGold said, the Didipio operation employs over 1,800 people, 98% of whom are Filipino nationals. The mines economic contribution to the Philippines in the form of taxes and royalties was estimated at $70 million over the past three and a half years.

According to OceanaGolds website, the mine has nominal production of 100,000-plus ounces of gold and 14,000-plus tonnes of copper. The mine life is estimated to last beyond the year 2030.

BMO Capital Markets said in a research note that analysts look for weakness in OceanaGold shares until there is further clarity on the issue. News reports say that trading of company shares was suspended in Australia overnight.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Follow @KitcoNewsNOW
MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Australian miner OceanaGold Corp said on Tuesday it has not received an order from a Philippine mining agency to suspend its operations in the country and that activity at its gold-copper mine is continuing.

"The company will consider all avenues, including working collaboratively with the DENR, to facilitate the immediate resolution of this matter to ensure no disruption to our operations and our valued local workforce," the company said in a statement, referring to the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"We are disappointed with the statements made earlier today and will seek clarification and reconsideration from the DENR to further understand and rectify this matter in short order," OceanaGold CEO Mick Wilkes said in the statement.

OceanaGold runs the Didipio mine in the northern Luzon island and is the Philippines' top gold producer. It was among those ordered suspended by the DENR for environmental infractions. Wilkes earlier told Reuters that OceanaGold has not committed environmental violations. Shares of the Australia-listed miner fell 8.2 percent on the news of the suspension order, prompting the firm to request a trading halt pending an announcement.

(Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
BRATISLAVA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Tuesday.

ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================

Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: ==========================EVENTS===============================

BRATISLAVA - Informal meeting of EU defence ministers.

Related stories: BRATISLAVA - The Slovak Central Bank to present its quarterly macroeconomic forecast.

Related stories: ==========================NEWS================================

IMMIGRATION: Quotas for distributing asylum seekers among European Union member states are "politically finished", Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, said on Monday.

Story: Related stories: UNITED NATIONS: Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres leads the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General after a fifth U.N. Security Council secret ballot on Monday, diplomats said. Former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic came in second, while Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak was third.

Story: Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jason Hovet on +420 224 190 476

E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com

(Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
HANOI, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0412 GMT.

Sept 27 Sept 26 USD/VND mid-point 21,943 21,946 USD/VND interbank 22,313/22,315 22,311/22,312 USD/VND unofficial 22,305/22,315 22,300/22,315 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.04/36.28 36.06/36.32

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.3-0.7 0.4-0.7

1 week 0.5-0.8 0.5-0.8

1 month 1.6-2.2 1.6-2.2

3 months 3.2-4.2 3.2-4.2

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.

One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.

For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .

For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
(Kitco News) - While it might seem like the gold market is losing momentum and prices have been stuck in a range since July, one geologist and mining analyst said that there are still plenty of opportunities for investors.

Micky Fulp, founder of the Mercenary Geologist mining newsletter, said that he sees strong potential for exploration and early-stage development companies in the mining sector. He added that optimism, which he described as buoyant, was strongly felt at the 2016 Precious Metals Summit at Beaver Creek, Colorado, which he recently attended.

Im not buying major miners or mid-tier producers. Im buying companies in the five- to 25-cent range. That is where the value is right now, he said. There is a lot of money out there right now being thrown into the resource sector and we saw that at Beaver Creek.

When looking for opportunities in the mining sector, Fulp said that he prefers the exploration and emerging producers, as they currently have seen the same gains as compared to other sectors in the mining space.

Fulp said that the mining index he is currently watching right now is TSX Venture Index in Toronto, a good representation of explorers and early-stage companies. Currently, the index is trading around 800. While up since the start of the year and off its multi-year lows, the index is down from the 2,000 level seen in 2011 and down from its all-time highs seen nearly a decade ago above 3,300.

The TSX Venture Index is up about 55% since January, beating golds gains, which is up more than 26%. However the index has lagged other mining sectors by comparison. Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARC: GDXJ), a representation of mid-tier junior gold producers, is up almost 130% for the year. At the same time, major gold producers in the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARC: GDX) are up almost 82%.

What Im looking at right now, I think the TSX Venture has room to move and my sweet spot right now is startup companies, he said. Where Im finding the great deals are the startups with the right people. My money is going into projects that have the people who have had seen success before.

Fulp said that the nano-cap gold companies with early-stage projects offer the best value for investors.



Along with the right people, Fulp said that companies equity structure and projects jurisdiction are other important factors investors need to look at. And when all of these elements fall into place investment becomes a no brainer.

By Neils Christensen of Kitco News; nchristensen@kitco.com

Follow @Neils_C
* Rand gains for second session in a row

* Stocks slip as worries over banks weighs

(Updates with closing prices)

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 27 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed on Tuesday as risk currencies were lifted by Hillary Clinton's performance against Donald Trump in the first debate between the U.S. presidential candidates.

But stocks soured in line with global peers on worries about European banks.

By 1530 GMT the rand had firmed 1.48 percent to 13.5075 per dollar, compared to its close at 13.7100 overnight in New York, a second consecutive session of gains.

Government bonds were on the backfoot, with the yield on the benchmark 2026 issue up 6 basis points to 8.61 percent.

In the absence of any local data releases, the rand has been driven by offshore sentiment. Last week's rally was triggered by the central bank's decision to hold rates, sustained by improved in-flows and the continued hunt for yield globally.

"Markets have breathed a sigh of relief this morning as the first U.S. presidential debate drew to a close," Standard Bank trader Inshaan Omar said in a note.

But the equities mood in Europe soured as Deutsche Bank shares hit another record low on nagging worries about the lender's health. Mood swings in Europe often hit South Africa because the time zones are the same or similar and because its blue chips are followed by big funds.

Decliners in Johannesburg included MTN , Africa's biggest telecoms company. Its shares fell 3.4 percent to 119.77 rand on news that lawmakers in Nigeria's parliament had agreed to probe an allegation that the company illegally transferred $13.92 billion out of the West African country. The benchmark Top-40 index slipped 1.26 percent to 44,397 while the All-share index fell 1.13 percent to 50,899.

Momentum indicators tracked by some analysts suggest both indexes may soon stray into oversold territory, which could stem further declines in the short term.

(Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and Ed Stoddard; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Arsenio Hall opens the Admiral Theatre's 2016-17 season with an appearance Sept. 30.

SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS Arsenio Hall, who stepped out of the limelight in 1999 to raise his son, Arsenio Jr., is rebooting his stand-up comedy chops. REED SAXON | ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Presidential candidate Bill Clinton stepped up to play "Heartbreak Hotel" with the band during a 1992 episode of "The Arsenio Hall Show."

By Michael C. Moore, mmoore@kitsapsun.com

Long before Arsenio Hall became the toast of late-night television, he did stand-up comedy. Before breaking into movies  most famously as Eddie Murphy's sidekick in "Coming to America"  he did stand-up.

And now, after being largely out of the public eye, he returns to those roots with a new stand-up tour that touches down Sept. 30 at the Admiral Theatre, the first show of the Admiral's 2016-17 season.

He is best known, of course, as the host of "The Arsenio Hall Show," which ran from 1987-94, starting on the Fox network as a replacement for a failed chat-show featuring Joan Rivers and later moving into syndication. He scored his share of attention-grabbing moments in the competitive late-night market, not the least of which was Bill Clinton's appearance and turn on the saxophone with the band  a stunt many say helped Clinton get elected.

The stand-up, comedy writing and acting all were means to an end, Hall told CNN in a 2013 interview.

"As a kid, I set up folding chairs in a basement in Cleveland," he said of his boyhood home. Gesturing and moving as if he was in the middle of one of his shows, he added, "and did this. I don't know if that's self-visualization, but I'm being allowed to live my dream. Other than my kid, this is the only thing I've ever loved."

That interview was in anticipation of Hall's return to late-night television, a syndicated outing that premiered in September 2013, but was canceled just eight months later.

Famously the first African-American talk show host, Hall definitely has some stories to tell, from going up against late-night talk titans Johnny Carson and Jay Leno to serving as stay-at-home dad for his now-teenaged son, Arsenio Jr.

In 2016, at his son's urging, he returned to television as host of the ABC show "Greatest Hits," and to movies with a part in the Adam Sandler feature "Sandy Wexler," set for a 2017 release.

Stand-up, though, is what he did first. And the current tour  which also stops Oct. 1 at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma  is a chance to see how all that life experience translates into comedy.

PREVIEW

ARSENIO HALL

Where: Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton

When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30

Tickets: $78-$25

Information: 360-373-6743, admiraltheatre.org
SHARE

By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

BANGOR  The Navy awarded a California company a $21.5 million contract to complete the security perimeter around Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor's waterfront restricted area.

What the Navy calls a waterfront security enclave exists on shore. It's like a double prison fence, with clear zones, lighting, sensors, cameras and a patrol road. There's a port security barrier, or floating fence, in Hood Canal.

Nova Group of Napa, California, will connect the two at both the south and north ends by building a land-water interface. The company was part of a joint venture selected in May 2012 to construct a $331 million second explosives-handling wharf where nuclear missiles are loaded and unloaded from Trident submarines. Those piers and Delta Pier, where the subs are maintained, are in the waterfront restricted area.

The Navy chose to extend the floating fence instead of building a pile-supported pier, its two alternatives. The existing fence will be lengthened to stretch across the shallow water and attach to concrete abutments built into the shoreline bluff. One observation post will be built at each end and another on a nearby wharf. No mesh will hang down into the water from the fence. Small tug boats can open and close the fence for vessel traffic.

Congress allocated $34.2 million for the project in December.

The floating fence is considered the environmental alternative because the pier would have required much more in-water pile driving. It shouldn't bother marbled murrelets, fish listed on the endangered-species list or marine mammals, according to regulatory agencies. Work won't be conducted between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The project is expected to create 300 direct jobs and 139 indirect jobs, according to the Navy. Total economic output to the region will exceed $48 million.

Bangor needs to comply with Department of Defense directives to protect Trident submarines from increased and evolving threats, prevent the seizure, damage or destruction of military assets and end enhance security within the waterfront restricted area.

The environmental-impact statement containing all the information about the project can be viewed at https://www.nbkeis.com/lwi/Welcome.aspx.

The work is expected to be completed in late winter 2018, said Leslie Yuenger, spokeswoman for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest.

The final go-ahead for the project was signed Sept. 8 by the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment. The contract was signed last week.
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Former Bremerton resident Marie Robinson will likely be confined to Western State Hospital.

By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun

SEATTLE

Charges have been dropped against a former Bremerton woman accused of allowing two of her infant children to starve to death while she was heavily intoxicated.

Marie G. Robinson, who is currently being held at the Seattle Correctional Facility on $2 million bail in connection with the deaths of 6-week-old Raiden and 16-month-old Justice, will soon have a hearing to determine whether she should be confined to a state's mental hospital in Steilacoom indefinitely, King County prosecutors said.

King County Superior Court Judge Helen L. Halpert agreed with prosecutors' arguments that Robinson "does not have a rational nor a factual understanding of the proceedings against her," according to court documents.

Because of the "result of a mental disorder," Robinson "presents a substantial likelihood of repeating similar acts," prosecutors said in an affidavit.

The childrens' paternal grandmother, Sherill Bone, relayed disappointment in the decision. The Bremerton resident believes Robinson should be held accountable for her actions.

However, "If she's not held responsible here, then someday when she meets the Lord she will be," Bone said.

The two counts of second-degree murder against Robinson will be dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could potentially re-charge the case.

The two babies were found dead in their cribs in a Kent apartment in November 2004.

Robinson was found passed out in bed inside the home with more than 300 empty beer cans nearby. Her blood-alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit for driving.

When the children's father went to the home, he got no response and called police.

The couple's other son, Phoenix, was 212 years old at the time. He survived by eating dry noodles and rice.

Reports since the deaths have included criticism of the response to the Robinson case by Child Protective Services' Bremerton caseworkers.

Bone, who is raising Phoenix, now age 5, said there will be "repercussions" that will affect the family for years.

But for her own life to move on, "I have to forgive her for what she's done," she said.
Starting from October 1, the Chinese yuan will, as the fifth currency, be included into Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) along with the US dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound.

Hailing the inclusion of the yuan into the SDR basket, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said at the just-concluded G20 Summit that it is an important milestone for the reform of the international monetary system.

The inclusion came amid repeated turbulence in global financial market since the beginning of this year. As the US, Europe and Japan adopted different monetary policies, the US dollar was regarded as a shelter by global capital, but such choice increased the uncertainty of the financial market as a result.

Sergio Ermotti, the CEO of UBS, spoke highly of China's leadership in coping with the Asian and global economic crises. He said that the yuan, which is now seen as a strong currency,will contribute to a more robust and stable international monetary system after joining the SDR basket.

As China has devoted unremitting efforts in yuans internationalization in recent years, its inclusion into the SDR basket can be seen as a big breakthrough, experts noted.

China has been calling for a broader use of SDR. Those detailed measures, including taking SDR as reporting currency and issuing SDR-denominated bonds, have been agreed by G20 leaders in their Hangzhou communique.

Besides, China has released a report on foreign exchange reserve with SDR as reporting currency, and also authorized the World Bank to sell SDR-denominated bonds in its territory. The size of the new issuance program is 2 billion SDRs and the yuan will be used as the settlement currency.
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By Dave Shorett, Special to the Kitsap Sun

Now that fall has a grip on the Northwest, it's time to plan a trip over the mountains to the eastern part of the state.

There is so much fishing available in late September through October east of the mountains that choosing where to go and where to fish can tie you in knots. Most go to central Washington but if you can take a few more days and drive longer distances, the most remote and least visited part of the state, northeast Washington, gets my vote.

For fall colors, beauty and the most spectacular cross-state drive, take Stevens Pass, follow Highway 2 through Leavenworth, north along the Columbia River shoreline, up the steep grade east to the high elevation farmland vista and on to the Grand Coulee area. I'm stunned by the sheer magnificence of this drive. Stay overnight at Sun Lakes State Park, fish Dry Falls Lake, with its magnificent scenery and often great fishing. You must do this at some point in your life, if not every year.

If you have an extra day, drive north along Banks Lake, fish it if you have the time. There is no better bass lake on the West Coast for my money. If you skip Banks Lake, continue on Highway 2 to Wilbur, turn north on Highway 21 and take the free Keller Ferry across Roosevelt Lake, another must for Washingtonians.

On the way north on 21 to Republic, fly anglers will find a side road to the shore of Long Lake, a little known fly-fishing only lake, pretty enough that most would consider it worth a decent hike to reach. There's a good campground at the lake. Long is a fry-planted, west-slope cutthroat lake, full of gorgeous trout 18 inches and bigger. They are willing eaters, relatively easy to catch using both dry and wet flies. I guarantee that if you camp here, you'll want to go back, even though it's about a 6-hour drive from Seattle. The lake is so remote that WDFW allows you to keep a few of these mountain cuts  they are great eating. There are several other small lakes nearby, also worth fishing.

Drive east about an hour from Republic over Sherman Pass to Kettle Falls, where northeast Washington begins. There are few people here, one is taken back about 40 years. Fall is the best time to fish the Kettle River, which is easily accessible, has both rainbow and browns, and some warmwater species in its lower stretches. There are so many lakes worth fishing in the area I don't know where to begin. The Colville River has its secrets and some locals do very well fishing it.

Further east is the entire Pend Oreille River area, stretching north to Canada. I've never spent the time to get a handle on fishing the Colville and Pend Oreille rivers but they're on my list.

There are waterfalls, historic sites and abundant wildlife which you will encounter in northeast Washington. On a recent trip, we saw a number of bears, too many deer to count, owls and coyotes. One of our group, a fanatic fisherman, claimed to see a wolf. We know him to be your usual fisherman exaggerator, so we have our doubts.

A week is too short a time to spend in northeast Washington. Give it two weeks and enjoy the drive.
Stuff reports:

Crown limousines have clocked more than enough kilometres to drive from Wellington to Auckland 5618 times in the past five years.

Information released under the Official Information Act reveals that the Governments 34 chauffeur-driven cars clocked up 3.5 million kilometres during the past five years.

Drivers were also nabbed 19 times for speeding tickets. While individual drivers seemingly picked up the speeding fines, the Department of Internal Affairs confirmed all operating costs for crown limos were paid for by taxpayers.
There are five candidates seeking two positions. Three candidates have kindly completed the Kiwiblog candidates survey. The candidates are:

What is the maximum average annual rates increase, if any, you would vote for over the next three years?

David Lee  30 cents a day per household, based on a RV of $500,000.

 30 cents a day per household, based on a RV of $500,000. Brendon Bonner  Given circumstances where nothing like the CHCH earthquake occurred, then I would like the maximum average annual rates increase to be no more than 3%. Clearly ratepayers are unhappy with the 4.9% rise this year. Normally I would like to see it around the Local Government Cost index figure, this year 1.9%. However I would like to at least try to get it even lower. In these hard times aiming for a 0% rise would at least show citizens that WCC is listening  this may only be possible with a reduction in services as a quid pro quo and people would need to understand that.

 Given circumstances where nothing like the CHCH earthquake occurred, then I would like the maximum average annual rates increase to be no more than 3%. Clearly ratepayers are unhappy with the 4.9% rise this year. Normally I would like to see it around the Local Government Cost index figure, this year 1.9%. However I would like to at least try to get it even lower. In these hard times aiming for a 0% rise would at least show citizens that WCC is listening  this may only be possible with a reduction in services as a quid pro quo and people would need to understand that. Brent Pierson  3%

DPF comment: Lees 30c a day is $110 a year. a house with an RV of $500,000. WCC says the WCC rates on that value is $2,374. So that is around a maximum 4.6% increase. Bonner and Pierson are around 3%.

Do you support the proposed runway extension for Wellington Airport?

David Lee  No.

 No. Brendon Bonner  Yes.

 Yes. Brent Pierson  Yes.

DPF comment  Lee against and Bonner and Pierson in favour

What is the maximum contribution ($ or %) from WCC toward the runway extension you would vote for?

David Lee  It a private company, so no public money should be used for private infrastructure.

 It a private company, so no public money should be used for private infrastructure. Brendon Bonner  Given that WCC owns 33% of the airport company then that seem like the percentage WCC should pay as its share of the runway extension. However given that there is a case to be made that the possible benefits would flow more to the country and the region rather than just the airport owner then WCC should vigorously pursue contributions from other local governments as well as central government.

 Given that WCC owns 33% of the airport company then that seem like the percentage WCC should pay as its share of the runway extension. However given that there is a case to be made that the possible benefits would flow more to the country and the region rather than just the airport owner then WCC should vigorously pursue contributions from other local governments as well as central government. Brent Pierson  90 million

DPF comment  Lee against any contribution, Bonner favours in line with shareholding and Pierson a $90 million contribution.

Can example of current WCC spending that you would vote against in future?

David Lee  The indoor arena. We already have such venues and facilities.

 The indoor arena. We already have such venues and facilities. Brendon Bonner  The Island Bay cycleway

 The Island Bay cycleway Brent Pierson  Not answered

Do you support four laning (through additional tunnels) the Mt Vic and Terrace tunnels at an estimated cost of $250 million?

David Lee  Only a Mt Vic tunnel, with the proviso of walking and cycling infrastructure.

 Only a Mt Vic tunnel, with the proviso of walking and cycling infrastructure. Brendon Bonner  No. I believe that if public transport was made better and cheaper, then hopefully that would remove a lot of cars from the road as people were economically incentivised (saving $) to use the bus. Folks would use their car only when necessary. The rest of the time, any road trips would be a lot easier because many commuters are off the road happily sitting in their clean, green bus. That would lessen demand on the roading system  and the demand for more roads! I suspect wed still need to do the 2nd Mt Vic tunnel and cut and cover around the Basin. This will probably be forced on us by Wellingtons ever increasing population. However the 2nd Terrace Tunnel proposal needs a lot more scrutiny and the $250 million for both sounds like a builders estimate rather than a quote!

 No. I believe that if public transport was made better and cheaper, then hopefully that would remove a lot of cars from the road as people were economically incentivised (saving $) to use the bus. Folks would use their car only when necessary. The rest of the time, any road trips would be a lot easier because many commuters are off the road happily sitting in their clean, green bus. That would lessen demand on the roading system  and the demand for more roads! I suspect wed still need to do the 2nd Mt Vic tunnel and cut and cover around the Basin. This will probably be forced on us by Wellingtons ever increasing population. However the 2nd Terrace Tunnel proposal needs a lot more scrutiny and the $250 million for both sounds like a builders estimate rather than a quote! Brent Pierson  Yes.

DPF comment: Pierson supports both tunnels expanding, Lee one of them and Bonner neither

Do you support a change to the structure of local government in the Wellington Region, and if so to what?

David Lee  No  any change must be by way of a referendum.

 No  any change must be by way of a referendum. Brendon Bonner  Yes. The control of the public transport of Wellington city needs to be returned to the public of Wellington city. We know best how to spend our tax dollars on the public transport of Wellington. It is unacceptable that currently this vital piece of Wellington citys infrastructure is controlled by a committee of the Greater Wellington Regional Council and that this committee is headed by someone from Upper Hutt. It seems to be be a system set up to fail the public of Wellington  and it is.

 Yes. The control of the public transport of Wellington city needs to be returned to the public of Wellington city. We know best how to spend our tax dollars on the public transport of Wellington. It is unacceptable that currently this vital piece of Wellington citys infrastructure is controlled by a committee of the Greater Wellington Regional Council and that this committee is headed by someone from Upper Hutt. It seems to be be a system set up to fail the public of Wellington  and it is. Brent Pierson  No

Do you support the current closing times for CBD bars of 4am. If not, what time would you prefer?

David Lee  No! I support 3am, the social and economic costs of longer hrs outweigh the benefits to the bars and establishments.

 No! I support 3am, the social and economic costs of longer hrs outweigh the benefits to the bars and establishments. Brendon Bonner  Yes.

 Yes. Brent Pierson  4 am is okay.

DPF comment: Lee supports 3 am. Bonner and Pierson 4 am,

Do you think WCC should make it a condition for any business tendering for a contract with WCC to pay their staff at least $20 an hour?

David Lee  No! But, it should be an evaluation criteria ie. are you a living wage employer?

 No! But, it should be an evaluation criteria ie. are you a living wage employer? Brendon Bonner  Yes  to me it is simply the right and fair thing to do given the cost of living in NZ today. The business tendering for the contract must be the one actually doing the work  they are not to win a tender and then sub-contract it on to a cheaper firm and pocket any difference.

 Yes  to me it is simply the right and fair thing to do given the cost of living in NZ today. The business tendering for the contract must be the one actually doing the work  they are not to win a tender and then sub-contract it on to a cheaper firm and pocket any difference. Brent Pierson  Yes, the Living wage

DPF comment: Bonner and Pierson support the living wage for contractors. Lee thinks it should be a criteria but not a requirement.

Should fluoridation of the Wellington city water supply continue?

David Lee  Yes! What next do away with chlorination, like Havelock Nth.

 Yes! What next do away with chlorination, like Havelock Nth. Brendon Bonner  Yes

 Yes Brent Pierson  Yes.

DPF comment: All candidates in favour of fluoridation.

If Council had an additional 10% revenue, or $40 million, what would be your priority spending areas?

David Lee  $20m for earthquake strengthening fund. $10m as seed money to help startups and business activation. $10m to partner up with business to fund graduate programmes, scholarships, apprenticeship, internships

 $20m for earthquake strengthening fund. $10m as seed money to help startups and business activation. $10m to partner up with business to fund graduate programmes, scholarships, apprenticeship, internships Brendon Bonner  Housing

 Housing Brent Pierson  Help homeless, beggars and community housing

Vegemite or Marmite?

David Lee  Marmite

 Marmite Brendon Bonner  Marmite.

 Marmite. Brent Pierson  Marmite

DPF comment: Vegemite not wanted in the Southern Ward.

The table above is a simple scoring system of responses against my own personal views of low rates, no subsidy for the runway, four lanes on SH1, 4 am closing, no living wage requirement and pro-fluoridation.

Not a big difference between the three candidates.

The scores on policy are not the only factor in deciding how I will vote. Ability to work with others, communicate, work hard etc all factor in also.

Note Paul Eagle did not respond to the survey but from what I know of him he is a sensible and effective Councillor so would vote for him (despite his Labour candidacy).

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Chinas accession to the Presidency of the G20 in 2016 marked an important symbolic shift: It is the first time a major non-Western power has chaired the worlds leadingforum for international cooperation. But it also comes at a difficult and uncertain time for the world economy and political environment. In June the World Bank cut its forecast for the global economy in 2016 from 2.9% to 2.4%. As we head toward a decade after the global financial crisis of 2008 hit, the world is in danger of becoming stuck in pattern of low growth. Traditional policies such as monetary easing no longer seem to be working despite ultra-low interests in many countries. Almost everywhere income inequality is rising, leading to the rise of protectionist sentiments, evident in the Brexit vote for the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, the campaign rhetoric of US Republican candidate Donald Trump, and the rise of nationalist political parties in the developed world, all of which threaten the global trading system. The World Trade Organization (WTO) trade monitoring report this year found that the application of new trade-restrictive measures by G20 economies was on the increase, reaching the highest level since the WTO began collecting these data in 2009. Political tensions and terrorism are also on the rise in many parts of the world. With all these problems there are high expectations that the 2016 G20 Hangzhou Summit agree practical steps that will make progress towards the Chinese G20 Presidencys core G20 theme of Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy. The four key priorities for achieving this goal are "breaking a new path for growth", "more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance", "robust international trade and investment", and "inclusive and interconnected development".This theme and the priorities China proposed have received strong endorsement and support from the other G20 members.

The first priority, "breaking a new path for growth"looks for ways to revive the still-sluggish growth in the world economy in the face the rapid aging of societies that has already hit Japan and Russia, beginning in Europe led by Germany, and soon to become a problem in China, to generate new sources growth that do not depend on a growing population.Many governments are still wary of worsening their budget deficits, so Chinas emphasis is to centre on encouraging increased G20 investment in global infrastructure. China is also focusing G20 efforts on on advancing reform and innovation and creating and seizing new opportunities, especially by removing barriers to the rapid rollout of new technologies. Progress has already been made here. At the Meeting of the G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) in Xi'an earlier this year, for example, set up a group to encourage cooperation in new agricultural technologies by establishing a set of global research collaboration platforms to share technologies, knowledge and innovative research. China can also gain credibility and cement its leadership in opening up a new path for growth by setting a good example with its own structural, supply-side reforms. In June, for example, the State Council, announced that certain sectors, including telecommunications, airports as well as oil and gas exploration, would be further liberalized.

At the core of the second priority, "more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance", is increasing the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries in global economics forums and institutions to better reflect the realities of our 21st Century, multipolar world that is still too dominated by countries who established this system after World War II. In pursuit of this aim, China invited Laos, as the ASEAN Chair; Chad, which holds Presidency of the African Union; Senegal, which holds the Presidency of the New Partnership for Africas Development; and other two other representatives of developing countries, Kazakhstan and Egypt, to attend the Hangzhou G20 Summit. In the area of global financial governance, ways to strengthen the role of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) reserve-currency unit, Special Drawing Rights or SDRs which incorporated the Chinas Yuan this earlier year, and move to price more commodities in SDRs, were all on the agenda. Establishing the SDR as the leading global reserve currency would have many benefits. It would a broader range of countries to enjoy the profits associated with creating global money. The IMF could finance its programmes by creating SDRs, bypassing the tortuous negotiations required to secure credits or raise member quotas in the current system. SDRs could also be used to support development by, for example, allocatinga larger proportion of them in to developing countries in need of foreign-exchange reserves. China also sought to make progress on IMF quota and governance reform, furthering the 15th General Review of Quotas that is already under way.

In the third area of "robust international trade and investment" the Hangzhou Summit focused on addressing the huge global infrastructure gap. McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the world needs more than US$3 trillion investment in infrastructure per year through 2020 if it is to maintain its historic growth rates. The G20 has already established a new international body, the Global Infrastructure Hub (GIH) to implement its multi-year global investment agenda. With the GIH now fully operational, the Hangzhou Summit can build on this foundationto develop new processes to improve and speed up project selection and preparation by governments and attract private capital by establishing mechanisms to better share data, build local capabilities, and match bankable projects to private sector partners. These initiatives can also be coordinated with the work of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), set up by China and headquartered in Beijing which now has 50 countries as members, the one belt, one road initiative, supported by finance from the Silk Road Fund (US$40 billion), the New Development BRICS Bank (US$30 billion), the ASEAN Infrastructure Connectivity Fund (US$20 billion) and existing funding from the China Development Bank. Historically, the G20 has played a more limited role in trade policy. But with the World Trade Organization (WTO) seemingly in deadlock we can expect China to push for the G20s Hangzhou Summitto support free trade agreements as a way to stimulate global demand.

Those initiatives tie in with the final priority area for the Hangzhou summit: "inclusive and interconnected development". This is itself a huge agenda, but the G20 toneeds to achieve progress on reforming global energy governance if the commitments agreed at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conferencein Paris are to be achieved. We can expect pressure for the G20 to agree to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, remove barriers to energy access, encourage efficiency, and increase the transfer of green technology from advanced to developing nations.

Professor of International Management

Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
The International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative is held in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

China sees itself not only as an initiator but also a responsible and reliable practitioner of the Belt and Road Initiative, suggested a think tank in a report on the three-year progress of "Belt and Road," released on Sept. 26.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative is a long-term and systematic program, China should take measures in five areas, including policy, talent cultivation and business support, the report stated. These measures will ensure that China plays a more practical role in the development of the initiative. The report, titled "Adhering to the Planning, Order and Pragmatic Construction of the 'Belt and Road,'" was released on Monday.

The report emphasizes the role of business support systems as a source of power for the initiatives development.

"Comprehensive support for Chinese enterprises in terms of investment banking services, business trust, administration, legal affairs, auditing, consulting and investigation should be in place, so as to help Chinese enterprises prosper while going global," the report said. The report also stated that both a "positive list" and "negative list" should be introduced in the initiative to build a comprehensive mechanism for efficient and integrated progress.

In light of the fact that theres no existing precedent, efforts should be made to explore innovative construction, the report said. A productive network of global Chinese talent should be developed, as overseas Chinese serve as an important link to reduce the gap between China and foreign countries.

Furthermore, the report said that China should offer a full interpretation of the significance of the initiative, clearly explaining its positive effects. This has the potential to facilitate the deepening of international cooperation and reduce misunderstanding of the initiative abroad.

By the end of June 2016, China had issued joint proposals and statements with 56 countries and regional organizations for implementing the initiative, and signed relevant memorandums of understanding or agreements accordingly. China has signed investment treaties with various countries along the Belt and Road route, investing over $50 billion. To ensure adequate financing, China has been pushing for trade settlement in RMB, currency swaps and other financial arrangements.

The report, the country's first authoritative report on the three-year progress of Belt and Road" and a result of research done by a team at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, was released at a seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative, which opened on Sept. 26 in Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi province.
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By The Associated Press

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP)  Seventh-grade students in Tennessee would no longer spend as much time learning about the history of Islam by 2019 under a proposed draft revision being developed by state educators, a newspaper reports.

A section on Islam currently taught in social studies classes has been removed from the State Board of Education's draft, which went online for public review Sept. 15, the Kingsport Times-News reported. Most of the sections involving Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions have remained in the draft in some form.

With the proposed deletion of the "Islamic World, 400 A.D./C.E. - 1500s" section, students would no longer be learning about the Quran or the differences between the Sunni and Shiite branches of the religion, the newspaper had reported.

Laura Encalade, director of policy and research at the State Board of Education, said the proposed draft revisions to social studies standards still would cover all the major religions in accordance with current state standards.

An emailed statement sent via the State Board of Education emphasized that the draft revisions are part of an ongoing process of an educator task force in reviewing all K-12 social studies standards. It added that the educator advisory team accepts and welcomes public input and added that the proposed changes "reflect a consistent approach to what students across grades and courses should learn about all topics, including religion."

"This is still an ongoing process," the statement added, noting the team is continuing to receive public comments as part of a multi-step process in the coming months.

The proposed revisions would be more manageable and "age-appropriate," said Encalade.

"It's still part of history," Susan Lodal, the Kingsport Board of Education Vice President, said of Islam. "We're just not teaching it to our children."

Some Muslim history remains in the seventh-grade draft standards, including in the "West Africa: 400-1500s C.E." section, where students would be expected to learn about Malian king Mansa Musa and his pilgrimage to Mecca, the newspaper reported.

The Department of Education is not involved with the new standards proposal and will not be involved until new standards are adopted, said spokeswoman Chandler Hopper. At that point, the department will put out guidance to school systems on the new standards, he said.

Following the open period for public comment, a Standards Recommendation Committee would make the ultimate recommendation for new social studies standards to the board for a vote in January 2017.

Any final revisions approved would be implemented in the 2019-20 school year, the paper said.

___

Information from: Kingsport Times-News, http://www.timesnews.net
SHARE Carol Dianna Lewis, left, stands with her daughter Amanda Beets. Beets was shocked repeatedly with a Taser by Knoxville Police Department Officer Chad Riggs on March 21, 2005, outside her home, even though she wasnat armed or fighting with officers.

Though local officers seldom use excessive force, those who do usually not fired, prosecuted

By J.J. Stambaugh

270,963 calls for service

10,281 arrests

28.5 percent of crimes cleared by arrest

21 murders and one negligent manslaughter; 1,327 aggravated assaults; 3,086 assaults; 1,336 drug violations; 2,313 drunkenness

338 use of force reports filed

50 KPD officers assaulted

No suspects killed in confrontations with KPD officers; one white male wounded in an officer-involved shooting.

284,479 calls for service

9,206 arrests

35.5 percent of crimes cleared by arrest

18 murders; 1,159 aggravated assaults; 3,208 assaults; 1,307 drug violations; 1,869 drunkenness

346 use of force reports filed

56 officers assaulted

One black male killed in an officer-involved shooting.

281,468 calls for service

11,127 arrests

42.2 percent of crimes cleared by arrest

21 murders and one negligent manslaughter; 1,026 aggravated assaults; 2,680 assaults; 1,641 drug violations; 1,843 drunkenness

383 use of force reports

76 officers assaulted

No suspects killed in confrontations with officers; one black male wounded in an officerinvolved shooting.

287,710 calls for service

12,629 arrests

44.3 percent of crimes cleared by arrest

25 murders and two negligent manslaughters; 1,067 aggravated assaults; 2,465 assaults; 1,940 drug violations; 1,704 drunkenness

279 use of force reports

63 officers assaulted

One Hispanic male killed in an officerinvolved shooting; one white male committed suicide in Jefferson County during a confrontation with a KPD SWAT team, which was deployed to assist local authorities; and one black male wounded in an officerinvolved shooting.

298,578 calls for service

15,176 arrests

47.4 percent of crimes cleared by arrest

18 murders and one negligent manslaughter; 1,254 aggravated assaults; 2,813 assaults; 2,372 drug violations; 2,191 drunkenness

315 use of force reports

58 officers assaulted

Three black males killed and one white male wounded in officer-involved shootings. Sources: Knoxville Police Department; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

2003200420052006

In 2004, a man who allegedly ran from and then struggled with Knoxville police was kicked by an officer after he had been handcuffed and stopped resisting.

In 2005, an unarmed, mentally disabled woman was shocked repeatedly in her front yard by a Taser-wielding Knoxville Police Department officer who later said he didn't know he'd used the weapon and, if he did, it was an accident.

Last year, a mentally ill homeless man who screamed pronouncements about God and Satan was slapped and then punched repeatedly by a Knox County Sheriff's Office corporal while he was strapped into a restraint chair at the county jail, unable to fight back or even move.

In each case, Internal Affairs investigators found that the officers broke departmental rules by using excessive force. But none of the officers involved was fired or charged with a crime.

None of the cases was referred to the Knox County Distict Attorney General's Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or the FBI for independent review.

They were instead dealt with internally through suspensions or letters of reprimand.

Local officers infrequently use violence when dealing with the public, and instances in which they improperly use physical force are few and far between. But, while excessive force cases involving local law enforcement officers are aberrations, it's even rarer for the officers to be fired or prosecuted criminally, even when authorities have clear evidence of misconduct, according to a News Sentinel review of approximately 200 Internal Affairs cases from both KPD and KCSO from 2004 to early this year.

Also, neither agency has a policy requiring investigators to notify local prosecutors or any other outside agency when it appears that an officer might have broken the law or when an excessive force complaint is lodged.

But records also reveal that both agencies take complaints of officer misconduct seriously and that supervisors have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to discipline officers who break the rules, the News Sentinel review shows.

Exactly how much punishment is enough, however, remains an open question, and the answer largely depends on whom you ask.

Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols, who is in charge of prosecuting crimes in Knox County, said he was unaware of the incidents referenced in the investigation until the News Sentinel queried him about them.

"I've not heard any of those tales," he said. "I don't know exactly how to respond. ... The management can't let that go on. That's just a problem waiting to hit somebody between the eyes. Most of the time, they're pretty good to consult with us."

Nichols said it's a good idea for cases to be initially screened "by a competent police professional, but it would be reasonable to have an independent agency review these."

When asked if be believes KPD should change its policy to require that a separate criminal probe be initiated or the DA's office notified whenever excessive force allegations are raised, Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said be believes that such incidents should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Owen also said all citizens have the right to contact the DA's office on their own if they wish to seek charges.

"That is certainly an option that they have," he said.

Jimmy "J.J." Jones, KCSO's assistant chief of administration who served as sheriff for several months this year, took a different stance when asked by the News Sentinel if the department's policy should be changed.

"That's a valid point," he said. "We might incorporate that into our general orders for Internal Affairs investigations."

What the numbers show

In a sense, today's KPD was born in early 1998 after the deaths of four men, three of them black, during encounters with police over a seven-month period. Although all the officers were cleared of wrongdoing, the black community lashed out at what they perceived to be a culture of brutality and indifference.

Then Mayor Victor Ashe and then Police Chief Phil Keith responded by creating a citizens' review board, the Police Advisory and Review Committee, to oversee the department and establish a dialogue with the city's various communities.

While maintaining that racism and brutality weren't widespread problems in the department, Keith instituted a number of changes to make KPD officers more accountable and reduce the likelihood that they would need to use lethal force. Video cameras were soon placed in the agency's cruisers, and department leaders began experimenting with less-lethal weapons such as bean bag projectiles and Tasers in the hope that they would give officers greater flexibility when subduing suspects.

Through PARC's longtime executive director, Carol Scott, citizens were then able to bring their concerns about KPD officers to an independent party who could guide them through filing a complaint. Scott also helped put together training programs that specifically focused on preparing officers to work in an increasingly diverse community where cultural differences can easily lead to misunderstandings or escalate into conflicts.

In recent years, the number of violent confrontations between KPD officers and the public has dropped dramatically, according to a News Sentinel analysis of records compiled from KPD and the TBI.

In 2004, for instance, KPD officers used force in one out of every 29 arrests - or 735 calls for service - and KPD officers were assaulted 76 times. In that year, Internal Affairs investigators probed nine allegations of excessive force and sustained one of them, meaning they found that the officer had broken departmental rules. They also looked into five alleged instances of unnecessary force, sustaining one.

In 2006, KPD officers used force in one out of 48 arrests - or 948 calls for service - and 58 officers were the victims of assault. The IA unit investigated only two excessive force complaints, sustaining none, and nine unnecessary force allegations, sustaining two.

One category in which there has been little if any drop-off is in the use of firearms in the line of duty. There were four officer-involved shootings in 2004, three in 2005 and five in 2006. No officers were killed or wounded in the incidents, in which five suspects were killed and three wounded.

The 40 percent reduction in KPD's overall use-of-force rate occurred during a period of time when there was no significant drop-off in serious violent crimes such as homicide or aggravated assault, and there was a sharp increase in the number of arrests by city officers, figures show. In 2004, for instance, KPD made 11,127 arrests, a number which swelled last year to 15,176.

'They're not hiding things'

The increase in arrests might be attributable to successfully solving more crimes than in the past, said KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk. In 2003, for instance, the agency had a case clearance rate of 35.5 percent, but in 2006, the clearance rate was about 47.4 percent.

KPD's performance is attributed to an ironclad commitment to professionalism that's reflected at all levels, according to Owen.

Owen, who was the chairman of PARC until he took over the job of police chief from Keith in 2004, said KPD makes it a point to hire only the most-qualified candidates, trains them to an exacting standard using a 24-week program, and then insists that they adhere to strict codes of conduct both on and off duty.

"Society has changed, what they expect of officers has changed, and I think that has forced some changes by police departments and how we deal with things," Owen said.

"If you talk with other police agencies, they would say that KPD is considered a leader in professionalism," he said. "Our day-to-day philosophy is to do the right thing. ... We put these men and women under a lot of pressure. ... From time to time, we all make mistakes, but these are minuscule in the scheme of what we accomplish everyday."

KPD's Internal Affairs process involves pulling evidence from numerous sources, such as interviews, videotapes and various internal records. Complaints are filed by citizens who often use PARC as a conduit, by supervisors, and sometimes by other officers. Many investigations deal with administrative or personnel issues, such as violating policies governing the use of in-car cameras, tardiness, or off-duty conduct that may reflect poorly on the department.

Not all allegations end up going to IA investigators, who normally handle those that are more serious. Many complaints - such as allegations of rudeness, which are far more common than complaints about officer violence - are handled by supervisors, but their dispositions are nonetheless recorded.

From 2002 to 2006, the IA unit sustained, or found against officers, more than 50 percent of the time. Once supervisors' inquiries into less-serious offenses are included, the department sustained about 32 percent of the allegations.

Nationally, most police departments have an estimated overall sustained rate of 15 percent to 20 percent, according to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, which means that KPD finds against its own officers more often than the national average. KPD's sustained rate for excessive force allegations is lower than for other types of IA cases, at about 10 percent.

Scott believes the statistics show that the agency is serious when it comes to ensuring that its employees follow the rules.

Scott, who has reviewed more than 1,400 complaints against KPD officers since PARC was created in 1998 and also serves on NACOLE's board, said the high rate of sustained cases shows that the IA process works most of the time.

"I think KPD is being more honest than some other departments," she said. "I think they're not hiding things."

The last time a Knoxville police officer was prosecuted criminally for an excessive force allegation was in 1998, when John Paul Szczepanowski was charged with kicking a handcuffed man. Szczepanowski also was fired, later convicted of official misconduct and sentenced to two years on probation.

Why no prosecutions?

There is no internal policy dictating when cases should be referred to the DA's office or outside agencies, officials say, although all incidents involving the use of deadly force - such as shootings - are reviewed by prosecutors.

Owen said KPD officials look at incidents on a case-by-case basis and evaluate them based on the totality of circumstances. Many times, excessive force cases are detailed by the alleged victims without the proper context, he said, which is akin to opening a book at the end and expecting to understand the story.

Owen also pointed out that IA investigations aren't aimed at pursuing criminal charges but are instead focused on determining whether an officer has broken the department's regulations. Just because an excessive force complaint is sustained, he said, doesn't automatically mean that an officer is guilty of a criminal offense.

"Where we might sustain or find that it happened, a particular allegation, it doesn't necessarily translate into being a prosecutable type violation," he said. "It could very easily be an administrative issue, an internal KPD rule that was violated."

IA records reveal that KPD officers have repeatedly turned in other officers who abuse citizens, a fact that Deputy Chief Gus Paidousis said he believes shows exactly how serious the agency is about curbing unnecessary violence.

"It further underscores the climate we have," he said. "Not only will the command staff not tolerate it, but the officers won't tolerate it."

But the lack of prosecutions against officers has led to a certain level of uneasiness, even among those who believe the agency is serious about policing its own.

PARC's executive director, for one, said that citizens have repeatedly asked her why police aren't charged criminally in connection with complaints. Scott, who retired last month, said she wishes she'd been able to answer their questions more fully but that she was not often given fully satisfactory answers from the department.

"This is one of the things people have said: 'Why aren't they being prosecuted?' This is a concern," Scott said. "A police officer should be prosecuted if he does wrong. He or she is not above the law. ... I have never gotten an answer as to why they didn't prosecute them, except that each case is different."

Although PARC has the authority to investigate complaints, and it reviews as a matter of policy all IA investigations conducted by KPD, the board has no power to do anything other than to make suggestions. Scott said she's never referred a complaint against KPD to prosecutors but has always made sure that citizen complainants knew it was an option.

"Some people think we're miracle workers, but we're not," Scott said. "We make sure the people's voice is heard, but we can't make the police do anything. But we can make them listen."

Jones served a brief stint as Knox County sheriff this year but was removed from office along with 11 other county officeholders as a result of News Sentinel Editor Jack McElroy's lawsuit against the County Commission for violating the state Open Meetings Act. He is now the department's assistant chief of administration pending the appointment of a new sheriff and may be reappointed once a legal mechanism to fill the vacancy is decided.

A 28-year law enforcement veteran whose career included a lengthy stint with the now defunct joint city-county Metro Narcotics Unit, Jones agreed to be interviewed because he meted out disciplinary action for the beating of a fully restrained jail inmate last year.

Jones said the incident might have been discovered earlier had the victim filed a complaint, and he stressed that the public's help is needed in discovering incidents of officer misconduct.

"We want citizens to complain," he said. "If somebody feels like an officer has done wrong ... we want to know about it. A citizen's complaint is the best way to get the ball rolling."

Comparing KPD with KCSO

For the past several years, the Sheriff's Office IA unit hasn't had a uniform filing and classification system, although one is in the works, officials said. Because of the lack of standardization and the fact that several investigators have cycled through the unit, it's difficult to provide a direct comparison of Sheriff's Office and KPD files.

Based on a News Sentinel review of case files dating to 2005, there don't appear to be any major differences between how the Sheriff's Office and KPD conduct IA investigations. A small number of KCSO files, however, were clearly incomplete. Essential reports and other documentation weren't included, and one file contained only photographs of a dead jail inmate.

Officials blamed the missing data on the prior lack of standardization.

The Sheriff's Office sustains IA cases less frequently than KPD but still does so significantly more often than the national average, records indicate. In that time frame, IA investigators sustained about 32 percent of allegations and just less than 10 percent of excessive or unnecessary force cases.

IA Investigator Sgt. Tom Cox said it might not be reasonable to assume that KCSO has a higher or lower sustained rate than other departments because law enforcement agencies use different types of processes to evaluate complaints.

In Knox County, for instance, full-blown IA investigations are only launched when allegations might result in serious disciplinary action if proven true. Some complaints don't trigger IA probes, he said, but are instead dealt with by supervisors or other means.

"One of three things may happen," Cox said. "We may do a supervisor referral; it might be less serious and we can handle it here and then classify it as miscellaneous; or we can do an Internal Affairs investigation. ... It's such a broad spectrum."

Without a way to factor in how complaints are screened in the departments whose sustained rates form the basis of NACOLE's estimated national average, Cox said, it's unfair to compare agencies.

NACOLE President Pierce Murphy agreed that direct comparisons between agencies may be problematic. Murphy said the national average is determined by reviewing public reports issued by oversight agencies across the country and has "become kind of the commonly held statistic."

"This is not necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison, it's only an attempt to indicate," he said. "Every department has a different way of screening."

Records indicate that patrol officers from the Sheriff's Office use force far less frequently than do KPD officers. Between 2004 and 2006, KCSO patrol officers filled out an average of one use-of-force report per every 547 arrests, a rate more than 10 times lower than the city police department. Also, it's been more than six years since a suspect was killed by KCSO officers.

Jones, however, cautioned to not read too much into the statistics, pointing out that the Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction differs radically from that of KPD. Rather than dense urban areas with high crime rates like those patrolled by KPD, he said, KCSO officers cover areas that are largely rural or suburban.

"We don't have the inner city, we don't have the housing projects, we don't have the areas around the housing projects," he said. "I'm not saying it's any easier, it's just different."

J.J. Stambaugh may be reached at 865-342-6307.
UT law professor Glenn Reynolds (Submitted photo)

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  The University of Tennessee College of Law Dean Melanie D. Wilson said Tuesday that no disciplinary action will be taken against one of its law professors and contributing columnist for USA TODAY and the News Sentinel who urged motorists to run over demonstrators blocking traffic in Charlotte, N.C.

"The tweet was an exercise of his First Amendment rights," Wilson wrote in a post on the law school's website.

"Nevertheless, the tweet offended many members of our community and beyond, and I understand the hurt and frustration they feel."

The law school had begun an investigation after a Glenn Reynolds' tweet.

Twitter briefly suspended Reynolds' account after he responded to a tweet from a TV news station Wednesday night in Charlotte that showed protesters  angered by the police shooting of a black man  on Interstate 277.

"Run them down," he wrote.

Reynolds, the creator of the Instapundit blog, tweets from the handle @Instapundit.

Wilson wrote that the law school's investigation included "an examination of the facts, policies in the university's Faculty Handbook, and the law."

She said she also talked to Reynolds, university leadership and the general counsel as well as students, staff, faculty, Alumni Council and Dean's Circle.

"In short, no disciplinary action will be taken against Professor Reynolds," she wrote.

"Today, Professor Reynolds issued an apology to the law school community via email.

"I appreciate Professor Reynolds's statement. We will now move forward to rebuild our law school community and refocus on our primary purpose: educating future lawyers and leaders."

The USA TODAY editorial page editor, meanwhile, said Reynolds had violated the newspaper's standards and Thursday suspended his twice-a-week column for a month.

"I didn't live up to my own standards, and I didn't meet USA TODAY's standards," Reynolds said in a statement on the USA TODAY website. "For that I apologize, to USA TODAY readers and to my followers on social media."

Reyolds posted to Twitter shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday that his account had been unblocked after he agreed to delete the offending tweet.

Wilson said in a statement Thursday morning that she and university administrators would investigate the matter, calling Reynold's post an "irresponsible use of his platform."

"The university is committed to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and diverse viewpoints, all of which are important for an institution of higher education and the free exchange of ideas," she wrote. "My colleagues and I in the university's leadership support peaceful disobedience and all forms of free speech, but we do not support violence or language that encourages violence."

She called the concerns about the tweet from students and staff, along with those from citizens across the country, "serious and legitimate."

Chancellor Jimmy Cheek released a statement about an hour later supporting Wilson and her comments.

"Wilson's statement about the faculty member's social media post reinforces the university's commitment to fostering a civil and inclusive learning environment," he said in a news release.

Bill Sternberg, editorial page editor of USA TODAY, said in a statement Thursday evening that Reynolds had apologized for the tweet.

"USA TODAY expects its columnists to provide thoughtful, reasoned contributions to the national conversation, on all platforms," Sternberg wrote.

"Glenn Reynolds' 'Run them down' tweet, in response to a news report about protesters in Charlotte stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles, was a violation of that standard and can be interpreted as an incitement to violence."

The News Sentinel, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, also runs Reynolds' column twice a week online and occasionally in print.

In his statement posted on the USA TODAY site, Reynolds wrote that he had been following the protests in Charlotte when he saw a local television interview of a driver whose truck had been stopped and looted by rioters.

"Then I retweeted a report of mobs 'stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles' with the comment, 'Run them down,' " Reynolds wrote.

"Those words can easily be taken to advocate drivers going out of their way to run down protesters. I meant no such thing, and I'm sorry it seemed I did.

"What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles. I remember Reginald Denny, a truck driver who was beaten nearly to death by a mob during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. My tweet should have said, 'Keep driving,' or 'Don't stop.' "

Reynolds said he's always supported peaceful protests, speaking out against police militarization and excessive police violence in his columns, on his website and on social media.

"I understand why people misunderstood my tweet and regret that I was not clearer," he wrote.

Reynolds had defended his tweet earlier Thursday.

"Yes, that was my post," he wrote in an email to the News Sentinel. "It was brief, since it was Twitter, but blocking highways is dangerous and I don't think people should stop for a mob, especially when it's been violent."

News Sentinel staff writer Megan Boehnke contributed to this story.
It is truly sad when a conservative Knox County official, the chief of staff to the county mayor, analyzes the depth of a problem, intelligently and passionately expresses his findings and gets slammed for exposing them.

I read Dean Rice's Aug. 14 guest column in the News Sentinel on Black Lives Matter and was deeply impressed with the eloquence of his presentation. I am sure others understand the obvious issues of racism and could express themselves as well, but don't want to be lambasted for saying so.

I, as a black man, can never forget the ugliness of racism and police brutality that I experienced and saw growing up here in Knoxville. I seldom mention it because life has too much to offer for me to be bent out of shape about the past. I could not happily live today or be excited about the future if my mind were continually clouded with the degradation of the past. Yet I am constantly reminded that too much of it still exists today.

Indeed, all lives matter, but killings and murder have been a part of our history since Cain killed his brother Abel. There will always be patricide, matricide, fratricide and the killing of friends and strangers. Black on black crime is a part of that fact, but it should now be confused with the killing of innocent blacks or whites by police officers. Thugs kill each other and innocent people for many reasons, but police officers must be held to a higher standard and be held accountable for their actions.

As Rice writes, "It is time for them to look into the eyes of black America and say without blinking hesitation or career-considering reservation, 'Black lives matter.'"

For me it is more than a slogan. Black people have the right to know that when an innocent life is carelessly or intentionally taken by a police officer, it will be honestly and fairly avenged in a court of law.

The killings we hear about today are nothing new. They have occurred for many, many years. The general public has only recently begun to know about and believe them through smartphone recordings, body cam videos a police dash cam recordings  when the equipment works.

Too many people believe that when officers are charged, the court system does not work, so angry people take to the streets. Yes, even the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was despised and murdered because he had to take to the streets to be heard.

It is almost impossible to prevent drive-by shootings since virtually every thug in town has a gun. It is inevitable that killings will result from drug deals gone bad, robberies, heated arguments and the like. Even mentally unstable people have access to guns. It is just a fact of death.

But wanton death at the hand of a law enforcement officer should not be tolerated by anyone and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Some of the most notorious policemen I have known personally were black ones here in Knoxville. They may not have killed anyone, but their conduct in dealing with citizens with their language and billy clubs was most egregious.

The records show that at least two white policemen accused of beating citizens here were reassigned to the Knoxville Fire Department. Was that real justice?

I don't like to write columns like this one, and Dean Rice does not need me to come to his defense, but my dander rises when letter writers claim not to understand the real issues that slap them squarely in the face. They prefer to blame the victims and ignore the root causes that have been festering for at least 151 years. Will it take two full centuries before real justice is realized?
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A recent letter writer urged Christians not to vote for Hillary Clinton, calling her a "corrupt politician who persistently lies." It is amusing how many so-called Christians can disregard the truth.

Politifact shows Clinton's statements as false, mostly false or pants-on-fire false a total of 28 percent of the time, while Donald Trump's statements are false, mostly false or pants-on-fire false a total of 70 percent of the time.

Some of these same Christians also have no problem disregarding Trump's name-calling and racist rants. It's hard to imagine that Jesus would condone such language or attitudes. When Clinton said religious beliefs in America must be changed, perhaps she was speaking about religious hypocrisy that allows people to pick and choose when they want to be religious.

We all have the right to vote for the candidate who best matches our own beliefs, but let's keep it honest. Vote for Trump if you can condone his dishonesty, but remember God's word in the Ninth Commandment: "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

I urge all voters to seek out the truth before casting their votes this November.

Mary Schulz, Lenoir City
(Xinhua) 14:50, September 27, 2016

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday expressed concern over Thailand's investigation into Chinese steel products and urged the country to be cautious and restrained in using trade remedy measures.

"We hope Thailand can work with China to promote dialogue and cooperation in the field to resolve trade friction," an MOC online notice quoted an unnamed official as saying.

The remark came after Thailand began investigating galvanized steel imported from China earlier this month, the latest in a series of anti-dumping probes by the country targeting Chinese steel over the past two years.

"Chinese companies are deeply worried," the official said, stressing that Chinese steel, rather than hurting local industry, has contributed to improvement of Thailand's infrastructure.

China hopes the investigation will be fair and transparent, and Chinese exporters are guaranteed the right to defend themselves, the official added.

As the world's largest steel consumer and producer, China has called for unity in tackling the severe overcapacity in the global steel market, saying protectionism will only compound the problems.
By Choi Sung-jin



The corporate economy, often called the backbone of Korea Inc., is being shaken at its foundation. The number of marginal, bankrupt businesses is rapidly increasing while that of high-growth companies, capacity utilization ratios and the performance of major industrial parks are falling.



According to the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Supreme Court, 401 companies filed for bankruptcy in the first seven months of this year, up nearly twice from 214 in the same period four years ago. The number of businesses filing for bankruptcy increased from 396 in 2012 to 461 in 2013, 539 in 2014 and 587 last year.



If this pace continues, the number is expected to surpass 600 easily this year, said officials at FKI, the lobby group for family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebol.



The share of marginal businesses -- whose interest expenses are larger than their operating profit for three years in a row -- rose from 14.3 percent (3,239 companies) in 2014 to 14.7 percent (3,278 firms) last year. Among small and midsize enterprises, in particular, the comparable portion increased more sharply, from 14.4 percent to 15 percent, during the period, indicating that SMEs are struggling harder than their larger counterparts.



Also showing a downward curve is the growth of the surviving companies.



The business community regards companies hiring 10 regular employees or more and registering annual increases of 20 percent or higher in their number of employees or sales over the past three years as high-growth firms. By that standard, the number of high-growth companies has gradually declined, from the peak of 23,400 in 2010 to 20,637 in 2011, 20,212 in 2012, 17,439 in 2013 and 16,410 in 2014, recording a 30-percent drop in four years.



The situation at industrial estates, an indicator of the regional economy, has also been worsening. The number of businesses in these industrial parks increased from 45,065 in 2011 to 50,464 last year, yet their exports fell by a quarter, from $20.33 billion to $14.83 billion in the period.



Industry executives said to get over the crisis in the corporate economy, the nation needs to create an environment in which businesses can find and develop new industries.



By promoting new industries, such as mountain-related businesses and automobile tuning, through deregulation and nurturing businesses that are now in short supply, including services for the elderly citizens and marine leisure, the nation will be able not only to create jobs but also to reinvigorate provincial economies, they said.



"Amid the global trend of low growth, the competitiveness of the existing mainstay industries has reached its limits," said Bae Sang-keun, vice president of the Korea Economic Research Institute, a think tank affiliated with FKI. "Corporate Korea should regain their vigor through business realignment and active development of new growth engines. To that end, the government needs to create a favorable environment by, for instance, enacting a special law for regulation-free zones."




Chairman's absence would derail Lotte Hotel IPO, suspend new biz projects



By Lee Hyo-sik



A leadership vacuum is looming large at Lotte Group as its Chairman Shin Dong-bin faces arrest over the alleged creation of a slush fund, breach of trust, embezzlement and other illegal activities.



If a court decides to issue an arrest warrant for Shin, this will paralyze Korea's fifth-largest family-controlled conglomerate, halting its plans to venture into new businesses and overhaul its corporate governance structure. Lotte has been seeking to list the shares of Lotte Hotel, the de-facto holding firm of Lotte Group in Korea, on the local bourse to weaken the control of Lotte Holdings in Japan over the Korean units.



A bigger problem is that it appears there is no one who can replace the chairman among the Shin family members or Lotte's top executives.



Shin's father Kyuk-ho and older brother Dong-joo will soon be summoned for questioning about a range of allegations. His older sister Young-ja is behind bars for accepting bribes from her business partner in exchange for offering undue favors.



In August, Lotte Group's No. 2 man Lee In-Won committed suicide before he was questioned by the prosecution, while most of the other top executives are grappling with legal troubles.



Under these circumstances, Shin's absence will likely give rise to Japanese executives at Lotte Holdings in Japan, which holds controlling stakes in Lotte Hotel and other key group units here, according to industry analysts Tuesday.



On Monday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for the Lotte Group chairman, a move sending shockwaves across the Lotte empire.



The Seoul Central District Court will decide whether to issue the warrant after holding a hearing today.



Among others, the prosecution suspects that Shin pocketed about 10 billion won ($9.1 million) every year from group affiliates in Japan without playing any role. Investigators also said he caused financial damage to group units through "questionable" merger and acquisition deals, which they say constituted breach of trust.



But Shin has been denying these allegations.



"It is very regrettable that prosecutors decided to seek an arrest warrant for Shin, "a Lotte Group official said. " We will wait and see what the court does. The chairman's absence will certainly deal a blow to the group's businesses. Our operations in both Korea and Japan will inevitably face difficulties."



Shin's arrest will turn things from bad to worse for Lotte Group, according to an executive at one of the country's major business associations, who declined to be named.



"I would say that Lotte is facing its worst crisis since its foundation," the executive said. "There is no one who can effectively replace Shin at the moment. The Shin family members are in serious legal trouble, while the chairman's confidants struggle with their own legal problems. Shin's presence is a must for Lotte to function properly."



He expressed concerns that if the chairman is put behind bars, this would derail the group's ventures into new businesses, and suspend its campaign to revamp its corporate governance structure.



"Shin has been aggressively acquiring other companies and moving into unexplored areas to find new growth engines," the executive said. "He has also tried to list shares of Lotte Hotel and took other steps to reduce the control of Lotte Holdings in Japan over Korean units. But if Shin is gone, all these efforts will be in vain. Executives at Lotte Japan will likely step in to fill Shin's void, a scenario that no one in Korea wants to see."



Lotte Holdings in Japan and affiliated L investment funds hold a combined 91.7 percent stake in Lotte Hotel, which has considerable stakes in Lotte Shopping and other key group units.




The following is the first of a series on the anti-graft law, known as the Kim Young-ran Act, which could possibly change Korean society drastically.  ED.

By Yoon Ja-young

With an anti-graft law taking effect from today, businesses are taking care not to violate the so-called Kim Young-ran Act. They are pursuing a major overhaul in the way they have been doing business, especially in public relations (PR), dealing with government officials and marketing.

Yu, a manager at an insurance company, said he is minimizing meetings with officials from the financial regulator.

"I used to have meetings with officials for consultation, but we agreed that we had better avoid meeting. We don't want to be the first ones to violate the law and make the headlines," he said.












Modern bulgogi



By Yun Suh-young

The top 10 dishes to represent Korea at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics were announced Monday by the Korean Food Foundation (KFF) and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG).

The selected foods include grilled dried pollack with rice, potato bibimbap in buckwheat wraps, mushroom and corn porridge, simple glass noodles with sauteed vegetables, modern bulgogi, beef garlic kimchi rolls, rolled chicken in soup, tteokgalbi (short rib patties) with soup, three types of white kimchi and marbled rice cakes.

The dishes were unveiled during a presentation held in the Korean Cuisine Cultural Center at the K-Style Hub in Jung-gu, central Seoul.





Grilled dried pollack with rice



The "Top 10" menu project was a collaborative effort between the two organizations to promote Korean food to foreigners visiting Korea for the Olympics and encourage them to experience Korean cuisine during their stay.

To promote Korean food to people from around the world, the two organizations selected the top 10 dishes that they felt best represent the country and would be easily palatable for novices. The dishes were refined to incorporate modern trends with the existing traditions and identity of Korean cuisine.

The top 10 dishes were selected based on seven factors: identity, shape and form, taste, presentation and plating, table setting, eating methods and storytelling. The dishes were evaluated three times by a group of 10 local and foreign food experts over the past two months.





Rolled chicken in soup



"The dishes introduced today were refined from traditional Korean foods in a way that is easier for foreigners to eat," said Yoon Sook-ja, head of the Korean Food Foundation, during a presentation to the press, Monday.

"All of the dishes are bite-sized to facilitate consumption. We hope PyeongChang will be an opportunity to promote Korean food to a wider global audience and contribute to invigorating the food tourism industry in Korea."

Recipes for the top 10 foods will be published in a booklet and distributed to Korean embassies overseas, Agricultural Technology (aT) Center's overseas branches, Korean Cultural Centers overseas, Korean restaurants overseas and Korean food culinary institutes.

The Korean Food Foundation was established in 2010 for the globalization of Korean cuisine. It has distributed information on Korean food through Korean and English publications since 2013. Starting this year, the publications will be translated into Chinese for distribution in China and Taiwan.
(Customs in Hangzhou demonstrate two smuggled ivory carving artpieces. Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

In China, elephants have long been regarded as a symbol of happiness. The Chinese characters for elephant and lucky are both pronounced xiang, yet its hard to think of the animal as lucky when craftsmen continue to use their precious tusks for jewelry and other decorations.

The population of African elephants today is at a record low due to the ongoing popularity of ivory in China and other countries. Currently, there are fewer than 500,000 African elephants left in the wild, down from 1.2 million in 1981, according to TRAFFIC, a wildlife monitoring network under the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

In response, Chinas State Forestry Administration (SFA) has imposed a three-year ban on the import of nearly all ivory products, excepting those used for scientific study, public exhibition or law enforcement. The import ban will remain effective until Dec. 31, 2019.

While environmentalists have praised the decision and expressed hope for more restrictive orders in the future, some artists are looking for a way to preserve their traditional carving skills.

Old craftsmanship finds new paths

In 2006, Chinas Ministry of Culture designated ivory carving as a national intangible cultural heritage. There are 34 officially designated ivory manufacturers in China, and they are estimated to be sitting on 40 tons of legal ivory, wrote Li Zhang, a professor at the College of Life Sciences of Beijing Normal University, in Nature magazine in November 2015.

The first year-long ban on ivory trade, issued by SFA in 2015, was received with support by some ivory carvers. According to Hangzhou-based ivory-carving master Ye Shenghua, the ban could help improve the artistic level of ivory carvings in China, as smuggled ivory carvings are mostly manufactured by machines, with relatively inexpert carving techniques.

I hope there will be more national guidelines on ivory carving to help control the general demand, and also to create better conditions for the craft to be carried on, Ye was quoted as saying by news site Zhejiang Online.

Others have begun to seek different ways to carry on the traditional skill. Zhang Minhui, a Guangzhou-based carver, has turned to bone carving, and especially ox bone carving. With his special method of skimming the fat on ox bones, Zhangs factory can make ox bones as shiny as ivory tusks. He uses decorations to patch the cracks between ox bones during carving. In this way, Zhangs bone carvings have gained a significant following and a subsequent 50 percent price hike, reported Southern Weekly.

(An artpiece of ivory carving Photo/Yangcheng Evening News)

Illegal ivory sales in disguise

There are 130 licensed dealers who sell tons of legal ivory to shoppers each year. Such licenses are renewed every two years, pending SFA review, and all will naturally expire after Dec. 31, 2016. In the mean time, large stockpiles of ivory products  even ivory products that are currently legal  may become troublesome, as they could lead to illegal ivory being passed off as legal.

A recent survey conducted by WWF and TRAFFIC pointed out that, of the 56 surveyed retail outlets certified to sell ivory products in China, 29 were found not to be abiding by the regulations set for certified dealers. These regulations include displaying certificate cards for ivory products and using the same measurement certificate for similar ivory products.

As each certificate includes the weight, size, type and photo of its associated ivory product, failing to display the certificates could easily facilitate the entry of illegal ivory into the legal market, warned the survey.

Another problem is that illegal ivory products can still be found in antiques and collectors markets, the survey indicated. At markets in five Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, some 189 outlets were found to be selling a total of 1,519 illegal ivory products. Small items accounted for 97.2 percent of the total, and more than 80 percent of these were accessories such as bracelets, bangles, pendants and amulets. The average price has remained at 30 RMB per gram since 2011, TRAFFIC data showed.

On Sept. 26, two businessmen running an illegal ivory operation in Jiangsu province were sentenced to up to three months in prison. The two ran a jade store that was also selling ivory tablets and lockets worth up to 11,000 RMB, Yangtze Evening News reported.

(Photo/Baidu Tieba)

Invisible online trade

Beyond the certificate system, another method that China currently employs to prevent illegal ivory trade is public education, with many posters displayed in subways. The poster campaign depicts a dialogue between a mother elephant and her baby, who has just started to grow tusks.

A search of tusk on Chinese search engine Baidu now yields a notice at the top of the page saying: Buying equals killing. Say no to ivory products. In addition, e-commerce giant Taobao has removed all commodities related to tusks.

However, ivory trade on websites, and especially social networking sites, is still hard to detect and intercept, the TRAFFIC report noted, adding that hundreds of pieces of ivory are still being sold on the Internet.

An ivory trader on WeChat told Peoples Daily Online that his ivory jewelry was made from African elephant tusks that entered southern Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region via Vietnam. While the claim could not be confirmed, smuggled tusks and ivory products are no strangers to Chinese customs.

Members of an ivory-smuggling ring that was transporting tusks from Vietnam to Guangxi were recently sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.

At the same time, countries where much of the elephant poaching is taking place are also calling for international cooperation on a total ivory trade ban. The Kenyan government said on Sept. 25 that it will lobby for a total ban on ivory trade during the 17th meeting of parties at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which kicked off in South Africa on Sept. 24, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said that international efforts are needed to deal with the illegal trade of ivory products.

"The trade is simple. Demand for illegal products drives supply, Esipisu explained to journalists in Nairobi. Dealing with the trade requires aggressive law enforcement, effective elephant ivory and rhino horn movement control and influential market disincentivization."
A Lynx combat helicopter / Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan

Parts of the military helicopter that crashed last night in waters off Korea's eastern coast have been found, Navy officials said Tuesday.

They said wreckage from the Lynx combat helicopter  including a door and a pilot's helmet  was recovered in last night's search by the South Korean and U.S. navies.

The chopper had three pilots on board and was involved in a joint drill with the U.S. Navy when it disappeared from radar at 8:57 p.m. Monday, eight minutes after takeoff.

"The chopper sent a distress call four times while crashing," one of the officials said Tuesday.












Smuggling by airline crews has been increasing, mostly from gold bars snuck in by staff on Vietnamese carriers, a customs agency tally showed Tuesday.

A report submitted by the Korea Customs Service to ruling party Rep. Park Myung-jae said the monetary value of items smuggled in by flight crews from 2014 to June this year totaled 1.08 billion won ($973,850). The amount compares with less than 100 million won in 2013 before jumping to 440 million won in 2014.

The report highlighted repeated smuggling by members of Vietnamese airlines who illegally brought in gold bars. In 2014, they were caught attempting to pass through customs with eight 1 kilogram gold bars. Last year, the customs agency nabbed a group that hid gold bars in their shoes.












A harpooned minke whale in a photo released by Australia in 2008 / Courtesy of Wikipedia



By Ko Dong-hwan

A Korean court has jailed a group of illegal whalers who sold their catch to restaurants.

On Tuesday, Daegu District Court sentenced two ship captains, a delivery man and some 30 fishermen to prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 months and fined them 1.5 million won ($1,360) to 5 million won.

The whalers used six ships to catch about 40 minke whales in waters off the eastern coast near the city of Pohang and Yeongdeok district, in North Gyeongsang Province, from 2014 to August this year. Minke whales are protected in Korea.

"The crime is considered serious because it was carefully planned and its scale and length are not of a minor level," the court said, according to Yonhap news agency.

Minke whales usually sell for 25 million won to over 100 million won apiece, according to media reports.
Kang, 35, gave the vicitim a vending machine coffee dosed with a sedative. / Courtesy of Twitter



By Lee Han-soo

Police have arrested a man for allegedly drugging a Uzbekistani women and dragging her to a Busan motel to rob her.

Police said that on Sept 13, the man, surnamed Kang, 35, approached the victim at a bus station in Oncheon-dong. He had a vending machine coffee that contained zolpidem, a sedative primarily used for insomnia.

He introduced himself to the woman as a Japanese living in Korea. Kang told police he talked with her for about an hour before giving her the coffee. After the woman fell asleep, he dragged her to a nearby hotel and stole her belongings, including a gold bracelet, police said.

Kang also allegedly stole about 10 million won ($9,060) from 12 other victims using a similar method.

Police arrested Kang at a motel in the area after going through security camera footage.
"Sungnyemun," the official English name of an important historical structure in Jung-gu, Seoul, is wrongly written in a street directory as "Sungryemun" (right). / Korea Times file



By Lee Han-soo, Park Si-soo

After Seoul began a project to track down mistakes in English-language signs, numerous reports have been filed with The Korea Times.

A foreign reader crucially pointed out the confusion in the naming of Sungnyemun Gate, South Korea's No. 1 national treasure, on maps displayed at Hoehyeon station. One map shows "Sungryemun" while the other has "Sungnyemun." The correct name is Sungnyemun according to Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA)

"Although Seoul city manages the displays, they are made by a contractor, with the name of a certain place specifically given -- in this case by the CHA," said Oh Je-seong, head of the tourism business division of Seoul Metropolitan City. "It is probably a mistake made by the contractor."

Oh said the city is collecting reports of mistakes on signs from residents and has its own team on the lookout.












By Kim Bo-eun



Around 400 union members at Seoul National University Hospital went on strike, Tuesday, to protest the performance-based pay system, leaving only the minimum number of workers required to provide services.



The walkout is in line with that of railway and subway unions across the country, which also began a strike Tuesday against the government-initiated pay system.



"We must stop the introduction of the merit pay system, which puts workers in competition to earn money from ill patients," union leaders said at a press conference at the hospital in Seoul.



Since it is tricky to quantify performance at hospitals, workers say they will be measured based on medical fees they generate, which will motivate them to make patients undergo unnecessary tests and treatments. They could also charge fees for services which were originally free, or buy low quality medical supplies in order to reduce costs, which will negatively affect patients.



"Performance-based pay will make institutions, which exist for the public, operate according to capitalism. This will result in squeezing money out of patients or only treating patients who need expensive treatments  hospitals will forget their duty and become commercialized," the leaders said.



The workers had negotiated with the hospital management on issues including merit pay and improvement of working conditions. As the talks reached a stalemate, the workers put the strike to a vote, with 88.5 percent supporting it.



Around 400 nurses, medical technicians and others out of 1,700 members of the union took part. They plan to continue the strike until their demands are met.



Other hospital unions belonging to the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union are also set to go on strike today. Some 10,000 workers in nine hospitals across the nation plan to take part.



Meanwhile, subway and railroad workers launched a joint strike. About 30 percent of workers at two subway operators in Seoul  Seoul Metro and Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit  and the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) walked out. The walkout has caused no major traffic disruption so far. Last Thursday, around 2,500 public sector workers started a strike and some 19,000 finance sector workers did so the following day. All of the strikes were held in opposition to the merit pay system, which workers claim will make lay-offs easier.




By Jun Ji-hye



The Navy temporarily suspended the operation of all 20 of its Lynx anti-submarine helicopters, Tuesday, after one crashed into the sea off the nation's east coast during a joint naval exercise with the United States a day earlier.



The Navy found the bodies of the three Navy personnel on board on Tuesday and Wednesday. It also retrieved parts of the helicopter and a crewmember's helmet.



The Navy said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Um Hyun-seong formed a panel to find out the cause of the crash.



On Monday, the Lynx helicopter sent out a distress signal and disappeared from radar eight minutes after it took off from an Aegis destroyer at 8:57 p.m. during the drill.



The crash site is estimated to be in the waters 52 kilometers east of Yangyang, Gangwon Province, which are 1,300 meters deep. The site is also 48 kilometers south of the inter-Korean maritime border, the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a Navy official told reporters on condition of anonymity.



He added that weather conditions such as wave height, wind speed and direction all met the requirements for the drill.



The helicopter involved in the accident was introduced in 1999, the official said, noting that it was not a particularly old or outdated chopper as the model is capable of being operated for more than 30 years. He also said the chopper underwent maintenance at the end of August, adding that the pilot held ample qualifications with 770 hours of flying time.



"Further investigation is necessary to find out what caused the accident," he said.



The Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters, the predecessor of AgustaWestland. Since it first went into operation in 1977, the chopper has served in battlefield utility, anti-armor, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles.



The helicopter that crashed was participating in simulated precision strikes of key ground targets in North Korea during the drill.



Since the South Korean Navy first introduced 12 Lynx choppers in 1991, the model was involved in two accidents: one in 1993 and another in April 2010, during which 10 and four Navy personnel died, respectively. The official said it was believed that the two accidents took place due to the pilots suffering from spatial disorientation that caused them to misinterpret altitude, air speed and direction of the aircraft.



A Lynx also made an emergency landing in April in 2010 after an instrument failure, according to the official.



In July 2010, prosecutors confirmed that a company in Busan had conducted shoddy maintenance work for years and made unfair profits of 1.4 billion won ($1.3 million).



In the 2000s, a modernized variant of the Lynx was designed as a multirole combat helicopter, designated as the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat, which is intended to replace existing Lynx helicopters.



In 2013, the Navy signed a contract to buy eight Wildcats for about 400 billion won, and in July, it received an initial delivery of four helicopters.




Former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo answers reporters' questions at the Seoul High Court Tuesday, after the court overturned a jail term handed down to Lee and acquitted him of allegations that he received a bribe from a businessman.

/ Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min

An appellate court acquitted former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo of bribery, Tuesday, overturning a lower court's guilty verdict, citing a lack of credible evidence.

Lee was indicted in July last year on charges of receiving 30 million won ($27,000) in bribes from the late former Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong.

The Seoul High Court said the two key pieces of evidence  a recorded interview of Sung with a local daily and his suicide note in which he mentioned eight high profile politicians he allegedly bribed  do not prove Lee's guilt.

The court said Sung, who had been under the prosecution's investigation for the failed energy diplomacy under the former Lee Myung-bak administration, could have made false statements about Lee during the interview out of rage and frustration against him.

"The late Sung harbored a grudge against Lee to a great degree as he believed that Lee was behind the investigation," the court said.

It said the note Sung left behind also lacked details. Besides the names of the seven other politicians, Sung wrote the amounts of the bribes he allegedly offered to them, but besides Lee's name, he did not write anything.

"He would have written the amount if he had clearly remembered it. Considering that Sung had a grudge against Lee at that time, there was no reason for him not to write the amount," the court said.

Inconsistent testimonies by Sung's chauffeur and secretary were also in favor of Lee, the court added.

After the ruling, Lee said the prosecution should not abuse its power.

"I offer my apology to the public for causing this concern. Also, when I said last year that I would stake my life if evidence against me emerges, that was because I was confident about my innocence," he said.

The prosecution plans to appeal.

Earlier in January, the lower court recognized the credibility of all the evidence and sentenced Lee to eight months in prison suspended for two years, and ordered the forfeiture of 30 million won in illicit gains.

The high court ruling comes only weeks after another of the eight figures, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for receiving 100 million won from Sung. He was not put behind bars immediately, being allowed to remain free until the appeals process is completed.

For Hong, the local court had other evidence than the recorded interview of Sung and his note  testimony from Sung's aide, who said he delivered the kickback to Hong.

Lee and Hong were the only two indicted among the eight people mentioned in the suicide note, with the rest avoiding indictment due to the expired statute of limitations or for lack of evidence.
By Kim Hyo-jin



The standoff between rival parties over the no-confidence motion calling for the dismissal of the sitting agriculture minister continued, Tuesday, crippling the National Assembly audit for the second consecutive day.



The ruling Saenuri Party submitted a parliamentary motion to force Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun to resign, accusing him of breaking political neutrality by helping opposition parties unilaterally pass the no-confidence motion, Sunday.



The party also continued to boycott the audit. Six Assembly committees chaired by the ruling party failed to hold sessions, while only seven committees chaired by opposition members held meetings  again with the absence of ruling party members.



While Chairman Lee Jung-hyun continued a hunger strike, his fellow lawmakers held a one-man protest one after another to demand Chung's resignation. In addition, a sit-in continued in front of the speaker's office.



With Chung remaining silent, the opposition only repeated their request for the ruling party to return to the audit and fulfill its obligations.



Amid the escalating confrontation, the parties are showing no signs of reaching a compromise, officials said, casting doubt over the possibility of normalizing the remainder of the audit soon.



The 20th National Assembly started its first audit of government offices, Monday, and it is scheduled to last until Oct. 15.



"All channels for dialogue between the parties have been paralyzed for the past days," said Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).



"When floor leaders turn their back on each other, party chairmen are supposed to step in and try to resolve the deadlock but with Lee staging a hunger strike, there's no one to help this time."



The parties exchanged ferocious attacks for the entire day.



"The opposition parties have demolished the parliament and parliamentary system, wielding the tyranny of the majority," Lee said.



Denouncing Lee's strike, Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the minor opposition People's Party, said, "Shaving off hair or staging a hunger strike are chronic practices of the old opposition politics and we now even view it as a political show. Lee should stop adding fire to shaky party politics."



The Saenuri Party has boycotted the National Assembly proceedings since the opposition parties endorsed the motion recommending the dismissal of the agriculture minister.



The opposition-backed motion was passed with 160 votes in favor in the 300-member Assembly, Saturday, while the 129-member Saenuri Party did not participate to protest Chung's tabling of the motion for a vote.



The ruling party took issue with the speaker, claiming that he prioritized the motion and skipped the procedure of consulting with it.



It argued Chung only delivered a note asking to change the order of the proceedings and this cannot be seen as a "consultation" as stated in the National Assembly Law.



The opposition parties advocated Chung, insisting that "consultation" has been interpreted as giving "notice."



In 2010, the Constitutional court ruled that then Assembly speaker's choice of sending a fax to the opposition party to inform it of a change in the order of the proceedings was constitutional.



Political analysts view that the partisan clash is being aggravated as the rival parties are seeking to gain the initiative in the Assembly ahead of the 2017 presidential election.




Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump shakes hands with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton after their first televised debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday. In a snap CNN poll, 62 percent judged that Clinton had won the debate against 27 percent for Trump. / AP-Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo

U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump showed differing views on the alliance with South Korea during their first presidential debate in New York, Monday.

Republican nominee Trump renewed his argument about South Korea and other allies' free-riding on the U.S. defense budget, while Democratic nominee Clinton reassured the U.S. commitment in defending its allies.

"We defend Japan. We defend Germany. We defend South Korea, we defend Saudi Arabia. We defend countries. They do not pay us what they should be paying us, because we are providing a tremendous service and we're losing a fortune," Trump said.

"All I said is that it is very possible that if they don't pay us, because this isn't 40 years ago they may have to defend themselves or they have to help us out."

In response, Clinton used the debate to ease growing concerns among allies about its commitment to mutual defense agreements.

"Words matter when you run for president. And they really matter when you are president. And I want to reassure our allies in Japan and South Korea and elsewhere that we have mutual defense treaties and we will honor them. It is essential that America's word be good," she said.

"I intend to be a leader of our country that people can count on both here at home and around the world to make decisions that will further peace and prosperity and also stand up to bullies."

Trump, a billionaire-turned-politician, has openly expressed his opinion that South Korea gives nothing in return for the presence of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

However, last year, South Korea paid 932 billion won ($848 million) for the 28,500 U.S. troops here, which the government says was about 50 percent of the total cost estimated to be around 2 trillion won.

The two candidates also clashed over the current nuclear weapons policy.

"You look at North Korea, we're doing nothing there. China should solve that problem for us. China should go into North Korea, China is totally powerful as it relates to North Korea," Trump said, adding that nuclear weapons are the greatest threat.

Trump also said the U.S. government should have used its nuclear deal with Iran to press Pyongyang into abandoning its nuclear program.

"Iran is one of their biggest trading partners. Iran has power over North Korea. And when they made that horrible deal with Iran, they ought to have included the fact that they do something with respect to North Korea," he said.

Critics say the Obama administration's policy of "strategic patience" for North Korea, a policy that means no engagement with the reclusive state, has failed as Pyongyang's nuclear program has shown steady progress, including two nuclear tests this year.

On the contrary, Clinton found fault with Trump for his past remarks hinting at allowing nuclear armament of South Korea and Japan for self-defense, saying his cavalier attitude about nuclear proliferation is "deeply troubling."

"He has said repeatedly that he didn't care if other countries got nuclear weapons, Japan, South Korea, even Saudi Arabia. It has been the policy of the United States, Democrats and Republicans, to reduce the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He even said, well, if there was nuclear war in East Asia, that's fine," she said.
Qiqiao and Qixi, twin giant panda sisters, ready to leave Chengdu. (Chinanews.com/Jin Quan)

"National treasures have come to our hometown!" This was the news that greeted citizens of Ordos in Inner Mongolia on Sept. 26, as a set of female giant panda twins arrived to make their home there.

Qiqiao and Qixi, the giant panda sisters, traveled from their birthplace in Chengdu to their new home in Ordos by plane. Their human chaperone revealed that the twins were in a stable physical and mental state during the journey.

The twin giant panda sisters arrive at the Ordos airport. (Chinanews.com/provided by Ordos Tourism Bureau)

The twin pandas were born on China's traditional Qixi Festival in 2014. Their father is a giant panda who used to live in Atlanta, U.S., and their mother is Qifu, the first giant panda born after the Wenchuan earthquake.

According to Ordos Safari, the pandas will be accomodated in a special villa made just for them. Covering an area of 3,200 square meters, the panda house consists of a feeding area, an indoor area, an outdoor area, a fresh bamboo storage room and a panda kitchen. Heating and humidifying facilities are installed to make the pandas as comfortable as possible.

Photo shows the pandas' new home in Ordos. (Chinanews.com/Jin Quan)

A team has been set up to take care of the twin pandas. Three breeders and two veterinarians are responsible for their daily life. Special vehicles will transport fresh bamboo from the supply base regularly, and the safari venue will also plant bamboo in its greenhouse for emergency use.

After a brief adjustment period, the sisters will be available to meet tourists during the upcoming National Day holiday.

The twin giant panda sisters arrive at the Ordos airport. (Chinanews.com/provided by Ordos Tourism Bureau)
"Between 0.0022 and 0.0044 parts per million (ppm) of MIT or CMIT were found in each product. But users rinse the product away with water after they brush their teeth, therefore no impact on health is expected," the ministry said in its press release.

Although prohibited in Korea, they are still used by companies in Europe and in the United States, according to a ministry official. "As people use toothpaste everyday for dental hygiene, we applied stricter regulations for the products than many other countries do," she said. "We only allow three chemicals  sodium benzoate, mythylparaben and propylparaben  as preservatives."

In general, it is said the exposure of small amounts of MIT or CMIT does not harm a person's health. The humidifier disinfectant victims were exposed to large amounts of the substances in short periods of time.





A supermarket staff member removes Median banners from the store in Seoul after the toxic toothpaste scandal emerged on Tuesday morning. / Yonhap



AmorePacific made a public apology and said it would follow up on the recall order. But company officials said the amount used was too tiny to have an impact on health.

But consumers reacted strongly to the news.

"Again? How can I trust those products?" one internet user wrote.

"So the government says the chemicals are harmful when they are used for humidifier disinfectants and inhaled, and they are okay when used for toothpastes and rinsed out of your mouth? I don't know what the government is talking about," another user wrote.

Rep. Lee Jeong-mi of the Justice Party criticized the ministry for failing to regulate the chemicals, and called for comprehensive research on consumer products. Miwon Commercial, a company that supplies the chemicals to AmorePacific, has been selling 12 materials containing MIT or CMIT to 30 companies in Korea and overseas, including Aekyung Group and Coreana Cosmetics.
By Tong Kim



WASHINGTON  While regime change inducing collapse in North Korea has been talked about in and out of government circles for the past 20 years, North Korea's collapse has never been and is not a policy goal of the Obama administration, according to a senior official of the White House.



"It is not for anybody to know when North Korea might collapse. The military and some South Koreans are always actively watching for development of any possible collapse scenario. Yet, predictions of North Korean collapse have not been reliable. Regime change is not our goal," said Jon Wolfsthal, special adviser and senior director for arms control and nonproliferation at the National Security Council (NSC).



He made the remarks at a Wilson Center press conference in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23.



He said the U.S. objective is a denuclearized, stable Korean Peninsula; it is not to change the North Korean regime but change North Korean behavior.



"It is entirely up to North Korea whether to have dialogue with us. We said many times that if they are willing to seriously discuss the denuclearization issue, we are ready," he said. "Now we are enhancing the sanctions for them to change and come to dialogue."



The NSC official also said, even during Obama's first term, the White House never seriously considered the instability of the North Korean regime, which was heavily weighted in the North Korea policy of the Lee Myung-bak government in Seoul, anticipating a sudden change that might lead to unification on South Korean terms.



On some calls for South Korea's own nuclear development, he made it clear that the United States opposes it, pointing out South Korea "voluntarily joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty" (NPT). He said the U.S., together with South Korea, is capable of defending against any nuclear threat.



In a special statement issued upon the fifth nuclear test by North Korea on Sept. 9, President Obama assured the U.S. provision of "extended deterrent guaranteed by the full spectrum of U.S. defense capabilities." The president also repeated, "The United States does not and will never accept North Korea as a nuclear state." The president also said South Korea, Japan and the United States agreed to work with the U.N. Security Council to "vigorously implement existing sanctions and take additional steps including new sanctions to demonstrate to North Korea there are consequences to its unlawful and dangerous actions."



There are three main reasons against accepting North Korea as a nuclear state: to preserve the nonproliferation regime under the NPT, to prevent nuclear development by South Korea and Japan and to carry out the U.S. treaty commitment to the defense of the South.



A dominant view in Washington holds that if South Korea decides to go nuclear, it would legitimize North Korea's nuclear program, and could lead to a possible nuclear clash with the North that could be apocalyptic with the mutual destruction of both sides.







The writer is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies and a visiting scholar at Korea University.




South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will hold a summit in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation on an array of issues, including North Korea's escalating nuclear threats, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.

During the summit in the morning, the two leaders will evaluate the progress in the development of their countries' relations, which were forged 55 years ago, and explore ways to deepen cooperation in trade, investment energy and security, according to Park's office.

The prime minister began his four-day visit on Monday. It marks his first visit to Seoul since his inauguration in October 2010. He is reciprocating Park's visit to the European nation in March 2014.

Bilateral relations date back to the 1950-53 Korean War.

The Netherlands is one of the 16 countries that sent combat forces to the war -- the first major armed conflict of the Cold War -- in support of South Korea. Of the total 5,322 troops it deployed to the Korean Peninsula during the war, 123 were killed in action or went missing.

Two-way trade reached $8.37 billion last year, with South Korea exporting mobile phones, cars and other items, and importing equipment for semiconductor production, scrap metal as well as other goods. (Yonhap)
By John Redmond



Lovers of craft beer and international cuisine are in for a treat, as the Great Korean Beer Festival 2016 (GKBF) will take place at I-Park Square on top of Yongsan Station, Seoul Sept. 30 to Oct 3.

With a selection of craft beers from all over the country, visitors can also enjoy a variety of foods from different cultures.

The event also marks the 10th anniversary of I'Park Mall and I'Park Department Store.

"Also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the I'Park Department Store, small breweries from Busan, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do and Jeju will be presenting their best beers brewed with their original recipes," the festival organizer said.

Food will be featured from restaurants in Itaewon, such as Vatos' signature tacos, artisanal burgers from Left Coast and BBQ from Smoky Lovers, as well as deli fare made by France Gourmet's owner chef, BRCD and Jinjuham.

Launched in 2013, the GKBF is the very first and the largest craft beer festival in Korea and expects over 220,000.

The festival also offers a "Meet the Brewer" event where brewmasters introduce their works to better engage visitors with craft beers.

Visitors can enjoy live music on the stage throughout the four-day festival and take photos at the photo zone.

There is no entrance fee and beer and food can be purchased at each stand.

The beer sampler ticket is offered for those who wish to try out different beers before settling on one or two. The sampler tickets let you sample smaller portions of various beers, but sell out quickly as they are limited in quantity. A total of 21 breweries and beer importers and six food companies are participating.

Media Paran and Hyundai I'Park Mall jointly host GKBF. The event is sponsored by Yongsan-gu Office, Korea Tourism Organization and Visit Korea Committee.

For more information, visit facebook.com/greatkoreanbeerfestival.
South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday it is currently not considering providing assistance to North Korea to help it recover after the latest flood amid tensions raised by Pyongyang's latest nuclear test.



North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 even as its northeast province was ravaged by what it called the worst flood in over seven decades.



"By taking into account aspects of the aid's effectiveness and transparency as well as public opinion, we are not considering providing North Korea with assistance at this point," the Ministry of Unification said in a report to the National Assembly.



Heavy rains pummeled North Korea's northeast area for five days starting Aug. 29, leaving nearly 140 North Koreans dead and about 400 missing.



Seoul condemned North Korea for pouring money into its nuclear program while neglecting the suffering of its people in the flood-hit areas.



The ministry has said that it is unlikely to provide aid to North Korea given high tensions following the nuclear test even if the reclusive country makes such a request.



Touching on the North's food situation, North Korea may see the volume of its food shortage reach nearly 700,000 tons between November last year and October due mainly to a drought which hit the country last year, the ministry said.



North Korea's food production is estimated to reach 4.8 million tons in the fiscal year 2016, smaller than its food demand worth of 5.5 million tons, it said.



The report was made based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), which compile relevant information by setting the start of its base year at November.



The food shortage tallied in the fiscal year 2016 was larger than about 407,000 tons in 2015, it said.



It was attributable to the fact that the drought reduced crop production in North Korea last year, along with a decrease in the supply of fertilizers, it added.



"Food rationing is believed to be being made in Pyongyang and certain areas," the ministry said. "But whether the country actually conducts food rationing depends on timing and crop production."



Since 2014, the international community has increased food aid to North Korea, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).



International organizations, civic groups and the Red Cross have extended food aid worth $37.9 million in the Jan. 1-Sept. 6 period, compared with $35.4 million in 2015, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (Yonhap)








China sees sanctions that could have an impact on the livelihood of the North Korean people as the "red-line" that shouldn't be crossed, a researcher claimed Tuesday amid growing demand for much tougher punitive measures against the communist country's recent nuclear test.



In a forum held early in the day by Sejong Institute, a local think tank that conducts research related to diplomacy, unification and national security issues, Chung Jae-hung, one of its fellows, said that his claim is based on meetings and interviews with local experts in Beijing held in the wake of the North's fifth nuclear test conducted earlier this month.



"The red line for the Chinese government is that the North Korean regime shouldn't collapse and that the lives of its people shouldn't be seriously affected," he told the forum.



His claim comes as the United Nations Security Council is working on fresh sanctions to punish the North for its latest nuclear provocation.



Demand has been growing to fill the "loopholes" found in the Resolution 2270 adopted by the UNSC in March after the North's fourth nuclear test in January. That resolution, although the most stringent to date, has clauses that would allow Pyongyang to trade in certain cash-generating materials, if it helps people maintain everyday living conditions. Countries such as South Korea and the United States have stressed the need to address such loopholes.



Citing his sources in Beijing, he said that China will likely participate in such a resolution like the one in March that mainly zeroes in on transactions related to the North's programs of developing weapons of mass destruction.



With regard to a Chinese firm being jointly investigated by China and the United States for its alleged business involvement in transactions with the North, he said that Beijing has no choice but to join the probe when there is clear evidence of violation.



Earlier, the United States blacklisted Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Company Ltd. and its officials following recent revelations that the firm exported aluminum oxide, which can be used in enriching uranium, a nuclear bomb ingredient, to the North at least twice in recent years.



China, the closest ally to the North, has been regarded as a major player in enforcing sanctions imposed on Pyongyang in a way that its regime could feel the pinch strong enough to give up its persistent pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. (Yonhap)




By Lee Sun-ho

On Thursday, Sept. 29, my highly-anticipated visit to Dokdo Island was cancelled due to my 102-year-old mother's critical illness. Had I gone, it would have been the second time for me. My first visit was on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1955, when I was a first-grade high school boy 61 years ago. Even though I missed the chance of stepping foot on the islands again, it is the perfect occasion to reflect on the eastern-most small islands.

I am sure that readers are familiar with the small cluster of volcanic islands, measuring 46-acres (187,450 square meters) in total area. Located in the East Sea, the islands have become a major point of contention between Japan and Korea surrounding sovereignty issues and fishing rights. The contested area consists of two main islets (East and West) with 35 small rocks and 55 reefs, once called "Le Liancourt Rocks" or the Piper of Hornet Rocks by French-English navigators since 1849.

Dokdo's original name used to be Usando during the era of the Silla Kingdom (512-935). Since 1882, a number of Korean immigrants to Ulleungdo (see page 8 of The Korea Times dated Thursday, April 17, 2014) began to call it Seokdo, meaning the stone island. "On October 25, 1900, the Daehan Empire's Royal Ordinance No. 41 formally described Seokdo as Dokdo."

The sovereignty of Dokdo, denoting the solitary island, has been contested by Japan on historical and legal grounds and remains one of the more serious disputes between South Korea and its former colonial ruler, who call the islets Takeshima, meaning the bamboo island. Matsushima, denoting the pine island, forgotten by the Japanese, was the former name of Takeshima.

On September 25, 1904, the sailing diary of a Japanese Navy Vessel called NItaka recorded, "the name of the island is either Dokdo by local Koreans or Le Liancourt by outside fishermen."

However, on January 28, 1905, Imperial Japan "illegally forced to weave Dokdo in their territory list effective February 22 in the process of colonizing the Korean Peninsula, prior to its victorious naval"Battle of Tsushima" against Russia, fought on May 27-28, 1905, around Ulleungdo and Dokdo waters in the East Sea."

Even though Korea has practically controlled the lonely islets with a small police detachment there since its liberation on August 15, 1945, Tokyo has claimed that "even though the islets are much closer to Korea than to Japan by geographic location, they are part of its territory."

In 1947 after Liberation Day from Japan's colonial rule in the fog of chaos, Japan intentionally hid the Korean name, Dokdo, and disclosed only its name Takeshima to the Allied Command authorities so as to claim it as a Japanese territory after the Pacific War. Contrary to the insistence of the non-existence of its Korean name as an island, then-U.S. Ambassador to Korea John J. Muccio"confirmed, during the Korean War in August 1951, the name of Dokdo, and reported it to the Harry S.Truman administration in Washington, D. C."

On March 26, 2005, Japan's Shimane Prefecture designated February 22 as Takeshima Day, 100 years after the islets were closely declared Japanese territory. One is caused to wonder why such a day is"celebrated" considering the colonial aggression involved and the current diplomatic climate.

I would like to add that Edward R. Royce, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, on August 14, 2015, announced, "Dokdo Island is a South Korean territory as an official record" on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Imperial Japan to the Allied Forces as well as the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan's colonial rule

For those confused as to why Korea takes on this issue when there is seemingly other unsettled business with Japan, I encourage you to view the relationship of former colonies to former colonizers across the globe. While it might seem petty to fight over what amounts to rocks in the ocean, I caution you to consider the wounds of imperialism and how it affects different populations diversely across the world. Unless you are in a position of having been colonized, you have little understanding of the social scars and the long-term impact of being exploited by another country has on a population. These wounds run deep. Moreover, Japan's claim on the solitary island, lying in rich fishing grounds which may contain large deposits of natural gas including methane hydrate, for its national interest only, aside from historical evidence and official archives that show who really owns the island.

Ultimately, we are left to feel Japan has not yet shed its colonial legacy entirely. By washing away its imperialist strains on Dokdo, I believe, Japan can contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

The writer is an ombudsman columnist for The Korea Times in Seoul. Contact him at kexim2@unitel.co.kr.
By Choi Sung-jin

With the first of three debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump over now, the U.S. presidential elections are in their final stage.

Few can yet tell for sure which of the two candidates will be the 45th president of the United States 41 days from now. Elections in many countries have long become the process to select the least bad. However, it is more pitiable than embarrassing to see the polls to pick arguably the world's most powerful person reduced to a mudslinging battle between a secretive, off-putting established politician and a nonsensical, megalomaniac political novice.

If all this would be happening in some banana republic, we may be able to laugh it away as a good diversion. Whether they like it or not, however, the winner will exert not a small influence on the lives of not only Americans but also a good number of people in the rest of the world.

Few people might be more keenly aware of that than Koreans, south and north.

Not all may agree on this but had Al Gore, not George W. Bush, become the 43rd U.S. president and taken up where Bill Clinton left off, the North Korean nuclear crisis might have ended more than a decade ago.

The incumbent American president, Barack Obama, is a likable and respectable leader in more than a few ways, improving the lives of many Americans and solving two diplomatic conundrums of Iran and Cuba. It is regrettable that we cannot say the same about Obama's two foreign missions that remain unaccomplished  Syria and North Korea.

Obama's "strategic patience" with North Korea is but a different name for arrogant neglect and ceaseless sanctions, which former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon aptly described as the "diplomatic means of the lazy" in his recent paper. The 44th U.S. president and his two South Korean counterparts  Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye  will likely go down in history as leaders who helped the isolated socialist regime realize its long-cherished goal of becoming a nuclear power, whether others recognize it or not.

That Obama has failed in dealing with Pyongyang and its nuclear armament is seen in recent analyses of U.S. experts. Joel S. Wit, a senior fellow at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University and founder of its North Korea website, 38North, called for the next U.S. leader to start with carrots, in the form of addressing the North's security concerns and motivating Kim Jong-un's desire to improve his nation's economy, to denuclearize the North. "The first hundred days will be critical for the next American president," he said. "If a window is open to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions, it may not stay open for long."

Two other U.S. experts  Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Sam Nunn, a former Democratic senator from Georgia  made similar proposals at a recent forum sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. "It is clear that the next president will have to sharpen Pyongyang's choice: offer greater benefits for cooperation and promise greater costs for continued defiance," they said. More specifically, the two recommended the incoming administration approaches the North Korean threat as a "front-burner issue" for the U.S. and China, and "offers new and genuine incentives" for North Korea to participate in substantive talks, while increasing economic sanctions and securing its interests and those of its allies.

Nowhere in their proposals is the "nothing-but-sanctions" strategy as pursued by the incumbent administrations in Seoul and Washington. Conservatives here  officials in Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party as well as some media outlets  are going to great length to make the "preemptive surgical strike" by the U.S. appear as one of Washington's major options while it should be the last choice, or no choice at all. Israel may be the only country that bombed suspected nuclear facilities in Syria nearly a decade ago but no other country has done so since. And the situation is completely different between the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, and between 2007 and 2017, for their risks can hardly be compared.

Even William Perry, Bill Clinton's defense minister who proposed a surgical strike against the North in 1994, is now calling for lowering the threshold for the North's return to the dialogue table by targeting the freeze of nuclear programs first before moving toward eventual denuclearization.

Major players in Northeast Asia are making brisk diplomatic moves. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a summit recently. Abe will also invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan in December. China wants to drive a wedge, however thin that may be, in the U.S.-Japan alliance while the U.S.-backed Tokyo is vying with Beijing over East Asian hegemony. Putin seems ready to give parts of the Kurile Islands back to Japan. All these diplomatic moves are aimed at one thing: taking the more advantageous diplomatic position before the next U.S. president completes forming her or his national security and foreign policy lineup. So is the North's frantic nuclear progress.

I can't help but wonder what President Park and her diplomatic aides are doing now except for racking their brains to step up sanctions that have proved more laborious than useful.

Again, it is too early to tell who would occupy the White House next January. Believing in the strong tradition of American democracy and the intelligence of U.S. voters, I cautiously guess Hillary Clinton will have better chances. If Donald Trump wins, not just Korea but the rest of the world may have to rethink their U.S. strategy. If Clinton prevails, one cannot rule out the possibility that she might follow not her predecessor but her husband on North Korea.

What will Park and Cheong Wa Dae do then  beg Washington to stay put in the current stance or hurriedly follow the new U.S. policy?

This is why I hope Korean voters, too, will exercise more intelligence and restore their hard-won democracy for the first time in a decade in December next year.
Parties must talk immediately to find solution



Political parties are having a head-on collision in the aftermath of the opposition's unilateral passage of a motion to dismiss Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Kim Jae-soo.



Lee Jung-hyun, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, began an unprecedented hunger strike Monday, demanding that National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun step down. Members of the governing party boycotted the parliamentary audit that began its 20-day sessions Monday.



The opposition demonstrated its majority might by passing the dismissal motion through three-party coordination, but appears quite embarrassed at the strong backlash.



As a consequence, the first audit of the 20th National Assembly is drifting. Five parliamentary committees whose chairmen were Saenuri Party lawmakers did not even convene meetings. Seven chaired by opposition legislators held the audit sporadically as all ruling party committee members were absent.



Behind the ruling party's hard-line stance is no doubt President Park Geun-hye who appears to have taken the dismissal motion as a direct challenge to her. She hinted at vetoing the motion without delay, and that obviously comes from her deep distrust of the legislative branch. To be sure, the nation's first female head of state still regards the opposition as the object of confrontation rather than an important axis of governance.



The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea and two other opposition parties can't avoid criticism of abusing their power at a time when they retain a majority in the unicameral legislature. Of course, the partisan clash may be intensifying as the rival parties seek to take the initiative in the run-up to next year's presidential election.



National Assembly Speaker Chung, in particular, deserves criticism for not sticking to his duty to remain neutral early Saturday morning when the Assembly put the dismissal motion to vote. He is charged with violating pertinent rules in the voting process and being heard siding with the opposition over a compromise on other controversial bills in exchange for the withdrawal of the dismissal motion.



The ruling and opposition parties seem to be passing the buck to each other, but in the eyes of the public, both sides are equally responsible. They frequently highlight the need to prioritize people's livelihoods, but their ulterior motive is to suppress opponents by all means. In this process, politics based on dialogue and compromise often gets lost.



It is no secret that people's fatigue had reached a dangerous level in the previous Assembly as the parties engaged in endless political wrangling. Faced with the public's wrath, they concurred on the need to promote ''cooperative governance'' in the 20th Assembly. But one cannot help but wonder if the parties may have made a political gesture to deceive the public, looking at the ugly scenes at the legislature.



There is no excuse, in particular, for the governing party's boycott of the annual parliamentary audit, given social unrest arising from North Korea's nuclear gambling, lingering economic woes and a host of scandals involving President Park.



All the parties must put their heads together immediately to find a political solution. The paralysis of the National Assembly is intolerable as long as the parliamentary audit is going on.




North Korea has hastily dispatched agents from its State Security Ministry to flood-damaged areas bordering China to block mass defections of residents there, a U.S. broadcaster, monitored in Seoul, reported Monday.

This summer, the North's northeastern provinces adjacent to China were devastated by heavy rains accompanied by Typhoon Lionrock. The United Nations estimates that 138 North Koreans were killed and 400 others are missing in the country's worst flooding in its history, with about 20,000 houses destroyed.

The North Korean authorities employed the step as defections have become easier as the heavy rains wrecked lots of border facilities, such as guard posts, and barbed-wire fences, the Radio Free Asia (RFA) said, citing a source in the North.

"The ministry sent its agents to border areas pertinent to an order from the Central Committee of the North's Workers' Party on Sept. 18, and they are currently staging inspections in all border areas," the source in North Hamkyong Province was quoted as saying.

The agents from the ministry have taken hold of overall border control, the source said.












After completing production and extensive testing, the first high-speed trains manufactured by Chinese railway giant CRRC Corporation Ltd. for the Hong Kong Section of a new high-speed railway project arrived in Hong Kong on Sept. 23.

The nine eight-carriage trains, built for the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, were manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. (Qingdao Sifang) according to a design based on the CRH380A model, said Hong Kong rail operator MTR.

The maximum number of passengers on a CRH380A high-speed train is 556. As Hong Kong opted not to include a business-class section, 23 extra passengers will be able to ride the train, a CRRC employee told Caixin.

The first batch of trains for the Express Rail Link project sailed to Hong Kong via Qingdao. The others will be transported by train, Caixin said. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the trains will be delivered to the Shek Kong Stabling Sidings. MTR said the trains will then undergo multiple static tests and low-speed dynamic tests. These will be followed by dynamic testing on the 16-kilometer pilot test section.

"During train production, MTR staff is stationed at the factory to closely monitor the process, including manufacturing, assembly and testing. A range of monitoring mechanisms and independent assessments are conducted throughout the process. With decades of expertise and experience, our system ensures that both the materials and production quality are commensurate with international safety standards and national regulations," said Philco Wong, projects director of MTR.

Currently, there is only one Beijing-Kowloon rail, and it takes approximately 23 hours. The Express Rail Link is expected to be put into operation in 2017, Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported.

However, the projects infrastructure has faced controversy and difficulties since its inception. In December 2015, the Hong Kong government applied for approval from the Legislative Council (Legco) for an extra HK$19.6 billion, on top of the HK$65 billion that lawmakers approved in 2010, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Hong Kong's Legco approved the extra funds in March.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may not have visited flood-hit areas as work on rehabilitation has yet to be completed, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.

North Korea's state media have not released reports of Kim visiting the country's northeastern province which was recently ravaged by what North Korea called the worst floods in about seven decades.

The Ministry of Unification said that the North's leader visited the flood-hit border city of Rason last year after rehabilitation work was completed, a move seen as him taking full credit for the recovery.

"In that sense, the fact that there is no report of Kim's visit indicates that the recovery work in North Hamgyong Province has yet to be wrapped up," Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing.

In August 2015, Typhoon Goni flooded the North's border city of Rason where a special economic zone is located. A month later, the country's leader visited the city in a bid to spur efforts for recovery, according to the North's media.

Heavy rains pummeled North Korea's northeast areas for five days starting Aug. 29, leaving nearly 140 North Koreans dead and about 400 missing.

Despite the floods, North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 9, eight months after its fourth nuke test.

Seoul has said that it is unlikely to provide aid to North Korea given high tensions following the nuclear test even if the reclusive country makes such a request.

Nam Sung-wook, a professor on North Korean studies at Korea University, said that when North Korea completes recovery work, its leader is likely to take credit and mark it as one of his accomplishments.

Others said that Kim may visit the flood-ravaged province on the occasion of the ruling party's founding anniversary which falls on Oct. 10.

"North Korea could adjust Kim's visit near to the (71st) anniversary to stress the contribution of the Workers' Party of Korea to the rehabilitation," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Seoul's Dongguk University. (Yonhap)


By Park Jin-hai

Ju Gyung-bae, 47, North Korean defector and former co-host of FEBC Korea's radio show "Missing Home Away from Home," says radio has been his only window to the outside world.

Raised to believe that Kim Jong-il was the supreme leader and North Korea is the center of the universe, Ju said that what he heard from a small illegally-assembled radio used to listen to outside channels was an electrifying experience.

"When I heard in my teens the unfamiliar soft tone of the Korean language on the radio, I realized that half of Koreans are in a separated country. It was an electrifying and eye-opening realization," he said.

Since his elite father was sent to a notorious political prison camp when he was nine, he had been ostracized from the rest of the society, stripped of all hope, including the right to do the mandatory 10-year military duty, which North Koreans perceive as the ultimate honor for the country.

With the craving for something to fill the emptiness and helplessness, he spent 8,100 won, the price equivalent to feed a whole family for more than half a year a decade ago, to pay for the radio. "When the day darkened, all of my family under the blanket listened to the voice of freedom." Listening to South Korean radio is regarded a felony and if caught, people have to serve years in labor camps. Nonetheless, it didn't discourage Ju's search for truth.

After three failed attempts to defect to South Korea, he finally made it and became a South Korean citizen in 2008. But his life in the South has not been easy, he says.

"The moment I clinched the resident registration card and found home here finally, ironically, I started to have nightmares," he said. "Every night I had to suffer the guilt that I am alone living in a world of wealth here, while so many friends and neighbors in the North have died from hunger. In the North, no matter how desperate the situation was I never thought of killing myself, but here for the first time, I just wanted to die."

What made him rise again was his faith, he says. A born-again Christian missionary, he hosted the FEBC Korea's missionary radio show to air the gospel to the hope-depleted North Koreans between 2011 and 2013. He wanted to give them hope and solace like he received a decade ago from the radio.

He is also leading a movement called the "N.K. Diaspora" under the FRBC Korea, where he tries to help poverty-stricken North Koreans financially to facilitate change in the North from inside.

"One of the biggest mistakes people here make is believing that the North is a closed country. It is already an open country," he said. "With 30,000 North Korean defectors living here, they are communicating with their families and relatives in the North on a daily basis through smart phones and receive updated news."

It only takes ten minutes to send money to people in Pyongyang now. As of 2012, the amount of money transferred from the South by defectors to the North annually reached 15 billion won, according to Ju.

"I believe unification cannot be earned by a few politicians or policies. It should come from an uprising from inside," he said.

"About 100,000 won is enough to feed a four-member family for a month. By helping those starving people financially as well as by delivering a message of hope, more people will be disillusioned and crave for freedom. This could ultimately bring down the barbed wire fences separating the two Koreas."
By Yoon Sung-won



KT said Tuesday it has established a smart farm for people with disabilities at a rehabilitation facility here.



This is the first smart farm in Korea to be built with the handicapped in mind. The telecom company said it will push to distribute such special smart farm facilities nationwide to support rehabilitation of people with disabilities.



"We have worked to reflect the practical needs of the people through the smart farm," said Lee Sun-joo, vice president of KT's Sustainability Management Center. "We hope the facility will help them achieve financial independence and rehabilitation."



Compared to previous smart farms built by the company, the new farm at the agricultural rehabilitation center in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, has a special vinyl greenhouse facility that provides real-time monitoring and control features.



The new smart farm, which will cultivate herbs, also has its plant beds raised to waist-height for those unable to stand straight or crouch. It also has a floating bed system that is controlled using switches or a smartphone to make it more convenient to move around inside the facility. KT said the floating bed system will allow those who are wheelchair-bound to participate in the farming activities.



The telecom company expected the smart farm will provide job opportunities for people with disabilities in the Namyangju region. Famed chef Edward Kwon will purchase the herbs grown at the farm, KT said.




By Kim Tae-gyu



Returning to Apple 12 years after an infamous departure in 1985, the late Steve Jobs started the famous "Think Different" commercial campaign on Sept. 28, 1997, to get greater public attention.



Nineteen years later, questions arise as to whether the Palo Alto, California-based tech giant still "thinks different" with its legendary leader gone five years ago due to pancreatic cancer.



Many experts reply in the negative because Apple has failed to produce any notable innovations of late.



"In the 1997 ad campaign, Jobs praised the misfits, the troublemakers and the rebels because they change the world and push the human race forward by thinking differently," said a professor at a Seoul university.



"Jobs lived up to his words since he was responsible for putting 1,000 songs in every pocket with the iPod and the Internet with the iPhone. Without Jobs, however, Apple could not achieve such feats. More problematic is that the firm is not likely to make any big achievements in the near future."



He said that Apple makes money thanks to the legacy left by Jobs without creating something new as a future cash cow.



Chung Chang-won, an analyst at Nomura Securities, said that Apple is now too big to maintain the maverick disregard for the mainstream as it has become mainstream itself.



"Apple seems to be fond of rules and respects the status quo, the two features Jobs emphasized as non-innovators in the 1997 ad campaign. The iPhone 7 would be an example," he said.



"The iPhone 7 is by and large just an upgrade from previous versions. Of course, Apple cannot show great products every year but I have not seen any great products over the past few years."



Observers noted that in the past Samsung Electronics followed Apple but now the order is reversed as demonstrated by the iPhone 7 whose new feature is water and dust resistance, which was adopted by Samsung in 2014 for the Galaxy S5.



In other words, Samsung has taken the driving seat in technological advances, something with which Jobs would not be happy.



"I am using both the Galaxy phone and the iPhone. I don't know why the latter is so good compared to the former and why some are still craze about the iPhone," Chung said.



A senior executive at a local start-up concurred.



"If Jobs had been alive and in charge for the past five years, I think that Apple would have launched an all-new automobile, the iCar, or an innovative house, the iHome, while pushed ahead in promising areas such as artificial intelligence (AI)," he said.



"But we have yet to see the iCar or the iHome and Google is a runaway leader in AI."



Some watchers say that Apple's incumbent CEO Tim Cook, who is dubbed as a mirror image of Jobs, is not the right person to spearhead innovation in one of the world's most valuable corporations.



Put otherwise, they say that Jobs vowed to make a dent in the universe but Cook is a corporate leader who prefers to make a dent in income statements.



Jobs trusted Cook and entrusted the management of Apple to him. However, he once expressed reservations about his successor to his biographer Walter Isaacson, saying "But Tim's not a product person, per se."



Jobs did not elaborate or at least Isaacson did not write more, but Jobs seems to mean that a product person is an innovation champion who moves forward with new products. By contrast, he appears to see Cook as an operations champion.



One sure thing is that Cook reversed the philosophies of Jobs on a few points.



Jobs mocked a big phone, a small tablet and a stylus. He disdained a large-screen phone because people cannot get their hands around it and mocked a small tablet, saying the iPad's 10-inch is the minimum suitable size. He also claimed god gave us 10 styluses  fingers  so that we don't have to invent a new one, which we would easily misplace.



Cook and Apple's top decision makers ignored the three epic rants of Jobs and debuted big iPhones, the iPad mini and a stylus called the Apple Pencil soon after Jobs died.




A young, twenty-something village official from Anhui province recently went viral online after she snapped a series of retro self-portraits to publicize her hometown, local media reported on Sept. 27. All the photos feature her hometown, Jiulonggang, as an eye-catching background.

The girl, Wang Xue, is deputy town chief of Jiulonggang in the city of Huainai, a place known for tourism and historical relics. The city is now launching a campaign to promote tourism in Jiulonggang.

Wang hopes that her photos, which prominently display the picturesque town, will serve as a useful publicity tool. Wang also emphasized that her photography project had received support from the town leaders.
(Xinhua) 18:36, September 27, 2016

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's weather forecasters issued an orange alert for waves and a yellow alert for storms on Tuesday as Typhoon Megi approached.

Megi, the 17th typhoon this year, is expected to make landfall in coastal eastern Taiwan Tuesday afternoon and move to the southern Fujian coast on Wednesday morning, said China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, the typhoon is expected to bring waves of up to 12 meters in waters east of Taiwan. Waves up to eight meters are expected in the East China Sea, around the Diaoyu Islandsand Taiwan Strait.

Storm surges of up to 150 centimeters are expected in coastal areas in parts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

In China's four-tier severe weather warning system, red is the most serious alert, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs Tuesday issued an emergency response to the typhoon, urging local civil affairs departments to be on all-day duty and issue early warning for citizens.

Rainstorms are expected in Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Anhui over the next three days.
(Xinhua) 18:41, September 27, 2016

TERCEIRA ISLAND, Portugal, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiangon Monday concluded his three-day official visit to Cuba and made a stopover in Portugal's Terceira Island on his way back to China.

Premier Li and his wife Cheng Hong were welcomed by Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva and Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run at the airport in the western island of the European country.

During his meeting with Silva, Li said Portugal is China's good friend in the European Union(EU) and China-Portugal relations have been enhanced in recent years with efforts from both sides.

China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen political trust, increase mutual understanding, enlarge pragmatic cooperation, establish closer civilian communication with Portugal and to diversify the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, Li said.

According to Li, pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has yielded fruitful results in various fields. Chinese investment in Portugal keeps growing and their cooperation in third markets, such as Latin America, has seen excellent results.

He hoped both sides would continue to explore the potential to cooperate in fields like energy, finance and ocean, as well as to resort to complementary advantages to better coordinate in third markets.

China encourages its companies to invest and do business in Portugal, and welcomes Portuguese counterparts to exploit the Chinese market as well, Li said, adding that both countries should make efforts to offer a fair and convenient environment to foreign investors.

As the special envoy of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Silva firstly greeted Li and his wife on behalf of Costa.

He said that Portugal and China have enjoyed many exchanges in history and that their bilateral relations enjoy favorable growth momentum.

As an important Chinese investment destination in the EU, Portugal attaches great importance to investment from China, the foreign minister said.

Portugal hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China in fields like energy, transport infrastructure and logistics, and furthermore, it wishes to establish cooperation with China as the third party in wider regions, for example in Africa, Silva said.
(Xinhua) 20:36, September 27, 2016

ABUJA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria will welcome all kinds of support from China, the world's second largest economy to help shore up its growth as the major African economy enters a recession, an expert on China-Africa development issues has said.

Enehikhuere, a member of the African Think Tank for China-Africa Development, told Xinhua in an interview that China, being an important partner in Nigeria's growth and development, is expected to play a constructive role in helping Nigeria address its economic problems.

According to him, Nigeria, like other African countries, is comfortable with China's economic leadership and is willing to learn how to grow the economy through Chinese expertise.

Nigeria's economy formally entered recession in the third quarter of the year when its Gross Domestic Product in real terms declined by 2.06 percent in the second quarter year on year after a 0.36 percent decline in the first quarter.

China and Nigeria, Enehikhuere noted, have collaborated in many fronts to combat various challenges in the past.

"Therefore, it won't be a difficult thing for the two nations to exchange ideas and support to help Nigeria come out of its present economic situation," said the expert.

He said although Nigeria is in recession, its economy can remain robust especially as the West African nation looks forward to diversifying its economy.

China has invested more than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in the Nigerian economy as of the end of 2015, especially in areas such as telecommunications, construction, agriculture, petroleum and solid minerals, according to data from the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria.

Enehikhuere said that China is always a destination for Nigeria and other African countries because the East Asian nation has proved to be "Africa's friend in weal and woe".

"The Nigerian economy is very relevant in Africa, and we can do a lot of things with China," he added.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari paid a state visit to China in April this year and during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Li said China is ready to help promote the African country's industrialization through enhancing production capacity cooperation, spearheaded by infrastructure projects including railway, highway, and hydropower construction.

China encourages capable enterprises to invest in Nigeria, the premier said, calling on Nigeria to provide good protection and support for Chinese investment.
Organised labour, yesterday, said it was mobilising to confront the Federal Government over its decision to sell some national assets which had before now sustained the nations economy.

Organised Labours declaration came on a day the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against planned sale of the assets.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, president of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, described the proposed decision of the government to dispose of the national assets as reckless auctioning of the nations commonwealth to a coterie of capitalists and governments close associates.



Wabba, who also inaugurated a committee, alongside the Academic Staff Union Of Universities, ASUU, to engage the Federal Government on the issue, said if the dialogue with the government to stop the sale of national assets failed, it would mobilise its members across the country to embark on a nationwide protest.

He said that the congress was also considering the option of dragging the Federal Government to court, saying at least 20 lawyers had indicated interest to represent the Congress in court.

Wabba admitted that the congress had been passive on several national issues, but assured that it would engage government vigorously and ensure that the assets were not sold.

He said the NLC decided to engage the services of intellectuals to come out with alternative policy ideas besides the ones being canvassed by government.

Vanguard

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The federal government will be repeating mistakes of the past should it sell some of the nations assets as has been proposed in some quarters, Chukwuma Soludo, former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said.

Asset sale has recently emerged as one of the strategies for Nigerias quick exit from its current economic recession, and notable public figures have argued for and against it.

Writing on the subject on Monday, Soludo said he initially labelled the asset sale suggestion a joke when it first began to emerge, but when the senate and NEC joined the convenient but flawed call, he decided to lend a voice to the matter.



He said that although he would ordinarily not join issues, the matter in question is critical, especially due to the assumption that the move would help to build reserves and provide funds for immediate spending and thus ensure that this recession will be the shortest ever.

Part of the legacy of the oil resource curse on matters of public finance is a mindset that resorts to easy, albeit lazy approach to quick fixes  with a gaze on the short term even when the issues are structurally long-term. So, I understand the mental framework that drives such a proposal especially given the pressures to show immediate results, he said.

But for the record, it is our considered view that the proposal is based on a false foundation. Our thesis is that in extreme, exceptional circumstances, sale of certain assets could be a last resort option but that Nigeria is currently not near that threshold and the institutional framework for its effective use is also not in place.

Furthermore, we argue that any sale of assets now amounts to chasing pennies when by acts of omission or commission, we are losing pounds. Such a hasty auction of national assets can only benefit a privileged few with cash and access while jeopardizing Nigerias long-term economic interests. It will be a historic mistake.

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You know he does not have time. The senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, to order pastoralists out of Abuja.

Mr. Melaye made the call when the minister testified before the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory. The committee is chaired by Mr. Melaye. Mr. Melaye reminded Mr. Bello that an earlier directive issued against the activities of herdsmen within the city had been ignored and a drastic action must be taken to end the menace.

Honourable Minister, Senate as an institution is not happy at how Fulani herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you have given directive against that some time ago. From now, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre with a fine of N50, 000 per cow. This order must be carried out, Mr. Melaye said.

However, concerns have continued to mount about the activities of herdsmen across the FCT in recent months, as cows are always seen wandering around the city center, causing traffic gridlock and sometimes accidents.

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(Xinhua) 09:52, September 27, 2016

CARTAGENA, Colombia, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC commander in chief, Timoleon Jimenez, signed a historic peace deal on Monday afternoon in the city of Cartagena, ending a 52-year conflict.

In a special ceremony attended by world leaders, the two men signed the peace agreement to begin a new chapter in the country's history.

On a platform accompanied by presidents of Cuba, Ecuador and other Latin American countries, as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Santos and Jimenez signed the agreement with pens made from bullets to symbolize the transition to peace.

Planes flew overhead trailing the colors of the Colombian flag.

This day comes after over four years of negotiations in Havana, Cuba. The two sides came to an agreement on five points: rural development, the participation of the FARC in political life, the end of the conflict, the struggle against drug trafficking and reparations to victims.

The last step will be taken on Oct. 2, when the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept the agreement. Recent opinion polls showed a large majority in favor of it.

The conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC started in the 1960s as an uprising over land rights. It has left around 220,000 people dead and millions displaced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with representatives during an inspection of the PLA Rocket Force in Beijing on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force to continue to build itself into a strong and modern rocket force.

Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during an inspection of the PLA Rocket Force, as he congratulated the first PLA Rocket Force Party congress.

He described the force as a "core of strategic deterrence, a strategic buttress to the country's position as a major power, and a cornerstone on which to build national security."

The PLA Rocket Force was established at the end of last year, part of a wider military structural reform drive. Xi conferred the military flag on the Rocket Force at its inauguration ceremony held in Beijing on Dec. 31, 2015.

Amid the changing international situation and major challenges to national security, the Rocket Force has played an "irreplaceable" role in containing war threats, ensuring a secure and favorable strategic posture for China, as well as maintaining global strategic balance and stability, said Xi.

Xi urged the Rocket Force to increase its sense of crisis and strengthen its strategic ability so as to provide a safe strategic security environment for the nation.

New breakthroughs should be made in enhancing the troop's strategic containment capacity, combat preparedness and application of strategy, Xi noted.

Xi asked the Rocket Force to follow the Party's absolute leadership, maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee and follow the command of CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

He also told Party organizations to promote institutional innovation and strengthen their creativity, cohesion and combat capacity, urging them to improve the way talents are recruited and used.

In addition, Xi asked for unrelenting efforts when building a clean and honest army and wiping out corruption.

He also said education and supervision for leading officials should be strengthened.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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Clover POS systems are a great solution if you want to streamline your internal services and want to replace an old kit like cash registers, payment terminals and other equipment. Clovers point of sale solution allows you to get rid of all that and replace it with a more integrated system with state of the
PRESS RELEASE

Deutsche Bank Falling; Debate over Whether To Bail Out and How

Sept. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)As of today, the debate is on in Germany over whether the government will bail out the failing Deutsche Bank, in spite of the "no-bailout" policy it has insisted on in Europe. The bank ruled "most systemically dangerous in the world" by the IMF, led a worldwide selloff of financial stocks and sinking of bond yields Monday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly ruled out a bailout on Sept. 23, after having talked to Deutsche Bank CEO John Cryan, and also refused to intervene with the U.S. Justice Department to lower a $14 billion fine it is demanding from Deutsche Bank for the latters rampant mortgage securities fraud in the United States from 2000-2008.

That was followed, however, by a Bloomberg interview with the CEO of Allianz Global Investors AG, Andreas Utermann, who insisted the German government will have to bail out Deutsche Bank "should this become a self-fulfilling prophesy with the share price going down too low," because the bank is so interconnected with all of German Finance [including Allianzed.].

Members of Merkels Christian Democrats in the Bundestag then reiterated that there could be no bailout, with one claiming, "There is no similarity between Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers."

Debate over how and whether the bank could be bailed out raged all over the financial media.

In the banks Monday plunge, its stock fell to 10.6 euros from 11.5; its contingent convertible bonds dropped to 73 cents/dollar from 76; and the price of credit default swaps on its 5-year bonds soared to nearly 500 basis points, essentially equal to the cost of Lehmans before its bankruptcy.

And with more than 20 times the largest derivatives exposure Lehman Brothers ever had, Deutsche Bank is not like Lehman; it is far, far more dangerous.
PRESS RELEASE

Telegraph Reminds that JASTA Threatens Londonistan Terrorism

Sept. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)In a signal editorial today, the London Telegraph reminded the war party in the United Kingdom and United States that London, as well as Saudi Arabia, has terrorists at risk from the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). The Telegraph strongly defends President Barack Obamas treasonous defense of his partners in war and terrorism against the U.S. Congresss JASTA.

"Barack Obama was right to veto the 9/11 Act and protect U.S. allies like Britain" is the editorial headline. It states that

"The main aim of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was to enable relatives of those killed or injured in the 9/11 attacks to take legal action against Saudi Arabia, whose citizens were involved in planning the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history."

Artfully put, since those "citizens" have been shown to include Prince Bandar, then Saudi Ambassador to the United States.

But, the Telegraph editors continue, "Mr. Obama felt compelled to veto the legislation because of the potential harm it could inflict on key allies, such as Britain"; and here, the editorial links to a June 5, 2016 article, "Why a U.S. law to let 9/11 families sue Saudi Arabia is a threat to Britain and its intelligence agencies," by Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat.

The reason is clear: sponsoring terrorism, and the broadscale recruitment of terrorists which has gone on in what many other countries have called "Londonistan," with no interference from British authorities.

"Britains intelligence and security agencies, MI6 and MI5, are also concerned about the implications of the proposed legislation, as it could make them vulnerable to hostile lawsuits by American lawyers attempting to prove that British-based jihadists have been involved in terror plots against U.S. targets."

The policy of waging "regime change" war and supporting the spread of terrorism against nations, is a British imperial policy, followed by both George W. Bush and Obama. The Chilcot Commission, exposing Tony Blairs Iraq War, and the House of Commons report which drove David Cameron out of politics due to his Libya war, prove that.

The Telegraphs editorial reminds Americans of the real stakes in seizing the chance to override Obamas veto of JASTA, and end his treason.
PRESS RELEASE

Obama Administration Use of Terrorism

Sept. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)A great deal is being exposed, following the U.S. and "coalition" air forces bombing of the Syrian Army on Sept. 17, which indicates that the Obama White Houses relation to terrorism goes beyond "unintentionally" spreading it through regime-change wars. Two years ago the fired head of U.S. Defense Intelligence, General Flynn, revealed that the White House willingly accepted, in advance, the formation of a terrorism "Califate" in Iraq and Syria as the likely outcome of its Syria regime-change policy. But it has more actively used and supported that "Califate" of "ISIS" and "al-Qaeda."

For the German publication Focus, veteran journalist Jurgen Todenhofer, who has spent years reporting from Syria including years of contact with Syrian "rebels"conducted an interview, 10 days ago, of the commander of the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al Nusra. High-quality photographs of the commander with Todenhoefer and of the heavily guarded stone quarry in which the talk took place, attest to it.

"Abu Al Ezz spoke very often of his money sources Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait," Todenhoefer wrote. "We have researched the identity of the man and know practically everything about him."

"We are a part of al-Qaeda," the commander told Todenhoefer, and also explained that ISIS was a part of themal-Qaeda and supported them until each "took their own way."

And amidst many descriptions of al-Nusra/al-Qaedas battles and goals of "overthrowing the dictatorships," Al Ezz told Todenhoefer that the terror army had received U.S. TOW shoulder-fired missile launchers, not "indirectly through the Free Syrian Army," as Todenhoefer had assumed, but directly from the United States. When they were beseiged by the Syrian Army, "experts from several countries" came to help them with such armaments. "Also America experts?" asked the journalist. "Yes." "From governments, or private persons?" "From governments," Al Ezz answered. "The Americans stand on our side."

Syrias Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari, charged at the UN Security Council on Sept. 25, that his countrys intelligence knows the location in Aleppo where the jihadi group Ahrar al-Sham is storing chemical weapons agents, in preparation for a "false flag" chemical attack to be blamed on the Syrian government. Jaafari added that on Sept. 6, two "American experts" were observed visiting that location, and then left Syria via Turkey. The 2013 sarin attack which killed and sickened people in Damascus should be recalled: It was immediately and emphatically blamed on Syrias government by the United States and NATO; but its actual origin has still not been established.

Was the Sept. 17 US airstrike on Syrian Army troops in Deir Ez Zor carried out in direct coordination with ISIS? Hadiya Khalaf Abbas, the speaker of the Syrian parliament, told Lebanese Al Mayadeen TV that "The Syrian Army intercepted a conversation between the Americans and Daesh [ISISed.] before the air raid on Deir ez-Zor." She apparently did not provide any details, however, saying, instead, that they would be made public later.
PRESS RELEASE

Russia Will Accept No Further Unilateral Steps in Syria

Sept. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)The Syrian war exploded at the UN Security Council, yesterday, during an emergency session called by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France in an effort to stop the Russian-backed offensive in Aleppo. Judging from the news reports, it was not a diplomatic effort, but rather an attempt to indict the Russian and Syrian governments for war crimes, an effort which was turned back on the three Western representatives by Russia and Syria, who charged them with supporting terrorists.

"What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism, it is barbarism," said a hyperventilated Samantha Power.

"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."

Russias UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin replied by declaring that Russia will no longer accept unilateral measures. "We have always been making concessions, at least tried, and reached agreements with the Syrian government," he said. "In the long run, it all ended in militants regrouping, receiving reinforcement, and staging new offensives." Then, he said, a demand followed that the Syrian government unilaterally stop flights of its warplanes as a preliminary condition. "First they said for three days. We agreed. Then they said, No, the U.S. President has changed his mind, we need seven days. No one knows why. Such tactical tricks cannot go on endlessly. We will agree on no further unilateral steps," he said.

The American side, in his words, "has actually acknowledged its inability to influence the groups it controls and honestly implement the agreements," first of all, to separate moderate groups from terrorists and "draw relevant division lines on the ground."

Bashar Jaafari, Syrias UN Ambassador, told the council that Syria will remain committed to combatting terrorism, and that others must stop exploiting the Syrian people. He vowed that the Syrian government will not relinquish a single inch of its territory as per the Syrian constitution and the rules of international law, stressing that politicizing the humanitarian crisis will only extend it, increase Syrians suffering, and encourage the spread of terrorism. He mocked the U.S., U.K., and French representatives who, it seemed, are

"rediscovering the wheel when they said that the Syrian government is seeking to reclaim Aleppo. Imagine the scale of this monumental discovery made by the representatives of three permanent member states in the Security Council, as if Aleppo is a city in Djibouti or Afghanistan or in Brazil!"

Jaafari charged that the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, the countries that had called the session, had repeatedly blocked resolutions in the council to denounce terrorist attacks, using suicide methods, in Syria and that now they are engaged in a bid to "rescue" armed terrorist groups that they falsely label as "moderate opposition," adding that this always happens when they are on the verge of being defeated. They are forgetting, he said, the imagery of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy in Aleppo beheaded by Nour Eddin al-Zenki, an anti-Assad group that the U.S. actually supports.

"We believe that some permanent member states calls for holding this session constitute a message from these states to Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups affiliated to it, saying that the support and political cover provided to them are still standing and wont stop,"

he said.
If youre one of the more than 140,000 people doing time in a Texas state prison, youre not allowed to read books by Bob Dole, Harriet Beecher Stowe or Sojourner Truth. But youre more than welcome to dig into Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf or David Dukes My Awakening.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has banned 15,000 books from the correctional facilities it operates, most recently Dan Slaters new Wolf Boys: Two American Teenagers and Mexicos Most Dangerous Drug Cartel, the Guardian reports.

The news comes in the middle of Banned Books Week, the annual event celebrating literature thats been targeted by censors.

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Deborah Caldwell-Stone of the American Library Assn., a Banned Books Week sponsor, blasted Texas decision to ban Wolf Boys, about two Texas teenagers who go to work for the Zetas, an infamous Mexican drug cartel, and are caught and sentenced. The book is nonfiction: Both teenagers are housed in Texas prisons.

Its truly tragic, Caldwell-Stone said. There is probably a new story every day like this.

Jason Clark, a spokesman for the Texas prison system, said Slaters book was banned because it violates the departments ban on books that contain information about criminal schemes.

Clark pointed to a passage in the book that reads: Mario purchased pickup trucks from which he removed panels and lights. The trick was packing the drugs in a part of the vehicle where the body wouldnt lose its hollow sound when slapped.

Slater criticized the decision by prison officials to prevent prisoners from having access to his book in a piece in Slate.

TDCJ has let its book-banning policy go far beyond what is necessary, permitting uneducated mailroom officers and Huntsville administrators to censor speech on political grounds or simply block books from going to inmates that prison workers do not like, Slater wrote, referring to the city where the prison system headquarters is located. If what matters is balancing security with free speech and the rehabilitation of inmates, no policy could be more errant.

Slater noted that the TDCJ book bans often seem arbitrary. The department has banned many nonfiction books dealing with prison rape, he writes, but does not censor Stephen Kings Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, which contains a scene in which an inmate is sexually assaulted.

Books containing the N-word are often targeted by prison censors, Slater writes. This has led to the banning of books by Langston Hughes, Noam Chomsky, Philip Roth, Richard Wright and Salman Rushdie.

But racist manifestos by Adolf Hitler and David Duke have not been banned by the TDCJ.

Its unclear why some books ended up on the list of banned materials.The Guardian reports that the list of disallowed books includes World War II: An Illustrated History of Crisis and Courage by Bob Dole, the former Republican senator, and Anas Story: A Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush Hager, the daughter of former President and Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

A 2011 report by the Texas Civil Rights Project notes that books can be banned in Texas prisons for any of six reasons, including sexually explicit images and encouraging deviant criminal sexual behavior. Books can also be censored for containing information on criminal schemes.

Many literary classics have ended up censored in Texas prisons, the report says, including Dantes Inferno, Alice Walkers The Color Purple and Henry Millers Tropic of Cancer.

Contemporary authors arent safe either. The TDCJ has prohibited books by popular writers such as Tom Clancy, John Grisham, James Patterson and Lisa Scottoline.

Wolf Boys author Slater called the TDCJs censorship procedures aggressive and arbitrary.

Its like were living in the Dark Ages, Slater told the Guardian.I believe strongly in the power of knowledge and enlightenment and in what books can do, especially for someone who is down and who feels a connection to a story.

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Construction photo of the Upper Marsyangdi A Power Station. (Photo/PowerChina)

On the afternoon of Sept. 26, an opening ceremony was held for the Upper Marsyangdi A Power Station in Nepal, which is the first one invested in and built by a Chinese enterprise. The Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) is the company responsible for both investment and construction.

The station's first generator set has already successfully generated electricity. The installed capacity of the power station accounts for 5.72 percent of Nepals total installed capacity, so its operation will greatly ease the country's power supply shortage.

Upper Marsyangdi A Power Station is a BOOT (BuildOwnOperateTransfer) project with a total investment of $165.9 million and a concession period of 35 years. About 180 kilometers from Katmandu, the station's total installed capacity is 50,000 kilowatts. It will provide about 317 million kilowatt-hours of power to Nepal annually.

Sheng Yuming, president of PowerChina Resources Ltd., explained that the project is an especially important investment in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. The project has greatly promoted Chinese standards, technologies, equipment and culture in Nepal, and has become a good example of China-Nepal economic cooperation.
Sea Launch, a satellite launcher that has flung rockets into space from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean and has its home port in Long Beach, is being acquired by a Russian firm.

S7 Group, a private aviation holding company, said it signed an agreement Tuesday with Sea Launch Group to acquire the launch providers assets.

That includes the Odyssey launch platform, which is a modified oil rig; the Sea Launch Commander vessel, a specially designed cargo ship that carries rocket components and payload and can serve as a launch control center; the Sea Launch trademark; and the ground support equipment at Sea Launchs home port facility in Long Beach.

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Launches have been on hold since 2014.

The deal is expected to close in six months and is subject to approval from various U.S. authorities, such as the Department of States Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the Department of Treasurys Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

S7 Chief Executive Vladislav Filev said his company plans to restart launches in late 2018.

Filev predicted S7 will be able to launch up to 70 times within 15 years without making any major investments in upgrades to the Sea Launch complex.

The acquisition of the Sea Launch is a ticket for us to enter the space industry, he said in a statement. Space infrastructure is developing rapidly. In our view, it is a very exciting area of business, with good long-term prospects.

Sea Launch was established in 1995 originally as a joint venture of Boeing Co., a Norwegian shipbuilder, two Ukrainian rocket companies and RSC Energia, a rocket firm partially owned by the Russian government.

It launched rockets from a remote location about 3,300 miles southwest of Long Beach and 1,400 miles south of Hawaii  a spot that would enable satellites to reach orbit faster while burning less fuel by using the Earths rotation as momentum.

Just as the venture was becoming operational in 1999, the demand for satellites plummeted. By 2002, Sea Launch had sent up only one satellite. In 2009, the company filed for bankruptcy protection, and in 2010, an affiliate of RSC Energia bought a 95% stake to lift Sea Launch out of bankruptcy.

Boeing sued its former partners for more than $355 million in 2013, alleging that RSC Energia and the two Ukrainian rocket companies failed to repay loans. In September 2015, a court issued a summary judgment in favor of Boeing, according to Space News.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

For more business news, follow me @smasunaga

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SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk envisions a fleet of 1,000 spaceships embarking en masse for Mars, establishing a self-sustaining colony of as many as 1 million people and turning humans into a multiplanetary species within 40 to 100 years.

There are really two fundamental paths, Musk said. One path is we stay on Earth forever and there will be some eventual extinction event. The other is to become a ... multiplanet species, which I hope you will agree is the way to go.

Still to be determined: Where the possibly hundreds of billions of dollars will come from to pay for the rockets and spaceships, and how all those people will survive once theyre on Mars.

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Speaking to the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Musk described his vision for continuous launches from Earth, with massive rocket boosters returning for reuse after hurling spacecraft into parking orbit around Earth, where they would be refueled by propellant tankers.

The spacecraft, each carrying 100 people, and eventually more, would spread their solar wings (for electrical power) and fly on to Mars. They would return using a combination methane and liquid oxygen fuel mined and manufactured on the Red Planet.

Thats not the only way Hawthorne-based SpaceX would have to push technology boundaries.

In a tweet before the speech, Musk said the rocket booster for his interplanetary transport system will measure about 39 feet in diameter, and the spaceship will be about 55 feet in diameter.

When the two are stacked, their height will be about 400 feet. That is taller than the Saturn V rocket that carried astronauts to the moon in the 1970s, and the SpaceX rocket would have nearly four times as much thrust. The Saturn V is the most powerful rocket ever used.

Musk gave an aggressive timeline  the spacecraft could have its first test flight in four years, and its first crewed mission might launch in late 2024 with arrival at Mars in 2025. Musk acknowledged the manned mission date was an aspiration.

SpaceX has defied the odds before. It jump-started the private space industry, challenging traditional aerospace companies that held a monopoly on launching national security satellites. The company has successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket 27 times and made history when it landed used, first-stage boosters back on land and sea six times.

The company already has completed development work on a massive, carbon-fiber fuel tank for the Mars ship, and it has test fired the Raptor interplanetary transport engine.

But, as with many of Musks projects  mostly notably his notoriously late delivery of new Tesla electric-car models  industry experts were skeptical he could meet the ambitious Mars schedule.

I admire Musks bravado and I certainly think that making humans a multiplanetary species is a worthwhile endeavor. But he has significantly downplayed the technical challenges involved, especially on his projected time scales, said Justin Karl, coordinator of the commercial space operations program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A lot of things are predicated on the assumption that it can be done, versus it being in current active development or having flight heritage.

Bill Ostrove, aerospace and defense analyst with market research firm Forecast International, said he thought the time frame seemed very ambitious.

Musk said rocket and spacecraft reusability and sourcing fuel from Mars were two keys to reducing the per-person cost of getting to Mars. His goal is to cut that cost from $10 billion, the price using traditional methods, to close to $200,000.

The total cost for SpaceX to develop the interplanetary transport system could be $10 billion. The entire project would cost much more and would ultimately require a public/private partnership, Musk said.

NASA is developing the Space Launch System, a massive rocket that the agency plans to send to an asteroid in the mid-2020s and to Mars in the 2030s.

Obviously it will be a challenge to fund this endeavor, Musk said. The main reason Im personally accumulating assets is to fund this. I really dont have any other motivation for accumulating assets other than to make the biggest contribution I can to making life multiplanetary.

Musk said the company expects to generate pretty decent revenue from satellite launches and NASA commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station. He added that there are individuals in the private sector interested in funding a Mars base.

Currently, the company is spending less than 5% of its resources on the Mars system. But in a year and a half to two years, Musk said, most of SpaceX could be working on the project and the company could spend about $300 million a year on it.

The financial aspect of the mission will be a major hurdle, said Richard Wirz, director of the plasma and space propulsion laboratory at UCLA.

None of the things hes mentioning are technological impossibilities, he said. Its whether or not we can get the money to do it, and if were willing to accept the risk.

Musk himself acknowledged that the first journeys to Mars will be dangerous, and that travelers must be prepared to die.

The risk of fatality will be high, he said.

In April, SpaceX said it was planning to send an unmanned Dragon spacecraft to Mars as early as 2018 to test attributes such as landing capabilities and interplanetary navigation. That mission, known as Red Dragon, will get some technical support from NASA, which has said it is interested in the entry, descent and landing data. Musk said Tuesday that the company wants to send a steady cadence of Dragon spacecraft to Mars.

But he gave few details about what a Mars civilization would look like, other than the establishment of fuel farms, saying that SpaceXs goal was to build the transport system to get travelers to Mars.

Its like building the Union Pacific railroad, Musk said. Once that transport system is built, then theres a tremendous opportunity for anyone who wants to go to Mars and create something new or build the foundations of a new planet.

Industry experts said there are still a number of hurdles to overcome. For instance, Musk did not describe how the Mars travelers will be sustained on the spaceship on their journey to the Red Planet.

That is one piece that really needs to be worked on hard before something like this could be achievable, said David Barnhart, director of USCs space engineering research center.

And the journey there might not necessarily be a one-way trip.

I think its pretty important to give people the option of returning, Musk said, adding that the spaceships will be returning to Earth from Mars anyways. The number of people willing to move to Mars is much greater if they know they have the option of returning, even if they never return.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

For more business news, follow me @smasunaga

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UPDATES:

2:15 p.m.: This article was updated with details from Elon Musks speech.

Noon: This article was updated to reflect that the speech has begun and to add background information.

This article was originally published at 11:45 a.m.
As beleaguered banking giant Wells Fargo & Co. deals with inquiries from federal prosecutors and scrutiny from lawmakers, its facing a growing number of civil lawsuits brought by customers and former employees.

In a little more than two weeks since the San Francisco bank admitted that employees created as many as 2 million accounts for customers without their permission, Wells Fargo has been hit with at least four prospective class-action lawsuits  and several law firms are looking for plaintiffs and considering cases of their own.

Among the latest actions was a case filed Monday in Los Angeles federal court by attorney Jonathan Delshad on behalf of employees who may have been fired or demoted over the last 10 years for refusing to open bogus accounts to meet aggressive sales goals.

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It alleges violations of federal financial and labor laws, including failure to pay for overtime worked to meet the goals. It seeks damages of at least $7.2 billion.

I expect many other law firms around the country will be bringing cases, said Delshad, a West L.A. lawyer. A lot of attorneys are going to try to get on the bandwagon.

Wells Fargo has admitted to firing roughly 5,300 employees since 2011 for opening accounts without customers knowledge. On Sept. 8, it agreed to pay $185 million to federal regulators and the Los Angeles city attorneys office over the practices.

Delshad had filed a previous class-action suit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court but that one was limited to employees who had worked for the bank in California. It seeks damages of $2.6 billion for wrongful termination and unpaid wages.

Soon after filing the case, Delshad said his office started receiving calls from former Wells Fargo employees across the country, spurring him to file the federal case.

Weve had constant phone calls from people saying the same things that happened in California had happened in other places, he said. They all say the exact same thing, whether theyre in Alabama, Georgia, Alaska, Florida. They call, and its like listening to a tape recorder.

Another case, filed in federal court in Utah and also seeking class-action status, was filed on behalf of consumers who were harmed by the banks practices. The action was taken despite the fact that Wells Fargo has successfully fought off many lawsuits from consumers because of arbitration clauses in contracts that force customers to give up their right to take the bank to court.

Wells Fargo has in many cases successfully argued that those arbitration clauses apply to disputes even over the bogus accounts.

Delshads cases were not the first filed by employees terminated over the scandal. The allegations are similar to those made in a 2014 suit brought against the bank by nine former Wells Fargo employees. That case is scheduled to go to trial next year in Los Angeles Superior Court.

If Delshads federal case is allowed to proceed as a class action, its not clear how many workers would be eligible to participate. The lawsuit states that a review of Wells Fargos personnel records should show which current and former employees might be eligible.

Wells Fargo spokesman Ancel Martinez said the bank disagrees with the allegations in Delshads suits and will vigorously defend against the misrepresentations (they) contain.

Customers and employees arent the only ones taking Wells Fargo to court. Law firm Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd announced the first lawsuit from Wells Fargo investors late Monday. It alleged that the bank kept investors in the dark about its sales practices and that investors were harmed when the banks stock plummeted in the days after the settlement agreement.

Goldberg Law, a Century City firm that specializes in suing companies on behalf of investors, said days after the settlement was announced that it was looking into whether the banks board violated its fiduciary duty to shareholders.

Investors also might have grounds to sue the bank if it does not rescind or claw back some of the pay headed to Chief Executive John Stumpf and to Carrie Tolstedt, who oversaw the bank division where the accounts were created. Members of the Senate Banking Committee, which held a hearing on the scandal last week, called on Wells Fargo to do so.

Steven Bank, a law professor at UCLA, said language in Wells Fargos compensation policy suggests that the bank can claw back some pay  and could give investors reason to sue if the bank doesnt.

The legal fallout from Wells Fargos fake-accounts scandal could spread to other banks too.

Law firm Keller Rohrback said last week that it is investigating similar practices at other banks and could bring a suit against several institutions. The firm brought an earlier class-action lawsuit against Wells Fargo on behalf of customers who had fake accounts opened in their names.

A federal judge ruled that suit should go to arbitration, but the firm appealed the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Wells Fargo and the plaintiffs agreed to a so-far undisclosed settlement Sept. 8  the same day that regulators announced their settlement with the bank.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

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Wells Fargo may have gone out if its way to take senior citizens to the cleaners when the banks workers fraudulently opened as many as 2 million accounts without customers permission.

At least thats the suspicion of Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Theyve called upon the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to determine whether seniors in particular were preyed upon because older Wells Fargo customers may have been more susceptible to manipulation or likely visited branches more frequently than tech-savvy younger people who prefer online banking.

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As Wells Fargo begins the long process of identifying and making restitution to the consumers who were defrauded, I want to ensure that seniors  who are often the targets of fraud and who also can be harder to find and make whole  are adequately protected, McCaskill said.

She and Collins said in a letter to CFPB Director Richard Cordray that theyre concerned about the impact this activity has had on our nations senior population, especially those who do not conduct their financial business on the Internet.

Hancock Park resident Wanita Holmes, 87, says what happened to her validates the senators interest.

Shes been a Wells Fargo customer since her old Crocker National Bank account was transferred when Wells acquired Crocker in 1986. Holmes told me she was perfectly happy with the service she received after the merger.

A couple of years ago, though, she was worried that a scammer may have gotten access to her Wells checking account, so she stopped by the Larchmont branch to close her account and open a new one with a new account number.

As Holmes tells it, a Wells Fargo employee was more than happy to help. Then things took some unexpected turns.

She said that Id also need to open a savings account. So I did that, Holmes recalled. Then she said Id have to apply for a credit card. So I did that too.

As the worker processed the paperwork, she asked if Holmes would like to arrange for a direct deposit of her monthly Social Security check.

I told her absolutely not, Holmes said. I had that deposited at a different bank and I liked keeping it separate from my other money. I was very clear on this point.

She said the worker acknowledged her preference, printed up a stack of documents and guided Holmes in where to affix her signature.

I remember laughing and telling her I didnt even know what I was signing, Holmes said. She laughed too and said that was OK.

Then the first of the month rolled around. And guess what?

Holmes Social Security check didnt go to its usual destination at Gilmore Bank at the Original Farmers Market. It ended up at Wells Fargo.

She contacted the Social Security Administration to ask what happened. They told me that they received a request from Wells Fargo to deposit my checks there, she said.

Holmes suspects that the Wells Fargo worker slipped a permission form in with all the other documents being signed.

Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, who sued Wells Fargo over the bogus accounts last year, said its hard to determine how many of the banks victims were seniors.

While we found examples where seniors who were Wells Fargo customers were victims, we do not have information on how widespread the practice was or whether they were targeted for this practice, he said.

Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group Consumer Action, said many people dont include their age when filing complaints with officials, so its difficult to break out seniors from other fraud victims.

We know that, generally speaking, seniors are targeted more for scams, she said. I dont want to believe Wells Fargo workers were going out of their way to abuse seniors  it seems so Machiavellian. But it wouldnt be at all surprising.

I dont want to believe Wells Fargo workers were going out of their way to abuse seniors  it seems so Machiavellian. But it wouldnt be at all surprising.  Linda Sherry, spokeswoman, Consumer Action

A Wells Fargo spokeswoman declined to comment on what happened to Holmes.

Wells Fargo has said its workers started trying to boost sales by opening unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts for customers as early as 2011. Chief Executive John Stumpf told the Senate Banking Committee last week that Wells is looking into whether the illegal activity could have begun as early as 2009.

In his congressional testimony, though, Stumpf stuck to his story that senior management had no idea thousands of bank employees were opening unauthorized accounts. He also defended the concept of cross selling  that is, hooking up customers with additional products and services  as a legitimate part of Wells business.

Our cross-sell strategy is simply another way of saying that we provide our customers a wide variety of products that can satisfy their financial needs, Stumpf said. The more products a customer uses, the deeper the relationship of trust and value.

Trust and value, that is, if the customer actually wants those products.

Holmes closed her savings account and canceled that extra credit card last year. She decided not to undo the direct deposits of her Social Security checks because it seemed like a hassle. As far as she knows, the extra accounts didnt result in any extra fees.

Even so, Holmes said she confronted a bank supervisor about what happened.

I told her it seemed like they were getting bonuses for signing me up for all that, Holmes said. She replied that theyd never do something like that. My hand on the Bible, thats what she said.

About 5,300 Wells Fargo workers were fired as a result of the racket.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.

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The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit accusing a fast-growing Silicon Valley software company of systematically discriminating against Asian job applicants.

Palantir Technologies was co-founded by prominent tech financier Peter Thiel, with backing from an investment arm of the CIA, and was recently valued at $20 billion. The privately held company makes powerful data-analytics software used by U.S. military and intelligence agencies, as well as private industry.

The lawsuit  which comes as Silicon Valley is grappling with broader criticism for a lack of diversity  claims Palantir routinely eliminated Asian job candidates during the resume-screening and telephone-interview stages of the companys hiring process. The claims are based on a statistical analysis conducted by federal officials responsible for making sure government contractors comply with anti-discrimination rules.

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Palantir denied the allegations Monday and said it would contest the suit. It argued in a statement that the governments case relies on a narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011.

A spokeswoman didnt respond to questions about the ethnic makeup of Palantirs workforce. But the statement added: The results of our hiring practices speak for themselves. Palantir is based in Palo Alto and employs more than 1,800 people.

In recent years, Apple, Google and Facebook have acknowledged that they employ disproportionately low numbers of women, African Americans and Latinos. Hiring figures released by those companies generally show that employees of South and East Asian descent are better represented.

However, Rose Darling, a senior trial attorney for the Labor Department, said the governments analysis showed a disproportionate number of Asian applicants were rejected by Palantir.

For example, the suit alleges that Asians made up 77% of a pool of more than 730 qualified applicants for the job of quality assurance engineer at Palantir. The company hired one Asian and six non-Asians, according to the Labor Departments compliance office.

For another position, described as an engineering intern, the lawsuit said theres a one in a billion chance that Palantirs hiring pattern occurred by chance.

While the analysis involved hiring statistics for 2010 and 2011, Darling said the company hasnt shown evidence that it has changed its practices since then.

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A paparazzi photograph of Snapchat Chief Executive Evan Spiegel prematurely revealed the Los Angeles companys first piece of consumer electronics: a pair of video camera sunglasses.

Though it spoiled the surprise delivered last week, the fact that Spiegel felt comfortable wearing the shades where he did  in public with his supermodel fiancee a year ago  suggests the gadget may succeed where similar products from rivals fell short.

Google, Facebook and others that have released head-mounted technology have presumed their tools would get people to significantly adjust their behavior. With a product that looks like ordinary sunglasses with some odd decoration on the hinges, Snapchat is going for a softer nudge. Its encouraging people to try a familiar-looking product to experiment with a new way of taking videos.

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Spiegel may have a plan for smartglasses as sophisticated as Google Glass or Facebooks Oculus Rift, but hes starting off with a goofy name, one feature, an on-trend look, a lower price and no public goal of doing anything more than helping people preserve memories.

If hes right, Snapchat Spectacles could become the first piece of high-tech headgear that people want to wear and feel comfortable being around.

Spectacles integrate a small video camera and a notification light in the corners where lenses meet hinges. The camera wirelessly transmits 10-second clips to Snapchats image-sharing app, one of the worlds most popular mobile services.

Though they dont facilitate selfies, Spectacles capture wide-angle circular video, enabling viewers to rotate their mobile devices to see more of a scene than a smartphone video does. The sunglasses will cost $130 when they launch this fall.

What if you could go back and see that memory the way you experienced it? Snapchat said in a blog post Saturday. Thats why we built Spectacles.

A bare-chested Spiegel wore them on the beach in Corsica, legs dipped in the water, as he embraced fiancee Miranda Kerr. The scene exemplifies how Spiegel envisions the new gadget to be used. Spectacles are a toy, he told the Wall Street Journal magazine, meant to be worn for fun at friendly events like barbecues or while on a hike.

Snapchats first foray into electronics immediately drew comparisons to Google Glass, the augmented reality device with a wire-thin frame and a cube-shaped, see-through display. Google envisioned Glass as a smartphone replacement designed for all-day wearing, with text messages appearing on the screen and replies sent by voice command.

But the search and advertising giant pulled back from the hardware early last year after consumers voiced privacy concerns about the eyewears camera and lacked enthusiasm about the design.

Spiegels description of Spectacles as a more limited device with far less functionality sets lower expectations. Compared with Googles experience, that could provide a smoother path to mass adoption for Snapchat, which is reorganizing under the corporate title Snap Inc.

The name change spotlights Snaps desire to reinvent the camera. But avoiding bold statements about Spectacles gives the company room to learn and adapt, said Stephanie Trunzo, chief operations officer and chief digital officer at PointSource, a digital design and development consultant.

They are putting their toe in the water without carrying the weight of enormous promises that they might not be able to follow through on, she said.

Many of the societal questions Glass raised remain unanswered. But the teenagers and young adults who make up most of Snapchats users may skip past those concerns quickly for a product tied to a brand they cherish. More than 150 million people use Snapchat each day for about 30 minutes on average.

Teens are focused on fun and social interactions and worry less about privacy, said Patrick Worfolk, senior vice president and chief technology officer at touch screen technology supplier Synaptics.

Spectacles provide a natural way to take a video without having a smartphone separate videographers from subjects. The one-size-fits-all sunglasses also come in several colors and dont look all that different from Ray-Bans or Warby Parkers.

Snap Inc. is a company equally, if nor more interested in understanding cultural forces than specific technologies, Andrew Edman, co-founder of Clear Design Lab, wrote in a blog post Monday. Their hardware enables the culture, not the other way around. This is an incredibly rare thing for tech companies to understand and truly prioritize.

Google promoted Glass mainly to techies, asking people to write essays about how they would integrate it into their lives. It sold for about $1,500 and inspired a parody blog titled White Men Wearing Google Glass, featuring a man wearing the device in the shower.

Spiegel formally introduced Spectacles late Friday by wearing them in a black-and-white image shot by fashion photography legend Karl Lagerfeld. Kerr posted the photo on her Instagram account, quickly drawing nearly 90,000 likes over the weekend.

A mass audience didnt buy into Glass because it made people look like cyborgs, said Kayvan Mirza, chief executive of wearables maker Optinvent. Virtual reality devices including Oculus Rift and Sony PlayStation VR, which wrap around peoples heads, do no better. Even bluetooth headsets, which had their heyday because of their utility, are an object of ridicule for how they make people look.

Adults might not want to don Spectacles but that only further powers Snapchats appeal among 13-year-olds, the ultimate arbiters of cool in many tech investors eyes.

Snapchats advantage over Google is they know how millennials think and what they want and have them as a captive audience, said Ori Inbar, founder and managing partner of Super Ventures.

A software company developing hardware is a difficult shift, but in a space without established players, Snapchat has a shot just like anyone else, Inbar said.

Spectacles could affect more than the wearables market. Action camera maker GoPro could lose some users and buyers to Spectacles, while Snap rival Facebook may seek a way to respond with a product of its own. Snap also benefits from less baggage about privacy snafus than Facebook and Google.

Spectacles appeal could widen if Snap allows other app makers to take advantage of the camera too. The products website carries the description Just for Snapchat. Snap spokespeople declined to comment about the label. They also refused to answer questions about Spectacles components, manufacturing plans and details about how and when it would be sold.

Filings by Snapchat to the Federal Communications Commission name Chinese technology company Goertek as the Spectacles manufacturer. A spokesperson for Goertek, which lists Snapchat, Samsung and Microsoft as partners on its website, couldnt immediately comment.

Spiegel said the rollout of Spectacles would be slow and limited as the company figures out how they fit into peoples lives. Users tap a button near the hinge to record clips. A light goes off on the frame to alert people the camera is recording. The battery lasts about a day.

Snapchat, an advertising-supported app for sharing photos and videos up to 10 seconds in length, will gain a new revenue stream with the sunglasses. Any money is welcome to push the company toward profitability as it prepares for an expected initial public offering of stock next year. Its Los Angeles most valuable start-up, with investors pegging its valuation at more than $16 billion.

In a blog post describing the reasons for the name change to Snap, Spiegel seemed to tease the IPO.

You can search Snapchat or Spectacles for the fun stuff and leave Snap Inc. for the Wall Street crowd, he wrote.

paresh.dave@latimes.com / PGP

Twitter: @peard33

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Not quite two weeks after turning 60, Jeffrey Kahane began his 20th and final season as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra last weekend. He was buoyant, opening with one of Bachs most overtly jubilant cantatas and ending with what the conductor described as the most joyous symphony ever written, Beethovens Seventh. In between came a candidate for the saddest violin concerto, Armenian composer Tigran Mansurians Second, titled Four Serious Songs.

Such a musical sandwich! The sweet bread of life housing a bitter filling of death and serving as a reminder to savor each bite, honeyed or otherwise; it may be your last.

Weve had no better minder of the last gasp than Bach. His approximately 200 church cantatas are sermons on the meaning of being. When solemn and summoning regret, they make us grateful. When exultant, as in No. 51, which Kahane chose to open the program Sunday at UCLAs Royce Hall, they nonetheless provide a bigger spiritual picture. For Bach, goodness is inseparable from worthiness.

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That the performance of Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen (Rejoice in God in All Lands) offered too little reason for rejoicing was untypical of Kahane, who has led deeply felt Bach performances with LACO over the years and who is also a Bach pianist of renown. It was also untypical of an evening better characterized by the fervent performances that followed.

In this cantata for solo soprano, Joelle Harvey sang loudly but with emphasis on rounded tone (which was gorgeous) and vowels not words, few of which were intelligible. (There was no translation of the German text.) David Washburn, the orchestras impressive principal trumpet, played his high-spirited solos loudly. Kahane conducted from an inaudible harpsichord and, in the middle section, a barely audible portative organ. The indistinct orchestra could have been in an echo chamber next door.

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A minute or two was spent arranging the stage for a larger orchestra. Harvey sang, as a kind of encore (although officially part of the program), Mozarts equally exuberant Alleluja from his Exsultate, Jubilate. Here the soprano didnt need consonants for that single word of text. She was thrilling. The orchestra came into focus, animatedly conducted by Kahane. (Harvey will need to find every one of those consonants, though, when she sings Pat Nixon in the Los Angeles Philharmonics performance of Nixon in China later this season.)

Mansurians concerto might have been, but was not, a downer. Dean of Armenian music and a composer with close ties to the Armenian community in Glendale, he has an international following thanks to a series of ECM recordings of arresting, otherworldly music. He has been notably ignored, however, by the local ensembles with the exception of the devoted Dilijan Chamber Music Series. Violinist Movses Pogossian, a close associate of Mansurians who heads the Dilijan series at L.A.s Zipper Concert Hall, was soloist.

Written a decade ago when the composers wife was dying of cancer, the concerto takes its inspiration from Brahms final accommodation with death, his Four Serious Songs. And yet Mansurian (more than Brahms) has that Bachian ability to show death as what makes life possible.

Pogossians violin solos conveyed all this with piercingly focused tone and heart-stopping intensity. The melodic writing is consoling, but the articulation has elements of anger, especially in the minute-long third part, a violin solo during which every bow stroke feels a fraction second away from a broken heartbeat lifeline.

The final movement began in so quietly it sounded as though Pogossian was playing on one half of one string, with the 15-member string orchestra coming in with tentative gentleness. This is when a phone went off in the audience, blaring what should have been a mood-destroying stupid tune. But the sheer will of Mansurians music, and of Pogossians performance, remained on course, making the contrast between this world an any other all the more remarkable.

Kahane now was ready for Beethovens Seventh. He gave the audience a compelling introduction by explaining how he had struggled during the last 17 years to learn classical Greek and Latin in order to read the Homer, Virgil and the rest of the ancient authors in their original languages. His reason, he said, was not because they form the basis of Western civilization, but because of their role in the development of music.

Beethoven, for example, rides Homers rhythms in his Seventh, as Kahane demonstrated. Wagner may have famously called it the apotheosis of the dance, but Kahane revealed it more like the apotheosis of the Greek epic  bigger than, but every moment infused with, life.

Kahane didnt boldly emphasize Beethovens rhythms. His performance was relatively conventional, following a middle ground between modern and period performance practices. But it had the weight of history, showing the deep semantics of a symphony to be, through an urgency of every musical gesture, timeless. It wasnt Bachs night, but there was enough rejoicing in Beethoven to go around for every land.

mark.swed@latimes.com

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In case all the talking heads on cable news and the chattering hordes on Twitter werent enough for you, three late-night shows broadcast live on Monday night to provide almost instant reaction to the much-anticipated presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. There were jokes galore about Trumps sniffle, Clintons clunky one-liners and Lester Holts hands-off moderation.

Heres a look at how The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Daily Show With Trevor Noah covered the showdown.

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The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

In his monologue, which aired barely an hour after the conclusion of the debate, Stephen Colbert joked about the vast gulf in expectations between the two candidates.

For Hillary to win, she had to be confident but not smug, knowledgeable without being a know-it-all, charming but not affected, commanding but not shrill  also, likable, warm, authoritative and not coughing, he said. Meanwhile, Donald Trump had to not commit murder  on camera.

But Trump managed not to clear that low bar, according to Colbert, who thought the Republican seemed ill-prepared in contrast to Clinton, who was so prepared, my new nickname for her is Preparation H.

Like many viewers, Colbert was also distracted by Trumps persistent sniffle, which he said made the candidate seem like the coked-up best man in the bathroom at a wedding.

And though Clinton might have told the nights first lie when she told Trump its good to be with you, Trump was responsible for what Colbert deemed the nights biggest whopper: My strongest asset may be by far is my temperament.

Late Night With Seth Meyers

Like Colbert, Meyers made light of the contrast in expectations going into Mondays debate in his signature segment, A Closer Look. Clinton had a set of tasks reminiscent of advice you give a secretary before a job interview in 1950  smile and let them know youre a dynamite gal! Meyers joked. For Trump, the advice sounded like something you give a murderer at a parole hearing. They need to believe you wont kill again.

Meyers said the former reality star was so unprepared that at one point it looked like maybe he forgot Hillarys name. In contrast, the host thought Clinton was maybe a little overprepared with patented lukewarm zingers like her line about Trumped-up-trickle-down.

Nothing like watching Hillary land a joke Sully-style, Meyers joked. You just expect an explosion of goose feathers.

Meyers also called out Trump on one of the nights more surreal moments  when the Republican cited private conversations with Sean Hannity circa 2003 as evidence of his opposition to the Iraq war and repeatedly urged reporters to call the Fox News pundit to verify the claim. Sounds like a commercial for an Irish plumber  Call Sean Hannity when your pipes are full of crap.

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah likened the debate  which ended less than a half hour before he went on the air  to Monday Night Raw and a real-life version of Twitter.

The comedian took issue with Trumps boast about not paying taxes (that makes me smart), saying that taxes are a responsibility, not something to evade.

You know who else found a way around the rules? O.J. he added.

Noah was also curious about the constant sniffling. Someone needs to look into that, he said.

But the host, who comes from South Africa, took particular exception to Trumps claim that American airports look like something out of the third world.

Dont you bring third-world airports into this, he joked.

Which late night host's reaction to the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was your favorite? https://t.co/INXkiAM4lK  LAT Entertainment (@latimesent) September 27, 2016

meredith.blake@latimes.com

Twitter: @MeredithBlake

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From queso in North Hollywood to a new speakeasy in Highland Park, heres whats happening in the Los Angeles food and drink world this week:

Hello Birdie: Theres a new cafe in Highland Park called Cafe Birdie, opened by executive chef and partner Joey Booterbaugh (formerly of the Hungry Cat), Friends & Family Hospitality Group and restaurateurs Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi (Horse Thief BBQ and, opening later this year, Bar Angeles). In the front, there are Moroccan-spiced fried chicken and Manila clams with chorizo. And in the back, theres a speakeasy called Good Housekeeping with drinks by Bestia alums and Courage and Craft proprietors Nicholas Krok, Ryan Duffy and Jeremy Simpson. 5631 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, (323) 739-6928, www.cafebirdiela.com.

For the record: A previous version of this post said Matt Seigel runs the beverage program at Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad. He was a bartender, not the beverage director. Seigels last name was also misspelled as Siegel.

More Shake Shack: The New York City-originated burger chain has opened a location in Glendale, across from the Americana at Brand. The restaurant is serving the classic Shake Shack menu, along with some items exclusive to the location, including Carusos Crunch (chocolate custard, marshmallow sauce, Larder Baking Co. salted peanut butter cookie and chocolate toffee); Market Pie Oh My (vanilla custard with a slice of seasonal pie from Ruckers Pie); and the Invictus (vanilla custard with Compartes Coney Island chocolate chunks). 252 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 858-1612, www.shakeshack.com.

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The nice girl: The h.wood Group crew behind the Nice Guy, the reservation-only restaurant and bar on La Cienega Boulevard, is launching a new restaurant called Delilah, scheduled to open Oct. 7 in West Hollywood. Chef Rudy P. Lopez will serve a menu inspired by classic American cuisine. Expect filet mignon, deviled eggs and a couple of modern items in the form of vegan spaghetti squash primavera. Matt Seigel, who was a bartender at Eleven Madison Park and the Nomad in New York City, designed the cocktail menu. 7969 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.

Taiwanese street food in Chinatown: Lao Tao, a Taiwanese street food restaurant in the Far East Plaza in Chinatown, is now open, just up a flight of stairs from Chego, Howlin Rays and Unit 120. David Wang, the chef and owner, left a corporate job to open the restaurant. He now spends his days serving five-spice-braised pork belly; milk-steamed buns; and knife-cut noodles in a 10-hour beef marrow sauce. And the name Lao Tao? According the restaurant, in Taiwan, the lao tao refers to people who seek out good food, otherwise known as foodies. 727 N. Broadway, #207, Los Angeles,www.laotaostreetfood.com.

Irish nachos for everyone: Rock & Reillys Irish Pub opened in the Financial District downtown on Flower Street on Monday. Rock & Reillys, with locations on the Sunset Strip, in New York City and in Park City, Utah, is known for its Irish nachos (potato chips covered in beer sauce) and extensive selection of whiskey and beer. 615 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, www.rockandreillys.com.

Pata Salada opens in the old Luna Park: A new regional Mexican restaurant called Pata Salada Cocina y Bar has opened in the former Luna Park space on La Brea Avenue in Hancock Park. The name translates to salty foot, the term used to describe people who spend a lot of time on the beach along Mexicos Pacific coast. Chef Joe Jacks menu features seafood-focused dishes including ceviche; Baja-style fish tacos; and sopa levanta meurtos, a hearty spicy fish stew. Along with beer and wine, the restaurant will feature a list of tequilas and mezcals. 672 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 988-3744, www.patasaladala.com.

Chilaquiles in Noho: El Tejano, a new Tex-Mex restaurant in North Hollywood, is serving Frito pie, queso and tacos. The restaurant recently started serving breakfast, so you can now get chilaquiles, breakfast burritos and breakfast tacos on the weekend. And outside? A game of cornhole. 11122 W. Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 985-8787, www.eltejanotexmex.com.

Still hungry? Ar Cucina, Akasha Richmonds new Italian restaurant, has opened in Culver City. Every Monday is now food truck Monday at Minibar in Hollywood. Estrella has launched a Sunday movie night series with weekly screenings.

Love a good scoop (Im talking about ice cream)? Follow me on Twitter & Instagram @Jenn_Harris_

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11:46 a.m.: This article was updated to include the new opening date of Delilah and the phone number for Pata Salada.

This article was originally published at 9 a.m.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance Sept. 27, said a message posted on the organizations website.

The general debate started on Sept. 26, during which Azerbaijani speakers noted that Azerbaijan is a unique place, where the west and east met and where cultures harmoniously complemented each other.

The speakers said also that as the result of the military aggression of Armenia, a part of Azerbaijans territory remained under occupation and about one million Azerbaijanis remained displaced.

Azerbaijan called on Armenia to end the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, said Azerbaijani speakers during the general debate.

As for the allegations of discrimination, Azerbaijanis had been expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh, whereas Armenians continued to live in Azerbaijan, read the address of the Azerbaijani representatives.

Armenia lectured others while it continued to glorify terrorists and use terrorist organizations for subversive actions against Azerbaijan, said the speakers. If Armenia did not end its policy of aggression, the consequences for that country would become worse.

Instead of protecting its people, the leadership of Armenia continued to incite to war and aggression and propagate dangerous ideas of hatred not just toward Azerbaijan, but toward other countries in the region, noted Azerbaijani speakers.

Racial superiority and hatred was Armenias state policy, added the representatives.

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.
Federal investigators have identified a suspect believed responsible for a frenzy of high-speed driving across Racetrack Playa, a remote dry lake in Death Valley National Park, officials said Tuesday.

Spinning and swerving wildly in an SUV in early August, the suspect allegedly cut 10 miles worth of ruts into the playa, best known as a site where large rocks leave seemingly impossible trails that wiggle, weave and turn at sharp right angles for hundreds of feet.



For the record: A previous version of this article misspelled Indian Springs, Nev., as India Springs.

The tracks had long posed a mystery, befuddling tourists and attracting worldwide speculation.

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In 2014, however, scientists discovered that huge panes of ice pushed by light winds episodically sail into rocks weighing up to 200 pounds, bulldozing them across the slick muddy bottom of the normally dry lake.

What happened out there is inexcusable.  James Norris, a research engineer who helped solve the mystery of the roaming rocks

The tire tracks, on the other hand, were created by someone out for a joyride, said Abby Wines, a spokeswoman for the park.

The only mystery was who did it.

Investigators have not released the name of the suspect, but Wines said, We are hopeful that someone will be charged in this case.

The incident was only the latest example of vandalism in the hottest, driest place on Earth, and a destination visited by more than 1 million people from around the world.

In May, three men were charged with a variety of felony counts in connection with a drunken rampage at a remote rock tub in Death Valley National Park inhabited by federally endangered Devils Hole pupfish, one of which was found dead at the scene.

Trenton Sargent, 26, of Indian Springs, Nev.; Steven Schwinkendorf, 29, of Pahrump, Nev., and Edgar Reyes, 35, of North Las Vegas, were identified through DNA collected at Devils Hole, a 40-acre detached unit of the park, officials said.

In June, Casey Nocket, 23, of San Diego pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of defiling rock formations with graffiti in seven national parks including Death Valley and was banned from 524 million acres of public lands during her two years of probation.

Nocket painted colorful faces with acrylic paint and markers on rock formations with panoramic views including Death Valleys Telescope Peak during a 26-day period in 2014, officials said.

It hurts and angers us most to find damage after its done with no leads or possibility of finding out who did it, Wines said. But in the case of Devils Hole and Telescope Peak, we know who did it, and they were charged.

In the case of the racetrack, she added, investigators have a strong lead.

A park ranger on backcountry patrol noticed the long tire track ruts and doughnuts in early August, when the playa was dry.

What happened out there is inexcusable, said James Norris, a research engineer who, along with his cousin, Richard, discovered the mechanism that propels the playas rocks.

They drove north to south and swerved all over the place  all of which will be terribly damaging, he said. Thats because they tore up the surface crust, exposing earth that will be blown away by winds. As a result, the tire marks will be noticeable for years to come.

Sadly, he added, were going to have to wait for a good rain to start the repair process.

Louis.Sahagun@latimes.com

Twitter: @LouisSahagun

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That smoke looks pretty bad. Residents run for their lives as Cajon fire rages

A helicopter battles the Blue Cut fire near Lytle Creek Tuesday afternoon. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Sheriffs deputies went door to door in various neighborhoods in Lytle Creek Canyon, asking residents to evacuate Tuesday afternoon.

Ellen Pomella, 63, and her husband had been told to leave their home in Happy Jack, a neighborhood of about 160 homes. About an hour later, they were parked a few miles down the road at a ranger station, waiting to be sure an elderly neighbor also made it down.

Pomella sat in her Prius, which was packed with pillows, blankets and clothes. A cat rested in its carrier. Her husband was parked in an SUV behind her, with the couples three dogs.

Theyve lived in the area for 25 years and have had to evacuate before so they were well prepared and unsurprised by how fast the fire was moving, she said.

Its part of living in this canyon, she said. It went fast. But its very dry.

Pomella has volunteered to help with fire preparedness in her community and said she and her neighbors have worked to ensure that their properties are cleared of brush and anything else that could make them more flammable.

People need to be prepared and just know that thats part of the risk of living in these kinds of areas, she said. Weve got a beautiful community.

Further up the road at an RV park where deputies were knocking on doors and asking people to leave, Emilio, who gave his first name only, said he had his things packed and ready to go but would wait to see how the fire progressed.

Theyre doing an amazing job, he said of the deputies and fire fighters in the area. Theyre fighting hard for Lytle Creek right now.

Not far away Joe Gonzales, who has lived in his Lytle Creek Canyon home for six years now, said deputies had come by a few minutes earlier and old him to leave. He grabbed laptops and important papers and was ready to go, but was waiting first to hear from deputies whether an elderly neighbor would need a ride before evacuating himself.

Im a little worried. I dont want to leave here. We love it in the canyon, he said. But that smoke looks pretty bad.
Donald Trump returned to a familiar excuse for not releasing his tax returns Monday night: He is under a routine audit.

But the IRS has said that nothing precludes someone under audit from releasing his or her tax returns.

In the debate, Trump said much information could be gleaned by the financial disclosures he submitted earlier this year. But as Hillary Clinton pointed out, only the tax returns would reveal Trumps charitable giving and the marginal tax rate he has paid.

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Clinton suggested Trump effectively paid zero income tax, a charge Trump did not specifically rebut but interjected, That makes me smart.

He is the first presidential nominee in 40 years to refuse to release his taxes. (President Gerald Ford issued only a summary when he sought reelection in 1976.) By contrast, Clinton has released decades worth of returns.

Trump did suggest Monday that he would release his taxes in exchange for Clinton releasing the 33,000 emails that he alleges were deleted from her private email server while she served as secretary of State.

While Trump has repeatedly attacked Clinton for a lack of transparency, he has been far more secretive than his presidential rival  and every other major-party candidate in recent history.

Trump has provided only the barest details about his personal health. Clinton, after initially hiding a diagnosis of pneumonia, has released a more extensive health evaluation from her personal physician.

Trump has declined to document the tens of millions of dollars he claims to have donated to charity, even as extensive reporting by the Washington Post has contradicted those claims.

Separately, an organization that tracks nonprofits, GuideStar, examined the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation and found it has been far more transparent than the Donald J. Trump Foundation.

GuideStar said the Clinton Foundation tracks its philanthropic programs to determine how many people around the world are benefiting, such as women receiving job training. Such analyses make it far easier for donors and citizens to meaningfully analyze the institutions value to society, GuideStar said.

The Trump Foundation provides no such data.

The report also said it appeared that the Clintons had donated more money to charity  largely through their foundation  than Trump. However, the figure is impossible to know for certain because Trump has declined to release his tax returns.

mark.barabak@latimes.com; mike.memoli@latimes.com

Follow @markzbarabak and @mikememoli on Twitter
A fire that started Monday afternoon in the Santa Cruz Mountains is spreading rapidly and has claimed at least one structure, while threatening hundreds of others, authorities and local media reported.

The Loma fire began at about 3 p.m., near Loma Prieta Road and Loma Chiquita Road, about 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill, in the mountains north of Santa Cruz, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. By 5:30 p.m., 400 acres had burned and a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke and cinders arched into the sky.

Video footage showed flames moving toward a large, gabled home along a ridge line. Water-dropping aircraft were trying to save the structure.

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Nearby, helicopters dropped red fire retardant, trying to save a bank of transmission towers.

Triple-digit temperatures and low humidity in the area contributed to the dangerous conditions.

howard.blume@latimes.com

Twitter: @howardblume
The long-running saga involving a Los Angeles police sergeant and an actress from Django Unchained wound its way into a downtown courtroom Monday, where a judge heard arguments over whether that sergeant violated city ethics rules by leaking a recording of the controversial stop to the media.

Mondays hearing marked the latest in the Los Angeles Ethics Commissions action against now-retired Sgt. Jim Parker, a highly unusual case that has been closely watched within the L.A. Police Department.

No one questions whether Parker released the recording  hes admitted that in interviews with reporters, at a Police Commission meeting and again while testifying Monday. Instead, the case hinges on whether that recording was confidential and thus, whether Parker violated city rules by making it public.

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Ethics officials allege he did just that, accusing Parker of unlawfully sharing confidential information without authorization and doing so to create a private advantage for himself.

Sergio Perez, the Ethics Commissions director of enforcement, accused Parker of releasing the tape because he faced criticism over the encounter. City employees, he said, shouldnt be allowed to disclose whatever information theyd like for whatever reason theyd like.

By releasing that tape, Mr. Parker violated law, Perez said. Mr. Parker knows that it was wrong.

Parkers attorney, Larry Hanna, insisted that the tape wasnt confidential and that his client was being unfairly targeted for defending himself. Hanna pointed to other LAPD officers who aired similar recordings in small claims court or on national television  including Judge Judy  without being punished.

Officers have been doing this for years, Hanna said.

If the administrative law judge overseeing the case, Samuel D. Reyes, decides Parker violated the ethics rules, the retired sergeant faces a fine of up to $10,000.

The case stems from a headline-grabbing stop Parker made in September 2014, when he responded to a report of a couple having sex in a car parked near a Studio City talent agency. There, he found actress Daniele Watts and her boyfriend, Brian James Lucas, who police say matched the description of the couple involved.

When Parker asked for their identification, police said, Watts refused and walked away. She was handcuffed down the street by two other officers, but released after her boyfriend handed police her ID.

The story quickly gained national attention after the couple publicly complained about the way Watts was treated. Lucas wrote on Facebook that police acted as though the couple had been engaged in prostitution because he is white and Watts is black.

The LAPD opened an internal affairs inquiry into the allegations. Parker defended his actions and released a 24-minute audio recording of the encounter, captured on a personal recorder he kept in his pocket.

The recording quieted some of the criticism levied against Parker and the LAPD, and prompted some backlash against the couples comments. Watts and Lucas later pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace and were ordered to write apology letters to the officers and citizens who reported them.

Parker was accused of insubordination for speaking to the media about the incident without the departments permission, he said. He was ordered to attend a disciplinary hearing but retired instead, ending his 26-year career with the LAPD.

In November, the Ethics Commission announced its accusations against Parker.

On Monday, much of the discussion focused on LAPD policies and directives, which both Perez and Hanna used to try to make their point. Parker again defended his decision to release the tape, saying he was trying to quell accusations that he was racist.

A handful of LAPD officers also took the stand, including a captain who oversees internal investigations who said he believed recordings from an officers personal device are considered confidential information. The president and a director with the union that represents rank-and-file officers also testified, saying they had publicly aired personal recordings.

Craig Lally, the unions president, told the judge that he once gave a tape to journalist Diane Sawyer. The recording was of a conversation Lally had with Nicole Brown Simpson after responding to a call at her Bundy Drive home, six months before she was killed.

Did anybody from the Ethics Commission come and knock on your door and say, Shame on you?  Hanna asked.

No, Lally replied.

kate.mather@latimes.com

For more LAPD news, follow me on Twitter: @katemather

To read the article in Spanish, click here

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A soldier in the U.S. Army and another man were charged with murder Tuesday in connection with the slaying of a Fullerton couple and their friend over the weekend, according to authorities.

Pfc. Joshua Acosta, 21, of Ft. Irwin in San Bernardino County, and Frank Sato Felix, 25, of Sun Valley, each face three felony counts of murder, with special circumstance allegations of multiple murder, according to the Orange County district attorneys office.

Prosecutors also charged Acosta with a sentencing enhancement because he used a firearm, according to the district attorneys office. Both men have been ordered held without bail. If convicted, the men face a sentence of at least life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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The district attorneys office did not say whether a 17-year-old girl who also was arrested after the killings would be charged. The girl has not been identified because she is a minor.

Prosecutors say that Acosta and Felix entered the home in the 400 block of South Gilbert Street early Saturday and shot dead Jennifer Goodwill Yost, 39; her husband, Christopher Yost, 34; and their friend, Arthur William Boucher, 28.

Fullerton police were alerted to the deaths when they received a call from the couples 6-year-old daughter, who reported that her parents had died, authorities said. When officers arrived, they found the bodies of the couple and Boucher, who occasionally stayed with the family. Each victim had suffered significant trauma, police said.

Officers also found the couples 6- and 9-year-old daughters inside the home. They were not harmed, but police discovered the couples 17-year-old daughter was missing and possibly at-risk. She was found a short time later, according to police. Authorities would not say whether the 17-year-old female who was arrested is the couples daughter.

According to a Pentagon spokesman, Acosta has served in the Army since March 2015 and was stationed at Ft. Irwin in the Mojave Desert as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.

On Monday, members of the so-called furry community expressed grief over the couples death. The couple and their eldest daughter often attended furry events together and dressed up in colorful animal costumes.

Christopher Parque-Johnson, a member of the SoCal Furs, told the Orange County Register that Goodwill Yost was a mother figure for the group, saying that people looked up to her.

Parque-Johnson declined to comment Tuesday about the couple and their deaths.

Melinda Giles, a family friend, told the Associated Press that Goodwill Yost barred Felix from seeing her eldest daughter for her protection.

Neighbors said Christopher Yost worked as a mechanic while his wife ran an online business, Vixies Creations, where she sold crystals, small stuffed animals known as plushies and voodoo dolls. One neighbor, Sabo Ludovac, said that Goodwill Yost was uncomfortable because her high school age daughter was dating an older boy.

I heard they were getting very close, but the parents think hes too old, said Ludovac, who lives with his son across the street from the victims.

He saw streams of friends drift in and out of the three-bedroom home and remembers the family as always friendly. It bothers me that people stop their cars and keep looking at their house, he added. This should be a quiet place.

A makeshift memorial with dozens of flickering candles, a white dove and a can of Rock Star energy drink sat in front of the house. Friends, family and teachers had penned special messages strung across the entrance, where an American flag and a lei hung from the door knocker.

They were so welcoming in every way. Everybody they knew, they would invite into their family, said a woman who only gave her name as Lil.

She said she last saw the Yosts two weeks ago. She heard about the murders on the news and reminisced about Goodwill Yosts yummy crock-pot beef and potatoes. They would always feed me. Im missing them just as their favorite holiday is around the corner. They loved to decorate inside and outside for Halloween.

Lil had met the couple several years ago at a birthday party inside their home.

There are people who reach inside you, touch your heart and leave an everlasting impression, she wrote in a tribute to the pair and Billy Boucher, the third victim. She hung her note on craft paper above drawings from their daughters. She stubbed out her cigarette, then watered the plants on their porch.

People at school are very worried about the girls and want them to know that were here for them. Were waiting to welcome them back, said Alicia Miranda, another neighbor who has lived near the Yosts for seven years. What is unfolding is just unbelievable  but you never know what goes on behind closed doors of a family life.

A Gofundme fundraising page has been created for the couples daughters.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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UPDATES:

2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from neighbors.

This article was originally published at 2:10 p.m.
A man convicted of conspiring to help Islamic State militants after he was caught as he attempted to board a plane to the Middle East was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said Nader Elhuzayels repeated calls for martyrdom in his communications made him especially dangerous.

Theres no remorse, no repudiation of ISIL, only death and destruction, Carter said in a Santa Ana courtroom.

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Elhuzayel, 25, and Muhanad Badawi, 24, both residents of Anaheim, were convicted after a two-week trial that detailed their efforts to join the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, including their recorded pledges to fight for the cause of Allah and to die in the battlefield.

Elhuzayel was found guilty of attempting to provide material support to Islamic State, and Badawi was convicted of aiding and abetting the attempt to provide material support, including using his federal financial aid to buy the plane ticket for Elhuzayel, according to the U.S. attorneys office in Los Angeles. Badawi also faces up to 30 years in prison at his sentencing.

Todays sentence reflects the gravity of the defendants plan to betray his country and join a terrorist organization dedicated to the murder of innocent individuals, said U.S. Atty. Eileen M. Decker. So-called foreign fighters like this defendant pose a serious danger both overseas and here at home.

Decker said the pair used social media to discuss the Islamic State and terrorist attacks.

So-called foreign fighters like this defendant pose a serious danger both overseas and here at home.  U.S. Attorney Eilleen M Decker

The pair were arrested May 21, 2015. Agents from a counter-terrorism task force intercepted and detained Elhuzayel at Los Angeles International Airport before he boarded a plane bound for Israel with a layover in Turkey. Badawi was arrested at an Anaheim gas station.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Elhuzayel received social media communications from Elton Simpson, one of the suspected perpetrators of a failed terrorist attack on a community center in Garland, Texas, in May 2015 and that Elhuzayel wrote back to Simpson I love you for the sake of Allah brother may Allah grant you Jannat al ferdaus [the highest level of Paradise reserved for martyrs].

Agents began monitoring the men after seeing their inflammatory remarks on social media. Scrutiny of the men intensified in April and May 2015 as agents eavesdropped on their phone calls and surveillance teams tracked their movements.

Elhuzayel was also found guilty of 26 counts of bank fraud. Prosecutors said he got cash through a scheme to defraud three different banks where he had deposited stolen checks into his personal checking accounts, then withdrew money at Orange County branch offices and ATMs.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Follow @lacrimes on Twitter

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A fast-moving wildfire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains has scorched more than 2,250 acres, destroyed a home and triggered evacuations, as firefighters continued to battle multiple blazes across the state Tuesday.

Flames from the Loma fire are threatening at least 300 structures near Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads, leading to hundreds of people being evacuated in the area. The blaze 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill, in the mountains north of Santa Cruz, is 10% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions are driving the explosive blaze, which ignited about 3 p.m. Monday, according to Cal Fire Capt. Brian Oliver.

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The biggest challenge with these types of fires is the geography, he said.

1 / 5 Firefighters douse flames as they approach the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 2 / 5 A firefighter watches as flames approach Loma Prieta peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 3 / 5 Firefighters attempt to control flames as they approach a vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 5 Firefighters attempt to save the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta on Tuesday. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 5 Firefighters look on as flames approach the Casa Loma fire station near Loma Prieta. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)

Flames are burning in canyons and hillsides where hundreds of people live  some with large animals on rural properties, Oliver said.

More than 400 firefighters worked overnight to tackle the flames, but Oliver said he expected that number to increase over the next 24 hours.

The area hasnt seen a major blaze in about 15 years, he said. Most recent fires have been confined to a few hundred acres. With a growing number of people fleeing the flames, the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds is being used as an evacuation center. Reverse 911 calls have been sent to homes in the Loma Prieta ridgeline area.

As flames and smoke inched closer to homes, the National Weather Service in San Francisco announced Monday that the fire forced them to power down a radar station and radio transmitters at Mt. Umunhum.

The Loma fire is one of several wildfires in Northern and Southern California that have threatened homes and triggered evacuations amid record-breaking heat. The volatile fire conditions are due largely to years of drought and the presence of extremely dry vegetation, according to fire authorities.

In the Bay Area, eight record temperature highs were set Monday: Salinas reached 104, making it the second-warmest September high since 1958, the weather service said.

At this elevation, the [Loma] fire will see little or no relief from any marine air today, especially with it all burning on the Santa Clara County side of the Santa Cruz mountains, the weather service said.

In Sonoma County, more than a 1,000 firefighters have gained the upper hand on the Sawmill fire, which started Sunday off Big Geysers and Geysers Resort roads.

Burning 10 miles east of Cloverdale, the blaze is 1,500 acres and 55% contained.

Firefighters made good progress overnight increasing the containment line and are working on pockets of unburned fuel within the fire perimeter, a Cal Fire news release said. Firefighters will continue to work on constructing and improving the fire line.

In the Los Padres National Forest, the Soberanes fire continues to burn.

The blaze began July 22 by an illegal, unattended campfire and quickly spread into the Garrapata State Park, areas near Big Sur and communities south of Carmel Valley.

At least 2,048 firefighters are tackling the 128,380 acre fire. The fire is 81% contained.

In Los Angeles County, two brush fires broke out Monday night as gusty Santa Ana winds blew through the mountains and valleys and temperatures soared past 100 degrees.

In La Canada Flintridge, about 5 acres of brush behind a YMCA were reported burning around 9 p.m. The blaze was quickly extinguished, officials said.

A second, 21-acre blaze erupted at 11:24 p.m. in Lake View Terrace near the 210 Freeway. More than 100 firefighters doused flames burning close to structures 10500 block of Woldrich Street. No homes were destroyed, but fire crews remained in the area Tuesday to ensure the blaze was contained.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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8:15 p.m.: Updated throughout.

This article was first published at 9:10 a.m.
Faced with a weeks-end deadline to keep government funds flowing, the Senate on Tuesday blocked a stopgap spending measure amid partisan fighting over aid to victims of the Flint, Mich., water crisis.

But both sides predicted a government shutdown was unlikely, and final passage was still expected by Friday, when funding for government operations is set to expire.

Scope of Donald Trumps falsehoods unprecedented for presidential candidate 

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Lawmakers are tangling because the Republican-crafted package includes money for Louisiana flood victims, but not the Flint water crisis, leaving many Democrats to reject it. Some Republicans also voted no, opposed to spending levels they said were too high and other objections.

The measure, which includes more than $1 billion to fight the Zika virus, would extend government funding until Dec. 9, guaranteeing another spending battle during the lame-duck session of Congress after the presidential election.

The first vote Tuesday was 45-55, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. A subsequent vote similarly failed.

Leaders on both sides did not appear discouraged by the stalemate.

Were not shutting the government down, said Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the minority leader. Were going to finish this.

Health episode raises new doubts and old concerns about Hillary Clinton 

The funding bill is among the last items of business before Congress recesses for the November election.

Overall funding levels already had been agreed to under previous budget deals. But lawmakers now are arguing over the allocation of emergency money as well as new provisions, including one that would enable the Export-Import Bank to continue making loans even though its board does not have a quorum.

Opponents of the bank, which offers low-interest loans to U.S. companies that export abroad, call it corporate welfare and are trying to block its operation. Because the Senate has failed to confirm new board members, supporters, including the White House, want to allow the banks board to be allowed to function with fewer members. The provision was not included.

Another sticking point was a push to include a provision to halt plans for turning over federal governance of Internet domains to a nonprofit agency.

Sen. Ted Cruzs (R-Texas) proposal to delay the transfer to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers also was excluded from the stopgap funding package. While Cruz had been the leader in a 2013 showdown that resulted in shutting down the government for 16 days, it does not appear that the Texas senator is angling for a similar shutdown fight over the Internet provision, which has been supported by GOP nominee Donald Trump.

The primary hang-up is the Republican refusal to include funding for the water crisis in Flint, where contaminated lead pipes have left the water undrinkable.

Democrats say its not fair to provide emergency funds for Louisiana flood victims, but not money for Flint. A $300-million package for Flint was approved by the Senate in a separate water-resources bill but has stalled in the House.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell floated an alternative proposal that would remove the Louisiana money for now, allowing talks on both the emergency funding for Flint and flood victims to continue.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

Twitter: @LisaMascaro

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 26

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation headed by Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov Sept. 26.

The head of state noted the importance of the Belarusian ministers visit to Baku with a big delegation to participate in the Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2016). Noting that the military cooperation between the two countries is developing successfully over many years, President Aliyev said that the relations in this field give satisfaction. He praised it as an indicator of high confidence between Azerbaijan and Belarus and as a good expression of the fact that the countries are based on multilateral cooperation in the economic, political, military and other fields.

Having said that equipments, purchased in Belarus over the recent years, meet the highest standards, the head of state noted that they talked about it at the meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that the Azerbaijani specialists are also pleased with the high quality and reliability of the equipment. President Aliyev praised this as an indicator of the great progress made by Belarus in the military-technical sphere.

Touching upon the relations existed between the two countries throughout the history, the president highlighted that there are good prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation.

President Aliyev noted the importance of the demonstration of Belarusian military equipment at Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2016) in terms of Azerbaijans familiarization with innovations in this area and determination of opportunities for cooperation.

Noting that the visit of the Belarusian minister to Azerbaijan will further serve for the development of relations between the two countries, the president said that the visit created a good opportunity to discuss issues related to the further development of cooperation.

Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov conveyed to President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan greetings of the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

The defense minister noted that Azerbaijan is a friendly country for Belarus in the South Caucasus, which it trusts and Belarus is a country that can become a reliable friend for Azerbaijan in the center of Europe. Noting Azerbaijan's support for Belarus in its difficult period, the minister expressed his gratitude for this to President Ilham Aliyev.

Noting that his visit to Azerbaijan coincided with an important day for the country, Andrei Ravkov described the referendum as an important event.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for greetings of the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and asked to convey his greetings to the Belarusian president.
Linda Gravelle stared into the hearse. Thirty seconds went by and she lifted her camera, wanting to remember the moment.

Wow, she whispered. So beautiful.

But it wasnt a departed loved one that gripped her attention. It was a small, horse-drawn carriage from 1832  one of several early-model hearses on display inside a huge brick building in north Houston.

The National Museum of Funeral History is for those of us who dont mind contemplating death. At 66, Gravelle knows her sun is setting, but she and her husband arent afraid of reminders. After all, their pastor back home in Washington state sometimes holds services in a funeral home.

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Full-time RVers, the couple saw a pamphlet for the museum at a Texas welcome center near the Louisiana border and decided to stop in.

Every year, about 20,000 people visit the museum, which was founded in 1992 by Houston mogul Robert Waltrip, the founder of Service Corporation International  the largest funeral home chain in the country.

We dont get Death 101 in school, said Genevieve Keeney, the museums president. My goal is to get people to embrace death. If you can embrace it, you can live a fuller life.

Once youve walked through the gift shop, where you can buy a T-shirt emblazoned with the museums motto  Any day above ground is a good one  the museum opens up into more than 30,000 square feet of exhibition space. Its dimly lit except for the spotlights beaming down on row after row of coffins and hearses.

On a recent morning, a group of elderly women paused for photos in front of a Mercedes hearse used in Grace Kellys funeral and later in front of a casket covered in coins and dollar bills  a reminder, they joked, that you can take your money with you to the grave.

Hearses line the exhibit space at the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston. (Marisa Gerber / Los Angeles Times )

While the collection touts many items tied to the rich and famous, including a $450 funeral bill sent to the White House after Franklin D. Roosevelts death and a replica of Pope John Paul IIs crypt, the items of lesser known people often get the most attention.

Take, for example, a copy of the program from the 2011 memorial service for Arch West, who worked at Frito-Lay and helped invent Doritos corn chips.

Good dude, one visitor said, posing for a picture with his thumb up near the display case.

On the other side of the museum, a woman with tattoos covering her calves scrolled through her phone looking a bit bored.

She was on vacation from Pennsylvania and had picked the museum from a list of activities her mother-in-law had offered up. But she found herself wishing that the $10 entrance would bring something a little creepier than dead popes and presidents.

Her husband walked over smiling. I found the good stuff, he told her. An embalming exhibit.

They inspected a bottle of old, yellow liquid whose label boasted of being valuable in emaciated cases and a two-pronged metal contraption that looked like a weapon but was actually used to curl the hair of dead people in the 1940s.

It may be impossible to think about death without thinking about your own.

Abigail Hein, 40, a stamp dealer from Concord, Calif., who discovered the museum on a website of curious places, took a selfie with a statue in the pope exhibit.

She posted it on Facebook with the caption: When I go, you can do whatever you want with my remains.

One item in particular stuck with her: a coffin from Ghana that was shaped like a lobster. I wouldnt want anyone to put it in the ground, though, she said. Too beautiful.

Hein figures shell be cremated like other members of her family  and that perhaps, her ashes could go into the ground and help nourish a tree.

Keeney, 46, said that while quirkiness raises the profile of the museum profile  it was featured on both A&E Shipping Wars and Ozzy Osbournes show on the History Channel  portraying the place merely as an oddity undermines its serious work.

An exhibit at the National Museum of Funeral History explains the embalming practices of the ancient Egyptians. (Marisa Gerber / Los Angeles Times )

For its latest exhibit, created for the fifteenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the museum created mini twin towers by stacking dozens of memorial register books. Waltrips funeral homes had put them out on Sept. 12, 2001, as a way to allow people to express their grief.

For Keeney, whose predominantly black wardrobe belies a chipper spirit, working at the museum fulfills a lifelong goal. Her fascination with death started at age 7 when she heard a television news segment about an infant found in a trash can.

Wow, what would that baby look like? she recalls thinking. What does death look like?

For career day in high school, Keeney interviewed a coroner, who let her see a photograph of a person who had drowned. But it wasnt until she was 28 and living in Germany as a medic in the U.S. Army that she first saw a dead body  that of a soldier found in his room.

Another time in Germany, while walking the hallway of a morgue where she was planning to observe an autopsy, Keeney heard a man singing quietly. She walked into the room and realized the man had been singing a lullaby to a dead infant. He turned out to be a funeral director.

I want to be what you are, she told him.

Back in the U.S., she did just that.

Few things animate her like working around death. Her pale blue eyes lit up when speaking about an upcoming exhibit: The History of Cremation.

I personally love cremation, she said.
Donald Trump on Monday touted stop-and-frisk as a way to combat urban crime, but the controversial policing tactic was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge and has divided experts on its effectiveness.

We have to take the guns away from these people that have them and are bad people that shouldnt have them, Trump said, saying he did not agree with moderator Lester Holts assertion that some people view it as a form of racial profiling.

Under stop-and-frisk, officers stop, question and search people for contraband. The approach has been used in major cities such as New York City and Baltimore, but in many cases the practice has ended or been scaled back over concerns about racial profiling.

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In New York City, the tactic began in the early 2000s and quickly expanded in scope. At its peak in 2011, police stopped New Yorkers more than 685,000 times, according to data from the New York Civil Liberties Union; 88% of those stops yielded no contraband. Nearly 90% of those stopped that year were black or Latino.

Crime rates declined in New York City from its peak in the 1990s, but criminologists attribute that to a nationwide plunge in crime over two decades, not specifically to stop-and-frisk.

A federal judge ruled in 2013 that the New York City program violated the rights of minorities. Current Mayor Bill de Blasio ended the citys use of the tactic.

Trump has put particular emphasis on crime and how it affects black Americans. He has pointed to sharp increases in violent crime in cities such as Chicago, which he has described as more dangerous than Afghanistan.

There has been a recent uptick in murders, according to FBI data. In 2015, murders were up 10.8% compared with last year but remain far below the peak levels of the mid-1990s.

Violent crime overall was up 3.9%, while property crime declined by 2.6% compared with 2014.

The picture is mixed in major cities this year. According to the Major Cities Chiefs Assn., there have been certain cities that have seen jumps in homicides in 2016 compared with 2015, such as Chicago and Los Angeles, but other cities have seen a decline in homicides in the same period, such as Houston and New York City.

Trump has made an overt, if clumsy, appeal to African American voters in recent weeks, pitching himself as the best option to fix what he describes as the dismal state of black America.

Our African American communities are absolutely in the worst shape theyve ever been in before. Ever, ever ever, Trump said at a campaign stop last week.

The remark immediately drew criticism from those saying Trump was glossing over the horrors of slavery and the explicit segregation of the Jim Crow era.

A look at a number of metrics paint a more nuanced picture of what African Americans face.

The unemployment rate for African Americans was 8.1% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; that rate has been steadily declining since it peaked at 16.8% in March 2010. Still, it remains higher than the national average, which was 4.9% in August.

In stump speeches, Trump has said that nearly 6 in 10 young blacks are unemployed. The real jobless figure for African Americans ages 16 to 24 is significantly lower: around 20% as of July.

The National Urban League, in its annual State of Black America report, found some gains for black Americans in recent generations. The percentage of African Americans obtaining bachelors degrees climbed from 6.6% in 1976 to 22.2% in 2016. Black life expectancy 40 years ago averaged 68.3 years. It is now 75.1 years.

But there are still notable lags. The rate of black homeownership has stayed essentially flat since 1976 at around 43%.

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @melmason for the latest on national politics.

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Donald Trump said he did a great job and great service in raising questions on President Obamas birthplace, but the GOP nominee continued to stoke doubts about Obamas heritage long after the president released definitive proof of his Hawaii birth.

I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate. I think I did a good job, Trump said Monday night.

Trump argued that by repeatedly pressing Obama on his birthplace, he was aiding the president. But the insinuation that Obama was foreign-born struck many Americans, particularly in the African American community, as an attempt to delegitimize the first black president.

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The birther controversy, which posited that Obama was not born in the U.S., was not rooted in Hillary Clintons presidential campaign in 2008, contrary to claims by Trump. A political candidate in Illinois, Andy Martin, started raising questions about Obamas birthplace back in 2004.

There is no evidence that Clinton or higher-ups in her campaign stoked rumors in 2008 about Obama being born in Kenya. A campaign volunteer in Iowa was dismissed after forwarding an email questioning Obamas roots.

And Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton confidante, encouraged a McClatchy Washington investigative editor to investigate several story lines about Obamas Kenyan heritage, but emails from the time do not specifically reference his birthplace.

Trump, meanwhile, seized on birtherism in 2011, stating that he had doubts that Obama was a natural-born citizen. Even after Obama released his long-form birth certificate in April 2011, Trump continued to question Obamas birthplace.

Trump said he definitively ended the birther question in 2011. But as Trump ramped up his own presidential run last year, he demurred on the birther question. He did not decisively state he believed Obama was born in the U.S. until earlier this month.

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @melmason for the latest on national politics.

Donald Trump evades questions on foundation problems, birther falsehoods
The answer is apparently not blowing in the wind. At least not in Wyoming. At least not for the states Republican-led Legislature, which has spent months looking for ways to close a multimillion-dollar gap in the state budget.

Roiled by declining revenue from the trifecta of fossil fuels  oil, coal and natural gas  state lawmakers this spring turned their attention to a relatively untapped source of energy in Wyoming that is clean, abundant and suddenly in demand: the big winds that blow down from the Rocky Mountains.

The plan, advanced by an interim joint revenue committee, was to raise the state wind energy production tax  the only such tax in the nation  to help pay for important school construction projects. Yet instead of finding new revenue, lawmakers in the conservative state found controversy and, finally, rejection.

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Last week, after listening to five hours of testimony from wind companies, business groups and local communities opposed to the tax increase, the revenue committee voted overwhelmingly to kill the idea.

By doing so, they pleased wind advocates but made it harder for Wyoming to balance its budget.

I dont know what were going to do now, said Michael Madden, the House co-chairman of the committee who had supported the plan.

In a voice vote, the committee, which spends the summer and fall deciding what measures it will sponsor when the full Legislature meets during regular session in January, voted overwhelmingly against moving forward a bill that would have raised the production tax to $3 per megawatt hour of electricity produced. The current tax is $1 per megawatt hour.

Madden said the increase would have raised almost $40 million in revenue after completion of a new project that will have as many as 1,000 wind turbines and generate as much as 3,000 megawatts. That project, called Chokecherry and Sierra Madre, would be the largest wind farm in the nation.

Forty million dollars would hardly close the budget gap, which has now grown to at least $200 million, but Madden and others say multiple new revenue sources, and spending cuts, are going to be needed.

Opponents, however, have said that expanding the wind industry is more important than short-term tax revenue.

Not a single supporter of the tax increase testified during more than five hours of discussion at a field hearing, held Thursday in Buffalo, Wyo., Maddens hometown.

The Power Company of Wyoming, which is developing Chokecherry and Sierra Madre and began road construction for the project this month, was joined at the hearing by business groups, contractors and local leaders from Carbon County and the town of Rawlins, where the new project would be built.

The groups repeated what they had said in individual meetings with lawmakers and Gov. Matt Mead over the summer: raising the tax could make wind companies reconsider whether to do business in Wyoming, even though experts say it has some of the strongest and steadiest winds in the nation.

They argued that they already plan to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in property and sales taxes, and that uncertainty over the production tax would make it hard for them to negotiate price agreements with utilities.

The major target market for the Power Company of Wyoming is California. That irks some supporters of the tax increase who say giant turbines will forever alter the rural identity of wide-open Wyoming.

It looks like theres nothing in it for the state of Wyoming and everything in it for the consumers of California, Madden said, referring to the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre project.

The states tax crunch has prompted whispers of a solution far more radical than taxing the wind. Some economists and others say Wyoming, no matter how business-friendly it aspires to be, will eventually have to consider instituting an income tax. The idea even came up briefly at the hearing last Thursday. Madden, himself an economist, did not express support.

That, he said in an interview, would cause an armed conflict around here, I think.

william.yardley@latimes.com

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Trump decries Clinton and the media as he seeks to recover from debate troubles

Donald Trump cast Hillary Clinton as a corrupt and incompetent politician from a bygone era as he sought to recover Tuesday from his poorly received performance in the first debate of the general election.

The Republican presidential nominee wrapped up a one-day Florida campaign swing with blasts of lacerating rhetoric at a rally near Cape Canaveral.

Were going to take on the special interests, the lobbyists, and the corrupt corporate media right back there, Trump told thousands of supporters packed into a sweltering airplane hangar. As many of them turned to boo the news crews behind them, Trump added: They are as corrupt as you can get.

Reading from a teleprompter, Trump reminded the audience that the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of State failed the bar exam in 1973.

Without the mainstream media, she wouldnt even be here, folks, that I can tell you, Trump told the crowd.

Trump cast his debate performance as a success, taking credit for highlighting Clintons support of free-trade agreements. He summed up Clintons career as 30 years of disappointments on foreign policy, on domestic policy, on helping women, on helping children.

The only thing she succeeded at was helping her donors and covering up her crimes, Trump said, drawing one of many Lock her up! chants from the raucous crowd.

Trump also returned to his signature theme of illegal immigration, which he barely touched upon in the debate, lamenting what he called a one-way highway right into Mexico with our jobs and our money.

When the crowd shouted, Build that wall! Trump did the call-and-response routine that excites his loyalists and offends his critics.

Who is going to pay for the wall? he asked. Mexico! the audience hollered back.

Earlier, Trump attended a fundraiser at his Doral golf resort in Miami, then met with Latino business supporters at a college nearby. The largely Republican crowd of Cuban Americans asked Trump friendly questions and gave him a white monogrammed guayabera shirt.
Israelis set their alarm clocks to watch Clinton vs. Trump

Even though the U.S. presidential debate began at 4 a.m. local time, Israel televisions public television channel broadcast it live with simultaneous Hebrew translation.

Israelis tend to follow U.S. politics, but this presidential election has generated extra interest. Tal Schneider, a political blogger who hosted a WhatsApp group for debate watchers, said that more Israelis tuned in than in years past.

At 4:30 my Twitter feed was filled with Hebrew comments, said Schneider. A lot of people set their alarm clocks.

The debate came just one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held court in New York City with both candidates. News reports highlighted Hillary Clintons promise to block any anti-Israeli resolutions at the United Nations and Donald Trumps vow to recognize Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital.

Its no surprise that Israelis have been trying to discern where the candidates would take U.S. policy on two issues: the U.S.-led nuclear agreement with Iran and the stymied peace process with the Palestinians.

While Trump is seen as hewing to recent Republican approach of unqualified support for Israel on both issues, his talk about resetting foreign ties with allies in Europe and Asia has stirred concern about what consequences that could have for Israel. Though Clinton is better known than Trump in Israel, theres concern that she would continue the Obama administrations critical posture toward expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Israeli commentators duly noted that Netanyahu was the only foreign leader aside from Vladimir Putin to get mentioned in the debate.

Israel television anchor Yaakov Ahimeir honed in on his statement that the U.S. should not be the policeman of the world, taking it as an indication that Trump would adopt an isolationist foreign policy if elected.

The banner headline on the home page of Hebrew language Walla! News site summarized the candidates attacks on each other like this: Clinton: He has no plan on ISIS; Trump: Youve left a mess in the Middle East.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The international observer mission of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS) has held a meeting on the results of monitoring of the Sept. 26 referendum to amend Azerbaijans Constitution.

During the meeting, the mission members talked about the monitoring of voting at polling stations in Baku, Sumgait as well as townships in Absheron, according to a message on the IPA CIS website.

Director of the International Institute of Monitoring Democracy Development (IIMDD) of the IPA CIS Dmitry Gladey presented a summary of the observation results as well as information on monitoring of the referendum at overseas polling stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The meeting participants discussed and adopted a final document on the monitoring results.

The referendum to make amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) Sept. 26.

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  were accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum.

The total number of the observers was around 53,000.
FACT CHECK Trump claims ICE endorsement. Heres what he probably meant

(John Moore / Getty Images)

Donald Trump, offering his credentials on immigration and border security in Mondays debate, said he had won the endorsement of ICE -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Thats not true. A government agency would not endorse a presidential candidate.

Trump is probably referring to the endorsement of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, a union representing 5,000 immigration officers. His campaign announced the backing Monday morning, noting it was the first time the group had endorsed a presidential candidate.

Chris Crane, president of the union, said in a statement released by Trumps campaign that Hillary Clinton won only 5% of the vote of union members.

Another union representing border agents, the National Border Patrol Council, also endorsed Trump in March -- a decision not without controversy, as Richard Marosi reported.
Measure JJJ on the November ballot purports to offer solutions to two of Los Angeles most challenging problems: How to create more affordable housing for the citys poorest residents, and how to increase the number of good-paying jobs. Sounds like a slam dunk, right?

Its not. Measure JJJ vividly illustrates why land-use planning by ballot initiative is so problematic. It was sponsored by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, construction trade unions and affordable housing groups as the counteroffensive to the Neighborhood Integrity Act, a slow-growth initiative that would slap a two-year moratorium on major developments and require an overhaul of the citys land-use plans. That initiative has since moved to the March city election, but Measure JJJ, also known as Build Better L.A., remains on the November ballot.

Measure JJJ would impose some of the nations most demanding affordable housing and wage mandates on privately-funded development. It was written without any analysis of whether the measure would actually relieve the citys affordable housing crisis, as opposed to increasing the cost of new construction so much that developers build fewer units for low- and middle-income Angelenos.

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Creating good housing policy means balancing how much the government can demand against how much the real estate market will bear.

Voters should reject Measure JJJ, knowing that there are two smarter affordable housing proposals currently being studied at City Hall. Mayor Eric Garcetti is championing a fee on new development to fund subsidized housing construction. And Hollywood-area City Councilman Mitch OFarrell proposed a value-capture ordinance  similar conceptually to Measure JJJ  that would require housing developers to include affordable units in their projects if the city allowed them to build taller or denser than the propertys zoning would normally allow.

Creating good housing policy means balancing how much the government can demand against how much the real estate market will bear. Thats why its much better to set these policies through study and legislation, rather than a one-size-fits-all ballot initiative.

Measure JJJ would apply to residential projects of 10 or more units that request a General Plan amendment, zone change or permit to build taller than allowed. Because L.A.s plans are so outdated, many of the housing units built in recent years have required at least one of those land-use changes. To get approval, builders would need to meet new requirements on how much they can charge for their units, the wages they pay and the workers they hire.

Apartment developers would have to guarantee that up to 25% of the units they build would be affordable for low-income tenants. For condominiums and homes, developers would have to provide up to 40% of the units at rents affordable to moderate-income residents. They could also choose to provide the affordable units elsewhere, or pay into the citys Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Developers would also have to abide by several strict hiring mandates. For example, contractors would have to ensure that at least 30% of their construction workers live in Los Angeles, and that 10% live within 5 miles of the project and be so-called transitional workers, a category that includes the homeless, single parents, veterans and those lacking a high school diploma.

In addition, the contractors would have to pay wages set by the citys Bureau of Contract Administration. The initiative doesnt spell out what those wages would be, but builders fear they would be equivalent to the prevailing wages required for publicly funded projects that are often double or triple what non-union construction workers earn. For example, the median hourly wage for a carpenter in the Los Angeles region is about $24; the prevailing wage is about $55 an hour.

These wage and local hire requirements could make it considerably more expensive for developers to build housing in Los Angeles, which seems counterproductive in a city with so great a need. They would also set a worrisome precedent. Its inappropriate for the government to step into the private housing construction market and set wages. Notably, the measure would allow the city to waive each of its mandates if they proved unworkable  except for the wage requirement.

The housing advocates behind Measure JJJ are understandably frustrated with city leaders who have failed for years to take any meaningful action to increase the supply of affordable housing or reform the citys broken planning and land-use system to allow more construction of housing at all price ranges. Faced with public pressure and the threat of draconian ballot initiatives, Garcetti and the City Council are beginning to take the citys housing crisis seriously. Hopefully, they are not too late.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Talk about a rigged system. If youre a child  an unaccompanied minor, who arrived at the border from Central America  seeking permission to live in the U.S., you have a 75% chance of winning your case if you have a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, and youre forced to navigate the byzantine system on your own, youve got a 15% chance, according to statistics compiled by Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

Sadly, only about a third of kids have lawyers, because the right to a government-supplied attorney doesnt apply to immigration cases. And last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out a legal challenge by several unidentified minors who had asked the courts to compel the government to provide them with counsel. The court didnt rule on the merits of the request, ruling instead that the plaintiffs had to exhaust their appeals through the immigration courts before seeking federal court intervention. But in an unusual concurring opinion, Judge M. Margaret McKeown  who also wrote the majority opinion  chided the Obama administration and Congress: The Executive and Congress have the power to address this crisis without judicial intervention. What is missing here? Money and resolve  political solutions that fall outside the purview of the courts.

McKeown is right. Its unconscionable that children must stand alone before a court to try to argue that they meet the technical legal conditions for asylum  and that conditions in their home countries would jeopardize their safety if they were forced to return. Its even more unconscionable that the political leaders who could begin to address this by developing programs with pro bono legal organizations to defend the childrens interests have turned a deaf ear.

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The most exhausting thing about our politics these days  other than the never-ending presidential election itself  is the obsession with shaping the narrative. By that I mean the effort to connect the dots between a selective number of facts and statistics to support one story line about the state of the union.

Narrative-building is essential for almost every complicated argument, because its the only way to get our pattern-seeking brains to discount contradictory facts and data. Trial lawyers understand this implicitly. Get the jury to buy the story, and theyll do the heavy lifting of arranging the facts in just the right way.

President Obama understands this too. Just consider the way he talks about terrorism  often reassuring Americans that theyre more likely to die in a bathtub accident than in a terror attack.

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And hes right.

On the other hand, bathtubs arent trying to get nuclear weapons. Nor are bathtubs destabilizing the Middle East (often killing massive numbers of non-Americans) or otherwise plotting to conquer the world.

One problem with this effort to so aggressively edit the terrorism narrative ... is that it sows skepticism about the truthfulness of our political leaders.

Obamas goal is obvious. He wants the story of terrorism to lose its potency, and recede from our politics. Secretary of State John Kerry recently suggested as much when he said: Perhaps the media would do us all a service if they didnt cover [terrorism] quite as much. People wouldnt know whats going on.

This mind set helps explain the now familiar pattern whereby the Obama administration responds to a terror attack by slow-walking acknowledgement of reality. First there is the reluctance to call it terrorism, then the reluctance to call it Islamist terrorism and finally the reluctance to admit that it was plotted or inspired in any way by Islamic State or Al Qaeda. Lone wolves are the new fallback, because they are self-radicalized and hence not part of some larger challenge  or story.

One problem with this effort to so aggressively edit the terrorism narrative in real time is that it sows skepticism about the truthfulness of our political leaders.

Another is that it inadvertently fuels another story that the Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, rightly wants to downplay: That Islam itself is the problem. If all of these homegrown lone wolves are self-radicalizing  without aid or assistance from foreign powers  you can see why some people might conclude that Islam itself is the source of extremism.

Republicans are hardly immune to the temptation to drive a story line ahead of the facts. Donald Trump says our country is a divided crime scene and that African American communities are absolutely in the worst shape that theyve ever been in before. Ever. Ever. Ever.

This story line, never mind this paragraph, desperately needs an editor.

But so does the tale of an epidemic of police hunting unarmed black men  in the words of some activists.

Theres no disputing that the unwarranted use of deadly force by police is a legitimate concern. But the narrative  increasingly pushed by Hillary Clinton in an effort to rev up African American voters  that it is open season on black men not only does a disservice to the police, it also makes it harder to put the problem in perspective.

What might perspective entail? It happens to be true that young black men are more likely to die in domestic accidents than at the hands of the police. Of course if a politician said that, liberals would attack him for minimizing the issue  just like conservatives attack Obama for his bathtub comments.

The anger wouldnt be over the veracity of the claim, but the attempt to dilute the narrative.

Im not naive. Crafting stories to serve political purposes is as old as politics itself. But the problem seems to be getting worse.

Perhaps its because our country is so polarized and our media environment so balkanized and instantaneous. Politicians and journalists alike feel compelled to make facts serve some larger tale in every utterance.

The reality is that life is complicated and every well-crafted narrative leaves out important facts.

jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

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About those tax returns.

We heard yet again during Mondays presidential debate that Donald Trump cant release his tax returns because he is under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. Actually, in Trumps words, Ive been under audit almost for 15 years.  in a way, I should be complaining. Im not even complaining. I dont mind it. Its almost become a way of life.

One would hope the IRS audits rich people who brag about not paying income taxes  That makes me smart, Trump said during the debate, not realizing he had just stepped into a trap neatly set by Hillary Clinton.

Clinton, of course, speculated that Trumps refusal to release the tax returns means hes trying to hide something. A reasonable voter would think so, too, especially since the IRS has said there is nothing about the audit process that precludes Trump from releasing his tax returns.

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I dont think you want to talk about 15,000 people asking about $500 fees and bringing up questions that take away from the dialogue.  Donald Trump Jr.

So why does Trump stick with the excuse that the audit precludes the release?

My lawyers, they say, Dont do it, Trump said during the debate.

That in itself should set off alarm bells. If the IRS says theres no bar to releasing the returns, why would his lawyer advise that he keep them under wraps?

Presumably Trump hires lawyers smart enough to understand an audit doesnt preclude releasing the returns, which leads one to surmise the legal advice is to avoid a potential legal entanglement.

But Donald Trump Jr. revealed a different motive the other day in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Its not a legal concern that led Trump to break with modern practice among major-party presidential candidates and not release his tax returns. Its a political calculation  and a desire to avoid scrutiny.

Because hes got a 12,000-page tax return that would create probably 300 million independent financial auditors out of every person in the country asking questions that would distract from his main message, Trump Jr. explained.

He then elaborated later in the interview: I dont think you want to talk about 15,000 people asking about $500 fees and bringing up questions that take away from the dialogue.

So much for the audit excuse.

The whole point of releasing tax returns is to create some transparency  letting voters know where your financial interests lie, where you may have conflicts of interest, whether you have paid an appropriate share of taxes, whether you have, in fact, donated money to charities.

Trump has shown again and again  Politifact estimates that 70% of his statements have been mostly or completely false  that his oft-repeated phrase believe me should, in fact, not be believed. Trump, through repeated lies and misstatements, invites cynicism. He gets no benefit of the doubt.

Trump has based his credibility as a leader on his business success, so its intrinsically in the public interest to understand the scope of his business dealings  especially in Russia and other countries with which he would need to hold a hard line as president.

This means public scrutiny of the tax returns isnt a campaign distraction. Its necessary to help voters verify Trumps narrative of success.

That he tells it like it is Trump refuses to open the returns to public review and hides a political calculation behind a lie should make even his faithful backers skeptical about exactly what kind of clothes this would-be emperor has.

Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com

Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter

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Polls show the presidential race tightening, helping to justify some of the unusual hype surrounding Mondays initial debate between the two candidates. Here are a few things we learned:

1. Hillary Clinton wants to make the election all about Donald Trump.

She attacked him early and often, accusing him of withholding his tax returns to avoid disclosing tax avoidance, conflicts of interest, or lack of charity. She even accused him of not being as rich as he says he is, hoping to rattle Trump by poking a hole in the center of his ego.

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That was only the beginning: She mocked him as being out of touch for using millions of dollars from his father to get his businesses started and accused him of racism and sexism. Her opposition research material was deep and specific, including lawsuits from the early 1970s and names and details about a Venezuelan beauty pageant contestant whom she said Trump disparaged as Miss Piggy and Miss Housekeeping.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter | The race to 270

This has been Clintons strategy throughout the general election, and its a simple one. Shes a very unpopular candidate. To win, she needs to make Trump even less popular.

2. Trump wants to remind voters that Clinton is status quo.

Trump seemed to lose focus in parts of the debate, but he was fairly consistent in returning to this theme, the major thrust of his candidacy.

He frequently told viewers that Clinton has had 30 years to solve the problems she is now promising to fix.

Its all words. Its all soundbites, he said at another point, responding to a Clinton attack, hoping to use her language against her.

She has experience, but its bad experience, he said at the debates conclusion.

3. Clinton has new fodder for her campaign commercials.

Trump almost always refuses to back down, a major part of his appeal during the GOP primaries. But on Monday night, that tendency may have pushed him into traps laid by Clinton.

When she accused him of not paying income tax, Trump did not dispute it. Instead, he bragged.

That makes me smart, he said.

When she accused him of using the bankruptcy laws in his business and not paying workers and small businesses that had done work for his companies, he did not deny that either.

I take advantage of the laws of the nation, he said.

When she accused him of attacking women, Trump said that his attacks on Rosie ODonnells appearance were a point of pride.

She deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her, Trump said.

4. Preparation matters.

Trump boasted about not doing the sort of intense mock-debate preparation that Clinton did. His lack of readiness showed. While he started off strong, he appeared to fade as the 90-minute debate went along. While Clinton had plenty of new attacks to launch, Trump in the second half of the debate often seemed on the defensive.

5. Lets not get carried away.

Its too soon to judge how voters will react. Snap polls and focus groups often mislead. It will take several days to get accurate polling at the state and national level, and probably a few days more to confirm it. Even those polls may not accurately depict the effect of the debate, especially if other news interferes and muddies the picture. Remember that instant analysts and later polls all agreed that President Obama lost the first debate in 2012. It didnt settle the election.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

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Keeping with the populist theme of his campaign, Donald Trump blamed bad trade deals for Americas uneven economic recovery and accused Hillary Clinton for only recently focusing attention on jobs lost overseas.

Companies are leaving. Theyre leaving in bigger numbers than ever, Trump said in Monday nights debate, pointing to recent examples of Carrier and Nabisco moving their production overseas.

Trump accused Clinton of only focusing on trade once the GOP nominee made it a centerpiece of his campaign.

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Youve been doing this for 30 years, Trump asked Clinton. Why are you just starting to think about this now?

But Clinton has weighed in on trade agreements repeatedly  with varying levels of support  during her long public service, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, which went into effect in 1994. The agreement was negotiated and signed by President George H.W. Bush (not, as Trump often claims, President Bill Clinton, who was an avid supporter and pushed the pacts final approval through Congress).

As first lady, Hillary Clinton backed the NAFTA agreement, but she has since shifted her position on the deal, calling it flawed during her 2000 Senate campaign and advocating for changes to the pact during her 2008 presidential run.

Trump has pointed to the trade deficit  the extent to which the United States imports more goods than it exports  to illustrate Americas weakened standing in the global economy. Last year, the countrys trade deficit for goods was around $763 billion, according to the U.S. census.

Trump has particularly focused on Americas trade with China  which last year ran at a deficit of nearly $345 billion  and Mexico, where the trade deficit was $60 billion in 2015.

But many economists say the import/export balance is an overly simplistic way to measure winners and losers on trade. Supporters of trade with Mexico, for example, often cite a study by the Wilson Center, a Washington-based nonpartisan think tank, which estimated that 40% of the content in goods imported from Mexico originates in the United States.

Some companies targeted by Trump for moving their operations overseas say the real estate magnate is misstating their operations and its effect on American workers. Ford Chief Executive Mark Fields said this month that while the company is building a new factory in Mexico to build cars, the companys American workers would not be affected.

Trump frequently laments that America doesnt win anymore and points to the countrys economy as proof. He frequently cites the nations lagging growth  the economy only expanded by an unimpressive 1.2% in the second quarter of this year.

But Trump often points to incorrect or exaggerated figures to bolster his bleak portrayal of the countrys economic health. He has said that more than 94 million people are outside the labor force, implying all of those Americans are seeking but unable to find jobs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7.8 million people are unemployed and actively looking for a job, leading to the current 4.9% unemployment rate. BLS explains that many of those arent in the workforce are retired, disabled or ill, or had responsibilities at home. Others may want to work but have given up the job search in frustration.

Clinton, meanwhile, has struck a rosier, albeit cautious tone about the post-recession recovery. She has touted the economic rebound under President Obama, but has attempted to veer away from sounding too triumphant, in fear of alienating voters who still feel economically fragile.

At times, she has exaggerated the extent of the economic turnaround. She has referred to 15 million new jobs created under the Obama administration, but the Washington Post Fact Checker has said such a figure is misleading because it begins its count in February 2010, more than a year into Obamas presidency.

Trump has put particular emphasis on the countrys troubled manufacturing sector. Such jobs had fallen as a share of the countrys non-farm jobs since the end of World War II, but there was a particularly sharp decline between 2000 and 2009. Factory jobs have rebounded a bit over the last six years; since then, U.S. manufacturers have hired around 740,000 new workers.

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @melmason for the latest on national politics.

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Details added (first version posted at 11:01)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Ilhama Isabalayeva  Trend:

The September 26 referendum to amend the Azerbaijani Constitution was held without violations, Haluk Ipek, a Turkish MP and member of the observer mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries (TurkPA), said.

The mission concluded that the referendum was held in accordance with international standards, he added. Equal voting conditions were created for all citizens. The referendum was organized at a high level.

Ipek added that the voter turnout was high at the referendum.

Jandos Asanov, TurkPA secretary general, said the mission, which carried out short-term monitoring in the referendum, included parliamentarians from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey as well as representatives of TurkPA Secretariat.

He thanked the Azerbaijani government for the conditions created for monitoring the referendum.

Some 3,671,707 people (69.7 percent of voters) cast their ballots in the referendum.
Donald Trump left the protective bubble of his partisans on Monday and learned a well-established truth about campaigns: The rhetoric that draws rapturous applause at rallies doesnt play as well in the outside world.

The Trump onstage Monday was the Trump seen every day in his campaign. He used the same language, told the same stories, decried the same disasters. But he did not do what a 90-minute debate gives candidates an opportunity to do: flesh out an explanation of how he or she would run the country, and invite voters who arent already committed to come along for the ride.

Instead, Trump flinched under Hillary Clintons tough criticism.

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Worse, he made off-the-cuff remarks that lent credibility to her critiques of him. He defended saying the housing crash was a good business opportunity. He said that not paying federal income taxes makes me smart. He insisted that not paying contractors according to their contracts was another business decision.

He insisted over and over that he had not said things about women and the Iraq war that, because of millions of dollars of ads aired already in this campaign, American voters have already seen and heard him say.

He also did little to prosecute his case against Clinton. He did hit her repeatedly for being part of the political status quo. But her biggest liability  the fact that a majority of voters dont trust her  went almost unmentioned. Another negative for Clinton, her use of a private email system while secretary of State, was barely touched. When Trump did bring it up, it was as an attempt to change the subject from his unreleased income tax returns.

Clinton, for her part, offered a more thorough explanation of what her presidency would entail, ticking off multi-part plans for improving the economy and race relations and fighting terrorism at home and abroad. But she also needled Trump on both policy and personal matters.

Early on, in a segment about the economy, she said Trumps business empire had been salted with $14 million from his father  a reflection of the $1-million loan the Republican acknowledges and other loans that came to light recently. Trump seemed unnerved and afterward defended his business practices repeatedly, taking time that he could have spent crafting an argument for voters not already on his side.

Clintons performance  which Democratic analysts and some Republicans as well regarded as dominant  probably will not result in a massive shift to her side of the electoral ledger; Republicans have rallied around Trump lately, and polarization more than anything suggests a continuing close race.

But Clinton certainly quelled concern among her supporters about her recent slip in the polls. And  particularly when the debate turned to Trumps past references to women, Latinos and African Americans  Clinton laid the groundwork for improvement among voter groups that she needs to gain the White House on Nov. 8.

The debate, the first of three presidential meetings within the next month, occurred as a host of national surveys showed Clinton and Trump locked in an extremely tight race for the presidency. Clinton has held on to an edge in the low single digits nationally, but Trump has mounted a surge in the battleground states that will decide the winner in November.

That had suffused his campaign with confidence. But none of the new polling has changed the rough dynamics of the race.

Clinton has a strong lead among women, nonwhite voters and the college-educated. Trump has a strong hold on rural and non-college-educated voters. The two have been tussling over suburbanites who usually lean Republican, and younger voters who have not warmed to the Democratic nominee as they did to the predecessor in that role, President Obama.

Those were the voters each campaign should have targeted on Monday night. But at times it appeared only Clinton had her eye on them.

The suburban voters have backed away from embracing Trump because of his history of coarse comments about women, the disabled and other groups, and because of concerns about his lack of experience navigating a treacherous world of nuclear-armed opponents.

He could have mitigated at least some of their worries by coming out with a calm recitation of the steps he would take, for example, to diminish the reach of Islamic State. But he offered little but an indictment of Clinton and Obama for allowing that militant group to grow.

That was an improvement, perhaps, from his usual statements that they founded Islamic State.

But if viewers were looking for an explicit path forward on that brand of terrorism, increasingly a domestic concern, it did not present itself.

Clinton, whose studying for the debate was mocked at one point by Trump, pointed out the complicated origins of Mideast troubles  including the role played by the last Republican president, George W. Bush  and ticked off elements of her plan.

With an eye to those suburban voters, Clinton also listed, at one time or another, almost every gibe Trump has made that ruffled them; Trump did not always disagree.

At one point, she reminded viewers of a lesser-known Trump line, in which he promised to blow out of the water Iranian sailors who taunted U.S. troops. That, Clinton said, would beget war.

That wouldnt start a war, Trump replied, essentially confirming her recap of the comments.

The upside to Clinton among younger voters came with her explication of Trumps five-year campaign to disqualify as president Barack Obama, for whom those voters were much of his base. But she also took pains during parts of her remarks to reach out on other fronts.

From the first answer, she repeatedly talked of investing in American jobs, increasing income equality and raising the pay of women  all subjects of concern to young voters.

I want us to invest in you. I want us to invest in your future, she said.

Typically, one partys pitch for a third successive term is an uphill battle, given the usual desire for change, especially notable this year in a nation whose economic recovery has been mottled and uneven.

Trump made a stab late in the debate at framing Clintons succession of Obama in a negative way.

Let me tell you, Hillary has experience, but its bad experience, he said.

He added: And this country cant afford to have another four years of that kind of experience. 

The tenor of the night might have changed had Trump opened the debate with that argument and pressed it throughout. But he did not seem to have spent time crafting a plan of action for the debate, which is a basic step expected of candidates, whatever their experience level.

And so the debate, repeatedly, shifted on to terrain more helpful to Clinton.

Then, too, Trump has made so much of this campaign about him  and drawn so much support for doing it that way  that it was not surprising that he might have had trouble shifting his focus away from his favorite lines.

Throughout, too, Trump was testy toward both Clinton and debate moderator Lester Holt, the NBC anchor, repeatedly speaking over them.

The extent to which he has dug a hole for himself by not delivering a more promising performance was evident when he was trying to deny that he supported the Iraq war, as did Clinton.

Why is your judgment  why is your judgment any different than Mrs. Clintons judgment? moderator Lester Holt asked.

Well, I have much better judgment than she does. Theres no question about that. I also have a much better temperament than she has, you know?

At that, the audience in the Hofstra University debate hall laughed, as if his view was not theirs.

Trump has two more debates in which he can attempt to broaden beyond his loyal supporters toward a plurality of voters casting ballots in November.

But the first debate, both because it occurred as he was rising in the polls and because it is likely to be watched by the most Americans, served as his best shot at opening a significant lead over Clinton.

The race is not over, not for 42 more days. But Trumps opportunities are certainly diminishing in number.

For more on politics 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

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Donald Trump stated falsely in Sunday nights debate that he opposed the Iraq War from the start. He supported it.

Months before the 2003 U.S. invasion, Trump told shock-jock Howard Stern that he supported the invasion.

Yeah, I guess so, Trump responded, when asked in September 2002 whether he supported invading Iraq. I wish the first time it was done correctly.

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Trump has stated that he said privately to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, one of his most staunch supporters, that he opposed the war, but produced no evidence of that.

Trump has also said that he was among the first and chief critics of the war, another claim that is not substantiated. The public record shows that he grew increasingly critical of the war as it unfolded, as did broader public opinion.

According to PolitiFact, several months after the Stern interview, Trump expressed apprehension about the war during a Fox News interview.

Well, [Bush] has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps, because perhaps shouldnt be doing it yet and perhaps we should be waiting for the United Nations, you know, Trump said. Hes under a lot of pressure. I think hes doing a very good job. But, of course, if you look at the polls, a lot of people are getting a little tired. I think the Iraqi situation is a problem. And I think the economy is a much bigger problem as far as the president is concerned.

He declared the war a mess a week after it began. More than a year later, in an interview with Esquire, Trump offered his most critical take, predicting destabilization once the United States left and no gain for the nation.

What was the purpose of this whole thing? Hundreds and hundreds of young people killed. And what about the people coming back with no arms and legs? Not to mention the other side. All those Iraqi kids whove been blown to pieces. And it turns out that all of the reasons for the war were blatantly wrong, Trump said. All this for nothing!

Hillary Clintons 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war dogged her 2008 campaign, as rival Barack Obama used the vote to argue that Clinton showed poor judgment and would continue President George W. Bushs foreign policy if elected to the White House.

In this years Democratic primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tried to use it as a wedge issue, and GOP nominee Donald Trump has hammered her for the vote, falsely saying that he always opposed the war.

Clinton was one of 77 senators to vote for the resolution in October 2002. At the time, in a floor speech in the Senate, she argued that she was not calling for a unilateral foreign policy, but rather a diplomatic solution that led to increased inspections of Saddam Husseins weapons, with use of force as the last option.

Her vote was not a rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our president. And we say to him: Use these powers wisely and as a last resort, Clinton said at the time, in what many now cast as a naive understanding of the Bush administration.

In the 2008 campaign, Clinton repeatedly responded to criticism of her vote by saying that Bush had abused the authority he was given, and that had she known how he would act, she would not have voted for the resolution. But she declined to label her vote a mistake.

Six years later, as she prepared for another presidential run, Clinton expressed regret for the vote in her memoir Hard Choices.

Many senators came to wish they had voted against the resolution. I was one of them. As the war dragged on, with every letter I sent to a family in New York who had lost a son or daughter, a father or mother, my mistake [became] more painful, Clinton wrote. I thought I had acted in good faith and made the best decision I could with the information I had. And I wasnt alone in getting it wrong. But I still got it wrong. Plain and simple.

Since then, Clinton has consistently called her vote a mistake, most recently during a national security forum this month.

During that same forum, Trump repeated the falsehood that he opposed the war in Iraq since before it was launched, a claim he has frequently made throughout the campaign, and which he repeated Monday.

Times staff writer Mike Memoli contributed to this report.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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Unexpected technical errors gave the Monday night presidential debate watch party at the Crest Westwood Theater the feel of a student A/V club production gone horribly wrong.

When Donald Trumps lips were moving, students would hear Hillary Clinton speaking. When it was Clintons turn to talk, Trumps voice boomed through the packed auditorium near UCLA.

As a result, the student-dominated debate audience hurled its loudest boos at the theaters beleaguered staff.

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But even if the words werent lining up with the picture, the largely Clinton-leaning audience still picked up on the applause lines  mostly those from Clinton.

When Clinton referred to Trumps economic policy as Trumped-up trickle-down, the crowd responded joyfully, as if theyd just watched a Bruin throw down a dunk. When Clinton told Trump that he lived in his own reality, students whooped. When Clinton defended her economic plan by shooting back at Trump, I think my husband did a pretty good job in the 1990s, students clapped.

For those gathered here, Clintons biggest line of the night came when she defended her level of preparation for the debate by saying she had been preparing  to be president.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter |The race to 270

Trumps frequent interjections and interruptions  Wrong! he shouted at one point got a more hostile reception.

When Trump said to Clinton, I want you to be happy, the youthful crowd groaned. When he told Clinton shed been fighting Islamic State her entire adult life, a young man in the audience shouted, What?! And when Trump said he wouldnt release his tax returns because he was under audit, that brought yet another groan.

Trumps declaration that his strongest asset was his temperament brought shrieks of disbelief. And when he complained that Clintons jabs about his treatment of women were not nice, the crowd responded with hostile, mocking awwws.

Still, by the end of the evening  when the crowd of more than 100 had thinned a little out of frustration with the audio issues  it was clear that a small group of Trump supporters had started to vocally assert their support.

What surprised me the most [was] the people in the front rooting for Trump, said Reena Shah, a 30-year-old UCLA graduate student.

She said she has in the past been put off by Trumps racist remarks. In the first presidential election in which shes registered to vote, Shah came to the debate thinking about voting for Clinton. But she was not impressed with Clintons performance.

I feel like she threw a lot of mud on Donald Trump, Shah said. She didnt really touch the issues much. Shah also thought Trump had intelligent things to say and didnt seem thrown off by aggressive questioning and retorts from Clinton and NBC News moderator Lester Holt.

Eshaana Sheth, 24, gave a contrasting review. I think Trump has skirted around a lot of issues, she said of Trumps responses to Holts questioning, which included queries about Trumps past views on the Iraq war and President Obamas birthplace. Theres a lot of boasting on his end, Sheth said.

The audience gave some of its biggest applause for Clinton during the segments on racial issues and crime. I liked what she had to say about gun control, Sheth said. Clintons statements seemed clear, correct, she said, while Trumps claims to have hired employees of diverse backgrounds in the past seemed like tokenism.

Jessica  a 22-year-old, newly minted government employee who declined to give her last name because she wasnt sure what she was permitted to say in public  said plainly: I thought Hillary won. And then she laughed.

It was exactly what I was expecting, she said. Trump seemed unqualified, Clinton qualified. The high point of the night for her was when Clinton criticized Trumps remarks about Latina beauty queen Alicia Machado. It was a low blow, but when Hillary mentioned the beauty queen  the fact she mentioned the womans name was great, she said. Trumps reaction, by contrast, was disgusting.

One of the audiences corps of Trump supporters, Katherine Vasconez, a 29-year-old attorney, gave a mixed review of Trumps performance.

Going into the debate, I was actually nervous, Vasconez said  nervous that Trumps childlike demeanor would throw off potential voters.

Overall, he didnt really do anything to change how hes seen, Vasconez said. She said Clinton seemed collected and appeared presidential, while giving answers with amazing presentation.

But her own faith in Trump was not shaken. She didnt want someone who looked presidential, she wanted someone who got results. And Trump, she said, is still her candidate.

I came away just equally enforced in my viewpoint that we need a strong leader, she said. If Trump wins, she added, It would change what it means to be presidential.

Email: matt.pearce@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @mattdpearce

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Donald Trump has made opposition to multilateral trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement and the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership a staple of his case against Hillary Clinton. And he quickly took the conversation there Monday.

He says she supported the former, which the U.S. entered into during her husbands administration, and the latter, which she helped negotiate as secretary of State.

In fact, Trump argued, Clinton decided to oppose TPP only after she saw the popular response Trump was getting for his position.

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But Clinton has maintained she opposes TPP, a position she has been forced to reiterate with greater clarity.

I will stop any trade deal that kills jobs or holds down wages  including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, she said at a campaign stop in Ohio in August. I oppose it now, Ill oppose it after the election, and Ill oppose it as president.

So did Clinton flip on TPP? Context is key.

The deal would be the largest multilateral trade agreement ever negotiated, involving the U.S., emerging economies such as Vietnam and traditional trading partners including Japan, Canada and Mexico. Its a major priority for the Obama administration, which sees the deal as key to cementing the presidents so-called pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. Obama hopes to persuade lawmakers to ratify it before years end, but Clintons opposition now exemplifies the political difficulty.

As a member of the Obama Cabinet in his first term, Clinton carried out the presidents priorities. Speaking on a trip to Australia in 2012 as negotiators from the partner nations were still deep in negotiations, she outlined the goals for it.

This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field, she said then. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40% of the worlds total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment. Thats key because we know from experience, and of course research proves it, that respecting workers rights leads to positive long-term economic outcomes, better jobs with higher wages and safer working conditions.

After she left the Obama administration, Clintons rhetoric shifted more to express her own views. In her 2014 memoir, Hard Choices, she wrote about the administrations renewed engagement with Vietnam and said the TPP was one of our most important tools for doing so.

Our country has learned the hard way over the past several decades that globalization and the expansion of international trade brings costs as well as benefits, she wrote, while noting that she and Obama had both promised in the 2008 campaign to pursue smarter, fairer trade agreements.

Because TPP negotiations are still ongoing, it makes sense to reserve judgment until we can evaluate the final agreement, she added. Its safe to say that the TPP wont be perfect  but its higher standards, if implemented and enforced, should benefit American businesses and workers.

Final negotiations on the deal concluded in October 2015, just as the scope of the challenge Clinton faced in the Democratic primaries became clearer. Her main rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, quickly vowed to block the deal. Clinton ultimately stated her opposition after taking time to study it.

I still believe in the goal of a strong and fair trade agreement in the Pacific as part of a broader strategy both at home and abroad, just as I did when I was secretary of State, she said in a statement. But the bar here is very high and, based on what I have seen, I dont believe this agreement has met it.

As a senator, Clinton voted against the only multilateral trade agreement that was considered during her tenure: the Central American Free Trade Agreement. She did support separate bilateral agreements with Chile, Singapore, Australia, Morocco, Bahrain and Oman, according to Politifact.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter

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A healthy baby boy is the first person to be born with DNA from three people, according to a medical report released Tuesday.

In addition to inheriting nuclear DNA from his mother and father, the infant also has mitochondrial DNA from a second woman who served as an egg donor.

Mitochondrial DNA consists of just 37 genes, a tiny fraction of the genetic material inside a cell. Unlike nuclear DNA  which is bundled into 23 pairs of chromosomes and influences traits such as eye color, height and cancer risk  mitochondrial DNA contains instructions for the energy-producing structures inside cells. It is passed down virtually unchanged from mother to child.

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That was a situation the infants mother wanted to avoid. Her mitochondrial DNA contains mutations that cause Leigh syndrome, a neurological disorder that is usually fatal during early childhood. The 36-year-old woman had already lost an 8-month-old and a 6-year-old to the disease, according to the report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

After seeking treatment at the New Hope Fertility Center in New York, the woman and her husband decided to find an egg donor with healthy mitochondrial DNA.

According to the study, specialists removed the nuclear DNA from five donor eggs and replaced it with nuclear DNA from the mother that was fused into place with a jolt of electricity. Then the eggs were fertilized by injecting them with the fathers sperm.

Four of the fertilized eggs began dividing and developed into early-stage embryos called blastocysts. Three of the blastocysts had abnormal numbers of chromosomes, but one of them had the desired 23 pairs. After the embryos mitochondrial DNA was screened and found to be healthy, doctors implanted the embryo into the mothers uterus.

The baby boy was born 37 weeks later after an otherwise uneventful pregnancy and is now 3 months old, according to the report from Dr. John Zhang, the fertility centers medical director, and colleagues.

The medical report describes the baby as the first healthy boy to be born using the technique.

Since children inherit mitochondrial DNA only from their mothers, the boy will not pass on the egg donors DNA to his future sons or daughters.

This work represents an important advancement in reproductive medicine, Dr. Owen K. Davis, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said in a statement.

Mitochondrial disease has been an important and challenging problem, Davis said. If the technique proves to be safe and effective, we look forward to it being an option for patients who risk transmitting mitochondrial diseases to their children.

The method hasnt been approved for use in the United States, so the babys parents were treated in Mexico, according to New Scientist.

There are no rules in Mexico, Zhang reportedly told the magazine. To save lives is the ethical thing to do, he added.

In February, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded that so-called mitochondrial replacement techniques should be permissible in the U.S. as long as certain ethical conditions are met.

This technique and a similar one have been approved for couples in Britain. In the second method, both the mothers egg and a donor egg are fertilized with sperm. But before either fertilized egg can divide, the nuclear DNA is removed from the donor egg and replaced with nuclear DNA from the mothers egg.

The couple treated by Zhang opted against this method for religious reasons, according to the journal report, since it requires the creation of an embryo that is later destroyed.

karen.kaplan@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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6:15 p.m.: The story was updated to include comments from the president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

4:10 p.m.: The story was updated to include information about the use of mitochondrial replacement in Britain.

The story was originally published at 3:20 p.m.
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has found signs of water vapor spewing out of the surface of Jupiters icy moon Europa. The water appears to shoot about 125 miles high and may come from the global ocean thought to lie beneath its frozen shell.

The discovery, set to be published in the Astrophysical Journal, whets the appetite of scientists who want to investigate whether this distant world could potentially harbor life.

If there are plumes emerging from Europa, theyre significant because it means we may be able to explore [its ocean] for organic chemicals or even signs of life, without having to drill through unknown miles of ice, team leader William Sparks, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, said at a news briefing Monday.

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Europas ocean holds about twice as much water as Earths oceans do. Like Saturns much-smaller moon Enceladus, it is one of the solar systems frigid water worlds, both of which may hold the right chemical ingredients for life to theoretically exist beneath their surface. Scientists have already found evidence for hydrothermal vents on Enceladus, which on Earth provide fertile ground for deep-sea microbial life.

The plumes that may give these ocean worlds away are well documented on Enceladus, spewing from tiger stripe cracks that are squeezed and stretched by tidal forces. NASAs Cassini spacecraft has even flown through the plumes, sampling its contents. On Europa, however, trying to find those plumes is much more of a challenge, scientists said.

Its covered with ridges and fractures, much like a tectonic yarn ball, Britney Schmidt, a planetary scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology who was not involved in the findings, said at the news briefing.

Whereas on Enceladus the geology makes it a little bit obvious where the activity has been, on Europa theres activity everywhere, which could lead to plumes or could muddy the interpretation, Schmidt said.

In 2012, a team led by Lorenz Roth of the Southwest Research Institute found signs of water geysering out near the moons southern pole. Now, Sparks team found these plumes by using essentially the same method that astronomers use to find planets around far-off stars.

As a planet transits in front of its star, a tiny slice of starlight will filter through the little worlds atmosphere. Scientists can look at whats missing in that sliver of light to determine the composition of the planets atmosphere.

Jupiter doesnt make its own light, but it reflects quite a bit of the sun. Scientists realized they could study Europas atmosphere by watching how Jupiters reflected ultraviolet luminescence filtered through it.

Over the course of 15 months, the scientists observed Europa passing in front of Jupiter 10 times. And on three of those occasions, they saw plumes of what appears to be water vapor erupting from the surface.

The findings are good news for researchers working on NASAs planned mission to Europa, scientists said.

If natures being kind and some of this waters being vented into the outer regions where spacecraft can fly by and make measurements, that would be spectacular, said Adrian Lenardic, a planetary geologist at Rice University who was not involved in the study. And I think thats one of the next things that is in the plans for the future Europa mission.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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UPDATES:

Sept. 27, 1:05 p.m.: This story was updated with additional information from Britney Schmidt.

This story was originally published Sept. 26, 2016 at 5:10 p.m.
A chicken-and-egg-themed restaurant can set up shop on Costa Mesas Eastside  but only if its owners can crack possible parking issues in the area, members of the Planning Commission decided Monday.

On a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a proposal to open the eatery, Crack Shack, in a former bank building at 196 E. 17th St.

We really like this community, we love the location, said restaurant owner Mike Rosen. We think this is a real asset to the community to have a family friendly restaurant thats not just geared toward one demographic.

Rosen said the restaurant makes use of high-quality ingredients, including organic, free-range chicken. The venue also plans to offer beer, wine and cocktails.

Though they were complimentary of the plans for Crack Shack a fast-casual chain that includes a location in San Diego and a planned site in Encinitas  some commissioners had heartburn over the parking plans.

City standards require 75 spaces on the property, but submitted plans called for providing 62 using free on-site valet parking.

Commissioners decided that the restaurants owners need to hammer out an agreement to tap into extra parking on neighboring properties to make up the difference. Chairman Robert Dickson and Commissioner Tim Sesler voted against that motion.

At some point we have to say our parking requirements are parking requirements, said Commissioner Colin McCarthy. I dont know how much we can under-park 17th Street. I think were paying the price now for under-parking 17th Street.

Commissioner Stephan Andranian described the project as grossly under-parked.

The overflow from this project, if its as successful as Im sure the applicant wants it to be, is going to affect neighboring businesses and also the neighboring community, he said.

Dickson expressed his support for the project without the shared-parking requirement, saying hes excited about the concept and thinks it will be a great addition to the community.

Im very comfortable that either this is going to work or its not, he said, and if its not, then we have conditions of approval to address that.

Officials representing Crack Shack said the proposed operation is different from your typical restaurant. An average eatery might devote 60% of its total floor area to dining and seating space, but Crack Shack would use closer to 40%, according to a parking study submitted to the Planning Commission.

Because of that, the parking needs wouldnt be as high as the city calculates, the study states. The restaurant proposes having about 150 seats.

The need for parking at the property would top out at around 60 spaces, according to the study, and the restaurant could hit the citys 75-space target using extensive valet parking.

The commission instead opted to require the restaurants operators work out a shared parking agreement to meet the citys requirements.

Rosen balked somewhat at that, pointing out that he has no control over whether his neighbors will allow him to tap into their parking.

I much prefer it being a condition that if there are problems we will reduce seat count, well change operations, well provide even more free valet, he said.

The commissions decision can be appealed to the City Council within seven days.

The approved operating hours for the restaurant are from 8a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays, and 8a.m. to 12:30a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter: @LukeMMoney
In the dozen or so years after her younger sister was brutally raped and murdered in Glendale in 1979, Linda Benjamin filled 14 journals with notes to her.

Sometimes, thoughts came to her in the middle of the night, after a bad dream. Other times, shed write to remember a special occasion, like her sisters birthday or Christmas.

In one letter, Benjamin wished for five more minutes to hug her sister, whod eat dessert before dinner when she was really hungry and loved her Frye boots. Gladly, she wrote, shed trade places with her sister.

I woke up in the middle of the night and thought everyone was dead except me, Benjamin scribbled on what would have been Barbara Ballmans 24th birthday, about a month after her death. I dont know how to do this, Barb. I just miss you so much.

I dont know how to do this, Barb. I just miss you so much.  From the journal of Linda Benjamin

Benjamin on Monday read excerpts of some of her oldest entries to jurors who last week convicted her sisters killer of murder, launching the penalty phase of his trial. Those same jurors will decide whether Darrell Gurule, now 56, should be sentenced to death.

He took away her life, her future, her ability to walk around this planet, her dignity, and left her there to die alone, Benjamin said outside a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday, just before prosecutors showed the jury a photo taken during Ballmans last Christmas with her now 93-year-old father, as well as a shot of her with the young girls she mentored at Penny Lane. Theres a place she shouldve been that she isnt, and that can never be filled by anyone else.

Gurules criminal history, meanwhile, stretches back to 1973, when, according to Glendale police, he was arrested for larceny and assault.

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In 1977, at 17 years old, Gurule forced a woman to have oral sex after approaching her, while armed with a shotgun, as she was leaving work. After she distracted him and escaped, Gurule drove off in her car, said Deputy District Atty. Jonathan Chung. Los Angeles police later caught him driving the car, with the womans belongings in his pockets.

Gurule spent less than two years in a California Youth Authority facility before he was released. That agency is now known as the Division of Juvenile Justice.

Five months later, on Sept. 21, 1979, school children found Ballmans body, lying naked on the front seat of her Volkswagen Beetle, across the street from Thomas Edison Elementary School in Glendale. Shed been raped and killed by single shotgun wound to her abdomen.

Ballman left Benjamins home around 11 p.m. the night before, rushing to her own home to pick up her laundry from a neighbor and thank him for removing her clothes from the dryer. Ballman, an Indiana-native, had followed Benjamin to California several years earlier.

Ballmans case went cold for decades, until breakthroughs in DNA analysis led Glendale detectives to Gurule in 2004, Chung said. By that time, he was serving a life sentence for kidnapping and fatally shooting a man in 1987.

In asking the jury to choose life, Gurules attorney pointed to the mans troubled youth and violent upbringing, as well as his clean prison record.

Childhood matters, said Philip Peng, an alternate public defender representing Gurule.

On the Fourth of July in 1973, he said, Glendale police found Gurules seven siblings in a home alone, among rotting food, feces and overflowing toilets. At the time, Gurule was actually in juvenile hall. His mother, meanwhile, was on a date.

Among the 14 witnesses Peng may call during the trial is a former prison warden, who he said can testify about Gurules time in prison.

In the 10,582 days our clients been locked up, hes never harmed anybody, Peng said.

For Benjamin, Gurules conviction has brought relief.

Its worth going back to that painful place to go ahead and get that outcome, she said.

--

Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek

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A last call is being made this week for residents to weigh in on how theyd prefer Glendale Unifieds voting map to be carved up for by-trustee-area election.

So far, relatively few members of the general public have participated in setting up the map required as the school district pivots away from the longtime practice of holding at-large elections for school board members. Perhaps thats because Glendale voters turned down at the polls just such a move only a year ago.

But, no sooner did Glendale voters say nay to the idea than a lawsuit was filed for alleged violations of the California Voting Rights Act. A settlement ensued, and we arrived at where we are today: School board members will be elected to represent divided areas in Glendale in which they live, beginning in April 2017.

Four workshops were held in March to consider various options of the voting-district map residents would like to see the school board adopt. A stalwart but paltry number of stakeholders  fewer than 50  participated in total during those four opportunities where the board sought input.

A public hearing at the April 5 board meeting revealed some polarization regarding one of the five proposed maps.

So, there are clearly matters to be ironed out, but only a few days remain to speak up. We would encourage the public to take advantage of them. Learn about the maps under consideration by visiting www.gusd.net. Submit comments at trusteeareas@gusd.net, or show up at the GUSDs Administrative Center, 223 N. Jackson St. at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and make your voice heard during the final hearing on the proposed maps.
Las Vegas channels its inner Munich this week with a string of Oktoberfest events. Whether you crave German beer or food (or both), Vegas embraces the Bavarian harvest celebration more than ever.

First off, Germanys Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig) hosted the first Oktoberfest in Munich in 1810. Its now a festival that draws 6 million visitors to the Bavarian city each fall.

1. That history and tradition are well represented at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas at 4510 Paradise Road, a re-creaton of the legendary Munich beer hall. There will be partying through Oct. 31. On upcoming Fridays and Saturdays, Vegas celebrities will drive a metal spigot into a wooden barrel to tap kegs of beer. Impersonator Rich Little does the honors on Friday followed by BMX pro Ricardo Laguna on Saturday.

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2. Consider Beerhaus at the recently launched gathering spot the Park as a good place to begin beer-hopping. Friday through Sunday the bar will be filling commemorative half-liter and full-liter steins with seasonal beers from breweries, including Germanys Ayinger, Hacker-Pschorr and Spaten. The beers make for perfect pairings for homemade bratwurst, German potato salad and fried apples with caramel dip.

3. Just a short stroll up the promenade, Shake Shack at New York-New York hotel-casino will be serving its Shacktoberfest beer through Sunday. Also, adults and kids can enjoy special Oktoberfest concoctions: the apfelstrudel and Black Forest shakes.

4. At nearby CityCenter, Vice Versa restaurant at Vdara will be serving homemade pretzels and a sausage plate that includes not only brats but also kielbasa and knockwurst. Diners can also enjoy German wines and beers through Oct. 15.

5. Bratwurst comes topped with house-made sauerkraut and a side of new potatoes through Monday at Crush at MGM Grand. The special includes a glass of Vegas-brewed Sin City Light beer.

6. You can indulge as much as you want during a meal at Caesars Palaces Bacchanal Buffet, where executive chef Michael Putnam has created an Oktoberfest menu. Through Sunday, special dishes include Bavarian beef goulash and sauteed spaetzle.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Center as part of his visit to Sumgayit Sept. 27.

The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the official opening of the center, and then viewed it.

There is a bust to national leader Heydar Aliyev in the foyer of the center.

There are also photo stands reflecting national leader Heydar Aliyev`s and President Ilham Aliyev`s attention to youth.

The president was informed that the construction of the center started last November.

The three-storey center occupies an area of 4,100 square meters. The center houses audiences, a conference hall, electronic library, Internet, linguistic and drawing rooms, photo studio and dance hall. The center will employ 25-30 people.

After viewing the center President Aliyev had a meeting with members of the general public of Sumgayit.
The speaker was calling for Californias independence from the United States.

Alexei Gavrilko nodded approvingly. A burly, bearded, camouflage-wearing separatist from eastern Ukraine, he said he had come to the posh Moscow hotel just outside the Kremlin to communicate with colleagues representing separatist and secessionist groups from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union.

During a conference dubbed the Dialogue of Nations, Gavrilko listened carefully to Louis Marinelli, head of the Yes California group that is determined to hold the Golden States independence referendum in 2019.

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For the first time in history, we, the people of California, who were conquered and annexed by the American military about 170 years ago, will have a chance to express our voice to either remain a state in the American union, or instead, to pursue a path toward a nationhood, Marinelli said solemnly.

Gavrilko, who is from the unrecognized but de facto independent Donetsk region, and the entire separatist crowd cheered and applauded. They did it again, louder, when Nate Smith, a self-proclaimed foreign minister of the Texas Nationalist Movement, promised that one day, the independent Lone Star state can formally exchange ambassadors with your free and independent countries.

The arrival of Californian, Texan, Puerto Rican, Northern Irish, Catalan, Italian and Lebanese secessionists to mingle with activists from several unrecognized separatist territories in former Soviet republics is becoming a tradition as Moscow turns to belligerent, anti-Western nationalism coupled with a readiness to take up arms against its former Soviet vassals.

Moscow uses these gatherings to promote its political agenda, gain more political leverage in the West and push for the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after its 2014 annexation of Crimea and support of the separatists in eastern Ukraine, a former lawmaker with the ruling United Russia party said.

The more the West is disunited, the more beneficial it is to Russia, Sergei Markov said, adding that the secession of California and Texas  a prospect that would appear to be something of a long shot  would undoubtedly benefit the Kremlin.

Alexander Ionov, head of the Anti-Globalist Movement of Russia, attends a conference of separatist and secessionist movements from the U.S., Europe, Middle East and former Soviet republics in Moscow, on Sept. 25, 2016. (Mansur Mirovalev / For The Times )

This was a second conference organized in Moscow by Russias Anti-Globalist Movement, a small anti-American group. Its head, Alexander Ionov, said the Kremlin helped fund the conference with a grant of $55,000. The rest of the funding came from private donors from Texas and other countries, he said.

Last year, the nationalist party Rodina, or Motherland, organized a similar forum that hosted far-right nationalists, neo-Nazis, Euroskeptics and separatists in St. Petersburg. Rodinas founder and de facto leader, Dmitri Rogozin, was Russias envoy to NATO and now serves as President Vladimir Putins deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry. The U.S. and the European Union blacklisted him for his role in Russias annexation of Crimea.

The separatists and secessionists who gathered in Moscow over the weekend were a somewhat motley crew with diverse agendas and backgrounds.

Italys far-right Northern League is light years away from the Polisario Front, which fights for Western Saharas independence from Morocco and Mauritania. Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan have little in common with Edmund Silva Jr., the sovereign of Hawaii, whose video address was played at the conference.

A fierce anti-American stance is, perhaps, their only unifying force  and it perfectly fits the Kremlins current foreign policies.

Many overtly ambitious politicians in the West dont like what were doing today, said conference organizer Ionov, a stately 7-footer in a bespoke suit and crocodile-leather shoes. It is unacceptable to renew imperialism in the 21st century, its time to get rid of imperialistic whims.

Western leaders and intelligence services are increasingly concerned about Russias widening its support to separatist, isolationist and ultranationalist groups, movements and parties.

In August, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton called Putin the grand godfather of this global brand of extreme nationalism.

Then-British Prime Minister David Cameron said in May that Putin might be happy with the Brexit vote for Britain to leave the European Union. Two months earlier, then-British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that the only country who would like us to leave the EU is Russia.

In January, Congress instructed James R. Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, to investigate how the Kremlin finances these parties.

President Putin sees such political forces as useful tools to be manipulated, to create cracks in the European body politic which he can then exploit, Vice President Joe Biden said in a May 2015 speech at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington.

And although Putin officially distances himself from openly supporting the separatist cause, he occasionally expresses his frustration with the 1991 Soviet collapse  and the subsequent worldwide hegemony of the United States.

We have heard many times from officials that its unfair that Siberia, with its immeasurable wealth, belongs entirely to Russia, Putin reportedly said in 2014. Unfair, how do you like that? And grabbing Texas from Mexico was fair!

The list of Euroskeptic and far-right parties that support Putin includes Jobbik in Hungary, Golden Dawn in Greece, the Freedom Party of Austria and Frances National Front. The latters leader, Marine Le Pen, reportedly said she admired Putin, admitted to receiving a $12-million loan from a Kremlin-affiliated bank in 2014  and asked for a $30-million loan in February.

The Kremlin often complains about the double standards the West uses when dealing with Russia. But while supporting fringe and secessionist groups abroad, it violently cracks down on domestic separatists.

After the 1991 Soviet collapse, Moscow fought hard to contain Russias further dissolution by negotiating with the government in Tatarstan, an oil-rich, largely Muslim region on the Volga River that declared independence in the early 1990s. The Tatars agreed to remain a part of Russia.

Under Boris Yeltsin, and then Putin, Russia then waged two bloody wars against separatists in Chechnya.

The conferences Russian participants seem to know the fine line between the peaceful self-determination of California and Chechen separatism.

It was a criminal war, a bandit underground; terrorists had to be suppressed there, said Alexander Tvanba, who fought for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine and now works for Russias parliamentary commission on ethnic minorities.

Since 2014, Moscow punishes public calls to violate the territorial integrity of Russia with up to four years in jail.

More than a dozen people have been charged, three have been sentenced to jail and one has been forcibly placed in a psychiatric institution, according to the Agora human rights group. Others got away with fines  or fled Russia.

The list included eight ethnic Tatar activists in annexed Crimea, and advocates for the independence of Siberia, Chechnya and Buddhist regions that border Mongolia. Most of the public calls never went beyond online posts, Agora said.

The stats are horrifying, Agoras head, Pavel Chikov, said in an op-ed published by the Meduza online magazine.

Mirovalev is a special correspondent.

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Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Monday held his first meeting with the firebrand president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, whose country is mired in a humanitarian and political crisis.

The two men met on the margins of the signing here of a landmark peace pact ending Colombias decades-old civil war.

Maduro, who took office in 2013 and is known for his stern anti-U.S. rhetoric, faces a mounting effort back home to remove him from office amid widespread unrest and severe shortages of food and medicines.

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But Kerry said it was worth sitting down to talk with Maduro if it could help ease Venezuelas plight and the suffering of its people.

We are deeply concerned about events in Venezuela, Kerry told reporters earlier Monday. We want to be constructive. We are not looking for conflict.

Kerry and Maduro sat on couches in a large, brightly lighted room in Cartagenas convention center. They exchanged pleasantries through interpreters before reporters were whisked out of the room.

The United States is Venezuelas largest trading partner, but diplomatic relations have been tense between the two governments for years.

They maintain diplomatic relations but have not posted ambassadors in their embassies. The Obama administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuelas military and other individuals for human rights abuses.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

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Its been two years since 43 Mexican students disappeared, and we still dont know exactly what happened to them
Two years after 43 Mexican college students vanished in the southwestern city of Iguala, the case remains a grisly mystery and a dark stain on the administration of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The public anger was on display Monday  the anniversary of the presumed mass killing  in Mexico City, where thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand justice. The 43 students, all young men who had been studying at a teachers college in the rural town of Ayotzinapa, had hijacked buses in hopes of reaching a demonstration, only to be intercepted by local police and never seen again.

Critics allege a coverup reaching to high levels of the Mexican government.

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I cant believe that we are here, two years later, with the same pain, the same demands, said protester Patricia Beltran, a 25-year-old student. The government laughs at peoples pain, but we are here today to tell them that it is not only the parents of the 43, but all of Mexico that insists that this government do its job.

At the head of the march through the heart of the capital were some of the missing students parents, many holding photos of their disappeared sons.

Mexicos highest-profile human rights scandal of recent years, the case has cast a harsh glare on the nexus between corrupt officials and paramilitary gangs awash in cash from drug smuggling and other illicit activities. Critics say links between criminal networks and Mexican security services and politicians are embedded nationwide, not just in violence-ridden states like Guerrero, where the 43 were abducted.

The case has also become a rallying cry for those who see it as emblematic of the official culture of impunity and corruption that continue to undercut justice and accountability.

We demand that the government doesnt just wash its hands, said Carlos Ruben Ortiz, 53, a businessman who was among the protesters rallying at the Angel of Independence monument, the start of the nearly four-mile march to the citys central plaza. We do not forget that the authorities are involved.

The scandal has sparked two years of international condemnations and protests, including on the streets of Los Angeles. But authorities seem no closer to answering the central question: What happened to the 43 students?

The investigation is bogged down in conflicting theories, contradictory statements, incompatible hypotheses and reports of forced confessions, planted evidence and debate over what happened to the bodies.

Allegations of a government whitewash have battered the image of Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012 amid broad hopes for judicial, police and economic reforms.

More than halfway through his six-year term, the president is facing historically low approval ratings. His ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party recently suffered a series of humiliating defeats in gubernatorial contests across the country.

According to the Mexican governments official account  what a former attorney general called the historic truth  local police rounded up the students during a night of street violence and handed them over to members of the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel, who proceeded to kill them, incinerate their bodies in a remote garbage dump in the town of Cocula and toss their charred remains into a river.

Relatives of the students have long derided the official scenario as a historic lie, and in April the official account was shattered by a panel of international lawyers convened by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The panel found that much of the governments evidence had been provided by suspects who were tortured. The lawyers also cited a possible case of evidence tampering by government officials.

The findings lent weight to charges that the government was more interested in putting the case to rest than tracking down the guilty.

More than 130 people have been arrested, including the ex-mayor of Iguala, his wife, various local police officials and drug cartel members. One popular theory holds that the mayor ordered the students abduction because he feared their presence might disrupt a formal event organized by his wife.

The international investigators offered another potential motive: Unbeknownst to the students, one of the buses they commandeered may have been ferrying a clandestine load of heroin. Guerrero state is a key producer of the opium poppy used in production of heroin.

In addition, the international panel found that members of the federal police and military in the Iguala area knew what was happening as the incident unfolded, contradicting government assertions that only local officials were involved.

The panel, along with other experts, has also raised doubts about whether a fire sufficient to incinerate the remains of the 43 men had ever occurred at the garbage dump.

The Mexican attorney generals office, which is officially in charge of the inquiry, has pulled back from its historic truth hypothesis.

The former chief investigator in the case resigned this month. Authorities said that the inquiry remains open, with police reportedly planning a new round of searches for the students remains.

I want a better country for my kids, thats why Im here with them, said Raquel Cisneros, 40, who marched in Mondays protest along with her two children, ages 7 and 12. I want them to live in a country without fear that someone will kill or disappear them.

patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com

twitter: @mcdneville

Sanchez is a member of The Times Mexico City bureau. Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

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All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
The federal prison on the suburbs of Ciudad Juarez bordering El Paso, Texas is no haven for any prisoners particularly for the drug lord himself Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. His attorneys released reports of him getting mistreated and tortured.

"El Chapo" claimed that he is a victim of torture prompting one of his lawyers to present proofs that he is indeed receiving abusive treatment. According to one of his lawyers, Attorney Jose Refugio Rodriguez, the cruel and unconventional treatment is considerably torture.

Guzman's attorneys already complained before that he is not permitted to sleep, mingle with other prisoners or get enough visits. They said that these things are the reasons for his anxiety and raised blood pressure reaching risky levels, abc News reported.

According to the government, strict security measures are needed to prevent Guzman's escape as what happened last 2015 where he escaped the "tight" security in Altiplano prison near Mexico City. That second prison break humiliated the Mexican government most especially the Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The drug kingpin has no hair as informed by Rodriguez to the local radio station and worried sick that his client became addicted to the medication he is taking to maintain his blood pressure, as reported by Mail Online.

Previously, it was reported that Guzman will be extradited to the US but a Mexican judge postponed the extradition. His lawyers filed appeals seeking to thwart the decision of his transfer to the US custody to face charges in the states of California and Texas. When transferred, he will deal with the charges against money laundering, drug-trafficking, murder, and weapons.

The Mexican government changed their mind about keeping him in their custody especially that the death penalty has been expunged after his two escapes from prison. He is currently kept under maximum security in the state prison situated in the vicinity of Ciudad Juarez bordering El Paso, Texas.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan attended the opening of a Children's Art School as part of his visit to Sumgayit Sept. 27.

The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the school.

The construction of the building started last December.

The three-storey school has 80 classrooms. The school was provided with state-of the-art equipment. The school will have a total enrollment of 800 pupils who will be served by 226 teachers.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Changes and additions to Azerbaijans Constitution are aimed at strengthening the institute of administration and improving protection of human rights, head of the observer mission of the EU Committee of the Regions, Paulina Haijanen said Sept. 27 at a press conference in Baku.

She said a group of observers, consisting of four people, studied the content and legitimacy of constitutional amendments put for the referendum beforehand, and observed the process at 10 polling stations on the election day.

Based on the observations, the mission members came to conclusion that the voting process was well prepared from both technical and organizational points of view, she said.

Turnout at polling stations was high, Haijanen noted, adding there was no interference from aside to the process and that the voters expressed their opinion.

She said the mission members also watched the counting of votes and no violations were observed there either.

Haijanen noted that in general the referendum in Azerbaijan is completely valid and its results show the peoples desires.

The referendum to make amendments to Azerbaijans Constitution kicked off at 08:00 and wrapped up at 19:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) Sept. 26.

As many as 117 international observers  MPs from over 30 countries as well as observers from various international organizations, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)  were accredited by Azerbaijans CEC to observe the referendum.

The total number of the observers was around 53,000.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of a Chess School in Sumgayit Sept. 27.

The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the school. President Aliyev was informed that the two-storey school building, whose construction started last December, occupies a total area of 1,000 square meters.

The school was supplied with state-of the-art equipment. The school has a total enrollment of 550-600 students in 25 groups. They are served by 25 teachers.

President Aliyev viewed the conditions created at the Chess School.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev viewed the newly renovated Sahil Street in the city of Sumgayit Sept. 27.

The president was informed that the street is 7.5 km in length. The road here was built in early 1980s. It was renovated last November. The width of the road is between 8 and 13 meters.

Renovation work included the construction of sidewalks, repair of stores and facilities, installation of a new lightening system, the planting of decorative trees and bushes along the road, and creation of the first bicycle track in Sumgayit.
A toddler's overdose on ADHD medication led to the discovery that a father was giving the prescription medication to his two sons to help them sleep, Bethlehem police said.

A pediatrician said the amount Edwin Rivera, 25, was giving the two boys was life-threatening, according to police.

Rivera, of the 600 block of Sixth Avenue in Bethlehem, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of child endangerment. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail; an attorney has not yet entered an appearance for Rivera.

Investigators say Rivera's 2-year-old son was prescribed Clonidine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Rivera's 16-month-old daughter was brought to the pediatric ICU at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest after overdosing on Clonidine, police said. A referral was made Sept. 7 by Lehigh County Children and Youth Services to Bethlehem police regarding the overdose.

Rivera told officers he was bathing all three children one night, and gave the 2-year-old boy his ADHD medication while he was in the bath, police said. Rivera reported that when he turned around, the 3-year-old boy said his younger brother gave a pill to the little girl, police said.

Rivera reportedly said he tried to get the pill out of the infant's mouth, but she had already swallowed it. The child's mother took the infant to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators said they learned the 2-year-old boy was receiving more than double the prescribed amount of the medication, and that the 3-year-old boy was also being given the medication even though it was not prescribed to him.

Records showed the younger boy was initially prescribed 1 pill, but that Rivera reported giving him 2 1/4 pills the night the girl overdosed, police said. The boy's doctor said on Aug. 26 the parents were notified to lower the dosage to 1/2 of a pill, according to police.

The older boy reported he was given his younger brother's medication by "Daddy Eddie" at bedtime, investigators said. The older boy identified the Clonidine from a set of pills, and reported that all three children were given pills by Rivera at bedtime, police said.

In an interview with investigators, Rivera said the night of the overdose, he gave the 2-year-old boy 1 1/4 pills. Rivera reportedly admitted giving the older boy 1/4 to 1/2 of a pill about 10 times over the past year to "help him sleep," and that he did it as a last resort.

Rivera denied giving the little girl the medication, police said.

Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, a pediatrician and child abuse expert, said taking 1 pill of Clonidine can be fatal for a child, and that the medication can cause respiratory and central nervous system depression, according to court records.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

According to the unanimous opinion of international observers, the referendum in Azerbaijan was held in accordance with international standards, said Angelo Farrugia, head of the mission of the European Academy for Elections Observation (EAEO), speaker of the Maltese parliament.

Farrugia made the remarks Sept. 27 at a press conference in Baku.

He said that the voting was fair, free and in line with the countrys legislation.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) assured that enough space, free broadcasting time and media for the campaigning were provided, noted the head of the mission, adding that a month before the referendum documents with 29 amendments to the Azerbaijani Constitution were delivered to the countrys citizens by mail.

Conditions were created for checking the availability of a citizens name in the electoral lists on the CEC website, he added.

Farrugia said also that international observers welcomed a separate ballot on all 29 amendments, because it was prevented from forming a global opinion on the introduced reforms.

Our mission visited about 20 polling stations in Baku and surrounding areas, he noted.

The referendum was held quietly and the free unhindered access to polling stations was provided, added the expert.

Local authorities and police didnt interfere in the vote process, he noted adding that there was no problem with the registration of voters.

Security cameras were installed at around 20 percent of polling stations across the country that allowed to fully observe the process.

In total, the vote process met international standards and was held professionally, said Farrugia.

Most local observers participation in the vote process is an indicator of civil society responsibility, he added.

The expert noted also that the counting of votes took place openly and transparently.

Observers monitored the process of votes counting and didnt see any problems, said the head of the mission.

Results on each polling station were sealed and sent to the CEC, he added.

Voters noted that the ongoing war with Armenia, geopolitical instability, increasing fundamentalism, the threat of terrorism and global financial and economic crisis are the main reasons to support a constitutional model that creates opportunities for a strong and stable government, which can solve any threats and problems, added Farrugia.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
An autistic West Easton man with a history of "acting out" sexually indicated he wanted a new attorney following a preliminary hearing that sent his latest case toward trial in county court.

Eric Mark von Schlichten, 31, of the 1000 block of Center Street, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Richard Yetter III for a preliminary hearing. Dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, brown shoes, shackles and handcuffs, von Schlichten didn't speak during the appearance.

He is charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness and disorderly conduct. The judge determined there was enough evidence to send all the charges to Northampton County Court, to von Schlichten's dismay.

The judge set Dec. 8 as the date for von Schlichten's formal arraignment.

"Dec. 8 ... this is ridiculous," he made in an outburst once court was dismissed.

Von Schlichten then indicated he wanted to let defense attorney James Madsen go and get another attorney to represent him. He remains jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Alleged indecent exposure

Wilson Borough police Detective Jason Hillis provided testimony based on what the female victim reported about von Schlichten.

The woman at 4:48 a.m. June 27 was smoking a cigarette on her front porch in the 2400 block of Hay Street in the borough when he approached her.

Von Schlichten was about 10 to 15 feet in front of her when he asked what time it was and she told him the time, Hillis testified. He then returned two minutes later naked and began to masturbate in front of her, Hillis said.

"She told him to, 'Get the (expletive) out of here,' and he fled," Hillis told the court.

The victim later was able to identify von Schlichten in a photo lineup, according to police.

Defense attorney James Madsen sought to poke holes in Hillis' testimony.

"You didn't see this with your own eyes, right?," Madsen asked under cross-examination. "All this stuff was relayed to you by other people?"

"That is correct," Hillis replied.

Madsen then questioned if anything was obstructing the victim's view, to which Hillis replied the victim stated she saw von Schlichten standing next to a tree.

"She did not state she actually saw his penis?" Madsen asked.

Hillis said he didn't ask.

Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Tatum Wilson argued the victim described von Schlichten as completely naked and wearing no clothing at all, which Hillis confirmed as accurate.

Madsen then questioned how Hillis obtained a photo of his client in the lineup. Hillis said police were familiar with von Schlichten due to past incidents in the newspaper and pulled it from a database.

Von Schlichten has exposed himself to strangers since 2004 and has been charged in nine separate incidents, according to prosecutors.

"And that (newspaper article) was enough for you to pull a picture from" a database, Madsen asked.

'Pure hearsay'

Madsen then asked the judge to dismiss all charges against his client, stating: "This is pure hearsay. This case cannot be bound over."

Madsen also came up with four other arguments based upon due process and clauses against hearsay evidence being used in hearings.

Wilson, the prosecutor, told the judge Pennsylvania law establishes hearsay evidence alone as sufficient to show probable cause at a preliminary hearing.

"The law is what the law is," Wilson said, adding the law has not been overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Yetter took a brief recess to analyze Madsen's arguments and returned to the courtroom telling Madsen he would have to make those arguments at the county level.

Following the hearing and the outburst made by von Schlichten, Madsen told a reporter he wouldn't be representing von Schlichten at the Dec. 8 appearance. He declined to comment further.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The suspect in a March shooting in Easton was formally charged Tuesday and sent to Northampton County Prison, authorities said.

Lamont D. Baker (New Jersey Department of Corrections photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Lamont D. Baker, 24, of Newark, was taken into custody April 5 in Newark in the shooting. Formerly of Easton, he was on parole at the time after pleading guilty in 2008 to a 2007 home invasion in Phillipsburg, during which he stabbed a 70-year-old man and the victim's dog.

Prior to Tuesday, Baker had been locked up in New Jersey because his alleged involvement in the Easton robbery-attempted-homicide violated his parole. Sentenced to seven years in prison in the Phillipsburg crime, he was paroled Feb. 6, 2014.

He was arraigned in the Easton case Tuesday before District Judge Richard Yetter III on five felonies: attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy and prohibited possession of a firearm.

Yetter denied Baker bail due to the attempted homicide charge and tentatively set a preliminary hearing in the case for Oct. 7.

Baker is accused, about 2:30 a.m. March 18 in the 1200 block of Ferry Street, of shooting a 38-year-old Easton man after the victim bought crack cocaine from a woman and a robbery ensued, police had said.

The victim was taken to Easton Hospital. His condition was unavailable Tuesday.

The woman who sold the drugs has not been charged in the incident, according to court records.

She is described as black, about 25 years old, standing 5 feet to 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 125 to 130 pounds with long red-and-black hair, police said. If anyone knows her, they can call the police tip line at 610-250-6635 or Easton detectives at 610-250-6780.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
An argument between a man and his roommate over whether to turn on the home's heat ended with gunfire Monday morning, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Karen Roberts told troopers William Hartmaier, 65, was upset because her boyfriend had stayed at the house in the 9000 block of Furnace Road in Washington Township, Lehigh County.

Hartmaier, who met troopers in the driveway of the home, said Roberts lives with him and she recently began having her boyfriend stay at the house, which Hartmaier did not like, troopers said.

Hartmaier reported that most of the argument between him and Roberts was over whether to turn the home's heat on, troopers said. Hartmaier wanted the heat on, while Roberts wanted the air conditioner on, state police said.

At one point, Roberts came downstairs, argued with Hartmaier and then went back upstairs, troopers said.

Hartmaier told troopers he was angry and upset, and fired a gun from the base of the steps toward the second floor of the house.

Roberts said she was in the hallway when she heard the gunshot, and turned around to see the bullet hole in the wall behind her.

Hartmaier led troopers to the gun, a .38-caliber handgun hidden under a pillow on his bed, state police said.

Hartmaier was arrested and charged with discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, simple assault and reckless endangerment. He was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON -- When Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton take the debate stage Monday, they will be asked questions on three broad topics: America's direction, achieving prosperity, and securing America.

To get a sense on how the candidates might respond here's what they've said previously about them.

America's Direction

Clinton sounded a lot like President Ronald Reagan in her acceptance speech, talking about how the U.S. was recovering from the Great Recession (morning in America, anyone?) but still had a ways to go.

"Our economy is so much stronger," Clinton said. "But none of us can be satisfied with the status quo. Not by a long shot. We're still facing deep-seated problems that developed long before the recession and have stayed with us through the recovery."

Where race stands before 1st debate

Trump painted a dystopian picture of America, with jobs leaving, crime rising and terrorists streaming across open borders.

"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it," Trump proclaimed in July after winning the Republican nomination.

In August, he described the conditions in which urban minorities live this way: "Poverty. Rejection. Horrible education. No housing, no homes, no ownership. Crime at levels that nobody has seen. You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it's safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats."

Achieving Prosperity

To keep companies from moving overseas, Clinton proposed eliminating the tax break they currently get since they can deduct the costs of shifting jobs and production away from the U.S.

"We must stop that, and we must make them pay back any tax breaks they received from any level of government in our country," Clinton said last month in Warren, Mich. "For those that move their headquarters overseas to avoid paying their fair share of taxes, they're going to have to pay a new exit tax. So if they want to go, they're going to have to pay to go."

She also called for rebuilding roads and bridges, investing in clean energy, and providing all Americans with access to high-speed Internet connections by the end of her first term in the White House.

While Clinton supported raising taxes on multimillionaires and billionaires, Trump proposed a tax cut weighted toward wealthy Americans.

Under his plan, the top 1 percent of U.S. taxpayers would see taxes reduced by $86,355 to $135,460 a year, while the bottom 20 percent would save $97, according to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, a Washington research group whose board of directors include two former House Republicans.

In addition, Trump proposed eliminating the estate tax, which doesn't affect 99.8 percent of Americans and falls only on multimillionaires. Only about 20 small businesses and family farms in all of the United States owed estate taxes in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Urban Institute, a research group, and the Brookings Institution, a think tank.

He has said that reducing business taxes will encourage companies to keep jobs in the U.S., and opposed free trade agreements that he blamed for an exodus of manufacturing.

"Steel jobs, and all manufacturing jobs, will be returning to Pennsylvania in a very big way," Trump said Sept. 22.

Securing America

Trump has made immigration the centerpiece of his presidential campaign and rode his hard line on the issue to the GOP nomination.

He has called for deporting all 11 million unauthorized immigrants and banning Muslims from entering the U.S. He also has pledged to build a Mexican-financed along the southern U.S. border.

He has said the budget caps agreed to by President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans should be scrapped and defense spending should be increased.

Clinton, a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also supported eliminating the budget caps, although for domestic programs as well as military spending.

She also has backed efforts to prevent those on the terrorist watch list from buying weapons, and for background checks for purchases online and at gun shows.

Both candidates have supported efforts to take on the Islamic State.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
If you want to vote in the presidential election Nov. 8, but you're not yet registered to vote, time is running out.

Pennsylvania's voter registration deadline is Oct. 11, while in New Jersey it is Oct. 18. The mail-in absentee ballot deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Pennsylvania and Nov. 1 in Jersey.

If you are now 17 but will turn 18 on or before election day you can register to vote in either state.

Pennsylvanians can register online with the Department of State here or send a form postmarked by Oct. 11 to their county voter registration office. Download a blank form here. (Active duty military or hospitalized or bedridden veterans can register at any time.)

New Jersey residents must fill out a voter registration form and/or a party affiliation form and return it to their county commissioner of registration or superintendent of elections. Find your county's form here.

In Pennsylvania, you are not officially registered until your registration form is processed and accepted by your county voter registration office.

In New Jersey, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older on election day, lived in the county for 30 days and not currently be serving a sentence, probation or parole for a felony conviction.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Hofstra debate

A student poses with a backdrop of Hillary Clinton andDonald Trump at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, N.Y., on Monday.

(AFP PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD, Getty Images)

One consensus about the first presidential debate -- if there is any -- is that people already in the Donald Trump camp and the Hillary Clinton camp weren't sufficiently moved from their viewpoints by anything they heard or saw Monday night.

Some observers saw a missed opportunity in Trump's interruptions and demeanor, saying he failed to pounce on Clinton's vulnerabilities. He got bogged down on some answers, such as whether Howard Stern or Sean Hannity are the final arbiters of whether he supported or opposed the invasion of Iraq. He didn't do enough to counter Clinton's broadsides on whether he hasn't paid income taxes and actually rooted for the housing implosion of 2007.

Yet while some saw Clinton's predictable, lawyer-like approach as presidential timbre, others saw the rehearsed rhetoric of the typical Washington insider, which -- coupled with her record on private emails, Libya, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Iraq nuclear agreement -- only reaffirmed that Trump is needed to save the country from more of the same.

Did the debate push the undecideds, such as millennials and disaffected Republicans, to one side or the other? It's hard to say. A campaign can't be measured by one debate performance. Four years ago Mitt Romney handed Barack Obama a defeat in their first debate and appeared on his way to victory -- until the second and third debates.

We posted an informal, unscientific online poll shortly after the debate. As of noon, 47 percent of the 2,300-plus respondents said Trump won; 37 percent said Clinton came out ahead; 12 percent said it was a toss-up.

Online readers had plenty to say in response to the debate, picking apart the weaknesses of the opposition more than supporting either candidate. No one said the debate did much to push "on-the-fencers" one way or the other.

Here's a sampling of their comments -- more than usual, since there have been so many, making different points. Feel free to react to any of the observations. Give your own account of who won and who lost. Let's keep the conversation going.

Detale4

Just like the election will be, I think it was very close but I think Trump did slightly better. I think his advantage was he did better early before many went to bed. Also I feel like he missed a few opportunities to slam her on a few things. She did get him on the defensive a few times to her credit.

Trump once again proved why he is unfit, and unqualified to be president.His whole campaign is based on lies and fear mongering. And when a billionaire smugly tells us he pays no federal income taxes, that is an insult to every hard working American that pays almost one third of their salary to FICA.

The first round of the AARP Celebrity Who Wants to be a President Debate is over, thank God and both candidates still suck.

Hillary got the typical pass from Lester. He did not ask her once about Benghazi or The Clinton Foundation. This is why we the people are fed up with the system and the media. we are tired of the career politician and the same old same old.

Trump ... showed ZERO knowledge of the issues, admitted to taking advantage of tax loopholes to avoid paying his fair share, got pinned down on his past support of the Iraq war, claimed that he did a good job with the whole "birther" nonsense, missed opportunities to stick Hillary on her past controversies, and just in general seemed to often lapse into incoherent rambling. Hillary was a bit robotic, but man, this wasn't even close.

Lester Holt, apparently he did rather well in his debate against Mr. Trump.

I think it's kinda funny that if you're a Clinton fan, she won. If you dig Trump, he won. But if you're afraid of both, we all lost. Trump made no sense most of the time, Hillary seemed like she was reciting well-scripted answers almost robot-like. Lester had no control. Waste of an hour and a half.

Almost every question asked to Hillary had the words "how would you" ... all she ever did was just repeat the question many times in different ways. She stuck up for the President but bashed him on stage 4 years ago. She even went as far as to plug her book for sales! Sad!

She killed him ... by pointing out that those taxes he avoids paying go to vets, schools, hospitals, roads, etc. Like about fifty other moments he walked right into that one. He couldn't help himself and had to defend his planet-sized ego.

The only thing that's certain is that the people lost when these 2 are the only 2 debating.
redbull.jpeg

Hackettstown police say this man stole nearly $150 worth of Red Bull drinks from Quik Check on Sept. 18, 2016. (Submitted photo)

( )

Hackettstown police are searching for a thief who stole nearly $150 worth of energy drinks from a convenience store and fled.

The theft occurred at 2:47 a.m. Sept. 18 at Quick Chek, 80 Main St. Video surveillance footage shows the suspect carrying a case of Red Bull and leaving the store without paying.

He then got into a 2008 4-door Saab with New Jersey plates and drove off.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, about 5-feet-7 to 5-feet-8 in height with a scruffy beard and wearing a black T-shirt and denim jeans.

Those with information are urged to call the Hackettstown Police Department's Detective Bureau at 908-852-3302 or 908-852-3300.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Lawnmower in garage sparked devastating fire

A Warren County couple lost their home to a fast-moving fire Monday afternoon.

The devastating fire was reported shortly before 1 p.m. at 515 Standish Place in Stewartsville, Greenwich Township.

No one was hurt, and the cause remained under investigation, county fire Marshal Joe Lake said about 4:30 p.m.

The home is owned by residents William and Nina McEwen, property records show.

Both were home at the time the fire started, neighbors said.

"I saw some smoke and ran over to make sure Bill and Nina made it out of the house, which they were, and they had already called 911," said one neighbor, who declined to be identified.

The blaze appeared to start in an attached garage, the neighbor said: "It's amazing how quickly the house just became fully engulfed" in flames.

Another neighbor, 19-year-old Jack Reinhard, had just arrived home from classes at Warren County Community College and was in his driveway when he heard a bang. Propane tanks along the rear of the house had ruptured, fueling the fire, he said.

Firefighters attacked the stubborn flames with hoses and from an aerial truck brought in by the Harmony Township Volunteer Fire Co. Flames could be seen more than two hours after the fire began.

Tanker trucks lined the residential street abutting a rural area, off Route 173.

Elizabethtown Gas responded to cut natural gas to the immediate area around the home.

Authorities did not order evacuations.

Greenwich Township police along with fire departments from Warren and Hunterdon counties responded.

A New Jersey state fire marshal and arson investigator from the police department were assisting in the probe into the cause.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Details added (first version posted on 15:39)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received Turkish delegations led by Minister of Defense Fikri Isik and Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avci.

Minister of Defense Fikri Isik and Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avci conveyed greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the head of state.

They hailed the successful development of Azerbaijan-Turkey relations in the field of defense, military and military-technical cooperation, and underlined the importance of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition ADEX 2016.

The sides also praised the successful development of bilateral ties in cultural and tourism spheres, saying there were ample opportunities for further enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

The contribution of recent measures in the field of tourism to increasing the number of tourists in Azerbaijan was hailed. The importance of Turkey's rich experience in this area was emphasized. The significance of Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avci's visit to the country on World Tourism Day was also underlined during the meeting.

The sides expressed their confidence that friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey would be further strengthened in all areas.

The head of state thanked for the greetings of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and asked the Turkish ministers to extend his greetings to the Turkish president.
Last week Laois TD and Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan addressed the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

It was the culmination of a weeklong series of engagements with leaders and foreign ministers from around the world. Following his speech the Minister met with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Yesterday (Friday).

In his address to the 71st UN General Assembly, Minister Flanagan focussed on the UNs potential to resolve the current migration crisis, arguing that no country could resolve the crisis alone. He stressed the need for an approach that tackled immediate triggers such as conflict as well as the need to address root causes. The Minister argued that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by the UNs 193 members a year ago, would address the underlying causes of the migration crisis by ending poverty, reducing inequality, and responding to climate change.

The following is the full text of his speech delivered on Saturday, September 24.

My address to the General Assembly this year will be framed under the overall theme of migration, an issue which in itself is a huge challenge for the global community today but also an issue which intersects with so many of the other challenges we are grappling with as a community of nations.

I am acutely conscious, as I stand here at this podium in the great city of New York, of my own countrys long experience of emigration over several centuries. Indeed, on the newly-restored lawn just outside this building a haunting bronze sculpture, Arrival, depicts a huddled group of Irish emigrants ready to disembark in New York after fleeing starvation and poverty in their native Ireland. Our own history as a people forms the enduring backdrop to our foreign policy agenda. That part of our past is unfortunately the tragic present for others.

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 systems. It confronts us with a wide array of problems to overcome at the same time  the harrowing violence in Syria; the barbarism of Daesh; the collapse of order within Libya; the practices of ruthless people smugglers. Persistent poverty and inequality in many parts of Africa is also a significant driver of mass movement. These are challenges that no one country can resolve alone. These are challenges that must all be tackled at the same time. These are challenges that require the international community of nations to work in close cooperation to overcome.

Ireland is responding to the migration crisis in a variety of ways  we have prioritised funding humanitarian relief and will provided over 60m in support of the Syrian people in the region, most of it through UN organisations. We have deployed ships from our Naval Service to the Mediterranean to assist with search and rescue missions. Ireland is participating in the EU programme to resettle refugees fleeing conflict. Here at UN headquarters, Ireland has acted as co-facilitator, alongside Jordan, to deliver agreement on the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. I wish to take this opportunity to commend Irelands team at the UN, led by Ambassador David Donoghue, and our Jordanian colleagues, for their stalwart efforts over five months of negotiations among the 193 Member States. Ireland accepted this leadership role at the UN because we know that no country by itself can resolve the vast challenges the world currently faces.

In my address today, I will set out why I believe a multilateral approach is the only one that can work, and why the United Nations must demonstrate its capacity to deliver the solutions. And I will set out how the SDGs, which the UN agreed one year ago following a successful co-facilitation process by Ireland and Kenya, have the capacity when implemented, to address many of the root causes of migration by ending poverty, reducing inequality, and responding to climate change.

Ireland is seeking election to the UN Security Council in 2020 and we believe that our values and principles and our steadfast commitment to the UN will enable us to make a valuable contribution if we are successful in that election. Today I am asking for the support of those who share these values.

[Development and Humanitarian Action]

Mr. President,

Last year the UN marked 70 years since its establishment and in Ireland we celebrated 60 years of active membership. On the occasion of that important anniversary two things were clear: first, the global challenges confronting the United Nations were more complex than ever and secondly, the UN and the international community has the potential to respond to these challenges in a comprehensive fashion. We demonstrated this potential through the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, hugely significant commitments by UN Member States to work in a multidimensional manner to eliminate poverty and achieve sustained development over the next 15 years.

Determined implementation of these goals will enable us to address many of the root causes of mass migration.

Lack of economic opportunity is a substantial driver of migration. To provide those opportunities, the SDGs set out an approach that involves investment in health, education, water and sanitation and other basic services.

As UN members, we are now called to meet our obligation to implement the SDGs, domestically within our own borders, bilaterally with our development partners, and multilaterally within regional and UN forums.

Long-term action on underlying causes must be complemented by urgent steps to address the daily suffering arising from the refugee and migrant crisis. Ireland is committed to honouring the commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. Collectively we must ensure that in addressing crises closer to home we do not allow more protracted crises, not in the headlines, to be forgotten. The UN has a central role in humanitarian action, and Ireland strongly supports the efforts to reform the UN system and coordination mechanisms to ensure a more effective response to the increasingly complex humanitarian needs around the world. This includes the protection of vulnerable groups in emergencies, notably women and girls.

[Preventing and resolving conflict]

The most immediate trigger of mass migration is the violent conflict forcing significant numbers of people to flee their homes. The horrific human toll of the grinding conflict in Syria mounts daily and many countries in the region and far beyond are grappling with the large-scale displacement of people that this conflict has created.

No two conflicts are comparable. However, I can say that on the island of Ireland, for many years, we experienced conflict, terrorism and loss of life. And we, painstakingly, and with the support of a wide array of stakeholders, eventually built a sustainable peace process. Our lived experience of building peace and the ongoing process of reconciliation on the island of Ireland, means we are particularly conscious of the persistent and determined commitment required to overcome conflict. We therefore prioritise investment in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconciliation, and recognise the importance of the empowerment of women to have a visible and recognised role in decision making.

Gender equality and womens empowerment are key cross-cutting priorities for Ireland. We are committed to strengthening our engagement on these priorities during our membership of the Commission on the Status of Women which commences on 1 January next. Ireland calls for the implementation of the conflict prevention and peacebuilding aspects of the three high-level reviews of the UNs peacekeeping and peacebuilding systems which took place in 2015, and for a sustained commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

We in Ireland know that negotiating lasting political solutions for conflicts is often a lengthy task with many stops, starts and even setbacks along the way.

Ireland welcomes and is actively participating in the initiative led by France to revive the stalled Middle East Peace Process with the aim of leading ultimately towards a negotiated two-state solution. We believe that the UN must play a central role in efforts to create the conditions for a political solution.

Six years into the horrific conflict in Syria, Ireland reaffirms its full support the tireless efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to bring about an end to the devastating conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

The continent of Africa is of course the source, but also the host of the largest number of migrants and refugees, many of whom are fleeing war and poverty. Ireland also calls for a transparent, accountable and human-rights based resolution to the numerous conflicts in African countries, such as South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which are severely hampering sustainable development in the continent and creating enormous humanitarian burdens for the affected countries, neighbouring countries and the international community.

On a positive note, Ireland warmly welcomes the historic peace agreement reached in Colombia last month following five decades of conflict, four years of talks, and, tragically, the killing of over 220,000 people  each of these deaths representing a horrendous loss to their loved ones. We look forward to the signature of the final peace accord later this month, and welcome the vital role the UN will play in monitoring its implementation. Ireland is committed to actively supporting the Colombian peace process and we are pleased to offer whatever assistance we can to the process of rebuilding the country after decades of violence, including through sharing experiences from Northern Ireland.

[Disarmament]

Allied to our commitment to conflict prevention and resolution, Ireland has unwaveringly championed disarmament and non-proliferation which must be to the fore of our collective efforts to prevent or minimise the impact of future conflict. We must all be mindful of the grave humanitarian consequences of any nuclear detonation, as well as the devastating impact of conventional, biological and chemical weapons. We have seen this year, and even this month, how one member of the UN can show in stark terms the reality of the risk of nuclear detonation.

Ireland wishes to see genuine progress on multilateral nuclear disarmament, building on the work of the Open-Ended Working Group. We are also concerned at the evidence of harm to civilians from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. The disproportionate gendered impact of nuclear weapons and of illegal arms transfers and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, is also of great concern to us, as is the need to ensure greater gender balance in all disarmament discussions.

[Peacekeeping]

Mr. President,

Effective and responsible UN peacekeeping is an important means of preventing forced displacement at a time of conflict or uneasy peace.

Ireland is strongly committed to its active role in UN Peace Keeping Operations and we are proud of our unbroken record of service extending over almost six decades. This year we marked 100 years since our Easter Rising which set Ireland on the final phase of our path to independence. The highlight of our commemoration was a parade of our Defence Forces through our capital city of Dublin.

Many of those marching wore blue berets as an emblem of their service with the United Nations. I take this opportunity to commend all Irish soldiers and police participating in seven UN peacekeeping missions around the world for their courage.

An Irish Major General assumed the role of Head of Mission Force Commander in UNIFIL in July and in November, we will assume the leadership of its Irish/Finnish Battalion. We also remain actively committed to UNDOF . I visited our troops in the Golan earlier this year and I was very struck by the more challenging nature of their operating environment, compared to when the mission was established. I urge the United Nations to ensure that our troops are adequately supported as they go about their important work.

In Ireland, service with the United Nations is rightly regarded as noble and important. The effectiveness of the UN depends on its positive reputation as a force for good in the world. Therefore, it is critical that the performance, behaviour and reputation of troops or civilians engaged in UN operations is to the highest possible standard. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN peacekeepers, sent to conflict zones to protect innocent civilians from harm, is absolutely unacceptable and Ireland calls for an end to impunity for these crimes. We absolutely commit to holding our own troops accountable for their behaviour while deployed overseas.

[1] UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

[1] UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

[Human rights]

Mr. President,

Human rights abuses are among the root causes of migration. Moreover, migrants, refugees and IDPs, in particular women, children and vulnerable people, can also be at risk of human rights abuse both during their journey and on arrival at their destination. We must continue to defend strenuously the human rights standards and commitments developed at the UN over the past 70 years, and to strengthen the capacity of the UN and the international community to protect and promote human rights.

Ireland is committed to defending those who defend the human rights of others, including journalists and other civil society representatives who face increasing restrictions and threats in many parts of the world. Our leadership of the Human Rights Council resolution on civil society space last June, enabled the international community to send a strong message of solidarity to those at risk.

A breakdown in the rule of law and the loss of respect for fundamental freedoms and the enjoyment of human rights is almost inevitably present in all phases of the conflict cycle. Ireland will always speak out to defend minorities who continue to suffer persecution because of religion or belief or ethnicity or gender or a host of other reasons. We will work for progress on the EU resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief during this session of the General Assembly.

[UN Reform]

Achieving agreement on the SDGs showed what the UN can achieve at its best. Ireland actively supports and promotes measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of UN bodies.

We support ongoing efforts to improve delivery of UN mandates through modernisation of management systems, including human resource management, in UN organisations.

Ireland endorses the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group (ACT) Code of Conduct aimed at ensuring timely and decisive action against crimes of mass atrocity. We call for all members of the Security Council, but in particular China, the USA, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and France, to refrain from voting against credible draft resolutions on action to end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence.

Ireland believes that UN Security Council membership should be more balanced and should ensure wider regional representation, particularly with regard to Africa.

The more open, transparent and inclusive process taking place this year to select the next Secretary-General is a step in the right direction.

[Conclusion]

In conclusion, the immediate humanitarian needs arising from the international migration crisis must be addressed. We must collectively do all that we can to ensure that the 65 million people currently displaced, whether by conflict, natural disaster or oppression, are provided with the essential services to which they are entitled. The outcome of this weeks High Level Meeting on Migration and

Refugees will provide an important framework.

However it is equally important that we seek to address the root causes of migration.

The adoption last year by the entire international community of the 2030 Agenda, along with related significant measures such as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development were monumental steps in that direction.

Our efforts to tackle endemic poverty and a very unequal world must be complemented by a renewed investment in addressing the other drivers of mass movements of people, in particular conflict prevention and resolution.

These are the values and principles that Ireland stands up for throughout our engagement with the UN system, and which will inspire our contribution to the UN Security Council should you, the membership, entrust us with that responsibility in the 2020 election.
Dad was a very quiet, shy man. He was a very funny and witty man. He lived a very simple way of life. He was the one person who was truly happy with his lot in life.

These are the words of Christy (Christopher) Byrnes daughter, Lil, who addressed the congregation attending the funeral of the 79 year-old Suncroft man on Sunday.

A large crowd of family, friends and neighbours gathered at St Brigids Church, the Curragh Camp to pay their respects to the pensioner who died in the ambulance fire at Naas hospital last Thursday.

His family thanked the staff at Naas hospital who cared for Christy and gave special mention to the two paramedics who tried to save him.

Parish priest Fr John McDonald said the community was in solidarity with the Byrne family on their tragic loss. He also thanked the paramedics for their bravery and also prayed for their full recovery.

Fr McDonald said Christy was a virtuous man who cared for his family, children and grandchildren. He said he was a good man, a proud Wicklow man, who was proud of his background, and believed nothing could compare with the scenery of Co Wicklow.

Hailing from Grangecon, Fr McDonald described how Christy began working with horses and later came to the Curragh where he took up employment at Con Collins yard.

He had a way with horses, he could control them and handle them. He cared for mares and foals, he said.

He was watchful and caring about everything.

Christys daughter Lil told of how her mum, Betty, passed away in 1992, leaving a young family behind.

She told of how they all got on with life, education and work. Then in the summer of 2014, Christy became ill and had life-saving surgery, which resulted in him not being able to speak again. She said this was a tough time but they grew as a family.

Dad just got on with it. He was always positive about everything, she said.

She told how her father had a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes and loved to leave the backdoor open so he could watch the birds and cats coming and going.

She said Christys dog, Holly, must be the best Occupational Therapist and Physio in the country as the pair headed out on their walks.

She thanked her brother Thomas on behalf of her family, for dedicating the last two years to become a full time carer to their dad.

They really were the perfect team, she said.

Christy, who lived at Ard Brid, is survived by his children Lil (Davis), Thomas, Fran, Christopher and Sarah, son-in-law Michael, daughter-in-law Brenda, Christophers partner Sarah and his grandchildren Laura, Paul, Dylan and Rachel, brothers and sisters, extended family and friends.

After funeral mass at 2pm at the Curragh, he was taken back to his beloved Wicklow where he was laid to rest at Dunlavin Cemetery alongside his wife Betty, formerly Betty Barrett of Friars Hill, Dunlavin.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Suncroft community rallied around the Byrne family.

Suncroft GFC chairman, Shane Kavanagh said the club offered its condolences to the family.

He was a lovely man. He loved the horses and he loved the greyhounds as well and he used to keep a couple of dogs as well, he said.

He was a very quiet fella, a pure gentleman, a very decent genuine fella.
The other night I was at a 20 year college reunion. Jesus, Im getting old!

The college in question was Maynooth University, or NUI Maynooth as it was called when I was there.

Inevitably, we got chatting about the old days, when war raged in Bosnia, the IRA ceasefire was just about holding and Kurt Cobain had just died and the 1996 version of Maynooth was a kind of Disneyland for young adults.

Heres a list of some of some of the things we fondly recalled through the nostalgic fog.

1. Hitching was a perfectly reliable way of getting to college.

2. Long Tray from the Chinese  these days called a three in one.

3. Rag week. A week long orgy of creative and drunken madness. Doesnt happen anymore apparently, as sure a sign as any that civilisation is on the brink of collapse.

4. The slight feeling of panic when the grass was mowed for the first time.

5. Actual opening of books when it is mowed for the second time. Its all done away with all that now that theyve introduced that most dreadful of Americanisms: semesterisation. With only one set of exams at the end of the year, we had the time and space to do some really fun, crazy and interesting stuff that 2016 students just dont.

6. Maynooth was particularly good at the non-academic university experience  a place where young people could be exposed to so much, from engaging with clubs and societies, to weekends away, to taking part in debates. Student Union meetings, political gatherings and debates were always full to the rafters.

7. Socialising was, quite frankly, epic. I recall a gang of us falling out of the Roost early on a Wednesday morning after a celebration that began many hours earlier on account of it being a Tuesday.

8. Bar-exs. To say they were big nights in the on-campus student bar doesnt do it justice. They were Greek tragedys of drunken and (usually unrequited) lust.

9. Donatellos  then the only posh restuarant in Maynooth.

10. The Roost, including the Greek and Roman section, the cocktail bar and the oul lads part. It was where you were liable to meet anyone from anywhere at anytime.

11. The LA  if you just wanted to get hammered (but also a grand carvery).

12. The cattle mart (where old Tesco is now).

13. Caulfields - for sneaky quiet pints.

14. Bradys - oul fellas only. Things have certainly changed since thankfully.

15. The never-ending road works on the railway bridge.

16. Science heads who had twice as many lectures as Arts heads and were therefore half the craic, except for Eamon Hayes. He was always twice the craic.

17. Arts Heads who had 12 hours of lectures a week - and still begrudged the extra two hours of tutorials.

18. The never-ending saga of the college trustees (the Bishops of Ireland) frustrating the establishment of a Gay and Lesbian Society. Current students look at you like you have 10 heads when you tell them this.

19. The college newspaper, the Source, was read from cover to cover by everyone.

20. Only seven students had cars, all matures.

21. Other than the Heineken and Guinness reps, only w****rs had mobile phones.

22. Heineken and Guinness reps were EVERYBODYs best friends.

23. Joe Donnelly (from Newbridge) as SU president. Now doing well on TXFM.
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India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Year was launched in Baku on Sunday, 25 September with Indian Food Festival in Hyatt Regency attended by over 2000 visitors. The Festival organised by the Indian Association in Azerbaijan, featured dishes from different parts of India, cultural performances and fashion show.

On this occasion, Ambassador of India Sanjay Rana and Dr. Jala Aliyeva, Member of the Milli Majlis Azerbaijan India Friendship Group unveiled the logo of India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Year. They also launched a bilingual book of popular Indian recipes Hindustani Khana in Azerbaijani and English languages, published by Indian Association Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Rana said that the Dostluq Festival marked an important milestone of 25 years of diplomatic relations between India and Azerbaijan. 2016 is a momentous year for both countries as India is celebrating 70 years of independence while Azerbaijan is celebrating 25 years of its independence. Several India related cultural events will be held over the next 12 months in Azerbaijan to underline the close links of culture, cuisine and customs.

Speaking at the function, MP Dr. Jala Aliyeva congratulated the Indian Association Azerbaijan for holding the Food Festival and said India was loved in Azerbaijan and was known for its historic personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Azerbaijan and India have old links as seen in Ateshgah and their bilateral relations have been developing in every sphere in recent years.

India and Azerbaijan have growing bilateral cooperation in oil as well as non-oil sectors. Indian company ONGC-Videsh is a partner in the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) oil fields and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. Indian companies are interested in developing mutually beneficial partnership in Azerbaijan, particularly in agriculture, IT and communications, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and education. India and Azerbaijan are also cooperating in development of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which will give big boost to trade and commercial exchanges in the region. The 4th meeting of India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation is scheduled to be held in October 2016 in Baku that would further provide a solid framework for their bilateral cooperation.
Harristown Demesne in Brannockstown, which is located on 750 acres, has been placed on the market for 25 million.

Located close to Naas and Kilcullen in the village of Brannockstown, the Estate is bound to have appeal as a stud farm, according to selling agent Jordan Auctioneers  not least for its high grade limestone soil.

There are many well known Stud Farms nearby including HH Aga Khans, Gilltown and Sallymount  home of Sea the Stars  Prince Khalid Abdullahs New Abbey Stud in addition to Ardenode Stud, Hollyhill Stud, Newberry Stud and Ragusa Stud.

Harristown House, located in the centre of the Estate on an elevated setting overlooking the River Liffey, is described as a classical stone late Georgian house.

It was originally owned by the famous La Touche family who purchased the property in 1768.

The La Touches were a Huguenot family from the Loire, who fled to Holland on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

They later moved to Ireland, becoming involved in the weaving trade and, ultimately, in banking. Founded in 1713, La Touches Bank traded for more than 170 years and was Dublins most successful 18th century bank.

The original house, was however destroyed in 1891 by fire and rebuilt by James Franklin Fuller, one of the most prolific builders of country seats in the late 19th century.

He reduced it from three stories to two, keeping the La Touche coat of arms which still stands over the archway into the house.

The property was subsequently acquired in the 1940s by MW Beaumont who renovated and restored the house, installing furniture, pictures and Carrara marble fireplaces from their former home Wotton in Buckinghamshire.

The Estate has remained in the Beaumont family to the present day.

It is being sold through Jordan Auctioneers.
Well, at last we saw Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton facing each other this morning. You can watch the debate in full via CBS and YouTube below.

My first impression was that Hilary Clinton certainly put the health and stamina issues to bed. Donald Trump started to get a little frayed as the debate wore on. Clinton carried on confidently and was as fresh as a daisy at the end. She certainly looked presidential.

Towards the end, Trump was getting very tied up in complex explanations. For example, his description of whether he was for or against the Iraq war was extraodinarily long and convoluted. On the question of stamina and the presidential look (at 134 below), Trump started to break up under pressure, and Clinton was very powerful on Trumps attitude to women.

Hillary Clinton certainly seemed to best Clinton on nuclear weapons.

Trump certainly managed to nail Clinton as the candidate of the establishment/status quo.

US Political Commentator, Taegan Goddard concluded after the debate:

It wasnt even close. Clinton crushed him. Lets face it: Anytime Trump has to defend questioning President Obamas birthplace, its not going to be a good night for him. Trumps answer was complete nonsense. Clinton was ready and called it a racist lie. His lies continued while claiming to have opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Although it wont matter much, the fact checkers had a field day with Trump once again. Towards the end of the debate, Trump claimed his strongest asset was his temperament. He did so while interrupting moderator Lester Holt and yelling at Clinton. Its clear Trump doesnt really know what temperament means. In our polarized country, both candidates probably solidified their bases. But for those still undecided or those leaning towards a third party candidate, it should be clear that Clinton is the one better prepared for this moment.

Hilary Clinton had one line which I thought was excellent:

Trump just criticised me for preparing for this debate. You know what else I prepared for? Being President.

What did you think? Please tell us in the comments space below.









* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
THE head of the Limerick garda division says hes anxious not to unnecessarily criminalise young people over their behaviour while socialising in the city centre late at night.

Chief Superintendent David Sheahan made his comments during a discussion at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) which was submitted following a number of incidents in the Milk Market area earlier this month.

The motion, submitted by Cllr Malachy McCreesh, calls for Limerick City and County Council to take a more active role in resolving the difficulties.

In recent weeks, several residents in the Watergate area have taken to social media to vent their frustration and anger at some of the late-night behaviour of students.

Cllr Stephen Keary said the problems stem from cheap spirits while Cllr Richard ODonoghue said young people are drunk before they go out due to the high prices of alcohol in nightclubs.

Addressing the concerns of members, Chief Supt Sheahan said he is aware of the issues but added there is a balance to be struck from a policing perspective.

He said gardai are caught between the exuberance and youth of those who are going out with the needs of those who are living in the Watergate area.

We are very conscious of the fact that we dont want to start criminalising young people, he said.

One of the strategies is to deal with them by way of on-the-spot fines or to deal with them by way of ASBOs which are civil orders. In addition, we have dealt with them by way of Adult Caution with a view to making sure that their behaviour is not going to affect their lives going forward, he said.

Chief Supt Sheahan told members of the committee that gardai are working with traders in the area and that a sergeant has been deployed to work with the UL Students Union.

He said there is always a garda presence in and around the Milk Market on student nights and at weekends.

Denmark Street is our OConnell Street, he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

Trend:

The prosecutor has demanded to sentence Jahangir Hajiyev, former head of Azerbaijans International Bank, to 17 years in prison.

The prosecutor demanded to sentence other participants of the process - A. Sultanov, I. Abdullayev, M. Jahangirov, K. Orujov to 8 years, I. Huseynov, Y. Alakbarov to 11 years and A. Javadov to 12 years and 11 months of imprisonment.

The representative of Azerbaijans International Bank required fully compensating the damage in Baku.

Lawyers of the accused asked for time to prepare the speech. The process will continue on Oct. 2.

Jahangir Hajiyev was arrested Dec. 5, 2015 in accordance with the decision of the Baku City Narimanov District Court. His arrest term has been extended three times.

Hajiyev is charged under various articles of the Criminal Code, including misappropriation, abuse of office, causing huge damage by fraud, embezzlement through the abuse of office, and bribing.
THE MAN behind a social enterprise formed to create employment pathways for the most economically marginalised and socially excluded people in Limerick city, has been named the Limerick Person of the Month.

Ray OHalloran of Limerick City Build Ltd (LCB) - which has placed 160 people from disadvantaged areas in employment - was presented with the award at the Clarion Hotel this week.

This isnt about Ray OHalloran. There is a team in this who are all very interesting in promoting Limerick, said the St Marys Parish native who was accompanied at the presentation by Pat Brown, manager, Limerick City Build.

LCB was founded by the entrepreneur and social activist Ray OHalloran following a brainstorming session by a group of local people.

It was a group of interested Limerick people who were very worried about the fact that Regeneration had come to Limerick but nobody from the city seemed to be getting work, Ray explained.

A lot of the time we were told it was because we didnt have the skills and we didnt have the training so we decided that rather than depending on others we would set up on our own training centre and our own skills network and instead of guys needing their Leaving Cert to do a job, all they would need is the right attitude, he added.

The non-for-profit limited company focuses on achieving a tangible social, economic, physical and environmental dividend for Limerick city by marrying best practice already in use in successful Regeneration projects in other cities.

It really started in 2008 with the Business Transformation Programme that included UL, Ray explained.

After a visit to Glasgow, I saw how the Glasgow model worked and while it is seven times bigger than Limerick, and a little bit different than Limerick and has a lot of problems in the last 10 years they seemed to have solved their problems. For example, Edinburgh would have been the city to go to six or seven years ago but now Glasgow has surpassed it because when the Regeneration moved into Glasgow, they started to work on the people who were unemployed because there is no point in putting glass houses inside in the city if you are not going to put in our own people.

The LCB training and innovation centre is based at Oscail House, the former Cahill May Roberts building on Bank Place in the city.

We have 21 start ups and about 140 employed. I like to say that we did it in conjunction with UL, LIT, Limerick City Council but we have all that done with a sandwich and a cup of tea, smiled Ray who runs Speedline Engineering in Knockalisheen in the city.

When someone comes into us and they have a good idea then we help them from the point of view that we pay their rent, we pay their insurance, we try to get them work.

What happens then is we train guys on hand skills - just say the plasterer needs to take on somebody, well then he pays him a proper wage and thats the social dividend. A lot of those start-ups have gone on to bigger and better things.

LCB is involved in a variety of projects, many of them associated with the River Shannon.

Through their work LCB work with people from various backgrounds including a number of former offenders.

We are working with young women and young men and on our board we have a clinical psychologist, a guy who is involved in the Mid-West Drugs Forum. Its a very unusual mix.

About 160 have passed through our doors in the last two and a half years. Its to encourage them to get over that invisible barrier thats set up between the haves and have-nots in our city.

With the continued support from Limerick City Council and Regeneration, going forward we can turn this into something very special.
A FORMAL objection to the new 40 million riverside project in Limerick city has "cast doubts" on whether it can start in the New Year as planned.

As revealed exclusively by the Limerick Leader last month, plans have been lodged with Limerick City and County Council for a 15-storey skyscraper fronting onto Bishops Quay.

The scheme could bring 100 construction jobs initially, as well as multiple more permanent roles once completed.

It will see 150,000 square feet of office space, 42 luxury apartments and commercial space, including new cafes and restaurants.

Rudi Butler, the chairman of Kirkland Investments, which is fronting the massive project, has said previously that he hoped to have builders on site by January .

But he said a comprehensive objection, by a resident of he neighbouring Riverfront complex, now puts this timeline in doubt.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, he said: We are disappointed that someone has found reason to object. We had hoped to start on January 3 next or before, but now this has cast doubts on when we can start."

Mr Butler added that they would take on board any objections and concerns raised and look at them in the hope that they could be dealt with through planning process.

The resident, who lives in Riverfront  said if the scheme gets the go-ahead, it would have a profound invasion of the existing privacy my home enjoys.

In the letter, he added: It is with this point that I remind you that under basic human rights a person has the right to peaceful enjoyment of all their possessions, which includes the home and other land.

The objector added the plans will result in a hugely negative impact on the value of my property and standard of living.

The structure shall be overlooking my dwelling looking directly into my kitchen, living room and bedroom, also onto my private balcony, resulting in loss of privacy and a loss of my ability to use the full amenity of my private balcony and living spaces, he said.

And the objector also suggested the huge proposal  which will see the former ESB offices and old Bord na gCon headquarters demolished to make way for it  actually runs contrary to the City Development Plan.

They point out that according to this strategy, several considerations must be met for high buildings.

The proposal should be very carefully related to, and not have any serious disadvantages to its immediate surroundings, both existing and proposed, and especially to any other high buildings and prominent features in the vicinity and to open space, they say.

Planners should also, they say, take account of environmental impact assessment, meaning an assessment must be carried out by the planning authority and should describe and assess the effect of a development on human beings and material assets.

Limerick City and County Council has yet to set a date on when it will decide on the 40m plans. But groups and individuals can make submissions until next Thursday, October 6.
AN employee of a Limerick branch of Advance Pitstop who is accused of stealing more than 50,000 in cash and cheques faces trial on indictment.

Pat OShaughnessy, aged 36, who has an address at Derrynane, Old Cork Road faces a total of 95 charges under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.

All of the charges relate to offences which are alleged to have happened at the companys Ennis Road branch on dates between January 1, 2014 and June 30, 2014.

Previously, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment and on Friday, Detective Garda Enda Haugh told the court he had served a copy of the book of evidence on the defendant.

Mr OShaughnessy faces 66 charges relating to the alleged theft of sums of cash totalling almost 38,000. An additional 29 charges relate to the alleged theft of cheques made out to the value of almost 19,000.

The individual amounts allegedly stolen range from 10 to more than 2,200.

Noting that the book of evidence had been served on the defendant, Judge Mary Larkin formally issued the alibi warning to Mr OShaughnessy advising him that he must supply details of any alibi witnesses to the State within two weeks.

The judge then formally sent the matter to Limerick Circuit Court.

The defendant was remanded on continuing bail and his legal aid was extended to include the retention of a barrister.
A NEW six-year plan has been launched to promote a vibrant and inclusive network of rural towns and villages across Limerick.

The Limerick Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021 has been agreed by a number of stakeholders including the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and members of the Economic Development, Enterprise and Planning Strategic Policy Committees.

Speaking of the plan, Deputy Mayor of Limerick City and County Cllr Noel Gleeson said: It is important that any recovery is felt in rural areas as well as in the large urban areas of the country. This plan is the culmination of around 12 months work, which has allowed for extensive and important work to be done on what County Limerick needs.

The success of Limerick is also dependent on the betterment of people living and working outside the city. This strategy over the next five years will he improve the standard of living for all.

The plan, which aims to promote vibrant and strong rural communities, was agreed upon at the municipal district meetings before going to the full meeting of Limerick City and County Council.

The goals of the plan, said chair of the LCDC and Cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District Cllr Eddie Ryan, include a focus on promoting equally vibrant and safe communities, increase the population and incomes, increase the employment rate and reduce unemployment, promote social and economic inclusion and to ensure the protection of the receiving environment across rural County Limerick.

Launching the six-year plan, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney praised its quality and ambition.

They deal with priorities that are important to all communities  be it education, youth services, the environment, integration, health and well-being, tourism, or employment, he added.
FRIENDS and colleagues of Sir Terry Wogan have paid tribute to the legendary broadcaster at a memorial service in London.

The 77-year-old, who was a Freeman of Limerick, died in January following a short battle with cancer.

Born in Limerick city in 1938, Mr Wogan began his broadcasting career with RTE before moving to the UK in 1966 where he began working for the BBC.

Chris Evans, Joanna Lumley and Peter Gabriel were among those who paid tribute at the memorial service which took place at Westminster Abbey.

A number of Irish broadcasters including Ryan Tubridy also attended the event while Queen Elizabeth was represented by her Lady-in-Waiting.

The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kieran OHanlon, represented Limerick City and County Council at the memorial service, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio on what is the 50th anniversary of Sir Terry's first radio broadcast with the Corporation.

His Wake up to Wogan radio show was one of the most listened programs to in Europe  attracting around eight million regular listeners.

He commentated on the Eurovision for more than 30 years and was also known for his chat show Wogan and for his role presenting the Children in Need telethon.

Following his retirement from full-time broadcasting in 2009, Sir Terry continued to present a two-hour Sunday morning show, on BBC Radio 2.

Mr Wogan, who was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth in 2005, received the freedom of Limerick in 2007.

In the same year, he was presented with a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the Limerick Person of the Year awards.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Some $70.2 million were sold to 20 Azerbaijani banks through an auction held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Sept. 27, CBA said in a message Sept. 27.

As much as $100 million was put up for the auction.

SOFAZ will continue selling foreign currency through auctions in 2016. The foreign currency is sold as part of SOFAZs transfers to Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged to stand at 7.615 billion Azerbaijani manats in 2016.

SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million.

As of July 1, 2016, SOFAZs assets increased by 4.6 percent and amounted to $35.1 billion as compared to $33.57 billion in early 2016.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.27

Trend:

Silk Way Helicopter Services (SWHS MMC) commercial helicopter company and Russian helicopter holding Russian Helicopters signed a letter of intent within the ADEX 2016 International Defence Exhibition on September 27.

The document was signed by Director General of Silk Way Helicopter Services Azer Sultanov and Deputy Director General of JSC Russian Helicopters Igor Chechikov.

According to the agreement, a service center for maintenance and overhaul of helicopters will be established in Azerbaijan, including helicopters on the balance of such structures as the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani State Border Service and Main Department of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Silk Way Helicopter Services is one of the most modern aviation enterprises in Azerbaijan. Every year helicopters of the company transport more than 50,000 passengers. At the moment a fleet of aircrafts, which is based at Zabrat Airport includes Sikorsky S-92A, Leonardo Helicopters AW139, Airbus Helicopters AS-332L1, Airbus Helicopters EC-155B1, i-8-1, i-8 helicopters, as well as Cessna 172S airplanes.

Russian Helicopters - is the only Russian helicopter manufacturer and one of the few companies worldwide with the capability to design, manufacture, service and test modern civilian and military helicopters. Russian Helicopters holding is part of State Corporation Rostec.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijans capital will host the Azerbaijani-Bulgarian business forum on Sept. 29, said Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) in a message Sept. 27.

The business forum, organized with the support of Azerbaijans Economy Ministry and AZPROMO, will be attended by more than 35 Bulgarian companies engaged in agriculture and food industry, metallurgy, engineering, transportation, cosmetic products and energy.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria totaled 17.29 million manats in January-August 2016, 17.12 million manats of which accounted for the import of Bulgarian goods, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.27

Trend:

Russia has not decided yet to participate in the informal OPEC meeting in Algeria, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said, RIA Novosti reported.

Novak said Russias participation will depend on the agreement with OPEC.

Novak said Russias participation will depend on whether the agreements are reached at the OPEC meeting.

The minister said the meeting will take place either today or tomorrow.

The unofficial meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is going to take place on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in the Algerian capital from September 26-28.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Aygun Badalova  Trend

The heads and representatives of the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) partner organizations met in Algiers ahead of the IEF15 Ministerial and took account of progress made since the last heads of JODI partners meeting in Moscow in 2014. The African Energy

Commission (AFREC) also attended the meeting in Algiers as an observer, JODI reported.

JODI partners are the following organizations: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the international Energy Forum, (IEF), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

During the meeting the JODI partners discussed how they can best collaborate with different actors and stakeholders at various stages of the JODI data supply chain. They also reviewed progress made and endorsed the FiveYear JODI plan to 2020 and agreed to focus future actions based on the plan.

JODI partners agreed to continue improving the quality, reliability and timeliness of JODI data, the report said.

They also discussed progress made to increase JODI visibility and welcomed efforts to extend JODIs geographic reach and improve data transparency of other energy sources such as coal. In this regard, they welcomed further cooperation with AFREC in the future.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Kazakhstan will start opening wells at Kashagan oil field in a few days, Sputnik Kazakhstan quoted the countrys Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev as saying.

"We think that wells opening will start in a few days and expect the batch of oil will be delivered in 2H of October, between Oct. 15-23, the minister said.

Kashagan is a large oil and gas field in Kazakhstan, located in the north of the Caspian Sea.

The geological reserves of Kashagan are estimated at 4.8 billion tons of oil. The total oil reserves amount to 38 billion barrels; some 10 billion out of them are recoverable reserves. There are large natural gas reserves at the Kashagan field - over one trillion cubic meters.The production at the Kashagan field started in September 2013, but in October, it was suspended after a gas leak in one of the main pipelines.

Official start of oil production at Kashagan oil and gas field will be resumed on October 23, Bozumbayev said earlier.

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 27

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The Turkmenoil State Concern continues to drill the first ultra-deep exploratory well in the history of Turkmenistan to search for new hydrocarbon fields on the Uzynada prospective area (south-west of the country), said the message of the Oil and Gas Complex of Turkmenistan.

The project depth of the well is 7,150 meters.

To date, the drillers reached a depth of 4,500 meters: technical pipe fixed with cement mortar has been established at this depth, the message said.

The drilling rig and ZJ70 DB brand equipment produced in China is used during the work.

The Turkmenoil State Concern last year brought oil production in total to 5.314,547 million tons, which is significantly more than was planned. In general, the overhaul of 679 wells was carried out during the reporting period, and Turkmen fuel and energy complex received nearly 630,000 tons of additional oil.

Earlier, a number of exploratory oil and gas wells were drilled on the new areas of Gamyshlyja, Korpeje, Altynguyi and Ekizak in Turkmenistan.
The Smithsonian's National Zoo keeps giant pandas Mei Xiang (L) and Tian Tian apart all year, except for during the one day a year when Mei goes into estrus.

As both a national treasure of China and the symbol of the conservation-oriented World Wildlife Fund, giant pandas are known by the world over  particularly for their formally low breeding success in captivity. But just what's involved in panda-bear mating, both in and out of the wild?

Giant pandas are solitary bears that live in rather fixed home ranges. They generally come together only during the mating season, which occurs between mid-February and mid-May. "Most females go into estrus mid-March through mid-April," said Meghan Martin-Wintle, an applied ecologist and director of PDX Wildlife, a nonprofit conservation and research organization based in Portland, Oregon.

The China natives communicate with one another through vocalizations and scent markings, and these behaviors ramp up about two weeks prior to females entering estrus, Martin-Wintle told Live Science. At this time, females will go to the outskirts of their ranges and rub their anal area on trees and rocks to deposit smelly secretions from their anogenital glands. [How to Flirt in Panda: Bears' Squeaks Decoded]

Males home in on females' auditory and olfactory cues, and three to four of them will congregate on a single female. However, females ovulate and are receptive to mating only a few days a year. "They have just this one day that is the best and they have a day or two on either side," Martin-Wintle said.

Posturing and positioning

As females near ovulation, they will hang out in trees while males compete for dominance on the ground.

"It's a lot of posturing  they do these barks, like a dog, and they do these growls, " Martin-Wintle explained. And though it may be hard to imagine, male giant pandas do get into physical altercations. "They do lunges and they will come together and do swats and even try to grab onto the nape of each other's necks."

Dominance is usually established pretty quickly. The champion male will then stay close to the female and charge at any intruders, until the female comes down from the tree ready to mate.

Given that researchers rarely observe panda bears mating in the wild, it's unclear what's involved in sexual selection or if females always mate with the dominant male in her home range, Martin-Wintle said. But females in captivity, at the very least, are known to sometimes completely reject males.

For giant pandas, mating is a difficult affair, in part, because male giant pandas have one of the smallest penises relative to body size in the animal kingdom, Martin-Wintle said. A willing female must get into the lordosis posture, in which she lowers her front end, arches her back down and raises her tail end up, putting her vaginal cavity in the right position for the male to enter her from behind. "And once he obtains the position, she has to shove on to him," she said. [The Weirdest Penises in the Animal Kingdom]

After orgasm, both male and female giant pandas bleat, or let out a goat-like cry. The male will then do a "roll back," in which he sits on his butt and lower pelvic area and pulls the female so that she's sitting on him  and holds on as long as he possibly can. It's unknown why the male does this.

After mating, the male will stick around and possibly mate with the female a few more times, until she's no longer ovulating.

Sex in captivity

When captive breeding programs for giant pandas first got started in the 1950s through 1970s, the projects had a very low success rate. There were a few reasons for this failure, Martin-Wintle said.

For instance, scientists didn't understand the bears' communication system or how important it was for mating. The animals were kept separate and only brought together when it was time to mate, so mating pairs weren't able to exchange scent and vocal cues as they normally would in the wild.

Additionally, "we weren't really successful at getting the mothers to raise their cubs, and we weren't good at hand-raisingthem either," Martin-Wintle said, adding that one problem was that cubs must be physically stimulated to defecate.

Today, panda bear captive breeding programs have much higher success rates, but they could still be better. Though these programs make sure to pair adult giant pandas that are genetically separated, they don't take into consideration behavior and mate choice. "We are removing many of the things we know about Darwin and sexual selection," Martin-Wintle said.

In a study published late 2015, Martin-Wintle and her colleagues found that pandas paired with mates they preferred were much more likely to successfully have sex, produce cubs and adequately care for their young. The researchers are now looking at whether allowing males to compete for a female also improves reproductive success, possibly by increasing testosterone and sexual motivation.

Original article on Live Science.
Did Mischief Night come early this year? In a growing list of states, people have unsettling tales to tell of enigmatic and downright sinister clown sightings.

The situation is no joke to the police. In regions where clown appearances are on the rise, local and state officials are monitoring descriptions and urging people to report suspicious individuals or activities  especially if they might pose a threat to children  though as yet there have been no specific warnings issued in connection with Halloween.

Clowns were initially spotted across two South Carolina counties beginning on Aug. 23, and the sightings continued through the first week of September, according to a timeline of incident reports created by FOX Carolina. [10 Clowns to Fuel Your Nightmares]

Since then, people have spied mysterious clowns in North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Alabama and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported on Sept. 23, while law enforcement officials in Kentucky and Tennessee recently shared warnings and updates about clown sightings on social media.

In most of the encounters, those who glimpsed the clowns did so from a distance, and emerged from the encounter rattled but unharmed. However, one teen in Summitville, Tennessee, told WKRN-TV, "I thought I was going to die," when a knife-wielding person in a clown mask approached him from behind and slashed his hand. The clown fled the scene and an investigation is still underway, WKRN reported.

Threats or hoaxes?

In fact, there have been numerous reports across Tennessee of clown sightings, according to Lt. Bill Miller, a public information officer with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Some people who contacted officials described seeing a clown by the side of the road as they drove by, though any photos they captured from the car didn't show much detail, Miller told Live Science. In one case, the clown was shirtless but had a painted face and "clown hair," and was kneeling by the roadside holding a child-size doll that resembled Raggedy Ann, Miller said. Photos, predictably, were blurry and indistinct.

"We don't know if they're threats or hoaxes," Miller said. "But they're causing a lot of public concern, and we have an obligation to make sure that we address that and give the public the best information we have."

In most of these instances, the clowns didn't seem to be behaving in a threatening way. However, many people find clowns' bold face paint and garb unsettling, no matter what the clowns might be doing. Experts told Live Science that people may experience an immediately negative response to seeing a clown for a number of reasons.

As performers, clowns sport heavy makeup that conceals their expressions, use highly exaggerated gestures and behavior, and are often unpredictable. All of these factors could cause someone to cringe at the sight of a clown even in places where they wouldn't be surprised to find one  at a circus or a birthday party, for example. Unexpectedly coming across a clown standing near the woods or by the side of the road could understandably inspire unease in people.

To promote awareness about the clown situation in Tennessee, the state's Highway Patrol tweeted a "watch for clowns" warning on Sept. 24, clarifying in a later tweet that the photo they used did not represent clowns that were actually spotted in Tennessee, and was a stock image intended to draw attention to the potential danger to children.

See more

Social media can also be used to deliberately fan the flames of clown fear, as residents of Rainbow City, Alabama, discovered. On Sept. 19, cryptic social media posts about a clown visiting a local middle school prompted absenteeism and police involvement, Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton told Live Science.

However, the posts were quickly traced and identified as a juvenile prank, and Horton seemed unperturbed about the possibility of future clown-related incidents.

"If we hear 'clown' and 'school' in the same sentence, we're concerned about it," Horton said. "If they make a statement on social media or cause a scare to the general population  as in a school  we plan on intervening."

"But we're not out looking for clowns," he added.

Proactive protection

Social media played a more proactive role in the Barbourville, Kentucky, police department's response to so-called "clown complaints." Barbourville police detective Steve Owens told Live Science that these local sightings were probably "copycats," inspired by reports of clowns that came in from the Carolinas and elsewhere.

Copycats or not, the Barbourville clown reports caused enough alarm that the police issued a statement on Sept. 20 on Facebook, advising people to refrain from dressing as a clown in public, as this could lead to "a dangerous situation for you and others."

According to Owens, the statement was intended to discourage people who might be tempted to don a clown suit as a prank, urging them to recognize how this might frighten others and lead to someone getting hurt.

But it was also a warning against overreacting to a perceived threat from someone doing nothing more than walking around in an unusual outfit. Police officials warned that "assaulting, shooting, attacking or otherwise injuring someone" simply because they were wearing a costume could lead to criminal charges.

"We felt we had an obligation to protect the safety of individuals who wanted to dress up, as well as the general public," Owens said.

Original article on Live Science.
A giant tortoise named Diego may be more than 100 years old, but his libido is the stuff of legend. The centenarian tortoise has fathered an estimated 800 offspring, leading many to claim he single-handedly saved his species from the brink of extinction. But scientists say it was not Diego's prolific sex drive alone that saved the giant tortoise species.

Fifty years ago, only 14 members of the giant tortoise subspecies Chelonoidis hoodensis lived on the island of Espanola in the Galapagos archipelago  12 females and two males. In the 1970s, when researchers were looking for a mate for another famous giant tortoise, Lonesome George, a third male of the rare species was discovered living in the San Diego Zoo. Now known as Diego, the tortoise was moved to a Galapagos mating center.

Linda Cayot, science adviser to the Galapagos Conservancy  which works with the the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park, where the mating center is located  said the tortoises were divided into two corrals: one with Diego, a younger male and a handful of females; and another with the third male and the remaining females. [Image Gallery: Fossilized Turtles Caught in the Act]

"The females kept producing eggs, and they were incubated and reared to about 5 years old and then returned to Espanola," Cayot told Live Science. "So that went on for years, and nobody knew that [Diego] was the dominant father until the geneticists got involved."

Blood samples from the tortoises that had been released back on Espanola revealed their parentage. Although Diego fathered more than 800 offspring and his corral mate fathered very few, it was actually the third male who had the most prolific breeding career, fathering twice as many offspring as Diego, the scientists said.

"Diego is a very charismatic tortoise, and he certainly does a lot of the mating," said James Gibbs, a conservation biologist at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and an adjunct scientist for the Galapagos Conservancy. "But Diego actually only does about half of the mating another male does, E15, that doesn't have a fancy name or a fancy personality. And the third male does essentially nothing."

Thanks to these two virile tortoises, about 2,000 tortoises have been released back on Espanola. About 50 to 60 percent of those tortoises are still alive  which is considered a high success rate  and they have been reproducing naturally on the island since 1990, Cayot said.

The numbers alone are considered "one of the most successful conservation stories," Gibbs said. However, the genetic testing raised a concern: a lack of diversity. Low genetic diversity limits the population's ability to adapt to changing conditions and can cause health issues due to inbreeding, the researchers said. Moving forward, the breeding center will divide the tortoises into three corrals, so there's no competition among the males for females. They will also pair the males with females they haven't mated with before.

Cayot explained that, in the researchers' conservation efforts, "phase 1" focused on growing the population from the original 15 giant tortoises in the mating center. Now that a small but healthy population of the tortoises has been established, "phase 2" will focus on increasing the genetic diversity of the animals to ensure their long-term health and survival. [Images: 100-Year-Old Lonesome George Tortoise Goes on Exhibit]

Another aspect of this second phase is focused on the health of the island as a whole.

"Things are looking really good for the tortoises," Gibbs said. "In terms of their numbers, they're recovering quite well, but as their numbers grow on the island, they're going to experience some constraints."

On Espanola, human influence affected not only the tortoise population but also the island's vegetation. Humans' introduction of goats to the island in the late 1800s, for example, played a role in destroying much of the tortoises' habitat. Gibbs said key plants, such as large tree-like cacti  which the tortoises rely on for shade, water and food  are dying off, and woody plants have grown to a density not typical for the area.

The tortoise population on Espanola is stable, Gibbs said, so conservationists are now looking into options to help support the ecosystem's revival as well. In the meantime, as tortoises are born and reared at the breeding center, they are being placed on the neighboring island of Santa Fe, which lost its tortoise population 150 years ago.

"They were released for the first time last year, and it's very exciting because recovering this one species has also enabled us to recover the ecosystems of another island," Gibbs said. "Santa Fe also provides an insurance colony for the Espanola population."

There is still much work to be done as conservation efforts across the Galapagos continue, Gibbs said, but the Espanola tortoises represent an important success story.

"Those small numbers would have pulled down most other species," Gibbs said. "But there's something about tortoises that made this work."

Original article on Live Science.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Aygun Badalova  Trend

Analysts of the US JP Morgan bank retain the view that the chances of an oil freeze agreement during the International Energy Forum meeting are slim  25 percent - despite the myriad headlines associated with discussions held beforehand.

However, these talks are a necessary step towards any future agreement, if not at Novembers OPEC Ministerial Meeting, then more probably at the mid-2017 OPEC Ministerial Meeting, analysts said in weekly Oil Market report, obtained by Trend.

Analysts believe that producers should focus more on export volumes, rather than production, given revenues are tied to the former and not the latter, given shifts in domestic consumption and the expansion over time of refining capacity.

In our view, the prospects for a deal hinge on the willingness of three key players  Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia  to reach an agreement that is equitable, transparent and binding. The thorny issue of the potential recovery in Libyan and Nigerian production in the coming months can be overcome, in our view, if parties are willing to compromise and be flexible, given the potential production base across which an adjustment could be made is close to 45 million barrels per day, analysts said.

The biennial Ministerial International Energy Forum starts in Algiers on September 26. Members of OPEC and Russia are set to meet on the sidelines of the forum.

Crude oil prices edged down on Tuesday as a jittery market reacted to statements by Iran that dimmed hopes for an agreement by major oil producers to cap or freeze output, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 1.77 percent to $46.51 a barrel on Londons ICE Futures exchange. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate futures were trading down 1.37 percent at $45.30 a barrel.

As energy ministers arrived in Algiers for a summit on energy, Iran Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh called the meeting set for Wednesday consultative, adding to concerns that member nations of OPEC wont adopt production limits to prop up the sagging price of oil.
This is the skull of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. The Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, South Dakota excavated it. This picture was taken on Nov. 10, 2003 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Some dinosaurs that had bony protrusions on their skulls  such as horns, crests and knobs  evolved into giant dinosaurs 20 times faster than their relatives without skull ornaments did, a new study finds.

The study, which focused on theropods  a group of mostly carnivorous, bipedal dinosaurs that includes the giant Tyrannosaurus rex and fearsome Albertosaurus  could explain why these dinosaurs got big so fast, the researchers said.

Paleontologists have hypothesized for years that these bony protrusions on dinosaur skulls served to intimidate, defend and communicate, possibly signaling which individuals were sexually mature or socially dominant, the researchers said. [Album: Animals' Dazzling Headgear]

"For the first time, we're starting to recognize that signaling structures in theropod dinosaurs played a major role in shaping their evolution," said study lead researcher Terry Gates, a lecturer in the department of biological sciences at North Carolina State University.

The idea for the research began after Gates had studied countless theropod remains.

Theropod dinosaur skulls showing the unornamented Acrocanthosaurus (upper skull) and the ornamented Cryolophosaurus (lower skull). (Image credit: Cryolophosaurus photo courtesy of Peter Makovicky; Acrocanthosaurus photo by Christophe Hendrickx)

"One day  the thought just struck me that based on my observations, there didn't seem to be any ornamentation in very small theropod [species], but larger ones seemed to have it," Gates told Live Science.

To investigate, he and his colleagues examined 111 theropods that did and did not have skull ornaments, and compared their size increases over time. "We put together an initial data set just to see if there was a correlation between body size and the presence or absence of ornamentation, and there certainly was," he said.

Twenty of the 22 largest theropod species had bony bumps or crests on their skulls, including T. rex and Allosaurus, which both had small hornlets in front of their eyes.

However, it's unclear whether these bony structures were a direct cause of the growth or were simply correlated with another factor that promoted growth, Gates said.

Weight and feathers

The researchers also found that theropods weighing under about 80 lbs. (36 kilograms) lacked skull ornaments. Once larger theropod species developed cranial protrusions, the dinos would rapidly grow to enormous body sizes every 4 million to 6 million years, the scientists found.

Giant theropod dinosaurs that lacked skull ornaments, such as the Cretaceous-age Acrocanthosaurus, took longer to achieve their immense stature, the researchers found.

In addition, the scientists looked at the theropods that were closely related to birds, including maniraptoriforms like Velociraptor. However, although these dinosaurs weighed more than 80 lbs., they didn't have any bony protrusions on their skulls, Gates said.

Instead, these bird-like dinosaurs likely used their feathers, not bony bulges, for visual communication, the researchers said. [Photos: Birds Evolved from Dinosaurs, Museum Exhibit Shows]

"Our work supports the idea that veined feathers were great communication tools from the get-go and may have helped large birdlike theropods sidestep the bother of skeletal bells and whistles," study co-author Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist at North Carolina State University, said in a statement.

A further look

However, the authors note that the finding on the weight threshold is still preliminary, as the study included only 38 ornamented theropod species.

Moreover, the authors put all of the bony protrusions in the same category, said Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland who was not involved with the study.

"This study considers all cranial ornaments to be the same: The meat eaters are assessed for the absence or presence of any type of ornament, which may be simplistic because there are so many different types of crests, horns, bumps, etc. in dinosaurs," Brusatte told Live Science in an email. "A more nuanced study may be able to recognize differences caused by the different types of ornaments."

The study was published online today (Sept. 27) in the journal Nature Communications (opens in new tab).

Original article on Live Science.
In the centuries to come, history books will likely look back on September 2016 as a major milestone for the world's climate. At a time when atmospheric carbon dioxide is usually at its minimum, the monthly value failed to drop below 400 parts per million.

That all but ensures that 2016 will be the year that carbon dioxide officially passed the symbolic 400 ppm mark, never to return below it in our lifetimes, according to scientists.

Because carbon pollution has been increasing since the start of the Industrial Revolution and has shown no signs of abating, it was more a question of "when" rather than "if" we would cross this threshold. The inevitability doesnt make it any less significant, though.

September is usually the month when carbon dioxide is at its lowest after a summer of plants growing and sucking it up in the northern hemisphere. As fall wears on, those plants lose their leaves, which in turn decompose, releasing the stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. At Mauna Loa Observatory, the worlds marquee site for monitoring carbon dioxide, there are signs that the process has begun but levels have remained above 400 ppm.

CO2 Nears Peak: Are We Permanently Above 400 PPM? Flirting with the 1.5C Threshold Antarctic CO2 Hit 400 PPM For First Time in 4 Million Years

Since the industrial revolution, humans have been altering this process by adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than plants can take up. Thats driven carbon dioxide levels higher and with it, global temperatures, along with a host of other climate change impacts.

"Is it possible that October 2016 will yield a lower monthly value than September and dip below 400 ppm? Almost impossible," Ralph Keeling, the scientist who runs the Scripps Institute for Oceanography's carbon dioxide monitoring program, wrote in a blog post. "Brief excursions toward lower values are still possible, but it already seems safe to conclude that we won't be seeing a monthly value below 400 ppm this year  or ever again for the indefinite future."

We may get a day or two reprieve in the next month, similar to August when Tropical Storm Madeline blew by Hawaii and knocked carbon dioxide below 400 ppm for a day. But otherwise, we're living in a 400 ppm world. Even if the world stopped emitting carbon dioxide tomorrow, what has already put in the atmosphere will linger for many decades to come.

An animation showing how carbon dioxide moves around the planet. Credit: NASA/YouTube

"At best (in that scenario), one might expect a balance in the near term and so CO2 levels probably wouldn't change much  but would start to fall off in a decade or so," Gavin Schmidt, NASA's chief climate scientist, said in an email. "In my opinion, we won't ever see a month below 400 ppm."

The carbon dioxide we've already committed to the atmosphere has warmed the world about 1.8 degrees Farenheit since the start of the industrial revolution. This year, in addition to marking the start of our new 400 ppm world, is also set to be the hottest year on record. The planet has edged right up against the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Farenheit) warming threshold, a key metric in last year's Paris climate agreement.

Even though there are some hopeful signs that world leaders will take actions to reduce emissions, those actions will have to happen on an accelerating timetable in order to avoid 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Farenheit) of warming. That's the level outlined by policymakers as a safe threshold for climate change. And even if the world limits warming to that benchmark, it will still likely spell doom for low-lying small island states and have serious repercussions around the world, from more extreme heat waves to droughts, coastal flooding and the extinction of many coral reefs.

It's against this backdrop that the measurements on top of Mauna Loa take on added importance. They're a reminder that with each passing day, we're moving further from the climate humans have known and thrived in and closer to a more unstable future.

You May Also Like: Clean Power Plan Faces Appeals Court Showdown What 2 Million Years of Temps Say About the Future America's Climate Plan Falls Short of its Promises Greenland is Losing More Ice Than Scientists Thought

Originally published on Climate Central.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Issuing of bonds of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR within the country will make it possible to diversify the companys portfolio, SOCAR vice-president for economic issues Suleyman Gasimov told Trend Sept.27.

Additional financing within the country creates an opportunity to attract funds on more favorable conditions. SOCAR will earn money from issuing these bonds, probably not directly, but by opening a new channel of financing, he added.

Gasimov noted that taking into the supply on the domestic financial market, the 5-percent profit per annum from the funds invested in dollars looks very impressive.

The bonds on the primary market will be sold only to Azerbaijani citizens. SOCAR refuses from buy-out and repurchase of bonds. Thats to say, SOCAR wont be able to make buyers return the bonds till expiration of their circulation period and buyers will be able to get profit until its expiration, he added.

Gasimov noted that jointly with its partners, SOCAR has attracted funds to implement projects in Azerbaijan and abroad in recent years.

A major part of these projects will be completed in coming years and will bring income.

For example, Star refinery in Turkey, Petkim container terminal, carbamide plant in Sumgait. Income from the implementation of the SOCAR Polymer project is expected in the amount of $10-11 billion, said Gasimov. Petkims revenues in Turkey are growing from year to year.

In total, $40 billion will be invested in our biggest project  Shah Deniz 2 and the Southern Gas Corridor, he added. A certain part of the amount accounted for SOCAR and the rest of the financing will be attracted from abroad. However, all investments will be returned during the operation period.

All companies  partners of SOCAR are attracting funds for the project, said the vice president.

SOCAR has already provided most of the funds, which accounted for its share, and there are enough suggestions to provide the remaining part, he added.

Gasimov noted also that $100 million that will be received from the sale of bonds will replace a small part of external liabilities with domestic liabilities.

Thus, the interest, paid to foreign investors, will be paid to Azerbaijani citizens, who will spend it in the country that will lead to a gain of our economy as a whole, he added.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Sports & Recreation, Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 27 2016

Several small game hunting seasons open October 1. In addition, there are special youth-only hunting seasons for pheasants and waterfowl opening.

Season dates, bag limits, and other hunting regulations can be found in the New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide.

Albany, NY - September 23, 2016 - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that several small game hunting seasons open October 1. In addition, there are special youth-only hunting seasons for pheasants and waterfowl opening prior to the start of the regular season.

"Hunting is a proud tradition in New York State, and this year we are offering more opportunities for the next generation of hunters to be introduced to this important sport," Commissioner Seggos said. "Our youth only hunting seasons are an excellent way to connect people to the natural world and teach to become safe and responsible hunters, and I encourage experienced hunters across New York to bring a novice hunter afield this fall."

Season dates, bag limits, and other hunting regulations can be found in the New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which can be obtained from a license issuing agent, and on the DEC website.

Wild Turkey Hunting

Beginning last fall, DEC updated the fall turkey hunting season structure in response to declines in turkey populations and to ensure that harvest opportunities are sustainable. Season dates for fall 2016:

October 1-14 in the Northern Zone

October 15-28 in the Southern Zone

November 19-December 2 in Suffolk County, Long Island

The statewide, season bag limit is one bird of either sex.

The change to the fall turkey season is being evaluated as part of a four-year research program during which DEC staff track hen harvest and survival. This data will be used along with information collected annually on turkey abundance, productivity, and hunter activity and harvest to determine future fall harvest opportunities that are sustainable under current environmental conditions and trends in turkey populations.

Waterfowl Hunting and Youth Waterfowl Days

Hunting seasons for waterfowl-ducks, geese, and brant-begin in early October in many parts of the state, but there are also special opportunities for junior hunters 12-15 years old prior to the regular season. Junior hunters must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter, and both the junior hunter and adult must be registered with the Harvest Information Program (HIP). Adult hunters must also have a federal migratory bird stamp. Youth waterfowl days this fall are:

September 24-25 in the Lake Champlain Zone

October 1-2 in the Western Zone

November 12-13 in the Long Island Zone

Pheasant Hunting

Approximately 30,000 adult pheasants will be released on lands open to public hunting for the upcoming fall pheasant hunting season. The pheasant hunting season begins:

October 1 in northern and eastern portions of New York

October 15 in central and western portions of the state

November 1 on Long Island

Since 2007, DEC has offered a special youth-only season to provide junior hunters the opportunity to hunt pheasants during the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season. In western New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is October 8-9. In northern and eastern New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is September 24-25, and on Long Island it is October 29-30. Both the junior hunter and their adult mentor must have a hunting license; only the junior hunter is allowed to carry a firearm and harvest birds on these dates.

All release sites for pheasants provided by state-funded programs are open to public hunting. Pheasants will be released on state-owned lands prior to and during the fall hunting season, and at a number of sites on New York City Watershed lands thanks to a partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Pheasant hunting opportunities have also been augmented by private landowners who have opened their land to public hunting. DEC is grateful for their help in providing high quality hunting experiences for New York's sportsmen and sportswomen. A list of statewide pheasant release sites and sites receiving birds for the youth-only pheasant hunt weekends can be found on DEC's website.

Citizen Science

"Citizen science" efforts such as the Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Log, Bow Hunter Sighting Log, and the Furbearer Sighting Survey provide hunters with the opportunity to partner with DEC to monitor game species. To learn more about how to participate in these efforts, visit the DEC website.

Hunting and wildlife observation information for the following links can be found on DEC's website:
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 27 2016

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Societys (LLS) Long Island Chapter announced its goal to raise $1.4 million at this years 2016 Light The Night Walk.

This year, the Light The Night Walk will be held on the evening of Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Eisenhower Park. The Walk will feature a Kids Zone and will culminate with a fireworks show.

East Meadow, NY - September 26, 2016 - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Societys (LLS) Long Island Chapter announced its goal to raise $1.4 million at this years 2016 Light The Night Walk.

Light The Night is LLS's annual walk and fundraising event, and the nation's night to pay tribute and brings light to the darkness of cancer through hope, research and support for patients, families, friends, doctors, nurses, researchers, colleagues and care givers. Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams and millions of consumers help by donating at retail outlets. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America each fall.

Participants carry illuminated lanterns  white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Anyone big, small, young or old can shine a light on the importance of finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients.

We are grateful to the companies and employees who are lending their support to this years Walk, said Sara Lipsky, Executive Director. LLSs Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is accelerating cures by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere. And its all happening now.

This year, the Light The Night Walk will be held on the evening of Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Eisenhower Park. The Walk will feature a Kids Zone and will culminate with a fireworks show.

LLS is the worlds largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancers. Through its efforts it has invested more than $1 billion in cutting-edge research to advance therapies. Thanks to research, survival rates for patients with many blood cancers have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled since the early 1960s. Yet, despite these advances, about one third of patients with blood cancer still do not survive even five years after their diagnosis.

To form a team or to learn more, please call the Long Island Chapter at 631.370.7530 or visit www.lightthenight.org/li.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society  (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Long Island Chapter is located at 3 Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 202S, Melville, NY 11747.
Tech & Science, Local News, Crime, Business & Finance, National & World News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 27 2016

Trump Hotel Collection has agreed to pay $50,000 in penalties and to shore up its data security practices.

Pictured is Trump International New York, one of the properties infected with malware.

New York, NY - September 23, 2016 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement with Trump International Hotels Management LLC, d/b/a Trump Hotel Collection (THC), involving data breaches resulting in the exposure of over 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal data. THC has agreed to pay $50,000 in penalties and to shore up its data security practices.

It is vital in this digital age that companies take all precautions to ensure that consumer information is protected, and that if a data breach occurs, it is reported promptly to our office, in accordance with state law," said Attorney General Schneiderman. Consumers personal information are all too often exposed to wrong-doers with ill-intent. We will continue working to help protect hardworking New Yorkers from all forms of identity theft.

In late May 2015, multiple banks analyzed hundreds of fraudulent credit card transactions and determined that THC was the last merchant where a legitimate transaction took place. This is known as a common point of purchase (CPP) and suggests that THC was the target of a cyber-attack resulting in a compromise of credit card information. By June 10, 2015, a preliminary forensic investigation confirmed the existence of credit card targeting malware at multiple THC locations, including in the computer networks associated with New York, Las Vegas and Chicago hotels.

Further investigation revealed that on May 19, 2014, an attacker infiltrated THCs payment processing system by accessing an administrative account in the primary domain controller using legitimate domain administrator credentials. Using this unauthorized access, the attacker deployed malware designed to steal credit card information across the THC computer network and credit card processing environment.

Despite its knowledge as early as June 2015 that multiple properties had been infiltrated with malware designed to steal credit card numbers, and that banks had analyzed multiple fraudulent transactions and identified THC as a CPP, THC did not provide notice to its customers until close to four (4) months later, on September 25, 2015, when it placed a notice on its website about the data security breach. This delay violated New Yorks General Business Law  899-aa which requires notice to consumers in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay.

The following THC properties were infected with malware designed to steal credit card numbers and related information:

Trump SoHo New York - 246 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013;

Trump National Doral - 4400 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178;

Trump International New York - One Central Park West, New York, NY 10023;

Trump International Chicago - 401 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611;

Trump International Waikiki - 223 Saratoga Road, Honolulu, HI 96815;

Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas - 2000 Fashion Show Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109; and

Trump International Toronto - 325 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 4G3.

On March 30, 2016, THC received additional CPP reports from its payment processors about a second breach. Another forensic investigation revealed that THC experienced a second breach where an attacker gained unauthorized access on November 10, 2015. The attacker installed credit card harvesting malware on 39 systems affecting five hotel properties including Trump SoHo New York located at 246 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013.

The forensic investigation also discovered that on March 21, 2016 the attacker also connected to a legacy payment system on the network of the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York which included personal information of THC property owners including the names and social security numbers of approximately 302 people, 44 of whom live in New York. THC provided consumer notification to these affected individuals on June 10, 2016.

The final forensic investigation report of the first breach recommended that THC adopt additional security precautions including two-factor authentication for remote access to the THC network, which is an extra layer of security that requires not only a username/password but additional information that only the user will know, e.g., a random number from a physical token. However, it was not until April 4, 2016 that THC adopted this solution. If THC had adopted this solution after the first breach, consistent with its forensic investigators recommendation, it may have prevented the second breach.

The settlement requires THC to maintain reasonable security policies and procedures designed to protect consumer personal information including:

Designation of an employee or employees to coordinate and supervise THC's program designed to protect the privacy and security of personal information;

Annual employee training to at a minimum inform employees who are responsible for handling personal information about data security, the importance of consumer privacy and their duty to help maintain its integrity;

Responding to events involving unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of personal information including training all staff who are responsible for inputting, entering, maintaining, storing or transferring personal information on data breach notification law;

Identifying material risks to the security and confidentiality of personal information that are reasonably likely to result in the unauthorized disclosure of such information, including through the regular review of security industry news sources for newly identified security vulnerabilities;

Designing and implementing reasonable safeguards to control the risks identified through risk assessment, including use of two-factor authentication for remote access to computer systems;

Regular testing of the effectiveness of the safeguards key controls, systems, and procedures, including through reasonable and appropriate software security testing; and

Developing and using reasonable steps to select and retain service providers capable of maintaining security practices consistent with the agreement and requiring service providers by contract to implement and maintain appropriate safeguards.

This case was handled by Bureau of Internet and Technology Deputy Bureau Chief Clark Russell and Resident Technologist Marc Kowtko, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Kathleen McGee. The Bureau of Internet and Technology is overseen by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Economic Justice Manisha M. Sheth.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 27 2016

Eric Aronson, the founder and head of Permapave Industries LLC and Permapave USA Corporation (Permapave), was sentenced.

Central Islip, NY - September 23, 2016 - Earlier today, Eric Aronson, 48, of Syosset, and the founder and head of Permapave Industries LLC and Permapave USA Corporation (Permapave), was sentenced to 124 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $26 million in criminal proceeds. Restitution amount to be determined. Aronson pleaded guilty to securities fraud on September 12, 2014.

The sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Capers expressed his grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, which led the governments investigation in this case.

Aronson was charged with securities fraud for orchestrating a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme which, from approximately August 2006 to December 2010, defrauded more than 200 investors out of approximately $26 million. He and his coconspirators issued promissory notes to investors and promised to use the proceeds to finance shipments of Permapave paving stones from Australia to the United States. In reality, they operated a Ponzi scheme whereby some investors were paid returns on their investment from the funds Aronson obtained from other defrauded investors. Aronson converted millions of dollars of investor funds for personal expenditures, including vacations, watches, jewelry, and automobiles.

Todays sentencing took place before Senior United States District Judge Arthur D. Spatt.

The governments case is being handled by the Offices Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney William P. Campos is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Morris of the Offices Civil Division, which is responsible for the forfeiture of assets.
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
Iran rejected on Tuesday an offer from Saudi Arabia to limit its oil output in exchange for Riyadh cutting supply, dashing market hopes the two major OPEC producers would find a compromise this week to help ease a global glut of crude, Reuters reported.

"The gap (in views) between OPEC countries is narrowing. I don't expect that an agreement will come out of the consultations tomorrow," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said earlier: "It is not the time for decision-making." Referring to the next formal OPEC meeting in Vienna on Nov. 30, he added: "We will try to reach agreement for November."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold informal talks at 1400 GMT on Wednesday. Its members are also meeting non-OPEC producers on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers.

Oil prices LCOc1 have more than halved from 2014 levels due to oversupply, prompting OPEC producers and rival Russia to seek a market rebalancing that would boost revenues from oil exports and help their crippled budgets.

The predominant idea since early 2016 among producers has been to agree to freeze output levels, although market watchers have said such a move would fail to reduce unwanted barrels.

A deal has also been complicated by acute political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are fighting several proxy-wars in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen.

Last week that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce its output if Iran agreed to freeze production, a shift in Riyadh's position as the kingdom had previously refused to discuss output cuts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

The press-service of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev announced his diagnosis - cardiac arrhythmia, its attacks have been already arrested.

Atambayev continues medical treatment in the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Presidents Office in Moscow but could be discharged from the hospital at the weekend, the press-service said Sept 27.

On Sept.19 Atambayev suddenly felt ill in Istanbul when he was travelling to New York to take part in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. His doctors advised by to pass a preliminary medical exam, which discovered some symptoms of possible heart problems. Atambayev took a short vacation to undergo a medical examination and treatment.

The press-service also noted that Atambayev experienced esophagus surgery after poisoning in 2008 and now he underwent endoscopic ablation of the esophagus as a prophylactic measure.

The physicians noted a significant improvements in Almazbek Atambayevs health. According to the doctors, the state presidents heath is satisfactory, the press-service said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 26

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran has started official negotiations with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for plane purchase, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, Irans deputy minister of Roads and Urban Development, said.

Last week a delegation from the Brazilian company visited Tehran to talk with Iranian airlines, Fakhrieh Kashan said, IRNA news agency reported Sept. 26.

During the three-day stay in Tehran, the Embraer representatives held negotiations with all of Iranian airline companies, the official said, adding that technical and financial issues were discussed at the meetings.

The visits one day also allocated to flight training, the Iranian deputy minister said.

He further said that one of the Embraer aircrafts launched two test flights over the Caspian Sea and Damavand mountain.

Earlier in March 2016, Iranian Zagros Airlines said that has reached preliminary agreements with Embraer to import 20 airplanes.

It is scheduled that representatives from leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus to visit Iran next week to discuss the sale and purchase of planes, following a permission which was issued by the US Treasury Department.

Boeing announced on Sept. 21 that the US Treasury had issued the required authorization to the company to sell 80 planes from a total package of 109 planes to the Islamic Republic.

The Boeing deal is estimated to be worth $25 billion.

Iran also will buy 111 planes from Airbus worth below $10 billion and a financer would make nearly all the payments relating to the purchase.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Russia has decreased tariffs for seafood imported from Iran, Head of Iran Fisheries Organization Hassan Salehi said.

Moscow has decreased the customs tariffs from 19 percent to 3.5 percent, Salehi said, Fars news agency reported Sept. 27.

He further said that the Islamic Republic plans to export 5,000 tons of seafood to Russia during the current fiscal year (to end March 2017).

The figure stood at 1000 tons during the last fiscal year, Salehi added.

The Islamic Republic has exported over 32,820 tons of seafood, worth $95 million during the first five months of the current fiscal year (March 20- Aug. 21, 2016), he said adding that Vietnam, the UAE and Iraq were the main destination of the exports.

Irans seafood exports registered a rise by 36 percent in terms of value and 51 percent increase in terms of volume during the first five months of the current fiscal year, Salehi said.

The country also exported more than 400 kilograms of caviar during the five-month period, indicating a 90-percent increase year-on-year, the official noted.

He further said that Irans fisheries output amounted at one million tons in the last fiscal year, of that about 80,000 tons, worth $350 million were exported.

Salehi said that China, Norway and France have so far invested in Irans fishery sector, adding that investors from Vietnam, Thailand, Canada, UK and US have also expressed interest to make investment in this regard.
A top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander told Iranian media last week that the Guard and allies supply intelligence to Russia for airstrikes in Syria. Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, who is senior advisor to the supreme leader and was IRGC chief commander from 1997 through 2007, made the remarks in a lengthy television interview on Sept. 22.

The Russians are responsible for aerial support of ground units, meaning those who are fighting on the ground are the Syrian army, Syrian popular forces, and some advisory forces and/or Hezbollah forces. Russia largely plays the role of supporting these [forces] by air, Safavi said.

Many victories like the capture of Aleppo would not have been possible without movement on the ground and only with air support, Safavi continued. The Russian air support was of course effective, but the ground forces gave them the intelligence that, for example, [told them] which terrorists were in what area.

There is a kernel of truth to these statements. The IRGC-led Shiite expeditionary forces, which are comprised of IRGC proxies from Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Pakistan, were instrumental in the encircling of the rebel-held eastern Aleppo city in late July, and the reimposition of the siege in early September after the coalition of Islamists, Salafists, and rebels broke the initial siege in early August. A relentless and intense Russian bombing campaign has been a crucial factor in the successes of the pro-regime coalition. [See LWJ report, Soleimanis presence in Aleppo underscores strategy of crushing rebels.]

Safavi, however, overplays the role that the Syrian Arab Army and the IRGC-backed Syrian National Defense Forces, a pro-regime militia, have played in the recent battles for Aleppo in order to bury the extent to which Assad relies on foreign patrons as foot soldiers and planners in arguably the most important battle of the civil war yet.

The ground forces in Aleppo have been primarily led by Iranian military officers in coordination Russian and Syrian officers. The deaths of senior IRGC commanders attest to their involvement.

Safavi says that units under the supervision of IRGC or Hezbollah operatives, which have had a more active presence in Syria in recent years, conduct on-the-ground intelligence collection. The main planning and target selection would be coordinated between the Iranians, Russians, and Syrians. The first two may take the lead.

Based on Safavis statements, collection for Russian sorties elsewhere in which Syrian forces have more presence may fall on them, under the direction of Russian officers.

The strategic command headquarters that oversees all operations includes Russians, Iranians, Syrians, and IRGC-backed proxy commanders. There is lingering tension and mistrust in this alliance, particularly between the Iranians and Russians. For now, at least, they share intelligence towards the common objective of achieving military victory in Aleppo.

Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to 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.
Editors note: Below is Thomas Joscelyns testimony to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade on jihadist groups operating inside Libya, including the Islamic State and al Qaeda. If you wish to view the testimony with footnotes included, download the PDF by clicking here.

Chairman Poe, Ranking Member Keating and members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the turmoil in Libya. Obviously, the multi-sided conflict in Libya is complex, with various forces pulling the country in multiple directions. My testimony today focuses on the jihadist groups operating inside Libya, especially the Islamic States arm and groups belonging to al Qaedas network. I am going to emphasize five key points:

1. The Islamic State is on the verge of losing its safe haven in Sirte, Libya. The loss of Sirte would be a major blow to the so-called caliphate, as Abu Bakr al Baghdadis organization has invested significant resources in this state-building project. From the Islamic States perspective, Sirte was one of the most important cities under its control. This was true even though most of the citys citizens had fled the jihadists occupation. By controlling Sirte, the Islamic State was able to portray its caliphate as having significant territory outside of Iraq and Syria. If Baghdadis loyalists are cleared from Sirte in the coming weeks, then the U.S. and its allies should trumpet the groups loss. During its rise to power, the Islamic States motto was remaining and expanding. This was a key part of the organizations marketing message. But in Libya, as in Iraq and Syria, it is no longer true. 2. Despite losing its grip on Sirte and the surrounding towns and villages, however, the Islamic State will retain a presence inside Libya. The group has cadres in Benghazi and elsewhere. The Islamic States leaders likely evacuated some of their men from Sirte as the offensive on the city progressed. It is important to note that even though the Islamic State is on the verge of a significant defeat, the effort required a robust commitment by local Libyan ground forces, as well as more than 170 precision American airstrikes to date. As the Islamic States men have been cleared block by block from Sirte, they have demonstrated that they continue to maintain a strong operational capacity, launching suicide bombings in neighborhoods theyve lost and killing dozens of their Libyan enemies. The U.S. and its partners will have to make sure that they hold Sirte once it is cleared, as well as prevent the Islamic State from seizing significant terrain elsewhere. 3. The Islamic States loss of Sirte will be viewed in jihadist circles as a vindication of al Qaedas strategy. Al Qaedas senior leaders, including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri, repeatedly warned that the premature declaration of an Islamic state harms the jihadists cause. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrebs (AQIM) emir, Abdulmalek Droukdel, has made the same argument. Al Qaeda has consistently argued that a jihadist state cannot survive if the U.S. and its allies decide to intervene. This is exactly what happened in Sirte. 4. Some assume that, unlike the Islamic State, al Qaeda does not seek to control territory and build Islamic emirates (states). But this is an erroneous assumption. A wealth of evidence shows that this is, in fact, al Qaedas primary goal. However, al Qaeda and the Islamic State have very different strategies for achieving this same end. AQIM and its allies briefly controlled much of Mali beginning in 2012. Documents recovered in Mali show that AQIM was laying the groundwork for an Islamic state. But Droukdel and his advisors concluded that their effort needed to be firmly rooted in the host society, so AQIM was willing to partner with tribes and organizations that did not share its ideology. AQIM is following a version of this same strategy inside Libya today and has been working to embed itself in various local groups and communities. The Islamic States model for state-building is top-down authoritarian. In the view of Baghdadi and his key advisors, all Muslims must submit to the so-called caliphates authority. Al Qaedas follows a bottom-up plan, which means that the organization is seeking to spread the jihadist ideology, win popular support and embed itself within local societies. Al Qaeda and AQIM, which is openly loyal to Ayman al Zawahiri, are not close to achieving their goals in many areas. But the al Qaeda network remains deeper than many assume. 5. In addition to the assistance the U.S. military provides local forces, the U.S. government should work to expose al Qaedas network inside Libya. Sun light is a key part of any plan to combat al Qaedas clandestine strategy. Al Qaedas senior leadership has dispatched operatives to Libya in the past. AQIM doesnt typically advertise its presence in Libya, but has clearly backed groups such as Ansar al Sharia in Libya and the Mujahideen Shura Council in Derna. Indeed, al Qaeda has worked under multiple brand names in Libya.

The importance of Sirte to the Islamic State

In May, the Islamic States spokesman, Abu Muhammad al Adnani, revealed just how important Sirte is to the caliphate-building project. Adnani, who was subsequently killed in an airstrike in August, mentioned Sirte alongside Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq in a speech entitled, That They Live By Proof. Raqqa and Mosul are the de facto capitals of the groups self-declared caliphate. By rhetorically elevating Sirte to the same status as these two cities, Adnani signaled just how significant the North African locale really was for the Islamic States long-term plans.

Indeed, the Islamic State dispatched key figures to Libya to build a beachhead for the organization. In November 2015, for instance, the U.S. military conducted its first airstrike against an Islamic State leader in Libya. According to the Department of Defense, the bombing targeted Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi, an Iraqi national who was a longtime al Qaeda operative and the senior ISIL leader in Libya. Nabil may have been the spokesman in the February 2015 Coptic Christian execution video, DOD noted, referring to a mass execution on Libyas shores that the Islamic State celebrated in one of its typically grotesque propaganda productions. Nabil was hardly the only senior Islamic State leader sent to Libya. The organization sent trained cadres of fighters from North Africa to Libya to help with its expansion plans, and also worked to recruit defectors from existing jihadist organizations, such as Ansar al Sharia.

The same month that Adnani delivered his speech on Mosul, Raqqa and Sirte (May 2015), Al Bunyan Al Marsoos (Solid Structure) operations room began its offensive on the Islamic States Libyan stronghold. Al Bunyan Al Marsoos draws fighters from militias based in Misrata and is allied with Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA). The assault quickly gained ground, but stalled by July. On August 1, the U.S. began to launch airstrikes in support of the operations room. As of September 25, according to U.S. Africa Command, there have been a total of 175 airstrikes as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning.

During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on September 22, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter explained that he and other U.S. officials had expressed concern that if left untended, Libya could be the next ISIL [Islamic State] headquarters, as ISILs control over the city of Sirte was seen as their contingency plan for where they would go when they lost Raqqa and Mosul. However, because of the American airstrikes and the heavy load carried by local fighters, the Islamic States safe haven had been reduced to a single square kilometer in a single neighborhood, Carter said. A map produced by Al Bunyan Al Marsoos echoed this assessment.

Therefore, the Islamic State appears to be on the verge of a key loss. However, we should be mindful that the Islamic States manpower has been drastically underestimated in the past. Given that much of Libyas south is remote and ungoverned, the Islamic State could find areas to regroup. Also, Baghdadis men are fighting in Benghazi and elsewhere. In my view, their presence in Benghazi has been exaggerated, to a degree, but they clearly have cadres fighting on the ground inside the city today. The Islamic State may have also redeployed some of its forces to Benghazi and Derna as a result of the situation in Sirte. Earlier this year, the group was forced out of Derna by jihadists connected to al Qaedas network. But it is possible that some fighters will return to Derna, or the citys outskirts, now that they no longer have a safe haven in Sirte.

Al Qaedas long-term approach to state-building

Unlike the Islamic State, which advertises and even exaggerates its presence in some areas, al Qaeda is keen to avoid scrutiny. Al Qaeda has developed an entirely different strategy for operating in countries such as Libya. Al Qaeda sees jihadi state-building as a long-term endeavor that requires strategic patience. The Islamic State deliberately played off of this strategy to quickly grow in size, capitalizing on younger jihadis and new recruits impatience. In essence, the Islamic State marketed itself by asking a simple question: Why wait for al Qaedas caliphate to come in the future, or maybe never, when you can come fight for the caliphate today?

The Islamic States approach allowed it to mushroom in the short-term, but its long-term liabilities are now being exposed in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Al Qaeda knew all along that the Islamic States caliphate claim would prove to be tenuous, and al Qaedas strategy will now be vindicated in some jihadis eyes. In this section, I am going to reference three key documents to illuminate al Qaedas strategy. All three of them were produced by either AQIM or another part of al Qaeda.

An especially important document for understanding al Qaedas thinking is a letter written by AQIMs emir, Abdulmalek Droukdel, to the shura council of Ansar Dine, which AQIM used as its local face. Although Droukdels missive was written with Mali in mind, the lessons he outlined are equally applicable to Libya. Droukdel argued that the great powers with hegemony over the international situation, despite their weakness and their retreat caused by military exhaustion and the financial crisis, still have many cards to play that enable them to prevent the creation of an Islamic state in Azawad ruled by the jihadis and Islamists.

That is, in Droukdels view, Western powers could easily overrun a jihadi state ruled by al Qaeda and its partners. Even though AQIM and its allies seized much of Mali in 2012, Droukdel urged caution. We must not go too far or take risks in our decisions or imagine that this project is a stable Islamic state, Droukdel wrote. Instead, the jihadis should view it as an important golden opportunity to extend bridges to the various sectors and parts of Azawad society in northern Mali, including Arabs, the Tuareg people, and other Africans. This would end the situation of political and social and intellectual separation (or isolation) between the Mujahideen and these sectors, particularly the big tribes, and the main rebel movements with their various ideologies, and the elite of Azawad society, its clerics, its groupings, its individuals and its noble forces. Simply put, Droukdel was concerned with building broader popular support for the jihadists agenda.

Droukdel wanted to make sure that the jihadists attempt at governance had a local face, such that AQIM did not monopolize the political and military stage and was not at the forefront. AQIMs chief argued that they should work closely with other parties, such as the Azawad Liberation Movement, to administer the new state. Sharia law should be implemented only gradually, in Droukdels opinion, as the population was not accustomed to living under al Qaedas Draconian penal code. (Al Qaedas branches have adopted this same approach in Syria and Yemen.)

Should the emirate fall, which Droukdel thought was very probable, then the jihadists would not bear the responsibility by themselves and would have at least planted a good seed in this fertile soilso that the tree will grow more quickly in the future. We look forward to seeing this tree as it will be: stable and magnificent, Droukdel wrote. The AQIM chief mixed metaphors by also comparing the jihadist project in Mali to a small newborn who is crawling on [his] knees, and has not yet stood on [his] two legs.

Droukdel concluded that AQIM had two missions and combining them created a true dilemma. AQIM wanted to both preserve the Azawad Islamic project, meaning the effort to build an Islamist state, and also continue its global jihadi project. The latter is a reference to AQIMs commitment to carrying out terrorist operations throughout the region. Droukdel and his advisors came up with two proposals. In the first scenario, AQIM would subordinate itself to the local ruler. AQIM would be under the emirate of Ansar Dine such that AQIMs emir would follow their emir and AQIMs opinion would follow their opinion. This would be the case for all internal activity, meaning all activity connected to participating in bearing the responsibilities of the liberated areas. But all external activity connected to the global jihadwould be independent of them (Ansar Dine) and AQIM would ensure that none of that activity or its repercussions is attributed to them [Ansar Dine], as care must be taken over negative impacts on the project of the state.

In Droukdels second proposal, some of al Qaedas mujahideen would be set aside and put under the complete control of the emir of Ansar Dine to participate in bearing the burden of running the affairs of the liberated cities. The remaining al Qaeda members would be completely independent of Ansar Dine and its activity would be limited to jihadi action outside the region.

AQIM never got the chance to fully implement either of one of the strategies Droukdel outlined in his memo. Just as Droukdel feared, the jihadists nascent state in Mali was quickly dismantled after France intervened in early 2013. But Droukdels memo illustrates just how different al Qaedas thinking is from the Islamic States. Whereas Abu Bakr al Baghdadis men have advertised their presence in the form of provinces of the so-called caliphate, al Qaedas loyalists have decided that it is foolish to declare Islamic emirates, or states, anywhere. In fact, Al Qaedas leaders often do not want outside observers to know that their organization is present at all.

There is ample evidence demonstrating that AQIM has followed this same strategy in Libya. In March, al Qaeda released the seventh issue of its Al Masra newsletter. The Arabic publication included an article featuring a senior AQIM leader known as Abu Abdul Ilah Ahmed. Ahmed discussed AQIMs game plan for Libya at length, saying the group had the opportunity to establish an Islamic state in Libya, but decided such a move would be premature. Instead, Ahmed said, AQIM decided to back groups such Ansar al Sharia, the Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade (ASMB) in Derna, and the faithful shura councils that were established in several Libyan cities. Ahmed stressed that Ansar al Sharia and ASMB have the same goals as AQIM, as they are all fighting to establish sharia in Libya. AQIMs man added that it is the duty of all mujahideen to unite, but such an effort requires time and sacrifices from all parties.

An especially telling passage in Ahmeds discussion focused on whether or not AQIM has an official arm in Libya. Ahmed portrayed AQIM as being one with the Libyan people in the fight against America and its Crusader alliance, adding that AQIM will back the Libyan people against the French, who are violating the sanctity of Libya. AQIM is not focused on collecting pledges of allegiance at this juncture, Ahmed pointed out, but is instead rallying the people against foreign aggression. Ahmed framed AQIMs war as part of a long jihadi tradition dating back to Omar al Mukhtar, who resisted Italian forces in Libya in the early part of the 20th Century. This is a consistent AQIM theme, as the group has portrayed its men as the progeny of Omar al Mukhtar.

Another key document is an analysis by a prolific jihadi writer known as Abdullah bin Mohammed, who has been identified as an al Qaeda member and strategist. Bin Mohammed has a large audience on social media, with more than 350,000 accounts following him (@strateeeegy) on Twitter. In early 2015, bin Mohammed published an article entitled, Political Guerrilla Warfare, in which he argued that jihadists needed to be more flexible in their dealings with other Islamist parties.

Bin Mohammed likened his ideas to the military strategy Osama bin Laden and al Qaedas other leaders devised for confronting the West. Bin Mohammed explained that Bin Laden realized al Qaeda could not defeat the U.S. and its allies in a straight fight, so al Qaeda relied on high-profile terrorist attacks and guerrilla warfare to confront its superior foes. The military calculations proved to us that an open confrontation with a strong enemy like the U.S. is military suicide, Bin Mohammed explained in an interview. Therefore we had to go a different way in military confrontation, and in politics an open confrontation like declaring a state is also political suicide, as the West has the power to weaken us, pressure our societies and at the end uproot us as they did in Afghanistan and Iraq. For these reasons, bin Mohammed explained, we have to build a new strategy that can enhance our resilience. Bin Mohammed emphasized bin Ladens warning that prematurely declaring an Islamic state is tantamount to political suicide, as the jihadis enemies can easily overwhelm them.

Bin Mohammed pointed to the example of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), whose members have forged alliances with Islamist political parties in Libya. This made it difficult, if not impossible, for the West to thwart the former LIFG members political designs and also inoculated them from Western counterterrorism pressure. One summary of Bin Mohammeds thesis noted that the LIFGs men have built solid alliances with other Islamic and revolutionary groups and are flexible toward the outside world. Bin Mohammed claimed the LIFG had gone so far as to issue a fatwa allowing them to participate in the democratic regime after they demanded that Sharia be a main source of legislation. In the next step, they will start working on building their Islamic regime.

Some aspects of Bin Mohammeds thesis proved to be especially controversial within al Qaeda circles. While some saw the wisdom in the strategy Bin Mohammed advocated, others (such as the pro-al Qaeda cleric Abu Qatada) think he went too far. Regardless, al Qaeda is following a version of Bin Mohammeds plan in Libya, Syria and elsewhere. For instance, writing in Al Monitor in May 2015, Ali Hashem noted:

It is believed that Mohammeds strategy of political guerrilla war has made its way to being adopted by some of al-Qaedas affiliated groups, primarily in Syria. Reports have suggested that the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra, might be moving toward a rebranding phase as a result of pressure exerted by allies in the region that want to legitimize the group so it can play a role in Syrias future. The idea to create the Army of Conquest (Jaish al-Fatah), with all the Islamist groups fighting under one banner legitimized by regional and international backers, might well have been influenced by Mohammeds theory.



This is exactly what happened more than one year later. As we reported at The Long War Journal, Al Nusrah Front co-founded the Jaysh al Fath (Jaish al-Fatah) alliance as a way to pool the resources of various rebel groups and to prevent al Qaedas paramilitary army in Syria from being isolated from other factions. Then, in late July 2016, Nusra was rebranded as Jabhat Fath al Sham (Conquest of the Levant Front) in an attempt to further embed al Qaeda within the Syrian insurgency and to stymie American counterterrorism efforts.

There are direct parallels to the situation in Libya, where al Qaeda has long sought to hide its hand.

Al Qaedas clandestine presence in Libya

I have outlined al Qaedas clandestine network in previous testimony and articles, drawing on U.S. and UN terrorism designations, an analysis authored by a Defense Department shop in 2012, primary source evidence produced by the jihadists themselves, as well as other evidence. I will not repeat all of that analysis here, but a brief update is necessary because the situation has evolved since I last testified. Three key facts are worth highlighting.

First, the al Qaeda-aligned groups have also sustained serious losses, especially in Benghazi. There, Ansar al Sharia and the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council (BRSC), both of which are part of the al Qaeda network, had led the jihadists in fighting against General Khalifa al Haftars forces. But this past summer, the jihadists reorganized themselves under the banner of the Benghazi Defense Brigades (BDB). Both Ansar al Sharia and the BRSC are clearly allied with, or part of, the BDB. This is yet another indication that al Qaeda-affiliated jihadists are using front groups and pooling their resources with other organizations inside Libya.

Second, Al Qaeda and affiliated jihadi groups in Libya are rallying around Sheikh Sadiq Al Gharyani, a senior religious figure who is sometimes described as Libyas Mufti. In July, a statement attributed to Mokhtar Belmokhtar was released online. Belmokhtar heaped praise on Gharyani, saying he practices what he preaches by exposing the truth in the face of falsehood and its adherents. Belmokhtar asked Allah to strengthen Gharyani and his followers such that they are a fortress for sharia. The Mujahideen Shura Council in Derna (MSCD), which has its own al Qaeda links, views Gharyani has its spiritual figurehead. For instance, the MSCD co-signed a new charter for governing Derna in mid-August. The charter, which was released on the MSCDs social media sites, referred to Gharyani as the sole authoritative religious reference. The BDB itself is openly aligned with Gharyani. These moves should be view with suspicion, as it appears AQIM and its Libyan branches are endorsing a local face as the rightful governing authority, just as Droukdel advocated in the letter mentioned above.

Third, AQIM and affiliated groups are seeking to rally support against Western intervention in Libya. For example, Gharyani, AQIM, the BDB and others have strongly denounced Frances presence in Benghazi and elsewhere in Libya. Special forces from at least four Western nations (US, UK, France, an Italy) are reportedly operating inside Libya currently. This makes it all the more important for the U.S. and its allies to expose al Qaedas network inside the country.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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The Obama administration and US military leaders continue to attempt to hide direct combat operations behind the mission of advising and assisting the counterterrorism operations of foreign governments and militaries. United States African Command, or AFRICOM, announced today that it launched what it described as a self-defense strike against Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in Somalia and East Africa, to protect US advisors who were accompanying a Somali counterterrorism force.

From the AFRICOM press release:

On September 26, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted a self-defense strike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-associated terrorist group, in Caba, near Kismayo, Somalia. During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al-Shabaab fighters attacked, threatening the safety and security of the Somali force and their U.S. advisors. Somali forces returned fire in self-defense, killing several militants. However, enemy fighters continued to attack the Somali force. In response, the U.S. conducted a self-defense strike to neutralize the threat, killing four (4) enemy fighters.

Garowe Online, a Somali news source, said that the raid targeted Shabaab training camps and that several high-ranking Al Shabaab commanders were nabbed in the military operation which also left 5 militants dead.

AFRICOMs latest so-called self-defense strike against Shabaab highlights the difference between the rhetoric and the reality of the Obama administration and the US militarys deployment of forces against jihadist groups overseas. The administration and the military often insist that US forces are deployed in countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen in a purely advise and assist role and are not engaging in combat operations. And yet, in the case of the Somali raid that targeted Shabaab training camps, US forces clearly are operating in a combat environment  if you raid an al Qaeda camp, you should expect to be engaged in direct fighting. In this instance, clearly AFRICOM was prepared for forces to engage in battle, as US air assets were on station.

Shabaab isnt merely a terrorist group that operates on the cellular level and can be taken out with a series of pinpoint counterterrorism operations. Shabaab possesses a military, an intelligence service, and an administrative service (it routinely advertises the latter), and holds a significant amount of territory, which it governs. Calling the Somali raid a counterterrorism operation and the accompanying US airstrike a self-defense strike is a weak attempt to mask the fact that Somalia is at war with an entrenched enemy, and the US military is actively fighting in that war.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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Tehran, Iran, September 27

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian government has taken special measures which are expected to give an economic boost to the country's economy in a few months, said Mansur Moazzami, chairman of board of directors of Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) told a press conference in Tehran.

Over 160 trillion rials (about $5 billion) has been invested to help some 10,000 companies with liquidity problems to get back on their feet, he said, Trend's correspondent reported from the event September 27.

I am sure that in the coming six months this will produce considerable growth in industry and in economy," Moazzami noted.

The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Irans gross domestic product will grow 5 percent in 2016-2017.

Iran aims for an economic growth of 8 percent by 2022. To make that possible, it will need a $230 billion worth of investment, which the government intends to acquire through the public sector, National Development Fund, capital market, banking facilities, private sector, domestic resources of governmental companies, and foreign resources.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Irans annual inward FDI (foreign direct investment) was $2.408 billion on average during 2005-2007, while this figure for 2011-2014 was $3.523 billion, despite the fact that the country was under sanctions.

Iran was freed from sanctions in January 2016. Three months later, the government announced it had authorized $3.4 billion investment since.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Moazzami said Iran considers special privileges for foreign investors to help them start businesses in Iran, including tax exemption, insurance policies, real estate facilities, discount on feed, and the right to export.

On February 1, Iranian Deputy Minister of Economy Mohammad Khazaei said Tehran was considering luring $25 billion foreign investment for development projects.
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Culture / Events

Within the universe of timepieces, deLaCour emerges as a unique and independent brand, a reality that will be on show at the upcoming SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS.

Sep 27, 2016 | By Staff Writer

Within the universe of prestigious timepieces, deLaCour emerges as a unique and independent brand, a reality that will be on show at the upcoming SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS. From October 20-23, you can discover this reality of watchmaking since tomorrow at SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS with deLaCour, the Official Timepiece Partner of the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS.

Embracing all the prestige, precision and finesse synonymous with the Swiss standard of excellence in crafting luxury timepieces, deLaCour transcends classical convention with distinctive and very clever collections.

In 2003, deLaCour unveiled its first collection, the Bichrono, an innovative dual time-zone watch with twin chonographs. It was powered by two independent chronograph movements set in a stunning oversized tonneau shaped case.

This debut was followed by other high complication timepieces, the Bitourbillon and the Birepetition.

The words Since tomorrow, define the Geneva-based watchmakers conception of creativity: with constant innovation, the history of the brand is written in the future.

Along with its complications, deLaCour presents five collections: City, Leap, Saqra, Reflect and the Promess.

deLaCour has expanded its global presence, including in Southeast Asia with a boutique in Singapore and another one in Indonesia.

For the first time in Asia, the Reflect Tourbillon will be presented during the SINGAPORE RENDEZVOUS.

The new case is the latest creation, combining avant-gardism and tradition. The concept is based on the design of the iconic elliptical shape, however comes with a more rectangular shape and softened corners.

The tourbillon was developed with strict specifications and the expertise of a recognized team of Swiss watch manufacturers.

Alfred Terzibachian, co-founder and CEO of deLaCour Geneve, along with the deLaCour Asia Pacific Team based in Singapore, will be delighted to present selective and exceptional timepieces from the collections.
Tehran, Iran, September 26

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Iranian-Canadian professor Homa Hoodfar who was under arrest in Iran has been freed, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Baharm Qassemi announced.

The retired professor was freed for humanitarian reasons such as [concern for] her illness, he said, ISNA reported September 26.

The spokesman added that Hoodfar has returned to Canada via Oman.

Hoodfar is a sociocultural anthropologist and professor emeritus of anthropology at Concordia University in Montreal.

While she is most widely known for her work on Western perceptions of the veil or hijab in its varied forms, meanings, and historical uses, much of her work has focused on women's roles in public life in Muslim societies.

Hoodfar was arrested in Iran in early June. Websites close to the Iranian government stated that she had met charges of collaboration on soft revolution plans designed by foreign governments.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran and Kazakhstan are keen to boost cooperation in energy sector and oil swap.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour and his visiting Kazakh counterpart Akylbek Kamaldinov, oil ministrys SHANA news agency reported Sept. 27.

During the meeting the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade areas as well as cooperation in banking, transit, rail and marine transport, energy and agriculture sectors.

Last month Iran announced that most likely the crude oil swap with Caspian states will start within one month.

At the first step Iran considers crude oil swap with Kazakhstan and Russia, which are already using the Neka oil terminal. Officials from both countries have visited the oil terminal last month.

In 2010, Iran stopped oil swaps with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

The Hague International Court of Justice fined the National Iranian Oil Company $5.5 million due to stopping the swap of oil with its international partners.

Under the oil swap agreements, which started in 1997 and were in place for over 12 years, Iran received crude oil of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in the Neka port and delivered an equal volume to the clients of the same countries in Persian Gulf.

The total income received by Iran from these swap transactions from 1997 to 2009 amounted to about $880 million.
Malaria Consortium receives new funding for mobile health system in Mozambique

27 September 2016



Malaria Consortium is delighted to announce that we have entered into a new eight month cooperative agreement worth US $1.2 million to expand our successful community-based mobile health (mHealth) system in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. This agreement is with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) with support from UK Aid from the UK government.

The funding allows Malaria Consortium and UNICEF to support the Mozambique Ministry of Health (MoH) to build on a UNICEF-funded project called upSCALE that is presently being implemented in Inhambane Province, in the south of the country. As a result of this additional funding, upSCALE will now be expanded to include Cabo Delgado Province in the north.

Our mHealth work in Mozambique started with the Innovations at Scale for Community Access and Lasting Effects (inSCALE) project, which ran from October 2009 to March 2016. The inSCALE project developed a smartphone application in collaboration with Dimagi, introduced in six of the 12 districts in Inhambane Province through a case-control study approach. The app is designed to increase community health workers (CHWs) capacity to manage clinical cases better and to reinforce their connection to the wider health system and particularly to their direct supervisor. The app also provides a mechanism for them to receive recognition for what they do well and to pay attention to what remains problematic, as well as boosting their motivation and performance.

inSCALEs success led to the creation of upSCALE, which began in February 2016. In close collaboration with UNICEF and with the leadership and strong involvement of the MoH, Malaria Consortium is supporting the expansion of the mHealth system in Inhambane. The expansion includes additional modules within the app based on the new 2014 curriculum and training materials from the MoH CHW programme, including antenatal and post-partum care, baby care, family planning and pregnancy tracking, as well as HIV and tuberculosis patient follow-up.

The integration with the MoH allows upSCALE to achieve maximum efficiency and sustainability as it works within Mozambiques existing health structure. The emphasis of this expansion to the whole Province of Inhambane aims is on creating sustainability through knowledge sharing, capacity building and MoH ownership in anticipation of further expansion to Cabo Delgado Province.

The CHW mHealth system will grow to include all districts in Inhambane, covering a total of 282 CHWs and 92 supervisors. In October 2016, we will also start working in the remote northern province of Cabo Delgado, where upSCALE will see the mHealth system and CHW app introduced to 405 CHWs and 130 supervisors.

Malaria Consortium welcomes the geographical expansion of upSCALE to Cabo Delgado as malaria is highly endemic in the northern region, said Sonia Gwesela, Country Director for Mozambique. Along with a strengthened approach in the south of Mozambique, this project can make a significant contribution to the improvement of child and maternal health in the country.

For more information on inSCALE, please visit the inSCALE website.

For further details of Malaria Consortiums work in Mozambique, please click here.

Related projects
David Cochrane David Cochrane

In 2013 South Africa published a draft IP policy which sparked controversy and prompted us to post this comment. While the broad objectives of the draft IP policy are commendable, the document was not drafted clearly. This led to uncertainty as to what the document meant and it received widespread criticism as a result.

In July 2016, the South African cabinet approved a new Intellectual Property Consultative Framework. This Framework appears to replace the 2013 draft IP Policy, with the intention being to have further engagement between government departments and society at large in order to formulate an IP Policy for South Africa. An inter-ministerial committee on IP is to be formed for this purpose.

The Framework recognises that the South African Constitution enshrines the right to property, which includes IP, and that the Constitution requires a balanced approach to property rights by also taking into account public interest. It also states that the IP policy should advance the following objectives:

a) engender the ethos of the Constitution;

b) align the countrys IP regime to its National Development Plan and industrial policy;

c) develop a co-ordinated intergovernmental approach to IP;

d) strike a balance between the creators and users of IP;

e) stimulate innovation;

f) facilitate the development of key industries while striking a balance with the public interest;

g) contribute to the attraction of foreign direct investment and technology transfer;

h) adopt a coordinated approach to IP in sub-regional, regional and international forums; and

i) promote public health

It will take some time for this IP policy to be formulated, and the Framework discusses certain key areas that require urgent action where a more equitable balance could be struck between private and public interest.

Some of these key areas are mentioned below. In developing an approach to these issues, the Framework states that due regard will be given to international best practice, including the experience of countries in similar levels of development (such as BRICS countries) and that it will be important to study how these countries have utilised the TRIPs flexibilities to respond to their specific needs.

Local manufacture and export of pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry is identified as a sector in South Africa that is small by international standards, and which has potential for growth.

Project Ketlaphela is a government-driven initiative aimed at establishing a fully integrated pharmaceutical company in South Africa. This entity is to engage in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and the formulation of medicines for South Africa and subsequently expanding into the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

It is stated that South Africas IP regime should complement the countrys ambition to develop this sector. The Framework does not, however, suggest how this should be achieved.

It is interesting to note that South Africa accepted the Doha Declaration on the TRIPs Agreement and Public Health on February 23 2016.

Substantive patent search and examination

The Framework confirms South Africas intention to implement substantive search and examination prior to the grant of patents.

It is stated that the approach must take into consideration South Africas capacity constraints and legitimate public health concerns. The suggestion is that patent examination will be implemented in a phased approach for different areas of technology, and the inference is that the pharmaceutical area will be one of the first areas for substantive examination.

Patentability criteria

The Framework states that Article 1 of the TRIPs Agreement read with Articles 7 and 8 gives WTO members the flexibility to implement and interpret the TRIPs patentability requirements in a manner consistent inter alia with their public health concerns.

It would appear that one of the reasons for the implementation of substantive search and examination is to be able to introduce new patentability criteria for pharmaceutical patents.

Parallel importation

The Framework states that Article 6, read together with footnote 6, of the TRIPs Agreement gives members flexibility to determine their own regimes for exhaustion of IP rights.

At present, the South African Patents Act provides for national exhaustion of patent rights but is silent on international exhaustion of patent rights. The Framework suggests that explicitly incorporating total international exhaustion into the Patents Act would clarify matters.

Exceptions to patentability

The Framework recognises that South Africa has already incorporated the so-called Bolar exception in the Patents Act, and suggests that a research exception should also be included.

At present, the South African Patents Act does not include a research exception. This exception is however recognised in the common law.

Compulsory licences

The Framework acknowledges that compulsory licensing provisions must comply with the conditions set out in the TRIPs Agreement. It suggests the following measures that could be implemented in order to streamline the compulsory licensing process:

compulsory licensing be handled in an administrative process;

guidelines on how to ascertain adequate remuneration for the patentee in the case of a compulsory licence being granted;

government use  there is a suggestion to include provisions in the Patents Act for public non-commercial use of patented subject matter;

compulsory licences for export; and

compulsory licensing to remedy anti-competitive practices.

IP and competition

The Framework suggests that guidelines on IP and competition could be developed in line with international best practice and in consultation with relevant government departments and stakeholders.

The Framework lists the multilateral IP treaties that South Africa is a party to, and states that South Africa should analyse international treaties to which it is not a party in order to determine whether the country could benefit by joining any of these treaties.

The Framework states that South Africa does not have a statute dealing specifically with geographical indications (GIs) and also does not have a sui generis system for GIs in respect of all kinds of products, but suggests that legislative initiatives are underway to remedy this.

Areas for urgent action

In conclusion, South Africas IP policy is still being formulated, and the consultative process is beginning again with the formation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on IP. In the Framework document, the government commits to respect IP rights, while striking appropriate balances with public interest.

The key areas that require urgent action appear to be focused on pharmaceutical patents and the government has made it clear that it intends to rely on the flexibilities afforded by the TRIPs Agreement to achieve this balance. While the Framework does not bind the government to measures taken by other BRICS countries in this regard, it would appear that the measures taken by these countries will have an influence on the measures that South Africa decides to take.

David Cochrane is a partner of Spoor & Fisher South Africa
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27



Trend:



The National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia adopted amendments to the law the Structure of the Government of Armenia ' in the first reading at a special session on Sept. 27.



The document was voted in favor of by 77 deputies, two voted against it, while 9 abstained, RIA Novosti reported.



Representing the document in Parliament, Armenian Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan said that a number of ministries and departments will undergo major structural changes, in particular, the four ministries will be restructured in accordance with the amendments.



According to Hovhannisyan, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will be renamed to the Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Economy  the Ministry of Investment and Business Support, the Ministry of Transport and Communications  the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.



The Ministry of Urban Development will be abolished; the State Committee for Architecture and protection of historical and cultural values will work instead of it.



Hovhannisyan noted that the changes are due to the new government priorities.



Hrant Bagratyan from the opposition faction of the Armenian National Congress said they made concrete proposals on September 26 and would like to know if they were accepted.



Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan informed the discussion of the draft law will continue until the second reading.
What Blows Up First, Deutsche Bank?

Calling Wall Streets banks stupid and dangerous is like calling the sun big and warm. Its a clear understatement of an obvious fact. The same goes for calling Japan and China economically clueless. Their actions pretty much guarantee that theyll ultimately enter some sort of death spiral.

Germany, meanwhile, is many things, but clueless and stupid arent normally on the list. So why is that countrys biggest bank causing nightmares for global policy makers and investors? Because  in a sign of just how close we are to the end of the fiat currency/fractional reserve banking era  Deutsche Bank is behaving in ways that would make executives at Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns step back in alarm. It seems, for example, to have become a derivatives junkie. Like a Vegas high-roller who cant stop raising his bets, DBs exposure to this unregulated, largely off-balance-sheet market now exceeds not just its host countrys GDP, but that of its entire continent:

And it recently joined its Wall Street cousins-in-crime by attracting a $14 billion fine for mortgage fraud. This amount seems puny next to a trillions-with-a-T derivatives book, but its enough to force DB to raise capital at an extremely inauspicious time. Heres an excerpt from a Bloomberg article on the banks  and Germanys  plight:

Deutsche Banks Pain Is Germanys Too Berlin is trying to distance itself from Deutsche Bank and the threat of a $14 billion U.S. fine that would likely force the bank to raise capital. This makes sense politically ahead of an election year. It also, effectively, calls the U.S. authorities bluff: if the fine is too big, German taxpayers wont step in to help. But the danger is that deepening investor concerns over the health of the countrys No. 1 bank spiral out of control  and circle right back to Berlin. As unpalatable as it may be politically, the market sees Germany and Deutsche as joined at the hip. You can see it in Deutsche Banks share price: it plumbed a record low on Monday after Focus magazine has reported Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out state aid for the lender ahead of next years elections. Deutsche Bank said its determined to manage on its own and a capital increase isnt currently on its agenda. Merkels government is attempting to stay out of the fray. On Monday, her chief spokesman said there were no grounds for speculation over state funding.

This last sentence illustrates the severity of the problem: When a government has to deny its intention to bail out a bank, a bail-out is not just possible but highly likely.

Zero Hedge has had some fun over the past year with a chart comparing DBs share price with that of Lehman Brothers, a Wall Street bank that eventually collapsed, setting off the 2008-2009 conflagration. Heres the chart from this summer:

And here it is after the most recent set of horrendous headlines:

DBs saga seems to be nearing some kind of resolution, with exactly zero potential happy endings. Either it crashes, taking the European and maybe global financial system down with it, or Germany nationalizes it, potentially tipping the euro, dollar and yen into chaos.

Germany at the center of a global crisis, who wouldve thought it?

By John Rubino

dollarcollapse.com

Copyright 2016  John Rubino - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Why There is Trump

Its over! The entire model our societies have been based on for at least as long as we ourselves have lived, is over! Thats why theres Trump.

There is no growth. There hasnt been any real growth for years. All there is left are empty hollow sunshiny S&P stock market numbers propped up with ultra cheap debt and buybacks, and employment figures that hide untold millions hiding from the labor force. And most of all theres debt, public as well as private, that has served to keep an illusion of growth alive and now increasingly no longer can.

These false growth numbers have one purpose only: for the public to keep the incumbent powers that be in their plush seats. But they could always ever only pull the curtain of Oz over peoples eyes for so long, and its no longer so long.

Thats what the ascent of Trump means, and Brexit, Le Pen, and all the others. Its over. What has driven us for all our lives has lost both its direction and its energy.

We are smack in the middle of the most important global development in decades, in some respects arguably even in centuries, a veritable revolution, which will continue to be the most important factor to shape the world for years to come, and I dont see anybody talking about it. That has me puzzled.

The development in question is the end of global economic growth, which will lead inexorably to the end of centralization (including globalization). It will also mean the end of the existence of most, and especially the most powerful, international institutions.

In the same way it will be the end of -almost- all traditional political parties, which have ruled their countries for decades and are already today at or near record low support levels (if youre not clear on whats going on, look there, look at Europe!)

This is not a matter of what anyone, or any group of people, might want or prefer, its a matter of forces that are beyond our control, that are bigger and more far-reaching than our mere opinions, even though they may be man-made.

Tons of smart and less smart folks are breaking their heads over where Trump and Brexit and Le Pen and all these new and scary things and people and parties originate, and they come up with little but shaky theories about how its all about older people, and poorer and racist and bigoted people, stupid people, people who never voted, you name it.

But nobody seems to really know or understand. Which is odd, because its not that hard. That is, this all happens because growth is over. And if growth is over, so are expansion and centralization in all the myriad of shapes and forms they come in.

Global is gone as a main driving force, pan-European is gone, and whether the United States will stay united is far from a done deal. We are moving towards a mass movement of dozens of separate countries and states and societies looking inward. All of which are in some form of -impending- trouble or another.

What makes the entire situation so hard to grasp for everyone is that nobody wants to acknowledge any of this. Even though tales of often bitter poverty emanate from all the exact same places that Trump and Brexit and Le Pen come from too.

That the politico-econo-media machine churns out positive growth messages 24/7 goes some way towards explaining the lack of acknowledgement and self-reflection, but only some way. The rest is due to who we ourselves are. We think we deserve eternal growth.

And of course its confusing that the protests against the old regimes and the growth and centralization -first- manifest in the rise of faces and voices who do not reject all of the above offhand. That is to say, the likes of Marine Le Pen, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage may be against more centralization, but none of them has a clue about growth being over. They dont get that part anymore than Hillary or Hollande or Merkel do.

So why these people? Look closer and you see that in the US, UK and France, there is nobody left who used to speak for the poor and poorer. While at the same time, the numbers of poor and poorer increase at a rapid clip. They just have nowhere left to turn to. There is literally no left left.

Dems in the US, Labour in the UK, and Hollandes Socialists in France have all become part of the two-headed monster that is the political center, and that is (held) responsible for the deterioration in peoples lives. Moreover, at least for now, the actual left wing may try to stand up in the form of Jeremy Corbyn or Bernie Sanders, but they are both being stangled by the two-headed monsters fake left in their countries and their own parties.

Donald Trump, and I say this mere hours before the first debate, may still lose the election, but it doesnt truly matter. Hes just the figure head -dare we say bobble head?- for a development, even a revolution, that he doesnt control any more than you and I do. Hes got a role to play but he didnt write it.

If he wins, his program too, like all the others, will be targeted towards more growth, and theres no such thing available. And while in a no-growth scenario itll be a good thing for America to bring jobs back home, as is trumps message, they wont spell anything that even comes close to growth.

Leaders such as Trump and Le Pen can only be seen as intermediate figures necessary for nations, and indeed the world, to adapt to an entirely different paradigm. One that is at best based on consolidation, on trying not to lose too much, instead of trying to conquer the world.

But also one that is likely to lead to warfare and mayhem, because nobodys been willing to address even the possibility of no more growth, and therefore everyone will be looking to squeeze growth out of any available place, starting with their neighbors, and the globes weakest. Its the Roman empire all over again, where the core strangled the periphery ever harder until the Barbarians and the Visigoths decided it was enough and then some.

That is the meaning of Donald Trump, and of Brexit. Youre not going to understand these things without taking a few steps back, and without looking at history, and especially without acknowledging the possibility that, in economics, perpetual growth may indeed be what physics has always said it was: an impossible pipedream.

Trump has a role to play in this whether he wins the election or not. Hes the big red flashing American warning sign that the increase in poverty that has so far been felt only among those who it has hit, will shake the familiar political landscape on its foundations, and that this landscape will never return.

Look at European political parties established for decades and you see the exact same thing. Only there you often have other escape valves, because new parties are easier to form and get onto national forums. But its still the same thing.

Centralization, globalization, UN, NATO, IMF, all these principles and organizations will see their influence and support dwindle, and rapidly. Its really over. Debt did it. Or rather, our doomed mission to hide our downfall behind a veil of ever more debt did.

And Donald Trump has a role to play in that. If Hillary wins, itll only be more, and ever more, and spastically more, attempts to convince everyone that more globalization is the way to go, and that going to war with Putin and sending young Americans into battle in fields lose before they enter is the way of the future.

Both will be failures. All we really get to do it try to decide who may be the lesser failure.

But anyway, thats where Trump comes from, and he doesnt understand the half of it. Trump is there because everything else failed. And he will fail too, win or lose.

By Raul Ilargi Meijer

Website: http://theautomaticearth.com (provides unique analysis of economics, finance, politics and social dynamics in the context of Complexity Theory) 2016 Copyright Raul I Meijer - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

Raul Ilargi Meijer Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Bullet pens have been used to sign a historic peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group, Press TV reported.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and rebel leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, signed the deal which formerly ends the 52 year civil war at a ceremony in the Caribbean city of Cartagena on Monday. "Welcome to democracy," Santos told the rebels upon singing the accord.

Santos said the decision to use a bullet-pens was intended to show Colombia's changeover from a country of bullets into a country of "education and future."

"Bullets wrote our past. Education, our future," read the message engraved on the baligrafos -- a portmanteau word blended from Spanish words boligrafo (pen) and bala (bullet).

"We are being reborn to launch a new era of reconciliation and of building peace," Timochenko told a gathering of international dignitaries including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and some Latin American leaders, including Cuban President Raul Castro.

"In the name of the FARC, I sincerely apologize to all the victims of the conflict for any pain we may have caused during this war," he added.

Today we are experiencing the happiness of a new dawn for Colombia," said Santos on Twitter ahead of the signing. He called it "a new stage in our history -- one of a country in peace!"

The deal will be implemented only if approved by a majority of Colombians in a national referendum to be held next Sunday.

Several hours before the signing, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced that it was removing FARC from its list of terrorist organizations.

"This decision will allow us to support the post-conflict program and will be of benefit to all Colombians," Mogherini said.

Kerry praised Santos efforts to secure the deal and pledged $390 million to its implementation. He noted that the US is still not ready to remove FARC from its terrorist list but will review sanctions after the deal has been fully implemented.

Under the deal, the Colombian government is obligated to engage in an aggressive land reform, to overhaul its anti-narcotics policies, and to expend them into underdeveloped regions in the country. In turn, FARC will start to withdraw its troops from their jungle and mountain hideouts and relocate them into UN disarmament camps.

FARC is the largest rebel group in Colombia and has an estimated 7,000 fighters. It has been at war with the government in Bogota since the guerrilla movement rose to prominence in 1964. So far, more than 220,000 people have been killed in clashes between the two sides and 6.6 million others have been displaced. Moreover, a further 45,000 people are said to be missing.
MARTINSVILLE  Though she has acted in multiple TheatreWorks Community Players productions before, Lanetta Byrd was nervous Saturday when she auditioned for a part in An Evening of Carol Burnett.

But she used her nerves to her advantage.

She incorporated her nervousness into the character whose part she was reading in a scene from a different play, Mama Wont Fly.

Byrd repeatedly shook the page containing the dialogue as she read  seemingly on her last nerve, or close to it.

She grimaced. She moved her hands to make points. She touched her fingers to her lower left jaw as she gritted her teeth.

In this scene, Byrd was portraying a daughter who mistakenly thought her mother was setting her up on a blind date  again.

On no, not another dreadful blind date, Byrds character seemed to be thinking.

Corbin Campbell, artistic director for TheatreWorks Community Players and director of An Evening of Carol Burnett, said that during auditions, he allows people trying out to either read a monologue they have prepared or he provides dialogue from a theatrical scene that they can review briefly first and then read during the audition.

Byrd was in the latter category.

Byrd said even though she has performed in TheatreWorks productions since 2012, she still gets nervous during auditions. She wants to do well, and she wants to draw the audience into her character and the production.

So how does she cope with nerves during auditions?

She takes a deep breath, remembers that she enjoys acting and thinks to herself that she has to get through this.

Once rehearsals begin, the cast becomes like family, a working unit, protecting one anothers backs, she said.

Byrd especially likes comedies, which An Evening of Carol Burnett  is, featuring actual sketches from The Carol Burnett Show long-running TV series.

Byrd said performing in comedies leaves her  and she hopes audiences -- feeling revived, positive, forgetting about problems for a while  maybe even experiencing rib-breaking laughter.

Byrd added she loved Carol Burnetts physical humor and farce.

Campbell said after Byrd auditioned, that he was very pleased with her reading. She had not seen the dialogue before, reviewed it for about a minute before auditioning, and very quickly was able to portray the character with a variety of expressions and voice variety, he said.

Campbell said in general Byrds strengths as an actor include being able to quickly make the audience want to watch and having good comedic timing.

Byrd said of her audition performance: I thought it could be better. I thought I was OK.

Byrd lives in Collinsville and is an assistant manager and customer sales representative for Carter Bank &

Trust.

Among the others who auditioned Saturday at the Black Box Theatre were Betty Joe Turner of Fieldale and Linda Via of Martinsville.

Via said, Corbin really makes you feel at ease.

Campbell said he tells people auditioning not to get stressed and to consider the audition as a conversation. For example, if the production is a comedy, Campbell might say, Tell me the last thing that made you laugh. People are good at developing humor when they are engaged in a conversation, he said.

Both Via and Turner indicated they have acted in TheatreWorks productions for years and were bitten by the acting bug.

I love this place, Turner said as she stood outside the Black Box Theatre.

TheatreWorks Community Players is scheduled to perform An Evening of Carol Burnett Nov. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at Black Box Theatre, at 44 Franklin Street, Martinsville.

TheatreWorks Community Players performed An Evening of Carol Burnett two years ago, and tickets sold quickly, according to Campbell and Pat Walmsley, theater manager for TheatreWorks Community Players. This time around, TheatreWorks Community Players will perform different skits from The Carol Burnett Show than two years ago, Campbell said.

Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com.
Turkey plays a vital role for Europe, U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Monday, referring to the country's hosting of millions of Syrian refugees, Anadolu reported.

Johnson met Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik in the capital Ankara on Monday.

Speaking to journalists prior to their meeting, Johnson said he appreciated the generosity of the government and the Turkish people towards the refugees.

Earlier Monday, he visited a container city, which houses Syrian refugees in Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep province.

The British foreign secretary also praised the Turkish nation's stand for democracy against the defeated July 15 coup, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

He said the people of Turkey had not allowed their democracy to be destroyed by the coup attempters.

Johnson also said that his country would continue supporting Turkey's EU bid, adding that Britain was leaving the EU, not Europe.

EU Minister Celik also underlined that the U.K.s move to leave the EU was not synonymous with a departure from Europe.

The U.K. has been a European power and will continue on this path. Turkey, even if it is not an EU member, is a European power historically and a European democracy. Following the July 15 coup attempt, Turkey proved with its nation that it has a first-class democracy.

On Tuesday, Johnson is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
LYNCHBURG  Areva North America has laid off 12 people in Lynchburg, part of a nationwide reduction of 50 employees. According to the company, the changes are a result of a shrinking demand for Arevas support for existing nuclear reactors.

All of the employees affected worked in the Installed Base department, which works on existing nuclear reactors, either in operations or administrative capacities.

As our customers adapt and shift their needs, we need to adapt and shift with them, Curtis Roberts, Areva spokesman, said Monday.

Employees affected by the layoffs were notified Sept. 15 and officially will be out of work Nov. 15. Areva will employ approximately 1,400 people in Lynchburg after the cuts. The Paris-based company employs 5,000 people in the United States across 35 locations.

Were very focused on how this transition can affect our employees so we can help support them in this transition, which is why we gave them 60 days notice, Roberts said. During the 60-day notification period, employees impacted by the workforce reduction may focus primarily on seeking their next employment, including applying for open positions at AREVA.

Areva announced a loss of $5.3 billion globally in 2014 and $2.3 billion in losses for 2015. The company released its Strategic Roadmap to strengthen the companys financial position by 2020. Areva CEO Philippe Knoche emphasized how the restructuring will help put the company back on track during a Paris news conference in February.

With the support and commitment of all our employees, I am convinced that this action plan will enable us to install our strategy of reconquest and give us a new start on our mission, continually improved, of serving the French nuclear industry and our customers all over the world.

The company laid off 50 people in Lynchburg in January of this year across a variety of departments, more than half of the 90 employees who were let go nationally.

Additionally, the company cut 22 jobs in December 2014 following a weak financial report revealing Arevas net income dropped $852 million in the first half of that year. According to Roberts, losses pushed the company to change its strategies.
A defense contractor will close its plant in Buena Vista, putting about 80 people out of work by years end.

HDT Global plans to move its operations to a facility in Huntsville, Alabama, the Ohio-based company said in a statement Monday.

The news release did not say how many people currently work at the manufacturing facility on Green Forest Avenue, where HDT has operated since 2012.

The company has been in Rockbridge County since 2000, when it was called Base-X, founded by a Northern Virginia entrepreneur. She sold the company, which then had a plant in Fairfield, to Hunter Defense Technologies in 2005.

Brian Brown, Buena Vistas director of economic development, said the closing will affect between 80 and 100 employees.

Production will continue until Dec. 31. Most recently, HDT workers at the plant made military tents for emergency operation centers.

In announcing the closing, HDT said it was also planning to consolidate operations in the Fredericksburg area with a new facility that will expand our capabilities and facilitate innovation and product development.

HDT makes what it calls deployable solutions for the U.S. military and its allies, including shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices and robotics. It also serves civilian government and commercial customers.

Employees and city officials were told of the companys plans to shutter its Buena Vista plant Monday morning, Brown said.

Our employees are our greatest asset, and with teamwork and engagement we intend to make this transition as easy as possible, the company news release stated.

An HDT representative did not immediately respond to a question about whether the Buena Vista employees would be offered jobs elsewhere within the company.

HDT had been leasing the building on Buena Vistas east side, which previously was occupied by an automobile axle manufacturer.

Brown said the city plans to start marketing the building for a new tenant as soon as we are able to.
MARTINSVILLE-On Friday in Martinsville General District Court, a judge sent hit-and-run and related charges against Elizabeth Ann Stanley to Circuit Court.

A charge of felony hit and run involving personal injury against Stanley, 50, of 111 Big Jane Street, Martinsville, was amended on motion of the commonwealth to felony hit and run involving property damage of more than $1,000 and the amended charge was sent to Circuit Court, along with misdemeanor charges of knowingly give a false report to law enforcement officer with intent to mislead, drive under revocation or suspension, reckless driving and operate or permit operation of uninsured vehicle.

Criminal complaints and related documents alleged the following:

On Aug. 27, Patrolman Michael Lane Clark of the Martinsville Police Department responded to an area of East Church Street and Bob Gregory, in reference to a motor vehicle accident. While en route, Clark was advised that one of the vehicles had left the scene. It was described as a light blue vehicle with heavy front end damage and Virginia license plate (the number was given).

At the scene of the accident, Clark found a Ford Fusion with heavy rear end damage and one adult and one child requiring emergency medical service. The driver of the Fusion advised they were sitting at a red light when the light blue vehicle slammed into them from behind. The victim said the driver of the other vehicle knocked on her window, asked if they were OK and then left the scene.

The vehicle that left the scene was located at 111 Big Jane Street, with heavy front-end damage and no tags on the vehicle.

Elizabeth Stanley advised she hadnt been in the vehicle all day, and the vehicle had no insurance on it.

The vehicle also was showing as not registered.

A Virginia license tag with the number matching the one described above was lying in the back seat, but it shows coming back to a red 1994 Chevrolet, according to a criminal complaint.

A check showed that Stanleys license was revoked.

Victims of the motor vehicle accident were transported to 111 Big Jane Street, and they positively identified Stanley as the driver who left the scene.

According to a criminal complaint, Patrolman C.B. Bell of the Martinsville Police Department got a call on Aug. 27 in reference to a stolen vehicle in the area of 111 Big Jane Street. The caller advised her car was stolen the day before but that it was now sitting in her driveway. While en route, Bell was advised by Patrolman Clark that the vehicle in question possibly was involved in a hit and run in the area of East Church Street.

Upon arrival, Bell observed a blue Honda with no tags on the vehicle, major front end damage, air bag deployed, tags lying in the back seat and the keys still in the ignition.

Bell then made contact with Elizabeth Stanley, who stated that someone took her vehicle, and when Stanley found it returned in the driveway, it was wrecked. Bell then advised Stanley that witnesses had identified her as the driver. Bell asked Stanley if she wanted to change her story. Stanley advised at that time she still wanted to report that the vehicle was stolen and wrecked by someone else.

On Friday in Martinsville General District Court, Gary Ronald Frith, 71, of 3231 Mount Olivet Road, Martinsville, was found not guilty of misdemeanor point/brandish a firearm.

Also Friday in Martinsville General District Court, Joey Dale Looney of 240 Pine Street, Fieldale, waived his preliminary hearing on three counts of grand larceny, and those charges were sent to Circuit Court.

Criminal complaints and related documents allege that Looney stole a Samsung Galaxy S5 smart phone belonging to We Care Inc. on East Church Street and an Apple iPhone belonging to Regina Collins of We Care, both on July 29, 2016; and allegedly stole a 50-inch flat screen TV and Wii game system, property of Victoria McCoy of Bassett, on May 27, 2016.

Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com.
COLLINSVILLE  A Martinsville man will serve 15 months behind bars after being sentenced Monday on one count of grand larceny and two counts of petty larceny.

On Monday in Martinsville Circuit Court, Judge David Carson sentenced Derek Ray Jordan, 26, of 1723 Axton Road, Martinsville, to a total of seven years of incarceration on the three charges: two years of incarceration on each count of petit larceny-third or subsequent offense and three years of incarceration for grand larceny. Carson suspended a total of 5 years and 9 months of the sentences and ordered Jordan to serve a total of 15 months active time.

Judge Carson also said Jordan will be placed on probation after hes released from incarceration and ordered him to pay a total of $45 restitution to two of the victims. At the beginning of the court hearing Monday, Jordan changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to the three charges. The prosecution did not oppose the judges decision to use the low end of sentencing guidelines.

Patrick County Commonwealths Attorney Stephanie Vipperman prosecuted the cases because one of the victims was Alberto Herrero, a Martinsville assistant commonwealths attorney.

Vipperman read a summary of the commonwealths evidence, alleging:

A witness who lives in an apartment complex on East Church Street woke up around 4 a.m. to go to work. When he looked out his window, he saw a white SUV come into the parking lot, stop, and a male get out (later identified as Derek Ray Jordan) and check other vehicles.

Jordan allegedly ultimately was able to get inside three vehicles and take items valued at less than $200 from two of the vehicles and items valued at more than $200 from one of the vehicles.

Police responded and apprehended Jordan at the scene. They recovered victims items, but some damage was done, for which restitution is owed.

Jordan has three prior larceny-related convictions.

Also Monday in Martinsville Circuit Court, Judge G. Carter Greer accepted a contingent plea agreement and took under advisement (put off deciding the case) for one year for a felony embezzlement charge against Emily Damene Holland, who pleaded guilty to the charge. Under the agreement, Holland, 27, of 125 Remus Street, Martinsville, will be on supervised probation and must repay $770.36 she allegedly embezzled from Rue 21. If she lives up to the terms of the agreement and does not violate any rules of probation, a year from now the felony charge will be amended to a misdemeanor charge and she will be fined $50. If she violates probation during the year the case is under advisement, she will be convicted of felony embezzlement and sentenced accordingly,

Martinsville Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Alberto Herrero summarized the commonwealths evidence, which alleges the following:

Holland worked as a sales clerk at Rue 21 at The Village of Martinsville (formerly Liberty Fair Mall) during the fall of 2015. Her district store manager contacted authorities on Oct. 9, 2015, alleging that Holland had admitted to giving fraudulent discounts to store customers (mainly to friends and acquaintances) around 15 to 20 times between Sept. 8 and Oct. 2, 2015. The value of the fraudulent discounts totaled $770.36, and Holland did not have authority to offer these discounts.

Hollands lawyer, Perry Harrold, said Monday that Holland does not completely agree with the quote, unquote confession, but that she wanted to go forward with the offer (referring to the contingent plea agreement).

On Friday in Martinsville Circuit Court, a jury found Marcus Antonio Bradley of Martinsville guilty of misdemeanor possess marijuana on March 19, for which he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $500. The jury found Bradley not guilty of felony possess cocaine.

On Thursday in Martinsville Circuit Court, Judge Greer sentenced Deangelo Hunt , 27, of Martinsville to active time totaling four years behind bars on two counts of distribute cocaine on Sept. 11 and Oct. 10, 2014.

Specifically, on each count of distribute cocaine, Judge Greer sentenced Hunt to 10 years in prison, with eight years suspended and two years active, as well as a $1,000 fine, three years of probation and 20 years of good behavior.

Paul Collins reports for the Martinsville Bulletin and can be reached at paul.collins@martinsvillebulletin.com.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey has sent a second note to Germany demanding extradition of fugitive prosecutors Zekeriya Oz and Jalal Kara, the Anadolu Agency reports.

The prosecutors had close ties with movement of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of involvement in a military coup in Turkey.

Earlier, the Turkish media reported that Oz and Kara could be in one of the villas in the German city of Freiburg near the border with Switzerland and France.

The first note demanding extradition of Oz and Kara was sent to Germany in 2015.

Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara investigated the 2013 corruption scandal in Turkey. Dozens of people were detained, including businessmen and sons of some ministers as a result of a special operation carried out in Istanbul and Ankara on December 17, 2013.

They were detained on charges of corruption, smuggling and selling drugs.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
RICHMOND (AP)  An attorney for a Virginia lawmaker says her client did not assault family members in his home and won't resign from office.

Media outlets report that attorney Nicole Belote said in a statement Tuesday that state Del. Rick Morris, a Republican from Suffolk, "adamantly denies" the allegations and is confident the legal process will reveal the truth. Morris did not appear in person Tuesday morning for an arraignment.

Morris was arrested last week on 14 counts including felony cruelty and injuries to children and misdemeanor domestic assault of an adult female family member.

On Saturday, top Republicans, including House Speaker Bill Howell, asked Morris to resign. Belote says Morris "respects" the request, but won't resign. She says Morris knows he is innocent and believes in the legal process.
WILBRAHAM - The Gaudreau Group Insurance and Financial Services Agency of Wilbraham, MA welcomes Tracy Goodman, Personal Risk Specialist, to their Personal Insurance team. Using the agency's access to dozens of carriers to ensure a customized experience for each client, Goodman designs personal risk management plans for individuals and employer groups, helping protect what's important to them. She specializes in coverages including life, home, auto, renters, and umbrella.



"Tracy takes pride in completing a thorough coverage analysis with each client, helping them to understand their coverage, feel financially comfortable, and know what to expect if they ever have a loss. She's a valuable addition to our remarkable Personal Insurance team, and our clients will benefit from her unique skillset and perspective." says Jules Gaudreau, President of The Gaudreau Group.

Goodman has been in the Insurance industry since 2008, with prior experience in Human Resources and Recruiting. She is Co-chair of Programs for the Women Business Owners Alliance, a volunteer and mentor with Girls, Inc., conducts community outreach for the Springfield JCC's J-Art program, and is a member of the Professional Women's Chamber. Tracy is a graduate of the University of Delaware and completed a semester abroad at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel. She is continuing her insurance education in the prestigious Certified Insurance Counselor program.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Searches are underway in an office of Turkeys largest charity organization Kimse Yok Mu as part of fight against the movement of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of involvement in the July 15 coup attempt, Milliyet newspaper reports.

More than 120 employees of the organization have been detained.

The Kimse Yok Mu organization is accused of providing financial support to the Gulen movement.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.

However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.

Earlier, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll as a result of the coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
adam anrt.jpg

Adam Amt

(File Photo)

Adam Ant is following up a U.K. tour with a 2017 trip through the U.S. in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of his album "Kings of the Wild Frontier."

Ant will play the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on Jan. 24.

Along with the tour, the celebration includes a newly-reissued box-set version of the album (Sony Legacy UK) available in North America through Amazon.

Adam Ant began with The Ants in the late 1970s (eventually becoming Adam and the Ants) in London, England. He became an icon of the '80s music scene and MTV darling while earning Grammy nominations and selling 40 million records worldwide.

His hits include "Goody Two Shoes," "Stand and Deliver," and "Wonderful" and he once had eight singles in the Top 40 in one week.

Ticket information for the tour is available through adam-ant.com.
BOSTON - Attorneys for Michael P. McCarthy and Rachelle Bond, the two people at the center of the Bella Bond murder case, faced off in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday, seeking records they say will bolster their respective cases.



McCarthy is accused of killing Bella Bond, and Rachelle Bond, the toddler's mother, is charged as an accessory after the fact. Both have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, and they did not appear in court on Tuesday.



Janice Bassil, Bond's attorney, is seeking McCarthy's drug, medical and psychiatric records, while Jonathan Shapiro, McCarthy's attorney, is looking to obtain Bond's drug and psychiatric records, as well as records from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the state Office of the Child Advocate, which looked into DCF's handling of Rachelle Bond, who previously lost custody of two earlier children.



The judge on Tuesday took their attorneys' respective arguments on accessing the psychiatric records and Office of Child Advocate documents under advisement. The Office of Child Advocate registered its opposition to releasing its documents, saying under statute the documents are not subject to being introduced as evidence in criminal or civil proceedings.



Bond and McCarthy are on track to be tried separately. Bond's trial is scheduled for December, but that could end up getting pushed back, while McCarthy's attorney said he was aiming for February 2017 for his client's trial.

Blame game over death of Bella Bond in full swing



"The autopsy report in this case does not indicate the cause of death and it's anybody's speculation how Bella actually died," Shapiro said after the lengthy court hearing. "Although Rachelle Bond claims that Mr. McCarthy beat her to death, there's no corroboration in any of the evidence as to that and we don't know how she died."



The records he is seeking get to Bond's credibility and whether she was able to distinguish fact from fiction, Shapiro said, arguing the case depends on what Bond has told police.



Shapiro said his team believes Rachelle Bond is responsible for Bella's death. "We're not saying Rachelle beat Bella," he added, in pressing for DCF records.



Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Bassil said Shapiro's comments appear to be "Hail Mary pass." In court, Bassil said she had read the DCF records herself and "not one page" deals with abuse.



The records indicate Bond needed additional resources to help with the care of Bella. "She was, for lack of a better word, a fragile parent," Bassil said, adding that Rachelle Bond had a long history of drug abuse and spending time on the streets of Boston. The older records concerning the two previous children who were taken away concern neglect, she said.



Shapiro said the records should be available, since Bond's credibility will be at the center of McCarthy's trial.



The next agreed-upon court date is Nov. 10.
Marty Walsh, Jeff Immelt, Charlie Baker

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, left, speaks during a news conference as General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, center, and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, right, look on in Boston, Monday, April 4, 2016. The news conference was held to unveil more details about GE's move to the city. GE is pledging to spend $50 million on a series of initiatives in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

(AP)

By COLIN A. YOUNG

Addressing a business breakfast crowd Tuesday morning, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh celebrated the success of his city's economy, but concluded that benefits are not reaching enough Bostonians and vowed to tackle racial and economic inequity in the city.

Construction cranes are casting shadows over downtown Boston, global industry leaders like General Electric are putting down roots in the city and the unemployment rate is nearly as low as it's been this century. But inequity in employment, health and education "strikes at our identity as a city of opportunity for all," Walsh told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Describing the city as "flourishing," Walsh said there is a total of $6 billion in development under construction right now, part of the $12 billion worth of development that's entered the city's pipeline since 2014. The city's 40,000 small businesses generate $15 billion in revenue annually and are responsible for 170,000 jobs, Walsh said.

GE has relocated to the Seaport District, a move Walsh said will help Boston draw even more businesses in growth sectors, like cyber security, advanced manufacturing and 3D printing. The city's unemployment rate is below 4 percent, Walsh said, its lowest mark in more than 15 years.

"Boston has reached a position of economic leadership that is unprecedented in our history. It hasn't been by accident," Walsh said, according to a copy of his remarks as prepared for delivery. "We've let go of the insular culture and top-down leadership of the past. We've deepened our core strengths and we've built carefully and confidently beyond them."

Boston has the chance, the mayor said, to "launch the next generation of technologies that will change the world." But that promise of global influence, good jobs and prosperity, Walsh said, is hampered by inequality.

"That low unemployment figure I mentioned earlier? It's between two and three times that number in neighborhoods of color like Roxbury and Mattapan," Walsh said. "Similar disparities are evident in health, education, and almost every aspect of community and individual well-being. These disparities are rooted in history and continue presenting barriers to opportunity today."

Boston was the sixth most unequal metropolitan area in 2015 with a Gini Index rating of 0.5455 and Massachusetts was the sixth most unequal state with a Gini score of 0.485, according to data released from the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this month. The Gini Index measures inequality on a scale from 0 to 1, with 0 representing total equality and 1 representing total inequality.

Walsh said he came to the conclusion that City Hall needs to lead a "more open and intentional conversation about race" after talking with people of color in the city's neighborhoods and within his own administration. The conversation, he said, is "long overdue."

"I believe we must forge a deeper understanding of each other's experiences," the mayor said. "It's the only way we will find common language for our shared challenges, and move forward as a more united and more resilient community."

Walsh said City Hall will hold a series of public conversations on race and equity, and will provide a toolkit to anyone who wishes to lead a similar discussion in their neighborhood or workplace.

The city is already trying to address inequity in the school system by expanding access to free exam school preparation for hundreds of additional students, in its economic policies by making procurement practices more inclusive and studying the barriers to city contracts for minority-owned businesses and by working with Verizon to ensure all neighborhoods of the city are connected to "the best possible access to the global flow of data" with fiber optic cable.

With a business-heavy crowd listening to his remarks Tuesday morning, Walsh implored business leaders to partner in the city's efforts to deal with racial inequity. Leveling the playing field for all city residents, he said, is not just good for the community but also good for business.

"It's not just about talking. If we can deepen trust across communities, we can accelerate our progress forward," Walsh said. "We can unlock more talent for our economy. And we can be stronger and more united in the face of whatever challenges come our way."
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Amherst voters in November will be asked to support a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion override to pay for a new school at the site of the Wildwood Elementary School.

(Diane Lederman/The Republican)

AMHERST -- Besides weighing on who should be the next president, town voters Nov. 8 will decide whether to approve funding for a new elementary school.

Question 5 on the Amherst ballot calls for a new $67 million two-wing school at the site of the current Wildwood Elementary School that would accommodate 750 students in grades two through six.

The town's share would be about $32 million, with state School Building Authority covering the rest of the cost.

An Early Childhood Center for preschool through first grade would be created at the Crocker Farm Elementary School.

To help residents be informed about the project, the Amherst League of Women Voters will hold a forum Wednesday night with speakers supporting and opposed to the project.

It will also feature town officials addressing the project and the financing for a debt exclusion override. Unlike a property tax override, which remains on the tax rate, the debt would be removed once the school is paid off.

Acting Superintendent Michael Morris and Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, a member of the building committee, will speak along with Amherst Finance Committee Chairwoman Marylou Theilman and Vice Chairman Steve Braun.

Liz Larson, Susan Bellak, members of Building Opportunity for Learning and Discovery (BOLD), will speak about why they support the project. Members of Save Amherst Small Schools Maria Kopicki and Laura Quilter will talk about why they oppose it.

Supporters believe this is the chance for the town to replace the Wildwood and Fort River elementary schools, which are in need of repair, with a new building that would improve the learning environment and foster equity.

According to the BOLD website, "By constructing one new building housing two schools that children from all Amherst neighborhoods can attend together, we eliminate the current system of busing students to different schools based on their socioeconomic status or individual learning needs, and ensure that all children have access to a healthy learning environment with the best resources we can provide."

On Facebook, Save Amherst Small Schools is urging a no vote, which "means voting yes to telling the superintendent's office to consider the wishes of parents and staff, who support K6, who support the small schools that are best for children, who support walkable neighborhood schools, who support innovative pedagogy, equity and sustainability."

The forum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Amherst Regional Middle School.

Town Meeting also must approve the debt exclusion override. The Select Board, meanwhile, Monday night voted to support the override. The exact cost to property owners is not yet known.
HOLYOKE - Police are investigating a bomb threat at Holyoke High School on Monday morning, but they say there was never any danger to the public.

A joint statement from the police, fire and school departments said the threat was made by phone "with low level specificity." It's the third such threat in two weeks.

School staff and first responders decided to sweep the building, and classes went on uninterrupted.

Investigators said their "goal is to arrest the perpetrator, charge them with the felony and bring them before our courts to answer for the charges."

The penalty for making a false bomb threat is up to 20 years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.

"As a community, we are concerned with anyone who disrupts the learning environment of our students," officials said. "We use all resources available to identify individuals responsible for these distractions."

Anyone with information about the threat is urged to call 413-533-8477, or text a tip to 274637 and put SOLVE in the message. Include the words "Holyoke High School" and mention that your tip is about the bomb threat.

Officials said they will keep parents and the community informed of developments in the case as appropriate.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Turkey, the Turkish newspaper Star reports.

Blinken is slated to meet with senior Turkish officials.

The sides will discuss the joint fight of Turkey and the United States against the militants of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group as well as details of the Shield of the Euphrates operation.

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 the 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.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 27

By Orkhan Quluzade - Trend:

The operation is underway in the National Intelligence Service of Turkey regarding the fight against the movement of Fethullah Gulen, Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Gulen is accused of being involved in a military coup attempt in Turkey.

The investigation against 100 employees of National Intelligence Service, who are accused of being involved in the coup attempt, has been completed.

As a result of the investigation, 87 employees were suspended from work; criminal cases were opened against 52 employees.

On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them.

However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.

Earlier, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll as a result of the coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
Chinese Baby with 31 Digits (Photo : YouTube)

The video of a mutant piglet in China became viral in mid-September because of the animals unique features such as having a face like a human and a penis on its head.



On Saturday, the video of an eight-year-old Chinese boy also became viral because he was born with 31 fingers and toes instead of the normal 20 digits on the hand and feet. He went through a first of three free surgeries on that day to correct the rare defect, reported Daily Pakistan.



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The parents of the boy, who are from Ningbo, were initially reluctant to seek medical help for their sons condition because of the expected high cost involved. Such corrective surgery could cost up to $75,000 in China.



However, doctors at No. 6 Hospital in the city, found in Zhejiang Province, agreed to lower the cost of the boys treatment. The hospital likewise agreed to waive most of the fees for the care of the child, who has 15 fingers and 16 toes, until he reaches 16 years old.



The condition is known as polydactyly, resulting in extra digits, although the boys case is considered rare because he has 11 extra digits. Doctors would cut off the extra digits and reshape the rest by operating on the childs bones, joints, skin, nails and critical vein. Their aim is to finish all cosmetic procedures by the time the child starts school.



New York Daily News explained that polydactylsm is quite common, affecting one in 1,000 newborns. However, the rate in China is double, at two in 1,000 newborns. It is a hereditary condition, with a 50 percent chance of the baby having multiple extra digits too if the parent have it. In the case of the Ningbo boys mother, she has an extra small thumb on her right hand and two fused underdeveloped thumbs on the left hand.






World Rugby has made the difficult decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021, scheduled to be hosted in New Zealand between 18 September-16 October, until next year. The recommendation will be considered by the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee on 8 and 9 March respectively.

While appreciating the recommendation is extremely disappointing for teams and fans, it has their interests at heart, and gives the tournament the best opportunity to be all it can be for them, all New Zealanders and the global rugby family.

The recommendation is based on the evolution of the uncertain and challenging global COVID-19 landscape. It has become clear in recent discussions with key partners including New Zealand Rugby, the New Zealand Government and participating unions, that, given the scale of the event and the COVID-19-related uncertainties, it is just not possible to deliver the environment for all teams to be the best that they can be on the sports greatest stage.

The challenges include uncertainty and the ability for teams to prepare adequately for a Rugby World Cup tournament both before and on arrival in New Zealand, and challenging global travel restrictions.

World Rugby can assure teams, New Zealanders and the global rugby family that the recommendation to postpone the tournament will help to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2021 will be all it can be next year for players, fans and the rugby family  one of the great Rugby World Cups.

Further updates will be issued following the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee meetings next week.

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Suspended TV Reporter (Photo : YouTube)

Television reporters who do on-camera reportage are highly visible, and their comments or even the way they deliver their lines could be subject to a lot of viewer scrutiny. For instance, in September 2015, a female ESPN reporter was accused by the wife of the Washington Redskins general manager of engaging in oral sex for a scoop.



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On Tuesday, Xiamen TV station suspended a female journalist for wearing sunglasses and holding an umbrella while interviewing people in a community in Xiamen, Fujian Province, hit by Typhoon Merati, reported South China Morning Post. The typhoon killed 13 people in the mainland and affected 700,000 Chinese.



In a statement posted on the TV stations microblog account, the broadcaster said, Her behaviour has violated the professional codes of conduct, damaged the image of journalists and has had a negative impact on the public. It suspended her after the reporters photo became viral on social media as Chinese netizens shared the image.



She got a lot of flak for wearing shades and using an umbrella even if the sun was not too intense that day. Some netizens said her wearing of sunglasses while interviewing people is an indicator she did not respect her interviewees.



But one netizen came to the female journalists defense by asking, Does the broadcaster have stipulations that say that journalists who dont appear on screen cannot hold umbrellas or wear sunglasses while doing interviews?



In July, Lydia Cummings, a journalist of TV Azteca in Mexico, was caught on camera being carried by locals after floodings in Puebla. Her arms were wrapped around a man and woman who carried Cummings on their shoulder, while she was holding a microphone on one hand and a pink mobile phone on the other hand, but the feet of those who carried her were totally submerged in murky floodwater. The photo also became viral and resulted in the creation of memes, and Cummings was fired by her network, reported New York Post.






China Aims to Hasten Talks on Extradition Treaty with Canada to Speed Up Deportation

Canada and China have agreed on a one-year pilot program on practicing rule of law. (Photo : Getty Images)

The statement was made by Scott Bardsley, press secretary to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. If a deal was concluded, Chinese officials will be able to travel to Canada to interview Chinese citizens.



These individuals can be considered inadmissible by Canada, but China can verify their identities and documents. The verification process usually took a long time and delayed deportations.



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During the visit of Premier Li Keqiang last week, officials from both Canada and China signed a one-year pilot program on enforcement of immigration law.



The talks are part of Canada's efforts to fix estranged relations with China. The one-year plan was signed together with the start of talks on the long-running trade dispute between the two countries.



In Canada, politicians are confused on the direction that the country is taking with regard to Chinese relations.



Stephanie Dion, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, stated, "There is no negotiation. To write like pretending it is, it is wrong. Stop that please."



Minister Pamela Goldsmith-Jones clarified that Canada entered into a different treaty and did not pertain to extradition.



She said, "To be clear, what we have done is enter into a framework called National Security and Rule of Law."



She added, "It's a way to have conversations about counter-terrorism, about security, about rule of law, about consular affairs which is also very important ... within the rule-of-law conversation, we have had one discussion about extradition. It's a far cry from saying this is a negotiation around extradition."



Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada is very strict when it comes to extradition.



Human rights groups have criticized Canada for the recent talks, saying that China's disregard for human rights will lead to further harm if Chinese offenders were sent back to the mainland.


Premier Li Keqiang made a historic visit to Cuba. (Photo : Getty Images)

Premier Li Keqiang visited Cuba recently and had talks with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana. The two leaders agreed that they will cooperate for Cuba's industrialization.



The trip of Premier Li is the first visit of a Chinese official to Cuba in 50 years.



Li went to Cuba after concluding his trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly and his visit to Canada to talk to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.



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The Cuban trip ended with the Premier signing 20 agreements to boost cooperation in sectors of finance and infrastructure. Li stressed that the people's livelihood should be a priority.



He said that the two countries should "forge new areas of economic cooperation and intensify the mutual political trust."



According to the Chinese government, China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner. Trade was valued at $2.2 billion last year, a surge of 58.7 percent from 2014.



The Chinse Ministry of Commerce said that Cuba had a 4 percent growth last year.



Cuban media reported that the two countries will collaborate in sectors of science, environment, industry, energy, public health and agriculture. China will extend lines of credit for certain projects.



Many Cubans welcomed Li's visit. Rafael Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the University of Havana, said that the visit provides a "perfect opportunity."



He said, "The Premier's trip to the island is part of the constant exchanges between the two nations. It will also allow the Chinese leadership to examine future joint projects and see how much China's experience has helped Cuba in updating its socialist model."



"China has reached a high level of economic growth over the last 30 years while Cuba has achieved great social development. The possibility of exchanging experiences in these areas offers a very special framework for their relations today and for future development," the academic added.


After hearing from numerous advocates who spoke passionately about the preservation of Lake James, the McDowell County Planning Board agreed Monday to table any proposed changes to the current ordinance regulating development on the lake.

Instead, they will revisit this issue at their regular meeting next month.

These changes, proposed by the Lake James advocates, would make regulation of the lakes shoreline development more consistent with what Burke County has already done. Many of the people who spoke to the countys Planning Board said McDowell can do a better job to protect and preserve the beauty and integrity of this important natural resource.

We can accept the status quo and let everyones self interest drive the lake to the lowest common denominator or we can work together toward a vision based on implementing best practices that are in everyones joint interest  a win-win-win. I am for the latter, said George Johnson, president of the Lake James Environmental Association to the Planning Board.

The issue about development on Lake James has come up again because of a new controversial housing development that is in the works and others that could happen as well. Last month, the Planning Board gave its unanimous approval for the first phase of the development called The Peninsula at Lake James.

This subdivision will be located on the northwestern part of the lake, past Bear Creek Marina and right off Lake James Road. The proposed development will cover 223 acres with 150 lots for both phases. Phase one will have 62 lots, according to County Manager Ashley Wooten.

Opponents say this development will make the lake and its shoreline more crowded and would harm the quality of Lake James. It will also make the boat traffic on the water more congested. At their Sept. 12 meeting, the McDowell County Commissioners heard from the opponents of this development and agreed to have the Planning Board take another look at the rules concerning subdivisions on the lake, which were adopted in 2003, and see if any changes should be made.

On Saturday, the developers with The Peninsula at Lake James reportedly held a sale where prospective buyers were taken to the site and shown lots that were available. Opponents of this development protested the sale by placing a big sign on a boat out in the water which read McDowell County Protect Lake James From Over-Development.

At Mondays meeting, County Planning Administrator Ron Harmon informed the Planning Board members and the approximately 30 people who filled the boardroom about House 483. This state law basically means that a housing development, such as The Peninsula at Lake James, is not subject to any future new rules or changes in existing rules and is grandfathered in. It is subject to the rules in that were already in place, such as the 2003 ordinance, when the site plan was approved.

After receiving that information, the Planning Board then asked members of the audience to speak about any changes to the existing rules. Each speaker was asked to limit their statements to around three minutes. Almost all of the people in the crowded boardroom said McDowell County should make its rules about development on the lake similar to what Burke County has already done, so it is equally protected on both ends.

There is some extreme topography here that Burke takes into account that McDowell doesnt, said Ann Costello, who lives in the 1780 development.

She compared the existing developments, such as 1780 and Black Forest, with what is planned for The Peninsula at Lake James. As she has before, Costello questioned how a house, a well and a septic and a backup septic can be built on the small lots planned for this new development.

In addition, her husband George held up a large sign which outlines five major distinctions between McDowells rules and Burkes rules. The Burke rules contain restrictions on building on a slope while the McDowell rules have none. Burke County prohibits building on slopes greater than 25 percent on the lake. The Burke rules have greater setback requirements compared to those in McDowell. The two counties have different restrictions regarding lakefront lot sizes and minimum shoreline lot sizes per dwelling.

There are mandatory open space requirements in Burke County but none in McDowell, said Ann Costello.

George Costello presented the Planning Board members with suggested amendments to the countys ordinance.

Scott Lewis said hes owned property on the McDowell side of the lake since 2009.

We have this amazing public resource at Lake James, said Lewis. We have to do whatever we can to keep it as pristine as possible.

Were all responsible for this water, said Martha Whitfield, who also lives along the lake. Lets vote to increase the rules of protection. Its just common sense.

Paul Braun, a long-time advocate for the lake, said about 20 years ago he saw what was happening to the lakes along the Catawba River in North Carolina and wanted to do something to protect this one.

Ive spent the past 20 years fighting for the environment, he said. Im here to beg and plead with you to do the right thing and to do what we as Christians are supposed to do.

Suzy Johnson said she and others were given a tour of The Peninsula on Saturday.

What they have accomplished in such a short time is very impressive, said Suzy Johnson. We sincerely hope that this development will succeed. We appreciate some of the restrictions we were told they adopted and the fact that they provided each buyer with a copy of the (Lake James Protection Ordinance).

She added that there is little low-growing vegetation to protect the water from run-off which causes silt.

Many of the advocates of the lake are worried about future developments that are in the works and what they could mean.

Time is of the essence, said Suzy Johnson. I hope we are wrong but gambling with our water is a risk too big to take. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The words behind you say In God We Trust. I believe that works both ways. God trusts us to protect His beautiful creation and He needs your help now.

There are a lot of talented retirees who really love this lake, plus the Catawba Riverkeeper, and others who went through this process with Burke who would probably volunteer a helping hand when one is needed. Just ask, said her husband George Johnson.

Planning Board member Dennis Whitson said to the crowd if they see something of concern then they should let his fellow Planning Board members know. We appreciate your eyes and attention, said Whitson.

One person in the audience spoke in favor of keeping things the way they are. It appears weve got some good ordinances, said David Patneaude. I think weve got pretty good restrictions and they are being enforced. I think we ought to look out for the people of this county.

Some members of the audience said out loud that Patneaude was given longer time to speak than those who advocated for tougher rules.

Planning Board member Benny Stamey proceeded to address the crowd by saying You people which apparently offended many audience members. One of them said to him You work for us.

You guys have been misled on a lot of things, said Stamey. Theres a lot of fear mongering in a lot of this.

Whats the reason not to do it? asked Whitfield, adding what is keeping McDowell from making its rules tougher.

After hearing from the public, Stamey made a motion to put off taking action to a later day and have more time to study this. His motion was quickly and unanimously passed by the board.

The next regular Planning Board meeting will happen around the end of October.

After Mondays meeting, Whitfield issued the following statement: The McDowell County decision to table the recommended changes to the LJPO disappointed, but did not surprise me. They want to study the fine print. I urge McDowell County to call their counterparts in Burke County and ask questions, as the proposed stronger protection ordinances have been in effect and working in Burke County since 2003/4. I urge the Planning Board to pass the changes at their next meeting and forward their recommendation to the McDowell County Commissioners for their November meeting. If you question the need for going forward ASAP with the new ordinances, take a drive around Lake James. New developments have popped up in 2016. (see Waters Edge off 126, another tract off 126, The Peninsula at Lake James, the intersection of Benfields Landing and Powerhouse Road). Every open piece of land is under pressure to be developed. Development is not inherently bad, but it needs to be done in a way that protects our water for enjoyment and drinking. Even better, lets find ways to keep some lake land for public use (state park, public landings, county parks). We all own the waters of the lake; clean water is a public right and resource for all to enjoy.

I encourage the Planning Board and commissioners of McDowell County to take a closer look at what is best for the preservation of the lake by considering adopting the policies and regulations used by Burke County, especially as they relate to residential and business development on the lake, said Ed Morse, another lake resident. With the two counties having similar expectations and working together for the benefit of the lake, property owners and wildlife, I am confident Lake James will remain the pristine jewel that it is now.
US and Korean navy ships in East China Sea show of force. (Photo : US Navy)

The United States and the Republic of Korea put on their mightiest show of force by sending their warships to flaunt their power off the east coast of North Korea in another message they hope North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un will finally take to heart.



The U.S. Navy and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) sent a small fleet of guided missile destroyers of the U.S. Arleigh Burke-class plus submarines and planes to operate in international waters just off the east coast of North Korea. The North Koreans did not interfere with the naval exercise meant to show U.S. and South Korean might and unity in the face of North Korean provocations.



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Notable in this exercise in the East China Sea was the presence of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in both navies equipped with the U.S.-built Aegis missile defense system. The Aegis system, which exists only aboard warships, can track more than 100 aerial targets at a time and is the only naval system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.



Its maker, Lockheed-Martin, claims Aegis "is the world's most advanced combat system. Once North Korean ballistic missiles are detected headed for South Korea, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers from either the U.S. Navy or the ROKN can intercept them with RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) missiles built to defeat short and medium range missiles at high altitudes.



Or, the allies can use a RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), otherwise known as the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), to destroy targets flying beyond the horizon.



The show of force on Sept. 26 was the first naval display of allied naval power in the ongoing crisis that's seen North Korea successfully test a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM); three medium range ballistic missiles; a new rocket engine, as well as a 10 kiloton nuclear bomb over the past two months.



The spate of successful tests is particularly worrisome to South Korea, which fears the north might soon fit nuclear warheads onto its ballistic missiles. This fear led Seoul to announce this month it will obliterate the North Korean capital of Pyongyang -- and do all it can to kill Kim Jong Un -- in a hail of artillery and missile fire should it detect incoming North Korean missiles.



South Korean intelligence said North Korea is progressing toward its goal of mounting nuclear warheads on its ballistic missiles "faster than previously estimated."



The naval show of force followed last week's flight of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer supersonic bombers along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing North and South Korea. This flyover was closest the Air Force has ever flown its bombers to the DMZ.



One of the B-1Bs later landed on a South Korean military air base. The B-1Bs came from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, which is two flying hours away.



Earlier this month, B-1Bs flew over Osan Air Base south of Seoul in response to North Korea's fifth test of a nuclear warhead. North Korea later boasted this test shows it can mount nuclear warheads on its ballistic missiles.



"Our ROK-US alliance will counter the North Korean nuclear development and SLBM threats with determination," said Vice Adm. Lee Ki-sik, commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet.


The Pirate Bay is an online index of digital content , founded in 2003, where visitors can search, download and contribute magnet links and torrent files, which facilitate peer-to-peer file sharing. (Photo : YouTube/ReviewTechUSA)

A reputable torrent proxy developer, MrClean, has created The Pirate Bay (TPB) clone, TPBClean, which does not feature any porn links. The move comes shortly after the Mexican police seized the KickassTorrents (KAT) mirror, Kickass.mx.



The Pirate Bay is currently the most popular torrent website following the shutdown of KickassTorrents back in July and the voluntary closure of Torrentz.eu shop in August. As a result, TPBClean is expected to gain popularity among more conservative pirates.



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The porn category of the major torrent sites is among the most popular sections. However, the advertisements shown on such websites can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Although some users have no problem coming across adult content and adverts, others just prefer downloading clean links.



MrClean created TPBClean to solve the needs of more conservative people. In an interview with Torrent Freak, the experienced developer of torrent proxy websites said that he was confronted with the issue when many Indian coders refused to work for torrent related projects. These people seemingly did not want to work on any project that has porn links.



The Pirate Bay is currently the most visited torrent website after the demise of KAT and Torrentz.eu. As a result, MrClean decided to create a clean version of TPB, which is a direct proxy of all Pirate Bay torrents, without all the adult content torrents.



Apart from TPBClean featuring a simple design and no advertisements, MrClean is optimistic that it will provide a more "Safe for Work" experience. The developer as well pointed out that he does not intent to harm the original TPB. In case a user tries searching for XXX-rated content on TPBClean, he or she will be greeted with "Any Explicit/Adult Content Has Been Removed."



Meanwhile, since the United States government shut down KAT some months back; mirrors and clones have surfaced. The most popular KAT mirror, Kickass.mx, has unfortunately been brought down.



The Mexican police brought down Kickass.mx, who according to the same publication, sprung into action after being alerted by license holders. The staff at the Center for Prevention of Electronic Crimes started a cyber intelligence operation to locate the source of the crime.



After the closure of the Kickass.mx clone, Kickass.com.ma has also been shut down, something that shocked the operators of the website. Here is a sneak peek for more information on KAT mirrors and clones:






New Android 7.0 Nougat release news for Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, S6 Edge Plus, Note 5, Note 7,S6 Edge; What about S5?

New Android 7.0 Nougat release news for Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, S6 Edge Plus, Note 5, Note 7,S6 Edge; What about S5? (Photo : YouTube/ Samsung Mobile)

Here is the new Android 7.0 Nougat release news for Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6, S6 Edge Plus, Note 5, Note 7 and S6 Edge.



According to a GSMArena report, the tech company Samsung is in the process of testing the Android 7.0 N update on the Galaxy S7 Edge and S7.



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It is expected that the update will bring in Grace UX earlier seen on Samsung Galaxy Note 7 together with performance improvements.



According to the company, custom features of Android 7.0 Nougat will need two to three months.



If reports are anything to go by, the S7 series will get the update first, and after that the Samsung S6 Edge Plus, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 will get the Android N. There is no information on whether Samsung will roll out the new Android update to the Samsung Galaxy S5 or not.



The Samsung Galaxy S6 was able to receive the Android Marshmallow update in the first quarter of this year. If reports are anything to go by, first quarter of 2017 is when the newest Android version will arrive on the Samsung Galaxy S7, and after that slowly trickle down to the other devices.



The search giant Google rolled out the final build of Android 7.0 Nougat one month ago, after monthly developer previews of the operating system. According to a BGR report, Nexus devices have got the Android N update.



Earlier, the South Korean company has announced that Android 7.0 N will come to the Galaxy Note 7, in three months, a time Samsung requires to implement custom features in the build.



Users of these devices should wait a bit longer if they want a reliable and stable Nougat build for their devices. Beta testing makes sure that the software company can guarantee a release that is bug-free.



Samsung's Koh Dong-jin said that it is extremely important for them to offer up-to-date information with the latest operating system, but what is more important is to create a seamless and stable platform for people. That is why they are planning to do sufficient beta testing before operating system updates.


BrainScope, a Bethesda, Maryland firm thats been working with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop technology for assessing traumatic brain injuries (TBI), just won FDA clearance for its latest device, the Ahead 300. This the first of the companys products that will actually be distributed commercially and its touted as their most advanced version.

It can provide a rapid electroencephalographic (EEG) assessment of a person who suffered a head injury, utilizing disposable electrodes and a connected smartphone to process the information. It relies on the firms proprietary algorithms and machine learning to spot certain patterns and correlations within the recorded brainwaves.

Following the test it produces a report that highlights important aspects that are of note. These can then be used to help pin down a diagnosis.

Flashbacks: FDA Clears BrainScopes Ahead 100 EEG Brain Injury Assessment System; BrainScope Research Tool Shows Concussion Effects Linger;

Link: BrainScope homepage

Via: BrainScope
Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus is rumored to compete Apple's iPhone 7. (Photo : Twitter / Gadgets 360)

Xiaomi has unveiled its best contender yet to the iPhone 7. The company's latest flagship, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus costs $390, less than half the price of Apple's top-of-the-line model. It is a plus-sized device with dual cameras and a pressure-sensitive screen.



With the new smartphone, Xiaomi that was once referred to as a source of cheap but innovative phones is set to topple premium devices in the market. The smartphone comes with one of Qualcomm's fastest processors and 6 GB of RAM. The Mi 5S Plus has a screen that detects different degrees of pressure and 13MP cameras, stacking up well against the iPhone in the specification area.



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Although Xiaomi is slipped behind Huawei and Oppo in the home market that it once dominated, the Chinese tech giant's efforts to compete in Latin America and India have stalled.



The recalling of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 opens a window of opportunity not only for Apple, but also for Xiaomi to take market shares away from the global leader. In fact, Lei Jun, the co-founder and chief executive of Xiaomi told Bloomberg about the Mi 5S Plus at the launch event in Beijing, wherein they also introduced a 65-inch, 4K smart TV.



"We were aiming to challenge Samsung and Apple in camera capability. With the Mi 5S, I believe we beat both of them," Jun said.



Apple is relying on its latest iteration of the flagship product to regain the top position in its largest overseas market, China, according to another report by the same publication. However, as opposed to the past years, the iPhone 7 provides little that reverberates with Chinese consumers - no cheaper models like the SE or 5C, a radical revamp, or features that truly push the technological sphere. Investors are even speculating that sales for the iPhone 7 will lag behind last years.



The new iPhone 7 features a water resistant design, improved camera, and faster processor. Its larger Plus counterpart features a back-facing dual camera that enables for crisper photos, especially in low light. While it comes with a pressure-sensitive Home button that gives a vibrating sensation as opposed to a click, the high-end version goes for more than $899 in China.



On the contrary, the price tag of the Mi 5S Plus makes it very competitive. With all the advancements, the smartphone is just a few dollars more expensive than the Mi 5. Here is a sneak peek for more information on Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus:






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by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, September 27, 2016

Doritos is running a campaign aimed at helping nonpartisan nonprofit Rock the Vote increase voter registration among young adults.

An accompanying sweeps should also drive some Doritos sales.

Starting today, National Voter Registration Day, the Frito-Lay brand that positions itself as being all about bold choices is touring college campuses around the country with Rock the Vote to convince students that voting is the boldest choice that they can make this year.

Its also running a promotion featuring limited-edition flavorless flavor Doritos bags (above). The bags contain no chips  and obviously no taste or crunch  to convey the message that if you dont choose, someone else will choose something for you that you may not like.

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Consumers can go on a dedicated site to order and send one of the bags to someone who hasnt yet registered to vote, to encourage them to register online.

Visitors to the campaign site who click Get No Choice can view a video (below) showing what happened when Doritos surprised students with a special vending machine. The machine let registered voters choose to get a sample of either Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch Doritos  but dispensed only the flavorless bags to those who indicated that they hadnt registered yet.

Site visitors who click the other option  Make a Choice  can type in a code from a Doritos bag in order to be able to vote for either the cheese or ranch Doritos flavor and qualify for an entry to a sweepstakes.

The prizes range from branded merchandise to various trips. The grand prize is a presidential package trip to Las Vegas: two first class round-trip tickets, two nights in a presidential suite, personal limo serviceand free Doritos for four years (one presidential term).
by Larissa Faw , September 27, 2016

It's the burning question for agencies when it comes to their clients and pitches. Do they use their top talent when there isn't an equitable payoff?

"It happens all the time -- with new business probably too much," says Sophie Kelly, the former Barbarian Group CEO and newly appointed SVP marketing for Diageo's whiskey brands. "Part of what has to be done [is the need for] much better transparency around budgets."

Kelly joined other industry executives during an Ad Week panel held at B.B. King's in admitting that they are currently working in a weird system. "There is a lot of chaos out there," says Aarra's James O'Brien. "But when there is chaos, there is opportunity."

The challenges for those in the industry are figuring out the business model around this new status quo, the panelists said. When it comes to budgets, a better process would talk about the brief, what is required and expectations as well as type of deliverables and what is a digestible number. But this wish list does not happen 90% of time, says Kelly.

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There is another problem with the evolving definition of a producer, the panelists said. It's hard to monetize what can't be defined. Great producers were once craftsmen who did one thing incredibly well. Now they wear different hats as educators and experts in different platforms, virtual reality, product development and design.

The industry has trained brands that they can get amazing creative talent and ideas for free. While some of the blame can be placed on brands not valuing the work, another part of the problem is that we aren't putting enough value on ourselves, says Kelly. If you have a to pay for something, you are more engaged and personally invested in the project. "Upfront ideation fees, platforms or build. Integrated media and how it translates into brands," says Kelly. "That costs money -- that is thinking."

This money talk is also fueling the mantra: fast-good-cheap. "Do what you were doing before but less," says Deutsch's Winston Binch. He grew up in the digital world where there was less expectation about their projects and people were more scrappy. He calls them Swiss Army knives workers, known as people that can do any tasks and are willing to do anything to complete a project. This mentality is likely to separate the winners from the losers in terms of success. Those having the hardest time adapting to this new normal are the large scale production companies, those making Super Bowl quality spots more than once a year, they say.

It's advantageous to be proactive, they say. "Don't wait for the brief," they advise. "People just sit around waiting for things. No client will turn a good idea down." It's also important to be curious about the total business. Think about the calendar ahead and why deadlines are there. "Pepsi always does the Super Bowl, don't want until December," jokes Kelly.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, September 27, 2016

The two-year lag between Yahoo's data breach and the company's disclosure of the hack is "unacceptable," six Democratic lawmakers say in a letter to CEO Marissa Mayer.

"Millions of Americans' data may have been compromised for two years," Sens. Patrick Leahy (Vermont), Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut), Ron Wyden (Oregon) and Al Franken (Minnesota) write. "This is unacceptable... Consumers put their trust in companies when they share personal and sensitive information with them, and they expect all possible steps be taken to protect that information."

The letter was prompted by Thursday's revelation that hackers may have obtained email addresses, telephone numbers, security questions, birth dates and encrypted passwords associated with as many as 500 million Yahoo accounts. Bob Lord, Yahoo's chief information security officer, said the data breach occurred in late 2014. He added that the company believes a "state-sponsored actor" is responsible for the data theft.

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News of the data breach could affect Yahoo's plans to sell itself to Verizon for $4.8 billion; some observers now predict Verizon will attempt to negotiate a lower price.

The lawmakers who wrote to Mayer today asked her for a chronological account of the security breach, including when the company learned it was hacked, when it notified law enforcement, and when it told consumers.

The senators also ask Mayer how the company plans to protect the half a billion affected account holders, and what steps it's taking to prevent future attacks.

Meanwhile, another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, has asked the SEC to investigate whether the company should have told investors about the data breach earlier than last week.

"Press reports indicate Yahoos CEO, Marissa Mayer, knew of the breach as early as July of this year. Despite the historic scale of the breach, however, the company failed to file a Form 8-K disclosing the breach to the public," Warner wrote in a letter to SEC Chair Mary Jo White.

He adds that public companies must disclose "material" events within four business days. "A breach of the magnitude that Yahoo and its users suffered seems to fit squarely within the definition of a material event," Warner writes. "The public ought to know what senior executives at Yahoo knew of the breach, and when they knew it."
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, September 27, 2016

The U.S. presidential debates Monday night created the perfect second-screen scenario for fact-checking as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton continually urged viewers to fact-check through phrases like "I hope the fact-checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard."

While searches don't always uncover actually "facts," queries can lead those searching for clues to answers. Clinton led in Google searches with 53% during Mondays first presidential debate, while Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump accounted for 62% of the conversation on Twitter.

The top-searched political issues in the past day were ISIS, Abortion, Immigration, Gun Control, and Police, according to Google.

The top trending questions on Trump in the past day were "Did Trump support the Iraq war?" "Who won the Clinton-Trump debate?" "How much money did Donald Trump's father loan him?" "How is Trump doing?" and "Did ICE endorse Trump?"

The top trending questions on Clinton in the past day were "Who won, Clinton or Trump?" "What did Hillary Clinton's data do?" "What emails did Hillary Clinton delete?" "Is Hillary Clinton still Secretary of State?" and "How is Hillary doing?"

While the nominees fired back at each other on several issues, from trade and taxes to the battle against ISIS, the U.S. economy was the most tweeted topic. Foreign affairs, energy and environment, terrorism and guns followed, per the Twitter Government hashtag @gov.

Prior to Monday night's debate, Trump gained more search interest than Hillary Clinton in nearly every state, with the exceptions of Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and Vermont, according to Google Trends.
The University of Alicante presents the results of a project to establish European guidelines for preparing the population for life after full-time employment. The results urge people to start planning as soon as 50.

'Start early' is the main message from project partners at the close of BALL, a two-year project led by the Evris Foundation in Iceland, in which Reykjavik (Iceland) and Lublin (Poland) Universities of the Third Age and the Permanent University of the University of Alicante (UPUA) also participated. The project addressed the urgent need to establish directives and best practices for preparing individuals early for retirement, stressing the importance of on-going learning, environment and cultural factors, and knowledge sharing.

In the final project meeting of this Erasmus+ initiative, the partners presented lessons learned and the main tangible results of the collaboration. These include a model awareness-raising campaign, the "Personal Development Academy" and the "Warehouse of Opportunities", all of which are outlined in the directives and recommendations document, "Towards a Dynamic Third Age".

Specifically, the University of Alicante led the development of the awareness-raising campaign model with the intention of enabling any centre, institute or association to prepare the local population for retirement. Researchers Concepcion Bru and Ronda and Nuria Ruiz of UPUA first made a European map of retirement and carried out surveys on the retirement situation (reports here). They then used this data to design the awareness campaign.

So why is it important to prepare for retirement?

The figures indicate that in welfare societies a person aged 50-55 has between ten and fifteen years before retirement, and then twenty more years of a full and active life after that. It is essential, then, that we ask ourselves what we want to do with our time during this period of our lives; what might we need to train in beforehand, from financial and legal issues, to preventive health, social skills, leisure activities, dependence prevention.

Bru stresses the importance of carrying out awareness-raising campaigns on the value of the third age in society, aimed both at the general public and those approaching retirement: "More and more people are living longer and in better health [and] the sudden stop in the activity you have spent your whole life engaged in" can lead to depression and related mental health issues.

Encouraging physical activity and inspiring a sense of inclusion and purpose is the overarching goal of the BALL project, but the key for Bru is that retirees, or those approaching retirement, are able to "reinvent themselves. Engage in something they've never done before, like volunteering. If you prepare yourself in good time and with good organisation and guidance, a better retirement is possible".

The idea, Bru tells us, is to continue work in the EU to put these recommendations into practice. Indeed, they are already being implemented by companies that took part in the project, as well as at an institutional level, via the regional ministry of education and the University of Alicante. Not to mention at the UPUA itself: "Much of the material we already teach is straight out of the project recommendations. This is why they asked us to participate, for our experience" (Bru).
Glioblastomas are incurable malignant brain tumors. Usually the patients affected survive for only a few months. In addition, every tumor is quite different, which makes treatment very difficult. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now developed a completely new method as the basis for creating custom-tailored, two-stage therapies. Using tumor samples from a patient, they do lab tests to determine which substances can first make the different types of cancer cells uniform and then effectively kill them. The study has already been published online and will soon appear in the print edition of the technical journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Glioblastomas are among the most common and malignant of brain tumors. "The tumor cells characteristically display great variety", says Professor Dr. Bjorn Scheffler of the Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology at the University of Bonn, who recently began doing research at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and is a Professor at the Essen University Hospital. The cells in such a brain tumor can display very different characteristics, such as varying cell size or number of cell nuclei. Because the different cancer cells within a tumorous tissue also develop different modes of defense against therapeutic measures, the treatment of patients is extraordinarily difficult. After surgical removal, radiation, and chemotherapy, this type of tumor often returns; drugs are then usually no longer effective.

A team under Professor Scheffler, consisting of researchers from the Bonn University Hospital, the Life & Brain Center, The German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research, Tufts University Boston/Massachusetts, and other institutes in the USA, has now developed a new method that is expected to combat such complex brain tumors better. From tissue and cell samples from five glioblastoma patients, the scientists obtained 33 individual cancer cells capable of reproduction, which grew into very different tumors in the lab. For each patient, multiple representative test systems were thus available to study the different facets of a tumor representatively and individuallyseparately.

For each individual cancer cell, 180 active substances are tested

To find the best therapy for each one of these 33 tumor facets, the researchers tested about 180 different active substances. In doing so, the scientists made a surprising observation: "One and the same active ingredient caused most of the tumor facets to die", reports lead author Roman Reinartz of Professor Scheffler's Team. However, the cancer cells of individual other tumor facets of the same patient survived the treatment and were even able to reproduce much more intensively. "These initially resistant tumor facets could then be combated much more effectively with other active ingredients".

The different nature of the tumor cells requires the use of combined therapeutic measures. How many drugs were then needed to combat all the facets of a tumor effectively? "In the best case scenario two", explains Reinartz. Instead of using the combined chemotherapies simultaneously, as was previously the case, the researchers want to proceed step by step in the future. This is how the therapy of the future could look like: In order to prevent the further spread of the tumor in the brain, parts will be removed surgically, as is the current procedure. In the future, the tissue samples obtained could be subjected to lab tests, in order to catalogue the response behavior of the various tumor facets. For each patient, the suitable combination treatment could then be designed, which, in the first step, would turn the variety of different tumor cells into a mass of cancer cells of the same type. In the second step, the precise substance would be found selected from the catalog that would be the most effective weapon against the specially particularly enriched tumor facet.

Scientists bring order to chaos

Until now, the differences in the types of cancer cells in a glioblastoma have prevented successful treatment, because some of the resistant tumor facets might reproduce more intensively under the chemotherapy. With their method, the scientists are creating order from this seeming chaos. Professor Scheffler provides a comparison for the procedure: "Like a car that is disassembled into its individual parts to check for damage, we examine the different cancer cells". Once the characteristics of the cells of the tumor are known, this knowledge can be used to steer the complex system in the right direction.

With funding from the Lichtenberg Program of the Volkswagen Foundation, the researchers under Professor Scheffler at the University of Bonn have spent about eight years studying the characteristics and mechanisms of glioblastomas. "Our strategy can be expected to improve therapeutic chances substantially in the future, because this route makes it possible for us to make very precise predictions for the custom-tailored treatment of patients", says Professor Scheffler. The researchers have already carried out this step successfully in mice. In order to make the therapy available to people as well, further research will be necessary.

Article: Functional Subclone Profiling for Prediction of Treatment-Induced Intratumor Population Shifts and Discovery of Rational Drug Combinations in Human Glioblastoma, Roman Reinartz, Shanshan Wang, Sied Kebir, Daniel J Silver, Wieland Anja, Tong Zheng, Marius Kupper, Laurel Rauschenbach, Rolf Fimmers, Timothy Shepherd, Daniel Trageser, Andreas Till, Niklas Schafer, Martin Glas, Axel M. Hillmer, Sven Cichon, Amy Smith, Torsten Pietsch, Ying Liu, Brent A. Reynolds, Anthony T. Yachnis, David W. Pincus, Matthias Simon, Oliver Brustle, Dennis A. Steindler and Bjorn Scheffler, Clinical Cancer Research, doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-2089, published 12 August 2016.
The first data on dental fillings that can actively repair tooth decay is presented by Professor Robert Hill. Professor Hill is Chair of Physical Sciences at the Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London and co-founder and director of research at BioMin Technologies.

Over 80 percent of the population in the UK has at least one filling, with seven being the average while eight million cavities are filled with amalgam each year.

This data, indicating smart repair of tooth decay, prolonging the life of composite fillings and reducing the need for mercury based amalgams indicates a significant step forward in tooth restorative materials.

Professor Hill outlines how new bioactive glass composites are unique in their ability to release fluoride as well as the significant quantities of calcium and phosphate that are needed to form tooth mineral.

Professor Hill explains that while current dental fillings include inert materials, the data on the new bioactive glass composite shows that it interacts positively with the body providing minerals that replace those lost to tooth decay.

"Our scientists and dentists at Queen Mary University of London replaced the inert tooth filling materials with our new bioactive glass, explained Professor Hill. "Not only did this bioactive glass composite remineralize the partially decayed teeth, but it also creates an alkaline environment that discourages the bacteria that caused the initial decay.

"The new bioactive glass also fills in the gaps with tooth mineral thus preventing the oral bacteria which cause tooth decay from establishing themselves. Research in the US suggests this will potentially prolong the life of fillings and slow secondary tooth decay because the depth of bacterial penetration with bioactive glass fillings was significantly smaller than for inert fillings."

Richard Whatley the CEO of BioMin Technologies who has recently licensed the technology from Queen Mary Innovations adds "We plan to translate the remineralizing technology developed with the BioMinF toothpaste into restorative dental products. This is a really exciting development which is attracting interest from a number of commercial companies."

He added, "There is also huge pressure to eliminate mercury based amalgam fillings by 2020 which is outlined in a host of international agreements. Using this type of bioactive glass composite to fill cavities eliminates the need to use mercury based amalgam by offering aesthetic white fillings which help heal the tooth."
Structured group psychoeducation sessions could be more successful in treating patients in the early stages of bipolar disorder than standard peer-support offered by the NHS and the voluntary sector, research has found.

The study by academics at The Universities of Nottingham, Lancaster (Spectrum Centre) and Manchester published in Lancet Psychiatry, and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), found evidence that psychoeducation - in which patients are offered information on their illness and work with family members to develop personalised coping strategies - could potentially offer an effective early intervention for people with bipolar disorder.

They have called for further research to explore whether group psychoeducation could be used preventatively to halt the further progression of the disorder.

The research was led by Professor Richard Morriss in the University's School of Medicine and Institute of Mental Health - a partnership between the University and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and NIHR Collaborative for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands.

Professor Morriss said: "NICE recommended group psychoeducation for bipolar disorder was put into practice in the NHS in England and Wales. However, the effectiveness of the intervention was questioned in the media on the basis that previous research had been low in quality. We have conducted a large high quality randomised controlled trial of group psychoeducation against a rigorous control and this shows that overall there are benefits to people with bipolar disorder overall from this cheap and easy to implement intervention in providing information, support and increasing time before they next have a mania episode, and in especially in people who first develop bipolar disorder where it may considerably reduce the number of relapses in bipolar disorder."

Bipolar disorder is a common lifelong mental health disorder which first affects people in adolescence or early adulthood. Previously known as manic depression, the condition affects patients' moods, causing them to experience episodes of feeling low and lethargic while at other times feeling very high and overactive.

In the UK, information and emotional support is offered to people with bipolar disorder through unstructured peer-support groups run through the NHS and charities such as Bipolar UK, which includes a national network of more than 130 support groups.

Between September 2009 and June 2012, the researchers recruited 304 bipolar patients to the trial, who were randomly assigned to receive either psychoeducation or peer support.

While structured group psychoeducation was found to be no more clinically effective than unstructured peer support across the whole of the group, an analysis of the results showed that psychoeducation was more popular - attendance at psychoeducation groups was higher than at peer-support groups (a median of 14 sessions versus nine sessions).

The study also showed that psychoeducation was most beneficial in participants with few previous bipolar episodes (less than eight episodes).

Two themes also emerged from qualitative study of the value of the two groups: increased knowledge in general about bipolar disorder and specifically how it affects the participant as an individual and tackling isolation and stigma by allowing patients to share similar experiences.

However, some participants blamed dropping out of treatment for their illness on a lack of structure within the peer-support groups.

In an accompanying editorial in Lancet Psychiatry, Professor Eduard Vieta, the Spanish psychiatrist and a leading scientific authority on the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder, and Professor Ivette Morilla, a specialist in clinical psychology, suggest that the study's strength could lie in its finding on the importance of early intervention.

"It could be argued that this was not the primary objective of the study, but at the end of the day this is, indeed, the most pragmatic conclusion that one can take from the study results," they say.

"In patients with less than eight episodes, PEd significantly delayed time to the next episode, indicating that the intervention may be better suited for subjects at early stages of the illness.

"To conclude, group psychoeducation may work well in bipolar patients with few episodes and perhaps no substantial comorbidity. Because of its low cost, it should be implemented and delivered as part of a community-centred early intervention approach."

After demand from participants in the study and their nurses and doctors, group psychoeducation is now a funded NHS service delivered by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for people with bipolar disorder in Nottingham and Mansfield. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is now working with East Midlands Academic Health Science Network to explore the development of a collaborative project to implement group psychoeducation in partnership with NHS services across the East Midlands. Nationally the intervention has been adopted by NICE as a key recommendation and quality standard for putting into clinical practice with groups now being held in other parts of the country such as Manchester and Birmingham.

Article: Clinical effectiveness and acceptability of structured group psychoeducation versus optimised unstructured peer support for patients with remitted bipolar disorder (PARADES): a pragmatic, multicentre, observer-blind, randomised controlled superiority trial , Richard Morriss, Fiona Lobban, Lisa Riste, Linda Davies, Fiona Holland, Rita Long, Georgia Lykomitrou, Sarah Peters, Christopher Roberts, Heather Robinson, Steven Jones, on behalf of the NIHR PARADES Psychoeducation Group, The Lancet Psychiatry, doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30302-9, published online 26 September 2016.
Russia-NATO Update is a new monthly review by the MEMRI Russian Media Studies Project, covering the latest news on Russia-NATO relations from the Russian and East European media.





Cartoons Of The Month



Vitaly Podvitsky, Ria.ru, September 9, 2016.

Uncle Sam is violently banging at Russia's door:

Uncle Sam: You are all savages, inhospitable; you provoke me all the time!

Quote Of The Month

Chairman Of The Duma's Defense Committee: 'My Advice [To NATO] Is To Return To The Negotiating Table With Russia...Otherwise NATO Is Heading For An Imminent Collapse'

US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford recently said: "I would tell you I believe our center of gravity as a nation, through a security lens, is the network of alliances. Russia is trying to erode that." Commenting on Dunford's statements, the Chairman of the Russian State Duma's Defense Committee Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov said: "It's funny when a colossus with feet of clay complains that someone is undermining its unity...Russia has never pursued and does not pursue this goal, on the contrary, we have always talked about the need to build normal relations with NATO...In 1954, the USSR applied for membership in the alliance, but the bid was rejected, and then the Soviet Union, realizing that a pike lives in the lake to keep all fish awake, created a counterbalance to NATO - the Warsaw Pact Organization...The statement by General Dunford testifies to the elemental fear of NATO's leadership in the face of problems experienced by the NATO member countries...You will find that most of the people in both Europe and the United States do not support the aggressive policy of the alliance. They do not want to sacrifice their fathers and sons in the planet's hotspots of tension, which were created by NATO itself by its ill-considered actions...My advice is to return to the negotiating table with Russia and work out a consolidated stance with it, otherwise NATO is heading for an imminent collapse."

(Tass.com, August 24)



The Chairman of the Russian State Duma's Defense Committee, Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov. (Source: Sobesednik.ru)

In the News:

Lavrov-Stoltenberg Meeting

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session in New York. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, Lavrov and Stoltenberg discussed current Russia-NATO relations, focusing on ensuring air traffic safety in the Baltics, and a number of other current international issues. The Russian news agency TASS also reported that Lavrov and Stoltenberg discussed the modality of a meeting of experts from Russian, NATO member-states and regional countries on flights over the Baltic Sea.

(Mid.ru, September 22; Tass.com, September 22)



Lavrov meeting with Stoltenberg in New York. (Source: Mid.ru, September 22)

Ukraine-Russia Relations

On July 15, the Russian daily Vedomosti published an article by a Russian military expert, Ruslan Pukhov, about Russian military planning objectives. In his article, Pukhov explains that the concern exhibited by NATO members about the Baltic States' security is misplaced, as Russia did not take any significant measure to bolster its military presence in the Kaliningrad region bordering on the Baltics. On the contrary, Russian forces were radically reduced in the area.

Pukhov stressed that Russia avoids being drawn into a direct military rivalry with the West, but concentrates its forces around its main and fundamental security issue: Ukraine. Pukhov wrote that Russia is creating three strong army groups on its border with Ukraine, which are capable, if necessary, of launching a quick strike in the direction of Kiev. Therefore, Pukhov explained, current Russian military planning is divorced from any 'threat from NATO' or 'threat to NATO', but is geared towards creating a powerful force on the Ukrainian border, "which will allow the Kremlin to expand the range of possible [military] force options to the Ukrainian situation."

(See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6603, Russian Military Expert: 'Russia Is Creating Three Strong Army Groups On The Border With Ukraine... Capable... Of Launching A Quick Strike In The Direction Of Kiev', September 9, 2016)

Lavrov: 'I Don't See Any Prerequisites For The New Edition Of The Cold War To Become A Reality'

Speaking at the MGIMO University, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said:

"I don't see any prerequisites for the new edition of the Cold War to become a reality...Our American colleagues have developed a genetic code whereby the most important thing is that they decide everything themselves. But life is more complicated than a genetic code. So I hope that in the historically foreseeable future they will eventually come to understand the need to be in sync with the objective trends of global development."

"[We] are ready to resume normal full-fledged relations with the European Union and the United States, but only on an equal basis without any attempts to turn these relations into a one-way street."

"[Western partners] operate on the premise that they 'have been calling the shots' in this world for several centuries now (which is, in fact, true), and want to continue to dictate solutions to all problems from their own perspective. In fact, they claim to own 'the monopoly on the truth' and use, to this end, a wide range of mostly illegitimate coercion methods and unethical means of pressure on their partners ranging from rewriting history and conducting powerful and fairly aggressive information campaigns to imposing unilateral sanctions, sponsoring coups, fomenting regional conflicts, and even engaging in direct military interventions."

"We refer to our foreign policy as a 'multi-vector' foreign policy as we strive to cover all the bases while maintaining our independence, because Russia as a country, no matter what name it had throughout history, has always pursued a path of its own, which is what it is all about. We promote a policy which does not split the international community but rather consolidates it; we promote a peace-loving policy, which implies resolving problems through political and diplomatic methods and based on international law."

"The situation in Ukraine is very complicated. The crisis in that country has truly become a catalyst of processes that have laid bare the imperfections of the security structure in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region as a whole and the systemic flaws of this structure, which could not be reformed for many years. The proposals that we put forward came up against the egoism of political elites in a number of states, which clearly sought to obtain geostrategic advantages at the expense of other countries' interests, grossly violating the solemn declarations that were made in the 1990s at the OSCE and between Russia and NATO at the highest level, namely that security is indivisible and no one [country] will strengthen its security at the expense of the security of others. These political obligations were grossly violated and continue to be violated. Our proposals to upgrade the status of these obligations from ordinary political declarations to legally binding obligations were rejected out of hand. I hope that our partners remember this. If they forgot, we will, of course, remind them about it. It will no longer be business as usual either with the US or with the EU, let alone with NATO."

(Mid.ru, September 1)



Vitaly Podvitsky, Vk.com/13studiya, September 22, 2016.

The World is a US' prisoner.

Russia-West Relations: Pushkov: 'The Level Of Fierce Collision...Is Higher Than It Used To Be During The Cold War'

Speaking at the international forum "In Unity with Russia", Alexey Pushkov, chair of the Duma's international affairs committee, said: "As for the possibility of American nuclear weapons transfer from Turkey to Romania ...many Eastern European countries discuss that question. In Poland in particular the minister of defense raised the question of deploying US nukes in the country. The Russian position regarding this is quite simple. We have always said that countries which choose to host American nuclear weapons - countries in a close proximity to our borders - naturally increase their degree of vulnerability...Naturally, this will be a part of our operational planning - thus the governments, which make such decisions, bear responsibility for the consequences including [the consequences] for their own security".

(Ria.ru, August 28)

Pushkov added that the current Western demonization of Russia surpasses the Cold War era: "It's not just about 'the Cold War' - though some forms of Western foreign policies do recall the 'Cold War'". He explained that it's not a Cold War per se, since back then there was a collision between economic and political-ideological systems - and this is not happening now. Pushkov then explained: "Nevertheless the level of fierce collision - especially from our Western counterparts' side - is higher than it used to be during the 'Cold War' years...We have never faced such a level of anti-Russia demonization campaign. We have never faced a demonization campaign against Russian leadership at such a level. Things never reached the stage of personal sanctions I would call it 'a campaign of international McCarthyism'".

(Ria.ru, August 28)

Speaking at the same forum, MP Vyacheslav Tihonov told the audience that the situation is much worse than during the Cold War: "During the Cold War, American units, NATO units were not quartered in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. There has never been so thick a flow of lies and disinformation concerning Russia - it's happening not because we are doing something wrong, but because Russia has arisen from its knees".

(Ria.ru, August 28)

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin called Russia "the fist on the West's throat". Rogozin said: "When they say that the sanctions are temporary in nature - that's untrue. Anti-Russian sanctions will be present forever as long as Russia exists - because we are like the fist in their throat with our appraisal of life our independence, huge rich territory and unbreakable people." He went on that the West "always hindered, is hindering and will hinder Russia's power, will and independence."

(Ria.ru, August 28)

Drills

The Russian Baltic Fleet's coastal troops launched drills in the Kaliningrad Region. Russian Baltic Fleet's spokesman Roman Martov said. "About 1,000 servicemen, over 70 items of military and special hardware, including BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles, T-72 tanks, Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery howitzers, Tunguska air defense artillery systems, Grad multiple launch rocket systems, as well as fifth-generation communications equipment are used in the exercise." The drills will last a few days and will involve both offensive and defensive actions.

(Tass.ru, September 6)

Strategic exercises Kavkaz-2016 were launched in Russia's Southern Military District. The Defense Ministry's press-service said: "The Kavkaz-2016 exercise is the final phase of a package of command staff and special practices and drills for military command bodies and snap checks of troops' combat readiness due in 2016. It will be held at test sites of the Southern Military District, the Black and Caspian Seas on September 5-10... Taking part in the exercise there are about 12,500 troops, aviation, combat vehicles and naval vessels".

The Russian news agency TASS reported that one of the special tasks assigned the Kavkaz-2016 exercise will be testing new types of weapons and military equipment. It will also practice mobilization readiness and territorial defense measures, and employ aviation and the forces of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian flotilla.

(Tass.com, September 8)

According to the Russian media outlet Rbc.ru, the Russian Ministry of Defense is planning to spend 130 billion rubles (around 2 billion USD) for weapons modernization programs - this includes the first 100 T-14 Armata tanks, 6 "Varshavyanka" type submarines, and T-50 PAKFA (the fifth generation fighter jet).

(Rbc.ru, September 7)

During a snap inspection the Russian Ministry of Defense runs tests in other ministries, the Central Bank as well as in other executive authorities. All the authorities involved are expected to test their ability to function under "war time constrains". The drills involve calling up reserves, and drawing military and heavy equipment from warehouses in the Southern and Central Commands and in the Northern Fleet.

(Ria.ru, August 29)

During the same snap check over 50 warplanes have delivered a massive air strike against a notional enemy at the Ashuluk training range near Astrakhan in south Russia in a combat readiness check, the press office of Russia's Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"The crews of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft of the Southern Military District have accomplished a massive air strike with rockets against ground targets at the Ashuluk training range near Astrakhan in a snap combat readiness check," the ministry said.

(Tass.com, August 30)

An additional set of drills involves another 14 diverse firing ranges. Ina statement obtained by the Russian news agency TASS, the Defense Ministry said: "Tactical and special tactics exercises are being conducted at 14 combined-arms training ranges of the Southern Military District with live-fire, the rehearsals of troops' practical actions and training to counter a notional enemy's subversive and reconnaissance groups, control exercises in the training subjects such as driving combat vehicles and tanks, firing, tactical, engineering, technical, medical and airborne drills".

At the Kapustin Yar training range near Astrakhan in south Russia, the troops will practice repelling a notional enemy's massive air strike while sailors in the Black and Caspian Seas will destroy a group of enemy warships. Also, marine infantry will practice boarding large amphibious assault ships and landing on unprepared terrain.

TASS reported that 4000 personnel and 1500 units of combat equipment are involved in this series of drills. (Tass.com, August 30; Tass.ru, August 29)

It has also been reported that during the snap inspection, Russian MIG29 and Su-34 aircraft have located and intercepted targets in the stratosphere at an altitude above 11 kilometers

(Tass.ru, August 29)

During the same set of drills in the Southern Command, the MOD is conducting a penetration test for the Southern Command's air-defense units. Flying at various altitudes, more than 30 different aircraft - including long range aviation - are simulating the "red team" role.

(Tass.ru, August 27; Ria.ru, August 30)
On September 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he presented the Russian perspective which was highly critical of US policies on various issues: the Russia-US agreement for a ceasefire in Aleppo, the Minsk agreements, the WADA report, nuclear disarmament, and the US missile defense system in Europe.

On the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly, Lavrov held several meetings, among them with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Muallem, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Fayez al-Sarraj, Saudi Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam. Lavrov had also meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjrn Jagland, with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer, and with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. He also met with the Foreign Ministers of Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Switzerland, Japan, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Cuba, Iraq, and as well with the Cypriote president and representatives of small islands of the southern part of the Pacific Ocean.

Below are excerpts from Lavrov's remarks at the UN General Assembly:[1]

'Mentorship, Superiority... Have Become Deeply Ingrained Among The Political Elites Of A Number Of Western Countries'



Lavrov speaking at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. (Source: Mid.ru, September 23, 2016)

"...A year ago, from the same rostrum at the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly, plenty of accurate assessments were made of the situation at this crucial stage of international development. The main theme was the recognition that humankind, in transitioning from a bipolar and unipolar international order to an objectively evolving polycentric, democratic system of international relations, is faced with challenges and threats that are common to all and that can only be overcome by joint efforts. It was rightly noted that there is a pressing need to change the philosophy governing relations between states and do away with attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of states and impose development models on countries and nations.

"Unfortunately, the ideas of mentorship, superiority and exceptionalism, as well as the pursuit of one's own interests at the expense of just and equitable cooperation, have become deeply ingrained among the political elites of a number of Western countries. We can see the results of unilateral reckless solutions, born of a sense of infallibility, in the bleeding region of the Middle East and North Africa. This erodes the foundations of global stability.

'There Are Plenty Of Those Who Wish To Subvert The Agreed-Upon Approaches To Achieving A Settlement In Syria'



The US is helping terrorists in Syria. (Source: Vitaly Podvitsky, Vk.com/13studiya, September 17, 2016)

"It is high time to draw lessons and avert catastrophe in Syria. It was largely thanks to Russian military aid to the legitimate Syrian government in response to its request that the collapse of statehood and the country's disintegration under terrorist pressure was prevented. Our involvement led to the creation of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) as a means to establish an effective political process to enable the Syrian people themselves to determine their country's future through an inclusive dialogue between all ethnic and religious groups. This course, which has no alternative, was enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions and found its practical embodiment in the recent agreements between Russia and the United States as ISSG co-chairs.

"The main thing now is to prevent the collapse of these agreements and to investigate objectively and without bias the incidents in Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo that undermine them,[2] all the more so since there are plenty of those who wish to subvert the agreed-upon approaches to achieving a settlement in Syria. It is very important to implement the requirement of the UN Security Council to disassociate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists, and the members of the US-led coalition bear special responsibility in this respect. The refusal or inability to do this in the current conditions is bound to enhance suspicions that this is an attempt to take the heat off Jabhat al-Nusra and that the plans for regime change are still in place, which is a flagrant violation of the relevant resolution of the UN Security Council.

"It will be impossible to resolve the Syrian crisis and improve the frustrating humanitarian situation without suppressing ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and the extremist groups that have merged with it. This is the key to consolidating the ceasefire regime and achieving a nationwide truce. It is also unacceptable to delay the start of intra-Syrian talks without any preconditions, as UN Security Council Resolution 2254 requires. Overt subversion of the political process by some representatives of the foreign opposition with the connivance of their patrons is negatively affecting the prestige of the United Nations and suggests that the reason for this may be rooted in an attempt to create a pretext for regime change."

'Efforts To Use The Ukraine Crisis For Self-Serving Geopolitical Goals Will Not Go Anywhere'

"Ukraine, which is a country close to us, has fallen victim of those who like to play zero sum games. Its development was subverted by the unconstitutional coup and is now being blocked by Kiev's refusal to abide by the Minsk agreements of February 12, 2015. It is obvious to everyone that efforts to use the Ukraine crisis for self-serving geopolitical goals will not go anywhere. We hope that the natural course of events will lead to the implementation of all measures that the Ukrainian leadership signed onto in Minsk. The recent meeting of the Contact Group gives us some grounds for a degree of optimism.

"More broadly, the only way to make the Euro-Atlantic region a space of equitable and indivisible security and mutually beneficial cooperation, as the OSCE declared almost 20 years ago, is by honestly implementing all agreements. Neither NATO nor the EU can replace genuinely collective efforts in pursuit of common interests, without winners and losers."



US President Barack Obama is portrayed as Morpheus, a fictional character in The Matrix franchise. Obama says to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko: If you take the yellow pill you'll have hallucinations. If you take the blue pill, you'll speak nonsense Poroshenko: I'll take both.(Source: Vk.com/13studiya, August 12, 2016)

'It Is... Intolerable To Hold Hostage To Political Ambitions Such Spheres As Sport'

"And it is certainly intolerable to hold hostage to political ambitions such spheres as sport, which has always helped bring nations closer together and build friendship and trust. A desire to usurp the right to predetermine the outcome of the battle on the playing field does not improve the image of those who boast about their commitment to honest competition but in reality trample on the principles, approved by the UN General Assembly, of the independence and autonomy of sport and the inadmissibility of any discrimination in sport.

"In today's world, it is unacceptable to be guided by the philosophy of antiheroes from George Orwell's dystopia Animal Farm where all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. In the enlightened 21st century, it is simply indecent to lecture anyone on what to do, while reserving the right to engage in doping, reckless unilateral actions without UN approval, geopolitical experiments that cost millions of humans lives, or extraterritorial blackmail against everyone, including one's closest allies, whenever there is the chance of financial gain for one's own kind. Or even the right to set the criteria of greatness for one country or another. It is my belief that this is unworthy of the principles of liberty and equality that once formed the foundation of the great nations in whose name their elites are now threatening the whole world."



The US bought its Olympic victories. (Source: Vk.com/13studiya, August 28, 2016)

'There Is No Place For Hegemonism In The Future'

This year, we are marking the 70th anniversary of the Nuremberg Tribunal verdicts. This anniversary will prevent us from forgetting the lessons of the Second World War, and remind us of the catastrophic consequences of attempts to control the fate of the world by trampling on the legitimate interests of other states or people. Freedom of expression or peaceful assembly should not be used as cover for condoning radical movements that profess the Nazi ideology, or seek to glorify fascists and their accomplices. The persistence of these vicious instincts calls for consistent efforts to block the way for neo-Nazism and revanchism, strengthen interethnic and intercultural harmony, and fortify in younger generations the ideas of justice and equality. Russia invites all of you to take part in the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students to be held in Sochi in October 2017."



(Source: Vk.com/13studiya, June 8, 2016)

"There is no place for hegemonism in the future, if we want it to be fair and for people to be able to choose their own path of development. This requires learning to respect partners, as well as the cultural and civilizational diversity of today's world. It's about returning to the path, norms and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and other documents of this world organization. Russia reaffirmed its commitment to this approach by signing on June 25, 2016 a Russia-China Joint Declaration on the Promotion and Principles of International Law.[3] The decency and legitimacy of any member of the international community should be measured by their respect for the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in the internal affairs of others."



The world is a US' prisoner. (Source: Vitaly Podvitsky, Vk.com/13studiya, September 22)

'There Is No Place For Double Standards When It Comes To Combatting Terrorism'

"It is naive to think that global issues like fighting international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other threats that transcend borders can be resolved without renouncing the philosophy of exclusivity and permissiveness.

"There is no place for double standards when it comes to combatting terrorism. No less than universal joint efforts are needed to form a broad counter-terrorism front, as President Vladimir Putin proposed at this podium one year ago. The tragedies of Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria are indicative of the need to stop opportunistic attempts to use extremists in order to further one's geopolitical aims. Before it is too late, we need to focus on countering the spread of terrorist and extremist ideologies that are literally taking today's youth hostage in various regions of the world. We are drafting a UN Security Council resolution aimed at mobilizing efforts to fight this scourge, and hope that you will support our initiative. The settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also make a significant contribution to eliminating a breeding ground of radical sentiment. It is important to break this deadlock, which is precisely the objective of the July 1, 2016 report by the Quartet of Middle East mediators.[4] Russia calls on all the parties to abide by its recommendations."



Uncle Sam is launching a boomerang that reads "Terrorism". (Source: Vitaly, vk.com/13studiya, September 13)

'Nuclear Disarmament Should Proceed With A Full Accounting Of The Totality Of Factors Affecting Strategic Stability'

"Trends in the areas of non-proliferation and weapons control are deeply troubling. There are attempts to replace the crucial task of sustaining strategic stability with populist slogans about 'nuclear zero.' The fact that a number of nuclear weapons nations are not parties to existing treaties is also neglected.

The foundational Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is being subjected to pressure, with its parties finding it ever more difficult to find a common language, particularly as some nuclear powers torpedo any compromises that would allow for the start of negotiations on establishing a zone free of WMDs and their means of delivery in the Middle East.

"Russia has consistently advocated liberating humankind from the threat of nuclear weapons and other kinds of weapons of mass destruction. But progress along the path to nuclear disarmament should proceed with a full accounting of the totality of factors affecting strategic stability, including the impact of unilateral global missile defense systems, the designing of non-nuclear strategic offensive weapons, the threat of placing weapons in space,[5] the inability to ensure that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty takes effect, and the growing imbalance in conventional weapons in Europe.

"We note the growing support for our initiative to draft an international convention on combating chemical and biological terrorist attacks. The start of substantial negotiations on this problem, as well as on the Russian-Chinese draft Treaty on the Non-Deployment of Weapons in Space could end the impasse over the key component of the multilateral disarmament mechanism - the Disarmament Conference. We are also calling for careful consideration of our proposals on upgrading the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons."



US' eagle pointing at NATO bases in Europe: "My bases!" Russian bear next to Iskander missile system: "My targets." (Source: Vk.com/13studiya, VitalyPodvitsky. May 13)

'We Are Still Open To A Dialogue With NATO Based On Equality And Mutual Respect'; 'Recent Action By The DPRK...Should Not Be Used As A Pretext For Massive Militarization'

"NATO countries have led conventional weapons control in Europe to an impasse. Our attempts to rescue it encountered tough, ideological resistance. Any and all ideas on returning to this issue would only be worthwhile now if the North Atlantic Alliance realizes the absolute futility of ultimatums aimed at gaining unilateral advantages. We are still open to a dialogue with NATO based on equality and mutual respect, including dialogue through the OSCE.

"It is also vital to enhance stability and ensure equal and indivisible security in other parts of the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific Region. Recent actions by the DPRK in violation of UN Security Council resolutions must stop. Russia calls on Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile program and return to the NPT. However, this situation should not be used as a pretext for massive militarization of Northeast Asia and the deployment in the region of yet another positioning area for the US anti-missile defense shield. All parties must refrain from further escalating tensions and work towards a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula by resuming negotiations."



Putin smashes NATO's newly established strategic positions to Obama's dismay. (Source: Vk.com/13studiya, August 25, 2016)

'Russia Will Continue Promoting A Unifying Agenda In Various International Formats'



Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are friends. (Vk.com/13studiya, September 4, 2016)

"Russia will continue to promote dialogue at East Asia Summits with a view to shaping a regional security and cooperation framework in the Asia-Pacific Region based on non-block principles. A number of participating countries, including Russia, India, China and Indonesia have put forward their proposals to this effect. We also invite all countries of the region to coordinate efforts aimed at implementing President Vladimir Putin's initiative to create a broad Eurasian partnership that would bring together members of the Eurasian Economic Union, other CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] members, as well as members of the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and other interested countries. I would like to emphasize that this is an open initiative in full accord with earlier plans to create a single economic and humanitarian space between Russia and the EU. It will be based on WTO norms and principles, unlike projects to set up closed trade and investment blocks that threaten the unity of the global trading system.

"Russia will continue promoting a unifying agenda in various international formats, primarily the UN, BRICS, SCO and the Group of Twenty. The recent Hangzhou Summit reaffirmed the G20's status as a leading global economic and financial forum. Russia thanks the Chinese G20 Presidency for its efforts to make efficient use of this representative forum that provided us with an opportunity to exchange views on the key global economic and political issues for further promoting agreements in the universal framework of the UN..."



During the G-20, Putin presented Xi with a box of ice cream from Russia. (Source: Vitaly Podvitsky, Vk.com/13studiya, September 16, 2016)

Endnotes:
Introduction

In recent weeks there were numerous reports in the Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian media about an Arab initiative for promoting the Palestinian cause, which includes efforts to achieve internal reconciliation in Fatah between Palestinian President Mahmoud 'Abbas, who is also chairman of Fatah and the PLO, and former Fatah central committee member Muhammad Dahlan, and his supporters. The initiative, which is promoted by Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, and to some extent also by Saudi Arabia, was first publicized in May 2016. It is part of a broader initiative by these countries to launch a comprehensive political process in the region that includes: reinstating Muhammad Dahlan, who is a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and who was expelled from Fatah in 2011, in the Palestinian leadership; affecting a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas; and achieving a political settlement with Israel. Some writers and commentators suggested that the Arab countries promoting this initiative ultimately want Dahlan to replace 'Abbas as Fatah chairman and PA president. A report that supports this suggestion appeared on the Al-Khaleej Onine website, which quoted a Fatah official as saying that 'Abbas is not interested in running for the presidency again, so Dahlan is entitled to run in these elections just like any other Palestinian.[1]



Muhammad Dahlan (left) and Mahmoud 'Abbas (image: Alresalah.ps)

Although Fatah leaders initially seemed willing to cooperate with the initiative for a reconciliation within the movement, a short while later they stated their firm objection to Dahlan returning to the Fatah, and 'Abbas strongly condemned the attempts of Arab countries to intervene in internal Palestinian affairs. This remark sparked unusually harsh responses against 'Abbas in the Egyptian and Jordanian media, and mixed reactions in the PA media.

Several days ago Dahlan announced a plan to hold a convention in Cairo for all the Palestinian factions in order to formulate an agreed-upon political plan. In response, the PA Preventive Security apparatus issued an announcement warning against participation in this conference. In addition, apparently as a countermeasure to Dahlan's planned convention, 'Abbas announced that Fatah's seventh congress would be held soon.[2]

The following are details about the Arab initiative for reconciliation in Fatah, on 'Abbas's responses to the initiative, and excerpts from responses in the Arab and Palestinian media to 'Abbas's position on this affair.

The Arab Reconciliation Initiative And 'Abbas's Response To It

According to Arab media reports, the first stage of the initiative involves affecting a reconciliation within Fatah, as part of which Dahlan will be restored to his former position as a member of the central committee, and his supporters who were expelled from the movement will be restored to their former statues in it as well. This stage was to be implemented before the Palestinian municipal elections which were originally scheduled for October 8, 2016. According to some reports, Dahlan agreed to this initiative and was even willing to suffice with rejoining Fatah and forgo membership in the central committee.[3]

After attaining an internal reconciliation in Fatah, the four countries (Egypt, Jordan the UAE and Saudi Arabia, henceforth "the Arab Quartet") aim to achieve a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and subsequently to promote a political process vis-a-vis Israel that will involve the Arab League, in a bid to reach a comprehensive settlement between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab countries based on the Arab [Saudi] Peace Initiative and the French initiative for convening an international peace convention.

The Hamas daily Al-Risala, which is strongly opposed to the PA, speculated in the past that the Arab attempts to affect a reconciliation between 'Abbas and Dahlan and to promote Dahlan's status in Fatah and the PA stemmed from the Arab Quartet's preference for Dahlan over 'Abbas, due to the former's pragmatic positions vis-a-vis Israel and his harsh positions on the Muslim Brotherhood movement, whose power the Quartet wishes to curb as much as possible.[4] In recent months there have indeed been some indications that the Quartet is interested in normalization with Israel.[5] This is suggested, inter alia, by articles in the Saudi and Jordanian press,[6] and by articles in the Palestinian media that described the initiative as aimed at preparing the ground for Dahlan succeeding 'Abbas as Fatah chairman and PA president.[7]

Reports that Egypt, Jordan and the UAE were promoting reconciliation between 'Abbas and Dahlan that would lead to Dahlan taking 'Abbas's place as leader of Fatah and the PA appeared as early as May 2016. These reports claimed that the initiative included measures to weaken Hamas and reach a peace settlement with Israel with Arab support. They also claimed that Saudi Arabia was not part of the initiative but was meant to join it at a later stage.[8] It should be noted that earlier in May, Dahlan visited Jordan, and also expressed support for statements made by Egyptian President 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi in a May 17 speech calling for inter-Palestinian reconciliation and for a political process with Israel.[9] Furthermore, soon after news of the initiative first appeared, sources close to Dahlan reported that he was willing in principle to reconcile with 'Abbas, while elements close to 'Abbas rejected this possibility.[10]



Cartoon in Hamas daily on Arab attempts to affect a reconciliation between Dahlan and 'Abbas (Al-Risala, Gaza, May 30, 2016).

In August 2016, one week before the details of the Arab reconciliation initiative were first published, came reports on rapprochement between Fatah's institutions and Dahlan associates. Following its August 22 meeting, Fatah's central committee, of which 'Abbas is the chairman, issued a statement calling for unity within the movement ahead of the municipal elections. Clearly alluding to Dahlan and his supporters, the statement called on Fatah members to transcend personal considerations for the sake of the collective, and stressed that Fatah's institutions were open to all movement members, including those who had complained of sanctions that Fatah had imposed on them.[11] Several days later, the PA daily Al-Ayyam reported that candidate lists submitted by Fatah for the municipal elections in Gaza reflected a merging of the 'Abbas and Dahlan factions.[12]

The central committee statement sparked an immediate positive response from Egypt and Jordan. In a meeting they held in Cairo on August 23, one day after the central committee meeting, Egyptian President Al-Sisi and Jordan's King 'Abdallah II commended 'Abbas's positive response to the call for inter-Palestinian unity and welcomed the central committee's call for former Fatah members to rejoin the movement.[13]

In the days following the publication of the initiative's details, there were further indications that reconciliation attempts were underway. It was reported that five members of Fatah's central committee had met in Cairo with Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi and UAE officials to discuss the return of Dahlan and his associates to the movement. However, decisions reached in the meeting pertained only to the return of the associates, not of Dahlan himself, and the central committee members clarified that his return was not even up for discussion.[14]

Statements by Fatah members on the issue of reconciliation were also quite reserved. Fatah revolutionary committee member Bilal Al-Natsheh said that Jordan's and Egypt's efforts were advancing the cause of unity but not the cause of Dahlan's return to Fatah. Yahya Rabbah, also a revolutionary committee member and a columnist for the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, admitted that there were Egyptian efforts to affect Dahlan's return and that 'Abbas was being severely pressured on this issue, but clarified that "Fatah's position on this matter, especially on the case of Dahlan, is fixed and will not change... 'Abbas will not forgo his conditions for reconciliation."[15]

Following the meeting in Cairo between Fatah central committee members and Arab Quartet officials, Palestinian media reported that the Fatah leadership, headed by 'Abbas, had agreed to the return of 13 Fatah officials who had been expelled from the movement for supporting Dahlan.[16] On September 6, the Fatah court officially announced this decision regarding two of them - Nasser Jum'a and Sufian Abu Zaida.[17]

It should be noted that Fatah's official social media pages made no mention of the reconciliation efforts within the movement, and Dahlan's Facebook page did not refer to them either. However, several Facebook pages supporting Dahlan did report that reconciliation was in the offing, and also posted graphics expressing their support for this, such as the one below.[18]



"Supporters of Muhammad Dahlan" Facebook page: "Long live the leader, the honorable President Mahmoud 'Abbas; long live the senior leader Muhammad Dahlan."

Despite the indications of progress towards a reconciliation with Dahlan, in early September it appeared that 'Abbas had reneged on his intention to do so. In a speech he delivered on September 3, in a meeting in Ramallah with representatives of the special needs community, he bluntly denounced the attempts of external elements to intervene in Palestinian affairs: "We Palestinians refrain from referring to external interventions aimed at [helping us] attain our goals of independence and freedom, out of a desire to maintain good relations with all the world's countries. But [we will not tolerate] any intervention in our internal affairs which must be respected, just as we respect the internal affairs of all countries... Stop poking your fingers [in our business] here and there. All those pulling strings in various places had better sever [these strings], otherwise we will do it for them... This is our homeland, and we should maintain good relations with everyone, but nobody will dictate our decisions. We are the decision makers, and we will decide and implement [the decisions]. Nobody will control us... Enough with [the interference of Arab] capitals, with their money and influence. We want to work as Palestinians." Hinting at Dahlan, 'Abbas said that certain figures were receiving money from certain Arab capitals "in order to influence the Palestinian decisions or circumvent the PA."[19] Reports in the Arab media suggest that the countries he was alluding to were Jordan, Egypt and the UAE.[20]

Egypt, Jordan Attack 'Abbas For His Statements: He Has Lost His Legitimacy As A Leader

'Abbas's blunt statements in his September 3 speech regarding Arab intervention in internal Palestinian affairs evoked furious responses in Egypt and Jordan, from both officials and the media. The personal attacks on 'Abbas in the media were unusual in their number and their harshness, perhaps reflecting the importance of the Arab Quartet initiative for Egypt and Jordan. According to reports in the Arab media, Jordan demanded that PA officials clarify 'Abbas's statements, and the office of the Jordanian king even sent him a letter of rebuke.[21] 'Abbas's statements also triggered a heated exchange between the Jordanian daily Al-Dustour and the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, with the former making strident accusations against 'Abbas. In one Al-Dustour article, titled "Why Are They Squabbling over Who Will Succeed President 'Abbas?!", columnist Sufian Al-Shawa expressed puzzlement that anyone would even want to inherit 'Abbas's positions as PA president and Fatah and PLO chairman, while making derisive remarks about 'Abbas's statements, actions and performance. He wrote: "I wish ['Abbas's] position was worth struggling or working for, [but] it is like a white cloud that brings no rain and is [completely] worthless... [In order to govern like 'Abbas you have to] bless the [Jewish] settlers even if they uproot Palestinian olive trees. You are not allowed to ask about the [Palestinian] prisoners, and an intifada is not allowed [either]. [The PA] searches the backpacks of [Palestinian] schoolchildren, and all you have to do is listen to Jewish songs every day.[22] You can overlook corruption here and there and keep the PLC from convening. Even Fatah central committee meetings are [convened] only when necessary, and you can buy a private jet, attend Arab and international conventions, and travel abroad at the Palestinian peoples' expense."[23]

In response to this article, the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida published a piece by its chief editor that accused Al-Dustour of betraying its status as a national, professional and objective newspaper. Al-Dustour countered with an article by its editor for Arab affairs, which claimed that Al-Dustour is more loyal to the Palestinian cause than Al-Hayat Al-Jadida.[24] Eventually the two papers apparently reconciled, and Sufian Al-Shawa's article was removed from Al-Dustour's website. Later op-eds published by the paper on the Quartet initiative presented 'Abbas's reservations about the pressures exerted on him by the Arab countries, but refrained from attacking him.[25]

In Egypt, following a report on 'Abbas's activity in support of Lebanese politician Jean Obeid, oppositionist MPs slammed 'Abbas using his own words, calling on him to stop intervening in the internal affairs of Arab countries. The secretary-general of the foreign relations committee in the Egyptian parliament, Tareq Al-Khouli, said that "it would be more appropriate if President 'Abbas devoted all his efforts to resolving the crisis of his occupied state... instead of intervening in the affairs of Arab countries." Similar remarks were made by a member of the parliament's defense and national security committee, Ahmad Al-'Awadi, who said that 'Abbas interfered in the affairs of Syria and Lebanon but was unable resolve the outstanding problems in the Palestinian territories.[26]



Left: Egyptian MP Ahmad Al-Awadi (image: Albawabhnews.com, August 6, 2016); right: Egyptian MP Tareq Al-Khouli (image: Dotmsr.com, December 8, 2015)

Blunt criticism of 'Abbas was also voiced by Wael Al-Safti, who is responsible for the Palestine file in the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate. In a conversation with Dahlan, which aired on the Egyptian Mukamilin channel that is close the Muslim Brotherhood and broadcasts from Turkey, Al-Safti and Dahlan made contemptuous remarks about 'Abbas, and Al-Safti said he "is no longer able to understand, think or concentrate, and all his efforts are devoted to staying in power... Those whom 'Abbas cannot tolerate [react by] adopting radical positions and inclining towards Hamas... He is not able to unite them... He has no political wisdom and nothing to offer."[27]

In the Egyptian press, 'Abbas's September 3 statements met with mixed responses. Articles published immediately after his speech directed harsh personal attacks at him. However, articles published later in the official press took a softer tone, reflecting Egypt's need for continued cooperation with 'Abbas in order to promote the Quartet initiative and Egypt's interests in general. For example, in the week following 'Abbas's speech, the Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' daily published a series of unusually critical articles attacking 'Abbas's character, his motivations and his actions in handling the Palestinian cause and the relations with the Arab Quartet. Columnist Yousuf Ayyoub wrote: "Mahmoud 'Abbas excels at dancing his political dance on every table. It is difficult to find any absolute loyalty in him, to anyone, not even to the Palestinian Authority he heads. He is absolutely loyal only to himself... In many meetings open to the public, and in many closed meetings as well, we often heard him referring to [various] countries in very blunt political terms - and then two or three days later he visits these countries and courts them... without giving us any clue as to what caused this rapid change in his position towards them: are these political deceptions or financial ones? Abu Mazen [Mahmoud 'Abbas] rejects every attempt to mend the rifts in Palestinian society, using [very] weak pretexts, and he has developed a sort of political dementia. His arrogance towards everyone, including his partners in the PA, is the main characteristic of his behavior. Anyone who disobeys him is expelled...

"Abu Mazen - who on several occasions stressed his support for the French initiative and for the latest efforts by Jordan and Egypt to [compel] Israel to meet its commitment to promote the peace process - was unable to stick to his position, and several days later, on Saturday (September 3), in a meeting with a delegation of the special needs [community], he made [certain] blustering statements... It is strange that Abu Mazen made these remarks after Fatah members held meetings in Cairo in a bid to reunite the Palestinian ranks. This indicates that Mahmoud 'Abbas will not agree to reform the movement that he himself caused to stagnate. He made his blustering remarks in order to stop any attempt of reform, [because] he knows full well that there is no meaning to [his] existence if the structure of Fatah and the PA is reformed. The reports on Arab efforts to affect a reconciliation between him and Dahlan caused him to lose his [mental] balance, or perhaps he lost his mind for other reasons, having to do with his safes [full of money] in Qatar... The Palestinian home is not as important to him as retaining his position as its head, even if this means that the home will collapse over the heads of everyone in it."[28]

In another article several days later, Ayyoub wrote: "In 'Abbas's era the PA became a corpse, after he refused every attempted treatment and every preventive operation, on weak pretexts. ['Abbas] was and remains the main obstacle to achieving [inter-]Palestinian reconciliation... In his era Fatah disintegrated and became weak. When he received it from Abu 'Ammar [Yasser Arafat] it was strong, young and united, but 'Abbas insisted on splitting and fragmenting it."[29]

The daily also published articles by Palestinian figures, including Fatah revolutionary committee 'Adli Sadeq, that harshly criticized 'Abbas's rebuff of the Quartet. The articles claimed that "Abu Mazen does not represent the will of the Palestinian people and has no support base in Palestinian public opinion,"[30] and that he is "a danger to the Palestinian struggle and to the unity of the Palestinians and of Fatah."[31]

Articles published a week after 'Abbas's September 3 speech continued the attack on him. Columnist Ahmad 'Ayyoub wrote that he had undermined pan-Arab responsibility, forgotten the extensive aid that Egypt has extended to the Palestinian cause, and had become a toy in the hands of Qatar.[32] Writing under the title "Abu Mazen Is a President Who Has Lost His Legitimacy," columnist Hussein Yousuf accused that 'Abbas was not promoting the Palestinian cause but cleaving to his seat in order to make profits for himself and his sons' companies. "He has turned Fatah and the PA into a profitable commercial enterprise," he wrote.[33]

Egypt Government Press Comes To 'Abbas's Defense

In contrast to the attacks on 'Abbas in the Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' daily, the official Egyptian daily Al-Ahram was more restrained in its criticism of 'Abbas, and also published some articles in his defense. In an article about the rift between Fatah and Hamas, columnist Farhat Husam Al-Din called on both movements to heed the Egyptian president's initiatives for ending the conflict between them, and made no mention of 'Abbas's statements.[34] In a September 12, 2016 article, columnist Ashraf Abu Al-Houl described 'Abbas's statements as "harmful," but nevertheless defended him and denounced the insulting remarks made against him in the media. He wrote: "I do not know who is behind the vicious smear campaign against the Palestinian president Mahmoud 'Abbas... The man does not deserve the slander and the insults that are being leveled against him, for, simply put, he is a wise patriot and is politically resourceful... As for Abu Mazen's statements regarding Arab intervention in internal Palestinian affairs - [intervention that stems from] the desire of certain Arab capitals to bring about a reconciliation within Fatah and bring back some leaders who were expelled, including prominent leader Dahlan - [I say that] the issue is worth debating, and perhaps the Palestinian president deserved rebuke for what he said. [But it is also] possible that his statements were taken out of context for some reason. I assess that ['Abbas] will agree to an internal reconciliation in Fatah sooner or later, in order to put other [Palestinian politicians] to the test, and let the Palestinian people have its say and elect the leader who will govern and who will mend the damage caused by ['Abbas's] statements."[35]

An article published in Al-Ahram on September 13, following reports in the Israeli media alleging that 'Abbas had been a KGB agent, likewise came to 'Abbas's defense.[36]



Al-Ahram logo

However, it appears that the rage expressed in Egypt and Jordan over 'Abbas's statements did not keep these countries from continuing to promote their initiative. According to Bassam Al-Badarin, head of the Jordan office of the London-based Arabic daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Jordan and Egypt made sure to keep open the channels of communication with the PA, in hope of persuading 'Abbas to comply with the Quartet's plan for conducting "an internal Palestinian examination and especially a reconciliation in Fatah" before the municipal elections. Al-Badarin added that gestures made by Jordan and Egypt towards Hamas leaders - specifically the facilitation of Isma'il Haniya's trip to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, and Jordan's admittance of Khaled Mash'al into its territory - were parts of the efforts to promote the Arab initiative.[37]

'Abbas himself also took some steps to appease the Quartet countries. In an Eid Al-Adha speech, he spoke of "coordination with the Arab brethren" and of "their staunch support for the independence of our decisions to adhere to our principles and attain our national rights."[38] However, in his speech at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit on September 17, 2016, he refrained from mentioning the current Arab reconciliation initiative, and sufficed with saying that the Palestinians were working towards internal reconciliation and towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections.[39]

Qatari Initiative For Renewing Reconciliation Talks

The Quartet initiative for inter-Palestinian reconciliation, and the conflicts it sparked, also evoked reactions from Qatar, whose relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia are characterized by tension and rivalry.[40] The Qatari daily Al-Watan reported on Hamas political bureau head Khaled Mash'al's reservations regarding the Arab reconciliation initiative. It quoted him as saying that "smooth hands and external intervention are thwarting Palestinian reconciliation," and that if the Palestinian were permitted to handle their own affairs and national ambitions, they would have been able to resolve their crises.[41] Two days later, in a meeting with Arab ambassadors in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, 'Abbas announced that Qatar had offered to host a new reconciliation meeting between Fatah and Hamas, and expressed hope that this meeting would lead to a new reconciliation agreement between the two movements.[42] According to a September 18 report in Hamas's daily Al-Risala, in early October 2016 a Fatah delegation headed by central committee member 'Azzam Al-Ahmad is scheduled to meet with Hamas leaders in Doha.[43] It goes without saying that this initiative is in direct competition with the reconciliation initiative of the Arab Quartet.

Mixed Reactions In PA: Palestinians Refuse To Accept Patrons; The Arab Countries Are Acting In Good Faith

'Abbas's criticism of the Arab Quartet met with mixed reactions from Palestinian officials and press. PLO executive committee member Ahmad Al-Majdalani joined 'Abbas's call for Arab countries to stop interfering in the Palestinians' affairs, and confirmed that "the PA was being subjected to pressures, including [as part of] the program of the Arab Quartet whose headline is 'setting Palestinian politics in motion.'" He said that "since the 1970s and following the recognition of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, we have believed that the Palestinian people must have no patrons. Arab elements must not interfere in our internal agenda, for the age of patronship is over. The Palestinians' independent decision-making must be respected, just as we accept the independent decisions of the Arabs."[44] Other Fatah officials who support 'Abbas made similar remarks, including central committee member 'Azzam Al-Ahmad who spoke against regimes that "intervene using their political or geographical capital," and central committee deputy secretary-general Jibril Al-Rajoub, who said that Gulf money would not bring Dahlan back into the Fatah movement.[45]

Muhammad Yaghi, a columnist for the PA daily Al-Ayyam, also supported 'Abbas and denounced the Arab states' activity: "The troubling aspect is not necessarily the Arab countries' intervention in Palestinian affairs," he said. "After all, the whole world intervenes [in our affairs], from the occupation state through Bulgaria to the U.S. [The problem is] the modest [nature of] the tasks the Arab Quartet has set for itself... Beyond the objective of achieving Palestinian unity, the Quartet [states] could have been expected to have other objectives, no less important - for instance leveraging their close relations with their Western allies to stop the construction in the West Bank settlements, pressure [Israel] to release prisoners, lift the Gaza siege, prevent the Judaization of Jerusalem and bring about [the issuance of] international resolutions for the protection of the Palestinians... We do not demand that they arm the Palestinians. We do not demand that the Quartet states who have [diplomatic] relations with Israel sever those relations, nor do we demand that those Quartet states who do not have official relations with Israel launch a jihad campaign to liberate Palestine... But we do demand that the Quartet's objectives at least be broader than the modest objective they have set for themselves, namely [achieving] Palestinian unity - which, of course, is code for unity within Fatah, not for Fatah-Hamas unity or for establishing a national accord government for both the West Bank and Gaza...

"There are objectives whose achievement is certain, and that once attained would provide the Quartet with a breakthrough, if only in small matters like Palestinian unity. For instance, solving the financial problems of the [Palestinian] universities... paying the salaries of Gaza's public sector workers... investing in Gaza and the West Bank and creating job opportunities for tens of thousands of unemployed [Palestinians]... Nobody wants to anger Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or the Gulf states. They know this, and they know that none of the potential candidates to succeed 'Abbas within the Fatah movement want strained relations with the Arabs, especially not with the Quartet..."[46]

Conversely, other Palestinian officials voiced indirect criticism of 'Abbas's statements. Former Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qurei implicitly criticized 'Abbas in a press statement issued by his office. It said: "We must consider broadening the circle of decision-making and consultation. If I were I charge, I would not want to bear sole responsibility [for making decisions]. Those charged with responsibility need the support of everyone... The position of the Arab states regarding Fatah unity is positive, and I hope they succeed. The Arab states are loyal and passionately committed to [improving] the Palestinian situation, and they are not pleased with this situation. They are trying to act in good faith vis-a-vis the Palestinian cause."[47] Fatah activists close to Dahlan slammed the statements by 'Abbas and his associates and supported the Arab states' activity.[48]

Former PA minister for prisoner affairs, Ashraf Al-'Ajrami, was more direct in his criticism: "There is no reason to doubt the intentions of the Arab states who wish to help the Palestinian people unite its ranks... I am not sure what is going through the minds of some Palestinian leaders who rushed to create a rift with the Arab states, while the Palestinian people are calling on the sister Arab states to intervene and rescue it from the tragic reality in which it lives as a result of the Israeli occupation and the acts of oppression and injustice. It's not clear what we want from our brethren, [who are merely] trying to draw us a roadmap, even if we do disagree [with them] on certain details. It's not our custom to attack the Arab position, which is based on consensus. After all, we have always sought the common ground and tried to formulate an Arab position that suites our [needs]. [But] today we usually do not know what we want, and our leaders are gradually losing the support of the [Palestinian] public. It looks like we will soon lose the support of our brethren [the Arab states] as well, due to our negative attitude towards their positions and out excessive hastiness and rashness. Today we are like people lost in the desert, unable to navigate and find their way out... We were and still are being put to the test, [to see] whether we are worthy and capable of handling our affairs and governing ourselves, should we attain our independence... We have failed in some of the stages, and we must not fail again in such a situation which is seems to be [actually] in our favor."[49]

The editor of the Palestinian news agency Maan, Nasser Al-Laham, stated that the Arab reconciliation initiative had many flaws, but clarified that what drove 'Abbas to reject it was the Quartet's insistence on the reinstatement of Dahlan. "The Arab Quartet," he said, "comprises countries that support the PLO and oppose the Muslim Brotherhood, and at the same time advocate a political solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict that will be acceptable to the PA. From the Quartet's perspective, the Palestinians are [currently] committing suicide. They are helpless, squabbling with each other and endangering themselves, the Palestinian cause and other Arab causes. Perhaps 'Abbas would have accepted [the initiative] had the media not reported that the Quartet wanted nothing but Dahlan's restoration, which ruined everything... The Quartet's plan has many security and political flaws, and it was never presented to Palestinian figures and factions for consultation. It has also been accompanied by weak, confused and haphazard media performance in some countries, including excessive attacks and invective that the PA refuses to accept... We must discard this [aggressive] style and readopt a quiet and respectful discourse that will lead to success."[50]

Conclusion

The Arab reconciliation initiative seems to be stalled, though it has not perished. The delay stems from two factors: first, the power struggle between 'Abbas and Dahlan and their supporters, aggravated by the fact that Egypt in particular wants a young new leader (Dahlan), and encountered severe opposition from the old leader ('Abbas) who refuses to vacate his place. The second factor is the inter-Arab power struggle between Egypt and Qatar over the Palestinian issue, in which Qatar supports the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and Egypt supports the PLO and Fatah.

It appears that all sides will now try to soften their positions and prevent an explosion that will harm their standing in the international arena. However, the initiative seems very unlikely to go forward with 'Abbas's blessing, as evident from the recent reports that he supports Qatar's efforts to renew the Fatah-Hamas dialogue, even at the price of angering Egypt - and all apparently in order to avoid accepting Dahlan back into the Fatah movement.

* B. Shanee and C. Jacob are research fellows at MEMRI.

Endnotes:
On September 25, 2016, the Saudi English-language daily Saudi Gazette published an unusual editorial, urging the Palestinian Authority (PA) not to dismiss out of hand the invitation extended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Palestinian President Mahmoud 'Abbas to address the Israeli parliament, and not to treat it as just a "new gimmick." The editorial stated that this invitation was reminiscent of the one extended by Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin to Egyptian president Anwar Sadat to visit Israel. This eventually led to the signing of the Camp David agreement, which "for all its shortcomings... demonstrated that negotiations with Israel were possible." The editorial also mentioned the visit of U.S. president Bill Clinton to the PA in 1998, which led to the amendment of the PLO charter and eventually to the holding of the Camp David summit between Israel and the Palestinians in 2000. These two examples, it said, showed that diplomatic visits on that level could change the course of history.



'Abbas and Netanyahu (Image: Zamnpress.net)

It should be mentioned that, in the last two months, there have been indications of a shift in the Saudi position vis-a-vis Israel and of a Saudi and Arab attempt to prepare public opinion for normalization with it. Among these indications were a July 2016 visit to Israel by a Saudi delegation headed by Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Anwar Eshki, chairman of the Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies in Jeddah, and the publication of photos of the delegation with Israeli politicians. Although the Saudi regime denied any involvement in Eshki's visit, and Eshki himself claimed that he represented only himself and that "official Saudi elements did not know of the meeting in advance, as it was of a personal nature" and was the result of an invitation by the PA, he nevertheless clarified that "the kingdom does not prevent anyone from holding such visits," and did not rule out indirect Israeli-Saudi intelligence cooperation as part of efforts to combat terrorism.[1] A month later Eshki said he would not hesitate to visit Israel again.[2]

Another indication of the shift in the Saudi position towards Israel is a series of highly unusual articles published in the Saudi press this July, which were harshly critical of the antisemitic discourse in Arab and Muslim society, and called to avoid generalizations regarding Jews. On these articles, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6574, Articles In Saudi Press: End The Antisemitic Discourse, Learn From The Jews' Success, August 14, 2016.

Additionally, there have recently been reports that Saudi Arabia is acting, along with Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, to promote a process of internal reconciliation within Fatah and between Fatah and Hamas, as part of a broader initiative to launch a comprehensive political process in the region culminating in a political settlement with Israel. On this initiative, see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1270, Tension Between Mahmoud 'Abbas, Arab Quartet Over Initiative For Internal Reconciliation In Fatah, September 27, 2016.

The following is the editorial published by Saudi Gazette, in the original English.[3]

"The Palestinians should not be too quick to dismiss the invitation extended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address Israel's parliament [and his statement that], in return, [he would] 'gladly come to speak peace with the Palestinian parliament in Ramallah.' Netanyahu's gesture was quickly rejected by the Palestinians as a 'new gimmick' but the invitation is reminiscent of the one issued by former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to visit Israel - and the rest is history. On Nov. 19, 1977, Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel when he met with Begin and spoke before the Knesset in Jerusalem about his views on how to achieve a comprehensive peace to [resolve] the Arab-Israeli conflict which included the full implementation of UN resolutions 242 and 338.

"The visit led to the 1978 Camp David accords, the series of meetings between Egypt and Israel facilitated by then-US President Jimmy Carter, then the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in the US the following year. For good measure, both Sadat and Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the treaty. For all its shortcomings, Camp David demonstrated that negotiations with Israel were possible and that progress could be made through sustained efforts at communication and cooperation.

"Despite the disappointing conclusion of the 1993 Oslo accords, it was a significant development that had little chance of occurring without the precedent set by Camp David. Another unprecedented invitation involving the Palestinians and Israel needs mentioning, that of Bill Clinton becoming the first US president to visit Palestinian territory, where he addressed the Palestine National Council. On that day in 1998, Palestinian leaders approved a measure affirming the right of Israel to exist. Rising from their seats and voting by raising their hands, the PNC voted nearly unanimously to remove clauses from the Palestine Liberation Organization charter that called for the destruction of Israel. The acceptance by the Palestinians that Israel had the right to live within secure borders led to the 2000 Camp David summit II which, while it ended without an agreement, could not have been held in the first place had it not been for Clinton's visit.

"Despite these two examples of how official visits can [change] the arc of history, the Palestinians automatically rejected Netanyahu's invitation to Abbas, which was designed to mask what they described as Israel's intransigence on moving forward with the Mideast peace process. It is possible that the aim of the invitation was an attempt by Netanyahu to isolate UN attempts to restart and impose a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In reiterating his persistent call for direct negotiations with the Palestinians, Netanyahu has rejected any possible UN plan to unilaterally impose a solution to the conflict, reiterating Israel's longstanding complaints that the UN is biased against Israel. His biggest concern is that President Obama might allow the UN Security Council to endorse Palestinian statehood at the end of the year without the traditional US veto of such a measure.

"The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahu's past offers for such invitations, saying his hard-line position on all core issues made dialogue impossible. Indeed, Netanyahu rejects a settlement freeze, will not uproot settlements, rejects the 1967 borders as the basis for talks and rejects any division of Jerusalem.

"But the Palestinians should note that at the time, Egypt and Israel were mortal enemies, having fought three wars. Camp David called for a five-year transitional period of Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza. The transitional period would include the introduction of Palestinian self-government and an end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Much of the Arab world derided it as a weak deal. But in hindsight, if the provisions had been carried out, Israel and the Palestinians might not be in the impasse they are in at present."

Endnotes:
Sushma Swaraj slayed Pakistan in her UNGA speech delivered last night and it was evident from her articulated response that India would not tolerate the terror sermons from across the border. In a speech which was balanced and directed towards the domestic audience rather than the world at large saw her touch upon various issues affecting the international community and why Pakistan was the epicenter of most of those problems, as far as terrorism and state sponsored support to terrorism is concerned. Here we take a look at why Sushma Swarajs UNGA speech was a perfect response to the obnoxious terror state of Pakistan.

1. It Put India At The Forefront Of The Fight Against Terrorism

 BCCL

Sushma Swarajs slam dunk to Pakistan came midway through the speech when she explained that the terrorists do not have an open bank or an arms factory, and if they dont have the resources then who is fuelling their cause? In this one quick rebuttal, Swaraj established that some states like Pakistan were funding terrorists to wage a proxy war against India and the world and that these states must be isolated by the international community. Swaraj also reiterated that the United Nations was yet to take a stand on Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) which India had proposed back in 1996. The CCIT, Swaraj stressed, will be a great beginning to reign in funding to terrorist organizations, and this treaty will establish India as a flag bearer of counter-terrorism efforts on the international stage.

 BCCL

By pointing to the efforts which the Indian government has made over two years to create a positive environment for talks with Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj proved that India has always been forthcoming to resolve all pending issues with its untrustworthy neighbor. After Indias constant efforts to improve relations, Sushma added that Pakistan has time and again been caught meddling in Indias internal affairs in Kashmir. Swaraj also said that attacks on Indias military bases in Pathankot and Uri were proof that any efforts from India are met with a violent response from Pakistan. This in turn proves that talks are a futile exercise and that India knows how to deal with a rogue state.

3. It Was Delivered In Hindi To Make Sure That People In Pakistan Knew What Their Governments Intentions Are

 BCCL

As many of us know by now, the speech was strategically delivered in Hindi, so as to suit the audience here in India and Pakistan. This helped India make logical assertions in front of the Pakistani audience showing how the countrys rulers were hellbent on destroying their own nation by supporting terrorists deep inside their territory. Sushama Swaraj drove home the point that homegrown terrorism will hurt Pakistan more than it can ever hurt India.

4. Because Finally We Have A Government Which Has Decided To Talk Only If Firm Action Is Taken On Specific Issues Including Terrorism

 BCCL

Its good to hear leaders from India finally telling the international community that enough is enough, when it comes to making amends with Pakistan. We, as a nation, can only help a country like Pakistan if it wants to help itself first. The message from the External Affairs Minister was loud and clear, act on terrorism emanating from inside your territory and then we will talk. Swaraj, in line with PM Modis comments, said that it was the need of the hour that a country like Pakistan is internationally isolated.

5. Because Unlike Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj Did Not Spend 80 Percent Of Her Speech Time On Our Neighbor And That Is A Good Thing

 BCCL

Believe it or not, despite some stinging rebuttals to the terror state of Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj perfectly balanced her speech at UNGA by discussing various other challenges which the world faces including poverty, the Paris climate deal, Indias path-breaking initiatives for an international solar alliance, and of course terrorism. This, in turn, proved that India is a major international power right now and that its opinions and initiatives in various fields are invaluable. The speech is indicative of the times to come, where India will be more concerned about evolving as an economic superpower rather than be hyphenated with a war-mongering terror state.
Elon Musk, one of the most prolific inventors, engineers and businessmen is now ready to reveal his plans for SpaceX. Elon Musk intends to colonise Mars and he is all set to announce it at the International Astronautical Congress in Mexico today. He has titled his speech as Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species for the conference and the centre of the discussion is how they will be able to pull this off.

Musk had already given a preview of the spaceship Mars Colonial Transporter on Twitter earlier this month. However, there seems to be a new development. The said transporter can travel well beyond Mars as claimed by Musk and wants to rename the ship.

 SpaceX

Musk is expected to be talking about details about his latest ship, plans for settling mars such as architectural designs and some hardware advancements they might have achieved. According to Arstechnica, Musk will be talking about the large rocket which is powered by Raptor Engines.

Mankind has been obsessed with Mars since the day it was discovered. We have sent probes, rovers and even speculated about whether it could support life or not. These questions have always been shrouded in mystery; however, Elon Musk wants to address them all. Elon Musk needs to convince his investors and the rest of the world that this is not science fiction anymore. We as humans have been obsessed with Mars and Musk needs to convince the world it is achievable.

In April, NASA had agreed to help Musks SpaceX by providing technical support and data for their mission to send a dragon spacecraft by 2018. Nasa will help SpaceX with data transmission from space, in return for entry, descent and landing data.

Wernher von Braun, the father of rocket science has always dreamt of going to Mars ever since he was captured from Nazi Germany. He later started working for NASA and his first ever press conference was about Mars exploration. Unfortunately, at the end due to technology restrictions, he was unable to live his dream.

Musk obviously has the technology available to him to make this a reality, both in terms of reality and concept. The world will know in exactly 7 hours how he plans to make his mark in history this time.

Source: Popular Mechanics

Arstechnica
Thirty-three bodies were retrieved on Tuesday from the wreckage of the migrant boat that capsized in the Mediterranean off the coast of Egypt's Rossetta last week, with the death toll reaching 202 after Egypt's Petroleum Marine Services floated the boat earlier today.

A live Facebook broadcast by the Petroleum Marine Services showed the floating process and attempts by Egyptian navy personnel to inspect the boat.

The death toll stood at 179 as of Tuesday morning before the boat was floated and new corpses were recovered.

According to eyewitness estimates, the boat was carrying around 450 migrants of several nationalities, including 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.

Survivors of the deadly incident also said that no less than 100 migrants were inside the cooling storage unit below the deck of the fishing boat.

Four crewmembers were arrested on Thursday and the Beheira prosecution ordered their detention for four days pending investigation.

They are facing charges of human trafficking, wrongful death, wrongful injury and using a fishing boat for another purpose.

Several brokers and human traffickers allegedly involved in the incident were also arrested in the past few days, according to news reports.

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The Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Nikos Xydakis, today had a customary meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Ambassador of Armenia to Greece, Fadey Charchoghlyan.



The meeting, held in a particularly friendly atmosphere, confirmed the excellent level of bilateral political relations between the two countries. Furthermore, Ambassador Charchoghlyan pointed out it is necessary for economic relations between the two countries to grow stronger as Greece was one of the very first countries to invest in Armenia.



The Armenian Ambassador stressed the need for stronger cooperation in the private sector and, moreover, stated his intention to further advance bilateral cultural and educational relations.



Ambassador Charchoghlyan also referred to the increasing numbers of Armenians residing in Greece. The Armenian community currently has over 40,000 members and is very active in business.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas is returning from Astana tomorrow, after the end of the proceedings of the 3rd Inter-Ministerial Committee between Greece and Kazakhstan. In that framework, a relevant cooperation protocol was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister D. Mardas and his Kazakh counterpart, R. Vassilenko.



Parallel to the Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting, the first Kazakh-Greek Business Forum was also held in Astana and two cooperation deals were signed, at its sidelines, between respective enterprises working in the field of hi-tech products and medical rehabilitation services. A total of 15 Greek businesses took part in the Forum, representing the food industry, pharmaceuticals, RES and consulting services, and they had a multitude of meetings with their peers from Kazakhstan.



Moreover, on the margins of the Joint Inter-ministerial Committee, Deputy Minister Mardas had a meeting with E. Idrissov, the Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two Ministers confirmed excellent level of bilateral relations while they examined ways to strengthen relations further.



Lastly, Deputy Minister Mardas delivered a speech at the University of Astana in the presence of local academia and representatives of the diplomatic corps.




Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Nikos Xydakis received, today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Admiral James G. Stavridis (Ret.), Fletcher School Dean.

Mr. Stavridis, in his capacity as Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Massachusetts, praised the high level of knowledge of diplomatic personnel attending this years program at the Fletcher School in Boston through grants by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.



The two gentlemen exchanged views on the crisis in the Mediterranean and the great challenges that Europe is facing. Furthermore, they discussed the economic crisis and the essential role Greeks abroad can play in speeding up economic recovery for Greece. Greece needs an impetus for investment, Alternate Minister Xydakis said, so that it determinedly embarks on the path for growth and so that our people get their self-confidence back. Admiral J. Stavridis assured him he will be conveying his message in a speech he is bound to make before members of the Greek Diaspora over the coming days.
Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for talks with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the resumption of flights between the two countries

Egypt's aviation ministry cancelled on Tuesday a meeting scheduled for the early afternoon between the minister and the Russian transport minister due to "time crunch," aviation ministry officials said.

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for talks with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the resumption of flights between the two countries.

It is unclear if Sokolov, who leaves Cairo on Tuesday, will hold a press conference after meeting El-Sisi.

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.

Talks between Sokolov and El-Sisi could include a draft agreement between the governments of Russia and Egypt to ensure the safety of civil aviation, according to Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti citing the Russian transport ministry's press service.

Last week, Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi held talks with Russias Deputy Transport Minister Nikolay Zakhryapin, where they noted "significant progress" in cooperation in civil aviation security between the two countries.

The downing of the Russian flight was a heavy blow to Egypt's tourism industry. The number of tourists coming to Egypt dropped by 50 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to Egypt's Tourism Authority.

Tourism revenues during that period witnessed a drop of 60 percent compared to 2015.

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Dunkin Donuts apologised for a social media post by an Egyptian franchisee that many have deemed racist, as it described a chocolate donut as half beautiful and a white donut as fully beautiful.

As soon as we became aware of the social media post by our Egyptian franchisee, we asked for it to be removed. Our franchisee immediately complied. We apologise for the offense this posting caused, the company told Ahram Online in an email.

Last week, the Egypt franchise, which was opened in October 2015 and now has three branches in Cairo, posted a picture on social media that portrayed the two donuts with the caption darkness is half beautiful and whiteness is full beauty.

Another caption posted alongside the image read: Because we are against racism, we will eat them both. Which will you choose?

The post quickly went viral, with social media users slamming the Egyptian franchisee over its racism.

Some users started tagging the international company, which currently has more than 9,700 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide, calling for an explanation over the ad. Other users defended the ad, arguing that by stating we will eat them both, the ad does not carry any racist connotations.

The Egyptian franchisee has deleted its post, but has issued no apology so far.

This is the second time in a month that an international brand intervened over a controversial ad posted by an Egyptian franchisee.

In August, the worlds largest international gym company, Golds Gym, moved to terminate the contract of an Egyptian franchisee, Golds Gym Dreamland, after the latter posted an ad online that was deemed to be body-shaming.

Golds Gym Dreamland posted an image showing a pear with the caption: "This is no shape for a girl.

Social media users have accused the fitness company of contributing to a negative self image for girls.

The international gym brand said it is reviewing its internal procedures for how both domestic and international franchisees create and share social media posts to ensure "nothing like this ever happens again."

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In the past several weeks, Russian delegations visited a number of Egyptian airports to inspect their security procedures

Russian transport minister Maksim Sokolov told Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday that discussions between the two countries to resume Russian flights to Egypt "have come a long way," an Egyptian presidential statement read.

Sokolov, who met with El-Sisi in Cairo, relayed to the Egyptian president a number of concerns regarding Egyptian airport security that need further discussion, the statement added.

In the past several weeks, Russian delegations visited a number of Egyptian airports to inspect their security procedures.

El-Sisi emphasised Egypt's commitment to providing the maximum security and protection for tourists in general and for Russian citizens in particular.

The president also emphasised the importance of continuing discussions between both sides until a decision to resume flights is reached.

Sokolov was expected to announce the resumption of Russian flights at a mid-day press conference in Cairo with Egypt's civil aviation minister, but the conference was cancelled with officials citing "lack of time."

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 in October. All 224 people on board were killed in the crash, which was claimed by Islamist militants.

The downing of the Russian flight was a heavy blow to Egypt's tourism industry. The number of tourists coming to Egypt dropped by 50 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to Egypt's Tourism Authority.

Tourism revenues during that period witnessed a drop of 60 percent compared to 2015.

Russians are the largest single tourist group in Egypt, making up about a fifth of foreign vacationers in the country as of 2015, according to official data.

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Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday it has probed a deadly air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on a Yemen hospital and found that the attack was "unjustified and unprovoked".

MSF called for "urgent changes in the rules of engagement of the Saudi-led coalition... to ensure the safety of medical personnel, patients, assets and infrastructure".

The August 15 attack on Abs hospital in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja was the fifth and deadliest attack on an MSF-supported facility in war-torn Yemen, the Paris-based group said in its report.

The strike which killed 19 people and wounded 24 others and drew international condemnation was preceded by Arab coalition air raids on nearby areas, MSF said.

Warplanes from the coalition regularly bomb areas controlled by Iran-backed rebels as part of its campaign launched in March 2015 in support of UN-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

A coalition plane "launched a projectile at Abs hospital without previous warning or communication with the MSF mission", the charity said.

Based on the probe findings, the attack targeted a "civilian vehicle" that drove into the hospital compound nearly five minutes before the air strike.

This was also indicated by a Saudi general who spoke to MSF in Djibouti, the charity said.

Carrying patients believed to be victims of other strikes, "the car was visually inspected at the gate" by a hospital guard who said that those inside "wore civilian clothes and that there were no weapons visible inside the vehicle".

The strike hit as MSF medical staff were bringing a stretcher to unload the wounded from the car.

"The blast was very powerful. It left a big crater and was felt throughout the hospital, where windows were shattered despite the blast film applied on them," it said.

"Thirteen of the deaths were due to severe shrapnel injuries, two people burned to death inside the car, one of which was a child, and partial remains were found of the remaining four casualties," MSF said.

The hospital remained empty for 11 days after the blast before it gradually resumed operations from August 26.

The attack prompted MSF to evacuate its teams from six hospitals in northern Yemen, including Abs -- a move that it said has "negatively impacted the availability and quality of healthcare" in the war-battered country.

"MSF had taken every possible measure to safeguard the normal medical functioning and the neutrality of the facility," it said.

The hospital was identified with logos and through the communication of GPS coordinates.

It was functioning normally prior to the attack and the investigation found there had been no changes to trigger the strike while a "strict no-weapons policy was being applied".

"Thus, carrying out the attack on the hospital without any legitimate cause and without previous warning was a violation of the International Humanitarian Law rules," MSF said.

It acknowledged however that the coalition had taken "concrete and positive steps including a prompt investigation, an invitation to discuss the findings and a commitment to concrete changes".

The Arab coalition immediately announced an independent investigation into the attack but has not yet published its findings.

Last month, the coalition acknowledged "shortcomings" in two out of eight cases it had investigated of UN-condemned air strikes on civilian targets in Yemen.

More than 6,600 people have been killed since the coalition launched its intervention, most of them civilians, according to the United Nations.

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Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah said on Tuesday there was no foreseeable political solution for Syria, and that the conflict was becoming more complicated as tension mounted between the United States and Russia, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

"There are no prospects for political solutions ... the final word is for the battlefield," the pro-Hezbollah newspaper's website quoted leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as saying.

"The situation is becoming increasingly complicated especially after the U.S.-Russian tension and the continued crisis of trust between the two sides," he said. Hezbollah supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war, now in its sixth year.

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HURON COUNTY  To frack or not to frack: that is the question.

At a townhall meeting on the issue last week, environmental and oil and gas officials assured an audience of about 35 that the geology of the Upper Thumb is not conducive to fracking, and that no fracking is currently taking place in Huron County.

The Huron County Board of Commissioners has said no to the issue in a resolution in June, but really has no say.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is state and federally regulated.

Petitions were available at the townhall for residents of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties to sign requesting state legislation that would prohibit fracking in Michigan.

Some residents at the meeting, held at the Huron County Expo Center in Bad Axe, insisted that there are fracking plans for the Verona State Game Area.

There have been 12 oil and gas exploration contracts in the county since January 2015, Sheri L. Stanton, Huron County Register of Deeds, told the Tribune.

There hasnt been very much activity as far as recording oil and gas leases in the last few years, she said.

Speakers at the townhall, hosted by State Rep. Edward Canfield (R-Sebewaing), were James Clift, policy director of the Michigan Environmental Council, and James Peters of Northstar Energy of Traverse City.

Peters explained the fracking process, which involves horizontal drilling underground into antrim shale to harvest natural gas that is locked in the rock.

Audience members asked about the threat of fracking-related earthquakes in Oklahoma and ground water contamination in Pennsylvania from the process, which uses millions of gallons of water.

Clift assured residents that the geology in Northern Michigan where most fracking sites are located, makes it safer to frack.

There are no major fault lines in Michigan like there are in Oklahoma, he said.

There has been no increase in seismic activities since fracking began in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, he added.

He said that the states environmental standards are above average, so fracking does not pose a risk for groundwater contamination.

The Process:

 A traditional well is drilled vertically 15,000 feet deep. The drill bit is then steered horizontally for another 20,000 feet.

 Layers of cement and steel are deposited down the circumference of the well to protect groundwater, Peters said.

 Peters defined fracking as pressurized fluids typically containing  sand (or) ceramics. Out of this you create fractures and fissures in a rock formation so that hydrocarbons can flow to the well bore.

 The fractures break open the shale.

 The fractures create pathways in the shale for the natural gas to flow through.

 The solution that causes the shale to fracture consists of sand and water (99.5 percent), and chemical additives (0.5 percent).

 Five to 21 million gallons of water may be used in a single well.

 In 10 million gallons of water, there would be 50,000 gallons of chemical additives.

 The water source for fracking in Michigan is groundwater.

 Between 10 and 70 percent of the fracture water returns to the surface, Clift said.

 This flowback has to be disposed of, and surface spills could be problematic, he said.

 Wastewater is put into steel tanks, then transported to injection wells, where it is injected into the earths brine layer, which is below freshwater aquifers. The water there is salty and unusable, Clift told the Tribune.

 Michigan, unlike other states, does not allow wastewater in pits or ponds, he said, so in that way it is not a threat to groundwater.

 Peters warned against contracting with anyone for oil and gas exploration without consulting an attorney.

 He said a lease or permit is required to drill under anyones property.
BAY CITY  The owners and operators of two dairy farms in Huron and Tuscola counties have been indicted on charges of hiring and harboring undocumented immigrants.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District of Michigan, Parisville Dairy and Dunganstown Dairy, along with owners Denis Burke, 53, and Madeline Burke, 50, both of Cass City, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Bay City. The indictment was unsealed prior to the defendants arraignment in federal court.

Parisville Dairy is located at 3657 Parisville Road in Ruth. Dunganstown Dairy is located at 5301 Dodge Road in Cass City.

According to the indictment, the Burkes owned and operated the two dairy farms and employed workers at the farms. Beginning in 2007 and continuing through June 2013, the couple allegedly conspired to transport, conceal, harbor and shield from detection, undocumented immigrants to obtain their services for financial gain.

The indictment further alleges that as a regular part of its hiring practices, the Burkes and the farms failed to conduct the necessary inquiries required by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to determine the eligibility of all individuals to work in the United States. Some of the undocumented immigrants were hired by the Burkes on multiple occasions, using different names or Social Security numbers. The defendants induced the undocumented immigrants to reside in the U.S. by providing them with employment and free housing on the farm, away from scrutiny by immigration authorities and the community.

HSI is committed to aggressively investigating individuals and businesses who allegedly hire and harbor illegal workers to gain an unfair economic advantage, said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. HSI simply will not turn a blind eye to employers who shirk their responsibility to maintain a legal workforce.

The case was investigated by special agents of HSI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the assistance of the Michigan State Police and Huron County Sheriffs Office. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys office in Bay City.

Attempts by the Tribune to reach the Burke residence and both farms for comment were unsuccessful.
One soldier and a civilian were killed in Mali's ancient city of Timbuktu in a suspected militant attack, military sources told AFP Monday.

The killers arrived in the town in a vehicle and lay in wait for the victims outside their house before gunning them down with an automatic weapon, a Malian army officer told AFP.

Over the course of the last few months, three people, including an army officer accused of sharing the movements of militant groups in the Timbuktu region with Mali's army and its allies, have been killed.

Northern Mali has seen repeated violence since it fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels who allied with jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012.

Attacks are now becoming more frequent further south, in the country's centre, close to its borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres which they had briefly controlled.

But despite a peace accord last year, large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops, and jihadist groups have over the past year carried out attacks in central Mali as well as back in the long-troubled north.

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AAR Corp. provides products and services to commercial aviation, government, and defense markets worldwide. The Aviation Services segment offers aftermarket support and services; inventory management and distribution services; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as engineering services. This segment also sells and leases new, overhauled, and repaired engine and airframe parts, and components; and provides inventory and repair programs, warranty claim management, and outsourcing programs for engine and airframe parts and components, as well as performance-based supply chain logistics programs in support of the U.S. department of defense and foreign governments. In addition, it offers airframe inspection, maintenance, repair and overhaul, painting, line maintenance, airframe modification, structural repair, avionic and installation, exterior and interior refurbishment, and engineering and support services; and repairs and overhauls components, landing gears, wheels, and brakes. The Expeditionary Services segment provides products and services supporting the movement of equipment and personnel by the U.S. and foreign governments, and non-governmental organizations. This segment also designs, manufactures, and repairs transportation pallets, and various containers and shelters; and provides engineering, design, and system integration services for command and control systems. The company serves domestic and foreign passenger airlines; domestic and foreign cargo airlines; regional and commuter airlines; business and general aviation operators; original equipment manufacturers; aircraft leasing companies; aftermarket aviation support companies; and domestic and foreign military customers. It primarily markets and sells products and services through its employees and foreign sales representatives. AAR Corp. was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
Brookfield Asset Management is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It typically makes investments in sizeable, premier assets across geographies and asset classes. It invests both its own capital as well as capital from other investors. Within private equity and venture capital, it focuses on acquisition, early ventures, control buyouts and financially distressed, buyouts and corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, convertible, senior and mezzanine financings, operational and capital structure restructuring, strategic re-direction, turnaround, and under-performing midmarket companies. It invests in both public debt and equity markets. It invests in private equity sectors with focus on Business Services include infrastructure, healthcare, road fuel distribution and marketing, construction and real estate; Industrials include manufacturers of automotive batteries, graphite electrodes, returnable plastic packaging, and sanitation management and development; and Residential/ infrastructure services. It targets companies which likely possess underlying real assets, primarily in sectors such as industrial products, building materials, metals, mining, homebuilding, oil and gas, paper and packaging, manufacturing and forest product sectors. It invests globally with focus on North America including Brazil, the United States, Canada; Europe; and Australia; and Asia-Pacific. The firm considers equity investments in the range of $2 million to $500 million. It has a four-year investment period and a 10-year term with two one-year extensions. The firm prefers to take minority stake and majority stake. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. was founded in 1997 and based in Toronto, Canada with additional offices across Northern America; South America; Europe; Middle East and Asia.
First American Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services. It operates through Title Insurance and Services, and Specialty Insurance segments. The Title Insurance and Services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property, as well as offers related products and services. This segment also provides closing and/or escrow services; products, services, and solutions to mitigate risk or otherwise facilitate real estate transactions; and appraisals and other valuation-related products and services, lien release and document custodial services, warehouse lending services, default-related products and services, mortgage subservicing, and related products and services, as well as banking, trust, and wealth management services. In addition, it accommodates tax-deferred exchanges of real estate; and maintains, manages, and provides access to title plant data and records. This segment offers its products through a network of direct operations and agents in 49 states and in the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and internationally. The Specialty Insurance segment provides property and casualty insurance comprising coverage to residential homeowners and renters for liability losses and typical hazards, such as fire, theft, vandalism, and other types of property damage. It also offers residential service contracts that cover residential systems, such as heating and air conditioning systems, and appliances against failures that occur as the result of normal usage during the coverage period. First American Financial Corporation was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
Justice Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday the German government could take legal action against Facebook and other social media groups if they do not intensify their fight against illegal hate speech or Islamist "terror phantasies".

Maas said Facebook, Twitter and Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, were removing illegal content from the Internet more frequently and quickly, but more work was needed.

He said the social media groups responded mostly to requests by government-funded organizations but did not take private complaints as seriously.

"Of the illegal content reported by users, Twitter deletes about 1 percent, YouTube just 10 percent, and Facebook about 46 percent," Maas said. Those rates were too low, he said.

Maas said he would decide on next steps after government study was completed in March, could not rule out legal measures. He did not elaborate.

"The situation has improved, but it's not nearly good enough," Maas said. "We have to keep up the pressure on the companies."

German political leaders and regulators say the world's largest social network, with 1.6 billion monthly users, has been slow to respond to hate speech and anti-immigrant messages.

European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova told the news conference with Maas that she was counting on voluntary steps by social media firms and preferred to avoid deadlines.

Konstantin von Notz, deputy leader of the Green party's parliamentary group, said the German government had ignored the problem for too long, and Maas' deadline only put off any real action for another six months.

"This problem is too important for our society. The chancellor should take the issue in hand herself. Her justice minister is clearly in over his head," he said in a statement.

Mathias Doepfner, who heads Germany's Axel Springer media group, told newspaper executives that social media organizations should be regulated like telecommunications firms, which are "not held responsible if people use their phone to talk about stupid or dangerous stuff".

"If these quasi-monopolistic technology platforms are also responsible for content, the consequences will be grave - for business and society," he said.

Facebook touched off a firestorm earlier this month when it deleted an iconic Vietnam War photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack, saying it violated restrictions on nudity.

The company later reinstated the photograph after it received multiple complaints, including from Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who accused Facebook of censorship and of editing history.

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Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. engages in the exploration, development, and recovery of minerals and precious metals located primarily in Africa. It explores for platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold, rhodium, zinc, silver, germanium, and lead deposits. The company's projects include the Platreef project located in the Northern Limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex; the Kipushi project located in Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Kamoa-Kakula project located within the Central African Copperbelt. It also holds a 100% interest in the Western Foreland exploration project covering an area of approximately 2,407 square kilometers located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company has a strategic partnership agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. to examine exploration, development, and acquisition of mineral projects, as well as production, smelting, and logistics opportunities in Africa. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. was formerly known as Ivanplats Limited and changed its name to Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. in August 2013. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
Xerox Holdings Corporation, a workplace technology company, designs, develops, and sells document management systems and solutions in the United States, Europe, Canada, and internationally. It offers workplace solutions, including desktop monochrome, and color and multifunction printers; digital printing presses and light production devices, and solutions; and digital services that leverage workflow automation, personalization and communication software, content management solutions, and digitization services. The company also provides graphic communications and production solutions; and IT services, end user computing devices, network infrastructure, communications technology, and a range of managed IT solutions, such as technology product support, professional engineering, and commercial robotic process automation. In addition, it provides FreeFlow a portfolio of software solutions for the automation and integration to the processing of print job comprises file preparation, final production, and electronic publishing; XMPie, a personalization and communication software that support the needs of omni-channel communications customers; DocuShare, a content management platform to capture, store, and share paper and digital content; and CareAR, an enterprise augmented reality business. Further, the company sells paper products and wide-format systems. The company sells its products and services directly to its customers through its direct sales force, as well as through independent agents, dealers, value-added resellers, systems integrators, and e-commerce marketplaces. Xerox Holdings Corporation was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday he saw no sign that the migrant crisis had anything to do with an explosion on Saturday night in central Budapest, which wounded two police officers.

"No sign points to any link between the migrant crisis and the explosion," said Orban, whose government has vilified immigrants and linked them to terrorism. "We may not be able to exclude it but there is no sign of that now."

"Whatever the motives of the perpetrator, it is a heinous act... I instructed the interior minister to capture him, hunt him down and extract out of him what he did and why," Orban told public television.

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Community Bank System, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Community Bank, N.A. that provides various banking and other financial services to retail, commercial, and municipal customers. It operates through three segments: Banking, Employee Benefit Services, and All Other. The company offers various deposits products, such as checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts, as well as time deposits. It also provides loans, including consumer mortgages; general purpose commercial and industrial loans, and mortgages on commercial properties; paycheck protection program loans; installment loans that are originated through selected dealerships and are secured by automobiles, marine, and other recreational vehicles; personal installment loans and lines of credit for consumers; and home equity products. In addition, the company offers broker-dealer and investment advisory; cash management, investment, and treasury services; asset management; and employee benefit services, as well as operates as a full-service insurance agency that offers personal and commercial lines of insurance, and other risk management products and services. Further, it provides contribution plan administration, employee benefit trust, collective investment fund, retirement plan administration, fund administration, transfer agency, actuarial and benefit consulting, VEBA/HRA, and health and welfare consulting services. Additionally, the company offers wealth management, retirement planning, higher educational planning, fiduciary, risk management, trust, and personal financial planning services; and investment alternatives, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and advisory products, as well as master recordkeeping services. As of January 24, 2022, it operated approximately 215 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. Community Bank System, Inc. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in DeWitt, New York.
Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Voya Financial, Inc. operates as a retirement, investment, and employee benefits company in the United States. The company's Wealth Solutions segment offers tax-deferred employer-sponsored retirement savings plans and administrative services; and individual retirement accounts, and other retail financial products and services, as well as financial planning and advisory services. This segment serves corporate, education, healthcare, and other non-profit and government entities, as well as institutional and individual customers. Its Investment Management segment provides fixed income, equity, multi-asset, and alternative products and solutions to individual investors and institutional clients through its direct sales force, consultant channel, banks, broker-dealers, and independent financial advisers. The company's Health Solutions segment offers stop loss, group life, voluntary employee-paid, and disability products through consultants, brokers, third-party administrators, enrollment firms, and technology partners to mid-sized and large businesses. The company was formerly known as ING U.S., Inc. and changed its name to Voya Financial, Inc. in April 2014. Voya Financial, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is based in New York, New York.
Six people were killed when a helicopter chartered by US oil giant Chevron crashed off the coast of Angola, security forces confirmed Tuesday.

The accident happened late Monday near the oil-rich enclave of Cabinda, Captain Armando Nzawisa of the Angolan armed forces, who is heading emergency operations, told AFP.

Four Angolans and two expatriates were killed.

"The helicopter crashed in bad weather en route to a Chevron platform," Nzawisa said.

The bodies of the four Angolans have been recovered but search operations for the two foreigners was still underway, with 19 vessels and three helicopters deployed.

Five of the people killed were Chevron employees. The sixth was the pilot, employed by Angolan company Heli Malongo, whose nationality has not been disclosed.

"We have opened an internal enquiry into the causes of the accident," John Baltz, head of Chevron's Angolan subsidiary, told a press conference.

The helicopter was used as a shuttle between oil platforms and Chevron's onshore facilities in Cabinda, public broadcaster TPA reported.

Cabinda borders the Republic of Congo to the north, and is separated from the rest of Angola to the south by a sliver of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The province produces 60 percent of Angola's oil, making the country Africa's top oil producer.

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QUANTICO, Virginia -- At Gruntworks, a warehouse-style test facility for infantry gear that abuts The Basic School aboard Quantico, Virginia, a handful of enlisted artillery Marines huddled around a general, talking gear.

"How do you carry that?" Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, head of Marine Corps Systems Command, said, gesturing to the 30-pound base plate of an 81-millimeter mortar.

"Strap it to your pack," a sergeant volunteered.

The Marines, instructors at The Basic School, nodded as Shrader proposed a load-bearing harness that might ease the weight of some of their artillery gear.

"Do you understand what we're trying to do?" Shrader said. "We're looking for your ideas."

In a service that has long professed "every Marine a rifleman" and sent grunts downrange with identical packs and protective gear, what Shrader and other Marine leaders are trying to do is fairly revolutionary.

At a first-of-its kind industry day Monday focused on equipping infantry troops, Shrader said he wants to develop specialized gear for each of the 12 military occupational specialties, from infantry assaultman to light armored vehicle crewman.

As part of an initiative spearheaded by Commandant Gen. Robert Neller, SYSCOM is looking for off-the-shelf and non-developmental technologies that will make Marines lighter and more efficient on the battlefield. And for the first time, they're doing it job by job, with plans to field gear selectively and strategically.

This first infantry equipping challenge calls on industry to consider the needs of Marines in six MOSs: rifleman, LAV crewman, machine gunner, mortarman, infantry assaultman, and infantry unit leader.

The hope, Shrader told Military.com, is to select a handful of technologies to test, and potentially field, within fiscal 2017, which begins Oct. 1. These solutions may be job-specific modifications to existing gear such as the pack and flak jacket, or innovations that take a page from other industries, like camping and shooting.

"I'm a bowhunter. I have a pack I put my bow in. It's designed for that specific purpose: to carry my bow, carry all my gear," Shrader said. "So that's the idea. If a Marine is a machine gunner, he goes down to supply to get his gear, and he gets the machine gunner's version of the pack, if you will, or maybe some things that we put on it to modify it so he can carry the tripod."

Sgt. Levi Lawrence, an operations chief for the infantry platoon at TBS, helped organize the industry day -- but also had a number of gear suggestions for the generals and executives.

"When we have our plate carriers on, the pack isn't exactly fitted to go right on top of the flaks that we have," Lawrence, a rifleman, said. "If we could get a different frame that molds around the plate carrier itself, that would be a lot easier."

He also recommended a less boxy shape for the flak jacket, or plate carrier, to improve maneuverability when firing weapons. Lawrence said he was eager, later that day, to talk to the makers of the gear he deployed with to share his experiences and notes.

"It helps us get out our problems, and hopefully they'll get fixed," he said. "More than just complaining all day, we can actually hopefully get something done with it."

Still unclear is how the Marine Corps will pay for the improvements it wants. There's no pot of money set aside for the initiative, and the service is already waiting to find out if "wish list" items, such as additional aircraft and combat helmets, will receive funding in the final version of next year's defense budget.

Those constraints are driving a more strategic plan for fielding new gear, said Brig. Gen. Roger Turner, director of the Marines' Capabilities Development Directorate.

"You may only do two battalions, maybe even specific MOSs, subsets where maybe, hey, we don't need to field this across all active component infantry battalions," Turner told Military.com. "Maybe it's only the [special purpose Marine air-ground task force] units, maybe it's only the [Marine expeditionary units], maybe it's the [unit deployment program] units, or whatever. This paradigm shift that we're working off of, is these very targeted investments might increase capacity and capability."

Gear selected for further study, whether it's a lighter and more efficient battery or a better moisture-wicking undergarment, may be sent to the Marines' experimental battalion -- 3rd battalion, 5th Marines -- for testing next year, Shrader said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.

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The Islamic State is "dead set" on using chemical weapons attacks, including sulfur-mustard gas, to endanger U.S. troops and blunt or delay the long-planned offensive to retake Mosul in northwestern Iraq, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday.

"I think we can fully expect, as this road toward Mosul progresses, ISIL is likely to try to use it again," Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said, using another acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. "They are dead set on it."

Last week, ISIS fighters fired an artillery shell near U.S. troops at the Qayyarah West airfield, about 40 miles southeast of Mosul, that was initially suspected of having traces of sulfur-mustard blistering agent. There were no deaths or injuries in the incident.

In a briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon last Friday, Air Force Col. John Dorrian, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said that first test of an oily substance on shell fragments was positive, a second test was negative, and a third was inconclusive.

"We have no conclusive evidence" that mustard gas was used, Dorrian said. He said more tests were being conducted.

However, Kurdish peshmerga forces participating in the "shaping operations" for the Mosul offensive said last year that ISIS fired mortar shells suspected of containing mustard gas at their positions about 20 miles east of the Qayyarah airfield. ISIS is also suspected of using chlorine gas in Syria.

Earlier this month, U.S. and coalition aircraft carried out strikes against a former pharmaceutical factory in Mosul that ISIS was suspected of having turned into a chemical weapons complex.

At the Pentagon, Davis said ISIS "would love to use chemical weapons against us and against the Iraqis as they move forward, and we are making every effort to make sure we are ready for it."

U.S. troops in Iraq have access to gas masks and Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear to protect against chemical attacks.

In the 2003 invasion of Iraq, troops carried masks and MOPP suits with them at all times and frequently had to don them as alarms went off on the possibility that chemical weapons were in the area.

Later U.S. inspections and reports found that Iraq had stopped producing and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction before the invasion.

"We fully recognize that this is something that ISIL has done before," Davis said of the possibility of chemical attacks. "They have done it many times, at least a couple of dozen that we know of, where they have launched crude, makeshift munitions that are filled with this mustard agent."

"That is not something we view as militarily significant, but obviously it is further evidence that ISIL knows no boundaries when it comes to their conduct on the battlefield," he said.

In addition to U.S. troops having access to gas masks and MOPP gear, Davis said the U.S. has distributed more than 50,000 kits of personal protective gear for Iraqi and Kurdish forces.

In the Mosul offensive, American advisers are expected to move closer to the battlefront. The Defense Department has authorized U.S. commanders to place advisers with the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish peshmerga at the battalion level.

In his briefing last Friday, Dorrian said eight to 12 brigades of the Iraqi Security Forces were "ready to go" against Mosul, where ISIS has had nearly two years to build up defenses. The U.S. estimates that the group "no longer is able to mass enough forces to stop the advance" on the city, and its fighters are experiencing "flagging morale" from the loss of territory and the unrelenting coalition airstrikes, Dorrian said.

U.S. airstrikes recently destroyed an estimated 29 ISIS boats on the Tigris River and also blew up a bridge over which the group's vehicles were attempting to escape, he said.

To defend Mosul, ISIS has built "intricate defenses," including elaborate tunnel networks and interconnected layers of improvised explosive devices along likely "avenues of approach" to the city, Dorrian said.

The U.S. has also seen reports that ISIS has dug trenches and filled them with oil to be set on fire once the offensive begins. "They've built a hell on earth around themselves," he said.

-- Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the spokesman's service.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

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The doctrine of nuclear deterrence that leaves open the possibility of launching a "first strike" before an enemy attacks will remain the basis of U.S. policy even as new generations of nuclear weapons are introduced, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday.

"That's our doctrine now, and we don't have any intention of changing that doctrine," Carter told airmen in a question-and-answer session at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Carter was responding to a question about nations such as Russia and North Korea "brandishing" their nuclear arsenals to bully and intimidate and whether the U.S. would follow suit.

"It's not the American approach to brandish, not the American approach to intimidate," Carter said. "For as long as I can remember," U.S. leaders "have always conducted themselves with tremendous respect for the awesome destructive power of these weapons."

However, Carter suggested that the deterrence doctrine might have to be "adjusted" in the future to adapt to new threats. "We can't just do things the old way," he said. "We have to look at those whom we're deterring and adjust what we're doing to take that into account."

The U.S. must "be aware that others are thinking differently about nuclear weapons," Carter said, and "we're going to have to adapt our approach to deterrence accordingly." He did not give details on how the U.S. might adapt.

Since the dawn of the nuclear era, the basis of U.S. deterrent doctrine has been that any enemy "first strike" would be met by an overwhelming response. But no U.S. president has ruled out the possibility of launching a nuclear attack first before an enemy strikes.

In response to reports that President Obama has been considering ruling out a "first strike" by executive order, 30 U.S. senators last week sent Obama a letter urging him to retain the "first strike" option.

The first strike policy figured in the debate Monday night between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

At first, Trump appeared to argue for scrapping the nuclear weapons stockpiles. "I would like everybody to end it, just get rid of it," he said, and "I would certainly not do first strike."

Then Trump seemed to reverse course: "At the same time, we have to be prepared. I can't take anything off the table."

Clinton attacked Trump's previous comments suggesting the U.S. may benefit from such allies as Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia developing nuclear weapons. "His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling," she said.

Kirtland was the second stop on Carter's week-long trip to press for modernization of the nation's nuclear triad and also renew the U.S. commitment to the rebalance of U.S. forces to the Pacific region.

On Monday, Carter was at Minot Air Force Base in South Dakota, home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, where he said DoD was seeking $108 billion over the next five years to begin the process of upgrading the nation's nuclear triad of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, ballistic submarines and strategic bombers.

"I think we are now committed to make up for some time when we were not investing enough," Carter said at Kirtland, home of the 377th Air Base Wing and the 498th Nuclear Systems Wing, as well as the Air Force Materiel Command's Nuclear Weapons Center (NWC). The NWC has responsibility for the acquisition and modernization of nuclear programs for the departments of Defense and Energy.

On Wednesday, Carter will tour the Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico, and on Thursday he was scheduled to be aboard the aircraft carrier Vinson in San Diego harbor for a speech on the growing U.S. priorities in the Pacific. Carter will then travel to Honolulu for meetings with Asian defense ministers.

The Congressional Budget Office has projected spending for modernization of the nation's nuclear arsenal through 2024 at about $348 billion. In its report, the CBO said:

** "The current strategic nuclear forces -- consisting of submarines that launch ballistic missiles (SSBNs), land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), long-range bombers, and the nuclear weapons they carry -- are reaching the end of their service lifetimes."

** "Over the next two decades, the Congress will need to make decisions about the extent to which essentially all of the U.S. nuclear delivery systems and weapons will be modernized or replaced with new systems."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Sparks flew during the first presidential debate between Republican Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton over plans to defeat the Islamic State, nuclear proliferation and threats to cybersecurity, among other national-security issues.

Trump quickly went on the offensive during the 90-minute televised debate moderated by NBC's Lester Holt on Monday night at Hofstra University in New York -- the first of three such events planned -- notably when he accused Clinton of sharing too much information by outlining a plan to defeat the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

"She's telling us how to fight ISIS," Trump said. "Just go to her website. She tells you how to fight ISIS on her website. I don't think Gen. Douglas MacArthur would like that too much."

Clinton responded, "At least I have a plan to fight ISIS."

Trump: "You're telling the enemy everything you want to do ... no wonder you've been fighting ISIS your entire adult life."

Clinton is 68 years old.

While its ideological and organizational roots date to 2002, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -- an offshoot of the terrorist group al-Qaida -- was formed in April 2013, according to a June report from the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan think tank that publishes studies on topics requested by members of Congress.

That's when a group leader and onetime U.S. detainee "Abu Bakr al Baghdadi announced his intent to merge his forces in Iraq and Syria with those of the Syria-based, al-Qaida affiliated group Jabhat al Nusra (Support Front), under the name of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS)," the document states.

On her website, under a section titled, "Combating terrorism and keeping the homeland safe," Clinton lists three bullet points as part of a strategy for defeating ISIS.

They include "intensifying the coalition air campaign against ISIS fighters, leaders, and infrastructure; stepping up support for local Arab and Kurdish forces on the ground and coalition efforts to protect civilians; and pursuing a diplomatic strategy aimed at resolving Syria's civil war and Iraq's sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shias -- both of which have contributed to the rise of ISIS."

ISIS

During the debate, Clinton acknowledged she "put forth a plan to defeat ISIS."

"I would do everything possible to take out their leadership," she said, noting her role in supporting the U.S. special operations raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. "I think we need to go after Baghdadi, as well, make that one of our organizing principles."

Clinton also called for increasing U.S. and coalition airstrikes "to actually take out ISIS in Raqqa," the group's self-proclaimed capital in Syria, and "end their claim of being a caliphate."

"We're making progress," she said of the ongoing operations in Iraq, where some 5,000 American troops are serving, and in Syria, where an estimated 300 U.S. special operations forces are deployed. "Our military is assisting in Iraq and we're hoping that within the year we'll be able to push ISIS out of Iraq and then really squeeze them in Syria."

Clinton also proposed working with American technology firms "to prevent ISIS and their operatives from being able to use the Internet to radicalize, even direct, people in our country, in Europe and elsewhere."

Both Trump and Clinton said they would support a law that prevents a person from acquiring a gun if they appear on a terrorist watch list.

"Right now, we've got too many military-style weapons on the streets. In many places, our police are outgunned," she said. "If you are too dangerous to fly, you're too dangerous to buy a gun." Trump said, "I agree with you  I think we have to look very strongly at no-fly lists and watch lists."

Iraq

Yet Trump, 70, criticized Clinton for her pledge to "take out ISIS."

He blamed President Barack Obama and Clinton for supporting policies that "created a vacuum the way they got out of Iraq," referring to the instability following the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. "They shouldn't have been in, but once they got in, the way they got out was a disaster, and ISIS was formed," he said. "She talks about taking them out -- she's been trying to take them out for a long time."

Trump said ISIS "wouldn't have even been formed" had the U.S. left 10,000 or more troops in Iraq. He also repeated his statement that the U.S. should have seized Iraqi petroleum assets, which he said became the terrorist group's "primary source of income." He didn't elaborate.

The Republican presidential candidate also reiterated that he was "against the war in Iraq," which the U.S. launched with allies in 2003. The previous year, when asked by radio host Howard Stern if he was for a U.S. war in Iraq, Trump said, "Yeah, I guess so. I wish the first time it was done correctly." On Monday, he said of the exchange it was the first time anyone had asked him the question and that he made the remarks "very lightly." He also said he repeatedly told Fox News host Sean Hannity he was against the U.S.-led operation.

Clinton said President George W. Bush, not Obama, made the agreement for when troops would leave the country.

Cyber

Clinton said "cyberwarfare will be one of the biggest challenges facing the next president." While some hackers do it for commercial gain, "increasingly we are seeing cyberattacks coming from states, organs of states, the most recent and troubling of these has been Russia." She went on to blame Russia for hacking the Democratic National Committee, among other entities.

"We need to make it very clear, whether it's Russia, China, Iran or anybody else, the United States has much greater capacities and we are not going to sit idly by and permit state actors to go after our information -- our private sector information or our public sector information," she said.

Responding to Clinton's claim that 50 national-security officials said Trump was "unfit" to be commander in chief, Trump said has received the support "to lead this country" from more than 200 retired admirals and generals, in addition to many more immigration officials and border-patrol agents. "I'll take the admirals and I'll take the generals any day over the political hacks," he said. "Look at the mess that we're in."

On cybersecurity, Trump said he agreed with "parts" of Clinton's statements but questioned whether Russia was behind recent hacking of the political group.

"We should be better than anybody else and perhaps we're not," he said. "I don't think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She's saying Russia, Russia, Russia  Maybe it was. It could be Russia, but it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. It could also be somebody on their bed, weighing 400 pounds."

Nukes

Both Trump and Clinton agreed the risk of global nuclear proliferation is a significant threat to U.S. national security.

Clinton defended her support for the Iran nuclear deal and attacked Trump's previous comments suggesting the U.S. may benefit from such allies as Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia developing nuclear weapons.

"His cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling," she said. "That is the No. 1 threat we face in the world and it becomes particularly threatening if terrorists ever get their hands on nuclear material."

Clinton said NATO came to the collective defense of the U.S. in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. -- and that the alliance continues to assist U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, where more than 9,800 American troops and 6,300 international troops are deployed.

"A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes," Clinton said, referring to Trump's comments during a campaign event this month that under his administration Iranian boats threatening U.S. Navy destroyers "will be shot out of the water."

Trump, who pledged to release his tax returns when Clinton released her missing emails while secretary of state, said the U.S. vastly outspends NATO allies on defense and security. Indeed, according to NATO's own report from July, only five members -- the U.S., Greece, United Kingdom, Estonia and Poland -- met the guideline for spending at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.

"The single greatest problem the world has is nuclear armament and nuclear weapons -- not global warming," he said. "We defend Japan. We defend Germany. We defend South Korea, We defend Saudi Arabia. They do not pay us what they should be paying us."

"We're a country that owes $20 trillion," he added, referring to the U.S. national debt. "They have to help us out."

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
Family and friends gathered to remember Lt. Col. Ira S. "Shooter" Eadie on Monday in a local park in Lincoln, California, where they mourned the loss of their fellow pilot and gracious neighbor.

Hundreds came out to the park, raising candles high as a saxophone played "Amazing Grace" in tribute to the pilot who was killed on Sept. 20 after a two-seater U-2 trainer aircraft, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, crashed in northern California.

Another pilot who remains unidentified was injured in the accident, but sustained non-life-threatening injuries, the Air Force has said.

On Friday, pilots and leaders from Beale Air Force Base honored him on the flightline -- with a U-2 christened in his name.

The U-2's nose art included a large American flag, with both Navy and Air Force wings. Eadie served in both services, with a combined service of 20 years, local news outlets reported. Four T-38 Talons launched after the U-2s to form a four-ship formation.

"This morning, we safely put the Dragon Lady back in the air over northern California," Col. A.J. Werner, 9th Operations Group commander, said in a statement. The flight took off at 9:01 a.m. to mimic his last takeoff time.

"We took a pause from flying the U-2 locally over the last 72 hours in response to Tuesday's incident," Werner continued. "While we did not halt U-2 missions globally over that period, we need to take care of our family here at Beale [Air Force Base]."

Friends have set up a memorial fund to raise $120,000 for his his wife and six children. Donations as of Tuesday amounted to $95,240 on the YouCaring crowdfunding page.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
Egypt's agriculture ministry said a Swiss inspection company will examine imported wheat shipments after the recent trade tension with Russia over the staple crop.

The ministry has contracted the Geneva-based SGS group to examine and test wheat Egypt imports to ensure they are in compliance with Egyptian standards, ministry spokesman Hamed Abdel-Dayem told Aswat Masriya news website.

The company, which got a no-bid contract under a cabinet decision, will replace quarantine committees that had previously inspected imported wheat shipments abroad, the spokesman added.

Shipments will continue to be inspected in the country of origin before they are sent to Egypt for a second inspection.

Exporters traditionally covered the cost of Egyptian committees inspecting wheat imports overseas, though it is not immediately clear who will pay the Swiss company, Abdel-Dayem said.

Earlier in September, Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, formally rejected a Russian wheat shipment due to finding trace levels of the common grain fungus ergot. Russia is one of the major suppliers of wheat to Egypt.

The move followed a tightening of regulations last month by Cairo to ban any amount of ergot in imported wheat, with Egypt failing to approve any Russian wheat shipments since the measure was adopted.

After adopting the new measure, Egypt failed to attract a single offer at its state grain tender, forcing it to cancel its third consecutive wheat purchase tender amid a standoff with suppliers over the new import policies.

Egypt later scrapped the restrictions and is now back to accepting shipments containing a maximum 0.05 percent ergot in imports, a quantity considered the standard limit by many countries.

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Stormcloud Best New Brewery Bash

Join the team at Stormcloud plus John and Amy from MLive, Wednesday September 28

FRANKFORT, MI- This summer, the Michigan's Best team visited over 30 different breweries that have opened since 2012, in the search to find the best new breweries in Michigan.

Our overwhelming choice for number one went to Stormcloud Brewing, located in the charming, lakeside town of Frankfort.

To celebrate, Stormcloud is hosting a "Best New Brewery in Michigan Bash" this Wednesday, September 28, at the brewery, from 7 to 9 pm. The Michigan's Best team of Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez, will also be on hand to not only raise a pint, but to also present the brewery with their "major" award.

Everyone is invited to gather at the brewery, located in scenic Frankfort, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The brewery extends a special invite to any of the other brewery nominees, they would love to have you join them in this celebration of beer and the brewing community.

Here are just some of the reasons you should attend, according to Stormcloud:

* Happy hour discounts on beer during the party. Cloudspotters (members of Stormcloud's mug club) get their 20% discount on top of that.

* Free popcorn and Classic Cheese Pizza.

* Chef Joe's scrumptious Stout Cake.

* Sneak preview of one of our 2016 Harvest Ales.

* You'll be able to tell your grandkids you were there.

It's guaranteed to be a great night. Stormcloud is proud to brew Belgian inspired beers, as well as many other, different styles. The Michigan's Best team felt that each of their beers were spot on, with several standing out. Amy hopes to get another sip of that Whiled Away IPA, while John is looking forward to the 228 Tripel.

Stormcloud has truly become a gathering place for this Northern Michigan community. Owner Rick Schmitt explained "it's about the beer, but it's also a sense of place, and a place where families want to be."

The place where we all want to be this Wednesday night.

Stormcloud Brewing Michigan's Best Bash

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

7:00pm 9:00pm

Stormcloud Brewing Company

303 Main St.Frankfort, MI

231-352-0118
ANN ARBOR, MI - There's been a community debate over where Ann Arbor should build a new Amtrak train station for several years now.

To a large extent, it's been framed as an either/or option between redeveloping the existing Amtrak site on Depot Street or building a new station in Fuller Park in front of the University of Michigan Hospital.

The idea of reusing the historic depot building that now houses the Gandy Dancer restaurant on Depot Street also is under consideration.

Residents remain divided on the issue.

So, what about a compromise? What about having an Amtrak station with all the necessary amenities on Depot Street, and a basic commuter rail platform (not a full station or parking garage) along the tracks in front of the U-M Hospital with a walkway to East Medical Center Drive?

"I think it's possible," Robert Gorski, one of the city's hired consultants from AECOM, said at a public meeting Monday night, Sept. 26.

"We're not looking to environmentally clear that," he added, referring to the environmental assessment work being done to get clearance from the Federal Railroad Administration for a new station at either Depot or Fuller. "But it's certainly possible. It's not unreasonable."

The FRA was in attendance at Monday's back-to-back meetings at the downtown library and took note of the idea, which some residents believe would be a good compromise. The city has indicated it could be further considered.

Peter Allen, a local real estate developer, called it a win-win, saying a station on Depot Street could mainly serve Amtrak passengers along the Detroit-Chicago corridor, while those using the separate commuter rail service that's planned between Ann Arbor and Detroit would have the option of a stop at Fuller, possibly in the future connecting with the planned Connector light rail service into downtown and University of Michigan campus areas.

The city has been considering options for a new Amtrak station for the past decade, and Monday's meetings showed opinions still vary widely.

Some city leaders and residents argue a new station in front of the U-M Hospital could be a major draw for commuters, though others argue against putting a large parking garage and train station on city parkland, saying the existing parking lot where it would go along Fuller Road was meant to be temporary when it was created years ago and it should go back to being green space.

Some argue Depot Street is the best location because it's more centrally located, more walkable to downtown, and in an area that's more pedestrian friendly. It also could tie in with DTE Energy's plans for a major mixed-used redevelopment on a neighboring property along the riverfront, including a new restaurant, hotel, office space and significant green space open to the public.

Others suggest there's no need for a new station, though transportation officials disagree.

Eli Cooper, the city's transportation program manager, said the idea of a combination approach with Amtrak passenger rail service at Depot and commuter rail stops at both Fuller and Depot might be possible, though he also pushed back on the idea Monday night, suggesting having two stops that close together might be a "redundancy I'm not sure we can tolerate."

He referenced the separate Connector light rail project that's now in the planning stages, noting the possible routes show it going past Fuller, not Depot. That's one argument being made in favor of a full station at Fuller.

The city's alternatives analysis report notes the Connector is planned to pass along the south edge of the Fuller site and could be integrated into intercity and regional commuter rail services if there's a station there. The Connector would run along new tracks into downtown and through U-M campus areas.

Responding to the idea of having an Amtrak station on Depot and a commuter rail stop at Fuller, Cooper said the city did an evaluation of the potential for a basic commuter rail platform at Fuller as part of an earlier consideration of demonstration commuter rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor.

If that becomes a preferred approach, Cooper said, there would need to be a significant discussion with the owners and operators of the railroad service regarding the types of switching and circuits needed to have two stops in that close proximity. The Michigan Department of Transportation owns the tracks, and the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority is proposing to fund Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail as part of a tax proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Cooper said another consideration with having stops at both Depot and Fuller would be signage directing motorists where to get on the train.

"From the standpoint of is that an alternative, it's perhaps one alternative that might get further consideration," Cooper said. "But I would have to look back to the railroad specialists -- MDOT and FRA, among others -- to see whether that was both feasible and desirable if we were to move in that direction."

Monday's meetings were held for the purpose of getting feedback on the remaining options for a new Amtrak station.

The city handed out surveys at the meetings, which were well attended by dozens of community members.

The city will be accepting public comments through Oct. 5. There also will be a public hearing and another chance to comment after the environmental assessment is done.

Gorski gave an overview of how some of the project assumptions have changed since the last time the project team met with the broader public in May 2015.

Gorski emphasized the plans for a new Amtrak station in Ann Arbor reflect the fact that both the Michigan Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration are looking to add trains along the corridor in the coming years, including high-speed rail between Detroit and Chicago.

"And we just wanted to make sure that everything that we're doing here is consistent with that work," he said.

Since last year, Gorski said, the project team has taken another look at station parking needs and reduced the amount of parking that's planned.

"In turn, we were able to reduce the size of the station," he said. "So, making the footprint of things and the impact of things smaller."

Amtrak's anticipated future demand for long-term intercity rail parking in Ann Arbor, looking out to the year 2035, is roughly 870 spaces. The city's project team performed an analysis reaching a similar conclusion, though it notes another 200 parking spaces are expected to be needed for commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Detroit, plus another 50 short-term parking spaces, including for passenger pick-up/drop-off, taxis and private shuttles.

It's assumed that a new parking garage will be built at either location, whether the station is on Depot Street or in Fuller Park. If it's on Depot Street, passersby would see a station in front of the parking deck. The parking entrance drive off Broadway Street would be reconfigured and a traffic signal would be added.

The tentative design for a station at Fuller Park shows a large parking garage along Fuller Road and a smaller station building behind it elevated above the tracks. That was a concern to some residents Monday night who said they disliked the idea of having a parking garage be the dominant visual element.

Each parking deck level would accommodate roughly 250 parking spaces, which could be phased vertically as needed.

With a long-term projection showing demand for more than 1,100 parking spaces, that could require a five-story structure.

"Particularly with the parking piece, that is going to be phased," Gorski said. "That is not all going to be built at once, so we're not going to build any more than we need, but we need to have the ability to expand if it comes."

The garage that would be built along Fuller Road if the station goes at Fuller Park would be on the footprint of what's now a city-owned parking lot leased to the University of Michigan. Gorski said it's unclear where U-M employees who park there now would go, though park users could use the new garage.

Aside from parking, the design criteria for the project currently calls for a station measuring 9,100 square feet, with platforms up to 800 feet in length located on both sides of the tracks, and multimodal access drives and circulation areas for buses, as well as at least 30 bicycle parking spaces with a combination of enclosed and rack spaces, and space for a potential bike share program.

Optional spaces and services could include showers associated with bicycle parking, and supporting retail, equipment rentals and repair.

The city's project team was unable to say Monday night when a new station could be built, though it's likely at least two years away.

"There are a number of unknown variables between where we are now and before we would have groundbreaking, including submitting and receiving authorization from the federal government for funding for subsequent phases of work, meaning final design, then the construction itself," Cooper said.

Per a City Council resolution, there also would need to be a vote of the people before construction could begin. An election date hasn't been set, though it's expected that will happen after there is a final design.

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.
The film was the Lebanese entry for the 89th Oscars and the top winner at Marrakech Film Festival

Downtown Cairo's art-house cinema Zawya will finally return to its regular screening programme after the Eid Al-Adha holiday, showing the award-winning Lebanese film Ketir Kebir (Very Big Shot) on 28 September.

Written and directed by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, this action-comedy centres on three brothers and small-time drug dealers in Beirut who decide to take one last job smuggling drugs across the border. With the help of a filmmaker, one of the brothers manipulates public opinion to ease the operation.

Very Big Shot stars Alain Saadeh, Fouad Yammine and Wissam Fares.

The film debuted in the Discovery section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in Lebanon in November 2015. It won the Golden Star award at the 15th Marrakech International Film Festival.

Very Big Shot was selected as Lebanon's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Film Award at the London Film festival, and for the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Launched in March 2014, Zawya is Cairo's first initiative bringing art-house and alternative films to the screen at downtown Cairo's Odeon Cinema.

The venue hosts talks, special events, retrospectives, film discussions and master classes, and in November will launch their annual Panorama of the European Film Festival.

Programme:

The film will screen starting Wednesday 28 September at 12pm, 2.30pm, 5pm, 7.30pm and 10pm

Zawya, behind Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel Hamid Said, off Talaat Harb St, Downtown, Cairo

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

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Barton Pond, an impoundment on the Huron River where Ann Arbor gets most of its drinking water, on Aug. 7, 2016. Local officials hope the Gelman dioxane plume spreading through the area's groundwater never reaches the pond.

(Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR, MI - A2 H2O is good to the last drop.

That's what the Michigan section of the American Water Works Association decided last week during its annual conference at Boyne Highlands, giving Ann Arbor's drinking water the award for best-tasting water in the state.

According to a city news release, Ann Arbor's water was chosen from five regional winners after a series of blind taste tests.



"The city is excited to be recognized for the quality of its drinking water," said Brian Steglitz, the city's water treatment plant manager.

"Our staff works very hard to ensure our customers have the very best product delivered to their homes and businesses. There are so many quality water systems in the state of Michigan, and to be recognized as the one with the best tasting water in 2016 is truly an honor."



The other finalists for the award included Bergland Township, Chelsea, Mancelona, and MHOG (Marion, Howell, Oceola and Genoa).

Ann Arbor last won the award in 1996.

Following the Flint water crisis, there has been increased concern in Ann Arbor about long-term threats to Ann Arbor's water system with a toxic chemical plume of dioxane moving through the area's groundwater. It's something that continues to be the focus of local and state-level discussions.

Ann Arbor officials have assured residents the city's water is safe to drink and meets or exceeds all state and federal regulations.

The city announced earlier this year it was taking action to remove the last of known lead pipe connections in its water supply system.

Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this year that unregulated pollutants linked to thyroid disorders and childhood developmental issues have been found in two Michigan public water supplies, including in Ann Arbor, though the levels are said to be below health advisory levels.

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.
Anne Holton

In this July 31, 2016, file photo, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, left, waves to employees as her vice presidential running mate, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., right, and his wife Anne Holton, second from right, buy food during a visit to Grandma's Cheese Barn in Ashland, Ohio.

(Andrew Harnik | AP)

ANN ARBOR, MI - Anne Holton, wife of vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine and former Virginia Secretary of Education, will stop by Ann Arbor as part of her campaign through Michigan this week.

Holton will take part in a women's community engagement event hosted by Hillary for Michigan from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Coordinated Campaign Office at 5060 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor, according to the campaign website for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The stop is one of several across Michigan for Holton and Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton's daughter, this week.

Holton, a former judge, is expected to promote voter registration in Michigan and the economic platform of Clinton and Kaine at her various stops.

For more on the campaign stops in Michigan, click here.


YPSILANTI, MI -- Eastern Michigan University Police continue to review video footage and investigate several leads in hopes of identifying who may have been involved in spray painting racial graffiti on the wall inside the courtyard of Julia Anne King Hall last week.

Finding who is responsible may prove to be difficult, however, based on the location of the cameras and where the incident took place, the university said in an email sent out Monday evening, Sept. 26.

"Unfortunately, none of the cameras was directly trained on the areas in which the racist messages were written and painted, but cameras in the general vicinity of where the incidents took place may help provide investigators with additional information," the university said. "Police have received calls and tips, and continue to interview people who have information to share."

The incident in King Hall, as well as another racial slur located in a stairwell of Wise Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 21, continue to be investigated. So far, there is no indication of whether the person or people involved are students or whether they are from outside our campus community, the university noted.

EMU announced a reward of $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for vandalism. Those with information regarding either of the vandalism incidents should contact the EMU Police Department at 734-487-1222 or tip line at 734-487-4847.

Students wanting to talk about their experiences related to the racist graffiti on campus were invited to stop by any of three drop-in groups, the first of which was held Monday. The groups are facilitated by staff from Diversity and Community Involvement and Counseling and Psychological Services as well as other EMU staff or faculty.

Groups are set for 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28. All groups are held in The Intersection, a student space across from Service EMU in the Student Center.

In addition, members of the campus community can submit their questions, concerns and requests for institutional action related to issues of race and diversity at EMU anonymously.
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(File photo)

YPSILANTI, MI - A former Ypsilanti police officer has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the Ypsilanti Police Department, alleging retaliation and discrimination based on her race and gender.

Roshana Green, an African American woman, claims her civil rights and constitutional rights were violated when she worked for the Ypsilanti Police Department from January to December 2015, according to her lawsuit filed on Sept. 20 in the Eastern District of Michigan U.S. District Court.

Green claims she was given an ultimatum in December 2015 to resign or be terminated and blacklisted, after working in a consistently hostile environment where she faced racially derogatory comments and more severe punishments and difficult tasks than white officers, according to the complaint.

She also claims that, despite resigning, she has been unable to find work elsewhere due to the department.

Ypsilanti City Attorney John Barr and Ypsilanti Police Chief Tony DeGiusti said they were unaware of the suit, had not yet received notice of it, and therefore declined to comment on the matter when contacted Monday, Sept. 26.

DeGiusti is named in the lawsuit, along with former city manager Ralph Lange and six sergeants and lieutenants at the police department.

Green claims the department has a continued issue of retaining black police officers - something her Ann Arbor-based lawyer, Angie Martell, reiterated.

"It's our position that that Officer Green was - since the beginning of working there - was really targeted not to succeed," Martell said.

Equally as concerning are the implications for the community, Martell said.

Green accused other Ypsilanti officers of a number of improprieties including targeting black drivers, declining to arrest drunken drivers, asking her to void citations for friends, failing to train her properly, mishandling cases, and dealing with personal matters during their allotted shifts, according to the lawsuit.

She also claims members of the department called black people "roaches" and "f*****g animals" while watching news coverage of April 2015 riots - a timeframe matching riots in Baltimore after Freddie Gray, a black man, died in police custody. She said members of the department previously referred to college students who were white and destroyed property at a hotel as "spoiled brats" in January 2015 - a timeframe that matches damage done to the Treetops Resort by members of a University of Michigan fraternity.

Green also claims members of the department would ignore her and questioned why she was present on occasion.

Green has requested compensatory and punitive damages of $1 million, declaratory judgement that federal law was violated and an injunction to remove adverse information from her employment records, according to the online court records.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor's existing Amtrak station on Depot Street admittedly isn't much to look at.

And maybe that's partly because the small, one-story building pales in comparison to the castle-like stone building next door that once served as a grand passenger rail station for Ann Arbor from the late 1800s through much of the 1900s.

The historic depot, which now houses a seafood restaurant known as the Gandy Dancer, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ann Arbor's existing Amtrak station on Depot Street

The 1980s-era replacement for the historic depot is what some might call an "Amshack," Therese Cody, the Michigan Department of Transportation's rail operating programs manager, told a crowd Monday night, Sept. 26.

Cody's remarks came during a public meeting at the downtown Ann Arbor library as officials discussed four alternatives for a new Amtrak station, now nearly 34 years since the existing Amtrak station first opened in early 1983.

One resident asked why the city was proposing to build and own the new station, instead of Amtrak.

Cody responded by saying Amtrak doesn't really want to own stations and the state wants communities to own them.

"Because then they reflect what the community wants the station to be -- like you've seen Dearborn go up and Detroit go up," she said. "They're all a reflection of the community. A lot of times it's a gateway to the community."

She continued, "That Amtrak station you currently have is what a lot of railroad people would refer to as an 'Amshack.' That's what they build, because they don't care about the gateway. So we try to put that back into the community."

The four alternatives that remain on the table include two options for a new station at the existing Amtrak site (one elevated above the tracks and one at ground level), one option for a new station in Fuller Park in front of the University of Michigan Hospital, and reusing the historic depot building.

The city's project team noted Monday night that the corporate owner of the Gandy Dancer has not returned phone calls inquiring about whether it would be interested in selling its property, though the city could pursue eminent domain. That would happen only if the city decides that's the best of all options.

'Looking to finalize this'

When money becomes available through the federal government for new train stations, it's for the communities, not Amtrak, Cody noted.

"So the community can have a say of what they want their gateway to look like," she said. "Amtrak doesn't put a lot of vested interest into their stations, where we believe that a community can make it a little more inviting and provide for the community's needs. Amtrak doesn't go around and say, 'Do you guys need a meeting room? Do you guys need this or that?' They don't care."

Robert Gorski, one of the city's hired consultants from AECOM, laid out the next steps in the process of choosing a preferred option. The city is working with MDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration.

"We're really looking to finalize this by January," Gorski said of getting an environmental assessment completed and a preferred site cleared by the FRA with a "finding of no significant impact," or what's known as a "FONSI."

In making a case for a preferred site, the city's project team must meet federal requirements that include protections for parkland and historic structures.

For instance, if the city wants to make a case for using part of Fuller Park, the city must prove there is no feasible and prudent alternative, unless federal officials determine the use of the parkland would have a "de minimis impact."

By keeping station-related facilities mostly within the footprint of what's already an existing parking lot, the city believes a Fuller Park station could be allowed under federal rules, which distinguish parking facilities from "the portions of the resource important to protect, such as playground equipment at a public park."

Federal guidelines state: "While a minor but adverse effect on the use of playground equipment should not be considered a de minimis impact under Section 4(f), encroachment on the parking lot may be deemed de minimis, as long as the public's ability to access and use the site is not reduced."

That will be more closely evaluated as part of the environmental assessment, which also will look at impacts related to the possible renovation of the historic depot building and various other aspects of the different alternatives. There also will be consideration of a no-build option.

"And this is all going to be documented in this environmental assessment that will also identify a preferred alternative," Gorski said.

That report will be reviewed and approved by MDOT and the FRA, and then released for further public review and comments, Gorski said.

Eli Cooper, the city's transportation program manager, said the federal government could ask the city to complete a more detailed environmental review if it's believed there would be a significant impact on a chosen site.

'We're going to look at the cost'

Some residents in attendance Monday night raised concerns that they were being asked to voice opinions about four remaining station options when the city hasn't released detailed cost estimates for each option.

For instance, how much might it cost to acquire the Gandy Dancer if the city decided to pursue eminent domain to take over the historic depot? And how much would renovation of the historic depot cost in comparison to building a new station at either the existing Amtrak site or Fuller Park?

The city has released rough estimates indicating final design for a new station could cost $2.6 million and construction could cost $44.5 million.

"I think it's always been a factor," Gorski said of cost being part of the decision-making process. "I think once we get down to the preferred alternative, we're going to look at the cost for that."

He added, "We're not looking to come up with a preferred alternative that we're not going to be able to build, and so the cost piece is part of this."

But at this point, the city still isn't providing residents with information about potential cost differences between the four remaining options.

"In response to that, what I would say is that the amount of information in order to get to this point of the decision-making process -- each one of the alternatives has the identical program," Cooper said. "They each have a station of 9,100 square feet, about 900-1,100 parking spaces, so the cost for developing the project elements is irrelevant for the phase that we are in now."

As the process moves forward and particular aspects become clearer, Cooper said, there will be more information available to the public.

"At this point in time, we as a project team have preliminary cost estimates, but when you look at the screening criteria, you didn't see cost listed," he told residents Monday night. "Based on what I know, the cost for what we're looking at for the station building itself in each of the four scenarios is within 10 percent."

Cooper noted that doesn't include specific infrastructure improvements that might be needed at different sites, such as bridge modifications or utility implications.

"That detail is not available to us because we haven't had enough reasoning to go that far," he said. "We've gotten to this point with this level of information, and everybody has the same information. I, as project manager, have not seen anything on any detailed cost beyond that which we're describing here."

Peter Schwartz, a planner with the FRA, expanded on Cooper's comments about the process.

"What we're trying to do at this point is make sure that we are capturing the range of reasonable alternatives for achieving the purpose and need of this project, building a new station for Ann Arbor," Schwartz said.

"So, it's less about necessarily weighing the relative merits of the four alternatives that have been presented here, and more making sure that this captured really that range of reasonable things that could be done to build a new station and has screened out those that were not reasonable."

Schwartz added, "We don't go into full designs for all of the designs under consideration right now because you are able to narrow things down fairly substantially to four alternatives without putting in the very significant resources into design work and cost estimation and whatnot."

Schwartz said the next step will involve advancing the design of whatever range of alternatives proceeds into the environmental assessment phase, and doing more detailed analysis on those to have a really good apples-to-apples comparison of all the design alternatives under consideration.

'Becoming a regional center of significance'

Cooper noted the city's initial thinking about the need for a new train station started back in 2005-2006 with the development of the city's Model for Mobility, which articulated a vision for both east-west and north-south commuter rail service with a local connector/streetcar system to connect the two regional railroads.

"The recognition at that time was that Ann Arbor was becoming a regional center of significance with substantial employment growth," Cooper said. "And the Model for Mobility looked at increased rail transportation to bring people from out of the city into the city using sustainable means of transit -- rail."

Consistent with that, Cooper said, was the recognition that the city's current Amtrak station was inadequate in a variety of ways.

"And those became part of what was embraced within the city's transportation master plan update adopted by City Council in 2009," he said.

Peter Allen, a local real estate developer, asked how the project team is incorporating the needs of the University of Michigan.

"The fact that there are 900,000 patient visits a year to the hospital, there are 20,000 employees at the medical campus, there are 20,000 employees on North Campus, there are 47,000 students," Allen said. "How do you listen to their needs and integrate that into what the community wants?"

Gorski noted U-M has representation on the Leadership Advisory Group for the project, so U-M has provided input.

"They run their own buses," he added. "And so we talked to them and said, 'All right, if we build this, are you interested in serving it?' And they said, 'Yes, and if you were to do that, we need X amount of spaces for our buses and that sort of thing.' So, that's been kind of the level we've talked to them."

Ann Arbor resident Jeff Hayner raised questions Monday night about the city hiring a specialist who is familiar with the federal process.

"It sounded like they were bringing somebody in who could manipulate the process such that the station could go wherever we chose," he said, going on to express concerns that much of the project cost would be for a new parking garage.

"I thought the idea was to get rid of cars," he said. "As a taxpayer, it just galls me that we spend so much to park cars in the guise of alternative transportation."

Andrea Martin, an environmental protection specialist with the FRA, said the specialist the city is hiring is preparing a report on behalf of the city that will be reviewed by both Martin and the U.S. Department of the Interior, which protects and manages the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage. That report will look at impacts to any parkland or historic structures.

"Not everyone can write these reports or do the research for them," Martin said, explaining the reason for bringing in expertise. "It's not just to get the station that you want. It's so we can not affect the resource negatively."

It's a very specialized type of analysis and the law is very complex, so it's important to bring in somebody who knows how to do it, Schwartz added.

'A bustling area around a train station'

Ann Arbor resident Clark Charnetski, former chairman of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, spoke Monday night in favor of building a new station in Fuller Park to replace the existing Depot Street station.

He said there are significantly more people riding the bus along Fuller Road than there are along Depot Street, and Fuller Park would a better place for a train station that would have access to local transit.

Doug Kelbaugh, a U-M professor of architecture and urban planning, said the city is faced with a very challenging and consequential decision.

Having taught two graduate design studios on the Amtrak/MichCon area, which included MDOT, city and DTE Energy reviewers, Kelbaugh has concluded the station should stay in its current location and span above the tracks.

Kelbaugh said he favors Depot for several reasons, including because it's closer to downtown, it will be less congested because of better vehicular and pedestrian access, there is room within the floodplain for a parking garage and more, and it can be linked to the Connector light rail stop at the hospital a half mile away with a shuttle that meets arriving trains. He said a new Depot Street station also can trigger new transit-oriented-development surrounding the station, whereas the Fuller Park site is surrounded by parkland and the hospital.

"It's crazy not to have a bustling area around a train station," he said. "Train stations all over the world are bustling hubs. It's where there should be action. It's a gateway. It just makes economic sense. It makes urban sense. It makes environmental sense the world over."

Kelbaugh said the Fuller Park location does have some advantages, though, including the fact that it's directly next to a large job center and can more easily link with the Connector light rail system that's being planned.

"But it is fatally flawed," he said, arguing the site has more limited vehicular access and it already is a traffic bottleneck.

With many more buses, taxis, Uber cars, personal cars, cyclists, pedestrians, driverless vehicles and a very large parking garage, Kelbaugh said choosing the Fuller site could be regretted as it becomes the biggest bottleneck in Ann Arbor, if not the region, and that would be an irreversible decision.

As for the other side's argument that Fuller Road is a major transit corridor already, Kelbaugh countered that not many U-M students riding buses along Fuller Road want to get off and hop on a train there. Though, he does think that commuter trains ought to stop at both Fuller and Depot.

Kelbaugh received a round of applause for his remarks, and so did the person who spoke after him offering an opposing view.

Karen Hart, Ann Arbor's former planning director who lost her job in a city hall reorganization in 2004, said she greatly disagreed with Kelbaugh. Hart said a Fuller Park station -- even if it "eats up more parkland -- is superior because it would be the cheapest and fastest and serve the most people, including U-M.

She noted all three Depot Street options would be located in a floodplain area and a Fuller Park station would not be in a floodplain.

"I find it absolutely mind boggling that three out of the four examples would put more development in the floodplain," she said.

Eric Lipson, a former city planning commissioner, was among those who made a case for a Depot Street station Monday night.

"Why go on green parkland when you can rebuild on brownfield?" he said. "I haven't been able to figure it out."

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.
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Police were called to Ypsilanti Import Auto Sales, 1180 E. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti Township, for a death on Sept. 25, 2016.

(Darcie Moran | The Ann Arbor News)

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Police have identified the 48-year-old Ypsilanti man killed in an incident at an Ypsilanti Township business.

James McCoy died just before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Ypsilanti Import Auto Sales, 1180 E. Michigan Ave., said Derrick Jackson, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office director of community engagement.

McCoy was trying to load a large toolbox onto his flatbed truck when it fell on him, Jackson said. He died from his injuries.

The sheriff's office is investigating the incident, which appears to be an accident, Jackson said.
University of Michigan students responded to racially-charged fliers appearing on campus by protesting on Monday, Sept. 26, at Angell Hall. MLive file photo

ANN ARBOR, MI -- About 200 University of Michigan students responded to racially-charged fliers appearing on campus by protesting on Monday, Sept. 26, at Angell Hall.

The protest began with a group of about 30 students in the Diag, growing to its full size as the group marched to the Fishbowl -- a large computer lab inside Angell Hall, The Michigan Daily reported. Upon entering the building, students and attendees chanted, "No justice, no peace."

Black UMich and Ally's shutting the Fishbowl D O W N. Speak.  pic.twitter.com/9qCrb4FfcY  Cee (@CeeWorlds) September 26, 2016

Two fliers, titled "Why White Women Shouldn't Date Black Men," and another urging "Euro-Americans" to "stop apologizing, living in fear and denying your heritage," appeared inside Haven and Mason halls and have since been removed. Many of the fliers included an "Alt-Right" logo.

U-M officials condemned the fliers Monday, issuing a letter to students oh behalf of U-M President Mark Schlissel, Provost Martha Pollack, Vice President for Student Life E. Royster Harper and Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and Academic Affairs.

"While we continue to defend any individual's right to free speech on our campus, these types of attacks directed toward any individual or group, based on a belief or characteristic, are inconsistent with the university's values of respect, civility and equality," the letter states. "We also have a responsibility to create a learning environment that is free of harassment. These are core values and guiding principles that will help us as we strive to live up to our highest ideals."

U-M Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said the university is following up on reports of the fliers on campus.

"We do not have any information at this time on who may be responsible," Fitzgerald said.

Meeting with the faculty's Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs on Monday, Pollack explained fliers are not typically permitted on the outer walls of buildings, but are allowed on public kiosks, the University Record reported.

"Free speech is a fundamental value, as well as a constitutionally protected right," Pollack wrote in an email to faculuty. "At the same time, the sentiment in the fliers is completely at odds with this university's commitment to inclusion, and we must provide a non-hostile learning environment for our students."

Central Student Government joined the university in opposition to the fliers, issuing a statement Monday evening in support of black students on campus and the Black Lives Matter movement.

"If we truly are the 'Leaders and Best,' then we must work to ensure that every student feels welcomed, safe, and valued at Michigan. Until we do so, we cannot honestly describe ourselves as such," the statement said.

U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Dean Andrew Martin also issued a statement speaking out against the posters, vowing to "work with others who wish to organize a further response, with teach-ins, conversations, and other avenues of mutual support."

"These posters advocating white supremacy strike at the very heart and soul of the College," Martin said in the statement. "Their presence marred our physical spaces -- in Haven and Mason halls -- where we hold our classes and where our faculty and staff work, and are an assault on everything we believe in as a liberal arts college and as a diverse community."
BAY CITY, MI -- After 17 years, the Stein Haus, one of Bay City's favorite neighborhood bars best known for its German ambiance, weekly jam sessions and, of course, its vast collection of beer steins, is closing its doors this week.

But it's not the end for the downtown Bay City pub.

Owners Bill and Elaine Fournier announced Tuesday, Sept. 27, that they were closing their German-themed bar at 1108 N. Water St. Its final day of business is Saturday, Oct. 1.

The decision comes six months after the Fourniers closed the Atrium, an American-European influenced restaurant that shared a building with the Stein Haus at the corner of Water and Third streets. The Fourniers, who also own Bay City Antiques Center and Bay City Boat Lines, said the move allows them to move closer to a "semi-retired life." Those two businesses will remain open.

While the bar's last day is this Saturday, there are plans in the works to eventually re-open under new ownership and bring new life to it and the space previously occupied by the Atrium, said Michelle Judd, daughter of the Fourniers and the company's marketing manager.

After the Atrium closed in March, a developer with Bay City ties approached the Fourniers with a plan to buy their building and rejuvenate the property, Judd said.

"This is a really solid group and after hearing what they proposed, we felt it was the best opportunity," she said.

Judd declined to comment on who the developer is, saying its part of their business agreement not to disclose the interested party. The developer signed a purchase agreement last week, but has not closed on the building, Judd said.

According to a news release sent out Tuesday morning, the development company has plans to introduce "a new concept in the Atrium space and reinvigorate the Stein Haus space, with the intention of keeping the German ambiance there."

The news comes at a time when downtown Bay City -- and especially Third Street -- is undergoing a renaissance. Earlier this year, business owner Avram Golden installed a canvass of LED lights above Third Street called the "Third Street Star Bridge." The owners of Jake's Corner Lounge invested thousands of dollars into cleaning up the bar at Third and Saginaw streets and installed large windows facing Third Street. And new murals sprung up on the upper story of Jake's and on the westward facing wall of Zef's Coney Restaurant, 201 Third Street.

"This project is going to be great for downtown, but really for that neighborhood," Judd said. "There's already a lot of energy there, and I think if people like the Stein Haus, they're really going to be happy with this new development."

In 2014, MLive readers voted Stein Haus as one of Michigan's Best neighborhood bars.

Several Bay City residents took to social media Tuesday morning, sharing memories of their time at The Stein Haus.

"You'll be missed, thank you for creating such a great place to enjoy over the years," said Golden.

"Lots of memories at the Stein Haus," said Liberty Stalkweather. "Singing with the Ceilidh band, hosting our Friends of Celtic Culture meetings, birthdays, holidays, and my grandmother Starkweather's wake... Auf Wiedersehen!"

Andy Rogers, who lives across the street at the Boathouse Condos, is a regular at the weekly jam session that takes place each Tuesday night at the bar. Started by Jerry Casault about five years ago, on average about a dozen musicians show up for an impromptu session that lasts for a few hours.

"It became a great Bay City tradition that a lot of people really enjoyed," Rogers said.

What separated the Stein Haus from other bars in Bay City, Rogers said, was its focus on good food and drink and the importance of having a conversation with a friend.

"It's the only bar I can think of in Bay City where you don't have a TV blaring in the background," he said. "You go there to see your friends, have a meal, have a drink and hear some music."

The Fourniers thanked their patrons for their years of business.

"We look forward to seeing something new take shape downtown and plan to remain active in Bay City with our remaining businesses for years to come."
For iPhone 7 users who stumbled across a video tutorial showing them how to manually create a headphone jack ...

Don't do it.

The notorious technology prankster Taras Maksimuk posted a video showing himself literally taking a drill to an iPhone 7 purporting that it was a trick to create a headphone jack.

The video, which, once again, is a prank, can be seen below:

Maksimuk, of Ukraine, has posted dozens of videos that show him testing technology out in the weirdest ways imaginable. From taking a bath in a 1,500-gallon pool filled with Coca-Cola and Mentos to dropping a Big Mac with a iPhone inside of it in Piranha solution, the YouTube channel "TechRax" features a random assortment of how to destroy gear.

The YouTuber has shared several angry comments to his Twitter account, and the video itself is filled with displeased people who drilled holes in their expensive tech.

YouTube user adambsk8 wrote "I followed all the steps you said and it won't even turn back on. do I gotta update it or download the headphone jack app?"

User Miranda Gonzalez wrote in the comments section "I tried this, and now there's no sound coming out my phone."

Maksimuk, who describes himself as someone that "specializes in smashing technology for your pleasure," shared the following on Twitter:
FLINT, MI - The Flint City Council voted to table three resolutions put forth by Flint Mayor Karen Weaver in an attempt to teach her a lesson.

"We have seem to run into a situation in our community where the mayor believes she can enact things without the approval from this legislative body," said Councilman Scott Kincaid, who made the motion to postpone the resolutions. "I think that this council needs to send a loud and clear message to the mayor that she's not a dictator."

The members tabled resolutions 5 to 3 in a Monday, Sept. 26, council meeting to repair the roof on the north building of city hall, contract with Power Plus Engineering for maintenance for the utilities department and a resolution authorizing the city to contract with Nan McKay & Associates for residential rental inspections. All resolutions were tabled for 30 days.

Council members say Weaver has not communicated with them and say her office has neglected to provide updates on progress with the city's water crisis. They also claim she has not talked to members about the ongoing trash dispute.

Kincaid is spearheading a lawsuit initially filed in August against the city's controversial trash contract.

"She's one individual that's been elected by this community ... but on this waste collection contract and other issues, Weaver seems to think like she's an emergency manager," Kincaid said. "The only way to teach her how government works is to show her ... It's like a young child if you don't correct them the first time they will continue to do what they are doing and it will continue to get worse."

Weaver was not at the council meeting and MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach her for comment.

Council President Kerry Nelson along with Kate Fields, Wantwaz Davis, Vicki VanBuren and Scott Kincaid all voted to postpone Weaver's resolutions. Jackie Popular was not at the meeting due to health issues. Monica Galloway, Herbert Winfrey and Eric Mays voted against the motion.

Kincaid and seven other council members are engulfed in a legal battle with Weaver and her office over the city's trash contract.

Mays, the sole council member supporting Weaver's decision to offer city's trash contract to a new company, said the decision would only postpone city business.

"This public has heard clearly it ain't the business," said Mays. "This getting ridiculous. These people are outrageous."

Mays continuously tried to convince council members to move forward with city business, but council members still voted to prove a point to Weaver.

There was a consensus among council members that Weaver is not communicating. One issue, some said, was that she does not attend council meetings. An issue that is not required by charter but members did ask for her to participate in meetings when she was sworn into office in January.

"This message that we're trying to send out has to be sent out and it's compelling," said Davis to members of the audience. "Many people fight for this mayor and this mayor doesn't show up to our meetings. Most of you all can't call her, you can't talk to her ... She's not here."
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."

"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.

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

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FLINT, MI -- With three weeks left in its "Twelve Weeks to Earn your Halo" fundraising campaign to bring more fresh produce to Flint residents, Halo Burger executives announced at a press conference Monday, Sept. 26, that it had already exceeded its goal.

The restaurant chain partnered with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to sponsor at least 12 truckloads of food to be dropped off and given away at community sites in Flint and Genesee County, helping an estimated 400 families.

But, with three weeks left of the 12-week campaign, Halo Burger already reached its goal of $25,000.

The campaign kicked off in July with a $10,000 donation from Halo Country, LLC. The rest was raised through collection jars at each restaurant, donations from Halo Burger vendors and text donations from the community, according to spokeswoman Julia Gillespie.

It's part of the new ownership's increasing effort to get Halo Burger involved in the community where the restaurant made its start in 1923, said Daniel Stern, partner at Halo Country.

"Since January, when Halo Country purchased Halo Burger, one of the things that was really important was to reconnect with the community that (Halo Burger) has been part of since 1923," Stern said. "Halo Burger had an incredible history doing things to connect itself with the community for a lot of years ... and we needed to get it back."

And with the city's water crisis, fresh produce is critically needed more than ever, said state Sen. Jim Ananich, who attended Monday's event.

"We know that healthy food, lead-mitigating food, is the best thing for families," Ananich said. "For them to come forward like this, its just another example of the long history of Halo Burger and to be continuing that and exceeding what they've done in the past."

A steady stream of vehicles pulled through the parking lot at United Methodist Community Center of Flint to pick up fresh produce during Monday's announcement.

Stern said although Halo Burger had already met it's initial goal, the restaurant will continue raising money for the remainder of the campaign to sponsor as many food drop-offs as possible.
mike.jpg

Michael Anthony Niebrzydowski

(Courtesy Photo)

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- Police said 49-year-old Michael Anthony Niebrzydowski died after he was struck over the weekend while on the track at Owosso Speedway.

Michigan State Police troopers were called to the track around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 after Niebrzydowski, a track worker, was struck as he tried to slow down traffic following a crash.

He was airlifted from the race track, 7204 W M-21 in Middlebury Township, to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, where he was later pronounced dead. The incident remains under investigation.

Calls to the race track owner and manager by MLive-Flint Journal have not been returned, but the speedway has released a statement on its website about Niebrzydowski's death.

"Owosso Speedway is deeply saddened by the loss of Mike Niebrzydowski. Mike has been a prominent member of the racing community for years," reads the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all friends and family members. May he rest in peace with our Lord and Savior."

Niebrzydowski, of Wyandotte had recently served as an official at races for Sprints on Dirt and several other groups throughout the year.

John Naida, president of Sprints on Dirt, offered his condolences and said of Niebrzydowski "No one had a greater passion for auto racing than Mike, and he touched many people in the sport."

Michael Anthony Niebrzydowski is survived by his mother Rose Mary Niebrzydowski, and preceded in death by his father Ronald Niebrzydowski and his sister Tina Marie Niebrzydowski.

He is also survived by his brother Gregory Niebrzydowski, his sister Anne Marie Niebrzydowski and his nephew Tyler Niebrzydowski.

Visitation for Niebrzydowski has been scheduled from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Michigan Memorial Funeral Home in Flat Rock. A funeral service is set for 6 p.m. the same day at Michigan Memorial Funeral Chapel.

Remembrances of Niebrzydowski can be left online here.
FLINT, MI - Clad in his trademark New York Yankees ball cap, Russell Simmons sat with legs crossed in the living room of Hanafi Malik and listened as the Flint resident discussed what he felt needed to be done to resolve the city's water crisis.

Simmons returned to Flint Monday to speak with families he met with in February to discuss the water situation and visited the Flint-area church where he's helped set up a pop-up grocery store to try and address the nutritional needs of the community and combat the potential impacts of lead.

Helping the community move forward will take people in the city to be a part of the movement, Malik said, with a crisis of confidence among some residents that a resolution to the problem will ever happen.

"If we don't it, who's going to do it? Don't nobody love you, like you," he said. "It's up to us a people to go ahead and take control of this and put people in position who truly represent us and who truly have our welfare at heart."

Simmons agreed to a point, arguing residents need to continue to have their voices heard to evoke change, but they must also work on having those accountable for the crisis to face some type of justice for their actions.

Eight state workers and one Flint employee have been indicted in connection to the water crisis, but Simmons called them low-level players and continued his push for legal prosecution of Gov. Rick Snyder as he did months ago.

Snyder has said he has no plans to step down and will continue to work on helping the city.

The expeditiousness or lack thereof in terms of change for residents since his visit troubled Simmons, calling stops by President Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to Flint "political expediency"and urged both to return in the coming days.

"The thing that disappointed me the most is our president came and drank the water at a press conference, leaving a horrible impression in people's minds that there was somehow some resolution, but he wouldn't give Sasha that water, Malia wouldn't get that water," he said, referencing Obama sipping on a glass of filtered water at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in May. "People got very upset with me... how dare I judge the president? How dare (he) drink the water?"

More than 140 lead-tainted pipes have been replaced by the city in a second round of the Flint Mayor Karen Weaver's Fast Start program, and millions of dollars have been set aside in the 2017 state budget for aid to the city, but thousands of pipes still need to be dug up.

Lead levels also have decreased at many sentinel test sites, but some homes continue to show an elevated amount of the toxic metal in water samples that can have an adverse effect on child development and cause high blood pressure and kidney issues for adults.

A day of action was called for by Simmons in one month's time amid a stop at New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church, where a pop-up grocery store set up by Pastor Patrick Sanders and Simmons offers reduced prices on fresh produce.

He met with Sanders and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump at the church, as well as Amariyanna Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, and Nakeyja Cade, a mother that broke into tears when the hip-hop pioneer dropped water off at her home in February.

While the water crisis has been burdensome for Flint residents, Cade holds onto hope for change in part because of people like Simmons and others continuing to visit the area and pledge their support.

"It's hard and stressful, but we gotta do what we gotta do until it gets fixed. We can't just break down and forget about it," said Cade when asked about those that may have lost hope given the length of the crisis that began in April 2014. "Hopefully this (visit) will wake up some people that has that heavy weight on their shoulder to get back on track of trying to fight this with us."
In the last few weeks, three important government policies have run into a hitch or been reversed entirely. The disarray this reflects should give us pause, especially since the policies had ramifications for the economy, which is at a critical point and cannot withstand more government ambiguity and unpredictability.

The first, and most important, policy was a decree requiring wheat imports to be entirely free of the ergot fungus. After international commodity firms refused to bid on government wheat tenders and several foreign markets embargoed Egyptian produce, the government announced last week that it would allow imports of wheat with ergot below half per thousand.

The second policy was a tender for 4G licenses announced by the Ministry of Communications. None of the three mobile operators in Egypt placed a bid, saying the price was far too high and the technical specs and frequencies on offer wouldnt permit the provision of quality service.

The ministry will now need to revise the terms of the tender and try again.

The third policy concerned investment in renewable energy. After months of studies and negotiations with more than ten Egyptian and foreign firms and international finance institutions, the Ministry of Electricity declared that it would not accept international arbitration as a contract condition.

When participating companies proved unwilling to conclude the contract without this condition, the ministry reconsidered, declaring its willingness to start a new round of talks based on new terms that might include international arbitration.

Ordinarily, each individual case could be seen as part of the normal negotiating process between government ministries and agencies and local and foreign firms. But these are not routine decisions. They are vital state policies in crucial sectors like food, communications, and energy.

And these arent minor commercial contracts, but international agreements worth billions of dollars. Its also unusual to see several such lapses in the space of a few weeks. And whatever the outcome of the changes, the impact locally and internationally will undermine the credibility of government decision making.

Some view these three cases as illustrative of the pressure imposed by multinational corporations. Others attribute the reversal to a conflict of private and public interests within state agencies. And of course, those prone to conspiracy theories are certain some fifth column is blocking the government at every term and fomenting a climate of unjustified pessimism.

I claim no technical knowledge of either mobile frequencies or acceptable environmental and health limits on ergot contamination, but the technical aspects of these three policies dont concern me.

The issue for me is how these cases reflect the volatility of decision making within the government administration  an administration in which I worked in various capacities for ten years.

Based on my own experience, the common feature of all these cases is the growing disconnect between, on one hand, decision makers at the highest levels and, on the other, state technical agencies and experts in both the private and civic sectors.

Discussions of the state administration typically focus on the well-known laundry list of complaints: the bloated workforce, poor incentives, low productivity and efficiency, and bureaucracy.

Thats all true, though it varies starkly from one ministry or public agency to the next. But the state administration is not only a collection of idle bureaucrats holding back the economy and production. Its a repository of experience, methods, and processes, which though often seen as a hindrance, at times provide guarantees and lines of defence that ordinary citizens dont perceive in their daily interaction with the bureaucrats sitting behind their desks.

I fear that the standard view of the state civil administration as weak, corrupt, and undependable, along with a growing reliance on reports from security and regulatory bodies when making technical decisions and the disregard of viewpoints in the private sector and civil society, will ultimately cut off senior decision makers from reality on the ground, the reservoir of expertise in the civil administration, and alternatives proposed by the private and civic sectors.

As the circle of decision makers narrows, they are more likely to produce unworkable policies and decisions that dont respond to social and economic needs. The result is that misguided policies are retained to avoid a loss of face, or are hastily rescinded at the last minute.

***

I offer my condolences to the families of those who drowned seeking a better future and hope the public directs its anger at the traffickers, holds those responsible for this catastrophe to account, but spares the victims and their families further blame and insult.

Perhaps the President's words of condolence yesterday will put an end to the discourse of hate broadcast in some media, which has only compounded the tragedy.

*The writer holds a PhD in financial law from the London School of Economics. He is former deputy prime minister, former chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority and former chairman of the General Authority for Investment. This article was published in Arabic in El-Shorouq newspaper on Monday, 26 September.

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(Hong Kong)  China Merchants Securities Co., the investment banking and brokerage arm of state-owned conglomerate China Merchants Group, plans to raise $1.47 billion in a share issue in Hong Kong, while markets sputter due to a strong risk-averse sentiment.

CMC said on Sept. 26 that it will issue 891 million H-shares at an indicative price range between HK$11.54 to HK$12.78. Five percent of the shares will be reserved for retail investors. Trading of CMC shares in Hong Kong will begin on Oct. 7.

Eleven cornerstone investors have already subscribed about 60 percent of the share issue. The investors include PICC Life Insurance, China Life Insurance, Fosun Group and Advance Data Service Ltd, wholly owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd. Chairman Ma Huateng.

The IPO comes amid CMC's dismal performance this year. The broker, among the 10 largest in China, reported a 69 percent drop in net profit during the first half of this year to 2.2 billion yuan ($330 million) due to shrinking investment returns and a decline in its brokerage and wealth management business.

It also comes at a time when the Hong Kong exchange is sputtering due to a drop in investors' appetite for risk. As a result, the Postal Savings Bank of China, which issued the world's largest IPO last week, was forced to price its deals at the low end of the indicative ranges.

A number of Chinese securities firms are preparing for a public listing in Hong Kong this year as the mainland markets remain sluggish since last summer's market rout. In August, Everbright Securities raised HK$8.6 billion ($1.1 billion) in a Hong Kong offering. BOCOM International Holdings, the overseas advisory arm of the Bank of Communications, also announced plans to go public earlier this year.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com)
Myanmars leading garment industry body has been buoyed by the lifting of sanctions it hopes will see a return to the glory days for the sector, when in the early 2000s a majority of countrys garments were shipped to the US.





Speaking at a manufacturing trade fair in Yangon yesterday, U Myint Soe, chair of the of Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA), told The Myanmar Times that the lifting of sanctions is a boon for the fledgling industry, as international garment buyers from the US would have more confidence in doing business with Myanmar, while relieving pressure on financial transactions would also encourage more US trade.

He said that Japan, Europe and South Korea are the leading markets for local garment exports, with the US trailing those countries.

There has not been a lot sent to the US market in the last year utill recently, U Myint Soe said. The exports to the US are said to be low because of the sanctions.

But the industry is confident that is all about to change, U Myint Soe said.

In 2001, total garment exports reached US$817 million, he said, which was the second largest export industry behind oil and gas. At the time, the US market made up about 65 percent of the garments shipped, he said.

If we can get that kind of market back this time, garment exports will reach up to 3 billion in 2017, U Myint Soe predicted.





The MGMA chief said reentry into the General System of Preferences (GSP), announced by US President Barack Obama at the same time as the lifting of sanctions, would not return immediate benefits like it does with similar trade preferences in the EU, as garments were not among the list of 5000 products covered by the US GSP.

Increased exports would eventually lead to greater foreign investment into the industry, U Myint Soe added, but poor infrastructure was still a key obstacle to FDI.

Both tax incentives and logistics costs needed greater clarity in order to stimulate investment, he added.

Especially for local factories, they need support relating to the governments tax regulations or they will be out of business in the next five years, he said.

Speaking at the trade fair, U Thein Naing, director of Baw Ga Mandaing Manufacturing, said increased exports to the worlds largest consumer market was a big win for the local industry.

As the EUs economy is slowing at the moment, the US will become another route for Myanmars garment sector to take off after the sanctions are lifted, he said.

But more would need to be done to lift standards in the industry if it was to capitalise on opportunities, he said.

I am exporting to Japan at the moment, and sometimes it is very hard to meet their quality standards and I cant get regular orders, he said.

President of textile trade event organiser Messe Frankfurt France, Mr Michael Scherpe, said that the export industry was still dominated by countries like China and Bangladesh, but Myanmar was seeing steady improvements in the sector.

From 2013 onward, within a very short time, Myanmar has achieved a very good result, he said.
Yangon City Development Committee says it is unable to accept hotel group Shangri-Las payment of a K2 billion (US$1.6 million) fine levied on the Sule Square project because the committee is still investigating the finished structure.





As developer of the Sule Square commercial complex, Shangri-La is being fined for building two additional stories on an office tower that were not in the approved design, according to the deputy head of YCDCs Department of Engineering (Building) U Nay Win.

The K2 billion fine is based on a metric of K15,000 per square foot of unapproved space constructed, he told The Myanmar Times.

The developer received approval from the previous government for a 21-floor building adjacent to the Sule Shangri-La hotel in downtown Yangon, with two floors of basement and car parking. Then in January this year, after work had already begun, the company submitted a new proposed design, adding additional floors but no increase in height, said U Nay Win.

Although neither the old nor new administration approved the new design, YCDC found that the finished Sule Square office tower has 23 floors and only one floor for basement and car parking. We didnt approve their revised proposal yet, they already finished building according that new design, said U Nay Win. It was built without a permit.

Sule Square has already started advertising office space, but U Nay Win said that in addition to the fine YCDC is withholding a Building Completion Certificate, without which the building cannot open. The developer is eager the pay the fine and resolve the issue, he added.

They want to pay their fine because they want to open their office tower, he said.





However, YCDC is still waiting for additional input from the Committee for Quality Control of High-rise Building Construction Projects, and so has not accepted payment, U Nay Win said.

Sule Squares centre director Peter Ow declined to comment on the changes made to the design or the developers willingness to pay the fine.

All requisite permits for the development of the Sule Square mall have been applied for and we are currently in consultation with YCDC to secure final approval for the project, he said.

U Khin Maung Maung, a member of the quality control committee, said that his committee had in fact approved the revised Sule Square design plan when it was first submitted. We [the quality control committee] recommended the revised proposal but YCDC didnt approve the changes, he said.

U Nay Win could not be reached for clarification on what additional information YCDC requires from the quality control committee.

The Committee for Quality Control of High-rise Building Construction Projects is in charge of the guidelines for the design of buildings over 12 stories, evaluating proposed project designs and conducting on-site inspections as required.

The committee was heavily involved in a dramatic city-wide review of Yangon high-rise buildings that began in May. That review was widely criticised for penalising projects that had received full approval under the previous government, although instructions demanding drastic change to almost-finished projects were later rescinded.
Inspired by animistic mythology, nature and the human body, Soe Yu Nwe is giving new meaning to the ceramic arts in Myanmar.





After spending seven years in the US and completing an MFA in ceramics at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, an undergraduate degree in fine arts at Albion College, as well as participating in various artist residencies across the country, the 27-year-old is now back in Myanmar for the foreseeable future.

This past weekend, Soe Yu Nwe gave her first artist talk in Myanmar at the five-month-old Myanm/art Gallery and reading room in downtown Yangon.

Her one-hour talk entitled On House: The Self Reconfigured was, in many ways, Soe Yu Nwes artistic introduction to Myanmar. She spoke of her trajectory as a ceramics artist from undergrad to the present, exploring the consistent themes in her work which are deeply rooted in Chinese and Myanmar folklore as well as the questions of identity: what it means to be female, to be split between two lives  one in Myanmar and one in the US.

Around May, I started reaching out to galleries in Yangon. I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself and my work here, said Soe Yu Nwe who dreams of building a studio in Yangon and a body of work within her home country.

Myanm/art founder Nathalie Johnston  who has worked with and represented Myanmars diverse arts community for the past six years  was delighted when Soe Yu Nwe reached out to her over Instagram.

There are not a lot of ceramicists or sculpture artists here so this is a good place to start a network, Johnston said. There are folks who can do busts of Aung San or figures of Maha Bandula. But thats it; there isnt a ton of conceptual work.





With Johnstons help, Soe Yu Nwe was able to translate her artist statement into Myanmar language, which she hopes will make her art more accessible and understood by a larger Myanmar audience.

Both Soe Yu Nwe and Johnston explained to The Myanmar Times that while Myanmar has a vibrant history of traditional ceramic arts, it mainly consists of pottery, or craftwork, and there arent many like Soe Yu Nwe, pushing at the borders of what ceramic work is and can be.

The September 24 artist talk was just the beginning of what will be the start of Soe Yu Nwes career in Southeast Asia.

In December she will participate in Myanmars festival of performance art, Beyond Pressure, organised by internationally recognised performance artist Moe Satt. In February, she will participate in a three month long residency in Chinas ceramic capital, Jingdezhen.

Though Soe Yu Nwe will be travelling throughout the rest of this year and early next, she plans to keep Myanmar as her home base while she establishes a studio, and collaborates and makes connections with other artists across Southeast Asia.

In January, she will return to Myanm/art Gallery, this time showcasing the residency work which she introduced this past weekend.

I shipped some of the work that I made a few months ago. Its on its way; hopefully it will get here by October, said Soe Yu Nwe, a little nervous yet very excited by her burgeoning career and the chance to reconnect and be inspired by the home she left long ago.
His most celebrated work, once banned, can now be seen everywhere.





Maung Maung Thaik, who designed the original flag of the National League for Democracy, died five years ago, but his fellow artists and admirers remember him still.

On September 25, they held a one-day commemoration in his honour at A-1 Studio. His son Zay Phyo and his old friend U Thein Htut organised the exhibit, putting on display more than 70 of his artworks.

We brought together artists who had known my father and asked them for their memories of him, said Zay Phyo. I also contributed some cover art, as well as 13 paintings of my own, five posters and some old designs by U Thein and portraits of my father painted by his colleagues. Most of the covers are not original, but soft copies that I printed out.

Zay Phyo said he had organised a similar exhibition at Gallery 65 three years ago to commemorate the second anniversary of his fathers passing. At that time, many of the paintings were available for purchase; this years celebration however, was not for sale.





Friend U Thein Htut remembered growing up with the late Maung Thaik in the 1940s and 1950s. He said they went into business together during Thingyan in 1950.

Then, all the ladies wore longyis during the water festivities. We painted padauk flowers on plain longyis in oils and sold them for 25 pya each, he said, remembering a bygone era. This was at the time when our pocket money was only 5 or 10 pya. We painted about 30 longyis. I think of Maung Thaik every Thingyan.

He was a great freehand artist and very knowledgeable about anatomy. He painted a lot of portraits of women. He would never illustrate a book cover without reading the whole book first, in order to get a feeling for it, he said.

Painter Myo Myint Nyein also shared memories of Maung Maung Thaik, explaining how he came up with his iconic image.

In 1988, the NLD engaged a traditional painter from Mandalay to come up with a design for the party flag. But a technical problem arose with the silkscreen printing. So Maung Maung Thaik drew the yellow peacock trying to reach the white star against the red background red, said painter Myo Myint Nyein.

The current design of the flag has since been slightly altered.

Video clips of the memorial speeches by cartoonists U Ngwe Kyi, U Kyaw Thaung and U Tin Hla Win were also displayed at the memorial, while painters were invited to draw portraits of hired models in the same style as Maung Maung Thaiks old book covers.

Maung Maung Thaik died of cancer at the age of 66 in August 2011.

A1 Film is a Myanmar production company that has won Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards. It produced the 1940 film Chit Yay Sin and the 1935 Japan Yin Thwe.
Police officers must learn to recognise gender-based violence as the first step in dealing with it, international trainers say. The 50 officers, male and female, who attended the training seminar in Lashio, Shan State, on September 22 and 23 heard that it was time for a change of attitude, as well as behaviour.





Lionel Laforgue, a gender-based violence specialist with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which organised the seminar, said, Its essential that police officers understand that violence against women is both unacceptable and illegal.

Gender-based violence involves both emotional physical abuse, and can affect the whole family, not just the victim. Participants were told of the difference between gender and sex, and the definition of gender-based violence and discussed how to prevent it, said U Thein Kyi, a CEC member of the Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and a former director general of police involved in the training.

Even though Im familiar with gender-based violence cases, Ive never thought of the consequences that survivors face, one male police officer said.

Similar seminars for the police have also been held in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myitkyina and Sittwe.

A female officer, Ma Myint Myint Aye, who took part in the seminar in Myitkyina, Kachin State, said, We arrested a suspected drug dealer. I went along because the suspect was a woman. During the search, we seized some illegal stimulant tablets. I also discovered some scars on her body. The suspect said her husband, also a drug addict, beat her whenever he needed drugs. I sympathised with this woman and helped her during the interrogation.

The workshops focus on the law as well as on gender equality and the social norms that stand in the way of equality.

Of the 50 officers who attended the Lashio seminar, 12 were female. At the Myitkyina seminar, there were five women among the 52 participants.





Women used to bear the problem of the family because of cultural norms and traditions. Gender-based violence cannot be solved by suffering in silence. It needs to be addressed through proactive measures, said U Thein Kyi from the Anti-Narcotics Association.

Cultural norms and traditions need to be challenged so that survivors feel safe to report episodes of gender-based violence, and a special legal justice system and supporting procedures such as confidential rooms are required, say field workers.

About 1000 trainee officers have already received gender-based violence awareness training at police academy, and the subject will be added to the curriculum, said U Thein Kyi.

Building on the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women 2013-2022, the UNFPA said it would increase the access of women and girls to a comprehensive, rights-based and integrated package of gender-based services.
A five-day meeting involving members of signatories and non-signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) kicked off yesterday in Chiang Mai, Thailand.





On September 25, a United Nationalities Federal Council delegation met with government negotiators in Chiang Mai to discuss preconditions for future steps in Myanmars peace process. The UNFC, whose members are now meeting with ceasefire signatories this week in Thailand, is an alliance of seven ethnic armed groups that have not yet signed the NCA.

Strengthening the NCA and stabilising political negotiations are the main concerns of the Delegation for Political Negotiation, a bargaining body of the UNFC, according to government peace team aide U Min Zaw Oo.

He said the ethnic armed organisations and the government shared a vision for the future of the countrys peace process, and that differences were largely on matters of approach.

Prior to the 21st-century Panglong Conferences conclusion earlier this month, the UNFC demanded that the government consider an eight-point proposal the coalition had put forward, which it said would accelerate its decision to more fully commit to the National League for Democracy-led peace process.

Strengthening the ceasefire agreement and stably holding the political dialogue are the main purposes of their demands. The government too has the same perspective, U Min Zaw Oo said.

Leaders of the UNFC previously told The Myanmar Times that they would first like to negotiate the eight-point proposal before taking the important step of signing the NCA. UNFC leaders, however, have said meeting the proposals demands was not a must do to secure their signatures.

Among other proposal terms, the ethnic bloc is seeking a bilateral declaration of a genuine nationwide ceasefire by the government and ethnic armed groups; a commitment to including all ethnic armed organisations in the peace processes; and the inclusion of international observers in the NCAs joint-monitoring mechanism.





Asked how many of the UNFCs proposals the government would likely agree to, U Min Zaw Oo did not offer specifics.

We have the same goal in the peace process, which is more important than whether or not we agree on the proposals, he said.

The government invited the UNFC to participate in a meeting to review the political dialogue framework in mid-September, but the council opted not to join, with its leaders saying they were busy with other commitments.

Members of the UNFC were not available for comment yesterday.

Though most NCA non-signatories were allowed to attend the Panglong Conference, their full participation in the political dialogue to come will require that they sign the NCA.

The government has actively courted UNFC members and some groups outside the alliance that have also withheld their signatures, such as the powerful United Wa State Army, but firm commitments to join the accord have proven elusive.

Faith in the NLDs stated pledge to an inclusive approach to the peace process was dealt a blow when three groups that had acted in concert during fighting last year in northern Shan State  the Taang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army  were shut out of the Panglong Conference.

The conference was largely a symbolic affair, with few matters of contention or substance up for discussion. The government has said it wants to hold a similar event in less than six months time, with a series of national-level dialogues in the interim.
Farmers who say their ancestral lands were confiscated for a Chinese-backed nickel-processing project are demanding compensation. In their latest move in the long-running dispute, they have asked State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to intervene.





Sagaing Region Farmers Association executive member U Nay Win said the farmers had received police permission for a protest involving 1000 farmers against the Tagaung Taung Nickel Project in Htigyaing township. But at the request of the local authorities, they met with the company on September 15.

Though they raised questions of job creation, land compensation, solid waste pollution, the dismissal of the factory boss and issues around the transportation of coal from Maung Kone port, none were resolved, they said.

We werent satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, said U Nay Win. The company said they had 1500 employees, including 700 local residents, and asked if we wanted them to be dismissed. They said the land in question was forest, but weve been farming it for 70 years.

The farmers then submitted their complaints to the Union and regional governments, and to the state counsellor.

The farmers have been protesting against the company since 2012, without result. The Tagaung Taung Nickel Mine signed a contract with China Nonferrous Metal Mining Co in Nay Pyi Taw in 2007. The project entailed the seizure of more than 3000 acres (1200 hectares) of land with crop compensation of K50,000 an acre payable to 122 farmers  including 17 who had registered their land  in five villages of Maung Kone village tract.

I was working 8 acres. Some land had crops, some was ploughed. They just paid crop compensation for 4.65 acres. We want land compensation at current prices, said cane farmer U Sein Min.

Farmer U Myint Hlaing, who has registered his land ownership, said the price of farmland per acre was between K10 million to K15 million, depending on location, if factories were to be built on the land. He said protests had taken place nearly every year since 2012.





Apart from the 3086.66 acres seized by the Chinese mining company, Htoo and Great Chan also took 25 acres each. The local authorities told us this was forest land. But before the Tagaung forest area was recognised, our ancestors farmed those lands, U Nay Win told The Myanmar Times.

About 33 village tracts in Htigyaing township have joined the protesters, saying eight companies have seized some 100,000 acres.

Some of the local residents are afraid to speak out. We will deal with the nickel project first, then take up the other questions, said U Nay Win.

The local MP, U Thein Han (NLD; Htigyaing 2), said he would raise the matter in the hluttaw, adding, It could take five years to reach a solution.
Lawmakers in the lower house yesterday voted in favour of taking disciplinary action against the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission after the bodys botched handling of a child torture case.





In an issue that united MPs across party and military lines, the lawmakers agreed that the MNHCR had failed in its obligation to protect the young victims when the members brokered a financial settlement.

We need to be asking who the commission was protecting when it negotiated cash compensation instead of filing a lawsuit  the victims, or the offenders? said MP U Wai Hlaing Tun (NLD; Pathein). In my opinion, the commission should be dissolved.

With the passage of the urgent proposal, the government is under additional pressure to investigate any wrongdoing by the commissioners, and take action against them if evidence is found.

The Presidents Office announced last week that the rights bodys involvement in the contentious case would be reviewed.

Two teenage victims, Ma San Kay Khine and Ma Thazin, endured years of physical violence and psychological abuse before eventually escaping bondage at the Ava Tailoring shop on 40th Street in Yangon and returning to their parents.

Myanmar Now chief correspondent Ko Swe Win initially reported the case to the Kyauktada township police in June, but following inaction, turned to the human rights commission.

Outraged that the MNHRC appeared to be washing its hands of the case after the settlement, Ko Swe Win wrote about the closed-door financial negotiation that saw the case closed with a payment of K5 million (US$4065) to the victims families. His article prompted immediate and overwhelming social media backlash.





Fuelled by public outcry over the impunity, the police eventually arrested five family members connected to the tailoring shop and the abuse of the young domestic workers. Photographs of the teenagers revealed burns and scars along their arms, and bones that did not heal properly after being broken.

In yesterdays parliamentary session, 14 National League for Democracy lawmakers, one MP from the TaArng (Palaung) National Party and one military MP debated the urgent proposal submitted by representative U Htay Win Aung (NLD; Dawbon).

The lower house approved the proposal, so now the Union government is urged to conduct an investigation and take action [against the MNHRC] if they are found guilty. The government must identify if the commissioners handled the case with honest intention, U Hla Moe, secretary of the Pyithu Hluttaws Rights Committee, told The Myanmar Times after the parliamentary session.

The debate also covered whether the commission  Myanmars preeminent organisation to monitor human rights abuses  needs to be restructured.

Daw Nan Moe from the TaArng (Palaung) National Party said that the entire commission should be scrapped, or at the very least revamped with new members.

Major Aung Zin Min agreed. Some members have been weak in cooperating with the relevant government departments, and their negotiation process means they tried to help offenders avoid legal punishment. So they have failed to support justice and act responsibly, he said.

U Zaw Win, a member of the commission who attended yesterdays parliamentary debate, attempted to defend the commissions honest intentions in trying to remedy the situation for the victims. He also claimed the commission had informed Yangon police about the abuse.

He said the MNHRC sent a letter dated June 29 requesting that the Yangon Region Police Force respond within a month to Ko Swe Wins complaint letter.

Our commission can only send suggestions to respective government departments. We have no rights to make a decision or taking action, U Zaw Win said.

A police tribunal has been tasked with investigating the Kyaukatada township stations alleged failure to respond to the initial complaint.

Apparently unswayed by the MNHRC members defence however, the Pyithu Hluttaw MPs voted 374 in favour of disciplining the commission, while one voted against and eight abstained.

U Zaw Htay from the Presidents Office said yesterday that the government will form an investigative inquiry into the MNHRC, but is first awaiting a report of the case to be submitted by the commission members.

Additional reporting by Ye Mon, translation by Thiri Min Htun
On September 23, more than 600 workers from the Panda Textile factory staged a demonstration in Paleik, Mandalay Region, demanding the government end a long-running dispute about pay and contracts.





Panda Textile, in Singaing township, has been wracked by demonstrations and strikes since it was privatised under an agreement that required the new management to retain the civil servant workforce, and continue to honour the same contracts as when they were government employees.

Hundreds of workers have been staging a sit-in outside the factory gates since June to protest pay cuts and being forced to work on their days off, in breach of their employment contract.

On September 12, U Khin Maung Cho, Union minister for industry, told the Pyithu Hluttaw that he was prepared to issue an order to settle the dispute. But workers say they have seen no action since the pledge.

Why havent we received any settlement offers so far? Our sit-in has lasted more than 100 days, said Ma Zar Chi Win, a leader of the protesting workers from Panda Textile. The minister has not conducted any sort of field observation for the case. And without understanding the situation on the ground, and at the protest camp, he cant resolve the dispute, I think.

What he said [to parliament] made it sound like we, the workers, like to stir up unrest, she added.

Panda Textile took over the factory from the Ministry of Industry in 2012, paying an annual K360 million (US$296,000). The deal involved the transfer of 1467 staff from government service to the company. In March, the factory notified the Myanmar Investment Commission of a long-term lease that expires in 2043, the minister told the Pyithu Hluttaw during the September 12 session. He added that his ministry will take action against the factory owner for breach of contract.





In June, the Mandalay Region labour ministry also announced that it would sue the factory for amending the contract without prior agreement from the employees, as required under the 2013 Employment and Skills Development Law.

The workers say they have not seen either of threatened lawsuits carried out, however.

The dispute has taken on new importance now that Myanmar has become eligible again for the United States Generalized System of Preferences, opening up new export markets. International investors are increasingly pressing the government about the state of labour unrest and the dispute resolution procedures under the law.

Panda Textile had announced in March that it would adopt a 44-hour work week with eight-hour days in accordance with the 1951 Factories Act, according to general manager Daw Tin Tin Shwe. At that time, she also disputed the accusation that the factory had breached any contracts.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
(Beijing)  Beijing is clearing final obstacles in a plan that will let foreign asset managers sell privately managed funds in China and invest the money in domestic stock markets, as part of the nation's broader efforts to open the Chinese financial system to the rest of the world.

China announced the groundbreaking new program in late June, hailed as the most important progress in opening the country's financial markets since foreign mutual funds were allowed to enter the country in 2002.

However, no foreign institutions have tapped the program yet, partly because they oppose certain provisions included in draft rules stipulated by the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC), according to people familiar with the matter.

Those concerns include a requirement that the China investment operations of all applicants must be based on the mainland, according to rules put forth by the AMAC, a self-regulating body that helps the official China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) supervise investment funds.

The AMAC has "almost finished" the preparation work and welcomes qualified foreign-invested private securities investment houses to register and apply for licenses, AMAC Vice Chairman Zhang Xiaoai said. He made his remarks after a meeting last week attended by representatives from more than 20 foreign institutions including big global names like BlackRock, UBS, Deutsche Asset Management and Value Partners Group.

Zhang added the AMAC has "basically made clear" what steps the foreign asset managers must take to get licensed under the program.

The AMAC was trying to resolve the global applicants' biggest concerns before granting licenses. CSRC officials have promised to work with the association to revise the rules in response to those concerns.

It was unclear what revisions, if any, have been made since the program was first announced.

Big foreign institutional investors have been allowed to invest in China's financial markets since 2002, when the country launched its Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) program. But whereas all QFII investments had to come from funds raised overseas, the new program will allow participants to raise money from local investors. A more recent program known as the Qualified Domestic Limited Partner program allows foreign asset managers to raise money locally in China, but they must invest it abroad.

Contact reporter Wang Yuqian (yuqianwang@caixin.com); editor Doug Young (dougyoung@caixin.com)
Drinking water will soon be more readily available to residents of Pyigyitagun township in Mandalay, thanks to a Mandalay City Development Committee project aimed at improving the public water supply in their municipality.





The project is being supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has contributed more than US$20 million for the purchase of pipes, wells, tanks, pumps and water meters.

The project will provide safe drinking water to about 60,000 households in five of the townships wards. Myanmars 2014 census put Pyigyitagun townships population at 237,698.

It will supply around 30 percent of the Pyigyitagun township area, said U Tun Win, an MCDC employee.

As part of the project, three wells will be dug and a number of water tanks and pumping stations will be installed throughout the township. The new supply system will be able to provide 2 million gallons of chlorinated drinking water daily, with an excess storage capacity of 650,000 gallons.

The Japanese construction and engineering company Tobishima successfully tendered for the project.

We will need to learn from them as their system is automated. It is different from our current supply system, said U Tun Win.





Some 8000 water meters will be installed over the course of the project in a bid to reduce inefficiencies caused by water leakage and theft.

Currently there are nearly 95,000 water meters in our municipality, but most of them are nearly 20 years old and should be replaced, said U Tun Win. People will not replace these meters unless they are provided free of charge. If they are replaced, less water will be wasted and we will be able to collect more water tax.

The installation of water meters will also allow more households to access the public supply of drinking water.

At my house, I use a tube well to access groundwater. I can use the water in my home but it is not safe to drink. I want a water meter so that I can get clean drinking water, said U Hla Shwe, a real estate agent from Thin Pan Kone ward in Pyigyitagun township.

Implementation of the JICA-supported project will begin on October 20 and is expected to be completed by March 2018.

Application forms for those interested in having water meters installed at their homes will be made available at the townships municipal office in December.

Translation by Khine Thazin Han
The results of the hotly contested Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) election are in: Two incumbents, along with four new members, have been elected to the six vacant seats on the committee, according to an MCDC spokesperson.





Five incumbents stood for re-election to the 13-member committee. Of the incumbents, U Zaw Myo Lwin, who also is known as U Moe, from Chan Aye Tharzan township, was re-elected with 4159 votes, as was U Ye Mon from Amarapura township with 13,909 votes.

In a statement following his re-election, U Ye Mon thanked his supporters and set out his policy goals for the coming term.

I will work with officials to ensure the long-term existence of Taungthaman Lake and U Bein Bridge in Amarapura township. I will try to bring city development works to the villages in Amarapura township that have not yet been reached and I will prioritise making Amarapura a cleaner place, he said.

The four newly elected members to MCDC are U Khine Myint for Aung May Tharzan township; U Kyaw Zaya for Chan Aye Tharzan township; U Kyaw Zaw Aung for Maha Aung Myay township; and U Saw Han for Pyigyitagun township.

Voters urged the new MCDC members to keep their promises once they take their seats on the committee.

During the campaign, the candidates said that they would do what the voters wanted and it is important that they fulfill their promises once they are elected, said one Mandalay resident, U Min Htet Nyein Chan.

The MCDC spokesperson announcing the results was keen to stress that they were provisional results only. Unsuccessful candidates have a week to lodge protests, which will be examined by officials, he said.





Low voter turnout numbers marred the elections, which were held for only the second time in MCDCs history.

Just over 100,000 households came out to vote in the elections, which were held for six townships.

While this is almost a 43 percent increase on the previous elections figures of 70,000 households, according the MCDC spokesperson, it is still a low turnout when considering the actual number of households in the six townships.

The election follows the decision of the regional government on July 7 to vacate 11 of the 13 seats on the committee.

The 13-member committee consists of the mayor and the associate secretary, five members appointed by the regional government, and six elected representatives.

Currently, the seats reserved for regional government appointees have not yet been filled.

When asked, the joint secretary of MCDC, U Thet Naing Tun, could not say when the newly elected committee members or the regional government appointees would begin their terms.

Translation by Khine Thazin Han and Win Thaw Tar
Tens of thousands of residents within miles of the nations capital are deprived of electricity, even though power lines have been connected, parliament has heard. Amyotha Hluttaw MP U Kyaw Myint Oo (NLD; Mandalay 10) said many complaints had been received from the public about the power supply committees in the villages in Nay Pyi Taws Union territory.





About 708 of the 796 villages in the territory have electricity, including about 500 villages that have made their own power supply arrangements. But nearly half the village residents  about 40,000 out of 90,000 households  receive no electricity because they cannot pay the bills.

U Kyaw Myint Oo said a system of payment by instalments should be introduced so that residents could afford power.

Everybody would have electricity if they could pay at the rate of K10,000 or K20,000 a month, he said, calling on the power supply committees to be more transparent. The committees were set up for the precise purpose of supplying electricity, but theyre going about this all wrong, he said.

The MP said that a lawsuit between Pyinmana villagers and the local power supply committee had been going on for three years, and there was no resolution in sight despite 49 court hearings. It was time for the government to step in, he said.

The ministry initially allowed the committee to charge K70 a unit during the two-year installation period. But that two years is over now and theyre still charging the same rate, even though the ministry standard is K35.

They could at least spend the profits on putting up lamp posts and other infrastructure, but they decided to spend it on flood relief and other things as they chose. Weve received no reports about this, U Htin Aung Kyaw, a resident of Zee Phyu Bin village, said.

Villagers have a choice between three tariffs to sign on to the electricity plan and get hooked up to the grid: K500,000, K300,000 and K150,000. Households unable to pay receive no electricity. Others have paid, but receive no power because their neighbours cannot pay.





We do not have electricity because the households around us cannot afford to pay the bills. There are no lamp posts. If you want electricity, you have to erect the lamp post with your own money, U Htin Aung Kyaw told The Myanmar Times.

Though it has served as the nations purpose-built capital since 2005, much of the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory remains rural and underdeveloped.

Nationwide, Myanmars 2014 census found that just under one-third of the country used electricity for its main source of lighting.

Translation by San Layy
Tuberculosis, cholera and dysentery are just some of the more common ailments plaguing inmates at Myanmars putrid penitentiaries.





While the country may be charting a rapid course of reform, behind the high walls and iron bars of the prison system positive change has proceeded at a more sluggish pace. Thousands of prisoners continue to be kept in grueling conditions where mistreatment and exploitation are still the norm, according to an activist group.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) released a study into Myanmar prisons on September 25 that painted a grim picture.

[Prisons here] are hidden from the public eye and prisoners are shown little sympathy by the general public, the report said.

This creates an environment of increased impunity, which in turn leads to the violation of basic human rights for many individuals.

Part of this was blamed on woefully outdated and rarely enforced regulations. The Prisons Act, also known as the India Act of 1894, is still in use today. This is complimented by the so-called Jail Manual which was last revised in 1950.

According to a 2015 report by the US State Department, there were 60,000 individuals held in approximately 43 prisons and 50 labour camps around Myanmar.





Basic health conditions in many of these facilities were described by the AAPP report as abysmal.

Prisoners are plagued by a large number of different illnesses, including heart disease, malaria, high blood pressure and tuberculosis  Dysentery and scabies [are] considered a fairly normal condition in prison, the report said.

Malnutrition was also a major concern with a number of prisoners living on the brink of starvation.

Sanitation is often so substandard that in some facilities sewage containers overflow with excrement on a regular basis.

The report cited one example from Sittwe Prison, where water wells and sewage holes are so close to one another that during the rainy season sewage mixes with the drinking water, causing cholera outbreaks and prisoner deaths.

Overcrowding was also described as pervasive.

Behind the walls of Insein

Site visits by a Myanmar National Human Rights Commission investigation team earlier this year revealed severe overcrowding in Hktami Prison in Sagaing Region, where 688 prisoners were held despite its 300-person capacity. Another visit, to Loikaw Prison in Kayah State found 518 inmates held despite a 409 person capacity.

On top of this, the prisons systematically torture inmates, according to the AAPP. Torture is employed not only as a means of extracting information and false confessions, but also to punish, degrade and humiliate detainees.

The AAPP claimed thousands of prisoners are forced in to labour while serving their sentence, sometimes in prison labour camps, and other times at the battlefront as porters.

In the prison labour camps, food, clothing and medical supplies are reportedly very limited, making these facilities harsh and life threatening.

AAPP joint secretary U Bo Kyi told The Myanmar Times that the prison system in this country falls far short of international standards.

He said that overcrowding was the most urgent problem to fix, as many health and nutrition issues stem from the sheer number of people locked up together.

However, U Bo Kyi also sounded a note of optimism. I see positive signs for prison reform because many former political prisoners are now in parliament and holding government positions  they know just how bad the prison situation is, he said.

The report made several recommendations to the new government, including reviewing all legislation pertaining to the prison sector in order to bring it in line with international standards, ratifying relevant international conventions and ensuring all prison staff are adequately trained, especially in human rights and the use of force.

But it also acknowledged that comprehensive reform will be difficult due to a lack of funding and institutional barriers posed by the continuing control of key ministries by the military.

Lawyer U Robert Sann Aung said that as the first step of reform, the government needs to remove the Prisons Department from the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs and shirt it to a newly created Ministry of Justice. The military has used the prisons to oppress  since General Nay Wins administration, he said.

Additional reporting by Ye Mon Tun
Daw Aung San Suu Kyis two-week trip abroad ended with a frenzy of speculation and official assurances that the state counsellors health was not in serious question after she was reportedly seen arriving at Yangon International Airport in a wheelchair on September 25.





Social media was abuzz yesterday as photos purportedly showing the 71-year-old in a wheelchair circulated online. The authenticity of the images could not be independently verified by The Myanmar Times.

A throng of supporters gathered to welcome her at the airport on the evening of September 25, when poor lighting made the health condition of Myanmars de facto leader difficult to ascertain, with the ensuing uncertainty fuelling speculation online.

But National League for Democracy central executive committee member U Win Htein told The Myanmar Times that Daw Aung San Suu Kyis health condition was nothing serious.

There is nothing serious with her health situation. It is fine, he said yesterday.

The Office of the State Counsellor also sought to allay fears over Daw Aung San Suu Kyis well-being, releasing a statement that detailed symptoms stemming from her rigorous overseas itinerary.

After checking the health condition with doctors, there was only weakness [caused by] not being able to rest during the busy schedule, a stomach-ache from not being able to eat properly and having aches from using the computer for a long time, read the statement, adding that there was no cause for serious concern about her condition.





Ahead of the state counsellors return, the Ministry of Information announced on September 25 that a meeting between her and prominent businesspeople scheduled for September 28 in Nay Pyi Taw would be postponed. Inadequate preparations for the event was cited as the reason for the rescheduling, however.

A former spokesperson for then-president U Thein Sein, U Ye Htut, took to Facebook yesterday to criticise what he said was an overly demanding overseas itinerary.

President U Thein Sein was also in his 70s, the same age as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. And he has a machine in his heart, he said, referring to U Thein Seins pacemaker. When the [former] Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Win arranged the presidents trip plans, he always thought about avoiding a situation of continuous working.

He added that the health scare served to highlight the current governments structure with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as its focal point, advising a rethink to better delegate authority to lower levels of responsibility.

Several calls from The Myanmar Times to Dr Tin Myo Win, the state counsellors personal physician, went unanswered yesterday.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi departed for London on September 10 and flew days later to Washington, where she met US President Barack Obama and joined several other events, including a tour of the capitals National Mall. She addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21.
Nagaland is a hill state in northeast India. It attracts a multitude of tourists and visitors to the annual Hornbill Festival, the most important state festival, and the mountains come alive with its vibrant colours, textiles, dances and cuisines. So crucial is the display of Naga culture that the state Department of Tourism has officially declared Nagaland the Land of Festivals.





However, this cultural representation hides another vibrant reality in the state  an economy based on coal mining and hydrocarbon speculation that dominates Naga politics and highlights the ongoing economic transformation occurring on the frontiers of northeast India.

While the state sponsors and organises ethnic festivals like the Hornbill Festival, it is the network of rich landowners, armed groups and tribal entrepreneurs that runs the profit-driven extractive economy and controls the coal trade.

This extractive economic activity in Nagaland is founded on a provision of Indias constitution, Article 371(A), which guarantees special rights and protection for Naga people living in Nagaland in relation to the ownership of land and its resources.

From 2006 until 2011, while doing fieldwork in the coal-producing villages of Nagalands foothills, I noticed how the beginning of the annual coal mining season  from November onward, when villagers are allowed to mine coal from their own lands under Nagalands own coal policy  ushers in a spirit of excitement and festivity similar to the celebration of Naga culture in the ethnic festivals across the state. Both locations  the dance and culture amphitheatre at the Hornbill Festival, the biggest stage for Naga culture, and the coal mines in the Naga villages  underline the powerful ways in which authority, power and everyday life in the frontiers of northeast India unfolds.

These cultural and economic activities take place against the backdrop of one of the longest insurgency movements in South Asia. Since the signing of a ceasefire agreement between some of the armed Naga groups and the Indian government in 1997, there has been a significant rise in extractive activities in Nagaland  and in contestation over who represents the Naga people.

Three Naga groups feature significantly in this politics of representation  the armed groups who claim Nagaland for a sovereign homeland, the state government, and the landowners who control the coal mines and land.





At the heart of the debate over representation lies a unique story of the aspirations of tribal and indigenous peoples and their fantasies about hydrocarbon, and the scramble for land.

The struggle between Naga groups  some armed (various factions of the Naga insurgents), others elected (representatives of the Naga tribal councils, student bodies, cultural associations and the state legislative assembly)  for the right to represent the Naga past and their future is most intensely articulated in the scramble to control resources in the coal mining villages, where plans to explore for oil and natural gas are being mapped out.

The scale of coal mining has rapidly swallowed cultivable lands, choked natural springs and killed aquatic life around the coal mining villages.

The story of coal cultures and resource aspirations is important, because it informs us about the creation of a tribal elite group that directly profits from the coal trade, has the capital to amass large tracts of prospective sites for oil exploration, and disregards environmental and community rights. The struggle over resource extraction in frontier regions like northeast India and elsewhere highlights the complexities and fissures within tribal communities, including the power nexus between various state and non-state actors. It also raises questions about collective justice and equity.

Among all the natural resources in the foothills, oil and coal are perceived by the Naga villages as the symbols of power that could radically transform their lives. These carbon aspirations and fantasies are starkly visible in areas explored for oil by the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) between 1973 and 1993. It was apparent from my fieldwork that the conversations among Naga villages about a carbon future  particularly in oil and coal  originated from the hydrocarbon activities in the foothills bordering Assam and Nagaland.

The desire of the villages to participate in this carbon future continues, fuelled by the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between armed Naga groups and the Indian government, and the preservation of constitutional safeguards for Naga land and resources. Taking advantage of these autonomous rights, Naga tribal elites continue to buy vast plots of land across coal mining sites and in villages with oil wells abandoned by ONGC after Naga cultural and political associations banned exploration in 1993.

Although it remains unclear how the Nagaland government and the villages will eventually resolve the contentious issue of who rightfully owns the land, the fantasies and desire for oil and coal indicate an important development: The scale of coal mining has rapidly swallowed cultivable lands, choked natural springs and killed aquatic life around the coal mining villages.

The passion, nightmares and fantasies about Nagalands coal mines raise questions about the everyday experiences and dreams of people living in violent places  and about the extraction of and access to resources, and profit.

What is evident is that coal mining and prospects for a carbon future in Nagaland are rapidly transforming social relations among neighbours, kin and the state.

 Asian Currents

Dolly Kikon is a political anthropologist at the University of Melbourne.
While I support Dr Wakar Uddins warm welcome for Kofi Annans commission and especially his recommendation to the commission that they should strategically review the history of the people of Rakhine State, it is an unfortunate fact that this history is a matter of deep controversy among scholars, whatever their nationality, ethnicity or religion. The prospects of harmonising these parallel universes are remote. The best hope is that all parties can agree to disagree.





There is, however, one fact which is indisputable, but rarely mentioned. It is that former President U Thein Sein told visiting UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres when they met on July 11, 2012, in Nay Pyi Taw that Bengali migrant labourers who settled in then-Burma during British rule did so legally and that for this reason their grandchildren born in the country are entitled to Myanmar citizenship, according to the three generations rule.

The difficulty which arose after independence in 1948 was that tens of thousands of Rakhine Muslims, who, though they were entitled to full citizenship  not as indigenous citizens automatically entitled by birth, but as longer-term legal residents required to apply  either failed to make due application for citizenship or, if they did, saw their applications pigeon-holed for more than 30 years. Under the 1982 Citizenship Law these missing or unprocessed applicants for full citizenship were regrettably offered instead only associate citizenship with as yet undefined, but restricted, rights. But even then under the three generations rule they were assured by General Ne Win himself that their grandchildren would be granted full citizenship, regardless of their ethnicity.

It is also important to note that, although the term Rohingya was very infrequently used by local and national authorities in the 1950s and 1960s, it is not to be found in any legislative act, including laws, decrees or delegated legislation relating to citizenship or the holding of a census. Thus while the list of 144 national races established by law for the 1973 census included such Muslim communities deemed indigenous as Arakan-Chittagonian, Burmese Muslim and other Indian races, that list did not include Rohingya. The same is true of the legal position under British rule when the designation Rohingya was totally unknown.

It should finally be recalled that, during his meeting with the UNHCR, the former president made it clear that he defined Rohingya as illegal migrants who came from Bengal to then-Arakan State after independence in 1948. The term Rohingya was held by the president to have come from Pakistan/Bangladesh. However, the designation is now preferred by many Rakhine Muslim residents legally settled in Myanmar. They had intended to have it inscribed at the 2014 census as their chosen ethnicity, even though it was not formally listed among the revised list of 135 national races first published in September 1990 in Loktha Pyihu Neizin, but that choice was taken away from them prior to the census.

In their deliberations, the commission will surely exercise great caution when seeking to establish the historical facts. They may well find that the existing parallel universes remain irreconcilably opposed. But this should not deter the commission from their important task.

Derek Tonkin is a retired British diplomat and author of a chapter, Exploring the issue of citizenship in Rakhine State, in a compendium to be published shortly by Chiang Mai University Press.
[September 27, 2016] South Sudan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses 2016 - Research and Markets

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "South Sudan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses 2016" report to their offering. At only around 23% penetration, one of the lowest in Africa, South Sudan's mobile market has many years of strong growth ahead of it. The virtually untapped internet and broadband market will kick off once the country gains access to international fibre optic cables and a national backbone network is put in place. Sophisticated infrastructure solutions are needed to reach the 80% of the population that live outside of the main urban centres. With a negligible rate of bank account ownership, mobile payment and banking solutions are set to dominate the country's financial services sector as well. The limits to growth are currently defined by widespread poverty and a low literacy rate, but the government recognises the positive feedback loop on development that access to information and communication technologies (ICT) can have and is providing a range of investment incentives. The international community has provided $4 billion in aid to strengthen governance and institutions in the young nation. Key developments:



- MTN (News - Alert) South Sudan adjusts to deteriorating market conditions - Zain South Sudan reports significant losses into 2016, reduces workforce

- South Sudan joins the One Network (News - Alert) Area scheme, removing international roaming charges for calls between Uganda - Construction of a $25 million fibre link between Kenya and South Sudan gets under way, with completion expected in early 2017 - Government revisits plan to build 1,600km fibre network to connect to submarine cables via Uganda and Tanzania - Kenyan telecom regulator helping South Sudan develop ICT regulation - Kenya and South Sudan begin work on new World Bank-funded terrestrial fibre cable - Government forms national committee to speed up designing and building the national backbone, considers setting up the National Communications Authority (NCA) to oversee the telecoms sector - Mobile banking solutions set to revolutionise the largely cash-based economy. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive summary 2. Key statistics 3. Country overview 4. Telecommunications market 5. Regulatory environment 6. Fixed network operators 7. Telecommunications infrastructure 8. Fixed-line broadband market 9. Mobile market Companies Mentioned Canar Telecom (Canartel Etisalat (News - Alert))

Equity Bank

Fujairah Media Group (FMG)

Gemtel Green Network (G Telecom LAP Green)

MTN

O3b Networks

RCS Communication

Sudani

Sudatel

Thuraya (News - Alert)

Vivacell (Network of the World NOW)

Yahsat

Zain

fastNet

iBurst For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zm6f4c/south_sudan View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006254/en/

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(Shenzhen)  China's largest property developer is demanding a 1.2 billion yuan ($180 million) deposit from two small shareholders to help defray possible losses from the delay of an acquisition that the pair is suing to block.

The two small investors  named only as Ms. Yuan and Mr. Zhang and both from Shanghai  hold between them only 21,100 shares of China Vanke, a small fraction of the 11 billion shares outstanding. Together their stake is worth about 530,000 yuan as of Tuesday's market close.

In July, Shenzhen Yantian People's Court accepted a lawsuit brought by the two, who urged the court to revoke a resolution by the Vanke board of directors to acquire a unit of Shenzhen Metro Group for 45.6 billion yuan via a new share issue.

The deal, devised in June, would make the state-owned subway operator Vanke's largest shareholder. It could also help Vanke thwart a possible hostile takeover by increasing the number of shares that would vote against the takeover.

In addition to Yuan and Zhang, Baoneng Group and China Resources, the largest shareholders of Vanke, also opposed the acquisition plan during their longstanding battle for the control of the giant property developer.

In submitting to the court a demand for a deposit from the two shareholders, Vanke accused them of abusing the right of action, and maliciously hampering a major corporate decision.

Vanke said the two investors wanted to alter an expensive transaction though they hold only a small number of shares. It demanded 600 million yuan from each of the defendants to safeguard the rights of other Vanke investors and cover its opportunity costs if the acquisition were delayed.

According to China's Company Law, when a resolution from a shareholders' general meeting or from the board of directors violates the law or administrative rules, shareholders have the right to bring a lawsuit demanding the illegal action be stopped. At the same time, the court can also ask for a deposit at the demand of the company.

The lawyer for the two shareholders asked the court to turn down the deposit demand, saying what the investors opposed was merely an initial plan for a potential acquisition, which was still pending final approval of the general meeting of the shareholders. The lawyer also said the deposit was an abuse by the company in that it raised the threshold for shareholders to participate in corporate business.

The court said a pretrial meeting was secluded on Oct. 9.

Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
shatta Wale

27.09.2016 LISTEN

Award winning Hiplife artist, Shatta Wale, has described the use of his Mahama Paper song as the official campaign song of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) as one of Gods many miracles.

According to him, he couldnt have had a better person endorsing his song than the President of Ghana which is a big boost to his musical career.

Party stalwarts were seen singing along and dancing to Shatta Wales song when it was played at the just ended NDC manifesto launch in Sunyani as well the campaign launch in Cape Coast.

The NDC appears to have made the song an official campaign song, but Shatta Wale has insisted that he hasnt sold the rights to the song to the NDC.

Speaking to Kasapa News, Shatta Wale stated that he as a musician will not go out of his way to endorse any political party or Presidential candidate as his fans cuts across the political divide in Ghana.

Ive not sold the song, as for me Shatta, Im doing my jobfor instance if the NPP calls on me to perform at their function I will do that, if the NDC also calls on me, Ill do same but I will not do that to endorse any political party, or ask my fans to vote for this party or that one because the votes lie with the people, they will decide.

He added: The use of my song as the official campaign song of the NDC is one of the miracles of God. If Ive played a song and the President who is ruling Ghana is using it for his campaign then I dont have a problem with that. In the same way the NPP can also get a song that they will use to do their campaign. This should tell everyone that my fans are not only on the street or the radio presenters but I have fans when it comes to the political industry. So if Mahama is using it for his campaignthe reward comes from God, so we leave everything to God.
German politicians have approved a law making it illegal to have sex with prostitutes without using a condom, among other regulations on the sex trade.

Brothel owners will be obligated to draw customers' attention to the law and advertising unprotected sex will be banned.

The new law aims to tighten regulation of prostitution in Germany, which has been legal since 2002 but marred by continuing human trafficking, abuse and stigmitisation.

It makes licensing mandatory for all brothels to ensure they comply with minimum legal standards, hygiene and health and safety regulations.

Anyone attempting to open commercial premises for prostitution will undergo checks attempting to crack down on the involvement of gangs, traffickers and criminals.

Prostitutes must also register with local authorities, gaining a certificate that must be renewed every two years, and attend an annual health 'advice' session.

For sex workers under the age of 21, certificates will only be valid for one year and they must check in with public health authorities every six months.

Any violations of the law  by pimps, buyers or prostitutes  can be punished with fines between 1,000 (860) and 50,000 (43,000), with authorities able to withdraw brothels' licences.

The Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, approved the measures on Friday following a previous vote in the Bundestag.

The law will now be sent to President Joachim Gauck for his signature, before coming into force on 1 July 2017.

Manuela Schwesig, the Minister For Women & Families, said sex workers had been defenceless against the power of brothel owners but hoped the new law will protect them from exploitation and violence.

Elke Ferner, the Secretary of State For Women & Families, previously praised the measures, saying, Finally, there will be better protection for women and men who are involved in prostitution.

But the plans have been criticised by some campaign groups who argue that increased bureaucracy will worsen a widespread lack of trust between prostitutes and authorities, making them less likely to co-operate with police or report abuse.

In a joint statement, Germany's BesD sex workers' union and Amnesty International said the law does not protect prostitutes.

The registration requirement is discriminatory, is violates data protection laws and brings the risk of workers being forcibly 'outed', Fabienne Freymadl, chair of BesD, said.

This will force many women and men into illegal sex work, where they are at heightened risk of human rights violations, he added.

Legislation in 2002 forced sex workers to pay tax and allowed them to work as regular contracted employees, but led to the rapid growth of unregulated brothels, prompting calls for tighter controls.

Some states have subsequently brought in their own regulations, including mandatory condom use already in place in Bavaria and Saarland.


The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Ghana signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mama Zimbi Foundation to prevent HIV infections among widows.

The agreement which is an advocacy partnership under the Ghana Protect the Goal Campaign will support the prevention of new HIV infections among widows and young women.

The advocacy will also support widows and young women to be empowered with knowledge on preventing HIV and other infectious diseases.

The Mama Zimbi Foundation, founded by ace broadcaster and cultural icon, Akumaa Mama Zimbi, known privately as Joyce AkumaaDongotey-Padi, has helped and empowered thousands of Ghanaian widows, many of who have been neglected by their families after the death of their husbands.

Akumaa Mama Zimbi, speaking to Joy News about the agreement, said, They saw that I will be able to preach the word, adding that she will vigorously campaign more for everybody to first of all need to know your status and if you still need to do, you protect yourself by using a condom.

The host of OdoAhomaso on Adom FM and Adom TV said one of the key jobs for her will be to encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to go the hospital and also take their medications regularly.

If you are a man and a woman and you all have HIV/AIDS you can marry and give birth without the baby getting it, Mama Zimbi added.

-myjoyonline
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Ghana Based Gambian Actress/Producer/Model, Princess Shyngle is back at it again as she releases new teasing promo photos. The Why should I get married actress looks super hot in kente bikini alongside shots in African wear and even more gorgeous in a couple of head shots.

The curvaceous actress is set to premiere her latest movie which was shot in Nigeria about a month Ago THE 30 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN in Ghana very soon. The movie stars herself, popular Nollywood actors IK Ogbonna, Bucci Franklin, Jennifer John and many more. She recently premiered her movie The mysterious wedding planner in Liberia and Gambia respectively.

The Ghana Movie Awards nominee started a new talk show on YouTube HOT TALK WITH PRINCESS SHYNGLE where she shares with her fans relationship advice and lots more.

Checkout the photos from her latest s promo shoot below for your viewing pleasure
Cairo (AFP) - Egypt raised the wreck of a migrant boat Tuesday and recovered at least 33 bodies, taking to 202 the death toll from last week's sinking off the country's Mediterranean coast.

Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been crowded aboard the fishing trawler when it keeled over off the port city of Rosetta on September 14, including an estimated 100 in its hold.

The Egyptian military said 163 people had been rescued, meaning the boat would have had at least 365 people on board when it went down en route to Italy, according to official figures.

On Tuesday divers and a salvage vessel belonging to a petroleum company pulled the trawler to the surface some 12 kilometres (eight miles) offshore.

"The boat is being dragged to shore" after bodies trapped in the hold were recovered, Wahdan al-Sayed, spokesman for Beheira province in northern Egypt, told AFP.

Sixteen of the 33 bodies retrieved on Tuesday had been handed over to their relatives, while the rest were still being identified, said the health ministry.

On Monday, police detained the owner of the vessel.

A judicial source said he could face charges of human trafficking and involuntary manslaughter.

The United Nations' refugee agency said Friday that most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included migrants from Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Ethiopians.

"Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of interceptions of refugees and migrants trying to leave Egypt in an irregular manner," said the UNHCR.

"Many refugees and migrants may be using Egypt as a transit country," it said, adding 2016 was expected to be the deadliest year on record for Mediterranean crossings by migrants.

3,501 dead or missing

The International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday that 3,501 migrants and refugees have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean so far this year.

The figure is almost six times that for the same period in 2015.

"At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea," the UN refugee agency said late last week.

Egyptians stand on the shore as they wait for the recovery of bodies, during a search operation after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta

"Increasing mixed migration flows through Egypt are of major concern to UNHCR. The loss of life faced by refugees and migrants on Mediterranean smuggling routes has increased," said the UNHCR.

It added that "a significant number of unaccompanied minors have been recorded" on the Egypt-Italy route.

Overall, 302,149 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea this year as of 25 September, with most of them arriving in Greece and Italy, said the IOM.

More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations.

Egyptian authorities have so far this year foiled 110 attempts to smuggle migrants to Europe, said Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.

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.
Nouakchott (AFP) - The Malian jihadist group Ansar Dine has denied agreeing to a ceasefire with the government, a Mauritanian news agency and extremist monitoring group said Tuesday.

It follows the announcement Monday by influential Malian imam Mahmoud Dicko that a letter from the militant outfit received at the end of September had proclaimed a unilateral ceasefire, a claim immediately questioned by Malian security analysts.

Ansar Dine's statement expressed "utmost surprise and astonishment with these declarations attributed to Sheikh Mahmoud Dicko", according to a document translated by the US-based SITE watchdog and Mauritanian news agency Al-Akhbar.

The group would also "affirm that we are continuing -- Allah willing -- with all resolve in the option of jihad", the statement said.

A Malian source told AFP Monday that the letter dated from September 27, since when Ansar Dine have claimed or been accused of carrying out several attacks.

Ansar Dine was blacklisted in 2013 by the United States for its affiliation with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and was one of several jihadist groups that overran key Malian cities in 2012.

It is responsible for frequent attacks on Malian and international security forces stationed in the country.
Geneva (AFP) - Libya is facing "political impasse" and "hazardous military developments", the UN envoy to the North African country Martin Kobler warned on Tuesday, highlighting the impact of violence on civilians.

The country has been ravaged by unrest since the fall and death in 2011 of dictator Moamer Kadhafi and has also seen the jihadist Islamic State group establish a foothold.

A Government of National Accord supported by the United Nations and Western powers was established in the capital Tripoli in March, but has been unable to assert its authority in the face of a rival administration in the east of the country.

"Unfortunately, we are now facing a political impasse," Kobler told a meeting of the UN's Human Rights Council in Switzerland.

"At the same time, Libya is witnessing the unfolding of dangerous military developments," he said, citing the takeover of key oil facilities by the forces of controversial Marshal Khalifa Haftar who does not recognise the GNA.

He also cited the fighting between forces loyal to the GNA against IS in Sirte, "with nearly 699 killed and thousands injured".

"The risk of increased tensions in the capital should not be underestimated," the UN envoy added.

"The multiple armed conflicts raging in Libya continue to directly impact the lives of civilians," Kobler said, adding that between March 1 and August 31 the UN had "documented 287 civilian casualties, including 141 deaths and 146 injuries".

Among the victims were 30 children killed and 28 wounded.

He said that in Libya's second city Benghazi in the east, "more than 100 families are currently trapped in areas of fighting, facing constant bombing and shortages of food, medical care and electricity".

The economy has also been badly hit.

"The government is spending 93 percent of its total budget on subsidies and salaries, including those of members of armed groups that are not under the control of the government," Kobler said.

Martin Kobler said the UN was seeking an end to the arbitrary detention in Libya of migrants and the closure of a number of detention centres "where women are particularly exposed to abuses including sexual violence"

"Armed groups around the country continue to carry out grave human rights abuses with total impunity," he said, adding that this "must be addressed as a matter of urgency".

The UN envoy also highlighted "the horrific plight of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers" trying to reach Europe from Libya.

Many board rickety, makeshift vessels operated by people traffickers to head for Italy, but many also drown during the perilous journey.

Kobler said the UN was seeking an end to the arbitrary detention in Libya of migrants and the closure of a number of detention centres "where women are particularly exposed to abuses including sexual violence".
Bamako (AFP) - Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, sentenced to nine years in jail by the International Criminal Court for destroying heritage sites in Timbuktu, was known as a ruthless enforcer for jihadist group Ansar Dine when it took over the fabled Malian city.

Born around 40 years ago in Agoune, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Timbuktu, the curly-haired former teacher was steeped in Islamic learning from a young age.

He fast became a fervent proponent of the strictest interpretations of Islamic law, which had little popular support in Mali, but his chance came when jihadists descended on Timbuktu in April 2012.

Mahdi was soon recruited by the Islamist group Ansar Dine as "the most competent and prominent person in Timbuktu when it came to being knowledgeable in religious matters", in the words of ICC prosecutors.

Alleged Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi is the first jihadist to stand trial at the tribunal in The Hague

Among a group of outsiders, Mahdi stood out for his local knowledge while also being a fluent Arabic speaker, and his scholarly background lent a veneer of credence to the Islamists' call to destroy several UNESCO-listed sites they considered idolatrous.

Mahdi had made clear "his wish to plead guilty" to orchestrating the destruction of nine mausoleums and the door of the revered Sidi Yahia mosque, which date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

In court, he begged the Timbuktu community for forgiveness.

The ICC verdict is the first to focus solely on cultural destruction as a war crime and the first arising out of the conflict that broke out in Mali in 2012.

Phenomenal memory

His former teachers recall a quiet, even introverted boy who impressed with the much-prized feat of memorising the entire Koran, Islam's holy book.

"Among the 82 students in the madrassa (Islamic school), Ahmad had the most phenomenal memory, by a long way," said El Hadj Mohamed Coulibaly, his teacher in the 1980s.

"He had the whole Koran in his head. We couldn't catch him out," Coulibaly said.

Alleged Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist leader Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi is the first jihadist to stand trial at the tribunal in The Hague

A brilliant pupil, he spent time in Libya and Saudi Arabia, then went on to a Koranic college and worked as an Islamic teacher elsewhere in Mali before returning to the Timbuktu area shortly before jihadists entered the city.

Waves of unrest had led to a military coup in March that year and an all-out rebellion in the country's north, led by Tuareg groups who were soon sidelined by Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists, including the Ansar Dine group.

When the jihadists swaggered into town, Mahdi was working at an association for Muslim youths, providing them with religious advice, and was well known for his rigid principles and advocacy of sharia law.

He already had jihadist connections, rubbing shoulders with the man who would become spokesman for Ansar Dine in Timbuktu, Sanda Ould Bouamama, and through his marriage to the niece of Houka Houka Ag Alfousseyni, an Islamic judge.

Life in Timbuktu altered quickly to fit the vision Mahdi had always wanted: adulterers were stoned, thieves had their arms amputated, and smokers and drinkers were whipped.

In a city known also for its long musical tradition, singing and concerts were banned.

A man stands in front of the Djingareyber mosque in Timbuktu, central Mali

Mahdi became the head of the "Hisbah", or morality police, which upheld the jihadists' narrow interpretation of the Koran's teachings.

As the head of this brigade, "he used the carrot and the stick", said a senior religious figure in Timbuktu, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, personally whipping women he judged "impure", but holding sympathetic meetings with smokers reconsidering their habit.

Mahdi was "a bit town sheriff" in his style, also presenting himself as the boss of all the city's imams, a local official told AFP.

Shocked humanity's consciousness

By late June in 2012, Mahdi had grown frustrated by the townspeople's unwillingness to desist from their long-held practice of worshipping Timbuktu's shrines of Muslim saints.

Using pickaxes, chisels and pick-up trucks, his men destroyed the shrines and the mosque door, wiping out centuries of tradition that attracted pilgrims from across Africa and the Middle East.

"The prophet (Mohamed) said break apart these mausoleums because all people are equal and so in a cemetery no tomb must rise higher than another," he told an AFP journalist, shortly before the destruction began.

Mahdi's role was to "justify all decisions made in the name of sharia, the name of the Koran," he added.

But Ansar Dine's actions, led by Mahdi, shocked "humanity's collective consciousness", said prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at the Hague in March, leading to an unusual type of war crime charge.

Observers say they hope his sentence will act as a deterrent to those bent on razing the world's cultural heritage, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon recently condemned for "tearing at the fabric of societies".

His lawyer Jean-Louis Gilissen had defended him as "an intelligent, reasonable and educated man" who had sought to do good in response to a "divine message".

But though the tombs have been rebuilt, the city once known as the "Pearl of the Desert" has yet to regain its shine, riven with insecurity and violence under the watch of Islamist and criminal gangs.
By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA

Cape Coast, Sept. 26, GNA - Political parties contesting the December 7 general election have underscored the need to improve the standard of education in the country.

They are therefore determined to formulate and implement policies that would help raise the standard of education in the country if voted into power.

The parties, comprising the Convention People's Party (CPP), Progressive People's Party (PPP), the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) were sharing their plans for the educational sector as found in their manifesto at a 'Manifesto Dialogue', organised by e.TV Ghana in Cape Coast.

The dialogue is an interactive issue-based campaign platform meant to educate the electorate on critical sectors of the nation as found in their manifestos.

It was the second of the dialogue series by e .TV Ghana and supported by the National Endowment for Democracy Fund.

It saw a massive patronage from students, the public and sympathisers of the various participating political parties.

So far, only the NDC and PPP have launched their manifestoes.

The CPP, represented by Mr Richard Adongo, said a CPP led government intends to discourage the proliferation of private tertiary institutions and only allow it to be set up if proven to solve a particular need of the economy.

He said the party would create a graduate pool in certain strategic fields similar to the Cuban Medical Brigade and would export such graduates to other countries who need their services.

He noted that agriculture continue to be a backbone of the economy and therefore, a CPP government would improve infrastructure at the existing colleges of agriculture and establish new ones to modernise food production to accelerate economic growth.

The NDC representative, Mr Simon Peter Gyekye, touted the NDC's achievements in the educational sector citing the 200 community schools being built and the provision of ICT facilities to senior high schools

For his part, the NPP representative, Mr George Ayisi, said the NPP would provide quality education by partnering religious bodies to manage mission schools.

He expressed the need that the NPP would make vocational and technical education a priority and redefine basic education to include senior high school (SHS) and establish 350 community SHS.

He said the NPP would restore the teacher trainee allowance in its first three months of office adding: 'Ghanaian teachers deserve better.'

The Cape Coast PPP Parliamentary Candidate, Mrs Sarah Bucknor, said the Party would standardise education from kindergarten to the SHS.

This would be achieved by providing logistics and other required infrastructure for teachers and students to ensure quality education in its first year of office.

Contrary to the views of the CPP, the PPP would assist private tertiary institutions with the necessary logistics to improve tertiary education and also upgrade the level of teachers in the country.

She said the party would enforce the Free Compulsory Basic Universal Education and create what it called: 'Education Police' to punish parents who refused to send their children to school.

The next Manifesto Dialogue would be held at the University of Ghana, Legon on Thursday October 6.

GNA
27.09.2016 LISTEN

At the launch of Majority Leader Alban Bagbins campaign in Nadowli in the Upper West Region on Saturday, 24 September, Mr Debrah (Chief of Staff) appealed to northerners not to disappoint their own brother in the December 7 polls.

Now its the turn of President John Dramani Mahama, who is from the north and we are being told that we should let him stay only four years so that we can bring somebody. I dont think this is fair, Mr Debrah told the crowd of supporters, adding: And, so, Im using this occasion to urge you all to vote massively for your own brother.

According to him, the last time a Northerner became President was some 35 years ago. As such, if they fail to vote for Mahama, it may probably take some 35 more years before Ghana gets another President of Northern descent.

Northerners would therefore be doing themselves a disservice if they vote for someone other than their Northern brother.

Thus according to Mr Debrah's logic, people of other tribes are not brothers to Mahama. They are therefore not obliged to vote for him.

Will the results of Mr Debrah's argument inure to the benefit of Mahama?

When you go to the hospital for medical attention, do you expect someone from your tribe to attend to you or you prefer the most competent practitioner to assist you? Do you want to be taught by only people from your tribe or you want the best teachers to teach you regardless of their tribe?

Discerning Ghanaians will decide on Dec 7 based on factors other than tribe. The campaign team of President Mahama must therefore change their message.
The Ministry for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has launched a project to support the fishing industry in the country.

The Coastal Sanitation is also aimed at enhancing sanitation at fishing communities in the country.

Launching the project on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Lower Axim in Axim in the Western Region, the Minster for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sherry Ayittey, said the construction of toilet facilities in the fishing communities forms part of infrastructure projects earmarked.

Sherry Ayittey

Each facility will include the construction of 12-seater toilets with a 12-unit washroom, a pavilion to host social services such as health, education, biogas plant, borehole, and water reservoir for its efficient running, she said.

The first phase of the project will be implemented in 13 selected fishing communities across the country including Anto Apewosika in Axim in the Western Region.

Also, Anuakpor, James Tow and Kpone in the Greater Accra Region; Dago, Moree and Otuam in the Central Region; Abuesi and Bonyee in the Western Region; Akplortortor, Amutinu and Hedranuwo and Marine Matikpo in the Eastern Region have also been selected for implementation Coastal Sanitation Project.

Sherry Ayittey urged the communities to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the project.

It is my expectation that they will make maximum use of the facilities and ensure its maintenance, she adds.

Govt committed to fishing industry

The minister said the Coastal Sanitation Project is evidence of governments commitment to see the fishing industry develop.

Madam Sherry Ayittey said the John Mahama-led administration will continue to distribute fishing input such as outboard motors to support fishermen.

She revealed that government has introduced a programme that enables fishermen to pay 60% of the cost of an outboard motor whiles the District Assemblies pay the remaining 40% through their Common Fund.

She said since the inception of the programme, over 1,600 outboard motors have been distributed to fishermen.

The Minster underscored the importance of the fishing industry, which she identifies as possessing a huge potential to earn foreign exchange for the country.

Ghanas export of fish and fisheries to the European Union (EU), she said, was over 500 million yearly.

It was against this backdrop that she stressed the need to ensure hygienic sanitary conditions at the landing beaches and fishing communities.

That, she intimated, will enable the fishing industry to take advantage of opportunities out there in terms of export of fish and earn income for themselves and the country as a whole.

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Lower Axim East, James Baidoe, was full of praise for President John Dramani Mahama for the launch of the Coastal Sanitation Project.

He was hopeful that the project will stem open defecation, especially defecation along the beaches.

The Costal Sanitation Project will equally keep our beaches clean and help attract tourists which will earn Ghana foreign exchange, he said.

Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Kweku T. Kessie, said it was unfortunate that beaches in the country have become defecating grounds by some recalcitrant residents along the coastal areas.

He warned that after the completion of the project the law will deal ruthlessly with anybody who goes to desecrate our beaches.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN
Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), the implementers of the supposed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) service, have given the project a new name because the buses for now do not have dedicated lanes as expected.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Chief Executive Officer of (GAPTE), Sampson Gyamenah, admitted there were currently no dedicated lanes, a critical element of any BRT system and instead called what was being implemented a Quality Bus System.

We do not have a full blown dedicated lane for the buses so I will also hesitate to call what we are putting in place a BRT. It is called a Quality Bus System, he said.

Using the Amasaman Corridor as an example, Mr. Gyamenah explained that, what we are putting in place on the Amasaman corridor is not a full blown BRT. We are putting in place what we call a Quality Bus Service, taking some of the attributes of the BRT and enhancing operation of these services.

and we don't have this on the Amasaman Corridor. On the Amasaman Corridor, which is about a 22 km stretch, what we have is that the dedicated facilities are between Achimota and Tudu, he added.

Mr. Gyamenah however highlighted some of the elements of the BRT that were being incorporated into the GAPTE Quality Bus System.

As an example, he said the automated fair collection system that we are putting in our system is one of the attributes of a BRT.

Again, passenger information; the passenger is aware of his journey, experience, etc. There is information in the buses to let the passengers know exactly were he or she is on the route, Mr. Gyamenah added as another BRT attribute.

BRT to start business in October

On Monday morning, nine BRT buses were deployed to ply to the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle  Tudu route to serve hundreds of commuters for free till Friday, as part of test operations of the service.

Mr. Gyamenah explained that, this was a simulation exercise to train operational staff that will be engaged in the system.

What we did today, was a simulation, more like a training arrangement for our own operational staff and drivers. We haven't started piloting the services yet.

He however assured that, GAPTE is looking at the first couple of weeks in October to roll out commercially.

BRT buses on test yet to be insured

Meanwhile, the buses being used for test operations of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services are yet to be registered and insured .

This is according to Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive, operators of the service.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, Mr. Bruce said the buses will be insured and registered at the end of the week.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Foundation for Security Development in Africa, FOSDA, a Non-Governmental Organization, (NGO), says indicators that led to violence in some African countries are rife in Ghana.

According to FOSDA, internationally, Ghanas Democracy, which can be described as a matured democracy by all standards, still has indicators that led to violence in some countries.

This according to FOSDA is due to the use of intemperate language by politicians.

This came to light when the Executive Director for the foundation, Madam Afi Yakubu, was addressing some youth at a youth programme to educate them on the need for a peaceful elections.

The programme, which was organized by FOSDA, is aimed at training some 25 youth within Ashaiman and its surrounding areas as peace ambassadors to propagate peace before, during and after the December polls.

According to the Executive Director, politicians must desist from the use of languages that would create tensions since their utterances could degenerate into hate among their followers.

Per the international standard, if a country is able to organize three successful elections under multi-party democracy, then it can be described as a matured democracy and that by all standards; Ghana qualifies to be a matured democracy because we are going for our 7th elections. Sadly, some of the indicators that lead to violent elections that other countries have experienced; are here with us and that is why FOSDA is advocating that politicians must be mindful of their utterances in order not to create tension before, during and after the polls.

The two-day workshop is dubbed, GHANA 2016; youth in peaceful elections campaign.

The youth are to be taken through training such as conflict management, role of youth in peaceful elections and democracy and good governance.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Ashaiman, Ibrahim Baidoo noted that though Ashaiman is tagged by the police as a flash point, it has conducted itself well over the years.

He said Ashaiman in the last elections did not record any major incident of electoral violence.

This he said was due to strict measures put in place by the Municipal Security Council.

Though Ashaiman is tagged as a flash point, the Assembly together with the security has put in place some measures to ensure no incident of violence is recorded in the December polls as far as Ashaiman is concerned

Mr. Baidoo advised the youth to ensure at all times they uphold the peace they enjoy, and must not allow any politician to use them to perpetuate any act of violence before, during and after the elections.

The youth on their part promised to be promoters of peace in their various communities to ensure a violent free election.



By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Some residents in Accra on Monday, September 26, began enjoying free rides aboard the newly introduced buses as part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service. The service, which is currently on pilot plies the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle  Accra route, but will be extended to ply other major roads in Accra within the next 12 months.

Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive; implementer of the BRT service, told Citi News the project will bring relief to Ghanaian commuters.

Over 250 buses have been procured to provide the rapid transport service. The initial plan was to have special BRT lanes for the buses alone, but it appears that cant happen any longer due to cost and other factors.

The infographic below captures in brief, key features of the buses.



By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
A New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant for the Kwesimintim constituency in the Western Region, Joseph Mensah, has accused the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, Joe Baidoo Ansah of deliberately delaying the party's primary.

According to Joseph Mensah, Mr. Baidoo Ansah attempted to use the courts to disqualify him, until an Accra High Court last week cleared him to contest the primary which comes off on Tuesday.

Speaking to Citi News, Joseph Mensah said he is even more confident of victory in the primary, despite the various challenges he has encountered so far.

The day I presented my nomination forms to the vetting committee, it was later forwarded to the appeals committee, to the court in Sekondi. They went to appeal at Cape coast, they lost in Sekondi; then they sent the case to Accra. They consolidated the Accra case and lost. I think all those things were attempts to frustrate me but I am firm. I will not be swayed away by this kind of attitude. I am not that type of person who will run away from such machinations.

He sent the case to the Accra High Court and he thought he was going to win; but all his requests were dismissed and I had the verdict. I will beat the incumbent MP. He will lose, he said.

Kwesimintim is the only constituency yet to hold its primary, barely three months to the elections.

An Accra High Court, on Friday cleared Mr. Joseph Mensah, to contest in a fresh primary to be organised by the party .

The judgement was given after the Court upheld claims by Joseph Mensah, that he was unjustifiably disqualified from contesting in the primary that was to be held involving the incumbent MP, Joe Baidoe-Ansah.

The ruling of the Court was that, the party should allow Mr. Mensah to participate in the yet to be held primary and 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 the 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 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.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The framers of Ghanas 1992 Constitution envisioned the respect for human rights hence the enjoyment of Political rights. These political rights enable citizens to actively participate in the political process and activities of the State. Concomitantly, there are limitation on the extent an individual can engage in political activities depending on the position, status and role the individual play in the community or nation.

In Ghana certain professions or staff of certain State institutions cannot fully participate in political activities because of the role they play in national development. Such Institutions include the Electoral Commission, the Security agencies, Civil Servants, traditional leaders etc.

This article discuss why traditional leaders or chiefs should not engage in active partisan politics. It also focus on the dangers that are bound to occur when a traditional leader engage in partisan politics.

"Chief" means a person, who, hailing from the appropriate family and lineage, has been validly nominated, elected or selected and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief or queen mother in accordance with the relevant customary law and usage. (Article 277, 1992 Ghana Constitution.)

In addition the constitution also prohibits chiefs from participating actively in party politics (Article 276, 1992 Ghana Constitution)

In recent times many traditional leaders/chiefs have pledge their support and openly declare their affiliation to political parties this is against the constitution of the Republic. (See www.starfmoline.com 2016 election; Yilo krobo chiefs pledge 85%for Mahama. See www.citifmonline.com ;Two Eastern region chiefs pledge their support for Nana Addo).These and many others dominate our political discourse. Most people condemn such attitude by our highly respected chiefs.

Although the laws of Ghana allow its citizens to participate in politics but traditional leaders/rulers who is a symbol of unity in his jurisdiction should not engage in active partisan politics. If such a leader participate in partisan politics it undermine that unique position and bring division in the community because people may oppose his party.

Another reason why it is peril for traditional leaders to engage in partisan politics is the judicial power vested in them to adjudicate minor disputes in their territory.

Engaging in partisan politics will undermine the confidence and independence of them in the dispensation of their judicial functions. This is very common in the rural areas of Ghana.

Traditional leaders play a vital role in the development of their community. They lobby for developmental projects such as school hospitals roads etc. They also serve as a link between governments, non-governmental organizations and their people. When traditional leaders openly declare their support to a party and that party does not win election it will hinder the rate of development in the locality

Traditional leaders who meddle in partisan politics are often faced with challenges in the administration of people who belong to different political parties.

In conclusion traditional rulers should exercise their political right but should have in mind that they have a responsibility to protect the dignity of chieftaincy institution by remaining neutral in political activities. Chiefs are actively involved in the task of improving the effectiveness and the quality of development in the country especially those in the rural area.

Governments have a fixed tenure of office but traditional leaders do not, hence they should not be lured by appetizing offers and gifts by politicians to openly declare their support for them. Traditional rulers should remain neutral in politics and must be prepared to work with any government to ensure national development and safeguard the unity peace and security in their communities

Nana Akwasi Sarpong

[email protected]
Whose responsibility really is it to keep the rules and laws of a nation intact? Is it the parliaments responsibility, is it that of the judiciary or is it solely the responsibility of the police service and army? What then is the role of the common citizen like you and I, who the rules and laws were made for, in upholding legislations of the country?

The parliamentarians make the laws. That is their part. The judiciary is also present to make sure proper and appropriate punishments are meted out to deviants who go against what society has come to accept as wrong and inappropriate behavior. The Police service also acts as the enforcer. So what role then does the citizen who is the major beneficiary of the sweat of all the fore mentioned arms play in the process of rule of law in the country?

The very little we can do is to obey the laws as they protect us. A simple task  we obey, the rules protect us. Is this too difficult for us to sacrifice for ourselves?

I witnessed first-hand a situation that made me believe Ghanaians are the demons of Ghana. I was jolted out of my slumber in a public bus by a middle aged man who wanted to alight from the public transport. Apparently, the vehicle had not gotten to an appropriate point to allow passengers off it so the conductor (mate) declined the mans request. The man protested, basing his argument on the fact that the bus was stuck in traffic and he could easily get out. For once in God knows how many years; the conductor stood his grounds, refusing to disobey the law. Luckily for the poor conductor who was receiving tons of insult on that sunny mid-morning, a police officer came around. The presence of the uniformed law officer should have quieted the passenger in normal circumstances but it did not. In fact, the passengers request to get off the bus heightened, as he argued that the police officer was a new recruit.

He spoke in the local Akan language to wit look at him, he is a new recruit. It is written all over him. What can he do? Let me get off. After all he will take just One cedi

That is the level of disrespect we show our law. We spit directly into the face of laws that are made to protect and keep us safe.

Having acknowledged that, I would like to pose a question. Is it the fault of we the common citizen that we utterly disregard our police officers and undermine our own laws. Besides, is it not our own old people who taught us that the puppy only laps at the lips of its owner if he plays with it? Our Police service has grown in diminishing importance from being fearful law keepers who the naughty school child runs from to being school children in black long-sleeved uniforms who see their honorable uniforms as mascot attires to scare drivers and take bribes. It is such a shame to the nation.

The sole reason, I believe, for the passenger's behavior was because he has lost faith in the police service and for that matter he deems the law us impotent as he deems the law enforcer. Think about how the police can lose such amount of faith that was placed in them some years back, and the result strikes at one unpleasant word; Bribery.

The bus I was seated in was quiet during the discourse between the conductor (mate) and the wayward passenger. No one bothered to speak and whether it was fear or uncertainty in choosing which faction to debate for that kept us all mute, only God knows.

So now I ask; is lawlessness a result of government inactions to check bribery in our law enforcement agencies or is it because we, Ghanaians now find delight in simply disregarding our laws?

How did our police service move from serving us with integrity to serving us with bribes taking?

Do the shortcomings of our Police service give us the nerve to disrespect our laws?

Law enforcement in my opinion is a collective responsibility and to be more exact, the citizen, who the laws protect, is more central and core to this than any other key player in the subject.
The much touted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, also known as 'Ayalolo Express,' on Monday started in some selected areas of Accra with buses that have not been insured and registered.

One of the green buses, which plied one of four designated routes - Amasaman to Achimota to Circle and then to Tudu - was mostly seen without passengers.

Some of the commuters, who spoke to Business Guide, said they refused to board the buses because they were unlicensed, adding that the piloting was a bit premature.

A DV number plate was only seen on the dashboards of the buses.

The project is currently being undertaken on a pilot basis and will later be extended to other parts of the country.

However, in an interview with journalists in Accra, Samson Gyamera, the vehicles since they pose risk to the passengers, according to the police.

Backdrop

The BRT is under the Urban Transport Project (UTP) of the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

It is jointly funded by the World Bank, the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), Government of Ghana and the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund at a cost of $95 million.

It is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Department of Urban Roads.

The process towards the implementation of the BRT started in 2007 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.

Between 2008 and 2009, it faced many difficulties, key among them being the stiff resistance from private transport operators.

In the early part of the NDC administration under late President John Evans Atta Mills, a team of government officials and some selected journalists were sent to Columbia to learn about the operations of the BRT in that country.

Accra-Mallam-Kasoa Corridor

Earlier, the Department of Urban Roads had planned to implement an advanced type of BRT on the Accra-

Mallam-Kasoa road. That project has since been shelved because of inadequate funding.

The World Bank, a major partner in the project, was forced to pull out of the transaction because of the failure of the government to meet the 2015 deadline since the project was expected to start after eight years.

The government is not well resourced for the full implementation of the BRT project, which is well rooted in countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

Political Gimmickry

A lot of people suspect that government is implementing the BRT without adequate preparation just to score political points a few months to elections just as in the case of the Komenda Sugar Factory which started prematurely.

They have therefore called on the country's authorities to ensure the appropriate registration and licensing of the buses in order to protect the public.

Drivers Threaten Demo

Some commercial drivers in the Accra metropolis have threatened to embark on strike to protest against the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) service.

According to them, the BRT could eventually drive them out of business.
Geneva (AFP) - The World Trade Organization on Tuesday revised down its 2016 global trade forecast by more than a percentage point, warning trade would grow at its slowest pace since the global financial crisis.

WTO now estimates that global trade will expand by just 1.7 percent in 2016, compared to its April projection of 2.8 percent, and compared to a projection a year ago that trade would swell by 3.9 percent this year.
27.09.2016 LISTEN

The UN just announced that due to drought and famine over 300,000 Somali children are suffering from severe malnutrition. This means that over 100 children are already dying everyday from starvation. Soon the number will reach many hundreds a day, bringing back memories of the most recent Great Horn of Africa drought in 2011-12 when the UN admitted that 250,000, almost entirely children, died from starvation. And this drought and famine is worse.

The reason so many Somali children are starving to death is triggered by the latest climate disaster in the form of the El Nino drought. But the fact that Somalia itself, this meaning from the former capital Mogadishu south to the Kenyan border, is in a state of foreign occupation and war is exacerbating the situation.

The ongoing war in Somalia was started by the UN back in 2006 when the UN and AU, and ultimately the USA, sanctioned Ethiopian army invaded Somalia and overthrew the existing government headed by the Union of Islamic Courts.

Until the Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia in 2006 the country was peaceful and starting to rebuild a war torn nation thanks to the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), a coalition of Somali Clan Elders and senior Islamic religious leaders or Sheiks.

The UICs popular militias had driven the warlords and gangsters out of Mogadishu and through negotiated settlements had spread its influence increasingly to the south bringing peace to most of Somalia.

The Port of Mogadishu had been reopened and talks for reopening Mogadishu Airport had begun. In other words, for the first time since 1991 Somalia was in a state of peace.

This was all shattered when the UN and its African Union gendarmes, the Ethiopians, invaded Somalia, occupied Mogadishu and placed a bounty on the heads of the UIC, who mostly being older, had to flee the country into exile.

What was left to lead the wave of Somali nationalism opposing the invasion and occupation by their historical enemies, the Ethiopians, was Al Shabab, the youth wing of the UIC who picked up the gun to fight an armed struggle for national liberation.

Eventually, the fanatic wahabist wing of the youth movement for national liberation defeated the quite moderate UIC elders lead fighters and voila, todays terrorist organization known as Al Shabab was born.

The UN, the AU and behind it all, the USA, was never going to allow any Islamist government to take over in such a strategically critical country like Somalia at the mouth of the Red Sea and potentially able to control the Baab Al Mandeb entrance to the Indian Ocean.

Just as in Libya, the western instigated funded and directed overthrow of an independent, nationalist government created the conditions for fanaticism to thrive, as in Al Shabab in Somalia.

The Somali people didn't create Al Shabab, the UN did by starting a war that is still raging today, ten years later. And worse yet by creating a monster in the form of an army lead by religious fanatics under a banner of Somali nationalism you guarantee that there will be unending violence and even more famine and genocide.

Famine and genocide, it seems something that the UN specializes in when it comes to Somalia, for the UN is responsible for feeding the internally displaced persons its war against the Somali people has been creating for a decade now, and simply fails to do so.

In 2011 the UN via UNICEF only budgeted 10 cents a day, $35 million, to feed a million Somali refugees and a quarter million starved to death. Today there are far more children starving for this time the drought is worse. Yet the UN is standing by and once again allowing hundreds of thousands of Somali children to starve.

The UN has spent untold $Billion$ funding the AU implemented occupation and war in Somalia in the name of fighting terrorism in the form of Al Shabab, with over 30,000 AU peacekeepers occupying Somalia.

Sounds familiar doesn't it, $Billion$ for war and never mind the hundreds of thousands of starving children the UN is responsible for? And so it happens that we find ourselves once again predicting the next UN sponsored genocide in Somalia.

This article was originally published on Telesur.

Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006. His speeches, interviews and articles can be seen on Facebook at thomascmountain and he can best be reached at thomascmountain at g mail dot com
27.09.2016 LISTEN

The National Democratic Party (NDP) says it is ready to contest 22 parliamentary seats in the Ashanti Region in this years election.

It has already picked parliamentary forms for these areas and the Regional Chairman, Mr. James Owusu Ansah, has predicted strong showing in the polls.

He told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that their numbers keep swelling by the day and that they remain confident of success at the polls.

He said the party has put together its election campaign team and is firmly on the ground assisting voters to understand why they should trust the party with their votes.

The NDP is campaigning on job creation, education, building and revamping factories.

He said Ghana under the partys watch would ensure transparency and bring efficiency into the management of the nations resources to create wealth and employment opportunities for the people.

Mr. Owusu Ansah gave the assurance that factories would be built along the coastal areas to mine salt and add value to the commodity for export.

He said the NDP government would revamp over 60 processing plants, set up by the 31st December Movement, an NGO, led by its standard-bearer, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.

He mentioned among these gari and palm nut processing factories in Asuofua, Saaman and Barekese.

Mr. Owusu Ansah rallied voters, especially women, to vote for the NDP, who he said, had better understanding of what their real needs were and how to resolve these.
SANNI MOHAMMED, 24, former winner of 'Ghana's Strongest Man' contest, has been arrested for assaulting two priests of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday.

The stoutly-built man allegedly punched Father Anthony Awuah Boateng in the face with hefty blows, until his face became puffy.

Rev. Father Daniel Affum, Parish Priest of Adugyama Roman Catholic Church, decided to intervene to save his colleague who was then in tears and groaning for help.

But Rev. Father Affum was not lucky as the blood-thirsty goon, reportedly vented his spleen on him also. The macho man allegedly stabbed him in the head with a sharp knife, for pleading on behalf of his colleague.

Mohammed, who was riding a motorbike, was said to have left the scene but he was arrested by the police at Adugyama on Monday to face the law.

ASP Mohammed Yussif Tanko, the Ashanti Regional Police PRO, said the macho man had since been moved to the regional police headquarters in Kumasi, where the case is being investigated.

He said Father Awuah Boateng was traveling in his Toyota Corolla, registered AW 1722-13, at about 5:30 pm on Sunday from Bimso Number One and heading to Mankranso; and on the way he came across Mohammed.

The accused was said to be displaying with a motorbike in a dangerous fashion right in the middle of the road and so the man of God reportedly bypassed him and left in peace.

The macho man then claimed that Father Awuah Boatengs vehicle had hit his motorbike and so he gave the Catholic Father a wild chase with his motorbike in a Hollywood fashion.

Mohammed finally caught up with Father Awuah Boateng at Adugyama, where he (suspect) smashed the tail light and side mirror of his vehicle in public.

Before Father Awuah Boateng could open his mouth, Mohammed, who was extremely angry, pounced on him with deadly blows, sending him to the ground.

The suspect then followed Father Awuah Boateng to his residence where he continued hitting his already swollen face with countless hefty blows.

Rev Father Affum then intervened by pleading with Mohammed to stop beating his colleague, but his apology rather ended in a bloody scene as the suspect allegedly stabbed him in the head with a knife.

ASP Tanko said COP Kofi Boakye, the regional police commander, had declared zero tolerance for violent attacks by macho men in the region ahead of the December elections.

ASP Tanko stated that Mohammed was being investigated for assault and causing unlawful harm.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
The vice presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, yesterday said Ghanaians have a duty to end rampant stealing of the country's resources by voting out the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, headed by President John Mahama.

He said persons entrusted with the duty of overseeing the national purse are emptying the content into their private pockets, urging Ghanaians to end the stealing by voting for the NPP in the December elections.

Speaking to residents of Nyanyano, near Kasoa in the Gomoa East Constituency at the start of his campaign tour of the Central Region, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's running mate said the practice whereby appointees stash stolen money in Burkina Faso and Dubai at the expense of the people should come to an end.

Dr. Bawumia added that for Ghanaians to see real change in their lives, there was the need to vote out the Mahama administration, which Dr Bawumia noted has been characterized by incompetence, mismanagement and unbridled corruption.

There are a lot of hardships in the country today. In Nyanyano Kakraba, water is a problem; paying for electricity is a problem; paying school fees has become a problem; there are no jobs and this is why there is the need for change. Ghana's economy has now been totally run to the ground and that is what is causing these hardships.

But the problem is not a lack of resources. This is a land of resources but the real problem is that those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of managing our resources, mismanage and steal them, and this situation cannot continue any longer, he said in Twi.

$1m Per Constituency

Dr Bawumia said an NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo would give $1 million to every

constituency in the country every year to undertake development projects.

The $1 million represents 20% of capital budget which would be given to all the constituencies in the country every year while industrialization policy would also be introduced, he reiterated.

He added that plans were underway to put that in the 2017 budget when Ghanaians vote for the party in the upcoming general election.

According to him, Ghana is a rich country and needs people who can manage its resources well to improve the living conditions of the people.

He said the NPP government, which was headed by President John Agyekum Kufuor, utilized the country's limited resources judiciously and implemented many social interventions such as the National

Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, Metro Mass Transit, among others.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to return the NPP to power for the betterment of all.

Manifesto

Speaking at Nyanyano Kakraba, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that the soon-to-be-launched NPP manifesto would primarily be about the party's vision and programmes for job creation, especially for the millions of youth who are jobless today as a result of the inability of the government to create the environment for business and economic growth.

Our soon-to-be-launched manifesto will be about jobs. Today our youth cannot find jobs; this will change under the NPP. We will introduce policies that will make it easy for businesses to operate, make profit, grow and employ. We will deal with the high import taxes to make it easy for companies to bring in raw materials and equipment for production and we will reduce the high tax burden on companies and traders, he indicated.

The renowned economist stated that the NPP would reduce taxes, as well as create more jobs to reduce the unemployment situation in the country, adding that the next NPP administration would restore the allowances of teacher and nurse trainees.

He donated GH5,000 towards the Gomoa Nyanyano Educational Fund as well as 100 bags of cement to complete the Buduatta Community Centre.

He paid a courtesy call on the chief of Buduatta, Nana Osuan Ewusi III.

Nana Ewusi reiterated the commitment of the people in the area to voting massively for the NPP in the December elections.

According to him, he would vote for the NPP and canvass for more votes for the party to win the elections in his constituency.

Nana Ewusi hinted that that was the first time a running mate had visited the area and hoped Dr Bawumia and his party in government would help with the development of the area.

From Sarah Afful, Gomoa Nyanyano

Email: [email protected]
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rubbished claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that it has significantly transformed the country's education sector.

According to NPP, Even though the Mahama administration continues to sing about how much they have transformed the education sector, the NDC as a party has failed to support its claims of achievements with concrete evidence.

The NPP said this in a statement issued by its 2016 Campaign Policy Advisor, Boakye Agyarko.

The NPP believes that there is much more to be done in transforming the education sector than the lies and mere rhetoric the NDC government continues to feed to Ghanaians.

It made specific reference to the inability of Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Tertiary Education to provide concrete evidence when pressed for more information about the NDC manifesto claim that 100 million exercise books had been distributed by the Mahama government since 2013.

Ablakwa promised to furnish the public with more information about this policy's implementation the next morning, according to the statement.

It said, This information was supposed to have shown that indeed 100 million exercise books were supplied and that in 2015 alone, 58 million books were given to Ghana's children.

The NPP noted that three days on, no information has been released. How difficult is it to present details of a policy that has been actually implemented to Ghanaians? Unless of course, this was a lie in the first place and cannot be substantiated.

At its press conference held on Monday, September 19 this year, the main opposition party pointed out that textbooks had been abandoned by the Mahama government.

This was in spite of the NDC manifesto claim that 12.5 million English, Mathematics and Science textbooks were distributed to public basic schools between 2013 and 2015.

This, according to government, enabled Ghana to exceed the universal textbook-pupil ratio of three textbooks to one pupil.

Textbooks decrease

But the NPP said contrary to government's claims of exceeding the universal textbook-pupil ratio, the delivery of textbooks to schools in the country is on the decline.

According to the party, A further enquiry into the Education Sector Performance of 2016 report published by the Ministry of Education showed that the 'Core Textbook to pupil ratio' in public basic schools both at the National and Deprived District levels have been on the decline since 2013/14.

It said, At the national level, it fell from 2.2 in 2013/14 to 2.0 in 2014/15 and to 1.7 in 2015/16. At the Deprived District level, the figures for the corresponding years are 2.1, 1.8 and 1.6 respectively.

Comparing the NPP's performance to the NDC in the delivery of textbooks to schools, the party indicated that textbooks at basic level were delivered to public basic schools in the first term of 2005/06 academic year.

It added that approximately 90% were delivered by end of year, and each pupils/student had textbooks for all subjects.

The NPP is proud to be the first government since independence to have achieved this feat, the statement said.

Appeals

The NPP therefore appealed to Ghanaians to be discerning in distinguishing real achievements in the education sector from phantom achievements of the NDC government couched in flowery language.

This election is about the future of Ghana. This election is about the future of Ghana's children. This election is about voting for a party that can provide the competent leadership to turn the education sector around and secure a future of well-educated, confident young people who will lead Ghana to an even more prosperous future, it added.

By Melvin Tarlue
The much-touted Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, also known as Ayalolo Express, yesterday started in some selected areas of Accra with buses that have not been insured and registered.

One of the green buses, which plied one of four designated routes  Amasaman to Achimota to Circle and then to Tudu  was mostly seen without passengers.

Some of the commuters, who spoke to BUSINESS GUIDE, said they refused to board the buses because they were unlicensed, adding that the piloting was a bit premature.

A DV number plate was only seen on the dashboards of the buses.

The project is currently being undertaken on pilot basis and will later be extended to other parts of the country.

However, in an interview with journalists in Accra, Samson Gyamera, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAPTEE, managers of the project, said the company was then collaborating with Regency-NEM Insurance Ghana Limited to insure the vehicles.

It is a criminal offence to operate a transport business without licensing the vehicles since they pose risk to the passengers, according to the police.

Backdrop

The BRT is under the Urban Transport Project (UTP) of the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

It is jointly funded by the World Bank, the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), Government of Ghana and the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund at a cost of $95 million.

It is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Department of Urban Roads.

The process towards the implementation of the BRT started in 2007 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power.

Between 2008 and 2009, it faced many difficulties, key among them being the stiff resistance from private transport operators.

In the early part of the NDC administration under late President John Evans Atta Mills, a team of government officials and some selected journalists were sent to Columbia to learn about the operations of the BRT in that country.

Accra-Mallam-Kasoa Corridor

Earlier, the Department of Urban Roads had planned to implement an advanced type of BRT on the Accra-Mallam-Kasoa road. That project has since been shelved because of inadequate funding.

The World Bank, a major partner in the project, was forced to pull out of the transaction because of the failure of government to meet the 2015 deadline since the project was expected to start after eight years.

Government is not well resourced for the full implementation of the BRT project, which is well rooted in countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

Political Gimmickry

A lot of people suspect that government is implementing the BRT without adequate preparation just to score political points a few months to elections just as in the case of the Komenda Sugar Factory which started prematurely.

They have therefore called on the country's authorities to ensure the appropriate registration and licensing of the buses in order to protect the public.

Drivers Threaten Demo



Some commercial drivers in the Accra metropolis have threatened to embark on strike to protest against the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) service.

According to them, the BRT could eventually drive them out of business.

By Cephas Larbi

[email protected]
By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Monday sentenced two persons to 15 years imprisonment for conspiracy and robbery.

Yaw Fosu, a mechanic and Prince Adom, a welder, were sentenced on their own plea.

In sentencing, the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh took into consideration the five days the convicts spent in police custody. They also pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patience Mario told the court that the complainant was a student and lives at Agbogba, while the convicts lived at Abofu near Achimato, all suburbs of Accra.

He said on September 20, at about 1400 hours, the complainant went to Musuku, another suburb of Accra to visit her mother, while walking towards the house, the convicts riding on a motorbike spotted her and followed her.

DSP Mario said on reaching, a spot near the complainant's mother's house, the convicts attacked the complainant at knife point and robbed her of two mobile phones and a handbag.

She said the two convicts escaped with their booty but on reaching Dome, they collided with a taxi and despite the accident, the convicts wanted to escape on the motorbike but the driver raised the alarm.

'The convicts sensing danger abandoned their motorbike and took to their heels but were chased and arrested,' she added.

Prosecution said the complainant's items were found on the convicts, they were handed over to the police.

GNA
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - Peter Mensah, a trader, who is accused of defiling a nine-year old pupil in an uncompleted toilet facility twice at Shipontele, near Amasaman has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court.

Charged with defilement Mensah has pleaded not guilty.

He is to reappear on October 3 before the court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku.

Prosecuting Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire who read the fact said the complainant is the father of the victim who resides at Akyem Segyimase in the Eastern Region.

The victim resides at Shipontele, near Amasaman with her mother. The accused person lived at Toman also in Amasaman.

Prosecution said during the month of July, while the victim was playing with her friends in the night in front of their house the accused called her under the pretext of sending her on an errand but lured her into an uncompleted toilet facility, near the victim's house and asked the victim to stoop and he had sex with her.

Prosecution said after the act the accused person warned the victim not to inform anyone else she would die.

A week after the accused invited the victim to the same place and had sex with her.

On July 28, this year, the victim visited her father at Akyem Segyimase where she was taken ill and was rushed to the Kibi Government Hospital and she disclosed her ordeal to the complainant.

Detective Inspector Atimbire said the complainant reported the incident to the Police at Asiakwa where he was given a police extract and Police medical endorsed form to the Police at Amasaman and accused was picked up.

GNA
27.09.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - A Vietnamese Trade and Investment delegation is in Ghana, to explore opportunities in rice production/farming, processing, storage, marketing and distribution.

The trip is being organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Ghana-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the delegation for the visit, which runs from September 26 to September 29, include top government officials from the Ministries and the Trade Office of the Vietnam Embassy.

Mr Dao Manh Duc, Head of Trade Office of Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Nigeria, said the visit is to help improve the balance of trade between the two countries.

He said the rice investment and trade programme would provide education on the latest trends in rice production, both in terms of practice and technology.

Vietnam is the number one exporter of rice in the world.

GNA
Managers of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service have suspended operations a day after the buses were put on the streets for piloting.

This follows concerns over the non- registration and lack of insurance of the buses and challenges with communication between passengers and the bus drivers.

The BRT transport service commenced test operations on Monday with 9 buses plying the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle Accra route however operators identified challenges with the log system which provided information such as when or where passengers would alight to drivers.

Officials of the BRT system told Citi News that services were also suspended on Tuesday to enable them train the drivers on how to use the system to facilitate non-obstructive communication between them and passengers.

The buses are expected to be back on the streets on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

'Buses not insured yet'

Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive in an interview with Citi News revealed on Monday that the buses had not been registered and insured yet however will be done by the end of the week.

But Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), Sampson Gyamenah on Eyewitness News later that day said the information was not true and that the registration and insurance was being done.

BRT to start business in October

Mr. Gyamenah explained that, GAPTE is looking at the first couple of weeks in October to roll out commercially.

Mr. Gyamenah explained that, Monday's operation was a simulation exercise to train operational staff that will be engaged in the system.

What we did today, was a simulation, more like a training arrangement for our own operational staff and drivers. We haven't started piloting the services yet.



By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Four major political parties have taken advantage of the 'Manifesto Dialogues' platform provided by e.TV Ghana to give some details of their plans in the educational sector as they prepare feverishly for the December 7 general election.

The forecourt of Valco Hall, University of Cape Coast which hosted this second edition of the dialogue series was heavily packed with students, the public and sympathizers of ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the Convention People's Party (CPP).

The CPP, represented by Richard Adongo, said a CPP government will discourage the establishment of private tertiary institutions and those that will be allowed to set up must have and prove their capacity to help solve particular needs of the economy.''

He pointed out that a CPP government will create what he called a graduate pool in certain strategic fields similar to the Cuban Medical Brigade and will export such graduates to other countries who might require such support.

He continued that agric colleges will be established to modernize agriculture to continue to serve as the backbone of the economy.

Representative of the NDC, Simon Peter Gyekye touted the NDCs achievements in the educational sector citing the 200 Community Schools being built and the provision of ICT facilities to Senior High Schools in the country as some of the success stories.

He said ICT laboratories will be provided for most basic schools in the country to enhance teaching and learning.

George Ayisi, who represented the NPP said, The NPP will pay the fees of teachers who are undertaking distance education courses in order for them to concentrate on their teaching in the classroom.

He disclosed that Tax waivers will also be given to all teachers who buy and import vehicles for their personal use in the country, adding the NPP will focus on vocational, technical and general education at the second cycle level by building 350 community schools.

Mr. Ayisi said an NPP government will provide quality education by partnering churches to manage mission schools in the country.

The PPP MP aspirant of Cape Coast North, Sarah Bucknor, said the PPP will within a year upon assumption of office standardize education from kindergarten to the senior high school levels by providing logistics and other infrastructure that teachers and students will need to ensure quality education.''

She added that PPP will assist private tertiary institutions with the necessary logistics to improve tertiary education and also upgrade the level of all teachers in the country. Mrs Bucknor continued that to enforce the Free Compulsory Basic Universal Education (FCUBE), a PPP government will establish the 'Education Police' to punish parents who refuse to send their children to school.

The next stop for the Manifesto Dialogues is at the University of Ghana, Legon on the 6 October, and it is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy Fund (NED Fund), YFM and Happy FM.


The government of Ghana has launched a special project dubbed: Coastal Sanitation Project.

The over GH5 million project launched at Axim in the Nzeman East Municipality of the Western region on Friday seeks to enhance sanitation in fishing communities across the country.

The project is a collaboration between the Ministry and the Presidential Initiative.

Delivering the keynote address at the groundbreaking ceremony held at Axim Victoria Park, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development said the project would first be rolled out at Axim.

According to Sherry Ayitey, the Axim project would include the construction of 12-seater toilets, washrooms, biogas plant, borehole, water reservoir and pavilions at a total cost of GH500,000.

About 43 landing sites at Nyanyano and Dago in Gomoa East and West; Akwanda and Ankaful at Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirim and Mfantseman; Moree at Abura Asebu Kwamankese, among others, have been identified for the project nationwide.

Under the first phase, the project would be rolled out at James Town, Kpone, Moree, Dago, Otuam, Bonyere, Abuesi, Marine Matikpo, Akplortortor, Amutinu, Hedranuwo, Marine Matikplo in the Eastern, Greater Accra, Western, Central and Volta regions, according to the Minister.

She stressed the need to ensure hygienic sanitary conditions at landing beaches and fishing communities, saying this is to help ensure that players in the fishing industry take advantage of the opportunities out there in terms of export of fish and earn income for themselves and the country.

Hygienic sanitary conditions would boost recreational tourism, and this would have a positive impact on employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and infrastructure development, she added.

Explaining the rationale behind the project, she said in spite of huge export potentials, some fish exporters from Ghana are unable to meet the high international sanitary and health standards required to export fish.

Ghanaian fish exporters therefore are not able to fully take advantage of the opportunities available under the ACP/EU Partnership Agreement to export to EU due to the sanitary requirements.

To ensure quality fish from our coastal communities while safeguarding the health of our fishers, it's imperative that attention is paid to the sanitary conditions in the coastal communities, she added.

She told DAILY GUIDE that the coastal sanitation project would be completed within a year time, explaining that the sector ministry, in collaboration with MASLOC under the Presidential Initiative, had also supplied tricycles to fishermen this year.

The supply of the tricycles under a hire purchase agreement is to address the transportation challenges of our gallant fishers, she said.

She said that the Ministry in December 2015 launched the Fishermen Life Insurance Scheme to provide insurance cover for fishers.

Under the first phase of the scheme, she said about 7000 fishermen had been registered.

The ministry will roll out the second phase of the Fishermen Insurance Scheme to provide life cover for canoe owners and their crew members, property insurance cover for the canoes and outboard motors, she said.

The ministry intends to provide insurance cover for one million fishermen in the second phase of the scheme, according to Ms Ayeetey.

She gave the assurance that the ministry would under the Presidents Initiative continue with the distribution of fishing inputs, including outboard motors to support fishermen.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) James Baidoe said the project, when completed, would prevent residents of Axim from going to the seashore to defecate in the open.

By Melvin Tarlue, Nzeman East


Ghana's progress in the utilisation of family planning methods has stalled for the past years, staying at 22 percent.

The figure, although high as compared to other countries in the sub region, is unlikely to meet the national target for contraceptive prevalence of 50 percent by 2020.

Dr Afisa Zakariah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health (MoH), speaking at the national launch of the World Contraception Day and Family Planning Week in Accra, pointed out that the figure implies that one in every four women in Ghana has an unmet need for contraception.

This means that one out of every four of our married women wants to wait for some time to have a child, or they do not want to have any more children, yet they are not using any contraceptive method, she said.

Dr Zachariah who was representing the sector minister, Alex Segbefia, indicated that using family planning methods have a number of benefits, including reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, unsafe abortion which contributes to 20 percent of all maternal deaths and positive socio-economic benefits to the family and community.

She said family planning does not only deal with pregnancy prevention or delay, but it also includes support for people living with infertility by providing them with counselling and methods to assist them achieve pregnancy.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to ensure family planning provision and promotion becomes an integral part of all our development efforts in all sectors of government and society, she added.

Dr Yaa Asante, Programme Manager, Family Planning, Ghana Health Service, presenting an overview of family planning in Ghana, mentioned that there is a fairly general knowledge on contraceptive use, however, people are not accessing the methods because of myths, fear of side effects, religious beliefs, misconceptions and traditional and cultural influences.

She said with the country increasing its population by 700,000 every year, there would be an imbalance and pressure on social and economic activities if the population growth is not checked.

Dr Babatunde Ahonsi, Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), addressing the gathering on behalf of the UN System, said family planning can reduce maternal mortality by 30 percent, indicating that the addition of skilled delivery will prevent over 70 percent deaths among pregnant women.

He added that the UN agency was supporting the week-long activities in the Ashanti and Upper West Regions, adding that there was a need for government to specifically allocate funds for the procurement of contraceptives in the country.

Family Planning Week

The National Family Planning Week is a week-long initiative by the Ghana Health Service and its partners to promote family planning as one of the most cost-effective intervention for improving maternal health and development.

The week will also hold activities to promote the vision of a situation where every pregnancy is wanted and to improve awareness of contraception to enable every individual and couples to make informed decision on their sexual reproductive health.

The week will also be used to highlight the benefits of using family planning methods to families, communities and the country as a whole.

The National Population Council has pegged $154m to meet the country's family planning needs which is expected to save the country some $349m in future.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwesimintsim, Joe Baidoe-Ansah and Joe Mensah, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA), will today face off in the parliamentary primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Kwesimintsim Constituency of the Western Region.

The NPP branch in Kwesimintsim Constituency has not held its primary because of some legal matters.

Messers Baidoe-Ansah and Mensah filed to contest in the primary last year but Mr Mensah was disqualified by the Vetting Committee during the process.

Mr Mensah, who was dissatisfied with the decision of the Vetting Committee, petitioned the various bodies of the party to nullify his disqualification, but he was not successful.

Determined to contest in the parliamentary primary, Joe Mensah took the matter to the court to seek redress and the court eventually ruled that he could contest in the primary.

The Effia-Kwesimintsim Constituency was divided into two in 2012.

The incumbent MP is just about to complete his fourth term in Parliament, having represented the Effia-Kwesimintsim Constituency from 2001 to 2013, and the Kwesimintsim Constituency from 2013 to date.

When DAILY GUIDE got to the popular town of Kwesimintsim yesterday ahead of today's primary, the Western regional executives of the NPP were putting the necessary measures in place to ensure smooth and peaceful election.

The supporters of the two contestants, who had patiently waited for the final verdict by the court, were optimistic of victory in the election.

Supporters of Joe Mensah argued that Hon. Baidoe-Ansah had lost touch with the constituents.

According to them, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Augustine Arthur would easily snatch the seat from the NPP even though the constituency is the party's stronghold if Mr BaidoeAnsah is elected by the delegates for the 2016 parliamentary election.

If Baidoe Ansah is allowed to run in the 2016 parliamentary election on the ticket of the NPP, some of us will rather vote for the NDC candidate and vote for Nana Addo as president, they disclosed.

On the other hand, some supporters of Mr Baidoe-Ansah claimed Mr Mensah was once a cadre of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and a perceived sympathizer of the NDC.

We see Joe Mensah or JM as a mole from the NDC trying to destroy the NPP to allow the NDC to annex the seat. While he sent the Kwesimintsim NPP to court, the NDC parliamentary candidate, Augustine Arthur was making inroads in the constituency, they asserted.

They were hopeful the delegates would vote massively for the incumbent MP in today's primary in Kwesimintsim Constituency, saying Joe Baidoe-Ansah can easily retain the seat for the NPP on December 7.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Kwesimintsim
The use of e-Zwich to pay beneficiaries of the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) has seen phenomenal growth from the initial amount of about GH38,000 paid in February 2015 to GH3.8 million paid in August, this year.

The volume of e-Zwich transactions has also shot up from 503 to 34,169 over the same period.

This was contained in a report by Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), operators of e-Zwich.

Since GSOP begun using e-Zwich in February last year till August, this year, a total amount of GH20.8 million has been paid through the biometric payment system while the total volume of transactions stand at 181,713.

GSOP is one of the social interventions by government.

It is a labour intensive public works project which identifies various projects within rural areas and engages people within these areas to work.

The beneficiaries are paid the daily minimum wage rate.

It is a World Bank funded project under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

A dedicated team and the various district assemblies manage the daily activities of the project.

The project is currently running in 60 districts in all the 10 regions of the country.

The phenomenal growth in the volume and value of the e-zwich transactions by GSOP has been attributed to the benefits that the payment system provides.

The use of e-zwich to pay people engaged under GSOP has ensured that the right beneficiary and the right amount are paid while payments are made on time.

It has also provided a transparent audit trail and reduced the possibility of corruption and other malfeasance.

In an interview, Chief Executive of GhIPSS, Archie Hesse, commended GSOP for choosing e-zwich and reposing confidence in the payment system.

He encouraged beneficiaries of GSOP and others who receive funds on e-zwich cards to cultivate the habit of using their cards to make payments on hybrid POSes when they visit shops.

He said the agenda to reduce cash transaction was on course and urged the public to embrace the new trend.

A business desk report
Ghana has signed an agreement for a $500 million partial guarantee from the World Bank for its Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP)-Sankofa gas project.

The IDA payment guarantee covers the risks of non-payment should the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) fail to meet its payment obligation under the gas sales agreement covering the Sankofa Field.

The World Bank will additionally provide $200 million enclave guarantee to the partners to support project financing for the private sector by covering debt service defaults as a result of breach of specified contractual obligations by the GNPC and the government.

World Bank Country Director, Henry Kerali, signed on behalf of the World Bank, while Seth Terkper, Finance Minister, initialed for Government of Ghana.

Mr Terkper said the agreements include the indemnity agreements whereby government will indemnify or reimburse the World Bank for any payments they may have to make to the letters of credit (LC) banks on GNPC's behalf.

He said GNPC would under the agreements make payment from funds for the sale of purchased gas, and as support guarantee, the GNPC's approved share of petroleum revenue from the Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa Gye Nyame fields, as well as the World Bank's Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) and sovereign guarantee.

Alex Mould, Chief Executive of the GNPC, said the Sankofa project was one of the few projects around the world that had progressed in spite of the challenging oil and gas environment.

The project is Ghana's first gas-to-power project, with the capacity to supply natural gas up to 180 million standard cubic per day.

This is enough to generate up to 1,100 megawatts of power using the combined cycle technology.

The field, lying about 60 kilometres offshore Ghana, holds an estimated proven hydrocarbon reserve of 204 million barrels of oil and 1.1 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas.

He said GNPC was working with the project partners, Eni and Vitol, to ensure that first gas was obtained on scheduled in the second quarter of 2018.

Mr Kerali said the World Bank had made energy a priority under its strategy to achieve its twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity in sub-Saharan Africa.

 GNA
The Hague (AFP) - The International Criminal Court on Tuesday found a Malian jihadist guilty of destroying Timbuktu's fabled shrines, in a landmark judgement experts hope will send a strong message to safeguard the world's ancient monuments.

"The chamber unanimously finds that Mr al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," judge Raul Pangalangan said at the tribunal in The Hague.
The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) vice Presidential nominee, Brigitte Dzogbenuku is on a campaign tour of the Northern Region and has condemned tribal politics in the country.

She says the electorate in the Northern Region should elect competent and time-tested leaders capable of fixing the nation's economy rather than voting based on tribal preference.

The PPP's vice Presidential nominee at a rally in Tamale said the electorate should discard political opponents insinuation that a vote for the PPP on December 7 will be a waste of the ballot paper.

According to her, the PPP is a threat to the two major political parties, the NDC and the NPP, hence the desperate attempt to denigrate the party.

She downplayed incessant calls on the electorate in the Northern Region to massively vote for President John Mahama on December 7 because of his northern origin.

She said a PPP government will implement the Free Compulsory Basic Education policy as a means of eliminating child labour in the area.

She described the PPP as a political party which promotes gender equality and national cohesion, hence her nomination as the vice presidential nominee.

Brigitte Dzogbenuku touted Dr, Papa Kwesi Ndoum as business mogul and a politician capable of delivering all his campaign promises.

She made reference to Dr. Ndoum's achievements in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy to buttress her point.

She reiterated the need for the electorate to vote for Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum and the party's Parliamentary candidates.

The PPP's vice Presidential candidate at the Tamale rally introduced the party's Parliamentary candidates for the Tamale South, Tamale central and Sagnarigu constituencies.

Brigitte Dzogbenuku later addressed a similar rally in the Savelugu constituency.

As part of the PPP leader, Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum's monumental jobs creation agenda, he has established branches of the Group Ndoum (GN) Bank in almost all the districts in the Northern Region.

He has also established a radio station in Tamale called Suhupieli FM transmitting on the frequency 103.3.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Revisiting and rethinking Europe recently on these very pages, prof. Anis Bajrektarevic asked:  is the EU the worlds last cosmopolitan enjoying its postmodern holiday from history? Is that possibly the lost Atlantida or mythical Arcadia a Hegelian end of history world? ... a post-Hobbesian (yet, not quite a Kantian) world, in which the letzte Mensch expelled Ubermensch? Yet another take on the most critical EU debate comes from Austria, this time from the long time insider into the rocky European policy-making.

The narrow result of the UK referendum to leave the European Union was not the catalyst for the increasingly pressing question of whether the concept and practice of European integration, which has defined the course of European history since the end of the Second World War as well as enabled prosperity, security and the advancement of the continent, are now exhausted and should be replaced by other models.

Ever since France and the Netherlands voted against a European constitution, there have been more and more signs of Europe becoming less appealing in its current form. This is also evident in the growing number of election victories of Eurosceptics to anti-European parties within the founding states of the Union. Some of these factions have already managed to gain seats in the European Parliament. Public support of the EU, regularly recorded by the Eurobarometer, is falling in nearly all 28 Member States (MS). It has only remained high in a few candidate countries such as those of the Western Balkans.

Despite all of its undeniable progress in the field of all-civic participation, in strengthening the European Parliament or the increased application of the subsidiarity principle, the Lisbon Treaty - this last attempt to create a Europe based on firm ideals, did not enable a true fresh start nor fuel enthusiasm or a positive attitude of citizenry towards the European project.

On the contrary, Europes response to major crises in the last few years, ranging from the world economic crisis, the Euro crisis to the current refuge crisis that is still unsolved, is often regarded as hesitant and has visibly shaken the citizens confidence in the EU edifice an its ability to control the fate of Europe.

The most common response by some member states was to return to policies that only serve national interest and disregard the European standards and rules of European solidarity agreed upon. This has contributed to the EU institutions such as the EU Commission and the EU Parliament losing more of their authority and ability to act.

It would probably be too simple and superficial to just regard personal factors, and in some respects an undeniably weak leadership at an EU and national level, as the prime or single cause of such a trend. Starry names, visionary personalities such as Jacques Delores, Sicco Manshold or Sir Leon Brittan no longer exist in the European theatre. Even the leadership of the German-French axis, which was predominant during the era of Conrad Adenauer and Charles De Gaulle; or Kohl and Mitterand for that matter, has grown weaker , although the collaboration of this duo has remained essential to the present day.

Yet the reasons why European ideals are fading away and the desire for unlimited national autonomy has been revived have to be analysed very carefully without reducing them to the obvious factors  for example, the growing (alienation of) Brussels bureaucracy or their unrealistic decrees. This also includes the so called democracy deficit; a not uncommon phenomenon of many EU citizens feeling powerless at a national or supranational level, no longer expecting political processes to solve their daily problems  especially those administered by Brussels. This residual feeling intensifies when populist forces, such as was the case during the Brexit campaign in the UK, blame Europe for old and new, related and unrelated, problems.

However, it is debatable whether the uneasiness many European citizens feel towards national and EU/European policies could be overcome simply by strengthening national sovereignty ab dismantling the EU (or even pan-European) bodies and institutions. Many of the causes have an authentic national origin, such as a fear of the future due to an increase in social inequality, environmental degradation or threats to public safety and security, regardless of whether they are real or only felt. Slogans such as More Europe or Less Europe are, therefore, not suitable for getting to the bottom of the causes.

In fact, a sensible combination of national and the EU/European measures is needed to be able to restore the confidence of European citizens in their joint project  for overall prosperity and safety. National and supranational measures are also necessary to secure our common social model, the European welfare state. Only a strong EU/Europe can protect its citizens from the consequences of unrestrained globalisation. Hence, MS (Member States) have to ensure social justice within their own borders. Such a deliverables have no alternative.

The call for more autonomy and civic participation requires not only national but also all-European action. Democratic deficit have not only been unveiled in the European Union, whose institutions certainly need a surge of democratic ideas and practices, but also in many of the EU 28 MS (Member States). The limitations of a dismal representative democracy come to light when they only partially and incompletely portray the will of the citizenry.

If it is possible to adopt these kind of measures in a targeted manner and fulfil the true needs and concerns of the citizens accordingly, then it is also possible and manageable to continue the promised work of the EU integration in the best interest of European family of peoples. Of course, it will have to take national particularities, diversities, which make up the firm characteristics of Europe, into account to a much higher extent then it is the case now. A reinvigorated EU will also have to exist under the banner of this diversity and it can remain the Union of the four fundamental freedoms and all other civilizational accomplishments, which defined its historical cause and will define the lives of its citizens today.

From the German original translated by the Cercle Diplomatique Austria team.

Dr. Peter Jankowitsch, ambassador

Secretary General of the AustroFrench centre; joined the Austrian Foreign Ministry in 1957, was a close collaborator of the legendary leader of the Austrian II Republic, Bruno Kreisky for decades; countrys Foreign Minister in 1980s and the State Secretary for the EU Integration in 1990s.
Lagos, Nigeria, 27 September 2016: To celebrate the World Tourism Day, Africas leading online hotel booking company Jumia Travel, has announced the launch of its first holiday packages in Nigeria . The package rates are inclusive of hotel stays, spa treatment, meals, transport and a tour guide where applicable.

This initiative will focus on popular destinations such as Obudu Cattle Ranch, Olumo Rock and Ikogosi Warmspring in Nigeria. According to Paul Midy, Jumia Travels CEO, the move is part of the companys initiative to promote domestic tourism in Nigeria, as we approach the peak season. He added that this will therefore be quite ideal for families, couples, group of friends and even corporate groups vacationing in the months of August to December.

Last minute plans will also be well catered for due to the flexibility offered by the packages; for instance, by either directly calling Jumia Travels Customer Service or by filling in a simple query form, the team will be able to organize for transport and/or accommodation at the same time, easing the hassle of travel and most importantly giving customers a memorable vacation experience.

Managing Director for Jumia Travel Nigeria, Kushal Dutta said launching the holiday packages in the country at this time of recession will promote this years World Tourism Day theme of promoting universal accessibility; by providing Nigerians plenty of options to choose from, especially those who cant afford to travel out of the country for vacation due to the increase in foreign currency exchange.

While these are the first packages by Jumia Travel launched in Nigeria and Kenya, the plan is to roll out the packages in all other African countries. The company that now boasts the largest inventory of hotels in Africa plans to run the promotion on a yearly basis; while regularly updating the packages on the respective Jumia Travels country websites.

About Jumia Travel

Jumia Travel ( travel.jumia.com ) is Africa's No.1 hotel booking website, allowing you to get the best prices for more than 25,000 hotels in Africa and more than 200,000 hotels around the world.

Our ambition is to bring every bit of available accommodation online, and to create the easiest and cheapest way for customers to book it. At Jumia Travel, we have hundreds of travel specialists constantly in touch with our customers. Our offices are located in Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), Dakar (Senegal), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Algiers (Algeria), Douala (Cameroon), Kampala (Uganda), Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Before June 2016, Jumia Travel was known as Jovago. Jumia Travel was founded in 2013 by Jumia and is backed by MTN, Rocket Internet, Millicom, Orange, Axa and financial partners.
The sustainable business breakthroughs of the 21st century will occur not by chance or trial and error as it has been in the last decades, but through implementing well tested innovative business models. The real entrepreneurs who are the drivers of change in the economy plan strategically to stay above competition amidst turbulent changes in the business environment by seeking and applying the right mix of knowledge and skills.

Personal and professional knowledge have always been instrumental to preparing for unlimited success in every aspect of one's life. Knowledge of your business, abilities, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and traits is essential to riding the front end of the wave of change into the new century. It gives you an extraordinary edge over the competition. However, most entrepreneurs are losing sight of the three most important elements that determine their success in the business world and these are the acquisition and use of the  right knowledge, skills and business tools.

People have taken almost all other risks that exist in the opportunity market, but it is no longer effective today to take uncalculated risks as the level of uncertainty is increasing in the competitive world. It is more effective and critical to understand the whole dynamics of entrepreneurship and success by investing time, energy and effort to learn and seek for empowering knowledge and skills, and to adopt the right business tools to increase certainty of business success.

This will help you take well informed risks and enable you live up to your true potential to be successful in any venture or project you set your eyes on.

The acquisition of knowledge and skills of entrepreneurship, which is the new global power, is a life-long experience, not a finite collection of facts or skills. Not long ago, what you learned in school was largely all you needed to learn to secure a career or build a business. With knowledge expanding exponentially, this is no longer the case.

Every thirty seconds, technology changes to invite more innovations and one's formal educational knowledge has a short shelf-life to catch up with this. Life-long learning has become absolutely vital to continued success. You need to continue gaining knowledge and avoid thinking like you are already an expert.

The first and foremost step if you have or do not have experience in the business world and are looking for a way to get your business off the ground, is to come up with the most practical and innovative business plan. The clarity with which you operate your business is the key to your success. Therefore, the business plan serves as a model and framework to guide your clarity and success.

It is only with a good business plan that you can hope to attract the eyes of potential investors who are always extremely wary of what they invest their money in and why. The main thing that is going to attract an investor  and, in turn, cement the rationale for your business's existence  is coming up with a compelling vision and purpose on which your business will be built on.

The role of strategy in growing your business will truly place you on the pedestal of greatness. However, it is not any other strategy or strategy by itself that works. Great commitment to implementing your strategy is key to your massive success. This calls for consistent business knowledge to adapt and choose the right mix of strategies. Never settle for an ordinary strategy.

Otherwise you will get ordinary results and achievements. If you do not know where you are going, any road could lead you there but you would not know when you have arrived. You will commit entrepreneurial suicide if you do not clarify where you want to go precisely and marshal all the resources needed to get you there.

Getting a good measure of your success and your potential for growth does not only require analyzing your own business  you must also analyze the competition. Conduct extensive research or seek professional assistance to examine all the factors that could be a threat to or opportunity for your business.

We need a real revolution in the way we conduct our businesses. Our customers and clients out there are asking for innovation and creativity. Let us don our armor to provide them with the best products and services by improving our knowledge and awareness of what it takes to be a great entrepreneur. We should move away from blindly copying what others are doing. Do not go into business because your colleague is prospering in that particular business, which is what is happening in most African countries, including Ghana.

This reminds me of the period that we set out to make business consulting accessible to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. Armed with clarity through careful business planning, coupled with consistent implementation of strategy, today, we are operating in two countries and we will be expanding to two different countries within the next two years.

It was as a result of a shared passion coupled with consistent learning through real life experiences and seeking of knowledge around business consulting to understand the needs of SMEs and young entrepreneurs. When you maximize your talents as an entrepreneur, you will be automatically committed to life-long learning, which will spur in you an unwavering commitment to succeed.

It will also increase your level of self-control and discipline. More so, you will have an extreme clarity and definiteness of purpose as well as plans and decisions with a keen sense of justice. Finally, you will have the spirit of willingness to assume full responsibility for your entrepreneurial development, and exude a more imaginative and innovative personality. Today take action to:

Increase your reading, while decreasing your television watching.

Attend business seminars and read a business development book at least once a month.

Share your ideas, plans, and goals with a trusted friend to gain more insight.

Reflect on what you are learning everyday about yourself and your business.

It is my hope that you will make a conscious effort to add value to your entrepreneurial potential. May this material bring new insight, produce an awakening and spark renewed desires and passions in you to commit to being the best entrepreneur in this 21st Century.

Taking action to add value to your knowledge as an entrepreneur is no longer a luxury but a necessity. You have the keys that will open the door to your desired future. Jumpstart your entrepreneurial engine now!



By: Jonas Nyabor
Tigo Ghanas flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Shelter 4 Education has once again been recognized for its enormous contribution towards the development of education in the country.

At the 6th Ghana CSR Excellence Awards (GHACEA), Tigo Shelter 4 Education won the CSR Award for Education and CSR Initiative of the Year; while the companys Corporate Affairs Director, Gifty Bingley was crowned the CSR Personality of the Year for her outstanding professionalism and deep passion for social responsibility and environmental protection.

Commenting on the companys winnings, Mrs. Bingley indicated that the awards are an affirmation that Tigo Ghanas CSR activities are well thought out and fulfill a pertinent need in the society.

It is fulfilling to know we made the right decision two years ago, when we decided to make education the focus of our CSR activities. We will continue to roll out more educational based initiatives which benefit children in the rural parts of our country. This recognition also goes to all our partners and the whole team for their dedication, commitment and hard work, she said.

Tigo Shelter 4 Education seeks to provide infrastructure and technology support to basic schools in deprived rural communities across the country to enable pupils have access to proper educational infrastructure, quality education and help them compete fairly with their counterparts in urban communities.

The project has so far benefited six different communities in the remotest part of the country. Four out of the six schools were rebuilt and the others refurbished and stocked with teaching and learning materials.

The highly competitive GHACEA took place at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra last Friday and is the standard award scheme that rewards socially progressive efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
27.09.2016 LISTEN

It was yet Another Night of International Honorary and Excellence as the CEO of International Brands Ghana, Kofi Appiagyei was Conferred the International African Achievers Merits Awards which is the most prestigious Media Honor on the African continent.

Last Saturday, Accra Ghana Became the Hub of Some of the most outstanding, Visionary and Patriotic Individuals who are Making Mother Africa Proud in their various Endeavors. The 2016 African Achievers Merits Awards was held in Accra Ghana on 24th September at the Airside Hotel.

The International African Achievers Merit Awards is a Continental corporate initiative aimed at recognizing and motivating excellence and integrity, bestowed on distinguished Africans and foreigners alike, Just as Mr Appiagyei, who have genuinely made appreciable impact on the various sector of their countrys grass-root, local and national life.The focus is to motivate all African leaders, including prospective leaders and the youth by recognizing individuals and organizations that have contributed remarkably to the development of this great continent.

Other big names that were rewarded by Update Africa Magazine include Otumba Moses Adeyemo (Deputy Governor of Oyo State Nigeria), Dr. Oyedapo Olalekan Oyetunde Managing Director CEO Roding Health Care, Nathan Adisi (Bola Ray of EIB), Veteran Reggae Artist Obiba Sly Collins, Dr. Money of 4Real Records, Prolific Writer Steven Ackah, U.S Based Movie Director and Health Practitioner Mrs Barbara Anakwa, CEO of Unity Group of Companies Dr. Kwame Kyei and other outstanding personalities and organisations.

Mr. Kofi Appiagyei who happened to be the Chairman of such August Awards Ceremony, couldn't be more excited than to hold high his prestigious plaque, certificate and medal to show his topmost appreciation to the Almighty God and the organizers for recognizing him as a humanitarian making a change. He was also featured in the international African updates magazine which is one of the most read piece in Africa.
CitiBusinessNews.com can confirm the board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet tomorrow, September 28, 2016 to finalize on whether or not to approve the third tranche of funding for Ghana under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Programme.

A Deputy Minister of Finance Mona Quartey who confirmed this to CitiBusinessNews.com said, Ghana last week provided in full the data requested to enable the IMF board meet and make a decision on the country's ECF programme.

Speaking to Citi Business News Mona Quartey said she was optimistic the Fund will approve the next tranche of 114.6 million dollars for Ghana.

We are optimistic that the board will approve the next tranche of the facility for Ghana. The board is meeting on the 28th of this month and shortly after the approval should come. The data has been gathered and was delivered last week, what we are waiting for is for the management of the IMF board to discuss and approve the next tranche of the credit facility. Mona Quartey stated.

Government a forth night ago disclosed it was working to present data on the country's energy sector to the IMF which should lead to the release of the third tranche of the bailout funds.

According to the Finance Ministry, the information was necessary as the Fund considers the power sector as one of the critical factors to the progress of the bailout deal.

IMF programme with Ghana

On Friday, 3rd April, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Program for Ghana.

A total amount of US$918 million is to be given to Ghana as balance of payments support over the 3-year period.

The total amount will be disbursed in eight equal tranches. The first disbursement was made immediately after the Executive Board approval of the program.

Government is currently waiting the third tranche after an IMF team visited Ghana to undertake an assessment.



By: Norvan Acquah  Hayford/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
Deputy Education minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has indicated, it is possible for the NDC to rescind its decision to boycott the 2016 presidential debates being organised be the Institute for Economic Governance (IEA).

A return to the IEA debate he said is conditioned on the IEA providing assurances that it will be more balanced and fair towards the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The IEA would also have to explain actions in the past which the NDC belives showed it was biased against the governing party, he intimated.

Mr. Ablakwa made the comment after praising the US presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump held yesterday in New York.

The deputy minister observed that the US debate provided a platform for a show of wit and oratory for US politics is renowned.

He stated that it was an enlightening experience for voters in America who are set to go to the polls on November 8.

The US presidential debate watched by a section of Ghanaians would have whetted appetite for a Ghana version possibly with the two main contenders, the NDC candidate and sitting president John Mahama and NPP Presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

But any hope of a similar debate in Ghana is increasingly becoming unlikely if the event is hosted by the IEA, an organisation that has organised presidential debates in the four elections.

In June 2016, t he governing NDC announced it had pulled out their candidate President John Mahama, accusing the IEA of bias . This is not the first the party is doing this. In the 2012 elections, the NDC said its then candidate John Mills would not participate in the debates but beat a U-turn when President Mills died and John Mahama replaced him as candidate.

We have concerns about some of the statements of the top officials of the IEA...their posture, he said.

He stressed the party line that the NDC was not consulted in the processes adopted by the IEA when it announced the 2016 presidential debates which is expected in October.

On this one all the parties corroborated the NDCs view...I heard NPP communication director say that they were also not consulted, he said.

If the IEA were more open, more transparent, more balanced, more fair , more careful with their posturing ...we would not have these concerns, he stated.

As things stand currently, the 2016 presidential debate to be organised by the IEA would be a trap for President Mahama, Samuel Ablakwa said.

He explained that the decision of the party to pull out of the debate has no bearing on the presidents capacity to hold his own in a debate.

Mahama would love to debate...he has been dating all his life...we believes that it is really his strength, the deputy education minister said.

While expressing disappointment in the IEAs posture towards his party, the deputy minister pointed to the prospects of a debate to be organised by the NCCE.

Let us not rule out a possibility of a Hillary Donald style if there is a credible platform. We have heard the NCCE say that they would want to organise one.

All the indications ...from within my party is that if they go ahead, the NDC will present its flagbearer

Nonetheless if the IEA is keen on a return of the NDC to the presidential debate, a second window exists, Ablakwa said.

Opening a window of opportunity for the IEA, the deputy minister said on Joy FMs Super Morning Show Tuesday, we have time. If the IEA will give assurances and will try to explain some of the concerns that party has, who knows may be the NDC will take a second look.

Lets see

Listen to audio



Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]
Barcamp Bolga 2016 is a free networking forum which brings people together for a day of discussion, demos and dialogue on Bolgatanga, Ghana and beyond. It takes place on October 1, 2016 at SSNIT Conference Room in Bolgatanga.

The theme for this year is "Empowering Young People for Global Competitiveness".

What to expect at Barcamp Bolga?

Mentoring by professionals or entrepreneurs.

Networking with like-minded individuals - you could find your business or project partner

Celebrating some of the best of our community and beyond

Breakout sessions that you can also lead

Frank Bruce, the Coordinator for this third (3rd) Barcamp in Bolgatanga, said, Barcamp Bolga has shown the way by connecting people with distinguished business leaders for a day of networking, mentorship, and ideas sharing for the development of Bolgatanga and the region as a whole, while empowering the youth to aspire to achieve.

The GhanaThink Foundation has successfully organized 62 BarCamps in Ghana as part of its Barcamp Ghana program since 2008. BarCamp Bolga 2016 will be the third time to be held since 2014 and it will showcase entrepreneurs and innovators in the Upper East Region.

Leonard Hagan of the Barcamp Ghana team said Over the years we have prepared ourselves by laying very strong developmental ideas through entrepreneurial ventures and partnership. I believe it's now time for us the youth to learn how to sustain our ventures by being globally competitive not locally. I look forward to seeing more of the youth at this year's Barcamp Bolga.

The 2016 Barcamp Bolga theme explores how young people can make themselves relevant in todays highly competitive environment. Discussions will focus on what students, professionals and entrepreneurs in Bolgatanga and the Upper East region can do to stay relevant in the job market.

This Barcamp will feature multiple user-generated breakout sessions in topics relevant to the Upper East Region and beyond.

There will be a speed mentoring session where mentors will give insights and answers to questions from attendees.

Some of our confirmed mentors include:

Baba Yabco (CEO of YABCO Foods), Roger Lari (CEO of MOAB Consult), Albert Azongo (An award winning radio presenter on A1 Radio), Humul Tahiru, (Sports Journalist A1 radio), Leonard Avonsigi (NCA), Akwasi King (Manager Nestle Ghana Ltd Bolga), Fati Abigail Abdulai (National Coordinator Widows and Orphans Movement), Hillary Adongo (An Agric Entrepreneur), Melanie Aardalsbakke (Researcher), Salifu Fatawu (Tanga FC Manager).

To register for Barcamp Bolga, go to barcampbolga16.eventbrite.com. Contact us via barcamp at www.ghanathink.org for sponsorship or partnership opportunities.

BarCamp Bolga 2016 is supported by Tigo Ghana .

Join us to move the Upper East Region and Ghana forward.

Stay tuned via the #bcbolga hashtag .

Stay tuned via our social media.

Twitter | Facebook | Google+
On Tuesday, the 20th of September, 2016, students of the Spiritan University College benefited from the Student and Youth Entrepreneurs Network (SYENet) entrepreneurship program dubbed Rock Your World hosted in partnership with the Local NUGS Office President.

The ceremony which was chaired by Economics Professor Jose M. Mella from the autonomous University of Madrid had in attendance the Rector of Spiritan University, Very Rev Anthony Anomah, other lectures and over 100 students.

Speakers for the event, Chris Phaphali - CEO, Phaphali Media Group & Pinkrah Kwaku Kingsley  CEO of CEDI Ghana enlightened students on the theme: Developing the next Generation of Globally Minded Student Entrepreneurs. Attendants were inspired and motivated to pursue entrepreneurship as a career and develop and test their business ideas right from school.

A special students panel was hosted which gave the opportunity to student entrepreneurs to share their success stories and how they are able to combine their studies with their business activities. The panelists included Student Entrepreneurs Dartey Obeng; a Technology Blogger, Appiah Ofori Wiafe Lawrence, CEO of Y.A. Golden Link and Adda David Blaise, CEO of IceChip Technologies.

Rock Your World is an entrepreneurship and innovation campaign with a mission to discover and develop the next generation of globally minded entrepreneurs right from school. It is an initiative of the Students and Youth Entrepreneurs Network (SYENet); a flagship Project of The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE).

Rock Your World is envisioned to contribute immensely to the reduction of graduate and youth unemployment by helping students to understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and enable them build requisite business and leadership skills needed to make them successful entrepreneurs.

With most speeches and talks being delivered by young, smart and passionate student, graduate and youth entrepreneurs coupled with case studies and easy-to-apply resources Rock Your World is set to shift paradigms, challenge the status quo, raise global leaders and business moguls and discover and nurture potentials of the next generation of globally minded and innovative entrepreneurs.

For more information about SYENet, email [email protected] or visit: www.syenet.org
27.09.2016 LISTEN

Organizers of Young Entrepreneurs Summit have hinted that registrations have begun for the 2016 edition.

To be held at the Auditorium of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), in Adabraka, Accra, on Saturday, October 29th, this years edition will host over 500 young and potential entrepreneurs, as well as tertiary students.

The Summit is organized by the Youth Business Network (YBN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the National Youth Authority, to imbibe entrepreneurship in the youth, and to inspire them to greater heights in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

In a press release, the coordinator of the event; Solomon Adjei, stated that this years edition, themed Business Unusual, have been strategically put together to practically teach the youth on key strategies that ensures a business succeeds, and it is to inspire generations whiles turning the many Ghanaian jobs seeking youth into jobs creators.

He hinted that 3 seasoned entrepreneurs have been invited to share their ocean of experiences with the audience. Also, 10 successful youth entrepreneurs will handle the Breakout session, sharing their success stories. The event will also witness massive exhibition center, where the young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to attract Investors and Mentors, as well as sales.

Solomon however reserved the Speakers list, saying it will be announced at a later date, but however called on all entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, and students to log on to www.youngentrepreneurssummit.com for further details, and to register for the summit. Interested persons can also text their full names to 0243158017 to register.

Young Entrepreneurs Summit 2016 is sponsored by the African University College of Communication (AUCC), Nallem Clothing, Honda Motors, Special Ice Mineral Water, Special Drinks, among others.
Making his first visit to Khartoum this week, the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, Mr Christopher Trott, affirmed the United Kingdoms commitment to supporting peace, stability, economic development and human rights in Sudan.

Coming very soon after his appointment in August, Mr Trotts visit aimed to strengthen relations between Sudan and the UK, continue the Strategic Dialogue on issues of mutual interest, and uphold UK support for the African Union-led peace process. Over three days, Mr Trott met with representatives from the Government, the opposition and from civil society organisations. Reflecting on his visit, Mr Trott said:

I am optimistic about UK-Sudan relations. This relationship is unique for its long history and we look forward to strengthening it for the benefit of the Sudanese and the British people.

During my visit, I met with Presidential Assistant Mr Ibrahim Mahmoud and a number of other Government officials for a wide-ranging dialogue including regional security and the positive role that Sudan can play for peace within South Sudan and between the two countries. I also sat with the Sudan Call representatives to discuss the next phase after the signing of the African Union Roadmap. With both Government and opposition interlocutors, I emphasised the opportunity provided by the African Union-led peace process. I encouraged all parties to demonstrate the necessary flexibility to reach agreement on cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access in the Two Areas and Darfur, leading to permanent ceasefires and an inclusive national dialogue.

In addition to very informative discussions with the representatives of the international community based in Sudan, I also had the opportunity to speak with activists from different non-governmental organisations as the UK pays special attention to civil society; we strongly believe in its vital role in contributing to achieving a stable and secure society.

Commenting on the visit, British Ambassador Michael Aron said:

This is the third visit by a senior British official since the start of the Strategic Dialogue in March. The visit of a high-level Sudanese delegation to the UK next month, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Abdelghani Alnaeim, will be a continuation of this enhanced bilateral engagement.
On 30 September the Zimbabwe Australia Alumni Association (ZAAA) in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, Harare will host a capacity building workshop for its members. This will be the first of such workshops to be held by ZAAA and the Australian Embassy.

The theme of the workshop will be Industry Insights and will focus on building entrepreneurial skills and capacity. The workshop will be facilitated by young, successful Zimbabweans including Chiedza Danha and Ellinah Chipumha (co-founders of Unplugged); Busi Bango (Executive Director, Empretec) and George Munengwa (founder PRO Air Zimbabwe). The facilitators will share their knowledge and provide tips to the future business leaders of Zimbabwe.

ZAAA was launched in April 2013 and has a membership of approximately 100 active members. The Association creates opportunities to form people to people connections and expand networks. As well as strengthening local networks and building interpersonal links, alumni have the option to access professional learning and development opportunities that will allow them to take full advantage of the skills and the relationships they have built during their time in Australia. It also helps maintain and strengthen people to people links between Australia and Zimbabwe.
The Hague (AFP) - The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court Tuesday welcomed a nine-year jail sentence imposed on a Malian jihadist for destroying Timbuktu's shrines, saying it was "a warning" to others planning such attacks.

The term imposed on Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi "will give warning out there for those who are committing the crimes... that this is a serious crime. It is a war crime and they will be held accountable for destroying these important sites," ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told AFP.
The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has decried the quality of education in Ghana despite increments in enrollment across the country.

In its latest report on the State of the Ghanaian economy with a focus on the education system, ISSER says the quality of Ghanas education has fallen because of the non-availability of sustainable and adequate funding.

Speaking at the launch, Director of ISSER, Prof Felix Asante said the research found out that pupils at the basic level could either not read after primary two or continue their education to the higher level.

At the secondary level, he said students performance in mathematics and Science at the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has repeatedly been discouraging - a situation he said requires urgent attention.

President John Mahama's government is paddling on its achievement in the education sector to argue for a second (or third depending on how you look at it) term from Ghanaians in the upcoming December polls.

The president argues he has introduced social interventions in the sector namely the implementation of progressively free SHS programme, scholarships for over 10, 000 Senior High School (SHS) students, free school uniforms, free exercise books and free sandals for school children.

As a result of these measures and more, enrollment in education especially at the basic level has peaked from 45,447 in the 2008/2009 academic year to over 57,270 in the 2014/2015 academic year, representing an increase of 26%. Also in the 2008/2009 academic year enrollment increased from 7,038,738 students to 8,891,892, in the 2014/2015 academic year, representing an increase of more than 26%.

Funding for education in the national budget has increased from GHS1, 854.70 in 2009 to GHS5,427.71 in 2013.

Although ISSER has lauded the increment as a good step which will put the education sector on a good footing, it said the investment is still insufficient considering the needs of the sector.

According to Prof Asante, many public schools are scrambling for the limited funds made available by central government, widening further the disparity between endowed and less endowed schools.

He also pointed out the lack of interest in Science and mathematic at the tertiary level as a worrying trend that needs to be addressed.

National Accreditation Board (NAB) statistics, he said put the overall ratio of Science programmes to Humanity programmes at 36:64. This is caused by the failure of students to pass science and mathematics subjects at the secondary level, he observed.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]
27.09.2016 LISTEN

They claim that one of the good leadership achievements of Dr Kwame Nkrumah who became the leader/President of Ghana for 15 years, from 1951 to 1966, was the fact that Nkrumah did not Build any House of his Own in Ghana. In other words, Nkrumah did not steal Ghana's money to enrich himself. Nkrumah lived in Gov't properties throughout his Life till he was overthrown. Meaning, Nkrumah was not materialistic.

Now, if ones father dies, and leaves a house for him, and he decides to live in that same property, improve upon it and own more other properties in Ghana. Can any rightful thinking person questions as to why the person decided to live in the same house that his father left for him? Doesn't this rather depict a picture of one who has been brought up in a good family to take ownership and good care of inheritance handed over to him?

Even in Bible, the Wealthy man called Naboth lived in his father's property that was left for him and refused to give that inheritance away to King Ahab, when the King of Samaria impressed upon him to take his property from him.

In fact, Naboth said to King Ahab, that "May the Lord forbid that I should give you the hereditary possession of my ancestors.

In my view, this is the type of person to leave good inheritance with. In fact, Naboth could have exchanged the property for whichever better one as the King promised or he could have sold the property for cash and misuse it, but Naboth refused to give that away to King Ahab for anything worth the same.

That is what I see in Nana Akufo-Addo, for deciding to live in his father's house and improve upon it and own more. This shows a leader who will not just get up one day and start selling the States properties to friends and family members as a President of Ghana.

I see Alhassan Ayariga's comment questioning why Nana Akufo-Addo still lives in fathers house but not in his own built as a comment coming from an insane person.

In fact, I see any person who leaves his political party that made him the Flagbearer, and immediately after leaving, sets up his own party to become an unopposed Flagbearer of his party, as very treacherous, opportunistic and very dangerous person to deal with.

Peter Antwi Boasiako

London, UK.
27.09.2016 LISTEN

The leader of the Minority in Ghanas Parliament and MP for Suame Constituency Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has come under an intensed pressure from some section of Scrap dealers operating in the Suame enclave, threatening to vote against him in the December 7th elections for neglecting them. According to these scrap dealers they feel the Minority NPP led by Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has done nothing to prevent government from passing the 3% withholding tax into law, which these traders consider detrimental to their business. However, reacting to this on Onua Fms morning show Ye sempa Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu explained that he is a product of the Suame magazine and there is no way he can neglect the industrial hub. Saying the minority in parliament did its part in protesting against the 3% withholding tax but government had its way in passing the bill into law.

Anybody who doubts this can cross check with the parliamentary hansard, we have resisted that bill but as always the majority have the numbers and have their way, but the evidence is there for all to see. I have been meeting the various groups in that enclave but due to some travels if I am not able to meet some, it does not mean I neglect them or will not meet them

Musa Acquah the Public Relations Officer of Progressive Scrap Dealers Association, one of the groups in the Suame Magazine, told Bright Kwesi Asempa the host of Ye sempa that the groups intended action was as a result of persistently failure on the part of Mr. Mensah-Bonsu to act on the countless petitions sent to him by the local scrap dealers in Kumasi Suame to impress upon the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reduce what they described as " 3 per-cent killer withholding tax" paid by the scrap metals business operators on their metal materials. "So very soon we will displace a banner in the premises of the Kumasi Suame Magzine that No reduction of 3 per cent killer withholding tax, No vote in December 7, 2016 polls," Musa Acquah stressed.

However Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu pleaded with the scrap dealers to exercise restraints and promised that in the coming weeks he intends meeting with all aggrieved groups in the Suame Magazine. I have been meeting with them, just that my travels have taken me away for sometimes but on Tuesday I will meet them the MP said.
The German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Dr. Barbara Hendricks, will visit Kenya from 28th September to 1st October. The visit is part of a trip to three African countries on the occasion of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in South Africa.

A number of African countries had called for lifting the bans on trade in ivory and rhino horn. Both Germany and Kenya are against such relaxations. Prior to her departure, the Minister made it clear that such proposals had no chance whatsoever of being supported by Germany. "We are strongly in favour of upholding the current bans on trade in ivory and rhino horn. In light of the fact that poaching is out of control, any relaxation of the bans would send a completely wrong signal. We thus oppose the proposals submitted by Swaziland regarding rhino-horn trade, by Zimbabwe and Namibia concerning the resumption of ivory trade, and by South Africa regarding the introduction of a trade mechanism," Hendricks stated.

In Johannesburg, the Minister also handed over the world largest database on ivory to the Secretary General of CITES. The database was developed by a research project in Germany.

During her visit to Kenya, Minister Hendricks is going to have talks on 29th September with the Executive Directors of UN-HABITAT and UNEP in Nairobi.

On 30th September, the Federal Minister will attend the celebrations of the German National Day at the Ambassadors Residence, and welcome the guests together with Mr. Charles Sunkuli, Principal Secretary of the State Department of Environment, who is the Kenyan Guest of Honour.

On Saturday, 1st October, Minister Hendricks will be visiting several projects in Amboseli National Park. The German Environment Ministry has been supporting the project Elerai in cooperation with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). The project aims at training community rangers and improving collaboration with the Tanzanian side. Since the beginning of the project, no elephant has been poached.

The Minister is also going to meet rangers of anti-poaching-brigades from local communities as well as representatives of the Elerai womens group. In particular, the Minister wants to inform herself about ways how to adapt agricultural practices to climate change.
Representatives from energy, infrastructure and education & training companies will be participating in the Department for International Trade (DIT) London trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana, taking place 25-30 September 2016.

This years mission will be led by Carl Woolf, International Trade Adviser, Department for International Trade, London Region.

Commenting, Carl Woolf said: We are delighted to bring UK companies to these two markets. British companies, mainly from London, will be visiting Lagos and Accra with a view to establishing long-term business relations and gain deeper understanding of business practices in both markets. Our delegates, who bring a wide range of products, service and expertise, will be meeting with their Nigerian and Ghanaian counterparts who represent a variety of companies and organisations. I welcome this opportunity to develop trade links between West Africa and UK delegates.

As part of the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) Global Growth Project, the mission aims to enhance the competitiveness of London SMEs in international markets. The mission participants have a range of objectives, including looking for local representatives, qualified distributors or agents and clients.

Notes to editors About the Department for International Trade

The Department for International Trade has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our shores.

We are a specialised body with significant new trade negotiating capacity, taking on the responsibilities of UK Trade & Investment, along with the relevant trade functions of the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. We also have oversight of UK Export Finance and UKTIs Defence and Security Organisation.

DIT works to promote UK exports of goods and services, to support a growing economy that creates wealth for all, supports jobs and meets our wider national interests; deliver the best international trading framework for the UK outside the EU, including through building our capacity to negotiate and administer a national trade policy; and maximise opportunities for wealth creation through supporting Foreign Direct Investment, with a renewed focus on outward FDI (overseas direct investment).

About the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

The European Regional Development Fund is responsible for management of the EU funding which stimulates regional economic development.
The Chief of Gomoa Buduatta in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region has advised residents in his community to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party in the December polls.

Nana Esson Ewusi III said even though the constitution does not allow chiefs to play active part in partisan politics, the

constitution does not stop chiefs from advising their subjects who to vote for in an election.

He made the comment, Tuesday, when the New Patriotic Party running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia paid a courtesy call on him.

The NPP running mate has been on a five day campaign tour of the Central Region which has seen him visit key communities and taken him before chiefs and opinion leaders.

He has made a number of key promises including the assurance to manage the economy more competently than it has been done by the Mahama led administration.

He also promised that the NPP will fix all the social intervention programs that have been mismanaged by the current administration.

Bawumia repeated what the party has described as solutions to Ghanas problems when he appeared before Nana Esson Ewusi III.

The Chief was grateful for the visit by Bawumia and assured that his people will support the aspiring NPP MP, Mr Asumening who they have nicknamed homeboy.

He said there is no way the people will vote against the homeboy and if they vote him, they will have to vote for Dr Bawumia and his flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.

-Myjoyonline
The long running bid to elect a Presiding Member for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Tuesday degenerated into confusion after a fight broke out between Assembly members.

Blows were exchanged for a second time as members of the KMA met for the fifth time to try and elect a presiding member.

Luv FM's Erastus Asare Donkor who was at the venue reported that, the scuffle begun when one Yakubu Tony Aidoo accused the assembly members of being corrupt  which in his opinion is to blame for the delay in electing a Presiding Member.

His comment angered an assembly member from Ayigya whom according to reports, gave Yakubu some dirty slaps.

But for the intervention of some assembly members, Erastus said the scuffle between the two would have turned bloody.

The scuffle however happened at the blindside of the Regional Minister, Alexander Ackon who is having a meeting with the assembly members prior to the election.

The two contestants are Abraham Boadi popularly known as Opoman who is the Ridge Nhyiaso Electoral Area and Samuel Adusei.

This was after Nana Kofi Senya  perceived to be the New Patriotic Party (NPP) choice and Nana Adumhene, reportedly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) step aside after they failed to secure the two-thirds majority votes required by the law.

The KMA has 147 members, 91 of them elected, 44 appointed and 10 ex-officio members, who are Members of Parliament (MPs). The absence of a Presiding Member is said to be hampering activities at the assembly.

But Erastus Asare Donkor said the election is likely to be called off as many assembly members are filing out of the meeting room angry.

 adomonline
Benoni (South Africa) (AFP) - Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith shared an unbeaten 126-run partnership as Australia romped to a nine-wicket win in a one-day international against Ireland at Willowmoore Park on Tuesday.

Khawaja made 82 not out and Smith an unbeaten 59 as Australia chased down a modest target of 199 with 19.5 overs to spare.

It was a second heavy defeat in a row for Ireland, who lost by 206 runs against South Africa at the same venue on Sunday, but set the scene for what Smith expects to be a tough five-match one-day series between South Africa and Australia, starting at Centurion on Friday.

Ireland let slip a promising start, collapsing from 121 for two in the 24th over to 198 all out.

The solid foundation laid by William Porterfield (24), Paul Stirling (30) and John Anderson (39) was destroyed when they lost three wickets for two runs in the space of seven balls.

Anderson was leg before wicket to Scott Boland before new cap Daniel Worrall claimed his first international wicket when he had Gary Wilson caught behind.

Worrall appealed unsuccessfully for leg before wicket when his next ball struck Sean Terry on the pad. But a careless Terry did not get back into his crease and the ball deflected to Smith, whose throw from slip ran out the new batsman.

"We lost our way there," said Ireland captain Porterfield. "It was difficult to come back from that."

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was Australia's most successful bowler, taking three for 37. He made good use of his variations, taking two wickets with googlies and one with a flipper.

Zampa apart, a largely inexperienced Australian bowling attack looked in need of more work ahead of the series against South Africa. They sent down 13 wides, costing a total of 19 runs.

"It was a pretty good performance in the end," said Smith. "We need to work on the way we started with the ball but we came back nicely to bowl them out. We gave them too many freebies and we can't afford to do that against South Africa."

David Warner got Australia off to a rapid start, dominating a 73-run first wicket stand with fellow left-hander Khawaja. Warner hit 48 off 30 balls, with five fours and two sixes, before pushing back a slower ball from Tim Murtagh to be caught and bowled. Murtagh was the only Ireland bowler able to impose a measure of control over the batsmen, taking one for 21 in six overs.

Khawaja was dropped twice, on eight and 73, both times in the deep by Peter Chase off Barry McCarthy, but played a stylish 77-ball innings, hitting eight fours and two sixes.

Smith, returning to action after being rested during a recent one-day series in Sri Lanka, started slowly but finished with 59 off 73 balls.
A group of Ghanaian activists and academicians calling themselves Gandhi Must Stand Movement have recently taken on some professors of the University of Ghana to gross dazzling drips of critical intellectual examination over their stand taken in a petition to the Universitys Council for the removal of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi  a global icon, liberator, thinker and quintessential intellectual.

Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo from the Institute of African Studies, Prof. Akosua Adoma Perbi from the Department of History and Dr. Obadele Kambon also from the Institute of African Studies, all from the University of Ghana, are leading a controversial petition to seek the Universitys Council to remove the statue because of some racists comments that Mahatma Gandhi made in his early youthful life whiles in South Africa during the apartheid struggle. In the said petition, they cite comments by Gandhi referring to Blacks as Kaffirs Indian derogatory slur for slaves and also portrays Indians as a superior race over blacks.

However, their petition have been subjected to criticism and examination, in a counter-petition led by Dr. Kojo Opoku Aidoo (Institute of African Studies), Dr E. Tweneboah Senzu (Bastiat Institute Ghana), Lang T.K.A Nubuor  Director of the Centre for Consciencist Studies and Analysis (CENCSA), Mr. Abraham Allotey (Business Consultant) and Mr. Isaac Winful Dadzie (Researcher and member of the Convention Peoples Party). The counter-petition appeals to the University Council to conserve/preserve the statue on grounds that the anti-Gandhi petition lacks merit and true historical examination of the entire history of his life. They questioned the methodology used in selecting only few aspects of Gandhis life.

It is incorrect to examine aspects of a data and make analysis without a full comprehension of the entire data. They state that It is most strange that the GandhiMustComeDown Petitioners do not examine Gandhis actions and pronouncements beyond 1920. If we fast forward to the 1930s, we find, as Gussae Hamror writes in connection with Gandhi: "he himself (Gandhi) wrote about his many flaws in South Africa in his autobiography:-) What you will find in Ghandi's legacy is not righteousness, but honesty, self-critique and growth, combined with a rare dismissal of personal material comfort and ambitions. It will be a big mistake for humanists to vilify him. We actually need more folks today like Ghandi who are brave enough to criticize themselves as openly and repent as he did.

In making reference to his later life, the counter-petitioners further state that Gandhi, before his audience, in 1931, refers to Africans as rich, noble and no savages! In 1939, in a correspondence with S.S. Tema, member of the African Congress, Gandhi said "You, on the other hand, are the sons of the soil who are being robbed of your inheritance. You are bound to resist that. Yours is a far bigger issue." Gandhi to Rev S.S. Tema, member of the African Congress, January 1, 1939 (CWMG, Volume 68, pp. 272-273.). Gandhi therefore endorsed Africans legitimate right to self-determination.

On June 14 2016, the Gandhi statue was unveiled at the Recreational Quadrangle of the campus by the Prime Minister of India and the University Authorities. The statue has generated intellectual discourse over Gandhis life and many people are signing both petitions. People are keen to know which of the parties will win the consideration of the University Council.
27.09.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - Multikids Foundation in collaboration with the Special Mothers Project would on the October 1, organise a workshop for parents and care-givers of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

The workshop is part of activities to commemorate World Cerebral Palsy Day in Ghana. The celebration is on the theme: 'A child with CP - A child with possibilities.'

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Initiator of the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation campaign on CP said the workshop would serve as a skill-learning platform for care-givers.

The workshop would bring parents and care-givers in contact with professionals/specialists who helps with the management of CP.

World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated every first Wednesday of October. It is a movement of people with CP and their families, and the organisations that support them, in more than 50 countries.

Its vision is to ensure that children and adults with CP have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in the society.

Ms Amanda Budge, CEO of Multikids Inclusive Academy and the Multikids Foundation, said it is her passion to see every child with CP and every special needs child in school.

'How I wish that Multikids Inclusive Academy could open its doors to all the children but we have limited resources and cannot,' she said.

Ms Budge called on corporate organisations to support the Foundation to enable them accept more children.

GNA
By Ken Sackey, GNA

Sefwi, Sept. 27, GNA - The SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has initiated stakeholder engagements aimed at strengthening relations between cocoa farmers and the Sefwi Traditional Council towards facilitating the replanting of overage cocoa farms.

This follows the development of a farm agreement by the Sefwi Traditional Council for tenant farmers occupying stool lands in the area.

The Omanhene of Sefwi, Katakyie Kwasi Bumangama II, said the draft farm agreement sought to renew farmer- landlord relationship among stool land occupants in the Traditional Area.

He explained that the Traditional Authority had no intention of making cocoa farming or replanting difficult for farmers in the area.

He extolled the important role tenant farmers played in the cocoa economy of the traditional area.

The Omanhene gave the assurance that the Traditional Council would continue to provide the needed support to farmers as they continued to give the due recognition to the stool.

SNV's initiative seeks to deepen farmer understanding of the draft farm agreement developed by the Sefwi Traditional Council, which aimed at renewing the tenancy of farmers and facilitating the documentation of occupants of the stool lands.

SNV also facilitated meetings that brought together tenant farmers, the traditional authority, private sector organisations, including Olam, and the Produce Buying Company (PBC), and other stakeholders.

The meetings helped to establish common grounds between the Sefwi Traditional Council and tenant farmers in the Bia West District, including agreement on flexible terms to enable tenant farmers to initiate replanting of their overaged farms.

SNV's initiative builds on previous efforts by COCOBOD.

This constitutes a shift from the well-known traditional land acquisition for sharecropping systems, including efforts to delink cropping from landownership, irrespective of how long a tenant farmer has occupied a piece of land.

It is a move away from the initial customary grants - a one-off token, popularly known as drink money, meant to show loyalty or allegiance to a stool for land acquired for farming or development purposes.

SNV's initiative is being done under a project dubbed: 'From full sun to shaded cocoa agroforestry systems'. The project responds to the unsustainable cocoa farming practices by supporting farmers to adopt sustainable intensification practices.

Overall, the project is supporting farmers to rehabilitate 4000 hectares of overage cocoa farms, strengthening integrated land use planning through multi-stakeholder platforms, and ensuring responsible souring of cocoa beans by piloting deforestation-free supply chains.

It also ensures forest monitoring in collaboration with three private sectors organisations in the selected forest-cocoa interface areas of the high forest zone of Ghana.

The project is being implemented with funding support from the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) over a period of three years.

GNA
By Emmanuel Asante Attakora, GNA

Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - As part of activities lined up for its 75th Anniversary celebration, the Hansen Road SDA Church, has organised an inter-branch debate among the various SDA Church branches.

The debate which took place at the Hansen Road Church premises in Accra saw the Dansoman, Labone, Odorkor and Hansen Road branches debating on topics geared towards soul winning.

The Dansoman and Labone branches debated on the topic: 'God's children in the old testament suffered more than their counterparts in the New Testament,' which was aimed at outlining the sufferings of God's children in both the old and New Testament with Dansoman speaking against the motion.

In the second debate on the topic: 'Social media is doing more harm than good to Christians,' Hansen road spoke against it as Odorkor gave countless reasons to affirm the topic for the day.

The General Manager, SDA Educational Unit, Peter Yaw Frempah, in an interview with GNA said he was over whelmed by the level of insight and professionalism the debaters exhibited.

'We as judges have been very satisfied with the debate and all that went onIt has proved to us that our members are learning.

'They are on most of the social media platforms, they know all the contemporary issues and for me, it is a plus.

'What they exhibited here tells me that they can never be intimidated anywhere in the course of the Great Commission that Jesus Christ has given to us.'

Frempah used the occasion to urge all Adventist to use the ardent of social media to preach and reach out to their friends and followers on the various platforms to the benefit of the gospel rather than social vices.

'We all use the social media for things that will strengthen us, we get messages and readings that will strengthen our faith.

'Every morning, the things that I read from the social media compliment what I have studied from the bible.

'You will be left behind if you don't get on to the social media,' he added.

Elder Leonard Bob Lester Donkor, Chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee, who spoke to GNA said the debate formed part of the number of activities the church has had to precede the 75th anniversary.

GNA
The book Things Fall Apart is the magnum opus of one of the worlds greatest writers, Chinua Achebe. The book is much revered mostly for its popular protagonist, Okonkwo. Others give much reverence to the book because of its show of how the African can speak in complex language by the use of proverbs. The writer states in the book that among the Ibo, the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. I think this resonates with all Africans too and not only the Ibos.

Some of my all time favorite proverbs in that powerful book are a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness, looking at a king's mouth," said an old man, "one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast", the sun will shine on those who stand before it shines on those who kneel under them. Another one that I love profoundly is when the moon is shining, the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.

If you do not know the meaning of the last one then let me help you. I love reading. Permit me to say reading is bae. Reading gives us wings to fly. The more one reads, the more he learns. The more he learns, the more he enlarges the lens through which he focuses the world. There is something so special and unique about reading that one cant explain but only readers understand. Ben Carson states that If we commit ourselves to reading thus increasing our knowledge, only God limits how far we can go in this world. To say I love reading is an understatement. I want to live a reading life.

Therefore, when the President of Ghana Association of Writers, Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng sent me an invite to the Ghana Association of Writers Book Festival (Gawbofest), my spirits got alighted, my hackles rose to the heavens. And because it was the reading moon that was shining, the cripple in me became hungry for the walk in the proverb.

The event came off on the 21st September, 2016. Coincidentally yet significantly, it was the birthday of the first President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, a man who was reading personified. He had about ninety-percent of his luggage when returning from the United States of America and United Kingdom composed of books. A testament to his overwhelming reading habits.

Under the chairmanship of the great Ghanaian writer Ama Ata Aidoo, the event attracted men and women across the length and breadth of the nation and beyond who blazed and are still blazing the trail of the honored life of literacy. Renowned Ghanaian poet, cultural-Activist and Academic, Atukwei Okai was present in his resplendently-beautiful apparel. The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Denja Abdullahi, the Minister for Tourism, Dzifa Gomashie and many others that space will not allow us to mention graced the occasion.

The colorful event was laden with speeches, poetry recitals and performances, book readings, art, film show and feet-moving Borborbor music.

The message delivered by the Secretary-General of Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Prof. Atukwei Okai was poignant and solid to say the least. He took us though the significant role African writers played against the ignoble colonialism and also their resolution to preserve African spirit and brotherhood through the agency of literature. He also showed the strong relationship between the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) and Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). In the year 1975, he was made an Associate member of ANA founded by the famed writer, Chinua Achebe. In a reciprocal style and fashion, the first president of Senegal, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka were made Fellows of Ghana Association of writers in later years. He underscored the need to imbue in our children the honored life reading. This he stated will give the child a future. And what we need to understand in this country is that the future of a child is the future of the country.

To further cement the relationship between GAW and its Nigerian counterpart, the President the Association of Nigerian Authors told the gathering how as a child, he used to read the works of Atukwei Okai, Prof.Kofi Awoonor, Ama Ata Aidoo, Cameron Doudu and other great Ghanaian writers. He pointed to the fact that Ghanaian writers are much revered in the land where the man who first fired the spirit of Nationalism in Nkrumah hails from. That is the first President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe. He also recounted how the Pan-African Writers Association was formed and its headquarters situated in Ghana. He ended by presenting a citation of honor to Professor Atukwei Okai.

The Guest Speaker for the day was our own Dr. Doris Yaa Dartey. The highlight of her speech centered on the empowering effect of reading. As a child who used to work on the village farm with her mum, she was one day chased by a green snake. Since that day, she resolved to read more in order to move herself far away from the habitats of snakes. Another interesting story she recounted was how they used to wrap what her mum sold in paper which she called graphic (most Ghanaians call every newspaper graphic). Eventually she read more and served as the Board member of Graphic Communications Group Limited. She also declared Ghana sick of a disease she termed National Reading Deficiency Syndrome and charged the Association to take it upon its shoulders to ensure a well-established reading nation.

 The ancient Chinese sage Confucius once said, "Curiosity is more important than knowledge itself, and interest is even more important than pure curiosity". The Book Festival helps arouse people's interests in reading, foster good reading habits and promote the development of Ghana's cultural industry. This was what the Guest of Honor, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Sun Baohung opened with her address. She never left without reminding us of the Chinese commitment towards reading and scholarship.  The ancient Chinese mottoes and stories to encourage reading are countless, such as "There are houses of gold and ladies of beauty in the books", which means reading helps us learn so much about beauty and truth that we can live a better life in our own ways. This is frequently referred to motivate students to read more books and study diligently to be men of insight. Chinese people believe that "One has to be a good scholar before he becomes a good official, and a good official should never stop learning". She intimated.

Reading as a man's hobby may change his life. A nation advocating reading and attaching great importance to education would lift the nation's comprehensive quality to flourish and grow. Highly regarding reading and education, so to speak, is a strong driving force to the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation. The strategies of "rejuvenating China through science and technology" and "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" currently adopted by Chinese government are also consistent with this paradigm.

One outstanding moment of the day also on the day was the book-reading and poetry recitation and performance session. It was all edutaining (entertaining and educative) when poets like Poet Pobi (who dazzled everyone with his baritone voice yet profound and deep lyrical composition), African Prince etc mounted the stage to do their performances.

The students also from Accra Girls Senior High School, Osu Presec, Jack and Jill spiced up the place with their colorful uniforms and wonderful pieces of art on papers. The Ghana Library Authority also came with the mobile van and computers to add a technological bite to the gathering.

The President of GAW, Nana Kwasi-Gyan Apenteng told us the formation of GAW coincides with the year Ghana attained independence. Thus GAW is going to be sixty years old next year together with the republic of Ghana. GAW must therefore stamp and entrench its authority as the vanguard that is leading the charge of civilization drive in the country. Reading brings massive civilization.

The Jews are leading the world with knowledge, industry and commerce. I do not recall a Jewish home without a book on the table as stated by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor.

The book Life Realities and Strategies by Sheikh Ishaak Nuamah taught me one thing. It taught me that we must read because we are created to do just that. And mans advancement is entirely dependent on it. It is source of spiritual and mental empowerment. The instruction Read is a direction towards curiosity and civilization.

Inusah Mohammed

[email protected]

The writer is a Youth-Activist and a Student of Knowledge.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam

27.09.2016 LISTEN

The Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has expressed worry that Africa is more likely to experience negative progress in the 15year United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as oil resource producing countries failed to save booming resources for difficult times.

He said the next recovering in oil prices may not likely to impact positive in the progress of the SDGs in the current oil price shocks because of the failure by African governments to meet the numerous targets in the past Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) during the boom periods.

Dr. Amin noted that history has shown that in spite of the oil and mineral price boom of the last decade, most of Africa including many oil producing countries failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He indicated that this period has variously been described as that of a wasted development opportunity.

Is it therefore safe to predict that the next boom if it happens at all will also be wasted even as we increase the development targets from the MDGs to the SDGs? he intimated.

Dr. Amin Mohammed Adam said this at the opening ceremony of the Africa Oil Governance Summit 2016 held in Ghana under the theme,  Rising Through the Rubbles of Oil Price Shocks-Strategies for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development organised by ACEP.

He added that failure to manage the effects of oil price volatility and particularly long periods of lower prices, could land a devastating blow on our development efforts.

It simply illustrates the difficulties ahead of our countries especially in Africa, as a result of our failure to save booming resource revenues for today, he stated.

Dr. Amin emphasised that the last 2 years have seen many oil producing countries suffering under the heavy weight of declining revenues as a result of the oil price shock.

He added that African producers have been the worse hit by this development due largely in part to their less diversified economies, over-dependence on oil revenues, lower tax effort, fiscal indiscipline and corruption among others.

In spite of the lower benchmark prices of crude oil used by most of these countries in their national budgets, Dr. Amin noted that they have been compelled to make difficult fiscal adjustments which are not only unpopular with their people, but also affect their macroeconomic outlook.

For some countries therefore, the oil price crush provided room for the introduction of tough fiscal measures. For example, the government of Nigeria, in its 2016 Budget, outlined a plan to increase taxes and remove fuel subsidies. The government of Ghana imposed new taxes and levies on petroleum products and electricity, and withdrew subsidies from petroleum, he stated.

According to him, there are many others who are still faced with policy dilemmas whilst their economies are suffocating from the oil squeeze.

Dr. Amin said the governance challenge is that the competitiveness of oil companies declines and there is potential for companies to demand a water-down of strict standards when negotiating new contracts as some companies consider such standards as cost premia.

He added that the attractiveness of oil producing countries declines forcing them to relax high governance standards as a way to attracting investments from investors that are opposed to open governance rules.

In this situation, Dr. Amin posited that investors who are weakened by the diming prospects of making supernormal profits but who are strengthened in their negotiation positions against broke governments, exploit these vulnerability to further demand lower fiscal terms, exposing these countries to budgetary shortfalls and imposing thereby unpalatable consequences on the public well-being.

According to him, in both instances, governments are likely to slow down governance reforms such as open contracting standards, the adoption of open and competitive bidding, disclosure of beneficial ownership, higher environmental standards, etc.

He intimated that these fiscal measures are no doubt hurting the citizens and have put pressure on our incomes and living conditions.

Our governments call this austerity or as it is often said in Ghana tightening your belt, he stated.

Addressing the conference, Dr. Amin concluded that the relevance of diversifying our economies from oil dependence, the need to improve on our tax efforts to match with the potential of our economies, the importance of fiscal rules and fiscal responsibility legislations, and above all the development of good governance structures; are certainly not new to us.

He however indicated that the issue at stake now is how do we implement these measures? What strategies do we have to adopt to achieve the desired results?

Dr. Amin said he has no doubt that the experts from Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Africa and others gathered at the two day conference will show us the way.
The Governments of Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Finland, Indonesia , Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zambia jointly declare their support for the following:

United Nations peacekeeping is an indispensable part of the international communitys response to threats to international peace and security. Effective prevention of, and response to, many of todays threats to international peace and security require partnerships with other countries. UN peacekeeping is one of the most tangible examples of effective partnership and is unique in its ability to leverage the strengths of many states. UN peacekeeping can contribute to the resolution of conflicts, prevent their recurrence and create the stability necessary for peace to flourish. Peacekeeping is in the national security interest of all nations. We salute the contribution of the brave men and women that serve in peacekeeping missions, and remember with sadness those who have sacrificed their lives in support of this cause.

Modern conflicts demand modern responses. Peacekeeping must be deployed as part of a broader strategy and must be more field-oriented and people-centred. Todays peacekeepers must be able to successfully implement their mandates, including protecting civilians, themselves and their assets. We reaffirm the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of the parties, impartiality, and the non-use of force except in self-defence and in defence of the mandate, noting that these are consistent with mandates authorised by the Security Council that seek to tackle new challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, such as force protection and safety and security, protection of civilians, and asymmetric threats. We welcome this opportunity for Defence Ministers and their representatives to come together to ensure sustained follow-up to the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping and to discuss practical improvements to the ways in which peacekeeping missions are conducted.

We recall the report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Panels recommendations. We also recall the high-level review of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), the report of the Advisory Group of Experts on the Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture. We underline the importance of improving UN policing and note the findings of the External Review of the UN Police Division.

We must always strive to ensure that peacekeeping is as effective as possible, and evolves to meet todays challenges, and the challenges of tomorrow. That calls for improvements in three areas, the three Ps of peacekeeping: planning, pledges and performance. Modern peacekeeping demands improved political and military planning throughout the mission lifecycle, with clear and sequenced mandates. It needs Members States to pledge well trained and equipped personnel that give missions the capability to deliver those mandates. And it needs high levels of performance from civilian and uniformed peacekeepers, underpinned by effective and accountable leadership. Achieving progress across these three areas is of critical importance to all Member States, and is dependent on cooperation and partnership built on mutual trust among Members of the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries and the UN Secretariat so that decisions taken on peacekeeping benefit from the views of those serving in the field.

Pledges

We welcome the outstanding contribution made by the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping in New York in September 2015. We also recall the Chiefs of Defence Conference in March 2015 and the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UN COPS) in New York in June 2016. We reaffirm our support for the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping declaration, which recommits us to working together to improve peacekeeping.

We welcome the pledges made by 52 Member States and international organisations at the Leaders Summit, and the 30 new pledges that have been made since then, including those by Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Burundi, Canada, Chad, Egypt, France, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, and those made at UN COPS in June 2016. Collectively these pledges provide an exceptional step forward in the capabilities available to the UN. We call on Member States and the Secretariat to work together to ensure these commitments are ready for deployment and encourage all Member States to ensure that their pledges are ready and available for use by registering them through the new Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. We call on all Member States to offer further pledges that meet identified capability gaps.

We welcome the establishment and work of the Strategic Force Generation and Capability Planning Cell and call on the Secretary-General to ensure it is able to perform fully its functions, and appreciate the work of the Office of Military Affairs and the Police Division and ask the Secretary-General to continue to proactively identify and address capability gaps for the delivery of current peacekeeping mission mandates, as well as future anticipated capability needs.

We need peacekeepers that are capable and willing of rapidly responding to emerging crises. We welcome the commitments of Member States at the London Ministerial to make their military and police units available for rapid deployment, and encourage others to come forward with similar units that are deployable within 30, 60 or 90 days. We urge the Secretariat to consider a range of methods to adequately encourage troop- and police-contributing countries to maintain rapidly deployable stand-by units. We urge all troop- and police-contributing countries to streamline their deployment processes and call on the Secretariat to facilitate the process of pledges moving to higher states of readiness. We call on the Secretariat and the troop- and police-contributing countries to ensure that at least 12,000 troops and police are at Level 3 of the PCRS by the end of 2016 and that 4,000 of those are pledged at the Rapid Deployment Level. We further call on the Secretary-General to ensure that the UN, in particular the Departments of Management, Field Support and Peacekeeping Operations, has the systems in place to deploy, absorb and sustain these newly pledged assets rapidly and in accordance with the specific needs of individual missions, including in such areas as airlift, rapid engineering support, force headquarters and police and civilian recruitment.

We recognise the indispensable role of women in UN peacekeeping, and in conflict resolution as a whole, and underscore that their participation at all levels is key to the operational effectiveness of missions as well as to the success and sustainability of peace processes. We remain committed to increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles, and we want to see the integration of womens needs and gender perspectives into all aspects of peacekeeping. We urge the Secretary General to prioritise the appointment of more women in senior UN leadership positions and to double the numbers of women in military and police contingents of UN peacekeeping operations by 2020. We call on all Member States to increase the number of women as individual police officers as part of specialised teams and formed police units, as well as in leadership positions and professional posts to reach the target of 20 percent launched through the Global Effort initiative in 2009. Member States should also prioritise the nomination of more female correction officers. We further call on all Member States to develop and implement National Action Plans on Women, Peace, and Security, and to increase the number of women officers serving in missions as Staff Officers and Military Observers, and attending UN Staff Office and Military Observer Training Courses. We aim for 15% of such roles being filled by women by December 2017. We also ask Member States to ensure all their training is gender-sensitive and where necessary includes training to advance specific skills of women officers in relation to the role of Military Observer. Every UN peacekeeping mission should have the ability to engage with women as well as men in UN mission areas. We urge the Secretary-General to work with Member States to increase the number of UN women mediators. We support Military Observer Team sites including Mixed Engagement Teams with multiple women officers and mixed Formed Police Units of at least one platoon of women officers. We call for Military and Police Gender Advisers in both Field Mission Headquarters and within each self-sustaining formed unit.

We encourage the Secretary-General to continue to take steps to strengthen the accountability of senior leaders for mainstreaming gender and improving gender balance in their respective missions and departments and welcome the introduction of gender targets as performance indicators in all compacts with senior managers at United Nations headquarters and in the field. We call on all Member States to take substantive measures to increase gender balance in peacekeeping; there are a variety of ways to support this action, including appointing Gender Champions in their national systems, taking steps to increase the number of women in their national militaries, and providing the UN with information on what military roles are open to servicewomen alongside a breakdown of the proportion of male and female officers by rank. These measures should act as a stepping stone to fulfilling the Security Councils request in resolution 2242 to, as a minimum, double the number of women peacekeepers by 2020.

Planning

We call upon the Secretary-General to ensure that mission planning and assessment fully integrates the military, police and civilian parts of the mission, and takes into account other partners including the host government and regional actors, to accomplish the mandated tasks, and that mission planning and assessment considers from the outset how missions will complement the work of existing UN staff in-country. Improved assessments are essential for the planning process to better programme capacity building, develop realistic mandate implementation options, establish objective accountability requirements and define expectations. We urge that the needs and participation of women be integrated at all stages of the planning process. We further stress the importance of ensuring that assessment and planning processes enable missions to prevent and respond to risks of violence against civilians, including in their most extreme form of mass atrocities. We welcome the establishment of the Strategic Analysis and Planning capacity in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, which aims to strengthen the analysis of, and responses to, emerging conflict, and encourage greater engagement with Member States regarding its work. Recognising that the experience and expertise of troop- and police-contributing countries can greatly assist the planning of peacekeeping operations, we underscore the importance of effective consultations among the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries and the Secretariat during planning processes. We also highlight the need for strategic communication in the countries where missions are deployed to clearly communicate the role and objectives of the mission to the local population.

We call on the UN to ensure that Force Commanders are empowered to have more control over the use of mission assets in-extremis situations, including medical and casualty evacuations. As Member States we will strive to ensure that missions and contingents have access to appropriate expertise, technological capabilities and resources to improve safety and security in dangerous environments, including night-flying capacity and appropriate means of communication.

We encourage the Secretary-General to enhance missions intelligence capacities and to develop a more cohesive and integrated UN system that stretches from the field to headquarters. These intelligence capacities can increase situational awareness, enhance the safety and security of UN personnel and assets, and improve the delivery of mission mandates, including the protection of civilians.

Performance

Better assessment and planning, and a broader and stronger set of capabilities generated by pledges, are the foundation of better performance. That requires peacekeepers to be properly equipped, trained and led. While the majority of UN personnel perform well, the few who do not are all too visible and there are inadequate measures in place to enhance performance. The performance of military and police personnel is a collective responsibility of Member States and the Secretariat. Notwithstanding that troop- and police-contributing countries remain responsible for the delivery of training we recognise that there is a further necessity to set out in a single place a comprehensive list of the minimum requirements and standards for all pre-deployment training, including key protection tasks such as preventing conflict-related sexual violence. We support the establishment of the UN Training of Trainers Centre.

We reaffirm the importance of peacekeepers delivering fully on their mandated responsibilities to protect civilians; in this context we note the initiative by Member States to develop, as relevant, the best practices set out in the Kigali Principles. Instances of misconduct or the failure to carry out mandated tasks effectively, especially when they are not addressed transparently and robustly, undermine confidence in the will and capability of the UN. We call on the Secretary-General to carry out his commitment to report all such instances to the Security Council and to take clear actions to ensure accountability for them, including through developing further the steps taken to assess performance of units and staff, mechanisms to train-up poor performers where possible, and for replacement where needed. We call upon the Secretary-General to develop the means for capturing and sharing instances of best practice, including lessons learned from addressing poor performance and misconduct, in the field so that the UN and peacekeeping nations can learn from those experiences.

Successful missions require capable, courageous and accountable leadership. We call on the Secretary-General to improve and strengthen the competitive assessment methodology developed to select candidates for senior leadership positions, to ensure a transparent selection process based on merit, competence, and the needs of individual missions. We commit to nominating experienced and capable personnel for senior positions. We encourage the Secretary-General to expand his pilot mentoring programme, which provides support and additional training for Heads and deputy Heads of Mission. We encourage Member States to support this initiative by making available former senior leaders to participate as mentors. We call upon Member States to use senior leadership courses and to commit to assign their most capable officers to lead and participate in peacekeeping. Within this we affirm the urgent need for more women in leadership positions. We call on the Secretary-General to develop a cadre of experienced future candidates for senior leadership positions.

All UN personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping operations must be committed to the highest standards of conduct. We underscore our commitment and support to the Secretary-Generals zero tolerance policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and commend and support the comprehensive initiatives in his enhanced programme of action to protect against sexual exploitation and abuse as set out in the report to the General Assembly A/69/779 and A/70/729 of February 2015 and 2016 and we are committed to taking serious and concerted action to combat SEA. We also support the important work being undertaken by the Secretary-Generals Special Coordinator on Improving United Nations Response to Allegations of SEA. We reiterate the need for Member States to fully vet and train their troops before deployment, and to ensure that National Investigation Officers are included in all military units deployed to a field mission. We commend the enhanced collaboration between the United Nations and Member States and the steps taken through this important partnership to prevent, investigate and hold accountable personnel for acts of SEA. Victims must be placed at the centre of efforts to protect and assist and appeal to Member States to support the initiative of the Secretary-General.

We highlight the continued need to strengthen measures against all forms of abuse and exploitation by any member of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. We underscore the importance of the implementation of Security Council resolution 2272 (2016) for tackling SEA cases in peacekeeping missions. We note the Secretary-Generals operational guidance on Security Council resolution 2272. We recognise the commitment and important role of troop- and police contributing countries and UN peacekeeping operations in preventing conflict-related sexual violence consistent with Security Council resolutions 1960 and 2106, and underline the need for continued focussed engagement of these actors to combat this scourge, including through contributing to stronger monitoring, analysis and information on incidents and perpetrators of sexual violence, and facilitating engagement with parties to conflict for protection commitments.

We support the Secretary-Generals call for a renewed focus on the primacy of politics and recognise that peacekeeping is intended to support, not substitute for, the implementation of political strategies and agreements that ensure sustainable peace. Achieving lasting agreements that resolve conflict remains in the hands of the parties to that conflict. By committing today to strengthen planning, consider increasing our pledges, and ensure the performance of peacekeeping operations, we work collectively to better enable the United Nations to achieve lasting, sustainable peace. Building effective institutions and democratic practices to help countries emerge from conflict and instability are primarily the responsibilities of state governments and societies that host UN peacekeeping operations. We also remind all countries hosting a peacekeeping mission and all parties to conflicts of their obligations related to the safety of peacekeeping personnel and assets and call on these countries to respect the missions freedom of movement and action in support of its mandate.

We reaffirm the critical role that peacekeeping missions play to address todays international peace and security challenges and their potential to continue to meet the challenge of the dynamic threat environment that we face as individual nations and as an international community. We remain committed to ensuring that our national militaries, police services, and civilian staff are able to meet the new and growing demands of peacekeeping and that the UN Secretariat is able to utilise our contributions to their greatest effect.
The Tema Ministers Organisation (TMO) has called on the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Isaac Ashai Odamtten, to intensify education on sanitation to ensure that there is no more littering in the city.

According to the TMO, which is made up of pastors who live and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Tema Metropolis, people who break the laws should be brought to order or prosecuted for indecent disposal of waste.

The Tema pastors further called on the TMA boss to put in place measures to sanitise the city by encouraging residents to drop their litter or waste into two different litter bins, which would be positioned at vantage points across the Metro.

The pastors explained that one of the bins should be used to collect organic (food) waste, while the other to be used to take care of non-organic (other) waste.

This was contained in a communique dubbed Clean City to be presented to the Tema Mayor, and announced at a programme organised by the TMO to sensitise residents of the Metropolis about the need for them to stop littering the city, at the forecourt of the TMA.

Before assembling at the forecourt of the TMA, the Tema ministers embarked on a float from the Tema General Hospital through the major streets of the city, picking litter along the stretch to demonstrate their commitment towards their agenda.

All the aspiring parliamentary candidates and Members of Parliament (MPs) of all the political parties in the three constituencies in the Metropolis, namely; Tema East, West and Central, as well as the TMA boss, were invited to the programme, but only the MP for Tema East, Titus Glover, and the MCE, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, turned up.

Addressing participants of the float and other top ranking officials within the Metropolis, Rev David Nagbemedor, President of the TMO, he advised the Assembly that once two different bins have been created, the picking up of these wastes should be done separately and discharged at their designated sites.

The non-organic waste can be sent to an intermediary warehouse for segregation for onward distribution or processing, he noted.

He explained further: In sorting out the non-organic waste, which is said to be 30% of the waste generated by all households, value is made, and will also cut down the waste sent to the landfill; the organic could, as well, be used as compost or fertiliser.

This, according to him, would help focus resources and collaboration to better respond to the waste management challenges and bring the Harbour City to its former glory, where it was regarded as the cleanest city in the whole of West Africa.

The TMO admitted that even though the Assembly has the requisite by-laws on sanitation, it lacked the capacity to enforce those laws, as a result of its limitation, as far as financial and human resources are concerned.

Rev Nagbemedor, who is also the Head Pastor of the Tema Central Assemblies of God Church at Community Four (4), said: Faced with all these challenges, TMO also recognised that the regulatory by-laws, as well as sanitation and waste management operations, have become too complicated and fragmented.

He continued: Once waste generation is an inevitable aspect of life, it becomes a matter of urgent need to observe the process from generation to disposal, in order to determine the areas of critical concern, and tackle them, in order to avoid pollution to a large extent, and also preserve good health.

The benefits from converting useful resources in our solid waste stream into valuable products are lost when they are dump in landfill sites, which may soon not be available. Value can therefore be generated, if the waste is sorted or segregated at household levels into organic and non-organic.

The Tema Mayor, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, noted that since cleanliness is next to godliness, residents in Tema must learn to clean their surroundings without getting tired, the same way they have been praying without ceasing.

This, he said, is because just one big clean up exercise, as has been done today does not mean the city would be clean forever, saying "it must be a continuous affair to ensure that our city is clean indeed."

This is an annual affair; but let us have the reawakening that what we have done today, would be the base standard for us in the coming years, and in the coming year, we should be able to even decentralise and ensure that every community is taking it up, because there is a church in every community in Tema.

And if there is a church in every community in Tema, then this signal we are sending across must happen in every community in Tema.

It is important that we clean our city; it is important that we participate in the cleaning exercise, and it is also important that we participate in the National Sanitation Day, which happens on the first Saturday of every month, the TMA boss observed.

Continuing, he said the Assembly is planning to decentralise the exercise, because it wants the various electoral areas in the Metropolis to own it, because we have responsibility to clean our environment, adding, We will continue to provide logistics, and even if it is not enough, it must be the base on which all persons can contribute to make Tema better.

On his part, the MP for Tema East, Titus Glover, said the problem of poor sanitation in the Tema Metropolis is attitudinal, "because people clean their homes, and when they come out and find no dust bins in which they can dump them, they throw them into drains."

He noted that the most important aspect of this practice is that when they throw it into the drains during the raining season, it tends to block it, and eventually cause flooding in the city.

According to the outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator, his biggest worry is that, sometimes, some of the residents throw even human faeces into the drains, and called on Tema residents to desist from the practice.
Nigeria may be Africas big brother but it has not exactly been one to look up to as an example of best practices, whether with respect to managing an economy or governing a people. Ghana has at times been a better example of economic growth, especially when compared to Nigeria and the country certainly has a deeper democratic process having had six consecutive presidential elections that have been mostly deemed transparent.

Nigeria has repeatedly blown its chances at greatness over the years, the latest being an oil boom era that did not only leave the country as it met it  if not worse - but with fat domestic debts to boot. Those who refused to manage that boom got booted out of government last year via one of the countrys most transparent elections. That era has since transited into a slow growth period, then an economic recession that appears a much needed spanking for Nigeria to expand its economic base and indeed build an economy that actually creates jobs and lifts many out of poverty, as much as it earns the country foreign exchanges. Those who were voted in last year are not without doubt that if the recession continue to be the order of the day into the politicking of the 2019 elections, they will get kicked by the same votes that kicked their predecessors out.

You see, even Nigeria gets it right sometimes and when it does, it often makes itself a very useful example at least for the rest of Africa. The reason is simple enough; Nigeria is probably the hardest and toughest country to govern in Africa. By its sheer size, its diversity and its history, it is a miracle of gigantic proportions that it is even today a going concern and while braving some of its age old challenges, continues to provide good examples for the rest of Africa to follow. The one that matters of those examples to Ghana at this time is Nigerias exemplary show at its March 2015 elections.

It was billed as the elections that would finally break Nigeria into the fragments of its storming mass. There was even an unproven Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) prediction of a 2015 breakup of Nigeria. Even the usually bullish political class was palpably scared as it set up peace committees and alliances built solely with the purpose of making sure that irrespective of where the pendulum of election results swung in 2015, there would be peace. The idea was to have the peace process led by the main actors in the electoral process; in this case, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the main candidates of the All Progressives Congresss (APC) MuhammaduBuhari and the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) Goodluck Jonathan.

Things may not be as pronounced and dicey in Ghana this year as they were in Nigeria last year but there are obvious similarities; there is a cry for change that one cannot pretend to be oblivious to and there has been a ramping up of projects and programmes by the incumbent government.

Like former Nigerian President Jonathan in 2011, President John Mahama won election under controversial circumstances in 2012 amidst anger from the opposition with claims there were enough technical glitches with the voter register that certainly affected the final results. This election was held against the backdrop of Ghana as Africas fastest growing economy. A change in the fortune of commodity prices globally and Ghanas own making now make those days look like a score years ago.

Some Ghanaians are suspicious of new infrastructural projects surfacing just months before elections but it does appear that the current administration has indeed improved the countrys infrastructure  continued flooding in Accra will easily wash this assertion down as a limited picture but even floods in the developed cities of the world show perfection remain an elusive human endeavor. Has Mr. Mahama done enough to get a second mandate?  a third consecutive mandate for his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ramblings on Ghanaian social media indicate he has not done enough. JohnDramaniMahama has failed as a president, it's that simple, is the succinct way @JayGraftGh put it on Twitter. @YOwusua on her part tweeted, Honestly, lately, when I see/hear people support JohnMahama and his failed NDC I panic wondering.... What have they been or fed with? @ChapeeGear tweeted in reference to the charismatic former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, I'm yet to hear Rawlings asking Ghanaians to vote for JohnMahama. That could mean one thing.

Things are not all gloomy for the Ghanaian president. The opposition is far from united in the way that Nigerias main opposition parties united and even got boosted by a then imploding PDP who even lost heavy weight members to the newly formed opposition party APC, an alliance of main opposition parties that has since gone on to show major cracks in its own evolution.

It is a battle of old foes in Ghana as the battling Nana Akufo-Addo returns again with the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Mr. Akufo-Addo will find inspiration in knowing that Nigerias President Buhari lost three consecutive presidential elections from 2003 to 2011 before clinching the sit in 2015. This is not to say Mr. Akufo-Addo who is running for the third time should prepare for yet another loss.

Other parties involved in the 2016 Ghana presidential elections are the Convention Peoples party (CPP), the Peoples National Convention and the Progressive Peoples party who appear to have come late to the party.

It is interesting to see some media platforms in Ghana take obviously partisan stands, but this is not unique to Ghana as even in the United States that prides itself for its democratic values, partisan media platforms rule the airwaves  not just Fox News. In the midst of all these, the overriding interest of Ghana and its people must be well and truly above other interests and this must be seen to be so.

More than anything else, this was the central theme of interparty conversations in Nigeria pre-2015 and during the 2015 elections; that the interest and survival of Nigeria was beyond the interest of the two main candidates and both candidates were made to say something to that effect explicitly. Photos of both then president Goodluck Jonathan and then APC candidate MuhammaduBuhari hugging each other were some of the most showed photos in the traditional media and the most shared online. It was a common partnership of national unity that had all the stakeholders commit to the safety and security of the country.

Nigeria did not do it alone, we had help from the International Community; US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Nigeria twice with respect to the elections and all of these moves were very influential in getting then president Jonathan to make a call to then APC candidate MuhammaduBuhari when it was apparent the latter had an unassailable lead, this before the INEC called the final result. Needless to say this helped to douse tension across the country and today, Mr. Jonathan continues to enjoy the rewards of that singular action.

The successful organization of the election on the 7th of November, 2016 will result in one winner; Ghana. Whoever wins the vote must commit to uniting the country and crossing partisan lines to set Ghana back on the path of admirable economic growth that lifts millions of Ghanaians out of poverty and provides jobs for its teeming youths whose unemployment rate has since doubled. As they say in Akan, Wammawoyonkoanntwaanko a, wonntwannuru - If you dont let your friend cross and reach, you will also not cross and reach yours. A thriving Ghana is in the interest of everyone.

 JJ. Omojuwa

Editor, AfricanLiberty.org

Syndicated via AfricanLiberty.org
The New Patriotic Partys (NPP), incumbent Member of Parliament for the Kwesmintim constituency in the Western Region, Joe Baidoe-Ansah, has lost his bid to contest in the 2016 polls.

In a fiercely contested primary, Joseph Mensah, polled 187 votes, whiles Joe Baidoe-Ansah had 122 votes. The were two rejected ballots, whereas 30 delegates were absent.

The primary had delayed due to the incumbents decision to sue Joseph Mensah, claiming that he was not a party member.

There were allegations that Joseph Mensah was once a cadre of the then PNDC regime, and that a book he had authored also made mention of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) regime, led by Jerry John Rawlings.

However, an Accra High Court last week ruled that, Joseph Mensah, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority at Takoradi, was qualified to contest.

Joe Badu Ansah, had been the MP for Kwesimtsim since 2000, after he took over the seat from the CPPs Nana Abekah in 1996.

However in 2012, he had opted to bow out of the race, until he made a sudden U-turn, when the Constituency was re-demarcated into Effia and Kwesimintsim respectively.

Knowing his strength in the Kwesimintsim area, he won the seat after returning, albiet in another controversial primary.

He had served in different ministerial portfolios such as Aviation and Tourism in the Kufuor administration.



By: citifmonline.com/Ghana
Incumbent NPP MP for Kwesimintim Joe Baidoe-Ansah has lost the parliamentary primaries to Joseph Mensah, a candidate whose disqualification by the party was reversed by the court.

By a margin of 65 votes, the Director of Training at the Accra depot of the Ghana Ports Authority Joe Mensah beat the veteran and favoured incumbent in a competitive primaries that ended Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Mensah polled 187 votes with the incumbent trailing with 122 votes. Joe-Baidoe-Ansah entered Parliament in 2001 when the NPP first won a general election in the Fourth Republic. He was aiming for 16 years in Parliament with his fourth attempt.

But relatively unknown Joe Mensah put his rival's parliamentary ambition to the sword in a victory that sparked jubilation for his supporters.

Photo: Celebration for Joe Mensah's supporters

Months ago his bid to go to parliament on the ticket of the NPP looked unlikely. He was only presented with a life-line opportunity to become an MP after an Accra High Court cleared him to contest the primaries which should have been held in June 2015.

He was disqualified during the vetting on the claim that he was not a member of the NPP.

I am the chairman and I do not know him as a member of our party in the constituency. I only got to know him when he picked his form to contest the seat, the constituency Chairman, Mr. Ransford Odame was reported by the Chronicle newspaper before the vetting.

The Constituency Vetting Committee said the candidates 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.

The committee also claimed that he was also working for the interest of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The disqualification was upheld on appeal on two different occasions first by the regional appeals committee and then by the National Appeals committee.

The dogged candidate escalated his claim to contest in the party primaries to the Accra High Court where his claim was upheld .

With three days left for all aspirants to file their candidature with the Electoral Commission, Tuesday's primary could not have come a better time.

Joe Mensah would feel vindicated for his perserverance by the victory in a constituency which analysts say is a safe seat for the opposition NPP.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The Coalition on the Right to Information (RTI), Ghana joins other human rights advocates across the globe today September 28th to celebrate the first International Day of Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

This date which has been observed every year as the Right to Know day by activists all over the world received recognition and endorsement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 17 November 2015 when UNESCO member states adopted a resolution declaring September 28th as theInternational Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

This recognition by UNESCO means that the discourse on, and the advocacy for the passage of ATI laws in Africa has gained global attention and can no longer be wished away by politicians.



The celebration of the IDUAI this year is specifically relevant to the new 2030 Development Agenda, and in particular to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 16.10 which encourages all countries to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements



The RTI Coalition is marking the first anniversary of IDUAI this year with the theme:Informed Citizens, Better Governance.The objective is to re-echo the point that the right to information as guaranteed by the 1992 constitution can only be effectively exercised and implemented on the basis of a law regulating it. As part of the activities to mark the day, the Coalition in partnership with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Consortium which includes SEND Ghana and GACC is mobilizing civil society groups at the community level to submit a petition to their members of Parliament with signatures gathered from their constituents.

The Coalition would also like to commend countries whose governments have taken the bold step to pass the ATI law. We would specifically like to commend Kenya and Tanzania - the countries with the latest FOI laws in the continent. It is our hope that Ghana will take a cue from the current wave of openness and transparency moving across the continent and join the bandwagon to be listed among the progressive countries with an ATI law in Africa and the world.

We are conscious of the fact that Ghana is going for elections this year, and if the current government with its parliament fails to pass the RTI Bill, that would mean asking Ghanaians to go through another lengthy cabinet and parliamentary processes with the new government and parliament

ISSUED BY THE RTI COALITION, GHANA, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016




The New Patriotic Party running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reignited the debate of incompetence, describing President John Mahama as an incompetent driver leading Ghana nowhere.

The Economist said Ghanaians do not need to be in the driving seat before knowing that the vehicle is headed the wrong direction or it is not moving at all.

He was responding to President John Mahamas claim that neither the NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo or his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia have been president before and do not have the right to describe him as incompetent.

The president and the government has shrugged off the tag of incompetence by chronicling a tall list of achievements in the green book as well as the recently launched 2016 manifesto.

But the NPP is not impressed. Standing before hundreds of NPP supporters in Ekumfi Narkwa in the Central Region, Tuesday, Dr Bawumia mocked at the president saying passengers know when their driver is jerky.

If your bus driver is not driving well, cant you see, Dr Bawumia tossed the question to the chanting supporters, who responded in unison- we can see.

He added that president John Mahama, as Ghanas driver, has shown gross incompetence and must be voted out to allow a more competent driver, Nana Akufo-Addo in the seat.

With 70 days to go for Ghanas elections, the debate has been about bread and butter issues as it is about who is incompetent.

The NPP tagged the president as incompetent but he and his government fought back in equal measure.

The Transport Minister Fifi Kwetey in his Setting the Records Straight program said if at all anybody is incompetent, it is the NPP, who he claimed never built a centimeter of railway despite appointing a Railways Minister.

He said it is the NPP that is incompetent for re-electing a flagbearer who has already failed on three occasions to be president.

-Myjoyonline
The incumbent MP for Kwesimintsim in the Western region Joe Baidoe-Ansah has lost the NPP's parliamentary primaries in the constituency.

He lost to his only contender Joe Mensah in the keenly contested polls held on Tuesday.

The MP who was seeking a fifth term in parliament garnered 122 votes as against the victors 187, according to provisional results.

The primary in the constituency was delayed after the NPP executives in the constituency initially disqualified Joe Mensah from contesting.

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 that he was also a former cadre who worked with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) under leader, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings.

But an Accra High court subsequently ruled that Mr. Mensah was qualified to contest the race.

The judgement was made after the Court upheld claims by Mensah that he was unjustifiably disqualified from contesting the race.

-Starrfmonline
Pupils of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International Ghana, a world-class centre of child education in Community 25, Tema have appealed to political parties to ensure no blood is spilt during the impending general elections.

According to the pupils, politicians should make peace the central theme of their campaign messages.

They had, consequently, advised political parties and their activists to desist from commentaries or acts that were likely to divide Ghanaians, spark violence and, disturb the peace of the nation.

Pupils of DPS International Ghana made the passionate appeal when they joined other children, politicians and some citizens at the launch of the National Peace Video in Accra.

A Class I pupil of the school said they felt so miserable when they heard some social analysts and politicians issuing threats, especially during radio and television discussions.

Another pupil called on politicians to channel their energy to talk about how they were going to develop the country rather than engaging in discussions that fuel political tension.

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, Director of DPS International Ghana said peace in Ghana is essential to the countrys growth, development and education, and indicated that without peace Ghanas future would be compromised.

Ghana has been marked as one of the peaceful nations in the world so we must not use this period to destroy that good image, the director of DPS International Ghana pointed out.

He indicated that the upcoming election is an opportunity for Ghana to prove to the rest of the world that it truly understands the concept of democracy thus allowing everybody to exercise his or her franchise without insults and attack.

According to him, the electorates should avoid insulting people who they will not vote for and see each other as one people.

Special guest of honour, Rev. Prof Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC) stated that Ghanaians should not engage in provocative acts that might disturb the peace of the country.

According to him, election of people to lead Ghana in the development of the nation should not lead people to engage in insults, fighting and inflammatory acts that might create problem for the nation.

He stressed that Ghanaians should be proud of people from different ethnic groups joining the same political party instead of seeing the parties as enemies, urging Ghanaians to do the right thing to avoid destruction and killings that other countries had experienced as a result of political violence.

He said Ghanaians should let Ghana lead by ensuring no rigging occurred and the elections, transparent, by ensuring nobody used the elections as a tool to destroy Ghana.

He advised activists of all the political parties to avoid insulting candidates they would not vote for since they were the ones who had offered themselves to be servants of the nation though they represent other political parties.

So let me say this to you members of the NDC, the supporters of NPP cannot be your enemies, I say to NPP people today, people of the NDC cannot be your enemies and I say the same thing to other political parties because at the end of the day, we are all Ghanaians, Rev Asante stressed.

However, Mr. Sam V. Muthu, Director of Goodluck Africa, the company that put together the peace video said the aim of the audiovisual was to ensure peace before, during and after the general elections in Ghana.

Mr Mukesh Thakwani (LEFT), Director of DPS International Ghana said peace in Ghana is very essential to the countrys growth, development and education, and indicated that without peace Ghanas future would be compromised.

One of the students of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International Ghana getting ready to perform at the launch of the National Peace Video in Accra.

Staff of of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International Ghana and other guests at the launch of the National Peace Video in Accra.

Students of the Delhi Public School (DPS) International Ghana performing at the launch of the National Peace Video in Accra.

Pupils of DPS International Ghana made the passionate appeal when they joined other children, politicians and some citizens at the launch of the National Peace Video in Accra.
The African Ministers of Trade tabled an Africa position in the 15th Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, held on 26 September 2016 in Washington DC, United States. The position is on the report titled Beyond Agoa: Looking to the future of the U.S. - Africa Trade and Investment issued by the US on 22 September 2016, as required by Congress in line with the AGOA Extension and Enhancement Act of 2015. The Forum is an annual event that alternates between Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States; the 16th Forum will be hosted by Togo.

The Ministers said they consider the Report as a start of a conversation on trade and investment relationship beyond AGOA. The African side will study the Report with a view to develop a position that is in line with the continental agenda and its objective to industrialise.

AGOA is a non-reciprocal preferential programme that provided duty-free quota-free treatment to Sub-Saharan African countries into the United States market. The Ministers expressed a concern that the report is orientated towards a high standard reciprocal trading arrangement that covers a range of policy areas that may have implications for Africas efforts to industrialise and promote economic transformation.

African Ministers of Trade initial response included the following:

1. Sub-Sahara African (SSA) countries are concerned by the absence of asymmetry and differentiations in commitments in the US proposals and emphasize the need to take into account differences in levels of development.

2. SSA is also concerned by the proposed scope of the agreements envisaged by the US, which goes beyond agreements negotiated by African countries thus far. In addition the commitments on policy issues will limit the policy instruments that are necessary to promote industrialization and diversification. Sustainable development of the African continent will depend on its ability to promote economic transformation and move away from heavy reliance on primary products.

3. Any trade and investment relationship with the US should assist the continent to industrialise in line with Agenda 2063 and contribute to regional integration

4. They emphasised the importance of creating an AU Task Force to develop Africas strategy for trade and investment relationship with the US. The strategy will take into account challenges facing African countries in taking advantage of AGOA. To this end, the US is encouraged to provide incentives to its companies to invest in the continent to improve productive capacity to increase AGOA utilisation.

5. The relationship with the United States should be structured to support regional integration in Africa.

The Ministers also expressed their concern on the level of underutilisation of AGOA preferences by Sub-Saharan African countries. Under-utilisation is due to stringent standards and rules of origin which make it difficult for African products to meet the US market. In addition, African countries are unable to leverage the US market due to productive and supply-side capacity constraints. In this regard, African countries have prioritised industrial development, the development of regional value-chains and regional integration. The Ministers have thus called on, among others,

1. The United States to encourage its companies to invest in the Continent in support of industrialisation agenda and to create productive capacity that will enable Africa to take advantage of the trade preferences.

2. In addition, trade and economic cooperation arrangements should mainstream Africas major economic development initiatives in the Agenda 2063 including BIAT/CFTA, PIDA, AIDA, CAADP and other regional integration programs and projects that have been designed to contribute to Africas transformation.

3. Power Africa, an initiative of the US is welcomed and the US is urged to expand the program to cover trade related infrastructure beyond the power sector.

4. US institutions in-charge of SPS and TBT related matters should work closely with AGOA eligible countries to provide capacity building to enable African countries to meet US standards within a timeframe of 3 to 5 years.

5. The US government is urged to bring greater flexibility in the application of rules of origin. The Ministers emphasised that AGOA eligible countries should be included in the list of designated countries under the Trade Agreements Act (19 U.S.C.& 2501  2581) that require the US Government to acquire only US made or designated country end products.
A young entrepreneur and journalist, has audaciously vowed to snatch the Ketu South seat from the incumbent Fifi Kwetey, after picking nomination forms to contest as an independent candidate.

The Ketu South Constituency is a stronghold of the ruling NDC and one of the major determinants of the party's chances of victory in the general elections.

For instance, President John Dramani Mahama garnered about 81,880 votes(93.15% of total vote cast), and about 77,837 people voted for the incumbent MP, Fifi Kwetey in the 2012 elections.

There have been reports of apathy in the constituency following the disqualification of a business man, Jim Yao Morti during the NDCs primary. The man had some followers from the Some Traditional Area in the Constituency. The former MP, Albert Zigah, also staged a comeback during the primary.

This, keen watchers of the race say might affect the partys fortunes particularly in the Some Traditional Area.

Rustum Gameli Senorgbe told Citi News yesterday after picking his nomination forms at the Electoral Commission's Office at Tokor, that he is leaving no stone unturned to unseat the incumbent NDC MP and Transport Minister Fifi Kwetey.

Rustum Gameli Senorgbe is a journalist with Volta Premier FM, a campus radio station at Ho Polytechnic, and a Marketing Executive. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and hails from Agbozume in the Some Traditional Area.

The young journalist, who connects with the youth promised a landslide victory to unseat the incumbent MP.

He promised to set up a business incubator to nurture business modules and provide jobs for the unemployed youth in the area when elected.

I would initiate mentoring activities for graduates and add value to the Kente Business in the area and ensure the West Africa protocol on free movement of our people to trade in Togo is adhered to

He added that, Ketu South constituency needs a young, proactive and innovative leader to bring the needed development to the area.



By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
They may look nice, both in stature and in character, they may be endowed with all the back goods and the succulent upper fronts, smooth skins and sexy eyes, but woe unto men who falls into their net; unless one is ready to siphon all his lifetime savings to battle rape allegations in court, or better still be ready to be held at ransom.

Mr. Nicholas Mensah Woode is a Tema based businessman whose hard work in pharmaceutical supplies for the past years hard earned him the accolade doctor by his clients and friends until his unfortunate love affair with a 22 year old student of the Central University College, in Accra, Ernestina Edusah, almost cost him his hard earned reputation, after he had refused to succumb to extortion and profligate spending.

Somewhere in the early part of February 2014 Mr. Mensah met a certain Ewoenam whose real identity later became Ernestina Edusah at community 1, infront of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, where she tapped the latter on the shoulder, standing by his car, after mistaking him as someone she knew.

In the next minute, Ernestina apologized, and after a lengthy chat contact numbers were exchanged.

From the conversation that ensued, it came to light that Ernestina was a student of the Central University reading nursing.

Coincidentally Mr. Mensah also lived around that area, so he obliged to give her a lift upon her request.

Immediately Ernestina got to her hostel, she called to show her appreciation and further asked when she could visit him (Mr. Mensah)

Two days later, she called to complain why Mr. Mensah had not been in touch despite advancing her number to him.

According to Police statement The accused retorted he was very busy attending to emergencies at the time.

The complainant subsequently asked for the leisure times of the accused so she could pay him a visit.

The accused intimated to her that he is normally available on weekends from there both the accused and the complainant met at different times on different places.

Eventually the complainant started visiting the accused in his house.

The accused reciprocated by returning the visit to the complainant at her hostel.

The complainant visited the accused on about three different occasions where she spent the night with the accused in his house.

Out of these three visitations, the parties had intimate sex on two occasions on a mutual consent.

Then on the complainants fourth visit, to the accused house, on the 15th day of July 2014, at here own instance after calling that she had missed the accused.

The complainant had call to enquire when the accused would be available at home.

The accused informed her that 8; 30pm and the complainant agreed that she could pick her at a nearby filling station around the motorway to the house.

When they got home the complainant went to the kitchen to pick a drink from the refrigerator at the kitchen, whilst the accused went to change over his clothes in the bedroom.

After picking the drink, the complainant willingly and voluntarily joined the accused in the bedroom by sitting on the accused bed whilst sipping the drink.

The complainant in the course of taking the drink started talking about her financial challenge which she requested for assistance from the accused.

She divulge to the accused that she needed some money to furnish her newly rented apartment , the accused promised giving her the money the next day after close of work (that was 16th July 2014).

The complainant insisted she needed the money to shop in Accra before the close of the day, a suggestion the accused found not possible.

Around 10;30 pm, the accused impressed upon the complainant to be dropped off at her hostel, because it was getting late.

The accused made that move because he realized the complainant purposely came there for the money.

The complainant insisted she would pass the night in the house of the accused because it was late and the hostel would be locked up by then.

The complainant changed into her nakedness with only her brazier left on, whilst the accused was talking care of his security gadgets and dogs.

They both slept off on the same bed.

Around 12; 30 to 1am, she woke the accused up and demanded to know, if it was the money she asked for that was why the accused was not touching her.

Following from that the complainant made advances towards the accused which eventually culminated into a mutually agreeable sexual intercourse between them.

The next morning around 6am, the accused drove the complainant the same spot she picked her the previous day.

The accused gave the complainant GH90 to pick a taxi to the hostel.

The complainant called the accused upon reaching the hostel, and thanked him for his hospitality and the promise of assisting to furnish her newly rented room.

The complainant then later in the day called about seven different times to ascertain whether the money she requested was ready.

The accused informed her to exercise patience as he was mobilizing resources to help her out, a suggestion which did not go down well with the complainant.

The complainants immediate reaction was is that so?, ok you will see where power lies.

Consequently a follow up call came swiftly from one ASP, Olivia Turkson who informed the accused about a lady haven lodged a complaint against him at the Tema Harbor Police Station and therefore the accused should come to her private residence to map up means of settlement at the Community 8; after giving the accused direction to her house.

The accused who was in Accra all day got to Tema around 8:30 pm, returned the call of the Police Officer, Madam Olivia Turkson.

Upon the return of the call, Olivia Turkson asked him to see her the next morning as she was in a meeting with some people at her residence.

Early morning the next day, somewhere around 8am, Olivia Turkson again called the accused to avail himself in her office at the Harbor Police Station, for a meeting with the complainant.

In view of this, the accused couldnt honor the said invitation due to unexpected circumstances, and however an official complaint was lodged against him, and subsequently dragged to court.

Interestingly, Ernestina had arranged with one of his lovers , a reporter at the Daily GUIDE Newspaper , and immediately the story was blown the next day with deep sensationalism.

However, the Attorney General after careful consideration of the matter, regarding facts and evidences gathered by the police it came to light that the victim had put up lies to gag his lover (Mr. Mensah), after she had failed to extort monies from him.

According to the AG, Nineteen days after the report to the police on18th August,2014 the victim presented a torn khaki pair of trousers: a torn ash-colored blouse and torn pink-colored panties as evidence of rape. Five photographs of the said torn items were also given to the police.

the report said during police investigations it realized inconsistencies in Ernestinas claims and that of her witness, and that in the case of C.O.Pvrs Sem(1962)2 G.L.R.77,the supreme court held that there was a three week delay in reporting and as such the story to the victim was not credible.

It is the principal in criminal practice that ALL SEXUAL OFFENCES MUST BE CORROBORATED. The consistency of the story of the victim as well as the report of the event being made at the earliest opportunity is all essentials of corroborating in the offence of rape.

In the instance case, THE VICTIM DID NOT REPORT THE EVENT TO ANY ONE AT THE LEAST OPPORTUNITY. The victim said she was dropped at the roundabout at 4.30am,at the time she could have reported the event to any other person but failed to do so till about 6.30pm, when she told her brother. Accordance to the brother, she was reluctant to tell him but for his persistence. In effect the time intervals after she had the opportunity to report till the eventually lodging of the report the next day on 16th july,2014 at 1.30pm with the police CANNOT CORROBORATE HER STORY. The failures to report the event at the least opportunity by corroborate her story. The failure to report the event at the least opportunity by Ernestina Edusah cannot establish evidence of corroboration.

The medical report is INADMISSIBLE because the event occurred on the night of 14th July 2014 and the victim was examined on the 17th july2014 THREE CLEAR DAYS AFTER THE EVENT. The intervening day interfered with the evidence since the result CANNOT be directly linked to the alleged event of the night of 14th july,2014.

The torn clothes that were presented together with the pictures which were brought to the Police by the victim is more than nineteen (19)days after the event cannot past corroboration. The victim earlier during police interrogation said NON OF HER DRESSES GOT DAMAGED. Added to these, SHE NEVER MENTIONED IN ANY OF HER STATEMENTS THAT ANY OF HERR CLOTHES GOT TORN. The said pieces of evidence are INADMISSIBLE AND CANNOT SERVE AS IN CORROBORATIVE EVIDENENCE.

In conclusion, the story as presented by the victim cannot establish ANY PRIME FACIE AGAINST THE SUSPECT LEFT ALONE PROVE HIS GUILT BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. Having failed to establish prima facie evidence, the explanation of the suspect becomes IRRELEVANT.THE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE THAT TOOK PLACE WAS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE VICTIM.

PLEASE, CLOSE YOUR CASE DOCKET FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF CONSENT.

Yours police DOVVSU TR duplicate docket No.RO.78\14 is returned as closed.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has once again been left without a Presiding Member at the eighth time of asking.

The unopposed candidate for the Presiding Member position, Mr. Senya, was not elected by members of Assembly.

The election ended with 65 assembly members voting NO against Mr. Senya whilst 62 people voted YES.

Adumhene Nana Baffour Adjei Kesse stepped down earlier today [Tuesday] to allow Mr. Senya contest for the Presiding Member slot unopposed.

He however lost, rendering the assembly without a Presiding Member after five sittings on Tuesday.

Mr. Senya had refused to step down for other assembly members to be nominated for the presiding member slot,

But after pleas he eventually heeded the calls.

Earlier on Tuesday, the voting session was also marred with controversy when an Assembly member of the Abdullah Muaza, traded blows with a National Democratic Congress (NDC) serial caller on during the proceedings.

A brawl also broke out the last time the assembly was convened in May, to elect a new Presiding Member.

That brawl is believed to have been caused by disagreements over seemingly last-minute rule changes instituted by the Assembly's Electoral Commission.



By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Paris (AFP) - Climate change could transform East Africa's Lake Victoria into a dangerous thunderstorm hotspot, threatening some 200,000 fishermen who ply its waters at night, according to a study released Tuesday.

Already some 3,000 to 5,000 fishermen lose their lives in violent storms on the lake every year, according to the International Red Cross.

Superstorms that only occur once every 15 years today would, if global warming continues apace, happen annually by century's end, said the study published in Nature Communications.

The basic weather pattern that causes night-time storms over Victoria exists already, but would be amplified, explained lead author Wim Thiery, a researcher at the University of Leuven in Belgium.

"During the day, a breeze develops that flows from the cool water towards the warm land," he said in a statement.

"At night, we see the opposite: the land breeze flows away from the cooling land," converging over the warmer, oval lake.

"Add evaporation to this cocktail, and you get a lot of storms, rain, wind and waves," he said.

Thiery and colleagues used NASA satellite data to map the number of hazardous thunderstorms in East Africa -- at a resolution of 15-minute intervals -- from 2005 to 2013.

To predict the impact of climate change of the lake's weather patterns, the researchers then ran climate simulations based on the assumption that global warming would continue at its current rate.

Under that scenario, "the extreme amounts of rainfall over Lake Victoria will increase by twice as much as the rainfall over the surrounding land," creating a hotspot for nocturnal storms, they found.

With a surface of 70,000 square kilometres (27,000 square miles), Lake Victoria is the biggest lake in Africa.
Tangiers (Morocco) (AFP) - Morocco signed an agreement with Boeing on Tuesday to build a new hub for the US aerospace giant that officials hope will create thousands of skilled jobs.

King Mohammed VI oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the northern port city of Tangiers to establish an industrial zone where up to 120 Boeing suppliers and sub-contractors could operate.

"This is a very important strategic project as we move into a new aeronautical era in Morocco," Industry Minister Moulay Hafi Elalamy told AFP.

Morocco has unveiled several large-scale industrial projects in recent years, with the Tangiers region among the fastest growing.

French carmaker Renault in April signed deals to invest more than $1 billion (900 million euros) and create 50,000 jobs in the North African country.

Morocco was badly affected by the financial crisis in Europe, its top trade partner, and has struggled to contain a ballooning public deficit.

The authorities have strenuously promoted the country as a bridge between Africa and the West, in a bid to encourage foreign investment and trade.

"The Moroccan aeronautical industry has seen important growth in recent years," said Elalamy. "The sector has grown six-fold in just 10 years and there are now 121 firms."

Some of the largest manufacturers are already present in the country, contributing to a sector that employs about 10,000 people and has a turnover of $1 billion per year.

Elalamy said the Boeing industrial zone could create up to 8,700 jobs.

Morocco's gateway linking Europe, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Tangiers has experienced unprecedented development in recent years, including a new airport and deep-water port.
27.09.2016 LISTEN

By Regina Benneh, GNA

Sunyani, Sept. 27, GNA - Customers of Diamond Micro-finance Limited (DKM), a collapsed micro finance company have been assured of receiving the first batch refund of their deposits in the first week of October.

Madam Jemima Oware, the Liquidator over-seeing the liquidation of the company's assets to recoup money for the payments said this at the first official meeting with customers at the Coronation Park in Sunyani.

Madam Oware is meeting customers in the three affected regions of Brong-Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West Regions to brief them about the liquidation process regarding when and how the payments would be done.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wa to meet affected clients in the Upper West before those in the Upper East at Bolgatanga.

She said the list of the affected customers would be out on Friday September 30 for them to check their names at the selected banks to collect their monies.

Madam Oware said the Ghana Commercial Bank, agricultural development bank and Fidelity Bank had been approved for payment by a specially-assigned officials at all districts in the three regions.

She said 93,000 customers had been affected with GHa 540 million expected to be refunded to them.

Madam Oware said her office had taken custody of some properties of the company and is working hard to take charge of the rest that had been seized by some customers through courts order.

At the end of the about four hours meeting, the faces of most of the customers were an expression of disappointment as they felt dissatisfied with the liquidation process.

Madam Elizabeth Gyamfuah, a victim said: 'There is no hope from the information giving out by the liquidator as she is only dealing with clients who did not send their cases to court.'

Mr Moses Adomah, another victim of the scandal appealed to government to assist them to get back their monies to finance their children's education.

The DKM's operations were suspended by the Bank of Ghana last year after the company was cited for failing to comply with laid down rules and regulations governing the operations of the nation's financial industry.

GNA
27.09.2016 LISTEN

By Hafsa Obeng, GNA

Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced two persons to 15 years each imprisonment for conspiring and robbing four persons of their vehicles and various amounts of monies.

Derrick Asase and Michael Lamptey Lantei conspired and robbed their victims of the taxis' mobile phones and a total amount of GHa400.00.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges, however, they were found guilty by the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh at the end of the trial.

They are to serve 15 years each for the charge of conspiracy and robbery. Sentences are to run concurrently.

The court, however, acquitted and discharged their accomplice one Issah Issaka on the basis that he was not linked to the crime.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the court that the complainants are all taxi drivers in Accra, while the convicts are unemployed and reside at Odorkor Tipper.

He said on May 17, 2015, at about 2320 hours, Derrick and Michael hired the vehicle of the first complainant, one Solomon, from Kwame Nkrumah circle to Odorkor Tipper.

He said on a spot near Osei Kwame, Odorkor, Derrick turned the ignition key of the vehicle and asked Solomon to stop but he ignored him. Michael then pulled out a knife and inflicted wounds on him and ordered him to surrender both the car keys and his money or he would kill him.

The prosecution said the two succeeded in pulling out, Solomon from the vehicle, where Issah was waiting. They then entered the car and made an attempt to escape but could not move it.

Police Chief Inspector Adu said Solomon raised the alarm and an angry mob pounced on Derrick and Michael at the scene and arrested them but Issah managed to escape.

He told the court that the two were then handed over to the police for investigation.

While investigating, the second complainant, one Joseph, came to the police with a cutlass wound on his right hand and lodged a complainant against the convicts that they used a similar method to snatch his vehicle from him at Odorkor.

He said on May 19, 2015, an identification parade was held at the Odorkor Police Station and the third and fourth complainants, Odum and Jonathan also identified the convicts as those who robbed them of their mobile phones, monies and took away their vehicles.

GNA
By Nana Osei Kyeretwie, GNA

Sunyani, Sept. 27, GNA - Professor Harrison Kwame Dapaah, Agricultural Research Scientist, has been inducted into office as the second Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani.

Prof Dapaah, who assumed office on August 1 this year to serve a four-year term, was before his appointment the Principal of the College of Agriculture, Asante Mampong campus of the University of Education, Winneba.

He took the oath of office administered by Prof John Sefa Kwadwo Ayim, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University and was also assisted by Prof Mrs Esi Awuah, the Foundation VC to robe the new VC.

Prof Ayim cautioned the new VC to avoid 'show of authority' and rather display selflessness and a high level of conscientiousness, skills and efficiency in managing the UENR's resources.

He emphasised the need for 'genuine and sincere hand of friendship for the common good of all and the University.'

He said no particular group or association in the University should be sidelined by his administration.

Prof Ayim said the University's steady progress depends on its strategic plan and the Council would require of him to ensure its implementation to the letter.

Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, told Prof Dapaah of the enormity of his responsibility and gave the assurance of the continuous support of the Regional Coordinating Council for the University to move to greater heights to impact positively on national development.

Born 55 years ago at Yeji in the Pru District of the Region where he had his basic education. Prof Dapaah obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE) 'O' and 'A' levels at the -Ghana Secondary School, Tamale in 1980 and Dormaa Secondary School, Dormaa-Ahenkro in and 1982.

He obtained a BSc (Hons.) Agriculture (Crop Science) degree from the University of Ghana in 1986 and in 1992 won the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) scholarship, tenable at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada where he obtained Master of Science (Crop Science) degree.

Prof Dapaah in 1997 attained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agronomy/Crop Physiology under the New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA) scholarship at the Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.

He began his career as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Crop Research Institute (CRI), Kumasi in 1988 and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Research Scientist in 1993, Senior Research Scientist in 2001 and Principal Research Scientist in 2005.

He joined the University of Education, Winneba in 2008 as Senior Lecturer at the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Education and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in 2010 and Professor in 2014.

The new VC who is married with three children has considerable experience in management, research and development and has published extensively, having more than 50 refereed journals to his credit.

He has coordinated multi-institutional and multi-country projects including the World Bank sponsored West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme.

Prof Dapaah pledged among other objectives to offer strategic participative leadership to sustain and improve on achievements made by Prof Mrs. Awuah, and her Management team, the staff and the Governing Council.

He also promised to pursue vigorous staff training and development to build the competencies and skills of staff and to work towards increasing the visibility of UENR in Ghana and beyond.

GNA
27.09.2016 LISTEN

By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA

Wa, Sept. 27, GNA - Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a private sanitation and waste management company, has presented items valued at GHa5,000.00 to the Presby SSNIT Model Junior High School in Wa.

The presentation was to honour the school for placing third in the National Sanitation 'What do you know' quiz competition organised by Zoomlion Foundation.

The items include, one laptop computer each for the Patron of the Zoomkids Club in the school and the two participants of the competition.

The rest are one printer, 100 pens, 40 exercise books, three wheel barrows, five rakes, seven shovels and 10 boxes of nose mask for the school.

Mr Edmond Vidjah, Acting Upper West Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, said the competition was organised to mark the 10th Anniversary of the company.

He thanked the school especially the participants of the competition for their interest in sanitation issues, which made them achieve such an enviable feat.

He said the school throughout the journey placed first in the regional, second in the zonal and third at the national level of the competition.

Mr Vidjah said the Zoomkids Club helps to educate the children through the organisation of health talks, durbars and hand washing competitions in order for them to become sanitation conscious when they grow.

The Acting Regional Manager said the Region is one of the neatest regions in the country when it came to solid waste management.

Mr Abudu Issahaku, School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator challenged the rest of the students to be highly motivated by the effort of their colleagues and take steps to join the club to learn more about sanitation.

He said the problem in Ghana is poor sanitation and getting children to be conscious about issues of sanitation was wonderful.

Ms Alice Song-Aabo, the Patron of the Zoomkids Club in the school expressed gratitude for supporting activities of the organisation especially in the area of sanitation education, which helped in bringing the school this far.

She said since the formation of the club in the school, the students have become conscious about sanitation such that they do not liter the school compound any more.

In all, there are 70 Zoomkids Clubs in the region with 20 active ones all based in Wa.

GNA
27.09.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - The IZWE Loans Limited, one of Ghana's largest non-banking financial institutions in the country, says it has disbursed in excess of GH150 million as loans to over 80,000 customers during its five years of operations in Ghana.

'We are also serving 10,000 insurance clients and are paying industry returns on GH80 million in investment and saving products every month," Mr Raymond Kwakye Bismarck, Managing Director of IZWE Loans Limited said at the media launch of its five-year anniversary in Accra.

IZWE Ghana is part of the IZWE Africa Group of Companies, a Pan-African Financial Services business with operations in Ghana, Zambia, Kenya and South Africa.

Mr Bismarck said the company was strategically positioned to close the gap in the financial service by offering more proactive services to the lower and middle income market.

Touching on the strategies adopted by the company, he said 'we run a well-designed and proven business model built around technologies which allow automated selection and credit vetting.

'We pride ourselves on our very strong collection systems and processes that make us one of the top performers in loan recoveries in Ghana'.

Mr Bismarck said the company has also designed client focused products adding 'it is these principles that have underpinned our strength in the market place'.

He said IZWE has been celebrated as first non-banking financial institution to issue 'a corporate bond as well as the first entity to list on the Ghana Alternative Market operated by the Ghana Stock Exchange'.

Mr Bismarck said the company in the coming years would be more committed to grow its business by concentrating on four strategic areas including accessibility to clients and diversity in terms of meeting customer needs.

Paying glowing tribute to the contribution of staff, management and stakeholders, the Managing Director said IZWE would continue to explore innovative ways to maximise profits and strive for higher laurels in the savings, loan and insurance sector.

'IZWE would continue to focus on exploring technology via the use of the internet and SMS to reach the rural folks,' he said.

He said the company as part of their anniversary activities would hold job recruitment clinic at Accra Polytechnic, embark on blood donation and health screening.

Mr Samuel Yeboah, Executive Director of IZWE, said as part of its corporate social responsibility 40 needy but brilliant students have benefited from its one million cedis seed money allotted for scholarships.

Mr Yeboah said out of the one-million-cedi seed money, GH450,000.00 has so far been spent on scholarships for students whose parents are in the public sector.

GNA
By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA

Kintampo (B/A), Sept. 27, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts says it considers accessibility for all as the centrepiece of its sustainable tourism policies and plans.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, said accessible tourism for all was about the creation of the best environment that could cater for the needs of everyone.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said this during the National Celebration of the World Tourism Day held on the theme: 'Tourism for all, Promoting Universal Accessibility', at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The World Tourism Day is to foster awareness on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the theme provides Ghanaians with the opportunity to reflect on the urgent need to ensure accessibility to the country's tourist attractions.

She said according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation data, 15 per cent of the World's population is estimated to be living with some form of disability.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare expressed the hope that ageing population in Ghana would benefit from the universal accessibility in tourism.

She said with this year's event, the Ministry was partnering with the Savannah Development Authority (SADA) to organise the 2016 World Tourism Day dubbed 'World Tourism Day SADAFEST 2016'.

The Minister said the idea behind the partnership was to use the celebration to focus on unearthing the tourism and economic potential of the SADA Zone with ultimate goal of directing tourist traffic to the Zone as well as showcasing the Zone's investment opportunities.

She urged all stakeholders especially tour operators and hospitality service providers to offer special attractive packages for Ghanaians to patronize tourist sites and hospitality facilities across the country. GNA
Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - Representatives from energy, infrastructure and education and training companies will be participating in the Department for International Trade (DIT) London trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana, taking place September 25-30.

A statement issued by the British High Commission in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency said this year's mission would be led by Carl Woolf, International Trade Adviser, Department for International Trade, London Region.

Commenting, Carl Woolf said: "We are delighted to bring UK companies to these two markets."

"British companies, mainly from London, will be visiting Lagos and Accra with a view to establishing long-term business relations and gain deeper understanding of business practices in both markets.

"Our delegates, who bring a wide range of products, service and expertise, will be meeting with their Nigerian and Ghanaian counterparts who represent a variety of companies and organisations.

"I welcome this opportunity to develop trade links between West Africa and UK delegates."

The statement said as part of the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) Global Growth Project, the mission aims at enhancing the competitiveness of London SMEs in international markets.

It said the mission participants have a range of objectives, including looking for local representatives, qualified distributors or agents and clients.

The DIT has an overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our shores.

It is a specialised body with significant new trade negotiating capacity, taking on the responsibilities of UK Trade and Investment, along with the relevant trade functions of the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

It also has oversight of UK Export Finance and UKTIs Defence and Security Organisation.

DIT works to promote UK exports of goods and services, to support a growing economy that creates wealth for all, supports jobs and meets their wider national interests.

It delivers the best international trading framework for the UK outside the EU, including through building their capacity to negotiate and administer a national trade policy; and maximise opportunities for wealth creation through supporting Foreign Direct Investment, with a renewed focus on outward overseas direct investment.

The ERDF is responsible for the management of the EU funding which stimulates regional economic development.

GNA
business Crude may slip to $40/barrel if Algeria meet a 'no-deal': Expert A no-deal between producers at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) ongoing Algeria meet may cause prices to slip to even below USD 40 a barrel, feels Amrita Sen, Chief Oil Analyst at Energy Aspects.
you are here:
A wave of crime attributed to Chinese criminals here has brought Chinese police to Korea. Four Chinese police officers including Zhou Tao from China's Ministry of Justice arrived in Jeju International Airport Tuesday. The officers are part of a joint investigation into a number of crimes committed by Chinese people in Korea, including fraud and murder.

They will first meet with the Jeju Provincial Police Agency to investigate several phone fraud cases that occurred on Jeju Island recently. On or about Feb. 2 the Chinese officers will travel to Seoul to meet with the National Police Agency to discuss cooperative action.

 Chinese Crime Syndicates Advancing into Korea

Crimes by Chinese in Korea have taken a turn for the serious. Not only has the number of crimes soared, the types and methods have become both more dangerous and more stealthy. Previously, Chinese residents arrested here were usually accused of forging documents for fake marriages, but lately Chinese criminals have been involved in felonies like murder and drug trafficking.

The suspect in the Ansan murder on Jan. 24 in which a female body was found in a subway toilet is a Chinese man in his 30s. An automatic response system (ARS) phone fraud that late last year deceived people by faking calls from prosecutors or the National Tax Service was perpetrated by a crime syndicate of six Taiwanese and one Chinese nationals.

While investigating the ARS fraud, the National Police Agency learned that the suspects were members of the United Bamboo Gang, Taiwan's largest crime syndicate. Another ARS fraud detected last November was also reportedly committed by the Triad in China, one of three major crime syndicates in the world.

Drug smuggling from China has also emerged as serious issue. It is estimated that over 90 percent of methamphetamines circulating in Korea are from China. According to the prosecutor's office, Chinese nationals made up 7,040 foreign criminals caught in 2005, representing more than half the 13,584 foreign criminals, a three-fold growth from 1,980 in just five years.

The numbers of Chinese criminals caught by Korean police are also on the rise. Between January and July last year, 5,698 Chinese criminals were arrested by Korean police, accounting for 70% of the 8,131 foreign criminals caught.

Police say that growing trade and travel relations between Korea and China are behind the rising numbers of Chinese criminals here. In particular, Chinese-Koreans fluent both in both languages and cultures are often implicated.

 Strengthened Cooperation between Korea and China

Since the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance between Korea and China became effective in March 2000, there have been only 46 cases of request for mutual legal assistance between the two nations. Most of them, 43, were made by Korean police. The prosecutor's office believes that with such a low level of cooperation, it is virtually impossible to seriously address an increasingly global and intelligent criminal problem.

In a police seminar on how to render mutual legal assistance between the countries held Tuesday at Kyunghee University, Han Seok-ri, a prosecutor from the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office, suggested expanding cooperation beyond the Chinese judiciary to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the highest agency at the national level responsible for prosecution in China.
Japan warned China Monday about sending fighter jets over a disputed territory that both countries claim in the East China Sea.

On Sunday, China sent warplanes to the skies over the Miyako Strait, east of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls the Diaoyu islands. Chinese officials say about 40 aircraft were involved in the maneuver.

The Associated Press reports Japan scrambled at least one fighter jet after the Chinese aircraft flew over the area.

Japan said the aircraft did not violate Japanese airspace, but that it was the first time Chinese fighter jets had flown over the strait.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament Monday Japan would "never tolerate attempts to unilaterally change the status quo" in the disputed waters or "wherever else in the world."
Regional military spokesman Shreen Aqa confirmed to VOA that IS militants have returned to parts of the troubled districts, but said Afghan forces are preparing to undertake a fresh offensive for their eviction.

A reporter for VOA's Afghan service this week traveled to Achin, the main IS base in the country, and says government security forces have relocated to positions they were occupying prior to the launching of an anti-IS "Qahr-e- Sellab" offensive in June.

The troubled areas are located in Achin, Naziyan, Kot and Haska Meena districts of the eastern Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.

Officials and witnesses in Afghanistan say fighters linked to Islamic State have regained control of most of the militant group's former strongholds in the country, weeks after retreating to remote mountain hideouts in the face of major Afghan security operations.

Tribal elders from the area have repeatedly warned IS was trying to return to its former bases and criticized Afghan authorities for not paying attention or establishing permanent security posts after concluding the previous operations.

IS launched its regional operations early last year in about 10 districts of Nangarhar, but stiff resistance from the rival Taliban and repeated U.S. counterterrorism drone strikes confined them to three or four districts, according to officials.

The operations in June and July were "very successful" because they eliminated IS regional chief, Hafiz Saeed Khan, along with 11 other top leaders and killed 25 percent of its fighters, General John Nicholson, the top U.S. military commander in the country, noted last week.

"We estimate there numbers are 1,200 or 1,300 fighters. They have some enclaves in (neighboring) Kunar province, but primarily they are in Nangarhar province," Nicholson told reporters on Friday.

Primarily Pakistani ethnic Pashtun militants who were previously part of the anti-state Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in the neighboring country fill Islamic State's regional ranks, the general said.

"Their goal is to establish their caliphate, the Khorasan province, with Jalalabad as the capital and Nangarhar as their initial caliphate," he added.

IS has declared Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Iran as its Khorasan province.

General Nicholson confirmed there are "linkages financial, leadership and strategic communication" between the Nangarhar militants and the main Islamic State back in Syria.

IS has also claimed responsibility for several attacks in Pakistan. But the Pakistan military earlier this month announced it has "forestalled" attempts by the group to expand influence in the country.

An army spokesman said security forces have arrested more than 300 militants linked to the Middle East-based terrorist group, including its main leadership, since it began operations in Pakistan last year.
What sways the market? What makes stock prices move from one point to another? You would assume its largely based on intrinsic value.

Lets use an example. Lets say theres a new breakthrough technology on the market. It allows one company to produce goods far cheaper than its competitors. No prizes for guessing where the companys stock price will go.

A companys intrinsic value can also be affected by contract wins. If a company can manage to acquire a few more long-term customers, then it means more revenues and, hopefully, profits in the future.

It therefore follows that more investors would be willing to pay to get their slice of the companys earnings.

However, these two scenarios dont explain the volatility we constantly see in the market. A company like BHP Billiton [ASX:BHP] constantly changes in value. One day it might be up, another day it might be down.

Whats causing these fluctuations?

Well, it isnt intrinsic value. Instead, its what investors perceive to be the value of BHP. An opinion is the cheapest and most common commodity in the world. Everyone has one and they are more than willing to share it with you.

Often, there is never a unanimous opinion on certain companies, sectors, industries and even nations. Instead of whats actually important  intrinsic value  human irrationality dictates the price of BHP tomorrow.

This isnt a bad thing at all. In fact, conflicting views are how people are able to make money in the market. If everyone thought the same way then prices would be constant forever.

I know many of you might think that consumer, investor or even business confidence is a load of bull. And I generally agree that certain confidence indices dont say much.

However, you cannot deny that confidence, in whatever market, plays an important role.

Confidence on China picks up

As youll already know, China has been slowing down of late. Ken Rogoff, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund, said, I think the economy is slowing down much more than official figures show.

He believes China is the greatest threat to the global economy. If they slow down and run out of puff, where are we to turn?

But Im glad we dont all have the same opinion as Ken Rogoff. If we didnt, wed all believe were doomed.

Yet according to the Australian Financial Review, China could be showing signs of picking up:

Chinas economy is showing fresh signs of strength, from increased business confidence to an expansionary factory gauge reading, according to the earliest private indicators for September.

Most private gauges showed improvement and a proxy for factory activity jumped to the strongest level in almost two years, suggesting better readings in August data have been followed up this month.

A steady flow of credit has boosted property sales, helping offset sluggish exports and continued weakness in private investment.

China is obviously very important to Australia. They are our biggest exporter by far. They not only gobble up our commodities, but our consumer and agricultural products as well.

If youre an Aussie investor, then youll also care about Chinas performance. Not just because of what the implications of a bad performance would mean, but also because of its effects on confidence.

While it had nothing to do with performance, Chinas ecommerce tax sent many Aussie stocks down. Their plan to tax goods bought online (shipped into Australia) would obviously harm the revenues of some Australian companies.

However, the tax law, at the time, was not specifically defined. Instead, China changed and amended the policy on the fly.

And because some factors werent concrete, investors should have kept their cool. But did they? Of course they didnt. Many companies were sold off on the fear of the then-new Chinese ecommerce tax.

Other improving Chinese figures according to the AFR include:

Small to medium-sized enterprise confidence;

Satellite Manufacturing Index, which shows industrial activity;

The Market News International China Business Sentiment Indicator; and

The S&P Global Platts China Steel Sentiment Index.

So will Chinas woes end soon? Its hard to say. There will always be those who are out to spread doom and gloom. But pessimism is a dominating outlook when things are uncertain. China has many hurdles to climb still, as their economy continues to grow.

One thing is for sure: Australian companies will closely watch Chinas movements. Globalisation has allowed companies to expand their market size considerably. And in the future, none might be bigger than Chinas.

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

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Money Mornings Publisher Kris Sayce has written a report all about investing isnt as hard as you think simple and easy. Instead of taking your money, Kris wants to help you invest for yourself.

In Kris report, The Ultimate Starters Guide for Buying and Selling Shares, hell show you all the ins and outs of investing. Whats more, Kris will reveal the one type of stockbroker you should never use. And theres also a secret you need to know about investing correctly.

To find out what that secret is, and more, pick up your free copy of Kris report by clicking here.
50 Years ago in Burke County

Jimmy Rhyne

LOCAL MAN GETS 50 YEAR MASONIC AWARD

Eugene Garrison Wood Jr. of Morganton received a 50 year pin and certificate in recognition of a half-century as a Mason. The presentation was made at Spencer Hall at Valdese Hospital is a patient. At the ceremony was S.S. Wood , a son of the recipient, and Billy J. Hamrick, master of the Morgantons Catawba Valley Lodge, Charles P. Dixon, past master, The award was made by the Morganton Lodge at the request of the Grand Lodge of Georgia.

MORGANTON POLICEMEN HOLD CHRISTMAS PARTY

Members of the Morganton Police Department and their wives held a Christmas party Tuesday night at Bucks restaurant. A number of door-prizes were given away donated by local merchants. Appreciation was expressed to Lt. Billy Joe Hamrick, who is leaving the department to take a position as coordinator for a police-training program for the N.C. Department of Community Colleges, at Western Piedmont Community College and to Jerry Burleson who will resign Jan 1 to take a job with Drexel Furniture.

KITCHEN FIRE CAUSES $4.000 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.

Fire damage estimated at $4.000 resulted Tuesday afternoon after a pot was left on an electric stove that had been turned on high. Chief Harold Perry of the Icard Township Fire Department said a 2:30 pm call was received to deal with the fire at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hull, a mile and a half west of Hildebran near the Sunset Grill.

CAR CATCHES FIRE

Morganton Firemen were called to the Patio on East Union Street today when the wiring on a 1964 Chevelle station wagon caught fire. The station wagon was operated by Mrs. Louise Dockery of Lenoir. Firemen quickly extinguished the blaze. The fire was confined to the engine compartment.

HAYWOOD, ERVIN AND WALTON ELECTED TO HOSPITAL BOARD

Selection of three new trustees to the board of Grace Hospital was announced by Donnell VanNoppen, president of the board. New trustees are Charles L. Haywood, Thomas W. Walton and Sam J. Ervin III. The three were picked by the board to fill vacancies on the 25 member board which governs the affairs of Morgantons Community Hospital. Vacancies were created by the recent resignation of Mrs. James W. Vernon, longtime member of the board and James F. Hunt who has moved from Morganton and by the death of William A. Leslie Jr.

IN THE SERVICE

Sp4 James L. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Smith of 523 Salem Road has arrived in Vietnam. He took his basic training at Ft. Jackson S.C. and was at Ft. Riley Kansas before going overseas. He is a 1965 graduate of Salem High School.

CITY MAIL CARRIER RETIRES TODAY AFTER 38 YEARS

There have been plenty of changes in the U.S. postal system since Kermit W. Fox first became a substitute rural carrier in April 1928. My daddy was a carrier and he used a horse and buggy to deliver his mail When Fox started delivering the mail he was 19 and carried the mail in a Ford Model A Roadster with a rumble seat. He took a break in service to serve with the U.S Navy in WWII as a gunner on a troop transport ship. To England and France.

PLAYING AT THE MIMOSA

She is the worlds most beautiful Bank Robber

Metro Goldwyn Myer Presents: Natalie Wood in Penelope with Jonathan Winters and Peter Falk.

AMONG US MORGANTONIANS; J. GORDON QUEEN (1962)

Some folks complain about parking. Do you have to park on the main drag!!! Cant you walk a block or two, Sure you can. Now here are lots where you can park for free of charge: Collet Street alongside of the Masonic Lodge, North King Street alongside the News Herald Press building, Meeting Street, in the rear of the First Baptist Church. There is a great big parking lot owned by Belk-Broome Co. that is free to the public, or behind it is the News Heralds Parking lot, you will be kicked out, I promise you.

Jimmy Rhyne is a volunteer at the History Museum of Burke County where the News Herald archives are stored.
Testimonies continued about the mental health of the plaintiffs, and former and current school board members took to the stand Monday as a trial that could cost the Board of Education millions went into its second week.

Before the jury was ever brought into the courtroom Monday morning, the counsel for the plaintiffs and the defense discussed whether statements made by Amy Morgan would be heard.

Tom Wood and Scott Carltons lawyers argued that Morgan couldnt be found to subpoena her for the trial. In lieu of her testimony, they wanted to use her deposition from the lawsuit she filed in 2013 against Wood and Carlton for defamation. That case eventually was dismissed, but in her sworn statements, Morgan said she received the packet that Wood and Carlton had presented to the school board in 2011, and that former Superintendent Art Stellar gave her the copy.

Stellar formerly was part of the current lawsuit Wood and Carlton have against the Board of Education, which says the information was supposed to remain confidential, and in leaking the packet, the board has caused both men a great deal of mental duress. Stellar has since been dropped as a defendant in the case, but he and Morgan remain at the center of the current suit.

The counsel for the defense successfully argued that Morgans previous statements from the 2013 suit she filed for defamation amounted to hearsay, and the jury never heard her previously recorded statements.

However, jurors did hear from Dr. Carroll Wheeler, who testified that along with his full-time duties as a psychiatrist at Broughton Hospital, he also sees Carlton as a patient and has known the plaintiff for years.

Wheeler said he spoke with his friend after the news of the lawsuit against Carlton and Wood broke, and has seen him informally dozens of times since 2011.

He was absolutely devastated, he said.

Wheeler said that while dealing with the court case against him, Carlton also was tending to his ailing mother, and began to suffer from anxiety and depression. He described in detail how Carlton had lost interest in activities he once enjoyed and lamented the inability to expand his business as a result of the trial.

Doughton pointed out that Carlton had yet to prove any of his business troubles were a direct result of any actions by the board, and that he actually made more money in the years after the trial. He also asked Wheeler if he personally could attest that everything Carlton told him was factual.

Through his eyes, Wheeler said.

After Wheeler spoke about his long-time friend, Woods wife was called to the stand.

Jennifer Wood said she didnt know anything about the lawsuit filed by Morgan until a deputy showed up at her home to serve papers.

She testified that her husband had been labeled a hero prior to the case, but the fallout shined an entirely different light on him.

She said her husband was accused of destroying the reputation of Morgan, a single mother of two, and he was humiliated.

It made him look like a terrible person, she said.

Jennifer Wood told jurors that her family began to suffer financially, which drove her husband to drink, and eventually their money troubles caused them to lose their home to foreclosure. All the while, she said her husbands temperament drastically changed.

He would be so angry all the time, she said. He just wasnt the same person anymore. We didnt know how to act around him.

While Wood said her family felt the financial strain from her husbands declining photography business, she also admitted that she still takes photos herself for extra income.

She said she uses the money for extracurricular activities such as horseback riding and violin lessons for her two daughters.

Along with testifying that the Woods have both of their incomes and the side photography business, Jennifer Wood also admitted that her husband continued to speak to the board even after it had decided not to close any schools, the issue which she said began their interest in the school system.

In 2012, he also spoke to county commissioners concerning funding for the school system, despite his alleged reluctance to speak in public, according to his wife.

When Jennifer Wood stepped down, the jury was asked to leave as Judge Tom Pomeroy again heard from both sides. Afterward, he allowed the jurors to hear admissions that both parties agreed were true:

 The Board of Education had a privacy policy in place in 2011 for complaints from the public.

 All of the board members did not turn in their copies of the packet Carlton and Wood submitted and were allowed to take the information home.

 The board has the authority to discipline and/or terminate the superintendent for immoral conduct.

 The board had policies in place in 2011 for preserving confidential information.

Although the jurors did hear those admissions, they did not hear defense attorney Thomas Doughtons argument for a direct verdict from Pomeroy.

Doughton said he felt the judge could determine the plaintiffs really had no case, since Catherine Thomas testified that she told Wood to submit the packet after a meeting, so that encounter wasnt in open or closed session.

He also pointed out that the civil conspiracy section of Wood and Carltons lawsuit has already been dismissed and no evidence has been presented so far that any board member gave a copy of the packet to Stellar. Besides, nothing in the packet was detrimental to Wood or Carlton if released, he said.

Their signature was the only thing personal in those documents, he said.

He also noted that the board is being sued, but both Stellar and Morgan had resigned at the time of her lawsuit.

While Pomeroy admitted that Doughtons points were valid, he also said the plaintiffs had a right to continue with their claims.

With that, the plaintiffs rested and the defense called its first witnesses.

Robert Buddy Armour Jr., who currently serves on the board, said that he did receive the packet of information, but already had heard it all. He said he looked over it, but didnt give it too much thought at the time.

We had bigger wolves at the door, he said, referring to the turmoil within the school system as previously reported.

Armour testified that he did not give a copy of the packet to anyone, and the board never voted to keep the information confidential.

His testimony was echoed by Karen Sain, a former board member, who also said she remembered receiving the packet, she had never given anyone a copy, and the board never voted to keep the information confidential.

Tim Buff, another member of the board in 2011, reiterated Armor and Sains statements, as did Sam Wilkinson who currently sits on the board. Wilkinson said he didnt remember the exact date of the packet, but he did recall both Wood and Carltons work with the school system at the time.

They were both warriors helping us with what we were going through, he said.

While Carlton and Wood may have been considered warriors at the time, both argue that they lost that reputation quickly after Morgan filed suit. The 10 jurors will continue to hear testimony Tuesday and decide if the mens claims are worth $10 million.

To read up on the previous days testimony, visit morganton.com.
The production volume of Korean automakers is now bigger overseas than at home.

Data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association show that Korean carmakers produced 2.77 million cars in the country from January to August but 2.92 million in their overseas factories.

The main reason were major strikes at Hyundai compounded by slow exports and lackluster sales in Korea.

The decreased output at home leads to a vicious cycle of smaller orders for subcontractors, lower factory operating rates, layoffs of assembly line workers and a worsening slump.


Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command on Monday said Brooks had separate meetings with Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan and Gen. Raymond Thomas, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks last week discussed responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs with U.S. military leaders and government officials in Washington.

It is part of the USFK commander's job to meet U.S. military leaders regularly.

In his meeting with Brennan, Brooks reportedly discussed North Korea's latest nuclear test and any progress it may have made to building nuclear warheads, its ability to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. mainland, and the possibility of further provocations.

With Thomas he talked about stepping up joint special operations in preparation for a decapitation strike against North Korean leaders in case of a war or a nuclear attack from the North.

The South Korean military plans to set up a special unit for a decapitation operation, but it needs support from the U.S. military, including special operations aircraft for infiltration.


In the United States, we think overvaluations are the biggest risk to investor returns at the current time; especially within some of the most popular sectors such as technology.

Underlying much of the distortion in United States equity values appears to be unrealistic earnings expectations. In tech stocks for instance, the past 10-year earnings growth has equated to 7.65% versus 0.83% for the broader market in real terms. This has resulted in a return-on-equity figure of 20.5% in tech stocks, which is far higher than the 20-year average of 17.9%, and the market average of 14.8%.

Whether these growth rates are sustainable is a source of contention, and is frankly impossible to predict with precision. For instance, with Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Facebook (FB) and Microsoft (MSFT) making up more than 48% of the tech sector, the success of the iPhone 7 will have a material impact on the growth rates and therefore sector fundamentals.

The only rational way to assess the broad range of potential outcomes is to therefore undertake stress-testing when implementing our valuation framework. The key questions are the likely growth rate under a sustainable scenario as well as the broad divergence that could occur in these growth rates. Admittedly, our methodology allows for higher earnings growth rates in United States technology companies than many other sector, which is a risk in itself, however even under this framework we see the current valuations as unsustainable under most scenarios. To add a further layer of comprehension, we can consider value in terms of the traditional price-earnings ratio versus a cyclically-adjusted price-earnings ratio (CAPE). This follows the work of Robert Shiller and the numerous academic studies that have generally supported the CAPE over traditional P/E ratio analysis. As can be seen below, this also shows similar distortions in United States equities by sector. Investors should note that the energy sector is impacted by the commodity slump and the subsequent fall in earnings. Overwhelmingly, a rationally positioned investor should see these overvaluation concerns as a fundamental risk. With total returns on offer of only 1.1% across the United States equity index, according to our valuation-implied methodology, and negative valuation-implied returns in five of the key sectors, we would suggest a very cautious stance is warranted towards United States exposure. Why Going Passive for Global Stock Exposure is Dangerous With the United States now comprising just over 57% of the global index, there is a growing theme around active versus passive equity selection. One growing strategy is to run a core/satellite portfolio to keep fees low, whereby the majority of equity exposure is taken via a passive exposure, then using an active satellite theme to increase the valuation opportunities. Keeping fees low is a principle Morningstar takes very seriously, however the acceptance of a high United States equity exposure adds a layer of fundamental risk many investors are ignoring. More specifically, the greatest risk to a portfolio is a substantial drawdown which impairs value and results in a permanent loss of capital. In essence, and in summary, while we are generally supporters of low-cost passive investing, we do not believe passive global equity selection is desirable under a backdrop where 57% of the global index has a poor fundamental backdrop.
Richard Whitehall: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi spoke to European Union Parliament yesterday. He vigorously defended criticisms of the negative interest rates set by the ECB. He did acknowledge that negative rates were bad for savers and could affect financial stability if negative for too long.

But he also said there were symptom of a low economic growth over the long-term and not just simply a means to an end from the ECB. That probably implies that they may not go much further negative but negative rates are probably here for a while.

So how does that background affect the attractiveness of European equities? Well, within European equities, there potentially are attractive areas, including the financial sector. However, although headline level they maybe optically cheap, it's not clear on a risk/return basis that they are attractive. The effects of negative interest rates, a one concern; the profitability of European Union banks and that scenario and also the fundamental economic changes of Brexit.

So, where European Union equities may appear attractive compared to overvalued U.S. equities, that's possibly understandable, better opportunities on a risk/return basis probably lie within Japan and emerging market equities.
Lawmakers on Monday discussed asking a small contingent of Chinese police to be stationed on Jeju Island to help with violent crime involving the ever-growing numbers of Chinese tourists on the resort island.

Minjoo Party lawmaker Kang Chang-il mooted the idea in a National Assembly audit of the Foreign Ministry on Monday, citing the recent murder of a Korean woman by a Chinese tourist and a violent assault by a group of Chinese tourists at a restaurant.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se promised to consider the suggestion.

Chinese consulates general in Japan and the Chinese Embassy in Seoul each have a police contingent attached, Kang said.

"Chinese tourists are very afraid of their own police. The ministry should immediately discuss with the Chinese government the idea of dispatching Chinese police officers to Jeju so that they can join local police in patroling areas where Chinese tourists gather," he added.

Yun said a visa waiver for short-term Chinese tourists on the island has had some undesirable consequences. "We've called China's attention to this issue and tried to prevent such crimes through consular channels, but after the latest incidents we'll double our efforts," he added.

Some 279 crimes have been committed by Chinese tourists in Jeju this year alone, up a whopping 66.1 percent on-year.


Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive.

To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
The search was on Monday night for three crew after a Navy helicopter crashed into the East Sea during a South Korea-U.S. maritime exercise.

According to the Navy, the Lynx helicopter made by the U.K.'s Westland disappeared from the radar after sending a distress signal at around 9:05 p.m.

It had lifted off from a Navy warship just eight minutes earlier on a training mission.


The broker industry in another country is about to receive an injection of cash from a partnership between its national association and a lender in a bid to help grow its influence.



The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), together with United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), the Americas largest channel lender, have partnered together to launch the KickStart program with the intention of helping to grow the broker channel.



The initiative will grant originators up to $10,000 to help them open their own brokerage.



At NAMB, our mission is to grow the mortgage broker channel, and the KickStart initiative shows how committed we are to putting our money where our mouth is, Don Frommeyer, CEO of NAMB, said. We value the industry leadership and sponsorship UWM has provided to get this program off the ground, and we hope other lenders will participate in the program as sponsors as well.



For its part, UWM has dedicated $500,000 to the initiative.



To put the partnership into a Canadian perspective, imagine Mortgage Professionals Canada and any one of the Canadian monoline lenders partnering with the intention of injecting some capital into the industry.



Of course, NAMBs membership at 27,000 is very large. Attempts to confirm MPCs figures were unsuccessful.



Howver, UWMs annual originations of $12.957 billion in 2015 make it smaller than some Canadian broker channel lenders. To put that into perspective, First National -- one of Canada's largest broker channel lenders -- had total originations last year of $17.2 billion.



Differences between the American and Canadian mortgage industries notwithstanding, this dedication to the channel from an association and a lender shows a great deal of confidence in a channel whose reputation has taken a hit since the financial crisis of 2008.



It also proves its association is in tune with members wants and needs.



In a survey that NAMB distributed to approximately 200 loan originators around the country, roughly 70% of respondents reported an interest in owning their own shop, NAMB said in a release. In the same survey, 44% of respondents indicated money as their main barrier to opening their own business, but 60% said they would be more inclined to take the chance if given seed money.



But could a similar program work in Canada? And would it help grow the industry? Have your say below.


The U.S. State Department will soon announce legal measures targeting Hongxiang Industrial Development Co., a Chinese company suspected of helping North Korea develop nuclear weapons.

A source in Washington said the Justice Department and the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control are expected to announce the results of a probe into the Chinese company in violation of UN and U.S. sanctions.

The measures will include indictments of the heads of related businesses, the source added.

The Asan Institute for Policy Studies and U.S. think tank C4ADS in a recent report said Hongxiang supplied North Korea with high-grade aluminum ingots, ammonium paratungstate, aluminum oxide and tungsten trioxide, which are key ingredients in developing centrifuges for uranium enrichment and weapons of mass destruction.

A source said the violations are construed as crimes against the U.S. financial system, i.e. money laundering.

The State Department began investigating Hongxiang at the start of this year. When the Asan Institute tried to announce its research findings in May, the U.S. apparently asked it to postpone the announcement until September.

The Chinese government is now also investigating Hongxiang, which is responsible for the vast bulk of trade with North Korea, and the Dandong-based firm could well be shut down.


The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is seeking an arrest warrant for Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin on charges of breach of trust and embezzlement.

Prosecutors said Monday that they decided to arrest Shin given the severity of the charges and the amount of money involved, despite possible repercussions on the economy as Lotte is the country's fifth-largest conglomerate.

The decision came about a week after prosecutors questioned Shin last week.

The Seoul Central District Court will decide whether to approve the warrant on Wednesday.

Shin is accused of paying his older brother Shin Dong-joo (62), father and group founder Shin Kyuk-ho (94) and the founder's third wife Seo Mi-kyung around W50 billion in salary over the last decade even though they played no specific role in managing the publicly traded conglomerate (US$1=W1,110).

Prosecutors have also accused Shin of causing W77 billion in losses to Lotte affiliates by farming out business to separate companies owned by other members of the founders family.

He is accused of causing another W47 billion worth of damage to Lotte affiliates by making them buy Lotte PS Net shares at inflated prices.

Lotte Group said Shin plans to cooperate with law enforcement.
We won't be seeing the Dance of the Dragons for quite a while. After that epic season one finale, HBO is making sure viewers don't expect a sequel to House of the Dragon in the new year. "Don't expect it in 23, but I think sometime in
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 []
Be measured in the margins you ...
Calaveras County Sheriff View Photos

San Andreas, CA  Enhanced compliance and enforcement activities with this seasons marijuana harvest underway in Calaveras County resulted in two arrests Monday.

The two arrested men are identified as Trinidad Gonzales Esparza, 44, with a Yakima, Washington address, and Jose Guadalupe Hernandez Perez, 28, of Bakersfield.

According to Calaveras County Sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Anthony Eberhardt, just after 10 a.m. the men were arrested in Burson in the 5900 block of Albert Lane in conjunction with an illegal grow of 155 marijuana plants, which were subsequently eradicated. Based on a value of $3,000 to $4,000 per plant, the grow might be valued at over a half-million dollars.

Both men now each face a felony possession charge as well as a misdemeanor offense of resisting arrest by attempting to flee the scene.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine appeared at a campaign rally in Lakeland just hours before his running mate's debate with Donald Trump on Monday night.

VP candidate Tim Kaine spoke in Lakeland on Monday



He'll 'be on the edge' of his seat during presidential debates

Supporters said they're hoping for conversation on issues, not insults

Kaine arrived on a campaign jet at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport late in the morning and then appeared before a crowd of about 150 people in a meeting room at the Lakeland Center.

He talked about the economy, health care, national defense and immigration reform. The Virginia senator and former governor predicted he would keep his political winning streak alive.

"I've run eight races and I've won eight races," he told the crowd.

Today starts the closing stretch of the campaign with the debate tonight," he said. "You know, I am real interested in this debate. I mean I'm going to be on the edge of my seat."

Voters at the rally were hoping the debate would feature substance over fireworks.

"He's going to be held to a higher standard than before, said Florida Southern College student Nelson Hill about Donald Trump. He can't just lob attacks."

"Hopefully they put the gloves down and try and get to some issues eventually before November, so that's the goal for me, added Clinton supporter Mike Bonislawski.
In an apparent bid to win over social conservatives skeptical of his candidacy, Donald Trump has expanded his list of potential U.S. Supreme Court nominees to include Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady, an ardent pro-life jurist who famously coined the term 'partial-birth abortion.'

Trump released a list of people he'd consider for Supreme Court

FL. Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady was among 21 people listed



Canady is now among 21 people Trump says he'd consider appointing to the nation's highest court should he become president.

Releasing such a list is unusual for a sitting president, let alone a presidential candidate, but could serve a strategic purpose for Trump. The Republican Party's standard-bearer is a former Democrat who has taken decidedly liberal positions on social issues, including abortion.

Trump now says he's pro-life, an evolution many social conservatives refuse to accept.

Trump's consideration of Canady, in particular, could have a galvanizing impact on pro-life voters in a swing state Trump almost certainly has to win to have a viable path to the White House.

Appointed to the state Supreme Court by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist in 2008, Canady has consistently sided in favor of restrictive abortion laws, most recently dissenting in a ruling that temporarily froze a controversial measure requiring women to wait 24 hours after an initial consultation before receiving an abortion.

As a Lakeland Republican member of Congress in the 1990s, Canady defined partial-birth abortion procedures, which occur late in pregnancy and are now banned by the federal government.

"He is a strong pro-life leader and would make a great justice," said Pam Olsen, a pro-life activist who pointedly noted Trump wasn't her first, second, nor third choice to be the GOP's presidential nominee.

Canady's inclusion on Trump's list of potential Supreme Court appointees, however, has helped to firm up her support for the real estate mogul.

"You never know what moves a person to suddenly decide, you know, I'm going to cast my vote this way'," Olsen said. "The reality is, I hope the voters in Florida look at the issue of life and look at, yes, we do have a Florida Supreme Court justice that could end up on the U.S. Supreme Court."

Consolidating Republicans behind his candidacy is critical for Trump, who polls indicate is struggling with women, minorities and independents.

Along with economic and defense-minded conservatives, social conservatives can be a make-or-break force in presidential elections, depending on their turnout.

But while Trump's bold entreaty to the third leg of the Republican stool could help boost his support, pro-choice activists are seizing on his list of anti-abortion jurists as motivation for progressive voters to turn out, as well.

"We're ready to make sure that our people register to vote, because we want to make sure that every woman in this state knows what we're up against and that this impacts their personal lives," said Anna Eskamani, the director of public policy for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, of the group's efforts this election season.
The Largo Police Department is going above and beyond the call of duty.

Rob Bachman, a tattoo artist at Legacy Blue Tattoo Studio in Tarpon Springs, agreed to tattoo his cousin and her husband after they tragically lost their 6-year-old son, Jakob.

NY parents traveled to Florida for handprint tattoos

Largo Police Sgt. Anna Starling helped retrieve the prints

The parents both got the tattoo, which reads 'your wings were ready, but my heart was not'

"She said, 'The only thing I have is this set of handprints he put on my mirror the morning he passed away,' Bachman recalled.

Bachmans family, who is from Buffalo, New York, drove down to Florida with the mirror in the car. But Bachman wasnt sure how to get the handprints off the mirror.

So he called Sgt. Ann Starling at the Largo Police Department.

"How can anyone say no? Starling, who works as a traffic homicide investigator, said. It was such a moving story and it was not exactly what I do now, but I still have the skills so how could I not do it for them?"

Starling met the family at the police station on a Saturday  her day off  and got to work. She was able to lift multiple copies of the handprints off the mirror.

"Cars, houses, windows, you name it, weve done it, Starling said. But this was probably the most important set of prints I have ever pulled in my entire life."

Bachman then used the prints for the tattoos. Jakobs dad got one handprint tattooed on his shoulder and his mom got the other on her leg. Both tattoos also say, Your wings were ready, but my heart was not.

"There would have been no way to be able to do that tattoo and make it perfect, realistic, there would have been no way to do it without those prints, Bachman said.

Jakobs parents say they appreciate Sgt. Starling and Bachman for making it all happen.
Even though the presidential campaign is grabbing the majority of the headlines, there's still a high-stakes Senate race happening here in Florida.

Recently, Democratic challenger Representative Patrick Murphy from South Florida noted that current Republican Senator Marco Rubio is absent from the Senate a lot, and with those absences come missed votes. How bad does Murphy say it is? Here's what Murphy had to say, quote ...

"Senator Rubio has the worst vote attendance record of any Florida senator in nearly 50 years."



Our partners at PolitiFact decided to look at the official records to see if this was an accurate claim. Politifact reporter Joshua Gillin says that Murphy's claim rates MOSTLY TRUE on the Truth-O-Meter.

"We looked at Rubio's absentee rate, which is the number of votes he cast compared to the number of votes he could have participated in," said Gillin. "We found that his voting absentee rate is 14 percent, meaning that he voted in just over 85 percent of all votes that were held in the Senate."

Is that the worst, though? Gillin says that there are a couple of ways that you could look at it.

"We checked with the other senators that are currently in office, and they average a 1.7 percent absentee rate when it comes to Senate votes," said Gillin. "In that comparison, Rubio's rate is significantly higher than the average. Now, when it comes to the 50-years claim, we went back and looked at all of the senators from Florida for the last 50 years, and yes, you have to go back to George Smathers, who was the Senator from Florida between 1951 and 1969. Smathers' voting attendance absentee rate was 23.6 percent, far higher than Rubio's 14.5 percent rate."

Gillin notes that, while the numbers support the claim, there are few things to keep in mind.

"You have to remember that Rubio did run for president, so he was on the campaign trail quite a bit while votes were happening in the Senate," said Gillin. "You also have to take note that back when Smathers was in office, the overall average absentee rate was 14.5 percent, which is well higher than the current 1.7 percent of today's senators."

Murphy did get the numbers right, but mitigating factors played a factor in the absentee rates, which leads to a MOSTLY TRUE rating from PolitiFact.

SOURCES: Marco Rubio's voting attendance record
An early morning encounter with a transient and the slow response time by the lone deputy sheriff on duty prompted Brenda Carter to appear before Hale County commissioners Monday.

Carters family owns the former Six Point Gin property, along Interstate-27 seven miles north of Hale Center and 12 miles south of Plainview. There are multiple structures on the 26-acre property, including one occupied by her daughters family and another by her sons family.

She told commissioners that about 7:10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, they had an intruder on the property, peering into the windows and trying door handles of one of the houses, with her fearful daughter inside.

The men had left at 6:15 and 6:40 that morning, leaving six women there at risk, she said.

She received a call from her daughter about a strange man prowling around the residence and attempting in get in. She in turn called the sheriffs office at 7:13 a.m., reporting a suspicious person on the fenced property. There are six No Trespassing or Private Property signs posted around the site.

A deputy sheriff arrived 22 minutes later.

By that time, Carter said, she got in her own pickup and chased the intruder off the property and onto the shoulder of the highway.

Why cant they protect us? she asked commissioners. The deputy didnt appear to be in any hurry to get here, and when he did arrive what he did was inexcusable.

She said after the sheriffs deputy arrived on the scene and learned the nature of the call, he located the suspect walking along the north shoulder of the interstate. He ends up giving the guy a free ride to town, dropping him off at McDonalds. He even had an open bottle of wine in his backpack. An open container of alcohol in a vehicle would have gotten anyone else arrested, but this man got exactly what he wanted.

In response, Sheriff David Mull said only one sheriffs deputy was on duty at the time, and he was in the vicinity of the FM 54/FM 400 intersection when dispatched. It took Mull between 22 and 27 minutes driving 5 mph over the posted speed limit to cover the same distance, taking the two routes that the officer could have taken.

Mull said the Hale Center Police Department officer who normally would have backed up the deputy was on vacation that day.

It just happened to be one of those times when we didnt have any other units available to respond, Mull explained.

Hale County sheriffs deputies are responsible for patrolling and responding to calls across 985 square-miles, he noted. The sheriffs office has 14 outside deputies, which means that after midnight on week days is just one deputy is normally on duty.

Its a big county with a lot of other needs, Carter acknowledged. But one man cant cover all that area and do an adequate job.

Mull said after reviewing the incident with the responding officer, Mull learned that the transient spent the night sleeping under a nearby overpass and had gone to the Carters property hoping to get something to eat or drink.

Its just one of those unfortunate situations that happened when we didnt have anyone else out, Mull said. We do the best we can with the people we have available.

County Judge Bill Coleman acknowledged that Mull has requested additional deputies each time he submits departmental budget requests. We try to do the best we can with the available resources.

Coleman admitted that while the police response times within Plainview are about four minutes, they are much longer in rural areas. It sounds like there were a set of unfortunate circumstances that all came up at that time.

In response to a question from Coleman, Mull said the officers report would be forwarded to District Attorney Wally Hatch for his consideration over possibly filing charges against the intruder for criminal trespass.

In other action Monday, commissioners:

--Authorized Precinct 3 Commissioner Kenny Kernell to follow up with representatives of the Texas Association of Counties concerning securing comprehensive insurance coverage for the countys 16 motor graders which have a combined replacement cost of $3,833,000. An earlier estimate on annual premiums for the coverage is $11,000.

--Authorized Vista Grande Dairy to run a water line across County Road Y.

--Authorized the county judge to sign the biennial contract between the district clerks office and the Texas Attorney Generals Office on child support collection and services. District Clerk Carla Cannon reported that $7,395,000 in child support payments are collected annually in Hale County.

--Approved the hiring of two new corrections officers for the jail, Virginia Godino and Taylor McCasland.

--Accepted the Hale Center EMS activity report for August, showing 23 emergency dispatches, including 16 within the city and seven in the county, and 29 transfer runs.

--Approved TCA-endorsed resolutions asking that the state fully fund indigent criminal defense costs, and opposing unfunded mandates and state-imposed appraisal and revenue caps.

--Rescheduled three regular or work sessions that conflicted with scheduled holidays in 2017.

--Approved current accounts payable of $195,590.01 and authorized publication of a notice showing that the closing balance on all accounts on Aug. 31 totaled $16,126,730.30.
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Addressing a crowd of about 75 on Sunday evening ready to launch pink balloons in honor of young victim of child abuse, organizer Casie Augustine stressed, We want to have something that is hopeful and not at all hateful. We want everyone to know that Baby Brianna is Plainviews angel. She is loved by us, now and forever.

A mother of four, Augustine is one of the organizers of the vigil for Brianna Lopez, a 5 1/2-month-old Las Cruces, New Mexico, child who died in 2002 as a result of ongoing sexual and physical abuse. Her mother, Stephanie Lopez, was released from prison Wednesday after serving about 13 years of a 27-year sentence for negligent child abuse resulting in death and child abuse. She reported to the parole office in Plainview on Thursday and will be serving the next two years of her parole something in the area.
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Embattled philanthropist Dede Wilsey, who waged an all-out campaign to stay on as head of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco amid probes into whether she improperly spent the institutions money, won approval Tuesday to extend her reign as the citys queen of culture  although with a new title and possibly less power.

Both the 45-member private, nonprofit board and equally large public board that oversee the de Young and Legion of Honor museums approved bylaw amendments that  while allowing for some management changes  will keep Wilsey atop the museums leadership ranks.

Wilsey, who has headed the museums boards since 1998, had her title changed from president to board chair, and the trustees voted to install an expanded leadership group and name a new chief executive officer  a position Wilsey held until Tuesday.

The boards are also considering having Wilsey and other museum leaders serve three-year, renewable terms, instead of the current open-ended arrangement. But trustees did not act on that plan Tuesday.

After the votes, Wilsey called the changes minimal  none  and mostly at my request. Im delighted.

Max Hollein, who was named the museums director in March, will now assume the additional role of chief executive officer to oversee day-to-day operations. He will take over the position that Wilsey has held since former museums director John Buchanan died in 2012  but was never conferred on the last director, Colin Bailey.

Even with the changes, Mrs. Wilsey remains firmly in place as the leader of the Fine Arts Museums board, and she has no intention of stepping down, said her PR consultant Nathan Ballard. That much is not in question.

It was definitely in question two months ago, when The Chronicle reported that trustees were considering a play in which Wilsey would give up her leading role at the Fine Arts Museums. The museums had just agreed to pay a $2 million settlement to a former high-ranking executive who said Wilsey had her ousted for revealing her alleged misspending of museum money.

The former executive, ex-Chief Financial Officer Michele Gutierrez, said Wilsey had given a $450,000 payout to an ailing former staffer without authorization from either the museums public or private boards. The state attorney generals office has been reviewing the museums practices since receiving a whistle-blower complaint from Gutierrez.

In July, after the legal settlement with Gutierrez, a museums spokesman  who has since been sidelined  issued a statement saying that after several years of serving as president and CEO, and with a competent director of museums in place, (Wilsey) believes it will serve the museums better for her to now focus on other areas where her skills and expertise will have a positive impact.

Since then, however, Wilsey has been battling back with a full-on PR campaign aimed at preserving her power and her reputation. It included sitting down for an interview with the New York Times that ran Sunday and foreshadowed this weeks board meetings.

You cant beat me, Wilsey was quoted as saying. You will see me prevail. Thats what you will see.

She insisted that she was the one who had been advocating for months that the museums boards adopt a new arrangement that would have her share more management responsibility with other trustees.

Wilsey also suggested she was being demonized because shes a woman, telling the Times, There is no way if I were a man I would be the victim. A man who gives as much money as I do?

Former Banana Republic President Jack Calhoun, who along with former Visa President and CEO Carl Pascarella was named a vice chair of the Fine Arts Museums on Tuesday, said the new management structure will allow Wilsey to spend more time on fundraising and public outreach.

He said Hollein, the museums new CEO, is running the place and very clearly is running the show.

Hollein, asked if he expected less meddling from Wilsey or other board members in museum operations, said, Thats a trick question.

But he made it clear that he took the directors job this year with the expectation of being allowed to exercise control over daily affairs.

Theres no questioning Wilseys importance to the museums. Among other things, she is credited with having raised almost single-handedly the $190 million needed to rebuild the earthquake-damaged de Young in Golden Gate Park.

Still, at least three high-profile board members, including former City Attorney Louise Renne, have resigned in recent months over Wilseys refusal to relinquish control and show more transparency. There is continued grumbling among some current and former staffers about her tight grip.

Before Tuesdays board meetings, one museum insider who wasnt authorized to speak for the record said: There wont be a move to unseat Wilsey, and anyone trying to do that wouldnt have the votes  and thats just where it stands.

Another longtime museums supporter added: Nothing has changed.

Wilseys problems arent entirely behind her. A city controllers report due out next month is expected to take aim at her $450,000 payout to the former staffer. And the state attorney generals office, whose inquiry is ongoing, must still give its blessing to the board changes.

Were told that probably wont happen until after Attorney General Kamala Harris, who has received a number of political contributions over the years from Wilsey, goes before the voters Nov. 8 in her race for U.S. Senate.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Monday that requires people who leave guns in unattended vehicles to lock them in a trunk or in a container thats not left in plain sight.

California law already requires that firearms be securely stored in vehicles, but law enforcement officers were exempt from the rule. The new law applies to all gun carriers, including law enforcement, and comes after a slew of firearms stolen from officers vehicles were used in killings, including the deaths of Kathryn Steinle, who was shot on Pier 14 last summer, and Oakland muralist Antonio Ramos.
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A fire tore through vegetation and at least three homes Tuesday in Sonoma County, forcing officials there to temporarily close the northbound lanes of Highway 101 near Petaluma.

Petaluma police said the three-alarm fire  spotted by passing California Highway Patrol officers about 3:15 p.m.  was in the area of Stuart and McKenzie drives, a residential area just east of the highway.

The fire was burning the houses, trees and other vegetation, said Officer Jonathan Slot, a CHP spokesman.

Fire officials believe the blaze started as a vegetation fire on the edge of the highway, jumped to nearby trees and then quickly spread to neighboring homes.

The spread of the blaze was mostly contained by 4:30 p.m., a dispatcher said.

For about an hour, cars were being diverted off the northbound lanes of the highway at the Lakeville exit so that fire equipment could get to the scene. The southbound lanes remained open during that time.

Motorists were told to avoid the area as firefighters battled the blaze.

About 20 houses along Stuart Drive were evacuated. There were no reports of injuries, said Lt. Tim Lyons, a Petaluma Police Department spokesman.

Firefighters with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection used helicopters to drop buckets of water on the blaze, an unusual move for a residential fire, but requested by officials because of the size of the blaze and the amount of vegetation involved.

Eleven local agencies were called to the scene to help fight the fire.

Police set up rendezvous points at a nearby Safeway and at Cortez and McKenzie drives for evacuated family members to find one another. A shelter was also being set up at McDowell Elementary School nearby, with the Red Cross assisting those who were displaced.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
Whether you stream, buy or rent, heres a look at whats new or notable in home video. Movies are available on streaming sites such as iTunes, Amazon and Vudu unless otherwise noted.

The Shallows: An isolated Mexican beach looks like paradise to Nancy (Blake Lively), a med student from Galveston who is surfing her way through a quarter-life crisis. So trouble must be waiting, and it is, in the form of an unreasonably patient shark that takes a bite out of Nancy and will probably get seconds when high tide washes her off the rock where she has found refuge. Not only does this compact thriller deliver plenty of jolts in 90 minutes, its also uncommonly beautiful  even the threats, such as a cluster of stinging jellyfish, look inviting.

Also: Central Intelligence, The Neon Demon, Warcraft

In theaters

Goat: Nick Jonas Disney Channel days are just a distant memory now. In this college drama, hes a fraternity member who will have to choose sides when his frat brothers and his actual brother, who is pledging, come into conflict during hell week. Based on Brad Lands memoir.

Silicon Cowboys: No, this isnt a Westworld knockoff. Its a documentary about the Texas roots of the personal computer revolution. Though the story of Compaq Computers was an inspiration for AMCs Halt and Catch Fire, the true tech David and Goliath tale (IBM was Goliath) is worth revisiting in its original form.

Reissues

Bill & Teds Excellent Collection : Strange things are afoot at the Circle K once more with this deluxe package featuring the 1989 time-travel comedy Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure, its 1991 sequel Bill & Teds Bogus Journey, a third disc of bonus material and  whoa!  a Wild Stallyns guitar pick. Excellent, in which two dim but amiable San Dimas, California, teens (Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter) go to great lengths to pass a history test and keep their band together, is more fondly remembered, but Bogus, in which they encounter Death and Robot Bill & Ted, is wilder and funnier.

Television

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: The Vault Series : For escapism, these 90-minute episodes from the 70s, complete with commercials, are as effective as a strong drink. Compared to todays late-night viral video factories, theyre slow, kind of dull and rather soothing. What could be wrong if Johnny has 15 minutes to chat with Orson Bean about next to nothing? The calm is sometimes broken. An appearance by Richard Pryor, for instance, starts out awkward and ends up unhinged. (Time-Life DVD, available at Costco)
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Well, one thing sure wasnt up for debate Monday night  Rick Perry still cant dance out of the cellar on Dancing with the Stars.

Ahead of the first debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, DWTS whipped up its own dramatic televised clash with a special Face Off episode.

And for the third week in a row, the former governor of Texas landed the lowest score of the evening, marking him a three-time bottom feeder on the live ABC dance competition.

That was even after tying with fellow celebrity contestant Vanilla Ice for a 23 out of 40.

Mondays ballroom blitz pitted celebrity against celebrity, as two couples danced the same dance style to different songs. The dueling duos then faced the music from the DWTS judges. The higher-scoring couple got immunity from elimination, while the lower-scoring couple got relegated to the potential losers circle.

Dressed as a black-clad matador a day late and a cape short for disco night, Perry strutted a stiff paso doble with dance partner Emma Slater, followed by an equally ebon-garbed Vanilla Ice and dance partner Witney Carson, who eked out an equally low-scoring paso doble performance.

In the event of a tie, the choice came down to head judge Len Goodman, who gave the edge to Vanilla Ice only by a shadow.

You could say Perry was a shadow of his former self on the dance floor. Video ahead of his live performance showed him twist an ankle while rehearsing with Slater.

Nevertheless, Perry was quick to point out the men and women who serve in the military push on, so its going to take more than that to keep down the hopeful secretary of Veterans Affairs for a possible Trump administration.

As for whether Perry soldiers on into next week on Dancing with the Stars, thats up to the voting viewers. The celebrity/dancer couple with the lowest combined viewer and judges scores marches off into the sunset for the live elimination show, Tuesday at 7 p.m.

rguzman@express-news.net
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BOERNE  This small German town has a new place for high-end dining, and it comes from a bastion of the downtown San Antonio food scene. Mark Bohanan of the eponymous Bohanans Prime Steaks and Seafood, opens Wednesday Peggys on the Green in downtown Boerne.

I checked it out on its first friends and family night.

The new restaurant is named after Bohanans mother and focuses on Southern comfort food. Entrees of crab cakes and shrimp and grits share the menu with appetizers of grilled oysters and pimiento cheese. And of course, theres plenty of grilled meats to satisfy even the most carnivorous palate.

The space is gorgeous, dark with ancient stone walls and comfy chairs and couches in the bar and waiting areas. The space was taken down to the studs for a renovation that created an expansive but still cozy main dining room, with dark beamed coffered ceilings and intimate lighting that invites couples to linger over a bottle from the extensive wine list. A new patio was built off the dining room with lots of seating, an outdoor bar and a stone fireplace large enough to roast a whole pig. With heaters and roaring fire going, I can see this being a popular lounging area after an afternoon of antiquing on Boernes Main Street.

Monday night featured musicians subtly enlivening the bar, and plans call for music there are least on weekends.

The bar has a truly wide selection of liquors, with an emphasis on bourbons and whiskeys. No surprise there; The Bar at Bohanans twice has made the list of best bars in San Antonio in the Express-Newss Top 100 Dining & Drinks guide.

I cant wait to come back for a relaxing date night or with a group of friends to try more of the menu.

Peggys on the Green opens Wednesday to the public. Its located at 128 W. Blanco Road at Ye Kendall Inn in Boerne. Facebook: Peggys on the Green. Reservations can be made online at peggysonthegreen.com, 830-572-5000.

Personal note: Thank you to the designer who thought of including purse hooks at the bar under the bartop and next to the sinks in the womens restrooms. It stuns me how often high-end restaurants dont make better accommodation to female patrons and their common accessories.
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Find out in the slideshow above what you need to know before you flee (legally) to Canada after the upcoming presidential election

It seems like for years people in the United States have been threatening to move to Canada if the presidential candidate they support is or isn't elected.

Republicans threatened to move to Canada in 2008 after Barack Obama was elected, and there are those on the left who have said that they're checking out if Donald Trump defeats Hillary Clinton and vice versa.

RELATED: Snowden says he'll vote in US presidential election

Sure it might seem like all your problems would be solved running north of the border.

We asked author Andre du Broc exactly what that would entail since he recently wrote a book on the subject, "How to Move to Canada: A Discontented American's Guide to Canadian Relocation."

Those interested in leaving the U.S. for the Great White North can find the 144-page book on Amazon. It might even make a handy gift for people in your family who feel like quitting on the greatest country on Earth. It is due for release Oct. 4.

RELATED: Small Canadian town will give land, a job to anyone willing to move

The tongue-in-cheek book is for the "frustrated, angry, and just plain exasperated" American whose resolve has been worn down by the election circus.

The book has information on picking the right region of Canada to settle in, lingo you need to get down, and even the proper legal channels you must follow to become a citizen.
Dear Mr. Premack: My elderly sister, who is widowed, has recently been hospitalized. My wife and I (and our children) are her only living relatives. We have looked through her home to finds any legal documents, especially a Medical Power of Attorney, but have not located them. She may not have ever seen an attorney. Is there a way that I can assist with her medical care short of becoming her court-appointed Guardian? - NR

In these limited circumstances, people need to call on their state's Surrogate Consent Statute. Our book Thinking Beyond Tomorrow, discusses among many other issues, Advance Directives and Surrogate Consent Statutes. Here is an except that answers your question:

As of 2014, most state legislatures have adopted a Default Surrogate Consent Statute to control who can provide informed consent for an incapacitated adult. Default Surrogate Consent Statutes (DSCS) serve two purposes. First, the DSCS facilitates rapid access to informed consent. Second, the DSCS alleviates the need for Guardianship in most medical scenarios. In many cases, this removes the burden from the courts and reduces the amount of time necessary to find a surrogate which can save patient's lives.

Default surrogacy laws do not require any action by the patient. They come into effect immediately when a doctor decides the patient cannot provide their own medical consent. Once that decision is made, the patient's surrogate steps in to provide informed consent on the patient's behalf.

The Texas Consent to Medical Treatment Act (CMTA) serves well as a model Default Surrogate Consent Statute. The CMTA provides a list of state-selected surrogates who may give informed consent for an incapacitated patient. They are, in order of priority and availability:

 The patient's spouse;

 The patient's children. A sole child may act if they have written permission from the other children to act alone. If the children have not selected a representative, medical decisions will be made by majority vote among the children;

 The patient's parents, if still living;

 Someone the patient "clearly identified" before becoming ill;

 Any other living relative; and,

 Any member of the clergy, whether or not you know that person.

If the patient lacks next-of-kin, their legal proxy is increasingly remote and the statute's last resort is a clergy member (i.e., staff clergy at the hospital.) The clergy member may never have met the patient, and the CMTA does not take into account the patient's faith and that it may be different from the available clergy, or that the patient may be an atheist or agnostic. Thankfully, the clergy provision of the CMTA is unique among state DSCS. No other state allows a member of the clergy to provided informed consent for an incapacitated patient.

You are her nearest next-of-kin, so the Texas CMTA will allow you to make her medical decisions, without Guardianship, while she is institutionalized. The law no longer applies if she recuperates enough to return home, in which case it is best for her to consult with her attorney to actively select an agent with a Medical Power of Attorney.

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
ALBANY  University police are investigating the "unattended death" of an undergraduate student found Monday in a wooded area near Freedom Apartments on the University at Albany's uptown campus, but there is "no indication there was any suspicious or criminal activity," Deputy Chief Aran Mull said.

Queens native Ravin Pahladsingh, 21, was found Monday afternoon, said Michael Christakis, vice president for Student Affairs and Public Service. There is no evidence of foul play, he said.
Albany

After a run of more than three decades at the New York Post, Fred Dicker has left the tabloid in what he described as "an amicable departure after some 2,000 columns over nearly 34 years."

Dicker, whose Monday column was a frequent must-read in state political circles, said in an email Monday that he may continue to freelance for the Post and other outlets, and will continue his hourlong weekday radio show "Live from the State Capitol" on WGDJ and his TV analysis on WRGB.

An Albany resident, he spent a large chunk of the past winter in Florida, though his multimedia output continued.

Dicker left the Times Union for the Post in 1982. Over the years, his frequent bouts with politicians have been legendary  including a 2010 confrontation with Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino that went viral after being captured on cellphone video.

Dicker was generally a supporter of Gov. Andrew Cuomo early in his administration, and the governor made the WGDJ show his regular sounding board. The relationship soured in 2013 after passage of the SAFE Act gun control law, which Dicker opposes.

In 2011, a New York Times profile reported that the governor had often compared Dicker to a caged beast who had to be fed, but only at arm's length.

 Casey Seiler
DANBURY  Female prisoners transferred from Danburys Federal Correctional Institute to other prisons three years ago had all but lost hope of returning.

But, officials with the federal Bureau of Prisons said the long-delayed, low-security facility now under construction on the Pembroke Road site should be completed in October.

More than 1,000 women were transferred out of the prison, made famous by the occasional celebrity inmate and the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, in December 2013, after the Bureau of Prisons decided to use the facility to house male inmates. But after an outcry from federal lawmakers and inmate activists concerned about closing the only federal prison for women in the Northeast  and moving inmates farther away from their children and families  the bureau agreed to build a new facility for women on the site.

In the meantime, women who would have been housed in Danbury are staying at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a facility intended for prisoners before sentencing, so it lacks drug-treatment programs and outdoor recreational facilities found in prisons.

The situation has elicited criticism from lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said last week the federal government has taken too long to complete the project.

The construction schedule continues to slip further and further behind, and the explanations dont seem to add up, he said. Each delay makes it harder on the innocent children and family members who are traveling a long way to visit their mom or daughter. There are a lot of people counting on this facility  I wont accept endless delays.

Getting back to Danbury has to be better than what they are getting now, which is virtually nothing, said Beatrice Codianni, a one-time gang leader who served 15 years at the FCI in Danbury and now is the managing editor of Reentry Central, a website dedicated to news of inmates re-entering society.

Members of the National Association of Women Judges, who visited the Metropolitan Detention Center in June, described the condition that prisoners face as unconscionable, noting at least one inmate hadnt seen her children and elderly mother in more than a year and most hadnt seen daylight since they were transferred from Danbury three years ago.

These women had all but given up hope that things would get better, their report states. The lethargy was almost palpable.

The judges said some inmates said they were unable to obtain employment and treatment programs. The warden said medical care was inadequate.

Warden Quay admitted medical service is a problem and did not defend it, the report states. Several women have complained about the lack of gynecology care, and that after initial provision of health care, there was minimal follow-up.

The 111 women who would otherwise be in Danbury, are kept in the same room 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no opportunity for outdoor exercise.

The absence of fresh, clean air, the complete absence of sunlight, and the absence of any outdoor time and activities are immediate issues which the BOP (Bureau of Prisons) has failed to address in any meaningful fashion, the report states.

Justin Long, a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons, said more than 1,100 inmates were transferred to temporary prisons while awaiting the construction of a new facility in Danbury, and the majority of those have since been released.

Construction began in June 2015, he said, and is expected to be done by next month.

In April, federal officials expanded the scope of the project to include a second building officials said will be used for inmate programs, space for health services, a new visiting area and office space. The combined cost of both projects is about $24.6 million.
BRIDGEPORT - A local man, accused of shooting a woman in the head after she shot him in the stomach during a robbery attempt, was arraigned Tuesday on attempted murder charges.

Jarfari Cutty Buggs, 27, of Black Rock Avenue, pleaded not guilty before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin to attempted murder, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm and illegally discharging a weapon.

He asked for a trial by jury. he is being held in lieu of $750,000 bond.

Police said Buggs shot 25-year-old Vaneccia Nucci Manson in the head in front of horrified shoppers outside the Sylvan Avenue Home Depot on Aug. 29.

Manson survived her wound and is scheduled to be arraigned next week on attempted murder, assault and robbery charges. She is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., on Aug. 29, police responded to complaints of a woman shot in the head outside Home Depot.

The woman, later identified as Manson, was bleeding from a bullet hole in the front of her head, and believing she was about to die told Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald that she had tried to rob Buggs at gunpoint but he had shot her, police said.

Police said surveillance video from a nearby deli showed Manson confront Buggs with a gun in her right hand. The two struggled over the gun and Buggs was shot, police related. Buggs then grabs the gun and pursues Manson firing at her multiple times until she collapses on the ground.
Albany

Political horse-trading led to a deal that set up a panel that is currently considering whether or not state lawmakers should receive a raise.

Whether additional horse-trading will help lawmakers secure a raise this winter remains to be seen.

The Daily News reported Monday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not support a raise for state lawmakers, who currently make $79,500, unless they agree to more comprehensive ethics reforms. That stance, attributed to an unnamed aide, comes days after his administration was hit with its biggest scandal to date with the unveiling of a criminal complaint against former Cuomo aide and longtime friend of the governor Joseph Percoco and now-suspended SUNY Polytechnic Institute President and CEO Alain Kaloyeros, among others. (The administration denied that the governor's stance has anything to do with those arrests, according to the Daily News.)

An administration official told the Times Union on Monday that panel appointees of the executive and judicial branch indicated at their meeting last week that they have soured on the idea of a raise for two reasons: because only two lawmakers have formally stated their case to the commission this year, and because ethics reforms approved this year have been lambasted as not properly addressing recent corruption.

"The Legislature may be expecting the governor to come in and twist arms," the official said. "Can't do it. Not going to do it. And we also happen to agree" with the executive and judicial appointees' dismay.

Statutorily speaking, Cuomo has no direct influence over the Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation's work. The panel is comprised of three gubernatorial appointees, one appointee each of the Assembly speaker and temporary Senate president, and two appointees of the state's chief judge. Its recommendations, which for legislative and executive pay are due by mid-November, have the force of law if they are not shot down by lawmakers before the start of 2017.

The recommendations do, however, have to be agreed to by at least one appointee of each of the four appointing officials.

At least in public, the governor has stayed away from forcing the commission's hand. He has said he believes lawmakers should make the case for a raise in front of the commission.

"I want the commission to respond first before I give my opinion, because the commission was empaneled to answer just that question," Cuomo said Friday when asked if the public has the stomach for a raise. "So let them give their opinion, then I'll give mine."

Two Capitol insiders on Monday indicated the chances of lawmakers returning to Albany before the next session begins in January are slim.

In addition, at least one member of the commission reached by phone Monday emphasized that the commission was not set up to facilitate horse-trading.

"On its face, the whole point of setting up the commission was to not have that kind of question (about using a raise to advance a legislative agenda)," said Roman Hedges, the appointee of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

Some advocates also pushed back against the idea from a good-governance perspective.

"They're separate issues, and they should stand on their own merits," the New York Public Interest Research Group's Blair Horner said. "I don't think the reward for ethics reform should be a pay raise. The response to widespread corruption should be ethics reform."

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
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SCHENECTADY  A local Christian church is hosting "The Great Porn Debate" between porn star Ron Jeremy and Christian minister Craig Gross at Proctors GE Theater on Sept. 27.

The entertaining face-off has played around the country for several years, mainly on college campuses.

The Proctors event is being sponsored by CityReach Church, which has been holding Sunday services at Proctors through a rental agreement since it was founded last year by Pastor Jason Cooper and his wife, Danielle.

Proctors is renting the GE Theater to CityReach Church for "The Great Porn Debate" and is not the organizer or promoter. Tickets are $10.

"They wanted to present this discussion and they're doing it on their dime, so we'll support that," said Michael Eck, a Proctors spokesman.

He said he does not anticipate any negative public reaction.

"We feel pretty strongly about being the community's living room and anything like this that fosters intelligent debate is welcome," Eck said.

Gross founded the Triple X Church six years ago "to tell the truth about porn" and to assist those who consider themselves victims of the porn industry. His not-for-profit organization provides special software for people who are trying to avoid viewing pornography on the Internet. He has garnered publicity for distributing to adult movie sets Bibles printed with the words, "Jesus loves porn stars."

Despite a receding hairline, chunky physique and ordinary looks, Jeremy became world-renowned in the adult film industry by appearing in and directing hundreds of X-rated films during a three-decade career in the industry. His hairy body earned him the nickname "Hedgehog."

More Information What: "The Great Porn Debate" with Pastor Craig Gross and porn star Ron Jeremy When: 7 p.m. Sept. 27 Where: Proctors, GE Theatre, 432 State St., Schenectady Info.: Tickets $10. https://www.eventbrite.com or 703-9792. See More Collapse

At an Ohio University event several years ago, a large crowd of male students stood, cheered and chanted Jeremy's nickname as he entered a ballroom for the debate, according to news accounts.

Jeremy counters each of Gross's objections by arguing that the porn industry empowers women and he cites financially successful porn stars such as Jenna Jameson.
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STAMFORD  The effort to stop the surge of gun violence plaguing the city for months took another step forward on Tuesday.

A city teen who dropped a loaded gun during a foot chase with police that shut down a Waterside neighborhood earlier this month was apprehended Tuesday in New York, authorities said.

U.S. Marshals raided an upper Manhattan apartment where 19-year-old Tyreik Gantt  a suspect in several Stamford shootings  was staying with his aunt, Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin said.

Gantt, a Connecticut Avenue resident, has been on the run since Sept. 6 when he was chased by narcotics officers in the area of the Southwood Square Apartments and Durant Street, Conklin said. The officers had set up surveillance of Gantt, who was a suspect in a Selleck Street shooting a few days earlier, Conklin said.

Gantt took off when he spotted the officers, jumping over several fences on Durant and Bonner streets and dropped a .32-caliber revolver before escaping through a wooded area, Conklin said. The gun was loaded and the serial numbers were shaved off, Conklin said.

Gantt was also wanted for several shootings on the citys West Side where most of the 31 reported gun-violence incidents have occurred since March, Conklin said. Police have attributed the West Side violence to an ongoing feud between Connecticut Avenue and Spruce Street residents.

There have been nine shootings and 22 reports of shots fired around Stamford over the past six months. None of the incidents were fatal, but a special police task force was established this summer to investigate those crimes.

Local and state officials have responded with more urgency in the past week. Mayor David Martin, who said police have recovered more than 120 illegal weapons in the city this year, announced on Friday the launch of a crime-stoppers program that will provide a $1,000 reward for a tip leading to an arrest of someone in possession of an illegal gun.

State Rep. William Tong, chairman of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, organized a meeting on Monday at the Chester Addison Community Center to brainstorm initiatives to reduce the frequency of shooting incidents. Members of Stamfords state legislative delegation, city officials, school representatives, law enforcement authorities, and community and clergy leaders participated in the forum.

Gantt, who was arrested Tuesday without incident, was charged with possessing a pistol without a permit, altering the serial number of a firearm and resisting arrest, Conklin said.

Special Agent Adam Mackey, of the U.S. Marshals Service who has worked on several cases with Stamford police in the past, spearheaded the effort to track down Gantt.

Special Agent Mackey did a real good job for us, Conklin said.

jnickerson@scni.com;
Troy

A man accused of trying to kidnap a 16-year-old girl and forcibly touching another 16-year-old girl will be arraigned Wednesday in Rensselaer County Court.

A grand jury indicted Joseph Badger, 25, of Sixth Avenue, Friday on charges of attempted second-degree kidnapping, a felony, and four misdemeanor counts including two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, and one count of forcible touching.

The indictment alleges that on Sept. 14 near 121st Street in Lansingburgh, Badger grabbed one girl by her hair and backpack and tried to pull her into his truck.

The girl was hyperventilating when she ran into the Stewart's shop at 121st Street and Fifth Avenue and told workers a man tried to drag her into his truck in the alley behind the shop, a worker in the store said.

The indictment also accuses him of trying to kiss the second girl on the mouth at Fourth Avenue and 115th Street in Lansingburgh. She was walking to school when Badger allegedly accosted her, according to court papers.

County Judge Andrew Ceresia will arraign Badger, now in the county jail without bail.

Badger appeared in Troy City Court before Judge Christopher Maier for a preliminary hearing for fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree robbery and second-degree unlawful imprisonment for a Sept. 8 incident. Due to Badger's indictment and pending arraignment Wednesday, the prosecution did not move forward with the case and Badger was sent back to jail to await his county court appearance.
1 Clean Power Plan: The federal appeals court in Washington began hearing oral arguments Tuesday in the legal fight over President Obamas plan to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. The Clean Power Plan, which seeks to slow climate change by reducing power-plant emissions by one-third, has been challenged by more than two dozen mostly Republican-led states, including Texas, and allied business and industry groups tied to fossil fuels. The states deride the carbon-cutting plan unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency as an unlawful power grab that will kill coal-mining jobs and drive up electricity costs. The Supreme Court has delayed implementation until the legal challenges are resolved.

2 Illinois voters: Voters in highly populated areas of Illinois will have fewer Election Day registration options after a federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the wider same-day registration instituted in 2015 that Republicans claim is unconstitutional. Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayans move blocks same-day registration at polling places in mostly urban areas like Chicago for the Nov. 8 election. Republicans, including a north-central Illinois congressional candidate and a party committee, filed a lawsuit in August, arguing that the registration is an unfair and unequal system because voters in less-populated and GOP-leaning areas dont have equal access.
NORWALK  At first glance, the patchwork quilt looks like any other, with its carefully sewn squares and bright colors.

Upon closer inspection, the squares are adorned with names  one for the person who sewed them and another remembering a civilian killed by U.S. drone strikes in the Middle East.

An exhibition of the U.S. Drones Quilt Project in conjunction with Veterans for Peace is on display through Oct. 30 at the Norwalk Public Library. An opening reception, attended by roughly a dozen people, was held Monday and featured noted peace activist Ed Kinane.

Each of the quilts on display was made by individuals from around the world to commemorate the civilian victims of weaponized drone strikes in Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. The quilts are intended to serve as visual reminders of the civilians whove died as a result of U.S. drone strikes in the Middle East. Each square contains the name of its creator and the name of one victim to be memorialized. The squares are sewn together to form a quilt panel used by the U.S. Drones Quilt Project to raise awareness about civilian deaths.

Kinanes talk Monday prompted a lively discussion and questions from the audience regarding drone use and why organizations like the United Nations have allowed drone strikes to continue, despite being considered a war crime by some.

Why use drones? Kinane said. Theyre tactically very useful. Theres no crew which means there are no body bags coming back to the U.S. Drones are tireless, no human crew can do that ... and theyre obedient. During the Vietnam era, particularly during the later part, the U.S. couldnt get GIs to do the dirty work and they become some of the best opponents to the war. You dont have that problem with drones.

More Information Pakistan 2004 onwards Total strikes: 424 Civilians killed: 424-966 Yemen 2002 onwards Confirmed drone strikes:133-153 Civilians killed: 65-101 Somalia 2007 onwards Drone strikes: 31-35 Civilians killed: 3-10 Afghanistan 2015 onwards Total strikes: 474-479 Civilians killed: 75-130 Source: The Bureau for Investigative Journalism See More Collapse

Kinane, co-founder of the Upstate Drone Action Coalition and a contributor to the progressive website Truthout, spoke exensively about U.S. drone strikes, and the work his organization has done protesting the Air Force drone bases in upstate New York at places like Hancock Airport, which recently started daily flights of Reaper drones.

The Reaper drone is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft primarily used against moving execution targets and, secondarily, as an intelligence collection asset, according to the U.S. Air Force.

The Hancock Airport, near Syracuse, hosts the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard, which reportedly operates Reaper drones over Afghanistan. Kinane and members of the Upstate Drone Action Coalition protest several times a month at Hancock, blocking the entrance during the evening shift change. Kinane calls the demonstrations street heat.

I dont want the U.S. government, military and various intelligience agencies to have this technology because its only a matter of time before it comes home to roost, Kinane said.

KKrasselt@scni.com; 203-354-1021; @kaitlynkrasselt
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Federal Election Commission records show notable Texans threw their support behind Ted Cruz, Rick Perry, Ben Carson and John Kasich before conceding to Donald Trump in the race for the White House.

As of Aug. 31, Trump, the Republican nominee for president had $169,731,955 on hand, FEC records show. Hillary Clinton, Democratic nominee for president, had $386,343,314 on hand. Their massive campaign funds have been fueled partially by San Antonians such as Charles Butt, CEO of H-E-B, Julianna and Peter Holt, CEO and chairman of the Spurs and former CEO, respectively, and Housing Secretary Julian Castro.

Click through the slideshow to see where influential San Antonians put their money during the 2016 presidential race.

Donors are allowed to give $2,700 to an individual candidate per election, which includes the primary and general, and $5,000 to a PAC, FEC rules show. They are also limited to $33,400 to give to a national party committee per year.

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After sifting through dozens of FEC records, mySA.com found the Holts gave a total of $964,00 to various candidates and political action committees, or PACs, this election cycle. According to their contributions, the Holts donated to Rick Perry, Ben Carson and Jeb Bush before eventually giving to Trump.

RELATED: 27 people you can vote for this election who are not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton

Julianna Holt, who took over as CEO of the Spurs in March after her husband retired from the position he held for 20 years, donated $5,400 to the Trump campaign in June and $250,000 to the Trump Victory Fund, a fundraising committee made up of Trumps campaign, the Republican National Committee and 11 state parties, as reported by the Washington Post.

According to FEC records, her husband did not contribute to the Trump campaign.

Castro, who hit the campaign trail early on in October 2015 with Clinton and was at one point on her shortlist for vice president, donated $2,000 to her campaign in February. His brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro has not donated this presidential season, FEC records show, despite vocally supporting Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.

RELATED: Social media reacts to first presidential debate with hilarious memes

Butt was the only one who planted support behind John Kasich, the Ohio Governor who was last to drop out of the race after Trump secured the nomination. In September, Butt gave $2,700 to Kasichs campaign. He also gave a total of $350,000 to the New Day for America PAC which supported Kasich.

And despite a short-lived, second run for president, Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas and now a Dancing With the Stars contestant, received support early on from the Holts and Red McCombs, founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group.

RELATED: Debate 1 leaves plenty of memorable zingers

Mayor Ivy Taylor has not donated to a presidential campaign since President Barack Obama ran in 2012, records show.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
Walmart is apologizing after claims by a Georgia customer surfaced last week saying the store's management team refused to make a "Blue Lives Matter" cake multiple times.

Facebook user Taylor Wilkes asked friends to "#BoycottWalmart" after a friend went to a Walmart in McDonough, Ga. to buy a cake for her father's retirement from the local police department.

RELATED: Openly gay pastor in Austin claims Whole Foods put gay slur on cake

"She asked Walmart to make a 'thin blue line' cake to commemorate his extensive and honorable service as a dedicated police officer," Wilkes said in a post that has been shared more than 5,000 times. "Walmart refused to honor her request due to it being 'racist.' Three separate people in management denied her request for this reason."

RELATED: Report: Texas pastor says Whole Foods 'did nothing wrong,' drops lawsuit over gay slur on cake

Wilke's friend is choosing to remain anonymous, but a subsequent post updating the situation said she met with a Walmart manager who offered to make the cake, though a Koger grocery store had already made one for the family. Wilkes said Walmart apologized and donated party supplies including a gift card.

In a statement obtained by Inside Edition, Walmart said: "Our goal is to always take care of customers. But sometimes we misstep."

RELATED: Mattress store issues second apology for 'disgusting' 9/11 ad depicting towers falling

Still, Wilkes is refusing to give Walmart any business.

"[...] although the mistake was 'made right.' I will still not be shopping at Walmart due to the 'quality' of employees they hire," the post said.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
A number of Universal City residents attended the Sept. 20 council meeting to express concerns about city animal issues, both domestic and wild.

Resident Ian Avery was concerned about notices he received in the mail to inform him that his city pet license was up for renewal. The headings on these notices, he said, were in bold, red letters stating CITATION PENDING and FINAL NOTICE.

Avery told the council that he believed it was wrong for residents who have broken no law or ordinance to receive threatening letters from the city.

Resident April Myers also addressed the council about the urban wildlife issues affecting the Sunrise Canyon area. Myers said her biggest concern was the high number of coyote sightings in the area, adding that coyotes have become a daily nuisance, walking the neighborhood and approaching both front and back porches. Her neighbor, Ralph Moreno, also spoke to council about the coyotes, saying that six weeks ago, his elderly cat was attacked and killed on his front porch. Moreno stressed that there is little difference between an attack on a pet and a possible attack on a child.

Head of Public Works Randy Luensmann said the city is aware of the ongoing issue but efforts to capture the coyotes have failed. If another alternative cannot be found, the city would have to declare an emergency and make an amendment to the current ordinance to allow extermination. Such an amendment would require approval from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Mayor John Williams thanked the residents who expressed their concerns and assured them that these matters would be addressed by the council soon.

In other business, the new head librarian at Universal City Public Library, Susan Ennis, sought approval of the updated Library Patron Code of Conduct. The last time the Library Advisory Council revised the code was in 2009. Ennis said changes needed to be made to reflect Texas and citywide laws and ordinances, including removing weapons prohibitions and language concerning service animals.

Councilman Tom England said he disapproved of allowing guns in the library. However, City Manager Ken Taylor said that, after speaking with the police chief, it was determined that a public library could not create prohibitions against the law.

The code was approved with suggested updates to be included.
It is an award any school would covet. Karen Wagner High School just won a $10,000 hybrid grand piano from the VH1 Save the Music program, Kids+Keys.

During a Sept. 20 ceremony at the school, about 30 Wagner choir students sang for joy to celebrate winning the big award.

Here is how it happened.

Six months ago, Wagner High Schools choir director, Antionette Harris, had a vision of a more vibrant music department. After learning about the VH1 grant, she went to work on the application.

The choir and orchestra students were in great need of a new instrument. The new piano replaces the one used when Wagner first opened its doors in 2005.

The old piano was on its last legs, Harris said, adding that getting a replacement felt like a dream.

But the teachers praise for Wagner caught the attention of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation grant committee. The television music network, along with sponsoring company Avnet, Inc., presented the school with the new piano and three studio capable keyboard workstations.

The Casio Celviano Grand Hybrid GP-500 can go from being a regular grand piano to sounding like Belgian or Vienna grand pianos.

The story that I heard about the difference this piano makes in a school is mindblowing, said Ed Morales, Avnets Global IoT (Internet of Things) Supplier Executive. Avnet collaborates with VH1 Save the Music Foundation to promote music education in schools throughout the nation.

The program started after former VH1 President John Sykes went into a school as principal for a day and realized the schools music program was not up to par. Some instruments were held together by tape.

Sykes looked around and said, There has to be something we can do as a brand really pushing out music to put music programs back together, said Trell Thomas, VH1s communications director. Thats how VH1 Save the Music was born. The programs motto is, We are a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education, giving children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life.

In addition to the presentation of the new piano and keyboards at the Sept. 20 presentation, at least a dozen students spoke individually to give credit to their choir director for not only training their voices but for being a strong influence in their lives.

I enjoy her being my teacher, said 16-year-old 11th-grader Joanna Garcia, who has been singing since she was 4. She definitely pushes you to be someone better than who you are.

Wagner Principal Mary Duhart-Toppen echoed the sentiment, saying, Shes committed to being there for her kids.  Her level of commitment is such that the kids even said it today  she's their second mom.

Harris says she has seen the transformation in many of her students. Some, she said, were not involved in school, had low grades and were dealing with behavior issues.

I think that having a place to come and something they have to be academically eligible for, where theyre a team and theyre accountable to not just themselves but their other classmates, Harris said. It makes all the difference.
A Texas Fourth Court of Appeals decision refuses to block the pending recall election of Windcrest City Councilwoman Kim Wright, with just six weeks remaining until the Nov. 8 election.

A Sept. 14 memo issued by the court states that it considered Wrights appeal for a writ of mandamus, but decided that she is not entitled to the relief sought. There was no court opinion released, which the memo said will be issued at a later date.

Attorney Adam Sabrin, representing Wright in the matter, said they are exploring other options. We havent come to a definite decision as of yet, Sabrin said in a phone interview Sept. 26. I cannot comment on how we would proceed  if she does decide to appeal the decision to the appeals court or the state supreme court.

Sabrin said Wright, the Place 4 city councilwoman, could decide to pursue legal action following the election, based on the outcome.

In a July 14 statement to Windcrest City Attorney Michael Brenan and city secretary Kelly Rodriguez, Wright sought rejection of the certification of a recall petition presented to the city on June 22 for certification of signatures.

Enough signatures were verified  more than the 391 needed  by Rodriguez and signed off by Brenan to send the item forward to city council. City Council on July 21 voted 4-0, under protest, to place the item on its November ballot. Windcrest Place 5 Councilman Matt Vandenberg initiated several votes during the July 21 meeting that challenged the validity of the petition vote. He made clear that he was voting on the motion under protest, as Wright was denied the opportunity to vote during the meeting and Vandenberg said he objected to that exclusion.

Wrights letter cited five reasons for the petition to be decertified, and also attacked the allegations that led to the recall.

Wright claimed that no report was given that listed the number of signatures received, validated or disqualified. She alleged the petition affidavit was dated June 15, but one of the petition committee members signatures was dated June 16.

She also claimed the petition does not contain any of the materials purportedly supporting the allegations in the petition that were presented to residents. She further claimed the petition is invalid in its format, as some signature pages were submitted in landscape format while some were in portrait.

Wright also claimed that a person gathering signatures told residents the petition simply puts the matter before the voters so they can decide, which she said is a completely fraudulent representation of what the petition was designed to achieve.

In representing the city of Windcrest, attorney Ryan Henry said the timing of the courts decision leaves little time for further disruption of the vote.

What she presented didnt rise to the level of granting her relief. The relief she wanted was decertification, Henry said late last week. Theres nothing else Windcrest has to do except move forward with the election.

jflinn@express-news.net
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KERRVILLE - The secrecy continued Tuesday concerning the criminal complaint against Gary Stork, the Kerrville city councilman who, along with his wife, was found shot to death at home Saturday evening.

In the Sunday statement announcing the suspected murder-suicide, which stunned the community, Kerrville police also revealed that Stork had been under investigation for alleged indecency with a child.

Police Chief David Knight would not elaborate on the indecency complaint but had said officers intended to present evidence in the case Tuesday to a grand jury.

After grand jurors departed the courthouse, however, Kyle Dean, an investigator for District Attorney Scott Monroe, would not confirm if they had reviewed the case. Justice of the Peace Mitzi French also declined Tuesday to release the preliminary autopsy results from Central Texas Autopsy in Lockhart.

Police have not indicated whether they believe the shootings were committed by Gary Stork, who in May was elected to his second term, or his spouse of 36 years, Peggy Chandler Stork. They were both 54 and their children were grown.

A gun was found at the scene and police said it appeared the two had been dead about 24 hours.

Mayor Bonnie White, whod clashed with Stork on the council, said she was unsettled to learn of the allegations against him  and that some city staff had known of the investigation for six weeks or more.

She said City Manager Todd Parton told her that he and City Attorney Mike Hayes were advised in early August by the police chief that Stork was under investigation for a July 4 incident described as inappropriate contact with a minor.

White said the council should have been briefed in executive session on the claims about Stork, noting, My life could have been in danger. Hed shown verbally aggressive behavior toward me.

Parton defended his handling of the matter and rejected the idea that Stork presented a safety threat.

I was compelled not to disclose it since there was a need to do the investigation, he said Tuesday. People have the right to privacy and to due process. That stands for any citizen or any council member.

Councilman Gene Allen said he thought Parton handled the issue appropriately.

The mayors husband, Robert White, also had issues with Stork, including an altercation outside a polling site for the May election that resulted in police being summoned.

In retrospect, Robert White said, Stork was always goofy, but he became more aggressive after coming under investigation.

The police announcement that the indecency case would proceed to the grand jury despite Storks death caused some head scratching among local attorneys.

One of them, Doyle Weaver, initially opined, That doesnt make any sense. However, he revised that assessment upon considering that the return of a no-bill could serve to clear Storks name.

A celebration of life for the couple was set for 10 a.m. Friday at the Cailloux Theater, 910 Main Street, according to the Kerrville Funeral Home website.

zeke@express-news.net
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An Austin man allegedly tried to abduct two young girls over the weekend at a library to engage in sexual activity with them, according to court documents.

Hubert Justin Powell, 30, was charged Saturday with a first-degree felony for aggravated kidnapping and a state jail felony for unlawful restraint.

RELATED: Suspects in violent kidnapping arrested west of San Antonio following day-long hunt by police

The incidents occurred at about 1:25 p.m. Saturday in the 2500 block of Steck Avenue in the North Village Branch Library.

Prior to polices arrival at the scene, a woman had heard screaming coming from inside the bathroom and she went inside to find an 8-year-old girl being held against her will by a man later identified as Powell, according to a live-streamed press conference with Austin police.

The girl was sitting on Powell's lap in a bathroom stall and he had his hand over her mouth, police said.

The woman, who is not named in the report, helped pull the child out from under the stall, but the man removed the girls pants and underwear, according to the arrest affidavit obtained by mySA.com.

Police responded and found several library patrons barricading the womens bathroom, detaining Powell inside, according to Austin police.

RELATED: Third suspect charged in brutal kidnapping in Northwest San Antonio

Police later learned of another alleged incident, which happened earlier that same day involving Powell, as well.

Powell allegedly tried to kidnap an 11-year-old girl, according to an arrest affidavit.

The girl yelled for help and found her father, telling him what happened. While the child and her father were in the self-checkout line, Powell then allegedly grabbed the girls hand and said the girl was coming with him. The father told Powell not to touch her and Powell let her go, the affidavit said.

When interviewed by police, Powell allegedly made sexually explicit remarks about his genitals and about the two girls. In regards to the 8-year-old, Powell allegedly said he intended to sexually assault her, the affidavit said.

He told police he got the virgin and tried to grab and catch her but couldnt, and that he was trying to put the girl to sleep, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: Affidavit: Ex-boyfriend was behind kidnapping that sparked daylong search in Bexar County

He also allegedly said he did not feel bad about what he had done since they didnt get sex because I didnt get the clothes off, the document said.

If convicted, Powell faces five to 99 years in prison for the first-degree felony and up to two years in prison for the state jail felony.

Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
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The man who shot six people Monday morning in Houston before dying in a shootout with police has been identified as a local lawyer, city officials confirmed.

Nathan DeSai was wearing military-style apparel with old Nazi emblems during the attack at a strip center on Wesleyan and Bissonnet streets, on the city's Southwest Side, Houston Homicide Capt. Dwayne Ready said at a news conference.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a phone call he'd been advised of the situation from city officials and Acting Chief Martha Montalvo.

First responders shot DeSai, said Turner, who praised the speed with which they reacted.

DeSai used a .45 pistol in the shooting, and investigators found a long gun and ammunition in his car, Turner said, adding that police were interviewing friends and business associates and searching his home.

"We wanted to make sure in view of what's happening across country and what's been happening recently, that this was not some act of terrorism, but one certainly can see when one has an incident of this kind it certainly creates terror on so many levels."

Turner said three individuals were treated at the scene.

Separately, three victims were transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital, one was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital and two were transported to Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center.

One victim was in serious condition, another in critical, Turner said.

At a 9:15 a.m. press conference, Montalvo said the alleged shooter was a local lawyer and there were "questions" surrounding his law firm. Montalvo said once the suspect's car was cleared, officers would conduct a search of both his apartment and social media accounts for clues regarding the shooting.

There was no indication that a second suspect was involved, Montalvo said. The FBI is assisting on the investigation.

The incident was initially reported at about 6:30 a.m. near the Randall's grocery store at Weslayan and Bissonnet.

Assistant Houston Fire Department Chief Richard Mann said gunfire lasted about 20 minutes at Law Street near Weslayan Plaza.

Six patients are in area hospitals, he said. Injuries range from extremity wounds to a few that are "more serious," he said. There are no fatalities at this time, he said. A total of nine people were injured in the shooting, with six receiving gunshot wounds, said HFD spokesman Ruy Lozano.

Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute and Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital have received five patients from the shooting, said Memorial Hermann director of communications Kathryn Williams. Three are in good condition, one is in fair, and one is in critical.

Police blocked off the intersection of Law and Weslayan and declared a shelter-in-place for the nearby Oaks at West University Condominiums where the alleged shooter's vehicle has been located. A bomb squad is on scene evaluating the vehicle.

Houston Police Department officers and first responders from the Houston Fire Department are gathered in the mall parking lot.

A triage area has been set up in the area.

Eduardo Andrade, 42, was driving his Audi A3 Monday morning on his way to LA Fitness when he found himself thrust into the middle of an active shooter scene.

"As I was driving by Law Street I suddenly heard a big explosion," said Andrade. "I covered myself, accelerated and tried to get out of there. I did not know if someone was following me or trying to shoot me."

Two bullets struck his vehicle; one came through the windshield and the other through the front-passenger window.

"One bullet hit here and the other here," he said, pointing at the holes. "I felt the hot air."

The father of two who works in the oil and gas industry was on his way to exercise at his gym at about 6:25 a.m. when the shooting happened.

"It's so random, think of it, if I was driving a little faster or a little slower, the bullet would have had a different trajectory," he said.

The shootings took place within a mile or two of several schools. At West University Elementary, extra school district police officers patrolled the area as a precaution. At Pin Oak Middle, cross-country practice was moved indoors. The schools, however, were deemed safe, and parents received messages telling them that their children would not be counted as tardy if they arrived late, according to the Houston Independent School District.

Some businesses remained open Monday morning, though a few in Weslayan Plaza locked their door out of precaution.

Lee Dickerson, 36, stopped for coffee at Randall's in Weslayan Plaza early Monday morning. They stepped outside and heard rapid gunfire and saw a large police and fire department presence, he said.

Hours later, after he had left the scene, he couldn't shake the sights and sounds. "This is happening any day, any time," he said. "People could come into my work and shoot up the place."

Just after 7 a.m., Alan Wakim wiped his face, dotted with blood, with a green towel before embracing his wife, Jennifer Molleda.

They stood by his Mustang. Two bullets had broken through the front windshield. One landed near the driver's headrest.

Earlier, Wakim had called her to say "he's on our street."

"I had no idea this is what happened," Molleda said.

Over the course of the day, more details trickled out about DeSai, who kept a fairly low profile online.

The lawyer had at one point worked with Kenneth P. McDaniel, a Houston civil attorney, but that partnership had come to an end, according to DeSai's LinkedIn page.

"McDaniel & DeSai LLP closed and unwound," DeSai wrote on the page.

He had earned his law degree at the University of Tulsa and earned a bachelor's in psychology at the University of Houston, according to his LinkedIn page.

Reached by phone, McDaniel pushed back on descriptions or reports that Desai had been disgruntled over the dissolution of their business, which he said had been prompted by a falloff in business because of the recent recession.

"I'm reading stuff online talking about how he was possibly a fired employee that was disgruntled," McDaniel said. "That's the farthest thing from the truth. Our partnership dissolved in February of this year - it was simply a matter of economics. We couldn't afford to operate as a partnership anymore," he said, adding that he had worked with DeSai for about 12 years.

Houston Chronicle Staff Writers Ericka Mellon and Shelby Webb and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
With millions watching and the American presidency on the line, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are poised for a must-see showdown Monday night, pitting the Democrat's call for steady, experienced leadership against the Republican's pugnacious promises to upend Washington.

The 90-minute televised debate comes six weeks before Election Day and with early voting already getting underway in some states. Despite Clinton's advantages, including a sophisticated get-out-the-vote operation and a favorable electoral map, the race is exceedingly close.
Who was more presidential  on the issues and in temperament?

On a debate evening that covered a variety of issues  from the economy and trade to race and law and order and guns to birtherism and national security  Trump more often reverted to bombast and pugilism. And Clinton was more clearly prepared and with a firmer grasp of the issues.

Unless you are grading on a yuuuge curve, Clinton helped herself on who is more presidential and Trump, aside from a few good moments, did not help himself substantively.

Trump will not have disappointed anyone already intent on voting for him, but he did virtually nothing Monday evening at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York to bring along the undecideds who could be key in this election. And he perhaps helped Clinton because his words and style will have unintentionally encouraged voters  who perhaps find her unsatisfying  to not stay home on Election Day.

Clinton helped herself  even when she was baiting Trump with his own words or casting him as unfit and unprepared for the presidency  by simply coming off as steadier and having more thoroughly thought through the issues.

And there were plenty of issues to sort through. Get past the interruptions and jabs and the candidates revealed deep difference on them.

On the economy and trade, Clinton presented a broader plan that touched on tax relief for the middle class and proposals to balance family life with the workplace. Trump promised tax cuts that most analysts who have looked at his plans have said will result in much less revenue for the government and growing national debt.

Trump scored points on Clintons use of a private email servers  her answers were far from satisfactory, though she again said she regretted her actions. But Clinton essentially asked voters to contrast her record with Trumps business record of bankruptcies and stiffing people who did work for him.

For instance, she noted that he had cheered the housing bust that spurred the Great Recession because it meant he could buy properties cheaply. The real estate developer then did himself no favors. Thats called business, by the way, he said.

On trade, both candidates came back to their stock campaign positions, but Trump likely scored more home runs with his base by sticking with his theme of jobs lost overseas. But his solutions for bring them back are not well thought out. Instead, he insisted the it was key to keep current companies here by threatening to tax their goods coming to the U.S. as Mexico allegedly does American goods going there.

On race, moderator Lester Holt was at his best  though this must have been like herding cats  trying to hold Trumps feet to the fire on his consistent promotion of the idea that the president is not U.S. born. He again laid the blame for starting the controversy with Clinton in 2008, a claim fact-checkers have said is simply not so.

Asked if he owed an apology to African-Americans and the president for clinging to the birther nonsense even after the president released his birth certificate, Trump said, I say nothing.

Clinton correctly called the notion of Obama as foreign born a racist lie and birther racism.

Trump said, again, that he would release his tax records but couldnt at the moment because he is being audited. And when Holt told him this was not an actual impediment, he said he would release his tax records when Clinton released the 33,000 emails she has deleted as non-work related.

But this would be difficult to do if theyve been deleted.

On law and order, Trump insisted that the stop and frisk tactics that were ruled unconstitutional in New York had worked and were not ruled unconstitutional  they were. Clinton pointed this out and said they unfairly targeted young African American men and boys.

Asked about his statement that Clinton did not look president, Trump mostly dissembled, saying he was talking about her stamina, though that wasnt what he had said. Clinton noted that she had visited 112 countries as Secretary of State to negotiate treaties and settle strife and once sat before a congressional committee for 11 hours.

Trump said, She has experience, but its all bad experience.

The fact-checkers, no doubt, will have a field day with this debate, mostly at Trumps expense as they have campaign long. There was no record that he didn't support the Iraq invasion. He insisted he hadn't supported it. Audits do not prevent him from releasing his tax records. He did call women pigs, slobs and dogs. Clintons ads point this out are not untrue. And Trump has said that climate change is a hoax. He said Monday that he does not say that.

In all, it was clear that Clinton had the better night  because she did indeed act and look presidential. And also because, no matter how much Trump tries to change the topic, he is haunted by what he has said and done.

He cannot escape himself and, Monday evening, he proved he cannot be anything other than himself.

o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net

Twitter: @oricardopimente
News stories are starting to trickle out citing deep concern about whether Hispanics  who, polls show, prefer Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump  will head to polls in the numbers the Democrats need in order to win.

But a better question is: Why should Latinos be expected to turn out to vote when so little attention is paid to them? They seem to matter only to journalists hot to publish overly simplistic reports proclaiming that Hispanics will either be decisive or again fail to punch their weight on Election Day.

To put this in perspective, heres what a new weekly poll  a collaboration among the Hispanic polling firm Latino Decisions, Telemundo News and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)  has to say about what Latino outreach looks like in the weeks before the election:

While more than 91 percent of polled Latino registered voters stated they would more than likely cast ballots this year, more than 60 percent reported that they had not been contacted by a campaign, political party or organization.

For all the talk about The Sleeping Giant and demography-as-destiny, the major political campaigns are effectively making assumptions about what Hispanics will do come November and then leaving it all to chance.

Why? Because Latinos happen to be concentrated in a few key states and when those states are written off as a lock for a particular candidate, no resources for voter education or turnout are invested in them, setting up a lose-lose situation.

What it is is a lazy, cynical approach to waging national politics that focuses on a handful of states that are perceived to be battleground states while ignoring those states that are perceived to be already decided, said Arturo Vargas, the executive director of the California-based NALEO Educational Fund. But Latinos are a 50-state community and, in addition to the injury of not being contacted, then [organizations and candidates] insult us by lamenting that Latinos underperform in elections even though they spent no time and no resources engaging us.

Vargas told me that he has warned top leaders in the Clinton campaign that they cannot travel to the west side of Los Angeles to fundraise and then never bother to cross into the east side of town to engage with the Hispanics that make up one out of every three Latino voters in the state.

Worse, when you take whole constituencies for granted in one geographic region, it ripples outward in a vicious cycle that has the effect of suppressing voter turnout.

Right now is the last minute before the election, and money to engage Latinos is being dumped into the hands of non-Latino-led organizations in Florida, Nevada, Colorado and a few other places where the races are supposed to be competitive. California has already turned blue, so the money being spent there is virtually nonexistent, even though there are major down-ballot races, like the fight for Barbara Boxers Senate seat, plus 53 congressional district seats and 17 ballot propositions, Vargas said.

And then it gets worse: Often Latinos are mobilized, or manipulated, used for specific election outcomes and then left for dead with no infrastructure in place to hold these elected officials accountable. Basically, for each election youre riling Latinos up, telling them, This is the most important election of your lifetime, but when promises are broken and nothing changes, they get disillusioned. And then we blame these same people for not coming out to vote next time! This is what happened in the last two presidential elections with immigration reform, and all Latino political animals need to start calling it out for what it is.

As with all other major movements, infrastructure building is key. The Latino vote will never live up to its potential if it has to practically start from scratch every new election cycle.

Ive asked the heads of many Latino advocacy organizations how best to create long-term change and the answer is always more money  but timing is just as important.

In a perfect world wed start concentrating on the 2032 election now, Vargas said.

estherjcepeda@washpost.com
Call us old-fashioned, but community meetings should be open to the community.

That didnt happen at the first meeting of Mayor Ivy Taylors Council on Police-Community Relations. Instead, a select group of council members, public officials and civic leaders was invited to attend.

Perhaps such privacy was needed for planning purposes, but questions about police-community relations and use-of-force incidents are communitywide. Anyone in the public should have a right to participate, or simply listen, at these meetings.

Mayor Ivy Taylor has said future meetings will be open, but, this will not completely make up for the damage to transparency committed in keeping the first one closed.

Public dialogue about these issues was implied when the City Council recently voted to approve a contract with the San Antonio Police Officers Association. That contract did not include changes to disciplinary actions and records.

The rationale given for shutting out the media and the public was the sensitivity around police use-of-force incidents and policies. It means talking about race, inequality and community divisions. Those are discussions better held out in the open.

Taylor and University of Texas at San Antonio criminal justice professor Michael Gilbert said the first meeting needed to be private so people could speak openly and honestly with one another. Many public meetings are marked with posturing and can at times turn chaotic. Often it can feel like police and community activists struggle to find a common language. But if these meetings cant occur in public settings, then we see little to no value in them.

Did this private meeting engender trust among the broader community? Did it enlighten the public on existing policing policies? Did it show the public that local officials are sympathetic or understanding of the concerns of Black Lives Matter activists and others about use-of-force incidents involving police? Did it lead to a greater understanding in the public sphere about the immense pressures and stresses police feel in their jobs each and every day? Of course not. None other than a select group heard the discussion.

Some voices counted, and other voices were shut out. We couldnt help but wonder what meeting organizers might have done if City Councilman Ron Nirenberg had shown up. Would they have shut him out while letting council members Rebecca Viagran and Rey Saldana attend?

Passions are high about police-involved shootings across our nation, and so in that sense, we applaud Taylor for setting up this council. But it should have been public from the outset. This is about the greater San Antonio community. Private meetings might lead to better control, greater honesty and openness among those in attendance, but they mean nothing to the people stuck outside.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide has leaped from behind the scenes to take a major role in campaigning for next months presidential election, leading many to believe the most polarizing figure in the tumultuous world of Haitian politics is poised to regain influence if his party wins.

Aristides return to open campaigning for an ally is energizing supporters in poor neighborhoods who see the former slum priest as a near-messianic figure who fought for the countrys most marginalized.

Hes the king of kings! Seeing him on the streets again is like being in paradise, Port-au-Prince slum resident Jhony Narcisse said as he jogged to keep up with Aristides motorcade during a recent rally.

Although Aristide said he wouldnt focus on politics after he returned from exile in 2011, the twice-elected, twice-ousted leader has been vigorously campaigning for Maryse Narcisse, the presidential candidate for his Fanmi Lavalas party. While Aristide isnt a candidate for any post, he has been giving stump speeches and waving to adoring loyalists from a convoy touring the country.

In a recent speech, delivered through the sunroof of an SUV, he declared that Lavalas would build homes for the poor if Narcisse, one of 27 candidates in the Oct. 9 vote, is elected.

Such remarks suggest to some that he would not sit on the sidelines of a Narcisse presidency.

It is clear that a victory would allow Aristide to govern behind the throne, said Henry Carey, a Haiti expert and political science professor at Georgia State University.

Aristide became a global figure of resistance when, as a slum priest known for fiery oratory, he led a popular movement that ousted the hated dictator Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier in 1986. He was elected president in 1990, forced out in a military coup a year later and restored to power by the U.S. in 1994 to serve out the remainder of his term.

Re-elected in 2000 amid low turnout and an opposition boycott, he was ousted four years later in a nationwide rebellion led by opponents with ties to the elite and the old Duvalierist government. His critics accused Aristide of breaking promises to help the poor, allowing corruption fueled by drug trafficking and masterminding attacks on opponents with armed gangs.

Aristide spent seven years in exile in South Africa . He was greeted by jubilant crowds upon his return to Haiti in 2011, but largely kept a low profile.
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Moscow accuses Kiev of manipulating Malaysian MH17 crash investigation

2016-09-27 09:45

MOSCOW - Ukraine is hiding vital data on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash and is manipulating the investigation of the 2014 catastrophe, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

A screen shows the specifications of the "Orlan-10" unmanned aerial vehicle (L) and the "Buk" missile system during a news conference, dedicated to the crash of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane operating flight MH17, in Moscow, Russia, September 26, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

"It is no coincidence that the Ukrainian side conceals from investigators, relatives of the people killed and the world community the information that would help provide a comprehensive picture of the air crash," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

A Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014 while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board died, most of them Dutch citizens.

Western investigators and Kiev have been claiming that pro-independence insurgents in eastern Ukraine shot down the aircraft, while Moscow has been denying the allegations and retorting that the plane had been shot by a missile from the territory controlled by Ukrainian government troops.

The ministry has also refuted conclusions contained in the Dutch Safety Board report about possible presence of heavy air defense systems in Eastern Ukraine, which were not controlled by Ukrainian government forces.

Andrei Koban, head of the Russian Radio-Technical Troops, said at the briefing that available electronic intelligence data showed Ukrainian radars operating in the area of the disaster, which should have monitored the flight.

According to the official, Ukraine's attempts to hide vital data about the incident could be aimed at covering the launch of the missile which hit the plane from the territory controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Russian radars have not registered any missiles shot from the region controlled by the insurgents, Koban said.

Konashenkov said that Moscow intended to provide the Dutch investigators with "objective and irrefutable" data, which would help them to "determine the true causes of the crash."
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Artist uses snow to depict urban plight

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-09-27 08:46

Zhang Meng's solo show displays his video works and ink paintings in Beijing. Photos provided to China Daily

Some sadness seems to lie beneath the simplicity of Zhang Meng's video works and ink paintings.

In many of his 3-D videos, the Tianjin-based artist has created vast scenes of mountains and surrounding areas covered in heavy snow.

Born and raised in Tangshan, Hebei province, the 44-year-old says that although snow signifies a sense of belonging to him, he aims to show an anxiety that exists in today's urban life.

In some of his ink paintings, Zhang shows a monkey hiding among trees. The signature monkey painted using light dots may not be visible to viewers at first sight.

"As a child, I had heard scary folk stories about monkeys eating people. I'm still a bit afraid of the animals," he says, jokingly.

While the monkey seems quite comfortable in his works, its eyes betray an inner fear. Through this device, the artist conveys a collective keenness to escape life's harsh realities.

Zhang shares his insights of people through his video and ink works at the ongoing solo exhibition, The Wind Blows, at Beijing's Today Art Museum.

Zhang Meng, Tianjin-based artist.

A graduate in lithography from the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, he shifted to 3-D videos in the late 1990s, and now heads his alma mater's video art department. He does experimental ink art, too.

Exhibition curator Lu Yinghua says that Zhang's works communicate a head-on examination of people. The approach shared by many artists of his generation responds to the rising culture of consumerism in China since the early 1990s, accompanied by voids in their personal lives.

This is quite different from artists from the late 1970s and '80s who often created "high-handed and macroscopic perspectives", says Lu.

It took Zhang a year to complete his latest video on show, Fierce Tigers with Golden Chains. The work shows two chained tigers running far from a forest toward the audience amid snowfall.

The animals reveal a crisis that affects everyone living in this world, Zhang says.

"Although I love the snow, I feel that it sometimes glosses over our circumstances, leaving us unprepared for approaching troubles."

He also displays three works based on Green Bean Heaven, an unfinished collection of essays he has been writing for a decade recalling his childhood.

In the videos, he tries to bring back memories and pieces them together to create fantasy scenarios.

If you go

10 am-6 pm, through Oct 10. Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5876-0600.

[Photo provided to China Daily]
LONDON  For most Brits, drinking beer means going down to the local pub and having a pint of bitter with friends and neighbors. But that appears to be changing. Last year, for the first time, U.K. pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels sold less beer than off-license and grocery stores, The Guardian reports.

Fifty-one percent of beer was sold off-trade, meaning in packaging to be consumed off the premises. Places to purchase and drink beer have been giving way to supermarkets for years, partly because of the inability of on-site licenses to offer competitive prices against promos for popular lager brands.

Changing consumer tastes also has influenced the switch to drinking at home, with the popularity of wine rising steadily and siphoning market share from pub beer. Overall, the level of beer consumption in the United Kingdom hasnt dropped during the last four years.

In addition, the number of British pubs has continued to decline, with only 50,800 public houses in business last year, a significant drop from 58,200 in 2005. The British Beer and Pub Association, which released the statistics this week, pointed to the high beer duty rate as a cause for concern. The U.K.s high duty rate on beer is still a cause for concern. We will continue to work with the government to bring our rate more in line with other European nations and help better support our industry, said Brigid Simmonds, CEO of the association.
As weve chronicled over recent months, a California private equity reform bill sponsored by state Treasurer John Chiang, in which he promised to provide full transparency for all fees and costs, has been amended from its original strong form version into a fig leaf for complicit public pension funds and board memberslike Chiang himself, who sits on the boards of CalPERS and CalSTRS. See this post for a long-form discussion as to why the bill, AB 2833, can easily be circumvented by private equity general partners.

One proof is that any reform effort that goes up against powerful interests runs into serious opposition. But the bill Chiang sponsored, AB 2833, went through both houses of the California legislature without getting a single nay vote.

Another proof is that Bloomberg, which normally does not pay much attention to the ins and outs of state-level sausage-making, had one of its senior reporters take up AB 2833. His latest story, filed right after governor Jerry Brown signed the bill, gave prominent play to critics charges:

Private equity firms collect management and performance fees from investors. They also charge companies in their portfolios for services like consulting. Under the new law, California investors will learn what portion of these fees portfolio companies are paying on the pension funds behalf, but they wont necessarily learn how much the private equity firms are charging the portfolio companies in total. Without that information, some critics say, theres no way to measure the full financial impact on the portfolio companies of the fees they pay to private equity fund managers. An early draft of the law would have required such a disclosure. The law is a big disappointment relative to what was possible in terms of transparency improvements, said Michael Flaherman, a former member of the Calpers board who consulted with the legislations backers early on. Flaherman withdrew his support for the bill after it was amended.

But perhaps the most persuasive evidence that AB 2833 fails to deliver on Chiangs transparency promises come from an analysis by Ropes & Gray, which is Bains lead law firm and represents other large private equity general partners. Ropes & Gray seems genuinely puzzled as to why a transparency bill has such a glaring drafting defect (emphasis ours):

Initial drafts of the law required disclosure of total fees paid to the Fund manager by Fund portfolio companies. This was revised to require only disclosure of the PPP [pubic pension fund]s pro rata share of fees paid by the Fund investment vehicle through which the PPP invests. Arguably, providing just the PPPs pro rata share of these fees achieves the Fee Disclosure Laws goal of transparency on fees paid by a PPP. However, if, on the other hand, reduced profitability of the portfolio company as a whole is seen as a cost to investors, disclosing the entire amount would have provided greater insight into the impact of fees on PPPs. Where a Fund uses multiple investment vehicles to buy a portfolio company, the aggregate amount of fees borne by the portfolio company cannot be ascertained when only the PPPs pro rata share of a given vehicle is disclosed.

Tbis was precisely the objection that Flaherman, this site, and others raised. We gave an example in a June as to how the bill leaves investors in the dark about the fees private equity firms are hoovering out:

Bear in mind that the previous version of the bill required that all related party transactions be reported. The current version calls only for providing each CA public fund with its pro rata share of those fees. This example illustrates of how this newly proposed reporting structure would cause vast under-reporting of the total amount of fees that a portfolio company is paying to a private equity firm:  PE firm Deal Guys makes a $100 million equity investment in Widget, Inc.  Deal Guys Fund V, L.P., its current flagship buyout fund contributes $65 million of equity  CalPERS has contributed 5% of the capital in Deal Guys Fund V, L.P.  The of the remaining $35 million of equity, $20 million is contributed by a friends and family fund ($5 million), and an offshore fund ($15 million) that holds the capital of non-U.S. investors, both of which are required by the LPA of Deal Guys Fund V, L.P. to invest alongside it pro rata. The final $15 million is contributed by an LP co-investor (not CalPERS).  Upon purchasing Widget, Inc., Deal Guys forces it to execute a monitoring agreement calling for an annual payment of $5 million to a Deal Guys affiliate. What is CalPERS pro rata share of this $5 million? It is five percent (CalPERS interest in the fund) of 65 percent (the funds interest in the Widget, Inc. deal) =(5,000,000 X .05 X.65) = $162,500. From this $162,500 number, CalPERS would either 1) erroneously infer that the total amount of money being taken by Deal Guys from Widget, Inc. annually is $3.25 million (162,500 X 20), a conclusion they might reach because they incorrectly think that the fund in which they are invested is the only vehicle invested in Widget; or, if they are more sophisticated, they would recognize that there is no conclusion they can reach about the total amount being sucked out of Widget by Deal Guys. Further, because CalPERS has no visibility into the other Deal Guys entities in the transaction, it does not know that the $20 million contributed from the friends and family fund and the co-investor do not give rise to any management fee offsets, meaning that the Deal Guys affiliate just keeps the full $1 million annually (20 percent of the annual monitoring fee) attributable to this capital.

Mind you, this is only one of major three deficiencies that we flagged, but its the one that has gotten the most media attention.

So it is disappointing, but not as all surprising, to see public officials, including public pension fund staffers, pretend that they are on the side of fund beneficiaries and taxpayers when they continue to be in thrall to the private equity industry. One can only hope that continued media coverage of the private equity industry, including the failure of fiduciaries to do their jobs, will make it untenable for public pension funds to continue to serve two masters.
Dear patient readers,

Weve been having problems with the site going up and down all day since early AM yesterday. Unfortunately, this was a Cloudflare problem, which means it was out of our control. It also means that other sites were no doubt having outages too, and Cloudflare presumably will address the issue promptly. In the meantime, for some bizarre reason, switching browsers often helps.

89% Of Debate Viewers Tuning In Solely To See Whether Roof Collapses Onion (David L)

Research Finds Thrilling Cure for Kidney Stones: Roller Coasters NBC. Mary Jo: Too bad they just missed the IgNobels.

How Small Forests Can Help Save the Planet New York Times (David L)

Evolution of global temperature over the past two million years Nature (Chuck L)

Survival of the smartest: Superbugs defeated with evolutionary trick ars technica (Chuck L)

Pope Francis calls out journalists: Does the media needlessly foster fear? (+video) Christian Science Monitor (furzy)

China?

Standard Chartered Faces U.S. Probe Over Indonesian Investment Wall Street Journal

Brexit

Deal-making and dirty tricks: inside the race for UN secretary general Guardian (furzy)

India begins campaign at United Nations to isolate Pakistan Asia Times. While you were busy.

In a Sweeping Victory, Jeremy Corbyn Is Re-Elected as U.K. Labour Party Leader Truthdig (Judy B)

Jeremy Corbyn under fire for stance on nuclear weapons Politico

Deutsche BailOut/In Watch

THE NEW STAR OF GERMANYS FAR RIGHT New Yorker

Marine Le Pens cash-flow crisis Politico

Barroso had deeper ties to Goldman Sachs EUObserver. This scandal is escalating.

5 things that will decide Italys constitutional vote Politico

Corbyn proposes corporate tax rise Defend Democracy

Ukraine/Russia

Syraqistan

2016. As Lambert described in his summing-up comment on the debate live blog last night, Hillary slaughtered Trump. But how will this translate into impact on votes? The salient characteristic of this campaign has been that Trump has been offensive, inconsistent, undisciplined, sloppy to outright dishonestand yet has remained within striking distance of Clinton. From Clintons perspective, hes like a zombie in a horror movie: he keeps taking hits (many of them self-inflicted) that should kill any candidate, yet he keeps coming after her.

I was anticipating that Trump would fall 5% in the polls based on his poor showing last night. But I spoke to a political scientist (a long-standing leftie who does not like either candidate) who surprised me by saying that neither one was trying to reach the others voters, and specifically, that Hillary didnt give anyone a new reason to vote for her. If anything, he thought Trump might get a small uptick from the debate. So lets see what the polls later this week say.

And BTW , hours later, I still have a headache from watching a mere 1/3 of the debate, even after taking painkillers. So kudos to those of you who did your civic duty and viewed the entire thing.

New FBI data: Murders up 10.8% in biggest percentage increase since 1971 Guardian. And black men are the big victims.

Shutdown deadline looms over Congress The Hill (furzy)

Conservative group presses GOP to vote against spending bill The Hill (furzy)

McConnell threatens shutdown to keep corporate political spending secret The Hill (Phil U). Lordie.

The Supreme Court After Scalia New Yorker (furzy)

Disgruntled employee dead after injuring nine people at strip mall Guardian

Why its Time to Stop Using the Word Disruption Bloomberg

Wells Fargo, Glass-Steagall and Do you want fries with that? banking The Hill (Phil U). Ive been critical of Hockett on other fronts, but he makes some very good points here.

Did Wells Fargo target seniors with its bogus-account scheme? Los Angeles Times (resilc)

BlackRock Issues Warning on Treasuries as Fed Moves Toward Hike Bloomberg

Monetary policy isnt working, and central bankers are getting desperate Ed Harrison via Business Insider

Guillotine Watch

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour (yahoo7). Dunno about you, but after last night, I needed something particularly soothing:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Scientists put a new twist on artificial muscles (Nanowerk News) In recent years, researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and colleagues at the University of Wollongong in Australia have put a high-tech twist on the ancient art of fiber spinning, using modern materials to create ultra-strong, powerful, shape-shifting yarns.

In a perspective article published Sept. 26 online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("New twist on artificial muscles"), a team of scientists at UT Dallas Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute describes the path to developing a new class of artificial muscles made from highly twisted fibers of various materials, ranging from exotic carbon nanotubes to ordinary nylon thread and polymer fishing line.

Because the artificial muscles can be made in different sizes and configurations, potential applications range from robotics and prosthetics to consumer products such as smart textiles that change porosity and shape in response to temperature.

We call these actuating fibers artificial muscles because they mimic the fiber-like form-factor of natural muscles, said Dr. Carter Haines BS11 PhD15, associate research professor in the NanoTech Institute and co-lead author of the PNAS article, with research associate Dr. Na Li. While the name evokes the idea of humanoid robots, we are very excited about their potential use for other practical applications, such as in next-generation intelligent textiles.

CAPTUT Dallas scientists produced the fibers in this woven textile by highly twisting nylon sewing thread to produce coiled artificial muscles. The coiled muscles can contract by over 30 percent when thermally or electrically heated, and might one day be used to make intelligent textiles, such as clothing that adjusts its porosity in response to temperature.ION

Science Based on Ancient Art

Spinning animal fur and plant fibers to make thread and yarn goes back thousands of years. Aligning the fibers and then twisting them into yarn gives the yarn strength.

By exploiting this concept, and adding 21st-century science, the UT Dallas researchers have produced actuating muscle yarns that, like their wooly counterparts, can be woven, sewn and knitted into textiles.

For example, carbon nanotubes are essentially tendrils of tiny, hollow tubes that are super-strong and electrically conductive. In 2004, led by Dr. Ray Baughman, director of the NanoTech Institute and the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry at UT Dallas, the team developed a method to draw forests of nanotubes out into sheets of aligned fibers  much like carded wool  and then twist the sheets into yarns.

Next, the group turned to polymer fibers such as nylon sewing thread and fishing line, which consist of many individual molecules aligned along the fibers length. Twisting the thread or fishing line orients these molecules into helices, producing torsional  or rotational  artificial muscles that can spin a heavy rotor more than 100,000 revolutions per minute.

When these muscles are so highly twisted that they coil like an over-twisted rubber band, they can produce tensile actuation, where the muscle dramatically contracts along its length when heated, and returns to its initial length when cooled. That research, published in 2014, showed that simple, low-cost muscles made from fishing line can lift 100 times more weight and generate 100 times higher mechanical power than a human skeletal muscle of the same length and weight.

When heated and cooled, spiral-shaped artificial muscles expand and contract back and forth.

The success of our muscles derives from their special geometry and the fact that we start with materials that are anisotropic  when they are heated, the materials expand in diameter much more than they expand along their length, said Baughman, senior author of the PNAS perspective. This anisotropy is an intrinsic property of high-strength polymer fibers, and is the same principle that drives powerful artificial muscles the researchers discovered in 2012, which they made by adding a thermally responsive guest material within a carbon nanotube yarn.

When these fibers are then twisted and coiled, their internal geometry changes so that when they are heated, that diameter expansion results in a change in length, Baughman said. The fibers diameter only has to expand by about 5 percent to drive giant changes in length.

The Latest Twist

In their most recent experiments, described for the first time in the PNAS article, Haines and Li added a new twist to their artificial muscles.

The coiled artificial muscles we initially made from fishing line and nylon sewing thread were limited in the amount they could expand and contract along their length, Haines said. Because of their geometry  like a phone cord  they could only contract so far before the coils began to collide with one another.

The solution: Form the coiled actuators into spirals.

The advantage to the spiral shape is that now our muscle can contract into a flat state, expand out in the other direction, and return to its original length, all without getting stuck on itself, Li said. Our experiments to date have been proof-of-concept, but have already shown that we can use heating and cooling to drive this back-and-forth motion across a giant range. This type of telescoping actuator can produce over an 8,600 percent change in length, compared to around 70 percent for our previous coils.

Smart Clothing

Li said one potential application for the spiral-shaped coil might be thermally responsive clothing. Instead of a down-filled jacket, a coat that incorporates many small coils could change the loft and insulating power of the garment in response to temperature.
Shape-programmable miniscule robots (Nanowerk News) One day, microrobots may be able to swim through the human body like sperm or paramecia to carry out medical functions in specific locations. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed functional elastomers, which can be activated by magnetic fields to imitate the swimming gaits of natural flagella, cilia and jellyfish. Using a specially developed computer algorithm, the researchers can now automatically generate the optimal magnetic conditions for each gait for the first time (PNAS, "Shape-Programmable Magnetic Soft Matter").

According to the Stuttgart-based scientists, other applications for this shape-programming technology include numerous other micro-scale engineering applications, in which chemical and physical processes are implemented on a miniscule scale.

Magnetic cilia and tentacles: With tiny silicone strips, which are equipped with magnetic particles, robots can be moved by an external magnetic field like jellyfish, bacteria, or sperm. (Image: Phil Loubere)

A sperm is equipped with a flagellum (tail-like extension), which can beat constantly back and forth to propel the sperm towards an egg. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have now enabled an extremely thin strip of silicone rubber, which is just a few millimetres in length, to achieve a very similar swimming pattern. To do this, they embedded magnetizable neodymium-iron-boron particles into an elastic silicone rubber and subsequently magnetized this elastomer in a controlled way. Once the elastomer is placed under a specified magnetic field, the scientists were then able to control the elastomers shape, making it beat back and forth in a wave-like fashion.

The scientists also succeeded in imitating the complex rowing movement of a cilium in a very similar way. Cilia are extremely fine hairs found on the surface of paramecia  they propel the organisms forward by using highly complex rowing strokes. The researchers also constructed an artificial jellyfish that has two soft tentacles, which have been programmed to carry out rowing-like swimming movements.

The crucial factor behind all of these movement processes is that different areas of the elastomer can react differently to an external magnetic field: some zones have to be attracted and others repelled. Otherwise, the elastomer would not be able to reshape into a wave or begin to roll up at its ends.

Special magnetization trick

In order to enable different magnetic response along the elastomer, the researchers leveraged two key ideas: Firstly, we varied the density of the magnetizable particles along the elastomer and secondly we also controlled the magnetization orientation of these particles, explains Guo Zhan Lum, a scientist in the Department of Physical Intelligence at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart. The scientists controlled the local concentration of the particles during the fabrication process so that after the rubber has been exposed to a strong magnetic field, different parts of the rubber will possess different magnetic strength.

It is challenging to create different magnetization orientation for the particles as all the particles within a flat elastomer will have the same magnetization orientation after they have been exposed to a uniform magnetizing field. Hence, the scientists availed another trick: By deforming the elastomer into a particular temporary shape during the magnetization process, we were able to control the final magnetization orientation of the individual magnetic particles very precisely, explains Lum. Although all of the magnetization orientation of the magnetic particles initially assumed a parallel orientation, when the deformed rubber was returned to the original flat shape, these particles along the elastomer will have the necessary magnetization orientation for the subsequent form of movement.

From that point on, the researchers worked with a weaker magnetic field that no longer altered the magnetization orientation and magnetic strength of the elastomer. Working under such magnetic field, some areas along the elastomer were then attracted and others repelled  and the elastomer can change into its desired shapes accordingly. By varying the strength and orientation of the magnetic field over time, the researchers enabled the soft materials to complete the relevant complex movement cycles.

Applications in microrobot locomotion and micro-scale engineering applications

One of the keys to the success of our work is that we succeeded in calculating the optimal magnetization profile and magnetic field for a desired movement pattern, says Metin Sitti, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. To this end, he and his colleagues from the Institutes Department of Physical Intelligence used a mathematical model to describe the physics of shape-programmable magnetic microrobots, and this model was also utilized to develop a corresponding computer algorithm  the very first of its kind. Scientists were previously reliant on intuition and could only estimate the required magnetic conditions.

According to the Stuttgart-based scientists, the ability to program soft materials like silicone rubber into functional devices could be of interest for a range of applications. For example, Metin Sitti can imagine that the above-described swimming movements will be used in medical applications one day. It may be possible to guide mini-taxis via magnetic field so that they can transport drugs or medical devices to desired locations in the body.
Fundamental researchers offer new ways to sort molecules for clean energy and more (Nanowerk News) It's called the office candy dish problem. You grab a jellybean, but it's not the flavor you want. Pawing through for your favorites is irritating in terms of time, energy, and efficacy. It also annoys your office mates. In an odd way, it's the same problem for those in manufacturing, power generation, and elsewhere. They want a specific subset of molecules or other bits; however, getting that subset can consume vast amounts of energy.

Chemical separation accounts for 10 to 15 percent of the nation's energy consumption, according to an article in Nature ("Seven chemical separations to change the world"). Industries spend up to half of their energy budget on separations. The associated price tag is in the billions. That energy use has environmental costs, including tons of carbon dioxide released each year.

It's the candy dish problem, but rather than picking the desired flavors, scientists must pick impurities from complex mixes. Scientists funded by the Office of Science at the Department of Energy are creating new materials and answering fundamental questions that could improve separations. (Image: Nathan Johnson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Researchers funded by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science are tackling the energy demands of separation by focusing on the underlying science. They are answering questions about "how" and "why" the targeted materials behave.

A cooler way to refine valuable chemicals

In today's oil refineries, engineers take crude oil and produce a mix of desirable chemicals. They then refine the mix to create separate streams of pure chemicals, rather like sorting the big bowl of candy into smaller dishes of desired sweets. New separation processes could reduce the economic and environmental costs of separations, making it faster and easier to get what you want.

How? An iron-based sieve, known as a metal-organic framework (MOF). By flowing gas through the sieve, the scientists saw the desirable hydrocarbons adhere to the MOF. Impurities passed through. In early tests, the material, designed at the Center for Gas Separations (CGS), resulted in streams of desirable hydrocarbons that can meet industry's requirements. More importantly, it works at room temperature, eliminating the need for extreme temperature changes.

"Separations can work either waycatching the desired product or letting it pass. Generally which of these is preferable depends whether the target is a minority speciescatchor the majoritylet pass," says University of California, Berkeley's Jeffrey Long, who leads the CGS.

The center is one of DOE's Energy Frontier Research Centers, a collaborative center where teams from universities, laboratories, or industry converge on the scientific problems vital to our nation's future. DOE's Office of Science funds 36 such centers.

The group at CGS also showed how changing the shape of the "holes" in another porous MOF material lets scientists separate molecules by shape. Why does shape matter? Whether a six-carbon molecule called hexane has branches, looking like the letters "x" or "y", or is branch-free is the difference between your car running smoothly and hearing that expensive knocking sound.

X-shaped hexane molecules pass through first, then y-shaped molecules. Finally, the linear form passes through. By knowing when and how the different forms of hexane are passed through or are caught by the MOF's triangular pores, the team separated the troublemakers and purified the high-octane, x-shaped molecules.

Sort data, separate chemicals

Just as crude oil requires refining, so does the biofuel ethanol. Fermentation turns poplar trees, grasses, and other forms of biomass into a mix of the alcohol ethanol and water. Absorbent materials called zeolites pick out the ethanol molecules, but water can interfere with the separation process. Altering the chemical structure of the zeolite lets it better reject water. But which structure works best? There are many options.

Narrowing down options to just the best is the task taken up by researchers at the Nanoporous Materials Genome Center (NMGC) at the University of Minnesota. They knew that the challenge was the equivalent of finding a needle in a field of haystacks, so they turned to the Argonne National Laboratory's Leadership Computing Facility.

The researchers performed millions of virtual experiments to screen 402 zeolites and find a promising ethanol-preferring, water-rejecting structure. The result is a process that can reduce the time and cost in finding a new separations material for ethanol.

Scientists funded by DOEs Office of Science are examining the properties of different materials, such as this iron-based metal-organic framework, to find less expensive routes to separate chemicals we use every day. (Image: Jeffrey Long, University of California, Berkeley)

Scientists funded by DOE's Office of Science are examining the properties of different materials, such as this iron-based metal-organic framework, to find less expensive routes to separate chemicals we use every day.

Also, the team used this approach to sort through 386 variations to find the 16 best all-silica zeolites for removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas reserves. High levels of hydrogen sulfide "sour" reservoirs, making their exploration unprofitable. Using zeolites for removing hydrogen sulfide and sweetening the natural gas may be an economical solution for this sour problem.

"We are making discoveries that could be huge for the fuel industries," says Ilja Siepmann, who leads the NMGC.

Separate the unseen

Because of its potential use in cancer treatment, having too little of the rare element astatine is a problem. The element decays away in mere hours. It's so rare and decays so fast that scientists can't produce enough to see it or weigh it. They rely on detectors to know if they've created and separated it.

Scientists delved into astatine's chemistry and improved a complex process to separate the desirable material from irradiated bismuth plates. The team is automating the separation process, making it easier to purify larger quantities. This process lets them produce enough to make the isotope available to others through the National Isotope Development Center.

"I want to get this to other people so even more studies can be done," says D. Scott Wilbur at the University of Washington. He is now leading studies that give a more nuanced view of the element. He is participating in planning clinical studies to evaluate astatine's tumor-fighting abilities in the near future.

Capture pollutants

Power plants fueled by coal and other fossil fuels produce energy and release tons of carbon dioxide; the climate-changing gas can be scrubbed out by flowing the gaseous mix through a special liquid. The liquid absorbs 2 to 3 percent of its weight in carbon dioxide.

The liquid is heated to wring out the carbon dioxide for reuse or storage. Heat adds cost. While far less heat is used than in refining, heat adds operational cost that must be paid.

Back at CGS, scientists examined the underlying science of carbon dioxide and designed a material that pulls in 13 percent of its own weight in carbon dioxide. Releasing carbon dioxide uses less heat. Carbon dioxide is absorbed at 104F and released at just 122F.

"There are big potential advantages in terms of capital and operating costs," says Long.

The future and separation science
'Missing link' found in the development of bioelectronic medicines (Nanowerk News) New research, led by the University of Southampton, has demonstrated that a nanoscale device, called a memristor, could be the missing link in the development of implants that use electrical signals from the brain to help treat medical conditions.

Monitoring neuronal cell activity is fundamental to neuroscience and the development of neuroprosthetics  biomedically engineered devices that are driven by neural activity. However, a persistent problem is the device being able to process the neural data in real-time, which imposes restrictive requirements on bandwidth, energy and computation capacity.

In a new study, published in Nature Communications ("Real-time encoding and compression of neuronal spikes by metal-oxide memristors"), the researchers showed that memristors could provide real-time processing of neuronal signals (spiking events) leading to efficient data compression and the potential to develop more precise and affordable neuroprosthetics and bioelectronic medicines.

Image shows a memristor chip.

Memristors are electrical components that limit or regulate the flow of electrical current in a circuit and can remember the amount of charge that was flowing through it and retain the data, even when the power is turned off.

Lead author Isha Gupta, Postgraduate Research Student at the University of Southampton, said: Our work can significantly contribute towards further enhancing the understanding of neuroscience, developing neuroprosthetics and bio-electronic medicines by building tools essential for interpreting the big data in a more effective way.

The research team developed a nanoscale Memristive Integrating Sensor (MIS) into which they fed a series of voltage-time samples, which replicated neuronal electrical activity.

Acting like synapses in the brain, the metal-oxide MIS was able to encode and compress (up to 200 times) neuronal spiking activity recorded by multi-electrode arrays. Besides addressing the bandwidth constraints, this approach was also very power efficient  the power needed per recording channel was up to 100 times less when compared to current best practice.

Co-author Dr Themis Prodromakis, Reader in Nanoelectronics and EPSRC Fellow in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton said: We are thrilled that we succeeded in demonstrating that these emerging nanoscale devices, despite being rather simple in architecture, possess ultra-rich dynamics that can be harnessed beyond the obvious memory applications to address the fundamental constraints in bandwidth and power that currently prohibit scaling neural interfaces beyond 1,000 recording channels.

The Prodromakis Group at the University of Southampton is acknowledged as world-leading in this field, collaborating among others with Leon Chua (a Diamond Jubilee Visiting Academic at the University of Southampton), who theoretically predicted the existence of memristors in 1971.
At home in museums

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-09-27 08:46

Prehistoric artifacts are on display at the show Mystery of Sanxingdui, which is running at Changsha Museum through December. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Chinese are increasingly exploring cultural relics as a part of their daily lives, Wang Kaihao reports in Chengdu.

No matter which city Ai Xiaoyang visits, museums always top her list of must-see places to know more about the local history and culture.

With Chinese museums showing their creativity in recent years, this veteran museum visitor from Beijing has had a good time.

"Museums are no longer isolated," says the 28-year-old.

"Their abundant souvenirs, interactive facilities and lectures make it easier to learn about the exhibits."

She has downloaded a few phone apps of the Palace Museum in Beijing to get her daily dose of the museum's collections and know about upcoming exhibitions. She has also bought many souvenirs from online stores as gifts for friends.

In mid-September in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, 6,000 souvenirs offered by the Palace Museum were sold out within a day at the 7th Chinese Museums and Relevant Products and Technologies Expo.

More Chinese are seeing museums as a part of their daily lives.

The newly opened Chengdu Museum is hosting an exhibition on Emperor Qianlong.

"China is the country with the fastest growth in museums," Duan Yong, director of the museum department of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said during the expo.

"The country is marching to become a strong power in terms of museums, but there's still much to be done."

According to Duan, there were 4,692 registered museums on the Chinese mainland by the end of 2015, with the industry employing some 90,000 people. About 20,000 exhibitions were staged in the country's museums last year, attracting 700 million visitors. About 85 percent of the museums are open to the public for free.

"Most museums have realized that they are seen as institutions of academic research and education and not just exhibition venues," says Duan. "But the development of museums is not balanced in China."

According to him, there are some 1,000 counties, mostly in western China, that still have no museums.

"In spite of the fast growth, our focus needs to be switched to more specialized and grassroots museums," he says.

"And the sharing of resources among different museums will become a trend. It will be the way to enhance communication and make full use of collections."

For example, Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, has been promoting public education about museums in poverty-stricken regions not only in the province but also in western China.

Souvenirs offered at the expo in Chengdu. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

"Museums are now more than custodians of cultural relics," Tian Kai, director of Henan Museum, explains.

"They have to cooperate with different cultural institutions to allow more people to enjoy their resources."

E Jun, director of Gansu Museum in Northwest China, says: "Due to dated systems, it was difficult to form regional museum alliances before."

However, things have changed in recent years.

From 2014 to 2015, Silk Road, a major exhibition reflecting the history of the ancient trade route, was displayed at Beijing's National Museum of China, which gathered key collections from 44 museums across the country.

Another show, Sailing Far and Wide on the Sea on Maritime Silk Road, brought collections from 51 museums to the Capital Museum in 2014.

"These exhibitions created new models for cooperation among Chinese museums in terms of personnel, information and academic research," says E.

Today's cooperation has gone beyond borders. Duan says there were about 100 exhibitions held jointly by China and different countries in 2015, which also partially explains why museum visitor Ai feels "many exhibitions from all over the world" are available in China. Consequently, Chinese museums also provide experiences for foreign cultural institutions.

[Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]

"New museums are being built by the day (in China)," Suay Aksoy, president of the International Council of Museums, who attended the expo at Chengdu, tells China Daily.

"Museums are working with good architects. It's remarkable to see so many Chinese museums cooperate for one exhibition, which is difficult in other countries.

"And it's a good thing that Chinese museums are developing apps and online exhibitions because it will attract and educate more people.

"Only when you see and handle the objects, can you really know about the past," he says of the physical importance of relics.

Nevertheless, some professionals fear that an overheating of the sector will lead to problems.

"Sometimes a big museum is built even before the outline of an exhibition is drafted, which will obviously lead to empty halls," says Wu Xi, a veteran exhibition designer for a studio affiliated to Tsinghua University in Beijing.

"There is still much to learn from Western museums in creating an attractive atmosphere for visitors.

"We'd better think twice about what is needed by visitors and what we can give before opening a museum."

Ai considers it equally important to improve visitors' behaviors to add to an exhibition's success.

"It's often seen that some people use camera flashes and selfie sticks in exhibitions, which greatly affects the viewing experiences of others."
The New York City Housing Development Corp. board approved the appointment of Eric Enderlin as president.

Enderlin, whom Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed on Aug. 11, will succeed Gary Rodney, who is leaving to become chairman of Crea LLC, a national low income housing tax credit syndicator.

"He could not have been a more positive selection," Rodney said last Thursday at his final board meeting at the corporation's lower Manhattan headquarters.

HDC is the city's housing finance arm and a major player in de Blasio's affordable housing initiative.

Enderlin, 50, of Greenwich Village, will begin his duties in mid-October. He will play a key role in furthering de Blasio's initiative to create and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing over the 10 years.

He had been deputy commissioner at the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where he oversees the agency's office of development.

HPD and HDC operate independently of one another, although HPD commissioner Vicki Been chairs HDC's board and the agencies collaborate to finance the city's affordable housing stock.

Since de Blasio took office in 2014, HDC has issued roughly $4 billion in bonds and financed more than 25,000 of the units built or preserved to date under de Blasio's 10-year, five-borough plan, Housing New York.

The agency issued more than $1.5 billion of that amount through the sustainable neighborhood bond program, which it launched last year as the nation's first social responsibility bond in the affordable housing marketplace.

Enderlin's previous public and private sector experience include positions at the New York City Housing Authority, infrastructure firm Louis Berger Group and the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. He holds a bachelor of arts in economics and a master's of science degree in urban planning and policy; both from Rutgers University.

"The combination of this team is the best the city of New York has ever offered," said Charles Moerdler, the longest-serving board member and a partner at law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

The board approved the issuance of up to $235 million of multihousing revenue bonds and a $40 million remarketing of multifamily mortgage revenue bonds issued in 2007 for the Queens Family Courthouse Apartments in Jamaica, Queens.

In addition, the board approved a five-year, interest-only loan of up to $14.3 million to refinance a portfolio of six projects containing 437 units in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood controlled by Arker Cos. principals. Arker will use the loan to retire the debt and reimburse itself for costs of purchasing limited partnership interests.
Now a single work permit for expats

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-09-26 11:39

Foreigners will find it easier to work in Shanghai after the city released a series of policies yesterday to attract international talent as it works to build a global center for scientific and technological innovation.

From November 1, foreigners will only have to apply for a unified work permit as the two types of work permits for ordinary foreign employees and foreign experts will be streamlined into one. The application process will also be simplified.

The city government said implementation details are still being reviewed, but the central authorities have issued some guidelines when they announced this month the launching of a pilot scheme of unified work permit for expatriates in nine provinces and cities, including Shanghai.

Foreign workers will be classified into categories A, B and C  A for top talent, B for professional talent, C for unskilled workers or those working in the service industry.

Simplifying the application process will mean some materials will no longer be needed, such as a personal resume.

The practice will be applied to foreigners across the country based on experiences accumulated in the pilot province and cities when the trial ends next April.

Current work permits can still be used as long as their dates are valid.

Shanghai last year handled 8,599 applications for foreign expert work permits and 120,933 for employment licenses for foreign employees, more than any other provinces and cities, said the government.

Another new policy announced by Shanghai allows students who graduate from local universities without work experience to find employment in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone.

It is an upgraded version of a policy introduced last year to allow foreign postgraduates of local universities to work directly after graduation in the two zones without work experience.

Previously, foreigners needed to have at least two years work experience to apply for work and residence permits in Shanghai.

By August this year, 64 foreign postgraduates have obtained work permits under the policy, said the city government.

Authorities said they are also considering expanding the policy to foreign graduates of universities outside of Shanghai.

Foreign students at local universities wishing to stay in the city are delighted at the news.

It brings foreign students real big opportunities to find a well-paid job and simultaneously continue our life here, said Tatiana Skuratova, a Russian international relations major at Tongji University.

All the networking, professional skills and other aspects of life youve been receiving in China would be in vain if you leave the country, if you have to leave China without wanting to, she said. The new law is indeed a very good news. I truly believe that the regulations for people coming from abroad is becoming more flexible here.

Skuratova said she had planned to go somewhere in Southeast Asia after graduation next year, but now she was considering staying in Shanghai.

For Colombian student David Janna, who is studying international business at East China Normal University, the reforms have brought an extra bonus to his work plan.

I planned to pursue a masters degree while taking internships after graduation next year to meet the requirement for work permit here, he said. But now I can also work in the city directly if I find a good job.

Shanghai is not only trying to keep outstanding international talent at local universities, but also attract graduates from top universities abroad.

Another new policy allows regional headquarters of transnational companies, investment companies and foreign-funded research and development centers, which are registered in the two trade zones, to employ graduates from leading foreign universities, with or without work experience.

The new policy will also lower requirements for foreigners involved in scientific and technological innovation to obtain Shanghai Residence Card B, which enables holders to enjoy certain citizen benefits.

The city will provide extra benefits for the card holders, such as exemption from housing property tax for their only residence, allowing their children aged from 3 to 12 to study at local schools and participation in a local housing provident fund, said the government.

Shanghai has been reforming its talent recruitment policies in recent years. Last year, it introduced 20 regulations, including some to help foreign workers to apply and renew required certificates conveniently. This has benefited many people since the changes took effect last year.

One eye-catching policy was to lower the threshold for permanent residence applicants, allowing expats, who have worked in the city for four consecutive years and have lived in China for at least 6 months a year to apply for the residence permit providing their salaries met required levels.

By the end of June, 503 senior overseas employees and their relatives had submitted applications, eight times the number in the same period before the new policy came into effect, and 166 of those had been approved by the Ministry of Public Security.

Shanghai also canceled the 60-year-old age limit to apply or get work and residence permits for high-level foreign professionals last year. If the applicants are recognized as foreign talent by the authorities, they could be issued permits lasting five years. And they can also apply for a permanent residence permit after working for three years if their employers back their case.

A total of 96 foreign expats have been issued such 5-year visas, including 27 older than 60.

Most expats need to renew their residence permits once a year, but from last year, they can have their permits renewed for 5 years after two previous renewals. More than 1,800 qualifying expats have applied for the 5-year permits.
Reprogramming cells may have potential, but it's only half the issue

To really solve the problem of cancer, nutrition needs to be a part of the equation

(NaturalNews) Computer giant Microsoft recently made the bold claim that within a decade its scientists will " solve the problem of cancer " through the revolutionary use of computer science techniques that ostensibly will allow researchers to break the code of cancerous cells and reprogram them to be healthy once more.The only problem is that Microsoft isn't really addressing the root causes of the disease in the process, and is instead implementing an"solution." More on that in a moment.In what many see as a major shift in direction for the technology titan, Microsoft claims that it has put together a "small army" of the world's foremost programmers, engineers and biologists who will look at cancer like it was a bug in a computer system.Over the summer, the company opened its first wet lab where it plans to test findings of researchers who are working on big maps that lay out the internal operations of networks of cells, the UK'sIn addition, researchers are also developing a computer actually made from DNA that could exist within cells, and whose job would be to look for defects like cancer in body functions and internal networks. If it determines that cancerous conditions exist, it will essentially reboot the network system to clear out diseased cells "I think it's a very natural thing for Microsoft to be looking at because we have tremendous expertise in computer science and what is going on in cancer is a computational problem," said Microsoft research lab director Chris Bishop.He added that it wasn't simply an analogy but rather "deep mathematical insight." He admitted that computing and biology might seem like "chalk and cheese" to most people, but in reality they have much in common "on the most fundamental level."The group of biological computer experts gathered at Microsoft Research are in the process of building molecular computers from DNA that work like a physician to locate, then destroy, cancer cells. The leader of the group, Andrew Philips, described the project as "long-term," but believes that technically, what they are attempting to accomplish is feasible in five to 10 years time.To be sure, the project is ambitious. Already, the research group has developed software that copies a cell's healthy behavior so that it can be contrasted with the behavior of a diseased cell in order to help figure out where a problem lies and how to address it. This tool, called a Bio Model Analyser, is already in use assisting researchers in the understanding of how to better treat leukemia.Dr. Jasmin Fisher, an associate professor and senior researcher at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, told thethat if it's possible to regulate and control cancer, then it is more likely that "any chronic disease" could also be dealt with using the same techniques, thus solving a host of medical problems."I think for some of the cancers five years, but definitely within a decade. Then we will probably have a century free of cancer," she said.But again, this approach, while novel and potentially successful, misses a big part of the problem. A goal ofresearch effort ought to include ways to prevent cancers from developing in the first place. And that will require dismissing old, disproven medical "treatments" like chemotherapy which result in a 50-percent death rate , and embracing new ideas like promoting better nutrition , asfounder Mike Adams, the Health Ranger and author of the book,, has long advocated.In a recent interview with cancer researcher Ty Bollinger, Adams said:"The modern mainstream medical community ... think that your body is somehow disconnected from what you feed your body, which is astonishing, completely irrational, illogical, unscientific."Both he and Bollinger noted that medical doctors, some with more than a dozen years of education and training, have only a few hours' worth of instruction pertaining to nutrition, and even then it is not aimed at how better nutrition can serve as a defense against cancer and other diseases.Watch the short interview here
(NaturalNews) Will the United States really be paying for the next wave of gruesome genetic experiments? The National Institutes of Health, the premier government health agency in the U.S., has recently announced that they are waiting for funding from the government to conduct a study involving mixing human cells into animal embryos.The nightmarish study seeks to combine human beings with animals to create what many people would refer to as "abominations." The NIH states that the motives behind this vile and unsettling desire are completely virtuous and altruistic; in their minds, this new age of animal testing and manipulation will the be the apex of modern medicine's advancement. In their statements on this upcoming research, the NIH writes, "Formation of these types of human-animal organism, referred to as ' chimeras ', holds tremendous potential for disease modeling, drug testing, and perhaps eventual organ transplant."However, there are many ethical concerns about such a study. The NIH itself admits that uncertainty surrounding the effects of human cells in the chimeric cells raises ethical and animal welfare concerns. The agency even admits that the potential effects on the nervous system and other off-target organs and tissues is particularly concerning.If you have ever seen the movie, you may be familiar with the many ways such experimentation could go awry. While scientists may believe that they can predict exactly what will happen when they inject human cells into animal embryos, there is truly no way to know for sure what they are creating.The most current guidelines from the NIH on stem cell research explicitly prohibit the introduction of pluripotent cells into nonhuman primate blastocysts. They also prohibit the breeding of animals that may have human pluripotent cells in their sperm or eggs.Pluripotent cells are cells that are capable of creating all the cell types within the body; embryonic stem cells are considered pluripotent cells. Pluripotent cells essentially are capable of creating almost everything that makes us human . While it is currently against the agency's guidelines, the NIH is currently developing ways to circumvent their own rules. From the agency's statements:In other words, the NIH feels that by introducing human genes at a later stage of embryonic development they are somehow not breaking any ethical code. Never mind the fact that the poor animals that would be created out of such nonsense did not ask to be turned into a chimeric mutant. What is particularly confounding is the focus on the blastocystic stage of development, and the eschewing of concern over the introduction of human cells at a later stage. The NIH would also like to have the ability to conduct research on animals where human cells are introduced after post-gastrulation. One thing is for sure: The NIH should not be allowed to conduct experiments involving the creation of chimeras, since the animals themselves would likely suffer , as would our humanity.There is perhaps only one aspect of all this that is more appalling than the fact that this kind of experimentation is even being considered by our government. That would be the fact that a government agency is actually planning on grantingthe power to do so.
How non-ionizing radiation influences the body remains a mystery

The evidence is clear

(NaturalNews) If you are like most other men and keep your smartphone in your front pocket, chances are cellphone radiation is frying your sperm. According to a new systemic review , there is conclusive evidence that men should find another storage spot for their mobile phones.The researchers from the University of Newcastle in Australia reviewed 27 scientific papers investigating the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on the male reproductive system. Of the 27 analyzed studies, 21 reported some kind of adverse impact on male fertility due to the effects of smartphone radiation According to the authors of the study, there is currently a heated debate among scientists who have no way to explain how non-ionizing radiation influences the body. However, their research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting RF-EMR damage on male reproductive abilities.The researchers looked at data such as sperm count, motility and the viability of success in fertilizing an egg. According to the authors of the review, cellphone exposure resulted in an 8 percent reduction in sperm motility and a 9 percent reduction in sperm viability. Furthermore, they found evidence of DNA damage and the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have been previously recognized as problems for sperm survival and fertility.The authors of the review said that the results are hardly surprising given the unique vulnerability of the highly specialized sperm cell. They added that by continuing to store phones in front pockets, the male population is ignoring the future health burden that may be created if conception proceeds with defective, DNA-damaged spermatozoa. Another study published earlier this year found that sperm levels of men who kept their cellphones in their pockets throughout the day were severely affected in 47 percent of cases, compared to just 11 percent of the general male population.The researchers from the Haifa Technion and the Carmel Medical Center, however, believe that it is the heat emitted by mobile phones, rather than electromagnetic radiation, that is the main cause of damaged sperm.As reported by the, approximately 14 percent of couples worldwide struggle to conceive  with male infertility being the main cause in roughly 40 percent of the cases. Given these high numbers, a small detail such as where a man stores his cellphone could be crucial to whether he can conceive a child or not.Scientists remain cautious in their assumptions, and state that more direct and controlled evidence is needed to prove the link between male infertility and cellphone use.Regardless of the opinion of other scientists, Dr. Joel Moskowitz of UC Berkeley's public health school explained tothat the evidence is clear, and men should stop storing their phones near their genitals. He further noted that this review is a pivotal step towards a broader global understanding of the dangers lurking in people's pockets.The World Health Organization classified cellphone radiation as a possible 2B carcinogen in 2011. This was the first significant recognition that mobile phones could have a devastating effect on the body.Cellphones have become an integral part of our lives. As stated by, there is about one device for every American, while in certain European countries such as Germany, Denmark and Italy, there are more devices than people.With a world relying on mobile phones, researchers believe it is crucial that a definitive answer regarding the safety of cellphones and fertility be determined soon.
Government scientists may be covering up the effects of Monsanto herbicide on soil quality

Glyphosate disrupts plant root systems, destroying beneficial bacteria and fungi

Plants are unable to obtain the necessary nutrients after herbicide application

(NaturalNews) Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, is the most widely applied herbicide in the world. More than 100 million pounds of the weed killer are applied to crops each year in the United States alone.The chemical, categorized as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been linked to a variety of cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, liver cancer, stomach caner and thyroid cancer, as well as numerous other health problems.Research shows that glyphosate not only disrupts biological processes in humans, but is also aggressively altering our environment in ways that are sure to have lasting impacts.One of the most recent concerns regarding the widespread application of glyphosate is the impact it's having on soil nutrients . Some experts allege that USDA scientists are purposely covering up critical information regarding potentially irreversible soil damage caused by glyphosate.When the herbicide is sprayed on "traited" or GMO crops, it eventually moves into the soil from the plant's root system, a complex atmosphere relying on certain bacteria, fungi and minerals in the soil to function. When the root system is balanced, crops are more capable of fighting off diseases, and photosynthesis is improved.However, scientists are beginning to understand that the application of pesticides can disrupt this essential system, resulting in the plant's death, according to a report by"Because glyphosate moves into the soil from the plant, it seems to affect the rhizosphere, the ecology around the root zone, which in turn can affect plant health," said Robert Kremer, a USDA scientist who has studied the impact of glyphosate on soybeans for more than a decade.Rhizobia is important, as it's the bacterium that fixes nitrogen, which is often deficient in many soils.The differences in root systems between conventional and GMO crops can be seen with the naked eye. When investigators tried to pull GMO corn from the soil in one Iowa field, they were met with a challenge, needing to use a shovel in order to pry the stalks from the soil.Once the roots were finally freed, they were observed as having chunks of dirt hanging from them. The roots also fanned out and "were studded with only a few nodules, which are critical to the exchange of nutrients ," reportsOn the contrary, conventionally grown corn in another Iowa field was easily tugged from the ground, with the dirt around the roots resembling coffee grounds which easily shook off the plant.While glyphosate is only sprayed on herbicide-resistant crops, conventional growers are worried about contamination of their crops due to heavy rainstorms that cause runoff from neighboring GMO fields.Kremer, who is the co-author of one of five papers published on the impacts of Roundup, says the herbicide is "altering the whole soil biology," and is changing nutrient availability when glyphosate passes through the roots of crops and into the soil.Similar to its impact on nitrogen, glyphosate immobilizes manganese, another essential plant micronutrient. Roundup ready crops are also more susceptible to being impacted by Fusarium, a fungus that causes wilting.A November 2014 study found that glyphosate negatively impacts earthworm populations, a species that decomposes dead organic matter. Earthworms also create burrows in the soil, allowing oxygen and water to enter, and carbon dioxide to exit."We are already seeing glyphosate-resistant weeds. If we continue to use glyphosate in the same fields year after year, it's a matter of time until microbial communities in the soil will shift to more detrimental species," explained Kremer.And regarding more sustainable methods, Kremer added, "More farmers are interested in using cover cropping to maintain soil quality and other organic amendments. But it's a steep learning curve for them."
(NaturalNews) Corruption and "pay-for-play" scenarios involving powerful people and foreign governments that beat, imprison and kill gays is like an onion: Peel a layer and you find more.Now, as reported by, it appears as though the "charity" was less than charitable with the AIDS drugs it helped distribute to third-world countries battling the disease.Under a program begun by former President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, officials distributed "watered-down" HIV/AIDS drugs to sick patients in sub-Saharan Africa, which "likely increased" their risk of dying, according to a draft congressional reportobtained.Titled, "The Clinton Foundation and the India Success Story," the congressional report was initiated by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who is vice chairperson of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The CHAI program to assist AIDS victims has been considered to be a fundamental force for good within the Clinton Foundation and is very probably the organization's most notable initiative.The congressional reported centered on Clinton's 10-plus-year relationship with a controversial India-based drug maker called Ranbaxy. CHAI used the company as one of its main distributors of HIV/AIDS medications to poor countries.The report also focused on the work of Dinesh Thakur, a former Ranbaxy employee who became a big-time whistleblower when he provided information to the U.S. government, which led to a landmark lawsuit against the Indian pharmaceutical company. Because the company also sold generic drugs in the United States, it was subject to U.S. regulations and prosecution for violations.Ultimately, in 2013 the company pleaded guilty to seven criminal counts with intent to defraud and to introducing adulterated medications into interstate commerce. "Adulterated" is when a drug "fails to conform to compendial standards of quality, strength or purity," according to the Food and Drug Administration In addition, the Department of Justice levied a fine against the company of $500 million, as well as forfeiture.As noted by, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Rod J. Rosenstein, said at the time of Ranbaxy's guilty plea the case represented "the largest false claims case ever prosecuted" in his district, as well as the "nation's largest financial penalty paid by a generic pharmaceutical company.""When companies sell adulterated drugs, they undermine the integrity of the FDA's approval process and may cause patients to take drugs that are substandard, ineffective, or unsafe," added Stuart F. Delery, the acting assistant attorney general for the civil division of the Justice Department, after the U.S. government made its announcement regarding Ranbaxy's case.In its final settlement, the Department of Justice stated that, "allegedly due to the company's diluted drugs, it 'subjected patients to increased risks of morbidity and mortality,'" the congressional report noted.In an interview with, Blackburn said the drugmaker's and foundation's actions produce some obvious questions, like, "How many people lost their lives, how many people found it was a false promise?"Revelations about CHAI potentially distributing adulterated AIDS drugs to Third World victims is likely to damage the Clinton Foundation's reputation even further, and may add another layer of corruption to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign . Sadly, unless her GOP opponent, Donald J. Trump , brings it up, the mainstream media won't be talking about it any time soon.As for Blackburn, she said she is planning to hand the report over to the inspector general's offices of the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department, where Hillary Clinton served during President Obama's first term.In addition to findings of adulterated drug distribution, the report also shined a light on unseemly ties between Bill Clinton and a pair of highly controversial Indian-Americans who have fallen under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission.Perhaps what is most problematic for the Clinton charity is its enthusiastic promotion of Ranbaxy, even though the Indian pharmaceutical giant persistently distributes poor-quality drugs, and covers for their faulty products with fraudulent reporting to the FDA.
"Since 1938, there have come to our attention a number of children whose condition differs so markedly and uniquely from anything reported so far, that each case merits  and, I hope, will eventually receive  at detailed consideration of its fascinating peculiarities."

(NaturalNews)We have compiled a list of 30 scientific studies that show a link between vaccines and autism, disproving the myth[1] that no official research papers exist to support what alternative doctors have been saying for years.(Article by Sean Adl-Tabatabai, republished from http://www.trueactivist.com These papers can be shown to medical doctors and public health officials who wish to see peer reviewed scientific studies to back up the claims that autism is a direct result from receiving a vaccination[2].The first research paper presented was the first one ever written on the subject, from 1943. Child Psychiatrist Leo Kanner discovered 11 children over the course of several years who displayed a novel set of neurological symptoms that had never been described in the medical literature, where children were withdrawn, uncommunicative and displayed similar odd behaviors. This disorder would become known as "autism." In the paper, Dr. Kanner noted that onset of the disorder began following the administration of a small pox vaccine. This paper was published in 1943, and evidence that vaccination causes an ever increasing rate of neurological and immunological regressions, including autism[3], has been mounting from that time until now.Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact[4]Leo Kanner, Johns Hopkins University, 1943All of Kanner's cases were born after, and began to appear following, the introduction of Eli Lilly's new form of water-soluble mercury in the late 1920s used as an anti-fungal in forestry, a wood treatment product in the lumber industry and as a disinfectant and anti-bacterial in the medical industry under the name of "Thimerosal" that was included in vaccines[5].As I testified to at the hearing, there is abundant research supporting the vaccine-autism[6] link. I have included 49 research papers for your review, and only included research published in the last ten years or so. This is by no means a complete list, but it one that I have been compiling for the last few years as relevant research came to my attention. I have ONLY included autism-related information, not research on other vaccine injuries of which there are many.As you can see, the medical professionals testifying that there is no scientific support for the vaccine/autism[7] causation theory are uninformed about the current state of the science. When vaccination decisions are made based on an uninformed opinion, it means serious potential damage to the patient, and because of the law preventing lawsuits for vaccine injury, it also means that the uninformed medical professionals making bad recommendations CANNOT be held accountable in any way for giving the patient bad information.Parents want to know if their child can develop autism from their vaccines[8]. If they believe that the answer is yes, and the risk of brain injury from vaccination is higher than their risk from a disease, it is their right to decline vaccination for themselves and their children without coercion.Patients MUST be able to make their own informed vaccine decisions, because often, they know more about potential vaccine risks that even top public health officials do.Boys vaccinated as neonates had threefold greater odds for autism diagnosis compared to boys never vaccinated or vaccinated[9] after the first month of life.These data implicate environmental toxicity in childhood autistic disorder.Autism could result from more than one cause, with different manifestations in different individuals that share common symptoms. Documented causes of autism[10] include genetic mutations and/or deletions, viral infections, and encephalitis following vaccination.This study demonstrates that very low levels of Thimerosal can contribute to immune system dysregulation.A recent report shows a correlation of the historical use of thimerosal in therapeutic immunizations with the subsequent development of autism[11]; however, this association remains controversial. Autism occurs approximately four times more frequently in males compared to females; thus, studies of thimerosal toxicity should take into consideration gender-selective effects. The present study was originally undertaken to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of thimersosal in male and female CD1 mice. However, during the limited MTD studies, it became apparent that thimerosal has a differential MTD that depends on whether the mouse is male or female.This study demonstrates clearly and unequivocally that ethyl mercury, the kind of mercury found in vaccines , not only ends up in the brain but leaves double the amount of inorganic mercury as methyl mercury, the kind of mercury[12] found in fish. This work is groundbreaking because little is known about ethyl mercury, and many health authorities have asserted that the mercury found in vaccines is the "safe kind." This study also delivers a strong rebuke of the Institute of Medicine's recommendation in 2004 to no longer pursue the mercury-autism connection.The identities of the reactive glial cells and the implications for the long-term function and survivability of the neurons due to changes in the glial population following subclinical long-term exposure to mercury are discussed.This study, performed independently and using a different methodology than Dr. Herbert (see above) reached the same conclusion: the brains of autistic children are suffering from inflammation.Autism is defined behaviorally, as a syndrome of abnormalities involving language, social reciprocity and hyperfocus or reduced behavioral flexibility. It is clearly heterogeneous, and it can be accompanied by unusual talents as well as by impairments, but its underlying biological[13] and genetic basis in unknown. Autism has been modeled as a brain-based, strongly genetic disorder, but emerging findings and hypotheses support a broader model of the condition as a genetically influenced and systemic.This study demonstrates how Thimerosal inhibits methylation, a central driver of cellular communication and development.Conclusion This study validates the existence of early autistic regression[14].Excerpt: "We have reanalyzed the data set originally reported by Ip et al. in 2004 and have found that the original p value was in error and that a significant relation does exist between the blood levels of mercury and diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, the hair sample analysis results offer some support for the idea that persons with autism may be less efficient and more variable at eliminating mercury from the blood."Excerpt: "Children who have (mitochondrial-related) dysfunctional cellular energy metabolism might be more prone to undergo autistic regression between 18 and 30 months of age if they also have infections or immunizations at the same time."Excerpt: The preliminary data suggest a need for more extensive studies of oxidative stress, its relationship to the environmental factors[15] and its possible attenuation by antioxidants in autism."This study helps refute the notion that the brains of autistic children are simply wired differently and notes, "neuroinflammation appears to be present in autistic brain tissue from childhood through adulthood." Dr. Herbert suggests that chronic disease or an external environmental source (like heavy metals) may be causing the inflammation."This article discusses the evidence for the case that some children with autism may become autistic from neuronal cell death or brain damage sometime after birth as result of insult; and addresses the hypotheses that toxicity and oxidative stress may be a cause of neuronal insult in autism... the article discusses what may be happening over the course of development and the multiple factors that may interplay and make these children more vulnerable to toxicity, oxidative stress, and neuronal insult."This study provides a helpful overview of the growing evidence supporting the link between oxidative stress and autism.This recent study demonstrates that Thimerosal lowers or inhibits the body's ability to produce Glutathione, an antioxidant and the body's primary cellular-level defense against mercury.This study demonstrates the extreme toxicity[17] of the aluminum adjuvant used as a preservative in vaccines.This study demonstrated the correlation between environmental mercury and autism rates in Texas.Excerpt: "Our results suggest a potential association between autism[18] and estimated metal concentrations, and possibly solvents, in ambient air around the birth residence."This study reviewed the case histories and medical profiles of nine autistic children and concluded that eight of the nine children were mercury toxic and this toxicity manifested itself in a manner consistent with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Excerpt: "There was significant difference in blood mercury levels between cases and controls, which persists after adjustment for age, gender and parental occupational status. The geometric mean blood mercury level was also significantly higher in children with inattentive and combined subtypes of ADHD. High blood mercury level was associated with ADHD. Whether the relationship is causal requires further studies."This study helps to refute the supposition made by some researchers that autism's epidemic may only be due to "diagnostic substitution".While evidence points to a multigenic etiology of most autism, the pathophysiology of the disorder has yet to be defined and the underlying genes[19] and biochemical pathways they subserve remain unknown.We review evidence to support a model where the disease process underlying autism may begin when an in utero or early postnatal environmental, infectious, seizure, or autoimmune insult triggers an immune response that increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the brain that leads to DNA damage (nuclear and mitochondrial) and metabolic enzyme blockade and that these inflammatory and oxidative stressors persist beyond early development (with potential further exacerbations), producing ongoing functional consequences.Conclusion: Metals are ubiquitous in our environment, and exposure to them is inevitable. However, not all people accumulate toxic levels of metals or exhibit symptoms of metal toxicity, suggesting that genetics play a role in their potential to damage health.MtD and oxidative stress may also explain the high male-to-female ratio found in autism due to increased male vulnerability to these dysfunctions[20].This study should be viewed as hypothesis-generating  a first step in examining the potential role of environmental mercury and childhood developmental disorders. Nothing is known about specific exposure routes, dosage, timing, and individual susceptibility. We suspect that persistent low-dose exposures to various environmental toxicants, including mercury[21], that occur during critical windows of neural development among genetically susceptible children (with a diminished capacity for metabolizing accumulated toxicants) may increase the risk for developmental disorders such as autism.Guiomar Oliveira MD PhD et al, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Crianca, Hospital Pediatrico de Coimbra; Assuncao Ataide BSc, Direccao Regional de Educacao do Centro Coimbra;The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and identify its clinical characterization, and medical conditions in a pediatric population in Portugal.Read more at: http://www.trueactivist.com Sources:[1] http://www.trueactivist.com [2] http://www.trueactivist.com [3] http://www.trueactivist.com [4] http://scholar.google.com [5] http://www.trueactivist.com [6] http://www.trueactivist.com [7] http://www.trueactivist.com [8] http://www.trueactivist.com [9] http://www.trueactivist.com [10] http://www.trueactivist.com [11] http://www.trueactivist.com [12] http://www.trueactivist.com [13] http://www.trueactivist.com [14] http://www.trueactivist.com/richard-dawkins-enemies-of-reason/ [15] http://www.trueactivist.com [16] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15527868 [17] http://www.trueactivist.com [18] http://www.trueactivist.com [19] http://www.trueactivist.com [20] http://www.trueactivist.com [21] http://www.trueactivist.com
For now, the government has halted construction on the pipeline that the Standing Rock tribe and thousands of their allies are protesting. This is a temporary respite and the controversy is expected to stretch ahead. Here are a few facts to better understand the Dallas Access Pipeline project and its consequences on the Sioux and the greater population.

Standing Rock, or the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, is a reservation in North and South Dakota. According to the official website, the Sioux is a term used for the people of the Dakota and Lakota nations. Even among the Sioux, there are nuances in culture, language, territory and politics, and the tribe has its own council that passes legislation, drafts and approves financial transactions, and makes major decisions.

The federal government, specifically the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, approved the pipeline using a fast track option called Permit 12. According to a report from the New Yorker, the tribe says that this rushed approval had the government neglect to consult with them about the construction of the pipeline, which would have to dig up a number of their sacred sites.

The pipeline wasn't supposed to even be in Sioux territory. It was originally set to cross Missouri near Bismarck, but when officials realized an oil spill could destroy the state capital's drinking water, the project was moved to half a mile from the Standing Rock reservation. The Smithsonian reported that the completed pipeline is expected to span nearly 1,200 miles and the capability to transport 470,000 barrells of crude oil daily.

Standing Rock and its allies at Sacred Stone Camp are fighting for their heritage and their lives, which are intertwined with the water. "First, the pipeline would pass under the Missouri River (at Lake Oahe) just a half a mile upstream of the Tribe's reservation boundary, where a spill would be culturally and economically catastrophic," a statement on the Standing Rock website read. "Second, the pipeline would pass through areas of great cultural significance, such as sacred sites and burials that federal law seeks to protect."

The administration halted work on the pipeline section near Standing Rock, but construction is ongoing in other sections. A report from Huffington Post revealed that it's because other sections are located on private land. Meanwhile, the Sioux have a pending lawsuit against the Army Corps.
A new DNA study suggests that our feline friends have conquered the world by boarding ships and sailing through the vast oceans.

The study, published in the journal Nature, showed that domesticated cats came from wild cats that were tamed by farmers to protect their grain stockpiles from rodents and mice. Due to the cat's natural affinity in catching mice, they were brought along by farmers, ancient mariners and even Vikings during sea voyages.

"We found for the first time that in prehistoric times cats from the Near East and, in classical times, from Egypt accompanied people on their journeys, thereby conquering the Ancient World," said Eva-Marie Geigl of Institut Jacques Monod, one of the authors of the study, in a report from ABC News. "They were the ancestors or our present-day domestic cats all over the world."

For the study, the researchers analyzed mitochondrial DNA from the remains of 290 cats coming from over 30 archaeological excavations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Additionally, the researchers also sequenced the DNA of cat remains that were found in a Viking grave in Germany.

Their analysis suggests that cats have spread throughout the world in two waves. The first one occurred about 12,000 years ago, which coincides with early farming communities in the Middle East. On the other hand, the second wave occurred thousands of years later.

The researchers found a particular mitochondrial DNA lineage of wild cats that expanded from the Middle East to the eastern Mediterranean during the first wave, while a mitochondrial DNA common to Egyptian cats have spread rapidly around Eurasia and Africa during the second wave.

While the first wave of the cats' sea voyage was attributed to the farmers, the researchers linked the second wave to the expeditions of Vikings. The maternal DNA found in a Viking grave in Germany has common attributes like the one found in mummified cats in Egypt.

However, unlike Egyptians, Vikings did not worship or adore the feline species. As a matter of fact, Vikings even use cat skins to warm themselves during cold winters.

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A 43-foot female right whale was found dead off the coast of Maine last Sept. 23, 2016. The carcass of the whale was severely tangled in fishing ropes, suggesting that entanglement is one of the contributing factors of the whale's death.

"We feel like the entanglement played a pretty significant role in the whale's death," said Jennifer Goebel, a spokeswoman for NOAA's Greater Atlantic Region in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in a report from Portland Press Herald. "It was severe. There was gear wrapped around the whale's head (and mouth), its flippers and its tail." Fishing gear ropes can restrict a whale's movement over time and lead to its death."

The carcass of the whale was first spotted by people aboard a whale-watching ship coast off Boothbay Harbor. Maine Marine Patrol quickly dispatched a boat crew after the sighting was reported. The crew from the Marine Patrol towed the body from Boothbay Harbor to Cape Small, off the coast of Phippsburg. A 47-foot Coast Guard boat helped the patrol team tow the whale by its tail to Portland Harbor, which took them about five hours.

The dead right whale was then loaded to a truck flatbed provided by Smith Trucking and Excavation of Gorham to be transported at Benson Farm in Gorham.

According to the report from WMTW, the whale carcass will be left in the farm for composting, while the bones will be turned over to federal officials. Researchers from different agencies and organizations around the country have come to the farm to collect tissue sample and perform necropsy.

While the official cause of death is not yet announced, officials cited severe entanglement as a contributing factor.

Entanglements became the most prevalent cause of death of North Atlantic right whales in 2015, with about 85 percent of whale deaths between 2010 and 2015 linked to entanglement.

At present, right whales remain to be the rarest and most endangered type of great whales protected by Endangered Species Act. There are only about 500 remaining individuals in the North Atlantic.


Jeff Bezos sets his sights on some of the most "ambitious" space programs yet. Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, is developing new technologies that could advance its space exploration programs. Apart from successfully launching and landing rockets for four times in a row, the space company also plans to take tourists to space and fly its newest monster rocket soon.

To add to that, Bezos wants to explore the possibility of colonizing the solar system and spreading humanity across every livable planet or moon that could be found.

"I wish there were a trillion humans in the solar system. Think how cool that would be. You'd have a thousand Einsteins at any given moment--and more. There would be so much dynamism with all of that human intelligence," the Amazon.com founder said in an interview with The Washington Post.

"But you can't do that with the resources on Earth or the energy on earth. So if you really want to see that kind of dynamic civilization as we expand through the solar system, you have to figure out how to safely move around and use resources that you get in space," Bezos added.

However, to venture this far into the solar system, Bezos said NASA would need to put some effort into developing a space nuclear reactor that could take humans beyond Mars.

"I think NASA should work on a space-rated nuclear reactor. If you had a nuclear reactor in space-- especially if you want to go anywhere beyond Mars, you really need nuclear power," Bezos said.

"Solar power just gets progressively difficult as you get further way from the sun. And that's a completely doable thing to have a safe, space-qualified nuclear reactor."

Earlier this month, Blue Origin has revealed its new heavy-lift rocket named New Glenn after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth. The new rocket will stand 270 feet tall and will have 3.85 million pounds of thrust. It will have a booster capable of vertical landings, which will enable the company to reuse the first stage of the rocket for satellite launches and crewed space vehicles.

Blue origin has also been testing another reusable rocket named New Shepard, which is a space project that will carry tourists up in space to experience microgravity and view the Earth.
A panoramic photo of Mars taken by the NASA Mars Curiosity Rover has sparked the interest of an unidentified flying object (UFO) enthusiast. According to Streetcap1, the UFO spotter, the photo captured shows a crashed flying saucer. How true are the claims?

In a video entitled "Martian Hill Anomaly" posted by Streetcap1, the clip shows the photo taken by the Mars rover. The video zooms in to a strange looking rock that allegedly looks out of place. Commenters of the video conclude that it is a crashed flying saucer with the obvious raised center and a circular form.

"This looks a bit unusual," wrote Streetcap1. "Doesn't really fit in with the surrounding rocks. It is at the summit of the mountain and very far off, so if it is a rock then it must be massive. Also it looks like there are windows on it."

The blog operator of UFO Sightings Daily, Scott Waring, was quick to agree with Streetcap1. In his blog, Waring claims that the object "looks to be made of the same material as the surroundings, and could be a flying disk that has landed, or it could be a building built there on purpose to get a better view." In addition to the latest photo, Waring also looked through other photos taken by the Mars Rover and speculated that there have been alien life forms captured.

This is not the first time photos taken by NASA have been subject to UFO claims by such enthusiasts. While there are believers, there are also skeptics who have dismissed the claims. Some state that the disc could have just been photoshopped while others claim alleged crashed flying saucer could simply just be an "enlarged view of the linear sand dunes."

NASA has yet to speak up regarding the photo captured by the Mars Rover.
After Monday night's debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Bay Area voters were essentially sticking to their guns.

Dozens of SF Young Republicans gathered for a watch party and cheered their hopeful.

Among them was Erin Page, of Redwood City, who had a favorite moment during the debate.

"When Trump said Hillary had 30 years to think about her policies, and she hasn't gotten them right," Page recalled.

The GOP hasn't won a presidential contest in California since 1988 and has only 8 percent of the registered voters in San Francisco.

"The more we get a chance to see Trump speaking Hillary speak, it will encourage people to vote and register with the Republican Party," said Hilary Hatenbuch of SF Young Republicans.

Another GOP group, the Log Cabin Republicans, also thought Trump did well in the debate.

"He's the one who has donated to LGBT organizations," said Juan Hernandez. "He is the one who has gone to same-sex weddings. He is the first person who owns a resort to open it up to same-sex couples."

A few blocks away, at a Starbucks in the city's Laurel Village, the opposite opinion dominated with praise for Clinton.

"She was more measured; her temperament was better," said Alex Nation, of Sunnyvale. "She had better answers to the questions."

Linda Law, of San Francisco, agreed Clinton was the more presidential debater.

"If he got in control of the button to push for the nuclear button, and he acted like he did tonight during the debate, it will be a disaster," Law said about Trump.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered Tuesday for Santa Cruz Mountains residents living near the Loma Fire, which by the evening had charred at least 2,250 acres and was 10 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

The fire continued to churn through dry fuel in the mountainous terrain Tuesday, erupting at times as flames hit patches of thick vegetation. Evacuees were in a little more of a hurry Tuesday.

"It's burning pretty hot and pretty fast, and they're hitting it pretty hard with all the bombers here," one resident named Stephen said.

The new evacuations include all of Croy Road, which includes the Swedish community of Sveadal near Uvas Canyon County Park and Little Uvas Road. Cal Fire officials worried the fire was headed that way. Mandatory evacuation orders were previously ordered on Monday for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, Loma Prieta Way, Highland Road and Mount Bache Road.

The Red Cross has set up three evacuation centers for those who needed food and shelter: the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville; the Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos; the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 DeWitt Ave, Morgan Hill. Soquel High School is no longer being used as an evacuation center.

Cal Fire crews are responding to a large vegetation fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains that has prompted evacuations and charred around 200 acres, authorities said Monday afternoon.

Cal Fire officials said Tuesday that one home and six outbuildings had been destroyed, and 300 more structures remained threatened in the rugged terrain with little or no access roads.

Crews were making some headway on the west side of the flames, with bulldozers building fire walls, but the east side was still a concern, fire officials said.

This kind of "extreme" fire behavior is the "new norm," according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Mathiesen. "It's fall, we're coming off a four-day heat wave."[[394990451, C]]

Loma Fire Information Officer Bill Murphy agreed.

"What's unique about what we're seeing, and we've seen this the last couple of years, is this fire is spreading very fast, very aggressively in almost the complete absence of wind," he said.

Murphy said later Tuesday that the fire is down at the bottom of the drainage and moving up toward the road. So now there are firefighters along the road to hold the fire there.

For some residents, the fire's steady and rapid spread meant no more waiting.

"I was here through the night, and the fire was getting real close to the house right now over here to the south," resident Eric Bischoff said. "So we bailed out early this morning after we got everything put away."

[NATL-BAY] Photos from Fire in Santa Cruz Mountains

The blaze is in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads in Santa Clara County, west of Morgan Hill, and is spreading in the southeast direction toward open space, Cal Fire said.

Fire officials do not know the cause of the fire. They expect the blaze to burn for a few days. It started on Monday about 3 p.m. By Tuesday afternoon, 500 firefighters were battling the blaze.

For the latest updates on the fire, visit the Cal Fire website or a dedicated groups.io page.

#LomaFire has burned 1100 acres and only 5% contained. pic.twitter.com/9aLvD3Ls7L  Bob Redell (@BobNBC) September 27, 2016
Orinda police are looking for suspects in Halloween masks who they say shot a woman twice during an armed robbery and pistol-whipped her husband Monday.

The affluent city in Contra Costa County is routinely among the top 10 safest towns in California  a fact that led the victims to initially believe they were being pranked.

"We actually thought it was my son and his buddy doing a pre-Halloween prank on us," Tom Spalding said.

But then he saw the gun.

Spalding and his wife Carol Brown, the Orinda Union School District board vice president, picked up groceries at a Safeway, before heading to their home about a mile away. Police say two men allegedly followed the couple to their driveway and held them at gunpoint while they were unloading groceries.

One of the suspects said, "Give it up," according to Spalding, who handed over his wallet.

Spalding, 63, was then pistol whipped, but Brown, 70, was shot "through the pelvis" and "in the upper arm," he said.

"I got down and put pressure to the arm wound, which was the one that was bleeding more profusely," Spalding said.

In a note to the community on Next Door, Police Chief Mark Nagel said that the couple's son called dispatch to say that his mother had been shot in the left arm and lower hip during the robbery on Claremont Avenue.

"My dad runs inside the house bleeding, saying they shot my mom," said Micah Spalding, the couple's son.

Micah Spalding quickly dialed 911, but the suspects fled.

"They must have had a car because they got away really quickly," he said.

The pair was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, police said. Brown is said to be in stable condition and Tom Spalding was treated at the hospital and released.

Meanwhile, officers secured the crime scene, Nagel said.

"We had CHP, additional agencies, K-9s, air support in an attempt to locate the suspects," he said.

Nagel echoed Micah Spalding's thoughts on a possible getaway car because officers "did not find them."

Nagel did not say how many suspects there were, only that they had been wearing masks and were seen running away with a wallet and a purse. Investigators are now going through surveillance footage to see if they can identify the suspects, he said.

The Spalding family is working with police to offer a reward for information that yields arrests.

For his part, Tom Spalding said he never imagined experiencing such an ordeal in their quiet neighborhood.

"Thats why we thought it was a joke," he said. "Truth be told, ... stuff never happens here."

People with information are asked to call the Orinda Police Department at 925-254-6820 or email tips@so.cccounty.us. Anonymous tips can be left via voice message at 866-846-3592.
Twitter was abuzz during the presidential debate Monday, but nothing grabbed people's attention like a tweet Donald Trump sent in 2012, according to the company.

Days before that year's election, Trump tweeted that global warming was a Chinese conspiracy "to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." It was the most retweeted tweet during the debate, according to Twitter's government and elections team.

This is the top Retweeted Tweet during the first US presidential debate: https://t.co/fOOoPvtZHK  Twitter Government (@gov) September 27, 2016

So what made that obscure tweet rise to the top of the Twitter hive mind's consciousness? Hillary Clinton said early on in the debate that Trump called climate change a hoax, and he strongly denied it.

Twitter users, who have always jumped on candidates' statements during debates, were quick to fact check him with his own statements. That China example wasn't the only one.

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

Elsewhere online, Google's search data suggested that Hillary Clinton gained more visibility from the debate. The tech giant's data and visualizations lab, Google Trends, found that every state in the country was uniformly searching Clinton's name more than Trump's after the debate, where Trump had dominated beforehand.

And she dominated searches for long stretches in two key swing states: Ohio and Florida.
What to Know Firefighters were called to the home about an hour before the explosion after someone reported the smell of gas

They found a drug lab and called NYPD, but the house exploded shortly thereafter, police say

Some neighbors said the blast sounded like a bomb had gone off; others said it felt like an earthquake

UPDATE: Long Goodbye Begins for FDNY Fire Chief Killed in Line of Duty

An FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris when a suspected drug den exploded in the Bronx Tuesday, leveling a two-story home and injuring at least 12 other people.

Battalion Chief Michael Fahy was a 17-year FDNY veteran who served through 9/11 and a father of three. A convoy of uniformed and non-uniformed firefighters stood outside the hospital to pay their respects as his body was taken to a funeral home.

It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the line of duty death of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy https://t.co/XDK0NLYp1k pic.twitter.com/KpXI0ulzZO  FDNY (@FDNY) September 27, 2016

"He was on the rise. He was a star," a visibly emotional FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters, adding that he knew Fahy's father - a former fire chief himself - personally.

"It's a sad day. Thankfully, this doesn't happen every day, but when it does, it doesn't make it any easier. We lost a hero today," Nigro said.

A person of interest in the case, a renter of the exploded home, was picked up by law enforcement in Cliffside Park, New Jersey Tuesday afternoon.

An FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris when a suspected drug den exploded in the Bronx Tuesday, leveling a two-story home and injuring at least 12 other people.

Multiple police, civilians and Con Ed workers were injured following the 7:30 a.m. blast at the private home on West 234th Street near Tibbett Avenue in Kingsbridge. About an hour before the explosion, firefighters had responded to a report of a gas smell at the location and found the drug lab, police say.



A law enforcement source tells NBC 4 New York officials believe the home was a marijuana growing operation. Flammable materials like propane are used to manufacture the drug, but the alleged pot growhouse would be the first such drug lab to blow up in the city, the law enforcement source said.

The NYPD had an ongoing investigation on that block over the last two weeks, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.

Sad & tragic day in #NYC. There is nothing more noble, more heroic than sacrifice for your city, your public. RIP @FDNY Chief Michael Fahy  Commissioner ONeill (@NYPDONeill) September 27, 2016

After the FDNY found the suspected lab, it called the NYPD in to investigate but the house exploded before officers could assess the location, according to police. Correspondence on emergency radio revealed immediate concern.



"We got men down ... with an explosion," a firefighter told a dispatcher, requesting multiple ambulances on a rush. "We got a man down ... firefighter down ... bad shape."



Streets were shut down in the area as utility crews, firefighters and police cordoned off the site. Video from the scene shows the home completely demolished, the roof in shambles, partially collapsed over one of the building's sides. Piles of debris rained onto the street, covering the road and nearby parked cars.

The Department of Buildings was inspecting buildings in the area for structural stability. Full-vacate orders have been issued to buildings no. 300 and 304 on West 234th Street, and a partial-vacate order was issued for the side yard at 3251 Tibbett Ave., a spokesman said.

House explosion in the Bronx 1 PD MOS to the hospital pic.twitter.com/SXEGaSfpvf  SBA (@SBANYPD) September 27, 2016

One Instagram user said the blast "shook my whole neighborhood," adding it "felt like a bomb went off." Another neighbor said her windows shook. Still another said she felt as if there had been an earthquake.

A neighbor, Mariya Pugacheva, shot this video from her 16th floor apartment window moments after a house exploded in the Bronx. She said the whole building shook, as if during a really strong thunderstorm but 10X worse. Officials say a suspected drug lab exploded, and an FDNY battalion chief was killed by falling debris.

A photo taken from the 238th Street subway platform showed a plume of smoke rising into the air.

[[394936001, C]]



The DEA was assisting the NYPD in the investigation.



Fahy, who was promoted to chief in June 2012, had a doctorate from New York Law School. He got his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University in 1994 and his master's degree at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security's Naval Postgraduate School, according to education records.

He lived in Yonkers with his wife and 6- and 11-year-old sons and 8-year-old daughter. Fahy joined the FDNY in 1999 and rose to the rank of battalion cheif in 2012.

Members of Fahy's FDNY firehouse -- Battalion 19, Engine Company 75, Ladder Company 33 -- will drape purple and black bunting in his honor Wednesday morning. A memorial was growing outside the firehouse by late Tuesday.

Mayor de Blasio ordered all flags on city buildings to be flown at half-staff each day from sunrise to sunset until Fahy is buried.

"Our hearts go out to the Fahy family -- a family so devoted to this city," de Blasio said in a statement. "Michael's father -- a fire chief before him. A family that has given so much and today made the ultimate sacrifice to this city."

The FDNY Foundation started a fund for Fahy's family.
Does Donald Trump have a cold? He began Monday night's debate at Hofstra University occasionally sniffling, which appeared to distract many people following along on social media.

It wasn't clear if Trump had a cold, and Trump's sniffles only made occasional reappearances. When Hillary Clinton had pneumonia about two weeks ago, it became a major question mark over her own campaign.

When video showed her appearing to stumble at a 9/11 memorial event in New York, it sparked a wave of speculation on whether she was fit enough to continue running or serve as president. (Her doctors said she was, and she returned to the trail.)

Trump's campaign did appear to make light of her absence from the campaign trail in a statement after she began campaigning: "We are pleased to disclose all of the test results which show that Mr. Trump is in excellent health, and has the stamina to endure  uninterrupted  the rigors of a punishing and unprecedented presidential campaign and, more importantly, the singularly demanding job of president of the United States."

Still, the sniffles did not go unnoticed.

Taxes vs. Emails

The emails deleted from Clinton's private server and Donald Trump's audited tax returns are the big unknowns of this campaign.

Trump offered to put his taxes out there when Clinton releases all 33,000 of those emails he says were deleted.

Clinton said, "I made a mistake using a private email" server.

Trump interjected, "That's for sure" and Clinton shot back, "I take responsibility for that."

Trump said Clinton forced support staff and technology officials to take the Fifth Amendment, rather than incriminating themselves in the subsequent investigation over her emails.

Trump said voters wouldn't be blown away by his tax returns because "you don't learn that much from taxes."

But Clinton speculated there would be a lot to learn there: "Maybe he's not as rich as he says he is" or "maybe he's not as charitable as he claims to be."

When Clinton suggested he hasn't paid federal income taxes for years, Trump pointed out, "that makes me smart."

Birther Question

Moderator Lester Holt asked Trump about his longtime advocacy of the so-called birther movement, in which Trump and others pressed for the release of President Barack Obama's birth certificate.

They wanted proof Obama was born in Hawaii  he was  and not in Kenya, where he has family. A replica of the Hawaiian birth certificate was eventually produced, but Trump only agreed this week that Obama was born in the United States, then didn't take questions

When asked Monday why he continuously pushed the birther theory, Trump said, "Nobody was pressing it, nobody was caring much about it... I was the one who got him to produce the birth certificate."

Clinton replied by calling the birther claim "a very hurtful" lie: "He tried to put the whole racist birther lie to bed. But it can't be dismissed that easily."

With a dining room as eclectic and one-of-a-kind as the menu, Ruxbin is a new neighborhood gem in Noble Square. Co-owner and chef Edward Kim infuses the cuisine with a worldly range of culinary influences, serving everything from empanadas with a Korean twist to crispy

Judgment Call

Temperament and judgment have become major issues in the 2016 election, fought between two candidates with styles that clash between hot emotion and cold logic.

"I have a much better temperament than her," Trump said, calling the Clinton campaign's long-standing attempts to attack his temperament a classic Madison Avenue line.

Clinton replied by citing Trump being supposedly "provoked by a tweet"  he said he'd never allow American service members to be mocked, as he's asserted a group of sailors were before being taken into custody by Iran.

"That is not the right temperament to be commander-in-chief," she said, arguing a president should show reserve.

Trump countered by saying Clinton's assertions were "all lies."

Classic comfort Greek street food is the staple of Zo Boston, which cranks out gyros and soups with precision and speed.

[NATL] Clinton vs. Trump: The First Presidential Debate of 2016

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton won applause from supporters in North Carolina for her performance in Monday night's debate.

They greeted the Democratic presidential candidate with cheers on Tuesday after Clinton asked if they saw her first face-off with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton said she was happy to have the opportunity to lay out her vision for the United States. She said she has an "old-fashioned idea that if I'm asking for your vote, to actually tell you what I want to do."

Clinton also urged supporters to register to vote. She predicted record turnout in November.

Trump briefly addressed his first faceoff with Clinton during a Tuesday afternoon appearance near Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. The audience was largely Cuban-American.

Trump described the debate as "an interesting evening" and said more than 80 million people watched it. He said he tried not to think about the large television audience.

He said, "I think we did very well." He suggested he was the winner in virtually all post-debate polls. That's despite many Republican leaders and voter surveys suggesting that Clinton came out on top.

Trump called it, "a very big moment, a very important moment."
In a South Loop bar, many had their eyes glued to the TV screens for the first presidential debate Monday night.

May of those watching the presidential sparring in Bureau Bar were democrats.

Hillary always has got her facts together, hes (Trump) still doing some of the old lines, said Eunice Jackson said of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Jacques Eugene said many in the Haitian community support Clinton.

Haitian people really love Clinton, he said.

Patrons could, at times, be seen shaking their heads or rolling their eyes at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps remarks, while others seemed conflicted about who to support.

I cant take Trump seriously, and its like theater, a lot of it, so, Im not too certain, Christopher Smith said.

Elsehwere in the Chicago area, a more Republican leaning viewing party was also taking place.
Race to Watch is a twice-weekly Ward Room column dedicated to helping voters familiarize themselves with candidates in the lead-up to the Nov. 8 general election. This edition's focus in Illinois' 17th Congressional District.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos is facing Republican newcomer Patrick Harlan in her bid for a third term as Illinois 17th Congressional District congresswoman.

Bustos, a former investigative journalist, represents a district that includes the Quad-Cities, Rockford and Peoria, as well as the world headquarters of John Deere and Caterpillar. She serves as a Senior Whip in the House of Representatives and is on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Earlier this month, her name was floated as a possible Democratic challenger to Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 Gubernatorial election.

The congresswoman also serves as vice-chair of recruiting and co-chair of the Red to Blue program at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which focuses on recruiting and electing women to Congress to pass policies that would ensure equal pay for equal work, earned family leave and more affordable child care.

As a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Bustos helped write and pass a five-year Highway bill, the first in a decade. The measure is projected to deliver $7.5 billion in federal funding for Illinois roads and bridges. Bustos also fought to resurrect a $177 million federal investment in a passenger rail line from the Quad-Cities to Chicago.

After 14 percent of the children tested in Knox County had lead-blood levels above the point where the Center for Disease Control recommends intervention, Bustos pushed for federal aid. The Environmental Protection Agency ultimately recommended bottled or tap water filters for homes that were exceeding lead levels in the community.

The City of Galesburg also started providing free water testing for homes with lead service lines and filters for any homes exceeding the 1.5x federal action level for lead content. Bustos worked to advance the citys efforts to secure a $4 million forgivable loan to replace lead service lines that were causing the problem.

Cheri Bustos is proud to fight for Illinois working families in Congress each and every day, Bustos spokeswoman Stacy Raker said in a statement. Over the last two years, shes secured millions of dollars to replace lead pipes to protect our drinking water, stopped Governor Rauner from losing $177 million in federal funding for passenger rail service and helped lead an effort to pass a bipartisan bill thats projected to bring $7.5 billion to rebuild Illinois roads and bridges.

Cheri is committed to fighting for an economy that works for everyone by getting real results for the families she represents, Raker added.

Bustos opponent, Harlan, serves as the president of the Knox County Tea Party and currently works as a truck driver. He was one of nine delegates from Illinois bound by state party rules to support Ted Cruz at Julys Republican National Convention and is active in the Knox County Right to Life, a pro-life organization. Harlan also does not believe in global warming."

He faulted Vice President Joe Bidens endorsement of Bustos, wherein Biden called Bustos a champion for Illinois families. Harlan holds that that isnt the case. He has also been critical of Bustos stances on the Ozone Standards Implementation Act and the National Defense Authorization Act, as well as other measures.

The Republican is pushing to invest in new locks and dams on the Mississippi River as a way to promote economic growth, compete with the global markets for exports, and decrease our carbon footprint. He claims it would also help Illinois farmers to ship more grain, preventing loss of income from storage fees and potential disease.

Additionally. Harlan is also a proponent of fiscal responsibility and bemoans the nations more than $19 trillion in debt. He has criticized Bustos for voting to increase the federal debt limit and being in favor of Obamacare. He claims the program has caused more families to lose healthcare and small businesses to shut down due to the requirements of Obamacare.

The Republican also claims that he would have voted no on the omnibus spending bill, would vote to require work for welfare, would vote to stop any federal dollars going to Planned Parenthood, and would vote to repeal Obamacare.

When it comes to supporting Illinois families, Cheri Bustos consistently votes the wrong way, siding with corporate elites and party interests over the people she was elected to represent, Harlan said in a statement. "We need a representative in Congress who will protect manufacturing, support the Rock Island Arsenal and our military, and fight for farmers in our district.

If elected in November, Illinois families can rest assured that I will have their back in Washington, Harlan added.
As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off for the first time Monday night, Chicagos extraordinary gun violence became a hot topic of the debate, however, the presidential candidates clashed on how to solve the crisis.

Comparing Chicago to a war-torn country, Republican candidate Donald Trump repeated his refrain for a return of law and order, pushing the stop-and-frisk tactic that New York City police officers used until it was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.

When debate moderator and NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt countered Trumps call by saying, the argument is that its a form of racial profiling, Trump replied, No, the argument is that we have to take the guns away from these people that have them and they are bad people that shouldn't have them."

"These are felons," Trump continued. "These are people that are bad people that shouldn't be... When you have 3,000 shootings in Chicago from Jan. 1, when you have 4,000 people killed in Chicago by guns, from the beginning of the presidency of Barack Obama, his hometown, you have to have stop-and-frisk.

Democratic candidate Clinton later said, Stop-and-frisk was found to be unconstitutional, in part, because it was ineffective. It did not do what it needed to do.

Clinton continued, We cannot just say law and order. We have to say... We have to come forward with a plan that is going to divert people from the criminal justice system, deal with mandatory minimum sentences, which have put too many people away for too long for doing too little.

Both candidates did agree that community policing is essential, as is rebuilding trust between police and the public they serve.

As far as their strategies to fight crime, while Trump called for stop-and-frisk, Clinton called for federal money to retrain police officers and more second chance programs.
Charles Johnson walked out of the gates of Cook County Jail Monday after 21 years behind bars.

But Johnson is not a free man. At least not yet.

Johnson was convicted along with three others, in the brutal 1995 murder of two employees at a Western Avenue car dealership. In that case two cars were stolen and later found abandoned on the South Side.

But in July, the Chicago man who was just 19 years old when he was arrested was granted a new trial after defense attorneys presented what they argued was new evidence in the case. The killers had ripped a window sticker from one of the cars, and a fingerprint found on that sticker matched a convicted drug dealer who lived just a block from where the car was abandoned near 78th and Ingleside.

Even though Johnsons conviction was thrown out, prosecutors announced an intention to retry Johnson and a co-defendant Larod Styles. Technically granted a ticket to the outside world, Johnsons bond was set at $500,000. It took until today for his family to post the required 10 percent to secure his release.

There were complications in the case---confessions from the two defendants. But defense lawyers said Johnson only signed the confession after being told it was a routine document which would allow him to go home.

Walking out to the cheers of family and friends Monday, Johnson said he was just happy to be going home.

Man, God is good, he said. Our prayers have been answered, and Im just happy to spend time with my family and friends, and I look forward to proving my innocence in a new trial.
The deaths of two children who were the subject of an Indiana Amber Alert Monday have been ruled homicides and may be connected to a third homicide after a man's body was found in a rural wooded area, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

The statewide alert was issued for 7-year-old Liliana Hernandez and 6-year-old Rene Pasztor Monday morning and were believed to be "in extreme danger," police said.

Karen Richards, of the Allen County Prosecutor's Office and Curtis Hill, of the Elkhart Prosecutor's Office, said during a press conference that an investigation was ongoing but the body of Frank Macomber, 66, was found in a wooded area of Allen County. Macomber died from a gunshot wound, Richards said.

An investigation was ongoing but Richards said there was some type of relationship between the childrens mother, 29-year-old Amber Pasztor, and Macomber.

His death probably occurred before these two children were abducted by their mother, she said.

Autopsies were scheduled for Tuesday morning after two children who were the subjects of a statewide Indiana Amber Alert Monday.

Prosecutors would not disclose the cause of death for the children but did confirm they were both homicide victims.

Its a senseless tragedy, theres no such thing as a good reason to kill, but my gosh, when it becomes children, Hills said. The Elkhart police officer who was flagged down was traumatized when he looked into that vehicle.

Police said Pasztor, the childrens non-custodial mother, of Fort Wayne, stopped an officer outside the Elkhart Police Department on Marion Street and said there were two dead children in the backseat of the car she was driving. The officer noticed the vehicle matched the description of the one described in an earlier Amber Alert, police said.

Asked if Pasztor gave information leading to the location of Macombers body, Hill said she gave information that was helpful to the investigation, Ill leave it at that. He also said she had been somewhat cooperative.

Richards stressed the impact cases like this have on local law enforcement, especially when children are involved.

You can close your eyes and you will see those faces for the rest of your life, Richards said.

Elkhart Police Department

Pasztor was being held on a warrant for two counts of murder and is in Elkhart County Jail.

Fort Wayne is 125 miles north of Indianapolis.
A Chicago neighborhood is currently the filming location of a remake of the Charles Bronson cult-classic shoot-em-up Death Wish.

Filming notifications have been posted in and around Pilsen and several other neighborhoods since Sept. 23 from Death Wish Productions, noting street closures and parking restrictions during filming, a spokesman for 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis, confirmed Monday.

We are excited to capture the unique Chicago look and remarkable architecture in film, the notification reads. All businesses will be open for normal hours. As always, we understand that we are guests in your neighborhood, and will conduct ourselves accordingly.

Bruce Willis will play Paul Kersey, iconically portrayed by Bronson in the original, an architect who goes on a vigilante spree to rid New York City of crime after his daughter is assaulted.

Eli Roth is directing the film.
A police standoff that grabbed headlines in July continues to wreak havoc on an Antioch homeowner who was left with no place to live after the barricade situation caused thousands of dollars in damage and made her home uninhabitable.

On that summer day, police spent hours trying to get Drue Syrias tenant out of the suburban home, and in the process fired multiple rounds of tear gas through her windows. Syria said the toxic chemical permeated everything inside.

"It was all toxic in there so you couldnt go in, Syria recalled. After the whole episode was over, I was left with my robe and no shoes. No money, no charge card. Nothing."

When Syria filed a claim with her homeowners insurance, American Family denied it, and pointed to a surprising clause: damage caused by actions by a governmental body or by controlled chemicals or hazardous substances are not covered. American Family Insurance told NBC 5 Responds this is a common practice industry wide.

"They denied me. And I cried and cried and cried," Syria said.

The 72-year-old said she also turned to the Village of Antioch for assistance to fix the damage done to her home by police.

"Im sitting crying at city hall and I said, You dont even have a social worker? Nothing. Not a penny," Syria said.

When asked why no assistance was given, Village Administrator Jim Keim told NBC 5 Responds it is aware of the difficult position Drue Syria has found herself in. The Village, while very sympathetic toward her current situation, is not legally able to help her with the things shes requesting. The news stories on this situation have been generally accurate, but critical details that led to this current situation should be considered.

The tenant she took in turned out to be a well- documented criminal who caused a hostage crisis that required the combined tactical personnel of over 12 police departments, Keim added. Many thousands of dollars of taxpayers money were used to defuse the situation, get the tenant out of the building and into custody while protecting her and the hundreds of residents and children nearby. This incident shut down a significant portion of the Village for an afternoon while our police and the other responding officers managed the scene with a very high degree of competency. The Village does not give taxpayers money to private individuals. While we can all sympathize with her plight, it was her own series of choices that brought about this result, and we cannot dedicate tax dollars to cleaning up the mess she found herself in. We certainly have tried to give her as much guidance as we could about alternative living arrangements and suggested local charitable organizations that might be able to help, but we believe we are not lawfully able to provide the money shes looking for.

Many homeowners whose property was previously damaged in police raids have successfully sued to get damage paid for. Many have also sued, and lost.

When NBC 5 Responds asked American Family Insurance to clarify its policy, the company reversed its denial. A company spokesperson said it evaluates each claim on its own merits.

Were pleased we were able to work with Ms. Syria throughout the claims process and that she is satisfied with the outcome. American Family will continue to work with her to finalize her claim as repairs are made and she moves back into her home  which we hope is very soon, the spokesman said.

The estimated $46,000 cleanup and repair job is now underway, giving Syria back a place to live and a voice she said was not being heard.

"NBC 5 really stepped up to the plate, she said.
A defensive Donald Trump gave Hillary Clinton plenty of fresh material for the next phase of her presidential campaign on Tuesday, choosing to publicly reopen and relitigate some her most damaging attacks.

The day after his first general election debate, Trump blamed the moderator, a bad microphone and said was holding back to avoid embarrassing Clinton. Next time, he threatened, he might get more personal and make a bigger political issue of former President Bill Clinton's marital infidelities.

Things are already getting plenty personal. On Monday night, Trump brushed off Clinton's debate claim that he'd once shamed a former Miss Universe winner for her weight. But then he dug deeper the next day  extending the controversy over what was one of his most negative debate night moments.

"She gained a massive amount of weight. It was a real problem. We had a real problem," Trump told "Fox and Friends" about Alicia Machado, the 1996 winner of the pageant he once owned.

The comments were reminiscent of previous times when Trump has attacked private citizens in deeply personal terms. Earlier this month, he was interrupted by the pastor of a traditionally African-American church in Flint, Michigan, after breaking his agreement not to be political in his remarks. Though Trump abided by her wishes, he went after her the next morning on TV saying she was "a nervous mess" and that he thought "something was up."

In July, Trump assailed the parents of Humayun Khan, a Muslim U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2004, after the young man's father spoke out against the Republican at the Democratic National Convention.

"I watched her very carefully and I was also holding back," Trump said of Clinton, reflecting on the debate at an evening rally Tuesday in Melbourne, Florida. "I didn't want to do anything to embarrass her."

It's unclear whether a Trump attack on Bill Clinton's infidelities may help or hurt his appeal.

But Trump's latest comments about Machado were striking in that they came just as he was working to broaden his appeal among minority voters and women  key demographic groups he's struggling to win.

Clinton aides on Tuesday acknowledged they'd laid a trap for Trump.

"He seemed unable to handle that big stage," said Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. "By the end, with kind of snorting and the water gulping and leaning on the lectern that he just seemed really out of gas."

Clinton interrupted a discussion of foreign policy in the final moments of the debate to remind viewers that Trump had called Machado "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping." A video featuring Machado, a Clinton supporter, was released less than two hours after the debate finished.

Aiming to capitalize on Trump's renewed focus on a woman's weight, Clinton's campaign also dispatched Machado to tell reporters how she spent years struggling with eating disorders after being humiliated publicly by Trump.

"I never imagined then, 20 years later I would be in this position, I would be in this moment, like, watching this guy again doing stupid things and stupid comments," Machado said. "It's really a bad dream for me."

Both campaigns knew the first debate, watched by some 80 million people, could mark a turning point six weeks before Election Day with Trump and Clinton locked in an exceedingly close race.

Clinton moved quickly to capitalize on her performance, launching new attacks on Trump's failure to release his tax returns and profiting from the subprime mortgage crisis.

As Trump courted Hispanic voters in Miami, Clinton hammered on an allegation she'd leveled the night before: that he is refusing to release his returns because he goes years without paying any federal taxes. "That makes me smart," was Trump's coy response in the debate, but on Tuesday, Clinton insisted it was nothing to brag about.

"If not paying taxes makes him smart, what does that make all the rest of us?"

Trump's campaign aides had worked hard in recent weeks to keep him on message  and away from personal attacks  persuading him to use teleprompters and reach out to minority audiences.

Their moderate success in scripting Trump came to a halt on Tuesday. Though he insisted he'd done "very well," Trump accused moderator Lester Holt of going harder on him than Clinton. He insisted he had "no sniffles" and no allergies despite the #snifflegate speculation that had exploded on social media. He suggested he'd been given a microphone with lower volume than Clinton's.

Her cheerful reaction: "Anybody who complained about the microphone is not having a good night."

The Trump campaign plans to spend $100 million on television advertising before Election Day, spokesman Jason Miller told The Associated Press. Of the $20 million in TV airtime his campaign had already scheduled, $13 million is aimed at Florida voters, according to Kantar Media's political ad tracker.

In other debate reaction:

Vice Presidential Candidates React:

Democrat Tim Kaine said Trump "looked like he was running out of gas" and Republican Mike Pence accused Clinton of launching "an avalanche of insults" at Trump.

On NBC's "Today" show, Kaine said he thought Trump offered few specifics on policies, adding, "I don't think he was prepared."

Pence countered that Trump was "focused on the issues that the American people care about." Pence also said he thought Trump came off as an agent for change while Clinton epitomized the Washington "status quo."

Speaking at an organizing event in Orlando, Florida, later on Monday morning Kaine said the debate showed Clinton has Trump beat when it comes to stamina.

Trump doubled down at the end of Monday's debate on his frequent criticism that Clinton lacks the "stamina" to be commander in chief. She shot back by ticking off the busy schedule she kept as secretary of state.

Kaine said Clinton looked like she could have debated for 11 more hours. But he said Trump looked "rattled" and like a boxer leaning on the ropes waiting for a knockout.

Trump's Sniffles:

Trump insisted Tuesday that he didn't have the sniffles during the debate. The Republican presidential nominee sounded like he was sniffling  and loudly  through much of the debate, eliciting comments and jokes on social media. The hashtag #sniffle became popular on Twitter.

But asked about that in a phone interview Tuesday morning on "Fox & Friends," Trump denied there was any sniffling, said he doesn't have a cold or allergies, and blamed the microphone.

He said the microphone was very bad, "but maybe it was good enough to hear breathing. But there was no sniffles."

Trump also floated the theory that debate moderators gave him a bad microphone on purpose. The microphone was going on and off and that his volume was lower than Clinton's, he said.

Trump said he wondered "whether that wasn't set up that way on purpose."

He said, "I don't want to believe in conspiracy theories, but it was much lower than hers."

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told CNN that she heard from audience members that his mic sounded off. She said that from where she sat backstage, the mic sounded fine.

Clinton said Tuesday, "Anyone who complains about microphone problems is not having a good night."

Meanwhile, former Democratic presidential candidate and DNC chairman Howard Dean suggested without evidence that Trump's nasal troubles could be due to drug use.

"Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?" Dean tweeted Monday night.

Questions About the Next Debate:

Former New York City mayor and Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani said he would pull out of the next debate if he were running for president.

"If I were Donald Trump I wouldn't participate in another debate unless I was promised that a journalist would act like a journalist and not an incorrect, ignorant fact checker," Rudy Giuliani said Monday.

NBC News' Hallie Jackson reported that Trump had told her he was committed to taking part in the second of three planned debates. The second debate is scheduled for Oct. 9.

Asked if she was concerned whether Trump will show up for the second debate, Clinton told reporters Tuesday: "I'm gonna show up. He gets to decide what he's gonna do, but I will be there at Washington University in St. Louis and then after that in Las Vegas. If I'm the only person on stage, well, you know, I'm the only person on stage."

NATO's Response to Trump's Comments:

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg commented on Trump's call for the alliance to do more to fight terrorism. He said it has long made fighting terrorism a top priority.

Stoltenberg told reporters in Slovakia Tuesday that "NATO has been focused on the fight against terrorism for many, many years and it's not a result of the U.S. election campaign."

He recalled that NATO activated its collective defense clause known as Article 5 for the first and only time to come to the aid of the United States after the 9/11 attacks.

He said: "Thousands of soldiers from European allies and Canada have been in Afghanistan as a direct result of the attacks on the United States."

NATO took command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2003.

Biden Goes on Attack:

Campaigning for Clinton in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden blasted Trump's debate lines, saying the candidate is "painfully uninformed and his policies are not very helpful for the country."

Trump has said can't release his tax returns because he is being audited, though tax experts have said an audit is no barrier to making the information public. When Clinton suggested at the debate his refusal might be because he possibly paid nothing in federal taxes, he interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

Biden mocked Trump's line in a speech at Drexel University Tuesday, "Tell that to the janitor in here who's paying taxes. Tell him my dad who when he was alive busted his neck working 60 hours a week, paid all his taxes. Tell that to your mothers and fathers who are breaking their neck to send you here, they're paying their taxes. No, I really mean it. It angers me, it angers me."

Then he brought up Trump's comments on the collapse of the housing market.

Clinton said at the debate that Donald was one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis. He said, back in 2006, Gee, I hope it does collapse because then I can go in and buy some and make some money.

Thats called business, by the way, Trump interjected.

Biden, sounding forceful, told the rally Tuesday: "What in the hell is he talking about? No, no, no, no, really, I, look, I've been there for eight Presidents, Democrat and Republican, I've disagreed and I've agreed. But every President I have served with including the Republicans has had a moral center about what it was to be an American, about what we're supposed to do, about what basic fundamental rights are."
A Middletown native who was found alive on a life raft after missing at sea for a week has arrived in Boston, but his mother is still missing and the Coast Guard has called off the search for her.

Nathan Carman, 22, and his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman, were reported missing Sept. 18 after heading out in the 31-foot aluminum fishing boat Chicken Pox and failing to return from a fishing trip off Point Judith, Rhode Island.

On Sunday afternoon, a China-based freighter called Orient Lucky spotted a life raft 115 nautical miles off Martha's Vineyard, found Nathan Carman inside of it and picked him up, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Nathan, a Middletown native who has been living in Vermont, was wearing a life vest and had an emergency bag of food and water. But there was still no sign of Linda Carman.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicole Groll said during a news conference on Monday that the chances of Linda Carman surviving at this point are minimal.

"Unfortunately the decision to suspend a case is never an easy one and we will not be reopening the search for Linda Carman at this time due to the fact that survivability -- we're beyond that point," Groll said.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Nathan Carman's Vermont home on Monday night, according to sources.

Attorney Hubert Santos said his associate went to Boston today to meet Nathan.

Santos said he previously represented Carman before, but it's unclear for what.

Officials from the Coast Guard said they expect Carman to be reunited with his family today and go home.

In Middletown, signs have been placed outside Linda Carman's home that ask people to "Never Give Up."

She said the Coast Guard took into consideration the weather, water temperature, the fact that Linda Carman was unprotected from the elements and had no food and water. The only one life raft aboard the Chicken Pox was the one Nathan had so his mother would not have access to one.

"The likelihood of her being alive is minimal," Groll said.

Nathan Carman told the Coast Guard the motorized boat he and his mother were in started taking on water off the coast of New York on Sunday, in an area called Block Canyon.

Nathan went looking for his mother to get in the life raft, but he couldn't find her, according to the Coast Guard.

Nathan  who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome -- was the center of a 2011 investigation when he was reported missing and he was found in Virginia.

A Coast Guard boat picked him up from the freighter on Tuesday morning and Nathan walked off that boat to a car that was waiting for him.
A Connecticut native who was missing at sea for a week during a fishing trip is back home, but his mother is still missing and authorities have searched the Vermont home of Nathan Carman and seized some items.

Carman is also being called a person of interest in his wealthy grandfather's homicide, a source close to the investigation told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters.

The 22-year old told the Associated Press on Wednesday that he had nothing to do with his grandfather's 2013 unsolved slaying and didn't harm his missing mother.

The Middletown, Connecticut native, currently lives on Fort Bridgman Road in Vernon, Vermont. His home was searched by the Windham County Sheriff's office in Newfane, Vermont, for evidence connected to the fishing trip he went on with his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman, according to police documents.

The mother and son were reported missing on Sept. 18 when loved ones failed to hear from them. A Chinese freighter discovered Nathan Carman Sunday, a full week later. He was on a raft with an emergency supply of food and water. When he spoke with authorities, Carman said the fishing boat he and his mother left South Kingstown, Rhode Island on, sank on the water.

He arrived in Boston by way of a Coast Guard ship on Tuesday morning. There has been no sign of Linda Carman and officials from the Coast Guard said its not likely she could have survived this long without a life raft, food or drinkable water.

Police seized a modem with cable, SIM card and a letter written by Carman, according to documents. A source close to the investigation said police visited Nathan around 8:30 p.m. on Monday.

Officials from the Coast Guard interviewed Nathan Carman Tuesday and South Kingstown police sent a crew to Boston to figure out what happened to the boat and Linda Carman.

In the phone call with the Coast Guard, Carman said he heard a "funny noise" coming from the boat's engine compartment and when he went to go look, it was filling up with water.

"I got to the life rafter after I got my bearings and I was whistling and calling and looking around and I didn't see (my mom)," Carman told the Coast Guard.

NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters also learned that attorney Hubert Santos, who has previously represented Nathan, sent an associate from his law firm to Boston on Tuesday to meet with his client.

The search warrant affidavit reads that police "believe that evidence relating to the crime of RIGL 46-22-9.3 {Operating so as to endanger, resulting in the death} will be located inside Nathan's residence located at 3034 Fort Bridgemon Road in Vernon, Vermont."

Nathan Carmans Vermont neighbors told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters that the 22-year-old was quiet, mostly kept to himself and had worked 12- to 15-hour days revamping the home on the property.

Linda and Nathan Carman are the daughter and the grandson of the late John Chakalos, a self-made real estate developer of Overlook Drive in Windsor. Chakalos was murdered on Dec. 20, 2013 at his home in Windsor and the case was never solved.

Carman, a source said, failed to take a polygraph test after Chakalos was shot in 2013. The same source tells the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters Carman was living in Bloomfield, Connecticut at the time of the murder.
A Connecticut solar company faces accusations of poor installations, communication and cooperation with inspectors and one agency is taking action.

The Connecticut Green Bank, which helps finance many of these projects in our state, has effectively terminated BeFree Solar from its program last month.

Green Bank said that BeFree Solar submitted fraudulent packing flips for payments on projects, failed to follow required contractor rules on the state's loan and lease programs, plus it was the subject of excessive complaints from customers and two towns where it participated in a Solarize Connecticut program.

BeFree Solar said it will appeal the Green Bank decision and shared with the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters 200 pages of emails, statements and photos where it refutes each and every accusation.

The company adds it has installed more home solar systems than any other company through Green Bank programs and while every company strives for 100 percent customer satisfaction, that goal is rarely reached. BeFree Solar estimates based on the number of projects it has done the past two years versus complaints, it has a 98 percent satisfaction rate.
Bill Nunn, who passed away Saturday, starred in over 71 film and television roles over the span of his career. His roles ran the gamut from newspaper editor Joseph Robertson in "Spider-Man" (2002) and its sequels to playing opposite stars like Harrison Ford, Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Grant in films like "Regarding Henry," "Sister Act" and "Extreme Measures."

But to a generation of film fans, Nunn will forever be immortalized as 'Radio Raheem' from Spike Lee's 1989 classic, "Do The Right Thing."

"Do the Right Thing" (DTRT) may have been controversial in its time, yet it plays alarmingly contemporary in light of recent deaths of black men at the hands of police. The scene featuring the death of Nunn's character could be ripped from today's headlines and, with little tweaking, be substituted with Eric Garner, Terence Crutcher or Keith Lamont Scott. But beyond its lasting social significance, the film was also a showcase for a group of largely unknown actors who have gone on to become major players on both the big and small screens.

Samuel L. Jackson: To kids today, Jackson may be Nick Fury of "Avengers" fame or the guy pitching you Capital One Credit cards, but at the time of his casting as Mister Senor Love Daddy in DTRT, Jackson had less than a dozen film credits to his name. One film, "Sea of Love," listed him simply as Black Guy in the credits, while he had a memorable turn as Hold-Up Man in Eddie Murphy's "Coming To America." He's come a log way in the years since, playing everything from his Oscar-nominated role as Jules Winnfield in "Pulp Fiction" to Mace Windu in "Star Wars" episodes I, II and III. At one point, Jackson was recognized as the highest-grossing actor of all time, but he was recently surpassed by Harrison Ford.

Jackson now has 166 film credits to his name and counting. He'll reprise his role of Nick Fury in "Avengers: Infinity War" in 2018.

John Turturro: A veteran actor of more than 100 film and television productions, Turturro actually made his screen debut as an uncredited extra in Martin Scorsese's 1980 classic "Raging Bull." He had small roles in big films including "The Color of Money," with Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, and Woody Allen's 1986 "Hannah and Her Sisters" before catching the eye of director Spike Lee, who cast him as Pino in DTRT. He quickly became a favorite of the director, appearing in no less than seven Spike Lee "joints" over the course of his career.

Turturro most recently captured raves and critical acclaim in the HBO miniseries "The Night Of."

Martin Lawrence: Lee cast Lawrence in DTRT for his first film role, although the character he played, Cee, didn't have much screen time. Lawrence went from that bit part to major Hollywood roles starring opposite Will Smith in "Bad Boys" and "Bad Boys 2" and spawned his own "Big Momma" movie franchise. The comedian also starred in a TV series "Martin" from 1992-1997.

Lawrence recently confirmed he and Smith will be partnering again for a third film in the "Bad Boys" franchise.

Danny Aiello: With the exception of stage and theater actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, many of the actors appearing in DTRT were relatively new to their craft. Danny Aiello was the other notable exception, having already been a movie veteran when he appeared in the film. With credits including "The Godfather: Part II" and "Fort Apache the Bronx," Aiello added a certain amount of gravitas, complexity and humanity to what could have been a two-dimensional role of pizzeria owner Salvatore "Sal" Frangione.

Aiello was rewarded for his effort with the only acting nomination bestowed on the film at the Academy Awards: best actor in a supporting role.

Now 83, Aiello is still acting. He most recently appeared in the 2014 film "Reach Me" with Kyra Sedgwick and Thomas Jane.

Giancarlo Esposito: Long before he terrified TV audiences as drug kingpin Gustavo Fring on the hit "Breaking Bad," two-time Oscar nominee Giancarlo Esposito brought the character Buggin' Out to life. He had his "brand new white Air Jordan's" stepped on by a Larry-Bird-T-shirt-wearing neighbor in DTRT, and the rest was history.

Esposito has gone on to have a prolific career in both television ("Breaking Bad," "Once Upon a Time," "Revolution") and movies ("Derailed," "Sherrybaby" "Waiting to Exhale"). Nominated for a supporting actor Emmy for "Breaking Bad," Esposito is currently one of the stars of the Netflix musical drama "The Get Down."

Rosie Perez: Rosie Perez burst into the public consciousness in the musical intro of DTRT, which was her film debut. Perez has gone on to a long career in films like "White Men Can't Jump," "Fearless" and "It Could Happen to You."

In 2014, fans got to see another side of Perez as she joined the hit daytime talker "The View," opposite Whoopi Goldberg and then co-host Rosie O'Donnell, before departing the program in 2015.

Spike Lee: Lee wrote, directed and starred in DTRT, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, including best original screenplay. It was Lee's third major film production and the first to deal head-on with the issues of race and police brutality. His two preceding films, "She's Gotta Have It" in 1986 and "School Daze" in 1988, only flirted with the idea of sexual politics and racial inequality.

Lee now has 66 directing credits under his belt and was also nominated in 1998 for his documentary "4 Little Girls." Lee received an honorary Oscar in 2015, but still called for an Oscar boycott in 2016 to protest the lack of diversity in Academy Award nominations.

Upon hearing of Nunn's death, Lee took to Instagram and Twitter to mourn the passing of his friend.

"My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN."
Three months away from the holiday shopping season, retailers are already getting ready for the busiest time of year.

One local start-up company has developed a new technology they say will help make the shopping experience for customers easier.

It's a really neat little device, said Libby Oliver, a sales associate at The Container Store North Texas.

A little device Oliver wears while working is about the size of a pager worn at the hip and an earpiece to communicate with other employees.

We've created this little wearable computer for associates to utilize while theyre out on the floor at a retail store doing their job, said Chris Todd, CEO of Richardson-based Theatro.

Todd said six months ago, Theatro was in five stores. Today, Theatro is being used in 115 stores nationwide, including The Container Store.

It allows us to have a better presence on the floor, make customers our top priority, said Elizabeth Bracken with The Container Store. We can really be more interactive with them rather than have to run off the floor when we need to investigate about inventory, because we can now check inventory on the device to know if we have something in stock or not.

Sales associates are also able to command to speak directly to other associates, doing away with unnecessary chatter all employees had to hear on walkie-talkies and focus more on the customer, said Bracken.
MedStar officials said one person was injured in a crash involving a car and an 18-wheeler on Texas 360 in Fort Worth early Tuesday morning.

Authorities said the car crashed into the 18-wheeler on Texas 360 near Trinity Boulevard just before 3:45 a.m.

One person was extracted from the car and transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in critical condition, according to MedStar.

Police said they shut down northbound Texas 360 while they investigated. As of 4:15 a.m., two lanes had been reopened.
As the presidential candidates debate on how best to help millions of Americans achieve prosperity, there are lessons to be learned in North Texas.

In a small office in Frisco, Joshua Futrell is trying to grow his small business.

Futrell, an Air Force veteran, started ComHome Technology Solutions in the city four years ago  an IT consulting company growing year by year.

He now has nine employees and a permanent home base in North Texas.

Futrell said he chose the area because the city made it easy.

"Instead of putting up barriers, they like to remove barriers for small business," Futrell said.

New businesses  big and small  provide clear evidence Frisco knows a thing or two about growth.

"There is so much opportunity here," said Tony Felker, president of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. "The one thing we're adamant about is making sure business can do business and as much as possible, try to keep government out of business."

Now home to Dallas Cowboys' headquarters at The Star and the "$5 Billion Mile," Frisco's momentum seems to continue.

But with all of that comes challenges. Construction cranes and orange barrels dot city streets as infrastructure grows to meet demand.

"It's great to have that growth, but you need to be able to keep up with it or it starts to implode on itself," Felker said.
A Fort Worth man is in jail, accused of stabbing his mother to death.

Police say Paul Robert Labar, 26, was arrested Monday night after attacking his mother, Lauren Labar, in her home in the 7500 block of Gleneagles Way.

When officers arrived at the residence, they found Lauren lying on the floor, bleeding heavily.

When detectives interviewed Paul, he admitted to hitting his mother in the back of the head with a metal object. When she didn't die, he said he stabbed her more than 50 times, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Lauren was rushed to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, where she later died.

Paul Robert Labar has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. However, the charge is expected to be upgraded to murder. He is currently in the Mansfield Jail.

Labar's father told police his son suffers from mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
A Frisco man convicted of killing his parents has been sentenced to life in prison.

Zachary Elliot Callens, 18, was sentenced on Monday, according to Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis.

The bodies of Ryan and Maria Callens were found in a bedroom of their Frisco home on August 11, 2014. Both were shot to death.

Their son, who was 16-year-old at the time, was located outside the home that evening.

Police overheard Zachary explain to his sister that "he did it."

When she asked him if the murders were his plan, he indicated to her that it was, police said.

A jury found Callens guilty of both murders and assessed punishment at life in prison for each.

Callens' attorney, Mary Scanlon, said the teen was very isolated socially because his parents withdrew privileges when he refused to do his homework and chores, according to a report from The Dallas Morning News. Scanlon said Callens chose to be home-schooled after the fifth grade, but that his parents were thinking about sending him to public school.
Detectives said they found knives, guns and possible blood and bone evidence at the home of a man accused of killing and burning a Texas Woman's University student, according to a search warrant released by the City of Denton Tuesday.

Authorities executed the search warrant Sept. 18 at Charles Bryant's home near Haslet. Bryant has been charged with the killing of Jackie Vandagriff, whose burned body was found in a Grapevine park.

Items found in Bryant's home, according to the search warrant, include:

Possible bone fragment

Multiple possible blood samples

Firepit remains

A UNT criminal trespass warning

The staff at a Denton bar told police that Bryant and Vandagriff were drinking and talking there the night before Vandagriff went missing. They left together at 9:45 p.m., but police said Bryant "initially denied" leaving the bar with Vandagriff.

Police said Bryant took Vandagriff to his home near Haslet.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office still doesn't list a cause of death for Vandagriff, but the manner of death is ruled a homicide.

Bryant has been charged with capital murder.

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A South Texas woman must serve 30 years in prison for a baby-sitting scam in which she recorded her convicted sex offender boyfriend abusing a toddler in their care.

Rosa Linda Ganceres was sentenced Monday to the maximum term by a federal judge in Corpus Christi.

The 54-year-old Mathis woman in June pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.

Investigators said Ganceres and her boyfriend, 43-year-old Daniel Benson Billman Jr. of Aransas Pass, advertised online in 2015 as baby sitters.

Prosecutors said a woman hired the pair to watch her daughter, then Billman sexually assaulted the girl and Ganceres recorded the abuse.

Billman earlier this year pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Regular customers and the boss of a North Hollywood liquor store worker remember the 61-year-old father and husband as "generous" and "a sweetheart" after he was shot and killed Saturday night by robbers.

Mohammed Kalam, 61, of North Hollywood, was shot in the upper body and died at the scene of a robbery just before midnight at the A&D Liquor Mart on Sherman Way, authorities said.

"I can't believe how disgusting people are that they do such things to such a nice man," said 13-year-old Linzi Oros, who would regularly stop by the store with her family to pick up snacks.

Oros and her family are hoping to collect money to support Kalam's wife and his three children, one of whom attends college.

"He was always happy," Oros said. "He would always greet us. He would call me his 'best friend.'"

Alex Kapner, the store owner, said Kalam was a hard worker and was great with customers. He is also trying to raise money for Kalam's funeral.

"I don't understand how this happened to him," he said. "He'd talk to anybody if somebody's having trouble."

The robbers, vaguely described by authorities as a male and female, are still at large.

Detectives are still reviewing the store's surveillance footage.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery and shooting was asked to call the LAPD's North Hollywood station at 818-623-4016.
The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for a man they believe is responsible for a hit-and-run that left a 65-year-old man critically injured on Friday.

Police are searching for George Ronald Nicoletti and a tan four-door 1998 Saturn Ion with California license plate number 6HAY595, according to a news release.

The accident was reported Friday around 7:30 p.m., when a vehicle traveling eastbound on the 12800 block of Moorpark Street struck a pedestrian who was crossing the street. The driver fled the scene, police said.

Family and friends have identified the victim as 65-year-old songrwriter and educator Rob Meurer.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Valley Traffic Division Detective Menesez at 818-644-8028.
An Orange County man convicted of attempting to aid ISIS was sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison

Nader Elhuzayel was convicted in June of attempting to aid the Islamic State. He was also found guilty of bank fraud.

In June, the federal jury that convicted Elhuzayel also convicted Muhanad Badawi of aiding and abetting the attempt to support ISIS. Badawi is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 17.

The two men were arrested in May 2015 at Los Angeles International Airport after Elhuzayel tried to board a plane to Turkey to join ISIS. Badawi had purchased the one-way ticket for him.

Both mens posts on social media also expressed their support for the Islamic State. Elhuzayel used the ISIS flag as his Facebook profile picture. Badawi also made a video of Elhuzayel swearing allegiance to the leader of ISIS and pledging to become an ISIS fighter, according to court documents.

Elhuzayel and Badawi have both been in federal custody without bond since their arrest.
Two home-made bombs hit a mosque and a conference center in eastern Germany late Monday in what officials called a "xenophobic" attack, NBC News reported.

No one was injured by the blasts in Dresden, birthplace in 2014 of the anti-Islam PEGIDA movement, whose name is an acronym for Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West.

The city's police chief said officials were "now in crisis mode."

"Even though there has been no claim of responsibility, we have to assume that there is a xenophobic motive," Dresden police chief Horst Kretzschmar said in a statement.

A recent government report warned that xenophobia was rising in ex-communist eastern Germany.
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a group of Cuban migrants reported missing from a makeshift vessel that capsized off the Florida Keys.

The agency called off the search Tuesday night after searching more than 9,306 square miles.

Three migrants were found on an island near Big Pine Key on Saturday. The survivors told authorities they left Cuba on Sept. 20 and the boat capsized the next day.

The Coast Guard confirmed that three bodies found Saturday some 23 miles southeast of Islamorada were those of people from the group. The body of a woman found off the Florida Keys on Monday also was part of the group. She was later identified as 24-year-old Patricia De La Pena Perez of Bayucal, Cuba.

Officials are trying to determine whether a man whose body was found Saturday near Ramrod Key was part of the group.
Latino students at Florida International University are weighing in on this year's presidential election the university's online-based Latino Public Opinion Forum.

"It's mobile advertising. We essentially send a banner ad to a database of 32 million Latinos," explained Prof. Eduaro Gamarra, FIU Politics & International Relations.

The poll systematically and scientifically tracks public opinion trends of the major Latino groups in the United States with an emphasis on Florida.

Over the last 24 weeks, the focus has been tracking the Latino vote.

"We have found that Mrs. Clinton in particular has kind of an iron-clad grip on the Latino vote," said Gamarra.

FIU scholars have studied public opinion for two decades, starting with the Cuba Poll.

The survey is the longest running research project tracking the opinions of Cuban Americans in Miami-Dade.

"We have a core set of questions that are always asked, with the designed purpose to trace the changes in the community," explained Prof. Guillermo Grenier, FIU Dept of Global & Sociocultural Studies.

The recently released 2016 poll found a majority of Cuban American residents in the county support the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba.

A majority of people polled also oppose continuing the embargo

"We noticed that the newer arrivals ans younger generations have a totally different view of what the US should be doing," said Grenier.
The FBI is asking for the publics help in finding a woman they say robbed a Chase Bank location in Hollywood yesterday.

Photographs released show the woman, seen with black hair and wearing sunglasses along with a grey sweatshirt and dark pants, at a teller inside the branch off Hollywood Blvd. just east of S. 44th Avenue.

The robber allegedly demanded money from the teller while customers were inside before fleeing the scene. No one inside was hurt. Officials believe she is the same person who robbed another Chase Bank in Davie earlier this month.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (754)703-2000 or Broward CrimeStoppers.
Police are searching for a thief who was caught on camera using a stun gun during a robbery at a Doral quick mart.

The robbery happened Monday night at the Brazil Mart at 7800 Northwest 25th Street, Doral Police said.

According to police, the man entered the store at closing time and said he wanted to buy a soda. But after he walked to the refrigerators near the register, the man tried to grab the store's money bag from the clerk then used a stun gun to shock her and steal her purse, police said.

Surveillance video showed the clerk, 60-year-old Nadijamara Ramia, chase the thief outside the store. She suffered bruising on her arms.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
Family and friends of the two men killed in a tragic boat crash along with Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez will begin saying goodbye to their loved ones Tuesday.

The viewings for both Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias will take place at 6 p.m. at separate funeral homes in Hialeah.

The friends, who graduated from Braddock High School in 2009, accompanied Fernandez late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning before getting on the pitchers boat. None of the men were wearing life vests at the time of the accident and were thrown from the boat when it hit the jetty along Government Cut shortly after 3 a.m.

If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe accounts for both men, you can do so for Macias by clicking here and Rivero by clicking here.
The creepy clown sightings happening around the country have now spread to Florida.

A video of a clown seen hiding in the woods near a road in Marion County has both deputies and residents on edge. The video was posted on Facebook last week and has since been viewed more than one million times.

During another reported sighting in Florida, a Palm Bay resident was walking her dog Sunday evening when she spotted two clowns staring at her, and then ran home as fast as she could.

Photos and videos of the creepy clown sightings are increasingly becoming popular and taking social media by storm.

Florida deputies, as well as police departments around the country, are issuing warnings to communities advising of the dangers behind the prank.

An 11-year-old girl in Athens, Georgia was arrested earlier this month for bringing a knife to school that she said was to protect her family and herself from clowns reportedly terrorizing the community, according to a police report.
Investigators searched the Vermont home of a man who was rescued after more than a week lost at sea, removing on Tuesday an internet modem, a SIM card and a letter he wrote.

Nathan Carman, 22, of Vernon, Vermont, and his mother, 54-year-old Linda Carman of Middletown, Connecticut, set sail on a fishing boat on the weekend of Sept. 17. The boat sank, and Nathan Carman, authorities say, got onto a four-person inflatable raft, loading it up with food and water.

He was found alive by a Chinese freighter Sunday, about 100 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard. His mother, however, is still missing and presumed dead.

"Myself and my mom were fishing on Block Canyon and there was a funny noise in the engine compartment," Carman said to rescue crews in audio released by the Coast Guard. "I looked and saw a lot of water."

The Coast Guard asked what had happened to his mother.

"When I saw the life raft, I did not see my mom," Carman said. "We haven't been able to find her yet."

Tuesday, Carman was brought back to shore in Boston by the same freighter that rescued him. He did not speak as he stepped off the boat and was quickly taken to a waiting car; he underwent further questioning, authorities said.

Documents show that a search warrant was executed Monday night at Carman's Vernon home. An affidavit filed by Lt. Alfred E. Bucco from the South Kingstown Police Department in Rhode Island shows that authorities believe "evidence relating to the crime of RIGL 46-22-9.3 {Operating so as to endanger, resulting in death} will be located inside Nathan's residence."

Authorities seized Carman's modem and SIM card, as well as a letter he wrote, the nature of which was not made clear.

Back in December of 2013, Carman's maternal grandfather, real estate developer John Chakalos, was shot to death at his home in Windsor, Connecticut. His murder has not been solved.

A source close to the investigation told NBC Connecticut that Nathan Carman is being called a person of interest in the killing. At the time of the murder, he was living one town away in Bloomfield.
What to Know Off-duty NYPD cop Wayne Isaacs is accused of killing Delrawn Small in a fit of road rage Aug. 4

The officer will also have to forfeit his U.S. and Guyanses passports and any firearms he owns as his case moves forward

His lawyer maintains his innocence

The off-duty NYPD cop who allegedly shot and killed a driver in a fit of road-rage in Brooklyn this summer was held on $500,000 bail at his arraignment on murder charges Tuesday.

Officer Wayne Isaacs will also have to forfeit his U.S. and Guyanses passports and any firearms he owns as his case moves forward.

A Brooklyn grand jury Monday indicted 37-year-old Isaacs in the July 4 shooting, following an investigation by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Isaacs allegedly shot and killed Delrawn Small from his car on July 4 on an East New York Street after Small got out of his vehicle and approached Isaacs at a stoplight. Small believed Isaacs had cut him off, his girlfriend said.

Isaacs' lawyer maintained his client's innocence in court Tuesday, claiming when Small approached Issacs' car he "wasn't coming to give him best wishes and salutations."

Prosecutors argued the shooting was a "brutal, deliberate act" with no legal justification.

Isaacs is the first cop to be charged by Schneiderman under his role as special prosecutor for all police killings of civilians in New York, according to The New York Post, which first reported the indictment. Schneiderman was assigned as special prosecutor by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the wake of Eric Garner's chokehold death.

Initially, police said Small had punched Isaacs before the gunfire erupted. But a security camera video that surfaced later cast doubt on that account by appearing to show Small getting shot the instant he reached the officer's car.

Isaacs had his badge and gun taken away.

The police union representing Isaacs has declined to comment.
Donald Trump aggressively tried to pin the nation's economic and national security problems on Hillary Clinton in the first presidential debate, belittling the former senator and secretary of state as a "typical politician" incapable of delivering the change many Americans crave.

But Trump found himself on the defensive for much of the 90-minute showdown Monday night. Clinton was thoroughly prepared, not only with detailed answers about her own policy proposals, but also sharp criticism of Trump's business record, his past statements about women, and his false assertions that President Barack Obama may not have been born in the United States. She said his charges about Obama were part of his pattern of "racist behavior."

The Democrat also blasted Trump for his refusal to release his tax returns, breaking with decades of presidential campaign tradition. She declared, "There's something he's hiding."

Trump has said he can't release his tax returns because he is being audited, though tax experts have said an audit is no barrier to making the information public. When Clinton suggested Trump's refusal may be because he paid nothing in federal taxes, he interrupted to say, "That makes me smart."

The televised face-off was the most anticipated moment in an election campaign that has been historic, convulsive and unpredictable. The candidates entered the debate locked in an exceedingly close race to become America's 45th president, and while both had moments sure to enliven their core constituencies, it was unclear whether the event would dramatically change the trajectory of the race.

The debate was confrontational from the start, with Trump frequently trying to interrupt Clinton and speaking over her answers. Clinton was more measured and restrained, often smiling through his answers, well-aware of the television cameras capturing her reaction.

Trump's criticism of Clinton turned personal in the debate's closing moments. He said, "She doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president. He's made similar comments in previous events, sparking outrage from Clinton backers who accused him of leveling a sexist attack on the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party.

Clinton leapt at the opportunity to remind voters of Trump's controversial comments about women, who will be crucial to the outcome of the November election.

"This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs," she said.

The centerpiece of Trump's case against Clinton was that the former senator and secretary of state is little more than a career politician who has squandered opportunities to address the domestic and international problems she's now pledging to tackle as president.

"She's got experience," he said, "but it's bad experience."

Clinton, who hunkered down for days of intensive debate preparation, came armed with a wealth of detailed attack lines. She named an architect she said built a clubhouse for Trump who says he was not fully paid and a former Miss Universe winner who says Trump shamed her for gaining weight. She quoted comments Trump had made about women, about Iraq and about nuclear weapons.

When Trump made a crack about Clinton taking time off the campaign trail to prepare for the debate, she turned it into a validation of her readiness for the White House.

"I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate," Clinton said. "And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president. And I think that's a good thing."

The candidates sparred over trade, taxes and how to bring good-paying jobs back to the United States.

Clinton said her Republican rival was promoting a "Trumped-up" version of trickle-down economics  a philosophy focused on tax cuts for the wealthy. She called for increasing the federal minimum wage, spending more on infrastructure projects and guaranteeing equal pay for women.

Trump panned policies that he said have led to American jobs being moved overseas, in part because of international trade agreements that Clinton has supported. He pushed her aggressively on her past support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while she was serving in the Obama administration. She's since said she opposes the sweeping deal in its final form.

Trump repeatedly insisted that he opposed the Iraq War before the 2003 U.S. invasion, despite evidence to the contrary. Trump was asked in September 2002 whether he supported a potential Iraq invasion in an interview with radio personality Howard Stern. He responded: "Yeah, I guess so."

Presented with the comment during the debate, Trump responded: "I said very lightly, I don't know, maybe, who knows."

The Republican also appeared to contradict himself on how he might use nuclear weapons if he's elected president. He first said he "would not do first strike" but then said he couldn't "take anything off the table."

Clinton said Trump was too easily provoked to serve as commander in chief and could be quickly drawn into a war involving nuclear weapons.

Some frequently hot-button issues were barely mentioned during the intense debate. Illegal immigration and Trump's promises of a border wall were not part of the conversation. And while Clinton took some questions on her private email server, she was not grilled about her family's foundation, Bill Clinton's past infidelities or voter doubts about her trustworthiness.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION

The most-discussed moment of the debate on Twitter and Facebook was when Donald Trump claimed his temperament is "his strongest asset."

Representatives of Facebook said Trump captured about 79 percent of all Facebook discussions, compared with 21 percent for Clinton.

A spokesman for Twitter, meanwhile, said Trump talk was the subject of 62 percent of tweets.

Trump's talk about stop-and-frisk being a successful policing tactic and an exchange between Trump and Clinton over plans for defeating the Islamic State group were also top-tweeted debate moments.

This was the most-tweeted debate ever, according to the social media site, which was founded in 2006.

HILLARY CLINTON REACTION

Hillary Clinton said she feels "good" after an "amazing" debate.

Clinton is celebrating with supporters at a post-debate party in Long Island.

The Democratic nominee told a cheering crowd: "Do you feel good tonight? Well I sure do."

Clinton urged her backers to help turn out the vote, especially in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Hampshire. She is scheduled to campaign midday in North Carolina Thursday.

DONALD TRUMP REACTION

Donald Trump said he'll definitely participate in the next two debates following Monday's opening showdown with rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump tells The Associated Press following the debate that "sure" he'll do the next ones.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller called it "silly" to think he might skip them.

Trump is also sounding confident about his performance. He says the debate went "great."

DONALD TRUMP'S MIC PROBLEMS

Donald Trump suggested his microphone in the debate hall wasn't working properly.

Trump visited the media spin room after the Monday night debate and said, "They gave me a defective mic!"

He said he "wonder(s), was that on purpose?"

Trump's claim about the microphone is far from the first time he has suggested that outside forces have conspired against him. He has several times warned his supporters that he believed he could lose in November because the general election would be "rigged."

PAUL RYAN REACTION

House Speaker Paul Ryan praised Donald Trump's debate performance Monday night.

The Wisconsin Republican says Trump showed energy in his 90-minute encounter with Hillary Clinton. He says that's why "the enthusiasm is on our side."

Ryan also says that with Americans wanting the country's problems to be addressed, "Donald Trump offers a chance to move in a new direction."

The relationship between the two men has been chilly all year. Ryan hesitated for weeks before embracing Trump's candidacy. He has repeatedly criticized Trump's comments about Muslims and other remarks.
For children in war-torn Syria, Rami Adham is a welcome visitor. Since the beginning of the civil war, the Syrian native who lives in Finland has risked his life traveling to Syria more than two dozen times to deliver toys to children.

"I was very saddened by what was going on," Adham told NBC News. "As a Syrian, I wanted of course to do my part in helping people ... so I decided to go there myself."

According to Adham, his three-year-old daughter gave him toys before his first trip back to his homeland. From there, his charity, the Finland Syria Community Association, grew. It collects toys, sponsors orphans, and even builds schools for Syrian children.

Even with the growth of the charity, though, Adham still carries the toys himself.
Election Day is in 42 days, but you have to plan ahead if you want to make your voice heard.

That's what National Voter Registration Day is for. Volunteers have been fanning out across the country Tuedsay to encourage Americans to register (or re-register) to vote. The event's site says that six million people didn't vote in 2008 "because they missed a deadline or didn't know how to register."

Some states offer online voter registration, and for others, the National Voter Registration Day site can email a copy of your state's form to you. Registration drivess have been organized across the country, and there's a map on the National Voter Registration Day site that collects them all in one place.

Click here for more information.

An entire movie is even getting in on the action. Fox Searchlight, the distributor of the Nat Turner slave rebellion drama "The Birth of a Nation," which opens in October, said it was holding voter registration enrollment in theater lobbies Tuesday, with 20 theater chains and independent theaters participating.

President Barack Obama proclaimed the first official Voter Registration Day last year, while marking the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Obama spoke to Ryan Seacrest on his radio show Tuesday to repeat his call to have people vote.

"You can't complain, you can't sit home and gripe about how terrible Washington is, how unfair this or that is, if you're sitting on the sidelines and not participating," he said.

NBC News reports that the day has taken on political tones, even though it's a non-partisan event, since some Republican-leaning states have been taken to court over restrictive policies on people getting or staying registered to vote, while some states that lean the other way are expanding access to the rolls.
Taliban leaders were watching last night's debate between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from a secret location in Afghanistan, according to NBC News.

A spokesman for the group, Zabihullah Mujahid, told NBC that they were "very interested in watching," and they had hoped Afghanistan would have been a more prominent part of the debate.

He said that Trump is "non-serious," and said the candidate "[says] anything that comes to his tongue."

"There nothing of interest to us in the debate as both of them said little about Afghanistan and their future plans for the country," Mujahid added.
Its a girl!

The Philadelphia Zoo announced the gender of its baby gorilla Tuesday and now they need your help naming her.

Honi, 22, gave birth to the western lowland gorilla on Aug. 26 and now the zoo needs your help with her name. For just $1, people can choose between Amani, Isangi, Mapendo and Muyisa  the names of gorillas orphaned by poachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE). [[391921541, C]]

We are thrilled to partner with Philadelphia Zoo on this naming campaign and thank them for supporting our efforts with Grauers gorillas in DRC, said GRACE Executive Director Dr. Sonya Kahlenberg. Over the past 20 years, Grauers gorillas have experienced a catastrophic decline of nearly 80 percent, and if nothing is done, they could be the first great ape to become extinct in the wild. The Zoos support will help us give orphan gorillas a second chance and will boost our work with local communities on conservation education and other programs critical for safeguarding wild gorillas and their habitat.

Due to poaching and habitat destruction, both Grauer and western lowland gorillas are listed a critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said the zoo.

Voting opened Tuesday morning and runs through Thursday at 4 p.m. Each voter must donate at least $1 to GRACE with the zoo matching all donations up to $10,000.

We are pleased to support and partner with GRACE, said zoo VP for conservation and education Kim Lengel. The long-term survival of gorillas in the wild will require the on-grounds efforts of organizations like GRACE as well as awareness, support and engagement of local action/ global consequences on issues like climate change and deforestation-free palm oil, both of which impact gorillas in parts of their native habitat. We hope that naming Honis new baby after an orphaned gorilla at GRACE, and inviting our global community to select the name, will help make that connection and engage many in the efforts to save gorillas and other wildlife. [[26343834, C]]
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If you don't yet know Pennsylvania's two candidates for attorney general, John Rafferty and Josh Shapiro, you soon will.

The two raised a combined nearly $3 million since the primary in May in the race to succeed disgraced former Attorney General Kathleen Kane, according to campaign finance records filed with the state Tuesday.

Of that total, Shapiro raised $1.8 million, which his campaign described as the most ever for an attorney general candidate during the period between the primary and the sixth Tuesday before the general election.

"We're confident going into the final stretch that we'll have the resources to beat our opponent's desperate attacks and the outside special interest groups looking to prop up his campaign," Shapiro campaign manager Joe Radosevich said Tuesday afternoon.

In raising almost $1.1 million, Rafferty's campaign said it showed that the Republican candidate gained momentum over the summer and has more than enough money on hand to hit the airwaves with advertising leading up to the Nov. 8 election.

"We feel very confident. We're on the air. We have a lot of events scheduled. Sen. Rafferty is raising money every night," campaign spokesman Michael Barley said.

He said some of the campaign's focus in the weeks ahead will be on Rafferty's experience as a former deputy attorney general and Shapiro's connection as a Democrat to Kane, who was convicted last month of perjury and other crimes in connection to a grand jury investigation. She resigned the office Aug. 17, two days after her conviction.

Both Rafferty and Shapiro are lawyers and have deep roots in Montgomery County. Rafferty, 63, of Lower Providence, is a four-term state senator representing the 44th district, which is made up of Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties. Shapiro, 43, of Abington, is chairman of the Montgomery County board of commissioners, the first Democrat to hold that position in 150 years. He previously served four terms in the state House of Representatives.

By comparison, Democrat Kane and her Republican opponent David Freed in 2012 raised a combined $2.34 million during the same campaign filing period, according to finance records.
The Pennsylvania Lottery advertises it benefits older Pennsylvanians, every day.

But in the last decade, billions of lottery dollars have been diverted, an NBC10 investigation found.

According to the state lottery, 27 cents of every dollar spent on lottery tickets goes into the state lottery fund. The rest pays prizes and lottery administration costs.

The point of the lottery program is to have people age at home and maintain their independence, Renee Cunningham of Philadelphias Center in the Park Senior Center said.

By law, other than prize payouts and operation expenses, the lottery fund is only supposed to be used for programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians - including prescription drug assistance, in-home care, transportation, and home maintenance.

Waiting lists for those programs are 4,000 seniors deep, according to senior advocates in Harrisburg.

Those waiting lists could be eliminated, Ray Landis of AARP Pennsylvania said. Lets have a true picture of what the lottery is paying for.

Wolfs administration, including Budget Secretary Randy Albright, said some lottery fund money is used to pay the states Medicaid bill. The NBC10 Investigators analysis of state Medicaid recipients found one third are seniors.

Were forced to rely on using some of those resources, Albright said.

According to state budget records, in the last fiscal year the Wolf administration used $309 million from the lottery fund to pay for Medicaids longterm medical assistance programs. However, state healthcare records show fewer than 1 percent of seniors on Medicaid receive longterm care.

I think that right now we have no alternative, Albright said. We need that money to balance the budget.

Wolfs staff provided documentation showing more than 45,000 residents over 60 did receive care from lottery funds. The Wolf administration is not the first to use lottery money to balance the budget. Since 2006, at least $3.9 billion has been taken from the lottery fund for that purpose.
Firefighters from around the Philadelphia region will pause this weekend to remember two Wilmington firefighters killed in a row home fire.

Wilmington firefighters Lt. Christopher (Chris) Leach and Jerry Fickes Jr. will be laid to rest in separate funeral services Friday. A public memorial service will follow on Saturday.

The memorial service at noon Saturday at the Chase Center on the Riverfront along Justison Street is open to all fellow firefighters, first responders and the general public, said a joint news release from the Wilmington Firefighter's Association, Local 1590, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the Wilmington Fire Department.

The memorial service is considered the main ceremony, said firefighters. "This will be the only event where departments will be able to stage their apparatus as part of a static display of honor," said the release.

A public viewing for Fickes will be held Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church on Graves Road in Hockessin. Fickes funeral service and burial will be private to family, friends and members of the Wilmington Fire Department.

Leachs viewing and funeral will be held Friday at St. Elizabeths Catholic Church on Broom Street in Wilmington. The viewing is only open to family, friends, Wilmington firefighters and local first responders. [[394820281, C]]

Honors guards and pipes and drums are invited to also attend Leachs funeral as well as the memorial service, said firefighters. Anyone honor guards interested in participating is asked to email Griff Jordan (gjordan188@gmail.com) while pipers and drummers are asked to contact Mike Khairzada (mkhairzada@comcast.net).

Authorities continued their investigation Tuesday into the rowhouse fire that left Leach, 41, and Fickes, 51, dead.

Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode said Monday that the Delaware Fire Marshal's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the fire, which broke out early Saturday on the 1900 block of Lakeview Road in a development called Canby Park.

While Goode released few details and did not take questions, he said officials are aware of recent vehicle fires in the area but do not know if there's any connection to the house fire.

The floor of the home collapsed as firefighters went inside, and four firefighters were trapped in the basement.

Fellow firefighters Ardythe Hope and Brad Speakman continued to recover Tuesday in stable condition at Crozer Chester Medical Center. Lt. John Cawthray, firefighter Peter Cramer and firefighter Terrance Tate were also injured in the blaze, said firefighters. [[394677321, C]]
The presidential nominees sparred for 99 minutes in their first presidential debate held at Hofstra University Monday night.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tackled the economy, ISIS, taxes and the president's birth status. They also took jabs at one another, and plenty of them.

"I have a feeling by the end of this debate I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened," Clinton joked.

Clinton noted that cyber security attacks were a concern, and the United States should be wary of Russia, and noted that "Donald is very praiseworthy of Vladimir Putin."

Trump said he'd release his tax returns once Clinton provided the 33,000 emails she deleted, and that his temperment was his best asset.

//

"She doesn't have the stamina... I don't believe Hillary has the stamina" to be president, Trump said.

The top three issues posted to Facebook by 18- to 34 year-olds during the night were ISIS, racism and discrimination and crime and criminal justice, according to Facebook.

#TrumpSniffles began showing up on Twitter timelines in response to Trump appearing to sniffle throughout the debate.

Social media users shared a breadth of reaction as Lester Holt of NBC News moderated the debate.
Comcast announced Monday it's embarking on a $15 million partnership with the national YMCA organization to promote the nonprofit's work in tandem with the Philadelphia-based company's low-cost internet adoption program.

The announcement comes in the midst of the broadcast giant's national tour to promote Internet Essentials, Comcast's initiative to provide low-income individuals high-speed internet. Senior Executive Vice President David L. Cohen and Internet Essentials' new spokeswoman, Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee, attended events in the city Monday to promote Internet Essentials and the new YMCA partnership.

To kick off the partnership, Comcast announced it's donating $50,000 to five regional YMCAs including in the Philadelphia area, central Maryland, Memphis and the mid-south, Greater Houston and Greater Indianapolis, to fund digital literacy and academic achievement programs.

To read the full article, click here.

For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal.

Comcast is the parent company of NBC10.
A gun was fired inside a San Diego County Sheriff's station Monday, striking a deputy, officials said.

The deputy was shot in the leg by a federal agent by what was descibed as "an accidental discharge" by a spokesperson for the sheriff's department.

The shooting happened at the Lemon Grove substation when a federal agent was unloading a .22 gun seized in a search warrant.

The bullet hit the deputy in the lower leg.

He's expected to make a full recovery, officials said.

Officials said the names of the injured deputy and the federal agent won't be released.
Dozens of students were settled in their seats Monday night, ready for what many are now calling a show.

"Sometimes it's hard to take both parties seriously," said Amabelle Rishah, a student at Southwestern College.

Rishah said she went in a Donald Trump supporter, and she's leaving one as well.

"I hate the point Hillary Clinton made that minimum wage should be raised. I don't think that should be. I think you should go to college. I think you should have some sort of education and actually earn for the pay that you deserve," she said.

She's one of the few however in the classroom. Many still undecided at this point, but say Donald Trump's performance hurt him in a big way.

"I was never going to vote for Donald Trump but I think now, just to defeat him I'll have to vote for Hillary, said Nicolas Brincio.

Viewing parties were held all over San Diego, including one hosted by the San Diego Democratic Party.

"I thought Hillary did a wonderful job, and I thought that Donald Trump refused to answer much of the questions and just went off on tangents," said Peggy Goodman.

Donald Trump supporters also met to back their candidate, including Veterans for Trump. Back at Southwestern College, students were eager to vote for our next president, but say the reason behind it is all wrong.

"I don't want to risk not using my vote and having the greater evil take precedence so I'd rather pick the lesser of the two evils which right now, in my opinion, it looks like Hillary is a better option, said Michael Cuevas.

Students took a survey after the debate. According to the results, Hillary Clinton walked away with 22 votes. Five students voted for Donald Trump, but the majority did not support either candidate.
Read the latest report on the officer-involved shooting by clicking here.

A black man was shot in an encounter with El Cajon Police Tuesday, multiple witnesses said, while a woman wailed nearby, demanding to know why police shot her brother.

Hours later, police officers told NBC 7 San Diego the man, now identified as Alfred Olango, was acting erratically and failed to comply, although they did not release details on the specific threat he presented to officers.

Dozens of officers swarmed a public shopping center in the heart of El Cajon at 1 p.m. The community is approximately 30 miles east of downtown San Diego.

NBC 7s Mari Payton has more on video footage taken at the scene.

One witness recalled seeing an officer fire five rounds. Another man said police fired Olango who had his hands out to his side. A manager inside a nearby restaurant said he refused to remove his arms from his side. Police said witness video showed Olango did not have his hands in the air.

Witnesses questioned the police motives in the shooting. Crowds gathering by the scene of the shooting began chanting, demanding answers from police.

NBC 7s Ashley Matthews is at the scene where a crowd has formed in prayer, sending a message of peace.

NBC 7s Ashley Matthews heard form the sister of Alfred Olango, the man shot by police in El Cajon. She says that her brother is mentally ill and was having a seizure at the time of the incident.

Officers quickly secured the parking lot near the shooting, at Broadway and North Mollison, north of Interstate 8 and west of State Route 67.

One witness at a local restaurant told NBC 7 police came and took away their phones following the incident.

NBC 7s Dave Summer is at the scene where employees of the restaurant are sharing there account of what happened.

"I didnt hear any command Halt, Stop or Ill shoot," said one witness identified as George. "I didnt hear any command or yelling. I didnt hear the man say anything. Next thing I see Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow  five shots.

El Cajon Police spokesman Rob Ransweiler said police responded to a radio call of a 30-year-old "erratic subject."

A Facebook live video shows the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting in El Cajon. A witness shares what she saw with officers at the scene.

Ransweiler said, Olango did not comply but would not say if the man had a weapon. "I have the information," Ransweiler said. "Its an ongoing investigation, so Im not releasing details of the investigation.

[G] Police Shoot 'Erratic' Man in El Cajon Parking Lot

One video posted to FB shows a woman, identified as Olango's sister, crying. In the video, shes heard saying: I called you to help me but you killed my brother.

Why couldnt you guys tase him? Why, why, why, why? the woman cries out.

In the video, police approach the woman for questioning.

I called so many times to help him, she said, as officers ask the woman for her brothers name and age.

Other passersby tried to comfort the woman.

Michael Ray Rodriguez witnessed the shooting as it unfolded right in front of him.

When I seen the suspect, he had his hands up, Rodriguez said holding his arms out to the side. "I seen two officers with their firearm on him."

"The mans hands are up. No shirt," he added. "He didnt have no shirt."

The suspect's sister said she was encouraging her brother to do what police were telling him to do; she indicated to NBC 7 that her brother was not showing his hands.

Police said witness video showed Olango did not have his hands in the air.

The investigation just started, but based on the video voluntarily provided by a witness, the subject did NOT have his hands up in the air  El Cajon Police (@elcajonpolice) September 28, 2016

While the suspect stood in that position, another police officer came and blocked the suspect in three directions, Rodriguez said. He said he witnessed the suspect run to the right, and as he did so, he saw the officer fire five shots, knocking the suspect to the ground.

Sister of victim angry with police- speaking now to investigators. #NBC7 pic.twitter.com/59PsDxCaSV  Ashley Matthews (@ashleyNBC7) September 27, 2016

The man was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The entire shooting was captured on mobile phone video from the drive-through at the Los Panchos restaurant. NBC 7's Dave Summers said an El Cajon lieutenant told him the restaurant worker voluntarily turned over the phone. The video at some point in this investigation will be released, the lieutenant told Summers.

According to the restaurant's manager, the video shows Olango refusing to remove his hands from his side.

Maria, an employee at Los Panchos in El Cajon, said police came into the restaurant and took all cell phones from employees after the shooting; they told employees not to talk to anyone, according to Maria. NBC 7 has not confirmed how many phones were confiscated.

Los Panchos was placed under lock down, Maria told NBC 7.

The shooting in the community east of San Diego occurred just three days after police in Charlotte, North Carolina released video showing the Sept. 20 killing of Keith Lamont Scott. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a police officer shot and killed 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on a highway six days after the Charlotte shooting. In that case, Officer Betty Shelby, has been charged with manslaughter.

Both shootings have reignited protests from members of the African American community questioning the actions of law enforcement officers.

El Cajon City Councilmembers approved the purchase of 88 body cameras this past May, but the El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis said he was hoping to have the cameras in use by the start of 2017.
Two San Diego-based real estate agents are dealing with a case of identity theft after their online photos were used as the faces of a fake company, unbeknownst to them.

For realtors like Will Fagan and Dan Becker, social media is a powerful tool in their mission to sell homes.

But, as Fagan and Becker recently discovered, that online presence can be a double-edged sword. Recently, both realtors  who are each active on social media platforms  had their photos swiped online.

Those photos were then used to create fake profiles on the professional networking website, LinkedIn, the names of the realtors changed.

Both men were listed as the heads of a company called Asenqua Ventures  a company Fagan and Becker had never heard of, let alone worked for.

I have no idea how they came after me or chose my photo, said Becker.

The fake firm was supposedly headquartered in New York. But Fagan and Becker said they have no connections whatsoever to the company, or to its founder, who was convicted of financial fraud.

Both realtors received phone calls from a LinkedIn contact telling them about the fake profiles, which have since been removed from the website.

You could have knocked me over. I was blown away [by the identity theft], Becker said.

And, while theyre no longer being misrepresented, Fagan told NBC 7 he believes hes now dealing with some repercussions of the bizarre case.

Ive recently been hacked through email, he said.

He worries that his face was associated with a fake business lacking integrity when integrity is the most important part of his real job.

The scam has left the realtors with concerns about their reputations.

For me, as a small business owner, my reputation is everything to me, said Becker. All my business comes through people who know me, or word of mouth. So if thats tarnished or diminished in any way that can affect my business and my livelihood.

Becker told NBC 7 he has been using his unfortunate experience to educate friends about tools like Googles Reverse Image Search, which can help you see if your image is being misused.

That very tool is recommended by the Identity Theft Resource Center. If you find your picture is being used inappropriately the center recommends reporting it to the social network. There may also be legal options available as well.
A sergeant with the San Diego Police Department resigned Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence.

SDPD Sgt. Oscar Armenta was arrested just after 8 p.m. Sunday, July 3, following an incident that occurred near Island and Seventh avenues, police department officials said.

Witnesses said Armenta was arguing with his girlfriend. SDPD would not provide details but said Armenta was off-duty at the time.

Armenta was initially arraigned on a felony domestic violence abuse charge, a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge and two simple battery charges, stemming from injuries Good Samaritans sustained when they tried to intervene. A conviction on all charges would have meant up to four years and six months in prison.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge resulting in injury. The rest of the complaint was dismissed.

In return, he would be held on three years of probation that includes 120 hours of community service. As part of his sentence, he'll pay $1,679 in restitution and $874 fine. He also much complete a 52-week domestic violence recovery program class.

Should he violate probation, the maximum amount of time behind bars would be one year, according to the prosecutor.

The victim is still involved in a relationship with Armenta and asked that the no-contact order be removed. The judge ruled that Armenta could not harass or injure the victim.

Attorney Rick Pinckard said his client realized the longer the court case dragged on it would not be good for him or for the police department.

"None of us was at the incident itself. Whatever happened between him and the other person, they are the only two that know that," Pinckard said.

The attorney said Armentas job was full of stress.

You sometimes never know how that stress and pressure is going to manifest, Pinckard said.

Armenta had been employed with the SDPD for 13 years but would be resigning, according to his attorney.

Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman confirmed Armenta tendered his resignation Tuesday.

"As I stated back in July when this investigation first began, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and take the conduct of our employees very seriously," Zimmerman said in a written statement.
A local dentist office went up in flames Monday afternoon, sending thick black smoke into the air for miles above Bankers Hill and San Diego's iconic Balboa Park.

The fire broke out at approximately 3:15 p.m. Monday at the dentist's office on the 2700 block of 3rd Avenue, fire officials said. The building is north of Laurel Street and west of Sixth Avenue, west of The Old Globe and the San Diego Museum of Man.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) Media Services Manager Lee Swanson said the fire broke out in a two-story commercial building. The sign on the building identifies the building as Uptown Smiles Dentistry.

San Diego Police officials said a witness told police the entire building was engulfed and people may be inside.

NBC 7s Meteorologist Dagmar said the Santa Ana conditions are in effect for the fire with temperatures in the mid to upper 90s.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story.
Harry Jaffe, a longtime chronicler of the people and politics of Washington, D.C., writes an occasional column for NBC Washington's First Read DMV blog.

Mayor Muriel Bowser's old neighborhood was strung with yellow police tape Sunday night. If she hadn't moved a few months ago, she might have heard the gunshots that wounded a 93-year-old woman who lived on her block of Oglethorpe Street, in a northeast D.C. neighborhood.

In the same neighborhood, the day before, gunshots killed Marcellus Thomas, 22.

Police have no suspects for the shootings in the community where Bowser lived for 15 years. Another killer is on the loose in the nations capital, where getting away with murder is becoming the new normal.

Take Saturday night before last, when gunmen at a block party in an Anacostia neighborhood opened fire. They killed two men and wounded seven others, including an eight-year-old boy.

Once the news and mourning passed through our system, residents of the District were left with another grim reality: the killers were not apprehended.

"They are walking among us," said Phillip Pannell, a community activist who has begun counting the unsolved murders and crusading for justice.

From 2011 to 2015, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department reported 567 homicides. On average, about 77 percent of the murder cases were "cleared" -- though, as we'll see, that doesn't mean someone served jail time for them.

Through Sept. 27, there have been 104 murders in D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department website. Of those, about half are still open cases.

Any way you look at it, the District of Columbia can be a good place to get away with murder.

Consider a quartet of brazen killings that have made the news of late.

Theres Seth Rich, the 27-year-old from Nebraska who was shot dead on a hot July night in Bloomingdale. The beloved staffer with the Democratic National Committee was a block from his apartment when gunmen shot him in the back and left him mortally wounded. They are at large.

How about Charnice Milton: A community journalist, she was shot and killed as she got off a bus in May 2015, by a bullet cops believe was meant for someone else. There were at least a dozen witnesses and video. No arrests.

For diplomatic intrigue, we have Mikhail Lesin, once a Kremlin insider who fell out of favor with Russian leader Vladmir Putin. D.C. police found him in late 2015 in a Dupont Circle hotel room, dead from a heart attack, they said. Four months later medical examiners concluded hed died of blunt force injuries to his head. No arrests.

Two cases I have personally covered prove that one can get away with murder in D.C.

Robert Wone was found stabbed to death in August 2006, in a bedroom of a Logan Circle row house. A well-respected lawyer, he was sleeping over at a home where the three residents were present. Police found Wone tucked into a bed under a clean, white sheet, with three neat knife marks on his chest. No one was charged with the murder nor convicted of any crime.

Last May three members of the Savapoulos family and their housekeeper were tortured and killed in their Massachusetts Heights mansion. Prosecutors charged one person, Daron Wint, with carrying out the crimes. Hes in custody, but prosecutors have postponed hearings twice.

Prosecutors had said from the earliest days of the case that they believed Wint had help. In the affadavit for Wint's arrest warrant, a detective said that the crime "required the presence and assistance of more than one person."

Wint's next hearing is scheduled for Thursday. No one else has been arrested.

Why does it seem so easy to kill someone in the District and walk away?

Police will tout high "clearance" rates. According to the FBI, District cops cleared 80 percent of their murder cases or higher in the past five years, making the department one of the best in the nation. There is reason to doubt the numbers.

But clearance does not mean the killers were found, arrested and jailed.

"Hell, no," a retired cop told me.

Police "clear" a case when they make an arrest or identify a suspect. That does not mean that person was charged, convicted and served time. Prosecutors can decide not to prosecute, they might drop the case, or the alleged perpetrator might not get convicted. In many of those cleared cases the killers might remain at large.

Why are there so many murderers running around  like the Saturday night shooters in Anacostia or Seth Richs killers?

"Nobody trusts the police," a detective in the Logan Circle district tells me. "No one talks to us."

Thats especially true east of the Anacostia River, in police districts six and seven. Pannell, whos assembled an exhibit of 143 unsolved murders in the Districts eastern wards since 2010, says residents believe they cannot talk to police without facing retribution from the killers.

"We have a community that's in collective fear of talking about the situation," he says. "They are afraid of getting killed, so they dont say anything."

A patrol officer in the Seventh District adds: "Many of the surveillance cameras over here dont work. And the community doesnt trust us." (A police spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about the cameras.)

Police in Northwest neighborhoods have similar reactions.

The result?

"It emboldens the killers," Pannell said. "And people just become numb to it."

But theres more than the propensity to avoid snitching that contributes to our high number of unsolved murders. I attribute it to the fear factor and the paucity of human intelligence. In rough communities where the majority of murders occur, residents fear bad guys more than they do the police. That balance of power has to shift.

Police can reverse that balance by increasing deployment of plain clothes vice squad officers. Assign more under cover cops. They can provide better intelligence to homicide detectives, and they can build the trust that residents require, before they cooperate with cops.

Once murderers realize they cannot be so brazen, the homicide rate will begin to fall, more killers will be brought to justice, and the fear in too many of our neighborhoods will begin to dissipate. At that point, getting away with murder in D.C. will not be so easy, in Mayor Bowser's old neighborhood  or her new one.

This story has been updated from an earlier version.
A landmark law passed in 2014 to improve Virginias mental health system has contributed to an increasing number of patient deaths and falls -- as well as staff resignations -- inside the Commonwealths mental health hospitals, Virginia officials have found.

The law was passed after the son of state Sen. Creigh Deeds stabbed his father, then committed suicide, after reportedly failing to find an available bed at a state mental health hospital.

The law prohibits state hospitals from turning away any patient in need of a placement at a state mental health facility. And state health officials said it has succeeded in finding bed spaces.

But officials said the law has also had "unintended consequences" for patients and staff inside Virginias nine mental health hospitals.

Admissions have increased 43 percent at the state hospitals since 2014, mental health advocates and Virginia state officials said in interviews.

But staffing levels have not increased to fully handle the added load of patients, according to Virginia Department of Behavioral Health Services assistant commissioner Daniel Herr.

"We have an increase in patients who are very acutely ill," Herr said. "Its a significant increase in overall workload."

A report by the state inspector general found staff turnover has spiked 29 percent between 2014 and 2015.

"The turnover of direct care staff creates numerous risks to inpatient facilities, among them the cost of terminating staff, covering open shifts with overtime, use of mandatory overtime, costs of recruiting, hiring, and orienting new employees," the report read.

The number of patient deaths has increased in state hospitals in the time since the new safety net law was approved, the report found. And it found the number of falls and fractures suffered by patients has increased by more than 30 percent during the same time period.

State health officials said the law has succeeded in preventing patients from being turned away from hospitals, due to bed shortages.

"It fixed the problem it was intended to," Herr said. "It was intended to ensure everyone who needed a psychiatric bed was able to find one."

Tammy Peacock, director of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Falls Church, said the safety net law has contributed to a larger percentage of patients with severe medical conditions or violent tendencies inside state facilities -- because they have to stay.

"If they're becoming more aggressive, there's nowhere else to send them. We can't say no."

But, she said, administrators are responding and assisting staffers amid the growing workload.

"We really have to make sure that our staff know we value them, we support them, we know what they're facing," Peacock said.

Deeds did not respond to requests for comment.

This story was reported and written by Scott MacFarlane. It was shot and edited by Jeff Piper.
An 8-year-old girl is being hailed as a hero for calling 911 after she recognized that her mother was having a stroke.

A'nasia Clayton was home with her mother in Charles County, Maryland, when she saw that one half of her mom's face had gone slack. She quickly called 911 and described the situation to the dispatcher.

"I'm in the house with my mom and I think she's having a stroke now," A'nasia tells the dispatcher in a strong voice.

"Why do you think she's having a stroke?" he asks.

"Because her face is, like, turning to the right," A'nasia replied.

The girl unlocked the door of her home and stayed on the line with the dispatcher until an EMS crew arrived.

The dispatcher repeatedly encouraged her.

"Alright, dear. You're doing a great job. Your mom's going to be awful proud of you the way you're helping her out," he said.

A'nasia's mother, Janee Clayton, is recovering now with the help of quick action by first responders and her daughter.

A'nasia received an award from Charles County officials on Tuesday afternoon and met the dispatcher and EMS crew who helped save her mom.
What to Know Over the weekend, more than 30,000 people visited the newly opened Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

After 100 years in the making, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened Saturday, Sept. 24, and thousands of people came to celebrate.

Over the weekend, more than 30,000 people were in attendance, 11,733 visited the museum Saturday and 19,292 on Sunday.

President Barack Obama was among those who attended on Saturday, where he dedicated the museum in an opening speech. The president also rang the historic Freedom Bell from the First Baptist Church from Williamsburg. Virginia.

Other few leading figures in attendance over the weekend included U.S. Rep. John Lewis, former President George W. Bush and Lonnie Bunch, the museums founding director.

The majority of people were eager visitors who lined up for the museums opening and took part in the weekends opening festival.

The verdict on whether it was worth the wait? One visitor, Marthena Baxter, told NBC Washington, The whole place was amazing, absolutely amazing. I will be back."

Although the museum recieved many vistors over the weekend, there are still those who are trying to get in.

According to the museum, "four free timed passes per visitor can be obtained in person, at the museum on the same-day of your visit," beginning Sept. 26.

These passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 9:15 a.m. daily, at the Constitution Street museum entrance.
A D.C. firefighter sued the district after she said she was made a scapegoat for the slow response to a Mount Pleasant apartment building fire in 2008.

Vanessa Coleman, a former captain in the D.C. fire department, said she wrote several email to the fire chief, saying her supervisor, Battalion Fire Chief John Lee, stopped her from checking the basement of the building, where the fire started.

A later investigation revealed failure to check the basement first had been fatal to the departments efforts to control the fire, which had in fact begun in the basement."

Coleman was fired after refusing to take a psychological evaluation, ordered by Denis Rubin, the fire chief whom she emailed. The department fired her in October 2009.

Coleman, who was a firefighter for 18 years, sued for $2.5 million for wrongful termination. Her attorney said she should be protected as a whistleblower for her statement about what happened the night of the fire.

Attorneys for the government argued Coleman did not disclose any new information in those emails.

She had to start over, start a new career, lost half her income, lost her home, said Karen Gray, general counsel for the Government Accountability Project. This has devastated her.

Attorneys for the fire department would not comment, the jury could decide the case as early as Tuesday.
Montgomery County police said a man allegedly involved in a carjacking and barricade situation in Potomac, Maryland, has been arrested.

Perry Marcel Bryant has been charged with armed carjacking, attempted kidnapping and home invasion.

According to police, a woman was in her black BMW in the 7200 block of Honeywell Lane when Bryant displayed a gun, got into the backseat and told her to drive.

The victim escaped and flagged another driver down for help, but the suspect drove away from the scene. Officers tried to stop the BMW, but the suspect refused to pull over.

Bryant eventually crashed the BMW near Falls Road and Falls Chapel Way and entered a nearby townhouse through an open window, police said. The homeowner was inside when Bryant ran inside, but she was able to flee almost immediately, according to police.

The homeowner flagged down officers and told them the suspect was now inside her home.

Police said Bryant refused to come out, and an Emergency Response Team was called to the scene.

Five hours later, officers were able to enter the home, and Bryant was arrested him at about 8:30 p.m.

Two school buses from Beverly Farms Elementary School had to return to the school, because they could not enter the neighborhood. Parents were asked to pick up those students.

Wayside Elementary School and Cold Spring Elementary School have been dismissed, and all students have left the buildings.

Hoover Elementary School is not allowing after-school activity buses in. Parents must pick up children in person.
What to Know Parents of a 4-year-old boy with special needs say they were told video from a school bus shows their son being molested.

They were told the same thing happened to another child on the bus.

PGCPS confirmed the aide and his supervisor are on administrative leave.

A school bus aide has been charged following allegations he molested special education, pre-kindergarten children on a Prince George's County school bus.

Michael Patopie, 38, of Capitol Heights has been charged with second-degree child abuse, sex abuse of a minor, second-degree assault and other sex offenses, the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office said.

Police say Patopis inappropriately touched two students while they were on the school bus in November 2015 and in May 2016.

A former Prince George's County school bus driver told News4 she saw Patopie inappropriately touching the victims in November 2015 and reported it to her supervisors. Months later, she anonymously reported the incident to Child Protective Services (CPS).

CPS then alerted the parents of one of the victims, a 4-year-old boy with special needs. The victim's parents were told bus cameras caught the abuse and they were shown enough video to identify their son, but they had not seen the alleged abuse.

The parents said they were told the same thing happened to another child on the bus. According the charging documents, the second victim is 5 years old and reported the alleged abuse to his mother.

The children involved have verbal delays and trouble communicating.

My son might say one or two words, but he does not say sentences at all, and I saw something change, but I just didnt think of that, the mother of the 4 year old said.

The bus was carrying students from James Ryder Randall Elementary School in Clinton, Maryland. An unrelated investigation found students in the schools Head Start program were forced to hold objects over their heads for a long time as punishment in June.

Prince Georges County Police confirmed they are investigating the incident, which was reported to CPS May 24 and to police June 20. The boy reported more information to police in August, according to sources. The boy's father said the incident happened in November.

PGCPS CEO Dr. Kevin Maxwell said he didn't find out until August, when school started.

"When I became aware of it, I had those folks placed on administrative leave, he said. I can't act on what I don't know."

Many parents say they're struggling to understand why the school district's leader didn't know about the allegations.

Prince Georges County Public Schools confirmed the aide and his supervisor are on administrative leave. Maxwell said the school system is "moving to immediately seek" Patopie's termination.

"I am horrified by the nature of these crimes, sickened and angry that this individual may have preyed upon our students," Maxwell said.

On Wednesday, a judge revoked Patopie's $500,000 bond and order that he be held without bond. The judge said he believed Patopie is a threat to the community.

Patopie's mother, Katherine Patopie, defended her son Wednesday.

"I'm saying...he's not that kind of a person," she said. "You've got to be around him to see it yourself. He's not that kind of a person."

"In this case, there will be a hearing soon here as well to determine what the employment status will be based off of our investigative findings," said Rex Barrett, director of security for Prince George's County Public Schools.

Seven months ago, the community was horrified after learning a former teachers aide was reportedly sexually abusing students at another county school.
A second D.C. police officer is being investigated for failing to turn on his body-worn camera before he shot a suspect.

The incident happened Sept. 7 on Georgia Avenue. According to police, a witness flagged down a bicycle patrol officer at about 3 p.m. after seeing a man with a gun firing shots in the air.

The officer encountered the 22-year-old suspect and ordered him to drop his gun. The officer then shot the man, who was taken to the hospital.

The man who was shot has been charged with numerous charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon.

D.C. police are required to have their body cameras on when they are on a call, a policy that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser strengthened earlier this month. Dispatchers remind officers to turn on their cameras as they are dispatched.

That change followed the fatal police shooting of Terrence Sterling, 31, after Sterlings motorcycle collided with a police car. In that case, a D.C. police officer failed to turn on his body-worn camera before the shooting.

Sterlings family and supporters protested in D.C. streets Monday morning, calling for answers in Sterlings death.

After Sterlings shooting, acting police Chief Peter Newsham said there were at least 10 other cases being investigated in which officers failed to turn on their body cameras, as required.

D.C. police union Chairman Matthew Mahl said officers are still getting used to the body cameras.

"The public expects us to be proficient and, unfortunately, were not. We have to build that muscle memory," Mahl said. "The officers need to trained to do, to do what they do, to turn that body camera on as soon as they're interacting with the public."

When asked if the officers intentionally failed turn on their body cameras, Mahl said he didnt believe so.

"I think it was just one of those very fluid situations where the officers just didn't have time to turn it on. Again, it's a training issue. It's muscle memory."
Marcus Edwards did not live to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, but the D.C. police department honored him after his death.

The Metropolitan Police Department named Edwards an honorary officer at his funeral Tuesday at Judah Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Mitchelville, Maryland.

The 21-year-old Morgan State University student died Sept. 19 after he was stabbed off campus in Baltimore, police said. He was attacked about a mile north of campus about 10:30 p.m.

MPD Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham spoke at the Junior Police Academy graduate's funeral.

"Marcus's life, though admittedly short, was a life committed to achievement, a life committed to leadership and, most importantly, a life committed to helping others," Newsham said to an overflow crowd.

Edwards, who grew up in D.C., was studying social work and planned to become a police officer when he graduated. He volunteered every summer at the 2nd District station. He also worked at the U.S. Mint, which also named him an honorary officer.

"Everything he did, he did with passion and he did with happiness," a former classmate said.

Former police academy instructor Yvonne Smith called for empathy between officers and youth.

"When you see an officer, picture that to be Marcus -- Officer Edwards. And, officers, when you see a young brother or sister, picture that to be the internal part of Marcus Edwards," she said to applause.

Edwards' killing remains under investigation. His wallet and cellphone remained with him after the attack, his mother said.

Loved ones are raising money for funeral expenses via a GoFundMe page. Edwards is survived by his mother and five younger siblings, the page says.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said a small plane has crashed in the Laytonsville, Maryland, area, killing one person.

Officials said the crash occurred near Ruppert Landscaping, located at 23601 Laytonsville Road, shortly before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The business closed at 5 p.m.

Fire and rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said the plane, described as a Cessna-type plane, caught fire. He said one person was killed.

"Small single engine plane associated with nearby Davis Airfield," Piringer said. "They believe there was only one person on the lane, and unfortunately, he did not survive the crash and fire."

National Transportation Safety Board investigators responded to the scene.

"The airplane had some recent maintenance work done on it, brakes, from what I understand," said NTSB investigator Brian Rayner. "The airplane took off. The engine sounded normal. And then, depending on the witness accounts, about 500 to 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he'd experienced an engine failure."

A witness, Steven Bennett, said he saw the plane as it looked to barrel roll before the crash. He ran to the scene and arrived before emergency crews.

"I just made a path through the cornfield, so they could run in there, and we got to the plane and saw that it was on fire," Bennett said. "I just kind of walked away. There was nothing anybody could do at that point in time."

Davis Airport is located to the west of the crash site. Bill Harvey, who was not on scene but answered the phone for the Davis Airport, said he was told there was a crash about 2 to 3 miles from the airport. Employees told him he could see the smoke.

Units from Howard County are also responded to the scene..
A Northern Virginia man who has pleaded guilty to repeatedly taking "upskirt" photos, exposing himself and squirting semen from a bottle onto women in stores is out of jail.

Michael Wayne Edwards was sentenced on Friday for his crimes. But the term he was given -- 12 months with all but four months suspended -- allowed him to go free because he spent months in jail before the hearing.

Edwards was arrested last September on charges he tried to take photos up the skirts of female shoppers at a Safeway store on South Lakes Drive in Reston, Virginia. He also was charged with exposing himself to one victim.

Prosecutors told the judge that Edwards -- who was working as a personal trainer at Fusion 360, a gym near the Safeway -- could be seen on surveillance video trailing female shoppers through the grocery store's aisles, using his cellphone to take "upskirt" photos.

He followed one victim into the parking lot, asked her "Have you seen this?" and then exposed himself, she told police.

In Fairfax County General District Court in January, Edwards pleaded no contest to two counts of unlawful filming and one count of indecent exposure. But when the judge sentenced him to 18 months in jail, Edwards reversed course and opted to appeal the case to Circuit Court. The judge accepted Edwards' request to remain free on an appeal bond.

Then, he pleaded guilty in May.

Edwards previously confessed to other attacks on women. He pleaded guilty in 2011 to squirting semen on one woman in a Giant grocery store and another woman at a Michael's craft store, both in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 2010.

He was sentenced with three years in prison but received a suspended sentence and was placed on probation.

At the time, his lawyer said he was a church-goer who would see a therapist.

Edwards will be listed on the sex offender registry, and he will undergo a sex offender evaluation.
Snapchat claims it reaches 41 percent of Americans between 18 and 34 years old on any given day.

Donald Trump's presidential campaign is trying to win that group over with a new Snapchat geofilter debuted on Monday, the day of his first debate with Hillary Clinton.

The star- and firework-spangled "Debate Day" filter uses Trump's trusted epithet for Clinton, "crooked Hillary" on top, where it reads: "Donald J. Trump vs. Crooked Hillary." The national, sponsored filter was paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., according to fine print on the filter itself and confirmed by Snapachat.

Geofilters are a feature on Snapchat that lets users overlay images onto their photos or videos. They're often of city or town names, but users can design and purchase their own filters to be used in certain places for periods of time. The filters must be approved by Snapchat.

Clinton and her allies were outspending Trump's campaign in TV ads by a 5-to-1 margin as of last week, NBC News reported. Clinton has purchased ads on Snapchat before, including during the Republican National Convention, but didn't have a Snapchat filter of her own on Monday.

The Trump campaign  which has grown in part on the strength of the candidate's Twitter presence  is no stranger to using social media to score points in the debate. Earlier this month, Donald Trump Jr. drew outrage along with retweets when he posted an image showing the internet meme Pepe the Frog, which as been used by some white nationalists, next to his father.

Watch the debate here at 9 p.m. ET.
A Rhode Island man found dead at the scene of a car crash in Pawtucket over the weekend died of gunshot wound to the head, according to the state's medical examiner.

Police told WJAR that the death of 23-year-old Dylan Contreras is being investigated as a homicide.

Contreras' BMW crashed into a tree on Underwood Street around 2 a.m. Saturday. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital a short time later.

Police said no other cars were involved and there were no other passengers in the car.

According to the Pawtucket Times, Contreras left behind his pregnant fiancee and a 4-year-old daughter.
A New Hampshire business owner is sounding the alarm after he found a flier near the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham connecting young, vulnerable students with "sugar daddies."

The piece of paper was pinned to a bulletin board outside the Town and Campus store. The owner ripped it down right away, but the "sugar daddy" ad is popping up elsewhere, so police are asking people who see the fliers to take them down.

For 56 years, Town and Campus has not only sold students their UNH gear, but it has also been a safe haven for kids far away from home.

"We treat them in here as family," longtime Town and Campus employee Rich Many said.

So when Many saw the "sugardaddyforme.com" ad on his bulletin board, he ripped it down and notified authorities.

"This was a way to take action to protect them from anything harmful," Many said in an interview Tuesday.

necn found the flier posted elsewhere near campus.

"It probably was very strategically placed," UNH senior Kacie McFadden said.

The ad connects financially unstable co-eds with "sugar daddies" who will, according to the advertisement, pay students cash for being a "dinner companion."

"It can be really dangerous - you have to really know who you are talking to," McFadden said.

"I pay my rent, I pay for my own food, I deal with it all myself," explained UNH Junior Ashley Stratton. "I can definitely see how people would be attracted to that."

UNH senior Emily Costa said she is mature enough to understand the implications, but worries about her younger sister, who is a freshman.

"She's worried about money and I don't want her to fall into this trap, she's a very trusting person," Costa said.

The manager of Sugardaddyforme.com - Peter Stolz - told necn over the phone, "We didn't create it, nobody at our site does that kind of advertising anywhere, especially not on a college campus."

So while it's still a mystery who put the fliers up, students say it's reassuring to know their community will take them down.

"I really appreciate them doing that," Stratton said.

McFadden agreed, saying, "Durham is a really safe place and I think it is because of people like that."

The UNH dean of students, the Durham police chief, and the Durham town administrator all tell necn they are well aware of the situation. As of Tuesday evening, they had no reports of students getting involved with the website.
All of Providence, Rhode Island's, uniformed police officers will soon be outfitted with body cameras after the city secured a $375,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The award, announced Monday, is part of a $20 million disbursement from the Justice Department's Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare says the cost of the program, including electronic data storage, will run between $300,000 and $400,000 annually. Providence has made an initial commitment for two years.

The city launched a pilot program for the body-worn cameras this past spring but needed additional funding to fully implement it.

Pare says 225 officers will be provided the equipment, which is being purchased from TASER International. Detectives will not be equipped with the cameras.
The deputy police chief of Braintree, Massachusetts, has been placed on paid administrative leave, following an evidence room scandal.

Deputy Chief Wayne Foster's attorney, David Hinds, confirmed to necn that Foster was served papers on Monday morning.

Hinds said the papers cited the results of a recent police audit.

In the audit, it was found that 4,709 pieces of narcotics evidence was missing, more than 60 guns were unaccounted for, and more than $400,000 in cash seized from criminals was also missing. As a result, a couple dozen drug cases have been thrown out.

necn asked Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan about the investigation, which now involves the Attorney General and Massachusetts State Police, and he had no comment.

When necn asked Sullivan about Foster's leave, he said he couldn't comment, saying it is a personnel matter.

Hinds said he did not know who would replace Foster in the interim but said Foster plans to challenge the decision.

"We will challenge the deputy chief being placed on administrative leave," Hinds told necn. "There is no legal basis for doing that at all and what the mayor has decided to do is to overstep his bounds and to look for scape goats."

Just last week, Police Chief Russell Jenkins announced he would be retiring on Oct. 7.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper accused of assaulting a suspect during an arrest following a police chase has been indicted by a grand jury for two enhanced misdemeanor counts of simple assault.

According to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, Joseph Flynn is facing charges for the alleged use of force during the pursuit and arrest of Richard Simone, 50, of Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 11, in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Necn helicopter footage shows police repeatedly punching Simone after he got out of his truck and got down on his knees, after leading police on a very lengthy chase from Holden, Massachusetts to New Hampshire.

Flynn's arraignment date is set for October 14.

Andrew Monaco, a former New Hampshire State Police trooper also charged in the assault, pleaded guilty in August.

His plea deal gave him a suspended sentence, sparing him jail time.
It's been 24 years since Lisa Ziegert, a Massachusetts middle school teacher, was kidnapped, raped and murdered. Wednesday, authorities will annnounce a "significant update."

Ziegert was working her night job at a card shop in Agawam when she was abducted on April 15, 1992. The clerk who worked the following morning found her car parked where it was the night before; the store's lights were on and the doors were open.

Money was left in the cash register and Ziegert's purse remained in the store.

Four days later, police told her family she had been found dead. No suspect was identified.

District Attorney Anthony Gulluni will provide an update at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Hampden County Hall of Justice in Springfield.
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence is returning to New Hampshire for a campaign rally.

Pence, the governor of Indiana, will appear in Milford at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, just hours before his running mate, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, is scheduled to take the stage at Hofstra University for his first debate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Pence and Trump have each campaigned in the state several times since the summer, as has the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Tim Kaine.

Clinton is scheduled to visit New Hampshire on Wednesday, her first trip to the state since July.

New Hampshire is a key battleground state in the presidential election, although it offers only four Electoral College votes. Trump handily won the February primary, while Clinton lost to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders is scheduled to join Clinton at her stop at the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday.
Massachusetts State Police announced Monday they arrested a third suspect wanted in connection with a shooting at a CVS in Stoughton last Thursday.

Marcus Pierre-Louis, 23, the suspected gunman in the shooting, was taken into custody at 7:20 p.m. at a Normandy Street residence in Dorchester.

Police said at the time of his arrest, Pierre-Louis was in possession of a loaded firearm. He was taken into custody without incident.

Authorities said the gun will be tested to determine if it was the weapon used in the CVS shooting.

Two minors were arrested last week in connection with the shooting after an 18-year-old man was shot in the shoulder inside the store.

Pierre-Louis will be arraigned in Stoughton District Court on Tuesday where he is expected to be charged with attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and child endangerment.
According to authorities, more than 400 persons were in and around the bridge in Morbi when it collapsed Sunday evening.
Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21.

Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21.

Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more

First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more

Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more

South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more

Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more

Executive assistant and nursery manager jobs SOUL Church is a vibrant, welcoming and growing church in Norwich. They are seeking an organised and versatile Executive Assistant to provide key support to the churchs Senior Pastors, as well as a qualified Nursery Manager to head up SOUL Nursery. Read more

Halloween light in Gorleston church On Halloween this year, St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston will be preparing to welcome around 200 families to experience their Light on a Dark Night event. Read more

An opportunity for Norwich to pray for the nation Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment. Read more

Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more

Please keep Rishi in your prayers Andy Bryant urges us to pray for our political leaders, especially the new Prime Minister, and avoid unhelpful judgementalism. Read more

Emilys art boosts growing Yarmouth foodbank A pupil at a primary school in Bradwell has been selling her pictures in order to raise money for the Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, which is expanding its capacity and is seeking more volunteers. Read more

Patrick Regan helps Norwich to bounce forwards On Saturday St Stephens in Norwich hosted Bouncing Forwards as part of a national tour by the mental health charity Kintsugi Hope. Read more

Painting and biblical feasting in Overstrand There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

National award for Dereham Christian bookshop The Green Pastures Christian bookshop in Dereham has won a national award for providing boxes of Christian books to 21 local schools. Read more

Norma's care home jigsaw challenge complete A resident at Norwich-based care home Corton House has completed an incredible 70 jigsaw puzzles in celebration of the homes 70th anniversary this year. Read more

Norwich charity's appeal to support Palestinian students A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal  to be launched on November 29. Read more
Security blogger Brian Krebs says a massive distributed denial-of-service attack that took down his Web site last week was likely the consequences for his outing of two Israelis who ran a DDoS-for-hire business.

+More on Network World: The IoT is uranium+

The pair, whom he identifies as Itay Huri and Yarden Bidani, both 18, were arrested in Israel at the request of the FBI six days after Krebs posted his blog and are now under house arrest.

He thinks this blog posted Sept. 16 irked them or their confederates to retaliate with the attack against Krebss site using a botnet of hundreds of thousands or perhaps a million hijacked internet of things devices, mainly cameras, routers and DVRs.

He says the attack include the text string freeapplej4ck, an apparent reference to one of the two arrested Israelis who goes by the hacker name Applej4ck.

Huri and Bidani ran vDOS, a business that sold subscriptions to a DDoS attack platform for between $20 and $200 per month.

If Krebss suspicions are true, it means that malicious actors with relatively modest means can summon up giant botnets comprised of IoT devices and deliver unheard of volumes of DDoS traffic.

A similar attack against the French hosting provider OVH topped out at 1.5TBps using an army of bots. This botnet with 145607 cameras/dvr (1-30Mbps per IP) is able to send >1.5Tbps DDoS, according to a tweet by Octave Klaba, the founder of OVH.

The attacks are apparently continuing, Klaba tweeted today: +6857 new cameras participated in the DDoS last 48H.

Wikipedia Bruce Schneier

Earlier this month, security expert Bruce Schneier warned in a blog that unknown parties seem to be systematically testing how resilient key internet infrastructure is to DDoS attacks. He says his information comes from companies that provide the infrastructure, but that he couldnt name because they spoke to him under conditions of anonymity.

The attacks seem carefully measured to reach a certain volume of traffic, then stop. Later, they resume at the same level of intensity and gradually increase, which is indicative of attempts to quantify just what it would take to break each victims network, Schneier says.

The unknown attackers throw different types of attacks against the networks they are testing, he says, to evaluate what tools the victims have and how effective they are.

He says he doesnt know who is behind these probing attacks, but speculates it is a nation and a large one at that, but probably not an activist or researcher or even criminals. He mentions Russia and China.

It feels like a nation's military cybercommand trying to calibrate its weaponry in the case of cyberwar. It reminds me of the US's Cold War program of flying high-altitude planes over the Soviet Union to force their air-defense systems to turn on, to map their capabilities, Schneier writes.
To kick off his companys Ignite conference in Atlanta this week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Adobe will run three of its most popular software as a service apps on the Microsoft Azure IaaS cloud.

The move is a power play by Microsoft and Adobe on multiple fronts, analysts say. But, it should also be taken with a grain of salt: A spokesperson for Adobe confirmed that the company has a large footprint with AWS and it expects to use both AWS and Azure moving forward. In that sense, it shows the dynamic nature of partnerships across the cloud market.

+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: Docker containers are coming to Windows | Review: Windows Server 2016 steps up security, cloud support +

As part of the agreement, Adobe will make Microsoft Azure its preferred cloud platform for the Adobe Marketing Cloud, Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Document Cloud. That means for those three Adobe SaaS applications, the primary infrastructure provider will be Microsoft.

Its a two-way partnership: Microsoft will also use the Adobe Marketing Cloud as its preferred marketing service for Dynamics 365, marking a partnership between the two companies marketing SaaS apps.

The two companies are collaborating on data integrations to ensure customers can easily work across Adobe Marketing Cloud and Dynamics 365 business applications, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning and advance analytics, a press release states.

To some observers, the move marks a major win for Redmond. Microsoft is in an intense battle for market share with Amazon Web Services in the public IaaS cloud. In each of the past three years Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have been the only two companies listed as leaders in Gartners Magic Quadrant, but AWS has been positioned more favorably than Azure each time. According to Synergy Researchs latest market share data in Q2, AWS held just over 30% market share, with Microsoft holding second place with just over 10% share in IaaS, PaaS and hosted private cloud.

Earlier this May, AWS had their own big win with a SaaS vendor when Salesforce.com named AWS its preferred infrastructure provider. Microsoft needed a win on Azure and they got one with Adobe, tweeted Aragon Research lead analyst Jim Lundy (check out his Tweet for a video clip of Nadella and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen announcing the partnership).

Still using AWS

Adobes partnership with Microsoft is not exclusive, however. According to AWSs case studies page, Adobe runs its Adobe Systems Managed Services off of AWS.

We announced Azure as our preferred platform given the go-to-market alignment and benefits as well as enterprise alignment between Marketing Cloud and Dynamics, an Adobe spokesperson wrote in an email. At the same time we will continue to provide choice to customers. We have a large footprint on AWS today and expect to have continued partnership with AWS.

An AWS spokesperson added: We have a significant, long-term relationship and agreement with Adobe that hasnt changed. Their customers will want to use AWS, and they're committed to continuing to make that easy.

As Adobe double-dips in the IaaS market, it raises an interesting question about companies using both of the leading cloud platforms. How large does an (enterprise) need to be when they must be multi-cloud? asked Constellation researchs Holger Mueller on Twitter.

The timing of Microsoft and Adobe announcing their partnerships should be considered as well. As Alan Lepofsky of Constellation pointed out, Microsoft and Adobe are teaming up the week before one of their biggest mutual competitors, Salesforce.com, is set to kick off its Dreamforce event next week.

While Microsoft and Adobe compete with Salesforce on their suite of SaaS apps, Salesforce and Microsoft have their own partnership too. Not only are Office 365 contacts integrated into the Salesforce customer relationship management tool, but Salesforce also uses Azure as a development and hosting platform for its ExactTarget email business.

As Accenture global cloud lead Michael Lebow Tweeted: Game is on to attract SaaS players to cloud platforms. Given Microsofts partnerships with Adobe and Salesforce, and its competition in the CRM market with Salesforce, it just goes to show that the cloud sure can make for some strange corporate bedfellows.
As expected the IEEE has ratified a new Ethernet specification -- IEEE P802.3bz  that defines 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T, boosting the current top speed of traditional Ethernet five-times without requiring the tearing out of current cabling.

The Ethernet Alliance wrote that the IEEE 802.3bz Standard for Ethernet Amendment sets Media Access Control Parameters, Physical Layers and Management Parameters for 2.5G and 5Gbps Operation lets access layer bandwidth evolve incrementally beyond 1Gbps, it will help address emerging needs in a variety of settings and applications, including enterprise, wireless networks.

+More on Network World: Ethernet: Are there worlds left to conquer?+

Indeed, the wireless component may be the most significant implication of the standard as 2.5G and 5G Ethernet will allow connectivity to 802.11ac Wave 2 Access Points, considered by many to be the real driving force behind bringing up the speed of traditional NBase-T products.

As new 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless technology is being deployed the need to offload more and more data at higher and higher speeds from the wireless to the wired network has never been so critical, wrote Sachin Gupta, vice president of product management in a blog celebrating the ratification. Going beyond 1 Gb/s with existing Cat5e and Cat6 cables was little more than a talking point two years ago. But now with NBASE-T, we have the ability to extend the life of an enormous asset your wired network.

Gupta added: For some, a re-cabling isnt even possible. For others, unfeasible. For the rest, re-cabling is just costly and disruptive. It is easy to imagine the value of delivering multi-gigabit speeds to the more than 1.3 billion Cat 5e/6 outlets worldwide if it doesnt require the huge head-ache and expense of a major cable replacement. The promise of NBASE-T has to have nearly every CFO, CTO, building manager and IT group breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The applications for NBASE-T solutions are vast and growing. Enterprise, small medium business, industrial and home networks can take advantage of this technology to enable higher capacity wireless access points and faster downloads to client systems such as medical imaging systems that work with large data files, upgraded industrial and home networks, the NBASE-T Alliance wrote of the ratification.

"Last quarter, NBASE-T switch and access point ports surged significantly as enterprises began to upgrade their campus networks to speeds beyond 1G," said Alan Weckel, vice president of Ethernet switch market research at Dell'Oro Group in a statement. "There will be a sizable upgrade cycle around NBASE-T technology with robust growth expected over the next several years. As a result, we expect 2017 NBASE-T port shipments to exceed three million ports."

+More on Network World: Low-speed Ethernet champions set plugfest ahead of new net standard

Hand-in-hand with adoption of a low-speed Ethernet standard by the IEEE, proponents of the technology will hold an interoperability plugfest in October to tout the readiness of 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T products. For the plugfest, which will be held the week of Oct. 10 at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory in Durham, N.H., the two groups behind the new Ethernet speeds the Ethernet Alliance and the NBASE-T Alliance will work together and share post-event results of the interoperability testing performed.

Related Video:
Alyana Gomez has joined KTVU FOX 2 in San Francisco, California as the weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter, New England One has learned.

Alyana Gomez has joined KTVU FOX 2 in San Francisco, California as the weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter, New England One has learned.

She joins KTVU from WVIT-TV NBC Connecticut in Hartford where she had been the weekend morning anchor and a reporter since June 2015. A source tells New England One that NBC Connecticut let Alayna out of her three year contract early.

Before NBC Connecticut, Alayna worked at WJAX-TV CBS 47/WFOX-TV FOX 30 in Jacksonville, Florida where she was a general assignment reporter.

She was also the noon anchor and a reporter at WMDT-TV ABC 47 in Salisbury, MD, where she started her career in television news. While at WMDT, she won several Associated Press awards for Outstanding Enterprise Reporting, In-Depth Reporting, and Spot News. She also played a part in covering two hurricanes to hit the area. Before that, she was an intern at the Delmarva Daily Times in Salisbury.

A native of New Jersey, Alyana is a graduate of Salisbury University where she studied journalism.
What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer?
Andrew Howie lives in Champaign and hides his pretentious music taste behind self-deprecating humor. If you seek radio hits, this is not the column you're looking for. Come here to find the acquired tastes, the obscure albums, the innovative and bizarre.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low near 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Structured group psychoeducation sessions could be more successful in treating patients in the early stages of bipolar disorder than standard peer-support offered by the NHS and the voluntary sector, research has found.

The study by academics at The Universities of Nottingham, Lancaster (Spectrum Centre) and Manchester published this week in Lancet Psychiatry, and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), found evidence that psychoeducation - in which patients are offered information on their illness and work with family members to develop personalised coping strategies - could potentially offer an effective early intervention for people with bipolar disorder.

They have called for further research to explore whether group psychoeducation could be used preventatively to halt the further progression of the disorder.

The research was led by Professor Richard Morriss in the University's School of Medicine and Institute of Mental Health - a partnership between the University and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and NIHR Collaborative for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands.

Professor Morriss said: "NICE recommended group psychoeducation for bipolar disorder was put into practice in the NHS in England and Wales. However, the effectiveness of the intervention was questioned in the media on the basis that previous research had been low in quality. We have conducted a large high quality randomised controlled trial of group psychoeducation against a rigorous control and this shows that overall there are benefits to people with bipolar disorder overall from this cheap and easy to implement intervention in providing information, support and increasing time before they next have a mania episode, and in especially in people who first develop bipolar disorder where it may considerably reduce the number of relapses in bipolar disorder."

Bipolar disorder is a common lifelong mental health disorder which first affects people in adolescence or early adulthood. Previously known as manic depression, the condition affects patients' moods, causing them to experience episodes of feeling low and lethargic while at other times feeling very high and overactive.

In the UK, information and emotional support is offered to people with bipolar disorder through unstructured peer-support groups run through the NHS and charities such as Bipolar UK, which includes a national network of more than 130 support groups.

Between September 2009 and June 2012, the researchers recruited 304 bipolar patients to the trial, who were randomly assigned to receive either psychoeducation or peer support.

While structured group psychoeducation was found to be no more clinically effective than unstructured peer support across the whole of the group, an analysis of the results showed that psychoeducation was more popular - attendance at psychoeducation groups was higher than at peer-support groups (a median of 14 sessions versus nine sessions).

The study also showed that psychoeducation was most beneficial in participants with few previous bipolar episodes (less than eight episodes).

Two themes also emerged from qualitative study of the value of the two groups: increased knowledge in general about bipolar disorder and specifically how it affects the participant as an individual and tackling isolation and stigma by allowing patients to share similar experiences.

However, some participants blamed dropping out of treatment for their illness on a lack of structure within the peer-support groups.

In an accompanying editorial in Lancet Psychiatry, Professor Eduard Vieta, the Spanish psychiatrist and a leading scientific authority on the neurobiology and treatment of bipolar disorder, and Professor Ivette Morilla, a specialist in clinical psychology, suggest that the study's strength could lie in its finding on the importance of early intervention.

"It could be argued that this was not the primary objective of the study, but at the end of the day this is, indeed, the most pragmatic conclusion that one can take from the study results," they say.

"In patients with less than eight episodes, PEd significantly delayed time to the next episode, indicating that the intervention may be better suited for subjects at early stages of the illness.

"To conclude, group psychoeducation may work well in bipolar patients with few episodes and perhaps no substantial comorbidity. Because of its low cost, it should be implemented and delivered as part of a community-centred early intervention approach."

After demand from participants in the study and their nurses and doctors, group psychoeducation is now a funded NHS service delivered by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for people with bipolar disorder in Nottingham and Mansfield. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is now working with East Midlands Academic Health Science Network to explore the development of a collaborative project to implement group psychoeducation in partnership with NHS services across the East Midlands. Nationally the intervention has been adopted by NICE as a key recommendation and quality standard for putting into clinical practice with groups now being held in other parts of the country such as Manchester and Birmingham.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common liver disease worldwide, is increasing in prevalence and is currently estimated to affect approximately one-quarter of the general population. A new study published in the journal Hepatology reveals the clinical and economic burden of NAFLD in the United States and Europe. The findings will help clinicians and policy makers develop strategies to deal with this serious chronic disease.

NAFLD, which is characterized by the build up of extra fat in liver cells, is associated with obesity and diabetes, and it occurs with minimal or no symptom until the disease is advanced. When Zobair Younossi, MD, MPH, of Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia, and his colleagues constructed models to assess the potential burden of NAFLD, they estimated that there are 64 million individuals with the disease in the United States and 52 million in the four European countries examined (Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom). Annual direct medical costs were estimated to be approximately $103 billion ($1163 per patient) in the United States and  35 billion (from  354 to  1163 per patient) in the four European countries. The economic burden of NAFLD would be even higher when including societal costs and indirect costs.

"Given the growing epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and NAFLD, this study brings to the attention of policymakers, providers, pharmaceutical companies, payers, and patients the critical importance of understanding NAFLD and establishing a policy for prevention, early detection, and effective therapy," said Dr. Younossi. "This requires a multi-faceted national and possibly international policy to deal with this common, debilitating, and expensive liver disease."

Source: Wiley
Scientists from the Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit (Institut Pasteur/Inserm), working in collaboration with scientists from the University of Glasgow, have demonstrated the presence of a large quantity of trypanosomes  the parasites responsible for sleeping sickness  in the skin of individuals with no symptoms. This discovery should refocus the screening strategy for this disease, which was previously based on the detection of parasites in the bloodstream, and raises the possibility of eliminating the disease in West Africa. The scientists' results were published in e-Life on September 22, 2016.

Sleeping sickness affects between 4,000 and 8,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa each year. The disease can be fatal if the parasites reach the central nervous system. "In recent centuries, sleeping sickness has almost been eradicated in West Africa on two occasions," explained Brice Rotureau, head of the Trypanosome Transmission Group in the Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit (Institut Pasteur/Inserm). "But each time the disease has reappeared, with many infected individuals seemingly slipping through the net during screening campaigns and continuing to transmit the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense to its insect vector, the tsetse fly." It is thought that in at least 30% of cases, the serological screening test is positive, despite no living parasites being detected in the bloodstream. But if the parasites are not in the blood, where are they hiding? Here is the question that scientists from the Institut Pasteur, the University of Glasgow, the University of Kinshasa and the French Research Institute for Development (IRD) set out to investigate.

In this study, scientists from the Institut Pasteur decided to monitor the evolution and distribution of Trypanosoma brucei parasites in real time in mouse models. Trypanosomes that had been modified to emit both fluorescence and bioluminescence were transmitted to these mice via tsetse flies, their natural vectors. "We saw a huge number of parasites in the skin, a much larger quantity than in the bloodstream," described Brice Rotureau. "And at tissue level, we observed trypanosomes at the base of the dermis moving in the inter-cellular matrix, outside the vascular system. The parasites were distributed very evenly, as if they were trying to optimize their chances of being taken up by a tsetse fly so that they could be transmitted to a new host."

The scientists' research enabled them to prove that trypanosomes were hiding in the skin. But in order to provide conclusive evidence that the trypanosomes could be absorbed by flies when they feed on mice, they then exposed infected mice to naive tsetse flies. These mice had parasites in their skin but not in their bloodstream. The scientists' experiments revealed that when the flies fed on areas of the skin with no parasites, they were not infected. But the flies that fed on parts of the skin with a high density of parasites were infected. In other words, parasites in the skin can be transmitted to tsetse flies and can therefore result in new cases of sleeping sickness.

The study also demonstrated the presence of trypanosomes in the skin of African patients, including individuals who had received a negative diagnosis for the disease. These patients were actually healthy carriers who served as reservoirs for the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and who should have been treated. All these findings offer new hope for the treatment of sleeping sickness.

The scientists are now working on rapid and non-invasive screening procedures which would reveal any trypanosomes hidden in the skin and identify healthy carriers that have not been identified by previous screening tests. "Now that we know where to look, we can seriously think about eradicating sleeping sickness in West Africa in the relatively near future  especially since the epidemiological situation, with cases at a record low, is ripe for action," explained Brice Rotureau. "We hope that our work will provide a valuable tool that enables WHO to launch an eradication campaign on all fronts, involving screening, treatment of patients and healthy carriers, and vector control measures."

Source: http://www.pasteur.fr/
insights from industry Dr. Manasa Gudheti

Applications Scientist

Bruker Nano Surfaces

In this interview, News Medical speaks to Dr. Manasa Gudheti of Bruker Nano Surfaces about biological specimens and how to acquire super-resolution images of them.

The 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry led to a notable increase in publications utilizing super-resolution microscopy. How is super-resolution imaging different than traditional light microscopy?

Traditional light microscopy techniques such as confocal and wide-field are diffraction-limited in resolution, which is about 200 nm laterally (in xy) and 500 to 600 nm axially (in z). Features that are closer than the diffraction limit will appear blurred in the image.

Super-resolution techniques either surpass or circumvent the diffraction limit and thereby enable the imaging of structures in biological samples that could previously only be observed with electron microscopy (EM). In addition, live specimen imaging is possible with super-res techniques at sub-diffraction resolutions which is nearly impossible with EM.

So there are a number of different methods then to achieve super resolution. Can you briefly describe the major differences between them, and tell us what Brukers Vutara 352 uses?

Broadly there are three different flavors of super-resolution microscopy; Structured illumination microscopy (SIM), Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and Single Molecule Localization (SML) microscopy.

SIM can achieve a two-fold improvement in resolution using Moire patterns and Fourier transforms. STED uses point spread function engineering to reduce the size of the diffraction limited spot achieving a five- to ten-fold improvement in resolution. SML techniques rely on localizing the positions of a series stochastically activated subset of molecules in the sample thereby achieving resolutions up to 20 nm laterally and 50 nm axially.

The Vutara 352 microscope uses SML principles coupled with biplane detection to obtain three-dimensional super-resolution images. In comparison to SIM and STED, SML techniques offer the best improvement in resolution along with quantitative/statistical analysis capabilities

What are the advantages of being able image at video rates in super resolution?

The biggest advantage would be the ability to capture dynamics in a living specimen at sub-diffraction resolution. In a fixed specimen, imaging will be faster therefore reducing recording time.

One of the major strengths of super-resolution microscopy is that it combines the three-dimensional multicolor imaging capabilities of confocal with the resolution close to those obtained by electron microscopy (EM). Even though EM slightly surpasses super-resolution techniques by obtaining near angstrom resolution, imaging live specimens with EM is nearly impossible.

Being able to image at video-rate with single-molecule techniques enables scientists to capture real-time dynamics of biological molecules in living cells. The Vutara 352 microscope makes video-rate imaging possible by using a high-speed sCMOS camera along with robust, real-time localization algorithms.

Image: BSCI cell, 800 FPS, AF647 - Alphatubulin, Cy3B - TOM20

Can the results of super-resolution imaging truly be considered quantitative, rather than qualitative?

With the right control experiments in place one can harness the quantitative aspect of single-molecule super-resolution microscopy. In the process of detecting single molecules, SML techniques are inherently counting molecules to build a map of localized molecules to render the final image. This enables statistical analysis on the tabulated co-ordinates thereby providing quantitative information in addition to the super-resolution image.

Image: Alexafluor-633 labeled GPI-protein GFP-FR, plasma membrane protein that forms distinct clusters.

Where do you think super-resolution imaging will have the biggest impact, and what is next for this exciting technology?

I think we are just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of possibilities for this technology. Recently, we added a multi-point scanning confocal scanner to the Vutara 352 microscope. This enables researchers to perform correlative imaging; i.e., overlay a super-resolution image over a contextual confocal image.

The biggest impact to come will be seen in live-cell and tissue imaging. There have been several challenges in extending SML imaging to tissues and live specimens but I think we are seeing considerable progress being made in dye engineering and sample prep methods that are making it possible.

Do you have any case studies you can tell us about?

Researchers have used the Vutara microscope to image a variety of biological specimens including cells, viruses, bacteria, tissue sections, Drosophila and C. Elegans. The Bruker website features some examples of applications: https://www.bruker.com/products/fluorescence-microscopes/vutara-super-resolution-microscopy/applications.html

There are also several publications with super-resolution data taken on the Vutara microscope.

Where can our readers learn more about super-resolution imaging?

The super-resolution field is continuously evolving and we at Bruker keep a close eye on current literature. Please head on over to our key publication page to learn more: https://www.bruker.com/products/fluorescence-microscopes/landing-pages/super-resolution-references.html

About Dr. Manasa Gudheti

Dr. Manasa Gudheti is an applications scientist at Bruker Nano Surfaces in Salt Lake City, UT, with over a decade of expertise in super-resolution microscopy.

Manasa earned a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India in 1999 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in 2004. She then pursued a post-doctorate in Biophysics in Dr. Sam Hesss lab at the University of Maine.

In 2006, Dr. Hess lab pioneered the SML microscopy technique FPALM (fluorescent photoactivation localization microscopy). In 2008, 3D FPALM was developed. This 3D super-resolution technique was subsequently commercialized at the University of Utah startup venture, Vutara. Manasa accepted the senior scientist position at Vutara in 2011 along with a visiting researcher affiliation at the University of Utah.

Bruker acquired Vutara in July, 2014. This was also the year that super-resolved fluorescence microscopy techniques garnered the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Bruker's flagship super-resolution product, which Manasa has been instrumental in developing, is the Vutara 352 single molecule localization (SML) 3D super-resolution microscope, based on a patented biplane technology.

Vutara Publication List
In order to extend the life of fruits and vegetables and preserve them for longer refrigeration, UNAM researchers developed an edible coating with added functional ingredients applied to freshly cut foods.

Dr. Maria de la Luz Zambrano Zaragoza, researcher at the Faculty of Higher Cuautitlan (FES) Cuautitlan, explained that the benefits range from having a cut product attractive, "by oxidation, many fruits no longer consumed with this technology, crop losses will decrease also retain nutrients from fruits or vegetables".

With university technology has been preserved apple cut up to 25 days and a kiwi for two weeks. In addition, their production is costly because it costs 70 pesos a liter of dispersion can be coated 20 kilograms of cut fruit ready to be placed in convenience stores and consumed later.

After nine years of research, university scientists found that if nanocapsules loaded with alpha tocopherol and beta-carotene in fruits and fresh-cut vegetables are dispersed, homogeneous film forms a flexible, inhibits enzymatic browning and prolongs the life of these.

"The microencapsulated we design are food additives with a similar to that of a ball of nanometric size ranging between one hundred to 500 nanometers structure internally can place you active substance such as lemon oil or rosemary, or antioxidant alpha tocopherol or beta-carotene; drops out of this area of the active substance through the wall that migrate to the fruit achieving their conservation", explained the academic responsible for the investigation.

Physically, the coating is not apparent to the eye, is not a film due to immersion applied to the fruit surface active substances absorbed, obtaining a product ready to eat.

In addition, coatings with different flavors can be developed to make the product attractive.

Scientific development already patented and won first place awards in the "Development Program Patenting and Innovation" (PROFOPI 2015-2016), whose purpose is promoting a culture of industrial property at UNAM. Following this, researchers aim to bring to a pilot plant for industrial production.

"One of the interests of the UNAM is to contribute to society with useful technologies that can be marketed well and export," concluded Dr. Zambrano Zaragoza.
The social media saw an outpouring of grief when 18 soldiers were martyred during a terror attack at an army camp in Uri town of Kashmir. Some have even gone beyond armchair activism to show their appreciation for the countrys jawans.A special discount for soldiers and families of martyrs at the Neelkanth Restaurant in Raipur is one such initiative that has gone viral. The establishment, situated at the railway station road in the Chhattisgarh capital, is offering 25% discount to soldiers who walk in with identity cards and 50% for those wearing their uniforms and carrying an ID card. Parents of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation will not be charged anything.A poster put up by the restaurant has been doing social media rounds for the last few days and says 'rashtrahit sarvapratham' (national interest is foremost) at the top.Neelkanth Restaurant, however, is not the first. Several other eateries, too, have been offering such discounts to soldiers and their families. The Gopal Hotel and Restaurant, which seems to have inspired the Raipur establishment, has been offering such discounts as early as July this year.It is a small yet a powerful gesture for our brave men at the border.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday said India cannot unilaterally revoke the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty and that any attempt by New Delhi to block Islamabad's share of water could be seen as an act of war.



Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday told the National Assembly that Pakistan would approach the International Court of Justice if India violates the treaty.



Pakistan will not accept "aggression by India in any form" and China would get justification to block Indian water if New Delhi did the same to Islamabad, he said.



Aziz said that India is "feeling pressure" due to Pakistan's diplomatic onslaught against "human rights violation" in Jammu and Kashmir and supporting their right to self determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.



He said Pakistan will "expose India" before the international community, and added that the government is preparing a comprehensive dossier on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and "Indian interference in Balochistan".



Aziz said the Indus Waters Treaty offers no unilateral exit provision or revocation, and its role is defined in the treaty in case of violation by any party.



Aziz's statement came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review of provisions of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and was quoted as saying that "water and blood can't flow at the same time".



New Delhi's stance comes in the wake of the September 18 terror attack on the Uri Army camp in Kashmir which left 18 Indian soldiers dead. India has blamed the attack on Pakistan-based militants and Modi has promised that the sacrifice of the soldiers will not go waste.



Pakistan's former Indus Water Commissioner Jamat Ali Shah on Monday slammed India for threatening to block the flow of water.



He expressed fears that if the treaty gets suspended then India may build up dams on Jhelum and Chenab rivers.



On the Uri attack, Aziz said that Pakistan was ready to extend all possible support for investigation into the incident but it should be conducted by an international body.
New Delhi: The alleged suicide of former Director-General of Corporate Affairs Bal Kishan Bansal and his family has put the spotlight once again on the long-standing debate on whether there should be clear guidelines for investigative agencies on conducting a raid or seizure.



Bansal - who was under investigation for bribery and corruption charges - and his son were found dead on Tuesday morning in their New Delhi residence. His wife and daughter committed suicide three months ago, days after the CBI had raided their house.



Incidentally, a day earlier, the Supreme Court had admitted a PIL on issuing guidelines to CBI while conducting seizure and raid. The litigant, Upendra Rai, had decided to approach the court after the suicide of Bansal's wife and daughter.



Advocate Keshav Mohan who had filed the PIL on behalf of Rai  also the CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Tehelka  said the guidelines would have come as comfort for Bansal whose wife and daughter committed suicide "after the humiliating CBI raids."



Mohan said Rai filed the plea after declaring that there was no personal interest in the matter and it was directed to serve the larger public interest. Though the trigger was the deaths of Bansal's wife and daughter, the PIL heavily relied on the raid conducted at the residence of Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh in September, 2015.



"These raids often start during the wee hours and stretch till midnight, thereby causing insurmountable harassment and mental agony. Virbhadra Singhs residence was raided on the day of his daughters wedding. This is a complete attack on privacy, because home is a persons private space and thereby violates Right to Life as enshrined by our constitution," Mohan told News18.



The issue of search and seizure guidelines has always split the law enforcement community with enough argument for and against.



Shantanu Sen, a former CBI official, said, "Counselling must be given to the affected individuals after raids are conducted so that any extreme step is not taken. We have to understand that an accused is not guilty unless convicted and when raids take place, it is always only on the basis of a suspicion. Hence, the CBI must act with restraint in such situations."



He further said that such kind of raids often has a deep impact on a person's mental health.



However, former Delhi Police Commissioner TR Kakkar said, "Such guidelines have absolutely no value unless the substantive law, The Criminal Procedure Code, is amended and they are incorporated therein."



He also criticized the idea saying that on one hand people complain that there is no fear of the police and on the other hand they want a competent authority to be informed of a planned raid.



"Such information would spread like wild fire and every accused will then safely escape the purpose for which CBI was instituted," he said.



CBI spokesperson Gaur refused to comment on the issue. "We are deeply saddened to know about the unfortunate demise of Shri BK Bansal and his son today. The matter is being looked into by the local police," he said.
Bengaluru: Quick: What have a pair of crows, a lemon, and an assembly resolution moved after expiry of 'Rahu Kaala' got to do with an inter-state river dispute?



Well, read on.



The Cauvery dispute where the Supreme Court has consistently dismissed Karnataka's pleas and positions against sharing water with Tamil Nadu is widely expected to spill over to the state assembly polls scheduled for early 2018.



The prospect of an electoral drought has state chief minister Siddaramaiah so worried that  if sources close to him are to be believed  he is resorting to the supernatural.



Well, give him this much, our man has never claimed to be atheist or agnostic despite his public image as a "rationalist" CM. He reiterated that position to News18 once again when this correspondent contacted him for this story.



"If others claim that I am an atheist, what can I do? You ask them," Siddaramaiah said.



But both friends and foes alike point out that the chief minister had always carefully played on his Socialist past to project the image of a rationalist, reformer-politician who has turned his back on superstitions. Both his predecessors  BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda  never really dismissed occult practices.



In 1996-97 then then PM Gowda had performed a mega 'yaaga' ostensibly to save his chair. But a few months later Gowda lost the New Delhi throne, his astrologer died a pauper a few years later. As for Yeddyurappa, lemons, ash gourd and broken bangles found outside the state Vidhan Soudha immediately after a no-confidence motion in 2010 against the then CM had made news.



Well, then again there are those who point out that Siddaramaiah's image as a "rationalist" is a thing of the past, something he discarded as he moved on from the Janata Parivaar to the Congress. They have a point. The day after his Congress party won the polls with Siddaramaiah as their CM-designate, he fixed an auspicious time for his swearing in after consulting an astrologer in Bengaluru.



When this reporter asked him then about his sudden belief in stars and planets, Siddaramaiah said that his wife was a religious person and she had actually consulted astrologers to fix an auspicious time.



"When you are in power, you will have to believe in all these things," he replied, smiling ear-to-ear.



Ironically, a year later, the same Siddaramaiah proposed an anti-superstition bill aimed at curbing a few ancient Hindu practices considered superstitious. Sure, he backtracked on that one after a few in his own party besides Opposition BJP and JDS raised a stink.



The last-man standing in Congress partys once-impressive roster of chief ministers  discounting smaller hill states  seems to have had a genuine rethink on that one. Those in his close circles say that it was around this time that they started noticing a marked change in his behavior. He suddenly started performing poojas and yagnas, a real change of heart for a committed socialist.



And then there is the incident of the 'crow on the bonnet'. Three month ago, a few news photographers milling around Bengaluru power circuit observed a crow sitting on the bonnet of the CM's official car. Regional TV channels picked it up and went to town announcing that bad times were awaiting the CM because, apparently, a crow on a car has destroyed many a political career!



Of course, the chief minister, a committed socialist, rubbished those claims. Yet, the next morning, he changed his official car.



As it turned out, bad news followed on both the political and the personal front for the CM. Two senior police officers committed suicide within two weeks gap, one of whom blamed the state home minister and CM-confidante KJ George that eventually led to his resignation (he was reinstated early this week after a court dismissed charges).



A few days after Siddaramaiah came out of that crisis, the worst happened. His elder son and heir-apparent Rakesh died after suddenly falling sick during his Belgium tour.



The astrologers in Karnataka went berserk blaming the crow on the bonnet for the disasters suggesting the CM need to quickly resort to the supernatural to ward off the evil powers acting against him.



On the last day of this August, Siddaramaiah went around his hometown Mysore holding a lemon in his hand. Several Kannada news channels carried video footage of the Chief Minister tightly holding a lemon in his right hand all through the day. He even spoke to media raising his hand showing the lemon to photographers. But he refused to comment on it. According to media reports, either a Muslim Maulvi or a Hindu seer had given him that lemon to ward off evil powers.



"He believes that some evil power is harming his family. He is now worried about the safety of his other family members. Some astrologers have advised him to perform special poojas to ward off evil powers," an MLA close to the chief minister told CNN News18.



A week later, a controversial self-styled god-man called Chandrashekhara Swamy (whose claim to fame is "predicting" the wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan) claimed that he has sighted a "white crow" on the banks of Cauvery river and it might cause irreparable damage to the CM.



He had warned that the Cauvery dispute would bring Siddaramaiah government to an end. He had warned that the Cauvery dispute would bring Siddaramaiah government to an end. Whether it was a white crow or a black crow, the river water dispute is unsettling the CM.



A week later the Supreme Court delivered a body blow to the Siddaramaiah government by ordering it to release more water to Tamil Nadu. All pleas by his government before the SC failed, including a review petition filed this week. The CM is now set on a collision course with the judiciary.



It was lost on none that the one-day special session of the Assembly to discuss the SC verdict was called only after the expiry of Rahu Kaala  the time period during a day when one is not supposed to undertake anything auspicious as per devout Hindu beliefs.



So, once again, we posed the question straight to Siddaramaiah. Has the "committed socialist" comprehensively moved over to the other side where he believes only the supernatural can save his chair?



Once again, Siddaramaiah didn't mince words: "Didnt I tell you that I am not an atheist? You can deduce the right answer".


New Delhi: France has welcomed the Indian governments decision to ratify the Paris climate change agreement, aimed at containing global warming, on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.



French Minister of Environment and Energy Segolene Royal complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deciding to ratify the ambitious pact that charts a course to cut greenhouse gas emissions.



Congratulations to @narendramodi, PM of India for ratification #ParisAgreement on 2 oct (sic), Royal tweeted.



French ambassador Alexandre Ziegler also hailed India's decision to ratify the pact. "Welcome decision by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi that India will ratify #ParisAgreement on Oct 2, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi @PMOIndia," he tweeted.



The historic Paris agreement, reached in December, will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries, accounting for 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The US has already welcomed India's decision.



Modi had on Monday announced that India will ratify the Paris agreement on October 2. 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 catastrophe. It had set a target of limiting global temperature increase by 2Celsius.



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, fearing that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects.



The issue of India ratifying the Paris deal had come up for discussion between Modi and US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos earlier this month.



Climate change is one of the centrepieces of Obama's legacy and the US President has been quite vocal about the effects that climate change may unleash.



He has often said climate change is the greatest long-term threat facing the world, manifesting itself as droughts, storms and flooding.
Should India take the drastic step of abrogating a 60-year-old water-sharing treaty to teach Pakistan a lesson in peaceful co-existence? Well, as it turns out, even the current framework of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has enough provisions to tighten the screws on Pakistan. All we need in is political will.



We just need to harness the water, says Uttam Sinha, an expert on water security at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).



Currently, we are giving a lot of water to Pakistan because we have not harnessed it. When you build storage, you can also potentially use it for the manipulation of water. What will worry Pakistan is that India can use these facilities to control the flow of the waters, he says.



The IWT is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan signed in 1960. It gives India exclusive rights over the eastern rivers (Satluj, Beas, Ravi) while allowing limited use of the Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) subject to conditions that safeguard Pakistans interests.



Experts advocating a relook at the IWT provisions point to water expert the late Ramaswamy Iyers observations on the Indus tributaries. As the lower riparian country on the Indus system, Pakistan tends to look with anxious eyes at any attempts by India to build structures on the western rivers that may enable India either to reduce water flows or to release stored waters and cause floods, he had observed.



This is where India can maximise the utilisation of waters in both the Western and Eastern systems to send a strong signal to Pakistan: For instance, the Shahpur Kandi dam on Ravi. However, what was supposed to be built by 1998 is still incomplete.



I would give India a 4.5 out of 10 with respect to utilising the potential of the Indus waters fully, Sinha said, adding that India needs to finish the works on a war-footing.



Completing dams on the rivers will not only benefit India but also give it leverage over Pakistan. The treaty states that India is entitled to utilise the waters of the Western rivers for domestic use, non-consumptive use, some amount of agricultural and generation of hydro-electric power. It is this that India can maximize the use of.



India can construct structures to store water on the Western rivers up to 3.6 million acre feet, but the country has not so far developed this storage facility, which would involve building dams and barrages.



However, Sinha stressed that this isnt something that can be done overnight. The country needs to work to a medium term timeline of 4-5 years to finish these projects.



Each dam and storage structure has the potential to control and manipulate the flow of waters. What will worry Pakistan is that India could potentially use these facilities to control the flow of the waters, if the need arose. For instance, if something like an Uri were to happen in the future India could turn off the tap that irrigates Pakistans rich agricultural lands in its province of Punjab.



Abrogating the treaty was never realistically on the table, Sinha said, because of the international ramifications for Indias water-sharing treaties with Bangladesh, Nepal and China.
Mumbai: As the press and office of Saamana daily in Navi Mumbai and Thane were attacked following publication of a cartoon by the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, all major political parties on Tuesday engaged in a slugfest over the issue of job reservation for the powerful Maratha community in the state.



Leader of Opposition in the assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demanded an unconditional public apology from Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray, while state Congress President Ashok Chavan termed the cartoon an "insult to Maratha brothers and sisters".



"The Shiv Sena has always been anti-Muslims and anti-Dalits; now they are even going against the Maratha community. All Marathas are extremely agitated by the cartoon which has not spared even the martyrs of the recent Uri terror strike," said Vikhe-Patil.



Nationalist Congress Party's Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhanjay Munde also criticised the Saamana cartoon and sought an apology from the publication.



"The Shiv Sena has ridiculed a grave issue like Maratha reservation. They have insulted millions of Maratha women who have been spontaneously taking part in the processions all over the state in the past few days. The Shiv Sena must apologise to them," Chavan said.



Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai President Ashish Shelar said the cartoon was in "bad taste" and added that Saamana's Executive Editor and MP Sanjay Raut himself has been reduced to a "cartoon" in the entire episode.



The BJP and Shiv Sena are ruling allies in Maharashtra and at the Centre.



Reacting to the developments, the Shiv Sena fielded its senior Cabinet minister Subhash Desai who flayed the Congress and the NCP for what he said was fuelling the ongoing pro-reservation agitation among the Marathas all over the state.



"They ruled the state for 15 years, but did nothing for Maratha reservation. They created a farce of reservation, which was later struck down by the courts," Desai said in a sharp reaction late on Tuesday.



He said Thackeray has fully supported the ongoing Maratha agitation and even Sanjay Raut had backed it through his writings in Saamana, but it is the Vikhe-Munde duo which is spoiling the peaceful atmosphere in the state.



Unidentified persons allegedly belonging to the Sambhaji Brigade pelted stones at the Saamana printing press in Navi Mumbai while some other persons threw ink outside the Thane office of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece on Tuesday.


Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday approached the International Court of Justice over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, with senior Pakistani officials taking up the matter with the World Bank.



A delegation led by the Attorney General for Pakistan, Ashtar Ausaf Ali, met senior officials of the World Bank at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington to discuss matters relating to Pakistan's recent Request for Arbitration given to India pursuant to Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, said Geo News.



On August 19, Pakistan formally requested India for settlement of outstanding disputes pertaining to India's construction of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants on rivers Neelum and Chenab respectively, by referring the matters to the Court of Arbitration as provided in Article IX of the Treaty.



Under the Treaty, the World Bank has an important role in establishment of the Court of Arbitration by facilitating the process of appointment of three judges, called Umpires, to the Court, while each country appoints two arbitrators.



Pakistani officials met senior officials of the World Bank to insist on early appointment of the judges and empanelment the court.



The move comes as Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and Security, Sartaj Aziz said an attempt by India to block Pakistan's water could be seen as an act of war.



Speaking on the National Assembly floor, Aziz said China would get justification to block Indian water if New Delhi did the same to Pakistan.



Aziz briefed lawmakers on the Indus Water Treaty starting that international law prohibits Indian from unilaterally changing the treaty. He said the treaty was not even suspended during Kargil and Siachen wars.



On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met officials to review provisions of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and to increase India's use of the river waters During the meeting Modi was quoted as saying "water and blood can't flow at the same time".



The Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 was negotiated by India and Pakistan under the auspices of the World Bank, and gives India complete rights to usage of waters of the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Chenab, and Beas) and Pakistan rights over Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) with limited allowance of use of water by India from the western rivers for purposes of, among others, power generation.



The Treaty provides specific design criteria for any hydro-electric power plants to be built by India. Pakistan has held the position the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants violate the design parameters of the Treaty, said Geo.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to modify its order directing Karnataka to share 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, and instructed the Attorney General of India to facilitate talks between chief ministers of both the states.



An apex court bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Justice UU Lalit instructed Karnataka to comply with its order, release the water on Wednesday and Thursday, and come back to the SC on Friday.



Earlier, the Karnataka state legislature had unanimously passed a resolution expressing the states "inability" to share water for agricultural or irrigation purposes arguing that whatever left in the state dams was enough only for drinking water supply.



On Tuesday, arguing in favour of the states review petition, Karnatakas lead lawyer Fali S Nariman informed the SC that the state is not in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu. The SC, which started the hearing of Karnataka's application seeking modification to its last weeks order expressed unhappiness over not complying with its order.



Nariman told the SC that Karnataka had saved all available water for drinking water purposes and it would not be able to release even a drop of water. However, he added that Karnataka can think about releasing the water only in November.



The Tamil Nadu legal team objected to Karnatakas arguments and asked the SC not entertain its appeal. Meanwhile Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK welcomed the order and described it as a "right judgment."



Reacting to SC decision Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said it is not possible to release water the moment a court order comes.

"I am yet to get a copy of the Supreme Court order. We will study it and make a statement," Siddaramaiah said.



According to legal experts, Karnataka will have to tread cautiously after Tuesdays order. The state can send its resolution to the President of India seeking a Presidential reference. If the President agrees to it, the SC will have to refer the matter to a Constitution Bench.



Karnataka earlier released 15,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 10 days after the SC order in the first week of September. When the SC ordered it to release 6,000 cusecs of water to TN for 7 more days, it expressed helplessness saying that it is not in a position to release even a drop of water.



Anticipating trouble, the police have made elaborate security arrangements across Cauvery basin districts, including state capital Bengaluru.








Foreign Secretary calls in Pakistan HC Basit today & presents proof of Cross border origins of #UriAttacks.1/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Details of handlers also obtained:Mohd.Kabir Awan &Basharat.FS terms continuing CB terrorist attacks frm Pak against India as unaccpt'le.n/n  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

Putting further pressure on Pakistan, India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned his Pakistan counterpart Abdul Basit and presented him with the proof of Pakistan's hand in the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers died, said Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a series of tweets.Pakistan though continued to be in the denial mode and rejected the proof submitted by the foreign secretary.India has informed Pakistan that preliminary interrogation revealed identity of one of the slain Uri attackers as Hafiz Ahmed - a resident of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan, claimed Swarup in another tweet.India has also handed over details of handlers: Mohd.Kabir Awan and Basharat, said Vikas Swarup.The September 18 attack on a military base in Jammu and Kashmir left 18 soldiers dead and Prime Minister Modi vowed that perpretrators of the ' cowardly attack ' won't go unpunished.Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi met with top officials to review the Indus water treaty with Pakistan.India will also review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan at a meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Mumbai: Talking about the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) demand to ban Pakistani artistes from working in India, actor Varun Dhawan says if governments feel that by banning actors they can stop terrorism, then they should do it.



"I follow the Indian government rules. Whatever government thinks needs to be done, I support that. I totally stand with government of India. If banning actors can stop terrorism, they should do it. But that is something government needs to decide first," Varun said at the Night Life Convention Award on Monday.



Following the Uri attacks, which took place on September 18 and left 18 Indian soldiers dead, MNS on Friday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani film and TV artistes to quit India or face consequences.



Talking about the attacks, Varun said: "My heart goes out for those soldiers. It was a horrible attack on them." On film front, Varun is currently shooting for Badrinath Ki Dulhania with Alia Bhatt.
Exciting to watch Hillary & Trump tonight on the first #uspresidentialelection2016 debate pic.twitter.com/JZtyqRKlHM  Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) September 27, 2016

Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton. It has started  https://t.co/tpr1TlpfuD  Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) September 27, 2016

I doubt the world's going to be a better place if these are the choices for "Leader of the Free World". #USPresidentialDebate  anvi_ hoe_ (@RanvirShorey) September 27, 2016

Hofstra. Watching the Presidential Debate on CNN. No screaming please just sensible talk! pic.twitter.com/Eu29GRFFHh  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) September 27, 2016

Love how Trump refers to third world countries like they should be gased off the planet #PresidentialDebate  Mini Mathur (@minimathur) September 27, 2016

The entire world was waiting for the first Presidential Debate between US Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. While the debate was everything the American citizens were expecting, Bollywood celebrities didn't miss out on the heated discussion either.While bureaucrats across the globe have their own opinions and reservations for the next US President, Indian celebrities make it a point to let the world know theirs as well. While the much-anticipated debate went on, our stars didn't miss the chance to tweet it.Preity Zinta, who is married to American business Gene Goodenough has her reasons to be excited about the America's biggest debate.The actress showed her excitement through memes as well.Ranvir Shorey expressed his reservations about the candidates through his tweet. He wrote, "I doubt the world's going to be a better place if these are the choices for "Leader of the Free World". #USPresidentialDebate"Rishi Kapoor expressed his eagerness to watch the big debate sans screaming. He tweeted, "Watching the Presidential Debate on CNN. No screaming please just sensible talk!"And finally, TV anchor Mini Mathur expressed what we all thought about Donald Trump's speech. She tweeted, "Love how Trump refers to third world countries like they should be gassed off the planet #PresidentialDebate"Next Presidential Debate is scheduled in October. The world can't wait to see who Americans chose to be their next Commander in Chief.
New Delhi: Fondly recalling the brief tenure of Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, under whom he served as Finance Minister, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday observed that his success had proved his undoing.



"Chandra Shekhar's biggest failure was his success. That was the reason his government was pulled down and I was not allowed to present the budget," Sinha recalled at book launch event here.



He said that Chandra Shekhar had taken over in a very difficult time, and he actually saved India and its reputation by mortgaging gold instead of defaulting on short-term foreign debt.



"Apart from the bad economic situation , he had to deal with the Ram Mandir issue, the Kashmir situation and the Khalistan movement. But to many people's surprise, and dislike, he started tackling these issues very well," Sinha said.



"I think some people were not expecting him to succeed but he did. And his success became his undoing," he added.



Chandra Shekhar assumed office on November 10, 1990, heading a minority government with outside support from the Congress, but he abruptly resigned on March 6, 1991 amidst mounting differences with the Congress chief Rajiv Gandhi.



Sinha said that if the Chandra Shekhar government had been allowed to function for at least a year, things would have been different.



The former Finance Minister said that the path of the reforms unleashed in 1991 has not been easy.



"Successive governments have carried along that path, but political parties have not. The path of economic reforms in India has not been easy," Sinha said.
New Delhi: It was during the tenure of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao that the "seeds of Congress party's decline were sown", former Union Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram said here on Tuesday.



Chidambaram, who served as a minister in Rao's cabinet, said the former Prime Minister "committed several mistakes but seldom admitted to them".



"Every time I went and told him that you have committed a mistake, his pet reply would be 'I'll tell you one day why I did what I did' ... But that day never came," Chidambaram said at the launch of a book on Narasimha Rao here.



The former Finance Minister said Rao indeed provided the political will and leadership needed to usher in the famous economic reforms of 1991, but it was Manmohan Singh who, as Rao's Finance Minister, brought the "intellectual heft" to the reform process.



The book "1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao made History" by veteran journalist Sanjaya Baru, gives a detailed account of the political and economic churning of 1991 when India reached the brink of defaulting on foreign debts, and praises Rao for deftly steering the country away from that unprecedented crisis.



However, Chidambaram took exception to certain observations in the book.



He said that even Rajiv Gandhi, had he been alive and at the helm, would have pursued the same economic policy.



"I have no doubt in my mind if Rajiv Gandhi would have become the Prime Minister -- which he would have in all probability -- he would have done what P.V. (Narasimha Rao) did.



"I am convinced Rajiv Gandhi would have done more or less the same things with more or less the same team," Chidambaram said.


Chinese technology giant Lenovo has confirmed that it has fired hundreds of employees at Motorola, according to a report by technology blog Droid Life. The exact number of employees who were handed pink slips is yet to be confirmed.Meanwhile, Lenovo in its official statement said that the resource action impacts less than two percent of its approximately 55,000 employees globally. This puts the number to less than 1,100 employees. The Droid Life report highlighted that the resource action majorly affects Motorola.The report stated that over half the employees at Motorola (owned by Lenovo)were shown thedoor, of the remaining 1200.Citing reasons for the massive layoff round, Lenovo in its statement said, The majority of the positions being eliminated are part of the ongoing strategic integration between Lenovo and its Motorola smartphone business as the company further aligns its organization and streamlines its product portfolio to best compete in the global smartphone market.Lenovo also said that it is making adjustments in other areas of the business as part of a continued effort to manage costs, drive efficiency and support ongoing improvement in overall financial performance.Lenovo also confirmed that it is going to continue to maintain the Motorola Mobility headquarters at Chicago.
Cartagena (Colombia): The Colombian government and the leftist FARC rebel force signed a historic peace accord today end a half-century conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.



President Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleon "Timochenko" Jimenez, signed the deal at a ceremony in the Caribbean city of Cartagena, prompting loud cheers from the crowd which included numerous international dignitaries.



The signing followed a four-year process to end Latin America's last major armed conflict. The accord remains to be ratified in a referendum next week.



"Today we are experiencing the happiness of a new dawn for Colombia," President Juan Manuel Santos wrote on Twitter ahead of the signing.



He called it "a new stage in our history -- one of a country in peace!"



The two signed with pens made out of real bullets for the occasion.



The guests at the signing included UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry, the Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and an array of Latin American leaders including Cuban President Raul Castro.



The 2,500 attendees wore white for the 70-minute ceremony. The European Union decided to suspend the FARC from its list of terrorist groups once the agreement is signed, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement.



The suspension will allow the temporary lifting of sanctions linked to FARC's presence on the list  including the freezing of assets.



The country's second-largest rebel force, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN), agreed to hold fire ahead of the referendum.



The government has yet to begin planned peace talks with the Cuban-inspired ELN, saying it must first stop kidnappings.



Guerrilla armies were common across Latin America in the latter half of the 20th century. But now, 25 years after the Cold War, Colombia's is the last major armed conflict in the Americas.



The FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group, launched its war on the Colombian government in 1964, in the aftermath of a peasant uprising that was put down by the army.



Over the decades, the conflict has drawn in several leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs. Colombian authorities estimate it has killed 260,000 people, left 45,000 missing and uprooted 6.9 million.



Under the deal, the FARC is now to relaunch as a political party. Timochenko, 57, is expected to remain its leader.




Islamabad: Police in Pakistan are guilty of widespread violations of human rights, including random arrests, torture and extra-judicial killings, a prominent rights group has alleged.



A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) titled 'This Crooked System' contains a scathing indictment of the police system in Pakistan and lack of any government plan to reform it.



"This report documents custodial torture, extra-judicial executions, and other serious human rights violations by the police in Pakistan," according to a summary issued by US-based HRW along with the detailed document.



It says that police in Pakistan routinely and unlawfully kill criminal suspects by means of faked "encounter killings". "Torture methods include beatings including with batons

and leather straps, stretching and crushing legs with metal rods, sexual violence, prolonged sleep deprivation, and mental torture, including witnessing others being tortured," it said.



"The non-governmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that in 2015, over 2,000 people were killed in armed encounters with the police, most in the province of Punjab. Human Rights Watch is concerned that many, if not most, of these encounter killings were faked and did not occur in situations in which lives were at risk," says the report.



The report also details the difficulties that victims of crime and police abuse face in obtaining justice, including the refusal by police to register FIRs, demands for bribes, and biased investigations.



"The corruption and abuse endemic to the Pakistani law enforcement system are often described as 'thana culture' after the Urdu word for police station," it says.



It says that many police officers told HRW that abuses can often be explained, if not justified, by the considerable pressures placed upon them.



"They listed organisational shortcomings, inadequate training and resources, lack of requisite funds, poor working conditions, and lack of coordination with other law enforcement agencies as obstacles to transparency and accountability within the police force," it says.



The report quotes officers saying that all these problems were exacerbated by pressures imposed by senior police officials to achieve results, and by politicians and other local elites with their own agendas.



It also examines limitations, including financial and human resource constraints, which police say impact their ability to function properly, and looks at examples of some good police practices that can serve as possible models for the future.


Six decades after it came into existence, Pakistan gave nod to a Hindu Marriage Bill that seeks to set up a legal framework for marriage and divorce besides addressing issues including forced conversions.



The Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 was tabled before the Pakistan National Assembly by Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael and was passed unanimously. The bill will now be forwarded to the Senate for consideration and passage.



It is a historic day and the credit goes to both the opposition and ruling parties which are on the same page on the draft bill, Michael said after the passage of the bill.



According to The Express Tribune, the bill will institutionalise all legal rights relating to marriage. All Hindu marriages will be registered in accordance with the provisions of this act. Such registration shall take place within 15 days of a marriage. Hindu widows will now have the right to remarry of their own free will six months after the death of her husband, according to the provisions of the bill. The bill will also help put an end to the practice of abduction of married Hindu women, it said.



However, Pakistans leading daily Dawn reported that the draft bill met with minor objections raised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Lal Chand Malhi.



He pointed towards Clause 12(iii), which deals with Annulment of Hindu Marriage, saying that it could encourage or give cover to forced conversions. The clause stipulates that any marriage under this act could be annulled if the other party has deserted the petitioner for a continuous period of not less than two years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition.



A proviso defines desertion as desertion of petitioner by other party to the marriage without reasonable cause and without the consent or against the wish of such party and includes the wilful neglect of the petitioner by the other party.



However, the minister for Human Rights pacified the Hindu legislator from Umerkot, assuring him that he had misunderstood the clause, Dawn reported.



There are penalties for violating the provisions of the bill, which also enables Hindus to finally have a proof of marriage document called the shadiparat, similar to the nikahnama for Muslims.



Among the Pakistani states, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have assented to Islamabad to formulate a Hindu marriage law that they would then adopt, while Sindh had formulated its own Hindu marriage registration law.


Hempstead, N.Y: Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump will seek to win over undecided voters on Monday in their first, high-stakes presidential debate, which could rank as one of the most watched and highly anticipated political showdowns in U.S. history.



The tight race for the White House and the unpredictable clash in styles between two well-known but polarizing opponents has generated wide interest in the potentially pivotal debate, which comes six weeks before the Nov. 8 election after a campaign that has stretched over more than a year.



The gap between the two candidates in recent national opinion polls has narrowed in the past week, with the latest Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Clinton ahead by 4 percentage points, with 41 percent of likely voters.



The debate could help swing undecided and independent voters who have yet to make up their mind about either candidate.



Clinton recently pulled ahead of Trump in the crucial battleground state of Florida, according to the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project released on Monday. If the election were held today, Clinton would defeat Trump, with an 88 percent chance of reaching the 270 electoral college votes needed, according to the project, which is based on a weekly online tracking poll of more than 15,000 Americans.



The debate will be the first time Clinton and Trump go toe-to-toe, and the size of the television-viewing audience is expected to challenge the record of 80 million Americans who watched 1980's encounter between Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Republican Ronald Reagan. Some commentators forecast Super Bowl-sized viewership of about 100 million.



Unlike the single-party debates held during the Republican and Democratic nominating campaigns, the audience will be asked to remain silent and not applaud or respond to the candidates' answers. The debate will be divided into six 15-minute segments.



Clinton won a coin toss and chose to take the first question. She will have two minutes to answer, after which Trump will be given equal time. Trump will then be given the first question at the beginning of the next segment.



The 90-minute debate will begin at 9 p.m. (0100 GMT on Tuesday) at Hofstra University on New York state's Long Island. It is the first of three planned presidential debates.



MARKET JITTERS



With the contest tightening and the looming debate putting it in stark relief, Wall Street investor jitters increased on Monday, contributing to stocks' fall. Some investors see the close race sparking volatility in certain sectors, including health insurers, drugmakers and industrials.



Both Trump and Clinton, who polls show are the least liked White House candidates in modern history, hope to use the debate to erase lingering voter doubts and address campaign-trail weaknesses.



The volatile Trump, a New York businessman and former reality television star, will get an opportunity to show a depth and steadiness worthy of a commander in chief, while the cautious Clinton will be able to try to connect directly with voters who do not trust her, strategists said.



But Trump, a political newcomer who has often shown more affinity for put-downs than policy, could benefit from lower expectations from voters.



"There is no question it's a lower bar for Trump," said Dan Schnur, a former Republican strategist and now a political scientist at the University of Southern California. "He doesn't have to be brilliant, he just can't be too bombastic."



The stakes are enormous. Clinton once had a sizable lead, but that has evaporated amid more questions about her family's foundation and use of a private email server while secretary of state under President Barack Obama.



A second Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed half of America's likely voters would rely on the debates to help them make their choice. More than half, 61 percent, were hoping for a civil debate and were not interested in the bitterness shown on the campaign trail.



Two other candidates in the election - Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein - were not invited to participate in the debate because neither had obtained at least 15 percent support in national polls, the threshold established to qualify.



GRUDGE MATCH



Clinton, 68, and Trump, 70, have regularly exchanged sharp insults, raising the prospect of a fiery grudge match. Trump frequently refers to Clinton as "Crooked Hillary" and has called for her jailing for the email controversy. Clinton condemns Trump as temperamentally unfit for the White House.



Trump dominated the crowded Republican debates with rapid-fire attacks on his rivals but has no experience in a one-on-one debate setting that requires more prolonged discussion of issues.



Clinton has participated in many one-on-one debates on the national stage: with Obama during her unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign and with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic nominating race earlier this year.



Clinton's camp has done its best to raise the bar for Trump, and in television interviews on Monday both campaigns tried to frame expectations.



"What we don't want to have is some sort of double standard where Donald Trump can get the most-improved award, but Hillary Clinton ... is getting judged on the fine points of policy," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told NBC News, calling Trump "an entertainer."



Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said Clinton's vast experience was unlikely to translate onto the debate stage, where Trump held an advantage.



"He's not going to be robotic and scripted," she said separately on NBC.



The role of moderator Lester Holt of NBC News also has come under scrutiny before the debate, with the Clinton campaign and her Democratic supporters urging him to correct Trump if he makes false claims.



Trump also has tried to influence Holt and the moderators of the other showdowns with Clinton, saying the candidates should be the ones to correct the record.



But in a year when outsiders like Trump and Sanders have made a mark, Trump's best argument could be that he is a better agent of change than Clinton, said Scott Reed, a veteran Republican operative who is now chief strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.



"He's got to draw the contrast between Trump as the candidate of change and Clinton as the candidate of more of the same," Reed said.










Born into poverty, neglect and abuse, life has come full circle for Robert Day, the CEO of Patrick Henry Family Services, a faith-based nonprofit serving distressed children and families in Virginia.

Days story is now available in book form. Titled Worst of Mothers  Best of Moms, the memoir traces his tumultuous childhood spent in rural Appalachia, as well as Missouri, Iowa and California.

In the book, released Sept. 16, Day recounts the dark, desperate moments of his childhood.

The chapters, which reflect themes of his life, include titles such as Rejected, Abused, Abandoned, Bullied and Exploited.

All things Day said could have been stopped.

Everything I experienced was preventable, Day said in an interview following a launch event for his book Sept. 16.

Its that belief that led him to work with children in need, to improve their lives and surroundings.

Day was born to a teenage mother in Tennessee who he said was in the custody of the state because she had been removed from her home due to abuse. He added that much like his own life, his mother grew up in poverty, didnt know her father and had an emotionally unattached mother.

When you grow up in poverty, and everyone around you is in poverty, you have a twisted worldview of how things work, where youre supposed to live, and what youre supposed to do, Day said.

It was the neglect of his mother that Day said helped to expand his worldview as he bounced around.

The fact that I didnt live continuously with my mother, probably saved my life, he said.

Day said that life, family and his mothers various trysts moved him around from eastern Tennessee and the mountains of Kentucky to short stints in Iowa, Missouri and California. Outside of the abject poverty of rural Appalachia, Day saw how people lived in other parts of the country, and he saw better lives there.

Some kids never get out of the ghetto, they never get out of the hollow, and they never see that, Day said. All they know is a very limited existence, and its filtered through this context of poverty.

In his memoir, Day wrote at length about the crushing poverty that gripped his family. With that came the absence of education, employment, stability and things that were far worse.

Incest and sexual abuse were the natural order of things, Day wrote about a stay with family in Appalachia. He noted that at a young age, he was acutely aware of the happenings in the three-room cabin.

Despite his destitute upbringing, Day had dreams. Meager dreams  but dreams nonetheless.

My best dream was to drive a coal truck that I owned, live in a doublewide mobile home in a nice trailer park with paved roads and a little yard I could mow, Day said.

The first step toward any of Days dreams was education, something he said was not encouraged in his family. Of his mothers 10 siblings, two graduated from high school. He looked to them for inspiration.

Eventually, Day would attend Kentuckys Cumberland College, earn a masters degree in social work and a Masters of Divinity, become a social worker in Anchorage, Alaska, and then, later, a pastor.

He moved to central Virginia in 2010 from Goshen, Indiana, to become the executive director of Patrick Henry Family Services.

Day said that during the hard journey of his childhood, churches were a place of solace for him, because the pastors and parishioners always showed him kindness and would feed him when he was hungry.

At age 17, Day said he came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which led him to healing in his heart, and a different worldview. Day said that his conversion shaped his future in spite of his sordid past.

After his conversion, Days book comes to a close, but not an ending. He plans to tell the rest of his story in two forthcoming books. While Worst of Mothers  Best of Moms focuses on rescuing children, the second release will cover healing adults, and the third will share the vision of Patrick Henry Family Services.

Day said that he hopes the book can help to prevent damage to children, so it need not be repaired later.

I hope they [readers] take away that they can do something significant for a kid, Day said. And its not hard, and its not expensive, but it will be personal.

Days son, Alec Day, called his fathers story thought-provoking and engaging, though not enjoyable.

It is uncomfortable, it pulls at the heart strings, and its a story full of shocking poverty, depravity and disbelief, he said after the book launch event. But in this story, you will also find more than a kernel of hope, grace and faithfulness, youll find construction and a motivation to do something.

David Marshall, a member of the Patrick Henry Family Services Board of Trustees, described Day as a man of great vision and said that Days own personal experiences have shaped him for his current role.

He has shone a bright light on what happens to children around us, the conditions that children suffer, that Patrick Henry Family Services attempts to address, Marshall said. Hes demonstrated that one can, with Gods help, rise above the chaos of their childhood and provide a way of healing. Who better to identify with children who come through similar circumstances than Robert Day?
A staff member for Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District, will hold open door community hours twice in Amherst County on Oct. 4. The first community hour is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Amherst County Administration Building Small Conference Room, 153 Washington St. The community hour is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Goodwill, 174 River James Shopping Center, Madison Heights.
The League of Women Voters Lynchburg will host a meeting Oct. 5, titled Rigged Elections and a Path Forward, featuring a nonpartisan redistricting advocate, according to a news release from the organization.

The event at the Lynchburg Public Library, 2315 Memorial Ave., begins with a 5 p.m. social time with refreshments followed by a lecture by Brian Cannon, executive director of OneVirginia2021, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Cannon, who spoke last week at Lynchburg College, said the essence of gerrymandering occurs at the local level, where neighborhoods are divided to fit partisan purposes.

The free, public meeting is scheduled to include a brief satirical campaign video for fictional candidate Jerry Mandering produced by OneVirginia2021 and meant to highlight how partisan districting affects politics.

For more information, contact the league at (434) 644-9403.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, found common ground but few answers for local commissioners of revenue about lost raises for their employees and threats to local tax revenues.

McAuliffe and Norment, speaking separately to the Commissioners of Revenue Association of Virginia on Monday, bemoaned the loss of scheduled raises for their offices, as well as partial funding in the budget for a career development program the commissioners have made their top legislative priority.

The raises and career development stipends were part of a two-year, $346.3 million compensation package for state employees, teachers, and state-supported local employees that was canceled after the state fell short of revenue projections by $279 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Norment, who is co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, told commissioners at the Hilton Richmond that he had asked the committees staff to see if there is anything we can do to offer some token pay raise to say We know youre out there.

McAuliffe said he hopes the modest revival of revenues in the last two months will continue this month to reduce state budget cuts this year, but he twice warned of the looming danger of a new round of federal budget cuts next year that could inflict another blow on Virginias military-dependent economy.

A two-year federal budget deal reached last fall is scheduled to expire in a year, opening the door to another round of automatic spending cuts under sequestration, which dealt a severe economic blow to military-dependent regions such as Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads in 2013.

I hope the new president and the new Congress will get their act together before the next one because if they dont that one will be much worse, the governor said.

McAuliffe and Norment also decried Congress lack of action to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, which state and local officials say is essential to require taxation of internet sales that now have an unfair advantage over sales from traditional retail businesses.

Something really needs to be done, Norment said.

McAuliffe agreed that passage of the law would generate more tax revenue for the state and its transportation trust fund, but he said General Assembly Republicans have stood in the way of an even bigger boost to state coffers by refusing to accept billions of dollars in federal funding to expand Medicaid.

Virginia has forfeited an estimated $7.9 billion the past three calendar years from federal taxes paid by residents and businesses under the Affordable Care Act. In the future, the state would have to pay a small match  growing to 10 percent by 2022  to draw down more than $2 billion a year in federal funds to provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians.

McAuliffe estimates that by expanding the Medicaid program next July 1, the state would save $211 million a year that it spends now on indigent care that hospitals provide to the uninsured, hospital care for prison inmates, and local services to people with mental illness and other behavioral health issues.

Im just laying it out  its your money and we have forfeited it, he said.

Earlier, Norment had played down political differences between Republican legislative leaders and the governor, despite high-profile battles over Medicaid, restoration of voting rights to felons, and appointment of a justice to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The chasm between the administration of Governor McAuliffe and the legislature is nowhere as broad or deep as you would be led to believe, the majority leader said.
Areva North America has laid off 12 people in Lynchburg, part of a nationwide reduction of 50 employees. According to the company, the changes are a result of a shrinking demand for Arevas support for existing nuclear reactors.

All of the employees affected worked in the Installed Base department, which works on existing nuclear reactors, either in operations or administrative capacities.

As our customers adapt and shift their needs, we need to adapt and shift with them, Curtis Roberts, Areva spokesman, said Monday.

Employees affected by the layoffs were notified Sept. 15 and officially will be out of work Nov. 15. Areva will employ approximately 1,400 people in Lynchburg after the cuts. The Paris-based company employs 5,000 people in the United States across 35 locations.

Were very focused on how this transition can affect our employees so we can help support them in this transition, which is why we gave them 60 days notice, Roberts said. During the 60-day notification period, employees impacted by the workforce reduction may focus primarily on seeking their next employment, including applying for open positions at AREVA.

Areva announced a loss of $5.3 billion globally in 2014 and $2.3 billion in losses for 2015. The company released its Strategic Roadmap to strengthen the companys financial position by 2020. Areva CEO Philippe Knoche emphasized how the restructuring will help put the company back on track during a Paris news conference in February.

With the support and commitment of all our employees, I am convinced that this action plan will enable us to install our strategy of reconquest and give us a new start on our mission, continually improved, of serving the French nuclear industry and our customers all over the world.

The company laid off 50 people in Lynchburg in January of this year across a variety of departments, more than half of the 90 employees who were let go nationally.

Additionally, the company cut 22 jobs in December of 2014 following a weak financial report revealing Arevas net income dropped $852 million in the first half of that year. According to Roberts, losses pushed the company to change its strategies.

Areva is in a period of global transformation to continue strengthening the companys competitive standing, financial performance and organizational structure, Roberts said. As we continue to adapt to the ongoing evolution in the energy market, plus the shifting economic and industry factors, our workforce continues to evolve to meet market demands and sustained profitability.

Areva's stock price closed Monday at $6.82 a share, a 0.58 percent decrease.
The trustee for ITT Technical Institute has denied state education officials access to the paper records thousands of former students need to prove their credentials.

The state attorney general's office on Monday notified the Chapter 7 trustee for the for-profit chain that Virginia code requires transfer of all student records when a postsecondary school closes.

ITT Technical's five campuses in Virginia closed abruptly Sept. 6 after the U.S. Department of Education restricted access to federal financial aid because of poor outcomes for students.

The letter from Allen T. Wilson, senior assistant attorney general, was sent on behalf of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to the Indiana-based trustee for ITT Educational Services, one of the nations largest educational companies.

According to the letter, SCHEV has been denied access to storage facilities where paper records are kept and to campus locations to examine electronic records. Access is required to ensure that all records are accounted for, the letter says.

The state's acquisition of records is important for anyone with a degree or credits from ITT, SCHEV spokesman Greg Weatherford said. Without an official seal, former students will not be able to produce proof of degrees earned or transfer academic credits to other schools.

Weatherford said the problem for SCHEV primarily is obtaining records that exist only on hard copy, dating before 2000.

Sylvia Rosa-Casanova, director of private and out-of-state postsecondary education for SCHEV, said electronic records from 2001 are available from Parchment, a company that provides official transcripts.

But her concern primarily is with ITT's two oldest Virginia campuses. The Richmond metro campus opened in 1999 and Norfolk's in 1988.

She said she currently is trying to obtain records for a student who is attempting to have ITT credits earned in 2000 transferred to another school.

Also, she said, it's not clear whether hard copy records in warehouses are being stored properly and what steps will need to be taken to preserve them.

"SCHEV hopes that this matter will be resolved quickly because the Commonwealth is unable to assist students in efforts to continue their studies without access to these records," Wilson's letter says.

Under state law, the records must be transferred within 30 days. But lessors of the closed campus locations and storage facilities have been told to deny access pending instructions to the trustee from the bankruptcy court.
Hawk Claus spreads Christmas cheer in DC's Grifter Got Run Over By a Reindeer first look

Take a look at two stories from the DC holiday special including the titular chapter and a Hawkwoman and Hawkman tale
GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
FIU gets first High Court Order against listed business

This is the third High Court Order which the FIU has obtained against listed businesses.

In a statement from the FIU, the High Court order, granted by Justice James Aboud in the Portof- Spain High Court, was against one of the units supervised entities and was granted under Section 18H (8) of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago Act (FIU Act) for breaches of the Financial Obligations Regulations, 2010 (FOR).

According to the statement, the court order directed Varona Limited to develop a training plan and provide training for directors and staff in accordance with Regulation 6 of the FOR within two months.

The company was also ordered to amend its compliance programme to include policies, procedures and controls for the matters prescribed to Regulation 7 (1) and (2) of the FOR as well as implement internal reporting rules in support of its compliance programme to mandate employees, who know or suspect that a transaction involves the use of proceeds of crime, to report the matter to the Compliance Officer in writing and keep copies of the said report in accordance with Regulation 8 (1) of the FOR.

Varona Limited was also ordered to implement appropriate measures to determine whether an applicant for business or a beneficial owner is a politically exposed person in accordance with Regulation 20 (2) of the FOR; and implement a system to conduct due diligence on all existing accounts within the next three months in accordance with Regulation 37 of the FOR.

The FIU said Varona Limited was subject to an FIU Directive issued on July 21, 2015, identifying a number of breaches of the FOR specifying time-lines to remedy.

When the company failed to comply, the FIU, in accordance with Section 18H (8) of the FIU Act, applied to the High Court for an order to compel compliance.

The FIU said the granting of the court order further enhances the FIUs efforts to effectively supervise businesses to ensure compliance with the Financial Obligation Regulations 2010 which is aimed at the effective implementation of systems and controls for the identification and mitigation of risk for money laundering and financing of terrorism occurring through the listed business sectors.
Curepe Presbyterian School deplorable, says PTA

In a release, the schools PTA said that the construction of the new school building was halted in June 2015 and to date the PTA has not had any response to its queries about the resumption of work despite making several attempts to get answers from the relevant parties.

Since work stopped, the PTA said that the school has been exposed to flooding, health risks, rat infestation, and sewer water along the corridor of the infant department because the land on which the new school sits, is much higher than the existing school.

Due to the lack of drainage caused by the halted construction works, the water is stagnated and is contributing to the breeding of mosquitoes.

This means that our children, teachers and staff are possibly exposed to contracting zika/dengue from mosquito bites. To further add to this threat, overgrown bushes on the site of the new school is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the release said.

There is no playground for the children to exercise or to play because the new building is constructed on what used to be the playground, the release said, noting also that the new empty building can create a potential haven for homeless people and/or addicts. The PTA also noted the lack of secure garbage disposal as the garbage disposal facility was previously housed on the site of the new school building and the school was now forced to use drums placed on the pavement opposite the school.

In addition, the PTA said that the school has no functional washrooms, and it has poor electrical wiring on the school building, and poor ventilation of classrooms Despite all the issues highlighted, the PTA said, our school continues to excel but there is only so much the PTA can do.
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(Newser)  Many US cities have been making the move from sodium street lights to LEDsthe bulbs are not only up to 50% more energy efficient than their predecessors, but they last for as many as 20 years and distribute light more evenly. Unfortunately, numerous studies suggest that the levels of blue light in the high-intensity LED bulbs could have health ramifications, including sleep problems and even increased risk for cancer and heart disease. The evidence is apparently strong enough to prompt the American Medical Association to issue a warning in June that LED street lights can impair and even damage nighttime vision, reports Tech Times.

Problem is, almost 13% of roadway lighting now uses LEDs, with many places planning a switch, reports the Washington Post. Seattle has been downright dismissive of any health concerns, while New York has gone so far as to switch to lower-intensity LED bulbs the AMA considers safe when residents complain. Lake Worth, Fla., meanwhile, has plans to replace its sodium street lights with more than 4,000 LED lights that have less of the potentially harmful blue light and more of an amber hue, while Gloucester, Mass., has consulted its own residents and decided to play it safe and go with less blue in their LEDs, which they'll finish installing next month. But not everybody's convinced the danger is real: "Nobody says dont watch television or use your computer after 9pm because of blue lights," grouses one Phoenix official to the Post. (This major company is making the switch to LEDs.)
(Newser)  A big cross is going up in Texas, but "big" is a bit of an understatement. When the steel structure is completed in Corpus Christi, perhaps next year, it will stand 230 feet high. As a feature at Texas Monthly explains, that will make it the biggest in the USover a 208-footer in Floridathough not technically the largest in the Western Hemisphere. That title goes to a 492-foot cross in Madrid. The story by Jonny Auping is not about engineering, however. Instead, it explores the vision of the man behind the cross, Rick Milby, who is both pastor of Abundant Life Fellowship Church and leader of the local Tea Party group. An estimated 80,000 drivers would see the cross daily, as would planes flying into the city, along with its beam of light, "like God is pointing His finger into the cross," as Milby puts it.

The cross is expected to cost $1 million, but this isn't a municipal project, and the money is trickling in through private contributions. Still, when the mayor attended the groundbreaking earlier this year, an atheist in San Antonio sued to have her admonished over the show of support. Patrick Greene (his story could be a magazine piece all on its own) sees the cross as a "monstrosity," though his lawsuit has since been dropped. A council member also cited in the lawsuit is a member of Abundant Life and isn't hesitant to talk about how her faith and politics merge. Weve got Christians rising up in office, she says. Its one of the reasons Im serving." Asked if she would back a 230-foot Muslim symbol, she is unequivocal. "That I would be against." Click for the full story. (Read more Texas stories.)
(Newser)  A Starbucks customer described terrified people dropping to the floor and sobbing after a gunman parked his car and entered the Las Vegas store, fatally shooting a man inside, the AP reports. Customer Medin Gebrezgier told police and a television reporter that he saw the gunman, identified Monday by police as Pedro Jose Garcia, fire twice into the ceiling before shooting a man in the chest. Garcia entered the store after his payment card was declined at the drive-thru window, police said. "Terror, it was just terror. We were afraid," Gebrezgier told KVVU-TV. He described people crying and hitting the floor when shots were fired a little before 11:30am Sunday.

Garcia, 34, was jailed pending a court appearance on murder, robbery, burglary, and weapon charges following his arrest at the Starbucks in a commercial center several miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. Despite witness accounts that Garcia was unable to make a purchase, a motive for the shooting remained unclear, police Officer Larry Hadfield said. The victim wasn't identified as a coffee shop employee. "They're investigating whether there was any connection between Garcia and the victim," said Hadfield, a department spokesman. The name of the 41-year-old man who was pronounced dead at a hospital wasn't immediately made public by the Clark County coroner. (Read more shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Colombia's government and the country's largest rebel movement signed a historic peace accord Monday evening ending a half-century of combat that caused more than 220,000 deaths and made 8 million homeless, the AP reports. Underlining the importance of the deal, President Juan Manuel Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, signed the 297-page agreement before a crowd of 2,500 foreign dignitaries and special guests, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry. Many in the audience had tears in their eyes, and shouts rose urging Santos and Londono to "Hug, hug, hug!" But in the end, the two men just clasped hands and the rebel commander, also known as Timochenko, put on a pin shaped like a white dove that Santos has been wearing on his lapel for years. Seconds later five jets buzzed overhead in formation trailing smoke in the colors of Colombia's flag.

During a minute of silence for the war's victims, 50 white flags were raised. Everyone at the event wore white as a symbol of peace. Santos proclaimed after the signing that the accord will help Colombia to stop the killing, to end the deaths of young people, the innocent, soldiers and rebels alike. He led the crowd in chants of "No more war! No more war! No more war!" and he urged Colombians to vote to accept the accord in the Oct. 2 national referendum that will determine if it takes effect. Londono called Santos "a courageous partner" in reaching the peace deal through four hard years of negotiations, calling the accord "a victory for Colombian society and the international community." He also praised FARC's fighters as heroes of the downtrodden in the struggle for social justice, but repeated the movement's request for forgiveness for the war. "I apologize ... for all the pain that we have caused," he said. Click for more on the historic event. (Read more Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump got the question everyone expected he'd get at Monday night's debate: When will he release his tax returns? He initially gave a familiar response: I dont mind releasing. Im under a routine audit. As soon as its finished, it will be released," he said. But as the topic continued and moderator Lester Holt noted that the IRS has said Trump is free to release his returns, he turned the question against Hillary Clinton: I will release my tax returns, against my lawyers wishes, when she releases the 30,000 emails that she has deleted, he said, as quoted at Fortune. In the course of answering, Trump also said he made $694 million last year: "That's the kind of thinking that our country needs."

Clinton, for her part, accused Trump of delaying the release of his returns because he's hiding something. Maybe he doesnt want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he has paid nothing in federal taxes," she said, per the New York Times. Or maybe he doesn't give as much to charity as he claims, she added. Whatever the reason, it's too dangerous to allow him to reach the White House without that transparency, said Clinton. "Who does he owe money to?" (Read more Donald Trump 2016 stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump may have tried to lay the birther issue to rest earlier this month, but it returned during Monday's presidential debate. "[Trump] really started his political activity based on this racist lie that our first black president was not an American citizen," the New York Times quotes Clinton as saying. Trump went on to take credit for getting President Obama to produce his birth certificate, accusing Clinton of failing at the same task. He should have produced it a long time before, CBS News quotes Trump as saying. He says he was "satisfied" with Obama's birth certificate, which was released in 2011, despite moderator Lester Hold pointing out that Trump continued to cast doubt on it more recently.

Clinton said the birther crusade was a particularly "hurtful" part of Trump's "long record of...racist behavior." She noted that Trump's company was sued in the 1970s for refusing to rent to black tenants. Trump fired back that the lawsuit was settled without any admission of guilt and that lots of companies were sued for racial discrimination back then, the Oregonian reports. (Read more presidential debate stories.)
(Newser)  New York and New Jersey bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami is still in the hospital and is too badly injured to have been arrested, let alone meet a lawyer, according to officials. In a court order Monday, US Magistrate Judge Mark Falk revealed that Rahami, who was injured in a shootout with police before his capture last week, is "incapacitated and intubated" in a New Jersey hospital and has not been formally arrested yet, NBC News reports. The court order came in response to a public defender's request to meet with Rahami, who is accused of a string of bombing attacks that injured dozens of people, as well as the attempted murder of two police officers who were injured in the shootout.

Sources say Rahami was badly injured in the abdomen during the shootout. The New Jersey chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says that at the request of Rahami's father and wife, it is representing him until the court allows the appointment of a public defender. The group says it wants a lawyer to check on reports that Rahami has been unconscious since he was taken into custody. "It's conspicuous whenever the government says, 'We're not going to give you a lawyer, but don't worry, you don't need one,'" ACLU lawyer Alexander Shalom tells NJ.com. (Authorities say Rahami vowed to martyr himself.)
(Newser)  Green Party candidate Jill Stein was removed from the Hofstra University campus for the second election in a row on Monday. Steinwho was arrested before a presidential debate in 2012was met by police and campus security after she boarded a media bus to the university ahead of the Hillary Clinton-Donald Trump debate and USA Today reporter Eliza Collins tweeted about it. Stein had planned to hold a "Let Jill Debate" protest outside the event, which she and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson were excluded from.

Officials say Stein was removed because she didn't have the proper credentials. "She was on the college campus, we asked to verify for proper credentials, she did not have them, and she was nicely escorted off the campus," a police spokeswoman tells CNN. Stein went on to live-tweet the debate, offering her own answers, as well as lines like: "I'd be terrified with Trump's finger on the button but I'd also be terrified with Clinton's finger on the button." Johnson also live-tweeted the Hofstra debate. "Neither of these candidates is willing to stand up for free trade. Why am I not at these debates?" he wondered. (Read more Jill Stein stories.)
(Newser)  Two men arrested in the killings of a California couple were friends with the victims' teenage daughter and all attended "furry" events where some participants dress up in colorful animal costumes, the AP reports. Jennifer Yost, 39, and her husband, Christopher Yost, 34, were found dead in their Fullerton home along with family friend Arthur "Billy" Boucher, 28. Police were summoned to the home Saturday morning by the couple's 6-year-old daughter. She was not harmed, nor was her 9-year-old sister. Melinda Giles says she became friends with Jennifer Yost after meeting her and her 17-year-old daughter, Katlynn Goodwill Yost, last year at a gathering of "furries."

Giles says she also saw Frank Felix, 25, and Joshua Acosta, 21who have been arrested for investigation of the murdersat furry events. She says Jennifer Yost told her weeks ago that she had forbidden Felix from seeing her daughter. "It is really sad because they didn't deserve that. Those little girls didn't deserve to wake up to dead parents," she says. Goodwill Yost initially was reported missing after her parents' bodies were found. When police announced the arrests of Felix and Acosta, they also said a 17-year-old girl was in custody and Goodwill Yost had been located and was safe. They didn't say if she is the girl suspected of involvement in the killings. (Read more furries stories.)
(Newser)  An interesting post on Reddit is drawing attention as either a warning to tourists or warning about jumping to conclusions. As the Telegraph recounts, the story goes like this: A man and his girlfriend got back from a trip to Thailand and couldn't figure out what happened to the woman's watch. Then they started looking at photos from the trip, and one shows a young Thai girl in ceremonial garb who appears to be fiddling with the watch at the precise moment the photo was taken. "This pic solved the mystery of the missing watch," writes the unidentified poster, who thinks he snapped an image of a pickpocket in action. The post generated so much attention that police in Thailand brought in the two pictured girls for questioning with their parents, and the parents adamantly deny the allegation, notes a post at Khaosod English.

The parents of the kids are very concerned and said they would have filed a complaint against the false accusation were the (foreign couple) still here in Thailand," says a police official. The mother says her girls pose for tourists and never beg for money, and finds it incredulous that people think her daughter, 7, could steal a watch unnoticed. But Reddit commenters had an answer for that. "Notice how the thief is touching her hand in several places?" writes one. "It's a pickpocket technique so that the mark gets accustomed to being touched by the thief and stops registering all of the touches." For the record, the photo was snapped on steps leading to a temple called Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai province, notes the Sun. The man who posted the photo said it was a cheap watch and not a big deal. "We were a bit drunk, and those girls are absolute pros." (Watch your valuables at the Eiffel Tower, too.)
(Newser)  A compassionate police officer in Ohio turned a traffic ticket into a road trip over the weekend, with the recipient of his kind deed calling the experience "overwhelming." Mark Ross found out Sunday morning his 15-year-old sister had died in a car accident, and he needed to get from Indiana to Detroit to be with his family, Inside Edition reports. Because he didn't have his own car, he begged a friend to drive him to Michiganbut he probably asked the wrong person. As they were speeding through Ohio, police lights started flashing, and Ross knew they were in trouble. "I knew I was going to jail due to a petty warrant," Ross wrote in a Facebook post, per KTLA 5. The driver also had an outstanding warrant, so he got taken into custody and the car was towed.

But what happened to Ross next blew his mind. A second cop, Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. David Robison, showed up at the scene and heard what had happened to Ross' sister. "I explained  I needed to get to my mother asap," Ross writes. "I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry." Robison offered to take Ross the remaining 100 miles to Detroit, where he dropped him off at a local coffee shop so a cousin could pick him up. "Everybody knows how much I dislike Cops but I am truly Greatful [sic] for this Guy. He gave me hope," Ross writes. Robison also told Ross he'd like to attend the funeral to pay his respects. (A Kansas cop was moved by a shoplifting mom.)
(Newser)  The FDNY suffered its first in-the-line-of-duty death in more than two years Tuesday when a suspected drug lab exploded in the Bronx, killing a battalion chief, the New York Daily News reports. According to WPIX, Michael Fahy was directing traffic away from a two-story house where someone had reported a possible gas leak when it exploded. Pieces of the house's roof struck Fahy in the head. "He was a star," WNBC quotes FDNY commissioner Daniel Nigro as saying. "We lost a hero today." Fahy was a second-generation firefighter and had been with the FDNY for 17 years. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. "It's a very sad day for our city," WPIX quotes mayor Bill de Blasio as saying.

While no one else was killed, the Daily News reports 20 peoplenine firefighters, six police officers, three energy workers, and two civilianswere injured in the explosion. It's unclear what triggered the explosion, though officials believe the house was the site of a marijuana grow-op or meth lab. WNBC quotes a neighbor who says the explosion "shook my whole neighborhood" and "felt like a bomb went off." The only person home prior to the explosion left the house when firefighters arrived. (Read more FDNY stories.)
Google has expressed support for Obama administration's plan to hand over the control of Internet Assigned Names Authority (IANA) to an independent international governing authority.

Currently Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) handles the function of managing millions of websites worldwide and unique IP address allocation through IANA.

A non-profit, the Los Angeles- based ICANN operates with a budget of $130 million and over 350 employees. It is currently overseen by the U.S. Commerce Department. But the government's contract with the organization ends on Sept. 30 and the Obama administration is proposing to allow ICANN to become fully independent, freeing it from U.S. control.

Republican lawmakers have been highly critical of this plan with Sen. Ted Cruz issuing warnings that ICANN would censor the Internet and put foreign countries in charge. Supporters of the move have said that ICANN has a number of safeguards in place that would disallow governments from interfering.

Google along with other major Silicon Valley companies like Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, have previously signed a letter urging lawmakers to not block the proposal. But in a recent blogpost, Google has for the first time expressed its support individually.

The blogpost written by Kent Walker, Google's SVP and General Counsel has explained the rationale behind Google's support for an independent ICANN.

According to Walker, the transition would put the management of the Internet under the control of innovators and users, and ensure the freedom of internet. The second reason is that it would reduce the dependence on governments to control the development of Internet and finally, it would be honoring U.S. government's promise made two decades ago that the internet would be governed by everyone with a stake in its growth.

The U.S. government's contract with ICANN was meant to be temporary measure and Google believes that the internet community is now ready to handle the task on its own.
Mumbai:

Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen has become the latest celebrity to be slapped with a civic body notice after mosquito breeding spots were found at her residence in suburban Khar. The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on Monday slapped a notice on the former Miss Universe.

A senior MCGM officer said, "The civic body has issued a notice to Sushmita Sen under section 381-b of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, after her residence at Khar West was found to house breeding spots for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is responsible to spread deadly diseases like dengue, chikungunya.

"During our inspection drive, the team of insecticides department detected three locations where the larvae for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito were found. First on the terrace in tarpaulin, second, odd articles on the terrace and third rain water collection in galleries," he added. "The section of the Act can attract a maximum fine up to Rs 20,000 and a Court case would be filed against Sen," he added.

On September 16, MCGM had inspected actor Shahid Kapoor's residence at Juhu Tara Road and detected mosquito-breeding spots at his residential premises, following which the actor was served the notice under the same section. Interestingly, insecticides department of the civic body have also found the homes of top five most senior IAS officers to be the breeding spots for Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

Asked what action would be initiated against the IAS officers, the official said, "Since these officers had themselves requested the civic body to inspect their premises, therefore no action has been initiated against them".

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New Delhi:

Former SC Judge Markandey Katju has raked another controversy suggesting a rather sarcastic way of solving the Kashmir issue. In a Facebook post, Katju suggested that Pakistan can get Kashmir if they agree to take Bihar also as a part of a package.

Pakistanis, let us end our dispute once and for all. We offer you Kashmir, but on the condition you also take Bihar. It is a package deal. You have to take the whole package or none at all. Either you take both Kashmir and Bihar, or nothing. We will not give you Kashmir alone. Deal?.

According to Katju, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered the same deal to then Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Agra. But Musharraf stupidly rejected it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered this deal to Musharraf at the Agra Summit, but he stupidly rejected it. Now the offer is coming again, he added.

Soon after Katjus remarks, hundreds of users began posting their takes on the same.

The soldiers of Bihar laid down their lives in the recent #UriAttack.I heard people saying so,but its confirm that its not Amitabh Bachann who has nothing in his head,its not the Indians 90% of whom are fools,but its you who are one trying his best to remain in news.You should join AAP, an FB user wrote.

Later, Katju also offered a suggestion to those who have been offended by his post.

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New Delhi:

Two class XII students of a government school in West Delhi's Nangloi area allegedly stabbed their teacher in front of their classmates Monday after one of them was rusticated for low attendance. The victim is undergoing treatment at Balaji Action Hospital and is said to be in a critical condition, police said.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has announced Rs 1 cr financial assistance to the family of Mukesh Kumar. The incident took place around 5 PM when the students were writing their exam at the Government Senior Secondary School. Mukesh Kumar was stabbed thrice allegedly by the two boys in front of the entire class, after which the duo fled, a police officer said.

One of the accused was rusticated for low attendance. He went to the school to speak with Kumar. During conversation, he and his friend, who was writing the exam, reportedly lost temper and stabbed him, police said, adding one of the accused is 18-year-old while the other will turn 18 in two months.

A case under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC has been registered at Nangloi Police Station and the family members of the accused are being questioned to know the whereabouts of the duo, the officer said.
Coimbatore:

Police have nabbed around 80 persons who allegedly indulged in violence during the funeral procession of a Hindu Munnani functionary on September 23 with the help of video footage from cameras installed at strategic locations and shops.



Police said they have identified a large number of people through the footage along the 18 km stretch from government hospital to Thudiyalur. They said one footage which had gone viral showed some youth looting a leading mobile shop in Thudiyalur area.

Police said they are on the lookout for two persons who torched a two-wheeler showroom-cum-garage in Sundarapuram early yesterday, which was put off by a police patrol. Footage in the garage revealed two masked persons pouring kerosene inside the showroom and setting it afire, they said.

A state-wide bandh called by Hindu Munnani on Sept 23 following the murder of its district spokesperson Sasikumar (36), the previous day had turned violent in some parts with a police jeep set ablaze and three personnel sustaining burns. Sasikumar was returning home in Subramaniampalayam in the outskirts of the city on a two-wheeler late at night on September 22 when unidentified assailants chased him on motorcycles and attacked him with sickles. He was immediately taken to a private hospital, where he died.

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NEW DELHI:

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was on Monday evening summoned by the Income Tax department for his alleged links with three firms which were under scanner over allegations of hawala transactions of nearly Rs 17 crore.



According to reports, Jain has come under the IT scanner for allegedly indulging in hawala transfer of nearly Rs 17 crore.

Officials said Jain has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4 and has also been directed to furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years during his appearance.

Reacting to the summons, Jain said he has been summoned as a witness only.

The minister said that he has done nothing wrong and he will appear before the Income Tax department on October 4.

"As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four year back, but I?have nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation," Jain told reporters here.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed Jain was being "framed", saying if Jain was "guilty", he would have thrown him out.

The Chief Minister said he stands by Jain. "I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Four companies belonging to Satyendar Jain are under IT scanner are  Indo metal impax, Akinchan developers Pvt Ltd, Paryas Info solution and Manglyatan projects.



Jain is the fourth minister of the Kejriwal government who has been accused of wrongdoings.

IT officials said the department received records of certain financial transactions connected to Jain after their counterparts in Kolkata recently searched a firm in connection with a tax evasion and alleged illegal financial remittances case.

They said the department reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three firms and had a link to Jain.

"The summons are issued as part of inquiry into the case which the I-T department has been probing for sometime now. Jain will be confronted with documents seized during searches at Kolkata," sources in the department said.

With inputs from PTI







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Islamabad:

The Pakistan Army said on Tuesday that it was battle-ready and keeping a close eye on the Indian border. Further, it has claimed that in the wake of heightened tensions after Uri terror attack, it was "fully prepared to respond" to any sort of aggression.

"We are closely monitoring the developments on the eastern border and we are fully prepared to respond," military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said after a security meeting in Peshawar. The meeting headed by army chief General Raheel Sharif reviewed the security at the border with Afghanistan. Diplomatic tensions have spiked between India and Pakistan 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. Bajwa said that the meeting discussed the steps being taken for border management by the armed forces. He said work has been completed on 20 posts set up for border management. Defending Pakistan's security measures at the border with Afghanistan, Bajwa said that the border management would be more effective if matching actions are taken by Afghanistan on its side.

Bajwa also said that Pakistan had not accused any country without concrete evidence. He said that major actions under Operation Zarb-e-Azb which was launched in June 2014 have been completed but intelligence and combing operations were going in different areas.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Karnataka government to release 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for two days to show its bona fide. The apex court said that no state in a federal structure like India can say no to the Supreme Court order and indulge in a fight with another state.

The Centre would try to resolve the Cauvery water issue and will call a meeting between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the next two days, Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi told the court.

The court has granted permission to the Centre to call a meeting between Jayalalithaa and Siddaramiah and submit a report on Friday. The Supreme Court also said that it wont consider the Karnataka Assembly resolution not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

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New Delhi:

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "blood and water cannot flow together," Pakistan said on Tuesday that India cannot opt out "unilaterally" from Indus Waters Treaty. India is reportedly considering opting out of the key water-sharing agreement in retaliation for the Uri terror attack.

"According to international law, India can't unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," Sartaz Aziz, the Adviser on Foreign Affairs to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was quoted as saying by Pakistani media.

18 soldiers were martyred when terrorists attacked an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18.

ALSO READ: Indus Waters Treaty - India may take 'further action', say sources

If India violates treaty Pak can approach International Court of Justice. The treaty (Indus Waters Treaty) was not suspended even during the Kargil and the Siachen wars. According to international law India cant unilaterally separate itself from treaty, Pak Media quoted Sartaj Aziz as saying.

ALSO READ: Blood and water can't flow together, says PM Narendra Modi; 5 latest developments

On Monday, the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan amidst heightened tension between the two countries was a first step taken by India, sources said. The sources also said that depending upon Pakistans response, India may take further steps in this regard.

"Blood and water cannot flow together," sources on Monday quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying at a meeting with top officials to assess the 50-year-old treaty with Pakistan days after the Uri attacks. Modi on Moday chaired a meeting to review the Indus Water treaty with Pakistan amidst heightened tension between the two countries.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the Water Resources Secretary and senior PMO officials are present at the meeting.

The review is being undertaken as India weighs options to give a befitting response to Pakistan in the wake of the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.

There have been consistent calls in India that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack.

(With inputs from PTI)

Indus Water Treaty's revocation can be taken as an act of war or a hostile act against Pak: Sartaj Aziz adviser to Pak PM on foreign affairs pic.twitter.com/g1pQuNJEIF  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Highly irresponsible on part of India to consider revocation of IWT. Unilateral revocation can pose threat to Pak & its economy: Sartaj Aziz pic.twitter.com/wlj3GPYhYR  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

This Indian act can be taken as a breach of international peace; hence giving Pak a good reason to approach UN Security Council: Sartaj Aziz pic.twitter.com/1oEb4rmwEB  ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

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New Delhi:

Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Tuesday said that while he believes art has no boundaries, it is the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working in India to publicly condemn the Uri attack. Raj Thackeray-led MNS recently asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India following the attack, which left 18 soldiers dead. MNS has now threatened to stall the shooting of movies with Pakistani artistes.



When asked about whether it was right to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian films, Kher said, I believe art and culture should not have boundaries but it is important and the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working here to condemn the terrorist attack, which killed our soldiers.



The actor said even he had condemned the Peshawar school attack and does not see any harm in Pakistani artistes doing the same now.



I am not saying condemn your country because thats very difficult for you as you are living there and politically it may not be the correct move. We welcome them, give them platform and places, they become popular and earn money, and they deserve that. But it is important to be sensitive to the sensitivity of Indian people.



It is important to say, I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers. It is important to speak about such things. So, I am against that they do not do that. They need to do that because we do that. We have always shown our goodness, friendship...



The 61-year-old actor was in the city to attend the launch of a new line-up of shows on Zindagi channel, which originally aired a host of Pakistani shows. Kher has produced one of the upcoming shows on the channel.



Kher said he has met some really nice Pakistanis but he is biased when it comes to India.



There are some really nice people in Pakistan, they are great hosts. I once went to Karachi and the experience was beautiful. But when it comes to my country and jawans, I cannot be diplomatic.



I am biased towards my country because whatever I am today is because I am an Indian. What will I tell the mother of that jawan? That lets give art and culture more importance? Thats not possible.



For Zindagi, Kher has produced Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par, which is about the journey of an aspiring actor to stardom.

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Mumbai:

Director-producer Karan Johar had to bear the wrath of MNS activists' anger as they staged a protest outside his production house on Tuesday. Within days of issuing an ultimatum to Pakistani film artists to leave the country, MNS criticized Karan Johar for advocating their stay in India. However, the police have arrested 15 people in this case.

The demonstration was held in front of Johars Dharma Production office, whose Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has a special appearance by Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan. The MNS has been venting its ire on Pakistani actors and artists in India and also the producers casting them in their projects, following the Uri terror attack, which left 18 soldiers dead.It has also raised a flag against Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees in which Pakistani actress Mahira Khan is playing the female lead.According to Amboli police, around 15 MNS workers were arrested after they began protesting and raising slogans against Pakistani artists in the office premises of Johar at Veera Desai Road in suburban Andheri.They were arrested under Section 68 of Mumbai Police Act.

These were preventive arrests and they were liable to be granted bail after warning, said Senior Police Inspector Bharat Gaikwad.Notably, police had served notice to MNS Chitrapat Kamgar Sena (Films wing) president Amey Khopkar under section 149 on Sunday after he and party general secretary Shalini Thackeray gave an ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artists to leave the country within 48 hours.Defending the protest, Shalini said her party will not allow the release of Johars film.

Karan Johar, who has made the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, had recently said that Pakistani actors should not be prohibited from working in India. We wish to remind him that Indians see his movies that result in him earning crores of rupees. If he survives on Indians money, how can he not respect the feelings of his fellow Indians?, she said in a statement.We strongly condemn Karan Johars point of view that banning Pakistani actors and artistes would not solve the problem of terrorism. How can he give such an immature and a shallow statement? Our party workers will not allow the release of his film come what may, Thackeray claimed.

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Southwestern Connecticut schools are habitually some of the best places to enroll your kids, but they're also some of the best places to teach in the state.

School districts in southwestern Connecticut make up the bulk of Niche's best places to teach list, taking eight out of the top 10 spots including the top five districts.

Check out the slideshow above for a look at the county's best places to teach. For Niche's full state list and school attributes, click here.

Leading the charge was New Canaan School District, which posted a nearly perfect score in the categories of overall experience, administration and policies, health and safety, and resources and facilities.

New Canaan's average teacher salary was also just under $80,000 a year and a teacher-student ratio of 12-to-1.

Niche also looked at teacher salary, which varied by district, student teacher ratio, teacher absenteeism, and teachers in their first and second year of educating.

Westport School District was nearly identical to New Canaan, with a high teacher salary and low student-teacher ration. However, Westport's teacher absenteeism was almost half as much less at 25.9 percent, compared to 53.4 percent.

Related: Niche's best suburbs in southwestern Connecticut

Greenwich, Weston, and Ridgefield school districts rounded out the top five places, while Darien, Newtown, and Wilton also placed within the top 10 places to teach.

Twenty-two schools from Fairfield County ranked within the top 100 school districts.

Ridgefield, Darien, Weston, Greenwich, New Canaan, and Westport were also hailed as the best districts in Connecticut earlier this year by Niche. The site said the districts excelled in the categories of academics and health and safety, but fell a bit shorter in the area of student culture and diversity.
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DANBURY  Attorneys began jury selection Tuesday in the trial of Emanuel Harris, who is accused of stabbing a teenager to death during a brawl nearly three years ago.

Harris faces a minimum of 25 years in prison on murder and first-degree assault charges in the death of 17-year-old Luan Pitol, who was stabbed in the back during a fight between two groups of teenagers.

An arrest warrant described how the two groups -- one black, the other Hispanic -- fought after a dance that attracted an overflow crowd to the Harambee Youth Center on West Street. The two groups exchanged words when a soda can hit the ground that the Hispanic group thought had been thrown at them.

The groups dispersed but met again at the Wooster Street Cemetery near Foster Street, where Harris slashed a 20-year-old before stabbing Pitol in the back, court documents said.

Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Warren Murray, who is prosecuting the case, appeared to concede during Tuesdays questioning of prospective jurors that scientific evidence is lacking.

Jurors these days want to see a lot of technical evidence, like DNA, he told one prospective juror. As a juror, do you understand that some cases dont have that kind of evidence?

He also told jurors that several witnesses he expects to call to the stand have criminal records.

Harris, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, has been held on a $1 million bond since his arrest in December 2013.

The case was stalled by delays in the examination of evidence by the state forsensic laboratory, said attorney Dante Gallucci, who represents Harris.

The victim in the case was Hispanic and the defendant is African-American, but the jury pool is largely white. Of three jurors chosen by mid-afternoon, two work as educators while the third is a bus driver.

Jury selection is expected to continue in the case Friday while the actual evidence portion of the trial is scheduled to start on Oct. 12.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
DANBURY - Candidates running for six House seats and three Senate seats in the state legislature will be available to meet with voters from their districts during a forum Thursday at Western Connecticut State University.

The forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County, will cover races in the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Sherman and the city.
NEW MILFORD  Dylan Pancoast asked his mother last Monday evening to make him a monster omelet for dinner  eggs stuffed with meats and cheeses  so he could take some to work the next day.

Dawn Pancoast set about dinner, asking Dylan not to take too long when he went for a quick longboard ride around the neighborhood. Minutes later, a neighbor knocked on the door to say her son was lying in the street, ashen and unresponsive.

Dawn and her husband, Ted, ran down the street and began giving Dylan CPR. Ted did chest compressions, pounding on his 6-foot-2-inch sons chest, while Dawn did the breathing. An ambulance arrived and took Dylan to Danbury Hospital.

Dylan Pancoast, 19, died five days later. The family would learn that he had suffered a brain aneurysm.

Dylan never felt himself hit the pavement, said his father, Ted Pancoast. It was absolutely hopeless.

The Pancoasts decided to donate Dylans organs.

We were in a room of darkness, Ted Pancoast said, but we could provide light in another room.

About 2 percent of people who die in a hospital are eligible to donate organs, said Laura Watson, a spokeswoman for the New England Organ Bank. As of Sept. 23, she said, 5,500 people were on the banks waiting list in New England. Some of them will die before an organ becomes available.

More Information To help the family The Pancoasts have set up a website to help them cover hospital and funeral costs. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/dylanpancoast See More Collapse

Within a day of Dylans death, his heart was beating in the chest of a New England man in his 40s, his liver had been given to a man in his 30s, a kidney had been donated to a Midwestern woman in her 60s and the other kidney to a 10-year-old boy, Ted Pancoast said.

How much better could it be than that?he asked. Youre able to save a 10-year-old boy. How much life can that young man have because of Dylans gifts?

The Pancoast family will hold a memorial for Dylan at Harrybrooke Park from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Representatives of the New England Organ Bank will attend to answer questions about organ donation and sign up anyone interested in being a donor.

Because of the organ bank, Ted Pancoast said, his family didnt have to hear their youngest sons last heartbeat.

Its still beating, he said.
Yes, its time for another trip. If you are like me, youre excited. But for so many others, getting ready for a business travel often seems like getting set for a long period of stress. I mean, theres the stress of packing, the possibility of an impolite airline crew, uncomfortable hotel rooms, annoying crying babies (usually in the adjacent airline seat) and long delays at the airport.

Business travels are always hectic, but it can be made a bit less miserable with the aid of some of these tips:

1. Dont mess with your health.

Being in a poor state of health can transform any journey from a wow trip to an Oh, not now! disaster. So before embarking, be sure to go for a proper health check. Better yet, if you travel quite a bit, going for regular checks is advisable. Take routine health preserving medication before embarking on these trips.

Related: How to Stay Healthy While You're On the Road

Depending on how long your trip is intended to last and your present health condition, you should take basic tests. You should also check to ascertain that your blood pressure is normal, and that no traces of illness-causing parasites are present in your system.

2. Get some information.

Not all business travels are within one's home country. Many times you will have to travel to countries and cities youve never been to before.

To avoid getting frustrated or stranded upon reaching your destination, its important you make proper inquiries, before embarking on your trip. You should also ensure you get a travel guide for the particular city or country you are going to, before you leave. For instance, this travel guide proves to be helpful if Costa Rica is your destination.

Some vital information you should always get include:

The cost of a hotel room: Hotel charges vary depending on location. Its good to build a reasonable budget before you travel, so you dont appear uninformed at the front desk, exclaiming, That much for a room?!

Internet access fee: Having to pay $30 a day for an internet connection in a $300-a-night hotel is not unusual in some travels. So buying an international data plan for your mobile device may be cheaper than paying daily local rates. Then, use your mobile device as a hotspot for data.

Related: A Guide for Using Mobile Devices When Traveling Abroad

Other basic costs: Information such as the cost of a good meal (yeah, sure!), and the cost of transportation in the city you intend traveling to are also necessary.

3. Pack smart.

As a business traveler, you need to learn to pack like a minimalist. You arent going to a fashion show. Therefore, packing only whats needed will definitely help to minimize the stress of carrying excess baggage.

No matter where you go, you will probably be able to purchase items there. If youre unsure about whether or not you will need something, leave it at home and buy it if you need it.

Other tricks: instead of folding your clothes, roll them. This saves you space and prevents wrinkles (win, win). You can also pack things like socks or underwear in your shoes.

Make sure you dont forget the little vitals: adapters, chargers, USB cords, etc.

4. Pick the right security line at the airport.

The best line is usually not the shortest one. To choose correctly, check the efficiency of the personnel manning the line and the mix of travelers ahead of you.

5. Create an efficient on-boarding routine.

Its also wise to create an on-boarding routine. This is particularly important for long-distance flights. For instance, you could organize all your reading materials in a separate carry-on bag before you get on the plane.

When you reach your seat, take the bag out and put your carry-on away, so you dont waste a great amount of time rummaging through your bags to find all the things you want for the flight, while fellow passengers steam in the aisle waiting for you to sit down.

Related: 8 Rule-Bending Travel Hacks That Help You Fly Like a Boss

6. Meet someone new.

While on the plane, you dont need to look as serious as someone who's been threatened with a lawsuit or someone awaiting a death sentence. Say hi to the person seated next to you. It wont be out of place if you get to know each other better, crack a bit of a joke, exchange business cards and even share a repast.

I have often arrived at my business venue in high spirits just because I had a thoroughly invigorating conversation during my flight, and have just met a new friend, too.

So, bon voyageand have fun!

Related:

6 Vital Tips to Make Your Business Schlep Less Miserable

8 Tips for Making Your Business Travel Worth the Hassle

A Road Trip From India To Iceland



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
NORWALK  When the call came in, it wasnt clear what was happening. The neighbors could only hear snippets, but it sounded bad, they said.

So the police showed up. They heard the yelling and screaming bystanders reported. It stopped when they knocked on the door. A couple answered, both battered and bruised. It was clearly a case of domestic violence.

Five years ago, the chance both parties would be arrested, regardless of who was the victim, was more than triple what it is today. But, thanks to the concerted effort of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center and local police departments, that rate is declining. And, experts believe, victims are more likely to report abuse as a result.

Imagine, if youre being abused and you know the chance youll also be arrested is almost 40 percent, are you going to report it? Probably not. And we know that from talking to victims, but its also a science. There is data to back this up. Connecticut is the worst state in the country for dual arrests, said Rachelle Kucera Mehra, executive director at DVCC, which provides services in Norwalk, Stamford, Westport, Wilton, Weston, New Canaan and Darien.

More News Since 2000, 231 killed by intimate partners in Connecticut

While dual arrests  cases where both the abuser and the victim are charged with a crime  have consistently made up less than 2

percent of all intimate partner domestic violence (IPV) cases in the nation, Connecticut has remained one of the worst in the country with roughly 18 percent of cases ending in dual arrest last year  and thats an improvement.

More Information Dual arrests statistics National - Less than 2 percent of intimate partner violence (IPV) cases nationwide end in dual arrest State of Connecticut 2007 - 20 percent of all IPV calls ended in dual arrest 2015 - 18.6 percent of all IPV calls ended in dual arrest Norwalk 2011 - 35 percent of all intimate partner domestic violence calls ended in dual arrest 2015 - 13 percent of all intimate partner domestic violence calls ended in dual arrest Sources: Domestic Violence Crisis Center and the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection annual family violence report See More Collapse

In 2011, the state reported about 23 percent of IPV cases ended in dual arrest. That same year, Norwalk and Stamford were the worst in the state, with 35 percent and 30 percent of all cases ending in dual arrest, respectively.

Though still well above the national average, in 2015 Norwalks dual arrest rate declined to 13 percent and Stamfords declined to 8 percent, according to data compiled by DVCC.

The change started when DVCC approached the Stamford and Norwalk police departments about providing training for how to carry out domestic violence investigations in order to distinguish the victim from the abuser.

We started it in Stamford around 07-08, and weve done the same thing in Norwalk, Mehra said.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling was the police chief when the partnership with DVCC was estabilished. He assigned the first domestic violence crisis officer at the department, requiring them to work on and review all domestic violence cases to make sure they were handled properly and that victims were followed up and receiving the services they needed.

When the Domestic Violence Crisis Center did give us a break down of the dual arrest statistics for Norwalk we felt we had to do more to educate our officers in the process so they could focus more on the initial agressor as opposed to automatically saying it should be a dual arrest simply because there were two people involved, Rilling said.

Connecticut passed a mandatory arrest law in 1986, after Torrington resident Tracey Thurman sued the city and police department after her abusive husband nearly killed her. The law, also known as the Family Violence Prevention and Response Act, made domestic violence an automatically arrestable offense, even if the victim does not wish to press charges. It also broadened the definition of domestic violence.

While the intent of the law was to prevent future cases of unprosecuted domestic violence, experts said the states lack of primary aggressor laws (which in other states require officers to determine, wherever possible, which party is the aggressor and which party is the victim) and adequate DV training for patrol officers caused a sharp over-correction of the issue that lead Connecticut to the highest rate of dual arrests in the country.

Sgt. Joseph Kennedy, one of two supervisors in the family services unit at Stamford Police Department, said in his experience on patrol, determining who the victim is can be difficult, but in many cases it comes down to asking the right questions and common sense.

In some cases you cant discern who is the aggressor, Kennedy said. There are those few cases where on occasion both people do need to be arrested. What were asking our patrol officers to do is basically be the umpire. Figure out who is responsible for this particular incident.

In 2004, the Legislatures Judiciary Committee raised a bill with primary aggressor provisions. Ultimately, though, those components were stripped from the bill before it was voted out of committee and only a self-defense provision became law. So the DVCC took matters into its own hands.

Since 2011, the partnership between DVCC and the Stamford and Norwalk police departments has grown to include liaisons at both departments, twice a year training from DVCC officials, home visits that include DVCC ride-alongs and improved communication between the agencies.

This is a very important issue and I think the fact Norwalk is down significantly shows we are on the right track, Rilling said.

DVCC also employs victim advocates with legal backgrounds. Allison Roach, a DVCC victim advocate, sifts through daily arrest logs looking for instances of questionable dual arrests. For example, one report will show a charge for assault while another will show a charge for disturbing the peace.

Any time theres a dual arrest we question, we have a conversation with the arresting officer about what happened, Roach said. A lot of times it turns into a teachable moment. ... That focus on a systemic understanding has enriched our relationship and created a strong partnership with DVCC and our victim and attorney advocates.

Mehra said the partnership has reduced unnecessary police work and eliminated a substantial number of cases from the domestic violence court docket. Kennedy said hes noticed a tangible change in the number of arrest reports filed, as well as a greater relationship between officers and victims since the partnership with DVCC began.

The domestic violence world is just a challenge to begin with, Kennedy said. Theres so many emotions involved, and in a lot of cases even if its the first time the police are called, this isnt the first day theyve been victimized. One of the biggest challenges is to gain the trust of the victim ... and to get the ball rolling on some service for them. You want to make sure that victim realizes you really do care for them and we want to see this thing get fixed, and when we say fixed we mean getting them lead in the right direction, getting it fixed today, and preventing it tomorrow. Working with DVCC has definitely helped us do that.

Mehra said the next step is to bring dual arrest rates down in the rest of the state, though it wont be easy.

Were getting there, she said.
WESTPORT  A town native who got his start in the adult film industry selling Playboy magazines out of the trunk of his car to classmates at Staples High School was found dead Saturday at his home in Los Angeles.

Mike Kulich, 29, founder of the adult entertainment company Monarchy Distribution, was found in his living room, the pornography trade website Adult Video News reported.

Kulich left behind a young son who recently received treatment for leukemia. A Give Forward webpage (https://pages.giveforward.com/other/page-dythwh6/) set up to help support Kulichs son has raised $10,519 as of Sept. 29.

We put a lot of work and a lot of love into our movies, Kulich said in a 2013 interview. From the beginning, I knew that I wanted to produce great stuff and Ive been very fortunate. There is a lot of opportunity and a lot of money to be made in this business.

Kulich, who was set to be married this month, got his start in the industry in Westport where he graduated from Staples High School.

More News Martin Shkreli is auctioning off a chance to punch him in the face

With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Kulichs entry into the industry was forged at a young age when he found himself in hot water selling his fathers Playboy magazines out of the trunk of his car at Staples High School.

After a faculty member joked that he should be in the industry, the wheels in Kulichs mind started turning. Although tempting, Kulich strayed from his passion and briefly attended John Jay College in New York with the goal of becoming a police officer. He soon realized it was not the path he was intended to take.

Packing up his bags, Kulich moved out to Los Angeles with his sights originally set on a long-distance relationship, but instead, ended up with a change in careers. He landed his first job with International Video Distributors (IVD) making cold calls and generating sales, went on to work for a male enhancement company, which he despised, and ended up returning to the video world.

I started a company called DVD Makers, contacted all of the studios and got them to replicate their videos with us, Kulich said in 2013. Eventually, the company was bought out and became DVD Factory.

Money garnered from the sale prompted Kulich to start his own studio, which in turn led to Levine, the king pin who once gave Kulich the cold shoulder, to now work for the young impresario.

Monarchy Distribution is the main company with 150 studios contracted through me, Kulich said. Assence has more of the name brand girls and regular, good ol fashioned porn, with OGEE having more of a niche market. I generally write the scripts and do the casting, have some people do editing and artists do the box covers, but we really dont outsource anything.

Through his marked success, Kulich decided to give back to the community and reached out to the National Education Associations Read Across America program with the intention to donate 10 percent of all proceeds from a title with actress Sasha Grey. The donation was rejected and eventually snatched up by the University of California Davis.

Kulich was also known for doing public relations for Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli and client xHamster.com. Shkreli is auctioning off the chance to punch or slap him in the face in order to raise money for the family of Kulich.

No official cause of death has yet been issued.
Thumbs up to the Danbury Aging in Place Council for creating a novel partnership with the state to help seniors stay in their homes as they grow older. In the initiative announced last week, the council will develop a database of seniors in the city, create a website of resources and establish a network of trained professionals who can help seniors navigate the red tape of health care services. Working with the state Department of Social Services and the state Department on Aging, Danbury is the first city in the state to have such a plan in place.

Thumbs up to Naugatuck Valley Community College on its move into more spacious quarters in downtown Danbury. The college now on the top two floors of the building at the corner of Main and West streets went from 6,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet to meet the needs of ever-increasing enrollment. The expansion enables the two-year community college to offer more courses and degree programs that in turn will likely attract more students and benefit those seeking an affordable entry to higher education. We also like that the expanded presence will bring more bustle to the heart of the downtown.
DANBURY  A car crashed into a school bus carrying students from Saint Joseph School on Tuesday afternoon, but no one was injured.

The front end of the silver Nissan Sentra was smashed and wedged underneath the Danbury Public Schools bus. The driver said she was not hurt. An officer at the crash also said no one was injured.
OTTAWA, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada recognizes that nuclear power will play an expanding role in the global energy mix in the coming decades as the world transitions to the low-carbon economy of the future. Working with our global partners is critical to ensuring the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Kim Rudd, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, today delivered Canada's statement to the 60th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Carr and as Canada's head of delegation, Ms. Rudd underlined Canada's strong position as a world leader in nuclear science and technology; committed to strengthening Canada's collaborative relationships with its global partners; and reiterated Canada's support for the IAEA's efforts on nuclear safety and non-proliferation.

Ms. Rudd spoke at Women in All Things Nuclear, an event run by the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Ms. Rudd highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk and Harriet Brooks  two Canadian women who have played a vital role in the advancement of nuclear science in Canada and across the world.

Accompanying Parliamentary Secretary Rudd was Canada's industry delegation, led by Dr. John Barrett, President of the Canadian Nuclear Association, comprising companies that contribute to Canada's reputation as a leading nuclear nation in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle and supply chain.

Quote

"Canada recognizes the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in ensuring the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This is integral, given the expanding role that nuclear will play in the global energy mix in the coming decades."

Kim Rudd

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources

Associated Links

Canadian Nuclear Society [https://www.cns-snc.ca/]

International Atomic Energy Agency [http://www.iaea.org/]

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca.http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Alexandre Deslongchamps, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Natural Resources Canada, 343-292-6837; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 343-292-6100
TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Centennial College opened its doors to a renovated, ramshackle former factory on Warden Avenue on October 17, 1966. Despite its humble beginnings as Ontario's first public college, Centennial grew rapidly by offering the Baby Boom generation a new path to rewarding careers.

To mark Centennial's 50th anniversary, the college is cancelling classes on Tuesday, September 27 to release its students, faculty and staff to "Paint the Town Green." Thousands of volunteers will fan out across the city to lend a hand in 11 major Toronto parks with a variety of "green" initiatives such as planting trees, spreading mulch, removing trash from waterways and nature trails, painting fixtures and beautifying public areas.

Given Centennial College's remarkable reputation internationally, its partner schools in China, Korea, India, Turkey, Panama, Brazil and other countries will release their students to make meaningful contributions in their own communities. In the spirit of the day, the president of Suzhou Centennial College near Shanghai, China, is excited to be collecting litter in the beautiful canal city of Suzhou.

This "greening" initiative is Centennial's way of giving back to the communities that made Ontario's first college what it is today. The official Paint the Town Green kick-off is taking place at 10 AM in Bluffers Park at the foot of Brimley Road at the lake. And keep an eye out for the CN Tower on the evening of September 27  it is turning Centennial green for the occasion!

Date & Time: 10 AM on Tuesday, September 27 Location: Bluffers Park at Lake Ontario, end of Brimley Road South

Scarborough Speakers: Ann Buller, President, Centennial College

Photo opportunities and interviews with college representatives and volunteers will be available at Bluffers Park and other parks throughout the day.

SOURCE Centennial College

For further information: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-605-6012 or 416-289-5000, ext. 7142/[email protected]
LIMA, Peru, Sept. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - A Nigerian cleric was bestowed with the 'key to the city' of Lima, Peru, on Saturday 24th September 2016.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411845 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411846 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411847 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411848 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411849 )

The recipient of the honour, T.B. Joshua, had just concluded a Christian Crusade in South America's largest stadium, 'Estadio Monumental', which was filled to capacity. An estimated 100,000 people came to the two-day event, which attracted both locals and international visitors.

Prominent Peruvian dignitaries attended the occasion, one of whom included Elias Cuba Bautista, the Mayor of La Victoria, Lima's most populous district, who presented Joshua with the symbolic key. "I give you the key to our city in acknowledgement of your outstanding work," Bautista stated.

Upon receiving the honour, Joshua redirected people's attention to the thousands who attended the free event and said: "I am receiving this on behalf of the people God has delivered today and healed" .

On the same night, the faith leader received an additional honour from General Juan Gonzales Sandoval, the President of the Generals, Admirals and Officers of Peru's Armed Forces. Presenting Joshua with a 'Medal of Honour', Peru's highest military distinction, the General said, "This is a very special decoration to the most highly distinguished people which our national police and nation bestows," he stated.

He lauded Joshua's unassuming personality stating that he was an example to other religious leaders."Your humility is an earmark that makes you great" he said

The event was broadcast live on Joshua's religious television station, Emmanuel TV. Joshua has previously held similar foreign crusades including the Latin American nations of Mexico and Colombia.

ABOUT TB JOSHUA

T.B. Joshua is the founder of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), an international Christian ministry headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

He is also the Executive Producer of Emmanuel TV, Africa's largest Christian television network and the most subscribed Christian Ministry YouTube channel.

He is known as 'YouTube's most popular pastor' due to the fame of his videos on the video-sharing site, which have been viewed more than 300,000,000 times.

The SCOAN is West Africa's foremost religious tourist destination, with six out of every ten visitors to Nigeria headed there.

He has been recognised as one of Africa's 50 most influential people and received several international accolades, including acknowledgement from the United Nations, for his extensive philanthropic endeavours.

Please click here to find out more.

Watch the video clip here.

SOURCE Emmanuel TV
China is designing its next generation of trains that can carry passengers at a top speed of 500 kilometers (310 miles) an hour and cargo at 250km/h, with wheels that can adjust to fit different track gauges used around the world.

Under an ambitious government plan starting this year, the country is developing trains that can run on a hybrid-propulsion system that allows higher speeds, said Jia Limin, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University.

Using the enhanced technology and expanded network, China will have the experience to operate high-speed rail networks in the worlds most diverse geographic and climatic conditions, from deserts to alpine plateaus to rainforests, said Jia during an interview in Hong Kong.

Chinas high-speed rail network is designed to operate in harsh winters in the northeastern provinces, where winter temperatures can plummet to 40 degrees Celsius below freezing, to the worlds highest altitudes in the Tibet autonomous region, to deserts on its western frontiers.

The country is using high-speed rail as the next spearhead to gain a technological edge over the United States, Japan and Europe.

The domestic high-speed tracks already cover 20,000km, or 60 per cent of the worlds installed network. That will expand to 30,000km by 2020 and 45,000km by 2030, said Jia, who heads the Chinese program to develop fast trains.

Chinese companies now have about 3,000km of high-speed rail contracts on their order books outside the country. Led by state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock, the firms have secured deals to build high-speed rail projects in Turkey, Indonesia, Thailand andRussia and are bidding for projects in Malaysia, the U.S. and South America.

The hybrid-propulsion systems can be driven by electrical power lines with backup from batteries and diesel engines.

There are also plans to test a next-generation bullet train capable of topping 600km/h (372 mph).

China wants to be the main builder for an overland rail network from Singapore in the southern tip of Southeast Asia northwards through Indochina and China, then westwards through central Asia and Europe.

The plan is part of the governments so-called one belt, one road programme to recreate the ancient Silk Road trade routes. It calls for technology that can adapt to different train gauges used along the way from Southeast Asias metre-wide gauge to Chinas 1.435-metre standard gauge to Russias 1.52-metre broad gauge.

Chinese companies invested nearly $15 billion in countries participating in Beijings new Silk Road initiative in 2015, up one-fifth from 2014. China has dedicated $40 billion to a Silk Road Fund and the idea was the driving force behind the establishment of the $50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

SOURCES- South China Morning Post, Wikipedia
Russias newly-developed combat aircraft A-60 will be capable of destroying enemy targets with a high accuracy laser, an adviser to the deputy CEP of Russias Concern of Radio-Electric Technologies (KRET, an affiliate of Rostec), Vladimir Mikheyev, has told TASS.

It will boast super-accurate navigation. The crew are to be able to precisely determine the planes position to direct the narrow laser beams at the selected targets, Mikheyev said.

The airborne laser will be so powerful that the plane itself will have to be properly protected.

We are aware that the planes avionics will have to be reworked to suit the new tasks. All of the planes crucial systems will have to be protected from the on-board laser weapons, he explained.

KRET is the manufacturer of an overwhelming majority of avionics installed on Russias aircraft. The new plane will be very special and equipped with a heavy-duty electric power supply system and protection from enemy radio-electronic jamming.

The plane will have a very powerful onboard defense system providing protection from the most sophisticated means of attack.

I believe that it will carry a combined complex of radio-electronic warfare with some Vitebsk and Khibin components and a number of other effective protection systems, Mikheyev said.

Earlier, a source in the military-industrial complex said that Russia was working on a plane armed with new generation laser weapons. Open sources refer to this project as A-60. According to mass media it is being carried out within the framework of Sokol-Echelon concept.

The Russian anti-satellite laser plane will be a modified IL-76.

The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter.

General characteristics

Crew: five

Payload: 42 tonnes (Il-76M), 48 tonnes (Il-76MD), 60 tonnes (Il-76MD-90A) ()

Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in)

Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)

Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)

Wing area: 300.0 m (3,229.2 ft)

Empty weight: 92,500 kg (Il-76TD-90) (203,962 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 195,000 kg (Il-76) (429,975 lb (Il-76TD-90))

Powerplant: 4  Aviadvigatel PS-90-76 turbofans, 142 kN (32,000 lbf) or 14,500 kgf each

Performance

Maximum speed: 900 km/h (490 kt, 560 mph) Mach 0.82 depending on altitude

Range: 5,000 km (2,700 nmi) for (Il-76MD-90A/TD-90VD) with 52 tonne payload; 4,000 km (Il-76M/T); 4,400 km (Il-76MD/TD), 4,200 km (Il-76MF/TF)

SOURCES  TASS, Wikipedia
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has observed that 90 per cent of women awaiting trial in prisons across the country are either...

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has observed that 90 per cent of women awaiting trial in prisons across the country are either pregnant or nursing mothers or pregnant.The commission pointed out that there was no amount of compensation that would be given to such a child or even the mother that can make up for the hardship endured.The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, who made this known yesterday when he received the National President, National Council of Women Societies, Mrs. Gloria Shoda, in his office in Abuja, disclosed that the percentage was derived from the commissions recent prison audit in the country.According to him, In our prisons today, we have a lot of nursing mothers who are being locked up with their children and are nursing these children in the prison cells.We also have instances where such women who are still carrying babies in prison are also pregnant.It is also sad to note that more than 90 per cent of these nursing mothers are still awaiting trial. These are women that should have been released on bail while awaiting their trial.But they are kept there in prison with their children who are made to serve prison terms when their mothers are not yet convicted, he added.
The embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is to consult President Muhammadu Buhari...

The embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is to consult President Muhammadu Buhari over the attack launched against him by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.Odigie-Oyegun, the man at the centre of the controversy, on his part, vowed, yesterday, not to lose his cool on the matter, saying he would not respond to Tinubu, who he called a respected party leader until after the crucial governorship election taking place in his home state, Edo, tomorrow.Meanwhile, senior party figures, including legislators, were, yesterday, divided over the faceoff. The partys Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, however, picked up the attack by Tinubu as a vindication for him over his past demands that Odigie-Oyegun resign or be removed as national chairman of the party.Tinubu had in a communique from his office on Sunday night, rebuked Odigie-Oyegun for allegedly sabotaging the wheels of democracy in Ondo State, following the decision to forward Chief Rotimi Akeredolus name as the partys governorship candidate, despite claims by the partys Ondo Governorship Appeal Panel that the delegates list used for the primaries was compromised.Speaking to newsmen, yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun said: Asiwaju is a well-respected leader of our party, so I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I have to consult properly with other leaders of the party before we make any definite statement.Again, you know we have a crucial election here in Edo, which is my priority right now. Though the national chairman did not name President Buhari, party sources in Abuja, however, told newmsmen that the President was on top of the list of those to be consulted.He continued: We dont want to lose focus, and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all have worked hard for this. So, maybe after the election, if there is need, I will speak, if no need, I will relax.But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primaries must be taken seriously. I believe that if primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I dont play with these things at all. Everybody knows me, and I dont joke with my credibility, and I have tried to maintain it. Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader, and we all hold him in high esteem, so I will never join issues with him.But may be after Edo elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised. So there is no problem at all. Edo is the focus for now, and as you know, this is my state, so it is a very serious election for us. I want to be allowed to remain focussed, then after the election, we can speak, he stated. The issue is, however, raising mixed responses in the party hierarchy.A member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, who sought to exonerate the national chairman of the allegations raised against him, revealed that a brief on the issues that led to Tinubus attack was being prepared for onward transmission by the national chairman to the President once he returned from Benin after the governorship election.Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Frank, however, saw the attack as a vindication for him over his past calls for Odigie-Oyeguns resignation or removal from office. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Frank said if no action was taken, he would after 14 days, mobilise party members to protest against the chairman in Abuja.He said he was already mobilising some members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party to convene an emergency NEC meeting.I was one of the first persons in this party who took the bull by the horns to foresee what is happening today in our party, and I came out early to say there were issues or crisis in this party. As at that time, I was alone, nobody saw where I was coming from. This crisis started when the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly came up, and I foresaw it at that time that because of the decision and position that my party took at that time against their own party members like the Senate President and the Speaker, there could be further issues.I came up to shout but then again, nobody listened to me. Then, it was Saraki. They appropriated my job and said it is only Oyegun and the secretary that can speak for the party. Today, I have been vindicated.We all saw what happened in the aftermath of Ondo primary electionsa founding father of the party, a national leader of our party has concurred with my earlier call that Oyegun should resign as national chairman. That should let you know that I foresaw what they did not see. Yes, he has tried by taking the party to where he thinks he has taken it to and I congratulate him for that, but again, you cannot give what you do not have.
Niger-Delta Minister, Mr. Uguru Usani has been allegedly indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cro...

Niger-Delta Minister, Mr. Uguru Usani has been allegedly indicted for fraud and abuse of office during his tenure as a commissioner in Cross River State.Sahara Reporters claimed that the Cross River state government concluded in its findings that Usani along with a firm, Gersh Henshaw & Company, defrauded the government of about N16m through a contract for the valuation of the assets of an agency under his ministry.The panel which investigated the case suggested that N16,323,150 should be recovered from Mr. Usani U. Usani, the then Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development.
THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the National Assembly yesterday accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commi...

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the National Assembly yesterday accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigeria Police of plotting to rig the Edo State governorship election in favour of the All Progressives Congress, APC.The lawmakers in a press briefing on the Edo election in Abuja alleged that there was an arrangement between the INEC and APC to issue sensitive materials particularly result sheets and incident forms to the ruling party (APC) before the election to enable them originate fake results which would be submitted with the assistance of security men deployed from the state from Abuja.The PDP caucus in the House of Representatives led by Leo Ogor explained that the security men from Abuja would act as conveyors into the collation centres adding that the suspected compromised INEC Returning Officers recruited by the APC would declare the fake election results at the Police Stations and other collation centres under police protection.Ogor who is the Minority Leader of the House further alleged that INEC surreptitiously and in conjunction with APC compiled names and list of INEC staff and persons (Ad-hoc staff) sympathetic with APC to superintend over election, to skew same in favour of the APC.Thus INEC staff earlier listed for the elections were replaced majorly with people from a particular section of the country, claiming that most people from the South-South are pathetic to the PDP. Further, APC members were asked to submit list of preferred INEC staff and University lecturers.Continuing, Ogor said, Owe have reliable information of a grand conspiracy between the All Progressives Congress and some commissioners and staff of Independent National Electoral Commission to compromise the governorship election in Edo State in favour of APC.This arrangement is firmed between the APC and a highly placed Commissioner in INEC.It is pertinent to add that this arrangement was made in the just concluded Bayelsa State and Rivers State elections but same failed as the fake results could not be brought into the collation centre, though same succeeded in Imo Senatorial rerun.That has informed the move to relocate the collation centres in Edo State to Police Stations, to make it easier to receive the concocted results. It shall also fail in Edo State.The PDP caucus in the National Assembly said that it had information that the APC which it said had openly bragged to have perfected their act of rigging tagged scientific and digital rigging.The group further said, They are arranging with ICT officials and some staff of INEC to alter the card readers which will malfunction to give an inaccurate figure which was not generated from legitimate accreditation in the field.The card readers are to be front-loaded with figures that will tally with their concocted results, regardless of the accreditation that takes place in the field on the day of the election.The e-collation officers that are specially select d to favour the APC are also instructed to accept the concerted result and return the APC as elected at all cost.Other accusations made by the lawmakers were the alleged unlawful movement of collation centres to police station by the INEC in collaboration with security agencies, false security report and the alleged harassment and intimidation of none APC members.
Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, disqualified himself from presiding over the trial of detained leader ...

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, disqualified himself from presiding over the trial of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Also the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting an autonomy for Palestine while opposing the realisation of Biafran republic at home saying that it is unfortunate that Buhari is still confused about the reasons for the struggle for Biafra.Kanu who has been in detention since October 14, 2015, is answering to a six-count treason charge alongside two other pro-Biafra agitators, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu.At the resumed sitting on the matter, Justice Tsoho who earlier denied the defendants bail, premised his decision to hands-off the matter on a petition pending against him before the National Judicial Council, NJC.The judge, in a bench ruling, held that it was in the best interest of justice that he stepped aside from the trial, considering the weight of allegations the defendants levelled against him before the NJC. Kanu and his co-accused persons had in a joint petition they filed through their lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the NJC that Justice Tsoho indulged in act of judicial rascality, by delivering conflicting rulings on the same subject matter.They alleged that the judge summarily reversed his previous ruling that barred the Federal Government from masking all the witnesses billed to testify against them.They maintained that Justice Tsoho, having ruled on the issue, ought not to have reversed himself and granted the same application, an action they said should have been taken by the appellate court. More so, the defendants, alleged that the trial judge denied them fair hearing on the day he gave the prosecution the nod to produce masquerades to testify against them.Kanu told the NJC that Justice Tsoho frustrated efforts by his lawyers to obtain copies of his rulings, as well as the record of proceedings of the court. He said that it took the intervention of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Auta before the rulings and record of proceedings in the matter was released to him.He noted 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. That on the face of the application to stay further proceedings in the matter, pending the outcome of the appeal challenging the courts variation of its order, the court would have ordinarily been spurred to be expeditious in its attention to our request. Rather, his lordship remained firm in his resolve to frustrate the defence, the petitioners added.The IPOB leader further told the judicial body that Justice Tsoho declined to allow his lead counsel, Muoma, SAN, to adumbrate his written brief in support of application for stay of proceedings in the matter, even when rules of the court allowed for 20 minutes of oral argument.Meantime, while distancing himself from the trial of the defendants on Monday, Justice Tsoho, stressed that he has no personal interest in their case. He noted that though he would have ordinarily suspended hearing on the matter to await decision of the NJC, however, since the defendants have said that they lack confidence in the court,I have no option than to hands-off the case. This court is minded not to prolong the issue especially since the defendants did not state the court which they want the matter to be transferred to.I have disqualified myself and will return the case-file back to the CJ for re-assignment to another judge. This shall be the position of this court, even if the NJC decides otherwise, Justice Tsoho held. Remarkably, this is the second judge of the same high court to disqualify himself from trial of the defendants.It will be recalled that the first judge the case-file was assigned to, Justice A. R. Mohammed had in a bench ruling he delivered on December 23, 2015, also distanced himself from the matter. Specifically, the trio had sequel to their petition dated April 26 and an accompanied verifying affidavit on oath dated May 24, asked Justice Tsoho to temporarily hands-off their trial and wait the decision of the NJC. The three defendants had opposed FGs application for secret trial, even as they queried the propriety of the court allowing masquerades to testify against them. Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate hate broadcasts, encouraging the secession of the Republic of Biafra, from Nigeria.The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison in Abuja. MASSOB slams FG over UNs affirmation Meantime,the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting an autonomy for Palestine while opposing the realisation of Biafran republic at home. IPOB however said that even the colonial masters denied Nigeria independence initially but later succumbed to the wishes of the people, pointing out that it was optimistic that the realisation of Biafra was a matter of time.In a statement signed by IPOBs Spokesman, Emma Powerful, the group acknowledge that although Buhari was under serious pressure over Biafra, he appeared confused about the reasons why Igbo wanted to leave Nigeria.According to IPOB, Buhari made a speech in the United Nations that small nations should be granted autonomy and that Palestine should be created out of Israel but back home in Nigeria, he ordered the killing of unarmed civilians and members of IPOB who were using peaceful means to ask for their freedom. The statement read in part, It is unfortunate that Mr President is still confused about the reasons for the struggle for Biafra and has continued to deceive the general public about the whole thing.The statement credited to him in far- away United States of America, USA, proves that he is undergoing serious pressure about Biafra. Meanwhile, IPOB members and Biafrans worldwide are not deterred about the statement made by Buhari because Biafra has come to stay whether referendum or not.IPOB would want to know whether Buhari would go against a resolution for a referendum on Biafra if the United Nations approved it. The people of former Eastern Region declared Biafra republic in 1967 and fought a war for the new republic through their leaders including Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Philip Effiong. They never expected a referendum before the declaration of Biafra but they fought the war without looking backwards.Also, the president is jittery over the popularity of Biafra internationally and he cannot stop it because Biafra is the will of the people in the whole South- South and South East of Nigeria. In similar situations, around the world a president who is clueless on such matters like this always make such statement because he wouldnt want the citizens to blame him.It happened during the colonial masters in Nigeria but they later succumbed to the pressures.
Troops of Nigerian Army prosecuting the war on terror Tuesday repelled Boko Haram terrorists attack in two Borno villages resulting in a...

Troops of Nigerian Army prosecuting the war on terror Tuesday repelled Boko Haram terrorists attack in two Borno villages resulting in a gun fight that left most of the terrorists escaping with gunshot wound.Giving details of the confrontation, Army Spokesman, Col Sani Usman said, On Monday, at about 5.00pm suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists, scavenging for food, attacked Kwang village and Vigilantes from Dagu (which is about 4 kilometres from Kwang), responded and repelled the terrorists attack.During the fire fight that ensued, one of the vigilantes sustained gunshot wound on his hand and was evacuated to General Hospital Uba while the terrorists fled with gunshot wounds. Troops were eventually dispatched to the area with clear orders to pursue and deal with the terrorists.They are still exploiting. Similarly, same day, at about 4.35pm some suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists attacked Boftari which is about 15 kilometres from Chibok town. On receipt of the information, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole stationed in Forward Operation Base Chibok, mobilized to the area.The troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists ambush site shortly before Kuburmbula village. They quickly cleared the ambush and proceeded to Boftari.Unfortunately, the terrorists had set some houses on fire and fled. The troops put out the fire and are currently on the hunt for the terrorists.It is imperative to state that contrary to rumours flying around some media reports, no life was lost. Additionally, there is no presence of the terrorists in any of the villages talk less of hoisting flags as alleged. The troops have continued to maintain high level of vigilance.
The Ogun Police Command says it will prosecute a pentecostal pastor, Wale Fagbere, who allegedly invaded a traditional shrine in Ketu ar...

The Ogun Police Command says it will prosecute a pentecostal pastor, Wale Fagbere, who allegedly invaded a traditional shrine in Ketu area of Ayetoro in Ogun. (IF YOU MISSED IT, READ IT HERE) The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abeokuta on Monday that the cleric would be charged for malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.What he did was wrong and so he must be charged to court. If it was the other way round too, they will also be charged to court.Everyone has a right to worship whatever deity one chooses without fear or favour, he said.Mr. Oyeyemi, however, said he could not tell in which court the accused would be arraigned as at press time.Mr. Fagbere on Saturday attempted to pull down a traditional shrine in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.But he was reported to have immediately gone numb upon entering the shrine, attracting a crowd to the scene.He, however, regained consciousness after the traditional ruler of the town, Abdulaziz Adelakun, intervened and directed that some traditional rites be carried out on him.
Erstwhile adviser to former President, Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has alleged that there is an evi...

Erstwhile adviser to former President, Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has alleged that there is an evil scheme in the Presidency to completely scheme out a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the hierarchy of the ruling party.Disclosing this in Kano yesterday, Nigerian Tribune reports him as charging the former Lagos governor not to hesitate to tackle President Muhammadu Buhari if the latter is seen to be behind anything objectionable.Tinubu, had while demanding the immediate resignation of the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, stated that: 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.In a widely published article yesterday, former Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode wrote that They are a small cabal of power-brokers who constitute the leadership of the Buhari-led CPC. These people believe that they were born to rule and that they own Nigeria. They simply used Tinubus old ACN as a compliant and ready piggy-back to catapult their way back to power and once they achieved that they never looked back.But insisting that Tinubus political travails were well-thought-out and plotted in the Presidency, Yakassai recalled that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had asserted that the APC government has been hijacked by a cabal now in control of day-to-day affairs of running the government.People are inclined to believe what the Senate president has said, the second republic politician said, adding that from all indications, every right thinking person will figure out a sinister plot to completely scheme out Tinubu from the hierarchy of APC and I want to believe this is coming from the Presidency.(Nigerian Tribune)
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged government and Nigerians to oppose the sale of the countrys assets, particularly in the oil a...

Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged government and Nigerians to oppose the sale of the countrys assets, particularly in the oil and gas sector of the economy.Business mogul, Aliko Dangote, had suggested that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) be sold as a way out of the present economic recession.The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, was also quoted as saying the money realised from the sale of the company would be used to fund the 2016 Budget.But in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday, Falana said the NLNG is a lucrative subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which has earned the government good revenue over the years.He said, If all assets are sold, how would the government fund the budgets of 2017-2019?The lawyer quoted the 2016 facts and figures of the NLNG to justify why the gas company should not be sold.Total revenue from 1999 to 2015 was $90.3billion, while the figure for the last five years was $48.54billionCapital Investment from 1999 to 2015 was $15.6billion, while the figure for the last five years was $1.3billion, he stated.
Pastor Samuel Ojo of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Great Commission District Headquarters, Osere, Ilorin, Kwara State has urged Nigerians ...

Pastor Samuel Ojo of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Great Commission District Headquarters, Osere, Ilorin, Kwara State has urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders rather than raining curses on them.Ojo, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin on Tuesday, said that leaders needed the peoples support to succeed in delivering good governance.He stressed that insults would not solve the problem bedevilling the country.Pastor Samuel Ojo of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Great Commission District Headquarters, Osere, Ilorin, Kwara State has urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders rather than raining curses on them.Ojo, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ilorin on Tuesday, said that leaders needed the peoples support to succeed in delivering good governance.He stressed that insults would not solve the problem bedevilling the country.Our leaders need peoples support through prayers and not curses, Nigerians are fond of raising curses on their leaders rather than praying for them.We need to say positive things and declare positive prayers for our Jerusalem (Nigeria), instead of speaking negative things against our dear nation, he said.He said that if everyone in the country would cultivate the habit of praying for the nation and its leaders regularly, God would salvage the nation.According to the pastor, prayer is the only weapon that can solve the challenges the country is facing.
A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, on Tuesday faulted the National Leader of the ...

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, on Tuesday faulted the National Leader of the party, Senator Ahmed Tinubu over his call for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.Abayomi said Tinubu was wrong to have asked the national chairman to resign because the National Working Committee of the party upheld the result of the primary of the party held on September 3, 2016 in Akure .A former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), defeated Dr. Olusegun Abraham, who was a preferred candidate of Senator Tinubu and 22 other governorship aspirants of the party in he primary.Speaking with our correspondent in Akure on Tuesday, Abayomi who also lost the primary, alleged that the Electoral Appeal Committee caused confusion in the party over the issue of the primary, saying the committee recommended conduct of a new primary when it was impossible for the party to organise a fresh election after the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission.He said,  For calling for the resignation of the chairman, I think Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is very wrong because he is not a member of the National Working Committee and he can not speak for the NWC. He did not participate in the entire process and whatever information he has must have been given to him by his agents.We heard it that there was no vote casting among the NWC members before they took the decision over the matter contrary to his allegation in his letter to the chairman, and also the position of the party was that there was no vote casting, I expect Asiwaju as a leader of the party to give credit to the vital opinions on the primary.I am personally disappointed that Asiwaju would be determined in his action, that a primary that he promised would be free from undue influence, should be voided by all means, I think he was wrong .The APC chieftain declared that with or without Tinubus support the party would still win the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying it is the people of the state that would decide the election. 
All information provided in this website is from official /certified sources. If you find any content misleading or offending, please inform us by revert. Content is copyright and IP of the original author and so are the responsibilities with it. We reserve the right to make minor spelling corrections and comments if and when required. We have no liabilities at all for the published content. You are accepting these conditions by visiting the website.
MAYS LANDING -- Despite pleas from their attorneys that they were not the ones to pull the trigger, bail remains at $750,000 for two Cumberland County men accused of shooting an Atlantic City Police officer earlier this month.

Martel D. Chisolm, 29, of Millville, and Demetris Cross, 28, of Bridgeton, are charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon of an unlawful purpose and two counts of conspiracy to commit possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose. They were allegedly involved in the Sept. 3 shooting of Officer Joshlee Vadell.

Vadell and his partner were responding to a robbery they saw in the area of the Caesars Atlantic City parking garage when they exchanged gunfire with the suspects. A third man, Jerome Damon, 25, of Camden, was shot by Vadell's partner and found dead a block away.

They appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court on Tuesday before Judge Donna Taylor for a bail hearing.

Robin Lord, Chisolm's attorney, maintains that Cross was an innocent bystander in the shooting and, at the very least, his bail should reflect a robbery instead of attempted murder.

"I understand the outrage in respect to the allegations with this case and perhaps we are now past when it happened -- some emotions, perhaps, have subsided -- but don't hold Martel hostage on a scenario he had nothing to do with," Lord said.

According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy, photographic evidence, witness statements and forensics show that Chisolm was involved in the incident and further investigation of the shooting can reveal more.

"To say that the bail was set under a cloud of emotion diminishes the court -- and I don't think that was the counsel's intent to diminish the court -- but it diminishes the court's independence to say that the only reason there is such a high bail is because this is such an emotional issue," Levy said.

Levy also pointed out to the judge that Chisolm's criminal history involves five prior arrests, four convictions, three bench warrants for not appearing in court and two violations of parole.

"To lower his bail would be a significant risk not just to society at large but to this defendant not showing up to court -- especially since after this incident in Atlantic City he ran to a different county," Levy said.

Holly Bitters, Cross' attorney, made a similar argument that he was not involved in the shooting.

"Mr. Cross did not shoot Officer Vadelle, he never had a gun, he never even knew anyone else had a gun," Bitters said.

According to Levy, Cross only has one bench warrant in his criminal history for not appearing in court but has had 10 prior arrests and convictions.

Taylor ruled that the bail will remain at $750,000 each and the two men remain in Atlantic County Jail.

Vadell was released from critical care at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center and is currently undergoing rehabilitation, according to Matt Rogers, president of Police Benevolent Association Local 24 in Atlantic City.

"(The family) is doing well," Rogers said. "They are dealing with it the best they can, considering everything that is going on and especially with the birth of their third daughter."

Rogers attended the hearing with several other law enforcement officers.

Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
BOGOTA -- A 70-year-old Bergen County man has admitted to sharing child pornography online, including child rape videos, authorities said.

Rafael Andreu, of Bogota, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of second-degree distribution of child pornography, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said in a release.

Rafael Andreu, 70, of Bogota

Andreu faces up to four years in prison as part of the plea deal, 20 months of which must be served before he will be eligible for parole, according to Porrino. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law.

"By sending defendants like Andreu to prison, we send a message to those who share this filth online that this is a very serious crime with very serious consequences," Porrino said in the release.

Andreu admitted Tuesday to using software that allowed other users to download numerous videos of child pornography from a shared folder on his computer, according to the release.

Authorities arrested Andreu and seized his computer in Septemeber of last year, following a month-long investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police that linked files shared online to Andreu's IP address in Bogota, the release said.

About 180 videos and images were found in the shared folder that were available for download on the peer-to-peer network, authorities said.

Andreu's sentencing is set for Dec. 2, the release said.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
ROCHELLE PARK -- Police found more than 500 gallons of stolen cooking oil in a car stopped on Route 17, NorthJersey.com reported.

Rochelle Park Police arrested the two grease-covered Yonkers residents in the car, Victor Delacruz, 27, and Jose Albornoz, 21, and charged them with receiving stolen property.

The cooking oil had been stolen from a Ramsey business, Detective Sgt. Jim DePreta said. Delacruz was also charged with marijuana possession after the Sept. 14 arrests.

Other New Jersey residents have been arrested in recent years for allegedly stealing cooking oil. In November 2015, police arrested a Newark man accused of pumping restaurant cooking oil into a tank in a white van. In October 2014, three Paterson man were arrested allegedly doing the same thing at a Bridgewater restaurant.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
CAMDEN -- Tyhan Brown, the city man caught in Tennessee and accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Gabrielle "Gabby" Hill Carter, awaits extradition back to New Jersey, according to the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

Tyhan Brown

Brown, 18, is facing a first-degree murder charge and was ordered held last week on $250,000 bail after being picked up by authorities on Sept. 23, according to the general sessions court office.

The office added that the waiver of extradition -- signed by Brown so that law enforcement may come pick him up -- has been sent to Camden County authorities by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office .

Said to be the "principal actor" in an August gang-related shooting that killed the 8-year-old, Brown was arrested without incident on a fugitive warrant at a relative's house in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Carter was riding her bike near her home late last month when shots rang out. She was hospitalized and later died as a result of her injuries. Brown's 35-year-old mother, Shakia Land, of Camden, and Natasha Gerald, of Sicklerville, were both charged with hindering the investigation.

A reward fund that climbed to $76,000 was on the table for those offering information that led to an arrest in connection with Carter's death, although Camden County Police Department Chief Scott Thomson said tips did not flood in as a result.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A New Jersey man who used violence and drugs to control women he recruited to work as prostitutes was sentenced in Pennsylvania on Monday to up 23 years in state prison, authorities said.

A judge called Christopher DeGrasse's crimes "particularly harsh" during the sentencing, according to a release from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

The 32-year-old New Brunswick man set strict quotas for how much the women who worked for him had to earn each day and gave heroin or crack cocaine to the women who met those quotas, the release said.

Drugs were withheld from women who didn't make enough money and they were threatened with violence or beaten, according to the release.

As part of a deal, DeGrasse pleaded guilty to trafficking in individuals for financial gain, promoting prostitution, corrupt organizations and drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 11 and a half to 23 years in state prison. His sentence begins Oct. 4.

DeGrasse was arrested at the Best Western Motel in Bensalem, Pa., in April after leaving a room where four women who worked for him were found, authorities said.

One of those women told police DeGrasse had beaten her several times and told her, "The only way you are leaving is in a body bag," the release from the district attorney's office said. Another woman told police that when she asked to leave, DeGrasse told her that she had to pay an "exit fee" of $1,000.

"The sentence appears to be commensurate with the crime," Bucks County Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. said, according to the release.

A 23-year-old Woodbridge woman who authorities said helped DeGrasse is still awaiting trial.

That woman, Kiahna Dade, is expected to receive a sentence of time served as part of a plea deal, according to said Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub.

Erin O'Neill may be reached at eoneill@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LedgerErin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
MONROE TWP. -- Owners of a new craft brewing company are looking for a new name after a California brewery claimed the name was too similar to its brand.

Blue Anchor Brewing is planning to open operations early next year in downtown Williamstown.

Owners were contacted recently by officials with Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco raising concerns over trademark infringement, explained Steve MacNamara, who runs Blue Anchor with Thomas Nahf and Justin Seaverns.

The trio leased an old bank building on South Main Street and hope to open for business in early 2017.

MacNamara lives on Blue Anchor Road in the community of Blue Anchor in Winslow Township. When he started brewing beer, MacNamara and a group of friends formed the Blue Anchor Beer Club. All of that inspired the name of the new business.

Given that Anchor Brewing is an established business, MacNamara sees their reason for concern about confusion over the names and understands they are just trying to protect their reputation.

"They weren't horrible about it," MacNamara said. "I can understand their position."

Thankfully, they haven't spent much money on the Blue Anchor name yet, so changing it won't be a huge expense, he said.

MacNamara and his colleagues decided to turn this setback into an opportunity and asked their supporters for suggestions on a new name.

They held an event outside of their future home over the weekend to meet fellow beer loves and talk about their plans.

"We figured we'd turn it into a positive," MacNamara said. "We got well over 100 suggestions. We had a good time with it."

Unfortunately, several suggestions had the word "Anchor" in them, so those probably won't fly.

Whatever name they end up choosing, MacNamara said they would research it to ensure it isn't close to any existing craft brewers.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
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Bruce Springsteen fan Kelli Furlong Wilson says she was excused from jury duty for the day In Monmouth County to meet the rocker (Courtesy of Kelli Furlong Wilson)

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FREEHOLD -- With New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen right in their own backyard on Tuesday, officials at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold let one fan off the hook for jury duty to she could meet The Boss in person.

As luck would have it, Kelli Furlong Wilson's jury number was called the same day she had a coveted ticket for the Barnes & Noble meet-and-greet with Springsteen, whose autobiography "Born to Run" was released on Tuesday.

Distraught at having to choose between her favorite rocker and her civic duty, Wilson, a regulator for the securities industry, on Monday night consulted a friend who is a judge. The judge, who wasn't asked and didn't offer to pull any strings for Wilson, suggested Wilson write a letter, attach it to a copy of her event ticket and be ready to show it to a jury official if needed.

At first, Wilson said, she thought she'd at least have time to purchase her signed book and head to the courthouse just a few miles away in Freehold, where Springsteen grew up. But after being in line outside the store for about a half hour with 50 to 75 other fans, Wilson calculated at 7:35 a.m. that she wouldn't have time even for that because the line wasn't moving.

So with her letter in hand, Wilson, who was one day into her service of three days or the duration of a trial, headed to the courthouse and pleaded her case.

"I kept hoping 'please make this moment of greatness happen for me,'" said Wilson, a resident of the Wannamassa section of Ocean Township.

A jury official agreed to excuse Wilson for the day - which won't count toward her juror service. Wilson said she has to return on Wednesday and complete her service.

"I floated out of the courthouse," Wilson, a 45-year-old married mother of two said.

She was back at Barnes & Noble by about 8:15 a.m. - even got her original parking space - and got back in line.

Three hours later, she was posing for her picture with Springsteen, who had arrived 90 minutes earlier than his scheduled noon appearance to hang with his fans.

"I'm really in a state of disbelief, shock and awe, kind of catatonic," Wilson said hours after her encounter. "I don't remember much. I know he touched me - there's a picture. It's like time and space stood still for me."

Springsteen has often been spotted publically around Monmouth County, but even with all those Bruce sightings, Wilson, who estimates she's been to at least 30 of his shows over the years, said she's never gotten a chance to meet him despite living in the area all her life.

"Big thanks to the Monmouth County courthouse for excusing me from jury duty today so that I could realize the dream and meet Bruce!" she wrote in her Facebook post.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
House Explosion Bronx

In this frame from video provided by WABC-TV, smoke rises from a house that exploded in the Bronx borough of New York on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Authorities said firefighters responded to a report of a gas leak right before the house exploded. (WABC-TV via AP)

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BRONX -- A New York fire department battalion chief was killed in an explosion early Tuesday morning while checking a gas leak at an alleged drug lab operating out of a home in the Bronx, according to reports.

Firefighters were called to the 300 block of W. 234 St. in the Bronx on a report of a gas leak, DNAinfo reported. The FDNY crew found what appeared to be a marijuana grow with propane tanks, sources told DNAinfo.

As firefighters and police were investigating, police told ABC7NY the house exploded and Battalion Chief Michael Fahey was struck by debris while he was evacuating the home.

He later died at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Allen Pavilion, according to ABC7NY and the Associated Press.

Five NYPD police officers were also injured in the explosion, and were treated for minor injuries at North Central Bronx hospital, officials told DNAinfo.

Michael Anthony Adams may be reached at madams@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelAdams317. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- The prosecution's star witness in the Bridgegate scandal claimed Gov. Chris Christie was told of the traffic jams at the George Washington Bridge in the midst of the gridlock in Fort Lee in September 2013, and laughed when he heard about it.

At the same time, David Wildstein, who pleaded guilty to federal crimes associated with the scandal and is now cooperating with the government, testified that not only was Christie aware of the lane shutdowns as they were occurring --so was David Samson, the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as were other members of Christie's closest inner circle.

Wildstein, testifying for the third day in federal court, said the governor's campaign manager Bill Stepien was in the loop before the lanes were actually shut down, that he not only made Samson aware of the lane closures before he told Christie, he specifically told him they were an act of political retaliation against the Fort Lee mayor.

From left, David Wildstein, David Samson, Bill Baroni, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Mary Pat Christie attend a memorial ceremony in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2013. Wildstein testified in federal court on Tuesday that he and Baroni told Christie at the ceremony about the lane closures at the George Washington Bridge which were causing massive traffic jams. Christie has consistently denied he was told about the scheme. (Port Authority file photo)

As the scheme began to unravel in November of 2013, Wildstein also told Michael DuHaime, a Christie friend and political strategist, as well as Phillip Kwon, another Christie insider and deputy general counsel at the Port Authority.

Samson was later indicted and pled guilty to shaking down United Airlines to provide a scheduled direct flight from New Jersey to his winter home in South Carolina, but has not been charged in connection with the Bridgegate scandal.

The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing, nor has DuHaime, Stepien or Kwon.

Now on trial in the case are Bill Baroni, Christie's top appointee at the Port Authority, and former Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly, who are are charged with conspiracy and fraud in connection with the lane closures that were orchestrated by Wildstein in an effort to punish Mark Sokolich, the mayor of Fort Lee, after the Democrat declined to endorse the Republican governor for re-election.

According to Wildstein, he and Baroni "boasted" to the governor about the heavy traffic they had created when they saw him in person at a Sept. 11 memorial event in New York in 2013.

Wildstein said he and Baroni approached the governor and told him there had been a "tremendous amount of traffic" in Fort Lee that morning. "Major traffic jams. You'll be pleased to know Mayor Sokolich is very frustrated," Baroni told the governor, Wildstein told the jury.

A former political blogger who wrote anonymously under the name of "Wally Edge" before he was hired by the Port Authority to a $150,000-a-year position that never before existed, Wildstein said the governor took on a sarcastic tone as he was told about what was happening in Fort Lee.

"Well, I'm sure Mr. Edge would not be involved in anything that's political," he said Christie told them.

"Were you and Mr. Baroni bragging?" asked assistant U.S. attorney Lee Cortes.

"Yes, very much so," Wildstein replied. "We discussed how pleased we were the boss was happy."

But at the State House in Trenton, speaking after a press event related to drug treatment, the governor was unequivocal in his denial.

"I have not and will not say anything differently than I've been saying since January 2014, no matter what is said up there," said Christie, referring to the testimony in federal court in Newark. "I had no knowledge, prior to or during these lane realignments, I had no role in authorizing it, I had no knowledge of it, and there's been no evidence ever put forward that I did."

Christie said "from the moment all this became public, my one job was to make sure that I told the people of New Jersey the absolute truth. I have, I'll continue to, and no matter what else anybody says, that will not change."

An attorney for DuHaime, Marc Mukasey of Greenberg Traurig, said in a statement: "Mike is a potential witness in this case so specific commentary on Wildstein's version of the facts is imprudent. I will simply say that Mike has, at all times, told the truth when he has been questioned about this matter."

In his testimony, Wildstein told jurors that he and Baroni discussed plans the day before the governor's visit to Ground Zero to talk about the scheme.

"We intended to talk to Gov. Christie about the effects of the lane closures," Wildstein said. "Miss Kelly had previously said to me the governor is going to love this."

Kelly was then head of the governor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, an outreach agency Wildstein said had been subverted in a broad effort to coordinate the giveaway of government grants and services to encourage Democratic officials to get on board the Christie re-election campaign.

Prosecutors showed jurors a series of photographs of Christie talking to Baroni and Wildstein ahead of the ceremony at Ground Zero. At the time of the discussion, it was the third day of the local access lane closures in Fort Lee that ground the city to a halt, blocking emergency vehicles, school buses and commuters, officials said.

According to Wildstein, Christie and Samson also spoke with Baroni that morning about freezing out Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, whose calls were not being returned by the Port Authority or administration officials after he, like Sokolich, suggested he might endorse the governor, but then changed his mind.

There had long been a belief within the campaign that Fulop, one of the highest profile Democrats in the state, might support Christie.

In his testimony, Wildstein said a year later, after Fulop's decision not to endorse, the mayor had fallen out of favor. A planned day that had been scheduled to allow him to meet personally with members of various state government agencies was canceled, Wildstein said, to "send a message" to Fulop.

"The mayor hadn't endorsed Gov. Christie and he was not going to get any assistance from the state."

The lane closure scheme began to fall apart after Patrick Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority, found out and ordered the lanes reopened, over the objections of Baroni.

As reporters from various news organizations began asking questions, and a legislative committee was convened to investigate, Wildstein said he and Baroni concocted a cover story, insisting it was all part of a traffic study.

He said he met with DuHaime, the governor's political consultant, and said he admitted directing the lane closures, and that others in the governor's office had been involved.

"I felt the story was going to go in a very bad direction and it needed to be cut off," he said.

Duhaime, he said, was upset.

"He told me it was a very bad idea," he said.

Staff writer S.P. Sullivan contributed to this report.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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The owner of Rolo, this 2-year-old boxer lab, admitted to killing to the dog when he drove out onto the frozen Toms River and the vehicle sank

((Photo courtesy of Helecia Morris))

TOMS RIVER -- A Toms River man who drove his car onto a frozen river until it crashed through the ice last year has admitted to being responsible for the death of a dog in the truck when it went under.

Andew Mayer

Andrew Mayer, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree animal cruelty in the March 1, 2015, incident on the Toms River, said Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

At Mayer's sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 9, Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman will seek to have Mayer serve 364 days in the Ocean County Jail before being placed on probation. The prosecutor will also seek restitution to the emergency personnel who responded to the scene, Coronato said.

In a combined request from State Police and Toms River Fire District No. 1, the restitution amounts to about $15,000, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

In addition, authorities will seek to have him agree to never again own a pet, the prosecutor said.

Before Superior Court Judge James Blaney on Monday, Mayer admitted that he knowingly or recklessly failed to provide the necessary care for his 2-year-old boxer-lab dog, Rolo, by driving his pickup truck onto the frozen Toms River in Pine Beach shortly after midnight.

Authorities have said Mayer was doing donuts on the ice. A relative of Mayer has said the dog was not in the vehicle at the time but jumped into the Mazda B2200 pickup truck while it was stopped on the ice.

When the ice cracked, the pickup truck, with Mayer and his dog inside, sank in the frigid water.

Coronato said Mayer failed to notify authorities about the incident when he got safely to shore, prompting rescue crews to search the icy water for hours for potential victims.

It was only after that search attempt that authorities learned Mayer got out unharmed but his dog did not.

The search operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard's Aviation Unit, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, the marine units from State Police and several local police departments, and the fire companies and first aid squads from Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Island Heights.

The case was jointly investigated by the New Jersey State Police, NJSPCA, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, as well as the Toms River, Pine Beach, Beachwood and Island Heights police departments.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Point Pleasant woman was seriously injured in a head-on collision in New Hampshire on Monday evening, according to a report.

A Point Pleasant woman was seriously hurt in a two-vehicle collision Monday in New Hampshire.

Helen Schwoerer, 51, was driving a 2009 Pontiac Vibe east on Derry Road in Chester when her car crossed the center line and struck a westbound Ford-150 pickup truck, UnionLeader.com said.

The 17-year-old driver of the pickup and two passengers were taken to a local hospital, while Schwoerer was flown to Mass General Hospital in Boston following the 7:44 p.m. collision, WMUR.com said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Last week's series documenting the abuse of temp workers in New Jersey - headlined "Death, discrimination and despair" - left us with the question: Will this inspire action from state lawmakers and inspectors, like the recent investigation into the abuse of nail salon workers in New York City?

Or does the fact that this abuse is happening in a remote factory or warehouse, far from the view of privileged consumers, mean that it will continue to be ignored?

NJ Advance Media's Kelly Heyboer spoke with dozens of temporary workers, recruiters, activists and officials about New Jersey's "invisible workforce," with help from Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit in California.

She found, in short, that New Jersey is one big sweatshop. We have one of the largest concentrations of temp workers in the nation, lured by jobs in warehouses that process all the goods that get shipped through the bustling Port of Newark.

If you've ever ordered anything online, chances are, their hands have been on your package. And like the easily-exploited immigrant workers in nail salons, many are paid a pittance, crammed into slum-like rentals and working jobs with little or no safety training, where they may be exposed to hazardous chemicals.

As a result, they risk serious injury, and even death - like the temp who was crushed to death while sorting packages at an Amazon warehouse in Woodbridge in 2013, and another killed by a 2,500-pound rack of computers that tipped over in 2012.

In the latter case, a federal fine was imposed: $2,800, which tells you all you need to know about the lack of serious enforcement.

Racial and sexual harassment is rampant, according to a Rutgers study and recent lawsuit, along with unpaid overtime and other mistreatment. The rules are simple: If you complain, you're fired, and somebody else will immediately take your place.

Many temp workers are here illegally and risk deportation. One of them, 65-year-old Rafael Sanchez, lives in an overstuffed, unheated garage in New Brunswick, works grinding hours in a factory near Trenton and hasn't seen his family in Mexico in 15 years. He earns just $15,000 annually, if he's lucky - but is paid up on all his taxes, and has the documents to prove it.

The right place to enforce our immigration laws is at the point of employment. Companies that knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants should face tough sanctions. Yet while New Jersey doesn't require employers to check E-Verify, the government ID system that confirms employment eligibility, it wouldn't solve this temp worker problem even if we did.

The identification system still has loopholes and accuracy problems, studies have shown, and doesn't appear to stop immigrants from working here illegally; it just drives many off the books, so they stop paying income taxes.

Meanwhile, temp workers who are U.S. citizens are stuck with the same illegal working conditions. Legislators and inspectors need to find broader remedies, similar to the crackdown in the nail industry: requiring stronger enforcement of safety and health standards, shutting down temp agencies without licenses, ordering them to be insured to cover unpaid wages and better inform workers about their jobs, hours and rights.

The feds should also open a probe into gender and race discrimination in temp jobs here, as they did in Chicago. Temp workers are especially vulnerable to retaliation, so unionizing them is a heavy lift. Instead of looking the other way when companies rely on exploitative and illegal labor, the government needs to step in.

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Any good lawyer will tell you that guessing the thoughts of jurors is a risky business, and that even old pros get it wrong all the time.

But David Wildstein, the star witness in the Bridgegate case, may have carved out an exception Monday.

He spent five hours on the stand describing himself as a career liar, a cheat, and a man so cravenly devoted to Gov. Chris Christie that he was willing to put school kids at risk to send a political message on the governor's behalf.

Several of the jurors looked to me like they had swallowed some bad clams.

Don't get me wrong: When it comes to the charges against the two defendants - Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly - I found Wildstein's testimony to be plausible.

But that's because it was supported by a mountain of emails, phone logs and text messages. Without that, every word out of this man's mouth shouts "reasonable doubt."

And that presents a dilemma for U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. He faces the regular risk that he could lose the case, and allow one or both defendants to go free.

But he faces a second risk: He could become known as the guy who let the big fish get away.

It's unfair, if you ask me. His critics don't know what evidence he has on those bigger players, and they don't know what kind of deals he offered to get it.

But Wildstein is telling a larger story about the rotten underbelly of New Jersey politics. On the trial's opening day, prosecutors said he will testify that the governor knew all about the lane closures while the stunt was underway.

And on Monday, Wildstein added few other big pelts.

He said that Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop promised to endorse Christie after the Port Authority did a favor for a private client that was paying Fulop on the side. Fulop won't say how much he was paid, or when he started and ended that side job. But he denies agreeing to endorse Christie.

Also on Monday, Wildstein accused Bill Stepien, then the governor's chief political operative, of being part of the conspiracy.

"I explained to Mr. Stepien that I was going to create the cover story of a traffic study," Wildstein testified.

And he said that Pat Schuber, a former Bergen County executive and now a member of the Port Authority board, was a Christie loyalist who was pulled into this cabal on Day One.

"Mr. Baroni was pleased that Mr. Schuber was in the loop," Wildstein said. Schuber later denied it.

But why isn't Fishman charging these other players, all of them fingered by his star witness? The answer must be that he lacks the kind of documentation he needs to support Wildstein's testimony.

Imagine if prosecutors charged the governor with taking part in this conspiracy on the basis of Wildstein's testimony alone. I'm not fan of Christie's, but I would not put him in jail on that evidence.

So what is Fishman to do? If he couldn't get the bigger players, should he have let Baroni and Kelly walk as well, given that they are clearly not the authors of this mischief?

That would be worse. Should prosecutors not charge mafia thugs unless they can also get the John Gotti of the operation?

You may wonder why prosecutors cut a deal for Wildstein, the chief architect of all this, while they work to put Baroni and Kelly behind bars. I don't know the answer, but my guess is Wildstein was smart enough to fold first. And the first suspect to break always gets a sweeter offer.

So Fishman doesn't get the big players, does that mean they all go free?

Absolutely not. This is a major test of the integrity and independence of the new attorney general, Chris Porrino. He now has solid evidence that the Port Authority and governor's office were used to promote Christie's re-election campaign. Will he act as a lawyer for the governor, or for the people of this state, as the Constitution demands?

Watch, too, for the Legislature to dive back in with vengeance once this trial is over. Listening intently at Monday's hearing were the co-chairs of the Legislative committee that exposed this scandal in the first place: Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen).

After the hearing Monday, both said Wildstein's testimony proved that Bridgegate was not a "rogue operation" but was a coordinated effort directed by the governor's office.

They have subpoena power, too. So no matter what happens in court, this thing ain't over, not by a long shot.

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
An interrupting, irritable and frequently incoherent man shouted over a well-prepared and unflappable woman last night, in one of the most-watched debates in American history.

Then, the morning after, Donald Trump blamed his troubles on a bad microphone. Seriously.



Not only that, he continued his attack today on a beauty pageant contestant he'd called "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping," because of her weight and being Latina - the same one Hillary Clinton just used as an example of how Trump treats women.



So whatever your politics, this much is clear: The only person who looks presidential in this race is Clinton.



Trump interrupted her more than 50 times in last night's debate. He did the same to moderator Lester Holt. He lost his temper. He seemed unable to control himself. And while he aggressively sought to dominate the air time, he wasted it by sticking to the same old lies.

Fact-checking the first Trump-Clinton presidential debate



In response to that observation during the MSNBC postgame, a hyperventilating Chris Christie responded: "If we're gonna rely all the time on the fact-checkers, who also have an agenda, then we can discuss that as well."



Nice try, governor. The truth is apolitical. It's striking that Trump thinks he can scam 100 million Americans with the same tired shtick he uses at his rallies.



Among the favorite fictions he repeated last night: His claim to have gotten only a "very small" business loan from his father, when in fact it was $14 million. His denial that he initially supported the war in Iraq ("Wrong!"), even though he did. His refusal to accept any responsibility for pushing the conspiracy theory that President Obama was not a U.S. citizen, up to and including this year.



There were some new ones, too: He insisted, falsely, that Holt's statement that a federal judge called stop and frisk unconstitutional was wrong. He dismissed the widespread view of cybersecurity experts that Russia was behind the recent hack of the Democratic National Committee ("It could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds, okay?")



He denied saying climate change was a hoax perpetuated by the Chinese, even though the claim was still on his Twitter feed - being re-shared in real time during the debate. He claimed not to have called women "pigs, slobs and dogs."

The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012

And his most outrageous lie - or delusion, if you prefer - was that his strongest asset is his temperament.

He proved that false himself, yet again, with attacks on Clinton that were more angry than substantive. "I have a feeling that by the end of the evening, I'm going to be blamed for everything that's ever happened," Clinton said.



"Why not?" Trump replied heatedly.



"Why not? Yeah, why not." Clinton responded. "You know, just join the debate by saying more crazy things."



When asked about her own use of a private email server, Clinton called it a mistake. She was straightforward and contrite. But when Trump was asked about the many people he's stiffed over the course of his career, the small business owners he refused to pay, he was neither.





He raised his voice and doubled down, like a man who knows he's losing the argument. He charged that our roads, bridges and other infrastructure are a mess - even though he's not paying his fair share to fix them. He bragged that avoiding income taxes "makes me smart."

And his selfish hope that the housing market would collapse in 2006 so he could make money off it? "That's called business," he said.



After the debate, while most Google searches about Trump focused on his claims about the Iraq War and insults toward women, he was left making excuses: As if a defective microphone and his decision not to attack the Clintons about their marriage made any substantive difference.



The stakes couldn't have been higher, but Trump's performance was the same as always: juvenile.



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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...
Viewers who kept one eye on Twitter for reaction and the other on the TV during the first presidential debate saw hard-hitting tweets from @HillaryClinton and @realDonaldTrump mixed into the fray of quips, analysis and insults on the #debatenight and #debates feeds.

The Auditor yanked a few of the Clinton and Trump tweets that were fired off live during the debate and put them side by side to get a glimpse of how each Twitter team prepared for the clash.

Here are a few of the blow-by-blow exchanges organized by topic:

On the economy, Clinton makes a probing jab:

We have to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. #DebateNight https://t.co/XPTvh4Dovf  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Trump ducks, and throws successive counter punches:

.@HillaryClinton and Obama policies increased debt by $9trillion over the last 8 years  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

Instead of driving jobs and wealth away, AMERICA will become the world's great magnet for innovation and job creation. #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/joA9Jc0cdm  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

On raising or cutting taxes, Trump lands a body blow...

A Clinton economy = more taxes and more spending! #DebateNight pic.twitter.com/oFlaAhrwe5  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

Then follows up with some footwork:

Clinton squares one on the jaw after Trump said he is "smart" for not paying taxes:

Paying zero in taxes doesnt make you "smart."



It makes you a tax evader. https://t.co/g9nQkSRvTB  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Team Clinton follows through with cold water from the corner, retweeting Mitt Romney:

No legit reason @realDonaldTrump can't release returns while being audited, but if scared, release earlier returns no longer under audit.  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 26, 2016

On racial injustice in America, Clinton had the upper hand:

The fact that Trump's answer to a question about racial injustice is just "we need law and order" pretty much says it all. #debatenight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Trump responds with a defensive moves...

When @realDonaldTrump is POTUS, families are going to be safe and secure. Law and order will be RESTORED! #MAGA #Debates #Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/BSW7Th049z  Official Team Trump (@TeamTrump) September 27, 2016

Artfully dodging, ducking:

But Clinton delivers a punishing blow after Trump stumbles with Birther questions:

President Obama was born in the United States. Hes American. Trump only has one reason for refusing to admit it. #debatenight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Goes in for a knock-out punch...

Donald Trump's answer for his five years of pushing the racist birther conspiracy theory?



"I say nothing." #debatenight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Against the ropes, Trump misfires with wild swings:

.@HillaryClinton's 2008 Campaign And Supporters Trafficked In Rumors About Obama's Heritage #DebateNight https://t.co/6EEOAaCiNv  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

During the final rounds, Trump seemed to find his legs again:

Hillary's policies have made America less safe, that's why 200+ general and military leaders have endorsed @realDonaldTrump! #Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/5vqHEWWblm  Official Team Trump (@TeamTrump) September 27, 2016

Clinton dodges, steps back defensively:

A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his hands anywhere near the nuclear codes. #DebateNight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Trump responded with a 1-2 combo:

Hillary Clinton failed all over the world.

LIBYA

SYRIA

IRAN

IRAQ

ASIA PIVOT

RUSSIAN RESET

BENGHAZI#DebateNight pic.twitter.com/e70AtE6lNR  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

That one had to hurt...

Russia has more warheads than ever, N Korea is testing nukes, and Iran got a sweetheart deal to keep theirs. Thanks, @HillaryClinton.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2016

Clinton shakes it off, lands a couple stinging blows to the nose:

Donald Trump's "cavalier attitude about nuclear weapons is so deeply troubling. #DebateNight https://t.co/z66rUZz31J  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

She pushes her opponent away, throws rapid-fire jabs:

This should go without saying: Taking nuclear war lightly is disqualifying for anyone seeking to be President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/MzQNVsr8HN  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

Would Trump be saved by the bell? Clinton lands a whopper after Trump swings and misses:

"When Donald Trump spends 11 hours testifying in front of a congressional committee, he can talk to me about stamina." Hillary #debatenight  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016

The Auditor calls this one for Clinton, whose corner was better conditioned for this Twitter fight.

How would you have called it?
PATERSON -- A director at AAA North Jersey has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually discriminated against and harassed at the company.

Shanique Wells, 38, filed a notice of complaint in Passaic County Superior Court, which claims she was subjugated to repeated gender and sexual discrimination by President of the company David Hughes, according to her attorney.

Wells, who was the director of marketing, claims she endured offensive and sexual gestures, explicit obscene language, indecent photographs and drawings, and offensive touching at the hands of Hughes.

"It is unfortunate that Mrs. Wells has been subject to such treatment, in a country where woman have played such a pivotal role in moving America forward," Wells lawyer, Kenyatta K. Stewart, said in a statement. "We look to leadership for guidance and protection in the work place. AAA has failed to protect one of its employees from the President of the company."

Wells also claims her complaints were dismissed when she went to higher-ups.

As a result, Wells said she suffered emotional and psychological anguish from a hostile work environment.

A spokesperson from AAA North Jersey did not immediately return a request for comment.

Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets

Jeremy Hellickson #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies leaves a game in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 23, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

When the offseason arrives for the Phillies, a fascinating puzzle will lie in front of team president Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak.



With a slew of young players--both in the big leagues now and on the cusp in the minors--no one seems untouchable. Close your eyes and pick a combination of young, 20-something Phillies prospects and you might actually guess the nucleus of a winning team within the next few years.



But as with any rebuilding club, veterans are needed. Especially when it comes to stabilizing a rotation of young arms on pitch counts and innings limits. In 2016, Jeremy Hellickson (31 GS, 185.2 IP, 3.78 ERA, ) has been that stabilizing force for manager Pete Mackanin's rotation. When Philadelphia didn't trade Hellickson at the deadline, eyebrows were raised because of the perceived value that could have been brought back.



Unless, of course, there were plans to keep the 29-year-old around for the long term.



According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, that's exactly the plan--and it may be even easier than outbidding other suitors in free agency:



The Phillies would like to get Hellickson signed before he hits free agency. That's one of the reasons they didn't trade him at the non-waiver deadline. Hellickson is also showing signs he'd like to stay in Philadelphia, but with a dearth of starting pitching in free agency, Hellickson may want to see what's out there before committing quickly.

Hellickson wants to stay



While it's hard to imagine Hellickson skipping a date with free agency and the possibility of a tea blowing him out of the water with an offer, the fact that there's mutual interest in a deal benefits Philadelphia. Between now and the start of the open market, the Phillies--if they truly want to make Hellickson part of their rotation for the next few years--would be smart to get a deal done quickly.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
chris-christiejpg-b5ab967aa73027fc.jpg

Gov. Chris Christie again denied on Tuesday having lied about his knowledge or involvement in the Bridgegate scandal.

(File photo)

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday maintained he has told "the absolute truth" about his knowledge of the 2013 lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, as two of his former allies stand trial in Newark for their roles in the scandal.

David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and federal prosecutors' key witness, has testified that Christie was told of the traffic jams in the midst of the gridlock during a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony.

Prosecutors allege the shutdowns were retaliation for the refusal by the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee to endorse the Republican governor's re-election bid.

Speaking after a press event related to drug treatment outside his office in Trenton, the governor was unequivocal.

"I have not and will not say anything differently than I've been saying since January 2014, no matter what is said up there (in Newark federal court)," Christie said. "I had no knowledge, prior to or during these lane realignments, I had no role in authorizing it, I had no knowledge of it, and there's been no evidence ever put forward that I did."

Wildstein, who pleaded guilty to federal crimes associated with the Bridgegate scandal and became a government informant, testified on Tuesday that he and Bill Baroni, Christie's top appointee at the Port Authority, boasted to the governor about about the traffic jams at a 9/11 memorial event in 2013. Prosecutors also showed jurors photographs showing Christie talking to Baroni and Wildstein ahead of the ceremony at Ground Zero.

When told about the lane shutdowns, Wildstein claimed on Tuesday, the governor laughed.

Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, the governor's former deputy chief of staff, are co-defendants in the trial, facing federal charges of conspiracy and fraud over the lane shutdowns.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, has never been charged in the case.

"From the moment all this became public, my one job was to make sure that I told the people of New Jersey the absolute truth," Christie said on Tuesday. "I have, I'll continue to, and no matter what else anybody says, that will not change."

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- After a soliloquy in which Donald Trump insisted that he never supported the Iraq War during Monday's first presidential debate, he brought up the temperament thing.

Hillary Clinton has continually hammered Trump as not having the right temperament to be commander in chief, and the Republican was having nothing of it.

"I think my strongest asset, maybe by far, is my temperament," Trump said. "I have a winning temperament. I know how to win."

He also suggested it was Clinton was not suited for the job.

Clinton's one response was, "Whew."

Afterwards, Clinton campaign officials afterwards couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"It was just another outlandish thing," Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said. "If anything, he only further stoked those concerns."

"This is someone who will say up is down, left is right," said Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook.

Also in the spin room after the debate, Trump supporters said their candidate was right, citing his experience in business rather than government.

"Donald Trump is a real human being who can make decisions like any CEO," said Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.).

"I want somebody who's been in the real world, not in the political bubble," said U.S. Sen. David Purdue (R-Ga.).

Even as likely voters questioned Hillary Clinton's honesty and trustworthiness, making the race as close as it is, they agreed that she has the better temperament to be president.

Half of those in last week's McClatchy/Marist survey said Clinton had the right temperament to be president, compared with 38 percent who said the same about Trump.

In a Monmouth University poll released just hours before Monday's first presidential debate, likely voters said Clinton had the right temperament to be president by 58 percent to 39 percent. As for Trump, 61 percent said he did not have the right temperament while just 35 percent said he did.

"If persuadable voters' final calculation comes down to temperament, Clinton should pick up a few points," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth poll.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook
TRENTON -- Lawmakers from both political parties are mulling whether New Jersey should legalize marijuana, but differ over whether it should be more leniently regulated and taxed like cigarettes, or more restrictively, like alcohol.

Late last week, Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris) introduced a bill (A4193) that legalizes marijuana, treating it and marijuana products in the same fashion as tobacco, which is sold only to those over 19 years of age.

Carroll's bill would also provide for records expungement for certain past marijuana offenses.

Meanwhile, a bill from Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) was re-introduced in the Assembly earlier this year that would treat marijuana in the same fashion as alcohol, restricting sales to residents 21 and over.

Gusciora's bill (A2068) would only the possession of an ounce or less and the growing of no more than three mature, flowering cannabis plants. It also calls for the setting of standards by the state for establishments that can grow and sell marijuana to customers.

Both bills would likely face a veto from Gov. Chris Christie. Most recently, the governor did sign a bill into law allowing veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders to receive medical marijuana.

But the governor is strongly against decriminalizing marijuana, and while running for president vowed to enforce federal laws banning the sale of marijuana when running for president, and to crack down on states that have legalized weed.

Bill Caruso, a founding steering committee member of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, told NJ Advance Media that he believes that Christie would veto both, but said the purpose of their introduction was to have "the discussion" now, so that "when the next governor is in position, he can make a decision immediately and not have to continue 'exploring' this issue."

There's also other avenues for passage.

"There's nothing stopping them from going to the ballot," noted Caruso. "And saying, let's punt to the electorate."

Colorado, for example, legalized marijuana for recreational purposes in 2012 with the implementation of Colorado Amendment 64, a ballot initiative.

In 2014, Colorado's legal marijuana market (both medical and recreational) reached total sales of $700 million.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
WASHINGTON --U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez gave notice Monday that he plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out his indictment on federal corruption charges.

The Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which twice rejected Menendez's arguments, announced that it would hold up further proceedings while the high court decides whether to take his case.

Menendez (D-N.J.) was indicted in April 2015 on charges that he intervened with federal regulators on behalf of a friend and campaign donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen, in exchange for contributions and trips, unsuccessfully asked the appeals court to dismiss the charges.

The senator argued that his intervention on issues of concern to Melgen were legitimate policy questions protected by the Constitution's speech or debate clause, which protects legislative actions.

U.S. District Judge William H. Walls ruled earlier that the trial could proceed against Menendez and Melgen, a West Palm Beach, Fla., ophthalmologist.

The appeals court's latest action means a further delay in the trial, originally scheduled a year ago and then expected to get underway this fall.

Menendez has yet to challenge the indictment in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in June throwing out the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell.

McDonnell had accepted gifts, loans and vacations from a Richmond businessman while arranging meetings for him for state officials and praising his product, a nutritional supplement derived from a substance found in tobacco.

"Setting up a meeting, talking to another official, or organizing an event (or agreeing to do so) -- without more -- does not fit that definition of 'official act,'" Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote.

After the decision, Menendez lawyer Abbe Lowell said that the decision "should have some impact" on the senator's case.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- In his latest attack against Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on Monday called the Republican presidential nominee a "racist" and cited a $200,000 fine for forcing black employees to leave the floor of his Atlantic City casino in the 1980s.

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission levied the fine against Trump Plaza for keeping black employees away from the gambling tables near Robert LiButti, an associate of organized crime boss John Gotti, according to accounts in the Atlantic and Slate.

Reid, of Nevada, blamed Trump "for that act of disgusting racism" in his Senate floor speech.

"Donald Trump is a racist," Reid said. "Donald Trump doesn't believe the racist things he does and says are wrong. He says them with the full intent to demean and denigrate. That is who he is."

Reid earlier used the Senate floor to call Trump a "human leech," a "notorious con man," and a "spoiled brat." He cited Trump's history in Atlantic City then as well.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not respond to a request for comment.

Reid's comments came on the day of the first presidential debate between Trump, who is surging in opinion polls and in a virtual dead heat with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

In the speech, Reid called out Trump's time in Atlantic City, where his casino companies went bankrupt five times over 25 years and several of his contractors never got paid.

"He cheated, coerced, filed bankruptcy, did anything he could to cheat people out of money," Reid said. "But also, in the process, his racism came to the forefront. Trump was accused of making his African-American employees move off of the casino floor when he didn't want to see them -- which was any time he came to the casino."

Reid quoted one employee, whom he identified as Kip Brown.

"When Donald and Ivana came to the casino, the bosses would order all the black people off the floor," Reid quoted Brown as saying. "It was the eighties, I was a teenager, but I remember it: They put us all in the back."

Reid also cited Trump's prominent role in trying to delegitimize the first black president of the United States by questioning whether Barack Obama was born in the U.S.

Five years after Obama released his birth certificate, Trump finally conceded that Obama was born in Hawaii but falsely blamed the controversy on Clinton.

Reid also cited Trump's description of Mexicans as "rapists," his attacks on the Mexican ancestry of a Indiana-born judge, and his call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.

"Republicans are normalizing this racist behavior," Reid said. "Those who refuse to denounce Donald Trump's actions as racism are complicit in propagating and normalizing his hate. It is time for Republicans to stop closing their eyes to Donald Trump's racism."

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie will hold a press conference this morning to make announcement about a new drug recovery program in New Jersey's jails.

Christie is expected to appear alongside former Gov. Jim McGreevey, where the two will announce that a medicine shown to help addicts break their dependence on opioid drugs will be offered to inmates at the Ocean County jail, McGreevey told NJ Advance Media.

The governor will speak outside his office in the Statehouse at 11:30 a.m.

Christie and McGreevey will be joined by Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato, who has launched a program allowing addicts to to turn themselves in to the police department with the opportunity to get addiction treatment.

Coming on the heels of the first presidential debate, the public appearance by Christie -- a key adviser to Republican candidate Donald Trump -- is not expected to include questions from the media, according to the governor's public schedule.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Clinton Trump.jpg

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (left) and GOP nominee Donald Trump (right) will again debate one another head-to-head in what's been an exceptionally close presidential race.

(File photos)

The presidential race was a statistical dead heat going into the first presidential debate Monday night at Hofstra University on Long Island, with Donald Trump within a cat's breath of Hillary Clinton in the latest polls, so anticipation is high for the rematch in Missouri next month.

Trump, the GOP nominee, will again battle Clinton, the Democrats' choice, at Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 at 9 p.m. ET.

The third and final scheduled presidential debate will be held in Las Vegas, later in October.

The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll has the two rivals neck-and-neck: Likely voters split 46 percent for Clinton and 44 percent for Trump. Among registered voters, Clinton and Trump are tied at 41 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 7 percent and Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein at 2 percent.

The second presidential debate will be a town-hall style event that's co-moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor, Martha Raddatz.

Half of the questions in the second debate will be posed directly by citizen participants and the other half will be based on "topics of broad public interest as reflected in social media and other sources," according to the nonpartisan, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates, which has organized all of them since its creation in 1987.

Candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question and there will be an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate further discussion. The town meeting participants will be uncommitted voters selected by the Gallup polling organization.

The debate will last 90 minutes.

It will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, among other media outlets. Twitter, Bloomberg News, PBS, The Washington Post and Telemundo will all live stream all of the presidential debates.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
Who won the first presidential debate Monday night between Democratic presidential nominee and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Republican nominee, businessman Donald Trump, at Hofstra University?

This was the first of three debates the two candidates will take part in before the Nov. 8 general election. With the race running so close in key battleground states like Florida, North Carolina and Ohio, both candidates needed to dominate and score points with undecided voters in the 90-minute performance at Hofstra University on Long Island.

Two national polls released just hours before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump met in their first presidential debate placed the race for the White House in a virtual dead heat.

Clinton led Trump, 47 percent to 46 percent, in a Quinnipiac University poll and the two candidates were tied at 46 percent in a Bloomberg Politics survey.

A McClatchy/Marist poll last week showed 69 percent of Trump supporters said they strongly supported the Republican nominee, compared with 62 percent of Clinton backers who said the same about their candidate.

Clinton and Trump square off for their second debate on Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis. Using a town hall format, the moderator and members of the audience will pose questions directly to the candidates.

The final presidential debate will be held Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, using the same format as the first debate.

So what do you think?

Please vote in our unscientific, informal poll.

Please note: Due to the large volume of voting you may experience some delays.
Phenotype report issued by St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The report is based on advanced DNA technology that allows a lab to predict what a person may have looked like in cases where the identification of decomposed bodies are sought.
The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee plans to unveil "surprising" details at its next public hearing about the 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol. The session Thursday afternoon is likely to be the last public hearing before midterm elections next month. The panel is expected to include new evidence from the U.S. Secret Service about its actions with Donald Trump that day. Ahead of a report later this year, the panel is summing up its findings. The committee says Trump, after he lost the 2020 presidential election, launched an unprecedented attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory. They say the result was the deadly mob siege of the Capitol.
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Kevin Comerford built a solid foundation in the construction field before working up to a job he thoroughly enjoys.

"I love coming to work, and it's the first time I can say that. I care about the industry," Comerford said.

Comerford, 40, of Valparaiso, has been director of professional development at the Construction Advancement Foundation since 2011.

Prior to joining the CAF, Comerford worked in management at Superior Construction Inc. in Gary.

Comerford grew up in Hobart and Valparaiso and graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1994.

After high school, Comerford began working in residential construction, then decided to switch gears at age 26.

"I decided I was not going to do that," Comerford said.

Instead, Comerford decided to go back to school, attending Purdue University and earning a bachelor's degree in business, with dual majors in management and law and commerce.

He is currently working on his MBA at Indiana University Northwest.

It was as a senior at Purdue that Comerford received an internship at CAF, and where he first connected with CAF Executive Director Dewey Pearman.

Pearman approached Comerford about coming to work for him about four years later, after he had gleaned experience at Superior Construction.

"He (Comerford) is definitely an internship success story," Pearman said.

'Every day a little different'

CAF is a nonprofit regional construction industry trade association with more than 500 affiliated contractor companies.

It serves contractors working in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Starke and Jasper counties in Northwest Indiana. Contractors affiliated with CAF work primarily in the industrial, commercial, public works and institutional markets of the construction industry.

Pearman said he continues to be impressed with Comerford's attitude, professionalism and knowledge of the construction industry.

"Kevin is widely regarded in the Northwest Indiana construction industry as an authority on best practices for construction management and supervision," Pearman said.

Pearman as well as counselors, teachers and students Comerford works with also value his recruitment abilities.

"He's very enthusiastic and very good at it," Pearman said.

Comerford is responsible for developing educational curriculum and often instructs CAF professional development programs as well.

He is in charge of producing CAF's quarterly electronic publication, NWI Union Construction.

Comerford works closely with local middle schools, high schools and universities to promote careers in the area's construction industry and has created the We Build Northwest Indiana website, which is a resource for learning about career opportunities in the construction industry.

Comerford said he is the one who feels fortunate to find a job he loves and enjoys touting the construction industry.

"It's not something you can export. We're very fortunate because of all the industrial work we have in this area. ... I love getting up every day, and every day is a little different," Comerford said.

Serving the industry

William Hasse III, who serves as a CAF board member, said the board has been pleased with Comerford's work performance from the beginning.

"He impressed the board with as young as he is. He is serving our industry," Comerford said.

Hasse, president of Hasse Construction, touts the fact that Comerford is good at picking up the professional needs of the organization including starting a website.

"He's done a good job of running programs, having them well rehearsed and presented," Hasse said.

Hasse said he also likes the way Comerford works with area schools talking to counselors and administrative staff and helping bring in more qualified people to the industry.

"He's younger and able to work with younger people," Hasse said. "What he has is good leadership skills; he fits in well with group conversations and he has good follow-through."
PORTAGE  A Burns Harbor man was arrested early Saturday morning after police said he crashed a van into the front of a local liquor store, striking an employee.

Erik Allen, 20, allegedly fled the scene after the crash and was caught later by police when he was spotted running across Interstate 94 into a wooded area near Bass Pro Shop and taken into custody.

In addition to Allens arrest, four other people were arrested after they ventured out of a nearby hotel to see what was happening and were found to be part of an alleged underage drinking party at the hotel, according to Portage police.

The woman who was struck by Allen was taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. She told police she was standing outside the store about 6:30 a.m. when she saw the van exit the hotel parking lot at a high rate of speed and in her direction. She said the van jumped the curb and headed toward her, but was coming so fast she couldnt jump out of the way. She said she recalled hearing loud music as the van approached and that the ice cooler next to her moved. She told police she believes she passed out.

The van struck the woman, the ice cooler and knocked over two pop machines. It came to rest with the left front bumper pushed into the front of the building, according to the report.

Allen then fled the scene and was caught later. He was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, four counts of operating while intoxicated, consumption of alcohol by a minor and never receiving a license, all misdemeanors. He was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance and then to Porter County Jail, according to police.

During the investigation, police were approached by Kevin Latour, 18, of Warsaw, and Jacob Nelson, 18, of Portage, who told police they were outside of the hotel smoking a cigarette when the crash happened. According to the report, both seem intoxicated and registered positive for alcohol on portable breath tests. Both were arrested for minor consumption or possession of alcohol and transported to Porter County Jail.

Two other 17-year-olds also were arrested at the scene, and both were charged with underage drinking and one with an additional charge of false informing. They were released to their parents.
CHICAGO  A Lansing man was killed in a shooting Monday on the South Side, police said.

Reginald Flemming Jr., 18, was pronounced dead several hours after he was shot in the head in the 12000 block of South Prairie Avenue in Chicagos West Pullman neighborhood, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

Chicago police said officers were dispatched to the area about 4:30 p.m.

Flemming was walking through a vacant lot when a dark sedan drove by and an occupant on the passenger side fired shots at him, striking him, police said. Flemming was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m.

No one was in custody as of Tuesday morning, police said.
Two suspects in the theft of box trucks and tires were arrested Monday morning during a manhunt near Michigan City.

A third individual got away.

"We believe he's left the area," LaPorte County Police Capt. Mike Kellems said.

The search was triggered when one of the victims tracking a GPS unit inside his box truck that was stolen overnight in South Bend confronted at least two of the men about 8 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of Speedway on U.S 421 near Interstate 94, police said.

The search, aided by tracking dogs and a police helicopter from the Lake County Sheriff's Department, was still ongoing when about 9:30 a.m. LaPorte County police Sgt. Steve Lestinsky located the first suspect coming out of a nearby woods.

About 30 minutes later, the second arrest occurred inside Speedway after someone inside the store pointed to the individual, who was found with narcotics and is wanted on outstanding warrants out of Howard County and by Indiana parole authorities, Kellems said.

At different points, the two dogs from the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office picked up scents during the manhunt and one of the handlers, Deputy Robert Greer, spotted one of the individuals in a cornfield.

He gave chase but was not able to catch up to the suspect believed to be the one later grabbed coming out of the woods, Kellems said.

Kellems said none of the suspects were armed and "at no time was there anybody in danger." He said the men were involved in stealing box trucks and tires from three South Bend businesses.

Officers from Michigan City and Trail Creek along with an agent from the U.S. Marshalls Service assisted in the search.

The names of the suspects were not immediately released.
INDIANAPOLIS  U.S. Rep. Todd Young, R-Bloomington, has filed legislation that he claims will speed the return of East Chicago residents who lose their rental homes due to the West Calumet lead crisis.

House Bill 6166, the Emergency East Chicago Housing Relief Act of 2016, would provide Indiana a total of approximately $8.5 million in additional low-income housing tax credits for the state to award to affordable housing developers during 2017 and 2018.

The measure requires the extra money only be spent in Lake County, though the apartments do not have to be built in East Chicago.

An estimated 300 new housing units could be supported with the funds. Some 1,100 East Chicago residents are expected to lose their homes due to lead contamination.

Entire lives are being uprooted by this disaster, Young said. It is bad enough having families forced from their homes, but it is a tragedy to learn so many will end up leaving the community altogether in search of an affordable place to live.

Youngs proposal was filed in the U.S. House Monday; it is awaiting action by the Ways and Means Committee.

The measure must pass the House and Senate before the current Congress permanently adjourns no later than Jan. 3, 2017, to send it to the president for his signature or veto.

That prospect is slim, as representatives are scheduled to leave Washington, D.C., Friday and not return until Nov. 14, after which Young only will have 16 work days to advance his proposal or attach it to other legislation expected to win congressional approval.

Nevertheless, state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said he is confident the proposal will provide housing for so many displaced residents here in East Chicago.

Congressman Young and I met earlier this month to discuss the federal governments response, and I am pleased those conversations gave rise to this legislation, Randolph said.

Young has not visited East Chicago residents displaced by the lead crisis even as he travels the length and breadth of Indiana running for the U.S. Senate, according to a Young campaign staffer.

Lauren Beebe, Youngs House communications director, acknowledged that its unusual for a central Indiana lawmaker to personally get involved in Northwest Indiana issues.

Hes obviously got more of a statewide focus these days, Beebe said. But the tax part of it is something that hes worked on for a while now.

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, who represents East Chicago and has worked with Mayor Anthony Copeland to coordinate the federal response, said hell take help from anyone who wants to give it.

I appreciate Rep. Youngs concern and will continue to work with all stakeholders to address the immediate health concerns of residents and resolve the underlying environmental issues, Visclosky said.

On the other hand, Peter Luster, political director for Youngs Democratic opponent, former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, blasted Youngs proposal as politically expedient and said it reeks of cynicism and opportunism.

Lets be clear: East Chicago is our Flint and Todd Young is exploiting people that need help to try and get ahead, Luster said. Sen. Bayh will work to support the efforts already underway by Sen. (Joe) Donnelly and Rep. Visclosky to fight for these forgotten residents of East Chicago when he returns to the Senate.
HAMMOND  Although many polls say its a dead heat between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, some Hammond High students say theres no contest.

After watching Monday nights presidential debate between Clinton and Trump, the students said Clinton was poised and eloquent and Trump acted the bully, interrupting Clinton and failing to answer moderator Lester Holts questions. They said some of Trumps responses were just muddled and didnt make sense.

Hammond High senior Rafael Garcia said his class has been talking about the election and the campaign since school started this fall.

Some of the stuff that Trump says affects me in that it makes me angry because some of the things he says are so ignorant, Garcia said. I think he says stuff for attention.

Advanced Placement Government teacher Carlton Glassford invited his students to a pizza party Monday night to watch the debate.

Billed as the greatest political show, Trumps rhetoric has taken center stage, marked by name-calling and unpredictable comments.

The debacle over Clintons private email server during her time as secretary of state has followed her throughout the campaign, and her responses have been measured.

Glassfords students just completed studying the U.S. Constitution and the three branches of government  the executive, legislative and judicial.

This is the first debate between Clinton and Trump. Some of the students in Glassfords class are eligible to vote, and are looking forward to the Nov. 8 election.

Glassford and the students agreed that Trump made a valid point when he said the U.S. should be able to negotiate better trade deals because the country has the upper hand.

But senior Amber Peterson called Trump a liar.

He will say anything to get people to pay attention to him, she said. He says he wants to make America great again, but what that really means is that he wants to make sure that whites remain on top and all other races are subservient.

Senior Erika Ramos, 18, gave Clinton a point when she referred to the great speech made by first lady Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention, a subtle dig at Melania Trumps speech during the Republican Convention.

Senior Adriana Garcia said Clinton appeals to the middle class, and Trump was repeatedly rude and attempted to belittle Clinton.

Prior to the debate, Marie Eisenstein, an associate professor of political science at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, predicted that each candidate would exhibit a different style.

Clinton is the more polished and practiced debater. Trump is more spontaneous, Eisenstein said. Each candidate should play to their strengths. For example, Trump should not try to compete with Clinton on policy detail or professional debate demeanor, he should focus on his practical common-sense delivery of ideas because that is what has resonated with voters so far. Clinton should not try to be as spontaneous as Trump as it does not suit her practiced demeanor that augments her national-level experience.
CROWN POINT  Thomas Blair, 36, will return to prison on another felony charge of burglary after Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced the Merrillville man to five years with the Indiana Department of Correction.

Blair pleaded guilty on Aug. 29 to breaking into a building at Indiana University Northwest to commit a felony or theft. The plea agreement was worked out between his defense attorney Adrian Guzman and deputy prosecuting attorney David Rooda.

Five years in prison was the sentencing cap in Blairs plea agreement. He wasnt eligible for Lake County Community Corrections because of his previous record.

During the sentencing hearing, Rooda told Vasquez that the May 10, 2016, burglary at IUN was committed on the same day that Blair completed two years of parole from prison in a 2010 burglary case.

In 2010, Blair was convicted by a jury in Lake County Criminal Court for breaking into a Merrillville home and taking a laptop computer. He was sentenced to 12 years in that case and paroled in 2014.

Hes had three prior felony convictions, Rooda said in asking for the maximum of five years. The prosecutors office agreed not to add the habitual offender count to the charges and dropped the felony level 6 charge of theft.

In seeking a four-year prison sentence for this client, Guzman said Blair accepted responsibilities for his actions and benefited from Fresh Start counseling, a Lake County Jail program.

Considering the sentence, Vasquez said to Blair, You want to take someone elses stuff because its easy. The same day you were to be discharged from two years parole, this occurred.

In sentencing Blair, Vasquez said the five-year prison term is appropriate for the felony level 5 charge. You must do 75 percent of that time. I dont know whats going on with you, Vasquez said.
A state freight logistics official provided a useful reminder recently to Region officials who believe building more of the same is the ticket to economic growth and prosperity.

Lets hope Northwest Indiana elected leaders and planners were listening.

Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper spoke to a panel of Indiana legislators last week regarding the notion of building additional Lake Michigan shipping ports in Gary and East Chicago.

Ports of Indiana already operates a facility for ocean-going ships in Burns Harbor.

In the past, Gary and East Chicago leaders  as well as state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary  have expressed desires to build their own shipping ports.

Great wisdom emanates from Coopers report on the issue to state lawmakers.

We can handle double the cargo that were handling today at Burns Harbor without any additional investment, Cooper told the panel in Indianapolis. Theres still tremendous capacity there.

Cooper went on to explain additional ports in Gary or East Chicago would merely spread the logistics of ocean-transferred freight across more lakefront locations, not actually increase business.

Such a plan smacks of inefficiency  the last thing we need to truly grow our Region.

Cooper also pointed out the challenges of finding a large enough, unencumbered site on the lakefront in either of those cities.

We would further Coopers argument by noting the positive trend of reclaiming Region lakefront for public use, not industry.

Initiatives like the Marquette Plan are moving the Region in the direction of development supporting lakefront recreation and aesthetics while honoring the productive industry still operating on the lakeshore.

But the most important message in Coopers words is really a universal principle of sound business.

A strong business model doesnt duplicate existing departments that arent operating at capacity.

Beyond whats happening at the Burns Harbor port, this is a lesson that should resonate loudly throughout all aspects of Region development.

We dont have time for communities seeking to build things just because they dont have them.

What we need is thoughtful development, incorporating new ideas and concepts that complement the assets we already have.

Thats the true definition of building a Region  one we should ensure our elected leaders follow.
All have agreed to, he said, except Camdenton, which the A.C.L.U. sued last summer.

The lawsuit  believed to be the first of its kind  does not claim that this rural district of 4,200 students purchased the software with the intent of discriminating. Rather, it says, once there were complaints about the filter last year, school officials refused to replace it. An investigator for the A.C.L.U. has been able to figure out how the filter works, but not who developed it.

This is known: The creator goes by Dr. Guardian and lives in Fareham, England, in a house that, according to a Google Maps image, has childrens bicycles in the front yard.

Some person, nameless and faceless, working out of his house in the United Kingdom, winds up determining what information students in Camdenton will have access to, said David Hinkle, an expert on software filters with the A.C.L.U.

Camdenton officials say that any student who wants access to a pro-gay site that is blocked by the URLBlacklist filter can appeal to the districts Web master. They point out that last May, when the A.C.L.U. sent a letter of complaint identifying four pro-gay sites that students did not have access to, the district unblocked them.
The evening after her spring/summer 2017 show, at the cinema in the heart of the multimillion dollar Milanese art foundation bearing her surname, Miuccia Prada premiered a film to a small audience. It was directed by David O. Russell, and veered between the simultaneous stories of three women, all obviously wearing Prada. Snippets of it had also played on giant screens throughout the Prada fashion show, specially calibrated to coordinate with the shows soundtrack, of MacArthur Park and Diana Rosss Reflections. The film, which will be released on Pradas website in October, is called Past Forward.

This  the art-fashion tie-in, the multiplicity of women, the major names  is all idiosyncratically Prada, a brand that has a tendency to do things bigger and better than other labels. But the title of the film was what got to me, chiming as it does with Milans current obsession with the past and how it can be used to drive us forward. Its quite a different use of the past than, say, during the 90s, when many houses wallowed in retro, specifically 70s looks, reviving styles we hadnt seen for a while and pretending they were new. The best shows in Milan used the past  both their own, and ones they borrowed for the occasion  to actually create something fresh and different. Think of Fendi frolicking in Marie Antoinettes ferme ornee, or those Norman Rockwell silhouettes at Tomas Maiers Bottega Veneta. They were both drawn from the past, but they looked forward.

Maiers show, especially, made a point of that past-present dialogue with its models including catwalk irregulars from decades past, like Elise Crombez, Eva Herzigova and Karen Elson. Bottega was celebrating 50 years, Maier 15 at its helm, and although Im linking those models to the notion of the past, there was also the very present satisfaction of seeing real women, of certain ages, wearing these clothes the way they may be sported in reality. Bottega isnt a youthful brand, and theres often a disconnect between seeing the brands maamsy wares on young women who will probably never buy them and who, actually, they dont suit especially well. At the end, the American model Gigi Hadid walked out with Lauren Hutton. Gigi looked good  the way many a 21-year-old does. But Hutton looked wonderful. The future seemed good.

Foremost among the ever-present past approach, of course, is Gucci. Alessandro Micheles style is consciously retrograde, historical even. His is a dress-up box approach to fashion, a nonlinear narrative. Its difficult to try to write about it like a conventional fashion show, as Michele eschews all the signifiers we fashion hacks grasp after  inspirations, muses, specific time periods  in favor of a focus not on a look but on individual items, each as important as the other. It feels like a new approach to fashion  except, of course, its very old. It was only, really, in the 1930s with Elsa Schiaparelli (an Italian, albeit working in Paris) that designers began to consciously theme their collections around, say, the circus, or astrology. Michele may quote philosophy or literature  he said the clothes in this collection told a story  but each outfit seemed to be marching to the beat of its own drum.
The jury for the prize is made up of some of the worlds most influential artists and curators, like Nicholas Serota, the longtime director of the Tate museums in Britain, and the sculptor Huma Bhabha. In an interview from Paris, Mr. Huyghe (pronounced weeg) said that he was gratified to be recognized for trying to expand what sculpture can mean.

As much as I can I am trying to stay away from the modernist idea of the autonomous object, he said, adding, Ive been trying to think in a way that doesnt have to do with form but with things that are in formation, that are in the process of changing.

Perhaps to underscore his point, he said that a new project, a piece to be included in an upcoming show organized by the artist Tino Sehgal at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, will include organisms of a kind that few want to think about, much less admire as art: living cancer cells, donated by the Curie Institute.
New statistics released by the F.B.I. show that the murder rate across the U.S. rose 10.8 percent in 2015. Its too early to call this an end to the crime drop, but we are facing a one-year rise in murders that is quite substantial, a criminologist said.

 Ill-prepared health care system.

One in three Americans is obese, but the quality of treatment for overweight patients is lagging. Part of the problem is a reluctance to look past an obese persons weight, patients and doctors say.

Our patients say: Nobody has ever treated me like I have a serious problem. They blow it off and tell me to go to Weight Watchers,  one doctor said.

Business

 Several nations, including the U.S. and China, support a deal that would cap greenhouse gas emissions for international flights, a potential major step toward reducing the environmental impact of air travel.
Richard C. Perry, once one of the hedge fund industrys most successful investors, is shuttering his flagship fund as clients leave after steep losses.

His firm, Perry Capital, was founded in 1988 when hedge funds largely were the domain of individuals with vast wealth. It is the latest casualty in a wave of fund closures amid difficult markets and growing investor discontent over high fees and low returns.

The industry and market headwinds against us have been strong, and the timing for success in our positions too unpredictable, Mr. Perry, 61, wrote on Monday in a letter to investors. The fund will return a substantial amount of its clients capital by the beginning of October, while some harder-to-sell positions will be sold over a longer period, he wrote. These include investments in mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

At its peak, Perry Capital managed $15 billion of investor money. In recent years, the firm has not shied away from battles with the United States government over its handling of Fannie and Freddie, and with the governments of Argentina and Greece over their defaulted debt. Last year, however, Perry Capital lost more than 12 percent of its investors money, and this year it is down 2.5 percent. The firm shrank to $6.6 billion by the end of last year.
Granted, there are his views on immigration and trade, which arent in sync with United States multinational companies that manufacture products abroad. But then again, Mrs. Clinton opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership too, so that doesnt provide much of a choice.

Jeffrey Immelt, General Electrics chief executive, who employed Mr. Trump on The Apprentice when G.E. owned NBC, was asked by Vanity Fair about him over the summer. The Donald Trump that I had a chance to work with, I found to be fun to work with, he said. The words? I cant reconcile with anything I believe in, or that I think the country stands for or that the company stands for.

By the way, this was Mr. Trumps reply last year to businesses that stopped doing business with him: Macys, NBC, Serta and Nascar have all taken the weak and very sad position of being politically correct even though they are wrong in terms of what is good for our country. (I should note here that I co-anchor Squawk Box on CNBC, which is a unit of NBCUniversal.)

In fairness, it is worth pointing out that only 11 C.E.O.s of the Fortune 100 donated to Hillary Clinton, according to The Journal. Mr. Trump does have support from some businessmen like Jack Welch, Carl C. Icahn and Wilbur Ross, among others.

But for a group that has historically leaned Republican, the absence of contributions is eye-opening, particularly since at least 19 of them gave to the other Republican candidates in the primaries.

There is a good reason, wholly unrelated to political correctness, that the business community has not rallied around Mr. Trumps economic plans. On its merits, that plan is expected to hurt the economy, according to nonpartisan economists. It is hard to find many serious economists, except a handful mostly advising his campaign, who say otherwise.

According to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonpartisan think tank that includes a list of luminaries from both sides of the aisle, Mr. Trumps economic plan would add $5.3 trillion to our national debt. That compares with $200 billion as a result of Mrs. Clintons plan.
She put her neck on the line and they punished her,

said Yosef Peretz, the lawyer who represented Ms. Guitron. Shes a single mom with two kids, barely making it, and her reputation was poisoned. No one would hire her.

Ms. Guitron left the banking industry and now works in property management, he said.

Christopher Johnson, 38, a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed on Monday, said he hesitated to get involved in the legal case because it brought back memories of a very dark time in my life. He was fired in 2008 after working for Wells Fargo for five months.

In trainings, the company repeatedly emphasized the importance of its ethics code and urged employees to call its confidential hotline if they observed anything inappropriate, Mr. Johnson said. But just two weeks after he started working as a business banker in a Wells Fargo branch in Malibu, Calif., his manager began pressuring him to open accounts for his friends and family  with or without their knowledge. When he refused, he was criticized for not being a team player.

Mr. Johnson soon learned that his colleagues routinely opened unauthorized accounts for customers who they thought wouldnt notice, like elderly clients or those who didnt speak English well. Disturbed by this practice, he did as he was instructed during training and called the companys ethics hotline.

Three days later, he was fired for not meeting expectations, he said. Broke, Mr. Johnson was evicted from his house and spent the next seven months living out of his truck. He put all of his possessions in a storage unit, then lost them to auction when he was unable to pay the storage bill.

Mr. Johnson, who now works as a writer, said he had stepped forward at his mothers urging: She was like, Your story needs to be told. You got fired because you tried to do the right thing.

Mr. Russell also lost his home after he lost his Wells Fargo job. Unable to find a new position in the industry, he now works part time for a church in Costa Mesa, Calif., helping with its outreach programs for the homeless.
No offense to Milan or London (though some will surely be taken), but the fashion world waits and waits for Paris Fashion Week. And now, after days of costolette and aperitivi in Milan, it has arrived. The traveling class began arriving yesterday (some, to judge by Instagram, after sneaking in a day off in Como or Cap dAntibes) and continues today. But the shows wont wait. What used to be a barely there day of shows has grown into a showcase for the new guard. Heres what to look for today.

 Olivier Theyskens. Mr. Theyskens, a willowy Belgian with a goth streak, made his name in the houses of Paris, plural: first his own, then Rochas (which landed him in The New York Times Magazine), then Nina Ricci. Now, after a few years in New York, designing a more affordable collection for Theory, he is returning to Paris to show (again) a collection under his own name. Details so far are scant, but Mr. Theyskens has always had his share of acolytes and devotees. Odds are good that his collection will be the first big buzz of a newsy, new-designers-in-high-places Paris Fashion Week.
New York City public school students from low-income families will no longer have to pay a fee to apply to the City University of New York, the city announced on Monday, part of an effort to encourage more young people to go to college.

Under the initiative, all high school students who meet one of a handful of criteria will be able to apply to CUNY free. The city estimated that the change will affect 37,500 students, up from about 6,500 students in recent years. More than half of the citys public school students who enroll in college attend CUNY schools.

The application fee is $65 per student, but Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while the amount can seem trivial to some, for many families it is not. And for students who are not sure about applying to college, it is one more hurdle standing in the way of their continued education.

I want to remind you that $65 is a lot of money for many families in New York City, Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat, said at a news conference at Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Brooklyn. Sixty-five dollars matters. So for our young people and their families, knowing that that fee is eliminated just clears the way.
A 29-year-old man was convicted of kidnapping and murder on Monday for his role in the killing of a Brooklyn landlord during a botched robbery two years ago.

After a trial of more than two weeks in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn, the man, Kendel Felix, was found guilty by a jury of taking part in the murder of Menachem Stark, a 39-year-old landlord and real-estate developer from a Hasidic section of the Williamsburg neighborhood.

On a snowy day in January 2014, Mr. Starks charred remains were found in a trash bin at a gas station in Great Neck, on Long Island. His death, initially a mystery, prompted intense speculation that he might have been killed because of the bankruptcy of his business or that the murder was related to $2 million that had suddenly vanished from his account.

But according to testimony at the trial and to his own confession to the police and prosecutors, Mr. Felix, a carpenter who did construction work for Mr. Stark, participated in a plot to abduct the developer and extort money from him. In the confession, a videotape of which was played at the trial, Mr. Felix said the scheme had been concocted by one of his cousins, Erskine Felix, and was carried out with the help of other relatives.
Updated, 10:06 a.m.

Good morning on this cloud-clearing Tuesday.

A firefighter was killed  and several other people were injured  when a large explosion occurred in the Bronx this morning near West 234th Street and Tibbett Avenue. Well keep you updated here, and later on New York Tonight, as more information becomes available.

Less than an hour into last nights debate, Donald J. Trump made it local.

He once again praised the stop-and-frisk policing strategy, a cornerstone practice of the New York Police Department until 2013, saying it brought the crime rate way down.

When Lester Holt, the debates moderator, said stop-and-frisk had been ruled unconstitutional in New York for singling out black and Hispanic young men, Mr. Trump objected, saying that the case had been taken away from the judge who issued that ruling.

New York Times fact-checkers quickly pointed out that Mr. Holts and Mr. Trumps comments were both true.
Debate is an iffy word for an exercise in which candidates are prompted by moderators to dole out their stump speeches bit by bit under hot lights while a clock counts the seconds and every quip and jab and stumble is used to keep score and proclaim a winner.

But when just one candidate is serious and the other is a vacuous bully, the term loses all meaning.

Monday nights confrontation between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was a spectacle, for sure: the sheer reality-TV hugeness of it, the Super Bowl audience of tens of millions. Debate of the Century, said The Drudge Report. America on the Brink, said The Huffington Post. For once, the hype may have been about right, given the tightness of the polls and the nearness of the election.

There was a fundamental asymmetry to the exercise, because of the awful truth that one of the participants had nothing truthful to offer. But seeing them on the same stage distilled exactly who they have been throughout this campaign.
New York State prison guards sometimes get away with barbaric acts of brutality because their union shields even the worst of them from prosecution  and because district attorneys in communities dominated by prisons are hesitant to bring difficult, politically unpopular cases.

The Justice Department stepped forcefully into this vacuum last week, charging five corrections officers with fraud and violating the civil rights of an inmate who was beaten nearly to death at Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill in 2013. This prosecution sends a powerful message to both the union and local district attorneys who have grown complacent about such episodes.

The court documents in the case, brought by the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, read like something out of a medieval torture manual. They describe how a group of guards assigned to supervise 56-year-old Kevin Moore beat, kicked and struck him with batons after he talked back to them  and left him lying in a pool of blood.

During the beating, a clump of dreadlocks was ripped out of Mr. Moores head. One of the officers claimed it as a trophy and bragged that he would use it to decorate his motorcycle. The inmates injuries required a lengthy hospital stay and included five fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and several broken facial bones.
Washington  Scott Evertz thought it would be appropriate to watch the first presidential debate at a Teddy Roosevelt-themed bar.

Mr. Evertz, who served as the director of the White House office on national AIDS policy during President George W. Bushs administration, has voted for the Republican presidential nominee every four years since 1980. But not this year. Mr. Evertz is planning to vote for Hillary Clinton in November. He thinks Donald J. Trump, is dangerous, reckless, and a liar.

The party of Teddy Roosevelt is gone, he said, nursing his first Scotch of the night.

The bar was hosting a debate watch party, complete with all of Washingtons sterile charm. The special menu for the debate included two $11 cocktails: one called Hillarys Inbox (an electric blue concoction) and another named Trump Tower (a twist on a Negroni).
The Libertarians believe health care should be handled by the private sector  goodbye, veterans hospitals  and would end Social Security. The party is devoted to free trade and dislikes any international trade treaties, including those that protect workers. The party is against all forms of foreign aid and military assistance, and a direct attack on the United States is the only instance in which Libertarians favor a military response.

Mr. Johnson draws less than 10 percent in the polls that include the third-party candidates. If pollsters included him in their surveys every time, he says, hed be doing better, though not as well as, say, Mickey Mouse. Mickey would be at 30 percent, he said on PBS on Thursday.

Ms. Stein, the Green Party candidate, is a Harvard-trained doctor and environmental activist. She is running on a Power to the People Plan, which she says creates deep system change, moving from the greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy. She wants the federal government to buy all existing student loan debt, at a cost of about $1.3 trillion. Thats about one-third of what the entire federal government spent in 2015  on everything. On top of that, she would also throw in free public university education. These proposals are so off-the-charts unaffordable that they would never pass any Congress, regardless of which political party held a majority.

Ms. Stein proposes to slash military spending in half and close every United States military base on foreign soil  some 700, including bases used in the war on terrorism, as bulwarks against Russian and Chinese aggression and as staging areas for humanitarian assistance to victims of war and disaster. That would send an isolationist message to our allies that would rival Mr. Trumps.

Ms. Stein polls at around 3 percent. The Green Party is the party of Ralph Nader, who in 2000 drained votes away from Al Gore. Heres what Ms. Stein says about that: The Supreme Court stopped the vote count, and Gore was just rolled over.  Nobody else, in fact, created that loss.
Many of my friends and classmates here in the United States care about making the world a better place, and they try to make purchases that reflect their values. Some have become vegetarians to save animals or fight climate change. Others buy cruelty-free cosmetics, fair-trade coffee or conflict-free diamonds.

Yet Ive noticed at parties and festivals that some of these same people pop Ecstasy or snort cocaine. They think this drug use is a victimless crime. Its not. Follow the supply chain and youll find a trail of horrific violence.

In Mexico, the official death toll from the past decades drug trade stands at over 185,000, with many of the dead innocent bystanders. And these tallies dont include the thousands of people who have disappeared, including four members of my family who were kidnapped and never seen again. We were deprived of our loved ones without explanation, without even their bodies to cry over.

I was born and raised in a midsize town in northern Mexico. As a child, I biked and skated in the streets. But these days, kids arent allowed to play outside. Everyone has a heartbreaking story of how the drug trade has damaged his life.
This large, navel-grazing pendant necklace, with contrasting tortoiseshell and jewels, can be worn in a variety of ways: pair it with clashing prints, as seen here, or simply leave it to stand alone (and stand out) against a black dress.

Giorgio Armani
In a statement, Palantir denied the allegations and said that it was disappointed with the suit. The Department of Labor relies on a narrow and flawed statistical analysis relating to three job descriptions from 2010 to 2011, the company said.

The suit is a reminder of how diversity issues have dogged Silicon Valley tech companies. In a series of disclosures over the last two years, tech companies including Google and Facebook have revealed how their work forces have skewed toward white males. Last March, Facebook was sued and accused of racial and gender discrimination; the suit was later dropped. In July, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a federal lawsuit that it was investigating accusations of age discrimination by Google.

The governments suit against Palantir is unusual in that the claim focuses on discrimination exhibited against Asians, who have typically been better represented at many tech companies than African-Americans or Latinos.

The suit  and the proposed penalty  is a blow for Palantir, a company formed in 2004 and funded by well-known investors including Peter Thiel.

Since January 2010, Palantir has been a party to $340 million of federal government contracts, according to the Labor Departments complaint. Palantir, which is privately valued at $20 billion, is on track to generate more than $1 billion in revenue this year; a large proportion of that sum comes from contracts with the Army, the C.I.A. and the F.B.I.
Our safe word for today is Sojourner.

Those three syllables are the gift of Teacher Stuart and Teacher Caroline to their fifth-grade students in Hanover, Pa., to be used in moments of distress during an especially adventurous history project. Sojourner, boys and girls, is what you say when you find yourself way outside your comfort zone and need to take a break.

Its a fairly, uh, safe bet that you will find yourself tempted to cry Sojourner on many occasions before the end of Underground Railroad Game, the in-all-ways sensational play that opened on Monday night at Ars Nova. Just dont expect anyone to have mercy on you.

As you may have gathered from its title and its safe word (which refers to the 19th-century African-American abolitionist Sojourner Truth), Underground Railroad Game is about slavery. More specifically, this lacerating comedy from the Lightning Rod Special troupe in Philadelphia is about finding ways to speak to one another about an unspeakable American institution a century and a half after its official end.

But, wait, you say; slavery is hardly a taboo subject these days. Only two years ago, 12 Years a Slave won the Oscar for best picture; theres been deafening buzz around the coming film The Birth of a Nation, Nate Parkers take on the 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner. Colson Whiteheads novel The Underground Railroad is a best seller. And Monday night was the New York opening of not only Underground Railroad Game but also a play by Nathan Alan Davis called Nat Turner in Jerusalem.
MOUNT VERNON, Wash.  Arcan Cetin, the man accused of shooting five people to death in a rampage at a shopping mall last week, was charged on Monday with five counts of first-degree murder.

In documents filed in Skagit County District Court, Mr. Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor, Wash., was accused of using a Ruger rifle with a 25-round magazine to open fire Friday at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., roughly 65 miles north of Seattle. Four women and a man, ages 16 to 95, were killed in the attack, the authorities said.

According to the court filing, which cited witnesses and surveillance footage, a man arrived at the mall in a car, removed a rifle from the trunk and walked into the womens department of a Macys store. There, he first shot a teenager near a clothing rack, then four more people at a cosmetics counter. The gunman then laid the rifle on the counter and left.

Mr. Cetin, who was taken into custody about 24 hours later, told law enforcement officials during questioning that he was the gunman, the court filing said.
A lawyer wearing a military uniform with a Nazi emblem and armed with two guns and nearly 2,600 rounds of ammunition opened fire on random passers-by in Houston early Monday, injuring nine before he was killed by the police, the authorities said.

Six of the victims were taken to hospitals, one in critical condition and another in serious condition, the police said. Three others were treated at the scene.

At a news conference on Monday afternoon, Capt. Dwayne W. Ready of the Houston Police Department described a tense episode that began about 6:30 a.m. local time.

The first reports of gunfire began to trickle in when children were being driven to school, workers were setting off for their jobs and it was still dark on Law Street, where the shooting took place. The street is part of West University Place, an upscale area in southwest Houston.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Kerr Putney, who 15 months ago was sworn in as Charlottes second black police chief, has spoken openly of his own lingering, lifelong distrust of the police.

He has invoked the racist bigoted history in American policing. And he has publicly stated that he believes his fathers death was an unacknowledged murder, one poorly investigated by officials in his hometown, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., because the police there didnt care about the value of a black life.

In short, little in his life has led naturally to this moment when he has become the prime target of protesters, who gathered in a church here on Monday to demand his resignation and to claim that he was protecting his officers at the expense of the family seeking justice for the death of Keith Lamont Scott, the black man shot to death by an officer last Tuesday.

Chief Putney received withering nationwide criticism for his refusal to release videos of the shooting, only to relent after days of protest. His predicament demonstrates the immense challenges facing even the most progressive-minded police chiefs trying to keep the trust of their officers and also of minority communities in an age of growing rage over police shootings of black men.
Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump kept fact-checkers busy throughout their first debate on Monday night as they sparred over their policies and records on the economy, national security, the environment and their personal pasts. In keeping with how he has run his campaign, Mr. Trump stretched the facts more often than Mrs. Clinton did; a couple of times, Mrs. Clinton literally called out for fact-checkers from the stage. (Heres how we analyzed it live, and the highlights.)

Foreign Policy and National Security

On Mr. Trump saying Mrs. Clinton had been fighting ISIS your entire adult life.

In reality, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, began as an Al Qaeda affiliate that sprang up in Iraq as the Sunni insurgency amid the power vacuum created by the American invasion that toppled Saddam Husseins government in 2003. It was largely defeated and pushed into Syria during the Obama administrations first term, when Mrs. Clinton was secretary of state. It eventually split from the original Al Qaeda and rebranded itself as ISIS, sweeping back into Iraq in 2014, when she was out of office.

Charlie Savage

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On Mrs. Clinton blaming Russia for conducting cyberattacks, saying Russia and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia were playing a long game.

Shes right, but the United States has not yet publicly named Russia as the attacker against the Democratic National Committee, much less the State Department, the White House and the Joint Chiefs.
It started with a mystifying missed opportunity on race. It ended with a piercing attack on gender.

Hillary Clintons performance in the first presidential debate on Monday veered from uncertain and tentative to firm and, ultimately, scorching.

No amount of practice, it seemed, could fully prepare her  or perhaps anyone  for Donald J. Trumps hurricane of factual distortion, taunting interruptions and blustery generalities.

Mrs. Clinton seemed to slowly but steadily learn how to confront and subdue Mr. Trump on the fly, as tens of millions of Americans watched.

No moment seemed to better encapsulate her early misfires than an improbable and audacious line of attack from Mr. Trump, who has openly lied about President Obamas place of birth and brazenly told black Americans that their communities, schools and job opportunities are uniformly awful.
In a relentlessly antagonistic debate, Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed over trade, the Iraq war, his refusal to release his tax returns and her use of a private email server, with Mr. Trump frequently showing impatience and political inexperience as Mrs. Clinton pushed him to defend his past denigration of women and President Obama.

Mr. Trump repeatedly interrupted Mrs. Clinton and at times talked over her throughout the 90-minute debate, making slashing attacks that surely pleased his Republican base but may have been off-putting to women and undecided voters. He also left unchallenged her assertion that he paid no federal taxes for years.

For her part, Mrs. Clinton repeatedly chided Mr. Trump for bungling his facts while accusing him of hiding information about his debts to Wall Street and foreign banks.

Mr. Trumps strongest moments came early in the evening, when he put Mrs. Clinton on the defensive over her support for free trade agreements that he argues have cost Americans jobs.
Mr. Trump did not push back against Mrs. Clintons assertion that he paid no federal income taxes, arguing that paying as little as possible to the government is the smart thing to do. While Mr. Trump maintains that he will not release his tax returns as long as he is still being audited, The New York Times took a look at what we know about them so far.

Time may be running short for Mr. Trump to make his return public before the election, but during the debate, he said there was still a chance he would ignore the advice of his lawyers and release them. The condition, of course, would be the publication of Mrs. Clintons missing emails.

Where does the Republican ticket stand on climate change? At the moment, they are all over the map.

To recap: Mr. Trump has written on Twitter on multiple occasions that global warming was a hoax perpetuated by the Chinese. On Monday night, he asserted that he never said that. But he did not say if he now thinks humans are responsible for climate change.

However, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, Mr. Trumps running mate, told CNN on Tuesday that he thought there was no question that human activity affected climate.

Asked on the same network to clarify Mr. Trumps position, Kellyanne Conway, his campaign manager, lamented that his Twitter posts were getting so much scrutiny and said that Mr. Trump thought that global warming was naturally occurring and not man-made.

Mr. Trump did score one victory on Tuesday: the endorsement of another Never Trump Republican.

John Sununu, a former governor of New Hampshire, threw his support behind the Republican nominee and urged others to do the same.

Donald Trump is the only candidate in this race who can bring bold change to Washington D.C., he said in a statement emailed by the campaign. I support the Trump-Pence ticket for their pro-growth agenda and commitment to protecting American interests.
Such a law, the suit alleges, is racist in its origins and is biased in its effect, disenfranchising roughly 15 percent of Alabamas black voting age population, compared with fewer than 5 percent of whites. The suit argues that bias lies in the crimes generally chosen as involving moral turpitude  there are multiple interpretations of the crimes in that category  and in the requirement that fines and restitution be paid before the right to vote can be granted again, a condition that falls harder on the poor.

As the countrys incarceration rate grew over the past three decades, according to the Sentencing Project, a Washington-based nonprofit group, laws like the one in Alabama left nearly six million people ineligible to vote by 2010. But over the past 15 years, said Marc Mauer, the executive director of the Sentencing Project, there has been a broad and largely successful movement against these laws.

The vast majority of the reforms that have taken place have been toward expanding the electorate, cutting back on longstanding categories of disenfranchisement and/or making the process more transparent, Mr. Mauer said, speaking of recent activity along these lines in California, Maryland and Virginia.

Still, there are outspoken opponents of this trend, who argue that the ability of felons to vote again, even if attainable, should not be automatic, to reflect the seriousness of criminal conduct. Eleven states prohibit some or all felons from voting permanently, barring a pardon or other government action. Alabama, like several other states, allows some felons to regain voting eligibility; in four states  Florida, Iowa, Kentucky and Virginia  all of those convicted of felonies permanently lose their right to vote. In Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, this year issued a sweeping executive order that restored voting rights to 206,000 ex-offenders, an order that was struck down in July by the Virginia Supreme Court.

While the lawsuit filed in Alabama on Monday challenges felony disenfranchisement generally, its focus is on the states moral turpitude clause, a phrase that is not formally defined in law. Instead, it leaves the decision of who gets to vote, essentially, up to the local registrar.
In a Caribbean resort city, far from the jungles where guerrilla battles once raged, the Colombian government and the countrys largest rebel group signed a peace agreement on Monday evening.

The ceremony, held in Cartagena, brought an end to a 52-year-old war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, whose Marxist insurgency marked the last major war in the Americas.

What we sign today is a declaration from the Colombian people before the world that we are tired or war, President Juan Manuel Santos said in his prepared remarks, that we dont accept violence as the means of defending ideas.

It was a moment perhaps reminiscent of the Good Friday Agreement that ended the conflict in Northern Ireland or the Oslo Accords that promised peace in the Middle East. And it was an image that generations of Colombians had yearned to see on their soil: A sitting president shaking the hands of the very rebel leader whom government forces had once hunted in the mountains, as the two sides pledged a future of peaceful politics.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia  Saudi Arabia on Monday announced sudden, drastic cuts to salaries and perks for government employees as part of the kingdoms struggle to slash spending at a time of low oil prices.

The cuts, unveiled in a series of royal decrees and cabinet statements read aloud on state television, reduced ministers salaries by 20 percent, slashed perquisites for members of the consultative assembly and limited overtime pay and vacation for civil servants.

The drop in world petroleum prices since 2014 has caused major financial problems for the Saudi government, which gets most of its income from oil and ran a budget deficit of nearly $100 billion last year.

The new measures came as a shock to many in the countrys bloated public sector, which for decades has served as a vehicle for the royal family to distribute its oil wealth in the form of well-paid jobs that often require little work.
The Neue Galerie of New York has reached a restitution settlement for Nude, a 1914 painting by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, with the heirs of a Jewish shoe manufacturer and art collector whose artworks were taken when his wife and son were forced to flee Germany by the Nazis in the 1930s, the museum announced Tuesday.

The museum said it had returned the painting to the family of Alfred and Tekla Hess and then bought it back at its current fair market value. No price was given for the repurchase of the painting, which the Neue Galerie bought at auction in 1999, but other works by the artist have recently sold for more than $1 million.

The Neue Galerie, a museum in Manhattan that focuses on art created in Austria and Germany from 1890 to 1940, was co-founded by Ronald S. Lauder in 2001, largely from art donated from his collection and from that of his friend, Serge Sabarsky, an art dealer and expert on German and Austrian Expressionist art who died in 1996.

Mr. Lauder, an heir to the cosmetics fortune of his mother, Estee Lauder, has championed the restitution of art plundered in Europe during World War II and is working to get legislation on the issue through Congress. He is chairman of the Commission for Art Recovery, which negotiates with governments, museums and other entities to retrieve art wrongfully taken from Jews by the Third Reich and its allies.
AMSTERDAM  Just months after becoming general director of the Museum Voorlinden in the Netherlands, Wim Pijbes announced on Tuesday that he would step down from the post and return to his former role as a member of the board.

Mr. Pijbes left the position of general director of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam over the summer to lead the Voorlinden, a private contemporary art museum in Wassenaar that was founded by the Dutch art collector and businessman Joop van Caldenborgh.

We both had the feeling that it was better for both of us and for the museum to stop and to quit, Mr. Pijbes said in a telephone interview. I felt I had more freedom to advise Joop and to bring added value to the museum as a board member. We did not want to spoil our friendship.

A spokeswoman at the museum said that Mr. van Caldenborgh had declined to be interviewed about Mr. Pijbess departure, adding that she could provide no further information.
PARIS  Bikini  and burkini  season is over here, but with the new school year, Frances battle over national identity has erupted on a new front: its history curriculum.

School curriculums have long been a part of culture wars, including in the United States, where there have been tussles over slavery and evolution. But in France, where the state sets school programs nationwide, the countrys understanding of its past  and how it uses education to shape young citizens  has become a hot-button issue in a fraught election season.

Changes to how Joan of Arc and other touchstone historical figures are taught in elementary school, as well as changes to how French, Latin and Greek are introduced, have sparked fierce arguments between right-leaning politicians and intellectuals, who believe schools should foster national pride, and the Socialist education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem and her defenders, who argue that the curriculum should reflect changes in society.

In a recent campaign speech and newspaper column, a former prime minister running in primaries for the right-wing Republican party, Francois Fillon, said France shouldnt have to apologize for its history. And last week, former president Nicolas Sarkozy, also a candidate in the right-wing party primaries, upped the ante. Once you become French, your ancestors are the Gauls, he said, adding that students should be taught, I love France, I learned the history of France, I see myself as French.
On an ordinary night  one lacking the first presidential debate of the year and the opening of the Metropolitan Operas season  it would have dominated the attention of the citys classical music fanciers. As it was, the New York debut of the rapidly rising young conductor Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, leading the Juilliard Orchestra on Monday evening, remained a subject of intense curiosity, as witness the full house at Alice Tully Hall, heavily laced with music industry professionals.

Ms. Grazinyte-Tyla (pronouned grah-zhee-NEE-teh tee-LAH), a 30-year-old Lithuanian, is riding the crest of an international wave of established and emerging female conductors sweeping over the profession. She has already claimed places at two institutions that pride themselves on nurturing new talent, as associate conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, where she started her tenure last month.

In an odd way, she is also riding the coattails of Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Both, with surnames barely pronounceable by Anglophones, are being marketed by their first names, a further democratization of the waning mystique of the maestro: thus, Mirga and Yannick to you.

In a nice display of solidarity, Ms. Grazinyte-Tyla opened her program with Fires (2012), a compelling quarter-hour work by another young Lithuanian woman, Raminta Serksnyte. The piece, one of several by Ms. Serksnyte whose titles, in her words, directly refer to natural phenomena and elemental forces, was commissioned by Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra to accompany Beethovens Fifth in their multiyear cycle of his symphonies.
LONDON  E. Anheuser & Company started as a small brewer in St. Louis more than 160 years ago  one of several breweries opened by German immigrants that introduced German-style lager to the United States.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, its corporate descendant and the worlds largest brewer, hopes to soon become much bigger  and more dominant globally  as it prepares to gobble up its closet rival, SABMiller, in a deal worth more than $100 billion.

The path to creating a combined company that Anheuser-Busch InBev has called the first truly global brewer has taken nearly a year as the company has agreed to a series of asset sales in order to win regulatory approval.

It faces one last hurdle on Wednesday, as SABMiller and Anheuser-Busch InBev shareholders vote on the proposed deal.
LONDON  Standard Chartered said on Tuesday that it had received accusations of potential wrongdoing by officials at an Indonesian power company in which it is an investor.

The London-based bank, whose business is largely in Asia, said that it had referred the accusations to appropriate authorities, without identifying them.

The United States Justice Departments foreign bribery unit is the authority looking into the accusations, a person briefed on the matter said.

Under a so-called deferred-prosecution agreement with United States authorities, Standard Chartered is required to report any potential wrongdoing to the Justice Department. At the same time, such additional misconduct could prompt prosecutors to re-evaluate whether to revoke the deferred-prosecution agreement and force the bank to plead guilty.
The minister of the economy, Mr. Guajardo Villarreal, argues there is little point for Mexico to respond now to Mr. Trumps threats to wall off the Mexican people and slap a 35 percent tariff on Mexican imports. We must not overreact to campaign rhetoric, he told me. Still, the truck story suggests the Mexican government understands that it needs a contingency plan in case Mexicos most important partner on the world stage were to suddenly turn hostile.

The outline of a strategy seems clear: Mexico must communicate to the United States just how valuable their relationship is, and how self-destructive it could be to undermine it. The question is how to make this case. How persuasive can Mexico be?

A slide from a presentation that Mr. Guajardo Villarreal and his aides carry with them as they speak to American business and political leaders shows what the 2017 Ford Fusion, made in Hermosillo, in northern Mexico, would cost if a 35 percent tariff were imposed on imports from Mexico: $30,253, which is almost $8,000 more than it costs now. Another slide shows that eight of 10 avocados consumed in the United States are grown in Mexico, as are nine of 10 limes and half of all tomatoes.

Six million American jobs also depend on exports to Mexico, one slide says. Mexico buys nearly $250 billion worth of stuff from the United States. And 37 cents out of each dollars worth of Mexican exports to the United States came from the United States in the form of parts and other components. If you throw obstacles at the relationship with Mexico, you would be shooting yourself in the foot, Mr. Guajardo Villarreal told me.

Allies in the United States would indeed help Mexico make its case, including states and municipalities that would be hurt by Naftas unraveling, and businesses that would be forced to relocate production and rethink their global supply chains.

But perhaps a more muscular approach is needed. Jorge Castaneda, a former Mexican foreign minister who is a harsh critic of Mr. Pena Nieto, suggests that Mexicos best argument is that the countrys stability and prosperity are indispensable for the national security of the United States. Americans worried about illegal immigration across the southern border might stop to consider what it could look like if the Mexican economy went into a tailspin.
It was confrontational and antagonistic.

The first presidential debate is done, and Hillary Clinton dominated on issues like national security and gender.

But Andrew Ross Sorkin still has a big question that wasnt answered in last nights debate: Donald J. Trump has tried to project himself as a successful businessman throughout his campaign. So where is his business backing?

His plans to lower corporate taxes and remove regulations should make him a chief executives dream and yet, many successful businesspeople refuse to support him or do business with him.

Perhaps the self-described great negotiator isnt so great at striking a deal after all?

The Twitter Premium

Twitter is notable for the amount of stock it pays out to its employees, which is high even by Silicon Valley standards.
Bouchra Jarrars decision to show her first spring/summer collection for Lanvin at midday on Wednesday in a light-filled salon of the Hotel de Ville in Paris is worth considering, for a number of reasons.

Not just because Lanvins former creative director, Alber Elbaz, always showed in the evening, or because his deeply romantic aesthetic for the house turned on the axis of tender is the night.

But because the time indicates an entirely new focus for the brand  daywear is to be Lanvins plat du jour  and reflects the overall shift wrought by Ms. Jarrar, the 45-year-old French designer. Gone is the cocooning, all-black office of Mr. Elbaz tenure: Ms. Jarrar had it painted white. White voile drapes hang from the full-length windows, and there are green plants perched on high wooden tables; a ceramic tortoise peeks out from under one.

For me, Lanvin is femininity, she said a few weeks before the show. I want there to be lightness, to be pleasure, because we all need pleasure in our lives. And sensuality  a drape in the back of a dress say  but always with a twist, so there is self-assurance and there is modernity.
PARIS  This week marks the ascension of four new designers at four vaunted houses: Anthony Vaccarello at Yves Saint Laurent, Bouchra Jarrar at Lanvin, Maria Grazia Chiuri at Christian Dior and Pierpaolo Piccioli, solo for the first time, at Valentino.

It could produce, potentially, the biggest single aesthetic shift in seasons.

Not just because new designers tend to mean new looks, and these brands are so dominant that new looks on their runways will filter down into new looks far beyond their own doors (and at price points far different). But because these designers  as well as Raf Simons, newly installed as chief creative officer at Calvin Klein in New York, whose debut comes next season  have a level of control over their work that will greatly amplify their message.

After a period in which the brand was consciously prioritized over the creative, and designers reach increasingly curtailed, so that they might be (like Mr. Simons in his former post at Dior) responsible simply for the womens wear on the catwalk, with advertising and store environments and celebrity ambassadors and so on dictated by a separate team answerable to management, the pendulum began to swing back and has been picking up momentum. Executives might want to duck, so it doesnt whack them on the way.

Ms. Chiuri, for example, will weigh in on not only products, but image, ads and stores, responsibilities that Sidney Toledano, Dior chief executive, admitted at her appointment were more expansive than those of her predecessor. Mr. Simons will, for the first time since Calvin Klein himself left the brand in 2003, have creative say over every single aspect of that brand: mens and womens runway, jeans, underwear, fragrance and home. Mr. Vaccarello will, like Hedi Slimane before him, have oversight not only of clothes for both men and women but also accessories, image, advertising and store design. Ditto Mr. Piccioli.
NEWARK  Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey was told about the George Washington Bridge lane closings  and that they were done to punish a mayor who had declined to endorse him for re-election  during a Sept. 11 memorial service two days after they began, a former ally who orchestrated the scheme testified in federal court here on Tuesday.

Mr. Christie, the witness recalled, laughed at the news.

The closings of the access lanes in September 2013 continued for two more days, creating a catastrophic traffic jam that created gridlock for emergency vehicles, school buses and commuters in Fort Lee, N.J.

But Mr. Christie made no effort to reopen the lanes and end the gridlock.

Instead, his former ally said, the governor was clearly delighted and seemed to savor the scheme. And after learning that the Fort Lee mayors persistent and urgent calls for help were being ignored, Mr. Christie said in a sarcastic tone, I imagine he wouldnt get his calls returned.

The former ally, David Wildstein, who has pleaded guilty to being the culprit behind the lane closings, testified as prosecutors showed a series of photographs of him, Mr. Christie and Bill Baroni, then the governors top staff appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the bridge, at a service in Lower Manhattan on the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
A 36-year-old man was shot in Brooklyn on Tuesday by a police officer who was trying to take him into custody over a suspected assault, the authorities said.

The mans injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Officers from the warrant squad for North Brooklyn approached the man, identified as Javon Shipman, shortly before 9 a.m. on Vernon Avenue, between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, where he was sitting in a car, the police said.

Mr. Shipman started to drive off, mounting a sidewalk and heading in the direction of a detective, the New York Police Departments chief of patrol, Terence A. Monahan, told reporters. Another officer fired a single shot at the car, Chief Monahan said. The police declined to release the name of the officer involved but said he was an eight-year veteran of the department.

Officers pursued Mr. Shipman for several blocks, to Tompkins and Gates Avenues, where he was boxed in and stopped. There, the police discovered that he had been struck in the left shoulder, Chief Monahan added.
Surveillance video showed Mr. Small approaching the officers vehicle at a stoplight on Atlantic Avenue; within seconds he stumbled and fell to the ground.

A court document filed with the indictment said Officer Isaacs told a responding officer minutes after the shooting: He kept hitting me. My lip, my lip.

Justice Jeong ordered Officer Isaacs, 37, to surrender his United States and Guyanese passports and any firearms he possessed besides his service weapon, which he had already surrendered along with the personal firearm used in the shooting.

Mr. Worth called the prosecutors bail request outrageous and said there was no reason to believe that his client, who lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children, would flee. He compared the case to that of Officer Peter Liang, who was allowed to remain free following his indictment in 2014 for manslaughter in the killing of an unarmed man, Akai Gurley, in the stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project.

Video of the scene, Mr. Worth said, clearly showed that Officer Isaacs had done nothing to provoke Mr. Small, who he said wasnt coming over to give him best wishes and salutations. He pointed out that his client had remained at the scene after the shooting, called for emergency assistance and immediately reported that he had been assaulted.

To suggest that somehow this was some kind of wanton killing in light of that video is ludicrous, Mr. Worth said.

But Justice Jeong said the comparison to Officer Liangs case was irrelevant because Officer Liang had shot Mr. Gurley by accident. Officer Isaacs, who has been suspended, was charged with intentionally shooting Mr. Small.
New York City has agreed to pay $5.75 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from the 2013 death of a mentally ill inmate who was found naked and covered in urine and feces after being locked in a cell at Rikers Island for six days.

The settlement in Bradley Ballards death is apparently the largest the city has ever paid to settle a lawsuit over the death of an inmate in city custody.

Mr. Ballards death had led the State Commission of Correction to conclude that the treatment provided to Mr. Ballard by the citys Correction Department and by a city contractor, Corizon Health, was so incompetent and inadequate as to shock the conscience.

The commission, a prison watchdog agency, said it found that Mr. Ballard, 39, was deprived of medication for his diabetes and schizophrenia, and even running water in his cell.
All right, as Mr. Trump said, lets check it.

A Google search for Historical New York City Crime Data will bring you to a site with charts of serious felonies.

Frisks went down. So has murder, a steady decline that has continued, with slight annual variations, through this year.

In the word-fact-salad-spinner used by Mr. Trump, those details land upside down. Also, he repeated a more common mistake about the decline of the stop-and-frisk tactics, attributing it to a federal judge hearing a class-action lawsuit against the city, and to Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, who succeeded Mr. Bloomberg in 2014.

It was terminated by the current mayor, Mr. Trump said.

Actually, no.

Last year, the city police conducted 22,939 stops, or about 63 a day. So stop-and-frisk was not terminated by Mr. de Blasio, or by anyone else for that matter. Its true that the use of the tactic has declined. During the mayoralty of Mr. Bloomberg, the number of reported stops skyrocketed, but then was scaled back as the city faced pressure from the class-action litigation, brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

By the end of 2013, the year Shira A. Scheindlin, the federal judge hearing the case, ruled that the citys wholesale search practices violated the Constitution, the number of stops had declined by 72 percent from its peak in 2011.
When it was all over, the score went something like this:

Donald Trump: 40. Hillary Clinton: 1.

That was my rough calculation anyway, of the times that Mr. Trump interrupted Mrs. Clinton, and vice versa, during the first presidential debate on Monday night.

But to be honest, I lost track.

I noted Mr. Trump scoffing, Who gave it that name? as Mrs. Clinton criticized what she called the Trump loophole in his tax plan (Mr. Trump, this is Secretary Clintons two minutes, the moderator, Lester Holt, interjected); chiming in with a Thats for sure as Mrs. Clinton acknowledged making a mistake in using a private email server. There was an ugh when she criticized his depiction of the black community, and a repeated Wrong! as she described his support for the Iraq war (a description that was not, in fact, wrong).

At the 26-minute mark, the website Vox posted a graphic showing that Mr. Trump had interrupted Mrs. Clinton a whopping 25 times. Shortly thereafter, The Huffington Post proclaimed, This is what manterrupting looks like.

There was a time, not so long ago, when Kanye West was the most famous manterrupter  man-interrupting a woman, of course  of our era. You may recall, back in 2009, when he jumped onstage during Taylor Swifts acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, grabbed the microphone, and declared, Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time! Whether or not you agreed with his musical assessment then, what was clear last night was that Mr. Trump stole Mr. Wests interruption crown.
The Baghdad governments writ does not apply in most of Iraq. The administrations weak authority has forced the prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, to rely on dozens of Shiite militias to shore up national security. Mr. Abadi has tried to integrate these forces to bring them under his control, but the process has created parallel command structures within the security apparatus.

In practice, the militias answer to a murky network of patronage and loyalties divided among different political parties, religious clerics and external patrons. Its hard to tell where the militias end and the state begins.

The American experience in Iraq has been plagued by a series of false assumptions, misplaced confidence and poor foresight. In the latest manifestation, since 2014, the White House has wrongly prioritized the narrow, short-term military objective of defeating the Islamic State.

The push to retake Mosul is not simply a case of the Iraqi Army against the Islamic State; instead, an array of armed groups  each driven by its own parochial interests  are set to wage war there. This alone should give American policy makers pause, because of the threat this situation poses to reconstruction and post-conflict stability.

To offset this problem, the United States hopes to broker preliminary agreements between the combatant groups in the Mosul campaign. So far, these efforts have yielded little. For example, there is no consensus on how to determine which civilians joined the Islamic State willingly, which cooperated for protection, or which were not involved at all. There is no protocol on how to prevent acts of retribution between communities, and no guarantee that the militias the United States wants excluded from the campaign would remain on the sidelines.

In the absence of any effective chain of command, it seems unlikely that rules of engagement will be adhered to. With no one to enforce compliance and accountability, parties are more likely to cheat on previous commitments. One of the few beliefs that Iraqis across the sectarian divide share is that the United States will soon disengage completely from their country.

The very diversity of Ninevehs population makes it more vulnerable than Anbar, which is mainly Sunni Arab, to being carved up along ethnic and religious lines. The only militias collective interest  in the defeat of the Islamic State  will end when the province is retaken. For many, fighting the Islamic State is not about saving the nation or the state; its an opportunity to reap the political spoils of conquest.
But its not just a personal matter. Ms. Merkel governs in partnership with the left-wing Social Democrats, who support marriage equality, but in populous Bavaria the conservative wing of the coalition is represented by the C.D.U.s sister party, the Christian Social Union, which strongly celebrates its closeness to the Roman Catholic faith, the church and its religious customs. At the same time, the party is drifting ever further to the right, embracing openly xenophobic, anti-refugee ideas (to such an extent that the Catholic bishops of Bavaria and the archbishop of Cologne, among the most powerful clergymen in the country, found themselves compelled to reprimand the C.S.U. for its un-Christian conduct).

The C.D.U. is also looking to reinforce its conservative image. In recent years the party has capitulated on several key issues, which until then were considered to lie at the core of their policy: compulsory military service and nuclear energy, to name just two prominent examples. There arent many such issues left, but marriage equality is one of them. For many in the party, giving in on gay rights would be the equivalent of selling the silverware. Several C.D.U. members have defected to the upstart, far-right Alternative for Germany Party, which upholds the biblical family model and rejects marriage for all.

With the Social Democrats stuck at around 20 percent nationwide, and despite Ms. Merkels own ups and downs in the polls and recent losses by the C.D.U. in elections in eastern Germany, her party is on track to win the national elections convincingly next fall. (Of course, if she decides not to run again for the top spot, and a younger, more progressive candidate steps in, the chances for marriage equality could change.)

A result, at least for now, is an odd reversal of Western Europes league tables for social progress. Traditionally, it is the Protestant countries of the north that have led on progressive social issues, with the Catholic south dragging behind. This time, though, it is Germany, the leading country in Protestant Europe, that lags the rest. Without a major realignment in German politics, that is unlikely to change for a long time to come.
Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected leader of Britains Labour Party on Saturday after breaking all sorts of unwritten rules  and despite a chorus of warnings from the established bosses of his own party that he was incompetent and would divide the party for years to come. But to his ardent supporters he represented a needed break with the status quo, and they voted him in with a decisive 61.8 percent of the vote.

Opinion polls indicate that, by moving further to the left, Labour under Mr. Corbyn, a democratic socialist, would lose resoundingly in any national election. But Mr. Corbyns supporters arent particularly concerned.

In some ways, his appeal within Labour is not unlike whats happening elsewhere, as far-left and far-right movements challenge establishment politics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Elected head of Labour almost by chance after the partys defeat in the 2015 general election, Mr. Corbyn emerged as a champion of younger and more left-leaning party members, who saw their mission not necessarily as winning elections but as combating inequality, campaigning for peace and opposing nuclear weapons. Established Labourites, including a horrified majority of Labour members of Parliament, tried to oust Mr. Corbyn, but in the ensuing contest he only increased his strength.
To the Editor:

A Formula to Make Bail More Fair (editorial, Sept. 17) suggests that San Franciscos adoption of the Arnold Foundation risk assessment tool for determining pretrial custody status may be a step in the right direction. But more than 75 percent of the people in San Franciscos jail are awaiting trial, one of the highest percentages in the state.

As a deputy public defender in San Francisco, I advocate for my clients release from custody every day. Anecdotally, I know firsthand that the use of the Arnold Foundation tool has not increased the number of people released. Even when the Arnold Foundation tool recommends release of people whom data show to be low risk, judges simply ignore it.

Instead of trusting the data, judges in progressive San Francisco consistently err on the side of pre-emptive incarceration for those too poor to pay cash bail. Empirically, the numbers confirm my experience.

In the several months before the introduction of the Arnold Foundation tool, San Francisco judges set money bail in 67 percent of new cases. In the first few months since the tool was introduced, preliminary results suggest that judges largely ignore the risk data and insist on using wealth to determine liberty at almost exactly the same rate as before.
How do we put in the Oval Office a man who boasts that he tries to pay zero federal taxes but then complains that our airports and roads are falling apart and there is not enough money for our veterans?

How do we put in the Oval Office a man who claims he was against the Iraq war, because he said he privately told that to his pal Sean Hannity of Fox News  even though he publicly supported the war when it began. Trump is so obsessed with proving his infallibility that he missed scoring an easy debate point for himself by saying, Yes, I supported the Iraq war as a citizen, but Hillary voted for it as a senator when she had access to the intelligence and her job was to make the right judgment.

How do we put in the Oval Office someone who says we should not have gone into Iraq, but since we did, we should have taken the oil  ISIS would not have been able to form  because the oil was their primary source of income.

ISIS formed before it managed to pump any oil, and it sustained itself with millions of dollars that it stole from Iraqs central bank in Mosul. Meanwhile, Iraq has the worlds fifth-largest oil reserves  140 billion barrels. Can you imagine how many years wed have to stay there to pump it all and how much doing so would tarnish our moral standing around the world and energize every jihadist?

How do we put in the Oval Office someone whose campaign manager has to go on every morning show after the debate and lie to try to make up for the nonsense her boss spouted? Kellyanne Conway told CNN on Tuesday morning that when it comes to climate change, We dont know what Hillary Clinton believes, because nobody ever asks her.
Mr. Musk estimated it would cost $10 billion to develop the rocket, and he said the first passengers to Mars could take off as soon as 2024 if the plans went off without a hitch. For now, SpaceX is financing development costs of a few tens of millions of dollars a year, but eventually the company would look to some kind of public-private partnership.

Each of the SpaceX vehicles would take 100 passengers on the journey to Mars, with trips planned every 26 months, when Earth and Mars pass close to each other. Mr. Musk said the first flights would be fairly expensive but ticket prices might eventually fall to between $100,000 and $200,000 a person.

To establish a self-sustaining Mars civilization of a million people would take 10,000 flights, with many more to ferry equipment and supplies.

Were going to need something quite large to do that, Mr. Musk said. It would take 40 years to a century before the city on Mars became self-sufficient, he said.

The mood at the conference was almost as giddy as a rock concert or the launch of a new Apple product, with people lining up for Mr. Musks presentation a couple of hours in advance.
To Disney, Twitter might be tamed into a chatty consumer site with an online video capability that suits Disneys family-friendly businesses. For Salesforce, which specializes in sales and marketing software, Twitters stream of lightweight commentary could be mined for information about consumer trends, useful for product design and manufacture.

Image

For Microsoft, which at a meeting in Atlanta on Monday stated its aims to be a giant of artificial intelligence, the social data could matter as much as the product information, insight into how information flows around the world.

All signals, wherever there is a social interaction, is interesting, said Satya Nadella, Microsofts chief executive, in an interview Monday. He warned, however, that with a company like Twitter you can overstate the value of public signals. While making no comment on whether Microsoft would bid for Twitter, he talked about the importance of putting personal privacy safeguards in any data Microsoft mined.

That is just one of the engineering hurdles any acquirer of Twitter might face. Another is the high cost of the engineers themselves: As Michael de la Merced writes, Twitter gave employees about $1.2 billion in stock-based compensation from 2013 to 2014. That is an eye-popping number, since revenue in 2015 was only $2.2 billion.

Any company that picks up Twitter wants to hold onto many of those employees. With companies like Disney or Salesforce, that would mean joining very different kinds of organizations, in terms of how they make money and possibly how they run their technology businesses.
When the messaging service WhatsApp announced last month that it was starting to share some of its users online information with Facebook, its parent company, many users expressed anger that their digital privacy could be at risk.

Now, a German regulator thinks so, too.

The city of Hamburgs data protection commissioner ordered Facebook on Tuesday to stop collecting and storing data on WhatsApp users in Germany, the first time a privacy watchdog has waded into the debate. The regulator also called on the social network to delete all information already forwarded from WhatsApp on roughly 35 million German users.

It has to be their decision, whether they want to connect their account with Facebook, Johannes Caspar, the Hamburg data protection commissioner, said in a statement. Therefore, Facebook has to ask for their permission in advance. This has not happened.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Nearly a year before Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by the police in an episode that has convulsed this city, his wife applied for a protective order against him that said he owned a gun and had threatened to kill family members with it.

The document was filed by his wife, Rakeyia Scott, in October in District Court in Gaston County, which is near Charlotte. In a handwritten complaint, Ms. Scott asserted that Mr. Scott had hit my 8-year-old in the head a total of three times with his fist and kicked me and threaten to kill us with his gun.

Ms. Scott added, He said he is a killer and we should know that.

After the Sept. 20 police shooting of Mr. Scott, the authorities said they had recovered a gun at the scene. Family members said he did not have a gun with him when he was shot.

Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the Scott family, said in an interview on Tuesday that the assertions that Ms. Scott made in the court filing had no bearing on the question of whether police officers should have used lethal force in their confrontation with Mr. Scott in the parking lot of his Charlotte apartment complex.
In the process, Ms. Clinton, the first female presidential nominee of a major party, elevated a largely forgotten tale of Mr. Trump, when his oversight of beauty pageants collided with his unforgiving fixation with female beauty.

And Mrs. Clinton put a spotlight on Ms. Machado, Miss Universe 1996, who says she has never recovered from the experience. Ms. Machado, who grew up in Venezuela, said she had had eating disorders and psychological trauma as a result of the episode.

I was sick  anorexia and bulimia for five years, she said in an interview with The New York Times in May. I was 18. My personality wasnt created yet. I was just a girl.

Mr. Trump has acknowledged pressuring her to lose weight, saying it was her job as Miss Universe to remain in peak physical shape. On Tuesday morning, he made no apologies for that.
WASHINGTON  This was not supposed to be difficult. With the election a little more than a month away and few major issues on the table, the House and Senate were going to pass a straightforward stopgap bill to fund the government through early December and then skedaddle.

So much for that.

A combination of Senate Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday soundly rejected a first effort by Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader, to advance a temporary spending bill, leaving Congress again close to a government shutdown in the latest illustration of how nothing is ever simple on Capitol Hill these days.

Its just a 10-week funding bill, Mr. McConnell said in exasperation on Tuesday as his proposal to head off a government shutdown after midnight Friday headed for defeat. The vote fell 15 votes short of the 60 needed for passage.

Unlike past showdowns over national issues like the new health care law or immigration policy, this shutdown conflict is more parochial, centered on Democratic demands for help for Flint, Mich. with its lead-contaminated water, and flood relief for Louisiana and a handful of other states.
Some debates seem to transform the fundamentals of a political campaign. The first clash between Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump was not one of those events.

Rather than shifting the lines of the presidential race, this debate seems likely to deepen them  bolstering Mrs. Clintons advantage on questions of temperament and tolerance, and amplifying Mr. Trumps blustery message of drastic change.

But Mrs. Clinton appeared to gain in strength over the course of the debate, ultimately routing Mr. Trump in a series of late exchanges. Here are some of our key takeaways from the night:

Clinton scored on race, gender and security

Mrs. Clinton seems to have bested Mr. Trump in the debate largely thanks to her mastery of three subjects that have defined her general election campaign: race, gender and national security.

Breaking through in an exchange on race, she battered Mr. Trump for pushing what she called a racist lie that President Obama was born outside the United States. Assailing Mr. Trump as sexist, Mrs. Clinton quoted him calling women pigs, slobs and dogs. And in a back-and-forth on national security, she accused him repeatedly of risking another war with his hot temper, and said he could not be trusted with nuclear weapons.
Gone were the exaggerated gestures we Trump-watchers have seen on the campaign trail and in the early primary debates. There, Mr. Trump raises a lone index finger; he pinches together forefinger and thumb; and he unleashes a quick, openhanded karate-chop, like a conductor of an angry orchestra or a man swatting away a wasp.

But on the debate stage, he leaned heavily into his lectern, gripping the sides with both hands, as if his bulk could help gird against a moderator gently guiding him back to the questions at hand and a nimble if dispassionate rival. It was a telltale sign of exertion, of a man leaking energy rather than gaining it from the thrum of his cheering crowds.

After all, Mr. Trump is the consummate salesman, always marketing, wooing and cajoling in an effort to win over his immediate crowd. At rallies, even when reading his cues, he often circles back on a line, or repeats a phrase or question for emphasis, just to engage the hall and get people roaring.

His supporters come primed for call and response, knowing when to shout Trump! Trump! Trump! (to drown out a protester) and what the appropriate answer is to his inevitable question of who is going to pay for the wall (Mexico!).

But the audience at Hofstra had been instructed several times not to applaud, and they largely obeyed. When they did, it was generally for Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Trump seemed to miss the instant gratification, and flagged at times without the affirmation he craves.

He first hit his stride roughly 20 minutes in, when he went after Mrs. Clinton over a frequent target of his candidacy, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and grew more confident and animated, pointing and talking over his opponent. Later, he again gained momentum when he attacked Mrs. Clinton for deleting 33,000 emails as secretary of state  finally drawing audience applause.

As the debate wore on, Mr. Trump seemed to allow his irrepressible self  his politically incorrect id familiar to voters and those of us who cover him  to break through.
Hillary Clinton had been waiting for this one: a line of questioning about Donald J. Trumps refusal to release his income tax returns.

And she pounced at Monday nights debate, suggesting that perhaps Mr. Trump was concealing that he had not been so charitable or was not as wealthy as he claimed.

But another possibility she raised  that Mr. Trump had not been paying income taxes  set off a curious response from him that sounded a lot like an admission.

That makes me smart, Mr. Trump said after Mrs. Clinton brought up how he had paid no taxes more than two decades ago. When she suggested that Mr. Trump was still paying no federal taxes, and had not done so for many years, Mr. Trump offered another retort: It would be squandered, too, believe me.
Donald J. Trump lashed out on Tuesday in the aftermath of a disappointing first debate with Hillary Clinton, scolding the moderator, criticizing a beauty pageant winner for her physique and raising the prospect of an all-out attack on Bill Clintons marital infidelities in the final stretch of the campaign.

Having worked assiduously in recent weeks to cultivate a more disciplined demeanor on the campaign trail, Mr. Trump cast aside that approach on Tuesday morning. As Mrs. Clinton embarked on an ebullient campaign swing through North Carolina, aiming to press her newfound advantage, Mr. Trump vented his grievances in full public view.

Sounding weary and impatient as he called into a Fox News program, Mr. Trump criticized Lester Holt, the NBC News anchor, for asking unfair questions during the debate Monday evening, and speculated that someone might have tampered with his microphone. Mr. Trump repeated his charge that Mrs. Clinton lacked the stamina to be president, a claim critics have described as sexist, and suggested that in the future he might raise Mr. Clintons past indiscretions.

Defying conventions of political civility, Mr. Trump leveled cutting criticism at a beauty pageant winner, Alicia Machado, whom Mrs. Clinton held up in Monday nights debate as an example of Mr. Trumps disrespect for women.
If third-party candidates have not won the modern American presidency, they have shaped elections in unpredictable ways. Gary Johnson and Jill Stein hold the wild cards this year, but the value of those cards typically diminishes as the election draws closer.

The pattern of decline determines whether, and how, they influence the outcome. At the moment, Mr. Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, is drawing around 8 percent in an average of national polls. Ms. Stein, the Green Party nominee, is getting around 3 percent.

As expected from a party focused on environmental issues more identified with Democrats than Republicans, Ms. Steins support tends to diminish Mrs. Clintons effort and help Donald J. Trump.

Though the Libertarian ticket includes two former Republican governors  Mr. Johnson of New Mexico and William Weld of Massachusetts  its influence is less clear.
SAO PAULO, Brazil  Few movies have touched a nerve in Brazil in recent years like Aquarius. Starring Sonia Braga as a marijuana-smoking grandmother who clashes with real estate developers, the film has won prizes in festivals from Amsterdam to Sydney, Australia. Brazilian audiences stand to applaud it in theaters. Many here saw Aquarius as a shoo-in to represent the country at the Academy Awards.

But this month, the Brazilian governments Oscar committee decided otherwise, rejecting it as the nations candidate for best foreign-language film and unleashing a fierce debate over the dividing line between art and politics.

The committees choice had nothing to do with the films artistic merits, critics contend. To the contrary, they condemn the decision as a form of political retaliation, made solely because of the cast and crews public distaste for Brazils new president, Michel Temer.

During a protest in May at the Cannes Film Festival, members of the cast and crew of Aquarius held placards denouncing the impeachment process that ousted Brazils first female president and catapulted Mr. Temer, her more conservative rival, into power.
HONG KONG  The United States Justice Department has filed criminal charges against a Chinese executive, accusing her, the company she owns and several of her colleagues of violating American sanctions meant to choke off funding to North Korean companies that help Pyongyang develop nuclear weapons.

The executive, Ma Xiaohong, 44, is the owner of the Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Company, a trading company that in one year, according to United States officials, handled more than one-fifth of the commerce between North Korea and China. She and her colleagues worked with Kwangson Banking, a North Korean bank that has been the subject of American sanctions for years, to set up shell companies in Hong Kong and offshore tax havens to disguise the activity, the Justice Department said in a statement released Monday.

On Aug. 3, a federal judge in New Jersey signed a sealed indictment against Ms. Ma, her company and three of her colleagues, charges that were made public on Monday. Justice Department officials traveled to Beijing to alert Chinese officials to the activity, and this month the Chinese police opened their own criminal investigation into the company, which is based in Dandong, a Chinese city across the Yalu River from North Korea.
More than 130 female activists from 38 countries pressed the leader of the United Nations on Tuesday to fulfill a goal he declared after assuming the job a decade ago: a permanent peace treaty to end the Korean War.

In an open letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a former foreign minister of South Korea whose tenure will expire at the end of the year, the women implored him to lead the process of bringing formal closure to the longest standing war before you leave your post at the United Nations.

The letter was co-sponsored by Women Cross DMZ, a group that organized a peaceful walk last year across the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, and the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, a prominent antiwar group that is more than 100 years old.

Mr. Ban, rumored to be contemplating a run to be president of South Korea after he leaves the United Nations, has often expressed a wish to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
PARIS  Judges at the International Criminal Court ordered a radical Islamist on Tuesday to serve nine years in prison for his role in demolishing historic Muslim shrines in Timbuktu, Mali, in the courts first prosecution of the destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime.

The judges said that Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, a member of a jihadist group linked to Al Qaeda, had committed a war crime in the summer of 2012 when he organized the smashing of the revered shrines, which were built centuries ago above the tombs of venerated Muslim holy men and scholars.

Mr. Mahdi, who was born in Mali around 1975, stood and listened to a translation in Arabic as the presiding judge, Raul Cano Pangalangan, read out the sentence in English. The session was broadcast from the court, in The Hague.

Although the crime of destroying cultural heritage is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, Mr. Mahdis sentence was at the low end of the prosecutors recommendation: nine to 11 years. Judge Pangalangan noted five mitigating factors: Mr. Mahdi had admitted his guilt, cooperated with prosecutors, shown remorse and initially advised against the demolition.
BERLIN  A Moroccan woman who took a piece of her dead husbands intestine on a flight to their home in Austria was carrying the sample because she suspected that he had been poisoned and she wanted European doctors to examine it, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

The woman, 35, who has not been publicly identified, packed the four-inch piece in her checked baggage on a flight to the southern Austrian city of Graz, where she and her husband, 40, had been living for eight years, said the lawyer, Anton Karner.

Mr. Karner said his client had been acting on the advice of a doctor in Marrakesh who shared her suspicion that her husband had been poisoned at a meal the couple ate while visiting his relatives.

The Moroccan doctor extracted the piece of intestine, Mr. Karner said, and apparently helped pack it in formaldehyde and in thick plastic containers.
BURBANK, Calif.  Is there a more beloved character in all of science fiction than Spock, the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer from Star Trek? Hes superstrong  he could easily pummel Captain Kirk, his ranking officer, were the spirit to move him  and a whiz at science. Hes cool to the point of wintry, a master at tamping down his base needs (granted, Vulcans get the urge to mate only once every seven years) and human emotions. Hes skilled at martial arts but rarely fights. He can literally look into your mind.

Whether on the big screen (where Zachary Quinto has played him, in this years Star Trek Beyond and other films) or the small screen, where Leonard Nimoy, originated the role in 1966, Spock has left a lasting impression. When Nimoys son, Adam, began asking people what they most loved about the character while filming his new documentary, For the Love of Spock, all that stuff  his big brain, his ability to peek into yours  was secondary. His most attractive trait? Ninety percent of them were talking about the fact that hes an outsider, he said.

Outsider indeed. Spock is that rarest of 23rd-century beings, the only son of a Vulcan dad and a human mom. For years, he was about the closest viewers could get to a multiracial role model on American TV. I had Spock, the actress Jennifer Beals said in 2011. And that was kind of it. (Ms. Beals is of Irish- and African-American descent.)

In For the Love of Spock, a NASA engineer, Bobak Ferdowsi, describes being encouraged by the series and the role. As someone who was from two cultures, Iranian father and an American mother, I saw in Spock the same conflict, he said. Which one am I? Am I both? Is there a happy medium between the two?
The process to impeach Gov. Robert Bentley came more into focus Tuesday as the Alabama House Judiciary Committee passed new rules, but could end up spilling into the courts.

Special counsel Jackson Sharman asked the House Judiciary Committee to for the power to subpoena Gov. Robert Bentley, Rebekah Mason, and other people and organizations who were not responding to his investigation.

Sharman said the investigation has been fruitful with the witnesses who are cooperating and the investigators have received new documents, audio recording and photographs.

Some witnesses have been less cooperative with the committees efforts, Sharman told the committee. Some of the witnesses have simply declined these documents or to meet with us without offering any particular reason.

Ross Garber, an attorney hired by Bentleys office for the impeachment investigation, said the committee does not have the power to issue subpoenas.

You are in a challenging spot, Garber told the committee. You really are. Most impeachment situations theres already been an indictment or there are certainly have been very serious narrow charges.

After the hearing, Garber, who represented the governors of South Carolina and Connecticut during their impeachments, told reporters he would evaluate any subpoenas issued by the committee.

The grounds for impeachment against Bentley are too broad and need to be defined, Garber said.

Impeachments in the United States are very rare, Garber said. Only 15 governors in the history of the country have been impeached. Only two have been removed from office by impeachment in the past 85 years.

David Byrne, Bentleys legal adviser, and Garber said they handed over approximately 1,500 documents requested by the committee and Sharman Tuesday morning, including logs of official trips Bentley made while Mason worked in his office.

Twenty-three representatives signed a resolution in April written by Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, triggering an impeachment investigation by the House Judiciary Committee.

Allegations arose against Bentley in March after he fired former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency head Spencer Collier for possible misuse of state funds, according to a press release from the governors office in March.

Collier called a news conference on March 23, and said the real reason he was fired was because he violated an unlawful order by Bentley and assisted the team prosecuting former House Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn by signing an affidavit saying that ALEA was not investigating the prosecutors. Collier also said Bentley was having an improper relationship with Mason, his top political adviser.

Bentley later apologized for saying inappropriate things to Mason after a recording of a phone call between the two was released, but he denied having a sexual relationship.

Mason has since resigned from the governors office.

Collier filed a lawsuit against Bentley and Mason for wrongful termination.

Seeking evidence

Sharman said he had been given a CD, but had not been able to review it.

He agreed that his request for documents was broad, but said his office was open to talking to the governors office to narrow the request.

Were seeking the truth, Sharman said

Several representatives on the committee were concerned that the proposed rules would deny Bentley his due process rights.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, proposed an amendment to the rules allowing Bentleys attorneys to cross-examine witnesses.

The committee unanimously approved the amendment.

Committee head Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, said giving the ability to Bentleys attorneys doesnt change the process.

This is a new process, Jones said. Were going to learn a lot. Theres not a lot of law to refer to  theres virtually none in this state. If the committee feels more comfortable taking (witness testimony) with cross-examination, thats fine.

Sharman had no problem with Bentleys attorneys being allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

There was a considerable amount of angst about the rules, but I thought they were very reasonable, Sharman said.

Subpoenas in the investigation could be served as soon as Friday, Sherman said.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy is safe for HIV-uninfected women breastfeeding their infants, according to a study in PLOS Medicine.

As PrEP becomes more widely used in heterosexual populations, an important consideration is its safety in infants who are breastfed by women taking the drugs, reported Kenneth Mugwanya, MBChB, PhD, of the University of Washington, Seattle, and his associates (PLOS Med. 2016 Sep 27. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002132).

The purpose of this small, prospective short-term trialwas to quantify drug levels in maternal blood samples, breast milk, and infant blood samples to begin to understand if PrEP is safe for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women at high risk for contracting HIV.

Antiretroviral PrEP with 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and 200 mg emtricitabine was administered to 50 HIV-uninfected breastfeeding mothers through daily directly observed therapy for 10 consecutive days and then discontinued thereafter. All mothers were African and resided in Kenya or Uganda. Median maternal age was 25 years; 48% of infants were younger than 12 weeks and 52% were between 13 and 24 weeks of age. Across the study cohort, the median daily frequency of breastfeeding was 15 times.

Maternal blood and breast milk samples were collected and analyzed for drug concentrations at days 7 and 10 of the study. Peak concentration samples, collected 1-2 hours after PrEP administration, and trough concentration levels, collected 23-24 hours after PrEP dose, were collected on day 7 and day 10. Infant blood samples were collected only once, on day 7.

In maternal blood samples, tenofovir was detected at concentrations consistent with steady-state use (median peak concentration, 152.0 ng/mL). In breast milk, tenofovir was present in significantly lower concentrations (3.2 ng/mL). Emtricitabine was also detected at concentrations consistent with steady-state use in maternal blood samples (median peak concentration, 267.5 ng/mL); however, unlike tenofovir, emtricitabine concentration in breast milk was similar to peak plasma concentrations (212.5 ng/mL). Tenofovir was undetectable in 46 of 49 (94%) infant plasma samples. For the three infants with detectable tenofovir, the plasma concentrations were 0.9, 0.9, and 17.4 ng/mL, corresponding body weights were 6.4, 5.8, and 6.2 kg, and their maternal milk tenofovir concentrations were modestly greater than the median at 6.57, 3.64, and 4.05 ng/mL, respectively.

Emtricitabine, on the other hand, was detectable in 47 of 49 (96%) infant plasma samples with a median concentration of 13.2 ng/mL.

The estimated daily tenofovir and emtricitabine doses ingested by the infant through breastfeeding were 12,500-fold and 200-fold, respectively, lower than the proposed daily pediatric dose for prophylaxis against vertical HIV acquisition. Thus, infants had low exposures to tenofovir and emtricitabine, which would not be expected to pose substantial safety risk to infants of mothers who use PrEP during breastfeeding, Dr. Mugwanya and his associates wrote.

These data provide evidence suggesting that this PrEP regimen can be safely used during breastfeeding, which is informative for clinical guidelines for women who are at substantial risk of HIV during pregnancy and the postpartum period, the researchers concluded.

This study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The authors did not report disclosures.

jcraig@frontlinemedcom.com

On Twitter @jessnicolecraig
Cal State Fullertons Center for Corporate Reporting and Governance has finished a study on Orange County public companies boards of directors  and found room for improvement in some.

Led by the director of the center, Vivek Mande, the study analyzed 62 O.C. public companies board policies, structures, effectiveness, diversity, governance and compensation.

Mande and his team of researchers compared their findings about local boards with with the boards of 100 of the largest U.S. companies.

A board of directors acts as its companys governing body.

The study, titled Boards of Directors of Public Companies in Orange County, found deficiencies in many O.C. boards when it comes to gender diversity, independence issues, the number of financial experts on audit committees, compensation of directors and transparency.

Many O.C. companies audit and governance committees also tend to meet less often than those of the national companies studied.

While there isnt one ideal cut-out for what a board of directors should look like, there are certain elements that make a board more effective, Mande said.

Orange County firms are unique, he said. They dont fit the regular median firm that you see nationwide. They are smaller and more entrepreneurial.

(Boards of directors) play a really important role and their role is getting even more and more important, he said.

According to the study, OC boards excel when it comes to size.

The nations Top 100 companies tend to have 11 directors; OC boards typically have six members.

Mandes study indicated that smaller boards are more effective.

In terms of board size, you dont want to have too many board members, he said. If you have more than nine members, the board can become dysfunctional.

O.C. companies tend to separate the roles of chairman and CEO more commonly than the national firms studied.

Throughout the Top 100, 37 percent of companies have a CEO that does not serve as board chair. In OC, this number rises to 58 percent.

The topic is a complicated one, Mande said.

On one hand, because the CEO is oftentimes the most informed person in a company, he or she can bring up the most relevant and pressing issues to the board, he said.

The downside is that because the CEO controls the agenda, the CEO can direct the discussion away from his or her performance, he said.

Its really important to have a good, strong board, he said. You want the board to give strategic advice to the CEO.

The study highlights the lack of women serving not only on O.C. boards, but national boards as well.

One finding that attracted a lot of attention is there is not a whole lot of gender diversity in Orange County boards, Mande said. That is definitely a problem, even nationwide.

Twenty-two percent of board members of the largest U.S public companies are women. In O.C., that number drops to 9 percent.

Because surveys and research have suggested diversity is a positive influence in performance outcomes, these numbers should cause concern, Mande said.

In regards to shareholder democracy, O.C. is lagging compared to national trends.

Ninety-four percent of the nations Top 100 companies have adopted majority voting. In OC, however, only 35 percent have done so.

Majority voting means that a director needs to win more than 50 percent of the vote in order to be elected or reelected.

An alternative to this is plurality, which only requires a director to gain the most votes, even if it is less than 50 percent of all votes.

According to the study, governance experts and research recommend that firms adopt majority voting policies.

Mande said the deficiencies identified in the study can hurt the performance of Orange County companies.

Mande hopes that through his study, O.C. firms will examine their boards and take the steps to make them stronger and more efficient.

There are certainly areas for improvement, he said. Hopefully the study will at least start a conversation about boards within the companies.

The Center for Corporate Reporting and Governance, housed in the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, was founded in 2003.

The center addresses corporate reporting and governance issues facing companies and their auditors.

Contact the writer: amarcos@scng.com
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  In a relentlessly antagonistic debate, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashed over trade, the Iraq War, his refusal to release his tax returns and her use of a private email server, with Trump frequently showing impatience and political inexperience as Clinton pushed him to defend his past denigration of women and President Barack Obama.

Trump repeatedly interrupted Clinton and at times talked over her throughout the 90-minute debate, making slashing attacks that surely pleased his Republican base but may have been off-putting to women and undecided voters. He also left unchallenged her assertion that he paid no federal taxes for years.

For her part, Clinton repeatedly chided Trump for bungling his facts while accusing him of hiding information about his debts to Wall Street and foreign banks.

Trumps strongest moments came early in the evening, when he seemed to put Clinton on the defensive over her support for free trade agreements that he argues have cost Americans jobs.

But on issues of race and gender, Trump was less sure-footed. When he was pressed about what he would say to people offended by his years of questions about whether Obama was born in the United States, Trump did not respond directly, instead claiming credit for Obamas releasing his birth certificate.

I say nothing because I was able to get him to produce it, he said of the birth certificate.

Clinton also tried to drive a wedge between Trump and the president, whose approval ratings are on the rise. President Obama is a man of great dignity, and I could tell how much it bothered him, she said of the controversy.

She also broadened the issue beyond birtherism, which she called a racist lie, and accused Trump of having a long record of engaging in racist behavior. She singled out his familys real estate company for being sued by the Justice Department in 1973 for racial discrimination.

Trump did little to rebut her charges of racism. He instead said he had recently watched some of her debates with Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary and she had been quite harsh on her then-rival. You treated him with terrible disrespect, he said. But Trump repeatedly demeaned Obama in the debate, at one point telling Clinton that he was your president.

Later, Clinton recalled Trumps stream of insults to women over the years, a determined effort by her to rally female voters to her side.

This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers, who has said women dont deserve equal pay unless they do as good a job as men, Clinton said. And one of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest. He loves beauty contests, supporting them and hanging around them. And he called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Miss Housekeeping, because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name.

Trump did not have a forceful rejoinder, saying that most of his insults had been aimed at the comedian Rosie ODonnell, with whom he had feuded. I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her, he said.

But Trump said mysteriously that he had something extremely rough to say about Hillary and her family, then added, I cant do it, I cant do it. He told CNN afterward that he was proud of holding back on Bill Clinton and his extramarital affairs because Chelsea Clinton was in the audience.

On crime, Trump targeted Clinton for not taking a sufficiently hard line, chastising her for refusing to say law and order, and sketched a dystopian view of minority communities.

Blacks and Hispanics, he said, are living in hell because its so dangerous.

He attacked Clinton from the right on policing, suggesting that she supported stop-and-frisk policies but was not saying so for unstated political reasons. But in an attempt to damage her with black voters, he also invoked her use of the word superpredator in 1990s to describe youthful criminals. I think it was a terrible thing to say, he said.

Trump seemed most confident when he accused Clinton of lacking a record of success or results despite being in public life for 30 years. He tried to pin blame on her for decades of U.S. policy, including the decision by Bill Clinton, to sign the North American Free Trade Agreement into law, as well as her past support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere, Trump said, invoking a pact that is deeply unpopular in several swing states, and then added that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will be almost as bad. After Clinton said she had opposed the Trans-Pacific trade deal, Trump interjected and, raising his voice, talked over her.

You called it the gold standard, he said, nearly shouting.

Clinton, in a measured tone and with a tight smile, responded with a harsh rejoinder of her own. Donald, I know you live in your own reality, but that is not the facts, she said.

Trump hurled so many accusations at Clinton  and with such fervor that he frequently had to sip water  that she found herself saying at one point, I have a feeling that by the end of this evening, Im going to be blamed for everything thats ever happened.

Clinton pressed Trump on his failure to release his tax returns, an issue that polls show is resonating with voters. She suggested that he had not made them public because they would show that you havent paid any federal income tax for a lot of years.

Trump did not dispute her assertion, saying instead that the government would waste his money.

It would be squandered, too, believe me, he said. At another point, he argued that he was smart to have avoided paying any federal income tax earlier in his career.
CARTAGENA, Colombia  Colombias government and the countrys largest rebel movement signed a historic peace accord Monday evening ending a half-century of combat that caused more than 220,000 deaths and made 8 million homeless.

Underlining the importance of the deal, President Juan Manuel Santos and Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, signed the 297-page agreement before a crowd of 2,500 foreign dignitaries and special guests, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Many in the audience had tears in their eyes, and shouts rose urging Santos and Londono to Hug, hug, hug! But in the end, the two men just clasped hands and the rebel commander, also known as Timochenko, put on a pin shaped like a white dove that Santos has been wearing on his lapel for years. Seconds later five jets buzzed overhead in formation trailing smoke in the colors of Colombias flag.

During a minute of silence for the wars victims, 50 white flags were raised. Everyone at the event wore white as a symbol of peace.

Viva Colombia, Ban shouted at the conclusion of his speech welcoming the peace deal.

Earlier in the day, Santos and foreign dignitaries attended a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, at a baroque church named for St. Peter Claver, a 17th century Jesuit priest revered as the slave of slaves for his role aiding tens of thousands of African slaves brought to the New World as chattel.

In a stirring homily, Pope Francis envoy praised Colombians for overcoming the pain of the bloody conflict to find common ground with the rebels.

All of us here today are conscious of the fact were at the end of a negotiation, but also the beginning of a still open process of change that requires the contribution and respect of all Colombians, the cardinal said.

Across the country Colombians marked the occasion with a host of activities, from peace concerts by top-name artists to a street party in the capital, Bogota, where the signing ceremony was to be broadcast live on a giant screen. It was also celebrated by hundreds of guerrillas gathered in a remote region of southern Colombia where last week top commanders ratified the accord in what they said would be their last conference as a guerrilla army.

The signing didnt close the deal, however. Colombians will have the final say on endorsing or rejecting the accord in an Oct. 2 referendum. Opinion polls point to an almost-certain victory for the yes vote, but some analysts warn that a closer-than-expected finish or low voter turnout could bode poorly for the tough task the country faces in implementing the ambitious accord.

Among the biggest challenges will be judging the war crimes of guerrillas as well as state actors. Under terms of the accord, rebels who lay down their weapons and confess their abuses will be spared jail time and be allowed to provide reparations to their victims by carrying out development work in areas hard hit by the conflict.

That has angered some victims and conservative opponents of Santos, a few hundred of whom took to the streets Monday to protest what they consider the governments excessive leniency toward guerrilla leaders responsible for scores of atrocities in a conflict fueled by the countrys cocaine trade.

To shouts of Santos is a coward! former President Alvaro Uribe, the architect of the decade-long, U.S.-backed military offensive that forced the FARC to the negotiating table, said the peace deal puts Colombia on the path to becoming a leftist dictatorship in the mold of Cuba or Venezuela  two countries that along with Norway played a vital role sponsoring the four-year-long talks.

The democratic world would never allow bin Laden or those belonging to ISIS to become president, so why does Colombia have to allow the election of the terrorists whove kidnapped 11,700 children or raped 6,800 women? he told protesters gathered in a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Cartagena.

The stiff domestic opposition contrasts with widespread acclaim abroad for the accord  a rare example in a war-torn world of what can be achieved through dialogue. On Monday, European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said that with the signing of the peace agreement, the EU would suspend the FARC from its list of terrorist organizations.

Asked whether the U.S. would follow suit, Kerry was less willing to commit but expressed a possible openness to similar action.

We clearly are ready to review and make judgments as the facts come in, he told reporters. We dont want to leave people on the list if they dont belong.

The FARC was established in 1964 by self-defense groups and communist activists who joined forces to resist a government military onslaught. Reflecting that history, the final accord commits the government to addressing unequal land distribution that has been at the heart of Colombias conflict.

But as the war dragged on, and insurgencies elsewhere in Latin America were defeated, the FARC slipped deeper and deeper into Colombias lucrative cocaine trade  to the point that President George W. Bushs administration in 2006 called it the worlds biggest drug cartel.

As part of the peace process, the FARC has sworn off narcotics trafficking and agreed to work with the government to provide alternative development in areas where coca growing has flourished.

Only if the accord passes the referendum will the FARCs roughly 7,000 fighters begin moving to 28 designated zones where, over the next six months, they are to turn over their weapons to U.N.-sponsored observers.

Negotiations, which had been expected to take a few months, stretched over more than four years and had to overcome a number of crises, from the militarys killing of the guerrilla groups then top commander, known as Alfonso Cano, shortly after he authorized a secret back channel with the government, to the rebels capture of an army general who until a few months ago would have been a trophy prisoner.

This is something I waited for my whole life  that I dreamed of every day, said Leon Valencia, a former guerrilla who is one of the most respected experts on Colombias conflict. Its like when youre waiting for a child that is finally born, or seeing an old love or when your favorite team scores a goal.

Associated Press writer Vivian Salama contributed to this report.
An Irvine councilman who recently threatened to sue Orange County over a Great Park land development will soon start work as County Supervisor Todd Spitzers public-policy adviser, causing other city council members to complain the arrangement will present a substantial conflict of interest.

Irvine City Councilman Jeff Lalloway  who Spitzer said on Monday he hired under a one-year, $169,000 contract  said city lawyers told him there is no conflict of interest, in part because his agreement stipulates he will be walled-off from Irvine issues during his county work.

Supervisor Spitzer hears issues from all over the county, and those are the issues Im being asked to help with, Lalloway said.

The Board of Supervisors was set to vote on Tuesday on Lalloways contract, but Spitzer pulled the item on Monday, saying he is allowed to hire his offices staff without going through the board and that he had previously been given bad advice about the process.

But Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea said Monday that the citys regular business with the county and ongoing disputes between the two parties frequently will create conflicts of interest for Lalloway.

Irvine and Orange County have had numerous clashes in recent years and recent events suggest that will continue with Lalloway potentially playing a central role.

Irvine sued the county several times in recent years over its plans to expand Musick jail. In 2014, the county entered into a lawsuit against Irvine after the city sought a $134 million refund from the Orange County Fire Authority  for which Spitzer and Lalloway serve as board members  arguing it overpaid for services.

And earlier this month, Lalloway threatened that Irvine might sue Orange County over a county plan to develop 100 acres it owns just south of the Great Park into apartments, hotels and retail.

Shea said once Lalloway takes the job, she wont want to sit and talk about lawsuits or anything, because hell go right back and tell the county.

I dont feel like its my place to tell him to resign (from the City Council), Shea said, but I would suggest that Jeff needs to understand: Does he want to have a job with the county or work with Irvine as an elected official? They are not compatible.

Irvine Councilwoman Beth Krom has also publicly opposed Lalloway taking the new job. In a recent Voice of OC op-ed, she called it preposterous that he wouldnt discuss Irvine matters with Spitzer and framed the hire as political patronage.

Lalloway said he thinks he will still be able to discuss and vote on county issues, but that there could still be instances in the future when his county job could force him to abstain from voting on certain issues, such as initiatives that come from Spitzers office. He said he will continue to consult with city attorneys to prevent conflicts of interest.

Last week, government ethics advocate William Mitchell said Lalloways new job could present conflicts of interest if the councilman and supervisors arent careful. However, Bob Stern, co-author of 1974 California Political Reform Act, said he did not see a political conflict of interest as long as Lalloway abstains from voting on county issues.

Spitzer has said he is hiring Lalloway to fill the void left by two recent departures from his office. He praised Lalloway as a public-policy expert whose experience as a councilman and lawyer will help Spitzer improve the countys animal shelter and implement its new Ethics Commission, among other issues.

Spitzer initially proposed hiring Lalloway as a contractor but the councilman will now be brought on as an extra help county employee  a position which doesnt receive health and retirement benefits like other county workers.

Lalloway said he thinks he will start his new job on Monday.

Contact the writer: jgraham@scng.com or 714-796-7960
SANTA ANA  An Anaheim man who tried to fly out of the country to join the Islamic State was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for conspiring to aid the foreign terrorist group.

Nader Salem Elhuzayel, who was also convicted of running a banking scheme to bankroll his planned trip to the Middle East, looked down, stretched and then glanced at his family as U.S. District Judge David O. Carter handed down his sentence at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana.

There is no remorse, Carter said of Elhuzayel. There is just death and destruction.

The judge particularly noted Elhuzayels apparent aim to become a martyr. Even after his prison sentence, the judge ordered that Elhuzayel must remain on supervised release for the rest of his life.

What is striking to this court is the fact you were willing to die, Carter said.

Elhuzayels family reacted with disbelief to the judges decision. His mother, Falak, exclaimed there is no justice in this country, no justice whatsoever as she left the courtroom.

He is a peace-loving human being, said Nader Elhuzayels father, Salem, outside the courtroom. We experienced a miscarriage of justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Heinz painted a much darker picture of Elhuzayels actions during her comments before the judge.

The seriousness of these offenses cannot be overstated, she said of Elhuzayels support of the Islamic State. It is the most lethal, it is the most brutal, it is the most heinous organization on the face of the earth.

Elhuzayel pushed back against the prosecutors allegations.

I am not bad, Elhuzayel said to the courtroom. I am not evil. I am a good guy. I say that with my heart.

I love you Mom and Dad, he added.

In a court brief filed prior to the sentencing, Pal Lengyel-Leahu, Elhuzayels attorney, described his client as a lost young man whose family was hit hard by the financial downturn.

Nader Elhuzayel appears to (be) a man of deep confusion, longing to find an identity for himself, the defense attorney wrote to Judge Carter. Nader has always been a rule follower, just looking for someone to show him the way.

On May 21, 2015, Elhuzayel was stopped at a security counter at Los Angeles International Airport attempting to board a flight bound for Israel. Federal agents, who had conducted surveillance on Elhuzayel for at least a month, believed that he was planning to use a scheduled layover in Turkey to head to Syria and become a fighter for the Islamic State.

FBI investigators were unconvinced by Elhuzayels claim that he was traveling to Tel Aviv to marry a Palestinian woman he met online. The agents pointed to social media postings in which Elhuzayel and friend Muhanad Badawi discussed dying as martyrs.

During a two-week trial earlier this year, federal prosecutors focused primarily on the often violent rhetoric and images that Elhuzayel and Badawi shared during numerous online postings, messages and recorded conversations. The prosecutors described the pair of young men as cheerleading for Islamic State atrocities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Deirdre Eliot told jurors how Elhuzayel tried to finance his Islamic State efforts by running a bank-fraud scheme. Eliot said Elhuzayel deposited stolen checks and then immediately withdrew cash from his accounts.

Banks quickly got wise, prosecutors said, and shut down Elhuzayels accounts. Strapped for cash, Elhuzayel reportedly went to Badawi, who used a debit card tied to his federal financial aid in order to purchase Elhuzayel a plane ticket online.

By buying that plane ticket, prosecutors said Badawi was facilitating Elhuzayels efforts to join the Islamic State.

During their trial, Elhuzayel and Badawis attorneys acknowledged that most would find the pairs online talks offensive. However, the attorneys argued that it was still protected free speech. They also pointed out that the pair had no training, did not speak Arabic and didnt appear to have any direct Islamic State contacts overseas.

According to the judge, Elhuzayel appears to be the first person in the U.S. tried and convicted of trying to join ISIS to be sentenced to prison. Others have plead guilty to similar charges prior to a trial, or are awaiting trial or sentencing.

Badawi, who faces up to 35 years behind bars, is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 17.

Contact the writer: isemery@ocregister.com
IRVINE  Students and teachers in Irvine received surprise assurances Monday that the arts and science matter at their schools.

Irvine Co. announced it will contribute $20 million to support the Irvine Unified School Districts fine arts, music and science programs over the next decade.

The 10-year grant will renew the companys Excellence in Education Enrichment Program that started in 2006 and has funded art, music and science teachers for every fourth- through sixth-grade class in Irvine Unified.

More than 150 teachers, students, parents and district staff gave a standing ovation when Robin Leftwich, Irvine Co.s vice president of community affairs, delivered the news to the crowd at Portola Springs Elementary School. They were gathered for the celebration of the program and hadnt been notified in advance about the renewal of the funding.

The Excellence in Education Enrichment Program has been the largest private donation for Irvine Unified.

This gift from Irvine Co. allows us to continue an enrichment program that distinguishes Irvine schools nationally, Irvine Unified Superintendent Terry Walker said. This is vital, especially during the shift to Common Core and new science standards requiring substantially more hands-on instruction.

The $2 million-per-year grant helps to fund more than 30 teachers at 24 elementary schools.

Music and the arts are so important to the development of a child, said Jennifer Haren, a vocal and primary music teacher in Irvine Unified. You see students excel in music and arts that sometimes dont have an opportunity to excel in other things.

Haren said she used to teach in Los Angeles, where music wasnt available to all elementary school students.

Its not an opportunity that everyone gets, she said.

Attendees at Mondays event received another treat: Sierra Vista Middle School student and violin prodigy Kevin Miura performed with his Stradivarius.

The creative nature of science, art and music kind of helps me take a break, Miura, 13, said. Having that break through music and art really helps me do better and focus better in school, and I think overall it helps everyone.

Irvine Unified, with 30,000-plus K-12 students, is known as one of the highest-performing school districts in Southern California, but receives less funding per student than the state or county average, officials said. Thats mainly because it doesnt have as many English-language learners, low-income students and foster youth as other districts do.

Experts say Irvines top-rated schools have been a magnet for home buyers and immigrants flooding into one of Californias fastest growing cities.

Irvine Co. and company chairman Donald Bren first committed to a similar 10-year, $20 million gift in 2006. It nearly tripled the amount of Irvine Unifieds funding toward enrichment programs.

Irvine Company is pleased to continue its long-term commitment to Irvine Unified School District and the holistic education of its students, Leftwich said. Enrichment is an integral part of exemplary student achievement and high standardized test scores, elevating Irvine Unified above every other district in the state.

Bren and his company have donated more than $220 million to support education in the former Irvine Ranch area, according to Irvine Co. The company gives $260,000 per year toward digital learning at Beckman High School and Orchard Hills School.

Contact the writer: tshimura@scng.com
Law enforcement officers must lock up their guns left in unattended vehicles or face fines of $1,000, under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The new law  which had been in the works for months and puts officers in the same camp as civilians in storing weapons  came a day after a Register investigation found that at least 329 police firearms were reported lost or stolen from Southern California law enforcement agencies during the past five years.

RELATED:

 Police might not know where their guns are, and the law says thats OK

 Database of lost, missing or stolen police guns in Southern California

Theft accounted for about one-third of the missing guns, and many of the thefts came because officers left weapons unattended in, or on top of, vehicles.

An earlier analysis by the Bay Area News Group, the Registers sister publications in the San Francisco Bay Area, found that 944 police guns were gone from police agencies in that region.

State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, who authored the bill, credited the two investigations with pointing out the flaws in the system. He also said the investigations have prompted him to explore another bill next year that would force law enforcement agencies to track their missing weaponry.

There is no law requiring police agencies to audit their firearms, tracking which officers or units within a department are connected to specific guns.

I think the public will be safer with the increased scrutiny, Hill said Monday.

Law enforcement agencies have policies in place for officers not to leave their guns unsecured in vehicles, but they ignore it. We take that as a very serious violation of the public trust.

Hills bill, SB869, closes a loophole that made police exempt to an existing law that required the public to keep weapons in locked gun boxes when left in vehicles. The weapons could also be placed in the vehicles locked trunks.

The exposure that you gave the problem made it very evident this was a loophole that we needed to fill, Hill said.

The Register analysis found that at least 108 of the missing police firearms in Southern California were stolen, many from vehicles left unlocked by seasoned police.

Glocks, Sig Sauers, Remington shotguns, rifles, even grenade launchers  all these and more were reported lost or stolen from police inventories or individual officers in Southern California.

In January, an Irvine police sergeant slipped his .45-caliber Sig Sauer into a computer bag on the passenger seat of his unlocked Chevrolet cargo van, parked in the driveway of his Laguna Niguel home, according to a sheriffs report. He returned to find the bag gone, gun and all. The handgun was found that same night after two men ditched the bag at a gas station.

In April 2013, an Irvine reserve officer stored his service weapon in the center console of his Ford Expedition before spending the day at Shapell Park in Yorba Linda. He returned to find the gun missing. There were no signs of forced entry, which can sometimes mean the vehicle was left unlocked, according to Orange County sheriffs officials.

In November 2015, an Orange County sheriffs detective left her .40-caliber service Glock in an unmarked department Ford Taurus outside her home. The gun disappeared  along with two magazines. There were no signs of forced entry.

I used to be in the Army, and we slept with our guns, Hill said. Thats how serious the military treats its guns. Police may not be treating their weapons as sacredly as they should.

Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney, president of the California Association of Police Chiefs, said the new law will serve as a reminder for law enforcement officers to secure their guns safely.

The more we can do to keep guns from being stolen, its an important cause, Corney said. There will be that extra accountability to help (officers) make the right call.

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens agreed law enforcement, like the public, may get a little lax.

I think we sometimes get the same disease as the public and think that nobody is going to break into our car, Hutchens said. Law enforcement should be more careful.

The attorney for the families of Kate Steinle and Antonio Ramos  killed with guns stolen from the cars of federal agents in San Francisco  called the new law a great first step.

But that lawyer, Frank Pitre, also said that law enforcement agencies need to toughen the discipline officers face when they leave a weapon vulnerable to theft.

The discipline needs to have teeth, Pitre said. A suspension or, when appropriate, termination. They have to make sure there are consequences, especially when someone is killed or wounded with that weapon.

The Register investigation also found a disparity among police departments and whether they track their missing, lost or stolen firearms. Some, like the Orange County Sheriffs Department, check each deputy or officer once a year to make sure they have the assigned guns and other gear. Some do virtually nothing to track their missing weaponry.

I would want to think that every law enforcement executive would want to know how many guns they are losing, said Hutchens. For me, its a risk management issue.  I want to know if theres a spike in people losing guns.

The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department did not tally their lost or stolen guns until the Register requested their records  which they did not have.

The department ultimately learned it had 103 missing handguns and shotguns since 2011.

Bay Area News Group investigative reporter Thomas Peele contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: tsaavedra@scng.com
ORANGE  Mimi Morales, 7, seemed to recover from a July root canal in only a few days, so her family expected no further treatment when they brought her back to Childrens Dental Group in Anaheim last week after learning of an outbreak of serious dental infections there.

Instead, on Sunday, her father and grandparents waited anxiously at Childrens Hospital of Orange County as the second-grader from Orange underwent surgery to remove infected jaw bone and three permanent teeth that had yet to grow in.

The doctor said he removed as much bone as he could without disfiguring her, her grandmother, also named Mimi Morales, said from the girls bedside at CHOC on Monday afternoon. Look at this poor baby, what shes going through just because of a tooth. Im just flabbergasted that were even here.

Mimi is one of 20 children who underwent baby tooth root canals, or pulpotomies, at Childrens Dental Group in recent months who have developed suspected mycobacterial infections. Initial testing has implicated the offices water system, which has been shut down and must be replaced.

Her grandmother said the little girl will likely need months of powerful antibiotics that could damage her hearing. She wont be able to get dental implants to replace her missing teeth until shes fully grown, at 18.

According to the countys Health Care Agency, the childrens symptoms appeared 15 to 85 days after the pulpotomies. In a similar previous outbreak of mycobacterial infection in a dental clinic, incubation periods lasted up to nine months, the agency said.

Morales, 57, said shes fearful that parents might not realize their children are ill and require immediate care. Since April 1, an estimated 500 children have undergone the procedure and should be examined, public health officials said.

Morales said Mimi had a fever the day of the root canal that went away with Tylenol. She felt sore for a few days and then later said she could feel a bump in her mouth, which Morales thought was a cold sore.

My silver tooth, when I chewed, it hurt, Mimi recalled on Monday. When I brushed my teeth, blood came out.

But Morales said Mimi stopped complaining about discomfort and she knew nothing of the outbreak until she happened to catch a snippet of TV news while at work more than a week ago.

In an abundance of caution, she decided to bring Mimi to the dental clinic last Monday.

Thats why Im worried there are people out there and their kids seem fine, Morales said. They have no symptoms. They may have seen the news and said, Thank God my kids fine, and meanwhile its eating away at your bone, your jaw.

Morales said when she brought Mimi back she had not been contacted by the clinic. She said employees there told her they were still in the process of notifying families.

Sam Gruenbaum, CEO of the company that owns the clinic, did not respond to a request for comment Monday but said last week that screenings of children were ongoing.

We appreciate our patients coming in, he said in an email.

Morales said at the follow-up appointment, the clinic immediately referred her to an oral surgeon who removed the baby molar with the root canal last Thursday. The family was then sent to CHOC where Mimi was admitted.

Mimis mouth and right cheek are so swollen that its difficult for her to speak, but she said she wants to go home and get back to school.

Mimis father, Zack Morales, 25, said hes still processing the shock of his daughters ordeal.

Thank God for my mom having the common sense to see this on the news and connect the dots, he said. Thats my baby. I told her last night I wish I could have gone through the pain instead of her.

Morales said after Mimi recovers from the infection, she will need extensive dental work, including bone grafting in order to receive dental implants.

Shes a beautiful little girl. I want to make sure her teeth are taken care of, she said.

To learn more about the outbreak, the countys Health Care Agency has information for parents in English and Spanish at ochealthinfo.com/dentaloutbreak.

Contact the writer: cperkes@scng.com 714-796-3686
SACRAMENTO  Gun owners and law-enforcement officers will be required to lock up their firearms if they leave them in an unattended vehicle under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown has signed.

The Democratic governor said Monday that hes signed a bill introduced in response to high-profile thefts from the vehicles of law enforcement officers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

SB869 requires that anyone leaving a handgun in a vehicle lock it in the trunk or a locked container out of plain sight, or face a $1,000 fine.

Handguns stolen from law enforcement officers cars last year were used in the San Francisco killing of 32-year-old Kate Steinle in July and 27-year-old Oakland muralist Antonio Ramos in September.

The measure was among four gun bills Brown signed Monday. He vetoed two.
Violent crimes increased in California and across the nation in the last year but continue to remain well below historic peaks, according to FBI data released Monday.

Murder increased nearly 11 percent nationwide. In California, it was 9.5 percent, according to data provided by local law enforcement agencies to the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which compiles data on murders, aggravated assault, car thefts and other crimes.

UC Irvine Professor Charis Kubrin, of the department of criminology, law and society, cautioned that the numbers may look alarming but theres no evidence of a national homicide wave.

Instead, crime trends have held steady, she said.

It is important to remember that at the end of the day, even with this increase, we are still lower than 30 years ago, Kubrin said. In California, if you look at major cities with populations over 400,000, the state has fared pretty well.

Los Angeles, for example, saw an uptick in 2015 in murders from the year before, but the rate has remained at seven murders per 100,000 residents. By comparison, Kubrin noted, the murder rate in Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and other cities is much higher.

A study released last week by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law analyzed crime data from the 30 largest cities in 2015 and found that crime overall remained the same as in 2014, but murder had increased by 14 percent. Three cities  Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, D.C.  were responsible for half of that increase.

Nationwide, agencies reported a nearly 4 percent increase in the number of violent crimes and a 2.6 percent decrease in the estimated number of property crimes for 2015, compared to the previous year.

Californias violent and property crime rates increased by about 8 percent each in 2015 compared with 2014.

It is not uncommon for crime rates to bounce around a bit, and given that we remain at historically low levels of crime, I wouldnt be too concerned, George Tita, a UC Irvine professor of criminology, law and society, said in an email.

In California, the rate per 100,000 people increased to 426.3 from 396.1 for violent crimes.

In Los Angeles, violent crime increased 31 percent from 2014 to 2015 and property crimes went up by 12.5 percent during that same period.

The number of violent crimes reported in Riverside increased by 4 percent, and by 3.7 percent in Ontario. Property crimes in those cities increased by 6.8 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

Long Beach, meanwhile, also saw a 20 percent increase in its violent crime rate.

In Orange County, Anaheims violent crime rate increased 22 percent and Irvines 20 percent.

But in Irvine, the relatively low number of total violent crimes in 2014, 120, made for the wild swing, percentage-wise, when it rose to only 144.

Irvine actually recorded the lowest rate of violent crime per capita of any city in the nation with a population of more than 150,000.

Across Orange County, overall crime rose 23 percent last year, compared to 2014, the greatest single year jump in at least a decade, according to a Register analysis earlier this year. The steepest increases came in reports of stolen vehicles, aggravated assaults, thefts and burglaries.

In this years report, FBI Director James Comey said the agency is working toward developing a database chronicling incidents of police use of force.

Staff writer Joshua Sudock and Jeff Collins contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7829 or rkopetman@scng.com
Re: Edward Snowden deserves no pardon after harm he inflicted [Opinion, Sept. 25]: Many thanks to James Poulos for articulating the case against Edward Snowden. In contrast, the movie Snowden presents Snowden as a loyal and dedicated patriot concerned about the American public. Written and directed by Oliver Stone, who has a dim view of Americas defense establishment, it grossly exaggerates the idea that NSA operatives spy on intimate activities of random innocent citizens. With 320 million-plus U.S. citizens, would the few thousand NSA operatives waste time snooping on innocent John and Jane Does?

However, I disagree with Poulos conclusion: That does not necessarily mean that Edward Snowden should be hanged by the neck. As former CIA Director James Woolsey argued, If convicted by a jury of his peers, he should be hanged by his neck until he is dead. Notice the contrast between Woolseys statement of adhering to the law, and Snowdens action of breaking the law by providing classified information to enemies of the U.S.

Oliver Watson

Orange

  

I was open to being persuaded. But alas, the only harm James Poulos can point to are suspicions about Russian entanglement. He laments how vulnerable and pathetic our country and its defenses have been made to appear which he considers a national security debacle. None of this is substantive; its just repetition of official outrage puffery. How ironic that, while claiming that Snowdens argument for a pardon is an exceptionally weak case, Poulos actually constructs one of his own.

William Yarchin

Huntington Beach

  

James Poulos writes an article presenting a clear case of government abusive intervention, violation of constitutional rights and blatant illegality. He then offers his opinions, for there are no facts to support them, that Snowden is a bad guy. If he knows of such adverse results, why does he not note at least a few.

He calls Snowden a pawn in a game orchestrated from Russia. Weve been told Russia has interfered with our election process, an alarming statement that has yet to be proven. For Poulos to say that Snowden did this with Russia is simply preposterous.

Snowden risked his life to expose these abuses. He deserves a pardon.

John Rette

Mission Viejo
SANTA ANA  No charges were filed Tuesday against a 17-year-old girl arrested in connection with a triple-killing in Fullerton.

By law, the girl was to be released from juvenile hall by Tuesday evening, however it was unclear whether that had been done.

The unidentified teen was arrested Sunday morning along with Joshua Charles Acosta, 21, of Ft. Irwin and Frank Sato Felix, 25, of Sun Valley, both charged Tuesday with first-degree murder.

The teen was arrested the same day police said that missing 17-year-old Katlynn Goodwill Yost was found safe. Police have declined to say if Yost was the arrested teen, citing state privacy laws for minors.

The District Attorneys Office has declined to comment on the status of the 17-year-old.

Christopher Yost, 34; his wife, Jennifer Yost, 39; and their friend Arthur Boucher, 28, were found dead in the Yost home in Fullerton on Saturday morning.

Two of the couples daughters, ages 6 and 9, were home when police arrived. The younger girl alerted police by calling 911, saying their parents had died.

Katlynn Goodwill Yost, Jennifer Yosts oldest daughter, was missing but later located.

Prosecutors said Acosta and Felix entered the home in the early morning hours. Acosta is accused of shooting the three victims. The two men appeared in court briefly on Tuesday to formally face charges, but the arraignment was postponed to Oct. 28.

Katlynn and Jennifer Yost, Acosta and Felix were apparently involved in the Southern California furry community, a group of fans who congregate online and meet at conventions to dress in colorful animal costumes. Many dont dress up at the events and instead wear badges with their characters displayed on them.

Katlynn Yost was active in the furry community, going by the name Daydreamer, according to her social media accounts.

Melinda Giles was a friend of Jennifer Yosts; they met through the furry community. Giles also met the two suspects through the Yost family at furry events but didnt know them very well.

Jennifer Yost called Giles concerned about who her daughter was hanging out with, Giles said.

I dont know if (Felix and Katlynn Yost) were involved romantically, but I know they were friends, Giles said. All I know is that Jennifer called me very distraught a few weeks back telling me that she didnt want (Felix) around her daughter anymore.

Giles added that Christopher Yost, whod help raise Katlynn from when she was a young child, and Jennifer Yost were kind people who cared about their family.

I know she was concerned about her and was trying to protect her, Giles said.

She said she doesnt know what could have motivated the crimes but thinks Boucher, who was staying with the couple temporarily, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Giles said the last time she talked to Jennifer Yost was on the phone the day before she was found dead in her home.

It was a normal conversation. She wasnt like concerned about anything, she said. They were good people, and they didnt deserve what happened to them.

Stacy Businger, a cousin of Christopher Yosts, said the family is devastated by the loss of the pair and are doubly saddened by the fact their young girls were left parent-less.

Were barely holding on, Businger said Tuesday. But were going to do everything we can do to support these girls.

The family started a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and support the girls.

Businger said she saw her cousin  who was more like a big brother  at a family dinner more than a month ago. She remembered him as a giving man and devoted father: He would do anything for anyone. Thats just who he was.

Christopher Yost recently worked at a trophy-designing business. He liked working on cars and played the drums and guitar.

Jennifer Yost had a small enterprise making her own jewelry and stuffed figurines, which she sold online.

There was a lot of creativity in that house, Businger said.

The pair were always together and happy, Businger said, and welcomed people into their home.

She hoped authorities have more answers for the family soon.

All we want to do is really remember our family, Businger said. We want to show who exactly my cousin and Jenn were.

Contact the writer: tsaavedra@ocregister.com
ERIK VAN DER GOES

ORANGE LUTHERAN

FOOTBALL

GPA: 4.4

Van der Goes is a senior tight end for the Lancers. He has been the starting tight end since his sophomore year. He has earned top Scholar-Athlete honors each year since his freshman year and has been on the Honor Roll each year of high school. He is enrolled in calculus, AP language, AP government, honors molecular genetics, business law, cultural intelligence and global communication, Spanish 4, faith entrepreneurial business academy and called to believe/theology 4. Van der Goes has been involved on campus in Student Life Office, Ignite Mentor, International Exchange Student Mentor. He is interested in pursuing a career in economics or business law. He has received an offer from Pomona College and has received interest from several other Division 1, Ivy and Patriot league schools.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
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MAC Custom Homes has built our reputation on quality, attention to detail, and a commitment to Integrity throughout the build process. It is this commitment which calls upon us to partner with those who share our passion for excellence. That is why we have chosen Old Mission Windows as our Partner, as we strive to exceed our clients expectations.

~ Joe Colegrove, President

MAC Custom Homes
Zootopia (Netflix): Disneys 2016 smash uses a cute story about a world of animals wearing people clothes to explore issues of race in modern America. And not subtly. In the end, it works much better as a high-wire allegory than a cute story about animals, but such boldness should be commended.

Easy (Netflix): Netflix, which produces a new show every five seconds, just dropped this anthology dramedy series from Joe Swanberg (director of Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire). The show is less a string of episodes than it is a collection of eight half-hour indie movies. Various entries star Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman, Marc Maron, Elizabeth Reaser, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson, Aya Cash, Dave Franco, Hannibal Buress and Emily Ratajkowski.

Road Trip (Netflix): If you ever want to explain to your children or your childrens children what a Tom Green was or a DJ Qualls or even a Breckin Meyer, this 2000 college comedy is a good place to start.

Pusher, Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands, Pusher III: Im the Angel of Death (Amazon Prime): Nicolas Winding Refn, the polarizing director behind Drive, The Neon Demon and Only God Forgives, once made a searing Danish crime trilogy that still ranks among his better work. The middle entry is the best, with Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) playing an ex-con screw-up trying to break good.

Eight Men Out (Amazon Prime and Hulu): John Sayles dramatization of the 1919 Black Sox scandal had a great cast of future movie stars and that guy guys: John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Lerner, Bill Irwin, David Strathairn, Michael Rooker and D.B. Sweeney.

Fido (Amazon Prime and Hulu): Billy Connolly and Carrie-Anne Moss star in this underrated comedy set in an alternate 1950s America, where flesh-eating zombies have been tamed and turned into the help for upper-middle-class suburbanites.

Serena (Amazon Prime and Hulu): Early in 2014, this Depression-era-set drama about a timber baron and his ambitious wife starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence looked an awful lot like an Oscar contender. Then people saw it.

Sicario (Amazon Prime and Hulu): The best movie of 2015 not called Mad Max: Fury Road takes an FBI agent (Emily Blunt) to the heart of darkness of Americas war on the Mexican drug cartels. Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro serve as her untrustworthy tour guides.

Rushmore (HBO Now and HBO Go): Still among Wes Andersons best movies and arguably the greatest use of Bill Murray to date.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), one child dies every two weeks when a TV, piece of furniture or appliance falls on them. Whats even worse is that these accidents are 100 percent preventable.

With the cold weather approaching, children will be spending more time indoors, increasing the risk of at-home injuries. Additionally, September is Baby Safety Month, making now the perfect time to examine your home for unsafe and unsteady furniture.

The following tips will help prevent furniture-related accidents and hazards in your home:

1. Make sure all furniture and televisions are properly secured to the wall. Newer furniture should come with an anti-tip device or kit, paired with instructions on proper setup. You can also purchase anti-tip straps from your local hardware store. If a television is not already mounted, it should only be placed on a media center made for that type of TV along with a wall attachment.

2. Dont forget to secure large appliances and other freestanding items to the wall. While they are often overlooked, bulky items such as computer monitors, ovens and refrigerators can be hazardous to curious children. Additionally, remove toys, remote controls and other objects from the top of furniture and TVs so young children are not tempted to grab them and potentially knock over the heavy piece.

3. Check that furniture meets the national standards for indoor air quality, which are developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Believe it or not, there are products on the market that contain dangerous chemicals that pollute indoor air and can cause asthma and allergies. Products that have achieved the GREENGUARD Gold Certification, including Stone & Leigh, have met rigorous standards for indoor air quality and wont contribute to health issues in children.

4. Furniture should also meet the tip-over safety guidelines developed by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) International. Before purchasing furniture, its important to research the manufacturers level of adherence to testing and safety procedures. These guidelines are voluntary, so not all furniture manufacturers comply and meet the ASTM standard for tip-over accidents.

5. Spread the word to family and friends. While the furniture in your home may be secure, that doesnt ensure your child will be safe on playdates or when visiting relatives. By educating those close to you on the risks of unsteady and unsafe furniture, you can prevent accidents and maybe even save a life.

***

Rebecca Ritterbush is the marketing manager for Nebraska Furniture Mart. She has five years of marketing experience in home furnishings retail.
CBOE Holdings said Monday that it has agreed to buy Bats Global Markets for about $3.2 billion in a deal that would link an electronic upstart with the owner of the Chicago Board Options Exchange.

Edward Tilly, chief executive officer at CBOE Holdings, will keep that role in the combined company, and Bats chief Chris Concannon will become president and chief operating officer, the companies said. The market operators plan to use Bats technology and base the firm in Chicago. The deal, a mix of cash and stock, is expected to close in the first half of 2017, the companies said.

Lenexa, Kansas-based Bats was founded in 2005 by high-speed trader David Cummings of Tradebot Systems Inc., and its trading software is regarded as among the industrys best. Bats went public in April.

CBOE still runs open-outcry pits in Chicago, a throwback to an era when humans instead of computers drove trading.
Two drivers were involved in the March deadly collision.

Carl Gauff, 60, was killed after an SUV hit him head-on.

David Hadi, 39, on Monday was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison, convicted of drunken driving and colliding with Gauff.

But the bond between their wives endures  proving resiliency to loss and heartbreak.

On Sunday night, Jacqueline Gauff visited Miriam Yunis and spoke about the letters the Gauff family submitted to the court for sentencing, a relative said.

Yunis updated Gauff on her four children and said that theyd like to go to the library more often.

Gauff offered to take the children to the library when she can and agreed to have another relative tutor one of Yunis children in math.

The family also will invite Yunis family to Thanksgiving dinner and make sure the family has food for Christmas, said Sandra Alcaraz, a relative.

We want to be there for (Yunis) and her kids, Alcaraz said. Its not her fault.

Hadi pleaded no contest in July to a motor vehicle homicide charge. Prosecutors dropped another charge: DUI causing serious bodily injury.

Under state sentencing guidelines, Hadi must serve 15 years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must be released after 25 years. He was given credit for 198 days already served.

Im angry, frustrated and glad he got that sentence, said Nanone Bell, Gauffs sister. I will miss (my brother).

Police have said that on March 13, Hadi was driving a 2000 Ford Expedition east in a westbound lane of L Street about 8 p.m. Near 36th Street the SUV collided with a 2011 Hyundai Sonata driven by Carl Gauff, who was driving west on L Street.

Earlier, Yunis had attempted to take away the keys from her husband.

Gauff was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he died.

Gauffs 15-year-old grandson Dontae Chavez suffered a lacerated spleen and a concussion.

Hadis blood-alcohol level after the crash was .308, almost four times the legal limit of .08, officials have said.

High is an understatement, Douglas County District Judge Thomas Otepka said about the blood-alcohol level, adding that Hadi had drunk 2 pints of vodka starting that morning.

Hadi didnt address the court, possibly adding to court officials belief that he didnt express much remorse, according to the presentencing report.

His lawyer, Matt Miller, said Hadi showed remorse in other ways, such as agreeing to a plea deal instead of putting the Gauff family through a trial.

Hadi was born in Sudan, Miller said, spent time at a refugee camp in Ethiopia and was exposed to violence.

Sometimes you get a little numb to certain things, numb to death, and I dont think thats being unremorseful in any way, Miller said.

Otepka said that in a presentencing interview with probation officials Hadi hardly spoke about the victim or the impact of his actions that night.

If he fled a country because of death and he came here and caused death, theres some irony in there, tragically, Otepka said.

Yunis, dressed in bright African clothing, wore a button that bore Gauffs photo and the words Gone but never forgotten. More than a dozen family members and friends of Gauff in the courtroom also wore similar buttons or T-shirts.

Josephine Alcaraz, Jacqueline Gauffs sister, read a letter to the court.

What a wonderful and amazing man you took from us, the note began. I was truly blessed to have him in my life.

Josephine said she struggled with hate and anger, but then she met a kind woman: Yunis.

Do I hate you? Josephine rhetorically asked Hadi. No. Am I angry? Yes. You made a stupid choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Yunis began to sob, clutching the hands of her children, who had been silent the entire hearing.

Otepka paused the proceeding.

I should have said this before, he said. I dont allow children in this courtroom.

The three children left with a friend.

Yunis stayed, alone on the courtroom bench. But not for long.

Sandra Alcaraz went to her side and hugged her, and Yunis rested her head on Alcarazs shoulder.
LINCOLN  A group of Gage County Democrats are asking Gov. Pete Ricketts to have the state, not Gage County, pay the $28 million that a jury awarded to six people wrongly convicted of a 1985 homicide.

The group sent Ricketts a letter Monday requesting that state budget funds be used to cover the jurys award to the Beatrice Six and attorney fees, saying the cost should not fall exclusively upon Gage County property owners.

Don Schuller, chairman of the Gage County Democrats, a group of about 65, said the six were prosecuted by the county on behalf of the state, and the state imprisoned them and opposed Joseph Whites appeals.

Gage County property owners are as blameless in this matter as was the victim, said Schuller, of Wymore.

The governor hadnt reviewed the petition as of late Monday, said Ricketts spokesman, Taylor Gage.

The Beatrice Six spent more than 70 years combined in prison in the rape and slaying of Helen Wilson, 68, who was found in her apartment on Feb. 6, 1985. They were convicted following a 1989 investigation by the Gage County Sheriffs Office.

A jury in July awarded a combined $28 million to the six, holding the county and two sheriffs deputies liable for a reckless investigation and manufacturing evidence. DNA tests in 2008 cleared them and pointed to an Oklahoma man, who died before he could be brought to justice.

Whether the county has insurance to cover the jury verdict is unclear. The Gage County Board in August hired a Lincoln law firm, Keating OGara, for $7,600 to look into whether the county may have liability coverage.

Gage County property owners stand to be taxed $33 million to cover the pending claims and expenses related to the matter, according to Schuller.

The countys 2016-17 property tax request of $9.2 million, which is 3 percent higher than the previous budget, does not include paying the Beatrice Six verdict, he said.

Counties have sought financial assistance from the Nebraska Legislature in the past, Schuller noted. In 1996 the state transferred $200,000 to Richardson County to help cover the costs of prosecuting two death penalty cases and catastrophic flooding damage.
Seat-belt use and intersection safety will be the focus of a Nebraska State Patrol six-week special enforcement in Scotts Bluff County.

In the past three years, there have been 14 motor-vehicle fatalities in Scotts Bluff County, the patrol said, with five of the crashes occurring at intersections. Twelve of the people killed were not wearing seat belts, officials said.

From Saturday through Nov. 15, troopers will conduct high-visibility patrols on roadways in Scotts Bluff County, thanks in part to a $6,600 grant from the Department of Roads Highway Safety Office, the patrol said.
College officials should have the courage to tell students with lists of demands to shut up, a panelist at a Creighton University forum said Tuesday.

Speaking to about 175 students and faculty, Stanley Fish of the law school at Yeshiva University in New York said college administrators who have earned their roles and who lead effectively shouldnt buckle to student demands to fire or hire certain professors or reorganize departments.

In an era where some students want safe spaces, free of unappealing viewpoints, and trigger warnings in which professors inform classes that something unappealing might be discussed, Fish offered the perspective that college professors and administrators rightfully hold the power.

Students are apprentices, Fish said, who are in college to learn from professors.

Fishs view was one of many offered by four free-speech experts involved in a forum titled, Free Speech vs. Safe Space in the Academy. The forum was presented by the Creighton Institute for Economic Inquiry.

The panelists provided wide-ranging views of free speech on campuses and on students rights to avoid speech that bothers them.

Jonathan Rauch of the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution said chasing a student around campus screaming faggot, faggot at him is harassment and not free speech. But simply offending a person doesnt rise to harassment, Rauch said.

Rauch said free speech is critical to societal change. Homosexuals were once freely harassed by police, couldnt serve in the military and couldnt marry. But the Supreme Court ruled in 1958 that the contents of a gay magazine was protected free speech. After that, Rauch said, the government could no longer silence gays and lesbians, and they made their gradual gains in society.

Antony Davies of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh said the Constitution protects speech from action by the government. But a university can control speech and prevent a speaker from appearing on campus, he said.

Davies said he didnt advocate that approach. On the other hand, he said, You dont need a safe space to avoid comments that are unpleasant. All you need is a pair of legs.

Omar Wasow of Princeton University said the concept of safe spaces isnt simple. In certain places, such as town squares, robust and free speech is appropriate, he said. But a student in his dorm room shouldnt be subjected to hate speech, he said.

There should be places that feel like home, Wasow said, where a student can retreat to and not have to listen to speech with which he disagrees.

Rauch said that isnt the central issue. The key question is the concept of speech codes, he said, through which authorities can punish speech that is viewed as unacceptable. At one time, he said, gay bars were safe spaces for gay people to avoid violence.

But safe spaces have turned into places where people believe they have the right not to be offended, he said. Speech codes and authoritarian control of speech, he said, are key free-speech issues.

Davies said its appropriate that ideas be aired in the public marketplace. Just as bad products dont sell, he said, bad notions fail in the marketplace of ideas. Let all opinions be spoken, he said, because marketplaces work best when left alone.
HOLDREGE, Neb.  The secret is out about the Nebraska Prairie Museum.

The museum and the Phelps County Historical Society in Holdrege, Nebraska, celebrated the museums 50th anniversary Sept. 24 with a fall festival in Holdrege.

The museum bustled with activity throughout the day as more than 1,000 people attended the event.

Modern cars were parked to the north of the museum, but the displays on the rest of the grounds allowed people to take a step back in time. Churning butter, making soap, riding in a horse-drawn wagon or witnessing an antique corn harvest were demonstrated. George Lundeens bronze sculpture, Harvest Dream, was unveiled in front of the museum.

Im just so pleased. I cant believe it. Its indescribable, Dan Christensen, the museums executive director, said about the success of the festival.

Bill Owen of Holdrege said the event brought back memories from his childhood. Owen stopped at the butter churning display to use a device similar to one he used as a kid.

Peggy Nelson, a member of Prairie Fibers and Spinners Guild, demonstrated the art of weaving at the festival.

Its terrific the amount of interest there has been, she said. We are just trying to keep the art alive.

Although the day started cool and cloudy, that didnt stop the crowd from enjoying the activities. It was even better when the sun came out, said Cheryl Mill, the museums office manager.

Its going very smoothly. Its just been a great day, she said.
The Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa, has selected the current director of the Nebraska City library as its new executive director.

Rasmus Thgersen hails from Hellerup, a suburb of Copenhagen. His wife, Jennifer, is a Nebraska native and is on the faculty of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to a press release from the museum.

Thgersen will start Dec.1, before the planned retirement of current director John Mark Nielsen, who has led the museum since 2003. The two will work together during a two-month transition.

Thgersen will have day-to-day administrative responsibilities but also develop strategic plans, according to the release. He also will ensure continued compliance with legal, financial, accounting and ethical requirements, including the standards and practices of the American Alliance of Museums, with which the museum is becoming accredited.

The search to replace Nielsen began in spring 2015.

Thgersen (pronounced too-er-sen) earned his bachelors degree from the Royal School of Library and Information Science at the University of Copenhagen and has a joint masters degree from the Universities of Oslo, Parma and Tallinn, according to the release.

More about the Museum of Danish America can be found at danishmuseum.org. Welcome messages can be posted to the museums Facebook page: facebook.com/danishmuseum.
LINCOLN  The race for west Lincolns legislative district has literally put the two candidates through their paces.

A pair of 30-something candidates for the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature are seeking to replace Republican Sen. Colby Coash, who is leaving because of term limits.

Anna Wishart, the Democratic candidate for the District 27 seat, said she has pushed on all of the districts doorbells more than once during her campaign. Wishart finished the May primary election with a commanding 62 percent of the vote.

Among her priorities: strengthen after-school education, fix problems tied to prison overcrowding and rein in health care expenses for Nebraskans.

Republican Dick Clark said hes also spent many hours on patios and front porches, making his pitch for a gradual phase-in of tax cuts, which he argues will help create more jobs while shrinking state government.

He obtained nearly 30 percent of the vote during the primary, finishing well ahead of the third-party candidate who also ran for the office.

As of June, when campaign finance reports were most recently submitted, Wishart had reported raising $78,000, or about $60,000 more than Clark.

Clark has been endorsed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Both candidates have experience inside state government. Wishart, 31, formerly worked as a legislative aide for two Democratic state senators. Clark, 35, was a member of then-Gov. Dave Heinemans policy research staff for three years, working on issues related to employment and economic development.

Politically, however, the candidates hold different positions on major issues. Charter schools are one example.

Clark, who works as a private practice lawyer, said he supports offering parents the choice of enrolling their children in a charter school in Nebraska, one of eight states that prohibit them. But he was quick to point out that his backing of the concept should not be seen as a lack of support for public schools.

Wishart said the state has strong public schools and that she would not support charters, saying she believes they would be less accountable to the public. But she added that she strongly backs educational innovation within the public school system.

Wishart works for an organization that helps develop after-school educational programs. She said she believes it would be smart for the state to invest more in such programs because they could save public dollars in the long run by improving outcomes for at-risk children.

Wishart said she supports policies to address high rates of mandatory overtime and job turnover among corrections officers who work in the states prisons. And she would support investment in programming that helps inmates develop the skills to obtain work so they dont return to incarceration.

The cost of health care is the top issue she hears from voters, Wishart said. As one way to combat the problem, Wishart said she would want the state to invest more in prevention and education so people can maintain their health.

Clark said he advocates a 10-year, systematic reduction in income and sale taxes. He emphasized he did not support a Kansas-style approach to tax cuts without spending cuts.

A more gradual approach, he said, would require leaner government, but it would still provide funding for the essential services of transportation, education and public safety as long as the economy grows faster than state government.

To help address high property taxes, Clark said he would work to eliminate unfunded state mandates on the counties. And he also would try to change the school-aid formula so it is easier to understand and encourages school districts to lessen reliance on property taxes.

He also supports repealing the State Commission of Industrial Relations as a way to give local elected officials more control over local government personnel costs.

Clark was cited Aug. 30 for driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing a breath test. Calling the incident a serious lack of judgment, he said he will accept the legal consequences of his actions. But he said the incident has not emerged as an issue in his campaign.

*******

Dick Clark

Age: 35

Party: Republican

Home: Lincoln

Occupation: attorney

Public offices held: none

Education: bachelors degree, Auburn University; law degree, Suffolk University Law School

Family: married; three children

Faith: Baptist

Anna Wishart

Age: 31

Party: Democratic

Home: Lincoln

Occupation: policy consultant for organization dedicated to after-school programs

Public offices held: Lincoln Airport Authority, chairwoman

Education: bachelors degree, Middlebury College

Family: married

Faith: Christian
An attempt to ban smoking and propane grills in Bellevue apartments was stomped out Monday night.

The Bellevue City Council voted 5-1 to reject a proposed amendment to the citys fire prevention code.

Councilman Don Preister, who introduced the amendment, was the sole supporter of the ban.

Council members said questions lingered about the enforcement of the ban, punishment, private-property rights and the role of government.

Enforcement, to me, is a huge issue ... when it comes to this ordinance, Councilman Steve Carmichael said. He added that the Bellevue Fire and Police Departments had better things to do.

How the ban would be enforced and the punishment for the ban were not discussed during previous council meetings.

Preister sought to ban the grills and smoking in multifamily dwelling units, which in the Bellevue zoning ordinance is defined as a building or buildings designed for three or more families with separate kitchen and toilet facilities for each family.

Preister introduced the amendment after two July fires within a weeks time at the Gateway Park Apartments in the 300 block of Fort Crook Road South. The fires, which were in the same building, caused thousands of dollars in damage and left a building at the complex uninhabitable.

Each fire was started by the careless disposal of smoking materials, according to the Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office.

About a dozen citizens attended the Sept. 12 meeting to discuss the ban. Proponents said it was healthier and safer for residents and first responders. Opponents said it was an example of governmental overreach.

Council members had similar concerns.

Councilman Paul Cook said it was private property and that any decision about what could or could not be done in the apartments should be made by property owners.

Councilman John Hansen, who works in real estate, said he spoke with several Bellevue apartment owners, and all told him that such a ban should be up to property owners.

Preister introduced the idea of just banning grills and not cigarettes. Other council members said they would prefer to discuss the issue at a later date.
Four crisply folded flags. Four slow, white-gloved salutes. Twenty-one rifle shots. And the sounding of taps.

One ceremony, simple but moving in the military tradition, on Tuesday marked the first of what will be many thousands of burial services at the brand-new Omaha National Cemetery.

The ashes of four veterans  Marine Cpl. John Frank Ernst of Omaha, Army Spc. Michael Brabec of Fremont, Air Force Sgt. James Edgell of Council Bluffs and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Russell Rosberg of Omaha  were buried with full military honors at the new cemetery, near Highway 50 and Schram Road. So were those of Franks wife, Ruth.

We celebrate the fact that the Omaha National Cemetery is here and its operating, said Cindy Van Bibber, the cemetery director, in her brief remarks at the service. Long after were gone, these headstones will still be here, representing the sacrifices these people made.

One veteran was chosen from each service branch, from a list of more than 220 whose families have requested burial in the brand-new cemetery, Van Bibber said.

More than 30 members of the veterans families attended the burial service. Several described their veterans as humble men, proud of their service.

Rosbergs widow, Saundra, said her husband was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska. He enlisted in 1952, one of five brothers to serve in the Navy. Russell Rosberg, a gunners mate, spent four years on active duty and four more in the reserves.

Back home, he worked as a barber and later as a construction worker and cement finisher. In 1980, friends talked him into re-enlisting in a Navy Reserves construction battalion. He finally retired in 1993.

He was just as proud of his Seabee time as his regular service, his wife said.

He died in 2013, at 78, from congestive heart failure. She was sure he would be thrilled to part of Tuesdays ceremony.

Hes got to be smiling up in Heaven, Saundra Rosberg said.

Before his death in 1996, Frank Ernst predicted that Omaha would one day have a military cemetery. He made his son, John F. Ernst Jr., then an Army officer, promise that Frank and Ruth would someday be buried there.

It took 20 years to fulfill the promise.

Its quite an honor to see this happen, John Ernst Jr. said. Dad would be tickled pink.

Frank Ernst was a fourth-generation Marine, born in West Virginia.

He quit high school during his senior year, in 1943, to serve in World War II.

He fought in the Pacific at Saipan and Tinian. He watched the B-29 Enola Gay take off with the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, heralding the end of the war.

John Ernst Jr. said his father returned home in early 1946 and married his high school sweetheart, Ruth. He later worked as a casualty manager for Aetna and was transferred to Omaha. The couple loved Nebraska and decided to stay.

Everything he did was focused on work and family, John Ernst Jr. said. He was very laid back and low key. You never would have guessed that he was a hard-bitten Marine.

Like Frank and Ruth Ernst, James Edgell grew up in West Virginia. He was a high school football player who joined the Air Force in 1964. He served eight years, much of it working on weaponry at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, said his daughter, Melissa Edgell.

James Edgell lived in the Omaha area after leaving the military, and he worked 38 years as a forklift operator at the Tenneco plant. In his spare time, his daughter said, he liked working on cars and was devoted to his wife, Joan, two daughters and four granddaughters. Despite his West Virginia roots, he remained a devoted Nebraska football fan until his death, of cancer in 2010.

Joan Edgell, who lives in Council Bluffs, visited a national cemetery and was impressed with the beauty and order. She decided that her husband should be buried there.

It was my moms idea, Melissa Edgell said. I really think that he would be proud and appreciate the honor.

Cheryl Brabec Fidler accepted her ex-husbands folded flag 48 years to the day after the two were married in Weston, Nebraska.

Born in Omaha, Michael Brabec grew up on a farm near Wahoo. He joined the Army in 1969, a few months after his wedding. He left for Vietnam on his wifes 20th birthday. He came back a changed man, daughter Traci Tweedy said.

He said there were a lot of things he had seen that no one should ever see, Tweedy said.

Brabec left the Army in 1972. He and his wife later divorced. He lived in Arizona for many years and moved to Fremont in 1989. He drove a truck and worked as a mechanic for a chemical company. He loved gardening and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, his daughter said. He died in 2008, at age 58.

This is a very big honor for him, Tweedy said. Hes finally laid to rest.

Though it is just now opening for burials, Omaha National Cemetery already has a history. In the early 2000s, Bellevue businessmen Steve Johnson and John Richard Thompson started a group called Memorial Ridge of the Midlands to lobby federal, state and local officials for a cemetery in Sarpy County.

The effort took years longer than they expected and required legislation in Congress. Construction eventually began in mid-2015.

Most of the current facilities are temporary ones, said Van Bibber, the cemetery director. Work will continue for another year on permanent headquarters, maintenance and honor-guard buildings, a visitors center and the first 5,500 sites for casketed and cremated remains.

Even the flagpole is a temporary flagpole, she said.

The cemetery is expected to accommodate burials of Nebraska and Iowa veterans, and their spouses, for the next 100 years, Van Bibber said.

More burials are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Up to five funerals can be held each day.

*****

The four veterans:

John F. Ernst

Born: May 26, 1925, Wheeling, West Virginia

Died: June 17, 1996, Omaha

Military Service: Corporal, Marine Corps, 1943-46 (World War II veteran) Buried along with his wife, Ruth Ernst, who died in 1998

Michael C. Brabec

Born: June 2, 1949, Omaha

Died: April 18, 2008, Fremont

Military Service: Specialist, Army, 1969-72 (Vietnam War veteran)

Russell A. Rosberg

Born: Oct. 12, 1934, Bloomfield, Nebraska

Died: May 23, 2013, Omaha

Military Service: Petty Officer 1st Class, Navy/Navy Reserves 1952-60; 1980-93 (Korean War veteran, Gulf War-era)

James Edgell

Born: Aug. 20, 1945, Shinnston, West Virginia

Died: Nov. 22, 2010, Council Bluffs

Military Service: Sergeant, Air Force, 1964-72 (Vietnam-era veteran)

* Spaces cant be reserved in the cemetery, director Cindy Van Bibber said. But burial arrangements may be made for deceased veterans or their eligible family members by calling the National Cemetery scheduling office at 800-535-1117.
HOUSTON (AP)  A disgruntled lawyer who had numerous weapons randomly shot at drivers in a Houston neighborhood Monday morning, hitting six people, one critically, before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said. Another three people had injuries from glass or debris.

The first report of the shootings came in at about 6:30 a.m., Police Chief Martha Montalvo said at a press conference, and the suspect began firing at officers when they arrived. Montalvo did not identify the man; Mayor Sylvester Turner told KTRK-TV that the lawyer was "disgruntled" and was "either fired or had a bad relationship with this law firm."

Numerous weapons were found at the scene, a bomb-squad robot examined a Porsche that's believed to be the shooter's, and bomb squad officers also were scouring the suspect's residence, Montalvo said. Texas motor vehicle records in a commercially available database show that the Porsche is registered to Nathan DeSai, who lives at the condo complex where the shootings occurred.

The entrance to the condo complex, which is near the affluent enclave of West University Place, was still blocked off with police tape late Monday morning. Several cars with bullet holes and shattered windows were at a nearby strip mall.

Jennifer Molleda and her husband live in the same condo complex as the shooter. Though she heard gunshots about 6:12 a.m. and called 911, her husband left for work. The 45-year-old called him not long after, and he told her "I'm hit, I'm hit."

After the shooting stopped at 7:15 a.m., Molleda found her husband, 49-year-old Alan Wakim, several blocks away in the parking lot of a nearby strip mall. His Mustang had two shots that went through the windshield, and he told her that he saw a red laser beam before the shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.

"He got out of his car, we hugged, we cried," Molleda said, adding that after she saw everything he believes the man was "aiming to kill."

Molleda said she didn't know him very well, and described him as quiet. "He's a normal, average Joe," she said.

Jason Delgado, the property manager of The Oaks at West University condo complex, confirmed that police are going through a residence. He also said that there were two recent incidents involving the suspect.

In August, Delgado said, police were called after roofers working in the complex said the man pointed an assault-style rifle at them. Delgado said there wasn't enough evidence to move forward with charges because the suspect contended he didn't point the gun at roofers. Molleda mentioned the same incident.

And last week, the man became upset because of water pressure problems at his home, asked for maintenance help, and expressed his displeasure in an email to the management firm that implied he'd "intimidate his way to getting what he was asking for," Delgado said.

Another witness, 30-year-old Antwon Wilson, inadvertently drove into the shooting scene after dropping off his girlfriend at work and could "literally hear the gunfire flying." He managed to flee and escape injury.

Lee Williams left his home in the neighborhood upon hearing gunshots and began directing traffic away from the condo complex, noting that people usually cut through the area to avoid some busier intersections. One car ignored him, he said, and was immediately shot at. Williams couldn't see the gunman because it was dark, but believed he saw the muzzle flashes.

"Whatever cars were going by, he was shooting at them," the 55-year-old said, noting that he heard at least 50 gunshots over 40 or so minutes. As he was being interviewed, neighbors came by and patted him on the back, thanking him for keeping people safe.

Of the nine people hurt, Houston Fire Department spokesman Ruy Lozano said six were shot and three had minor injuries related to glass. Montalvo said one person was hospitalized in critical condition and another in serious condition.

"The investigation is active. It's very, very early. ... We are checking every angle, I can assure you," Turner told the TV station.

Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Donald Trump is coming to Council Bluffs on Wednesday.

The Republican presidential candidate is set to appear at the Mid-America Center at 3 p.m. The doors to the event will open at 11:30 a.m., according to a spokesman with the Iowa Republican Party.

It will be his first Iowa visit after Monday night's debate.

Originally, Trump was set to appear in Ottumwa on Wednesday afternoon but that trip has either been canceled or postponed.

Iowa is a swing state, which is clearly a key reason for Trump's visit. Another is early voting, which starts Thursday in Iowa.

Trump is expected to urge Iowans to submit their ballots early, according to a campaign spokesman.

Trump currently holds a single-digit lead over Clinton in various state polls.

Iowa is considered one of nine battleground states, with six electoral votes at stake. Democratic President Barack Obama won the state in 2008 and 2012, but both of the state's U.S. senators and its governor are Republican.

Stay with Omaha.com for more on this developing story.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump launched into a spirited brawl Monday night as they met on stage for the first time, each jockeying for a breakout moment in their tightening race during a highly anticipated debate that often veered into sharply personal attacks.

The candidates repeatedly shouted over each other as they argued about their histories, their plans and the comments theyve made during the presidential race.

The two clashed in unusually personal terms, with Clinton accusing Trump of pushing racist lies about President Barack Obamas birthplace and Trump accusing Clinton of lacking the stamina to be president.

She doesnt have the look. She doesnt have the stamina. I said she doesnt have the stamina. I dont believe she does have the stamina, Trump said, when moderator Lester Holt asked him about a past comment that Clinton lacked a presidential look.

You have to be able to negotiate our trade deals. ... I dont believe that Hillary has the stamina, Trump said.

Clinton responded that she had traveled to 112 countries as secretary of state and negotiated trade deals and other agreements. If Trump did that, she said, He can talk to me about stamina.

Trump responded that Hillary has experience. But its bad experience.

Clinton also noted that Trump has called women pigs, slobs and dogs.

That was a fitting end to a debate in which Trump repeatedly interrupted Clinton and Holt and accused both of misrepresenting his past statements, even though they were often right.

Holt, for his part, struggled to keep control of the first debate, learning the dangers of fact-checking in the midst of a tense confrontation being viewed by tens of millions of people.

The GOP nominee brought a flavor of the rowdy Republican primary into the normally staid world of late-fall debates, with asides, eye-rolls and complaints about the way he had been treated by Clinton, onstage and off.

Its not nice, Trump said at one point, referring to Clintons TV advertising against him. And I dont deserve that.

Clinton seemed thrown off-guard at several moments, at one point letting out a whoo! of apparent surprise, after a Trump attack on her temperament.

Clinton pointed to Trump calling climate change a hoax created by China, diminished his accomplishments in business and attacked his championing of a tax system as custom-made to help wealthy business owners like himself.

She called it Trumped-up trickle-down economics.

Her efforts to needle Trump were successful in drawing an angry response from the temperamental GOP nominee, who repeatedly disagreed with her while she spoke.

He painted her as a hopeless bureaucrat who led the country into disastrous trade deals, failed to stop China and Mexico from stealing U.S. jobs and shifted her agenda to suit her ambitions.

Not even a half-hour into the debate, Clinton was urging voters to go to her website for fact checks, warning that Trump was misleading them as he talked over her to accuse Clinton of decades of failure in leadership.

I have a feeling by the end of this debate I am going to be blamed for everything that ever happened, Clinton said.

Why not? Trump responded.

Join the debate by saying more crazy things, Clinton shot back.

The debate offered voters a rare moment of focus and clarity as the vastly different styles and approaches of the two nominees were on display.

Trump, who has notably stinted on detail throughout the race, is a pitch-perfect television performer.

But his time onstage offered a chance to address his policy shortcomings while also posing a new challenge: Unlike debates during the Republican primary, when Trump shared time with more than a half-dozen rivals, he was alone onstage with Clinton, unable to recede to the background for long periods as he did during the GOP contest.

He responded to Clintons charges about his economic plans with uncharacteristically sharp policy arguments. He peppered his blunt talk about foreign governments taking advantage of the United States with details about value-added taxes and policy at the Federal Reserve.

But he also did not shy away from some of his more colorful lines and his history in business.

When Clinton accused Trump of being one of the people who rooted for the housing crisis because it would help his business, Trump replied, Thats called business.

When Clinton accused Trump of calling climate change a hoax, Trump objected that she was mischaracterizing his past remarks, but he also launched into a blistering critique of Obama administration energy policy.

He cited the bankruptcy of solar company Solyndra, which was heavily subsidized by the federal government.

We invested in a solar company, our country, that was a disaster, he said.

Trump deflected persistent questions about whether he would release his tax returns by claiming that he was under audit, something he has repeatedly said prevented him from disclosure.

Holt pointed out that there was no prohibition on Trump releasing his tax returns during an audit.

Trump finally said he would release them, against the advice of his attorneys to keep them private, if Clinton would release 33,000 emails deleted from the private server that she used when she was secretary of state.

Clinton then went on the offensive, accusing Trump of having something to hide and suggesting a number of possibilities: He is not as wealthy as he says; he is not as charitable as he says; he has financial conflicts of interest he does not want to disclose; or he is not paying any income taxes.

That makes me smart, Trump said, interrupting Clinton.

Trumps business record dominated a large portion of the debate, with Clinton eager to engage.

Trump recounted his success, including what he said was hundreds of millions of dollars in income last year, not to be braggadocios, he said.

Clinton pointed to his many business bankruptcies and to stories that he had stiffed contractors.

Im certainly relieved that my late father never did business with you, Clinton said.

Trump said he was simply taking advantage of the laws and making sure that he did not pay for substandard work.

Its all words. Its all sound bites, he said, trying to build his case that Clinton was just another politician. I built an unbelievable company.

It was unclear whether Trumps performance put to rest the concerns that voters continue to have about how his unfiltered and inflammatory statements and shallow policy platform would play in the Oval Office.

This first debate of the fall general election campaign was preceded by a Super Bowl-level of hype, and the audience for the 90-minute session was expected to approach that of the nations biggest annual television gathering, with perhaps as many as 100 million viewers tuning in.

Among those watching the debate were about 65 people at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in La Vista. The audience included Trump supporters and Clinton supporters, although the crowd leaned in favor of the Republican nominee.

Supporters cheered for their candidates statements, but they mostly held back their boos. A theater employee had urged the audience to leave the infighting to the two people on the stage.

Clinton and Trump are scheduled to debate twice more, on Oct. 9 in St. Louis and Oct. 19 in Las Vegas.

Their running mates, Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, are set to debate a single time, Oct. 4 in Farmville, Virginia.

World-Herald staff writer Robynn Tysver contributed to this report, which includes material from the Washington Post and the Associated Press.
Social service nonprofits and community groups came together on Tuesday to stress the importance of voter registration as they work with the poor, minorities and others who traditionally are less involved in the political process.

On a day marked officially as National Voter Registration Day, the Nebraska Families Collaborative led a press conference to push voter registration and voter engagement efforts across the Omaha metropolitan area.

Omaha businessman Warren Buffett visited the Intercultural Senior Center near near 30th and R Streets to encourage immigrant citizens to cast ballots.

Other participating groups included the League of Women Voters, Black Votes Matter, Black Men United, the Omaha NAACP, Lutheran Family Services, Heartland Family Services and Voices for Children in Nebraska.

AJamal Byndon, community initiative consultant for Nebraska Families Collaborative, said his agency has a mission to build up the strength of the families, children and communities it serves. Yet many of the people in the child welfare system dont often contact elected officials, he said, and they could become more involved in the electoral process.

The agency reached out to other nonprofits and community groups in hopes of getting disenfranchised people more involved, Byndon said.

We know we cant do this by ourselves, he said.

Preston Love Jr. of Black Votes Matter spoke of a need to improve turnout in north Omaha. Willie Hamilton of Black Men United addressed his interest in reaching ex-felons about their right to vote.

Ron Snow, political action chair for the Omaha NAACP, said voter registration is only the start of the process.

Its not enough just to register, he said. We need to get people to the polls.
Using water smartly and efficiently is a fundamental part of sound agricultural practices in Nebraska.

This year, The World-Herald is saluting Ken Seim, who has demonstrated commendable vision in water use on his family farm in Chapman in Merrick County. Seim has received The World-Heralds 2016 Master Conservationist Award in the agriculture category.

The Master Conservationist Awards are presented annually by The World-Herald and the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The Seim family uses center pivots and subsurface drip irrigation, managing water use in fine detail thanks to sensors and flow meters to monitor ground moisture and irrigation wells. Seim uses cover crops to create a buffer for seed corn fields and to provide wildlife habitat.

As The World-Heralds Hailey Konnath noted, such responsible farm management has earned Seim the reputation in Merrick County as an admired leading conservationist and researcher.

Also saluted this year is the community of La Vista, and specifically City Engineer John Kottmann, for the years-long work to develop and implement a $6 million initiative to deal with the repeated flood threat from Thompson Creek.

The 2016 Master Conservationist Award for communities recognizes the tremendous work, including controversial home purchases and demolition, as La Vista shifted the channel, stabilized the stream banks and reconstructed the floodplain to better accommodate the creek.

These awards highlight notable examples of long-range environmental management by Nebraskans and their communities.

The need for sound stewardship is enduring and statewide.
Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, has persuaded most Western elites that he is a moderate worthy of deference. Big-shot journalists respectfully interview him. Former senior U.S. officials dine with him. European foreign ministries accommodate his pious sensibilities.

President Barack Obama and his top advisers are no exception. They too go out of their way not to offend Rouhani, particularly since he agreed to the nuclear deal in 2015.

Last week at the U.N. General Assembly, Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry did not call out Iran by name, as they did with Russia, for supporting the slaughter in Syria.

And even though Irans president has declined Obamas requests for a face-to-face meeting, the U.S. president had kind words for Iran in his big speech at the U.N. last week.

Two people who are not taken in by Rouhanis charms are Zaher Sahloul and Yahya Basha. They are Syrian-American medical doctors who have devoted themselves to pleading with diplomats and world leaders to stop the killing in the place of their birth. Sahloul traveled to Aleppo in June and July to treat some victims of the Syrian war.

Sahloul and Basha were invited to a meeting in New York with Rouhani for U.S. Muslim leaders. It was the second meeting with Rouhani for the two doctors, and they decided to press Irans president on his countrys support for the man tormenting their fellow Syrians.

Sahloul told me that when it was his turn to speak, he told Irans president about a 5-year-old boy named Ahmed.

Between June 27 and July 1, Sahloul performed surgeries on Ahmed, who suffered shrapnel wounds in his spinal cord and left lung after his familys home collapsed from a barrel bomb dropped by the Syrian air force. When Sahloul left Aleppo, Ahmed was alive, but on life support. The next day, the young boys heart stopped and he died.

I asked the president, as a Muslim, whether Hussein would be on the side of the people dropping the barrel bombs, Sahloul told me. Hussein is the grandson of the prophet Mohammed and is the third imam of the Shiite sect of Islam, which is practiced in Iran.

Sahloul said Rouhani heard him out and then responded that Iran has no choice but to fight against terrorists like the Islamic State.

Later, as the meeting was wrapping up, Basha tried to approach Rouhani in the hallway to press the Syria issue. Basha told me Rouhani just kept walking.

The moral and spiritual case these doctors made to Irans president is undercut by Obamas policy decisions. After all, the day after Sahloul and Basha met with Rouhani, the U.S. approved licenses for Boeing and Airbus to sell planes to Iran Air. This is despite evidence the airline has helped supply the Syrian regime with military equipment and personnel for the war Obama says he is trying to end.

Sahloul understands Rouhanis appeal on a certain level. He is an excellent public relations person for the Iranian regime, Sahloul told me. He hugs everyone, he smiles, the language he uses is not controversial in Muslim circles.

Many Syrian-Americans, though, see a menace behind that smile. Sahloul said when he first agreed to meet with Rouhani in 2014, others at his humanitarian organization protested.

Many of our board members say Rouhani is a war criminal and we should have no contact with him, he said.

But Sahloul sees it differently. He told me that it is now apparent in the final months of the Obama administration that the U.S. has failed to diminish Irans support for Bashar Assads regime in Syria. Clearly our government, the U.S. government, cant influence the regime, he said. So I meet with Iranian leaders and ask them directly.

To say that Obama disappointed Sahloul in this respect is an understatement. I think history will judge him as the president who had all the information and allowed a genocide in Syria, he said.

Sahloul wasnt always this tough on him. In the summer of 2013, before Assads forces dropped sarin gas bombs on a Damascus suburb, he met with Obama at the White House for an Iftar dinner. He delivered a letter to the U.S. president urging him to establish a no-fly zone in Syria to protect civilians. In his brief moment with Obama, the doctor made the case for more U.S. humanitarian intervention.

Obama listened respectfully to the Syrian-American and took the letter in his hand. He told me he would get back to me, Sahloul said. But he never did.
Guess what? A President Trump could adopt his new trade agenda without any authorization from Congress  and this could trigger a global trade war and a deep U.S. recession. Policies that promise to make us stronger economically could do the opposite.

Thats the main takeaway of a study by the Peterson Institute, a Washington think tank, of the trade policies of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Both candidates oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and Trump has advocated stiffer anti-trade policies  high tariffs on Mexico (35 percent) and China (45 percent) as well as possible withdrawal from the World Trade Organization.

Not surprisingly, Peterson  whose free-trade bias is no secret  deplores these proposals. For Congress not to ratify the TPP would be a huge strategic blunder, writes economist Marcus Noland.

It would represent a retreat from a leadership position in Asia, ceding to China the lead in setting trade rules for the region.

He says Chinas economic influence would grow at the expense of Americas. The TPP eliminates most tariffs among its 12 country members and sets some rules for state-owned enterprises and other areas of international commerce.

The studys most startling conclusion is that Trump could implement most of his proposals, which repudiate decades of pro-trade policies, by executive order. So contends Petersons Gary Hufbauer after a review of trade laws. Over the past century, Hufbauer says, Congress has passed many laws that authorize the president to impose tariffs or quotas on imports. These provide ample precedent for independent presidential action, Hufbauer says.

The laws include the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the Trade Act of 1974 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.

Even the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, allows its members (the United States, Canada and Mexico) to withdraw with six months notice. There are similar provisions in other free trade agreements that the United States has with 18 countries, including Colombia and South Korea. Trump has said he might withdraw from these if they cant be satisfactorily renegotiated.

Of course, all Trumps bluster may simply be a ploy to improve his bargaining position with other countries. Its also likely that domestic opponents  big agricultural and industrial exporters  would rush to court, seeking a temporary injunction pending the outcome of a trial. Presumably, they would argue that Congress had delegated details of trade policy to the president, but not fundamental changes in policy.

Still, Hufbauer doubts the courts will be persuaded. He thinks they would move against the president only if the White House lost a trial. A trial could take a year or two, giving Trump a long period of freedom to pursue his policies.

If Trump raises tariffs on Mexico and China, they will retaliate, and this could set off a full-scale global trade war, the Peterson study says. Even assuming Trump doesnt adopt other extreme measures (leaving the World Trade Organization or abrogating other free trade agreements), the result would be a severe recession, estimates an economic model used by Peterson. Trade and investment would decline. Unemployment would rise to 8.6 percent in 2020.

Actually, no one knows what would happen. But it almost certainly would be unfavorable. Over the decades, expanding trade has been an engine of growth for the world economy. Trump seems to assume that if he can cut the trade deficit, he would be defending U.S. jobs and stimulating U.S. economic growth. With a $500 billion U.S. trade deficit in 2015, there seems to be ample room for improvement.

Although this appears logical, its actually backward. When the U.S. economy grows rapidly, the trade deficit rises (because imports surge) and the unemployment rate falls (because shoppers also buy domestic goods and services).

By contrast, when the economy falls into recession, the trade deficit declines (because Americans buy fewer imports) and unemployment soars (because consumption also weakens). Not surprisingly, the Great Recession caused a huge drop in the trade deficit. In 2009, it was $384 billion, down from $762 billion in 2006.

If Trump gets his way, some offshore factories might shift back to the United States and other home countries. But the larger effect would be weaker global trade and investment.

A trade war that demolishes political support for global commerce would be a landmark event. Because companies wouldnt know where they can buy and sell profitably, they would delay investments until the outlook clarified. That could be a long time.

Are these the last days of open trade? They could be.
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Cauvery row- Section 144 in Bengaluru as SC hears Karnataka plea

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 27: In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu all people would be glued to the proceedings in the Supreme Court which will hear the Cauvery issue at 2 pm on Tuesday. With Karnataka resolving to release water only for its drinking needs, a confrontation is expected in the Supreme Court.

Tamil Nadu which wants Karnataka to be held in contempt has also requested the court not to hear the modification plea. Karnataka had sought modification of the court's order while stating that it would not release water now, but will do so in December.

Meanwhile in Bengaluru and the rest of the Cauvery basin, there is Section 144 Cr. PC or prohibitory orders in place. However, normal life will not be affected the police say as all arrangements have been made.

What is up before the court today:

All eyes would be on the Supreme Court on Tuesday which will hear a plea by Karnataka in which it is stated that Cauvery water cannot be released to Tamil Nadu until December. While this is one part of the petition, what is more interesting would be the manner in which the court will deal with the resolution of the Karnataka legislative assembly.

Read more: Cauvery row: Path to a Constitutional crisis

The assembly had resolved to release Cauvery water only for drinking purposes in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru. This effectively means that the order of the Supreme Court which directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to TN between September 21 and 27 is not being implemented.

Cauvery Waters dispute: How it unfolded

Karnataka has been saying that there is not enough water to release. However, in the month of September it has been told thrice by the court as well the supervisory committee to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Setting up Cauvery Management Board: Was SC order in conflict with its own directive?

After the first order of the court which directed the release of 15,000 tmcft of water for ten days, Karnataka sought modification of the order. However, the Supreme Court while reducing the quantum to 12,000 cusecs per day increased the number of days to 14.

This resulted in violent protests across Karnataka. The Cauvery basin and Bengaluru were the worst hit.

Karnataka even told the court that there is a law and order problem. When the Supreme Court came down heavily on this submission, the legal team immediately withdrew the same which was in an affidavit.

Read more: Does Israel have the solution to Cauvery waters dispute?

Following this the supervisory committee met and directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka went back to the SC against this order. However, the court ended up increasing the quantum and directed the release of 6,000 cusecs for seven days.

In defiance

After the last ad-interim order of the court, Karnataka decided that it would not release water. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met with leaders of the JD(S) and the Congress. The BJP decided to stay away from the meet.

At the all party meet it was unanimously decided that water cannot be released. However, the meet also decided that they would hold a special legislative assembly session and also pass a resolution to this effect.

At the assembly and the council all parties spoke in one voice. Prior to the meet the advisory committee that met decided that they would only speak about their grievances and not against TN or the Supreme Court.

After deliberating for an entire day on Friday, both houses resolved to use Cauvery water only for drinking purposes. Nowhere in the resolution does it state that they are disobeying the Supreme Court or they will not release water to Tamil Nadu.

On Tuesday, when the court takes up the matter, it would first want to know why the order was not implemented. Secondly, it would look into the resolution.

Karnataka feels that it is covered against a contempt since it has a resolution of the legislative assembly. If contempt is to be initiated, the court would first have to see if the resolution is unconstitutional or not. Karnataka would also point out that it is not saying that it will not release water. The petition states that it cannot release water now, but will do so in December.

OneIndia News
IMF senior official says restructuring is essential for country to avoid debt crisis Updated: 2016-09-27 07:49 By WANG YANFEI(China Daily)

Alfred Schipke (L1),IMF Senior Resident Representative for China, speaks at a press conference on the IMF World Economic Outlook update in Beijing, China, 20 January 2015. [Photo/IC] China needs to put more effort into resolving rising corporate debts in order to sustain growth in the medium to long run, a senior representative of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

"China truly stands out in implementing reform compared with other countries," said Alfred Schipke, the IMF's senior resident representative in China. "The nation's contribution to world economic growth is still extremely large."

Schipke said that "significant progress" has been made in rebalancing and reform, referring to progress made in policy adjustment at the top level. For example, reform of the Budget Law helps improve local governments' bond budget transparency. There have also been efforts to bridge the gap between the central and local governments.

The IMF holds an optimistic near-term outlook for the nation's economic growth, arguing that a hard landing is unlikely.

But, the rising debt issue is posing high risks for the nation in the longer term, especially since the nation now has an increasingly large, leveraged and interconnected financial system.

A recent report by the Bank for International Settlements, an international banking watchdog, showed that the credit-to-GDP gap, an indicator that measures the buildup of excessive credit, in China stood at 30.1 in the first quarter this year, by far the highest of all reporting countries.

The corporate debt load is estimated to be 145 percent of GDP, which is a somewhat dangerous level, according to the IMF.

Although it is still controllable, Schipke suggested that it is essential to identify the good, bad and the ugly debts, recognize losses and share the burden.

In the meantime, the nation should also provide fiscal assistance to help retrain and resettle unemployed workers to maintain social stability.

Huang Yiping, a central bank adviser, shared similar concerns over potential risks to medium-term to long-term growth posed by rising debts.

Although deleveraging has been listed among the top five tasks this year by the central government, the efforts made in dealing with debt issues have yet to achieve progress, according to Huang.

He said that the nation has somehow fallen into a so-called high leverage trap, where the effort to deal with long-term issues is stymied by the negative impact to growth brought by short-term adjustment.

Huang said that is not too late to control the debt level, but it is urgent for government to press ahead with reform and with the restructuring of loss-making companies, allowing mergers and acquisitions based on market principles.
2 Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen modules in South India on police radar

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 27: The Kolkata police executed a successful operation while arresting six key members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh on Monday. While a large part of the problem has been sorted out, officials say that there are still two modules in South India which need to neutralized.

Operatives of the JMB have often sought shelter in South India after carrying out an operation in West Bengal or Bangladesh. The traces of JMB operatives entering South India have been discovered on more than two ocassions.

A recent arrest of an operative in Tamil Nandu's is one such indication. While the JMB which has tied up with the ISIS, has decided on establishing the Bengal Caliphate, it also nurtures plans in South India. At first the South was used more as a hideout. However, the outfit realised that there is a vacuum in the absence of the Indian Mujahideen or the SIMI.

Modules in TN, Telangana

Officials now confirm that the JMB has been carrying out its operations along with the ISIS. Recently the NIA arrested several persons who were allegedly part of the ISIS. It was found during investigations that most of these persons had a JMB link as well.

Also read: 6 JMB operatives arrested, conspiracy to terrorise India foiled

The ISIS too has been trying to make a ground in South India. Haja Fakkruddin, the first known ISIS recruit from India hails from Tamil Nadu. Following the Fakkruddin incident, there have been many more cases that have been reported from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka as well.

Only recently a case in which 21 people from Kerala who had gone missing was reported. It is suspected that they had left their state to join the ISIS.

Officials say that they are on the look for three operatives who could have moved into South India. Maulana Yusuf, Nasirullah and Kausar are the three men on the police radar. It is suspected that these people may have crossed over into South India with an intention of setting up a module.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 11:06 [IST]
Lashkar goes on a fund raising spree citing war threat from India

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 27: As tensions rise between India and Paksitan, the Lashkar-e-Taiba is on a fund raising spree. The Lashkar-e-Taiba which raises funds through its so-called charity wing, Jamaat-ud-Dawa has been going around seeking money and is telling people that this is needed to fight the war against India.

With India upping the ante against Pakistan, there has been a surge in the activity at Balochistan, Khyber region and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Intelligence Bureau officials report a surge of activity which includes large scale recruitments being carried out by the ISI and its stooges.

Fund raising drive

The fund raising drive is being carried out by operatives of both the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. There are reports that its operatives are collecting money from the people while citing a war against India. In this war against India, the operatives tell people that all must fight.

On the other hand, the ISI has increased activity in PoK and Balochistan. The stooges of the ISI have been threatening people with dire consequences if they stand with India in the event of a war.

Further the ISI is also recruiting cadres and parking them in these areas. This is being done with an intention of watching over the people who support India, intelligence bureau officials say.

Reports also suggest that Pakistan had also scrambled their F-16s over Balochistan with an intention of causing fear among the people.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Pakistan establishment is taking all support from terror outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the event of any war. For now these groups have been asked to collect funds and also watch over the people in Balochistan and PoK who are demanding independence from Paksitan.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 10:38 [IST]
Cauvery row: SC sidesteps Karnataka resolution, but warns against disobeying 6,000 cusecs order

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Sidestepping the potential Constitutional minefield laid by the Karnataka assembly's September 23 resolution not to release water to Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court today directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs for three days (September 27 - 29). Karnataka has sought modification of the earlier Supreme Court order and told the Bench today that it will be able to release water only in December. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Mishra and U.U Lalit observed that disobedience of the top court's order is no solution in a federal structure.

[Cauvery row: Are we about to witness a constitutional crisis?]

During the course of the arguments, Attorney General of India, Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the Centre would try and find a solution by calling for a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He said the meeting would be convened in the next two days.

The Supreme Court permitted the Centre to convene the meeting and adjourned further hearing on the matter to Friday.

Resolution Sidestepped

When the matter came up for hearing, Karnataka told the court about the resolution it had passed in which it was stated that water would be released only for drinking for Bengaluru and in the Cauvery basin.

To this, the SC warned that disobedience is no solution in a federal structure. Show

bonafide and release 6,000 cusecs of water for three days, the court said.

The Supreme Court said it would not take into account the resolution passed by Karnataka, thus avoiding a confrontation between the court and the legilature of a state. The court then told the senior counsel appearing for Karnataka to tell Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the orders of the SC better be complied with.

[Setting up Cauvery Management Board: Was SC order in conflict with its own directive?]

In a federal structure like India, no state can say it will not obey the order of the Supreme Court. "You cannot use this to pick up a fight with another state", the Bench observed.

The Centre, while responding to the observations, said that the majesty of the Supreme Court must be respected. Tamil Nadu submitted that it was "fed up" with this unending Cauvery litigation. Karnataka has ensured that this situation has arisen time and again because of its obstructionist and obstinate attitude, Tamil Nadu alleged.

OneIndia News
Sexual assault on TN tribal women by police likely: HC

Chennai

oi-PTI

Chennai, Sep 26: Nearly five years after the alleged rape of four tribal women by police in Tamil Nadu, a report of a Judicial Magistrate filed today in Madras High Court said there are reasons to believe that they were sexually assaulted, but not raped.

The report of the Judicial Magistrate Thirukovilur in Villupuram District stated the medical reports did not suggest rape on the four women of the Irular tribal community.

"There are reasons to believe that sexual assault had occurred on the women by the police personnel who had taken them," the Magistrate's report filed by the Government Pleader said.

It also stated that the enquiry with the victims revealed that police personnel who took them for questioning had asked them to remove their clothes. When they refused, the police allegedly removed them forcibly and molested them.

The report was filed in connection with the alleged incident of police personnel of Thirukovilur in Villupuram District raping tribal women after taking them in a jeep on November 22, 2011 for an enquiry though they were not required in any case. It said no woman police accompanied the police team when the women were taken to a police station.

Though rape was not confirmed, the victims' statements, evidence of witnesses and circumstances lead to conclude and believe that sexual assault was done on victims, it said. The report was filed when a Public Interest Litigation petition of advocate P Pugalenthi, came up for hearing before the court.

The petition had sought transfer of probe to the CBI and suspension of policemen involved in the alleged crime. Last month, the court had wondered how the magistrate's report did not reach the Investigating Officer.

It directed the Villupuram principal district judge to examine the issue and send a report to it. Today the court directed the Registrar-Vigilance to look into the non-performance of the Judicial Magistrate- Thirukovilur over the cause of delay and submit a report.

It posted the matter for further hearing to November 7 and directed the government pleader to get instruction from the Investigation officer on the report and also submit details of the fate of police officers involved in the case. The government pleader stated that the magisterial report would be sent to the Investigation officer.

PTI
This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches

Cauvery row: With Jayalalithaa in hospital can Centre convene meet in 2 days?

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 26: The centre today assured the Supreme Court that it would get both the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu across the table and find a solution to the Cauvery waters problem in the next two days.

While the Supreme Court permitted the centre to facilitate such a meeting and report to it by Friday, there is a question mark on whether this would be possible in the next two days, considering Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's health condition.

Jayalalithaa who was admitted to hospital last Thursday with fever and dehyrdration continues to remain under observation. The last medical bulletin from the Appolo Hospital, Chennai released yesterday states that she is responding well to treatment.

The hospital also said that the Chief Minister continues to get better and she will be discharged in a few days and will soon resume normal duties. Standard medical protocols, necessary investigations and tests are being conducted to prevent recurrence of fever, the hospital also said.

Cauvery row: SC sidesteps Karnataka resolution, but warns against disobeying 6,000 cusecs order

In the event of Jayalalithaa's health condition, a meeting of the two CMs in the next two days looks highly unlikely. Even if a meeting is possible it would need to be held in New Delhi.

Would doctors give her permission to travel. Even if Tamil Nadu decides to delegate a minister to conduct talks with Karnataka, would the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah be agreeable to the same.

OneIndia News
Congress will bring back old pension scheme in Gujarat, if voted to power: Rahul Gandhi

Prez, PM Modi express grief over deaths in Gujarat bridge collapse, Cong asks party workers to extend help

Congress workers court arrest across Chhattisgarh

India

oi-PTI

Raipur, Sep 26 Thousands of Congress workers today courted arrest across Chhattisgarh protesting against alleged increase in the cases of atrocities against members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

The protest was held in the wake of the alleged custodial death of a man belonging to an SC community in Janjgir Champa district on September 17.

Congress workers staged demonstrations in all the 27 districts and courted arrest as part of 'jail bharo andolan'. Congress state spokesperson Gyanesh Sharma claimed over 50,000 party workers were arrested.

In Raipur, he claimed, around 3,100 Congress workers led by the state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and Raipur city Congress chief Vikas Upadhyay courted arrest. Police, however, put the total number of Congress workers arrested in Raipur at 951.

"The Congress procession started from Congress Bhawan, passed through Chikni Mandir and was stopped at Moti Bagh," Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal said.

"Though party leaders had handed over a list of 3,100 persons for arresting, only 951 of them including two MLAs fulfilled the prescribed formalities for the arrest," he said.

They were later released unconditionally. In Korba district, former Union Minister Charan Das Mahant, and at Dharsinwa (Raipur) Rajya Sabha MP Chhaya Verma led the protest.

"In Janjgir Champa, Satish Norge, a youth belonging to Satnami community, was brutally beaten to death at police station because he had complained to the electricity department regarding power outage at his village.

The incident reflects administrative terrorism in the state," said the Congress spokesperson Sharma. Several cases of atrocities on tribals were being reported from Bastar, he alleged.

Three policemen have been arrested in connection with the alleged custodial death of Norge so far. The BJP government in the state has also constituted a judicial probe into the incident.

PTI
Farmers problem a legacy of UPA: Sadhvi Niranjan

India

oi-PTI

Ludhiana, Sep 26 Union minister of state for Food Processing Industry Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti today said the problems faced by the farmers, the poor and the labourers are "not a sudden creation and is a legacy of UPA rule" in the country.

"They are legacy of the Congress or the UPA governments," she said while addressing the media persons here in connection with the foundation laying ceremony of a Food Processing Park at village Ladhowal here.

She said the NDA government at Centre was "only trying to solve the problems" created by its predecessors. Today the BJP-led government has made 'neem coated urea' available to all, she said.

Had the Congress or UPA government attended to the needs of people earlier, there was no need of any 'Padyatra' by the Congress leaders, she said.

While condemning the shoe hurling incident at Rahul Gandhi in Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh today, she said incidents like these were a negation of democracy.

When asked about the impact of Priyanka Gandhi on the politics, she said "Priyanka will prove as big a flop as Rahul Gandhi."

Now Congress was a "spent force" and no body could save it from "total extinction", she added.

PTI
'Never invited or met him': Hamid Ansari on row over Pak journalist

BJP uses photo to back its claim of Hamid Ansari's connection with Pak journalist

Hamid Ansari inaugurates High Commission Chancery complex at Abuja

India

oi-PTI

Abuja, Sep 27 Vice President Hamid Ansari has lauded the 35,000-strong Indian community in Nigeria for its commendable service to the country as he inaugurated the Indian High Commission's Chancery complex here.

Ansari, who arrived here last night on the first leg of his two-nation visit, interacted with the Indian community members and posed for photographs with them.

The Vice President lauded the efforts in the 35,000- strong Indian community in Nigeria at a function last night for their commendable service to the African country, be it in the field of teaching, IT or business.

He also said this Nigerian capital is a true model of a Smart City, a concept which India is trying to develop.

The foundation stone of the High Commission building, located at Cadastral Zone in the Federal Capital Territory, was laid by the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit here in 2003.

On the occasion, a photography exhibition titled "India-Nigeria Relations: Evolution to Strategic Partnership" was inaugurated and an e-book on bilateral ties launched.

Ansari and his wife also planted a sapling in the premises of the high commission building.

PTI
Agra

Once a tourist arrives in the country, his/her first effort is to have a glimpse of the The Taj Mahal--the ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river-- in Agra. One of the World Heritage Sites, Taj Mahal, is the famous mausoleaum built by Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628-1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Kashmir

Kashmir is aptly known as the heaven on earth. Jammu and Kashmir is one of India's most picturesque states nestled on the peaks of the Himalayan Ranges. The state has three main geographical regions--the lesser Himalayas or the Jhelum Valley (Kashmir), the inner Himalayas or the Indus Valley (Ladakh and Frontier areas) also called Trans-Himalayas, and the outer Himalayas or the Southern mountain range (Jammu). In the recent past, Kashmir has witnessed a sharp fall in tourists because of the ongoing turmoil triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

Jaipur

No tourist leaves India without paying a visit to Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. The Pink City beckons tourists to enjoy its palaces, monuments and forts, reflecting its glorious past. Jaipur is also host to some of the best hotels in the world to provide luxurious holidays for tourists.

Goa

Goa is young, vibrant and full of energy. Once the home to India's hippie movement, Goa's pristine beaches are every travellers dream destinations. The state's economy is hugely dependent on millions of tourists that come to Goa every year. Goa's tourist calendar is divided into two seasons: winter and summer.

Mysuru

The heritage city, Mysuru, thrills visitors with its palaces and royal grandeur. Recognised as the country's cleanest city, Mysuru still retains its old-world charm. Mysuru receives highest numbers of tourists during the 10-day-long Dasara festival. The city delights visitors with its famous food like dosas and Mysore Pak sweets.

Shillong

Known as the abode of clouds, the capital city of Meghalaya is famous for its churches, lakes, parks, falls and gold course. The hill station is also known as the Scotland of the East, as it reminded the erstwhile British officials of Scotland. Shillong is also the hub of rock music culture.
From being a victim of terrorism to exploring global solutions: India praised at UN's Counter Terrorism meet

Uri attack fall out: India to boycott Islamabad Saarc summit

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Sep 27: India on Tuesday announced it will not attend the Saarc Summit in Islamabad in November, sharply escalating its attack on Pakistan for sponsoring terror.

In a statement, India said increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Saarc Member States "by one country" have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, in a statement, said that India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal its decision not to attend the summit, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to go.

"India remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation, connectivity and contacts but believes that these can only go forward in an atmosphere free of terror.

Sharif hopes all members will attend SAARC summit in Pak

In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad," the statement said.

Swarup said that some other Saarc Member States have also conveyed their reservation about attending the Islamabad Summit in November 2016.

The other countries unwilling to attend are said to be Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan, according to sources.

The decision to boycott the Saarc Summit comes as India has been hyping its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan over the past few days, over the latter's open backing of the Kashmir unrest and also after the terror attack on an army camp in Uri on September 18 that left 18 soldiers dead.

Days after Prime Minister Modi announced that the sacrifices of the Indian soldiers in Uri would not go waste, the government decided to revisit the 56-year-old Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and maximise its own utilisation of waters of three upstream rivers that were being used by Pakistan.

India is also working to revoke the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan in trade and Modi is to hold a meeting on the issue on Thursday.

The announcement to boycott the Saarc summit comes as India has been unsparing in its attack, at the United Nations General Assembly, on Pakistan for sponsoring terror. India has also announced on the floor of the world body that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so.

Regional cooperation and terror don't go together. India pulls out of SAARC Summit in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/jabKoaBegJ  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 27, 2016

IANS
Insurance firm Sinatay Life to raise its capital to $746m Updated: 2016-09-27 11:24 (chinadaily.com.cn)

Hangzhou-headquartered Sinatay Life Insurance Co Ltd has received the approval from the insurance regulator to increase its capital base to 5 billion yuan ($746 million)the third time for the company since 2015.

After this round of injection, the company's registered capital doubled that of 2015, showing the company's ambition for fast expansion, the company said in an e-mail statement.

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has an investment in Sinatay, with a stake of around 2 percent after the company's capital boost. The Japanese insurer didn't take part in the capital injection, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Sinatay Life made profit for the first time last year since its establishment in 2007. By the end of August, the company's premium income reached 11.3 billion yuan this year, exceeding that of 2015.

After the capital injection, the company's solvency ratio is expected to exceed 330 percent, far exceeding the regulator's requirement, thus paving the way for a rapid business expansion afterward.
Ghulam Nabi Azad announces own party, says people of J&K will decide its name and flag

Modi govt doesn't have stable policy towards Pak: Ghulam Nabi Azad

India

oi-PTI

Mathura, Sept 27: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad today charged that the Narendra Modi government does not have a "stable" policy towards Pakistan and has not been able to decide on how to put Islamabd in the dock in the wake of the Uri attack.

On the Indus Water Treaty, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the government should consider all pros and cons and take a decision keeping in mind the future.

"The BJP government does not have a stable policy towards Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony and visited the Pakistani premier uninvited on his birthday. "And many a times, he has adopted a very tough stance against Pakistan.

His government has not been able to decide on how to deal with Islamabad," Azad, who was here to launch Congress' yatra from Deoria to New Delhi, said. "In the Modi government, the Foreign Secretary favours talks with Pakistan but the National Security Advisor suggests suspension of the dialogue with Islamabad. Nobody knows what they want," he said.

Taking potshots at the Prime Minister, Azad claimed that Modi had promised the people of the country that he would "avenge the death of our soldiers and that he would bring 10 heads for every martyred jawan, but he has forgotten them now".

To a query on the Indus Waters Treaty, he said the Modi government believes in taking a decision in seconds on issues that have been there for decades.

"It should consider all pros and cons and then take a decision in this regard. Bilateral issues have many other things linked to them. A decision concerning such issues should be taken keeping in mind the future," he said.

Azad blamed the PDP-BJP government for the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, saying there was peace in the Valley when the National Conference government was at the helm of affairs, but tension is prevailing there since the new government has taken over. He also hit out at the central government for not sending more emissaries to different countries.

"While Pakistan has sent over 15 emissaries to create pressure in its favour, India has sent only a couple," he claimed and said there was a need for exposing Pakistan at the international fora.

Asked if his party was open to a tie-up with other parties for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he said, "Congress will go alone."

PTI
Narendra Modi lauds Amritanandamayi on her birthday

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Sep 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted Kerala-born spiritual leader Ma Amritanandamayi on her 63rd birthday, calling her a "real maa" who nurtures her devotees through "visible and invisible hands".

"I am not so lucky as to be present at the celebrations in person, I am delighted to be able to greet her, through technology. I have just returned from Kerala, and I was touched by the love and affection showered on me by the people of the state," Modi said.

"I am aware that even in her childhood, Amma was fond of giving her own food to others. Serving the old and the aged, and helping the needy have been her childhood passions," he said, praising Amritanandamayi for spreading her love and kindness among poor.

He thanked the spiritual leader for working in the fields of sanitation, water, housing, education and health and also for her contribution to "Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan".

"Amma's initiative on building toilets has been a great help in our Swachh Bharat Programme. Amma has pledged to contribute one hundred crore rupees towards sanitation efforts in Kerala. This pledge includes the construction of 15,000 toilets for the poor," he said.

Modi also mentioned a donation of Rs 100 crore by her to the "Namami Gange" (Clean the Ganga) programme and lauded the work being done at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, of which she is the Chancellor.

"It is also heartening to note that the researchers at Amrita University are innovating new approaches to solve some of the world's most pressing problems," Modi said.

IANS
Pakistani actors should condemn Uri attack: Anupam Kher

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 27: Veteran actor Anupam Kher today said that while he believes art has no boundaries, it is the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working in India to publicly condemn the Uri attack.

Raj Thackeray-led MNS recently asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India following the attack, which left 18 soldiers dead.

MNS has now threatened to stall the shooting of movies with Pakistani artistes. When asked about whether it was right to ban Pakistani artistes from working in Indian films, Kher said, "I believe art and culture should not have boundaries but it is important and the moral responsibility of Pakistani actors working here to condemn the terrorist attack, which killed our soldiers."

The actor said even he had condemned the Peshawar school attack and does not see any harm in Pakistani artistes doing the same now. "I am not saying condemn your country because that's very difficult for you as you are living there and politically it may not be the correct move. We welcome them, give them platform and places, they become popular and earn money, and they deserve that.

But it is important to be sensitive to the sensitivity of Indian people. "It is important to say, 'I condemn the unfortunate massacre of Indian soldiers'. It is important to speak about such things.

So, I am against that they do not do that. They need to do that because we do that. We have always shown our goodness, friendship..." The 61-year-old actor was in the city to attend the launch of a new line-up of shows on Zindagi channel, which originally aired a host of Pakistani shows.

Kher has produced one of the upcoming shows on the channel. Kher said he has met some "really nice" Pakistanis but he is biased when it comes to India. "There are some really nice people in Pakistan, they are great hosts. I once went to Karachi and the experience was beautiful.

But when it comes to my country and jawans, I cannot be diplomatic. "I am biased towards my country because whatever I am today is because I am an Indian. What will I tell the mother of that jawan? That let's give art and culture more importance? That's not possible." For Zindagi, Kher has produced "Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par", which is about the journey of an aspiring actor to stardom.

PTI
Delhi-NCR likely to choke in the coming days

Punjab govt includes few castes in Backward Classes list

India

oi-PTI

Chandigarh, Sep 26 On the recommendations of the state Backward Classes Commission, the Punjab Cabinet today approved the inclusion of Gosai/Goswami, Yadav/Aahir and Rabari Communities in the list of Backward Classes of the state.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here.

Disclosing this, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said the Cabinet also gave green signal to amend the current list of backward classes of Punjab to include these castes in view of the requisite economic, social and academic status of these communities.

In another important decision, keeping in view the inconvenience faced by general public of Ahmedgarh area, the Cabinet also decided to upgrade sub-tehsil Ahmedgarh to sub-division/tehsil at Ahmedgarh.

At present, Ahmedgarh falls in district Sangrur and its residents have to visit sub-division/tehsil office situated at Sangrur for their revenue related works.

Keeping in view the inconvenience faced by general public of Ajitwal and Samaalsar area, the Cabinet also decided to accord status of sub-tehsil to Ajitwal and Samaalsar in Moga district besides giving nod for creation of office staff at both the places.

At present, Ajitwal and Samaalsar falls in district Moga and its residents have to visit sub-division/tehsil office situated at Moga for their revenue related works.

The Cabinet also approved the recommendations of Cabinet sub-committee comprising Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon and Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa regarding the settlement of legacy food credit account.

After due deliberations, the Cabinet sub-committee recommended that the terms as approved by State Bank of India in its meeting held on September 20, has agreed to reduce the rate of interest from 9.26 per cent to 8.25 per cent.

In another significant decision, the Cabinet also decided to extend the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna to provide health insurance to 40 lakh blue card holders, farmers, traders and labourer families.

This policy started in November 2015 was expiring on October 31, henceforth the Cabinet gave its nod to extend this policy from November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017.

PTI
Rats nibble actress's bag in train

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Sep 27: Popular Marathi actress Nivedita Saraf has complained that her bag was gnawed by rats while she was travelling by a train, prompting the railway administration to intensify the pest control measures.

Nivedita narrated her unpleasant experience on a social networking site and sought the railways to check the rat menace in trains.

The actress had kept her bag beside her head while she was sleeping and later she found rodents had nibbled it.

"22 Sept Latur Express A1 27 rat did this to my bag while I was sleeping. bag was near my head. horrible #indianrailway #sureshprabhu," the actress, wife of noted actor Ashok Saraf, posted on twitter along with a picture of her rat-ravaged bag.

22 Sept Latur Express A1 27 rat did this to my bag while I was sleeping. bag was near my head. horrible @RailMinIndia @sureshpprabhu pic.twitter.com/9HYJaLKY8d  Nivedita Saraf (@nivisaraf) September 26, 2016

Saraf, who was travelling in a first class, said she heard the rats squeaking and when she got up, she found that much of her bag had been nibbled. Reacting to the actress's experience, Central Railway Chief PRO Narendra Patil said, "The passenger has tweeted about her grievance mentioning Railway Ministry and her tweet has been considered as her proper complaint."

"The pest control staff keep doing their job from time to time, but sometimes leftover edibles in the trains invite rats," Patil said. Another senior CR official said, "Railway has taken this complaint seriously like other cases and we shall ask the pest control staff to do their job more frequently."

PTI
SAD slams AAP govt for not hiking Punjabi teachers' salaries

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 26 Akali Dal today hit out at Arvind Kejriwal government for allegedly not honoring its commitment of raising salaries of part-time Punjabi teachers in the national capital, saying it reflected its "anti-Punjab" and "anti-Punjabi" attitude.

Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said a month after a High Court ruling the Delhi government had announced that it will abide by the court orders and had also published advertisements in different newspapers assuring enhanced salaries to the teachers.

He said on May 11, the Delhi High Court had ordered release of enhanced salaries and one year's arrears for the teachers.

"Since then neither salaries of the Punjabi teachers have been increased nor their arrears released even after a lapse of three months," Sirsa, General Secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, claimed.

He said the affected teachers have been left with no choice but to approach the High Court as the Kejriwal government had committed "contempt of court".

The teachers concerned were planning to move the court, he said, assuring them all possible legal assistance. He claimed that though the Delhi government had declared Punjabi as 'second language' in 2003, yet Punjabi teachers working under the aegis of Punjabi Academy in different schools were given a raw deal by the government.

"Neither the Congress government under Sheila Dikshit nor the present dispensation of Kejriwal have bothered to protect the interests of Punjabi teachers working relentlessly to promote Punjabi in the national capital," Sirsa said, adding, they were being paid paltry salaries.

He expressed shock over the "anti-Punjabi attitude" of AAP government, saying while Kejriwal had denied due status to Punjabi language, he had entered election fray in a big way in Punjab with "wild" promises which he would not fulfil after polls.

PTI
Two week long Indo-US military exercise over

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Sep 27 The two-week-long Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' in Uttarakhand, with a "focus on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under UN mandate", ended on Monday, a defence statement said.

The exercise, at the Chaubattia Military Station, near Ranikhet, also aimed at building positive military relations between the two countries and allowed the two armies to understand each other's tactical and operational methodologies, said the statement.

"The exercise was conducted with focus on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate," it said, adding it culminated with a 48 hours consolidation and validation exercise in which troops carried out a daring rescue and destroy mission in the general area of Pilkholi.

The validation exercise was reviewed by Indian Army's 6 Mountain Division commander, Maj. Gen. R.K. Raina, and US Army's 7 Division commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas James. A host of dignitaries and number of senior officers of both the armies observed the validation exercise, said the release.

The exercise concluded with de-briefing by the contingent commanders and valuable suggestions by the senior reviewing officers of both sides, which would be recorded for implementation in the training by both armies, the statement said, adding the formal closing ceremony is scheduled on September 27.

The exercise was the twelfth in the YudhAbhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific Partnership Programme, to strengthen and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and US armies. It is the third Indo-US Army exercise at Chaubattia, and complements number of other exchanges and exercise between the forces.

Over the years the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise and the exercise provided an ideal platform for the personnel of the two countries to share their experiences on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations, especially in mountainous terrain, the statement said.

IANS
Uri attack: Foreign secretary slaps Pak with proof

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 26: India's Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar today presented proof of Pakistan's role in the Uri attacks. The proof was presented to the Pakistan High Commisioner in India, Abdul Basit. The foreign secretary told Basit that continued cross border terrorism and attacks from Pakistan is unacceptable.

Jaishankar informed Basit that the ongoing investigation into the Uri attacks had revealed that the two guides who helped the terrorists had been apprehended by the local villagers. The guides have been identified as Faizal Hussain (20) and Yasin Khurshid (19), both residents of Muzzafarabad.

Further Basit was also told that preliminary investigations had revealed that one of the attackers went by the name Hafiz Ahmed who is the son of Firoze a resident of Dharbhang in Muzzafarabad. Basit was also informed that the handlers had been identified as Mohammad Kabir Awan and Basharat.

Pakistan using international aid to finance terrorism: India

The Uri attack case is being investigated by the National Investigating Agency. The NIA has sent for forensic examination the GPS sets used by the terrorists. This would help the NIA ascertain the exact route taken by the terrorists.

OneIndia News
UP: 5, including a child, killed and 5 seriously hurt as car hits electric pole

18 killed in Nepal road accident

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kathmandu, Sep 27: At least 17 persons were killed and 20 injured on Tuesday when a passenger bus veered some 300 metres off a hilly road in Nepal's Dhading district, police said.

The bus was travelling from a village to the district headquarters of Dhadingbesi.

Chief District Officer Bishow Prakash Subedi said the bodies of the victims including 10 men and four women were retrieved from the accident site.

Six of the injured were in critical condition. They were airlifted to capital Kathmandu for treatment, Subedi added.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known but the police believe it could be the result of a combination of an overloaded bus and the steep gravelled road.

IANS
'Never invited or met him': Hamid Ansari on row over Pak journalist

BJP uses photo to back its claim of Hamid Ansari's connection with Pak journalist

In Pics: What made headlines across the world

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Sept 27: Vice President Hamid Ansari embarked on a five day visit to Nigeria and Mali on Monday. Following his arrival, he met the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, in Abuja. He also inaugurated the new building of the High Commission of India, in Abuja.

In other news, Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hit out at her rival, Republican presidential canidate Donald Trump in the Presidential debate and said: "A man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his hands anywhere near the nuclear codes."

Meanwhile, Aleppo is currently witnessing a shortage of food and medical supplies following as warplanes pounded the city after Russia was accused of war crimes.

Here are some images of what made headlines across the world:

Hamid Ansari arrives in Nigeria Vice President M Hamid Ansari being welcomed with a traditional dance on his arrival at Abuja airport. Trump, Clinton take jibes at each other Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. One dead in Houston shooting Police investigate the scene of a shooting along Wesleyan at Law Street that left multiple people injured and the alleged shooter dead in Houston. The shooter opened fire and injured nine people before officials shot him. Popular Resistance Committees celebrates 17th anniversary A Palestinian elderly man walks in front of militants from the al-Nasser Brigades, an armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), during a rally to commemorate the 17th anniversary of their group in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip. Aleppo faces shortage of food and medical supplies Aleppo is currently facing worsening shortage of food and medical supplies even as warplanes continue to strike the city. Obama at the White House Tribal Nations Conference President Barack Obama smiles as he wears a blanket that was presented to him during the 2016 White House Tribal Nations Conference.

OneIndia News
Govt mulls carbon tax by end of 2020 Updated: 2016-09-27 13:16 By Wang Yanfei(chinadaily.com.cn)

China plans to collect carbon tax by the end of 2020, the 21st Century Business Herald reported on Monday.

Jiang Zhaoli, deputy head of the department of climate change under the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic regulator, said that the commission is conducting preparatory work together with other ministries to collect carbon tax.

Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said earlier in March that carbon tax will become part of resource tax reform.

"Taxation on carbon means enterprises that are not involved in the national carbon trade market will be liable to pay tax," said Jiang.

China is expected to launch the nationwide carbon trade market in 2017, by which time the country will overtake the European Union to become the world's largest carbon trade market.

Since 2013, China has established seven pilot regional carbon trade markets in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Hubei province and Guangdong province.
Netaji's daughter wants his ashes returned to India: Daily

International

oi-PTI

London, Sep 27: The only child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose wants to bring her late father's ashes back to India, according to one of Japan's leading newspapers.

Anita Bose Pfaff, a professor of economics based in Germany, told 'Yomiuri Shimbun' daily this week that she hopes the debate around the circumstances of the freedom fighter's death can finally be laid to rest.

"I want to bring back his ashes to India, which is now an independent nation. Indian independence was his (her father's) ardent wish," the 73-year-old is quoted as saying.

According to Bosefiles.info, a UK-based website set up to catalogue the circumstances around Netaji's disappearances, claims the 'Yomiuri Shimbun' story was published in the context of a 1956 Japanese government investigation report on the death to be made public on Friday. The same Japanese government investigation report was published by Bosefiles.info on September 1.

"The document, which has been treated as classified by the Japanese government, will be available for browsing at the Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan," the paper reports.

The document concludes Bose died as a result of a plane crash at Taipei on August 18, 1945. Professor Pfaff was quoted by the paper as saying: "I hope that the new document can end the debate."

'Yomiuri Shimbun' writes: "According to the document (the Japanese government investigation report), which is based on testimonies by witnesses and army physicians who were at his bedside when Bose died, the airplane which Bose was on board crashed at 13:50 on 18 August, 1945, immediately after taking off from Taiwan, where the plane landed for fuelling.

Japanese govt report on Netaji says he died in plane crash'

"Bose, who suffered burn injury all over his body, requested 'to treat others before himself' at the army hospital he was admitted to. Despite his request, physicians treated Bose first. However, Bose died at 19:00."

It further reports: "The document also shows the process as to how his ashes and belongings were transported to Japan." Bose's ashes have reportedly since been preserved at the Japanese capital's Renkoji temple for 71 years. The paper reports the chief priest at this place of worship, Kyozen Mochizuki, "also hopes that the release of the document will lead to (the) return of the ashes to India".

PTI
Imran Khan's party rejects ISI chief's allegations; says he never made unconstitutional demands

Why is 'Mr. Bean controversy trending on Twitter after Zimbabwe beat Pakistan?

Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary

Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls

Pak condemns detention of Kashmiri right activist

International

oi-PTI

Islamabad, Sep 27: Pakistan today condemned the "illegal detention" of Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez by India and sought his immediate release.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the continued illegal detention of well-known Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez who was arrested on September 16," the Foreign Office said in a statement here.

It said that human rights organizations like Amnesty International have urged India for his immediate and unconditional release.

"We urge India to release him immediately and unconditionally," the statement said.

Kashmir comes alive after 79 days of shutdown

Parvez is the Chairperson of Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and Programme Coordinator of Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS).

PTI
In his maiden visit to Russia since Ukraine war, Jaishankar to hold talks with Lavrov

Russia drops fruit, vegetable ban on Egypt

International

oi-PTI

Moscow, Sep 27: Russia announced today it is dropping a brief import ban on fruits and vegetables from Egypt, after Cairo backed downed on tough restrictions on wheat that had sparked a row.

Russia's agriculture watchdog said in a statement that following a meeting in Moscow experts from the two countries "came to an agreement to renew the delivery of all vegetables and fruit from Egypt to Russia, except for potatoes".

A Russian ban against the importation of fruit from Egypt on sanitary grounds came into force on September 22.

The dispute between the two key trading partners began in August when Egypt, the world's top importer of wheat, refused Russian deliveries due to the presence of ergot, a common fungus that can be dangerous in large quantities, in its imports.

A day ahead of the start of the ban Egypt's cabinet backed down from tough requirements on wheat imports, saying it would allow up to 0.05 per cent ergot in grain shipments.

Moscow accused Egypt of using the issue as a "haggling" strategy at a time when Russia is primed for a bumper harvest of wheat.

Egypt imports 11 million tonnes of wheat a year, with the government importing five million tonnes a year and the remainder by the private sector.

Egyptian citrus fruit exports to Russia are worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

PTI

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Story first published: Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 16:51 [IST]
Narendra Modi to review 'Most Favoured Nation' status to Pakistan

New Delhi

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sept 27: After Indus Water Treaty, India will review the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan at a meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

The decisions to review the MFN, which was granted by India unilaterally in 1996, comes in the wake of the Uri attack over which India is weighing options to respond. The MFN status was accorded in 1996 under WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

Both India and Pakistan are signatories to this which means they have to treat each other and rest of WTO member countries as favoured trading partners.

According to Assocham, out of India's total merchandise trade of USD 641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre USD 2.67 billion. India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to USD 2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than USD 500 million, or 0.13 per cent, of the total inward shipments.

The Prime Minister on Monday chaired a review meeting of 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty during which it was decided that India will "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per the water sharing pact.

Attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, the Water Resources Secretary, and senior PMO officials, the meeting also noted that the meeting of Indus Water Commission can "only take place in an atmosphere free of terror".

PTI
A shocking video has surfaced showing a man assaulting and brutally beating two women for giving shelter to puppies inside their housing society. This incident happened in a society of Pune. The incident took place at a housing society in suburban Kothrud on Sunday.
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Bolder structural reforms needed in China: economists Updated: 2016-09-27 20:02 By Jiang Xueqing(chinadaily.com.cn)

Bolder structural reforms are necessary for China to free productivity and tap growth potential, Asian Development Bank economists said today.

Jurgen Conrad, head of the economics unit at the Asian Development Bank PRC Resident Mission, said structural reforms have made good progress since the Third Plenum, but maybe more slowly than the government expected three years ago.

"Deepwater reforms are difficult, and many problems require comprehensive solutions. I think that is slowing reforms down a little bit. It's not too late for the government to change the picture fundamentally, for instance, in the area of SOE reforms," he said.

Economists at ADB suggested that over the next two years, structural reforms should focus on finding comprehensive solutions for so-called zombie companies, carrying out fiscal reforms that are focused on reforming the relationship between local and central governments, improving state-owned enterprise performance, and having more vigorous financial sector reforms.

Earlier this year, China started exploring the way for commercial lenders to swap non-performing loans of companies for stakes in those firms. Conrad said debt-for-equity swaps belong in the toolbox of enterprise restructuring but they cannot work in isolation.

"If you reduce the debt level of a specific company through debt-equity swaps, that just allows the company to borrow more. In five years, it will have as much debt as it had before the swap but in addition, a lot of shares of this company are now at the balance sheet of financial institutions. Then you are clearly worse off than you were before the debt-equity swap," he explained further.

"So clearly other measures need to be taken in addition to ensuring that this enterprise works more successfully than in the past, because the key problem of the enterprise was not that it could not borrow. The problem goes to something else that needs to be identified and addressed," he said.

Thanks to a stronger-than-expected first half performance and further stimulus measures, ADB updated its forecast on China's growth in 2016 to 6.6 percent, up slightly from its previous projection of 6.5 percent. Its estimate on the country's growth next year also increased 10 basis points to 6.4 percent.

In the first half of 2016, growth continued to be driven mainly by services and consumption, in line with government objectives. On the consumption side, services contributed 60 percent to GDP growth. On the demand side, consumption contributed 73.4 percent to GDP growth.

"One key way to boost consumption is the fact that Chinese households have one of the highest precautionary savings in the world," Niny Khor, economist at ADB PRC Resident Mission, said. "One of the reasons is social safety protection is not quite complete If we look at OECD (the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, the average government spends 20 percent of GDP on social safety protection programs. In China, it's less than one third of that."
Sky News 30 Oct 2022

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has told Sky News that he is reviewing Liz Truss's investment zones, saying anything which..
by  Graham Pierrepoint



KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

IMDb

Dir: Travis Knight

Starring Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, George Takei, Ralph Fiennes

5 STARS (out of 5)

Laika is an animation studio that has been growing a reputation over several years now for going against what is perceived as the norm of animation. They are independent from much of Hollywoods hustle and bustle and have broken through previously with three extremely striking and original family movies  Coraline, ParaNorman and The BoxTrolls  all observing a twisted, unique aesthetic that smacks of Tim Burtons early work while retaining an identity and an agenda for the gruesome and the ghoulish.

Laikas latest work is Kubo and The Two Strings, a movie which couldnt stray any further from the aesthetic that theyve carved out with their first three movies. Travis Knight, who has worked with Laika for considerable years, makes his movie direction debut here  and he does so with a movie that has so much to say and does so in myriad ways that its truly difficult to get them all down in words.

Kubo is a young boy with an extraordinary talent  he has the ability to bring paper to life into sentient, origami shapes that play out battles and accompany the stories he tells in his home village in ancient Japan. He does so by playing a shamisen that appears to carry the power to bring his characters to life through the power of magic. Kubo regularly tells villagers of the exploits of a brave samurai warrior known as Hanzo, battling beasts and venturing forth to take on the evil Moon King  but much to the disappointment of the fans he draws in, he can never finish his story. As it transpires that Hanzo is Kubos missing father, and as his mother grows ill, the boy soon finds himself fighting for his life  and for the truth behind his familys secrets  allied with new friends and his paper creations along the way.

Anyone who reads my movie reviews here at One News Page regularly will know that I have never given a five star review before today  I dont do so lightly  as I dont believe that any movie should be considered perfect  but I am quietly confident that Kubo and The Two Strings is an absolute triumph in all areas. It is a family film that neither panders to nor travels too heavily for children. It benefits from a script that doesnt tiptoe around adult themes of death, acceptance and the importance of family. It offers characters that, while there is a clear divide between good and evil, possess fairly grey morality  the ultimate fate of the movies arch villain is heart-wrenching to say the very least.

Kubo and the Two Strings - Official Trailer (Universal Pictures)

Visually, Kubo is stunning. It benefits from Laikas trademark touches and intricate stop motion that is just transparent enough to let you know that its not the polished CG of Pixar or Dreamworks. The characters look as paper-thin and as textured as the origami creatures Kubo brings to life, all individually designed and with personalities demonstrated beyond their dialogue and actions. The soundtrack is wonderful  it benefits from a soft, billowing leitmotif that returns every now and again, taking a back seat to swells of brass and strings when tension is high or drama is close.

The cast is superb  Art Parkinson is best known as Rickon Stark from Game of Thrones, and while that character never truly had many moments to shine, it is with Kubo that the actor is able to demonstrate genuine talent for his craft. Parkinson offers genuine soul and passion as the titular character, while Charlize Theron ably plays stern-but-motherly to her advantage. Matthew McConaughey is comfortably at home as the comic relief, offering incredible comic timing and chemistry with Theron even during the most bittersweet of moments. Scenes where Kubo is accompanied by his friends Monkey and Beetle are addictively enjoyable, indicating that this is a chemistry that truly works.

Further to its advantage is originality. Taking into account the soundtrack, the character designs and the plot  which tells of a love story that is only fully told once certain truths are revealed and final confrontations are made  the movie really rallies against cinematic grain, at least from a family film perspective. There are twists and turns that are not easy to predict  though while some more genre-savvy viewers may pick out one or two, the movie builds to a climax and a resolution that could easily have travelled in a far more cliched direction.

The script and the casts performances allow us to get to know the central characters extremely closely, even in scenes where very little dialogue is used  theres some scenes early on where everything is left down to the animation and the soundtrack  and I cant remember when an animated film last went so far to cultivate such an atmosphere. Zootopia benefited from an incredible story world and Finding Dory capitalised on fantastic characterisation and a satisfying plotline, but Kubo manages to pull the audience in deeper than they expect by transcending so many different levels of storytelling. We genuinely care about these characters. We want to know why they feel the way they do, and we feel joy and pain when they do. This is what all of mainstream cinema strives to achieve.

The point that tips Kubo over from a 4.5 to a 5 star movie is this - its dark, its mysterious, its sad, its inspiring, its often incredibly creepy and is also very, very funny  and it balances all of these elements with ease. It never pushes too hard with the laughs, and knows just how long to drive home the emotional tangents. Battle scenes never outstay their welcome  theyre long enough and gripping enough to allow us to naturally move on to the next scene. Unlike some other animated movies released in recent years, this is a family film that never leans too heavily on humour nor heartstring-tugging  it doesnt wallow, it doesnt exploit, and as a result, its incredibly deep. The screenplay, the animation, the score and the cast work together to create a melancholy that never feels too hopeless  in fact, hope drives the film and the characters on. Its heart-wrenching at times.

Kubo and The Two Strings has been subjected to widespread acclaim, currently holding a 97% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score that places it in the top 30 movies released so far this year  at the time of writing  a remarkable feat.

Having watched Kubo for myself, I can easily understand why so many people have taken to heaping Knights directorial debut with praise. In a movie landscape saturated by family movies that either try too hard or are too focused on audience engagement to try something a little left-field, it is genuinely refreshing to have watched a movie made for children that has genuine soul, unique approaches to design, animation and storytelling - and which engages audiences not by the virtues of pop culture references or bright colours and big budgets, but through superb storytelling, masterful characterisation and striking, memorable visual appeal. Kubo and The Two Strings is an absolute must-see while you still can, and I genuinely cannot wait to see it again myself.
London gallery set to join a Shanghai art fair Updated: 2016-09-27 16:59 By Lin Qi(chinadaily.com.cn)

London-based gallery Timothy Taylor will participate in its first art fair in China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

London-based gallery Timothy Taylor, who announced its representation of first Chinese artist Ding Yi earlier this year, will participate in its first art fair in China, the West Bund Art and Design Expo held from Nov 9 to 13 in Shanghai.

It will show artworks of both established artists, including Alex Katz and Sean Scully and younger-generation artists including Eddie Martinez and Armen Eloyan.

During the event, the gallery will also hold a large scale exhibition of Katz, a pioneer of pop art.

The gallery expands to the Chinese art market feeling the potential of Chinese artists on a global stage and as well the rising interest in Western art of China's nouveau-rich collectors.

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Initiative helping nations in development paces Updated: 2016-09-27 07:17 (China Daily)

Liu Qibao delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative which opened in Xi'an on Sept. 26, 2016.[Photo by Tang Yue/chinadaily.com.cn]

A lot of progress has been made since China launched the Belt and Road Initiative three years ago with the aim of boosting trade and infrastructure through better connectivity among countries across Asia, Europe and Africa. As Liu Qibao, a senior publicity official, said at a seminar in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, the outcomes have been better than expected.

The initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21 Century Maritime Silk Road, has received resounding support from countries along the routes. By the end of June, more than 40 countries and international organizations had signed inter-governmental cooperative agreements or memorandums of understanding with China on Belt and Road projects. Tremendous economic benefits to be reaped by countries along the routes serve as the main incentive behind their enthusiasm.

China has for years been the strongest engine of global economic growth, contributing more than a quarter to global growth in 2015. Embracing the Belt and Road Initiative means sharing the benefits of China's miraculous economic rise over the past decades.

And no country would say no to such a development proposal, especially because China has so much to offer, both in capital and technology. Its advanced 4G technology could provide users in many countries with easier access to modern communication networks, its high-speed railway technology could drastically reduce travel time between cities, and more direct flights from China can help to increase the number of big-spending Chinese tourists.

It is estimated that about half of the world's population will benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative in the years to come. Yet it is not a one-way relationship, as China, too, is poised to benefit from it.

The 20 countries with the fastest economic growth rates over the past decade are located along the routes. This means great business potential for Chinese enterprises, especially those involved in steel-making and photovoltaic industries, which are eyeing overseas markets after having met the demand at home.

With the launching of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese enterprises have accelerated their "going global" pace. In the first eight months of 2015, Chinese investments in the 49 countries along the routes increased by nearly 50 percent year-on-year, with nearly 80 percent of them yielding profits. This makes the initiative a win-win for all.

China has never sought to expand its influence overseas, ideologically or militarily. All it wants is to help countries solve their development problems. The initial success of the initiative suggests it is on the right track.
This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

Reprinted from Consortium News



Former CIA officer John Kiriakou (right) receiving 2016 Sam Adams Award for Integrity from Elizabeth Murray (left) and Coleen Rowley on Sept. 25, 2016, in Washington, D.C.

(Image by Photo credit: Linda Lewis) Details DMCA



Former CIA official John Kiriakou, who spent two years in prison for revealing the truth about White House-sanctioned torture, became the 15th recipient of the Sam Adams Award for Integrity at a ceremony at America University.

Last year, PEN Center USA, a human rights and freedom of expression organization, honored John Kiriakou, with its "First Amendment" award . It has since become clear that while John Kiriakou sat in prison, Senate Intelligence Committee investigators were uncovering heinous details about torture by the CIA from its own original banality-of-evil cables, which showed that CIA and others had lied in claiming torture "worked."

President Barack Obama chose to add his weight to a remarkably brazen effort to cover it all up and scuttle the Senate report. To her credit, committee chair Dianne Feinstein, with support from then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and committee members Mark Udall and Ron Wyden (all Democrats) faced President Obama down.

This scarcely believable fact -- missed somehow by the "mainstream" media -- is woven into the citation presented to Kiriakou on Sunday:

The Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence presents its INTEGRITY AWARD for 2016 to John Kiriakou. Know all ye by these presents that John Kiriakou is hereby honored with the traditional Sam Adams Corner-Brightener Candlestick Holder, in symbolic recognition of Mr. Kiriakou's courage in shining light into dark places.

John Kiriakou found himself atop the CIA's WANTED list when he confirmed publicly that the CIA had been carrying out a White House-approved torture program, which turned out to be using techniques virtually identical to those in the Gestapo Handbuch.

Alarm bells at the CIA. Put this guy in prison before there are additional disclosures. And seduce Hollywood into seducing Americans into "seeing with their own eyes" that torture "works." And make sure the media ignores others with impeccable credentials, like Army Intelligence chief Gen. John Kimmons, who said on September 6, 2006: "No good intelligence is going to come from abusive practices. ... the empirical evidence of the last five years, hard years, tells us that."

Gen. Kimmons had an institution at his back, not nipping at his heels. Enter the U.S. Senate, another institution that faced into its constitutional responsibility. While John sat in prison, Senate Intelligence Committee investigators pored through original CIA cables and concluded unambiguously that Kimmons and Kiriakou were right, and the CIA (and Hollywood) were dead wrong.

Briefed on those findings, President Obama in August 2014 trivialized torture with a dismissive comment, "We tortured some folks." Then he joined the CIA in a concerted attempt to squelch the Senate report. But Sen. Dianne Feinstein thwarted that joint campaign and in December 2014 published an executive summary -- redacted, but still gruesome beyond imagination.

John Kiriakou's integrity -- and the reality that he sat in prison while the torturers were covering up their actions and their lies -- made Sen. Feinstein's intrepid investigators even more determined to make sure Americans got to know the truth about what was done in their name. As for John, it is a sure thing that he will continue to give no quarter in his passion for spreading truth around, no matter the systemic hurdles he may still have to surmount.

Presented this 25th day of September 2016 in Washington, DC, by admirers of the example set by the late CIA analyst, Sam Adams.

____________________________________________

Sam Adams's painstaking analysis in 1966/1967 revealed there were twice as many Vietnamese Communists under arms in South Vietnam as Gen. William Westmoreland would admit to. The issue became a David-vs-Goliath bureaucratic struggle, with CIA analysts unable to prevail against the Army (and the White House). Adams continued to press for honesty and accountability but stayed "inside channels" -- and failed. He died at 55 of a sudden heart attack, with profound remorse. He could not rid himself of the belief that, had he not let himself be diddled -- had he, in other words, gone to the media -- hundreds of thousands of lives might have been saved. His story is told in War of Numbers, published posthumously.

Previous recipients of the Sam Adams Award are:

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There's a new documentary on Netflix, First Contact, Lost Tribe of The Amazon. (Correction. The Documentary is on Netflix, not Amazon TV as I originally wrote.)

It's well worth watching. We learn that these uncontacted indigenous people have learned to see gifts offered by "whites" as lures used to kill them.

The reason the indigenous tribal people have made contact with the "white" world is they were attacked, possibly by Peruvian soldiers, or loggers, drug runners or coca growers.

This has been the way of western conquest and destruction of indigenous people. Lure them with baubles, blankets, machetes, clothing, pots and pans. Then enslave them, convert them or kill them. Some are massacred with weapons. Some are killed by the contagious diseases transferred by clothing or blankets. So they have no immunity to western diseases.

Laws are in place aimed at preventing contact with the "isolated" peoples. But sometimes the isolated peoples steal from villagers. They've been displaced by loggers or the others I listed, so they are desperate-- hungry, without their usual resources.

But there are no laws to protect those who are the prey of corporate hunters, who are lured by the baubles of consumer society. OR maybe, prey and hunter is the wrong analogy. Yes, there are billions lured by baubles, including TV, movies, electronics. But those people are more like domesticated animals, tamed and "milked" by their domesticators? Are we among them?

The "expert" on uncontacteds says it's fine for the uncontacted to change, and in a generation or two to be going to college. I disagree. Their lives may be hard, in ways that are different than the billions of poor people who live in cities, disconnected from nature and from the earth. But it is only a different kind of hardness, not a worse kind. They lived without metal tools, or clothing. They didn't need modern drugs because the drugs mainly protect them from the infectious diseases their contact with "Whites" causes.

The laws aimed at preventing contact with the "uncontacted" are a very smart, good thing. When I decided to watch the documentary I wondered how they could do such a documentary without corrupting and destroying the culture of the uncontacted. I was right. They couldn't. Like the Heisenberg principal, the observation and contact produced massive, irreversible changes.

The documentary ends with one of the found, no longer "uncontacted" saying he doesn't want to go back to his naked ways. "We are ashamed of our nakedness."

Of course, the nakedness is a symbol of their life in the jungle. The shame is part of what they are given by the westerners, part of the way they are "tamed."

While I watched and learned from this documentary, I would encourage Amazon, Netflix and other content providers NOT to support such projects. While they are fascinating the price, in terms of ending cultures and killing a way of life is far too high.
--By Chris Robinson.

Permit me to offer a brief history lesson, which might convince some to see the world from a different perspective. The first election campaign I volunteered in was that of President Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1964. I was then a student at Dickinson College, but I was not yet old enough to vote. During the half century since then, I have been an active participant in politics, and I have learned two interesting lessons, which I plan to share with you if you keep reading.

I can see now that I was a young fool in 1964, when I believed that Johnson was a peace candidate who would negotiate a settlement of the Vietnam War. He was running for president against Senator Barry Morris Goldwater (R-AZ), who claimed he would bomb Vietnam back to the Stone Age. There was no doubt in my mind which was the "lesser evil." Upon winning the election, of course, Johnson proceeded to bomb Vietnam back to the Stone Age. I have never forgotten this lesson about "strategic voting," also called the "Evil of the Two Lessers."

Next, I became an activist in Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and via that organization in the struggle to end the War in Vietnam. During that struggle, I learned a second lesson which would become useful: there is an American Ruling Class. Today it is known as "The One Percent." It became evident to educated observers that, election after election, U.S. society continued on the same path, no matter which of the two evil parties would control Congress and the White House. Wars continued, prisons became more overcrowded, working people became poorer, and poor people became hungrier.

By way of example, when "peace" candidate James Earl Carter, Jr., won the presidency in 1976 after defeating President Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. (another "greater evil"), Carter took the peace dividend resulting from the end of the Vietnam War and invested it in a brand new nuclear arsenal (both submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles). Carter still tries to protect and project his image as a peace activist, while the whole world (outside the north American continent) knows who Carter still works for. After all, his nuclear arsenal still threatens the rest of the world.

Politically, there has been a consistent monopoly of power at the apex. The One Percent has seized control of the two major parties, and Democratic Party politicians have steadily and persistently promoted policies that have moved to the right. Just look at Democratic Party achievements: the destruction of the labor movement and the de-regulation of Wall Street, the Defense of Marriage Act, and an end to the safety net, welfare, as we knew it (President William Jefferson Clinton); a healthcare system dominated by finance capital and a billion dollar investment in a new nuclear arsenal (President Barak Hussein Obama, Jr.). Democrats have cooperated with Republicans in the exploitation of the Earth: protection of fossil fuel extraction with the most expensive military imaginable, and the repeated use of that military in undeclared oil wars in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

One item at a time, the Democratic Party has taken strips from the Republican Party's political mantle, and stitched together for itself a new, conservative coat. To stay alive, the Republican Party has been forced further and further to the right and into the hands of a lunatic fringe. The Democratic Party is no longer the Party of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and it vigorously rejects any attempt (i.e. Bernard Sanders') to return control to the grassroots.

For me, these were two important lessons: rejection of the Evil of the Two Lessers and understanding electoral politics as essential to the class struggle against The One Percent. The key question then became what to do with those two lessons.

Fortunately, the Green Party entered U.S. politics in 2000, running incorruptible Ralph Nader for President. Finally, we had a political party that stood for a grassroots platform, which had been unheard of in our country since 1945, the year I was born. Finally, there was a feminist, pacifist Party that had a plan for full employment at union wages, reparations for slavery, an end to climate change, redistribution of wealth from the One Percent, negotiation instead of intimidation, single-payer healthcare, legalization of marijuana and ending the drug war, and free public education through college graduation.

This year, The Evil of the Two Lessers has again become a rat race with Republicans and Democrats running in circles without resolving of any social problems. If you are searching for a political party which is not controlled by major corporations, it is time to look at the Green Party in your locale. Naturally, it will take some time for the Green Party to catch on, especially since it refuses corporate money. Perhaps it is time for you to vote for Jill Stein for President on Election Day. Perhaps it is time for you to join the Green Party and to run as a Green for local office in the 2017 election.
My guest today is Jack Pettibone Riccobono, director of The Seventh Fire, a documentary about life on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Minnesota.



Jack Pettibone Riccobono

(Image by critics-associated.com) Details DMCA



Joan Brunwasser: Welcome to OpEdNews, Jack. Why did you make this film?

Jack P. Riccobono: Hi, Joan. Thanks for having me. I think a lot of Americans - myself included before I made this film - have no idea about the situation in Indian Country or the fact that inner city gang culture is influencing many of these communities. And that's partially by design because many reservations are out of sight and out of mind. You almost never see mainstream stories about contemporary Native life, and when you do, they often employ stereotypes.

When I met my main subject Rob Brown six years ago, he was so compelling and complex. He defied the simple labels of "gang leader" or "ex-con" or "criminal" or "drug dealer"; he was someone with a deep connection to his Native culture but had also gone through 39 foster families as a kid, 12 years in prison, and was an active gang member for much of his adult life. He had a unique ability to reflect on his situation while in many ways still being trapped in it. So the simple answer is that Rob's story had never been told and it needed to be.



Rob Brown, main subject of The Seventh Fire, holds his daughter Persephone on the White Earth Indian Reservation

(Image by Jack Riccobono, Courtesy of Seventh Fire LLC) Details DMCA



JB: Agreed. 39 foster homes; yikes! How hard was it to get Rob to sign on for the project?

JPR: We hit it off pretty quickly and he was willing to take the leap after our very first meeting six years ago. I think he was at a particular moment in his life where he was looking for a change and for something different. He was 34 years old and had never expected to live that long. And he recognized that doing this film was a unique opportunity. None of us knew exactly where it would lead. He had great instincts about the filmmaking process and learned very quickly how we approached shooting scenes and how he could facilitate production.

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KHAN JOONEED

I pick up a newspaper only when I have some time to kill, and I hope to find a diabolical sudoku to keep me busy while waiting. Monday I picked-up a copy of Me'tro, the Montreal city feel-good mc-rag for that very purpose, and a front-page headline glared at me: "La Russie au banc des accuses l'ONU pour des crimes de guerre en Syrie"!

"Russia is accused at the UN of war crimes in Syria".

Who are the accusers? The US, the UK and France, the three permanent members of the UN Security Council, and three foremost NATO members who have been waging or abetting wars of aggression in Africa, the Balkans and throughout the Middle East since 1989, ever since they thought they "won" the Cold War against the former USSR and began savagely warring their way to 21st-century global hegemony!

Three NATO powers who, having occupied and destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, decided to go and spread "Democracy by Bombing" in Syria -- when they were stopped in their (tank) tracks in October 2011 by a double Russia-China veto, the first ever used against NATO in 22 years since the end of the Cold War and the break-up of the USSR.

The same three NATO powers who have been bent to carry out an illegal "re'gime change" in Syria, a sovereign member of the UN, who have been illegally flying bombing raids over Syria, deploying boots on the ground, and aiding and abetting self-proclaimed jihadists of all stripes, including ISIS/Daesh, to overthrow the legitimate government of President Bashar al-Assad.

And who is the accused? Russia, which has legally intervened in Syria with the approval of the Assad government to defend Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to demolish Daesh and its affiliates, and embarrass their NATO & Allied patrons into proving to the world that they are serious about "Fighting Terrorism".

And Russia and Syria both have the backing of China, India, Iran and a host of states from the global south in this historic and momentous anti-NATO test case.

The US, the UK and France have not yet even begun to face up to their lies and war crimes in Afghanistan (which had nothing to do with 9/11), in Iraq (the proven lies of Bush and Blair, documented by the Chilcot Report), in Libya (Cameron and Sarkozy). The Afghanistan war of aggression was carried out under Article 5 of NATO's Atlantic Charter -- the Alliance rushes to the defense of any aggressed member country. But in this case, the majority of 9/11 aggressors were identified Saudi citizens. Afghanistan was the wrong country to attack, totally. Saudi Arabia would have been a more justifiable target, but the obscurantist human-rights violator and warmonger is a prize NATO ally!

Iraq, Libya, Syria were all targets of wars of aggression by NATO powers. And as the Nuremberg trials established after WWII, "a war of aggression is the mother of all crimes in that it opens the floodgates to all other crimes: massacres, rape, torture, refugees..."

These are the countries who are accusing Russia of war crimes in Syria! While Russia is embarked not on a war of aggression but on a war of defense, a war to uphold the UN charter and international law, and a real war against terrorism!

In the UN debate, Russia, in very diplomatic terms, accused the NATO powers of providing military aid and air support to the so-called jihadists in Syria. After US Ambassador Samantha Power duly recited in the Security Council her list of accusations against Russia, the State Department finally came out and denied arming the Syrian jihadist front Jabhat al-Nusra, but admitted unnamed allies of the US may be doing so!

US spokesman Mark Toner was reacting to a report published Monday in the German newspaper Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger. In an interview conducted 10 days before with an Al-Nusra commander in Syria, identified only as "Abu Al-Ezz" outside of Aleppo, Al-Ezz said that US allies were providing Al-Nusra with tanks and artillery. "The Americans are on our side," Al-Ezz reportedly said.

For good measure, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova pointedly rebuked Samantha Power, who had accused Moscow of civilian deaths in Aleppo in the wake of the collapse of the ceasefire negotiated by the US and Russia.

"What Russia is sponsoring and doing (in Syria) is not counter-terrorism, it is barbarism," Power had said on Sunday in the UN Security Council.

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Reprinted from Campaign For America's Future

This was undoubtedly the first presidential debate in history to include a mention of Rosie O'Donnell. Even grading on a curve -- something the press tends to do with Donald Trump -- the Republican fared poorly on Monday night. Democrat Hillary Clinton took him down on issue after issue, from his tax returns to his business practices.

Unfortunately, that was not her most important mission. Clinton's fate rests on her ability to turn out key Democratic voters in large numbers, especially young people and minorities. In her zeal to defeat her opponent, which she clearly did, Clinton didn't do enough to inspire and motivate her base.

Trading Blows

The debate was largely a clash of personalities, rather than a clash of visions for the nation's future. Moderator Lester Holt asked some excellent questions, including a number we had hoped would be asked about the economy and racial justice. But at times it felt as if NORAD should deploy its Christmas Eve "Santa tracker" to find Holt, as the candidates railed for long stretches about whatever they wanted with no sign of his presence.

Holt did step in at several key moments to fact-check Trump on the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk policing, his ability to release his tax returns, and his continued "birtherism" after Barack Obama's birth certificate had been released. In return, Trump telegraphed weakness when he complained to Holt about how he was being treated.

Trump was most effective in the early minutes of the debate, when he attacked Clinton for her past support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other harmful trade (really, intellectual property) treaties. While she now opposes the TPP, Trump pointed out that as Secretary of State Clinton called it a "gold standard" for such deals.

"Donald," Clinton said in a line that seemed pre-scripted, "I know you live in your own reality."

Clinton was not able to defend herself effectively on the trade issue, and instead went into an odd digression that conflated the 2008 financial crisis, tax policy, the long-term decline of the middle class and Trump's expressed desire to exploit the housing crisis.

"It's called business," Trump said to that last point.

Trump pressed Clinton effectively on President Obama's support for the TPP -- a line of attack she could have blunted much more effectively by promising to lobby against the deal if Obama introduces it during the lame-duck congressional session.

From that moment on, Trump's best moments were behind him.

Yes, He's a Republican

Trump squandered an opportunity to talk about infrastructure investment, saying only, "Our airports are like from a Third World country. You land at LaGuardia, you land at Kennedy, you land at LAX, you land at Newark and you come in from Dubai and Qatar and you see these incredible -- you come in from China -- you see these incredible airports and you land... we become a Third World country."

True enough. But that's the symptom of a larger problem: the unwillingness of his own party to support infrastructure investment.

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One reason so many pundits have been so wrong about Trump, from the start, is that he appeals to people who are humiliated in school and afterwards by the kind of people who become pundits. Humiliated, left behind, disdained. Whatever his other appeals, Trump inspires folks who are sick of being condescended to, regarded as stupid, as losers; folks who want a strong-looking champion.

Paradoxically, Trump appeals in part to the half of all citizens who, unlike any of the kids in Garrison Keillor's Lake Woebegone, are below average. Trump is their winner, who hires (and fires) the highly educated guys who had always raised their hands in school, who went to good colleges, who get comfortable salaries, who feel they won the race, who occupy, for example, much of the media, the professions, even the managerial class. (They are found in both of the major political parties.) Trump can be seen as a champion of those who couldn't make it.

In a way, Hillary stands for the kids who were always brighter, got admitted, were knowledgeable (it was at Yale Law School that she met Bill). To people leaning to Trump, it doesn't matter that Hillary's well-prepared. It actually works against her. Trump's ethical lapses are forgiven, because he sticks it to those who felt superior in school, who seem or actually are arrogant. These Trump supporters will excuse anything except weakness and, to some extent, recklessness.

The election will be decided by people who want a champion who seems strong, but who fear obvious recklessness. That is Trump's big weakness, more than rage against people who are different than us, than his ignorance, than his ethical lapses, than his racism. His weakness is that he's characteristically reckless. Hillary's campaign has been asking, would you give this man the nuclear codes? It could also ask, more generally, do you want public policy in such reckless hands?

In a nation founded on the claim that all people are created equal it's awkward to mention any of the senses in which this is manifestly not the case. People are not equal in their wealth. In fact, economic inequality has become gross. And people are not equal in their abilities. For example, some are born smarter. Again, it's sobering to realize that about half of the population is below average. High intelligence is a genetic gift, not more merited than a big inheritance. Of course it can be refined, through hard work. But it starts as a gift.

In European thought, there is a tradition of analysis in terms of resentiment. Philosophers discuss this concept in such thinkers as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Scheler, Weber, and Deleuze. As you'd expect, the philosophy gets complex. But as applied to the 2016 presidential election, just think of the kid at school who always raised his or her hand, who now writes denunciations of racists, bigots, misogynists, and xenophobes (expecting his or her readers to know this means hatred of whom? Of Mexicans, say, and Muslims).

Several writers have got close to comprehending resentment in US politics. Their analyses are valuable. For example, Arlie Hochschild in Strangers in Their Own Land brilliantly explores the feelings of those who resent other people cutting into line, as Reagan's "welfare queens" were said to support illegitimate kids on the backs of the taxpayers, drive expensive cars, etc.

It seems paradoxical that losers in our socio-economic system would rally behind a figure such as Trump, who disdains losers and, even if his assets are far less than he claims, is a clear winner, at least in terms of wealth. Yes, he satisfies the urge for toughness. Yes, he articulates the rage of those for whom the system has not been working, workers whose jobs have been exported. But above all, he expresses their long-time rage against the liberal elite that disdains them, regards them as deplorable.
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Bioremediation Technologies And Services Owing To The Stringent Environmental Protection Policies And Regulations

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Bioremediation is a scientific waste management process that uses various, fungi, microorganisms, green plants and their enzymes to reinstate the environment to its original state after removing pollutants from a contaminated site. Bioremediation of water and soil, which is polluted by oil and other industrial waste; is performed by a variety of microorganisms that survive on hydrocarbons. Degradation of pollutants by bacterial microorganisms breaks down the hazardous substances into less toxic biodegradable substances. However, not all pollutants and contaminants are treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. For example, metals such as lead and cadmium are not easily captured or absorbed by microorganisms.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:Some of the bioremediation technologies usually used for reinstating and de-contamination the environment are as follows: Biostimulation Bioaugmentation Air Sparging Bioventing Bioslurping Fungal Remediation Phytoremediation NitroaromaticsVarious bioremediation services used for restoring our environment are as follows: Sample collection and analysis Manufacture of site-specific bioremediation products Design of optimized bioremediation program Characterization and spill evaluation of environmental parameters Report results Field servicesIn the geographical analysis, North America closely followed by Europe is the largest market for bioremediation technologies and services owing to the stringent environmental protection policies and regulations as well as oil spill accidents. For instance, a recent oil spill accident happened in the city of Los Angeles witnessed an oil spill of nearly 50,000 gallons which had ultimately contaminated the soil. These industrial hazards, which occur frequently across the globe, are expected to propel the sales of bioremediation technologies and services in these regions. Moreover, strict orders and policies from environmental protection agencies and groups are also compelling various industrial units to treat their waste products before releasing it in the environment. However, other regions such as South East Asia, Latin America and Middle East are expected to be the potential markets in the near future. Due to the increase in industrial plants and stringent environment safety concerns, these regions are expected to be the potential markets in the near futureThe overall bioremediation technologies and services market is expected to witness an admirable growth due to the increasing awareness for environmental safety and protection. Moreover, stringent government regulations and policies for environmental restoration initiatives is further fuelling the popularity of biotechnology based bioremediation technologies and services globally. Furthermore, novel bioremediation technologies such as bioaugmentation and biostimulation are gaining wide acceptance and interest due to their enhanced environmental restoration capabilities. These technologies use nutrient additives and external microbial agents for remediation of huge amounts of hydrocarbon-contaminated liquids and soil. Additionally, potential technological breakthroughs will generate abundant opportunities for bioremediation technologies and services.Other factors such as frequent oil spills in oceans from oil tankers are compelling oil and gas companies to adopt bioremediation technologies as well as services to restore the environment to its original state. However, high development cost and low adoption rate among population are some of the market-restraining factors that might hinder the growth of the overall bioremediation technologies and services market.At present, the bioremediation technologies and services market is highly fragmented owing to the involvement of many established and emerging players in this industry. However, the key players involved with the development of bioremediation technologies and services are ABB Environmental Services, Inc., Altogen Labs, Bioremediation Service, Inc., Dow Chemical Company, EG&G, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Envirogen Technologies, General Electric and Sevenson Environmental Services, Inc.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Asia-Pacific Peripheral I.V. Catheter Market is Expected to Witness the Fastest Growth Globally, During 2016  2022

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The global peripheral I.V. catheter market was valued at $3,702.2 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% during the period 2016 - 2022. The global market is increasing, due to growing geriatric population and increasing incidence of chronic diseases. In addition, the growing demand for injectable drugs in comparison to the oral medications, increasing healthcare expenditure and technological advancements in peripheral I.V. catheter is encouraging the growth of the global peripheral I.V. catheter market.Explore Report with Detailed TOC at:Based on type of devices, the integrated/closed peripheral I.V. catheter segment is expected to witness the faster growth during the forecast period. Among the end users, the hospital segment accounted for the largest share in the global market in 2015; and the segment is expected to witness the fastest growth, at 6.5% CAGR during 2016  2022.Request for Report Sample:The aging population is playing a key role in the growth of the global peripheral I.V. catheter market. The elderly people are more susceptible to diseases, sickness and syndromes, due to less regenerative abilities, as compared to adults. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an organization that conducts and supports medical research activities across the world, about 75% to 85% of older people in elderly care facilities suffer from chronic pain, which is boosting the demand of peripheral I.V. catheters.The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes, is increasing due to the alteration in lifestyle and lack of access to preventive care. According to the CDC, in 2012 approximately 117 million people in the U.S. had one or more chronic health conditions.Peripheral I.V. catheter helps in directly administering antibiotics, analgesics, intravenous fluids, and psycholeptics into the veins. Moreover, the introduction of technologically advanced catheter has led to the reduction in hematoma-related complications and bloodstream infections. For instance, the usage of short peripheral I.V. catheter helps in the reduction of mucocutaneous blood exposure amongst people in hospitals. In addition, it also prevents the transfer of blood-borne pathogens to healthcare workers, housekeeping staff, and visitors in hospitals and clinics, which is acting as a major growth driver for the global peripheral I.V. catheter market.However, the availability of alternative treatments such as oral drug therapies, and injections and complications associated with the usage of peripheral I.V. catheter acts as major restraint in the growth of the global market. In addition, the high cost of peripheral I.V. catheter is further restraining the growth of the market. The Asia-Pacific market is expected to witness the fastest growth, at a CAGR of 6.8% during the period 2016  2022.Browse Related Research at:The key companies operating in the global peripheral I.V. catheter market include Becton, Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Teleflex Incorporated, Smiths Medical Inc., C.R. Bard Inc., Tangent Medical Technologies Inc., VIGMED AB, Argon Medical Devices Inc., and Medical Components Inc.GLOBAL PERIPHERAL I.V. CATHETER MARKET SEGMENTATIONBy Type Short Peripheral I.V. Catheter Integrated/Closed Peripheral I.V. CatheterBy Technology Safety Peripheral I.V. Catheter Conventional Peripheral I.V. CatheterBy Clinical Area Oncology Gastroenterology Renal Diseases Pediatric Diseases Infectious Diseases OthersBy End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgery Centers Clinics Home Healthcare OthersBy Geography North America- U.S., Canada, and Rest of North America Central and Eastern Europe- Russia and Rest of Central and Eastern Europe Western Europe- Germany, France, U.K., and Rest of Western Europe Asia-Pacific- China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America- Brazil, Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa- GCC Nation, South Africa and Rest of Middle East and AfricaAbout P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:DeepAssistant  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347 5th Ave. #1402- 210New York CityUnited States
Promoting mutual trust and win-win cooperation Updated: 2016-09-27 07:43 By Liu Qibao(China Daily)

Liu Qibao delivers a speech on the Belt and Road Initiative in Xi'an on Sept 26.[Photo by Zhang Yuan/China News Service]

Liu Qibao, the head of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative, under the theme of "Shared Memory, Common Development", which opened in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Sept 26.

Your Excellencies Paroubek and Kolodko,

Distinguished guests,

Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this golden autumn, it is a great pleasure to meet friends from afar here in the ancient city Xi'an. Let me begin by expressing sincere gratitude to our guests at the seminar and our warm welcome to friends who have traveled all the way to China.

In the autumn of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the collaborative building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road when he visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia. This has been met with strong response from the international community and particularly from the countries along the Belt and Road. It has also triggered enthusiasm and interest among many countries to explore and participate in the initiative. In order to help people better understand the initiative and engage in the building of the Belt and Road, the State Council Information Office held international seminars on the Silk Road Economic Belt in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 2014, and on the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, in 2015. This year, we put the two topics into one seminar, hoping to provide a wider platform for exchange and discussion. Here today, to my great pleasure, I have the chance to meet many old friends and also get to know many new ones.

The theme of this seminarShared Memory, Common Developmentembodies our efforts in treasuring historical legacy, our best wishes to the common prosperity of countries along the routes, and acknowledgement of our responsibility to world peace and development. More than 300 guests from 35 countries are gathered here today. It is a great event for discussing the grand projects of the Belt and Road Initiative. I believe, through in-depth discussion and exchange of wisdom from all participants from various fields, we shall be able to reach a broad consensus and achieve a prosperous outcome.
Adult Diaper Market is Expected to Witness the Fastest Growth (8% CAGR) Globally During 2016  2022

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The global diaper market is expected to grow from an estimated $52.7 billion in 2015, and reach $76.5 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% during 2016  2022. The increased awareness about personal hygiene and growing population, increasing number of women workforce, and introduction of eco-friendly biodegradable diapers are the key growth drivers for the global diaper market. The presence of untapped market for diapers and emergence of hybrid diapers are laying growth opportunities for the market, during the forecast period.Explore Report with Detailed TOC at:The delayed toilet training of children in developed countries and growing online purchase of baby diapers are the two trends witnessed in the global diaper market. The age at which toddlers become diaper free is increasing, since the past few years. In 1957, approximately 92% of children were toilet trained till 18 months of age, as compared to 2015 in which only 65% of children were reported to be toilet trained till the age of 36 months. As the per capita income of consumers in the developing countries (such as the U.S.) is more, as compared to those in the developing countries; it is easy for the people of developed countries to afford expensive diapers for their children. This trend is expected to influence the revenue of the global baby diaper market during the forecast period.Request for Report Sample:Due to the massive growth of population in developing countries, the use of diapers is also increasing. As the per capita income of consumers is increasing, the consumers are focusing more on personal and baby hygiene. Good hygiene is an important barrier to many infectious diseases, including the fecaloral diseases, and it promotes better health and well-being. To achieve the greatest health benefits, people are focusing more on improvement in hygiene. The modern baby diapers and incontinence products have a layered construction, which allows the distribution and transfer of urine to a penetrable core structure, where it is locked. Diapers provide hygiene, cleanliness, comfort, and independence to the babies and adults.Though diapers are helpful in maintaining the personal hygiene of babies and adults, they are very unnatural in many ways. This has led to the increasing demand for diapers made from natural raw-materials. The global baby diaper market is driven by the manufacturers involved in introducing baby diapers that have better breathability, are soft, and cause fewer rashes on the babys skin.Browse Related Market Research Reports at:The declining birth rate in developed countries is the key factor restraining the growth of the baby diaper segment of the market. The major companies operating in the global baby diaper market include Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Unicharm Corporation, Kao Corporation, SVENSKA CELLULOSA AKTIEBOLAGET SCA, Bumkins, Fujian Heng Group Co. Ltd., Bummis Inc., and Nobel Hygiene Pvt. Ltd.GLOBAL DIAPER MARKET SEGMENTATIONBy Product Baby Diapers Disposable Diapers 1-part Diapers 2-part Diapers Cloth Diapers 1-part Diaperso One-piece Diapero Snap-in Diaper 2-part Diaperso Pocket Diapero Pre-fold Diapero Fitted Diaper Others Cloth Training Pant Cloth Swim Diaper Bio-degradable Diaper Adult Diapers Disposable Diapers Tab-style Diaper Briefs Pads and Liners Cloth Diapers All-in-one Pocket Diapers Prefold Diapers Flat Diapers Fitted Diapers Others Others Swim Diaper Bio-degradable DiaperBy Absorption Level Low Absorption High AbsorptionBy Baby Weight (for baby diapers) 0-2 Kg 2-4 Kg 3-6 Kg 5-8 Kg 7-13 Kg 9-14 Kg Over 14 KgBy Size (for adult diapers) Small Medium LargeBy Gender (for adult diapers) Male FemaleBy Geography (for both baby and adult diapers) North America U.S. Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Europe Spain Germany Italy U.K. France Asia-Pacific China India Japan Indonesia Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia NigeriaAbout P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:DeepAssistant  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347 5th Ave. #1402- 210New York CityUnited States
Oncology Biosimilars Market Can Be Segmented By End-User, By Application, And By Geography

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The global oncology biosimilars market will witness substantial growth over the forecast period and is expected to grow at very impressive CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing need for cost-effective treatment methodologies will aid in the stable growth of this market during the forecast period. The high cost of branded biologic oncological drugs will force patients to shift toward biosimilars as they are highly cost-effective. Since biosimilars cost 10%-30% lesser than their parent counterparts, there is the presence of unmet medical needs for such products. This allows domestic manufacturers to market generic versions of the biologic compounds at a lower price, which in turn results in market growth.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:Cancer represents a massive burden on healthcare systems worldwide due to the high cost of treatment therapeutics. The patent expiry of several cancer therapeutics has allowed the entry of biosimilars, which are being incorporated into oncology treatment practices. Biosimilars are synthesized with the use of biologic components such as monoclonal antibodies, proteins, hormones, nucleic acids, colony stimulating factors, interleukins, and enzymes. The market offers huge growth opportunities for vendors because of the growing incidence of cancer. The clinical pipeline for cancer biosimilars is vast, featuring candidates in different stages of development. Around 30% of all the biosimilars that are awaiting the US FDAs approval are monoclonal antibodies, including biosimilars of Avastin, MabThera, and Herceptin.Factors like the arrival of new biosimilars to drive market growth during the forecast period. Unlike generic drugs, which have APIs that are identical to original drugs, biosimilars are similar to their originator biologic compounds. Biosimilars developed by different manufacturers differ from the original product as well as from each other. Since they are less expensive than biologics, patients will be able to afford and access biosimilars more easily than biologics. Rise in number of patent expiries, increase in prevalence of cancer, growing aging population, promising drug pipeline, need for cost-effective treatment, favorable government regulations are some of the key drivers promoting the growth of oncology biosimilars market.The oncology biosimilars market can be segmented by end-user, by application, and by geography. In terms of application, the oncology biosimilars market is classified into cancer treatment drugs, and supportive care drugs. In the terms of end-user, the oncology biosimilars market is classified into hospitals and retail pharmacies. Retail pharmacies occupy the largest share of 52% in the oncology biosimilars market. Retail pharmacies provide a large customer base for biosimilar drugs. Individuals with cancer require biosimilar drugs for maintenance therapy, which helps to successfully treat and prevent relapse of the disease. These drugs can also be obtained from retail pharmacies for use in hospital settings.Geographically, oncology biosimilars market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. Middle East & Africa was the highest revenue contributing region in the global oncology biosimilars market. Similarly, Asia Pacific expected to witness higher growth in oncology biosimilars market due to increasing cancer prevalence in the countries like India and China. The market will typically witness a higher growth rate in countries such as the Germany, UK, Spain, Italy and France. The biosimilars market in the UK is developed and well-established, and is comparatively easy to enter, making the generic drugs market in the country stronger than in any other EU countries. The growth of this market in the region is attributed to well-defined regulatory guidelines and expiries of biologics that are anticipated to go off-patent during the forecast period.The Major players reported in the market include Biocon, Amgen, Celltrion, Hospira, Biogen, Mylan, Pfizer, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck, Sanofi and Sandoz.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth insights, understanding market evolution by tracking historical developments, and analyzing the present scenario and future projections based on optimistic and likely scenarios. Each research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology developments, types, applications, and the competitive landscape.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Latest Epicor iScala Release Set to Give Customers Further Competitive Advantage

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates  September 27, 2016 - Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, has announced that its customers will benefit from a new release of its popular Epicor iScala ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution.The iScala solution is designed for the worldwide divisions and subsidiaries of multinational corporations and local or regional companies that may have significant cross-border trading requirements. Building on previous versions, the latest release features a range of new functions and capabilities to help organisations gain a further competitive edge in the global marketplace.Global compliance: Featuring a new electronic compliance platform that will help customers meet local legal electronic reporting and filing requirements, delivering reports in required XML format for ever-changing fiscal and business environment.The platform leverages the powerful Epicor Service Connect framework and includes support for business event triggered reports, user defined data queries (Snap Searches), as well as tailorable screens.There are several other enhancements to the iScala global compliance functionality that help organisations expand globally whilst meeting country-specific regulatory and legislative requirements. This is particularly valuable for customers operating in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and in countries across Europe that are introducing Single Audit File (SAF) compliance reporting.Expansion of core capabilities: Including enhancements to key functional areas such as asset revaluation, credit control enhancements and service quoting and pricing. The latest version of iScala focuses on managing business critical information, making this available to users for reporting and data analysis. The Advanced Credit Control module is further enhanced to allow for improved control of credit extensions both under normal and out-of-the ordinary business such as ad hoc extension of a customers credit limit to allow completion of a project.Simplifying common everyday tasks: Helping users save time and increase efficiency and productivity with enhancements including simplified master data management and enhanced system notifications and control.Technology innovations and updates: Giving users more flexibility in performing their everyday jobs, Epicor Service Connect, the iScala integration and orchestration platform that is used to manage integrations and workflows, sees several enhancements designed at increasing throughput as well as reducing maintenance overhead. This is made possible using the new advanced troubleshooting and tuning capabilities.Through the continued expansion of Epicor ICE 3.1, iScala customers get access to the expanded web-based and mobile dashboard capabilities.Helping businesses stay compatible with the latest third party products, the latest release of iScala also includes support for Microsoft CRM 2016 integration including mobile access, Microsoft SQL Server 2016 and SAP Crystal Reports 2016.The iScala solution enables organisations to make the right decisions at the right time -- delivering real business benefits through key legal, fiscal and statutory changes and increasing responsiveness to customers, suppliers and partners, and events affecting profitability.Sabby Gill, executive vice president for Epicor International, commented, Our iScala solution has proven incredibly popular with our customers over the years and with this new release we demonstrate our continued investment and innovation in the product. Epicor customers are urged to make sure they upgrade to the latest version of the software in order to benefit from all the new features. Together, we help our customers to realise their full growth potential by embracing new markets and new ways of working, whilst providing them with the tools they require to meet different requirements across the globe.Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed around the needs of our manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 40 years of experience with our customers unique business processes and operational requirements are built into every solutionin the cloud, hosted, or on premises. With this deep understanding of your industry, Epicor solutions manage complexity, increase efficiency, and free up resources so you can focus on growth. For more information, connect with Epicor or visitVernon SaldanhaProcre8Villa 41, 81D StreetUptown Mirdif, Dubai, UAEPO BOX 78835
Global Cleanroom Consumables Market is Driven by Growth in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry, and Medical Device Industry

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The global cleanroom consumables market was valued at $7,938.7 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during the period 2016 - 2022.The cleanroom consumables market is growing due to increasing utilization of cleanroom consumables in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry, medical device industry, and electronics industry. In addition, the increasing utilization of cleanroom consumables in nanotechnology industry is also driving the growth of global cleanroom consumables market. Among the different type, the gloves segment is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. Among the various end-user, the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry held the largest share in the global market in 2015, and it is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.Request to Access Full Report at:Cleanroom consumables are required during handling, assembly and manufacturing of different products. The utilization of cleanroom consumables assist in maintaing the quality of products and increasing process yield. As a result, the demand for cleanroom consumables, such as cleanroom apparel, cleaning products, stationary, wipers, gloves, and adhesive mats is expected to increase. They are also being used across various industries, such as optical industry, aerospace industry, defence and food industry leading to growth of global cleanroom consumables market. As a result, the demand for cleanroom consumables is expected to increase leading to growth of the global cleanroom consumables market.Request for Sample Pages:In addition, the growth of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry in various countries across the globe are increasing the demand for cleanroom consumables. Nanotechnology deals with miniscule components, which are susceptible to contamination by particulate material. In addition to nanotechnology industry, the electronic industry requires development of small sized high efficiency components, thus necessitating contaminant free environment. Medical device industry requires contamination free environment as these products may be implanted in the body leading to infection or loss of funcntion. Thus, the necessity to maintain high quality of products is expected to increase the demand for cleanroom consumables across the globe.Explore Related Research:Some of the key companies operating in the global cleanroom consumable market include Micronova Manufacturing Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Berkshire Corporation, Valutek, ITW Texwipe, Nitritex Ltd., KM Corporation, Contec Inc., and Cantel Medical Corporation.GLOBAL CLEANROOM CONSUMABLES MARKET SEGMENTATIONBy Type Apparel Marketo Coverallo Lab Coatso Boot Covero Shoe Covero Bouffanto Sleeves Cleaning Products Marketo Cleanroom Mopso Buckets, Wringers, Squeegeeso Cleanroom Swabso Cleaning Chemicals Stationary Marketo Papero Notebook and Adhesive Padso Binders and Clipboardso Labels Wipers Marketo Dry Wiperso Wet Wipers Gloves Market Adhesive Mats MarketBy End-User Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Industry Medical Device Industry Electronic Industry LaboratoriesBy Geography North America- U.S. and Rest of North America Europe- U.K., Germany, France and Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific - China, Japan, India and Rest of Asia-Pacific Rest of the World (RoW)- Brazil and Rest of Rest of the WorldAbout P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:DeepAssistant  Client Partner347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb:347 5th Ave. #1402- 210New York CityUnited States
Rosemary Extracts Market Strategies and Forecast, 2016 to 2026

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One of the most sought after natural food preservatives, Rosemary extracts are also used in various end-use industries for their flavouring and aromatic attributes. In addition, Rosemary extracts impart a wide range of health benefits, which prompt at their growing demand in the market, addressing health conscious consumers.With a variety of industrial applications in pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and chemical and household sectors, Rosemary extracts are currently witnessing high demand in the global market. FMI predicts this demand to continue in the near future as well, attracting substantial revenues over the forecast period 2016-2026.Key Drivers: Global Rosemary Extracts MarketRosemary is indigenous to Alps but is commercially cultivated in several regions across the globe for various end-use applications. This cultivation is highly supported by the growing demand from consumers who are predominantly choosing natural and organic food preservatives over artificial ingredients.Moreover, manufacturers are constantly ramping up their R&D efforts, leading to discovery of more benefits and potential applications of Rosemary extracts. This is expected to play a key role in bolstering and directing the demand for Rosemary extracts in the global market.Request Free Report Sample@Rosemary Extracts: Market TrendsThe adoption of Rosemary extracts for various food, pharmaceutical, and skin care products is trending in the market.Rising adoption of natural food colourants, and stevia as a healthy sweetener, is strongly supporting the demand for Rosemary extracts globally.Global Rosemary Extracts Market: SegmentationFMIs research on the global Rosemary extracts market offers a 10-year extensive forecast, segmenting the market on the basis of variety, application, and region.On the basis of variety, the Rosemary extracts market is segmented into three commercial varieties -Camphor-borneol1,8 cineoleVerbenoneCamphor-borneol has essential antioxidant properties and enjoys dominant market share and is widely used in the manufacture of premium products. Verbenone and 1,8 cineole rosemary extracts are expected to witness strong demand during the forecast period.Rosemary extracts are further segmented on the basis of its application in food and beverages industry, pharmaceuticals, household sector, cosmetics, and pet food market. Being a natural preservative, Rosemary extracts find wide-ranging applications in the food and beverages industry, especially in non-alcoholic beverages, bakery products, meat products, and culinary spices. The demand for Rosemary extracts is also robust in the pharmaceutical sector, where it is used for manufacturing drugs to treat skin allergies and slow down the progression of Alzheimers disease.Based on the geography, the global Rosemary extracts market is segmented into Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.Regional Outlook: Rosemary Extracts MarketGeographically, FMI has thoroughly analysed the Rosemary extracts market. Their production, import, export, and consumption in North America, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia have been remarkably dynamic since the past few years.Request For TOC@Europe is the supply base, led by Spain and France in terms of supply and export, and production and consumption respectively.However, North America and APAC are estimated to emerge as the most lucrative markets over the forecast period 2016-2026. The U.S. has already started the agricultural cultivation of Rosemary in the Southwest region.Moreover, Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, Spain, and Morocco are rapidly growing, expected to become commercial production hubs for Rosemary extracts in the global market.Key Players in the Rosemary Extracts MarketKey manufacturers in the Rosemary extracts industry include Kemin, Kalsec, Nutrafur, Naurex, Dansico (DuPont), Flavex, Frutarom, Suptek, Hainan Super Biotech Co., Ltd., and Geneham Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Kemins Rosemary extracts combined with green tea blend is one of the most popularly used to preserve the ideal colouration and flavour of meat, and extend its shelf life.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Cyber Security Market share, by security type, network Security, 2015 -2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Cyber Security Market (Network Security, Cloud Security, Wireless Security and Others), By Solution (Identity and Access Management (IAM), Encryption, Risk and Compliance Management, Data Loss Prevention, Antivirus And Antimalware, Firewall And Others), By Vertical (Aerospace, Government, Financial Services, Telecommunication, Healthcare And Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2021. According to the report, global demand for cyber security market was valued at USD 105.45 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 181.77 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Cyber security is associated with information technology security, which focuses on protecting computers and confidential data stored in it from cyber criminals. Cyber security market offers several advantages including enhanced security of cyberspaces, expanded digital safeguard and quicker reaction time to national crises. These advantages of cyber security market automatically enhance the value of service given to the market end-users.The cyber security market is one of the highest growing markets in the information technology domain and it yields large economic opportunities. Growing risks such as computer hacking, software piracy, and virus deployment are increasing the demand for cyber securities services. The governments of various countries are increasing their investment in cyber security owing to development in computer inter-connectivity and remarkable growth in computing power of government networks.Know more before buying this report @The major drivers of this market include stringent government regulation on data privacy and increasing cyber threats. Lack of awareness and availability of pirated security software are expected to hamper the cyber security market in the forecast period. There is a significant increase in the cyber security market due to development in cyber solution and services and it offers various options to safeguard data. Providing cyber security solution to ever increasing government IT domain becomes an expensive challenge for the government authorities.The cyber security market is segmented based on security types, solution, and vertical and by regions. On the basic of security types market is divided into network security, cloud security, wireless security and others. Cyber solution segment includes identity and access management (IAM), encryption, risk and compliance management, data loss prevention, antivirus and antimalware, firewall and others. By vertical, market is segmented into aerospace, government, financial services, telecommunication, healthcare, and others.In 2015, North America dominated the cyber security market owing to the increasing cyber crime and strict government rules against it. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing regional market for cyber security market due to increasing number of internet users in China and India.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @Some of the key players involved in global cyber security market include Symantec, IBM, McAfee, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton, CSC among others.The report segments the global cyber security market as:Cyber Security Market: Security Type AnalysisNetwork SecurityCloud SecurityWireless SecurityOthersCyber Security Market: Solution Segment AnalysisIdentity And Access Management (IAM)EncryptionRisk And Compliance ManagementData Loss PreventionAntivirus And AntimalwareFirewall AndOthersCyber Security Market: Vertical Segment AnalysisAerospaceGovernmentFinancial ServicesTelecommunicationHealthcareOthersPurchase a direct copy of report with TOC @Cyber Security 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:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System Market Growth and Value Chain 2016-2026

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With the increasing rate of cardiovascular disease constant innovation and advancement in technology has become paramount. In the field of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) introduction of endoscopic vessel harvesting system market has open up newer opportunities for companies. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is a procedure for restoring the blood supply to the heart muscle due to blockage or narrowing of one or more coronary arteries. Traditionally, the technique involved in harvesting procedure was open vein harvesting (OVH) which involved a single continuous skin incision. With the recent advancement in technology, the process is less invasive by endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH) this technique reduces leg wound morbidity because of small incisions compared to open vein harvesting. Endoscope is a medical instrument used for capturing a picture inside a hollow area, which is connected to a video camera and inserted through a small incision that is made in the leg. The saphenous vein inside the leg is viewed by the endoscope and helps the surgeon in identifying and to remove the vein with minimal pain to the leg.According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, around 3,95,000 CABG surgeries were performed in the United States in 2013. The endoscopic vessel harvesting system market is mainly driven by the incidence and prevalence rate of coronary diseases. Moreover due to benefits such as less invasive modality, including a lower infection rate, fewer wound complications, improved cosmesis, and greater patient satisfaction physicians and patients are opting for this treatment. High pool of geriatric population and awareness programs among surgeons will drive the endoscopic vessel harvesting system market. However, endoscopic vessel harvesting system market has some restraints, lack of skilled professionals in the developing countries and unstable reimbursement regulations are hampering the growth of endoscopic vessel harvesting system in developing countries. Apart from this the presence of alternative therapies may hinder the growth of the endoscopic vessel harvesting systems market.Request Free Report Sample@The Global endoscopic vessel harvesting system market is segmented on the basis of product type and regional presence:Segmentation based on product typeDisposableReusableGeographically the endoscopic vessel harvesting system market is segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA region.CABG is most common type of heart surgery performed in North America region as per University of Michigan. North America followed by Europe are currently leading in the endoscopic vessel harvesting system market as high incidence of coronary disease due to sedentary lifestyle pattern adopted in these region and availability of all the types of minimally invasive CABG surgeries. The endoscopic vessel harvesting system market in Asia Pacific is expected to deliver tremendous growth due to the growth in per capita income in Asian countries and increase in medical tourism industry. With the growing access of public with healthcare professional and expanding economy china is expected to be the fastest growing market for endoscopic vessel harvesting system.Request For TOC@Some major companies in the endoscopic vessel harvesting system market are Maquet Holding B.V. & Co. KG., OLYMPUS CORPORATION, Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation., Med Europe S.r.l. (Elite Life Care), Sorin Group Inc., Saphena Medical, Inc and Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Hepatitis C Drug Market Revenue Share, by Region North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa 2014 and 2020

Hepatitis C Drug Market

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Hepatitis C Drug Market for (Hospitals, Private Labs, Physician Offices, Public Health Labs and Blood Banks) by Application - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015  2021 According to the report, global demand for hepatitis C drug market was valued at USD 11.81 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 27.63 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 17% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @HCV is a major public health problem that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Certain drugs, toxins, heavy alcohol use, bacterial and viral infections can cause hepatitis infection. The most common types of hepatitis infections are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C and they are caused by three dissimilar dissimilar viruses. Although each virus can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis C infection can bring both acute and chronic hepatitis disease. Approximately, 80% of patients get chronically infected with hepatitis C disease. Hepatitis C infection (HCV) spreads through the blood of infected individual by the use of shared needles or supplies used to infuse drugs. Vaccines are available only for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B viruses. Research into the development of a vaccine for hepatitis C is under way.The prevalence of the infection, new productive treatments, relatively lesser time of treatment from before, and rising government subsidizing, can drive the hepatitis C drug market. Lack of awareness and information about HCV and treatment expense of disease can influence the hepatitis C market. In the last few years a couple of new drugs have been launched in the market which has huge success and captured maximum market share of the hepatitis C market. However, cost of these drugs is too high. Hospitals, private labs, physician offices, public health labs, and blood banks are the key application of hepatitis C drug market.Know more before buying this report @North America was one of the fastest growing hepatitis C drug markets across the world with more than 40% share of the total revenue generated in 2015. U. S. is the largest revenue contributor for worldwide Hepatitis C market. Government funding for drug development will continue to play an essential role in the growth of U.S. HCV treatment market. Europe was the second major market for Hepatitis C in 2015.Ongoing research and development in pharmaceutical industry for hepatitis C drug development is expected to propel the market growth in the coming years. Moreover, interest for Hepatitis C medication is expanding in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa due to prevalence of the disease in the regions combined with expenditure on healthcare infrastructure.Browse the full report atHarvoni and Sovaldi are newly discovered drugs for Hepatitis C. Marketed by pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences and has more than 95% cure rate. The problem with this drug is its high cost, Harvoni drug is one of the expensive drug in the world. Some of the key player in the hepatitis C drug market includes Merck & Co, Kenilworth, Roche, Basel GlaxoSmith, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.The report segments the global hepatitis C drug market asHepatitis C Drug Market: Application Segment AnalysisHospitalsPrivate labsPhysician officesPublic health labsBlood banksHepatitis C Drug Market: Regional Segment AnalysisPurchase a direct copy of report with TOC @North AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Orphan Drugs Market:New Market Research Report Announced; Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024

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This research report analyzes the global orphan drugs market by product, geographical regions, and market leaders. Numerous trends are shaping up the orphan drugs market and it becomes imperative for stakeholders to learn about these trends and be prepared for change.Orphan drugs are a relatively niche segment because they are used for the treatment of rare or orphan diseases. For a disease that has low prevalence, finding the right balance between cost and profit can be a tightrope walk. The market study offers a thoroughly competitive analysis of the current market trends, growth drivers, factors restricting market growth, and projections for the future. Recent developments in technology have been included in the report as well. The findings of this study are especially useful for financial modeling, creating marketing campaigns, understanding pipeline products, and for R&D purposes.Download free exclusive Brochure of this report:Overview of the Orphan Drugs MarketDiseases that have low prevalence rates are no less important than ones that have a higher incidence. Pharmaceutical agents developed for treating such rare or low-prevalence diseases are referred to as orphan drugs. Countries often laws determining the treatment and approach to orphan diseases, and there are criteria that establish whether or not a disease can be classified such in the first place. In Japan, for instance, a disease that affects less than 50,000 persons is an orphan disease. In the United States, this number is 200,000.Orphan drugs are often also referred to as niche busters because they provide an ideal avenue for companies to offset the lapsing patents and shrinking pipelines of blockbuster drugs. In such a scenario, orphan drugs bring forth a new business model that could help create new revenue streams.The total number of diseases categorized as orphan stands at about 7,000 currently, with nearly 250 new diseases being appended to this list annually. The orphan drugs market has been stimulated to a great extent by pertinent laws introduced in the United States, Australia, Singapore, and Japan. A few countries in the European Union also have specific laws governing the orphan diseases market.A highly conducive atmosphere currently prevails for the growth of the orphan drugs market. These include: Grants and R&D benefits, FDA fee waivers, and rapid clinical trial timelines, favorable reimbursement options, premium pricing, and prolonged exclusivity. Enticed by these initiatives, more companies are moving into the orphan drugs market space.Currently, the market for orphan drugs constitutes only about 6% of the entire pharmaceutical market. The aforementioned factors will help this market achieve double-digit CAGR through the forecast period of the report. Yet, growth in the market will be curtailed to some extent by challenges such as finding the desired number of patients for clinical trials.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Aramid Fiber Market size, share, industry, 2015  2020

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the Aramid Fiber market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the Aramid Fiber market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Aramid Fiber market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario, and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Aramid Fiber market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Para-aramid Fiber and Meta-aramid Fiber are the major types of Aramid Fiber. Aramid Fiber finds widespread applications in Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication, and Other. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Teijin Aramid, Kolon Industries Inc., HYOSUNG Corporation and Yantai Tayho Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.Browse detail report @This report segments the Aramid Fiber market as follows:Aramid Fiber Market: Type Segment AnalysisPara-aramid FiberMeta-aramid FiberAramid Fiber Market: Applications Segment AnalysisAerospace & DefenseAutomotiveElectricalElectronics & TelecommunicationOtherAramid Fiber Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.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:
Premier Li Keqiang meets Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba, on Sunday. [Photo/Agencies]

Premier Li Keqiang met with Fidel Castro, the 90-year-old leader of the Cuban Revolution, on Sunday during his visit to the island nation in an expression of respect for the legendary revolutionary.

China cherishes the traditional friendship with Cuba, Li said, adding that China is willing to enhance political mutual trust with Cuba, expand cooperation and boost the friendship between the people of both countries.

No matter how international relations change, the China-Cuba comradeship and brotherly relationship, based on mutual respect, equal treatment and common interests, will never be changed, Li said.

Castro, who celebrated his birthday in August, spoke of the historical links between the two countries as symbolized by the participation of ethnic Chinese soldiers in Cuba's wars of independence and liberation, according to the Cuban newspaper Granma.

As the leader of the revolution, which culminated in the 1959 overthrow of Fulgencio Batista, Castro has maintained close ties with generations of Chinese leaders.

President Xi Jinping met with him twice in the three years from 2011 to 2014.

In 2011, Xi, then vice-president, visited Castro's house, which was shaded by moringa trees. In July 2014, during his state visit to Cuba, Xi presented Castro with some seeds of moringa and mulberry trees. Xi promised closer cooperation with Cuba to develop the moringa  its leaves and green stems can be fed to cattle, helping to solve the problems of grain supply and livestock feed.

He Shuangrong, a researcher of Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the fact that Chinese leaders meet Fidel Castro every time they visit Cuba shows the strong ties between the two countries.

"Both countries are socialist countries. Their ties are those between good brothers and good partners," He said, adding that the two countries not only have growing economic relations but also lend each other political support.

Li, the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba in more than 50 years, also boarded a bus on Sunday that had been exported by Chinese vehicle maker Yutong. It has sold over 5,000 buses to Cuba.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
Increasing drilling activities is anticipated to drive the sand control system market during the forecast period.

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Increasing drilling activities across the globe is likely to propel sand control system market growth over the forecast timeframe. For instance, North America, led by the U.S and Canada, has witnessed significant increase in rig counts over the last 1 month (July 2016).Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Moreover, increasing well completion activity owing to high crude oil demand from US, Mexico and Canada. Discovery of offshore field oil & gas reserves in countries such as Tanzania and Mozambique is forecast to drive industry growth. Furthermore rise in oil and gas demand from developing countries such as India and China may boost global sand control system market from 2016 to 2024.Global sand control system market technology has been segmented into maintenance and workover, selective completion practices, high energy resin placement, gravel packing, rate exclusion, plastic consolidation, stand-alone slotted liners or screens and resin coated gravel. The selection of sand control techniques depends upon different parameters of reservoir as well as political and environment conditions. Flow rate, grain size distribution, interval length, well deviation, operational costs and clay content are also considered during the selection of sand control system.Global sand control system market technology has been segmented into maintenance and workover, selective completion practices, high energy resin placement, gravel packing, rate exclusion, plastic consolidation, stand-alone slotted liners or screens and resin coated gravel. The selection of sand control techniques depends upon different parameters of reservoir as well as political and environment conditions. Flow rate, grain size distribution, interval length, well deviation, operational costs and clay content are also considered during the selection of sand control system.Some of the major player of global sand control systems market Ceradyne, Inc., Weatherford International Ltd., Schlumberger Limited., Baker Hughes, Inc., Variperm (Canada) Limited, RPC, Inc., Superior Energy Services, Inc., Halliburton Company, Grit Industries, Inc., Welltec A/S and others.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.29L Atlantic Avenue,Suite L 105, Ocean View,Delaware 19970United States
Biofuels Market: Segment and Analysis up to 2015  2020

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Biofuel is a hydrocarbon that has been derived from agricultural biomass, plant and animal waste or from metabolic by-products. Biofuel is mainly available in two types such as bioethenol and biodiesel, which are primarily used in automotive, marine and railway. Bioethanol is used as a replacement for petrol and biodiesel is used as a replacement for diesel. Use of biofuel can reduce carbon emission by 80%. Biofuel is basically extracted from the photosynthesis process and can therefore often be referred to as a source of solar energy.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Biofuel market has witnessed significant growth in recent years on account of rising environmental awareness and strong demand from automotive sector. Stringent government regulations resulted into growing demand for biofuel. This is anticipated to boost the demand for bioethanol. Biofuel market is classified based on different forms of biofuel such as liquid (biodiesel and bioethanol), solid (biocoal, fuel pellets, and biochar), and gaseous (syngas, biogas, and biopropane). Biodiesel was the largest product segment followed by bioethanol. Moreover, Advancement in technology expected to propel the biofuel market over the forecast period.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of region on the country level, which include U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan and India. North America has witnessed strong biofuels demand over the recent past years on account of stringent government policies and environmental awareness. Asia Pacific is expected to experience significant growth in biofuels consumption.This report provides detailed analysis and forecast of the biofuel market on a global and regional level. Additionally, the report covers Porters five forces model, which provides an insight into the intensity of competition in the market. The study also comprises market attractiveness analysis, wherein various end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness. The segments have been analyzed and forecast based on current trends at the global and regional level.This report includes a detailed analysis of each key participants operating in the biofule market in terms of company information, financial overview and recent developments in the industry. Prominent industry participants include Green Plains Inc., Raizen Energia Participacoes S.A, Australian Renewable Fuels Limited, Renewable Energy Group, BlueFire Renewables, Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc., Copersucar S.A, DSM, Western Dubuque Biodiesel Llc and Solazyme Inc.Browse the full report at:Biofuel Market: Form Segment AnalysisSolid BiofuelsPellet FuelBiocharBiocoalLiquid BiofuelsBioethanolBiodieselGas BiofuelsBiogasSyngasBio propanBiofuel Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.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:
ASDF HQ Announced New Office Bearers for Arab Region

In NutShell :ASDF Headquarters has now announced the new set of Office Bearers Arab Region which will be headed by Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed from 2015 to 2020. Officially announced by the ASDF International President and directed by Office of the International Secretary.In DetailAssociation of Scientists, Developers and Faculties incepted in 2010 has now landed in Arab region with full fledge from January 2015. The Governing Council under the leadership of visionary leader Pr. Dr. Anbuoli Parthasarathy has unanimously selected the office bearers of ASDF Arab Region which has got resolved in the board with fullest support. The span of the office bearers from 2015 to 2020 of the Arab Region will be headed by Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed who is a senior academician with decades of teaching experiences across the world.This Arab Region consists of all the Arab states including Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Arab League, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, Mauritania, Yemen, Djibouti, Comoros and Somalia. The International Secretary Kokula Krishna Hari Kunasekaran has delegated his powers of signing the Industrial, Research, University and Academic Institutes Memorandum of Understandings to the Arab Region Secretary Ghassan Yassine which needs to witness by the Arab Region President Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed.The President of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Fekry Fouad Mohammed Ahmed has more than 30 years of experience in academia as well as professional discipline that go around the enterprise architecture that its core competencies include expertise strategic and technical planning, policy development, capital planning and investment control, change management, systems engineering and architectural design, business process reengineering, and largescale program management. Prior to this he worked as Enterprise Architecture consultant of multinational entities. His research interest include: non-profit organization digital strategic planning using artificial intelligent tools. He received her M.Sc in Computer Science from Wittfield University, Wittfield Alabama State, USA and PhD from Alabama State University, Wittfield Alabama State, USA.The Vice-President of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Manal Abdulaziz Abdullah is a Associate Professor in Computer Science Department from Faculty of Computing and Information Technology FCIT at King Abdulaziz University, KAU. She has more than Fourteen years of teaching and more than twenty years experience in Industry. She has serving a consultant of Ministry of Military Production since 1995 to 1997. She has appreciated from Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia for participation in the arbitration of students participation in the fourth scientific conference of higher education and received Excellence Honour Award from Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at King Abdulaziz University, KAU. She received her M.Sc in Computer and System Engineering from Ain Shams University and PhD from Computer and System Engineering from Ain Shams University.The Secretary of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Ghassan Yassine is a Free-Lance Consultant from Business Development. He has more than Fifteen years of Free-Lance Consultant from Business Development. He has Expert on active workforce market business systems and regional development employment restructuring in enterprises, Vocational Education and Training, working conditions including ICT issues and Expert on Regional Development Agencies, organization, structures, resources allocation, program implementation and monitoring, etc. He has Experience in project management and Team Leadership. He has member in Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, Information System Audit and Control Agency, Microsoft partner through MIT.The Treasurer of ASDF Arab Region for the tenure 2015 to 2020 Dr. Eisa Yeslam BA-Eisa is a General Manager from Al Jouf Cement Co. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He has Board Member of new Precast Company, Chairman of Steering Committee, Arab Union for Cement & Material Building and Committee Member of Saudi Cement. He has previously working in General Director from Tabuk Cement Co. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia since 2009 to 2013. He has excellent knowledge about Cost Reduction in any strategic project, Effective Team Work, Technical Studies, Safety and Environmental Control.The new council has decided to concentrate on University and Government partnerships in establishing Joint Research Activities across the region. ASDF Arab would like to give a thrust to research activities across the region by taking up various research studies in all the areas. ASDF Arab will also undertake activities to encourage research and innovation within the industry and well as in academia / University. While initiation of ASDF Arab Leadership Series will facilitate exclusive interaction between the members of ASDF and industry leaders, at State / National / International level and in turn, provide a platform for exchange of experience and technical know-how, various events will enable the members to get acquainted with the future directions, trends, opportunities and learning across key sectors through lectures by some national & international industry stalwarts. Apart from that a series of learning and development events will also be organized for the senior leadership team of ASDF HQ & EI members such as CFOs / Finance Heads, CMOs / Marketing Heads, HR Heads, CIOs / CTOs / Technology Heads and other key functional heads of the organization.In the mid of 2017 new events are also about to be rolled out which will happen annually at Arab region.This kind of events will discuss the most relevant topics of the uptrends. The International Collaboration will enable the member organizations / bodies to participate in international delegations, both inward and outward, as well as meet people both - nationally and internationally. Schedule for all of these events will be finalized in due course.Association of Scientists, Developers and Faculties [ASDF] was incepted in the year of 2010. ASDF unanimously aims the development and growth of Research and Development across various industries. In January 2015, the network has grown globally catering for almost 843 Universities, 1744 Research Bodies and more than 3000 Industries.The Association of Scientists, Developers and Faculties,RMZ Milenia Business Park, Unit 602A, Phase 2,Campus 4B, 6th Floor, No 143, Dr. M.G.R RoadKadanchavady, Perungudi, Chennai  600 096.
Nanocrystalline Cellulose Market: size, share,report, 2015  2020

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Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide consisting large number of glucose units arranged linearly. Cellulose is raw material polymer used in the form of paper, cotton, board, flax etc. It is also used in production of artificial cellulose based films and threads. Nanocellulose is nano structured cellulose that includes nanocrystalline cellulose, bacterial Nanocellulose, microfibrillated cellulose. Nanocrystalline cellulose is derived from acid hydrolysis of cellulose and depends on origin and morphology of cellulose used. High strength, distinctive optical properties, nanoscale dimension, high surface area and modules are the properties enhancing its widespread applications. Nanocrystalline cellulose is rod like rigid crystals, with diameter of 10 to 20 nm. Nanocrystalline cellulose can be in the form of semisolid, liquid, gel or solid flakes.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Rising applications in packaging and composites industry coupled with government initiatives and increasing investment for nanocrystalline cellulose drives the demand for nanocrystalline cellulose market. Growing concern for sustainability, variable petroleum price and manufacturing cost has fuel the growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market. Another factor that contributes to the splendid growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market is unique morphology of nanocrystalline cellulose like high surface area, orientation and alignment, low toxic level and mechanical reinforcement. Nonetheless economical crisis and lack in technology leads to high cost which likely to hamper the growth of nanocrystalline cellulose market.The report provides a comprehensive view on the nanocrystalline cellulose 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 nanocrystalline cellulose market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness. The report also analyzes several driving and restraining factors and their impact on the market during the forecast period.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The key end applications for the nanocrystalline cellulose market have been segmented as nanostructures, nanocomposite films, drug delivery and protein immobilization among others. Nanocomposite films are further segmented has monolayer films and multilayer films. Nanostructures followed by nanocomposite are the emerging segments owing to wide range of end user applications. Drug delivery and protein immobilization continues to gain traction during the years to come.Geographically, nanocrystalline cellulose market has been segmented into North America. Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America. North America dominates the nanocrystalline cellulose market due to technological advancements and growing demand. Moreover, Asia Pacific has a huge stake in developing market for nanocrystalline cellulose market.Browse detail report @The key players for the nanocellulose market include Innventia AB, Sappi Ltd, Borregard ASA, CelluForce Inc, Fpinnovations, American Process Inc., Kruger Inc., Diacel Finechem Ltd., Nippon Paper Group Inc., Melodea Ltd., J. Rettenmaire & Sohne GmBH (JRS) and UPM-Kymmene OYJ.The report segments of the nanocrystalline cellulose market into:Nanocrystalline Cellulose Market: Application Segment AnalysisNanostructuresNanocomposite filmsDrug deliveryProtein immobilizationOthersNanocrystalline Cellulose Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout US:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries includsing energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.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:
Micro Irrigation Systems Market - Water Scarcity Provides Ground!

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Micro irrigation systems are widely recognized as one of the fast-emerging segments in the worldwide agriculture industry. The immense rise in the adoption of these systems is mainly attributed to the encouragement by various governments across the world.With water scarcity being a looming concern, micro irrigation can prove beneficial as it is capable of saving 50 to 60% of the ground water compared to other conventional irrigation practices. Consequently, governments in Asian and African countries, where water scarcity is severe, are offering subsidies over the installation costs of micro irrigation systems, prompting farmers to adopt these systems. Besides, farmers are also preferring micro irrigation systems over traditional ones as the former allow them to water plants evenly and when required, optimizing crop yields and improving their quality.Download PDF for Technological Insights:Considering these factors, the future of the global micro irrigation systems market looks teeming with opportunities. However, the high cost associated with the installation and maintenance of these irrigation systems may limit their application to large-scale and corporate farming in the coming years.Analysts at TMR estimate the global opportunity in micro irrigation systems, which stood at US$2.6 bn in 2014, to expand at a CAGR of 15.10% during the period from 2015 to 2023 and possibly worth US$9.1 bn by the end of the forecast period.Currently, sprinklers dominate the market with a majority share and are expected to remain dominant in the near future. However, drip irrigation systems are poised to report their adoption at the fastest rate over the forecast period. While the demand for pumping units is the highest in the sprinkler segment, filters draw the maximum demand in the drip irrigation systems segment.Regionally, Europe led the global market with a revenue share of 32% in 2014. The region, however, will lose its ground to Asia Pacific in the coming years, thanks to the increasing involvement of technology in agriculture in countries such as Australia, China, India, and Japan.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Micro Irrigation Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023.The presence of a large pool of participants characterizes the competitive landscape of the global micro irrigation systems market. As the market faces intense competition, major players are focusing on innovations as well as the integration of latest technologies into their existent offerings in order to retain their position, finds Transparency Market Research.Access Report:In the recent times, a number of leading companies have introduced advanced micro irrigation systems. For instance, Netafim launched its next-generation low-flow drippers and Toro introduced Aqua-Traxx Flow Control drip tape in 0.13 GPH emitter flow rate. However, over the coming years, manufacturers will undertake strategic partnerships to expand their product portfolios as well as to increase their sales, notes TMR.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
ENT Devices Market by increasing aging population, 2015 to 2021

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Ear, nose and throat are some of the most important parts of the human body. It is very essential to keep these parts function properly. There are many factors, such as aging and sinusitis, affect the normal function of these organs. ENT, one of the most important branches of medical science, primarily focused to diagnosis and treatment of the various problems associated with ear, nose and throat. In addition, various ENT devices are available for the diagnosis and treatment of these organs associated diseases. Some of the most common ENT devices are diagnostic devices, surgical devices and therapeutic devices. Deficiencies related to hearing, smelling and speaking are diagnose and treated by the help of these ENT devices.Download TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:The global ENT devices market is segmented into hearing aid devices, voice prosthesis, diagnostic devices and hearing implants.In terms of geographic, North America dominates the global ENT devices market due to technological advancement in ENT arena in the region. The U.S. represents the largest market for ENT devices followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany and the U.K. holds major share of ENT devices market. However, Asia is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years in global ENT devices market. This is due to many companies constructing their device manufacturing facilities in the region. In addition, increasing awareness about ear, nose and throats related medical conditions is also supporting in the growth of ENT devices market in the region. Moreover, rapid urbanization in developing countries of the Asia has also contributed to the growth ENT devices market. Rapid urbanization has increased the prevalence of ENT disorders in the region. This has resulted in significant rise in the demand of ENT devices in Asia. Japan, China and India are expected to be the fastest growing ENT devices markets in Asia.In recent time, increasing aging population and prevalence of ENT disorders are some of the major drivers of global ENT devices market. Aging enhances the probability of hearing loss and disorders of nose and throat. To overcome this problem, aged people require ENT devices for treatment of hearing loss and disorders of nose and throat which further increase the demand of devices.Technological advancement in hearing aid devices has also fueled the growth of global ENT devices market. For instance, introduction of rechargeable consumer hearing aid devices offers numerous advantages compared to the conventional hearing aid devices. Rechargeable hearing aid devices are smaller in sizes. Moreover, these rechargeable hearing aid devices are environmentally friendly and easy to use.However, problem associated with voice prosthesis and high cost of ENT devices are some of the major restraints of global ENT devices market. In addition, less battery life of hearing aid devices and lack of adequate number of professionals to dispense and fit ENT devices also hamper the growth of global ENT devices market. Increasing mergers and collaborations between ENT devices manufacturing companies is key trend of the market.Request Sample Report@Some of the major companies operating in the global ENT devices market are Cochlear Ltd., Sonova Holding AG, Siemens Healthcare, Starkey Laboratories Inc., William Demant Holding A/S, Widex A/S, GN ReSound A/S, Sonic Innovations Inc., Panasonic Corp., Beltone, Rexton Inc., Avada Hearing Care, Miracle-Ear Inc., MED-EL GmbH, Nuear Hearing Aids Inc., Audiosync Inc., Bernafon, American Hearing Systems Inc., Unitron Hearing Inc. and Zounds Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global CSF management market for Hospitals,Outpatient Facilities, 2015  2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled CSF Management Market (CSF Drainage Systems and CSF Shunts) for Hospitals, Outpatient Facilities, and Other End-users: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021 According to the report, global demand for CSF management market was valued around USD 1.2 billion in 2015, and is expected to generate revenue of USD 1.6 billion by end of 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 5.0% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Hydrocephalus i.e. swelling of the brain is caused due to multiple reasons such as the colloid cyst, craniofacial anomalies, benign intracranial cysts, intracranial hemorrhage, choroid plexus tumor, and meningitis. In patients suffering from hydrocephalus, excessive CSF is formed and it can severely impact the patient, as it can increase intracranial pressure (ICP) which may lead to herniation, intracranial hematoma or cerebral edema. CSF management products i.e. CSF drainage systems and CSF shunts are used in hospitals, outpatient facilities, and other end-user segments.Global CSF management market is primarily driven by the increase in elderly population across the globe. Another major driving factor for CSF management market is increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures. However, the high cost of surgery is a major restraint that may limit the growth of the market. Nonetheless emerging economies such as India and China is likely to disclose the new avenues for CSF management market in the near future.The CSF management market is segmented on the basis of different products including CSF drainage systems and CSF shunts. In 2015, CSF shunts were the largest segment in CSF management market and accounted for largest share of the total market. Additionally, it is expected to continue its dominance while CSF drainage system is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the global market over the forecast period. CSF drainage system is comparatively more accurate and cost-effective which is the prime reason for the growth of this segment.Know more before buying this report @Hospitals, outpatient facilities, and others are the key end-user of the global CSF management market. The hospital end-user segment dominated the market in terms of revenue hospital end-user segment is also likely to have a significant growth within the forecast period.North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are key regional segments of global CSF management market. North America is expected to remain the dominant region over the forecast period in 2015. Demand for CSF management was highest in Asia-Pacific. Hence, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in CSF management market during the forecast period. Europe is expected to have the noticeable growth rate for this market during the forecast period.Some of the key players in B. Braun Melsungen AG, DePuy Synthes, Integra LifeSciences Holding Corporation, Codman EDS, Medtronic plc, Sophysa S.A., Spiegelberg GmbH & Co. KG, BeckerSmith Medical, Inc., and Moller Medical GmbH., among others.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @This report segments the global CSF management market as follows:Global CSF management Market: Product Segment AnalysisCSF Drainage SystemsCSF ShuntsGlobal CSF management Market: End-user Segment AnalysisHospitalsOutpatient FacilitiesOther OthersGlobal CSF management Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Car Dust Collector Market 2016 Analysis, Growth Rate, Price And Sales Revenue

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Global Car Dust Collector IndustryThe Global Car Dust Collector Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global Car Dust Collector market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report. Furthermore, this report features tables and figures that render a clear perspective of the Car Dust Collector market. The report features an up-to-date data on key companies product details, revenue figures, and sales. Furthermore, the details also gives the Global Car Dust Collector market revenue and its forecasts. The business model strategies of the key firms in the Car Dust Collector market are also included. Key strengths, weaknesses, and threats shaping the leading players in the market have also been included in this research report.The report gives a detailed overview of the key segments in the market. The fastest and slowest growing market segments are covered in this report. The key emerging opportunities of the fastest growing Global Car Dust Collector market segments are also covered in this report. Each segments and sub-segments market size, share, and forecast are available in this report. Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report.Get Complete Report with TOC :The study on the Global Car Dust Collector market also features a history of the tactical mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships activity in the market. Valuable recommendations by senior analysts about investing strategically in research and development can help new entrants or established players penetrate the emerging sectors in the Car Dust Collector market. Investors will gain a clear insight on the dominant players in this industry and their future forecasts. Furthermore, readers will get a clear perspective on the high demand and the unmet needs of consumers that will enhance the growth of this market.Table of ContentChapter One Car Dust Collector Industry Overview1.1 Car Dust Collector Definition1.1.1 Car Dust Collector Definition1.1.2 Product Specifications1.2 Car Dust Collector Classification1.3 Car Dust Collector Application Field1.4 Car Dust Collector Industry Chain Structure1.5 Car Dust Collector Industry Regional Overview1.6 Car Dust Collector Industry Policy Analysis1.7 Car Dust Collector Industry Related Companies Contact InformationGet Sample Copy of Report @Chapter Two Car Dust Collector Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 High Purity colloidal silica Supplier and Price Analysis2.2 Equipment Suppliers2.3 Labor Cost Analysis2.4 Other Cost Analysis2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure2.5 Car Dust Collector Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Global Car Dust Collector Capacity Production and Production Value3.1 Global Car Dust Collector Manufacturing Base3.2 2011-2016 Global Car Dust Collector Capacity and Production3.3 2011-2016 Global Car Dust Collector Production Value and Growth Rate3.4 2011-2016 Global Car Dust Collector Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value and Gross MarginAbout Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651
Global Antiseptic and Disinfectant Market Share, By Region, 2015 - 2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Antiseptics and Disinfectants Market by Type (Alcohol and Aldehyde, Phenols and Derivatives, Biguanides and Amides, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Iodine Compounds and Others) for Domestics, Institutional and Other End-Users - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015  2021 According to the report, the global antiseptic and disinfectant market accounted for USD 5.55 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 8.10 by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 6.7% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Antiseptic is the chemical substances that are used to kill the pathogenic micro-organism in or on the surface tissue. Antiseptics mainly act by dissolving cell membranes, protein denaturation and cause dehydration of the cells due to evaporation. For example, chloroxylenol is a chlorinated phenolic antiseptic mostly active against gram-positive bacteria and used in lubricating cream for vaginal examination; used on obstetrical forceps etc.Disinfectants are chemical substances that are used to kill the pathogenic micro-organism in or on the surface of objects. Disinfectants mainly act by disruption of cell membranes and denaturation of proteins and enzymes of the cell. These chemical agents are very effective against vegetative gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria and viruses. For example, lysol a phenol compound is used as a general disinfectant for domestic or hospital use like disinfection of floors, bathrooms, washbasins, organic waste such as sputum, faeces, urine, etc.The most commonly used products in clinical practice today include povidone iodine, chlorhexidine, alcohol, acetate, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, and sodium hypochlorite.The global antiseptics and disinfectants market was expected to witness high growth over the forecast period due to increasing percentage of hospitals and advanced health care facilities across the globe. Moreover, the rise in trend of the health club and fitness center are also expected to drive the antiseptics and disinfectants market. In addition, the keen interest of young generation towards precaution over the flu, bacterial and viral infections will probably increase the demand for antiseptics and disinfectants. However, stringent regulation and saturated market of developed economies may act as a restraint on the growth of the antiseptic and disinfectant market.Know more before buying this report @On the basis of type, the global market for antiseptics and disinfectants is bifurcated into six types: alcohols and aldehydes, phenols and derivatives, bigunaides and amides, quaternary ammonium compounds, iodine compounds and others. In terms of revenue, alcohols and aledhydes, accounted for approximately above 35% of total antiseptics and disinfectants, market. Alcohols and aledhydes have the largest share of the market, worth USD 1.5 billion in 2011 at a CAGR of 7.9%. This is expected to reach approximately USD 2.2 billion in 2015 In addition, together bigunaides, amides and quaternary ammonium compounds have the second largest market share, generating USD 1.4 billion in 2015. Growing keen interest towards healthcare is another important driving factor that is expected to propel the antiseptic and disinfectant market.In the end-user segment, institutional segment dominates the global antiseptic and disinfectant market. Globally, approximately more than 50% of the antiseptic and disinfectant market has been captured by institutional end-user segment. This growth is mainly attributed due to the presence of a large number of hospitals coupled with an increase in the number of medical professionals across the globe. Hospitals and healthcare segment is expected to experience significant growth within the forecast period due to the outbreak of infectious diseases such as swine flu and avian flu which has triggered the use of antiseptics and disinfectants products market in developing countries. Domestic use of antiseptics and disinfectant is also expected to experience significant growth due to increasing public awareness regarding the potential dangers of microbial infection infections.In terms of geography, North America was the largest market for antiseptics and disinfectants in 2015 in terms of revenue due to the presence of world-class hospitals and increase in a number of geriatric population in North America followed by Europe. Moreover, antiseptics and disinfectants market has a huge opportunity in emerging market like Asia Pacific, Latin America due to the rise in awareness and increase in disposable income. In addition, this region has an established customer base owing to the following of western lifestyle towards healthcare and technological advancements. Asia Pacific is a promising market and is expected to open gateways for new entrant for the manufacturer of antiseptics and disinfectants which will fuel the growth of antiseptics and disinfectants market.Key market players of antiseptics and disinfectants market include 3M Company, Abc Compounding, Advanced Sterilization Products, American Biotech Labs, Angelini Pharma Inc., Becton, Dickinson And Company, Bio-Cide International Inc., Cardinal Health and Carefusion Corp.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @This report segments the global antiseptics and disinfectants market as follows:-Global Antiseptics and Disinfectants Market: Type AnalysisAlcohol and AldehydePhenols and DerivativesBiguanides and AmidesQuaternary Ammonium CompoundsIodine CompoundsOthersGlobal Antiseptics and Disinfectants: End User AnalysisDomestic end-usersInstitutional end-usersGlobal Antiseptics and Disinfectants Market: Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaUSEuropeUKGermanyFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East And AfricaPurchase a direct copy of report with TOC @About UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Area Rugs Industry 2016 Market Overview, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis

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The global market for Area Rugs is the key subject of analysis of a new market intelligence study. The report offers detailed information regarding the primary factors that are driving and hampering the overall growth of the global Area Rugs market. The research report provides an in-depth overview of the regulatory framework of the market and furnishes details concerning the different plans, rules, regulations, and policies, giving a clear understanding of the key factors that may have an effect on a number of decisions in the Area Rugs market across the globe.Furthermore, a detailed overview of the current trends in the global Area Rugs market has been provided in the scope of the research report in order to explain the shift in consumer preference in recent years. The data for the research study has been collected with the help of primary and secondary research techniques, vital inputs from industry experts, and recent news in the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research study throws light on primary elements of the global Area Rugs market, such as key growth opportunities, projected future insights, primary information, and feasibility analysis of new projects in the market. The definitions, applications, manufacturing process cost structure, product portfolio, and product classifications of the global Area Rugs market have been highlighted in the research report to help the stakeholders and decision-makers accurately study the potential opportunities in the global Area Rugs market.Furthermore, the research study analyzes the key players engaged in the global Area Rugs market and offers an in-depth vendor analysis for the same. The financial overview, product portfolio, recent developments, and SWOT analysis of the key market players have been discussed in the research report. The key strategies adopted by the prominent players have also been included in the study to guide the existing as well as new players in the market.Table of ContentsChapter One Area Rugs Industry Overview1.1 Area Rugs Definition1.1.1 Area Rugs Product Pictures & Product Specifications1.2 Area Rugs Classification & ApplicationBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Chapter Two Area Rugs Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 Area Rugs Raw Material & Equipments Supplier and Price Analysis2.2 Area Rugs Labor & Other Cost Analysis2.3 Area Rugs Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.4 Area Rugs Manufacturing Process AnalysisChapter Three Area Rugs Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Area Rugs Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Area Rugs Manufacturing Plants Distribution3.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Area Rugs R&D Status and Technology Sources3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Area Rugs Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Area Rugs Production by Regions, Technology and Applications4.1 2010-2016 Area Rugs Production by Regions(such as US, EU, China and Japan etc)4.2 2010-2016 Area Rugs Production by Product Type & Application4.3 2010-2016 Area Rugs Price by key Manufacturers4.4 2010-2016 US & China Area Rugs Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.5 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Area Rugs Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.6 2010-2016 US and China Area Rugs Supply Import Export Consumption4.7 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Area Rugs Supply Import Export ConsumptionChapter Five Area Rugs Sales and Sales Revenue by Regions5.1 2010-2016 Area Rugs Sales by Regions (such as US, EU, China & Japan etc)5.2 2010-2016 Area Rugs Sales Revenue by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.3 2010-2016 Area Rugs Sales Price by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.4 2010-2016 Area Rugs Demand by ApplicationsRead More @About Us :QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Business Intelligence Market for Mobile ,cloud,Social, 2015 - 2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Global Business Intelligence Market by Mobile BI, Cloud BI, and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015-2021. According to the report, the global business intelligence market accounted USD 16.33 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 26.50 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 8.4% between 2016 and 2021.Get a copy of free Sample Report @Business Intelligence defined as the process of analyzing huge volumes of enterprise data usually stored in large databases such as data warehouses. BI detects the hidden trends and patterns in data, track the business performance and assist the business users to make improved decisions based on real-time data. From a marketing stand point, Business Intelligence can be described as a strategic management tool that can support executives and business users to make improved decisions that are necessary for day to day operations, tactical and strategic planning.Applying BI to each of department like (Marketing, HR, Payroll, CRP etc) can provide ultimate flexible analysis of raw data. BI provides end to end approach to store and present data. For example, Companies can compare their respective revenues per quarter or month with peers, so that they can retrospect there strategic decisions or policies. Business intelligence helps companies understand their customers. This is possibly the most important reason for business intelligence.A good business intelligence tool will allow employees to gain imminent into key marketing questions such as who are best customers, how sales can be increased through new sell opportunities, or what products are trending. With business intelligence tool companies can plan marketing campaigns accordingly based on real data. Business Intelligence helps companies make better decisions. Other drivers are like the software will improve the visibility of processes and make it possible to identify any areas that need development.Know more before buying this report @By type segment, the mobile BI (MBI) segment accounted for more than 20% of the global Business Intelligence market in 2015. Mobile BI enables the mobile workforce to get business insights by analyzing data with the help of applications for mobile and smart devices. The growing smartphone adoption is likely to appear as a key driver for this segment during the forecast period. Mobile business intelligence is software that extends desktop business intelligence (BI) applications so that they can be used on a mobile device. MBI applications optimize traditional BI reports so they can be viewed easily on small screen. It is ideal for displaying key performance indicators (KPIs) and alerts on small screens with simple charts, graphs, and sparklines. An additional advantage of MBI is that it allows data that is captured by the mobile device to be incorporated on-the-fly so that reports are currents and mobile workers can make informed decisions in real time.By deployment segment, the on-premise segment accounted for 86% of the market share in 2015. However, this segment is projected to witness a decline in its shares by the end of the forecast period. In this segment, software is installed on the server of an enterprise. It requires more protection but is highly secure and easy to manage.North America is expected to be the largest market for BI due to major growth in the market. It accounted for around 56% of the markets share globally. Asia Pacific is expected to manifest high-growth over the foreseeable future due to rapid industrialization in the region and growing number of start-ups focusing on smartphone application development. Major industry participants in this include Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Microstrategy, GoodData, Targit, SAS, SAP, and Tableau Software among others.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @Business Intelligence Market: Technology Segment AnalysisMobile BICloud BISocial BIBusiness Intelligence Market: Deployment Segment AnalysisCloud BIOn-Premises BIBusiness Intelligence Market: Region Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East & AfricaPurchase a direct copy of report with TOC @About Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Ferric Ammonium Citrate Market 2016 Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2021 Examined in new Market Research Report

Ferric Ammonium Citrate

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MRS Research Group added new research report on Global Ferric Ammonium Citrate Market 2016-2022 Market Research Report' is analytical reports based on a current situation and trends of the global market. It is in-depth study of the comprehensive content which compiles statistics for the key elements of subject. The repot ensure the quality of the content and guideline which needed. It includes basic information of the company profile, products, generated revenue and future treads and various other vital data.Check Free Sample Report @It keeps the main focus on the priority need of the individualand provides a brief report on the annual basis. The global Ferric Ammonium Citrate market report will provide significant and reliable information on the market clearly in structured format. The report will offers you a key manufacturer of the products, applications, DROS and others.Our experts team takes out key information from the various sources which include primary and secondary sources and help to provides related information of the client interest. Report will easily mold information as per client requirement which covers forecast and analysis of Ferric Ammonium Citrate market on global and regional level.We generate reports on market variations across verticals like energy, chemicals, technology, food, electronics and others. It consists of a highly detailed analysis of the subject.We use numerous tools and techniques to collect information on various parameters. The report includes key competitors in global Ferric Ammonium Citrate market. Our experts team provides forward-looking insight on market growth. It will clear you with the suitable schematics diagrams, statistical analysis and related deep insight. It will also cover value chain analysis, market attractiveness, supply-demand & import export and 2011-2016 revenue for each company.Read Complete Report @It includes proper segmentation at the micro and macro level, dominant, largest and leading segment in the market. Moreover, includes future projects in the market with most reliable information indispensable for marketplaceMRS Research group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Saudi Arabia Cement Market worth USD 5.27 Billion in 2020

Cement Market in Saudi Arabia

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Cement Market for Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure and Other Applications: Saudi Arabia Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014  2020 According to the report, Saudi arabia region demand for cement was valued at USD 3.90 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 5.27 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 5.1% between 2014 and 2020. In terms of volume, the cement market in the Saudi Arabia stood at 61,000 kilo tons in 2014.Request Sample Report atCement is a one of the key binding material used in construction industry. Cements acts as a binding agent for mortar, concrete, non-specialty grouts and stucco, etc. Cement is manufactured from raw materials such as limestone, sand and clay. These kinds of raw materials are widely available in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, cheap and widely available petroleum fuel has been resulted into cost effective manufacturing of cement in the region. Various physical and chemical properties of cement such as high durability, high dependability, cost-effectiveness and versatility are favorable for construction applications.Key factors driving the demand for cement market in Saudi Arabia is increasing the construction activity in different segments such as commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure. Rapidly growing population has been resulted into growing demand for residential & commercial buildings as well as infrastructure. Residential application market for cement in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness strong growth during the forecast period. Infrastructure is one of the largest segment, which accounted for around 50% share of the total market in 2014. Infrastructure refers to the construction that includes roads, bridges, canals and dams. The increasing number of airports and road construction projects are anticipated to boost the cement market in Saudi Arabia. Commercial application is the second largest application segment of the market in 2014, which include construction of walls, floors, exterior walkways and pavements of commercial buildings.Do Inquiry before buying atThe cement market was dominated by Central region of Saudi Arabia, which accounted for slightly above 32% share of the Saudi Arabia market in 2014. Saudi Arabia was followed by the Western, Eastern, Southern and northern regions respectively. Cement market in central region is also expected to witness rapid growth as compared to other regions. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in construction activities in the Saudi Arabia, especially in the eastern and central provinces. Various cities in the Kingdom have initiated infrastructure projects, thereby fuelling demand for cement. Strong economic growth in the Saudi Arabia is expected to fuel growth of the cement market in various cities of the Saudi Arabia.Browse the full report atThe manufacturing companies of cement have a significant impact on the value chain through a higher degree of vertical integration. These companies manufacture raw materials as well as the final product. Some of the key players operating in the Saudi Arabia cement market include Saudi Cement Company, Riyadh Cement Company, Yamama Cement Company, and Najran Cement Company. This report segments the global market as follows:Saudi Arabia Cement Market: Application Segment AnalysisResidentialCommercialInfrastructureOthers (including cement bricks and farm construction)Request for Table of Content atSaudi Arabia Cement Market: Regional Segment AnalysisCentralEasternNorthernSouthernWesternAbout UsZion Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Discover the Global Czech Republic Knee Reconstruction Market Outlook to 2022

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"The Report Czech Republic Knee Reconstruction Market Outlook to 2022 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"GlobalDatas new report, Czech Republic Knee Reconstruction Market Outlook to 2022, provides key market data on the Czech Republic Knee Reconstruction market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, and volume (in units) and average price data (in US dollars), within market segments - Primary Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement and Revision Knee Replacement.Note: This is an on-demand report and will be delivered within 2-3 business days of the purchase (excluding weekends)The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for the market category, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular category and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology and capital equipment-based models to estimate and forecast the market size. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Capital equipment-based forecasting models are done based on the installed base, replacements and new sales of a specific device/equipment in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers. Data for average number of units per facility is used to arrive at the installed base of the capital equipment. Sales for a particular year are arrived at by calculating the replacement units and new units (additional and first-time purchases).Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the market size, company share and distribution share data and analysis.Get the Free Sample copy of this Report @Scope- Market size for Knee Reconstruction market categories - Primary Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement and Revision Knee Replacement.- Annualized market revenues (USD million), volume (units) and average selling price ($) data for each of the market categories. Data is provided from 2008 to 2015 and forecast to 2022.- 2015 company shares and distribution shares data for Knee Reconstruction market.- Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the Czech Republic Knee Reconstruction market.- Key players covered include Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Stryker Corporation, DePuy Synthes, Inc., Smith & Nephew Plc and others.Reasons to buy- Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.- Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.- Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- What are the key distribution channels and whats the most preferred mode of product distribution - Identify, understand and capitalize.Read our latest Press Release atTable of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 41.2 List of Figures 42 Introduction 52.1 What Is This Report About? 52.2 Knee Reconstruction Market Segmentation 52.3 Definitions of Markets Covered in the Report 63 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic 73.1 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), 2008-2015 73.2 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), 2015-2022 93.2.1 Primary Knee Replacement Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 113.2.2 Primary Knee Replacement Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 133.3 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), 2008-2015 153.4 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), 2015-2022 173.4.1 Primary Knee Replacement Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 193.4.2 Primary Knee Replacement Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 213.5 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Average Price ($), 2008-2015 233.6 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Average Price ($), by Segment 2008-2015 253.7 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Distribution Share by Revenue ($m), 2008-2022 273.8 Knee Reconstruction Market, Czech Republic, Company Share by Revenue ($m), 2015 284 Overview of Key Companies in Czech Republic, Knee Reconstruction Market 304.1 Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. 304.1.1 Company Overview 304.2 DePuy Synthes, Inc. 304.2.1 Company Overview 304.3 Smith & Nephew Plc 304.3.1 Company Overview 304.4 Stryker Corporation 314.4.1 Company Overview 314.5 B. Braun Melsungen AG 314.5.1 Company Overview 315 Knee Reconstruction Market Pipeline Products 326 Appendix 336.1 Research Methodology 346.1.1 Coverage 346.1.2 Secondary Research 346.1.3 Primary Research 356.1.4 Company Share Analysis 356.1.5 Distribution Share Analysis 356.1.6 Benchmarking 356.2 GlobalData Consulting 366.3 Contact Us 366.4 Disclaimer 37MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Latest Report Details Of Czech Republic Spinal Surgery Market Outlook to 2022

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The report analyzes and presents an overview of " Czech Republic Spinal Surgery Market Outlook to 2022 " worldwide.GlobalDatas new report, Czech Republic Spinal Surgery Market Outlook to 2022, provides key market data on the Czech Republic Spinal Surgery market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, and volume (in units) and average price data (in US dollars), within market segments - Spinal Fusion, Spinal Non-Fusion, Vertebral Body Replacement Systems, Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices and Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices.Note: This is an on-demand report and will be delivered within 2-3 business days of the purchase (excluding weekends)The report also provides company shares and distribution shares data for the market category, and global corporate-level profiles of the key market participants. Based on the availability of data for the particular category and country, information related to pipeline products, news and deals is available in the report.The data in the report is derived from dynamic market forecast models. GlobalData uses epidemiology and capital equipment-based models to estimate and forecast the market size. The objective is to provide information that represents the most up-to-date data of the industry possible.The epidemiology-based forecasting model makes use of epidemiology data gathered from research publications and primary interviews with physicians to establish the target patient population and treatment flow patterns for individual diseases and therapies. Using prevalence and incidence data and diagnosed and treated population, the epidemiology-based forecasting model arrives at the final numbers.Capital equipment-based forecasting models are done based on the installed base, replacements and new sales of a specific device/equipment in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers. Data for average number of units per facility is used to arrive at the installed base of the capital equipment. Sales for a particular year are arrived at by calculating the replacement units and new units (additional and first-time purchases).Extensive interviews are conducted with key opinion leaders (KOLs), physicians and industry experts to validate the market size, company share and distribution share data and analysis.Download Sample copy of this Report atScope- Market size for Spinal Surgery market categories - Spinal Fusion, Spinal Non-Fusion, Vertebral Body Replacement Systems, Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices and Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices.- Annualized market revenues (USD million), volume (units) and average selling price ($) data for each of the market categories. Data is provided from 2008 to 2015 and forecast to 2022.- 2015 company shares and distribution shares data for Spinal Surgery market.- Global corporate-level profiles of key companies operating within the Czech Republic Spinal Surgery market.- Key players covered include Medtronic plc, DePuy Synthes, Inc., Stryker Corporation, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. and others.Reasons to buy- Develop business strategies by identifying the key market segments poised for strong growth in the future.- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies.- Design competition strategies by identifying who-stands-where in the market.- Develop investment strategies by identifying the key market segments expected to register strong growth in the near future.- What are the key distribution channels and whats the most preferred mode of product distribution - Identify, understand and capitalize.Follow us on LinkedIn:Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 41.2 List of Figures 42 Introduction 62.1 What Is This Report About? 62.2 Spinal Surgery Market Segmentation 62.3 Definitions of Markets Covered in the Report 73 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic 93.1 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), 2008-2015 93.2 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), 2015-2022 113.2.1 Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 133.2.2 Spinal Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 153.2.3 Spinal Non-Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 173.2.4 Vertebral Body Replacement Systems Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 193.2.5 Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2008-2015 213.2.6 Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 233.2.7 Spinal Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 253.2.8 Spinal Non-Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 273.2.9 Vertebral Body Replacement Systems Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 293.2.10 Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices Market, Czech Republic, Revenue ($m), by Segment, 2015-2022 313.3 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), 2008-2015 333.4 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), 2015-2022 353.4.1 Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 373.4.2 Spinal Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 393.4.3 Spinal Non-Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 413.4.4 Vertebral Body Replacement Systems Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 433.4.5 Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2008-2015 453.4.6 Minimal Invasive Spinal Devices Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 473.4.7 Spinal Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 493.4.8 Spinal Non-Fusion Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 513.4.9 Vertebral Body Replacement Systems Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 533.4.10 Vertebral Compression Fracture Repair Devices Market, Czech Republic, Volume (Units), by Segment, 2015-2022 553.5 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Average Price ($), 2008-2015 573.6 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Average Price ($), by Segment 2008-2015 593.7 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Distribution Share by Revenue ($m), 2008-2022 633.8 Spinal Surgery Market, Czech Republic, Company Share by Revenue ($m), 2015 644 Overview of Key Companies in Czech Republic, Spinal Surgery Market 664.1 Medtronic plc 664.1.1 Company Overview 664.2 DePuy Synthes, Inc. 664.2.1 Company Overview 664.3 B. Braun Melsungen AG 664.3.1 Company Overview 664.4 Stryker Corporation 674.4.1 Company Overview 674.5 Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. 674.5.1 Company Overview 675 Spinal Surgery Market Pipeline Products 686 Financial Deals Landscape 706.1 Partnerships 706.1.1 Mazor Robotics Enters into Distribution Agreement with Medtronic 707 Appendix 717.1 Research Methodology 727.1.1 Coverage 727.1.2 Secondary Research 727.1.3 Primary Research 737.1.4 Company Share Analysis 737.1.5 Distribution Share Analysis 737.1.6 Benchmarking 737.2 GlobalData Consulting 747.3 Contact Us 747.4 Disclaimer 75MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Wi-Fi Offload Equipment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends 2018

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Wi-Fi has emerged as an important market driver for the mobile industry. In response to the dilemma of network traffic congestion, major mobile operators have publicly adopted Wi-Fi technology, but they are yet to implement its integration that will make Wi-Fi an extension to wireless mobile networks. This Wi-Fi offload is expected to offer traffic congestion relief and encourage users to choose Wi-Fi over cellular networks, thus distancing the subscriber from service providers. As a result, the future for Wi-Fi offload equipment market seems to be bright with the number of mobile user increasing every day.Wi-Fi offload equipment market is growing due to the increasing need for access to multiple networks in one subscription because of network traffic congestion. WLAN network is used to offload 3G network from traffic in dense areas.Get FREE Sample PDF file of Wi-Fi Offload Equipment Market :The Wi-Fi offload equipment market that includes core network products for next generation network architecture and wireless transport network technologies is well established throughout the world. This market is expected to experience tremendous boost in the coming years as a result of technological advancements like LTE (Long Term Evolution) and others.A number of new players are emerging in the field and signing new contracts across the globe thus creating new business opportunities in the Wi-Fi offload equipments market.This research report analyzes this market based on different geographies and market segments. The regions analyzed under this research study are as follows:North AmericaAsia-PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThe report includes a complete analysis of market trends, growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for the coming years. It also includes an analysis of the recent technological developments, Porters five force model analysis, and detailed profiles of the top industry players. The report provides a review of the micro and macro factors significant from the point of view of existing market players and new entrants.Some of the key players dominating this market are Acme Packet, ADC Telecom, Aircel, Airtel, Alcatel-Lucent, Apple, Asia Pacific Telecom, AT&T, AT&T Mobility, Bell, Bharti Airtel, Broadcom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, DoCoMo, Ericsson, France Telecom, Freescale, Fujitsu, Google, Hitachi, HP, Huawei Technologies, Infineon, Intel, Juniper Networks, LG, Motorola , NETGEAR, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Network (NSN), Orange, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Reliance Communications, Samsung, Tata, Texas Instruments, Vodafone Essar, ZTE Corporation, and others.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Patisserie Packaging Market - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2024

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Patisserie products are popular among all age groups and the sales are independent of occasions or seasons. Packaging plays an important role in patisserie products in increasing shelf life, marketing, prevention from mechanical damage, displaying food safety related warnings and nutrition value. Packaging vendors who provide innovative and creative packaging solutions are preferred by patisserie dealers, as it helps to strengthen sales by enhancing product visibility. Apart from protecting and containing the items, the packaging must be irresistible enough to appeal to a buyer and ultimately lead to a sale. Packaging supplies come in more sizes, shapes, textures, materials and printing options than ever before, hence containers that achieve a quality or feature that is extremely impressive can set any product apart from its competitors.Get Free Sample Report Copy :Sale of patisserie is most commonly noted at retail outlets. In order to create a longer shelf-life, retailers have demanded the packaging manufacturers to improve the process of wrapping up such food items.Sales of patisserie have increased as urbanization has led the population to opt for food that is readily available. Increase in cases of stomach disorders are responsible for the dynamics of the global patisserie packaging market to go through unfavorable reforms. The key challenge restraining the fluent production of packaging products is the varying pack-sizes. Consumers prefer reusable plastic pouches as the ideal packaging product, which is in turn hampering the sales of traditional packaging products and declining the demand. The uneven culinary habits of the target population is also accounted as a major factor impeding the growth of the global patisserie market.Based on type of material, the patisserie packaging market can be segmented as follows:PlasticPaper and cardboard boxesCorrugated boxesFlexible packagingOthersSmall plastic patisserie packs, plastic cupcake boxes and plastic cake containers are widely used as they protect the contents from damage and leaking. Paper and cardboard boxes are used by the manufacturers in order to differentiate the product as well as to provide mechanical strength. Taken as a whole, corrugated boxes are considered to be an eco-friendly and sustainable form of packaging compared with other forms of packaging, including plastics. Huge investments are made to develop innovative solutions in corrugated box packaging. Overall, packaging manufacturers are expected to come up with resistant quality packaging materials in the coming years keeping prime focus on environmental protection and sustainability.Based on type of product, the patisserie packaging market can be segmented as follows:CakesCream bunsGateauxPastriesBrowse the Full Report at:Based on geography, the patisserie packaging market can be segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Overall, Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. In countries like China, India and Japan, growth comes from an increase in the demand for poly bags. North America is expected to substantially contribute towards market growth on the grounds of rising demand for digitally-printed packages which creates a hyper-personal buying experience. Significant growth in bakery and confectionary in China will have a positive impact on the patisserie packaging market. Furthermore, growing demand for packaged foods and consumer goods is expected to increase the growth. Europe is further anticipated to boost the market growth over the upcoming years with regards to the rising demand for home delivery of patisserie products. Increase in sedentary lifestyle and eating habits in Latin America and MEA are expected to propel patisserie packaging market demand in the region.Some of the top players operating in the patisserie packaging market are Papiers Paviot, Amcor Limited, LINPAC Senior Holdings Limited, Graphic Packaging International, Inc., Coyne & Blanchard, Inc., Mahalaxmi Flexible Packaging, Berry Plastics Corporation, Sealed Air, WestRock Company, AR Packaging Group AB and others.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global E. Coli Testing Market worth USD Around 2.0 Billion by 2021

E. Coli Testing Market

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Zion Research has published a new report titled E. Coli Testing (Membrane Filtration (MF), Enzyme-Substrate Methods, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests, And Others) Market for Diagnostic Laboratories, Hospitals, Waste Water Treatment Organizations, Bottle Water Suppliers And Other End-user: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021 According to the report, the global E. coli testing market was valued at around USD 1.2 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 2.0 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 6.5% between 2016 and 2020.Request Sample Report:Escherichia coli (E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria which are found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. The membrane filtration technique is widely used for E. coli test. E. coli are used as indicator organisms to test the effectiveness of effluent disinfection in a wastewater treatment plant. While these organisms are generally harmless to human, that live under the same conditions that human pathogens live.The major driving factor for the global E. coli testing market is increasing government support for E. coli tests and the rising occurrence and high morbidity of E. coli. The development of drug-resistant species is another key factor is anticipated to drive the market growth in the years to come. However, high cost of enzyme-substrate test is expected to curb the market growth in the near future. Nonetheless, technological advancement coupled with increasing use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for environment water testing is projected to open up new growth opportunities during the forecast period.Do Inquiry before buying:Based on testing methods, the E. coli testing market can be segmented into membrane filtration (MF), enzyme-substrate methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and others. Enzyme substrate tests accounted for largest share of the total market in 2015. Membrane filtration is another leading segment and expected to exhibit strong growth in the near future.The E. coli testing market is segmented on the basis of different end-user such as diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, waste water treatment organizations, bottle water suppliers and others. Bottle water suppliers segment accounted for large chunk of the market share in the 2015. This growth is mainly attributed to increasing water pollution. Diagnostic laboratories segment is another key outlet and is expected to witness significant growth within the forecast period.The E. coli testing market was dominated by Europe with largest share of the total market in 2014. Europe is followed by Asia Pacific and North America in terms of revenue. This growth is mainly due to the occurrence of food borne infections within Germany in 2011 due to the E. coli bacteria.Furthermore, Asia Pacific was another leading regional market in 2015. With increased government support coupled with increasing population, Asia Pacific is expected to witness robust growth during 2015 to 2021. However, Latin America and Middle East & Africa are also expected to exhibit significant growth over the forecast period.Browse the full "E. Coli Testing Market" report atSome of the key players including in the E. coli testing market such as Abbott Laboratories, Danaher Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., and Hologic, Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Dickinson and Company among others.This report segments the global E. coli testing market as follows:Global E. Coli Testing Market: Testing Segment AnalysisMembrane Filtration (MF)Enzyme-Substrate MethodsPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) TestsOthersGlobal E. Coli Testing Market: End-user Segment AnalysisRead Report TOC atDiagnostic LaboratoriesHospitalsWaste Water Treatment OrganizationsBottle Water SuppliersOthersGlobal E. Coli Testing Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaAbout Market Research StoreMarket 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@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Network Security Market - Analysis, And Forecasts 2018

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The global network security market is experiencing constant growth as a result of the growing virtualization of servers leading to adoption of newer network security solutions. There is also an increasing use of network security solutions by small and medium-sized businesses. The growing complexity of the IT infrastructure is the major challenge faced by the network security market, which is affecting the growth rate of this industry. Another major factor contributing to the growth of the network security industry is the rising demand for workforce mobility that is necessitating improved security solutions for protecting laptops, PDAs, and smart phones from malwares and cyber attacks. As there is an increase in complexity of the IT infrastructure, more robust and complete solutions will be required to ensure safety of network. Development in network technology to ensure better safety solutions is helping in the growth of the network security industry.Majority of firms connected to the Internet are aware of vulnerability of data to cyber attacks, which encourages the need for network security tools. Most government offices and private firms are implementing appropriate network security technologies and procedures to maintain confidentiality of information in order to avoid making that information vulnerable to any kind of threats.Get FREE Sample PDF file of Network Security Market :Market SegmentationVirtual Private Network (VPN) GatewaysLow End Hybrid SolutionsHigh End Hybrid SolutionsNext Generation Hybrid SolutionsIntrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IDP)This research report on the network security market analyzes its market segmentation and major geographies. Geographical regions analyzed under this research study areNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldThis report includes a comprehensive analysis of the current market trends, industry growth drivers, factors affecting market growth, industry structure, and market projections for the near future. The report also includes an analysis of the recent developments in the network security industry, Porters five force model analysis, and detailed company profiles of the top industry players. It also provides a review of the micro and macro factors essential from the point of view of the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Some of the major players dominating this market are Cisco Systems Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Juniper Networks Inc., Fortinet Inc., IBM ISS, McAfee, Alcatel, Assured Digital, Avaya, Computer Associates, CyberGuard, Enterasys, Fortress, Intrusion, ISS, Lucent, NetScreen, Network Associates, NFR, Nokia, Nortel, SonicWall, Symantec, WatchGuard, and others.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Multi Echelon Inventory Optimization Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast by 2024

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Inventory optimization is the balancing of investments in stock-keeping units and service goals, while taking into account the volatilities of demand and supply. One of the major challenges a company faces is matching its supply to consumers demand. How efficiently a company addresses this challenge directly impacts the companys profitability. Working capital being of utmost importance for any company, it is important for companies to keep low levels of stock and sell them quickly. Supply chains today have multiple layers of suppliers and distributors. With each layer adding some safety stock considering service requirements, a significant amount of working capital is involved. Multi echelon inventory optimization approach involves taking a holistic approach toward the entire supply chain and considering the impact inventories have at any given level in the supply chain. It answers where in the supply chain inventories should be placed and optimizing and updating buffer stock at all levels.Get FREE Sample PDF file of Multi Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO) Market :By effectively modeling the entire supply chain from raw materials to manufacturing and finished goods, multi echelon inventory optimization creates what-if scenarios and explores alternate suppliers, transport links, lead times as well as locations. Levels of safety stocks and postponement strategies having lower cost implications are also verified in the process.Multi echelon inventory optimization boosts the capability of supply chain teams in achieving service goals with minimum levels of inventory. With problems such as stock outs and obsolescence also taken care of, bottom lines of companies are significantly improved irrespective whether the supply chain is local or global. The biggest driver for multi echelon inventory optimization market is the financial losses that companies can avoid using these techniques. The complexities that multi-level supply chains present and the need to efficiently allocate resources and increase profitability is further likely to fuel the growth of multi echelon inventory optimization market. Investments in inventory being largest liquid asset for any organization, taking advantage of any technique that can lower inventory investments while maintaining and ultimately improving service levels are significantly aiding profitability to the organization. However, reducing the inventory should in no way affect customer service levels. Multi echelon approach addresses this concern by keeping more stock at the outer nodes so that the customer service level is not affected, while reducing overall level of inventory. However, for this strategy to effectively work, companies should be able to forecast customer demands. Inventory optimization process is dynamic, which requires frequent evaluation. Companies need to review their network frequently and change policies accordingly. Lack of skilled resources who can understand and use inventory optimization techniques effectively are hurdles in adoption of multi echelon inventory optimization technologies.The multi echelon inventory optimization market can be broadly segmented into types of solutions and industries. The solutions include replenishment, vendor managed inventory, demand forecasting, purchase order flow management, supply chain advanced analytics, value chain collaboration, supply and retail optimization, transportation and logistics optimization and cloud services. On the basis of industries, the market can be categorized into consumer goods, electronics, food and beverages, chemical, retail, and manufacturing. Geographically, North America has a large market for multi echelon inventory optimization due to the large manufacturing sector and the penetration this technology has achieved in manufacturing and processes. With high growth in manufacturing industries in countries such as China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, there is expected to be high demand for multi echelon inventory optimization solutions and services in Asia Pacific during the coming years.The major companies operating in this market include ToolsGroup, Logic Tools Inc., Logility, Manhattan Associates, Inc., Smart Software, Inc., Arkieva, Kinaxis, Thrive Technologies and Planning Edge Corporation.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022

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"Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022". The Report covers current Market Trends, Analysis, Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-Worldwide Hip and Knee Orthopedic surgical robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth. The accuracy provided by the robot is not reproducible by the human surgeon, so ultimately all surgeons will want to perform the orthopedic implants using this technology.Robot assisted medial knee arthroplasty: orthopedic surgical robots are poised to take knee and hip surgery quality far beyond what has previously been available. The quality of knee arthroplasty is improved with robotic capability. All the advantages of surgical robots carry into the Stryker Mako orthopedic reconstruction surgical products.. When the knee and hip surgical robots are used, patients have less bleeding, reduction of post-operative pain, fewer re-admissions to hospital and faster recovery. Robots support high-precision surgery. A clinic in Switzerland, La Source, has reported a reduction in the average days of hospitalization from 10 to 6.To Free Sample Report With TOC @Knee and hip surgical robots provide consistent reproducible precision. This capability is so significant for implant surgery that the robots are positioned to become the defacto standard of care for knee and hip surgery within five years. Any one getting a knee or hip replaced will demand attention to quality of life, to maintenance of lifestyle provided by a robot when they have a joint replacement.As next generation systems, hip and knee robotic units provide a way to improve traditional orthopedic hip and knee replacement surgery. Total hip replacement surgery has evolved dramatically as advances in technology have brought improved surgical techniques. Surgical robots are a significany [art of that advance.Once, the penetration achieves this 35% level, all orthopedic surgeons will demand that hospitals offer robotic orthopedic surgical capability because the outcomes are more predictable and better. If the hospital does not offer the robot, the surgeon will move to a more modern facility.To Enquire Regarding This Report @Table of ContentKnee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Shares and Market Forecasts 13Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Driving Forces 13Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Shares 16Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Forecasts 191. Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Description and Market Dynamics 221.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Reduction In Payments 221.1.1 Med Device Industry 221.1.2 Stryker Positions to Assist Hospital Capital Investment in Knee and Hip Robotics 231.1.3 Stryker Flex Financial Provides Assistance in the Financing Of The Surgical System Purchase 241.2 Knee and Hip Surgery Three Dimension High-Definition Visualization with Robotic Arm 251.3 Osteoporosis Impact On Hip 262. Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Shares and Market Forecasts 292.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Driving Forces 292.2 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Shares 322.2.1 Orthopedic Surgical Robot Market Shares, Units and Dollars 372.2.2 Stryker MAKO Platform Expansion 392.3 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Forecasts 402.3.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robotic Procedures Forecasts 432.3.2 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Unit Analysis 532.3.3 Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robot Market Segment Forecasts 552.4 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Regional Analysis 553. Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Products 583.1 Stryker Mako RIO Robotic Arm 583.1.1 Stryker MAKOplasty  Robotic Arm Hip Replacement Solution 603.1.2 Stryker MAKOplasty Surgical Robotic Total Hip Arthroplasty 623.1.3 Stryker MAKO Surgical Knee Replacements 683.1.4 Strykers Mako Total Knee Application Receives FDA Clearance 703.2 Stryker Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Products Benefits 723.2.1 Stryker / Mako 734. Knee and Hip Surgery Company Descriptions 774.1 Orthopedic Implant Surgical Companies 774.2 DePuy Synthes / Johnson & Johnson 774.2.1 Depuy Knee Replacement System 784.3 Stryker Knee Replacement System 784.4 Zimmer Biomet 794.5 Smith&Nephew 814.5.1 Smith & Nephew Knee Implant Systems 84ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesBlog -866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),+1-518-621-2074,Email to: sales@researchmoz.us,
Indellient, a Software Development and IT Consulting Professional Services Firm, Opens Office in New York

September 27, 2016  Oakville ON.  Indellient Inc., a software development and IT professional services firm serving the critical technology objectives of todays Fortune 100 companies, has recently opened their second office in New York State. This expansion accommodates Indellients growing client base in the United States, and will accelerate its increasing footprint in the US market.Indellient is built on core values, which emphasize high customer satisfaction, reliability, and adaptability. Client retention and absolute satisfaction are the teams measures of success and are demonstrations of the teams commitment to delivering superior value in client solutions. With many of our customers operating in the United States, the ability to be more central and available for clients makes the decision to expand a very clear and purposeful one.From the beginning, we have embraced a work culture and committed ourselves to a client centric mantra. We take pride in knowing we have built long-lasting, productive and mutually beneficial relationships with our client base, commented Adam Caromicoli, Managing Partner at Indellient. As our business continues to flourish in the United States, we will uphold our values and promise of being a client-focused company. We are committed to continuous improvement in the value of our services to our clients and a local presence will help us deliver on that commitment.Furthermore, recent client implementations of Indellients flagship software, Blue Relay, have demonstrated the products strong fit for the American Health Insurance and Payer industry. Blue Relay offers a powerful suite of workflow & document management tools that simplifies document approval processes & improves quality and compliance. Blue Relay enables health payers to be much more agile and proactive in the execution of their member communication development processes.For over 12 years, the Indellient team has provided custom software development, application development and data management solutions that have delivered highly successful business outcomes for our clients. With a wide range of in-house skills, creativity, innovative mindsets and drive, Indellient has built a dynamic portfolio of products and services that are unique, innovative and robust. Clients include Broadridge, Express Scripts, IBM, Inlet, several Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and more.Indellient is a software development and IT professional services firm that is working to meet the critical technology objectives of todays Fortune 100 companies. Using cutting edge technology and industry best practices, we drive their businesses forward and provide efficient solutions to complex challenges. We are part of todays fastest-growing areas in the IT industry: data analytics, digital content delivery, secure workflow management and advanced document management solutions.2640 Bristol Circle, Unit 200Oakville, Ontario, CanadaL6H 6Z7520 White Plains Road, Suite 500Tarrytown, New York, USA10591
Web Real Time Communication Market - Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Forecast by 2023

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Web Real Time Communication Market: OverviewWeb Real Time Communication (Web RTC) is an open source application programming interface (API) originated by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Web RTC enables end-users with voice calling, video chat and peer to peer file sharing between browsers without the support of any external plugin. World Wide Web Consortium is the international standard organization for the development of standards world wide web. The W3C tries to establish compatibility among industry service providers for adoption of global standards developed by them. The internet protocols required for web RTC are developed, managed and standardized by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).Get FREE Sample PDF file of Web Real Time Communication Market :Web RTC comprises of three APIs, GetUserMedia (), PeerConnection () and DataChannels (). The GetUserMedia () request the user for permission to get access to input devices such as microphone and camera. The PeerConnection () establishes a connection between local device and remote device. The DataChannels () represents a bidirectional data channel between both the peers in the connection.Web RTC provides time efficient, easily accessible and encrypted commercial telephony system. Web RTC is an open source API, hence could be easily accessed by the application developers. This has led to heavy adoption of web RTC in developing communication solutions at a lower cost compared to traditional systems. Web RTC does not depend on platform and device on which it is integrated, thus would attract global customers.Furthermore, web RTC provides better video and audio quality at a lower cost with enhanced security level compared to other telecommunication systems, thus could drive the growth of global web RTC market. Web RTC adapts and adjusts itself according to the changing network conditions. It adjusts according to bandwidth availability and avoids network congestion, thus increases efficiency of the network. The organizations enabled with web RTC technology products could improve customer interaction, promotional activities and increase their sales in a cost-effective way. The growth in customer facing industries such as retail, healthcare and hospitality would further boost the growth of web RTC market. However, web RTC is still an emerging technology, therefore has various challenges such as privacy issues with use of public internet and data security. These issues are expected to restrain the growth of global web RTC market. With big players such as Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corporation not supporting web RTC technology, the market is expected to face a hurdle in its growth.Web Real Time Communication Market: SegmentationWeb RTC market is broadly segmented on the basis of type, solution and geography. On the basis of type, the web RTC market can be segmented into software and services whereas, on the basis of solution it can be segmented as video calling solutions, voice solutions, messaging solutions and file sharing solutions. The software segment of the market provides software which have web RTC functionality whereas service segment provides the technology and API to integrate web RTC in their existing websites.Moreover, in terms of geographies, the global Web RTC market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America regions. Web RTC technology show its strong presence in North America as technological advancements and heavy investments are made by the players of this region. AsiaPacific and Europe are also adopting web RTC significantly due to tremendous growth seen in usage of web based applications.Web Real Time Communication Market: Key PlayersThe major participants in the web RTC market include companies such as Google Incorporation, Mozilla Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Opera Software ASA, TokBox, Twilio, Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Voxeo Corporation, American Telephone & Telegraph Corporation and Avaya Inc.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Self service Technology Market - Analysis Size Forecast by 2023

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Self-service Technology Market: OverviewSelf-service technologies (SSTs) help customers in producing services without requiring any assistance from direct service employees. Various service interactions are being replaced by self-service technologies in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy. It helps employees to work remotely and provide services from any location worldwide. Also, companies are able to incorporate technology into a single product to provide an integrated remote and personal solutions with the help of self-service technologies.Customers have the best understanding related to the requirements and functions, using self-service technologies customer can perform all the required tasks in a short period of time. Organizations are reducing costs, increasing the customer satisfaction and deliver a standardized service with the help of self-service technology.Get FREE Sample PDF file of Self-service Technology Market :Self-service Technology Market: DriversInnovative technologies such as wireless communications and remote service management are expected to drive the self-service technologies. Wireless communication has enabled remote service delivery, improving the service network of companies. Also, identification technologies such as biometric security services have facilitated financial transactions by validating identity of any person. Further, fingerprint recognition technologies are used in self-service technologies to identify the customer and provide services according to the stored information. The need to provide satisfactory and convenient services with reduced costs in industries such as banking and retail is anticipated to generate demand for self-service technology.Manual tasks are reduced significantly, resulting in reduced human errors and faster performance. Customization of services according to customer requirements is possible due to the technologies such as remote monitoring and cashless transactions. Demand for self-service kiosks is expected to increase significantly during the forecast period providing growth opportunities to self-service technology market.Different types of kiosks are used in the market such as the photo kiosk, ticketing kiosk and banking and financial kiosk. Customers are preferring self-service options, as it helps in reducing the check in time and increasing the customer satisfaction. Proper implementation of self-service technology is important in order to achieve customer satisfaction. Employee interaction with customers is vital in the initial stage of implementation. Customers are hesitant when a new technology is implemented, as they are not sure about the success of this new self-service technology. However, government regulations related to the tracking of customers and health and safety are restraining growth of the market. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has restricted the usage of unhealthy snack choices to comply with the school nutrition standards.Self-service Technology Market: SegmentationThe self-service technology market is divided into three segments, automated teller machines (ATM), kiosks and vending machines. ATM segment is further divided into cash dispenser, smart, brown label, white label and conventional ATM. Different types of kiosks available in the market include banking and financial, informational, ticketing, digital video disc (DVD), photo, human resource and employment, patient self-service and others (telecom and restaurants). Vending machines segment is divided into beverage, candy, snack, specialized, cigarette and gumball vending machine.Self-service Technology Market: Key PlayersMajor players in the self-service technology market include NCR Corporation, Crane Merchandising Systems, Azkoyen S.A, Glory Ltd., Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co. Ltd, Kiosk Information Systems, Inc., International Business Machine (IBM) Corporation, Vend-Rite, Maas International Europe B.V. and HESS Cash Systems GmbH & Co.About Us :Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us :-Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Animal Miracles Happen Every Day Too - Donna Louis, Author Of Book About Miracles, Gives Readers A New Perspective On Miracles

Christian author Donna Louis

http://www.miraclebook.net

What constitutes a miracle? It depends on who one asks. Nearly everyone will agree that a miracle is an extraordinary event in the physical world that defies a rational explanation. While we might think miracles don't happen today, perhaps they do.A recent story from the town of Galt in Sacramento County entitled 'Freeway Miracle?' is an astounding story of an injured dog that survived 5 weeks with 2 broken bones. How the dog survived is anybody's guess. Surviving without food or water for 5 weeks is more than likely physically impossible. Yet the dog, nicknamed 'Freeway Frida' did just that. The dog was subsequently rescued, was treated for the injuries and is now on the adoption list. Many people believe it is a bona fide miracle. It very well may be.The public is fascinated with miracles, as they demonstrate there is a reality that lies beyond what our eyes and ears show us. While we might believe that miracles are the result of a Power that lies elsewhere and occasionally intercedes in the affairs of the human race, it is even more possible that this Power works in physical reality through the minds and the hands of mankind. Even the miracles of Jesus were performed through a human body, living in physical reality.Miracles demonstrate that there is something that lies beyond our senses that has our best interests at heart. There is much comfort in that.Donna Louis' new book, 'Miracles of Direction, Miracles of Conquest, Miracles of Provision and Miracles of Purpose' explores biblical miracles that took place while Jesus was here on earth. She then references with miracles that take place on a daily basis in the modern world. She separates these miracles into four categories and presents insightful example of each type, taken directly from the Bible.Louis knows her subject well, as she has personally experienced three miracles. As the result of those life-altering experiences, she began an in-depth study of some of Christianity's most well-documented miracles. In her book, she attempts to expand upon and explain both the purpose and the direction of those miracles."Miracles are acts of God that proclaim his sovereign power over creation as well as his commitment to the good of his people," Louis stated. "Miracles don't happen when there is smooth sailing in your life. Miracles happen when all hell is breaking loose because that is when they are needed. When they happen they provide comfort, strength, and enhance a persons belief in God. It is like petting or stroking a dog, it lowers your blood pressure and emanates calm."Louis was chosen as a winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' awards contest. 'Miracles' has also received rave reviews from readers. One review called it "amazing, uplifting and inspirational". Another stated, "I was profoundly impressed by the writing."Donna Louis is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at donnalouisgodsmessenger@aol.com. 'Miracles of Direction, Miracles of Conquest, Miracles of Provision and Miracles of Purpose' is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Xulon Press. More information is available at her website.Donna Louis is happily married to her husband of 30 years Patrick Louis and currently resides in Florida. She lives to accomplish the task that God created her for and on a daily basis to follow Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) Global Clinical Trials Review, H1, 2016

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"Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) Global Clinical Trials Review, H1, 2016". The Report covers current Market Trends, Analysis, Forecast, Review, Share, Size, Growth, Effect.Description-SummaryProliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) Global Clinical Trials Review, H1, 2016" provides an overview of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) clinical trials scenario. This report provides top line data relating to the clinical trials on Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR). Report includes an overview of trial numbers and their average enrollment in top countries conducted across the globe. The report offers coverage of disease clinical trials by region, country (G7 & E7), phase, trial status, end points status and sponsor type. Report also provides prominent drugs for in-progress trials (based on number of ongoing trials). GlobalData Clinical Trial Reports are generated using GlobalDatas proprietary database - Pharma eTrack Clinical trials database. Clinical trials are collated from 80+ different clinical trial registries, conferences, journals, news etc across the globe. Clinical trials database undergoes periodic update by dynamic process.To Free Sample Report With TOC @The report enhances the decision making capabilities and helps to create an effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage.*Note: Certain sections in the report may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data for the indicated disease.Scope- The report provides a snapshot of the global clinical trials landscape- Report provides top level data related to the clinical trials by Region, Country (G7 & E7), Trial Status, Trial Phase, Sponsor Type and End point status- The report reviews top companies involved and enlists all trials (Trial title, Phase, and Status) pertaining to the company- The report provides all the unaccomplished trials (Terminated, Suspended and Withdrawn) with reason for unaccomplishment- The Report provides enrollment trends for the past five years- Report provides latest news for the past three monthsTo Enquire Regarding This Report @Reasons to buy- Assists in formulating key business strategies with regards to investment- Helps in identifying prominent locations for conducting clinical trials which saves time and cost- Provides top level analysis of Global Clinical Trials Market which helps in identifying key business opportunities- Supports understanding of trials count and enrollment trends by country in global therapeutics market- Aids in interpreting the success rates of clinical trials by providing a comparative scenario of completed and uncompleted (terminated, suspended or withdrawn) trials- Facilitates clinical trial assessment of the indication on a global, regional and country levelResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesBlog -866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),+1-518-621-2074,Email to: sales@researchmoz.us,
Nesterzweb- Digital Marketing Agency is now an Official Bing Partner

Nesterz Webtech

Nesterzweb, a digital marketing agency who serves all sorts of businesses who are looking for digital marketing via any means such as paid marketing, content marketing, SEO or any such marketing tools to help their clients achieve digital excellence. They recently a badge which proves that they have all the required skill set to serve the potential clients who are looking for Paid Advertising. They have proven that they are an expert paid marketing service provider by achieving an official Bing Partner Badge. Thus, now they can officially serve all their clients better with the special products and features that Bing lets all their partners use.Becoming a Bing Partner is like becoming an extended team member of Bing Ads and vice versa. There are a lot of benefits of becoming a partner of one of the most reputed search engines ever known by the world i.e. Bing which is owned and managed by none other than a worlds leading technology brand Microsoft. The best thing about a Bing Partner is that they are accredited by Bing Ads itself that the agency is well aware of all the dos and donts of Paid Marketing and Bing also recommends all their clients to take paid marketing services from such Bing Partners only. So all these things and other few below mentioned benefits can now be expected from the Bing Partner Nesterzweb Apart from that there are other few benefits of opting a Digital Marketing agency which is Bing partner for running your Paid Marketing Campaign that is mentioned below: Better Client Servicing:Not only does a Bing partner gets more business via Bing recommendations, their clients also get more business as Bing Partner can have access to reports and tools which any ordinary agency cant use. Thus, they can provide better insights to their clients and help them reach to their potential customers. Sales Support:All the Bing Partners get the sales support as well as training from Bing Ads professionals so that they can have a better sales point of view and become better in providing Bind Ads Solution. Exclusivity and Exposure:Trusted and high-level Bing Partners are invited by Bing to define the Bing Ads Strategy and also communicate with Industry leaders to get a better view of the industry. So they are not only expert in Paid Marketing but are experts in providing a better Marketing Direction to their clients. Better Support from Bing Ads:Agencies who are Bing Partners get better strategic support from Bing Ads Professionals as they want to serve the best solutions to their valuable users and they want the Bing Partners to excel in Client Servicing.Thus, all the current and potential clients of Nesterzweb can expect all such expertise and support from team Nesterz and get expert services to excel in their Digital Marketing Endeavor. To check the authenticity and to know the performance of Nesterzweb- a Digital Marketing agency in the Bing, clients can click on the link provided in the Company Information so that they can verify the official declaration by Bing of Nesterzweb being their official partner.Nesterzweb is a Digital Marketing Firm which works on phenomenon of Client Satisfaction and strives to fulfill the mission of fulfilling clients vision of digitally acclaimed Brand16, Suvas Complex, Opp. Jeevandeep Row House, Thaltej,Ahmedabad - 380054Gujarat - India
Sonic Automotive use Perle Ethernet Extenders in Project to Reduce the Time it Takes to Purchase a Car

Sonic Automotive use Perle PoE Ethernet Extenders

www.perle.com

NASHVILLE, TNSeptember 27th, 2016  According to Heath Byrd, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Sonic Automotive, As customers go through the car-buying process, some of their biggest concerns are trust and time. At most dealerships, it takes four to five hours to buy a vehicle. Our goal is to get it down to an hour.1With this is mind, Sonic Automotive provided the sales team with iPhones and iPads loaded with custom apps to access the extensive data on the company network. Regardless of where they are on the lot with the customer, they would have all the data needed to efficiently match the customers requirements to available automobiles in the palm of their hand. This increases productivity of the sales people, fast-tracks the sale for the customer and results in greater profitability for the company.For the iPad and iPhone roll-out to work successfully, Sonic needed reliable WiFi network access throughout all indoor and outdoor areas of each of its 120 dealerships. WAPs, of course, are the answer and installing them indoors is quite straightforward. However, prior to installing the WAPs on the lots outside of the dealerships, where a bulk of the customer interaction takes place, Larnel Hight, Network Engineer at Sonic Automotive, was confronted with two issues:The outdoor car lots do not have power outlets.Copper-based Ethernet connections are limited to data transmission distances of only 328ft. Sonic needed a much longer range as some dealerships are as large as 1600 square feet.By installing Perle PoE Ethernet Extenders, Sonic Automotive was able to overcome the distance limitations of copper and provide power to the WAPs.Larnel comments, This layout is straight forward and solves our requirements, hopefully leading to increased sales all round!Perle PoE Ethernet Extenders are installed at all of Sonic Automotives 120 car dealerships throughout the United States. With the ability to operate in industrial grade temperatures of -40F to +167F (-40C to +75C) along with a rugged steel casing, these simple and effective point to point Ethernet Copper Extenders are ideal to extend the distance between two industrial Ethernet devices subjected to harsh environments and severe temperatures such as PoE wireless access points.The full Case Study is available to read on the Perle Systems website, perle.com .About Perle SystemsPerle Systems is a leading developer, manufacturer and vendor of high-reliability and richly featured connectivity and device networking products. These products are used to connect remote users reliably and securely to central servers for a wide variety of business applications. Product lines include Console Servers for Data Center Management, Terminal Servers, Device Servers, Remote Power Switches, Media Converters, Ethernet I/O, Serial Cards, Parallel Cards and Multimodem Cards. Perle distinguishes itself through extensive networking technology, depth of experience in major real-world network environments and long-term distribution and VAR channel relationships in major world markets. Perle has offices in 9 countries in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products through distribution and OEM/ODE channels worldwide.Perle Systems830 Fesslers Parkway, Suite 108Nashville, TN 37210Julie Mc DanielVP MarketingPhone: 1-800-46703753
Microscopy Devices Market to Reach USD 8.7 Billion by 2020

http://www.ihealthcareanalyst.com/report/microscopy-devices-market/

http://www.ihealthcareanalyst.com

Microscopy Devices Market 2013-2020 report estimates the global microscopy devices market to reach nearly USD 8.7 Billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2016 to 2020 - iHealthcareAnalyst, Inc.Visit the Microscopy Devices Market 2013-2020 reportThe global microscopy devices market report provides market size (Revenue USD Million 2013 to 2020), market share and forecasts growth trends (CAGR%, 2016 to 2020).Microscopy devices can be divided into several different classes based on what interacts with the sample to generate the image, i.e., light or photons (optical microscopes), electrons (electron microscopes) or a probe (scanning probe microscopes). Alternatively, microscopy devices can be classed on whether they analyze the sample via a scanning point (confocal optical microscopes, scanning electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes) or analyze the sample all at once (wide field optical microscope and transmission electron microscopes).The global microscopy devices market segmentation is based on device types (optical microscopes, inverted microscopes, stereo microscopes, phase contrast microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, confocal scanning microscopes, near field scanning microscopes, other optical microscopes, electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, scanning probe microscopes, scanning tunneling microscopes, atomic force microscopes), and its applications (cell biology, clinical pathology, biomedical engineering, pharmacology and toxicology, neuroscience).The global microscopy devices market report also provides the detailed market landscape (market drivers, restraints, opportunities), market attractiveness analysis and profiles of major competitors in the global market including company overview, financial snapshot, key products, technologies and services offered, and recent developments. The global microscopy devices market research report is divided by geography (regional and country based) into North America (U.S., Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of LA), Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of EU), Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Rest of APAC), and Rest of the World.1. Device Type1.1. Optical Microscopes1.1.1. Inverted Microscopes1.1.2. Confocal Scanning Microscopes1.1.3. Fluorescence Microscopes1.1.4. Near Field Scanning Microscopes1.1.5. Phase Contrast Microscopes1.1.6. Stereo Microscopes1.2. Electron Microscopes1.2.1. Scanning Electron Microscopes1.2.2. Transmission Electron Microscopes1.3. Scanning Probe Microscopes1.3.1. Atomic Force Microscopes1.3.2. Scanning Tunneling Microscopes2. Application2.1. Cell Biology2.2. Clinical/Pathology2.3. Biomedical Engineering2.4. Pharmacology and Toxicology2.5. Neuroscience3. Geography (Region, Country)3.1. North America (U.S., Canada)3.2. Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of LA)3.3. Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Rest of EU)3.4. Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Rest of APAC)3.5. Rest of the World4. Company Profiles4.1. Bruker Corporation4.2. Cameca SAS4.3. Carl Zeiss AG4.4. Danish Micro Engineering A/S4.5. FEI Company4.6. Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation4.7. JEOL Ltd.4.8. Keysight Technologies, Inc.4.9. Leica Microsystems GmbH4.10. Nikon Corporation4.11. NT-MDT Company4.12. Olympus CorporationiHealthcareAnalyst, Inc. is a global health care market research and consulting company providing market analysis, and competitive intelligence services to global clients. The Company publishes syndicate, custom and consulting grade healthcare reports covering animal healthcare, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, healthcare informatics, healthcare services, medical devices, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals.iHealthcareAnalyst, Inc. provides industry participants and stakeholders with strategically analyzed, unbiased view of market dynamics and business opportunities within its coverage areas.Ana AitawaiHealthcareAnalyst, Inc.2109, Mckelvey Hill Drive,Maryland Heights, MO 63043United StatesPhone: (314) 736-9294.Email: sales@ihealthcareanalyst.com
ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall Now Integrates with Windows Server 2016

www.threatstop.com

ThreatSTOP leverages new DNS policy capability to block malicious connectionsCarlsbad, CA  September 27, 2016  ThreatSTOP today announced availability of ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall for Windows Server 2016, Microsofts most cloud-ready Server operating system ever. Using ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall, Windows Server 2016 customers can now automatically block outbound communications with threat actors command and control, dead-letter-drop, and dropper/infection infrastructure, preventing data theft and system compromise. ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall will be showcased in a Microsoft and ThreatSTOP presentation on September 30th, and in booth 314 at the Microsoft Ignite conference in Atlanta, Georgia from September 26th through the 30th.Almost all Internet connections begin with a DNS query. Just as users need DNS to make connections with applications, threats also use DNS to communicate with threat actors across a broad range of attack vectors. Thanks to Microsofts introduction of DNS Policies in Windows Server 2016, customers can now use ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall to interdict those communication attempts to prevent ransomware, drive-by downloads, botnets and other threats from succeeding. As a result, organizations gain immediate protection from known and unknown threats.The ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall provides an entirely new and powerful layer of security for our Microsoft Windows Server 2016 customers, said Vithalprasad Gaitonde, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft. It combines the benefit of up-to-the-minute threat intelligence with automated policy updates to proactively safeguard every device on the network from new and evolving threats.ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall protects the entire network by continuously updating user-defined policies powered by live threat data on the DNS servers used by all network clients. Policies can be based on threat type, geographic location and user-defined block lists. Once policies are set, the DNS Firewall immediately begins blocking or redirecting outbound communications with malicious domains. Detailed reports identify affected machines to speed remediation and prevent further infection across the network. The cloud-based service is easy to deploy and works with Windows Server 2016 natively no new equipment or software installation is required.ThreatSTOP invented the dissemination of network policy using DNS, including configuration of the DNS Firewall, said Tom Byrnes, Founder and CEO of ThreatSTOP. The ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall provides a continuous, automated defense for Windows Server 2016 that is essential to securing the network from todays and tomorrows threats.ThreatSTOPs patented technology uses DNS to automatically deliver the most current threat data to DNS Firewalls and other network infrastructure. DNS is the ideal distribution method because it is a proven technology that is ubiquitous, reliable and highly scalable enabling protection for organizations of any size.Key benefits of ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall for Windows Server 2016: Flexible options to handle attempted communications with threat actors: Customers can set the service either to block access to the malicious domain, or redirect the employee to a safe block page or a process that enables automated remediation. Reports include a high-level summary of blocked threats, host IPs that make requests for selected threat levels, and requests by target name for selected threat levels and/or date ranges. Reports also provide event details that include time stamps, actions, triggers and other useful data. Check IOC tool allows users to input a domain or IP and learn the history of that particular resource. Customers are shown whether or not the domain is actively present or has been historically present in any of ThreatSTOPs categories enabling the user to research Indications Of Compromise received from other sources. Users have the ability to easily navigate between their reporting and data and research information. Personalized alerts, based on user-defined filters and thresholds, are easily managed and configured through the web-based dashboard and can be emailed to selected user(s). Alerts will only be sent when specified conditions are met and feature a cool off setting to eliminate excessive repeated notifications.How it works:1. Select security policies in the ThreatSTOP portal to protect against specific threat types, geographic locations, and user-defined domains or wildcards.2. Configure your Windows (DNS) Server 2016 to use the ThreatSTOP service.3. Policies are continuously updated with live threat intelligence data curated from global authoritative sources and ThreatSTOPs research team.4. View detailed information about the threats blocked on your network and identify infected client machines using advanced web-based reporting.ThreatSTOP DNS Firewall is available now for Windows Server 2016 and in the Microsoft Azure marketplace.About ThreatSTOPThreatSTOP is a network security company offering a cloud-based service that protects every device and workload on a network from cyberattacks and data theft, and reports on what was blocked and why. It can protect any network, from virtual cloud networks to branch LANs to the largest carrier networks. The service operationalizes best of breed, broadly sourced threat intelligence to deflect inbound and outbound threats, including botnets, phishing and ransomware attacks, and prevents data exfiltration. For more information, visitMike BecceThreatSTOP2720 Loker Avenue WestSuite GCarlsbad, CA 92010760-542-1550
US Department Of Peace Is An Idea Whose Time Has Come Says Frances Fuller, Award Winning Author Of Book About Lebanon, 'In Borrowed Houses'

Author Frances Fuller

http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com

The US needs a Department of Peace. This election year there is a great deal of rhetoric that endlessly furthers a multitude of divisive agendas and strategies. Until now our country has not pursued peace, because it is not on anyones job description. We have a one-armed State Department. The one arm is called the Department of Defense. Frances Fuller, author of 'In Borrowed Houses', believes we also need a Department of Peace."We need a Department of Peace whose head, the Secretary of Peace, will be part of the Presidents cabinet," Fuller stated. "This secretary must engage the best thinkers in our country, from generals to peace activists, philosophers and psychologists, historians and scientists, ministers and moms, in the study and development of peace strategies. The overarching assignment of this group should be to help the Secretary develop a national plan for creating peace in our country and the world."Just as the Department of Defense assesses security threats and responds to them, the Department of Peace can identify opportunities for creating cooperation and friendship and respond to them with wisdom, or see conflict coming and attack the problem behind it. Like war, peace requires intention and planning and preparation and deeds of valor."Using creative and peace loving citizens, the peace department might promote wonderful innovations in the ways we relate to one another at home and as a nation with other nations. We might face up to the injustices in our own society and by addressing them, reduce the violence in our cities. Internationally we could become a country that is famous for creating peace rather than dominating the world."Dennis Kucinich proposed a Department of Peace in 2005. Interviewing him about this, Walter Cronkite observed that every time the people of the world even heard the words, 'Department of Peace,' their image of America would be impacted."The proposal has failed in the Congress until now, because we the people did not get behind it or did not even know. We are so accustomed to violence that we consider peace a beautiful fantasy. In fact, we are pursuing the alternative and evil fantasy that we can always be stronger than our enemy and overcome their violence with ours. Given the choice of these two fantasies, I choose peace and want a president with a plan for peace."Frances Fuller puts a face on the Middle East many Americans have not yet seen. Her award-winning memoir, 'In Borrowed Houses', gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside.Told in short episodes, Fullers book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. Fuller's stories compose not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.Critics have praised In Borrowed Houses. A judge in the 22nd Annual Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses'  . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . . Another reviewer described the book as Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said,  . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this storyfull of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. The full text of her latest article is available at her website. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at Payhip. Frances Fuller also blogs on other issues relating to the Middle East on her website.Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
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Donald Trump, on the campaign trail

(AP Photo/File)

By The Washington Post Editorial Board

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 country's future - maybe the world's - 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, NBC's 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 night's 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 shouldn't be, because there is not much more to learn: Trump has amply demonstrated his unworthiness to occupy the Oval Office. It's beyond his capacity in the upcoming 90-minute question-and-answer sessions to reverse or even substantially modify that conclusion.

Suppose Trump keeps a cool head, conducts a respectful discussion withClinton and 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.

In short, the challenge for Monday's 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. It's 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 person's 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, Trump has already flunked.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post
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The last day to register to vote for November's general election is Oct. 18.

(orsten Kjellstrand/The Oregonian)

By Nikki Fisher and Yasmin Ibarra

The political conversation in 2016 has been pretty wild, often ranging from baffling to toxic. But today is a different kind of day. Today is a day to celebrate democracy itself. Today we set aside our political preferences to simply make sure citizens are registered to vote -- to make their voices heard, whatever they believe.

Today is National Voter Registration Day. Since 2012, Americans who care about democracy have used this day to ensure every citizen knows how and when to register to vote in November's election. Across the nation, hundreds of thousands of people will use today to get themselves and their friends on the voter rolls.

This great holiday is one more gift that Oregonians have given to American democracy. Four years ago, Oregonians affiliated with the Bus Project had the spark of the idea for National Voter Registration Day. With a coalition of partner groups from around the country, we helped build it into a nationwide holiday. Kate Brown, then Oregon secretary of state, was integral in getting her chief election officer colleagues across the country to celebrate the day. The Oregon Student Association helped recruit student groups nationwide to join in. And so National Voter Registration went from an idea born in a Portland bungalow to a nationwide celebration that registers hundreds of thousands of people to vote.

At the Oregon Student Association and the Bus Project, we do everything we can to make democracy better, from the association's massive voter registration drives on college campuses to Bus Project partnerships with music and culture venues to register young people to vote.

Together, we helped make Oregon an innovator with pre-registering 17-year-olds, offering online voter registration and ensuring many high school and college campuses have voter registration plans. We count our greatest achievement in the state's first-in-the-nation automatic voter registration reform of Oregon Motor Voter.

Between passing good laws, organizing our peers, and building national holidays from scratch, Oregonians are leaders in American democracy.

Share your opinion

Submit your essay of 700 words or less to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

Today on National Voter Registration Day, every Oregonian should join in. We invite Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Working Family Party, Libertarians and non-affiliated voters to join us today and help spread the word about the importance of registering to vote. Help us continue to build the political power and electorate of the future of Oregon.

If you're not already registered, do it right now. If you are, join up with one of our groups to register voters today. If you can't do that, take a moment today to make sure your friends and family get registered. Democracy will thank you.

*

Nikki Fisher is the executive director the Oregon Bus Project and Yasmin Ibarra is the executive director of the Oregon Student Association.
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In an image provided by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, a white SUV is seen through the lens of a speed camera on Southwest Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway.

(Portland Bureau of Transportation)

Xerox and speed cameras: Regarding "Portland's new speed cameras start issuing tickets Saturday," (Sept. 23): As a supporter of speed cameras, I was pleased to see that Portland has installed cameras on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and the results that have occurred -- until I read that Xerox, operator of the cameras, is to be paid a fee for every citation payment collected.

With the negative history of such agreements -- familiar to those of us who have lived on the East Coast or know about the multiple lawsuits over traffic cameras in Chicago, Alaska, Maryland, Arizona, New Mexico and Missouri -- why would a government official believe it is a good idea to pay Xerox a fee for each citation payment collected when they maintain the cameras? What makes us believe that Xerox won't manipulate the camera just a bit so more drivers are caught -- and thus they get paid more? What makes us think that Xerox has a higher ethical bar than Wells Fargo?

We should not be OK with this arrangement; it will without doubt lead to abuses. The contract should be a straight purchase/lease and maintenance contract. If the city wants to avoid lawsuits and abuse, it should void this contract and re-sign a contract that eliminates any reliance on the number of speeders and/or the fees paid.

Don Wood

Northeast Portland
JOHN DAY - Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer invoked his right against self-incrimination 51 times while being questioned under oath about his handling of government records.

Palmer wouldn't answer questions about deleting emails dealing with public business and whether he had any emails related to the occupation earlier this year of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The sheriff used his Fifth Amendment right last week during a deposition in the lawsuit he faces from The Oregonian/OregonLive. The news organization sued Palmer, his office and his civil deputy in May to force disclosure of public records such as arrest reports, calendars, emails and cellphone invoices. The state public records law generally requires public officials to disclose such documents.

A key issue in the dispute is Palmer's use of a personal email account to conduct his public business. The news organization sought work-related emails dating back to November 2015. In court filings months after receiving the request, Palmer said his practice is to print out important emails from his personal account, file them and then delete them from his system.

It was during a series of questions about that practice that Palmer invoked the Fifth Amendment.

The sheriff didn't respond to a subsequent request for comment.

He has become a national figure over his sympathy for the occupiers of the wildlife refuge. He has said he traded text messages with Ammon Bundy, the Idaho businessman who led the occupation. He also met in John Day with two occupation leaders.

Starting in late January, John Day city officials and Grant County citizens filed 11 complaints with the state agency that certifies police, alleging the sheriff's actions put the community at risk. The Oregon Department of Justice opened a separate criminal investigation of the sheriff over an allegation he tampered with government records in 2012. That investigation remains active.

Palmer was questioned for about six hours last Tuesday and Wednesday by Brad Daniels, a Portland attorney representing The Oregonian/OregonLive. The sheriff, who has been in office since 2000 and is running for re-election in November, answered questions about his knowledge of state law governing public records, his handling of requests for records, his cellphone use and his relation with several individuals.

Questions about his personal email account prompted the Fifth Amendment claims. He first invoked the right when asked whether he had reviewed the legal definition of "public record" before the lawsuit was filed.

Palmer also invoked the right after he was shown and asked about his email exchanges with Grant County District Attorney Jim Carpenter. Palmer earlier told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he had no email records related to the refuge occupation. One email exchange from Feb. 12 related in part to a Florida man invoking Palmer's name to issue phony grand jury papers.

Palmer took the Fifth when asked about whether the emails were public records, if copies existed in his office, where he would file a printed version and why it wasn't released to the news organization.

He invoked the right when questioned about other documents he had said he didn't have but other government agencies subsequently provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Sally DeFord, who as Palmer's civil deputy handles administrative functions such as expenses and legal papers such as restraining orders, invoked her Fifth Amendment right three times during separate testimony.

She cited it when she was asked if she had destroyed any records and whether she still had emails involving one of Palmer's special deputies - volunteers deputized by Palmer for public lands patrol, search and rescue and other functions.

Legal experts say the Fifth Amendment is intended to protect witnesses from giving evidence that could be used against them in a criminal case. They say the protection is intended to force the government to prove a crime without admissions from a suspect.

Margaret Paris, a University of Oregon law professor, said someone can stay silent if "what that person fears (is) that their statements might be used against them in a criminal case."

Steven Salky, a Washington, D.C., criminal defense attorney who wrote a book on the Fifth Amendment published by the American Bar Association, said witnesses can use the right even if they believe they're innocent of criminal conduct but concerned the answers might lead to criminal charges.

It's unusual for public officials to invoke the right, Paris said.

"Most of our public officials and law enforcement officers, we don't expect them to be engaging in something that would tend to give rise to a criminal proceeding," she said.

Paris and Salky said the fact that a witness asserts the privilege can't be used to suggest in a criminal proceeding that they're guilty.

The circumstance is different in a civil case, they said.

"You can be hurt in a civil case if you take the Fifth Amendment," Paris said, because a judge or jurors can infer the witness would have said something damaging if they had answered the questions.

Salky said a judge or jurors could read into the silence that "if you're hiding information it's not only because it's incriminating but because you have done something wrong."

Salky said Palmer appears to have legitimately invoked his right because he's under criminal investigation.

The depositions were conducted without restrictions that Palmer asked a judge to impose. Through his attorney, Zac Hostetter of Enterprise, the sheriff sought to limit questions and the length of the depositions. He also wanted to prohibit videotaping and disclosure of the deposition contents to anyone but the attorneys.

Palmer said in a declaration that videotaping wasn't reasonable. It would expose him to "embarrassment and annoyance," he said.

Grant County Circuit Judge William Cramer rejected his request, noting in a Sept. 16 letter that The Oregonian/OregonLive could use the contents to report news because "that is a legitimate use of information." He also noted that Palmer is an elected official who hadn't established that he needed to be protected from potential embarrassment or annoyance.

-- Les Zaitz

@leszaitz
satanicclub.png

After School Satan Club logo

(The Satanic Temple)

In August, the provisional Portland chapter of the national organization of the Satanic Temple began their efforts to bring their After School Satan Club to Nehalem Elementary School. Around the same time, a Seattle chapter of the temple also attempted to bring the program to a school in Washington.

Now, the Portland chapter succeeded in bringing that program to an elementary school inside city limits.

Finn Rezz, one of two heads of the chapter, said via email that the organization has been approved to begin their program, which focuses "on science and rational thinking," on Oct. 19 at Sacramento Elementary School.

In August, Rezz told us that the After School Satan Club will promote "benevolence and empathy for everybody." That mission, he said, is in direct contrast to something called "the Good News Club."

The Good News Club is an after-school club put on by the Child Evangelism Fellowship, "a Bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living."

The Good News Club is in 18 counties in Oregon but in August, John Luck, Director of Global Partnership for the Child Evangelism Fellowship, told us he could not say how many clubs are in Oregon.

Rezz said that the Sacramento Elementary After School Satan Club "will be held on Wednesdays once a month at the same time as the Good News Club."

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052

lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
Harmony and nonviolence were featured Sunday as the public gathered to celebrate International Peace Day at Creative 360 in Midland.

The event featured musicians, poets, and a speaker. Those attending were welcomed with activities such as peace crafts; the Jubilaeus Handbell Ensemble from Trinity Lutheran Church; poetry readings; Native American wood flutes, harps and percussion; role playing; and a planetary peace dance.

The event included a presentation by Johanna Jozwiak, of Midland. Jozwiak was recently an Interfaith Peace-Builder delegate on a two-week trip to Palestine.

Jozwiak said there were 27 people who went on the trip, including Jews, atheists and Christians. The group met with both Israelis and Palestinians to learn more about the conflicts first hand. The Palestinians shared their nonviolent resistance tactics and the Israeli peace activists shared how theyre working to end the occupation.

Jozwiak shared about her misperceptions and what she actually saw. When she heard the word Palestinian, Jozwiak pictured terrorist. She thought it wouldnt be safe traveling to Palestine and that it was too complex to even try to improve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But thats changed.

For the most part she felt safe when she was there. She said the media and textbooks show images of terrorists, but that isnt what she saw. She showed a video of a Palestinian girl who told the camera that they are children just like everywhere else in the world. The girl said they are being denied an education and getting to play like other children do. She said they have a mind, soul and a will.

Jozwiak was able to see things generally not covered by the media. When the group was in Hebron, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) tried to arrest its tour guide, Issamro, who is also an activist. She said the IDF doesnt want people to see whats really going on.

Jozwiak said the situation is simple, the Israeli government wants the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, but they dont want the Palestinians who are inhabiting it to stay there. She said Israel is taking Palestines land and water every day.

She said many children went to school every day carrying a toy. Jozwiak found out they do this because they dont know if their home will still be there when they get back from school, so they want to have their favorite toy.

The one time Jozwiak didnt feel safe was when she stayed with a Palestinian family in Nabi Saleh. The family said they wouldnt be raided because the IDF knew an American group was there. Jozwiak found it hard to sleep because she was suspicious of each noise she heard. The next day, after the group had left, the familys house was raided.

Jozwiak could tell which land was Palestinian and which was Israeli. The Israelis have running water and electricity all the time. Palestinians dont have garbage pick up, there are no sidewalks, and they have running water 12 hours per week; in the summer sometimes 12 hours per month. The Israelis control the water.

There are so many spent tear gas and smoke bomb canisters that, in Nabi Saleh, the Palestinians have used them as decorations in the streets and in their homes. Jozwiak showed a slide of the canisters strung together and hung up like a garland.

Looking at the smoke bomb canister decoration, Jozwiak spotted written on the side: Made in U.S.A.

Jozwiak also saw Caterpillar bulldozers that are being used by Israelis to tear down Palestinian homes to make way for the Israeli settlements. She saw Caterpillar vehicles used to protect Israeli solders when they raid Palestinian homes.

Jozwiak said she didnt want to get political in her talk. Her focus is on human rights. But she found it unsettling that the U.S. is providing these weapons that are being used against the Palestinians. The U.S. sends $3 billion to Israel per year and President Obama has just approved $38 billion per year in aid over the next 10 years to revitalize the Israeli military.

Some people on the trip got depressed because of what they saw. But what got them up every morning is hope despite the conditions.

Still, its hard. In Nabi Saleh, a community of 600 people, 350 have been injured in demonstrations. They have had peaceful demonstrations, but sometimes the Israelis use tear gas and the Palestinians throw stones. Recently they have decided to end their demonstrations because so many people in the community have been injured.

However, they havent given up. Jozwiak talked about the Palestinians creative resistance. Examples are solar power panels, compost toilets and catching rainwater in cisterns.

To get involved, Jozwiak recommends Interfaith Peace-Builders at http://www.ifpb.org and No Way to Treat a Child at nwttac.dci-palestine.org

Jozwiak will also give a presentation Sunday, Oct. 9, at Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department.

Sunday, Sept. 25

12:20 a.m.  Police were sent to check a report of a loud party at East Union and State streets.

1:55 a.m.  Officers responded to a report of someone yelling in the 4200 block of Boston Street.

3:02 a.m.  Police were sent to the 100 block of West Pine Street for a report of loud music.

7:54 a.m.  A damaged semi truck tire was left in a ditch along Townline Road off North Jefferson Road in Mills Township. Deputies are trying to contact the trucking company thought to be responsible to have the tire removed.

12:39 p.m.  Property was stolen from the 1200 block of Corrine Street.

1:56 p.m.  Officers responded to an assault in the 4500 block of North Saginaw Road.

3:51 p.m.  A 46-year-old Ingersoll Township woman reported her son, age 10, had left the home and not returned. He was mad that he was grounded and left on his bicycle, and had been gone for two hours. The boy rode his bike to the Law Enforcement Center, where his mother picked him up.

4:11 p.m.  A deputy was sent to Lee Township for a report of an ORV being driven on a roadway. The driver was educated on ORV laws.

5:15 p.m.  Gasoline, valued at $22, was stolen from a Greendale Township gas station. The suspect was contacted by phone and returned to pay.

6:06 p.m.  Police investigated a personal protection order violation at an Eastman Avenue location.

8:30 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a Geneva Township home to investigate a report of child abuse.

8:38 p.m.  Police were called to a domestic assault at a Hedgewood Drive address.

8:44 p.m. A Geneva Township man, 38, was arrested on McNally Road in Geneva Township for drunken driving. He was stopped for speeding.

Saturday, Sept. 24

1:15 a.m.  A Midland man, 29, damaged county property while lodged in the Midland County Jail.

2:28 a.m.  A motorist was arrested at Eastman Avenue and Sugnet Road for driving without insurance.

2:32 a.m. A Roseville man, 34, was arrested in Lee Township for false report of a felony and driving on a suspended license.

2:27 p.m.  A delayed reported of domestic assault that occurred in Sanford is being investigated.

4:15 p.m.  The back window of a vehicle was shattered while the vehicle was parked at a Larkin Township home.

8:01 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a Lincoln Township home for a report of an argument, and cited a 20-year-old man for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

11:33 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a report of a suspicious vehicle in Lee Township and found two teenagers. There was no criminal activity.

11:55 p.m.  Deputies were sent to a Lee Township home to check a report of a loud party.

Friday, Sept. 23

12:31 a.m. A 41-year-old woman was arrested for domestic assault in Greendale Township.

12:47 a.m.  Deputies were called by an employee at a Mills Township business who reported a man entered and stated he was assaulted at a different location and was headed to a business in Lincoln Township. The man was not found.

8:57 a.m.  Police assisted parole agents in the 200 block of West Ellsworth Street.

10:06 a.m.  A Lee Township resident went to the Law Enforcement Center to report a fraud involving his debit card.

12:18 p.m.  Police were sent to a domestic assault at a Sam Street address.

1:56 p.m.  A Homer Township man, 69, reported receiving a letter from his credit card company stating someone tried to open another account using his name and Social Security number. The man did not lose any money.

2:41 p.m.  A $70 trash can was reported stolen from a Jasper Township home.

4:23 p.m.  A Mount Haley Township woman, 69, reported her son, age 18, stole $500, a shotgun and a rifle from her home. The man admitted to the thefts, and is to return the firearms at a later date.

4:59 p.m.  Officers were called to a retail fraud in the 6800 block of Eastman Avenue.

5:40 p.m.  Police made an arrest for drug possession in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard.

10:45 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a report of an intoxicated pedestrian walking on the side of M-20 in Lee Township. Found were two men, ages 29 and 21, who were walking a short distance to a designated driver.
To the editor:

I received a phone call from Dow Chemical Co. letting me know that the company has scheduled a second Retiree Reunion luncheon to accommodate those that were turned down for the first one. They explained that there were complaints about the weather for the Loons Stadium location last year. Can you imagine seniors complaining about the weather  even when a free meal is included! Also, the last time they held the event at The Great Hall the response was not as large.
CLINTON  A Bloomington man in custody for an Iowa credit union robbery is suspected of the July 1 robbery of the DeWitt Savings Bank in Clinton.

Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers said Anthony Javon Brown, 32, is currently in McLean County jail, in connection with the Aug. 18 robbery of the Ascentra Credit Union in Bettendorf. After interviewing Brown, officials identified him as a suspect in the Clinton bank robbery as well.

Were happy to have this investigation behind us with the suspect identified and in custody so that prosecutors can move forward to the next phase, Lowers said. I appreciate the diligent work by our detective and the other assisting agencies that has brought us to this resolution in the case.

Brown has not yet been formally charged with the Clinton robbery, but a federal indictment is pending, Lowers said. The DeWitt County States Attorneys Office has deferred prosecution to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Central District of Illinois.

Police think that around 3:50 p.m. on July 1, Brown entered DeWitt Savings Bank at 302 W. Main St. in Clinton and gave a handwritten note to a teller demanding money. The employee complied with the demand. No weapon was displayed, and no one was injured. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash to a nearby parked car and drove west at high speed through residential neighborhoods.

Police think the same man also was spotted in Carlock prior to robbing the Clinton bank. Officials say he is not a suspect in any criminal activity in Carlock.

A criminal complaint was filed Aug. 30 in federal court in Iowa, alleging that Brown robbed the Bettendorf credit union. Officials allege Brown entered the lobby and grabbed a deposit slip from the counter. He then demanded money from a teller and produced a paper bag. The teller filled the bag with $4,646 and fled in a gold/brown Chevrolet Impala that was parked in an adjacent lot.

According to court documents, Brown left the deposit slip on the counter, which was dusted for fingerprints, leading detectives to Brown. An arrest warrant was issued after surveillance footage positively identified Brown as the suspect, said police.

Brown was arrested by Bloomington Police on Aug. 23. During a search of his residence, detectives identified clothes the suspect wore in the Bettendorf robbery and $3,031 in currency. Also, a 2003 Chevrolet Impala registered to Brown was found in the driveway.

Court documents indicate Brown said he spent money on food, gas, marijuana and a trip to St. Louis.

Edith Brady-Lunny contributed to this story.
MONTICELLO  Monday morning, the parents and three sisters of Sheryl Ann Houser filed into the courtroom and took seats in the front row of the gallery, a few minutes before Gregory J. Houser was ushered in by correctional officers, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and a belly chain.

They had been waiting for more than 26 years to see Houser, now 56, facing charges in the death of the 29-year-old nurse, who was found dead in her garage with a rope around her neck.

Prosecutors and police allege that Gregory Houser staged the crime scene as a suicide. He was out on bond, awaiting trial for sexual assault of Sheryl Houser, at the time of her death. He was later acquitted of that crime.

Houser, who is entering a plea of not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, stood before the bench of Circuit Judge Timothy Steadman, along with his attorney, Brendan Bukalski.

Houser, who was arrested Thursday and is being held without bond in the Piatt County Jail, is accused of killing his estranged wife at her rural home, located between Mansfield and Mahomet, Oct. 4 or 5, 1990. He was no longer living at their former shared residence at that time.

Bukalski, of Bloomington, told the judge Monday that he filed a motion for bond to be set for Houser, in order for him to be released from jail. That issue is expected to be addressed when Houser appears in court for his preliminary hearing, scheduled for Oct. 7.

The body of Sheryl Houser was discovered by police on Oct. 5, 1990, after co-workers at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, called her house when she failed to report for her 7 a.m. shift.

Her 6-year-old son answered the phone, telling the caller that his mother was asleep in the garage with a rope around her neck, said a probable cause affidavit by Piatt County Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Russell.

When officers from the sheriff's office and Illinois State Police responded, they found her on the concrete floor, clothed only in a nightgown, suspended partially by a nylon rope.

The yellow nylon rope was wrapped multiple times around her neck, the affidavit said.

A used condom was found on the floor, between the inside of the house and the garage.

DNA evidence collected from the condom showed matches with the profiles of Gregory and Sheryl Houser. Authorities have said that improved recent technology have made the conclusive DNA matches possible.

Jurors at an inquest held shortly after her death ruled that the manner of death was undetermined.

Due to the recent DNA development, as well as a 2011 finding by forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton that her cause of death was strangulation, authorities decided to hold another inquest. At the inquest, held in a Piatt County courtroom July 8, jurors ruled the death as a homicide.

Renee Fehr, Sheryl's sister, said the family is grateful for the advances in technology that aided officials in making the arrest.

We want to thank the Illinois State Police, Piatt County Sheriff's Office and Piatt County state's attorney for diligently pursuing justice for Sheryl, Fehr said.

She said it was comforting to know how many people care about their family, with their kind words and support.

I don't think any of my family members fully expected the tremendous impact Sheryl's death continues to have on us, Fehr said.
CHICAGO  The plea hearing for former McLean County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen set for Wednesday has been postponed until Nov. 2.

Sorensen is accused of being part of a scheme to defraud more than $1 million in phony consulting fees from State Farm Insurance and several other firms. A plea hearing was scheduled in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Lawyers for both sides agreed to postpone the hearing until Nov. 2.

Sorensen and co-defendant Navdeep Arora were charged in an eight-count federal indictment announced in January with billing the insurance company and other firms for work that was never performed.

Arora, who worked on State Farm projects from 2003 to 2012 for Chicago consultant McKinsey & Co., is charged with stealing more than $890,000 through false invoices. The alleged theft includes more than $400,000 federal prosecutors believe Sorensen took.

Charges accuse the two men of billing clients through two companies, Gabriel Solutions and Andy's BCB. State Farm ended its relationship with Sorensen, an internal consultant for the company, and Navdeep in 2012.

Lawyers for Sorensen told U.S. District Court Judge Ronald A. Guzman in August that Sorensen would change his plea from not guilty at the upcoming hearing.

Charges remain pending against Arora, who is now living in Texas, according to court records.

The charges against Sorensen, who resigned from the County Board shortly after the indictments became public, shocked county offficials and others who worked with him on community projects. Sorensen was known for his ability to build consensus on issues that impacted the county.

Most notable was Sorensen's efforts in 2012 to steer the county's efforts to improve mental health programs for jail inmates and residents who require more services in the community.
BLOOMINGTON  A home built by Habitat for Humanity on Bloomington's south side was destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters arrived about 3 p.m. at 32 Richwood Trail to find more than half of the single-story home engulfed in flames, according to Bloomington Fire Department spokesman Stuart Blade.

Residents told firefighters everyone got out safely.

No injuries were reported and the Red Cross was notified to assist the family of five.

The cause of the fire, which left an estimated $110,000 worth of damage, is currently under investigation, Blade said. A van outside the garage also was damaged.

The house is one of 17 Habitat for Humanity houses in the Woodbury Estates area.

The Normal Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
BLOOMINGTON  Liquor Commissioner Jim Jordan is moving to another city board, but another member of the three-member panel, Sue Feldkamp, is refusing to resign to go along with Mayor Tari Renner plan to go solo on reviewing alcohol sales issues.

"My reason for refusing to resign is because I believe every commission and council needs to have citizen input on it," she told media after Monday's Bloomington City Council meeting.

There still would be commission hearings and public meetings, but Renner would be the only person making a recommendation on such issues as liquor license requests to the City Council, which still would have the final say. Feldkamp said she doesn't think his opinion alone is enough.

"To represent the tavern/bar owners and the restaurants you need to have more (commissioners). I think five is actually better," she said.

Feldkamp plans to continue attending the liquor commission's monthly meetings.

"Anybody can attend the liquor commission, but she's not on the liquor commission, as of Oct. 1," said Renner.

"The liquor commission meetings will happen. We'll have the same legal testimony," Renner said. "We'll have the same clerk, recording. Everything is going to happen the same way except I am not asking two people to help me any more."

The change, Renner said, would eliminate recent quorum issues related to the Illinois Open Meetings Act, which says public notice of a public meeting is required any time a majority of a quorum is present to discuss board business.

While the City Council was considering ratifying Renner's appointment of Jordan to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Lower said it was time for a discussion about the future of the liquor commission.

The council voted unanimously to approve Jordan's new appointment.

Once the state attorney general's public access counselor reviews and rules on pending complaints alleging open meetings violations, Renner said he would like to go back to having a liquor commission with three or four members. For now, he wants to avoid creating more such complaints until the issue is clarified.

Until then, Renner said his options were to increase the size of the liquor commission, leave it as it is and not consider any kind of compliance with the public access counselor, or act as the sole liquor commissioner.

"According to our corporate counsel, it is our mayor's prerogative," said Lower after the meeting, adding he wished the mayor would have appointed more people to the liquor commission to resolve the issue.

Renner said he thought increasing the size of the liquor commission would have given credence to the complaints.

Under the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 and the city's liquor ordinance the mayor is the liquor commissioner and the mayor can appoint one or more people to the Bloomington Liquor Commission to assist him.

Renner said Champaign and Peoria and "hundreds of communities that are smaller" have just one liquor commissioner or a deputy liquor commissioner assisting the mayor.

"It's much ado about almost nothing," said Renner.

In other action, the council unanimously approved spending $73,299 to build a temporary garage to shelter public works vehicles during the winter, including dump trucks loaded with salt.

The building could be dismantled and moved if an operations center is built, said Public Works Director Jim Karch.

Since 2012, the city has leased Connect Transit's vacant bus barn, located just south of city's salt dome at East Street and Oakland Avenue, for $62,718 annually. The lease has expired and the building's deteriorating state makes it unsafe to use for vehicle storage, said Karch.

A city staff request to spend $169,000 to hire a consultant to evaluate long-term office and operations space needs for all its departments except for police and fire services was removed from the meeting agenda, pending "further staff consideration and analysis," said Renner.
NORMAL  Local election officials expect a big turnout on Election Day despite two unpopular presidential candidates, and they're urging residents to register and vote early to avoid long lines on Nov. 8.

That effort intensifies Tuesday, when several local organizations will celebrate National Voter Registration Day by providing paperwork and other free assistance to potential voters who haven't registered yet.

Volunteers will be at:

 Heartland Community College from 9 a.m.-noon

 Jewel-Osco at 2203 Oakland Ave., 10:30 a.m.-12:30.p.m

 Illinois State University, including near Schroeder Hall's main entrance, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

 Illinois Wesleyan University, including the Dugout snack bar and Sodexo Stairs, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

 The Tool Library at 801 W. Washington St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

 and Uptown Circle, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Voters can register at any location whether they vote through the Bloomington Election Commission (BEC), which covers the city, or the McLean County Clerk's Office, which covers Normal and other areas in the county.

YWCA McLean County is heading the drive as part of its Mission Impact program, which promotes social and economic justice.

"One of the best ways for us to honor the legacy of those who have, and who continue to, struggle to make their voice heard in the Democratic process is by exercising our right to vote, and by doing the hard work of making sure that everyone in our community is able to exercise this right," said Jenn Carrillo, Mission Impact director for the YWCA of McLean County.

Other groups involved include the Bloomington Housing Authority, Bloomington-Normal NAACP, the clerk's office, ISU, IWU, McLean County League of Women Voters, Not in Our Town and the West Bloomington Revitalization Project.

Local organizations have recognized National Voter Registration Day before, but McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said, "We haven't seen it to this extent."

"There will be long lines for voting, but if theyre waiting to register as well, it will be even longer, said BEC Executive Director Paul Shannon of the need to register early. Thats especially true for the two universities.

Early voting begins Thursday.

Bloomington voters can do so at the Government Center at 115 E. Washington St. and at Eastland Mall:

 Government Center, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Sept. 29-Oct. 28; 8:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 29; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 30; 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 4; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 5; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 6; and 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 7.

 Eastland Mall, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23.

The County Clerk's office will allow early voting at the above times and locations, and at:

 Bone Student Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 24-28 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

 Watterson Towers, noon-7 p.m. Oct. 24-28 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

 Milner Library, noon-7 p.m. Oct. 24-28 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

Michael said the resources added at ISU for this election, including more early voting sites, more election judges and more touchscreen voting machines, will help alleviate the logjam at Bone during the March 15 primary election.

Sample ballots for clerk's office voters are available at mcleancountyil.gov. BEC sample ballots are not yet available.
PONTIAC  Donald Robert Wayman, 73, of Pontiac, passed away Saturday (Sept. 24, 2016) at his home, surrounded by his loving family, after a 26-month courageous battle with lung cancer.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Pontiac First United Methodist Church. His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m Saturday at the church. The Revs. Gretchen Stinebaugh and Tom Goodell will officiate. Burial will be in Rooks Creek Cemetery, Graymont. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements.

Don was born March 5, 1943, to Donald G. and Marie Sullivan Wayman. He married Carolyn K. Deffenbaugh on June 16, 1965, at Cornell United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Carolyn, Pontiac; children, Stephanie (Tim) Kohlmeier, Christine (Pat) Crowley and David (Vicki) Wayman, all of Pontiac, and Jennifer (Matt) Herbert, Sun Prairie, Wis.; grandchildren, Alex and Kayla Kohlmeier, Ryan, Kyle and Casey Crowley, Leah and Drew Wayman, and Addison, Gavin and Tyler Herbert. Also surviving are two sisters, Mary Gamblin, Cornell, and Laura Wayman, Chicago; and one brother, Mark Wayman, Cornell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Bill Gamblin.

Don graduated from Cornell High School in 1961. Following his father's death during his junior year in college, he returned home to run the family grocery business.

Don was the owner of Don's Red Fox, Pontiac, for more than 40 years until retiring in 2006. Following his retirement, Don's second career continued as friend of the community. He worked for the Livingston County VA driving veterans, and volunteered at OSF St. James Hospital.

Don was a 50-year member of Pontiac First United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees and finance committee. He was also a leader in the annual Methodist Men's Pancake Breakfasts and participated in work missions to Haiti and Miami.

Don's generous donation of his time and resources to the community was limitless. His service to others was honored in many different ways. He was recognized as the first Small Business Person of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Grand Marshal of the Thresherman's Parade. He also received the Fan Appreciation Award at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. While these awards were special to him, the title Don took the most pride in was Grandpa.

Don was a loyal Chicago White Sox fan and longtime season ticket holder. He enjoyed many fishing trips to Canada and making memories in the Northwoods. Above all, Don will be remembered as a man who deeply loved his family.

Don never knew a stranger. He had a smile and a kind word for everyone. He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, Don's family requests memorials be directed to Pontiac First United Methodist Church, OSF Hospice or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Don's family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Bhanu Vakkalanka, Dr. John Migas, Dr. John M. Rinker, Pontiac Cancer Center, OSF Home Health, OSF Hospice, and special friend and caregiver, Molly Schneider.

Condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.
Amazing things happen when our community comes together. On Sept. 18 members of seven local churches, Hy-Vee grocery store, Midwest Food Bank, Home Sweet Home Ministries and the larger community came together to meet the needs of local children and families through Big Give Sunday.

Vale, Evangelical Free, First Baptist Bloomington, Charis, Victory Christian, Our Redeemer Lutheran and New Life Fellowship churches sent their members out shopping for food and personal care items. Hy-Vee made the items easily accessible to shoppers. Volunteers gathered at Midwest Food Bank to sort all the donated items. When it was all said and done, 41,000 pounds of items were received. Some items will be part of Midwest Food Banks backpack program for school children while other items will be available to participants in Home Sweet Home Ministries Bread for Life Food Co-op and Thanksgiving meal distribution.
India's Paper Production Capacity on Pace to Reach 20 Million Tonnes by 2020 Sept. 27, 2016 (PrintWeek - India) - The 55th AGM and Conference of the Federation of Paper Traders Associations hosted its magnum opus celebration at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai. The event which was attended by more than 800 paper traders across India saw JK Paper's vice chairman and managing director Harsh Pati Singhania address the gathering as the chief guest at the conference. Singhania was quite unequivocal that India is the fastest growing paper market globally. He said, the Indian paper industry is growing at over 7 per cent and projected to grow at over 4 per cent per annum till 2030. This is translated into 20 million tonnes in 2020 and 27 million tonnes by 2030. He reassured the audience that the Indian paper mill industry has made suitable investments to cope with the demand. He said, "Indian paper mills have invested over Rs 20,000 crore in the last five years. But it needs investments of Rs 90,000 crore to add new capacities by 2030." He said, digital India is not a threat to the paper industry but an opportunity due to the additional usage of paper and paper materials. He added, the paper industry has huge potential to grow as the per capital consumption of India is only 11 kgs as compared to 26 kgs in Asia and 56 kgs globally. Today, the Rs 50,000 crore paper industry in India provides employment to four lakh people directly and 15 lakh people indirectly, Singhania said. Demand for better quality packaging of FMCG products marketed through organised retail, rising healthcare spends, over-the-counter medicines and increasing preference for ready-to-eat foods are the key demand drivers for paperboard. Singhania gave the government programs a thumbs up. He felt the 'Make in India' project by the government of India will boost the demand for packaging. The market for writing and printing paper is expected to grow by about 6 per cent annually over the next five years. As a result, market for printing and writing paper will expand from the current 4.8 million tonnes in 2015-16 to about 5.8 million tonnes per year by 2018-19. The full story is available at PrintWeek: www.printweek.in SOURCE: PrintWeek India
The royal family has arrived in Canada to meet another royalty. Blue was the theme of the royal family. Kate Middleton, Prince William and children Princess Charlotte and Prince George were all attendee.

The family is in Canada for an official trip which will double as a vacation. This is the first time that the Prince and Kate will be together with their children for a vacation in Canada. The couple had been in Canada after three months of being married in 2011, according to E! News.

The Duchess of Cambridge was, as expected, fashionable when they reached their destination. Carrying Princess Charlotte, who wore a dress, a tiny bow clip and shoes all in light blue, Kate Middleton carried herself with grace.

The baby princess matched her brother who was wearing a powder blue sweatshirt and navy blue shorts with black knee-high socks and shoes, much like a cute school boy. The Duchess was wearing a blue Jenny Packham dress and a hat from Lock and Co. Topping off her look is a classy and attention-grabbing maple leaf brooch that was said to belong to Queen Elizabeth and a G. Collins & Sons blue pear-cut earrings.

"They really enjoyed taking Prince George to New Zealand and Australia and are delighted to have this opportunity to introduce them to Canada," according to a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace.

Recently, Kate Middleton was named UK's most influential fashion icon according to a survey. She also inspired other royalties such as Greek Princess Maria-Olympia, who blasted the former by saying she is more experimental and younger.

The royal family is set to meet the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophia Trudeau and other dignitaries. After which they will go to Victoria.

"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," Prince William said. The family will have the eight-day tour and will meet the Canadians "face-to-face." Kate Middleton and Prince William left their children in Victoria to rest, while they head to Vancouver, according to Mirror.
A state of unrest rocked Charlotte, North Carolina following the police shooting on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Officer Brentley Vinson gunned down Keith Lamont Scott, a black dad with seven kids. The situation is not unlike other cases of police officers shooting a black man, thus riots and protests have been staged across the city.

For many, this incident could be seen as a socio-economic issue. However, observers note that there's an underlying cause as to why this keeps happening in America. This is a reflection of just how much the lack of education options and opportunities impact communities.

It should bear noting that in Charlotte, 95 percent of the student population come from poor families who are not Caucasians. Many of them are failing the state exams because the school system is a failure, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Parents in these communities have little choices when it comes to putting their children to good schools because, aside from the lack of these schools, they also do not have the means to send their kids to better institutions. Thus, poor families and children of color remain in a failing education system.

Newsweek reports that some 88 percent of Charlotte's high school population have their diplomas but Superintendent Ann Clark believes that this is not enough. The school board in Charlotte has a goal of improving the standards of low-performing schools this year and it will indeed be a challenge.

Charlotte's dilemma is no different from Baltimore or Ferguson, which also recently experienced civil unrest as a result of police shooting and riots. "You know, when folks are under-educated, unfortunately, they don't have the same intellectual voice to express it the way other people are doing. And that's what we see due to violence today," Nick Mosby of the Baltimore City Council said, per CNS News.

Do you believe that education plays a crucial role in why these unrest and riots keep happening? Share your thoughts on this matter in the comments below.
It's true that parenting doesn't come with a manual but for some parents in the internet age, Google is there to search for advice in raising children. But is it really helpful or harmful? Are parents becoming more effective with Google's help or are they losing the ability to use their instincts in learning what works best? The experts weigh in on the matter.

Google has the answer for anything under the sun and it's not uncommon for parents to turn to this for advice on dealing with their children. From simple sniffles, to tantrum solutions, to choosing the best school, it seems googling for answers assures parents they are going about things the right way.

Child psychiatrist Dawn Baker admits that she has used Google to search for answers to a parenting dilemma during a sleep-deprived moment of exhaustion. "I knew that I should have known what to do because of my profession, but also because surely all humans are naturally equipped to be parents," Baker wrote via Quartz.

But being a new parent, Baker found that support groups on the internet made parenting a lot easier to navigate. However, she still believes that parents should "trust their instincts, do what feels right, and enjoy learning about the world through their child's eyes."

For another expert, pediatrician Dr. Lindsay Uzunlar, Google is not always helpful because there's always that tendency to get lost in the rabbit hole. "You want to Google because you want to diagnose what your child has or you want to reassure yourself about something," the doctor said, per Chicago Tribune. However, doing so might only bring up more questions, or worse, anxieties, as parents Google for more information.

A previous study has revealed that majority of parents, particularly mothers, turn to Google or online parenting groups for advice because these avenues are quite accessible, Made for Mums reports. Dr. Richard Woofson believes it is good that parents have this option today.

The psychologist, however, also stressed that it might be even better to complement the knowledge from Google with traditional sources, such as parenting advice from grandparents. "You don't have to take it but there's no harm in listening," the doctor said.
"Homeland" is going to have a minor cast changed for Season 6. The Showtime political drama series, which is in the middle of filming on the streets of New York, has replaced Claire Danes' TV daughter with an older child.

Set sightings reveal that Carrie Mathison's (Danes) daughter, Frannie, with Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) from the early seasons of "Homeland," is now of school age. Claire Danes was actually photographed carrying her growing TV daughter on the set, per Daily Mail.

The young girl who was cast on "Homeland" still has that signature strawberry blonde hair she supposedly inherited from her father. She and Claire Danes were acting out scenes that depicted Carrie Mathison as an involved parent. It looked like mother and child are getting along well and living a typical New York life.

Franny Mark II! Claire Danes gets a new daughter on Homeland https://t.co/lTtLhmPX2H via @DailyMailCeleb  Carrie Mathison (@CarrieMathinson) September 24, 2016

Viewers may recall that Frannie Mathison was born just months after her father was hanged in the Middle East in "Homeland" Season 3, while her mom remained on active duty with the CIA overseas. Unable to handle what has been going on in her life, Carrie left her daughter to the care of her sister, Maggie (Amy Hargreaves).

Carrie's relationship with Frannie on "Homeland" was unstable in the child's first few years, but producers now say that the character will put her child as the priority. TV Line reports Franny will have major presence in "Homeland" Season 6.

However, how long this will last remains to be seen as Daily Mail also reports that F. Murray Abraham as CIA Agent Dar Adal was also spotted on the set with Danes. It's highly likely that the CIA is trying to bring Carrie Mathison back into the fold. The question is, will she give up her family again to serve her country?
As the world embraces the digital age, it's not surprising to learn that technology has been an influential factor in transforming education. In fact, the combined forces of education and technology has redefined the learning and teaching experiences of students and teachers.

Education technology, however, does not only aim to transform the way students learn or improve the traditional pedagogies in school. As Parent Herald previously reported, the broader field of EdTech could also reinvent and revolutionize the research process at educational institutions.

Due to the potential role of education technology in teaching and learning, Georgetown University Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship executive director Eddie Maloney believes that EdTech should become an academic discipline. According to Campus Technology, Maloney stressed the need to further explore technology's role in teaching and learning.

With that said, Georgetown University is gearing up to launch its master's degree program in Learning and Design. This new academic discipline aims to explore the study of education technology, learning analytics and instructional design.

Georgetown University, however, is not alone in its quest to explore the role of education technology in teaching and learning. As a matter of fact, Stanford University and Purdue University have both launched its master's degree programs in Learning, Design and Technology.

With the renewed interest for education technology this year, many skeptics are wondering why. So, Maloney explained how education technology, along with design and analytics, could help improve teaching and learning by eliminating education gaps through new EdTech tools and approaches to reach students.

Speaking of education technology, Province Journal pointed out the fact that student success would not be possible without innovation and technology. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Governor Gina Marie Raimondo even said that technology is the key factor to allow students to learn more and do more hence, producing more skilled students.

As education technology continues to revolutionize the way students learn, solve problems and interact in classrooms, Glendale Community College introduced its Sandbox lab. The Sandbox allowed students to explore the new technology and to learn in a real-world work environment setting.

Meanwhile, education technology could also support students in underserved communities. Vielka Hoy Consulting Founder and Director Vielka Hoy explained via Quora that the effective way to use EdTech in underserved communities is by working within the framework of their school communities.

EdSurge's Molly Zielezinski, however, pointed out the difference of integrating education technology in underserved and privileged communities. According to Forbes, EdTech is used to remediate in underserved communities but in privileged ones, it is used to boost student learning with practice.

What are your thoughts about education technology? Share your comments below and check out Parent Herald for more news and updates.
Xiaomi Mi 5S is expected to unveil in the upcoming Xiaomi press release at China National Convention Center, Beijing on Sept. 27. An invitation that was published online gave fans a hint that the Xiaomi Mi 5S is the flagship device to be revealed in the press event as it depicted a huge "S" symbol. As for Xiaomi Mi Note 2, the release of the much-awaited device may be pushed to next month.

Xiaomi Mi 5S leaks suggested that the device will carry the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.4GHz and Adreno 530 GPU clocked at 650MHz. It is also expected to equip 6GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 256GB according to GizmoChina.

A 3490 mAh battery equipped with Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 is expected to power the Xiaomi Mi 5S device. It is also suggested to sport a 5.15-inch screen display with 3D touch. More rumored specs of Xiaomi Mi 5S include a 16MP camera shooter with PDAF and 4-axis OIS. The device is also believed to feature 4K video recording at 30fps.

Meanwhile, it can be recalled that fans previously thought that the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is the next flagship smartphone that the company was working on. However, the official online invitation with a large "S" symbol suggested that Xiaomi Mi 5S and not Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is the next device that the company plans to release.

Additionally, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has not been certified by the Chinese Telecom Equipment Certification Authority (TEENA) yet according to International Business Times. This could indicate that the device is still not prepared for its unveiling which positions the company to unveil Xiaomi Mi 5S instead. Xiaomi Mi Note 2's release date may then be delayed until Oct.

Xiaomi Mi 5S and Xiaomi Mi Note 2 are previously rumored to be announced at the same time in the upcoming press event of the Chinese electronics company. Though speculations point to Xiaomi Mi 5S being the company's upcoming flagship device, it still remains to be seen whether Xiaomi would also reveal the highly anticipated Xiaomi Mi Note 2.

See the latest leaks and rumors on Xiaomi Mi 5S and Xiaomi Mi Note 2 below.
Parents sharing a bed with their babies have good intentions. They want to keep their babies close to them as physically possible, or it seems to be the only trick to get the infant to calm down and stop crying.

Some parents also bed-share to reduce broken, sleepless nights whenever their babies cry. Bed-sharing, however, can be dangerous and fatal to infants.

Bed-sharing often causes suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to babies, with the latter's cases rising to alarming rates, Romper reported. A 2013 study published in the online journal BMJ Open found that babies who bed-share with their parents are five times more likely to die of SIDS. The research examined data of more than 8,000 infant deaths that occurred between 2004 and 2012 in 24 states.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly advised parents or caregivers against bed-sharing with a baby -- whether it's on a bed, chair, or a sofa, Medical News Today reported. A 2013 study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), however, found that infant bed-sharing instances doubled in numbers in recent years. Bed-sharing rates rose to 13.5 percent in 2010 from 6.5 percent in 1993.

Another study published in the journal Pediatrics found that out of 8,207 infant deaths that took place in 24 U.S. states between 2004 and 2012, 69 percent were due to bed-sharing, according to a separate report from Medical News Today. Dr. Michael Goodstein, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Pennsylvania State University and a part of the AAP Task Force for SIDS, told the news outlet that bed-sharing increases the risk of overheating, head covering, rebreathing or airway obstruction, and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Other injuries that babies can get from bed-sharing are suffocation, asphyxia, strangulation, falls, and entrapment. Goodstein said that infants -- especially those who are younger than three months, are born prematurely, and/or with low birth weight -- are most vulnerable to dying due to bed-sharing.

This is because these babies still have immature motor skills and muscle strength, which prevent them from evading possible threats. The dangers of bed-sharing are most prominent when the parent or caregiver is tired, has been smoking or drinking alcohol, or if he/she is under the influence of drugs.

Some experts, however, argued that bed-sharing fosters a special bond between the parent and the baby. Physical closeness is important to fulfill an infant's need for warmth, comfort, and security. But other experts believe that the risks of bed-sharing far outweigh its benefits.
"South Park" season 20 definitely has more reasons to celebrate as its season premiere recently reached another milestone by being the highest-rated episode in a decade. But aside from the new ratings, the hit Comedy Central adult-animated series is also getting more interesting as a mysterious disappearance unfolds in its episode 3.

Prior to "South Park" season 20 episode 3, the hit animated series made history when its premiere episode marked the highest-rated episode and the highest-rated cable premiere since 2006. According to The Futon Critic, the 20th season premiere episode titled, "Member Berries," got a total of 3.7 million linear views.

Speaking of "South Park" season 20 episode 3, the upcoming episode will follow the events of the second episode where Cartman was accused of being an online troll named Skank Hunt 42. As Parent Herald previously reported, the boys were so determined to prove that Cartman was an online troll, not to mention the global terror threat in the previous episode.

The upcoming "South Park" season 20 episode 3 titled, "The Damn," on the other hand, will have some hint of mystery into it. As a matter of fact, South Park Studios press release on the upcoming episode teases the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Cartman on social media after quitting on Twitter.

What's really more interesting in "South Park" season 20 episode 3 is the fact that Cartman's social media disappearance will spark a police investigation. Cartman's disappearance may also have something to do with the Twitter trolling that continued from the previous episode.

Meanwhile, "South Park" season 23 episode 3 will also follow Gerald as he enjoys the media attention while Skank Hunk 42 continuously troll everyone. In addition, the upcoming episode will also feature Garrison as he gears up for the Presidential debate.

What do you think is the reason for Cartman's disappearance in "South Park" season 20 episode 3? Catch the all-new episode on Comedy Central at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
High school and college students are definitely in for a rocky path as they are swamped with exams, homework and countless school activities, thus some would look for options to keep them going. It was recently revealed that these students have found a way to excel in school, despite not having enough rest. These students came up with a way in using an ADHD medication to keep them focused when it comes to their school work.

College students are often swamped with school work, which eventually led them to come up with a way to ace their academics. These students resorted to Adderall, an ADHD prescription medication that helps them with their concentration and boosts their brain function.

Huffington Post reveals that college students within the United States tend to use Adderall and Vyvanse to get them through their daily workload. It was revealed that most college students would lie to their doctors by stating that they feel overly anxious and distracted just for them to be given the ADHD drug. The drug may seem harmless but the publication revealed that it is classified as a Class 2 drugs, which belong to the same class as cocaine and morphine.

The New York Times conducted a study where it was revealed that most of the participants lied to their doctors to have access to the drug. It was then added that more than 900,000 individuals are misdiagnosed and were falsely given the prescription. Some may have accessed it through their physician; there are those who were able to acquire the pill through their friends and classmates.

Adderall overdose can lead to several complications as it has the same effect as that of cocaine abuse. The person may experience an increase in heart rate, heart irregularities and sleeplessness.

"There isn't a perceived risk factor for taking these medications without a medical need and that can and has led to medical emergencies that could be life threatening," April Rovero, executive director of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, said.
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When he says hes not spending time preparing for a debate, I believe him. Last night was the much anticipated debate. Or, let down as the case may be. Just a few thoughts from off the top of my head. I did watch the whole thing, such as it was.

The show turned out the way I imagined in terms of substance. Hillary is the consummate politician, and everything she said sounded like a career politician. The usual promises, the stats, the assurances. A reminder that when you think Washington insider, you arent far from the mark if Hillary is the first name that comes to mind.

Overall, she ran circles around Trump when it came to substance and knowledge. Except for the business segments where Trump did at times seem to have more street knowledge about running a business, Hillary came off as the expert. Though I admit, there were a couple times that Trump seemed so much more experienced in actual business that it reminded me of that scene in Back to School where Rodney Dangerfields self made millionaire Thornton Mellon tells economics professor Dr. Phillip Barbay what its like to actually run a business  warts and all.

Nonetheless, when it moved on to the issue of race and security, Hillary hit Trump hard about the birther issue. No, strike that. Lester Holt hit Trump hard. Hillary went after Trump over his taxes. No, strike that. Lester Holt went after Trump repeatedly. In fact, Im at pains to think of one time that Mr. Holt hit Hillary on anything. I did go to the bathroom once and get a drink, so maybe I missed it. But apart from the prepared questions, and asking if Hillary wanted to address points Trump brought up, did Mr. Holt hit Hillary with anything? I didnt see it. That flagrant difference alone goes far in cementing the idea that Hillary and the press are one and the same.

Most of the initial buzz I heard from the pundits immediately after was that Hillary had humbugged the press. All this talk about being Ms. Nice Lady was a screen, and she came out swinging. She did. Ironically, most of Trumps hardest attacks on her were dealing with the fact that she was a career politician in the position of promising us this time it will be different. Hitting her on her record. Hitting her on the policies she has been part of. Unless I missed it, he didnt mention her Foundation. He didnt mention deplorables. He didnt mention Paula Jones.

It was Hillary who went below the belt. No, strike that. It was Mr. Holt who went after him on his taxes and his more controversial problems, 40 year old lawsuits all while Hillary added a little icing by bringing up his insults, his personality, his personal foibles.

But the tag team of Hillary and Mr. Holt did have an impact, and a negative one at that. Trump, by halfway through, clearly was on the defensive. He began to ramble. He became defensive. He repeated himself endlessly. This, combined with his clear lack of preparation, began to make him look befuddled, confused, and at times, almost panicky. And for the persona Trump has tried to foster, I cant imagine anything worse. If Hillary and Lester were hoping to get a Colonel Nathan Jessep moment, they at least ended up with a Captain Queeg.

This is all without being bombarded with outside opinion today. I havent even listened to what my boys had to say. So boring was the overall debate that when it was done, I went straight to bed. This is just from my first impressions. And knowing Hillary and her rather big picture approach to handling things, I cant help but think last night was not the goal. As bad as Trump might have looked, or as professional, if not at times smug, she looked, the debate wasnt the point. If I know Hillarys tactics, the goal was to light a fire under Trump for today and following. To piss him off, so to speak.

The difference in how she and Trump were treated couldnt be missed. The fact that she went more personal than Trump couldnt be missed. But however bumbling and stumbling he appeared, last night wasnt the end game. That will be today and tomorrow and the following week. Hopefully, Trump will revert to his old ways in a desperate bid for damage control. Hopefully he will go Paula Jones, or Hillarys looks, or rants against the medias bias, or anything that will get him away from his more disciplined demeanor of the last few weeks. Hopefully he will get nasty, mean, childish, obnoxious. A few Little Marcos would be nice right about now. Or perhaps a revelation that Bill was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Jack Kennedy. Anything to help her floundering campaign.

Because in the end, last night merely confirmed everything. Trump is not informed, does not know the details, and is an outsider looking in at the political game. Hillary, as I said, is the consummate politician. With the occasional grin of the cat that swallowed the canary, her prefabricated promises did nothing other than confirm the Hollywood caricature of a political insider. Promises weve all heard before from someone who has been there all along.

Those are the thoughts off the top. Well see what happens. I know if the press focuses on his sniffling or water drinking, it will mean Trump won, no matter what my impression was.
I recently read a New York Times article titled Rural Young Women in India Chase Big-City Dreams. The piece covered a government program that encourages garment-manufacturers to recruit young women from rural areas to work in their factories. The idea is that these rural young women are a largely untapped labor force, and that their gainful employment would help grow Indias economy. But the article didnt focus on the politics of the program or the incentives of the employers but rather on the young women who take part on itand on the ways in which it changes them.

The village had its own plan for these young women. Upon reaching adulthood, they would be transferred to the guardianship of another family, along with a huge dowry that serves as an incentive to treat them well. The transfer is final. Once married, the new bride cannot return to visit her parents without permission, which is given sparingly, so that the bonds to her old home will weaken. She must show her submission to the new family: She is not allowed to speak the names of her in-laws, because it is seen as too familiar, and in some places she is not allowed to use words that begin with the same letters as her in-laws names, requiring the invention of a large parallel vocabulary. Each morning, before she is allowed to eat, the daughter-in-law must wash the feet of her husbands parents and then drink the water she has used to wash them.

And yet, by the end of the article, Shashi, one of the girls who left her rural village to go work in a textile mill, has bought a smartphone with her earnings and is plotting to marry her boyfriend, whom she meets clandestinely, regardless of her parents disapproval. I am utterly fascinated.

We see a lot of disapproval of sweatshops, and for good reasonpoor working conditions and exploitation by overseers and bosses are serious problems that absolutely need addressing (and if we can do this through our trade negotiations, all the better). But we see much less discussion of the ways in which the garment industry, and factory work more generally, can gradually raise people out of rural (or urban) poverty, give them additional options, and (in the cases of rural girls like Shashi) broaden their horizons. Shashi would be demonstrably worse off if her garment factory did not exist.

This isnt the first time weve seen teenage girls and young women leave home for mill work. During the antebellum period, Lowell Mills, one of the first factories in the United States, was designed specifically to employ farm girls. The idea was to give these girls a chance to make some money to put a brother through college, or to save up toward establishing a household once they married. The girls lived in communal lodging houses, and while they didnt go to the big city the way Shashi and her fellow workers did, they often attended lectures or created reading groups that broadened their horizons nonetheless.

The New York Times article describes a brief labor protest of sorts that Shashi and her fellow workers carried out when they were late in being paid. The Lowell mill girls also went on strike. One thing I see, in each case, is a growth in confidence tied partially to living independently and partially to becoming a wage earner. Even though many of Shashis fellow workers may ultimately return to their rural villages and marry, they wont be unchanged. Their sense of their place in the world will have changed, and they will live with the knowledge that they have the ability to earn their own way.

In my own small way, I identify with the girls at Lowell Mills, and with Shashi. I grew up in a conservative evangelical homeschool community where many believed that daughters remained under their fathers authority until marriage. The stay at home daughters movement made an impact in our community, and when I prepared to leave home for college, there were those who tried to dissuade both me and my parents. A good friend of mine told me that a young womans unmarried years should be spent serving, not away from home in a hedonistic atmosphere focused on myself. A friend of my parents insisted that attending college would ruin me as a future wife and mother. I left home anyway.

In college, I exercised newfound independence and gained skills, knowledge, and confidence. When I ultimately ran into trouble with my parents, who werent pleased with all of my decisions, I had the know-how and the confidence to find my own housing and employment and to pay my own expenses. The contrast between my upbringing and my life in college was not as extreme as the contrast between Shashis rural village and the big city that housed her garment factory, and college is very different from textile work. Still, there are common threads of newfound independence and self-confidence.

As a feminist, I am excited to read about the opportunities factory life is giving Shashi and her fellow workers. And as a feminist, I am concerned by the low wages, bad working conditions, and potential for exploitation we often see in sweat shops like those of the garment industry. I believe we can be both.
Podcast

About 75% of military recruits arrive at a training base with no bank account and have to be bussed to a local bank to open one, says Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. The bank's team is building a platform that will help service members save and build credit.
Iran, Japan seal deal to fund petrochemical plans

09/27/16

Source: Press TV

Iran says Japan has agreed to fund the development of some of its petrochemical projects - a groundbreaking move that could open the way for similar funding mechanisms for other sectors in the future.



Lordegan petrochemical plant

Under construction by Iran's Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC)

(Photo by PGPIC)



Iran's Ministry of Petroleum announced in a statement that a deal has been signed between the country's Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) and Japan's Marubeni to provide as much as 320 million for the development of PGPIC's petrochemical projects, IRNA reported.

This, the Ministry added, will be carried out through a mechanism known as the Usance Letter of Credit (L/C).

The L/C permits the beneficiary to be paid immediately upon presentation of specified documents or at a future date as established in the sales contract.

IRNA added that another deal that envisages providing PGPIC with an extra 640 million is close to finalization and will be singed in the near future.

It also said that PGPIC plans to provide an extra $10 billion for its projects but did not specify where and how the sum is planned to be provided.

A top petrochemical official in Tehran said in June that discussions are underway with investors from Japan and South Korea to finance Iran's petrochemical projects through the L/C mechanism.

Isa Mashayekhi, the managing director of Iran's Petrochemical Commercial Company International (PCCI), was quoted by the media as saying that his company is negotiating with some Japanese and Korean investors to attract an investment of 520 million for its projects.

Mashayekhi added that Iran's Ministry of Economy and Finance should provide state guarantees to access credit lines from other countries, Xinhua reported.

PCCI is a subsidiary of PGPIC which is in charge of talks with international companies for financing petrochemical projects and attracting investments for PGPIC projects, Xinhua added.
President Rouhani: Governments encouraging citizens to visit 'safe' Iran

09/27/16

Source: Iran Daily

Iran's huge investment in security has borne fruit which include drawing foreign investment and tourists, said President Hassan Rouhani. Speaking at a ceremony to mark World Tourism Day (Sept. 27), he said, "Today, even the governments which used to issue warnings to their citizens against traveling to Iran, now acknowledge that Iran is a secure tourist destination."



President Hassan Rouhani speaking at the event





President Rouhani further said Iran's foreign policy and cooperation with other nations form the fundamental bases for attracting tourists.

The president termed thwarting Iranophobia as one of major impacts of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - the landmark nuclear deal reached between Iran and the world six major powers in July 2015.

Rouhani said the political situation is ripe for drawing more tourists.

One of major policies of the Islamic Republic is to have effective interaction with the world, he added.

He said, "The tourism industry can be an important way to generate jobs for the youth. One of our main goals is to generate jobs, promote technology and draw investment."

Also speaking on the occasion, Head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) Masoud Soltanifar said the tourism sector, which has 1,750 projects worth 400 trillion rials ($13.3 billion) at hand, is the driving force of the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2016-2021).





Masoud Soltanifar speaking at the event





He added that in view of its high potentials, the tourism industry plays a major role in the country's economic development.

He revealed that ICHHTO intends to generate 140,000 jobs in the handicrafts sector within two years.

Soltanifar hoped that the number of foreign tourists would reach 20 million by 2025 from current figure of 5.2 million.

He said. "Today, 820 one- to five-star hotels are under construction nationwide, of which 170 have been undertaken by the private sector.

"Following the JCPOA deal, we have held talks with 20 foreign investors and inked agreements with investors from Turkey and Germany to construct 25 five-star hotels within five years."

The ICHHTO chairman continued that the airport visa scheme has been extended for nationals of 190 countries, adding electronic visa would be issued as of mid-March 2017.

Also, the deputy head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization said the fact that some 1,600 are underway projects across the country is a proof to Iran's emergence as a major player in world's tourism business.

Morteza Rahmani-Movahhed added that 820 projects pertain to one- to five-star hotels and hotel-apartments, and the rest include tourist complexes, rest and recreation sites, ecotourism resorts and medical centers.

He described tourism as the country's most competitive industry.

Head of Iran Hotel Management Society Jamshid Hamzeh-zadeh said all hotels are offering 10-50 percent discount during Tourism Week (Sept. 26-Oct. 3).

Also, a website themed 'www.iranplanner.com', designed by a number of tour leaders, was expected to be unveiled on World Tourism Day. It introduces Iran's tourist routes and online planning for traveling.

Mahsa Motahhar, a member of board of directors of Iranplanner, said, "Following numerous trips and acquaintance with friends skilled in information technology, we launched the website in which traveling information is easily accessible to the public.

"We have taken advantage of the experiences from individual or group trips. We know that when a person travels with his/her family, how he/she can visit the sightseeing sites and how long he/she should take into account for rest.

"We have so far drawn up 200 travel plans for top destinations. We intend to increase them to 1,000. One can choose the origin on this website and even select the destination in accordance with the number of days set aside for traveling."

She continued, "We have covered all provincial centers on this website. All the cities en route have been introduced."
Greyhound Lines, which is being forced to leave its downtown Riverside terminal, is considering a Jurupa Valley shopping center as a possible location for a ticket office, city officials say.

Jurupa Valley City Manager Gary Thompson said the city has been contacted by Greyhound about leasing office space at the 8300 block of Limonite Avenue. The site, which is privately owned, had previously been used for city offices.

Allison Morrison, a spokeswoman for the bus company, said it is considering multiple locations and has not settled on any one site.

Greyhound wants to make sure we find the right location that will be suitable for our customers and staff, she said. She added a relocation date has not been set.

The bus line has been at University Avenue and Fairmount Boulevard in Riverside for more than 30 years, but Riverside officials are moving to evict Greyhound by early next year. The Riverside Transit Agency also plans to stop using the terminal early next year.

City officials are considering the site for a new main library.

The Riverside terminal has 14 scheduled Greyhound buses a day from morning to late evening, Morrison said. Greyhound would have a similar number of buses at a new location, but the schedule has not been finalized, she said.

As part of the move, Greyhound is also looking for a site close its new office for bus storage and maintenance, Morrison said.

The office would sell tickets and include a waiting area with buses coming and going, Thompson said. There would be no storage or maintenance of buses at the site under the proposal, Thompson said.

The propertys commercial zoning allows for such uses and requires only a staff-level review for a permit. The city cannot reasonably deny the request, Thompson said.

Theyre going to be required to make sure that whatever theyre doing there is safe and secure, Thompson said.

Nothing has been filed with the city so far, he added.

Some Jurupa Valley residents speculating about the proposal on social media are concerned about problems similar to those at the Riverside terminal. City and business leaders have complained of loitering and panhandling.

Not too many people are thrilled about it, Councilman Brad Hancock said.

He said he would want to ensure that the office has adequate security and its hours are restricted.

I certainly dont want buses rolling through the city at 2 oclock in the morning, Hancock said.

Jurupa Valley resident Kim Johnson noted that the location is not near a freeway and questioned whether the Greyhound bus schedules would match up with RTA buses.

One of my main concerns is, how does anyone coming in leave and go where they need to go if theyre relying on local buses, she said.

Thompson said its too early to speculate.

I cant sit here and say we have a problem until a problem develops, he said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9558 or ighori@scng.com; @ImranGhori1
Nearly two years after a state law passed that turned some serious drug offenses into minor ones, a new study has stirred up renewed discussion on whether the measure is working.

Voters gave Prop. 47 the nod in November 2014, mandating that six low-level property and drug offenses would be reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors.

From Los Angeles to the Inland Empire, it meant that felons got resentenced. Many received reduced time. And some were simply released for time already served.

The idea was popular at the time. The goal: Decrease bloated jail populations and use the savings from incarcerating low-level felons to fund rehabilitation programs and supportive housing to help addicts.

The era of solving problems by just locking people up was at least losing steam: Mass incarceration makes our country worse off, and we need to do something about it, President Obama said in 2015, foreshadowing his own granting of clemency to several drug offenders.

But it also sparked intense criticism  warnings that the measure would only result in more crime.

Both themes were revived in response to a study released this week by the San Francisco-based Center for Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Researchers noted that California counties experiencing greater decreases in prison and jail populations did not report greater increases in crime, between October 2014 and October 2015.

Kings and Glenn counties, for example, showed declines in their jails by a rate of 66 inmates per 100,000 residents. They found violent crime decreased by 1 percent in Kings County. In Glenn County, both its violent and property crime rates fell by 16 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Burglary fell 4 percent across the Golden State, said Mike Males, the lead researcher of the study, whose organization works to reduce the use of incarceration.

Riverside County, for example, saw its prison population drop at a rate of 32 inmates per 100,000 residents. In that same time, they saw an 11 percent decrease in burglary. In San Bernardino County, where violent crime rose to 19 percent, burglaries had dropped by 4 percent.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles County, where 500,000 people were eligible to have felonies on their records reduced to misdemeanors after Prop. 47 passed, violent crime rose 17 percent between October 2014 and October 2015, while burglary inched up to 2 percent. Orange Countys burglary rate rose to 13 percent for that same time period.

Males acknowledged that overall crime rates have increased, not only in California, but across the nation.

A reckless experiment?

And Prop. 47, which was supposed to save taxpayers more than $100 million annually, hasnt quite lived up to its billing, critics say.

The money saved from not imprisoning people was supposed to go to counties to help set up drug programs, Males said. There are counties that have complained that they havent gotten enough to help these populations.

Known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, Prop. 47 went into effect in January 2015, when 51,000 people were being held in jails, 135,000 were in correctional facilities, and an estimated 1 million Californians were eligible to change past felonies to misdemeanors.

Those in law enforcement say the combination of AB 109, which shifted some inmates from prisons to the county facilities, and Prop. 47, have restructured the justice system so much, offenders are arrested, go briefly to court, but then are released without being held accountable.

George Hofstetter, president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said in a statement this week that the study this week was pointless and called Prop. 47 a reckless experiment. He added that the public is suffering because of it.

The toll of crime on people victimized does not end when the crime is completed, Hofstetter said. When property is stolen, identity is taken by a criminal to commit a theft, or checks are forged, and the victim suffers a loss of personal privacy and security that lingers and does not evaporate. It takes valuable time to contact the authorities, the banks, creditors, and businesses. What is the cost of that?

Although Prop 47 may not be the only driving force, police have seen shoplifting, for example, grow in the last 18 months since voters approved the initiative.

Prop. 47 had its best intentions, but there were adverse consequences as a result of it, said Deputy Chief Travis Walker with the Cathedral City Police Department in Riverside County. Walker was formerly with San Bernardino Police Department and has seen crime rise in both counties.

I know that the businesses have suffered tremendously, he said. Those costs get passed to the consumer.

State Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, introduced a bill in June that would close some of the loopholes in Prop. 47, which included going after organized shoplifting crews. The bill has been placed on hold while an advisory group works to refine it.

In a recent Op-Ed, Lackey said he met security professionals working for large and small retailers and they told him shoplifting has doubled in the state, reaching a point to where thieves are so brazen that they openly threaten employees, he wrote.

Males said one of the problems is that older adults, mostly middle-aged men who are committing drug and property crimes, are among a growing population who are committing the crimes. But that population is largely neglected with it comes to social services.

This population has been growing for 30 years but theyve been neglected, he said. Thats the fastest prison, jail arrestee population in the state.

Males said its too early to draw any conclusions on the effectiveness of Prop. 47 and hes awaiting the FBIs annual crime statistics, expected to be released soon, to see if there have been changes. But even if crime rates continue to increase, the voters have spoken, he noted.

The bottom line is here we really dont have a choice, Males said. The voters and legislators dont want to build more prisons. Jails have reached constraints.

RELATED

Is Prop. 47 working? Depends whom you ask

30-plus drug citations equal zero felonies, thanks to Prop. 47

Contact the writer: sabram@scng.com or @sabramLA on Twitter
This is one of a three-part series on the effects of Prop. 47. Also read:

Is Prop. 47 working? Depends who you ask

30-plus drug citations equal zero felonies, thanks to Prop. 47

Even with four years of sobriety under his belt and his criminal past behind him, Freddie Harris of Corona still struggles.

A record riddled with felony drug convictions and prison time has made it tough for the 55-year-old to hold down a job, get an education or secure stable housing for him and his family.

But Harris life took a turn for the better in 2014 with the passage of Prop. 47, which turned certain felonies into misdemeanors. Several of his prior drug-possession convictions from years ago were reclassified as misdemeanors. Harris said he still has felonies on his record from incidents in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, and is working to get those reclassified as well.

Harris cleaner record has given him a new outlook on life. Though he still feels haunted by the mistakes he made in his youth, he believes he is finally able to move in the right direction, toward a higher education, better-paying and less physically demanding work and, ultimately, a better life.

Im grateful that I get another shot at life, Harris said. I have the opportunity to take care of my family and be a better provider, a better man, a better father and a better friend.

Whats most important to Harris right now is finding secure employment. Drug addiction, prison time and hard labor has taken a toll on Harris body. He wants to be able to work a job thats less physically taxing but pays enough to support his family.

Harris is among 3,396 people in Riverside County and 72,624 people statewide who applied between November 2014 and March 2016 to have their felony convictions reclassified as misdemeanors, according to the Judicial Council of California.

Temecula-based defense attorney Mike Donaldson, who frequently works with people seeking to have their felonies reclassified under Prop. 47, said it has opened a lot of doors for his clients.

What we have is an opportunity for people who have committed non-violent, rather non-serious crimes like theft and drug possession able to get prior felonies reclassified and try to rejoin society as a productive members of society, Donaldson said.

ROCKY START

Harris was plunged into the criminal justice system at a young age growing up in Inglewood. Without a stable home life, he said, he started doing drugs at 9 years old. His first prison stint was at 17.

I was hopeless, Harris said. Where I come from, I thought I was done.

Throughout his teens and 20s, he was in and out of jail and battled addiction.

After a few failed attempts at getting sober, something clicked around 2012, Harris said. With the help of the services offered by Riverside nonprofit Starting Over Inc. and The Hole In Wall recovery center in Moreno Valley, he said, hes been sober ever since.

Court records show Harris has not been charged with any crimes in the past four years in Riverside or San Bernardino counties.

LIFE AS A FELON

Kicking the habit didnt solve all Harris problems. His felony record made it difficult for him to land a job that was stable and permanent, let alone one that paid well.

Instead, he worked for several temp agencies over the years, mostly doing jobs that taxed his body, such as plastic injection molding, delivering machine parts and building silos.

I went from job to job; I couldnt hold any jobs, Harris said. Every day I would go to work thinking, Am I going to get fired today?

Finding long-term housing was also tough.

There had been times when we went from motel to motel. We couldnt get an apartment because of my record, Harris said. It was brutal.

Donaldson said having a felony on your record can forever strip a person of his freedom.

You can basically be legally discriminated against  you can be denied employment, housing, scholarships and other things, Donaldson said. A one-time mistake ends up becoming a lifetime punishment, he said.

LOOKING FORWARD

Lenore Anderson was the co-author of Prop. 47 and is the founder and executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, a nonprofit criminal justice reform organization. She said reclassification can help push people out of the revolving door that sends many ex-cons back to prison.

Experts in re-entry will tell you that jobs and housing are two of the most important ingredients in getting people stable and out of the criminal justice system, Anderson said

The National Institute of Justice, a research and development branch of the Department of Justice, found in a 2011 study that being employed after getting out of jail substantially reduced the risk of going back to jail, and living in a stable neighborhood also reduced that risk.

Harris said before 2014, he never thought he would make out of that system.

Ive lost at least half my lifetime, Harris said. Ive worked 25 to 30 jobs and Im beat up. Im tired.

His ultimate goal is to go to college so he can get a better job to support his wife and high-school-aged son; he also has an adult daughter. He was able to get some financial aid  which people with criminal records have limited access to  and registered to attend San Bernardino Valley College this fall to pursue a water treatment certificate.

But because of ongoing financial struggles, hes putting off school to focus on keeping the bills paid. He hopes to lock down steady work thats less taxing than some of the tough jobs hes been stuck with.

Theres some guys out there who really need a shot, man, Harris said. Its a blessing to be where I am now, it truly is.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9284, atadayon@pressenterprise.com, @PE_alitadayon
Animatronics wizard Garner Holt has ventured into movie producing with a Swedish documentary about female bodybuilders.

The logo for Garner Holt Productions appears at the beginning of Too Big for the World, screening through Thursday in Beverly Hills.

The film focuses on Irene Andersen, whose efforts to be in a world-class bodybuilding competition were thwarted when Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated her contest from the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. It is frank about the physical and psychological demands of the sport, which include dealing with harassment by critics who dont think women should pursue it.

The documentary was a five-year project for Hanna and Renzo Anerod, Andersens neighbors in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Holt, who is a fan of the sport, called himself associate producer. He got behind the film because he is a friend of Andersen.

Last weekend, he took a large group of colleagues from his San Bernardino plant to the Los Angeles premiere at the Ahrya Fine Arts, a 1937 movie palace on Wilshire Boulevard. Andersen, her family, the directors and several bodybuilders who appear in the film were in the audience.

Garner Holt Productions is one of the worlds leading companies in creating theme park figures. Holt has been a supplier to the Disney parks since 2001, when he worked on the first season of Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Los Angeles Magazine credits the company with making a new animatronic figure for this years edition, the Tim Burton character Sally. Like other independent contractors that work with theme parks, Garner Holt Productions does not talk about current projects.

Holts involvement in Too Big for the World is not so much a new direction for his company as a chance to help out.

Its not easy to put a film like this together, Holt said in a Q&A after the screening. The things we made in our business, people see them and they dont know where they come from. They think its easy and its not. But  this film is a tremendous feat.

Contact the writer: fbuck@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9551.
Riverside City Colleges longest-serving classified employee is celebrating her 50th anniversary with the campus.

Barbara Van Tomme, a library clerk, received a glass trophy with a plaque at the Riverside Community College Districts Sept. 20 board meeting.

She started as a student worker at the college in September 1964 and was hired as a library clerk in 1966.

Two years later, the library moved to the MLK Library building and changed from the Dewey Decimal System to the Library of Congress system.

Van Tomme spent part of her career preparing overdue notices and placing magazine orders using a manual typewriter.

She currently works in the colleges fourth library, known as the Salvatore G. Rotella Digital Library and Learning Resources Center.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292, stwall@scng.com, @pe_swall
Riverside officials will present information about Measure Z, a proposed sales tax increase, at several upcoming public meetings.

The measure, which will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot, would increase city sales taxes by one percentage point, or one cent per dollar on taxable purchases. Officials say the money would help maintain services such as 911 response, street paving and tree trimming.

Meetings will be held Monday, Oct. 3 at Saint Andrew Orthodox Church, 4700 Canyon Crest Drive, and Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the Renck Community Center at Hunt Park, 4015 Jackson St., Riverside. Both meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Three additional meetings are scheduled later in the month. Information about the measure and meeting details are at www.riversideca.gov/measurez.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9461; arobinson@scng.com; @arobinson_pe
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the number of faculty unions in the Riverside Community College District. The district has one faculty union.

Nathan Miller, the Riverside Community College District trustee who sent anti-Hillary Clinton tweets featuring a hangman, resigned Monday, Sept. 26, as the boards vice president.

The board accepted his decision in a special morning meeting. He remains a trustee.

District faculty and student groups have strongly denounced Miller, a Riverside County Republican Party official who lost his state job after sending two tweets last month with a noose-holding hangman and the words Im Ready for Hillary.

Board President Virginia Blumenthal announced at the start of the meeting that Miller had sent a letter saying he was stepping down as vice president, effective immediately.

Miller previously apologized for the tweets, but said he wouldnt resign from the board.

This will allow me to better focus on the needs of our students and the constituents that elected me to serve Norco College and the communities of Corona, Norco and Eastvale, Miller wrote in a Sept. 22 letter.

Miller, who lives in Corona, was elected in 2012 to represent a district that encompasses Eastvale, Norco and part of Corona. He is up for re-election Nov. 8.

His stint as vice president was due to end in December.

At the boards Sept. 20 meeting, after hearing from about a dozen speakers who criticized Millers actions, Blumenthal appointed trustees Mary Figueroa and Tracey Vackar to a committee to discuss whether to censure Miller or strip him of his vice presidency post.

Three academic senates, one faculty union and two student groups from district campuses passed no-confidence resolutions against Miller. The rebuke is unprecedented in the districts 100-year history, said Dariush Haghighat, the districts faculty association president.

Haghighat and Mark Sellick, president of Riverside City Colleges Academic Senate, said after the meeting that the boards move was a positive step.

We will not be satisfied until he steps down from the board, Haghighat said. Being a trustee is a privilege and he has lost that privilege.

The board also agreed Monday to move forward with an update of its nine-year-old ethics policy, which trustees have called outdated.

Figueroa questioned whether Miller understood how much hurt and drama he caused the district, noting he didnt apologize until two weeks after the tweets surfaced. She also complained about not getting a copy of his resignation letter until early Monday morning.

That shows deliberate behavior thats not appreciated, Figueroa said. We really didnt need to go through all this.

After the meeting, Miller reiterated his regret for the tweets and added he hopes the decision to step down as vice president will restore our board meetings to a more civil process.

Miller said the criticism is politically motivated, an assertion that Figueroa denies.

Miller, who serves on the Riverside County Republican Party central committee, resigned from his state government job Aug. 4, a day after tweeting the hangman picture from the county GOPs official Twitter account. He was an adviser to Board of Equalization member Diane Harkey.

The tweets drew outrage from Democrats and others who considered the images a threat against the Democratic presidential candidate.

This month, Miller agreed to become campaign manager for Riverside County supervisor candidate Shellie Milne, a Republican seeking to unseat appointed Democratic incumbent Chuck Washington in the November election.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9292, stwall@scng.com, @pe_swall
The Eloise Reyes campaign has seized upon a pulled endorsement of Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown to attack the incumbent as out-of-step with her San Bernardino County district.

Equality California, an LGBT advocacy group, withdrew its endorsement of Brown, D-San Bernardino, and five other Assembly members on Sept. 20. The groups announcement came after Brown abstained from voting on SB 1146, which requires religious universities to disclose whether they have applied for an exemption to federal anti-discrimination laws.

We regret having to withdraw our endorsements of legislators who have otherwise been allies of the LGBT community, Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur said in a news release.

Our longstanding endorsement policy requires withdrawal because we tell our members that our endorsements include only incumbent legislators who have demonstrated a voting record of 100-hundred percent support for our priority legislation. We look forward to continuing to work with the lawmakers in question, and hope that their future voting records will allow us to consider endorsements in future elections.

The campaign for Reyes, a Democrat hoping to unseat Brown on Nov. 8, issued a news release calling attention to Brown losing Equality Californias endorsement  the latest in a string of groups moving away from Brown due to her poor voting record and her decision to side with big corporations and big oil, the release read.

She is not standing up for us, Reyes said. She is standing up for big oil and Sacramento special interests.

Brown campaign spokesman Daniel Sanchez said Brown voted according to the wishes of the community who reached out to her office and explained the harm it would have on our local universities. Equality California only endorses candidates who agree with them 100% of the time.

Brown, Sanchez said, voted to increase the minimum wage and for the most far reaching regulatory environmental oil-drilling bill in the United States (and) to provide agriculture workers with dignified overtime pay 

When you dont have the support from teachers or public safety, or a record of fighting for the community for over 30 years like Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, and youve lost three elections in the past, its understandable that Eloise Reyes has grown desperate by saying anything in the hopes of getting elected, Sanchez added.

Reyes spokesman Ben Escobedo shot back: Looks like the endorsements that have left Cheryl Brown are touching a nerve in her campaign. They are clearly trying to pivot from the issue that they have lost support from the hard-working women and men who serve the 47th District.

Brown and Reyes, who ran for an Inland congressional seat in 2014, are running for the right to represent the 47th Assembly District, which includes part of San Bernardino as well as Grand Terrace, Rialto and Colton.

Its a rare intraparty contest between an incumbent who enjoys the support of the state Democratic Party and Democratic leaders in Sacramento and an outsider in Reyes, who has the support of state Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino along with labor and environmental groups upset with Browns votes.

Brown and Reyes finished first and second, respectively, ahead of a Republican candidate in the June 7 primary, which sends the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to the general election.
The Central Bank Governor has urged commercial banks to build their capacity to embark on major projects with sound capital base to absorb shocks.



This follows the current establishment of a technical committee at the Central Bank to review and recommend an appropriate level of minimum regulatory capital for banks and the modalities for meeting same.



Dr Abdul Nasir Issahaku, who was addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) on Thursday in Accra, said the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is of the conviction that the time to inject more capital is now and this is to enable banks become strong and resilient and position them to tale on big ticket deals locally and internationally.



He said the asset quality review undertaken on loans and investment portfolio of banks in Ghana by some accounting firms on behalf of the Bank of Ghana in the first half of this year highlights the need for injection of additional capital by banks.



It should be possible for banks in Ghana to grant loans to finance projects abroad in competition with other global players. Moreover, competition in the industry is driving banks to open up their branch network which requires large deployment of resources.



The Bank of Ghana, in March 2003, raised the capital levels of banks to GH7.0 million.



In 2008, the requirement was revised upwards to GH60 million to be met by end December 2009.



The requirement was again revised to GH120 million for new industry entrants in 2013 mainly due to the depreciation of the cedi and the vulnerabilities that had built up in the banking system.



This was to help banks reflect the provisions of the ICAAP principles of Pillar II under the Basel framework.



Deposit protection bill



Passed by Parliament in July, this year and awaiting presidential assent, Dr Issahaku said it is targeted at protecting small savers from loss incurred as a result of the occurrence of an insured event, probably the revocation of the licence of a deposit-taking institution.



The initial and other logistics for the Deposit Protection Corporation are to be provided by the Bank of Ghana and government while eligible banks and specialized deposit taking institutions (SDIs) contribute initial and annual premiums into an insurance fund. Ghanas deposit protection scheme will initially function as a pay box with the amount of compensation to be paid to bank customers in the event of failure limited to GH6,250 per customers and GH1,250 for customers of specialized deposit taking institutions.



The scheme, expected to be eventually transformed into a fully-fledged deposit insurance scheme with a broader mandate to engage in risk-minimization and other roles, will have an initial capital of 26 million Euros.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Managers of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service have suspended operations a day after the buses were put on the streets for piloting.



This follows concerns over the non-registration and lack of insurance of the buses and challenges with communication between passengers and the bus drivers.



The BRT transport service commenced test operations on Monday with 9 buses plying the Amasaman  Achimota  Circle Accra route however operators identified challenges with the log system which provided information such as when or where passengers would alight to drivers.



Officials of the BRT system told Citi News that services were also suspended on Tuesday to enable them train the drivers on how to use the system to facilitate non-obstructive communication between them and passengers.



The buses are expected to be back on the streets on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.



Buses not insured yet



Roland Bruce, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive in an interview with Citi News revealed on Monday that the buses had not been registered and insured yet however will be done by the end of the week.



But Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Passenger Transport Executive (GAPTE), Sampson Gyamenah on Eyewitness News later that day said the information was not true and that the registration and insurance was being done.



BRT to start business in October



Mr. Gyamenah explained that, GAPTE is looking at the first couple of weeks in October to roll out commercially.



Mr. Gyamenah explained that, Mondays operation was a simulation exercise to train operational staff that will be engaged in the system. What we did today, was a simulation, more like a training arrangement for our own operational staff and drivers. We havent started piloting the services yet.

Source: citifmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Communications adviser and the host of Metro TV's Good Evening Ghana show, Paul Adom Otchere became the subject of ridicule and humiliation after being dressed down by Starr FMs Nii Arday Clegg on live radio.



Mr. Adom Otchere allegedly claimed in an interview with Bola Ray on Star Chat Tuesday that the Starr FM Morning host, Arday Clegg, once took an Interim Assessment (IA) for him during their first degree days at the University of Ghana, Legon.



Nii Arday Clegg did not take kindly to words of the Good Evening Ghana show host and confronted him in a phone call. Paul admitted the statement was false and apologised to the StarrFM Morning show host.



The story, however, did not end there as Nii Arday Clegg called Mr. Adom Otchere and chastised him on live radio the following day calling the latter evil and a 'liar'. Paul Adom Otchere admitted his wrongdoing and apologised to the StarrFM Morning Show host during a live phone-in session on Wednesday to clear the air.





The development has shocked many people including former journalist of the year, Manasseh Azure Awuni.

Read below his reaction:-

Manasseh Azure Awuni/Facebook

My jaw dropped when I heard a voice recording of Nii Arday Clegg, host of the Starr FM morning show. I cringed when, live on radio, he called Paul Adom Otchere "evil" and a "liar." He alleged that Paul Adom Otchere had lied about him (Arday Clegg) on Bola Ray's show, Starr Chat. He said he got angry and confronted Paul on phone and Paul admitted he had lied. All this sounded too strange to believe until he raised Paul Adom Otchere on phone.



Would Paul defend his statement or admit he lied? He admitted he lied and apologised to Nii Arday Clegg.



It may be Paul Adom Otchere's bad day but this presents a huge lessons for us journalists and those of us who have the opportunity to be on radio and television. Not all the people we lie about may have the platform like Nii Arday Clegg to defend themselves, but we will not escape the dreaded punishment of the Righteous Judge if we knowingly lie about others. Let's learn from this.



#IntegrityMatters

Source: ghanaweb.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.

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The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on all airlines operating in Ghana.



A statement from the regulator of Ghanas aviation sector said the ban takes effect Monday, September 26, 2016.



A lot of safety concerns have been raised about the new phones. Some customers have reported that the updated Note 7 phone, which Samsung began issuing last week after a global recall of the smartphones at the beginning of the month, have been losing power quickly, even when charging, and becoming unexpectedly hot while others are exploding.



Over 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices have been recalled due to reported cases of overheating or exploding while charging.



The GCAA has therefore stopped airline passengers and crew in possession of a Galaxy Note 7 from carrying the phone onboard a flight from Ghana, while passengers coming from other countries to Ghana cannot turn on the device or charge them on board an aircraft.



The GCAA has warned passengers from hiding the device in any checked in baggage, even when turned off.



The directive shall form part of the safety briefing to passengers on board all airlines operating in Ghana and operating into and out of Ghana until otherwise directed by the Authority, the statement added.







Source: starr FM









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An Islamic cleric, numerologist and philosopher, Sheikh Ustaz Sham-Una Jibril says President John Dramani Mahama will poll 44.96% in the upcoming elections.



That percentage, he said, will result in John Mahama not retaining the presidency after comparing him with former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.



President Mahama of NDC has a lot of serious political similarities with Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and the two parties thus, PDP and the NDC also have things in common, and that is the reason for describing them as Political Siamese twins, He said in a statement to Peacefmonline.com.





Read blow the full statement



One may ask the meaning of Siamese twins - from the biological point of view Siamese twins are twins who are conjoined or merged together thus, every part of their bodies are conjoined unless doctors operate to separate them in short.



President Mahama of NDC has a lot of serious political similarities with Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and their respective part parties thus, PDP and the NDC. They all have things in common, that is the reason for describing them as Political Siamese twins.



The NDC party symbol is an umbrella and Jonathans PDP in Nigeria has its symbol as umbrella as well. Surprisingly, both parties have the same Colors thus, Red, Black, White and Green.



Again, the first democratic elected President of PDP was a Military, Obasanjo ruled for eight years in the same vain the first democratic elected President of the NDC was a military ruler, Jerry John Rawlings.



Moreover Goodluck Jonathan was not indorsed by his master Obasanjo during the time he was lunching his campaign at Tafa balewa in Lagos when he was seeking for his second term in office in 2015. President Mahama was not also indorsed by his founder Jerry John Rawlings during his campaign lunch in Cape coast when he was seeking to continue for his second term of office in 2016.



Moreover Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Thursday 26th February, 2015 visited the Mubi-Baga troops in Borno State barely three (3) months to elections and wore a militaryuniform to boast the moral of the troops in battling with Boko Haram,.



President Mahama on the other part also on Thursday 11th August, 2016 visited Accra Burma Camp barely three (3) months to elections to commission a Navy Headquarters Complex and wore a Military uniform. In short the two events happen on Thursdays



Better still Goodluck Jonathan of PDP was alleged by some gross section of Nigeria Media and the main opposition party APC of flying with helicopter from the Southern part of Nigeria to Northern part. President Mahama likewise had the same allegation from the gross section of Ghanaian media and the opposition NPP.



Also, when Jonathan was targeting for his second term of office in 2015 the Emohua local government INEC office on 29th March, 2015 was burnt in River State, The same happened in Ghana on the night of 29th August, 2016 in (Tepa  Ahafo) Ano North Constituency in Ashansti Region of Ghana now that John Mahama is struggling for his second term. Coincidentally both events happened on 29th



Beyond these, Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP suffered a lot of defections when he was tasty for Power in his second term. For example On 9th February, 2015 Goodluck Jonathan campaign Security Chief in Edo State led over 3,000 people to APC and many more defections. John Mahama and the NDC too suffered a massive defection for Example Recently at Kumbungu on 11th September, 2016 Over 800 NDC members defect to NPP and many more defections.



To write more Goodluck Jonathan continued Yaraduas term in office after his death before the completion of his first four years - John Mahama also continue Atta Mills term in Office who died before his completion of his first four years.



Surprisingly, Goodluck Jonathan was born in November and John Mahama was also born in November.



By and Large the actual Spiritual figure that GoodLuck Jonathan of PDP should have scored is 37.84%, but due to Election malpractice by both the Ruling party and the EC or INEC, and the in vigilant of the opposition parties at the various polling centers shot the figure to 44.96% instead of 37.84%. Hence John Mahama and the NDC will also experience the same 44.96% instead of 37.84 in the 7 December elections.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007









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.

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A leading member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has hit back at the flagbearer of All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga.



"I hear an "opposition" presidential candidate has started attacking Nduom and Nana Addo. He says at 72, the latter should not be staying in the house his father built. Is this supposed to be an attack?!? If Nana Addo, one of Ghana's most successful lawyers, were materialistic he would have probably owned 30 houses by now plus others abroad" he wrote on his facebook page.



This follows comments made by Hassan Ayariga against the flagbearers of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo and the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Paa Kwesi Nduom.



Speaking in an interview on an Accra-based radio station, the APC flagbearer described himself as the best candidate to win the 2016 elections.



According to him, I made my first $1million at the age of 24 without working with any government. I have never been in a government position; I have never worked as a Minister for you to say I have stolen government money. I built my first house at the age of 22; at age 72, my senior and my father, Nana Akufo-Addo, is still living in his fathers house. At this age 72, I would have retired from politics and been advising young men of this country to move this country forward and not contest with them anymore....So, if they go round telling Ghanaians Ghana is in crisis and Ghana has become a difficult place for us to live and that we need a change, yes, lets accept and believe that we need change but that change will not be a change from the NDC to any of them because if Ghana is in crisis, these people are part of the problem why Ghana is in crisis today, because they were given the opportunity to serve and have served,



However, Gabby disagrees.



This is what he said on his facebook page said:



I hear an "opposition" presidential candidate has started attacking Nduom and Nana Addo. He says at 72, the latter should not be staying in the house his father built. Is this supposed to be an attack?!? If Nana Addo, one of Ghana's most successful lawyers, were materialistic he would have probably owned 30 houses by now plus others abroad.



What he has done is to improve upon what his father left him, dedicating all his energies to pursuing happiness for the greatest number of people. He is overly generous with whatever wealth he gets. He is not greedy. He does not possess even a credit card and does not have a foreign account.



Yes! He owns three houses, one built by his father (Nima), another built by his mother (Kyebi) and one he built (East Legon), where he lived as MP and Minister. Ghana is blessed to have in 2017 a president who is not driven by material things for himself but for all citizens of his nation. He is honest, he is selfless and he is not corrupt. He is just a simple man, with a big heart and a big mind.

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.

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The Member of Parliament for Lower West Akim, Hon. Gifty Klenam has called on the electorate to vote massively for NPPs flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo in the upcoming presidential polls.



She urged the electorates to ensure Nana Addos presidency so as to curtail the unbearable hardship left on them by the Mahama-led administration.



According to her, Nana Addos has beneficial policy to curb the unemployment situation in recent times when he becomes president.



She made this statement in an interview with PEACE FM during an inspection of various projects she has undertaken in her constituency.



Madam Klenam can boast of tremendous developmental projects in her constituency and hoping to improve on.



To her, the well- being of the people has always been her motivation for serving as a lawmaker.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007









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.

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The New Patriotic Partys (NPP), incumbent Member of Parliament for the Kwesmintim constituency in the Western Region, Joe Baidoe-Ansah, has lost his bid to contest in the 2016 polls. In a fiercely contested primary, Joseph Mensah, polled 187 votes, whiles Joe Baidoe-Ansah had 122 votes.

The were two rejected ballots, whereas 30 delegates were absent. The primary had delayed due to the incumbents decision to sue Joseph Mensah, claiming that he was not a party member. There were allegations that Joseph Mensah was once a cadre of the then PNDC regime, and that a book he had authored also made mention of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) regime, led by Jerry John Rawlings.

However, an Accra High Court last week ruled that, Joseph Mensah, an employee of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority at Takoradi, was qualified to contest. Joe Badu Ansah, had been the MP for Kwesimtsim since 2000, after he took over the seat from the CPPs Nana Abekah in 1996. However in 2012, he had opted to bow out of the race, until he made a sudden U-turn, when the Constituency was re-demarcated into Effia and Kwesimintsim respectively. Knowing his strength in the Kwesimintsim area, he won the seat after returning, albiet in another controversial primary. He had served in different ministerial portfolios such as Aviation and Tourism in the Kufuor administration.

Source: citifmonline.com









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The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to launch an investigation into former President Jerry John Rawlings alleged $5million gift he is rumoured to have received from late Nigerian leader Sani Abacha.



The flag bearer of the GCPP, Dr Henry Lartey, has accused the ex-president of lying to Ghanaians about the amount of money he received from Mr Abacha. According to Dr Lartey, President Rawlings received $5million and not $2million as he had claimed in a recent interview.



Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Tuesday September 27, Dr Lartey said: We will not allow anyone who is corrupt to get away with it, even if you are the president of Ghana. If we start from the top, it will trickle down. We are going to CHRAJ with our lawyers and he (Rawlings) will have to answer all these questions. No vendetta or whatsoever, I actually respected him to a point  he disappointed me and he has disappointed all West Africans. It is a sad thing that a man of probity and accountability must come to tell us that he took $2million cash [from Abacha]. Did he take it on behalf of Ghanaians? Who signed for the money? What was the money used for? Did he really receive $2million? Are we being lied to? he asked.



Mr Rawlings, while speaking to the Guardian Newspaper in Nigeria in July this year, admitted receiving the money from that countrys late military ruler but said it was $2million and not $5million as alleged. The incident happened in 1998.

Source: classfmonline.com









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The 2016 Ghana Movie Awards (MAG) has announced that entry for submission of works will close on October 20. This follows MAG's new strategy to open entry all year round immediately after hosting the awards in December.



The Ghana Movie Awards is an event to recognize excellence by annually honoring achievements of actors, writers, directors, producers, technicians and other professionals in the film making industry of Ghana and the rest of Africa.



It is organized by Gollywood Production Limited with support from major stakeholders of the film industry, to provide opportunities for filmmakers to have spotlight on their films. It also aims to promote and support Ghanaian filmmaking.



DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES: OCTOBER 20, 2016

To compete for a MAG: Pick, complete and return an official entry form to the secretariat at the Silhouette Advertising office located at No Ct 419/4 floor, Goodwill Road, Kokomlemle close to Unicredit, former Procredit Building, or call 0302-244643, 0302 244645.



Dates and venue

Nominations will be announced on November 10. The category winners will be announced November 30 at the Kempinski Hotel.



Nomination

The Planning committee, MAG Executive Academy members Screening and Active-Academy members reserve the right to place entries into alternative categories if they feel it is to the benefit of the title. Each submission should be entered separately. Entries will be assessed and successful submissions will be programmed for screening and entering the awards.



Formats

Formats acceptable for selection process: 5 DVDs. Final date for submission is October,20 2016.



Selection

MAG Executive Academy members, general public and Active Academy members will select final award winning entries by voting for the favorite movies, actors and TV soaps. All nominees will be notified at least 15 days before the awards show.



Publicity

Organizers reserve the right to use extracts form submission for awards publicity and Marketing

CATEGORIES

Acting:

 Performance by actor in a leading role

 Performance by an actress in a leading role

 Performance by an actor in a supporting role

 Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Animated Short & Feature Film/Movie:

 Best animated short or feature film/movie

Cinematography:

 Achievement in cinematography

Costume & Wardrobe:

 Achievement in costume and wardrobe



Directing:

 Achievement in directing

Documentary & Short Film/Movie:

 Best documentary

 Best short movie

Movie Editing:

 Achievement in movie editing

Make-up & Hair Styling:

 Achievement in make-up and hair styling

Music:

 Original score

 Original song

Best Picture:

 Best motion picture of the year (Best production)

Production Design:

 Achievement in production design (the MAG Silhouette shall be given also for the set decoration on the picture/movie that wins the production design award)

Sound Editing & Mixing:

 Achievement in sound editing and mixing

Visual Effects:

 Achievement in visual effects

Writing:

 Achievement in adapted and original screenplay









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.

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Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
The beaches in and near Ballina, including Lighthouse Beach, have been closed for the past day, due to a horrendous shark attack that left one person badly injured.

The person was 17-year-old Cooper Allen. He ended up in Lismore Base Hospital after a shark decided that he looked a bit tasty.

He was attacked at around 9am, and a 3 metre Great White Shark was seen in the area just afterwards.

NSWDPI Aerial Team report a 3m White Shark @ Lennox Head point  no surfers.#SharkSmart pic.twitter.com/zjRigPowHQ  SharkSmart (@NSWSharkSmart) September 26, 2016

He was in good spirits even after the attack; Cooper allegedly even asked other surfers not to tell his mum about what had happened.

Plus, the teenager didnt even need surgery on his thigh, despite it looking like Swiss cheese. He just got stitched up, and is now showing off his injuries like a total, absolute legend.

Look at him! Happy as Larry, despite having four big ol holes in his leg:

(CW: please be aware that these photos are pretty ruddy gory.)

Thumbs up! Shark attack victim Cooper Allen shows off his battle scars in hospital @sunriseon7 @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/7H1Veepvey  Amanda Abate (@AmandaAbate) September 26, 2016

HOLY HELL.

Glad youre feeling alright Cooper! Dunno what you did to have so much good karma stored up mate, but whatever it was  keep it up. Lucky bugger.

Source / Photo: Twitter.
Im not gonna lie, folks. I thought Trump was going to dominate the first presidential debate against Hillary Clinton. Not necessarily because he has a firmer handle on policy  he doesnt, and Im sure hed readily admit that himself  but because his debate style tends to work, and it works really fuckin well.

It worked in the Republican primaries, where he basically ground his opponents into dust via a volley of insults, taunts and general bluster, which connected him immediately and viscerally with an audience that doesnt feel like regular politicians are even listening to them anymore. Clinton represents that kind of politics to a tee, so I assumed that hed cut through with that aggressive, overpowering showmanship we know so well.

But he didnt. Maybe buoyed by the common assumption of this race, Trump seemed to be angling from the start toward something a little more presidential: more focus on concrete policy ideas and less focus on giving his opponent incisive schoolyard nicknames and insulting their personal and physical traits.

That didnt seem to work. Clinton has never been a great debate performer, but nobody can deny she knows her policy. And this time, she also knew something else: its very, very easy to get Trump riled up, and when you get him riled up on terms that arent his own, he tends to veer wildly off track. Even Trump supporters noticed early on that he was getting hot and bothered over minor jabs:

Trump is getting too loud and too hot. If I were him, Id tone that down a notch.  Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 27, 2016

Trumps weakness on this front is that he is a massive narcissist  if you toss a criticism at him, especially a personal one, he needs to keep returning to it until he thinks its been fully addressed. When Clinton slapped him down for his dodgy business practices, he kept returning to that point, even when he was in the middle of an otherwise salient attack on her email scandal, which basically left the entire line of argument in the dirt.

For her part, Clinton was quite good at finding those weak spots which Trump had to defend himself on, but would ruin his self-image as a populist peoples champion. She went him on his personal strategy of minimising taxes, Trump replied that he take[s] advantage of the laws of our nation, which is not a great look when youre trying to portray yourself as a hero of people who have been fucked over and left poor by trade agreements.

She was also quite good at being very exasperated after Trump went on one of his long spiels.

People on both sides had criticisms about moderator Lester Holts light-touch approach to the proceedings  he let the candidates go on and on, mostly  but it was Trump who suffered for it. As I said, the bloke is simply not that great when it comes to policy, and the longer he talks the more obvious it becomes. I also said that this probably doesnt matter a great deal for a huge portion of his base  but still. To a large portion of swing voters he probably looked like he was ranting and raving about nothing in particular.

On race, Trump looked like a massive cretin. It was one of the big ticket questions of the night, and Clinton immediately swooped in, arguing her current support of justice for African-Americans who believe the system has failed them, in contrast to Trump, who has been sued for systemic racial discrimination in his property leasing practices. Trumps only defence was to dredge up Clintons (admittedly very bad) super-predator remarks from the 1990s and to say that those kind of lending practices are common in the real estate industry. What? That is not a strong stance on anything.

Im loathe to quote Newt Goddamn Gingrich here, but he made a pretty solid point on Twitter which I think conveys one of Trumps central appeals:

Clinton is a fox who knows many things you can fact check. Trump is a hedgehog who knows one very big thing: We need change.  Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) September 25, 2016

Thats Trumps thing. As long as he keeps hammering on his central points  America is being screwed by China and Mexico, special interests are screwing politics, Clinton is corrupt and scheming, etc  he does well and speaks to a portion of the population Clinton isnt even trying to touch on an emotional level.

But honestly? There wasnt much of that today. What we got instead was Trump at his weakest: a jabbering, sweaty mess who lurched wildly from point to point and didnt even trot out many of the crowd favourites (HILLARY DID BENGHAZI!) He said in a post-debate interview that he didnt allude to Bill Clintons myriad affairs  a usual talking point  out of respect for Chelsea Clinton, which is very strange.

Look, Im not the only one who thinks Clinton won this one pretty resoundingly. A focus group of 20 undecided Florida voters by CNN found that 18 of them thought Clinton won. A focus group of Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly thought Clinton had won. A poll of debate watchers by CNN/ORC, which found that 62 percent thought Clinton won and 27 percent thought Trump did.

Maybe most importantly, as Deadspin reports, members of white nationalist forum Stormfront  who are in the can for Trump, shockingly enough  werent particularly pleased with Ill Duces performance, with one of them saying Hills mopped the floor with him, and another saying she won on points.

Personally, I think Trump is going to do a lot better in the next debates. If Clinton wants to win, shes gotta be aware that hes probably going to either be better prepped for the next debate, or more willing to stick to his usual debate mode  that bubbling mix of anger and I dont give a shit attitude which decimated Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio almost effortlessly.

Itll be a wild one. And look, if you wanna go back and watch this debate but cant imagine wasting 90 minutes of your time, Bloomberg has churned it into 3 minutes. Youre welcome:

Photo: Getty Images / Drew Angerer.
The Victorian government has today announced $21 million of funding for four new refuges for victims of domestic violence.

The refuges are in response to recommendations from Royal Commission Into Family Violence, the results of which were released in late March this year.

The refuges are intended to be completed by mid-next year and, as well as providing separate rooms for women and children, provide in-house, 24/7 support services.

According to Housing Minister Martin Foley, the refuges are designed to provide a safe, supportive mid-way point for victims to receive immediate support:

Its important that we give women and children escaping family violence every opportunity to take time in the right setting before they move on with their lives. These new homes will provide a short term hiatus  and coupled with a supportive environment, thatll give them the safety and reassurance they need.

In total, the Andrews government has pledged $572 million of the state budget towards attempting to tackle the issue of domestic violence in Victoria.

Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women, with 40% of the women accessing Victorias homelessness services having been affected by it.

Source: Huffington Post.

Photo: Twitter.
Amazon has been spreading across the globe like a retail STI for some time now, so it was only ever a matter of time before it successfully made dirty love with our own country. Now theyre looking to get serious about it.

Good news for impatient online shopping fiends, not so great news for Australian companies in the retail sector because much like the Jesus, nobody fucks with the Amazon.

Makes no difference to Jesus.

To put this aggressive move into monetary context, its estimated that the online giant could rake in a massive $4 billion from the Australian market, particularly in consumer electronics. This will no doubt have local players JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman shitting in their britches. Brokers estimate these retailers could cop 23 and 19 percent losses to earnings respectively.

Amazon will have massive implications on our retail landscape and if they introduce Amazon Prime, absolutely no one is safe. Prime is a $US11 per month service that offers free 2-day delivery on items and access to their own Netflix and Spotify-like streaming services. They even have a service called Amazon Fresh that delivers groceries which would deal a big blow to Woolworths and Coles.

While the company would probably focus on specialised areas such as electronics and toys early on, expansion would certainly be on the cards further down the track. Australians already spend between $500 million and $700 million dollars on the site, despite the lack of local warehouses.

We certainly are thirsty for some deadly efficient online retail, which asks the question  what will our domestic players do to ward off a full-blown Amazon whitewash?

Source: smh.com.au.

Photo: South Park.
Conservative MP Andrew Scheer makes a hashtag sign as he rises during Question Period in the House of Commons, Monday, May 30, 2016 in Ottawa. Scheer is ready to join the race to replace former prime minister Stephen Harper. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
In this Monday, June 1, 2015, file photo, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez replaces his cap after the singing of the national anthem before the start of a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Petoskey girls top Division 2 regional race, boys qualify for states

REMUS  The Petoskey cross country teams knew heading into Saturdays Division 2 regional race that the push for the state finals, let alone a team title, would come down to the wire.
Saudi is pushing for oil production limits while Iran is resisting to freeze output



Suddenly the tables have been turned on Saudi Arabia.

LONDON

Petroleumworld.com 09 27 2016

The biggest oil exporter has swapped its traditional role as price dove with regional foe Iran, for years OPEC price hawk. The government in Riyadh is now offering a deal -- including its first output cut in eight years -- to boost prices; Tehran is dragging its feet. At the center of the reversal is their contrasting thresholds for enduring economic pain.

"Both countries are coming from different positions," said Jason Tuvey, Middle East economist at consulting firm Capital Economics. "Iran has been under sanctions until recently, so it's getting an economic boost as investment returns and oil output rises. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is facing steep fiscal cuts."

The contrast between the two countries is stark. Iran, never as dependent on oil revenue as its neighbor, has seen prospects boosted by rapprochement with the west. In Saudi Arabia, tentative moves toward economic reform haven't prevented two years of weak prices causing financial havoc: it's burning through foreign exchange reserves, government contractors have gone unpaid and civil servants will get no bonus this year.

Diverging Economies

Saudi Arabia will suffer a fiscal deficit equal to 13.5 percent of gross domestic product this year, compared with one of less than 2.5 percent of GDP for Iran, the International Monetary Fund estimates. The IMF says the Saudis need oil close to $67 a barrel to square the books. For Iran, it's lower, at $61.50. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down 0.4 percent at $47.18 a barrel as of 1:18 p.m. in Hong Kong.

When it comes to economic growth, Saudi Arabia is slowing sharply to 1 percent while Iran is accelerating toward 4 percent. The current account -- a broad measure of a country's economic relationship with the world -- tells the same story. Saudi Arabia faces a double-digit deficit this year; Iran's is nearly balanced following economic reforms in 2012 and 2013 to weather the impact of international sanctions over its nuclear program.

While Iranian President Hassan Rouhani faces elections next May and is under pressure over the country's economic performance since sanctions were lifted, it's already been through the austerity that's only starting in Saudi Arabia, according to Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. "Iran has already been through so much pain, incrementally they aren't really worse off," she said.

U-Turn

Saudi Arabia led OPEC in November 2014 to defend market share, notably against U.S. shale oil producers, at the expense of high oil prices. A month after the policy shift, Ali Al-Naimi, then Saudi oil minister, told the trade journal Middle East Economic Survey that "sooner or later" rivals would run into financial difficulties. The kingdom had "the ability to hold out" for a long time, he said.

Nearly two years later -- and under different oil minister -- Riyadh is now signaling it may be ready for a U-turn.

Saudi Arabia has told other OPEC members it's willing to reduce production to January levels, according to Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Boutarfa. That effectively would mean a cut of 500,000 barrels a day. Iran, meanwhile, is refusing to freeze its production at the current level of 3.6 million barrels a day, aiming instead to lift output to about 4 million barrels a day, the level before sanctions halved exports.

When the oil slump started, few would have anticipated that Saudi Arabia would be seeking a deal to boost prices and Iran would resist it. Beyond the economy, other factors are at play, including regional politics. Both countries are on opposite sides of the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars. Then there's pride -- Iran wants to return to pre-sanctions production.

Spending Petrodollars

For the last two years, as oil prices plunged from more than $100 a barrel to a 12-year low of less than $30 a barrel in January, the Saudis have drawn on their huge currency reserves to cushion the impact. It spent $115 billion last year and between January and July this year it used up another $52 billion.

Worried about a looming insolvency if the kingdom continued to spend way above its oil income, Riyadh sought to staunch the financial bleeding.

Subsidies, long a political taboo, are being cut, as are the salaries of government ministers by 20 percent. Infrastructure projects have been delayed, and a value-added tax is mooted for 2018. If Saudis have continued spending as they did last year, Mohammed Al-Sheikh, a financial adviser to the crown, told Bloomberg in April the country would have gone completely broke by early 2017.

On the other side of the Persian Gulf, there isn't the same sense of crisis.

"Tehran would love to have higher oil prices, but Iran is the OPEC country that had to do fewer budget sacrifices due to cheap oil," said Olivier Jakob, an analyst at Petromatrix GmbH in Zug, Switzerland. "They feel they have a strong hand.








Story from Sputnik News .



sputniknews.com | 09 26 2016



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After presidential nominees Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump squared off Monday night in the first of three debates, reaction from voters, politicians and pollsters varied not surprisingly along party lines.

Pollsters, however, gave Clinton a slight advantage.

From G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College.

Madonna said Clinton won the debate. She was on the offensive during the entire debate  hitting Trump with stats, policies and facts, according to PennLive.com.

Madonna said Clinton had much more command over the subject matter.

"He had to respond, constantly, to her attacks," Madonna said. "He constantly had to say, 'You're wrong,' 'You're not right,' 'That's inaccurate.' He was put more on the defensive."

From CBS contributor and pollster Frank Luntz.

Luntz spoke with undecided Pennsylvania voters after the debate and the general consensus among them was that Hillary Clinton won.

Of those polled, five undecided voters said they believed Trump won, and 16 said they believed Clinton won.

From Democratic Party Chairman Marcel L. Groen.

From Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason.

"Donald Trump scored a decisive victory over Hillary Clinton in this first presidential debate," Gleason said. "Tonight, voters had a terrific opportunity to compare Hillary Clinton's big government, special interest agenda with Donald Trump's vision to create jobs and grow our economy. While Hillary Clinton is running a campaign to maintain the status quo in Washington, Donald Trump is ready to bring much-needed change to the White House."

From Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

From former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

From Republican Congressman Tom Marino

From Republican Congressman Keith Rothfus.

From the Times Tribune of Scranton.

About a 150 Democrat and Republican students came together to watch the debate University of Scranton's Moscovitz Theater.

Clinton was the clear winner for the crowd, according to the article.

"Hillary definitely won," said Elyse Orsulak, 18. "She was the one who actually answered the questions. He just rambled."

Trump's supporters felt he could have been stronger.

"He's gotta come back more concise and (with) straight facts. ... I wish he would meet up with the Ted Cruz people and take his debate people, because they really were fantastic," College Republicans President Carson Clabeaux told the paper.